In the spring of 2005, New York Yankees scout Steve Lemke got into his Dodge Intrepid and drove from Chicago to Missouri, checking out prospects. Joba Chamberlain wasn’t on his list. Chamberlain didn’t start pitching until his senior year at Lincoln Northeast High School, was overweight and hadn’t even been drafted.
For the first time in 15 years, the Milwaukee Brewers can call themselves winners. But it didn’t necessarily feel that way at the end of the season, as the hype of a fast start and hope of a big division lead in June slipped away over the final three months of the season. When the final out was made, Milwaukee was an October bystander once again.
Sabres forward Ales Kotalik is expected to miss Buffalo’s season opener against the New York Islanders on Friday because of a knee injury. Coach Lindy Ruff said Monday that Kotalik is experiencing pain in his knee and has not been cleared to skate. “It doesn’t look good for playing in the opener or this opening weekend, but I wouldn’t project past that of him missing any more games,” Ruff said.
The Detroit Lions did it all in a record-breaking fourth quarter, scoring on the ground, through the air on defense and special teams. The new-look win took the place of a here-we-go again loss for a team that used to be the NFL’s laughingstock. “Luck is turning our way,” Roy Williams said after Detroit beat the Chicago Bears 37-27 Sunday.
Braylon Edwards couldn’t contain his excitement. This was a Sunday to let loose. As energized Browns fans broke into Ohio State’s signature “O-H-I-O” sing-a-long, raising their arms overhead to form each letter in the fourth quarter, Edwards, a Michigan man through and through, joined in. “I was definitely doing it,” Edwards admitted.
The record is his, for now, and Brett Favre can return his focus on two other numbers: 4-0. To hear him tell it over and over, this is all he has ever worried about: helping Green Bay win. Favre became the NFL’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes with a couple of vintage third-down zingers Sunday, and the Packers stayed unbeaten with a 23-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Championship contender Tony Stewart will not be penalized for cursing on live TV following practice at Kansas Speedway.
The New Orleans Hornets have signed free agents Ryan Bowen, Trey Johnson and Anthony Richardson, bringing their training camp roster to 16. Bowen, a 6-foot-9 forward, is a seven-year NBA veteran who has spent time with the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets. He has appeared in 432 career games with 78 starts in the NBA, averaging 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.0 minutes.
When Tony Romo began chasing a snap that flew over his head, two thoughts raced through his mind. “Don’t give up a touchdown,” he said, “and don’t get killed.” After making things worse by knocking the ball farther away, Romo finally grabbed it 33 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Yet instead of falling on the ball or throwing it away, Romo took off running.
