This is updates a pressure displays defense, and coach Gil Brooks knows pressure will burst the pipe. Iverson went 16- for- 17 from the line and 11- for- 23 from the floor. The House Commerce trade and consumer protection subcommittee is conducting its own steroids inquiry and will hold hearings Wednesday and Thursday. The past seven August Bristol winners had finished in the top nine in that race the previous year( 6 drivers eliminated, 4 remaining) Drivers Eliminated: Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, David Gilliland, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick. That' s not a policy that we don' t take a 7- 5 team, that' s just the way that it' s happened " The Cotton Bowl usually pits a Big 12 team vs a Southeastern Conference team. He entered a pretrial intervention program and spent a year preaching gun safety to kids. Craig Morgan, who operated on the right shoulder in 1995 and 1999.

Defiant to the end, the silver- haired 56- year- old made it clear he was reading from a prepared statement in announcing his departure and then abruptly stood up and left the news conference even as athletic director Bill Byrne began thanking him for " his courage in making this decision] EnlargeRonald Martinez/ Getty ImagesDennis Franchione walks away from Texas A& M with a 32- 28 record over five seasons in College Station " I' ve always said that coaches exist for only one reason: the players " Franchione said " We have an outstanding group of young men on this team and especially great people . Updated: July 4, 2009, 3: 58 PM ET Tiger boosts free admission for kids Comment Email Print Share ESPN news services Noting the new problems the New York Yankees have had filling the high- priced seats at their new ballpark, Tiger Woods is boosting golf' s efforts to attract young fans to go see the game in person at the tournament he' s hosting this weekend " We don' t want to have what happened at Yankee Stadium " Woods said Friday at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md, site of the AT& T National " Tickets are so overpriced that you can' t bring the family . It' s not as much fun as the other times " Foul trouble limited O' Neal to 27 minutes; he had 15 points and five rebounds, but did come up with a crucial three- point play in the final minute to help seal the win . He' s been back on the bench with teammates in recent weeks, but even that provides a reminder of how severe his injury was: Something as simple as clapping his hands is still difficult because of the compromised range of motion in his shoulder " It' s always hard not to get on the court and not to do something that you love doing, especially at this time of the year " Wade said " This is the exciting part of the season, going into the playoffs . Garnett said he chose Winfrey' s foundation because 100 percent of his donation will go toward the victims " The fact that she pays the overhead of her employees and the foundation itself and just goes out and makes dreams come true. Sacramento shot 5- for- 8 to finish the first quarter and then made its first five of the second quarter to take its only lead of the game, 35- 34. 82 ERA, which makes it easy for manager Dave Trembley to make the right- hander the odd man out " Whenever I need another fifth starter, that' s the possibility that Steve Trachsel will pitch " Trembley said Monday " I will keep all of the guys on their regular turn as best I can " In the four- game series against Boston that begins Friday, Trembley has scheduled, in order, Daniel Cabrera, Brian Burres, Garrett Olson and Jeremy Guthrie.

The Tigers optioned Willis to Lakeland of the Florida State League- and home to the Tigers' spring training camp- a day after he matched a career high by giving up eight earned runs on five walks and three hits in 1 1/ 3 innings against Cleveland Willis( 0- 1) has walked 21 batters in 11 1/ 3 innings . He said his next start is tentatively set for Tuesday " I' ll just keep trying to check off each stop and work a little bit harder to regain what I really honestly thought I could regain " he said Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press . Isringhausen was hurt while making a pitch to pinch hitter Corey Patterson in the ninth inning He underwent tests postgame " There' s concern . Crosby Crosby had started Oakland' s first 84 games this season before he was sidelined Thursday . Caridad was signed by the Cubs as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2008 season and split last year between Class A Daytona and Double- A Tennessee He combined to go 13- 7 with a 3. If you go back and look at Ronnie Brown and Carnell, two great football players, and neither one of them had the burst after 5 yards that this kid' s got. The Lakers play their next nine games at Staples Center, including a designated road game against the Clippers Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.

The same could be said for the 16th- ranked Tigers, who find out Saturday just how good, how average or how underappreciated they really are when they travel . We' ve been a little bit off, and when you get a little bit off, everybody wants to kind of kick you . On top of that, the offense has gone into a slump, setting up the Cubs' longest losing streak of the season " The main thing is we' ve got to get our bats going " first baseman Derrek Lee said " We' ve fallen asleep the last week . Updated: March 11, 2009, 5: 29 PM ET Nats find help for bullpen in RHP Wells Comment Email Print Share Associated Press VIERA, Fla- Right- hander Kip Wells has agreed to a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, who are looking for bullpen help . Although Carpenter still had swelling in his hand two days later, he' s expected to play at Oregon( No 5 BCS, No 4 AP) this week ASU( No 4 BCS, No 6 AP) had Monday off. Wilpon declined to comment Thursday when contacted by 1050 ESPN Radio. The Lakers begin training camp the first week of October " Until they get in there and see what needs to be done, there' s no timetable " Bartelstein told the Times Brown, 25, has one year at$ 9 1 million left on his contract.

