*NFL: An alleged drug dealer in suburban Philadelphia testified that he did not sell marijuana to Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter. That contradicts the word of a state trooper, who testified Thursday that he was listening on wiretaps when Buckhalter called the suspect, 36-year-old Styles Beckles of Clifton Heights. … Former Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver agreed to a one-year contract with the Eagles, giving the team a much-needed blocker in the backfield. … The Vikings signed cornerback Cedric Griffin to a contract extension. Terms of the deal were undisclosed.
*HOCKEY: X-rays on Keith Tkachuk’s left wrist showed no broken bones, a day after the Blues forward was hit by a puck. … Greg Rallo scored twice as Manitoba defeated the Wolves 5-3 at Allstate Arena. Spencer Machacek scored twice for the Wolves. … Ben Ryan’s goal with a minute left broke a tie and gave Notre Dame a 2-1 win over Northern Michigan in a CCHA semifinal. The Irish (30-5-3) will play Michigan, which defeated Alaska 3-1, in Saturday night’s championship. … Hilary Knight scored twice in top-seeded Wisconsin’s 5-1 victory over defending champion Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA women’s hockey semifinals.
*MOTORSPORTS: Mark Martin won the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Food City 500 with a lap at 125.773 m.p.h. … Greg Biffle has pulled out of Saturday’s Scotts Turf Builder 300, a Nationwide Series race, because of bruised ribs.
*TENNIS: Top-seeded Rafael Nadal rolled to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Juan Martin del Potro to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. Nadal will meet Andy Roddick, who beat defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2. … On the women’s side, No. 6 seed Vera Zvonareva defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-3 to advance to final. … Maria Sharapova withdrew from the upcoming Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., as she recovers from a shoulder injury. Defending men’s champion Nikolay Davydenko also withdrew because of a foot infection.
*SOCCER: Liverpool will face Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals as a result of Friday’s draw. Manchester United will face FC Porto in its pursuit of a second consecutive Champions League title. … U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley has invited UIC alum Jay DeMerit and Arlington Heights native Jonathan Spector to his 22-man training camp which begins on March 22. … Portland won its bid for an MLS expansion team.
*ALSO: In the second round of the NAIA women’s basketball tournament, Erin Hannemann had 25 points and 12 rebounds, but St. Xavier lost 72-68 to Oklahoma City. … Nick Watney, who is coming off a one-shot loss to Phil Mickelson last weekend at Doral, shot a 4-under 67 at the Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., to share the 36-hole lead with Steve Stricker. … Lorena Ochoa shot a 7-under 65 in the second round of the MasterCard Classic in Huxquilucan, Mexico, to take a two-shot lead over Na Yeon Choi.
