College football: Notre Dame fires head coach Tyrone Willingham in the third year of a five-year contract. He becomes the first Notre Dame coach to be fired before the end of his contract. The leading candidate to succeed Willingham is reportedly Utah head coach Urban Meyer, a former Notre Dame assistant. (ESPN)
NFL: Cleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis resigns after his team loses their fifth straight game. Offensive coordiator Terry Robiskie has been named interim coach. (AP)
Sports television: NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol survived a charter plane crash in Montrose County, Colorado. The pilot and co-pilot of the chartered jet died and Ebersol's son, Teddy Ebersol, was declared missing at the time of the crash. (ESPN)
Cross-country skiing: In the weekend's World Cup event in Ruka-Kuusamo, Finland, Kristina Smigun (EST) wins the Ladies' 10 km classic technique race, followed by Katerina Neumannova (CZE) and Marit Bjørgen (NOR) at the next two places. (FIS-Ski Results) The Men's 15 km race is won by Axel Teichmann (GER), with the 2nd and 3rd skiers to finish being Vassili Rotchev (RUS) and Rene Sommerfeldt (GER), respectively. (FIS-Ski Results)
Larry Hughes ties the game making two free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, scores a triple-double and helps his team, the Washington Wizards, beat the Toronto Raptors, 114-109, in overtime.(NBA)
Christian Laettner makes a free throw with 3 seconds to go, and Ricky Davis misses a shot with less than one second to go, as the Miami Heat hold off the Boston Celtics, 106-104. Paul Pierce had missed a free throw that could have tied the game with five seconds to go. (NBA)
Cross-country skiing: In the weekend's World Cup event in Ruka-Kuusamo, Finland, the Men's 15 km free technique race is won by Vincent Vittoz (FRA), with the 2nd and 3rd skiers to finish being Axel Teichmann (GER) and Giorgio Di Centa (ITA), respectively. (FIS-Ski Results)
NBA: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, at the age of 19 years and 333 days, becomes the youngest person to reach 2,000 points in NBA history. He breaks Kobe Bryant's record, who was 20 years, 183 days old when he had his 2,000th point. The Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls, 96-74. (ESPN)
Boxing: Marco Antonio Barrera defeats Erik Morales by a twelve round majority decision to conquer the WBC's world Jr. Lightweight title, Ivan Calderon retains his WBO Jr. Flyweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Carlos Fajardo , Oscar Larios retains his WBC world Super Bantamweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Nedal Hussein , and Rafael Marquez retains his IBF world Bantamweight title, with an eighth round knockout of former world champion Mauricio Pastrana . (AOL)
Cross-country skiing: Starting off the 2005 World Cup season's third weekend of competitions, in Ruka-Kuusamo, Finland, the Ladies' 10 km free technique distance race is won by Katerina Neumannova (CZE), with runners-up for 2nd and 3rd place being Kristina Smigun (EST) and Natalia Baranova-Masolkina (RUS). (FIS-Ski Results)
Allen Iverson steals a pass, then scores with two tenths of a second left, to give the Philadelphia 76ers a 116-114 victory over the Washington Wizards in overtime. (NBA)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Michael Olowokandi was arrested after police had to use a stun gun to subdue him when he refused to leave an Indianapolis nightclub. He was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing, both misdemeanors. The Timberwolves subsequently suspended Olowokandi for two games for "conduct detrimental to the team." (ESPN)
Blackburn Rovers fan Jason Perryman admits a charge of racially abusing Birmingham City player Dwight Yorke at last Saturday's match. He is fined £1,000 (€1,500, $1,900) and is banned from football grounds in England and Wales for five years. (BBC)
NFL: A lawyer for Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams announces he will serve a four-game suspension for drug abuse in December, then return to the team, ending his "retirement" announced before the season. (CNNSI)
NBA: The Chicago Bulls avoid starting a season at 0-10 for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Utah Jazz, 101-99, to go 1-9. (NBA)
