Heyward 1st Braves player to steal home since 2000

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rookie Jason Heyward has become the first member of the Atlanta Braves to steal home in 10 years.

While Brian McCann was caught in a rundown, Heyward charged in from third base and slid under the tag of Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez in the first inning Wednesday night.

The ...

Yankees' Posada back in lineup as DH

CLEVELAND (AP) - Jorge Posada is going to play with a sore left knee for as long as he can.

The 38-year-old returned to the New York Yankees' lineup Wednesday night after missing one game. Instead of playing catcher, he was the designated hitter.

"It's something I've dealt with off and on ...

Haren says he'll start Saturday for Angels

ANAHEIM, CALIF. (AP) - Newly acquired Angels pitcher Dan Haren expects to make his next start as scheduled despite a bruised forearm.

The three-time All-Star plans to make his second start for Los Angeles on Saturday against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers. The right-hander was acquired Sunday in a trade that ...

Giants' Wilson fined for wearing orange cleats

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson has been fined by major league baseball for wearing orange cleats during Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Florida Marlins.

The shoes, a gift from Nike presented to Wilson at the All-Star game, apparently violated the league's dress code. It was the ...

US trims roster of candidates for worlds to 15

The United States is down to just two centers, and one of them better pick it up if he wants to make it to Turkey.

USA Basketball trimmed its roster of candidates for the world championships Wednesday to 15, a guard-heavy group that features Brook Lopez and Tyson Chandler as its ...

Warriors' Lin hopes to beat Harvard stereotypes

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (AP) - The first Taiwanese-American signed by an NBA team hopes to overcome the negative stereotype of playing college basketball at Harvard and plans on eventually becoming a minister in an inner-city neighborhood.

Jeremy Lin, a 6-foot-3 undrafted point guard, signed last week with the Golden State Warriors after ...

Warriors' Lin hopes to beat Harvard stereotypes

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The first Taiwanese-American signed by an NBA team hopes to overcome the negative stereotype of playing college basketball at Harvard and plans on eventually becoming a minister in an inner-city neighborhood.

Jeremy Lin, a 6-foot-3 undrafted point guard, signed ...

Warriors' Lin hopes to beat Harvard stereotypes

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The first Taiwanese-American signed by an NBA team hopes to overcome the negative stereotype of playing college basketball at Harvard and plans on eventually becoming a minister in an inner-city neighborhood.

Jeremy Lin, a 6-foot-3 undrafted point guard, signed ...

Haynesworth must pass test, won't be with starters

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Albert Haynesworth finally showed up for work — and quickly learned the Washington Redskins won't be cutting him any slack.

On the eve of the first day of training camp, Haynesworth ended his months-long boycott of the team ...

Haynesworth must pass test, won't be with starters

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Albert Haynesworth finally showed up for work — and quickly learned the Washington Redskins won't be cutting him any slack.

On the eve of the first day of training camp, Haynesworth ended his months-long boycott of the team ...

Haynesworth must pass test, won't be with starters

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Albert Haynesworth finally showed up for work — and quickly learned the Washington Redskins won't be cutting him any slack.

On the eve of the first day of training camp, Haynesworth ended his months-long boycott of the team ...

Jets sign veteran QB Brunell to 2-year deal

NEW YORK (AP) - The Jets signed veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, who backed up Drew Brees last season for the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, to a two-year contract Wednesday.

The move had been expected for several months as New York sought an experienced quarterback to serve as a backup ...

Alabama teen shoots 57 in State Junior

MOBILE, ALA. (AP) - Bobby Wyatt shot a 57 at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship.

The University of Alabama-bound teen, who turns 18 this weekend, had 12 birdies, an eagle and five pars Wednesday on the par-71, 6,628-yard course at the Country Club of Mobile. His birdie putt hung on ...

Furyk chasing FedEx Cup lead in W.Va.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA. (AP) - Carl Pettersson felt as if someone had turned back the clock when he arrived at West Virginia's historic Greenbrier resort.

