BCS could have decision on fate of troubled Fiesta Bowl in a month

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- The BCS could decide within a month whether the troubled Fiesta Bowl should keep its place among college football's marquee bowls.

Penn State President Graham Spanier, chairman of a seven-member panel investigating the Fiesta Bowl, said Tuesday that the committee has had several teleconferences and plans to meet with officials and the board of directors of the bowl.

Ode to America: NFL pays homage to anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks in New York, Washington

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Giants will visit the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 11, marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

With the NFL and its locked-out players mired in negotiations over a new labor agreement, the league on Tuesday announced its 2011-12 schedule - assuming the season starts on time.

Back spasms put Stoudemire on bench for 2nd half of Knicks playoff game with Celtics

BOSTON (AP) -- Amare Stoudemire expects to be ready for the New York Knicks' next playoff game after back spasms sidelined him for the entire second half of their 96-93 loss on Tuesday night that gave the Boston Celtics a 2-0 lead.

"I should be ready for Game 3," he said after the game, standing instead of sitting behind the podium at his postgame news conference. "We'll see how it goes (Wednesday) and next day, but I'm pretty sure - I'm hoping - I'll be ready Friday."

Reds RHP Mike Leake seeks court diversion program on shoplifting charge, keeps rotation spot

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Reds starter Mike Leake will keep his spot in the rotation while he handles a misdemeanor shoplifting charge.

Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker decided to keep Leake as his starter for the final game of a series against Arizona on Thursday. Leake was arrested on Monday afternoon at a downtown department store, accused of removing the tags from six T-shirts and trying to steal them.

Baker talked to Leake before deciding to keep him on schedule to start.

"We talked about how he felt and could he handle the pressures of it, and he said yeah," Baker said. "Sometimes when you're in times of trouble, it's easier to go to work than to not go to work.

"I remember when Pete Rose was having problems at home - his dad passed - I asked Pete how he was dealing with it. He said those three or four hours at the park were a sanctuary from his problems. When the game was over, the same problems were there. So hopefully this will be a sanctuary from what transpired this week."

Police arrest reports said Leake removed the price tags from six American Rag T-shirts at a Macy's store on Monday and tried to leave without paying for them. The six shirts were valued at $59.88. Leake makes $425,000 in his second season in the majors.

Leake has not discussed the arrest, other than to issue an apology "for this distraction." He declined to be interviewed on Tuesday, saying he would rather wait until after his start on Thursday to talk to the media.

Leake had his first court hearing on Tuesday before the series opener against Arizona. His lawyer asked to let him enter a Hamilton County diversion program for first-time offenders. If accepted, he would pay a $200 fee, likely perform volunteer work and take a class.

He also would have to acknowledge guilt. His record could be wiped clean once he completed the program. His next court date is May 18.

Baker has thought about the reaction Leake will receive from fans at Great American Ball Park when he starts.

"You're always concerned, but it's going to happen sooner or later," Baker said. "Probably be less adverse fan reaction at home than it would be on the road, you know. We considered that."

Stay Tuned: New NHL deal keeps hockey on NBC and Versus

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL is staying on NBC and Versus for the next 10 years with a deal Commissioner Gary Bettman calls the most significant in league history.

In a joint announcement Tuesday, the NHL and the NBC Sports Group said the new deal will run through the 2020-21 season. The package is reportedly worth a total of $2 billion.

NBC will remain the exclusive network home for the NHL, and Versus is retaining the major cable rights. The NHL had drawn interest from ESPN, Turner and FOX, but decided to stay where it has been for the past six years since the end of the season-long lockout.

Sanchez, Sandoval lead Giants past Rockies 6-3 as S.F. spoils Jimenez's return from DL

BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Celtics pulled out their first two playoff games with big finishes. They want to play much better from the start next time.

"We were lucky to win," coach Doc Rivers said after a 96-93 victory on Tuesday night over the depleted New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony's 42 points.

NFL, locked-out players wrap up Day 3 of court-ordered talks, injunction decision looming

DENVER (AP) -- Facing San Francisco's remarkable rotation is doubly difficult when the Giants are staked to a big, early lead like they've been the last two nights at Coors Field.

Knight apologizes for statement critical of Kentucky, 'one-and-done' players

NEW YORK (AP) -- Bob Knight has apologized to Kentucky and coach John Calipari after claiming that several of the Wildcats' players did not attend spring semester classes last year.

Villarreal's easy outing: 1 out, no pitches

DETROIT (AP) — Brayan Villarreal pitched a third of an inning — without actually throwing a pitch.

