USA's Benny Feilhaber, center, vies for the ball with Brazil's Felipe Melo during their Confederations Cup final soccer match at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, June 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

By Andrew Keh

The exhilarating U.S. run in the Confederations Cup, which ended on Sunday with a 3-2 loss in the final against Brazil, provided... » more

Novak Djokovic has flown under the radar at Wimbledon so far despite a strong first week. (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

The tournament’s middle Sunday allowed Wimbledon’s lawns to rest yesterday before the flurry of second-week matches.

Here is a look at today’s men’s fourth-round contests, which will set the quarterfinal matchups.

Lleyton Hewitt... » more

Shortstop Alex Cora’s defense and timely hits have helped the Mets compensate for Jose Reyes’ absence. (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

With a hail storm of injuries to their stars, the Mets have come to rely on a group of utility players who have seldom, if ever, been everyday major league starters.

Here’s a look at these suddenly crucial members... » more

Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford could become the first player since Rickey Henderson in 1988 to steal 90 bases. (Photo by Getty)

By Ryan Chatelain

Check the runner at first. For the first time in years, chances are good he’ll be running.

The stolen base has re-emerged this season as a major part of America’s favorite pastime. And the reason that this once-dying art form has... » more

Don't find yourself waiting for Ichiro's next 20-game hitting streak. Find ways to improve your team. (Getty Images)

By Kyle Stack

Special to amNewYork

Owners should always look to position their teams, whether it's attempting to conquer first place, joining the league's upper class or simply transforming the roster to out of last place.

Here are three such scenarios... » more

The Mets' David Wright and the Yankees' Derek Jeter, pictured last summer, are set for their first interleague game of 2009, this Friday at Yankee Stadium. (Getty Images)

By Max. J. Dickstein

Each team has had its streaks and skids, its bouts with injury and hard luck that draft the early narrative of a season and harden a team’s identity.

One-third of the way through... » more

The Colorado Rockies' Garrett Atkins (Getty Images)

By Kyle Stack

Special to amNewYork

Fantasy baseball owners looking for a way to jump-start their teams will often probe their league's free-agent list. Instead, they should be looking at opposing rosters for an underperforming player. Here are five:

Geovany Soto, C, Chicago Cubs

.218 AVG, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .622... » more

High-school football star Torian Phillips of Port Richmond on Staten Island is headed to Syracuse University in the fall of 2009. (RJ Mickelson/amNY)

By Max J. Dickstein

From the fields and courts of New York they came: Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford of the major leagues; NFL quarterbacks Sid Luckman and Vinny Testaverde; NBA greats Bob Cousy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar... » more

Johnny Damon homers Monday against Tampa Bay (Getty)

By Pete Catapano

Blame the home run derby at the new Yankee Stadium on the walls not the wind, a report released yesterday by Accuweather.com says.

Open now for two months, the Bombers’ new home in the Bronx is poised to set a record for long balls with already 105 hit this season, puzzling fans and experts alike.

While... » more

PARIS - JUNE 08: Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his French Open winner's trophy at the Arc de Triomphe on June 8, 2009 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

The tension was gone and Roger Federer was serene.

The coveted trophy that had eluded him longest — and might have forever, it often seemed — was finally his, ready... » more