Embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling lost his attempt to block the $2 billion sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

In allowing the deal to go forward, Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas sided Monday with Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly Sterling, who negotiated the record sale after the NBA banned the 80-year-old billionaire for making offensive remarks about blacks.

Barcelona's vice-president in charge of finances says it had a record income of 530 million euros ($711 million) over the past year, and managed a profit of 41 million euros ($55 million).

Javier Faus presented the club's financial report for 2013-2014 on Tuesday, and said it made money on it operations, year-to-year, and reduced its net debt.

The landmark at Firestone Country Club is among the most popular in America, a massive water tower in the shape of a golf ball on a tee.

As it prepares to host the Bridgestone Invitational this week, Tiger Woods has reason to see only a big ATM machine.

Liverpool says it has signed Belgium striker Divock Origi from Lille and will loan him back to the French club for the whole of next season.

The 19-year-old forward, who impressed during Belgium's run to the quarterfinals of the World Cup, completed his transfer in the United States — where Liverpool is on a pre-season tour.

Fifth-ranked Tomas Berdych, hoping to crack the top four in men's tennis for years, says Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have resumed their stranglehold at the top despite Stanislas Wawrinka's shock Australian Open title.

The 28-year-old Czech, seeking his 10th career ATP title as the top seed at this week's ATP and WTA Washington Open, said Monday that number one Djokovic, coming off a Wimbledon title, and second-ranked Nadal, who won the French Open last month, combine with 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer to make the going tough for challengers.

FIFA on Monday called for an investigation into alleged racist comments made by the front runner in the race for the top job in Italian football.

The racism row involves Italian FA vice-president Carlo Tavecchio, who last Friday provoked controversy when discussing Italy's overseas players

A Spanish court on Monday rejected public prosecutors' request to drop charges of tax fraud against four-time world footballer of the year Lionel Messi and ordered the probe to go ahead.

The Barcelona forward and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, were accused last year of not paying 4.16 million euros ($5.58 million) in tax on earnings from the player's image rights from 2007-2009 through the creation of a web of shell companies in Belize and Uruguay.

Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger apologized on Monday after footage emerged of the Bayern Munich star making derogatory comments about Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Schweinsteiger was filmed saying: "BVB, sons of bitches," a line from a well-known Bayern supporters song, several times at a private party.

Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal to sign France international Antoine Griezmann from Real Sociedad, the Spanish champions announced on Monday.

"Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad have reached an agreement for the transfer of Antoine Griezmann," read a statement on Atletico's website.

Vincenzo Nibali said he would never have been in with a chance of winning the Tour de France had it not been for recent improvements in tackling doping.