San Diego Padres

History: Compared to their Southern California neighbors, the Padres are a relatively new franchise to Major League Baseball, joining the National League as an expansion team in 1969. The Padres have had only minor postseason success - they reached the World Series for the first time in 1984 and most recently in 1998, but lost both times. They were a single game away from reaching the postseason last year, but lost a one-game playoff to eventual National League pennant-winners the Colorado Rockies.

Top prospects set out for World Figure Skating Championships

The Chinese figure skating team will leave for the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships tomorrow and the skaters are eager to give their best performances to see where they stand for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Sports China

MLB plants flag on mainland

As the San Diego Padres and their portly mascot, The Swinging Friar, marched up the Great Wall yesterday afternoon under a metallic blue sky, there was a sense of history in the making.

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NBA

IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Sports

Liverpool through to round of eight

MILAN, Italy: Inter Milan's ill discipline cost it again as Liverpool won 1-0 at the San Siro on Tuesday to progress to the Champions League quarterfinals 3-0 on aggregate.

Mancini to quit post at end of season

MILAN: Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini said on Tuesday he will quit his job at the end of the current season.

Sports

Rockets reach milestone with 19th in a row

HOUSTON: The Houston Rockets matched the NBA's third-longest winning streak when they recorded their 19th consecutive triumph with a 91-73 rout of the New Jersey Nets on Monday.

Barnsley to face Cardiff in FA Cup semifinals

LONDON: Barnsley's reward for knocking holders Chelsea and Liverpool out of the FA Cup is a semifinal against fellow Championship (second division) side Cardiff City.