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Lemaire's gamble pays off; Wild survive
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_ho_ga_su/hkn_ducks_wild"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070418/capt.9a41692af9674f0b9cba9265e9440f8c.ducks_wild_hockey_mnjm103.jpg?x=102&y=130&sig=GfL158eQOfbbiuLwQKlFCw--" align="left" height="130" width="102" alt="Minnesota Wild's Marian Gaborik, left, and Pavol Demitra, right, both from Slovakia, celebrate the go-ahead goal by Gaborik in third period of first round NHL Western Conference quarterfinal hockey game Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in St. Paul, Minn. The Wilid won 4-1. The Ducks lead the series 3-1. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)" border="0" /></a>AP - A desperate move by a desperate coach breathed some life into the Minnesota Wild. Jacques Lemaire's decision to put his top three scorers — Brian Rolston, Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra — on one line generated the kind of offense the Anaheim Ducks had stifled in the first three games of this series.</p><br clear="all"/>
Crosby proves prophetic as Sens top Pens
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_ho_ga_su/hkn_senators_penguins"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070416/capt.7e0cf1c5c6ba4ca88205273a9b1d4296.senators_penguins_hockey_pagp119.jpg?x=103&y=130&sig=7K_SPCycHN7LWPOf3pppXw--" align="left" height="130" width="103" alt="Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) takes a hit from Ottawa Senators' Anton Volchenkov of Russia in front of the goal crease in the third period of NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey action in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)" border="0" /></a>AP - Sidney Crosby warned that no one should be surprised if the least-likely players made the biggest plays in what was expected to be a high-scoring Ottawa-Pittsburgh playoff series. Anton Volchenkov proved that in what may turn out to be a pivotal game.</p><br clear="all"/>
Lack of command dooms Dice-K, Red Sox
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bba_red_sox_blue_jays"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070418/capt.8e744136af114af49b646276ffbcc95f.red_sox_blue_jays_baseball_ajw107.jpg?x=98&y=130&sig=doekbXTTG5us3LlIA4AAig--" align="left" height="130" width="98" alt="Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka stands on the mound during the fourth inning baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, April 17, 2007. (AP PHOTO/CP, Adrian Wyld) CANADA" border="0" /></a>AP - Daisuke Matsuzaka's lack of control in a key situation cost him against the Toronto Blue Jays. Dice-K struck out 10 over six innings but forced in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk to Gregg Zaun in the fourth, and Toronto beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 Tuesday night despite getting just three hits.</p><br clear="all"/>
Clippers rise to occasion to beat Suns
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_bk_ga_su/bkn_clippers_suns"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070418/capt.7c22208b740b4985954935023eb361cf.clippers_suns_basketball_pna104.jpg?x=105&y=130&sig=e9OPffUbU6LxlMkrq88aBA--" align="left" height="130" width="105" alt="Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy questions an offical about a push as his team plays the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 17, 2007, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)" border="0" /></a>AP - The game meant virtually nothing to the Phoenix Suns and everything to the Los Angeles Clippers.</p><br clear="all"/>
Garcia's debut a bust as Mets beat Phils
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbn_mets_phillies"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070418/capt.262149a950074123b2287d273d66785a.mets_phillies_baseball_pxs104.jpg?x=86&y=130&sig=Wlt7qhij4lF0LGVdH130Yg--" align="left" height="130" width="86" alt="Philadelphia Phillies' Freddy Garcia stands on the mound after New York Mets' Moises Alou hit a two-run home run in the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 17, 2007, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr.)" border="0" /></a>AP - Freddy Garcia's long-anticipated debut with the Phillies was a bust. Moises Alou homered twice and drove in three runs, Tom Glavine got his 293rd win and the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 8-1 Tuesday night.</p><br clear="all"/>
Ravens unsure how to use 29th pick
(AP)
AP - The Baltimore Ravens have spent months pondering the best way to use the 29th overall pick in the NFL draft. Despite all that research, they know their selection will depend on the actions of the 28 teams in front of them.
Warriors close in on playoff spot
(Reuters)
Reuters - Mickael Pietrus scored 22 points
and Matt Barnes 19 as the Golden State Warriors moved a step
closer to their first playoff spot in 13 years with a 111-82
win over Dallas on Tuesday.
