Daily sport news

AP - One of five suspects charged in the slaying of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor has pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and burglary.

AP - Detroit's goal with a guy barely in the crease, if at all, didn't count. Dallas' goal with a guy clearly in the crease did count. Apparently, that's what it takes to slow the mighty Red Wings. Loui Ericksson's goal about 12 minutes after Detroit's was waved off, then third-period goals from Mike Modano and Brenden Morrow sent the Stars past the Red Wings 3-1 on Wednesday night, preventing the Western Conference finals from ending in a sweep.

AP - Milwaukee's beleaguered bullpen blew another game, this time without the help of Eric Gagne. Juan Pierre hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a three-run deficit to beat the Brewers 6-4 Wednesday night and stop a season-high, five-game losing streak.

AP - Hold on, NFL. Spygate isn't over. Not if the "incensed" Pittsburgh Steelers fan in Congress has anything to do with it.

AP - Someone is going to have to win in Boston to keep the Celtics from winning their 17th NBA title. Cleveland hopes for one more chance.

AP - So much for Kobe Bryant's sore lower back. Bryant scored 26 points, his teammates kept Utah at bay down the stretch, and Los Angeles Lakers extended the stunning home success by NBA teams in the second round of the playoffs, beating the Jazz 111-104 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

AFP - Former Celtic midfielder and manager Tommy Burns has died aged 51, the Scottish club confirmed Thursday. He had been suffering from skin cancer.

Reuters - Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom picked up the slack with MVP Kobe Bryant slowed by a sore back to lift the Lakers to a 111-104 over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, putting the home team one win from the Western Conference finals.

AP - Sami Lepisto's goal at 3:59 of overtime led Finland to a 3-2 victory over the United States on Wednesday night in the world hockey quarterfinals.

AFP - The world's top women tennis players have been paying tribute to and expressing support for former number one Justine Henin after her shock retirement announcement on Wednesday.

AP - The determination that helped Justine Henin beat bigger, stronger opponents time and again was fading.

AP - Annika Sorenstam ignored her notes and spoke from the heart. One of golf's greatest players was leaving the game, and she handled her retirement announcement the way she would a 10-foot birdie putt with a tournament on the line. With command and composure.

AP - Saying the NCAA has "new information," president Myles Brand promised to investigate former Southern California basketball star O.J. Mayo, who allegedly received thousands of dollars in gifts from money given to an event promoter by a sports agency.

AFP - Plans to stage English Premier League (EPL) games overseas are not a good idea, according to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

AP - A typo in court papers regarding Barry Bonds filed late Thursday by federal prosecutors touched off a brief tempest over the mistaken belief that he failed a drug test in November 2001, one month after breaking the home run record.

AP - After two Arizona State starters had fouled out, James Harden knew it was up to him to carry the Sun Devils.

AP - If the Carolina Hurricanes are going to make a playoff run, they're going to have to do it without their captain and leading scorer.

AP - The Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks were the last NBA teams to play before the All-Star break.

AP - Leaving the Miami Dolphins' training complex at the end of this past season, Zach Thomas stopped to grab a souvenir.

AP - The wind rattled through the eucalyptus trees at Riviera, the temperatures were starting to fall, and K.J. Choi rarely looked so comfortable. It helped that he was only on the practice range, having finished a bogey-free round in the Northern Trust Open that left him atop the leaderboard.