After Beckett assesses threw a defines 50- pitch side session Tuesday in New York, Francona said his pitcher felt strong and was on target to start Friday. 10 selection much higher than their first choice has been in several years " Plus, we had more time to do it this year' he said with a thin smile, referring to the fact that the Lakers failed to make the playoffs for just the second time since 1976 Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. Bedard Arthroscopic surgery on Bedard' s pitching shoulder Friday also cleaned up other fraying in the joint Dr. However, he knows a lot of teams will circle Delaware State on their schedules this season.

Utah coach Jerry Sloan was embarrassed " They could have beaten us by 100 points " Sloan said " That was one of the worst outings in the league that I' ve seen We just gave them layups We played selfishly at both ends . I' m really enjoying this " But we pressed on, just to make sure . He also displayed improving post skills, even connecting on a left- handed jump hook on the low block . First- round draft choice Chris Paul had six points and seven assists Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 17 points DeMarr Johnson had 15 for the Nuggets who shot 40 percent .

The team could potentially hit the market with more than$ 25 million . Davidson, which finished 20- 0 in Southern Conference play, faces Elon on Monday night for an NCAA automatic bid . If you have arthritic changes, that can cause some long- term problems, so they were very excited about that " Every issue[ Andrews] described to me, whether it was the labrum, AC joint, the biceps, he feels like he' s addressed them all and fixed them . The All- Star forward had 20 points and nine rebounds against Portland his first game back, but he has been increasingly less effective in his subsequent two outings .

It also hosts a minor league hockey franchise and an arena football team . But the new collective attitude gives them confidence they will react better to the Longhorns than before " There' s a lot of hoopla around this game " Naziruddin said " We just need to stay focused in what we' re doing We' re not big- headed because of what happened last year . 4 Villanova on Wednesday and close the season at home Sunday against Rutgers St . The first day was very good and the next day when I woke up, it was normal " While Izturis was out, backup Robert Andino played the position very well and enjoyed moderate success as the plate . He did not dress March 14 against New Orleans because of a left quad contusion. That put them ahead 79- 78 and Ridnour added two free throws with 3. Updated: April 13, 2008, 4: 41 PM ET Lakers draft conversation Comment Email Print Share What needs should the Los Angeles Lakers address in this year' s draft? We want to know what you think about the Lakers' draft.

But I haven' t failed any tests, so I figured I' m good " The Players Association and the commissioner' s office have a certification program for supplements and have advised players to stick to the list, lest they risk suspension and potentially millions of dollars . 264 with 14 homers and 62 RBIs in 108 games for the Blue Jays . A' s Comment Email Print Share Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas- The Texas Rangers activated Kevin Millwood from the 15- day disabled list Thursday, and the right- hander was scheduled to start Friday night against Oakland in the opener of a 10- game homestand Millwood( 2- 3, 4 88 ERA, the Rangers' No 1 starter, has been out since May 11 . We' ll see " Closer Chad Cordero, who has been sidelined with shoulder tendinitis, is scheduled to throw a side session on Saturday and could be ready by Sunday Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press . Updated: March 10, 2009, 5: 58 PM ET Foye injured against Wizards Comment Email Print Share Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS- The Minnesota Timberwolves are adding injury to insult. Madoff' s tickets for the April 13 opener against San Diego sold for$ 7, 500 to a man who identified himself as 47- year- old Kurt. Johnson, who leads the nation in touchdowns with 21, was injured sometime during the Broncos' 23- 20 win on Saturday at San Jose State and was taken to O' Conner Hospital in San Jose, Calif, immediately afterward because he wasn' t feeling well and had back pain.

Jackson said it was a game the Pacers should have won " It' s hard whenever you lose when you know you could have done more " he said " We had it won and let it get away " Indiana coach Rick Carlisle is concerned about the way the Pacers closed the game . If it' s not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have to- Hank Steinbrenner, to New York Post Cashman wouldn' t respond directly to The Times when asked to interpret Steinbrenner' s " force " comment . halt! Soon after LaRoche became the first player to have a home run taken away following a video replay review, Gload lost one the same way Wednesday night when umpires reversed their call LaRoche wound up with a double for Pittsburgh at PNC Park . Many of the stamps will be sold in the United States as a collectible- one dealer was selling single- player stamps for 95 cents- while others can be used in the specific country represented .