Lee leads Astros to 6-1 win over Marlins
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbn_nl_rdp"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070418/capt.16e3de57c4a14f179c1142600a2b607d.marlins_astros_baseball_hta115.jpg?x=130&y=81&sig=6haPskskRKAWPOh6DpxvKA--" align="left" height="81" width="130" alt="Houston Astros' Carlos Lee (45) hits a two-run double as Florida Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo, left, waits for the pitch during the fifth inning of their Major League Baseball game Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in Houston. The Astros' Craig Biggio and Morgan Ensberg scored on Lee's double. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)" border="0" /></a>AP - Carlos Lee made good on a promise to his fans. Lee, nicknamed "El Caballo" or "The Horse," received a stick horse from the fans who call themselves "Los Caballitos" before Tuesday's game and vowed he'd ride it if he hit a homer.</p><br clear="all"/>
Red Bulls acquire Colombia forward Angel
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_mls_red_bulls_angel"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070417/capt.eb605d3946da4f7f9b66ded0db22e6f6.mls_red_bulls_angel_soccer_ny152.jpg?x=92&y=130&sig=JpbEiH2ay_DT4_bPyX8dQQ--" align="left" height="130" width="92" alt="Aston Villa's Juan Pablo Angel, left, keeps the ball from Wigan's Arjan De Zeeuw during their English Premier League soccer match at The JJB Stadium, Wigan, England, Sunday Nov. 19, 2006. The New York Red Bulls signed Angel on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, their second acquisition under MLS' rule allowing teams to add players outside the salary cap.(AP Photo/Jon Super, File)" border="0" /></a>AP - The New York Red Bulls signed Colombian forward Juan Pablo Angel from English Premier League club Aston Villa on Tuesday, their second acquisition under MLS' rule allowing teams to add players outside the salary cap.</p><br clear="all"/>
Rangers beat Thrashers, lead series 3-0
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070418/ap_on_sp_ho_ga_su/hkn_nhl_rdp"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070418/capt.e9af822ac422487787eabfbf3141726d.thrashers_rangers_hockey_nyjj107.jpg?x=130&y=102&sig=xGOAKrh86Bxzh.vl7N3EYg--" align="left" height="102" width="130" alt="Atlanta Thrashers' Brad Larsen, center, and goaltender Kari Lehtonen react after the New York Rangers' Brendan Shanahan scored a goal during the third period in NHL hockey action Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Rangers won 7-0. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)" border="0" /></a>AP - Kari Lehtonen didn't have the game to stop the New York Rangers. The rest of the Atlanta Thrashers failed to even slow them down.</p><br clear="all"/>
Pros and cons: Safeties
Safeties LaRon Landry and Reggie Nelson have combined versatility and high character to emerge as top-10 prospects.
Chiefs Pro Bowl G Shields retires (AP)
Kansas City guard Will Shields is retiring after 14 NFL seasons, during which he made a record 12 Pro Bowl appearances and anchored one of the top offensive lines in the league. The 35-year-old announced his decision on his Web site -- www.willtosucceed.org -- Sunday. He said the physical requirements of football had become more difficult with each passing day.
Monitoring to end WR Robinson's sentence (AP)
Green Bay Packers receiver Koren Robinson will finish a jail sentence by serving the final 45 days on electronic monitoring and working at a local hospital. Robinson was sentenced to 90 days in jail for fleeing police last August in Minnesota when he was with the Vikings. He began serving the sentence March 9 at a facility near Minneapolis.
Olbermann to co-host Sunday night NFL (AP)
Keith Olbermann will return to sports for the first time in six years to join Cris Collinsworth as co-host of the pregame show for NBC's Sunday night NFL telecasts. Olbermann, who currently hosts a prime-time newscast and opinion show called "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" on MSNBC, will join with host Bob Costas and analysts Jerome Bettis, Tiki Barber and Peter King on NBC's "Football Night in...
Seahawks re-sign veteran G Chris Gray (AP)
Spurned by their primary offseason target for bolstering the offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks are instead bringing back veteran guard Chris Gray. Gray, who turns 37 in June, will be starting his 15th season -- his 10th with the Seahawks. His team record of 121 consecutive starts ended last Dec. 31 in the regular season finale because of a bruised right quadriceps, but he returned to start both...
