Sports

UNDATED (AP) - Danny Briere has allowed the Philadelphia Flyers to win the opener of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against New Jersey. Briere's second goal of the afternoon came at 4:36 of overtime and gave the Flyers a 4-3 victory. The game-winner came just minutes after he had a goal disallowed on review.

James van Riemsdyk  and Claude Giroux also scored for Philadelphia, which blew leads of 2-1 and 3-2 before prevailing.

Zach Parise had a goal and an assist for the Devils before Petr Sykora notched the game-tying tally midway through the third period.

Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Philly.

MIAMI (AP) - For LeBron James, something changes at this time of year.

He wakes up at all hours, jolted by the recurring dream of what that championship moment may feel like. It's all-consuming, something that's difficult at times for his family and those around him to deal with.

He calls it playoff mode. And here it comes.

Still driven by last season's loss to Dallas in the NBA finals, James and the Heat enter the postseason this weekend as the No. 2 seed in the East. Their first-round opponent is still not determined. Their ultimate goal was determined long ago.

James is averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. No one's done that since Michael Jordan in 1988-89 - two years before he started winning NBA titles.

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - So it turns out Alex Ovechkin is not thrilled with getting less ice time in the playoffs.

Less than a week after saying "it doesn't matter" if he's on the bench for long stretches, the two-time NHL MVP acknowledges Tuesday that "of course, sometimes I get angry I didn't play." The Washington Capitals' captain also says that "if it's good for the team, you have to eat it."

Ovechkin played a career playoff-low 15 1/2 minutes in Game 5 of Washington's first-round series against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. The teams are tied at three games apiece heading into Wednesday's Game 7 at Boston.

Capitals coach Dale Hunter says circumstances - including who is leading or which lines Boston uses - dictate Ovechkin's minutes.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Redskins have spent 27 years trying to find a replacement for Joe Theismann.

Not since Theismann's career ended with a broken leg in 1985 have the Redskins had a quarterback they could reliably count on as a reliable winner for the better part of a decade. Twenty-one players have started at the position in the last 19 seasons.

Robert Griffin III has the talent to be the solution. The Redskins are expected to take the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor with the No. 2 overall pick in this week's NFL draft.

Griffin's mother says it's been exciting waiting for the draft, but it will be good to finally have it official that her son is going to Washington.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A joint Louisiana state police and FBI task force is investigating allegations that the New Orleans Saints set up general manager Mickey Loomis' booth in the Superdome so he could listen in on opposing coaches.

State police Col. Mike Edmonson says the task force began work Tuesday, examining whether there were possible violations of state or federal wiretapping laws.

Loomis and the Saints have called the allegations "1000 percent false," and have said they are reviewing legal recourse following an ESPN report Monday in which anonymous sources described a setup that would have allowed the general manager to eavesdrop on opponents from 2002 to 2004. ESPN could not verify the system was used.

Still, the alleged actions would violate NFL rules, if not state and federal laws.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Dana Holgorsen is familiar with Big 12 country, having spent time under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State and Mike Leach at Texas Tech.

As West Virginia's second-year coach, Holgorsen now gets to introduce the conference to the Mountaineers, who along with TCU will be making their debuts this fall.

In many ways, no introductions will be necessary.

Some coaches, such as Texas' Mack Brown and Iowa State's Paul Rhoads, have a history with West Virginia going back to the days of longtime coach Don Nehlen.

With several reunions in store, Holgorsen said Monday during the Big 12 coaches' spring conference call there's an excitement about playing several potentially high-ranked opponents, especially at home. The Mountaineers have their offense intact from the team that beat Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl.

BALTIMORE (AP) - The Washington Capitals will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in an exhibition game at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore on Sept. 26.

It will be the second year of what's billed as the Baltimore Hockey Classic. In 2011, an announced crowd of 11,082 saw the Capitals play the Nashville Predators in the first professional hockey game in Baltimore since 1997.

Tickets for this year's game will go on sale to the public on Monday.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Capitals are again behind in their first-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins. On Monday, Boston scored with less than 2 minutes left to secure a 4-3 victory and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Brooks Laich scored for Washington, which will host Game 4 on Thursday.

CHICAGO (AP) - Kevin Seraphin had 21 points and 13 rebounds, John Wall scored 16 points, and the Washington Wizards beat the short-handed Chicago Bulls 87-84 on Monday night.

Richard Hamilton scored 22 points to lead the Bulls, who played without stars Derrick Rose and Luol Deng. Rose was out with a sore right foot as he missed his 24th game of the season, and Deng sat out due to sore right ribs.

After two straight games of clutch 3-pointers in the finals seconds to force overtime in wins against Miami and Detroit, the Bulls missed a third chance when Hamilton's 3-pointer was blocked by James Singleton with 5.9 seconds left and C.J. Watson missed in the final seconds.

The Bulls' lead on Miami in the Eastern Conference dropped to 2 1/2 games with five games remaining. The Heat beat New Jersey earlier Monday night.

