Associated PressSEATTLE Pee-Wee Herman Show Los Angeles AP- Figuring out how to

Associated PressSEATTLE( probes AP- understand Figuring out how to win close games has remained a season- long struggle for the Seattle SuperSonics The Sonics solved that problem on Friday night And this victory might be their most unexpected. Marion, who guarded Boozer and also defended point guard Deron Williams, shrugged at the suggestion that he set an example for his teammates " Sometimes it won' t be as pretty or as perfect as you want it to be, but sometimes you just have to get it done " he said. It' s going to be a learning process and hopefully everything goes OK " Dodgers manager Grady Little said Wednesday that the 22- year- old right- hander would no longer be a part of the open competition for the fifth spot in the rotation. Batista, with three hits in 29 at- bats, singled to right.

It would have been difficult a couple of years ago to imagine a scenario in which the Cubs would be using Wood as a closer and Dempster as a starter . Photo coverage, especially live television coverage, could influence jurors and prompt witnesses to be less than candid in testimony involving intimate and potentially embarrassing information about Bryant and the accuser, they have argued Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press . Jeff Salazar hit a three- run homer off Blaine Neal with on out in the top of the ninth inning to hand Philadelphia its fifth straight loss . Dallas rookie Devin Harris showed his leaping ability, too, streaking through the defense for a dunk that drew oohs and aahs from teammates He hit a free throw to make it a three- point play, too . He made 200 appearances out of the bullpen for the Blue Jays and Devil Rays from 2003- 2005 Last year Miller went 2- 2 with a 4 06 ERA in 61 appearances with Tampa Bay. Reds C David Ross left the game in the bottom of the third inning after developing a headache and concussion- like symptoms from a collision with Mike Cameron at the plate in the top of the inning.

Grier and Rice left California on Tuesday morning to return to Spokane, where the Bulldogs are holding their annual team basketball camp . The two stars themselves have been mum on the subject lately: O' Neal refused to meet with reporters following the Heat' s 95- 88 loss to the Nets on Friday, while Bryant has asked reporters to " move on " But Jackson told the Daily News that he thought O' Neal' s grudge against both his former teammate and the Lakers would eventually subside " What happened to win championships becomes the things that you remember " he said, adding that he didn' t believe this year' s Christmas Day game was as significant as last year' s, the first following O' Neal' s departure from Los Angeles " I think there is something there still " Jackson told the newspaper " but it' s not like last year where[ O' Neal] came in early and did his Santa Day in L . I had a bad day today " Arthur Rhodes( 1- 1) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win . They didn' t play their guys the whole game, but just to be out there was a good test for us " The Magic tied it 84- 84 on Howard' s inside basket with 1: 16 to play, then drew away with Nelson hitting four of four free throws down the stretch " It showed their first five is better than our second five " said Brown, who promised to use his starters more . The statement was a departure from what Jauron said last week, when he declined to name a full- time starter beyond giving Edwards one more start- against Baltimore on Sunday- because Losman had looked rusty since recovering from a sprained left knee. McIntyre was arrested last month on accusations that he fondled himself outside a Port St Lucie woman' s home about 100 miles north of Miami.

1 seed for the second time in school history, Oklahoma advanced to the second round for the fourth straight season# 8226& nbsp; The Sooners led by just eight points( 40- 32) early in the second half but outscored Prairie View 36- 15 the rest of the way and held them scoreless for 7 minutes# 8226& nbsp; Courtney Paris led the Sooners with 11 points and 16 rebounds . He had just one win after the All- Star break- going on the disabled list in August with a lower back strain . Right fielder Larry Walker got his cleats caught on the same nail earlier in the season and also missed a start, and Jim Edmonds said he' s often mentioned the problem to team officials . Game notesOakland ended a three- game losing streak to the Indians . Associated PressHOUSTON- After his team' s latest loss, Arizona manager A J Hinch figured it was time to talk.

