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ORLANDO AT CLEVE

8:30 tonight, TNTMagic lead series 3-1

They’ve got two home gaand LeBron James on their sit shouldn’t be impossible foCavaliers to rally from a 3-1against the Magic—if, that ido a few things starting toniGame 5:

1. Live by the 3. Mand Delonte West

Cavs here. Their shots havefalling eventually. Don’t the

2. Involve the big guthe perimeter sho

remain frigid, the Cavs need

involve their big men. Theyclassic post-up guys, but thebigs have combined to take j24.8 percent of the shots.

3. Match up. The Cput James on eithe

Turkoglu or Rashard Lewis,both. Cleveland must go smorder to keep up with Lewis

—

MA

Lamar Odom shook a plawith 19 points and 14 rebthe Lakers took a 3-2 leadWestern Conference fina3

L.A. Lakers 103, Denv

THURSDAYMAY 28, 2009

SEE A DIFFERENT GAMEVOLUME 1 ISSUE 310

ScoreboardNBA PlayoffsWestern Conference finalsL.A. Lakers 103, Denver 94(L.A. Lakers lead series 3-2)

NHL PlayoffsWestern Conference finalsDetroit 2, Chicago 1, OT

(Detroit wins series 4-1)

SoccerUEFA Champions League finalBarcelona 2, Manchester United 0

Barca caps great season, Page 34

BaseballAmerican LeagueBaltimore 12, Toronto 10, 11 inningsDetroit 8, Kansas City 3Seattle 6, Oakland 1N.Y. Yankees 9, Texas 2Minnesota 4, Boston 2Cleveland 12, Tampa Bay 7

L.A. Angels 3, Chicago White Sox 1

National LeagueSt. Louis 3, Milwaukee 2Chicago Cubs 5, Pittsburgh 2L.A. Dodgers 8, Colorado 6Florida 6, Philadelphia 2Cincinnati 6, Houston 1N.Y. Mets 7, Washington 4San Diego 8, Arizona 5San Francisco 6, Atlanta 3

MLB>16 NFL >26 NBA >13 NHL>9 NASCAR>32 COLLEGE FOOTBALL>6 COLLEGE BASKETBALL>31 NBA DRAFT>4QUICK LINKS:

300 in sight for Big UnitGiants lefthander Randy Johnsonearned career win No. 299 onWednesday. MLB’s active wins leaders:Player Wins Tom Glavine, Braves 305Randy Johnson, Giants 299Jamie Moyer, Phillies 249Andy Pettitte, Yankees 219Pedro Martinez, free agent 214John Smoltz, Red Sox 210

First shot at milestone could come Wednesday, Page 8

BENMARGOT/AP

NBA PLAYOFFS

Magic don’t fear road,

Spunky Spurrier‘We’re still trying to makehistory’ at South Carolina Page 6

GAME 1: PITTSBURGH VS. DETROIT Saturday, 8 P.M. ET, NBCSTANLEY CUP FINALS

BY CRAIG CUSTANCE

[email protected]

When asked about a possible oppo-nent in the Stanley Cup finals, Pitts- burgh’s Sidney Crosby wouldn’t goso far as to say he preferred a shot atrevenge against Detroit. His Pen-guins lost in a six-game finals to theRed Wings last year, and the mostCrosby would admit was that itwould make for a compelling series.

“There’s a lot more story lines if itends up Detroit,” Crosby said after beating Carolina.

Well, it ended up Detroit.

With the Red Wings’ 2-1 overtimewin over the Chicago Blackhawks inGame 5 of the Western Conferencefinals Wednesday night, the antici-pated rematch between the RedWings and Penguins was finalized.And like Sid promised, there areplenty of story lines:

Marian Hossa’s decision: Last July,Hossa turned down an offer fromthe Penguins to sign a one-year deal

with Detroit. His reasoning wassimple: He wanted to win a StanleyCup. “When I look at those two

teams,” Hossa said on the day hesigned, “I felt like I would have alittle better chance to win the Cup

with Detroit.” We’ll find out soon if

he was right. Revenge: It’s never easy to lose in

the Stanley Cup finals, but it musthave been a little harder for the Pen-guins last year. Detroit clinched thetitle in Pittsburgh and the Penguinscouldn’t have enjoyed the Red Wingscelebrating a Stanley Cup win intheir building. “Yeah, it would be apretty sweet feeling to beat them,”Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal said.

A fight for dynasty status: If the RedWings win another Stanley Cup, it’ll be their third in seven seasons andfifth since 1997. The Penguins are

making their second consecutive tripto the finals and, considering theyoung age of core players like Crosbyand Evgeni Malkin, should be com-petitive for the next decade. Thoughthey haven’t won a Cup, the Penguinsalready are drawing comparison toWayne Gretzky’s Oilers teams of the1980s.

Penguins get shot at revenge

Blackhawks can build on loss, Page 9

PAULSANCYA/AP

Detroit will meet Pittsburgh in the first Stanley Cup rematch since Edmonton beat the Islanders in 1984.

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8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009 2See a Different Game

The country’srst anddaily digital sports ne

Delivered via email every mornweek, Sporting News Today is destination for breaking sports

news about every team, everyevery score from coast-to-

Experience America’s hottest nSign up at sportingnewstoday.c

If you deliveit daily, they

will come.

F R E E ! S i g n u p

T o d a y !

Still in prison on armed robbery a nd illegalweapons convictions, disgraced former OhioState running back Maurice Clarettsays hewants a second chance in the NFL afterwashing out with the Denver Broncos,

according to profootballtalk.com .In his latest blog post, per Bob Glauberof Newsday, Clarett is thinking about playingfootball again when he’s a free man.

“I can’t hold these feelings in anymore,”Clarett said. “I want to play football again. Ihave a deep desire to play. I love the game. Ihave so much penitentiary aggression pinnedup inside of me. I want to hit someone. I wantto run the ball. I want to tackle someone. I wantto play. I am going to play somewhere. I cannotaccept how things ended. I won’t accept howthey ended. I am 220, rock solid. I am movingswift, running fast, and jumping high. Mymind is right and my life is in order.”

Prosecutors: Jail WilliamsProsecutors asked a judge to sentence Jay-

son Williamsfor covering up a fatal shooting athis mansion in 2002 and cited the formerNBA star’s recent erratic behavior, includingan assault arrest in North Carolina.

Williams, 41, was acquitted of aggravatedmanslaughter in 2004 but convicted on fourcounts of trying to cover up the shooting of ahired driver at his mansion. The jury couldn’treach a verdict on a reckless manslaughtercount, and New Jersey Superior Court JudgeEdward M. Colemanhas delayed sentencingpending Williams’ retrial on that charge.

The four cover-up counts, which includewitness and evidence tampering, carry a

combined maximum sentence of 13 years inprison, but Williams was not expected toreceive a term longer than five years, the maxi-mum sentence for the most serious charge.

Quick hitThe NBA’s dream Finals matchup of LeBron

James’ Cavaliers against Kobe Bryant’s Lakerslooks like a long shot, which comes as a relief to two of the league’s biggest sponsors, adi-das and Gatorade, Ad Age reported. Jamesand Bryant are the “two most prominentendorsers of their archrivals,” Nike andCoca-Cola’s Glaceau Vitaminwater. Mean-while, Magic center Dwight Howardis an adidas

endorser. — SportsBusiness Daily,sportsbusinessdaily.com

Tune In TodayA quick look at the best sports on TV

— all times Eastern

NBA

Magic at Cavaliers8:30 p.m., TNT The numbers clearly favor the Magic to win this series, as teams that

have earned a 3-1 advantage in NBA postseason play have won 182 of 190matchups. But if there is a team capable of completing the comeback, it isone that has LeBron James. If you’re a Magic fan and were watching as Jameshoisted his last-second 3-pointer at the end of Game 4, you had to fear it wasgoing in. James gives the Cavs more than a fighting chance. And if the Magicstart going cold from beyond the arc, this could be a blowout. — Roger Kuznia

SOCCER

Chicago Fire at Chivas USA10:30 p.m., ESPN2

It couldn’t get much better in Major League Soccer than a game betweenits best offensive team (Chicago) and best defense (Chivas). Back in MLS after asuccessful run in England, Brian McBride has scored six times for the Fire. Againa regular after struggling for a couple years with different clubs, Chivas keeper

Zach Thornton has allowed only six goals in 11 games. It’d be nice if the gameweren’t after bedtime, but it could be worth losing some sleep. — MikeDeCourcy

TENNIS

French OpenNoon, ESPN2

Rafael Nadal is the undisputed king of the French Open, having won the lastfour men’s singles titles, and Roger Federer has been his personal whippingboy, having beaten Federer in the last three finals. Will this year be any differ-ent for Federer? Check out his game as he plays Jose Acasuso in second roundaction while Andy Roddick faces Ivo Minar. This is also your chance to hearDick Enberg call his 23rd French Open. — Roger Kuznia

GUIDE

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

1 p.m.ESPN—NCAA Division I,World Series, Game 1,Washington vs. Georgia,at Oklahoma City

7 p.m.ESPN—NCAA DivisionI, World Series, Game 3,Alabama vs. Michigan, atOklahoma City

GOLF

10 a.m.TGC—European PGA Tour, European Open,first round, at Kent,England3 p.m.TGC—PGA Tour, CrownePlaza Invitational, firstround, at Fort Worth, TexasNBA BASKETBALL

8:30 p.m.TNT—Playoffs, Eastern

Conference finals, Game5, Orlando at Cleveland

SOCCER

10:30 p.m.ESPN2— MLS, Chicagoat CD Chivas USA

TENNIS

NoonESPN2— French Open,early round, at Paris

OFF THE FIELD

Clarett wants another shot at NFL

YOUR TURNIn his 15th and final attempt, Jim Rice was voted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. If you have a question for the 16-year outfielder with the RedSox, send it, along with your name and hometown to [email protected] and we’ll run his answers in a futureissue of Sporting News magazine.

KIICHIROSATO/ AP

Maurice Clarett was a third-round pick by Denver in 2005,but was cut in training camp.

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Letters to the editoryourturn@sportingnew

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ON NEWSSTANDS NOW

A Division I head basketball coachanyone can do it, it’s Memphis’ JoshSporting News college hoops expDeCourcy explains in the new mag

SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009My Profile

Gary BrackettColts linebacker

(What you won’t find on Facebook … even if you are approved as a friend)

Born:May 23, 1980, in Glassboro, N.J.Alma mater:RutgersWhat’s on TV: 24, SportsCenter , HouseWhat’s in my iPod:Jay-Z, John Legend, Kanye,

50What I drive:2006 BMW 750LiFavorite flick: LifeWhat I’m reading:The Tipping Point , by Mal-

colm GladwellMagazine subscriptions: Ebony, Black Enterprise ,

Entrepreneur , ESPN The MagazineBookmarks:NFL.com , GaryBrackett.org,

Google.com

Superstition:Look good, feel good, play goodWorst habit:Smacking when eatingOn my office walls:Pic of my parents, Super

Bowl pic, college degreeLove to trade places for a day with …The Presi-

dent. I want to know about all of the secretprograms they got going on!

First job:I was 12 in Glassboro, N.J., and I wasa paperboy.

Favorite meal:I’m a simple man. Just good ol’cheese pizza.

Talent I’d most like to have:To be able to singFavorite athlete to watch in another sport:LeBron

James. He’s a beast.Favorite city to visit:Miami

Favorite team as a kid:EaglesFavorite value in others:Work ethicFavorite attribute about myself:My mind

And least …My abs—or lack thereof Dream date:Beyonce. Sorry, Jay(-Z).My greatest love:My momMy hero:ParentsMy bucket list:1. Go to Europe, 2. Visit the

seven wonders of the world, 3. Raise over $10

million for my foundation— GaryBrackett.orgMy motto:There’s no monopoly on success!— Jeff D’Alessio

BOBLEVERONE/AP

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NBA prospect takes unusual—but still impressive—career path

BY SEAN DEVENEY

[email protected]

Across the NBA, the next fourweeks will be spent dissecting the best 30-plus prospects preparing

to enter this year’s draft. It’s likelythat guard Lester Hudson won’tquite rank in that class—barring a big surprise, he’s a second-rounder—because he lacks theresume of others in this draft. Infact, Hudson has one of the strangerresumes you’ll find among thisyear’s crop.

Would you hire someone whostarts out describing his career this

way: “I never graduated from juniorhigh. I never graduated from highschool. I never graduated from junior college. A lot of people had totake a chance on Lester Hudson.”

Forgive him the third-person ref-

erence, because in this case, it’sapt—it’s almost as if the LesterHudson who is now toiling in NBAworkouts is different than the onewho, years ago and on multipleoccasions, needed tough love fromcoaches and teachers.

Hudson has all the earmarks of success in basketball and other-wise. He averaged 27.5 points lastyear at Tennessee-Martin, the

second-highest average in DivisionI. As impressive as his on-courtperformance was his in-class per-formance. Hudson, the kid who didnot graduate from the eighth grade, buckled down enough in college to

earn his degree.Hudson grew up in Memphis’tough Orange Mound neighbor-hood, and for most of his early life,treated school as an occasionaldiversion. He caught a break,though, when Andre Applewhite,coach at Central High in Memphis,noticed him in the school’s gym andapproached him about joining theteam. All he had to do, Applewhite

told him, was come to school eachday and get serious about school.

So he did. For a while, at least. Heplayed his junior year, but becausehe had been held back in previousgrades, he was 19 as a high schoolsenior and ineligible to play. With-out basketball, Hudson slipped inthe classroom and did not graduatefrom Central.

Still, Hudson got a chance atSouthwest Tennessee CommunityCollege, earned his GED and wasgiven a spot on the basketball

team. He did well for two years, but failed to complete the coreclasses needed to get his degree.Again, he left school withoutgraduating, and if he was to attenda Division I program, he wouldneed to sit out a year to make him-self eligible. So Hudson neededyet another person willing to takea risk on him, this time Tennes-see-Martin assistant Jason James.

He approached the school’s headcoach, Bret Campbell, about bringing on Hudson.

“They told me I would have to sitout and focus on schoolwork until Iwas eligible,” Hudson said. “Thatwas hard to hear. I love basketball, but if I wanted to play, I had to dothis. So I did it.”

Even if Hudson doesn’t walkacross the stage at the draft, healready has walked across anotherpretty important stage: In April, hewas in his cap and gown as part of

Tennessee-Martin’s graduatingclass. “It was very emotional,”Hudson said. “My whole family, allmy coaches, all the people who tookrisks on me, they were there. Mylife for now is basketball, and I amplanning to do that for the next 10or 12 years, either in the NBA orsomewhere.

“But now, there’s more to LesterHudson than basketball.”

2009 draft order

1. L.A. Clippers2. Memphis3. Oklahoma City4. Sacramento5. Washington6. Minnesota7. Golden State8. New York 9. Toronto10. Milwaukee11. New Jersey12. Charlotte13. Indiana14. Phoenix15. Detroit16. Chicago17. Philadelphia18. Minnesota (from Miami)19. Atlanta20. Utah21. New Orleans22. Dallas23. Sacramento (from Houston)24. Portland25. Oklahoma City (from San Antonio)26. Chicago (from Denver through OklaCity)27. Memphis (from Orlando)28. Minnesota (from Boston)29. L.A. Lakers30. ClevelandSecond Round31. Sacramento32. Washington33. Portland (from L.A. Clippers)34. Denver (from Oklahoma City)35. Detroit (from Minnesota)36. Memphis37. San Antonio (from Golden State thPhoenix)38. Portland (from New York thChicago)39. Detroit (from Toronto)40. Charlotte (from New Jersey thOklahoma City)41. Milwaukee42. L.A. Lakers (from Charlotte)43. Miami (from Indiana)44. Detroit45. Minnesota (from Philadelphia thMiami)46. Cleveland (from Chicago)47. Minnesota (from Miami)

48. Phoenix49. Atlanta50. Utah51. San Antonio (from New Orleans th Toronto)52. Indiana (from Dallas)53. San Antonio (from Houston)54. Charlotte (from San Antonio)55. Portland (from Denver)56. Portland57. Phoenix (from Orlando through OklaCity)58. Boston59. L.A. Lakers60. Miami (from Cleveland)

Lester Hudson, right, never graduated from junior high, high s chool or junior college, but he now has a college degree and NBA aspirations.

WADEPAYNE/AP

Five hoping to hear their names calledTennessee-Martin’s Lester Hudson isn’t the only player from a

untraditional hoops school looking for a place in this draft. Here arefive others, ranked by their chance of getting selected:

1. Eric Maynor, VCU. The Colonial Athletic Association has producedsome quality teams recently, but Maynor—a fringe lottery pick at pointguard—should be the conference’s highest drafted player in some time.

2. Josh Akognon, Cal State-Fullerton. He’s extremely fast, but Akognonis generously listed at 5-11, and is more of a scorer than a point man.Still, the same could be said of Earl Boykins.

3. Garrett Siler, Augusta State. Siler is huge, at 7-0 and about 300pounds. He needs a lot of work, both physically and in terms of hon-ing his post game. But his size is a big plus, and could get him into thesecond round.

4. Russell Hicks, Florida International.He’s a 7-footer, which is alwaysnice, but he struggled with injuries as a senior.

5. Cedric Jackson, Cleveland State. He’s a decent-enough point man, buthe can’t shoot and is a stretch in the second round.

— Sean Deveney

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Earlier this week, Jerome Lewis

made one fun phone call and a coupleexcruciating ones. That’s the natureof college football recruiting.

The Bishop Kearney (Rochester,N.Y.) tight end informed the Vir-ginia Tech coaching staff that he iscommitted to the Hokies, he toldSporting News Today . That was theenjoyable conversation.

On the flip side, Pitt had been con-sidered a serious contender forLewis’ commitment, and Purdue,Syracuse, East Carolina and Minne-sota were among other schools chas-ing him. He told SN Today that the

Hokies won him over when theypromised he could play tight end.Still, his excitement about playing

offense didn’t make it any easier totell the other coaches he wouldn’t becoming to their schools.

“The coaches who you’ve made astrong relationship with are thetoughest to say (no) to,” Lewis toldSN Today . “Some coaches youmight only talk to two or threetimes a month, so it’s not as diffi-cult with them, but when you talkto coaches every other night and onthe computer and on email, that’s

when it’s tough.”Lewis (6-4, 232) caught 10 passesfor 348 yards and a touchdown as a junior. He is rated a three-star pros-pect by two recruiting services.

“My strength is my size, and myspeed for my size,” said Lewis, whoadded that he recently ran the40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds. “Istarted playing football really late, soI’m still sort of learning the game.”

Battery Creek (Beaufort, S.C.) SRicky Chaney(6-3, 195) has committedto Clemson, Rivals.com reported.His only offer was from the Tigers.

“It’s a great school,” Chaney toldRivals.com. “I fell in love with it on junior day—academics, the footballprogram—and it’s a place that willhelp me in life to be a better personand better athlete and a better student.

I did well academically this semester,filled it up with A’s and B’s.”

Luther Burbank Senior (Sac-ramento, Calif.) CB Terrance Mitchell (5-10, 160) has committed to Ore-gon, Rivals.com reported. He alsoreported scholarship offers fromUtah and Washington State.

“You can’t beat the combinationof what Oregon offers both on the

field and off the field,” Mitchell’s

father, Terrance Mitchell Sr., toldRivals.com. “It’s a great footballprogram, and they’ve got a verygood academic situation. We reallytalked things over, and nobodycould offer the type of perfect situ-ation like Oregon had to offer.”

Bishop Montgomery (Torrance,Calif.) CB Matthew Simmons(6-0, 175)has committed to Washington State,the school where his late father, RandalSimmons, played, Scout.com reported.

“I’ve grown up loving WashingtonState,” Matthew Simmons told Scout.

com. “I love the environment upthere. It’s a good campus, and I feellike I’m at home there. I’ve been goingthere for a long time with my dad.”

In Hoops:Kentucky recruit John Wall pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor andentered a program for first offenderswhich could lead to having his recordcleared, The Associated Pressreported. Wall, 18, pleaded guiltyWednesday to breaking and enter-ing. Wake County Assistant DistrictAttorney Phillip Cowansaid that underthe terms of the plea, Wall must com-

plete 75 hours of community service,pay court costs and program fees andstay out of trouble for six months.

The 6-foot-4 point guard at RaleighWord of God signed a national letterof intent to play at Kentucky lastweek. He was charged after policefound him walking out of a vacanthouse in Raleigh. Wall and two otherteenagers were cited.

—Brian McLaughlin

RECRUITING DISH

New York TE makes callto play some Beamer ball

COURTESYOFJEROMELEWIS

Jerome Lewis said he recently ran the40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds.



























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Spurrier’s South Carolina legacy could be riding on Garcia’s armDESTIN, FLA.—The irony is,

Steve Spurrier left his lastcollege job because he was avictim of his own success.

Now here he is again, at adifferent school in a different

situation—with the sameexpectations. Only this onemay be hishardest gigyet.

“That’s thechallenge,”Spurrier said.“To have that big year inS o u t hCarolina.”

And it allrests on Stephen Garcia.

Spurrier’s teams have won

28 games in four years atSouth Carolina, the best four-season run in school history.His teams have beaten SECheavyweights and he has ele-vated the program from thedepths of insignificance.

Yet that all pales in com-parison to the bar he set forhimself and any of his teams:

He hasn’t won a champion-ship—and he hasn’t found aquarterback.

This is where Garcia, SouthCarolina’s talented yet enig-

matic quarterback, enters thepicture.The guy who just recently

made it through his firstspring practice in three tries because he couldn’t stay outof trouble, is the key to that“big year.”

The guy who threw threeinterceptions in last year’sOutback Bowl loss to Iowa

and looked utterly lost againsta mid-level Big Ten team, isthe difference between theGamecocks competing for anEast Division championshipor finding a way to win seven

games. Again.“I feel good about where weare,” Garcia said this spring.

He may be the only one.Spurrier, for one, isn’t buyingit. At least not yet.

As well as Garcia playedthis spring, he still has tomake it through the sum-mer—a stretch of months thatmade guys like Dave Brownat Duke and Shane Matthews,Danny Wuerffel and RexGrossman at Florida. Guyswho, after investing time and

effort when no one was watch-ing, saw it all play out in thefall in front of packedstadiums.

His first two years on cam-pus, Garcia couldn’t get itright away from the field andwas kicked out of school for

repeated brushes with thelaw. He somehow found hisway back by completing morethan 175 hours of communityservice—“Some of our coachessaid he’d never be able to do

that,” Spurrier said—andhumbly working his way back.

His wild hair shaved, hisfree spirit tamed, Garcia isready to be what Spurrierhasn’t been able to find sincearriving in Columbia on theheels of Lou Holtz—who saidhe couldn’t change the “cul-ture of losing” at the school.

In four years, Spurrier hashad quarterbacks whocouldn’t make good decisions(Blake Mitchell, Chris

Smelley, Tommy Beecher),and one who couldn’t throw(Sylvelle Newton).

Wouldn’t you know it, theone who couldn’t throwwound up being the mostefficient of them all. It wasNewton’s running, his ability

to be a dynamic dual-and expand Spurrier’s happy offense, that recruiting Garcia so intrig

But because of his prooff the field—he misse

spring drills (30 pracand one season redshirtGarcia’s development been nearly as quneeded. He still makesschool mistakes: still tscramble at the first spressure, still doesnthrough progressions, doesn’t feel the nuancesgame.

But he has a big armmake all the throws ando damage in the run In a perfect world, Ga

beginning his third seasa starter and as a poor Tim Tebow. And a team built around straight strong recrclasses is on the vesomething special.

Instead, Spurrier much of his time here SEC spring meetings resing to questions aboutmuch longer he’ll coacif his tenure at South Cais starting to take the away from all he

plished at Florida.“I can’t worry aboupeople remember me,” rier said. “Whatever I Duke is history, at Florhistory. We’re still tryimake history at Carolina.”

This may be his hardeyet.

[email protected] the first time in three tries, Stephen Garcia made it through Steve Spurrier’s spring practice at South Carolina.

JOHNRAOUX/ AP

Coaches won’t have to reveal votes in 2010

More secrecy, more of the unknown. Why should we be surprised? The American Football Coaches Association announced Wednesday

that beginning in 2010, its poll—one of two that decides the human votein the BCS ratings—will no longer be transparent. The coaches’ vote will

be confidential, but coaches will be able to reveal their ballots if theychoose. Which is sort of like saying Utah has a chance to win the nationalchampionship. Technically, it does—the reality is, it won’t happen.

“I thought it kept everyone honest,” South Carolina coach SteveSpurrier said Wednesday at the SEC meetings. “Now there’s a chance forreal hanky-panky.”

The coaches’ poll voting was made public in 2005 after a controversialfinish to the 2004 season, when Texas jumped California on the last poll toearn a spot in the Rose Bowl.

“I understand the reasons we’re doing it, and they’re valid,” LSU coachLes Miles said. “But it does kind of seem a little sneaky peek.”

— Matt Hayes

Matt HayesCOLLEGE FOOTBALL

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www.sportingnews.com or www.streetandsmiths.comSHIPPING: + $3.50 for the first magazine + 50¢ each additional magazine

ON SALE 6/2/09 ON SALE 6/9/09 ON SALE 6/23/09

SEC commissioner Mike Slive didn’t use notes and didn’t knowhow long he spoke. His messageto his football coaches and ath-letic directors Wednesday

couldn’t be clearer: Stop the pub-lic verbal sparring of the past fewmonths. Now.

“I had all 5-9, 170 pounds of meinto every word I said,” Slive saidat the SEC meetings in Florida.

Slive hasn’t been happy aboutthe string of public exchangesover the past few months, almostall involving new Tennesseecoach Lane Kiffin.

Joe Paternosays he’d like tosee either Rutgers, Pittsburgh orSyracuse join the Big Ten.

The legendary Penn Statecoach also knows which schoolhe wants to keep out: NotreDame. Paterno met with report-ers Wednesday at an alumnievent near Allentown, Pa.

Florida State senior WR Rich-ard Goodmanwas suspended fromthe team after being charged forhis role in a fight on campus lastfall. Goodman turned himself intothe Leon County (Fla.) jail on Tues-day after he was charged withaggravated battery with a deadly

weapon causing great bodily harm.He posted bond and was released.Coach Bobby Bowdensaid Wednes-day that Goodman is suspendedindefinitely “until the matter has been resolved.”

Authorities say Goodman threwa chair that struck a woman in theface during a fight that broke out between Florida State football play-ers and members of the Phi Beta

Sigma fraternity last fall. Thewoman suffered extensive injuries.

New Mexico State coach DeW-ayne Walker was arrested for sus-pected drunken driving lastweekend but authorities said thecharge was dismissed because his breath-alcohol level was well belowthe state’s legal limit for presumed

intoxication. New Mexico policesaid the charge was thrown out because Walker’s breath-alcoholcontent tested at .01 percent afterhis arrest Saturday. New Mexico’sthreshold for presumed intoxica-tion is .08 percent.

Clemson OL Barry Humphrieswillmiss the first two games of the sea-son after a drunken driving arrest.

INSIDE DISHTop 100 countdownSporting News Today is counting down its Top 100 college football teams for 2009,featuring one team each day leading intothe season opener Thursday, Sept. 3.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE

2008 record:6-6 overall, 5-2 SunBelt

Coach:Rickey Bustle Outlook:The Ragin’ Cajuns might

need to lean more heavily ondefense with their top two running

backs and quarterback gone—although center Chris Fisher isamong the nation’s elite. Thepressure will be on veteranlinebackers Daylon McCoy andAntwyne Zanders, who must leadthe Cajuns through a Septemberslate that includes games inconsecutive weeks against KansasState, LSU and Nebraska.

