FIFA rejected Ireland’s request to replay its World Cup qualifier against France on Friday, while Thierry Henry said a rematch would be “the fairest solution” to resolve the furor over his extra-time hand ball that set up the deciding goal.

Kansas officials are willing to talk with former players about allegations of abusive behavior by football coach Mark Mangino — and two former players had plenty to say on Thursday.  Meanwhile, the coach said there were “people who are embarrassing this program just for their 15 minutes of fame.”

Pompei: As the game became more complex and the stakes became higher, the 100-hour work week became the norm for today's NFL coaches. And they can blame Jon Gruden for setting the standard.

Each week, ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio and Gregg Rosenthal will break down and pick the winners of each NFL game. See their Week 11 picks.

DeMarco: Despite being back to looking up at the World Series-champion New York Yankees, there's no need for the Boston Red Sox to panic and enter into a spending-spree battle during the offseason. That would be a mistake.

Sporting News: Steve Nash is a nice choice, and LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are expected, but red-hot Dirk Nowitzki is elevating the Dallas Mavericks to contenders in the Western Conference.

Retired NBA star Jayson Williams will not be in a New Jersey courtroom Friday to enter a plea in the 2002 shooting death of a hired driver.

The ATP will not reopen a doping case against Andre Agassi over his admission about drug use in 1997, tour chairman Adam Helfant said Friday.

Top-ranked Roger Federer was drawn Wednesday to play both U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Murray in the round-robin phase of the ATP World Tour Finals.

Video: Either Novak Djokovic or Juan del Potro will win the ATP Championship this year, Harry Cicma predicts. (NBC Sports)

After analyzing the men’s tennis greats, Tracy Austin selects her top performers in a variety of strokes and court skills.

Lorena Ochoa shot a 66 on Thursday and has a 1-shot lead over Reilley Rankin after the first round of the LPGA's season-ending Tour Championship.

Michelle Wie withdrew from the LPGA Tour Championship on Thursday after hobbling through her first round on a sprained left ankle.

Bobby Frankel possessed a gift for coaxing top performances out of ornery, high-strung thoroughbreds, a gruff Hall of Fame trainer who was hard in his dealings with humans but gentle with the animals in his barn.

Undefeated Zenyatta, who beat the boys in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, is preparing for retirement and her future date with a stallion.

The much anticipated race between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta? Well, it's on, but only on paper. Horse racing's top two ladies will duke it out among voters for Horse of the Year honors after never meeting on the track.

‘She’s sent from heaven’ — 5-year-old mare rallies from last to win by a length, improve to 14-0.

Rachel Alexandra holds off Derby winner Mine That Bird to become first female to win race since 1924. (NBC Sports)

Jockey Calvin Borel rides Mine That Bird from last to first to win the 135th Kentucky Derby. (NBC Sports)

Rotoworld: With the way Jimmie Johnson has been racing, it's entirely possible he'll end up celebrating his Cup championship from Victory Lane in Florida. His toughest race competition, however, will come from the Roush-Fenway cars.

Sporting News: In order to overtake Jimmie Johnson in the standings, Mark Martin needs his teammate to finish worse than 25th this weekend. It's not impossible, but Johnson has finished worse than 25th in only 16 percent of his career starts.

Sporting News: Watching Jimmie Johnson, especially in the Chase, is a lot like watching Tiger Woods in golf's majors. But while Woods is considered good for his sport, Johnson's success is thought to detract from NASCAR's appeal. Why are they viewed differently?

Jimmie Johnson, on the verge of a NASCAR record fourth consecutive championship, signed a contract extension Friday to drive for Hendrick Motorsports through the 2015 season.

Sporting News: The sport needs to decide if Brad Keselowski's war of bumpers and words has added spice to a sleepy end of the season or if he's added a flippant, dangerous rancor.

Sporting News: Superman did it again, winning at Phoenix one week after finishing 38th at Texas. Now, all Jimmie Johnson needs to do is finish 25th this week to wrap up his fourth straight Cup title. Here's a breakdown of the top 12 heading into the season finale.

Jeremy Mayfield sat in the back of his large barn Friday morning about 800 miles from where NASCAR's season-ending weekend was kicking off. Several hundred people surrounded him, listening intently as a fast-speaking auctioneer sold dozens of items.

DeMarco: Despite being back to looking up at the World Series-champion New York Yankees, there's no need for the Boston Red Sox to panic and enter into a spending-spree battle during the offseason. That would be a mistake.

Giants ace Tim Lincecum won the NL Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second consecutive season to become the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson, emerging from one of the tightest votes in the history of the honor.

Blyleven: Offseason talk is centering around the chase to acquire Roy Halladay. But as most teams can't afford the prospects and cash to trade for and keep the Jays' ace, they'll be looking elsewhere. Here are five pitchers to keep an eye on.

Pitcher John Grabow became the first of the 171 free agents to reach agreement on a new deal, getting a $7.5 million, two-year contract Friday from the Chicago Cubs.