Sports

PHOENIX - Despite rampant speculation that Mike D'Antoni is headed to Chicago or New York, Phoenix star Steve Nash expects his coach to be back on the Suns' bench next season.

Perhaps the greatest pure athlete to ever attend Arizona State University relaxes on a rail near the track at Sun Angel Stadium, as Jacquelyn Johnson has a rare moment of inactivity.

As Mike D’Antoni tries to figure out where he’ll be coaching next year, public opinion in the Valley has turned against him.

The San Antonio Spurs and the rest of the NBA may have to come up with a different way to contend with Shaquille O'Neal.

Eight runs of support is plenty for Brandon Webb. The only drama left to unfold in the ninth inning on Thursday was whether Webb would actually finish what he started.

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Want to know the most remarkable thing about Josh Byrnes’ first 2 1/2 years as the Diamondbacks’ general manager?

If Mike D’Antoni is using the Knicks as leverage to get a better deal from the Bulls, those around him are constructing an impressive mirage.

The Diamondbacks have identified Brandon Webb as a long-term priority and have renewed talks on a contract extension that would keep the pitcher through the prime of his career, and Webb seems to believe a new deal can be reached.

Mesa Community College freshman Ingrid Mollenkopf captured the 10,000 meter title in the NJCAA Region I Track and Field Championships this week.

The Rattlers need to beat the team they want to become if they’re going to get to the place they want to reach. The place? First place in the Arena Football League’s Western Division.

Arizona State and Notre Dame will play a football game in Texas in 2013, Sun Devils’ athletic director Lisa Love said Thursday.

It may be too late for the White Sox to get a refund for the sensitivity training they were ordered to put manager Ozzie Guillen through two summers ago. The man seems more determined than ever to talk his way out of a job.

In an effort to align our sports section with the rest of the Tribune’s philosophy that “local news is first,” we’ve made several changes you’ll notice in today’s edition.

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash and center Amare Stoudemire were named to the All-NBA Second Team, the league announced today.

It was hardly a birthday Conor Jackson will cherish — he received a mouse under his right eye, a headache and some feelings of nausea after a collision at first base Wednesday. That was just the beginning of an eighth inning the Diamondbacks would just as soon forget.

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Mike D’Antoni is likely headed elsewhere by this weekend, but not much progress toward his final destination was made Wednesday. That could change quickly today.

Although he spent his summer 2,300 miles away from Arizona State University, Ryan Sontag was able to continue pursuing a kinesiology degree through the close confines of cyberspace.

No driver, fairway wood, iron, pitching wedge, putter or ball ever stays too long in Phil Mickelson's bag. But long is the operative word coming into this week's Players Championship, where Lefty is the defending champion.

Third-ranked Arizona State waited out an hour rain delay on Wednesday night in Wichita, Kan., then beat No. 10 Wichita State 6-1 at Eck Stadium. Matt Newman, making his first career start and only his third career pitching appearance, threw 6 2/3 innings, helping the Devils improve to 38-9 on the year.

The Diamondbacks hope to make a decision on Orlando Hudson’s status before the Chicago series this weekend.