LAS VEGAS — Sally Boyer, a former opera singer, gave the poker performance of her life by turning a $65 tournament win into a $262,077 payday and the World Series of Poker ladies event crown.

CLEVELAND — Their blueprint, shaded in tones of silver, white and black, is based on defense, discipline and teamwork. The San Antonio Spurs have never wavered from it, making them the NBA’s current standard of excellence.

SANTA CLARA — Coach Mike Nolan will be a sharp-dressed man at all the San Francisco 49ers’ home games this season.

OAKMONT, Pa. - A squirrel ran onto the ninth green at Oakmont, looked around in confusion at the 10 U.S. Open golfers practicing their putting and tried to escape. He ran this way, then another, but still couldn’t find a way out or a tree to climb.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -  When Dale Earnhardt Jr. needed career advice, he turned to Rick Hendrick. When his grandfather suffered a stroke, it was Hendrick who made arrangements at the hospital. When his sister had a cancer scare, Hendrick stepped in to find a specialist.

HOUSTON — Houston reliever Dan Wheeler blew a save, then shoved starter Chris Sampson in the dugout on Wednesday night, an ugly twist to the Astros’ frustrating season.

OAKLAND — Athletics general manager Billy Beane, the architect behind Oakland’s four division titles since 2000, was rewarded with a seven-year contract extension Wednesday.

SAN FRANCISCO — To the San Francisco Giants, Tim Lincecum is “Franchise.” Toronto treated him like a typical freshman.

ALAMEDA — The Oakland Raiders ended their offseason workouts with a very different look than the group new coach Lane Kiffin had at his first practice in March.