Don Cherry attacks "left-wing" kooks

TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) – Talk about sour grapes: Canadian TV hockey commentator Don "Grapes" Cherry lashed out at "left-wing pinkos" Tuesday, sparking protests from Toronto's city fathers.

Cherry took the microphone at city hall after ushering newly inaugurated mayor Rob Ford into the council chambers, and immediately took aim at the mainstream media for long-standing criticism of his brash, opinionated on-camera delivery.

"You know, it's funny in those articles, my church, I was made fun of cause I go to church, I'm easy to do it that way," Cherry, a former Boston Bruins coach before becoming a long-time pundit on state broadcaster CBC's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.

"And I was called maudlin for the troops because I honor the troops, this is the kind of stuff you're going to be facing Rob with these left-wing pinkos. They scrape the bottom of the barrel," he continued.

Cherry, who has politicized the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada telecast by featuring long tributes to fallen Canadian troops in Afghanistan and endorsing conservative political candidates, also explained why he wore a brash pink suit to the Ford inauguration.

"I've been being ripped to shreds by the left-wing pinko newspapers out there. It's unbelievable. One guy called me a jerk in a pink suit so I thought I'd wear that for him too today," he said.

Toronto councilors immediately criticized Cherry for taking aim at his "left-wing" critics in his address.

"I don't think you belittle people in a public ceremony like this, I think it's unacceptable," said Adam Vaughan, a former TV reporter.

Cherry's tendency to both entertain and insult TV viewers has made his Coaches Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada the most-watched seven minutes on Canadian TV each week.

During the segment, Cherry regularly labels French-speaking Quebecers as "whiners," and criticizes both European hockey players for being slow to drop the gloves and fight, and Americans for ruining the National Hockey League.

The CBC regularly reminds Cherry's critics that the TV commentator is under contract, and not a network employee, and so can freely run his mouth off.

Roddick outserved by Soderling at Paris Masters

PARIS – Andy Roddick was outserved by Robin Soderling, who fired 18 aces to win 7-5, 6-4 Friday and advance to the semifinals of the Paris Masters.

Soderling got off to a strong start on the fast center court, losing just one point on his first serve in the first 10 games.

Soderling broke Roddick for a 6-5 lead when the American buried a backhand into the net and threw his racket in anger after saving one break point with a crosscourt forehand winner.

Roddick then won a 39-shot rally that gave him a break point in the next game but Soderling saved it with a crosscourt forehand winner and celebrated with a fist pump.

The two-time French Open runner-up broke again in the first game of the second set and served out the match at love with an ace. He'll play Michael Llodra after the Frenchman defeated Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 7-5, 6-1.

"Against Andy, it's always just a matter of taking the chances you get," Soderling said. "I served pretty well. I could have put some more first serves in but my second serve was good and overall it was a good match."

Roddick said he might have lost focus after qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Thursday. Soderling also qualified for the season-ending tournament on Nov. 21.

"The last two weeks you're kind on pins and needles trying to qualify for this thing, and it might have been a little bit of mental letdown today, which is completely on me," Roddick said. "That's my fault. I should be professional enough not to have that."

Llodra and Davydenko traded breaks in the first set before the Frenchman won seven consecutive games for a 7-5, 5-0 lead.

Cheered by his son and France Davis Cup captain Guy Forget on the sideline, Llodra produced 30 winners and sealed his win with a winning serve on his second match point. He upset defending champion Novak Djokovic on Thursday.

"It was not easy to confirm my victory against Djokovic," Llodra said. "But I didn't want it to end there. It will be tough against Soderling, he is a great indoor specialist and he is full of confidence."

Later Friday, top-seeded Roger Federer will look to improve his best result in the tournament when he takes on Jurgen Melzer for a semifinal spot.

The remaining quarterfinal contest pits No. 3 Andy Murray against No. 12 Gael Monfils.

Penn St rallies to get JoePa 400th victory

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – As camera flashes lit up Beaver Stadium, Joe Paterno got a ride to a victory celebration atop the broad arms and shoulders of two burly offensive linemen.

Career win No. 400 for Penn State's beloved coach will be remembered around Happy Valley for a long time.

Backup quarterback Matt McGloin threw for four scores, the defense pitched a second-half shutout and the Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) rallied from a three-touchdown deficit Saturday night to defeat Northwestern 35-21 and get the 83-year-old Paterno his latest milestone.

