IN BRIEF

CYCLING

Time trial to determine Tour de France winner

At the Tour de France, this is it.

The only stage that now matters in cycling's three-week showcase is today's time trial. And for Carlos Sastre, who is wearing the yellow jersey, this is the moment he's been waiting for.

The Spanish veteran is a strong climber and now needs the time trial of his career if he is to be the winner when the race ends Sunday in Paris.

Five riders appear to have a shot at the title, although surprises could await in today's 33-mile leg from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond.

The top of the standings didn't change after Friday's 19th stage, in which Sylvain Chavanel of France led a two-man breakaway to win the run from Rouanne to Montlucon, France.

Overall, Frank Schleck of Luxembourg is in second place, 1 minute, 24 seconds back. Bernhard Kohl of Austria is 1:33 behind, while Cadel Evans of Australia is fourth, a second slower. Denis Menchov of Russia trails by 2:39 and has an outside shot because he's a strong time-trial rider.

FOOTBALL

Baker steps down as Arena commissioner

Arena Football League commissioner David Baker surprisingly resigned, two days before the ArenaBowl championship game.

Baker ended his 12 years on the job by telling the league's board of directors that he was stepping down. The 55-year-old Baker, who received a contract extension last year, simply told the board he felt it was "time."

Under Baker's leadership, the AFL has become a profitable league, including part ownership by ESPN. Its attendance, TV ratings and merchandise sales all have increased this year.

Baker said that Ed Policy, his deputy commissioner, will assume the commissioner's role while a committee seeks his successor.

"I've been thinking about it for a while. I never thought I would do this for the rest of my life," Baker told The Associated Press. "The league has never been stronger. ... It gives me the opportunity to look into doing other things."

The announcement came two days before the Philadelphia Soul and San Jose SaberCats meet in Sunday's ArenaBowl in New Orleans.

Also: Former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Kenny Kelly was arrested in Plant City, Fla., on three felony drug counts.

Kelly, 29, was charged with possession of marijuana and purchase and solicitation to deliver marijuana -- all third-degree felonies.

GOLF

Reavie builds two-shot lead in Canadian Open

Chez Reavie finished the rain-delayed first round of the Canadian Open in Oakville, Ontario, with a 6-under-par 65 and had a 64 in the second to take a two-stroke lead over Eric Axley.

At 13-under 129, Reavie, a 26-year-old PGA Tour rookie, matched the tournament record for the first 36 holes set by Scott Dunlap in 1996 when Glen Abbey played to a par of 72.

Axley, one of 63 players unable to finish the round, was 11 under with a hole left when play was suspended because of darkness.

Also: Helen Alfredsson shot a course-record 9-under 63 to pull within a shot of leader Angela Park after the second round of the Evian Masters in Evian-Les-Bains, France.

Park shot a 68 in her second straight bogey-free round, giving her a 10-under total of 134.

American Bruce Vaughan shot par 71, taking a one-shot lead after the second round of the Senior British Open in Troon, Scotland, before heading for therapy on his troublesome left knee.

Vaughan, who has undergone three partial knee replacements over the past two years, totaled 3-under 139. John Cook (71) is one stroke back.

Former champion Mikael Lundberg and Jarmo Sandelin each shot 8-under 64 to share a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Russian Open in Nakhabino, and John Daly missed the cut for the second straight week.

Michelle Wie is set to play against the men on the PGA Tour again, and she doesn't care that some people think it's a bad idea.

Wie will compete for the eighth time on the PGA Tour in next week's Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. She was asked during a news conference in Reno about PGA Tour journeyman Jay Williamson saying to The Golf Channel that "it was a joke" when he heard Wie would be playing in the tournament.

"I don't know who he is. I don't even read that stuff," Wie said. "I wish I had no critics, but I'm realistic. People will write negative things about me.

"The only thing I can control is myself. A good score will resolve everything."

MISCELLANEOUS

Lakers' Vujacic agrees to three-year contract

Lakers restricted free-agent guard Sasha Vujacic has agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract after emerging last season as a key member of the Western Conference champions.

The 24-year-old Vujacic averaged a career-high 8.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 72 games this season, and 8.1 points 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists while playing in all 21 playoff games.

Also: The NBA has filed for trademark rights to six nicknames for the league's new Oklahoma City franchise: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls, Thunder and Wind.

An attorney for the league made the filing Monday with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Marshal is usually spelled with one "l." It is not clear why the league used a variant spelling.

James Blake became the latest big-name player to lose at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

German Nicolas Kiefer routed the seventh-seeded American 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals.

Wimbledon champion Venus Williams has withdrawn from next week's Rogers Cup women's tennis tournament in Montreal with a knee injury.

Williams did not want to risk aggravating the tendinitis in her knee ahead of the Beijing Olympics, tournament director Eugene Lapierre said.

Asafa Powell was pushed the entire way before winning the 100 meters at the London Grand Prix in 9.94 seconds.

The former world-record holder from Jamaica got off to good start running into a headwind at Crystal Palace, but most of the field stayed with him until the midway point.

However, instead of easing across the finish line for his second win this week, Powell had to keep pushing because the pack caught up to make it close at the finish.

Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 9.97 seconds.

The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Marek Svatos to a two-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

The Nashville Predators signed center Rich Peverley to a two-year deal and goaltender Pekka Rinne to a one-year contract extension.

Forward Mike York agreed to a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.