Boston Globe -- Sports stories

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Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T06:02:36Z

FOXBOROUGH - Late last Sunday, before the Patriots escaped the visitors’ locker room at Lucas Oil Stadium, coach Bill Belichick spoke to his players. The sting of that night had to stay there. “He told us to press on,’’ cornerback Jonathan Wilhite said.

This time, the story was Welker

Bob Ryan, Globe Columnist — 2009-11-23T05:00:00Z

FOXBOROUGH - The Jets milked that first one, didn’t they? They beat the Patriots way back when to go 2-0 en route to 3-0, and they had a lot to say. Of course, they didn’t beat the real Patriots, who were missing two players of some consequence.

Good look in OT has Celtics looking good

Julian Benbow, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T05:00:00Z

NEW YORK - The plan all along was to put the ball in Paul Pierce’s hands. The problem was that the plan Celtics coach Doc Rivers drew up with his team tied with the Knicks with 9.3 seconds left in overtime yesterday was sort of complicated.

Few cheers upon demise of NU’s football program

Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist — 2009-11-23T05:00:00Z

No more football at Northeastern. After 74 seasons, the curtain has been drawn at Parsons Field in Brookline.

Johnson chases down Sprint Cup title

Michael Vega, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T06:07:07Z

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - As he began the final countdown to his fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship, Jimmie Johnson wanted to make one last push for the victory in yesterday’s season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Wilfork an anchor man

Albert R. Breer — 2009-11-23T06:24:34Z

FOXBOROUGH - Vince Wilfork will never have three interceptions in a game, the way Leigh Bodden did yesterday.

An unassisted triple play

Monique Walker, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T05:00:00Z

FOXBOROUGH - It seemed like Leigh Bodden was wearing a magnet yesterday. No matter where he was on the field, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez found the Patriot cornerback.

Maroney happy as rush chairman

Monique Walker, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T06:26:14Z

FOXBOROUGH - Laurence Maroney owns two streaks after yesterday. One he would like to continue next week, the other he could live without.

This Jet had it all covered

Brendan Hall, Globe Correspondent — 2009-11-23T06:27:00Z

FOXBOROUGH - For all of the fevered talk this week about the matchup between Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and Randy Moss, and just who won that battle in that Week 2 New York win, the banter between the two yesterday was fairly somber.

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2009-11-23T06:27:00Z

Chiefs put a big dent in Pittsburgh’s armory

Doug Tucker, Associated Press — 2009-11-23T06:31:36Z

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - When the last player drafted in 2009 trotted onto the field, the best team of 2008 was doomed.

Pushed, but not toppled

David Ginsburg, Associated Press — 2009-11-23T05:00:00Z

BALTIMORE - The unbeaten Colts sidestepped another potential obstacle in their march toward NFL history.

San Diego throws the switch

Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press — 2009-11-23T06:30:22Z

DENVER - It didn’t matter which quarterback the Broncos threw out there yesterday. The surging Chargers bottled up both the rusty Chris Simms and the hobbled Kyle Orton.

Saints get back up to speed

Fred Goodall, Associated Press — 2009-11-23T06:32:47Z

TAMPA - Perfect through 10 games, the Saints think they can play even better. “I feel like we haven’t peaked yet . . . I feel like the sky’s the limit for this team,’’ Drew Brees said after throwing for three touchdowns in yesterday’s 38-7 rout of the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Giants no longer a lost cause

Associated Press — 2009-11-23T06:33:29Z

Eli Manning and the New York Giants were just happy to celebrate a victory again. It had been six frustrating weeks - not that they were counting or anything.

As far as woes at stripe, Rondo first in line

Julian Benbow, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T06:12:50Z

NEW YORK - The difference was noticeable. Rajon Rondo would set up at the free throw line. He’d dribble the ball, spin it, eye the rim, and just before he let it go, he’d turn his hip slightly to the right, as if he were lining up a rifle.

Magic have touch

Associated Press — 2009-11-23T06:43:02Z

Vince Carter scored 24 points, Dwight Howard had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic won their fifth straight game, 104-96, over the Raptors yesterday in Toronto.

