Player at French Open Takes Photo of Ball Mark

Player at French Open Takes Photo of Ball Mark

Angered by a line call, a tennis player pulls out his phone and uses it to snap a photo of the mark left in the clay by the ball. Maybe the sort of thing that would happen at a public court, if two pals got into a tiff during a match and one wanted evidence for later — except in this case, it was a professional who did it at the French Open. Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine set down his racket and briefly became an amateur photographer in his 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 loss to seventh-seeded Richard Gasquet of France in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament Monday. Stakhovsky plans to show the picture to the tournament supervisor in hopes of avoiding losing some of his prize money. "I'm now expecting a fine, actually, so I'm going to go and fight," Stakhovsky said. "I believe it was a bad call, it was a bad judgment. After all, we are playing on clay, where you should be clearly able to read the mark," he added, "and unfortunately, not all of our referees are able to do so." During the first set on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the 101st-ranked Stakhovsky hit a shot that landed right along a line. The ball was ruled out, but Stakhovsky was sure it was in. He argued with the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, who wouldn't change the decision. So Stakhovsky decided to gather proof for his case, getting his phone and walking over to where the spot in question was, then leaning over to get a close-up of the red clay. "It was just spontaneous. It's never thought through," he said. "When you see it, you get frustrated, because you saw the ball is nowhere being out and the frustrations comes in." Asked by a reporter to show the photo, Stakhovsky obliged, grabbing his phone from a pocket. "Everybody wants to see it," he said with a chuckle. Stakhovsky said it wasn't even the first time he'd done this: He pulled a similar stunt during the clay-court tournament at Munich last month. "Munich was a very close call which could go both ways, so I didn't really bother going to the supervisor and asking. But this one is in a Grand Slam, so first of all, the fine is actually there, possibly, (and) I don't want to get it. So I'll try to explain myself. I don't know if it's going to work." At a clay event in Rome this month, another pro, Viktor Troicki of Serbia, ushered a TV cameraman out onto the court to get video evidence of a ball mark he was sure showed a call was incorrect. "I saw that," Stakhovsky said, then offered a critique of the camerawork on that occasion, saying the angle was all wrong: "They came from the side, so you couldn't see the mark." Gasquet, for his part, agreed the call Monday was quite close and said he wasn't bothered a bit by Stakhovsky's antics. "It's funny. It's not a problem," Gasquet said. "He's a funny guy. I think he's one of the funniest guys in the draw. For sure, it's not usual to see that, but I can understand he's frustrated." 

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Rafa Nadal survives bad day at office

