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Scoreboard Report: Floyd paid NBA PLAYOFFS

NBA Playoffs Mayo handler

Eastern Conference semifinals USC coach Tim Floyd
Boston 92, Orlando 88 reportedly paid $1,000
(Boston leads series 3-2) to help steer O.J. Mayo
Western Conference semifinals to the school
L.A. Lakers 118, Houston 78 Page 29
(L.A. Lakers lead series 3-2)

NHL Playoffs ELISE AMENDOLA / AP

Eastern Conference semifinals WEDNESDAY SEE A DIFFERENT GAME Rajon Rondo shot just 3-of-12, but
Boston 4, Carolina 2 MAY 13, 2009 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 295 had nine boards and five assists as
Boston rallied for a 3-2 series lead.
(Series tied 3-3) Page 7
Western Conference semifinals
No Laker flop this time

The Favre effect

Anaheim 2, Detroit 1
(Series tied 3-3) Brett as a Viking? There’s normalcy again in the
playoffs. Kobe Bryant got off to a
Baseball
American League 3 views on No. 4 hot start, Aaron Brooks did not look
like an all-world point guard and the
Baltimore 7, Tampa Bay 5 Lakers took a 3-2 series lead with a
Chicago White Sox 7, Cleveland 4 BY CLIFTON BROWN “ Umenyiora said. “But the older I get, the more 118-78 win Tuesday.
Toronto 5, N.Y. Yankees 1 cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com I realize: What else is he going to do? You’re Now, the only question is
talking about a guy who’s been playing football whether the Lakers can avoid
Texas 7, Seattle 1
Brett Favre might return to the NFL— 25 or 30 years of his life. another letdown with a chance to
Minnesota 6, Detroit 2 again—this time with the Vikings. If that hap- “They’re going to have to drag me out of the close out the Rockets on Thursday.
Oakland 12, Kansas City 3 pens, what will be the impact on the NFC league. If you’re his teammate, you can’t be “We know that winning on the road
Boston 4, L.A. Angels 3 playoff picture, the Vikings’ offense and in childish. You have to see things from his point in the playoffs is always a tall order,”
their locker room? Some interested parties of view.” Phil Jackson said.
National League — Benson Taylor
weigh in:
Pittsburgh 7, St. Louis 1 Rockets go cold, Page 6
The NFC race
Philadelphia 5, L.A. Dodgers 3 The offense If he called the shots for the Vikings, former
N.Y. Mets 4, Atlanta 3, 10 innings Former Vikings and Cardinals coach Dennis Broncos G.M. Ted Sundquist would not sign NHL PLAYOFFS
Chicago Cubs 6, San Diego 2 Green says Favre would be a better fit in Min- Favre. Why not? The Vikings won the NFC
Milwaukee 6, Florida 3 nesota than he was last year with the New York North last season, and Sundquist says they are Pair of Sevens
Colorado 12, Houston 1 Jets. the favorites again with Sage Rosenfels or Tar-
Sevens are wild in the second
Cincinnati 3, Arizona 1 “Frankly, I was surprised the Jets (traded varis Jackson at quarterback. round of the playoffs.
San Francisco 9, Washington 7 for) him,” Green said. “The Vikings, (coach) “If you bring in Brett, the microscope is on After tonight’s Game 7 battle in
Brad Childress and those guys are 100 percent the Vikings from Day 1, all year, and not just in Washington decides the first qualifier
Zimmerman West Coast offense. That’s Favre. He would those two games they play against the Pack- for the Eastern Conference finals, the
know their system better than any other player. ers,” Sundquist said. “It changes the whole top two remaining seeds—Boston
watch He wouldn’t need as much training camp and dynamic around a pretty good football team. I and Detroit—will put their seasons

30
Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman
was 2-for-5 on Tuesday to
offseason stuff. It makes more sense.”

The locker room

extend his hitting streak.
N.L. record 45: Wee Willie
Keeler (1896-97)
MLB record 56: Joe DiMaggio
(1941)
Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora says the
Vikings have enough veteran players to handle
the furor that follows Favre. And veterans
understand how tough it is to quit.
DEAN DUPREY / AP “Before, I was one of those guys who said,
The Vikings are a better fit for Brett Favre, former NFL coach Dennis Green says. ‘Favre, just go sit your butt down somewhere,’
can understand that maybe Favre could make
the difference in a playoff game. But first you
have to make the playoffs, and it’s a long jour-
ney to get there.
“Even with Favre on the Vikings, I still think
the Giants and the Eagles remain the favorites
in the NFC.”
Goodell: Expanded schedule on agenda, Page 25
at risk Thursday night in Game 7s
against Carolina and Anaheim.
Two things to consider: Detroit
hasn’t played a Game 7 in seven
years. And Carolina has played Game
7s in each of its last three playoff
series—and won them all.
— Ron Smith
Hiller stones Wings, Page 11
 ©2009 Speed Channel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. NASCAR is a registered trademark of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com See a Different Game

Tune In Today
A quick look at the best sports on TV Woman indicted
OFF THE FIELD

— all times Eastern

NHL
Penguins at Capitals
7 p.m., Versus
The series we all wanted to see reach seven games has gotten
to that point. It’s been back-and-forth action all the way, and all of
the stars of this series have done their part in one way or another.
Well, maybe there’s one player who hasn’t (Washington’s Mike
Green), but perhaps he could make all the difference in Game 7.
Green, third on the Capitals in goals during the regular season
with 31, has tallied only one goal in 13 playoff games.
NBA
Mavericks at Nuggets
9 p.m., TNT
Mark Cuban and Kenyon Martin sure have had the spotlight
the past couple of days, and only one of them is in position to
do something about it on the court. Martin’s Nuggets are still
one game from wrapping up this series, and now they can do it
on their home floor. Get this one, and then we’ll be back talking
about the goosebump story involving Chauncey Billups’ leader-
ship of his hometown team, and how he gives Denver a great
shot at beating either the Lakers or Rockets in the next round.
BASEBALL
Dodgers at Phillies
7 p.m., ESPN
Since losing star Manny Ramirez to a 50-game drug sus-
pension last week, the Dodgers have lost four of five. But the
Phillies haven’t been playing much better of late, and they
have all of their important pieces in their lineup. No doubt
L.A. lefthander Randy Wolf will be amped up for this one, as
he spent the first eight years of his career in Philly and devel-
oped quite a following. The Phillies’ Jamie Moyer opposes
him.
— Compiled by Roger Kuznia
on extortion charges
The estranged wife of a longtime aide to Rick Pitino
was indicted Tuesday on federal charges of trying
to extort money from the Louisville men’s basket-
ball coach and lying to the FBI.
Karen Cunagin Sypher, 49, faces a
combined maximum penalty
of seven years in prison and a
$500,000 fine if convicted of
the two charges, federal
authorities said. Sypher is the
estranged wife of Louisville
equipment manager Tim Sypher.
Karen Sypher
She is scheduled to be
arraigned May 19. Karen Sypher’s attorney, Thomas
Clay, did not immediately return a call Tuesday.
Quick hits
Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo won’t be playing
in the U.S. Open at Bethpage in June after failing
to qualify in a sectional qualifying tournament
Monday in Dallas, the Dallas Morning News
reported. Romo shot an 80—he fired even par on
the front nine—in rainy conditions.
Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente’s
family is planning to produce a film drama about
the Pirates great, the Pittsburgh Business Times’
Tim Schooley reported, adding that Clemente’s
son, Luis, is close to an agreement to start a pro-
duction company with Nuggets forward Carmelo
Anthony and business partner Michael Haines. The
move comes after talks fell through with two
other companies interested in Clemente’s story,
including one led by actor Andy Garcia.

UCLA officials unveiled their $185 million

GUIDE TNT—Playoffs, conference
semifinals, Game 5, Dallas at vision for an updated Pauley Pavilion, the Los
MAJOR LEAGUE Angeles Times reported, though leaving some
Denver
BASEBALL season-ticket holders worried because the uni-
7 p.m.
ESPN—L.A. Dodgers at NHL HOCKEY versity will look to trade choice seats for big
Philadelphia 7 p.m. donations to the project, which could push exist-
VERSUS—Playoffs, conference ing ticket holders farther from the action. Watch the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race for your
semifinals, Game 7, Pittsburgh
NBA BASKETBALL at Washington — SportsBusiness Daily, sportsbusinessdaily.com chance to win $25,000! Go to SPEEDtv.com for details.
9 p.m. — Compiled by Ken Bradley, with wire reports
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com My Profile WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 3
SINCE YOU ASKED ...
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.
Write us at: yourturn@sportingnews.com
TO: Sporting News Today
FROM: Aaron Kogon, Boothwyn, Pa.
Gary Kubiak THE WORLD’S FIRST DIGITAL
DAILY SPORTS NEWSPAPER
Texans head coach
Q: I know the Nuggets are a good team now. But they CHAIRMAN & CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ray Shaw
just started to become a Finals contender after A.I. (Allen (What you won’t find on Facebook … even if you are approved
roved as a friend) PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Whitney Shaw
Iverson) was traded to Detroit. Do you think Chauncey PUBLISHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ed Baker
Billups is the reason the Nuggets have been so good? EDITOR-IN-CHIEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeff D’Alessio
Born: Aug. 15, 1961, in Houston MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Kasko
Status: Married CREATIVE DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Wood
Alma mater: Texas A&M VP, GENERAL MANAGER, ONLINE . . . . . Jeff Gerttula
What’s on TV: The King of Queens, Two and a Half Men VP, INTEGRATED MARKETING & SALES .Stuart Marvin
What’s in my iPod: Merle Haggard, George Strait, David id Allen Coe DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MEDIA. . . . . . . . . . . . Geoff Shaw
What I drive: 2008 black Ford F-350 truck VP, MARKETING & SALES DEVELOPMENT . .Eric Karp
Favorite flicks: Frost/Nixon, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
What I’m reading: It’s Your Ship, by Captain D. Michaell Abrashoff EDITORIAL OFFICES
Magazine subscriptions: Texas Monthly, Big Game 120 West Morehead Street, Suite 200
BILL HABER / AP
Bookmark: RamNation.com, to check on my kids at Colorado lorado State Charlotte, NC 28202
Chauncey Billups (7) brought leadership to the Nuggets.
Superstition: Drive my wife’s car to the stadium on game ame day 704-973-1550
Worst habit: Cursing, but improving every day 1-800-443-1886
RESPONSES
On my office walls: Pictures of my wife and kids, and a sign
Scott Hastings behind my desk: “This is no dress rehearsal. We Aree Letters to the editor:
Nuggets analyst Professionals And This Is The Big Time!” — Waylon yourturn@sportingnews.com
Jennings General feedback:
Aaron,
Imagine the movie 300 without King Leonidas. What
Love to trade places for a day with … My dad! Struggling editors@sportingnews.com
would all of us fans had—299 athletic, six-pack-clad with Parkinson’s for the past 10 years has been very
warriors running amok, chopping and slashing their difficult. National Digital Sales Managers
way to ugly victories and sloppy losses without thought First job: Hambrick’s Grocery Store in Houston. I Joey Glowacki, 704-973-1856
or plan. Leonidas—or Chauncey, rather—brought was 12 and made 75 cents an hour. I dropped a dolly jglowacki@sportingnews.com
focus, leadership and a purpose of mind to a very Gary Strauss, 212-500-0672
athletic Nuggets team. Now, there is a plan, a drive and
of Big Red soda in the parking lot on my second day!
Talent I’d most like to have: Play a guitar gstrauss@sportingnews.com
a purpose to their actions. Bring on Xerxes, bring on the
Persian horde because this movie isn’t over yet. Favorite meal: Steak and potato
Favorite athlete to watch in another sport: Tiger Woods ON NEWSSTANDS NOW
Sean Deveney Favorite city to visit: Las Vegas
SN’s NBA expert
Favorite team as a kid: Houston Oilers
Aaron, Favorite value in others: Generosity
There are a few reasons the Nuggets have improved; Dream date: My wife. I’m not crazy.
for example, the bench is deep, plus having Kenyon My greatest love: My family. It’s what life is all about.
Martin and Nene healthy has been a big boost. But, My hero: My dad
ultimately, we need to remember that the Nuggets
made the playoffs the last five seasons, and put up a
My bucket list: 1. See the Houston Texans win a Lom-
combined 4-20 record in those five series. Bring in a guy bardi Trophy, 2. Be a grandfather, 3. See my three boys ys
like Billups, who demands precision on both ends of become successful.
the floor and holds his teammates accountable for their My motto: Tough times don’t last; tough people do.
mistakes, and you wind up with a Nuggets team that is — Jeff D’AAlessio
lessio
finally playing its best basketball in May.
DAVID DUROCHIK FOR SN
WRITE US Life isn’t all watching hockey for NHL
Got a question you’d like answered? E-mail it to editor- commissioner Gary Bettman. He talks
in-chief Jeff D’Alessio at jdalessio@sportingnews.com, about it, too—in SN Magazine’s latest
along with your name and hometown. Conversation.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
RECRUITING DISH
SN’s top-rated quarterback
might pick school in June
Jake Heaps’ cell phone doesn’t leave his ear much these
days. That’s how life has evolved for the nation’s top
quarterback prospect.
While his classmates at Skyline High (Sammamish,
Wash.) are dealing with prom and other junior-year
occasions, Heaps is trying to figure out whether his
future coach will be BYU’s Bronco Mendenhall, Califor-
nia’s Jeff Tedford, LSU’s Les Miles, Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin
or Washington’s Steve Sarkisian.
Heaps (6-2, 200) told Sporting News Today he hopes
to be finished with the recruiting process by sometime
in June. He also said there is a chance he might trim
his list of five schools so he doesn’t hold up coaches
from recruiting other quarterbacks.
“Coaches were trying to get me to make a decision
by April, but I’ll probably be done in the month of
June,” Heaps told SN Today. “The good thing about the
schools in my top five is that I have visited them all. …
Economic times are tough, so it’s tough to fly around
and see everything you want to see, but I feel confident
I’ve seen what I’ve needed to see with those five.”
Heaps broke down his top five schools, which are
listed alphabetically.
BYU. “I just love the environment there, the offense is
great and obviously it is a school of my faith (Mormon),
so that is a positive.”
California. “They have a great balance to their offense,
kind of a new kind of look to it. There’s a little spread
and a little pro style, and you can get a great education
at Cal-Berkeley.”
LSU. “LSU is a big-time SEC program and has really
been on the up this past couple of years. Coach Miles is
a fantastic coach.”
Tennessee. “When I took my visit, I couldn’t believe I
was looking across the table at (defensive coordinator)
Monte Kiffin—he’s such a legend in what he does.
They have a pro-style offense that’s very USC-suited,
and it can get you ready for the next level.”
Washington. “I’ve grown up loving to watch them play.
I’ve been a Husky fan all my life.”
Heaps is the top-rated quarterback in the Sporting
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Booker T. Washington (Miami) G Jose Jose has
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Jose (6-2, 355) is the third 2010 commitment for the
Vols. He called Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin with the
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SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Overnight Report WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Boston 4, L.A. Angels 3 Oakland 12, Kansas City 3 San Francisco 9, Washington 7
Giants 9, Nationals 7
Sox rally in 9th, then hold on Cabrera’s meeting brings hits Sandoval hits Washington AB R H BI
C.Guzman ss 5 1 2 0
BB SO Avg.
0 1 .379

ANAHEIM— Jason Varitek drove Red Sox 4, Angels 3 Athletics 12, Royals 3
walk-off HR N.Johnson 1b 4 1 2 5
Zimmerman 3b 5 1 2 0
Dunn lf 5 0 1 0
1 1 .314
0 0 .364
0 0 .313
Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Boston AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Kansas City AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
in the go-ahead run with a dou- Ellsbury cf 5 1 2 0 0 0 .296 Crisp cf 3 1 3 1 0 0 .261
Kearns rf 5 0 1 0 0 3 .241
W.Harris cf 3 1 0 1 1 1 .226
ble in the ninth inning, J.D. Lugo ss 3 0 0 0 2 0 .303 Maier cf 2 1 2 0 0 0 .286 SAN FRANCISCO—Pablo Sandoval A.Hernandez 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .282
D.Ortiz dh 3 0 0 1 0 1 .218 DeJesus lf 5 0 1 0 0 2 .223
Drew homered and the Boston Bay lf 4 0 0 1 0 1 .313 Teahen 3b 4 0 1 1 0 1 .300 says he had never hit a game- b-Willingham ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .193
K.Wells p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Red Sox rallied to beat the Los Lowell 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .310 1-Lu.Hernandez pr-3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 ending homer at any point in his Dukes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
J.Drew rf 4 2 2 1 0 0 .253 .000
Angeles Angels 4-3 on Tuesday J.Bailey 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .184 J.Guillen rf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .275 baseball journey from northern Nieves c 4 1 3 0 0 0 .280
Zimmermann p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
night. Varitek c 4 0 2 1 0 1 .239 Butler 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .276 Venezuela to San Francisco. a-Cintron ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .050
N.Green 2b 3 1 1 0 1 1 .291 Jacobs dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 .257
Drew led off the ninth with a Totals 34 4 8 4 3 4 Callaspo 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .327 If he had ever tripped on the Tavarez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-Belliard ph-2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 .179
single against Scot Shields (1-3) J.Buck c 4 0 0 0 0 0 .219 dirt and faceplanted while try- Totals 38 7 13 7 2 6
Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Aviles ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .204
and scored one out later when Figgins 3b 4 1 0 0 0 0 .246 Totals 36 3 10 3 2 5 ing to stretch a double into a
San Francisco AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Varitek lined the righthander’s M.Izturis ss 3 1 1 1 0 0 .280 triple, he wasn’t about to admit Burriss 2b 4 1 1 0 1 1 .273
Abreu rf 3 0 0 0 2 0 .301 Oakland AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
1-2 pitch to right-center. Hunter cf 4 0 2 1 1 1 .301 O.Cabrera ss 5 1 3 4 0 0 .238 that, either. Renteria ss 3 2 1 2 1 0 .252
Sandoval 3b 5 1 3 3 0 0 .303
Ramon Ramirez (4-0) pitched K.Morales 1b 3 0 0 1 0 1 .273 K.Suzuki c 4 2 2 0 1 0 .325 This promising season is just B.Molina c 3 2 1 1 1 2 .288
Napoli dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 .313 Giambi 1b 3 1 1 2 1 0 .212
a hitless eighth inning for the J.Rivera lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .272 Crosby 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 full of new experiences for the Winn lf 4 1 2 2 0 0 .269
Rowand cf 4 1 0 0 0 0 .230
victory and Jonathan Papelbon a-Willits ph-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 BEN MARGOT / AP Holliday lf 3 1 2 2 2 0 .237 22-year-old slugger and his Ishikawa 1b 4 1 2 1 0 1 .234
Kendrick 2b 2 1 0 0 2 0 .241 Jack Cust’s three-run HR was part of a seven-run second inning for Oakland. Cust dh 5 1 2 3 0 3 .290
got three outs for his ninth save Mathis c 4 0 2 0 0 2 .265 R.Sweeney cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .254 jubilant Giants teammates. Schierholtz rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .231
d-Uribe ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .256
in as many chances. Totals 30 3 6 3 5 5 a-R.Davis ph-cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .192 Sandoval’s three-run homer Cain p 3 0 0 0 0 3 .154
Kennedy 2b 4 1 0 0 1 1 .182
Jered Weaver, coming off the Boston 010 000 021 — 4 8 2 OAK L AND — O a k l a n d ’s Giambi. “If we’re going to T.Buck rf 4 2 1 0 1 2 .213 with two outs in the ninth Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Affeldt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
first complete-game victory of Los Angeles 100 100 100 — 3 6 0 Orlando Cabrera called a lose, we’re going to lose play- Hannahan 3b 5 2 1 1 0 0 .167 ended San Francisco’s wild 9-7 Medders p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Totals 38 12 13 12 6 7
his four-year career, allowed a a-sacrificed for J.Rivera in the 8th. E: Lowell (5), hitters’ only meeting as ing hard, giving everything. victory over the Washington e-Aurilia ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .159
Totals 35 9 10 9 3 8
run and four hits over seven Lugo (2). LOB: Boston 7, Los Angeles 10. 2B: soon as he arrived at the We were playing hard but Kansas City 000 011 100 — 3 10 2 Nationals on Tuesday night.
Varitek (8). HR: J.Drew (5), off Jer.Weaver. RBIs: Oakland 172 200 00x — 12 13 0
innings and left with a 3-1 lead. D.Ortiz (15), Bay (35), J.Drew (18), Varitek (13), ballpark Tuesday to get you have to do that every “I couldn’t believe that hap- Washington 000 100 330 — 7 13 2
San Francisco 200 300 013 — 9 10 0
The Red Sox loaded the bases M.Izturis (11), Hunter (22), K.Morales (19). SB: the attention of some of the time, every single play.” a-struck out for R.Sweeney in the 7th. 1-ran for pened for me,” said Sandoval, a
Ellsbury (16), Abreu (13). CS: Hunter (2). S: Figgins, Teahen in the 7th. E: Ponson (1), Crisp (3). LOB:
with one out in the eighth against Willits. SF: M.Izturis, K.Morales. Runners left in team’s younger players. Two days after getting Kansas City 8, Oakland 9. 2B: Maier (2), O.Cabrera
free swinger who uncharacter- Two outs when winning run scored. a-singled
for Zimmermann in the 7th. b-flied out
Jose Arredondo, and Darren scoring position: Boston 3 (Lowell 2, Lugo); Los Then the Athletics’ short- shut out by Texas, the A’s (4), K.Suzuki (12), Giambi (5), Hannahan (3). HR: istically took four pitches before for A.Hernandez in the 8th. c-singled for
Angeles 6 (Napoli, Abreu 3, Mathis, Hunter). DP: Crisp (3), off Cahill; Jacobs (6), off Cahill; Cust (5),
Oliver came in to face the still- Los Angeles 1 (J.Rivera, J.Rivera, Mathis). stop went out and gave his set a season-high for runs off Hochevar. RBIs: Crisp (12), Teahen (14), Jacobs
his homer. “In this moment, Tavarez in the 8th. d-flied out for Schierholtz in
the 9th. e-grounded out for Medders in the 9th.
homerless David Ortiz. Oliver teammates an example of while pounding out 13 hits (20), O.Cabrera 4 (10), Giambi 2 (15), Holliday I’m just going to get my pitch E: C.Guzman (4), Beimel (1). LOB: Washington
Boston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA 2 (22), Cust 3 (17), Hannahan (4). SB: Crisp (9),
hit Ortiz on the left wrist with a Masterson 6 5 2 2 4 3 105 4.89 what he was talking about. to snap a two-game losing K.Suzuki (1). SF: Giambi. Runners left in scor-
and drive the ball. I don’t want 8, San Francisco 4. 2B: Dunn (5), Nieves (1), San-
doval (9), Winn (6). HR: N.Johnson (3), off Cain;
1-2 pitch to force in a run, and Delcarmen 1 1 1 0 0 0 18 0.52 Cabrera had three hits streak. ing position: Kansas City 3 (Jacobs 2, DeJesus); to tie the game. I just want to B.Molina (8), off K.Wells; Sandoval (3), off Beimel.
R.Ramirez W, 4-0 1 0 0 0 0 1 19 0.52 Oakland 6 (Cust 2, Kennedy 2, K.Suzuki, R.Davis).
Jason Bay grounded out against Papelbon S, 9-9 1 0 0 0 1 1 18 1.20 and four RBIs, Jack Cust Matt Holiday added two DP: Oakland 1 (Cahill, O.Cabrera, Giambi).
end it. RBIs: N.Johnson 5 (17), W.Harris (3), Belliard (3),
Renteria 2 (16), Sandoval 3 (14), B.Molina (28),
Shields to drive in Jacoby Ells- Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA hit a three-run homer in a hits and two RBIs and Ryan Zimmerman extended Winn 2 (15), Ishikawa (12). SB: Renteria (2). S:
Jer.Weaver 7 4 1 1 1 4 98 2.45 Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
bury with the tying run. Arredondo H, 10 1⁄3 2 2 2 1 0 18 6.43 seven-run second inning Trevor Cahill (2-2) pitched Hochevar L, 0-1 2 7 8 8 2 1 48 his hitting streak to 30 games Zimmermann. SF: W.Harris. Runners left in
scoring position: Washington 4 (A.Hernandez 2,
The Angels’ bullpen has been Oliver 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1.42 and the A’s broke out of a six innings for the win as 36.00 with two singles for the hard- Zimmerman 2); San Francisco 2 (Sandoval 2).
S.Shields L, 1-3 BS, 1-2 1 2 1 1 0 0 24 Ponson 2 4 4 2 2 2 49 6.08
scored on in 20 of 29 appear- 7.82 season-long slump to beat the A’s handed the Royals Ho.Ramirez 1 1 0 0 1 0 20 7.11 luck Nationals, who have lost
Washington IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
ances with five blown saves, a Bulger 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 8 8.44 the Kansas City Royals their fourth straight loss. Farnsworth 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 5.56 nine straight to the Giants— Zimmermann 6 6 5 3 2 8 104 5.28
Mahay 1 1 0 0 1 2 22 4.09
2-9 record and a major league- Oliver pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited 12-3 on Tuesday night. The 12 runs were the Tejeda 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 1.54 none tougher than this defeat Tavarez 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 5.65
K.Wells H, 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 8 4.26
worst 6.90 ERA. runners-scored: Oliver 3-1, S.Shields 3-1, Bulger “I told the young guys, most by the A’s since beat- Oakland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA after Washington scored six Beimel L, 0-2 BS, 1-12⁄3 2 3 3 1 0 16 4.09
1-0. HBP: by Masterson (M.Izturis), by Oliver Cahill W, 2-2 6 7 2 2 2 2 99 3.69
Justin Masterson allowed (D.Ortiz). WP: Bulger. Umpires: Home, Jim Joyce; we’re not going to win every ing Arizona 15-1 on June Giese 1 2 1 1 0 1 20 4.19 runs in the late innings. San San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Cain 7 9 4 4 1 4 100 3.00
two runs and five hits over six First, Brian Runge; Second, Bill Miller; Third, Derryl game but at least we have to 17, 2008. Every Oakland K.Cameron 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 1.13 Francisco blew a 5-1 lead when Howry BS, 2-2 2⁄3 2 3 3 1 1 25 5.14
Cousins. T: 3:18. A: 33,411 (45,257). Blevins 1 1 0 0 0 1 10
innings and struck out four. pick the way that we’re going starter scored at least one 12.46 Nick Johnson hit a three-run Affeldt 2⁄3 2 0 0 0 0 8 3.00
Medders W, 2-1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 8 4.40
— The Associated Press to lose,” said Cabrera, who run and all but one—sec- homer in the seventh and drove
Umpires: Home, Jim Wolf; First, Brian O’Nora;
spoke at the meeting along ond baseman Adam Ken- Second, Fieldin Culbreth; Third, Mike Muchlinski. in two more runs with a weak Inherited runners-scored: Affeldt 2-2. HBP: by
Zimmermann (Renteria). Umpires: Home, Tim
with fellow veterans Nomar nedy—had at least one hit. T: 2:43. A: 10,156 (35,067). single in the eighth. Timmons; First, Gerry Davis; Second, Jeff Kellogg;
More MLB coverage, Page 18 Garciaparra and Jason — The Associated Press — The Associated Press Third, Mark Wegner. T: 2:51. A: 25,701 (41,915).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NBA WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

L.A. Lakers 118, Houston 78

Series glance

All goes perfectly (L.A. Lakers lead series 3-2)

