Sentiment, success, adventure make Saints "America's" team

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys have long been known as 'America's team' but the New Orleans Saints, who triumphed as underdogs in Sunday's Super Bowl, can now make a good claim to that title.

Mariners' Cliff Lee has surgery on left foot

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee has had minor surgery on his left foot that will delay the start of his pre-season workouts, the club said.

Mardi Gras in Miami as Saints win first Super Bowl

MIAMI (Reuters) - The New Orleans Saints completed their long-awaited transformation from chumps to champions by defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the Super Bowl on Sunday to claim their first NFL title.

Lakers down Spurs for second win without Kobe

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers pulled together to win their second straight contest without Kobe Bryant with a 101-89 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

Payton feels weight of history after Super Bowl triumph

MIAMI (Reuters) - New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl winning coach Sean Payton felt the weight of history on Monday as he woke up beside the Vince Lombardi Trophy and then received a congratulatory phone call from his mentor Bill Parcells.

For New Orleans, victory is about more than football

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - To many residents of this storm-battered city, the New Orleans Saints carried more than a trophy when they came home on Monday after winning the first Super Bowl in their 42-year history.

Sharks stamp on Leafs to extend road streak

TORONTO (Reuters) - Ryane Clowe used a borrowed stick to score the late game-winner as the San Jose Sharks beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Monday for a ninth straight road win on the road.

Kaman gets All-Star call in place of injured Roy

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman has been named to the Western Conference All-Star team in place of injured Portland guard Brandon Roy, the Clippers said on their website on Monday.

Consider yourself warned, IOC's Rogge tells Russia

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Russia has been warned to get its anti-doping act together days before the start of the Vancouver Olympics after several of their athletes have been busted for taking banned drugs in the past months.

Can Vancouver life get any better with Games?

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Cities that take on the gargantuan task of hosting Olympic Games contend that the costly investment leads to a better quality of life for its denizens for years to come.

For New Orleans, victory is about more than football

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - To many residents of this storm-battered city, the New Orleans Saints carried more than a trophy when they came home on Monday after winning the first Super Bowl in their 42-year history.

Hasta La Pista, Baby...Arnie lights up the Games

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - The Olympic torch relay just got bigger, much bigger.

Magic explode in third quarter to beat Celtics

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Orlando Magic dominated the third quarter to clinch a 96-89 comeback victory over their Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics, on Sunday.

Super Bowl win was destiny for Saints, says MVP Brees

MIAMI (Reuters) - New Orleans' Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday was destiny, Saints quarterback Drew Brees said.

Patrick to make NASCAR debut on Saturday

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - IndyCar driver Danica Patrick will make her NASCAR debut at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, her team announced on Monday.

Hurricanes trade veteran defenseman Wallin to Sharks

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - The Carolina Hurricanes traded defenseman Niclas Wallin to the San Jose Sharks Sunday, team president and general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement.

From coffee table to the Olympic skating rink

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Tugba Karademir scrambled on top of the coffee table aged three to announce to her mother she wanted to be just like twice Olympic champion Katarina Witt.

Safina pulls out of Dubai with back injury

MOSCOW (Reuters) - World number two Dinara Safina has pulled out of next week's Dubai tennis championships because of continuing problems with a back injury, the Russian said on Monday.

Record 106.5 million Americans watch Super Bowl

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A record 106.5 million Americans watched the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl game, setting a new high for any U.S. television broadcast, early ratings showed on Monday.

Media banned from training at snow starved Games venue

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Olympic Games organizers, scrambling helicopters to pile snow on to the barren freestyle ski and snowboard venue, told the media on Sunday that they would not get access to the first official training session.

America's Cup opening race called off

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - The opening race of the 33rd America's Cup between Swiss holders Alinghi and U.S. challengers BMW Oracle was called off Monday because of shifting wind conditions, race officials said.

Stricker to hunt Woods after Northern Trust win

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Steve Stricker overcame an early stumble and a late charge from Britain's Luke Donald to win the Northern Trust Open Sunday and wrest the world number two ranking from fellow American Phil Mickelson.

Give a home to us not the Olympics, say protesters

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Robert Bonner is not impressed that Vancouver is hosting the Winter Olympics and thinks the millions of dollars spent on the event would have better gone on alleviating problems like poverty and homelessness.

Vancouver's smoke-free Games plan runs out of puff

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Vancouver's plan to host smoke-free Winter Games were stubbed out after Olympic officials told the city to make room for people who love to puff, particularly Europeans and the media.

Ovechkin leads Caps to 14th successive victory

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Capitals secured their 14th successive victory with a hat-trick from Alex Ovechkin and a game-winning goal from Mike Knuble that sank the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in overtime on Sunday.

Canadians say you get what you pay for

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Canada's goal is to "Own the Podium" at the Vancouver Winter Games, but $180,000 is not expected to buy the Olympic hosts much on the ski jumping hill.

IOC to consider stripping Cox's Olympic gold medal

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Suspended U.S. Olympic relay gold medalist Crystal Cox could soon be stripped of her gold medal after the International Olympic Committee agreed to set up a disciplinary commission on Sunday.

Magic explode for 19-0 run in third to top Celtics

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Orlando Magic dominated the third quarter to capture a 96-89 comeback victory over their Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics, on Sunday.

Stricker wins Northern Trust Open by two strokes

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Steve Stricker won the Northern Trust Open Sunday by two strokes after shooting a final round 70 to finish with a 16-under par total of 268.

Size, speed present new America's Cup challenge

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - Race organizers sounded a warning note on the eve of the 33rd America's Cup on Sunday, saying the size and potential speeds of the two boats posed problems never encountered in the event.