Five suspended after brawl Web-posted 5/15/97   NEW YORK - In the harshest punishment in NBA playoff history, five New York Knicks, including three starters, and P.J. Brown of the Miami Heat were suspended Thursday for a bench-clearing brawl.

Woods chasing Furyk Web-posted 5/16/97   IRVING, Texas - There was electricity in the air when Tiger Woods returned to the PGA Tour and he provided a jolt of his own with a 6-under-par 64, one stroke off Jim Furyk's lead in the GTE Byron Nelson Classic.

GreenJackets hold Columbus to one run, win 8-1 Web-posted 5/15/97   Funny how the roads of Jason Haynie and Ryan Halla have been known to cross from time to time.

Bobby Cox back where he was a hard-hitting schoolboy Web-posted 5/15/97   ATLANTA - The fertile ground of California's San Joaquin Valley produces more than cotton and grapes. It's also a baseball hotbed and it has been for decades.

Stevens to ride Silver Charm in Preakness, but says Touch Gold's got the touch, too Web-posted 5/15/97   BALTIMORE - Gary Stevens thinks Touch Gold is one of the two best 3-year-olds he's ridden this year, but he won't ride him Saturday in the Preakness.

4,000 All-Star tickets available through mail lottery Web-posted 5/15/97   CLEVELAND (AP) - Some 4,000 tickets available to the public for the July 8 All-Star game will be distributed through a postal lottery, the Cleveland Indians announced Thursday.

Johnson settling in as Georgia Southern football coach Web-posted 5/15/97   Six months into his new job, Paul Johnson is settling into the role quite nicely. He has yet to lose a game as Georgia Southern's head football coach. His team made it through his first spring practice without incident or serious injury. And having spent four years as an Eagles assistant (1983-86), he's got more than enough Erk Russell stories to keep the boosters happy on the banquet circuit.

South Carolina prep squads in title battles Web-posted 5/15/97   It's an exciting day for area South Carolina baseball and softball teams. Three area squads will compete in state semifinal games, one school will try to win a private school state title and a fifth area squad is attempting to advance to a softball championship

Will the real Jim Shanks stand up? Web-posted 5/15/97   Who is the real James Shanks? Is he really the changed young man he swears to be, a misguided soul who beat down the demons in his life and finally found the straight path? A kid reborn, seizing a rare chance at redemption?

Slaney investigated for drug use at Olympic trials Web-posted 5/15/97   NEW YORK (AP) - The star-crossed career of Mary Slaney took another strange twist Thursday when her lawyer confirmed that the most prominent distance runner in U.S. history was being investigated for possible drug use at the Olympic trials.

Drivers revved up for annual all-star event Web-posted 5/15/97   CONCORD, N.C. (AP) - It's that time of year when Winston Cup officials put up $1.2 million at Charlotte Motor Speedway and then get out of the way so stock car racing's top drivers can spend about 40 minutes chasing it.

Security in place for Dixie Crystals Grand Prix Web-posted 5/15/97   SAVANNAH, Ga. - The large crowd expected for this weekend's Dixie Crystals Grand Prix on Hutchinson Island is nothing new for a city that faces hordes of people every St. Patrick's Day and has hosted Olympic yachting.