Rafa Nadal survives bad day at office

PARIS - All seemed normal as Rafa Nadal walked on to Chatrier Court to begin his pursuit of an eighth French Open title but Germany's Daniel Brands ensured it was no regular Monday at the office for the defending champion who survived a huge scare. Nadal, as expected, took his place in the second round but his 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-3 win over the inspired German who had never won a main draw match at Roland Garros was fraught with danger as he flirted with the unthinkable. Related Photos: 2012 French Open at Roland Garros Photos: 2012 French Open at Roland Garros Pictures: U.S. Open 2011 Pictures: U.S. Open 2011 2011 U.S. Open tennis fashion 2011 U.S. Open tennis fashion Photos: Tennis Photos: Tennis Pictures: Wimbledon 2011 Pictures: Wimbledon 2011 See more stories » Ads by Google After a relatively thrill-free opening day on Sunday, fans flocked to the brick dust courts beside the Bois de Boulogne to feast their eyes on a line-up loaded with big names. Former women's champion Li Na began with a grafting 6-3 6-4 first round win against Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues while home fans dreaming of a first French men's champion here since 1983 cheered loudly as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga turned on the style. Russian powerhouse Maria Sharapova was set to turn up the volume later as she begins the defense of her title. However, it was claycourt king Nadal's struggle that created the buzz around the crowds thronging the grounds. The 26-year-old, looking to become the first man in history to win the same grand slam eight times, has been unstoppable in the build-up to the tournament he has dominated since winning the title as a teenager in 2005. Five titles on clay since returning to the Tour after a seven-month injury lay-off, and the incredible statistic of a solitary defeat in his previous 53 French Open matches, should have made his first-round clash with Brands a formality. When he banged the dirt off his shoes, performed the obligatory tug of his orange shorts and won the opening point with a dipping topspin forehand all looked well in Rafa World. Then things got complicated for the former world No.1 in his first grand slam match since last year's shock second-round Wimbledon defeat by Czech Lukas Rosol. Looking a sluggish and struggling to cope with the punishing, flat-hitting of 59th ranked Brands, Nadal double-faulted on a break point at 4-4 in first set and Brands seized his chance, claiming the first set with a forehand missile. It was the first time Nadal had dropped the first set of a first round match at Roland Garros and only the 15th he had surrendered at the home of French tennis. Since losing to Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009, Nadal had never lost the opening set of a match at the French Open and as Brands continued to show scant regard for Nadal's reputation a repeat of that shock looked possible. Especially when Brands held off break points at the start of the second set and dragged Nadal into a tense tiebreaker. With the capacity crowd glued to the action, Brands fired down two huge winners to take a 3-0 lead but just when the alarm bells began to ring loudly in the Nadal camp, the Mallorcan was let off the hook. A Brands backhand sliced low into the net gave Nadal a new lease of life and the Spaniard won seven of the final eight points in the tiebreak to level the match, roaring as much in relief as joy after dispatching a fizzing backhand passing shot on set point. After breaking the mighty Brands serve for the first time in the opening game of the third set, Nadal always looked the likely winner, although his performance will offer hope to those wishing to knock him off his perch. "He was playing unbelievable tennis and I was just trying to find my game and resist his great shots and I'm very happy to be through," a relieved Nadal said in a courtside interview after peeling off his knee bandages. While Nadal was toiling, sixth seed Tsonga was entertaining the crowd out on Suzanne Lenglen court, outclassing Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene 6-2 6-2 6-3 with a performance of pace and power. Several women's seeds progressed, including China's 2011 champion Li, who made light of poor head-to-head record against Medina Garrigues to move through. Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, playing despite a painful shoulder, thrashed Israel's Shahar Peer 6-1 6-1 while former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki ended a dreadful recent run of first-round defeats to beat Britain's Laura Robson 6-3 6-2. 

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LeBron just keeps delivering for Heat

