Ibrahim Abdul-Matin

Winning his fifth French Open title, Rafael Nadal proved once again that the courts of Roland Garros belong to him. He defeated Robin Soderling, the same man who knocked him out last year. The Takeaway's sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin has the details of the match. He also recaps last night's Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, and Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

It's a big weekend for sports lovers. In basketball, the Lakers and the Celtics head to game two of the NBA finals in Los Angeles. Tennis fans can look forward to watching the showdown between Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur in the women's final at the French Open. And tonight in Chicago, the Blackhawks will face the Flyers in game four of the Stanley Cup Finals. As always, Takeaway sports correspondent Ibrahim Abdul-Matin has everything you need to know.

The clay courts of Roland Garros saw a couple of top seeds falter yesterday. Venus Williams and Andy Murray were both ousted from the French Open in straight sets. The Takeaway's sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, recaps yesterday's games. He also tells us about the winner of the 94th Indianapolis 500, who made Ashley Judd very proud.

It was a big night for basketball. The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 103-101 in game five of the Western Conference finals of the NBA Playoffs to take a 3-2 series lead. The Takeaway’s sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin tells us what made the game so close, and what to expect when the teams meet again for game 6 in Phoenix. He also gives us an update on where NBA star Lebron James may be headed.

The last seven players were cut from Team USA's soccer team yesterday, and the final 23 man roster is now set. With the FIFA World Cup just over two weeks away, Takeaway's sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin sees if Team USA stands a chance. He also recaps last night's NBA Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic, who are trying to become the first team to come back and win from a 3-0 deficit. Did they succeed? Ibrahim has the answers.

The Supreme Court delivered a blow to the NFL on Monday, ruling that the organization is an associaton of 32 separate entities. The anti-trust case was brought by American Needle, an apparel maker from Illinois that lost its contract with the NFL when the league entered into an exclusive 10-year, $250 million deal with Reebok to produce its league-branded merchandise.

• Washington Takeout: Congress could vote to repeal 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' this week. Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich explains why Congress and the Pentagon are butting heads about whether now is the right time to make this change.
• Sports Takeout: Venus Williams won her opening match in The French Open, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin recaps the first day's matches. He also looks at the latest in the NHL's Stanley Cup Finals.

• Washington Takeout: Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich joins us with the latest on the financial reform bill, which seems to be termporarily delayed on Capitol Hill.
• Sports Takeout: Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin recaps Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Playoffs. He also looks at yesterday's NBA draft lottery and who the lucky winner was.

• ECONOMY TAKEOUT: Even after a $1 trillion bailout plan, the euro fell to its lowest level in four years for a brief moment last week, causing bank shares in Europe to plunge. Wall Street followed suit. We talk with Dr. Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics, about how Europe's economic woes could impact the U.S.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Last night's NBA and NHL playoffs are recapped by Takeaway Sports Contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, who also tells us about a Canadian doctor charged with supplying performance-enhancing drugs to professional football players. 

• Washington Takeout: Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan hasn't left much of a paper trail, but that could change. We talk to Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich about the reams of paper the Senate will soon be sifting through to get a better sense of her record, and what Senate Republicans might be hoping to find. [Read the Senate's full questionnaire for Elena Kagan (PDF).]
• Sports Takeout: In the NBA and NHL Conference finals this week, historic teams are going against upstarts. We talk to Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin about old wounds, fresh blood, and best bets.

• WASHINGTON TAKEOUT: Elena Kagan paid her first visit to Congress as Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court yesterday. She met with some of the Senators who will help decide her fate. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich tells us about this "senatorial version of speed dating."
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Ibrahim Abdul Matin recaps an exciting game seven upset in the NHL conference semifinals last night, when the Montreal Canadiens upset the Pittsburgh Penguins to continue their Cinderella streak through the playoffs.

(You can follow Todd on Twitter @Todd_Zwillich)

• SUPREME COURT TAKEOUT: If Elena Kagan needs help preparing for a potentially long and messy confirmation hearing, The New York Times' Adam Liptak says she should read a 1995 article on the topic that she wrote.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: We're in the midst of NHL and NBA playoffs. And in the boxing world, Manny Pacquiao won his Congressional election in the Philippines. Sports Contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin updates us on these stories.

Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin recaps last night's NBA playoff action, as both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic were looking to get the brooms out and sweep their series. He also previews the heated series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, who are tied 2-2.

• Greece's Bailout: In an effort to limit the global scope of Greece's financial crisis, European governments and the IMF have pledged almost one trillion dollars in emergency funding to Eurozone countries. BBC Europe reporter Dominic Hughes explains.
• Sports Takeout: Dallas Braden from the Oakland Athletics threw a perfect game yesterday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Takeaway sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul Matin recaps the game, and looks ahead to the NBA Conference Finals. 

• Turmoil in Greece: We get an update on the economic turmoil in Greece that has sparked social outrage and mass protests. The BBC's Malcolm Brabant describes the shock felt after the violent protests.
• Sports Takeout: Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, recaps last night's NHL playoff action, and previews tonight's games, as the San Jose Sharks go for the sweep and jugular of the Detroit Red Wings.

• WASHINGTON TAKEOUT: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called Saturday's attempted car bombing in New York City's Times Square an act of terror. Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich tells us why and how the politics of terrorism are playing a role in the White House's response.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Takeaway sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, recaps last night's action in the NBA playoffs, previews tonight's games, which includes Game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers.

• WASHINGTON TAKEOUT: Despite sliding approval numbers, a deeply divided Congress and a full plate of national catastrophes, President Obama displayed his lighter side when he roasted Washington, D.C.'s political and journalistic elite at the Washington Correspondent's Dinner. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich tells us who got hit the hardest by the president's jibes.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT:  Takeaway sports correspondent Ibrahim Abdul-Matin previews the NBA finals. Will there be a LeBron James/Kobe Bryant showdown next week?
• LISTENERS RESPOND: Ideas about the good and bad from last week. And why our listeners love Detroit.

• IMMIGRATION TAKEOUT: Arizona State Senate Bill 1070, also known as the “Safe Neighborhoods” bill, has pushed immigration reform to the top of the national agenda. Critics say that the anti-illegal immigration bill’s measures are far too harsh, and possibly even illegal the requirement that local and state police detain anybody with reasonable suspicion of being in the country illegally. We speak with Carmen Mercer, founder and president of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps who says that this is exactly the kind of legislation the state needs to protect its citizens from the crime that bleeds into our country over thousands of miles of insecure border.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Last night was game seven in the first round of the NHL playoff series. We talk with Takeaway sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin for an update.

• WASHINGTON TAKEOUT:  Takeaway Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich tells us why Washington lawmakers are ready to face-off against social networking giant Facebook and its Internet ambitions.

• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, Takeaway sports contributor, highlights the NHL playoffs as he recaps the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Phoenix Coyotes, and previews game seven between the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals.

• BUSINESS TAKEOUT: Goldman Sachs's top executives are about to face a grilling on Capitol Hill today. Louise Story, finance reporter for The New York Times, previews what's in store for one of the biggest financial giants at the upcoming Senate hearing.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin previews Game 5 of the NBA playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ibrahim smells an upset brewing.
• LISTENERS TAKEOUT: We hear from Takeaway listeners on what you think of the Tea Party, and what you love about Detroit.