Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, right, is greeted in the dugout after being pulled from the game during the eighth inning of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, in St. Louis. The Red Sox won 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) by Jay LindsayAssociated Press Writer BOSTON (AP) — Sports championships aren't rare in Boston anymore, and security officials are drawing on what went right — and wrong — during recent victory celebrations as the Red Sox look to claim another title. The Red Sox return to Fenway Park on Wednesday needing one win in the next two games against the St. Louis Cardinals to win their third World Series since 2004. Meanwhile, police are also dealing with a visit by President Obama, who's stopping in town hours earlier Wednesday to discuss his health care reform.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Jayson Megna (59) and Brandon Sutter (16) look for a shot against Carolina Hurricanes goalie Justin Peters (35) as Hurricanes' Justin Faulk (27) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Oct. 28, 2013. Hurricanes' Andrej Sekera (4), of Slovakia looks for possession at left. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) by Joedy McCrearyAP Sports Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — When he eventually tells the story of his first career goal, Pittsburgh rookie Jayson Megna won't embellish any of the details. Sidney Crosby did set it up, and it did ice a victory that ended a losing streak. That it clicked in off his shin pad? No big deal.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) runs for a 93-yard touchdown past Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Ryan Clark, left, inside linebacker Vince Williams (98) and cornerback William Gay (22) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) by Will GravesAP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) - Two weeks of momentum vanished in 19 seconds. More than three hours later, the competitive portion of the Pittsburgh Steelers' season likely followed suit. Stung on the first play from scrimmage and stumbling on the last, Pittsburgh's 21-18 loss to the Oakland Raiders thwarted any progress the Steelers (2-5) made during a brief two-game winning streak that suggested perhaps there was a chance they could somehow dig out of an 0-4 start. Turns out, probably not. The same mistakes that dogged Pittsburgh during a winless September re-emerged in the Black Hole.
In this multiple exposure image, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) by Ronald BlumAP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — One is 22, brimming with vigor and riding a hot streak in the dawn of his career, the other is 36, injected with a painkiller just to make it on the field and refusing to succumb to discomfort during his first and perhaps last chance to earn that elusive ring. Michael Wacha and Carlos Beltran, both trying to make the most of their first World Series, helped lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night that evened the matchup at a game apiece. "It's the World Series, big-time game," Wacha said. Wacha bested John Lackey in a matchup of present and past rookie sensations, Beltran provided a big hit and this time it was the Red Sox who were tripped up by fielding failures. "Somebody would have to kill me in order for me to get out of the lineup," said Beltran, undeterred by bruised ribs that landed him in the hospital a night earlier.
In this Aug. 30, 2012 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Sean Spence (51) is tended to by trainers after he was injured in the fourth quarter of their NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File) by Will GracesAP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sean Spence had to look. He didn't really have a choice if he wanted to move forward with the kind of healing that can't be addressed with a brace or a wad of tape. Handed a photograph of the moment that changed his career and his life, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker tried not to get nauseous. He nearly failed.
by Roxanne Jones (CNN) -- I fell in love on a Monday night. Now, many may say a teenage girl can't know about such things. But that night as I watched Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett roll downfield 99 yards for a touchdown, I fell head-over-heals in love with the NFL. It was January 3, 1983 -- Monday Night Football, Dallas vs. Minnesota. I'd never seen anything so inspiring. Dorsett was so free, so graceful and so powerful to me. He was focused and determined. Watching him break free of his competitors, those who wanted to bring him down and stop him from reaching his goal, I was in awe. And I knew then that his run capsulized all that I wanted to accomplish in my life.
Andrew McCutchen, left front row, Garrett Jones, second from right front row, and Tony Sanchez, second from left, back row, watch an NHL hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. The Pirates face the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the NL division series on Sunday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) by Dan Scifo Associated Press Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — The past two seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins have topped the NHL in scoring. They've come up short in the playoffs both times, eliminated with a pair of disappointing early exits. The Penguins are playing better defense so far this season, and embattled goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is leading the way.
In this Sept. 20, 2013 photo, West Seneca East High School football players kneel during a moment of silence for Westfield-Brocton's Damon Janes before a football game at Iroquois High School in Elma, N.Y. (AP Photo/The Buffalo News, Charles Lewis) by Carolyn ThompsonAssociated Press Writer BROCTON, N.Y. (AP) — It was a question with no right answer that tugged heavy at the hearts of Damon Janes' teammates when the 16-year-old died after a hit in a high school football game: Should the season go on?