LeBron James

MIAMI -- There were times when LeBron James looked lost, the result of lockdown defense from either Paul George or Lance Stephenson. There were lengthy segments of the game when his scoring was nonexistent, such as the entire second quarter and, more notably, the final 4:30 of regulation and first 4:49 of overtime. And yet, there was James, mauled by giddy teammates after he saved the opener of the Eastern Conference finals for Miami with two layups in 10.8 seconds, including a buzzer-beating lefty layup that came with surprisingly little resistance from the Pacers. And yet, there was LeBron's ridiculous stat line -- one you noticed really only after the game because of all the tension and compelling plays throughout the final minutes: 30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocked shots (the first such stat line in a playoff game since Ralph Sampson in 1986). It wasn't too long ago that performances like this one, complete with the last-second heroics, would elicit bold statements about LeBron, his team or his championship worthiness. Now, it hardly draws a shrug. In fact, LeBron barely reacted at all as his teammates rushed to congratulate/thank him. "I mean, I made a layup," James said, drawing laughs. "It's not like I made something from half court. I made a layup. I've been doing that since I was 8 years old. [+] EnlargeJames Chris Trotman/Getty ImagesLeBron James notched his ninth career postseason triple-double (30 points, 10 rebounds 10 assists) in Miami's Game 1 win. "I understand the circumstances a little bit. It happened to have been in the Eastern Conference finals." Perhaps it was smart of LeBron to save his energy, then. Because his coach believes this type of performance will need to be the norm for James in this particular series. "He has an all-everything role for us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "This may be what it takes to beat this team." The Heat know what kind of superhuman performances are necessary to beat the physical, large and defensive-minded Pacers. Last postseason, the East quarterfinal matchup between them included a 41-point, 10-rebound game from Dwyane Wade, a 40-point, 18-rebound game from James, a 32-point, 15-rebound from LeBron and another 30-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist game from his majesty, and it still took six games to dispose of Indiana. And this series wasn't supposed to be as taxing. Remember, Chris Bosh played in only one of those six games last postseason, and he would appear to be a matchup nightmare for the Indy bigs who prefer to plant themselves in the paint. And that Heat team didn't have Ray Allen or Chris Andersen, who was absolutely critical in Wednesday's series opener with 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting with three blocks. Well, that theory has been tossed out the window after just one game. Because David West can still dominate the Heat interior, as he did in the first half on his way to 26 points. Because George, even when he looks sloppy and turns the ball over six times, is a tireless, dynamic force who can hit both the ridiculously difficult shots and the most pressure-packed free throws. Because Roy Hibbert has found himself in these playoffs after an uneven regular season. And because Stephenson, a fixture on the bench last season, is a nearly uncontrollable bundle of energy who makes the Pacers an even better rebounding team. The extraordinary remains a necessity for Miami. LeBron responded to the request. Miami's biggest lead in the game was five points, and yet there were times when it felt like the Heat would eventually pull away. Moments like this one: With less than five minutes left in regulation and the game tied, Hibbert blocked a Wade layup attempt. Yet the ball somehow found its way to LeBron in the right corner for a shot clock-beating 3-pointer to give Miami the lead. The Pacers had to feel like it wasn't their night after a deflating play like that. Yet they never allowed the Heat any separation. And when Ray Allen missed a critical free throw and George followed with a 32-foot 3-pointer off a broken play, it suddenly appeared as if it would be Indiana's night after all. That meant overtime, which meant LeBron's work wasn't complete. It wasn't until the final 11 seconds of overtime that he truly went to work. After a questionable switch that left George Hill defending him, LeBron went straight to the rim to give Miami a 101-99 lead with 10.8 seconds left, his first points of the extra session. That bucket seemed like it would be enough. Especially as Norris Cole almost recovered a loose ball on a frantic Pacers final possession. But just as that loose ball found LeBron in the corner for a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, this one got to George, who took a desperate 3-pointer and was hit on the arm by Wade. George made all three free throws -- a feat he won't nearly get enough credit for doing in a conference finals with the game on the line -- putting the Heat in position to ask for more from LeBron. 2013 NBA Playoff Pages Follow all the NBA playoff action with our series pages. 2013 NBA Playoffs » James wasn't the only option in the play Spoelstra drew up. He just happened to be the best one. James actually badly wanted an inbound pass from Wade in the final 0.7 seconds of regulation. He had the smaller George Hill running at him, which would've made launching a 3 much easier for him than it was for Allen, who ended up with an impossible shot in the corner against a taller defender. This time, in overtime, LeBron would get the inbound pass from Battier. It could've been luck, a brilliant pass or that eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head vision LeBron often displays, but James immediately turned over his right shoulder past George, who was leaning the other direction. From there, it was such an easy path to the rim for the lefty finish that Wade, on the bench with six fouls, began celebrating the win before James was even in his shooting motion. "Once I got the ball, I was the only option," James said. "As unselfish a player as I am, I cannot, no way, try to make a pass at that point. "Shane definitely gave me a great pass. I peeked over my left shoulder. I seen Paul George was a little out of place. So I just took off. I knew I had enough time to do either -- I could either get to the rim or I could get one dribble in and get up a jumper." George said he regretted coming that close to LeBron at all. He said he should've given him space and made him a jump shooter in that spot. George, and everyone else watching, said Hibbert would've made a big difference on that play if he were in the game. 

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Playing partner says Tiger Woods took legal drop at Players

Playing partner says Tiger Woods took legal drop at Players

Chill out, Tiger Woods haters. He did not take another illegal drop, this time at The Players Championship. Playing on Sunday, Woods hit a ball into the water in the 14th hole. While Woods dropped his ball to take his next shot, NBC commentator Johnny Miller said he thought Woods may have made his drop too far forward. Woods’ playing partner, Casey Wittenberg, said after the round that that was not the case. “No, not at all. I saw it perfectly off the tee,” he said. “We talked to each other. He asked me exactly where it crossed. I told him I thought it crossed on the corner of the bunker right where he took his drop, and it’s all good. “There is no doubt, guys. The ball crossed where he dropped.” Of course, this comes on the heels of Woods' illegal drop during the Masters, when a viewer called in and reported Woods for taking an improper drop on the 15th hole during the second round. Woods was assessed a two-stroke penalty then. But all was good on Sunday. 

