QUINCY - Kevin Alston feels comfortable driving from Gillette Stadium to a coffee shop just over the Neponset Bridge. But before last year, Alston hardly seemed destined for a professional career outside the District of Columbia. Alston grew up in Maryland, not only a supporter of D.C. United but also a player in the MLS team's youth system. And when United considered its first selection in the 2009 draft, it made a last-minute decision to select Rodney Wallace, an outside back who happens to be Alston's closest friend, with the sixth pick. That allowed the Revolution to take Alston with the No. 10 choice. ``I felt like I was a part of their system, unofficially,'' Alston said of D.C. United. ``But things don't always go how you expect them to go. I was more than thrilled to be picked by the Revolution - the situation they had, needing defenders and coach [Steve] Nicol being an all-around outstanding coach and the fact he played fullback in his day. That was something that excited me.

Defending champions Spain were knocked out of the Davis Cup on Saturday as France claimed an historic victory over the four-time winners in the quarter-finals.

World Cup: no short-term cure for South Africa's economic woes but long-term boost likely. South Africa may reap a long-term windfall for defying the skeptics and successfully hosting the World Cup. Short term, however, the profits are heading elsewhere while unions gripe and the nation's already staggering unemployment rate climbs even higher.

The first time Cole Konrad took a punch as a professional mixed martial arts fighter, the contact didn't faze him. The adrenaline took over, he said. For a guy who has spent most of his life learning and perfecting the finer points of wrestling, Konrad, 26, didn't know how he would react the first time he was hit. But he learned. ``There are two things that happen,'' Konrad said. ``You get hit so hard, you don't remember it. Or you get hit and your adrenaline is going, so you don't feel it anyway. As weird as that is, you think, `Aw, man, how can you get beat up like that and not feel it?' You feel it. But it's the next day.'' Every fight is a new experience for Konrad, who is a two-time NCAA wrestling champion. Tonight he will add to that experience when he makes his national television debut in his third professional fight at the Wang Center. Konrad officially committed to MMA last spring, while training with UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Konrad (2-0) won his two fights with

SHE'LL MEDAL. The collection of medals Tasha Schwikert won during her illustrious gymnastics career is prominently displayed at her home gym, GymCats in Henderson.There is a duplicate silver medal from when she was an alternate on the 2004 Olympic team during the Athens Games. And a gold medal from the 2003 World Championship team.

Wife of slain Olympian bronze medalist killed him in defense after years of abuse, lawyer says. Dave Laut was the idolized local boy who did his hometown and nation proud.

Police: Wife of Olympic shot put medalist arrested in his Southern California shooting death. The wife of an Olympic shot put medalist gunned down in his Southern California back yard last summer was arrested Saturday in the homicide case, authorities said.

Mexican city of Guadalajara withdraws 2014 Youth Olympics bid citing tight finances. The Mexican city of Guadalajara withdrew as a candidate to host the 2014 Youth Olympic Games on Saturday, leaving only Nanjing, China, and Poznan, Poland, in the race.

Future US Olympic athletics coaches will be able to serve more than once and be chosen in a more open system under bylaw changes made Sunday at USA Track and Field's annual meeting.

Renowned Cuban umpire Nelson Diaz defects to Miami. A top Cuban umpire has defected to the United States.

Brazilian swimmer Rebeca Gusmao, who breached doping rules three times, had her lifetime ban confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday.

Toronto awarded 2015 Pan American Games, beating out Bogota and Lima. The 2015 Pan American Games are going to Toronto.

Toronto was on Friday named as the host city of the 2015 Pan-American Games, seeing off rival bids from Lima and Bogota.

Toronto was on Friday named as the host city of the 2015 Pan-American Games, seeing off rival bids from Lima and Bogota.

Toronto was on Friday named as the host city of the 2015 Pan-American Games, seeing off rival bids from Lima and Bogota.

Brazilian officials defend Olympic security plans after 14 killed in weekend Rio violence. At least 2,000 police officers patrolled this coastal city Sunday and Brazilian officials pledged to host a violence-free 2016 Olympics despite bloody drug gang shootouts that left 14 people dead.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro's 2016 Olympics has raised the tantalizing prospect that Brazil's faded former capital, known for its beauty and high crime, will be rejuvenated into a modern, thriving city.

After party, hard work ahead: Brazil starts getting ready for World Cup and Olympics. As Rio awoke from a night of celebration after being awarded the 2016 Olympics, Brazil was already looking ahead to years of hard work in what will be a historic time in Latin America's biggest nation.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach erupted in Samba dancing and joy on Friday after the Brazilian city won the vote to host the 2016 Olympic Games, bringing the world's biggest sporting event to South America for the first time.

Pele isn't worried Obama's support for Chicago's 2016 Olympics bid will steal Rio's thunder. Brazilian soccer great Pele isn't worried President Barack Obama's star power could help Chicago win the bid for the 2016 Olympics at the expense of Rio de Janeiro.