Sports

Bonds blasts 756th home run for record

SAN FRANCISCO: Barry Bonds hit the 756th home run of his career to set a new Major League record on Tuesday, sparking wild celebrations among his hometown fans and a mixed reaction elsewhere in the wake of past steroid allegations.

Safin avoids ATP betting investigation

MONTREAL: Marat Safin is steering well clear of the ATP's gambling probe currently centered on a match last week in which Russian compatriot Nikolay Davydenko withdrew injured.

Isner's dream run sparks hope for USA tennis

WASHINGTON: John Isner's unprecedented dream run of five consecutive third set tie-breaker triumphs to reach an ATP final after just one prior tour match has sparked talk of a resurgence in American tennis.

Woods: Briton Beckham is more global than me

TULSA, Oklahoma: Tiger Woods, despite being widely regarded as the world's best-known sports figure, believes England soccer player David Beckham probably has a higher global profile.

IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Sports

Top Shot

Rasmussen returns to competition in Danish street race

England hit by defensive injury crisis

LONDON: England's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 have been hit by a spate of injuries to their central defenders, including captain John Terry.

Recovering Henry has big plans at Barcelona

YOKOHAMA, Japan: Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has warned the club's league and European rivals he plans to win everything on offer this season.

Break allows McLaren to lick self-inflicted wounds

LONDON: McLaren boss Ron Dennis looked forward to Formula One's summer break with the air of an exhausted swimmer reaching for a lifeline. "It's a very, very pressured job at the moment. Would anyone like it?" he enquired with a thin smile at the weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix as reporters circled.

Time to see who's worth their salt

LONDON: German captain Michael Ballack has pledged his future to Chelsea and is determined to make amends for a disappointing debut campaign in England.