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Williams Said to Appeal Failed Drug Test (AP)
 AP - Troubled running back Ricky Williams is appealing a positive drug test that could force the Miami Dolphins star to sit out the 2006 season, a person familiar with the case said Monday.
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U.S. Wins First Ice Dance Medal Since 1976 (AP)
 AP - Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were still on the ice long after getting their silver medals. They posed for pictures, clowned for the crowd, waved the flag and tried to thank every single fan who showed up to cheer them. After all, they were the first American ice dancers in 30 years with a medal to celebrate.
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Giants' Bonds No-Show for Spring Training (AP)
 AP - One day after contradicting reports that Barry Bonds was either ready to retire after the season or set to play 10 more years, the San Francisco star did not show up Monday on the voluntary reporting date for Giants players.
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No. 22 Oklahoma Edges Texas Tech, 71-70 (AP)
 AP - Kevin Bookout tipped in a rebound with 4.5 seconds left Monday night to give No. 22 Oklahoma a 71-70 victory over Texas Tech.
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NBA Set to Resume Second Half of Season (AP)
 AP - Being one of the best in the West might not be good enough for Dallas. Finish second in their conference, and the Mavericks likely open the second round in San Antonio. Win the West and Dallas still probably gets the defending champions in the conference semifinals — but might have to go through Kobe Bryant just to get there.
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Bears Hires Gill Byrd, Promotes Lloyd Lee (AP)
AP - The Chicago Bears hired former Pro Bowl cornerback Gill Byrd as defensive quality control coach and promoted Lloyd Lee to defensive assistant on Monday.
Los Angeles Clippers Sign Vin Baker (AP)
AP - The Los Angeles Clippers have signed power forward Vin Baker, the team announced Monday.
Bonds: 'I'm not playing baseball anymore after this' (USATODAY.com)
USATODAY.com - San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, on the verge of passing Babe Ruth and just 47 home runs shy of breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, told USA TODAY in a wide-ranging telephone interview that this spring training will be his last and he plans to retire after the 2006 baseball season with or without the game's most cherished record.
League Moves FA Cup Final From Wembley (AP)
AP - The Australian construction group Multiplex said Tuesday that the English Football Association has decided to move FA Cup final from Wembley Stadium, fearing it would not be completed in time for the game on May 13.
Canadiens Goalie Theodore Out 6 to 8 Weeks (AP)
AP - Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore will miss six to eight weeks after fracturing his right heel bone while walking down the frozen steps of his Montreal home, the team said Saturday.
A Cutler above
The rise of Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler has NFL scouts, coaches and general managers buzzing.
Ricky Williams appeals failed drug test (AP)
Troubled running back Ricky Williams is appealing a positive drug test that could force the Miami Dolphins star to sit out the 2006 season, a person familiar with the case said Monday. If the positive test result is upheld, it would be Williams' fourth violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy, meaning at least a one-year suspension.
Brees likely to become free agent (AP)
The Chargers are primed to let quarterback Drew Brees test free agency. San Diego general manager A. J. Smith said Monday the team has declined to designate Brees as its franchise or transition player. The deadline for designating a player with either tag is Thursday. If the Chargers had slapped either of the tags on Brees, he would be guaranteed nearly $10 million in a one-year salary next season.
Aikman says Favre likely to retire (AP)
Troy Aikman believes the Green Bay Packers' struggles will likely drive Brett Favre into retirement. "I'd hate to see him retire," Aikman told The Associated Press on Sunday. "But I know that going out and having seasons like what he went through this past year is really frustrating and it just isn't much fun.
Jets hire Schottenheimer, promote Sutton (AP)
Bryan Cox was hired as Jets assistant defensive line coach, one of the bigger names on the staff of new coach Eric Mangini. The Jets finally announced their assistants Monday. Brian Schottenheimer, son of Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer will serve as offensive coordinator, and Bob Sutton was promoted from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
Packers CB Carroll arrested in Arkansas (AP)
Green Bay Packers cornerback Ahmad Carroll was arrested after allegedly arguing with a police officer in a Fayetteville bar. Carroll, 22, was charged Friday with third-degree assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and refusal to submit to arrest, Washington County sheriff's Sgt. Donna Smith said.
Bears add former Pro Bowler to staff (AP)
The Chicago Bears hired former Pro Bowl cornerback Gill Byrd as defensive quality control coach and promoted Lloyd Lee to defensive assistant on Monday. A 10-year NFL veteran and two-time Pro Bowl selection with the San Diego Chargers, Byrd will help coach the Bears' defensive backs. He spent the past three seasons on the St.
