SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The San Francisco Giants can celebrate
their first National League in eight years tonight if they beat the
Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 of the NLCS. Tim Lincecum
(LIHN'-seh-kuhm) takes the mound for the Giants against Phillies
ace Roy Halladay in a rematch of Game 1, which was won by San
Francisco 4-3. Should the Phils stay alive, Game 6 will be held
Saturday in Philadelphia.
TORONTO (AP) - Major league home run leader Jose Bautista
(boh-TEE'-stah) has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia and
will be ready for the start of spring training. The Toronto Blue
Jays All-Star hit a team-record 54 homers and finished with 124
RBIs, 109 runs and 100 walks in a career-high 161 games.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison
backed off on his retirement threat and returned to practice today
after being excused from yesterday's workout. Steelers coach Mike
Tomlin gave Harrison time to cool off after being fined $75,000 on
Tuesday for a helmet hit on a Cleveland Browns receiver last
weekend. Harrison was so upset with the fine and the NFL's stricter
enforcement of dangerous hits that he said he was weighing
retirement.
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The agent for Vincent Jackson says the wide
receiver will report to the San Diego Chargers next week and sign
his contract tender. By reporting Oct. 29, Jackson will be able to
serve a three-game, team-imposed suspension on the roster exempt
list, then play in the final six games to accrue his sixth season
toward unrestricted free agency.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce
Pearl is working without a contract while the NCAA investigates his
staff's recruiting practices. A Tennessee spokesman says Pearl's
contract was terminated on Sept. 9, a day before he publicly
revealed he had provided incorrect information during an interview
with NCAA investigators. The contract Pearl had been working under
allowed for termination in the case of "acts of fraud" committed
by the coach in the performance of his duties.
