Everything for the Sports Bettor

Ben Roethlisberger is getting time off for good behavior. He'll be back on the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers two games earlier than expected after convincing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell he is turning his life around. The star quarterback, accompanied by team president Art Rooney, met with Goodell early Friday and was told he could return on Oct.

Aaron Cook was his usual hard-to-beat self at Petco Park, which wasn't exactly what the skidding San Diego Padres wanted to see. Cook returned from a monthlong stay on the disabled list to win again in San Diego and the Colorado Rockies handed the reeling NL West-leading Padres their season-high eighth straight loss, 4-3 on Friday night.

The New Jersey Devils say they acted in good faith during their contract negotiations with Ilya Kovalchuk. The NHL signed off on Kovalchuk's latest contract with the Devils on Friday, approving a revised 15-year, $100 million deal. The league reached an agreement with the NHL players' union on a provision covering long-term contracts.

All around them, the Americans find compelling matchups for the round of 16: a rematch of the 2006 title game; a coach facing a home country he led to an Olympic gold medal; two bitter rivals to get it all started. All the while, a fairly navigable road right to the semifinals was emerging for the United States.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and Jacob Zuma, the President of the Republic of South Africa, have highlighted the FIFA World Cup's positive impact in a warm exchange of letters.