Making The Jump: Top Ten Candidates For The 2011 Most Improved Player Award
The NBA Most Improved Player Award, which was first introduced in the 1985-86 season, is given each year to the player who has taken his game to the next level and shown the most improvement. Many past winners, such as Gilbert Arenas, Jermaine O' Neal and Zach Randolph, had slow starts to their careers before having a breakout year and becoming stars in the league. There are bound to be a number ...

NFL Capsules - NFC: Giants defense faces first test under Fewell
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — For the past nine months, the New York Giants have talked about playing defense like the Giants of old. The style was simple, brute force. No one outmuscled the Giants. No one ran on them.

Other College Football Capsules: South Carolina defeats Southern Miss 41-13
It's not his old, Florida "Fun-n-Gun" — yet. But Spurrier thought enough of his attack on Thursday night, he was shooting to hang half-a-hundred on Southern Miss.

College Sports Capsules: MSU's Korie Lucious faces drunken driving charge
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State basketball star Korie Lucious faces a charge of operating while intoxicated. The 20-year-old guard was pulled over early Monday near campus and his blood-alcohol level was 0.09 percent.

MLB Capsules: Clemens heads to D.C., this time for court
WASHINGTON (AP) — On this trip to Washington, Roger Clemens will be in a courtroom, not in Congress. His defiant stance is expected to remain the same, even if his statement is much shorter.

Shutting him down is best for the game
WASHINGTON –- In Stephen Strasburg 's last start on Saturday, when he was pulled in the fifth inning after grimacing after a thrown pitch, more people than there were seats for crammed into the Phillies' Citizens Bank Park. Even in Philadelphia -- which leads the National League in attendance -- that was worth noting.

NFL League and Player Capsules: T.O. has 43-yard catch, Bengals beat Eagles 22-9
CINCINNATI (AP) — Terrell Owens put some bite back into the Bengals' offense. Owens caught a 43-yard pass along the sideline, setting up the only touchdown by Cincinnati's starting offense Friday night in a 22-9 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles that showed he's still got a lot left.

NFL Capsules - League and Player News: Jets' Mangold returns to practice, no concussion
CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Nick Mangold was back on the field, saying he doesn't have a concussion and his head is feeling normal again. "Or, at least, Mangold normal," the All-Pro center said with a smile Wednesday.

Jack Knudson to lead Spokes of Hope ride
Cancer victory lap at veldorome on Aug. 27 Jack Knudson was a completely normal, healthy tot for the first 41/2 years of his life.

NFL Capsules - Team Features: 'Electrifying' Banks impressing Redskins coaches
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Brandon Banks has a bloodline for speed to offset a body not meant for football. The undrafted Washington Redskins rookie is no longer just a long shot to make the team, not after his 77-yard punt return for a touchdown against Buffalo on Friday.