Sports, not politics, will be Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.’s emphasis in his new role as a special envoy for the State Department. “This isn’t a political statement for me, necessarily,” Ripken said Monday after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice formally announced his appointment. “This is about the kids and planning baseball and using baseball for good reasons.” Ripken, who set the…
No matter the injuries, the Philadelphia Phillies are fighting hard to stay in the playoff chase. Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer to back another solid outing from Jamie Moyer, leading the Phillies to a 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night. Moyer (11-8) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings to win his fourth straight decision.
The Minnesota Twins came into Angel Stadium struggling badly at the plate, so the last thing they needed was to face Los Angeles’ three best pitchers on consecutive days. Jered Weaver worked effectively into the eighth inning after equally impressive victories by Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey, and the AL West leaders got home runs from Chone Figgins and Jeff Mathis to beat the Twins 6-2 on…
Anthony Hargrove is running out of second chances with the Buffalo Bills, who are considering releasing the defensive end after he landed in trouble for the second time in a week. “Releasing him is an option,” coach Dick Jauron said Sunday, a day after the NFL suspended Hargrove for the first four regular-season games without pay for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Coach Jeff Fisher insists he was just enforcing the rules. He wasn’t sending a message that no one, not even Vince Young, is above them. Benching Young did prove how much the Titans need their quarterback on the field, not the sidelines. With Young punished for missing curfew, the Titans struggled to move the ball in the exhibition opener against Washington.
The last time Troy Smith played a significant football game, he was vying for a national championship. In his NFL debut Monday night, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will be competing for a job. Smith and former UCLA standout Drew Olson are seeking to begin the season as the Baltimore Ravens’ third-string quarterback behind Steve McNair and Kyle Boller.
Hanging in Arthur Blank’s opulent headquarters is a signed photograph of his star quarterback breaking away from a defender, a memento of happier times for the Atlanta Falcons. “To: Arthur. Thanks for everything. Michael Vick. #7.” Well, it looks as if that picture may soon be coming down. The Falcons said Tuesday they wanted to suspend Vick over dogfighting allegations, and their owner left open the…
LEVEL CROSS, North Carolina (Ticker) — Kyle Petty suffered a broken hand this past weekend at Watkins Glen International, Petty Enterprises announced Monday.
Pat Riley isn’t ready for another retirement. Riley said Monday he’ll be back as coach of the Miami Heat for three more seasons, an announcement that ends months of speculation about his immediate future. The 62-year-old gave up coaching in 2003, then returned two years later and led the team to the 2006 NBA title.