"They had me up there before I knew it. I was hoping they wouldn't to be very honest," Paterno said after a getting mobbed near the end zone by players, school officials and family including his wife, Sue. Linemen Chima Okoli and Eric Shrive were among the players who lifted a smiling Paterno off his feet.

"I would be dishonest if I told you it wasn't a moving night for me, and it was," Paterno said.

JoePa is the first major college coach to hit 400 victories, but he tried to keep things as low key as possible, even with many of the 100,000-plus fans chanting his name. He's always tried to keep the focus on his team and the game, no matter how much hype there might be around his career.

With backup tailback Stephfon Green proudly holding up a sign that read, "400. The Paterno Way," the coach ended his brief post-game speech to the blue-and-white denizens with remarks that got them even more fired up.

"People ask me why I've stayed here so long, and you know what, look around, look around," he said as the crowd roared. "Now that the celebration's over, let's go beat Ohio State!"

Only two other coaches have more wins. Eddie Robinson had 408 with FCS school Grambling State, while John Gagliardi had 476 entering the weekend with Division III St. John's, Minn.

The festivities looked like they would be put on hold after a dreary first half for the Nittany Lions, and dual-threat Wildcats quarterback Dan Persa did his best to play spoiler.

He sliced through the defense for 109 yards on 25 carries and touchdown runs of 6 and 4 yards in the first half. He was also 16 of 25 passing for 201 yards, including a throw caught with one hand by leaping tight end Drake Dunsmore in the back of the end zone for a 21-0 lead late in the half for Northwestern (6-3, 2-3).

It turned out to be Northwestern's last big play, and Penn State dominated from there.

After a so-so start, McGloin re-energized the team with a two-minute drill that ended with a 7-yard touchdown catch by Brett Brackett with 3 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 21-7.

McGloin threw two more touchdown passes in the third quarter against a shell-shocked Northwestern defense before freshman tailback Silas Redd put Penn State up for good with a 4-yard scoring run with 1:31 left in the quarter.

"We lost momentum. They played with a little bit more of a chip on their shoulder," Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "We've got to fix our attitude and be able to seize momentum back and put our guys in position to do that."

As if enough history wasn't already being made at raucous Beaver Stadium, the win also matched the biggest come-from-behind victory under Paterno. In 1994, the Nittany Lions also rallied from 21 down to beat Illinois.

Freshman Rob Bolden started for the first time since getting knocked out of the Minnesota game two weeks ago with a concussion, but was pulled after fumbling the ball away on a sack on his second series.

Enter McGloin, the scrappy former walk-on who finished 18 of 29 passing for 225 yards. Paterno said afterward that Bolden wasn't hurt.

Northwestern had a last gasp when Persa drove the offense to the Penn State 9 with 8:13 left but he threw an incompletion into the end zone on fourth down. Linebacker Michael Mauti led a furious second-half defensive charge to contain the dual-threat quarterback.

Chants of "Joe Paterno! Joe Paterno!" echoed through the stands with 6:30 left and Penn State up comfortably by two touchdowns. With fans furiously clicking away at their cameras, Paterno stood idly by on the sideline, hands in his gray Penn State parka, not paying much attention to all the ruckus.

Even Sue Paterno was trying to not to make a big deal about the milestone this week. The Paternos' son and quarterback coach Jay Paterno said the whole family initially planned not to attend.

"Mom, I hate to tell you, but it's kind of a big deal. 400 wins really hasn't been done at this level," he said in relaying the conversation before tearing up.

The boss, in the meantime, was more impressed by how his team won.

"To see them come back the way they came back," JoePa said, "really, it sounds phony, but really it was more important to me than whether it was 350 wins or 400 wins."

Childress on Moss: 'It was a poor decision'

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Brad Childress calls the acquisition of receiver Randy Moss "a poor decision."

The Vikings coach addressed the media Wednesday, two days after he decided to cut Moss less than a month into his second stint in Minnesota.

Childress declined to answer repeated questions about the specifics of the decision, including the motives behind it and who he consulted before placing him on waivers.

"It was a poor decision," Childress said. "I've got to stand up and I have to make it right. When it's not right, you need to make it right."

Moss hit the waiver wire Tuesday after catching 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in four games with the Vikings. They lost three of those four games to drop to 2-5 heading into Sunday's game against Arizona.

