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Patriots, Seahawks land division titles
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_nfl_rdp"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.flpc20812242147.patriots_jaguars_football_flpc208.jpg?x=130&y=113&sig=s9KyNTf2sseU6XbSal9thQ--" align="left" height="113" width="130" alt="New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, runs for fourth-quarter yardage as teammate Stephen Neal, right, blocks Jacksonville Jaguars defender Rob Meir, center, during a National Football League game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, in Jacksonville, Fla. New England won, 24-21.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)" border="0" /></a>AP - As expected, the Patriots and Seahawks will be playing in January. While New England is headed to the playoffs in decent shape, Seattle is reeling.</p><br clear="all"/>
Botched extra point benefits Broncos
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_bengals_broncos_folo"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061225/capt.dxs11212250102.bengals_broncos_football_dxs112.jpg?x=130&y=89&sig=CA4qpWcMaDm8WtKA6xgiOQ--" align="left" height="89" width="130" alt="Cincinnati Bengals holder Kyle Larson (19) misses the snap as kicker Shayne Graham (17) tries to kick an extra point against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter of a football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. The Broncos beat the Bengals 24-23. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)" border="0" /></a>AP - Rod Smith credited the weather. John Lynch claimed there was an element of luck involved. Mike Shanahan simply pointed to something more spiritual.</p><br clear="all"/>
Ravens revved up after beating Steelers
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_ravens_steelers_folo"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.paks11212242244.ravens_steelers_football_paks112.jpg?x=130&y=69&sig=cAeQK09xJsZjWjPyK2C8nw--" align="left" height="69" width="130" alt="Pittsburgh Steelers running back Wilie Parker, top, fumbles the ball as Baltimore Ravens Dawan Landry, bottom and Evan Oglesby, top, tackle him in the fourth quarter of Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. The Ravens won 31-7.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)" border="0" /></a>AP - The Baltimore Ravens are everything the Pittsburgh Steelers expected to be this season. Their quarterback doesn't get rattled by big-game pressure or hostile surroundings. Their running game is productive, consistent and frequently extends drives. Their defense, if not the best in the league, might be close to it.</p><br clear="all"/>
Manning sets pass record but Colts lose
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_colts_texans_folo"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.htt11512242113.colts_texans_football_htt115.jpg?x=81&y=130&sig=mweEPcNWiIrVTPqoWI3ldg--" align="left" height="130" width="81" alt="Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and wide receiver Reggie Wayne sit on the bench during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game against the Houston Texans SundayDec. 24, 2006 in Houston. The Texans beat the Colts, 27-24. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)" border="0" /></a>AP - Ron Dayne tucked the ball, took the hit and limped off the field in the second quarter against Indianapolis. Although his right ankle was throbbing, there was no way Dayne was going to let it ruin the best game of his seven NFL seasons.</p><br clear="all"/>
Bears rest starters in win over Lions
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_bears_lions_folo"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.dtf11512242219.bears_lions_football_dtf115.jpg?x=130&y=110&sig=8V02GNSGAwN9Ol5354_sKA--" align="left" height="110" width="130" alt="Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman (8) stays in the pocket to make a pass against the Detroit Lions in the second half of a football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, in Detroit. Grossman passed for 197 yards and one touchdown in a 26-21 win. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)" border="0" /></a>AP - Rex Grossman wasn't the only starter pulled early in the fourth quarter, when the Chicago Bears were on their 7-yard line and trailing by a point. It was just the most obvious change.</p><br clear="all"/>
Sprained shoulder benches Cards' Leinart
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_cardinals_leinart_injured"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061225/capt.cajc10812250058.cardinals_49ers_football_cajc108.jpg?x=85&y=130&sig=QxGw0JJxAVxM.ccsJF2Wlg--" align="left" height="130" width="85" alt="Arizona Cardinals' quarterback Matt Leinart stands on the sideline in the third quarter of their NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. The Cardinals won 26-20. Leinart sprained his left shoulder before halftime and did not return. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)" border="0" /></a>AP - Matt Leinart sprained his left shoulder late in the first half of the Arizona Cardinals' game against San Francisco on Sunday, ending the quarterback's strong rookie season one game early.</p><br clear="all"/>
Christmas means giving for Wade and wife
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_heat_wade_s_christmas"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.aaa10812240356.warriors_heat_basketball_aaa108.jpg?x=101&y=130&sig=.ax6bux92vD2kCL_buUgVA--" align="left" height="130" width="101" alt="Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, right, drives past Golden State Warriors guard Baron Davis during the third quarter of basketball Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006, in Miami. Wade finished the game with 18 points and eight assists and Davis was held to 10 on 5-of-14 shooting as the Heat defeated the Warriors, 105-92. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)" border="0" /></a>AP - A kid jumped atop a picnic table, threw his tiny arms in the air and let out a loud, delightful shriek.</p><br clear="all"/>
