Pirates ink Liriano to 2-year contractThe Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano to a two-year contract worth $14 million, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday.Liriano. 29, was 6-12 with a 5.34 earned run average in 28 starts for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox last season. His best year was 2006, when he was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA for the Twins.Liriano is 53-54 with a 4.40 ERA in his major league career. His signing is pending passing a physical.

Steeler corners listed as probable PITTSBURGH — Cornerbacks Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown all are listed as probable for Pittsburgh's game against Cincinnati on Sunday.The Steelers, though, will be without top cornerback Ike Taylor for a third consecutive game because of an ankle injury.Also, receiver Emmanuel Sanders (rib) is probable, as well as center Maurkice Pouncey, linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu.

Pitino supporting gun controlCount Rick Pitino among the basketball coaches who support gun control.The Louisville coach was asked during a news conference about his reaction to Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim's comments Monday assailing the nation's gun culture following the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Pitino agreed with Boeheim, and said he couldn't understand why people wouldn't support gun control.On consecutive days, Boeheim and Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey used postgame news conferences to express sympathy for victims' families and stress the need for reforms to avoid another tragedy.Pitino followed by adding that society doesn't need guns.“The fact that every single person does not want (gun control) would be a mystery,” he said. “This is not the beginning of American civilization where we need guns like it's the wild, wild West.”

NCAA suspends Texas' KabongoINDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA suspended Texas basketball player Myck Kabongo for 23 games for accepting impermissible benefits and providing false statements during an investigation into the infractions.Kabongo also must repay $475 to a charity of his choice. The NCAA will count all 11 games that Kabongo has missed toward the suspension. Texas had self-imposed a 10-game penalty.

Falcons' safety fined $30,000NEW YORK — Falcons strong safety Chris Hope was fined $30,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz.Hope was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the third-quarter play during Atlanta's 34-0 win on Sunday.