NFL: Cards cut RB James
The Cardinals released running back Edgerrin James with one year remaining on his contract, a development expected since late in the season. His resurgence during last season’s playoffs gave Arizona the running game it needed.
* The owner of a minor league football team that offered Michael Vick a contract told a newspaper he didn’t know about the publicity stunt and would not have approved it. “I’m a dog lover and I don’t want anything to do with [Vick],” Albany Firebirds owner Walter Robb told The Times Union for a story posted on its Web site last night. Earlier in the day, the team an arenafootball2 franchise, announced it had offered the 28-year-old quarterback a one-year contract at the league standard: $200 a week plus a $50 bonus for a win.
NBA: Knicks to host Israeli squad
In lieu of the Knicks’ cancelled preseason trip to Italy, the club will announce at a press conference tomorrow that it will host overseas power Maccabi Tel Aviv in an Oct. 18 Sunday matinee, a rematch from two years ago. The Garden was sold out for the first meeting, in the 2007-2008 preseason, mostly with Maccabi fans who chanted their team’s name despite the loss. — Marc Berman
BASEBALL: Sox’ streak snapped
In Cleveland, Mark DeRosa had four hits and scored from second base on an error with two outs in the ninth inning as the Indians beat the Red Sox 9-8, snapping their 11-game winning streak.
* A screaming double over the right fielder’s head on an 0-1 count in the third inning put an end to Mitchell High School senior Patrick Schuster‘s bid for a fifth straight no-hitter. Schuster simply walked around the mound then got back on the rubber while a standing room-only crowd of more than 1,000 applauded his effort. Gaither High eliminated Mitchell from the playoffs, 9-4, ending Schuster’s high school career.
* In Philadelphia, Chase Utley homered twice and drove in three runs and the Phillies beat the Nationals 7-1 for their fifth straight victory. Cole Hamels pitched 4 1/3 innings before leaving with a sprained left ankle.
ETC.: Pens make coach official
The Penguins officially named Dan Bylsma their head coach, dropping “interim” from his job title, after his arrival sparked Pittsburgh to an impressive 18-3-4 record over their last 25 regular season games and a first-round playoff series win.
* Chelsea held host Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. Chelsea was the first team to hold Barcelona scoreless since the Spanish league’s opening weekend last August.
* Lance Armstrong will compete in the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico after all, the seven-time Tour de France champion’s first race since breaking his collarbone in a crash last month.