Brewers sign Suppan to 4-year contract
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061225/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_brewers_suppan"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.ny15212242159.brewers_suppan_baseball_ny152.jpg?x=93&y=130&sig=RSFX0Oiy23vZTSgjRTdPKQ--" align="left" height="130" width="93" alt="St. Louis Cardinals' Jeff Suppan delivers a pitch to the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of Game 4 of the World Series in this Oct. 26, 2006 file photo in St. Louis. Suppan, the MVP of the NL championship series for the Cardinals this season, has signed a four-year free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)" border="0" /></a>AP - NL championship series MVP Jeff Suppan reached a preliminary agreement Sunday on a $42 million, four-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.</p><br clear="all"/>
Inter Milan wins 11th straight
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061223/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_euro_rdp"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061223/capt.xlb10712231548.italy_soccer_xlb107.jpg?x=130&y=98&sig=6GIiEdvu6XR6My13CCsahg--" align="left" height="98" width="130" alt="Inter Milan forward Adriano, of Brazil, celebrates after scoring during an Italian major league soccer match between Inter and Atalanta, at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)" border="0" /></a>AP - Inter Milan tied the Italian league record with its 11th consecutive victory by rallying past Atalanta 2-1 Saturday.</p><br clear="all"/>
Guerin lifts Blues over Sabres 3-2 in OT
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061224/ap_on_sp_ho_ga_su/hkn_sabres_blues"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061224/capt.motg10812240354.sabres_blues_hockey_motg108.jpg?x=130&y=87&sig=25VDAUbE_EBSoB4VXPICxQ--" align="left" height="87" width="130" alt="St. Louis Blues Bill Guerin, right, celebrates with teammate Doug Weight (39) after scoring in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres in their hockey game Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006, in St. Louis. The Blues beat the Sabres, 3-2, in overtime.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)" border="0" /></a>AP - Just seven games into the Andy Murray era, the St. Louis Blues got their first three-game winning streak in nearly a year.</p><br clear="all"/>
Cool-hand Cutler
Pats clinch division, hurt Jags' hopes (AP)
The New England Patriots left Jacksonville with more championship shirts and hats. It wasn't the Super Bowl kind, but they'll gladly wear them -- at least for now. Tom Brady directed three long touchdown drives, capped one of them with a perfect touch pass to David Thomas, and helped the Patriots clinch their fourth consecutive AFC East crown with a 24-21 victory against the Jaguars on a rainy...
Saints close in on bye, beat Giants 30-7 (AP)
If you want to know how quickly things change in the NFL, take a look at the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants. A year after enduring a "homeless season" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the reborn Saints are a game away from a first-round playoff bye after beating the Giants 30-7 on Sunday.
Colts run over by Dayne, lose to Texans (AP)
Ron Dayne has been called everything from a disappointment to an all-out bust in his NFL career. On Sunday nothing was going to stop him from proving -- if only for one afternoon -- that he was anything but a flop. The 1999 Heisman Trophy winner had a career-high 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns despite playing three quarters on an injured ankle, and Kris Brown kicked the winning 48-yard field...
Ravens in position for bye, rip Steelers (AP)
Minutes after they ended the Pittsburgh Steelers' run as the Super Bowl champion, the Baltimore Ravens were ready to proclaim a new NFL title favorite -- themselves. Steve McNair, masterfully running an offense that was productive and efficient, threw three touchdown passes and Baltimore took a big step toward securing a first-round AFC playoffs bye with a 31-7 victory over the Steelers on Sunday.
Missed PAT hurts Bengals' playoff hopes (AP)
The playoffs are slipping right through the Cincinnati Bengals' fingers. The Bengals lost to Denver 24-23 on a snowy Sunday when Brad St. Louis' long snap on an extra point in the final minute sailed wide of holder Kyle Larson, preventing Shayne Graham from even attempting his 159th straight conversion.
Young keeps Titans' playoff hopes alive (AP)
If Vince Young keeps this up, the Tennessee Titans just might do the unthinkable and make the playoffs. The rookie first-round draft pick has the Tennessee Titans (8-7), who started the season with five straight losses, alive in the AFC playoff race entering the final weekend after rallying them to a 30-29 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Vick vents as Falcons fall to Panthers (AP)
Chris Weinke credited his first win in five years to Carolina's renewed emphasis on the running game, while another Atlanta loss left Michael Vick wondering about his team's direction. No matter the perspective of the quarterbacks, Carolina's 10-3 win over the Falcons Sunday left each team one game under .500 -- and still in the jumbled NFC wild-card playoff hunt -- with one week left in the...
