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NFL Headlines
November 26
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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A huddle of reporters around quarterback Dennis Dixon yesterday prompted a response across the Steelers' locker room from Ben Roethlisberger. "Tell them how you really feel about taking my job, Double D," Roethlisberger said just loud enough. It also was all Roethlisberger said publicly yesterday. He will wait until today to speak at length for the first time since he took that blow to the head in overtime of the Steelers' 27-24 loss in Kansas City. He answered more questions yesterday afternoon, though, when he lined up with the first-team offense and went through a regular practice. So far, so good as Roethlisberger has passed all the tests with ease as he returns from the "mild ..."
November 26
Dallas Morning News
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Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo pronounced himself fit for today's game against Oakland. His favorite target, tight end Jason Witten, said his sprained left foot has improved. Witten was listed as questionable on Wednesday's official injury report. Romo went through a full practice Wednesday. He had been limited since injuring his back Sunday. "It's been good," Romo said when asked how he felt. "We've been able to get through a lot of plays. It's been a very strong two practices from the mental side of it, so I think the guys are ready to go." Asked if the back felt better, he said, "Yeah, I'm improving each day, and I think I'll be ready to go tomorrow, sure. I feel very strongly that ..."
November 26
New York Daily News
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Kerry Rhodes said he was stunned, embarrassed and humbled by his demotion. Rex Ryan sounded almost apologetic as he explained his decision, saying he feels Rhodes' pain. Yes, the Jets tried their best Wednesday to soften the blow for the fifth-year safety, but here is the cold truth: Rhodes' benching, first reported by the Daily News, could be the precursor to his ouster. Rhodes signed a five-year, $33.5 million contract extension before the 2008 season, but the blockbuster contract doesn't tie him to the Jets. Barring injury, none of the remaining money is guaranteed, meaning the Jets can trade or cut Rhodes after the season without a stiff financial penalty - especially with 2010 looming ..."
November 26
Chicago Tribune
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Surely Lovie Smith heard the gossip that his bosses are in the process of looking for his successor and the report pointing to Mike Martz as the Bears' next offensive coordinator. Smith contends he is not flustered by such talk. "You can't," Smith said when asked how to react to such rumors. "Minnesota is enough to keep you occupied. And you have to stay focused on the task at hand. "Our day is the same. ... Have a big game coming up this week. The focus is just on that." At least the chatter related to Martz might subside for a few days as the 4-6 Bears prepare for the 9-1 Vikings. Smith's former boss with the Rams, now an analyst for the NFL Network, disputed a Sun-Times report citing an ..."
NBA Headlines
November 26
Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Allen Iverson's brief stint with the Memphis Grizzlies ended unceremoniously. The 34-year-old's NBA career, after 14 seasons, came to a halt in similar fashion Wednesday when Iverson announced his retirement. Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, formerly of ESPN and the Philadelphia Inquirer, published Iverson's statement on his Web site. "I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn't help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case," read the statement attributed to Iverson. "I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level. ..."
November 26
Philadelphia Inquirer
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76ers point guard Lou Williams was sidelined for last night's game against the Celtics after an X-ray revealed a fractured jaw.Williams was hurt Tuesday when he took an elbow during a 108-107 loss to the Washington Wizards, the Sixers said. The 23-year-old guard played 39 minutes, scored 26 points and showed no signs of injury - during or after the game.Although Williams did not suit up last night, the Sixers had not set an official timetable for his return. He missed only his fourth game since the 2006-07 season.In place of Williams, Sixers coach Eddie Jordan started rookie Jrue Holiday.For the season, Williams was averaging 17.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.The Sixers said they would ..."
November 26
Washington Times
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Ted Leonsis is already the most popular team owner in the District, and he's about to become the most powerful. The man who led a turnaround of the Washington Capitals likely will become owner of the city's NBA franchise now that Wizards owner Abe Pollin has died. As part of an agreement granting him the right of first refusal for any sale of the team, he also could purchase Verizon Center and the area's Ticketmaster franchise, giving him a sports empire that would be the envy of executives around the country. The arrangement between Pollin and Leonsis, struck in 1999 when Leonsis bought the Capitals, is unusual. Typically, when a franchise owner dies, the team passes on to a spouse or ..."
November 26
Dallas Morning News
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It came, appropriately, on a lob pass. Jason Kidd waited until just the right moment, like he always does, and flipped the ball high over the defense. Roddy Beaubois went up and got it, then flushed it through the net with authority. That gave Kidd his fifth assist of the game against Houston and his 10,335th for his career, pushing him past Mark Jackson for second on the NBA's all-time assist list. He'll never catch John Stockton, of course. That 5,000-dish lead is something Kidd will never make up. Doubtful that anybody else will make it there, either. But what Kidd has done in his career is special. And the truly impressive part of his passing ability is that he's both a crafty ..."
