Professional Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Taking a page from Hendrick Motorsports' strategy book, Tony Stewart outdueled Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch to win the season-opening Nationwide Series race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

BOSTON -- Hit 'em where they ain't is ancient advice to baseball batters. Now statistics explain why it works. The findings were presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Todd Bodine missed his brother's Daytona victory in 1986. Now, he knows how it feels to win at NASCAR's most famous track. Bodine held off a late push from Kyle Busch and Johnny Benson to win the season-opening truck race Friday night and pick up his first victory at Daytona International Speedway.

Acie Law the fourth Aggie to ever have jersey displayed.

Tomas Pospisil recorded his 5th game winning goal of the season for the Gladiators late in the third
period to propel Gwinnett past Elmira 3-2 on Friday night at the First Arena in Elmira.

Matt Walsh said he's willing to turn over tapes to NFL about Rams 2002 lose to new England

NEWARK, N.J. -- Marian Hossa got a congratulatory handshake and a very meaningful message from Thrashers coach Don Waddell. ``I'm proud of you,'' Waddell, who doubles as the Atlanta general manager, told his star forward after the Thrashers pulled out a 4-3 shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Still back home in Houston, Andy Pettitte will throw a bullpen session Saturday to keep up with his teammates before he arrives at spring training.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- For the 49th straight time, Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox is attending spring training. He's not the same strapping young man who started his career as an infielder in 1960 in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. In fact, he's about to turn 67 and last year broke the record for getting ejected from the most games in major league baseball history.

FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Atlanta Falcons released four-time Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler and six other players Friday in the first step of a major rebuilding job in the post-Michael Vick era.