— Derek Samson

99

LOUISIANASPORTSINFORMATIONDEPARTMENT

LB Antwyne Zanders will be expected toprovide leadership during a rough patch.

SEC commish: Stop the sparring

BOBLEVERONE/SN

Richard Goodman didn’t play last seasonwhile recovering from a fractured leg.















8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


CHICAGO—When Randy Johnson finallystepped to the edge of history at the San

Francisco Giants’ foggy ballpark withhis 299th victory, the 45-year-oldlefthander allowed himself to savor theview for just about as long as it took tochange out of his uniform.

“I don’t know what it’s going to belike,” Johnson said. “I can’t anticipatethings until they happen. I’m just grate-ful I’m in this position. It’s been a lot of hard work, with the back surgeries andthe knee surgery. ... I just like going outthere and pitching and doing well.”

The Big Unit then got back to busi-ness. Even after 22 years in the bigleagues, he’s always thinking ahead to

his next start—and he knows it’s anawfully big one. Johnson pitched six impressive

innings against the Braves, yieldingthree hits and one run in the Giants’ 6-3win Wednesday night.

Johnson (4-4) retired the Braves’ firstnine hitters and 15 of the first 16 in a per-formance reminiscent of the Big Unit inhis inimitable prime, although the biglefty has less power and more precisionthese days.

The five-time Cy Young Award win-ner struck out five to run his career totalto 4,843, second-most in baseball his-

tory. He didn’t walk a batter and allowedhis only run on Casey Kotchman’s RBIsingle in the sixth, which he finished bystriking out Chipper Jones for the thirdtime.

“The thing about Randy, he used to bea power pitcher,” San Francisco man-ager Bruce Bochy said. “He studies thegame and hitters, and he made greatadjustments today. ... He kept the balldown. He had a good fastball, was

locating it well, and using both sides of the plate. Good command, and he had

one of his better sliders.” Johnson likely will get his first chanceto become the 24th major leaguer with300 victories next Wednesday atWashington.

“I’m sure he’s been waiting for thismoment all year,” Bochy said. “The waythe game is, it’s tougher for these start-ers, with the way they’re being used, toget the wins and reach 300. (Jamie)Moyer, who knows how long he’ll keep

pitching? He’s not that far away, but it’sgoing to be a long time before we see

another guy reach 300.”Some of Johnson’s children and a fewBay Area friends will make the journey,which he acknowledges is more than just another business trip.

“Anxiety? A little nervous? Yeah, Isuppose,” Johnson said. “I’d love to do ithere in front of family and friends andthe ownership. Of all the trips to do iton, it had to be on the East Coast one.”

— The Associated Press

Should he beat Washington next Wednesday, Randy Johnson will be the 24th major leaguer with 300 wins.BENMARGOT/AP

SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009Overnight ReportAMERICAN LEAGUE

Angels 3, White Sox 1Chicago AB R H BPodsednik lf 4 0 0Al.Ramirezss 4 0 0Dyerf 4Thomedh 4 0Konerko b 0Pierzynskic 0Bri.Anderson cf 4 0 0Getz b 0 0J.Nix b 0 0Totals 31 1 5 1

Los Angeles AB R H BFiggins b 4Abreu rfGuerrerodh 4 0Huntercf 4 0 0K.Morales b 0 0J.Rivera lf 0M.Izturis ss 0 0Kendrick b 0 0MathiscTotals 29 3 7 3

Chicago 000 100 000Los Angeles 0 00 003 00

LOB:Chicago 6,Los AngeAbreu(8),J.Rivera(6).RBIs:Ko

( 9),J.Rivera( 7).SF:Konerin scoring position:ChicagJ.Nix); LosAngeles 4 (K.MDP:Chicago (Al.RamireRamirez).

Chicago IP H R EFloyd L, -5 8 7Los Angeles IP H R EJe r.Weave rW,4- 8 4Fuentes S, - 5

IBB:off Floyd(K.Morales)zynski).WP:Jer.Weaver.UmpiO’Nora;First,FieldinCulbrestrom;Third,JimWolf.T: :05.A

Giants 6, Braves 3Atlanta AB R H BI BB SO Avg.D.Hernandez ss 4 0 0 0 . 00Kotchman b 4 0 0 0 . 7C.Jones b 4 0 0 0 0 4 . 06Prado b 4 0 0 0 0 . 9M.Diaz lf 0 0 0 . 88Francoeurrf 4 0 0 0 0 0 . 5D.Rossc 0 0 0 0 . 54b-McCannph-c 0 0 0 . 0Schafercf 4 0 0 . 09Kawakamip 0 0 0 0 0 . 88Moylanp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000c-G.Anderson ph 0 0 0 . 67O’Flahertyp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Acostap 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Totals 32 3 5 3 2 7

SanFranci sco AB R HBI BBSO Avg.Rowandcf 4 0 0 . 79Renteria ss 0 0 0 . 48Winnrf 0 0 0 . 79Schierholtz rf 0 0 0 . 50B.Molinac 5 0 0 0 0 . 5F.Lewis lf 0 0 . 67Valdezp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---e-Frandsenph 0 0 0 0 0 .000B.Wilsonp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000Ishikawa b 4 0 0 . 6Uribe b 0 . 04Burriss b 4 0 0 . 7Ra.Johnsonp 0 0 0 0 0 .067a-Auriliaph 0 0 0 0 0 . 75Meddersp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Affeldtp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000d-Torresph-lf 0 0 0 . 00Totals 35 6 14 5 4 3

Atlanta 000 001 200 3 5 0SanFranci sco 011 002 20x 614 1

a-grounded out for Ra.Johnson in the 6th.b-walked for D.Ross in the 7th. c-singled forMoylaninthe 7th.d-singledforAffeldtinthe7th.e-fliedoutforValdezinthe8th.E:Burriss (4).LOB:Atlanta 5, SanFrancisco .

B:D.Hernandez( ),McCann(6), Rowand ( ),Burriss (5).RBIs:Kotchman( ), G.Anderson( ),Rowand( ),Schierholtz(4),Uribe(7), Bur-riss( 0),Torres( ).SB:Rowand( ), Renteria( ),F.Lewis(4).S:Kawakami,Ra.Johnson.Runners left in scoring position:Atlanta(Prado, D.Hernandez, Schafer); San Francisco 6(B.Molina , F.Lewis,Renteria ).Runners moved up: Kotchman, B.Molina,F.Lewis,Aurilia.GIDP:B.Molina.DP:Atlanta (D.Hernandez,Prado,Kotchman).

Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO N PERAKawakami L, -6 5 2⁄3 9 4 4 98 4.7Moylan 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 45.06O’Flaherty 1⁄3 4 0 9 . 8Acosta 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.00SanFrancisco IP H RERBBSONPERARa.Johnson W, 4-4 6 0 5 79 5.7Medders H, - 0 0 0 9 .05Affeldt H, 9 - 0 0 .05ValdezH, 0 0 0 0 7 .07B.Wilson S, 0- 0 0 0 0 0 4.4

Inheritedrunners-scored:Moylan - , Acosta-0, Affeldt - . HBP: by Kawakami (Rowand).

WP:Kawakami.PB:D.Ross.Umpires:Home, Bill Miller; First, Dale Scott;Second,Jerry Meals;Third,Mike DiMuro.T: :59.A: 7,744(4 ,9 5).

San Francisco 6, Atlanta 3 L.A. Angels 3, Chicago White Sox 1

Abreu’s power starts to showFirst shot at 300 could come WednesdayANAHEIM—The Los Angeles

Angels hoped that BobbyAbreu could fill the big hole left

in their lineup with the depar-ture of Mark Teixeira.Nowhere near the power hit-

ter that Teixeira is, Abreu tooka big first step to making up forthe loss of the free agent.

Jered Weaver and BrianFuentes combined on a five-hitter, Abreu had two RBIs,and the Los Angeles Angelsrallied to beat the ChicagoWhite Sox 3-1 on Wednesday.

“This is really my first gamewhere I felt like I really helpedthem with the bat. I hope more

of those are coming,” saidAbreu, who is hitting .309 with19 RBIs, but just one homer.

Weaver (4-2) improved to 4-0against Chicago while strikingout eight in eight innings. Hegave up four hits and one run.Weaver has now given up justone run in four of his last fivestarts.

“I was trying to make somegood pitches early, trying to getsome early outs, and I was able todo that for the most part,” Weaversaid. “Those guys can hurt you at

any time, so you’ve just got tokeep making your pitches, andmix it up a little bit.”

Fuentes pitched the ninth topick up his 13th save of theseason.

Teixeira left after signing a$180 million, eight-year con-tract with the Yankees and theAngels signed Abreu.


NATIONAL LEAGUE



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009NHL

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Detroit 2, Chicago 1, OT

For a guy who didn’t score a goal or have an a

there certainly were a lot of cameras, microphoand notepads surrounding Marian Hossa after tgame.

He’d better get used to it.Hossa will be the focus of the buildup for the Sta

Cup finals after leaving the Penguins to sign a one-deal last summer with the Red Wings, admitte because he wanted to win a Stanley Cup. Now, the Pguins stand in the way of achieving that goal.

“It’s a unique situation right now, this doesn’t hpen often,” Hossa said.

No, it doesn’t. A free agent turning down millof dollars to sign a short-term deal to win a Cup is thing. Having to beat his former team to do it rathe story to another level.

“It is a little ironic, unique situation,” Hossa finally smiling. “Back-to-back finals, same teRight now, I’m on this team and looking to help team win a Cup.”

Is there extra motivation to beat his foteammates?

“Being in the finals, that’s the motivation,” Hsaid.

Injuries pile up for Red WingsThe morning of Game 5 against Chicago, De

coach Mike Babcock announced that Pavel DatsyNicklas Lidstrom and Kris Draper wouldn’t p because of injuries. Then, shortly before the gthe Red Wings announced that defenseman Jonath

Ericsson wouldn’t play after being diagnosed wacute appendicitis and having to undergo surgeThe team said Ericsson is expected to return in tfor Saturday’s Stanley Cup finals opener againstPenguins.

“Well, today was a bit of a shocker, to say the leBabcock said. “Hopefully you’re going to get guys back.”

Babcock said before the game that Datsyuk Lidstrom were close to being able to return.

— C

DETROIT—The sting of another overtimeplayoff loss to the Red Wings was stillfresh. The blank stares from players

stuffing hockey equipment into giantduffle bags following the last game of the 2008-09 season revealed thedisappointment.

But after dreams of aStanley Cup arriving inChicago ahead of sched-ule for the talentedyoung Blackhawkswere erased by a Dar-ren Helm overtimegoal, Chicago captain Jonathan Toews hadthe sense to realizeexactly what he just

went through.“This is a career experience,” Toewssaid. “Something you can definitely usedown the road.”

Nobody expected Chicago’s road tolead as far as it did so quickly. And whenthe world of hockey was already antici-pating a rematch between the Penguinsand Red Wings in the Stanley Cupfinals, the Blackhawks produced theirgutsiest effort of the series.

It wasn’t a win, and there are no Cupshanded out for gutsy efforts, but even inthe loss—and the series loss—the Black-hawks will find plenty to build on.

Patrick Kane scored his first goal of the series with a beautiful backhandpast Detroit goalie Chris Osgood. Chi-cago goalie Cristobal Huet bounced back from an ugly performance in Game4 to nearly steal a game and extend thisseries back to Chicago.

And Toews? Well, he earned therespect of the opposing coach with hisrefusal to quit.

“He’s a will machine,” Detroit coachMike Babcock said. “He keeps comingand keeps coming.”

In a few short days, we’ll find out howmuch the Penguins learned in being

eliminated from the playoffs by the RedWings last spring.

It’ll take a little while longer to dis-

cover what the Blackhawks learned, butthe growth this franchise made duringits playoff run is more valuable than anyof the headline moves the Blackhawksmade in the last year.

If nothing else, this team will remember the bitter taste of coming this closeand not winning. And never want torepeat it.

“There’s always going to be this feel-ing of unfinished business in this dress-ing room,” Toews said. “We can use thisas motivation. This sinking feelingstings quite a bit. I think we’ll remember that for a long time.”

But there is more than pain to remember from this loss in Game 5. Kane scoredone of the prettiest goals of the playoffswith his game-tying backhand. The goalalso meant one of the game’s most-skilledyoung stars won’t have to answer ques-tions about not scoring a single goal in theWestern Conference finals.

Huet made one of the best saves of theplayoffs by getting a pad on a Johan Fran-zen shot in the final seconds of regulation.Huet, the likely starter next year for theBlackhawks, will ultimately look back athis impressive 44-save performance in amore positive light than he was able to

immediately after the loss.But it was the man who had been here before—the Blackhawks coach—who was best able to sum up the entire experience.

“I think we should all be proud of theyear we had,” Joel Quenneville said.“They matured. They developed. But itwas a really good working experience.We got to find out what playoff hockeyis all about.”

[email protected]

Gutsy loss gives young ’Hawks something to build on

Craig CustanceHOCKEY

PAULSANCYA/AP

Though his team went down in five games, Chicago C Jonathan Toews earned the respect of his adversary.

Hossa: Same ending but different jersey

NOTEBOOK





8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528




Detroit 2, Chicago 1, OT

Wings ride role players to Conference-clinching victoryDETROIT—Darren Helm and Dan Cleary

are far from marquee players for the DetroitRed Wings.

The banged-up Red Wings, playing with-out stars Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Dat-syuk, needed Helm and Cleary to eliminatethe Chicago Blackhawks in Game 5 of theWestern Conference finals Wednesday night.

Helm scored 3:58 into overtime, andCleary had a goal in the third period in thedefending champion Red Wings’ 2-1 vic-tory over Chicago that set up a Stanley Cupfinals rematch with Pittsburgh.

“We lose guys and we keep getting the job done,” defenseman Brett Lebda said.

Detroit won 4-1 in a series that neededovertime in three of the last four games.

“We blew them out one game, but by no

means was it easy,” said goalie ChrisOsgood, who made 30 saves.The Red Wings and Penguins, coming

off a four-game sweep over Carolina in theEast, will open the championship seriesSaturday night in Detroit.

The series will start nearly a week aheadof schedule because NBC and the NHLdidn’t want a long layoff to stunt the excite-ment about the matchup.

One of the intriguing stories will beDetroit’s Marian Hossa playing against theteam he left behind as a free agent. Hossaturned down a long-term, lucrative dealfrom the Penguins last summer for a one-

year contract because he believed the RedWings had a better shot to win it all again.“It’s a unique situation right now, definitely

this doesn’t happen often,” Hossa said. “ I tryto make the best of the situation for myself and try to help the team win a Cup.”

The Red Wings are matching up withPittsburgh in what is the NHL’s first Stan-ley Cup rematch since the Edmonton Oilers beat the New York Islanders in 1984 afterlosing to them the previous year.

“To have the opportunity against Pitts-

burgh should be a lot of fun,” Detroit coachMike Babcock said. “There will be a lot of hype.”

The Red Wings, the first defendingchampion to get back to the finals sinceNew Jersey in 2001, are trying to becomethe first team to repeat since they accom-plished the feat in 1997 and ‘98.

In the Western Conference finale, bothteams were missing key players.

Detroit was without six-time Norris

Trophy-winning defenseman Lidstrom; his

replacement, Jonathan Ericsson; MVP final-ist Datsyuk; and four-time Cup-winning for-ward Kris Draper.

“Everybody picked up the slack,” said47-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios, whoplayed only because Detroit’s blue line wasso thin.

In addition to Khabibulin, Chicago facedelimination—for the first time this postsea-son—without star forward Martin Havlat.

Goalie Cristobal Huet kept the

Blackhawks in the game, but a bad bounce

for them and a fortunate one for Detroitended the game.Detroit sent the puck behind Huet, Tomas

Holmstrom got it across the crease after thecarom and, after fanning with a shot attemptfrom the edge of the crease, Helm was cred-ited with the series-clinching goal after itwent in off his skate.

“Those are the kind of goals you score inthe later stages in playoffs,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “We got hemmed in

their end. It was a tough one.”Despite helping Chicago reach the pla

for the first time since 2002 and the co

ence finals for the f irst time since 1995,than Toews took the season-ending hard.

“It’s pretty hard kick to the ribs,” Tsaid. “It stinks quite a bit, but maybe it’motivation and experience we needed.

Cleary opened the scoring 6:08 intothird period, and Chicago’s Patrick Kaneit with 7:07 left in regulation with his first of the series.

Huet made 44 saves for the BlackhaHe forced overtime with a spectacularfrom his stomach, lifting his right lknock away Johan Franzen’s shot inclosing seconds.

“He played great,” Quenneville saidis to be commended. The game he pkept us in it.”

— The Ass

Chicago 0 0 1 0Detroit 0 0 1 1

FirstPeriod:None.Penalties:Sharp,Chi (hooking),8:34;byBrouwer(toomanymen),16:34.SecondPeriod:None.Penalties:Eager,Chi, misconduct,8ing),8:00;Holmstrom,Det (roughing),8:00;Hossa,De(hooking),11:24; Keith,Chi (slashing),14:31; HolmstroThirdPeriod:1,Detroit,Cleary8 (Lebda,Filppula),6:0brook,Bolland), 12:53.Penalties:None.FirstOvertime:3,Detroit,Helm3 (Holmstrom,Lebda),3PenShotsonGoal:Chicago9-11-11-0:31.Detroit21-10-11-4:46Power-playopportunities:Chicago0of3;Detroit0of3.Goalies:Chicago,Huet1-2-0(46 shots-44saves).DetroA:20,066(20,066).T:2:41.Referees:EricFurlatt,BillMcCLDevorski,Shane Heyer.

PAULSANCYA/AP

Darren Helm, right, scored his third goal of the playoffs 3:58 into overtime and clinched Detroit’s Western Conference title.

Series glance(Detroit wins series 4-1)

May 17: Detroit 5, Chicago 2May 19: Detroit 3, Chicago 2, OTMay 22: Chicago 4, Detroit 3, OTMay 24: Detroit 6, Chicago 1Wednesday: Detroit 2,Chicago 1, OT



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


GAME 1: PITTSBURGH VS. DETROIT Saturday, 8 P.M., NBC

PITTSBURGH—Gretzky, Crosby.Messier, Malkin. Oilers, Penguins?

The 1983 Edmonton Oilers, led byWayne Gretzky and Mark Messier,were widely hailed as hockey’s teamof the future. Cast against the three-time defending champion New YorkIslanders in the Stanley Cup finals,they looked inexperienced andovermatched in the first two gamesand ended up being swept.

A year later, a transition from oldto new took place as Gretzky andMessier led the Oilers to a StanleyCup championship, ending theIslanders’ lengthy reign atop theNHL while beginning another.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, led bySidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin,are the first team since those Oilers toreturn to the Stanley Cup finals a sea-son after losing in them. And they’reeager to make a similar break-through—while getting revenge in arematch against the champs.

With Detroit’s Game 5 win overChicago Wednesday night, thatrematch became part of the fittingstory line—one that players from both teams seemed to view as inevi-table. Like the Islanders of yester-year, the Wings have won multiple

Stanley Cups—four since 1997.“They’re the champs, and they’ll be a big challenge for us,” forwardMiroslav Satan said.

But the Penguins believe they’ll be much better prepared than t heywere last spring, when the RedWings overwhelmed them in thefirst two games at Detroit and wenton to win in six games. Then, asdefenseman Brooks Orpik said,

“We didn’t know what to expect, it

all happened so quick, and we weredown 2-0 before we knew it.”Much like the Carolina Hurricanes

were before being swept in the East-ern Conference finals by the Pen-guins, who closed them out Tuesdaynight by winning 4-1 in Game 4.

There were numerous signs in theseries against the dead-tired Hurri-canes that the Penguins are likely to bemuch better focused in these finals,

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was

Pittsburgh’s best player Tuesday with30 saves. Crosby (two goals, fiveassists against Carolina) and Malkin(six and three) are playing like starsare supposed to play when titles aredecided. They already have combinedfor more points (56—28 each) in threerounds than they had in four last year.

The difference in these Penguins isthe absence of Marian Hossa, a top-line winger who defected to Detroit in

the offseason. Now playing alongside

Crosby is 38-year-old Bill Guerin,who has seven playoff goals and oneeach in four of his last six games.

That the Penguins have returnedto the finals isn’t a surprise to the21-year-old Crosby, who has beencompared to Gretzky since he was apre-teen. Crosby and Malkin alsoare being linked to Mario Lemieuxand Jaromir Jagr, who led the Pen-guins’ 1991-92 Stanley Cup runs.

To Crosby, such comparisons arenot valid—at least not yet.

“They’ve won cups and … we’veyet to do that,” Crosby said. “So westill have some things to prove. It’s acompliment, and we’ll try to keepplaying the same way.”

Or the way they have played sincemid-February, when former coachMichel Therrien was fired and DanBylsma took over. The Penguins are30-8-4 since then, 12-5 in the playoffs.

Now it’s time to show they canextend that success all the way to thefinish. And they will be sure to drawfrom the lessons of last year’s finals.

“We learned a lot ... I think we took

a lot away from it,” Orpik said. “Wedidn’t know what to expect, but thisyear is much more of a relaxed feel.This year, we’re a lot better preparedfor everything.”



STANLEY CUP FINALS

Stanley Cup finals

Saturday: Pittsburgh at Detroip.m., NBCSunday: Pittsburgh at Detroit, p.m., NBCTuesday, June 2: Detroit atPittsburgh, 8 p.m., VersusThursday, June 4: Detroit atPittsburgh, 8 p.m., VersusSaturday, June 6: Pittsburgh Detroit, 8 p.m., if necessary, NBTuesday, June 9: Detroit atPittsburgh, 8 p.m., if necessary,NBC

Friday, June 12: Pittsburgh atDetroit, 8 p.m., if necessary, NB

Say it again … Here’s a look at the times the same teams have played for the Stanley Cup inback-to-back seasons since the NHL assumed control of the Stanley Cup after 1926(winner in parentheses):

2009: Detroit vs. Pittsburgh 2008: Detroit vs. Pittsburgh (Red Wi 1978: Montreal vs. Boston (Canadiens) 1977: Montreal vs. Boston (Canadie 1969: Montreal vs. St. Louis (Canadiens) 1968: Montreal vs. St. Louis (Canad 1964: Toronto vs. Detroit (Maple Leafs) 1963: Toronto vs. Detroit (Maple Lea

1960: Montreal vs. Toronto (Canadiens) 1959: Montreal vs. Toronto (Canadie 1958: Montreal vs. Boston (Canadiens) 1957: Montreal vs. Boston (Canadien 1955: Detroit vs. Montreal (Red Wings) 1954: Detroit vs. Montreal (Red Win 1949: Toronto vs. Detroit (Maple Leafs) 1948: Toronto vs. Detroit (Maple Lea 1933: N.Y. Rangers vs. Toronto (Rangers) 1932: N.Y. Rangers vs. Toronto (Canad

— K

Young Penguins say they’re ready to be champs

GERRYBROOME/ AP

A year ago, Evgeni Malkin (71) and the Penguins looked overmatched against Detroit. Now, they’ll get their chance for revenge.



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528



INSIDE DISHPlayoff glanceCONFERENCE FINALS(Best-of-7)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Carolina vs. Pittsburgh(Pittsburgh wins series 4-0)May 18: Pittsburgh 3, CarolinaMay 21: Pittsburgh 7, CarolinaMay 23: Pittsburgh 6, CarolinaMay 26: Pittsburgh 4, Carolina

WESTERN CONFERENCEChicago vs. Detroit(Detroit wins series 4-1)May 17: Detroit 5, Chicago 2May 19: Detroit 3, Chicago 2, OTMay 22: Chicago 4, Detroit 3, OMay 24: Detroit 6, Chicago 1Wednesday: Detroit 2, Chicag

NHL calendar Through May 30— NHL

Combine, Toronto. June 5— Stanley Cup finals

begin at Western Conferencechampion.

June 18— NHL awards shoLas Vegas.

June 26-27— NHL draft,Montreal.

July 1— Free agency signinperiod begins.

July 5— Deadline for playeelected salary arbitration.

July 6— Deadline for club-elecsalary arbitration.

July 10— Deadline foreligible players to elect Group 5free agency.

July 20-Aug. 4— Salary arbtion hearings

Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy has rejected an offer to return toColorado and lead the Avalanche

back to respectability.Roy had been considering anoffer to replace Tony Granato ascoach, though for several weeksneither he nor the team wouldconfirm it. The Avalanche arereeling from their worst finishsince moving to Denver in 1995and The Denver Post reported Royalso had been offered the vacantgeneral manager job.

“All I can say is that the Ava-lanche’s offer was more than inter-esting,” Roy said at a news conferenceto report he would stay with the

Quebec Remparts, the junior leagueclub Roy co-owns and coaches.Roy phoned Avalanche president

Pierre Lacroixlate Tuesday night totell him he won’t accept the team’soffer, citing family reasons.

“My quality of life here in QuebecCity is extraordinary,” he said. “Iadore this adventure, I adore work-ing with youth. For me it’s a dailychallenge, working to help theseyouths realize their dreams.”

Roy declined to reveal details of his discussions with the Avs butsaid he mulled their offer for two

weeks.The Post reported that Roy wasn’tshutting the door on ever returningto the Avs, the team he led to Stan-ley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001.

U.S. bankruptcy court judgeRedfield Baum has accelerated theschedule for determining whetherCanadian Jim Balsilliecan buy thePhoenix Coyotes and move them to

southern Ontario over the objectionof the NHL.

At a Wednesday hearing, Baumcalled the relocation issue “the10,000-pound elephant in theroom” and said it needed to be

resolved quickly. He set a hearingfor June 9 and promised a rulingshortly thereafter.

The relocation hearing had beenscheduled for June 22, but Balsilliesaid Tuesday he will withdraw his$212.5 million offer if the sale is notcompleted by the end of June. NHLdeputy commissioner Bill Dalysaidthe league will appeal if it loses atthe bankruptcy court level, but he

expressed confidence that won’t benecessary.

“We’re confident in what the lawsays,” he told the Associated Press,“and the law is pretty clear withrespect to our rights to control both

the identity of our owners and thelocation of our franchises.”The judge set two tentative dates

for the auction of the team, depend-ing on how he rules on the reloca-tion issue—June 22 if Balsillie getshis way and Sept. 10 if the NHLprevails.

Bruins owner Jeremy JacobssaidWednesday he expects the NHL’s

third annual outdoor Winter Classicto be played New Year’s Day at Bos-ton’s Fenway Park, home of the RedSox.

Jacobs told reporters in a confer-ence call he hasn’t received official

confirmation from the league, butsaid an announcement should comein July.

“It’s probably been the worstkept secret in Boston, but theywon’t tell me,” Jacobs said, refer-ring to NHL officials. “So untilthey can confirm it to me, whichthey won’t before the middle of July, we’ll just have to go on the basis that we think it’s going to

happen and I believe it’s going tohappen.”

The

Star Tribune

reports thatPeter Laviolette, the coach who guidedCarolina to a 2006 Stanley Cupchampionship, has expressed inter-est in the Wildís coaching vacancy.

Laviolette was fired earlier this sea-son by the Hurricanes and replaced by Paul Maurice. While no interviewhas been scheduled with new WildG.M. Chuck Fletcher, itís expected ameeting will happen soon.

“It’s a terrific, prime position forwhoever gets the opportunity there, but nothing at this point officiallyhas happened yet,” Laviolette toldThe

Star Tribune

. “I’m definitelyinterested in coaching again. Minne-sota is one of the premier jobs outthere. “

The Vancouver Canucksannounced Wednesday they havesigned F Rick Rypien,a cousin of Super Bowl-winning quarterbackMark Rypien, to a two-year contractextension.

