Jazz plays sweet tune as Hornets sing the blues

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana: Turkish center Mehmet Okur scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz over New Orleans 77-66 in a Tuesday matchup of National Basketball Association contenders.

Sharapova makes triumphant return

AMELIA ISLAND, Florida: Top seed Maria Sharapova, returning from a two-week fatigue break, beat Czech qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycova on Tuesday at the $600,000 WTA Bausch and Lomb Championship.

IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Special Supplement

Preparation quickens in Qingdao

The opportunity to host an Olympic competition might come once in a generation - at most - and the citizens of Qingdao know that as they prepare for this summer's gala.

City creates recipe to ensure food quality

A comprehensive system to ensure food safety for the Olympics officially began operation in Qingdao on April 1, another part of the city's complex preparations for hosting the 2008 Olympic sailing competition.

Haiqing Hotel ready for Olympic effort

Haiqing Hotel says it is creating a home-like environment to make guests feel at ease during the Olympic Games.

Security for land and sea set at sailing site

With the 2008 Olympic sailing competition on the horizon, security measures are in full swing in Qingdao to ensure a safe and peaceful event.

Shangri-La offers costal oasis

A swirl of high-level visitors including Thailand's Princess Sirindhorn and Chairman of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission Hein Verbruggen on April 4 put the five-star hotel Shangri-La in the limelight.

Davydenko not worried about betting probe

MIAMI: Nikolay Davydenko said on Sunday he did not worry about the ATP probe into irregular betting patterns on a match he played in Poland last year.

Ochoa targets calendar grand slam of majors

RANCHO MIRAGE, California: World No 1 Lorena Ochoa confidently set her sights on a sweep of this year's four majors after coasting to a five-shot victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Sunday.

Red Wings boast NHL's best record

DETROIT: The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on the final day of the regular season and earned the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the NHL's best record on Sunday.