BALTIMORE, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Brian Billick, who took the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl XXXV title and coached the team for nine seasons, has been fired.
ADELAIDE, Australia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Three seeded players, including No. 4 Gilles Simon, were ousted Monday in first-round play at the Next Generation Adelaide tennis tournament in Australia.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Ashley Harkleroad routed eighth-seeded Emilie Loit Monday in first-round play of the $145,000 ASB Classic tennis tournament in New Zealand.
GOLD COAST, Australia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Dinara Safina opened defense of her Australian Women's Hardcourts title by rallying Monday for a three-set victory.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined for 74 points and 26 rebounds Sunday night in a 110-91 romp over the Los Angeles Lakers.
SHREVEPORT, La., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- John Parker Wilson passed for three touchdowns and 256 yards Sunday and Alabama beat Colorado 30-24 in the Independence Bowl.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Rob Bironas kicked three field goals Sunday to lead the Tennessee Titans to a 16-10 win over Indianapolis and a wild-card spot in the AFC playoffs.
SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan's 24 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists Sunday led San Antonio in a 111-87 pounding of the Memphis Grizzlies.
NFL wild-card match-ups set … Reports: Levy stepping down as Bills' GM … McFadden says he will play Tuesday … Marbury misses another Knicks game … Pitt loses star guard to foot injury … Sports news from United Press International.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The NFL playoffs wild-card match-ups are set, with Washington securing the final NFC spot and Tennessee gaining an AFC berth in Sunday's season finales.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Tyler Hansbrough scored 23 points Sunday to lead top-ranked North Carolina to a 90-58 victory over unranked Valparaiso.
DENVER, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Jason Elam's 30-yard field goal in overtime Sunday gave the Denver Broncos a 22-19 victory over Minnesota and eliminated the Vikings from playoff contention.
GLENDALE, Ariz., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Kurt Warner passed for 300 yards and three touchdowns Sunday in the Arizona Cardinals' 48-19 crushing defeat of the St. Louis Rams.
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Philip Rivers completed 13 of 23 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns Sunday to lead the San Diego Chargers to a 30-17 win against the Oakland Raiders.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Mike Nugent's 43-yard field goal in overtime Sunday gave the New York Jets a 13-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
A one-of-a-kind 8 x 4 foot portrait of Marilyn Monroe made from 2,100 bite sized stuffed cupcakes stands in the lobby next to her wax figure on the eve of Marilyn Monroe's 86th birthday at Madame Tussauds in New York City on May 31, 2012. UPI/John Angelillo