Terms of the deal were not dis-closed, but the signing keeps Ryp-ien from becoming an unrestrictedfree agent on July 1.

Rypien is an energy player, a hard-hitting 5-11 grinder who’s not afraidto take on larger opponents. His big-gest problem has been stayinghealthy in an NHL career that hastouched four seasons and 41 games.

“Rick plays with intensity andenergy every time he steps on theice, Canucks G.M. Mike Gillissaid.“He is an important part of ourteam and a valued teammate.

Roy rejects Avs offer; Coyotes process accelerated

JACQUESBOISSINOT/ AP

Patrick Roy, left, with business partner Jacques Tanguay, said he wasn’t prepared to leave his life in Quebec City for duties with the Avalanche.



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L.A. Lakers 103, Denver 94

Lakers reclaim series lead with Kobe as decoyLOS ANGELES—Kobe Bryant offered

himself up as bait and the DenverNuggets bit. That freed up Lamar

Odom and Pau Gasol on the inside,where the Lakers’ big mendominated.

With Bryant luring double cover-age then passing to his teammates,the Lakers owned the fourth quarterin a 103-94 victory Wednesday nightthat gave them a 3-2 lead in the West-ern Conference finals.

Bryant scored 22 points—on just 13shots—while Odom had 19 pointsand 14 rebounds despite an achinglower back and Gasol added 14 pointsand 10 rebounds.

“It was a big gamble for me coming

in, but I wanted to change myapproach this game and be more of adecoy,” Bryant said after adding eightassists, several out of double-teamsin the fourth quarter. “The past cou-ple games they really were loading tomy side and I figured I could be adecoy and try to give chances to myteammates.”

Game 6 is Friday in Denver, wherethe Lakers lost Game 4 by 19 points.

“That place is going to be rockingand rolling,” Bryant said. “We haveto stay focused and poised and try tocut them up. Be cold-blooded, go out

there and execute.”Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points,hitting 12 of 13 free throws, andKenyon Martin and Chauncey Bil-lups added 12 points each for theNuggets.

The teams were tied after the first,second and third quarters for just thefourth time in NBA playoff history.

So it all came down to the final 12minutes.

Bryant, Odom and Gasol teamedfor all but seven of the Lakers’ 27points in the fourth. They opened onan 11-0 run for their first lead of thesecond half and it was capped byShannon Brown’s jumper that beat

the shot clock.“He came in, gave us a huge spark

and that’s what you need,” Bryantsaid of Brown. “It’s about who con-trols momentum.”

The Nuggets used a 13-6 run to

close to 93-89. Linas Kleiza scoredseven straight and Anthony had sixin the spurt.

But then the Lakers regained con-trol and finished off the victory. Theyimproved to 20-0 in Game 5s at home

when a series is tied 2-2.“The games that we’ve lost, they

had an advantage on the inside,”

Anthony said. “The games that we’vewon, we had an advantage. We had togo to a smaller lineup tonight andthey kept their big lineup on thecourt. That kind of hurt us a little bit.We’ve got to do a better job of keepingour big men out of foul trouble.”

Anthony hit a jumper to get Denverto 96-91 with 1:24 remaining. But theNuggets went cold from the field overthe final 3:38, while the Lakers capi-talized at the line. Los Angeles out-scored Denver 10-5 in that span,including making six of eight freethrows.

This time, it was Denver coachGeorge Karl’s turn to complain aboutthe officiating. Lakers coach Phil Jackson and his organization werefined $25,000 each for griping afterGame 4.

“I thought they got the benefit of the whistle,” Karl said. “Every playerin my locker room is frustrated, fromguards to big guys. Gasol goes after atleast 20 jump shots, 20 shots to therim and gets one foul; our big guyshave 16. Nene has six fouls, three orfour of them don’t exist.”

Karl said he didn’t want to get him-

self fined before agreeing withOrlando coach Stan Van Gundy,whose team leads Cleveland 3-1 in theEastern Conference finals.

“In the postgame we’re lobbyingfor the league to help us with the ref-ereeing,” he said. “This is too good of a series. It’s too good of teams com-peting that we’re sitting here justconfused by the whistle.”


Series glance(L.A. Lakers lead series 3-2)

May 19: L.A. Lakers 105,Denver 103May 21: Denver 106,L.A. Lakers 103May 23: L.A. Lakers 103, DenMay 25: Denver 120,L.A. Lakers 101Wednesday: L.A. Lakers 103Denver 94Friday: L.A. Lakers at Denver9 p.m., ESPNSunday: Denver at L.A. Laker8:30 p.m., if necessary

Denver 25 31 20L.A.Lakers 25 31 20

DENVER Min FG FT RebAnthony 40:14 9-23 12-13 0-4Martin 36:07 6-15 0-0 0-5Nene 25:52 1-3 2-2 4-8

Billups 39:02 4-7 1-1 1-3Jones 15:02 2-8 5-8 4-4Smith 29:13 3-13 0-1 1-3Andersen 24:27 1-4 0-0 3-8Carter 10:58 3-4 0-0 1-3Kleiza 19:05 3-6 3-5 0-5Totals 240:00 32-83 23-30 14-43

Percentages: FG .386,FT .767.3-Point Goalslups3-6, Carter1-1, Kleiza 1-3,AnthonyRebounds:12.Team Turnovers: 16 (20 PTBl(Andersen4, Martin).Turnovers:14(Anthony5Jones 2,Andersen,Smith).Steals:11(Anthony2,Smith2, Carter,Jones,Martin).Technical Foufourth;Nene,9:33fourth.

L.A.LAKERS Min FG FTAriza 32:25 4-7 4-6 0Gasol 45:00 5-8 4-5 1-Bynum 18:53 4-9 1-3 1Fisher 27:11 4-9 4-4 0Bryant 44:54 6-13 9-10 1Odom 32:07 7-15 4-7 4-Farmar 6:35 1-3 0-0 1Vujacic 3:32 1-2 0-0 0Walton 15:09 2-5 0-0 2Brown 14:14 3-5 0-0 0Totals 240:00 37-76 26-35 10

Percentages:FG.487,FT .743.3-Point Goals:31-1,Vujacic1-2,Bryant1-6,Brown0-1,Ar0-2).TeamRebounds:9.TeamTurnovers:1Shots:12(Gasol5, Odom4, Ariza2,WaltoTurant7, Fisher2, Gasol2,Walton2,Bynum,2,Ariza, Bryant,Walton).Technical Fouls:Defen3:10first;Brown,9:43fourth.

A:18,997(18,997).T:2:40.Officials:MontyMretson,TomWashington.

MARKJ.TERRILL/AP

Pau Gasol, right, was an active presence on both ends of the court, scoring 14 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking five shots.

SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009NBA



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

ORLANDO—Dressed in black, theimposing 7-footer sat near the floorfor Game 4 like a casual NBA fan.He was hardly one.

Around here, Shaquille O’Nealmeans much more.

He represents the link to Orlan-do’s glorious past, however brief itmay be. Shaq, a basket-breaking behemoth with the power of severalmen, led the Magic to their onlyNBA Finals appearance in 1995, ashort visit that ended with anembarrassing sweep by Houston.

The Magic and their fans havelonged for a second shot.

They can almost touch it.Orlando moved within one win

of ending its 14-year Finals droughton Tuesday night as Dwight How-ard, the Magic’s present-day Diesel,scored 27 points—10 in overtime—in a 116-114 win over the ClevelandCavaliers to take a 3-1 lead in theEastern Conference finals andshove LeBron James and his not-so-supportive cast to the edge of anearly summer break.

A razor-thin series—two one-point games, and a two-pointer inOT—where the last team with the ball usually emerges victorious,could end tonight. Maybe.

“We’re up 3-1, but we can’t relax,”said Rashard Lewis, whose catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with 4.1 sec-onds left in regulation was easilyGame 4’s most dramatic shot. “Any-thing can happen. We got to go toCleveland looking to try and closethese guys out.”

The Magic got more good newsWednesday when the NBArescinded Howard’s Game

4 technical foul, his sixth of theplayoffs. Under league rules, How-ard would’ve been automaticallysuspended for one game had hereceived a seventh technical duringthe postseason.

Orlando heads into Game 5 withno fear of the road. It finished off the defending champion BostonCeltics on their famed parquet floorin a Game 7 in the previous round

and have a chance to end Cleve-land’s dream season on the court of King James.

The MVP, who is averaging 42.3points, 7.3 rebound and 7.3 assistsin the series, won’t go quietly.

“I’m up for the challenge,” Jamessaid. “And I think my play, my lead-ership has spoke for that. So I will be ready, and I think our guys will be ready also.”

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy,who doesn’t sleep well even whenthings are going great, knows if anyone can turn this series aroundit’s the magnificent James.

“This thing is a long, long, longway from over, just like the gamesin this series have been,” he said.“When you’ve got a guy as great ashim on the other side, you’re a longway from done.”

After Wednesday’s practice inOhio, Cavs coach Mike Brownagreed.

“This is about as even of a seriesas you can ask for. They’ve justmade one or two plays down thestretch more than us. But I still feelthe confidence, I still feel the togeth-erness and I still feel like we have achance to win this,” Brown said.

The odds are stacked against theCavaliers.

In the NBA’s 62-year postseasonhistory, 190 teams have taken a 3-1lead in a series and 182 of them have

won. More daunting for the Cava-liers is that the Magic have won 10of the past 14 meetings between theteams, and were one of three teamsto win at Cleveland’s QuickenLoans Arena this season.

James and Co. are running out of time and answers.

Cleveland’s matchup problemsare glaring: Height, depth, speed.You name it, Orlando more of it.

When the Cavs have concenon stopping Howard down lowMagic make 3-pointers (they of 38 in Game 4), and when land focuses its defense on ging the perimeter, Howard desthem near the basket.

“They’re playing their besketball of the season r ight now,Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgau“They’re playing better thanplayed against Philly and Bost

— The A

The road least traveled

Of the 190 teams to face a 3-1 deficit in an NBA playoff series, only eight haverallied to win.

2006: Phoenix beats L.A. Lakers (first round) 2003: Detroit beats Orlando (first round) 1997: Miami beats New York (East semis) 1995: Houston beats Phoenix (West semis) 1981: Boston beats Philadelphia (East finals) 1979: Washington beats San Antonio (East finals)1970: L.A. Lakers beats Phoenix (West semis) 1968: Boston beats Philadelphia (East finals)

— Los An

Magic one win from making Cavs go ‘poof’, returning to Finals

STEPHENM.DOWELL/AP

It’s been 14 years since the Magic last made it to the NBA Finals, and they can get back there again by winning Game 5 in Cleveland.

Today’s game(Best-of-7)

Orlando at Cleveland, 8p.m., ET, TNT(Orlando leads series 3-1)

Betting lineToday

FAVORITE..........LINE... O/U.....atCleveland .............7½.... (190)..........




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INSIDE DISH Playoff glanceCONFERENCE FINALS(Best-of-7), all times ET

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Cleveland vs. Orlando(Orlando leads series 3-1)May 20: Orlando 107, ClevelanMay 22: Cleveland 96, OrlandoMay 24: Orlando 99, ClevelanMay 26: Orlando 116,Cleveland 114, OTToday: Orlando at Cleveland,8:30 p.m.Saturday: Cleveland at Orlandp.m., if necessaryMonday, June 1: Orlando atCleveland, 8:30 p.m., if necessa

WESTERN CONFERENCE

L.A. Lakers vs. Denver(L.A. Lakers lead series 3-2)May 19: L.A. Lakers 105, DenvMay 21: Denver 106, L.A. LakMay 23: L.A. Lakers 103, DenMay 25: Denver 120, L.A. LakWednesday: L.A. Lakers 103Denver 94Friday: L.A. Lakers at Denver,Sunday: Denver at L.A. Lakerp.m., if necessary

NBA calendar

June 4— NBA finals start d(possible move-up to June 2).

June 15— NBA draft earlyentrant withdrawal deadline (5 pET).

June 18— NBA finals latesend date.

June 25 —NBA draft.

Magic C Dwight Howardhad histechnical foul from Game 4 of theEastern finals rescinded by theNBA. Howard was given his sixthtechnical of the playoffs for taunt-ing Anderson Varejaoafter a layup inthe fourth quarter of the Magic’s116-114 overtime victory Tuesdaynight. Varejao had draped his armsaround Howard in a failed attemptto stop him from scoring.

Under league rules, Howardwould have been automatically sus-pended for one game if he receiveda seventh technical during theplayoffs.

“I wasn’t taunting Varejao oranything,” Howard said after thegame. “My thing, it was a toughplay. He grabbed me around theneck and I made the shot.”

The 76ers interviewed Dallasassistant Dwane Caseyfor a secondtime about their coaching position,according to The Associated Press.Casey interviewed for the first timelast week with Sixers president EdStefanski.

Casey led Minnesota to a 33-49record in 2006-07 and was fired40 games into the 2007-08 season.Casey spent this season on RickCarlisle’s staff in Dallas.

The other known candidates areCeltics assistant Tom Thibodeau, for-mer Washington Wizards coachEddie Jordanand Sixers scout ChrisFord. The Sixers informed Lakersassistant Kurt Rambisthis week hewas no longer a candidate. Accord-ing to the Philadelphia Daily News ,the team also reached out to ESPNstudio analyst Avery Johnson, but one

source said ‘’the timing isn’t right.’’

Although the Kings announcedthey will interview Thibodeau fortheir head coach opening this week,the meeting could be pushed to nextweek because of the NBA predraftcamp in Chicago, which is also thisweek, The Boston Globe reported.

Hornets C Tyson Chandlerhadarthroscopic surgery on his leftankle and left big toe late last week,and F James Poseyhad a procedureon his right knee, The Times-Pica- yune reported. Chandler’s surgerywas done in an attempt to lesseninflammation and irritation thathampered him throughout last sea-son, when he missed 29 regular-season games because of the ankleinjury. A midseason trade to Okla-homa City was rescinded by theThunder because of concerns overthe toe, though Chandler did notmiss any games this season becauseof it. Both are expected to be fullyrecovered by the time trainingcamp begins in October.

Celtics C Kendrick Perkinsand PGRajon Rondowill not participate inUSA Basketball’s minicamp in LasVegas because of Perkins’ wedding,The Boston Globe reported. Perkinsis getting married July 25, andRondo is one of the groomsmen.The minicamp includes a meeting July 22, practice July 23-24, and anintrasquad scrimmage July 25.

Restricted free agent JamarioMoon told The Miami Herald thatHeat officials told him ‘’they are

really impressed with me’’ buthaven’t said if they will re-sign him because of the luxury tax. Moon isrecovering from sports hernia sur-gery can resume playing in July.

EA Sports will become thepresenting partner of the 2009NBA draft, SportsBusiness Journal’s Eric Fisher reported. EA Sportswill use the event to unveil the coverathlete for NBA Live 10, the latestversion of its annual basketballsimulation title scheduled for a fallrelease. In addition to the brandingfor the draft, EA will also gain inte-gration on NBA.com and theleague’s other digital assets. Onlinecontent plans include the creationof an EA Sports virtual green roomthat will provide behind-the-scenescoverage of likely draftees.

A Suns-76ers exhibition gamewill be held in Monterrey, Mexico,on Oct. 18. The preseason game willmark the NBA’s second visit toMonterrey and the 18th game inMexico overall.

TNT is averaging 4.3 millionviewers through 40 NBA playoffstelecasts through Sunday, up 18.7percent for 39 telecasts at the samepoint last year, SportsBusiness Daily reported. Meanwhile, ESPN’s 16postseason telecasts have averaged4.0 million viewers, up 10.1 percentfrom 18 telecasts at the same pointlast year. ESPN’s 5.7 cable ratingand 7.9 million viewers for Thurs-day’s Nuggets-Lakers Game 2 alsomarked the net’s second-mostviewed basketball game ever.

NBA takes back Howard’s Game 4 technical

JACOBLANGSTON/AP

Dwight Howard was on the verge of a suspenion before the league rescinded a technical.


http://nba.com/

http://nba.com/


8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009Baseball

Cardinals general manager JohnMozeliaktold the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his “gut feeling” is there is “prob-ably less than a 50-50 chance” that3B Troy Glauswill return from offsea-son shoulder surgery in 2009. Theteam is expected to learn more aboutGlaus’ progress next week, but Moze-liak admitted, “It’s like we’re losingthe hope factor.” He added that theteam will be proactive in its searchfor a righthanded bat if the news onGlaus is bad. The newspaper specu-lated the Cardinals could pursue atrade for Rockies 3B Garrett AtkinsorIndians 3B Mark DeRosa.

In other Cardinals news, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported P KyleLohseis expected to miss his sched-uled start Friday. He still has someforearm weakness after being hit by a pitch in his most recent start.

After playing five innings of defense in an extended spring train-ing intrasquad game Wednesday,Yankees C Jorge Posada(hamstring)told reporters he hopes to rejoin theYankees’ lineup Friday. Posada saidhis hamstring no longer is an issue.

Also, CF Melky Cabrerais expectedto miss four games with a strainedright shoulder after he crashed into awall trying to make a catch in Texason Tuesday night.

Dodgers manager Joe Torretoldreporters that suspended OF MannyRamirezwould play 7-10 days in theminors before rejoining the Dodg-ers’ lineup. Ramirez, who is eligibleto return July 3, has been workingout on his own and soon could headto the team’s spring training facilityin Glendale, Ariz.

Although he left Tuesday’sgame after being hit on the rightwrist by a pitch, Brewers OF RyanBraunwas back in the starting lineupWedneday. Also back in action forMilwaukee: SS J.J. Hardy, who hadmissed the previous four games because of back spasms.

With trade rumors beginning toswirl, Nationals 1B Nick Johnsontoldthe New York Daily News he wouldwelcome a trade to the Mets. NewYork has a need at the position after1BCarlos Delgado’s hip surgery. In otherMets news, P Oliver Perez(knee) toldThe Buffalo News that he expects tomake another minor league rehab

start. In his first outing Tuesday, heallowed one earned run in 4 1/3innings, though he walked five.

After his second rehab startTuesday, Red Sox P John Smoltz (shoulder) told The Boston Globethathe needs three more rehab starts before joining the Red Sox’s rota-tion. Smoltz’s next rehab start will be Sunday at Class A. In other RedSox news, Yahoo! Sports reportedthe team has been scouting BravesOF Jeff Francoeur.

Finally shedding some light on apossible cause for his offensive strug-gles this season—at least in terms of

batting average— The Plain Dealer inCleveland reported Indians OF GradySizemoreis suffering from elbow pain.Manager Eric Wedge, while not rulingout a trip to the disabled list forSizemore, said he will continue to useSizemore at DH in order to preventhim from having to throw. And speak-ing of DH , mlb.com reported Travis Haf-ner (shoulder) could be back from thedisabled list as soon as Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the Pirates likely will waituntil Friday before deciding whetherto place P Matt Capps(elbow) on thedisabled list. Capps was hit by a linedrive in Monday’s game but was ableto play long toss Wednesday.

Royals manager Trey Hillman served a one-game suspensionWednesday. The discipline was aresult of Hillman’s ejection forarguing balls and strikes in Mon-day’s game.

According to The Arizona Repub-lic, there is some progress to reporton Diamondbacks P Brandon Webb (shoulder). Webb, who hasn’t pitchedsince opening day, is building upenough strength to play long toss. Butmanager A.J. Hinchadmitted, “Oncewe do that, it’s like starting over. We’llhave to build his pitch count, similarin how we do in spring training.”

Banished to the minor leaguesafter going 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA insix starts for the White Sox, P JoseContrerascould get a chance to regainhis roster spot in the majors. TheChicago Sun-Times speculated Con-treras is an option to pitch in theWhite Sox’s June 8 doubleheader.

THE LAUNCHING PAD

What to expect in the major leagues today

A painful reminder The last time the Cubs set foot in Dodger Stadium, they suffered the finaloss in their 2008 NLDS sweep. They’re back tonight, and if the strugglinCubs are to make another postseason run —Sporting News ’ official preprediction had Chicago beating Los Angeles in this season’s NLCSwould be a great time to build some momentum. Meanwhile, the first-placeDodgers have a stranglehold on the N.L. West, despite Manny Ramirezsuspension. That’s due in large part to the outstanding offense provided byJuan Pierre, who is filling in for Manny, and third baseman Casey Blake, whwas the Dodgers’ “other” trading deadline acquisition in 2008. Of courseL.A.’s pitching also has been strong, and lefthander Randy Wolf (2-1) will for his seventh quality start in 11 outings tonight.

Mauer powerHow hot is Twins catcher Joe Mauer? Even when he got a day off in th

first game of this series against Boston, he delivered a pinch-hit, two-ruhomer in the ninth inning. And in this month alone, he has surpassed hishome run total from all of 2008. Tonight, he’ll face a resurgent Josh Becket(2-0, 2.67 ERA in four May starts).

Wins in the West The Braves begin the second leg of thei r West Coast swing tonight at Chase

Field. In order to salvage this seven-game trip, they’ll need to play better atArizona than they did at San Francisco. Prior to their struggles against thGiants, the Braves had won their past four road series, so they are capable oturning it around. It will help to have ace Derek Lowe on the mound tonight.From 2005-08 with the Dodgers, Lowe posted a 3.66 ERA in 17 starts againthe Diamondbacks. He was 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA against them in 2008.

— C

INSIDE DISH

Cardinals G.M.: Glaus’ return probably less than 50-50

M.SPENCERGREEN/AP

CHRISC

If Troy Glaus cannot play this season, the Cards will need another power bat.

Juan Pierre and the Dodgers hope to make life miserable again for the C


http://mlb.com/

http://mlb.com/


8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


Fresh off his A.L. rookie of the year season in2008, Longoria has continued to bash. Instead of battling a sophomore slump, Longoria is making anearly push at a Triple Crown. He recently appeared

on Sporting News Radio to discuss his hot hitting,the Rays’ recent lineup-card gaffe and his outlook on the season.

Q: You’re No. 20 on Sporting News’ top 50 players list. That’s

quite an honor, isn’t it?

A: Yeah, it is. The list is pretty short,and to be included with those guys

is really an honor. To be included in thatcategory and to be brought up in that sortof a list, it lets you know your hard work ispaying off a little bit and you are beingrecognized for all the hard work that youput in.

Q: It really has been a miraculousyear for you, hasn’t it?

A: Going back even further from whenI signed in ’06, it’s all been pretty

much high speed, to say the least. At thistime now it’s probably been the first timethat I’ve been able to just relax and settleinto a situation. I bought my first place inTampa, and this will be my first full yearin the big leagues. And now it seems likethings are coming a little slower. So it’s agood sign.

Q: You’re from SouthernCalifornia. You went to Long

Beach State University. Do you have asense for how much you’re respectedthere?

A: I love Southern California. I lovethe people I grew up with and

played with in Long Beach. Any time Ihave the chance to go home or the chanceto do something in that community, Ialways jump on the opportunity, becausewhere you grow up is your roots.

Q: It really takes a lot of hardwork and a lot of support to get

to where you are, doesn’t it?

A: You’ve got to understand thateverybody who makes it to the

big leagues, it’s not an easy road.

Granted, I was blessed being a top pick.You get all the opportunities in theworld to succeed as a top pick, and someguys’ roads are a lot tougher. But thatdoesn’t mean it was a free pass for me oranyone else who gets drafted high.

There’s still a lot of work involved.

Q: When you walked up to theplate in the WBC, wasn’t that

one of the most difficult plateappearances you ever had?

A: I don’t even know where to We got mixed up in the dug

and I was getting ready the whole tiand they said, “You’re going to hit.”they didn’t tell me where I was goinhit. It’s not their fault; I was ready tanyway. But it was so la st-minute, awas throwing my gloves on as I wasrunning to the plate. Obviously, Iwanted to be in that situation to givthe chance to win that game. Thepitcher was pretty good, too. He wathrowing about 94 with a cutter a ndsplit. It was a tough, tough plate appance, but it was fun nonetheless. Ienjoyed it.

Q: You guys seemed to have funwith the recent lineup mishap

(pitcher Andy Sonnanstine had toserve as the DH and bat third). Whatwas that like?

A: After the initial shock of thesituation wore off, we were a

right with it. If there were any otherstarting pitchers around here, they’d upset with me. But if I had to pick onwould definitely pick Sonny to hit inspot. We got lucky in that respect, Iguess. It ended up working out all rigin that we won and nobody had to geyelled at after the game.

Q: How do you feel about whereyou are in the division

considering what you guys have gonethrough thus far?

A: We definitely haven’t played thkind of baseball that this team

play. I know we haven’t hit the way wehit collectively as a group. We’re just aclicks away from being right where wewant to be.

Q&A with ... Rays 3B Evan Longoria

‘I know we haven’t hit the way we can hit collectively as a group’

STEVENESIUS/AP

Last season, Evan Longoria won A.L. rookie of the year despite fracturing his wrist, and he’s picked up where he left off—the 23-year-old is hitting .324 with 11 HR and 49 RBIs.




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American League StandingsEast W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Boston 27 2 0 .574 — — 5-5 L-2 New York 27 20 .574 — — 7-3 W-1Toronto 27 2 3 .540 1½ 1½ 1-9 L-9Tampa Bay 23 2 6 .469 5 5 4-6 L-4Baltimore 21 2 6 .447 6 6 5-5 W-3

Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Detroit 26 1 9 .578 — — 7-3 W-1 Minnesota 24 24 . 500 3½ 3½ 6-4 W-2Kansas City 23 2 4 .489 4 4 4-6 L-Chicago 21 2 5 .457 5½ 5½ 6-4 L-1Cleveland 20 28 . 417 7½ 7½ 6-4 W-

West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Texas 27 19 .587 — — 5 -5 L-1 Los Angel es 24 22 . 522 3 2½ 6-4 W-Seattle 22 2 6 .458 6 5½ 4-6 W-1Oakland 18 26 .409 8 7½ 5-5 L-1

National League StandingsEast W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str New York 26 20 . 565 — — 5-5 W-3 Phil adelphia 25 2 0 . 556 ½ 1 6-4 L-1 Atlanta 23 2 2 .511 2 ½ 3 5-5 L-2 Florida 22 2 6 .458 5 5½ 4-6 W-1 Washing ton 13 33 .283 13 13½ 2-8 L-3

Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str St. Louis 28 19 . 596 — — 7-3 W-2 Milwaukee 27 2 0 . 574 1 — 4-6 L-2 Cincinnati 26 20 . 565 1½ ½ 6-4 W-4 Chicago 23 22 .511 4 3 2-8 W-2 Pittsburgh 21 2 6 .447 7 6 5-5 L-2 Houston 18 27 .400 9 8 2-8 L-7

West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Los Angeles 33 15 . 688 — — 8-2 W-3 San Diego 24 2 3 .511 8 ½ 3 9-1 W-1 San Francisco 22 23 . 489 9½ 4 4-6 W-2 Arizona 20 2 7 .426 12½ 7 6-4 L-1 Colorado 18 2 8 .391 14 8½ 4-6 L-3 z-firstgamewasa win

Pitching MatchupsToday’sgames(Alltimes Eastern)

American League The LineTampaBay(Niemann4-3)atCleveland(D.Huff0-1),12:05p.m.Boston(Beckett4-2)atMinnesota(Swarzak1-0),1:10p.m.Detroit(Galarraga3-4)atBaltimore(D.Hernandez0-0),7:05p.m.

National League The LineL.A.Dodgers(Wolf2-1)atChicagoCubs(R.Wells0-1),8:05p.m.Atlanta(D.Lowe6-2)atArizona(Haren3-4),9:40p.m.