There's the white facade of the regal hotel, quaint cottages, horses towing carriages along tree-lined streets, and the Sam Snead's personal playground _ the 96-year-old ...

Creamer looks for 2nd major win at British Open

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND (AP) - After struggling for years to win a major, Paula Creamer is aiming to make it two in a row at the Women's British Open, which starts Thursday at Royal Birkdale.

Creamer shed the title of being the best women's golfer to not win a major with her ...

Tiger to play at Bridgestone Invitational

AKRON, OHIO (AP) - Tiger Woods has entered the Bridgestone Invitational next week at Firestone, where he is the defending champion and a seven-time winner of the World Golf Championship.

Woods won last year by rallying to beat Padraig Harrington, becoming the first player to win a PGA Tour event seven ...

Capitals acquire enforcer King from St. Louis

ARLINGTON, VA. (AP) - The Washington Capitals have acquired enforcer D.J. King from the St. Louis Blues for prospect Stefan Della Rovere.

The deal was announced Wednesday.

King, a left winger, has spent four seasons with the Blues but has played in only 13 games over the last two seasons because of ...

Capitals re-sign Fleischmann for $2.6M, 1 year

ARLINGTON, VA. (AP) - Forward Tomas Fleischmann has re-signed with the Washington Capitals, getting a $2.6 million, one-year contract.

The 26-year-old Fleischmann set career highs with 23 goals and 28 assists last season for the Presidents' Trophy winners, despite missing the first 11 games because of deep vein thrombosis in his ...

Winter Classic to showcase NHL's best rivalry

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Mike Knuble teed up a puck on a wooden platform a few inches above Heinz Field's green grass and lofted a perfectly placed wrist shot between the uprights.

Call it the first goal by an NHL player on the Pittsburgh Steelers' home turf. Or was it the first ...

Kings sign goal-scorer Ponikarovsky to 1-year deal

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles Kings signed left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky to a one-year contract Tuesday after losing Alexander Frolov to the New York Rangers and falling short in their pursuit of Ilya Kovalchuk.

The Kings gave a $3 million deal to Ponikarovsky, who scored 21 goals last season ...

Miami-Notre Dame to renew rivalry

CORAL GABLES, FLA. (AP) - Miami and Notre Dame have agreed to renew a football rivalry that during the 1980s helped define each program and decide several national championships.

The Hurricanes and Fighting Irish will play Oct. 6, 2012, at Soldier Field in Chicago, then play a home-and-home starting in 2016 ...

Heisman Trust: No decision yet on Bush's Heisman

NEW YORK (AP) - Southern California has already sent back its copy of Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy.

The Heisman Trust, however, has yet to decide whether it will be asking the former USC star to return the famous bronze statue he won in 2005.

The president of the Heisman Trophy Trust, New ...

Saban compares unscrupulous agents to a 'pimp'

HOOVER, ALA. (AP) - Nick Saban didn't pull punches Wednesday when discussing the improper contact with athletes by unscrupulous agents, comparing their behavior to that of a "pimp."

The Alabama coach was upset about the rash of recent agent-related incidents that have resulted in NCAA investigations at several Southeastern Conference schools.

"I ...

NCAA tournament to add four first-round games

NHL announces 2010-2011 schedule

NEW YORK | The Pittsburgh Penguins will open a new arena, and the Chicago Blackhawks will unfurl a long-awaited championship banner in the first week of the 2010-11 NHL season.

The league said Tuesday the Blackhawks will mark their first Stanley Cup title since 1961 on ...

MUELLER: After many journeys, a final farewell

Saying goodbye to loyal readers never has been easy. I had to do it years ago when the Washington Daily News and the Washington Star closed their doors and ceased publication. But to this day I've never been able to shake the rotten feeling that comes with saying a ...

Mueller: World record pending on striper

From Virginia Beach, International Game Fish Association representative Julie Ball sent word of a pending world-record 51-pound, 5-ounce striped bass that was caught on a fly rod.

Folks, this catch deserves one huge "wow" from all sport anglers.

Ball said Richie Keatley of Norfolk fooled ...

