Record-tying 4 women in the field for Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS | Katherine Legge didn't know she'd have a shot at the Indianapolis 500 until it was time to qualify, when Schmidt Peterson Motorsports decided to put her in its second car at the last second.

Kenseth holds off Kahne to win at Kansas Speedway

KANSAS CITY, Kan. | Matt Kenseth knew that he had a front-running car Sunday.

Varying paths have made Shockers a Final Four team

ATLANTA | More than 30 years ago, Cliff Levingston was part of a powerhouse team at Wichita State that was stocked with future NBA talent, and to this day he believes it underachieved.

Brett, Koufax, Schmidt offering Hall of Fame help

SURPRISE, Ariz. | George Brett juggles three baseballs near the mound of a practice field, then loosens up his right arm and delivers a pitch to Mike Moustakas to start off batting practice.

US team plays to 4-4 tie with White Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. | The U.S. team played the Chicago White Sox to a draw on Tuesday.

Colts beat Chiefs 20-13 to clinch playoff berth

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | The expectations placed upon Andrew Luck almost seemed unfair.

Colts' playoff berth would cap an unbelievable season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | The Colts of a year ago were in no better shape than the Kansas City Chiefs of this season. Their offense couldn't score, their defense couldn't stop anybody, and they had just one win when mid-December rolled around.

Johnson salvages day after crashing at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. | Jimmie Johnson knew his car was damaged. He just didn't know the extent of it.

Chen pitches Royals to shutout win over White Sox

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | Bruce Chen pitched into the seventh inning, Alex Gordon hit a two-run double and the Kansas City Royals beat the AL Central-leading White Sox 3-0 on Wednesday night to snap Chicago's five-game winning streak.

Escobar hits 2 HRs to lead Royals past Sox

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | White Sox starter Jake Peavy figured he threw a good pitch to Alcides Escobar in the third inning, when the Royals shortstop took him deep. It was just the wrong pitch at the time.

Youkilis sac fly gives White Sox win in 14

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | There was nobody White Sox manager Robin Ventura would rather have had at the plate with runners on the corners in the 14th inning than his gritty new third baseman.

Heat wave breaks in time for All-Star game in KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | There are times the past few weeks when Twins catcher Joe Mauer would gaze at scoreboards in ballparks around the country, trying to see what kind of heat the Minnesota pitchers are throwing, and he's been genuinely confused.

Kauffman Stadium transforming into All-Star venue

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | On a piece of metal scaffolding beyond the left-field wall at Kauffman Stadium, construction workers bolted together a table under a sweltering midday sun, the temperature tickling triple digits and sweat pouring off their brows.

Ex-Illini coach Weber hired by Kansas State

Bruce Weber knows that Kansas State fans may not accept him right away. That much became clear when a small rally for another coaching candidate turned into a protest of his hiring.

Robinson leads Kansas to win over N.C. State

ST. LOUIS | Thomas Robinson kept missing easy buckets. Tyshawn Taylor had a shooting performance he'd rather soon forget. Kansas made just two shots from outside 5 feet, and seemed to be in constant trouble against North Carolina State.

Valpo grad Hummel scores 26 as Kansas rally stops Purdue

OMAHA, Neb. | Bill Self leaped to his feet on the Kansas sideline, the typically restrained coach finally unloading with a moment of sheer exuberance.

Kansas, Purdue understand value of defense

OMAHA, Neb. | Matt Painter knows the topic isn't sexy. He knows that it's liable to put folks to sleep, sometimes his very own players. But the coach of Purdue also knows that it often saves teams from misfortune this time of year.

Ex-Notre Dame QB Crist transferring to Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | Dayne Crist announced Thursday that he is transferring to Kansas, where the former Notre Dame quarterback will be reunited with coach Charlie Weis.

First Lady teams with MLB to support troops

ST. LOUIS | Michelle Obama and Jill Biden put their baseball allegiances aside Wednesday and teamed up with Major League Baseball to support the military before Game 1 of the World Series.

Johnson dominates from start to finish at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. | Jimmie Johnson didn't qualify where he wanted, and his car never quite cooperated during the final practice session at Kansas Speedway. So he spent Saturday evening in the garage area, going over different setups with the rest of his team.

Pryor included in NFL draft, must sit out 5 games

Terrelle Pryor will have an opportunity to pursue his NFL dreams, with one significant caveat: The former Ohio State star must still pay for breaking NCAA rules while he was in college.

Duffy pitches Royals to 4-2 win over White Sox

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | Danny Duffy returned from the minors to toss seven sharp innings, Matt Treanor delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth and the light-hitting Kansas City Royals hung on to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Tuesday night.

One-time White Sox Manny Ramirez announces retirement

NEW YORK | Tampa Bay Rays slugger Manny Ramirez told Major League Baseball on Friday that he is retiring after being notified of an issue that arose under MLB's drug policy.

No. 4 Fighting Irish roll into Big East semifinals

NEW YORK | Notre Dame coach Mike Brey took his team to see the hit Broadway musical "Jersey Boys" this week, not for the culture or entertainment, but so the Fighting Irish could see what teamwork looks like in action.

Obama predicts Jayhawks will win national title

NEW YORK | The First Fan appears to be a big fan of basketball programs from Kansas.

Blue Jays outfielder Rios claimed by White Sox

NEW YORK | Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox, sending him to a contending team and giving Toronto financial flexibility.

Cubs marvel at new Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK | Four flat-screen TVs hanging from the ceiling, spacious lockers and plush leather couches -- and this was the visitor's clubhouse, second-rate digs compared to what the New York Yankees call home in the new Yankee Stadium.

Baylor loses in NIT finals; report links former VU coach Scott Drew to coaching opening at Memphis

NEW YORK | Penn State coach Ed DeChellis met with his team a couple of hours before playing Baylor in the NIT title game and had only one request.

Penn State beats Drew's Baylor squad in NIT finals

NEW YORK | Penn State turned the NIT championship game into a party, and several thousand Nittany Lions fans sure seemed like the hosts.

Drew's Bears, Nittany Lions to meet for NIT title

NEW YORK | Four years ago, Baylor wasn't allowed to play a nonconference schedule because of the fallout from a scandal in the basketball program that rocked the idyllic Baptist campus in central Texas.

Baylor makes NIT title game

NEW YORK | Curtis Jerrells tries not to think about where the Baylor program was when he arrived, the struggles it had endured, the perception of it around the country.

Penn St. fends off Irish

NEW YORK | Talor Battle scored 17 points, Andrew Jones had career highs of 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Penn State hung on for dear life after squandering a big lead in a 67-59 victory over Notre Dame on Tuesday night in the NIT semifinals.

For six schools, March has been oh-so sweet

Jeffrey Hathaway has been here before, in the most sweet of predicaments.

Syracuse survived long game's journey into night

NEW YORK | The freight elevator opened and Syracuse players Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris wobbled in, physically and mentally exhausted, heading for a bus to the team hotel.

Purdue falls to Oklahoma in NIT finals

NEW YORK | Blake Griffin had 18 points, including the go-ahead free throws in overtime, and matched a career high with 21 rebounds to help No. 11 Oklahoma rally past No. 10 Purdue 87-82 on Friday in the championship of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Pele says Beckham's U.S. arrival has parallels to his own

NEW YORK | Pele arrived on American soil in 1975 to give North American soccer life. David Beckham's arrival three decades later is meant to give it a lift.