Bengals: Johnson now Chad Ocho Cinco (AP)
Call him Ocho Cinco on the field, too. The National Football League decided on Thursday to recognize receiver Chad Johnson's legal name change to Chad Ocho Cinco. The new name will be on the back of his Cincinnati Bengals uniform for the season opener in Baltimore on Sunday. The receiver had his name changed in his home state of Florida last week.
NFL owners discuss potential spring exhibitions (AP)
AP - NFL owners discussed playing spring preseason games as part of a possible expansion of the regular-season schedule.
Burrell's homer helps Phillies sweep Braves (AP)
AP - Pat Burrell hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Braves 4-3 on Thursday night to complete an unprecedented sweep of the nine-game season series in Atlanta.
Colts' Manning hopes for quick return from surgery (AP)
AP - Peyton Manning's voice resonated through the Colts training camp Thursday from 90 miles away. The NFL's two-time MVP spent reporting day at home in Indianapolis, his valuable left knee immobilized after having surgery to remove an infected bursa sac.
Thailand rejoices in Tamarine's Wimbledon success (AFP)
AFP - Thailand rejoiced Tuesday as tennis star Tamarine Tanasugarn became the kingdom's first player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final after an upset victory over Serbian Jelena Jankovic at Wimbledon.
Rain could wash out Game 3 of World Series (AP)
AP - Ready, set, rainout?
Olympic absentee Roddick makes winning ATP start in LA (AFP)
AFP - Andy Roddick stepped up his US Open preparation while his rivals got in final training for the Olympics as the Beijing absentee advanced at the Los Angeles Classic late Thursday.
O'Neal confirms Pacers sending him to Raptors (AP)
AP - The Indiana Pacers are trading six-time All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal to the Toronto Raptors for point guard T.J. Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic, the 17th pick in the draft and a player to be determined.
Last-place Blue Jays fire Gibbons, coaches (AP)
AP - The Toronto Blue Jays dipped back into their past to shake up a last-place team that has looked overmatched at times in the competitive AL East, firing manager John Gibbons on Friday and replacing him with two-time World Series winner Cito Gaston.
Ponson matches Delgado in nightcap; Yankees split (AP)
AP - Carlos Delgado looked like the Delgado of five years ago, helping the Mets to a resounding win at Yankee Stadium. One rush-hour bus trip later, it was time for a new Yankee to show he has plenty left in the tank, too.
Take me out to the replay: MLB game could lengthen (AP)
AP - As if major league games aren't long enough already, now there will be replay delays.
Tomlin: Big Ben's shoulder not separated (AP)
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin clarified the status of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder: Sprained but not separated. The injury will likely keep Roethlisberger from fully participating in practice Wednesday, but not from playing on Sunday against Philadelphia. The Steelers said last week that their quarterback was nursing a sore shoulder, but a TV commentator on Sunday night termed...
Sabres re-sign C Gaustad to $9.2M deal (AP)
The Buffalo Sabres rewarded Paul Gaustad for his hard-hitting style, re-signing the blue-collar center to a four-year, $9.2 million contract on Monday. Gaustad, a restricted free agent, had his rights retained by the Sabres last week when they made him a minimum-salary qualifying offer. The Sabres, though, had targeted Gaustad as a core player last spring and had expressed their intention to lock...
Mauresmo moves into Pilot Pen semifinals (AP)
Former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo swept into the semifinals of the Pilot Pen on Thursday, beating fourth-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary 6-4, 7-5. Mauresmo, unseeded and ranked No. 33 in the world after being hampered by nagging injuries this year, will face top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze in the semifinals Friday.
Jankovic beats Dementieva at Open for 1st GS final (AP)
AP - Jelena Jankovic is finally a Grand Slam finalist. Overcoming a slow start, Jankovic used fantastic defense and steady groundstrokes to beat Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 Friday in the U.S. Open semifinals.
Sun-Mystics Preview (AP)
Neither the Connecticut Sun nor the Washington Mystics could be blamed for their most recent losses, as each fell on the road to a team that remains undefeated at home. Connecticut hopes to salvage the finale of its three-game road trip, and avoid its longest skid in more than a year when it faces Washington on Sunday.
Browns' Winslow practices, could play Sunday (AP)
AP - Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow practiced for the first time since being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness and could play Sunday against the Washington Redskins.
Falcons' Ryan struggles in loss to Colts (AP)
Jim Sorgi proved he can help the Indianapolis Colts convert third downs. Now the next goal for Peyton Manning's backup: Lead Indianapolis on a touchdown drive. "It's great to have long drives," Sorgi said. "We had one where we started inside the 15-yard line and drove all the way down to the 5, but we have to put it in.
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle signs 2-year extension (AP)
AP - Randy Carlyle, who coached the Anaheim Ducks to the Stanley Cup championship in 2007, signed a two-year extension Wednesday. Financial terms were not announced.
Pack prez Murphy says team will welcome Favre back (AP)
AP - Brett Favre is back. It remains to be seen whether he'll still be the leader of the Pack.
Celtics rout Lakers to claim 17th championship (Reuters)
Reuters - The Boston Celtics captured a record
17th NBA championship by trouncing the Los Angeles Lakers
131-92 on Tuesday to seal the best-of-seven title series 4-2.