MLB Headlines
November 26
Boston Herald
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The Red Sox clearly would like to pull off a trade for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, but a team source said that a report yesterday overstated the team's urgency in completing any deal. A story in the New York Daily News said the Red Sox were hoping to acquire Halladay before the winter meetings begin a week from Monday. The Red Sox, however, do not believe the Blue Jays are in a rush to deal Halladay and will do all they can to get teams such as the Red Sox and, say, the Yankees to play off each other and increase the return haul for Toronto. The Red Sox' interest in free agent shortstop Marco Scutaro could start to grow by the time the winter meetings begin. Scutaro is a Type A free agent, ..."
November 26
Chicago Tribune
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For the second time in a week, the White Sox signed an aging player they have sought for years, although the question is whether outfielder Andruw Jones can be as valuable as infielder Omar Vizquel, or whether either might be the new Bartolo Colon. Though Jones is "only" 32 years old, his career has been in steep decline since he left the Braves after the 2007 season, when the Sox originally wanted him. But he comes cheaply -- a base salary of $500,000 with $1 million in possible bonuses. What this does to the futures of Scott Podsednik and Jim Thome is unclear, although it appears Jones would fill an extra outfield spot and the DH spot, as he did with Texas last year. The future of ..."
November 26
Philadelphia Inquirer
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The Phillies' team physician said last night that pitcher Jamie Moyer was not seriously ill but would likely be hospitalized for several days after experiencing lingering pain related to October surgery. "Jamie is a healthy guy," Michael Ciccotti said. "He is in no way seriously ill." Moyer, 47, checked into Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Tuesday night after experiencing increased pain that Ciccotti traced to his Oct. 2 surgery to repair three muscle tears in the pitcher's groin and lower abdomen. A week after undergoing surgery, Moyer was hospitalized with a blood infection, but he recovered in time to join the team during the National League Championship Series and World Series. ..."
November 26
Boston Herald
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The road to the World Series often passes through the American League West for the Red Sox, who have faced either the Angels or A's in five of their last six playoff appearances. This offseason, the competition with the West is expected to take a different form, with the Angels a prime contender for free agent left fielder Jason Bay. Angels owner Arte Moreno earlier this month told the Los Angeles Times that while the team has ruled out pursuing free agent outfielder Matt Holliday - "We are not looking at Holliday at all," - it is very much interested in Bay. "You have to look at Bay," Moreno said. "It's a great bat. He has great makeup." Bay perfectly fits the new-look approach of the ..."
NHL Headlines
November 26
Boston Herald
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Tim Thomas edged closer to returning from an undisclosed upper-body injury, but rookie Tuukka Rask was again the Bruins goaltender last night against the Minnesota Wild, making his fifth consecutive start and playing superbly in a 2-1 shootout win. "I'm getting better every day," Thomas said. "With the way the team has played and the way Tuukka has played, it's made it easier to make decisions and to give time. As far as the injury goes, it's still an undisclosed injury. They haven't told me what it is yet." A joke there, folks. Pretty good one, too. The good news for the Bruins, though, is that Thomas, the defending Vezina Trophy winner, has hardly been missed. Rask has been terrific, ..."
November 26
Chicago Sun-Times
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SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks knew what they were getting into even before they hosted the Blackhawks Wednesday night at HP Pavilion.The significance of Marian Hossa's debut with the Hawks wasn't lost on Sharks' coach Todd McLellan after the morning skate. Well, Hossa scored on his first shot but and added another in the third period, but that was a relatively minor part of the Hawks' stunning 7-2 romp over the club with the best record in the Western Conference. En route to extending their winning streak to eight games the Hawks scored three shorthanded goals before a sellout crowd of 17,562. Troy Brouwer got the first in the first period. Than Hossa and Patrick Sharp converted ..."
November 26
Washington Times
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Alex Ovechkin wasn't there to help end his team's string of poor third-period performances Wednesday night, but his countryman had his back. Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves, and the Washington Capitals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres despite playing most of the final period without Ovechkin after his ejection. "It is always difficult to play without Alex because he is our leader," Varlamov said through an interpreter. "But we have a lot of other great players, and it was a good team win." Ovechkin had the lone goal of the first 40 minutes, though that was overshadowed by what transpired early in the third. He was assessed a five-minute major ..."
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A call-up from the Marlies made a big difference in the Maple Leafs' 4-3 victory over the Tampa Lightning. It wasn't Christian Hanson, the oft-mentioned forward getting his first NHL action this season. It was defenceman Carl Gunnarsson, the unassuming, polite former 194th overall pick from Orebro, Sweden, who has played himself into a major role with the Leafs since being called up when Mike Komisarek tore a quadriceps muscle. "He's just plain and simple a very good defenceman," said Leafs coach Ron Wilson. "With a few injuries, he's taken advantage. I see him staying here for a long time.""