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Dempster dealt to Texas for pair of prospects

CHICAGO -- Ryan Dempster held out for a deal to the Dodgers, but with less than five minutes to go before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, he said yes to the Rangers.

The Cubs' makeover continued Tuesday when they dealt Dempster to the defending American League champions, finalizing the deal minutes before the 3 p.m. CT Deadline. Dempster, who had been scheduled to start Tuesday night, was in Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer's office for about an hour in case he was needed to make a last-minute decision.

"He held pretty firm on the Dodger thing," Hoyer said. "I was really glad he was in our office for the last couple hours. It was probably fun for him. He got to see how it worked. He sat in our office and watched himself on TV."

Continue reading Dempster dealt to Texas for pair of prospects

Trades create weird vibe, but Cubs rout Pirates

CHICAGO -- Justin Germano could only watch as players he just met said goodbye.

The right-hander got the win Monday night in a 14-4 romp over the Pirates. But Germano, acquired July 19 from the Red Sox, was a minor part of the game.

During the nine-run fifth, the Cubs pulled outfielder Reed Johnson from the game and told pitcher Paul Maholm they were going to the Braves. Catcher Geovany Soto also was pulled after the sixth and was reportedly headed to the Rangers. Cubs pitchers were surprised they could be losing Soto.

Continue reading Trades create weird vibe, but Cubs rout Pirates

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Cubs deal Maholm, Johnson to Braves

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Johnson matches Gordon with fourth win at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS -- Team owner Rick Hendrick may have had better days -- but not many.

Hendrick joined his No. 48 team in kissing the bricks at the finish line after driver Jimmie Johnson won Sunday's Crown Royal presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, taking the checkered flag 4.758 seconds ahead of runner-up Kyle Busch and tying teammate Jeff Gordon for the most Cup Series wins at IMS with four.

The victory was Johnson's third of the season -- all but assuring he will remain the only driver to have qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup each year since the inception of NASCAR's playoff format in 2004. Johnson won for the 58th time, leaving him eighth on the all-time list and second to Gordon among active drivers.

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Rizzo's first career walk-off homer delivers 'W': Reds win 10th straight

CHICAGO -- There's a first time for everything, and rookie Anthony Rizzo now has his first walk-off home run.

Rizzo launched a two-run opposite-field home run in the 10th inning Sunday to power the Cubs to a 4-2 win over the Cardinals and take the series.

"This is the best," Rizzo said. "This is something I've always dreamed of doing since I was a little kid. I've never done it before -- not in the Minors, not in Little League, not ever. This is awesome."

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Reds sweep Rockies with 10th consecutive win

Dickey cruises to 14th win in Arizona

Former Indiana basketball player Neil Reed dies

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- Neil Reed, the former Indiana basketball player who coach Bob Knight was caught on tape choking in 1997, has died after collapsing in his Central California home. He was 36.

Pioneer Valley High School Principal Shanda Herrera said Reed died Thursday morning of heart complications in Nipomo, Calif.

In March 2000, Reed accused Knight of choking him during a practice in 1997.

Continue reading Former Indiana basketball player Neil Reed dies

Dempster's quality start not enough in finale

PITTSBURGH -- Ryan Dempster wasn't distracted by the trade rumors, but he wasn't happy about his outing or being pulled after six innings.

Dempster served up two solo home runs and a go-ahead RBI double to Garrett Jones in the sixth to lift the Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Cubs. After Dempster was pulled from the game, he slammed the water cooler and threw a bottle in the dugout.

"There were a couple mistake pitches on the home runs," Dempster said. "[Andrew] McCutchen hit his ball good [in the sixth], Garrett Jones hit a good pitch, a split down on the top of the plate, and he just ripped it in the corner for the go-ahead run and it was good enough to win. I felt really good and had a chance to win the game but didn't make enough pitches."

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Leave it to Drew: Reds win seven in a row

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Komets bringing 4 players back

FORT WAYNE – A source within the Komets told The Journal Gazette that the team has reached contract agreements with forwards Chris Auger, Jean-Michel Rizk and Stephon Thorne, as well as defenseman Brent Henley.

General manager David Franke said nothing has been finalized with these players, “But we are talking with all of those guys.”

All four played with the Komets last season.

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Maholm continues surge as Cubs drop Bucs

PITTSBURGH -- Paul Maholm didn't know who Hippo Vaughn is, but he does now.

Maholm one-upped Vaughn, a fellow lefty, by posting his fifth straight start of at least six innings while giving up one run or fewer on Tuesday in the Cubs' 5-1 win over the Pirates.

Vaughn did so in four straight starts in 1918. Maholm (9-6) now has five efficient wins in a row.

