Serena Williams

Despite entering the women's singles tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics as the No. 4 seed, Williams dominated the field, losing only 17 games in her six matches en route to capturing her first career singles gold medal.  Williams didn't leave any doubt in the gold medal match, either. It took her about 30 minutes to finish off Maria Sharapova in impressive fashion, 6-0 and 6-1.

The victory capped off Williams' career Golden Slam, which is a milestone achieved by winning each of the Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic gold. Steffi Graf first achieved the feat back in 1988.

Fresh off the heels of her fifth victory at Wimbledon last month, Williams is back to form. She hopes to continue her roll as she pairs up with her sister, Venus Williams, in pursuit of their third gold medal in the doubles tournament.

But Lithuania proved to be a more difficult opponent, capturing a late fourth-quarter lead before Team USA pulled out a 99-94 victory.

Lithuania built its lead behind putrid free-throw shooting and non-existent defense from Team USA. LeBron James took over late, though, scoring nine points in the closing minutes to erase the deficit. James finished with 20 points.

Carmelo Anthony also added 20 points for Team USA and Kevin Durant contributed 16 points, but it was Lithuania's Linas Kleiza who led all scorers in the game with 25 points.

Team USA has a firm grasp on Group A, improving to 4-0 with the win. Lithuania, meanwhile, falls to 1-3, and will need a victory over Tunisia on Monday to have a shot at the quarterfinals.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@ged

David Feherty didn't seem concerned about that power when he put a tee in his mouth and allowed Daly to take a hack at the ball with his driver.

Daly has been known for his antics on the course throughout his career, so it didn't come as a huge surprise to see him attempt this crazy stunt. Not to play spoiler but, thankfully, Feherty made it through the drive unharmed.

Check out the video below, courtesy of CBS Sports, to see the entire thing unfold.

That hasn't distracted Jones from her training regimen, though. While Jones isn't often early to rise, she puts herself through grueling conditioning, which includes running stadium steps and weight training.

A three-time NCAA champion at LSU who specializes in the 60- and 100-meter hurdles, Jones came close to capturing the gold in 2008 at Beijing but stumbled over the second to last hurdle. It's clear that her near-victory has made Jones even hungrier this time around, and she is ready to prove herself for her country.

Check out the video below to see a rundown of Jones' workout.

Click here to see more photos of Jones both on and off the track >>

The Heat turned the city upside down in 2010, adding LeBron James and Chris Bosh, the Marlins moved to Miami with new uniforms and a stadium equipped with plenty of bells and whistles last year, and now the Dolphins are considering a logo change for the 2013 season, according to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post.

The Dolphins are rumored to be considering a logo that pays homage to the roots of the original Dolphins Stadium logo. With Nike now in charge of uniforms league-wide, Miami may be able to spruce up its jerseys as well.

The team has until November to decide on tweaks, but Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said the changes won't be too drastic.

Click here to see photos of the NFL's new uniforms>>

Photo via Twitter/NFLRT

The discussions, which were described as appropriate earlier this week, have taken a bit of a turn with the news of the owners' recent proposal. The initial offer from the owners would call for a dramatic restructuring of the distribution of hockey-related revenue, shorten the maximum length of a contract to five years and institute a slew of other changes, according to Renaud Lavoie of RDS.

For starters, the owners want to take back a chunk of hockey-related revenue from the players. How much exactly? Well, the players are currently in control of 57 percent of that revenue, and the owners want to slash that number to 46 percent, which would immediately cut into players' salaries.

Next on the docket for the owners are those lengthy contracts players have been receiving. Under the owners' proposal, contracts would be limited to five years. This would eliminate teams using lengthy contracts to bring down a player's cap hit. The players won't be thrilled about this part of the proposal, but at least the owners are, for now, letting the players keep their guaranteed contracts, something NFL players are not afforded. Those five-year contracts would come without a signing bonus and with the same salary in every season, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post.

The owners weren't as friendly when it comes to free agency. Players are already forced to wait until they are 27 years old, or have seven years of professional experience (in North America) before they can hit unrestricted free agency, but the owners are trying to push that to 10 years, which would take a bite out of the free agent market. The proposal also calls for an end to salary arbitration and extending entry-level contracts from three years to five years.

The list of demands is long and ambitious, but it's just a launching point for the discussions. The players aren't just going to roll over and accept this one-sided deal. In fact, the proposal shows just how far apart the two sides are.

But before hockey fans start panicking, fearing another lockout, it's worth noting that the NHL's current collective bargaining agreement is not set to expire until Sept. 15. The two sides still have time to come to an agreement.