Cards eliminate 49ers from playoff hunt (AP)
Kurt Warner went from an Iowa supermarket to the NFL's pinnacle, winning a Super Bowl and two MVP awards along the way. Yet he still got nervous replacing Matt Leinart while the Arizona Cardinals held off the 49ers in a nearly meaningless game. Warner finally squashed those butterflies -- and San Francisco's playoff hopes -- with one last clock-killing drive.
Chargers top NFC West champion Seahawks (AP)
The Chargers didn't need touchdowns from LaDainian Tomlinson to win. The Seahawks didn't need to win to capture the NFC West. San Diego's league record holder for touchdowns and favorite to win the league's MVP award didn't score on Sunday. Teammate Vincent Jackson did -- twice -- including on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers with 29 seconds left and the Chargers won their ninth...
Help wanted
Yao out six weeks with fractured bone (AP)
Yao Ming will miss at least six weeks after fracturing the bone under his right knee in Houston's game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. Yao was leaping for a blocked shot as Chuck Hayes and Tim Thomas hit the floor beneath him. Yao's knee appeared to get caught under Thomas' body and Yao immediately grabbed his knee and screamed in pain.
Knee injury ends Nets C Krstic's season (AP)
New Jersey Nets center Nenad Krstic will miss the rest of the season because of a torn knee ligament. The 7-footer was hurt during the third quarter of Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team announced Saturday he had a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Krstic caught a pass from Richard Jefferson in the lane and started to back Lakers center Kwame Brown...
Bobcats co-owner can't donate his share? (AP)
A minority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats wants to donate his share of the basketball team to a charity, but is being blocked by team managing partner Bob Johnson, The Charlotte Observer reported Sunday. Felix Sabates wants to give his Bobcats stock, which he values at about $1.34 million, to the foundation that supports Carolinas HealthCare System.
Christmas takes on deep meaning for Wade (AP)
A kid jumped atop a picnic table, threw his tiny arms in the air and let out a loud, delightful shriek. "Here he comes!" yelled the boy, who couldn't have been older than 8 or 9. With that, the 250 or so underprivileged kids crammed in the back of a South Florida arcade began stampeding toward the guest of honor.
Miller has 11 assists, 76ers rout Knicks (AP)
Andre Iguodala is having fun again, thanks to the arrival of Andre Miller. Iguodala scored 20 points and Miller had nine points and 11 assists in his Philadelphia debut as the 76ers beat the New York Knicks 98-77 Saturday night. The 76ers have won two straight since the trade of Allen Iverson finally became official, and Iguodala doesn't even mind embarking on a seven-game trip beginning Tuesday at...
LeBron's 19 points in fourth carry Cavs (AP)
For one night, LeBron James fixed the Cavaliers all by himself. You expected someone else? James scored 19 points in the fourth quarter -- one more than Orlando -- and finished with 32, pushing him over 7,000 in his NBA career and carrying Cleveland to an 86-83 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
Allen scores 28 in return and Sonics win (AP)
For the next two months, Bob Hill figures every game will be a new experiment -- if not an experience. Injuries and inconsistencies forced the SuperSonics coach to devise a revised lineup Saturday and it worked for a 110-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Ray Allen scored 28 points after missing nine games with a bone contusion in his right foot as Seattle snapped a season-high six-game losing...
Garnett lifts Timberwolves over Pacers (AP)
The Indiana Pacers found out the hard way what happens when Kevin Garnett decides to take over. Garnett had 29 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, and the Timberwolves beat the Pacers 78-71 Saturday night to snap a four-game losing streak. Throughout his 12-year career, the star forward has gladly shared the scoring load with his teammates.
Spurs rebound from bad loss, rip Hornets (AP)
The New Orleans Hornets had the misfortune of playing San Antonio one night after the Spurs' worst loss of the season. Almost everything the Spurs did poorly Friday night in a 19-point loss to Houston, they did well in a 112-77 romp over the Hornets on Saturday night. Tony Parker scored 19 points, Manu Ginobili had 17 and four others reached double figures as the Spurs shot a season-high 62.9...
Boyle rallies Lightning past Rangers (AP)
The New York Rangers let another game slip away. Dan Boyle had three goals and an assist during Tampa Bay's four-goal third period and the Lightning rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Rangers on Saturday night. "This hurts," New York captain Jaromir Jagr said after the Rangers' season-high fifth consecutive loss.
Wild beat Wings for NHL-best 11th OT win (AP)
Minnesota didn't panic after Detroit took a late lead. The Wild kept their composure, quickly tied the score and then got their league-leading 11th overtime win. Pierre-Marc Bouchard beat Chris Osgood on a breakaway 45 seconds into the extra session to give the Wild a 3-2 win over the Red Wings on Saturday night.
