Iverson, Culpepper both Motown-bound.  The Detroit Pistons and Detroit Lions have received significant additions to their rosters on the same day. Daunte Culpepper announced that he’d join the Detroit Lions in a two-year deal, following his passing a physical. The 0-8 Lions hope Culpepper can help reverse their non-fortune this season, while the Pistons hope Allen Iverson can lead them back to championship glory. Iverson goes to Detroit in a swap for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, who’ll join the Denver Nuggets. Iverson’s expected to be introduced as a Piston in a news conference this afternoon.

Chiefs player feels fallout from fracas. NFL running back Larry Johnson will lose a $147,000 check due to suspension from next weekend’s game versus San Diego, but he’s already lost his agent. The Kansas City Chiefs player whose name has come up in more than a few unflattering headlines recently is being disciplined after cops charged him with assault for spitting on a woman at a bar last month. Johnson already has been sidelined by the Chiefs for the last two weeks. Johnson’s agent declined to say why he resigned as the player’s representative.

Maya Moore expected to lead Huskies. The women’s basketball squad at UConn is No. 1 in pre-season Associated Press rankings, in no small part because of sophomore Maya Moore’s return this season. Moore, who holds the all-time scoring record for boys or girls at her alma mater Collins Hill High, is expected to start again for UConn. “For this team to have a pre-season No. 1 ranking is special,” says coach Geno Auriemma. “They have battled through a lot. Finally making the Final Four last year and, now, earning this ranking means something to them.”

The Kansas City Chiefs star who was recently accused of spitting alcohol in a woman’s face and threatening her boyfriend appears to have confirmed the reports. Running back Larry Johnson has apologized publicly in an appearance at the Chiefs headquarters, saying: “This is the first time in my life that I actually woke up and was kind of disgusted with myself and disgusted as far as the way my life and my career is headed right now.” Johnson, who won’t play in Sunday’s game versus the Jets, is also accused of shoving a woman at a club in another incident. “I’m going to work to that point to get my life back on track and know that I, and I alone, put myself in these critical situations and environments to where things don’t come out favorably to me,” he added. “All I can do is promise to you guys and to people who are watching that as a man, I’m still growing and as a man everyone makes mistakes.”

Evander Holyfield settles with son’s mother. Four-time heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield will establish a $100,000 college fund and pay private school tuition for his 10-year-old son after a child-support agreement this week. Holyfield made headlines after the boy’s mom Toi Irvin sued the boxer for non-payment months ago. The 46-year-old, who’s seeking to become the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight belt, reinstated health coverage for his son after letting it lapse. Irvin’s lawyer had publicly stated that he would petition the court to have Holyfield arrested if he didn’t comply with a support order. Holyfield also agreed to pay Randy Kessler’s $4,500 in attorney fees on the date of a scheduled hearing in Georgia.

Deaths at African sporting event tied to witchcraft claims. Thirteen deaths due to rioting at an eastern Congo soccer match are connected to claims of witchcraft. U.N.-sponsored station Radio Okapi reports that many of the victims, most between ages 11 and 16, suffocated after crowds ran for exits from the game in North Kivu province Sunday.   Dozens of teens marched in protest on Monday after the incident that allegedly began when one team’s goalie chanted supposed spells to try and change the game’s outcome. Fighting erupted and a police officer who tried to intervene was reportedly hit in the head with a rock. Government officials are investigating.

Larry Johnson dismisses herpes chatter. Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson dismisses rumors of his status as an STD-carrier as slander. Web chatter that followed a Balleralert.com posting of a form for herpes medication prescribed to “Johnson, Larry” led the player’s reps to state: “Mr. Johnson does not have herpes. He cares about his fans deeply and he thanks his supporters for not believing these allegations, which are untrue.” The statement also attributes the rumor to a “young lady that Mr. Johnson met during his time at his new residence in Miami Beach.” Johnson refused to let the unnamed woman extort him for money, which eventually resulted in her starting the herpes rumor, the statement claims.