JOHANNESBURG — Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was awarded the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player, and Germany forward Thomas Mueller won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer with five goals.

Forlan was voted the most outstanding player of the tournament by accredited media after leading his team to the semifinals.

The 20-year-old Mueller helped Germany take third place with his five goals and three assists, and also won the Best Young Player award.

UNDATED — The future of testing for human growth hormone is shaping up to be a contentious issue in negotiations between the NFL and the players' union, with the league supporting blood-based testing and the union less convinced about its validity.Kevin Mawae, the president of the NFL Players Association, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the union is aware of developing tests, one of which is a blood test that could detect HGH for up to 14 days.

HOUSTON — Former Astros All-Star Jeff Bagwell is taking over as Houston's hitting coach after the team fired Sean Berry on Sunday.Berry became "a victim of circumstances" as the Astros' offense has sputtered this season, general manager Ed Wade said. Wade believes the offense can do more.In 15 seasons with the Astros, the former first baseman set franchise records with 449 home runs and 1,529 RBIs.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Hank Conger hit a three-run homer and the United States, boosted by a pair of Angels up-and-comers, snapped a three-year losing streak in the Futures Game with a 9-1 win over the World squad Sunday.Eric Hosmer doubled among his four hits and drove in two runs for the U.S. team in a game showcasing top prospects from all of baseball's minor leagues.

LAS VEGAS — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says the NBA should examine how free agents LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade all ended up with the Miami Heat.Cuban said he intends to ask the league's Board of Governors to inquire about the situation.Cuban says the league needs to develop more definitive rules governing the issue of player tampering.