Sports - Page 14

Five-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ian Thorpe showed "abnormal levels" of two banned substances in a doping test last year, the French sports daily L'Equipe reported on its Web site Friday. Anti-doping officials in Australia threw out the case for lack of scientific proof, but the sport's governing body FINA wants the investigation reopened, the paper said. More Info...  

Carl Pavano will have a chance at redemption right away. The much maligned pitcher will be the New York Yankees' opening-day starter on Monday against visiting Tampa Bay -- his first time on the mound in the major leagues since June 27, 2005. Pavano will be followed in the rotation by Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Kei Igawa. More Info...  

Shortstop Carlos Guillen and the Detroit Tigers agreed Friday to a $48 million, four-year contract extension through the 2011 season. Guillen is making $5 million this season, the last of a $14 million, three-year deal. He gets $12 million in 2008, $10 million in 2009 and $13 million in each of the final two seasons. More Info...  

They say teams learn lessons from their losses. If so, UCLA should be more than ready for its rematch with Florida in the Final Four. For 40 excruciating minutes in last year's final, the Bruins forced bad shots, played tentative defense, got outhustled and outcoached. "Just about everything we could have done better," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. More Info...  

Former Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer says he spoke with Billy Donovan and suspects the Florida coach is "open" to considering the Wildcats job after the Final Four. Farmer said he called his former assistant coach, and the conversation was mostly about the Final Four, where defending champion Florida plays UCLA on Saturday. More Info...  

A couple of rookies swept the national college basketball awards. Freshman Kevin Durant of Texas and first-year coach Tony Bennett of Washington State were named player and coach of the year Friday by The Associated Press. Durant, the smooth 6-foot-9 swingman who finished fourth in the country in scoring (25.8) and rebounding (11.1), is the first freshman to win the award since it was created in... More Info...  

Purdue wide receiver Selwyn Lymon was stabbed in the chest, saying he was attacked at a nightclub near the campus. The 20-year-old player was listed in fair condition Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lafayette after being in critical condition earlier in the day, Purdue spokesman Tom Schott said. More Info...  

Los Angeles Angels reliever Scot Shields agreed Thursday to a $14.6 million, three-year contract extension through 2010. Shields, the Angels' setup man, had agreed last month to a $3.4 million, one-year contract. The new deal adds salaries of $4.25 million in 2008, $5 million in 2009 and $5.35 million in 2010. More Info...  

Frank Young and the West Virginia Mountaineers shot past Clemson to their first NIT title in 65 years. Young scored 24 points, including six 3-pointers, and De'Sean Butler added 20 points to help West Virginia beat Clemson 78-73 in the NIT championship on Thursday night. Young was named the tournament's most outstanding player. More Info...  

Karrie Webb watched her third shot into the 18th green feed off the slope and head straight for the cup as the fans came to their feet and raised their hopes of seeing an amazing replay at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Webb holed out for eagle with a pitching wedge last year and then won in a playoff. More Info...  

The Dallas Mavericks have already matched their franchise record with 60 victories, and still have 11 regular-season games left. The first team to have three 12-game winning streaks in the same season, Dallas needs only two more wins for another stretch of 10 in a row. Yet, the Mavs don't feel like they've accomplished anything yet. More Info...  

Kenny Rogers was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a tired arm, a move that makes Chad Durbin the Detroit Tigers' fifth starter. The move, retroactive to Sunday, sends Rogers to the DL for the first time since 2001. Manager Jim Leyland said Rogers will miss only one start. "Number one, you're concerned about Kenny Rogers and make sure he's OK. More Info...  

Latest news and information from the world of sports. Hendrick and Childress are hot, but there are an even dozen drivers who clearly are not. More Info...  

George Steinbrenner's daughter is asking a divorce court judge to separate her interests in the family's business empire from her estranged husband, who until their Valentine's Day breakup seemed on track to take charge of the New York Yankees. Divorce papers filed by Jennifer Lynn Steinbrenner Swindal in Hillsborough County Circuit Court this week also caused concern about Steve Swindal's group... More Info...  

Texas A&M men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie will stick with the Aggies, the school's athletic director told Arkansas officials. Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne gave Arkansas permission to talk to Gillispie around 10 a.m. Thursday, said a person close to the Arkansas coach search who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. More Info...  

Latest news and information from the world of sports. PHOENIX – Commissioner Roger Goodell hasn't announced a revision to the conduct policy, but changes could come before the NFL draft. More Info...  

Veteran receiver Troy Brown says he intends to play next season and hopes to finish his career with the New England Patriots. "My intentions are to play. That's what the deal is," the 35-year-old unrestricted free agent said Wednesday before attending the Catholic Schools Foundation scholarship dinner. More Info...  

C.C. Sabathia looked down and saw a big knot rising on his left arm. The Cleveland Indians had ones growing just as quickly in their stomachs. Sabathia's forearm was bruised when he was struck by a line drive in his final spring training tuneup on Wednesday, putting in doubt his scheduled start in the Indians' season opener next week at Chicago. More Info...  

The Denver Broncos agreed to terms Wednesday on a contract extension with cornerback Dre Bly, obtained earlier this month from the Detroit Lions. Details were not released. Bly, 29, had a year left on his contract when he was traded to Denver in exchange for running back Tatum Bell and offensive lineman George Foster. More Info...  

Freshmen Greg Oden of Ohio State and Kevin Durant of Texas are among the five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, presented to college basketball's outstanding player. Others invited for the April 7 presentation at the Los Angeles Athletic Club are North Carolina sophomore Tyler Hansbrough, Texas A&M senior Acie Law, and Wisconsin senior Alando Tucker. More Info...