He' s not qualified to tell any driver out there, if they call him, what prescriptions they can take and can' t take . It was not immediately clear if the duo would sit out those games . He can play multiple positions and is a superbly gifted athlete] EnlargeChris Williams/ Icon SMICalifornia wing Jordan Hamilton is one of the country' s most versatile players Rated No . A series in 2004 and' 05 was postponed at Alabama' s request two years ago . To give you an idea of how much the game has changed, consider that the following players from the past 20 years have finished or should finish with more than 600 home runs: Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr, Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez, with Albert Pujols a good bet at his current production rate, too. Then to ask him to come out here and perform well in the first preseason game is really tough for him " Bargnani was not the only star to run into foul trouble; Garnett also picked up his fourth foul in the third period( note to NBA refs: It' s not a smart move forcing the two most popular players out of a European exhibition game by giving them fourth fouls so early. You' re going to have to win a win in the last second of play and we did that against Miami " said Holtz, who works as a studio analyst for ESPN.

Denver' s Carmelo Anthony and Hornets rookie Chris Paul were among those left out in the West " I wish they would take more people, but they can' t " Johnson said " You have that every year Every year you' ve got guys that' s deserving . Kinsler Kinsler, who has been on the disabled list since Aug . Wallace also worked as director of player personnel for the Miami Heat, including the 1996- 97 season, when the Heat won a team- record 61 games . Even so, the Mets will be especially cautious with Wright after they were criticized for rushing back Ryan Church from multiple concussions last year . Brand is out for the season and had surgery four weeks ago to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder. WR Terrance Toliver( Hempstead, Texas) is going to be special, his athleticism for his height( 6- foot- 4) in everything he does, including playing safety, is impressive As a result, he moved into the top 10 at No 7 from his previous spot of No 13. Team trainer Mark O' Neal accompanied DeRosa to the hospital " We' ll find out what the medical staff or doctor at the hospital tells us to do " Piniella said " I don' t expect this to be serious and don' t expect it to be too long " 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.

If he hadn' t played, Portland wouldn' t have had enough players in uniform to meet the NBA' s minimum requirement " I just decided I was going to finish the season " Patterson said " I was a little frustrated( Thursday) night with a lot of things We get paid a lot of money, man . It' s going to be fun to watch and I can' t wait to implement it " I want this place to be electric . It was tied at 69, and the coach figured the worst his sophomore would do was make at least one shot . On Saturday morning, all of Indiana' s players were at the airport preparing to board a flight to Chicago to face Northwestern on Saturday night at 8 p m . Pollard likened the media frenzy surrounding McCarney' s job status over the last two weeks to a " circus " and McCarney said Monday it had become a huge distraction for his players " We' ve had somewhat of a divided Iowa State community, and at the bottom of that is that we' ve really struggled I' m sorry for that. It' s been fun to watch them and it' s been frustrating not to be able to play " Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. Police accused Taylor of obtaining a credit card number and using it for several purchases without the owner' s consent.

Phoenix( 7- 1, which opens the regular season at home against Atlanta on Wednesday, was 30- of- 43 from the floor in the first half and scored over 100 points for the seventh time in the preseason . After two free throws by Eric Snow, a steal and layup by James and a basket by Ilgauskas cut the Bulls' lead to 81- 80, Jones went to work . They' re 2- 1 with him " Words can' t express how good it is to see him back out there " teammate Alonzo Mourning said " I know how frustrating it was for him to be out " Game notesThe Heat improved to 7- 0 at home when leading after one quarter O' Neal came off the bench for the first time since Nov 22, 2002, for the Los Angeles Lakers against Chicago . The Jordans, who have lived separately since February, will share custody of their children, according to court documents " The co- petitioners acknowledge that although their marriage is ending, they desire to resolve all of the issues surrounding the dissolution of marriage in the most amicable, expeditious and private fashion possible, for the benefit of themselves and their children " the documents read . He had mostly ignored the media since Lakers owner Jerry Buss stated last week that he " would certainly listen " to trade offers for the two- time defending NBA scoring champion. The Kings' 107- 100 triumph avenged Thursday' s loss in Phoenix, which was the third game Artest has missed since being arrested at his Sacramento- area home March 5 after a domestic dispute with his wife. In June 2005, Tepper stood up to a group of convicted felons taunting a female friend from a car- and they ran him over twice.

September " by winning all four of that month' s Cup races . I just hope we' re able to get a couple wins the next few weeks And I hope we meet them in a playoff series someday . 011 seconds, giving Vickers his choice of pit boxes for Saturday' s NASCAR Sprint All- Star Race at Lowe' s Motor Speedway . 19 ERA in 26 appearances, all but two of them out of the bullpen Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press . This year' s bowl game follows a 9- 3 season " We' re going to go quick, but we' re not going to hurry " in finding a new coach, DeFilippo said " We want someone that' s a teacher- not a schemer- and the student- athletes come first, someone that understand how important the graduation rate is at Boston College " DeFilippo said his search will be " nationwide " but did not specify any candidates. As he' s fought to protect his Hall of Fame- worthy legacy- a fight that has made him the subject of a federal perjury investigation for statements given under oath before Congress- Clemens has also left a wake of ill will and unwanted scrutiny in his hometown and a handful of other stops along his 24- year big- league tour And the alleged old flames are just part of it. Updated: December 20, 2006, 10: 18 PM ET Georgia Tech' s Ball, Scott ruled out of Gator Bowl Email Print Share Associated Press ATLANTA- Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball has been ruled academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl.

