FOOTBALL

Tomlinson Breaks Hornung’s Scoring Record

LaDainian Tomlinson broke Paul Hornung’s 46-year-old NFL single-season scoring record on a 15-yard run in the first quarter of San Diego’s game against Kansas City on last night.

The touchdown run gave him 180 points, breaking Hornung’s record of 176 set with the Green Bay Packers in 1960. Hornung was a kicker as well as a halfback for Green Bay.

Tomlinson then burst 85 yards for another TD in the second quarter, giving the Chargers a 14–3 lead.

Favre Tops Marino’s Record for All-Time Completions

Brett Favre became the NFL’s alltime completions leader yesterday and the Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions.

Listening to a dour Favre speak after the game, you wouldn’t have known it.

“I have to remind myself that this is a win,” Favre said.

Favre broke Dan Marino’s career completions record, but the Packers had to overcome three interceptions by the three-time MVP for a 17–9 victory over the Lions.

BASKETBALL

Hornets’ Stojakovic Has Surgery; West Next

New Orleans Hornets guard Peja Stojakovic had lower back surgery Sunday, and the team gave no timetable for his return.

Stojakovic, a three-time All-Star who has missed nine games already, had a disc fragment removed. He initially was diagnosed with back spasms.

The Hornets also said forward David West will have surgery on his right elbow. He has missed 15 games since straining his right forearm Nov. 10 against Portland, and New Orleans also has been without top reserve Bobby Jackson with a cracked rib.

“We will evaluate Peja and David once they have recovered from their surgeries before we make a determination on their status,” Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said. “Although our team has been slowed by injuries as of late, we don’t want to rush their returns to the detriment of their health.”

“We will evaluate Peja and David once they have recovered from their surgeries before we make a determination on their status,”Hornets general manager Jeff Bower said. “Although our team has been slowed by injuries as of late, we don’t want to rush their returns to the detriment of their health.”

Stojakovic was averaging 17.8 points and shooting 41% from 3-point range, helping the Hornets make a strong start. He had a career-high 42 points in a win against Charlotte and hit the winning 3-pointer in a victory at Minnesota.

GOLF

Tiger Ends Year With Win of Target Challenge

Tiger Woods has two trophies he can use as bookends for a year like no other.

It started 322 days ago down the coast at Torrey Pines when he won his first tournament of the year in a playoff at the Buick Invitational. It ended yesterday at the Target World Challenge with a 6-under 66 that allowed Woods to blow past U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and win his tournament for the third time in eight years.

In between came a massive loss with the May 3 death of his father, a missed cut for the first time in a major, then six months of golf that Woods considers his best ever.

The benchmark always has been 2000, when his nine PGA Tour victories included three straight majors. He won 53% of his PGA Tour events this year — eight of 15 — including the final two majors.

“I think if you compare the two years, I think this year would have to be better because of, obviously, things I’ve been dealing with off the golf course,” Woods said. “In 2000, I didn’t have to deal with that. Hey, life is full of mysteries and you’ve got to deal with things as they come. Who’s to know that if Dad didn’t struggle and end up passing that I wouldn’t have played that well in the summer.”

Since missing the cut at the U.S. Open, Woods hasn’t finished worse than second in stroke play, winning his final six PGA Tour events of the year, and closing out 2006 with a victory that doesn’t count in the record books, but means plenty to Woods.

— Associated Press