CHICAGO (AP) - Matt Wieters homered twice, including a 10th-inning grand slam, lifting the Baltimore Orioles to a come-from-behind 10-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

The White Sox took a 4-1 lead into the eighth, but Baltimore hit three solo homers against a pair of relievers to send the game into extra innings.

Chicago reliever Zach Stewart (0-1) allowed six runs in the 10th.

Wieters went deep off Jesse Crain in the eighth to make it 4-2. Nolan Reimold and Adam Jones homered off rookie closer Hector Santiago in the ninth to tie it.

Chris Davis doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th with a shot off the left-field wall. With two outs, Wieters hit his first career grand slam into the right-field seats.

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford Motor Company will become the first manufacturer in NASCAR history to supply an all-electric car as the pace car.

The new Focus Electric will lead the field at the April 28 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond.

Mark Fields of Ford says research shows many Americans would consider an electric car if they understood the technology. Using the Focus Electric as pace car gives Ford a chance to educate consumers about the vehicle.

The car will be unveiled to the public at the Virginia State Capitol on April 25.

Ford also was the first to use a hybrid vehicle as pace car when the Fusion Hybrid led the field at Homestead in 2008. Ford in January unveiled its Fusion as its 2013 car to be used in NASCAR competition.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky is poised to become the first state in the nation to ban a raceday anti-bleeding medication after a panel recommended the drug be prohibited from the Kentucky Derby in 2014, and the whole state by 2015.

The Race Day Medication Committee of the Kentucky Horseracing Commission voted 4-1 for the proposal Monday. The full commission is expected to take up the proposal later in the day.

Furosemide is the only medication allowed to be given to horses on raceday in the United States. Its use is banned in other countries because it enhances performance.

Industry groups such as The Jockey Club support a ban, saying there should be one set of drug rules that applies internationally and that allowing the drug creates a bad public impression.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has notified the university he won't appeal his firing nor will he seek any of the $18 million buyout that was part of his contract.
 
Petrino's agent, Russ Campbell, sent an e-mail to Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long Thursday night saying Petrino has accepted "responsibility for the events that led to the University's decision to terminate his contract."
 
Petrino was fired Tuesday for failing to disclose his relationship with football staffer Jessica Dorrell and withholding other information from Long, including that he had once given her $20,000. Petrino hired Dorrell days before the April 1 motorcycle accident with her that led to his downfall.
 

Petrino had the option to appeal the firing.

AINTREE, England (AP) - Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised will try to become the first horse in 78 years to capture British steeplechasing's two biggest races in the same season when he starts as favorite for the Grand National on Saturday.

Tony McCoy accepts that his 8-1 mount has "more heart than ability and talent."

That could be key, though, to Synchronised giving the 16-time champion jockey a second National success after finally winning at his 15th attempt in 2010.

The most poignant winner would be Ballabriggs.

Donald McCain's 12-1 shot will be try to become the first back-to-back National winner in 38 years since Red Rum, who was trained by his late father.

Ginger McCain was on hand to see the celebrations 12 months ago before dying in September.

VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) - Villarreal says forward Giuseppe Rossi has re-injured his right knee and will be sidelined for six more months, ending his hopes of playing for Italy at this year's European Championship.

Rossi tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a game against Real Madrid on Oct. 26 and had surgery. Villarrreal said Rossi tore the ligament again during a training session Friday and needs another operation. He will miss the start of next season.

The 25-year-old New Jersey native scored 32 goals in all competitions for Villarreal last season. The son of Italian parents, he decided to play for the Azzurri instead of the U.S. national team and has six goals in 27 international appearances.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Ryan Zimmerman scored on Alfredo Simon's wild pitch with two outs in the 10th inning, helping the Nationals extend their best start since moving to Washington with a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.

The Nationals improved to 5-2, good for first place in the NL East and treating an announced sellout crowd of 40,907 to a win w in the home opener for the first time since 2008.

Simon (0-1) hit Zimmerman with a pitch leading off the 10th, and one out later, Jayson Werth singled. A groundout pushed the runners to second and third with two outs. With Roger Bernadina at the plate, Simon threw an 0-1 pitch in the dirt, and Zimmerman slid under the tag after catcher Devin Mesoraco collected the ball and threw to Simon.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A never-before-seen $1 million buy-in tournament at this year's World Series of Poker will generate the richest top prize in poker history at more than $12 million - and potentially more if there are additional players.

Series officials told The Associated Press they plan to announce Thursday that 30 players are committed to participate in the Big One for One Drop. The tournament starts July 1 in Las Vegas.

With 30 participants, the top prize is $12.3 million. That's more than the $12 million Jamie Gold won in 2006 for beating more than 8,700 players at no-limit Texas Hold 'em.

Eight-time gold bracelet winner Erik Seidel has joined the field. So have the chief executives of a private college lender and a stock trading firm.

Roughly 11 percent of each buy-in will go to charity.

WILMINGTON, Mass. (AP) - Tim Thomas gives the Boston Bruins the advantage in goaltending in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

But just because the Washington Capitals are expected to give Braden Holtby his first career playoff start in just his 22nd NHL game doesn't mean the Bruins can rely too much on having last year's Stanley Cup MVP in their goal.

