| | |
Oilers beat Ward, 'Canes on disputed goal
(AP)
 AP - The Edmonton Oilers found out there's more than one way to beat Cam Ward. A deflected shot works. Or simply fling yourself toward the net — and hope.
]]>
Jazil cruises to Belmont victory
(AP)
 AP - For a few minutes, thoroughbred racing escaped the shadow of Barbaro. Jazil dazzled in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, winning the final leg of the Triple Crown over a lackluster field missing the injured Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness winner Bernardini.
]]>
Bonds plans to cooperate with authorities
(AP)
 AP - Barry Bonds wants to cooperate with special investigator George Mitchell, but will only talk to him if he is assured the information won't be given to federal prosecutors.
]]>
Mets' Soler shuts out D-backs on 2 hits
(AP)
 AP - Orlando Hernandez wrapped fellow New York Mets pitcher Alay Soler in a bearhug after the rookie threw a two-hitter to beat Arizona 5-0 Saturday night in his fourth major league start.
]]>
Hart's pinch hit lifts Brewers over Cards
(AP)
 AP - Cardinals reliever Braden Looper threw the pitch he wanted — a sinker tailing low and inside. It was just what Corey Hart had been told to look for.
]]>
Rams' RB Faulk considering retirement
(AP)
 AP - St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk is not attending the team's final minicamp this weekend while contemplating retirement because of knees that have been slow to recover from offseason cleanup surgery.
]]>
Shaq, Rileyball ready for finals comeback
(AP)
 AP - More Shaq. More Rileyball. A whole lot less finesse. Those are the big ideas in the Miami Heat's plan for Game 2 of the NBA finals Sunday night. If coach Pat Riley's club can execute it, this championship series could become a different kind of ugly.
]]>
Jacobs gives Marlins 2-1 win over Padres
(AP)
 AP - Scott Olsen pitched the best game of his young career. Olsen (5-3) gave up two hits and a run in seven innings to help the Florida Marlins beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Saturday night.
]]>
AP Blog: Keller, Arena charm media
(AP)
 AP - With the 32-nation World Cup set to begin Friday, AP writers will be filing periodic, behind-the-scenes reports during soccer's largest spectacle:
]]>
Horcoff looks to pick up line production
(AP)
 AP - Shawn Horcoff insists he's forgotten about the two sure goals Cam Ward took away from him with Gumby-like agility.
]]>
Read and React: T.O. talk
Readers were in midseason form with offseason opinions about ex-Eagles fall guy and new Cowboys weapon Terrell Owens.
Rams RB Faulk considering retirement (AP)
St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk is not attending the team's final minicamp this weekend while contemplating retirement because of knees that have been slow to recover from offseason cleanup surgery. New coach Scott Linehan said Friday that two weeks ago Faulk, who has undergone numerous such surgeries on both knees, expressed his concerns.
Ricky Williams has key fumble in loss (AP)
Argonauts running back Ricky Williams ran for 46 yards on 11 carries but had a critical fumble as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated Toronto 21-11 Friday night in the final CFL exhibition game for both teams. Williams, who joined the CFL after he was suspended for a year by the NFL for a fourth positive drug test, was more productive than his exhibition debut last weekend, when he had 7 yards on...
Jay Gruden seeks seventh ArenaBowl ring (AP)
As an owner of six championship rings, Orlando Predators coach Jay Gruden has arguably been the face of the Arena Football League in its 20 years of existence. Chicago Rush coach Mike Hohensee, in search of his first title, has been the one constant, being a part of the league since its beginning. The two will be in the spotlight Sunday when the Predators face the Rush in the 20th ArenaBowl at the...
Culpepper's first workout draws praise (AP)
Daunte Culpepper did what everyone wanted to see. The new Dolphins quarterback, in his first public workout since joining the Miami Dolphins, dropped back during a morning minicamp session Friday and saw no one open. So he took off running -- looking every bit like his former self. Culpepper, who had surgery in November to repair three torn ligaments in his right knee, sprinted down the field during...