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Stubbs steps up as Reds win sixth straight

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Notre Dame quarterback Rees pleads guilty, serves community service

The following is a statement from Tommy Rees, a junior quarterback on the University of Notre Dame football team after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges.  The charges stem from a May 3 arrest in St. Joseph County.  Rees will avoided jail time and will perform 50 hours of community service as punishment.

"I apologize to my family, friends, the Notre Dame community, Fighting Irish fans and the South Bend Police Department for my actions this spring.  I made a poor decision and I accept full responsibility.

"I learned a valuable lesson and witnessed first-hand that actions have consequences.  Thisexperience will make me a better person and I will focus on being a positive role model and citizen.

"To those who supported me during this difficult time, I offer my sincerest thanks.  To the people I disappointed, I am dedicated to winning back your trust and confidence."

 

Ceding one hit, Samardzija nearly flawless

PITTSBURGH -- If Ryan Dempster is dealt, the Cubs will be counting on Jeff Samardzija, and on Monday night, the latter looked like an ace.

Samardzija gave up one hit over eight innings in the Cubs' 2-0 victory over the Pirates, snapping Pittsburgh's winning streak at five games.

"That was, no doubt, the best stuff he's had," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said of Samardzija, who's in his first full season as a starter. "He had his two-seamer working, kept the ball down, elevated when he wanted, had his split working, his slider, could get back in the count with his slider. I don't think I'm on his Christmas list right now."

Continue reading Ceding one hit, Samardzija nearly flawless

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NCAA announces penalties for Penn State

NCAA President Mark Emmert announced sanctions against Penn State University's football program Monday morning in light of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal and the findings of the Freeh Report investigation.

The details of the punishment:

• Four year postseason ban
• 10 initial scholarship losses and 20 per year for four years
• $60 million fine
• All wins from 1998-2011 vacated
• Five year probationary period

The NCAA's action in a case like this is unprecedented, as this was a legal issue -- there was no NCAA investigation. Emmert called this a "very distinct and very unique circumstance." And while the NCAA didn't invoke the death penalty like was given to SMU 25 years ago, it's a crippling blow to the program. Under former coach Joe Paterno, the team's most consecutive seasons without a bowl appearance was three. (You can read the entire list of sanctions from the NCAA here.)

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Castroneves' redemption: 'This place owed us'

Edmonton, Alberta -- Does this victory in the Edmonton Indy make up for 2010, Helio?

"It's fantastic," he said. "I think this place owed us a little bit."

Any victory at the same venue massages past results, and Helio Castroneves' win on the 2.224-mile, 13-turn City Centre Airport circuit was celebrated with his usual exuberant fence climb much to the delight of the throng of spectators in the Turn 1 grandstand.

Click it: Edmonton Indy box score

Castroneves held off Takuma Sato by .8367 of a second to win the caution-free, 75-lap race. Teammate Will Power, who started 17th because of a 10-grid spot penalty for an unapproved engine change, charged to third and Graham Rahal tied his road/street course best finish of the season in fourth. Alex Tagliani, who led a field-high 49 laps after starting fourth, finished fifth.

Continue reading Castroneves' redemption: 'This place owed us'

Els captures his second British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNE'S, England – Ernie Els revealed he hopes to pour Nelson Mandela a drink from the Claret Jug after completing a dramatic comeback victory in the Open Championship.

Els clinched the fourth major title of his career and his first in 10 years, after capitalizing on a disastrous choke by Adam Scott, who threw away the tournament with bogeys on each of the final four holes to be overhauled by one stroke.

The big South African admitted he had thought of Mandela before and during his round, and Els paid tribute to the iconic statesman during his acceptance speech at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, site of the 141st British Open.

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Cubs honor Santo before falling to Cardinals

ST. LOUIS -- The Cubs clicked their heels, but they couldn't celebrate Ron Santo's day at Cooperstown with a win.

Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran hit back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches off Travis Wood to lead the Cardinals to a 7-0 victory and complete a sweep of the Cubs on Sunday at Busch Stadium.

"I hope we forget this weekend and start again tomorrow," Alfonso Soriano said.

Continue reading Cubs honor Santo before falling to Cardinals

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Reds sweep Crew with no homers in Cincy

Mets rally to tie, but fall under .500 with loss in 12th

K’s reach deal with goaltender

The Komets agreed to terms with goaltender Charlie Effinger for the coming season, sources confirmed. But the paperwork still needs to be submitted to the league.

Effinger, 26, skated last season for the Missouri Mavericks and was in net when the Komets defeated that team in the Turner Conference Finals after falling behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

The Komets went on to win the CHL championship and then moved to the ECHL, where Effinger hopes he will have a better chance of being elevated to the American Hockey League.

Continue reading K’s reach deal with goaltender