Wife of ex-Brave Andruw Jones files for divorce

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — The wife of former Atlanta Braves star Andruw Jones filed for divorce about a week after she accused him of grabbing her neck and saying he wanted to kill her, according to a court document.Nicole Jones said their 10-year marriage is "irretrievably broken," according to the divorce complaint filed in a suburban Atlanta court Monday. The filing does not mention a Christmas...

Read More..

Ray Lewis to retire after playoffs

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Ray Lewis spent 17 seasons instilling fear in his opponents while serving as an inspirational leader for the Baltimore Ravens.Now he's poised and eager to become a full-time dad.Lewis announced Wednesday he will end his brilliant NFL career after the Ravens complete their 2013 playoff run.Lewis has been sidelined since Oct. 14 with a torn right triceps. The 13-time Pro Bowl...

Read More..

Playoff picks: Packers a good bet this time

Six days after Adrian Peterson blistered them for nearly 200 yards and helped lift his team to a stunning playoff berth, the Green Bay Packers get another taste of "A.D."This time, they will deal with "All Day" Peterson at Lambeau Field. And in the playoffs.The stakes are similar to last week for the Vikings, who would have been out of the playoffs had they lost to Green Bay, which already owned the...

Read More..

Ravens linebacker Lewis to retire at end of season

 Baltimore Ravens' linebacker Ray Lewis, a 13-time Pro Bowler and one of the NFL's most ferocious defensive players, announced on Wednesday he was retiring after this season's playoffs."This will be my last ride," Lewis, 37, said in a statement.The AFC North champion Ravens are hosting the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in the opening round of the playoffs, but it was not yet certain Lewis would...

Read More..

Puerto Rico sees hints of baseball revival

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — On an island where the name of Roberto Clemente is emblazoned on stadiums, streets and schools, baseball is making a rally.In the past year, Major League Baseball reported the second-highest number of signings from Puerto Rico since 2000. The U.S. territory also has seen the opening of new baseball academies and an expansion of its winter league teams, whose tournament...

Read More..

Iran warns foreign planes near Strait of Hormuz

Iran's navy issued dozens of warnings to foreign planes and warships that approached its forces during a five-day sea maneuver near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a semi-official news agency reported Tuesday.Mehr quoted Adm. Amir Rastgari, spokesman for the exercise, as saying that naval and air defense forces on 30 occasions warned off reconnaissance planes, drones and warships belonging to "extraregional...

Read More..

Saudis flee dry kingdom to Bahrain for New Year

 Residents of Saudi Arabia, where booze and New Year's celebrations are banned, flooded into neighboring Bahrain in search of festivities to ring in 2013.More than 80,000 cars crossed a causeway over the Gulf to Bahrain Monday night to celebrate New Year's Eve, the Saudi newspaper Al-Youm reported on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia adheres to a strict interpretation of Islam and bans alcohol as well as...

Read More..

Iraqi Shiite cleric lends support to Sunni protest

 A top anti-American Shiite cleric lent support Tuesday to Sunni protesters who have been rallying against Iraq's Shiite-dominated central government, increasing pressure on the leadership in Baghdad.Hard-line religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr told reporters in the Shiite holy city of Najaf that the demonstrators have the right to protest as long as they are peaceful. He stopped short of calling...

Read More..

Heavy clashes in suburbs of Syrian capital

 Activists and state media are reporting heavy clashes and shelling in suburbs of the Syrian capital of Damascus and other parts of the country.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says some of the heaviest fighting is taking place in the Damascus suburb of Daraya.The fighting showed rebel strength in the area of capital as the 22-month civil war drags on.The Observatory and...

Read More..

Clashes near Syrian capital, Aleppo airport closed

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops and rebels fought Tuesday in suburbs of Damascus as well as near Aleppo's airport, stopping all flights in and out of the northern city, activists and state media said.The intense fighting underlined the rebels' tenacity in the capital and around Aleppo, Syria's largest city, but also the determination of the Bashar Assad regime to carry on fighting. Activists say more...

Read More..