STOCKHOLM -- From Beijing to Berlin, it seemed that Usain Bolt and his long, turbocharged strides were more than a match for anyone over 100 meters. But Tyson Gay upset the defending world and Olympic champion in a race between the two fastest runners in history.
Gay beat the Jamaican at the DN Galan meet in 9.84 seconds, competing at the same stadium in Stockholm where Bolt last lost a race two years ago.
The American seemed to be in complete control against the world record-holder. The pair raced side by side as Gay, looking comfortable, drew away. Bolt was straining to keep up and finished second in 9.97.
SWIMMING
Stanford freshman in U.S. final
Andie Taylor, an incoming Stanford freshman, reached her second main final in as many days, finishing sixth in the 200-meter butterfly, while Stanford's Kelsey Ditto put herself into today's 800 freestyle final on the penultimate day of the national swimming championships in Irvine.
Taylor secured the last spot in the final by swimming 2:10.87 in the preliminary round, then finished in 2:11.72 in the nightcap for sixth place.
Taylor, the nation's third-rated recruit by CollegeSwimming.com, has reached three finals this week. Along with today's 200 butterfly, the Seattle native was seventh in Thursday's 400 individual medley and 11th in Tuesday's 400 freestyle.
Stanford grad Julia Smit goes for a title in the 100 free today. She has the fourth-best qualifying time.
Natalie Coughlin continues her comeback today by competing in the women's 100-meter freestyle.
Ryan Lochte beat Michael Phelps for the first time in a long-course medley at a major meet, winning the men's 200 individual medley. Lochte touched in 1 minute, 54.84 seconds, with Phelps second in 1:55.94. Their times were the two fastest in the world this year, while Lochte's time was fifth-quickest ever.
Cal's Nathan Adrian won the men's 100 freestyle with the world's second-fastest time -- 48.41 seconds.
PRO BASKETBALL
Tolliver mocks James with spoof
MINNEAPOLIS -- With the world waiting, Anthony Tolliver has finally announced his decision.
Tolliver said he has passed on returning to the Golden State Warriors and chosen to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a short video posted on YouTube that mocks superstar LeBron James' much-maligned "The Decision" special on ESPN last month.
Tolliver, a relatively unknown forward with 65 career games in the NBA, spent the last few days deciding between offers from the Timberwolves and the Warriors.
In a video entitled "The Decision: Part Deux!!" Tolliver spoofs all the attention given to James, who announced "I will be taking my talents to South Beach" in a one-hour television show on ESPN in July. The special broke hearts in Cleveland, disappointed fans in Chicago and New York, and brought heavy criticism on James and the network for the way it was handled.
Tolliver averaged 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Warriors and Portland last season.
Knicks: Even after losing all those games and an embarrassing sexual harassment lawsuit, Isiah Thomas has a place with the New York Knicks. Thomas was rehired Friday by the team as a consultant, two years after he was fired as its coach and president.
Celtics: Newly signed center Shaquille O'Neal asked his Twitter followers to come up with a new nickname suitable to his new city. In a variety of online polls, "The Big Shamrock" and "The Big Leprechaun" are leading the way along with "The Green Monster." Also receiving votes: "The Jolly Green Giant," "The Shamroq," "Red Auershaq," "Shaqachusetts" and "Tip-in O'Neal."
Signings: The Charlotte Bobcats signed undrafted rookie Sherron Collins to a two-year, non-guaranteed deal. ... The Oklahoma City Thunder signed rookie center Cole Aldrich, the No. 11 overall pick in the draft, to a two-year contract.
PRO BASEBALL
A's delay return of closer Bailey
OAKLAND -- The Oakland A's Andrew Bailey was eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but that didn't happen. So it remains to be seen when the closer might be reinstated to the active roster. Bailey was placed on the disabled list July 30, retroactive to July 21, with an intercostal strain on his right side. He had a bullpen pitching session Wednesday that was supposed to be a prelude to his activation, but he had next-day soreness that prompted the A's to delay his return.
The A's had better news on outfielder Conor Jackson, who finally will see some action today in an Arizona Rookie League game. Jackson has been on the disabled list with a hamstring pull since July 5 and has played in just 14 games since being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 14.
Tigers: Owner Mike Ilitch says manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski will return next season. T The Tigers are 5-18 since the All-Star break.
Rays: First baseman Carlos Pena was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 1, because of a slightly torn ligament.
Rays manager Joe Maddon says baseball should give "strong consideration" to changing ground rules at Tropicana Field if Tampa Bay reaches the playoffs. The Rays fell out of a first-place tie in the AL East on Thursday by losing 8-6 to Minnesota, a game decided when Jason Kubel's two-out pop clanked off a catwalk and fell behind the pitcher's mound for a go-ahead single in the ninth inning.
National League roundup
Diamondbacks 2, Padres 1: Dan Hudson pitched into the eighth inning in his second start with Arizona to outduel Jon Garland in Phoenix, and Adam LaRoche hit his 18th homer.
Nationals 6, Dodgers 3: Adam Dunn hit a pair of three-run homers off Clayton Kershaw, tying a career high for RBIs, and the Washington Nationals beat the host Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cardinals 7, Marlins 0: Adam Wainwright pitched a two-hitter for his 16th victory, and Albert Pujols homered as St. Louis beat reeling Florida in Miami. Wainwright (16-6) struck out seven and walked three in his fifth complete game and second shutout this season.
Phillies 7, Mets 5: Carlos Ruiz singled in the go-ahead run during a six-run eighth inning in host Philadelphia's fifth straight win.
