Criticized by divulges some Mets unravels players for not behaving like a major leaguer, Milledge angered the Nationals by twice being late for meetings " As always, these trades are not easy " Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said " There' s always risks. Updated: May 20, 2008, 10: 17 PM ET Leyland reacts to comments by ex- Tiger hurler Grilli Comment Email Print Share Associated Press DETROIT- Jim Leyland stepped away from the dugout because he didn' t have the energy to stomp on little problems during the 1999 season with the Colorado Rockies. Chavez even referred to the incident on his Sunday radio and television broadcast, saying " Everyone has the right to think about politics " Viva Magglio and all our compatriots " Chavez said after reading a story about the boos in Miami by The Associated Press. Wang has made two rehab starts in Triple- A, and said he wasn' t sure whether he would make another before returning to the majors. The team went winless in the Southeastern Conference for the first time since 1982. Is Bruney going to hit against Frankie, or Frankie' s going to hit? I mean they' re two relievers What are they going to do " he said with a chuckle. C- Charlotte Bobcats forward Sean May will sit out Friday night' s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a sore right knee.

Jones said McGrady went to the hospital on Friday night and tests showed the injury wasn' t as serious as it' s been in the past " All that structural stuff was good " Jones said " This is more of a compression injury and basically a bruise around the spine- not the spinal cord, but the spine itself " McGrady did not attend the Rockets' game against New Orleans on Saturday night . Wearing a tank top, shorts and sneakers from his own Nike clothing line, James appears on the cover dribbling a basketball and screaming as if in game mode while throwing one arm around supermodel Gisele Bundchen with Tom Brady nowhere to be found . Updated: November 28, 2008, 3: 00 PM ET Mississippi State' s McRae breaks leg in second quarter vs . Arroyo tried to go after Nowitzki and had to be restrained by teammates . Kuroda told his manager he really wanted to pitch " I sat and talked to him twice today " Torre said " I didn' t want him to necessarily feel good about it but just understand the decision was basically made as a safety factor. SEATTLE( AP- Even Ray Allen is surprised at what the Seattle SuperSonics are doing. The 16th- ranked Nittany Lions moved into the rankings Sunday for the first time since the final media poll of the 2002 season The Crimson Tide jumped eight places to No 7, its highest ranking since being third in the Sept 3, 2000 poll The top three spots were unchanged Southern California, with 24 straight polls at No.

Wooden' s shadow continues to loom large over the UCLA program 33 years after he retired, having won 10 national championships, including an unmatched seven in a row . Poll Positions The top five teams in The Associated Press poll: Texas Tech was idle, but took advantage of the attrition in the top 10 to move up to No 7 BYU is eighth, USC dropped eight spots to No 9 and South Florida is No 10 In the USA Today coaches' poll, Oklahoma was No 1, but LSU was No 2, followed by Missouri, Alabama and Texas . The tie' s inscription " World' s Greatest Teammate " That' s outstanding " fellow veteran and team crackup Mike Sweeney yelled across the clubhouse as Griffey presented him with his tie Griffey just kept smiling . 4 completion rate, for 618 yards with five interceptions and one touchdown . He began the season as the team' s top setup man but had struggled in recent weeks, especially against left- handed hitters Pena has the franchise record in holds at 63. Now comes another opportunity for the 30- year- old Campillo. He said he expects more than half his Futures Game team to join him in Beijing " The whole atmosphere, I think everybody was kind of nervous, but it was fun " Colorado center fielder Dexter Fowler said " The names, the stadium- just breathtaking " Washington' s Shairon Martis worked the ninth for a save, retiring Fowler on a grounder with two on to end it.

1 inches is more than 3 feet closer than the NBA distance of 23- 9 at its furthest point, it hasn' t proven to be any easier for Americas pros, a primary reason the Americans haven' t won a major title since the 2000 Olympics With Bryant, Anthony and James, the U S team has plenty of scorers . Updated: September 6, 2008, 7: 46 PM ET Longoria feels fine after taking swings, activated from DL Comment Email Print Share Associated Press TORONTO- Evan Longoria was activated off the 15- day disabled list Saturday after the Tampa Bay slugger said he felt " almost 100 percent " following 30 swings with a regular bat Longoria won' t be returning to the lineup right away . I don' t care if they throw the ball in the seats 25 times a game " He doesn' t " They' ll be pulled out of the game before they get to 25, of course, but they will never have a problem with me " Skiles added . The brewery said the relationship was the longest in motorsports history, topping STP' s 28- year relationship with Richard Petty " I' m disappointed to see the Bernsteins without a sponsor " Kahne said . Nelson All of the relievers, of course, are led by closer Troy Percival, who' s been credited with helping turn around the camaraderie in the entire clubhouse. What the Indians manager didn' t discuss Tuesday was his own job. Bennett laughed when asked what it meant to be selected coach of the year after his first season in that position " What do you do from here " he asked " Having grown up with a father who was a coach and spending my life in this game, I know how fleeting things can be.

