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NFL Headlines
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Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown has decided to undergo surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture in his right foot, two sources told The Miami Herald. The surgery will be performed Friday. Brown traveled with the team to Charlotte as a way to get a final medical opinion from Dr. Bob Anderson, a renowned foot expert who is based in the city. The appointment Thursday went as good as it could, according to a source. Brown will remain in Charlotte, and Anderson will perform the procedure. Although Anderson provided enough information to cause Brown to choose surgery over electing to let the injury heal naturally, that does not mean it was considered bad news. Brown had already been leaning ..."
November 20
Washington Post
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Coach Jim Zorn stopped short of ruling Clinton Portis out for Sunday's game at Dallas, but he said the Redskins' star running back is "very doubtful" to play. "But I don't want to count him out," Zorn said Wednesday after practice. Portis wasn't present at practice and is at risk of missing his second game since suffering a concussion - the second of his career -- on Nov. 8 in Atlanta. Zorn said Portis worked out early Wednesday morning -- to get "a little sweat going," Zorn said -- and Portis experienced some blurriness. Portis attended the weekly team meeting but left Redskins Park to visit a Washington doctor and missed the running backs' position meeting. Zorn laid out a timeline that ..."
November 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
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Running back Cedric Benson did not practice for a second straight day and is unlikely to play Sunday at Oakland. That means Larry Johnson's timetable to be somewhat comfortable with the playbook is accelerated. "It's a new offense and they have to get comfortable with trusting me to step in there," said Johnson, who celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday. "The plays are the same handing off and right now the exchange has been pretty good between Carson (Palmer) and myself.""
November 20
Contra Costa Times
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has a well-earned reputation for speaking his mind. He said Thursday that benched Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is a victim of his supporting cast. "Man, JaMarcus is extremely good," Ochocinco said in a conference call with Bay Area media. "You have to remember, a quarterback can only be as good as his supporting cast. Case closed. Always. It will always be that way. Always." Ochocinco said New England's Tom Brady or Indianapolis' Peyton Manning would be struggling just as much as Russell in Oakland's offense, which is ranked 31st in terms of yards and points per game. It doesn't help Russell that he is playing for his second head ..."
NBA Headlines
November 20
New York Times
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The Knicks' pursuit of Allen Iverson is dead. In an abrupt reversal, Knicks officials decided late Thursday not to offer Iverson a contract, putting an end to their brief flirtation, according to a person close to the deliberations. Although team officials were highly intrigued by Iverson, a four-time scoring champion, they finally decided that he posed too great a risk because of his long history of problems on and off the court. Team officials spent three days weighing the potential merits and pitfalls of signing Iverson, and alternately talked themselves into and then out of making the move. On Tuesday the team president, Donnie Walsh, called it unlikely. Two days later he seemed open ..."
November 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Bucks center Andrew Bogut will miss the next two to four weeks with a left leg strain and contusion, the team announced Thursday afternoon. Bogut missed practice on Thursday and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam. He was injured late in the fourth quarter of the Bucks' 99-85 victory over New Jersey on Wednesday night. The 7-foot center was examined by Bucks team doctor Michael Gordon, and the MRI exam revealed the injury. Bogut was off to a great start this season, averaging 16.1 points and 9.2 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per game. He had scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds when he left the game on Wednesday after banging his lower leg in a collision with another player."
November 20
San Antonio Express-News
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After being examined by members of the Spurs medical staff Thursday, guard Manu Ginobili has been ruled out of action for seven to 10 days. An MRI exam confirmed that Ginobili suffered a mild left groin strain during Wednesday's game against the Mavericks in Dallas. He previously had been bothered by a left hamstring strain that caused Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to sit him during the fourth quarter of a loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday. Both Ginobili and All-NBA point guard Tony Parker, still ailing with a sprained left ankle, were inactive for Thursday's game against the Jazz. Parker now is listed as day-to-day. The muscle strains that have plagued Ginobili are a disappointment after a ..."
November 20
Los Angeles Times
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Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy, with his team looking muddled defensively and in an opening-month spiral, on Thursday addressed the issue of his job security. The Clippers (4-9) have won one of their last six games, and returned home having dropped consecutive games to struggling New Orleans and Memphis. They play Denver tonight. "When's the last time you ever saw an interim coach come in and the team be successful and make a playoff run?" Dunleavy said. "It's not happening. Nobody knows these guys better than I know them. "Give a coach a chance to coach Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin. After that, fine. Let the chips fall where they may. Other than that, you just fall to ..."
