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NASCAR EXCLUSIVE STANLEY CUP FINALS

S GAME 1: TONIGHT, 8 ET, NBC

Meet Dale Jr.’s

new crew chief It won’t be easy
Lance
McGrew is
for the Penguins
ready for As division opponents, the
“challenge” Chicago Blackhawks already
of working knew the Red Wings well. Now,
with Dale SATURDAY after playing them in the Western
Earnhardt Jr. MAY 30, 2009 Conference finals, that familiarity is
Dale Earnhardt Jr. GENE J. PUSKAR / AP even more intense.
Page 23 SEE A DIFFERENT GAME
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 312 Sidney Crosby has 28 playoff points. It won’t be easy for Pittsburgh
BASEBALL to eliminate the champs, and
Chicago players share why:
The wait is over
Matt Wieters, the crown jewel
catcher of the Orioles’ rebuild-
NBA PLAYOFFS
1. Experience: “They’ve been
in these situations before,
they obviously have players playing

For Cavs, it’s all LeBron, all the time

ing process, went 0-for-4 with a
strikeout in his major league debut
against Detroit on Friday night.
Page 19
Scoreboard
NBA Playoffs
Western Conference finals
L.A. Lakers 119, Denver 92
(L.A. Lakers win series 4-2)
Baseball
American League
Texas 6, Oakland 3, 1st game
Texas 5, Oakland 2, 2nd game
Baltimore 7, Detroit 2
Toronto 6, Boston 3
Tampa Bay 5, Minnesota 3
Chicago White Sox 11, Kansas City 2
N.Y. Yankees 3, Cleveland 1
Seattle 5, L.A. Angels 2
National League
Chicago Cubs 2, L.A. Dodgers 1
Houston 6, Pittsburgh 1
Philadelphia 5, Washington 4
N.Y. Mets 2, Florida 1, 11 innings
Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 2
Colorado 3, San Diego 0
Atlanta 10, Arizona 6
San Francisco 4, St. Louis 2
TONIGHT: CLEVELAND AT ORLANDO 8:30 ET, TNT Magic lead series 3-2
BY SEAN DEVENEY
sdeveney@sportingnews.com
The immediate reaction in Cleve-
land after Game 5 of the Eastern
Conference finals
had to be some-
thing like this:
Whew!
But that dose of
relief, after the
Cavaliers’ diffi-
cult home victory
LeBron James to keep their
long-shot comeback hopes alive, was
quickly tempered by another
reaction altogether: Now what?
The Cavs travel to Orlando tonight
for Game 6, and though they’re still
in the fight, it appears that the Magic
have them figured out. It’s doubtful
that Cleveland can expect star
forward LeBron James to continue
carrying them the way he did in
Game 5, when he finished with 37
points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists,
a disciplined game. That’s what
helps them more than anything.
They play disciplined and smart.”
— Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith
2. Chris Osgood: “He’s been
good for a lot of years, but
L.A. LAKERS 119, DENVER 92
I don’t think he gets the respect
he deserves. Detroit knows how
dominating the fourth quarter. He is
averaging 41.2 points in the series.
Kobe carries Lakers back to Finals valuable he is to this team. The rest
of the league might not.”
That’s both good and bad—but Don’t forget Kobe — Chicago forward Patrick Sharp
mostly bad. It shows how capable Bryant. As impressive
James is when it comes to taking over
a game. But it also shows how much
as LeBron James’
numbers have been in
3. Versatile defense: “They’re
all mobile, they all can
move the puck and they all can hit.
Cleveland’s supporting cast is the East finals, When you have six mobile defense-
struggling to help him. Although Mo Bryant’s have been men, you can’t chip the puck and
Williams posted his first solid game comparable in the expect to get it back.”
— Chicago forward Kris Versteeg
of the series, the lineup around James West (34.0 points, 5.8
could be further weakened by a hip assists and 5.8
pointer injury to Delonte West. rebounds). And
It’s worth remembering, too, that there’s one big Wings will win
James appeared to be fatigued in difference—Bryant if... Nicklas
Lidstrom stays healthy and
crunch time in the two previous has a spot in the NBA can contain the Sidney
games, and both were Cleveland Finals, as the Lakers Crosby line.
losses. erased doubts and
Pens will win if...
“(Orlando is) wearing James down,” erased the Nuggets Evgeni Malkin
said TNT analyst Reggie Miller. “I’m a with a 119-92 Game 6 is dominant and foot injury
little discouraged. I like the win, they win. Care to guess keeps Pavel Datsyuk out
long.
did what they had to. But what I want who led the way?
to see is, (Daniel) Gibson, Mo Wil- Yup, Bryant, with Prediction: Wings in 7.
liams and Wally Szczerbiak, is their 35 points and 10
— Craig Custance
game going to travel?” CHRIS CARLSON / AP assists.
Kobe Bryant had 35 points and 10 assists as the Lakers Complete preview, Page 10
Cavs have to win Game 6 first, Page 8 routed Denver to return to the NBA Finals. Lakers too much, Page 7
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Tune In Today
A quick look at the best sports on TV (All times Eastern)
GUIDE
— all times Eastern Schedule subject to
change and/or blackouts.
ATHLETICS
NHL
4:30 p.m.
Penguins at Red Wings NBC—Reebok Grand Prix,
at New York
8 p.m., NBC
Once wasn’t enough. So the Stanley Cup AUTO RACING
finals provide a repeat performance with 10 a.m.
the Red Wings facing the Penguins for the SPEED—NASCAR,
second year in a row. The Wings won the Cup
Nationwide Series, pole
in six games last year, playing against a team qualifying for Heluva Good!
whose future was bright with Sidney Crosby 200, at Dover, Del.
and Evgeni Malkin as rising stars. The rematch 11:30 a.m.
brings the same scenario, with the Penguins SPEED—NASCAR, Sprint
counting on 2008’s disappointment to fuel Cup, practice for Autism
their championship drive. A story line to watch?
Speaks 400, at Dover, Del.
Marian Hossa left the Penguins last summer to 12:30 p.m.
sign with the Red Wings. SPEED—NASCAR, Sprint
— Ray Slover Cup, “Happy Hour Series,”
final practice for Autism
Speaks 400, at Dover, Del.
NBA
2:30 p.m.
Cavaliers at Magic ABC—NASCAR,
Nationwide Series, Heluva
8:30 p.m., TNT Good! 200, at Dover, Del.
A Cleveland win in Game 5 was to be 8 p.m.
expected, considering the Cavs were playing at ESPN2—NHRA, qualifying
home. But now is real gut-check time heading for Summer Nationals, at
back to Orlando, where the Magic are 6-2 this Topeka, Kan. (same-day
postseason and 2-0 against Cleveland. LeBron tape)
James got the much-needed assistance he
needs from teammates in that game, and the BOXING
same needs to happen in Game 6 to send this 9:45 p.m.
to a Game 7. Getting Dwight Howard in foul
HBO—Junior middle-
trouble again would help the cause, too. weights, Alfredo Angulo
— Roger Kuznia (15-0-0) vs. Kermit Cintron
(30-2-1); champion Andre
BASEBALL Berto (24-0-0) vs. Juan
Urango (21-1-1), for WBC
White Sox at Royals welterweight title, at Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.
7 p.m., WGN
If your spouse is only giving you a two-hour
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
window to watch baseball tonight, take him/
Noon
her up on it because Mark Buehrle is pitching
tonight for the White Sox. Buehrle works ESPN—NCAA Division I,
quickly and has pitched in a number of games World Series, Games 7 & 8
that have taken just under two hours to play. at Oklahoma City
You’ll also be seeing a pitcher on a remarkable 7 p.m.
ESPN—NCAA Division I,
roll—Buehrle is 6-1 with a 2.59 ERA, and his
worst start was in Chicago’s season against this World Series, Games 9 & 10
K.C. team. at Oklahoma City
— Roger Kuznia
See a Different Game
GOLF
10 a.m.
TGC—European PGA Tour,
European Open, third
round, at Kent, England
3 p.m.
CBS—PGA Tour, Crowne
Plaza Invitational, third
round, at Fort Worth, Texas
6:30 p.m.
TGC—Champions Tour,
Principal Charity Classic,
second round, at West Des
Moines, Iowa (same-day
tape)
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
4 p.m.
FOX—Regional coverage,
L.A. Dodgers at Chicago
Cubs, Atlanta at Arizona, or
Minnesota at Tampa Bay
7 p.m.
WGN—Chicago White Sox
at Kansas City
MOTORSPORTS
9 p.m.
SPEED—AMA Pro
Motocross 450, at Rancho
Cordova, Calif.
NBA
8:30 p.m.
TNT—Playoffs, Eastern
Conference finals, Game 6,
Cleveland at Orlando
NHL
8 p.m.
NBC—Playoffs, Stanley
Cup finals, Game 1,
Pittsburgh at Detroit
RUGBY
9 p.m.
ESPN CLASSIC—Playoffs,
Super League, champion-
ship match, teams TBA, at
Glendale, Colo.
TENNIS
1:30 p.m.
NBC—French Open, early
round, at Paris (same-day
tape)
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 2
OFF THE FIELD
CC, Yanks arrived early to watch LeBron
Several Yankees—Alex Rodriguez, Mari-
ano Rivera and CC Sabathia among them—
arrived in Cleveland early for this
weekend’s series against the Indians so
they could attend Game 5 of the Cavs-
Magic NBA Eastern Conference
Finals.
Sabathia even jokingly texted Cavs
star LeBron James that the former Indians
pitcher was going to wear a Magic cap
as payback for when James wore a Yan-
kees cap to an Indians-Yankees playoff
game in 2007 in Cleveland, TNT broad-
caster Marv Albert reported.
Also spotted in the crowd for Game 5,
according to people.com: hip-hop
mogul Jay-Z and a pair of NFL quarter-
backs, Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers
and Brady Quinn of the Browns.
If James and the Cavs win tonight in
Orlando, to bring the series back to
Cleveland for Game 7 Monday, the Yan-
kees won’t be in the house because of a
scheduling conflict. They’ll still be in
Cleveland but wrap up a four-game
series with a 7:05 p.m. ET game; Game
7 of Cavs-Magic is set for an 8:30 p.m.
ET tip. TONY DEJAK / AP
Mariano Rivera, left, and Alex Rodriguez were part of the Yankees’ contingent at Quicken Loans Arena.
In the pink at Colonial
The PGA Tour Wives Association is Barack Obama in his high school basket- Corso, who recently suffered a minor
asking all players in the Crowne Plaza ball uniform, scheduled to be a give- stroke, said in a statement that he has
Invitational at Colonial and their wives away today at a minor league baseball “no permanent damage.” He said he is
to take part today in a “Pink Out,” game in Charleston, W. Va., apparently expected to make a full recovery and
golf.com reported, as a show of support didn’t get the nod from customs offi- plans on being back for the kickoff of
for Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, who was cials in Los Angeles. The Class A West the 2009 season.
diagnosed with breast cancer earlier Virginia Power of the South Atlantic
this month. League said Thursday that the bobble- Baseball Hall of Fame announcer
Companies including TaylorMade- heads have been at a U.S. Customs and Harry Kalas, who broadcast 6,037 Phillies
adidas Golf, Ashworth, Cutter & Buck, Border Protection warehouse since games over 39 years before his sudden
Nike and Polo Ralph Lauren have sent May 20. Fans will be given vouchers to death last month, will be inducted into
pink shirts to the tournament in Fort pick up the bobbleheads once they the team’s Wall of Fame on Aug. 7 at
Worth, Texas. arrive, a team spokeswoman said. Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia
Business Journal’s John George
A head-shaking delay Quick hits reported.
A thousand bobbleheads of President ESPN college football analyst Lee — Compiled by Bob Hille, with wire reports
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com My Profile
Mark Murphy Packers president
(What you won’t find on Facebook … even if you are approved as a friend)
Born: July 13, 1955, in Fulton, N.Y.
Status: Married
Alma mater: Colgate
What’s on TV: 24, The Office, 30
Rock, House, American Idol
What’s in my iPod: Bruce Spring-
steen, Billy Joel, Elton John, Cher,
Journey, Steely Dan, Chicago, CCR,
John Mellencamp
What I drive: White 2008 Chevy
Tahoe
Favorite flick: Rocky
What I’m reading: What Would
Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis
Magazine subscriptions: Time, The
Week, Sports Illustrated, Sporting
News, SportsBusiness Journal
Bookmarks: Packers.com, North-
western.edu, Colgate.edu
MIKE ROEMER / AP
Superstition: Don’t step on cracks
Worst habit: Clearing my throat
On my office walls: Pictures, plaques
and game balls from the Packers,
Colgate, Northwestern and the
Packers
Love to trade places for a day with …
Tiger Woods. I would love to see
what it would be like to be that
dominant in your profession.
First job: Soda vendor at Rice
Stadium, Houston, at Rice Univer-
sity football games. I was 14 years
old. Think I made a nickel for every
soda sold.
Talent I’d most like to have: Singing
Favorite meal: Anything Mexican
Favorite athlete to watch in another
sport: Tiger Woods
Favorite city to visit: New York City
Favorite team as a kid: Buffalo Bills
Favorite value in others: Positive
attitude
Favorite physical attribute about myself:
Long legs
And least … Big feet—size 15
Dream date: My wife Laurie
My greatest love: Laurie. We will
have been married 30 years in June.
My hero: My father Hugh
My bucket list: 1. Travel to Alaska, 2.
Hit a hole in one, 3. A Super Bowl
championship for the Packers
My motto: Don’t sweat the small
stuff. Keep your eye on the big
picture.
— Jeff D’Alessio
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 3
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ON NEWSSTANDS NOW
A Division I head basketball coach at 31? If
anyone can do it, it’s Memphis’ Josh Pastner,
Sporting News college hoops expert Mike
DeCourcy explains in the new magazine.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Overnight Report SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 4

San Francisco 4, St. Louis 2

BASEBALL / NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL / AMERICAN LEAGUE
Seattle 5, L.A. Angels 2
If you deliver
Sandoval makes solid return Vargas impressive again it daily, they
SAN FRANCISCO—Matt Cain shook
his head and smiled when talk-
ing about Pablo Sandoval’s
Giants 4, Cardinals 2
St. Louis
Schumaker 2b
AB R
4 0
H
0
BI
0
BB
0
SO
0
Avg.
.302
ANAHEIM—Jason Vargas has
overcome quite a few hurdles
since having hip surgery in
Mariners 5, Angels 2
Seattle
I.Suzuki rf
AB R
5 1
H
2
BI
1
BB
0
SO
0
Avg.
.344
will come.
Duncan lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .257 Y.Betancourt ss 3 0 1 0 1 0 .260
return to the lineup on Friday McClellan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 March 2008. Beltre 3b 5 0 2 1 0 1 .216
C.Perez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- The Seattle lefthander reached Griffey Jr. dh 3 0 0 1 0 0 .213
night. Pujols 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 .323 Branyan 1b 4 1 2 0 0 1 .316
“He just wakes up and hits,” Ludwick rf 3 1 0 0 1 1 .266 another bench mark in his come- Jo.Lopez 2b 3 1 1 1 0 0 .218
Rasmus cf 4 0 1 1 0 1 .232 back Friday night, beating the Ro.Johnson c 3 0 0 0 1 0 .203
Cain said. “I don’t understand Y.Molina c 3 0 1 0 1 0 .269 En.Chavez lf 3 1 2 1 0 1 .281
how he does it, but he does it.” Thurston 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .237 Los Angeles Angels 5-2 with 6 F.Gutierrez cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .272
Pineiro p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .150 1/3 impressive innings. It was his Totals 33 5 11 5 2 3
Sandoval drove in a pair of a-Ankiel ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .244
runs, Cain pitched six-hit ball Boyer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- first victory as a starter since Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
b-Stavinoha ph-lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .237 April 13, 2006, with Florida. Figgins 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .293
into the seventh inning and the Br.Ryan ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .246 Abreu rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .301
San Francisco Giants beat the St. Totals 33 2 6 1 2 5 “It’s been a while, and it’s a Guerrero dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 .208
good feeling—especially to do it Hunter cf 3 1 0 0 1 0 .310
Louis Cardinals 4-2. San Francisco AB R H BI BB SO Avg. J.Rivera lf 4 1 3 1 0 0 .305
Fred Lewis and Emmanuel Rowand cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .278 relatively close to where I’m K.Morales 1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 .280
Renteria ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .250 from,” said Vargas, from nearby Napoli c 4 0 0 0 0 2 .275
Burriss also drove in runs for the Winn rf 3 1 1 0 1 0 .280 Kendrick 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .229
Giants, who won their fourth B.Molina c 3 0 1 0 0 1 .254 Apple Valley. E.Aybar ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .279
Sandoval 1b 4 1 2 2 0 0 .309 He came to the Mariners last Totals 31 2 5 2 3 5
straight and fifth in six games B.Wilson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
overall. F.Lewis lf 3 1 1 1 0 0 .268 December in a three-way trade Seattle 003 001 010 — 5 11 1

Sandoval sat out four games
with tightness in his right elbow
and started at first base for the
first time.
“I didn’t realize he was playing
first until we took the field,” Bur-
riss said. “He doesn’t play for a
few days and he comes in and
gets a couple of knocks. We
didn’t expect anything less.”
Burriss added a key defensive
play at second base in the sev-
enth, when he snared Chris
Duncan’s low liner with two outs
and a runner on.
“It was hit hard and all I had
time for was a dive,” he said. “In
terms of range it wasn’t that far.”
Juan Uribe at third and Edgar
Renteria at short also ranged
wide to make nice plays against
Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick
to open the eighth.
“Those were plays that wins
ballgames,” Giants manager
Bruce Bochy said. “Our defense
FREEup!
Affeldt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 with the New York Mets and Los Angeles 000 010 100 — 2 5 0
BEN MARGOT / AP
Howry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
San Francisco P Matt Cain gave up six hits c-Ishikawa ph-1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262 Cleveland Indians in which 12 E: Branyan (4). LOB: Seattle 7, Los Angeles 5. 2B:
to improve his record to 6-1 this season. Uribe 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .288 players changed uniforms. I.Suzuki (6), Branyan (12). HR: Jo.Lopez (4), off
Lackey; J.Rivera (5), off Vargas. RBIs: I.Suzuki (15),
Sign
Today!
Burriss 2b 4 0 2 1 0 1 .277
Cain p 2 0 1 0 0 1 .250 Vargas sat out the entire 2008 Beltre (20), Griffey Jr. (13), Jo.Lopez (22), En.Chavez
Torres lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 .250 season recovering from his sur- (11), J.Rivera (18), K.Morales (29). SB: En.Chavez (7).
really stepped up.” Totals 32 4 10 4 2 7 S: Y.Betancourt, Jo.Lopez. SF: Griffey Jr., En.Chavez.
Cain (6-1) was the main bene- gery, but was confident he would Runners left in scoring position: Seattle 3 (Bran-
St. Louis 000 002 000 — 2 6 0 re-establish himself as a big yan, F.Gutierrez, Griffey Jr.); Los Angeles 3 (Kendrick 2,
factor of the solid play. He gave
The country’s first and only
San Francisco 200 200 00x — 4 10 1 Napoli). GIDP: Jo.Lopez, K.Morales. DP: Seattle 2 (Jo.
up two runs—one earned—on league starter at age 26. After a Lopez, Y.Betancourt, Branyan), (Jo.Lopez, Branyan); Los
a-popped out for Pineiro in the 5th. b-grounded out for couple of relief outings, he was Angeles 1 (E.Aybar, Kendrick, K.Morales).
six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He
daily digital sports newspaper.
Boyer in the 7th. c-walked for Howry in the 8th. E: Bur-
walked two and struck out five. riss (5). LOB: St. Louis 6, San Francisco 8. 2B: Rowand inserted into the rotation because Seattle IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
(14). 3B: F.Lewis (2). RBIs: Rasmus (19), Sandoval 2 of an injury to Carlos Silva. Vargas W, 2-0 6 1⁄3 4 2 2 2 2 96 1.65
He’s won his last four decisions. (19), F.Lewis (8), Burriss (11). S: Renteria. Runners White H, 3 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 11 1.85
“You try to build off the left in scoring position: St. Louis 3 (Thurston 3); San “I didn’t have any question in M.Lowe H, 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 14 4.74
Francisco 4 (F.Lewis, Rowand, B.Molina, Torres). GIDP: my mind,” said Vargas, whose Aardsma S, 7-7 1 1 0 0 1 1 17 1.14
momentum of your last start,”
Cain said. “The big thing is the
F.Lewis. DP: St. Louis 1 (Br.Ryan, Pujols).
three previous starts for the
Los Angeles
Lackey L, 1-1
IP
7 1⁄3
H
10
R ER BB SO NP ERA
5 5 2 2 106 6.05 Delivered via email every morning, 7 days a
week, Sporting News Today is your one-stop
St. Louis IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Mariners resulted in no-deci- Bulger 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 4 5.40
guys are going out and scoring Pineiro L, 5-5 4 6 4 4 1 3 71 3.86 J.Speier 1 1 0 0 0 0 13 5.59
early. That’s a big confidence Boyer 2 1 0 0 0 1 21 9.00 sions. “Once we got past the first
booster when you can go out McClellan
C.Perez
1 2 0 0 0 1 21 1.88
1 1 0 0 1 2 25 2.45
couple of months and everything Inherited runners-scored: White 2-0. WP: White.
Umpires: Home, Bruce Dreckman; First, Paul Emmel; destination for breaking sports stories plus
was going along as planned, I felt
news about every team, every game and
there with a lead.” San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Second, Bill Miller; Third, Bill Hohn. T: 2:28. A: 38,492
Cain W, 6-1 6 1⁄3 6 2 1 2 5 105 2.31 like it was just a matter of time (45,257).
Cain has pitched at least six Affeldt H, 10 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 10 1.99
innings in all 10 of his starts and Howry H, 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 3.79
B.Wilson S, 11-14 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 4.24
before I was able to be 100 per-
cent and that hopefully some-
every score from coast-to-coast.
allowed two or fewer runs in
eight of them. He retired nine of Inherited runners-scored: Affeldt 1-0. HBP: by body would give me a chance. It’s
Pineiro (B.Molina). WP: Cain. Umpires: Home, Laz awesome to have an organization
the first 10 batters he faced.
— The Associated Press
Diaz; First, Eric Cooper; Second, Mike Reilly; Third, Chuck
Meriwether. T: 2:37. A: 35,266 (41,915). and a coaching staff that believes Experience America’s hottest new product.
Red Sox fall out of first, Page 16
that you can still pitch.”
— The Associated Press
Sign up at sportingnewstoday.com. It’s free.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
RECRUITING DISH
Four-star WR drops UCLA, for now
Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.) WR Paul Richardson
has decided to look around, he told Sporting News
Today on Friday afternoon. The 6-1, 175-pounder had
been committed to UCLA since late last fall, but has
re-opened the process. Richardson is rated a four-star
prospect by two recruiting services.
“I have no problem with UCLA,” Richardson told
SN Today. “They are still high on my list, but I thought
this would be better for me. I probably committed too
early.”
UCLA, California, Oregon, Arizona State, USC,
Colorado and Oregon State are all schools he’ll now
check out, but he admitted he didn’t have scholarship
offers from Oregon and USC yet.
“It’s just better not to be tied down just yet,” Rich-
ardson told SN Today. “I definitely want to check out
everybody. I’ll still be in contact with Coach (Rick)
Neuheisel and Coach (Reggie) Moore at UCLA. I’m just
going to take my visits and I’ll make a decision after
football and basketball are over.”
As a junior, Richardson caught 48 passes for 809
yards and 13 touchdowns. His father, Paul Richardson,
Sr., played receiver for the Bruins.
Jordan Rainey is on board with Arkansas, Rivals.
com reported. The 6-5, 310-pound offensive guard
from Joplin, Mo., is only the Razorbacks’ second com-
mitment for the class of 2010, while other nearby BCS
programs have brought in as many as 20 commit-
ments already.
Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri, Okla-
homa and Oklahoma State all had shown serious
interest in Rainey, but only the Razorbacks had
extended a scholarship offer at this point.
“Arkansas is only an hour-and-a-half away from
here,” Rainey told Rivals.com. “My brother used to
live down there. My family always followed Arkan-
sas, but we were surprised when they offered. When
they did offer though I started checking them out
even more and it was the school for me.”
Brandon Worle, an LSU commitment out of Troup
(LaGrange, Ga.), informed Sporting News Today that
the Tigers’ coaching staff made his day Friday. Worle,
Next Gen SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 5
Q&A with … F Tyler Smith
‘I can play, regardless of what anybody says’
Tennessee’s Tyler Smith leads a crop of
college players still debating between the
draft and another year of college. He spoke
with Sporting News Today’s Dave Curtis at
this week’s NBA draft combine about his
decision, his versatility, and a couple of
Volunteer coaches:
Q: What do you need to
hear this week to help
you make a decision?
A: It’s not really like that. I
know where things stand. I
just want to get back and talk with
family. That’s the most important
part. I think I can play, regardless
of what anybody says. If I’m in, I’ll
work hard to contribute to which-
ever team I go to.
Q: What would be the
benefit of going back?
A: It’d be another great college
year being able to play in a
great system. We’ve got all our SKIP PETERSON / AP
PAUL CONNORS / AP players coming back, and maybe we Tyler Smith, top, sounds like a player whose mind is made up, but he’s not tipping his hand.
UCLA’s Rick Neuheisel, above, still has a shot at WR Paul Richardson. can make a run for a championship.
But that’s not a given, so I can’t put can bring it up if I need to get my I could play. It gave me more
who generally is regarded as a fullback prospect at too much weight on that part. teammates open shots. That’s why respect for him. He knew I could
6-1, 240 pounds, wanted fans to know that LSU’s I like watching LeBron (James) player better, but he didn’t say
coaching staff said it’d give him a chance as a primary
running back in the backfield, instead of just playing Q: What makes that system
so great?
play. He’s big, and he can handle it
well enough to set up his
anything. He just let me come into
it myself.
fullback.
“Is that not good news, or what?” an excited Worle A: You’re able to do a lot of
things. Like, I brought the
teammates.
Q: So nothing from the
told SN Today. “LSU called and they said they wanted
to play me at back, and not just fullback.”
ball up sometimes. I’m like a point
forward. The disadvantage is that I Q: What’s your best Bruce
Pearl story?
boat? Or nothing about
body paint?
Worle committed to the Tigers in early March, and
also had a scholarship offer from Oklahoma State.
play a lot with my back to the
basket. A: One game, my first year
with him, it took me awhile
to get into the flow of things. It was
A: All that stuff’s funny. But
he’s really a great basketball
coach, too.
Denzel McCoy, a Georgia Tech commitment and a
Sporting News Top 100 prospect for the class of 2010, Q: So how is that helping or
hurting you here?
against Ole Miss. Once I got going
and starting trusting my team-
Q: How about Lane Kiffin?
told SN Today that he has accepted an offer to play in
the Offense-Defense All-American game in January.
McCoy is a 6-4, 275-pound defensive tackle out of
A: I think people see me as a
guard, or maybe a 3,
because of my size. So I think just
mates, getting assists and scoring a
little, he came back to me and said,
‘Hey, Bruce Pearl, nice to meet you.’ A:
Met him yet?
No. But he’s on TV a lot, on
SportsCenter. He’s got a lot
Northview (Duluth, Ga.). He committed to play for being able to showcase my skills as He said he wanted to introduce going on down there. But it’s going
the Yellow Jackets in early April. a guard here will help me out a lot. himself again because he finally to be good for the football team.
— Brian McLaughlin … I want to be a ballhandler who saw Tyler Smith play like he knew They’re going to be a lot better.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Young OK after impaling; Daye, James weigh options
Sporting News Today’s Sean Deveney provides news
and notes from the final day of the NBA’s predraft
combine in Chicago:
No one will question the toughness of
Pittsburgh F Sam Young. Nearly three weeks
ago, during a workout in Toronto—his first
of the workout season—Young suffered a
pretty nasty injury while going through
physical measurements. His arm got caught
on one of the vertical-leap poles.
Here’s how he tells it: “I was doing the ver-
tical testing, and when I jumped, the knob
from the pole got caught in my arm, up
around my biceps. It fish-hooked me in my
arm. It went through my arm, right through.
It was stuck in my arm for an hour. Eventu-
ally, the paramedics got there, and they
decided they were going to cut the pole off
with a chainsaw. They did that, to both sides
of the pole. I went walking out to the ambu-
lance with the knob sticking out of both sides
of my arm.”
Young said the injury turned out to be
minor and has pretty much healed up. Physi-
cally, at least. But on Friday, when Young
had to again have his vertical leap measured,
he admitted that he wasn’t exactly thrilled.
“When I saw the vertical pole out there, I
had a little phobia,” he said. “I was afraid I
wasn’t going to make it. But I did it. And it
did not go through my arm this time.”
Two guys who are uncertain about
whether they’re going to stick around in this
draft are SF Damion James and PF Austin Daye.
Neither has hired an agent and can return to
school by the June 15 withdrawal date. Daye
said he would stay in the draft only if he were
sure he’d be taken somewhere in the teens.
“I am probably going to go back to school if
it looks like I am in the 20s,” he said. “I am
definitely trying to stay out of that range,
because once you’re there, there’s no telling
what is going to happen. The draft can get
crazy once you slide to the 20s.”
DRAFT DISH
Not even a vertical-leap pole that impaled his arm can stop Sam Young, center, from chasing his NBA dreams.
James does not have a set range in which
he’d like to be picked. But he would want
some guarantee, or else he will return to
Texas. “I’d like to know where I am going to
go before I decide,” James said. “If a team
tells me they’re going to take me, then I’d stay
in.”
One thing that could hurt Daye: He
couldn’t lift 185 pounds in the weight testing,
while big men like PF Jordan Hill (11 times) and
C B.J. Mullens (10) lifted 185 multiple times.
“I kind of got it up, but jerked it,” Daye said.
“I know in a couple of weeks, I will be able to.”
Next Gen: NBA Draft SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 6
2009 draft order
1. L.A. Clippers
2. Memphis
3. Oklahoma City
4. Sacramento
5. Washington
6. Minnesota
North Carolina F Wayne Ellington was appre- 7. Golden State
ciative of the opportunity to interview with a 8. New York
9. Toronto
variety of teams over the two-day combine, but 10. Milwaukee
he is not sure whether the event—which fea- 11. New Jersey
tured only light drills and physical measure- 12. Charlotte
13. Indiana
ments—had any real impact on the draft. 14. Phoenix
“You’re coming in, you’re showing your 15. Detroit
16. Chicago
skills, shooting jump shots, doing some ball- 17. Philadelphia
handling,” Ellington said. “I would hope no 18. Minnesota (from Miami)
19. Atlanta
teams are looking at this and making their 20. Utah
decisions based on it.” 21. New Orleans
22. Dallas
PG Jonny Flynn, for his part, would much 23. Sacramento (from Houston)
rather see fullcourt games being played. Of 24. Portland
course, so would every general manager. But 25. Oklahoma City (from San Antonio)
26. Chicago
no agents would let their players participate (from Denver through Oklahoma City)
in that setting. 27. Memphis (from Orlando)
28. Minnesota (from Boston)
“I am a competitor, so to me, you get 50 guys 29. L.A. Lakers
together, 50 of the best players in the country, 30. Cleveland
I want to get out there and play 5-on-5,” Flynn Second Round
said. “I want that. I think I thrive that way. 31. Sacramento
32. Washington
But, you know, not everyone feels that way.” 33. Portland (from L.A. Clippers)
34. Denver (from Oklahoma City)
There weren’t many surprises to come 35. Detroit (from Minnesota)
36. Memphis
out of the measurements that were released 37. San Antonio
by the league on Friday. PF Tyler Hansbrough, (from Golden State through Phoenix)
38. Portland
so often knocked for being undersized and (from New York through Chicago)
frequently listed at 6-8, actually came in at 39. Detroit (from Toronto)
40. Charlotte
6-9 1/2 with shoes. His standing reach was (from N. Jersey through Oklahoma City)
8-10, a half-inch more than that of probable 41. Milwaukee
42. L.A. Lakers (from Charlotte)
STEVE CANNON / AP No. 1 pick PF Blake Griffin. The biggest wing- 43. Miami (from Indiana)
span was that of C Hasheem Thabeet, at 7-6 1/4. 44. Detroit
The next-biggest was PF Taj Gibson, at 7-4. 45. Minnesota
(from Philadelphia through Miami)
As allegations swirl around Chicago 46. Cleveland (from Chicago)
about the academic scandal brewing around Rumors of a rift between SF Terrence Wil- 47. Minnesota (from Miami)
48. Phoenix
PG Derrick Rose, his time at Memphis and liams and Louisville coach Rick Pitino are, 49. Atlanta
coach John Calipari, at least one former Tiger according to Williams, severely overblown. 50. Utah
51. San Antonio
says he was surprised by the news. “It did In fact, Williams said, Pitino has been help- (from New Orleans through Toronto)
surprise me,” said G Tyreke Evans, who did not ing him navigate the draft process. 52. Indiana (from Dallas)
53. San Antonio (from Houston)
play with Rose but says he has gotten to “I don’t know nothing about the program 54. Charlotte (from San Antonio)
know him. “Derrick Rose is a good guy. I right now, because I haven’t been there in a 55. Portland (from Denver)
talked to him when I came out here and in while,” Williams said. “But, man, me and Coach 56. Portland
57. Phoenix
the summer in Memphis. I talked to him P went out to dinner last week. Tell everybody (from Orlando through Oklahoma City)
about the season and things like that. Hope- down in Louisville that Coach P is great. I talked 58. Boston
59. L.A. Lakers
fully, nothing bad happens that is going to to him last night and he told me something about 60. Miami (from Cleveland)
affect Memphis or Coach Cal.” one of the teams. Me and Coach P are great.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NBA SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
L.A. Lakers 119, Denver 92