May 4: Houston 100, L.A. Lakers 92
May 6: L.A. Lakers 111, Houston 98
May 8: L.A. Lakers 108, Houston 94

for Kobe, Lakers May 10: Houston 99, L.A. Lakers 87

Tuesday: L.A. Lakers 118,
Houston 78
Thursday: L.A. Lakers at Houston,
LOS ANGELES—Kobe Bryant needed in each of the second and third quar- 9:30 p.m., ESPN
only three quarters to score 26 points ters, he sat out the fourth period. Sunday: Houston at L.A. Lakers,
and the Los Angeles Lakers bounced “We played just the opposite we did TBA, if necessary
back from their Game 4 flop, routing the last game,” Houston coach Rick
the Houston Rockets 118-78 on Tues- Adelman said. “We turned it over in
day night to take a 3-2 lead in the the first half, shot it poorly. We said if Houston 24 15 15 24 — 78
Western Conference semifinals. we turn it over against this team L.A. Lakers 35 29 30 24 — 118
The top-seeded Lakers did every- we’re going to be in big trouble. That’s HOUSTON Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
thing they didn’t do in Sunday’s exactly what we did. Battier 29:23 2-7 0-0 2-3 0 3 5
Scola 31:21 4-10 4-4 5-13 4 4 12
99-87 loss at Houston—hustled, “It just kind of fed their energy Hayes 17:01 3-6 0-0 3-4 0 5 6
rebounded and played tight defense level. The second and third quarters Brooks 30:23 4-11 6-6 0-1 2 2 14
Artest 29:18 4-15 0-0 1-4 1 3 9
on Houston’s smaller lineup, keeping are about as bad as we’ve played in a Landry 27:59 4-6 1-2 2-3 0 3 9
Aaron Brooks in check and limiting long time.” Wafer 13:00 4-9 4-4 0-0 2 0 13
Cook 19:22 0-7 0-0 2-7 1 2 0
wide-open shots. Pau Gasol had 16 points and 13 Lowry 17:54 1-7 0-0 0-2 4 2 2
On Sunday the Lakers trailed by rebounds, Andrew Bynum 14 points, Barry 18:37 3-5 0-0 0-4 1 1 8
White 5:42 0-6 0-0 1-1 0 0 0
29 points. On Tuesday night, they Trevor Ariza 13 and Jordan Farmar Totals 240:00 29-89 15-16 16-42 15 25 78
had a 29-point lead by late in the sec- 12. Lamar Odom and Josh Powell had
Percentages: FG .326, FT .938. 3-Point Goals: 5-29, .172 (Barry
ond quarter, on a 3-pointer by Bry- 10 apiece. 2-4, Wafer 1-3, Battier 1-4, Artest 1-7, White 0-1, Brooks 0-3, Lowry
ant, who led seven Lakers in double Brooks was held to 14 points after 0-3, Cook 0-4). Team Rebounds: 7. Team Turnovers: 18 (24 PTS).
Blocked Shots: 4 (Artest, Battier, Cook, Landry). Turnovers: 17
figures. scoring a career-high 34 on Sunday. (Artest 4, Barry 3, Cook 3, Brooks 2, Scola 2, Landry, Wafer, White).
The Lakers can wrap up the series Ron Artest had a horrible night Steals: 4 (Barry 2, Artest, Cook). Technical Fouls: None.
Thursday night in Houston. shooting, 4 of 15 for nine points. The LAKERS Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
“We’ve got to stay focused and Rockets shot only 32 percent. Ariza 23:55 5-8 2-5 0-2 3 1 13
Gasol 32:38 5-9 6-8 5-13 3 1 16
understand that the effort we gave The Lakers fell behind by six points Bynum 19:50 5-6 4-4 3-6 0 2 14
tonight is not going to be enough on midway through the first quarter, Fisher 17:37 1-6 0-0 0-0 0 2 2
Bryant 30:49 10-19 5-6 0-4 3 3 26
Thursday. It’s just not,” Bryant said. but it didn’t take them long to answer Odom 18:30 2-3 5-6 3-6 1 0 10
“We’re not playing some chump the question of whether they’d show Farmar 22:29 4-7 2-3 0-2 6 1 12
Walton 21:27 1-2 2-2 0-6 3 3 4
team. I don’t care how many people up. Vujacic 14:24 1-5 0-0 0-1 0 3 2
they have out. This is a tough team, Los Angeles gained control by out- Brown 16:53 3-7 0-0 0-4 0 1 7
Powell 15:46 4-7 2-2 1-3 1 1 10
it’s a tough team full of competitors.” scoring Houston 23-6 during the Mbenga 5:42 1-3 0-0 0-2 0 0 2
The Rockets played their second final six minutes of the first quarter. Totals 240:00 42-82 28-36 12-49 20 18 118
game without Yao Ming, who sus- Bryant had eight points, making Percentages: FG .512, FT .778. 3-Point Goals: 6-13, .462 (Farmar
tained a season-ending stress frac- three straight shots at one point. 2-2, Odom 1-1, Ariza 1-2, Brown 1-2, Bryant 1-3, Fisher 0-1, Vujacic
0-2). Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 13 (10 PTS). Blocked
ture in his left foot in Game 3. Odom sank a 3-pointer and Farmar Shots: 7 (Gasol 3, Brown, Bryant, Mbenga, Vujacic). Turnovers:
Bryant looked more like himself another 3 at the buzzer for a 35-24 12 (Bryant 4, Ariza 2, Odom 2, Farmar, Mbenga, Powell, Walton).
Steals: 12 (Ariza 3, Brown 2, Walton 2, Bryant, Farmar, Fisher, Gasol,
after being held to 15 points on Sun- lead. Odom). Technical Fouls: None.
day. With the Lakers far ahead after It was 64-39 at the break. CHRIS CARLSON / AP
A: 18,997 (18,997). T: 2:25. Officials: Bennett Salvatore, Ken Mauer,
holding the Rockets to only 15 points — The Associated Press The Lakers had the game so much in control that Kobe Bryant, left, sat out the entire fourth quarter after scoring 26 points. Derrick Stafford.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NBA WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 7
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Boston 92, Orlando 88

Allen’s 3 gives Celtics lead, needed momentum

BOSTON—He’s technically a mem- and I can be called a whiner and “We’re not the team that we were
ber of the defending champions, but everything. last year. We’re a different team. Series glance
Stephon Marbury doesn’t have the “You’re playing Boston. They’re We’re not going to just show up and
(Boston leads series 3-2)
ring, doesn’t have the memories of the defending champions. That’s beat teams,” Rivers said. “We’re
the Celtics’ 17th NBA title. the way it is. ... They all watch box- really grinding here. I don’t know if May 4: Orlando 95, Boston 90
So he’s doing what he can to help ing. You’re in the 12th round against people appreciate what people are May 6: Boston 112, Orlando 94
them win an 18th. the champ. You can’t be thinking, doing here, with the minutes and May 8: Orlando 117, Boston 96
“I’m playing basketball this year. ‘I’m going to put it in the hands of the legs. But we know we’ve got to May 10: Boston 95, Orlando 94
Tuesday: Boston 92, Orlando 88
For me, that was enough,” Marbury the judges.’ You can’t do that. You get wins. There’s only so long you Thursday: Boston at Orlando,
said Tuesday night after scoring all got to knock them out.” can go.” 7 p.m., ESPN
of his 12 points in the final quarter Paul Pierce had 19 points, nine Mickael Pietrus dunked on an Sunday: Orlando at Boston, TBA,
to help Boston rally from a 14-point rebounds and eight assists, and alley-oop to make it 77-63 with 8:49 if necessary
deficit and beat the Orlando Magic Game 4 hero Glen “Big Baby” Davis left, Orlando’s biggest lead of the
92-88. scored 10 of his 22 points in the game, and Rivers disgustedly called
“From where I was, just being fourth quarter. Davis also grabbed a timeout. The Magic led 85-75 with Orlando 22 23 22 21 — 88
able to get back on the court after the rebound and hit a pair of free 5:39 to play before Boston scored Boston 16 21 22 33 — 92
not playing the whole year, I know throws after Howard intentionally the next 13 points to open an 88-85 ORLANDO Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
I’m blessed. I’m just happy that I missed a free throw with 5.9 sec- lead. Turkoglu 36:34 7-14 4-4 0-2 7 4 18
Lewis 38:40 8-16 2-2 0-5 3 2 19
had the opportunity to come out onds left. “We were up all night, but the last Howard 37:23 5-10 2-3 4-17 1 4 12
and help the Celtics win another “Stephon Marbury led the charge two minutes we just stopped,” Alston 35:14 6-15 2-3 0-5 6 0 16
Redick 28:59 1-6 0-0 1-3 3 0 3
championship.” in the second half, and made some Turkoglu said. “We shouldn’t even Pietrus 19:07 2-4 0-0 1-2 0 3 5
Ray Allen’s 3-pointer with 1:20 things happen, and that energy fed be in that situation because we Battie 9:20 4-7 0-0 0-1 0 1 8
Gortat 10:39 2-3 0-0 0-1 0 3 4
left gave Boston its first lead since me,” said Davis, who hit the buzzer- could have won this game easily.” Lee 11:22 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 2 3
midway through the first quarter, beater to win Game 4 on Sunday. Marbury hit a 3-pointer, then Johnson 12:43 0-2 0-0 2-3 1 1 0
Totals 240:01 36-80 10-12 8-39 23 20 88
and the Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the “Things weren’t going right, and another jumper, and after Davis
Eastern Conference semifinals with we’re looking for an answer. ... You sank a pair of hook shots, Marbury Percentages: FG .450, FT .833. 3-Point Goals: 6-24, .250 (Alston
2-6, Lee 1-1, Pietrus 1-3, Lewis 1-4, Redick 1-4, Johnson 0-1, Turko-
a chance to close it out in Game 6 in help others, and motivate others, converted a three-point play to glu 0-5). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: 10 (6 PTS). Blocked
Orlando on Thursday night. and that’s what Stephon Marbury make it 83-75. Turkoglu made a Shots: 2 (Gortat, Lewis). Turnovers: 10 (Howard 4, Turkoglu 2,
Alston, Battie, Johnson, Lewis). Steals: 5 (Alston 3, Gortat, Turkoglu).
Dwight Howard had 12 points did and that’s what we all did.” jumper to extend the lead to 10 Technical Fouls: Defensive three second, 8:02 third.
and 17 rebounds for the Magic, who Marbury joined the Celtics at the points before Rivers put Pierce, Per- BOSTON Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
did not hit a basket after opening a end of February after a season-long kins and Rondo back in the game Pierce 40:05 6-11 7-7 1-9 8 3 19
10-point lead with 5:39 to play. It feud with New York Knicks man- with 4:55 left. Davis 42:11 8-16 6-6 4-7 2 4 22
CHARLES KRUPA / AP Perkins 35:12 3-7 0-0 3-11 1 4 6
didn’t help that, on one of the only agement earned him his long- Boston’s Glen Davis, center, scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. Two jumpers by Davis, a layup by Rondo 28:38 3-12 0-0 2-9 5 4 6
times the Orlando defense played awaited release. He saw limited Pierce and a reverse from Perkins RAllen 41:09 3-11 5-5 0-3 3 0 13
Scalabrine 18:21 2-5 0-0 1-1 2 4 6
well, the officials ruled that Rajon playing time as the backup point coach Doc Rivers said. “This is who almost blew a 28-point lead in made it 85-83. House 19:36 3-6 2-2 0-2 0 1 8
Rondo’s apparent airball hit the rim guard in Boston, never making as tough for him. He’s never been Game 1, then lost Game 4 on Davis’ Davis missed a potential game- Marbury 14:48 5-10 1-1 0-0 2 0 12
Totals 240:00 33-78 21-21 11-42 23 20 92
and gave Boston a fresh 24-second many as five baskets in a game until taken out to put starters in. That’s 21-footer. tying shot with 1:55 left—his only
clock with 37 seconds to play. a six-minute span at the start of the always been him going in, and he’s A backup until Kevin Garnett miss in the quarter—but Allen made Percentages: FG .423, FT 1.000. 3-Point Goals: 5-16, .313 (Sca-
labrine 2-3, R.Allen 2-5, Marbury 1-2, Pierce 0-1, House 0-2, Rondo
“You can watch it, you can write fourth quarter on Tuesday night. been able to handle it well and be a was injured and lost for the play- up for it by putting Boston ahead 0-3). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: 8 (3 PTS). Blocked
whether it hit the rim or not,” Magic Then he went back to the bench. great teammate. So, I’m just happy offs—so far—Davis has replaced with a 3-pointer—just his third bas- Shots: 1 (Perkins). Turnovers: 8 (R.Allen 4, Rondo 3, Perkins).
Steals: 7 (Pierce 2, R.Allen, Davis, House, Perkins, Rondo). Technical
coach Stan Van Gundy said. “But “He’s been great for us. He just for him.” him in the starting lineup and kept ket of the game. Fouls: None.
you want us coaches to say it, so that hangs in there, keeps working every Rashard Lewis scored 19 and the defending champions hanging — The Associated Press A: 18,624 (18,624). T: 2:33. Officials: Monty McCutchen, Bill
I can donate money to the league day. He’s been very patient,” Celtics Hedo Turkoglu had 18 for the Magic, around. Spooner, Mike Callahan.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Boston 92, Orlando 88
Unlikely heroes spur Celtics, push Magic to brink
BY ALBERT BREER
abreer@sportingnews.com
BOSTON—The temptation here is to
let the past serve as your guide.
A veteran-driven Celtics team per-
severed. A playoff-inexperienced
Magic club pressed late, then puked
all over itself in the final minutes.
And the reigning titlist, drawing
on its championship experience,
closed a 14-point fourth-quarter def-
icit to prevail late.
Nice. Neat. Not nearly true, not
except for the part about Orlando
choking.
See, Stephon Marbury wasn’t on
last year’s Celtics team, and hasn’t
exactly played a major role for this
one. Glen Davis scored 39 points—
total—in 17 playoff games last year,
while logging 137 minutes over the
run to the title.
Yet, those were the guys who
sparked Boston’s furious rally late.
“I really thought Stephon Mar-
bury and Big Baby (Davis), in that
one stretch, kept us alive, gave us
hope,” said Boston coach Doc
Rivers.
Consider this—in the fourth quar-
ter, both Marbury (12 points) and
Davis (10) had more than Paul Pierce
and Ray Allen combined.
Start when things were at their
worst. With a little less than nine
minutes to go, Boston was down
77-63, and hadn’t gotten within a
possession of the Magic since the
second minute of the second
quarter.
First, Marbury launches a 24-foot
bomb from the top to cut the lead to
77-66, and follows it with a 21-foot
Stephon Marbury, left, helped spark the Celtics’ comeback from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit.
jumper from just below the elbow to
get the Celtics within nine.
Davis followed with two buckets,
then Marbury drove for a 3-point
play, and then Davis hit consecutive
NBA
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
ELISE AMENDOLA / AP
jumpers. Suddenly, with 3:56 left,
the Orlando lead had been shaved to
85-79.
So in a little less than five minutes,
Davis and Marbury had combined
to score all 16 of the Celtics’ points,
while Orlando could muster just 8.
“It felt good, because we needed
it,” said Marbury, who spent much
of this season in Knicks-imposed
purgatory, after clashing with head
coach Mike D’Antoni. “The time was
right for me to go in and do what I
did, and for us to win the basketball
game. My whole mindset when I got
into the game was to try to create
something that would change the
flow of the game.”
And his big shots—and Davis’
too—certainly did.
As the momentum from the rally
started to spill over, the Celtics
clamped down defensively—Hedo
Turkoglu’s driving jumper with 5:39
left was Orlando’s last field goal.
After that, the Magic didn’t score
again until Rashard Lewis was
fouled intentionally with 7.3 seconds
left.
By then, Pierce and Kendrick Per-
kins had drawn the Celtics within
two, and Allen hit the go-ahead 3,
rolling off the pick and hitting it off-
balance, with 1:20 left.
By then, too, you figured out how
these Celtics are picking up the slack
with Kevin Garnett shelved. Pierce
and Allen are part of the equation, to
be sure.
But so are guys like Davis and
Marbury, who would’ve been after-
thoughts as recently as a month ago.
“Our guys showed a lot of charac-
ter,” said Davis. “Stephon Marbury
led the charge in the second half and
made some things happen, and that
energy fed me, I made some shots,
and it fed off everybody. And that’s
what it’s all about.”
NOTEBOOK
Coach: Magic quit playing their game
Orlando coach Stan Van
Gundy gave the Celtics their
due.
But he knew that, after his club
blew a 14-point lead in the fourth
quarter of Tuesday’s 92-88 loss,
it was more about what his Magic
didn’t do than anything else.
“We quit playing the game that
had got us here,” a disgusted Van
Gundy said afterward. “We
looked like we were trying to run
the clock out—walking the ball
up the floor, playing halfcourt.
We haven’t had success playing
that way, but that’s how we
decided to play it.”
It’s not like the Magic hadn’t
been warned. In Game 1,
Orlando led by as many as 17 in
the fourth quarter, only to see
that lead dwindle to three before
Boston finally ran out of gas. It’s
just that this time, Boston sum-
moned enough to finish the job,
and Orlando was left again look-
ing for answers.
“We have to learn as a team
about playing against good
teams in these series,” said
Dwight Howard. “You have a
team down, you have to bury
them.”
Celts not rattled
After all the Celtics have been
through—three seven-game
series and, now, a total of 38
playoff games in the last two
seasons—a certain calm confi-
dence permeated the team as it
worked through the late come-
back. Even in that hole, the man
who hit the go-ahead 3 with 1:20
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 8
left, Ray Allen, said there was
not a whole lot of concern.
“We cause our own (luck) by
starting aggressive and doing
the things to help each other,”
he said. “The experience defi-
nitely comes in to play. No one’s
rattled by the situation we’re in,
so everybody can think calmly
and make the right plays we
need to make.”
Howard a little touchy
Howard showed some frus-
tration late over his lack of
offensive opportunities, hinting
that the Magic have abandoned
their inside-out style of play.
The All-Star took just 10 shots,
scoring 12 points to go with his
17 rebounds.
“I don’t need to get into it with
my coach, go back and forth with
him, because it’s really about
defense,” Howard said. “Even if
I feel like I should, I’m not get-
ting those touches, but I have to
be able to go on the other end and
defend without fouling, and we
all have to play team defense.”
‘Big’ sorry
Celtics forward Glen Davis
apologized Tuesday for bump-
ing a 12-year-old boy while cele-
brating his game-winning shot
against the Magic on Sunday
night.
“If I’ve hurt anybody or if I’ve
done any harm to anybody,
please forgive me because my
intentions were just harmless,”
he said.
— Albert Breer
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Nuggets eager to face Mavs on home court
DENVER—The Denver Nuggets returned from Dallas
with a bad taste in their mouths, and it had nothing to
do with Chris “Birdman” Andersen’s nasty case of
food poisoning.
Andersen said between bites of mashed potatoes
Tuesday that he’s recovered from his sour stomach
that kept him out of the Nuggets’ 119-117 loss to the
Mavericks the previous night.
“I feel really good now,” Andersen said after getting
additional IVs and shooting some baskets.
He said he can’t wait for Game 5 tonight at the Pepsi
Center when the Nuggets try to clinch their first trip to
the Western Conference finals in 24 years.
His teammates are equally eager to take out their
frustrations on the basketball court.
They’re upset with the way their families and
friends were treated Monday night at American Air-
lines Center, where fans hurled insults at Kenyon
Martin’s girlfriend, rap star Trina, and where Car-
melo Anthony’s girlfriend, LaLa Vazquez of MTV
fame, was removed from her seat by security guards
for her safety.
Fans also got into shouting matches with Martin’s
mother, who had extra protection around her after
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban called her son a thug
following the frenetic finish in Game 3.
“I think all of us are kind of angry about ... the treat-
ment we got in Dallas,” Nuggets coach George Karl
said Tuesday. “And we want our home crowd to be
with us and ... we want to show them that we owe them
a game.”
On Tuesday, Cuban apologized for yelling at Mar-
tin’s mother, Lydia Moore, and suggested things had
gotten out of hand. But his apology was brushed aside
by the Nuggets because it contained an offer that they
could all sit in his suite with his own family “when the
series comes back to Dallas.”
“We don’t plan on going back to Dallas,” retorted
Chauncey Billups.
Cuban also offered to take Martin and his mother
out for dinner this summer.
Dinner in Dallas is a sore subject with the Nuggets
right now.
Andersen said he ate something bad at the team
hotel Monday that left him doubled over in the locker
room during the game with severe abdominal cramps
and vomiting.
NBA WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 9
NBA flexes postseason muscle
The NBA’s postseason got off to a
vibrant start, propelled by the
dynamic seven-game Celtics-Bulls
series that fueled the first round of
the playoffs.
At the gate, the NBA sold out
all but three of its 45 first-round
games, the same number of non-
sellouts as last year’s first round.
On the television side, TNT rode
the strength of the Celtics-Bulls
series to a double-digit increase in
viewers over last year’s first round.
For the 24 games on TNT, the net-
work averaged 3.379 million view-
ers, up 14.3 percent from 2.956
million viewers last year in 22 first-
round games. The first-round
games generated a 2.6 cable rating
(2.597 million households), com-
MATT SLOCUM / AP pared with a 2.4 cable rating (2.339
Carmelo Anthony, left, and Denver want to finish the series tonight. million households) for first-round
games last year.
The Nuggets sorely missed their energetic center as Meanwhile, Game 7 of the Bulls-
Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki scored a series-high 44 Celtics series was the most watched
points and pulled down 13 rebounds to help the Mav- first-round game in cable history
ericks stave off elimination. with 6.987 million viewers.
Without the “Birdman” swatting away passes and “You buy the package and you
making things tough on Nowitzki in the paint, Dallas hope for a series like the one we
outrebounded the Nuggets 50-34, and Denver man- just had between the Bulls and the
aged just seven second-chance points. Celtics,” said Turner Sports Presi-
With all the talk of hostile treatment in Dallas, dent David Levy. “Obviously, you
Andersen isn’t alleging sabotage. leverage it.”
“Nope. I’m actually going to have some fresh legs,” Levy would not disclose details,
he said. “I’m just real anxious to get out there on the but said playoff sales this year are
floor and give it everything I’ve got.” on pace with last season’s playoffs. ELISE AMENDOLA / AP
Cuban, who’s skipping Game 5 to be at an awards On ESPN, however, ratings Game 7 of the Bulls-Celtics series was the most watched first-round game in cable history.
ceremony in Las Vegas, is counting on the series dipped during this year’s first
returning to Dallas. However, no NBA team has ever round. The eight first-round games
recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series, generated a 2.1 cable rating (2.040 generated a 3.1 rating (3.503 house- than 40 percent compared with
and no team has beaten Denver at the Pepsi Center million households) compared holds) compared with six first- last year’s first round.
since March 11. with a 2.4 cable rating (2.306 mil- round games that generated a 3.4 At the arenas, the Sixers were
“The pressure is on them to win the series,” Jason lion households) over nine first- rating (3.802 million households) the only team failing to sell out its
Kidd said. “We don’t have any pressure.” round games last season. in 2008. first-round games—they were the
Billups chuckled at the notion. ABC’s first-round ratings also Web traffic increased signifi- only team that didn’t sell out dur-
“We can still afford to lose,” he said. “They can’t.” dipped slightly. Through May 3, cantly during the first round, with ing last season’s first round, too.
— The Associated Press the five first-round games on ABC page views to NBA.com up more — John Lombardo, SportsBusiness Journal
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NBA WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 10
INSIDE DISH Playoff glance
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Pacers’ Granger wins most improved award (Best-of-7), All times ET

