Create your own free news widgets.

The NBA Development League will have an unusual format for the playoffs — the division winners will get to pick their first-round opponents. And that could be good news for the Colorado 14ers, who beat Rio Grande Valley 147-119 on Tuesday night and own the best record (24-10) in the league. Also, for the first time, eight teams will qualify for the postseason, including the winners of the three divisions along with the five teams with the best regular-season records. The top-seeded division winner will select its opponent first, with the second- and third-ranked division winners following in that order. The Associated Press

By JEFF WILSON SURPRISE, Ariz. — The 39 players on the Texas Rangers’ 40-man roster have 11 All-Star Game appearances between them.Six players who are in camp on minor-league deals have 12 appearances scattered among them.The Rangers have brought in plenty of talent this spring and created some intriguing battles for spots on the Opening Day roster.The non-roster veterans have some scars that forced them to take deals that guarantee them nothing come April 6. But the Rangers believe those players have enough talent to make the roster and have an impact in 2009.'It’s great that we have so much talent vying for so few spots,' left fielder David Murphy said. 'That’s what makes competition, and that’s what’s going to make us better.'But these aren’t players just hanging on for another paycheck. If money was all that mattered, said right-hander Brendan Donnelly, they could have signed for more with a team that won’t contend.They all believe t

The days of small ball might be coming to an end.Looking toward next season, Warriors Coach Don Nelson said he thinks the components of this roster is best suited to play big.

By RICK HERRINand CLARENCE E. HILL JR. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says at the top of his list regarding Terrell Owens’ release was that it was good for Tony Romo. Jones calls it being 'Romo-friendly.'What Jones means is that he wants to allow his Pro Bowl quarterback the opportunity to use all his weapons, rather than maintain a heavy commitment to Owens. Removing Owens allows Romo to utilize his strengths of moving in the pocket and spreading the ball around. Jones is looking for the emergence of Roy Williams as the No. 1 receiver and a breakout season from Miles Austin.'I do believe where we are at Tony’s options, where to get the ball and where to go, I do think this is going in the direction of Romo-friendly,' Jones said in an interview Tuesday on The Fan 105.3 FM. 'Rest assured, that was one of the first things I had at the top of my list was this decision is good for Tony.' Before Owens’ release, Jones not only consulted members of the organization but o

JENNIFER FLOYD ENGEL We, collectively, as a sports empire, have done a lot of wrong to Buffalo in recent years.Crease, Super Bowls, yada, yada, yada.All of this pales in comparison to unloading T.O. on them. Because as a somewhat direct result of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones finally handling his not-so-little T.O. problem, this long-suffering sports city now has an aging prima donna and real reason to hate Dallas. And I feel bad. So should you.So should Jerry, for that matter.The least we can do is offer an operator’s manual on how the Bills can best survive a season in T.O.’s World. 1. Do not criticize him. The only exception is there is no exception.This includes, but is not limited to, when he drops passes, floats on routes, has to be separated from teammates, divides your locker room and/or embarrasses your franchise.2. Halt those 'private meetings' between Lee Evans and Trent Edwards now, before T.O. discovers they have been secretly drawing up a play for the playbook th

The Denver Broncos brought their free agent haul to 14 players Tuesday, including the first holdover from the Mike Shanahan days in defensive lineman Kenny Peterson.The Broncos also signed defensive tackle J'Vonne Parker.Peterson, entering his seventh season, has spent the last three years with the Broncos after three seasons in Green Bay, which selected him in the third round of the 2003 draft out of Ohio State. He made a career-best 39 tackles last season, including three sacks.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson's career as a Charger will last at least one more season, as the franchise's career rushing leader told SI.com Tuesday night that he's agreed to a restructured three-year contract that -- according to L.T. -- benefits both sides. Terms were not immediately available.

A day after saying that the Warriors 'obviously' were going to make changes this summer to avoid having a second straight bad season, coach Don Nelson offered more details Tuesday of his planned makeover. Among the possibilities: Monta Ellis and Stephen...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Steve Mason earned his NHL-best ninth shutout of the season, stopping 35 shots and making Raffi Torres' third-period goal stand up in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

St. John's two wins over Georgetown in the last eight days and four wins in the last six games should give the administration the ammunition it needs to guarantee that Norm Roberts will return next season to watch this team grow up.