Kobe takes care of his half of dream Finals Series glance

(L.A. Lakers win series 4-2)
May 19: L.A. Lakers 105,
DENVER—One-half of the Kobe- The finals begin Thursday, at execution to match,” Bryant said. Denver 103
LeBron dream matchup is set. Los Angeles if Orlando wins, and “It took us a while to really get a feel May 21: Denver 106,
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles at Cleveland if the Cavaliers for the team, just how to take L.A. Lakers 103
Lakers are in the NBA finals for the prevail. advantage of the defense. We saw May 23: L.A. Lakers 103, Denver 97
May 25: Denver 120,
second straight year and record Anthony led the Nuggets with 25 something how they were playing L.A. Lakers 101
30th time overall. points and J.R. Smith added 24, but us and we executed extremely May 27: L.A. Lakers 103, Denver 94
LeBron James and the Cleveland Denver trailed for all but a few sec- well.” Friday: L.A. Lakers 119, Denver 92
Cavaliers will need to win two onds and never mounted a serious Bryant started his run with two
more wins to join them. Otherwise, charge after halftime, although free throws, then hit a jumper over
it will be Dwight Howard and the they kept hitting 3-pointers, finish- Smith. After Ariza’s 3-pointer, Bry- L.A. Lakers 25 28 30 36 — 119
Denver 20 20 27 25 — 92
Orlando Magic on the league’s big- ing 8 of 19 from beyond the arc. ant made baskets over Anthony
gest stage. This was the Nuggets’ eighth from the left and right corners on LAL Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
Ariza 22:06 7-9 0-0 1-4 0 4 17
Not as sexy for Madison Ave., but consecutive loss in a playoff elimi- the next two possessions, then Gasol 42:28 8-12 4-4 2-12 6 2 20
certainly intriguing. nation game. capped the run with a dagger—a Bynum 21:54 1-6 0-0 1-1 1 3 2
Fisher 31:42 2-3 0-0 0-4 4 3 5
Bryant and the Lakers dis- Odom and Gasol both scored 20 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds left fol- Bryant 41:34 12-20 9-9 0-6 10 1 35
patched Carmelo Anthony and the points and Ariza had 17, and the lowing Gasol’s offensive rebound. Odom 31:38 7-12 4-4 3-8 1 2 20
Farmar 8:02 0-2 0-0 0-1 2 0 0
pesky Denver Nuggets with a 119- Lakers made all 24 of their free The Nuggets trimmed their defi- Vujacic 6:55 1-2 4-4 1-1 0 0 7
92 victory in Game 6 of the West- throws and were 9 of 16 on 3s. cit to 79-67 but the Lakers replied Walton 25:25 5-7 0-0 1-1 3 4 10
Brown 8:16 0-2 3-3 0-0 1 0 3
ern Conference finals on Friday. “We are really tough to beat with a 9-0 run to restore their Totals 240:00 43-75 24-24 9-38 28 19 119
“We saved our best game for last because we’re using all our weap- stranglehold. Bryant scored seven
Percentages: FG .573, FT 1.000. 3-Point Goals: 9-16, .563 (Ariza
here, or maybe we caught our oppo- ons, not focusing on Kobe or straight points, including a 3-4, Odom 2-2, Bryant 2-4, Fisher 1-1, Vujacic 1-2, Walton 0-1,
nent a little bit off stride,” said Lak- myself,” said Gasol, who had 12 3-pointer that made it 101-82. Farmar 0-2). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: 14 (14 PTS).
Blocked Shots: 4 (Bryant, Bynum, Gasol, Walton). Turnovers: 13
ers coach Phil Jackson, who gets a rebounds and six assists. “We have “He had a great five minutes at the (Gasol 3, Walton 3, Ariza 2, Farmar 2, Bryant, Bynum, Fisher). Steals:
shot at his record 10th title. a really good team and need to use end of the game that no one in basket- 6 (Gasol 3, Ariza, Bynum, Walton). Technical Fouls: Defensive three
second, 10:04 second.
Bryant had 35 points and 10 everybody. That is how we are ball could have covered him,” Nug-
assists and got plenty of scoring going to win it.” gets coach George Karl lamented. DENVER Min FG FT Reb A PF PTS
Anthony 37:17 6-17 12-15 0-2 2 1 25
help from Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol The Lakers might very well have Karl likes the Lakers in the finals Martin 28:43 6-13 1-2 2-5 0 4 13
and Lamar Odom as the Lakers been swept by the energetic Nug- no matter if it’s Kobe-LeBron or Nene 33:29 3-7 2-2 1-6 1 4 8
Billups 38:47 2-7 5-6 0-4 9 4 10
shot 57.3 percent from the field to gets if veterans Anthony Carter and Kobe-Superman. Jones 13:26 1-3 0-0 1-1 0 2 2
avoid having to play a Game 7 back Kenyon Martin hadn’t botched “I saw little cracks in the Lakers Smith 32:22 10-17 0-0 1-2 0 5 24
Andersen 20:51 1-1 0-0 1-2 0 2 2
at the Staples Center. inbounds passes in the final sec- and somehow we’ve cemented Carter 8:38 0-2 0-0 1-2 0 0 0
They will finally get some much- onds of Games 1 and 3, respectively. those cracks back up, and I think Kleiza 19:18 2-5 0-0 0-3 1 0 6
Hart 2:47 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
needed rest after playing every Bryant didn’t wait for the fourth they’re the best team right now in Petro 2:47 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 2
other day for a grueling two weeks. CHRIS CARLSON / AP quarter Friday night to give the the NBA,” he said. Balkman 1:36 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 240:01 32-73 20-25 7-27 14 22 92
These Lakers, who are seeking Kobe Bryant had 35 points and the Lakers shot 57 percent to rout the Nuggets and advance. Nuggets, who had posted eight The Nuggets thought they had
their 15th title, are a more grizzled postseason blowouts, a taste of the Lakers right where they wanted Percentages: FG .438, FT .800. 3-Point Goals: 8-19, .421 (Smith
4-9, Kleiza 2-4, Anthony 1-3, Billups 1-3). Team Rebounds: 9. Team
group—but also more bruised and Instead of cruising through the has been tough,” Bryant said. their own medicine. them after stealing Game 2 in Los Turnovers: 13 (19 PTS). Blocked Shots: 3 (Andersen 3). Turnovers:
battered—than the one that fell to West this time, the Lakers survived The Magic lead 3-2 and can clinch He scored 11 points in a decisive Angeles, but they quickly gave the 13 (Billups 5, Carter 2, Nene 2, Smith 2, Andersen, Martin). Steals:
7 (Nene 2, Andersen, Anthony, Billups, Carter, Smith). Techni-
Boston in the finals last year. an arduous seven-game semifinal the Eastern Conference finals 21-7 run that gave the Lakers a homecourt edge back on Martin’s cal Fouls: Defensive three second, 0:21 first; Jones, 11:03 third.
“Now we’re in a place where we series against Houston and another tonight at home in Game 6 and pre- 53-40 halftime lead, took the buzz botched inbounds in Game 3 that Flagrant Fouls: Billups, 5:38 fourth.A: 20,053 (19,155). T: 2:25.
Officials: Joe Crawford, Mark Wunderlich, Mike Callahan.
didn’t get the job accomplished last test against Denver. vent that Kobe-LeBron matchup out of the Pepsi Center and the air cost them their first loss at the
year,” Bryant said. “Hopefully we “It’s been a physical march all the that has basketball fans and corpo- out of the Nuggets. Pepsi Center since March 9.
will this time.” way back to the finals, every series rate sponsors atwitter. “We had the effort and the —The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
LeBron, Cavs know they have to win Game 6 to get to 7
ORLANDO—The Cleveland Cavaliers
walked around their plush hotel
room Friday, cracking jokes and
making dinner plans. They mulled
around in flip-flops and T-shirts,
their casual attire matched only by
their swagger.
There were no signs of a looming
playoff elimination game.
The Cavs were so confident they
would be back in Orlando to con-
tinue the Eastern Conference finals,
they packed their bags before Game
5 and had a plane waiting on the tar-
mac. Cleveland coach Mike Brown
even said Friday he already had
booked his wife’s and kids’ tickets to
Orlando before his team’s win made
it official.
“We just thought there would be a
Game 6,” Brown said.
LeBron James made sure there
was, now a bigger question remains:
Will there be a Game 7?
“If there’s no Game 7, our season’s
over,” Brown said. “So we’re here to
win Game 6.”
Doing so won’t be easy.
The Cavaliers, with an NBA-best
66-win regular season, certainly are
0-4 this season in amped-up Amway
Arena—a place the Magic start fast
and finish. The Cavs have been able
to build big leads in Cleveland and
hold on late, a luxury they likely
won’t get for Game 6 tonight.
It is not only the biggest game in
the Magic’s most memorable season
since the Shaquille O’Neal-Penny
Hardway days, it’s their best chance
left to return to the NBA Finals for
the first time in 14 years.
The Magic don’t want to go back
to Cleveland for a Game 7, although
coach Stan Van Gundy brushed off
The numbers LeBron James put up in Game 5 (37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists) haven’t been seen since Oscar Robertson in 1963.
any notion that Orlando’s last home
game in the series feels like they’re
facing elimination.
NBA
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
“No,” Van Gundy said. “I can
count. I’m good at math. It’s Game
6.”
KIICHIRO SATO / AP
The odds don’t favor the Cavs.
Cleveland is trying to become just
the ninth team since 1947 to rally
and win a series after being down
3-1. But the Cavs have reason to feel
they have a chance.
They have James.
The league MVP scored 21 points
in the second half—17 in the fourth
quarter—in Game 5 and had a hand
in 31 straight Cleveland points.
James finished with 37 points, 14
rebounds and 12 assists to become
the first player since Oscar Robert-
son in 1963 to have such numbers in
a playoff game.
The performance already is being
compared to James’ scintillating
Game 5 effort in the conference
finals against Detroit in 2007, when
he scored 48 points, including his
team’s last 25.
Cavaliers guard Delonte West,
who says his hip pointer injury in
Game 5 left nothing more than a big
bruise on his right side (he’ll be fine
to play Friday) pointed out the Cavs
have a game plan no one match.
“We give LeBron the ball and get
out of the way,” West said.
Added Cavs reserve Daniel Gib-
son, “we’ve got 23,” referring to
James’ jersey number.
Whether Cleveland can beat the
Magic in a seven-game series with
that strategy remains to be seen.
The often one-versus-five
approach has been enough to keep
the Cavs in this series. If not for
James’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer in
Game 2, the Cavs already might be
on summer vacation.
James’ struggling teammates have
given him little support. Even with
Mo Williams and Zydrunas Ilgaus-
kas having one of their best games of
the series Thursday, it was James
who rescued the Cavs from a fourth-
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 8
quarter deficit.
They just spread the floor and let
James go to work.
“For anybody, that could be a
load,” Brown said. “But that’s what
makes him great. He has the capa-
bility of coming through with that.
And the more we can stay from that,
the better. If we only have to go to
that a couple of possessions, then
great.”
The Magic are still plenty confi-
dent themselves.
They have given Cleveland all
sorts of matchup problems—height,
depth, speed, size and shooting
range. In almost every facet, Orlando
has the advantage.
The Magic also have twice ended
series on the road this postseason,
winning a Game 6 in Philadelphia
and a Game 7 in Boston. Now safe at
home, they have a chance to do
something the franchise hasn’t done
since 1995.
“We believe we can win a champi-
onship,” center Dwight Howard
said. “People used to laugh at me
when I’d say that. But it’s right there
for us. We have a chance to take the
next step (tonight).”
— The Associated Press
Today’s game
(Best-of-7)
Cleveland at Orlando,
8:30 p.m., ET, TNT
(Orlando leads series 3-2)
Betting line
Today
FAVORITE ..........LINE ........O/U........UNDERDOG
at Orlando ................2 ............(193) .........Cleveland
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Eddie Jordan takes Sixers’ job; Stoudemire likes N.Y.
The Philadelphia 76ers have found their
next head coach, reaching an agreement in
principle with Eddie Jordan to end a search that
lasted nearly three weeks.
Jordan was offered the job on Friday and
made the decision later that night to coach the
Eastern Conference playoff team. He becomes
the 22nd coach in franchise history and third
since the start of last season.
Jordan, fired by the Washington Wizards
in November, was one of two candidates that
interviewed twice with Sixers president Ed
Stefanski. The Wizards owe Jordan nearly $4
million next season and would have to pay
the difference on the contract from Jordan’s
new team. The length of the contract and Jor-
dan’s salary were not immediately known.
Jordan is 230-288 in coaching stints with
the Wizards and the Sacramento Kings.
Jordan played at Rutgers and has ties with
Stefanski from their four seasons together
with the New Jersey Nets. Jordan was an
assistant when the Nets played in two straight
NBA finals and Stefanski served in various
positions in the organization including gen-
eral manager.
“I saw firsthand the immense impact Eddie
Jordan had in helping the Nets reach two
NBA finals and as the head coach in Wash-
ington, he consistently put his teams in a
position to win on a nightly basis,” Stefanski
said in a statement. “He embodies all the
qualities I was looking for in the next head
coach of the Sixers and we are very excited to
have him in Philadelphia.”
Jordan emerged as the winner among a
group of candidates that included Boston
Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, former Dallas
Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey and Sixers
scout Chris Ford. The Sixers also interviewed
Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis and spoke with
Villanova coach Jay Wright.
While the Knicks can’t be certain which
free agents they’ll be able to sign in the
INSIDE DISH
Amare Stoudemire, who played for five seasons under coach Mike D’Antoni, would like to play for D’Antoni again.
summer of 2010, Suns PF Amare Stoudemire is
one big name who’s already stating he’ll give
serious thought to playing in the Big Apple.
NBA
HECTOR MATA / AP
According to the New York Post, Stoudemire
was asked during an ESPN Radio interview
Friday about how seriously he’d consider the
Knicks in 2010. “I will be totally serious
about that, I spent a lot of my childhood there,
I have a connection with the state, and I also
love the entire coaching staff,” Stoudemire
said. “I think Coach (Mike) D’Antoni’s doing a
phenomenal job with the Knicks, N.Y.’s a
great city, I follow them closely.”
Stoudemire played under D’Antoni when
D’Antoni was with the Suns.
He also was asked if he’s better than PF
Chris Bosh, another who can become a free
agent in 2010. “No doubt about it, I’m better
than Chris Bosh,” Stoudemire said.
PG Rafer Alston, subbing for injured starter
Jameer Nelson since a February trade, would
like to sign an extension with the Magic, the
Orlando Sentinel reported. Alston’s contract
expires next season. Because of his $5.5 mil-
lion salary, Alston said he realizes he could
be traded, though. PG Anthony Johnson also has
another season left at $2 million, meaning
Orlando would have more than $13 million
tied up in three point guards, counting Nel-
son’s $6.1 million.
Warriors G Jamal Crawford can become a free
agent this summer if he decides to opt of his con-
tract, but he said he still hasn’t made up his mind
about his future. “I know there’s a lot of talk out
there but I’ll just be patient and see what hap-
pens,” Crawford told AOL FanHouse.
Here’s one sign that the economy will
remain a key factor on how teams handle
their offseasons this summer: Bucks general
manager John Hammond told the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel that the team will be making
decisions based as much on financial consid-
erations as on basketball considerations.
“Right now, having (financial) discipline is
the best thing for us,” said Hammond.
That will affect everything from decisions on
free agents Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions to
whom the Bucks select in the June 25 draft.
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 9
Playoff glance
CONFERENCE FINALS
(Best-of-7), all times ET
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland vs. Orlando
(Orlando leads series 3-2)
May 20: Orlando 107, Cleveland 106
May 22: Cleveland 96, Orlando 95
May 24: Orlando 99, Cleveland 89
May 26: Orlando 116,
Cleveland 114, OT
May 28: Cleveland 112, Orlando 102
Today: Cleveland at Orlando,
8:30 p.m.
Monday: Orlando at Cleveland, 8:30
p.m., if necessary
WESTERN CONFERENCE
L.A. Lakers vs. Denver
(L.A. Lakers win series 4-2)
May 19: L.A. Lakers 105, Denver 103
May 21: Denver 106, L.A. Lakers 103
May 23: L.A. Lakers 103, Denver 97
May 25: Denver 120, L.A. Lakers 101
May 27: L.A. Lakers 103,
Denver 94
Friday: L.A. Lakers 119, Denver 92
Finals
Cleveland-Orlando winner vs.
L.A. Lakers
Thursday: Cleveland-Orlando winner
vs. L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m., ABC
June 7: Cleveland-Orlando winner vs.
L.A. Lakers, 8 p.m., ABC
June 9: Cleveland-Orlando winner vs.
L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m., ABC
June 11: Cleveland-Orlando winner vs.
L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m., ABC
June 14: Cleveland-Orlando winner vs.
L.A. Lakers, 8 p.m., if necessary, ABC
June 16: Cleveland-Orlando winner vs.
L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m., if necessary, ABC
June 18: Cleveland-Orlando winner vs.
L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m., if necessary, ABC
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NHL SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 10

STANLEY CUP FINALS

S GAME 1: PITTSBURGH VS. DETROIT Tonight, 8 ET, NBC

Depth, addition of Hossa make Wings SN’s pick

BY CRAIG CUSTANCE | ccustance@sportingnews.com lucrative offer from Pittsburgh to sign
a one-year deal with Detroit. He
On paper this should be an easy series to predict. The Detroit Red thought the Red Wings had a better
Wings needed only six games to handle Pittsburgh in last year’s chance to win the Cup—and said so.
Stanley Cup finals—after which, one of the Penguins’ best forwards Crosby said there are no hard
joined the Red Wings. feelings.
“There wasn’t an issue here,” GERRY BROOME / AP
Subtract Marian Hossa from the Penguins, add him to the Red
Crosby said on Thursday. “It was Sidney Crosby has averaged almost a point
Wings and you get a Detroit sweep, right? made to be a big deal. There was and a half a game in the playoffs in his career.
Not even close. never an issue here, he made his
The roster may be similar, but this is a different Pittsburgh team choice and that was it.” THE STAR SO FAR
than Detroit saw last spring. For one, Dan Bylsma is the new coach On Wednesday, Hossa said he F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh: In
and has the offensively gifted Penguins playing a more aggressive occasionally texted Crosby during 42-career playoff games, Crosby is
up-tempo style. the season. They’re cool. averaging 1.43 points per game.
It’s also a Pittsburgh team more experienced this time around. “We talked with Sid during the Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario
“We’ve been through it,” Sidney Crosby said. “I think we’re year a few times—good talk,” Lemieux have higher averages.
prepared for what’s ahead. There shouldn’t be any surprises. It Hossa said. This year, he’s five goals shy of the
took us a couple games last year to get our feet under us. By that If Crosby and the Penguins have NHL single-playoff record of 19. If
forgiven Hossa, they might be the the Penguins win, he’s your Conn
time, we were down 2-0. I think we’ll be ready from the start.”
only people in Pittsburgh to do so. Smythe winner.

