Pushing for the playoffs, Cubs manager Lou Piniella went with some risky strategy by calling on ace Carlos Zambrano to pitch on three days’ rest, hoping to shape his rotation for the rest of the season. The results Tuesday night were not encouraging for Chicago, which plans to bring back Ted Lilly on short rest Wednesday.
Penguins right wing Petr Sykora will miss at least two preseason games because of a broken nose and probably won’t resume practicing until next week. Sykora’s nose was broken during a collision with Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik during the Penguins’ 5-2 exhibition victory in Montreal on Tuesday night.
Jets coach Eric Mangini cleared the air with Baltimore’s Brian Billick after the Ravens coach accused New York of using an “illegal” ploy to draw his team offside during Sunday’s game. “I talked to Brian (Tuesday) and we had a good conversation,” Mangini said Wednesday. “It was important for me to talk to him and make sure we didn’t have a misunderstanding.
Running back Frank Gore didn’t return from his mother’s funeral in Miami in time for the San Francisco 49ers’ practice Wednesday. Coach Mike Nolan expects the Pro Bowl starter to be back in practice Thursday with the 49ers, who face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Left tackle Jonas Jennings, fullback Moran Norris and running backs coach Bishop Harris all returned from Miami on Tuesday after…
Unspoken Word held off a late charge by Stormy West to win the $78,950 Wild Applause Stakes on Wednesday at Belmont Park. Unspoken Word, ridden by Rafael Bejarano and trained by Patrick Reynolds, covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.04 on the firm turf in the race for 3-year-old fillies. The winner paid $10.60, $6.80 and $4.10.
With the Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park next month, the New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday passed new regulations that will allow pre-race testing on thoroughbreds for performance-enhancing agents. The commission approved out of competition testing for EPO (Epogen) and TCO2 testing on thoroughbreds competing at the four state racetracks.
Kasey Kahne is the new beer man, picking up Budweiser on Tuesday as the primary sponsor for his No. 9 Dodge.
When Jimmie Johnson won his first race, he was touched by the veterans who visited him in Victory Lane. The memory of that 2002 celebration at California Speedway stuck with him, and he’s tried to do the same for other drivers.
Add Kasey Kahne to the storied list of drivers to drive for one of NASCAR’s most successful sponsors.
