Chicago Olympics loss means more than bruised ego, forces city to rethink jobs, economy, plans

CHICAGO — Chicago’s dream of an Olympics stimulus is over with the 2016 Summer Games going to Rio de Janeiro. And the loss amounts to more than a bruised ego for the nation’s third-largest city.

IOC president Jacques Rogge says sports has no place for ‘win-at-all-cost’ mentality

COPENHAGEN — Now that the 2016 Games have been awarded, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has set his sights on cheaters.

Rio de Janeiro bid team corrects an imbalance with a brand new Olympic map

COPENHAGEN — The injustice has been corrected — and Rio de Janeiro has a new map to prove it.

After party, hard work ahead: Brazil starts getting ready for World Cup and Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO — As Rio awoke from a night of celebration after being awarded the 2016 Olympics, Brazil was already looking ahead to years of hard work in what will be a historic time in Latin America’s biggest nation.

Rio celebrates win to host 2016 Olympics with caipirinhas, bronzed bodies on stunning beaches

RIO DE JANEIRO — Confetti poured over 50,000 cheering Brazilians, swimsuit-clad revelers waved green, yellow and blue flags and bartenders worked overtime serving caipirinhas to celebrate one of Rio’s proudest moments: The 2016 Olympics are coming to the Marvelous City.

Emotion, interpersonal and geographic appeal led to Chicago losing 2016 Olympic bid

COPENHAGEN/CHICAGO/WASHINGTON - Emotion, interpersonal appeal and geographic appeal led to Chicago losing 2016 Olympic bid to eventual winner Brazil, say most in America.

Song of victory for Brazil’s marvellous city

COPENHAGEN - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stood at the front of the delegation about to deliver Rio de Janeiro’s merits as a potential Olympic host and suddenly found himself breaking into song with his compatriots.

South America gets its first games: The 2016 Olympics are flying down to Rio de Janeiro

COPENHAGEN — The country’s president was blunt. “It is,” Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said, “Brazil’s time.”

Chicago, Tokyo lose out in Olympic bid

COPENHAGEN - Chicago and Tokyo were eliminated Friday in the first and second rounds of International Olympic Committee voting to choose the 2016 Games host city.

Rio, Madrid still in race to host 2016 Olympics; Chicago, Tokyo eliminated

COPENHAGEN — Rio de Janeiro or Madrid — one of them will host the 2016 Olympics. Chicago is out — one of the most shocking defeats ever handed down by the International Olympic Committee — as President Barack Obama’s appeals for his adopted hometown failed.

Thousands gathered in Chicago stand in stunned silence after Olympics bid goes elsewhere

CHICAGO — Thousands of people stood in bewildered silence in downtown Chicago on Friday after the International Olympic Committee surprised everyone by dumping the city from the race for 2016 Summer Olympics in the first round of voting.

Chicago goes down in stunning defeat, losing in first round of IOC voting

COPENHAGEN — Chicago seemed to have everything going for it.

Chicago and Tokyo are rejected as sites for the 2016 Olympics; Rio or Madrid will win

COPENHAGEN — Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists. Tokyo was also eliminated, leaving Rio de Janeiro and Madrid as the finalists.

Passionate Rio upstages Obama’s Chicago, others before IOC

COPENHAGEN - Chicago lobbyist US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama were upstaged by a passionate Rio de Janeiro bid urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bring the Olympics to South America for the first time in 2016.

Former president Samaranch asks IOC to consider his age and pick Madrid for the 2016 Olympics

COPENHAGEN — Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch has asked the International Olympic Committee to consider his age and award Madrid the 2016 Games.

After years of preparation and a close race, IOC is set to select host of 2016 Olympics

COPENHAGEN — Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid made final pitches to the International Olympic Committee to be selected later Friday as host of the 2016 Olympics, with President Barack Obama and Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pitting their star power against each other in emotional pushes for their cities.

Led by Lula, Rio urges IOC to address ‘imbalance’ and award 2016 Olympics to South America

COPENHAGEN — Rio de Janeiro delivered a passionate appeal for South America to be awarded the Olympics for the first time.