THREE MAJOR QUESTIONS
1. How healthy is Detroit? The Red
Wings managed to elimi-
nate the Blackhawks despite
playing the final two games of the
conference finals without Norris
Trophy nominee Nicklas Lidstrom,
Hart Trophy nominee Pavel
Datsyuk and playoff veteran Kris
Draper. The team also was blind-
sided when impressive rookie
defenseman Jonathan Ericsson
missed Wednesday’s game after
undergoing emergency surgery to
remove his appendix.
The Red Wings certainly weren’t
helped by the rush to start the
Stanley Cup finals this weekend.
“Normally, when you win in five
games, you get this little break,”
coach Mike Babcock said. “But I
think we’re trying to jam.”
Babcock said Friday Lidstrom
and Ericsson will play in Game 1
and Datsyuk will be a game-time
decision.
How will Marian Hossa handle the
2. pressure? One bonus of being
a star forward for the Red Wings is
you’re one of many. Hossa was able
to have a quiet 40-goal season while
sharing the spotlight with other star
forwards like Henrik Zetterberg,
Datsyuk and Johan Franzen.
But now, the focus is squarely on
him. He’s only the second forward in
NHL history to switch sides in a finals
rematch and the first since 1964,
joining John MacMillan. Adding fuel
to the rivalry, Hossa didn’t hide his
reasoning when declining a more
Will Evgeni Malkin show up this
3. year? The RedWings were
able to jump to a 2-0 lead last year,
largely because Malkin was a
non-factor. He was held without a
point in those two games, regis-
tered only one shot on goal and was
a minus-3. He got better as the
series progressed and will benefit
greatly from that experience.
He had six goals in the four-game
sweep of Carolina in the Eastern
Conference finals and appears poised
to break through in his second
appearance in the Cup finals.
“You don’t quite understand it
until you’re in it,” Pittsburgh coach
Dan Bylsma said.
Now, Malkin understands. That
makes the Penguins much more
dangerous this time around.
NEEDS TO RAISE HIS GAME
F Tomas Holmstrom, Detroit: Holm-
strom assisted on the game-winner
against Chicago on Wednesday,
which was great. But it was his
first point since April 23 against
the Blue Jackets, way back in the
first round of the playoffs. And,
yes, Columbus made the playoffs.
OUR PICK
Detroit in seven: The injuries
definitely scare us, but if Lidstrom
can play at full speed, the Red
Wings will survive the test.
Detroit’s depth and experience—
and don’t forget Hossa—will be
PAUL SANCYA / AP enough to edge the Pens.
Despite defecting to Detroit, Marian Hossa says he and ex-teammate Sidney Crosby are cool.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
STANLEY CUP FINALS
S GAME 1:
Flop by Pens’ Fleury not likely to be repeated in finals
DETROIT—The Pittsburgh Penguins
are set to put the experience of last
year’s Stanley Cup finals appear-
ance to good use in the rematch
against the Detroit Red Wings.
No one more than Marc-Andre
Fleury.
The young Penguins goalie took a
flop as he raced to the ice before
Game 1 at Joe Louis Arena. He ran
down the tunnel before the final
warmup and tumbled off the step
and onto the ice. He has a chance to
make up for that entrance when
this year’s final series kicks off
again in Detroit tonight.
Fleury has taken note of where
the red carpet will be and other
quirky spots in the aging arena.
“I also know the size of the door,
you know,” he said Friday with a
laugh. “They’re a little smaller here
so I’ve got to watch for that.”
Fleury shared the podium during
Friday’s media day with Penguins
captain Sidney Crosby, who
couldn’t resist a wide smile and a
bit of a laugh as Fleury recalled
what is likely his most embarrass-
ing hockey moment.
“I heard a lot about it,” Fleury
said. “I got made fun of for that.”
Even Penguins general manager
Ray Shero couldn’t resist getting in
a shot at Fleury.
“Marc-Andre needs to make a
good appearance as he jumps onto
the ice and not step on the carpet,”
Shero said. “That would be really
good. For us to have success in the
Stanley Cup finals, we have to
NHL
PITTSBURGH VS. DETROIT Tonight, 8 ET, NBC
NOTEBOOK
KARL B. DEBLAKER / AP
Marc-Andre Fleury had a rough introduction to the finals last season.
continue playing the way we’re whether or not it’s going to be a
playing. You can talk about the factor or not. So I really don’t have
experience we drew upon last an answer as to what this experi-
year, but those are words. We’re ence from last year is going to
going to see at the end of the series mean.”
Wait, didn’t we win?
Detroit Red Wings coach Mike
Babcock admits that Pittsburgh
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is
the face of the NHL, but that cam-
paign might have gone a bit too far.
On the eve of the Stanley Cup
finals rematch between the defend-
ing champion Red Wings and Pen-
guins, Babcock joked that maybe
there has been some revisionist his-
tory created by the NHL’s market-
ing department.
“We know them, they know us.
Should be a good battle. I think it’s
real good for the National Hockey
League,” Babcock said. “We’re an
Original Six team with real good
players. Sidney Crosby, I mean, you
can’t turn on any TV that covers
hockey without seeing him.
“Actually, when I watch the com-
mercials from last year I think they
won, not us. So I have to check
every once in a while to get that fig-
ured out.”
Houdini Helm
The Red Wings like prospects to
become “over ripe”—as general
manager Ken Holland says—in the
minors before getting a chance to
play a lot for them in the regular
season.
If the young players are good
enough to dominate for Grand Rap-
ids in the AHL, they get an oppor-
tunity in the playoffs.
Darren Helm is a the latest exam-
ple of the patient strategy working
well.
The 22-year-old forward was
ready to play an increased role in
the last game of the Western Con-
ference finals when Detroit’s injury-
depleted team needed him.
In perhaps one of the most spec-
tacular efforts on a penalty kill,
Helm kept the puck away from the
Chicago Blackhawks by himself.
“That was impressive,” teammate
Kris Draper said Friday. “As a pen-
alty killer, you love to be able to hold
onto the puck and drag it for a little
bit. But for 26, 27 seconds or what-
ever it was, there were two guys on
him and he was going in between
them, under some guys and ended
up getting a great scoring chance.”
Tuning in
Versus has something to look for-
ward to as it gears up to televise
Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup
finals between the defending cham-
pion Detroit Red Wings and the
Pittsburgh Penguins. The just-
completed conference finals on
Versus were the highest-rated third
round on cable since 1998. The sec-
ond round was the best on cable
since 1997. Versus has posted a 27
percent increase in viewership over
last year. In the conference finals,
the rating rose to 1.5 over last year’s
1.2—a 25 percent increase. Total
viewership in the round that fea-
tured Detroit’s five-game win over
Chicago in the Western Conference
and Pittsburgh’s sweep of Carolina
in the East went up 30 percent.
— The Associated Press
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 11
Stanley Cup finals
Detroit vs. Pittsburgh
(Best-of-7), All times ET
Today: Pittsburgh at Detroit, 8
p.m., NBC
Sunday: Pittsburgh at Detroit, 8
p.m., NBC
Tuesday: Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8
p.m., Versus
Thursday: Detroit at Pittsburgh, 8
p.m., Versus
Saturday, June 6: Pittsburgh at
Detroit, 8 p.m., if necessary, NBC
Tuesday, June 9: Detroit at
Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., if necessary,
NBC
Friday, June 12: Pittsburgh at
Detroit, 8 p.m., if necessary, NBC
Betting line
FAVORITE ..........LINE UNDERDOG............... LINE
at Detroit ................-160 Pittsburgh .....................+140
Odds to win series
Detroit ....................-150 Pittsburgh..........+130
NHL calendar
Through today—NHL
Combine, Toronto.
June 18—NHL awards show at
Las Vegas.
June 26-27—NHL draft,
Montreal.
July 1—Free agency signing
period begins.
July 5—Deadline for player-
elected salary arbitration.
July 6—Deadline for club-
elected salary arbitration.
July 10—Deadline for
eligible players to elect Group 5
free agency.
July 20-Aug. 4—Salary arbitra-
tion hearings held.
Aug. 6—Deadline for sal-
ary arbitration decisions to be
rendered.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NHL SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 12
INSIDE DISH NHL playoff leaders
(Through May 29)
Goals Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh 17 9

Balsillie unveils plans for Hamilton arena renovation Name Team

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
GP
17
17
14
G
14
12
11
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim
Sergei Gonchar, Pittsburgh
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
Kris Versteeg, Chicago
13
15
14
17
9
9
8
7
Johan Franzen, Detroit 16 10 Nicklas Backstrom, Washington 14 6
Jim Balsillie, the BlackBerry CEO who being a good team.”
Eric Staal, Carolina 18 10 Brian Campbell, Chicago 17 6
has made an offer to buy the Phoenix Patrick Kane, Chicago 16 9 Johan Franzen, Detroit 16 6
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit 16 9 Martin Havlat, Chicago 16 6
Coyotes and move them to southern According to TSN, Montreal police Patrick Kane, Chicago 16 6
Daniel Cleary, Detroit 16 8
Ontario, has unveiled his vision for a have cleared Andrei Kostitsyn and Sergei Corey Perry, Anaheim 13 8 Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim 13 6
Chris Pronger, Anaheim 13 6
revamped Copps Coliseum, the Hamil- Kostitsyn of any illegal activity after the Bill Guerin, Pittsburgh 17 7
Brian Rafalski, Detroit 11 6
Jussi Jokinen, Carolina 18 7
ton arena he hopes will become the Canadiens players were linked to a man Patrick Sharp, Chicago 17 7 Brent Seabrook, Chicago 17 6
team’s new home. who was arrested in a sting operation Jonathan Toews, Chicago 17 7 Alexander Semin, Washington 14 6
Ruslan Fedotenko, Pittsburgh 17 6 Jonathan Toews, Chicago 17 6
Balsillie’s plan for the 24-year-old in February. Marian Hossa, Detroit 16 6
building includes an atrium-style TSN cited a report by Le Journal de Phil Kessel, Boston 11 6 Game-winning goals
Marc Savard, Boston 11 6 Name Team GP GW
entrance lobby, luxury boxes, lounges Montreal that the police checked out Jussi Jokinen, Carolina 18 3
Martin Havlat, Chicago 16 5
and restaurants, new seats and a state- 5,000 phone calls made by Pasquale Man- Bobby Ryan, Anaheim 13 5 Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh 17 3
Michael Ryder, Boston 11 5 Steve Bernier, Vancouver 10 2
of-the art video scoreboard. It would giola in search for any incriminating Daniel Cleary, Detroit 16 2
Sergei Samsonov, Carolina 17 5
seat about 18,000. evidence against the brothers. A police Mikael Samuelsson, Detroit 16 5 Johan Franzen, Detroit 16 2
Bill Guerin, Pittsburgh 17 2
But what’s unclear is who will foot spokesman told the newspaper that Alexander Semin, Washington 14 5
Tyler Kennedy, Pittsburgh 17 2
the bill for the $150-million renovation. about 2,000 of the calls involved the Assists Patrick Marleau, San Jose 6 2
A Balsillie spokesman said Friday that Kostitsyns, but there was no evidence Name Team GP A Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim 13 2
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh 17 16 Sami Salo, Vancouver 7 2
he would cover the cost of “short-term” of criminal activity. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh 17 14 Mikael Samuelsson, Detroit 16 2
renovations but added that the rink is Mangiola faces several charges, Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim 13 14 Marc Savard, Boston 11 2
Valtteri Filppula, Detroit 16 13 Patrick Sharp, Chicago 17 2
owned by the City of Hamilton, which including drug trafficking, conspiracy Nicklas Backstrom, Washington 14 12 Jonathan Toews, Chicago 17 2
could request infrastructure funds and possession of a firearm in connec- Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh 17 11
from the federal and provincial tion with cocaine transactions. Brent Seabrook, Chicago 17 11 Shooting percentage
Sergei Gonchar, Pittsburgh 15 10 Name Team GP G S PCTG
governments. Martin Havlat, Chicago 16 10 Marc Savard, Boston 11 6 17 35.3
R.J. Umberger, Columbus 4 3 9 33.3
“A new team for the best new hockey DAVE CHIDLEY / AP The St. Petersburg Times reported Alexander Ovechkin, Washington 14 10
Patrick Kane, Chicago 16 9 34 26.5
Johan Franzen, Detroit 16 9
market deserves spectacular new home Jim Balsillie’s plan for the Copps Coliseum includes an atrium-style entrance lobby, luxury boxes and new seats. that Dominick Tortorella, the 19-year-old Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit 14 9 Christopher Higgin, Montreal 4 2 8 25.0
ice, and that’s exactly what the upgraded son of New York Rangers coach John Tor- Alexander Semin, Washington 14 9 Jussi Jokinen, Carolina 18 7 28 25.0
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit 16 9 Fredrik Modin, Columbus 4 1 4 25.0
Copps Coliseum would offer,” Balsillie according to The Associated Press. quiet while the Avalanche offered for- torella, was arrested early Friday morn- Dave Bolland, Chicago 17 8 Eric Nystrom, Calgary 6 2 8 25.0
said in a release. “This facility will Zezel, who played three-plus seasons mer goaltending great Patrick Roy his job, ing for “obstructing or opposing an Brian Campbell, Chicago 17 8 Sami Salo, Vancouver 7 3 12 25.0
Mike Green, Washington 14 8 Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh 17 14 63 22.2
deliver unparalleled excitement and with the Toronto Maple Leafs, died spoke briefly with Sportsnet.ca, a Cana- officer without violence.” According to Joni Pitkanen, Carolina 18 8 Claude Giroux, Philadelphia 6 2 9 22.2
bring fans closer than ever to the Tuesday at age 44 after suffering from a dian broadcast outlet. the report, Dominick Tortorella was Chris Pronger, Anaheim 13 8 Daniel Cleary, Detroit 16 8 38 21.1
Michael Ryder, Boston 11 8 Henrik Sedin, Vancouver 10 4 19 21.1
action.” rare blood disorder for the last 10 “I still love being part of (the team), arrested at 1:14 a.m. by Tampa police Kris Russell, Columbus 4 1 5 20.0
Kris Versteeg, Chicago 17 8
Balsillie has made a $212.5-million years. and I understand that some of the when he disregarded an officer’s order Ray Whitney, Carolina 18 8 Michael Ryder, Boston 11 5 25 20.0
Mats Sundin, Vancouver 8 3 15 20.0
bid for the financially ailing team—on Among those in attendance were for- things that happen within any position to leave the area. The police reportedly
the condition he can move it to Hamil- mer Leafs teammates Doug Gilmour and aren’t always fun, but you deal with were assisting the Bureau of Alcohol
Power play goals Plus/minus
Name Team GP PP
ton. The NHL is against the move and Wendel Clark, and former Toronto general them and hope better days are ahead,” and Tobacco in an operation when the Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh 17 5 Name Team GP +/-
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh 17 5 Daniel Cleary, Detroit 16 16
wants to find a buyer who will keep the manager Cliff Fletcher. Granato told Sportsnet after hearing incident occurred. Jonathan Toews, Chicago 17 5 Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh 17 12
team in Glendale, Ariz. After the service, Clark called Zezel that Roy had turned down the offer. “I Johan Franzen, Detroit 16 3 Milan Lucic, Boston 10 12
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit 14 3 Bill Guerin, Pittsburgh 17 11
Earlier this month, Ontario Premier an “ambassador for the game, an wouldn’t look at it any other way than A lawyer for Hall of Famer Guy Laf- Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim 13 3 Mark Eaton, Pittsburgh 17 10
Dalton McGuinty left the door open to ambassador for how to love life and to be excited to get back and try to get leur says his client will appeal his convic- Alexander Ovechkin, Washington 14 3 Alexander Ovechkin, Washington 14 10
Marc Savard, Boston 11 3 Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit 16 10
using public funds for the project but have fun.” our team back on track. tion on a charge of giving contradictory Valtteri Filppula, Detroit 16 9
Patrick Sharp, Chicago 17 3
said he would have to wait and see if The Toronto native played 15 NHL “That’s the only way to look at it. I testimony, according to TSN. Eric Staal, Carolina 18 3 Johan Franzen, Detroit 16 9
Jonathan Ericsson, Detroit 15 8
“we get a sensible proposal.” seasons and scored 219 goals in 873 still think there are some good things Gilles Ouimet says a motion to appeal Kris Versteeg, Chicago 17 3
Tom Poti, Washington 14 8
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit 16 3
games. this organization can do. With the third was filed this week after the former Brian Rafalski, Detroit 11 8
Hundreds of mourners packed a pick in the draft and some healthy bod- Montreal great was found guilty of giv- Power play points Brad Stuart, Detroit 16 8
Name Team GP PPP Phil Kessel, Boston 11 7
Toronto-area church Friday for the The Denver Post reported that Colo- ies back to go with a few adjustments to ing contradictory testimony during his Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh 17 12 Brett Lebda, Detroit 16 7
funeral of former NHL player Peter Zezel, rado coach Tony Granato, who remained our lineup, I think we can get back to son’s bail hearing in 2007. Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit 14 10 Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit 14 7
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Rockies fire Hurdle, call on Tracy for rest of season
The Rockies fired manager Clint
Hurdle less than two years after
their incredible “Roctober” run to
the World Series. He was replaced
by bench coach Jim Tracy.
Without reliable hitting, pitch-
ing or defense, the Rockies stum-
bled to an 18-28 start entering
Friday.
Hurdle, who had been Colora-
do’s manager since replacing Buddy
Bell three weeks into the 2002 sea-
son, was 534-625 for a .460 win-
ning percentage in his seven-plus
seasons. Since the Rockies’ one
and only trip to the World Series
in 2007, where they were swept
by the Boston Red Sox, Colorado
was 24 games under .500 with
Hurdle at the helm.
Tracy has a 562-572 managerial
record with the Los Angeles Dodg-
ers (2001-05) and Pittsburgh
Pirates (2006-07), with a division
title in 2004. He joined the Rock-
ies’ staff this winter at the behest
of general manager Dan O’Dowd.
Phillies P Brett Myers will have
hip surgery, and he could miss the
rest of the season. Phillies general
manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Myers
has a torn labrum and no date has
been set for surgery. Myers was
examined by Dr. Bryan Kelly in New
York on Friday and Kelly recom-
mended the surgery.
Phillies team doctor Michael Cic-
cotti said Myers could return to
mound to begin throwing 10 to 12
weeks after the operation and it
would be another three to six weeks
before the pitcher would be ready.
Amaro said the team will look for
Myers’ replacement in the organiza-
tion, despite rumors the Phillies
INSIDE DISH
Brett Myers will miss the rest of the season after deciding to have surgery on his right hip.
were interested in trading for a pitch.
er.
Before Friday’s game at Wrig-
ley Field, Dodgers manager Joe
Torre told reporters that OF Manny
Ramirez should skip the All-Star
Game. Despite being suspended
for 50 games for testing positive
for violating baseball’s drug policy,
Ramirez is fourth among N.L. out-
fielders in the All-Star voting.
According to the Chicago Tri-
bune, the White Sox placed OF Car-
los Quentin (foot) on the 15-day
disabled list Friday. The move is
retroactive to May 26. Quentin,
who broke through with a .288-
36-100 season in 2008, is hitting
Baseball
EVAN VUCCI / AP
.229 with eight homers and 20
RBIs this season. In a correspond-
ing move, the White Sox activated
OF Dewayne Wise (shoulder) from
the disabled list.
Although it might be a case of
too little, too late, Diamondbacks P
Brandon Webb (shoulder) told The Ari-
zona Republic that he hopes to return
before the All-Star break. The
22-game winner from last season
hasn’t pitched since opening day and
has just started playing catch. Webb
hopes to being throwing off flat
ground next week, and if that goes
well, the next step will be throwing
off a mound in a bullpen session.
Still not ready to start after
crashing into the outfield wall ear-
lier this week, Yankees OF Melky
Cabrera (shoulder) will be available
off the bench this weekend, accord-
ing to The Star Ledger in New Jer-
sey. It’s the latest bit of good news
for the Yankees, who learned ear-
lier this week that P Brian Bruney
(elbow) wouldn’t need surgery.
A day after Astros general
manager Ed Wade told the Houston
Chronicle that he doesn’t give votes
of confidence, Astros owner Drayton
McLane did just that. Amid specula-
tion that manager Cecil Cooper’s job is
in jeopardy because of the last-place
Astros’ poor start, McLane came to
Cooper’s defense. McLane told the
Houston Chronicle, “He’s only been
the manager for a year and a half. I
think that’s somewhat premature
(to discuss firing Cooper).”
The Mets traded backup C
Ramon Castro and cash to the White
Sox for P Lance Broadway. Castro hit
.253 with three homers and 13
RBIs in 26 games this season with
New York. Castro was made
expendable by the play of rookie
Omir Santos, who drove in both runs
in the Mets’ 2-1 victory over the
Florida Marlins in 11 innings on
Friday night.
According to the St. Louis Post-
Dispatch, the Cardinals are in “fact-
gathering” mode with SS Khalil
Greene. Greene suffers from anxi-
ety problems that have affected
him on the field and off, and he
was held out of the lineup Wednes-
day after what manager Tony La
Russa called a “tough game” on
Tuesday.
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 13
THE LAUNCHING PAD
What to expect in the major leagues today
ROB CARR / AP
CC Sabathia will make his first start in Cleveland since last July’s trade.
Good to CC ya
Former Indians ace and current Yankees multimillionaire CC Sabathia will
start at Progressive Field tonight for the first time since his trade to Milwaukee
last July. Of Sabatahia’s 121 career wins, 106 came in a Cleveland uniform.
These two teams split a four-game series at Yankee Stadium in April, with
Sabathia getting a no-decision in his start. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed one
earned run but tied a season high with five walks allowed. After handing out
14 free passes in his first four starts, Sabathia has walked only seven batters
in his past six outings.
A little support
Few will claim Barry Zito still has the stuff he did in his prime, but his 1-5
record this season is deceiving. The Giants have scored a total of 23 runs in
his nine starts, and twice Zito has settled for a no-decision despite tossing
seven scoreless innings. Tonight, he will make only his second start against a
non-A.L./N.L. West foe this season when the Cardinals visit AT&T Park. Taking
the hill for St. Louis will be Chris Carpenter, who has yet to allow an earned
run in 23 innings pitched this season and has a 23:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Palm ball
Who is Matt Palmer, and what is he doing in the Angels’ rotation? Because of
the injuries (and tragedy) that decimated Los Angeles’ starting five, the team
had to dig deep into its system to find a capable arm. At the time of his call-
up, the 30-year-old Palmer had an 11.74 ERA in two starts at Class AAA. Going
into tonight’s start against Seattle, Palmer is 5-0 with a 4.82 ERA, though the
Mariners roughed him up (five earned runs in five innings) earlier this month.
Unlike Zito, Palmer gets plenty of run support (46 runs in his six starts).
— Chris Bahr
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Q&A with ... Orioles RF Nick Markakis
Markakis excited about his start, organization’s future
As the new face of the Baltimore Orioles, courtesy
of the six-year, $66.1 million contract extension he
signed in the offseason, Markakis is following in the
footsteps of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken—perhaps the
most beloved figure in Baltimore’s tradition-rich base-
ball history. Markakis recently spoke with Sporting
News’ Bill Eichenberger about where he and the
Orioles stand as they attempt to reclaim past glory.
Q: You’ve been red hot and are on
pace to establish new career
highs in just about every key offensive
category. Is this your best start?
A: If you’ve looked at my track record,
yes, absolutely 100 percent. It’s my
best start ever—college, minors, high
school, here in pro ball. I can’t complain.
Q: A: What about the team’s start?
It’s early. We have great
potential, great guys here.
It’s going to be a grind. But we’re going to
play hard every day.
Q: Is it hard to not get frustrated
that the team is not improving
more quickly?
A: No. Baseball is a game of being
patient. It’s a long season. A lot can
happen. If you get frustrated, it just makes
it worse, makes it a lot harder. That’s one
thing that I’ve learned. You just have to
compete every day. That’s all you can do.
Q: With the long-term contract
that you agreed to in the
offseason, you obviously see a bright
future for this franchise. Is there a
light at the end of the tunnel for this
team?
A: Absolutely. I’ve said it a thousand
times. (President of baseball
operations) Andy (MacPhail) has come in
and has done nothing but make this team
better. And he’s going to continue to do
The Orioles’ Nick Markakis is on pace to tie his career high in homers (23) and set a career-best with 129 RBIs.
that. We have great young guys in the
minor leagues, great pitchers. Everybody
has heard about (catcher Matt) Wieters.
We’re excited about getting those guys up
and contributing any way they can.
Q: Have you talked to Cal Ripken
Jr. about being the face of the
franchise, about what that entails and
how to handle it?
A: I talk to Cal every so often. He pops
his head in every now and then. It’s
Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 14
pitcher should. It’s different once you get to
the outfield. You work on being accurate. Often overlooked
You don’t necessarily have to have the
strongest arm, but I like to be accurate, get Why should Nick Markakis get more
rid of the ball quickly and make a good attention as a superstar in the game? A
throw every time. few of his teammates weigh in:
Q: You’ve obviously accomplished
that, leading the majors with 17
“You look at his credentials, not only
offensively, but I think people don’t pay
outfield assists last season. But do you
ever have to fight the urge to get back
on the mound?
as much attention defensively. I think he
had 17 outfield assists last year. And it’s
not just throwing. He plays a great out-
A: It’s always in the back of my mind.
I’ve done it for so long it’s kind of
hard to let it go. I mess around with it. I go
field when it comes to fly balls, sinking
line drives that he catches. Plus, he hits
lefties as good as he hits righties. He hits
in the bullpen sometimes and mess for power. He hits for average. He gets on
around. But as far as that goes, I know it’s base. He drives in runs. All those things
behind me. I’ll always have a love for it. But are hard to come by in one player. When
I’ve moved on. a guy can hit .300, hit 20-plus home
runs, drive in 100 runs, be on base 40
Q: How long will it be before the
Orioles are back in contention
in the A.L. East?
percent of the time and play great
defense, how can you not mention him
as one of the game’s greats?”
A: It’s hard to say. Baseball is a game of
having everybody clicking at the
right time. Once we get some of these guys
— Orioles 2B Brian Roberts
“He puts up consistent numbers. He
up here and establish a lineup, a rotation hasn’t hit 30 homers yet, but I think
and a bullpen, I wouldn’t say it’s out of the
question next year. It’s all a matter of
getting everybody up here, so we can know
he is on his way. He’s just one of those
guys who’s not just a bat. It’s just
something you see. He’s just one of
ROB CARR / AP what everybody can and can’t do. those guys who will dive for you, slide
for you, go into a wall for you. Then he
weird. Every time he comes in, we don’t Q: How does it make you feel when
your teammates and others in
has the bat to back it up.”
— Orioles RP George Sherrill
talk about baseball. It’s just small talk. He
comes in and chats with us. But it’s really
just normal conversation.
baseball mention you and your all-
around game as belonging among the
elite players in the game?
“Nick is one of my favorite players.
He is a great teammate. He works hard.
Q: Do you still have that 96-mph A: It makes you feel good. It makes you
appreciate all the hard work you’ve
He plays hard. He’s ready to play every
day and gives us 100 percent on and off
fastball you threw as a pitcher
for Greece in the 2004 Olympics?
done to get here. You grow up watching
these guys play, and you never think you
the field. He’s a great player, and I
believe he is truly one of the superstars
A: Right now, no. Whenever I was
pitching, I was in a pitching routine,
are going to be out there playing with them
one day. And when it does come, you make
in the game. He deserves everything
he’s getting with his new big contract.”
running every day, long tossing, throwing
bullpens, just keeping my arm like a
the best of it. You go out there and have
fun, and whatever happens, happens.
— Orioles RP Danys Baez
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 15
Fantasy Focus LEAGUE LEADERS
American League Standings
Batting Average Home Runs East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Hitter rankings New York 28 20 .583 — — 7-3 W-2 14-9 14-11
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Boston 28 21 .571 ½ — 5-5 L-1 17-6 11-15
Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Toronto 28 23 .549 1½ 1 1-9 W-1 17-6 11-17
Bartlett Tampa Bay .373 Beltran New York .358 CPena Tampa Bay 16 AdGonzalez San Diego 18 Tampa Bay 24 27 .471 5½ 5 4-6 W-1 12-10 12-17
Baltimore 23 26 .469 5½ 5 7-3 W-5 16-11 7-15
MiCabrera Detroit .363 Pence Houston .351 Teixeira New York 15 Ibanez Philadelphia 17
AdJones Baltimore .360 Tejada Houston .344 Bay Boston 14 Dunn Washington 16 Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
VMartinez Cleveland .352 Ibanez Philadelphia .343 Morneau Minnesota 14 Bruce Cincinnati 14 Detroit 26 21 .553 — — 5-5 L-2 15-7 11-14
Minnesota 24 26 .480 3½ 4½ 6-4 L-2 19-11 5-15
Morneau Minnesota .346 Hudson Los Angeles .338 Four tied 13 Pujols St. Louis 14 Kansas City 23 25 .479 3½ 4½ 3-7 L-2 15-13 8-12
ISuzuki Seattle .344 JUpton Arizona .337 Reynolds Arizona 13 Chicago 22 25 .468 4 5 7-3 W-1 12-10 10-15
AHill Toronto .341 Two tied .335 Two tied 12 Cleveland 21 29 .420 6½ 7½ 7-3 L-1 11-12 10-17
NAM Y. HUH / AP West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Runs Stolen Bases Texas 29 19 .604 — — 6-4 W-2 17-8 12-11
Alexei Ramirez has been swinging a hot bat. Los Angeles 24 23 .511 4½ 3 5-5 L-1 13-11 11-12
A glance at the movers and shak- A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Seattle 23 26 .469 6½ 5 5-5 W-2 12-12 11-14
Oakland 18 28 .391 10 8½ 4-6 L-3 11-13 7-15
ers in the latest hitter rankings: Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team
BRoberts
Scutaro
Baltimore
Toronto
43
41
Ibanez
Pujols
Philadelphia
St. Louis
39
39
Crawford
Ellsbury
Tampa Bay
Boston
30
21
Bourn
Taveras
Houston
Cincinnati
16
12
National League Standings
UP East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
▲ 2B/SS Alexei Ramirez, White Sox. AdJones Baltimore 40 Zimmerman Washington 39 Figgins Los Angeles 19 Burriss San Francisco 11 New York 27 20 .574 — — 6-4 W-4 16-8 11-12
Morneau Minnesota 40 Hudson Los Angeles 37 Abreu Los Angeles 15 Fowler Colorado 11 Philadelphia 26 20 .565 ½ 1 6-4 W-1 10-14 16-6
Ramirez has moved up to No. 2 in Crawford Tampa Bay 39 ASoriano Chicago 36 BUpton Tampa Bay 15 Kemp Los Angeles 11 Atlanta 24 24 .500 3½ 4 5-5 W-1 11-12 13-12
the order just in time to capitalize Markakis Baltimore 38 AdGonzalez San Diego 35 Bartlett Tampa Bay 14 JosReyes New York 11
Florida 22 27 .449 6 6½ 4-6 L-1 9-14 13-13
Washington 13 34 .277 14 14½ 2-8 L-4 7-16 6-18
on his hot hitting. Four tied 37 Werth Philadelphia 34 Two tied 11 DWright New York 11
▲ C Joe Mauer, Twins. Mauer has Central
Milwaukee
W
28
L
20
Pct
.583
GB WCGB L10
— — 4-6
Str
W-1
Home
14-9
Away
14-11
been an absolute beast since RBIs Pitching (5 decisions) St. Louis 28 20 .583 — — 7-3 L-1 17-9 11-11
returning from the D.L. and leads Cincinnati 26 21 .553 1½ 1½ 6-4 L-1 13-12 13-9
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Chicago 24 23 .511 3½ 3½ 3-7 W-1 15-9 9-14
all true catchers in home runs Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Pittsburgh 21 27 .438 7 7 4-6 L-3 11-10 10-17
despite missing all of April. Longoria Tampa Bay 54 Ibanez Philadelphia 46 Palmer Los Angeles 5-0 1.000 Martis Washington 5-0 1.000 Houston 19 27 .413 8 8 2-8 W-1 9-15 10-12
▲ 3B Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks. Bay Boston 48 Fielder Milwaukee 45 Greinke Kansas City 8-1 .889 Broxton Los Angeles 5-0 1.000 West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Reynolds is flashing speed to go Morneau Minnesota 45 Dunn Washington 42 Halladay Toronto 8-1 .889 Cain San Francisco 6-1 .857 Los Angeles 34 16 .680 — — 7-3 L-1 18-5 16-11
Hunter Los Angeles 40 Pujols St. Louis 40 Slowey Minnesota 7-1 .875 Pelfrey New York 4-1 .800 San Francisco 24 23 .511 8½ 3½ 5-5 W-4 17-8 7-15
with his power, and should soon San Diego 24 24 .500 9 4 8-2 L-1 17-6 7-18
Markakis Baltimore 40 Hawpe Colorado 36 Buehrle Chicago 6-1 .857 LiHernandez New York 4-1 .800 Arizona 21 28 .429 12½ 7½ 6-4 L-1 11-18 10-10
gain 1B eligibility. CPena Tampa Bay 40 Loney Los Angeles 36 Pettitte New York 5-1 .833 Stults Los Angeles 4-1 .800 Colorado 19 28 .404 13½ 8½ 4-6 W-1 8-13 11-15
Teixeira New York 40 Two tied 35 Penny Boston 5-1 .833 Lincecum San Francisco 4-1 .800 z-first game was a win
DOWN
▼ SS Khalil Greene, Cardinals. HIts Strikeouts
Pitching Matchups Today’s Games (All times Eastern)
Greene has seen decreased play- A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. American League The Line
ing time in the past two weeks Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Boston (Penny 5-1) at Toronto (Tallet 2-3), 1:07 p.m. at Tor -115 Bos +105
because of his anxiety disorder AHill Toronto 76 Hudson Los Angeles 69 Verlander Detroit 85 JSantana New York 86 Minnesota (Liriano 2-6) at Tampa Bay (Price 0-0), 4:10 p.m. at TB -115 Min +105
and was put on the D.L. Friday. VMartinez Cleveland 69 Zimmerman Washington 66 Greinke Kansas City 81 Peavy San Diego 84
Detroit (Verlander 5-2) at Baltimore (Guthrie 4-4), 7:05 p.m. Det -135 at Bal +125
▼ OF Adam Lind, Blue Jays. Lind’s Crawford Tampa Bay 66 Tejada Houston 65 Halladay Toronto 68 Lincecum San Francisco 84
N.Y. Yankees (Sabathia 4-3) at Cleveland (Carmona 2-4), 7:05 p.m. NYY -160 at Cle +150
bat has cooled off this month, but MiCabrera Detroit 65 Beltran New York 62 FHernandez Seattle 66 JVazquez Atlanta 78
Morneau Minnesota 65 FSanchez Pittsburgh 62 Lester Boston 62 Billingsley Los Angeles 76 Chicago White Sox (Buehrle 6-1) at Kansas City (Meche 2-5), 7:10 p.m. at KC -105 ChW -105
he has been given a chance to work Longoria Tampa Bay 64 Ibanez Philadelphia 61 Garza Tampa Bay 60 Haren Arizona 71 Oakland (Bre.Anderson 2-4) at Texas (McCarthy 4-2), 8:05 p.m. at Tex -145 Oak +135
through this slump. Four tied 63 Two tied 59 Beckett Boston 59 JoJohnson Florida 59 Seattle (F.Hernandez 5-3) at L.A. Angels (Palmer 5-0), 9:05 p.m. Sea -115 at LAA +105
▼ 1B/OF Nick Swisher, Yankees. Alex
Rodriguez’s return sparked Mark Doubles Saves National League The Line
Teixeira, but it sent Swisher’s A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L.
Florida (Jo.Johnson 3-1) at N.Y. Mets (Redding 0-1), 1:10 p.m. at NYM -110 Fla +100
average and power plummeting. Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Atlanta (J.Vazquez 4-4) at Arizona (D.Davis 2-6), 4:10 p.m. Atl -125 at Ari +115
— Brad Pinkerton Longoria Tampa Bay 20 FSanchez Pittsburgh 18 Fuentes Los Angeles 13 Bell San Diego 14 L.A. Dodgers (Stults 4-1) at Chicago Cubs (Dempster 3-3), 4:10 p.m. at ChC -135 LAD +125
Callaspo Kansas City 17 Tejada Houston 17 Papelbon Boston 13 FrRodriguez New York 13 Cincinnati (Harang 5-4) at Milwaukee (Bush 3-1), 7:05 p.m. at Mil -120 Cin +110
MORE COVERAGE MYoung Texas 17 Hudson Los Angeles 16 FFrancisco Texas 11 Cordero Cincinnati 13 Houston (W.Rodriguez 5-3) at Pittsburgh (Karstens 1-2), 7:05 p.m. Hou -130 at Pit +120
Byrd Texas 16 Kotchman Atlanta 16 MaRivera New York 10 Qualls Arizona 12 Washington (Martis 5-0) at Philadelphia (Hamels 2-2), 7:05 p.m. at Phi -220 Was +200
Get everything you need to Lind Toronto 16 Beltran New York 15 Jenks Chicago 10 Hoffman Milwaukee 12 San Diego (Geer 1-1) at Colorado (Hammel 1-3), 8:10 p.m. at Col -135 SD +125
dominate your fantasy league at BRoberts Baltimore 16 FLopez Arizona 15 Sherrill Baltimore 10 Franklin St. Louis 12
sportingnews.com/fantasy/baseball St. Louis (C.Carpenter 2-0) at San Francisco (Zito 1-5), 9:05 p.m. St.L -140 at SF +130
Seven tied 15 HaRamirez Florida 15 Three tied 8 Two tied 11
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball FHECEJ?ED

