Professional Sports

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY -- Big Brown was pulling away from the field, accelerating with every powerful stride toward the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. The crowd of 157,770 was on its feet and cheering as the big, unbeaten, muscular bay crossed the line first, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of the filly Eight Belles.

Clint Bowyer was a surprise winner at Richmond International Raceway, stealing a win that first seemed destined for Denny Hamlin, then Dale Earnhardt Jr. Neither made it to Victory Lane, though, because of a wild ending that saw three drivers denied the trip Bowyer made to Victory Lane.

DULUTH -- Chris Griesen completed 23 of 31 passes for 296 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Georgia Force to a 66-39 win over the New Orleans VooDoo Saturday night.

WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS -- The Boston Celtics played hard all season for home-court advantage in the playoffs. They just didn't expect to need it this soon. The Celtics are back in Boston and hoping to finish off the pesky Atlanta Hawks on Sunday in Game 7.

The Atlanta Braves made it easy for Jo-Jo Reyes to win his 2008 debut.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA -- Local favorite Denny Hamlin used a late pit stop for tires to foil the strategy of fellow NASCAR stars Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards, blowing by them to win the Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA -- Denny Hamlin didn't realize how much he was feeling the pressure to perform in front of his hometown crowd until he was hurtling around the track in qualifying.

Tim Hudson pitched his 11th career shutout and Brian McCann hit a two-run homer, helping Atlanta end a season-high four-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Cincinnati on Friday night.

Jose Reyes had four hits and was thrown out at the plate in the eighth inning while trying to complete the cycle with an inside-the-park homer, leading the New York Mets over the Arizona Diamondbacks and former Gainesville High standout Micah Owings 7-2 Friday night.

As streamers poured from the rafters at Philips Arena, Marvin Williams stood at center court with arms folded, looking defiant, even with a sore knee