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland vs. Atlanta
Pacers F Danny Granger won the NBA’s most Stefanski also said he had no interest in (Cleveland wins series 4-0)
improved player award Tuesday, beating out re-signing free-agent C Theo Ratliff, who
Most improved player voting May 5: Cleveland 99, Atlanta 72
Selected by a national panel of 121 sportswriters and May 7: Cleveland 105, Atlanta 85
Nets PG Devin Harris. Granger had the NBA’s accused DiLeo of not being tough enough in May 9: Cleveland 97, Atlanta 82
broadcasters.
fifth-highest scoring average this season—a addressing repeated mistakes after the 76ers’ Monday: Cleveland 84, Atlanta, 74
career-best 25.8 points—made his All-Star playoff loss to the Magic, according to the Name, Team 1st 2nd 3rd Pts
team debut and accepted an invitation to Philadelphia Daily News. Danny Granger, Indiana 48 37 13 364 Boston vs. Orlando
(Boston leads series 3-2)
train with USA Basketball in July. He Devin Harris, New Jersey 43 35 19 339 May 4: Orlando 95, Boston 90
improved his scoring average by at least five Hawks PG Mike Bibby, who just com- Kevin Durant, Okla. City 6 14 11 83 May 6: Boston 112, Orlando 94
points in each of the past two seasons—he pleted the final year of three-year deal, says May 8: Orlando 117, Boston 96
Paul Millsap, Utah 3 13 23 77
averaged 7.5 points as a rookie out of New he wants to return to the Hawks next season. May 10: Boston 95, Orlando 94
Nene, Denver 7 5 8 58 Tuesday: Boston 92, Orlando 88
Mexico, 13.9 in his second season and 19.6 in “It’s not my decision to make,” Bibby told The
Rajon Rondo, Boston 2 5 4 29 Thursday: Boston at Orlando, 7 p.m.
2007-08. As for what’s in store for next sea- Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I told them Sunday: Orlando at Boston, TBA, if
son, Granger said he wants to become an before, I love it here. … I definitely want to David Lee, New York 1 3 11 25 necessary
“elite defender.” “He is the face of our fran- come back. I love the coaching staff, love the John Salmons, Chicago 2 2 1 17
chise, and he handles himself well on the team, love the city.” Bibby averaged 14.9 Thaddeus Young, Phil 1 2 5 16 WESTERN CONFERENCE
L.A. Lakers vs. Houston
court and off,” team president Larry Bird said. points and 4.4 assists during the regular Von Wafer, Houston 2 - 2 12 (L.A. Lakers lead series 3-2)
“I think going forward, he will continue to season. Brandon Roy, Portland 1 1 - 8 May 4: Houston 100, L.A. Lakers 92
do the things he’s doing, and continue to May 6: L.A. Lakers 111,
Chris Andersen, Denver 1 - 1 6
improve. That’s all you can ask for.” The Knicks have not promised G Stephen Houston 98
J.R. Smith, Denver 1 - 1 6 May 8: L.A. Lakers 108, Houston 94
Curry they will select him with their first-
Glen Davis, Boston 1 - - 5 May 10: Houston 99, L.A. Lakers 87
One day after withdrawing his name round pick in the draft, according to News- Tuesday: L.A. Lakers 118, Houston 78
from consideration to return as the 76ers’ day. “I don’t know where that came from,” Jason Terry, Dallas 1 - - 5 Thursday: L.A. Lakers at Houston, 9:30
coach next season, Tony DiLeo discussed his Dell Curry, Stephen’s father, said. “There’s no Wilson Chandler, N.Y. 1 - - 5 p.m.
reasons for stepping down and returning to truth to it.” Aaron Brooks, Houston - 1 1 4 Sunday: Houston at L.A. Lakers, TBA, if
necessary
his role as senior vice president and assistant Jameer Nelson, Orlando - 1 1 4
to general manager and team president Ed Move over Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets Kelenna Azubuike, G.S. - - 3 3 Denver vs. Dallas
Stefanski. “Family has a lot to do with it,” have sold several thousand “Protect The (Denver leads series 3-1)
Dwyane Wade, Miami - 1 - 3
DiLeo said Tuesday. “I will cherish return- Nest” T-shirts that feature forward Chris “Bird- May 3: Denver 109, Dallas 95
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland - 1 - 3 May 5: Denver 117, Dallas 105
ing to that role to help build the 76ers’ orga- man” Andersen, The Denver Post reported. “We
Roger Mason, S.A. - - 3 3 May 9: Denver 106, Dallas 105
nization for a championship.” Stefanski said sell several hundred a game,” Nuggets direc- Monday: Dallas 119, Denver 117
Monday that there isn’t a precise timetable to tor of consumer products Bill McAdoo told the Luis Scola, Houston - - 2 2 Today: Dallas at Denver, 9 p.m.
hire the franchise’s 23rd head coach. newspaper. “As fast as we print them, I’ve Ronnie Brewer, Utah - - 2 2 Friday: Denver at Dallas, TBA, if
Meanwhile, TNT analyst Doug Collins apolo- had to triple the orders.” Kendrick Perkins, Boston - - 1 1 necessary
Sunday: Dallas at Denver, TBA, if
gized to Stefanski for mistakenly saying he Emeka Okafor, Charlotte - - 1 1 necessary
spoke to the team about its open coaching Gerald Wallace, Charlotte - - 1 1
job. Collins had told The Associated Press
Tyrus Thomas, Chicago - - 1 1
on Tuesday night before Game 5 of the Rock- Today’s games Mo Williams, Cleveland - - 1 1
ets-Lakers series he had talked with the Six- All Times ET
ers about their vacancy “like two or three J.J. Barea, Dallas - - 1 1
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS (Best-of-7)
times.” Dallas at Denver, 9 p.m., TNT Mike Conley, Memphis - - 1 1
“Whatever they want to do, they know Rasual Butler, N.O. - - 1 1
where I am if they want to call,” he said. Betting line Andrea Bargnani, Toronto - - 1 1
MICHAEL CONROY / AP Collins, a former NBA coach, then back- Today
Jeff Green, Okla. City - - 1 1
tracked on his original comments during the FAVORITE ....................LINE .................... O/U ..............UNDERDOG
Danny Granger has improved his scoring average by at least at Denver..............................8½..........................(213½)....................... Dallas
five points a game the past two seasons. game and denied speaking with Stefanski.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY
Anaheim 2, Detroit 1
Ducks headed to Detroit after top line helps stave off elimination
Ducks G Jonas Hiller sprawled out for a second-period save, one of his 38 stops in Anaheim’s Game 6 win over the defending Cup champions.
www.sportingnews.com NHL
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
ANAHEIM—The Anaheim Ducks
made sure there would be no road
clincher by the Detroit Red Wings.
Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry
each had a goal and an assist and
Jonas Hiller made 38 saves as the
Ducks beat the Red Wings 2-1 Tues-
day to force a Game 7 in the Western
Conference semifinal series.
Scott Niedermayer and Bobby
Ryan added assists for the Ducks,
who built a two-goal lead in the sec-
ond period and managed to shut
down the Red Wings until Johan
Franzen brought Detroit within a
goal with 2:25 to play.
Game 7 will be in Detroit on
Thursday, with the winner moving
on to face the Chicago Blackhawks
in the conference finals.
“Not a lot had to be said, we have
enough guys in here who have been
there before,” Getzlaf said. “It was
unacceptable the way we played last
game. We were excited about tonight.”
Led by their top line of Getzlaf,
Perry and Ryan, the Ducks matched
the Red Wings’ up-tempo attack
stride for stride and avoided
elimination.
The Red Wings had clinched
their last eight playoff series wins
with victories on the road, and
seemed poised to do the same after
outskating and outshooting Ana-
heim 78-45 in consecutive wins in
Games 4 and 5.
But facing elimination, the Ducks
returned to the form that carried
the team to a league-best 10-2-1
mark in the final weeks of the sea-
son, then through a first-round
upset of the Presidents’ Trophy-
HENRY DIROCCO / AP
winning San Jose Sharks.
“We knew we wanted it tonight,
we have a great team in here,” said
Perry. “We dug down and you can
just feel it before the game, everyone
was ready to play.”
Having failed in their chance to
close out the Ducks on Tuesday, the
Red Wings will now face their first
Game 7 since drubbing the Colo-
rado Avalanche 7-0 at the home in
the final game of Patrick Roy’s
career on May 31, 2002. Detroit is
11-7 in Game 7s, but just 3-3 at home
since 1991.
“I think they were more desperate
tonight than we were,” said Detroit
captain Nicklas Lidstrom. “They
came out stronger. There were too
many turnovers that created more
time in our zone than we wanted to.”
Anaheim’s best postseason play-
ers also got back in form.
Getzlaf generated 16 points in 11
games to open the playoffs, but was
held without a point in Game 5. He
responded with his seventh multi-
ple-point game of the playoffs.
Hiller yielded 10 goals in the last
two games, but he returned to the
stinginess that carried the Ducks to
wins in Games 2 and 3 of the series.
“I think everybody stepped up
and played hard and we deserved to
win and go on to Game 7,” Hiller
said. “It was a tough fight, 60 min-
utes, a close game again, and emo-
tions were unloading at the end.
“We have to play with emotions to
have a chance to win.”
Chris Osgood made 26 saves for
the Red Wings and was sharp early
as the Ducks outshot Detroit 12-8 in
a quick-paced first period.
After failing to score on an initial
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 11
man-advantage in the opening min-
ute of the second period, the Ducks
went back on the power play when
Niklas Kronwall lofted the puck
over the glass in the Detroit zone.
Getzlaf knocked Daniel Cleary off
the puck behind the Ducks’ net to
begin a rush. He finished the play by
outmuscling Jonathan Ericsson to tap
in a loose puck in the Detroit crease
2:21 into the second period.
— The Associated Press
Series glance
(Series tied 3-3)
May 1: Detroit 3, Anaheim 2
May 3: Anaheim 4, Detroit 3, 3OT
May 5: Anaheim 2, Detroit 1
May 7: Detroit 6, Anaheim 3
May 10: Detroit 4, Anaheim 1
Tuesday: Anaheim 2, Detroit 1
Thursday: Anaheim at Detroit,
7 p.m.
Detroit 0 0 1 — 1
Anaheim 0 2 0 — 2
First Period: None. Penalties: Anaheim bench, served by Ryan
(too many men), 4:35; Hudler, Det (delay of game), 13:13; Filppula,
Det (holding), 19:38.
Second Period: 1, Anaheim, Getzlaf 4 (Perry, S.Niedermayer),
2:21 (pp). 2, Anaheim, Perry 7 (Getzlaf, Ryan), 17:35. Penalties:
Kronwall, Det (delay of game), 1:41; Marchant, Ana (interference),
9:15; Ebbett, Ana (cross-checking), 12:04.
Third Period: 3, Detroit, Franzen 8 (Hudler, Zetterberg), 17:35 (pp).
Penalties: Samuelsson, Det (interference), 9:07; Anaheim bench,
served by Ryan (too many men), 10:05; Rafalski, Det (holding),
11:01; Ebbett, Ana (tripping), 16:43; Rafalski, Det, major (fighting),
20:00; Datsyuk, Det, major (fighting), 20:00; S.Niedermayer, Ana,
major (fighting), 20:00; Marchant, Ana, game misconduct, 20:00;
Getzlaf, Ana (roughing, hooking), 20:00; Perry, Ana, minor-major-
misconduct (roughing, fighting), 20:00.
Shots on Goal: Detroit 8-13-18: 39. Anaheim 12-10-6: 28.
Power-play opportunities: Detroit 1 of 4; Anaheim 1 of 5.
Goalies: Detroit, Osgood 7-3-0 (28 shots-26 saves). Anaheim, Hiller
7-5-0 (39-38).
A: 17,174 (17,174). T: 2:29.
Referees: Dave Jackson, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen: Jean Morin, Thor
Nelson.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Boston 4, Carolina 2
Bruins head home after fending off Canes a second time
RALEIGH, N.C.—The Boston Bruins
played an entire season to get to this
point: a winner-take-all Game 7 in
their building.
With those high stakes, the
NHL’s top remaining seed wasn’t
about to get caught up in settling a
score. Instead, the Bruins moved a
step closer to giving the Carolina
Hurricanes a different kind of
knockout punch.
They evened the Eastern Confer-
ence semifinals and sent the series
back to Boston for a decisive sev-
enth game by beating Carolina 4-2
Tuesday night.
“We’ve been working hard all
year to get home-ice advantage,”
center Patrice Bergeron said. “And
there it is, and we have it.”
Mark Recchi had a goal and an
assist. Marc Savard scored before
leaving in the third period with a
minor leg injury. Steve Montador
and Chuck Kobasew added goals,
Bergeron had two assists and Tim
Thomas stopped 31 shots in his sec-
ond straight victory.
“Basically, I’m trying not to let
them get anything to feed off of,”
Thomas said.
The Bruins led 2-0 barely 5 min-
utes in and made it stand to win
their second straight since falling
one loss shy of elimination. The
reward: A trip back to Beantown
for Thursday night’s Game 7, their
first at home since losing in the first
round to Montreal in 2004.
“From the time we fell behind 3-1
in the series, our goal was to create
a Game 7,” coach Claude Julien said.
“We’re there now. ... Getting to
Bruins G Tim Thomas said he was trying not to give Ray Whitney and the Hurricanes ‘anything to feed off of,’ and he made 31 saves.
Game 7 is one thing. Now we’ve got
to decide what we’re going to do
with it.”
And there wasn’t even any need
to retaliate for what they considered
a sucker punch thrown by Caroli-
na’s Scott Walker near the end of
Game 5.
Matt Cullen and Sergei Sam-
sonov scored for the Hurricanes.
NHL
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Their first losing streak of the play-
offs has put them in danger of blow-
ing a 3-1 series lead for the first time
in franchise history.
“I believe in this hockey team. I
really do, and sometimes that
means you say unkind things to
them because you expect more and
better out of them,” said coach Paul
Maurice after his postgame speech
KARL B. DEBLAKER / AP
was described, perhaps sarcasti-
cally, by defenseman Tim Gleason
as “uplifting.”
At least Carolina is used to play-
ing Game 7s. Each of the Hurri-
canes’ previous three playoff series
dating to the 2006 Stanley Cup run
also went the full seven games, and
they won all three.
“It seems like whenever you
counted us out was when we played
our best,” captain Rod Brind’Amour
said. “So I’m sure everyone’s count-
ing us out right now.”
Cam Ward stopped 15 shots and
allowed four goals for the second
straight game. In four previous
starts after a loss, he was 4-0 and
had allowed a total of four goals.
The series between one-time New
England rivals received a jolt of bad
blood two nights earlier, when
Walker dropped Aaron Ward with
a right cross that led the NHL to
fine the Hurricanes forward
$2,500 but not suspend him.
The injury didn’t cost Ward any
playing time either; he logged about
20 minutes while playing with a
shiner around his left eye. But the
Bruins promised to never forget
what they felt was a cheap shot.
For now, though, they were con-
tent to do their talking between the
whistles. Boston had two goals
before the Hurricanes registered
their second shot on net.
“They came in tonight and kind
of blew us out of the water,” Glea-
son said.
Bergeron set up the first goal by
dumping the puck to Recchi, who
tapped it in for his 50th career play-
off goal and third of the series.
Montador then made it a two-goal
game with a slap shot from behind
the left circle.
“Every team’s going to tell you
they want to score the first goal—
you feel a lot more comfortable, and
the first goal certainly made us feel
confident,” Julien said. “Then we
got that second one, (and it) just
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 12
seemed like we had lots of
confidence.”
Cullen scored the Hurricanes’
first goal since Game 4 when he
flipped a backhander over an out-
stretched Thomas nearly 3 minutes
into the second period. But Savard
restored the Bruins’ two-goal
advantage roughly 6 minutes later
with a one-timer that clipped the
near post and went in for his fourth
goal of the series.
— The Associated Press
Series glance
(Series tied 3-3)
May 1: Boston 4, Carolina 1
May 3: Carolina 3, Boston 0
May 5: Carolina 3, Boston 2, OT
May 8: Carolina 4, Boston 1
May 10: Boston 4, Carolina 0
Tuesday: Boston 4, Carolina 2
Thursday: Carolina at Boston, 8
p.m.
Boston 2 2 0 — 4
Carolina 0 1 1 — 2
First Period: 1, Boston, Recchi 3 (Bergeron, Kobasew), 2:01. 2,
Boston, Montador 1 (Krejci, Ryder), 5:04. Penalties: Chara, Bos
(holding), 19:29.
Second Period: 3, Carolina, Cullen 2 (Walker, LaRose), 2:49. 4,
Boston, Savard 6 (Lucic, Wideman), 8:53. 5, Boston, Kobasew 3
(Bergeron, Recchi), 18:03. Penalties: Eaves, Car (tripping), 14:11;
Babchuk, Car (holding), 19:27.
Third Period: 6, Carolina, Samsonov 3 (Staal, Gleason), 7:20.
Penalties: Montador, Bos (boarding), 8:11; Wideman, Bos (delay
of game), 10:46.
Shots on Goal: Boston 9-6-4: 19. Carolina 11-8-14: 33.
Power-play opportunities: Boston 0 of 2; Carolina 0 of 3.
Goalies: Boston, Thomas 7-3-0 (33 shots-31 saves). Carolina, C.Ward
7-6-0 (19-15).
A: 18,680 (18,680). T: 2:20.
Referees: Marc Joannette, Kelly Sutherland. Linesmen: Shane
Heyer, Brian Murphy.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Crosby’s 1st Game 7 will be Ovechkin’s 3rd
ARLINGTON, VA.—When the Washington
Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins to
finish their taut, thrilling Eastern Con-
ference semifinal tonight, Alex Ovech-
kin’s third career Game 7 in the NHL
playoffs will mark Sidney Crosby’s debut
in such a setting.
That’s right: For all of his talent and
success, Sid the Kid is still relatively, well,
a kid.
“I’ve watched a lot of Game 7s, but this
will be my first one,” the 21-year-old
Crosby said. “I’ve never played one in
juniors—or any level.”
So he and 22-year-old teammate Kris
Letang asked the more-experienced Bill
Guerin for some words of advice Tuesday
while skipping the optional skate at the
Penguins’ practice facility.
“Somebody,” Crosby observed, “is
going home.”
Which sort of feels like a bit of a shame,
given what these teams have delivered so
far in a series that features the past two
NHL MVPs (Ovechkin and Crosby), two
of this year’s MVP finalists (Ovechkin
and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin), and the
past two league points leaders (Malkin
and Ovechkin).
“(Today),” Ovechkin said, wearing gray
sweats and flip-flops after sitting out
Washington’s optional practice, “is going
to be pretty sick.”
Consider:
Five games won by a single goal, the
other decided by only two goals;
Three games went to overtime,
including Washington’s 5-4 victory at
Pittsburgh in Game 6 on Monday night;
Both teams led in each game, and
five times the team that scored first lost.
Both teams have held a series lead, with
Washington up 2-0, then Pittsburgh up
3-2. And the teams have been tied or sep-
arated by one goal 92 percent of the time.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Alex Ovechkin has the edge in Game 7 experience—he lost one last year, and beat New York last round.
“It’s lived up to the hype of the ‘Super
Series,’” Capitals forward Brooks Laich
said, “and I think it’s great for hockey, in
general.”
There are particular moments that stand
out, from goalie Simeon Varlamov’s out-of-
nowhere save on Crosby in Game 1, to the
hat tricks delivered by Ovechkin and
Crosby in Game 2, to the OT wins for the
Penguins in Games 3 and 5 when a puck
went in the goal off a Caps defenseman.
“The star power is there, and they
haven’t underperformed,” Washington
coach Bruce Boudreau said. “It’s not like
you’re playing in the Super Bowl, and
you’ve got the best running back in the
league going seven carries for 12 yards.
There’s no disappointment here.”
NHL
Caps-Pens: Game 7 primer
The Penguins and Capitals have faced
off in the NHL playoffs six times in the last
17 years. Two of those series—in 1992 and
1995—have gone to a seventh game, with
the Penguins advancing in both cases.
Here’s a closer look at those matchups.
1992 Patrick Division semifinals
Game 7: Pittsburgh 3, Washington 1
After falling in a 3-1 series hole, the
Penguins employed their version of the
left-wing lock and outscored the Capitals
14-7 the rest of the way. Pittsburgh rode
the momentum through the playoffs and
defended their 1990-91 title, sweeping
Chicago in the Cup finals.
1995 Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Game 7: Pittsburgh 3, Washington 0
Again, the Capitals jumped out to a
3-1 series lead, and again, the Penguins
came back to win the series. This time,
though, there was no Cup in Pittsburgh’s
KEITH SRAKOCIC / AP future. With Mario Lemieux taking the
season off to recover from treatment for
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Pittsburgh fell in
the conference semifinals in five games to
Ovechkin has 13 points (seven goals, six New Jersey, the eventual champs.
assists), better than two per game—and
more than anyone in the NHL has pro-
duced in any playoff series since 2003.
Crosby, meanwhile, has 10 points, and
Malkin eight.
It might have been instructive for Today’s games
Crosby to hear what the Capitals had to
All Times ET
say Tuesday about what they remember Conference semifinals
of their recent Game 7 experiences. (Best-of-7)
In the first round this season, they won
a Game 7, coming back from a 3-1 series Pittsburgh at Washington, 7 p.m.,
deficit to eliminate the New York Rang- Versus
ers. But in the first round a year ago,
Ovechkin’s first trip to the postseason,
Betting lines
Today
the Capitals lost a Game 7 at home in FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG
overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers. at Washington .......-145................Pittsburgh...........+125
— The Associated Press
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 13
Playoff glance
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
(Best-of-7)
All Times ET
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston vs. Carolina
(Series tied 3-3)
May 1: Boston 4, Carolina 1
May 3: Carolina 3, Boston 0
May 5: Carolina 3, Boston 2, OT
May 8: Carolina 4, Boston 1
May 10: Boston 4, Carolina 0
Tuesday: Boston 4, Carolina 2
Thursday: Carolina at Boston, 8 p.m.
Washington vs. Pittsburgh
(Series tied 3-3)
May 2: Washington 3, Pittsburgh 2
May 4: Washington 4, Pittsburgh 3
May 6: Pittsburgh 3, Washington 2, OT
May 8: Pittsburgh 5, Washington 3
May 9: Pittsburgh 4, Washington 3, OT
Monday: Washington 5, Pittsburgh 4, OT
Today: Pittsburgh at Washington, 7 p.m.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Detroit vs. Anaheim
(Series tied 3-3)
May 1: Detroit 3, Anaheim 2
May 3: Anaheim 4, Detroit 3, 3OT
May 5: Anaheim 2, Detroit 1
— Sean Gentille May 7: Detroit 6, Anaheim 3
May 10: Detroit 4, Anaheim 1
Tuesday: Anaheim 2, Detroit 1
Thursday: Anaheim at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Vancouver vs. Chicago
(Chicago wins series 4-2)
April 30: Vancouver 5, Chicago 3
May 2: Chicago 6, Vancouver 3
May 5: Vancouver 3, Chicago 1
May 7: Chicago 2, Vancouver 1, OT
May 9: Chicago 4, Vancouver 2
Monday: Chicago 7, Vancouver 5
LINE
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Haggling between NHL, Coyotes begins in bankruptcy court
The NHL, stung by an order from a bank-
ruptcy judge to produce documents telling
all it knows about an offer to buy the Phoe-
nix Coyotes, filed a motion Tuesday morn-
ing in a Phoenix court objecting to the
mandate.
According to Kevin McGran of the
Toronto Star, the NHL is balking at reveal-
ing details about a mysterious bid to buy
the team by Chicago White Sox owner Jerry
Reinsdorf, who has Phoenix ties and report-
edly would keep the franchise in Arizona.
The NHL’s motion was filed a day after
lawyers for Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes won a
motion to find out details of Reinsdorf’s
offer so they can compare it to the $212.5
million offer from Canadian billionaire Jim
Balsillie, the BlackBerry CEO who report-
edly wants to move the financially strapped
team to Hamilton in southern Ontario.
The NHL’s motion, according to the Star,
argues that Moyes’ attorneys should not be
allowed to request anything on the team’s
behalf because the league now controls the
team, not Moyes. The NHL says it took con-
trol in November when Moyes signed an
“irrevocable proxy” in return for a financial
bailout. The Coyotes, however, argue that
the proxy only pertains to certain voting
rights—and voting on a bankruptcy is not
one of them.
The bottom-line question is really who
controls the team. And according to the
Star, it should be answered by the bank-
ruptcy judge next week.
“There is no justification for the efforts of
... Moyes to harass the league with such
discovery that may prove wholly unneces-
sary,” the NHL’s motion reads. “Premature
disclosure of confidential discussions will
jeopardize value for the league and all of its
member teams, including the Phoenix
Coyotes.”
For Chicago chairman Rocky Wirtz,
A day after Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes filed a motion looking for details on an NHL-brokered bid to buy his team, the league objected and made its own appeal in court.
Monday night’s 7-5 Blackhawks victory
over Vancouver was a back-slapping, hand-
shaking, magical lovefest he had never
envisioned this soon for his young team.
“To make it to the Final Four, I never
could have imagined it,’’ Wirtz told the Chi-
cago Sun-Times after watching his team
qualify for the Western Conference finals
on the same night it surpassed a million in
season attendance for the first time. “Van-
couver is a very good team, Calgary is a
NHL
INSIDE DISH
very good team. It’s not like you’re beating
teams that aren’t very, very good. (The
Hawks) worked their (butts) off.’’
Wirtz told the newspaper his goal for this
season was to just make the playoffs. Win-
ning two postseason series and setting up a
potential showdown with archrival Detroit
is icing on the cake.
“You never know with such a young
team,’’ Wirtz told the newspaper. “People
talked about us being undersized
ROSS D. FRANKLIN / AP
and inexperienced, but these guys had the
ability, they just kept coming back again
and again and again.
“It is like a storybook, and we’re just let-
ting it unfold.’’
Pittsburgh D Sergei Gonchar practiced
Tuesday for the first time since injuring his
right knee in a Game 4 collision with Capi-
tals F Alex Ovechkin and says he hopes to play
in Wednesday’s Game 7 at Washington.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 14
Gonchar told The Associated Press his
availability will be a game-time decision.
Gonchar was expected to miss at least the
remainder of the second-round series
against Washington after a knee-to-knee
hit forced him to the sideline. But the injury
was not as bad as initially feared and Gon-
char was one of a handful of Penguins tak-
ing part in an optional skate Tuesday
morning.
The Penguins have split the two games
with Washington since losing their top
defenseman.
The Toronto Sun reports that Maple
Leafs general manager Brian Burke has shot
down a rumor that he would send his team’s
seventh overall pick in the June entry draft
to Tampa Bay for the Lightning’s second
overall pick and RW Ryan Malone.
The Lightning, according to the rumor,
would do that because Malone is under
contract through 2014-15 and produces a
salary cap hit of $4.5-million for each of the
next six seasons.
“I have no comment,” Burke told the
newspaper. “It certainly has not been dis-
cussed at our end.”
The newspaper also said a source in
Tampa denied the rumor.
“I would be shocked if that was the case,”
the source said. “The Lightning plan to
keep the second pick. They really want (D
Victor) Hedman.”
Detroit F Tomas Kopecky underwent
facial surgery to repair a fractured cheek-
bone and will miss the rest of the season,
according to John Hahn, the team’s senior
director for communications.
“The surgery was successful,” Hahn said.
“But he’s out indefinitely.”
Kopecky was injured late in Game 4
when he got into a fight with Anaheim
Ducks D Francois Beauchemin.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
MLB looking into Jenks’ errant pitch, subsequent comments
As expected, Major League Base-
ball is reviewing the claims by White
Sox P Bobby Jenks that he intentionally
threw behind Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler in
Saturday’s game, according to the
Chicago Tribune. “I wasn’t trying to
hit him. If they’ll investigate that,
they’ll see that,” Jenks told the news-
paper. “It wasn’t a dirty pitch. It
wasn’t up. It was right at his butt.
That’s all I can say.” Jenks tried to jus-
tify his actions by saying he was tired
of watching Rangers pitchers his hit
teammates this season. On Saturday,
Texas hit two Chicago batters, bring-
ing the total to four this season.
An Ohio judge has ordered the
NCAA to show cause to why it is not
in contempt of court for violating the
court’s order declaring void an
NCAA regulation prohibiting college
baseball players from having their
lawyer present during negotiations
with MLB clubs. Erie County (OH)
Judge Tygh Tone found “probable cause
to believe that defendant NCAA is in
indirect civil and criminal contempt”
of a February court order in a case
involving Oklahoma State P and
expected first-round draft pick Andy
Oliver. In that order, Tone found
NCAA Bylaw 12.3.2.1 to be “arbitrary
and capricious.”
Tone issued Tuesday’s order after
the NCAA Monday issued a memo to
draft-eligible baseball players, out-
lining the NCAA rules regarding
players hiring an agent or advisor for
the June draft. Tone ordered the
NCAA to produce in person the
author or authors of that memo, as
well as other evidence related to its
alleged non compliance with his Feb-
ruary court order and his August ’08
temporary restraining order. The
INSIDE DISH
Bobby Jenks doesn’t deny throwing a pitch at the Rangers’ Ian Kinsler.
NCAA did not immediately respond
to an e-mail seeking comment.
— Liz Mullen, SportsBusiness Journal
Still battling a sore right hip,
Mets 1B Carlos Delgado hasn’t ruled
out a trip to the disabled list, accord-
ing to the New York Daily News.
Manager Jerry Manuel said Delgado,
who missed five consecutive games
from April 27-May 2, would rest for
at least a couple more.
Working his way back from a
hip injury, Yankees P Chien-Ming Wang
pitched six scoreless innings in a
rehab start Tuesday at Class AAA
Scranton-Wilkes Barre. General
manage Brian Cashman told the New
Baseball
TONY GUTIERREZ / AP
York Daily News that he expects
Wang will need to make at least one
more. Before going on the disabled
list, Wang went 0-3 with a 34.50
ERA in three starts for the Yankees.
In an attempt to shake up his
struggling team, Indians manager
Eric Wedge could use SS Jhonny Peralta
at third base, according to mlb.com.
In such instances, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera
would move to shortstop and 3B
Mark DeRosa would play first base.
The Plain Dealer of Cleveland also
speculated that OF Grady Sizemore
eventually might move from leadoff
to the middle of the batting order.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 15
THE LAUNCHING PAD
What to expect in the major leagues today
Back on track?
reported P Tom Glavine (shoulder) will When we last saw lefthander Dontrelle Willis on a major league mound,
throw two or three innings in a simu- the date was Sept. 28, 2008. It was the only time in his final five starts last sea-
son that he didn’t walk at least five batters (he walked three in a no-decision
lated game today. If that goes well,
against the Rays in that game). After rehabbing from an anxiety disorder,
the 305-game winner would be ready Willis will make his 2009 debut tonight at the Metrodome. In three levels of
for a rehab assignment. Glavine told the Tigers’ minor league system this season, Willis was 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA
the newspaper he would need two and a 16:9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four starts. Now he just has to pitch that
rehab starts and could join the well it in the majors.
Braves’ rotation in late May. He hasn’t
pitched this season. Banged-up contenders
Just over a month into the season, the Red Sox already are on their second
(and final) West Coast trip of the season. Their first trip, which included three
Marlins P Scott Proctor, who
games at Los Angeles and three at Oakland, resulted in a 2-4 record. Boston
hadn’t pitched yet this season because and L.A. play the second game of a three-game set tonight, and each team
of elbow problems, had season-end- is looking forward to the day it can put its projected starting lineup on the
ing Tommy John surgery Tuesday, field. For the Red Sox, second baseman Dustin Pedroia (groin) and first base-
according to the South Florida Sun- man Kevin Youkilis (oblique/back) have missed time recently, and the Angels
have been plagued by injury problems to their rotation and still are without
Sentinel. Proctor missed 63 games
outfielder Vladimir Guerrero (chest).
last season because of elbow tendini-
tis and began having problems just
before Grapefruit League action Bang for their buck
What’s so significant about the 2009 season for the Rockies? This officially
began this season. is the final season they are on the books for any portion of the eight-year,
$121 million deal (and ‘09 buyout) that they gave lefthander Mike Hampton
On Tuesday, the Brewers before the 2001 season. Hampton, now with Houston, will be atop the Coors
signed IF/OF Frank Catalanotto to a Field mound again tonight. And he also will be worth watching at the plate,
where he hit 10 homers while with Colorado from 2001-02.
minor league contract. Catalanotto,
— Chris Bahr
a .292 career hitter, was released by
the Rangers in spring training.
The Red Sox placed first base-
man Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day dis-
abled list, retroactive to May 5,
because of a strained oblique mus-
cle on his left side. Youkilis is bat-
ting .393 with six home runs, 20
RBIs and a major league-best .505
on-base percentage.
Washington’s Lastings Milledge
will be out 6-8 following surgery on
his broken right ring finger, the lat-
est setback for the Nationals’ former
starting center fielder. Milledge
was injured Monday while trying
to bunt in a game with Triple-A
Syracuse, where he was sent after TONY DEJAK / AP
seven games with Washington this Dontrelle Willis will make his first major-league start tonight since Sept. 28.
season.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 16
Fantasy Focus LEAGUE LEADERS
American League Standings
Batting Average Home Runs East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Start ’em, Sit ’em Toronto 23 12 .657 — — 7-3 W-3 12-4 11-8
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Boston 21 12 .636 1 — 7-3 W-2 13-4 8-8
Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team New York 15 17 .469 6½ 5½ 3-7 L-1 6-7 9-10
Youkilis Boston .393 Beltran New York .374 C.Pena Tampa Bay 13 Pujols St. Louis 13 Tampa Bay 15 19 .441 7½ 6½ 5-5 L-2 6-7 9-12
Baltimore 14 19 .424 8 7 5-5 W-1 11-10 3-9
V.Martinez Cleveland .374 Votto Cincinnati .374 Longoria Tampa Bay 11 Dunn Washington 11
Mi.Cabrera Detroit .365 Zimmerman Washington .364 7 tied at 9 AdGonzalez San Diego 11 Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Ad.Jones Baltimore .363 HaRamirez Florida .357 Bruce Cincinnati 10 Detroit 17 14 .548 — — 6-4 L-1 8-5 9-9
Kansas City 18 15 .545 — 3 6-4 L-4 11-6 7-9
Longoria TampaBay .362 MRamirez Los Angeles .348 ASoriano Chicago 10 Minnesota 16 17 .485 2 5 4-6 W-1 12-9 4-8
A.Hill Toronto .357 Hudson Los Angeles .343 Utley Philadelphia 10 Chicago 15 17 .469 2½ 5½ 3-7 W-1 8-8 7-9
Bartlett TampaBay .356 Helton Colorado .343 Ibanez Philadelphia 9 Cleveland 12 22 .353 6½ 9½ 3-7 L-1 6-11 6-11
West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST / AP Runs Stolen Bases Texas 18 14 .563 — — 8-2 W-2 9-6 9-8
Los Angeles 16 15 .516 1½ 4 7-3 L-1 10-8 6-7
Paul Konerko has five HRs against Cliff Lee. A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Seattle 16 17 .485 2½ 5 2-8 L-1 7-7 9-10
Oakland 12 18 .400 5 7½ 4-6 W-1 7-10 5-8
Start ’em Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team
Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox. Konerko Ad.Jones
Markakis
Baltimore
Baltimore
35
33
Pujols
ASoriano
St. Louis
Chicago
33
29
Crawford
Ellsbury
Tampa Bay
Boston
22
16
Bourn
Jose Reyes
Houston
New York
11
11
National League Standings
is 15-for-42 (.357) with five East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
homers and 14 RBIs lifetime Scutaro Toronto 32 Hudson Los Angeles 27 Abreu Los Angeles 13 Burriss San Francisco 9 New York 18 14 .563 — — 8-2 W-1 12-7 6-7
Bay Boston 29 Werth Philadelphia 27 Figgins Los Angeles 12 Fowler Colorado 9 Philadelphia 16 14 .533 1 1½ 5-5 W-1 8-10 8-4
against Indians ace Cliff Lee. Pedroia Boston 29 Zimmerman Washington 27 Crisp Kansas City 9 Morgan Pittsburgh 9 Florida 17 16 .515 1½ 2 3-7 L-2 6-7 11-9
Torii Hunter, OF, Angels. In his career, Longoria TampaBay 27 Hart Milwaukee 26 3 tied at 8 Taveras Cincinnati 9
Atlanta 16 17 .485 2½ 3 5-5 L-1 5-9 11-8
Washington 10 21 .323 7½ 8 5-5 L-3 5-7 5-14
Hunter is 14-for-38 (.368) with Weeks Milwaukee 25 Kemp Los Angeles 8
three homers against Boston’s Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
St. Louis 20 13 .606 — — 4-6 L-1 12-5 8-8
Tim Wakefield. RBIs Pitching (3 decisions) Cincinnati 19 14 .576 1 — 7-3 W-2 7-9 12-5
Ted Lilly, SP, Cubs. The lefty is 4-1 Milwaukee 19 14 .576 1 — 7-3 W-1 10-7 9-7
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Chicago 18 14 .563 1½ ½ 7-3 W-2 9-6 9-8
with a 2.84 ERA in his career Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Houston 14 18 .438 5½ 4½ 5-5 L-1 8-10 6-8
against the Padres. And he has Longoria Tampa Bay 45 Pujols St. Louis 34 Buehrle Chicago 5-0 1.000 Pelfrey New York 4-0 1.000 Pittsburgh 13 19 .406 6½ 5½ 2-8 W-1 8-7 5-12
allowed one earned run in 21 2/3 Bay Boston 35 Cantu Florida 32 R.Ramirez Boston 4-0 1.000 Martis Washington 4-0 1.000 West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
innings at home this season. C.Pena Tampa Bay 32 Fielder Milwaukee 29 Frasor Toronto 4-0 1.000 Meredith San Diego 4-0 1.000 Los Angeles 22 12 .647 — — 6-4 L-2 14-3 8-9
Huff Baltimore 31 Braun Milwaukee 28 Bannister Kansas City 3-0 1.000 DiFelice Milwaukee 3-0 1.000 San Francisco 18 14 .563 3 ½ 7-3 W-3 12-4 6-10
Colorado 13 18 .419 7½ 5 5-5 W-2 7-8 6-10
Lind Toronto 31 Dunn Washington 28 Palmer Los Angeles 3-0 1.000 T.Pena Arizona 3-0 1.000 San Diego 13 20 .394 8½ 6 2-8 L-4 8-6 5-14
Sit ’em A.Hill Toronto 30 B.Molina San Francisco 28 A.Bailey Oakland 3-0 1.000 Condrey Philadelphia 3-0 1.000 Arizona 13 21 .382 9 6½ 2-8 L-2 9-14 4-7
Ricky Nolasco, SP, Marlins. Nolasco has Markakis Baltimore 30 Ethier Los Angeles 27 z-first game was a win
a 7.71 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP in
two career starts against Milwau- Doubles Strikeouts
Pitching Matchups Today’s Games (All times Eastern)
kee. He also has a 6.33 ERA and A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. American League The Line
1.67 WHIP on the road this Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Chicago White Sox (Buehrle 5-0) at Cleveland (Cl.Lee 1-5), 12:05 p.m. at Cle -145 Chi +135
season. Longoria Tampa Bay 16 Kotchman Atlanta 13 Greinke Kansas City 59 Peavy San Diego 61 Tampa Bay (Niemann 2-3) at Baltimore (Bergesen 1-0), 7:05 p.m. TB -110 at Bal+100
Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pirates. LaRoche is Byrd Texas 13 F.Sanchez Pittsburgh 13 Verlander Detroit 56 Santana New York 60
N.Y. Yankees (Pettitte 2-1) at Toronto (Richmond 4-1), 7:07 p.m. at Tor-110 NY +100
2-for-11 (.182) in his career against Callaspo Kansas City 13 Hudson Los Angeles 12 Halladay Toronto 49 Lincecum San Francisco 58
Seattle (Washburn 3-2) at Texas (McCarthy 3-1), 8:05 p.m. at Tex -135 Sea +125
St. Louis starter Joel Pineiro. Polanco Detroit 13 Zimmerman Washington 12 Lester Boston 49 J.Vazquez Atlanta 57
5 tied at 12 M.Cameron Milwaukee 11 F.Hernandez Seattle 47 Haren Arizona 56 Detroit (Willis 0-0) at Minnesota (Perkins 1-2), 8:10 p.m. at Min -155 Det +145
Mark Buehrle, SP, White Sox. His F.Lopez Arizona 11 Bedard Seattle 43 Gallardo Milwaukee 47 Boston (Wakefield 4-1) at L.A. Angels (Palmer 3-0), 10:05 p.m. Bos -115 at LA +105
winning streak (5-0 this season) Ha.Ramirez Florida 11 Garza Tampa Bay 42 Billingsley Los Angeles 47 Kansas City (Bannister 3-0) at Oakland (Outman 0-0), 10:05 p.m. at Oak -110 KC +100
could end this afternoon. Buehrle
is 9-12 in his career against Triples Saves National League The Line
Cleveland, which hit .329 against A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L.
Atlanta (Jo-.Reyes 0-2) at N.Y. Mets (Niese 0-0), 1:10 p.m. at NY-130 Atl +120
him in 2008. Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Washington (Martis 4-0) at San Francisco (Zito 1-2), 3:45 p.m. at SF -145 Was +135
— Brad Pinkerton Crisp Kansas City 4 Bourn Houston 3 Fuentes Los Angeles 9 Cordero Cincinnati 10 St. Louis (Pineiro 4-2) at Pittsburgh (Ohlendorf 3-3), 7:05 p.m. STL -125 at Pit +115
7 tied at 2 Kemp Los Angeles 3 F.Francisco Texas 9 Franklin St. Louis 9 L.A. Dodgers (Wolf 1-1) at Philadelphia (Moyer 3-2), 7:05 p.m. at Phi -120 LA +110
MORE COVERAGE Morgan Pittsburgh 3 Papelbon Boston 9 Fr.Rodriguez New York 9 Florida (Nolasco 2-3) at Milwaukee (Looper 2-2), 8:05 p.m. at Mil -150 Flo+140
Victorino Philadelphia 3 Jenks Chicago 8 Bell San Diego 8 San Diego (C.Young 2-1) at Chicago Cubs (Lilly 4-2), 8:05 p.m. at Chi -150 SD +140
Get everything you need to D.Wright New York 3 Soria Kansas City 7 Qualls Arizona 8 Houston (Hampton 1-3) at Colorado (Marquis 4-2), 8:40 p.m. at Col -150 Hou +140
dominate your fantasy league at 15 tied at 2 4 tied at 6 BWilson San Francisco 8
sportingnews.com/fantasy/baseball Cincinnati (Cueto 3-1) at Arizona (Augenstein 0-0), 9:40 p.m. Cin -130 at Ari +120
Broxton Los Angeles 8
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Clemens states his case, continues to deny PED use
NEW YORK—Roger Clemens broke his
silence Tuesday, again denying that for-
mer personal trainer Brian McNamee
injected him with performance-enhanc-
ing drugs. The public comments were
Clemens’ first in more than a year.
The seven-time Cy Young Award win-
ner was interviewed by phone on ESPN
Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning. He
said he chose to speak out Tuesday
because it was the release date of a book
about his alleged drug use.
“He’s never injected me with HGH or
steroids,” Clemens said of McNamee’s
assertions to baseball investigator
George Mitchell.
Clemens appeared on CBS’ 60 Minutes
in January of last year, then held a news
conference the next day. But he had
stayed quiet since testifying before Con-
gress the following month.
Though American Icon: The Fall of
Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in
America’s Pastime was officially released
Tuesday, its revelations were not new to
the public. The book, by four New York
Daily News reporters, recaps previous
reports in the newspaper. It had been
available to reviewers and had excerpts
published before Tuesday.
Clemens said he had started working
with a communications firm. “They
came in and said, ‘You need to get your
story out about all this garbage that is
being said,’ “ he said. “It’s important for
me to do that. I’ve seen excerpts of the
book and they’re completely false. ... You
know, guys, it’s piling on. It’s hurtful at
times. But I’m moving on.”
Clemens said he had given a DNA
sample to federal investigators but that
syringes provided by McNamee would
not link him to performance-enhancing
drug use. “It’s impossible because he’s
never given me any,” Clemens said.
Clemens is under investigation by a
federal grand jury in Washington that is
trying to determine whether he lied
Roger Clemens said it would have been ‘suicidal’ to use steroids because of a history of heart problems in his family.
when he told a congressional committee
last year that he had not used illegal
performance-enhancing drugs. Clem-
ens said he had not been summoned to
testify before the grand jury.
He also has sued McNamee for
defamation.
“He’s on the offensive again, which is
Roger’s mode of operation. ... This, in my
view, is going to backfire, because he’s
publicly now poking a stick in Congress’
eye. And, to me, all that’s going to do is
vitalize the prosecutors going forward,”
McNamee’s lead lawyer, Richard Emery,
said in a telephone interview with The
Associated Press. “Nobody, for a min-
ute, thinks he’s not a liar just because
he’s talking. He’s always talked, and he
has stood by his falsehoods. So going
forward, I think, it’s just going to dig the
hole deeper for him.”
Baseball
PAT SULLIVAN / AP
Clemens’ radio appearance returns
him to the spotlight as other stars had
replaced him as the most visible remind-
ers of baseball’s drug scandal. Yankees
third baseman Alex Rodriguez admit-
ted before the season that he had used
steroids, and Dodgers outfielder Manny
Ramirez was suspended last week for
violating MLB’s drug policy.
Clemens said he had not followed
either situation closely. The Ramirez
case proved “the testing program we
have set up in Major League Baseball is
great,” he said.
Clemens said he was sad to hear about
Rodriguez. “I wish him the best, tell him
to move forward, continue to do what
he’s doing,” he said. “But I hope none of
the things that he took or anything like
that hurt his body to the point where it
would hurt his career.”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 17
If you deliver
Clemens said it would have been “sui-
cidal” for him to use steroids because of
a history of heart problems in his
it daily, they
family.
“Everywhere I’ve gone and gotten the
opportunity to speak to young kids or
college kids, I take a lot of pride in telling
will come.
those boys to get after it and do things
the right way and take care of your body,
because I know how I did it; I know how
hard I worked,” Clemens said. “For some
of that to come in question, of course it’s
hurtful. But it’s not going to break my
spirit.”
Clemens also repeated his much-lam-
pooned use of the word “misremembers”
about friend and former teammate Andy
Pettitte’s statement that Clemens told
him he used HGH. Clemens said he has
spoken to Pettitte a few times, but not
about the drug allegations.
Clemens disputed the perception
that’s he gone into hiding, insisting he’s
doing the same things he’s always done FREEup!
when he’s not playing. He joked about Sign
competing with Brett Favre to see who
could come out of retirement the most
Today!
times.
Asked about polls showing the public
doesn’t believe him, Clemens said, “All I
can do is speak the truth and from my The country’s first and only
heart to them.”
“That’s all I can do,” he said. “I know daily digital sports newspaper.
what your polls say, (but) I’ve been get-
ting great responses everywhere I’ve
gone in the cities I’ve traveled to. All I Delivered via email every morning, 7 days a
can do is be me and give them the mes-
sage I just told you about that steroids
week, Sporting News Today is your one-stop
are bad for these kids. You don’t want to destination for breaking sports stories plus
have anything to do with them the way
they tear your body down. news about every team, every game and
“But I can’t defend a negative. When
you’ve got somebody that’s out there that
every score from coast-to-coast.
is really just crawling up your back to
make a buck—which is what this is—
other than speaking out, what else can Experience America’s hottest new product.
you do?”
— The Associated Press
Sign up at sportingnewstoday.com. It’s free.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 18
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yanks monitor wind, HRs, Toronto 5, N.Y. Yankees 1

