Blackhawks try to stay sharp during playoff break

CHICAGO | Practice was long over when Joel Quenneville was stopped by two young boys waiting to get on the ice. They asked if he would sign their sticks, and the former NHL defenseman happily obliged.

Young gay athletes set tone for NBA coming out

CHICAGO | You've probably never heard of Holly Peterson or Jonathan Jean-Pierre. One came out as a lesbian at age 15, when she was playing high school basketball. The other, a college rower, told his teammates last year that he's gay.

Big Hurt plans full-time return to big city

Las Vegas somehow just didn’t seem Frank Thomas’ style, even after years of raising his second family just off of The Strip.

Auriemma looks for eighth national championship

NEW ORLEANS | Geno Auriemma has never lost an NCAA championship game.

Duke looking to pull off upset against Notre Dame

NORFOLK, Va. | The best phrase Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie to describe doing the unexpected is "the tingle."

No Florida Gulf Coasts: Top 4 seeds in East Region

WASHINGTON | Yelps of support and echoing applause greeted the voice booming over the loudspeakers Wednesday at the scheduled start of practice for the East Regional's fourth seed: "Coached by Jim Boeheim, please welcome the Syracuse Orange!"

Confidence, good spirits by-products of Hawks’ hot start

CHICAGO | Increased confidence, team camaraderie and the pure joy of winning have sprouted out of the Blackhawks’ record-breaking 24-3-3 start.

Scouting combine shows NFL's global progress

INDIANAPOLIS | Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah knew nothing about the NFL when he was growing up. Now, he could be a first-round pick in April's draft.

Indiana stays No. 1 in AP Top 25, Gonzaga No. 2

Indiana is No. 1 in The Associated Press' Top 25 for the fourth straight week, while Gonzaga moved to No. 2 for the first time in school history.

US wins team sprint at Nordic worlds in Italy

VAL DI FIEMME, Italy | Kikkan Randall and Jessica Diggins gave the United States its first gold medal in cross-country skiing at the Nordic world championships Sunday with a victory in the women's team sprint.

Illinois can't keep up in 71-58 loss to Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. | Illinois started strong and seemed to be setting itself up for another impressive win after defeating top-ranked Indiana, Gonzaga, Butler and Ohio State earlier this season.

No. 25 Irish rout Cincinnati 62-41

SOUTH BEND | Notre Dame is hoping its stellar defense and rebounding can lead it to a Big East title.

Stram

Kansas City Chiefs' head coach Hank Stram answers questions during a press conference in New Orleans before the Super Bowl in 1970.

NFC championship: 2 teams, different perspectives

ATLANTA | The Falcons are well aware of just how desperate this city is for its first Super Bowl championship.

The life of an emerging Region Rat Roller

Roller derby, a sport that originated in the early 20th century, has experienced a grassroots resurgence in recent years thanks to the efforts of volunteers and enthusiasts.

Murray's 5 TDs lift Georgia by Nebraska in Cap One

ORLANDO, Fla. | Aaron Murray wanted nothing more this week than to send Georgia's senior class out with a game to remember.

Liberty Bowl offers different kind of rematch

MEMPHIS, Tenn. | Iowa State and Tulsa don't necessarily think of the Liberty Bowl as a rematch, even though they faced each other Sept. 1 in the season opener for both teams.

A year later, some like Christmas NBA start better

NEW YORK | Doc Rivers left home for the holiday, lost the game, and loved every minute of it.

Duke looks to end bowl drought vs. Cincinnati

CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Duke wide receiver Conner Vernon sees Thursday night's Belk Bowl against Cincinnati as a perfect opportunity to help the Blue Devils' football team emerge from basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski's shadow.