If Kyle Busch appeared “vulnerable” in recent weeks to some of his fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors, the aura of invincibility returned to the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on Sunday at Watkins Glen International. Read the full story at NASCAR.com
The younger of the Busch brothers, Kyle has easily shown that he not only belongs among the top names in NASCAR, but that he’s a driver to be reckoned with. Doubters have tried to point out Kyle’s weaknesses, including that he hadn’t won any road courses before. …

Football News from NFL.com
The Carolina Panthers have returned to training camp without top receiver Steve Smith, who sustained a concussion in the preseason opener.
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Kinda serves him right I guess, after attacking teammate Ken Lucas during training camp. Smith will start serving a 2-game suspension to start the season; his financial penalty for the fight.
I don’t wish harm on anybody and concussions are certainly nothing to make light of. That said, it’s quite ironic that Smith would suffer a damaging injury in the 1st preseason game …

Football News from NFL.com
First running back Ryan Grant held out. Now he’s held up, this time by a nagging hamstring injury that’s costing him valuable practice time.  Continue reading on NFL.com
This injury should not keep Ryan Grant from performing during the regular season for the Green Bay Packers, so feel free to draft him in your fantasy football league.  Grant was a pretty big surprise last year, but won’t catch anyone off guard this time around.  Defenses will be focused on him, especially since Aaron Rodgers has limited experience in …

Fantasy football news from Fantasy Football Daily Tips
This is the deepest group of quality wide receiver’s in a long time. Its so deep that you can get a guy like Plaxico Burress or Chad Johnson in the fourth round of your draft. Here are my top 10 fantasy football wide receiver’s for 2008.

Randy Moss – Set a record with 23 TD’s last year. Should be the top WR again in 2008.
Terrell Owens – Lots of dropped passes, but 15 touchdowns make up for it.
Reggie Wayne – Consistent production as the …

FoxSports.com ran a story today about the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball, but it’s unclear how they came up w/ their list.
As evidenced below, their rankings don’t quite match up w/ how well each player has actually performed. Total home runs is certainly a valid metric to consider, but At-bats per HR would seem to be the most accurate gauge of who the best MLB home run hitter is thru 8/7/08.
Below is a list of the players that FoxSports ranked as the Top 18 Home Run …

Fantasy football news from Fantasy Football Daily Tips
Scott Engel has written a nice article outlining a strategy for every pick in the first round. Here are his top ideal picks and top alternative picks. Clearly Engel is very high on the QB position with Tom Brady as an ideal #2 and Peyton Manning as an ideal #5. Engel also ranks Steven Jackson over the red hot Adrian Peterson, and drops Westbrook down to #7, even though he was the second highest scoring RB in my league last year. Do you …

Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Inc. principals Max Siegel and John Story appeared at the Watkins Glen International media center to confirm what had been reported earlier in the week — that Truex will drive the No. 1 DEI Chevrolet next season with continued sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops. Read the full story at NASCAR.com
This is great news for DEI, who was at risk of losing Truex Jr. to a higher bidding NASCAR team. The season has already featured several top drivers moving to different teams or being …

Baseball News from L.A. Times
Angels pound out 17 hits, including four each by Torii Hunter and Howie Kendrick, in 10-5 victory. Jered Weaver gets his 10th win.
A trio of New York Yankees pitchers probably knew how Reggie Willits felt Friday night.
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Hockey News from NHL.com
CHICAGO – The Chicago Blackhawks signed Pascal Pelletier to a one-year contract Friday.
The 25-year-old centre came to the Blackhawks from the Boston Bruins in a July 24 trade for centre Martin St. Pierre. Pelletier played in six games l…
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Football News from NFL.com
Brian Westbrook and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a new contract on Friday, hours before the team opened its preseason schedule against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Baseball News from L.A. Times
Commissioner Bud Selig’s office says there were follow-up questions but no formal investigation of the last-minute deal that changed the terms of Manny Ramirez‘s contract.
The baseball commissioner’s office has not launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Manny Ramirez trade and does not plan to take action against any party in the deal, his spokesman said today.
Continue reading on L.A. …

Fantasy football news from Fantasy Football Daily Tips
Looking for the best fantasy football defense to draft for you team in 2008? Check out this free fantasy football defense report and adjust your draft sheet accordingly.

Minnesota Vikings – Dr. Z of SI has picked Minnesota to win it all. With this defense they have a shot….but are they too old?
San Diego Chargers – 30 interceptions as a team in 2007.
Seattle Seahawks – 34 total team turnovers forced in 2007.
Green Bay Packers – Athletic linebackers should wreak havoc in the NFC central …

Brett Favre has been rumored to be going to either Tampa Bay or NY for a couple of weeks now, but it’s official – Favre is now a member of the New York Jets.
Chad Pennington Released
With Favre’s arrival in NY, the Jets wasted no time in releasing Chad Pennington, who has struggled with injuries his whole career. With Brett Favre’s $12 million contract entering the books, New York could no longer afford Pennington’s contract.

Brett Favre Joins New York Jets – 8/7/08
Favre will step in almost immediately, although he did …

Hockey News from NHL.com
MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens signed minor-league defenceman Chad Anderson to a one-year contract, the club announced Wednesday.
Anderson, a 26-year-old free agent, signed a two-way contract and will likely play for the Hamilton Bulldogs…
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Football News from NFL.com
The mood was melancholy Wednesday at Broncos training camp,when rookie Ryan Torain, a fifth-round draft pick out of Arizona State, broke a bone in his elbow during 9-on-7 drills.
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