FOOTBALL
INJURIES PILING UP FOR RAIDERS: ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — When the Oakland Raiders signed Shawntae Spencer as a free agent in March, coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie hoped the veteran cornerback could help stabilize a secondary that underwent significant changes in the offseason.
Instead, Spencer has spent more time in the trainer's room getting treatment for a sprained right foot than he has on the field.
He's had plenty of company, too.
The Raiders listed 20 players on their injury report Friday. That doesn't include linebacker Aaron Curry, who is a roster exemption for one more week after spending the first six weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list. Cornerback Ron Bartell is also on the temporary injured reserve list.
Allen slightly altered Oakland's practices this week to accommodate the injuries, none of which appear serious. Spencer and right tackle Khalif Barnes (groin) are the only players listed as out for this week's game in Kansas City.
HOCKEY
NHL CANCELS GAMES THROUGH NOVEMBER: NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL lockout has forced the cancellation of all games through the end of November.
The NHL announced Friday that 326 regular-season games from Oct. 11 through Nov. 30 were lost — more than 26.5 percent of the schedule. The news came a day after a league-imposed deadline passed for a deal with the players' association that would allow for a full season.
"The National Hockey League deeply regrets having to take this action," Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. "By presenting a proposal to the NHLPA that contemplated a fair division of revenues and was responsive to player concerns regarding the value of their contracts, we had hoped to be able to forge a long-term collective bargaining agreement that would have preserved an 82-game regular season for our fans. Unfortunately, that did not occur.
"We acknowledge and accept that there is joint responsibility in collective bargaining and, though we are profoundly disappointed that a new agreement has not been attained to this point, we remain committed to achieving an agreement that is fair for the players and the clubs — one that will be good for the game and our fans."
CYCLING
UCI: TOUR WINNER LIST STAYS BLANK IN ARMSTRONG ERA: GENEVA (AP) — The seven Tour de France titles stripped from Lance Armstrong will not be awarded to any riders, and the American cyclist and his teammates should return their prize money, the sport's governing body said Friday.
Acknowledging "a cloud of suspicion would remain hanging over this dark period," the UCI said the list of Tour winners will remain blank for the years from 1999 to 2005.
"This might appear harsh for those who rode clean (but) they would understand there was little honor to be gained in reallocating places," the UCI said after a board meeting in Geneva.
DALLAS PROMOTER DEMANDS REFUND FROM ARMSTRONG: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Dallas promotions company that paid Lance Armstrong more than $7 million in bonuses for winning the Tour de France is demanding he return the money.
A spokesman for SCA Promotions said Friday the company will send Armstrong a demand letter on Monday now that Armstrong' seven Tour de France titles have been revoked. The company paid Armstrong about $7 million for winning his sixth tour in 2004 and reportedly paid up to $12 million total.
AUTO RACING
EARNHARDT TALKS OF ANXIETY CAUSED BY CONCUSSIONS: MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. disliked the attention caused by his concussions and nearly three-week departure from NASCAR, but said Friday he returns to racing glad he took steps to make sure he is OK.
NASCAR's most popular driver, who had a hard crash at Talladega on Oct. 7 that left him with headaches and his second concussion in six weeks, is returning at Martinsville Speedway this weekend.
He was examined and cleared to return by neurosurgeon and NASCAR consultant Dr. Jerry Petty on Tuesday, one day after Earnhardt ran 123 laps during a test at half-mile Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga.
"I'm glad I did what I did. I'm glad I took the time off and made the choices that I made," Earnhardt said of the decision to seek medical help that sidelined him and squashed his already slender championship hopes. "I had to do it. I didn't have a choice. I knew something wasn't right."
Earnhardt missed races at Charlotte and Kansas, and said it was initially frightening to know something was amiss in his head.
