Sports

As Mark Buehrle and Paul Konerko go, so go the White Sox. That has been an upheld theory since about 2004, maybe longer, and there’s no reason to abandon it now. That’s why Buehrle’s return to form, evidenced loudly by the no-hitter he threw Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers, is a tremendous development for the Sox. It fits nicely in the encouraging picture for a starting rotation that was folded during the second half of 2006, spindled in spring training and mutilated on Opening Day.

For the first time in the modern NHL era, neither finalist from the previous season will make it back to the playoffs. So with champion Carolina and Edmonton out of the picture, the 16 remaining teams begin their pursuit of the crown. The Southeast Division provided the winners on each side of the seasonlong lockout, Tampa Bay in 2004 and Carolina last year.

MMA, mixed martial arts is a combat sport in which a wide variety of fighting techniques are used, including striking and grappling. The term “Mixed martial arts” also refers to a martial arts style. Modern mixed martial arts emerged in 1993 with the Ultimate Fighting Championships, based on the concept of pitting different fighting styles against each other in competition with minimal rules, in an attempt to determine which system would be more effective in a real, unregulated combat situation.

Two-time champion Tom Watson is among three players that is tied for the lead early in the first round of the 71st Masters Tournament. Watson, 57, is 1-under-par through six holes at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. He shares the lead with Arron Oberholser and J.J. Henry, who are the only other players under par.