MORE COVERAGE Get everything you need to

dominate your fantasy league atsportingnews.com/fantasy/baseball

Fantasy FocusStock Watch

A quick look at who’s moving upand down in the fantasy world:

▲ Alexei Ramirez, 2B/SS, White Sox. The preseason sleeper disap-pointed owners with a .214average in April, and he likelywas dropped in some leagues.Ramirez has picked it up, so pickhim up. He had four hits, threeRBIs and three runs scoredMonday—a reminder of how fasthe fills up a stat sheet. Ramirez iswarming up in time for June, amonth in which he hit .355 withthree homers and 17 RBIs in2008.

▼ Mike Napoli, C, Angels.Napoli ismired in a 1-for-20 slump andhomerless since May 13.With Vladimir Guerrero back,Napoli will have fewer at-bats atdesignated hitter. It’s worthnoting that Napoli hit .215 atcatcher and .471 at DH (throughTuesday). Napoli remains a betteroption than teammate Jeff Mathis, but that’s not a strongendorsement.

— Bill Bender

LEAGUE LEADERS

Batting Average

Runs

RBIs

HIts

Doubles

Home Runs

Stolen Bases

Pitching (3 decisions)

Strikeouts

Saves

A.L.Player TeamA.Hill Toronto 75V. Martinez Clevel and 68Mi.Cabrera Detroit 64Cano NewYork 62Crawford Tampa Bay 62Morneau Minnesota 62

3tiedat 61

N.L.Player TeamHudson Los Angeles 68Zimmerman Washing ton 65Tejada Houston 64Beltran New York 62F.Sanchez Pittsburgh 60Ibanez Philadelphia 59

D.Wright New York 59

A.L.Player TeamVerlander Detroit 85Greinke Kansas City 81Halladay Toronto 68F.Hernandez S eattle 66Lester Boston 62Garza Tampa Bay 60

A.Burnett New York 57

N.L.Player TeamJ.Santana New York 86Peavy SanDiego 84Lincecum SanFranc isco 84J.Vazquez Atlanta 78Bil lingsley LosAngeles 69Haren Arizona 63

Jo.Johnson Florida 59

A.L.Player TeamFuentes Los Angeles 13Papelbon Boston 12Sherrill Baltimore 10F.Francisco Texas 10Jenks Chicago 10Ma.Rivera New York 92tiedat 8

N.L.Player TeamBell SanDiego 14Fr.Rodriguez New York 13Cordero Cincinnati 13Franklin St. Louis 12Hoffman Milwaukee 11Broxton Los Angeles 11Qualls Arizona 11

A.L.Player TeamLongoria Tampa Bay 51Bay Boston 48Morneau Minnesota 44Hunter Los Angeles 40C.Pena Tampa Bay 40Markakis Baltimore 39Teixeira New York 39

N.L.Player TeamIbanez Philadelphia 44Fielder Milwaukee 43Dunn Washington 42Pujols St.Louis 40Hawpe Colorado 36Loney Los Angeles 362 tiedat 35

A.L.Player TeamB.Roberts Baltimore 42Scutaro Toronto 41Ad.Jones Baltimore 39Morneau Minnesota 394tiedat 37

N.L.Player TeamIbanez Philadelphia 38Pujols St.Louis 38Zimmerman Washing ton 38Hudson Los Angeles 37A.Soriano Chicago 36Ad. Gonzalez San Diego 352tiedat 33

A.L.Player TeamMi. Cabrera Detroit .374Bartlett Tampa Bay .373V.Mar tinez Cleveland .362Ad. Jones Baltimore .359A.Hill Toronto .344Morneau Minnesota .343I.Suzuki Seattle .343

N.L.Player TeamBeltran New York .367Pence Houston .352Hudson Los Angeles . 347Tejada Houston .346DWright New York .345CGuzman Washing ton .340Ibanez Philadelphia . 339

A.L.Player TeamC.Pena Tampa Bay 16Teixeira New York 15Bay Boston 14Morneau Minnesota 14Kinsler Texas 136tiedat 12

N.L.Player TeamAd. Gonzalez San Diego 18Ibanez Philadelphia 17Dunn Washington 16Bruce Cincinnati 14Pujols St. Louis 14Reynolds Arizona 132tiedat 12

A.L.Player TeamCrawford Tampa Bay 30Ellsbury Boston 21Figgins Los Angeles 19Abreu Los Angeles 15Bartlett Tampa Bay 14BUpton Tampa Bay 142tiedat 11

N.L.Player TeamBourn Houston 16Taveras Cincinnati 12Burriss San Francisco 11Fowler Colorado 11Jose Reyes New York 11D.Wright New York 112 tiedat 10

A.L.Player TeamPalmer LosAngeles 5-0 1.000Greinke KansasCity 8-1 .889Halladay Toronto 8 -1 .889Slowey Minnesota 7 -1 .875Buehrle Chicago 6-1 .857Penny Boston 5-1 .833Baez Baltimore 4-1 .800

N.L.Player TeamMartis Washington 5-0 1.000Broxton LosAngeles 5-0 1.000Cain SanFranci sco 5-1 .833Stu lts LosAngeles 4-1 .800Pelfrey New York 4-1 .800Lincecum SanFrancisco 4-1 .800LiHernandez NewYork 4-1 .800

A.L.Player TeamLongoria Tampa Bay 20M.Young Texas 17Byrd Texas 16Callaspo Kansas City 16Lind Toronto 16B.Roberts Baltimore 163tiedat 15

N.L.Player TeamF.Sanchez Pittsburgh 17Tejada Houston 17Hudson Los Angeles 16Kotchman Atlanta 16Beltran New York 15F.Lopez Arizona 15Ha.Ramirez F lorida 15

Alexei Ramirez hit .355 last June.NAMY.HUH/AP


http://sportingnews.com/fantasy/baseball

http://sportingnews.com/fantasy/baseball


8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankees 9, Rangers 2New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg.Jeterss 4 0 . 97Damonlf 5 0 0 0 0 . 0Teixeira b 5 0 . 75

A.Rodriguez b 4 0 0 0 . 58R.Pena b 0 0 0 0 0 0 . 46Cano b 5 0 0 . 0H.Matsuidh 4 . 57

-Berroapr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 . 67Swisher rf 4 0 .Gardnercf 5 0 0 . 77Cashc 4 0 0 .Totals 40 9 15 9 5 8

Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg.Kinsler b 4 0 . 8M.Young b 0 0 0 . 5Hamiltoncf 4 0 0 0 0 . 4An.Jonesdh 4 0 0 0 . 88N.Cruz rf 0 0 0 . 9Dav.Murphy lf 0 0 0 0 .C.Davis b 4 0 0 0 0 . 0Saltalamacchia c 4 0 0 . 5Andrusss 4 0 0 0 . 84Totals 31 2 5 2 5 10

New York 210 003 201 9 15 0Texas 000 000 200 2 5 1

-ranforH.Matsuiinthe 9th.E:Holland( ).LOB: NewYork 0,Texas8.2B:Jeter( ), A.Rodriguez(4),Cano( ),Cash( ),An.Jones(8), Saltalamac-chia(6).HR:Teixeira ( 5),off Holland;H.Matsui(6),off Holland;H.Matsui(7),off Madrigal;Cano(9),offBenson;Kinsler( ),offVeras.RBIs:Jeter( ),Teixeira ( 9),Cano ( 8),H.Matsui ( 8),Cash ( ), Kinsler ( 5).SB:M.Young(4).CS: Andrus ( ).Runnersleft in scoringposition: NewYork4 (Damon,Cano ,A.Rodriguez);Texas

(An.Jones, C.Davis ).DP:Texas (Holland,Andrus,C.Davis), (N.Cruz,N.Cruz, Saltalamacchia).

New York IP H R ER BB SO N PERAA.Burnett W, - 6 0 0 4 7 8 4.78Veras 1⁄3 0 6.4D.Robertson 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 8 .84Wang 0 0 0 0 6

0.45Texas IP H R ER BB SO NPERA

Holland L, - 5 0 6 5 5 88 5.70Jennings 2⁄3 0 0 .86Madrigal 1⁄3 0 0 9.00Guardado 0 0 0 95.06Benson 58.5

Hollandpitchedto battersinthe 6th.Inheritedrunners-scored:D.Robertson -0, Jennings - ,Madrigal -0.HBP:by A.Burnett(Dav.Murphy),by Benson (Cash).Umpires:Home,MikeMuch-linski;First,PhilCuzzi;Second,TomHallion;Third,JerryC rawford.T: : .A: 8,409(49, 70).

Twins 4, Red Sox 2Boston AB R H BEllsburycf 4Pedroia b 4 0J.Drewrf 0 0

Youkilis b 0 0Bay lf 4D.Ortizdh 4 0 0Lowell b 4 0Kottarasc 4 0 0N.Greenss 0 0Totals 32 2 6 2

Minnesota AB R H BSpancf-lf 4 4Mauerc 0Morneau b 5KubeldhCuddyerrf 4 0B.Harris b 5 0Delm.Young lf 4 0

-Gomez pr-cf 0 0 0Tolbert b 0 0Puntoss 4 0 0 0Totals 34 4 13 4

Boston 001 001 000Minnesota 003 001 00x

-ranforDelm.Youngin thPunto(5).LOB:Boston6, MMorneau( 4),Kubel( ),( 4), off Slowey.RBIs:YoukilMauer( ),Kubel( 5),CuSB:Ellsbury ( ),Pedroia(5).S:Tolbert.SF:Youkilis,Min scoring position:BostonJ.Drew); Minnesota 8 (CMorneau,Tolbert,B.Harris(Pedroia,N.Green,YoukilisPunto,Morneau).

Boston IP H R EMat suzaka L, 0- 5 9Delcarmen 2⁄3Masterson 1⁄3Minn esota IP H R ESlowey W, 7- 6 6Mijares H, 5 1⁄3 0Guerrier H, 7 2⁄3 0 0

Nathan S, 8- 0 0 0Inherited runners-scored:Guerrier -0.IBB:offDelcarmeMasterson (Cuddyer).WP:Matmen,Masterson.Umpires:HomFirst, Todd Tichenor; SecoTonyRandazzo.T: : 0.A: 8,

N.Y. Yankees 9, Texas 2 Minnesota 4, Boston 2

Twins benefit from Dice-K’s wildnessYankees now share A.L. East lead with Red SoxMINNEAPOLIS—Daisuke Matsu-

zaka and the rest of the Red Soxrighties tied a modern-dayrecord with six wild pitcheswhile Twins starter KevinSlowey was the picture of con-trol in Minnesota’s 4-2 victoryover Boston.

Matsuzaka (0-3) tied a fran-chise record set 80 years agowith four wild pitches, whilerelievers Manny Delcarmenand Justin Masterson also sentcatcher George Kottaras scram- bling. It was just the fifth timesince 1900 that a team threwsix wild pitches in a game.

“A lot going on around thedirt area,” Red Sox managerTerry Francona said. “George’sCanadian background cameinto play there. He looked like agoalie at times. There were a lotof balls bouncing.”

Slowey (7-1) gave up two runson six hits with five strikeoutsand just one walk in sixinnings.

Speedy Denard Span hadfour hits, a walk and two runsscored for the Twins. Five of the wild pitches came with himon base.

Matsuzaka was all over theplace in his second start off thedisabled list. He gave up threeruns on nine hits in five inningswith three walks and sixstrikeouts.

This was the first time Kot-taras, who is Tim Wakefield’snormal catcher, was behind theplate for a start by Matsuzaka.


ARLINGTON, TEXAS—A.J. Burnett used asimple plan to end six weeks of struggles.

Burnett pitched six shutout innings towin for the first time since April 14,Hideki Matsui homered twice and theNew York Yankees gained a share of theA.L. East lead by beating the TexasRangers 9-2 Wednesday night.

The righthander, who was 0-2 with a6.04 ERA over his past seven starts,said he wanted to stay aggressive againsta hard-hitting Rangers lineup.

“I basically went after t hem,” Burnettsaid. “I didn’t leave anything over theplate. That’s a big difference. When youdon’t make mistakes, they can’tcapitalize.”

Burnett (3-2) allowed three hits,walked four and struck out seven tosnap his longest winless drought sincethe end of the 2005 season.

After winning 18 games with theToronto Blue Jays in 2008, Burnett wonhis first two starts in pinstripes beforehis lengthy slump.

“That’s the A.J. we all know and love,”said Mark Teixeira, who hit his 15thhomer. “It a ll starts with starting pitch-ing. If we get good starting pitching, wehave a chance to win every single nightwith this offense.”

The Yankees, who have won 12 of 15,are tied atop the division with Boston. Itis the first time this season New Yorkhas been in first place in the A.L. East.

“It’s about the team,” Burnett said.“As long as I take a positive step for-ward, the wins will come.”

Derek Jeter was 3-for-4 and reached base five times, and Teixeira added his12th homer in May. The Yankees had 15hits and outscored the first-place Rang-

ers 23-10 in the three-game series.Alex Rodriguez was 7-for-13 with four

RBIs in his first series in Texas sinceadmitting earlier this year that he usedsteroids while playing for the Rangers.For the third straight game, he wasgreeted with loud boos every time hecame to the plate.

Derek Holland (1-2) lost in his secondcareer start, allowing 10 hits and six

runs in five innings.“It’s definitely a little different facing

the Yankees,” Holland said. “Each onewas a tough out.”

Matsui, who was in a 3-for-23 funkcoming into the series, homered on thefirst pitch of the sixth inning from Hol-land. He added a two-run shot in theseventh off Warner Madrigal.


L.M.OTERO/AP

Brett Gardner, right, and the Yankees have won 12 of the past 15 games to climb to the division lead.



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Orioles 12, Blue Jays 10,Toronto AB R H BScutaross 5A.Hill b 6Rios rf 6 0

V.Wellscf 5Linddh 4 0Rolen b 4Millar b 4Barajasc 5 0Bautista lf 5Totals 44 10 12 10

Baltimore AB R H BB.Roberts b 5 0Ad.Jonescf 6 0Markakis rf 6A.Huff b 6Mora b 4Scottdh 4

-C.Izturispr 0 0Pie lf 0a-Reimold ph-lfMoeller c 0b-Zaunph-c 0 0Andinoss 5 4Totals 45 12 18 12

Toronto 100 601 000Baltimore 0 20 010 050

Oneout whenwinningrunforPieinthe8th.b-strucko9th. -ranforScottin the EToronto 7, Baltimore 9.2B:S( ),Bautista(6), B.RobeHR:A.Hill ( ),off Baez;Reimold(4), offWolfe.RBIs:Scu

( 7),Rios ( ),V.Wells(( 6),Bautista(8),B.RoberMarkakis( 9),Scott ( 8)( ),Andino( ).S:Mora.SF:VRunners left in scoring po(Bautista,Lind); BaltimoreGIDP:Moeller.DP:TorontoMillar).

Toronto IP H R EHalladay 7 8Carlson 1⁄3 5

Downs BS, -6 2⁄3Frasor 0B.J.RyanH, 1⁄3Wolfe L, - BS, - 0Baltimore IP H R ER.Hill 1⁄3 6 7Bass 2⁄3 0C.RayWalker 0 0BaezW,4-

Wolfepitchedto battersinrunners-scored:Downs -IBB:offFrasor(Scott).HBP:byCPB:Moeller.Umpires:HomeMarkWegner; Second,Tim

Indians 12, Rays 7Tampa Bay AB R H B I BB S O Avg.B.Uptoncf 4 0 . 9Crawford lf 5 0 0 0 .

Longoria b 5 0 . 6C.Pena b 5 0 0 0 . 4W.Aybar b 4 0 . 74Zobrist ss-rf . 97Dillondh 0 0 0 .000a-Gross ph-dh 0 0 0 0 . 56Kaplerrf 0 0 0 . 97b-Brignac ph-ss 0 0 0 0 . 4M.Hernandez c 5 0 0 0 . 86Totals 39 7 11 6 6 10

Cleveland AB R H B I BB S O Avg.A.Cabrerass 5 0 0 0 . 7Sizemoredh 5 0 .V.Martinezc 4 0 . 6Choorf 4 . 94Jh.Peralta b 4 0 0 . 68DeRosalf 4 0 . 66Crowecf 0 0 0 0 0 0 . 8Garko b 4 0 0 . 69B.Francisco cf-lf 5 4 0 0 . 55J.Carroll b 0 . 0Totals 38 12 14 12 5 4

Tampa Bay 501 100 000 7 1 1 0C leveland 053 0 40 00x 12 14 1

b-fliedoutfor Kaplerinthe 6th.E:Jh.Peralta(4).LOB:TampaBay ,Cleveland8.2B:Zobrist( ),Sizemore ( 0),V.Martinez ( 5), B.Francisco (9).3B:Zobrist( ).HR:Longoria( ),off Z.Jackson;B.Francisco (5), off Sonnanstine; Choo (6), off J.Nelson.RBIs:Longoria (5 ), W.Aybar ( ),Zobrist( 5),Kapler (5),A.Cabrera( 7),Sizemore( 0),V.Martinez ( 4),Choo ( 8),Garko( ),B.Francisco 4 ( 9),J.Carroll( ).SB:Zobrist (5).Runners left in scoring position:TampaBay7 (B.Upton , Dillon, Longoria , Brignac);Cleveland7 (V.Martinez, Sizemore , B.Francisco

,A.Cabrera, Jh.Peralta).

Tampa Bay IP H R ER B B SO N P ERAS onnans tine L, -5 9 8 8 75 7.66J.Nelson 4 4 4 446.4Isringhausen 0 0 0 8 .60

Thayer 0 0 0 0 0 05.06Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO N PERAZ.Jackson 4 8 7 6 4 4 889. 5AquinoW, -0 0 0 480.00Vizcaino S, - 0 0 0 4 40 .80

HBP:by J.Nelson (Garko).WP:Sonnanstine.Umpires:Home,TimWelke;First, JimReynolds;Second, Angel Hernandez;Third, BillWelke.T:

: 6.A: 9, 5(45, 99).

Baltimore 12, Toronto 10, 11 inningsCleveland 12, Tampa Bay 7

O’s rally, extend Jays’ slideSonnanstine’s struggles with Francisco ruin RaysBALTIMORE—The Toronto Blue

Jays did just about everythingnecessary to end their miserable losing streak.

They got a fine performancefrom ace Roy Halladay, reacheddouble figures in runs for the firsttime since May 6 and twice hadan apparently secure lead.

And still, the Baltimore Ori-oles rallied for an unlikely 12-10victory Wednesday.

Nolan Reimold hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the11th inning, providing the Ori-oles with their first three-gamewinning streak of the seasonand extending the Blue Jays’skid to nine games.

“Been a long time since wehad a lot of fun like that,” saidBaltimore manager Dave Trem- bley, shortly after Reimold hadhis postgame interview inter-rupted by a shaving-cream piein the face, courtesy of team-mate Robert Andino.

Baltimore trailed 8-3 whenHalladay left after seven, and10-8 after Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer in the top of the 11th.

But after Luke Scott hit anRBI single off Brian Wolfe (1-1)to put runners at the cornerswith one out in the 11th, Reimoldsent a 1-1 fastball over the wallin left-center, his fourth homerin 13 games since being recalledfrom Class AAA Norfolk.

“I didn’t see the replay, howmuch of the plate it got, but hedefinitely went down and gotit,” Wolfe said.


CLEVELAND—Ben Francisco smiled,shrugged his shoulders and had noexplanation for his success againstTampa Bay righthander AndySonnanstine.

Francisco homered and drove in fourruns for Cleveland and the Indiansearned their first three-game winningstreak of the season by defeating theRays 12-7 Wednesday night.

“It’s a big win for us, to finally getthree straight,” Francisco said. “We’reall feeling confident.”

Francisco extended his dominationagainst Sonnanstine (3-5) with a three-run homer and RBI single as Clevelandovercame a 5-0 deficit. On Mondaynight, the Indians came back from 10-0, beating the Rays with a seven-run ninthinning, 11-10.

“We gave up two huge leads here andhave to do a better job of pitching,” Raysmanager Joe Maddon said.

Greg Aquino (1-0) pitched two score-less innings for the win—Cleveland’ssixth in eight games. It was the right-hander’s first win since June 19, 2006,for Arizona. Luis Vizcaino worked threescoreless innings for his first save sinceSept. 29, 2004, with Milwaukee.

“Those two did a tremendous job run-ning through five innings,” Indiansmanager Eric Wedge said.

The Rays lost their fourth straight forthe first time this season and havedropped 16 in a row in Cleveland since a1-0 win on Sept. 29, 2005. But the Indi-ans are a long way from matching theirteam record for consecutive home winsover a team. They beat the St. LouisBrowns/Baltimore Orioles 27 straighttimes in Cleveland from 1952-54.

Francisco’s three-run homer in

Cleveland’s five-run second was histhird in three at-bats against Sonnan-stine this year and fourth straight off the righthander.

Francisco also homered off him inCleveland on July 10. Francisco is 8-for-9with five homers and 12 RBIs againstthe 26-year-old who grew up in

Wadsworth, Ohio, about 40 milessouthwest of Progressive Field.

“I try not to think about it and don’twant to talk about it too much,” Fran-cisco said, fearful that he may jinx hisstreak. “Some guys you just have suc-cess against and others you don’t.”


MARKDUNCAN/AP

Ben Francisco, above, is 8-for-9 with five homers and 12 RBIs against Andy Sonnanstine.



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Mariners 6, Athletics 1Seattle AB R HI.Suzukirf 4 0Y.Betancourt ss 4 0Beltre b 5 0 0GriffeyJr.dh 4

Branyan b 4Cedeno b 4 0 0Ro.JohnsoncEn.Chavezlf 4F.Gutierrezcf 4 0Totals 36 6 11 6

Oakland AB R HO.Cabrerass 4 0 0K.Suzukic 0 0Hollidaylf 4 0Giambidh 4 0 0Kennedy b 4 0 0Crosby b 4R.Sweeneyrf 0R.Daviscf 0 0Hannahan b 0Totals 32 1 5 1

Seattle 010 002 102Oakland 010 000 00

E:Kennedy( ).LOB:Seattle6, O(5),Ro.Johnson (6),F.Gu( ).HR:Branyan( ),off CaRBIs:Y.Betancourt ( 5), B( 0),F.Gutierrez ( 9),CroSI.Suzuki(4).SF:Y.Betancourt.Runnposition:Seattle4 (Griffey Jr

);Oakland (O.Cabrera)DP:OakR.Sweeney,K.Suzuki).

Seattle IP H RBedardW, - 6 2⁄3 5WhiteH, 1⁄3 0Aardsma 0 0Oakland IP H RCahillL, -5 6 6ZieglerBreslow 0 0Springer 4

Inherited runners-scored:WhZiegler(I.Suzuki).Umpires:HomeHunterWendelstedt;Secon

DeMuth.T: : 7.A: 0,0 ( 5,

Tigers 8, Royals 3Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg.J.Andersonlf 5 4 0 0 . 0Polanco b 5 0 0 . 69Ordonezdh 5 0 0 0 0 . 6Mi.Cabrera b 4 0 0 . 74Grandersoncf 0 0 . 47Inge b 4 0 0 0 0 0 . 74Lairdc 0 0 0 0 . 4Raburn rf 4 0 . 50Everettss 0 . 97Totals 35 8 12 7 2 2

Kansas City AB R H B I B B SO Avg.Maiercf 4 0 0 0 0 0 . 9DeJesus lf 4 0 0 0 . 44Butler b 4 0 0 0 . 8J.Guillen rf 4 0 0 0 0 . 88Jacobsdh 0 0 0 . 57Teahen b 4 0 . 74Callaspo b 4 0 0 0 0 . 06J.Buckc 0 0 0 . 6Lu.Hernandezss 4 0 0 . 00Totals 34 3 8 3 2 9

Detroit 020 033 000 — 8 12 0Kansas City 100 100 100 — 3 8 1

E:Teahen( ).LOB:Detroit4,KansasCity6.3B:DeJesus(4).HR:Mi.Cabrera( 0), off Davies; Polanco ( ), off Davies;Teahen(6),off Porcello.RBIs:J.Anderson ( 0),Polanco ( ),Mi.Cabrera ( 7),Raburn( ), Everett( 7),Butler ( ),Teahen ( 7),Lu.Hernandez( ).SB:J.Anderson( 0),Granderson(7).S:Laird,Everett.Run-nersleftin scoring position:Detroit (Mi.Cabrera,Ordonez);KansasCity (Teahen,Maier,Lu.Hernandez).DP:Detroit (Everett, Polanco, Mi.Cabrera); KansasCity (Callaspo,Lu.Hernandez,Butler),(Lu.Hernandez,Callaspo,Butler).

Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERAPorcello W, 6- 6 4 4 8 .48Seay 2⁄3 0 5. 4Zumaya 1⁄3 0 0 9 .07Rodney 0 0 0 9 .Kansas City IP H R E R BB SO NP ERADavies L, -4 5 2⁄3 0 8 5 9 5.09Ho.Ramirez 0 0 0 0 0 7. 6R.Colon 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0.00Farnsworth 0 0 0 0 4 .7J.Cruz 0 0 0 0 0 0 .00

Ho.Ramirezpitchedto batter in the6th.Inheritedrunners-scored:Zumaya - ,Ho.Ramirez -0,R.Colon

- .Umpires:Home,BillHohn;First,BruceDreckman;Second, PaulEmmel;Third, AngelCampos.T: :4 .A:

6,568( 8, 77).

Seattle 6, Oakland 1Detroit 8, Kansas City 3

Branyan’s homer boosts BedardCabrera, Polanco power Porcello OAKLAND—Manager DonWakamatsu is finally seeinghis Seattle Mariners do the lit-tle things at the plate: workingthe count, making adjustments,taking consistent swings.

It was a pretty sight for ErikBedard. Russell Branyan hit ago-ahead two-run homer in thesixth inning, Bedard won forthe first time in five starts andSeattle beat the Oakland Ath-letics 6-1 on Wednesday toavoid a sweep.

“That was nice to put up acouple hits in a row,” Bedardsaid. “Hopefully it will continueand we’ll win more games.”

Bedard (3-2) and A’s rookieTrevor Cahill (2-5) both hadstrong outings, similar to theirmatchup here in April. Bedardhadn’t won since April 24 againstthe Angels in Anaheim.

Oakland’s Bobby Crosbysnapped a career-long 72-game,243 at-bat homerless streak witha drive in the second that tied itat 1, but Oakland could do littleelse against Bedard. Crosby’slast longball came on Aug. 12,2008, against Tampa Bay.

Crosby’s homer came in his99th at-bat of the year.

“My swing’s feeling good,that’s the thing,” he said. “Afterwe went on the road, thatTampa Bay series I reallystruggled and didn’t feel thatgreat. Came back here andworked on some things andstarted to feel a lot better.Today’s just a bonus to hit ahome run.”


KANSAS CITY—Rick Porcello is comfort-able now, all settled in after a shaky startto his big league career.

Porcello won his fifth straight start,Placido Polanco homered and drove inthree runs and the Detroit Tigers beatthe slumping Kansas City Royals 8-3 onWednesday.

Porcello (6-3) allowed two runs andfour hits in six innings. The 20-year-oldrookie lost three of his first four starts.But in his last five, covering 30 innings,he’s allowed five runs and struck out 20while beating Minnesota, Cleveland,Oakland, Colorado and Kansas City. HisERA over the span is 1.50.

“He’s been watching film, watchingtape of the hitters,” manager Jim Leylandsaid. “He does his homework. He wants tolearn, and that’s always a good sign.”

The righthander is the first Detroitrookie to record five wins in May sinceat least 1954. He’s the first Tigers pitcherwith five wins in May since JohnDoherty in 1994.

“I just think I’m doing a better job of get-ting my breaking ball over for strikes andkind of giving hitters a d ifferent look thatway, to keep them of my fastball a little bit,” Porcello said. “I think that’s the big-gest thing so far. I’m just going to keepworking on it and getting better.”

