Newsday (N.Y.): Memorable plays during Raiders days puts Ken Stabler on doorstep of Hall of Fame

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

Maybe it was all about timing. Ken Stabler played in an era dominated by Terry Bradshaw and Bob Griese.

Maybe it was all about location. Stabler might have been in the wrong place. He played on the "Left Coast," as Easterners say with a sneer.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2015 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Roger Federer will play Novak Djokovic for Wimbledon title

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — He was Michael Jordan hitting jump shots. He was Jack Nicklaus driving golf balls. He was Roger Federer, out of the past and securing a future because he again will be playing in a Wimbledon final.

At 33, Federer served as if he were 23, with 20 aces and a bunch of serves that Andy Murray just couldn't handle. "He served fantastic," an awed Murray said. "I really didn't have any opportunities."

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2015 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova for 17th straight time

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — Everyone knows the best part of Serena Williams' game is her serving — she had 13 more aces Thursday while sweeping through her Wimbledon semifinal -- but her bewildered opponent, Maria Sharapova, pointed out another Williams asset.

"I think one of the things she does extremely well is to take [herself] from a defensive position to offense. I was not able to that," sighed Sharapova after losing to Williams a 17th consecutive time.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2015 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Serena Williams goes 3 sets to get past Azarenka

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — In a country of royalty, Serena Williams seems destined again to ascend the throne of ladies tennis. And if things go right, to make history by winning the true Grand Slam, all four major tournaments in a calendar year.

Williams dropped the first set to Victoria Azarenka Tuesday in their Wimbledon quarterfinal, but then, utilizing power unfathomed by other women, rebounded for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2015 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Novak Djokovic rallies to beat Kevin Anderson

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — It's a sporting cliche, but an accurate one. The way an athlete responds when in trouble is a yardstick of his quality. Novak Djokovic, the No. 1-ranked player in men's tennis, responded well enough at Wimbledon to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament a 25th straight time.

In a match that began Monday and then after four sets was suspended because of darkness, Djokovic Tuesday completed a successful comeback, defeating Kevin Anderson, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 on Court One.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2015 Newsday. All rights reserved.