Lance Armstrong’s Astana team in financial crisis on eve of Giro

VERONA, Italy — Lance Armstrong’s Astana team is in the midst of a financial crisis on the eve of the American’s first Giro d’Italia.

Lance Armstrong’s Astana team in financial crisis on eve of Giro d’Italia

VERONA, Italy — Lance Armstrong’s Astana team is fighting through a financial crisis on the eve of the American’s first Giro d’Italia.

LeBron scores 34 as Cavaliers end long playoff layoff with 99-72 win over Hawks in Game 1

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers shook off some rust, and then the Atlanta Hawks.

Mandatory LPGA Summit highlights players’ need to be accessible and bring in sponsors

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — The sagging economy and its role in the shrinking LPGA Tour schedule prompted a mandatory meeting of players and officials.

Red Sox executive Michael Dee hired as Miami Dolphins’ chief executive officer

DAVIE, Fla. — Boston Red Sox executive Michael Dee has been hired as chief executive officer of the Miami Dolphins and Dolphin Stadium.

Jack Kemp, star quarterback, politician and tax crusader, dies at age 73

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the former pro quarterback who turned fame on the gridiron into a career in national politics and a crusade for lower taxes, has died of cancer at age 73.

Jack Kemp, star quarterback, politician and tax crusader, dies at age 73

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the former pro quarterback who turned fame on the gridiron into a career in national politics and a crusade for lower taxes, has died of cancer at age 73.

Jack Kemp, former football star, politician and tax crusader, dies; he was 73

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the former pro quarterback who turned fame on the gridiron into a career in national politics and a crusade for lower taxes, has died of cancer at age 73.

NCAA hopes new draft rule takes guessing game out of coaches’ offseason repertoire

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA is trying to end the continual guessing game for college basketball coaches.

Red Sox owners deny reports they might buy Boston Globe from New York Times Co.

BOSTON — The owners of the Boston Red Sox are denying reports that they might try to buy the struggling Boston Globe.

Louisiana, Saints announce a partnership that commits the club to the Superdome through 2025

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints and the state of Louisiana have announced a new partnership that will continue the club’s commitment to the state through 2025 and also create a new Sports Development District.

Saints and state agree to extension of Superdome lease

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints have agreed to a lease extension that will keep the NFL team playing home games in an improved Louisiana Superdome through the 2025 season.

Orlando’s Dwight Howard suspended for Game 6 against 76ers for elbowing Samuel Dalembert

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard’s elbow has given the Orlando Magic’s playoff hopes a major hit.

Person with knowledge of deal: Saints ans state agree to extension of Superdome lease

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints have agreed to a lease extension that will keep the NFL team playing home games in an improved Louisiana Superdome through the 2025 season.

Report: Owner of New York minor league football team upset team offered Vick contract

ALBANY, N.Y. — 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.

New York minor league football team offers jailed QB Michael Vick a contract

ALBANY, N.Y. — Michael Vick has a place on a minor league football team if he can get reinstated by the NFL.

Richest clubs have the biggest debt, so what’s going on in the English Premier League?

LONDON — The most successful clubs in soccer’s richest league have some of the biggest debts in the sport.

Redskins owner Snyder says team won’t trade next year’s No. 1 draft choice

ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder says his team will not trade its first-round pick in 2010 in an attempt to move up Saturday in the NFL draft.

Selig: Yankees and Mets to discuss ticket situations at new ballparks

NEW YORK — Bud Selig has noticed those empty seats at the new ballparks in New York, too. Should the Yankees and Mets lower their tickets prices? The commissioner said that’s up to them.

NFL DRAFT: ‘All those massive critics shut up’ _ ESPN, hyper Kiper reach silver anniversary

BALTIMORE — For a guy who makes a living critiquing others — created a cottage industry out of it, even — Mel Kiper Jr. sounds a little thin-skinned when it comes to how others perceived him way back when.

NZ Rugby Union announces small profit; rates its performance highly

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The New Zealand Rugby Union announced a 366,000 New Zealand dollar ($204,000) profit for the 2008 financial year and said it was satisfied with its performance.

La. House speaker: State shouldn’t rush on Saints deal even if it means losing Super Bowl

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana’s House speaker says he doesn’t want the state to rush a deal to keep the Saints in New Orleans, even if it means Louisiana could miss hosting the 2013 Super Bowl.

Sanchez on Redskins’ radar as latest quarterback-of-future, but he carries huge price tag

ASHBURN, Va. — Dan Snyder has selected seven quarterbacks in his nine drafts as the owner of the Washington Redskins.

Stub flub: Few buyers for most expensive seats in new Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK — At the new Yankee Stadium, the best seats in the house have turned out to be the emptiest.

NFL Commish says Vick has paid a significant price for his mistakes and hopes he has remorse

LEXINGTON, Va. — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Michael Vick has paid a significant price for doing an “egregious thing” and will have to show genuine remorse and that the experience has changed him in order to get a chance at resuming his career in the league.

Former Wild GM Doug Risebrough respects firing but says he was ’shocked’ by owner’s decision

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Doug Risebrough ended his run as the Minnesota Wild’s general manager with pride and confidence, plus hope his work toward shaping the franchise’s foundation would be recognized decades down the road.

Member of Giants’ 1986 Super Bowl team convicted of theft in sale of Mercedes

ELIZABETH, N.J. — A man who played on the New York Giants’ 1986 Super Bowl championship team was convicted Tuesday of theft in the sale of a Mercedes-Benz.