Professional Sports

Jim Jackson notched a goal and a pair of assists while Dirk Southern pushed his point scoring streak to eight games, helping the Gladiators to a 6-4 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Friday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Jeff Gordon, who trails Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson by 30 points in the Nextel Cup standings, qualified third under overcast conditions in the desert for Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Rookie goalie Ondrej Pavelec stopped 36 shots, Ilya Kovalchuk scored his eighth goal in his last four games and the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Friday night.

Kevin Garnett had 27 points and 19 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 23 and the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 106-83 Friday night, their third blowout win of a season in which they're off to their best start in 20 years.

Carl Edwards has his Ford on the pole for Sunday Nextel Cup race in Phoenix. Bill Elliott will start last in 43rd position.

Jerious Norwood practiced Friday for the first time this week, but the Atlanta Falcons are unsure if the second-year running back will play at Carolina.

The revamped Boston Celtics look to continue their winning ways tonight with a home game against Atlanta. Featuring newcomers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett the Celtics have won their first three games of the season. No Boston team has won its first four games of a new season in 20 years.

Georgia's seniors are calling on all Bulldog fans to wear black between the hedges tomorrow. Atlanta Falcons linebacker Michael Boley has bigger concerns than his next contract.

Six times already Sam Hornish Jr. has tried to make it into NASCAR's main event, and all six times he's been sent home.

The Gwinnett Gladiators announced Thursday that forward Jeff Campbell has been called up to the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League. In addition, forward Colton Fretter and Chad Painchaud have been assigned to Gwinnett by the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.