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NBA Headlines
February 11
New York Post
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Now Kobe Bryant knows his name. Does he ever. The day before last night's Knicks-Lakers showdown, Bryant claimed he had "no idea'' what "Linsanity'' was. Bryant got belted in the face with it last night as the Knicks new point-guard phenomenon Jeremy Lin ruled the frenzied Garden again, humiliated the mighty Lakers as this Disney movie has now lasted a full week. Playing again without their two "superstars'' Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, Lin willed the Knicks to a 92-85 victory as he destroyed the purple and gold by dropping a career-high 38 points and seven assists in his most explosive performance yet. The Knicks' "Linning'' streak has hit four games as they completed what is"
February 11
Los Angeles Times
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When it was over, Chris Paul and Kenyon Martin slapped hands, the same hand Paul had used to hit the game-winning shot, the same hand Martin had used on defense in the final seconds to secure the Clippers' victory Friday night. The Clippers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 78-77, because so many of their hands were involved in the process, not just Paul making a 16-foot jumper with 3.2 seconds left for the final score. It was Martin helping Paul double-team Lou Williams on his final missed shot. It was Paul scoring 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting on a night when the Clippers shot 38.8% from the field, and 10.5% (two for 19) from three-point range. It was Mo Williams scoring 14 points"
February 11
San Antonio Express-News
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Manu Ginobili is good to go. That was the pronouncement coach Gregg Popovich made after a spirited, hour-long practice in midtown Manhattan this morning. The Spurs' star guard will make his return from a broken left hand Saturday night in New Jersey. How did Popovich know it was time? "When Manu's ready, you bring him back," Popovich said. "He's Manu. When he's ready to go, you don't care if you're winning, losing. It doesn't matter, he's coming back." Ginobili missed 22 games after fracturing his fifth metacarpal Jan. 2 in a loss at Minnesota. The Spurs went 15-7 in his absence, rising to second in the Western Conference. Needless to say, Ginobili is eager to get back on the floor. "I"
February 11
Dallas Morning News
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After 14 seasons in the NBA , Dirk Nowitzki is finally going to play a home game. The Mavericks are scheduled to take part in the international portion of the NBA's preseason schedule before next season, two sources said Friday. Though dates and details are being worked out, Dallas is scheduled to go to Nowitzki's home country for a preseason game in Berlin and will play a game in Barcelona, Spain. The Mavericks have been obvious candidates for the European trip with Nowitzki, the 2007 MVP and NBA Finals MVP last season, as the face of the franchise."
NFL Headlines
February 11
Boston Herald
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Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski spent yesterday morning undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery to fix the injury that limited him during Super Bowl XLVI. If all goes well, he may not even have to miss organized team activities. Two sources with direct knowledge of the situation described a "successful" procedure to clean out the ankle that was injured in the AFC Championship Game win over the Ravens. With a 10-week timetable for recovery, Gronkowski could be rehabilitated as early as late-April, which gives him plenty of time for OTAs and minicamps. The injury was a high-ankle sprain, and it also included ligament damage. The so-called "Gronkle" was the talk of Indianapolis all week"
February 11
Indianapolis Star
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The waiting game continues with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Despite anticipation a meeting would take place this week to at least begin the process of determining the rehabilitating quarterback's future with the team, that did not occur. On his Twitter account, owner Jim Irsay wrote: "Things r quiet this week n weekend,getting ready for NFL Combine,completing coaching staff,analyzing roster. There's no news on Peyton." Prior to Super Bowl XLVI, Irsay indicated he and Manning hoped to meet this week. The Colts must decide whether to pay Manning a $28 million option bonus by March 8 or allow him to become an unrestricted free agent."
