Pettitte, Yanks go for title against old foe Pedro

NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Pettitte leaned forward in his chair and recounted a recent chat he had with Derek Jeter as soon as they realized what was next in this World Series.

Pettitte vs. old foe Pedro Martinez, with the Yankees one win from ecstasy.

Still chasing that elusive 27th championship, New York turns to Pettitte once again in Game 6 on Wednesday night, hoping he can pitch his team past the Philadelphia Phillies on only three days' rest.

Howard piling up strikeouts at record pace in WS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ryan Howard's World Series can be summed up like this: swing and miss.

Over and over, Howard has gone down swinging against the New York Yankees. Overall, the Philadelphia Phillies' slugger has struck out 12 times in the first five games, tying Willie Aikens for most whiffs in a World Series. Aikens did it with Kansas City against the Phillies in 1980.

Howard has been prone to striking out throughout his career. The 2006 NL MVP fanned 199 times in 2007 and 2008. Only Arizona's Mark Reynolds has K'ed more times in one season.

Bad NFL tackling? It's because they don't practice

Frank Gore runs right up the gut of the Indianapolis defense. Defensive back Jerraud Powers delivers a big body-blow, but Gore just bounces off and keeps on running, one of two broken tackles on the way to a 64-yard San Francisco touchdown.

Baltimore's Ray Rice catches a screen pass and is surrounded by four Cincinnati would-be tacklers - emphasis on "would-be." Rice's right hand touches the ground, but he keeps running right through the Bengals for a 48-yard score.

Mangini mum on GM's sudden ouster

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The convoluted ouster of George Kokinis as Cleveland's general manager barely made a ripple in the Browns' locker room.

These guys are accustomed to losses.

Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas hardly knew Kokinis, who was hired in January and left the club under unexplained circumstances on Monday.

"He wasn't around too much, and when he was, he was pretty quiet," Thomas said.

Seattle cuts ties with Edgerrin James

RENTON, Wash. (AP) - The struggling Seattle Seahawks have released running back Edgerrin James.

The Seahawks made the move Tuesday, two days after a lackluster 38-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

James signed with Seattle in late August hoping to revitalize a career that fell flat after moving from Indianapolis to Arizona.

In seven games as the backup to Julius Jones, James had just 46 carries for 125 yards and no scores. He averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.

Utley, Lee help Phils stave off Series elimination

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Put those parade plans on hold, New York. The Phillies are coming back.

Desperate to hang onto their World Series title and hounded by the Yankees to the very last swing, Philadelphia somehow held on for an 8-6 win Monday night in Game 5.

Chase Utley hit two home runs to raise his Series total to a record-tying five, Cliff Lee won again and Philadelphia cut its deficit to 3-2.

Cable believes he will remain Raiders coach

Despite win, Dolphins offense needs jump start

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — With one kickoff return, Ted Ginn Jr. nearly matched the Miami Dolphins' offensive yardage total for the entire day.

Good for Ginn. Bad for the offense.

In a 30-25 victory Sunday over the New York Jets, the Dolphins netted only 104 yards rushing and passing, the third-lowest total in franchise history and the worst since 1999.

Ginn totaled about as much in a 14-second span, returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Then he returned the Jets' next kickoff 101 yards for another score.

In the Pits: Time to address Talladega issues

JENNA FRYER,AP Auto Racing Writer

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — NASCAR will point to the 58 lead changes among 26 drivers as proof of a good race at Talladega Superspeedway.

But pushing those stats is much like a used car salesman trying to unload a lemon. You can spit-shine the product all you want, but a dud is still a dud.

Former rivals Bird, Magic co-author book

Larry Bird doesn't understand what all the fuss was about. So what if LeBron James didn't shake hands with the Orlando Magic after his Cleveland Cavaliers lost in the Eastern Conference finals?

"When basketball is over you live the rest of your life, and you'll have plenty of time for that," Bird said of players being friends with their opponents.

His greatest rival — and now one of his greatest friends — agreed.

"We never shook each others' hands," Magic Johnson said.

Romo's steady side has Cowboys surging

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Tony Romo has gone from swashbuckling to steady. Dare we say "workman-type"?

Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips came up with that answering a question about his quarterback after Sunday's 38-17 victory against Seattle. Romo had just finished his career-best third straight game without an interception, which happens to coincide with a three-game winning streak that ties Dallas with Philadelphia atop the NFC East and sets up a first-place showdown Sunday night.

Rondo agrees to contract extension with Celtics

BOSTON (AP) — Rajon Rondo says he has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Celtics, keeping the star point guard from entering the market as a restricted free agent after the season.

The deal has yet to be signed but Rondo said Monday that was just a "formality."

"That's the biggest thing for me, take care of my family," Rondo said. "I'm very excited."

Talks between Rondo's agent Bill Duffy and the Celtics became more focused last week, just before the team's opener.

A-Rod, Damon leave Phillies on brink

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Alex Rodriguez waited all game long for this hit. Heck, he waited his whole life.

Rodriguez delivered the biggest hit of his career, a go-ahead, two-out double in the ninth inning off Brad Lidge and the New York Yankees took advantage of Johnny Damon's daring dash to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Sunday night for a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

Derek Jeter came through again and Mariano Rivera finished it off as the Yankees moved within one win of that elusive 27th championship and first since 2000.