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Heat leave Tom Thibodeau at a loss

Heat leave Tom Thibodeau at a loss

CHICAGO -- It's a miracle he lasted this long. There have been so many different moments that have tested the extremes of his patience. But finally on Friday night, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau reached his breaking point. In a no-luck season where the Bulls have manufactured a commendable run, Thibodeau has been the constant rock. He probably should not be blamed for cracking after the Miami Heat won Game 3, 104-94, to expectedly take control of the series, 2-1. You understand it, but it's still wrong. In the game's final moments, Thibodeau just stared down with an unflinching and accusatory glare at veteran official Joey Crawford, who stared right back at him. The slow burn continued when Thibodeau, who has an iron reputation for rejecting excuses, blamed the officials for his team's plight in the series. Watching the Bulls fight with their backups so vigilantly, pushing the Heat to the brink, it's easy to forget just how preposterously outmanned they are. [+] EnlargeTom Thibodeau Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesTom Thibodeau finds his Bulls team down 2-1. "We're not going to get calls, that's reality," he said. The Bulls have played like desperados in these playoffs, which is to say they're a bunch of desperate men. These may well be their last acts. Joakim Noah was out of line when he shoved the Heat's Chris Andersen in the first half after a hard but clean foul on Nate Robinson. Nazr Mohammed was out of line when he came at LeBron James and shoved him a few minutes later. And Thibodeau is out of line for letting his emotions get the better of him as he grunted his disgust at the refs. He knows better than that. "I see how things are going, I watch very closely," Thibodeau said. "We're not going to get calls, that's reality." Essentially, Thibodeau was hinting that the old fix is in. The officials and the league want the Heat to win, so that's what's going to happen. He said it knowing that's a taboo subject and probably will get him a fine. Maybe he said it in the classic manner of trying to set some sort of tone for the next game. But what a disappointing way to turn from the battle-axe coach who just got too caught up to realize he knows better. Unfortunately, that's not reality. Reality is the Heat have a massive margin for error against the Bulls, and it's so clear and so frustrating that it's driving a competition junkie like Thibodeau right out of his personality. James has only played about four good quarters in the three games thus far, and it's been enough to have the Heat in the driver's seat. On Friday, James only played like an MVP for 12 minutes, but they were the last 12 minutes and his 12 fourth-quarter points did the Bulls in. Eventually, James is going to have to rediscover the form he had during the regular season and first round against the Milwaukee Bucks if the Heat are going to repeat as champs. But against the Bulls he is getting by without it so far. Dwyane Wade has been nonexistent. He's shooting reasonably well -- when he shoots, which isn't much. He's in the midst of one of the worst playoff series of his career, averaging just 13 points. Wade has taken three free throws in three games, which is an unheard of ratio and raises questions about his health. It's arguable Bulls backup Marco Belinelli has generally played Wade to a draw so far, which is a big concern for the Heat going forward, but they're still ahead. Meanwhile, Ray Allen and Shane Battier can't hit a shot and Mario Chalmers is all over the place with his game. But the Heat are in control. That's because Norris Cole is playing fantastically and has hit all eight of his 3-point attempts. Chris Bosh is averaging a double-double and, in a mild surprise, more than holding his own against Noah. Bosh had one of his finest playoff games in a Heat uniform in Game 3, outdueling Noah with 20 points and 19 rebounds. That breakdown is why the Heat have a big margin for error, and that is often what defines playoff series. FOLLOW THE NBA ON ESPN Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA news, stories and analysis. Follow the NBA on ESPN on Twitter, Facebook and Google+: Twitter » Facebook » Google+ » Thibodeau was steaming because the Heat took 15 free throws in the fourth quarter. He was angry that Noah fouled out and especially angry with an over-the-back call late in the game when Noah raked the arm of Bosh fighting for a vital rebound. He was despondent that Jimmy Butler was called for two tick-tack fouls early in the game that took away his effectiveness. He's still upset that Udonis Haslem smashed Robinson on the first play of Game 2, one that looked suspicious. On some of these points Thibodeau is right. James got bailed out on a call or two Friday. The Butler fouls were cheap. But to blame officials is not becoming, and it's not Thibodeau. "From my angle, I saw a guy basically flop," Thibodeau said referring to James after Mohammed pushed him. "I don't think it warranted an ejection. I understand a flagrant foul, I understand that, but ejection, no, nope." How hard James fell was not relevant, and Thibodeau knows it. Not only did Mohammed earn the ejection, but there's a least some danger he'll earn a suspension. Escalating a situation is a major no-no in the NBA. Coming at a player, whether he's the MVP or not, in a series that has already been so testy, with officials on edge is simply not accepted. "I'm on my way out of this league," said Mohammed, a 15-year veteran. "And it's his league. You decide (if he would've been ejected had he pushed another player)." James was called for a technical on the play for elbowing Mohammed; the veteran official Crawford was on top of the play and nailed James quickly in an attempt to diffuse the situation. It was good officiating and made what Mohammed did all that much harder to believe. "I haven't been in a situation like that before," James said. "But if I get kicked out and Nazr gets kicked out at the same time, they win. It's that simple. " It is that simple: The Heat have James and they have the better team, and a call here and there is not going to change that. Derrick Rose isn't playing, Kirk Hinrich's calf is a mess and Luol Deng is recovering from a terrible health scare. 

