Bills’ Everett will attempt to stand (AP/SI.com)

More good news on injured Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett: doctors claim he’ll be walking in the next few weeks.

Doctors told the Associated Press that they’ll attempt to stand him up in short time in hopes of triggering his rehabilitation and stimulating his leg muscles.

“Soon, in Buffalo or in Houston, they’re going to stand him up,” Dr. Barth Green told The Associated Press, shortly after discussing Everett’s condition with Bills orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Cappuccino. “They’re very confident he’ll be walking very soon … in the next days or weeks, not months.”

Quite the turnaround after Everett was admitted paralyzed after suffering a spinal cord injury on a play during a September 9th contest against the New York Jets.

Lawson out for season with torn ACL (The Press Democrat)

Outside middle linebacker Manny Lawson of the San Francisco 49ers was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the remainder of the 2007 season, The Press Democrat is reporting.

Lawson went down with about 30 minutes remaining in practice yesterday. He got up under his own power and spent the rest of the practice riding a stationary bike.

Lawson was the club’s first round draft choice — 22nd overall — in 2006 out of North Carolina State.

As Niners fans, this sucks.

GMA’s Roberts to start chemotherapy (TV Guide)

Former ESPN favorite and current Good Morning, America anchor Robin Roberts began chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer.

She had surgery in early August and following her treatment for chemotherapy, the anchorwoman is due for radiation treatments.

Hang in there, Robin. We’re pulling for you.

Landis banned two years for dopin in ‘06 Tour (AP/ESPN)

Cyclist Floyd Landis was given a two-year timeout for using a synthetic hormone during his Tour de France win in 2006.

The decision leaves Landis with only one avenue to take: an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (whatever the hell that is).

The ruling also means the 2006 Tour winner must forfeit his title and a retroactive suspension from January 30, 2007 onward.

News and notes while Mike Vick encounters more problems…

Golf organizations set anti-doping policy (AP/ESPN) The World Golf Foundation institutes list of banned substances.

Griffey likely done for ‘07 (Cincinnati Post) How do we know? Let’s let him describe it: “The best way I can describe it is that it feels like someone bungee jumped off my right (testicle).”

Mets ownership not happy (SI.com) Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.com writes that the ownership of the New York Metropolitans are none too happy with the ball club’s recent slide. Other notes within the notebook include: Joe Mauer and his legs, Torii Hunter lives near Arlington, home of the Rangers and Jim Thome isn’t really Hall of Fame material…yet.

Let’s see what Junior can do (SportsBiz) Sports business guru Darren Rovell dissects the deal that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. signed and what impact will it have on his new sponsor, Pepsi-branded drinks Amp and Mountain Dew.

Topps approves sale to Eisner’s Tornante Co. & MDP (Biz of Baseball)

The great baseball business website The Biz of Baseball is reporting that the Topps Company, Inc. has changed hands, based on a preliminary count of the votes cast at the Company’s special meeting of stockholders held Thursday.  The company was sold to The Tornante Company LLC and Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC.

Arthur T. Shorin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Topps, said in a statement:

“Working with Tornante and MDP will be a great opportunity for Topps. They are experienced investors who understand the creative aspects of our business and are committed to our continued growth. We would like to thank our stockholders for voting for this transaction. The overwhelming support we received from our largest stockholders was deeply gratifying. In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to Topps’ employees, whose hard work has enabled all Topps stockholders to realize enhanced value.”

Tornante Co. is led by former Disney chairman and CEO Michael Eisner and if MDP is familiar to you, it is: the equity firm is said to be a frontrunner in the purchase of the Tribune Company property, MLB’s Chicago Cubs.

Former Phillies general manager Wade frontrunner for Astros job (FOX Sports)

Former Philadelphia Fightin’ Phillies general manager Ed Wade is the frontrunner for the same position with the Houston Astros, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal is reporting.

Wade is in Houston today to meet with Astros owner Drayton McLane and other team executives.

He does have ties to the Astros:  he once was an associate for Tal Smith Enterprises, a sports consulting company that specializes in representing baseball teams in salary arbitration.  The company was founded and operated by the Astros’ current team president, Tal Smith (duh!).

Tafoya will return to radio on ESPN (Star Tribune)

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that current Monday Night Football sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya will be returning to the radio waves next week — she once hosted a Minnesota sports talk show — to be part of a trio of contributors to the new Mike Tirico radio program on ESPN Radio.

It was announced earlier this week that Tirico, the play-by-play lead on MNF and on ESPN’s NBA and PGA coverage, will replace the departed Dan Patrick on the networks programming roster.  Tafoya will be a contributor along with SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt and Gameday’s Kirk Herbstreit.

Tip o’the cap to The Big Lead for the informational link.

The morning after the Metropolitans strapped on a sack…

The Angels won 90 games for the fourth time in six seasons; the Cubs find themselves all alone in first place; the Yankees win and gain another game in the American League’s Eastern division thanks to another Red Sox loss and the Rockies leap-frogged the Dodgers in the wild card standings.

Tigers 2, Indians 4 — The Indians swept their AL Central rival Tigers in the three-game set and essentially buried Detroit’s dreams of defending their American League Championship.

D’Rays 1, Angels 2 — Ervin Santana struck out 10 D’Rays  in 6 1/3 innings to lead the Angels to their 90th win of the season.

O’s 1, Yanks 2 — Andy Pettitte garnered his 200th career win, lasting until the eighth inning while striking out four and walking just two, giving the Yankees another game gained in the AL East standings, 2-1.

Red Sox 1, BlueJays 6 — Another loss, another game ticked off their lead: There’s a big, giant puckering sound coming from New England has the Red Sox lose 6-1 to the BlueJays.

More after the jump »

News and notes while rolling out of bed and finding out that T.O. was fined for his celebration…

La Russa: ‘No reaction’ (SI.com) The St. Louis skipper offers comments regarding to a published report in the Seattle Times that he’d be a candidate for their manager’s job should it become available.

Steve Smith loves his romance (Charlotte Observer) The Carolina Panthers receiver loves The Notebook, Rachel McAdams.

Agent claims De la Hoya photos are fake (SPORTSbyBROOKS) Photos circulating around the Internets show a cross-dressing Oscar de la Hoya.

New ESPN hire to lay down the law? (Awful Announcing) The Worldwide Teaser hires an attorney to lead their human resources department.