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Paxson Out As Cavaliers Start Rebuilding (AP)
AP - The superstar bolted out the doors of Gund Arena without talking to the media. He jumped behind the wheel of his Hummer and blasted the stereo maybe hoping to tune out the world. The All-Star center, a free agent who has already shopped for an apartment in New York, showed up wearing a Yankees cap. The jilted point guard reported feeling better after missing the final road trip with a "viral syndrome." And let's not forget, the general manager got fired.
Cubs' Garciaparra Out 2-To-3 Months (AP)
AP - Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra will be sidelined at least two to three months because of a torn left groin.
Mets 10-1 Win Snaps Marlins' 4-Game Streak (AP)
AP - Pedro Martinez pitched seven innings, Doug Mientkiewicz hit his first career grand slam and the New York Mets routed baseball's stingiest pitching staff, beating the Florida Marlins 10-1 Thursday night.
NFL Draft Offers Much Talent, Few Stars (AP)
AP - Brett Favre was the 33rd pick in the 1991 NFL draft and his good pal Michael Strahan went 40th two years later. Ray Lewis was 26th overall in 1997 and Ed Reed 24th three years ago.
Agassi Rallies to Beat Calatrava on Clay (AP)
AP - Second-seeded Andre Agassi overcame a loss in the first set then rallied to beat Alex Calatrava 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 Thursday night and advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.
Broncos Happy As Bystanders in First Round (AP)
AP - The Denver Broncos are the team that has everything. Or at least, they're the team with people in the front office who think they have everything.
NBA needs age rule as much as Kobe needs Shaq (USATODAY.com)
USATODAY.com - While wondering if Kobe will enjoy watching Shaq on his plasma during the NBA playoffs ... For heaven's sake, the league needs an age minimum - for everyone's sake.
Padres Snap Dodgers' Winning Streak 6-1 (AP)
AP - Ryan Klesko broke out of a slump with three hits and two RBIs, and the San Diego Padres snapped the Los Angeles Dodgers' eight-game winning streak with a 6-1 victory Thursday night.
UEFA OKs Rule on Locally Trained Players (AP)
AP - A rule designed to increase the number of locally trained soccer players was unanimously approved Thursday by European soccer federations.
NHL Won't Start With Replacements in Fall (AP)
AP - The NHL is searching for a deal, not replacements for its locked-out players. With speculation mounting that hockey would return next season no matter what, even if that meant using replacement players, commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that the league won't return to the ice in October if a new collective bargaining agreement hasn't been reached with the players' association.
The final mock draft
With the first pick in the 2005 NFL draft, the 49ers will select … Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
NFL draft deep without many stars (AP)
Brett Favre was the 33rd pick in the 1991 NFL draft and his good pal Michael Strahan went 40th two years later. Ray Lewis was 26th overall in 1997 and Ed Reed 24th three years ago. Which proves you don't always need a high pick to corral stars, a development likely to be demonstrated again Saturday when commissioner Paul Tagliabue opens this year's auction.
LB Sharper signs with the Seahawks (AP)
Linebacker Jamie Sharper officially became a member of the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, signing a five-year, $17.5 million deal that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. Sharper was released by the Houston Texans on April 1. The deal was agreed upon last week, but Sharper said he'd been moving some items out of Houston, delaying the signing.
Emotional memorial service for Mills (AP)
Knowing that his battle with cancer was coming to an end, former NFL linebacker Sam Mills planned every last detail of his own memorial -- all the way down to the menu of fried chicken and greens. ``He picked the songs and the scriptures and he told us not to keep you here too long,'' Carolina Panthers president Mark Richardson said during one of Thursday's eulogies.
Jets trade first-round pick to Raiders (AP)
The New York Jets finally filled their need at tight end. The Jets acquired Doug Jolley from Oakland on Thursday in exchange for their first-round pick in Saturday's NFL draft. The deal, agreed upon Wednesday night, was completed when Jolley passed his physical Thursday morning. Oakland gets the 26th overall selection, moving back into the first round after trading the seventh overall pick to...
Niners first in draft without top player (AP)
According to one theory, the San Francisco 49ers must choose a quarterback with the first pick in the NFL draft. It's the most important position -- and when a player costs as much as the No. 1 pick, he better be the most important player on his team. But while the 49ers spent the last three months deciding whether Alex Smith or Aaron Rodgers was most likely to be their next Steve Young, the...
