The Rangers have started trimming salary by trading star center Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Chris Higgins in a six-player deal. On the eve of the NHL free-agent shopping season, New York sent Gomez and his big contract that has five years remaining to Montreal on Tuesday with minor leaguers Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto.

Venus and Serena Williams are one round away from meeting in another Wimbledon final. Five-time champion Venus overpowered Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday, and two-time winner Serena followed her into the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka. No. 3-seeded Venus will next face top-ranked Dinara Safina, who overcame 15 double-faults and beat German teenager Sabine Lisicki 6-7…

(AP) — The Detroit Pistons fired Michael Curry on Tuesday after finishing under .500 in his first year as coach and was swept in the first round of the playoffs. The Pistons began the season with big hopes but couldn't recover from the loss of All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups in a November trade to Denver for Allen Iverson.

The NCAA is finished with the latest Kelvin Sampson saga. The NCAA on Tuesday rejected an appeal from the former Indiana basketball coach, who was slapped with five years of potential penalties for taking part in more than 100 impermissible calls to recruits while coaching the Hoosiers. The NCAA said its infractions committee upheld the violations found in the case, which prompted an overhaul at…

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was left off Spain's team for the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday because of sore knees. Nadal has struggled with tendinitis in his knees, which forced him to skip defending his Wimbledon title. He has not played a tour match since losing in the fourth round at the French Open.

Boston's Kevin Youkilis has moved back in front of the Yankees' Mark Teixeira with two days left in AL balloting for starters for the All-Star game in St. Louis on July 14. Youkilis had 1,915,303 votes in totals released Tuesday to Teixeira's 1,875,256. Last week, Teixeira was ahead by 35,632 ballots.

Former drivers Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are two of the 25 nominees for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class.

Dirk Nowitzki's former fiancee has been transferred from a Texas jail to a lockup in Missouri. Authorities said Tuesday that Crystal Taylor, arrested at the Mavericks star's Dallas home in May, was taken to Missouri after posting bond in Jefferson County. Taylor, 38, faces probation violation charges and a theft warrant in Missouri.

Former AL Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday for a pair of minor leaguers. Pittsburgh will receive right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer for the utilityman. In addition, the Pirates will give the Yankees cash. The 31-year-old Hinske hit .255 in 106 at-bats this season with nine doubles, one homer and 11 RBIs,…

Lance Armstrong says he's capable of winning an eighth Tour de France but is ready, if necessary, to put his ambitions on hold for teammate and rival Alberto Contador. Contador and Armstrong will ride for the Astana team at the three-week race that starts Saturday. In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Armstrong says he's willing to work as a support rider for Contador if…