Vikings sign former Jaguars WR Hankton (AP)
Cortez Hankton signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, leaving Jacksonville after four seasons and joining a team needing to bolster its receivers. Hankton had 34 catches for 310 yards and two touchdowns with Jacksonville. He signed as a rookie free agent out of Texas Southern and has contributed mostly on special teams.
Chiefs re-sign DT Reed to 3-year deal (AP)
The Kansas City Chiefs re=signed veteran defensive tackle James Reed to a three-year contract on Tuesday. Reed, a free agent, started 15 games for Kansas City in 2006, including the Chiefs' 23-8 playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The former seventh-round pick out of Iowa State had 42 tackles, 10 quarterback pressures and a sack.
No appeal heard for ex-Broncos LB Mobley (AP)
Colorado's Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from former Denver Broncos linebacker John Mobley, who was sentenced to seven days in jail for a drunken driving conviction. Defense attorneys had implied during Mobley's trial in April 2004 that his conviction was the result of racial profiling.
Rockets have liftoff
Warriors win, but fail to clinch spot (AP)
Out on the court, Al Harrington assured the Golden State Warriors' fans that their first playoff basketball in 13 years is on the way. "Y'all are going to see us next week, playing Dallas or Phoenix," he told the Warriors' final regular-season crowd after Golden State's 111-82 win over the Dallas Mavericks' junior varsity on Tuesday night.
Clippers win, still chasing No. 8 seed (AP)
The game meant virtually nothing to the Phoenix Suns and everything to the Los Angeles Clippers. Regardless, there was no rest for the Suns' regulars, and still the Clippers managed a 103-99 victory Tuesday night that kept their playoff hopes alive with one game to play. Elton Brand scored 21 points to lead six Clippers in double figures and Los Angeles beat the Suns 103-99.
Referee suspended for Duncan incident (AP)
Joey Crawford is done ejecting players and coaches this season. On Tuesday, he was the one getting tossed. The veteran NBA referee was suspended indefinitely by commissioner David Stern for his conduct toward Tim Duncan, who contends the official challenged him to a fight during a game in Dallas. Crawford has worked more postseason games than any active ref.
Cavs win, still have shot at No. 2 seed (AP)
LeBron James might want to send a good luck text message to his buddy and Nets part-owner Jay-Z. James will certainly be scoreboard watching in the season finale, doing all he can to help Cleveland win while pulling for New Jersey to keep alive Cleveland's shot at the No. 2 seed. "We've got to take care of business on our home court," James said.
Jerry West leaving Grizzlies on July 1 (AP)
Jerry West left retirement and the comforts of California to see if he could transform the woeful Memphis Grizzlies. Five years later, the Lakers great decided to stop trying. He said Tuesday he will leave as the Grizzlies' director of basketball operations July 1 at the end of his contract. Injuries, losses, weariness and uncertainty became too much.
Magic win despite 48 by Jamison (AP)
Amid all the head-scratching permutations for seedings and playoffs matchups as the NBA regular season enters its final day, two facts stand clear: The Orlando Magic will enter the postseason with some momentum, and the Washington Wizards are a mess. The Magic beat the Wizards 95-89 Tuesday night, keeping up their last-minute push to move up the standings.
Pistons make quick work of Raptors (AP)
For nearly everyone at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Tuesday night, the Raptors-Pistons game was nothing more than a glorified exhibition. For Toronto rookie Uros Slokar, though, it was the chance of a lifetime. With both teams tuning up for the postseason, the little-used Slovenian scored 18 points in 30 minutes even as his team was losing 100-84.
Owner: Sonics gone after next season? (AP)
SuperSonics majority owner Clay Bennett says the NBA team likely will not play in Seattle beyond the 2007-08 season. Bennett said Tuesday that Gov. Chris Gregoire won't call lawmakers into special session so the team can continue to push for taxpayer money for a new $500 million arena. And he said the Sonics will honor their KeyArena lease that runs through 2010 -- but most likely only through "a...
Magic C Milicic sprains ankle (AP)
Orlando Magic center Darko Milicic sprained his right ankle in the second quarter Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards and could miss the start of the playoffs. Milicic was hurt when his right leg was sandwiched between Wizards players DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood as the three players fought for a rebound.
Playoff observations
Cooler heads prevailed in San Jose, while Islanders fans blew their tops over some questionable calls Monday.
