NHL: Harrison released
The Steelers released linebacker James Harrison, the former NFL defensive player of the year yesterday when the two sides could not agree on a more cap-friendly deal.
“It’s been a great run but all good things must come to a end,” Harrison posted on his Twitter account. “Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all!”
Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert and Harrison’s agent Bill Parise had spent the last few days trying to iron out a new deal but couldn’t reach any common ground.
Cornerback Leodis McKelvin and the Bills reached an agreement to re-sign their 2008 first-round draft pick. A person familiar with the negotiations said McKelvin agreed to a four-year contract worth a little over $20 million.
SOCCER: Man. U wins
Carlos Tevez put Manchester City on the road to Wembley with an FA Cup hat trick, two days after being arrested for a driving offense, as City routed Barnsley 5-0 to reach the semifinals.
Tevez’s goals came while he is out on bail after being arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license.
Wigan also will be playing at Wembley next month, reaching the semifinals for the first time in its 81-year history after a 3-0 win at Everton, which started Jan Mucha in goal because American Tim Howard is sidelined by two broken bones in his back.
ETC.: Red Storm women win
In Hartford, Shenneika Smith scored 16 points to lead fifth-seeded St. John’s to a 51-45 win over Seton Hall in the second round of the Big East women’s basketball tournament.
The Red Storm (18-11) will face No. 4 seed Louisville today in the quarterfinals.
Fabian Gomez of Argentina made four birdies on the back nine for a 7-under 65 that gave him a share of the lead with Scott Brown going into the final round of the Puerto Rico Open.
Brown had a 67 to join Gomez in the lead. They set the tournament record at 18-under 198. They were four shots clear.
Sam Hornish Jr. survived two restarts in the final 15 laps and held off Kyle Busch to win the Nationwide Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Hornish led 114 laps in his second career Nationwide victory, but needed a strong finish to outrun Busch, the hometown driver who won the Nationwide race last week in Phoenix.
Pole sitter Brian Vickers finished third, with Trevor Bayne fourth and Elliott Sadler fifth.
Ted Ligety of the United States won his fifth giant slalom of the season to clinch the World Cup discipline title with a race to spare.
In Finland, Kikkan Randall of the United States clinched the cross-country World Cup sprint title by edging Norwegian world champion Marit Bjoergen at the line in the Lahti Ski Games.