WORLD SERIES
Hail the Giants
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) β The Giants and their fans continue to celebrate last night’s 3-2 win over the Royals in the seventh game of the World Series. The championship is San Francisco’s third in five years after wins in 2010 and 2012.
Baseball fans nationwide, particularly in Kansas City, are sitting back in awe of the performance turned in by Series MVP Madison Bumgarner. After winning two of his team’s first three wins in the series he came in last night to toss five innings of two-hit relief ball. At one stretch in last night’s game he set down 14 straight batters.
For baseball fans the offseason “Hot Stove League” is set to begin as teams wheel and deal in an attempt to reach the level of success enjoyed by the Giants. From there, it’s a matter of waiting for the start of spring training and the 2015 season.
NFL-SCHEDULE
Panthers playing host to Saints
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β First place is on the line in the NFC South this evening as the Panthers entertain the Saints. Carolina starts the night with a percentage-points lead over New Orleans with a record of 3-4-1, while the Saints are 3-4. It’s been an odd year for New Orleans as the Saints have won all three home games while dropping all four road games. Of those four defeats, three have been by three points or less.
The Panthers are welcoming back running back DeAngelo Williams, who is the team’s all-time leading rusher. He’s missed the last four games with an ankle injury.
The Saints and Panthers split their two games last season. In New Orleans the Saints prevailed 31-13, while in Charlotte, the venue for tonight’s game, the Panthers won 17-13.
T25-SCHEDULE
No. 1 hits the road
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β The nation’s top-ranked team is in action tonight as Florida State takes the show to Louisville to face the unranked Cardinals. The visiting Seminoles have won their last 23 straight games and enter the contest atop the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference with a record of 7-0 and 4-0 in league play. The Cardinals are enjoying a good season as well with a record of 6-2 and 4-2 in the ACC’s Atlantic Division as well.
The Louisville defense could pose a problem for Seminoles Heisman Trophy winner Jameis (JAYM’-ihs) Winston as it ranks No. 1 in the nation in defense, allowing just 245.8 yards a game. The Cardinals also lead the nation with 15 interceptions.
NBA-SCHEDULE
James set for homecoming
UNDATED (AP) β LeBron James makes his official return to Cleveland tonight as the new-look Cavaliers open the season with a new coach, revamped lineup and fired-up fan base. The Cavaliers, who failed to make the playoffs last season, start the new campaign with a game against the Knicks.
It’s been four years since James last wore a Cavs uniform. Following his last game in Cleveland he made his decision to leave for Miami, where he won two NBA championships. Since returning to Cleveland James has helped the team land fellow All-Star Kevin Love, who joined the team in a blockbuster trade with Minnesota, which sent overall No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins.
The rest of the NBA schedule tonight has Wiggins and his new teammates in Minnesota playing host to Detroit, the Wizards at Orlando, Dallas at home to Utah and Oklahoma City in Los Angeles to face the Clippers.
A year ago the game would have been heralded as a matchup between two young stars of the league, Kevin Durant of the Thunder and Blake Griffin of the Clippers. The problem is that Durant is out of action for the first part of the season after undergoing foot surgery earlier this month.
NHL-SCHEDULE
The season ends tonight for the Coyotes and Panthers
UNDATED (AP) β This may only be the first month of the NHL season but the season series for Arizona and Florida comes to an end tonight as the Panthers entertain the Coyotes. In their first meeting, six days ago, the Coyotes won 2-1 in overtime.
For the second time in 11 days the Blues are playing the Ducks. Anaheim won the first encounter and the third and final meeting of the season will come on Jan. 2. Tonight’s game is being played in St. Louis.
Defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles had a six-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night. This evening the Kings look to get back on track with a game in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.
The rest of tonight’s schedule has Boston playing at Buffalo, the Devils at home to the Jets, Chicago at Ottawa, the Flyers at Tampa Bay, the Wild at home to the Sharks, the Islanders in Denver to face the Avalanche and Montreal at Vancouver.
PGA-CIMB CLASSIC
First round in the books
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) β Rikard Karlberg of Sweden birdied his last two holes for a 7-under 65 to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. After a round interrupted by a two-hour delay for thunderstorms, three players, including Americans Billy Hurley III and Brian Stuarda, were tied for second two shots back.
Sergio Garcia, the top-ranked player in the field, had four birdies on his outward nine en route to a 69 to sit tied for 13th with nine others.
LPGA-TAIWAN
Park leads the way
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) β Top-ranked Inbee Park birdied five of the last seven holes for an 8-under 64 and a share of the first-round lead in the LPGA Taiwan Championship. The South Korean star, playing her first round since regaining the No. 1 spot in the world Monday, was tied with China’s Shanshan Feng after her bogey-free round.
Second-ranked Stacy Lewis had a 67, and Michelle Wie (wee) topped the group at 68.
