Professional Sports

Chipper Jones will take at least five days off to recover from a mild strain on his right side and the Atlanta third baseman hopes to return to the United States' lineup in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

Free-agent center Brett Romberg, who started six games for the St. Louis Rams in 2008, has signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Former NBA star Charles Barkley has been released from jail after serving a three-day sentence in Phoenix on a drunken-driving conviction.

Kurt Busch can enjoy his off week. He won't have to answer any questions like, "Hey, when are you going to beat your little brother?" He took care of that on Sunday.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has undergone arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, and his projected timetable for recovery remains six-to-nine weeks.

Miikka Kiprusoff took full responsibility for the Calgary Flames' loss to the lowly Atlanta Thrashers.

United States third baseman Chipper Jones left Sunday night's game against Venezuela after five innings with a mild oblique strain and will be evaluated again Monday.

Carlos Guillen and Melvin Mora hit solo home runs, Bobby Abreu singled in two runs in a four-run fifth inning and Venezuela defeated Italy 7-0 at the World Baseball Classic on Saturday night.

Ivan Rodriguez homered twice, Carlos Delgado also connected and Puerto Rico got off to a rousing start in the World Baseball Classic, beating Panama 7-0 on Saturday.

With big league stars on both sides and national pride at stake, the United States and Canada gave their World Baseball Classic opener an October feel. Adam Dunn and Brian McCann each hit a two-run homer, and Team USA held off feisty Canada 6-5 on Saturday to avenge a surprising loss three years ago.