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Hingis-Bhupathi Win Mixed Doubles Title (AP)
 AP - Martina Hingis won a Grand Slam title a month into her comeback, teaming with India's Mahesh Bhupathi to beat Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday in the Australian Open mixed doubles final.
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Sooners Snap Texas' 9-Game Winning Streak (AP)
 AP - After beating their fierce rival, Taj Gray and two other Oklahoma players leaped onto a courtside table, played to the adoring crowd and flashed an upside-down "Hook 'Em Horns" sign. Terrell Everett scored 25 points, Gray added 22 and the No. 24 Sooners exploited LaMarcus Aldridge's second-half foul trouble to beat fourth-ranked Texas 82-72 Saturday night and snap the Longhorns' nine-game winning streak.
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Villanova Survives Scare, Beats Notre Dame (AP)
 AP - The smallest player on the court came up big for Villanova in the final seconds.
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Garcia, Pampling Lead Buick; Woods 1 Back (AP)
 AP - Sergio Garcia stood over a 5-foot birdie putt, the kind that has given him fits the last couple of years, and watched it roll true into the center of the cup Saturday for a share of the lead with Rod Pampling in the Buick Invitational.
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Otto Beats Kraushaar in Luge World Cup (AP)
 AP - Reigning Olympic champion Sylke Otto beat 1998 Olympic champion Silke Kraushaar on Saturday in the final World Cup luge race leading up to the Turin Olympics.
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Henry to Coach Chargers' Offensive Line (AP)
AP - Offensive line coach Jack Henry agreed to a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on Saturday, his second stint with the club.
L.A. Clippers Extend Winning Streak (AP)
 AP - After two tough nights in a row against the Los Angeles Clippers' stingy defense, Carmelo Anthony is glad he won't have to see them again until the first week in April. The Clippers, led by tenacious rookie James Singleton, held the Denver Nuggets' leading scorer to just 16 points Saturday night in a 112-79 rout of the Northwest Division leaders and a sweep of their home-and-home set.
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Epstein: Coco Crisp Is Not Johnny Damon (AP)
 AP - The Red Sox have high hopes for Coco Crisp, the speedy, switch-hitting outfielder they just acquired from the Cleveland Indians.
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Pope, Donovan to Reach Soccer Milestone (AP)
AP - When Eddie Pope was 5 or 6 years old, he wanted to play football. He was too young to play in any of the local leagues, however, leaving soccer as his only option.
Auld Gives Canucks 4-3 Win Over Avalanche (AP)
 AP - Jarkko Ruutu didn't make the move he wanted to but sure got the result he coveted. Ruutu beat David Aebischer in a shootout, and Vancouver goalie Alex Auld was flawless in the tiebreaker, leading the Canucks to a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.
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Read and React: 'Horn blowers
Longhorns fans cried foul on a certain QB's ranking among our top-10 offensive prospects. Guess which one.
Steelers look to regain running game (AP)
Chuck Noll or Bill Cowher. Terry Bradshaw or Ben Roethlisberger. Lynn Swann and John Stallworth or Hines Ward. The 1970s or the 2000s. The coach and the quarterback don't matter, and neither do the wide receivers nor the era. The Pittsburgh Steelers always stay the same, in good times and bad, and that means their offense relies on the running game to set up the pass, and not the other way around.
Holmgren seeks Super Bowl coaching first (AP)
Bill Parcells failed. Dan Reeves, Dick Vermeil and Don Shula never had the chance. Now Mike Holmgren has taken a second franchise to a Super Bowl. Can he become the only coach to win with more than one team? In nearly four decades of Super Bowls, only Parcells managed to win in his first try, then come back with another club.
NFL Network to air prime-time games (AP)
The NFL Network will broadcast eight prime-time games on Thursdays and Saturdays beginning next season. The eight-game package, announced by commissioner Paul Tagliabue on Saturday, will begin with a game on Thanksgiving night. All of the games also will be shown on local stations in the teams' home markets.
'Skins S Taylor now faces up to 46 years (AP)
Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor faces up to 46 years in prison after two additional assault charges were filed against him Friday. Michael Grieco, an assistant state attorney, said the charges reflect Taylor's alleged threatening of three people with a gun in an armed confrontation over an all-terrain vehicle on June 1.
Seahawks WR Jackson returns to practice (AP)
Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson, who has been bothered by soreness to his right knee and lower back, returned to practice Friday to prepare for next week's Super Bowl. Jackson didn't practice last week, but caught six passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's 34-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers last Sunday.
Thousands cheer Steelers at pep rally (AP)
Jerome Bettis made a bold Super Bowl prediction to the thousands of Steelers fans who turned out in force Friday to honor the AFC champions. "We carry Pittsburgh in our hearts wherever we go. ... And you better believe, when we come back, we will have one for the thumb," Bettis said. An estimated 30,000 people awash in black and gold gathered at Heinz Field for the Super Bowl send-off, a hometown...