Dolphins' Saban wants to deal No. 2 pick (AP)
Now that the Miami Dolphins have a top-five pick in the NFL draft for the first time in 38 years, new coach Nick Saban wants to trade it. Saban inherited the No. 2 choice behind San Francisco when he took over a team coming off its worst season since the 1960s. But because the Dolphins have only four other picks, with none in the second round, Saban has been shopping his first-round choice for a...
Clarett likely a second-day draft pick (AP)
Maurice Clarett's long, strange trip to the NFL is nearing its end. Maybe. It's been more than two years since Clarett scored the touchdown that gave Ohio State its first national title in 34 years. Then came legal troubles, NCAA violations and a failed lawsuit against the NFL. A player once spoken of with the kind of awe reserved for a young talent like LeBron James had become synonymous with...
The West's best
The Suns won a league-high 62 games, but they won't be representing the West in the NBA finals.
Cavaliers fire GM Jim Paxson (AP)
The superstar bolted out the doors of Gund Arena without talking to the media. He jumped behind the wheel of his Hummer and blasted the stereo maybe hoping to tune out the world. The All-Star center, a free agent who has already shopped for an apartment in New York, showed up wearing a Yankees cap. The jilted point guard reported feeling better after missing the final road trip with a ``viral...
Many stars can only watch NBA playoffs (AP)
Before the NBA playoffs begin, a little pop quiz: Q: What do Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James have in common with Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Phil Jackson? A: The closest they'll get to this year's postseason is watching on TV. After a season of chaos and change, the NBA playoffs will begin this weekend without a target team for everyone to take aim at.
Wolves reflect on what went wrong (AP)
The Minnesota Timberwolves were left to ponder what went wrong in a season that began with championship hopes and deep-in-the-playoffs expectations yet ended short of the postseason. Why a team coming off a conference finals appearance with every key player returning could win only 44 games and manage a ninth-place finish in the West is one of the game's great mysteries.
Nets grab last playoff berth (AP)
Vince Carter landed awkwardly, grimaced and leaned on a table near the Celtics' bench. The game wasn't even 5 minutes old and already New Jersey's playoff chances seemed to sink as he limped to the locker room. He knew better. Less than 3 minutes after missing a layup and being kneed in the left Achilles' tendon by Antoine Walker, Carter returned to help the Nets earn the NBA's last playoff berth...
Pacers win Miller's finale, clinch sixth (AP)
Reggie Miller's farewell party was almost perfect. After hearing celebrities laud 18 stellar seasons with Indiana, Miller``s final regular-season game had a familiar ring -- he sparked a fourth-quarter rally to lead the Pacers past Chicago 85-83 Wednesday night. Afterward, Miller, who is retiring after this season, thanked the fans for helping him grow up and choked back tears when team owner Herb...
Nets' Jefferson plans to practice Friday (AP)
Injured All-Star forward Richard Jefferson plans to practice Friday as the New Jersey Nets get ready to take on the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Jefferson has missed almost four months with a torn ligament in his left wrist. Earlier this week, he said he would play if the Nets made the playoffs.
Spurs move slow to get Duncan in rhythm (AP)
The San Antonio Spurs dropped three of their final four games going into the playoffs, but no biggie. The team's priority down the stretch had less to do with winning and more to do with getting Tim Duncan back into rhythm after the star forward missed a dozen late-season games with a badly sprained right ankle.
76ers clinch No. 7 seed, to face Pistons (AP)
Kyle Korver openly rooted for Chicago. Josh Davis was flipping channels trying to locate ESPN. Marc Jackson insisted Philadelphia could beat any team. Allen Iverson scored 16 points and put the finishing touches on his fourth scoring title, and Philadelphia clinched seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 110-86 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
NBA sets attendance record (AP)
NBA regular-season attendance averaged 17,314 this year, the highest in league history. Total attendance of nearly 21.3 million topped the previous mark of more than 20.5 million set during the 1995-96 season, the league said Thursday. Excluding the addition of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, NBA games still drew more than 432,500 fans this season than last season.