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto 6, Boston 3

Jays glad to be back home again

TORONTO—With some good pitching
and timely hitting, the Toronto Blue
Jays finally got back in the win
Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 3
Boston
Ellsbury cf
Pedroia 2b
AB R H
5 0 2
5 0 1
BI
2
0
BB
0
0
SO
0
0
Avg.
.304
.330
HIGHEST
column.
Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas each
had two RBIs, righthander Casey Jans-
J.Drew rf
Youkilis 1b
Bay lf
D.Ortiz dh
4 1 1
3 0 1
4 0 2
4 0 0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
.252
.374
.287
.189
PERFORMERS
SWEEPSTAKES
Lowell 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .302
sen won for the first time in more than Kottaras c 4 1 1 0 0 0 .205
two years and Toronto snapped a nine- Lugo ss 3 0 2 0 1 0 .276
Totals 36 3 11 3 2 3
game losing streak with a 6-3 victory
over the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Toronto AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Scutaro ss 5 0 2 1 0 1 .294
The Blue Jays returned home after
losing all nine games on a three-city
A.Hill 2b
Rios rf
5
4
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
.341
.262 Own a piece of baseball history! Enter for a chance to win one of
V.Wells cf 3 2 1 0 2 1 .270
trip to Boston, Atlanta and Baltimore Lind lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .283 twenty 22x28 prints of the game’s legendary heroes taken by the greatest
that dropped them from first to third in Rolen 3b 4 1 2 2 0 1 .302
the AL East. Toronto won its fifth Millar dh
Overbay 1b
2
3
1
1
0
1
0
1
2
1
2
1
.279
.275 baseball photographer of all time, Charles M. Conlon.
straight at Rogers Centre, where it is Barajas c 4 1 1 2 0 3 .295
Totals 34 6 10 6 5 11
17-6 overall, and ended a four-game
skid against Boston. Boston
Toronto
010 100 100 —
001 050 00x —
3 11 1
6 10 0 From 1904 to 1942, Sporting News photographer, Charles M. Conlon,
“It’s a relief to finally get (a win),” DARREN CALABRESE / AP
Janssen said. “Against Boston, it’s big The Blue Jays have won five straight at the E: Pedroia (3). LOB: Boston 8, Toronto 10. 2B: Ellsbury immortalized the sport’s greatest players and created some of baseball’s
(10), Bay (12), Kottaras (5), Scutaro (15), Rios (12),
for us.” Rogers Centre and are 17-6 at home.
Things might have gone differently
Rolen 2 (15), Overbay (11). HR: J.Drew (7), off Janssen.
RBIs: Ellsbury 2 (15), J.Drew (22), Scutaro (25), Rolen most famous photographs. Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio,
2 (18), Overbay (23), Barajas 2 (26). SB: V.Wells (9).
had slumping Red Sox slugger David for Janssen. Runners left in scoring position: Boston 6 (D.Ortiz Ted Williams—these visually stunning, black and white photographs of
Ortiz got any more of the ball on a first- “I thought it was staying in and then 3, J.Drew 2, Pedroia); Toronto 8 (Lind 2, Scutaro 2, Millar
inning, bases-loaded drive to center. Vernon started drifting back and I
2, A.Hill, V.Wells). DP: Boston 1 (Pedroia, Lugo, Youkilis);
Toronto 2 (Scutaro, A.Hill, Overbay), (Scutaro, A.Hill, baseball’s golden age are instantly recognized around the world.
Vernon Wells turned Boston away didn’t know,” Janssen said. “Then I Overbay).
empty-handed with a warning-track was just hoping.” Boston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
catch. Batting sixth for the fourth straight Wakefield L, 6-3 4 2⁄3 9 6 6 4 5 101 4.55
D.Bard 2 1⁄3 0 0 0 1 5 32 1.08
“I can’t swing the bat better than
that,” Ortiz said. “Things just aren’t
game, Ortiz finished 0-for-4, dropping
his average to .189. After his near-miss
Saito
Toronto
1 1
IP H
0 0 0 1 22 3.00
R ER BB SO NP ERA
ENTER TODAY!
happening. Where you hit the ball, you in the first, Ortiz lined to first in the
Janssen W, 1-1
League H, 2
7 11
1 0
3 3 2 2 108 4.15
0 0 0 1 10 4.15 sportingnews.com/mlb/draft/sweeps
have no control over that. You have to third, popped to center in the fifth and Downs S, 6-7 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 2.45
wait for the ball to go somewhere flied to left in the eighth. Inherited runners-scored: D.Bard 1-0. HBP: by
nobody’s at. They get paid to catch it. I “All I can do about myself right now Wakefield (Rios). PB: Kottaras. Umpires: Home, Ted
Barrett; First, Tim McClelland; Second, Andy Fletcher;
get paid to hit it.” is laugh because I ain’t gonna cry,” Third, Scott Barry. T: 2:43. A: 32,026 (49,539). This opportunity is brought to you by Gillette Clinical Strength Anti-Perspirant Deodorant. NO
Wells, a two-time Gold Glove win- Ortiz said. PURCHASE NECESSARY. For complete rules and regulations, visit sportingnews.com/mlb/
ner, guessed Ortiz’s drive didn’t have Janssen (1-1), who missed the 2008 draft/sweeps. Starts 12:01 AM ET 05/01/2009 and ends 11:59 PM ET 06/30/2009 when
enough to clear the fence. season after shoulder surgery, started all entries must be received. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States/DC, 18
years of age or older as of the date of entry except employees of Sponsors, their immediate
“I knew he got under it but I figured for the second time since being called
families, and those living in the same household. Void outside the 50 United States/DC and
it was going to stay in the park,” Wells up from Triple-A Las Vegas last Friday. where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. ARV of 20
said. “It was just a matter of getting He won for the first time since May 24, prizes: $150 each. Sponsor: Sporting News, 750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10016 and
back there and catching it.” 2007, at Baltimore. Procter and Gamble Distributing, LLC, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
It still made for a nervous moment — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 17
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 5, Minnesota 3 N.Y. Yankees 3, Cleveland 1 Chicago White Sox 11, Kansas City 2

Rays end five-game slump Yanks on top for first time since ’06 Guillen has reason to smile
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—Back home Rays 5, Twins 3 Yankees 3, Indians 1 KANSAS CITY—Chicago manager White Sox 11, Royals 2
following a calamitous trip, the Minnesota AB R H BI BB SO Avg. New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Ozzie Guillen was pleased with Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Span lf 5 0 0 0 0 0 .303 Jeter ss 5 0 2 1 0 0 .299 Podsednik lf 6 1 1 1 0 0 .275
Tampa Bay Rays righted Mauer c 5 1 3 0 0 1 .417 Damon lf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .299 17 hits, delighted with how his Al.Ramirez ss 6 1 3 2 0 0 .250
themselves. Morneau 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 .346 Teixeira 1b 5 0 1 1 0 0 .273 White Sox used them. Dye rf 3 2 1 2 1 0 .277
Kubel dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .323 A.Rodriguez 3b 4 0 1 0 1 1 .257 Betemit 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .209
Evan Longoria and Carl Craw- Cuddyer rf 4 1 1 1 0 0 .283 Cano 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .318 “We did something we don’t Thome dh 3 1 1 0 1 2 .254
ford homered, James Shields Crede 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .241 Posada c 3 0 2 0 1 1 .325 do this year,” Guillen said after a-J.Nix ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 .205
B.Harris ss 4 0 1 0 0 3 .274 H.Matsui dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .250 Konerko 1b 3 1 2 2 0 0 .315
pitched into the eighth inning, Tolbert 2b 2 0 0 0 1 1 .194 Swisher rf 2 1 1 1 1 0 .227 Chicago pounded slumping 1-Wise pr-rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .227
and the defending A.L. champs Gomez cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Gardner cf 3 1 1 0 0 0 .279 Kansas City 11-2 on Friday Pierzynski c 5 1 3 1 0 1 .286
b-Buscher ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .183 Totals 35 3 10 3 3 5 Bri.Anderson cf 4 1 2 0 1 2 .284
ended a season-high, five-game Totals 35 3 8 2 2 9 night. “Three times we went Getz 2b 5 1 1 1 0 0 .244
losing streak with a 5-3 victory Cleveland AB R H BI BB SO Avg. first-to-third, four times. We Fields 3b 5 2 3 2 0 0 .241
Tampa Bay AB R H BI BB SO Avg. A.Cabrera ss 5 0 2 0 0 2 .323 Totals 43 11 17 11 3 5
over Minnesota on Friday. B.Upton cf 4 1 2 0 0 1 .199 Sizemore dh 5 0 1 0 0 1 .223 put the pressure on the guy.
“This was a make-us-feel-good Crawford lf 4 3 2 1 0 0 .320 V.Martinez 1b 4 0 0 0 1 0 .352 When we got people on base, Kansas City AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Longoria 3b 4 1 3 3 0 0 .333 Jh.Peralta 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .262 Bloomquist cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .287
type of game,” Crawford said. C.Pena 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .233 DeRosa lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 .267 we’d drive them in.” b-Maier ph-cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293
“We really needed it.” W.Aybar dh 4 0 1 1 0 1 .283 B.Francisco rf-cf 3 0 2 0 1 0 .267 Starting with Jermaine Dye’s DeJesus lf 4 1 0 0 0 2 .238
Zobrist 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .305 J.Carroll 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .286 Butler 1b 4 1 2 2 0 0 .288
Shields (4-4) allowed two runs Gross rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .256 TONY DEJAK / AP Shoppach c 4 0 1 0 0 1 .229 first-inning homer off Brian J.Guillen rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .281
and seven hits in seven-plus a-Kapler ph-rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 .186 Andy Pettitte left with a bad back, but picked up his fifth win. Crowe cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .171 Bannister, everybody in Chica- c-Hulett ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Navarro c 3 0 0 0 0 2 .211 a-Choo ph-rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 .293 Jacobs dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .250
innings to get his first win since Brignac ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 33 1 8 1 5 6 go’s starting lineup got involved. Teahen 3b 3 0 2 0 1 1 .281
May 3. The righthander gave up Totals 32 5 10 5 2 5 CLEVELAND—New York game lead over Boston, Everyone had at least one hit and Callaspo 2b 3 0 2 0 1 0 .313
New York 021 000 000 — 3 10 0 Olivo c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .225
a solo homer to Michael Cuddyer Minnesota 000 001 020 — 3 8 0 manager Joe Girardi was which lost in Toronto 6-3. Cleveland 000 001 000 — 1 8 0 scored at least one run. Every- Lu.Hernandez ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 .176
in the sixth and a second run that Tampa Bay 001 003 01x — 5 10 1 more concerned with Andy New York has won 13 of 17 body drove in a run except Brian Totals 31 2 6 2 4 7
a-hit a sacrifice fly for Crowe in the 6th. LOB: New York
scored on Justin Morneau’s RBI a-was announced for Gross in the 6th. b-walked for Pettitte’s health than the since May 13 and have sole 10, Cleveland 11. 2B: Posada (7). RBIs: Jeter (23), Anderson and Jim Thome—who Chicago 130 016 000 — 11 17 0
double off reliever J.P Howell in Gomez in the 9th. E: Longoria (5). LOB: Minnesota 8, Yankee moving back atop possession of first place for Teixeira (40), Swisher (28), Choo (29). SB: B.Francisco has 1,514 career RBIs. Kansas City 000 002 000 — 2 6 1
Tampa Bay 5. 2B: Mauer (6), Morneau (15), B.Harris (6), (8). S: Gardner. SF: Swisher, Choo. Runners left in
the eighth. W.Aybar (6), Zobrist (13). 3B: Mauer (1). HR: Cuddyer the A.L. East for the first the first time since the final scoring position: New York 8 (Posada 2, A.Rodriguez “We did a lot of good things,” b-walked for Bloomquist in the 8th. c-flied out for
The Rays stopped their longest (9), off J.Shields; Crawford (2), off S.Baker; Longoria time in more than two day of the 2006 season. 2, Gardner, H.Matsui 2, Damon); Cleveland 6 (Shoppach said Guillen, whose White Sox J.Guillen in the 9th. 1-ran for Konerko in the 6th. E: Ban-
(13), off S.Baker. RBIs: Morneau (45), Cuddyer (33), 2, DeRosa 2, A.Cabrera, V.Martinez). DP: New York 1 nister (1). LOB: Chicago 9, Kansas City 6. 2B: Pierzynski
skid since dropping seven Crawford (23), Longoria 3 (54), W.Aybar (13). CS: Zobrist years. “It’s better than not being (Jeter, Cano, Teixeira). have won seven of their last 10. (5), Bri.Anderson 2 (4), Fields (4), Callaspo (17). HR:
straight heading into last sea- (2), Kapler (1). S: Tolbert. Runners left in scoring Girardi lifted Pettitte (5-1) in first place,” Girardi said. Alexei Ramirez, A.J. Pier- Dye (13), off Bannister; Butler (4), off Richard. RBIs:
position: Minnesota 5 (Cuddyer, Gomez 2, Kubel, New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Podsednik (6), Al.Ramirez 2 (22), Dye 2 (33), Konerko
son’s All-Star break. They went B.Harris); Tampa Bay 2 (Kapler 2). DP: Minnesota 1 with a three-run lead in the “I’m OK,” the 36-year-old Pettitte W, 5-1 5 6 1 1 5 1 84 4.10 zynski and Josh Fields each 2 (33), Pierzynski (11), Getz (7), Fields 2 (18), Butler 2
2-5 on a disappointing road trip (Mauer, Mauer, B.Harris). sixth inning to keep the Pettitte said. “I guess it’s a Aceves H, 2 3 1 0 0 0 3 42 2.75 had three hits. Paul Konerko, (23). SF: Konerko. Runners left in scoring position:
Ma.Rivera S, 10-11 1 1 0 0 0 2 16 2.61 Chicago 4 (Dye, Podsednik, Betemit, Getz); Kansas City
that concluded with four straight Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA lefthander from further little bit of old age. I strained Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Ramirez, Dye and Fields each 4 (Olivo 3, Butler). DP: Chicago 2 (Al.Ramirez, Getz,
losses at Cleveland, which S.Baker L, 2-6 5 2⁄3 7 4 4 0 4 96 6.32 straining his lower back it in Texas earlier this week, Cl.Lee L, 2-6 6 9 3 3 2 5 112 3.16 had two RBIs. Konerko), (Fields, Getz, Konerko); Kansas City 1 (Olivo,
Henn 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 4 3.86 Herges 2 1 0 0 1 0 28 1.17 Olivo, Lu.Hernandez, Olivo).
entered the series with the worst Crain 1 1⁄3 2 1 1 1 1 29 7.36 and New York moved into then slipped a few times on R.Perez 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 13.89 Chicago also got good pitch-
record in the league. Mijares 1⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 15 2.30 first place in the division the wet mound tonight. I ing. Clayton Richard (2-0) went Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Guerrier 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 5 3.70 Pettitte pitched to 3 batters in the 6th. Inherited Richard W, 2-0 7 6 2 2 1 7 92 3.38
“We definitely needed a win. ... Tampa Bay IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA with a 3-1 win over the was over-striding and the runners-scored: Aceves 3-1. Umpires: Home, Tim seven innings for his second Dotel 1 0 0 0 1 0 19 1.10
It’s a good way to start a home- J.Shields W, 4-4 7 7 2 2 1 5 99 3.53 Cleveland Indians on Fri- dirt was loose. Joe made the Tschida; First, Bob Davidson; Second, Jeff Nelson; Third, straight victory. He gave up six Gobble 1 0 0 0 2 0 15 11.81
Howell H, 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 24 2.52 Mark Carlson. T: 3:05. A: 32,802 (45,199). Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
stand,” said Shields, who had Wheeler H, 7 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 13 4.67 day night. right decision.” hits, including Billy Butler’s Bannister L, 4-2 5 9 7 6 1 4 87 3.64
been 0-2 over his last four starts. Choate S, 1-1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 4 3.86 “Andy didn’t want to Jorge Posada had two hits two-run homer, walked only Ponson 1⁄3 4 4 4 1 0 24 7.27
Farnsworth 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 9 3.57
“You just have to keep plug- J.Shields pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited come out, but I was think- in his return to the Yankees’ one and struck out seven in his J.Wright 1 2 0 0 0 0 19 3.70
ging away,” Rays manager Joe runners-scored: Henn 1-0, Mijares 2-1, Guerrier ing long-term and said, lineup. The catcher missed 12th major league start. Mahay 1 1 0 0 1 0 15 4.08
3-0, Howell 1-1, Choate 1-0. IBB: off Mijares (Zobrist). Bale 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 0.00
Maddon said. “We had a tough Umpires: Home, Dale Scott; First, Jerry Meals; Second, ‘That’s enough,’” Girardi 22 games with a strained The White Sox also got some
go up in Cleveland. That stuff James Hoye; Third, Mike DiMuro. T: 3:03. A: 19,358 said after New York right hamstring. good defense early, including a Bannister pitched to 2 batters in the 6th. Inherited
(36,973). runners-scored: Ponson 1-1, Farnsworth 2-1. WP:
happens during a season. I snapped the Indians’ sea- Mariano Rivera pitched 6-4-3 double play to end the Ponson. Balk: Dotel. Umpires: Home, Ed Rapuano; First,
thought our guys were in good son-high winning streak at the ninth for his 10th save second inning while the out- Chad Fairchild; Second, Paul Nauert; Third, Paul Schrieber.
T: 2:39. A: 26,495 (38,177).
order, we just lost some games.” four games. in 11 chances. come was still in doubt.
— The Associated Press The Yankees took a half- —The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 18
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas 6, Oakland 3, 1st game; Texas 5, Oakland 2, 2nd game

