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Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says the possible expansion of the Big Ten could create changes in major college football that force the Fighting Irish to give up their football independence.

Daisuke Matsuzaka had a solid bullpen session, but the Red Sox did not say whether he would be ready for the start of the regular season.

New Notre Dame defensive backs coach Chuck Martin also will serve as the school’s recruiting coordinator, and defensive line coach Mike Elston will add duties of special teams coordinator.

Raymar Morgan had 16 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 14 Michigan State beat No. 3 Purdue 53-44 on Sunday and snap the Boilermakers’ 10-game win streak.

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton left workouts early with a shoulder contusion.

All-Star MVP Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is no longer in a walking boot and remains listed as day-to-day with a strained left calf.

Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Deacon Jones and former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson were among the first set of honorees inducted into the Black College hall of Fame on Saturday.

Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers, Buffalo wide receiver Terrell Owens and New Orleans safety Darren Sharper are among 235 NFL players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next month.

Derrick Rose will play against the Knicks; Joakim Noah will not.

Victor Martinez wants an extension, but agent says negotiations have not begun.

A toxicology report shows defensive end Gaines Adams had marijuana and alcohol in his system when he died. But Greenwood County Coroner Jim Coursey says nothing found in the report contributed to Adams’ death.

Oklahoma beat Texas 80-71 on Saturday in a game dedicated to the memory of late Sooners star Wayman Tisdale.

The Tigers and Justin Verlander have agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract.

Coach Gary Kubiak has agreed to a new contract that will keep him with the Houston Texans through the 2012 season according to two reports Tuesday.

The Chicago Bears hired Mike Martz as offensive coordinator.

LeBron James is now shooting with a Golden Arch.

Joel Branstrom figured he was about to be the butt of some kind of joke when he was blindfolded at a pep rally and told he would win tickets to the NCAA’s Final Four if he could hit a half-court shot.

Tebow says he’s going to follow the advice of Gators coach Urban Meyer to just be himself. He’s hoping that will be enough for the NFL coaches, owners and general managers.

Jerome Dyson scored a career-high 32 points and Connecticut (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today, NR AP) overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to upset top-ranked Texas 88-74 on Saturday.

Doc Rivers: KG looked great during workout