empty seats at new park Halladay outpitches ex-teammate Burnett

Blue Jays 5, Yankees 1
TORONTO—Roy Halladay wasn’t New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
about to get too caught up in his Gardner cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .214
Damon lf 4 1 2 0 0 0 .320
showdown with A.J. Burnett. Teixeira 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .191
Instead, the Toronto ace did what he A.Rodriguez 3b 3 0 1 1 0 0 .214
H.Matsui dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 .263
always does—shut down the New a-Swisher ph-dh 2 0 0 0 0 2 .265
York Yankees. Cano 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .313
Me.Cabrera rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .333
Halladay pitched a five-hitter to Cash c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .000
best his former teammate and Scott R.Pena ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .283
Totals 30 1 5 1 0 5
Rolen had three hits and three RBIs
SETH WENIG / AP for the Blue Jays in a 5-1 victory Tues- Toronto AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Scutaro ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .270
Yankees COO Lonn Trost says it’s too early to tell whether price cuts will eliminate empty seats. day night. A.Hill 2b 4 1 2 1 0 0 .357
“That’s a big part of being consis- Rios rf 3 2 1 0 1 0 .257
V.Wells cf 3 1 0 0 1 0 .277
NEW YORK—The New York Yan- to occur,” Trost said. “We’ll always tent, having the same approach and Lind dh 2 1 0 0 2 0 .328
kees are monitoring the wind, look and we’ll always analyze. And not letting those things affect the way Rolen 3b 4 0 3 3 0 0 .319
Overbay 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .256
home runs and empty seats close right now, I don’t know if I can do you look at games,” Halladay said of Barajas c 3 0 0 1 0 0 .309
to the field at their new ballpark. anything about wind.” facing Burnett, who pitched for Snider lf 3 0 1 0 0 2 .253
Totals 30 5 8 5 4 3
Chief operating officer Lonn Trost Trost also said the Yankees might Toronto from 2006 to 2008. “As
said more wind studies will be done consider changes in 2010 to the first soon as you start changing the way New York 000 000 100 — 1 5 1
Toronto 000 300 02x — 5 8 0
at the $1.5 billion new Yankee Sta- row behind the outfield fences. Pos- you approach the game you can find
dium, but the weather during the sible fan interference already has led yourself in trouble.” E: A.Rodriguez (1). LOB: New York 2, Toronto 6.
2B: Damon (7), R.Pena (2), Rios (9), Rolen (8). HR:
first two homestands might have to a pair of umpire video reviews. Aaron Hill hit a solo homer for the A.Hill (9), off A.Burnett. RBIs: A.Rodriguez (4),
been unusual. Forty-seven home “We’re going to have to look at that, Blue Jays, who improved to an AL- A.Hill (30), Rolen 3 (15), Barajas (19). SF: Barajas.
Runners left in scoring position: New York 1
runs were hit—four shy of the record you know, this year to see whether best 23-12. They lead New York, (Teixeira); Toronto 3 (Barajas 2, Snider). DP: New
for the first 13 games at a major or not that row, which is both in left which was playing without shortstop York 2 (Cano, R.Pena, Teixeira), (Cano, Teixeira);
Toronto 1 (Rolen, A.Hill, Overbay).
league ballpark. Thirty-two of the field and right field, impedes play in Derek Jeter, by 6½ games.
homers were hit to right field. any way,” he said. “But we can’t do Halladay (7-1) walked none and New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
A.Burnett L, 2-1 7 2⁄3 7 5 5 4 3 110 5.36
“There were wind studies per- anything this year.” struck out five to win his fourth Veras 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 12 7.04
formed before. There will be wind And Trost thinks it’s too early to straight start and improve to 16-5 in Toronto IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Halladay W, 7-1 9 5 1 1 0 5 103 2.95
studies performed as we go for- tell whether changes announced 33 career games against New York.
ward, and we’re just looking like by the Yankees between the first He has an ERA of 2.77 against the Inherited runners-scored: Veras 1-0. Umpires:
Home, Laz Diaz; First, Chuck Meriwether; Second,
you are to see whether or not it’s and second homestands will elimi- Yankees, his best against any AL Mike Reilly; Third, Chad Fairchild. T: 2:22. A: 43,737
the weather, the wind, what hap- nate all of the empty seats near the opponent. (49,539).
NATHAN DENETTE / AP
pens when the old building goes field. The Yankees cut the price of “He showed why he’s the best
down,” Trost said Tuesday. 116 of 258 front-row seats. They around and why he’s going to con- Roy Halladay is now 16-5 against the Yankees in his career, and has won 13 of the past 15.
The home run total at the new also are giving free tickets to those tinue to be the best around,” New a tight right hamstring and is day to Jeter was scratched with a sore
stadium is vastly higher than the with season ticket plans for seats York outfielder Johnny Damon said. day. right oblique, an injury that has both- “We’re trying to avoid
most in the first 13 games of a sea- that cost $325 or more a game. Alex Rodriguez had a run-scoring “When he came out of the box in ered him for the past week, and was that. Hopefully this extra
son at the old Yankee Stadium (36 “Every day we look at it and ana- single in the seventh for the Yankees, the (second) inning he felt his right replaced by Ramiro Pena. Girardi day helped.”
homers in 2007), according to the lyze it,” he said. “Could you really his first RBI since hitting a three-run hamstring tighten up so we took him said Jeter could return to the lineup Burnett (2-1) allowed
Elias Sports Bureau. tell what’s taken place in two homer in his first at-bat since return- out,” New York manager Joe Girardi today. five runs and seven hits in
“Based upon wind analysis and homestands with 90 percent of ing from hip surgery Friday. said. “He didn’t feel like he strained “I’ve pulled that muscle before and 7 2-3 innings and has not
wind studies, the winds we were them in rain? I can’t.” Yankees designated hitter Hideki anything but it was tight so we felt (ended up on) the disabled list,” Jeter won since April 14.
having were the least likely winds — The Associated Press Matsui left the game in the fifth with like we had to get him out.” said. “That’s two or three weeks.” — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 19
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas 7, Seattle 1 Baltimore 7, Tampa Bay 5

Hamilton hits go-ahead homer in return O’s Jones keeps improving

BALTIMORE—Adam Jones has Orioles 7, Rays 5
Rangers 7, Mariners 1 Tampa Bay AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS—Josh Hamilton looked Seattle AB R H BI BB SO Avg. been hitting the ball solidly all B.Upton cf 4 1 0 0 1 0 .160
like a player trying to shake the rust off I.Suzuki rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .313 season, as evidenced by his Crawford lf 5 1 2 2 0 0 .336
Jo.Lopez 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .248 Longoria 3b 4 0 2 1 1 0 .362
in his first three plate appearances Griffey Jr. dh 2 0 1 0 2 0 .225 impressive .363 batting C.Pena 1b 4 0 1 0 1 1 .252
Tuesday night. Beltre 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .227 average. W.Aybar dh 5 1 2 0 0 1 .268
Branyan 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .277 Zobrist 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .254
With one big swing in the seventh, the F.Gutierrez cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .271 As if that isn’t enough, Balti- Bartlett ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 .356
Rangers center fielder looked more like Johjima c 3 0 1 1 0 0 .255 more’s rapidly improving cen- Kapler rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 .234
Y.Betancourt ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 .259 a-Gross ph-rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .260
the All-Star who took the league by En.Chavez lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .274 ter fielder has added a jolt of Navarro c 3 1 1 1 1 0 .186
storm last season. a-Balentien ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .306 power to his swing. Totals 36 5 11 5 4 3
Totals 31 1 4 1 2 3
Hamilton returned from the disabled Jones slammed two home Baltimore AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
list by hitting the go-ahead homer in a Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg. runs for the first time in his B.Roberts 2b 4 1 0 1 0 1 .281
Kinsler 2b 5 0 3 0 0 0 .326 Ad.Jones cf 4 2 2 4 0 0 .363
six-run seventh inning and the Texas M.Young 3b 3 1 3 0 2 0 .344 career and drove in four runs Markakis rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .349
Rangers won for the eighth time in 10 Hamilton cf 5 1 1 2 0 2 .239 Tuesday night to lead the Ori- Huff 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .268
An.Jones dh 3 1 1 0 2 1 .315 Mora 3b 4 1 2 1 0 1 .258
games, beating the Seattle Mariners 7-1. Byrd lf 5 1 1 0 0 2 .304 oles over the Tampa Bay. Montanez dh-lf 4 0 2 1 0 1 .243
“The at-bats before that weren’t great,” N.Cruz rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 .273 Jones hit a solo shot in the Zaun c 3 1 1 0 1 0 .214
C.Davis 1b 4 2 2 1 0 1 .231 Pie lf 1 1 0 0 1 1 .180
said Hamilton, who led the American Saltalamacchia c 4 1 1 1 0 1 .261 first inning and a three-run Wigginton lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .204
League last year with 130 RBIs. “But Andrus ss 4 0 1 1 0 0 .272 drive in the second. Both hom- Sherrill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Totals 37 7 14 6 4 8 C.Izturis ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .245
that one at-bat, it felt good. Anytime you ers—his seventh and eighth of Totals 34 7 11 7 2 5
can make plays or do something with Seattle 000 000 100 — 1 4 2 the season—came off Andy
Texas 000 010 60x — 7 14 0 Tampa Bay 050 000 000—5 11 0
the bat like hit a home run, it helps the Sonnanstine (1-4), who had Baltimore 151 000 00x—7 11 1
confidence out.” a-grounded out for En.Chavez in the 7th. E: Bran- allowed only one home run in
yan 2 (2). LOB: Seattle 5, Texas 11. 2B: Johjima a-flied out for Kapler in the 8th.
Hamilton, activated after missing 13 (2), Kinsler (10), Byrd (13), Saltalamacchia (5). HR: 32 2/3 innings this season. E: Ad.Jones (2). LOB: Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 5.
games with a strained ribcage muscle, C.Davis (9), off Vargas; Hamilton (3), off M.Lowe. “The first one was a good 2B: Crawford 2 (10), Longoria (16), Bartlett (7),
RBIs: Johjima (7), Hamilton 2 (12), N.Cruz (22), Markakis (11), Huff (9), Montanez (4), Wigginton
struggled in his first three at-bats before C.Davis (17), Saltalamacchia (14), Andrus (7). pitch by him. I’ve seen it on (3). HR: Ad.Jones 2 (8), off Sonnanstine 2. RBIs:
his two-run shot off Mariners reliever SB: F.Gutierrez (1). CS: I.Suzuki (3). SF: N.Cruz. video. It was a good pitch and I Crawford 2 (17), Longoria (45), Kapler (1), Navarro
Runners left in scoring position: Seattle 1 (5), B.Roberts (13), Ad.Jones 4 (25), Mora (12),
Mark Lowe (0-1) gave Texas a 3-1 lead. (Balentien); Texas 6 (Hamilton 4, Andrus 2). DP: went down and got it,” Jones Montanez (6). SB: Bartlett (8). SF: Kapler.
Before he put the Rangers up for good, TONY GUTIERREZ / AP Seattle 1 (Vargas, Y.Betancourt, Branyan). said. “The other one was 3-1 Runners left in scoring position: Tampa Bay 4
Hamilton bounced into a double play in Josh Hamilton looked rusty in his first three at-bats, but he went yard in his fourth time at the plate. right down the middle. I’m just (C.Pena, Navarro, W.Aybar, B.Upton); Baltimore 3
Seattle IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA (C.Izturis, B.Roberts, Mora).
the first, flew out in the third and struck Vargas 5 5 1 1 2 3 73 1.04 not missing them as often. I’m Runners moved up: Longoria, Zaun. GIDP:
Batista 1 2 0 0 1 2 30 3.06 Navarro.
out looking in the fifth. He had not hits in 6 1/3 innings for the first-place game 12th in the American League in M.Lowe L, 0-1 2⁄3 5 6 3 0 0 32 4.70 putting them in play and I’m DP: Baltimore 2 (Huff), (C.Izturis, Huff).
played since April 26. Rangers. runs scored. White 1⁄3 2 0 0 1 1 13 3.29 putting them in play with
Olson 1 0 0 0 0 2 12 3.00 Tampa Bay IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
“Josh had some opportunities early “We had opportunities that we didn’t “We have to make adjustments or Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA authority.” Sonnanstine L, ¼ 2 9 7 7 1 1 69 7.27
and didn’t come through,” Rangers cash in,” Washington said. “The pitch- maybe we have to look into making Feldman 6 1⁄3 4 1 1 2 2 109 4.85 Now in his second full year Balfour 2 0 0 0 0 1 23 6.08
Holland W, 1-1 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 20 1.74 Howell 2 1 0 0 0 2 28 3.14
manager Ron Washington said. “It took ing kept us there and we put something some changes,” Wakamatsu said. Guardado 1 0 0 0 0 1 16 7.36 in the majors, Jones totaled 17 J.Nelson 11⁄3 1 0 0 1 1 28 4.20
a load off his shoulders. That gave us the together in the seventh.” Young singled with one out in the sev- homers in his first 233 games Wheeler 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 5 6.75
Inherited runners-scored: White 1-1, Holland Baltimore IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
lead and we kept chipping and put more Mariners starter Jason Vargas, who is enth, bringing Hamilton up to the plate. 1-0. WP: Feldman. Umpires: Home, Marty Foster; before hitting three in his last Hendrickson 2 6 5 5 1 0 42 6.35
runs on the board.” in the rotation for an injured Carlos After swinging and missing on an off- First, Marvin Hudson; Second, John Hirschbeck; three. Bass W, 2-1 4 3 0 0 0 1 43 5.18
Third, Wally Bell. T: 2:50. A: 16,564 (49,170). Baez H, 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 15 2.37
Chris Davis homered for the fourth Silva, allowed one run and five hits in speed pitch, Hamilton drove a fastball “I got a bat in my hand. I’m Ji.Johnson H, 5 1 1 0 0 1 1 22 3.52
time in eight games for Texas, and five innings. from Lowe over the 14-foot wall in left. not going to go up there swing- Sherrill S, 6-8 1 0 0 0 1 1 26 3.68
Michael Young had three hits and was Seattle, which had only four hits, has Rangers closer Frank Francisco was ing gingerly,” he said. “I got Sonnanstine pitched to 3 batters in the 3rd.
on base five times after missing two lost seven of eight. unavailable to pitch because of biceps three strikes and I’m just try- Inherited runners-scored: Balfour 2-0, Wheeler
1-0. IBB: off Baez (C.Pena).
games with back stiffness. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu tendinitis. G.M. Jon Daniels said Fran- ing to make the best of it up Umpires: Home, Todd Tichenor; First, Tom Hallion;
Scott Feldman took a shutout into the was displeased with his team’s lack of cisco may miss the rest of this series. there.” Second, Jerry Crawford; Third, Phil Cuzzi.
T: 3:01. A: 17,122 (48,290).
seventh and gave up one run and four offense. The Mariners came into the — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 20
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota 6, Detroit 2 Chicago White Sox 7, Cleveland 4