ET, they will be staring at some cold realities going into their season finale Nov 25 against No 10 Louisville . Updated: April 23, 2009, 1: 07 AM ET Sweeney latest Mariners 1B to get hurt Comment Email Print Share ESPN news services SEATTLE- Mike Sweeney left Wednesday night' s game against Tampa Bay after trying to stop his swing at an inside pitch from Jeff Niemann in the second inning . Suddenly, the Boise State logo fills the screen, followed by the words " Do You Believe " Then it cuts to a scene from " The Empire Strikes Back " Luke Skywalker and Yoda are sitting in a swamp beside their crash- landed spaceship, trying to figure out how to extricate it from the mire " It' s too big " Luke says, after trying to budge his ship out of the mud " Size matters not " Yoda replies " Look at me . And we made a very good case " Tranghese is particularly irked at the charge that he used some sleight of hand to get Louisville counted as a Big East team last season even though it played in Conference USA . The Tigers finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, their best since winning the regular- season title in 1990 " Oliver Purnell has built this program the right way and we are now well respected in the ACC and nationally " Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said " We have made a strong commitment to build upon what he has established in the last five years " Purnell will get a raise to move him into the top- third in pay among ACC coaches, Phillips said. Lee was named the SWAC Newcomer of the Week# 8226; Al Lavan, Delaware State head coach, should be a strong candidate for MEAC Coach of the Year. Hamilton wrote a letter to the student newspaper, The Daily Beacon, and sent an e- mail to fans on about the issue The No 8 Volunteers host No 13 LSU on Saturday Tennessee beat Alabama 16- 13 on Oct 21, and the Vols were away at South Carolina last week.

The crowd of 19, 663 gave the Mavericks their 75th straight sellout Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press . If the elbow is still sore, he will then have the surgery, which comes with a scheduled recovery time of four to six weeks " Closer to six " Soloff said The Indians are used to playing without their regulars . Bielema said he' s not sure when Hill will practice this week . Lockhart said his prosecutors " always respect the collective judgment of 12 jurors " in choosing a sentence . New York guard Dick Barnett lifted his sullen mates " This game isn' t over " he reminded them before overtime " It' s just starting " With four seconds left Barnett' s jumper clinched the Knicks' 111- 108 win. Warriors coach Don Nelson said Thursday he will fine Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson for being ejected from Golden State' s 112- 99 loss in Game 2 of the club' s first- round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. In three games this preseason, Jackson is averaging 25 points and has come up with big shots down the stretch It was no different Tuesday night.

11, 2006: Iverson' s locker is cleaned out and his nameplate removed . Denver went from 17- 65 two years ago to 43- 39 and a playoff berth last season " The next jump, I think, is going to be more difficult " Bzdelik said . The only team this might benefit is Wood Brothers, which is not guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500 next Sunday Bill Elliott led both practice runs in the famed No . And he would walk out of the arena invigorated, with an extra hop in that famous limp of his . Reached for comment Saturday, GEM spokesman Drew Brown chose not to comment. The Knicks( 23- 33) are 5- 4 in their last nine games " It' s a great feeling " Penny Hardaway said " That slump we went through was awful " Game notesThe Knicks and Pacers will meet twice more this season, at Madison Square Garden on April 5 and in Indianapolis on April 10. With a runner on first, one out and the Padres leading 2- 1, Salazar caught Willie Harris' fly ball on the warning track, then slammed into the pitcher' s scoreboard.

The surgery Friday removed bone fragments and repaired ligaments . The Clippers( 6- 2) face the Los Angeles Lakers( 4- 4) on Friday night Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press . Britton Johnsen then missed a jumper with 2 seconds left, but Pickett got the offensive rebound and was fouled on his putback attempt . I' m closer to getting on a mound and that' s where I want to get I don' t know when the real telltale happens . Kidd clutched his left knee midway through the third quarter after planting his foot on defense and then quickly changing directions, but remained in the game The Nets are locked into the No. The latest groin injury is not considered severe, but it was a bitter disappointment for Hampton " I wish I had a magic cure, a magic pill that I could swallow " Hampton said of his desire to remain healthy " I wouldn' t sell my soul to the devil, but I' d get pretty close " Hampton is 53- 48 with a 4. Not only did Taylor ask McHale to take over as coach of a young, confidence- strapped team, but he also relieved McHale of the vice president of basketball operations title he has held since 1995 " There are a few people in this league who have taken on roles where they' ve been coaches and general managers, but I think that' s a very difficult thing " Taylor said " I just want it to be very clear when I said to Kevin that I am offering him the coaching job, that this is a full- time coaching job He is to concentrate on it 100 percent.