Daily sport news

AP - His rivals used to joke that if you cut Tiger Woods open, all you would find were some wires and a few nuts and bolts.

AP - Wanting to protect his children and football team, Florida coach Urban Meyer was "very careful" about releasing information regarding his hospital stay following the Southeastern Conference championship game.

AP - The Detroit Lions have sold out their season finale against the Chicago Bears, avoiding a local television blackout. Fox owns the national broadcast rights to the game.

AP - Mississippi coach Houston Nutt admits to begging Cotton Bowl officials for the opportunity to let his Rebels have a unique place in the game’s history.

AP - Buffalo Bills national scout Buddy Nix has been promoted to general manager in team owner Ralph Wilson's first move to revamp his front office.

AP - That gaudy 6-0 record the Denver Broncos held in October has faded under an avalanche of weak performances. Unless they win Sunday and get some help, the Broncos will be watching the postseason, not participating in it.

AP - Florida coach Urban Meyer says he tried to cover up the reason for his hospital visit following the Southeastern Conference championship game because he didn't want to alarm his family or football team.

AP - Florida coach Urban Meyer says he tried to cover up the reason for his hospital visit following the Southeastern Conference championship game because he didn’t want to alarm his family or football team.

AP - Florida coach Urban Meyer says he tried to cover up the reason for his hospital visit following the Southeastern Conference championship game because he didn’t want to alarm his family or football team.

AP - Florida coach Urban Meyer says he tried to cover up the reason for his hospital visit following the Southeastern Conference championship game because he didn't want to alarm his family or football team.

AP - Danielle McCray spent part of the holiday break shopping for shoes, the three new pairs pushing her close to the 200 mark.

AFP - Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Kaka touched the ball during a training session on Thursday for the first time since he was sidelined at the end of November with a hernia, the Spanish club said.

AP - Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will challenge Francois Botha for the lightly regarded WBF title in Uganda on Jan. 16.

AFP - Sir Alex Ferguson believes Rio Ferdinand is finally winning his battle against injury after the England defender stepped up his training with Manchester United.

AP - Florida coach Urban Meyer complained of chest pain and said his side was tingling before he was hospitalized after the SEC championship game earlier this month, according to a 911 recording.

AP - Mike Leach's firing by Texas Tech stemmed from more than just a lone complaint by the father of a player who alleged the coach mistreated his son.

AFP - Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt says he is fitter than he has been for several years and primed for a serious assault on the grand slam title he most craves, the Australian Open.

AP - Joe Thornton had an unusual decision to make when he prepared for his penalty shot in the third period. Having watched teammate Ryane Clowe already convert a penalty shot with a backhander, Thornton figured he needed to try a different tact.

AP - Brandon Roy had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 103-99 Wednesday night despite losing LaMarcus Aldridge to an ankle injury.

AP - Marko Spica had 21 points to lead Central Michigan to a 68-64 victory over Alcorn State on Wednesday night.