| | |
Turin Bids Arrivederci to Winter Olympics
(AP)
 AP - Turin's Olympics, a topsy-turvy mix of marvels and misadventures, ended appropriately with a closing-ceremony Carnevale — a circus-like celebration full of clowns and acrobats, vibrant and often dreamlike.
]]>
UConn Avenges Loss, Tops Villanova
(AP)
 AP - Forget revenge or first place. The one thing that kept coming up after No. 3 Connecticut beat No. 2 Villanova was toughness. After the Huskies' 89-75 victory Sunday left everybody in Gampel Pavilion drained whether they played or watched, coaches and players talked about the attitude and style that has become the trademark of the Big East.
]]>
Lady Vols Lose at Home to Unranked Florida
(AP)
 AP - Tennessee doesn't seem so dominant anymore. The No. 5 Lady Vols lost at home to an unranked team for the second time in school history and first time in 22 years, falling 95-93 to Florida in overtime Sunday.
]]>
Big Hurtful: GM Calls Thomas 'an Idiot'
(AP)
 AP - Angry and disgusted with the latest comments from former slugger Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams fired back Sunday, calling the two-time MVP "an idiot."
]]>
Ogilvy Wins Match Play After Long Journey
(AP)
 AP - Geoff Ogilvy never imagined himself winning the Match Play Championship. He was too busy looking for the exit.
]]>
Texans GM Considering Trading Top Pick
(AP)
 AP - Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush might not land with the Houston Texans after all. Texans general manager Charley Casserly said Sunday that the Texans have been talking to teams about possibly trading the first pick in the 2006 draft.
]]>
Timberwolves Win Despite Garnett Ejection
(AP)
 AP - The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Memphis Grizzlies in the fourth quarter without Kevin Garnett.
]]>
Clemens to Pitch to Minor Leaguers
(AP)
 AP - Roger Clemens will take to the mound Monday at Houston's spring training camp, facing minor league batters even though he's not part of the Astros.
]]>
Kewell Scores for Liverpool Win
(AP)
AP - Harry Kewell scored for Liverpool in a 1-0 win over 10-man Manchester City in the English Premier League on Sunday, while Wayne Rooney scored twice to help Manchester United win the League Cup.
Calgary Flames Recall D Mark Giordano
(AP)
AP - The Calgary Flames recalled defenseman Mark Giordano from the AHL on Sunday.
The complete package
INDIANAPOLIS – N.C. State end Mario Williams is quick, versatile and coveted by NFL defensive coordinators.
Texans may trade top overall draft pick (AP)
Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush might not land with the Houston Texans after all. Texans general manager Charley Casserly said Sunday that the Texans have been talking to teams about possibly trading the first pick in the 2006 draft. It has been widely speculated that the Heisman Trophy winning running back out of Southern California would end up with the Texans because they recently gave...
Colts gamble, don't tag RB James (AP)
Colts president Bill Polian is gambling with Edgerrin James. Yes, he wants the two-time rushing champ carrying the ball for Indianapolis next season, but as James prepares for free agency, Polian is hoping salary-cap restrictions will help keep James from leaving. Still, Polian believes there is a "50-50" chance of James coming back to Indy.
Ryans set to take all-around game to NFL (AP)
Some players come to the NFL scouting combine expecting to answer questions about past indiscretions. DeMeco Ryans' biggest issue will be explaining time management. From graduating cum laude one semester early at Alabama to helping Hurricane Katrina victims last fall to emerging as one of the top linebackers in this year's draft, Ryans has seemingly done it all -- on and off the field.
Pats don't give Vinatieri franchise tag (AP)
Adam Vinatieri may get a chance to test free agency after the New England Patriots declined to protect the man who kicked two Super Bowl-winning field goals with the franchise player tag. The designation would have forced the team to commit to a one-year $3 million offer to Vinatieri. Without the tag, the team will not be compensated if he signs with someone else.
Saban offers help to Ricky Williams (AP)
Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban is offering his support to troubled running back Ricky Williams. In his first comments about Williams' latest failed drug test, Saban said Friday he wanted to help Williams stay clean, avoid any additional trouble and help the NFL keep drug tests confidential as required by league rules.
