On the surmises trail Keeping examines Oglesby close to home despite the national attention he was receiving was huge for Wisconsin and deserves mentioning. But Yao scored 12 points during the Rockets' fourth- quarter rally, including two free throws to tie it at 93 with 1: 23 left. But McLaren also felt handcuffed, typically having two relievers ready for the ninth inning if needed " I think the bullpen held up real well. People can say we could have done this or that; it turns out this was the only practical option " Minute Maid Park in Houston had only minimal damage, but McLane said it would have been " inappropriate " to play there last weekend " Downtown was just devastated, and they closed off downtown after the hurricane hit Our ballpark came through with no problems whatsoever. Smith tried to pick up the slack with 25 points, but he didn' t score after the third quarter " It was a tough situation " Hornets coach Byron Scott said " We didn' t have any guys, we have so many injuries, and when you are playing the hottest team in the league the odds are stacked against you " The Nuggets tried to steamroll New Orleans from the start Anthony scored six points during an opening 11- 4 run. Luther Head ended Houston' s drought with a 3- pointer and Houston took a 41- 36 halftime lead. Both preseason division favorites, Western Michigan and Ohio, have struggled so far, and Ball State already has dropped two conference home games.

The surgery was performed at Stanford University Medical Center . On Wednesday, the team ended weeks of silence to confirm Brown as their choice . The Cubs also activated left- handed pitcher Jason Waddell from the 15- day disabled list and optioned him to Triple- A Iowa . Trailing 68- 63 midway through the third quarter, the Kings outscored Los Angeles 22- 12 in the final six minutes of the period to lead 85- 80 heading into the fourth . The Yankees said it hadn' t yet been determined whether Rodriguez would officially be placed on the disabled list Tuesday or Wednesday. The fourth- year forward missed 15 games earlier this season with a similar injury, but had three double- doubles since returning Feb 22. Former Gonzaga star Dan Dickau had missed Wednesday game at Denver with a strained left shoulder, but returned to score 8 points for the Hornets " Seattle is a much better team than they have been playing the last couple of weeks " Dickau said " They came out and hit jumper after jumper and it was too hard to get back in the game " Lee Nailon led New Orleans with 15 points and Bostjan Nachbar added 11.

Thomas spent most of the night sitting stoically on the Knicks bench, took only two questions in his postgame news conference and shook hands with friends . The 31- year- old Backstrom came to Minnesota without much notice from around the league, joining the Wild in 2006 as a candidate to back up Manny Fernandez after spending his entire career before that in his native Finland . Updated: December 2, 2004, 2: 40 AM ET Felony charge deferred based on behavior Email Print Share Associated Press DENVER- Nuggets forward Rodney White pleaded guilty to two weapons charges and agreed to 100 hours of community service to get a third charge dropped White pleaded guilty Tuesday in Washington, D . The report said its information dealt only with receipt of the drugs, not use . So former Louisville assistant Kevin Willard inherits a Gael group that will get all its injured and ineligible players back, most notably junior guard Kyle Camper and St John' s transfer Dexter Gray. North Carolina State- bound Glennon' s keeper from the two gave the Red Team a 7- 0 lead on the first play of the second quarter. Updated: April 9, 2009, 12: 09 AM ET Payrolls drop 1.

We feel like we can slow it down, take a step back, get our composure, come out, get some stops, put the ball in the buckets and come out on top " Antawn Jamison added 27 points and 10 rebounds and Gilbert Arenas had 25 points for the Wizards, but the true hero of the night was probably Jared Jeffries . David Price, selected first overall in the 2007 amateur draft, is scheduled to start for the Rays' extended team Saturday . We are going to be conservative " New York leads the second- place Phillies by two games with 19 to play . Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm, team broadcaster and former pitcher Steve Blass and professional golfer Peter Jacobsen took part in a " closest to the pin " contest on the field while players from both teams watched from the dugouts . Game notesBecause the Magic had the maximum three players on the injured list, the team received an injury exception from the league to allow guard Mark Jones to join Orlando' s roster He had one point and three rebounds. Atkins' 3- pointer with 4: 46 left in regulation put the Wizards ahead 77- 76, their first lead since late in the first quarter. School spokesman Zak Gilbert said Sunday it' s possible Sperry will apply for a medical redshirt so that he can return to the Rams next season.

