Paul Westphal has been involved in hundreds of wins in the NBA as a coach and a player. That didn't take away from his excitement after his first with the Sacramento Kings. Kevin Martin scored 48 points and Beno Udrih hit a game-tying layup in the closing seconds of regulation to give the Kings a 127-116 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their home opener Monday night.
Brett Favre jogged out of the tunnel in a purple helmet. He might as well have been wearing a black hat. No, Favre didn't seem to relish playing the villain in his return to Lambeau Field. But it was going to take more than a chorus of boos to throw him off his game. For the second time in less than a month, Favre sliced up his former team and stuck it to the franchise that cast him aside as the…
CC Sabathia sounded a bit glum. His World Series debut didn't turn out the way he wanted. The Big Man was outpitched by former Cleveland teammate Cliff Lee, just like on opening day at the new Yankee Stadium. After carrying New York into the championship on his broad back, Sabathia struggled somewhat as the Yankees lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 in Wednesday night's opener.
The Orlando Magic didn't spend much time hoisting their Eastern Conference championship banner. They didn't take long to adjust to a revamped roster, either. Dwight Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds, Vince Carter scored 15 points and the new-look Magic rolled to a 120-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
LeBron James didn't get any sympathy from his teammates when he came back to work after spending two days sick in bed. They ran the other way. "You come back around and everyone is like, 'Ugh, you got the cooties,"' James said Thursday. "They don't want to be around you." James and two Cleveland teammates have tested positive for Influenza A, and are being treated…
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.
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.
The Houston Astros fired manager Cecil Cooper on Monday with 13 games left in another disappointing season. Third-base coach Dave Clark was named interim manager and things didn't change much Monday night as the Astros lost their eighth straight, 7-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals, to drop to 70-80. General manager Ed Wade said the change couldn't wait until the end of the season.
Matthew Stafford won the Lions' quarterback derby. Daunte Culpepper didn't lose the job. That's what Detroit's new coach, Jim Schwartz, emphasized Monday when he made the No. 1 overall draft pick the starter for Sunday in New Orleans, when the Lions try to win for the first time in 21 months.
San Diego Chargers star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman says he didn't harm a reality TV star who has accused him of choking and restraining her. Merriman says in a statement late Sunday that he was worried for the safety of Tila Tequila because she appeared to be intoxicated and he didn't want her to drive.
Even though he has pitched in the World Series before, Jose Contreras confessed he was nervous before his first start for the Colorado Rockies. He didn't look it once he took the mound. Acquired on Monday from the Chicago White Sox for minor league pitcher Brandon Hynick, Contreras pitched 6 2-3 solid innings to lead the Rockies to a 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.