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Alex Rodriguez reports to Yankees spring training complex in Tampa

Alex Rodriguez reports to Yankees spring training complex in Tampa

A-Rod arrived at the Yankees' spring training complex at 10:33 a.m. on Monday, rolling up in a black Cadillac Escalade and accompanied by a female companion and a driver. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Published: Monday, May 6, 2013, 2:36 PM Updated: Monday, May 6, 2013, 2:36 PM 0 0 0 Print Alex Rodriguez speaks with reporters Monday afternoon in Tampa. The injured third baseman reports to the Yankees’ spring training complex to resume baseball activities for the first time since hip surgery in January. SCOTT AUDETTE/REUTERS Alex Rodriguez speaks with reporters Monday afternoon in Tampa. The injured third baseman reports to the Yankees’ spring training complex to resume baseball activities for the first time since hip surgery in January. Related Stories Alex Rodriguez cleared to resume baseball activities, will report to Yankees complex in Tampa on Monday Yankees are A-OK with A-Rod, they insist Fans skeptical of Rodriguez's rambling 'roid stories With Yankees aging and ailing, Robinson Cano becoming face of franchise as new contract looms Powered by Inform Alex Rodriguez is one step closer to taking the field, but exactly how many steps separate him from where he is now and the batter's box is the question.

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Mayweather proves time is still now

