While the NHL and the players' association are keeping the lines of communication open, they don't seem to be moving any closer to getting back to the bargaining table. For the second straight day, representatives on both sides of the lockout had telephone conversations yesterday. "We had a conference call today to answer some of their questions," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press in an email yesterday. "No bargaining. And no bargaining meetings scheduled." The lockout entered its 36th day yesterday. On Friday, the NHL canceled all games through Nov. 1. The league said in its most recent proposal to the players that a deal must be reached by Thursday for the season to start on Nov. 2 and for each team to play a complete 82-game season. (AP )
Duke takes over 1st place in ACC CoastalIt's not a misprint. That really is Duke atop the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division in football. The Blue Devils' last-minute win over rival North Carolina sets up a meeting of division leaders this week when they visit No. 11 Florida State. Duke's 33-30 victory on Saturday, plus losses by Miami and Virginia Tech, made the Blue Devils (6-2, 3-1 ) the division's only team with one conference loss. It also marked the latest step forward in coach David Cutcliffe's massive reconstruction project at what for years had been one of the biggest laughingstocks in the Bowl Subdivision. Since Duke made its last bowl trip and had its last winning season in 1994, the Blue Devils went winless four times. (AP )
Japanese teen pitching phenom opting for MLBJapanese high school pitcher Shohei Otani says he will pursue a career in Major League Baseball instead of turning professional in Japan. Otani, a 6-foot-4 right-hander who has thrown a fastball between 99 and 100 mph, has been scouted by several major league teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. The 18-year-old Otani said, "I think I will start in the minor leagues but I want to challenge in the majors. It's been my dream since entering high school." If he signs with a major league team, Otani would become the first potential top draft pick to make the direct jump from a Japanese high school to the U.S. (AP )