Moss first raised some eyebrows in the Vikings locker room last Friday when he berated a caterer who brought in food for the team after practice.

"I wouldn't do it," Brett Favre said. "I was sitting in my locker eating the food. I thought it was pretty good."

Moss also showed little effort to catch a pass near the end zone in the loss to the Patriots on Sunday, but the final straw may have come after the game.

Moss gave a rambling statement to the media after the 28-18 loss, gushing with praise for coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots and criticizing Vikings coaches for not listening to his game plan input during the week.

"I wished and hoped that it would have worked out as well," Childress said. "But it was a programmatic non-fit, and it didn't work out. When things don't work out, you need to move quickly to take steps."

The poor start and the abrupt dismissal of a player the team spent a third-round draft pick to acquire from the Patriots has Childress being confronted with questions about his job security.

"I'd say that's up to everybody else to look at," Childress said. "I know that basically it's usually tied to how many wins you have and how many losses you have."

Favre said that he, like most of the players on the team, was "a little bit shocked" when Childress informed them Monday that Moss would not be back. But he also said support for the team "never wavered."

Favre said he would be the first to admit that he doesn't always see eye-to-eye with Childress, but also acknowledged that some of the coaches justifiably disagree with the decisions he makes on the field.

"Good teams are the teams that can overcome adversity, work well together," Favre said. "Having a good working relationship doesn't mean you have to like each other. That goes for any phase of business or sports."

Swimmer Crippen remembered for his Olympic dream

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – Fran Crippen has been remembered as a swimmer whose "passion and dream" was to represent the United States in the Olympics.

A week after the 26-year-old Crippen died during a World Cup race in the Middle East, he was described by a former coach as a swimmer whose only speed was "all out." Crippen was praised for his love of swimming, his friendship and his sense of humor.

The Rev. William Kelly spoke at Saturday's service in suburban Philadelphia and used the words of one of Crippen's sisters when describing the swimmer's legacy. They wanted the tragic way Crippen died to "never happen to anyone else."

Crippen was competing in the FINA Open Water 10-kilometer World Cup in Fujairah, south of Dubai last Saturday when he failed to finish and was found in the water two hours later.

Clijsters OK after car accident at WTA finals

DOHA, Qatar – Kim Clijsters says she was involved in a car accident on the way to her semifinal at the WTA Championships but escaped unhurt.

Clijsters arrived on time at the arena in Doha to start her match against Samantha Stosur of Australia.

The fourth-ranked Clijsters posted a photo on her Twitter page showing damage to the right front door of an official WTA Tour car. She tweeted that "we just had a car accident on our way to the courts! So scary."

She added that "we are all OK" but that "the car is ready for the junk yard."

Organizers confirmed the car carrying Clijsters had an accident, but didn't provide details.

Favre returns to practice, status still uncertain

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Brett Favre has returned to practice with the Minnesota Vikings.

Favre was on the field for drills on Friday for the first time this week. He had tape on his left ankle, which has two fractures, threatening his ability to play on Sunday at New England.

Favre threw a few easy passes in warmups, but he didn't roll out or take any deep dropbacks while reporters were allowed to watch. At one point, someone tossed a ball Favre's way as he lightly jogged up the field and he was nimble enough to make a stutter-step catch after a slight jump.

Coach Brad Childress is scheduled to address reporters after practice, when the team must submit the final injury report of the week and list Favre as either probable, questionable, doubtful or out against the Patriots.

Childress has said he won't let Favre's streak affect the decision on whether to play the 41-year-old quarterback, who has started an NFL-record 291 consecutive games. Favre has both a stress fracture and an avulsion fracture in the foot, which was hurt in last Sunday's loss at Green Bay.

Childress has said Favre must show enough mobility with the injury to protect himself and move effectively in the pocket, and Friday's practice is an important time for Favre to prove that.

Injured Favre won't rule himself out vs. Patriots

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Brett Favre is not ruling himself out of Sunday's game at New England despite two fractures in his left ankle.

The 41-year-old Favre wore a large, gray walking boot on his left leg to the podium for his regular news conference on Wednesday, and he said he doesn't anticipate participating in a full practice at all this week.

The Minnesota quarterback said he's always had a knack for healing quickly, which gives him hope he'll be back when the Vikings (2-4) play the Patriots (5-1).