Mayweather proves time is still now

LAS VEGAS -- A 36th birthday, a year off -- two months of which was spent in jail last summer on a domestic abuse conviction -- would normally be the recipe for disaster for any fighter taking on a quality opponent. But Floyd Mayweather Jr., the pound-for-pound king, is not just any fighter. Instead, he looked the way he always looks: dominant. Mayweather easily retained the world welterweight championship with a masterful one-sided beatdown of interim titlist Robert Guerrero on Saturday night before a crowd of 15,880 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. [+] EnlargeMayweather-Guerrero Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY SportsFloyd Mayweather Jr. began timing Robert Guerrero after the early rounds on Saturday and, from that point on, landed nearly at will. Guerrero had called out for Mayweather to fight him for the past couple of years, and you know what they say: Be careful what you wish for. Mayweather appeared vulnerable in his previous fight, when he was tagged repeatedly in a unanimous decision win against Miguel Cotto last May, leading some to suggest that perhaps Mayweather's years of dominance were coming to a close. But after he took apart a man who was six years younger, physically bigger and unafraid to try to rough him up, forget about it. It was all Mayweather. All three judges, Jerry Roth, Duane Ford and Julie Lederman, scored it 117-111 for Mayweather. ESPN.com had it 119-109 for Mayweather. The fight was the first for Mayweather under a 30-month deal he signed with Showtime/CBS -- after dumping longtime TV home HBO -- that could see him fight up to six times and earn $200 million-plus. His next date is Sept. 14, also at the MGM Grand, and if Mayweather continues to perform as he did against Guerrero, it could be a deal well worth the investment, because "Money" dazzled -- and earned a minimum of $32 million, tying his own record for biggest purse in boxing history. Mayweather rarely got hit cleanly, a testament to his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., a defensive-minded trainer who returned to head his son's corner for the first time since a junior lightweight title defense in 2001. They have been estranged on and off for years while Floyd Jr.'s uncle Roger Mayweather served as his trainer. But with Roger increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes and Floyd Jr. realizing he needed to go back to his defensive basics, the match worked. "I was really happy to be back with my father," Mayweather said. "I knew after the Cotto fight, I was getting hit too much and my dad would help me get hit less. My defense was on point, and he told me just stick to your defense -- the less you get hit, the better -- and to box smart." Mayweather-Guerrero punch stats Mayweather Guerrero Landed 195 113 Thrown 476 581 Pct 41% 19% -- Courtesy of CompuBox Floyd Sr., who kept a relatively low profile during the promotion, was pleased with how his son fought. "I thought Floyd did a n excellent job," he said. "I helped bring back the defense because I thought he was getting hit too much. There was nothing he couldn't do in there anyway tonight. But after the Cotto fight, he came to me and said, 'Please train me. I feel like I'm getting hit too much.' Honestly, Floyd could have danced the whole fight, but instead he used his defense and I told him to steal him with the right hand. That was the shot [Guerrero] couldn't see." Guerrero had modest success in the first two rounds, but by the third, Mayweather had him figured out and began to crank up his straight right hand, which he landed often before moving out of the way. On and on it went as Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs), of Las Vegas, landed clean right hands against the southpaw Guerrero, who showed a great chin but little ability to land anything solid in return. He tried to corner Mayweather and impose his bigger body on him, but it didn't work. The elusive Mayweather moved his head or danced away. But for all the talk from Mayweather about defense after the fight, his offense deserved as much attention. He landed 195 of 476 punches (41 percent), according to CompuBox statistics, while limiting Guerrero to landing 113 of 581 blows (19 percent). Mayweather connected on an extremely high 60 percent of his power shots (153 of 254). Mayweather barely threw any left hands, beating Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KOs), 30, of Gilroy, Calif., basically with one hand, which his father noticed. "I was hoping he would throw more hooks behind the right, but he hasn't fought in a year," Floyd Sr. said. "He did the majority of everything he could and he tried to do a lot of different things. He did a great job, and I am happy to be back in his corner." Mayweather landed a steaming right hand in the fourth round to rock Guerrero, who stayed up. Guerrero had been down only once in his career, and that was a flash knockdown against Joel Casamayor in a fight Guerrero easily won. Rafael: Flight To The Finish Rafael Abner Mares, in his move up to featherweight, sailed to a ninth-round TKO of Daniel Ponce De Leon and won his third world title in as many divisions. Story Mayweather, making the first defense of the 147-pound title he won by fourth-round knockout of Victor Ortiz in September 2011 -- he fought Cotto at junior middleweight -- opened a nasty cut over Guerrero's left eye in the eighth round and finished the round by rocking Guerrero with a clean right hand. Mayweather had a huge round, connecting on 23 of 33 power shots, according to CompuBox statistics. Guerrero, who made a career-high $3 million, plus a share of the pay-per-view profits, must have known he needed something dramatic to happen in the 12th round, but he couldn't do much of anything. That was just as had been the case for virtually the entire fight. And just before the final bell, Mayweather -- unsurprisingly -- landed a clean right hand. "Everybody was saying that because I'm 36 that I'm not sharp after the Cotto fight," Mayweather said. "Cotto is a [future] Hall of Famer. I've been in with the best. I keep wanting to give the fans exiting fights. I was looking for the knockout tonight, but I hurt my [right] hand midway through the fight. "He was pressing the attack, but I had good work for this fight: young, strong guys pushing me for this fight." When the fight ended, Guerrero had the audacity to raise his hands in victory, and his father and trainer, Ruben Guerrero, hilariously shouted at press row that all Mayweather did was "run like a chicken." But the fighter was classier in defeat. "He was barely squeaking by the punches; that's why he's undefeated," Guerrero said. "I'm still a winner, no matter what. God has a plan for me, but today it wasn't to beat Floyd Mayweather. But it was to be here in front of all these people to inspire them. "He was barely slipping by the punches. I landed some good shots but, you know, Floyd is a great fighter. He's got great defense, he's slick, he's quick. He came out and did his thing. He was a little better than I thought. I thought I was going to catch him, but he was on his game tonight. I'm going to keep fighting. Hopefully, before Floyd Mayweather retires, I'll get that shot again. Topics: Mayweather-Guerrero Mayweather-Guerrero For more on Saturday's fight, check our topics page. "I'm going to get back in the gym and re-position to fight him again before he retires." Guerrero, who won titles at featherweight and junior lightweight, plus two interim belts at lightweight, hadn't lost since a split decision at featherweight to Gamaliel Diaz -- which he avenged by knockout -- in December 2005. Mayweather hasn't lost since Serafim Todorov of Bulgaria beat him in a controversial decision in the semifinals of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and it doesn't look like he is going to lose again any time soon. His opponent for Sept. 14 is unclear, but that date falls on Mexican Independence Day weekend and the obvious opponent is Mexican star Canelo Alvarez, the unified junior middleweight champion. That's a megafight -- one that fans have been asking for. But Mayweather wouldn't address Alvarez specifically. "We don't know who we're going to fight now," he said. "Let me go home and rest now. Tonight I had a good tough battle with Robert Guerrero." There will be plenty of time in the coming days and weeks for Mayweather, still the best in the world, to think about who he will give the opportunity to knock him off that pedestal. 

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