Doubleheader sweep continues hot start for Rangers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS—Scott Feldman over- ried into the series. Rangers 6, Athletics 3, 1st Game Rangers 5, Athletics 2, 2nd Game
came a shaky first inning to solidify his “It’s a letdown,” A’s manager Bob Oakland AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Oakland AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
O.Cabrera ss 5 0 0 0 0 1 .234 O.Cabrera ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 .240
spot in the Texas Rangers rotation. Geren said. “We’ve been playing pretty Kennedy 2b 4 0 3 0 1 0 .408 Kennedy 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .387
Feldman scattered five hits over six good. That puts a damper on things.” Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 .253 Holliday lf 1 1 0 0 3 0 .269
a-Crosby ph-dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .217 Giambi dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 .211
innings, and the Rangers beat the Oak- In the second game, Ryan Sweeney’s Holliday lf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .271 R.Sweeney rf 2 0 1 1 2 0 .250
land Athletics 5-2 to complete a double- RBI double gave the A’s the lead in the Giambi 1b 3 1 0 0 2 1 .208 Crosby 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .209
K.Suzuki c 4 1 1 0 0 0 .285 Powell c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .190
header sweep on Friday night. first inning, but the Rangers jumped R.Sweeney cf 3 0 1 1 1 1 .247 Hannahan 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .207
In the first game, Andruw Jones hit a on righthander Edgar Gonzalez (0-1) T.Buck rf 4 1 3 2 0 0 .235 R.Davis cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .150
Hannahan 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .200 Totals 28 2 5 1 5 3
tiebreaking two-run homer in the for four runs in the bottom half. Josh Totals 36 3 9 3 5 5
eighth to send Texas to a 6-3 victory. Hamilton and Hank Blalock had RBI Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Kinsler 2b 3 1 0 0 1 0 .275
Feldman (4-0) gave up two runs, doubles and Taylor Teagarden added a Kinsler 2b 2 1 0 0 2 0 .279 M.Young 3b 3 0 0 1 0 1 .323
struck out two and walked three to two-run single. M.Young 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .328 Hamilton cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 .235
Hamilton cf 3 1 0 0 1 2 .235 N.Cruz rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .297
help the Rangers win for the sixth time Geren ordered Gonzalez to intention- An.Jones dh 3 2 2 2 1 1 .303 Blalock dh 4 1 1 1 0 0 .245
in eight games. He allowed four baser- ally walk lefthanded batter Chris Davis N.Cruz rf 4 1 2 3 0 0 .298 Dav.Murphy lf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .233
Byrd lf 4 1 1 1 0 1 .287 C.Davis 1b 3 0 0 0 1 2 .194
unners in the first inning, but gave up to pitch to the righty swinging Teagar- C.Davis 1b 4 0 0 0 0 4 .198 Teagarden c 3 1 2 2 1 0 .256
only one run before settling down. den, but the move backfired when Saltalamacchia c 3 0 1 0 1 2 .254 Vizquel ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .340
Andrus ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 .277 Totals 31 5 8 5 3 5
“I thought he did an excellent job to Gonzalez hung a slider to Teagarden. Totals 30 6 6 6 6 10
hang in there the way he did,” Rangers Davis went 0-for-7 with six strikeouts Oakland 101 000 000 — 2 5 1
Oakland 020 001 000 — 3 9 0 Texas 400 100 00x — 5 8 1
manager Ron Washington said. in the doubleheader, upping his majors- Texas 200 000 13x — 6 6 0
Feldman has pitched at least five leading total to 77 Ks. E: E.Gonzalez (1), Teagarden (2). LOB: Oakland 5, Texas
LOB: Oakland 11, Texas 6. 2B: Kennedy (7), Holliday (6), 6. 2B: O.Cabrera (5), R.Sweeney (8), Hamilton (5), Blal-
innings in each of his seven starts since “You’ve got a guy (Davis) who has 12 K.Suzuki (14), N.Cruz (11). HR: T.Buck (3), off Hunter; ock (10). RBIs: R.Sweeney (15), M.Young (19), Hamilton
being inserted into the rotation on home runs, two in the last week, against Byrd (3), off Outman; An.Jones (5), off S.Casilla; N.Cruz (22), Blalock (26), Teagarden 2 (6). SB: Holliday (3). SF:
(13), off S.Casilla. RBIs: R.Sweeney (14), T.Buck 2 (9), M.Young. Runners left in scoring position: Oakland
April 25 when Kris Benson went to the a guy who doesn’t play that often,” An.Jones 2 (14), N.Cruz 3 (35), Byrd (22). SB: Kennedy 2 4 (Crosby 3, Giambi); Texas 2 (Vizquel, M.Young). DP:
disabled list because of right elbow ten- Geren said. “If you can face the next (5), R.Sweeney (4). Runners left in scoring position: Texas 4 (Feldman, Vizquel, C.Davis), (C.Davis, Vizquel,
Oakland 7 (Holliday 2, Hannahan, O.Cabrera, K.Suzuki, C.Davis), (Vizquel, C.Davis), (M.Young, Kinsler, C.Davis).
dinitis. Feldman has a 2.59 ERA this guy, you do it.” Giambi 2); Texas 3 (Byrd, M.Young 2).
season since coming out of the bullpen. Oakland’s Orlando Cabrera scored Oakland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Oakland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA E.Gonzalez L, 0-1 5 8 5 5 3 4 97 5.40
“I started behind in the count on too from third in the third inning as Jason Outman 6 2⁄3 3 3 3 3 9 101 3.06 K.Cameron 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 20 1.72
many guys, and that will drive your Giambi grounded into a double play to Wuertz 1⁄3 0 0 0 2 0 16 1.93 Breslow 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 5.12
S.Casilla L, 1-2 2⁄3 3 3 3 1 1 22 4.74 Ziegler 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 4 3.92
pitch count up,” Feldman said of his make it 4-2. Michael Young’s sacrifice Gray 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.00 Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
early struggles. “But anytime your fly in the fourth stretched Texas’ lead Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Feldman W, 4-0 6 5 2 2 3 2 104 3.91
Hunter 5 1⁄3 7 3 3 3 1 90 5.06 Jennings H, 4 2 0 0 0 1 1 29 3.52
team wins, you’ve got to be grateful.” to 5-2. Guardado 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 11 4.76 C.Wilson S, 4-5 1 0 0 0 1 0 17 3.05
Jason Jennings allowed a walk in Gonzalez, making his second start of O’Day 1 0 0 0 1 1 12 1.13
C.Wilson W, 3-2 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 3.20 E.Gonzalez pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. Inherited
two relief innings in the second game. the season, gave up five runs and eight F.Francisco S, 11-11 1 1 0 0 1 2 20 0.00 runners-scored: K.Cameron 1-0. IBB: off E.Gonzalez
C.J. Wilson worked the ninth of the hits in five-plus innings, striking out (C.Davis). HBP: by Feldman (Giambi). Umpires: Home,
Guardado pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. Inherited C.B. Bucknor; First, Mike Everitt; Second, Gerry Davis;
second game for his fourth save in five four and walking three. runners-scored: Wuertz 1-0, Gray 1-0, Guardado 2-0, Third, Mike Muchlinski. T: 2:37. A: 30,496 (49,170).
chances after earning the win in the With the score 3-all in the opener, O’Day 1-0. WP: Wuertz. Umpires: Home, Brian Gor-
man; First, Mike Muchlinski; Second, Mike Everitt; Third,
first game. Santiago Casilla (1-2) walked Hamilton Gerry Davis. T: 2:46. A: 0 (49,170).
Texas (29-19) has matched the 1996 leading off the eighth. Jones followed,
team for the second-best start in club pulling a 2-1 fastball off the screen on
history. the left-field pole for his fifth homer.
The A’s had won three of their previ- Nelson Cruz, who had three RBIs,
ous four, but strong Rangers pitching followed Jones with his 13th homer. TONY GUTIERREZ / AP
stopped any momentum Oakland car- —The Associated Press Texas C Taylor Teagarden had two hits and two RBIs to help the Rangers sweep a doubleheader.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 19
AMERICAN LEAGUE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Baltimore 7, Detroit 2 Houston 6, Pittsburgh 1

Wieters hitless, but Scott powers Orioles Moehler helps end slide
BALTIMORE—The game began with the siz- Orioles 7, Tigers 2 PITTSBURGH—Brian Moehler Astros 6, Pirates 1
able crowd buzzing about Matt Wieters, Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg. was walking down the dugout Houston AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
J.Anderson lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .289 Bourn cf 5 0 2 1 0 0 .289
who was about to make his much-antici- Polanco 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .262 steps after the eighth inning Tejada ss 4 0 1 0 1 0 .344
pated major league debut. Ordonez dh 4 1 3 0 0 0 .275 when he turned and told Astros Berkman 1b 5 0 2 0 0 2 .234
Mi.Cabrera 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .363 Ca.Lee lf 4 1 1 0 1 0 .315
Most of the 42,704 fans left the stadium Granderson cf 4 0 1 1 0 1 .254 manager Cecil Cooper to not even Pence rf 3 0 1 0 2 0 .351
talking about Luke Scott and Wieters’ bat- Inge 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .262 think about taking him out. I.Rodriguez c 5 2 3 1 0 1 .271
Thomas rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .267 Keppinger 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .311
terymate, Brad Bergesen. Laird c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .232 Cooper wavered, but gave in. Maysonet 2b 4 2 4 4 0 0 .429
Scott extended his recent power surge Everett ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 .288 After all, it’s not often a pitcher Moehler p 4 0 0 0 0 3 .000
Totals 33 2 7 1 0 4 Totals 38 6 15 6 4 7
with a grand slam and a solo shot off Don- lobbies to go after his first shut-
trelle Willis, and the surging Baltimore Baltimore AB R H BI BB SO Avg. out in nearly 10 years. Pittsburgh AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
B.Roberts 2b 3 1 1 1 1 2 .307 Morgan lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .281
Orioles received a fine pitching perfor- Ad.Jones cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .360 Moehler didn’t manage that, F.Sanchez 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 .330
mance from Bergesen in a 7-2 victory over Markakis rf 4 1 1 1 0 0 .296 but pitched his first complete McLouth cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .250
A.Huff 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .273 Ad.LaRoche 1b 3 1 1 0 1 0 .229
the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Mora 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 .277 game in nearly nine years to help Moss rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .263
Wieters went 0-for-4, the only Balti- Scott dh 3 2 3 5 1 0 .336 Houston end a seven-game los- An.LaRoche 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 .302
1-Pie pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 .195 Jaramillo c 4 0 0 1 0 0 .257
more starter without a hit. Wieters c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .000 ing streak by beating the Pitts- Ja.Wilson ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .243
“I felt like I saw the ball well tonight,” he Reimold lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 .268 burgh Pirates 6-1 on Friday Ohlendorf p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .056
C.Izturis ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .255 J.Chavez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
said. “It’s something that, an 0-for-4 day, Totals 32 7 11 7 4 4 night.
a-R.Vazquez ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .235
you are going to have a lot of them in this Edwin Maysonet, a rookie Veal p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Detroit 000 000 200 — 2 7 0 b-Hinske ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .250
game. You just got to go out there and try Baltimore 005 110 00x — 7 11 0 making only his third career
Meek p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
to find some holes.” start, homered while going 4 for Totals 33 1 7 1 2 4
1-ran for Scott in the 8th. LOB: Detroit 4, Baltimore
Wieters’ hitless debut might have been 6. 2B: Polanco (15), Mi.Cabrera (11), Reimold (2). 4 and driving in four runs to sup-
Houston 010 202 100 — 6 15 0
the only negative for the Orioles, who HR: Scott 2 (10), off Willis 2. RBIs: Granderson port Moehler. Pittsburgh 000 000 001 — 1 7 0
(28), B.Roberts (22), Markakis (40), Scott 5 (27). SF:
stretched their season-high winning GAIL BURTON / AP B.Roberts. Runners left in scoring position: Detroit “We all wanted him to finish it.
a-singled for J.Chavez in the 6th. b-flied out for Veal in
streak to five games behind Scott and Although he went 0-for-4, Baltimore rookie C Matt Wieters made a quick impression on the fans. 1 (Inge); Baltimore 2 (Markakis, B.Roberts). GIDP: He came in after the eighth and the 8th. LOB: Houston 9, Pittsburgh 7. 2B: Berkman
Inge, Markakis. DP: Detroit 2 (Thomas, Thomas, Inge), (7), Maysonet 2 (2), F.Sanchez (18), An.LaRoche (12).
Bergesen (2-2)—who both received shav- (Polanco, Everett, Mi.Cabrera); Baltimore 1 (C.Izturis, said, ‘I’m going back’ before I
HR: Maysonet (1), off Ohlendorf. RBIs: Bourn (12),
ing-cream pies in the face during their well. I’m kind of excited to get back to play- scored five runs on two swings of the B.Roberts, A.Huff). could even say anything to him,” I.Rodriguez (22), Maysonet 4 (5), Jaramillo (6). Runners
post-game interviews. ing,” said Scott, who was sidelined from bat.” Cooper said. “He’s pretty excited left in scoring position: Houston 4 (I.Rodriguez 3,
Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Keppinger); Pittsburgh 5 (Moss, McLouth 3, Ja.Wilson).
It’s a fun tradition that the Orioles began May 11-27 with a shoulder strain. “I’ve Willis said, “I had a tough time getting Willis L, 1-2 5 10 7 7 2 1 75 5.56 about it, and we’re glad he got the DP: Houston 1 (Tejada, Maysonet, Berkman); Pittsburgh
Miner 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 15 4.55 1 (McLouth, McLouth, F.Sanchez).
early in their five-game run, the team’s been chewing my fingernails off for the my rhythm. When I got my rhythm, it was N.Robertson 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 2 2 32 4.50 complete game.”
longest winning streak since April 2-7, last two weeks.” too late. The damage was done.” Baltimore IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Moehler, who had a 27.00 Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Bergesen W, 2-2 8 7 2 2 0 3 103 4.94 Moehler W, 2-3 9 7 1 1 2 4 123 6.43
2008. Scott, a lefthanded batter, usually fares Much of the pregame hype surrounded Ji.Johnson 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 3.16 ERA in his two most recent Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Since coming off the 15-day disabled list better against righties. But he had no trou- Wieters, but another 23-year-old— starts in PNC Park, was two outs Ohlendorf L, 5-5 5 8 4 4 3 5 97 4.45
Bergesen pitched to 2 batters in the 9th. Inherited J.Chavez 1 3 1 1 0 0 16 3.00
on Wednesday, Scott has five home runs ble against the left-handed throwing Wil- Bergesen—was far more impressive. The runners-scored: Ji.Johnson 2-0. Umpires: Home, away from his first shutout since Veal 2 3 1 1 1 2 50 4.26
and 12 RBIs in three games. His second lis (1-2). righthander allowed two runs and seven Larry Vanover; First, Dan Iassogna; Second, Sam Aug. 30, 1999, until the Pirates Meek 1 1 0 0 0 0 9 2.70
Holbrook; Third, Adrian Johnson. T: 2:12. A: 42,704
consecutive two-homer game included his “When he’s hot and he’s in one of his hits over eight-plus innings to earn his (48,290). scored on Jason Jaramillo’s run- Ohlendorf pitched to 2 batters in the 6th. Inherited
first lifetime grand slam, a third-inning streaks, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching,” first win in seven starts since his debut on scoring grounder. Moehler’s last runners-scored: J.Chavez 2-1. WP: Moehler, Ohlen-
shot that put Baltimore up 5-0. Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. April 21. previous complete game, while dorf. Umpires: Home, Marty Foster; First, Marvin
Hudson; Second, John Hirschbeck; Third, Wally Bell. T:
In the fifth, Scott hit a drive over the “You keep running him out there because “Obviously we would have liked for him with the Tigers, was against the 3:04. A: 18,236 (38,362).
right-field scoreboard to become the first he’s a threat.” to have a complete game,” Trembley said. Orioles on Aug. 8, 2000.
Oriole to have successive multihomer Willis allowed seven runs and 10 hits, “But I like the mindset that Bergesen had. “Yeah, it’s been a long time—
games since Albert Belle in 2000. The last his poorest outing in four starts since get- He expected to go out in the ninth. He I’ve been in the ninth a few times
three of Scott’s seven career multihomer ting off the disabled list on May 13. wanted it, and that’s what we’re trying to since then and couldn’t close it
games have come against Detroit. “Dontrelle didn’t have his good stuff,” develop.” Q&A with O’s RF out,” Moehler said.
Nick Markakis, Page 14
“I feel good and I’ve been seeing the ball Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “They — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 20
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 2 Chicago Cubs 2, L.A. Dodgers 1

Hart’s homer ‘gift’ for Looper to grandfather Lilly helps restore order
CHICAGO—Ted Lilly had no Cubs 2, Dodgers 1
Brewers 3, Reds 2
MILWAUKEE—Braden Looper was upset reason to argue with umpires Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Pierre lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .397
he’d let down his grandfather. Corey Hart Taveras cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .266 Friday. Martin c 3 0 1 0 1 0 .264
picked up his hurting teammate. Hairston Jr. 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .263 Four days after getting Hudson 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .338
Votto 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .357 Loney 1b 4 0 0 0 0 4 .292
While most of the Brewers took Thurs- Hanigan c 0 1 0 0 2 0 .328 thrown out of a game he wasn’t Blake 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .302
day off to rest, Looper attended a funeral c-B.Phillips ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .273 even pitching for arguing balls Ethier rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .257
R.Hernandez c-1b 4 1 2 2 0 0 .299 Kemp cf 3 1 1 1 1 0 .296
for 84-year-old LaVerne Looper of Gran- Bruce rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .235 and strikes, the Cubs’ J.Castro ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 .357
ite, Okla., the man who bought Braden L.Nix lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .276 lefthander threw seven strong Leach p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Ale.Gonzalez ss 3 0 1 0 0 2 .214 c-Loretta ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .326
his first Wilson A2000 glove and took A.Rosales 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .250 innings and got a win over the Billingsley p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .208
him to a pitching camp at Wichita State, Cueto p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .143 team with the best record in b-Furcal ph-ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 .240
b-Dickerson ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .226 Totals 30 1 5 1 5 7
where he eventually played college Rhodes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- the majors.
baseball. Totals 30 2 5 2 2 5 Koyie Hill homered and Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Hart homered in the seventh after Kosuke Fukudome hit a tie- A.Soriano lf 4 0 1 0 0 2 .253
Milwaukee AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Scales 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .268
Looper left and the veteran righthander Counsell 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .314 breaking sacrifice fly in the Fukudome cf-rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 .311
Hardy ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .240 D.Lee 1b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .244
outpitched Johnny Cueto to lead the Mil- Braun lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 .315 seventh, rallying Chicago Cubs Hoffpauir rf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .287
waukee Brewers to a 3-2 victory over Cin- Fielder 1b 3 1 1 2 0 0 .267 over the Los Angeles Dodgers Gregg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
M.Cameron cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .280 Fontenot 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .221
cinnati on Friday night, snapping the Gamel 3b 2 0 0 0 1 0 .160 2-1. K.Hill c 3 1 1 1 1 2 .289
Reds’ four-game winning streak. Hall 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223 After a wild week that saw A.Blanco ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 .111
Hart rf 3 1 1 1 0 1 .244 Lilly p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .095
“Essentially, he was my father, he was Kendall c 2 0 0 0 1 0 .203 Lilly jump the dugout railing to a-J.Fox ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 .750
the guy who got me started in baseball. Looper p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .067 yell at umpire Bob Davidson, Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
a-Gerut ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Re.Johnson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
That home run by Corey was a gift,” Coffey p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Ryan Dempster attack a dug- Totals 31 2 8 2 2 8
Looper said. “I got that two-run lead and Hoffman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- out Gatorade machine, and
Totals 25 3 3 3 4 4 Los Angeles 000 000 100 — 1 5 1
I was feeling pretty good. I’m glad that Carlos Zambrano throw an all- Chicago 000 000 20x — 2 8 1
mistake didn’t cost me the game.” Cincinnati 000 200 000 — 2 5 0 time temper tantrum, the Cubs
Milwaukee 200 000 10x — 3 3 0 a-singled for Lilly in the 7th. b-walked for Billingsley
The Brewers, who had hit .204 with needed a quiet, solid perfor- in the 8th. c-grounded into a fielder’s choice for Leach
just two homers while going 1-5 in their MORRY GASH / AP a-grounded out for Looper in the 7th. b-grounded into mance from a starter. in the 9th. E: Ethier (3), Scales (2). LOB: Los Angeles 7,
a double play for Cueto in the 8th. c-bunted out for Chicago 8. 2B: Fukudome (10), Hoffpauir (7). HR: Kemp
last six games, only had three hits, but Milwaukee’s Corey Hart, above, hit a homer in the seventh to make a winner out of P Braden Looper. Hanigan in the 9th. LOB: Cincinnati 3, Milwaukee 3. “Obviously we haven’t been (5), off Lilly; K.Hill (2), off Billingsley. RBIs: Kemp (29),
two of them left the ballpark. 2B: Braun (10). HR: R.Hernandez (3), off Looper; Fielder playing real well, so it’s been Fukudome (20), K.Hill (7). SF: Fukudome. Runners left
(11), off Cueto; Hart (5), off Cueto. RBIs: R.Hernandez in scoring position: Los Angeles 2 (Martin, Loretta);
Hart’s go-ahead homer came in the “When you make those kind of mis- and St. Louis. He said afterward that he 2 (20), Fielder 2 (45), Hart (19). CS: Hairston Jr. (1). S: emotional,” Lilly said. Chicago 6 (A.Blanco 4, Fontenot, D.Lee). GIDP: Pierre,
seventh inning came after Prince Fielder takes to hitters like that, you’re going to wasn’t guaranteeing the Reds would Looper. Runners left in scoring position: Cincinnati Lilly (6-4) and the Dodgers Ethier, Billingsley. DP: Chicago 3 (A.Blanco, Fontenot,
1 (Taveras); Milwaukee 2 (Hardy 2). DP: Cincinnati 1 D.Lee), (A.Blanco, D.Lee), (Fontenot, A.Blanco, D.Lee).
hit a two-run shot in the first. pay the consequences,” Cueto said come home in first, but he meant that (L.Nix, L.Nix, Hanigan); Milwaukee 1 (Counsell, Fielder). starter Chad Billingsley (6-3)
“It’s special,” said Looper, who got the through an interpreter. “I missed my they should have high expectations. each opened with six scoreless Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Billingsley L, 6-3 7 8 2 2 2 7 111 2.80
game ball from Trevor Hoffman after the location on both of them.” “I said that given that given what we’ve Cueto L, 4-3 7 3 3 3 4 3 104 2.53 innings. Cubs manager Lou Leach 1 0 0 0 0 1 13 5.14
career saves leader notched his 12th con- That was all Milwaukee needed. been doing as a team—we’ve been playing Rhodes 1 0 0 0 0 1 8 0.53 Piniella called his performance Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Lilly W, 6-4 7 4 1 1 3 5 102 3.50
secutive save since joining the Brewers. Brewers reliever Todd Coffey worked well—I think the attitude that all of us Looper W, 5-3 7 2 2 2 2 4 95 4.24 “professional,” a high compli- Marmol H, 12 1 0 0 0 2 1 17 3.27
“It’s one of the games I’ll remember for a around consecutive singles to start the have going on this road trip is that we Coffey H, 8 1 2 0 0 0 0 14 2.59 ment on a Cubs team that has Gregg S, 8-9 1 1 0 0 0 1 28 4.87
Hoffman S, 12-12 1 1 0 0 0 1 10 0.00
long time.” eighth after a nice double play by second should expect to come back in first place,” teetered on the edge while WP: Lilly. Umpires: Home, Tim Timmons; First, Jeff Kel-
Looper (5-3) and Cueto were sharp, baseman Craig Counsell and Hoffman Bruce said. “To be a good team, you have Umpires: Home, Fieldin Culbreth; First, Gary Ceder- fighting to stay above .500. logg; Second, Rob Drake; Third, Mark Wegner. T: 2:40. A:
strom; Second, Jim Wolf; Third, Brian O’Nora. T: 2:14. A: 40,148 (41,210).
matching zeros and mistakes until Hart’s allowed a two-out single but struck out to expect to be successful and I think we 42,186 (41,900). “I’ve got a lot of work left to
hit. Jay Bruce to end it. are a good team.” do,” Lilly said. “I’m happy
Hart, hitting .176 in his previous 17 Bruce, who went 0 for 4, said before Cueto left after the seventh, scattering today with the way we com-
games, drove Cueto’s slider 435 feet over the trip began that Cincinnati would three hits and four walks while striking peted and the way I threw the
the Milwaukee bullpen and just below the return home with the NL Central lead out three. ball.”
motorcycles that sit in left-center field. after the seven-game trip to Milwaukee — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 21
NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.Y. Mets 2, Florida 1, 11 innings Mets 2, Marlins 1, 11 innings Philadelphia 5, Washington 4
Florida AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Santos rewarded for sparking win

Bonifacio ss 5 0 1 0 0 0 .245 Phillies 5, Nationals 4
Coghlan lf
Uggla 2b
3 1 1 0 2
4 0 0 1 0
0
2
.217
.211
Phillies now Washington AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
C.Guzman ss 5 0 0 0 0 1 .329