Bills cut starting LG Bennie Anderson (AP)
The Buffalo Bills released starting left guard Bennie Anderson on Friday. Anderson, who started 15 of 16 games last season, had two years left on his contract. Buffalo signed him as a free agent after he spent time as a starting right guard for the Baltimore Ravens. The Bills were unhappy with the five year NFL veteran's play last season and attempted to replace him midway through the season with...
Air McNair ready to fly with Ravens (AP)
After going up against the hated Ravens for the last 10 years of his NFL career, Steve McNair must have felt a little strange standing between Baltimore coach Brian Billick and general manager Ozzie Newsome. There was McNair, posing for pictures in front of a purple jersey with his name on it. "Well, back in the day, you would have never dreamed I would be here," McNair said.
Titans get cap space, Volek new starter (AP)
Goodbye Steve McNair, hello Billy Volek as the Titans' new starting quarterback. And yes, rookie Vince Young will get his chance to play this season, too. "Let's face it. You're going to see (No.) 10 on the field this year," coach Jeff Fisher said Thursday. "Where and when and how, I can't be specific, but you're going to see him on the field at some time." The Tennessee Titans wished McNair well on...
Feeling the Heat
Is Game 2 too early for a must-win situation in the NBA Finals? If you're the Miami Heat, it isn't.
Shaq, Rileyball set for finals comeback (AP)
More Shaq. More Rileyball. A whole lot less finesse. Those are the big ideas in the Miami Heat's plan for Game 2 of the NBA finals Sunday night. If coach Pat Riley's club can execute it, this championship series could become a different kind of ugly. Now that the opening-night jitters have dispersed for the first-time finalists after the Dallas Mavericks' unattractive, unsatisfying 90-80 win in Game...
Shaq's free throw woes can be fixed (AP)
Shaquille O'Neal walked to the free throw line and released a mechanically flawed shot. The result was all too familiar. CLANG! O'Neal missed eight times -- often badly -- in nine attempts Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA finals, sending the Miami Heat to a 36.8 percent night that was the worst foul shooting performance in finals history.
Mavs expect bounce-back game from Dirk (AP)
A tip-in, a long jumper that beat the halftime buzzer and a pair of 3-pointers. Those were the only baskets Dirk Nowitzki made in the opener of the NBA finals. Chalk it up to championship jitters. Or give credit to the Miami Heat's defense. Just don't expect it to happen again in Game 2 on Sunday night, according to Nowitzki's teammates on the Dallas Mavericks.
Terry's value soaring after big Game 1 (AP)
Jason Terry offered up one heck of a marketing pitch in Game 1 of the NBA finals. Yes, marketing. See, Terry is a free agent after this season and a performance similar to the one he had in the opener can only help draw more bidders and higher bids. Terry scored 32 points for the Dallas Mavericks in their 90-80 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night, propping up the offense in the first half,...
Shaq playful in press conference (AP)
Stick a camera and a microphone in front of a playful Shaquille O'Neal, and no one ever knows what will happen. The often-jovial Miami Heat center was in rare form again Saturday, referring to questioners as earthlings (one of his favorite terms), announcing that he was from another planet, and that he liked an interviewer's soccer outfit (when it was actually tennis attire).
Heat F Walker's confidence unshaken (AP)
Antoine Walker's numbers clearly suggest the Dallas Mavericks are doing something defensively to bother him. Walker simply believes otherwise. He shot 7-for-19 in Game 1 of the NBA finals, and was 3-for-19 in a pair of regular-season losses to his former team. His 26.3 shooting percentage against the Mavericks is his worst against any team that played the Heat at least three times this season.
Stern: NBA may look to help pre-college (AP)
David Stern isn't satisfied with just cleaning up play on the NBA courts. His next step might be the secondary school system. Stern hinted at possible NBA involvement at the lower level Friday during his NBA finals remarks to the media, saying the league could step in to protect the players who might someday be playing on its teams.