MLB Headlines
November 20
Los Angeles Times
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Torii Hunter will undergo surgery on Monday in Dallas to repair a sports hernia, an injury the Angels center fielder expects to fully recover from by the start of spring training next February. The nine-time Gold Glove Award winner originally suffered the right groin injury in late May when he crashed into the wall at Dodger Stadium. He aggravated the injury several times in June before going to the disabled list for five weeks from July 10 to Aug. 16."
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The talks have been going on all season. But suddenly, as of midnight, things are different. Now it's not only the Red Sox who can discuss contract numbers with free agent left fielder Jason Bay - every team can. The Sox have been conversing with Bay about a new contract for the better part of a year, with the talks twice ending abruptly - once in spring training and once after the All-Star break. There has been no agreement between the sides, and last night the deadline for the Sox' negotiating exclusivity came and went. So Bay becomes a true free agent, able to be wooed by any team out there. Several clubs have expressed interest in him in what is a down market for upper-level talent."
November 20
Chicago Sun-Times
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The Cubs took two key steps in shaping their 2010 bullpen Thursday, even as they continue to work and wait on their bigger offseason tasks of trading Milton Bradley and acquiring another outfielder. After agreeing to a two-year contract extension worth at least $7 million with free-agent lefty reliever John Grabow, the Cubs traded arbitration-eligible right-hander Aaron Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks for two prospects. Heilman, who made $1.62million in 2009, was one of 10 Cubs eligible for arbitration this winter and was considered expendable given the team's relative bullpen depth. ''We obviously for years liked Aaron, in his Mets days,'' said general manager Jim Hendry, who acquired ..."
November 20
Washington Post
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Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' prized pitching phenom, twisted his left knee while shagging flies during batting practice before the Phoenix Desert Dogs' regular season finale in the Arizona Fall League on Thursday, and has been scratched from Saturday's scheduled start in the AFL championship game, the team said in a news release Thursday night. According to the release, the injury is not considered serious, and an MRI exam taken shortly after the incident showed only "inflammation." Still, Strasburg is scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Friday to be examined by orthopedist Lewis Yocum. Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo did not immediately return voice and text messages seeking ..."
NHL Headlines
November 20
Chicago Tribune
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With Marian Hossa's debut with the Blackhawks looming, coach Joel Quenneville is formulating plans on how to utilize the high-scoring winger. Hossa participated in the Hawks' morning skate before Thursday night's game against the Flames and is on track to play during the Hawks' six-game trip, most likely Wednesday against the Sharks in San Jose. "There are going to be a lot of options for a coach to have," Quenneville said. "He's going to get a lot of ice time. We're looking forward to him being useful in a lot of ways.""
November 20
Boston Herald
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Bruins center Marc Savard will soon sign a lengthy and lucrative contract extension that will keep him in Boston well into the next decade, according to a team source, but the club isn't quite ready to let him return from his broken foot just yet. The 32-year-old center, whose offensive skills were sorely missed over the past few weeks, is close to a new deal. With a few final issues to be ironed out, the extension could be announced within days. Although the team earlier dangled a three-year deal paying $6.5 million per year, Savard apparently will choose a longer term at less average money - seven years worth $39 million ($5.7 million per) according to a report from Canada's RDS. Savard ..."
November 20
Dallas Morning News
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Maybe there's a reason the Stars have been one of the least penalized teams in the NHL this season. Because when they tried to dial up the toughness Thursday night against Columbus, the result wasn't pretty. Dallas had its first three fights at American Airlines Center this season, but allowed three power-play goals en route to a 4-1 loss. James Neal received a five-minute major for boarding in the second period and the accompanying game misconduct. The play will be reviewed for a possible suspension, as well."
November 20
Raleigh News & Observer
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The Hurricanes now have four players on their roster who began the season with the Albany River Rats of the AHL. Center Brandon Sutter and defenseman Bryan Rodney were the first to arrive. Injuries to goaltender Michael Leighton and forward Scott Walker now will have goalie Justin Peters and forward Pat Dwyer on the roster tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dwyer was called up Thursday from the Rats, and center Eric Staal placed on injured reserve. "We've had some things to maneuver," Canes coach Paul Maurice said. "But we've had some success bringing in some kids to play. Bryan Rodney has come in and played very, very well. Paddy Dwyer can skate and he's playing very well in the ..."