*The top-seeded Americans were bounced one-by-one out of Wimbledon over the weekend, led by No. 8 seed James Blake on Friday, and followed by the retiring Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and defending ladies champion Venus Williams on Saturday. However, 62nd-ranked Shenay Perry, the sole remaining U.S. player, makes her first-ever appearance in the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament with a win over Austria’s Sybille Bammer 7-5, 6-3. The Washington D.C. native’s historic Wimbledon journey continues today against Elena Dementieva. Meanwhile, Blake was done in Friday by Belarussian Max Mirnyi 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0. During his post game interview, Blake said of his last two sets: “I wasn't making my first serves. Just went off for a little while. That hasn't happened to me in a long time. But it happened today against the worst guy.” Williams, a 6th seed, was escorted out by 26th-seeded Jelena Jandovic of Serbia 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-4. “Will it be hard to put it behind me? I hate losing, obviously. I'm used to winning, especially here,” Venus told reporters. “But as long as, God willing, I'm healthy, I'll be around next year, and I'll be around for the next tournament.”
*Minnesota Timberwolves player Eddie Griffin has apologized for a March auto accident where he was literally caught with his pants down. According to a lawsuit filed against him on Thursday, the NBA athlete was driving his SUV in Minneapolis while drunk and masturbating to a porn DVD when he crashed into a parked Chevy Suburban. Griffin said he deeply regrets the incident and apologized to his family, teammates, and the community for any embarrassment his actions may have caused. Meanwhile, police are investigating whether two officers should have issued Griffin a DUI ticket and whether they violated policy by driving him home to St. Paul after the accident. The owner of the vehicle that Griffin allegedly damaged and the owner's brother are suing Griffin and the city, claiming he tried to bribe them and that their civil rights were violated by the police handling of the case. A video tape of the incident taken by the victim and given to several local media outlets shows Griffin admitting that he is drunk and does not have a driver’s license. He is also seen pleading with witnesses to not call the police, saying, “I can’t go to jail.” Video also showed Griffin offering to buy a car for the man whose SUV he crashed into.*Cleveland Cavaliers star and recent BET Award winner LeBron James has been offered a five year, $80 million contract extension. While James has always said he would return to the Cavs, he had yet to make his decision as of press time. "I'm not talking about it today," a smiling James said at a news conference. Meanwhile, Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony was offered approximately the same deal as King James – a five-year, $80 million contract extension, which the 22-year-old accepted just 12 hours after the league's free agency period began. It was the maximum contract amount he could have signed under the terms of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. Due to league rules, neither James nor Anthony can officially sign new contracts until July 12.
*Tiger Woods has announced that he will participate in Japan’s $1.7 million Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament, to be held Nov.16-19 at the Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki, Japan. The athlete will attempt to win Japan's richest golf event for the third consecutive year, tying Japan's Jumbo Ozaki. At last year's tournament, Woods won the fourth hole of a playoff with Japan's Kaname Yokoo to claim the title.