February 11
San Jose Mercury News
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General manager Trent Baalke was rewarded by the 49ers on Friday with a three-year contract extension through the 2016 season, the club announced. Baalke, along with rookie coach Jim Harbaugh, took a common-sense approach to an offseason interrupted by a lockout, and the end result was a 13-3 regular season that ended with an overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game. The 49ers also promoted Gideon Yu to team president and co-owner. Yu joined the 49ers in 2011 as chief strategy officer and has been heavily involved with the team's stadium project in Santa Clara. Baalke avoided the high-end free-agent market, making his biggest splash with safety Donte Whitner and"
February 11
Tampa Tribune
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired former Giants assistant Mike Sullivan as their offensive coordinator late Friday, according to the team. "We are very fortunate to add someone like Mike Sullivan to lead our offensive coaching staff," head coach Greg Schiano said in a statement. "He is a man of character and a complete football coach, who fits with the kind of football team we are building here. His work with the Giants over the past eight seasons speaks for itself. "Mike was an integral part of that team winning two Super Bowls in the last five years and we look forward to him bringing that experience and expertise to our club." Sullivan, a former Army Ranger and Giants receivers coach, is"
MLB Headlines
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New Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen calls Yoenis Cespedes "pretty impressive," but he said it's no slam dunk that the Cuban defector ends up in Miami. Marlins president David Samson has already said that they would like the outfielder but don't have to have him, and Guillen reiterated that. "I heard Mr. Samson say something very interesting yesterday," Guillen said on the "Waddle and Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "He said, 'We have a great ballclub. And we're happy with what we have.'" Call it posturing, but Guillen said the Marlins aren't the only team in the running, saying he thinks "they're promoting this kid all over the place. That's why you have an agent. You as a player, you"
February 10
Kansas City Star
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Left fielder Alex Gordon preceded his 28th birthday Thursday afternoon by taking what could be the first step to a long-term relationship with the Royals. The two sides reached agreement on a one-year contract for $4.775 million, which eliminates the need for an arbitration hearing Feb. 16 in Tampa, Fla., and clears the path for renewed talks on a multi-year contract. "They know they have me for two (more) years," Gordon said. "So do we. I think both sides just want to think it through and get things right — like we did with the one-year deal. We're not trying to rush things, and I think that's how it's been so far.""
February 10
CBSSports.com
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The Yankees and Pirates are continuing to talk about a possible A.J. Burnett trade that could lead to more activity in the form of a couple free-agent signings by the Yankees. As of Thursday night, the teams were thought to be a few million apart in the Burnett negotiations, but they were still talking and there is some hope for a deal. The Yankees, in a twist, want to clear some money to sign their preferred positional candidates. They are considering Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon as possible DH candidates and Eric Chavez as a reserve. They appear to be leaning toward Ibanez for the DH role, though Damon and Hideki Matsui, two former Yankees stars, also have been under consideration. In"
February 10
San Francisco Chronicle
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Brad Pitt was nominated for an Academy Award as best actor for playing A's general manager Billy Beane in "Moneyball." And Beane will be there in person to cheer Pitt on, he said. Beane and his wife, Tara, plan to attend the Oscars on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. "I'm going," Beane said by phone. "It will be fun. I'm excited for Brad, and I know how much time and effort he put into it. "Of course, absolutely I'm rooting for him. Not me. It's got nothing to do with me. It's all about Brad. He's a great guy, and I do want him to win for his sake, not for me. He's the one who put himself on the line. He's one of the producers, and he was the driving force behind getting the"
NHL Headlines
February 11
Chicago Tribune
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Try as they might, the Blackhawks searched for some positives following their seventh consecutive defeat. "Right now, minutes after another loss, it's tough to look at the bright side of things," captain Jonathan Toews said in the morgue-like atmosphere of the Hawks' dressing room after their 5-3 loss to the Sharks on Friday night at HP Pavilion. "We played hard out there. We saw some fights, we saw some scratching and clawing, some battling in front of the net and a couple of ugly goals. We played the way we had to. We gave them too many opportunities on the power play and that's how they separated themselves from us in this game. It always seems to be one thing or another but (Friday"
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Riding the tremendous goaltending of Joey MacDonald, the Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 in a shootout Friday for their 19th consecutive victory at home, tying them with the 1970-71 Bruins for the third longest streak in NHL history. Todd Bertuzzi scored the winning goal with one of his lullaby-slow goals in the shootout, taking Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller to Bertuzzi's left on the forehand, before sweeping back to the right and lifting a back-hand shot into the net. But the big performance of the night was MacDonald's. The journeyman goalie kept the Wings in the game, even though they were outshot 27-18 over the last 48 minutes of regulation. Much of the game was played with the Ducks"
February 11
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Jordan Staal stuck in the NHL mere weeks after his 18th birthday in large part because he displayed a level of defensive excellence some centers never reach. Now in his sixth season, Staal, just 23, might have raised his offensive play to the same level. "He's so responsible in the defensive end," Penguins teammate Matt Cooke said. "As he matures, he's become more of a complete offensive player. He relied a lot on pure strength and speed initially in his career, and now he has a better understanding for the offensive part of the game. "He's shown that when he's played this year." Staal is third on the team with 15 goals and eighth with 21 points despite missing 20 games. When the Penguins"
February 11
Boston Herald
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Bruins coach Claude Julien said after practice yesterday that Nathan Horton has taken a step back on the road to recovery from a concussion after skating last Sunday. "He's been pulled back," Julien said after practice at the Garden. "He's got some symptoms, so we've pulled him back. That's why I said (earlier this week) that it's hard for me to come out every day and say whether it's a step forward or a step backward. But he's back to square one and we're giving him some time here. Those symptoms, once he got on the ice, came back." Horton suffered the concussion Jan. 22 in Philadelphia when he was the victim of a blind-side hit from the Flyers' Tom Sestito, a hit that did not garner a"