• White Sox and Braves complete Vazquez trade 12/4/2008, 3:38 p.m. CST
ATLANTA (AP) — Javier Vazquez knows exactly what the Atlanta Braves were looking for when they traded for him: A durable starter to plug one of the holes in their uncertain rotation.

• NFL players union seeks to block suspensions 12/4/2008, 3:36 p.m. CST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge will be asked to decide Friday whether five suspended NFL players deserve a chance to play this weekend. At issue is whether the league had a duty to notify its players and their union that a dietary supplement the five took contained a banned ingredient.

• Red Sox finalize deal with Japanese RHP Tazawa 12/4/2008, 3:36 p.m. CST
BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox anded another Japanese pitcher, completing their contract with right-hander Junichi Tazawa on Thursday.

• Saints place S Kaesviharn on IR 12/4/2008, 3:34 p.m. CST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints placed Kevin Kaesviharn on injured reserve Thursday, ending the safety's season.

• Jenkins, Jets' defense look to rebound vs. 49ers 12/4/2008, 3:32 p.m. CST
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Kris Jenkins needed a few days to get his thoughts together.

• Sources: Petty Enterprise in merger talks 12/4/2008, 3:28 p.m. CST
NEW YORK (AP) — Petty Enterprises is in discussions to merge its storied franchise with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, The Associated Press has learned.

• 76ers F Brand out with hamstring injury 12/4/2008, 3:03 p.m. CST
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia forward Elton Brand will miss Friday's game at Detroit with a strained right hamstring.

• Andersen takes Utah State coaching job 12/4/2008, 2:50 p.m. CST
LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Defensive coordinator Gary Andersen is leaving Utah to become the football coach at Utah State.

• Coach: Daniel having 'great' if not 'super' season 12/4/2008, 2:44 p.m. CST
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Last year, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Heading into the Big 12 championship game this weekend, his senior season hasn't been quite so special.

• Armstrong ready to let Contador lead 12/4/2008, 2:40 p.m. CST
TENERIFE, Canary Islands (AP) — Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong says he's happy to let Alberto Contador be Astana's team leader.

• Stars' Avery meets NHL commissioner for 3 hours 12/4/2008, 2:23 p.m. CST
NEW YORK (AP) — Suspended Sean Avery has met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for about three hours at a disciplinary hearing to discuss derogatory comments the Dallas Stars forward made earlier this week.

• Lawyer: Pierce to testify for grand jury if asked 12/4/2008, 2:13 p.m. CST
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Antonio Pierce didn't know New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress was carrying a gun last weekend until it accidentally discharged, injuring the receiver in the right thigh, Pierce's attorney said Thursday.

• Wie shoots 65 to share early lead at LPGA Q-school 12/4/2008, 2:03 p.m. CST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Weaving her way through a narrow hallway next to the grill room Thursday, Michelle Wie was stopped by a woman who asked if she would pose for a picture with her young daughter.

• Fresno State will play in New Mexico Bowl 12/4/2008, 1:45 p.m. CST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Fresno State has accepted a bid to play in the New Mexico Bowl.

• APNewsBreak: Increase in MLB salary slowed in 2008 12/4/2008, 1:18 p.m. CST
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball salaries started to slow this year even before the economy cooled. The average salary in Major League Baseball this season was $2.93 million, the players' association said Thursday in its annual report. The 3.6 percent increase was the smallest since 2004, when the average declined 2.5 percent from the previous season.

• Giants make Renteria their new shortstop 12/4/2008, 1:09 p.m. CST
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Edgar Renteria became the second free agent to join the San Francisco Giants in as many days, receiving an $18.5 million, two-year contract to replace 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel.

• Toledo hires OSU coordinator Beckman as coach 12/4/2008, 12:15 p.m. CST
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Toledo has hired Tim Beckman as head coach, picking the Oklahoma State defensive coordinator to take over its football program.

• Auburn AD: Tuberville's resignation a surprise 12/4/2008, 11:56 a.m. CST
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs says he was shocked when Tommy Tuberville resigned as football coach.

• Sabres place RW Kaleta on IR; recall D Weber 12/4/2008, 11:49 a.m. CST
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Hard-hitting Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta is out indefinitely after being placed on injured reserve Thursday because of a head and neck injury.

• White Sox send pitcher Javier Vazquez to Braves 12/4/2008, 10:51 a.m. CST
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox completed a six-player trade with Atlanta on Thursday, sending right-hander Javier Vazquez and lefty reliever Boone Logan to the Braves for four prospects.

• NFL players union sues to block suspensions 12/4/2008, 9:18 a.m. CST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL players union is suing to block the suspensions of five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy.

• Judge blocks suspensions of Vikings' Williamses 12/4/2008, 8:14 a.m. CST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge temporarily blocked the NFL's suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, but the players' status for Sunday's game at Detroit remained uncertain.

• Cavaliers, Celtics looking better every day 12/4/2008, 6:43 a.m. CST
(AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers keep rolling at home while the Boston Celtics have been unbeatable almost anywhere. The Eastern Conference's two best teams look better every day. LeBron James scored 21 points then grabbed an early seat on the bench as the Cavaliers improved to 10-0 on their own floor for the first time in their history and won their 14th in 15 games, 118-82 over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

• Giants: Pierce called trainer after shooting 12/4/2008, 5:19 a.m. CST
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Antonio Pierce telephoned a team trainer for help after star receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself, the New York Giants revealed, offering new details about the incident.

• After enjoying moment in sun, Lochte back in pool 12/4/2008, 4:19 a.m. CST
ATLANTA (AP) — With a demeanor best suited for a surfboard, Ryan Lochte always sounds a bit detached from the realities of life.