NEW YORK—Omir Santos was supposed to

Cantu 1b
Jo.Baker c
5 0 1 0 0
4 0 0 0 0
e-R.Paulino ph-c 1 0 0 0 0
1
2
0
.268
.268
.242
8-2 vs. Nats N.Johnson 1b 4 0 1 0 1 1 .335
Zimmerman 3b 3 1 1 0 1 1 .333
Dunn rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .276
C.Ross cf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .265 Willingham lf 2 2 2 1 0 0 .243
go back to the minors once Brian Sch- Hermida rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .260 PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia J.Bard c 3 1 1 1 1 0 .190
Helms 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .242
neider came off the disabled list. The West p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Phillies must love facing Wash- A.Hernandez 2b 4 0 1 1 0 1 .277
Maxwell cf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .125
catcher played so well that he forced the a-Gload ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .270 ington pitchers. Detwiler p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Calero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
New York Mets to change their plans. Nunez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Shane Victorino had four hits a-Kearns ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .213
Bergmann p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Santos hit a game-ending single in the d-Ha.Ramirez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .318 and the Phillies tied a season b-Belliard ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .162
Meyer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
11th inning and also homered in the fifth, Sanches p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- high with 16 hits in their 5-4 vic- Villone p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
MacDougal p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
leading New York to a 2-1 victory over the Totals 37 1 6 1 2 9 tory over the Nationals on Friday Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Florida Marlins on Friday night. New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg. night. It was the second straight Tavarez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
e-W.Harris ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .257
Santos was rewarded after the game Pagan rf 5 0 1 0 0 0 .306 win for Philadelphia, 8-2 against Totals 32 4 6 3 4 9
Castillo 2b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .295
when the Mets traded backup catcher Beltran cf 4 0 0 0 1 1 .358 the Nationals this season. Philadelphia AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Rollins ss 5 1 2 0 0 0 .227
Ramon Castro and about $1.4 million to Sheffield lf 4 1 1 0 1 0 .293 The Phillies have reached Victorino cf 5 1 4 0 0 0 .293
D.Wright 3b 5 0 0 0 0 2 .335
the Chicago White Sox for righthander Tatis 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .262 double-digit hits in seven of their Utley 2b 5 1 1 1 0 0 .286
Howard 1b 5 0 1 0 0 1 .261
Lance Broadway, ensuring the rookie will Santos c 5 1 2 2 0 0 .276 eight victories over Washington, Ibanez lf 4 1 2 2 1 0 .343
R.Martinez ss 3 0 2 0 0 0 .167
stay with the club when Schneider is acti- b-Dan.Murphy ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .260 while averaging 12.75 hits in Werth rf 5 1 2 0 0 0 .259
Feliz 3b 4 0 2 1 0 1 .312
vated today. W.Valdez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 those wins. Overall, the Phils Ruiz c 2 0 2 1 1 0 .299
Pelfrey p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .067
“On a night like tonight, when Omir Parnell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- have averaged 11.4 hits in 10 Happ p 3 0 0 0 0 2 .000
Durbin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Santos plays the way he has, it makes the Fr.Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- games against the Nationals this S.Eyre p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
c-F.Martinez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
decision easy for us,” said general man- Putz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- season. c-Dobbs ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .135
d-Mayberry ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .222
ager Omar Minaya, who acknowledged Feliciano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- “Sixteen hits is a good indica- Madson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Totals 37 2 7 2 3 4
being surprised by Santos’ speedy tion we will score a lot of runs if Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Totals 39 5 16 5 2 5
progress. Florida 000 100 000 00 1 6 2 we keep hitting the ball like Wash 010 003 000 — 4 6 0
New York 000 010 000 01 2 7 0
Gary Sheffield led off the 11th with a that,” Phillies manager Charlie Phil 013 100 00x — 5 16 1
a-walked for Detwiler in the 5th. b-lined out for Bergmann
single to left off Brian Sanches (1-1), who One out when winning run scored. a-flied out for West Manuel said. “Our offense, when in the 6th. c-was announced for S.Eyre in the 7th. d-struck
in the 8th. b-flied out for R.Martinez in the 9th. c-flied
threw over to first several times to check out for Fr.Rodriguez in the 9th. d-grounded out for all is said and done, we’re going out for Dobbs in the 7th. e-flied out for Tavarez in the 9th. E:
Werth (1). LOB:Washington 7, Philadelphia 13. 2B: J.Bard (4),
on the aging slugger with David Wright Nunez in the 10th. e-flied out for Jo.Baker in the 11th. to score some runs.” Rollins 2 (12), Utley (7), Howard (13), Ruiz 2 (9). 3B: Feliz (1).
E: Helms (3), R.Paulino (2). LOB: Florida 7, New York 10.
up. After Wright struck out—smashing 2B: Cantu (9). 3B: Coghlan (1). HR: Santos (3), off West. Washington has lost four HR: Willingham (7), off Happ. RBIs: Willingham (10), J.Bard
(5), A.Hernandez (12), Utley (32), Ibanez 2 (46), Feliz (26),
his bat when he reached the dugout— RBIs: Uggla (33), Santos 2 (17). SB: C.Ross (2), Sheffield straight to drop to 13-34. Ruiz (10). SB: Rollins (8). CS: N.Johnson (1). Runners left in
(2). S: Castillo, Pelfrey. SF: Uggla. Runners left in scor-
Sheffield stole second and went to third ing position: Florida 4 (Hermida 2, Uggla, R.Paulino); Jimmy Rollins had two hits scoring position: Washington 4 (A.Hernandez, N.Johnson,
Belliard, Maxwell); Philadelphia 8 (Howard, Rollins 4, Happ
when Ronny Paulino’s errant throw went New York 4 (R.Martinez, Castillo, Tatis 2). DP: New York and two RBIs, Raul Ibanez, Jay- 2, Werth). DP: Washington 1 (A.Hernandez, C.Guzman,
1 (Beltran, Castillo).
into center field. son Werth, Pedro Feliz and Car- N.Johnson).
Washington IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
“We knew that he was trying to inch off Florida IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA los Ruiz also each had two hits, Detwiler L, 0-1 4 10 5 5 1 2 68 4.80
West 7 4 1 1 1 2 91 2.25
and take a bag there,” Marlins manager Calero 1 1 0 0 2 1 26 2.25 and every Philadelphia position Bergmann 1 1 0 0 0 1 13 4.82
Villone 1 2 0 0 0 0 11 0.00
Fredi Gonzalez said. “He still has that PAUL J. BERESWILL / AP Nunez 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 3.55 starter had at least one. The Phil- MacDougal 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 911.57
Meyer 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 2.45
capability in him. We just threw the ball Omir Santos drove in both Mets’ run, and it looks like he’ll stick around for a while. Sanches L, 1-1 1⁄3 2 1 0 0 1 14 0.00 lies stranded 13 runners while Beimel 1 1⁄3 2 0 0 1 1 30 4.66
Tavarez 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 5.59
away. We threw the ball out of the infield, New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA going 3-for-16 with runners in Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Pelfrey 7 2⁄3 5 1 1 1 6 108 3.88
and got ourselves in a situation nobody before the trade was announced. “He’s a the second game of the series. Beltran, Parnell 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 6 2.18 scoring position. Happ W, 3-0 5 1⁄3 3 3 3 3 5 96 3.00
Durbin H, 4 2⁄3 2 1 0 0 1 26 4.50
wants to be in.” major league hitter. The surprising thing who missed two games with a bone bruise Fr.Rodriguez 1 1 0 0 0 2 20 0.76 J.A. Happ (3-0), making his S.Eyre H, 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 3.18
Putz 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 30 3.21
Fernando Tatis was hit by a pitch before is he has hit and hit well. It looks as if there below his right knee, went 0-for-4 but Feliciano W, 2-1 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 6 2.37 second start of the season and Madson H, 10 1 1 0 0 1 1 20 2.70
Lidge S, 10-14 1 0 0 0 0 2 17 8.44
Santos dumped Sanches’ first pitch into is no panic or anxiety when he is in those made a nice running catch on Emilio Bon- seventh of his career, went 5 1/3 Villone pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. Inherited run-
Inherited runners-scored: Parnell 2-0, Feliciano 1-0.
left field to give New York its fourth con- situations.” ifacio’s sinking liner in the third before IBB: off Calero (Beltran). HBP: by Sanches (Tatis), by innings and allowed three runs ners-scored: MacDougal 1-0, Beimel 3-0, Tavarez 2-0,
Durbin 2-2. IBB: off Detwiler (Ruiz). HBP: by MacDougal
secutive win and sixth in seven games. The injury riddled Mets welcomed All- throwing to second to double off Wes Pelfrey (C.Ross). Umpires: Home, Angel Hernandez; on three hits while matching his (Ruiz), by Happ (Willingham, Willingham). Umpires:
First, Bill Welke; Second, Tim Welke; Third, Jim Reynolds.
“Santos will be on this team, no doubt Star center fielder Carlos Beltran back to Helms. T: 3:15. A: 40,677 (41,800). career high with five strikeouts. Home, Hunter Wendelstedt; First, Brian Knight; Second,
Dana DeMuth; Third, Doug Eddings. T: 3:00. A: 45,202
about it,” manager Jerry Manuel said the lineup and Schneider could return for — The Associated Press — The Associated Press (43,647).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 22
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado 3, San Diego 0 Atlanta 10, Arizona 6
Braves 10, Diamondbacks 6

New manager, new lineup leads to new result Jurrjens gets Atlanta
K.Johnson 2b
Escobar ss
AB R H BI
5 1 1 2
5 1 2 3
BB
0
0
SO
2
0
Avg.
.248
.297

support, then C.Jones 3b

McCann c
G.Anderson lf
3 0 1 0
5 1 2 0
5 1 1 0
2
0
0
0
0
0
.305
.321
.263
DENVER—Jim Tracy put his fingerprints “I felt good enough to go out there,” Rockies 3, Padres 0
on his new team by tweaking the lineup
and turning to seldom-used players for
Marquis said. “It’s the manager’s deci-
sion. I’m fine with that.”
San Diego
Giles rf
AB R
4 0
H
1
BI
0
BB
0
SO
1
Avg.
.192
holds on R.Soriano p
M.Gonzalez p
Kotchman 1b
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
5 2 2 0
0
0
0
0
0
1
---
---
.281
Eckstein 2b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .241 Francoeur rf 5 1 2 2 0 1 .251
late defensive help. Yorvit Torrealba had two hits, includ- Hairston lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .316 PHOENIX—Starved for run sup- Schafer cf 4 2 1 0 1 2 .206
Ad.Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 3 0 .283 Jurrjens p 2 1 1 2 1 0 .143
Jason Marquis pitched eight sharp ing an RBI single in the second. He also Kouzmanoff 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .229 port much of the season, Atlan- Bennett p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
innings, making Tracy’s debut as the bounced a two-out, bases loaded Hundley c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .241 ta’s Jair Jurrjens almost didn’t a-Norton ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .100
Gwynn cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .313 Moylan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Rockies manager a success in a 3-0 win grounder that third baseman Kevin C.Burke ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .206 know what to do when Yunel O’Flaherty p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
over the San Diego Padres on Friday Kouzmanoff mishandled, allowing two C.Young p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .300 Escobar’s three-run homer gave M.Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
a-Headley ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .242 Totals 40 10 13 9 4 6
night. runs to score. It was Kouzmanoff’s first Thatcher p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- him a nine-run lead.
“I’m anxious to find out exactly how error of the season. Meredith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Jurrjens struggled through Arizona AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Totals 31 0 6 0 4 6 R.Roberts 2b 5 1 2 0 0 1 .370
good this team is,” Tracy said. “Tonight Young (4-3) allowed just Torrealba’s five innings, then turned the G.Parra lf 5 0 3 2 0 1 .317
for me is a step in the right direction.” two hits and one earned run in six Colorado AB R H BI BB SO Avg. game over to the bullpen as the J.Upton rf 4 0 0 0 1 1 .337
Fowler cf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .260 S.Drew ss 5 1 1 0 0 2 .210
Tracy was promoted to interim man- innings. He also walked a season-high Barmes 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .235 Braves hung on for a 10-6 vic- Reynolds 3b-1b 3 1 0 0 1 2 .259
ager Friday following the firing of Clint six batters. Helton 1b 3 1 0 0 1 0 .321 tory over the Arizona Diamond- C.Young cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .171
Atkins 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .191 Tracy 1b 4 1 3 4 0 0 .203
Hurdle, who had been in charge of the “Sometimes you have to tip your hat to 1-Quintanilla pr-3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 backs on Friday night, snapping Ojeda 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
Rockies since three weeks into the 2002 the other guy. You have to tip your hat to S.Smith lf 1 1 0 0 2 0 .268 a four-game losing streak. Snyder c 3 0 1 0 0 0 .237
b-Murton ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .270 Rauch p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
season. Marquis,” Young said. “He outpitched Spilborghs rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .273 “I was so close to blowing up,” b-F.Lopez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .321
Tracy said his first managerial win us. I got outpitched.” Tulowitzki ss 2 0 0 0 2 0 .224 said Jurrjens (5-2), who helped Zavada p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Torrealba c 4 0 2 1 0 0 .222 Garland p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
with Colorado was rewarding yet bitter- With his team slumping, Hurdle was Marquis p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .211 his cause with a two-run double. L.Rosales p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .000
sweet because it came at Hurdle’s relieved of his duties Friday after seven- Street p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- “Baseball is so funny. You ask Schlereth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Totals 27 3 4 1 7 2 Montero c 1 1 0 0 1 1 .216
expense. plus seasons in Denver. He led the Rock- for runs, they give you a lot of Totals 37 6 11 6 3 11
For the players, Tracy’s promotion was ies to their only World Series appearance San Diego 000 000 000 — 0 6 1 runs, then you give back a lot of
Colorado 010 002 00x — 3 4 0 Atlanta 045 100 000 — 10 13 2
viewed as a new beginning. WILL POWERS / AP in 2007, where the team was swept by runs.” Arizona 010 310 100 — 6 11 2
“The way I look at it is we’re 1-0 right Interim Colorado manager Jim Tracy picked up his Boston. a-singled for C.Young in the 7th. b-flied out for S.Smith In one stretch of six starts this
first victory on Friday. in the 7th. 1-ran for Atkins in the 7th. E: Kouzmanoff a-flied out for Bennett in the 7th. b-grounded out
now,” Troy Tulowitzki said. “Try to build This is Tracy’s third stint as manager (1). LOB: San Diego 8, Colorado 8. RBIs: Torrealba (6). year, the Braves scored a total of for Rauch in the 8th. E: K.Johnson (4), Jurrjens (1),
off that and see where it can take us.” show for it. in the big leagues. The 53-year-old Tracy SB: Eckstein (2), Barmes (4). S: Marquis. Runners nine runs while Jurrjens was in Garland (3), G.Parra (2). LOB: Atlanta 7, Arizona 7. 2B:
left in scoring position: San Diego 4 (Kouzmanoff G.Anderson (6), Jurrjens (1), R.Roberts (5), C.Young
Tracy juggled the lineup, putting the “He just needs to find some green took over the Rockies after going 562-572 2, C.Young, C.Burke); Colorado 5 (Marquis 3, Barmes, the game. (11), Snyder (5). HR: Escobar (5), off Garland; Tracy
slumping Garrett Atkins back into the grass,” Tracy said. as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers Murton). DP: San Diego 1 (Kouzmanoff, Eckstein, They topped that in four (4), off Jurrjens. RBIs: K.Johnson 2 (17), Escobar 3 (24),
Ad.Gonzalez); Colorado 2 (Barmes, Tulowitzki, Helton), Francoeur 2 (23), Jurrjens 2 (3), G.Parra 2 (15), Tracy 4
cleanup spot and sliding Tulowitzki Late in the game, Tracy inserted Omar (2001-05) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2006- (Tulowitzki, Barmes, Helton). innings, hammering Arizona’s (17). Runners left in scoring position: Atlanta 3
down to seventh. His intention is to keep Quintanilla at third for defensive help. 07). Jon Garland (4-4). Escobar’s shot (McCann 2, G.Anderson); Arizona 2 (S.Drew 2). DP:
San Diego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Atlanta 1 (C.Jones, K.Johnson, Kotchman); Arizona 1
the lineup pretty much in tact. The slick-fielding infielder doesn’t play Tracy inherited a squad that resides in C.Young L, 4-3 6 2 3 1 6 2 102 4.45 off Garland capped a five-run (Tracy, S.Drew, Garland).
“I’d like to stabilize some things,” all that often. last place in the N.L. West. Thatcher 2⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 18 0.00 third inning and gave the Braves
Meredith 1 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 12 3.06 Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Tracy said. “I sat over on the other side of Now, he may see more time. Although the managerial move was Colorado IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA and Jurrjens what looked like a Jurrjens W, 5-2 5 8 5 5 1 5 88 2.59
the field in this ballpark for a number of “He can flat catch the ball,” Tracy said. made, Marquis said he didn’t detect any- Marquis W, 7-3 8 6 0 0 4 6 105 3.93 comfortable 9-1 lead. Bennett 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 2.05
Street S, 8-8 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 3.10 Moylan 2⁄3 2 1 1 1 0 20 5.40
years and I watched Garrett Atkins drive Behind a six-hit performance from more energy in the clubhouse. Jurrjens entered with a 2.07 O’Flaherty 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 4 3.12
in over 200 and some odd runs over the Marquis, the Rockies snapped a three- “Whether it’s Tracy at the helm or Inherited runners-scored: Meredith 2-0. IBB: off ERA, third in the NL, and left R.Soriano 1 1 0 0 0 2 17 1.31
Thatcher (Atkins), off Marquis (Ad.Gonzalez). Umpires: M.Gonzalez 1 0 0 0 1 3 22 3.60
course of a couple of different seasons. If game skid. Marquis (7-3) struck out a Hurdle, we should expect 100 percent, Home, Jerry Layne; First, Tony Randazzo; Second, Chris with a 2.59 ERA. Arizona IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
we’re going to turn some things around, season-high six to pick up his third full energy every time we step on the Guccione; Third, Todd Tichenor. T: 2:28. A: 23,239 “He had probably his worst Garland L, 4-4 2 2⁄3 9 9 8 3 1 78 5.75
(50,449). L.Rosales 2 1⁄3 3 1 1 0 1 36 5.73
he needs to be in the middle of our straight win. field,” Marquis said. “I try to take the game of the year,” Cox said. “But Schlereth 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 0.00
order.” He wanted to finish off the game, but same approach every game, whether it’s he got it all together in the fifth Rauch 2 1 0 0 1 1 32 6.23
Zavada 1 0 0 0 0 3 17 0.00
Atkins, who saw his average dip to .191 Huston Street came on instead and Game 1 of a World Series or Game 15 of inning. He really sucked it up.
after an 0-for-3 night, put some good pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth the season.” Rockies part ways with He deserved that win.” Inherited runners-scored: O’Flaherty 1-0. Umpires:
Home, Tom Hallion; First, Jerry Crawford; Second, Angel
swings on the ball, just had nothing to save. — The Associated Press Hurdle, Page 13 — The Associated Press Campos; Third, Phil Cuzzi. T: 3:10. A: 26,146 (48,652).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Q&A with ... Lance McGrew, new crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
‘It’s only the most famous driver in the United States’
When team owner Rick Hendrick decided to
replace Tony Eury Jr. this week, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
got more than a new crew chief—he got a brain
trust. After Sunday’s Autism Speaks 400 at Dover
International Speedway, Lance McGrew takes
over as interim crew chief for Earnhardt’s No. 88
Chevrolet. As additional resources, Earnhardt can
draw on Brian Whitesell, manager of the No. 5 and
88 teams, and long-time Hendrick Motorsports
engineer Rex Stump, who designed the controver-
sial T-Rex chassis Jeff Gordon drove to victory in the
1997 all-star race.
Whitesell will serve as Earnhardt’s crew chief on
Sunday, since McGrew already was committed to
working with the No. 25 Hendrick Chevy driven
by Brad Keselowski. Starting next week at Pocono,
however, it will be McGrew’s responsibility to help
Earnhardt bridge the performance gap between the
No. 88 car and the Chevys driven by teammates Jeff
Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin. Sporting
News’ Reid Spencer caught up with McGrew in the
Sprint Cup garage Friday morning at Dover.
Q: Are you ready to go from
under the radar to under the
microscope?
A: It’s only the most famous driver in
the United States of America.
Q: Are you a candidate for the job
full-time?
A: I believe so. It’s not something that
I’ve 100 percent asked to do, but I
think that Mr. Hendrick, in his infinite
wisdom, always has a master plan. He has
a very unique way of putting the right
people together in a situation. A lot of
times he can see things far enough out
ahead that he’ll make the right decision
for you.
Q: Are you intimidated by this
opportunity?
A: Well, I don’t know if any crew
chief would sit here and tell you it’s
Lance McGrew said he’s not the most outgoing person in the world, but that figures to change now that he’s the crew chief for NASCAR’s most popular driver.
not a little daunting to have the most
popular driver in your stable. It’s a
challenge. The reason why we do what we
do for a living is because, ultimately, we
want a challenge. Unfortunately for this
business, every Monday morning the
report card is out, and we have to jump
back on the horse and get ready for
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday of
the next week. For me, I’m not the most
outgoing person in the whole world, and
NASCAR
obviously the media blitz is not exactly
what I prefer to be doing right now. It’s
part of the job, and it’s something I’ll have
to work on as well.
Q: Rex Stump is credited with
designing the T-Rex car that
Jeff Gordon drove in the 1997 all-star
race. Is there room for any of that
kind of creativity with NASCAR’s
new racecar?
JASON SMITH / GETTY IMAGES FOR NASCAR
A: I think more than anything else, the
R&D group in itself—I feel like
that’s why Hendrick has really thrived.
The simple fact is that Rex was so involved
in it (the development of the new car) from
the very beginning. We did a ton of testing
before this car was ever unveiled, and it
shows on the racetrack. Rex has a wealth
of knowledge in a lot of areas, and he’s a
tremendous resource standing next to you
when you’re on top of the trailer watching
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 23
the cars go around the racetrack.
Q: Which perception is more
accurate, that all the Hendrick
drivers have the same equipment, or
that Earnhardt and Eury were
running something substantially
different from the setups of the other
three Hendrick drivers?
A: Every situation’s different. Ulti-
mately, a driver’s looking for a ‘feel,’
and sometimes it takes you down different
paths. Jimmie doesn’t drive exactly the same
thing as Jeff. Jeff doesn’t drive exactly the
same thing as Mark Martin or any of the
three. You can’t really say that they were off
the page in that regard, because ultimately,
everybody’s trying to achieve the same
thing. The driver’s feeling one thing, and the
crew chief’s making adjustments for how he
feels. Sometimes it leads you down the right
path. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Q: You’ve had the opportunity to
work with a couple of the most
talented, high-profile drivers in the
garage in Kyle Busch and now Dale Jr.
What do you see as the fundamental
differences between the two?
A: They’re apples and oranges. It’s
kind of hard to make that compari-
son with anybody, let alone two racecar
drivers. They’re different people. Kyle’s
very aggressive. Junior’s more methodical,
I believe. He’s definitely a thinker. He’s a
racecar driver that thinks as he drives
around the racetrack, and he understands
the fact that it’s a long race, and he’s trying
to set himself up to be where he wants to be
at the end of the race. Kyle definitely wants
to lead every lap. If you watched the video
from the Coke 600 last week, when he was
leading, he wrecked three or four times off
Turn 4 but didn’t hit anything. You could
definitely tell he was driving hard.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Mayfield’s temporary
restraining order denied
BY LEE MONTGOMERY
AND BOB POCKRASS
SceneDaily.com
CHARLOTTE—A North Carolina
Superior Court judge Friday denied
NASCAR driver/owner Jeremy
Mayfield’s request for a temporary
restraining order against NASCAR
to have his indefinite suspension
for a positive drug
test overturned.
Judge Forrest
Bridges set a hear-
ing for Mayfield’s
request for a pre-
liminary injunc-
tion for Wednesday
AP
and issued a gag Jeremy Mayfield
order preventing
both sides from talking about the
drug test.
Bridges said he denied the tempo-
rary restraining order to have May-
field’s suspension lifted because it
“doesn’t serve any practical purpose.”
Mayfield’s team was not at Dover
International Speedway on Friday
and thus could not qualify for this
weekend’s Autism Speaks 400
Sprint Cup race.
During Friday’s hearing, May-
field attorney John Buric disputed
the results of the drug test adminis-
tered May 1, which Buric said
resulted in a positive test for
amphetamines. NASCAR’s attor-
ney, Paul Hendrick, said in court
that the test found a “dangerous,
illegal, banned” substance, but did
not specify what it was.
Hendrick said three drugs were
found in Mayfield’s system with the
test, and that two were accounted
for: Claritin-D allergy medicine and
Adderall, a prescription medicine
commonly prescribed to treat Atten-
tion Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
NASCAR indefinitely suspended
Mayfield on May 9 over the positive
test. NASCAR chairman Brian
France indicated May 15 that an
indefinite suspension such as the
one Mayfield received is for a posi-
tive test of performance-enhancing
drugs or illegal recreational drugs.
Mayfield denied May 16 that ille-
gal drugs caused the positive test
and suggested that a combination of
a prescription drug, which he did
not specify at that time, and over-
the-counter Claritin-D resulted in
the positive test.
In court Friday, Mayfield’s legal
team argued that he had no recourse
after a second sample was tested and
said that the second sample should
have been tested by a second labora-
tory—other than Aegis Sciences
Corp., which tested the first sample.
Mayfield’s lawyers also argued
that test results of the first sample
were inconsistent, showing both
positive and negative results for
amphetamines.
Mayfield’s lawyers also said a
second sample never should have
been tested because the seal on that
sample had been broken. Buric also
said Mayfield offered to give a sec-
ond urine sample but was denied.
Hendrick, with NASCAR Presi-
dent Mike Helton seated near him,
said the tests were properly admin-
istered and disputed claims by
Mayfield’s lawyers that NASCAR
should have had to conform to fed-
eral drug-testing guidelines.
lmontgomery@streetandsmiths.com
bpockrass@streetandsmiths.com
NASCAR
Reutimann on a roll, wins Dover pole
BY REID SPENCER
rspencer@sportingnews.com
DOVER, DEL.—When you’re hot…
Four days after winning his first NASCAR Sprint
Cup race, David Reutimann won his second pole of
the season and the third of his career, qualifying his
No. 00 Toyota in the top spot for Sunday’s Autism
Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway.
The 12th driver to make a qualifying run, Reuti-
mann turned his lap at the Monster Mile in 22.960
seconds (156.794 mph) to edge Kasey Kahne (156.542
mph) for the No. 1 starting position. Kahne was first
on the track for time trials, but only Reutimann could
top the No. 9 Dodge, which is powered first the first
time this season by the Dodge R6 engine.
Juan Pablo Montoya (156.020 mph) qualified third,
followed by Reed Sorenson (155.952 mph), Kahne’s
teammate at Richard Petty Motorsports. Greg Biffle
(155.932 mph), the most recent winner at Dover,
claimed the fifth starting position. Kyle Busch, AJ
Allmendinger, Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers and
Elliott Sadler will take the green flag from positions
six through 10, respectively.
All four RPM drivers—Kahne, Sorenson, Allmend-
inger and Sadler—earned grid positions in the top 10.
Reutimann was concerned about his relatively early
qualifying draw, but the concrete surface at Dover
didn’t chance much throughout the afternoon.
“I worried a little bit about the earlier draw,” Reuti-
mann said. “It seems to be a mindset at most of the
tracks we go to that when you go out and it’s hotter,
the track is obviously slower. It’s a good thing that
concrete surfaces like we have here at Dover don’t
seem to react as drastically to temperature changes as
a lot of places we go to.
“When we went out, the temperature was about
three degrees hotter than what it was when we prac-
ticed (Reutimann also paced the morning practice
session), so it wasn’t a great deal different. At the end
of the day, I don’t think going out early was a
factor.”
Kahne was pleased with the performance of the
new engine, which the Penske Racing Dodges already
have been using.
“So far. . . I can really tell the difference,” he said. “I
can really get off the corner and onto the straightaway
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 24
Autism Speaks 400
at Dover International Speedway,
Dover, Del.
When: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, 1:30 p.m.
Radio: MRN/Sirius XM Satellite
Ch. 128
Track layout: 1-mile oval
Race distance: 400 laps/400 miles
2008 winner: Kyle Busch
2008 polesitter: Greg Biffle
Sunday’s starting lineup
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (00) David Reutimann, Toyota, 156.794 mph
2. (9) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 156.542
3. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 156.020
4. (43) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 155.952
5. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 155.932
6. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 155.885
7. (44) AJ Allmendinger, Dodge, 155.689
8. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 155.662
9. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 155.595
10. (19) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 155.514
11. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 155.447
12. (77) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 155.440
13. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 155.420
14. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 155.313
15. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 155.313
16. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 155.152
17. (07) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 155.086
18. (26) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 155.065
19. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 155.032
20. (47) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 154.919
RUSS HAMILTON SR. / AP
21. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 154.812
Just days after winning his first career Sprint Cup race, David 22. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 154.799
Reutimann followed it up with his second career pole win. 23. (82) Scott Speed, Toyota, 154.706
24. (71) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 154.593
25. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 154.573
26. (6) David Ragan, Ford, 154.566
because of the torque it has compared to the R5 (the 27. (96) Bobby Labonte, Ford, 154.434
engine he has been using). The new engine is some- 28. (5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 154.328
29. (55) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 154.242
thing that we’ve needed, and I think that it’s going to 30. (12) David Stremme, Dodge, 153.932
be really good with cars around me as well.” 31. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 153.675
32. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 153.577
Kahne’s RPM teammates are still running the old 33. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 153.446
engine. 34. (36) Mike Skinner, Toyota, 153.368
35. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 153.263
Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified 22nd with team man- 36. (98) Paul Menard, Ford, 153.133
ager Brian Whitesell on the pit box, in the first run 37. (09) Mike Bliss, Dodge, 153.120
38. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 152.853
since Tony Eury Jr. was replaced as crew chief of the 39. (66) Dave Blaney, Toyota, 152.840
No. 88 Chevrolet on Thursday. 40. (7) Robby Gordon, Toyota, Owner Points
41. (34) John Andretti, Chevrolet, Owner Points
Lance McGrew, who will serve as interim crew 42. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, Owner Points
chief for Earnhardt starting next week at Pocono, will 43. (37) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 152.491
remain at Dover this weekend to work with the No. Failed to Qualify
88 team. McGrew became available when Brad Kes- 44. (25) Brad Keselowski, Chevrolet, 152.265
47. (13) Max Papis, Toyota, 151.815
elowski, with whom he was scheduled to work this 48. (75) Derrike Cope, Dodge, 148.014
weekend, failed to qualify the No. 25 Chevrolet for 49. (06) David Starr, Dodge
Sunday’s race.
— Reid Spencer writes for the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
INSIDE DISH
Kyle Busch
takes a shot
at Earnhardt
If the crew chief change
announced Thursday doesn’t pro-
duce performance gains for Dale
Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch has a strong
opinion as to who will take the fall.
In Busch’s view, the man on the
hot seat will be Lance McGrew, who has
been named the interim crew chief
for Earnhardt’s No. 88 team, replac-
ing Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt’s cousin.
“He (McGrew) has got his hands
full having to deal with what’s
going on, and if Junior doesn’t run
well, then he’s going to be the prob-
lem again. It’s never Junior—it’s
always the crew chief.”
Busch was released from Hen-
drick Motorsports after the 2007
season. Since then, he has won 11
Cup points races for Joe Gibbs Rac-
ing. Earnhardt, who came to Hen-
drick when Busch departed, has one
victory in a Cup points race and a
Budweiser Shootout win since then.
— Reid Spencer writes for the
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
The rumor mill has free agent
driver Martin Truex Jr. as a strong bet to
join Michael Waltrip Racing for the
2010 season. Truex was non-com-
mittal Friday, reiterating that he won’t
have an announcement about his sta-
tus for next year for a week or two.
Asked why a driver like Truex
might want to join the organization,
MWR driver David Reutimann dead-
panned, “Because I’m there.”
After the laughter subsided,
Reutimann said, “In all honesty, I
thought you guys would enjoy that.
I actually got that out with a straight
ROB CARR / AP
Martin Truex Jr. is rumored to be moving to
Michael Waltrip Racing next season.
face, too, if you can believe.”
Reutimann claimed his first Cup
win in Monday’s rain-shortened
Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor
Speedway.
— Reid Spencer
Three-time Sprint Cup cham-
pion Jimmie Johnson said he was on
the path to IndyCar racing before
switching to NASCAR and said he
would still like to give open-wheel
racing a shot.
“I would love to,” Johnson said of
possibly racing in open-wheel cars
some day on Friday at Dover Inter-
national Speedway. “Growing up, the
Indy 500 is what I had my eye on.”
— SceneDaily.com
Gunselman Motorsports and
Sprint Cup driver Todd Bodine have
parted ways, the team announced
on Friday, so that Bodine can con-
centrate his efforts on the Camping
World Truck Series, where he com-
petes for Germain Racing.
Gunselman Motorsports team
owner Larry Gunselman has begun the
search for a new driver for the team’s
No. 64 Toyota in the Cup series.
The team withdrew from Sun-
day’s race at Dover International
Speedway.
— SceneDaily.com
NASCAR
Leffler celebrating 200th Nationwide start
BY TIM TUTTLE
For SN Today
With momentum built from six
straight top-10 finishes, Jason Lef-
fler will make his 200th career
start today in the Nationwide
Series in the Heluva Good! 200 at
Dover International Speedway.
Leffler, driving Braun Racing’s
No. 38 Toyota, has second places at
Phoenix and Darlington and sixths
at Nashville, Talladega and Lowe’s
in his impressive run up to third in
the points, but he still trails leader
Kyle Busch by 173.
“This Great Clips team has been
consistently strong all season and
we all feel like a win is just around
the corner,” Leffler said. “Hope-
fully, we can get it done at Dover
this weekend.”
Leffler has two Nationwide vic-
tories, at Nashville in 2004 and
O’Reilly Raceway Park at India-
napolis in 2007. At the Monster
Mile, Leffer has three top-fives
including a third in 2005 in 11
starts. Leffler has a victory at
Dover, in the Camping World
Truck Series in 2003.
“Dover has been a pretty good
track for me over the years,” Lef-
fler said. “My first NASCAR win
came at Dover when I was racing
in the truck series, so it’s a special
place for me. Dover is a really fun
racetrack. It’s similar to Bristol
with the high banking, but it’s got
the feel of a superspeedway.
“It’s easy to forget that it’s only a
one-mile track because of the speeds
you’re carrying. It’s really narrow,
so there’s not a whole lot of room to
negotiate. Being able to charge hard
into the corners so you can keep up
your momentum on the straight-
In 11 Nationwide starts at Dover, Jason Leffler has three Top 5 finishes.
aways is really important.”
Busch won last fall’s race at
Dover, completing a season sweep
for the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18
Toyota. Denny Hamlin won in the
spring. Hamlin began a three-race
NAM Y. HUH / AP
Dover winning streak for Gibbs
with a victory in the No. 20 Toyota
in the fall race in 2007.
“Everyone back at our Nation-
wide shop does such an outstand-
ing job of having the car prepared
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 25
Trucks race postponed
DOVER, DEL.—A heavy after-
noon thunderstorm at Dover
International Speedway forced
postponement of Friday’s sched-
uled AAA Insurance 200 NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series race
until 6 p.m. ET today.
SPEED, which had planned to
televise Friday’s race on tape delay,
now will carry the event live, start-
ing with a pre-race broadcast at
5:30 p.m. ET.
— Reid Spencer
Heluva Good! 200
at Dover International Speedway;
Dover, Del.
When: Today, 2:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC, 2 p.m.
Radio: MRN/Sirius XM Satellite Ch.
128
Track layout: 1-mile oval
Race distance: 200 laps/200 miles
2008 winner: Denny Hamlin
2008 polesitter: Carl Edwards
Points leaders: 1. Kyle Busch,
1,714; 2. Carl Edwards, 1,641; 3.
Jason Leffler, 1,541; 4. Joey Logano,
1,495; 5. Brad Keselowski, 1,473; 6.
Jason Keller, 1,296; 7. David Ragan,
1,285; 8. Brendan Gaughan, 1,237;
9. Mike Bliss, 1,234; 10. Justin
Allgaier, 1,210
for this track that I feel good about
it,” Busch said.
Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 19-year-
old grandson of the late Dale Earn-
hardt, will make his Nationwide
debut today.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 26