Outdoors: Uncle Sam will dip into anglers' pockets

Call it what you wish, but if by any other name a rose is still a rose, then the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's plan to register all tidal water sport anglers is little else but a new federal tax.

The NOAA said all sport fishermen not ...

NASCAR discouraging negative spin of sport

NEWTON, IOWA (AP) - NASCAR president Mike Helton insists he wants drivers to feel free to express themselves.

Helton just doesn't want anyone doing so in a way that could hurt the sport's image.

A report by The Associated Press earlier this week said that NASCAR has fined at least two of ...

Castroneves to meet with IndyCar officials

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - IndyCar series officials plan to meet with driver Helio Castroneves to discuss his conduct following last week's race at Edmonton.

Castroneves was black-flagged for blocking Penske Racing teammate Will Power on the final restart. The Brazilian crossed the finish line first, but the victory was awarded to Scott ...

Roush transferred to Mayo Clinic

ROCHESTER, MINN. (AP) - NASCAR team owner Jack Roush has been transferred to the Mayo Clinic following surgery on facial injuries he sustained in a plane crash in Wisconsin.

Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement Thursday that Roush was taken to the Mayo Clinic on Wednesday and is in serious ...

Monaco agrees deal for 10 more years of F1 racing

LONDON (AP) - Monaco Grand Prix organizers have agreed a deal to stage Formula One racing in the principality for 10 more years.

The official F1 website announced that an agreement was reached Wednesday in London between F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone and Monaco Automobile Club president Michel Boeri.

Ecclestone had claimed ...

German soccer gets ruling on Ramadan fasting

BERLIN (AP) - A Muslim group and German soccer authorities said Wednesday they have determined that professional Muslim players may break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The announcement followed a dispute involving second-division club FSV Frankfurt, which last year gave a formal warning to three of its players ...

Longtime Madrid forward Raul joins Schalke

BERLIN (AP) - Longtime Real Madrid forward Raul Gonzalez signed a two-year contract with Bundesliga club Schalke on Wednesday.

Raul joined Schalke on a free transfer after 15 seasons with Madrid, ending lengthy speculation about the move.

The club presented the 33-year-old striker at its stadium in Gelsenkirchen, giving him the No. ...

Former Madrid F Raul joins Schalke on 2-year deal

BERLIN (AP) - Longtime Real Madrid forward Raul Gonzalez completed his move to Bundesliga soccer club Schalke on Wednesday, signing a two-year contract.

Raul is joining Schalke on a free transfer after 15 seasons with Madrid. Schalke said the 33-year-old was undergoing a physical Wednesday.

Coach Felix Magath, who secured Raul's agreement ...

Report: North Korea's World Cup team reprimanded

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) - A news report says North Korea's soccer team and coach have been reprimanded by the government for the team's poor performance at the World Cup.

Radio Free Asia said the team was summoned to a closed-door meeting in Pyongyang earlier this month and criticized for its ...

Federer to work with coach Annacone

MIAMI (AP) - With his ranking on the decline, Roger Federer is working with coach Paul Annacone on a trial basis.

Annacone, an American, is the former coach of Pete Sampras. He also coached Marat Safin and Tim Henman, and is now the head coach of men's tennis for Britain's Lawn ...

Federer hires Sampras' former coach

GENEVA (AP) — Roger Federer has hired Pete Sampras' former coach to help him work on returning to his winning ways.

Federer said on his website Monday that he has "decided to spend some days" with Paul Annacone.

Federer has slumped from ...

Federer hires Sampras' former coach

GENEVA (AP) - Roger Federer has hired Pete Sampras' former coach to help him work on returning to his winning ways.

Federer said on his website Monday that he has "decided to spend some days" with Paul Annacone.

Federer has slumped from No. 1 in the ATP rankings to third following his ...

Soderling pulls out of Washington tennis

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two-time French Open runner-up Robin soderling has pulled out of next month's Legg Mason Tennis Classic for personal reasons.

Tournament organizers announced his withdrawal Friday night. The hard-court tournament featuring Andy Roddick and Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych begins Aug. 1.