TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - No. 3 Alabama coach Nick Saban is adamant that he doesn't want his team's approach to change with No. 9 LSU visiting.

Saban borrowed Monday from Joe Girardi, saying the Yankees manager said the best way to close out the World Series was to play good baseball.

Saban said he wants the Crimson Tide to focus on playing good football and think about what they have to gain, not what they could lose. Alabama could clinch a spot in the SEC championship game with a win Saturday, or LSU could move into the driver's seat.

Tight end Colin Peek is trying to work his way back from a sprained knee. Saban said the team's No. 2 receiver was day-to-day. Running back Terry Grant and defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick are also day-to-day with pulled muscles.




GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida coach Urban Meyer has suspended Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt after the star linebacker attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in a 41-17 victory.

Meyer says Spikes was retaliating after getting his eye poked earlier in the game.

Spikes is fourth on the team with 42 tackles and has three sacks. He decided to return for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft. The team's defensive captain has missed most of two games this season with an injured groin. He played only a series against Arkansas and sat out the entire game at Mississippi State on Oct. 24.




BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The Southeastern Conference named Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon, Auburn cornerback Walt McFadden and Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis as its players of the week.

Auburn's McFadden tied a career-high with five tackles and returned the first of two interceptions for a touchdown against Mississippi. Auburn end Antonio Coleman won defensive line honors.

Dixon rushed for a school-record 252 yards and two touchdowns in State's win over Kentucky. It's the SEC's highest total this season.

Sturgis won special teams honors after kicking a career-long 56-yard field goal and making a 44-yarder in Florida's win over Georgia.

Arkansas guard Mitch Petrus was offensive lineman of the week while Tennessee defensive back Janzen Jackson was freshman of the week.

Abbeville High School (3A) 30	Headland High School (3A) 6
Alabama Christian Academy (4A) 60	Bullock County High School (4A) 28
Albertville High School (5A) 14	Arab High School (5A) 12
Alexandria High School (4A) 21	Hokes Bluff High School (4A) 14
Anniston High School (4A) 30	Central High School, Coosa (4A) 7
Ardmore High School (4A) 34	Lawrence County High School (4A) 27
Auburn High School (6A) 41	Opelika High School (6A) 15
Bayside Academy (3A) 49	Central High School, Hayne. (3A) 14
Brantley High School (1A) 47	Kinston High School (1A) 12
Brewer, A. P. High School (5A) 40	Curry High School (5A) 29
Brilliant High School (1A) 35	Meek High School (1A) 20
Brindlee Mountain High School (3A) 22	Holly Pond High School (3A) 14
Buckhorn High School (6A) 31	Austin High School (6A) 24
Calera High School (4A) 61	Southside High School, Selma (4A) 26
Carver, G. W. High School (MGM) (5A) 49	Monroe County High School (5A) 13
Cedar Bluff High School (1A) 26	Gaylesville High School (1A) 14
Central High School, Flor. (4A) 21	Wilson High School (4A) 14
Central High School, P. C. (6A) 61	Smiths Station High School (6A) 0
Charles Henderson High School (5A) 14	Eufaula High School (5A) 7
Cherokee County High School (4A) 61	Ashville High School (4A) 0
Cleburne County High School (4A) 61	Handley High School (4A) 13
Clements High School (2A) 42	Cherokee High School (2A) 6
Colbert Heights High School (3A) 32	Sheffield High School (3A) 20
Columbia High School (4A) 50	Douglas High School (4A) 28
Coosa Christian School (1A) 50	Jacksonville Christian Academy (1A) 14
Cordova High School (3A) 39	West Blocton High School (3A) 14
Cottage Hill Christian Academy (3A) 21	Calhoun High School (3A) 0
Cottonwood High School (2A) 35	Long, G.W. High School (2A) 0
Cullman High School (5A) 28	Mountain Brook High School (6A) 13
Dadeville High School (3A) 39	Beulah High School (3A) 7
Dale County High School (3A) 19	Slocomb High School (3A) 0
Dallas County High School (4A) 42	Livingston High School (4A) 20
Danville High School (3A) 10	Pennington, J.B. High School (3A) 7
Daphne High School (6A) 27	Robertsdale High School (6A) 0
Demopolis High School (5A) 79	Wilcox Central High School (5A) 6
Deshler High School (4A) 47	Brooks High School (4A) 21
East Limestone High School (5A) 46	Johnson, J.O. High School (5A) 13
Elba High School (2A) 21	Houston County High School (2A) 14
Elkmont High School (3A) 56	Lauderdale County High School (3A) 20
Falkville High School (2A) 13	Cold Springs High School (2A) 6
Fayette County High School (4A) 27	West Point High School (4A) 12
Fayetteville High School (1A) 22	Donoho School (1A) 0
Florence High School (6A) 23	Briarwood Christian School (5A) 6
Fyffe High School (2A) 54	West End High School (2A) 21
Gadsden City High School (6A) 28	Clay-Chalkville High School (6A) 19
Gardendale High School (6A) 28	Homewood High School (6A) 24
Good Hope High School (3A) 42	Carbon Hill High School (3A) 19
Goshen High School (2A) 40	Saint Jude Educ. Inst. (2A) 14
Greenville High School (5A) 28	Chilton County High School (5A) 21
Gulf Shores High School (5A) 35	Faith Academy School (5A) 7
Guntersville High School (4A) 62	Priceville High School (4A) 7
Hackleburg High School (1A) 35	Berry High School (1A) 24
Hale County High School (2A) 20	Thorsby High School (2A) 12
Haleyville High School (4A) 17	Midfield High School (4A) 14
Hamilton High School (3A) 29	Vinemont High School (3A) 16
Hillcrest High School, Tusc. (6A) 37	Northridge High School (6A) 0
Holtville High School (4A) 37	Elmore County High School (4A) 26
Hoover High School (6A) 21	Pelham High School (6A) 14
Horseshoe Bend High School (2A) 14	Ohatchee High School (2A) 7
Hueytown High School (6A) 27	Jackson-Olin High School (6A) 14
Huntsville High School (6A) 42	Hazel Green High School (6A) 14
Isabella High School (2A) 29	Shades Mountain Christian Sch. (2A) 6
Jacksonville High School (4A) 36	Locust Fork High School (4A) 12
Jemison High School (4A) 49	Holt High School (4A) 28
John Carroll Catholic High Sch. (5A) 28	Talladega High School (5A) 7
Johnson, A.L. High School (1A) 28	Sunshine High School (1A) 0
Keith High School (2A) 52	Francis Marion High School (2A) 28
Leeds High School (3A) 9	Tarrant High School (3A) 7
Leroy High School (2A) 48	Mobile Christian School (2A) 13
Lexington High School (2A) 42	Red Bay High School (2A) 20
Lineville High School (2A) 29	Woodland High School (2A) 14
Loachapoka High School (1A) 21	Talladega Co. Central High Sch. (1A) 14
Lynn High School (1A) 23	Hubbertville High School (1A) 15
Madison Academy (3A) 21	Colbert County High School (3A) 12
Maplesville High School (1A) 55	Holy Spirit Catholic High School (1A) 7
Marion County High School (1A) 40	South Lamar High School (1A) 0
McAdory High School (5A) 41	Brookwood High School (5A) 14
McGill-Toolen High School (6A) 35	Baldwin County High School (6A) 20
McKenzie High School (1A) 27	Providence Christian School (1A) 6
Miller, T.R. High School (3A) 40	Choctaw County High School (3A) 14
Montgomery Academy (3A) 24	Marbury High School (3A) 14
Moody High School (5A) 20	Sylacauga High School (5A) 17
Muscle Shoals High School (5A) 17	Hartselle High School (5A) 14
North Jackson High School (4A) 44	Fairview High School (4A) 21
Oak Grove High School (4A) 41	Corner High School (4A) 7
Oneonta High School (4A) 17	Saint Clair County High School (4A) 7
Opp High School (4A) 21	Montgomery Catholic Prep Sch. (4A) 3
Oxford High School (6A) 40	Pell City High School (6A) 14
Parkway Christian Academy (1A) 34	Jefferson Christian Academy (1A) 6
Phil Campbell High School (2A) 14	Westminster Christian Academy (2A) 0
Pickens County High School (2A) 14	Fultondale High School (2A) 9
Piedmont High School (3A) 35	Glencoe High School (3A) 14
Pike County High School (3A) 13	Geneva High School (3A) 12
Pleasant Grove High School (5A) 56	Mortimer Jordan High School (5A) 10
Pleasant Valley High School (3A) 50	Weaver High School (3A) 30
Prattville High School (6A) 31	Foley High School (6A) 14
R. A. Hubbard High School (1A) 70	Resurrection Catholic, MS (1A) 0
Reeltown High School (2A) 29	Hatch, R.C. High School (2A) 6
Rehobeth High School (5A) 27	Carroll High School (5A) 10
Rogers High School (4A) 28	East Lawrence High School (4A) 6
Saks High School (4A) 29	Childersburg High School (4A) 0
Sardis High School (3A) 26	Pisgah High School (3A) 10
Shades Valley High School (6A) 34	Pinson Valley High School (6A) 0
Shelby County High School (5A) 47	Chelsea High School (5A) 32
Southern Choctaw High School (2A) 12	Red Level High School (2A) 0
Southside High School, Gad. (5A) 21	Madison County High School (5A) 14
Spain Park High School (6A) 42	Oak Mountain High School (6A) 6
Spring Garden High School (1A) 49	Skyline High School (1A) 0
Stanhope Elmore High School (6A) 21	Benjamin Russell High School (6A) 14
Straughn High School (3A) 28	Luverne High School (3A) 6
Sulligent High School (2A) 35	Oakman High School (2A) 7
Sweet Water High School (1A) 37	Blacksher, J.U. High School (1A) 7
Sylvania High School (3A) 27	New Hope High School (3A) 21
Tallassee High School (5A) 17	Valley High School (5A) 14
Tanner High School (2A) 30	Hatton High School (2A) 7
Theodore High School (6A) 27	Alma Bryant High School (6A) 6
Trinity Presbyterian School (3A) 39	Montevallo High School (3A) 6
Tuscaloosa County High School (6A) 29	Minor High School (6A) 6
UMS-Wright Prep School (4A) 43	Andalusia High School (4A) 12
Vestavia Hills High School (6A) 45	Thompson High School (6A) 21
Vina High School (1A) 46	Tharptown High School (1A) 13
Wadley High School (1A) 57	Notasulga High School (1A) 26
Walker High School (5A) 32	Erwin, E. B. High School (5A) 8
Walter Wellborn High School (3A) 21	White Plains High School (3A) 18
Washington County High School (2A) 47	Flomaton High School (2A) 20
Waterloo High School (1A) 54	Phillips High School (1A) 38
West Limestone High School (3A) 26	West Morgan High School (3A) 14
Westbrook Christian School (2A) 34	Sand Rock High School (2A) 7
Winfield High School (3A) 28	Hanceville High School (3A) 0
Winterboro High School (1A) 28	Verbena High School (1A) 18
Woodlawn High School (5A) 21	Central High School, Tusc. (5A) 14