Villarreal came on in the top of the seventh for Detroit with a man on first and two outs Tuesday. Before making a single delivery to the plate, he picked off Texas' Julio Borbon at first to end the threat with the Tigers still leading 4-3. They ended up winning 5-4.

NFL releases preseason schedule despite lockout

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is preparing for preseason games even though the owners and players remain at odds over a new contract.

The league released its preseason schedule Tuesday as lawyers for locked-out players were meeting with a judge in Minneapolis prior to court-ordered mediation with the league later this week.

Derrick Rose

NEW YORK (AP) — Derrick Rose might have already done enough to wrap up the MVP award.

The race for the NBA's best record will go to the final day.

Rose and the Chicago Bulls stayed in the race for it, overwhelming the New York Knicks to start the second half and winning 103-90 on Tuesday night for their eighth straight victory.

Rose scored 26 points for the Bulls, who opened the third quarter with a 26-2 spurt over the first 7-plus minutes and improved to 61-20. Luol Deng added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Carlos Boozer had 14 points and 22 boards as Chicago outrebounded New York 51-33.

"We came out kind of soft," Rose said. "Second half, Tibs (coach Tom Thibodeau) came in at halftime and talked to us and we changed things."

Chicago, already assured the best record in the Eastern Conference, entered play a game behind San Antonio for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The tiebreakers are all even, so a random drawing would be held if they finish with the same record as the Spurs, who faced the Los Angeles Lakers later Tuesday.

"That's something special. It's definitely something that we want, but we have to look at the bigger picture. For us it's all about improvement and just focusing on the next opponent and the results will take care of themselves," forward Joakim Noah said.

The Bulls host lowly New Jersey on Wednesday night, while San Antonio goes to Phoenix.

"I'm not worried about it," Rose said. "If anything, get some rest right now and hopefully I come out healthy tomorrow."

Just in case he still needed to, Rose put on a show for the MVP voters watching the nationally televised game, shooting 10 of 19 and throwing down a few crowd-pleasing dunks as the Bulls ran away from the Knicks after losing the first two meetings.

"Rose is amazing. His athletic ability is ridiculous. He's come farther, quicker, faster than anyone expected," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He's playing at a level that not many people play."

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points for the Knicks who had their seven-game winning streak snapped. Locked into the No. 6 seed and a first-round matchup with Boston, New York rested Amare Stoudemire for the third straight game, though his sprained left ankle was well enough to play.

Stoudemire might sit again Wednesday when the Knicks close the regular season at Boston in a playoff preview.

"They came out and made a run at us in the second half," said Knicks guard Chauncey Billups, who considers Rose the MVP. "You could tell that they were playing for something. It's a really good team."

Bill Walker scored 18 points and Toney Douglas had 13 for the Knicks, who had won the first two meetings and were trying to sweep the Bulls for the first time since winning all three in 1999-00. New York had been the only team Chicago hadn't defeated at least once this season.

"They played great defense out there," Anthony said. "Second half we missed some shots, they got out in transition, got some easy baskets, got some stops, they opened the game up."

The Knicks scored 120 points in one of those victories, the highest allowed by the defensive-minded Bulls this season. But after allowing 55 in the first half Tuesday, Chicago was at its stingiest after the break.

After Keith Bogans' basket opened the second-half scoring, Rose scored seven straight to give Chicago a 61-55 lead. Anthony got the Knicks on the board with a jumper, but the Bulls quickly blew it open with 17 consecutive points.

Deng had the first six and Rose contributed the highlight, a reverse dunk after a turnover that had the crowd roaring before Noah's free throws extended it to 78-57 with 5 minutes left in the period. New York missed 12 of its first 13 shots in a stunning drought for the team that ranks second in the NBA in scoring.

"Our defense has been our key all year," Deng said. "There's times where we don't play like we should, but the majority of the time we're going to make it hard for the other team."

New York got back within seven early in the fourth, but Rose nailed a 3-pointer and it wasn't close again.

Rose was loudly cheered during starting lineups and had the fans screaming again a few minutes later. An alley-oop pass that he caught below the rim and powered it up and through with one hand tied it late in the first quarter before Walker's 3-pointer gave the Knicks a 27-24 lead. Their lead was still three at halftime after shooting 56 percent.

NOTES: Rose is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, the first Bulls player to earn that honor since Michael Jordan in 1999. ... Anthony was last week's Eastern Conference player of the week, the first Knicks player to win it in consecutive weeks. ... Bulls reserve guard Ronnie Brewer played just 8 minutes in the first half before leaving with a sprained left thumb.

