Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Friday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- CHICAGO -- There is much joy in Wrigleyville -- the mighty Cubs have struck it rich. Tens of thousands of fans honor the World Series champs at a parade featuring stops at Wrigley Field, Michigan Avenue and Grant Park.- PARIS -- Dozens of Olympic medals drug cheats won in Beijing and in London are finding their way to rightful owners thanks to advances in the science of drug testing.- ARCADIA, Calif. -- Undefeated Songbird and fellow champions Beholder and Stellar Wind highlight the field for the $2 million Distaff, one of four races on opening day of the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita. Distaff post 7:35 p.m.- Separate stories on two key college football games Saturday: No. 1 Alabama at No. 15 LSU and No. 9 Nebraska at No. 6 Ohio State.- In Friday nights only Top 25 game, No. 24 Boise State is at home and looking to rebound from a loss when the Broncos play San Jose State. Game starts 10:15 p.m.- CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah play in Chicago for the first time since the ex-Bulls joined the Knicks in the offseason. New York is off to a 1/3 start; Chicago is 3-1. Game starts 8 p.m.- FORT WORTH, Texas -- Jimmie Johnson is already set for his shot at a record-tying seventh Sprint Cup title this month at Homestead. For now, there is a drive for five at Texas, where he has won the last four fall races.- FRISCO, Texas -- Jason Wittens leadership became clear when he was the catalyst for a moving tribute to Dallas police. His voice is stronger than ever in what is turning into a special season for the Cowboys tight end.- RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks offense is broken, with just one touchdown in the past nine quarters. Fixing the problem begins with fixing the run game.- CHICAGO -- Marian Hossa has found his legs again. The physical, 37-year-old winger is off to a solid start for the Chicago Blackhawks, showing the form that made him one of the leagues best two-way players.- Eric Paschall at defending champion Villanova and Floridas Canyon Barry, the son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, are among the notable transfer players in college basketball this season.- PARIS -- John Isner beats Jack Sock in a match between Americans to reach the Paris Masters semifinals. In other quarterfinals, its Novak Djokovic vs. Marin Cilic and Andy Murray vs. Tomas Berdych.- LONDON -- Manchester United expected Jose Mourinho to provide a quick fix for this once powerhouse team. But those prospects are looking out of reach with five losses in the managers opening 16 games.- BEIJING -- China coaxed Marcello Lippi out of retirement last month in hopes of transforming the dismal national team into a World Cup contender. But the size of his contract has left fans cynical and angry.- LAS VEGAS -- Rod Pampling, one shot shy of 59 in the first round, leads by two strokes entering the second round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Cheap Nike Shoes Online . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Wholesale Nike Shoes China .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesfreeshipping.com/ . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Discount Nike Shoes Online . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Cheap Nike Shoes Wholesale ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman feels the Southern Conference took an unwarranted hit on its reputation a few years back, one it is ready to wipe away with a stable, improving league.The SoCon had been one of the countrys best Football Championship Subdivision leagues since college football split into Division I and Division I-AA more than three decades ago. Yet after FCS powers Appalachian State and Georgia Southern left the league to move up three years ago, Huesman thought few took the conference as seriously as before.Absolutely ridiculous, he said. Weve gotten a bad rap for a few years now.Expect that to change, Huesman said.His Mocs were picked to win a fourth straight SoCon football title by league coaches and media at the leagues preseason gathering Wednesday.Theres no doubt the league saw an overhaul in recent seasons. Georgia Southern reached the NCAA playoffs 11 times and won two national championships during their two decades in the league. Appalachian State was in 16 NCAA playoffs and won three straight FCS titles from 2005-07.The last time both Georgia Southern and Appalachian State made the playoffs in 2012 was also the last time the SoCon had three teams in the NCAA tournament. East Tennessee, Mercer and VMI -- whove combined for zero playoff appearances. VMI has not had a winning record since 1981. East Tennessee restarted football last fall after an absence of 11 years while Mercer went even longer between teams (no football from 1942 to 2012) before restoring the program.The changes may have cost the SoCon in the selection room. Western Carolina, at 7-4, was on the bubble last year for the 24-team field but was ultimately left out.Catamounts coach Mark Speir thought his team had done enough to get in, but ultimately let a bunch of men in Indianapolis decide whether we get to play anymore.Southern Conference commissioner John Iamarino understands the reluctance to buy into the leagues recent changes. He thinnks time and stability will ultimate sway doubters about the SoCons power.ddddddddddddWhen youre worried about realignment issues, it makes it harder on the coaches to recruit, Iamarino said. Weve got two programs that are very young and its just going to take some time to be successful.Maybe not that much time, said Western Carolinas Speir, who has spent all but three of his 26 football seasons coaching in the Southern Conference.From top to bottom, this league is as strong as its ever been, he said.Newbie Mercer toppled league champion Chattanooga last season while the Citadel returned to the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 1992, including a FBS victory over South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference.The Citadel was picked second to Chattanooga in coach and media voting. The rest of the coachs picks were Samford third, then Western Carolina, Mercer, Wofford, Furman, VMI and East Tennessee. The media selected Western Carolina third, then Mercer, Samford, Wofford, Furman, VMI and East Tennessee.Western Carolina running back Detrez Newsome was named the leagues preseason offensive player of the year while Chattanooga defensive lineman Keionta Davis got picked for player of the year honors on the other side of the ball.Huesman said his team is ready to contend with a strong league and build on what its done in recent seasons. An emphasis for improvement is in the playoffs, where the Mocs lost in the second round the past two seasons, and against FBS opponents, which Huesman said is where he and other SoCon teams can most strongly debunk the idea the SoCon has slipped.He pointed to the Citadels win over South Carolina and Furmans takedown of UCF last season as evidence that the conference is robust and ready to rumble with anyone in college football.I think thats going to help the league moving forward, he said. ' ' '