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) - Jimmie Johnson is back in control of NASCAR's Chase for the Championship.

The three-time defending champion easily pulled away from Jeff Gordon following a restart with three laps remaining to win the Pepsi 500 on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway. The win was Johnson's fourth at the 2-mile oval, a place he has used as a personal launching pad to the title the last two years.

Johnson dominated the second half of the race but had to sweat out a series of double-file restarts following a number of late-race collisions, including one that forced the race to be red-flagged for 22 minutes with six laps remaining.

Juan Pablo Montoya was third, his fourth straight top-5 finish. Mark Martin, who started the day with an 18-point lead over Johnson, finished fourth and now trails Johnson by 12 points heading into Saturday night's race at Charlotte.



MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The New York Yankees finished a three-game sweep of Minnesota with a 4-1 victory that sends the Bronx Bombers into the American League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels. That series will begin Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The Yanks are in the ALCS for the first time since 2004.

In the final game at the Metrodome, the Yanks used a couple of seventh-inning home runs to help dismantle the place. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada went deep just one inning after the Twins had broken a scoreless tie. The Yanks added a couple insurance runs in the ninth.

Yankee starter Andy Pettitte allowed one run on three hits through six and a-third innings for his 15th career postseason win. That ties John Smoltz for the most postseason victories. Pettitte and three relievers combined on the seven-hitter, with Mariano Rivera recording the four-out save.



BOSTON (AP) - The Los Angeles Angels are back in the ALCS for the first time in four years. Vladimir Guerrero delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning off of Jonathan Papelbon in a come-from-behind 7-6 win.

The loss sends the Red Sox home for the winter, with the realization they blew a 5-1 lead in the deciding third game. The postseason sweep is the first in Angels' franchise history.

The goat for the Sox was Papelbon. The usually intimidating right-hander hadn't permitted a run in any of his 26 postseason innings before this debacle. But he gave up three runs in the ninth.



ST. LOUIS (AP) - Tony La Russa says he's not certain he wants to return for a 15th season as the St. Louis Cardinals' manager. The Cardinals were the first National League team to clinch a division title, loaded with star power in the lineup and two Cy Young candidates in the rotation. They were the first team to go home after getting swept in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.



