IndyStar.com: Sports
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
Harangody develops into leader at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- If Luke Harangody weren't a preseason All-America basketball player at Notre Dame, he'd like to be a Chicago White Sox pitcher."A power thrower," he said. "No curveball. Straight gas."Or maybe a tight end for his beloved...
Home of fond memories
This might be Bridget Sloan's and Samantha Peszek's house. But it was no less special for Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson.The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars made its Indianapolis stop Tuesday night. Although days and places become jumbled in the...
Pacers forgetting problems at point
Jamaal who?T.J. Ford has made Jamaal Tinsley an afterthought in less time than it took the Indiana Pacers to box up and ship Tinsley's belongings to him this summer.Ford's early play has given fans a reason to believe the team has solved its...
Hoosiers work on their hustle
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University basketball team may be lacking in size and athleticism this season, but one thing has been apparent in both exhibition games.These Hoosiers have heart.IU's scrappy, hustling play was on display again...
Westside hoops star commits to Butler
Andrew Smith, a 6-10 senior at Covenant Christian, today signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Butler.He signed at an assembly at the small Westside school. The event featured video highlights of Smith’s play.Smith, a Zionsville...
Pacers: Nesterovic in, Murphy out tonight
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The good news for the Indiana Pacers is that center Rasho Nesterovic will be back in the starting lineup tonight against the New Jersey Nets after missing the previous four games with a sprained right ankle.The bad news is...
Colts: Jackson mending from knee surgery
Marlin Jackson is on the comeback trail after suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice late last month.The Indianapolis Colts’ veteran cornerback had surgery two weeks ago to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right...
Black coaches group offers legal advice
The Black Coaches and Administrators group escalated its efforts to increase the number of minority head coaches in major-college football by introducing today an employment lawyer who will provide free and easily accessible advice to job...
Purdue signs four from Indiana
Purdue's contingent of in-state players grew by four today.Lawrence North's Jeff Robinson, Franklin Central's Patrick Bade, Cathedral's Kelsey Barlow and North Montgomery's D.J. Byrd signed with the Boilermakers today, the first day of the early...
The Healer: Tom Crean has won over IU's aching fan base by embracing a storied program's past
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Pat Graham needed just three words to describe how Tom Crean has been able to win back former players and re-energize Indiana basketball's hurting fan base so quickly."He gets it," said Graham, who played at IU from...
Pacers win their 3rd in row, 98-87 against Nets
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jim O'Brien isn't one to worry about the things that are out of his control.The Indiana Pacers coach doesn't spend time dwelling on the players who aren't playing.He plugs in another player and prepares his team as if it...
Report: Retail weakness won't wallop Web
Despite anticipated weak holiday retail sales overall, holiday shopping on the Web is expected to increase at least 10 percent, a Purdue University retail expert said today.Internet-based sales are estimated to be $35 billion to $40 billion this...
Completing the climb
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Matt Painter stood in front of several hundred Purdue basketball supporters recently and recalled his first experience as a head coach at the Big Ten Conference’s media day.The Boilermakers were picked to finish last in...
Kramer's effort earns respect
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Chris Kramer played quarterback in high school, but he considers himself a free safety in college.The thing is, he plays for Purdue's basketball team.Kramer's role for Matt Painter's Boilermakers squad is to stop everything...
Hall in need of assistants -- including two Colts
The Saturday before the Super Bowl, the next class of Pro Football Hall of Famers will be introduced. For the umpteenth year in a row, it will include no assistant coaches.That, simply, is because once again, no assistant coach made the final...
Breaking down the Big Ten
1. Purdue: E’Twaun Moore, 12.9; No sophomore jinx here. These sophs will dominate.2. Michigan State: Raymar Morgan, 14.0; The talent and experience are present to compete for a title.3. Wisconsin: Trevon Hughes, 11.2; If Bo Ryan isn’t the...
Leaving Gibbs won't be easy for Stewart
Tony Stewart has known for several months this weekend was coming, but that doesn't mean he's ready for it."I've tried to not think about it," the two-time NASCAR champion said of making his 356th and final start for Joe Gibbs Racing in Sunday's...
Easily targeted
When Jordan Stepp and the Ben Davis football team took on Carmel earlier this year, Stepp — who is orally committed to the University of Cincinnati — was ready for the trash talk that typically accompanies an early commitment.Instead, an...
Heritage Christian, Kirtley on a roll
Crazy as it sounds now, Heritage Christian football coach Ron Qualls wasn't sure who his quarterback was going to be this season.Junior Jackson Kirtley eventually distanced himself from the pack, winning over Qualls with a strong arm and knack for...
Craig's game began in Tennessee
In her words, Noblesville senior Jessie Craig describes how she developed her game through the years. Craig, a defender who had seven goals and four assists in helping the Millers to a state finals berth, is The Star's Super Team Player of the...
Zionsville star Petts began play at 4
In his words, Zionsville junior Harrison Petts describes how he developed his game through the years. Petts, a forward who had 41 goals and 26 assists in helping the Eagles to a state runner-up finish, is The Star’s Super Team Player of the...
Whited, Indiana Deaf cruise on 3rd-quarter run
Ann Whited had 21 points, seven rebounds and five steals to lead host Indiana Deaf past International 42-28 Thursday night in high school girls basketball.Whited scored 10 of her points in the third quarter, in which the host Deaf Hoosiers (2-0)...
The game before the game
Heinz Field is a yawning, yellow maw beneath a cold, gray sky. It's nearly three hours before kickoff. It's silent. Gates haven't opened. The stadium's mustard-colored seats stand empty, row on row, with only a few solitary figures on the field...
DBs Bethea and Bullitt enjoying extra work
Antoine Bethea is a safety by trade, but he has been doubling as cornerback out of necessity. "Whatever they ask me to do, I'm going to do,'' he said.Recently, Bethea has handled his normal free safety spot in the Colts' base defense, then worked...
Simple: all Reggie
The simplicity of the situation wasn't lost on coach Billy North. He had a do-everything standout. So he let him do everything.Never more than this: In John Ehret's 29-14 victory over Jesuit in the 1995 season opener between New Orleans-area high...
Star staff picks
Colts 31, Texans 16A playoff push that began with consecutive wins over division leaders New England and Pittsburgh continues against a Texans bunch coming off its worst loss of the season. It must. If Indy has indeed gotten its act together,...
WR showcase: It's a 'U' thing
Houston vs. Indianapolis means more than a division game for a couple of high-profile players. For old college buddies Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson, it's a chance to catch up and catch some passes.The two got to know each other when Wayne hosted...
Ritual madness: pregame in the NFL
Pregame rituals? Weird superstitions? The NFL is the place for you.Tough to beat John Henderson. He has reportedly toned it down some recently, but it used to be that before each game, Jacksonville's 6-7, 330-pound defensive tackle would ask a...
Kubiak feels the ire of Houston
This isn't what Houston Texans fans expected. Not this season, and especially not last week, when Gary Kubiak's team fell apart in a 41-13 home loss to Baltimore.Just last year, the Texans won three of their final four games to finish 8-8, the...
AFC Playoff hunt
Tennessee (9-0) at Jacksonville (4-5): The Titans opened their unbeaten run with a 17-10 home win against the Jaguars, who have largely sputtered since. The Titans have a four-game division lead and show no signs of slowing down. They stuffed the...