Saints hire Vitt, two other assistants (AP)
The Saints hired former Rams interim coach Joe Vitt as linebackers coach Friday. New coach Sean Payton also hired Doug Marrone as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, and John Bonamego as special teams coach. Vitt, who also will carry the title assistant head coach, took over in St. Louis six games into last season when Mike Martz was sidelined for health reasons and ultimately led the...
Kubiak introduced as Texans coach (AP)
As a ball boy for the Houston Oilers more than 25 years ago, Gary Kubiak never thought he would eventually coach the team that replaced them. But he long vowed that he would return to Houston. On Thursday he did, and was introduced as the second coach of the Houston Texans. "I always told my mom and dad I would be home someday," he said.
Seahawks G Gray wants win in big game (AP)
In Chris Gray's mind, the biggest game of his career so far came in his senior year at Homewood High School in Birmingham, Ala. Not the NFC title game the Seahawks won to reach the Super Bowl. Nor any of those Iron Bowl matchups with Alabama he played in while at Auburn. In Gray's biggest game, Homewood's players thought they would win the Alabama high school championship because Gadsden High School...
Minnesota's bad medicine
Trading players with the Celtics isn't the magic pill that will cure all the Timberwolves' ills.
Mavericks win eighth straight, top Jazz (AP)
Coming home from a 5-0 West Coast road trip, Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson feared his club might turn complacent against the struggling Utah Jazz. That's what it has come to for the Mavericks: finding things to worry about. Dirk Nowitzki shook off a twisted ankle to score 21 points and Josh Howard scored 24, leading Dallas past Utah 103-89 Saturday night to up its winning streak to a...
Ginobili keys decisive run in Spurs win (AP)
Manu Ginobili needed three quarters Saturday to warm up in his first game back from an ankle sprain. By the fourth, he was ready to play. Ginobili made all four of his shots in the period, two of them during a decisive 13-1 run, and the San Antonio Spurs pulled away for a 102-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bobcats lose 11th in a row, 107-97 (AP)
The Washington Wizards figure it's time to make a move in the Eastern Conference race. Gilbert Arenas scored 34 points and the Wizards beat undermanned Charlotte 107-97 Saturday night, the Bobcats' franchise-record 11th straight loss. "We have to take advantage of the opportunity we have here," Arenas said.
Shinn says Oklahoma best for Hornets (AP)
New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn said Saturday the team should remain in Oklahoma City next season. "Right now, I think everybody's got to accept the fact that New Orleans is not ready for this coming season," Shinn said. "They're not ready, so we should play in Oklahoma City next year, and then start working and putting everything together to come back." The NBA said that commissioner David...
Allen powers Sonics to 113-104 win (AP)
Ray Allen came through with his usual clutch shooting, and second-year center Robert Swift left his coach and teammates impressed. Allen scored 35 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Swift added 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Seattle SuperSonics held off the New Jersey Nets 113-104 on Saturday night.
Webber, 76ers get 91-76 win over Knicks (AP)
Allen Iverson was out and Philadelphia sure didn't look like it missed him. Chris Webber had 21 points and 10 rebounds and John Salmons added 18 points to lead the 76ers over the New York Knicks 91-76 on Saturday night. Iverson, second in the NBA with 33.6 points per game, sat out with a sprained left ankle after he was injured in the fourth quarter of Thursday's loss against Orlando.
Davis powers Warriors to 98-83 win (AP)
Reserve forward Andris Biedrins surveyed the court and saw several players he typically teams with in practice playing with Golden State's first team -- and Baron Davis leading the way as usual. Davis kept things flowing, despite some new faces in his supporting cast. He had 29 points, 16 assists and eight rebounds, and the Warriors snapped a four-game losing streak with a 98-83 victory over the...
West leads Hornets by Grizzlies 95-86 (AP)
After all of the offcourt distractions of the last two days, the New Orleans Hornets needed something positive. They got it Saturday night. David West scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and grabbed 12 rebounds to help the Hornets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 95-86. The win came against a backdrop of Chris Andersen's dismissal from the team Friday and lingering questions about where the...
Gordon helps Bulls hold off Hawks 111-99 (AP)
With Atlanta's Joe Johnson scoring from every angle and nearly unstoppable, the Chicago Bulls' comfortable lead was slipping away. After a 24-point margin had been whittled to five, Ben Gordon bailed the Bulls out. He scored their final 10 points and Chicago held on for a 111-99 win Saturday night. "I was struggling a little bit in the second half, but then I just tried to take over in the fourth...
Power rankings
Healthy again, Ottawa is back on track and reclaims its position atop Matt's rankings.
'Canes honor Francis, win 4-1 (AP)
The feeling in the locker room was strong. No one on the Carolina Hurricanes wanted to disappoint former captain Ron Francis on his night. "We wanted to give a special effort, we wanted to win this game for him," defenseman Bret Hedican said. "We talked about it, and came out playing the game we wanted to play." Justin Williams and Erik Cole scored in the first period, Martin Gerber stopped 17 shots...
