So much for the Washington Freedom’s late-season resurgence. After performing well down the stretch, the Freedom were bounced out of the Women’s Professional Soccer playoffs in a 2-1 loss to Sky Blue FC on Saturday at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds. The crowd of 4,217 saw the Freedom’s counterattacking game stifled as they wore down in the stifling heat against their New Jersey-based opponent. “It was a game with a team like them, who were just keeping possession and getting crosses in the box, against a team like us, who were trying to get in behind on the transition,” Freedom striker …

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The circus returns… for good When Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau found out his team would play Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in the playoffs, he said, “Welcome to the circus.” Replay the sound bite and blast it over the airwaves in Philadelphia. With the Eagles’ signing of Michael Vick, the organization has invited the elephants and lions of Barnum & Bailey to stay all season. The protests from animal lovers — this is a dog-loving country, so these aren’t your run-of-the-mill, holier-than-thou protesters — will be ever-present. As an interesting aside, Phillies star Chase Utley and his wife are famous …

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CALIFORNIA, Pa. | The road into this tiny burg in coal country greets unsuspecting visitors with a sharp turn. And then another. Finally, there’s an encounter with the stoplight in town - a Kwik Fill gas station and Red Apple Food Store sturdily perched at the intersection and a Rite Aid situated catty-corner. It’s a slice of Main Street U.S.A., but it’s far from the easiest place to find. After countless career twists to match the bending roads around his new digs, former Maryland quarterback Josh Portis finally found California. And California, home to a Division II power, is glad …

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BALTIMORE — Baltimore police say they’ll cite Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps for driving without a license and failure to establish residency in Maryland state. Phelps was in a car accident late Thursday, but police say it wasn’t his fault. They do say he presented them with an expired Michigan driver’s license afterward. Phelps wasn’t fined but will have to appear in court. Baltimore Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the driver of the other car, Amanda Virkus, will be cited for failure to obey a red light and causing an accident. Those citations carry a maximum penalty of a $180 …

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CINCINNATI | Publicly, neither the Washington Nationals nor Stephen Strasburgs camp having been saying much about contract negotiations for the No. 1 overall pick, which will end with or without a deal at midnight on Tuesday. But that doesnt mean things arent heating up behind the scenes. A club source said managing principal owner Ted Lerner, team president Stan Kasten and acting general manager Mike Rizzo all flew to California last week to visit with Strasburg. Its unknown whether Strasburgs advisor, Scott Boras, was part of the meeting, or whether Strasburg has undergone the physical examination necessary to sign a …

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BALTIMORE (AP) — Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps was uninjured after the car he was driving collided with another vehicle in Baltimore on Thursday night, police said. The female driver of a Honda Accord was “shaken up” and taken to a local hospital as a precaution, police said. Two passengers in Phelps’ Cadillac Escalade were not injured, said police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Guglielmi says Phelps has been interviewed by police and alcohol was not a factor. No charges were made and the accident was being investigated, with a report perhaps available Friday, Guglielmi said. Phelps won eight gold medals …

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BALTIMORE | At least Jason Campbell escaped M&T Bank Stadium without joining an already packed training room. Other than the well-being of their quarterback behind a work-in-progress offensive line, there weren’t many positives for the Washington Redskins in Thursday’s 23-0 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Campbell played two series and was pressured only once by the Ravens’ active defense. The majority of the first-team defense played one series, allowing a 13-play, 67-yard drive that led to a field goal. But the rest of the game was pretty much a mess for the Redskins, who were shut out in the …

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The Washington Redskins played the Baltimore Ravens in a pre-season game. Check back for a complete game story from our reporter there.

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Michael Vick is back in the NFL, landing a job with the Philadelphia Eagles. Agent Joel Segal confirmed the quarterback’s signing, shortly before the team announced it in a text message. The Eagles gave Vick a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Vick, once the NFL’s highest-paid player, has not played since 2006. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback was convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation, and served 18 of a 23-month sentence in federal prison. He also was suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted Vick’s suspension on July …

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CINCINNATI | The two pillars upon which the Cincinnati Reds built one of the swiftest and most decisive wins anyone has scored over the Washington Nationals this season - Bronson Arroyo’s two-hit, 7-0 shutout and Jonny Gomes’ three home runs - seemed to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. Arroyo, pitching the same day a USA Today story ran detailing his extensive use of supplements, some not approved by Major League Baseball, didn’t need much help to thoroughly control a listless Nationals offense Thursday. And Gomes made his mark simply by crushing pitches he should have crushed. There was …

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