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.

McGrew to stay with Earnhardt in 2010

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Lance McGrew had the interim tag removed from his crew chief title Friday when Hendrick Motorsports said he'll stay with Dale Earnhardt Jr. next season.

McGrew replaced Tony Eury Jr. in late May in an effort to save Earnhardt's sinking season. Team owner Rick Hendrick used the rest of the year to evaluate the No. 88 team, and decided McGrew is the best fit for the long-term direction of NASCAR's most popular driver.

NFL's 3 undefeated teams all have Purdue QBs

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Perhaps the secret to NFL perfection is having a former Purdue quarterback on your roster.

The New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts are a combined 18-0 this season, and they are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the league. New Orleans' Drew Brees and Denver's Kyle Orton are having career years, while Indianapolis rookie Curtis Painter is learning under Peyton Manning.

Waltrip parked for aggressive driving at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — NASCAR has pulled Michael Waltrip off the track for aggressive driving at Talladega Superspeedway.

Waltrip was warned to give Jimmie Johnson some space during Friday's final practice session as he bump-drafted behind Johnson's car. When Waltrip didn't let up, he was black-flagged for the final 30 minutes of practice.

Packers hope 'Bad Brett' resurfaces Sunday

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson thought he'd earned a nice souvenir in Minnesota earlier this month, only to have it taken away on a pass interference penalty.

Now comes Woodson's next big chance at an interception off former teammate Brett Favre.

"I thought I had one," Woodson said. "So we'll take another shot at it on Sunday."

But going into Sunday's mega-matchup between the Packers and Vikings at Lambeau Field, those Favre interceptions suddenly are a lot harder to come by.

Yankees take one back

Defense shines as Heels beat Hokies

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Casey Barth kicked a 21-yard field goal on the final play and North Carolina stopped No. 14 Virginia Tech all night in a 20-17 victory on Thursday night.

The Tar Heels (5-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) got their first conference win after forcing a fumble by Ryan Williams at his own 24 with 2:02 left and turning it into the winning drive.

The Hokies (5-3, 3-2), who until losing to No. 11 Georgia Tech 12 days ago were in the national championship picture, lost their second straight.

Bulls beat Spurs

CHICAGO (AP) — Derrick Rose scored 13 points and had seven assists to lead the balanced Chicago Bulls to an impressive 92-85 season-opening victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.

Jim Brown shares lessons with college athletes

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (AP) — The NFL and its playersunonshre te lae orfalig o ak creofthsewh rtie fro football damaged by its violent collisions, Hall of Famer Jim Brown said Thursday.

One day after appearing before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee for a hearing on head injuries in football, Brown said in a series of talks at Williams College that the league's failure to take care of retired players is "a crying shame."

Penguins' Malkin sidelined with shoulder injury

PITTSBURGH (AP) — NHL scoring champion Evgeni Malkin will be lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins for two to three weeks because of a strained right shoulder.

Malkin had been attempting to play through the injury, but coach Dan Bylsma said the team decided to rest the center. The Russian star would miss seven games if he is out two weeks and 10 games if he is out three.

Zubrus lifts Devils past Bruins

BOSTON (AP) — Yann Danis gave Martin Brodeur a rare night off - and the New Jersey Devils two more points on the road.

Danis made 31 saves in his first appearance of the season, and Dainius Zubrus scored with 1:26 left to lead the Devils to their sixth consecutive road victory, 2-1 over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

"I was waiting for this one for awhile," Danis said. "I was nervous before the game, but it's definitely good to get the first one out of the way."

Zubrus scored off a rebound of Jamie Langenbrunner's shot.

Ovechkin scores twice in Caps win

ATLANTA — Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 12th and 13th goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped a penalty shot and the first-place Washington Capitals held on at the end to hand Atlanta its fourth straight loss, 4-3 on Thursday night.

Ovechkin didn't get a chance to go against fellow Russian Ilya Kovalchuk. Atlanta's star sat out his first game since breaking his right foot last weekend.

Saints lose FB Evans for rest of the season

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Sean Payton brought fullback Heath Evans to the Saints with the aim of gaining versatility on the field and leadership in the locker room.

The Saints will have to settle for the latter for the rest of this season.

The Saints placed Evans on injured reserve, Payton said Thursday, because of a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear that occurred in last Sunday's comeback victory in Miami.

NBA to investigate new accusations by Tim Donaghy

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA will review accusations by former referee Tim Donaghy that were posted online - even though the publisher is blowing the whistle on the book they were to appear in.

Random House said Thursday it won't go forward with the tell-all Donaghy wrote in prison.

Fisher hands QB reigns to Young

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams wants more of Vince Young. He's getting just that with his winless team switching from veteran Kerry Collins back to the 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Coach Jeff Fisher announced the expected move Thursday following practice for the 0-6 Titans, and Young got the news from his coach in the morning. Fisher insists it was an organizational decision resulting from the team's winless start and that he won't play musical chairs with the position.

To beat Favre, Packers need to turn up heat

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — It's the soothing mantra recited weekly by virtually every NFL defensive coordinator: Stop the run. Stop the run. Stop the run.

But as the Green Bay Packers showed in their loss at Minnesota earlier this month, stopping the run is only a starting point for a defense facing a good passing game led by a motivated, familiar opponent.

If the Packers don't get more pressure on Brett Favre in Sunday's mega-matchup at Lambeau Field, there's every reason to believe their former quarterback will simply carve them up again.

Foreman finally at peace with loss to Ali

The reminder that yet another anniversary is here had George Foreman thinking that maybe it's time to visit an old friend.

They once had their differences, once came to blows. Time, though, is a great healer.

"Maybe I should go and see him," Foreman said. "He's like a brother. We're that close."

Phillies take Yankees for a ride

Pedro regrets tossing Zimmer to ground in 2003

NEW YORK (AP) — Pedro Martinez walked into a packed interview room in the basement of Yankee Stadium and peered out at all the cameras and reporters waiting for him.

"They don't get tired of it, huh?" he said.

Not in New York, that's for sure.

One of baseball's most colorful characters, Martinez is set to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies against A.J. Burnett and the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday night.