IndyStar.com: Sports
Indiana's leading news source for all the top stories, local news, sports and weather.
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...
Brotherly meeting a Rush
Their backyard games in Kansas City, Mo., were competitive, but also one-sided.Kareem Rush was almost five years older than Brandon Rush, and he did what most big brothers do: He showed no mercy in manhandling him in their one-on-one matchups.The...
Hoosiers sign up 6-11 recruit
An Indiana University recruiting class, ranked sixth in the nation by rivals.com, picked up its sixth and final member Thursday night when Bawa Muniru signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Hoosiers.A native of Ghana, Muniru...
Tickets available for Colts game Sunday
The Houston Texans have returned nearly 400 tickets for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.They are available at the stadium ticket office, Ticketmaster ticket centers, charge-by-phone at (317) 239-5151 or at...
Castroneves asks judge to postpone trial
MIAMI -- Race car driver Helio Castroneves' attorneys and employer asked a judge to delay his March trial on tax evasion charges until next November so he can continue racing, according to court documents filed Thursday.Penske Racing, Inc. said if...
NASCAR bans '09 testing to save cash
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- NASCAR has banned all testing at its sanctioned tracks next season in an effort to help teams save several million dollars in their 2009 budgets.The moratorium, which includes the traditional "preseason" Daytona 500 testing, is...
Pacers' Granger set to return tonight
Indiana Pacers leading scorer Danny Granger said today he’ll be ready to start tonight’s home game against Philadelphia.Granger missed the Pacers’ 98-87 road victory Wednesday in New Jersey with a cramp in his right quadriceps.“I think I’ll be...
Indy to host women's Final Four in 2016
Lucas Oil Stadium, which has yet to host its first NCAA Final Four, now has three on its schedule.On Friday, local officials learned the 2016 women’s Final Four will be coming to Indianapolis, joining the 2010 (men) and 2011 (women’s) events.A...
Judge won’t delay Castroneves tax trial
MIAMI — A federal judge in Miami has rejected requests to delay the tax evasion trial of race car driver Helio Castroneves.U.S. District Judge Donald Graham on today said the March 2 trial date will stand. Lawyers for Castroneves and Penske Racing...
Four nabbed in Butler bulldog costume theft
Four people have been arrested in connection with the theft of two Butler bulldog costumes.A tip led police to the arrests of Rick Darragh, 21; Kevin Templeman, 23; Brian Templeman, 20, and Austin Egenolf, 21. The suspects were preliminarily...
Source: Agent, Pacers discuss Tinsley buyout
The agent for Jamaal Tinsley has approached the Indiana Pacers about possibly buying out the point guard's contract, a person familiar with the situation said today.No figures were revealed.The Pacers owe Tinsley slightly more than $21 million on...
76ers rally from 26-point deficit to beat Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS — Thaddeus Young had 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame a 26-point deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 94-92 on Friday night.Andre Miller added 19 points, Elton Brand had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Andre...
Moore leads Purdue past Detroit Mercy
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- E'Twaun Moore scored 18 points, and No. 11 Purdue beat Detroit Mercy 82-50 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.Moore was a second-team all-Big Ten selection last season, but Purdue's depth has forced him...
Cardinal Ritter defense makes its case
Cardinal Ritter's offense?Few questioned that unit this season with its prolific Ross Hendrickson-to-Tyrone Walker pass combination, a collection of capable running backs and a powerful offensive line.But what about the defense?"(We're) all...
Sub Moore scores 18 in opening win
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- It begins with smothering defense and excellent ball protection. And when the 3-point shooters find their collective rhythm, it's a lethal combination.Such was the 11th-ranked Purdue men's basketball team's season-opening...
Pacers watch one slip away
This felt way too much like last year.Build a big lead, then watch it slip away.The Pacers jumped on Philadelphia on Friday night at Conseco Fieldhouse and were up 25 points after the first quarter. The 76ers found a way back.They cut the lead to...
Valparaiso beats Campbell 47-14
BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Ross Wiemer rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown, and Valparaiso returned an interception and a punt for scores, to help rout Campbell 47-14 on Saturday.Wiemer was one of three Crusaders (3-7, 1-5 Pioneer League) to score on...
Greene carries Iowa to 22-17 win over Purdue
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- In the game of bowl selection, the Hawkeyes just went all-in.Iowa put all its chips on the table on Saturday in a 22-17 win against Purdue played in blustery conditions in front of 67,676.Six of those in attendance represented...
Indiana St. loses 25th straight game
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Corey Lewis scored three touchdowns and Northern Iowa clinched at least a tie for the Missouri Valley Conference championship with a 28-0 victory over Indiana State on Saturday.It was the Sycamores' 25th straight loss over...
Notre Dame holds on for 27-21 victory over Navy
BALTIMORE — A passing rain storm seemed to be the only thing putting a damper on Charlie Weis’ day.Notre Dame was a couple of minutes away from giving its coach a drama-free and much-needed victory. Then things got strange, and a tense...
Ball State opens 72-59 over E. Illinois
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Jarrod Jones had 21 points and 13 rebounds Saturday in Ball State's 72-59 season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois.The Cardinals jumped to a 23-6 lead in the first 8 minutes of the game, took their biggest lead at 37-18 on a...
No. 7 Penn State pulls away for win over Indiana
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- A sluggish start on a dreary day clouded up No. 7 Penn State's dreams of the Rose Bowl for a half.Nothing that Daryll Clark or a stifling defense couldn't shake off, though.Derrick Williams ran for one score and caught a...
D.J. White staying upbeat after surgery
OKLAHOMA CITY -- D.J. White sat down in front of a group of about 200 children this week to read them a book and encourage them to read.If he couldn't make the kind of impact he'd hoped to have on the basketball court this season, he at least...
