Cubs manager Lou Piniella annointed Kevin Gregg the closer on Sunday and said he’ll keep Carlos Marmol in his same setup role. Marmol was disappointed at the news. Marmol missed time in camp to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and was asked if that might have influenced the team’s decision. [...]
Jimmie Johnson nudged Denny Hamlin aside in the third and fourth turns with 15 laps to go and gave team owner Rick Hendrick a perfect place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series: Victory Lane. Johnson, dubbed “Mr. Martinsville” by Jeff Gordon, lived up to his moniker, winning for [...]
The NFL regular season could be about to get a little longer. It will, at least, if Roger Goodell has his way. Goodell, who will enter his fourth season as NFL Commissioner next season, closed the 2009 annual league meetings with a mid-day press conference Wednesday in Dana Point, Calif., doing so by making the [...]
For the second time in three years, the United States was beaten at its own game on its own turf. Maybe baseball just ain’t America’s sport anymore. Daisuke Matsuzaka remained undefeated in the World Baseball Classic and defending champion Japan topped Team USA 9-4 in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night. “Can you [...]
It has been awhile since Ichiro Suzuki has had an opportunity to influence the outcome of an important game since the Seattle Mariners have been also-rans in recent years. The eight-time AL All-Star got his chance Monday night, and he came through. Suzuki hit a two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th inning, [...]
One big man was last year’s national player of the year. The other appears poised to take his place. Now, Tyler Hansbrough and Blake Griffin will go head-to-head with a lot more at stake than any individual honor. Hansbrough has led top-seeded North Carolina to within a victory of a second straight Final Four. But [...]
Without their leading goal scorer, the Boston Bruins picked up another key win in their drive for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In the arguably one of the toughest matchups remaining, the Bruins will look to maintain their newly regained consistency and try for a fourth straight road win over the Philadelphia Flyers [...]
With seven wins in nine games, Philadelphia was riding a wave of confidence. The 76ers, though, learned how easy it is to crash. With an opportunity to pull within one-half game of fifth place in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia looks to get back on track Sunday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Facing a [...]
The glasses were thick and smoky, and the Nike sneakers were as jet-black as ever. Yup, Joe Paterno’s back. No cane in sight, the 82-year-old Hall of Famer paced the Penn State practice field Friday, the second day of spring drills. Four months after hip replacement surgery, Paterno pronounced himself back at 100 percent, with [...]
The New Orleans Saints and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation have submitted a bid to host the 2013 Super Bowl. Foundation president Jay Cicero says the bid submitted Friday afternoon deals with technical aspects of hosting the game, such as the availability of hotel rooms and convention facilities. New Orleans has hosted nine Super [...]