Colts DL Brock signs five-year deal (AP)
Defensive lineman Raheem Brock signed a five-year contract Friday that makes sure one of the Indianapolis Colts' most versatile defenders stays off the free agent market. Brock, who tied a career-high with 6 1/2 sacks last season, was set to become an unrestricted free agent March 3. "He's extremely happy that coach (Tony) Dungy and Bill Polian expressed that they wanted to have him back and we...
Bloom ready to change gears at combine (AP)
Jeremy Bloom walked to the podium Friday wearing the appropriate attire and buoyed by excitement at finally getting a chance to play football. Or at least work out at it. His gray sweatshirt had the usual NFL scouting combine lettering "WO 8" while His blue sweat pants were words that don't fith the NFL: "USA Team 2006." Welcome to double duty, Olympian.
Much ado about nothing
Deals went down before the NBA's much-hyped trade deadline, but none was big enough to alter the balance of power.
Ben Wallace helps Pistons top Cavs 90-78 (AP)
Ben Wallace doesn't get MVP consideration or hit dramatic shots like his All-Star teammates. But none of the Detroit Pistons have any doubt about which player is at the heart of their 46-9 start. Sunday, Wallace had 11 points and 19 rebounds as the Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 90-78. "They might as well take the Defensive Player of the Year award and send it to Ben," Pistons coach Flip...
Wolves win despite Garnett's ejection (AP)
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Memphis Grizzlies in the fourth quarter without Kevin Garnett. Now, they have to wait and see if the NBA decides to keep the former MVP on the sidelines even longer. Ricky Davis scored a season-high 35 points to help the Timberwolves overcome Garnett's ejection and defeat the Grizzlies 105-99 on Sunday.
Yao, McGrady power Rockets past Magic (AP)
Tracy McGrady was outshined in his second Orlando homecoming. Yao Ming had 29 points and 11 rebounds and McGrady added 19 points, nine boards and five assists to help the Houston Rockets beat the Orlando Magic 89-84 on Sunday. It was McGrady's second regular-season game in Orlando after the Magic traded him a year and a half ago, and the superstar was booed each time he touched the ball.
Mavs rally for 14th straight home win (AP)
The Dallas Mavericks are starting to make a habit of this -- falling way behind before surging back. This time, they were down 24 points in the second half. And Dirk Nowitzki bailed them out again. "We have to find our sense of urgency a little bit earlier," Nowitzki said Saturday after a 115-113 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Arenas scores 46, Wizards rout Knicks (AP)
Gilbert Arenas has a mission for the second half of the season. Arenas scored 46 points, including 33 in the first half, and the Washington Wizards beat the New York Knicks 110-89 Saturday night for their ninth straight home win. "I don't need to say anything, I really don't," Arenas said of originally being snubbed for the All-Star game.
Marion powers Suns past Bobcats 136-121 (AP)
Raja Bell was not involved in many high-scoring games in his first five seasons in the NBA. In his first season with the Phoenix Suns, he has played in both the highest-scoring regulation and overtime games in the league this year. On Saturday night, he took part in the regulation high as the Suns, the league's highest-scoring team, rallied past the Charlotte Bobcats 136-121.
Shaq almost perfect in Heat victory (AP)
Shaquille O'Neal was nearly perfect. Aside from a defensive letdown during a 10-minute stretch, the rest of the Miami Heat were pretty good, too. O'Neal made his first 14 shots, finishing 15-for-16, and the Heat extended their winning streak to a season-best five games by beating the short-handed Seattle SuperSonics 115-106 Saturday night.
Iverson leads streaking 76ers by Bulls (AP)
Allen Iverson was challenged by coach Maurice Cheeks during the All-Star break to become more of a leader on the court, share the ball and take over when needed. It looks like the former MVP not only listened, but is interested in following through on the plan. "We tried it different ways in the first half of the season and now we just have to do it the way Mo Cheeks wants it done every night,"...
Suns C Thomas to miss 6-8 weeks (AP)
Phoenix Suns center Kurt Thomas is expected to miss at least six weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot, the team said Saturday. Thomas, who is averaging 8.6 points and 7.8 rebounds, had played in all 53 of the Suns' games. He had been playing hurt recently and limping noticeably, but he continued to be in the starting lineup.
Drawn and quartered
TURIN, Italy – There was never a sense of urgency for Team USA hockey, so a quarterfinal exit shouldn't be a surprise.
