Nationwide
We are a month into the basketball season. The men are 4-2, and the women are kicking some major butt at 6-0. Both teams look good and are primed to make a run at a CAA title.
One can hope anyway.
The men were picked to finish 6th in the CAA this year in a pre-season coaches poll.
Pro Football
PHILADELPHIA – Donovan McNabb could be sidelined between eight and 12 months after having surgery to repair a torn knee ligament.
McNabb, a five-time Pro Bowl quarterback, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the second quarter of the Eagles’ loss to Tennessee last week. It was his third season-ending injury in mid-November in the last five years.
Renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews performed the reconstructive knee surgery in Birmingham, Ala. Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said McNabb also needed expected repairs to his meniscus, fibers and cartilage in the knee.
He added there was a “good” chance McNabb will be healthy for Philadelphia’s season opener, which would be about nine months.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Running back Priest Holmes will not return to the Kansas City Chiefs this season.
However, Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson said that medical tests on Holmes have been encouraging and Holmes hopes to return for the 2007 season. It was the last day the Chiefs could have activated Holmes.
The three-time Pro Bowler, who turned 33 last month, has not played since Oct. 30, 2005, when he was injured on a hit by Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman in a game at San Diego.
PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.
ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders replaced offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, promoting tight ends coach John Shoop to take charge of the team’s struggling offense.
WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Johnnie Bettis, the father of retired NFL running back Jerome Bettis, died at a suburban Detroit hospital of an apparent heart attack, police said.
Johnnie Bettis, 61, of Detroit, was stricken while driving in a suburb north of the city around noon, police Lt. Carl Fuhs said.
Baseball
BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox cannot reduce their $51.1 million bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka in order to sign him, even if his Japanese team agrees to take less, baseball officials said.
A Red Sox official said the team is not trying to reduce the bid, called a posting fee, which was by far the highest in baseball history. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting publicly on the negotiations.
Boston bid $51.1 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic in March. The team has until the end of Dec. 14 to sign him or he would return to the Seibu Lions for another season before he could be posted again.
NEW YORK – The New York Yankees got a chance to sign a Japanese pitcher on their second try this offseason, winning the rights to Kei Igawa after losing out to the Boston Red Sox two weeks ago for Daisuke Matsuzaka.
New York’s offer of $26,000,194 – the last three digits matching his strikeout total this year – was the highest bid among major league teams for Igawa, and it was accepted by his Japanese team, the Hanshin Tigers.
LOS ANGELES – Randy Wolf and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized an $8 million, one-year contract. Wolf gets $7.5 million next year, and the Dodgers have a $9 million option for 2008 with a $500,000 buyout. His 2008 salary would become guaranteed if Wolf pitches 180 innings next season.
ST. LOUIS – The Cardinals made their first big moves since winning the World Series, agreeing to a $10 million, three-year contract with second baseman Adam Kennedy and a $4 million, one-year deal with right-hander Kip Wells.
BALTIMORE – Adding another pair of relievers, the Baltimore Orioles reached preliminary agreements with Chad Bradford and Scott Williamson and also neared a deal to re-sign first baseman Kevin Millar.
TORONTO – Gregg Zaun remained with the Toronto Blue Jays, agreeing to a $7.25 million, two-year contract after Rod Barajas backed out of an apparent deal.
College Football
NORMAN, Okla. – No. 8 Oklahoma will be without star tailback Adrian Peterson when it faces No. 19 Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game Saturday.
Peterson, the 2004 Heisman runner-up, has missed six weeks after breaking his collarbone Oct. 14 on a touchdown run against Iowa State.
Peterson, the nation’s No. 2 rusher at the time of his injury, initially was expected to miss six weeks.