NHL teams could be back to playing every other club in the league by next season. The board of governors from the 30 teams met Tuesday and moved closer to ditching the unbalanced schedule put it place after the lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season. Although a vote won’t take place before the group meets again in November, there was a clear indication Tuesday that the often criticized schedule would…
NHL goaltender Sean Burke officially retired Tuesday after nearly 20 years in the league. Burke spent last season with the Los Angeles Kings, and played for nine teams during his career, which also included playing for Canada in the 1988 Olympics. Selected 24th overall in the 1985 draft, Burke reached the NHL near the end of the 1987-88 season with the New Jersey Devils.
Byron Leftwich knew he would have to pick a new number when he got to his new team. Not that anyone in Atlanta is wearing No. 7. But, for the time being, it still belongs to Michael Vick, who awaits sentencing for running a brutal dogfighting ring while the Falcons try to recoup some of his bonus money.
The Indianapolis Colts had three starters sitting out practice Wednesday: tight end Dallas Clark, right tackle Ryan Diem and linebacker Rob Morris. Morris missed last week’s game at Tennessee with an abdominal strain and coach Tony Dungy said he wasn’t sure Morris would play Sunday at Houston. “It’s one of those pain things,” Dungy said.
Darrell Waltrip won 24 NASCAR races driving the No. 88 car. That was before his consecutive season championships in a car with a different number sponsored by Mountain Dew.
Former NASCAR driver Aaron Fike appeared in Warren County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday on charges stemming from his arrest in an amusement park parking lot with what police said was heroin and drug tools.
With a swig from his 16-ounce Amp Energy drink, the rebranding of Dale Earnhardt Jr. began.
Brewers ace Ben Sheets traveled back to Milwaukee on Wednesday for an MRI exam on his injured left hamstring. Sheets left Tuesday night’s game in Houston after one inning because of tightness in the hamstring. He was still in pain after the game. “We’ll just try to get a handle on what it is and go from there,” manager Ned Yost said Wednesday.
Tony La Russa had little to say Wednesday about speculation he will leave the St. Louis Cardinals after a dozen seasons to manage the Seattle Mariners next season. “No reaction,” La Russa said. “Nothing to it?” La Russa was asked. “I don’t think so,” he responded. Last year’s World Series champions faded in September and have little hope of making the postseason.
Ervin Santana has gotten his control and confidence back. Just in time for the playoffs, too. Santana struck out 10, Juan Rivera homered and the Los Angeles Angels beat Tampa Bay 2-1 Wednesday for their 90th victory of the season and eighth straight at home over the Devil Rays. “It’s good to win when you’re not scoring a lot of runs,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who earned his 699th victory.