UConn's Kemba Walker to enter NBA draft

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut's Kemba Walker says the school's decision to put his name and number on the wall of its basketball arena helped him decide it was time to head to the NBA.

"I think from that point out it did, because it was like coach just kicked me out," the junior All-American said. "It says 2008 to 2011 (on the banner), so it was like he's (saying), 'Let's get him out of here.'"

Legal team for NFL players meet with judge

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With the lockout at one month and counting, attorneys for NFL players sat down Tuesday with the federal magistrate who will oversee court-ordered mediation with the league later this week.

Attorneys and Hall of Fame defensive end Carl Eller met with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan for about four hours.

Bonds jury deliberates for 3rd day with no verdict

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jurors in the Barry Bonds case remained mostly out of sight on day 3 of their deliberations. They never entered Judge Susan Illston's courtroom on the 19th floor of the Phillip Burton Federal Building, spending about six hours behind closed doors Tuesday without reaching a verdict.

Except for a couple of quick breaks and a timeout for lunch, that was it.

Hamilton may be sidelined 2 months with broken arm

DETROIT (AP) — Texas slugger Josh Hamilton is expected to miss six to eight weeks after breaking his upper right arm on a headfirst dive into home plate Tuesday, a daring dash the AL MVP later called "stupid."

Hamilton tried to score from third on a foul popup near the Detroit dugout in the first inning. Third baseman Brandon Inge and catcher Victor Martinez both chased the ball, leaving the plate unprotected.

Texas A&M beats Notre Dame 76-70 for NCAA title

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — This NCAA tournament had plenty of twists, turns and upsets even before the championship game. Gary Blair and Texas A&M delivered a thrilling ending.

This was the supposed to be the year Maya Moore's Connecticut juggernaut won its third straight title or Stanford broke through or Tennessee got back to the top.

After recording rejected, Bonds' prosecution rests

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge ruled jurors in the Barry Bonds trial may not hear a freshly rediscovered recording of two key witnesses — ridiculed by the defense as a "miracle tape" — as prosecutors rested their case against the home-run king Tuesday after 2½ weeks and 25 witnesses.

Winless Red Sox lose 4th straight, 3-1 to Indians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Four games into the season, the team that was supposed to win it all hasn't won at all.

This isn't what the Red Sox expected.

Josh Tomlin outpitched Boston's Josh Beckett, Cleveland came up with just enough timely hits and the Indians kept the Red Sox winless so far this season with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night over the team many predicted would make it to the World Series this season.

Nicklaus pulling for Tiger record _ well, sort of

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — If Tiger Woods wins his 19th major championship, Jack Nicklaus wants to be there to shake his hand. Put him at the head of the line, in fact.

That said, the Golden Bear won't be all that unhappy if Woods comes up short.

Gallardo 2-hits Braves in 1-0 victory

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Yovani Gallardo needed little help to give new Brewers manager Ron Roenicke his first win.

The 25-year-old right-hander threw a two-hitter and scored the only run as the Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 1-0 on Tuesday night to snap Milwaukee's four-game losing streak to begin the season.

Fan beaten at Dodger game may have brain damage

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A San Francisco Giants fan who was beaten at Dodger Stadium after last week's opening game shows signs of brain damage and remains in critical condition, a doctor said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, detectives were looking into unconfirmed reports that the same suspects struck other Giants fans minutes before the attack that left Bryan Stow in a coma.

A year later, Tiger Woods may still be in denial

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The circus is largely gone and so, mostly, are the questions about his personal life. Tiger Woods returned to the Masters this week without feeling the urge to apologize for anything, even the poor state of his game.

A year ago, the chairman of Augusta National lectured him about his conduct and what it meant to the game of golf. On Tuesday, he was welcomed back to his 17th Masters as a four-time champion who means so much to golf.

Young pitches, hits Mets over Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chris Young gave his new team more than they expected.

Young pitched effectively into the sixth inning and became the first Mets pitcher with two hits in an inning, fueling a six-run rally and helping New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 Tuesday night.

Storm delays opening of practice round at Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Augusta National has opened its gates after a 45-minute delay to give workers time to clean debris from overnight storms before practice rounds at the Masters.

The storms toppled trees and some power lines across town. There was no word on any damage to the golf course.

Rocky ride for Lee Westwood to Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Amid the euphoria of winning the Masters for the third time, Phil Mickelson couldn't help but feel empathy for Lee Westwood as they sat in the scoring hut behind the 18th green to sign their scorecards.

Westwood is regarded as the best player to have never won a major.