Michael Crabtree is confident he can play a big role for the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie even though he's months behind. He will get his chances in an offense that could really use him. Crabtree signed a six-year contract early Wednesday after a drawn-out negotiation process that had some wondering whether the star wide receiver would ever show up this season.
The Metrodome erupted in a jet-like roar as Carlos Gomez zoomed home with the winning run to finish off an AL Central race — and a thrilling tiebreaker — that didn't want to end. Minnesota wouldn't quit, while the Detroit Tigers finished their historic fade. And there was little time for the Twins to celebrate, because the New York Yankees were waiting.
So much for getting to know each other. The LeBron and Shaq Show is off and running. NBA icons, All-Stars and A-plus-list celebrities LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal made their debut as Cleveland teammates on Tuesday night and had immediate chemistry in the Cavaliers' 92-87 preseason-opening victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
The NFL is investigating whether Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards violated the league's conduct policy following accusations he assaulted a man outside a nightclub. Edwards allegedly punched promoter Edward Givens, a friend of NBA star LeBron James, early Monday morning following an argument in downtown Cleveland.
There's a new reason for the Atlanta Hawks to enter the 2009-10 season with a renewed sense of urgency. This could be the team's final season with Joe Johnson. Johnson, the team's three-time All-Star, top scorer and captain, plans to play out the final year of his contract this season and enter free agency instead of accepting the team's offer of an extension.
Eli Manning's teammates expect he'll make his 83rd consecutive start on Sunday. Manning had an MRI on his right foot Monday, which revealed he has plantar fasciitis, an inflammation and swelling of the tissue on the bottom of the foot. The Giants are officially listing Manning as "day to day." But Manning has started 82 consecutive games over the last five seasons and his…
Sixteen-game winner Jorge De La Rosa will miss Colorado's first-round playoff series against Philadelphia because of an injured left groin. The left-hander left his last start Saturday night after hurting himself. He was scheduled to test his groin in a bullpen session Tuesday, but that was canceled.
Brett Favre added another feat to his overflowing resume: He's the first quarterback in history to beat all 32 NFL teams. Well, he saved the best for last: The Green Bay Packers. Favre's first game against his former team was all fun for the Minnesota Vikings and all frustration for the Packers, as the graying quarterback kept his cool and connected for three touchdown passes and 271 yards…
Vince Carter scored 21 points in his Orlando debut and Brandon Bass added seven of his 13 points in the final two minutes to lift the Magic to a 110-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the preseason opener for both teams on Monday night. Carter, who was acquired by the Magic in an offseason trade with the Toronto Raptors, scored 15 points in the third quarter.
Braylon Edwards was fighting mad Sunday, exchanging a few blows with one of Cincinnati's massive defensive linemen. Later, Cleveland's contentious wide receiver allegedly took a swing at someone much smaller but with a towering, more famous friend: LeBron James. And the King isn't happy about it.
Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera was drunk — three times above Michigan's legal limit for driving, according to police — between two key games over the weekend as his team was trying to win the American League Central title. The 26-year-old Venezuelan first baseman was taken to a police station Saturday after arriving at his suburban Detroit home at 5 a.m.
A new start with the New Orleans Saints has put "the shake" back in 33-year-old Darren Sharper. The NFL's active leader in career interceptions added two more against rookie Mark Sanchez, returning one a club-record 99 yards for a touchdown to help the unbeaten Saints hand the New York Jets their first loss of the season, 24-10 on Sunday.
The chase for the AL Central championship once again is going to extra innings. Trying to save their seasons, the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins both won Sunday, leaving them all even for the division lead and forcing a one-game tiebreaker. They'll meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. EDT at the Metrodome in what could be the final baseball game at the Homer Hankie haven.
Mark Clayton got open and waited for the fourth-down pass that could keep the Ravens' chances alive. Joe Flacco reached his target inside the Patriots 10-yard line and beyond the first-down marker, but Clayton didn't hold on with 28 seconds left. New England did — eking out a 27-21 win over Baltimore on Sunday.
Clay Buchholz has one week to think about his next start. Or, even better, not to think about it. Manager Terry Francona said Buchholz was still in line to follow Jon Lester and Josh Beckett in the rotation for the first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Angels, even after the Red Sox right-hander lasted just three innings in a 12-7 victory over Cleveland on Sunday.