Baby would be grand

Gary Washburn — 2009-11-23T06:09:53Z

NEW YORK - The stunning and rather absurd injury to Glen “Big Baby’’ Davis a month ago was shrugged off as merely a speed bump for the Celtics on their road to reclaiming the NBA title. The organization believed it possessed enough depth to counter Davis’s broken thumb and it would allow an opportunity for others to flourish in his ...

Bitz proves upwardly mobile

Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T06:15:55Z

WILMINGTON - Byron Bitz isn’t a prototypical first-line NHL winger, because his shot isn’t that hard, his speed only average, and his hands fairly pedestrian, although sometimes suprisingly quick and accurate. For instance, his pinpoint dish to Milan Lucic Friday night in Buffalo resulted in Boston’s lone goal in regulation, and the flashy play no doubt will make Bitz’s 2009-10 ...

Stamkos, Lightning zap Atlanta

Associated Press — 2009-11-23T06:16:42Z

Steven Stamkos likes it when coach Rick Tocchet tells the Tampa Bay Lightning to attack the net.

Real Salt Lake triumphs in shootout

2009-11-23T06:42:09Z

Robbie Russell scored in the seventh round of penalty kicks and underdog, overlooked Real Salt Lake beat the Los Angeles Galaxy, 5-4, on PKs last night in Seattle for its first Major League Soccer championship. Keeper Nick Rimando made two saves during the shootout, and league MVP Landon Donovan missed badly over the crossbar, giving RSL a chance in ...

Eight could be enough at BC

Mark Blaudschun, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T06:22:33Z

Boston College football coach Frank Spaziani has said it throughout the season: “We are a young team. There is still a learning curve. We’re still a work in progress.’’

Regularly, games a treasure trove

Mark Blaudschun — 2009-11-23T06:21:36Z

Critics of the Bowl Championship Series can whack away as much as they want at a system they say makes no sense and is unfair.

Yellow Jackets sting Terriers

From Staff And Wire Reports — 2009-11-23T06:23:54Z

Before the fifth-place game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt told backup Zachery Peacock he would need to contribute two 3-pointers against Boston University.

Northeastern calls an end to football

Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff — 2009-11-23T06:25:42Z

Northeastern University plans to announce today that it is ending its football program after 74 seasons, saying it is unwilling to invest the millions of dollars needed to improve the team to meet the school’s ambitions.

Believe it: Weston wins first title

Jeff Schaible, Globe Correspondent — 2009-11-23T06:37:19Z

WORCESTER - The Weston boys’ soccer team won’t fault those who were late to its Division 3 championship bandwagon. It can’t. After all, many Wildcats themselves were only recently made believers.

CM reaches soccer pinnacle

Evan MacDonald, Globe Correspondent — 2009-11-23T06:36:23Z

WORCESTER - In the past two years, Catholic Memorial has won a state championship in basketball and yet another Super 8 hockey title.

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2009-11-23T06:36:23Z

Algonquin upsets Acton-Boxboro

Charlie Peters, Globe Correspondent — 2009-11-23T06:39:13Z

WORCESTER - Algonquin had seen firsthand what Acton-Boxboro - a nationally ranked squad - was capable of, losing to the Colonials, 3-0, in September. Yesterday, it was the Tomahawks applying the pressure, upsetting the Colonials, 1-0, in the Division 1 girls’ state soccer championship at Worcester State College.

Weston captures first state title

Jeff Schaible, Globe Correspondent — 2009-11-23T04:04:58Z

Leary saves the day for GA

James Atkins, Globe Correspondent — 2009-11-23T02:15:27Z

In a game filled with seniors playing the last game of their high school careers, a junior from Governor’s Academy filled the role of heroine.

Knights win school's first soccer title

Evan MacDonald, Globe Correspondent — 2009-11-23T04:05:20Z

WORCESTER — In the past two years, Catholic Memorial has won a state championship in basketball and a Super 8 hockey title.