It's a Rocktober redux for the Colorado Rockies, who are back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. "It stings," Troy Tulowitzki said as he squinted away the tears that were flushing the champagne out of his eyes. "But I've never forgotten '07 and it's great to experience it again.
One minute, Brett Favre sternly insists he isn't out for revenge against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. The next, he says it's only human for him to feel like he has something to prove to the team that traded him. In his first extended interview session with Wisconsin-based reporters since well before his unretirement saga went public last summer, Favre reluctantly revisited his…
Once Mike Brown learned that Shaquille O'Neal was wearing a Speedo on national television, he wasn't concerned about his new star's physical conditioning. The Cleveland Cavaliers center spent the offseason filming his reality show "Shaq Vs," in which he competed against various top athletes in their sports.
Brett Favre is on Minnesota's injury report for the first time this season. The 39-year-old quarterback was listed Thursday as being limited in practice because of a foot injury. After the Vikings beat San Francisco last Sunday, Favre complained of aching in his right foot, left knee, both shoulders and neck.
Players doused each other with champagne and beer in the clubhouse and on the field. Fans partied in the stands. Manager Charlie Manuel enjoyed the celebration from his office. The Philadelphia Phillies won another NL East championship. Now they can rest and prepare to defend their World Series title. "I'll celebrate when we get to the big one," Manuel said.
Magglio Ordonez is supposed to help the Detroit Tigers win titles. Eddie Bonine is a bit of a surprise. Ordonez hit a three-run double, Bonine lasted five innings after a shaky start and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Wednesday night to move closer to the AL Central title. "You need everyone on your team to step up right now, and that's what happened tonight," Detroit…
The NBA is instituting a policy regarding Twitter and other social media sites, banning players from using them during games. The league sent a memo to teams on Wednesday telling them that cell phones and other communication devices can't be used from 45 minutes before game time until after players have finished their responsibilities after games.
A Nevada judge denied motions by lawyers for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to dismiss a civil lawsuit alleging he raped a Lake Tahoe casino worker, according to court documents released Wednesday. Washoe District Judge Brent Adams rejected arguments that the suit should be dismissed, saying the woman's allegations make a "sufficient" claim that if proven, would…
Two years ago, the Cleveland Browns turned their woeful offense over to Derek Anderson and won 10 games. Eric Mangini can only hope it happens again. With his first season in Cleveland already unraveling, Mangini benched Brady Quinn in favor of Anderson, who rode a similar opportunity in 2007 to an appearance in the Pro Bowl.
Mike Brown still can't believe he is coaching two superstars. Mo Williams called it destiny. The Cavaliers don't care if destiny equals dynasty — they'd be happy to win that first NBA championship. LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal have practiced together for only two days. Despite the small sample size, Williams has seen enough to expect the 7-foot-1 O'Neal will blend nicely…
Behind a closed clubhouse door, the Boston Red Sox celebrated their sixth playoff berth in seven years in the usual way: with spraying beer, commemorative hats and T-shirts, and the customary promises that they will play better once the postseason begins. "I like our chances," second baseman Dustin Pedroia said, popping out to the concourse to address a few dozen reporters who waited…
The Detroit Tigers were down after absorbing a difficult loss in the opener of their critical day-night doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins. Their ace took over from there. Justin Verlander kept the Tigers on top in the AL Central, pitching eight innings in a 6-5 victory Tuesday night that restored their two-game lead over the scrappy Twins.
The NBA has told teams it's going ahead with replacement referees, days after the league thought a deal had been reached with locked-out officials. The league sent a memo Tuesday informing teams it had "no expectation of concluding a timely labor contract." The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, follows the latest failure in negotiations.
Cowboys running back Felix Jones has a sprained ligament in his left knee and his status for the upcoming game at Denver is uncertain. "It's yet to be determined how long or if he will be out very long," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday. "It could get well quickly." An MRI taken Tuesday showed Jones hurt his posterior cruciate ligament during the Cowboys' 21-7…
Kendry Morales homered and drove in three runs, and the Los Angeles Angels wasted no time clinching their third straight AL West title with an 11-0 victory over the second-place Texas Rangers on Monday night. Ervin Santana pitched a seven-hitter for his fourth career shutout, while Maicer Izturis had three hits and two RBIs to wrap up the Angels' sixth playoff berth in eight seasons.