He passed Alvin Williams on the Raptors' all- time games played list( 418 . Last week Jocketty went to watch Bruce in action and the left- handed slugger went 2- for- 4 with a home run " It just confirmed what everyone had been telling me " Jocketty said " You like to see guys from the organization that are good kids get an opportunity . He missed all of September, returned for one playoff start and then blew out his elbow in spring training 1999 . With a win on Sunday at Kansas City, the Cardinals completed a test during which they played 32 of 51 games on the road and were 27- 24 overall and 18- 14 on the road How is this happening " It starts with our leader, No 10 " Isringhausen said " He doesn' t allow us to let up . Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, went well " They did a cleanup of his shoulder, didn' t have to repair anything, and it sounds like it was good news for us " Hinch said before the Diamondbacks' 6- 5 victory over the New York Mets " We' re anxious to get him on his rehab trail " Hinch said Webb should be able to play catch in three to four months. South Florida has assumed the title by virtue of its meteoric climb " I know you all get bored with this, but it' s the truth: I don' t really think about it a whole lot " Leavitt said " I spend so much time, you know, trying to make sure I stay awake looking at all this film " That is a fairly typical Leavitt response, which is why it was so interesting to hear his answer to another question during Monday' s conference call with reporters. Dunleavy was in New York on an indefinite leave of absence due to a medical emergency involving his seriously ill father, who is facing surgery But he left the team in good hands.

Game notesDoug Christie was in an Orlando uniform for the first time since being acquired in a trade from Sacramento, but didn' t play Hill averaged a career- high 25 8 points along with 6 6 rebounds and 5 2 assists in his last season with the Pistons . MIAMI( AP- Playing for the first time in five weeks, Shaquille O' Neal came through in the clutch- and at the free throw line, of all places . Jamison, who finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds, took the ball at the top of the key, drove past two Indiana defenders and lofted a soft hook shot over O' Neal to give the Wizards their second straight win and offset a huge night from O' Neal . He also played for New Jersey, Orlando, the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State before spending 3# 189; seasons with Denver, where he blossomed as a role player and averaged a career high in points each year . But you have to be able to separate that from the love that you have for the game of basketball and the respect that you have for your team " Bryant and Buss met in Barcelona a few weeks after his trade demand, and he again told Buss he wanted out. Bryant spoke for less than two minutes in the parking lot of the team' s practice facility. McAlarney, who began spring semester classes last week, had continued to practice with the team until Monday.

But Boston scored the last eight points in the third quarter, including Raef LaFrentz' s buzzer- beater from just inside the halfcourt line to make it 75- 70 . 5, 2002, when they were 2- 2 " Oh, is it " James said when told that he had finally reached 500 in his second season in the NBA " It feels good . He made a no- look pass into the paint, but Jamaal Magloire bobbled it and had to rush a shot that was blocked by Stacy Augmon, who was let go by the Hornets in the offseason " I could have shot it, but I saw( Magloire . I think we have better material " Bryant signed a seven- year$ 136 . A victory at Creighton followed, and Kentucky hung tough with Notre Dame until the final moments. A jumper by Marbury, giving him 21 points in the half, put the Knicks ahead 56- 55 at halftime. Bush will rest through next Wednesday, then be examined again.

That Georgie team' s going to come running out of the tunnel screaming and foaming at the mouth and smashing one another upside the head just to get warmed up We won' t do any of that While they waste their energy, we' ll conserve ours . He sat out Houston' s last two preseason games with tendinitis in both knees and then bruised his left knee in another collision with Yao in the practice before the opener " It was my best offseason in terms of my work ethic and getting in the best shape of my career " he said " It' s just very frustrating because you put so much time into it . Ben and Rasheed Wallace outrebounded the entire Boston starting lineup, 23- 20 Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press . It' s all just speculation " Blake, a two- time All- Mountain West Conference pick who went into the season as a top NFL prospect, initially left the team during preseason practice and went home to Aransas Pass, about 370 miles from Fort Worth on the Texas Gulf Coast . Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth said in a statement late Tuesday that she has instructed Fox to make no further comment on the matter until after the NCAA Tournament. The Braves are also counting on the return of reliever Mike Gonzalez, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last year. I feel like I' m human " he said Saturday " I got away from the one thing that keeps me straightened out and going in the right direction " When asked whether he will make a formal apology to his teammates in private, Hamilton said " More than likely.

Dede thinks Blackmon can help change that " He' s a big- time hitter, which is big for momentum in a game " he said " I' m just anxious to see him get out there and just clock somebody " Blackmon never publicly complained about the length of his suspension as it dragged deeper into the season . Houston shot 39 percent and committed 23 turnovers, leading to 30 Orlando points . Updated: June 6, 2008, 1: 32 PM ET Tigers put Santiago, Thomas on DL among flurry of roster moves Comment Email Print Share Associated Press DETROIT- The Detroit Tigers put infielder Ramon Santiago on the 15- day disabled list, reinstated right- hander Denny Bautista from the DL and added minor league infielder Michael Hollimon . Still, Willingham didn' t dismiss the idea of coaching next season " I will not rule out anything " he said . Jazz C Elden Campbell, obtained in last week' s trade with Detroit for G Carlos Arroyo, is expected to report early this week Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. PETERSBURG, Fla- Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell was out of the starting lineup for Wednesday' s game against Tampa Bay because of a sore right hip. He won the Rookie of the Year, and helped the Dodgers win the division in 1996.

