Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) ó Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s appeal of his two-game suspension has been denied by the NFL.
Art Shell, jointly appointed by the league and the players’ association to hear such cases, ruled Friday that Suh’s suspension for stomping an opponent was inappropriate. Suh will miss Sunday’s game at New Orleans and a Dec. 11 home game against Minnesota. He can return for practice on Dec. 12.
The 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year was penalized and ejected from a Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay for stomping on the arm of Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. On Tuesday, the league handed down the two-game suspension and Suh appealed.
Shell, however, saw no merits to the appeal during a conference call Thursday and announced his ruling Friday.
INDIANAPOLIS ó Peyton Manning could soon be throwing footballs to his teammates, the best news Colts fans have heard since this miserable season began.
While the Colts and the four-time league MVP are still trying to find out what the next part of his rehabilitation program entails, lifting weights and throwing balls are apparently going to be part of it.
NASCAR
LAS VEGAS ó Kurt Busch, fined $50,000 last week by NASCAR for verbally abusing a reporter, said Thursday he’s seeing a sports psychologist to address what he described as “personal issues.”
“I need to be a better person on the radio, to the team, as a leader,” said Busch, who began working with the psychologist two months ago. “It’s personal issues, of course, and working with a sports psychologist, I’ve gotten obviously a small grasp, but there’s obviously bigger things that I need to accomplish and things can’t happen overnight.”
Busch’s temper has long been documented, and his explosions on his in-car radio are notorious in NASCAR. He’s had other incidents with media members this season, and NASCAR cited a pattern of behavior in fining him last week.
COLUMBUS, Ind. ó President Barack Obama has congratulated Tony Stewart for winning his third NASCAR championship.
The White House says Obama called Stewart Wednesday.
NBA
CHARLOTTE ó Rookie draft picks Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo are among the six Charlotte Bobcats working out at Time Warner Arena on Friday.
They were joined by teammates Gerald Henderson, who’s coming of hip surgery, Dominique McGuire, Matt Carroll and Tyrus Thomas. Derrick Brown from the New York Knicks and Anthony Morrow from the New Jersey Nets also are working out.
Players were given permission to return and workout at NBA facilities across the country, although they can’t be monitored by the coaching staff.
GOLF
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. ó Tiger Woods knows he’s playing better than he has in the last two years, and he has the leaderboard to prove it.
Woods hit a half-dozen extraordinary shots Friday in the Chevron World Challenge on his way to a 5-under 67, giving him a three-shot lead over Matt Kuchar and K.J. Choi at Sherwood Country Club.
It was the second straight tournament that Woods had the 36-hole lead.
NHL
BUFFALO, N.Y. ó Jimmy Howard made 27 saves, and the Detroit Red Wings stretched their winning streak to seven with a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
WILD 4, DEVILS 2
ST. PAUL, Minn. ó Minnesota scored three goals on its first four shots and sent New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur to the bench in the first period of a win over the Devils.
BLACKHAWKS 5, ISLANDERS 4, SO
CHICAGO ó Jonathan Toews netted the only goal in the shootout, after posting a short-handed goal and assist in regulation, and Chicago outlasted the New York Islanders.