Leading, but not by much, Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys were desperately in need of a big play. Jake Delhomme helped them make several. Terence Newman returned an interception 27 yards for a lead-stretching touchdown with 5:07 left, then rookie linebacker Victor Butler got two sacks and forced a fumble on the next series, sending Dallas to a 21-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Monday…
Chad Pennington may not be available to give his winless team a much-needed lift. The Miami Dolphins quarterback dislocated his right shoulder and may seek a second opinion to determine how long he'll be sidelined, a person familiar with his status said Monday. The person insisted on anonymity because the Dolphins have said little about the injury.
The banner in right field summed up how the Atlanta Braves feel about this final week of the season. "Believe." Jair Jurrjens pitched five-hit ball over seven innings, Chipper Jones homered and the Braves beat Florida 4-0 Monday night for their 15th win in 17 games, a stretch that has lifted them into playoff contention with six games left in the regular season.
The lights went out, the courts darkened and a media day already like no other in Cavaliers history was canceled after just two hours. Maybe with LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal, Cleveland has too much superstar power. The duo's first public appearance together as teammates was cut short Monday when the electricity went out at the Cavs' fabulous suburban training facility, forcing the…
The lead negotiator for the locked-out NBA referees removed himself from the talks Monday in hopes of resolving a dispute that threatens to have replacements on the floor this week. Lamell McMorris released a statement saying the negotiations with the NBA would be handled by general counsel Brian Lam and the executive board of the National Basketball Referees Association.
Shaq got in one last party before training camp. Shaquille O'Neal, the big man Cleveland is counting on to deliver this championship-starved city a title, was welcomed to town Sunday with a star-studded party that included sports celebrities and Average Joes looking to rub elbows with them. Fashionably late, O'Neal arrived in an SUV at 11:15 p.m.
The end was as good as the Vikings could have imagined: Brett Favre zipped a pass to a little-used reserve wide receiver in the back of the end zone in the final seconds for a classic Favre finish. Greg Lewis leaped for a 32-yard touchdown catch with 2 seconds left while a flattened Favre watched from his stomach, and the Vikings stunned the San Francisco 49ers 27-24 on Sunday to stay unbeaten.
Matthew Stafford held his head down on the bench for the final snap. Dominic Raiola couldn't watch, either, fearing a 20th loss in a row and 100th setback of his nine-season career. When Detroit's leaders looked up and saw Washington was out of time, they saw what they were hoping to see Sunday.
Cavaliers guard Delonte West, facing gun possession charges, is expected to report to Cleveland's training camp Monday. West was arrested on Sept. 17 after police said he was carrying two concealed handguns and a shotgun when he was pulled over on a three-wheel motorcycle near his Maryland home. Carrying an unlicensed handgun is a misdemeanor in that state.
This should have been so easy for the Dodgers: Jonathan Broxton on the mound, a three-run lead in the ninth inning against the dismal Pirates and an NL West title to celebrate as soon as they closed it out. Instead, easy turned into excruciating as Los Angeles let a victory slip away when the majors' second-worst team pulled off a four-run rally aided by several defensive lapses.
Soaked to the skin with champagne, Mark Teixeira stood on the giant "NY" logo in the Yankees clubhouse and shouted like crazy. "Tastes good!" he hollered. Favored to win the World Series since opening day, the New York Yankees celebrated like playoff newcomers after beating Boston 4-2 Sunday to clinch the AL East title and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Matt Holliday celebrated another playoff clincher at Coors Field, only this time it was with the St. Louis Cardinals and not the Colorado Rockies. Holliday keyed a three-run rally in the first inning and the Cardinals clinched the NL Central crown when they beat the Rockies 6-3 Saturday night behind Adam Wainwright's 19th victory.
The celebration was a couple of bottles of champagne and a few hugs, nothing more. Maybe it's because the Los Angeles Dodgers expect to have bigger bashes before the season is over. The Dodgers locked up their fourth NL playoff appearance in six years, getting a two-run single from pinch-hitter Jim Thome during a four-run eighth inning in which Pirates relievers walked four before going on to…