UNDATED (AP) - The Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings are unbeaten after five games of the NFL season.

By far the biggest surprise of the NFL season are the Denver Broncos. Rookie head coach Josh McDaniels beat his former mentor Bill Belichick as the Broncos rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to stun New England 20-17 in overtime. New Broncos QB Kyle Orton moved Denver from its 2 to the end zone to tie it with a fourth-quarter drive and Matt Prater's 41-yard field goal at 4:45 of overtime sent McDaniels and the Mile High crowd into delirium in Denver. The Broncos are 5-and-0 for the first time since 1998 - the last time they went to the Super Bowl.


- Brett Favre threw for 232 yards and a touchdown as the Vikings beat St. Louis 38-10. Favre showed no signs of a letdown after beating the Packers, his former team, last week, dodging defenders and winging passes in every direction to give Minnesota its first 5-0 start in six years.

Jared Allen returned one of his two fumble recoveries 52 yards for a touchdown and Adrian Peterson rumbled in for a pair of touchdowns for the Vikings. St. Louis wore throwback uniforms from 1999, a nod to the team's only Super Bowl victory but suffered their 15th straight regular season loss.


- Eli Manning started his 83rd consecutive game despite a sore heel and the New York Giants blew out Oakland 44-7. Manning threw two scoring passes and led the Giants on touchdown drives on their first four series before going to the bench late in the second quarter.


- How about those Cincinnati Bengals? Playing for first-place in the AFC North, the Bengals took on the Ravens in Baltimore, and won. Quarterback Carson Palmer threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell with 22 seconds left to cap an 80-yard drive and the Bengals escaped with a 17-14 victory.

All five of Cincinnati's games this season have been decided by seven points or fewer. It appeared as if the Bengals (4-1) were destined to come out on the short end of this one until Palmer masterfully directed the final drive - with the help of three yellow flags. The 3-2 Ravens are now tied with Pittsburgh for second place.


- Matt Hasselbeck returned from broken ribs and tossed four TD passes in the Seattle Seahawks' most lopsided home shutout in 25 years, 41-0 over the bewildered Jacksonville Jaguars. That ends the Seahawks' three-game slide. Both teams are 2-and-3.


- Washington coach Jim Zorn may be on thin ice. He saw his Redskins blow a 17-2 third-quarter lead as Carolina scored the final 18 points of the game in a 20-17 loss to the Panthers. To get the win, the 1-3 Panthers scored the game's final 18 points. The Skins are 2-3.


- It took overtime in Kansas City but the Dallas Cowboys prevailed, beating the Chiefs 26-20. Miles Austin scored the winning touchdown in o-t on a 60-yard catch-and-run. He finished the game with 10 catches for 250 yards as the Cowboys survived numerous mistakes against the winless Chiefs. Dallas is 3-2 while the Chiefs dropped to 0-5. They are 2-28 in their last 30 games, tying expansion Tampa Bay of the 1970s for one of the worst 30-game droughts in NFL history.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - LSU fans seemingly have Florida's number.

Backup quarterback John Brantley says he has been receiving taunting text messages from numbers he does not recognize. Florida coach Urban Meyer, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio and receiver Riley Cooper have also been getting received extra calls and texts this week, apparently from LSU fans trying to get in their ears, or heads, before Saturday night's game between top-ranked Florida and No. 4 LSU.

Quarterback Tim Tebow had similar issues two years ago before Florida's 28-24 loss in Baton Rouge. He received hundreds messages. Tebow responded by pretending to dial a phone after a touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Tebow's number appears safe this time around.




TROY, Ala. (AP) - The Troy Trojans are facing a top challenger in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Trojans host Middle Tennessee on Tuesday night, seeking their fourth straight win in the series and to hold onto the Palladium Trophy that goes annually to the winner.

Middle Tennessee's spread offense is run by coordinator Tony Franklin. Franklin is the former offensive coordinator at Troy and Auburn.

The Trojans (2-2, 1-0) have won two straight games. Middle Tennessee (3-1, 1-0) has also been rolling since losing the opener, including wins over Memphis and Maryland.

The game features the league's top two quarterbacks. Troy's Levi Brown is the No. 1 passer. Middle Tennessee's Dwight Dasher is the No. 2 passer and No. 5 rusher.




AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - The Auburn Tigers leapt into the Top 25.

The Tigers made their season debut in the rankings Sunday at No. 17 after a 26-22 win at Tennessee Saturday night. They are 5-0 under first-year coach Gene Chizik.

The Tigers started last season in the Top 10, but stumbled to a 5-7 record. The No. 17 ranking is the highest they have been since going into the Vanderbilt game ranked 13th last Oct. 4.

Auburn hasn't been ranked since last year's loss to Arkansas. The Tigers visit Arkansas on Saturday.

The five wins matches Chizik's total in two seasons at Iowa State. He has Auburn 5-0 for the first time since 2006.

Alabama star linebacker Dont'a Hightower
has undergone surgery to repair a torn knee ligament.
      Coach Nick Saban said Wednesday the operation was successful and
the surgeon believes Hightower will make a full recovery.
Hightower's left knee was injured on a cut block against Arkansas
last weekend.
      The sophomore inside linebacker for No. 3 Alabama will miss the
rest of the season. He is one of the Crimson Tide's top defenders
and was an immediate starter as a freshman.
     


- Scotland's Janice Moodie shot a
bogey-free 8-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over
14-year-old Alexis Thompson in the Navistar LPGA Classic, with
Michelle Wie and top-ranked Lorena Ochoa two strokes back.
      Moodie, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, played her final
nine holes - the front nine on The Senator course at the Robert
Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex, in 6-under 30. She
birdied her final four holes and six of her last seven.
      Thompson had eight birdies and a bogey. She tied for 34th in
July in the U.S. Women's Open. Wie eagled the par-5 fifth and had
five birdies and a bogey.
      Karine Icher also opened with a 66.
     

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - The Auburn Tigers mostly breezed through September.

October brings much bigger challenges for the Tigers, starting with Saturday night's visit to Tennessee. Then come trips to Arkansas and No. 4 LSU, sandwiched around a home game against Kentucky. The month ends with No. 21 Mississippi.

Auburn coach Gene Chizik said Sunday the Tigers will have to play better in all phases to have a successful month. Auburn beat winless Ball State 54-30 Saturday night. The Tigers were favored in all four September games.

The month was mostly notable for an offensive revival. The Tigers' 181 points is just 27 fewer than in 12 games last season. That's also the most points an Auburn team has scored in the first four games of any season.




ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Bills starting cornerback Leodis McKelvin has been taken to the locker room to have tests on what is being called a leg injury sustained in the second quarter of Buffalo's game against New Orleans.