Flyers' losing streak reaches nine games (AP)
Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson knows exactly what the Senators must do without their leading scorer, Jason Spezza. Alfredsson scored twice, including the go-ahead goal with 8:25 left, and the Senators defeated Philadelphia 6-3 to extend the Flyers' franchise-record losing streak to nine games. The Senators were without Spezza, who suffered a knee injury against Tampa Bay on Thursday and is out...
Predators bounce back, rout Kings 7-0 (AP)
Predators coach Barry Trotz was confident his team would bounce back after a big loss in its last game. Jason Arnott, J.P. Dumont and David Legwand had each scored twice -- marking the first time in franchise history Nashville had three two-goal scorers in a game -- to lead the Predators to a 7-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
Ovechkin scores 24th, Caps top Leafs 3-2 (AP)
Washington coach Glen Hanlon credited enforcer Donald Brashear for stopping a Toronto rally. Alexander Ovechkin scored his 24th goal, Olaf Kolzig made 35 saves and the Capitals held on for a 3-2 victory over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Mats Sundin scored twice in the third period to rally Toronto.
Bruins halt Habs' five-game win streak (AP)
Two unlikely scorers made quick work of the Montreal Canadiens. Milan Jurcina and Stanislav Chistov scored 1:11 apart early in the third period to lead the Boston Bruins to a 4-2 victory over Montreal on Saturday night, ending the Canadiens' five-game winning streak. Marco Sturm had a power-play goal for Boston, and Zdeno Chara had the other score to help the Bruins win their third straight in...
Isles get first win over Blue Jackets (AP)
The New York Islanders finally figured out a way to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets. After going 0-5-2 in New York's first seven games against the Blue Jackets, it took 26 saves from Rick DiPietro for a 4-0 victory on Saturday night. "We're happy with the progress we've made, but we still have a lot of work to do," DiPietro said after getting his third shutout this season.
Guerin lifts Blues past Sabres in OT (AP)
Just seven games into the Andy Murray era, the St. Louis Blues got their first three-game winning streak in nearly a year. Bill Guerin scored his second goal of the game in overtime to lift the Blues to a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night. It was their season-high third consecutive victory and their first such streak since Feb.
Coyotes end eight-game skid versus Ducks (AP)
Mikael Tellqvist saw the puck on Teemu Selanne's stick and could only hope for help from the goal post. Tellqvist got the assist he needed midway through the third period when Selanne hit the post and made 29 saves of his own to help the Phoenix Coyotes snap an eight-game losing streak against Anaheim with a 2-0 win Saturday night.
Thrashers win sixth straight over Devils (AP)
For Atlanta to earn its first trip to the postseason, coach Bob Hartley knows the Thrashers will need help from the third and fourth lines. "To have a good season, you need contributions from everyone," Hartley said. "Tonight, we had that." Shane Hnidy scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, and Slava Kozlov padded the lead midway through the third in the Thrashers' 5-2 victory over the New...
Offseason caps: Reutimann, Ragan, Whitt, W. Burton
Yahoo! Sports breaks down the '07 Cup field as February's season-opening Daytona 500 approaches.
Auto Racing 2006: Johnson, Hornish win big but quietly (SportsTicker)
For a sport known for its outspoken, colorful characters, the champions of the two major racing series in the United States let their actions do the talking.
Yates team pulls Rudd out of retirement (AP)
Robert Yates is bringing Ricky Rudd out of retirement to keep his sinking race team afloat, signing him Thursday to drive the full Nextel Cup schedule in 2007.
Rudd comes out of retirement to rejoin Yates Racing (SportsTicker)
HACKETTSTOWN, New Jersey (Ticker) - Robert Yates Racing filled a new spot with an old friend.
Marcos Ambrose to drive in up to 10 Nextel Cup races in 2007 (SportsTicker)
Australian Marcos Ambrose has joined the foreign invasion of NASCAR.
Anheuser-Busch to end NASCAR sponsorship in 2007 (AP)
Anheuser-Busch will end its title sponsorship of NASCAR's No. 2 series after the 2007 season.
Ekstrom defeats Loeb to win Race of Champions (AP)
Mattias Ekstrom beat three-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb Saturday to win the Race of Champions at Stade de France. Loeb raced for the first time since breaking his arm in September and reached the final for the third straight year. The Frenchman won last year and lost to Finland's Heikki Kovalainen in 2004.
Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital Opens (AP)
Jeff Gordon saw firsthand the strain and heartache childhood illnesses bring early in his career when Ray Evernham's young son was diagnosed with leukemia.
Documentary traces NASCAR's roots (AP)
John Warner set out to make a simple movie about NASCAR driver Wendell Scott.
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