After the NFL's talks came down to the wire last summer and the NBA missed the first two months of the regular season, another messy negotiation is well under way in the NHL. The league and its fans have felt this frustration before, which will make the coming months even more nerve-racking. The locked-out season of 2004-05 was a huge blow to the popularity of the league, but the league is finally starting to bounce back. Another lockout would be devastating.

The initial offer is ambitious, Gary Bettman and the owners are notoriously stingy, and plenty of issues need to be fixed in the current bargaining agreement. But time is still on hockey's side. A lockout isn't a done deal just yet.

Webster took to his Twitter account to encourage all of his followers to see the movie Savages, which came out July 6. Webster seemed to have strong feelings about the new film.

If you haven't seen Savages then your doing yourself a disservice.You should honestly be put in jail.Citizens arrests will happen tonight!!!

— Martell Webster (@MartellWebster) July 14, 2012

While the joke showed that Webster was not in a funk after his release, he did have a few serious tweets earlier in the day, thanking the city of Minneapolis and the Timberwolves franchise for the opportunity to play and the community's support.

Thumbnail via Twitter/Caaitwoodland

LeBron James, fresh off his first NBA championship, headlines the squad, and on Thursday he showed why. In an exhibition match with the Dominican Republic, James made the highlight reel with a behind-the-back pass to Deron Williams.

James and company took care of business in convincing fashion, beating the Dominican Republic 113-59. The exhibition was the first for Team USA, with four more scheduled before the team heads to London.

Check out the video below for the first of what figures to be many highlights from Team USA this summer.

The fight broke out behind the outfield fence and caused at least a dozen other parents to rush to break up the scrum. Of course, it wasn’t an easy scuffle to stop, and those who rushed in to pull the two apart ended up exchanging some words of their own.

The entire situation was a mess, but no arrests were made. The two heavyweights involved in the initial melee were cited for disorderly conduct.

With the Little League World Series fast approaching, this incident should serve as a reminder to kids and parents everywhere that it’s just a game. A little league game, no less.

Check out the entire fight in the video below.

Anderson Silva‘s fight headlined the card. The Brazilian middleweight was making his 10th title defense and his second against Chael Sonnen, but this title defense felt bigger.

Leading up to the fight, Sonnen slammed Silva in interviews, taking shots at his fighting ability, family and nationality. He was acting more like a WWE superstar than a professional fighter. Despite Silva’s characteristically mild manner, the comments visibly fueled him. The war of words made for as tense a weigh-in as the UFC has ever had. And the shoulder Silva drove into Sonnen’s chest didn’t do much to calm either side down.

Silva wore his emotions on his sleeves, but that wasn’t the strangest part about the fight. The trash talking added an interesting element to the rematch, but millions tuned in because there was actually a feeling that Silva, who came into the bout on a 14-fight win streak, might actually lose.

Sonnen had nearly dethroned Silva just two years earlier. Four and a half rounds into UFC 117, Sonnen had Silva beat with a dominant ground and pound attack. But Silva did what he does best. He found a way to win, locking Sonnen into an arm triangle with less than two minutes to go in the fight.

Two years later, after Sonnen tested positive for steroids and was forced to climb the middleweight ladder all over again, Dana White scheduled the rematch. And outside of the buildup and heightened tension, the fight had a familiar feel.

Sonnen took advantage of Silva’s emotional start to the fight, taking the champion to the ground and dominating the first round. Sonnen appeared primed to pick up where he left off against Silva, but this time, he was determined to finish.

But a fighter doesn’t go six years without losing just to concede the belt after a round, and Silva came out swinging in the second round. Silva stuffed not one, but two Sonnen take-down attempts, keeping the fight off the mat, where Sonnen had been dominant.

Silva had his edge back. He walked around the ring with his arms at his side, dodging Sonnen strikes without a care in the world. When Silva avoided Sonnen’s final attempt, a spinning back fist, the trash-talking contender was sent flying into the cage, and it didn’t take long for Silva to finish the fight.

The postfight scene was reminiscent of a fighter who was winning the title for the first time. Silva celebrated with tear-filled eyes, hugging his children and praising his opponent. And as the belt was once again wrapped around Silva’s waist, one couldn’t help but feel that no fighter in the history of the sport was as much of a champion as Silva.

He has succesfully defended his title ten times. Since signing on with the UFC in 2006, Silva has not lost a fight. He has won more consecutive fights (15) than any fighter in UFC history. And he has the longest UFC title reign of all time.

As impressive as all of that is, it doesn’t speak to how dominant a fighter Silva has been throughout his career. Rarely does a fighter step into the ring against Silva with a prayer of winning the fight. He has made a living off of embarassing his opponents, and he can win in so many ways.

