Despite army takeover, fear strong in Mexican town
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press CIUDAD MIER, Mexico (AP) -- Schoolchildren once again chatter and scamper across the town plaza where drug gang gunmen last year torched the police station and left the remains of a dismembered man. By night, towns
Eagles prepare for Vick's return against Dolphins
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Eagles are finally getting their quarterback back. Perhaps too little, too late. Michael Vick, the NFC's starting Pro Bowl quarterback a year ago, returned to practice Monday after missing three games with two broken ribs, and will
AP Interview: Haiti leader says Venezuela aid key
By IAN JAMES Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Haitian President Michel Martelly says aid and fuel shipments from Venezuela are having a big impact in the Caribbean country as it attempts to recover from the devastation of its 2010 earthquake. P
Global Witness quits blood diamonds regulator
By DONNA BRYSON Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- A major human rights watchdog left the international body charged with keeping blood diamonds off the market, accusing the regulatory group of refusing to address links between the gems, violence and t
Contenders and pretenders for NFL playoffs
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- With a month left in the regular season, the Packers, 49ers and Saints have separated themselves from the rest of the NFC, and perhaps the rest of the league. Green Bay and San Francisco already have
Planet in sweet spot of Goldilocks zone for life
By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- A newly discovered planet is eerily similar to Earth and is sitting outside our solar system in what seems to be the ideal place for life, except for one hitch. It's a bit too big. The planet is smac
Rush for Christmas start leaves NBA in disarray
By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer THE lockout ended, and the NBA's woes were just beginning. Dwight Howard asked to be traded. Chris Paul was dealt to the Lakers, it seemed, until the league decided he wasn't. So the Lakers made another trade, which
Drogba takes Chelsea into Champions League last 16
By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) -- With Chelsea's Champions League progress secured with a ruthless victory over Valencia, Andre Villas-Boas had the confidence -- after weeks of pent-up frustration -- to take on his critics. The manager declared
Despite army takeover, fear strong in Mexican town
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press CIUDAD MIER, Mexico (AP) -- Schoolchildren once again chatter and scamper across the town plaza where drug gang gunmen last year torched the police station and left the remains of a dismembered man. By night, towns
Eagles prepare for Vick's return against Dolphins
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Eagles are finally getting their quarterback back. Perhaps too little, too late. Michael Vick, the NFC's starting Pro Bowl quarterback a year ago, returned to practice Monday after missing three games with two broken ribs, and will
Lighting Niagara Falls has long, colourful history
By CAROLYN THOMPSON Associated Press NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario (AP) -- You can't take a boat ride into the roar and spray of Niagara Falls in the winter, but this time of year offers a different spectacle: Nighttime illumination of the falls in a changing a
Global Witness quits blood diamonds regulator
By DONNA BRYSON Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- A major human rights watchdog left the international body charged with keeping blood diamonds off the market, accusing the regulatory group of refusing to address links between the gems, violence and t
New Mavs Odom, Carter eager to help defend title
By JAIME ARON AP Sports Writer DALLAS (AP) -- Lamar Odom knows what it takes to repeat as an NBA champion. Vince Carter wants to know what it feels like to become an NBA champion. The Dallas Mavericks are hoping a little of both -- Odom's experience and Ca
Packers perfect after 46-16 win over Raiders
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AP) -- Winning every week is one thing. On Sunday, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers made a legitimate playoff contender look like a team that was ready to pack its bags. Rodgers threw for 281 yards with two touchdowns and an in
Number of traffic accident victims rises to 8
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- A Haitian official says the death toll from the collision of a dump truck and a bus has risen to eight. Mayor Santos Alexis of Leogane said Saturday that three people died after being taken to a hospital. Five others died at t
Takeaways help Eagles beat the Dolphins 26-10
MIAMI (AP) -- Early in the game, Michael Vick's helmet went rolling into his end zone, an apt symbol for the direction of the Philadelphia Eagles' season. Time to concede? Not quite. Not against the self-destructive Miami Dolphins. Vick made a triumphant r
Noriega returns to Panama a largely forgotten man
By JUAN ZAMORANO Associated Press PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) -- More than two decades after the US forced him from power, Manuel Noriega returned to Panama on Sunday as a prisoner and, to many of those he once ruled with impunity, an irrelevant man. Some Pa
