National

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been cleared to resume practicing less than a month after a deflected shot fractured his jaw, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

A determined Derek Jeter vowed that he will return to the field in 2013.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake is out indefinitely after an ultrasound taken Thursday confirmed a moderate strain of his right hamstring.

All-American forward Doug McDermott will return to Creighton for his senior season, he announced Thursday.

Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix has said his team plans to pick a quarterback in this year's draft and he kept consistent with that message Thursday in an interview with WGR 550-AM in Buffalo.

- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced on Thursday.

Matt Kenseth says the penalties NASCAR levied against his Sprint Cup team and Joe Gibbs Racing were "grossly unfair'" and "borderline shameful."

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he planned to limit Kevin Garnet activity during Thursday's practice with the goal of having him on the floor for Friday's Game 3 of an Eastern Conference first-round series against the New York Knicks.

The National Association of Sports Commissions today announced its annual award winners during the closing ceremonies at the NASC Symposium in Louisville, honoring 10 members for their outstanding initiatives in the  sports events industry over the last 12 months. 

“Each year, the National Association of Sports Commissions recognizes its members for their outstanding service to the sports event industry and creativity in doing so,” said Mike Anderson, Director of Sports, Visit Charlotte, and NASC Awards Committee Chair. “On behalf of the NASC, I want to congratulate all of the 10 honored organizations for their industry leading efforts.”

Award winners include:

Outstanding Marketing Campaign 

Under $200,000: Lorain County Visitors Bureau

$200,000 and Above: Detroit Sports

Outstanding Locally Created Event

Under $200,000: Bloomington-Normal Area Sports Commission

$200,000 and Above: Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission

Outstanding Online Presence

Under $200,000: Butler County Visitors Bureau

$200,000 and Above: Greater Columbus Sports Commission

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Member of the Year

Under $200,000: Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau

$200,000 and Above:  Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sports Commission Member of the Year

Under $200,000: Ames Area Sports Commission

$200,000 and Above: St. Louis Sports Commission

The decision on which player the Chiefs will pick at No. 1 has been made, with general manager John Dorsey telling ESPN that he and coach Andy Reid are in 100 percent agreement.

Marcus Lattimore will be in Atlanta with his representatives the next few days waiting to find out when or if he will get selected in the draft that starts Thursday night.

Tony Parker had 28 points and seven assists and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 102-91 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Paul George followed his triple-double by scoring a playoff career-high 27 points to lead Indiana past Atlanta 113-98 on Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each scored 29 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder recovered after squandering a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 105-102 on Wednesday night and take a 2-0 series lead.

Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders beat out reigning NFL MVP Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings to land the coveted cover of "Madden NFL 25."

Penn State sophomore quarterback Steven Bench will transfer after competing for the vacant starting job this spring, the team announced Wednesday.

Denny Hamlin hasn't been cleared to race at his home track in Richmond as he had hoped.

Yadier Molina hit a two-run single off Stephen Strasburg during St. Louis' three-run first inning, and the Cardinals beat the Nationals 4-2 to complete a sweep and give Washington's All-Star ace the only four-start losing streak of his young career.

C.J. Fair announced that he will return to Syracuse for his senior season, claiming he made his decision not based just on what people told him but on what he believed.

Mike Shanahan is adjusting his gut when it comes to Robert Griffin III.