After the most prolific three-year career in Oklahoma State history, Big 12 player of the year James Anderson plans to skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft.

Anderson announced his decision Monday at a news conference at Gallagher-Iba Arena, saying “I believe now is the time for me to pursue my dreams by playing in the NBA.”

Anderson averaged a Big 12-best 22.3 points per game while leading the Cowboys into the NCAA tournament for a second straight year. The versatile 6-foot-6 guard was an overwhelming choice as the league’s player of the year, earning the selection ahead of such stars as Kansas’ Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, and Kansas State’s Jacob Pullen.

“I believe now it’s time to test my basketball skills against the best players in the world,” Anderson said. “I have worked hard to improve my abilities over the last three years. … I believe that I am fully prepared both athletically and emotionally for the challenge of playing in the NBA.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Memphis must vacate its record 38-win men’s basketball season from 2007-08 after the NCAA rejected its appeal.

The NCAA announced Monday that its Infractions Appeal Committee ruled against Memphis, which was found to use an ineligible player, believed to be Derrick Rose. The Tigers lost in overtime to Kansas in the national title game that season.

The NCAA originally ordered Memphis to vacate the season and forfeit money on Aug. 20. Memphis had appealed, arguing the penalties were unprecedented and that the school was held to a strict liability when Rose was ruled retroactively ineligible for an SAT score that was invalidated by the Educational Testing Service in May 2008.

“The Infractions Appeals Committee found no basis to conclude that the penalty was excessive such that the Committee on Infractions had abused its discretion in imposing the penalty,” the NCAA said in a release posted on its Web site.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Green Bay Packers tight end Spencer Havner was arrested this week on suspicion of drunken driving after crashing his motorcycle in Northern California, suffering a broken shoulder blade.

The California Highway Patrol says the 27-year-old Havner was arrested Monday after the accident about 2:45 a.m. some 50 miles north of Sacramento.

Mark Humenik, whose agency represents Havner, says the player should be “fully recovered in short order.” Messages left with the Packers and the NFL were not immediately returned Wednesday.

The district attorney’s office in Nevada County, Calif., say they are awaiting the police report before deciding whether to file any charges against Havner.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Kansas City signed running back Thomas Jones to a two-year deal worth $5 million, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The Chiefs announced the deal Tuesday but declined to disclose the terms.

Jones was released by the Jets last week after being due a $3 million roster bonus on top of a $2.8 million base salary this season. He and the Jets failed to reach a compromise on restructuring his contract; the team wanted him to take a pay cut.

Jones wasn’t the only running back on Kansas City’s radar. After spending Tuesday with the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers free-agent running back Willie Parker was scheduled to visit the Chiefs on Thursday, a league source told Schefter, but the trip was canceled when Jones entered the fold.

The Chiefs also met with Justin Fargas on Tuesday, according to a league source.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols did not make the cross-state trip for Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox because of discomfort in his lower back.

The three-time National League MVP did not play Sunday against the Florida Marlins — a scheduled day off — and is not expected to play against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, a game also being played in Fort Myers.

“We’ll definitely give him tomorrow,” said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. “Even if we were home, I don’t think he’d play. We’ll see how he feels on Wednesday.”

Pujols first experienced discomfort in his back on Sunday. Joe Mather will take his place at first base against the Red Sox.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

The Blues will have at least one new player on the roster Thursday night in Dallas.

D’Agostini, 23, will report to the Blues for their game Thursday. I’m told he would need waivers to report to Peoria, and the Blues won’t risk losing him in that process. NHL rosters can now be expanded above the usual 23-player limit.

D’Agostini was drafted in the sixth round (190th overall) in the 2005 NHL draft. He has played in 94 career games with the Canadiens, including 40 this season. He recently missed 13 games with a concussion, but has been on the club’s active roster since Jan. 31.

A third- or fourth-line grinder, D’Agostini has two goals and two assists this season this season and is a -12.

The Blues give up Palushaj, 20, who was a second-round pick (144th overall) in 2007. Palushaj signed with the Blues last year and had a tremendous training camp with the Blues last September.

Click here to read the full article – By St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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