Kobe upset by Odom's departure for Dallas
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- The Lakers traded forward Lamar Odom and a second-round draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks last night for a first-round pick and an $8.9 million trade exception, capping Los Angeles' stunning 72-
Suns re-sign Hill, sign Telfair, Morris
PHOENIX (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns re-signed forward Grant Hill on Sunday and signed guard Sebastian Telfair and first-round pick Markieff Morris. The 39-year-old Hill averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 80 games last season, his fourth with the Suns an
THE CHAMPIONS
By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net Led by a dynamic MVP performance off the bench from John Delancey, the Sts. Francis & Joseph Shockers unseated the defending champions to claim the 2011 Catholic Diocesan Primary School Basket
Sisters aim to defend Olympic doubles title
By DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press MILAN (AP) -- The Williams sisters want to defend their Olympic doubles title in London next summer. Serena Williams said that she and sister Venus are eager to go for their third Olympic gold together after victories at
Dolphins players surprised at Sparano firing
DAVIE, Florida (AP) -- A number of key Dolphin players expressed their surprise Tuesday that coach Tony Sparano was fired with only three games remaining in the season. Chad Henne, Will Allen, Davone Bess, Dan Carpenter, Brian Hartline and Brandon Fields s
Inter Milan beats Genoa 1-0 in Serie A
By DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press MILAN (AP) -- Inter Milan's revival gathered pace on Tuesday with a 1-0 win at Genoa that moved the club into the top half of the Serie A table. However, the entertainment of the night was to be found in Sicily, where Si
Fletcher to take break because of bowel disease
By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) -- After months of putting his health at risk while playing with a chronic bowel disease, Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been forced take an extended break from football to rest and recuperate.
New operating system for space: High-tech tycoons
By DONNA BLANKINSHIP and SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press Writers SEATTLE (AP) -- The tycoons of cyberspace are looking to bankroll America's resurgence in outer space, reviving "Star Trek" dreams that first interested them in science. Microsoft co-founde
Madrid beats third-tier Ponferradina 2-0 in Copa
By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid shrugged off its weekend defeat by Barcelona to beat third-tier Ponferradina 2-0 away in the fourth round of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. Jose Callejon put the cup holders ahead in the
Tennis exhibition is all set for the Atlantis Tennis Complex on Saturday
As part of the annual Mark Knowles Celebrity Tennis Invitational, an exhibition is slated for 3pm December 3 at the Atlantis Tennis Complex. The organisers are building a special centre court at Atlantis which is expected to hold 1,000 spectators to view
Tsonga beats Nadal to reach the semifinals
By MATTIAS KAREN AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) -- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga qualified for the semifinals in the ATP World Tour Finals at the expense of Rafael Nadal, beating the second-ranked Spaniard 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-3 on Thursday in a decisive round-robin match.
Mexico: Captured cartel leader had an arsenal
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexican authorities said Tuesday that an alleged founder of the Zetas drug cartel had an arsenal of 169 guns when he was captured Monday, and may have been linked to the abduction of nine Mexican marines. Navy spokesman Jose Luis Vergar
Marino's yards passing record in jeopardy
NEW YORK (AP) -- Dan Marino long ago moved to the comfort of the broadcast booth. His passing record of 5,084 yards, set in 1984, has withstood strong-armed challenges for more than a quarter-century. It looks as if that record is about to fall, and not at
Two more years of house arrest for anti-Chavez judge
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan authorities on Tuesday extended house arrest for a judge whose case has been strongly criticized by human rights groups. Judge Ali Fabricio Paredes ruled that his colleague, Maria Lourdes Afiuni, must remain under hous
Gearing up for campaign, Chavez boosts spending
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez is launching new social programmes including hikes in pensions and a $100-a-month cash payment for needy children as he prepares for his re-election bid next year. Chavez
Seahawks pull away for 30-13 win over Rams
By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) -- What impresses Marshawn Lynch isn't his streak of nine straight games with a touchdown or yet another 100-yard performance. It's that the Seattle Seahawks' offensive line hasn't missed a beat despite season-en
Dwight Howard saga could go 'to end of season'
ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- Magic general manager Otis Smith says the team's goal remains to keep Dwight Howard in a Magic uniform as long as they possibly can and that the trade talks "could go to the end of the season." Smith would not say Wednesday whether
Mississippi defeats Louisiana-Lafayette 66-54
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- Dundrecous Nelson scored 21 points, including five 3-pointers, as Mississippi defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 66-54 Wednesday night for its sixth consecutive win. Nick Williams added 12 points, five rebounds and a pair of assists for the
Wolves, Birmingham contest FA Cup replay
By STUART CONDIE AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) -- Although Wolverhampton Wanderers could trade divisions with Birmingham at the end of the season, the relegation-threatened Premier League club will get a chance to put its local rival in its place when the
49ers thrilled to stay home for NFC title game
By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer SANTA CLARA, California (AP) -- Any cold-weather garments Vernon Davis owns are getting tossed aside as quickly as he changed San Francisco's playoff fortunes with a game-winning touchdown catch against the favoured Sain
Ravens need to crank up offense to beat Patriots
By DAVID GINSBURG AP Sports Writer OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- For the Baltimore Ravens, the term "balanced attack" usually means an equal distribution of tackles among everyone on the defense not named Ray Lewis. The Ravens' strength has long been its abil
Americans are all smiles after Presidents Cup win
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Looking happier than he has all year, Tiger Woods slipped into the gallery for high fives and back slaps while wearing a green cap that he borrowed from the "Fanatics," the famous cheer squad th
American teen gains 2nd round at Australian Open
By JUSTIN BERGMAN Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Sloane Stephens says there's no need for hand-wringing over the future of American women's tennis in the post-Williams era -- the kids are going to be all right. The 18-year-old Floridan, who
Mortier wins 18 & under singles title
By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH only three players entered in the draw, Dominique Mortier only needed to play one match to become the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association's Junior Nationals girls 18-and-under singles champ
Heat dominate 2nd half, roll past Spurs 120-98
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) -- LeBron James scored 33 points, Chris Bosh added 30 and the Miami Heat used a historic third-quarter turnaround to erase a big deficit and beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-98 on Tuesday night, snapping a three-g
Bucks trade Jackson, Bogut to Warriors for Monta Ellis
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Milwaukee Bucks traded Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night for a three-player package headed by high-scoring guard Monta Ellis. The Bucks also receive forward Ekpe Udoh and center Kwame Brown
DARVISH, TEXAS AGREE TO DEAL AT DEADLINE
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers have reached a deadline deal. The two-time defending American League champion Rangers and the 25-year-old Darvish, who is considered Japan's best pitcher, came to an agreement on a $60 million, six-
Pacquiao camp: No fight with Mayweather on May 5
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Manny Pacquiao's camp says there is no economic sense in setting up a bout with Floyd Mayweather on May 5 after the unbeaten American publicly challenged the Filipino champion via Twitter. Pacquiao's financial adviser Michael Ko
Wozniacki, Clijsters into 3rd round
By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Defending champion Kim Clijsters and No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the third round of the Australian Open in contrasting styles on Wednesday. Clijsters needed only 47 minutes to beat
Look for a Super Bowl rematch in Indianapolis
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer GET ready for the rematch. The Super Bowl rematch, not the Harbaugh coaching family reunion. For a Super Bowl redux to happen, the New York Giants will need another huge road win, this time at San Francisco. And whe
Celtics' Rondo injured on flagrant foul
BOSTON (AP) -- Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo injured his right wrist when he was leveled on a flagrant foul by Toronto's Linas Kleiza on Wednesday night. Rondo was driving for a layup with 2:12 left in the third quarter when he was hit hard by Kleiza, wh
Wall, Young help Wizards break Thunder streak
WASHINGTON (AP) -- John Wall scored 25 points, Nick Young had 24 and Jordan Crawford added 18 to lead Washington to a 105-102 victory over Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, snapping the Thunder's seven-game winning streak and giving the Wizards just their
Source: Gordon agrees to max deal with Suns
PHOENIX (AP) -- Restricted free agent guard Eric Gordon has agreed to a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns worth about $58 million, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The New Orleans Hornets have the right to match the deal and k