Porcello said he is gaining confidencewith each win.

“I’ve had a couple of starts now and I’mable to settle in a little better out there andfocus. And all the jitters are kind of gone,”he said. “I think I’m getting a little morecomfortable with each start.”

In taking two of three from the Roy-als, the Tigers lost only to Zack Greinkeand increased their lead over K.C. in theA.L. Central to four games. The Royals,

after a promising April and early May,have lost 13 of 18.

Bench coach John Gibbons managedthe Royals while Trey Hillman served aone-game suspension imposed by MajorLeague Baseball for spitting in the faceof umpire Paul Emmel on Monday.

“Porcello was very good,” Gibbons said.“He’s got that dominating sinking fastball.Sometimes, it is tough to do anything withthat. He comes as advertised. He’s a bigarm out of high school, a young kid thatgot here fast. He’s impressive.”

Josh Anderson, the Tigers’ leadoff

hitter, had four hits. He singled in RyanRaburn in the fifth before Polanco con-nected against Kyle Davies (2-4) to giveDetroit a 5-2 lead.

Miguel Cabrera clubbed a toweringhome run off a 3-2 pitch from Daviesleading off the second.

Davies gave up eight runs and 10 hitsin 5 2-3 innings, letting the leadoff batterreach every time he went to the mound.Three of the runs were unearned because of third baseman Mark Tea-hen’s error in the three-run sixth.


ORLINWAGNER/AP

Placido Polanco drove in three runs and had his first HR of the season.



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NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 3, Brewers 2St.Louis AB R HBr.RyanssDuncanlf 4 0Pujols b 0 0Stavinoharf

Mottep 0 0 0D.Reyesp 0 0 0Franklinp 0 0 0Barden b 0 0LaRuec 4 0Thurston b 4 0Wellemeyerp 0 0T.Millerp 0 0 0C.Perezp 0 0 0a-K.Greeneph 0Rasmuscf 0 0Schumakercf-rf 0Totals 30 3 7 3

Milwaukee AB R HCounsell b 5 0Hardyss 5Braunlf 4 0 0Fielder b 4 0M.CameroncfCatalanottorf 0b-McGehee ph-rf 0Gamel b 0 0Kendall c 0 0Coffeyp 0 0 0Stetterp 0 0 0c-Gerutph 0 0M.Parrap 0 0Mi.Riverac 0 0Totals 36 2 8 2

St.Louis 101 001 00Milwaukee 000 200 00

a-grounded outforC.PerezCatalanottoin the8th. c-po9th.E:Pujols(6).LOB:St.LouisBr.Ryan(5), Stavinoha( )3B:Catalanotto( ).RBIs:StavinCatalanotto ( ).SF:Stavinoha.Ruingposition:St.Louis 4(Schu

);Milwaukee5 (Gamel,BMilwaukee (Hardy,Fielde

St.Louis IP H R

Wel lemeyer W, 5-4 5 1⁄3T.MillerH,4 1⁄3 0C.PerezH, 1⁄3 0MotteH, 0D.ReyesH,8 2⁄3 0Franklin S, - 1⁄3Milwaukee IP H RM.Parra L, -6 6 2⁄3 7Coffey 1⁄3 0Stetter 0 0

Inherited runners-scored:T.MCoffey -0.IBB:offM.Parra(PHome, Paul Schrieber; FChadFairchild; Third, PauT(4 ,900).

Cubs 5, Pirates 2Pittsburgh AB R H BI BB SO Avg.Morganlf 5 0 0 0 . 86Delw.Young b 4 0 0 0 . 94McLouthcf 5 0 0 0 0 . 57Ad.LaRoche b 0 0 . 8An.LaRoche b 0 0 0 0 . 97Moss rf 4 0 0 0 . 6R.Vazquezss 4 0 0 . 4Jaramilloc 4 0 0 0 0 0 . 7Dukep 0 0 0 . 50J.Chavezp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---S.Burnettp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000c-F.Sanchezph 0 0 0 0 0 . 6Totals 34 2 8 1 5 8

Chicago AB R H BI B B SO Avg.A.Soriano lf 5 0 0 0 . 5Theriotss 0 0 0 . 87Bradley rf 0 . 00D.Lee b 0 0 0 0 . 4Re.Johnsoncf 4 0 0 . 9Sotoc 4 0 0 . 6Freel b 0 0 0 0 . 5Fontenot b 0 0 0 0 .Blanco b 4 0 0 . 50Zambranop 0 0 0 . 6

A.Guzmanp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000a-Hoffpauirph 0 0 0 0 0 . 78Marmolp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---b-Foxph 0 0 0 .000Greggp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Totals 34 5 12 5 2 3

Pittsburgh 000 100 100 — 2 8 1Chicago 200 000 03x — 5 12 1

a-poppedout forA.Guzmanin the7th. b-doubledforMarmolinthe 8th. c-walkedforS.Burnettin the9th.E:Delw.Young( ), A.Soriano(4).LOB:Pittsburgh 0,Chicago 8.2B:A.Soriano( 0),Blanco( ), Fox( ).3B:Bradley ( ).HR:Re.Johnson ( ), off J.Chavez.RBIs:R.Vazquez(7),Bradley( 4),Re.Johnson ( 0), Blanco( ),Fox( ).S:Theriot.Runnersleftin scoringposi-tion:Pittsburgh4 (Duke , An.LaRoche ); Chicago 4(Soto,Re.Johnson, D.Lee, A.Soriano).DP:Pittsburgh

(An.LaRoche,Delw.Young, Ad.LaRoche); Chicago(Bradley,Blanco, D.Lee).

Pittsburgh IP H R ER B B SO NP ERADuke 7 8 05 .75J.Chavez L, 0- 1⁄3 0 0 7 .70S.Burnett 2⁄3 0 0 8 .Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERAZambrano 61⁄3 7 6 4 4.A.Guzman 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 8 .05MarmolW, - 0 0 0 7 .4GreggS,7-8 0 0 0 5.

Inherited runners-scored:S.Burnett - .IBB:off Zambrano (Ad.LaRoche).WP:Zambrano.Umpires:Home, Mark Carlson; First, Tim Tschida; Second,Bob Davidson; Third, Jeff Nelson.T: : 8.A: 8, 4(4 , 0).

St. Louis 3, Milwaukee 2Chicago Cubs 5, Pittsburgh 2

Atypical cleanup hitter lifts CardZambrano likely to be suspended for tantrumMILWAUKEE—Nick Stavinoha

said all the right things whenasked about Cardinals managerTony La Russa’s preference touse veterans over rookies.

He did lose his composure a bit when asked if he was sure hedidn’t belong in the cleanup role.

“I’m definitely not your typi-cal cleanup hitter, that’s forsure,” he said with a smile.

Maybe not, but the 27-year-oldoutfielder with 90 career at-batshad two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run to lead St. Louis to a3-2 win over the MilwaukeeBrewers on Wednesday, push-ing the Cardinals back into firstin the N.L. Central.

Stavinoha, who hit his firstcareer homer in Tuesdaynight’s 8-1 win, certainly won’t be protecting slugger AlbertPujols once outfielder RyanLudwick returns, but La Russawas pleased with his effort.

“Albert will be happy to getLudwick behind him, butStavinoha gives you a chance because he’s so competitive,”the manager said.

St. Louis has won seven of itslast nine and hasn’t allowedmore than three runs in anygame in the stretch.

Cardinals starter Todd Wel-lemeyer (5-4) and the bullpenshowcased the best team ERAin the majors (3.58) by silencingthe struggling Brewers, whostruck out 27 times in the three-game series and have lost fiveof six to drop out of first for thefirst time in two weeks.


CHICAGO—Carlos Zambrano’s tantrumkept escalating. The emotional ace of theChicago Cubs went wild, throwing a ball into the outfield, heaving his gloveand then whacking a dugout drink dis-penser with a bat.

It was an outpouring of angerWednesday that likely will lead to a sus-pension for the excitable righthander.

As he argued a close play at the plate,Zambrano appeared to nudge umpireMark Carlson and was ejected.

That set off the 6-foot-5, 255-poundrighthander in the seventh inning of theCubs’ 5-2 win over the PittsburghPirates.

“I overexaggerated after that play tothrow the ball and to do the other things,you know,” Zambrano said after thegame. “Hopefully MLB will review theplay and we’ll see what happens.”

With the Cubs leading 2-1 and Zam- brano closing in on his 100th careerwin, Nyjer Morgan led off the seventhwith a single to left and went to thirdwhen the ball got by Alfonso Soriano fora two-base error.

When a Zambrano wild pitch bounded a short distance from catcherGeovany Soto, the speedy Morgan broke for the plate. Zambrano went tocover and took the throw. Morgan slidas Zambrano blocked the plate andCarlson called him safe.

Zambrano jumped up, argued the calland appeared to make contact withCarlson, prompting the ejection.

He then pointed in Carlson’s face andgave him the ejection sign.

Zambrano wasn’t finished. He threwa ball i nto left, slammed his glove againsta dugout fence and whacked the drinkdispenser on his way to the clubhouse.

“I apologize to him. Like I say, after he

kicked me out, I should have gone to theclubhouse and kept watching the game,”Zambrano said. “I apologize to throwthe ball and do other things.

“I should have control of myself inthat situation.”

Carlson was not available for commentafter the game.

It was the Cubs’ second run-in with thecrew in the series. Lefty Ted Lilly wasejected Monday by Bob Davidson from agame in which he wasn’t even pitchingafter questioning a ball-strike call fromthe dugout.

Earlier this season, outfielder MiltonBradley was suspended after an angrydispute with Larry Vanover.

The suspension was later reducedfrom two games to one.

“I’m the only calm, cool, collected one

around here it seems,” said Cubs man-ager Lou Piniella who’s been known tothrow bases and kick dirt during tan-trums. “Just kidding.”

Piniella said he would meet withZambrano today.

“He’s got to tone it down a little,” Pin-iella said. “He cares, but gosh you canargue a little bit, get your point across tothe umpire that he thought the runnerwas out and just get back and go out andpitch.”

Morgan said he was safe because he beat Soto’s throw by getting his arm in before Zambrano tagged him.

“I just reacted and just ran,” Morgansaid. “I was still safe. I don’t know whichhand it was. I was in there way beforethe ball got there.”


CHARLESREXARBOGAST/AP

Carlos Zambrano, right, got in the face of umpire Mark Carlson during his tirade.



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528



NATIONAL LEAGUE

Reds 6, Astros 1Houston AB R H BBourncfTejadass 4 0Berkman b 0 0

Ca.Lee lf 4 0 0Pence rf 0Keppinger b 0Maysonet b 0 0Quinteroc 0F.Paulinop 0 0Ariasp 0 0 0a-Michaels ph 0 0Sampsonp 0 0 0Totals 28 1 5 1Cincinnati AB R H BTaverascf 4HairstonJr. b 4Votto b 4L.Nix lf 4Bruce rf 4Ale.Gonzalez ss 4 0 0A.Rosales b 4 0 0Haniganc 0Arroyop 4 0Totals 35 6 11 6

Houston 100 000 000Cinc inna ti 101 102 01x

a-poppedoutforAriasinthE:Quintero( ).LOB:HoustonTejada( 7),Arroyo( ). BJr.(6),off F.Paulino;BruceRBIs:Berkman ( 8), Hairs4 ( 9).SB:Bourn ( 6). CSF.Paulino.SF:Berkman.Runners left in scoring pos(Tejada,Ca.Lee);CincinnaArroyo).Runnersmoved up:Tejada,BGIDP:Berkman,Arroyo.DP:Houston (Keppinger,Cincinnati (HairstonJr.,A

Houston IP H R EF.Paulino L, -4 6 7 5Arias 0SampsonCincinnati IP H R E

ArroyoW, 7- 9 5Umpires:Home,Mike Estabman;Second, C.B.BucknorT: :08.A: 7,60 (4 , 9).

Dodgers 8, Rockies 6Los Angeles AB R H B I B B S O Avg.Pierre lf 5 0 .404Loretta b 0 .Belisariop 0 0 0 0 0 .000Ohmanp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500Broxtonp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Hudson b 4 0 0 . 47Loney b 5 0 4 0 . 9Martinc 5 0 0 0 0 . 6Ethier rf 0 0 0 . 57Kempcf 0 0 . 96J.Castross 4 0 0 0 . 85

Kershawp 0 0 0 0 . 8a-Blake ph- b 0 0 0 . 07Totals 35 8 12 7 4 6

Colorado AB R H BI B B SO Avg.Fowlercf 0 0 . 66Tulowitzkiss 5 0 0 0 0 . 7Helton b 4 0 0 0 . 7Murtonlf 4 0 0 . 78c-Hawpeph 0 0 0 0 0 .Spilborghs rf 0 . 7Atkins b 0 0 0 0 . 95Corpasp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---R.Floresp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Embreep 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Streetp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---b-S.Smithph 0 0 . 7Barmes b 0 0 . 4P.Phillipsc 0 .500Jimenezp 0 0 0 0 0 .Stewart b 0 0 0 0 0 . 87Totals 31 6 7 5 8 9

Los Angeles 110 000 510 8 12 0Colorado 001 200 003 6 7 1

a-struck outfor Kershawin the7th. b-tripledforStreetin the9th.c-groundedoutfor Murtoninthe9th.E:Jimenez( ).LOB:LosAngeles6,Colo-rado 7.2B:Pierre ( 0),Loney( 0), Murton (5),P.Phillips ( ).3B:S.Smith( ).HR:Spilborghs(4),offKershaw.RBIs:Pierre ( 0),Loretta(8),Loney4 ( 6), Helton( ),Spilborghs ( ), S.Smith( ),P.Phillips ( ).SB:Ethier ( ).CS:Fowler (4).S:Kershaw, Jimenez.Runners leftin scoringposition:LosAngeles4 (Pierre,J.Castro, Martin,Belisario);Colorado (Tulowitzki,Hawpe ).DP: LosAngeles (Loretta,Hudson,Loney);Colorado(Jimenez,Tulowitzki, Helton),(Jimenez, Barmes),(Tulowitzki,Barmes, Helton).

Los Angeles IP H R ER B B SO N P ERAKershaw W, - 6 4 4 4 98 4. 4Belisario 4 .4Ohman 0 0 0 55.84

Broxton 8 .50Colorado IP H R ER BB SO N PERAJimenez L, -6 6 2⁄3 9 5 4 5 09 4. 7Corpas 0 0 86.65R.Flores 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 80.00Embree 0 7.6Street 0 0 0 0 7 . 6

Corpaspitchedto batters inthe 7th. Belisariopitchedto batter inthe 9th.Ohmanpitchedto

batterinthe9th.Inheritedrunners-scored: Ohman - , Broxton - , Corpas - , R.Flores

- .HBP:by Embree (Ethier).Balk:Kershaw.Umpires:Home,Scott Barry;First, TedBarrett;Second,Tim McClelland; Third, AndyFletcher.T:

: .A: , 7 (50,449).

Cincinnati 6, Houston 1L.A. Dodgers 8, Colorado 6

Again, Bruce shines on May 2Pierre steps up as L.A.’s spark plugCINCINNATI— Jay Bruce thought

about his major league debutwith the Cincinnati Reds, whenhe got three hits and had 17,000fans screaming his name.

On the one-year anniversary,he did it all again.

Bruce homered twice andtripled home another runWednesday night, and BronsonArroyo pitched a five-hitter tohelp the Cincinnati Reds beatthe Houston Astros 6-1 for athree-game sweep on the out-fielder’s special day.

“I was telling somebody earlier:It’s awesome,” Bruce said, refer-ring to his success on May 27.

Bruce was in a 1-for-18 slumpwhen he hit a solo shot off FelipePaulino (1-4) in the fourth, get-ting the 17,602 fans to yell“BRUCE!” as he rounded the bases. The cheer was even louderwhen his two-run homer off theright-hander made it 5-1 in thesixth and put the Reds in positionfor their first sweep of the Astrosin Cincinnati since May 2004.

Both homers came on first-pitch fastballs.

“I was just trying to put the ball in play,” Paulino said. “Hegot me. I feel really great now.I’m healthy, I know I can throwmy pitches. What happenedtoday—it happens. Two pitches,two homers. Nothing I can do.”

The 22-year-old outfieldercompleted his breakout gamewith a run-scoring triple in theeighth off Chris Sampson. Cin-cinnati has won four in a row.


DENVER— Juan Pierre has stepped to thefore as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offen-sive catalyst since becoming a fixture inthe lineup in place of suspended out-fielder Manny Ramirez.

He was at it again Wednesday, joiningMark Loretta to hit successive RBI sin-gles with two outs during a seventh-inning rally, and the Dodgers then heldoff the Colorado Rockies 8-6 for a three-game sweep.

“J.P. had that base hit off the second baseman’s glove, and we were off to theraces after that,” Dodgers manager JoeTorre said. “He had some injuries last yearand lost his starting job. A lot of stuff wenton for this kid that he handled and it’s cer-tainly paying dividends for us now.”

Losing pitcher Ubaldo Jimenezacknowledged what other pitchers fac-ing Pierre have already discovered—he’sone tough out.

“He was battling out there,” Jimenezsaid. “I was throwing inside, away. Thelast pitch was a good pitch, but it washigh.”

In the 19 games Pierre has started inleft field since Ramirez’s suspension, hehas batted .421 (35 for 83). He went3-for-5 with two RBI for a secondstraight game and hit .500 in the seriesagainst the Rockies (8-for-16) with a pairof triples, a double and seven RBI.

Pierre did not comment following thegame but one of his teammates hadplenty to say.

“J.P. has been on fire ever since he’s been starting,” winning pitcher ClaytonKershaw said. “But everybody is step-ping up. I can’t say enough about thisteam. I give all the credit to them. They bailed me out today.”

— The Associated PressDAVIDZALUBOWSKI/AP

Dodgers OF Juan Pierre is batting .421 in 19 games as a starter since Manny Ramirez’s suspension.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets7,Nationals4

Washington AB R H BI BB SO Avg.C.Guzmanss 4 0 . 40N.Johnson b 5 0 0 . 7Zimmerman b 0 0 .Dunnrf 4 0 . 8Willinghamlf 0 . 8Belliard b 0 0 0 0 . 64Maxwellcf 0 0 0 . 50b-W.Harrisph-cf 0 0 0 0 0 . 6Nievesc 4 0 0 0 0 . 8Zimmermannp 0 0 0 .000Villonep 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---K.Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---

Colomep 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Hanrahanp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---d-A.Hernandez ph 0 0 0 0 0 . 78Totals 32 4 5 4 7 15

NewYork AB R H BI B B SO Avg.Pagancf 4 0 .Castillo b 0 0 . 95D.Wright b 5 0 0 4 . 45Sheffieldlf 0 . 95Putzp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---c-Valdezph 0 0 0 0 0 .000Fr.Rodriguezp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Dan.Murphy b 4 5 0 . 6R.Castroc 4 0 0 0 . 5F.Martinezrf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .000R.Martinezss 0 0 .J.Santanap 0 0 0 0 .067a-Tatis ph 0 0 0 0 0 . 75Parnellp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Felicianop 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Reedlf 0 0 0 0 . 98Totals 33 7 11 7 7 12

Washington 000 300 001 4 5 0NewYork 201 002 20x 7 1 1 1

a-lined into a doubleplay forJ.Santanain the6th.b-groundedoutfor Maxwellin the8th.c-groundedoutforPutzinthe8th.d-fliedoutforHanrahaninthe9th.E:Dan.Murphy(4).LOB:Washington8,New York9. B:Sheffield(5), Dan.Murphy (5),R.Castro(5), R.Martinez( ).HR:Dunn( 6), offJ.Santana;Dan.Murphy(4), off Zimmermann.RBIs:C.Guzman ( ), N.Johnson ( 6),Dunn (4 ),Sheffield ( 9),Dan.Murphy5 ( 7).CS:Castillo( ).Runnersleftinscoringposition:Washington (Will-ingham,N.Johnson );New York6 (R.Castro , F.Martinez

,Valdez ).GIDP:Belliard.DP:Washington (C.Guzman, Belliard); New York(Putz,R.Martinez, Dan.Murphy).

Washington IP H R E R BB S O N P E RAZimmermannL, - 5 8 5 5 8 00 6 .07Villone 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 9 0.00K.Wells 2⁄3 0 4 6. 5Colome 1 1 0 0 1 2 1711.25

Hanrahan 0 0 5.64NewYork IP H R ER BB SO N P ERAJ.Santana W, 7- 6 6 0 .77ParnellH, 9 2⁄3 0 0 0 .FelicianoH, 7 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 4 .4Putz 0 0 0 0 .4Fr.Rodriguez 0 0 0 0.79

Zimmermannpitchedto battersinthe 6th.K.Wellspitchedto battersinthe7th.Inherited runners-scored:Villone -0, K.Wells -0,Colome - ,Feliciano -0.IBB:offColome(Sheffield).Balk:Colome.Umpires:Home, SamHolbrook; First, AdrianJohnson;Second,Larry Vanover;Third,DanIassogna.T: : .A:40, 7 (4 ,800).

Marlins 6, Phillies 2Florida AB R H BBonifacioss 5 0 0Coghlan lf 4Uggla b 4Cantu b 4 0 0Hermidarf 4 0 0B.Carrollrf 0 0 0C.Rosscf 4Jo.Bakerc 0Helms b 0Badenhopp 0 0Meyerp 0 0

Calerop 0 0 0Nunezp 0 0 0b-R.Paulinoph 0Lindstromp 0 0 0Totals 34 6 10 6

Phi lade lphia AB R H BRollins ss 4 0 0Victorinocf 0 0Taschnerp 0 0 0Utley b 4 0Howard b 4 0Ibanez lf 4 0 0Werth rf-cf 4 0Feliz b 4 0Ruizc 4Myersp 0Condreyp 0 0 0a-Stairs ph-rf

-Bruntlett pr 0 0 0Totals 34 2 8 2

Florida 000 113 001Philadelphia 0 00 010 010

a-homeredfor Condrey intNunezin the9th. -ran foCantu (5).LOB:Florida 4, PCoghlan( ), Uggla(8),C.RFeliz( ).HR:Uggla (9), ofoffMyers;Ruiz( ), offBNunez.RBIs:Uggla ( ),C( ),R.Paulino(7),Ruiz (9( ),Rollins(7), Victorino(CHelms.Runners left in scFlorida (Bonifacio ); PhWerth,Howard ,RollinsDPBonifacio,Cantu),(Uggla, Bdelphia (Feliz,Utley, How

Florida IP H R EBadenhop W, - 5 5Meyer 1⁄3 0 0Calero 2⁄3 0 0Nunez

Lindstrom 0Phi lade lphia IP H REMyers L, 4- 5 2⁄3 7Condrey 1⁄3Taschner

Inherited runners-scored:Umpires:Home, Wally BelSecond,MarvinHudson; Th

:57.A:45, 56(4 ,647).

N.Y. Mets 7, Washington 4 Florida 6, Philadelphia 2

Badenhop solidin first start;Myers injured

Another replay helps Mets seize division lead

PHILADELPHIA—Burke Baden-hop might find a permanenthome in the starting rotationwith more starts like his firstone.

Badenhop pitched five sharpinnings, Dan Uggla and CodyRoss homered and the FloridaMarlins beat the PhiladelphiaPhillies 6-2 on Wednesdaynight.

Making his first start of theseason, Badenhop (3-2) allowedone run and five hits. MattLindstrom retired Jimmy Roll-ins on a liner to center with the bases loaded to end it.

“Badenhop was fantastic,”Marlins manager Fredi Gonza-lez said. “He set up the wholegame for us. To give us fiveinnings was great.”

Brett Myers (4-3) gave up fiveruns and seven hits in 5 2/3innings for Philadelphia beforeleaving with right hip inflam-mation. He allowed just sixruns in 21 innings in his previ-ous three starts.

Myers said his hip has been bothering him for a while, buthe doesn’t expect to miss astart.

“Today was the worst it’s been,” he said. “It was hard tofinish pitches. It’s tough, butyou have to power through it. Iwasn’t going to quit. I hope it’snothing serious.”


NEW YORK—Daniel Murphy and theNew York Mets have become big fansof instant replay.

Murphy’s tiebreaking homer, a calloverturned by umpires in yet anotherreview benefiting New York, led anuncharacteristically wild Johan San-tana to a 7-4 win over the WashingtonNationals on Wednesday night.

Five times this season a disputedhome run call has gone to video replayduring a Mets game—four in the pastfive contests. Two were reversed, andall five rulings ended up favoring NewYork.

“This game is a weird game,” GarySheffield said. “They seem to be goingour way. I’ve seen it a couple times andI still couldn’t tell.”

Murphy had a career-best five RBIsand Sheffield hit an early two-run double off rookie Jordan Zimmermann(2-2), helping the injury-ravaged Metsfinish a t hree-game sweep.

Despite playing without Carlos Del-gado, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran(for two games), New York has over-taken Philadelphia for the N.L. Eastlead by winning five of six following afour-game skid.

The only lowlight: Top prospect Fer-nando Martinez, playing his second big league game, failed to run out aninfield popup that was dropped. The20-year-old was booed his next timeup.

“I promise that will never happenagain,” he said. “I’m sorry, to my fans.”

Adam Dunn hit a mammoth homerestimated at 465 feet for woeful Wash-ington, which fell 20 games below .500only 46 games into the season.

— The Associated PressKATHYWILLENS/AP

Daniel Murphy’s sixth inning home run was finally ruled as such after umpires gathered to watch replays.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE

Padres8,Diamondbacks5

SanDiego AB R H BI BB S O Avg.Gilesrf 4 0 . 90Eckstein b 4 . 9Hairstoncf 5 0 0 . 6Ad.Gonzalez b 4 0 . 85Kouzmanoff b 0 . 4Headleylf 0 0 . 7C.Burkess 0 0 0 0 . 9a-Maciasph 0 0 0 0 . 78Jo.Wilsonss 0 0 0 0 0 0 . 67Blancoc 4 0 0 0 . 8Peavyp 0 0 0 0 .095

Gregersonp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---b-Gwynnph 0 0 0 0 0 . 50Mujicap 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000G.Burkep 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Bellp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Totals 34 8 11 7 5 9

Arizona AB R H BI B B SO Avg.G.Parracf 4 0 0 . 9Montero c 4 0 0 . 9Vasquezp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Rauchp 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---c-C.Youngph 0 0 0 0 0 . 7J.Uptonrf 4 0 0 . 5S.Drewss 0 0 . 09Reynolds b- b 4 0 0 0 0 . 57Tracy b 0 0 0 0 . 84L.Rosales p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Snyderc 0 0 0 0 .Byrnes lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 . 0R.Roberts b- b 4 0 0 0 . 56Bucknerp 0 0 0 0 .000Zavadap 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---Ojeda b 0 0 0 . 7Totals 36 5 11 5 1 7

SanDiego 200 003 030 8 1 1 0Arizona 000 003 101 5 1 1 2

a-struck outfor C.Burkein the8th. b-groundedinto afielder’schoicefor Gregersonin the8th. c-flied outforRauchinthe9th.E:L.Rosales( ),J.Upton( ).LOB:SanDiego5,Arizona6.2B:G.Parra( ),S.Drew(5),Ojeda(5).3B:Giles( ),G.Parra( ), J.Upton(4).HR:Ad.Gonzalez( 8),off Buckner.RBIs:Eckstein( 4), Ad.Gonzalez ( 4),Kouzmanoff( 9),Headley( 9),Blanco(6),G.Parra ( ),J.Upton ( 9),S.Drew( 5).SB:J.Upton(5).SF:Kouz-manoff, G.Parra.Runners left in scoring position: SanDiego4(Hairston,C.Burke,Giles );Arizona (Tracy,Snyder, C.Young).DP:Arizona (S.Drew, R.Roberts,Tracy),(Ojeda,S.Drew, Reynolds).

