PEBBLE BEACH — Phil Mickelson waited until late last year, when his clubs were collecting dust during a three-month break from golf, to reflect on a U.S. Open meltdown at Winged Foot that suddenly seemed to overshadow all his achievements.

POMONA — Ashley Force lost in the first round of eliminations Sunday in the NHRA’s Winternationals, the second-generation racer’s first professional event.

SEATTLE — Spencer Hawes stood tall against Stanford’s twin 7-footers this time around.

OAKLAND — Josh Smith scored 11 of his 29 points in Atlanta’s big first quarter and also had 10 rebounds, leading the Hawks past the Golden State Warriors 106-105 on Sunday night for their fifth straight road victory.

SACRAMENTO — Ray Allen scored 25 points and made a key 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter that helped the Seattle SuperSonics win their second straight road game following a franchise-record 15-game skid away from home, 114-103 over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Robert Yates Racing went from skid row to the front row, emerging from the darkest season in team history to take the Daytona 500 spotlight.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — England’s Mark James won the Allianz Championship, closing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory over Champions Tour player of the year Jay Haas.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Andy Roddick kicked the red powder off his shoes one last time, happy to be done with clay and ready to return to the hardcourts back home for the Davis Cup quarterfinals.

ARE, Sweden — Lindsey Kildow understands her time will come. For now, however, she knows the slopes belong to Anja Paerson.

GOLD COAST, Australia — After two days of nearly flawless golf, Karrie Webb stumbled late but held on Sunday to win her sixth ANZ Australian Ladies Masters.

Sunday’s 32nd Annual Cherry Pie Criterium’s Elite Pro 1-2 Category race was something to see.

LAKEPORT — The Justin-Siena High School wrestling team captured the North Coast Section Class A Dual Team championship on Saturday at Clear Lake High.

Today

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK— President Bush’s federal budget sets aside money to study the benefits of draining and restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley, which provides water to 2.4 million residents in the San Francisco Bay area.

TRUCKEE — In California history class, I daydreamed through the missions, and the Big Four were a bore — but I perked right up when we got to the Donner Party.

WASHINGTON — After five years of trying, Democratic lawmakers say they are confident this is the year Congress will finally approve a Wild Sky Wilderness northeast of Seattle.

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho’s wolves will be even cheaper to kill than originally planned, according to state wildlife managers preparing to hold legal public hunts for the predators once Endangered Species Act protections are lifted.