It's not clear when McKelvin was hurt, though he entered the game against the Saints on Sunday with a sore ankle, which he hurt in last week's 33-20 win over Tampa Bay. The ankle injury prevented McKelvin from handling kickoff returns against the Saints.

Scores Galores


PREP FOOTBALL
      Addison 41, Meek 12
      Alexandria 21, Walter Wellborn 0
      Alma Bryant 13, Bullock County 0
      Arab 17, Guntersville 14
      Auburn 47, Jeff Davis 0
      B.B. Comer 26, Central Coosa 21
      Baker 24, Robertsdale 7
      Barbour County 14, Dale County 7
      Bayside Academy 26, Mobile Christian 0
      Beauregard 45, Holtville 7
      Belmont, Miss. 39, Red Bay 6
      Berry 55, Brilliant 7
      Beulah 24, Ranburne 13
      Bibb County 48, Northridge 6
      Boaz 33, Lincoln 22
      Bob Jones 20, Decatur 7
      Brantley 47, Highland Home 0
      Brookwood 23, Carver-Birmingham 0
      Buckhorn 21, Grissom 20
      Cedar Bluff 35, Weaver 18
      Central-Florence 53, Cherokee 7
      Chelsea 31, Jemison 21
      Cherokee County 52, Cleburne County 14
      Chilton County 43, Tallassee 36
      Clay County 12, Saks 0
      Clay-Chalkville 13, Tuscaloosa County 7
      Clements 27, Elkmont 14
      Cleveland 21, J.B. Pennington 20
      Columbia 14, Tarrant 13
      Cottage Hill 28, A.L. Johnson 0
      Cottonwood 27, Geneva County 26
      Cullman 51, Mortimer Jordan 14
      Curry 23, Dora 18
      Dallas County 48, Francis Marion 12
      Danville 73, Priceville 6
      DAR 51, Brindlee Mountain 0
      Demopolis 25, Hillcrest 20
      Deshler 31, Colbert County 6
      Don Bosco Prep, N.J. 35, Prattville 24
      Douglas 34, New Hope 21
      East Lawrence 21, West Morgan 7
      East Limestone 55, Ardmore 20
      Edgewood Academy 34, Meadowview Christian 6
      Elba 40, Geneva 18
      Erwin 30, Springville 20
      Eufaula 21, Enterprise 9
      Fairfield 21, Wenonah 12
      Fairhope 41, UMS-Wright 21
      Fairview 41, Holly Pond 6
      Fayette County 33, Gordo 6
      Flomaton 60, Central-Hayneville 14
      Florence 28, Austin 14
      Foley 41, Mary Montgomery 13
      Fyffe 26, Gordon Lee, Ga. 0
      Gardendale 21, Thompson 14
      Gaylesville 41, Parkway Christian Academy 6
      Geraldine 43, Crossville 35
      Greene County 20, Livingston 0
      Greenville 36, Andalusia 15
      Gulf Shores 49, Wilcox Central 6
      Hackleburg 41, Hubbertville 14
      Hale County 29, Greensboro 8
      Haleyville 24, Hamilton 21
      Handley 26, Lineville 3
      Hartselle 22, Cordova 13
      Hatton 20, Lawrence County 8
      Homewood 21, Pelham 14
      Hoover 27, Oak Mountain 0
      Jackson 27, Leroy 13
      Jacksonville 21, Pleasant Valley 6
      Jacksonville Christian 39, Skyline 14
      John Essex 34, Sunshine 30
      Kinston 30, Zion Chapel 7
      Lamar County 46, R.C. Hatch 12
      Linden 39, Billingsley 0
      Luverne 47, Alabama Christian Academy 23
      Lynn 22, Marion County 8
      Madison Academy 21, West Point 6
      McGill-Toolen 24, Davidson 14
      McIntosh 12, Marengo 6, OT
      McKenzie 34, J.U. Blacksher 12
      Montevallo 55, West Blocton 13
      Moody 42, Ashville 12
      Murphy 43, Daphne 7
      Muscle Shoals 52, Wilson 6
      New Brockton 34, Ariton 6
      Oak Grove 49, Sumiton Christian 0
      Oneonta 28, Susan Moore 21
      Opelika 26, Vigor 6
      Opp 20, Straughn 7
      Oxford 21, Huntsville 3
      Parrish 32, South Lamar 0
      Phil Campbell 24, Vina 8
      Piedmont 36, Ohatchee 7
      Pisgah 40, Section 6
      Prattville Christian Academy 52, Glenwood 8
      Providence Christian 28, Donoho 0
      Red Level 46, Florala 14
      Reeltown 27, Loachapoka 0
      Rehobeth 18, Daleville 9
      Rogers 28, Sheffield 7
      Sand Rock 42, Gaston 7
      Sardis 34, West End-Walnut 7
      Shades Valley 41, Benjamin Russell 7
      Shelby County 41, Calera 14
      Smiths Station 55, Kendrick, Ga. 6
      Southern Choctaw 6, American Christian Academy 3
      Southside-Selma 18, Keith 14
      Spain Park 21, Briarwood Christian 15
      Spanish Fort 45, Hillcrest-Evergreen 0
      Sparkman 38, Hazel Green 14
      St. James 13, Montgomery Academy 10
      Sweet Water 56, J.F. Shields 0
      Sylacauga 34, Childersburg 7
      T.R. Miller 31, Clarke County 20
      Tanner 14, W. Limestone 8
      Theodore 13, Charles Henderson 7
      Thomasville 53, Sumter County 0
      Trinity Presbyterian 33, Elmore County 17
      Tuscaloosa Academy 28, Morgan Academy 27
      Valley 33, Lanett 2
      Verbena 32, Isabella 6
      Vestavia Hills 24, Mountain Brook 3
      Vinemont 35, Falkville 6
      W.S. Neal 54, Calhoun 32
      Walker 42, Brewer 2
      Washington County 34, Faith Academy 2
      White Plains 44, Spring Garden 21
      Winston County 35, Carbon Hill 0
      Woodland 35, Wadley 8



COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Mississippi wasn't ready for the Top 5 -
or South Carolina's defense.
      Star passer Jevan Snead was hounded all game and the
fourth-ranked Rebels never got in gear, losing to South Carolina
16-10 Thursday night.
      South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) had been 1-31
all-time against Top 5 foes, but left Williams-Brice Stadium with
the biggest win of coach Steve Spurrier's five seasons.
      Spencer Lanning kicked three field goals and fullback Patrick
DiMarco a key 2-yard TD catch for the Gamecocks.
      Ole Miss (2-1, 0-1) had one last chance at a go-ahead TD that
would've extended its eight-game winning streak. But Snead was
sacked by Cliff Matthews, then had a fourth-down pass knocked away
by Darian Stewart.
     

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The quarterback fight is over at Vanderbilt with coach Bobby Johnson announcing Monday that his starter is redshirt sophomore Larry Smith.

He is the quarterback who started the Commodores' Music City Bowl win last December. Smith is a former Alabama Mr. Football who led his high school team to a state title. He beat out senior Mackenzi Adams and redshirt junior Jared Funk.

The Commodores open the season Saturday night at home against Western Carolina, the first of 12 straight games.

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) - Kentucky's Rich Brooks figures it was appropriate he was the last coach to speak at Southeastern Conference media days in the first session.

He joked Wednesday that he is used to being picked to finish last each year. That's hardly a lock these days for a team that has won bowl games each of the past three seasons. One reason for Brooks to be optimistic is that he expects quarterback Mike Hartline to be much improved. He cites the progress Andre' Woodson made before his junior season.

Brooks said there should be a stronger supporting cast for Hartline as well after he worked with five freshman receivers last season.

He said the next step for the improved program is competing for an SEC title.





HOOVER, Ala. (AP) - Dan Mullen showed his youth and tech savvy with a quick tweet before addressing a few hundred Southeastern Conference reporters at media days.

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) - Arkansas' Bobby Petrino is hoping to approach the recent success of second-year coaches in the Southeastern Conference.

Petrino said Wednesday at league media days his team should be much better, deeper and more experienced after winning just two SEC games last season. At Florida, Urban Meyer won a national championship in his second year. Alabama's Nick Saban won 12 games in Year 2 last season.

Petrino said he feels by the second year players know better what the coaching staff expects and can react quicker on the field.

The Razorbacks also have 6-foot-7 quarterback Ryan Mallett, who sat out last year after transferring from Michigan. Petrino said Mallett is more mobile after trimming down more than 25 pounds from the 265 he weighed upon arriving.

At SEC Media Days in Hoover Wednesday, Slive said he has told conference coaches it is time to recommit to following the rules.

Five years ago, the league adopted a policy requiring coaches to report concerns about other SEC schools to their athletic directors. Several coaches have publicly aired out complaints or accusations about their peers or other schools in recent months.

Slive also pointed to the league's three straight football national titles and other athletic successes in saying this period might someday be regarded as the league's "golden age."

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Super 6 state football championships are being shortened from three days to two days now that the Alabama High School Athletic Association is moving them out of Birmingham's Legion Field.

The games are going to rotate between the University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn University's Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The 2009 games will be in Tuscaloosa on Dec. 3-4.

The association says the schedule for Dec. 3 will be the Class 3A final at 11 a.m., Class 1A final at 3 p.m. and Class 5A final at 7 p.m. The schedule for Dec. 4 will be the Class 4A final at 11 a.m., Class 2A final at 3 p.m. and Class 6A final at 7 p.m.

NASCAR-MAYFIELD
      Mayfield gets another day in court

      UNDATED (AP) - Attorneys for NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield were in U.S. District Court in Charlotte today.
The lawyers filed a motion today saying a federal judge correctly granted an injunction that lifted Mayfield's indefinite suspension for failing a random drug test. The filing is a response to NASCAR's request that Judge Graham Mullen's order be put on hold as the decision is appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.
      Mayfield was suspended May 9 for failing a drug test conducted eight days earlier. NASCAR has said he tested positive for methamphetamines, and Mayfield has denied ever using the illegal drug.
      NASCAR filed a motion July 6 that disputed the judge's conclusion that the chance of a false positive on Mayfield's drug test was "quite substantial. NASCAR announced three days later that Mayfield had failed another drug test this month.

NFL-MCNAIR
      Ex-NFL star had alcohol in system when he was shot

      NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities say former NFL star Steve McNair had a blood-alcohol level twice Tennessee's legal limit for driving when his girlfriend shot him to death. Tennessee Assistant Medical Examiner Feng Li (lee) says that a toxicology report showed a trace amount of marijuana in the body of Sahel Kazemi (sah-HEHL' kah-ZEE'-mee). Police say the 20-year-old Kazemi shot McNair July 4 in a Nashville condo before killing herself.
      Police say McNair was likely asleep when he was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest.

NFL-VICK/FEDERAL SENTENCE
      Former NFL star Vick's dogfighting sentence ends

      HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - Michael Vick's federal dogfighting sentence has ended and he is now free to lobby for a return to the field. Vick's attorney Lawrence Woodward told The Associated Press outside Vick's suburban Virginia home that the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback had been released from federal custody as
scheduled. That means Vick no longer has to wear the electronic monitor he's had on while under home confinement for the last two months of his 23-month dogfighting sentence.  Freedom allows Vick to step up his efforts to resume his pro football career. He hopes to meet with the NFL commissioner soon. Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL') has said he will review Vick's status after the suspended star completes his sentence. He's also said he
wants to sit down with Vick, but it's unclear when that face-to-face meeting will take place.
      If Vick is able to return to the NFL, it won't be with Atlanta. The Falcons released Vick in June.

UNDATED (AP) - Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder has won the annual All-Star game home run derby. Fielder defeated Nelson Cruz of Texas in the final round, 6-5. Both Fielder and Cruz have hit 22 home runs this regular season.

Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, a native of St. Louis, hit 15 homers but was eliminated after two rounds. Hometown star Albert Pujols of St. Louis finished fourth with 11.

San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez, Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena, Detroit's Brandon Inge and Minnesota's Joe Mauer were eliminated in the first round.





ST. LOUIS (AP) - San Francisco's Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay of Toronto will be the starting pitchers for Tuesday night's All-Star game in St. Louis.

Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, Lincecum is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA - a natural choice for NL manager Charlie Manuel. The 25-year-old right-hander is tied for the major league lead with 149 strikeouts.

Halladay was given the starting nod by AL skipper Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay. Halladay has gone 10-3 in the first half with a 2.85 ERA. He was picked over Kansas City's Zack Greinke, among others. Greinke is 10-5 with an AL-best 2.12 ERA.





ST. LOUIS (AP) - Joe Maddon's AL lineup looks like this: Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki leads off, followed by Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer batting third, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira in the cleanup spot, Boston left fielder Jason Bay fifth, followed by Texas center fielder Josh Hamilton, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill and then Halladay.

Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez will lead off for the NL, followed by Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols and Milwaukee slugger Ryan Braun in right. Raul Ibanez of the Phillies will be in left and bat fifth, in front of Mets third baseman David Wright, Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Lincecum.

The American League has a 12-game unbeaten streak in the midsummer classic. The NL's last win came in Philadelphia in 1996.





