NFL commissioner asks Congress to help protect sports leagues’ drug programs from state law

Goodell asks Congress for help on anti-doping

Waxman says court decisions threaten progress on curtailing drug use in sports

Waxman: Decisions threaten progress on steroids

NFL commissioner seeks change in labor law in response to blocked players’ suspensions

NFL commissioner seeks change in labor law

APNewsBreak: Goodell to seek change in labor law in response to blocked players’ suspensions

APNewsBreak: Goodell to seek change in labor law

Former NY Senate GOP leader Bruno, 80, faces trial on federal corruption, influence charges

NY Senate leader Bruno, 80, faces corruption trial

NFL’s Goodell, player union’s Smith, to testify before Congress on Vikings suspension case

NFL’s Goodell to testify on Vikings suspensions

NFL’s Roger Goodell denies link between head injuries and brain diseases before Congress

Goodell denies head injury-brain disease link

Before Congress, NFL’s Goodell won’t acknowledge link between head injuries, brain diseases

Goodell defends NFL’s handling of head injuries

Congressman questions NBA’s dealings with Greek team over unpaid salaries

WASHINGTON — A U.S. congressman is asking NBA Commissioner David Stern why the league participated in games with a visiting Greek team that has allegedly breached contracts with former NBA players.

Chicago Cubs get approval for sale in bankruptcy court; deal could close within weeks

WILMINGTON, Del. — The sale of the Chicago Cubs moved closer Tuesday as a bankruptcy court judge said the team can go to the family of billionaire Joe Ricketts in a $845 million deal.

AP NewsBreak: Congress to look into blocked suspensions of Vikings players

WASHINGTON — The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to conduct a hearing next month on the case of two professional football players whose suspensions were blocked by a federal appeals court.

Rookie linebacker Fein, Baltimore Ravens hopeful, dies in Washington state

SEATTLE — Tony Fein, an Iraq war veteran and NFL rookie linebacker who played with the Baltimore Ravens during the preseason, has died of unexplained causes after collapsing at a friend’s house in what his agent said appears to be “an accidental situation.”

Congress looks at supplements with steroids; baseball players union wants products tested

WASHINGTON — An influential senator is looking into whether Congress should re-regulate dietary supplements because steroids and other banned substances are finding their way into over-the-counter bodybuilding products.

When baseball is the only escape from poverty, some Dominicans see steroids as worth the risk

SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic — A monument to baseball greets visitors to this city known as “the cradle of shortstops.” Children in San Pedro de Macoris grow up playing ball behind tin shanties and on fields cut from sugar plantations.

NFL, NFLPA warn players drug-testing program still in effect despite StarCaps lawsuit

NFL players have been warned the league’s drug-testing program is still in effect despite commissioner Roger Goodell’s ruling to delay suspending several players who tested positive for a banned substance.

Baucus health overhaul would spare insurers gov’t competition, cost less for other businesses

WASHINGTON — The latest health overhaul plan circulating on Capitol Hill gives health insurers, drug makers and large employers reasons to heave sighs of relief, sparing them the higher costs and more burdensome rules included in other Democratic-written alternatives.

Federal appeals court clears Vikings’ Williamses to play, despite NFL’s effort to suspend them

MINNEAPOLIS — A federal appeals court on Friday cleared the way for Minnesota Vikings Pat Williams and Kevin Williams to play all season, despite the NFL’s attempts to suspend them for violating the league’s anti-doping policy.

Red, white and blue more important than pink for Creamer on Sept. 11

ROGERS, Ark. — Paula Creamer showed up for the first round of her LPGA event dressed in barely a trace of pink.

NFL commissioner Goodell says Eagles QB Michael Vick eligible to play in 3rd game of season

NEW YORK — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is eligible to play beginning in the third game of the regular season. Goodell met with Vick for 45 minutes Thursday before announcing his decision. Vick, recently signed by the Eagles, played in last week’s exhibition game and was expected to play against the New York Jets on Thursday night.

NFL commissioner Goodell says Michael Vick is eligible to play in 3rd game of regular season.

NEW YORK — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is eligible to play beginning in the third game of the regular season.

Wildfire forces Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal to evacuate La Canada Flintridge home

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal and his wife have been forced to evacuate their home in an area of La Canada Flintridge threatened by the massive Station Fire.

Soccer team’s ‘Basques-only’ policy voices a wider creed of uniqueness, fierce loyalty

BILBAO, Spain — Before home soccer games in this Basque city, local fans wearing their team’s red-and-white jersey cram into bars and streets around the San Mames stadium and chant, full-throated, Athletic Bilbao’s traditional call to arms.

Sharks deal defensemen Ehrhoff and Lukowich to Vancouver for 2 prospects

The San Jose Sharks traded veteran defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday for two prospects in a move to create space under the salary cap.

As Vick nears Eagles debut, animal advocates want spotlight on dogs, not the dogfighter

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles tailgaters will be out in force long before Michael Vick takes the field on Thursday. So will animal advocates — on the other side of town.