AP Sports

Mauer near-unanimous pick as American League MVP
NEW YORK (AP) -- Joe Mauer became only the second catcher in 33 years to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award, finishing first in a near-unanimous vote Monday. The Minnesota Twins star received 27 of 28 first-place votes and 387 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America....

Kansas still No. 1 in AP poll; Syracuse No. 10
Syracuse was so impressive in the 2K Sports Classic that it made one of the best entrances ever into The Associated Press' college basketball poll....

San Diego State cracks Top 25; UConn still No. 1
San Diego State cracked the AP women's basketball Top 25 for the first time in 14 years, while Connecticut remained a unanimous No. 1 for the 18th consecutive poll....

Florida's Meyer: Notre Dame not a coaching option
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Standing behind the same podium where quarterback Tim Tebow delivered his now-famous promise 14 months and 21 wins ago, coach Urban Meyer vowed Monday to be at Florida "as long as they'll have me."...

Foul! Study says hoop refs try to even the score
They don't all need glasses. But if you always suspected basketball referees are biased - well, you're right, according to a couple of professors who've studied the matter....

Rafael Nadal again loses to Robin Soderling
LONDON (AP) -- Rafael Nadal lost to Robin Soderling for the second straight time, falling 6-4, 6-4 Monday in their opening round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals....

Man pleads not guilty in ESPN reporter videos case
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An Illinois insurance executive accused of secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews pleaded not guilty Monday to interstate stalking....

Cincy QB Pike expected to start against Illinois
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Barring a problem in practice, quarterback Tony Pike will start for fifth-ranked Cincinnati against Illinois on Friday....

Redskins' RB Betts, G Rinehart out for the season
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Running back Ladell Betts and guard Chad Rinehart are done for the season for the battered Washington Redskins....

McPherson leads heading into LPGA final round
RICHMOND, Texas (AP) -- The sky cleared and Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin were left with one day to settle their duel for LPGA Tour player of the year....