Sports - Page 24

Kentucky would have preferred to wait another day to start the Southeastern Conference tournament. Fortunately for the Wildcats, they were at a place that feels just like home. Ramel Bradley and Randolph Morris scored 17 points apiece to lead five players in double figures and Kentucky romped to another victory in Atlanta, overcoming a slow start to beat Alabama 79-67 in the opening round of the... More Info...  

The Atlanta Falcons reached an agreement with veteran free agent receiver Joe Horn, who is expected to play a lead role in new coach Bobby Petrino's efforts to balance the offense. Team spokesman Reggie Roberts said a news conference was scheduled Thursday to introduce Horn, the former four-time Pro Bowl player with New Orleans. More Info...  

Latest news and information from the world of sports. The World Baseball Classic was the perfect way to make spring training meaningful. Could it do the same for the All-Star break? More Info...  

Latest news and information from the world of sports. What was once a huge early lead had been whittled to a mere three points, most of the Chicago Bulls' reserves were on their feet and the Miami Heat appeared to be in serious trouble. That is, until the Heat put together perhaps their most emphatic 14 minutes of the season. Shaquille O'Neal had 24 points, nine rebounds and a season-high eight assists, Eddie Jones added 23 points and Miami outscored... More Info...  

Colorado Avalanche forward Paul Stastny extended his point streak to 17 games Wednesday night, tying the NHL rookie record with a first-period assist against Buffalo. Sneaking up the left wing, Stastny made a nifty move to elude two Sabres defenders. He went around the net to set up Milan Hejduk's one-timer from the right circle 10 minutes into the game. More Info...  

LSU women's basketball coach Pokey Chatman, who twice took the Lady Tigers to the Final Four after taking over as head coach in 2004, unexpectedly announced her resignation Wednesday. "I have notified the university today that I will step down as head coach of the women's basketball program in order to allow me to pursue other career opportunities," Chatman said in a prepared statement that did... More Info...  

Detroit Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter was suspended 10 games without pay by the NBA on Wednesday after testing positive for phentermine, a banned substance primarily used for weight loss. "I'm as shocked as anyone," Hunter said after arriving at the Palace on Wednesday. "It was a diet pill -- we've all taken stuff and nothing ever happens." Hunter said the pill was prescribed for his wife Ivy. More Info...  

Tiger Woods joined elite company Wednesday as one of only three players to host a PGA Tour event during their careers. But this wasn't about taking his place with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Woods was more interested in the dozen children seated to the side of a packed lounge in the National Press Club, where Woods and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced plans for the AT&T National... More Info...  

Unlike last season, Syracuse didn't need any last-second magic to knock Connecticut out of the Big East tournament. Demetris Nichols scored 28 points, hitting seven 3-pointers, and Eric Devendorf added 19 points to help fifth-seeded Syracuse beat the Huskies 78-65 on Wednesday in the opening round at Madison Square Garden. More Info...  

Former Denver linebacker Tom Graham didn't need to sway his son, Daniel, to sign with the Broncos. The big contract and the opportunity to play back in his hometown were incentive enough. The Broncos reached an agreement with Daniel Graham, the former University of Colorado star, on a five-year, $30-million deal that includes $15 million in guaranteed money. More Info...  

Scottie Reynolds hit free throw after free throw down the stretch, showing the poise of a postseason-tested veteran. The freshman guard stepped up as Villanova's big playmaker, scoring 29 points and making eight free throws in the last 4 minutes to lead the ninth-seeded Wildcats to a 75-67 victory over No. More Info...  

Although Barry Bonds is still dragging from the flu, he was strong enough to get his first hits of spring training in what might be his new spot in the San Francisco Giants' batting order. Bonds went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, the slugger's first game action since his spring debut four days ago. More Info...  

Tyler Hansbrough insists there's no bad blood between him and Duke's Gerald Henderson, who broke the North Carolina star's nose in the closing seconds of the latest Tobacco Road showdown. Hansbrough said Tuesday he hasn't heard from Henderson, who flagrantly fouled him with 14.5 seconds left in No. 8 North Carolina's 86-72 victory Sunday. More Info...  

Pitcher Javier Vazquez and the Chicago White Sox agreed Tuesday to a $34.5 million, three-year contract extension through 2010. Vazquez will get $12.5 million this season, the final year of his current contract, and $11.5 million in each of the following three seasons. The right-hander, who went 11-12 with a 4.84 ERA with the White Sox a year ago, is 100-105 overall in 10 major league seasons. More Info...  

Daisuke Matsuzaka reached to snare a line drive, then grinned and bowed to his shortstop. It turns out the rookie from Japan is a pretty good fielder. He can pitch, too: Matsuzaka threw three scoreless innings for the Boston Red Sox when he faced major league hitters for the first time Tuesday. Dice-K allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three to help Boston beat the Florida Marlins 14-6 in... More Info...  

Joey Porter has agreed to a five-year, $32 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, making the former second-team All-Pro linebacker the first marquee player to join the club during this free agent period. Porter is guaranteed $20 million in the deal, which was agreed to late Monday, according to a person with knowledge of the discussion who requested anonymity because Porter has not yet passed... More Info...  

If the slumping Duquesne Dukes need a motivational lift going into the Atlantic 10 tournament, perhaps Sam Ashaolu will provide it. Ashaolu's basketball future, and his life, were very much in doubt only a few months ago, but he is expected to rejoin the Dukes on the court in a few weeks. Ashaolu, who nearly died Sept. More Info...  

Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest was arrested Monday and excused indefinitely from the team after a woman said he shoved her to the floor inside his home and prevented her from calling 911. Placer County sheriff's authorities said the woman reported she and Artest were arguing inside the home Monday morning when he pushed her. More Info...  

Latest news and information from the world of sports. Gary Roberts and Bryan Smolinski have hit the ground running since being dealt before last Tuesday's NHL trade deadline. More Info...  

The Chicago Bears reached a preliminary agreement to trade running back Thomas Jones to the New York Jets on Monday for a second-round draft pick. A person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press the Jets will give up a second-round draft pick, 37th overall, for Jones, who rushed for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns in helping the Bears make the Super Bowl. More Info...