Rudy Gay listened as Grizzlies' teammate O.J. Mayo talked of the team's need to meld at practice and couldn't stop himself from piping in, "Practice?" Oh yes, the player who's been with the Memphis Grizzlies the longest has seen video of Allen Iverson's infamous 2002 rant during a feud with Larry Brown about missing practice and heard that word maybe 20 times in the…
The Dodgers' magic number for clinching the NL West is down to zero — finally. After a season-worst five-game losing streak, they came through with one game left in the regular season and beat the stubborn Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Saturday night with a five-run seventh triggered by an RBI single from pinch-hitters Ronnie Belliard and an RBI double by Mark Loretta and six scoreless innings by…
The Detroit Tigers' once-cozy cushion in the AL Central is long gone. If things do not go Detroit's way on the final scheduled day, its season will be over. The Tigers dropped into a first-place tie with Minnesota, looking listless Saturday night in a 5-1 loss to Freddy Garcia and the Chicago White Sox.
Browns rookie running back James Davis had a short run in his first NFL season. Davis, whose impressive exhibition season led to speculation about Jamal Lewis' future in Cleveland, will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. The Browns placed him on injured reserve Saturday. Davis got hurt in the Browns' season opener against Minnesota on a hit by Vikings cornerback Antoine…
Brett Favre won't be missing his first game against the Green Bay Packers. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback is listed as probable for the showdown on Monday night. Favre has been limited in practice all week because of a sore right foot, but he will make his 273rd consecutive start. All-Pro left guard Steve Hutchinson is listed as questionable with a back injury.
LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal made their first public appearance together as Cleveland teammates. Delonte West stayed out of sight. The Cavaliers' troubled guard, who is dealing with personal problems as well as legal issues pending from a recent arrest on weapons charges, was kept away from Cleveland's intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, a workout that served as the Cavaliers'…
The Minnesota Twins have wanted out of the Metrodome for years. They're playing as if they want to stay a little longer. Jeff Manship's first major league win was well-timed for the Twins, who got a grand slam from Delmon Young and hung on for a 10-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night that cut Detroit's AL Central lead to one game.
Jake Peavy delivered the kind of performance the Detroit Tigers desperately need. Peavy delayed Detroit's chance to move closer to the AL Central title, pitching the Chicago White Sox past the slumping Tigers 8-0 Friday night. Detroit's lead was cut to one game by Minnesota, which beat Kansas City 10-7.
J.R. Smith is pledging more maturity this season, a promise he's made in the past. The sharp-shooting Denver Nuggets guard realizes that some will believe it, while some will remain skeptical. That's fine with him. He knows he's changed. It's been a sobering offseason for the 24-year-old Smith, who spent 24 days in a New Jersey correctional facility after pleading guilty to reckless…
Houston Texans rookie tight end Anthony Hill was hospitalized this week with swine flu in the first confirmed case in an NFL player this season. Hill is the only player on the team believed to have swine flu and other players are being monitored, Texans vice president of communications Tony Wyllie said Friday.
Kyle Boller will make his first start at quarterback for the St. Louis Rams on Sunday as Marc Bulger rests his injured shoulder. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Friday that if Bulger dresses for the game, it will be as the third quarterback. Rookie Keith Null will be the backup. Bulger did not throw during Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for the game at NFC West rival San Francisco…
Gilbert Arenas took part in five-on-five halfcourt drills at Washington Wizards practice on Friday after sitting out scrimmages the previous two days. Wizards first-year coach Flip Saunders says the oft-injured Arenas has taken part in just about everything during training camp but a dislocated finger sidelined him for the scrimmages.
The NBA's replacement referees were a non-issue in the preseason opener, just as the league wanted. The Utah Jazz beat the Denver Nuggets 103-87 on Thursday night in an exhibition game that featured 69 fouls and very little objection to any of them. Whether it was preseason indifference or players and coaches heeding to the league warning to be nice to the new officials, there wasn't much…
Those pesky Twins forced the Detroit Tigers to keep their champagne on ice. Scott Baker got plenty of run support and pitched Minnesota to a testy 8-3 victory on Thursday, preventing the Tigers from clinching their first division title in 22 years. Minnesota avoided elimination from the playoff race and moved within two games of the first-place Tigers with three to play.