BASEBALL:Controversial San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit the 755th home run of his career against the San Diego Padres on Saturday to equal the all-time Major League record held for over 30 years by Hank Aaron.
The Giants eventually fell to the San Diego Padres 3-2 in 12 innings.
The historic homer came off Padres' right-handed pitcher Clay Hensley in the second inning. Bonds is now just one away from breaking Aaron's record, which has stood since 1974.
"It's the toughest thing that I've ever done in my career," said an emotional Bonds. "It's literally different than any other milestone I've ever gone through. I can't explain the feeling of it, it's just Hank Aaron.
"I want to thank the San Diego fans. I thought they were outstanding. I just really, really appreciate the way San Diego handled everything."
Bonds has long been linked to allegations of steroid use.
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was in the stadium but had no reaction when Bonds tied Aaron's record, simply standing but not clapping.
The fans in attendance, most of whom already were on their feet, cheered loudly enough to drown out a smattering of boos.
SHOW JUMPING: Jessica Kürten picked up a handy slice of the prizemoney on offer at the fourth leg of the Global Champions Tour in Brazil over the weekend, writes Grania Willis. The world number three claimed €10,000 for a seventh-place finish in Saturday's Grand Prix, then added €25,000 as runner-up in yesterday afternoon's jump-off class at the Sao Paolo fixture.
Kürten was one of 18 through to the second round of Saturday's Grand Prix and was still in the mix when numbers were reduced to just nine for the timed decider. A third clear would have left Kürten in fourth, but a fence down with Castle Forbes Maike meant a drop to seventh.
Frenchman Hubert Bourdy wrote his name on the €100,000 winner's cheque with a time of 46.96 seconds, while Germany's Marco Kutscher and Malin Baryard-Johnsson of Sweden were inseparable on the clock to share second place and split another €100,000 cheque.
Kürten was in even better form in yesterday's two-rounder, producing a double clear with Galopin du Biolay, the stallion's time of 41.72 was more than two seconds off the pace set by Swiss winner Markus Fuchs.
RUGBY:Felipe Contepomi scored 25 points with a try and 10 conversions as Argentina crushed Chile 70-14 in their last home match before the World Cup.
There was one negative note for coach Marcelo Loffreda. Centre Gonzalo Tiesi took a knock on the cheek and could miss the World Cup.
CYCLING:Returning to racing after several weeks of training for the second half of the season, Nicolas Roche showed fine form in placing fifth in the 1.1-ranked Polynormande yesterday, writes Shane Stokes.
He and Crédit Agricole team-mate Rémi Pauriol finished one minute 35 seconds behind the winner Benoît Vaugrenard. Roche was under team orders and so didn't sprint.
Meanwhile attacks by Mick Steed (Kilcullen) and local hope Eugene Moriarty inside the final kilometre did not deter Steed's team-mate Colm Bracken, who came around the latter to win the Gene Moriarty Cup in Listowel yesterday.
