Woods says he'll be back - and better than before
golf
At Tiger Woods' first news conference in 184 days, the most powerful statement about the golfer's health and future required no words at all. Does he have any doubts he will be better than before? Woods turned up the bottom of his lip, shook his head three times and mumbled, "Uh-uh," as if that had never entered his mind. Six months after reconstructive surgery on his left knee to repair a ruptured ligament - his third surgery in six years - Woods said yesterday that he was right on schedule to return, already hitting short irons and excited about playing on a leg that has never been more stable. "I've just been training and trying to get healthy enough to compete next year," Woods said. "Everything has been right on schedule. I couldn't have asked for anything more." The uncertainty is when he will return, and how his leg will respond when he goes through a full practice. His plan was to start hitting balls in January, but he already has been chipping and putting, and taking full swings with small clubs, shots that go no more than 100 yards.
Cowboys' A. Jones to return vs. Ravens
nfl
Thought to be out for the season because of a neck injury, Adam Jones returned to practice for the Dallas Cowboys and is expected to play against the Ravens on Saturday night, at cornerback and returning kicks, after having missed only one game. Coach Wade Phillips said the herniated disc discovered last week has healed, perhaps because he already had the problem and it was only aggravated by a hit he took two games ago in Pittsburgh. Having Jones back helps because it frees cornerback Anthony Henry to play more at safety, where the Cowboys are running out of healthy players.
Saints: : Running back Reggie Bush will miss the final two games of the season with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Coach Sean Payton said the injury doesn't require surgery, just rest and rehabilitation.
Et cetera: : Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison will miss tonight's game at Jacksonville with an apparent hamstring injury. ... NFL owners have approved a restructured ownership plan in which Steelers chairman Dan Rooney and his son will buy most of the shares owned by other family members. ... Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh say they have broken up a cocaine ring headed by the nephew of Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett. Authorities say Anthony A. Dorsett, 31, and 12 others have been selling crack and powder cocaine since 2003.
