Sport Leak

The Detroit Pistons say three doctors have cleared Rodney Stuckey for exercise after a heart evaluation. Stuckey collapsed on the bench during Friday’s game at Cleveland and was taken away on a stretcher. He missed Sunday’s game against Houston and will be out again Wednesday against Utah. Stuckey missed two games last season after experiencing dizziness during a game.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams is acknowledging that he told several people he had tested positive for a banned diuretic before news of the test results leaked to the media in 2008. Just who leaked the test results for Williams and his teammate Pat Williams is an issue in this week’s trial of the players’ lawsuit against the NFL.

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores is likely to begin the season on the disabled list because his surgically repaired shoulder has been slow to heal. Washington is sending Flores to Birmingham, Alabama, to have Dr. James Andrews take another look at his right shoulder. Manager Jim Riggleman said Wednesday he expects Flores to spend at least 10 days away from the club.

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to a three-year contract with Will Witherspoon as they revamp their linebacking corps. The $11 million deal was announced Wednesday. General manager Mike Reinfeldt says Witherspoon likely will play outside linebacker. Tennessee’s two outside linebackers from 2009 were David Thornton, recovering from shoulder and pectoral surgery, and Keith Bulluck, an…

Former Browns quarterback Derek Anderson has apologized after saying Cleveland fans “don’t deserve a winner” following his release. Anderson was let go by the club Tuesday, ending an uneven five-year stint with the Browns. In an e-mail to The (Willoughby) News-Herald after his release, Anderson wrote he will never forget that Browns fans cheered when he was injured on the field.

Nomar Garciaparra has retired as a member of the Boston Red Sox. The 1997 American League MVP signed a one-day contract with his former team Wednesday, then announced he’s ending his 14-year career. Garciaparra will become an analyst for ESPN. “From the first day I had the thrill of putting on a Red Sox uniform and playing in front of all the great fans at Fenway Park, I have felt at home…

NHL general managers have developed the framework for a new rule that punishes hits to the head. The action comes as the league’s 30 GMs wrap up three days of meetings. The new rule would allow referees to assess a minor or major penalty for blindside hits targeting the head. The penalty must be approved by the competition committee and has not yet been given a specific name.

Alex Rodriguez says his lawyers are setting up an interview with federal authorities as part of an investigation into a Canadian doctor who is the focus of a cross-border drug smuggling case involving human growth hormone. The Yankee slugger would like the interview to be in Tampa so his spring training will not be disrupted, although the site is under discussion.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have known for quite some time that they likely won’t return to the playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks are starting to realize a similar predicament. Jakub Voracek scored the first of Columbus’ three power-play goals and had two assists, leading the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory over the fading Ducks on Tuesday night.

Kobe Bryant hit a 17-foot fallaway jumper with 1.9 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to snap their three-game losing streak with a 109-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. Chris Bosh hit a 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left to tie it for the Raptors, who outplayed the defending champions for most of the first three quarters before losing on…