Updated: July 2, 2008, 5: 43 PM ET Lack of sponsorship forces Ganassi to shut down Franchitti' s team Comment Email Print Share ESPN news services CHARLOTTE, N . These days, Martin wants to revel in the moment- and not look too far ahead " We don' t need to say we' re going to win a whole bunch of races " Martin said " Don' t take those kind of answers from me as pessimistic, or a lack of confidence . This time, it was Keselowski who pulled off the victory with a gutsy move down the stretch . However, with the help of the White Sox training staff, the pitcher was able to continue to compete until Tuesday' s injury " I am most likely done for the year " Jenks said " Today, during the stretch and warmups, I went a little overboard and did a little too much . You' ve just got to try to weather this storm, and it' s a big one " Szczerbiak, who was injured at the end of Friday' s 106- 102 loss at Toronto, was hoping to return by Friday, but Rivers said the chances of that are slim " There' s still swelling " Rivers said " I' m hopeful[ Szczerbiak will return Friday. Ramirez Ramirez was out of the starting lineup with a tight left hamstring for the second straight game against Atlanta on Thursday, a day after teammate Dan Uggla openly argued with the All- Star shortstop over a perceived lack of commitment. Joseph Addai scored two short- yardage TDs and had 109 yards on 16 carries.

Updated: September 6, 2005, 5: 48 PM ET Indiana tries to help Nicholls St travel from La . Morneau said he' ll be on the bench to cheer on his teammates during the final stretch " We just have to continue playing " Gardenhire said " It' s not easy It' s tough But we can' t do anything about it . 18 AP " I have this comment: My entire focus and energy is helping my team win a Big Ten championship and get ready for the NCAA Tournament " he said during an Iowa teleconference Friday " This is my only concern . Gordon scored 12 points in the half for the Bulls and Hinrich added 10 . The Jazz helped by going 3- for- 15 on 3- pointers and making just 23- of- 35 free throws. Young immediately fell on his backside and put his right hand up to his face Blood was running down his face. 275 with 11 homers and 57 RBIs, came out of the Dodgers' 9- 3 loss at Arizona on Aug.

Richardson said the team will play in a tournament in Costa Rica in June, then an Olympic qualifier in Las Vegas starting in August Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press . Orlando also outscored New Orleans 26- 8 at the foul line " You look at the stats( the rebounds and free throws- that' s the difference in the game right there " Hornets coach Byron Scott said " We did a lot of good things tonight . Updated: May 24, 2007, 1: 32 AM ET Possible Durant pick has boosted Sonics tix sales Comment Email Print Share Associated Press SEATTLE- Kevin Durant isn' t even a SuperSonic yet Heck, he' s not even 19 Yet the dynamic Texas Longhorns forward and likely No . They prayed for their injured teammate before and after the game, he said . Due to early foul trouble on Philadelphia' s front line, Brian Skinner saw action for the first time in five games He had seven points and five rebounds in 12 minutes Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Also indicted with Falzarano were Robert Jacobs, the controller who managed the day- to- day affairs of the operation; Joseph Fowles; Michael Moore; Sal Portannese; Peter Caliendo; Jeff Palsen; and Scott Slone. He' s got a great spirit about it " senior forward Ryan Rourke told the newspaper after seeing Gant Wednesday " He' s planning on coming back full strength.

David Black of Aegis Laboratory that runs NASCAR' s test program said that is not possible . They looked at box scores " Union chief Billy Hunter hasn' t read the study, but said he wasn' t surprised by its results . Jordan, perhaps wisely, declined to pick a preferred job " One of 30 jobs in the NBA is my preference " he said, laughing " I have a great relationship with both presidents It' s a great situation It' s win- win " Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press . But in today' s wacky offensive- crazed era, in which pinball numbers are being produced on a weekly basis, nothing is certain . Nash of Phoenix finished with 63 first- place votes and 2, 370 points. Updated: March 3, 2008, 8: 47 PM ET Arenas to test left knee, practice with Wizards Tuesday Comment Email Print Share Associated Press WASHINGTON- Gilbert Arenas will return to practice Tuesday for the Washington Wizards, the latest step in his long recovery from knee surgery. Johnson had some fun against his former Arizona teammates Tuesday.

An MRI taken Monday showed a mild sprain that will keep him out seven to 10 days, likely keeping him out of four or five games . BOSTON( AP- Amare Stoudemire wanted to be more aggressive, and that was bad news for the Boston Celtics . During his 22 seasons with the Cavaliers, Gund' s teams were beaten by some big shots, most notably Michael Jordan' s buzzer- beater in the 1989 Eastern Conference finals for the Chicago Bulls " We were able to take them down to the wire " James said " That was a great effort for us " Game notesGrammy Award- winning R& B artist Usher is among the minority investors in Gilbert' s ownership group " Maybe he' ll show me some moves " joked Silas " He' s a good dancer . Hall disliked starting in center field two years ago and welcomed the switch back to the infield last season . After playing two minutes against the Wildcats, two days later he returned to play 18 minutes in a win over Arizona State. Updated: November 25, 2006, 8: 33 PM ET Peterson' s status up in air for Big 12 title game Email Print Share Associated Press STILLWATER, Okla- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops retracted his initial statement that injured tailback Adrian Peterson was " doubtful " for next week' s Big 12 championship game, saying that the 2004 Heisman runner- up would be re- evaluated. The community was shut down on Saturdays to watch Mario play.

