Utah point guard Deron Williams missed his second straight game Saturday night against Cleveland to deal with a family medical issue. Williams returned to Salt Lake City on Friday morning and missed Utah's game in Philadelphia. He said in a statement following the game that his daughter underwent a procedure on Thursday to "address some health concerns." Williams averages 20.4 points…
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LeBron: Give up No. 23 as Jordan tribute (AP)
LeBron James wants NBA players to give up their No. 23s to honor Michael Jordan. The Cavaliers superstar, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore, believes players should pay tribute to Jordan for the Hall of Famer's impact on the game. "I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way — soon," James said.
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Paul unsure Hornets had to fire Scott (AP)
Chris Paul's loss was Tim Floyd's gain. From here on into the foreseeable future, they'll win and lose together. Paul said he was not sure firing Byron Scott as head coach was the change the struggling New Orleans Hornets needed to make. Floyd said the opportunity to rejoin the club as a top assistant "seemed like a perfect scenario for me." Floyd, a former head coach for New…
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Warriors G Jackson: I’m not bad guy (AP)
Warriors star Stephen Jackson claims people have been portraying him as "the bad guy" since he went public with his trade request in August. Jackson said after practice Thursday that "people want me to be somebody to point the finger at and say, 'He ain't doing this, or he's not humble, or he's not doing this."' Jackson signed a three-year, $28 million…
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Lewis says Mangini is overworking Browns (AP)
Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis said he's frustrated by another losing season and believes coach Eric Mangini is pushing his players too hard. Lewis, who intends to retire after this season, said Thursday that he doesn't want to be a "babysitter" to Cleveland's younger players.
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Boozer’s 27 and 14 lift Jazz over Spurs (AP)
The boos that the Utah Jazz heard early quickly turned to cheers of "Booz!" Carlos Boozer and the Utah Jazz finally put on a show worth rooting for, beating the San Antonio Spurs 113-99 on Thursday night. The Jazz ended a two-game losing skid and undid a little of the damage done in an embarrassing loss two nights before.
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NOW calls for Cable to be suspended (AP)
The National Organization for Women called on the Oakland Raiders to suspend coach Tom Cable while the team investigates allegations he has a history of violent behavior toward women. NOW president Terry O'Neill praised the Raiders in a statement for undertaking a "serious evaluation" of charges made by Cable's first wife, Sandy Cable, and former girlfriend, Marie Lutz, that the…
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Yankees win 27th World Series title (AP)
The New York Yankees bolted from the dugout even before the last grounder was scooped up. After waiting nine years for championship No. 27, no one would dare hold them back. "It feels better than I remember it, man," captain Derek Jeter said. "It's been a long time." Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBIs, Andy Pettitte won on short rest and New York beat the…
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GM Kokinis leaves 1-7 Browns (AP)
The Cleveland Browns invisible general manager has disappeared. George Kokinis, the hand-picked GM of first-year coach Eric Mangini who was rarely seen or heard in Cleveland, left the team Monday under unexplained circumstances after less than one year on the job. After reports surfaced that Kokinis was fired, the team issued an awkwardly worded statement saying Kokinis "is no longer actively…
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Replay gives A-Rod HR in Yanks’ 8-5 win (AP)
Guess who showed up for Halloween dressed as sluggers? The New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez, whose double clanked off a television camera in the right-field corner and was ruled a home run in the first instant replay call in World Series history. It changed the game. "I think it woke our offense up a little bit," Rodriguez said after the Yankees rallied for a rain-delayed 8-5 victory…
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Cavs beat Bobcats in West’s season debut (AP)
Before Delonte West headed to the locker room, Mo Williams grabbed his troubled teammate and pulled him close. Williams wanted West to hear something and whispered in his ear. "I told him, 'Stay with us'," Williams said. West scored 13 points — all in the second half — in his delayed season debut to spark Cleveland, Williams had 24, and LeBron James added an unselfish 14 as the…
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Agent: Chiefs, Johnson reach agreement (AP)
Larry Johnson's agent said he and the Kansas City Chiefs agreed Saturday night to cut the running back's two-week suspension in half, saving him more than $300,000. Peter Schaffer told The Associated Press that nothing had been signed. "We've been working hard at it since Thursday," Schaffer said.
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Sabathia to start on 3 days’ rest again (AP)
CC Sabathia actually likes starting on three days' rest. "I hate to throw bullpens," the New York Yankees big man said. "I don't have to throw a bullpen when I pitch on three days' rest." Sabathia will throw on short rest for the second time this postseason when he starts Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night against Philadelphia's Joe Blanton.
