AP source: Armstrong ‘sorry’ to Livestrong staff
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says Lance Armstrong has apologized to the staff at his Livestrong cancer foundation. He did so before heading to an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the discussion was private.
Armstrong addressed the staff Monday and said, “I’m sorry.” The person said the disgraced cyclist choked up and several employees cried during the session.
The person also said Armstrong apologized for letting the staff down and putting Livestrong at risk but he did not make a direct confession to the group about using banned drugs. He said he would try to restore the foundation’s reputation.
Armstrong urged the group to continue fighting for the charity’s mission of helping cancer patients and their families. After the meeting, Armstrong, his legal team and close advisers gathered at a downtown Austin hotel for the interview.
Four teams left
UNDATED (AP) — One game is a rematch. The other might feel like one — at least to one of the teams.
For the second straight year in the AFC, the New England Patriots will host the Baltimore Ravens with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
In the NFC title game, San Francisco will travel to Atlanta, with the Falcons defense trying to stop a versatile, running quarterback for the second straight week.
The 49ers also made it to the NFC title game last year, losing to the Giants. Atlanta is the only team not making a repeat appearance in the NFL’s final four.
Yesterday, the Falcons barely got past Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, who overcame a 20-point deficit to take a one-point lead, but gave it up after Matt Ryan drove Atlanta into field goal range and Matt Bryant made a 49-yard kick with 8 seconds left for a 30-28 win.
Colin Kaepernick passed for 263 yards and rushed for 181 — a playoff record for a quarterback — in San Francisco’s 45-31 victory over Green Bay Saturday.
The Ravens advanced when Justin Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal 1:42 into the second overtime Saturday, ending the NFL’s longest game in 26 years and giving the Ravens a 38-35 win over the Denver Broncos. The win postponed Ray Lewis’ retirement at least one more game and ended Peyton Manning’s sensational comeback season with the Broncos.
New England advanced to the AFC championship when Tom Brady threw for three touchdowns yesterday to beat Houston 41-28 and become the winningest quarterback in postseason play. The Patriots’ win didn’t come without a cost. Tight end Rob Gronkowski was injured on the Patriots’ eighth offensive play and needs surgery on his broken left arm, according to a person with knowledge of the injury. He previously missed five regular-season games and is done for the playoffs.
NBA-PREVIEW
Eight games tonight
UNDATED (AP) — In the NBA tonight, The Los Angeles Clippers are in Memphis, trying to forget an embarrassing loss Saturday at home against the lowly Orlando Magic. The Clippers will also try to avoid a season-high-tying third straight road loss. They dropped their last two outside Los Angeles by 14 and 21 points. The Grizzlies lost Saturday in Dallas.
— The Miami Heat have lost two of three on their recent road trip. Tonight, they are in Utah to play the Jazz. After losing the first two on the road, the Heat won in Sacramento Saturday. The Jazz are going for their fourth win in the last five games.
— The Phoenix Suns just snapped a 12-game road losing streak and they are hoping to keep that momentum going at home. It won’t be easy. Tonight’s opponent is the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns won at Chicago Saturday. The Thunder are coming off a victory on the road Friday against the Lakers.
— The Chicago Bulls have lost two in a row at home and tonight, they host the Atlanta Hawks. After winning 20 of their first 30 games, the Hawks are mired in their worst stretch of the season. They lost for the fifth time in six games Saturday to the league’s worst team, the Washington Wizards.
Also tonight, Charlotte is at Boston, Orlando visits Washington, Minnesota travels to Dallas and Cleveland is at Sacramento.
Louisville moves to No. 1 ranking in AP poll
Louisville, taking advantage of weekend losses by Duke and Michigan, is No. 1 in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll.
This is just the second time the Cardinals have the top ranking. They were No. 1 in the final poll of the 2008-09 season.
Louisville (15-1) moved up from No. 3. The Cardinals have won 10 straight games since losing to Duke in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
In a poll with five teams receiving first-place votes, Louisville was No. 1 on 36 ballots from the 65-member national media panel Monday. Indiana, which jumped from fifth to No. 2, drew 13 first-place votes. Duke, which dropped two spots to third, had 14.
No. 4 Kansas and No. 5 Michigan, which had been second, each got one first-place vote.
Oregon, VCU, UCLA and Marquette joined the poll this week.