Reuters Sports Summary

Reuters Wednesday, January 16, 2008; 8:18 AM
Baseball tells Congress it's nearing steroids accord
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell told Congress on Tuesday that Major League Baseball's players and owners must come together "in a well-planned, well-executed and sustained effort" to remove steroids from the national pastime. In reply, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said that he may be able to reach an agreement with the players' union within the next few months on Mitchell's call for independent testing of players for banned drugs.
Surging Hawks clinch win over depleted Nuggets
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Atlanta Hawks built a 25-point second half lead and held off the short-handed Denver Nuggets to record a 104-93 home victory on Tuesday, with Joe Johnson scoring 22 points. The Nuggets played the game a day after team mate Nene underwent surgery to remove a testicular tumor and were without Kenyon Martin, who was suffering from a staphylococcus infection.
Pride follows first-ball trauma for Okajima
TOKYO (Reuters) - For a player whose first pitch in Major League Baseball was smashed out of the ballpark, Boston's Hideki Okajima has a lot to smile about. The Red Sox relief pitcher still winces about his rude introduction to the majors in 2007 but he still had the last laugh, ending the season with a World Series title.
Capitals rally to complete season sweep of Senators
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Capitals rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, the home team completing a four-game season-series sweep of the Eastern Conference leaders. The Senators are 29-8-4 against every other team in the NHL but were swept by Washington for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
Tennessee fires offensive coordinator Chow
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tennessee fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow on Tuesday after the Titans struggled through the season with the NFL's 21st-ranked offense. The 62-year-old was let go after his offense totaled just nine touchdown passes this season. The Titans made the playoffs for the first time since 2003 but lst in the first round to the San Diego Chargers.
Normal service resumes after tennis ruckus
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Police defended their use of pepper spray on rowdy tennis fans and the sport's big guns kept on blasting at Melbourne Park as the Australian Open got back on track on Wednesday. As the fallout of Tuesday night's crowd trouble settled, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova all blasted their way into the third round of the year's opening grand slam, helping to refocus attention back on the tennis.
Denver's Nene undergoes surgery to remove tumor
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Denver Nuggets forward Nene has undergone successful surgery to remove a testicular tumor, the team said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Brazilian was granted an indefinite leave of absence from the team last Friday after a mass was discovered during an examination.
Iraq Paralympians take peace message to Beijing
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Fakher al-Jamali has lost nine athletes, referees and coaches to suicide bombs and gunfire by radical Islamists and U.S. soldiers. Their deaths make the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing more than a sporting event for him.
Hossa hat-trick helps Atlanta thrash Detroit 5-1
DETROIT (Reuters) - The Atlanta Thrashers crushed the NHL-leading Detroit Red Wings 5-1 on Tuesday to record their first win in Joe Louis Arena and move atop the Southeast division standings. Marian Hossa notched his seventh career hat-trick, stealing the spotlight from NHL goal-scoring leader Ilya Kovalchuk. Hossa potted the game's first three goals while Kari Lehtonen sparkled in the Atlanta net, stopping 46 shots.
Waffle serving a distant memory for Tour rookie Johnson
PALM DESERT, California (Reuters) - A little more than a decade after grudgingly serving breakfast to former world number one David Duval in an Augusta restaurant, Britain's Richard Johnson has finally established himself on the PGA Tour. The 35-year-old earned full playing privileges on the world's most lucrative circuit by leading the 2007 Nationwide Tour money list and will launch his 2008 campaign at this week's Bob Hope Classic.