Minnesota is one of the teams vying for the eighth playoff spot, but the Timberwolves are starting to fade after suffering their ninth straight loss on the road Minnesota is just 3- 9 since the All- Star break Randy Wittman replaced Dwane Casey as coach on Jan . 1 while the sides worked toward the buyout of the remaining$ 20 . Updated: August 23, 2009, 1: 30 PM ET Bears' Dvoracek fined for hit on Bills QB Comment Email Print Share ESPNChicago The National Football League has fined Chicago Bears defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek$ 7, 500 for a late hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick last week . He joins a deep receiving corps that includes DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Reggie Brown and Hank Baskett . The Orioles also made a roster move, activating Gibbons from the 15- day disabled list and optioning infielder Ed Rogers to Triple- A Ottawa. Guillen said he didn' t want to be mad when he addressed his team, but they kept him waiting for a victory " I' m different " Guillen said " I don' t want to call a meeting when we lose a game.

You' ve seen the last couple seasons that we' re capable to make a run " Pence said " Right now we' re running out of time, so we got to play with as much urgency as possible " One change Cooper made was to put Pence in the leadoff spot the last three games . DiLeo said Brand hasn' t complained about coming off the bench " He' ll do anything to help us win He' s truly sincere about that " he said . Frerotte went 8- 3 as a starter, but he suffered a hand injury, and the Vikings turned to Jackson again . Penny improved to 7- 2 lifetime against the Diamondbacks, who drafted him in the fifth round in 1996, two years before they played their first game . 94 as he yielded five hits and seven runs in two- thirds of an inning Corey Hart doubled and scored on J J. For a bunch of young guys playing their hearts out right now, I think it' s a good short- term goal for us The team' s right here in front of us. The White Sox wasted several opportunities to break the game open against the right- hander, including the sixth, when they loaded the bases with one out and failed to score.

The Spurs( 35- 17) have lost two in a row, but still lead the Southwest Division Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press . Updated: January 11, 2009, 9: 30 AM ET Pacman out as 2007 shooting surfaces Comment Email Print Share Learn More# 187; Report a bug# 187; Feedback# 187; Latest On Adam Jones Allegations IRVING, Texas- The Cowboys have released Adam " Pacman " Jones, and a team source told ESPN' s Ed Werder that the move was made after the team learned of new allegations against the troubled cornerback from his time with the Titans . An 11- year veteran, Rolle has been limited recently by injuries and illness, including treatment for epilepsy . Carpenter and former Astro Preston Wilson led off the third with line- drive singles off Pettitte . Louis completed a 7- 2 homestand by taking two of three from the Pirates, who swept them earlier this month in Pittsburgh The Cardinals won the season series 9- 6. Clemens affirmatively sought to mislead the Committee " The analysis was made public the same day Waxman and ranking member Tom Davis, R- Va, sent a letter to U S. CINCINNATI( AP- Prince Fielder knows the best way to say you' re sorry.

You have to make them constantly accountable or they' ll just float along " Talking to Seattle reporters Friday night, Watson suggested that Mike Wilks might be a better fit as Ridnour' s backup " My role has been inconsistent, anyway " Watson told the Seattle Times " It' s been 16 minutes, 19 minutes, 30 I don' t know what my role is That' s up to him to find out But that 15 to 20 minutes might be better for Mike . During the expansion era, only two other goaltenders won three consecutive games making at least 40 saves in each: Marc Denis( 2005) and Grant Fuhr( 1984# 8226& nbsp; Marc- Andre Fleury made 31 saves in the Penguins' 3- 0 victory over the Hurricanes . Outlaw bounced in a 9- footer with 56 seconds left and added a 3- pointer with 15 seconds remaining to give Portland the lead before Gay' s sweeping tip- in . Paul Pioneer Press and Star Tribune together to discuss the deal to quash rumors and misconceptions about the negotiations .

Mitchell cut Taylor' s lawn and did other chores at the house, Mitchell' s twin brother, Scottie, told the newspaper . That may have made it look a little worse than it was " To me it was a clean play " An NFL spokesman said recently that historically, there are about 20 fines per week for illegal hits out of about 2, 300 plays( 153 per game Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press . Wise strained a rib muscle and was placed on the DL retroactive to Aug 9, while Santana' s move was made retroactive to Aug 10 . His replacement, Hector Luna, threw wildly to the plate on the next at- bat to hand the Astros what turned out to be the deciding run . Wade scored 13 of Miami' s final 24 points in the second quarter and the Heat led 57- 50 at halftime. Now it is time to move on " Jason Kapono had 11 points and Wright added 10 for the Heat, who won for the fourth time in five games.