6 rebounds per game- and his averages were hurt by a zero- point, zero- rebound, foul- plagued game midway through the summer " I know I can score . And even though jumping ship to win a title sounds great, Garnett said Sunday there are no sure things " There isn' t any guarantee that you' re going to win if you go to a new team " Garnett said " The teams that are supposed to be the best in the West, some of those teams are dealing with some of the things we' re dealing with: chemistry, ball movement, all that stuff . We knew what we were capable of doing, and we knew we had to step up right now " Baylor played like that from the opening tip- off Thursday, hitting 10 of its first 14 shots en route to an early 30- 13 lead . ET trade deadline arrived " Washburn is having a tremendous season and he has been a quality major league starter throughout his career " Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said . I think that' s what' s so unique about him] EnlargeGary Dineen/ NBAE/ Getty ImagesDerrick Rose collected 111 first- place votes, winning the rookie of the year balloting in a runaway. Stewart was unexpectedly released by the Rangers at the end of training camp. Ford called it great news " I can' t wait to get out on the floor and run up and down the court with my teammates " he said.

300 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 50 games for the Mets, who entered Tuesday night with a 30- 32 record As for Alou, he was batting . But after four concussions in four seasons, the 6- foot- 7 small forward said he' s through banging with the taller and heavier plays at the power forward spot " I talked with the coaching staff and I think my career at[ power forward] is done " Wallace said " It takes a toll on your body, mentally and physically . So it' s only fitting if the gang from " Entourage " guides us through the latest edition of the Bottom 10 But while Ari and Co . There have been 49 suspensions this year under the minor league drug program, along with four under the major league program " I don' t know what we have to do to make these kids aware that they have to be clean and stay clean " Astros general manager Ed Wade said " The testing program is here for a purpose . He is one of three coaches to lead teams to NBA and Olympic titles, sharing the honor with Lenny Wilkens and Chuck Daly. The Spurs quickly got back in the game, going on a 14- 2 run to open the second quarter and take the lead. Guillen, who is under contract through 2012, said if Williams and Reinsdorf aren' t satisfied with the job he' s done, they should make a change " If Kenny doesn' t like it, if Jerry doesn' t think I' m doing a good job with the guys out there, they have one thing to do' Ozzie, thank you for your help, for your support We go a different way " Guillen said " And I leave.

Updated: December 21, 2006, 2: 09 PM ET Nowitzki and Lewis go down in Mavs- Sonics game Email Print Share ESPN news services SEATTLE- It wasn' t a good night for star forwards in Wednesday night' s Mavericks- Sonics game . I think I can still coach " Don Shula will coach the East squad, and the 77- year- old Hall of Famer will happily slide back into retirement after the game " That totally consumes you and takes over your life when you' re the head coach " Shula said " I was consumed for 33 years, and I' m enjoying my freedom right now " Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate, Michigan receiver Steve Breaston, Kansas running back Jon Cornish and Texas running back Selvin Young are among those who will play Saturday . Stoudemire responded with a 14- foot jumper over O' Neal, then Richardson' s breakaway stuff after a Miami turnover made it 67- 53 with 1: 21 to go . He is expected to take batting practice with the Indians the next two days and if all goes well, return to Columbus . So, I' ll remain quiet " Smith pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct charges last week. The Tigers were placed on probation in 1998, lost three scholarships, and were restricted on how the remaining scholarships could be given Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. Thomas will become the first female official ever to work a major college football game.

2 starter( after Anthony Ranaudo) who will give the Tigers one of the most formidable pitching duos in Omaha " It was the greatest decision I' ve ever made in my life " Coleman said " I wouldn' t change it for the world . Others were dining at restaurants along the river to get their own comfortable front- row seat " If you' re born in San Antonio, you have to follow the Spurs " said James Waclawczyk, 32, who was wearing the No . Putz " I feel great " the 2007 All- Star said after a perfect seventh inning in Seattle' s 6- 2 loss to the Cleveland Indians, which pushed the not- so- great Mariners 22 games under 500 . LOUIS- Rick Ankiel missed his eighth straight start with an abdominal strain Sunday night, and wasn' t sure when he' d be ready to return to the Cardinals lineup Ankiel Batting . Iverson averaged 31 points on the first seven games of the trip. The video of linebacker Kaleb Thornhill and other Spartans running to midfield carrying the flag and plunging it into the turf after Michigan State beat Notre Dame 44- 41 in overtime a year ago already has been shown repeatedly on TV. David Fuquea, who handled internal disciplinary proceedings for the players and is now the assistant athletic director, declined to comment through a spokesman The players also declined to comment Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.