WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Thursday

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia's Roy Halladay was making just
his first postseason start yesterday, but he did a better job than
almost any pitcher ever to start in the postseason. By shutting out
the Reds 4-0 in Game 1 of the NLDS, the Phillies ace threw just the
second postseason no-hitter in baseball history and the first one
since Don Larsen's perfect game for the Yankees in the 1956 World
Series.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco was
out of the starting lineup for Game 1 of the NL division series
because of a sore back. Wilson Valdez played third and batted
eighth against the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. Manager Charlie
Manuel says Polanco felt stiff during a workout on Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Penguins officially open their brand-new
arena tonight when they take on the Flyers in the season opener for
both teams. With more than 18,000 seats, the Consol Energy Center
will make its debut hosting the Penguins' 167th consecutive sellout
crowd.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Penguins have assigned forward Eric
Tangradi to Wheeling of the ECHL, only hours after he skated on
their second line in practice. The Penguins did not explain why
they demoted Tangradi, who was expected to play on a line with
Evgeni Malkin and Mike Comrie during tonight's opener against
Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Flyers had the Stanley Cup in their
arena. They saw it hoisted, passed around, shaken in celebration -
and then packed on a plane headed toward Chicago. This season, the
Flyers want to be the team drinking from the Stanley Cup. Coach
Peter Laviolette says the team is ready to build off the unlikely
postseason run and contend all year.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Boston's Shaquille O'Neal scored eight
points in his debut with the Celtics and the defending Eastern
Conference champions opened their preseason with a 93-65 victory
over the 76ers last night. Thaddeus Young led the Sixers with 17.
Philadelphia coach Doug Collins gave Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala
the night off.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers players have voted to give
the NFL Players Association their backing to decertify the union in
the event of a labor lockout next year. The Steelers are at least
the 10th group of players to vote to decertify if necessary,
joining players from the Packers, Bengals, Bills, Colts, Cowboys,
Saints, Eagles, Redskins and Giants.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Beating Notre Dame for a third consecutive
season might be a lot easier for Pittsburgh if it had the Dion
Lewis of last season. Lewis, a returning 1,799-yard rusher, hasn't
lost his starting job - yet - even though Ray Graham is coming off
three consecutive 100-yard games and has outrushed Lewis 492-193.
Pitt takes on the Irish Saturday.


American League
Tampa Bay vs. Texas
Wednesday, Oct. 6
Texas 5, Tampa Bay 1, Texas leads series 1-0
Thursday, Oct. 7
Texas (Wilson 15-8) at Tampa Bay (Shields 13-15), 2:37 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9
Tampa Bay (Garza 15-10) at Texas (Lewis 12-13), 5:07 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10
Tampa Bay (Davis 12-10) at Texas (Hunter 13-4), 1:07 p.m., if
necessary
Tuesday, Oct. 12
Texas at Tampa Bay, 5:07 p.m. or 8:07 p.m., if necessary

Minnesota vs. New York
Wednesday, Oct. 6
New York 6, Minnesota 4, New York leads series 1-0
Thursday, Oct. 7
New York (Pettitte 11-3) at Minnesota (Pavano 17-11), 6:07 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9
Minnesota (Duensing 10-3) at New York (Hughes 18-8), 8:37 p.m
Sunday, Oct. 10
Minnesota (Blackburn 10-12) at New York (Sabathia 21-7), 8:07
p.m., if necessary
Tuesday, Oct. 12
New York at Minnesota, 8:37 p.m. or 8:07 p.m., if necessary

National League
Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati
Wednesday, Oct. 6
Philadelphia 4, Cincinnati 0, Philadelphia leads series 1-0
Friday, Oct. 8
Cincinnati (Arroyo 17-10) at Philadelphia (Oswalt 13-13), 6:07
p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10
Philadelphia (Hamels 12-11) at Cincinnati (Cueto 12-7), 7:07
p.m. or 8:07 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 11
Philadelphia at Cincinnati, 5:07 p.m. or 7:37 p.m., if
necessary
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 6:07 p.m. or 8:07 p.m., if necessary

San Francisco vs. Atlanta
Thursday, Oct. 7
Atlanta (Lowe 16-12) at San Francisco (Lincecum 16-10), 9:37
p.m.
Friday, Oct. 8
Atlanta (Hanson 10-11) at San Francisco (Cain 13-11), 9:37 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10
San Francisco (Sanchez 13-9) at Atlanta (Hudson 17-9), 4:37
p.m.
Monday, Oct. 11
San Francisco at Atlanta, 8:37 p.m. or 7:37 p.m., if necessary
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Atlanta at San Francisco, 9:37 p.m. or 8:07 p.m., if necessary

NHL
Thursday's Games
Carolina at Minnesota, 12 p.m.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Colorado, 10 p.m.
Calgary at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

NBA PRESEASON
Wednesday's Games
Minnesota 106, New York 100
Oklahoma City 97, Charlotte 93
Boston 93, Philadelphia 65
Memphis 87, Indiana 85
Toronto 129, Phoenix 78
Thursday's Games
Memphis at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Washington at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Boston at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Portland at Utah, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Sacramento, 10 p.m.