The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Brett Clark to a two-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season. Clark, 30, set career highs with 82 games, 10 goals and 29 assists last season. “Brett has been an instrumental part of our team’s overall success,” general manager Francois Giguere said Monday.
Manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired Monday by the Houston Astros, less than two years after leading the team to its first World Series appearance. Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager, and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager. “I felt this was the time for a change,” owner Drayton McLane said.
Jose Contreras got his first win as a starter in two months and rookie Josh Fields put the White Sox ahead with Chicago’s fourth home run of the seventh inning in a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday. Contreras (7-16), who leads the major leagues in losses, had dropped nine straight starts since beating Florida on June 18 and had lost 13 of 14.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney bruised his right thigh during the Indianapolis Colts’ 37-10 win over Detroit Saturday night and isn’t expected to play Friday at Cincinnati. Coach Tony Dungy said Sunday that the injury is not serious and Freeney would probably play if it were a regular-season game.
Tony Dungy wanted Saturday night’s preseason game to be a tuneup for the defending Super Bowl champions. Peyton Manning was thinking more about cleaning up. The Super Bowl MVP threw three first-half touchdowns and was nearly perfect as the Indianapolis Colts routed Detroit 37-10 for Indy’s second win in 13 preseason games.
With just two races remaining before the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series “Chase for the Championship” gets under way, most of the talk has centered around drivers already locked in – or those on the bubble.
Forward Marcin Gortat signed with the Orlando Magic on Monday. The Magic acquired the 6-foot-11 Gortat from Phoenix on draft night in 2005 for cash. He was chosen in the second round with the 57th overall pick. Gortat has played summer league for the Magic the past three years, but then returned to Germany each time.
The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks have signed Chris Kunitz to a four-year, $14.9 million contract extension, putting the left wing under contract through the 2011-12 season. Kunitz had 25 goals and 35 assists in 81 games last season and one goal and five assists in 13 playoff games, missing eight because of injuries.
The stadium lights dimmed while Kyle Boller’s throw was in mid-air. The pass was incomplete — just like the game. With more lightning on the way, officials decided enough was enough. Saturday night’s preseason game between the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins was halted with 11:38 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Redskins an abbreviated 13-7 win.
Tony Dungy wanted Saturday night’s preseason game to be a tuneup for the defending Super Bowl champions. Peyton Manning was thinking more about cleaning up. The Super Bowl MVP threw three first-half touchdowns and was nearly perfect as the Indianapolis Colts routed Detroit 37-10 for Indy’s second win in 13 preseason games.
