Detroit vs. Pittsburgh for Stanley Cup
DETROIT, May 23 (UPI) -- The Detroit Red Wings and their hot goaltender are set to meet the Pittsburgh Penguins and their young superstar Saturday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
For the first time since they won the NHL title in 2002, the Red Wings will be playing for the oldest trophy in team sports. Detroit has produced the largest regular-season point total in the league three times in the last five years and was No. 1 again this season.
That gives the Red Wings home-ice advantage against the Penguins, who will turn loose Sidney Crosby in his first championship series. The 20-year-old Crosby is tied with Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg for the most points in this year's playoffs with 21.
To win their first Stanley Cup in 16 years, the Penguins must deal with Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood.
Four games deep in the playoffs, with Detroit tied in its opening-round series with Nashville, Osgood replaced Dominik Hasek. Since then, Osgood has posted a 10-2 record with a .931 save percentage.
Detroit's Johan Franzen, who has missed the last five games with concussion-like symptoms, has been cleared to resume practice but has been ruled out of Game 1. He has scored 12 playoff goals this year.
Hot putter gives Mickelson Colonial lead
FORT WORTH, Texas, May 23 (UPI) -- Phil Mickelson, fueled by what he said was his best day of putting in 2008, took a one-shot lead Friday at the midway point of the Colonial Invitation in Texas.
Mickelson, who won this tournament in 2000, shot a 68 on another windy day at the Colonial Country Club for a 36-hole total of 7-under 133. It is the 27th time Mickelson has led a tournament after two rounds and he has won four of the last five times he has done so.
First-round leader Johnson Wagner shot a 71 and shared second place at 134 with Brian Gay and Matt Kuchar, whose 64 was the low round of the day.
Those at 135 included Brian Bateman, Stephen Ames, Steve Lowery, Kevin Sutherland and Vaughn Taylor.
"The best putting round I had all year," Mickelson said. "I had par putts on three, four and five to keep the round going."
Scott Verplank, Jim Furyk and defending champion Rory Sabbatini were among those missing the cut, which came at 142.
Braves extend Bobby Cox deal for 1 year
ATLANTA, May 23 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Braves Friday signed their 67-year-old manager, Bobby Cox, to a one-year contract extension.
Cox, a four-time manager of the year, is the winningest skipper in franchise history. In 27 managerial seasons, 23 in Atlanta, his 2,281 career wins places Cox fourth on the all-time wins list, and second among active managers behind the St. Louis Cardinals' Tony La Russa.
"Bobby and I have been talking about this for several months," Braves Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren said on the team's Web site. "We are excited that Bobby, one of the most respected managers in all of baseball, will again be managing our club in 2009."
Cox spent four seasons managing Toronto (1982-85). He and Hall of Famer Joe McCarthy are the only two managers in Major League Baseball history to win 100 games in a season six times.
Tiger Woods not ready to return
DUBLIN, Ohio, May 23 (UPI) -- The deadline for entering next week's Memorial Tournament came and went Friday without Tiger Woods submitting his name as a contestant.
Woods had hoped to make the Memorial his first appearance following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee April 15.
A statement released by his agent Mark Steinberg said Woods had been "looking forward to playing at the Memorial. But unfortunately, the timing of his recovery will not allow him to do so."
Woods plans to return to action at the U.S. Open, to be played June 5-8 at Torrey Pines in San Diego. He has not played since coming up short to Trevor Immelman at the Masters.