Delhomme, Panthers quietly regroup after playoff disaster

BY VINNIE IYER
viyer@sportingnews.com
CHARLOTTE—A loss is just a loss, right? Not
when it comes in a home playoff game. Not
when a potentially special season comes to
a sudden, crushing halt against a lower-
seeded team.
That’s the scenario in which Carolina
and three other 2008 NFL playoff teams
must rally from this season.
The Panthers got the worst of it. Coming
off a 12-4 regular season and armed with a
perfect home record, they were routed by
the visiting, eventual NFC champion Car-
dinals, 33-13, in the divisional playoffs. It
was especially tough for Panthers quarter-
back Jake Delhomme, who struggled with
six turnovers on his birthday.
“It was such an emotional game, and the
emotions were terrible,” Delhomme said.
“But that’s what makes our game so popu-
lar—that’s part of it.”
The Panthers can’t afford to let that loss
linger. They’ve got plenty of work to do just
to get back to the playoffs. Teammates still
have faith in Delhomme, and team officials
proved their support of him by signing him
to five-year, $42.5 million contract exten-
sion in April. Another year removed from
the elbow surgery he had in October 2007,
Delhomme should be a more consistent
passer this season.
The biggest challenge for Carolina will
be on defense, which has been taken over
by former Colts defensive coordinator Ron
Meeks. Last season, the Panthers’ D faded
down the stretch, giving up points in
bunches and ultimately having no answers
for Cards wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Adding to the schematic transition is the
fact the team’s best defensive player, end
Julius Peppers, has yet to sign his franchise
tender and isn’t participating in the team’s
OTAs.
“We can use him. We’re a better team
with him,” safety Chris Harris said. “You
Jake Delhomme’s last game is one he’d like to forget—a six INT performance in the playoffs against Arizona.
see what (ends) Dwight Freeney and Rob-
ert Mathis did in Indianapolis (under
Meeks). They’ve been very productive.”
RICK HAVNER / AP
Other than the Peppers’ situation, it has
been a rather quiet offseason for the Pan-
thers. The team has a huge amount of
Recovering for
another run
A look at three other teams that had
early exits from the 2008 playoffs:
Dolphins
How they departed: Chad Pennington
was intercepted four times in a 27-9
home wild-card loss to the Ravens.
Why they might not return: There are
persistent rumblings that running back
Ronnie Brown will be traded, and Pen-
nington eventually will give way to sec-
ond-year player Chad Henne. In the
AFC East, the Patriots, Jets and Bills all
look like improved teams.
Why they can return: The team has had
another offseason to smooth out issues
in the 3-4. Bringing back Jason Taylor as
an edge pass rusher helps.
Giants
How they departed: They failed to score
a touchdown in a 23-11 loss to the big-
play Eagles in the divisional playoffs.
Why they might not return: Eli Manning
struggled without Plaxico Burress, and
now the team is moving on without
salary-cap dollars tied up in Peppers and
hasn’t been able to make any moves of con-
sequence in free agency. In contrast, divi-
sional rivals Atlanta, New Orleans and
Tampa Bay all have made some key per-
sonnel moves.
Carolina’s standout strength remains its
running game, the league’s third best last
season. With the re-signing of left tackle
Jordan Gross, all five starting offensive
linemen return to block for DeAngelo Wil-
liams and Jonathan Stewart. That duo
Burress, Amani Toomer and 1,000-
yard back Derrick Ward. Defensively,
they lost ace coordinator Steve Spag-
nuolo. Last time we checked, the Giants
also play in the brutal NFC East.
Why they can return: The offensive line
remains intact to pave the way for back-
field hammer Brandon Jacobs. The Giants
made several offseason moves to bolster
their defensive front and will get a healthy
Osi Umenyiora back at right end.
Titans
How they departed: The Titans commit-
ted 12 penalties and three turnovers in a
13-10 divisional playoff loss to the
Ravens.
Why they might not return: Losing Albert
Haynesworth creates a huge void in
what was a dominant run defense. It’s
also uncertain whether Kerry Collins
can hold up for another long year.
Why they can return: They still have
plenty of dynamic playmakers, starting
with both backfields. Chris Johnson is
determined to trump his great rookie
season, and the team added a couple of
wideouts—former Steeler Nate Wash-
ington and rookie Kenny Britt—to help
Collins.
— Vinnie Iyer
combined for 2,351 yards at 5.1 per rush
last season. Carolina even added a speed-
ster to the backfield mix in fourth-round
pick Mike Goodson.
Despite the way last season ended, there
are positives on which to build and a hun-
ger to shake off the playoff
disappointment.
“It definitely left a bad taste in our
mouth,” Gross said. “But it didn’t take
away from what we accomplished last
season.”
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, Buffalo; Jamie Martin, San Francisco; Craig Nall,
Houston; Marques Tuiasosopo, Oakland; Anthony Wright,
NY Giants.
Running backs—J.J. Arrington, Denver; Darian Barnes,
New Orleans; Tatum Bell, Denver; Jon Bradley, Detroit;
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 McAllister, New Orleans; Travis Minor, St. Louis; Chris
Perry, Cincinnati; Andrew Pinnock, Denver; Michael Pitt-
man, 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; D.J. Hackett, Caro-
lina; 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; Marcus Maxwell, Baltimore; Anthony Mix, Tampa
Bay; Ben Obomanu (R), Seattle; Tab Perry, Miami; Jerry
Porter, Jacksonville; Kevin Robinson, Kansas City; Koren Rob-
inson, 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; Owen Daniels (R), Houston;
Nate Lawrie, Cincinnati; Michael Merritt, Kansas City; Chad
Mustard, Denver; Rob Myers, NY Jets; 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; Kyle Link, NY Jets; James Marten
(R), Oakland; Fred Miller, Chicago; Rob Petitti, St. Louis;
Jon Runyan, Philadelphia; Charles Spencer, Jacksonville;
Barry Stokes, New England; Mark Tauscher, Green Bay; Mark
Wilson (R), Oakland.
Guards—Lennie Friedman, Cleveland; Pete Kendall,
Washington; Matt Lentz, Detroit; Terrence Metcalf, Chicago;
Edwin Mulitalo, Detroit; Chris Naeole, Jacksonville; 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; Cory Withrow, St. Louis.
NFL SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 27
DEFENSE
Defensive ends—Kevin Carter, Tampa Bay; Earl Cochran,
Scouts’ views
Houston; Sean Conover, NY Jets; Nick Eason, Pittsburgh;
Punter rankings: Lechler has the whole package
Kalimba Edwards, Oakland; Ebenezer Ekuban, Denver; John
Engelberger, Denver; Simon Fraser, Atlanta; Roderick Green,
San Francisco; Brian Johnston, Kansas City; Travis LaBoy,
Arizona; Jayme Mitchell, Minnesota; Jerome McDougle,
NY Giants; Julius Peppers (F), Carolina; Josh Savage, The importance of the kicking knack for dropping the ball inside
New Orleans; Anthony Weaver, Houston; James Wyche, game isn’t lost on any of the head the red zone. He’s an unsung hero
Jacksonville.
coaches in the NFL. Field position and an invaluable asset to the
Defensive tackles—Kenderick Allen, Minnesota; Gary is critical, and to excel in that area Bills.
Gibson, Carolina; La’Roi Glover, St. Louis; Vonnie Holliday,
Miami; Antwan Lake, New Orleans; Langston Moore, Detroit;
Kindal Moorehead, Atlanta; Dewayne Robertson, Denver;
Orpheus Roye, Pittsburgh; Hollis Thomas, New Orleans; Josh
you need a punter and coverage
units working in lock step. Improv-
ing special teams is usually one of
7. Dustin Colquitt, Chiefs. Like
Lechler, Colquitt might
have been the best player on his
Thomas, Indianapolis; John Thornton, Cincinnati; Casey Tyler,
the first items on a new head team last season. He ranked in the
Dallas; Darwin Walker, Carolina; Ellis Wyms, Minnesota; Brian
Young, New Orleans; Jeff Zgonina, Houston.
coach’s to-do list, but that won’t top 10 in net average and punts
Linebackers—Rufus Alexander, Indianapolis; Jason happen without a quality punter. inside the 20. With some new
Babin, Kansas City; Rocky Boiman, Kansas City; Derrick RealScouts, SN Today’s team of energy on both sides of the ball
Brooks, Tampa Bay; Khary Campbell, Washington; Anthony
former NFL scouts, rank their Top under coach Todd Haley, he should
Cannon, Detroit; Dan Cody, Baltimore; Rosevelt Colvin, New
10 punters for ’09: have more chances to affect the
England; Donte’ Curry, Carolina; Donnie Edwards, Kansas
City; Keith Ellison (R), Buffalo; Troy Evans, New Orleans; field-position battle this year.
Gilbert Gardner, Chicago; Curtis Gatewood, Kansas City;
Morlon Greenwood, Houston; Marques Harris, San Diego;
Napoleon Harris, Minnesota; Abdul Hodge (R), Cincinnati;
1. Shane Lechler, Raiders.
Among players with at least
50 punts, Lechler ranked second
8. Jeff Feagles, Giants. Feagles
made the Pro Bowl at age
42 last season. A very good direc-
Mike Humpal, Pittsburgh; Brad Kassell, NY Jets; Jason Kyle,
Carolina; Teddy Lehman, Buffalo; Wesly Mallard, Seattle;
in average (48.8), first in net aver- tional punter, he ranked in the top
Jim Maxwell, Cincinnati; Willie McGinest, Cleveland; age (41.2) and third in punts inside five in the NFL in net average and
Marques Murrell (R), NY Jets; Ryan Nece, Detroit; Shantee the 20 (33). Despite Al Davis’ love put 23 kicks inside the 20. He con-
Orr, Cleveland; Antwan Peek, Cleveland; Carlos Polk, Dallas;
of the vertical passing game, his sidered retirement but is expected
Junior Seau, New England; Matt Sinclair, Washington; Gary
team is led by a former offensive to return. With the emphasis coach
Stills, St. Louis; Terrell Suggs (F), Baltimore; Dontarrious
Thomas, Minnesota; Marcus Washington, Washington; Nate line coach and is built to run the Tom Coughlin puts on special
Webster, Denver. ball. The field-position game will teams, there’s no reason to expect
Cornerbacks—David Barrett, NY Jets; Fakhir Brown, St. be key to the Raiders in 2009, and Feagles to slide.
Louis; Terry Cousin, Cleveland; Jason Craft, St. Louis; Travis
Fisher, Detroit; Reynaldo Hill, Tennessee; William James,
Jacksonville; Michael Lehan, New Orleans; Sam Madison,
NY Giants; Ricky Manning Jr., St. Louis; Derrick Martin (R),
Lechler will be a huge factor.
2. Brad Maynard, Bears. May-
nard doesn’t have a great
9. Donnie Jones, Rams. Jones is
a big guy (6-3, 222) with a
big leg, and he got plenty of work in
Baltimore; Chris McAlister, Baltimore; Mike McKenzie, New overall average (41.2), which isn’t a ’08 because of the Rams’ feeble
Orleans; R.W. McQuarters, NY Giants; Deltha O’Neal, New
surprise considering the weather offense. His 50.0-yard average
England; Dunta Robinson (F), Houston; Lewis Sanders,
issues in Chicago. However, he led was best in the league, and his 41.1
New England; Duane Starks, Jacksonville; Brandon Sumrall,
NY Giants; DeJuan Tribble, San Diego; Jason Webster, New the NFL in punts inside the 20 net was second only to Lechler’s.
10.
England; Jimmy Williams, Houston; Stanley Wilson, Detroit. (40), and only 36 of his 96 punts Craig Hentrich, Titans.
Safeties—Oshiomogho Atogwe (F), St. Louis; Michael were returned. ALBERT DICKSON / SN Hentrich struggled with
Boulware, Minnesota; Mike Brown, Chicago; Oliver Celestin,
Kansas City; Corey Chavous, St. Louis; Will Demps, Houston;
Mike Doss, Cincinnati; Hiram Eugene, Oakland; Mike Green,
Washington; Rodney Harrison, New England; Terrence Holt,
3. Sam Koch, Ravens. He ranked
in the top 10 in the league
with a 45.5-yard average and a
Oakland’s Shane Lechler led the NFL in net average at 41.2 per punt.
against the Colts, pinning Indy kicker, Zastudil has a powerful leg
back issues in 2008 and consid-
ered retirement this offseason. Of
his 87 punts last season, only 32
New Orleans; Dexter Jackson, Cincinnati; Sammy Knight, 39.9-yard net. His 74-yard boot inside the 20-yard line six times and gets great hang time. He’s a were returned and 27 landed inside
NY Giants; Marquand Manuel, Denver; Marlon McCree,
was the third-longest punt of the and producing a net average of 5l.7. very good directional kicker who the 20. He is a wily veteran who
Denver; Lawyer Milloy, Atlanta; Chad Nkang, Jacksonville;
season in the NFL. He was also For those who watched him all can completely negate the return can completely negate the oppo-
Jarrad Page (R), Kansas City; Pierson Prioleau, Jacksonville;
Chris Reis (R), New Orleans; Dwight Smith, Detroit; Jimmy second with 34 punts inside the year, it was nothing new. He had a game when he’s on. nent’s return game and has long
Williams, San Francisco; Cameron Worrell, Chicago.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickers—John Carney, NY Giants; Matt Stover, Baltimore.
20. The Ravens were smart to sign
him to an extension this offseason.
40.9-yard net during the season
and less than half of his punts were 6. Brian Moorman, Bills. Moor-
man can drive the ball in
been an overlooked piece in Ten-
nessee’s defensive success.
Punters—Mitch Berger, Pittsburgh; Mike Dragosavich,
Indianapolis; Sam Koch (R), Baltimore; Kyle Larson, Cincin-
nati; Ryan Plackemeier, Cincinnati.
4. Mike Scifres, Chargers. Sci-
fres put himself on the map
with a stellar playoff performance
returned.
5. Dave
Another
Zastudil, Browns.
bad-weather
any weather and consistently pro-
duces good hang times. He is also a
smart directional kicker who has a
— RealScouts analyzes NFL and college players,
coaches and teams exclusively
for Sporting News Today.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Childress defends Jackson’s work ethic; Dolphins work on ‘WildPat’
At the Vikings’ minicamp Friday, coach
Brad Childress defended the work ethic of QB
Tarvaris Jackson, who was criticized recently
by Pro Bowl DT Pat Williams. According to
the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Childress
said Jackson puts in as much time at the
Vikings’ training facility as anyone on the
team.
“Tarvaris Jackson is one of hardest-
working guys you are going to find in this
85-man roster right now,” Childress said.
“Just in terms of the time he spends here,
the time he spends in the books, with the
wide receivers, in the weight room,
strength and conditioning. There’s very
few people that work as hard as he does in
the offseason.”
In an interview last week, Williams said
he had told Jackson: “You have to put in
more time than you have been putting in.”
Jackson and Sage Rosenfels have been split-
ting the snaps with the first-team offense
at minicamp.
Meanwhile, Childress told reporters he
hasn’t recently spoken to Brett Favre or his
agent, Bus Cook, saying: “Nothing has
changed.”
Though the Dolphins won’t talk about
their plans for rookie Pat White in the Wild-
cat formation, it appears they are adding
to plays to the scheme they unveiled last
year, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
reported.
During a practice session this week,
White lined up as the only player in the
backfield in the “WildPat” scheme after
lining up at wideout in previous practices
while RB Ronnie Brown ran the offense.
Last year, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano
said that the team was “just scratching the
surface” of the Wildcat. White told the
Sun-Sentinel the Dolphins’ multi-dimen-
sional offense “expands the spread.” More
options? “I think so,” he said.
Vikings coach Brad Childress said QB Tarvaris Jackson (7) is one of the hardest-working players on the team.
Free-agent linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa
agreed Friday to a one-year contract with
the Bears after leading the Rams in tackles
four of the past six seasons. The Bears also
locked up DT Israel Idonije with a two-year
extension through 2011 and agreed to con-
tracts with seven of their nine draft picks.
Tinoisamoa had a career-high 104 tack-
les last year before being released by a new
coaching staff seeking more size. In Chi-
cago, he will be reunited with coach Lovie
NFL
INSIDE DISH
PAUL SANCYA / AP
Smith and defensive coordinator Bob Babich,
who coached him in St. Louis. Tinoisamoa
will probably start at strongside linebacker
alongside Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher.
Besides adding Tinoisamoa, the Bears
committed to an important part of their
defense in Idonije, who posted career highs
with 28 tackles and 31/2 sacks last season.
Released Friday by the Redskins, vet-
eran OT Jon Jansen quickly reached a verbal
agreement to join the Lions, according to
the Detroit Free Press. The deal won’t become
official until the former University of Mich-
igan lineman passes a physical set for Mon-
day, the newspaper said.
Jansen started 122 games for the Red-
skins, validating his nickname “Rock” by
missing only one snap in his first five sea-
sons while playing close to Pro Bowl level.
Injuries have taken their toll on him in
recent years. The Redskins have three can-
didates to succeed Jansen at right tackle:
third-year player Stephon Heyer and offsea-
son pickups Mike Williams and Jeremy Bridges.
Packers WR Donald Driver skipped a vol-
untary practice on Thursday because he
wants to renegotiate his contract, according
to the Wisconsin State Journal. Driver’s agent
said he has had contract discussions with
the Packers. Driver currently is scheduled
to make $3.9 million this season and $4
million in 2010.
Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant is lobby-
ing for receiving help. During a recent inter-
view with Sirius NFL Radio, he said he has
urged the team to sign WR Plaxico Burress or
trade for Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin. Mean-
while, the St. Petersburg Times reported the
Bucs may have interest in former Colts WR
Marvin Harrison.
Michael Vick’s father, Michael Boddie, told
The Daily Press of Newport News, Va., he
believes his son is a “better man” now than
when he went to federal prison camp for 19
months. Vick was released earlier this
month. “You ever been locked up?” Boddie
said. “You have a lot of time to reflect. Looks
like he came through it in one piece. I think
he’ll be a better man because of it.”
A federal judge denied on Friday a
request by the NFL Players Association to
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 28
put the suspensions of five players on hold
while the case over use of a banned sub-
stance is being appealed.
However, NFLPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler
said it doesn’t necessary mean the players
will miss any games at the start of the
2009 season because there could be action
at the appellate court level before the sea-
son starts.
Vikings CB Antoine Winfield will miss
this weekend’s mandatory three-day mini-
camp. There was speculation Winfield,
who is entering the final year of his con-
tract, was skipping workouts because of
an impasse in negotiations. However, Chil-
dress says the cornerback is out because
he is attending the funeral of a close friend’s
mother.
Browns coach Eric Mangini asked LG
Eric Steinbach to bulk up to help implement a
more physical style of play, the Akron Bea-
con Journal reported. Since the start of the
offseason program March 15, Steinbach
said he has put on 12 pounds, although he
is still below 300.
Bengals QB Carson Palmer said he can’t
wait to play with RB Cedric Benson. Palmer
said he is most excited about using Benson
on screen passes. Benson caught only 20
passes last year from backup Ryan Fitzpat-
rick but one went for a 79-yard touch-
down.
“I love seeing that; those are easy yards,”
Palmer said via the team’s website. “They
keep you on the field, they tick the defense
off. With his speed, it’s hard to stop. Com-
bine that with the way he finishes runs.
He puts his shoulder down on DBs and
makes safeties a little hesitant about com-
ing to tackle him. It adds a presence and
physicality to the game you love seeing as
a quarterback.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Texans have Williams’ sidekick
HOUSTON—Mario Williams has
become a ferocious pass rusher in
his three NFL seasons. Too bad the
Texans haven’t had any pressure
coming from the opposite end since
he was drafted.
Antonio Smith is hoping to
change that in his first year in
Houston after helping Arizona to
the Super Bowl last season.
The defensive end joined Wil-
liams and the rest of the Texans for
the first time this week after miss-
ing the first week of practices with
an injured hamstring.
He can’t wait to play with the
right end who was drafted first
overall in 2006.
“I watched him and teams like to
double-team him,” Smith said.
“That must mean I’m going to get
single-teamed most of the time. So,
hey, I’ll have fun and once teams
realize you can’t single-team either
one of us, they’re going to have to
find a way to get us blocked.”
Williams had 53 tackles and 12
sacks last season despite dealing
with near constant double-teams
playing opposite Anthony Weaver.
Weaver was released in the offsea-
son after getting just one sack in
three years with the team.
Smith is also an upgrade over
Weaver in size. Weaver is 6-2, 270
pounds. Smith is 6-4 and about 290.
“He’s a big, strong player,” coach
Gary Kubiak said of Smith. “It’s
not like we have a small end and a
big end now. We’ve got two pretty
good-sized bodies out there.”
A fifth-round pick in 2004, Smith
joins a line full of first-round selec-
tions. Along with Williams, the
Texans have tackles Amobi Okoye
(10th overall in 2007) and Travis
Johnson (16th overall in 2005).
The Texans gave Antonio Smith (94) $35 million to take some pressure off of Mario Williams.
Smith had had 41 tackles and 3½
sacks last season and has 125 tack-
les and 14½ sacks in his five-year
career. He broke out in the playoffs
last season with several big plays,
including two sacks and a tackle
for a safety.
For now Smith is trying to get a feel
for the team and learn the defense.
After he gets his bearings, Kubiak
plans to move him around some, let-
ting him rush from the inside and
drop back in coverage occasionally.
It’s a role Smith is comfortable
with after the Cardinals used him
in much the same way in most of
his five seasons with the team.
“I’ve never really done just one
thing my whole career,” he said.
“It’s like second nature to me. Once
I learn the technique they want me
to use, I think I’ll be fine. I know
how to do it all.”
Kubiak can’t wait to see how
Williams and Smith can work
together this season. “He’s the big,
NFL
N?8KK@D<@J@K66
>8D<;8P
DAVID J. PHILLIP / AP
strong, powerful guy opposite of
Mario,” Kubiak said. “He helps us
with the tight end and those types
of things, not letting them off the
line of scrimmage. He can go inside
and rush the passer, which I saw
him do throughout the playoffs
very effectively. So he’s a key and
that’s why we brought him here.”
Smith, 27, had a forced fumble
and a fumble recovery in the Car-
dinals’ Super Bowl loss to Pitts-
:FCC<><=FFK98CC =8EK8JP=FFK98CC GIF=FFK98CC
burgh. That experience could be ON SALE 6/2/09 ON SALE 6/9/09 ON SALE 6/23/09
invaluable for a team still looking
to make its first playoff trip.
Though Smith has plenty of
advice for his teammates, he’ll hold
back until he has been with the
team a bit longer. “I’ve been trying
to feel everybody out,” he said.
“There are some things that I
would say, about how to get deep
into the playoffs that I learned in ($/''$*/'$.+'+
the last year. But everything I saw www.sportingnews.com or www.streetandsmiths.com
on our team, I see on this team.” SHIPPING: + $3.50 for the first magazine + 50¢ each additional magazine
— The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Top 100 countdown
Sporting News Today is counting down its
Top 100 college football teams for 2009,
featuring one team each day leading into
the season opener Thursday, Sept. 3.
97
JAY DROWNS / SN
A thumb injury ended Jake Locker’s season
in 2008, but he was healthy in the spring.
WASHINGTON
2008 record: 0-12 overall, 0-9
Pac-10
Coach: Steve Sarkisian
Outlook: The wretched Huskies
have three reasons to be optimis-
tic: 1. Jake Locker is the Pac-10’s
best quarterback, provided he
stays healthy; 2. Sarkisian’s debut
as head coach should jolt the
offense, which was held to 14 or
fewer points nine times in 2008; 3.
The losing streak, which likely
will be at 15 games, should end
Sept. 12 against Idaho.
— Derek Samson
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
INSIDE DISH
New Mexico coach Locksley
accused of sexual harassment
New Mexico football coach Mike
Locksley, on the job less than six
months, has been accused of sex-
ual harassment by a former
administrative assistant.
Sylvia Lopez filed a complaint with
the Equal Employment Opportu-
nity Commission. She worked
under Locksley at the Lobos foot-
ball office before transferring last
month, then quit her university
job May 15. Locksley did not
immediately respond to telephone
messages left Friday by The Asso-
ciated Press at New Mexico’s foot-
ball office and through an athletic
department publicist.
In a statement released to Albu-
querque television station KRQE,
Locksley said: “I had always treated
everybody with respect. That is
who I am. Change and transition is
always tough on everybody. Out of
respect for all involved, that is all I
am going to say.”
Athletic director Paul Krebs said the
university is taking the complaint
seriously.
Lost amid the Auburn-Iowa
State coach swap—Auburn hired
Iowa State coach Gene Chizik, so the
Cyclones hired Auburn defensive
coordinator Paul Rhoads to replace
Chizik—has been the Iowa State
side. While Chizik made headlines
this offseason by traveling to high
schools for recruiting trips in a
limo, Rhoads has impressed fans
with his unpretentious personal-
ity during his current Cyclone
Tailgate Tour. Rhoads, a native of
College Football / College Basketball
COURTESY IOWA STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Paul Rhoads was an assistant at Iowa State
from 1995-99.
Ankeny, Iowa, told the Omaha
World-Herald during a stop in
Nebraska that coaches tend to
have the attitude that “the farmer
out in the field, or the clerk in the
store, those people don’t concern
me as much. Well, they absolutely
do. They’re the ones that fill our
stands and buy our tickets and
have conversations with the play-
ers in this state we’re going to
recruit. You’ve got to give back to
all those people.”
On the final day of the SEC
meeting, league presidents
approved a rule limiting confer-
ence football teams to signing just
28 players annually. NCAA rules
allow teams just 25 scholarships
per year, but SEC schools generally
over sign players, anticipating a
portion of the ones they sign won’t
academically qualify. The new
SEC rule takes effect immediately.
SEC commish: End patsy scheduling
The SEC was nearly absent
from the NCAA Tournament
and commissioner Mike Slive wants
to see tougher nonconference
schedules—and soon.
“November and December isn’t
exhibition season,” Slive told The
Associated Press at the SEC’s
annual meetings in Destin, Fla.,
this week.
Just three teams made the
NCAA Tournament last season—
two lost in the first round fol-
lowed by the other in the second.
Slive recently ended his term
as chairman of the NCAA Tour-
nament selection committee
where he got an up-close look at
how important the entire season
is to a postseason berth.
And weak nonconference
schedules—rampant among SEC
schools—cannot be overlooked.
According to RPI expert Jerry
Palm, 55.3 percent of the SEC’s
nonconference wins this past
season (68-of-123) came against
teams with an RPI of 201 or
worse. That included a 54-0
record against teams with an RPI
of 251 or worse.
The lone standout was Tennes-
see with the third-toughest
schedule in the nation. The Vols
were seeded No. 9 after a loss in
the SEC tournament finals to
Mississippi State.
Coaches sounded reluctant after
listening to Slive. But expect ath-
letic directors to get more involved
in scheduling, if the league’s
coaches continue dodging stron-
ger nonconference opponents.
“I think you need to make your
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
INSIDE DISH
SKIP PETERSON / AP
Tennessee had the third-toughest
schedule in the nation last season.
nonconference games more
attractive for your season ticket
base,” Mississippi State athletic
director Greg Byrne said. “Also,
some schools make sense for us
to schedule. The Big 12 and ACC
have teams that are easy for us to
get to, and it is easy for those
teams to come to us.”
Former Kentucky Wildcats
are chiming in on the John Calipari
situation. Calipari left Memphis
for Kentucky following last sea-
son, and his former program is
being investigated for major vio-
lations involving academic fraud
and improper payments of travel
expenses.
Kenny Walker, a former UK All-
American, said Wildcats fans are
naïve to believe this is simply a
Memphis issue.
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 30
“You’re crazy if you think
(that),” Walker told the Lexington
Herald-Leader. “Because of guilt
by association. …. Anything that
comes up gets magnified and
rehashed. Cal is a big personality,
and Kentucky is a big school.
“I’m hopeful (athletic director)
Mitch (Barnhart) and (school presi-
dent) Lee Todd did a thorough
search (into the allegations).”
The NCAA told Calipari in a let-
ter he must participate in next
week’s hearing on alleged major
violations at Memphis, but Cali-
pari explained in a letter to the
NCAA that he wouldn’t be able to
attend due to a previously sched-
uled trip to China, the AP
reported.
Calipari said Friday he would
call in to participate.
USC F Marcus Johnson has
been granted another year of eli-
gibility. Coach Tim Floyd said the
NCAA granted a “season of com-
petition” waiver for Johnson on
the condition that he be withheld
from the first two games of the
2009-10 season, when he will be
considered a senior. Johnson
applied for the waiver because he
competed in just one exhibition
game during the 2007-08 season
at Connecticut before transfer-
ring to USC. He averaged 3.1
points and 1.8 rebounds while
playing 16 games for the Trojans
last season. Johnson sat out the
first 11 games after transferring
from Connecticut, and then
missed seven games with a
strained rotator cuff.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
After big whiffs, time for NCAA to start examining itself
Even though he tended to stumble
around and talk funny and occa-
sionally destroyed furniture in the
process, Inspector Clouseau usually
solved the cases he was assigned. So
given that he was both funny and
proficient, that puts him two up on
the NCAA folks
who certify incom-
ing freshman for
athletic eligibility.
Clouseau being
entirely made up,
though, puts a
dent in his
Mike DeCourcy advantage.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL Oh, if only the
NCAA initial eli-
gibility process were fictional, as
well.
It’s been more than two decades
since the NCAA membership passed
the odious Prop 48 into Bylaw 5-1-
(j), which mandated all freshmen
meeting national standards before
being certified to compete in Divi-
sion I athletics. Among those
requirements was the infamous 700
score on the SAT, which smelled of
discrimination from the moment it
was adopted.
The numbers have changed some
over the years, even become more
reasonable, and we’ve gotten used to
this bad law in the same way we’ve
grown to accept the 3-point shot or
the NFL’s sudden death overtime.
But seeing how it’s all turned out for
those two superstar guards from the
high school class of 2007—O.J. Mayo
and Derrick Rose—raises signifi-
cant questions about the initial eligi-
bility process.
With Mayo, the NCAA was unable
to turn up anything to indicate he’d
professionalized himself prior to
attending Southern California,
though it’s subsequently been
alleged by one of his associates that
Mayo had been provided with cash
and gifts by an agent’s representa-
tive while still in high school.
With Rose, the NCAA examined
his academic record and certified
him as eligible to compete. Report-
edly, the organization then retreated
months after the season and charged
that he had not taken his own SAT.
Folks, that’s a pretty glaring 0-for-
2.
If these folks are swinging and
missing at the two biggest pitches
they’ll see all year, doesn’t that make
them the regulatory equivalent of
Alex Rodriguez?
And if they’re getting it wrong in
such high-profile cases, how is any-
one to be sure they’re not whiffing
on so many others?
It’s not the NCAA’s fault they’re in
the business of certifying initial eli-
gibility. The membership forced that
on the home office, so they’re doing
as they’re told. The schools ought to
have enough mutual trust to admit
the students they choose to admit.
They do it with their medical schools
and their journalism schools, but
they feel the need to tell one another
which point guard can matriculate.
WEEKDAYS 10AM–1PM ET
Listen on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 127, online at SportingNews.com
or check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.
College Basketball
It’s ridiculous.
Attorney Don Jackson of Mont-
gomery, Ala., has dealt with the
NCAA on several of these eligibility
matters. He does not agree that the
NCAA should be out of the initial
eligibility business.
“I have a more significant gripe
with the way these requirements are
enforced and the way they are struc-
tured,” Jackson said. “They are
structured in a way to induce cheat-
ing, in a way to induce bending the
rules.
“I sympathize with what the
NCAA is trying to accomplish.
They’re just going about it the wrong
way. And they’re providing no
guidance.”
Jackson’s position is the NCAA
needs to do a much better job of pro-
viding early education on eligibility
matters, reaching deep into the
junior highs and middle schools so
athletes and their families can make
informed decisions about issues
regarding amateurism and scholas-
tic pursuits.
And he contends that once the
NCAA begins taking a high-profile
athlete through the process there
must be a more even application of
justice. He is concerned so many of
the athletes who wind up fighting
for eligibility are from the South or
urban areas and that too many are
minorities.
“I don’t condone cheating—I don’t
condone cheating by colleges, by
coaches or anyone,” Jackson said. “I
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 31
understand they want to combat
cheating, but in order to combat
cheating you are hurting a bunch of
innocent kids.”
Jackson contends as this decade
has progressed the eligibility cases
have grown increasingly bizarre.
He is working with the family of
basketball recruit Renardo Sidney,
who signed at Mississippi State, to
establish his initial eligibility. Jack-
son said his approach has been to
provide the NCAA with even more
information and documentation
than requested—except in one
instance.
Jackson said the NCAA has
requested to review the family’s
bank accounts for the past four
years.
“We are in the process of telling
them they’re out of their minds,” he
said.
The NCAA’s job has grown so
much more complicated—so much
closer to impossible—as the money
associated with youth basketball
has escalated.
Perhaps if the organization were
allowed to spend all the time and
money currently allotted to sorting
through recruits’ grades and SAT
scores on trying to figure out which
players are pros, everyone could be
more effective.
There is an admissions office on
every campus. Let those people do
their jobs, and let the NCAA get
back to policing college sports. GUS RUELAS / AP
decourcy@sportingnews.com The NCAA was unable to gather any dirt on O.J. Mayo before he entered USC.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Golf SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 32