SanDiego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERAPeavyW,5-5 61⁄3 8 4 4 5 95 .67GregersonH, 6 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 4 .54

Mujica 0 0 0 9 .59G.Burke 2⁄3 0 0 7 .50BellS, 4- 4 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 0.46Arizona IP H R ER BB SO N P ERABucknerL, - 5 7 5 5 5 95 7. 6Zavada 0 0 0 0.00L.Rosales 4 0 6 6.Vasquez 0 0 0 0 6.46Rauch 0 0 0 6 6.86

Bucknerpitchedto battersinthe6th.L.Rosalespitchedto5 batters inthe8th.Inherited runners-scored:Gregerson - , Bell -0, Zavada - , Vasquez - .IBB:off L.Rosales (Ad.Gonzalez).Umpires:Home, ChuckMeriwether; First, LazDiaz; Second, EricCooper;Third,MikeReilly.T: :04.A: 8, 64(48,65 ).

San Diego 8, Arizona 5

Gonzalez hits league-best 18th HR

PHOENIX—One day after battling theflu, Adrian Gonzalez didn’t need a notefrom his doctor to return to the SanDiego Padres’ lineup.

“He was a ‘go’ from the time that hewalked into the clubhouse, poked hishead in here and poked his thumb in theair,” manager Bud Black said.

Gonzalez soon added another poke—his major league-leading 18th homerun—to lift the Padres to an 8-5 victoryover the Arizona Diamondbacks onWednesday night, their 11th win in 12games.

David Eckstein added three hits andan RBI as the Padres took two of three

in a wild series between N.L. Westrivals. San Diego rallied from a six-rundeficit to win the opener, then nearlyclimbed out of a six-run hole in the sec-ond game.

On Wednesday night, San Diegoopened a 5-0 lead behind Jake Peavy(5-5), then watched Arizona pull within5-4 before putting the game away withthree runs in the eighth inning, takingadvantage of four walks and two errors.

The Diamondbacks cut the deficit to8-5 with two outs in the ninth, forcingBlack to call on ace closer Heath Bell,who got the final out for his majorleague-leading 14th save in 14 chances.

“That’s how we play in this division,”said Gonzalez, who also singled anddrove in three runs. “We play each othertough. There are no easy wins.”

San Diego CEO Jeff Moorad, a formerDiamondbacks executive, dropped inon Black’s postgame interview.

“Just keep winning series,” Mooradsaid, grasping his manager’s hand.

“You got it, brother,” Black said.The Diamondbacks just keep losing

series—especially at home, where theyhave dropped seven of nine series,including all three under new managerA.J. Hinch.


AMERICAN LEAGUE

H OM E G AM ES ROA D GA ME

DATE S TOTAL AVG DATES TOTAL

Ba lt im ore 24 515, 349 21, 473 2 2 6 07,753 Boston 23 8 69,461 37,803 23 7 33,650 Chicago White Sox 22 561,637 25,529 23 525,926 Cleveland 20 418,0 44 20,902 27 766,983 Detroit 22 613,589 27, 890 22 639,479 Ka nsa s Ci ty 26 571, 581 21,9 84 20 573 ,216 L .A . A ng el s 22 8 94, 411 4 0, 655 2 3 6 91,6 54Mi nn esot a 2 8 7 27, 445 2 5,98 0 19 5 4 6, 752 N.Y. Yankees 23 1,026,625 44,636 23 763,699Oakland 23 3 98, 867 17, 342 20 527,292 Seattle 24 653,625 27, 234 23 577,086 Tampa Bay 21 501,79 4 23, 895 27 651, 524 Texas 22 568,184 25,827 23 572,37 Toronto 22 487,138 22,143 27 629,71A L To ta ls 32 2 8 ,8 07, 75 0 27, 35 3 3 22 8, 807,10 4 2 7, 351

NATIONAL LEAGUE

H OM E G AM ES ROA D GA ME

DATE S TOTAL AVG DATES TOTAL

Arizona 26 704,399 27,092 20 5 10, 210 Atlanta 23 551,18 4 23,965 22 677,177 Chicago Cubs 21 828,469 39,451 23 876,570 Ci nci nnat i 24 533 ,181 22, 216 21 5 29, 849 Colorado 19 526,262 27,698 26 719,779 Florida 23 412,786 17,947 24 686,156 Houston 24 719, 279 29,970 21 5 04,057 L.A. Dodgers 23 1,014,063 44 ,090 24 758,756Mi lwau ke e 21 763 ,552 3 6, 36 0 2 5 7 77,416

N.Y. Mets 22 852, 378 3 8,744 23 790,195Phi ladelphia 22 949,608 43 ,164 22 684,433 Pi tt sburgh 20 313 ,3 65 15, 66 8 26 8 00 ,0 55 Sa n D ieg o 23 597,758 25,9 89 2 3 8 27, 813 San Francisco 23 782,479 34,021 22 722,488 St . Louis 26 1, 05 0,9 68 40, 42 2 2 0 5 05,99 4Wash in gto n 24 4 83 ,872 20 ,161 2 2 713 ,301 NL Totals 364 11,083,603 30,449 364 11,084,249 30,451

MLB Totals 686 19,891,353 28,996 686 19,891,353 28,996

Attendance ReportThrough May 26

Padres SS Chris Burke dives to grab a grounder by Arizona’s Ryan Roberts, and turns it into an out.PAULCONNORS/AP

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SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009NFL

Q&A with ... Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams

‘Stats only matter if we’re winning’Despite sharing the workload with

rookie Jonathan Stewart, Panthers run-ning back DeAngelo Williams broke outin 2008, rushing for 1,515 yards and scor-ing a league-high 20 TDs in his third sea-son. At the end of Carolina’s OTA sessionWednesday, Williams talked to SportingNews Today ’s Vinnie Iyer about the newnickname for the team’s running combo,his plans for this season and why he likesDwight Howard and the Orlando Magicover LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

Q: We’ve heard you andStewart would like to be

called “Double Trouble”? Areyou committed to thatnickname this season?

A: We are. We’re “DoubleTrouble.” We’re committed

to it. It’s trademarked by us, andnot by somebody else. So, yeah,we’re officially “Double Trouble,”and we’ll let that be a thing.

Q: Is this a r esponse toTitans’ running backs

Chris Johnson and LenDaleWhite possibly “stealing” your“Smash and Dash” nicknamelast season?

A: No. (We’re) professional. Wedon’t take it to heart or

anything, but we did in a sense,make (it) “Smash and Dash” fromour Monday night performance(when Williams and Stewartcombined for 301 yards rushingagainst the Buccaneers in Decem- ber). But I’m not going to trash talk.

Q: How do you look back onwhat was a smashing

success of a season?

A: I don’t know if we canencore it or not, but we are

going to try our best. In the senseof making it back to the playoffs, Idefinitely feel we can do that. Butstats only matter if we’rewinning.

Q: How does it feel to havethe same five on the

starting offensive line?

A: We do have the same horses back up front, the same

offensive system. Coach (offensivecoordinator Jeff) Davidson hasestablished himself. We’ve also gotour established quarterback in Jake (Delhomme), who has beenhere for a long period of time now.Last year, he was coming off Tommy John surgery, so he’ll be alot better this year. We’ll feel betterabout throwing the ball, runningthe ball and blocking.

Q: Are you concernedabout a potential lack of

depth on that line?

A: No, it doesn’t make menervous at all. Our offen-

sive line coach does a great job of coaching those guys up. Ourrunning backs coach does a great job of coaching up the running backs. ... Just as a unit, I can’t tellyou how it will play out.

Q:What has been theplayers’ response to Jake

Delhomme getting his contractextension?

A: We love Jake. That’s ourquarterback, contrary to

what our fans believe. He’s a greatquarterback. He knows the systemin and out. Every guy has a badgame at some point in his career.Unfortunately for him, it happened

in that game (divisional playoffsagainst Arizona). I know if I’mhaving a bad game one time, they’ll be calling for my head.

Q:Was it hard not beingable to help much in that

game after you fell behindearly to the Cardinals?

A: It wasn’t difficult. Eachgame takes on a different

meaning. It didn’t bother me at all.We tried our best, we gave our all,and unfortunately for us, we cameout on the short end of the stick.We’ll make a strong push this yearand see where it gets us.

Q: What do you think of your team’s young

running backs, especiallyfourth-pick Mike Goodson?

A: I like him. I like all ouryoung backs. They’re all

fast, quick and can move. Jonathanis still big and quick. But all thetailbacks we’ve got in this yeardefinitely have to work hard.Because at any given time, Godforbid, if (Stewart or myself) goesdown, the coaching staff (has to be)comfortable enough to put one of those guys in.

Q:

What was the highlightof your offseason?

A: Probably the Magic beatingthe Cavs (Tuesday) night.

I’m going to get my DwightHoward jersey tonight, so I’llprobably be wearing it tomorrowunder my practice jersey. ... I’m nota LeBron guy. I respect everythinghe (does) on the court, but I’m moreof a Dwight Howard guy, withoutthe (technical foul) stuff.

BO

DeAngelo Williams, above, and Jonathan Stewart—aka ‘Double Trouble’—combined for 2,351 yards out of the Panthers’ bac

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The salty veterans still lead this group, but thereare some promising young players on the rise.Several have made the list while several others justmissed. With the next generation emerging, this listcould look a lot different a year from now.

RealScouts, SN Today’ s team of former NFL scouts,rank their top 20 safeties for ‘09:

1. Ed Reed, Ravens.Reed was the onlyunanimous selection to the 2008

All-Pro team. He led the NFL with nineinterceptions—two of which he returnedfor touchdowns—and tacked on two morepicks and another TD in the playoffs. Thesystem won’t change in Baltimore thisyear, and Reed is on his way to a Hall of Fame career.

2. Troy Polamalu, Steelers.A year ago,Polamalu was healthy for all 16 games

and the postseason for the first time since2005 and turned in a career-high seveninterceptions. He’s a high-energy playerwho can do it all, from blitzing to tacklingto playing in coverage. He can attack fromanywhere on the field.

3. Adrian Wilson, Cardinals.Wilson is notquite as dominant as he was earlier in

his career, but he still can excel in mostaspects of the game. Wilson is at his bestplaying close to the line, but he also makesplays in coverage. He has great size andcan deliver big hits with the best of them.

4. Bob Sanders, Colts.Sanders played in justsix games in 2008, and there is a

chance he might not be healthy for the startof ’09. He is a game-changing player whohas great range and is a punishing tackler, but he has struggled to stay healthythroughout his career.

5. Chris Hope, Titans.Returning from aneck injury in 2007, Hope earned Pro

Bowl honors last season. He’s not a flashyplayer but consistently plays at a high level.He’s willing in run support and showsgood range and route recognition incoverage.

6. Nick Collins, Packers.Collins is a four-yearstarter who stepped up in 2008 with

seven interceptions, including three forscores. He has excellent range as a centerfield-type safety and has the speed to covera lot of ground and make plays with the ball in his hands. A Pro Bowler last season,he should excel in Green Bay’s new zoneschemes.

7. Brian Dawkins, Broncos.Though he stillcan play at a high level, Dawkins, 35, is

closer to the end of his career than hewould like to admit. He’s a strong tacklerwho is excellent near the line.

8. Michael Griffin, Titans.His seven inter-ceptions were tied for second in the

NFL last season, and he earned a Pro Bowlspot as an injury replacement for Reed.Griffin is emerging as one of the NFL’s bestyoung safeties, with a combination of size,speed and athleticism that makes himexcellent in coverage.

9. Donte Whitner, Bills.Pending legal issuesaside, Whitner is an instinctive

playmaker who can play in traffic or space.He is a rising young player who has aphysical style and is strong in run support.

10. Kerry Rhodes, Jets.He is a playmakerwho can excel in coverage or make

an impact near the line as a run defenderor blitzer. He figures to benefit from RexRyan’s aggressive scheme and likely willalign all over the field in a Reed type of role.

11. Ken Hamlin, Cowboys.He has greatrange and can track down a lot of

balls playing center field. He is at his best jumping routes in zone coverage but alsocan match up with tight ends and wideoutsin the slot.

12. Oshiomogho Atogwe, Rams.A ball-hawk, Atogwe has intercepted 13

passes and recovered four fumbles overthe past two seasons. He also has increasedhis tackles each year in the league and hasforced 13 fumbles over the past threeseasons. He will get even more opportuni-ties to make plays in Steve Spagnuolo’sdefense.

13. Jermaine Phillips, Buccaneers.Injurieshave affected Phillips’ numbers in

recent seasons, but he is still a physicaldefender in the run game and has more ball skills than most safeties.

14. Sean Jones, Eagles.This former ProBowler is a ferocious tackler who

had 14 interceptions over his last threeseasons in Cleveland. He can play eithersafety spot and, if healthy, can deliver 100tackles and five picks.

15. Quintin Mikell, Eagles.Mikell is comingoff his best season. Though he’s a

physical player who likes contact and is athis best near the line, he has t he instinctsand speed to play a free safety role.

16. LaRon Landry, Redskins.Landryanother versatile player who h

the pop to handle run support and theagility and speed to play in deep coverHe was slowed by injury last year, but should become one of the top youngsafeties in the league this season.

17. Brandon Meriweather, Patriots.Hon strong late in 2008 as the inj

replacement for Rodney Harrison. Merweather is a tough, hard-working rundefender who eventua lly will excel as deep safety, where his explosive speed ball skills will be highlighted.

18. Darren Sharper, Saints.Sharperhave declined sharply as he he

toward age 34. The Saints will use mor blitz packages under new coordinatorGregg Williams, which means Sharpershould have a chance to make plays on ball as a deep cover player.

19. Tanard Jackson, Buccaneers.A focornerback, Jackson has excelle

ball skills and the burst and speed to maplays on the ball. He’s also a willing rundefender, and though he hasn’t excelled any one area, he is gaining valuable expence as a starter. He’s a player to watch.

20. Roy Williams, Bengals.Williams been reunited with coordinato

Mike Zimmer. The two worked togethefor many years in Dallas, and Zimmerknows Williams’ strengths and weak-nesses like the back of his hand. That,combined with Williams’ eagerness toprove he still can play at a high level, wmake him a player to watch.

— RealScouts, a team of former NFL scouts players, coaches and teams exclusively

Scouts’ views

Safety rankings: Reed, Polamalu are pure playmakers

ROBCARR/AP

Ed Reed’s ability to take interceptions the distance helps make him the game’s top safety,SN scouts say.

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INSIDE DISH

Umenyiora feels ‘explosive’ in return; Jones rejoins JetsGiants DE Osi Umenyiorawas back

on the field practicing with team-mates Wednesday for the first timesince suffering a knee injury lastsummer that cost him the season.The Giants kicked off OTAs, andUmenyiora was pleased with thecondition of his knee after a longrehab process.

“I was a little rusty, but I felt goodat the same time,” Umenyiora saidvia the team’s website. “I think allthe work that I’ve put in the pastyear or so has really paid off. I feelexplosive. I feel good.”

Jets RB Thomas Jonesrejoined histeammates Wednesday after boycot-ting voluntary workouts in a contractdispute. Jones, who led the AFC with1,312 yards rushing last season, wason the field for organized team activi-ties after sitting out the Jets’ previoussix OTAs and minicamp.

The Pro Bowl running back isentering the third year of a four-year,$20 million deal, which was front-loaded with $13.1 million over the firsttwo seasons. He’s scheduled to make$900,000 in base salary this season.

Meanwhile, Pro Bowl RB/KRLeon Washington is still sitting outOTAs in a contract dispute. Hehasn’t been at the Jets’ facility sincethe workouts began two weeks ago.

The greatest QB in Vikingshistory is less than thrilled aboutthe possibility that the greatest QBin Packers history will be deckedout in purple next season, the Min-neapolis Star-Tribune reported.Appearing on a radio show inAtlanta, Fran Tarkentonlashed out atBrett Favre’s comeback drill and his

treatment of the Packers:“I think it’s despicable. What he

put the Packers through last yearwas not good. Here’s an organiza-tion that was loyal to him for (16)years, provided stability of organi-zation, provided players. It justwasn’t about Brett Favre.

“In this day and time, we have glo-rified the Brett Favres of the world somuch, they think it’s about them. Hegoes to New York and bombs. He’s 39years old. How would you like RayNitschkein his last year (playing for)the Vikings, or I retire, and go playfor the Packers? I kind of hope it hap-pens, so he can fail.”

According to Larry Kennan, execu-tive director of the NFL CoachesAssociation, recently retired coachesTom Mooreand Howard Muddcan returnimmediately to the Colts as paid con-sultants, ESPN.com reported. How-ever, they are not eligible to go backinto the pension plan for six months.

Kennan said clarification wasprovided by an attorney workingon behalf of ERISA—the Employ-ment Retired Income Security Act,the government agency that regu-lates pension plans. “As long asHoward and Tom pay their owntaxes for the next six months, theycan return to the Colts as paid con-sultants, I’d say effective right away, based on what the ERISA attorney just told me,” Kennan said.

WR/KR Josh Cribbsattended theBrowns’ OTAs after previouslythreatening to hold out for a newcontract. Cribbs sat out last week’svoluntary minicamp but had a face-to-face discussion with new coach

Eric Manginilast week and decided torejoin the team.

If Cowboys QB Tony Romodoesn’twant to refer to Terrell Owensby namethese days, that’s fine with T.O.“Dude, I could care less,” Owens saidwith a laugh after the Bills’ voluntaryminicamp practice Wednesday. “Imean, he doesn’t mention my name,that’s fine. What about it?”

Owens spoke in response to aquestion regarding Romo, whodeclined to refer to the receiver by

name after the Cowboys practicedlast week for the first time sinceDallas released Owens in March.

Bills starting CB Terrence McGee hurt his right arm when he tumbledto the turf while defending Owensduring a voluntary minicamp prac-tice Wednesday. McGee was hurtabout 30 minutes into the 90-min-ute session and did not return afterentering the trainer’s room. Billscoach Dick Jaurondid not have anupdate on the injury.

Agent Drew Rosenhausreported onhis Twitter page that an unidentifiedthird team has “serious interest” in hisclient, WR Plaxico Burress. The Jets andBucs have already expressed interest.

The Patriots boosted their depthat inside linebacker by signing for-mer Lion Paris Lenon. The Patriotsneeded linebacker help after third-round pick Tyrone McKenzietore a kneeligament at rookie minicamp earlierthis month. Lenon (6-2, 235) started48 consecutive games for the Lionsthe past three years.

Ravens coach John HarbaughtoldThe Baltimore Sun that he expects WRDerrick Mason(shoulder) to ready formost, if not all, of training camp.Mason previously said he may not beable to participate in training camp.

The agent of Steelers OLB JamesHarrison said the player’s 2-year-oldson has been released from a Pitts- burgh hospital after recovering froman attack by his father’s pit bull.

The NFL Players Associationplans to appeal a judge’s ruling inthe case of five players facing sus-pensions over positive drug tests.The union filed its notice of appealWednesday with the 8th U.S. Cir-cuit Court of Appeals.

The players association wants theappeals court to reconsider a judge’sdismissal last week of a lawsuitfiled by the union on behalf of Vikings DTs Kevin Williamsand PatWilliams, and three Saints. U.S. Dis-trict Judge Paul Magnuson lastweek threw out most claims by the

Williamses and all claims iing the Saints. This is the sappeal from that order.

The Cowboys officially the doors for their new stadiuWednesday. Hundreds showeto celebrate, including several fCowboys players. The teamunveiled the official price tag billion for the 80,000-seat stadThat’s slightly higher than thepresumed number of $1.1 billi

BILLKOSTROUN/AP

Osi Umenyiora anticipates having no problems with his surgically repaired knee.

Minicamp schedule

A listing of upcoming NFLminicamps (all include rookies veterans unless otherwise notedBuffalo— June 9-11Cincinnati— June 18-20Cleveland— June 11-13Dallas— June 16-18Denver— June 12-14Detroit— June 23-25 (voluntarGreen Bay— June 23-25Houston— June 15-17Indianapolis— June 5-7Kansas City— June 5-7Miami— June 12-14Minnesota— Friday-SundayNew England— June 10-12New Orleans— June 5-7N.Y. Giants— June 16-18N. Y. Jets— June 9-11St. Louis— June 5-7San Francisco— June 5-7Seattle— June 10-12Tampa Bay— June 16-18

Note: Teams are allowed to havrookie minicamps separate fromthe full-squad minicamp, andteams with first-year head coacare allowed to add up to twovoluntary minicamps.

NFL


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Remaining free agentsA quick look at the remaining NFL free agents by position(R-restricted free agent, F-franchise tagged player):

OFFENSEQuarterbacks— Brooks Bollinger, Dallas; Ken Dorsey,Cleveland; Gus Frerotte, Minnesota; Charlie Frye, Seattle;Drew Henson, Detroit; Quinn Gray, Kansas City; Trent Green,St. Louis; Rex Grossman, Chicago; Brad Johnson, Dallas; J.P.Losman, Buffalo; Jamie Martin, San Francisco; Craig Nall,Houston; Marques Tuiasosopo, Oakland; Anthony Wright, NYGiants.Running backs— Darian Barnes, New Orleans; Tatum Bell,

Denver; Brian Calhoun, Detroit; Jesse Chatman, NY Jets; P.J.Daniels, Baltimore; Reuben Droughns, NY Giants; WarrickDunn, Tampa Bay; DeShaun Foster, San Francisco; SamkonGado, St. Louis; Nick Goings, Carolina; Ahman Green, Houston;Andre Hall, Denver; Kay-Jay Harris, NY Giants; Maurice Hicks,Minnesota; Edgerrin James, Arizona; Rudi Johnson, Detroit;Deuce McAllister, New Orleans; Travis Minor, St. Louis; ChrisPerry, Cincinnati; Andrew Pinnock, Denver; Michael Pittman,Denver; P.J. Pope, Denver; Cecil Sapp, Houston; Aaron Stecker,New Orleans; Selvin Young, Denver.Wide receivers— Drew Bennett, St. Louis; Marty Booker,Chicago; Drew Carter, Oakland; Jason Carter; Carolina; KearyColbert, Detroit; Jayson Foster, Denver; D.J. Hackett, Carolina;Dante Hall, St. Louis; Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis; IkeHilliard, Tampa Bay; Darrell Jackson, Denver; Nate Jackson,Denver; Matt Jones, Jacksonville; Joe Jurevicius, Cleveland;Ashley Lelie, Oakland; Brandon Lloyd, Chicago; Dane Looker,St. Louis; Marcus Maxwell, Baltimore; Anthony Mix, TampaBay; Ben Obomanu (R), Seattle; Tab Perry, Miami; Jerry Porter,Jacksonville; Kevin Robinson, Kansas City; Koren Robinson,Seattle; Edell Shepherd, Denver; Travis Taylor, Detroit; AmaniToomer, NY Giants; Kelley Washington, New England; ToddWatkins (R), Oakland; Harry Williams, Houston; ReggieWilliams, Jacksonville; Wallace Wright (R), NY Jets.Tight ends— Courtney Anderson, Houston; Adam Bergen,Denver; Mark Bruener, Houston; Scott Chandler, San Diego;Owen Daniels (R), Houston; Nate Lawrie, Cincinnati; MichaelMerritt, Kansas City; Chad Mustard, Denver; Rob Myers, NYJets; Jeff Robinson, Seattle; Derek Schouman (R), Buffalo;Stephen Spach (R), Arizona; Daniel Wilcox, Baltimore; KrisWilson, San Diego.Offensive tackles— Tyson Clabo (R), Atlanta; AnthonyDavis, St. Louis; Jon Dunn, Detroit; Wayne Gandy, Atlanta;Kwame Harris, Oakland; Jonas Jennings, San Francisco; LeviJones, Cincinnati; James Marten (R), Oakland; Fred Miller,Chicago; Rob Petitti, St. Louis; Jon Runyan, Philadelphia;Charles Spencer, Jacksonville; Barry Stokes, New England;Mark Tauscher, Green Bay; Mark Wilson (R), Oakland.Guards—Lennie Friedman, Cleveland; Pete Kendall,Washington; Matt Lentz, Detroit; Terrence Metcalf, Chicago;Edwin Mulitalo, Detroit; Chris Naeole, Jacksonville; GreyRuegamer, NY Giants; Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh; Rob Sims(R), Seattle; Jason Whittle, Buffalo.Centers— Brennen Carvalho, Green Bay; Jean-PhilippeDarche, Kansas City; Melvin Fowler, Buffalo; Matt Lehr, NewOrleans; Andy McCollum, Detroit; Jeremy Newberry, SanDiego; Scott Peters, Arizona; Cory Withrow, St. Louis.

DEFENSEDefensive ends— Kevin Carter, Tampa Bay; Earl Cochran,Houston; Sean Conover, NY Jets; Nick Eason, Pittsburgh;Kalimba Edwards, Oakland; Ebenezer Ekuban, Denver;John Engelberger, Denver; Simon Fraser, Atlanta; RoderickGreen, San Francisco; Travis LaBoy, Arizona; Jayme Mitchell,Minnesota; Jerome McDougle, NY Giants; Julius Peppers(F), Carolina; Josh Savage, New Orleans; Anthony Weaver,Houston; James Wyche, Jacksonville.Defensive tackles— Kenderick Allen, Minnesota; GaryGibson, Carolina; La’Roi Glover, St. Louis; Vonnie Holliday,Miami; Antwan Lake, New Orleans; Langston Moore, Detroit;Kindal Moorehead, Atlanta; Dewayne Robertson, Denver;Orpheus Roye, Pittsburgh; Hollis Thomas, New Orleans; JoshThomas, Indianapolis; John Thornton, Cincinnati; Casey Tyler,Dallas; Darwin Walker, Carolina; Ellis Wyms, Minnesota; BrianYoung, New Orleans; Jeff Zgonina, Houston.Linebackers— Rufus Alexander, Indianapolis; Jason Babin,Kansas City; Rocky Boiman, Kansas City; Derrick Brooks, TampaBay; Khary Campbell, Washington; Anthony Cannon, Detroit;Dan Cody, Baltimore; Rosevelt Colvin, New England; Donte’Curry, Carolina; Donnie Edwards, Kansas City; Keith Ellison (R),Buffalo; Troy Evans, New Orleans; Gilbert Gardner, Chicago;Curtis Gatewood, Kansas City; Morlon Greenwood, Houston;Marques Harris, San Diego; Napoleon Harris, Minnesota; AbdulHodge (R), Cincinnati; Mike Humpal, Pittsburgh; Brad Kassell,NY Jets; Jason Kyle, Carolina; Teddy Lehman, Buffalo; WeslyMallard, Seattle; Jim Maxwell, Cincinnati; Willie McGinest,Cleveland; Marques Murrell (R), NY Jets; Ryan Nece, Detroit;Shantee Orr, Cleveland; Antwan Peek, Cleveland; Carlos Polk,Dallas; Junior Seau, New England; Matt Sinclair, Washington;Gary Stills, St. Louis; Terrell Suggs (F), Baltimore; Dontarrious

Thomas, Minnesota; Pisa Tinoisamoa, St. Louis; MarcusWashington, Washington; Nate Webster, Denver.Cornerbacks—David Barrett, NY Jets; Fakhir Brown, St.Louis; Terry Cousin, Cleveland; Jason Craft, St. Louis; TravisFisher, Detroit; Reynaldo Hill, Tennessee; William James,Jacksonville; Michael Lehan, New Orleans; Sam Madison,NY Giants; Ricky Manning Jr., St. Louis; Derrick Martin (R),Baltimore; Chris McAlister, Baltimore; Mike McKenzie, NewOrleans; R.W. McQuarters, NY Giants; Deltha O’Neal, NewEngland; Dunta Robinson (F), Houston; Lewis Sanders,New England; Duane Starks, Jacksonville; Brandon Sumrall,NY Giants; DeJuan Tribble, San Diego; Jason Webster, NewEngland; Jimmy Williams, Houston; Stanley Wilson, Detroit.Safeties— Oshiomogho Atogwe (F), St. Louis; MichaelBoulware, Minnesota; Mike Brown, Chicago; Oliver Celestin,Kansas City; Corey Chavous, St. Louis; Will Demps, Houston;Mike Doss, Cincinnati; Hiram Eugene, Oakland; Mike Green,Washington; Rodney Harrison, New England; Terrence Holt,

New Orleans; Dexter Jackson, Cincinnati; Sammy Knight, NYGiants; Marquand Manuel, Denver; Marlon McCree, Denver;Lawyer Milloy, Atlanta; Chad Nkang, Jacksonville; Jarrad Page(R), Kansas City; Pierson Prioleau, Jacksonville; Chris Reis (R),New Orleans; Dwight Smith, Detroit; Jimmy Williams, SanFrancisco; Cameron Worrell, Chicago.