UFC 148 was a challenge for Silva. He was called out and doubted, two uncommon occurences throughout his career. But the man they call the “Spider” once again rose to the occasion.

He’s not finished yet, but Silva has set the bar higher than any figher in the history of MMA. With a resume like Silva’s, it’s tough for any fighter to stack up against the Sau Paulo native.

Silva has been linked to rumors of potential fights against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and boxer Roy Jones Jr. There is no limit to what this man can do. And like UFC 148, and many fights before it, every time Silva is scheduled to fight, it’s must-watch television. He never fails to live up to the hype.

Photo via Twitter/@ESPN

The National Park Service has recognized the storied ballpark, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary this season, by listing it on its National Register of Historic Places, according to a press release. Fenway opened its doors in 1912 and is the oldest venue used by any professional sports team.

National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis will join Red Sox officials in a pre-game ceremony to unveil a plaque before Game 1 of Saturday's double-header against the New York Yankees. Jarvis will also throw out the first pitch.

"Recognizing the incredible history of this ballpark through the National Register designation is a great way to bring the national parks and the national pastime together," Jarvis said. "Fenway is a treasured American icon for baseball fans across the country."

On that, everyone can agree.

No Red Sox starter earned a win, and the team was swept by the Oakland Athletics. After opening up the week Sunday with a victory over the Mariners, the Red Sox dropped three straight to the A's before coming home and losing Friday's contest to the rival New York Yankees.

While no pitcher was particularly heroic this week, Jon Lester did his part in Tuesday's loss against Oakland. The 28-year old lefty threw 6 2/3 innings, striking out nine batters and allowing just one run on four hits. He did not pick up a decision in the loss.

Lester's record held at 5-5 after the strong outing, and it was the first time Lester allowed fewer than two runs in a game since May 14 against the Seattle Mariners.

With shaky performances from Felix Doubront and Aaron Cook to go with letdowns from Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Lester's workmanlike performance stood out, making him the Amica Pitcher of the Week.

The team announced, in a full press release, that it had placed team mascot Uncle Slam on the 60-day disabled list after he suffered burns in a recent fire at the team's ballpark. Don't worry — the mascot costume itself sustained the burns, not the man inside.

The tongue-in-cheek release went on to call forth any mascots willing to take Uncle Slam's place while he is on the mend.

"Any mascot willing to sign on for a two-month contract with the Potomac Nationals will be handsomely rewarded with baseball bucks, Chilli's Lemonade, Chick-fil-A sandwiches and the chance to watch fireworks every Saturday night," the release said.

While plenty of promising prospects and rehab assignments highlight minor league baseball each year, stories like this help pass the time for these lesser-known clubs that don't get too much excitement throughout the summer.

Thumbnail via Facebook/Potomac Nationals

Bryce Harper

While Harper has exploded onto the baseball scene with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in the first half of the season, the Nationals slugger wants to have his bases covered. He plans on training to be a firefighter this offseason in order to give himself something to fall back on, he said in an interview on the Nationals' team blog.

Harper is on his way to becoming a wealthy man if his production and development continues along its current path. But even though he is one of the most decorated prospects to come along in years, it's impossible to say for sure if he will have a long, stable career in the majors.

Good for Harper for giving himself an insurance option, and an honorable one at that.

Jaromir Jagr

Jagr, who returned to the NHL last season after a stint in the KHL, enjoyed success with the Philadelphia Flyers this season, collecting 19 goals and 54 points in 73 games.

The Czech star announced after the season that he would test free agency, and the Stars surprisingly met his desire for a salary bump, as first reported by Pierre LeBrun.

General manager Joe Nieuwendyk and the Stars have started the offseason aggressively under new ownership, signing veteran winger Ray Whitney in addition to Jagr and trading for former Sabres center Derek Roy. Both moves figure to bolster the offense and bring a veteran presence to a potential playoff contender.

Jagr and Whitney may not have much left in the tanks, and the price tags weren’t the friendliest, but with the cap space and youth in Dallas, the team wasted no time adding veteran leadership to the locker room.

Steve Nash

After eight years with the Phoenix Suns, Nash decided to listen to offers on the open market. And while the Suns were reportedly unwilling to offer Nash a three-year deal, the Toronto Raptors have extended a three-year, $36 million offer to the Canadian-born point guard.

The Raptors are one of five teams, including the Suns, in the running for Nash. The Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks will also be players in the Nash sweepstakes.

Nash earned roughly $12 million last season while averaging over 12 points and 10 assists per game on a team without a 20-point scorer, nearly leading the Suns to the playoffs.

The Raptors' interest in Nash may stem from his popularity in his home country, but the veteran point guard still has enough in the tank to contribute. Toronto won't be able to reel in its hometown hero without a fight.

