National Sports Digest
Portland takes Oden NEW YORK (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers ended months of debate when they chose Greg Oden over fellow college freshman Kevin Durant with the No. 1 pick in a highly anticipated NBA draft. Portland opted for the 7-footer who can dominate a game with his defense over the sensational scoring of Durant, who would have been the No. 1 pick in many other years after one of the most outstanding freshman seasons in NCAA history. Moments after he was picked, Durant saw on TV that the SuperSonics had traded Ray Allen, their leading scorer, to Boston. Fans booed the Allen trade at a draft party for the Sonics, who still face losing Rashard Lewis to free agency. Portland also made a deal, clearing room in the middle for Oden by trading Zach Randolph to New York. The Blazers also sent Fred Jones and Dan Dickau to the Knicks for Steve Francis and Channing Frye. The only other trade involving an NBA player came when Golden State sent Jason Richardson and the rights to Jermareo Davidson, the No. 36 pick, to Charlotte for Brandan Wright, taken at No. 8 by the Bobcats. Thomas hits 500 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Frank Thomas hit his 500th home run, routinely putting his head down as he rounded the bases while joining one of baseball’s most elite clubs. The Toronto slugger became the 21st major leaguer to reach the career mark, a milestone that has usually meant an eventual spot in the Hall of Fame. Thomas hit a three-run shot in the first inning, connecting against Minnesota’s Carlos Silva and sending a 1-2 pitch an estimated 396 feet into the left-field stands. 3,000 for Biggio HOUSTON (AP) — Craig Biggio became the 27th player in major league history to get 3,000 hits in Houston’s 8-5 11-inning victory over Colorado Biggio singled to center field in the seventh inning for the milestone hit and was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a double. The 41-year-old finished 5-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Biggio is the first player in two seasons to reach 3,000 hits. Rafael Palmeiro reached it on July 15, 2005, with Baltimore.
TENNIS WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Roger Federer won his 50th straight match on grass, beating 18-year-old Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 to reach the third round at Wimbledon. Federer, trying to become only the second man in the Open era to win five straight titles at the All England Club, will next face two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin. The Russian beat Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan 6-4, 6-2 7-6 (4). Other winners included No. 2 Rafael Nadal, No. 4 Novak Djokovic, No. 9 James Blake, 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt and unseeded Wayne Arthurs, who at 36 is the oldest competitor. Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo, 2004 champion Maria Sharapova and three-time champion Venus Williams all won in straight sets.
GOLF SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (AP) — 18-year-old Angela Park, who played early and played great shot a 3-under 68 to finish atop the leaderboard after the first day of the Women’s U.S. Open. Only half of the 156-player field completed the first round because of a 3 1/2-hour delay that didn’t produce a drop of rain. Alexis Thompson, the youngest qualifier in Women’s Open history, played well beyond her 12 years until darkness forced her to come inside. Lorena Ochoa went from celebrating one of the most amazing shots of her career, holing out from a bunker with a 5-wood, to stunning bad luck when her approach bounced between two bleachers and out-of-bounds. Karrie Webb, the winner at Pine Needles the last time the Women’s Open was in town, couldn’t make a birdie and wound up with an 83, the worst score of her Hall-of-Fame career. About the only thing that wasn’t much of a surprise was Michelle Wie, who continued her free fall with an 82, the second time in three rounds she has failed to break 80, this one matching her highest score in the Women’s Open. GRAND BLANC, Mich. (AP) — Rocco Mediate shot his lowest score on the PGA Tour in four years, opening the Buick Open with an 8-under 64 for a one-stroke lead. Brett Quigley, Woody Austin and Brian Bateman shot 65s and Jim Furyk was among a group of four another stroke back, in a tournament up for grabs without Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh in the field for the first time since 2001. The five-time PGA Tour winner had only one top-10 finish last year, ending the season a career-low 206th on the money list. Mediate was ranked 176 and 114 the previous two years after finishing between 22nd and 37 from 1999-2003.
HOCKEY TORONTO (AP) — Mark Messier, the NHL’s second-leading career scorer, highlights the newest class of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Also elected were players Ron Francis, Al MacInnis and Scott Stevens. NHL executive Jim Gregory was voted in as a builder. All four players were on the ballot for the first time. Other eligible players who didn’t make it in included Adam Oates, Igor Larionov and Claude Lemieux. The induction ceremony for the Hall, which allows a maximum of four players in each year, will be held Nov. 12.
SOCCER LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Beckham will be officially introduced as the newest member of the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 13 at the team’s stadium in Carson. Beckham, currently vacationing after helping Real Madrid win the Spanish League title, will arrive in Los Angeles a few days before his introductory news conference and first training session with the MLS team. Beckham is expected to make his playing debut in an exhibition against England’s Chelsea on July 21 at Home Depot Center. Appearing with the 32-year-old midfielder at the news conference will be MLS commissioner Don Garber, Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, coach Frank Yallop and Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, which operates the team
