Panthers already concerned with depth

The Portal Panthers have made three straight playoff appearances, and as they work toward the fourth, the expectations of the Portal faithful have gone up. Meeting those expectations has not gotten any easier.

Kenny still getting to know Jackets

Times are tough for the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets. As if coming off a 2-8 season in 2006 wasn't enough of a hurdle for the SEB football team to try and overcome, they are going to have to bounce back with a new coach.

It's official, Braves land Teixeira

ATLANTA - Mark Teixeira found himself in a pennant race Tuesday, when the Atlanta Braves finalized a seven-player trade to acquire him from the Texas Rangers.

Trade 3: Braves trade Ledezma to Padres

Trade 2: Braves snag Dotel from K.C.

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves made another trade to bolster their bullpen, getting Kansas City reliever Octavio Dotel on Tuesday for pitcher Kyle Davies.

Hall of Fame coach Walsh passes

SAN FRANCISCO - Bill Walsh, the groundbreaking football coach who won three Super Bowls and perfected the ingenious schemes that became known as the West Coast offense during a Hall of Fame career with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 75.

Giants win with Bonds on deck

SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds wanted a pitcher to challenge him. Dontrelle Willis was more than ready.

Ripken and Gwynn: Hall of Famers on and off the field

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn took their place in baseball's shrine Sunday, saluted as much for their Hall of Fame careers as their character off the field.

Falcons rookies Anderson and Blalock shining already

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Four days into training camp, Jamaal Anderson and Justin Blalock are enduring a crash course with the Atlanta Falcons.

Jones and Jones help end Atlanta losing streak

PHOENIX - Chipper Jones drove in five runs, Tim Hudson allowed three hits in seven innings and the Atlanta Braves routed Arizona 14-0 Sunday to end the Diamondbacks' eight-game winning streak.

A day of futility ends some high hopes as Bonds remains shy

SAN FRANCISCO - The game was still an hour and a half away and the man who will be the home run king was sitting in his private enclave in the Giants' clubhouse, head in hands and watching his personal flat-panel TV.

Will the real Mike Vick please stand up?

ATLANTA - There's more than one side to Michael Vick, the star quarterback.

Braves lose in extras again

PHOENIX - Conor Jackson's game-winning hit went nowhere near the outfield fence on Saturday, but it counted just the same.

Nike dumps Mike

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Nike suspended its lucrative contract with Michael Vick on Friday, while Reebok took the unprecedented step of stopping sales of his No. 7 jersey.

In another dose of bad news for the indicted quarterback, a top trading card company announced it was pulling Vick's likeness from any new packs.

Bonds hits No. 754

SAN FRANCISCO - Hammerin' Hank, he's right behind you now.

Barry Bonds hit his 754th career home run Friday night, and needed just one more to tie Hank Aaron's record.

LeBron James says he's returning to Cavaliers

CLEVELAND - LeBron James' latest decision is in: He's returning to Cleveland.

Miami and Cleveland waiting for LeBron to decide

When it comes to LeBron James, all that's certain is this: One fan base is about to feel scorned, and other is about to feel absolute joy.

3-way tie at John Deere Classic

SILVIS, Ill. - Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini and Brian Harman shot 8-under-par 63s Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the John Deere Classic.

World Cup final features best player vs. best team

RIO DE JANEIRO - The best player in the world goes up against the ultimate team machine, on the world's biggest stage.

Phelps a bit miffed that he's not going faster

ATHENS, Ga. - Michael Phelps has never been the patient type.

Local Roundup: Around the Horn wins state title

Youth travel baseball team Around the Horn 13AAA, won the USSSA Southeast State Championship held at Mill Creek Regional Park last week.

Argentina reaches final with PKs

SAO PAULO - Goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after the game finished in a 0-0 stalemate.

'Scholarships for life'

WASHINGTON - NCAA President Mark Emmert told a Senate committee Wednesday he supports "scholarships for life" and other reforms in how athletes are treated, then did such a good job of casting himself as a powerless figurehead that one senator told him: "I can't tell whether you're in charge or whether you're a minion."

Statesboro Blue Devils volleyball camp returns

In just three years, Statesboro High has turned a fledgling volleyball program - with next to no previous experience in the sport - into a two-time state playoff qualifier.

World Cup host Brazil humiliated by Germany

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil - With Neymar out injured, just about everyone in Brazil knew it would be tough against Germany.

Wie, Lewis lead women's golf revival

SOUTHPORT, England - The friendly matches in South Florida can involve as many as eight players, with teams decided by drawing names from a hat.

Outdoor Life: Frog gigging — a tasty tradition

Frog gigging is a dying art. Like grabbling or noodling (reaching under river banks for turtles and catfish) frog gigging is an outdoor activity that seems to be fading from view.

Djokovic's pep talk swept aside 'fear', 'demons'

LONDON - Novak Djokovic knew all along that his game was good enough to win more Grand Slam titles. It was his mind that was the problem.

Kittel wins stage as Tour prepares to leave UK

LONDON - At this point, the top Tour de France sprint star might be called Sir Marcel.

LeBron, Cavs owner could mend fences, reunite

CLEVELAND - There was no eye contact, nothing to indicate any reconciliation. The breakup of LeBron James and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was beyond bitter.