Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson both thought the injury-depleted Lakers would get a stern early season test from the New Orleans Hornets. Instead, their visitors barely put up a fight. Yes, DJ Mbenga and Shannon Brown were just that good. Bryant scored 28 points, Brown added 15 and Los Angeles thrived again without its top two big men, beating the New Orleans Hornets 104-88 Sunday night.
Spurs guard Tony Parker is not expected to play Monday against Toronto because of a sore left ankle. The Spurs said Sunday that Parker's injury was a mild sprain that could sideline him for a week. Parker rolled his ankle Friday night in the second quarter of a loss at Portland. He did not return to the game.
Brian Westbrook is set to return from his latest injury when the Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup of the top two teams in the NFC East on Sunday. Westbrook missed the Eagles' rout of the Giants last week with a concussion sustained a week earlier in a victory over Washington. Coach Andy Reid said Westbrook, who practiced Wednesday for the first time since the injury, should be…
The Minnesota Vikings will be without Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield when they face the Green Bay Packers in a pivotal NFC North game on Sunday. Winfield was listed as out in Friday's injury report. He also missed last week's game against Pittsburgh because of the injured right foot. Coach Brad Childress said he saw Winfield make progress throughout the week, but obviously not enough…
With two starters ruled out and two others, including running back Brian Westbrook, listed as questionable, the Philadelphia Eagles go into their biggest game of the season with key health issues. The Eagles (4-2) host the New York Giants (5-2) on Sunday with first place in the NFC East at stake. But Westbrook is questionable after suffering a concussion in last Monday's victory over…
Jeff Fisher knows he can't keep the identity of his starting quarterback secret until kickoff Sunday even if he wants to. So the Tennessee coach is trying to keep it quiet for another 24 hours. Fisher said Wednesday he will announce his starter Thursday, trying to carve out another day of competitive advantage for the winless Titans against Jacksonville (3-3).
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa took a flight from his West Coast home to St. Louis on Sunday for further talks about his future. There was a report, too, Mark McGwire might join him as a coach. La Russa told the Associated Press in a telephone interview before boarding a plane that discussions were ongoing, and that he was planning to attend a Bruce Springsteen concert later that evening.
Cedric Benson believes the Chicago Bears did all they could to prevent him from signing with another team. Released in June 2008 after two alcohol-related arrests, Benson will come face to face with his former team when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Bears on Sunday. Although he insisted he's not out for revenge and won't try to send a message, Benson clearly has some bad feelings for the…
Bob Sanders hopes to make his season debut Sunday at St. Louis. The 2007 NFL defensive player of the year, who has not played in a game since January, is expected to participate in most of the team's practice work this week. For the first time this season, Sanders was not listed on the team's injury report Wednesday.
The White House will not commit to health care legislation that would cap insurance premiums or tax benefits, taking a wait-and-see approach as congressional negotiators seek a deal, advisers said Sunday.
As great as Brett Favre was Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback was pretty sure he wasn't good enough. So sure that the Vikings were headed to their first defeat of the season, Favre couldn't even bear to watch as Baltimore kicker Steve Hauschka lined up for a 44-yard field goal with 2 seconds to play.
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.
Kevin Garnett scored 21 points, Ray Allen added 20 and the Boston Celtics won their fifth straight, beating the Toronto Raptors 101-82 on Sunday. Eddie House scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth, while Rasheed Wallace, who sat out Boston's 106-90 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night because of a sore right ankle, returned to score five points.
NBA or Europe, regular referees or replacements, the rules are the same: Two technical fouls is an automatic ejection, and anyone ejected must leave the floor. Maccabi Tel Aviv wanted a pass on that rule Sunday. The New York Knicks' 106-91 victory over the Euroleague team featured a bizarre delay in the third quarter when the visiting coach refused to leave after he was ejected.
A Bay Area animal rights group is planning a protest against Michael Vick before his game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The group In Defense of Animals says it will protest outside Oakland Coliseum before Vick plays his first road game for the Philadelphia Eagles since being reinstated to the NFL following an 18-month prison sentence for his involvement in a dogfighting ring.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith has a right shoulder injury that coach Mike Tomlin said "potentially could be significant." Smith, injured Sunday in Detroit, was being evaluated Tuesday. The Steelers are not yet certain how long one of their most reliable and productive players will be out, although they apparently are anticipating an extended absence.
Peyton Manning isn't one to check off his latest achievements, especially not during the season. Good thing. They're piling up almost as quickly as victories for Manning and his Colts. Manning's near-perfect start to the season continued Sunday night as he had 309 yards passing and three touchdown passes, and the Colts never trailed in beating their AFC South rivals 31-9 for their…
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu practiced only lightly for the third day in a row and is not expected to play Sunday in Detroit. Polamalu, a five-time Pro Bowl player, has not played since tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sept. 10 against Tennessee. He was on the field Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but did not take part in a full practice.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning returned to practice Friday and showed no ill effects of the injured right heel that kept him out the previous two days. Yet the team is still being cautious about his status for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Manning is listed as questionable and coach Tom Coughlin said it will more than likely be a game-time decision whether he will play.
All signs are pointing toward Matt Hasselbeck returning to quarterback the reeling Seahawks on Sunday against Jacksonville. The three-time Pro Bowl passer looked sharp while completing a second consecutive practice Thursday. It's his first work since he broke a rib Sept. 20 on a dive for the goal line at San Francisco.
With 79 career starts, David Carr knows how much Eli Manning wants to be on the field calling the plays when the New York Giants meet the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Manning's teammates say he's a competitor who will play if he's able. Carr wants to be out there just as much, and his chances of playing this weekend seemingly improved when Manning missed his second straight practice on…
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…
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.
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.
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Pulitzer Prize-nominated author and poet Maya Angelou was taken to the hospital Sunday for as-yet-unknown causes, TMZ.com reported.
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…
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.
Middle linebacker Gary Brackett and cornerback Kelvin Hayden did not travel with the Indianapolis Colts to Arizona where they will play the Cardinals on Sunday night. Brackett injured his left knee late in last Sunday's victory at Miami. Hayden hurt his hamstring. Both were held out of practice this week.
LaDainian Tomlinson has been ruled out of the San Diego Chargers' home game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the second straight game he'll miss due to a sprained right ankle. Tomlinson was hurt in a season-opening win at Oakland and missed last Sunday's home-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens.