| Cardinals' La Russa pleads guilty to drunken driving
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. � St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence today, eight months after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol. La Russa said he had decided to plead guilty to the misdemeanor because it was in the best interest of all concerned. ``I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never occur again,'' La Russa said in a statement released by his attorney, David Roth. La Russa did not appear in court to plead guilty. As part of his plea agreement, La Russa will serve at least six months' probation, pay a $678.50 fine, complete DUI school and any recommended treatment and complete 50 hours of community service, according to state prosecutors.
Flyers hit quarter in stride
The Flyers reach the quarter mark of the season with today's Black Friday matinee against the Washington Capitals. So, where is John Stevens' team right now? It already has seven more wins than it had last season at this point. This is Game 2 of a five-game segment that closes out November. "We're pretty happy where we are right now," defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. "Our team can get better; we can play better. I expected us to win games, and we have. But it's time to get it going." The feeling on the team and staff is that the Flyers' true face still hasn't appeared. Some players, such as Jeff Carter, Scott Hartnell and Scottie Upshall, need to boost their games. Carter, in particular, began the season with four goals in his first seven games but has just one goal in his last 11. "I was happy with the start; I got some bounces and things going my way," Carter said.
NFL NOTES
ATLANTA: Facing millions in claims from banks, creditors and prosecutors, suspended Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has put his seven bedroom, 8 1/2-bath house in Duluth, Ga., up for sale. The asking price for the sprawling home and $1.5 acres grounds? $4.5 million. Only buyers with proof of income sufficient to buy the property and house are provided access to the home. The Web listing for the house has attracted more than 10 million page views. Vick is in a Virginia jail and awaiting sentencing Dec. 10 for felony dogfighting charges. CAROLINA: Memo to Saints fans: As you watch Panthers quarterback Vinny Testaverde (Nov. 13, 1963) do his thing today at the tender age of 44, keep in mind that he is 46 days older than Saints Coach Sean Payton (Dec. 29, 1963). TAMPA BAY: Today's game between the NFC South-leading Buccaneers and Washington will be the Redskins' fourth at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., in less than 25 months and the sixth between the teams in five years.
Knights in national spotlight
With the Rutgers women's basketball team playing nationally or regionally televised games at least twice a month all regular season, I started thinking about what these big games can do not only for the Scarlet Knights program, but also the sport of women's basketball as a whole.
RU plays on the big stage 12 times this year, including three of the five games that the Knights have played so far this season.
The increased exposure is due to a few factors: the team's heightened profile following last season's finals appearance and the fact that 12 of the Knights games are against preseason Top 25 opponents. In fact, the Dec. 30 game versus Temple on ESPNU is the only televised matchup that does not involve one of the aforementioned ranked opponents.
Playing in to both the toughness of RU's schedule, as well as the increase of TV time for the Knights, is the strength of a Big East Conference that sent eight teams to last year's NCAA Tournament.
Wolves Weekly Press Notes
Chicago's 15 wins (15-2-1-0) and 31 points are the most through 18 games in franchise history; the Wolves pace the American Hockey League with an .861 winning percentage and share the league-lead with 31 points.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
--- BRETT STERLING: Netted two points in each of the last three games, posting three goals and three assists during that span ... Shares second on the team with eight goals and has recorded 13 points in 10 games with Chicago since being assigned by the Atlanta Thrashers on Nov. 5 ... Made his NHL debut this season, notching a goal and two assists in 10 games with Atlanta
--- JESSE SCHULTZ: Posted five points (G, 4A) in three games last week, including two multi-point outings ... Netted two or more points in seven of his 18 games this season ...
Little Niki's all grown up; Colts scoring leader 'in love with the sport again', and it shows
For a fan favourite, the Barrie Colts' Vladimir Nikiforov seems to take himself pretty seriously. It's not really a bad thing, though. After all, the speedy winger will be the first to tell you goofing off isn't exactly a great resume-builder for a major junior hockey player looking to take his game to the next level. Following a stellar first season with the Colts in 2005-06 that garnered the one they call 'Niki' an invite to the Dallas Stars rookie camp, things unravelled a bit, Nikiforov said. "After the first year, I was invited to the Stars camp, and I think I let it get to my head a bit," said the Lithuanian-born Long Island native, who amassed 55 points in the follow-up to his rookie campaign. "Things didn't end up working out, and last year I screwed around a lot.
FC Thun players charged for alleged sex with minor
Six current and three former FC Thun soccer players were charged Tuesday for allegedly having sexual relations with a minor. Five other individuals, who are not soccer players, also face charges, the office of the investigating magistrate of the Bernese Alps said. .
Court in session
It might be hard to tell, considering Saturday's pair of Class 4A semifinal football games in the Four Corners, but the basketball season has begun. Ready or not. Aztec and Kirtland Central's boys basketball teams are still waiting to complete their squads. With the Broncos and Tigers still in the thick of the state football playoffs, the gridiron games take full precedent over shooting hoops. Piedra Vista and Bloomfield practiced with full squads for the first time this week, mere days before tip-off. The Bobcats and Panthers' football teams were eliminated from the playoffs last weekend, much to the chagrin of students, coaches and fans. But at least their basketball teams are at full strength, right? Quite the contrary, actually. A majority of the area's seven basketball squads agreed that success is infectious.
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