Thome punishes familiar foe

Extra effort gives Mauer what he seeks CLEVELAND—Don’t tell the White Sox 7, Indians 4
Twins 6, Tigers 2 Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
MINNEAPOLIS—When Detroit Tigers left Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Cleveland Indians that Jim J.Nix ss 4 1 1 1 1 1 .313
fielder Clete Thomas leaped high to rob Granderson cf 4 0 1 0 1 1 .254 Thome was struggling at the Al.Ramirez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
Polanco 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .272 Getz 2b 5 1 0 0 0 2 .258
Joe Mauer of a home run in the first Thomas lf 4 0 2 0 0 1 .364 plate. Dye rf 4 2 1 0 1 1 .291
inning, the Minnesota Twins catcher Mi.Cabrera 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .365 He was hitting .212 and in a Thome dh 3 3 2 4 2 1 .227
Larish dh 3 1 2 1 1 0 .259 Konerko 1b 4 0 1 0 1 1 .305
simply told himself to put a little extra Ordonez rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .241 3-for-22 slump entering Tues- Fields 3b 5 0 0 0 0 3 .243
on it the next time around. Inge 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .269 day night’s game, but he hit a C.Miller c 4 0 2 2 0 1 .231
Laird c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .207 Podsednik lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .241
The way the two-time A.L. batting a-J.Anderson ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .321 pair of two-run homers to lead Lillibridge cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .159
champion is hitting these days, things Santiago ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 .283 the Chicago White Sox to a 7-4 Totals 36 7 8 7 6 11
Totals 34 2 9 2 3 5
like that are coming easy for him. victory. Cleveland AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Mauer hit a home run just over Thom- Minnesota AB R H BI BB SO Avg. “It’s hard when you’re strug- Sizemore cf 4 0 1 0 1 1 .227
Span cf-lf 5 1 2 1 0 2 .299 A.Cabrera 2b 5 1 2 1 0 0 .328
as’s glove in the third inning and the Tolbert 2b 3 0 1 0 1 2 .190 gling,” Thome said. “That’s V.Martinez c 2 1 1 0 2 0 .374
Twins’ struggling bullpen protected a Mauer c 3 1 2 2 1 0 .500 what makes this game so tough. DeRosa 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .239
Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .315 Choo rf 3 1 0 1 1 1 .265
lead for three innings in a 6-2 victory Kubel dh 3 1 1 0 1 1 .308 You have to understand there Peralta ss 4 0 1 1 0 1 .246
Tuesday night. Cuddyer rf 3 1 1 0 1 0 .272 are going to be hard times and Garko dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .273
Crede 3b 4 1 1 2 0 1 .233 LaPorta 1b 3 1 1 0 1 1 .188
“It felt good,” Mauer said. “I’m seeing Delm.Young lf 3 0 0 1 0 1 .277 they’re sure not fun to go B.Francisco lf 4 0 1 1 0 0 .248
the ball pretty good and put a couple Gomez cf 0 1 0 0 1 0 .218 through.” Totals 33 4 8 4 5 6
Punto ss 3 0 0 0 1 1 .200
good swings on it.” Totals 30 6 8 6 7 8 Both home runs were off Chicago 201 020 200 — 7 8 0
Joe Crede homered for the Twins in starter Jeremy Sowers (0-2), Cleveland 012 100 000 — 4 8 1
Detroit 000 001 100 — 2 9 1
his first at-bat after missing three games Minnesota 022 001 01x — 6 8 0 and Thome’s 42nd multihomer E: LaPorta (1). LOB: Chicago 8, Cleveland 7. 2B:
with a hamstring injury. game gave him 547 for his Dye (4), Konerko (10), A.Cabrera (7), B.Francisco
a-flied out for Laird in the 9th. E: Polanco (1). (6). HR: Thome 2 (6), off Sowers 2; J.Nix (2), off
Jeff Larish and Ramon Santiago hom- LOB: Detroit 8, Minnesota 8. 2B: Granderson (3). career. Sowers. RBIs: J.Nix (3), Thome 4 (18), C.Miller
ered for Detroit, but Armando Galar- HR: Larish (3), off Slowey; Santiago (2), off Crain; Thome trails Mike Schmidt 2 (5), A.Cabrera (17), Choo (18), Peralta (14),
Crede (4), off Galarraga; Mauer (4), off Galarraga. B.Francisco (9). CS: Sizemore (6). Runners left
raga (3-3) still hasn’t figured out how to RBIs: Larish (4), Santiago (14), Span (16), Mauer by one for 13th place on the all- in scoring position: Chicago 5 (Fields 2, Getz,
beat Minnesota. He gave up five runs 2 (12), Crede 2 (9), Delm.Young (14). SB: Span time home run list. Lillibridge 2); Cleveland 4 (Sizemore 2, Choo 2).
(8), Gomez (3). CS: Span (2). S: Tolbert. Runners DP: Chicago 1 (Getz, J.Nix, Konerko).
and six hits in 5 2/3 innings and is 0-5 left in scoring position: Detroit 5 (Mi.Cabrera D.J. Carrasco (1-0) pitched
with a 5.63 ERA in his career against 3, Laird, Santiago); Minnesota 2 (Span, Cuddyer). two scoreless innings in relief Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
DP: Minnesota 2 (Punto, Morneau), (Tolbert, Richard 3 1⁄3 6 4 4 3 2 79 5.40
the Twins. Punto, Morneau). of starter Clayton Richard and Carrasco W, 1-0 2 2 0 0 1 3 35 2.88
“Not good,” Tigers manager Jim Ley- struck out Mark DeRosa and Thornton H, 5 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 26 2.84
Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Dotel H, 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 0.00
land said. “It seemed like we should’ve Galarraga L, 3-3 5 2⁄3 6 5 5 4 4 99 4.61 Shin-Soo Choo to work out of a Jenks S, 8-8 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 1.50
had five or six runs but we didn’t have Perry 2 2 1 1 2 4 42 3.14 bases-loaded jam in the fourth. Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Lyon 1⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 7 4.85 Sowers L, 0-2 4 7 5 5 3 3 8512.00
any, so not good.” JIM MONE / AP Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Thome has 183 career home J.Lewis 2 1⁄3 0 1 0 0 5 36 4.26
Kevin Slowey (5-1) gave up one run Joe Mauer continued his hot hitting since coming off the D.L. with a home run and a single Tuesday. Slowey W, 5-1 6 8 1 1 2 2 98 4.91 runs at Progressive Field, his Sipp 1⁄3 1 1 0 3 1 23 2.84
Crain 0 1 1 1 1 0 11 9.00 Herges 2 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 33 1.69
and eight hits in six innings for the Mijares H, 3 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 13 3.68 home park from 1994-2002.
Twins. Reliever Jesse Crain was booed at the left field wall and caught it just Mauer’s two-run homer barely reached Guerrier H, 4 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 12 3.50 The slugger began his major Sowers pitched to 2 batters in the 5th. Inherited
Nathan 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 1.50 runners-scored: Carrasco 2-1, Sipp 1-1, Herges
lustily after giving up a leadoff homer to before it would have landed in the first the seats for a 4-0 lead. league career with the Indians 3-0. IBB: off Carrasco (V.Martinez). WP: Richard,
Santiago to start the seventh, but Jose row. “He hit it and I turned the wrong way,” Crain pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. Inherited in 1991. His last two-homer Sipp. Umpires: Home, Jerry Meals; First, Mike
runners-scored: Perry 2-0, Lyon 1-0, Mijares DiMuro; Second, James Hoye; Third, Dale Scott. T:
Mijares, Matt Guerrier and Joe Nathan “He said, ‘All right, I’m just going to Thomas said. “So I probably could have 1-0. IBB: off Perry (Morneau). WP: Slowey. PB: game came in Cleveland on 3:19. A: 16,760 (45,199).
retired nine in a row for an embattled hit it harder,’” Twins first baseman Jus- had that one too, but I turned the wrong Laird. Umpires: Home, Ed Rapuano; First, Paul opening day last season.
Schrieber; Second, Paul Nauert; Third, Joe West. T:
bullpen that surrendered a two-run lead tin Morneau said. “And he sneaked it by way off the jump and it got by me. That 2:52. A: 24,807 (46,632). “It’s always nice to come back
in the eighth against Seattle on Sunday. him.” one was definitely hit better, so that here,” Thome said. “I’ve always
With one on in the first inning, Mauer In the third, Mauer did put a little would’ve been a harder play, but I still felt comfortable hitting in this
lifted a drive the opposite way that was extra oomph on it. Thomas ran out of think I should’ve made it.” ballpark.”
headed to the seats. But Thomas leaped real estate and slammed into the wall as — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 21
Phillies 5, Dodgers 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Pierre lf 5 1 1 0 0 0 .404
Philadelphia 5, L.A. Dodgers 3 Furcal ss
Hudson 2b
4 0 0 0
4 1 3 1
0 1 .238
0 1 .343
Ethier rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .283
Martin c 4 0 1 0 0 1 .271

Werth swipes four bags, including home

Loney 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .264
Kemp cf 4 0 1 1 0 1 .274
Blake 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .259
Kershaw p 2 0 1 0 0 0 .154
Ja.McDonald p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-Paul ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Ohman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
PHILADELPHIA—Jayson Werth stole Werth’s steal. Belisario p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
second, then third. No Phillie had stolen home since d-Loretta ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 .355
2-J.Castro pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .438
When Dodgers pitcher Ronald 2007, and Pete Rose was the last one Totals 37 3 11 3 0 6
Belisario ignored him dancing down to steal three bases in an inning Philadelphia AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
the third-base line in the seventh (1980). Victorino cf 5 0 1 1 0 0 .269
inning, Werth knew it was time to Ryan Howard stole his third career Utley 2b 5 0 0 0 0 2 .294
Werth rf 4 2 2 0 0 0 .295
complete the stolen base cycle and base and the Phillies had a total of Howard 1b 3 1 0 0 1 2 .280
dash for home. six. Rollins ss 3 1 1 1 1 0 .198
Ibanez lf 2 0 1 2 1 1 .330
Werth was safe on the rare steal of “That’s our style of game,” Werth Feliz 3b 0 1 0 0 4 0 .303
home plate and tied the Philadelphia said. Ruiz c 2 0 0 0 1 0 .161
Park p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .125
team record of four stolen bases in a The Dodgers are 1-4 since losing a-Dobbs ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .143
game in the 5-3 win over the Los Manny Ramirez for 50 games last Durbin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
S.Eyre p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. Thursday for failing a drug test. Madson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
“I just saw an opportunity, really,” Park was in danger of losing his c-Stairs ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .389
1-Bruntlett pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
Werth said. “Fortunately it worked spot in the rotation when he pitched Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
out.” past the fifth inning only once in his Totals 27 5 6 4 8 6
Werth’s four steals were one more first four starts and had an 8.57 Los Angeles 100 100 001 — 3 11 1
than he had all season. They tied a ERA. He allowed one hit in six shut- Philadelphia 001 300 10x — 5 6 0
club record set by Sherry Magee on out innings in his last outing at New a-popped out for Park in the 6th. b-grounded out
July 12 and Aug. 31 in 1906, and York and followed that with another for Ja.McDonald in the 7th. c-singled for Madson
in the 8th. d-singled for Belisario in the 9th. 1-ran
Garry Maddox on May 29, 1978. confidence-boosting performance for Stairs in the 8th. 2-ran for Loretta in the 9th.
“I guess he was feeling frisky or against the N.L. West leaders. E: Blake (3). LOB: Los Angeles 7, Philadelphia 9.
2B: Pierre (5), Ethier (8), Ibanez (9). RBIs: Hudson
had a lot of energy,” manager Charlie He survived a shaky three-hit first (20), Kemp (24), Loretta (4), Victorino (20), Rollins
Manuel said. “He wanted to run.” inning that put the Dodgers ahead (10), Ibanez 2 (25). SB: Werth 4 (7), Howard (1),
Rollins (2). S: Ruiz, Park. Runners left in scoring
It was another jolt in a game full of 1-0. But he retired seven straight in position: Los Angeles 3 (Martin, Blake, Pierre);
surprises for the Phillies. Jimmy one stretch that included two swing- Philadelphia 7 (Utley 3, Victorino 2, Ruiz 2). DP:
Los Angeles 2 (Furcal, Hudson, Loney), (Furcal,
Rollins was dropped from his cus- ing strikeouts in the second. Hudson, Loney).
tomary leadoff spot to fifth and The Phillies scored three times in
Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
ended an 0-for-13 skid with an RBI the fourth to go ahead 4-2 and give Kershaw L, 1-3 5 4 4 4 4 5 98 5.21
single. Park his first win since last July 23, Ja.McDonald 1 0 0 0 1 0 10 6.87
Ohman 2⁄3 1 1 1 2 1 22 5.23
And Chan Ho Park (1-1) had his when he was a reliever for the Belisario 1 1⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 19 3.05
second straight effective outing after Dodgers. Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Park W, 1-1 6 7 2 2 0 3 101 6.00
a dreadful start this season. He In the first meeting for the teams Durbin H, 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 6 3.44
started pitching more like he did in since last year’s NLCS, Werth sin- S.Eyre H, 4 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 5.14
TOM MIHALEK / AP Madson H, 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 17 2.51
spring training when he won a spot gled and Howard walked to open the Lidge S, 5-6 1 3 1 1 0 1 24 8.56
in the rotation. Park walked none inning against Clayton Kershaw Before stealing home in the seventh inning, Jason Werth, below, stole second base and third in the same inning. He also stole third in the fourth.
Kershaw pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. Inherited
and gave up two runs in six innings. (1-3). Rollins singled and tied the He had a one-out single in the sev- said. “We were aware of (Werth) but Shane Victorino, who had an RBI runners-scored: Ja.McDonald 1-0, Belisario
Brad Lidge gave up a run in the score at 2. Raul Ibanez made it 4-2 enth, then stole second and third. He he picked our pocket anyway.” groundout in the third, batted at the 3-1. IBB: off Ohman (Rollins). HBP: by Kershaw
(Ibanez). Umpires: Home, Tim Tschida; First, Bob
ninth to make it 5-3, but still earned with the double to left-center. stole third base in the fourth. Rollins entered the game batting top of the order for the Phillies. Davidson; Second, Jeff Nelson; Third, Mark Carlson.
his fifth save. Werth’s steal of home gave the “It wasn’t on Russell not doing a only .195, so Manuel decided to shake Manuel declined to say if the move T: 3:00. A: 45,191 (43,647).
“That was pretty cool. That doesn’t Phillies a 5-2 lead and the crowd gave good job, they were just gauging our up the lineup by dropping the former was a one-time switch.
happen very often,” Lidge said of him a standing ovation. pitches,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre N.L. MVP in the lineup. — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 22
NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.Y. Mets 4, Atlanta 3, 10 innings Mets 4, Braves 3, 10 innings
Atlanta AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Milwaukee 6, Florida 3 Brewers 6, Marlins 3
Florida AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
K.Johnson 2b 5 0 0 0 0 2 .230 Bonifacio 3b 4 2 2 1 0 2 .257

Mets show Manuel, Minaya their mettle Escobar ss

C.Jones 3b
5 2 2 0 0 1 .306
4 1 2 0 1 0 .293
G.Anderson lf 4 0 1 1 0 0 .196
Fielder hits Hermida lf 4 0 1 1
Ha.Ramirez ss 3 0 2 0
Cantu 1b 4 0 0 0
0 1 .241
0 1 .357
0 0 .283
McCann c

Francoeur rf
4 0 3 1 1 0 .279
Kotchman 1b 4 0 1 1 1 0 .316
5 0 0 0 0 1 .261
pair of HRs Uggla 2b
R.Paulino c
3 0 1 1
3 0 0 0
d-Jo.Baker ph 1 0 0 0
1 2 .193
0 1 .256
0 1 .286
NEW YORK—Mets manager Jerry Manuel Schafer cf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .220 MILWAUKEE—Prince Fielder C.Ross cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .207
Jurrjens p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .071 Carroll rf 2 1 0 0 1 2 .143
and GM Omar Minaya have both said Moylan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- said it feels like there are 35 e-Gload ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .238
they want to see more fight out of their O’Flaherty p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- guys on the right side of the Koronka p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
c-Infante ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .338 Badenhop p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
team this year. M.Gonzalez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- field when he comes to bat. That b-Coghlan ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .250
They got it Tuesday night. Bennett p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- matters little when the left- C.Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Totals 36 3 10 3 4 4 Penn p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Carlos Beltran drew a bases-loaded handed slugger shows his pop. Totals 31 3 6 3 2 12
walk from Jeff Bennett with two outs in New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Fielder hit a pair of two-run
Jos.Reyes ss 5 1 2 2 0 1 .274 Milwaukee AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
the 10th inning and New York rallied to Cora 2b-1b 3 0 1 0 2 0 .333 homers over the shift and Weeks 2b 5 1 1 1 0 2 .274
beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 for a rare Dan.Murphy lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .277 Rickie Weeks and Mike Cam- Hart rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .262
b-Sheffield ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .178 Braun lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .342
comeback victory. Fr.Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- eron hit solo shots to rally the Fielder 1b 4 2 3 4 0 0 .272
The Mets were down by three in the e-R.Castro ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292 Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-3 M.Cameron cf 3 1 1 1 1 1 .296
Beltran cf 4 1 2 1 1 0 .374 Hardy ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 .218
eighth but fought back to improve to 1-11 D.Wright 3b 4 0 2 0 0 1 .317 victory over the Florida Mar- Hall 3b 3 0 0 0 1 2 .283
this season when trailing after seven Tatis 1b-lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .333 lins on Tuesday night. Kendall c 2 0 0 0 1 0 .229
Reed rf-lf 3 1 1 0 0 1 .350 Parra p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .077
innings. d-Castillo ph-2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 .321 “Pretty much the night a-B.Nelson ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
“Six outs to go and we were able to Santos c 3 0 0 0 1 0 .283 belonged to Prince—three hits, Villanueva p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
Pelfrey p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .083 DiFelice p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
take it out of their pockets pretty much,” Putz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- two homers, four RBIs,” Brew- c-Duffy ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .107
closer Francisco Rodriguez said. “Wins a-Church ph-rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 .269 ers manager Ken Macha said. Hoffman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Totals 33 4 9 4 5 4 Totals 31 6 9 6 4 6
like this get you going.” “That’s pretty much the
Beltran also doubled, stole third and Atlanta 000 101 010 0 3 10 0 offense.” Florida 120 000 000 — 3 6 1
New York 000 000 021 1 4 9 0 Milwaukee 000 230 01x — 6 9 0
scored the tying run in the ninth for the It was the first time this season
Mets, who have won eight of nine. Two outs when winning run scored. a-singled the Brewers hit four homers in a a-struck out for Parra in the 6th. b-grounded out
for Putz in the 8th. b-lined out for Dan.Murphy for Badenhop in the 7th. c-walked for DiFelice
“He can take over a game. That’s basi- in the 8th. c-sacrificed for O’Flaherty in the 9th. game. Milwaukee has won seven in the 8th. d-struck out for R.Paulino in the
cally what he did tonight,” Manuel said. FRANK FRANKLIN II / AP d-hit a sacrifice fly for Reed in the 9th. e-walked of its last nine and is five games 9th. e-grounded out for Carroll in the 9th. E:
for Fr.Rodriguez in the 10th. LOB: Atlanta 10, Ha.Ramirez (2). LOB: Florida 5, Milwaukee 7. 2B:
Jair Jurrjens took a four-hit shutout Mets CF Carlos Delgado (15) went 2-for-4 and drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning. New York 7. 2B: Escobar 2 (8), McCann (5), Jos. over .500 since a 4-9 start. Ha.Ramirez (11), Hardy (4). HR: Fielder 2 (7), off
into the eighth for Atlanta before a two- Reyes (4), Beltran (7). 3B: D.Wright (3). RBIs: Fielder, who had been hitless Koronka 2; Weeks (8), off Koronka; M.Cameron (7),
G.Anderson (5), McCann (12), Kotchman (15), off C.Martinez. RBIs: Bonifacio (7), Hermida (14),
run double to left-center by Jose Reyes out. get the job done,” Bennett said. Jos.Reyes 2 (15), Beltran (25), Castillo (10). SB: in 10 at-bats, singled the oppo- Uggla (20), Weeks (22), Fielder 4 (29), M.Cameron
cut it to 3-2—though he was easily By then, the Mets had new life. Atlanta dropped to 14-1 when leading C.Jones (1), Jos.Reyes (11), Beltran (4). CS: McCann site way in the second and hit (19). SB: Bonifacio (7). S: Koronka, Parra.
(1), D.Wright (6), Tatis (1). S: Jurrjens, Infante. SF: Runners left in scoring position: Florida 3
thrown out at third when he tried to “You could see it. Everyone was up. after seven innings. G.Anderson, Castillo. Runners left in scoring his first homer down the right- (R.Paulino, Cantu, Uggla); Milwaukee 4 (Weeks 3,
stretch it into a triple. Last year it probably would have been a Rodriguez (1-0) worked two scoreless position: Atlanta 6 (K.Johnson, Francoeur 4, field line in the fourth inning Kendall). DP: Florida 1 (Bonifacio, Uggla, Cantu);
Escobar); New York 2 (D.Wright 2). DP: Atlanta 2 Milwaukee 1 (Hall, Weeks, Fielder).
Beltran opened the ninth with a double 1-2-3 inning. It showed we have heart innings for the win, the first time he has (McCann, McCann, K.Johnson), (Schafer, Schafer, off starter John Koronka to cut
off Mike Gonzalez and swiped third on a and determination,” Ryan Church said. pitched more than one inning in a major McCann). Florida’s lead to 3-2. Florida IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Koronka L, 0-1 4 2⁄3 7 5 5 3 2 92 9.64
close play with one out. Braves third base- Reyes reached on an infield single league game since Aug. 17, 2007, with Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Weeks tied it with his homer Badenhop 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 15 3.38
man Chipper Jones thought third-base with two outs in the 10th and stole sec- the Los Angeles Angels. Jurrjens 7 2⁄3 7 2 2 1 4 102 2.06 in the fifth and, after Corey C.Martinez 1 2⁄3 2 1 1 1 1 41 5.40
Moylan 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 6.94 Penn 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 6 7.24
umpire Greg Gibson missed the call. ond. After an intentional walk to Alex “I felt really strong out there,” Rodri- O’Flaherty H, 4 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 2.13 Hart singled, Fielder hit a tow- Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
“It came down to one play and he got it Cora, pinch-hitter Ramon Castro guez said. “My command was perfect.” M.Gonzalez BS, 2-7 1 1 1 1 0 0 17 3.68 ering shot over the Marlins’ Parra W, 2-4 6 6 3 3 2 8 107 4.82
Bennett L, 0-1 2⁄3 1 1 1 3 0 22 2.51 Villanueva H, 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 5.51
wrong. I never had a guy slide into my walked to load the bases. Jones was back in Atlanta’s lineup New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA bullpen off Koronka (0-1) for DiFelice H, 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 10 1.08
glove and be safe,” Jones said. “We played Bennett (0-1) went to a full count on after sitting out Monday night with a Pelfrey 7 6 2 2 1 3 96 4.89 his seventh this season to give Hoffman S, 6-6 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 0.00
Putz 1 2 1 1 2 1 24 3.79
a perfect game tonight and we lost.” Beltran and his final delivery appeared stiff and swollen right elbow. It was the Fr.Rodriguez W, 1-0 2 2 0 0 1 0 26 1.15 Milwaukee a 5-3 lead. Inherited runners-scored: Badenhop 1-0,
Fernando Tatis was hit by an 0-2 pitch a bit low. The right-hander walked off first game at Citi Field for Jones, who hit Marlins pitching coach Mark Penn 3-0. HBP: by C.Martinez (Kendall), by Parra
Moylan pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited (Ha.Ramirez). WP: Parra. Umpires: Home, Angel
before pinch-hitter Luis Castillo tied it the mound shaking his head and mut- .313 with 19 homers and 55 RBIs in 88 runners-scored: O’Flaherty 1-0. IBB: off Ben- Wiley made a visit to the mound Campos; First, Gary Darling; Second, Bruce Dreck-
with a sacrifice fly. It was the second tering into his glove. games at Shea Stadium, the Mets’ old nett (Cora), off Fr.Rodriguez (McCann), off Putz just before Fielder hit his sec- man; Third, Bill Hohn. T: 2:51. A: 29,331 (41,900).
(C.Jones, Kotchman). HBP: by M.Gonzalez (Tatis).
blown save in seven chances for Gonza- “You are in the big leagues, you’ve got ballpark. WP: Jurrjens. Umpires: Home, Andy Fletcher; ond homer.
lez, who picked off Tatis for the third to throw strikes in that situation. I didn’t — The Associated Press First, Ted Barrett; Second, Tim McClelland; Third, — The Associated Press
Greg Gibson. T: 3:02. A: 39,408 (41,800).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 23
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 7, St. Louis 1 Chicago Cubs 6, San Diego 2

