Quarterback Alex Smith will start for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday against New Orleans, coach Mike Nolan said.Smith, out since Sept. 30 with a separated shoulder, went through his second full day of practice Thursday, leading the 49ers' first-team offense with no apparent discomfort.He hasn't played since injuring his right shoulder on the third play of San Francisco's 23-3 loss to Seattle.
Junior Seau has more to worry about right now than Clinton Portis and the rest of the Washington Redskins offense.The New England Patriots linebacker also is thinking about his hometown of San Diego, which has been ravaged by wildfires. Nearly 460,000 acres have burned in California this week, and losses in San Diego County alone total at least $1 billion.Seau said Thursday that at least one of his homes has burned and a restaurant he owns was temporarily used as a shelter.
David Stern acknowledged Thursday that more than half of his 56 referees had violated NBA policies about casino gambling, but said none will be punished because he felt the rules were outdated.Instead, Stern said he is altering the policies, leaning toward allowing referees to gamble in casinos during the offseason - except for betting in sports books.The league's strict gambling policies toward referees became public after the Tim Donaghy scandal.
After watching the Miami Heat sputter offensively in the preseason, Pat Riley realized his team was in desperate need of perimeter help.He's counting on newly acquired Ricky Davis to provide an immediate boost.Davis will slide into the injured Dwyane Wade's spot at starting shooting guard when the Heat open the regular season next week, Riley said Thursday, one day after the Heat pulled off a five-player trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