James Dungy's death ruled a suicide (AP)
The death of the 18-year-old son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy has been ruled a suicide, a medical examiner said Friday. James Dungy hanged himself from a bedroom ceiling fan with a leather belt, Dr. Jacqueline Lee of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office wrote in her final autopsy report.
A few good teams
HOUSTON – David Stern might not be able to handle the truth: His NBA is short on true title contenders.
LeBron helps rally East All-Stars to win (AP)
Even down by 21 points, the Detroit Pistons' Fab Four plus LeBron James were still in the game. A push from the Pistons, an MVP performance by King James and a putback by Dwyane Wade helped the East rally for a 122-120 victory over the West in an NBA All-Star game that went down to the final seconds Sunday night.
James is youngest to win All-Star MVP (AP)
LeBron James has been living up to high expectations since he was in high school. Maybe it's time to raise them. "He has a chance to maybe be the best to ever lace them up," Detroit's Chauncey Billups said. "At 21 years old right now, and doing what he's doing ... I mean that kid should be a junior in college." Instead, James was playing in his second All-Star game, and he was an obvious choice for...
McGrady puts on show for hometown fans (AP)
Tracy McGrady cast aside his personal troubles for a few hours during Sunday's All-Star game to put on a show for the hometown fans. The Houston Rockets star scored 36 points and had the ball in his hands with a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds of the East's 122-120 victory. But guarded by MVP LeBron James, McGrady stepped just inside the 3-point line and airballed a jumper, and the...
Clippers sign F Vin Baker (AP)
The Los Angeles Clippers have signed power forward Vin Baker, the team announced Monday. Baker has been a free agent since playing for the Houston Rockets in the 2004-2005 season, said Clippers spokesman Nick Brown. Terms of the deal were not released. Baker, 34, has averaged 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 783 career games.
Felton slightly hurt in car crash (AP)
Charlotte Bobcats guard Raymond Felton was slightly injured in a car accident and his status for an upcoming six-game road trip is unclear. He was vacationing in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Sunday when his car was rear-ended at a red light, the team said Monday. He sustained whiplash and complained of a sore back.
Pregame dances talk of All-Star game (AP)
The starters for both All-Star teams unveiled carefully choreographed dances that wowed the crowd as they were introduced. The East did what they called the Jackson Five step, which Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade said was from an old Michael Jackson video. The West went with the snake, a dance in which one player moved while the dance ran through him before passing it to the next.
Little man Robinson wins dunk contest (AP)
The NBA's All-Star Saturday turned basketball inside-out. A big guy won the 3-point shootout. A little guy won the slam dunk contest. After 7-foot Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas proved the best sniper from beyond the arc, the New York Knicks' 5-foot-9 rookie Nate Robinson became the NBA's new jam king. Robinson beat out 6-foot-6 Andre Iguodala of Philadelphia, 6-9 Hakim Warrick of Memphis and 6-9 defending...
Nowitzki finally wins 3-point contest (AP)
Dirk Nowitzki barely escaped the first round. A few minutes later, he was finally the 3-point champion. Nowitzki won the title Saturday night after coming close twice before, beating Gilbert Arenas and Ray Allen at All-Star weekend. With Dallas teammate Jason Terry and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban looking on from the sideline, the 7-foot German finished with 18 points.
Next year's All-Star game a gamble (AP)
The curtain hadn't dropped on All-Star weekend in Houston, and already players were thinking about next year's game. Who could blame them? Las Vegas is on the itinerary. The NBA is taking its midseason showcase to the Strip next season, and it figures to be a good time. The basketball? Maybe not so good.
Pull plug on pros
TURIN, Italy – As interest wanes in the struggling U.S. men's hockey team, it's clear that another Gary Bettman marketing experiment is failing.
Gretzky: Canada needs heart, emotion (AP)
Wayne Gretzky understands the shortage of goals. What he can't accept is the lack of passion and desperation. Gretzky ended nearly a week's silence at the Olympics on Monday with a critical evaluation of Canada's underperforming men's hockey team. He wasn't angry, but his message was clear. Gretzky, the executive director of Team Canada, doesn't like what he sees from what effectively is an all-star...
U.S. men's hockey team loses again (AP)
Too bad Rick DiPietro can't defend one net and shoot at the other. The American scoring woes have become so stark, something's got to give if the U.S. is going to make any noise in the Olympic men's hockey tournament. If only their stickhandling goaltender could provide help on offense and defense. DiPietro made 24 saves in his third straight start, but for the second consecutive night the Americans...