Duke’s poise after Pujols’ HR ends Bucs’ skid Bradley burns old pal Peavy
CHICAGO—Milton Bradley took Cubs 6, Padres 2
Pirates 7, Cardinals 1 San Diego AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
PITTSBURGH—Albert Pujols’ home run St. Louis AB R H BI BB SO Avg. a few extra seconds to admire Giles rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .161
in the first inning struck halfway up the Schumaker 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .298 the trajectory of his long home Eckstein 2b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .263
b-Barden ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .291 Ad.Gonzalez 1b 4 1 2 2 0 0 .301
batter’s backstop in center field, the kind K.Greene ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 .225 run. He couldn’t help but enjoy Headley lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .246
of drive that can unnerve a pitcher. Pujols 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 .328 it, even if it was off his old friend Gerut cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .229
Ludwick rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 .274 Kouzmanoff 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .215
Instead, it almost seemed to calm down Rasmus cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .261 Jake Peavy. Blanco c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .162
Zach Duke. Y.Molina c 2 0 0 0 0 0 .311 Nothing personal, that’s just L.Rodriguez ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 .240
B.Thompson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 Peavy p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Duke responded to Pujols’ homer by d-Thurston ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 how he is. Moreno p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
limiting St. Louis to three singles the Duncan lf 2 0 0 0 2 1 .283 “I’ve always said, I don’t play b-Macias ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .250
T.Greene 3b-2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .227 Meredith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
rest of the way while pitching eight Wellemeyer p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .143 baseball, I feel it,” Bradley said. Totals 31 2 5 2 2 7
innings, and the Pittsburgh Pirates Boyer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Everyone at Wrigley Field
T.Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
ended an eight-game losing streak by a-LaRue ph-c 2 0 0 0 0 1 .368 felt Bradley’s presence Tuesday A.Soriano lf 5 0 3 2 0 0 .278
beating the Cardinals 7-1 on Tuesday Robinson cf-rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .222 night when he hit his towering Theriot ss 5 0 0 0 0 1 .287
Totals 31 1 5 1 3 7 Fukudome cf 5 1 3 0 0 2 .333
night. two-run homer off Peavy to D.Lee 1b 3 0 0 0 1 3 .202
Adam LaRoche and Brandon Moss Pittsburgh AB R H BI BB SO Avg. help the Cubs beat the San Bradley rf 3 1 1 2 1 1 .186
Morgan lf 5 1 2 2 0 1 .305 Fontenot 3b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .222
both broke out of slumps with homers F.Sanchez 2b 3 0 1 0 2 1 .317 Diego Padres 6-2 on Tuesday Soto c 3 1 1 0 1 2 .175
for the Pirates. McLouth cf 4 0 1 1 1 0 .290 night. Miles 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .208
Ad.LaRoche 1b 4 1 1 1 0 2 .224 Harden p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .231
“Man, it’s so nice to get a win,” Moss R.Diaz c 4 1 2 0 0 0 .400 Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Heilman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
said. An.LaRoche 3b 3 1 0 0 0 1 .245 Fukudome each had two dou- a-Scales ph 1 1 1 1 0 0 .429
Moss rf 4 2 3 2 0 0 .200 Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Njyer Morgan’s two-run triple fin- Ja.Wilson ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .235 bles and three hits, Bobby c-Hoffpauir ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .306
ished off a four-run second inning that Duke p 3 1 1 1 0 1 .188 Scales added his first major Gregg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
c-Monroe ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .222 Totals 34 6 11 5 4 11
included Duke’s run-scoring single and Capps p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- league home run and Rcih
the Pirates—back in last place in the NL Totals 35 7 11 7 3 6 Harden won his fourth straight San Diego 200 000 000 — 2 5 0
Central—won for the only second time decision for the Cubs. Chicago 000 012 12x — 6 11 0
St. Louis 100 000 000 — 1 5 0
in 14 games since April 26. They were Pittsburgh 040 030 00x — 7 11 0 Peavy (2-5), whom the Cubs a-homered for Heilman in the 7th. b-struck out
11-7 when the slide began but are now were interested in obtaining in for Moreno in the 8th. c-singled for Marmol in the
a-flied out for T.Miller in the 7th. b-grounded out 8th. LOB: San Diego 4, Chicago 9. 2B: Giles (4),
13-19. for Schumaker in the 8th. c-popped out for Duke the offseason, is the last Padres A.Soriano 2 (9), Fukudome 2 (9). HR: Ad.Gonzalez
in the 8th. d-walked for B.Thompson in the 9th. (11), off Harden; Bradley (4), off Peavy; Scales (1),
“We were desperate to get that streak LOB: St. Louis 8, Pittsburgh 8. 3B: Morgan (3). starter to get a win, on April 16. off Moreno. RBIs: Ad.Gonzalez 2 (24), A.Soriano 2
over and start a winning streak,” Duke HR: Pujols (13), off Duke; Ad.LaRoche (6), off Wel- San Diego has lost nine straight (22), Bradley 2 (8), Scales (1). SB: Gerut (2), Fuku-
lemeyer; Moss (1), off Wellemeyer. RBIs: Pujols dome (4). S: Harden. Runners left in scoring
said. “Who knows, maybe a 15-game or (34), Morgan 2 (15), McLouth (23), Ad.LaRoche road games, and four in a row position: San Diego 2 (Headley, L.Rodriguez);
20-game winning streak started (15), Moss 2 (5), Duke (2). Runners left in scor- overall. Chicago 6 (Theriot 2, Fontenot 3, Fukudome). DP:
ing position: St. Louis 4 (Schumaker, Duncan, Chicago 1 (Miles, Theriot, D.Lee).
tonight.” Robinson 2); Pittsburgh 2 (Ad.LaRoche 2). DP: “We’re just not playing good
The Cardinals did almost nothing Pittsburgh 1 (Duke, Ja.Wilson, Ad.LaRoche). baseball,” Padres first baseman San Diego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Peavy L, 2-5 6 6 3 3 2 9 111 4.30
against Duke (4-3) following Pujols’ 21st St. Louis IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Adrian Gonzalez said. “It’s part Moreno 1 2 1 1 2 0 29 4.67
home run in 63 games at PNC Park, the Wellemeyer L, 3-34 1⁄3 9 7 7 3 4 93 5.80 of a learning process with a Meredith 1 3 2 2 0 2 23 4.50
Boyer 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 12 8.31 Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
most by an opposing player. Pujols’ T.Miller 1 1 0 0 0 1 16 3.72 young team, but that’s not an Harden W, 4-1 6 4 2 2 1 5 101 4.54
drive was his second off Duke in two GENE J. PUSKAR / AP B.Thompson 2 1 0 0 0 0 29 4.63 excuse.” Heilman H, 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 17 5.06
Pirates 3B Andy LaRoche scored in the second inning on a single by starter Zach Duke, who is now 4-3. Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Marmol H, 10 1 0 0 0 1 1 16 3.94
games since Wednesday—when the Duke W, 4-3 8 4 1 1 1 5 104 2.52 Off to a poor start after sign- Gregg 1 0 0 0 0 1 14 3.86
Cardinals beat the lefthander 4-2—and Capps 1 1 0 0 2 2 26 6.75 ing a three-year, $30 million
WP: Peavy, Meredith. Umpires: Home, Angel
was his 13th this season. to hit balls like that and he does a very balance.” HBP: by B.Thompson (An.LaRoche), by Duke deal, Bradley watched his 439- Hernandez; First, Bill Welke; Second, Tim Welke;
Pujols is 15-for-33 against Duke, and good job of it,” Duke said. “But it turned Duke settled down to pitch seven (Y.Molina, Rasmus). Umpires: Home, Randy foot homer to deep center, his Third, Scott Barry. T: 2:39. A: 39,963 (41,210).
Marsh; First, Mike Winters; Second, Lance Barks-
the homer was his fourth consecutive out differently after the first. ... My shutout innings, striking out five and dale; Third, Mike Estabrook. T: 2:30. A: 11,718 fourth of the season, before
hit off him in two games. breaking pitches were working for me walking one. (38,362). rounding the bases.
“That’s what that guys does, he’s paid and I was able to keep them off — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 24
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado 12, Houston 1 Cincinnati 3, Arizona 1

No patience, no problem for Rockies’ Stewart Owings owns former team

PHOENIX—Micah Owings beat Reds 3, Diamondbacks 1
Rockies 12, Astros 1 Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
DENVER—Ian Stewart was offered the Houston AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Arizona with his bat last Taveras cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .313
same piece of hitting advice over and K.Matsui 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .245 September. Hairston Jr. ss 3 1 1 0 0 0 .260
Bourn cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 .295 Votto 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .374
over: Quit being so picky and patient. Berkman 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .187 On Tuesday night, he beat Hanigan c 2 0 0 0 0 0 .297
Start hacking. Ca.Lee lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .322 his former team with his arm. Phillips 2b 4 2 2 2 0 1 .265
Tejada ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 .308 Bruce rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .250
The message clicked. A more aggressive a-Ja.Smith ph-ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000 With Brandon Phillips hom- R.Hernandez c-1b 3 0 0 1 0 1 .280
Stewart hit a grand slam and a solo shot in Pence rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 .316 ering and driving in two runs, L.Nix lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .304
Blum 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 .264 A.Rosales 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .298
the Colorado Rockies’ 12-1 win over the I.Rodriguez c 3 0 1 1 0 0 .275 Owings pitched the Cincinnati Owings p 3 0 0 0 0 0 .286
Houston Astros on Tuesday night. d-Quintero ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Reds to a 3-1 victory over the Rhodes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
F.Paulino p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .143 Weathers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
“We saw more swings tonight in one Byrdak p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Diamondbacks. Cordero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
game than we’d seen in a lot of at-bats,” R.Ortiz p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .125 Owings said it is coincidental Totals 32 3 6 3 0 6
Totals 34 1 8 1 0 5
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. that he’s had two big games Arizona AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
“That’s what we’ve talked about. A Colorado AB R H BI BB SO Avg. against the team that drafted F.Lopez 2b 4 0 2 1 1 0 .328
Fowler cf 5 1 1 0 0 1 .255 Montero c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .255
swinging bat is a dangerous bat.” Tulowitzki ss 4 2 2 0 0 1 .248 him in 2005 and then dealt him b-Snyder ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .215
Stewart was taking too many pitches Barmes 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 .225 to Cincinnati last season. J.Upton rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .295
Helton 1b 3 2 1 2 1 0 .343 Reynolds 3b 2 0 0 0 2 1 .250
as he waited for the perfect one. Instead, Belisle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- “I don’t want to look into Byrnes lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .207
he was looking at his fair share of called c-Murton ph-rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 .333 that,” Owings said. “My focus Whitesell 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .095
Hawpe rf 4 2 4 5 1 0 .359 C.Young cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .186
third strikes. Corpas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- is going out and playing the Ojeda ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 .313
So he adopted a more assertive Atkins 3b-1b 4 1 0 0 1 0 .202 game, playing it hard and play- Haren p 2 0 1 0 0 0 .211
S.Smith lf 3 1 0 0 1 0 .295 Rauch p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
approach. Iannetta c 4 0 1 0 0 1 .213 ing it the right way, whoever it’s a-R.Roberts ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .348
“But it’s something I’m working on Stewart 2b-3b 4 2 2 5 0 2 .211 against.” 1-Jo.Wilson pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .231
Jimenez p 3 0 0 0 0 0 .333 Schoeneweis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
and need to work on,” said Stewart, who b-Quintanilla ph-ss1 0 0 0 0 1 .143 It was Owings’ second trip to c-S.Drew ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .205
was hitless in his last 10 at-bats before Totals 37 12 12 12 4 7 Chase Field since the trade, but Totals 32 1 6 1 4 6
his homer in the fourth. “I’m trying to Houston 000 000 100 — 1 8 2 the first time he pitched against Cincinnati 000 201 000 — 3 6 1
put the ball in play.” Colorado 102 152 01x — 12 12 0 the Diamondbacks. Last Sept. Arizona 000 000 010 — 1 6 0
Stewart’s second career grand slam a-flied out for Tejada in the 7th. b-struck out for 13, Owings had a pinch-hit dou- a-was hit by a pitch for Rauch in the 8th. b-flied
came on a fastball from reliever Tim Jimenez in the 7th. c-doubled for Belisle in the ble in the 10th inning to beat the out for Montero in the 8th. c-walked for Schoe-
8th. d-struck out for I.Rodriguez in the 9th. E: neweis in the 9th. 1-ran for R.Roberts in the 8th.
Byrdak in the fifth inning. His five RBIs Tejada (5), K.Matsui (2). LOB: Houston 7, Colorado Diamondbacks, who were con- E: Owings (1). LOB: Cincinnati 4, Arizona 9. 2B:
tied a career high. 5. 2B: Fowler (6), Murton (1), Hawpe (10). HR: tending for a division title. F.Lopez (11). HR: Phillips (6), off Haren. RBIs:
Helton (4), off F.Paulino; Stewart (5), off F.Paulino; Phillips 2 (22), R.Hernandez (12), F.Lopez (9).
Even more, he’s looking like the hitter Stewart (6), off Byrdak; Hawpe (5), off R.Ortiz. Now the Diamondbacks are SB: Taveras (9), Hairston Jr. 2 (3), F.Lopez (4). SF:
Hurdle remembers from spring train- RBIs: I.Rodriguez (15), Helton 2 (20), Hawpe 5 in last place in the NL West, nine R.Hernandez. Runners left in scoring posi-
(25), Stewart 5 (18). SB: Bourn (11). S: F.Paulino. tion: Cincinnati 2 (Phillips, Hairston Jr.); Arizona
ing. The one who wasn’t so selective. Runners left in scoring position: Houston 5 games behind the Los Angeles 4 (Byrnes 2, Reynolds, F.Lopez). DP: Cincinnati 1
“I don’t know exactly what he was (Ca.Lee, Tejada, K.Matsui 3); Colorado 1 (Atkins). Dodgers. Arizona fell to 1-4 (Phillips, Votto, Hairston Jr.).
looking for at times, but if you gear up to Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA under manager A.J. Hinch, who Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
hit the ball, you’ve got a chance,” Hurdle DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP F.Paulino L, 1-3 4 7 8 7 4 2 96 6.93 replaced Bob Melvin last week. Owings W, 3-3 7 4 1 1 2 4 90 4.33
Rockies IF Ian Stewart was hitless in 10 at-bats, but came through with two HRs, including a grand slam. Byrdak 1 1 1 1 0 1 20 3.46 Rhodes H, 6 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 6 0.00
said. “I just felt sometimes he was trying R.Ortiz 3 4 3 1 0 4 57 5.55 Owings, meanwhile, is pitch- Weathers H, 6 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 16 2.45
to figure too much out when the ball’s in Colorado IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA ing for a team with the best Cordero S, 10-10 1 1 0 0 1 1 15 2.40
Jimenez W, 3-4 7 7 1 1 0 4 101 4.73 Arizona IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
flight. The game’s too quick up for here third straight solid start, scattering walking none. Belisle 1 1 0 0 0 0 12 9.00 road record (12-5) in baseball. Haren L, 3-4 7 6 3 3 0 5 102 2.09
for that to happen.” seven hits and giving up one run over “Finally, a game without a walk,” he Corpas 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 5.27 Owings (3-3) outpitched Arizo- Rauch 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 7.07
Schoeneweis 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 1.80
Brad Hawpe finished with four hits, seven innings. He’s now allowed just said, smiling. F.Paulino pitched to 4 batters in the 5th. Inher- na’s Dan Haren (3-4), who again
including a two-run homer, and drove five runs over his last 21 innings. Jimenez did have two pitches get away ited runners-scored: Byrdak 3-3. WP: Jimenez. lacked run support. Arizona has Owings pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited
Umpires: Home, Larry Vanover; First, Dan runners-scored: Rhodes 1-1, Weathers 1-0.
in a career-high five runs. Todd Helton The hard-throwing Jimenez struck from him, sending Carlos Lee diving for Iassogna; Second, Charlie Reliford; Third, Adrian scored two runs or fewer in five of HBP: by Owings (R.Roberts), by Haren (Hairston
added a two-run homer in the third. out four as his fastball hit 98 mph at the dirt on two balls near his head. Johnson. T: 2:39. A: 23,233 (50,449). Haren’s eight starts. Jr.). Umpires: Home, Hunter Wendelstedt; First,
Rob Drake; Second, Dana DeMuth; Third, Doug
Ubaldo Jimenez (3-4) turned in his times. He also had pinpoint command, — The Associated Press — The Associated Press Eddings. T: 2:40. A: 24,835 (48,652).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 25

