Cavaliers lose Ilgauskas to ankle injury
CLEVELAND, April 4 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday lost center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who sprained his ankle in the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Cavaliers also got back guard Larry Hughes on Tuesday.
Hughes had been out of the Cavaliers lineup since undergoing surgery on his finger in early January. The guard was averaging 16.2 points and 3.9 assists in 28 games before the injury.
Ilgauskas got caught up with 76ers center Samuel Dalembert and landed badly on his left foot with 9:34 to play in the opening frame of Tuesday night's game.
Ilgauskas, who has a long history of leg problems, fell to the ground writhing in pain, but walked off under his own power.
Cleveland has already clinched its first playoff berth since 1998.
Croom disciplines six football players
STARKVILLE, Miss., April 4 (UPI) -- Mississippi State football Coach Sylvester Croom said Tuesday that disciplinary action will be taken against six members of the 2006 Bulldog football team.
The six were arrested on assault charges stemming from an incident at Level III, a facility in downtown Starkville, on Saturday.
Four of the players are sophomores -- defensive backs Keith Fitzhugh and Derek Pegues, offensive lineman Michael Gates, and defensive lineman Charles Burns -- and two redshirt freshmen -- defensive lineman Quinton Wesley and quarterback Tray Rutland.
Croom said all six players would be suspended indefinitely from the team. He also said that the six players would face an 11 p.m. curfew through the end of the spring semester and be required to participate in on-campus sensitivity counseling and training. Pending the outcome of the judicial process, further action could take place.
"It is my intent to discipline our players as if they were my own son, my own flesh and blood," said Croom.
Dodgers place Garciaparra on disabled list
LOS ANGELES, April 4 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained ribcage muscle.
The injury, on his right side, has delayed Garciaparra's regular-season debut with the Dodgers.
Garciaparra, 32, signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles, which also signed shortstop Rafael Furcal in the offseason. With Furcal on hand, Garciaparra switched from shortstop, where he is a former All-Star, to first base.
He suffered the muscle strain late in spring training and did not play in Monday's 11-10 Opening Day loss to Atlanta.
Garciaparra played in only 62 games for the Chicago Cubs last year because of a left groin injury and hit .283 with nine homers and 30 runs batted in. He missed half of the 2004 season with various injuries.
Garciaparra spent eight-plus seasons in Boston and owns a career .320
Texans sign former Lions LB Wali Rainer
HOUSTON, April 4 (UPI) -- The Houston Texans on Tuesday signed former Detroit and unrestricted free agent linebacker Wali Rainer.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Rainer played in all 16 games for the Lions last season. He started five of those games.
A fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 1999, Rainer has played in 110 career games (64 starts) in stints with Cleveland, Jacksonville and Detroit. He has 690 tackles, four sacks and an interception.
The Texans also signed wide receiver/kick returner Jake Schifino. In 14 career games, all with Tennessee, Schifino averaged 20.1 yards on 35 kick returns.
