McBride returning to MLS -- with Fire

Major League Soccer's Toronto FC agreed in principle yesterday to trade the rights of former US national team striker Brian McBride to the Chicago Fire. With the move, McBride returns to the United States after four years with Fulham in the English Premier League. The 36-year-old McBride, who played eight years for the Columbus Crew before joining Fulham, finished his contract with the London club in May. McBride departs with the US Olympic team today for Hong Kong and a tuneup tournament. The earliest he could play for the Fire is Aug. 16 against D.C. United, if the US fails to advance past the group stage in Beijing . . . Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash will invest in the Vancouver Whitecaps' bid to buy an MLS franchise. The Whitecaps are bidding to join the league in 2011. The Suns point guard will not be a majority owner, but will put a significant amount of money toward the project. Nash will join current owner Greg Kerfoot in trying land a franchise that likely will cost at least $30 million.

Braves pitcher Mike Hampton is scheduled to take the mound against the Phillies today to make his first start in almost three years. The lefthander hasn't pitched in the major leagues since Aug. 19, 2005. He's had two major surgeries on his left elbow in the last three years and a long line of injuries while trying to work his way back into form . . . Mets starter Pedro Martínez will remain in the Dominican Republic for a couple of more days after the death of his father, Pablo Jaime. The 36-year-old did not provide specifics, but thanked his fans for their support as he left under a heavy thunderstorm following his father's burial in Santo Domingo. Brandon Knight, who is on the US Olympic roster, was called up to take his spot in the rotation . . . Houston starting pitcher Roy Oswalt, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 9 with a strained left hip, says he's ready to pitch Monday, when the Astros host the Reds . . . Pirates minor league pitchers Roman Carrasco and Luis Figueroa were each suspended 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance under Major League Baseball's minor league drug program . . . David Pauley allowed five hits and fanned nine over 7 2/3 innings to lead the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 3-2 win over the Mud Hens in Toledo.

Nicolas Kiefer routed seventh-seeded James Blake, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the semifinals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Kiefer, ranked 37th in the world, will play Gilles Simon. Kiefer and Simon are the unlikely victors in a bracket that featured Roger Federer, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, and Blake. Simon defeated Marin Cilic, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Andy Murray eliminated Novak Djokovic, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Free agent forward Mike York agreed to a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 30-year-old York had six goals and eight assists in 63 gamers last season with Phoenix . . . The Avalanche signed forward Marek Svatos to a two-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

Asafa Powell was pushed the entire way before winning the 100 meters at the London Grand Prix in 9.94 seconds. The former world record-holder from Jamaica got off to a good start running into a headwind at Crystal Palace, but most of the field stayed with him until the midway point. However, instead of easing across the finish line for his second win this week, Powell had to keep pushing because the pack caught up to make it close at the finish. Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 9.97 . . . North Carolina gave women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell a four-year contract extension through 2015 . . . Former Miami quarterback Kenny Kelly was arrested on three felony drug counts in Plant City, Fla. Kelly, 29, who turned himself in to police, was charged with possession of marijuana and purchase and solicitation to deliver marijuana - all third-degree felonies . . . Peter Morgan, the defending champ in the J/105 fleet class, won the first two races in the weeklong National Offshore One Design Regatta in Marblehead . . . Janel McCarville's layup with 6.4 seconds left lifted the host New York Liberty to a 69-68 WNBA win over the Los Angeles Sparks . . . Seimone Augustus scored 20 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars, 78-68 . . . Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Washington in an 81-75 win over host Atlanta . . . At Phoenix, Diana Taurasi scored 31 points to lead the Mercury past the Seattle Storm, 94-80.