Oscar Pistorius' bid for bail appeared to receive a major boost Wednesday when his legal team fought to expose holes in a series of damning claims surrounding his alleged murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

On the second day of his bail hearing at Pretoria Magistrates Court, Pistorius' hopes of avoiding incarceration up until his full trial – likely later this year – seemed to be in tatters until cross-examination of key witness and investigating officer Hilton Botha, a leading figure in the prosecution's case. Botha was the first public official to arrive at the crime scene.

Having leveled several powerful accusations at Pistorius, Botha surprisingly crumbled under cross-examination from defense attorney Barry Roux, giving Pistorius, 26, a glimmer of hope in his bid to be granted bail by chief magistrate Desmond Nair.

Botha had earlier revealed how a witness had reported heavy arguing and shouting coming from the Pistorius house before several shots interspersed by a gap

Read More »from Oscar Pistorius' lawyers counter police investigator's claims during bail hearing

Oscar Pistorius, foreground, stands following his bail hearing, as his family looks on. (AP)Oscar Pistorius denied that he "committed murder in the strongest point" and told how Reeva Steenkamp "died in my arms" after the track star was charged Tuesday with premeditated murder that could lead to him serving a life sentence in prison.

The athlete known as the Blade Runner released an affidavit read by his defense counsel Barry Roux at his bail hearing in a South African court after a prosecutor accused him of murdering Steenkamp while she was "unarmed, innocent and sitting in a toilet."

Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics, appeared distraught as Roux read his comments and had to be asked to compose himself by chief magistrate Desmond Nair.

"I didn't kill Reeva," read Pistorius’ statement. "I deny that I committed murder in the strongest point. I tried to save Reeva but she died in my arms. I can’t stand how much hurt I’ve caused.

"I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated. I had no

Read More »from Oscar Pistorius faces premeditated murder charge but denies intent to kill girlfriend

Oscar Pistorius "sobbed uncontrollably" at a South African court hearing on Friday morning as prosecutors made clear their intention to claim the track superstar killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a premeditated murder.

Oscar Pistorius weeps in court in Pretoria, South Africa. (AP)According to numerous news outlets, Pistorius, who could spend the rest of his life in prison, wept and shook visibly for much of his appearance in a Pretoria magistrates court, where chief magistrate Desmond Nair postponed until Tuesday the process that will decide what charges the 26-year-old will face.

That means Pistorius will spend the weekend behind bars, although he will be kept – at his own request – at a Brooklyn police station in Pretoria rather than a local prison as would be the norm in murder cases.

On Tuesday, arguments will be heard as to the severity of the murder charge he will face, as well as submissions regarding his application for bail.

The Associated Press reported that Pistorius' family and management released a statement Friday

Read More »from Distraught Oscar Pistorius could face charge of 'premeditated murder'

South African police have charged Olympic star Oscar Pistorius with the murder of his girlfriend, who was shot in the sprinter's home Thursday.

Pistorius, 26, kept weapons at his gated, luxury South African home as a means of protection against his country's soaring crime rate, according to a British writer who had exclusive access to the Olympic sprinter.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, the 400 meter runner – the first man to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics – is believed to have used part of his weapons collection to tragically gun down his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Early reports had the alleged incident being reported as an accident, but police spokesperson Brigadier Denise Beukes told the Associated Press that information did not come from police and that "it would be very premature and very irresponsible of me to say what actually has happened."

"There have been allegations," Beukes said. "We are not sure."

Oscar Pistorius was taken into custody Thursday. (AP Photo) According to those initial reports,Read More »from Oscar Pistorius charged with murder, reportedly had firearms at home to allay fears of invasion

Cristiano Ronaldo took plenty of plaudits for a classy "non-celebration" but little else as Real Madrid's season was pushed to the brink of emptiness on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores past Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea. (Reuters)Ronaldo's equalizing goal after 30 minutes gave him the opportunity to make good on his promise to shun soccer's typical post-scoring ritual as a mark of respect to Manchester United, his former club.

After Ronaldo leapt into the air, hung there long enough for a crossing pass to arrive, then powered a header into the corner of the United goal, the Madrid star wheeled away and raised his hands to stop his teammates from embarking upon any form of celebration.

"I will not celebrate if I score against United," Ronaldo told reporters recently. "I had six great years there and I am still friends with my teammates."

It was an honorable move from the 28-year-old, whose antics and actions both within the white lines and outside them have rarely endeared himself to rival fans, though he did donate $150,000 to an Afghanistan

Read More »from Ronaldo shows respect for Manchester United, but his season remains on the brink

Wrestling's world governing body is hoping to make the International Olympic Committee perform a dramatic U-turn and save the sport from being booted out of the Games.

Wrestling has been a part of every modern Olympics dating back to 1896. (AP)The wrestling world was shocked when an IOC vote on Tuesday put it on the fast-track to Olympic extinction, with its only chance of survival coming in September when it will be one of seven sports bidding to be part of the 2020 Games.

Wrestling's governing body FILA did little in the way of lobbying to protect itself from being cut ahead of Tuesday's meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. Bracketed with other endangered Olympic sports such as modern pentathlon, field hockey and taekwondo, wrestling's hierarchy apparently assumed its long history in both the modern and ancient Olympics would ensure its safety.

"FILA was greatly astonished by today's recommendation of the IOC Executive Board not to maintain wrestling among the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic Games," read a FILA statement.

A concerted political and

Read More »from Wrestling's governing body plans emergency campaign after being booted from the Olympics

Real Madrid paid Manchester United $131 million for Cristiano Ronaldo's services. (Getty Images)It is rare that soccer's biggest showdown in any given season should come in early February rather than the end of May, but Wednesday's match-up between Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid and Manchester United comfortably fits that lofty billing.

Never mind that the clash will take place in the round of 16 of the Champions League and not the final, nor that this week's installment is only the first segment of a home-and-home contest that will be decided over 180 minutes, across two countries and won't anoint a victor until the beginning of next month.

Soccer needs a juicy storyline to spice up a season that has stagnated somewhat in both of its two most prominent domestic competitions, the English Premier League and Spain's La Liga, due to the utter dominance of United in the former and Madrid's failure to keep pace with its hated rival Barcelona in the latter.

Just as well then, that it doesn't get much tastier than Ronaldo, the second-best soccer player on the planet but the

Read More »from Manchester United vs. Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo's chance to 'catch' Messi

Lionel Messi may have cost himself upwards of $30 million with a "gentlemanly" approach to his latest contract extension.

The world's top soccer star, just 25 and already considered one of the greatest players ever, extended his current deal with Spanish club Barcelona earlier this week, meaning he will remain with the team until 2018.

Lionel Messi signed a contract to stay with Barcelona through 2018. (AP)Yet while Messi will collect an annual salary of around $30 million over the next five years, the perception in European soccer is that Barca has gotten him cheap.

"Whatever you pay him, it is going to be cheap," said Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, who played with Messi for Barcelona between 2004 and 2008. "How can you say he is worth this amount or that amount? How could there be any figure at which you would say ‘he is not worth it?"

Negotiations in European club soccer are often tense and drawn out affairs. Wayne Rooney of Manchester United even flirted with the possibility of joining that club's hated and big-spending rival Manchester City

Read More »from Lionel Messi takes less to stay with Barca