People of Chicago take the spotlight as city makes its case to host 2016 Olympics

COPENHAGEN — Looking out at the International Olympic Committee members, President Barack Obama grinned.

After years of preparation and a close race, IOC selects host of 2016 Olympics

COPENHAGEN — Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid made final pitches to the International Olympic Committee to be selected later Friday as host of the 2016 Olympics, with President Barack Obama and Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pitting their star power against each other in emotional pushes for their cities.

AP Interview: Sebastian Coe says bid race for 2016 Olympics even closer than 2012 contest

LONDON — Take it from a man who should know: The race for the 2016 Olympics is as close as can be.

Freddie Ljungberg returns to Seattle after brief hospital visit following MLS All-Star game

TUKWILA, Wash. — Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Freddie Ljungberg was back in the Seattle area on Thursday, just hours after being taken to the hospital following the MLS All-Star game in Sandy, Utah.

Brazil: Boxer Gatti’s death ruled a suicide and his wife ordered released

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian police say the death of boxer Arturo Gatti was a suicide and a court has ordered the release of his wife.

American goalie leads English club Everton over MLS in All-Star Game

SANDY, Utah — Landon Donovan is looking forward to playing with Tim Howard behind him again.

Final 9 at World Series of Poker take home $1.26M, return in Nov. to play for millions more

LAS VEGAS — The World Series of Poker has thrust nine millionaire winners into the spotlight as they wait 116 days to get back to the table for the rest of the no-limit Texas Hold ‘em main event.

Final table reached at World Series of Poker as Smith busts 10th, on poker’s ultimate bubble

LAS VEGAS — The World Series of Poker main event reached its final table on Wednesday night as Jordan Smith busted in 10th place with a pocket pair of aces — the best starting hand in no-limit Texas Hold ‘em.

Wife of slain boxer Gatti tells AP from jail she is innocent, will be proven soon

RIO DE JANEIRO — Arturo Gatti’s wife, accused of strangling the champion boxer with her purse strap, proclaims her innocence and love for her dead husband in a letter given to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Lawyer asks for release of Brazilian wife of slain former boxing champion Arturo Gatti

RIO DE JANEIRO — The Brazilian wife of Arturo Gatti asked to be released from jail, where she is held on accusations she strangled the former boxing champion with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

UCI president Pat McQuaid unopposed for 2nd term in office; will stand in IOC membership vote

GENEVA — Pat McQuaid will stand unopposed for a second four-year term as president of cycling’s governing body, clearing the way for his bid to join the International Olympic Committee in October.

Obama Plans to Welcome World in 2016 Chicago Olympics

Obama sends video backing Chicago 2016 Olympic bid

Last group of players begin World Series of Poker main event, but over 500 turned away

LAS VEGAS — The World Series of Poker faced hundreds of angry players on Monday after they were turned away from the no-limit Texas Hold ‘em main event because of capacity on the tournament’s final starting day.

Swine flu fears prompt Brazilian club Cruzeiro to seek postponement of Copa Libertadores final

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian soccer club Cruzeiro wants to postpone this week’s Copa Libertadores match against Estudiantes because of the swine flu outbreak in Argentina.

Hear ye, Hellmuth fans! Hellmuth enters World Series of Poker main event dressed as Caesar

LAS VEGAS — Flanked by dozens of women, heralded by trumpeters and mobbed by his fans, Phil Hellmuth channeled Julius Caesar as he arrived at the World Series of Poker on Sunday.

Day 2 of the World Series of Poker main event

DAY: 2 (Officially known as Day 1B).

37-year-old ex-bowler wins $1.28M, mixed-game HORSE crown at World Series of Poker

LAS VEGAS — A 37-year-old former pro bowler from Georgia outlasted a 44-year-old New Yorker in a marathon poker session Wednesday to win $1.28 million and the mixed-game H.O.R.S.E. title at the World Series of Poker.

Ecuador winger Valencia joins Manchester United

LONDON - Manchester United confirmed Wednesday that they have completed the signing of Luis Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic for a reported fee of 16 million pounds ($26.3 million).