Sixers find way to make lead disappear
In a game that was as rough as sandpaper, the 76ers never were able to smooth out the edges. In a game in which the Sixers held a 65-56 lead with 6 minutes, 33 seconds left in the third quarter, they ultimately could not hold on to an Opening Night victory.
( By PHIL JASNER, jasnerp@phillynews.com, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Power back in Flyers' play
If there was one thing Ken Hitchcock was sure about when he took the job of head coach, it was that the Flyers would have good special teams.
( By EDWARD MORAN, morane@phillynews.com, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

The bottom line | Reid proud of No. 1 running game
A fluke? A one-game wonder? Not anymore. Not the No. 1-ranked running game in the NFL.
( 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Hold your noses
GREEN BAY PACKERS fullback Najeh Davenport had just one question yesterday: "Where's the manure?" Davenport was looking for evidence after agreeing at a hearing in Miami to serve community service on charges that he, uh, number-twoed in the closet of a sleeping woman at her Barry University dormitory in the early hours of April 1.
( 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Emmons' hamstring is acting up again
Just a few flips of the calendar ago, Carlos Emmons was overjoyed that the bye week had allowed his strained left hamstring to heal. Emmons was the dominant defensive player of the Eagles' Oct. 20 victory over Tampa Bay.
( By LES BOWEN, bowenl@phillynews.com, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Bill Conlin | Managing madness
Lou, meet Alex. Oh, yeah, silly me...You've already met. In fact, Lou Piniella was manager of the almost-great Seattle Mariners when Alex Rodriguez sold his soul to Tom Hicks and a serial baseball disaster, the Texas Rangers.
( By BILL CONLIN, bill1chair@aol.com, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Brewers select Braves coach Yost as new manager
Atlanta Braves coach Ned Yost yesterday was hired as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, returning to the team where he was a backup catcher in the 1980s.
( Daily News Wire Services, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Disorder at a new level
As war zones go, the 700 Level at Veterans Stadium isn't exactly Baghdad. But at least Saddam Hussein is allowing the foreign press to remain on the job in Iraq.
( By DON RUSSELL & JIM NOLAN, 10/30/2002 10:13 AM EST)

Dawkins' hit knocks out Hilliard for rest of season
New York Giants receiver Ike Hilliard will miss the rest of the season with a dislocated right shoulder suffered on a hit by Eagles All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins.
( Daily News Wire Services, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Hill's return could be magical
He has been, in a sense, like everyone else over the last 2 years, waiting, watching to see whether at age 30, after three left-ankle surgeries and arthroscopic knee surgery he could resume his career at a satisfying level.
( By PHIL JASNER, jasnerp@phillynews.com, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Even without a third-period shot, Hurricanes hold off Devils
The Carolina Hurricanes are playing so well against New Jersey, they don't even need shots in the third period to win. Jeff O'Neill had a goal and an assist and Kevin Weekes made 34 saves last night as the visiting Hurricanes beat the Devils, 2-1, despite failing to get a shot on goal in the final 20 minutes.
( Daily News Wire Services, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Former Northeast forward to Drexel
Chaz Crawford, a graduate of Northeast High, is the latest recruit to give an oral commitment to Drexel's men's basketball team. A 6-8 forward, he is attending Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., this year.
( 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Willingham has Irish eyes smiling again
Even Notre Dame bashers would have to grudgingly acknowledge that it's the feel-good story of the college football season. Or maybe even of any season in some time. And it could probably only happen at one place.
( By MIKE KERN, kernm@phillynews.com, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Kings roll in opener
The Sacramento Kings were missing two key players, but it didn't matter this time. Peja Stojakovic scored 17 points and Chris Webber had 14 rebounds as the Kings opened a season of great expectations with a 94-67 victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers last night.
( Daily News Wire Services, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Benched Florida State QB says teammates should look in mirror
Chris Rix responded to his benching as Florida State's starting quarterback by saying some of his teammates should worry about their own performance before they criticize him.
( Daily News Wire Services, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Judge rules against parents in Pittsburgh prep hazing case
A judge denied a bid by a group of Catholic high school parents to bar the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh from pulling a football team from upcoming playoffs because of alleged hazing.
( Staff and Wire Reports, 10/30/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Call the baby sitter
LIKE IT OR NOT, the Giants probably will have to cut Darren Baker next season. Darren is the 3 ½-year-old son of manager Dusty Baker who was nearly run over at home plate during Game 5 of the World Series. The youngster was "saved" when Giants first baseman J.T. Snow scooped him up at the plate after scoring.
( 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

