Bryan Berard’s perseverance paid off. Invited to training camp without a contract, Berard impressed the New York Islanders enough to earn a one-year, $725,000 deal on Tuesday. Berard began his NHL career with the Islanders a decade ago and earned rookie of the year honors in the 1996-97 season after being acquired by New York from Ottawa for fellow defenseman Wade Redden.
Kurt Warner knows how to persevere. Whether it’s defying the odds to go from NFL castoff to Super Bowl MVP or hanging in there with a good attitude after losing his job to a rookie — twice. Now Warner is back. The 36-year-old quarterback will start for the Arizona Cardinals against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, replacing young Matt Leinart, who is out for the season with a broken collarbone.
As NFL officials review Koren Robinson’s petition for reinstatement from a one-year suspension, the troubled wide receiver has a prominent teammate firmly in his corner. Brett Favre. Favre said Wednesday that he spoke with Robinson earlier this week and came away believing Robinson is serious about cleaning up his act and should be given another chance.
It was hard for 11-year veteran Olindo Mare not to notice the fellow kickers brought in for workouts by the New Orleans Saints this week. “I’m friends with some of them,” Mare said after sitting out Wednesday’s practice in hopes of getting his sore right groin well enough to kick in Seattle on Sunday night.
Five Star Thief paid $105.20 for a winning ticket, rallying to edge Big Rushlet by 1 lengths Wednesday in the $53,000 Knockgriffin Purse at Keeneland. The 4-year-old gelding, ridden by James Lopez, ran 7 furlongs in 1:22.85. He also paid $40 to place and $18.80 to show. Five Star Thief, owned by Philip L.
Former Champ Car star Patrick Carpentier signed with Gillett Evernham Motorsports on Wednesday to drive the No. 10 Dodge.
Ray Allen scored 28 points and Kevin Garnett chipped in against his former team in the Boston Celtics’ 92-81 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA preseason game Wednesday.
Kevin Martin scored 27 points to help the Sacramento Kings beat the Seattle SuperSonics 104-98 on Tuesday night in the debut of new coaches in Reggie Theus and P.J. Carlesimo.
Yi Jianlian made his debut for the Bucks, but fellow rookie Joakim Noah looked more like a polished pro in Milwaukee’s 93-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Troy Tulowitzki may be the leading candidate for NL rookie of the year. He’s hardly the only Colorado Rockies newcomer to make a huge impact. When the Rockies lost three-fifths of their starting rotation to injuries in a 16-day span at midseason, they turned to two pitching prospects from their Latin development program and rushed them to the majors.