Lightning rip struggling Flyers 6-0 (AP)
No matter who starts in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning, opponents aren't scoring. Sean Burke made 38 saves and Fredrik Modin had three goals, leading the Lightning to a 6-0 victory Saturday over the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. Dan Boyle, Vaclav Prospal and Ryan Craig also scored for defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay, which has won five of six, including three shutouts.
Hurricanes retire Francis' No. 10 (AP)
Ron Francis donned the familiar sweater and led the Carolina Hurricanes on the ice one final time, then took a victory lap around the rink to a standing ovation. When he was done, his wife and three children joined him near center ice, as did his parents, his brother and a handful of friends. "Having my family on the ice with me tonight makes the celebration complete," Francis told the crowd at the...
Ill Jagr helps Rangers rout Penguins 7-1 (AP)
Jaromir Jagr had two goals, 11 shots on net, and a severe cold that was wearing him down. He's been told he might feel the effects of the illness for about six weeks, but by then the New York Rangers might be well on their way to the playoffs for the first time since 1997. Jagr scored twice in the third period and added an assist, powering the Rangers' 7-1 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins on...
Modano's SO goal lifts Stars over Wings (AP)
This was the kind of game NHL executives dream about: Two elite clubs playing at their best before a national TV audience, needing overtime to settle it. When five thrilling minutes weren't enough, on came a shootout -- one that was extended to sudden death by a bizarre play overturning an apparent winning defensive stand.
Mighty Ducks beat rival Kings 6-2 (AP)
Anaheim's NHL team is still the Mighty Ducks -- for another 2 1/2 months or so before the new owners have their way and lop off the "Mighty" part. It could be worse. At least they won't be the Los Angeles Ducks of Anaheim. The Kings are and will remain L.A.'s only hockey team, but the Ducks won Southern California bragging rights on Saturday with a 6-2 rout of the Kings.
Koivu's OT goal lifts Habs past Leafs (AP)
The Montreal Canadiens extended their rival's misery. Saku Koivu scored a power-play goal at 1:04 of overtime to give the Canadiens a 4-3 victory over Toronto on Saturday night, the Maple Leafs' eighth straight loss. With Toronto's Alexander Khavanov serving a penalty for holding, Koivu stuffed the puck past goalie Mikael Tellqvist.
Blue Jackets rally past Predators, 4-3 (AP)
The improved Columbus Blue Jackets are picking up points in pressure situations. David Vyborny scored the second of his two goals with 1:23 remaining to give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 comeback victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. "Nasher (Rick Nash) found me and I just tried to put it upstairs," Vyborny said.
Comrie nets two as Coyotes rout Sharks (AP)
Mike Comrie's right knee felt much better Saturday night. Two days after sitting out with a sore knee, Comrie scored twice and Mike Ricci added a power-play goal to help the Phoenix Coyotes rout the San Jose Sharks 6-2 on Saturday night. "Against a team like the Sharks you can't make many mistakes," Comrie said.
Stewart back on track
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Nextel Cup drivers, including Tony Stewart, are taking center stage at the Rolex 24 in Daytona.
Ganassi team leads at halfway mark (AP)
Chip Ganassi Racing was in control as the 44th Rolex 24 sports car endurance race hit the halfway mark a few minutes after midnight Sunday. "We had some problems early, but we got rid of the gremlins and things are looking good right now," said team owner Ganassi as he watched his two Lexus Riley Daytona Prototypes battling it out for the top spot on Daytona International Speedway's 3.56-mile,...
Busch asks for delay in reckless driving hearing (AP)
TOLLESON, Ariz. – NASCAR driver Kurt Busch had his pre-trial hearing on reckless driving charges postponed.
Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit against NASCAR (AP)
A federal judge ordered Friday that Kentucky Speedway can move ahead with its $400 million antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.
Kenseth re-signs with Roush Racing (SportsTicker)
CONCORD, North Carolina (Ticker) - Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth has been with Roush Racing for seven years. He will remain there for at least a few more.
Former NASCAR champion Kenseth to stay with Roush (AP)
Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth has signed a multiyear contract extension with Roush Racing.
Luhr wins pole for Rolex 24 with record-setting lap (AP)
Lucas Luhr won the pole Thursday for the Rolex 24 sports car endurance race at Daytona International Speedway with a lap of at 123.230 mph. The German will co-drive the No. 23 Alex Job Racing/Emory Motorsports Porsche Crawford with fellow Porsche driver Mike Rockenfeller and Patrick Long in the 24-hour race, which starts Saturday.
Harvick could be Toyota's first prize (AP)
Unless car owner Richard Childress can sign him to a long-term extension, Kevin Harvick will be one of the top free agents for the 2007 season -- just in time for Toyota to make its NASCAR debut.
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