A Gold Coast for U.S. // Dream Team II Hammers Russia

UNITED STATES 137 RUSSIA 91

TORONTO Dream Team II came out with all guns blazing Sunday in SkyDome, determined to reclaim the gold medal at the WorldChampionships.

The United States hit its first 10 shots and 16 of its first 17in cruising to a 137-91 victory over Russia. The Americans scoredthe game's first nine points and led all the way. Their biggestlead was 49 points.

With eight players scoring in double figures, Dream Team IIswept the tournament 8-0 to give the United States its first goldmedal in eight years and third in 12 tournaments.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said forward DominiqueWilkins, Dream Team II's oldest player …

Spain wins 2nd in a row at Hopman Cup

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues and Fernando Verdasco were nearly perfect in mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup on Tuesday, beating China's Li Na and Wu Di 6-0, 6-2 to clinch a 2-1 team victory.

Verdasco also beat Wu 6-3, 6-4 in singles after French Open champion Li gave the Chinese a 1-0 lead with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Medina Garrigues.

Spain won …

Florida's Meyer rips reporter in defense of player

With a stern look and some finger pointing, Florida coach Urban Meyer had harsh words for a reporter following spring practice Wednesday.

Meyer, speaking for the first time in a week, confronted an Orlando Sentinel reporter and defended receiver Deonte Thompson.

It was unclear why Meyer took issue with the Sentinel's story.

Reporter Jeremy Fowler quoted Thompson as referring to John Brantley as "a real quarterback," in comparison to Tim Tebow.

The exchange was caught on video, captured by a photographer and witnessed by a dozen or more people _ including several fans leaving spring practice.

"You'll be out of …

Caption Only [Photo: BIG IMPROVEMENT: The redesigned Mitsubishi Outlander...]

Caption …

Governor's budget means $141 million additional funding for downstate schools

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced this week that his budget, passed by the Illinois Senate last month, will pour an additional $141 million into downstate schools for early childhood education, mandated categoricals and a $250 per student increase in general state aid.

The governor made the announcement after visiting pre-schools in three different Illinois communities.

He called on members of the Illinois House of Representatives to approve a state budget that includes funding to enroll more at-risk children in pre-school and new funding for education and healthcare. The budget funds this state's priorities without raising the sales on income taxes.

Currently, …

Palin smiles as 'SNL' mocks her anew

After watching "Saturday Night Live" make fun of her from afar, Sarah Palin witnessed it first hand this week as Tina Fey engaged in fiction by depicting her at the news conference the Republican vice presidential nominee has yet to hold.

Later, Palin came on stage during the Weekend Update mock news segment and bobbed to the beat as cast member Amy Poehler performed a rap song the Alaska governor decided was too hardcore for her to perform personally.

"I'm Jeremiah Wright 'cuz I'm the preacher; I got a bookish look and you're all hot for teacher," Poehler rapped as actors dressed as Eskimos, Palin's husband, Todd, and a moose pranced across …

Three-day meeting to probe casino bids

A meeting which could go on for three days will next week decidewhich firms should be given the chance to operate a casino in Bath.

Four firms have expressed official interest in the principle ofrunning a casino, with their initial applications targeting threecity-centre sites. Three of the applications for what is called aprovisional statement - essentially approval in principle for afully-fledged licence - will be on the table when Bath and NorthEast Somerset Council's gambling and licensing sub-committee meetsnext Tuesday.

Officials have set aside three days for the meeting, which mightwell be the longest ever held by the authority.

It will look …