George Steinbrenner has spoken: For now, Joe Torre has his backing to turn around the Yankees following a start the owner termed "clearly not acceptable." Torre was joined by general manager Brian Cashman on the team's charter flight to Texas for a three-game series against the Rangers that starts Tuesday night. Steinbrenner challenged players and staff "to show me and the fans what they are made of" and said of his $195 million team: "I believe in them." Steinbrenner previously had refused comment on the last-place Yankees, who went 1-5 against the Boston Red Sox the past two weekends. New York has lost eight of nine and is last in the AL East at 9-14. Entering Monday night's games, only Kansas City and Washington (both 8-17) had poorer winning percentages.

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Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has filed his appeal of a season-long suspension and a hearing with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should be held within the next two weeks, a league spokesman said Monday. Jones said earlier this month he planned to appeal and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed Monday that Jones' letter arrived at league offices over the weekend. "He will have a full opportunity to present his case," Aiello said.

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Charl Schwartzel of South Africa won the Spanish Open on Sunday after shooting a 5-under 67 to finish at 16-under 272. Jyoti Randhawa of India (67) had six birdies through 13 holes, but a bogey at No. 15 spoiled his round, leaving him second at 273. Schwartzel sank a 15-foot putt for an eagle at the 16th, but then bogeyed the par-4 18th. Third-round leader Carlos Rodiles of Spain (72) needed a birdie to tie it, but his approach missed the green and the Spaniard had a bogey to finish third at 274.

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Silvia Cavalleri became the first Italian winner in LPGA history by closing with a 7-under 66 for a two-stroke victory over Mexican star Lorena Ochoa and Paraguay's Julieta Granada in the Corona Morelia Championship on Sunday. Cavalleri finished with a 20-under 272 total on the Tres Marias course and earned $195,000. She had seven birdies in her bogey-free final round in light rain. Ochoa, the 2006 winner playing her first tournament as the No. 1 player in the world, shot a 68. Granada, also second last year, also finished with a 68.

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It took him two years to become a pariah with the woeful Raiders. Less, actually, because the former All-Pro receiver in Minnesota even admitted he didn't always go all-out as Oakland plummeted to 2-14, the worst record in the league. "We felt this was the best scenario for both the Raiders and Randy," Oakland coach Lane Kiffin said. So did Moss, who refuted the impression he has a bad reputation in the NFL. "I have a microscope (on me) and my microscope is very big," he said. "The people that talk about me, as far as my work ethic and my competitive nature and me going out there and playing football, the best thing I can say to you, male or female, all you have to do is line up against me and see what happens."

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Southern California guard Gabe Pruitt plans to enter the NBA draft, but won't hire an agent, meaning he could return to school for his senior season. The 6-foot-4 Pruitt averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 assists for the Trojans last season, leading the team with 47 steals. Southern Cal went 25-12 last season, losing in the NCAA regional semifinals to North Carolina. He is the 25th-leading scorer in school history with 1,102 points. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Sunday.

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