After playing updates through the unravels Atlantic Coast Conference tournament with a bulky protective mask, the sophomore wore a new mask during Wednesday' s practice. He had surgery in 2004 to remove a rib that was pressing against a vein and causing life- threatening blood clots. The Mets were off, and open a weekend series Friday night in Boston. Carr agreed " I hope one day we have a system where all the issues are decided on the field " But Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, however, isn' t so sure about a playoff system " With a 12- game season, it would be next to impossible to have a 16- team playoff " he said Sunday " We' ll continually improve the system. The Suns erased a five- point deficit with a 14- 4 run over the final 4: 04 to beat the Grizzlies 108- 103 on Wednesday night and take a 2- 0 lead in their best- of- seven first- round series Game 3 is Friday night in Memphis.

Hornish, a three- time IndyCar Series champion and the 2006 Indy 500 champion, is a rookie this season in Sprint Cup . At the time, it was widely speculated that he might never play again for the Celtics; the only question was whether the team would make him sit at the end of the bench for three years to collect the$ 44 million left on his contract . In 2003, Wyoming finished 22- 11 and was invited to the NIT But Wyoming struggled over McClain' s last four seasons . The Gators are 310- 126 in 13 seasons under Donovan, who has vowed to get the Gators on the same level as storied basketball programs like Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and UCLA He still has work to do . I got the shots going good " The Blazers, meanwhile, played out the game before retreating sullenly to the locker room " I' ve never been on a team where we cleared so much air. He' d even flubbed a pair with 5: 30 left and the game tied. He also filled in when Holloway was hurt earlier in the season, and seemed to be growing into the role.

Rodriguez The New York Yankees third baseman, who might be back with the team ahead of his projected May 15 return, slid five times on a sliding mat, a key step in his rehab program . Marcio Jose Sanchez/ AP PhotoRoderick Wilmont triggered what remains of Indiana' s offensive attack . Ace Jeff Francis took an 0- 3 record to the mound Wednesday night against St Louis . Swindle was recalled from Triple- A Lehigh Valley to take Gordon' s roster spot . He said the players' accomplishments make a larger statement than any sports record he ever set. O' Neal blocked a layup by Davis with 39 seconds left to protect Miami' s two- point lead, then fouled Pierce hard enough to ensure he wouldn' t tie it with a layup on the Celtics' next- to- last possession. 24 Kansas State but lost 84- 75, ending a 24- year run of victories on the Wildcats' home court The top three were a match for The Associated Press poll Kansas was ranked fourth in the AP Top 25 and UCLA fifth.

Mayor Mick Cornett has said he didn' t see how a CBA team would help Oklahoma City land an NBA franchise . Williams was convicted in 2004 of attempting to cover up the slaying of Costas " Gus " Christofi but was acquitted of the more serious charge of aggravated manslaughter . Jones was activated from the 15- day disabled list on Friday after missing 14 games with a left hamstring injury, but said before Wednesday' s first game his legs are still not healthy " My hamstring' s great My quad is still pretty sore " Jones said . Kidd said he never asked to be traded, noting his only disappointment was with the inconsistent play of the Nets( 9- 10 . Hideki Matsui, who went on the 15- day disabled list June 27 because of an injured left knee, could start playing in minor league games in the next few days. The man accused of the shooting, D' Anthony Ford, is being held without bond in a Baton Rouge prison.

Powe has not demonstrated that he can succeed academically during his first year of collegiate enrollment while also practicing and competing in athletics " an NCAA statement said . Though he did not shoot exceptionally well, Jennings shot the ball well enough for the East to have to account for him at all times . John Williams is out for the season after surgery on a torn Achilles tendon, and Big 12 sacks leader Auston English has missed the past two games with a hairline fracture in his right leg . 8 seconds left for the 89- 86 lead " We were very scrappy " Milwaukee coach Terry Porter said " Everybody who played, contributed We just had to grind the game out We finally had the ball bounce our way . 3 seconds left in first half after a hard fall after colliding with Atlanta' s Zaza Pachulia. On one fourth- down play, Hawkins ducked under a tackler to pick up a first down when it looked like he was going to be stopped 2 yards shy. 29 in the 2003 draft in an interview with ESPN' s TrueHoop blogger Henry Abbott before last season' s playoffs.