SPECIAL TEAMSKickers—John Carney, NY Giants; Matt Stover, Baltimore.Punters— Mitch Berger, Pittsburgh; Mike Dragosavich,Indianapolis; Sam Koch (R), Baltimore; Kyle Larson, Cincinnati;Ryan Plackemeier, Cincinnati.

Bucs have ‘one bone’ for a pack of QB candidatesTAMPA—Raheem Morris charac-

terizes the competition for theBuccaneers’ starting quarterback job in seven words.

“One bone. Five dogs,” the first-year coach begins. “Best man wins.”

Luke McCown feels good abouthis chances. Byron Leftwich rel-ishes the prospect of being a No. 1again, and veteran Brian Griese,second-year pro Josh Johnson andfirst-round pick Josh Freemancould figure in the battle, too.

Morris expects to take fourquarterbacks to training camp in July. “It’s a competition,” saidLeftwich, who signed with theBucs in April after receivingassurances that he would be givena chance to win the job that Jeff Garcia held the past two seasons.

Morris decided against bring-ing Garcia back but wanted to re-sign McCown, who has been a backup in Tampa Bay the pastfour seasons.

Leftwich, who played behindBen Roethlisberger in Pittsburghlast year, has been a starter with Jacksonville and Atlanta. TheSteelers were open to his return,and the 29-year-old also attractedinterest from Washington.

Morris sold him on Tampa Bay,promising that the best quarterback will play. “All anybody canask for on this football team is thatif I go out here and I play well, andif I’m playing better than anybodyelse, will I have the opportunity to be the guy?” Leftwich said.

“The toughest thing in the worldis being in a situation where nomatter what you do, you know youwon’t have a chance to get out onthe field.”

McCown has appeared in 12games in five seasons. He’s 1-6 as a

starter, with four of his seven startscoming a rookie with Cleveland in2004, and only attempted one passwhile getting limited playing timein two games last season.

Nevertheless, McCown viewshimself as the front-runner, eventhough Leftwich and Freeman,the 17th overall pick in the draft,have been brought in since the

27-year-old decided to remain inTampa Bay.

“This has been a long time com-ing for me, and I’m not letting anybody take it from me,” McCownsaid. “This is my first real oppor-tunity to compete to be the starter.I look at it as mine, and you’regoing to have to shoot me.”

He said Morris has been up

front about his desire to competition for the startinand that he was not surprisethe signing of Leftwich or ing of Freeman, who is exto be brought along slowly.

McCown doesn’t view hiperience as a hindrance. “Nknew what New England hMatt Cassel. You just don’t until you get out there and McCown said. “And not games. You’ve got to play10, 12 games in a row to gexperience, to get that confito get that respect.”

Leftwich, a former first-pick with the Jaguars, hcareer starts. He appeared igames with the Super Bowl pion Steelers last season, ting for 303 yards, two touchdand no interceptions.

He, too, signed a two-yeaknowing there was a chancBucs also might take a q back high in the draft. In addto trying to win the startinhe vowed to do everything hto help Freeman.

“I remember when I was isituation,” Leftwich said, ahe’s also eager to work wgroup of playmakers that increceiver Antonio Bryant, tighKellen Winslow and ru back Derrick Ward.

“I’m going on my seventand I realize as a quarterbathis league you can’t do it byself. When I was a rookie, ansecond year, I thought I coulsmarter now. I realize it takesof different elements for yoquarterback to go out therplay well. I think the Bucchave all the elements.”

— The Ass

NAMY.HUH/AP

Brian Griese is just one of five competitors for Tampa Bay’s QB job.


College Basketball





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STARTING FIVE Sporting News Today college basketball columnistMike DeCourcy addresses five topics currently in his sport’s headlines

Q: Villanova’s Jay Wright says nothanks to the Sixers. What

current college coach will be next in becoming an NBA head coach?

DeCourcy:When Rick Pitino, John Calipariand Lon Kruger made their cash runs to theNBA roughly a decade ago, the league waspaying obscene salaries to coaches, and thecolleges merely were paying huge salaries.Pitino and Calipari, in particular, received life-changing paydays by accepting NBA jobs.

The current trend in the league is movingaway from the “star” coach (unless that coachhappens to be named Jackson or Popovich)and toward guys who get lesser paydays andshorter contracts. Miami’s Erik Spoelstraand Chicago’s Vinny Del Negro might be con-sidered prototypes.

It doesn’t make sense for a college coachwith a contract term that might run as longas a decade at $2 million per to run after anNBA job where he might get four years forroughly the same money.

One college coach with appeal to an NBAteam who would be interested in takingsuch a job would be Pitino. His interest ingetting back to the league would be lessabout money or security and more about being away from Louisville as the courtcase related to an alleged extortion attemptagainst him becomes a Jon-and-Kate typeof obsession in the city.

It still makes me laugh, though, that peo-ple think the NBA is too complicated forcollege coaches. Jim O’Brien won 10 gamescombined in his final two seasons at Day-ton. He’s been a head coach in the pros forseven seasons. Cavs assistant John Kuesterwas drawing up plays for LeBron Jamesand Co. at the end of Game 4 of the EasternConference finals. His next-to-last team asGeorge Washington head coach went 1-27.

Q: What’s been the biggestoffseason transfer so far?

DeCourcy:There are scores of players

who’ve announced transfers, most withnames we’d barely recognize.

A few reasonably prominent playersopted to change schools—forward MalcolmWhite from Ole Miss to LSU, for instance.He averaged 7.2 points and 5.7 reboundslast season. Guard Nick Williams averaged8.9 points as a freshman at Indiana but willresume his career at Ole Miss. It’s possibleneither will become a star.

The biggest name to change schools, then,is Liberty’s Seth Curry. He’s a big name pri-marily because his brother, Stephen, was an

All-American at Davidson. Whether Sethcan succeed at Duke is debatable. When he’seligible to play in November 2010, the Devilswill have veterans Nolan Smith and ElliotWilliams at his position. It’s not clear Seth is agreat pure shooter; he only hit 34.7 percentfrom 3-point range, though he did make 1023-pointers as a freshman.

Q: So three Kentucky playerssuddenly won’t return? Strange

how John Calipari was able to findscholarships for all the high-profile

recruits he is attracting, isn’t it?

DeCourcy:I said a week ago this is the inevi-table consequence of moving out two coachesin three years. Calipari was not hired because he was going to make an immense,immediate X’s and O’s difference in theWildcats. There was nothing technicallywrong with the coaching done by TubbySmith and Billy Gillispie. UK struggled, byits standards, because they didn’t attractingthe necessary talent.

The three players Kentucky announced

would be leaving—Jared Carter, A.J. Sand Donald Williams—scored a com68 points last season. They couldn’t plthe Wildcats before DeMarcus Cousin John Wall arrived.

Athletes rarely want to be part of a tion where they have no chance to games. That’s why they play collegketball—to play. They invest too hours and too much sacrifice to not greward of game night. The three plmoving on will be happier than if theynailed to the UK bench another year.

Q: What do you think of Florida’sNick Calathes agreeing to a

contract to play in Greece?

DeCourcy:Few players volunteer to pless money in a lesser pro league. If Cadidn’t think he was ready to be a first-rpick, he should have stayed with the Ga

Q: Rubio or Griffin?

DeCourcy:Is that a serious question?Griffin will be one of the top athleteto play his position, and he is enormcompetitive. He could use more skilthe ball, but he’ll be an excellent forward. Ricky Rubio is a spectpasser, but he is neither a great athlete great shooter. His defense could be suand he’ll be easier to defend on theand-roll than somebody who can mshot, like Deron Williams or even Tyson. If my team didn’t have a point Rubio would be a good one to getwouldn’t consider him with the No. 1all pick.Can anyone answer this que by the way: If the European developmsystem is superior to what we have U.S. because the players get to spemuch more time in the gym, how Rubio shot only 39.1 percent from ththis season?

[email protected]

CARLOSOSORIO/AP

Jay Wright is the latest big-name college coach to turn down overtures from the NBA, instead choosing the job security and s alary available at Villanova.

SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009College Basketball

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Former Kentucky men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispiesued the schoolWednesday, seeking at least $6 mil-lion he says he is owed on his deal for being fired without cause.

Gillispie, who was dismissedlast spring, was working under amemorandum of understanding but hadn’t signed a formal contractduring the two years he coached atKentucky.

He contends that under thatmemorandum, he should be paid$1.5 million a year for four of thefive years left on the deal. The suitalso asks for an undisclosedamount of punitive damages,attorneys’ fees, court costs andinterest. The lawsuit filed in federalcourt in Dallas contends the school’sathletics association is in breach of contract and has committed fraud because the university neverintended to honor the agreement.

“Rather than honor its written,signed deal with coach Gillispie,defendant prefers instead to pre-tend as though no deal was everreached,” the lawsuit says.

University attorneys expressedsurprise over the lawsuit.

“The university was continuingto negotiate a separation in goodfaith and his counsel had asked formore time,” they said in astatement.

Kentucky athletics director MitchBarnhart, reached by The Associ-ated Press on Wednesday at theSoutheastern Conference meet-ings in Destin, Fla., said he had nocomment.

“I just got off the phone with ourattorneys and I can’t say any-thing,” Barnhart said.

Jimmy Stanton, a spokesman forUniversity of Kentucky PresidentLee Todd, also declined comment because the matter involves pend-ing l itigation.

Clemson is losing its top3-point threat to Europe. Sopho-more G Terrence Oglesbytold thecoaching staff that he plans to giveup his final two seasons of eligibil-ity and play overseas. Tony Oglesby told The State of Columbia, S.C.,that his son would travel to Italyon Saturday and begin negotia-tions with the 15 teams from Italyand Spain.

“This is nothing really againstClemson,” Tony Oglesby told thenewspaper. “It’s just an opportu-

nity he didn’t want to turn dOglesby averaged 13.2

He has dual citizenship United States and Norway, he was born and his father p basketball.

Playing for Vanderbilt C A.J. Ogilvyis stranded a lofrom Australia each wintelater this summer it’ll give hchance to make a trip backThe Commodores will makthird international trip coach Kevin Stallingsthis but their first to Australiawill f ly into Melbourne andaround the country before fing the tour in Sydney.

Teams are allowed to makplaying tours once everyyears, and Stallings twictaken his team to Europe, buing a star player from Aumade this a logical time to tdifferent route.

“Those were wonderful but we were looking to dothing different this time,”ings said. “It just made seincorporate something there. A.J. is thousands ofaway from home all schoolong, so this was a nice opnity to go over there anhim a chance to play at hom

Stallings is looking forwthe trip and also to improviteam with some tough Almost exclusively composophomores and freshmenCommodores were 19-12 lson, with Ogilvy leading thwith 15.4 points and 7.1 reb

— M

INSIDE DISH

Gillispie sues UK for $6MMEMPHIS—The University of Mem-phis reportedly is responding to anNCAA notice of allegations accus-ing the men’s basketball program of major violations during the 2007-08 season under John Calipari.

According to The Commercial Appeal , the allegations include “know-ing fraudulence or misconduct” on anSAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team, which finished runner-upin the NCAA Tournament.

Lamar Chance, spokesman forthe basketball program, declinedcomment Wednesday night whencontacted by The Associated Press.

The player’s name was redactedin the report, obtained by The Com-mercial Appeal through the Free-dom of Information Act, due toprivacy laws.

The player has subsequentlydenied the charge, according to uni-versity personnel.

The only player on the roster whocompeted during that season wasDerrick Rose, who subsequentlywas the No. 1 pick in the NBA draftlast June, the newspaper reported.

If proven to be true, the Tigerscould be forced to forfeit theirNCAA-record 38 victories andFinal Four appearance.

Memphis, which received thenotice of allegations Jan. 16, isscheduled to appear before theNCAA Committee on Infractions June 6. Calipari, who left Memphisfor Kentucky on March 31, is notnamed in the report, The Commer-cial Appeal said on its websiteWednesday night.

It is also alleged that Memphisprovided $2,260 in free travel toroad games for an associate of aplayer. Those names also wereredacted in the report due to

privacy laws, the newspaperreported.

“We take it very seriously. Wedon’t condone it,” athletic directorR.C. Johnson told the newspaper.

He declined to comment in detail

about the allegations. “We’re doinga thorough investigation.”

Johnson said the university isstill working on its response tothe NCAA notice of allegations.


Report: Memphis accused of violations

MARKJ.TERRILL/AP

John Calipari is not named in the report, but the NCAA has requested his presence at a June 6 hearing.

Billy Gillispie contends he should be paid$1.5 million a year for four of the five yearsleft on his deal with Kentucky.

SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009College Basketball

SPORTING NEWS TODAY i NASCAR





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INSIDE DISH

Robby Gordon penalizedfor Coke 600 infractions

Owner/driver Robby Gordonhas beenpenalized 50 championship ownerpoints and 50 championship driverpoints for a rear axle housing infrac-tion discovered by NASCAR inspec-tors after Monday’s rain-shortenedCoca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speed-way, in which Gordon finished third.

Kirk Almquist, crew chief of the No. 7Toyota driven by Gordon, was fined$50,000 for the violation. Specifi-cally, the rear axle housing exceededthe allowable toe of plus or minusone degree. In layman’s terms, theaxle was canted too far to the right,which can facilitate corner entry andimprove a car’s ability to turnthrough the corner.

Believing there might be an issuewith the housing, based on post-raceinspection at LMS, NASCARimpounded the part and took it to theresearch-and-development center inConcord, N.C., for further examina-tion. The penalties were announcedWednesday afternoon.

Gordon earned $208,985 for histhird-place finish, which he earned by staying on the track under cautionafter rain hit the speedway. Whenthe rain persisted, NASCAR calledthe race after 227 laps.

NASCAR also announced onWednesday that Andrew Crnkovic, a crewmember for the No. 07 team in theCamping World Truck Series, has been suspended indefinitely for viola-tion of NASCAR’s substance abusepolicy, based on findings from a drugtest administered during Sprint All-Star Race weekend (May 15-16).

— Reid Spencer writes for theSporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Ryan Newmanwill take athe JR Motorsports NatioSeries entry this weekend at International Speedway.

Newman is making the firstfour scheduled starts in thewhich he will also drive at Chland Speedway (July 10), Motor Speedway (Aug. 21) ansas Speedway (Oct. 3).

— S

TomTom Inc. annWednesday that it will become anciate sponsor of Earnhardt GRacing for both the Sprint Cup and the IndyCar Series this year.

The navagation-system comwill be the primary sponsor fotiple races of the No. 1 Chdriven by Martin Truex Jr.in series and the No. 10 Honda Ddriven by Dario Franchittiin thCar Series.

— S

AutismSpeaks 400at Dover InternationalSpeedway, Dover, Del.Top 5 and 5 to watch

When: Sunday, 2 p.m. ETTV: FOX, 1:30 p.m.

Radio: MRN/Sirius XM Satellite Ch. 128Track layout: 1-mile oval

Race distance: 400 laps/400 miles2008 winner: Kyle Busch

2008 polesitter: Greg Biffle

BY ROGER [email protected]

Here’s a look at the top five in points and fivedrivers to watch in Sunday’s Autism Speaks400 at Dover International Speedway. All statis-tical references are for Sprint Cup races at Doverunless otherwise indicated. Driver rating is based on the past eight points races at the track.

1. Jeff Gordon, 91.4 driver rating.When it comesto racing at Dover the past three years,

Gordon is like Flo from Progressive.com —always on. His average start in that span is 7.5,and his average finish is 7.8. While Gordon hastwo pole positions, he has not won at the MonsterMile since 2001. The fact he led 30 laps in the fallrace could signal he’s ready to win aga in.

2. Tony Stewart, 65.5.Used to be that Doverwas one of Stewart’s best tracks. No

more. Stewart’s subpar driver rating is due tohis one Top 10 finish in the last eight races. Ithasn’t helped that he has three DNFs due towrecks in that span. If Stewart somehow man-ages a Top 10 finish this weekend, it would beanother fantastic story to an already-unbeliev-ably strong first season as an owner/driver.

3. Kurt Busch, 91.0.Busch made his SprintCup Series debut at Dover in 2000

with current FOX analyst Jeff Hammond ashis crew chief, finishing 18th. A mechanicalissue and a wreck kept Busch from having

what he anticipated to be good runs in the tworaces last year, so don’t be surprised to see theDeuce a part of this Sunday’s storyline.

4. Jimmie Johnson, 102.9.Johnson has thefourth-highest driver rating at Dover,

trailing only Roushketeers Greg Biffle, MattKenseth and Carl Edwards (more on themlater). Along with teammate Gordon, Johnsonled laps in last year’s fall race. If the Roush triois to have any competition, this Hendrick duoappears best positioned to provide it.

5. Denny Hamlin, 73.9.Hamlin’s rating has been crushed by finishes of 38th, 43rd

and 38th in the past three races. He did qualifywell in two of those three races (third eachtime), so there’s hope.

Five to watch7. Ryan Newman, 98.4.No driver is hotter

than Newman, with four straight top-five finishes this season. He even won his firstpole position in over a year last week at Lowe’s,an additional indicator that the Newman of theearly 2000s may be showing up. Newman haswon four poles and three races at Dover.

9. Matt Kenseth, 114.5. Kenseth has beenmuch more dominant in the fall races,

leading 602 of his 686 laps in those races.However, his finishes in the June event are just as strong, with a win, a fifth and a fourthin his last three.

10. Greg Biffle, 116.6.Biffle’s victory in lastyear’s fall race over Kenseth and Carl

Edwards was perhaps the best race of the year.All three led laps in t he final 100 miles beforeBiffle led the last nine circuits. Biff has just onefinish outside the Top 10 in his last eight races,a 13th in 2005.

11. Carl Edwards, 105.7.In the past five Doverraces, Edwards has finished no worse

than third, and he won the fall race in 2007.The 285 laps he’s led at Dover are his thirdmost, trailing only Texas (499) and Atlanta(299). But Edwards has had fewer success sto-ries this year, so it’s hard to expect a dominantouting Sunday.

12. Mark Martin, 100.6.If Martin performedwell at Dover in DEI equipment the past

two years, think of what he’ll do in his Hendrickcar. Martin has three Top 10 finishes in the pastfour Dover races and has led more laps in hiscareer at Dover than any driver on the circuit.The latter part of that sentence is partly due tothe fact he’s 50. But he’s plenty good too.

T

MARYANNCHASTAIN/AP

Robby Gordon’s No. 7 Toyota hadissue discovered in post-race insp

Roush Fenway driver Greg Biffle has the highest driver rating at Dover, a place where he won last September.

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DRIVER RATING

Formula combining the following categories: Wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, averagerunning position while on lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, led mostlaps, lead-lap finish. Maximum: 150 points per race. Must have raced in 75 percent of scheduled point-paying races.

RK. DRIVER MAKE TEAM RATING

1. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 107.52. Kyle Busch Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 107.13. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 101.74. Denny Hamlin Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 100.05. Tony Stewart Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing 99.66. Kurt Busch Dodge Penske Racing 99.37. Mark Martin Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 96.48. Carl Edwards Ford Roush Fenway Racing 89.79. Greg Biffle Ford Roush Fenway Racing 89.5

10. Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull Racing 83.911. Jeff Burton Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 82.912. Juan Montoya Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 82.713. Ryan Newman Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing 82.514. David Reutimann Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing 82.215. Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Fenway Racing 81.816. Kasey Kahne Dodge Richard Petty Motorsports 79.217. Jamie McMurray Ford Roush Fenway Racing 77.918. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Hendrick Motorspor ts 76. 319. Mar tin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 76. 320. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 74.8

Sprint Cup statistics(Through 12 of 36 races)

AVG. RUNNING POSITIONSum of driver position on each lapdivided by the laps run in the race

RK. DRIVER ARP

1. Jeff Gordon 10.022. Jimmie Johnson 10.033. Kurt Busch 10.044. Denny Hamlin 10.285. Tony Stewart 10.696. Kyle Busch 11.227. Carl Edwards 13.338. Mark Martin 14.219. David Reutimann 15.37

10. Greg Biffle 15.3911. Jeff Burton 16.1412. Brian Vickers 16.1713. Juan Montoya 16.6014. Ryan Newman 17.3515. Martin Truex Jr. 17.5716. Kasey Kahne 17.6417. Matt Kenseth 17.7418. Da le E arn har dt Jr. 17.9019. Jamie McMurray 19.5820. Clint Bowyer 19.92

FASTEST LAPS RUN

Number of laps where driver had thefastest speed on the lap. Total green flag laps: 3,135

RK. DRIVER PCT. LAPS

1. Jeff Gordon 9.5 2992. Greg Biffle 8.1 2553. Kyle Busch 7.5 2364. Kurt Busch 7.2 2275. Jimmie Johnson 6.9 2176. Mark Martin 6.6 2067. Denny Hamlin 5.2 1648. Tony Stewart 4.4 1399. Carl Edwards 3.7 116

10. Brian Vickers 3.4 10611. Jeff Burton 2.7 8412. Kasey Kahne 2.6 8213. Matt Kenseth 2.6 8013. David Reutimann 2.6 8015. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2.2 7016. Ryan Newman 2.1 6717. Martin Truex Jr. 1.9 5918. Juan Montoya 1.8 5619. Marcos Ambrose 1.6 4920. Clint Bowyer 1.4 45

LAPS IN TOP 15Season to date laps: 3,848

RK . DRIVER PCT. LAPS

1. Jeff Gordon 84.6 3,2572. Denny Hamlin 79.7 3,0683. Jimmie Jo hnson 78.7 3, 0294. Tony Stewart 76.2 2,9335. Kurt Busch 76.0 2,9256. Mark Martin 75.6 2,9087. Carl Edwards 69.1 2,660

8. Kyle Busch 68.5 2,6349. Jeff Burton 66.4 2,55610. David Reut imann 64.4 2,48011. Greg Biffle 56.8 2,18712. Ryan Newman 54.1 2,08013. Brian Vickers 52.0 2,00114. Juan Montoya 50.8 1,95315. Kevin Harvick 47.5 1,82716. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 46.1 1,77517. Kasey Kahne 45.9 1,76718. Clint Bowyer 45.0 1,73219. Jamie McMurray 44.2 1,70020. Matt Kenseth 42.1 1,620

PERCENTAGE OF LAPS

RUN ON LEAD LAPSeason to date laps: 3,848

RK . DRIVER PCT. LAPS

1. Kurt Busch 96.9 3,7282. Denny Hamlin 94.4 3,6333. Jimmie Jo hnson 91.9 3, 5374. Carl Edwards 91.0 3,5015. Jeff Gordon 90.0 3,4626. Tony Stewart 86.8 3,3397. Dale Earnhardt J r. 86.8 3,3388. Mark Martin 86.2 3,3169. Jeff Burton 86.1 3,313

10. David Reut imann 84.7 3,26011. Juan Montoya 80.3 3,08812. Ryan Newman 78.6 3,02413. Greg Biffle 78.3 3,01214. Brian Vickers 77.9 2,99615. Clint Bowyer 77.5 2,98216. Kyle Busch 75.7 2,91117. Dav id Stre mme 74.9 2, 88118. Kasey Kahne 72.7 2,79719. Mar ti n Tr ue x Jr. 70.4 2,71020. Jamie McMurray 69.6 2,677

POINTS STANDINGS

RK. DRIVER PTS.PTS.

BACK ST. WI NS T- 5 T-10 D NF

1. Jeff Gordon 1,722 -- 12 1 6 8 02. Tony Stewart 1,678 -44 12 0 5 8 03. Kurt Busch 1,607 -115 12 1 3 6 04. Jimmie Johnson 1,594 -128 12 1 5 7 15. Denny Hamlin 1,575 -147 12 0 2 4 06. Kyle Busch 1,540 -182 12 3 4 5 17. Ryan Newman 1,538 -184 12 0 4 6 0

8. Jeff Burton 1,472 -250 12 0 2 5 09. Matt Kenseth 1,460 -262 12 2 3 5 110. Greg Biffle 1,448 -274 12 0 3 6 211. Carl Edwards 1,431 -291 12 0 2 5 112. Mark Martin 1,428 -294 12 2 3 6 313. David Reutimann 1,422 -300 12 1 2 3 014. Juan Montoya 1,397 -325 12 0 0 4 015. Kasey Kahne 1,351 -371 12 0 1 3 016. Brian Vickers 1,348 -374 12 0 2 5 217. Clint Bowyer 1,319 -403 12 0 3 4 118. Martin Truex Jr. 1,238 -484 12 0 0 3 119. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,225 -497 12 0 1 3 120. Marcos Ambrose 1,216 -506 12 0 1 2 221. Jamie McMurray 1,168 -554 12 0 0 3 122. Casey Mears 1,168 -554 12 0 0 1 023. Kevin Harvick 1,149 -573 12 0 2 2 124. Reed Sorenson 1,148 -574 12 0 0 1 025. Joey Logano 1,145 -577 12 0 0 3 226. David Stremme 1,136 -586 12 0 0 0 227. Bobby Labonte 1,134 -588 12 0 1 1 328. Elliott Sadler 1,129 -593 12 0 1 1 029. AJ Allmendinger 1,126 -596 12 0 1 2 030. Sam Hornish Jr. 1,113 -609 12 0 0 2 231. Michael Waltrip 1,095 -627 12 0 0 1 132. David Ragan 1,089 -633 12 0 0 1 333. Paul Menard 1,033 -689 12 0 0 0 234. Robby Gordon 1,017 -705 12 0 1 1 335. Scott Speed 865 -857 11 0 1 1 236. John Andretti 743 -979 10 0 0 0 0

37. David Gilliland 731 -991 11 0 0 0 338. Regan Smith 573 -1,149 6 0 0 0 039. Brad Keselowski 479 -1,243 4 1 1 2 040. Joe Nemechek 466 -1,256 9 0 0 0 741. Aric Almirola 451 -1,271 7 0 0 0 242. Scott Riggs 448 -1,274 8 0 0 0 343. Dave Blaney 382 -1,340 9 0 0 0 844. Bill Elliott 346 -1,376 4 0 0 0 145. Max Papis 317 -1,405 5 0 0 0 046. Travis Kvapil 292 -1,430 4 0 0 0 1

HAROLDHINSONFORSN

Jeff Gordon finished a lackluster 14th in the Coca-Cola 600, but he’s still the points leader.

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FRENCH OPEN

Sharapova pulls through in third setPARIS—On a day of

adieus at the FrenchOpen, Maria Sharapovamanaged to stick around.

Trailing through most of the third set in her tough-est test since shoulder sur-gery, Sharapova pulled outa 6-2, 1-6, 8-6 victory over11th-seeded Nadia Petrovaon Wednesday to reach thethird round at Roland Gar-ros, her return to GrandSlam tennis.

