A-Rod admits wrongdoing...AP Basketball Polls...Vonn wins again

NEW YORK (AP) Alex Rodriguez has admitted on ESPN that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while playing for the Texas Rangers. He said he did so because of the pressures of being baseball's highest-paid player. His admission came two days after Sports Illustrated reported he'd tested positive for steroids in 2003, one of 104 players who tested positive during baseball's survey testing, which wasn't subject to discipline and was supposed to remain anonymous.

UNDATED (AP) Connecticut remains the top team in the weekly Associated Press Top-25 men's basketball poll. The Huskies, who are 22-and-1, have been the top team for two weeks in a row. Rounding out the top-5 are Oklahoma, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Louisville.

UNDATED (AP) Not even Tennessee coach Pat Summitt's 1,000th career victory could prevent the Lady Vols from dropping to their lowest Top 25 ranking in 23 years. In the new AP poll, The Vols fell three spots to No. 15 while Connecticut remained No. 1 for an 11th straight week. The rest of the top five teams are Oklahoma, California, Duke and Auburn.

VAL D'ISERE, France (AP) American Lindsey Vonn has struck gold once again. Less than a week after picking up her first gold medal in either a world championships or Olympics, Vonn finished first in a downhill race today at the World's in France. Her winning time was 1 minute, 30.31 seconds.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Guard Sasha Pavlovic (SAH'-shuh PAHV'-loh-vihch) of the Cleveland Cavaliers could miss up to six weeks with a sprained right ankle. He suffered a high ankle sprain at the end of the first quarter in yesterday's game against the Lakers. The 6-foot-7 Pavlovic is averaging 4.9 points and 16 minutes per game for the Cavs while filling in for injured starter Delonte West.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 02-09-09 1457CST | save this article / add to your favorites list