McMurray snaps 86-race winless streak

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — NASCAR demanded drivers be on their best behavior at Talladega Superspeedway, where a ban on bump-drafting sanitized what's usually one of the most spectacular races of the season.

In the end, chaos reigned, just like always.

After 450 miles of what resembled a slow Sunday drive, the action picked up and the outcome was much of what everyone has come to expect out of Talladega: An unlikely winner, two spectacular crashes and an army of drivers frustrated about the unpredictability of restrictor-plate racing.

American Meb Keflezighi wins NYC Marathon

NEW YORK (AP) — That day in Central Park two years ago was shaping up as a triumphant symbol of the resurgence in American distance running Meb Keflezighi helped inspire.

He left with an aching hip and, far worse, an aching heart.

Keflezighi was back Sunday, wiping away tears after the New York City Marathon — for his historic victory for his country, for his recovery from an injury he once feared might end his career.

And for Ryan Shay, his friend who collapsed and died at the U.S. Olympic trials in New York in 2007.

Texas back to No. 2 in AP Top 25

NEW YORK — Texas is back to No. 2 in the AP college football poll.

The Longhorns jumped Alabama and landed right behind top-ranked Florida on Sunday, a day after winning 41-14 at Oklahoma State in their best performance of the season.

Florida, No. 1 for all but one week this season, received 38 first-place votes after a 41-17 victory over Georgia.

Fisher tops Cabrera

CASARES, Spain — England's Ross Fisher beat Masters champion Angel Cabrera on the 39th hole Saturday to set up a World Match Play Championship final against American Anthony Kim, a 5-and-4 winner over Australia's Robert Allenby.

Fisher won after Cabrera took five shots to reach the green on the final hole. Fisher hit his second shot from 244 yards to 5 feet at Finca Cortesin.

Kim, who beat Allenby 5 and 3 in the Presidents Cup, overcame an early two-hole deficit, pulling away at the 27th hole when he holed an approach from 101 yards.

Patriots, Welker start well, finish strong

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The excitement doesn't start until Wes Welker catches a short pass from Tom Brady. Then the NFL's leading receiver leaves defenders grabbing air as he weaves through them for extra yards.

The New England Patriots follow the same pattern — a promising beginning to a season and a better ending. For them, the key to success is wins after October. For Welker, it's yards after catch.

Big Baby catches a big break from Celtics

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics elected not to suspend forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis after an early morning fight with a childhood friend the day before the season opener left him sidelined for at least five weeks with a broken right thumb.

The Celtics did fine Davis an undisclosed amount.

Executive vice president Danny Ainge made the announcement with Davis seated next to him in a press conference Friday before the Celtics' game against the Chicago Bulls, saying the club wanted to keep him around to work out with the team.

Celtics stomp on Bulls

BOSTON (AP) — Paul Pierce scored 20 of his 22 points in the third quarter, and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 118-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night in the teams' first matchup since last spring's thrilling seven-game playoff series.

Ray Allen had 20 points for Boston and Kevin Garnett, who missed the final 25 games of the regular season and the playoffs with strained ligaments in his right knee, added 16. Rajon Rondo had 16 assists and eight rebounds as the Celtics improved to 3-0.

College roundup: Maine tips Vermont

ORONO - Freshman Adam Shemansky scored a pair of goals to lead the University of Maine to a 4-1 victory over Vermont in men's hockey action Friday night.
The Black Bears (2-5) opened the scoring 5:23 into the first period on Kevin Swallow's second goal of the season. Maine extended its lead to 2-0 just over four minutes later when Shemansky found the back of the net for the fourth time this year.

Bats look to break out as Series shifts to Philly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter almost seems to delight in the way this World Series is playing out.

Forget all those power hitters. Pitching is priceless.

"I told you," he said with a smile.

Jeter and the Yankees totaled four runs in the first two games and still eked out one win at home. Now, the Series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Saturday, with Cole Hamels set to start for the Phillies against fellow lefty Andy Pettitte.

Browns coordinator upset by planned protest

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Eric Mangini has a Darth Vader mask hanging in his office. Appropriate perhaps, considering how Browns fans feel about their team these days.

Fan displeasure is running rampant in Cleveland, where a 1-6 start has the Browns headed toward their eighth losing season in 11 years since returning to the NFL. Two longtime season-ticket holders are planning a protest before Cleveland's Monday night game on Nov. 16, urging fans to stay away from their seats for the opening kickoff to send a message after so many years of losing.

Samuelson uses running to spread green message

NEW YORK (AP) — Joan Benoit Samuelson loves to end a summer run with a dip in the ocean. No better way to stretch out her legs than a little breaststroke kick.

Once the weather turns colder at her Maine home, she won't bother to drive to a health club to swim in an indoor pool. It reflects a message she wants to send on a broader scale: simplify lives, connect with nature.

Experts: HS football concussions merit more study

NEW YORK (AP) — While headlines focused this week on potential long-term risks of head injuries to pro football players, Jarek Dombrowski was just hoping to get through his school days without the headaches coming back.

Jarek, 16, returned to high school in Norwich, Conn., on Monday after a neurologist sent him home for most of last week. He suffered a concussion during football practice, and while the nausea and blurred vision he endured in class the next day had gone away, the headaches continued.