UNDATED (AP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have baseball's best record at the All-Star break, going 56-32 in the first half. The team managed by Joe Torre leads the National League West by seven games. In the NL East the leader is Philadelphia, by four games, while St. Louis is tops in the Central, by two and a-half games.

The Boston Red Sox have the best mark in the American League with 54 wins and 34 defeats. They top the East by three-games. In the Central the top club is Detroit, by three and a-half games while in the West the leader is Los Angeles by a game and-a half.

In the wild card races, San Francisco leads the NL by two games over Colorado and the Yankees lead the AL wild card standings by two and a-half games over Texas.

All told, a majority of baseball's 30 teams can be considered contenders. Some 17 teams are within four games of a playoff berth.





CHICAGO (AP) - According to two people with knowledge of the process, the corporate owner of the Chicago Cubs is considering having the baseball team file for bankruptcy protection as a legal step to hasten its long-awaited sale, Tribune Co., which itself filed for bankruptcy protection inDecember, intends for the Cubs' own stay in Chapter 11 to be as short as a day or two. If pursued, the filing would be done to give the team's next owners as "clean" a title to the Cubs as possible to protect them from possible future claims by Tribune creditors.





WASHINGTON (AP) - It's going to be a long All-Star break for Manny Acta. The sad-sack Washington Nationals pulled the cord and fired manager Acta following two and a-half seasons perennially in last place. The Nationals posted a 26-and-61 first half of the season. Their 26 wins are nine games fewer than the next-to-worst team in baseball, the Cleveland Indians.

Bench coach Jim Riggleman gets promoted to interim manager. Riggleman has a 522-and-652 record over nine seasons managing the Padres, Cubs and Mariners. Acta was 158-and-252 in his two and a-half seasons in his first managerial job.

The Nationals also have an interim general manager, Mike Rizzo. In perhaps the understatement of the season, Rizzo says he feels the Nats have "underachieved."

Acta joins Colorado's Clint Hurdle and Arizona's Bob Melvin as major league managers who have been fired this season.





NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Jacques Lemaire is returning for a second stint as coach of the New Jersey Devils. Lemaire led the Devils to the Stanley Cup in 1995. He was hired to replace Brent Sutter, who resigned after two seasons with New Jersey.

Lemaire coached the Devils from 1993 to 1998. The 63-year-old coached the Minnesota Wild from 2000 through the end of this past season, when he resigned.

Lemaire has won 11 Stanley Cups as a player, coach and executive.

In other NHL news:

- The New York Rangers have traded Finnish left winger Lauri Korpikoski to the Phoenix Coyotes for Russian right winger Enver Lisin. The Rangers also are bringing back forward Ryan Callahan, who had a career high 22 goals last season.





ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed unrestricted free agents Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia as the team tries to keep pace with the NBA's other Eastern Conference powerhouses Boston, Orlando and Cleveland.

In other NBA news:

- The Phoenix Suns have reached a contract agreement with free-agent center Channing Frye and will announce the deal at a news conference Tuesday. He has averaged 8.2 points per game in four seasons with the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.

- The Denver Nuggets acquired Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe from Detroit in exchange for a future second-round draft pick. The Nuggets also received cash in Monday's deal. The Pistons freed up close to $1.8 million in salary cap space.

- The Orlando Magic have retained backup center Marcin Gortat, matching the $34 million, five-year deal offered by Dallas.





TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed third-round draft pick Roy Miller, a defensive tackle from Texas. He was the 81st overall selection in the draft. His signing leaves the Bucs with one unsigned pick, first-rounder Josh Freeman.

To make roster space for Miller, the Bucs released backup quarterback Brian Griese. The 34-year-old started five games last season.

In another note, Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason has told a sports Web site he is retiring from the NFL. The 35-year-old Mason played eight seasons in Tennessee and four in Baltimore. A Ravens spokesman says Mason has not formally informed the team of his retirement plans.





DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Carolyn Bivens is out as commissioner of the LPGA Tour. She's been replaced by Marsha Evans, who served on the LPGA commissioner's advisory council the past two years.

Evans is a former Naval officer who reached the rank of rear admiral. She also led the Girl Scouts of the USA and then the American Red Cross.





TARBES, France (AP) - It's back on the course at the Tour de France Tuesday following a rest day. The overall leader remains Rinaldo Nocentini, with Alberto Contador second and Lance Armstrong third. The seven-time Tour winner Armstrong told a French reporter Sunday that he hasn't ruled out competing in the Tour de France again next year.





TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) - The field is set for this week's British Open in Turnberry, Scotland. Tiger Woods is paired with Lee Westwood of England in the opening round while defending champion Padraig Harrington will play with former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk the first day.

The first group Thursday includes former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia

UNDATED (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies had their early season problems winning at home. Not anymore.

The Phils rallied with five runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun Pittsburgh 8-7. The Phils are 8-and-1 on their current homestand before closing out the first half of the season in Sunday's finale before the All-Star break.

The rally started when Matt Stairs led off with a pinch-hit homer. Ryan Howard tied the game with a three-run shot, his 22nd of the season.

Raul Ibanez, playing in his first game after missing 20 with a groin injury, then hit a ground-rule double to center. After an intentional walk and an infield single loaded the bases, Paul Bako's single drove in the winning run.

In the rest of the NL:

- J.J. Hardy hit a two-out, two-run double in the eighth and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3. Frank Catalanotto homered for the Brewers.

- The lowly Washington Nationals rapped out a season-high 21 hits and mauled Houston 13-2. Josh Willingham homered twice. He, Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning.

- Jeff Francoeur had a two-run single in his Mets debut and Johan Santana pitched seven sharp innings in New York's 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

- The Chicago Cubs' Ted Lilly allowed four hits and a run in eight strong innings to earn his 100th career victory as the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2. Lilly, the Cubs' lone selection to the All-Star game, improved to 9-and-6 in his last start before the break.

In the rest the AL:

- Boston stretched its lead in the AL East to two games over the Yankees by outslugging Kansas City 15-9. Kevin Youkilis hit a pair of home runs. David Ortiz and Jason Varitek also went deep for the Sox.

- Mike Napoli hit a go-ahead two-run double during a seven-run fifth inning and added a solo homer in the seventh in the Los Angeles Angels' 14-8 win over the New York Yankees. Alex Rodriguez homered twice for the Yankees, increasing his career total to 570 and putting him in 10th place on the all-time list.

- The Chicago White Sox held off Minnesota 8-7. Jim Thome drove in four runs to offset two home runs by ex-teammate Joe Crede for the Twins.

- Carl Pavano allowed two runs in eight innings and the Cleveland Indians edged Detroit 5-4. Travis Hafner drove in a pair as the Indians snapped the Tigers' three-game win streak.

- Rajai Davis and Adam Kennedy each hit two-run homers in the seventh inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-2.

