NEW ORLEANS (AP) - 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.

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

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton says he is feeling better after medication and treatment on his strained rib cage muscle.

DETROIT (AP) - Detroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper says he will miss Games 1 and 2 against the Anaheim Ducks.

NEW YORK (AP) - Heisman Trophy winners Tim Brown and Gino Torretta, along with two-time All-American Chris Spielman, are among the 16 players to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Actor Josh Duhamel has a new role for himself in May: pace car driver for the Indianapolis 500.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Starting guard Courtney Lee is expected to have surgery on his fractured sinus and could miss the remainder of the playoffs for the Orlando Magic.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt has dropped out of a weekend track meet in Jamaica after being lightly injured in a car crash.

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips will go to trial on charges that he attacked his girlfriend in 2005.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Senior wide receiver T.J. Porter and senior defensive lineman Tommie Duhart have left Pitt's football team and plan to transfer to another school, according to a statement issued by coach Dave Wannstedt.

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican soccer clubs Chivas and San Luis will be playing upcoming Copa Libertadores matches in Colombia, a move aimed at helping slow the swine flu outbreak in Mexico.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Eric Chavez was scratched from his return to the field for the Oakland Athletics on Thursday because of a strained right forearm.

GIRONA, Spain (AP) - Coming back from a six-month PGA suspension, John Daly shot a 70 in the first round of the Spanish Open to trail leader Soren Hansen by seven strokes.

America's Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland has launched two 35-foot catamarans on Lake Geneva and will begin training for its showdown with American challenger BMW Oracle Racing next year.

NEW YORK (AP) - Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jamie Walker has been fined by the baseball commissioner's office for criticizing umpire Angel Hernandez.

NEW YORK (AP) - Alex Rodriguez refused to address allegations that he used steroids when he was a highly touted high school player and with the New York Yankees.

ROME (AP) - The Italian Olympic Committee has suspended a ruling by the Italian soccer federation that had ordered Juventus to play its next Serie A home match in an empty stadium as punishment for fans' racist insults.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - The president of the Phoenix Coyotes denied a report that the NHL has taken control of the cash-strapped hockey club.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Left-hander Eddie Guardado has been ejected from the Texas Rangers' game against the Oakland Athletics.

CLEVELAND (AP) - John Smoltz, recovering from shoulder surgery last June, will not throw batting practice Thursday, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Third baseman Pablo Sandoval has left the San Francisco Giants' game against Los Angeles with tightness in his left groin.

Behind Anthony's 34 points and the floor leadership of Chauncey Billups, the Denver native who came home this season and galvanized a city and a team, the Nuggets advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs, 107-86 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Tim Lincecum allowed six hits and struck out eight while pitching into the eighth inning, and Bengie Molina drove in four runs in the San Francisco Giants' 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Liz Johnson won the U.S. Bowling Congress Queens on Wednesday night, beating 2007 winner Kelly Kulick 247-204 in the championship match.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Zack Greinke's streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run has been stopped at 43.