Roger Clemens

Clemens, a dominant pitcher over the last two decades, was found not guilty last month on six counts of lying to Congress about steroid use.

But while Clemens may have avoided the jail cell, the perception about his drug use hasn't necessarily changed, putting his Hall of Fame candidancy in jeopardy.

Former Yankees and Dodgers manager Joe Torre, however, is still on Clemens' side. The former skipper said the Rocket deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, according to ESPN. Torre was quick to add that he can't make anyone else see things the same way, but he said he was happy for Clemens after he was found not guilty.

"I'm a little prejudiced on Clemens," Torre said. "He was like a son to me. Unfortunately, the question mark is always gonna be there with him. It's something that's sad for me … because I disliked him like everyone else until I got a chance to know him. He was a great teammate for these guys and he was very devoted to the team he was playing on, and I always respected that."

The Baseball Writer's Association of America is about to encounter an interesting and delicate series of candidates with similar baggage to Clemens. The steroid era in baseball left behind players with impressive resumes but questions about drug use, and voters are now going to have to make judgement calls with the information available to them.

On the field, Clemens has as strong a resume as any candidate in the history of the game. But the assumption of Clemens' drug use, even after his acquittal, may give voters pause when deciding whether to give Clemens a spot alongside the sport's all-time greats.

Matt Hasselbeck has been firmly entrenched as the Titans' staring quarterback, leaving Locker to make do with repetitions with the second team offense.

But Locker isn't going to be kept quiet much longer. In fact, he's already splitting first team reps with Hasselbeck this year.

Starting in the preseason of his rookie year, Locker has looked impressive in the limited game action he has received. Locker finished the season with a 99.4 passer rating, four touchdowns and not a single interception.

His talent is evident. He has a strong arm, quick feet and play-making ability — all traits Hasselbeck lacks at this point in his career.

Hasselbeck may have a better grasp on Tennessee's offense, and his awareness and ability to break down coverage is better than Locker's. But his physical shortcomings are stunting the growth of the Titans offense.

This offense could be quite dangerous in a few years. First-round pick Kendall Wright joins Kenny Britt at wide receiver to give Tennessee a pair of formidable options at the position. Throw former 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson into the fold, and the Titans have explosive play-makers to turn to all over the field.

But the offense can't reach its true ceiling until the players form chemistry with one another. Hasselbeck is standing in the way of that.

Locker's first stint as an NFL starter won't be without bumps in the road, but those bumps are going to be there regardless of whether Locker starts this year or next. His talent is undeniable. He showed the ability to take the Titans to a different level offensively in his brief spurts of playing time last season. The Titans believed in him enough to make him the No. 8 pick overall last April. Why delay the inevitable? Let the kid play.

Tennessee may have a chance at the playoffs this season, and maybe Hasselbeck is a safer option at quarterback. But Hasselbeck is not going to help the Titans win a Super Bowl. Locker might.

Locker has learned all he can from the veteran. His next step is on the football field as a starting quarterback.

The competition between Locker and Hasselbeck will continue throughout training camp, but if Locker continues to perform like he has, the Titans won't have any choice but to start the youngster.

Sakic ranks in the top ten on the all-time list for points with 1,641. The two-time Stanley Cup Champion also managed to win both the Hart Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy during his career with the Colorado Avalanche.

Known as the "Russian Rocket," Bure ranks fifth all-time with .623 goals per game throughout his career. While he struggled with various injuries during his playing days, Bure was one of the most gifted goal-scorers the NHL has ever seen.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans were happy to see Sundin, the longtime Leafs captain, get recognition for his prolific NHL career. Averaging over a point per game during his 20 year NHL career, the former No. 1 overall pick never managed to win a Stanley Cup.

Rounding out the inductees was Oates, who was named head coach of the Washington Capitals earlier on Tuesday. Playing for seven different teams during his NHL career, including the Boston Bruins, Oates sits at 16 on the all-time points list with 1,420.

The most notable omission from the 2012 class was Brendan Shanahan, who was up for vote for the first time. Shanahan collected 1,354 career points but was surrounded by other Hall of Fame teammates, which puts his accomplishments in perspective. He is liekly to be inducted in the near future.

Mayor Ed Lee announced Tuesday that the city will have undercover police officers dressed in Dodgers gear around AT&T Park to ensure that the Giants fans are treating the rival diehards with respect. There will also be extra officers patroling the area around the park in street clothes.

San Francisco employed a similar strategy in January when the 49ers and Giants battled it out in the playoffs.

A few undercover cops won't be able to silence these two heated rivals, but any tactic that could potentially cool the two sides off is worth a try.

Thumbnail via Twitter/Dodgers