Germany earns surprise tie with Swiss (AP)
This time, it was Team Upset that got an unexpected jolt in the Olympic men's hockey tournament. Tino Boos scored the tying goal in the third period and Germany, ranked below Switzerland in the world rankings, pulled off a surprise 2-2 tie Sunday that followed Swiss upsets of gold medal favorite Canada and the world champion Czech Republic.
Czechs top Italy, earn medal round spot (AP)
The Czechs are going to get just what they need -- a day of rest. Vaclav Prospal scored three goals Sunday to lead a banged-up Czech Republic squad to a 4-1 victory over Italy in Olympic men's hockey. Jaromir Jagr played two periods a day after being cut by a vicious check and Marek Zidlicky crashed into a goalpost.
Kovalchuk's four goals lift Russia (AP)
With every goal he scored, Ilya Kovalchuk turned the beat of the Latvian drums into Russia's march to the hockey quarterfinals. Kovalchuk scored four times -- his first goals of these Olympics -- and Russia advanced to the men's hockey final eight with a 9-2 victory over Latvia on Sunday. After dropping the opener to Slovakia 5-3, Russia has won three straight by a combined score of 15-2.
Forsberg sits out Sweden's win over U.S. (AP)
Peter Forsberg was back on Sweden's bench Sunday -- without his helmet, stick and gloves. Since Sweden already locked up a berth in the men's Olympic hockey quarterfinals, the Philadelphia Flyers' star decided to sit out his country's 2-1 victory over the U.S. He took a spot at the far right side of the bench, but stood out because he was the only one in uniform without the necessary playing...
Habs G Theodore out six to eight weeks (AP)
Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore will miss six to eight weeks after fracturing his right heel bone while walking down the frozen steps of his Montreal home, the team said Saturday. Theodore was hurt Thursday night, when freezing rain that fell on the city made for treacherous walking conditions. "It was bad luck and even though I am very disappointed of the outcome, I can only wish that my rehab...
Czech Republic's Hasek out of Olympics (AP)
Dominik Hasek departed the Olympics on Friday in as big a rush as he arrived earlier in the week, leaving the world champion Czech Republic without one of hockey's best big-game goalies. Hasek, the player most responsible for the Czechs' surprise gold medal in Nagano in 1998, didn't last 10 minutes in the Turin Games before getting injured.
Lawyer: Gretzky, wife won't be charged (AP)
Wayne Gretzky will not face criminal charges in connection with a multimillion-dollar sports betting ring busted in New Jersey last week, and he is unlikely to be called to testify against others in the case, his lawyer said Thursday. Attorney Ron Fujikawa said he received assurances from New Jersey authorities last week that the hockey great was not in any way a central figure in the criminal...
Daytona 500 Observations
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The cheater paid the price, but Jimmie Johnson won fair and square at Daytona.
Jimmie Johnson: driving in the shadow of scandal (AP)
Jimmie Johnson is not Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire or Marion Jones or Lance Armstrong. If there's an asterisk to be put next to tainted accomplishments, don't include Johnson and his Daytona 500 victory.
Stewart's new conscience takes a back seat at Daytona (AP)
Forgive Matt Kenseth if he rolls his eyes the next time Tony Stewart delivers a safety lecture.
Earnhardt avoids carnage, overcomes problems (AP)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. climbed out of his race car, walked around it a couple times and surveyed the damage.
Johnson grabs Daytona win in wake of cheating scandal (AP)
Jimmie Johnson gathered his team around him and pulled a folded-up fax from his pocket. In the quiet few moments they had before the start of the Daytona 500, Johnson delivered a message from their suspended leader.
Daytona 500 Notebook for Sunday, February 19 (SportsTicker)
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Ticker) - A win in Sunday's 48th Daytona 500 could have gotten Casey Mears a ride in the Indianapolis 500. He finished just one position short of getting that reward.
Stewart continues brash behavior at Daytona (SportsTicker)
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Ticker) - During a time of year when "Hoosier Hysteria" becomes a part of the sporting vocabulary, Sunday's 48th Daytona 500 was sparked by a "Hysterical Hoosier."
Johnson captures Daytona 500 (SportsTicker)
Penalty for cheating doesn't slow Johnson's team (AP)
Cheaters never prosper, or so the saying goes. Some people were wondering, though, after Sunday's Daytona 500.
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