NIU's Wolfe a semifinalist in race for top running back
From Staff and Wire Reports
DEKALB — Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe is one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top running back.
Wolfe leads the nation in rushing (153.3 yards per game) and all-purpose yards (176.3 per game) and owns the top two individual rushing performances this season with a school-record 353 yards at Ball State on Sept. 30 and 263 against Buffalo on Sept. 16.
Earlier this season, the Chicago native set a NCAA record by rushing for 1,181 yards through five games while becoming one of nine players to reach the 1,000-yard mark by the fifth game. Wolfe is averaging 6.7 yards per carry and set career receiving highs with 24 catches for 230 yards this season.
Appeals court orders Bonds' trainer jailed
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Barry Bonds' personal trainer must return to prison for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports.
Greg Anderson, 40, already has served two other brief prison stints for refusing to testify whether his boyhood friend lied when he said he never knowingly used steroids. Both times, Anderson was released on procedural grounds.
Anderson must report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin in two days and could serve more than a year behind bars unless he agrees to tell the grand jury what he knows about Bonds' alleged steroids use. Bonds told a 2003 grand jury that he believed Anderson had supplied him with flaxseed oil and arthritis balm.
•Bob Geren will be promoted from bench coach to manager of the Oakland Athletics, according to a high-ranking baseball official.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the team won't introduce Geren as its new manager until Friday, filling the final managerial vacancy in the major leagues this offseason, one month after the A's fired Ken Macha.
•Scott Spiezio and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $4.5 million, two-year contract on Thursday, keeping one of the team's top reserves with the World Series champions.
The deal includes a club option for 2009.
• First baseman Sean Casey is staying with the AL champion Detroit Tigers, agreeing to a $4 million, one-year contract Thursday.
Acquired from Pittsburgh last season, Casey was a hitting star in the World Series. He batted .529 with two home runs and five RBIs against the St. Louis Cardinals, but Detroit lost in five games.
Miami's Reddick reinstated after 4-game suspension
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami safety Anthony Reddick has been reinstated after serving a four-game suspension for his role in the Hurricanes' sideline-clearing brawl with Florida International last month.
Reddick will travel with Miami (5-5, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) and is expected to play when the Hurricanes visit Virginia (4-6, 3-3). Miami coach Larry Coker announced the reinstatement Thursday.
Roddick out of Masters Cup; Federer into semis
SHANGHAI, China — Andy Roddick was eliminated from the Masters Cup by defending champion David Nalbandian 6-2, 7-6 (4) on Thursday, allowing top-ranked Roger Federer to advance to the semifinals of the $4.45 million season-ending tournament.
Federer later beat Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (2), 6-4, helping Nalbandian advance to the semifinals in the round-robin event. Federer, who extended his winning streak to 27 matches, is seeking his third Masters Cup title.
Woods two strokes off the lead at Dunlop Phoenix
MIYAZAKI, Japan — Tiger Woods overcame a slow start and shot a 3-under 67 Thursday to sit two strokes behind leader Shingo Katayama after the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix.
Katayama, the highest ranked Japanese player in the world standings, had seven birdies and was one shot ahead of Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. Woods, the two-time defending champion, shared third place in the with Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Toshi Izawa, Satoru Hirota and Hisayuki Sasaki of Japan.
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