- Baltimore edged Toronto 4-3 in 12 innings on Melvin Mora's first home run in 50 games.




BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - Cristie Kerr has a two-shot lead over Eun Hee Ji through three rounds of the U.S. Women's Open in Bethlehem, Pa. Kerr fired a 1-over 72 for a 2-under total, making her the only player below par in the tournament.

Paula Creamer began the day just one shot back before shooting an 8-over 79.




SILVIS, Ill. (AP) - Darron Stiles is the leader after the second round of the PGA's John Deere Classic in Illinois. Stiles fired a 6-under-par 65 that puts him 13-under for the tournament.

Steve Stricker is alone in second at minus-10 following a 61, tying the course record at the TPC Deere Run.

Friday's rainout will force the field to play 36 holes Sunday.




BLAINE, Minn. (AP) - Nick Price fired a 4-under 68 to take a one-shot lead entering Sunday's final round of the 3M Championship in Minnesota. Price is 11-under for the tournament.

Gene Jones and Andy Bean are one shot back. Bernhard Langer is two off the lead.




INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Aaron Peirsol has broken the world record in the 200-meter backstroke at the U.S. national championships in Indianapolis.

The Olympic silver medalist touched in 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. That edged Olympic champion Ryan Lochte who owned the previous mark of 1:53.94 set in Beijing.

It was Peirsol's second world record in three days. He reclaimed his 100-meter backstroke record last Wednesday.

Cullen Jones broke the American record in a 50-meter freestyle.




SAO PAULO (AP) - Former junior welterweight boxing champion Arturo Gatti has been found dead at age 37.

A police investigator tells The Associated Press Gatti's body was discovered in his hotel room at a Brazilian tourist resort, where he had arrived Friday with his wife and son. A spokeswoman for the state public safety department says there were no bullet or stab wounds on Gatti but police did find blood stains on the floor. Brazilian police say it's unclear how the Canadian died. One investigator calls it "all very strange."

Gatti, one of boxing's most exciting boxers, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.




HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Steve McNair has received one of the biggest funerals in Mississippi history.

Over 4,500 people paid their respects to the former NFL quarterback, who was shot and killed by his girlfriend in a murder-suicide one week ago. McNair's wife and mother received a police escort into Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Former NFL quarterback and Mississippi resident Brett Favre sat a few rows behind the McNair family. Titans coach Jeff Fisher and quarterback Vince Young, Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis and Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler also attended. Fisher was flanked by Young as he led the congregation in The Lord's Prayer.




DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks have signed veteran NBA point guard Jason Kidd to a three-year contract worth more than $25 million.

The 37-year-old Kidd began his pro career with the Mavericks in 1994 and returned to the team in a trade with New Jersey last year.

The nine-time All-Star is third in league history with 10,199 assists and 103 triple-doubles.




SAINT-GIRONS, France (AP) - Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was still in third place when he got off his bike following the eighth stage of the Tour de France.

The 37-year-old Armstrong is eight seconds behind Rinaldo Nocentini, who finished in a pack with Armstrong and Alberto Contador, who is six seconds off the lead.

Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez won the 110-mile trek along three big climbs.




POREC, Croatia (AP) - The U.S. is still alive in the Davis Cup quarterfinals following a doubles victory by the Bryan brothers.

Bob and Mike Bryan cruised to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 win over Croatia a after Mardy Fish and James Blake dropped their singles matches.

Fish and Blake need to win their matches Sunday for the U.S. to advance. Fish was a late addition to the team after Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick bowed out due to injury.




JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - Mark Martin has won his fourth Sprint Cup race of the year, with a victory at Chicagoland Speedway.

It's the 39th career win for the 50-year-old Martin. Jeff Gordon finished second, followed by Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart.

The race was interrupted by six cautions.




TORONTO (AP) - Dario Franchitti has won the IndyCar Series pole for Sunday's Honda Indy on the street course in Toronto.

Franchitti claimed his third pole by covering the circuit in just over one minute to beat Team Penske's Will Power for the top spot.

Graham Rahal was third, followed by Justin Wilson, Canadian Alex Tagliani and rookie Mike Conway.




NUERBURGRING, Germany (AP) - Red Bull's Mark Webber has earned the pole for Sunday's German Grand Prix, just ahead of Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello. Webber secured his first career pole with a fastest lap of 1 minute, 32.230 seconds around a slippery Nuerburgring circuit. Formula One points leader Jenson Button will start third as he seeks his seventh victory in nine races this season.




FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Stuart Holden scored in the first minute of second-half injury time, giving the United States a 2-2 tie with Haiti in the Americans' final first-round game at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Davy Arnaud put the United States ahead in the sixth minute. But Haiti stunned the Americans with goals in the first four minutes of the second half.

UNDATED (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies are regaining their winning touch at Citizens Bank Park, going 6-and-1 on their current homestand. Jayson Werth homered for the fourth straight game and Chase Utley hit an inside-the-park homer in their 9-6 win over Cincinnati.

Jamie Moyer improved to 8-and-6, even though he allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings. But Philadelphia's offense bailed him out again. The Phillies have averaged 8.1 runs in Moyer's wins.

The NL East-leading Phillies took three of four from the Reds to win just their fourth series at home. The defending World Series champions are 19-and-23 at Citizens Bank Park and 26-and-15 on the road.

In the rest of the National League:

- Randy Wolf pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers past the New York Mets 11-2 for his first win in eight outings. Manny Ramirez had a pair of RBI singles.

- Joel Pineiro scattered three hits in his third complete game this year and Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, rallying the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 win over Milwaukee. St. Louis won two of three against Milwaukee to increase its lead in the NL Central to two heading into a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs starting Friday.

- An error by Miguel Tejada in the 11th inning made former Nationals reliever Joel Hanrahan a winner in the completion of a suspended game as Washington beat the Houston Astros 11-10. Hanrahan was traded by the Nationals on June 30 to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a deal for Nyjer Morgan, who scored the winning run when the action resumed. Hanrahan was on the mound when the game was suspended by rain in Washington on May 5.

The Astros clubbed the Nationals 9-4 in the regularly scheduled game.

In the American League:

- Rookie David Price outpitched Roy Halladay in Tampa Bay's 3-2 victory over Toronto that completes a three-game sweep of the visiting Blue Jays. Carlos Pena snapped a fifth-inning tie with a two-run double. Halladay pitched for the first time since Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he's willing to listen to trade offers for the five-time All-Star.

- Mark Teixeira ended a 23-game homerless drought and the New York Yankees completed a season sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 6-4 victory. The Yanks climbed into a first-place tie with Boston in the AL East.

