AUSTRIA’S DOMINIC THIEM has extended an olive branch to Serena Williams after their media room misunderstanding at the French Open by offering to partner the American in mixed doubles at Wimbledon or the US Open.

THE FIRST leg of Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) Vios Racing Festival was successfully held last weekend at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

RED BULL’s signature streetball tournament – “Reign” -- returns to the country for a third straight year with the last chance qualifier and national finals slated for June 29.

Between the reign of World Champions Anatoly Karpov (born 1951) and Garry Kasparov (born 1963) there was no one in the generation of Karpov who was strong enough to challenge for the world title. Players like Vladimir Tukmakov, Alexander Beliavsky, Rafael Vaganian, Oleg Romanishin, Vitaly Tseshkovsky, Gennady Kuzmin, Yury Balashov and Boris Gulko all had their days in the sun but their star never shone bright enough for them to be considered potential world champions. Strangely enough during this period the Soviets who actually did contend for the title were from the previous generation, Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Lev Polugaevsky, Efim Geller and even Vassily Smyslov, who was the world champion from 1957 to 1958 but still was strong enough to participate in the Candidates’ matches in 1983 and 1985, at 62 and 64 years of age!

Hindsight always makes for 20/20 vision, so the wave of second-guessing that occurred in the aftermath of Kevin Durant’s ill-fated return to the court the other day was nothing if not predictable. The conditions behind his cameo appearance in Game Five of the Finals served only to make it more pronounced. He had been out for a month due to a right calf strain, and, with the Warriors down 1-3 and needing him to suit up just to survive, he -- and, just as importantly, those around him tasked with giving him the medical clearance to play -- faced the kind of pressure that leans, if not clouds, judgments in favor of taking on more risk. And, following the unfortunate turn of events, pundits have seen fit to view the decision in a manner that depicts all who gave the green light as reckless gamblers.

ONE of the more solid imports in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, Terrence Jones tries to lead the TNT KaTropa to their third straight win when they take on the defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings today in an Independence Day double-header at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

TORONTO -- Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for three 3-pointers in the final three minutes, and the Golden State Warriors held on to defeat the Toronto Raptors 106-105 Monday night in Game 5 to stay alive in the NBA Finals.

TORONTO -- Kevin Durant’s long-awaited return from injury on Monday with the Golden State Warriors season on the line in the NBA Finals was short-lived as he suffered an Achilles injury in his first game in over a month.

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP does not come back to Manila until August but this early much buzz is generating behind it after it announced a stacked card for the event.

AFTER a 15-year absence, the Blu Boys are back in the World Men’s Softball Championships set from June 13 to 24 in Prague, Czech Republic. The country’s national men’s softball team will face Cuba on June 14 in its first game in Group A where defending champion New Zealand and Asian champion Japan are also playing.

LOS ANGELES -- A premium iron player will likely win this week’s US Open at Pebble Beach, where Zach Johnson has almost as good a chance of prevailing as Dustin Johnson in the third major championship of the year.

Action in the midseason tournament Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup is now in full swing with all competing teams having taken the hardwood.