INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Peyton Manning says he still holds out hope
that he will be back on the field for the Colts this season.
The four-time league MVP has not played a down since having neck
surgery in May. He had a second operation on the neck last month,
and so far, he says, things have gone well.
Manning says he is getting X-rays every four weeks on his neck
and his recovery has progressed to the point that doctors will
allow him to stand on the sideline, which is where he plans to
watch Sunday’s game against Kansas City (1-3).
Manning is not expected to play until at least November and
perhaps not until December, as the season winds down. The Colts
(0-4) have struggled without him behind Kerry Collins and Curtis
Painter.
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) – Hank Williams Jr. will no longer sing the
words “Are you ready for some football?” on Monday nights on
ESPN.
Each side claimed Thursday it had decided to part ways after
Williams’ tune opened “Monday Night Football” for more than two
decades. The network had pulled the intro for this week’s game
after the country singer used an analogy to Adolf Hitler in
discussing President Barack Obama on Fox News on Monday morning.
Williams issued a statement Monday night insisting his remarks
were misunderstood, then apologized Tuesday.
ESPN says: “We have decided to part ways with Hank Williams
Jr.” But in a statement to The Associated Press, Williams says: “I
have made MY decision. … Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends
are OUT OF HERE.”
PHOENIX (AP) – The Arizona Diamondbacks forced a decisive fifth
game in their NL division series by beating the visiting Brewers
10-6 last night in Phoenix. The two teams will decide the series
Friday night in Milwaukee.
ST. LOUIS (AP) – There will be a Game 5 in the
Cardinals-Phillies NL division series thanks to last night’s 5-3
home win by St. Louis. Philadelphia will host Friday’s decider.
NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Yankees host the Detroit Tigers for
Game 5 of their AL division series tonight in New York. The Texas
Rangers await the winner for a best-of-seven AL championship
series.
BOSTON (AP) – The NHL opens its 2011-12 season tonight with a
three-game schedule that includes both participants in the Stanley
Cup Finals. The Boston Bruins will raise a championship banner
ahead of their outing against visiting Philadelphia. Cup runner-up
Vancouver is home to Pittsburgh, and Montreal visits Toronto.
SAN MARTIN, Calif. (AP) – Tiger Woods returns to the PGA Tour at
this week’s Frys.com Open in northern California. The former No. 1,
who fell out of the top 50 this week for the first time since 1996,
is scheduled to tee it up for round one at 12:10 p.m. local time
(3:10 p.m. Eastern). It’s Woods’ first appearance since missing the
cut at the PGA Championship in August.