Rockies 6, Pirates 3: Sunnyvale native Troy Tulowitzki hit a tiebreaking RBI single with two outs in the seventh, and Colorado snapped a seven-game road losing streak. Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez both had three hits for the Rockies.
Reds 3, Cubs 0: Bronson Arroyo allowed five hits over seven innings, and Cincinnati moved 14 games over .500 (62-48) for the first time in 11 years with the shutout win in Chicago. Ryan Hanigan's two-run homer in the second inning got the Reds rolling.
Brewers 6, Astros 5: Prince Fielder hit a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning, capping Milwaukee's four-run rally for a wild victory over Houston.
American League roundup
Indians 7, Twins 6: Matt LaPorta homered leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to give Cleveland the victory after Minnesota had tied it in the top half on a two-run single by Alexei Casilla off closer Chris Perez.
Orioles 2, White Sox 1: Adam Jones singled in the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning, and host Baltimore extended its unbeaten run under new manager Buck Showalter to 4-0.
Red Sox 6, Yankees 3: Catcher Francisco Cervilli dropped a routine infield pop-up, leading to three unearned runs that helped boost Clay Buchholz and Boston to victory in the opener a four-game series in New York.
Angels 4, Tigers 2: Jered Weaver allowed three hits over seven innings to best Justin Verlander, Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer and tossed a bag of baseballs onto the field after being ejected.
Blue Jays 2, Rays 1: Lyle Overbay doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and host Toronto handed Tampa Bay it third straight loss.
Mariners 7, Royals 1: Chone Figgins drove in three runs, and Ryan Langerhans had three hits, including a homer, to help host Seattle beat Kansas City's Zack Greinke for the first time.
PRO TENNIS
No U.S. men at top for first time
Thanks to players such as Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, then Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, and, lately, Andy Roddick, there always has been at least one man from the United States in tennis' top 10 since the computer rankings began in 1973. That streak will end next week. With Roddick sliding from No. 9 to no better than No. 12 when the new rankings are issued Monday, the ATP said, it will be the first time zero U.S. men are among the top 10.
Knee pain forced Venus Williams to withdraw from next week's Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Cincinnati.
Stanford grads Bob and Mike Bryan lost in the second round of doubles at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington. Less than a week after winning their record 62nd ATP doubles title, the twins fell 7-6 (6), 7-5 to Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.
Flavia Pennetta reached the semifinals of the Mercury Insurance Open with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Samantha Stosur in Carlsbad. Pennetta's win over No. 2 Stosur means all three of the top seeds have been ousted.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Tide rolls to top of coaches poll
Defending national champion Alabama is No. 1 atop the USA Today preseason coaches' poll.
Boise State will begin the season ranked No. 5. The Broncos, like Alabama, finished last season 14-0.
The Crimson Tide got 55 of 59 possible first place votes. The other four went to Ohio State, which is No. 2 in the newspaper's ranking. Florida is third, followed by Texas.
Stanford is not ranked. The Cardinal received 41 votes, good for 32nd. Oregon (11) and Oregon State (22) are the only Pac-10 teams ranked, though Utah, which joins the league next year, is ranked 24th.
PRO GOLF
Mickelson takes aim at No. 1
Phil Mickelson is closing in on No. 1. The first step is to make up a one-shot deficit against Retief Goosen, the 36-hole leader at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio. Looking more inevitable is Mickelson finally supplanting Tiger Woods atop the world ranking.
Goosen turned bogey into birdie by chipping in from 25 yards off the green at No. 4, sending him on his way to a 4-under 66 that gave him a one-shot lead over Mickelson (68) and Justin Leonard (66) going into the weekend at Firestone Country Club.
Goosen was at 7-under 133 as he tries to win his first World Golf Championship tournament.
Even as Goosen led another assault on par in soft conditions, Woods continued to look as ordinary as ever. The seven-time champion at Firestone hit only three fairways and stumbled to a 2-over 72 that put him 13 shots out of the lead and five players removed from last place.
Woods had no intention of speaking to reporters, instead walking to his car and driving away.
Alex Cejka shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead in the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, N.Y. Chris Tidland (69) and Rory Sabbatini (70) shared second at 9-under 135. Wind gusts reached 30 mph throughout the day.
Tommy Armour III shot a 9-under 63 and had a one-stroke lead over Mark Calcavecchia and David Frost at the Champions Tour's 3M Championship in Blaine, Minn.
MISCELLANY
Elsewhere
Stanford women's basketball players Nnemkadi Ogwumike and Kayla Pedersen were among 25 players named to watch list for the Wade Trophy, which is given to the nation's top player. They are the Pac-10's only representatives on the list.
San Jose-raised AJ Allmendinger, 28, signed a multiyear contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports.
A person familiar with the 2011 NASCAR schedule said that the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., will get a second race next year
Athletic gear maker Nike and the bicycle maker (Trek Bicycle Corp.) that sponsors Lance Armstrong's RadioShack team are cooperating with federal authorities investigating the seven-time Tour de France champion and others.
The Minnesota Wild signed center John Madden on a one-year, $1 million contract. Madden, 37, had 10 goals and 13 assists for Chicago last season.
Edmonton signed former NHL goalie Martin Gerber to a one-year deal. Gerber, 35, played with Altant Moscow of the Continental Hockey League last season.
New York Red Bulls midfielders Luke Sassano (ankle) and Brian Nielsen (knee) had season-ending surgeries. Also, the Red Bulls put Mexican national team captain Rafael Marquez on their roster.
The AVP Tour postponed the San Francisco event scheduled for AT&T Park on Aug. 15-16 so it can have more time to get its finances in order. The event is now scheduled for Little Marina Green Park on Sept. 11-12.
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