- Kansas City rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Boston 8-6. Luke Hochevar won for the fifth time in seven starts

- Kelly Shoppach hit a grand slam and had a career-high five RBIs as the Cleveland Indians defeated Chicago's White Sox 10-8. Ryan Garko had four hits, two runs scored and an RBI for the Indians, who won for only the sixth time in 23 games.



NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Fans turned out by the thousands, donning their Tennessee Titans gear or their finest clothes on a steamy hot day in Nashville for the chance to honor slain ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair's accomplishments and charity work.

They lined up outside a funeral home to view the closed silvery-gray casket topped with white lilies next to a portrait of the former Titans star. A helicopter provided live TV footage as McNair's body was taken by hearse to his church for a memorial service planned for tonight.

Police say the 36-year-old McNair was shot four times on July 4 by a girlfriend who then killed herself. But McNair's coaches and teammates remembered McNair as a fierce competitor at a memorial service. Titans coach Jeff Fisher said of his quarterback: "No more sacks, no more shoulder problems, and no more interceptions, only touchdown passes. I'm going to miss you, No. 9."



MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A judge has blocked the NFL's plan to suspend Minnesota Vikings linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy. It's a move their attorney says should let them start the season.

An attorney for the two players calls the order a "major victory" and says that at a minimum, it should allow them to play for the early part of the upcoming season.



INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Michael Phelps has broken the world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. national championships. The 14-time Olympic gold medalist swam the two-lap final in 50.22 seconds at the Indiana University Natatorium. He lowered Ian Crocker's mark of 50.40 set in 2005.

Phelps' victory gives him a spot in the event at the world championships later this month in Rome. He's already qualified in the 200 fly and 200 freestyle as he continues his transformation from swimming middle distances to sprints.

Phelps currently holds individual world records in the 100 and 200 butterflys, 200 and 400 individual medleys, and the 200 free.

Dara Torres is also going to Rome, having won the 50 free at age 42 despite an ailing left knee that has a torn tendon and arthritis. She plans to have surgery later this summer.



BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - South Korea's Na Yeon Cho birdied her first three holes on her way to a 3-under 68 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the U.S. Women's Open, the third major on the LPGA calendar. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa, 2007 champion Cristie Kerr and qualifier Jean Reynolds are tied one shot back.



SILVIS, Ill. (AP) - Lee Janzen is tied with Darron Stiles for the lead after firing a 7-under 64 in the first round of the John Deere Classic. Janzen has not won on the PGA Tour since he captured his second U.S. Open in 1998.

J.J. Henry and Matt Bettencourt each shot a 6-under-65 and are one shot back.

Kenny Perry opened with a 68. U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover shot 69.



JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - Brian Vickers has won his fifth pole of the season, running a lap of 184.162 mph at Chicagoland Speedway. Red Bull Racing teammate Scott Speed qualified second for Saturday night's Sprint Cup race. Three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was third.

Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer round out the top five.



CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Jeremy Mayfield is considering selling his race team, because he can't find any funding since his suspension for failing a random drug test.

His wife, Shana, says the team is considering all options and selling the remaining inventory is a possibility. Mayfield transferred ownership of the No. 41 Toyota to his wife following his May 9 suspension.

A federal judge issued an injunction last week that lifted the suspension and allowed Mayfield to return to competition. But Mayfield has not traveled to the two races since the ruling.

An attorney for Jeremy Mayfield says his client will not go to Chicago for this weekend's NASCAR race.



UNDATED (AP) - Four NBA teams have combined on an eight-player deal. The maneuver sends forward Hedo Turkoglu to the Toronto Raptors from Orlando while the Raptors send forward Shawn Marion to Dallas and the Mavs ship guard Jerry Stackhouse to Memphis.

Overall the deal includes eight players, a draft pick and cash.

In other NBA transactions:

- The Clippers have signed No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin. The 20-year-old forward averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds last season at Oklahoma. Griffin is scheduled to play on the Clippers' NBA Summer League entry in Las Vegas next week.

- According to the player's agent, unrestricted free agent Anderson Varejao and the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed on a six-year contract that could be worth as much as $50 million. The team hasn't confirmed the report.



AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - John Kuester has been introduced as the new head coach of the Detroit Pistons. He was an assistant to Cleveland's Mike Brown the last two seasons.

Kuester is the Pistons' sixth head coach in the past 10 years.



UNDATED (AP) - Longtime Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic is officially retiring after 20 seasons and two Stanley Cup titles.

His No. 19 sweater will also be retired.

The 40-year-old Sakic has been the face of the franchise since the team moved to Denver in 1995.

Known for his lethal wrist shot and precision passing, Sakic leaves with his name among the NHL's career scoring leaders. He's eighth in points with 1,641, 11th in assists with 1,016 and 14th in goals with 625.

In other news from around the NHL:

- The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with forward Ales Kotalik on a three-year, $9 million deal. Kotalik had 20 goals and 43 points in 75 games with the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers last season.

- Rob Blake has inked a one-year deal with San Jose, bringing the veteran defenseman back for his 19th NHL season a year after he had 35 assists and 10 goals for the Sharks. The 39-year-old Blake recorded his 500th assist Jan. 9.

- The NHL is accusing Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes of trying to derail the sale of the team to a group headed by Jerry Reinsdorf by filing a flurry of requests for depositions before the July 24 deadline for formal submission of the bid. Reinsdorf, who also controls the Chicago White Sox, plans to submit a $148-million offer to buy the NHL team and keep it in suburban Phoenix.



BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Lance Armstrong remains a split second behind leader Fabian Cancellara after six stages of the Tour de France.

Thor Hushovd of Norway led a mass sprint finish to capture the stage along rain-slick roads south of the French border in Spain.

Cancellara of Switzerland stayed just ahead of the seven-time champion after the 113-mile ride that ended in Barcelona. The race heads to the first big mountain challenge with Friday's ride into the Pyrenees. The Tour ends July 26 in Paris.



POREC, Croatia (AP) - James Blake will face 6-foot-10 Ivo Karlovic in Friday's opening singles match of the Davis Cup quarterfinal between the United States and Croatia.

The U.S. has won the Davis Cup 32 times but has lost both of its previous encounters with Croatia.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Former MVP Shaun Alexander is still hoping an NFL team will call with a job offer.

In the meantime, the ex-Alabama running back is on a nine-city tour packed with talks at churches, clubs and businesses where he shares his faith.

He's currently in Mobile with stops that have included Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The tour wraps up next week in Birmingham.

Alexander's playing career went into a decline after winning the MVP honors with the Seattle Seahawks in 2005. He followed that with two injury-filled seasons and a brief comeback with the Washington Redskins last season.

Alexander trains at home in Ashburn, Va., when he's not on the road. He and his wife and children are in Mobile with six youth he has mentored.