Sports - Page 8

Latest news and information from the world of sports. If an effective strategy - no matter how unpopular it might be - is allowed by the rules and settings of your league, then it's fair to employ. More Info...  

The Texas Rangers activated closer Eric Gagne from the disabled list Friday and placed starter Jamey Wright on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. Gagne, a right-hander signed in the offseason, made three appearances including two starts for the Rangers' Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. He was 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA and retired all three batters he faced in his last outing Tuesday. More Info...  

Latest news and information from the world of sports. RB Adrian Peterson's career at Oklahoma was plagued by injuries, a concern for NFL teams and evaluators. More Info...  

Masters champion Zach Johnson says he came to the Verizon Heritage to win. Johnson's tired play Thursday showed otherwise. After three days of celebrity meetings and TV guest appearances, the weary Johnson shot an up-and-down 70 at Harbour Town Golf Links. He was seven shots behind Jerry Kelly, the first-round leader at 8-under 63. More Info...  

After taking two out of three games from the Los Angeles Angels in their retractable-roof refuge from the snow, the Cleveland Indians are ready for a real home opener -- no matter how cold, wet and miserable it gets at Jacobs Field. "Road trip to Cleveland this weekend," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. More Info...  

Annika Sorenstam will be out at least a month because of a ruptured disk in her back, leaving the LPGA Tour without its top player and one of its best draws. "Obviously it's not good for anybody if Annika is not playing," tour veteran Laura Davies said. "It's the same as if Tiger (Woods) had a monthlong injury and a bad back. More Info...  

The disgraced district attorney in the Duke lacrosse rape case apologized to the three athletes in a carefully worded statement Thursday as their lawyers weighed whether to sue him -- and some legal experts say they have a case. While prosecutors generally have immunity for what they do inside the courtroom, experts said that protection probably doesn't cover some of Mike Nifong's more... More Info...  

Cubs pitcher Mark Prior had discomfort in his right shoulder and left his first extended spring training start after two innings Thursday. Prior was limited to nine games last season by shoulder problems and pitched only 10 1-3 innings in spring training. The Cubs said Prior is scheduled to visit orthopedic specialist Dr. More Info...  

CBS fired Don Imus from his radio program Thursday, the finale to a stunning fall for one of the nation's most prominent broadcasters. Imus initially was given a two-week suspension for calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" on the air last week, but outrage continued to grow and advertisers bolted from his CBS radio show and its MSNBC simulcast. More Info...  

Last season, the NCAA wanted to speed up football games. Next season, it wants more plays. On Thursday, the rules oversight panel approved two major timing changes that would revert the rules to what they were in 2005 -- stopping the clock on possession changes and not starting it on kickoffs until the receiving team touches the ball. More Info...  

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson appeared in court Thursday and learned he will go on trial Aug. 20 on charges of drug possession and driving under the influence of drugs. Tyson was fresh out of a California rehabilitation facility and said very little during the five-minute proceeding. "Yes, ma'am" were his only words, uttered after Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens asked... More Info...  

Latest news and information from the world of sports. Despite finishing second at Martinsville, Jeff Gordon has the experience and passion to challenge Jimmie Johnson for the Nextel Cup title. More Info...  

Daisuke Matsuzaka handled Ichiro Suzuki just fine. It's the other Seattle Mariners that gave him trouble. The rookie sensation retired Suzuki all four times he faced his countryman as the two Japanese stars met for the first time in the majors. But Matsuzaka, in his Fenway Park debut, allowed three runs and six hits before leaving Wednesday night's game after seven innings with Seattle leading the... More Info...  

They began arriving soon after the sun came up over the piney woods: football greats, government figures and everyday people -- all of them there to say goodbye to former Grambling football coach Eddie Robinson. "Most coaches are rated by the players they recruit," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said as he waited for Robinson's funeral to start in the school's new assembly center. More Info...  

Van Chancellor has won WNBA championships and Olympic gold medals. By taking over an LSU program that's been to four consecutive Final Fours, Chancellor will have as good a chance as he's ever had before to win his first NCAA title next season. Chancellor was hired as the women's basketball coach at LSU on Wednesday, succeeding Pokey Chatman. More Info...  

Harvard hired Tommy Amaker to coach its men's basketball team, less than a month after he was fired by Michigan. "I called today and accepted the offer," Amaker told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "It's a terrific opportunity for me. I've been fortunate to be associated with some of the finest academic institutions in the country, and none is greater than Harvard." Amaker, who played at Duke and... More Info...  

Seattle Mariners left-hander Arthur Rhodes has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and is considering ligament replacement surgery that would keep him out for the rest of the season. Team medical director Dr. Edward Khalfayan said Rhodes has a choice between pitching with the tear or having Tommy John surgery. More Info...  

The Phoenix Coyotes cleaned out their front office Wednesday, firing general manager Mike Barnett and two other executives after the franchise's worst season since it moved from Winnipeg in 1996. Wayne Gretzky, who owns a share of the team and is its managing partner, will return for a third season as coach next fall. More Info...  

Ted Nolan waited nine years to land another NHL head-coaching job, then led the New York Islanders to the playoffs in his first season back in the league. And look where it got him. Nolan is in Buffalo of all places, preparing to face the top-seeded Sabres, the team that fired him right after he took coach of the year honors in 1997. More Info...  

The Detroit Red Wings are confident they will avoid another early exit in the playoffs because they're deeper, stronger and have better goaltending. Calgary star Jarome Iginla respects the Red Wings, but likes his team's chances, particularly because he helped the Flames upset Detroit in the second round of the 2004 playoffs. More Info...