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From The Associated Press

Johnson’s gold makes for happy American gymnasts

BEIJING—Clear some more space in that pile of pretty Olympic medal boxes. Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin are bringing home more loot, including a gorgeous gold of Johnson’s very own.

Johnson beat her friend and teammate on the balance beam, the last women’s gymnastics event at the Beijing Games

“I finished off the Olympic Games with, to me, the most perfect ending ever,” Johnson said, beaming as she tugged at the ribbon around her neck. “To finally get the gold medal ... on my very last routine meant the world to me.”

And it means the Americans will be strutting home with more bling than Diddy.

Johnson already had three silvers, including one from the all-around, where Liukin won gold. Together, the women have won eight medals. Throw in Jonathan Horton’s silver on the high bar Tuesday night, and the Americans are leaving Beijing with 10 medals. That’s the most they’ve won at a non-boycotted Olympics since 1932, when rope climbing and Indian clubs still got you medals.

“It just shows how strong we are,” said Liukin, who won five medals. “We went out there and showed we are the best. Going 1-2 in the all-around, that’s never been done by the United States. The Americans have never had 1-2 on beam before, either. And 2-3 on floor isn’t too bad.

“It’s definitely been a very successful Olympics for us.”

Yaz undergoes triple bypass surgery in Boston

BOSTON—Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, the last player to hit for the Triple Crown, was resting comfortably Tuesday night after having triple bypass heart surgery.

Yastrzemski, who turns 69 on Friday, had the operation at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he underwent tests after experiencing chest pains in the morning, said his spokesman, Dick Gordon.

“He just got out of surgery, had his triple bypass and is resting comfortably,” Gordon said at about 8:30 p.m. “The operation was a success.”

The popular Yaz was an 18-time All-Star and spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox, taking over left field for Ted Williams in 1961 and playing through 1983.

In 1967, Yastrzemski helped revitalize the flagging franchise during the “Impossible Dream” season when the Red Sox went from ninth place in the 10-team AL in 1966 to the World Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.

And all over New England that summer, kids tried to imitate his unique lefty batting stance, with the bat held high over his head.

With calls of “Yaz” echoing around Fenway Park, he won the Triple Crown that year, hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 121 RBIs. Behind the AL MVP, the Red Sox won their first pennant since 1946, but lost the World Series in Game 7.

Maddux back in LA, in pennant race

LOS ANGELES—Greg Maddux is back in Los Angeles for another stretch drive.

The Dodgers announced Tuesday that they have reacquired Maddux and received cash from San Diego. The Padres will get two minor league players to be named or cash.

The 42-year-old first came to the Dodgers late in the 2006 season, when he went 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts to help them win a wild-card berth.

This time, Los Angeles is dueling Arizona for the NL West lead.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who put together the trade that sent Cesar Izturis to the Chicago Cubs and brought Maddux to Los Angeles on July 31, 2006, obviously was pleased to have the right-hander back.

“It’s very rare that you get the opportunity to add a pitcher like Greg even one time, let alone twice,” Colletti said in a statement. “He’s one of the greatest pitchers of all time and we’ve already seen what he can add to a team both on the field and in the clubhouse.”

Maddux is 6-9 with a 3.99 ERA this season, and has 353 career wins. His record with last-place San Diego this season includes 11 no-decisions.

Boldin wants Cardinals to trade him

FLAGSTAFF—Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin asked to be traded, saying he doesn't feel his situation can be resolved and declaring he has no relationship with coach Ken Whisenhunt.

"I'm a football player. That's about it," Boldin said Tuesday when asked to characterize his dealings with the coach these days.

A team spokesman said the Cardinals have no plans to trade the sixth-year standout and still hope to sign him to a contract extension.

Whisenhunt sounded puzzled when discussing reports that Boldin had said he was no longer speaking to the coach.

"We've been communicating," he said. "If communicating is talking, that's what we have been doing at practice. As we go forward, I don't know. I don't foresee anything changing. If it does, it's in his court."

Umpires refuse replay call with MLB

NEW YORK—Umpires want baseball to take another look at instant replay.

Umps said their governing board voted Tuesday to boycott a conference call with management intended discuss implementing replay, angry that their concerns aren’t being addressed.

Major League Baseball responding by saying it canceled the Wednesday call because it doesn’t have a replay agreement with the union.

“A lot of the procedural issues necessary for instant replay to be implemented need to be worked out,” World Umpires Association spokesman Lamell McMorris said. “Major League Baseball needs to step up to the plate and iron out these issues.”

Umpires say they’re unhappy that replay equipment is being installed away from the field in nearly all major league ballparks and say MLB wants to limit the number of umpires allowed to review replay monitors.

They also aren’t pleased that MLB wants them to discuss the replays with umpire supervisors in New York before making a decision on whether to reverse a call. They claim MLB may not be able to provide replays for some rescheduled games.

Nadal, Ivanovic draw top seeds at US Open

NEW YORK—Rafael Nadal was seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open on Tuesday, making it the first time since January 2004 that a man other than Roger Federer holds that top spot at a Grand Slam tournament.

Ana Ivanovic is the No. 1 seed on the women’s side. The tournament begins Aug. 25, and the draw will be announced Thursday.

The U.S. Open followed Monday’s rankings for its seedings, and Nadal replaced Federer at No. 1 for the first time this week. The Olympic, French Open and Wimbledon champion will try for his first U.S. Open title — he’s never been beyond the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows and lost in the fourth round last year.

Federer, meanwhile, has won the last four U.S. Open championships. He had been seeded No. 1 at every major event since Andy Roddick at the 2004 Australian Open.

Manning hopes to start Colts’ opener

INDIANAPOLIS—Peyton Manning proved Tuesday he can stand, walk and talk.

Next question: Will the two-time league MVP start in the Colts’ season opener?

Manning made it to his first practice of the season Tuesday, then ended his self-imposed silence by saying he wanted to play in Indianapolis’ first regular-season game Sept. 7 against Chicago — although he couldn’t provide a guarantee.

“I’ve not really had a whole lot to say to tell you the truth,” he said. “As to when I’ll be back on the practice field, that’s still to be determined. Obviously, the sooner, the better for me. My goal is to be back for the first game.”

Indy’s franchise quarterback had been kept out of public view since having surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee July 14. Team officials said he was staying away to reduce the risk of another infection.