The Utah Jazz retire John Stockton's number 12 jersey. Their celebration, however, is ruined by the New Orleans Hornets, who defeat the Jazz, 76-75. Lee Nailon scores the winning basket for the Hornets with 44 seconds left in the game. It is the Hornets' first win of the season.(NBA)
Cross-country skiing: In the 2005 World Cup season's second weekend of competitions, in Gällivare, Sweden, the Ladies' 4×5 km relay is won by the Norwegian No.1 team (Bjørnås , Skofterud , Pedersen , Bjørgen ), with the 2nd and 3rd place going to Finland (Välimää , Kuitunen , Saarinen , Lassila ) and Germany (Böhler , Sachenbacher , Reschwamm Schulze , Künzel ), respectively. (FIS-Ski Results) In the Mens' 4×10 km relay the winners are German (Filbrich , Angerer , Sommerfeldt , Teichmann ); the 2nd place goes to Italy's No.1 team (Di Centa , Valbusa , Piller Cottrer , Cristian Zorzi ), and the 3rd team to finish is France (Perrillat , Vittoz , Jonnier , Chauvet ). (FIS-Ski Results)
The Pistons, meanwhile, defeat the Charlotte Bobcats, 117-116 in double overtime, during their first game after the infamous incident with the Pacers. Tayshaun Prince dunked the ball with sixteen seconds to go in the second overtime, giving the Pistons the victory. (NBA)
Cross-country skiing: In the 2005 World Cup season's second weekend of competitions, in Gällivare, Sweden, the Ladies' 10 km classic style race is won by Marit Bjørgen (NOR), with Kristina Smigun (EST) and Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) coming in second and third. (FIS-Ski Results). In the Men's 15 km race, Axel Teichmann (GER) wins, followed by Rene Sommerfeldt (GER) and Vassili Rotchev (RUS). (FIS-Ski Results)
The Utah Utes, by virtue of a 52-21 win over the BYU Cougars, go undefeated for the first time since 1930, giving them a chance to become the first team from a "mid-major" conference to earn a spot in the Bowl Championship Series. (Yahoo!)
During the Wright-Mosley rematch, Oscar De La Hoya announces that he has signed his conqueror, Bernard Hopkins, to De La Hoya's promotional company, "Golden Boy Promotions". (BoxingCentral)
Kuwait and China each finish with 5 wins and 1 loss. Kuwait scored 15 and allowed 2, China scored 14 and allowed 1. Each had a +13 goal differential, and Kuwait advances on goals scored. After the disappointing "loss", China coach Arie Haan announces his resignation.
Ali Daei's four goals make him the first male player to score 100 goals in international play; with 102 in his career, he trails four women, among them Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers.
Bahrain, Iran, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan will compete in the semifinal stage. They will be drawn into two groups of four teams each on December 9.
The B.C. Lions clinch a spot in the Grey Cup by beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 27-25 in overtime in the Western Division Final. After Saskatchewan's Paul McCallum missed an 18-yard field goal earlier in overtime (scoring a rouge), Duncan O'Mahony 's 40-yard field goal proved to be the winning score. (TSN)
The Toronto Argonauts, thanks to the two touchdowns from Arland Bruce , defeat the Montreal Alouettes 26-18 in the Eastern Division Final, earning the other berth in the Grey Cup. It will be only the second time in the history of the Grey Cup that the British Columbia Lions take on the Argos. (TSN)
The Chicago Bears defeat the Tennessee Titans 19-17 in only the second game in NFL history to end on a safety in overtime. Titans quarterback Billy Volek was sacked in the end zone for the win. (Yahoo!)
The Baltimore Ravens come back from 14 points down to beat the New York Jets 20-17 in overtime. The Ravens' Ed Reed had a 100-yard interception return for the second consecutive week, but it was shortened on a penalty. (Yahoo!)
John Ruiz recovers from two knockdowns and one point reduction to retain his WBA world Heavyweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Andrew Golota. His manager, Norman Stone , has an altercation with the referee and also punches Golota's trainer after round one.
Chris Byrd also recovers from a knockdown, to retain his IBF world Heavyweight title with a twelve round split decision over Jameel McCline .
Experienced Larry Donald defeats former world Cruiserweight and Heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield with a twelve round unanimous decision.
Former world Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman sco-res a fourth round knockout victory over former WBO world title challenger Kali Meehan .