The president picked top seeds North Carolina and Connecticut to reach the round of 16 . Drafted eighth overall by the Clippers in 2002, Wilcox has always been a favorite among the Staples Center faithful . So Utah and Boise State have to keep an eye on each other, too . If you' re pitching with pain, it' s hard to be able to stay at a level as high as you want to " If it' s five or six more days or 10 more days, perfect " he said " We just want to get it to 100 percent " Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press . 25 million buyout " He gives us everything we' re looking for " Atlanta general manager Frank Wren said " He gives us an extra outfield bat He gives us speed He gives us defense. Prince coming back to the state of Tennessee " coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement# 133; Our style of play should enable him to reach his full potential " Prince can begin practicing with the team immediately Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. LOS ANGELES( AP- After wishing to move to another team before the trade deadline, Chris Wilcox is making the most of his time with the Clippers.

Smoltz Smoltz, who turns 42 in May, threw to a crouching catcher for just the second time since having surgery to repair a torn Labrum on June 10 . Motivated by the near- deal, Iverson went on to win the MVP the next season and led the Sixers to the NBA Finals before losing to the Lakers . 20 Hawaii, featuring the Colt Brennan Show, departed Wednesday for its first and longest road trip of the season- a 12- day journey during which it will face Louisiana Tech on Saturday, followed by UNLV a week later . Carl Edwards has a disastrously slow stop because of problems with the front tire changer Edwards falls all the way back to 11th Jeff Gordon restarts first with 26 laps to go Tony Stewart is second, and Jimmie Johnson is third Johnson moves past Stewart for second with 24 to go 5: 23 p m . A 28- year- old Jerry Colangelo became GM of the expansion Phoenix Suns in 1968 " I wanted a candidate on the way up " Bennett said " who perhaps in their youth perhaps would not hesitate on certain decision- making processes or ideas or concepts that an older candidate might, because he' s tried that or thought he' s tried that or seen that " In San Antonio, where the Spurs were preparing to host Cleveland in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, coach Gregg Popovich wasn' t surprised by Presti' s departure " He has been a key component of the success of the Spurs organization and, although we hate to lose him, we knew it was a matter of time before a team came calling " Popovich said Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. I don' t know if that is what he' s doing " Walsh said of new Timberwolves general manager David Kahn, who worked under Walsh for several years with the Indiana Pacers as Walsh' s assistant GM. The United States has hardly been challenged in three previous appearances, with only one game being decided by single digits, and isn' t expected to have any trouble earning one of the tournament' s two spots for the 2008 Olympics.

Pike joined the Rangers organization as a 19- year- old junior player in 1937 and made his NHL debut two years later in Detroit against the Red Wings . 22, they are 21- 7 and have surged 2# 189; games ahead of Cleveland in the Central Division " It' s like a heavyweight fight . Kidd began the run with a three- point play, hitting a 20- foot jumper as he was fouled after pump- faking Bulls rookie Chris Duhon into the air . The right- hander allowed four runs and nine hits with one walk and one strikeout He threw 70 pitches . Of the GM cutbacks, he said " Obviously, everything they' re doing, every program, is being affected, and we' re no different. The Lakers were 37- 9 with Bynum in the lineup this season, 25- 7 without him Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Los Angeles forward Brian Cook missed a potential winning 3- pointer with 2.

Church is eligible to return from the 15- day disabled list for the series against the Phillies, but Manuel said that' s unlikely " He' s feeling real good " Manuel said " He wants to do things, but they' re being very cautious about it, and rightfully so " Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press . Hopefully if he does leave, it' s on his terms and nobody else' s " Word of Lubick' s coaching career likely coming to an end inspired politicians to chime in on his contributions " Sonny Lubick has for the past 15 years been the face, heart and soul of Colorado State football " said Gov . The Mariners acquired him( and two other pitchers) in the spring of 1989 when Seattle traded the face of its franchise, Mark Langston, to Montreal because the Mariners feared Langston was going to leave via free agency the following year . Kowalczyk, who' s been on the job for four months, said he felt bad for Lubick " I know that as a head coach he feels somewhat responsible because he' s recruited them and talked about trying to get them a good experience here and make them better young men " Kowalczyk said " And that' s what hurts the most, I think . Updated: May 23, 2009, 6: 44 PM ET Ankiel to stay on DL through Sunday Comment Email Print Share Associated Press ST LOUIS- It' ll be at least a few more days before the St Louis Cardinals activate outfielder Rick Ankiel. The Wizards' traveling media contingent did not make the game because of poor weather in the Washington, D C area Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. It stinks all in itself " May, the 13th pick in the 2005 draft, played in only 58 games in his first three seasons because of his troublesome right knee.