Sweden defeats Finland 3-2 to win gold (AP)
Sweden's trio of hockey stars somehow found each other amid the joyous flag-waving and flower-tossing by their Olympic teammates, and shared one final hug. This was the last time Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin and Nicklas Lidstrom would be together, and they knew it. That they combined for the winning goal only begins to illustrate what they have meant to their country, their team, their sport.
Czechs beat Russia 3-0, win bronze medal (AP)
Right result, wrong game for the Czech Republic. The Czechs beat Russia 3-0 in the Olympic men's tournament Saturday night and didn't even try to hide their disappointment. It was one day too soon, for the bronze medal instead of the gold. "Playing for the bronze medal is hard, very hard," Czech goalie Tomas Vokoun said.
Jagr injured in bronze medal game (AP)
NHL scoring leader Jaromir Jagr left the second period of the Czech Republic's 3-0 win over Russia on Saturday night with a minor groin injury and didn't return as his nation wrapped up the Olympic bronze medal. Jagr headed back to the locker room after being injured. He was on the bench in the third but didn't play.
Flyers' Gagne could miss two weeks (AP)
Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne could miss up to two weeks with a bone bruise in his right knee. An MRI on Saturday confirmed the injury, which Gagne suffered while playing for Canada in the Olympics. Gagne had to be helped off the ice after he was upended by Russia's Darius Kasparaitis in the first period of the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Modano backs off criticism of USA Hockey (AP)
Dallas Stars forward Mike Modano has apologized for the tone of recent criticisms of USA Hockey, saying the "timing was bad" and that he wants to help the organization in the future. Modano blasted coaches and administrators after the United States lost to Finland 4-3 in the quarterfinals of the Turin Olympics and finished 1-4-1.
No-gold Canada rethinks future plans (AP)
All that talent. All that money. All that nothingness. Canada, the land that invented hockey but somehow can't seem to win at it regularly, sent what it thought was its best-ever Olympic men's team to Turin. Oh, it made history for sure, but in entirely the wrong way. O Canada? No, in these games the bottom line was: Russia 2, Canada 0.
Lamoriello to remain as Devils coach (AP)
Lou Lamoriello will remain as coach of the New Jersey Devils for the rest of the season. Lamoriello, also the team's president and general manager, informed players of his decision to remain behind the bench at practice Wednesday. He said the decision was made during the weekend after talks with Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek.
Hasek not sure when he'll return to Sens (AP)
Ottawa Senators goalie Dominik Hasek said there's "very little chance" he'll be able to play when the NHL resumes March 1 and isn't sure when he'll return from a groin injury that forced him to withdraw from the Olympics. "Of course I'm worried, I'll be honest," the 41-year-old said Tuesday as he met with reporters for the first time since returning from the Turin Games.
Neck injury ends Isles F Colley's career (AP)
Islanders forward Kevin Colley will end his hockey career after breaking his neck in a headfirst crash into the boards last month. Colley, who played only 16 games in his first NHL season, told teammates at practice Friday that his career was over. He broke the fifth cervical vertebrae, but suffered no paralysis, while attempting a check on Washington's Jamie Heward on Jan.
Justified behavior
FONTANA, Calif. – Tony Stewart can lose his temper. But sometimes it's hard to blame him.
Kenseth gets California gift (AP)
Matt Kenseth got a gift Sunday, winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway after the faster cars of Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart went to the garage with engine failures late in the Auto Club 500.
Busch brothers hope to continue California success (SportsTicker)
Biffle wins Stater Brothers 300 (SportsTicker)
Gamble fails for Edwards; Biffle wins (AP)
A gamble by Carl Edwards on fresh tires late in the NASCAR Busch Series race at California Speedway fell short, allowing Roush Racing teammate Greg Biffle to run off to an easy victory Saturday.
Newman unrepentent about Daytona comments (AP)
Six days has not changed Ryan Newman's mind.
Martin wins NCTS Racetickets.com 200 (SportsTicker)
Martin gets second straight truck win (AP)
The rest of NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series is probably already dreading Mark Martin joining the series full-time with his own team in 2007.
NASCAR suspends young driver indefinitely (AP)
Driver Shane Hmiel has been suspended from competition for life by NASCAR after failing a third substance abuse test.
|
|
|
|
