Sports Etc. News

“I'm sympathetic. Every kid wants to play. But they've had their opportunities to earn minutes.”

It may have been Veterans Day, but rookies were in the spotlight as Illinois opened its season Sunday with a 63-55 victory over Northeastern. via Beacon News

“You never want to lose like that at home”

Bad loss at home leaves Jackals coach steamed November 12, 2007 Condors 6, Jackals 2 *Elmira's record: 5-4-0-1. *Next game: 8:05 p.m. Tuesday at Mississippi Sea Wolves. via Star-Gazette.COM

“I gave myself a lot of chances”

MOBILE, Alabama : Paula Creamer, complete with pink outfit, hat and ball, ran away with the Tournament of Champions on Sunday, winning by eight strokes. via International Herald Tribune

No. 1 ranked Tennessee won its eight straight season-opener by defeating Chattanooga 76-56 on Sunday afternoon. via WVLT-TV Knoxville

Family and friends of U.S. Olympic marathon hopeful Ryan Shay gathered in northern Michigan on Sunday to honor the memory of the small-town running champion. via TheIndyChannel.com

“But we were playing against a real good football team and they got better as they game wore one. We didn't.”

The first half ended poorly. The second started worse. That and an aggressive and attacking Massachusetts defense took care of the University of New Hampshire football team in front of 14,190 at McGuirk Stadium ... via UnionLeader.com

“I'm going to take responsibility for all the interceptions”

Austin Peay went up against the best team in the Ohio Valley Conference and battled No. via The Tennessean

The Eagles continued their offensive onslaught, rolling over intra-state rival Tusculum, 63-24 to finish the regular season at 10-1 overall and 5-1 in the South Atlantic Conference. via WBIR-TV Knoxville

They beat Columbus Bishop Hartley 3-0 to take the Division II title. Lima Central Catholic beat Albany Alexander in Division I. Norwalk St. via 13abc.com

An outstanding, all-around team effort catapulted No. 7 Dulaney to its second regional championship in four years as the host Lions defeated Thomas Johnson, 3-1, to win the 4A North title yesterday.

Four players had at least six kills, led by junior Ally Stangenberg with 13, and senior captain Maria DiPietro set the tone on defense with 31 digs and only five errors.

'This was the best team victory we've had all year,' said coach Cary Lyon, whose team advanced to the state semifinals with the win. Read more

“I think Butch, in a way, brings together the sports teams here, and the school itself”

An hour before kickoff, Butch Varno was ready. He had his Middlebury College sweat pants on and his Middlebury basketball cap nearby. via The Brattleboro Reformer

“We just started playing better (on defense)”

Smyrna's defense got on the field a little sooner than expected Friday - and it started making plays a little later than hoped. via The Tennessean

LeBron James rallied the Cavaliers with eight points in the final 2:57, and the Cavaliers hung on for a 93-91 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Devin Brown had 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who treaded dangerously close to a surprising upset loss until James scored eight of their final 10 points in the fourth stop of a six-game road trip.

The defending Eastern Conference champions weren't safe until Kevin Martin missed a long jumper at the buzzer. Martin, who had 32 points while making 17 free throws for the Kings, couldn't draw a foul 2 seconds earlier despite obvious contact from Cleveland's Drew Gooden. Read more

Western Christian def. Aplington-Parkersburg, 25-17, 25-16, 25-18 Cedar Rapids, Ia. via Indianola Record-Herald

Port Chester's Meaghan Francella had a much better day at the LPGA Tour's Tournament of Champions in Mobile, Ala. via The Patent Trader

“Our kids came first. We still communicate each and every day.”

Michael Jordan applauded his son's decision to walk on at Illinois rather than accept a scholarship to a smaller college. via WCNC

“To have the speaker of the house say well, they just spend too much money on salaries anyway, so we need it for other things”

NBA commissioner David Stern warned Thursday that if the SuperSonics leave Seattle he sees no way the league would ever return to the city. via The Olympian

“In the locker room tonight we celebrated for about two minutes and then we said, 'you know, let's get on with this.'”

New England's Taylor Twellman scores on a bicycle kick between Chicago's Logan Pause and Dasan Robinson, rear, during the first half of the MLS Eastern Conference final on Thursday. via Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus

“This will affect the collective bargaining agreement that expires in December 2009”

Big league umpires want a chance to make their own call on instant replay. General managers recommended this week in Orlando, Fla., that replay be used on boundary calls -- whether potential home runs are fair ... via CBS SportsLine