An easy mark
It would be convenient to blame Edmonton's 5-0 loss in Game 2 on Jussi Markkanen. Convenient – but wrong.
Late goal gives Oilers 2-1 win in Game 3 (AP)
The Edmonton Oilers found out there's more than one way to beat Cam Ward. A deflected shot works. Or simply fling yourself toward the net -- and hope. Ryan Smyth scored a disputed goal off a rebound with 2:15 left in the third period and the Oilers won a game they had to have, beating the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 Saturday night to ensure these teams will be returning to Tobacco Road.
Ward sharp for Hurricanes in loss (AP)
If Cam Ward was nervous in front of the home folks, he didn't show it. The 22-year-old rookie from Sherwood Park, Alberta, was strong Saturday night during his first game on the rink he grew up watching. For the family and friends in section 102, the view must've looked pretty good. Their only complaint would likely be the result.
Top line finally come through for Oilers (AP)
Ryan Smyth, Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky finally showed why they're Edmonton's top line. Horcoff deflected in the first goal, Smyth scored the winner with 2:15 remaining, and Hemsky assisted on both, giving the Oilers a desperately needed 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals Saturday night.
Markkanen wins for first time in months (AP)
Jussi Markkanen's 24-save effort was good enough for his first win in nearly five months. Subbing for the injured Dwayne Roloson, Markkanen was sharp Saturday night in the Edmonton Oilers' 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals. You have to go all the way back to Jan. 25 to find the last time the Finnish goaltender came out on top.
Oil Country thrilled by return to finals (AP)
The Stanley Cup finals used to be an expected rite in this city. There was no need to get worked up until Wayne Gretzky and Co. were taking their victory parade around the ice, the trophy hoisted above their heads. Funny how a 16-year absence from hockey's ultimate series changed Edmonton's perspective.
Isles name Neil Smith GM, Nolan coach (AP)
The New York Islanders are staking their immediate future on two men who have spent the last several years away from the NHL. The team introduced new general manager Neil Smith and head coach Ted Nolan on Thursday, and also announced the hiring of former Islanders Hall of Famer Pat Lafontaine as a senior adviser to owner Charles Wang.
'Canes Wesley began blocking shots early (AP)
Growing up, Glen Wesley got plenty of experience blocking shots. His two older brothers used to take him out in the backyard, stick him in front of a goal and fire tennis balls at him. Little did he know how much that painful experience would pay off down the road. During the Stanley Cup finals, Wesley has been like a second goalie in front of Carolina's Cam Ward, continually throwing his body in...
Moving forward
LONG POND, Pa. – Another year, another driver leaving his team. But Donnie Wingo is keeping the 42 focused.
Edwards coasts to victory in Federated Auto Parts 300 (SportsTicker)
Edwards wins Federated Auto Parts 300 (AP)
A year ago, Carl Edwards skipped the Busch race in Nashville because of a rain out, ruining his chances to win a series title.
Earnhardt Jr. finding consistency he missed last season (AP)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is driving with a consistency he never found during a disappointing 2005 season during which he failed to qualify for the Chase for the championship.
McMurray still looking to fulfill promise of fast start (AP)
Jamie McMurray's wait for his second career win is taking a whole lot longer then it took for him to drive into Victory Lane the first time.
Bodine overtakes Skinner to win Sam's Town 400 (SportsTicker)
Bodine passes Skinner on last lap to win Texas truck race (AP)
Mike Skinner still hasn't finished out front in Texas.
Hamlin takes pole for Pocono 500 (AP)
Denny Hamlin had never seen Pocono Raceway until he arrived at the triangle track Friday morning.
Stewart to drive all 500 miles at Pocono (AP)
LONG POND, Pa. – Even with a bum shoulder and a lengthy race ahead, Tony Stewart is ready to go the...
|
|
|
|