“I kind of started stum- bling away. Things went inthe wrong direction,” saidSharapova, who missedthe U.S. Open and Austra-lian Open. “I was just gladI could pick myself up andkeep fighting.”

That she did: Five times,Petrova was one point awayfrom serving for the match.But Sharapova didn’t allowher to convert those chances.

“She really showed, eventhough she has been outfor a while, she’s willing tocompete till the end,”Petrova acknowledged.

Sharapova’s French Opencontinues, as does RafaelNadal’s winning streak atRoland Garros—which heextended to a tournament-record 30 matches—butthere will be no more tripsto the clay-court major forMarat Safin or Fabrice San-toro. Both are retiring at sea-son’s end, and both bowedout Wednesday.

At dusk, Venus Wil-liams lost the first set of

her match against LucieSafarova. They were toldto pack up, because therewasn’t enough light.

Winners included No. 3Andy Murray, No. 7 GillesSimon—who eliminatedRobert Kendrick, makingAndy Roddick the onlyU.S. man left—No. 8 Fer-nando Verdasco and

Lleyton Hewitt, who facesNadal next. Safin’syounger sister, No.1-ranked Dinara Safina,won in straight sets, as diddefending champion AnaIvanovic and 16-year-oldMichelle Larcher de Britoof Portugal, who upset No.15 Zheng Jie of China.


Maria Sharapova beat 11th-seeded Nadia Petrova in the second round.

BERNATARMANGUE/ AP

ResultsWednesdayAt Stade Roland GarrosParisPurse:$21.8 million (Grand Slam)Surface:Clay-OutdoorSinglesMenFirstRoundArnaud Clement, France, def. Dmitry Tursunov (21), Russia, 6-3, 3-6, 6 -4,6-1.Christophe Rochus, Belgium, def. Fabrice Santoro, France, 6 -3, 6-1, 3-6,6-4.SecondRoundAndy Murray (3), Britain, def. Potito Starace, Italy, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.Fernando Gonzalez (12), Chile, def. Rui Machado, Portugal, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.Victor Hanescu (30), Romania, def. Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5.Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia, def. Feliciano Lopez (28), Spain, 6-7 (9), 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3.Nicolas Almagro (31), Spain, def. Ernests Gulbis, Latvia, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3,6-2.Gilles Simon (7), France, def. Robert Kendrick, United States, 7-5, 6-0, 6-1.Marin Cilic (13), Croatia, def. Dudi Sela, Israel, 6-0, 6-3, 6-1.Fernando Verdasco (8), Spain, def. Philipp Petzschner, Germany, 6-1, 6-2,6-3.Stanislas Wawrinka (17), Switzerland, def. Nicolas Massu, Chile, 6-1, 6-1,6-2.Radek Stepanek (18), Czech Republic, def. Mathieu Montcourt, France,6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, def. Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, def. Andrey Golubev, Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.David Ferrer (14), Spain, def. Nicolas Kiefer, Germany, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6,6-2.Josselin Ouanna, France, def. Marat Safin (20), Russia, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6,3-6, 10-8.Robin Soderling (23), Sweden, def. Denis Istomin, Uzbekistan, 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-4.

Nikolay Davydenko (10), Russia, leads Diego Junqueira, Argentina, 4-6,6-3, 6-0, 2-2, susp., darkness.WomenFirstRoundAlize Cornet (21), France, def. Maret Ani, Estonia, 6-4, 7-5.SecondRoundDinara Safina (1), Russia, def. Vitalia Diatchenko, Russia, 6-1, 6-1.Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27), Russia, def. Julie Coin, France, 6-2, 7-6(2).Victoria Azarenka (9), Belarus, def. Kristina Barrois, Germany, 7-6 (1), 7-5.Yaroslava Shvedova, Kazakhstan, def. Arantxa Rus, Netherlands, 6-0,6-2.Li Na (25), China, def. Timea Bacsinszky, Switzerland, 6-1, 6-4.Aravane Rezai, France, def. Polona Hercog, Slovenia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.Agnes Szavay (29), Hungary, def. Elena Vesnina, Russia, 6-2, 6-0.Carla Suarez Navarro (22), Spain, def. Lucie Hradecka, Czech Republic,6-2, 6-4.Iveta Benesova (32), Czech Republic, def. Alla Kudryavtseva, Russia, 6-1,6-2.Michelle Larcher de Brito, Portugal, def. Zheng Jie (15), China, 6-4, 6 -3.Ana Ivanovic (8), Serbia, def. Tamarine Tanasugarn, Thailand, 6-1, 6-2.Olga Govortsova, Belarus, def. Akgul Amanmuradova, Uzbekistan, 6-3,6-7 (3), 7-5.Dominika Cibulkova (20), Slovakia, def. Kirsten Flipkens, Belgium, 6-1,6-0.Maria Sharapova, Russia, def. Nadia Petrova (11), Russia, 6-2, 1-6, 8-6.Gisela Dulko, Argentina, def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Germany, 7-6 (5),0-6, 6-2.Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, leads Venus Williams (3), United States,7-6 (5), susp., darkness.

DoublesMenFirstRoundMariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski (6), Poland, def. SebastianPrieto and Martin Vassallo Arguello, Argentina, 6-4, 6-3.Marc Lopez and Tommy Robredo, Spain, def. Juan Ignacio Chela andEduardo Schwank, Argentina, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer, Austria, def. Oscar Hernandez andAlbert Montanes, Spain, 6-4, 6-1.

Bruno Soares, Brazil, and Kevin Ullyett (5), Zimbabwe, def. Jerand Marc Gicquel, France, 7-6 (2), 6-4.Frantisek Cermak, Czech Republic, and Michal Mertinak (12def. Simon Greul, Germany, and Allesandro Motti, Italy, 7-6 (5Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Spain, and Sergio Roitman, ArgeRohan Bopanna, India, and Jonathan Erlich, Israel, 6-4, 7-6 (10Jan Hernych, Czech Republic, and Christophe Rochus, BelAndreas Beck, Germany, and Jean-Claude Scherrer, Switzerla6-2, 6-4.Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut, France, def. Jerome HaeFlorent Serra, France, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.Dusan Vemic, Serbia, and Mischa Zverev, Germany, def. Micand Fabrice Santoro, France, 6-4, 6-4.Andrei Pavel and Horia Tecau, Romania, def. Rajeev Ram Reynolds, United States, 6-2, 7-5.James Cerretani, United States, and Sergiy Stakhovsky, UkNicolas Almagro and Ivan Navarro, Spain, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.Jose Acasuso, Argentina, and Fernando Gonzalez, Chile, deHuss, Australia, and Ross Hutchins (13), Britain, 6-4, 6-2.Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov, Russia, def. Marcelo MeloSa (10), Brazil, 6-4, 7-5. Travis Parrott, United States, and Filip Polasek (15), SlovakiaMartin and Sam Querrey, United States, 7-5, 7-5.Pablo Cuevas, Uruguay, and Luis Horna (8), Peru, def. Arnauand Nicolas Devilder, France, 6-2, 7-6 (2).Wesley Moodie, South Africa, and Dick Norman, BelgiumMirnyi, Belarus, and Andy Ram (7), Israel, 7-6 (6), 6-3.Christopher Kas, Germany, and Rogier Wassen, Netherlands, dDamm, Czech Republic, and Robert Lindstedt (16), Sweden, 6(5), 7-5.Lukas Dlouhy, Czech Republic, and Leander Paes (3), India, defde Chaunac and Benoit Paire, France, 6-1, 6-3.WomenFirstRoundAlona and Kateryna Bondarenko, Ukraine, def. Sophie LeAurelie Vedy, France, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.Julie Ditty, United States, and Maria Emilia Salerni, ArgentinaDomachowska, Poland, and Tamira Paszek, Austria, 6-7 (3), 7-5

Kveta Peschke, Czech Republic, and Lisa Raymond (2), United Tathiana Garbin and Roberta Vinci, Italy, 6-2, 6-4.Ekaterina Dzehalevich, Belarus, and Andreja Klepac, SlovenHrdinova and Nicole Vaidisova, Czech Republic, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.Mathilde Johansson and Pauline Parmentier, France, def. Violand Laura Thorpe, France, 6-2, 6-3.Chuang Chia-jung, Taiwan, and Sania Mirza (14), India, def. Ip Turkey, and Yanina Wickmayer, Belgium, 7-5, 6-1.Cara Black, Zimbabwe, and Liezel Huber (1), United States, dCzink, Hungary, and Natalie Grandin, South Africa, 6-3, 7-6 (2Vera Dushevina, Russia, and Anastasia Rodionova, Australia, dDechy, France, and Mara Santangelo (15), Italy, 6-1, 6-1.Maria Kirilenko, Russia, and Flavia Pennetta (8), Italy, def. SorRomania, and Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark, 6-4, 6-4.Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs (4), Australia, def. Pironkova, Bulgaria, and Selima Sfar, Tunisia, 6-2, 6-2.Ekaterina Makarova, Russia, and Arantxa Parra Santonja, Mariya Koryttseva, Ukraine, and Galina Voskoboeva, Kaza7-6 (0).Hsieh Su-wei, Taiwan, and Peng Shuai (9), China, def. Liga Latvia, and Aleksandra Wozniak, Canada, 6-3, 6-1.Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia, and Ai Sugiyama (7), Japan, Loit and Kristina Mladenovic, France, 7-5, 7-5.Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, and Elena Vesnina (12), Russia, deCohen-Aloro and Alize Cornet, France, 6-1, 6-3.Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Russia, and Francesca SchiavoneNuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (6)(3), 6-4.Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska, Poland, def. ViktoriyaUkraine, and Aravane Rezai, France, 6-2, 6-1.Maret Ani and Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Kinnie Laisne andVongsouthi, France, 6-1, 6-1.Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual (3), Dominika Cibulkova, Slovakia, and Virginie Razzano, France,Jelena Dokic, Australia, and Alisa Kleybanova, Russia, def. PetrCzech Republic, and Carla Suarez Navarro, Spain, 6-3, 6-2.Jill Craybas and Carly Gullickson, United States, def. YaroslavKazakhstan, and Tamarine Tanasugarn, Thailand, 6-2, 6-2.

GlancePARIS A look at the French

Open on Wednesday: Weather: Rainy in the morn-

ing, sunny in the afternoon. Highof 63 degrees.

Attendance:35,459. Men’sseededwinners:No. 1 Rafael

Nadal, No. 3 Andy Murray, No. 7 GillesSimon, No. 8 Fernando Verdasco,No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez, No. 13Marin Cilic, No. 14 David Ferrer, No.17 Stanislas Wawrinka, No. 18 Radek Stepanek, No. 23 Robin Soderling,No. 30 Victor Hanescu, No. 31 NicolasAlmagro.

Men’s seeded losers:No. 20 MaratSafin, No. 21 Dmitry Tursunov, No.28 Feliciano Lopez.

Women’s seeded winners:No. 1 Dinara Safina, No. 8 AnaIvanovic, No. 9 Victoria Azarenka,No. 20 Dominika Cibulkova, No.21 Alize Cornet, No. 22 CarlaSuarez Navarro, No. 25 Li Na, No.27 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova,No. 29 Agnes Szavay, No. 32 IvetaBenesova.

Women’s seeded losers:No. 11Nadia Petrova, No. 15 Zheng Jie.Stat of the day:2 — Total number

of games lost by Safina throughtwo matches in the tournament.

Quote of the day:“I need tostop and just get out of this tenniscircuit to be able to understandwhat’s going on in my life.” —Safin, after losing to French wild-card entry Josselin Ouanna 10-8in the fifth set. Safin is retiring atseason’s end.

On court today:No. 2 RogerFederer vs. Jose Acasuso, No.4 Novak Djokovic vs. SergiyStakhovsky, No. 6 Andy Roddick vs.Ivo Minar; No. 2 Serena Williams vs.Virginia Ruano Pascual, No. 4 ElenaDementieva vs. Jelena Dokic, No.5 Jelena Jankovic vs. MagdalenaRybarikova.

Today’s forecast:Cloudy. Highof 70 degrees.

Today’s TV: Tennis Channel, 5a.m.-noon EDT; ESPN2, noon to6:30 p.m. EDT.

—TheAssociatedPress

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SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY MAY 28 2009College Baseball



8/14/2019 sportingnews - 20090528


www.sportingnews.com THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009College Baseball

At Clark-LeClair StadiumGreenville, N.C.FridayGame1: SouthCarolina(38-21)vs.GeorgeMason(42-12),3p.m.Game2: EastCarolina(42-17)vs.Binghamton(29-20),7p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,2p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,6p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,2 p.m.

Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,6p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,6p.m.,ifnecessary

At Boshamer StadiumChapel Hill, N.C.FridayGame1: CoastalCarolina(46-14)vs.Kansas(37-22),2p.m.Game2: NorthCarolina(42-16)vs.Dartmouth(27-16),6p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,1p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,5p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,1 p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,5p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,6

p.m.,ifnecessaryAt Doug Kingsmore StadiumClemson, S.C.FridayGame1: Alabama(37-19)vs.OklahomaState(32-22),3p.m.Game2: Clemson(40-19)vs.TennesseeTech(30-22-1),7p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,3p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,7p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,3 p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.,ifnecessary

At Russ Chandler Stadium Atlanta

FridayGame1: Elon(40-16)vs.SouthernMississippi(35-23),3p.m.Game2: GeorgiaTech(35-17-1)vs. GeorgiaState(39-20),7p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,3p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,7p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,3 p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.,ifnecessary

At McKethan StadiumGainesville, Fla.FridayGame1 : Miami(36-20)vs.Jacksonville(36-20),1p.m.Game2 : Florida(39-20)vs.Bethune-Cookman(32-26),6:30p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2 loser,1p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,6:30p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,1p.m.

Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,6:30p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,6:30p.m.,ifnecessary

At Dick Howser StadiumTallahassee, Fla.FridayGame1 : Georgia(37-22)vs.OhioState (40-17),NoonGame2 : FloridaState(42-16)vs. Marist(31-26),4p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,NoonGame4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,4p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,NoonGame6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,4p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7

p.m.,ifnecessaryAt Jim Patterson StadiumLouisville, Ky.FridayGame1 : MiddleTennessee(43-16)vs. Vanderbilt(34-25),3p.m.Game2 : Louisville(44-15)vs.Indiana(32-25),7p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2 loser,3p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,7p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,3p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.,ifnecessary

AtOxford-UniversityStadiumOxford, Miss.

FridayGame1 : Missouri(34-25)vs.WesternKentucky(39-18),4p.m.Game2 : Mississippi(40-17)vs.Monmouth,N.J.(32-23),8p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2 loser,2p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,6p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,2p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,6p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,8p.m.,ifnecessary

At Alex Box StadiumBaton Rouge, La.FridayGame1: LSU(46-16)vs.SouthernU.(30-15),2p.m.Game2 : Minnesota(38-17)vs.Baylor(29-24),7p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,2p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,7p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,2p.m.

Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.,ifnecessary

At L. Dale Mitchell ParkNorman, Okla.FridayGame1 : Arkansas(34-22)vs.WashingtonState(31-23),2p.m.Game2 : Oklahoma(41-18)vs.WichitaState(30-25),8p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,2p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,8p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,2p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,8p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,8

p.m.,ifnecessaryAt Reckling ParkHoustonFridayGame1 : KansasState(41-16-1)vs.Xavier(38-19),3p.m.Game2: Rice(39-15)vs.SamHoustonState(36-22),7p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,3p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,7p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,3p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.,ifnecessary

At Lupton Baseball StadiumFort Worth, Texas

FridayGame1 : TexasA&M(36-22)vs.OregonState(35-17),3p.m.Game2 : TCU(36-16)vs.WrightState(33-28),7p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,3p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,7p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,3p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.,ifnecessary

At UFCU Disch-Falk Field Austin, TexasFridayGame1 : TexasState(41-15)vs.Boston College(33-24),2p.m.Game2 : Texas(41-13-1)vs.Army(34-19),7 p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,2p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,7p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,2 p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,

7p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,7p.m.,ifnecessary

At Packard StadiumTempe, Ariz.FridayGame1: OralRoberts(31-13)vs.CalPoly(37-19),5p.m.Game2: ArizonaState(44-12)vs.KentState(42-15),10p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,5p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,10p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,4 p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,9p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,9p.m.,ifnecessary

At Anteater BallparkIrvine, Calif.FridayGame1 : Virginia(43-12-1)vs. SanDiegoState(40-21),7p.m.Game2: UCIrvine(43-13)vs.FresnoState(32-28),11p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,7p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,11p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,7 p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,11p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,11p.m.,ifnecessary

At Goodwin FieldFullerton, Calif.Friday

Game1 : GeorgiaSouthern(42-15)vs.Gonzaga(35-16),6p.m.Game2: CalStateFullerton(42-14)vs.Utah(26-29),10p.m.SaturdayGame3: Game1loservs.Game2loser,5p.m.Game4: Game1winnervs.Game2winner,9p.m.SundayGame5: Game3winnervs.Game4loser,5 p.m.Game6: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,9p.m.MondayGame7: Game4winnervs.Game5winner,9p.m.,ifnecessary

NCAA Division I regionals glance All times ET, double elimination

SALT LAKE CITY—Utah is back in theNCAA baseball tournament for thefirst time in nearly 50 years.

The Utes are ending a 49-yeardrought by playing this weekend inthe NCAA regionals, a berth theyclaimed with an upset run throughthe Mountain West Conferencetournament.

“We want to prove that we’re agood program and show the nationwe deserve this bid,” said second baseman Corey Shimada, a seniorwhose career has been extended byat least two games.

The Utes open their first NCAAtournament since 1960 on Fridaywhen they play Cal State Fullerton,the No. 2 national seed and host of the four-team regional. While theTitans are regulars in the regionals,the Utes have gone generations between appearances.

The last time Utah made it thisfar there was no “ping” of the bat—hitters still were using wooden bats—and there was no such thingas a designated hitter.

One of the only things that hasn’tchanged in the 49 years is the Col-lege World Series is still played inOmaha. The Utes are still a longway away from Rosenblatt Sta-dium, but much closer than anyonewould have predicted at the end of the regular season.

Utah was the bottom seed in theMountain West tournament—No. 6in a six-team field that included fiveteams with NCAA regionalaspirations.

Only three made it and one of them was Utah, which at 26-29 isthe only team with a losing record

among the 64 schools still playing.Utah went 5-1 in the conference

tournament, winning three straightafter falling within one loss of end-ing the season.

“The winning has kept us relaxed.We’ve got nothing to lose,” seniorpitcher Brian Budrow said. “We’llgo in there and try to get threestraight wins and move on.”

Why not? The Utes are alreadythe first No. 6 seed to win the Moun-tain West tournament in its 10-yearhistory, beating top-seeded TCUtwice on the Horned Frogs’ homefield. The Utes finished off the tour-nament with two straight wins overthe Aztecs, who needed just onevictory in the double-eliminationformat to win the title.

Utah blew an 8-1 lead eighth inning of a 9-8 loss tDiego State last Thursday, buthe Aztecs Friday and Saturdtwo games that mattered more.

“We had a devastating losus to come back and play thwe did, with the determinationwe had was really special to wcoach Bill Kinneberg said.

Utah hit .308 in the tournaand scored 38 runs in the six g24 coming with two outs. Thehad only four errors and otherthe disastrous performance iloss to San Diego State, Utah’sers came through with some of best outings of the season.

— The Ass

After a near half-century wait,Utes back in NCAA tournament

SCOTT

Brian Budrow, right, and the Utes are the only team without a winning record i

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TAMPA—A central Florida manarrested with thousands of anabolicsteroid pills told investigators he sold toprofessional athletes, including playerson the Washington Nationals and Cap-itals, authorities said Wednesday.

Richard Thomas boasted about sell-ing steroids to professional baseball,hockey and football players, saying,“You name the sport, and I’ve sold ste-roids to athletes who play it,” the PolkCounty Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities said Thomas didn’t namespecific players, and they have no evi-dence he sold to members of thoseteams.

Investigators who searched Thomas’house in Lakeland on Tuesday recov-ered thousands of anabolic steroidpills, injectable liquids and syringeswith an estimated wholesale value of $100,000, said Carrie Eleazer, aspokeswoman with the sheriff’s office.They also found several weapons,including loaded semiautomatichandguns.

Thomas and his wife, Sandra, werecharged Tuesday with several counts of possession of illegal steroids, firearms,and maintaining a dwelling for drug use.Thomas and his wife were booked intothe Polk County Jail on $215,000 each.Sandra Thomas posted bond and wasreleased on Wednesday. RichardThomas remained in jail and wasexpected to appear in court today. Sher-iff’s records did not list an attorney.

Capitals players passed three roundsof drug tests during each of the pasttwo seasons, and neither the team norofficials from the National HockeyLeague had reason to believe Thomas’sclaims, the league and the team said ina joint release Wednesday.

A spokesman for Major League Base-

steroids, said the organization is look-ing into the matter.

BoxingPANAMA CITY, PANAMA—Light heavy-

weight champion Chad Dawson hasdecided to vacate his IBF title after theorganization refused to grant an excep-tion to an immediate defense againstmandatory challenger Tavoris Cloud.

Promoter Gary Shaw informed theIBF of Dawson’s decision at its annualconvention Wednesday.

“No major television network waswilling to buy the fight, (and) the IBFleft us little choice,” Shaw said in astatement. “I respect the IBF’s decision, but the fight they were forcing us to dowas commercially unviable.”

Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs) easily

rematch against Antonio Tarver earlierthis month. Rather than defend againstCloud, the hard-punching 26-year-oldis reportedly eyeing a fight with formerchamp Glen Johnson, whom Dawson beat in a close unanimous decisionearly last year.

CyclingBLOCKHAUS, ITALY—Seven-time Tour de

France winner Lance Armstrong fin-ished 10th in the 17th stage of the Girod’Italia on Wednesday, 1 minute, 59seconds behind stage winner FrancoPellizotti. When Armstrong attackedon the uphill finish, he left the raceleaders behind and got as close as 25yards behind leader Pellizotti.

“It was a nice try,” Armstrong’s teamdirector Johan Bruyneel said. “Defi-

again. That’s exactly what I hoped for.”Armstrong is still regaining his form

after 3½ years of retirement and break-ing his collarbone in March.

Armstrong eventually dropped backfor the rest of the climb behind defend-ing Tour de France winner Carlos Sas-tre, with two-time Giro winner GilbertoSimoni in tow. Armstrong sits 12th,12:17 behind.

GolfROCKFORD, MICH.—A 9-year-old golfer

from suburban Grand Rapids hasrecorded his first hole-in-one. JakeO’Dette of Rockford used an 8-ironMonday to score the ace on the 91-yardseventh hole at Tustin Trails Golf Course, about 10 miles south of Cadillac.

The third-grader started golfing at 5.

USA TRACK & FIELD: Named Jill Geer chief public affairs officer and Ivan Croppersenior director of marketing and com-munications.

BASEBALLMAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: SuspendedKansas City manager Trey Hillman onegame and fined him an undisclosedamount for his inappropriate actions dur-

ing the bottom of the eighth inning of theRoyals game against Detroit on May25.American LeagueBALTIMORE ORIOLES: Placed RHP KojiUehara on the 15-day DL. Activated DHLuke Scott from the 15-day DL.CLEVELAND INDIANS: Recalled LHP ZachJackson from Columbus (IL). OptionedLHP Rich Rundles to Columbus.LOS ANGELES ANGELS: Placed RHP ScotShields on the 15-day DL. Recalled RHPRich Thompson from Salt Lake (PCL).OAKLAND ATHELTICS: Placed INF NomarGarciaparra on the 15-day DL, retroactiveto May 24. Recalled RHP Jeff Gray fromSacramento (PCL).National LeagueCHICAGO CUBS: Placed INF Aaron Miles onthe 15-day DL. Optioned LHP Neal Cottsand INF Bobby Scales to Iowa (PCL). Re-called INF Jake Fox from Iowa. Purchasedthe contracts of INF Andres Blanco andLHP Jason Waddell from Iowa.FLORIDA MARLINS: Optioned Chris Lerouxto Jacksonville (SL). Recalled OF BrettCarroll from New Orleans (PCL).WASHINGTON NATIONALS: Recalled C LukeMontz from Harrisburg (EL). DesignatedRHP Daniel Cabrera for assignment.Midwest LeagueQUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS: AnnouncedRHP Ben Zawacki has been transferredfrom extended spring training.Atlantic LeagueLONG ISLAND DUCKS: Announced RHPKen Ray has been signed by the ClevelandIndians who assigned him to Columbus(IL).United LeagueEDINBURG ROADRUNNERS: Signed LHPBrian Martin and C Cameron McGuire.SAN ANGELO COLTS: Signed C MattAcevedo and INF Butch Ballez. Released CChad Clemons.

FOOTBALLNational Football LeagueCAROLINA PANTHERS: Signed S Paul

Chiara and CB Reggie SulNEW ENGLAND PATRIOLenon.NEW YORK JETS: ClaimMilner off waivers from thWaived OL Kyle Link andPHILADELPHIA EAGLEJenkins.Canadian Football LeagueWINNIPEG BLUE BOM

Mike Morris, OL Adam BQuinney and LB Thaine C

HOCKEY National Hockey LeagueMONTREAL CANADIEJohansson to a one-year coNEW YORK RANGERSwith F Andres Ambuhl.VANCOUVER CANUCKRypien to a two-year contr

MOTOR SPORTSNASCAR: Suspended indCrnkovic, crew member odriver Chad McCumbee, frandom drug test on May

SOCCERMajor League SoccerMLS: Suspended San Josefor one game and fined himconduct in a game on MayNEW YORK RED BULLfirst-round draft pick and round draft pick from HouDominic Oduro. Waived G

COLLEGECLEMSON: Announced Gis leaving the men’s baskeplay professionally overseMASSACHUSETTS: Annment of women’s soccer cNEW ENGLAND: Namesoftball coach.OSWEGO STATE: Namedmen’s basketball coach.PRAIRIE VIEW: Signed CDyke, women’s basketballfour-year contract.SEATTLE PACIFIC: Nammen’s basketball coach.UNION, N.Y.: Named Mawomen’s assistant ice hockVASSAR: Named Antoniavolleyball coach.

TRANSACTIONSIN BRIEF

Arrested man claims he sold steroids to athletesMajor League SoccerEASTERNCONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GAChicago 4 0 6 18 17 11D.C. 3 1 7 16 17 15TorontoFC 4 3 4 16 16 16KansasCity 4 4 3 15 15 13Columbus 2 2 6 12 14 16NewEngland 2 3 4 10 8 16NewYork 2 6 3 9 10 13WESTERNCONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GAChivasUSA 7 1 3 24 15 6Seattle 4 2 4 16 14 8Houston 4 2 3 15 11 7Colorado 3 2 4 13 13 11RealSaltLake 3 5 2 11 14 13LosAngeles 1 1 8 11 12 12FCDallas 1 6 3 6 9 17SanJose 1 7 2 5 10 21

NOTE:Threepointsforvictory,onepointfortie.

Wednesday’sgameColumbus2,SanJose1Today’sgameChicagoatChivasUSA,10:30p.m.Saturday’sgamesColoradoat NewYork,7:30 p.m.D.C. Unitedat NewEngland, 7:30

p.m.TorontoFCatHouston,8:30p.m.

Columbus at Seattle FC, 10:30p.m.Kansas Cityat LosAngeles,10:30p.m.Real Salt Lake atSan Jose,10:30p.m.Sunday’sgame

FCDallasatChicago,3p.m.JAEC.HONG/AP

Chad Dawson, right, easily dispatched Antonio Tarver earlier this month.



sportingnews - 20090528

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