Professional

CHICAGO – There’s no truth to the notion Jay Cutler will turn green with envy, if not Cardinals red, at the sight of the receivers on the other side when the Chicago Bears host Arizona on Sunday.

Gordon Beckham realizes his offseason just became a little shorter.

NEW YORK – Crowds roared, church bells rang and streams of paper rained down on Broadway as the New York Yankees celebrated their 27th championship Friday in a way only this city can, with a parade up the Canyon of Heroes.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Nobody expected the Spencer Havner experiment to work out quite like this – not even Havner himself.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Michael Turner did some self-scouting last week to find out why he wasn’t breaking off big runs for the Atlanta Falcons.

FORT WORTH, Texas – Mathematically, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon still have a chance to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

DENVER – Chris Stewart scored in the eighth round of the shootout, helping the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche remain unbeaten at home with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

DEERFIELD – Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas broke his left forearm during a weight training session Friday and will have surgery Saturday. He could miss 4-6 weeks.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – A little adversity never hurt anyone. Case in point: The Blackhawks.

by K.C. Johnson

Ted Lilly will miss the start of the 2010 season after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles.

NEW YORK– The sign men were out bright and early at the Yankees minor league complex, sticking vinyl strips with a fresh, white “27” over the “26” that had been up on the board for nine years to mark the team’s total of World Series titles.

TALLADEGA, Ala. – When Jamie McMurray got home on Sunday night following his dramatic win at Talladega hours earlier, he turned to his wife, Christy, and asked what they should do to celebrate his first victory in nearly three years.

PHILADELPHIA – Cliff Lee’s perfect postseason might not be over yet.

NFL

PHILADELPHIA – The way Alex Rodriguez sees it, the New York Yankees are in solid shape.

CHICAGO – Sore back or not, Jannero Pargo hasn’t lost his sunny disposition. He also, apparently, hasn’t lost his shot-making ability.

PHILADELPHIA – A.J. Burnett started walking briskly off the mound before manager Joe Girardi even got there. The erratic right-hander already was finished – and he knew it.

TALLADEGA, Ala. – NASCAR will point to the 58 lead changes among 26 drivers as proof of a good race at Talladega Superspeedway.

If there are any suggestions on how to slow down Brett Favre and the 7-1 Vikings before they run away with the NFC North, Bears defensive end Alex Brown is open to them.

PHILADELPHIA – Put those parade plans on hold, New York. The Phillies are coming back.

WASHINGTON (AP) — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell plans to ask Congress for legislation that would protect collective bargaining agreements from state law challenges, like the one that led to blocking the suspensions of two players who tested positive for banned substances.

By halftime, Walter Payton was being remembered, but the Bears’ loss to the Bengals was being forgotten. Perfect.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Brett Favre jogged out of the tunnel in a purple helmet. He might as well have been wearing a black hat.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Alex Rodriguez waited all game for this hit. Heck, he waited his whole career.