Labor peace, schedule expansion top Goodell’s to-do list
BY VINNIE IYER
viyer@sportingnews.com
CHARLOTTE—NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell talked for only a
short time at the Charlotte Touch-
down Club on Tuesday afternoon,
but he had no trouble scoring points
on a variety of his league’s offsea-
son issues.
Goodell has big plans to increase
the reach of the premier American
professional team sport, but he also
realizes that without labor peace
and a new collective bargaining
agreement between players and
owners, all those plans will be put
in hold in 2011.
“We need an agreement that
works for everyone,” Goodell said.
“It’s a detriment to our fans if we
ever stop playing games. Both of us
are motivated to get a long-term
deal that’s good for the players, for
the owners, and most important,
good for the game.”
Here’s how Goodell addressed
other NFL hot topics:
Expanding the regular season.
Whether it’s by one or two games
and shortening the exhibition sea-
son accordingly, it’s something
Goodell wants to put on the table.
To successfully extend the sched-
ule, the league would need coopera-
tion from several parties, from
owners to media outlets.
“It’s clear that not all the preseason
games match the standards of what
NFL games should be,” he said. “The
big thing for us is making sure we’ve
gone through all the analysis and
understand all the ramifications.
“The general consensus I hear
from our players is that we have to
create value, ways in which we
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said more overseas, regular-season games are a goal of his.
increase the quality of what we’re
doing. They’re willing to do the
kind of things that are necessary to
grow the game.”
Expanding the game globally. The
NFL already has played regular-
season games in Mexico, Canada
and the United Kingdom. Although
there won’t be an expansion team
overseas or even the rumored Super
Bowl played in London anytime
CRAIG RUTTLE / AP
soon, Goodell said that along with
more games on the schedule would
be more opportunities to test for-
eign markets.
“The NFL game extends beyond
our borders,” he said. “The fan
reaction to that has been extraordi-
nary, and we would like to feed that
passion.”
Brett Favre potentially returning to
the NFL again. The commissioner
knows Favre’s future lies in the
hands of one person: Favre.
“I haven’t spoken to him in a
while,” Goodell said. “As the season
gets closer, I know he’ll want to
play. But that’s a decision he will
need to ultimately make.”
Limiting rookie salaries. Goodell
says there will be about $400 mil-
lion in guaranteed money doled out
to this year’s rookie class. “There’s
nothing wrong with rookies getting
their money, but they should earn it
on the field,” he said.
Putting the NFL Network in more
homes. The league is taking a more
patient approach with making its
own channel more available, not
necessarily rushing into deals with
cable companies. “The question is,
‘How do you reach the broadest
possible audience?’ “ he said.
Limiting veteran salaries. Despite a
sagging economy that has cost the
NFL and its franchises jobs within
their organizations, the players
have remained unaffected. About
another $500 million will enter the
salary pool for the upcoming sea-
son. “I don’t think we’ll see a sig-
nificant reduction in (player)
salaries anytime soon,” he said.
Michael Vick potentially returning.
“We haven’t made any kind of deci-
sion about that,” he said. “What
Michael did was horrific, and he’s
still paying a big price for it.”
Goodell’s idols
When he was a kid, NFL
commissioner Roger Goodell
said he idolized sports stars
from Baltimore, especially
Colts and Orioles. Not surpris-
ingly, quarterback legend
Johnny Unitas and Hall of
Fame tight end John Mackey
were among his heroes.
Goodell said he also
admired a running back from
nearby Washington. “I liked
the Redskins, and I was a fan
of Larry Brown,” he said.
Brown isn’t a Hall of
Famer, but maybe he should
be. Coach Vince Lombardi
helped Brown overcome a
hearing impairment to
become one of the hardest
runners in NFL history and
league MVP in 1972. That’s
the kind of inspiration you
would expect for such an
inspired league leader.
— Vinnie Iyer
Goodell expects to meet with
Vick after his federal prison term
ends as expected July 20. The com-
missioner said he is open to Vick
returning to the NFL, if Vick shows
he is committed to taking his life in
the right direction.
Video gaming. With the league
having an exclusive licensing agree-
ment with EA Sports through 2012,
Goodell cited the success of the
Madden NFL series—more than 21
million copies sold the last three
years—and opened the possibility
of other companies getting in on the
action. “The more we bring in elec-
tronic games, the better for our
game,” he said.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Scouts’ views
Tight end rankings: Cowboys’ Witten best of diverse group
The tight end position has many per-
mutations in today’s NFL. There is the
traditional in-line player, the tight end who
splits out wide, the shifting tight end and
the tight end/fullback hybrid better known
as an H-back.
RealScouts, SN Today’s team of former
NFL scouts, rank the top 20 tight ends:
1. Jason Witten, Cowboys. Though
his 81 receptions for 952 yards
and four touchdowns in ’08 were
considered a bit of a down year, he
still has 177 catches the last two
seasons. He has missed just one
game in six seasons and has a
career 11.5 yards per catch average.
The departure of Terrell Owens
means Witten will be targeted even
more in ’09, and his blocking
ability also will help the running
game balance the offense.
2. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons. The
Falcons already had an exciting
young QB in Matt Ryan, the NFL’s
second-ranked running game and a
Pro Bowl receiver in Roddy White.
Gonzalez, coming off back-to-back
seasons with at least 96 catches, can
be the threat down the seam the
team has been missing since Alge
Crumpler’s prime. Gonzalez also is
an effective blocker, and he’ll be a
valuable asset in the red zone. Look
for Gonzalez to eclipse that 100-
catch mark in ’09.
3. Dallas Clark, Colts. Some say
Clark’s success is a function of
the Colts’ offense, and there’s little
doubt that Peyton Manning has had
a positive effect on his career. Clark,
however, makes this offense go at
times because of his ability to beat
any coverage in the middle of the
field. He’s smart enough to find open
space in zones, fast enough to beat
linebackers man-to-man and strong
enough to overpower safeties.
Clark’s ability to adjust within the
Colts’ option-route system is critical,
and he does enough as a blocker to
stay on the field in any situation.
4. Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers. After
back-to-back 16-game, 80-catch
seasons, Winslow was on the
sideline again in ’08, missing six
games. His life will get better in
Tampa. His unique combination of
size, speed and athletic ability makes
him a threat anywhere on the field,
and offensive coordinator Jeff
Jagodzinski plans to take full
advantage. Don’t be surprised to see
Winslow lead the Bucs in receptions,
yardage and touchdowns this year.
5. Antonio Gates, Chargers. He
played through toe, ankle and
hip injuries last season, hindering
his production. He still is the man
who transformed the tight end
position. Big, physical and fast, he
cuts and runs like a wide receiver
but his size and strength make him
tough to tackle in the open field.
6. Heath Miller, Steelers. He is more
of a traditional in-line tight end
who does everything well. In
additional to being an outstanding
run blocker, he has the size and sure
hands to be an effective short-to-
intermediate route-runner and a
dangerous red-zone threat. The
Steelers’ switch to a more pass-
oriented attack has only helped him,
and the fact he never has to leave the
field is invaluable.
NFL
7. Owen Daniels, Texans. He is a
smart, savvy receiver who has a
knack for beating zone coverage. He’s
not physically imposing, but he can
run, has reliable hands and is now a
proven playmaker. With improved
play from the offensive line and
running game, QB Matt Schaub
should be more effective in ’09 and
that means more balls for Daniels.
8. Chris Cooley, Redskins. He is a
smaller, athletic tight end who
works well in space, as a receiver and
a blocker. He’s deceptively fast and
has burned plenty of linebackers on
deep seam routes. Though his
touchdowns and yards per catch
were down in ’08, Jim Zorn’s offense
has meant more touches for Cooley
(career-high 83 catches in ’08).
9. Todd Heap, Ravens. Heap, 29, has
slowed considerably because of a
litany of recent injuries. He also is not
an ideal fit in coordinator Cam
Cameron’s scheme, and there’s
reason to believe Heap will slide
further down this list. He’s still a solid
in-line blocker, but the arrival of L.J.
Smith means team officials believe
Heap’s best days are behind him.
10. Bo Scaife, Titans. The Titans
upgraded their wide receiver
corps, adding free agent Nate
Washington and drafting Kenny
Britt. The team also drafted a tight
end, Jared Cook, in the third round.
Scaife might not get as many looks as
he is accustomed, but he still is the
key cog in the two-minute offense
and in the red zone.
11. Ben Watson, Patriots. For those
who look strictly at receiving
statistics, his decline is severe. He
doesn’t get a lot of looks in the
passing game, and he has been
inconsistent with the opportunities
he does get. However, he never
leaves the field. When the Patriots go
with a two-tight end look, Watson is
in there. When they go with a big
goal-line personnel group, Watson is
in there. When they go with an
empty set, Watson is in there as an
extra pass blocker. The additions of
Chris Baker and Alex Smith will
alter his role, but Watson remains a
critical piece of the offense.
12. Zach Miller, Raiders. He has not
missed a game in two
seasons and has emerged as an
every-down tight end who can run
block effectively—which will be a
bigger part of the offense in ’09—and
make plays as a receiver. Miller,
heading into his third season, will
improve as QB JaMarcus Russell
becomes more seasoned.
13. Greg Olsen, Bears. There was no
sophomore slump in ’08. He
showed great improvement and
became a playmaker, particularly in
the red zone, posting five touch-
downs. After failing in several
attempts to upgrade the wide receiver
corps, Olsen remains the Bears’ best
and most reliable option in the
passing game. His statistics are sure
to improve with QB Jay Cutler.
14. Jeremy Shockey, Saints. He is a
disappointment since
arriving from New York, but Saints
coaches say Shockey is healthy and
has been spending a lot of time
working with QB Drew Brees.
Shockey is athletic and a capable
TONY GUTIERREZ / AP
Jason Witten still had 81 catches in what was
considered a subpar season.
big-play threat when at full
strength. If Billy Miller can catch
45 balls in this offense (he did last
year), a healthy Shockey can give
this team 75-plus catches.
15. John Carlson, Seahawks.
Carlson’s 55 receptions were
the most by any rookie tight end in
’08, and QB Matt Hasselbeck missed
nine games. With Hasselbeck back
and a re-tooled game plan, Carlson’s
natural receiving skills could be on
display. He has great hands and is
not afraid to make tough catches
over the middle.
16. Kevin Boss, Giants. Boss did a
nice job last year, his first full
season as a starter. He’s a big target,
and his sure hands and ability to run
after the catch give Eli Manning
confidence. Boss is a tough, competi-
tive guy who should continue to
improve and get more touches,
particularly in the red zone.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 26
17. Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings. He
had a breakout season in
’08, showing strong hands and the
ability to make tough catches over
the middle and displaying the
athleticism to gain yardage after
the catch. His limitations as a
blocker take him off the field at
important times, though.
18. Dustin Keller, Jets. He emerged
as a Brett Favre favorite last
year. Keller basically is a bulked-up
wide receiver who often aligns in the
slot in spread formations. He has
dangerous vertical speed and big-play
ability. With the Jets’ QB situation in
flux and his limitations as a blocker,
it’s hard to imagine him moving up
this list much in the short term.
19. Brent Celek, Eagles. After
spending time in Smith’s
shadow, Celek takes over as the
starter. Celek has soft hands and is
athletic and fast enough to be a threat
down the seam. This offense still
runs through RB Brian Westbrook.
An improved line, a healthy West-
brook and dangerous perimeter
threats should allow Celek opportu-
nities to make an impact in ’09.
20. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions. We
generally don’t rank rookies,
but Pettigrew deserves mention. He
lacks breakaway speed but plays
faster than his 40 time would
suggest, and he will take some
pressure off WR Calvin Johnson.
Pettigrew also can be a devastating
blocker who can set the edge and
really bolster the running game.
— RealScouts, a team of former NFL scouts, analyze
NFL and college players, coaches and teams exclusively
for Sporting News Today.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Remaining free agents
A quick look at the remaining NFL free agents by position
(R-restricted free agent, F-franchise tagged player):
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks—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, Buf-
falo; Jamie Martin, San Francisco; Craig Nall, Houston; Marques
Tuiasosopo, Oakland; Anthony Wright, NY Giants.
Running backs—Darian Barnes, New Orleans; Tatum Bell,
Denver; Brian Calhoun, Detroit; Jesse Chatman, NY Jets; P.J.
Daniels, Baltimore; Reuben Droughns, NY Giants; Warrick Dunn,
Tampa Bay; DeShaun Foster, San Francisco; Samkon Gado, 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 McAl-
lister, New Orleans; Travis Minor, St. Louis; Montell Owens (R),
Jacksonville; Chris Perry, 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; Keary
Colbert, Detroit; Jayson Foster, Denver; Malcom Floyd (R),
San Diego; D.J. Hackett, Carolina; Dante Hall, St. Louis; Marvin
Harrison, Indianapolis; Ike Hilliard, Tampa Bay; Darrell Jackson,
Denver; Nate Jackson, Denver; Matt Jones, Jacksonville; Joe
Jurevicius, Cleveland; Ashley Lelie, Oakland; Brandon Lloyd,
Chicago; Dane Looker, St. Louis; Ruvell Martin (R), Green Bay;
Anthony Mix, Tampa Bay; Ben Obomanu (R), Seattle; Tab Perry,
Miami; Jerry Porter, Jacksonville; Kevin Robinson, Kansas City;
Koren Robinson, Seattle; Edell Shepherd, Denver; Travis Taylor,
Detroit; Amani Toomer, NY Giants; Kelley Washington, New
England; Todd Watkins (R), Oakland; Harry Williams, Houston;
Reggie Williams, 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; Michael
Merritt, Kansas City; Chad Mustard, Denver; Leonard Pope (R),
Arizona; Jeff Robinson, Seattle; Derek Schouman (R), Buffalo;
Stephen Spach (R), Arizona; Daniel Wilcox, Baltimore; Kris
Wilson, San Diego.
Offensive tackles—Tyson Clabo (R), Atlanta; Anthony Davis,
St. Louis; Jon Dunn, Detroit; Wayne Gandy, Atlanta; Kwame
Harris, Oakland; Jonas Jennings, San Francisco; Levi Jones,
Cincinnati; James Marten (R), Oakland; Fred Miller, Chicago; Rob
Petitti, St. Louis; Jon Runyan, Philadelphia; Ephraim Salaam,
Houston; Charles Spencer, Jacksonville; Barry Stokes, New
England; Mark Tauscher, Green Bay; Mark Wilson (R), Oakland;
Eric Young, Cleveland.
Guards—Lennie Friedman, Cleveland; Adrian Jones, Kansas
City; Pete Kendall, Washington; Matt Lentz, Detroit; Terrence
Metcalf, Chicago; Edwin Mulitalo, Detroit; Chris Naeole,
Jacksonville; Tutan Reyes, Jacksonville; Grey Ruegamer, NY
Giants; Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh; Rob Sims (R), Seattle;
Jason Whittle, Buffalo.
Centers—Brennen Carvalho, Green Bay; Jean-Philippe Darche,
Kansas City; Melvin Fowler, Buffalo; Matt Lehr, New Orleans;
Andy McCollum, Detroit; Jeremy Newberry, San Diego; Scott
Peters, Arizona; Bryan Pittman, Houston; Cory Withrow, St.
Louis.
DEFENSE
Defensive 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; Roderick Green,
San Francisco; Travis LaBoy, Arizona; Jayme Mitchell, Minnesota;
Jerome McDougle, NY Giants; Julius Peppers (F), Carolina; Jason
Taylor, Washington; Anthony Weaver, Houston; James Wyche,
Jacksonville.
Defensive tackles—Kenderick Allen, Minnesota; Gary
Gibson (R), Carolina; La’Roi Glover, St. Louis; Vonnie Holliday,
Miami; Antwan Lake, New Orleans; Anthony Montgomery
(R), Washington; Langston Moore, Detroit; Kindal Moorehead,
Atlanta; Dewayne Robertson, Denver; Orpheus Roye, Pittsburgh;
Montavious Stanley (R), New Orleans; Hollis Thomas, New
Orleans; Josh Thomas, Indianapolis; John Thornton, Cincinnati;
Darwin Walker, Carolina; Gabe Watson (R), Arizona; Ellis Wyms,
Minnesota; Brian Young, New Orleans; Jeff Zgonina, Houston.
Linebackers—Rufus Alexander, Indianapolis; Jason Babin,
Kansas City; Rocky Boiman, Kansas City; Derrick Brooks, Tampa
Bay; 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; Abdul
Hodge (R), Cincinnati; Mike Humpal, Pittsburgh; Brad Kassell,
NY Jets; Jason Kyle, Carolina; Teddy Lehman, Buffalo; Paris
Lenon, Detroit; Wesly Mallard, 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;
Marcus Washington, Washington; Nate Webster, Denver.
Cornerbacks—David Barrett, NY Jets; Dre’Bly, Denver; Fakhir
Brown, St. Louis; Terry Cousin, Cleveland; Jason Craft, St. Louis;
Travis Fisher, Detroit; Reynaldo Hill, Tennessee; Roderick Hood,
Arizona; 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, New Orleans; R.W. McQuarters, NY Giants; Deltha
O’Neal, New England; Dunta Robinson (F), Houston; Lewis
Sanders, New England; Duane Starks, Jacksonville; Brandon
Sumrall, NY Giants; DeJuan Tribble, San Diego; Jason Webster,
New England; Jimmy Williams, Houston; Stanley Wilson, Detroit.
Safeties—Oshiomogho Atogwe (F), St. Louis; Michael Boulware,
Minnesota; Mike Brown, Chicago; John Busing, Cincinnati; Oliver
Celestin, Kansas City; Corey Chavous, St. Louis; Keith Davis, Dallas;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, NY
Giants; Dawan Landry (R), Baltimore; Marquand Manuel, Denver;
Marlon McCree, Denver; Lawyer Milloy, Atlanta; Jarrad Page (R),
Kansas City; Pierson Prioleau, Jacksonville; Chris Reis (R), New
Orleans; Dwight Smith, Detroit; GeorgeWilson (R), Buffalo; Cameron
Worrell, Chicago.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickers—John Carney, NY Giants; Matt Stover, Baltimore.
Punters—Mitch Berger, Pittsburgh; Mike Dragosavich,
Indianapolis; Sam Koch (R), Baltimore; Kyle Larson, Cincinnati;
Ryan Plackemeier, Cincinnati.
NFL
Packers president says team will wait on Favre
The Green Bay Packers will “wait and see”
what Brett Favre decides to do before they seek to
restore their relationship, according to team
president Mark Murphy.
Murphy didn’t directly answer a question
Tuesday evening about whether a $20 million,
10-year marketing arrangement proposed to
Favre last summer was still on the table. But
Murphy said he wasn’t sure what the Packers’
future with Favre will look like, beyond the
eventual retirement of his jersey.
“Kind of like with what we have with Bart Starr
and some of our other great players, we want to
have him back and I think he’ll be remembered
as a Packer,” Murphy said. “But obviously I
think we all need some time to pass before we
make those decisions.”
After seeing fans jam London’s Wembley
Stadium to watch the NFL the past two years,
the league is considering adding a second regu-
lar-season game overseas in 2010. Commis-
sioner Roger Goodell said the second game could
be played in London or another location in the
United Kingdom.
The issue will be discussed at next week’s
league meetings and could be included in a
larger plan to add up to two regular-season
games to the NFL schedule. The two previous
matchups in London were Giants-Dolphins
(’07) and Saints-Chargers (’08). The Patriots
and Bucs will play there on Oct. 25.
Cowboys team activities will move to a
nearby high school stadium as the investigation
continues into the collapse of its indoor practice
facility. The Cowboys on Tuesday announced
organized team activities and their June 15-17
minicamp will be held at Standridge Stadium
in Carrollton.
The facility is part of the Carrollton-Farmers
Branch Independent School District. The Cow-
boys activities will be closed to the public.
New grass practice fields will be installed at
Valley Ranch in Irving, where the Cowboys
practice structure collapsed May 2 during a
INSIDE DISH
TONY DEJAK / AP
One former Buc was not pleased that Kellen Winslow, above,
missed the first day of Tampa Bay’s OTAs.
storm. Twelve people were injured.
Bucs TE Kellen Winslow, who signed a con-
tract extension with a $20 million guarantee
after being traded from Cleveland, did not
attend the Bucs’ first day of offseason workouts.
He reportedly will report soon, but in the
interim his new teammates, and even some ex-
Bucs, are not happy.
“So when your team fires up OTAs and you’re
not here, I guess you’re being misunderstood
again, right?” ex-Buc DT Warren Sapp told the St.
Petersburg Times. “Your past don’t equal your
future, but it will sure give me some reflection of
what you might do. I’ll leave it at that.”
The Ravens’ official website reported two
of the team’s veteran stars might miss training
camp, for different reasons. It’s unclear if WR
Derrick Mason will be ready to practice after hav-
ing offseason shoulder surgery. Meanwhile, LB
Terrell Suggs, who still hasn’t signed his franchise
tender, may opt for another holdout.
Another franchise-tagged linebacker look-
ing for a long-term deal is Karlos Dansby, whom
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 27
The Arizona Republic reported had recent talks
with Cardinals G.M. Rod Graves that will con-
tinue in the near future.
Titans QB Kerry Collins is 36, but armed with a
new contract, a steady starting job and new per-
sonnel around him, he feels rejuvenated. “I am
excited about the additions that we have made to
our receiving corps,” Collins told the Tennessean.
Retired Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren may
be having a change of heart. The Washington Post
reported that Holmgren has left the door open
to work again in the NFL but is undecided in
which capacity he would like to return.
New NFL Players Association executive
director DeMaurice Smith, after working several
weeks without a contract, said Tuesday his con-
tract has been completed. Regarding negotiations
on a revised collective bargaining agreement,
Smith said he speaks three or four times a week
with Goodell and expressed confidence in even-
tually striking a deal. The CBA expires after the
2010 season.
Former Australian Rules football player Jy
Bond 23, first punted a football five years ago
,
and has never faced a full-on rush. Still, he is in
Dolphins camp to compete with incumbent
Brandon Fields. Dolphins special teams coach John
Bonamego once coached Australian-born Nathan
Chapman in Green Bay, and Chapman has been
coaching Bond and set up a tryout. G.M. Jeff Ire-
land told the The Miami Herald that Bond’s first
three attempts all were booming—with a five-
second hang time—and had a couple 60-yard
punts last weekend during the rookie minicamp.
Browns coach Eric Mangini says he is pleased
with how rookie ILB David Veikune, an end at
Hawaii, is progressing. “Usually, a player at end
going to linebacker goes to the outside,” Mangini
said via the team’s website. “His change of direc-
tion, his ability to communicate the defense and
his understanding of concepts have all been good.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Q: Eleven Tennessee scholarship
players have left since Lane
Kiffin arrived. Is this just typical
attrition during a coaching change or
a reason for concern?
Curtis: Typical attrition. The switch from
Phil Fulmer to Lane Kif-
fin is like going from
George Strait to Green
Day. It’s not surprising
such a culture change
would send 15 percent of
the roster to other schools.
The bigger deal is that
Dave Curtis Kiffin and Co., get 11
COLLEGE FOOTBALL highly touted recruits
lined up to fill those schol-
arship slots over the next couple of years. If
a few of them work out, the Vols start con-
tending a little sooner than expected.
Hayes: Typical attrition. Every new coach
goes through the same process of weeding
out those who don’t buy
into what they’re selling.
It’s a little more extreme
at Tennessee for two rea-
sons: former coach Phillip
Fulmer was beloved by
his players, and Kiffin
has implemented such a
Matt Hayes
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
radical change from the
past. Winning over play-
ers still loyal to the previ-
ous staff is the hardest
part of rebuilding a program.
Q: Which BCS league race will be
most intriguing this season?
Curtis: Lot of candidates here, but I keep
WEEKDAYS 1–4PM ET
FOUR DOWNS
coming back to the ACC. Virginia Tech is
masquerading as a national championship
contender for now, which gives the league
the buzz it’s missed the past few seasons.
But the drop to the next tier of teams—Flor-
ida State, Georgia Tech and North Caro-
lina—isn’t huge, and all those teams possess
the talent to sneak into the Orange Bowl.
We’ll learn lots about the Hokies in their
Georgia Dome opener against Alabama.
Hayes: The SEC. More specifically, the
West Division. The only team not in it is
Mississippi State—and the Bulldogs will
get at least one big upset. Ole Miss is the
preseason favorite with a championship
formula: A loaded offense and a terrific
defensive line. The success of the remain-
ing four teams—Alabama, LSU, Auburn
and Arkansas—depends on new quarter-
backs. Jordan Jefferson played well late last
season for LSU, and Greg McElroy won’t be
asked to do much more than John Parker
Wilson at Alabama. I’ve got a feeling Neil
Caudle will win the job at Auburn, and
watch how well he plays under passing
game whiz Gus Malzahn. Then there’s
Ryan Mallett, the Michigan transfer who is
a perfect fit for Bobby Petrino’s offense at
Arkansas. Best guess: A tiebreaker deter-
mines the division champion.
Q: Bobby Bowden blasted the
NCAA for threatening to strip
him of wins for the cheating scandal.
Justified?
Curtis: Of course not. Coaches get paid by
the Brinks truck and become unparalleled
celebrities on their campuses. Part of the
Listen on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 127, online at SportingNews.com
or check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.
College Football WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 28
Each week, Sporting News Today college football columnists
Matt Hayes and Dave Curtis answer the hot topics of the week
price, though, is that you take the fall for
what goes wrong in your program. Maybe
Bobby didn’t know about the academic
fraud at FSU. But maybe Bobby should
have known. He’s on the hook for what’s
happened in Tallahassee, and as head
coach, he belongs there. I still believe the
NCAA will give him a pass on appeal, but
he has no grounds to complain.
Hayes: I’m a huge Bobby fan, but he’s way
off here. FSU wouldn’t have won those
games without the ineligible players. To say
the “players were punished” is ridiculous.
Sitting out meaningless games against
I-AA opponents the following season—
after missing a meaningless bowl game—is
not punishment. Sitting out a season—as
two of FSU’s ACC rivals did with recent
academic offenders (Duke with QB Zack
Asack; Maryland with QB Josh Portis)—is
taking academic improprieties seriously.
Maybe one day someone at FSU—I don’t
know, say, university president T.K. Weth-
erell—will realize the players cheated to pass
course exams. That helped them pass a
course, which helped them stay eligible,
which helped keep them on the team, which
helped the ’Noles win games. Why is that WADE PAYNE / AP
so difficult to understand? Despite 11 scholarship players bolting since Lane Kiffin’s arrival, neither Matt Hayes nor Dave Curtis expressed concern.
Q: The Orlando Sentinel posted a blog
this week ranking its fittest
honor of Matt Hayes, I think I’d want to
avoid Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema. He’s a for-
grown men throwing down with one “Dan-
gerous” Dave Curtis. Frankly, I’d rather
coaches (Ron Zook was No. 1). How
about the toughest—with which I-A head
coach would you least like to rumble?
mer linebacker from the heart of wrestling
country, and he’s got a year’s worth of frus-
tration built in his gut. Another six-loss
watch Dave play Pete Carroll one-on-one. At
6-7, Dave is at least five or six inches taller,
and I don’t think Pete could get off his deadly
Curtis: As a skinny dweeb with a bad season, and Big Bret’s ready to pummel jumper. As for a coach I don’t want to see in
shoulder, I think I’ll take the doctor’s-note-
out-of-gym-class route. But if I’m needed
for a noble purpose, like defending the
someone. I’m hoping it’s not me.
Hayes: Imagine if you will, any of those 120
the ring: Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio. He
and Tom Izzo could defend a Third World
country by themselves.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
INSIDE DISH
Clemson’s depth chart lists co-starters at QB
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he wasn’t ready to
name a starting quarterback after the team’s spring
game on April 11.
Given a few weeks to think about it, Swinney still
isn’t ready.
Sophomore Willy Korn and freshman Kyle Parker were
listed as co-starters at quarterback when the school
released its post-spring depth chart Tuesday.
Parker, who also is playing baseball for the Tigers,
completed 13 of 21 passes for 171 yards and a touch-
down and also rushed for a touchdown in the spring
game. Korn hit 12 of 25 passes for 144 yards but threw
two interceptions.
“The competition will continue over the summer
and into the fall,” Swinney said after the game. “It is a
close battle.”
Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley has been named
the 2010 recipient of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Dooley, 76, will receive the award, which recognizes
career excellence in coaching on and off the field, on Jan.
14, 2010, in Houston.
Dooley, the Bulldogs’ most successful coach, was
201-77-10 in 25 seasons (1964-1988), winning a
national championship in 1980 and six SEC champi-
onships. He took Georgia to 20 bowl games.
He was the school’s athletic director from 1979-2004.
Former NFL stars Fred Dean (Louisiana Tech), Rod
Smith (Missouri Southern State) and the late Sam Mills
(Montclair State) head the 2009 divisional class
announced Tuesday for the College Football Hall of
Fame.
Also named to the class were former Los Angeles
Rams “Fearsome Foursome” member Roger Brown
(Maryland-Eastern Shore), former Marshall and
Georgia coach Jim Donnan and former Missouri Valley
coach Volney Ashford, who died in 1973.
The divisional class includes players and coaches from
Divisions I-AA, II and III and the NAIA. This year’s
members will be inducted July 18-19 in South Bend, Ind.
Mills, who played in five Pro Bowls, died of intesti-
nal cancer in 2005 at age 45.
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach envisions a playoff
College Football / College Basketball WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 29
INSIDE DISH
Floyd accused of paying Mayo associate
A Yahoo! report claims that USC
coach Tim Floyd made a direct cash
payment to a man who helped
deliver former North College Hill
standout O.J. Mayo, according to Louis
Johnson, a former acquaintance of
Mayo’s.
Floyd gave at least $1,000 in cash
to Rodney Guillory, who allegedly lav-
ished Mayo with improper benefits
while the guard starred for the
Trojans, according to the Yahoo!
report.
Johnson said he was able to view
$100 bills inside an envelope Guil-
lory had.
Johnson said the payment
occurred in 2007.
Yahoo! Sports reported Johnson
has told NCAA investigators and
federal authorities—including the
RICHARD SHIRO / AP FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney’s ANN HEISENFELT / AP
Clemson QB Willy Korn (3) threw two interceptions in the spring game. Office—that Floyd paid Guillory. According to a report, USC coach Tim Floyd paid to have O.J. Mayo steered to his team.
Last year, Johnson accused Guil-
system that would essentially allow all teams to com- lory of providing Mayo with ing 2009-10 season. closer to home for the remainder of
pete in the postseason. improper benefits while the guard his college career. He will have three
Leach, a graduate of Pepperdine Law School, told played for USC. Ole Miss was expecting a years of eligibility remaining after
BitterLawyer.com in a recent interview that he doesn’t Such an act would constitute a recruiting visit Tuesday from 6-4 G sitting out the 2009-10 season.
expect his plan to receive much support. major NCAA violation for USC, Nick Williams, who is searching for a — Mike DeCourcy
“This business of a four-team playoff or an eight-team which is the subject of an ongoing new home after announcing his
playoff is just stupid,” Leach told the website. “I think three-year investigation into transfer from Indiana. Virginia Tech G Hank Thorns
you have to cut the regular season to 10 games. Then I alleged improprieties in both the The Rebels are believed to be the and Rutgers G Earl Pettis each
think you need to invite a lot of teams (maybe 64) into a football and men’s basketball leader for Williams, who averaged informed their coaches that they
playoff, but you’d let the rest of the teams continue in an programs. 8.9 points and 4.5 rebounds as a intend to transfer.
NIT-type deal so that they could play another six games Guillory and Floyd declined to freshman for the Hoosiers.
or so, which they need to fund their programs.” comment to the website. Williams was a top-100 level pros- Maine associate coach Mike Bur-
The NCAA and USC also pect at Mobile (Ala.) LeFlore High. den has resigned after being charged
New Mexico first-year coach Mike Locksley said declined to comment to the He committed as a junior and with making sexual advances on a
Tuesday that freshman QB Emmanuel Yeager is leaving website. signed early at Marquette, then was student athlete, the Bangor Daily
the school because he needs to be closer to home. released from his letter of intent after News reported.
Yeager, from Washington, D.C., enrolled early and Texas F/C Alexis Wangmene has coach Tom Crean left to coach IU. Orono police say the 36-year-old
went through spring practice with the Lobos. Rated a been granted a medical hardship Williams followed Crean there Burden was charged with unlawful
three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Yeager has been waiver from the Big 12 for the and played in 31 games for the Hoo- sexual contact against a 21-year-old
released from his scholarship. 2008-09 season, the school siers last season, averaging 26.5 woman and assault against a second
“… I respect him for doing what’s best for his fam- announced. Wangmene will be a minutes. woman who stopped to help her
ily,” Locksley said in a news release. redshirt sophomore for the upcom- Williams apparently wanted to be early Sunday.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
NASCAR, FOX searching
for answers on ratings dip
BY MICHAEL SMITH
SportsBusiness Journal
A double-digit decline in ratings
for NASCAR on FOX has officials
researching why the audience is
shrinking and what, if anything, can
be done to reverse the trend.
Through the season’s first 10
races, Nielsen ratings on FOX are
down 11.5 percent and viewership is
down 10.8 percent from 2008 num-
bers, which don’t include a 2008
rainout. Ratings for each of the past
seven Sprint Cup races going into
last week’s event at Darlington were
down by double digits.
FOX’s average rating for the sea-
son was a 5.4 with 8.9 million view-
ers before Saturday’s race at
Darlington, compared with aver-
ages of 6.1 and 10 million for 2008.
The overnight rating for Saturday’s
Southern 500 was 16.3 percent
lower than last year’s race.
“As you look at the current snap-
shot, it’s been a challenging year,”
said Paul Brooks, president of
NASCAR Media Group. “That being
said, we’re still the No. 1 sport on
television six of the last nine weeks.
Our position in the sports and enter-
tainment landscape is strong.
“The biggest impact is with our
TV partners and their commercial
sales. We’re mindful of that. The flip
side is that we hear great things, that
it’s not a NASCAR issue. It’s a
broader economy and advertising
issue.”
There’s also the Dale Earnhardt
Jr. factor. Earnhardt, the sport’s
greatest selling force and biggest
star, is 18th in points. He hasn’t
BRETT FLASHNICK / AP
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s struggles may be part of
the reason for declining TV ratings.
provided a huge surge for NASCAR
through his performance.
“We’ve been challenged in this
area by story lines,” Brooks said. “In
professional sports, the story lines
drive that momentum. Whether it’s
coming out of the gate with a rain-
shortened Daytona 500 or other
challenges, if we can catch a few
breaks with story lines and the rac-
ing we’re starting to see, it can be a
momentum changer and booster.”
Carl Edwards’ airborne flip on the
last lap at Talladega and the subse-
quent controversial finish was
thought to be the kind of story line
that NASCAR needed to spur inter-
est. Footage of Edwards’ car flying
into the fence played over and over
the following week. The following
race, a Saturday night event at Rich-
mond, drew a 4.0 rating, down from
last year’s 4.5.
“We agree with Paul that
NASCAR is a strong TV sport this
time of year, and that we caught a
bad break out of the gate with rain at
NASCAR WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 30
Yeley replaces suspended Mayfield
INSIDE DISH
the Daytona 500,” FOX Sports
chairman and chief executive David
Hill said in a statement. “We haven’t
finished examining this year’s fig-
ures yet, but we’re encouraged by
the audience for Richmond given
extremely tough competition.”
Brooks said NASCAR and FOX
are looking at every angle, from the
lack of compelling story lines on the
track to the spacing and timing of
commercial breaks. Broadcasters
traditionally have gone to commer-
cial during pit stops, but Brooks said
fans want to see the pit stops.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be breaking
away from pit stops, which is the
traditional model,” Brooks said.
“What we’re hearing from fans is
that they want to see that. … We’re
studying everything from commer- JOHN HARRELSON / AP
cial patterns, when they’re run, to J.J. Yeley, right, who hasn’t run in a Sprint Cup race since last August at Pocono, will get his first chance this weekend at Charlotte.
how networks break away from the
action. Is there a different way?” J.J. Yeley said Tuesday he is ready looking forward to the opportu- Series championship, will move
From a market standpoint, New to replace suspended Sprint Cup nity. … It’s been too long since I’ve over to lead Austin Dillon’s driver-
York’s ratings are up 5 percent, but driver Jeremy Mayfield as driver of been in something, and I’m ready development program, including
other big markets have not followed Mayfield Motorsports’ No. 41 to get back at it.” races in the No. 2 Nationwide
suit. Chicago is down 25 percent, entry. Mayfield was suspended indef- entry.
and Los Angeles has dropped 23 Yeley, 32, who has 95 career initely by NASCAR last week Former crew chief Rich Lavalette
percent. Ratings for traditional Cup starts, said he appreciates after he failed a drug test earlier will serve as Dillon’s car chief
NASCAR strongholds such as Char- the opportunity to get in the May- this month. Because Mayfield is under Deeringhoff, who will turn
lotte and Atlanta are down 22 per- field car, starting with this week- under an indefinite suspension, his attention to Dillon’s Nation-
cent and 10 percent, respectively. end’s Sprint Showdown Yeley doesn’t know how long he wide, ARCA and NASCAR
“Compared to a lot of other sports, qualifying race at Lowe’s Motor will drive the car. Camping World East and West
I look at an average rating of 5.4 and Speedway. He hasn’t competed in — Bob Pockrass, SceneDaily.com series efforts.
say, ‘Wow, that’s pretty good,’” said a Cup event since finishing 39th The No. 29 car, driven by Bow-
Mike Trager, a sports TV consul- at Pocono last August. He then Richard Childress Racing is yer, Jeff Burton and Stephen Leicht
tant. “I realize they’re off, but I look parted ways with Hall of Fame changing the crew chiefs for its this season, is ninth in the Nation-
at it more in terms of sustainability. Racing after he had missed four No. 29 and No. 2 Nationwide wide owners standings and has
Sports, over time, are relatively pre- races and was 36th in driver Series teams. two top-five and six top-10 fin-
dictable and they sustain a certain points. Doug Randolph will assume the ishes to its credit with 25 races
level, and I think that’s still the case “It’s going to be nice,” Yeley crew chief duties for the No. 29, remaining on the 2009 schedule.
with NASCAR.” said. “I’ve been in the car; I’ve and Dan Deeringhoff, who led Clint — Bob Pockrass, SceneDaily.com
msmith@sportsbusinessjournal.com been fitted (in a seat). I’m just Bowyer to the 2008 Nationwide
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Golf WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 31
NOTEBOOK
1.703. 4, Kevin Na, 1.710. 5, Charlie Wi, 1.719. 6, Tim Clark, 1.720.
PGA Tour statistics 7, Steve Stricker, 1.721. 8, David Toms, 1.724. 9 (tie), Jerry Kelly

Baker-Finch coming out of booth for Colonial (Through May 10)

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA.—The most nervous
Annika Sorenstam ever felt on a golf course
was standing on the 10th tee at Colonial in
PGA Tour glance
Texas Open
2003 when she became the first female in Site: San Antonio
45 years to compete on the PGA Tour. Schedule: Thursday-Sunday
Ian Baker-Finch might be able to under- Course: LaCantera Golf Club, Resort Course
stand how she felt. (7,153 yards, par 70)
Purse: $6.1 million. Winner’s share: $1,098,000
The 48-year-old Australian, a past cham- TV (all times ET): Golf Channel (Thursday-
pion at Colonial, has entered the Crowne Friday, 3-6 p.m., 8:30-11:30 p.m.) and CBS
Plaza Invitational, which begins May 28. (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.)
This will be the 20-year anniversary of his Last year: Zach Johnson followed a third-
victory at Colonial, but only his second time round 62 with a 64 for a two-stroke victory over
Charlie Wi, Mark Wilson and Tim Wilkinson in
to compete in the last 12 years. the October event.
“I turn 50 in a couple of years and I want to Last week: Sweden’s Henrik Stenson won The
see where I am, whether it’s worth putting Players Championship, closing with a 6-under
extra effort into playing a bit,” Baker-Finch 66 for a four-stroke victory over Ryder Cup team-
said Tuesday. “I’d be an addition to the field mate Ian Poulter. Tiger Woods shot a 73 in the final
round to finish eighth, seven strokes back.
as a past champion, so if I did shoot a bad Notes: The tournament, played in San Antonio
score, I wouldn’t feel bad about taking a since 1922, was last held in the spring in 1969.
place.”
Scoring Average
1, Tiger Woods, 69.13. 2, David Toms, 69.69. 3, Sean O’Hair,
69.73. 4 (tie), Kenny Perry and Steve Stricker, 69.76. 6, Kevin Na,
69.83. 7, Nick Watney, 69.85. 8, Brian Gay, 69.91. 9, Luke Donald,
69.96. 10, Tim Clark, 70.12.
Driving Distance
1, Bubba Watson, 313.3. 2, Robert Garrigus, 306.3. 3, Gary
Woodland, 306.2. 4, Nick Watney, 302.6. 5, Dustin Johnson,
302.2. 6, Angel Cabrera, 301.9. 7, Scott Piercy, 301.7. 8, Charley
Hoffman, 299.4. 9, Bill Haas, 299.0. 10, John Merrick, 298.3.
Driving Accuracy Percentage
1, David Toms, 74.48%. 2, Brian Gay, 73.84%. 3, Joe Durant,
72.83%. 4, Bart Bryant, 72.46%. 5, Scott Verplank, 72.42%. 6,
Tim Clark, 71.97%. 7, Kirk Triplett, 70.98%. 8, Tim Wilkinson,
70.84%. 9, Scott McCarron, 70.81%. 10, Heath Slocum, 70.45%.
Greens in Regulation Pct.
1, Ross Fisher, 71.85%. 2, Camilo Villegas, 71.14%. 3, D.J. Trahan,
70.71%. 4, John Senden, 70.49%. 5, Sean O’Hair, 70.16%. 6,
K.J. Choi, 69.93%. 7, Briny Baird, 69.77%. 8, Casey Wittenberg,
69.68%. 9, Kenny Perry, 69.25%. 10, Greg Owen, 68.79%.
Total Driving
1, Jonathan Byrd, 67. 2, Lucas Glover, 70. 3, Mathew Goggin, 81. 4 (tie),
Bill Haas and Boo Weekley, 89. 6, David Toms, 92. 7, Kenny Perry, 94. 8
(tie), Robert Allenby and D.J. Trahan, 96. 10, 2 tied with 103.
Putting Average
1 (tie), Chris Couch and Luke Donald, 1.696. 3, Geoff Ogilvy,
and Aaron Baddeley, 1.728.
Birdie Average
1, Geoff Ogilvy, 4.61. 2, Anthony Kim, 4.58. 3, Sean O’Hair, 4.40.
4, Dustin Johnson, 4.35. 5, Tim Clark, 4.26. 6, Paul Casey, 4.25. 7,
Hunter Mahan, 4.24. 8 (tie), Charley Hoffman and Nick Watney,
4.23. 10, Fred Couples, 4.11.
Eagles (Holes per)
1, Bubba Watson, 73.8. 2, Nick Watney, 79.2. 3, Mike Weir, 82.3.
4, Ryan Palmer , 85.5. 5, Chris Stroud, 87.8. 6, Phil Mickelson,
93.0. 7, Tommy Gainey, 94.5. 8, Dustin Johnson, 95.1. 9, Daniel
Chopra, 97.7. 10, Retief Goosen, 99.0.
Sand Save Percentage
1, David Mathis, 67.27%. 2, Kevin Na, 66.13%. 3, Luke Donald,
66.10%. 4, Brad Adamonis, 64.47%. 5, Webb Simpson, 63.86%.
6, George McNeill, 62.86%. 7, Brian Gay, 62.71%. 8, Ken Duke,
62.50%. 9, Mike Weir, 62.30%. 10, Joe Ogilvie, 62.16%.
All-Around Ranking
1, Sean O’Hair, 228. 2, Tim Clark, 258. 3, Nick Watney, 266. 4
(tie), Kenny Perry and David Toms, 277. 6, Steve Stricker, 294.
7, Camilo Villegas, 364. 8, Ben Crane, 371. 9, Kevin Na, 373. 10,
Charlie Wi, 375.
PGA Tour Official Money Leaders
1, Phil Mickelson (10), $3,238,635. 2, Geoff Ogilvy (10), $3,155,529.
3, Sean O’Hair (11), $2,963,842. 4, Kenny Perry (12), $2,705,259. 5,
Nick Watney (12), $2,497,253. 6, Paul Casey (6), $2,299,950. 7, Tiger
Woods (6), $2,166,813. 8, Zach Johnson (12), $2,032,921. 9, Steve
Stricker (11), $1,960,236. 10, Retief Goosen (10), $1,755,992.
37. Shingo Katayama Jpn 2.80