Updated: September 11, 2006, 4: 28 PM ET Disenchanted Colorado QB White to transfer Email Print Share Associated Press BOULDER, Colo- Brian White never could stomach being the University of Colorado' s backup quarterback, and falling to third on the depth chart was simply too much . At the end of the top of the second, Mets fans serenaded Pelfrey with boos " That' s the way it is here; you can' t let it get into your head " Beltran said of the boos[ The fans] came here to have fun, and that' s the way they have fun " Fans remember this is not a new ballclub, but simply a new ballpark These are the same old Mets, good and bad . They endured a playoff sweep in 2007 and the free fall to the NBA basement last season, so this year' s postseason opportunity is particularly meaningful to them both . Webber semi- dodged a question about whether he' s like to be traded to the Knicks someday, although he did say " There' s no player that' s ever touched a basketball that I' ve ever loved and admired more than Isiah Sacramento' s previous victory in New York came on Jan 13, 1996, when Christie was a member of the Knicks . Hawkins turned down the Astros in the offseason because he wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream " It was one of those things where, if I ever got the chance to play for the Yankees, I certainly didn' t want to pass up on that opportunity " he said " No disrespect to the Astros or anything like that, but it was one of those things that I wanted to do at one point in my career and the opportunity presented itself " Wade said he' s been looking for a reliever to ease the workload on pitchers such as Doug Brocail and Chris Sampson in the bullpen. Dallas never trailed after an early 18- 3 run that started with Dampier' s tip- in in the first quarter. Carpenter said he " absolutely " expected to pitch this year and wasn' t far from beginning a rehab stint.

Of course, celebrating " almost " doesn' t create much of a bandwagon in Seattle The biggest trend? Lots of offense . Before Wednesday' s game, Manuel told reporters that he hoped Major League Baseball would not discipline Runge for the incident " I think, for me, just a personal apology would be enough " Manuel said, hours before he received one " I don' t hope to see anyone get suspended and all that kind of stuff " Runge declined to talk about the incident on Wednesday, the New York Post reported " I can' t say anything " he said, according to the report " You guys have to talk to the commissioner' s office " Information from The Associated Press was used in this report . The university made the announcement at a hastily called news conference Friday night, saying the behavior is consistent with conduct that put the band on probation in 2006] EnlargeJonathan Daniel/ Getty ImagesThe Wisconsin marching band has been suspended indefinitely for behavior consistent with the conduct that put them on probation in' 06 . Stamus told The Associated Press that academic privacy issues prevented him from revealing more details of Friday' s hearing . And first- year Indiana coach Tom Crean, too, seemed focused on moving forward " I' m a big Eric Gordon fan, and I think the year he had last year was one of the best anyone' s ever had here " Crean said during a news conference Thursday " He was one of the big reasons they won 25 games. Avignone said he asked that the detectives stop interviewing Lebrum and tell him that his attorney was there, but that was never done. In the first half of Sunday' s second- round win over Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh looked in danger of being run out of the building.

This sprung a larger question: What were NBA coaches' policies on Twitter? Soon, reporters for other teams were posing that very question Jerry Sloan' s answer was particularly funny Shaquille O' Neal is another example . Patterson, who is 42- 18 as head coach, was defensive coordinator for the Frogs when they won 10 games in 2000 . Spring Training Blog Check our daily spring training blog with updates on everything our team of writers and analysts are seeing and hearing at the ballpark, plus news tidbits from around the baseball world . EST Friday, when the Sixers submitted their roster for their game against the Celtics, the trade was not yet official . Daniel MooreMoore' s painting of Tyrone Prothro' s amazing 2005 catch has been a big seller " In Tennessee, their fans love die- cast metal collectibles and in Alabama, it' s football art " Yarbrough says.

They would much rather keep playing " We' re playing some of our best basketball of the season " said Chauncey Billups, who scored 20 points along with Richard Hamilton, leading the Pistons past the Philadelphia 76ers 93- 75 on Wednesday night . McGrady is expected to return for the Rockets final preseason game against New Orleans at Oklahoma City on Thursday Deron Williams led the Jazz with 16 points . With 10 regular- season games remaining, the Cavaliers want Big Ben as ready as possible for the postseason " We just have to make sure going down the stretch that he gets enough rest with that back so that you can limit the effects going into the playoffs " coach Mike Brown said following Tuesday' s practice . Borris intends to make the rounds this year at camps in Arizona and Florida " I' m just doing my due diligence " Borris said . Texas, which needed a 22- yard field goal to beat Nebraska 22- 20 with 23 seconds left, passed the Irish in the BCS standings, dropping the Irish to No.

Ehrlich, even though you were charged with a gun count, you didn' t have a gun at the Palace Station " Galanter said " I didn' t know about a gun " said Ehrlich, who had testified earlier that he saw a gun in the room Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press . My body and my shoulder are pretty much ready " Hamels said " It' s just trying to get that mild discomfort out . The person spoke anonymously because a deal has not been announced . Ramirez returned to the Dodgers when he agreed to a$ 45 million, two- year contract on March 3 He began working out with the team the following day . moved from left field to play right and Juan Rivera entered the game in left. For the short term, Peavy likely will be shut down until the swelling subsides. Pacers forward Jermaine O' Neal had a rough night, scoring two points on 1- of- 9 shooting before leaving in the third quarter with a sore back Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.