Favre was hurt in Sunday's loss to Green Bay, and an MRI revealed a stress fracture in the ankle as well as an "avulsion" fracture in the heel bone, where a fragment has been torn away by a tendon or ligament. He doesn't need surgery, and he said after consulting with doctors he's confident he can't make the injury worse by playing.

Since taking over as the starter for the Packers in 1992, Favre has played through all kinds of pain — including a broken thumb — and not once has he sat out. His NFL-record streak is at 291 consecutive games started, 315 including the playoffs.

Favre, though, insisted he won't put his pride in the record over the sake of the team.

"I'm very proud of the streak, but it probably should have ended a long time ago," Favre said, adding: "Whether it ends this week or it ends at the end of the year, it ends, and I will always be proud of it."

Favre is also the subject of an NFL investigation into allegations that he sent lewd photographs and suggestive messages to a female New York Jets employee in 2008, a development that first put his streak in danger with the possibility of a suspension under the league's personal conduct policy.

Favre said the injury hasn't made him consider retiring now and that he's fully committed to finishing the season.

"There's still a lot of football left. We've dug ourselves a hole here. We all know that, for whatever reason," Favre said, adding: "This could easily be an injury where I could where I could say, 'I'm going to slip under the radar. See you later. Easy out.' And people may think that. I want to play, and I want to help this team win. I owe that to the guys. I owe that to myself."

LeBron back where it ended, still seeking title

BOSTON – LeBron James is back in Boston, where his NBA championship quest ended twice in the last three years.

The former Cleveland superstar was practicing at the TD Garden with his new team, the Miami Heat, in preparation for Tuesday night's NBA opener against the Celtics. James did not talk to the media, but when a dozen cameras surrounded him to film him icing his right knee, he said he felt like he was in a fishbowl.

Boston knocked James and the Cavaliers out of the playoffs on its way to the 2008 NBA title, and again last year. The Celtics also eliminated the Heat last spring, setting them on their rebuilding path.

The Heat signed James and Chris Bosh as free agents to play along with Dwyane Wade, creating a superteam and expectations of winning a championship.

No regrets in Paris for beaten Stosur

PARIS — The long wait goes on for the next Australian woman to win a Grand Slam title following Samantha Stosur's disappointing end to the French Open on Saturday.

The 26-year-old from the Gold Coast lost 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) to underdog Francesca Schiavone of Italy as she failed to reproduce the kind of shot-making that saw off Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic in the previous three rounds.

Stosur though insisted that it was Schiavone who had won the match with her tactics and initiatives and not herself who had lost it.

"I still don't think I played that bad. She just had her day. She went for it and everything came off," she said.

"You know, it takes guts to do that, and she did it, I don't think I can really say I did anything wrong. It was just well done to her.

"Obviously right now it's not easy and I really wish I'd won.

"But when you play someone who played well against you, sometimes you've just got to say, Too good."

Stosur was installed as a strong favourite for what would have been her first Grand Slam title after her impressive hat-trick of wins over Henin, Williams and Jankovic, all present or former world number ones.

She also had the experience of having played in last year's semi-finals at Roland Garros while the lightweight Schiavone at 29 had never previously got past the quarter-finals in any Grand Slam tournament.

But on a sweltering hot day on the Paris clay, the Australian struggled to find her range especially when she broke to lead 4-1 in the second set.

"I didn't really step up to the line and play the right kind of game that I needed to to try and keep that lead," she said.

"Maybe I went a little bit passive, but I wasn't feeling bad. I was actually feeling good.

"Obviously having that break up boosted my confidence a little bit, but I guess I didn't really keep the foot down and try and keep going with it."

Stosur will next turn her attention to the grass of Wimbledon where she has struggled in the past, her best performance being a third round appearance last year.

But she feels that the experience she has gained here and improvements she has made to her game to be competitive at Roland Garros will stand her in good stead in the years ahead.

"I don't think there's any reason why I couldn't get maybe similar results on hardcourts," she said.

"Grass is probably the most difficult for me. But when you have wins like I've had this week, no matter what the surface, I think it can help.

"I've had decent results at the Australian Open, but I would obviously like to make them even better and have something like this happen down there."

In the meanwhile, Evonne Goolagong remains the last Australian woman to have won a Grand Slam title - at Wimbledon in 1980.