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Rose sharp as Bulls win opener vs. Spurs (AP)
Derrick Rose was so antsy and "geeked up" to get back on the court he had to blast the music on his way to the arena. Once he arrived, he certainly seemed in tune. Or at least close. Rose scored 13 points and had seven assists to lead the balanced Chicago Bulls to an impressive 92-85 season-opening victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
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Wisconsin braces for return of Favre (AP)
For almost 20 years, Brett Favre was like a member of every Wisconsin family. To be from Wisconsin is to be a Green Bay Packers fan, and the fun-loving quarterback rejuvenated the storied franchise, brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown and turned "Cheesehead" from an insult into a boast.
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Lakers raise banner, beat Clippers 99-92 (AP)
Kobe Bryant slipped the ring on in the locker room, his finger weighed down by the 14 brilliant white diamonds set in yellow and white gold. Then he took it off and returned it to the custom box that would soon end up stored for years to come in a vault at home. "I never wear them except for the night that I get them," he said Tuesday after the Lakers opened defense of their NBA…
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Celtics spoil Shaq’s debut with Cavs (AP)
Shaquille O'Neal has learned the ropes in his 17 NBA seasons. There's one lesson that has endured since he was a raw rookie. "You can't win a championship in the first game," he said. Boston's Big Three — plus Rasheed — spoiled Cleveland's overhyped season opener on Tuesday night with a 95-89 win over the new-look Cavaliers, who may have LeBron James and Shaq but…
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Sluggers A-Rod, Howard ready for Series (AP)
Ryan Howard thought about the World Series and his eyes widened. "Between Yankee Stadium and Philly, it's going to be, I would have to say, probably one of the rowdiest World Series — just between the fans," he said. Sure will be if Howard and Alex Rodriguez start teeing off in their high-profile slugger showdown.
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Jackson’s TDs lift Eagles over Redskins (AP)
DeSean Jackson scored on a 67-yard run and a 57-yard reception, both in the first half. His night might have been perfect if his tender right ankle hadn't messed up his touchdown tap dance. "I was out there having fun, man, honestly," Jackson said. "My ankle was kind of hurting. I really didn't feel it, but it did kind of affect my dance a little bit.
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Yankees win first AL pennant since 2003 (AP)
They dashed from the dugout and in from the outfield, swarming Alex Rodriguez in a sea of pinstripes only steps from his spot at third base. "I couldn't be more excited," he said. "I feel like a 10-year-old kid." Making it to the World Series for the first time after all those misses will do that to you.
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Wizards’ Jamison to miss 3 to 5 weeks (AP)
Antawn Jamison's ailing shoulder will keep him off the court well into the regular season. The Washington Wizards announced an estimated recovery time for Jamison's injury Friday, saying he's likely to miss the first eight to 13 games. "The most important thing is it's a long season," he said.
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Goodell expects multiple games in London (AP)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expects the league to start playing multiple regular-season games in Britain in the next few years — an expansion that could lead to putting a franchise in London. Goodell said Friday that "every indicator" shows the British market can support more games and that having a franchise here is of "tremendous interest" to the league.
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Refs could be back for regular season (AP)
The NBA's locked-out referees could be back on the floor in time for the regular season. The league has made a new proposal, and a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press it will be recommended for approval to the referees on Friday. The person, who requested anonymity because the negotiations are ongoing, said it's "highly likely" they'll be on the…
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Lewis to call plays for Zorn’s Redskins (AP)
Bingo! You're not calling plays anymore, Jim Zorn. Sherm Lewis is coming out of retirement to do it for you. With a pained expression, Washington Redskins coach Zorn announced Monday that the front office "strongly suggested" that he yield his play-calling duties to a consultant hired only two weeks ago.
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Brees torches Giants as Saints win 48-27 (AP)
Who dat knew them Saints were this good? Drew Brees torched the Giants' league-leading defense, swarming Saints defenders ruined Eli Manning's homecoming and undefeated New Orleans matched its best start since 1993 with a 48-27 throttling of previously unbeaten New York on Sunday. "We wanted to really dictate the tempo of the game the whole way through," Brees said.
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A-Rod delivering in October for Yankees (AP)
With runners on first and second in the 12th inning early Sunday, the "A-Rod!" chants started swelling at Yankee Stadium. Only thing is, All-Star Mark Teixeira was still at-bat. My how things have changed for Alex Rodriguez. In postseasons past, New York Yankees fans were merciless as Rodriguez foundered.
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NFL fines LB Lewis $25K for 2 incidents (AP)
The NFL fined Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis $25,000 on Friday for two separate plays, including a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco. The Ravens said Lewis will appeal the fine. Both plays occurred in the fourth quarter of Baltimore's 17-14 loss on Sunday. The league deemed that Lewis "unnecessarily kicked the opponent" and later…
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Angels, Yanks set for first ALCS meeting (AP)
Mark Teixeira remembers calling Torii Hunter last winter. "After I signed with the Yankees, I said, `You know, good luck to you guys. Hopefully, we'll see you in the ALCS,"' Teixeira recalled. And then he repeated the message when Hunter reached first base during the first series between the teams in May.
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Cavs cautious with flu, await H1N1 tests (AP)
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…