NHL won't start next season with replacement players (AP)
The NHL is searching for a deal, not replacements for its locked-out players. With speculation mounting that hockey would return next season no matter what, even if that meant using replacement players, commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that the league won't return to the ice in October if a new collective bargaining agreement hasn't been reached with the players' association.
Canada beats United States in world championship tuneup (AP)
Rick Nash and Dan Boyle scored first-period goals, and Canada defeated the United States 3-1 Wednesday night in a tuneup for the world hockey championships. Matt Cullen scored a power-play goal in the third period for the United States, which opens against Slovenia on May 1 in Austria. Scott Walker added an empty netter for the Canadians, who play Latvia on April 30.
USA Hockey adds C Yan Stastny to World Championship roster (SportsTicker)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Ticker) - The United States is ready for the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.
NHL will not start in October without labor agreement (SportsTicker)
NEW YORK (Ticker) - If the NHL season starts in October, it will not be with replacement players.
Report: Bertuzzi reinstatement hearing scheduled (AP)
The NHL plans a hearing April 26 to decide on reinstating Todd Bertuzzi, who was suspended indefinitely after decking Colorado forward Steve Moore with a punch that broke his neck, the Canadian Broadcasting Co. reported. NHL spokesman Frank Brown confirmed Monday a meeting was planned with Bertuzzi but would not say when, The Vancouver Province newspaper said.
Agent: Forsberg would like to return to Avalanche if possible (AP)
Peter Forsberg would love to play with the Colorado Avalanche if there is an NHL season this fall, according to his agent. ``That's his mind-set at the moment, and I don't think he's looking to get out of Denver. He loves Denver,'' agent Don Baizley told The Denver Post. Forsberg, a former Hart Trophy winner as the NHL's MVP, played for Modo in Sweden this past season.
NHL lockout convinced Aaron Miller he's no housewife (AP)
This spring has been unlike any other Aaron Miller has had during his hockey career. ``I've been having fun in the sun at Manhattan Beach,'' said Miller, a defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings. ``I've just been hanging out with my two daughters a lot, walking the older one to school. I feel like a housewife.'' Not any more.
NHL, players' association return to bargaining table (AP)
The NHL and players' association returned to the bargaining table Tuesday and met for six hours, hoping to build momentum off talks that began two weeks earlier. Negotiations centered around a new, hybrid concept -- which addresses the relationship between player costs and league revenues -- that was first discussed during the last round of talks in Toronto on April 4.
Gomez suffers hairline fracture, out 3-4 weeks (AP)
New Jersey center Scott Gomez will be sidelined up to a month with a hairline fracture in his pelvic area, Devils president Lou Lamoriello said Monday. Gomez was hurt after he got blindsided while playing for the Alaska Aces of the ECHL in a playoff game Saturday night in Bakersfield, Calif. The ECHL suspended Bakersfield right wing Ashlee Langdone for the hit, pending further review.
News and notes
Crew chief penalties and Adam Sandler are making news in the NASCAR world.
Harvick crew chief returns after suspension (AP)
Kevin Harvick's crew chief returned from a four-race suspension Thursday to help set up the No. 29 Chevrolet for the Nextel Cup race Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway.
Night race has NASCAR drivers concerned with setups, safety (SportsTicker)
Driver Ramirez released from hospital (SportsTicker)
SONOMA, California (Ticker) - One day after being involved in an accident during a NASCAR Nextel Cup test session at Infineon Raceway, Jose Luis Ramirez was released from John Muir Medical Center.
Biffle overpowering in Texas victory (AP)
Greg Biffle's body was sore heading into the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Biffle wins NASCAR Nextel Cup Samsung/RadioShack 500 (SportsTicker)
Stewart has fiery ending at Texas (AP)
Tony Stewart made a fiery exit Sunday.
Late pass pushes Kahne to Busch win in Texas (AP)
Kasey Kahne got past 19-year-old rookie Reed Sorenson just before the final caution and held on the final two laps after the restart for a NASCAR Busch Series win Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway.
Bourdais wins IROC in Texas (AP)
Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais became just the fourth foreign-born driver to win an IROC race, leading the final 22 laps Friday night at Texas after Kurt Busch suffered the same kind of bad luck that has plagued him in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. Bourdais regained the lead when Busch cut a tire and slammed hard into the outside wall in the second turn.
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