Ice hockey: Forbes magazine issues a report that is in concurrence with the NHLPA's contention that the NHL's financial data which they used to justify imposing an ongoing lockout on the players is not accurate. Forbes claims the league actually lost $96 million in 2003-04 and $123 million 2002-03, less than half the $224 million and $273 million losses reported for those respective seasons by the league. The NHL claims Forbes' report to be "factually inaccurate", while the union points to Forbes' reputation.
NBA: The NBA and Alburra TV , a satellitetelevision network shown in 22 Middle Eastern countries, announce a new contract agreement that would expand NBA television coverage to the Middle East. (NBA)
Kyle Korver of the Philadelphia 76ers scores a three point shot with three seconds to go in regulation time, forcing the game to go into an overtime, and then, Allen Iverson scores a game winning basket with one second to go, as the 76ers defeat the Indiana Pacers, 106-104.
Football (soccer): UEFA approves the use of artificial turf in competitions sanctioned by the European governing body starting next season. The sport's rule-making body, the IFAB earlier this year had approved the use of artificial surfaces that met standards set by the world governing body, FIFA. (Yahoo!/AP)
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas makes a three point shot with three seconds to go, tying the game at 99-99 and sneding the Cleveland Cavaliers to overtime, eventually leading to the Cavaliers' 114-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns.(AOL)
NFL: Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt resigned after the Dolphins began the season with an NFL-worst 1-8 record. Defensive coordinator Jim Bates will be named interim coach. The Dolphins have struggled all season, beginning with the unexpected preseason retirement of star running back Ricky Williams. Wannstedt finished the 2003 season with a 10-6 record. (ESPN)
Former St. Louis Blues forward Mike Danton is sentenced to 7½ years in prison for trying to have his agent killed. Danton asked that he serve his sentence in his native Canada. (ESPN)
The Detroit Pistons, defending NBA champions, defeat the Los Angeles Clippers, 99-96, in double over time. Richard Hamilton had tied the game at 85 with six seconds left in regulation to send the game into the first overtime. Ben Wallace then tied it at 89 apiece with 20 seconds to go, to send the game into the second overtime. Chauncey Billups delivered the game deciding free throws with nine seconds to go in the second overtime. (ESPN)
The Utah Jazz score 100 points for the fourth time this season and improve their record to 4-0 with a 102-91 win over the Denver Nuggets. (ESPN)
The NFL announces an extension of its television contracts with CBS and Fox until 2011. The league will now have the right to move more intriguing late-season matchups to Monday night, and start a new package of Thursday or Saturday night games late in the season. The league is still negotiating with its two other television partners, ABC and ESPN.(CNNSI/AP)
Balitmore Ravens safety Ed Reed returns an interception for 106 yards – the longest in league history – as the Ravens defeat the Cleveland Browns 27 to 13. (Yahoo/AP)
The NHL announced that due to the current lockout, the 2005 All-Star Game, that was slated to be held on February 13, 2005, will be cancelled. (ESPN)
Former NHL player Sergei Zholtok, playing with Riga in Latvia during the lockout, walks out of a game in Belarus but collapses and dies before leaving the building. Zholtok had been previously diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia. (TSN)
The Phoenix Suns decide to keep Yuta Tabuse as the last man on their regular season roster. This way, Tabuse becomes the first Japanese born player ever to participate in an NBA season. (NBA/Suns)
The Houston Rockets sign Tracy McGrady to a multi-year contract extension. His current contract will net him US$47.1m over the next three years, while the contract extension is worth US$85.7m for the following four years. The contract extension will keep McGrady in a Rockets uniform until the 2010-11 season. (NBA/Rockets)
The Chicago Bulls waive forward Eddie Robinson , who had been signed by the team with great expectations, but whose career was hampered by injuries sustained in a car accident. (NBA/Bulls)
Venezuelan boxer Juan Landaeta officially files a protest at the WBA's Caracas offices, for the result of his fight the previous week against WBA world minimumweight champion, Yukata Niida , where Landaeta lost a split decision in Japan. Landaeta hopes the WBA can revert the decision.
