ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center
Maurkice (mar-KEES') Pouncey says he still hopes to play in the
Super Bowl against the Packers despite dealing with a high left
ankle sprain. The Pro Bowl pick was off crutches at media day on
Tuesday, but still has a bulky walking boot on his left foot.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - New Orleans center Emeka Okafor (eh-MEH'-kuh
OH'-kuh-fohr) will be sidelined one to three weeks because of his
strained abdominal muscle. Okafor was injured late in the first
half of Sunday's loss at Phoenix. Okafor is the Hornets' leading
rebounder with 10.1 per game and has averaged 11.1 points and 1.8
blocks this season.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon says team
president Larry Bird's job is safe through the rest of the season,
and that he could be back next year despite the team's current
18-27 record. Some fans have grown restless because the Pacers have
missed the playoffs for four straight seasons. Simon told The
Associated Press that he feels Bird has done a good job since
taking full control of basketball decisions after the 2007-08
season.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Sabres owner Tom Golisano (gah-lih-SAH'noh)
has agreed to sell the NHL franchise to Pennsylvania businessman
Terry Pegula, pending league approval. The team announced the
agreement, but details were not released. Golisano and managing
partner Larry Quinn have scheduled a news conference for Thursday.
The Buffalo News reports the agreement includes $175 million for
the Sabres and an additional $14 million in liabilities.
UNDATED (AP) - The New York Mets' top officials have met with
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg) to discuss the team's
finances, days after team ownership announced it will consider
seeking a minority partner. A person familiar with the meeting says
it involved owner Fred Wilpon, team president Saul Katz and chief
operating officer Jeff Wilpon and took place at the commissioner's
office. The Wilpons were sued last month by trustee Irving Picard,
who's seeking to recover money for victims of the Bernie Madoff
Ponzi scheme.