John Smallwood | Birds have fate in their hands
TO SAY THE least, the 18th and final "Monday Night Football" game at Veterans Stadium left a few things to be desired. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't
( By John Smallwood, smallwj@phillynews.com, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

McNabb's incredible feet
THE WHOLE GAME, Donovan McNabb kept looking for open receivers and finding open real estate instead. It isn't the way the West Coast offense is supposed to work, especially not in McNabb's fourth year - the Eagles' quarterback takes a lot of pride in being able to beat teams more with his arm than his feet. But when defenders have their hands around your ankles and the team needs a big play, you do what you have to do.
( By LES BOWEN, bowenl@phillynews.com, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Rich Hofmann | Winning moment delivered by you know who
SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR. Same game, only different. Because last year, the Eagles and Giants met on a Monday night in October and the Giants proceeded to kick the Eagles all over Giants Stadium in the first half. But the Giants led by only 9-0 at the intermission.
( By Rich Hofmann, hofmanr@phillynews.com, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Paul Domowitch | Ground game glorious again
FOR THE second straight week, the Eagles' offense proved it's not a one-trick pony. For the second straight week, it proved that it can move the ball on the ground when it needs to as well as through the air.
( 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Shockey dons the black hat
Move over, Michael Strahan. Eagles fans have a new villain in their rarely dull rivalry with the folks on the north end of the New Jersey Turnpike.
( By MIKE KERN, kernm@phillynews.com, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Newcomer Adams helps improve special teams
Crunch Time is a compilation of hits and misses from last night's game. There had been some uncertainty over whether he knew enough of the Eagles' formations to play this quickly, but Keith Adams was out there for the opening kickoff, blocking between Ike Reese and Barry Gardner.
( 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

'The Machine' delivers licking, keeps ticking
SILENCE ENVELOPED the moment: a favorite son, prostrate, unmoving; the enemy, hobbled but, at least, mobile; at least, alive. The consistent love affair between Brian Dawkins and Eagles fans is based in passion and excellence. As the free safety, Dawkins is the last Bird introduced when the defense has that pregame honor, and his out-of-body histrionics - rolling, crawling, hopping, scooting - delight the Veterans Stadium faithful. A two-time Pro Bowl attendee, Dawkins is the only Eagle who arguably...
( By MARCUS HAYES, hayesm@phillynews.com, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Even Brown might need program to know team
The coach's emotions have dwindled from genuine excitement to sheer nervousness. The 76ers that Larry Brown envisioned after a series of moves can suddenly be viewed as a team whose season could be over before it begins.
( By PHIL JASNER, jasnerp@phillynews.com, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Lakers' Fox, Kings' Christie suspended for role in brawl
Rick Fox was suspended for six games, Doug Christie was banished for two, and every member of the Sacramento Kings who left the bench during a fight with the Los Angeles Lakers got off scot-free.
( Daily News Wire Services, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Flyers elect not to dwell on history with Senators
Don't call this a milestone game. And don't think a win will equal revenge. That's what the Flyers were saying yesterday about playing Ottawa tonight in the First Union Center for the first time since last spring.
( By EDWARD MORAN, morane@phillynews.com, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)

Richter nets 300th win by stopping Coyotes
Mike Richter raised his arms as soon as his 300th NHL victory was clinched and then hugged Darius Kasparaitis, who has only been around for four of them.
( Daily News Wire Services, 10/29/2002 03:01 AM EST)