Exactly why the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays tangle so much is hard to tell. Blame it on a high-and-tight pitch here, a hard slide there. Whatever, this much is true: The teams playing in the AL championship series sure get into a lot of scraps. "There's no hatred," injured Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling insisted Tuesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Barry Bonds made a rare public appearance Tuesday and said he is enjoying life away from baseball. "I'm happy now that I have more time," Bonds told the crowd at the kickoff event of the Macy's Christmas tree lighting. "I've actually enjoyed myself immensely." Bonds, honorary chair of this year's lighting, did not talk to reporters and left quickly after giving a brief speech during the 30-minute...

Colorado coach Dan Hawkins and the university agreed to a contract extension that could keep him with the Buffaloes through 2012. Hawkins is 11-19 in his third year at Colorado, and the Buffaloes are 3-2 this season. The new contract was announced Tuesday and takes effect July 1. "Everybody else seems to worry about that more than I do," Hawkins said of his new deal.

Venus Williams was beaten in the opening round for the second time in 12 tournaments this season, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Flavia Pennetta of Italy at the Kremlin Cup on Tuesday. The Wimbledon champion, who also lost in the first round at Memphis in March, dropped to 1-3 against Pennetta. "I totally came here because I love winning," the eighth-ranked American said.