Only a sophomore, Williams has made quick work of the labels we like to bestow on players . The Pistons led the league in point differential, averaging 99 8 points while allowing only 88 . Paul turned the ankle while landing his foot onto the left foot of Seattle center Johan Petro in the open floor on a Hornets fast break with 1: 18 left in the first quarter . And while Aldrich' s recent emergence has helped, as Townsend puts it " As[ Collins] goes, that' s how the team is going to go " Last year, I could take 10 minutes and play terrible, and we' d still win by 30 " Collins said " This year, you' ve got to play through it I' ve been doing a good job of staying consistent The young fellas, they just keep helping me out . Updated: June 19, 2009, 8: 59 PM ET Yankees' Girardi returns to Miami Comment Email Print Share Associated Press MIAMI- Yankees manager Joe Girardi was walking in the tunnel at the Florida Marlins' stadium on Friday when he bumped into a surprising face. mess up the rhythm " Fifth- ranked Florida has succeeded with its quarterback combo of Chris Leak and Tim Tebow, Beamer noted When the Gators beat No. Has it progressively got worse over the course of the year? I don' t necessarily think so " Girardi said " I think he just feels more comfortable having it done and then not have to deal with it next year " Rivera returned to New York last Thursday for an MRI on the shoulder, then rejoined the Yankees in Boston for the last series of their lost season.

Updated: August 13, 2007, 9: 50 PM ET Knight continues journey around league, signs with Clippers Comment Email Print Share Associated Press Knight LOS ANGELES- The Clippers signed Brevin Knight on Monday, a month after the veteran free agent guard was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats Terms of the deal were not disclosed Knight averaged 9 1 points, 6 6 assists and 2 . 0 points in 11 seasons with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Clippers . Often facing players six inches taller, Barkley led the SEC in rebounding three years straight and set the Auburn career record for career field goal shooting at 62 . Hairston gives the Yankees a versatile player who has appeared at six positions this season Hairston is batting .

83 ERA and two complete games in 26 starts this season with Triple- A Colorado Springs . At least at the college level " If you win, you win a lot of people over " he said " That' s just the nature of the game " In his 19th season, he' s won 151 games, tied with UTEP' s Mike Price for 10th among active coaches, and there' s a general feeling in the Pac- 10 that if anyone can awaken the sleeping giant that is Arizona State, it' s Erickson . 30 " Last night was the best night I' ve had as a pro " Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press . He tore his anterior cruciate ligament as a sophomore, but passed on surgery because he didn' t want to miss spring practice " Every kid' s different, every body' s different, every surgery' s different . Detroit used a 9- 0 outburst early in the fourth quarter to close within 82- 77.

Updated: June 19, 2009, 5: 36 PM ET Jackson credits jewelry for 10th title Comment Email Print Share Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson joined Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman to discuss a variety of subjects, including his coaching future and the Kobe vs Jordan debate . Updated: June 1, 2008, 2: 01 AM ET Smoltz likely to start second stint in Braves' bullpen on Monday Comment Email Print Share ESPN news services If the Atlanta Braves make a call to the bullpen on Monday, it' s possible John Smoltz could answer . Paterno has dropped hints, though, that this season won' t be his last . Updated: July 3, 2008, 12: 38 AM ET Arizona Diamondbacks All- Star conversation Comment Email Print Share ESPN Who has been the Arizona Diamondbacks' best player the first half of the 2008 season? Who is most worthy of an All- Star roster spot? . Matt and Jennifer Davis wore Smoltz jerseys with his familiar 29 from his Atlanta days " When he got hurt, we were hoping we' d get the chance to see him this season " Jennifer Davis said.