Rangers rip Thrashers, take 3-0 lead (AP)
Tom Renney flashed a big smile and laughed when asked how this year's playoff experience compares to last season. "Well the fact that we're going into Game 3 with a couple of wins is probably all you need to know," he said. The New York Rangers coach looked relaxed in a sweater and jeans following practice Monday.
Wild avoid sweep, defeat Ducks 4-1 (AP)
A desperate move by a desperate coach breathed some life into the Minnesota Wild. Jacques Lemaire's decision to put his top three scorers -- Brian Rolston, Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra -- on one line generated the kind of offense the Anaheim Ducks had stifled in the first three games of this series.
Sens put Pens on brink of elimination (AP)
With so many postseason failures behind them, so many disappointing swings in momentum and breakdowns in confidence, the Ottawa Senators understand they should never feel comfortable with any Stanley Cup playoffs series lead. The bad memories are too recent and their flops too frequent for them to disregard their past -- even as they take a 2-1 lead into Game 4 of their first-round series against...
Iginla lifts Flames over Red Wings 3-2 (AP)
Jarome Iginla wasn't much of a factor in the Calgary Flames' first two playoff games, managing just two shots in two losses. He made up for his slump in Game 3. The Flames captain scored the go-ahead goal at 9:21 of the third period, leading Calgary to a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
Canucks top Stars 2-1, lead series 3-1 (AP)
Getting goals from the checking line is the kind of thing NHL teams need in pursuit of the Stanley Cup. And the Dallas Stars can proudly say they're getting that. Problem is, the guys they pay to score aren't. Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, Philippe Boucher, Mike Ribeiro and Niklas Hagman -- Dallas' top five goal-scorers in the regular season -- have yet to beat Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, a big...
Ducks' May could be suspended for Game 5 (AP)
The gloves are off in this Western Conference quarterfinal series between Anaheim and Minnesota. After a flurry of fighting near the end of the Wild's 4-1 win over the Ducks in Game 4 on Tuesday night, the teams are sure to be on edge when they meet again Thursday night in Anaheim. Brad May might not be around to experience it, either.
Hurricanes ink Rutherford to 5-year deal (AP)
Jim Rutherford helped bring the Carolina Hurricanes to Tobacco Road and built them into Stanley Cup champions. Now, after signing a contract Tuesday that will keep him as the team's general manager for five more years, he wants to continue growing hockey in this hotbed of college basketball. "We've invested a lot in hockey together, but especially in North Carolina," Rutherford said of his...
Fluky goals lift Lightning over Devs 3-2 (AP)
Surrounded by a pack of reporters in the Tampa Bay Lightning locker room, goalie Johan Holmqvist conceded that he enjoys the attention that comes with being in the NHL playoffs. "This is what you play the whole year for," the 28-year-old native of Sweden said. "When the media comes around, it's a bonus." The way he's playing in his first postseason series, Holmqvist may have to get used to it.
Sharks beat Predators 3-1 in calm Game 3 (AP)
Most of the Nashville Predators didn't participate in an optional team skate Tuesday. Instead, they attended meetings and rested up in their San Jose hotel after a tough night at the Shark Tank. Across town, the San Jose Sharks held a full practice at their training complex. After taking charge of Game 3 with physical punishment and a frenetic pace, the Sharks were determined to keep their edge...
Announcing his arrival
Ruttman to return to Craftsman Truck series after 4-year absence (AP)
The way Joe Ruttman saw it, he had two choices: Get back into racing or get a real job.
Great Scott: Baseball gives NASCAR a lesson in cherishing a pioneer (AP)
OK, NASCAR, it's your turn: When's Wendell Scott day?
Burton becomes first two-time winner at Texas (AP)
Jeff Burton was in the same position as the last time he was a runner-up. He was chasing the leader in the closing laps.
Earnhardt hops in Kyle Busch's car for final nine laps (AP)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't seem to mind that Kyle Busch rear-ended him and essentially ruined his chance to win the Samsung 500 on Sunday.
Montoya, Stewart feud could be brewing (PA SportsTicker)
FORT WORTH, Texas (Ticker) - When Juan Pablo Montoya joined NASCAR, he realized he would have his share of run-ins with the proven stars of the sport.
Burton passes Kenseth on final lap, wins Samsung 500 (PA SportsTicker)
Bourdais captures Champ-car Long Beach Grand Prix (AFP)
Bourdais grabs Champ-car pole (AFP)
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