Joe Blanton has been picked to start Game 4 of the World Series for the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies.

  Paul Pierce scored 20 of his 22 points in the third quarter, and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 118-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night in the teams' first matchup since last spring's thrilling seven-game playoff series.

  B.J. Daniels threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns, and South Florida rebounded from two subpar defensive performances to frustrate No. 20 West Virginia in a 30-19 victory Friday night.

  Point guard John Wall has been cleared to play basketball for Kentucky by the NCAA, the school said on Friday.

  Steve Nash scored 18 points and had the sixth 20-assist game of his career Friday night in Phoenix's 123-101 rout of the Golden State Warriors in the Suns' home opener.

  J.B. Gerald, the former New Mexico assistant coach involved in an altercation with Lobos coach Mike Locksley earlier this year, said this week that Locksley choked and punched him during the attack.

  Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will not play on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

  A.J. Allmendinger, who was charged with driving under the influence on Thursday, was administered a breathalyzer prior to Friday's first Sprint Cup practice at Talladega Superspeedway.

  Connecticut picked up right where it left off last season: unanimous No. 1 in the women's basketball poll.

  Two season-ticket holders are planning a protest before Cleveland's Monday night game on Nov. 16, urging fans to stay away from their seats for the opening kickoff to send a message after so many years of losing. At least one coach is firing back.

  Andre Agassi tells People magazine he used crystal meth periodically for "a year or so."

  Southeastern Conference coaches will face stiffer penalties from now on for complaining about officiating in the media.

  A forgettable fall for umpires rolled on Thursday night with two more blown calls, these in the late innings of Game 2 of the World Series.

  Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter, who has been out with an ankle injury, is expected to play against No. 3 Texas, two people familiar with Hunter's health said Friday, ESPN's Joe Schad reported.