Sports

Steve Marino used to consider it a treat the few times he played Congressional as a teenager. It was a thrill on Thursday to play bogey-free in the first round of the AT&T National at Bethesda, Md., and shoot 5-under-par 65 for a one-shot lead.

Former University of Georgia diver Chris Colwill was born with a 60 percent hearing loss. However, he had no trouble hearing the 100 percent applause Thursday afternoon from the roughly 200 fans watching 3-meter springboard competition at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

WASHINGTON - President Bush will attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing, the White House said Thursday, quashing any talk of a presidential boycott over China's violent crackdown on Buddhist monks.

Darron cummings/associated pressAlex Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, watch a match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, in this Sept. 1 file photo. Rodriguez hasn't commented on reports of a friendship with Madonna.

Jon Lester pitched a sharp five-hitter while the Boston Red Sox stopped Andy Pettitte's six-game winning streak, beating the New York Yankees 7-0 on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium after they had lost five in a row.

Cole Hamels missed by one out his second shutout of the Braves this season, making the Phillies' second series sweep of the year in Atlanta look easy.

Pettitte could be called to testify in Clemens' suit NEW YORK - New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte could be called to testify in Roger Clemens' federal defamation suit against Brian McNamee as part of the trainer's attempt to dismiss the case.

WIMBLEDON, England - A spot in her seventh Wimbledon final already secured, Venus Williams headed back to Centre Court to catch the end of the next match.

CONDITIONS: Most lakes are either stable or falling slightly. Norris and Tellico are clear; the other lakes are mostly murky with surface temperatures ranging from the low-to-high 80s.

Dallas shooting guard Dennis commits to Memphis Nolan Dennis, a highly ranked shooting guard from the Dallas area, committed to Memphis on Thursday, becoming the Tigers' first recruit of the 2009 cycle.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Troy Aikman. Terry Bradshaw. Tim Brown. Julius Erving. Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Jim Kelly. Mark Rypien. Roger Staubach.

Former University of Tennessee diver Jevon Tarantino hopes to return to Knoxville one day to complete his degree work. He has returned temporarily this week to work on his degree of difficulty and other Olympic diving challenges. The 24-year-old - who left school early to pursue his athletic dreams - is one of several competitors taking part in the USA Diving 2008 Olympic Team Selection Camp through Sunday at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

SEVIERVILLE - Huntsville Stars infielder Michael Garciaparra envisoned himself as two-sport athlete at the University of Tennessee until the Seattle Mariners made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

DES MOINES, Iowa - Shortly after his promotion toClass AAA, the Iowa Cubs pulled a fast one on pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

Jason Giambi and the New York Yankees had an emphatic response to Hank Steinbrenner's latest edict.

Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer, Pat Burrell belted his second homer of the series and the Philadelphia Phillies survived a ninth-inning scare to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3 on Wednesday night in Atlanta.

WIMBLEDON, England - Lest anyone forget that Roger Federer has, indeed, lost at Wimbledon, the BBC filled time during a rain delay Wednesday by rolling tape of his 2002 first-round exit against Mario Ancic.

PGA TOUR AT&T NationalDetails: Today-Sunday at Congressional Country Club, Blue Course (7,255 yards, par 70) in Bethesda, Md. Purse: $6 million (winner's share: $1.08 million). FedExCup points: 25,000 (winner's share: 4,500).

BETHESDA, Md. - Golf enters the modern age of sports with a short walk through history.