Boston forward Chris Kelly says that taking any perceived edge for granted can cause trouble. So the defending Stanley Cup champions would like to test Holtby with many shots early in Thursday night's series opener.

Capitals goalie Tomas Vokoun has a groin injury and won't travel to the game. Their other goalie, Michal Neuvirth, has a left leg injury and didn't practice on Wednesday.

LONDON (AP) - Britain's Olympic body has urged the World Anti-Doping Agency to introduce mandatory four-year bans for drug cheats as a minimum.

The current WADA code has a provision for four-year bans, but few federations opt to impose sanctions beyond the standard two years.

The British Olympic Association has submitted its proposed changes to WADA for the revision of the code which sets out drug-testing rules and sanctions across all sports and countries.

The BOA says in its submission that "athletes globally are calling for tougher sanctions to rid sport of those that choose to cheat. WADA should listen and act accordingly. "

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth is uncertain whether he'll be able to play in the first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.

Neuvirth returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since injuring his left leg last week, but he wasn't able to stay on the ice for the entire session. Asked if he thinks he'll play against Boston, he said: "I don't have the answer."

Tomas Vokoun is more pessimistic. He skated briefly before practice on his injured groin and said: "I'm disappointed as anyone that it turned out this way, but I try and I just can't do it. It's a groin, and for a goalie that's essential."

The injuries mean third-choice goalie Braden Holtby is expected to make his playoff debut in Game 1 on Thursday.

CHICAGO (AP) - General manager Mike Rizzo says the Washington Nationals have no intention of trading pitcher John Lannan.

Rizzo says teams have shown interest. He also says he he understands Lannan's frustration over being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, calling him "an ultra-competitive person."

Rizzo spoke before Thursday's opener against the Chicago Cubs.

The Nationals sent Lannan to the minors on Tuesday, deciding to give the No. 5 spot in their season-opening rotation to another lefty, Ross Detwiler. While Detwiler spent much of 2011 at Syracuse, Lannan was making 33 starts for the Nationals, going 10-13 with a 3.70 ERA. He is making $5 million this year.

In an e-mail to reporters on Wednesday, Lannan wrote: ""I believe that I belong in a big league rotation."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has sent a memo to all 32 teams threatening "significant discipline" to anyone caught leaking confidential information gathered on draft prospects to the public.

The Associated Press obtained the memo, which was sent on Wednesday night after reports that LSU defensive back Morris Claiborne allegedly scored poorly on the Wonderlic test. The exam is used by NFL teams to try to gauge a prospect's intelligence, problem-solving ability and cognitive skills.

League rules prohibit officials from disclosing the results, but scores have routinely been leaked for years.

In his memo, Goodell stresses that Wonderlic scores, personal and family histories and drug tests are to be kept strictly confidential. He writes that disclosing that kind of information "can be extremely damaging to players, clubs, and the league."

NEW YORK (AP) - The percentage of Major League Baseball players born outside the United States rose to its third-highest level.

The commissioner's office said Thursday that among the 856 players on opening day rosters, 243 were born outside the 50 states. The 28.4 percentage is up from 27.7 last year and trails only 2005 (29.2) and 2007 (29.0).

The Dominican Republic led with 95 players, four shy of its high in 2007. Venezuela set its high with 66, four more than last year.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg plans to "give it everything" he has whenever he pitches this season and not worry about the innings limit he'll have after reconstructive elbow surgery.

Strasburg says Tuesday he wants to "be like one of the other guys" when he takes the mound, even if he knows the Nationals want to restrict him to about 160 innings in his first full major league season.

Strasburg calls his assignment as Washington's opening-day starter at the Chicago Cubs on Thursday a "huge honor," made more special because a year ago at this time he was still throwing on flat ground while rehabbing after his operation.

He says he "worked extremely hard" to return and "the job isn't done; I've still got a lot to learn."

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico's Professional Boxing Commission has suspended the license of former WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez for one year for criticizing a referee after his March 10 loss to Mexico's Orlando Salido.

Lopez was also ordered Tuesday to pay a $10,000 fine and provide 100 hours of community service.

Lopez previously said a suspension would force him into early retirement. He has 20 days to appeal.

Lopez had accused referee Roberto Ramirez of betting on the fight after losing by technical knockout to Salido for a second time.

Lopez has asked for forgiveness and said he does not recall what he said or did after the fight until he saw a video of himself the following day.

Lopez is 31-2 with 28 knockouts.

NEW YORK (AP) - Going for a slightly sleeker look, the NFL has unveiled its new uniforms designed by Nike.

The league and Nike showed off the new gear in grand style Tuesday with a gridiron-themed fashion show at a Brooklyn film studio. Uniforms for all 32 teams were on display, worn by players.

Commissioner Roger Goodell was on hand, along with New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz.

 Nike is a new NFL partner, taking over uniform and gear design from Reebok.

The designs stayed pretty true to what NFL fans have come to expect. Seattle got some neon green added to its jersey.