Baker-Finch, a television commentator

PHIL COALES / AP Next year, the event will move to the Greg
Norman-designed AT&T Oaks Course at TPC
World Golf rankings 38. Ross Fisher Eng 2.75
Paul Goydos was a little surprised when he was the (Through May 10) 39. Jeev Milkha Singh Ind 2.74
for the last decade who now works for CBS first person asked to take a drug test at a major. San Antonio. ... Johnson won the Sony Open 40. Trevor Immelman SAf 2.66
1. Tiger Woods USA 9.87 41. Chad Campbell USA 2.60
in Hawaii in January. ... Tommy Armour III broke
Sports, has not played tournament golf in the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record in 2003,
2. Phil Mickelson USA 8.47 42. Oliver Wilson Eng 2.47
3. Sergio Garcia Esp 6.79 43. Rory Sabbatini SAf 2.45
eight years, going 74-77 at Colonial to miss first one tested at a major championship.” finishing at 26-under 254. He shot 64-62- 4. Geoff Ogilvy Aus 6.36 44. Hunter Mahan USA 2.42
the cut. Most people recall his return to the Drug testing became a topic last week 63-66. ... Mike Souchak won the 1955 event at 5. Henrik Stenson Swe 6.29 45. Dustin Johnson USA 2.40
6. Kenny Perry USA 5.71 46. Soren Kjeldsen Den 2.36
British Open as a former champion when after Los Angeles Dodgers star Manny Brackenridge Park at 27-under 257. ... Former 7. Paul Casey Eng 5.69 47. Stephen Ames Can 2.31
he played at Royal Troon in 1997 and shot Ramirez was suspended for 50 games. University of Texas star Justin Leonard won in 8. Padraig Harrington Irl 5.30 48. Aaron Baddeley Aus 2.31
2000, ‘01 and ‘07. ... Bart Bryant won the 2004 9. Vijay Singh Fji 5.26 49. David Toms USA 2.30
92 before he withdrew. Goydos has his own take on what consti- event for his first PGA Tour title, shooting a 10. Camilo Villegas Col 4.84 50. Graeme McDowell NIr 2.28
He has considered playing a couple of tutes “performance enhancing drugs,” argu- 11. Robert Karlsson Swe 4.58 51. Ben Crane USA 2.27
course-record 60 in the third round. ... The Tour 12. Sean O’Hair USA 4.52 52. Thongchai Jaidee Tha 2.25
times over the years, but was cautious ing that glasses help a player’s performance. will remain in Texas the next two weeks for the 13. Steve Stricker USA 4.47 53. Davis Love III USA 2.25
because of what happened at Troon, play- But he pointed out to reporters, and later dur- Byron Nelson Championship and Colonial. 14. Jim Furyk USA 4.40 54. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano Esp 2.23
15. Anthony Kim USA 4.17 55. Andres Romero Arg 2.23
ing with an ailing back, nowhere to hide ing his Q&A at a corporate function, that 16. Lee Westwood Eng 3.90 56. Prayad Marksaeng Tha 2.23
before thousands of fans. drug testing shouldn’t be an issue in golf. full membership on the Champions Tour, 17. Ernie Els SAf 3.86 57. Mathew Goggin Aus 2.20
18. Ian Poulter Eng 3.79 58. Brian Gay USA 2.20
But he’ll still be nervous. “Do you know the rules of golf?” he said. and he has an idea what his schedule will 19. Rory McIlroy NIr 3.73 59. J.B. Holmes USA 2.20
20. Mike Weir Can 3.50
“Our second rule says to be a good sport, treat look like without even looking. 21. Angel Cabrera Arg 3.47
60. Louis Oosthuizen SAf 2.19
61. Pat Perez USA 2.13
Goydos and drug testing competitors fairly and leave the course better And while he doesn’t know the schedule, 22. Retief Goosen SAf 3.37 62. Kevin Sutherland USA 2.10
23. Luke Donald Eng 3.35
Paul Goydos last year illustrated the differ- than you found it. It’s not the 50th rule. It’s he kept it simple, as always. 24. Martin Kaymer Ger 3.23
63. Stuart Appleby Aus 2.07
64. Peter Hanson Swe 1.99
ence between him and Tiger Woods when he the second. We don’t cheat. We call penalties “The Senior Open is in Seattle, and there’s 25. Stewart Cink USA 3.20 65. Boo Weekley USA 1.99
26. Zach Johnson USA 3.17
said that Woods was trying to win 18 majors on ourselves. Golf is all about integrity.” a tournament in Seattle,” he said. “A couple 27. Justin Leonard USA 3.07
66. Charl Schwartzel SAf 1.97
67. Anders Hansen Den 1.95
and “I’m trying to play in 18 majors.” He said drug testing is the “only rule in in California—that’s four. One in Houston 28. Alvaro Quiros Esp 2.98 68. Rod Pampling Aus 1.95
29. Nick Watney USA 2.96 69. Richard Sterne SAf 1.94
But he has one major distinction Woods golf in which we’re not policing ourselves.” and San Antonio late in the year—that’s six. 30. Robert Allenby Aus 2.92 70. Soren Hansen Den 1.93
can’t match—first player to be tested for Five majors—that’s 11. And I believe I have 31. Tim Clark SAf 2.91 71. Lucas Glover USA 1.88
drugs at a major. Couples’ future to play 12, and that’s my goal.” 32. Adam Scott
33. Ben Curtis
Aus
USA
2.89
2.85
72. Francesco Molinari
73. Lin Wen-Tang
Ita
Twn
1.86
1.86
“I shot a 74, nothing special,” he said. “I Fred Couples turns 50 in October and He counted the U.S. Senior open twice, 34. Miguel Angel Jimenez Esp 2.82 74. Kevin Na USA 1.83
35. K.J. Choi Kor 2.82 75. Bubba Watson USA 1.82
hadn’t made a cut at a major in 10 years, since will make his Champions Tour debut later But not to worry. He’ll get to that number. 36. Justin Rose Eng 2.81
the ’99 PGA Championship, and I was the this year. As for the future, he plans to keep — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Venus out in Madrid; Federer opens with victory
MADRID—Venus Williams joined sister
Serena on the sidelines of the Madrid
Open on Tuesday after the third-ranked
American player was beaten 6-3, 3-6,
7-5 by Alisa Kleybanova.
Serena, who retired from her match
on Monday with a right knee injury,
watched on from the stands as Kleyban-
ova picked her shots well and ran Wil-
liams ragged throughout the 2 hours, 12
minute contest.
After splitting the first two sets, Kley-
banova broke early for a 2-0 lead as Wil-
liams’ backhand misfired.
Williams broke the 26th-ranked Rus-
sian as she served for the match to level
the set at 5-5.
But Williams continued to be troubled
by erratic play as she lost her serve,
eventually hitting long on match point
to hand Kleybanova—who knocked Ana
Ivanovic out of the Australian Open ear-
lier this year—a pass into the third
round.
“I felt like she won by just being
aggressive from both sides (of the
court),” Williams said. “Against me she
had to go for everything and make
everything. All her balls landed in
(Tuesday).”
“See you next year” was the only con-
solation Williams could offer local fans.
Roger Federer began his final war-
mup for Roland Garros with a convinc-
ing 6-1, 7-5 win over Robin Soderling,
while new No. 3 Andy Murray scored a
tough 7-6 (9), 6-4 win against Simone
Bolelli.
The Swiss star hit 24 winners and
took advantage of the Swedish player’s
25 unforced errors to capture four break
points. Federer fired down 11 aces,
including on the final point to clinch his
place in the third round.
“It’s about playing well and getting
ready for Paris,” said Federer, who has
lost to Rafael Nadal in his last three trips
to Roland Garros. “It’s good to get the
Roger Federer began his warmup for the French Open by beating Robin Soderling at the Madrid Open.
first match.”
Federer, who had a bye for the first
round, could lose his No. 2 position in
the rankings to Murray without a good
showing at the joint ATP and WTA
event being played at the brand new
“Magic Box” tennis center.
Bolelli hit 30 winners to Murray’s 22,
but the 61st-ranked Italian also had 50
unforced errors, including a forehand
long to give Murray the first set tie-
breaker after 1 hour, 17 minutes.
Murray, the defending champion,
clinched the win with the only break of
Tennis
DANIEL OCHOA DE OLZA / AP
the match in the final game when Bolelli
netted a forehand.
Murray will next play No. 16 Tommy
Robredo after the Spaniard rallied to
defeat Mardy Fish of the United States
3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Earlier, Ivan Ljubicic scored the first
upset after beating ninth-seeded Jo-Wil-
fried Tsonga 6-4, 7-5.
The Croatian wildcard broke ninth-
ranked Tsonga three times, with two of
those coming in the second set when
Ljubicic rallied from 5-2 down to take it.
— The Associated Press
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 32
Madrid Open results
At Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo
Madrid
Purse: Men, $5.04 million (WT1000); Women, $4.5 million
(Premier)
Surface: Clay-Outdoor Men’s, First round
Marin Cilic (13), Croatia, def. Marcel Granollers, Spain, 6-2, 6-7
(4), 6-1.
Andreas Seppi, Italy, def. Eduardo Schwank, Argentina, 7-5, 6-4.
Fabio Fognini, Italy, def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France, 6-7 (5),
6-4, 3-0, retired.
Jurgen Melzer, Austria, def. Albert Montanes, Spain, 4-6, 7-5,
6-3.
Nikolay Davydenko (10), Russia, def. Viktor Troicki, Serbia, 6-2,
6-2.
Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez,
Spain, 6-0, 7-6 (5).
Jeremy Chardy, France, def. Jose Acasuso, Argentina, 6-3, 6-2.
James Blake (14), United States, def. Victor Hanescu, Romania,
6-2, 6-4.
Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, def. Julien Benneteau, France, 3-6, 7-6
(5), 6-4.
Second Round
Tommy Robredo (16), Spain, def. Mardy Fish, United States, 3-6,
7-6 (5), 6-2.
Fernando Verdasco (7), Spain, def. Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain,
6-3, 6-2.
Ivan Ljubicic, Croatia, def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (9), France, 6-4,
7-5.
Roger Federer (2), Switzerland, def. Robin Soderling, Sweden,
6-1, 7-5.
Andy Murray (4), Britain, def. Simone Bolelli, Italy, 7-6 (9), 6-4.
Women, Second Round
Francesca Schiavone, Italy, def. Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic,
6-4, 6-2.
Agnes Szavay, Hungary, def. Aravane Rezai, France, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Caroline Wozniacki (9), Denmark, def. Varvara Lepchenko,
United States, 6-3, 6-1.
Vera Dushevina, Russia, def. Robert Vinci, Italy, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Jelena Jankovic (4), Serbia, def. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia,
7-5, 6-2.
Amelie Mauresmo, France, def. Zheng Jie (15), China, 6-2, 7-5.
Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, def. Anne Keothavong, Britain,
6-1, 7-5.
Alisa Kleybanova, Russia, def. Venus Williams (5), United States,
6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Doubles
Men, First Round
Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina, and Mardy Fish, United States,
def. Nicolas Almagro and David Ferrer, Spain, 6-2, 6-3.
Marc Lopez and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, Spain, def. Christopher
Kas, Germany, and Rogier Wassen, Netherlands, 7-6 (4), 1-6,
11-9 tiebreak.
Marcel Granollers and Tommy Robredo, Spain, def. Feliciano
Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, Spain, 7-6 (3), 6-1.
Simon Aspelin, Sweden, and Wesley Moodie, South Africa, def.
Maximo Gonzalez and Juan Monaco, Argentina, Germany, 6-4,
7-5.
Women, First Round
Dinara Safina, Russia, and Agnes Szavay, Hungary, def. Lourdes
Dominguez Lino and Arantxa Parra Santonja, Spain, 6-0, 6-2.
Second Round
Hsieh Su-wei, Taiwan, and Janette Husarova, Slovakia, def.
Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosolska, Poland, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 tiebreak.
Cara Black, Zimbabwe, and Liezel Huber (1), United States,
def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, United States, and Nadia Petrova,
Russia, 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 tiebreak.
Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, and Elena Vesnina, Russia, def. Alla
Kudryavtseva and Ekaterina Makarova, Russia, 6-1, 6-1.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Filly’s presence, talent has the boys nervous
BALTIMORE—Larry Jones knows
something about running a filly
against the boys in a Triple Crown
race, and he’s not looking forward
to the threat posed by Rachel
Alexandra.
The trainer saddled Eight Belles
to a gallant second-place finish in
last year’s Kentucky Derby before
she broke her front ankles past the
finish line and had to be destroyed
on the track.
Now Jones is preparing to send
this year’s beaten Derby favorite
Friesan Fire in Saturday’s Preak-
ness Stakes against stellar filly
Rachel Alexandra, who has won
five consecutive races by a com-
bined 43½ lengths.
“Anytime the horse is as fast as
her, you wish you didn’t have to run
against them,” Jones said Tuesday.
“I’ve chased her twice with fillies. If
I’ve got any shot of beating her, it’s
going to have to be with a boy. I ain’t
got a filly that can try her.”
Perhaps because she’s beaten her
fellow females so soundly, Rachel
Alexandra is gearing up to test her-
self against new rivals.
Coming off a smashing
20¼-length victory in the Derby
eve Kentucky Oaks, Rachel Alex-
andra is expected to be among at
least 13 horses entered Wednesday
for the 1 3-16-mile Preakness. That’s
when the filly’s owner, Jess Jackson,
has to pony up a $100,000 supple-
mental fee because she wasn’t nom-
inated to the Triple Crown races.
“She may never know there’s any
colts in here. She just may go in the
front and think there’s a bunch of
girls chasing her around there,”
Jones said.
Pimlico oddsmaker Frank Carulli
134TH PREAKNESS
Friesan Fire, above, the Derby favorite, is set to take on Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra.
has already said he would make
Rachel Alexandra the morning-line
favorite. No filly has won the Preak-
ness since Nellie Morse in 1924.
Gary Stute, who trains Papa
Clem, isn’t thrilled by the prospect
of taking on Rachel Alexandra.
“Personally, it’s a little disap-
pointing, but for racing I think it’s
great,” he said. “I figure it should
bring 20-30,000 extra fans here on
Saturday. And when the husbands
are watching the race at home, the
Horse Racing
ROB CARR / AP
wives will be watching, too. Racing
is in kind of a downward spiral
right now, and this can only help it
in the long run.”
Jones may not welcome the extra
competition, but he has no qualms
about a filly going against the boys a
year after the Eight Belles tragedy
thrust horse racing into a heated
debate on such issues as safety and
treatment of the animals.
“If they run her in the Preakness,
it shows me they have confidence
that we didn’t mess up running
Eight Belles in the Derby,” he said.
“It wasn’t the fact that there was
boys in there that made her do what
she did. That wasn’t why Eight
Belles had her problem.”
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert
was sanguine about Rachel Alex-
andra. He saddled Excellent Meet-
ing, the last filly to run in the
Preakness in 1999.
“There is going to be a lot of excite-
ment with that filly in there,” Baffert
said. “She’s an incredible athlete.
She’s going to be forwardly placed,
so she’ll be out of the way. She’s got a
beautiful fluid stride and a great
turn of foot. She’s dangerous.”
The imposing presence of Rachel
Alexandra steals much of the spot-
light from Kentucky Derby winner
Mine That Bird, who hasn’t scared
away the competition as he tries to
back up his 50-1 upset by winning
the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Among his other challengers will
be Derby runner-up Pioneerof the
Nile, who lost by 6¾ lengths; third-
place finisher Musket Man; fourth-
place Papa Clem; and 10th-place
General Quarters.
Count Jones among the skeptics
questioning whether Mine That
Bird can return to the winner’s cir-
cle two weeks after a Derby victory
that still has people buzzing.
“He has to do it twice in a row to
make me a believer,” Jones said.
Mine That Bird likely won’t even
have the same jockey on his back
Saturday. Calvin Borel, whose rail-
hugging ride in the Derby was cred-
ited for the victory, has committed
to being aboard Rachel Alexandra,
whom he rides regularly.
— The Associated Press
NOTEBOOK
Papa Clem struggles in workout
BALTIMORE—Papa Clem turned in
a slow workout Tuesday in prepa-
ration for Saturday’s Preakness
Stakes.
The Arkansas Derby winner
went five furlongs in 1:05 at Pim-
lico. In contrast, Friesan Fire, who
finished 18th in the Kentucky
Derby, covered the same distance
in a crisp 58.40 seconds.
Trainer Gary Stute didn’t seem
concerned about the fourth-place
finisher in the Derby.
“I was hoping for a faster time,
but I’m not worried about it,” he
said. “The track may have been a
little slow if you look at the earlier
works. All his workouts before the
Derby were bad except for the last
one. Coming back from the Derby
in two weeks, I just mainly wanted
him to get a feel for the track.”
Papa Clem isn’t fond of working
in the morning.
“I never really thought of him
as a Derby horse because he never
really trained like one, but every
time he’s run, he’s run a lot better
than he trained,” Stute said.
The trainer felt his horse
deserved a better fate in the Derby.
There was considerable jostling
in the stretch as runner-up Pio-
neerof the Nile, third-place fin-
isher Musket Man and Papa Clem
battled for the three slots behind
50-1 winner Mine That Bird.
“I thought I was a little unlucky
not to finish second,” Stute said.
“In a normal race, there might
have been an inquiry. I’ve heard
the Kentucky Derby is like Game
7 in the NBA finals. They’re going
to let them play. They better mug
you before they call a foul.”
Stute is trying to follow in his
father’s footsteps. Mel Stute
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 33
captured the Preakness in his
first try with Snow Chief in 1986.
Loading the musket
Musket Man had his final major
drill Tuesday at New Jersey’s
Monmouth Park, a sharp half-
mile work in 46.60 seconds.
“It went perfect, just what I
wanted,” trainer Derek Ryan said.
“I haven’t run any horses at Pim-
lico in quite a while, but it’s a simi-
lar track to Monmouth. I’ve won a
couple stakes there.”
Ryan, who saddles a Preakness
horse for the first time, is hoping
for a dry track. He feels the sloppy
track at the Derby compromised
Musket Man, who finished a nose
behind second-place Pioneerof
the Nile.
“All that rain and it never dried
out,” Ryan said. “He’s got a good
turn of foot, but on a sloppy track
you don’t have that turn of foot
you would have on a dry track.”
The Tampa Bay and Illinois
Derby winner will remain in New
Jersey until Saturday.
Top jocks
The top four riders in the coun-
try based on earnings and two
Hall of Famers will compete Fri-
day, the day before the Preakness,
in a four-race Jockey Challenge at
Pimlico
The top rider, based on points
accumulated in each race, gets
$14,000. The runner-up earns
$10,000 with $8,000 for third
and $3,500 for fourth.
Garrett Gomez, Julien Lep-
aroux, Rafael Bejarano and
Ramon Dominguez hold the top
four spots on the money list.
— The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Armstrong loses 15 seconds in mountains
SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA, ITALY—Lance
Armstrong looked weary, his face was
drawn, and he was sweating profusely
after losing 15 seconds in the first moun-
tainous stage of the Giro d’Italia.
Yet the seven-time Tour de France
champion was not upset. At 37, Arm-
strong is still regaining his form after 3½
years of retirement and a broken collar-
bone in March.
“I’m happy with my performance
today. This was my first big climb since
retiring,” he said. “I had a good feeling
and no collarbone pain at all.”
Italy’s Danilo Di Luca won the fourth
stage in an uphill sprint Tuesday and
Sweden’s Thomas Lovkvist of Team
Columbia-High Road took the overall
leader’s pink jersey from Alessandro
Petacchi.
Lovkvist holds a two-second lead over
Di Luca in the overall standings, while
Armstrong dropped from fifth to sixth
overall, 28 seconds behind Lovkvist.
Soccer
CANCUN, MEXICO—Atlante advanced to
the FIFA Club World Cup after a score-
less draw Tuesday against fellow Mexi-
can club Cruz Azul in the second leg of
the CONCACAF Champions League
final.
The Club World Cup is set for Decem-
ber in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab
Emirates.
Atlante won the first leg of the home-
and-away final 2-0. Tuesday’s game was
played in a fan-filled stadium and was
delayed two weeks because of the out-
break of swine flu in Mexico.
LONDON—Burnley advanced to the
promotion playoff against Sheffield
United, defeating Reading 2-0 Tuesday
night on second-half goals by Martin
IN BRIEF
Lance Armstrong is in sixth place at the Giro d’Italia, 28 seconds behind the leader, Thomas Lovkvist.
Paterson and Steven Thompson.
Burnley, which finished fifth in the
League Championship, won the home-
and-home, total-goals semifinal by 3-0
aggregate and will play third-place Shef-
field United at Wembley on May 25 for a
spot in the Premier League next season.
First-place Wolverhampton and sec-
ond-place Birmingham earned auto-
matic promotion to England’s top
league.
FRANKFURT—Wolfsburg,
Back Page WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 34
TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
Major League Baseball
MLB: Fined Chicago White Sox RHP
Bobby Jenks an undisclosed amount
Dustin Smith, C Scott Daniels and INF
Derek Jennings.
Can-Am League
SUSSEX SKYHAWKS: Signed RHP TJ
a bill Tuesday that would authorize Del- for throwing a pitch behind Texas 2B Stanton
aware to become the only state east of the Ian Kinsler in a May 9 game. WORCESTER TORNADOES: Released
Mississippi River to offer sports betting, American League LHP Mike Joyce.
sending it to Gov. Jack Markell for his CLEVELAND INDIANS: Activated Golden Baseball League
INF Jamey Carroll from the 15-day YUMA SCORPIONS: Agreed to terms
promised signature. DL. Optioned INF Josh Barfield to with 2B Jonathan Ash, RHP Austin
The Senate passed the bill 17-2 without Columbus (IL). Bibens-Dirx, OF Truan Mehl, RHP Rick
a committee hearing, suspending its KANSAS CITY ROYALS: Transferred Rivas and 2B T.J. Wilson.
rules before voting. The decision came OF Jose Duarte from Northwest United League
Arkansas (Texas) to Omaha (PCL). SAN ANGELO COLTS: Signed RHP
on the first day back in session after TEXAS RANGERS: Activated OF Brett Lester, OF Hunter Jobes and C
hours of closed-door negotiations. Josh Hamilton from the 15-day Chad Clemons.
Because of a brief unsuccessful experi- DL. Assigned INF Joaquin Arias to FOOTBALL
ment with a sports lottery in the 1970s, Oklahoma City (PCL).
National Football League
National League BUFFALO BILLS: Signed DE Jermaine
Delaware is one of only four states, along ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Placed McGhee and DB Kyle Ward. Released
with Nevada, Montana and Oregon, OF Conor Jackson on the 15-day LB Vince Hall.
exempted from a 1992 federal law ban- DL. Optioned RHP Bobby Korecky HOUSTON TEXANS: Signed FB
ning sports gambling. to Reno (PCL). Recalled LHP Clay Boomer Grigsby.
Zavada from Mobile (SL).
As the only state east of the Missis- FLORIDA MARLINS: Purchased the
Canadian Football League
sippi River that can offer sports betting, EDMONTON ESKIMOS: Signed DB
contract of LHP John Koronka from
E.J. Underwood and DE Michael
Delaware has a distinct edge against slot New Orleans (PCL). Transferred RHP
Williams.
machine competition in neighboring Scott Proctor to the 60-day DL.
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS: Signed
HOUSTON ASTROS: Activated C Hum-
states. berto Quintero from the 15-day DL.
DB Darrius Battles, DB Patrick Body
— The Associated Press and WR Ivan Birungi.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS: Agreed to
terms with INF-OF Frank Catalanotto HOCKEY
on a minor league contract. National Hockey League
Major League Soccer PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Named
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: Activated
EASTERN CONFERENCE SS Jack Wilson from the 15-day David Peart vice president of busi-
W L T Pts GF GA DL. Optioned SS Brian Bixler to ness partnerships.
D.C. 3 1 5 14 15 13 VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Assigned C
Toronto FC 3 2 4 13 13 13 Indianapolis (IL).
Cody Hodgson to Manitoba (AHL).
Chicago 2 0 6 12 14 11 American Association
Kansas City 3 4 2 11 12 12 EL PASO DIABLOS: Signed INF ECHL
New England 2 2 3 9 6 12 ECHL: Fined Alaska G Jean-Phillippe
Arnoldo Ponce.
ALESSANDRO TROVATI / AP New York 2 5 2 8 9 11
FORT WORTH CATS: Released OF Brad Lamoureax an undisclosed amount
Columbus 1 2 5 8 11 14
Sullivan and LHP Austin Bridges. for his actions in a May 10 game.
WESTERN CONFERENCE COLLEGE
W L T Pts GF GA PENSACOLA PELICANS: Signed 1B-C
Chivas USA 7 1 1 22 12 3 Luis Bautista. DEPAUL: Named David Booth men’s
Munich and Hertha Berlin all won to
Seattle 4 2 2 14 11 5 SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CAPTAINS: assistant basketball coach.
leave the Bundesliga title race wide open Colorado 3 2 2 11 10 8 Traded LHP Alexis Sosa to Amarillo DUQUESNE: Released F Shawntez
with two rounds of matches remaining. Houston 3 2 2 11 7 5 (United) and INF Michael Lewis to Patterson and F Aleksandar Milovic
Real Salt Lake 3 4 1 10 14 11 from their basketball scholarships.
Wolfsburg got two goals from Edin Los Angeles 1 1 6 9 10 10 Coastal Bend (United) for future
San Jose 1 5 2 5 8 16 considerations. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA:
Dzeko and one from Grafite to beat
FC Dallas 1 6 1 4 7 15 SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS: Released C Announced it will eliminate men’s
Borussia Dortmund 3-0, while Lukas NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. Marcus Quade, INF Devin Murphy, tennis as a varsity sport, effective
Podolski scored and set up Luca Toni Saturday’s Games New England at Toronto, 4 p.m. INF Chris Davis and INF Jason June 30.
and Franck Ribery to help Bayern Chicago at Toronto FC, 4 p.m. Real Salt Lake at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. Wysong. UTAH: Signed men’s basketball coach
Colorado at New England, 7:30 p.m. Chivas USA at Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ST. PAUL SAINTS: Signed INF Steve Jim Boylen to a five-year contract.
Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0. Houston at New York, 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Butler. WASHINGTON: Named Mark Roun-
Hertha won 2-1 in Cologne. Seattle FC at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m. San Jose at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Kansas City at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. Seattle at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. WICHITA WINGNUTS: Released RHP tree associate director of athletics for
D.C. United at Chivas USA, 11 p.m. Sunday, May 24 Lance Odom, RHP Jeff Reekers, compliance.
Miscellaneous Sunday’s Game
Columbus at Los Angeles, 3 p.m.
Chicago at New York, 3 p.m. OF Bill Duffy, INF Louie Curcio, INF
Bayern DOVER, DEL.—The state Senate approved Saturday, May 23