Phelps 'had nothing left' before winning 7th gold

After winning his sixth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps feared he wouldn't be strong enough to win his seventh.

But a mistake by Serbian rival Milorad Cavic allowed Phelps to pull out an improbable win in the 100-meter butterfly.

Phelps, who went on to break Mark Spitz's record by winning eight golds in China, discussed his performance in an interview with the CBS news show "60 Minutes," to be broadcast on Sunday.

After winning the 200 individual medley, Phelps expressed his fears to coach Bob Bowman.

"I got nothing left," he remembered saying to Bowman, according to an excerpt of the interview …

Cops hunt a `Fagin' guiding N.Y. boys in shoplifting ring

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A man likened by police yesterday to theCharles Dickens villain Fagin organized 75 New York City boys into agang of thieves and supplied them with a manual targeting designerclothing at malls in four states.

Authorities in New York and New Jersey said boys from a Brooklynneighborhood shoplifted up to $800 worth of clothes apiece onweekends in exchange for money and drugs from the ringleader.

Most of the thieves, believed to be from 11 to 14 years old,carry knapsacks full of old clothes and exchange them for new ones instore fitting rooms, Paramus, N.J., Police Chief Joseph Delaney said.

Police would not say whether they had identified …

Carper praises state auditor's decision to deny salary bonus

Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper is praising state AuditorGlen Gainer for rejecting the payment of a bonus to a state official,because it supports a policy adopted by the county commission andprevious advice from Gainer.

Last week, Gainer rejected a request from the Workers'Compensation Commission to pay Director Greg Burton a $17,500 bonusbecause Gainer could find no law that would allow such a payment.

"Your stance on this issue was consistent with the advice given toKanawha County, and I would like to applaud you for your actions asthe 'watchdog' of taxpayer funds for the state," Carper wrote in aletter to Gainer.

Gainer is up for re-election this …

EADS raises outlook despite drop in Q2 profit

PARIS (AP) — EADS NV, the parent company of plane-maker Airbus, raised its outlook for 2010 — despite a 61 percent drop in second quarter earnings — as a rash of new aircraft orders boosted hopes that a painful two-year downturn is over.

"We feel more comfortable for the full year now," Chief Financial Officer Hans Peter Ring said Friday in a conference call with journalists.

Airbus said it hopes to capture more than 400 gross orders this year — that's 100 more than its previous forecast.

To keep up, it plans to increase production of its main money-earner, the single-aisle A320. By 2012, it plans to be manufacturing 40 planes per month, up from 34 today.

Louis …

Edwards in for Nash in Windies 2nd test squad

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Vice captain Brendan Nash was dropped by West Indies and replaced for the second test against India by Kirk Edwards on Saturday.

Nash scored only 1 and 9 at Sabina Park, where West Indies lost by 63 runs in four days.

His six innings this year add up to only 54 runs.

"It is clear that Brendan has been struggling for form for some time and we want to give him a chance to take some time away from international cricket and work on his game," said Clyde Butts, the chairman of selectors.

"Brendan is a mentally tough cricketer and we are sure that he will be able to …

BOCCE BALL IS AN OLDSTERS' GAME EASILY EMBRACED BY MIDSTERS

PLAY

A recent BW retreat to the Lodge at Riggins Hot Springs afforded us staffers a weekend of rest and relaxation if so desired, or a few days of play, which some of us took advantage of like kids at summer camp.

On Saturday, with the bright sun reflecting off the Salmon River, some of my colleagues headed out on a miles-long hike. It never crossed my mind to bring shoes other than flip-flops so hiking was out. One employee brought his bike. Not only did I not think to bring my bike, he covered more ground in that one day than I do in a month. No biking for me. Some people splashed around in the pool. I don't even own a bathing suit, for the staffers hanging out inside the …

National League Leaders

BATTING_Kendall, Milwaukee, .467; Fukudome, Chicago, .458; Doumit, Pittsburgh, .458; Mclouth, Pittsburgh, .441; Ramirez, Florida, .440; Burrell, Philadelphia, .435; Keppinger, Cincinnati, .423.

RUNS_Young, Arizona, 9; Utley, Philadelphia, 8; Reynolds, Arizona, 7; Ramirez, Florida, 7; Weeks, Milwaukee, 7; Nady, Pittsburgh, 7; Guzman, Washington, 7; DLee, Chicago, 7.

RBI_Reynolds, Arizona, 9; Mclouth, Pittsburgh, 9; Nady, Pittsburgh, 9; Burrell, Philadelphia, 9; Escobar, Atlanta, 7; Hall, Milwaukee, 7; Jones, Atlanta, 7.

HITS_Mclouth, Pittsburgh, 15; Nady, Pittsburgh, 12; Guzman, Washington, 12; DLee, Chicago, 12; Jones, Atlanta, 12.

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