Stricker leads field, takes advantage of good conditions

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—From its Annika Sorenstam’s spot in
Ben Hogan trophy room to its the field in 2003 then citing Brian Gay 68-71 — 139 -1
Crowne Plaza status as the longest-running conflicts overseas for his con-
Leaderboard Adam Scott 68-71 — 139 -1
Carl Pettersson 71-68 — 139 -1
Invitational at event at its original site, the tinued absence. Friday John Merrick 71-68 — 139 -1
At Colonial Country Club Tommy Armour III 67-72 — 139 -1
Colonial Colonial Country Club is He’s been fondly welcomed Fort Worth, Texas Aron Price 67-72 — 139 -1
among the most venerable back by the galleries and has Purse: $6.2 million Matt Bettencourt 69-70 — 139 -1
Yardage: 7,204; Par: 70 Ken Duke 71-69 — 140 E
Site: Fort Worth, Texas. stops on the PGA Tour. made himself right at home. Charley Hoffman 73-67 — 140 E
Schedule: Through-Sunday. This week, the ol’ course is He’s second-longest off the tee Second Round Richard S. Johnson 71-69 — 140 E
Steve Stricker 63-63 — 126 -14 Chez Reavie 72-68 — 140 E
Course: Colonial Country Club playing like a pitch-and-putt. and has taken the sixth-fewest Tim Clark 63-64 — 127 -13 Dudley Hart 74-66 — 140 E
(7,054 yards, par 70). Steve Stricker shot his sec- putts, leading Stricker in both Vijay Singh 64-64 — 128 -12 Brandt Jobe 71-69 — 140 E
Sean O’Hair 65-64 — 129 -11 Mark Brooks 71-69 — 140 E
Purse: $6.2 million. Winner’s share: ond straight 63 on Friday categories. Jason Day 65-65 — 130 -10 Jason Dufner 69-71 — 140 E
$1,116,000. morning, giving him a 14-under “I’m really happy with the Woody Austin 63-68 — 131 -9 Bo Van Pelt 71-69 — 140 E
Ryan Palmer 69-63 — 132 -8 Corey Pavin 71-69 — 140 E
TV: Golf Channel (Today, 2-5 a.m.) 126 total that set records for 36 way I’m swinging the club,” Luke Donald 68-65 — 133 -7 Rory Sabbatini 71-69 — 140 E
and CBS (Today-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.). holes and for any consecutive Singh said. “I’m doing every- Paul Casey 66-67 — 133 -7 Chris DiMarco 69-71 — 140 E
Kevin Sutherland 66-67 — 133 -7 Joe Ogilvie 67-73 — 140 E
rounds at the Crowne Plaza thing pretty good right now. James Driscoll 69-64 — 133 -7 Mark Calcavecchia 68-72 — 140 E
Invitational—yet was barely That’s a good feeling.” Steve Marino 66-67 — 133 -7 Heath Slocum 69-71 — 140 E
enough to top a leaderboard Jason Bohn 69-65 — 134 -6
He finds the conditions a lit- Ted Purdy 69-65 — 134 -6 Failed to qualify
filled with players taking tle too good. He’s hoping for Kevin Na 66-68 — 134 -6 Rich Beem 71-70 — 141 +1
Justin Leonard 66-68 — 134 -6 Mathew Goggin 68-73 — 141 +1
advantage of light wind and some extra heat to firm up
Woods returns to pillow-soft greens. greens that he finds too soft
Lucas Glover
John Senden
70-65
68-67
— 135 -5
— 135 -5
Jerry Kelly
Y.E. Yang
70-71
74-67
— 141 +1
— 141 +1
Memorial, where Tim Clark, Vijah Singh and and too slow. Ian Poulter
James Nitties
66-69
67-68
— 135 -5
— 135 -5
Jonathan Byrd
Paul Goydos
72-69
70-71
— 141 +1
— 141 +1
he’s won 3 times Sean O’Hair shot 64s on Friday “If you can hit the fairways, Danny Lee
Harrison Frazar
69-67
67-69
— 136 -4
— 136 -4
D.J. Trahan
Steve Flesch
75-66
71-70
— 141 +1
— 141 +1
and were lined up right behind you can really attack the pin Tom Pernice, Jr. 69-67 — 136 -4 Ryan Moore 68-73 — 141 +1
DUBLIN, OHIO—Tiger Woods Stricker: Clark was one shot because you know they’re going Kenny Perry 64-72 — 136 -4 Nicholas Thompson 68-73 — 141 +1
Mike Weir 69-67 — 136 -4 Matt Weibring 71-70 — 141 +1
is returning to the Memorial, back, Singh one more and to stop,” he said. Hunter Mahan 69-67 — 136 -4 Alex Cejka 70-71 — 141 +1
where he is a three-time win- O’Hair yet another. Palmer’s low round pushed Zach Johnson 69-67 — 136 -4 Jeff Klauk 72-69 — 141 +1
Stephen Ames 68-68 — 136 -4 Marc Turnesa 69-72 — 141 +1
ner. He has skipped the tourna- Jason Day (65) was 10 under, him up to seventh. It meant Jeff Overton 69-67 — 136 -4 Dean Wilson 68-73 — 141 +1
ment two of the last three years Woody Austin (68) was another even more because this is home Tim Herron 71-65 — 136 -4 Brett Quigley 71-70 — 141 +1
Bob Estes 71-66 — 137 -3 Tim Petrovic 72-70 — 142 +2
because of family matters and stroke back, and Ryan Palmer course and the gallery was John Rollins 70-67 — 137 -3 J.P. Hayes 72-70 — 142 +2
knee surgery. (63) was 8 under. filled with friends and family. Charlie Wi 67-70 — 137 -3 Briny Baird 70-72 — 142 +2
Stewart Cink 71-66 — 137 -3 Will MacKenzie 72-70 — 142 +2
Woods has not won at “The weather, for two days in DONNA MCWILLIAM / AP He finished with a pair of bird- Geoff Ogilvy 70-67 — 137 -3 Todd Hamilton 71-71 — 142 +2
Muirfield Village, where Jack a row—well, all week since Steve Stricker’s 63 in the second round gave him a one-shot lead. ies, capping it with a 16-footer Anthony Kim 69-68 — 137 -3 Vaughn Taylor 71-71 — 142 +2
Jim Furyk 68-69 — 137 -3 Webb Simpson 71-72 — 143 +3
Nicklaus is the tournament we’ve been here—has been that left him a bit emotional. Brian Davis 69-68 — 137 -3 Lee Janzen 71-72 — 143 +3
host, since winning his third in unbelievable,” Stricker said. “I’d rather have the trophy,” The cut line was further evi- “To put on a show for them Derek Fathauer 68-69 — 137 -3 Jeff Maggert 70-73 — 143 +3
Greg Owen 68-69 — 137 -3 Keith Clearwater 70-73 — 143 +3
a row at 2001. “Wind is what this course needs Stricker said. “We’re only half- dence of how tame the course is was nice, it was unbelievable,” Tom Lehman 68-69 — 137 -3 Johnson Wagner 70-73 — 143 +3
He did not play in 2006 to get difficult, but we haven’t way through. I’d like to keep playing. It was even par (140). he said. “I’ve been waiting for Ryuji Imada 69-68 — 137 -3 D.A. Points 73-70 — 143 +3
Michael Bradley 70-67 — 137 -3 Jeff Quinney 70-73 — 143 +3
because of his father’s death. seen it yet. ... I kind of like making putts. That solves a lot To put that in perspective, par this day to come for a long time Rocco Mediate 67-70 — 137 -3 Davis Love III 70-73 — 143 +3
Last year, he was recovering what’s going on right now.” of problems.” would’ve beaten Hogan the last this year.” Fredrik Jacobson 68-70 — 138 -2 Greg Kraft 70-73 — 143 +3
Nick O’Hern 69-69 — 138 -2 Steve Lowery 75-69 — 144 +4
from the first of two knee oper- Clark’s two-round total of 127 Colonial members can only two times he won it, in 1959 and Chad Campbell hurt his calf Bart Bryant 70-68 — 138 -2 Cameron Beckman 73-71 — 144 +4
ations that ultimately caused matched the previous best for shake their heads at these scores, ’53; he was 1 under in all three so badly that others had to Matt Kuchar 70-68 — 138 -2 Trevor Immelman 73-72 — 145 +5
Kevin Streelman 68-70 — 138 -2 J.B. Holmes 71-74 — 145 +5
him to miss the second half of back-to-back rounds set by Jus- especially after undertaking of his other victories here. brace him, then he went down Mark Wilson 67-71 — 138 -2 Troy Matteson 76-69 — 145 +5
the season. tin Leonard in ’03. Singh’s two- course alterations that were sup- “This course really rewards to the ground, while playing Scott Verplank 70-68 — 138 -2 Billy Mayfair 72-74 — 146 +6
George McNeill 68-70 — 138 -2 Fulton Allem 74-72 — 146 +6
The Memorial will be played round total of 128 matched the posed to make things tougher, good play,” Clark said. “It the 17th hole. The Masters run- Justin Rose 69-69 — 138 -2 Ian Baker-Finch 68-78 — 146 +6
June 4-7, with Kenny Perry the previous midway mark set by not easier. Some West Texas favors everyone.” ner-up withdrew, and hopes to David Toms 67-72 — 139 -1 Parker McLachlin 72-75 — 147 +7
Ben Crane 71-68 — 139 -1 Peter Lonard 74-76 —150+10
defending champion. Kenny Perry in 2005. And gusts would help show whether Singh is here for the first be healed in time for the U.S. Rod Pampling 73-66 — 139 -1 Chad Campbell 67-WD
— The Associated Press they’re only good for footnotes they miscalculated or if it really time since 2002, having with- Open in three weeks. J.J. Henry 71-68 — 139 -1 Scott Piercy 73-DQ
because of Stricker’s 126. is just the calm conditions. drawn right after criticizing — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Glance
PARIS—A look at the French Open on
Friday:
Weather: Sunny. High of 72 degrees.
Attendance: 34,304.
Men’s seeded winners: No. 1 Rafael
Nadal, No. 3 Andy Murray, No. 4 Novak
Djokovic, No. 8 Fernando Verdasco,
No. 10 Nikolay Davydenko, No. 12
Fernando Gonzalez, No. 13 Marin Cilic,
No. 23 Robin Soderling, No. 29 Philipp
Kohlschreiber, No. 30 Victor Hanescu.
Men’s seeded losers: No. 7 Gilles
Simon, No. 14 David Ferrer, No. 17
Stanislas Wawrinka, No. 18 Radek
Stepanek, No. 31 Nicolas Almagro.
Women’s seeded winners: No. 1 Dinara
Safina, No. 8 Ana Ivanovic, No. 20
Dominika Cibulkova, No. 25 Li Na, No.
29 Agnes Szavay.
Women’s seeded losers: No. 3
Venus Williams, No. 27 Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova, No. 32 Iveta Benesova.
Stat of the day: 4—The total number
of games lost by Safina through three
rounds of the tournament.
Quote of the day: “It’s hard to play
against a player screaming like that.”
— Aravane Rezai, after complaining
about opponent Michelle Larcher
de Brito’s shrieks in their third-round
match. Rezai won in two sets.
On court today: No. 2 Roger
Federer vs. No. 32 Paul-Henri
Mathieu, Djokovic vs. No. 29 Philipp
Kohlschreiber, No. 6 Andy Roddick vs.
Marc Gicquel; No. 2 Serena Williams
vs. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez,
No. 4 Elena Dementieva vs. No.
30 Samantha Stosur, No. 5 Jelena
Jankovic vs. Jarmila Groth.
Today’s forecast: Sunny. High of 73
degrees.
Today’s TV: Tennis Channel, 5 a.m.-1:30
p.m. ET; NBC, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m ET.
— The Associated Press
Venus drubbed; Sharapova fights back
PARIS—Out of breath and out of sorts,
Venus Williams played her way right
out of the French Open on Friday with
her most lopsided Grand Slam loss since
2001.
That the No. 3-seeded Williams would
exit in the third round at Roland Garros
is not quite so extraordinary, perhaps,
considering she now has left this partic-
ular Grand Slam tournament at this pre-
cise stage in four of the past five years.
That Williams would lose the way she
did—6-0, 6-4—and to the player she
did—29th-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hun-
gary, whose resume boasts a lone major
quarterfinal appearance—was anything
but ordinary.
“I’m used to beating people 6-0. I’m
not used to my shot not going in and los-
ing a set 6-0,” Williams said. “So it com-
pletely was foreign ground for me.”
The red clay of Paris often feels that
way to the older Williams sister, whose
seven Grand Slam singles titles were
earned at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Based on seeding and name, her depar-
ture qualifies as by far the tournament’s
most significant.
Hours later, Maria Sharapova
appeared headed in the same direction.
Like Williams, Sharapova hasn’t won
the French Open, and she, too, slogged
through three sets in each of her first
two matches this week, then looked
awful at the start Friday.
But Sharapova, surgically repaired
right shoulder and all, did what Wil-
liams couldn’t: She pulled herself
together and moved into the fourth
round. Sharapova came back to beat
98th-ranked Yaroslava Shvedova of
Kazakhstan 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
While Sharapova found herself in yet
another two-hour-plus test, No. 1 Dinara
Safina and defending champion Ana
Ivanovic won easily. Four-time reigning
Tennis
FRENCH OPEN
CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP
Venus Williams has lost at the French Open in the
third round in four of the last five years.
champion Rafael Nadal made things
look simple against former No. 1 Lleyton
Hewitt, beating him 6-1, 6-3, 6-1, and No.
3 Andy Murray, No. 8 Fernando Ver-
dasco, No. 10 Nikolay Davydenko and
No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez also reached
the fourth round.
“I dug a nice pothole for myself there.
That’s kind of what I’ve been doing the
last few rounds,” Sharapova said. “I
don’t think she came up with great shots
in order to win that first set. I honestly
believe that I was making easy errors.”
Williams offered a similar assessment
after finishing with more than twice as
many unforced errors (23) as winners
(10) against Szavay.
“She hung in there. She played really
well, but I definitely have to attribute
that loss to, you know, to me not being
able to execute what I wanted to on the
court,” Williams said. “It seemed every
shot I tried, somehow, it found a way to
go out.”
Her mother, Oracene Price, offered an
explanation: She thought Williams was
wiped out after her second-round match
began Wednesday, was suspended by
darkness, then was completed Thurs-
day. Williams was forced to save a match
point before winning that one.
“Sometimes a match is so emotional,
kind of draining mentally,” Price said.
“And then she didn’t really get her real
rest.”
Williams’ father, Richard, said after
Thursday’s victory that his daughter
was dealing with a knee problem. She
often was out of position against Szavay,
who held her own in the kind of baseline
exchanges Williams can dominate more
easily on faster surfaces.
It was the 14th time in 662 career
matches that Williams was shut out in a
set, and her only worse defeat in Grand
Slam play was a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Martina
Hingis in the 2001 Australian Open
semifinals.
“I said, ‘Fight! Try to find some fire!’
She just didn’t have it, couldn’t bring it
out today, for some reason,” Price said.
“Probably doesn’t understand it
herself.”
Neither, really, did Szavay, whose only
real blip came when she double-faulted,
then put a forehand into the net, allow-
ing Williams to break for a 4-3 lead in
the second set. But Williams wouldn’t
win another game, double-faulting to get
broken right back, then adding to her
error count the rest of the way.
— The Associated Press
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009
Results
Friday
At Stade Roland Garros
Purse: $21.8 million (Grand Slam)
Surface: Clay-Outdoor
Singles
Men
Second Round
Novak Djokovic (4), Serbia, def. Sergiy
Stakhovsky, Ukraine, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.
Philipp Kohlschreiber (29), Germany, def.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4,
6-7 (3), 6-3.
Third Round
Fernando Verdasco (8), Spain, def. Nicolas
Almagro (31), Spain, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8).
Fernando Gonzalez (12), Chile, def. Josselin
Ouanna, France, 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.
Nikolay Davydenko (10), Russia, def.
Stanislas Wawrinka (17), Switzerland, 6-3,
4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Marin Cilic (13), Croatia, def. Radek
Stepanek (18), Czech Republic, 6-1, 7-6
(4), 6-3.
Victor Hanescu (30), Romania, def. Gilles
Simon (7), France, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, def. Lleyton Hewitt,
Australia, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1.
Robin Soderling (23), Sweden, def. David
Ferrer (14), Spain, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Andy Murray (3), Britain, def. Janko
Tipsarevic, Serbia, 7-6 (3), 6-3, retired.
Women, Third Round
Aravane Rezai, France, def. Michelle Larcher
de Brito, Portugal, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Ana Ivanovic (8), Serbia, def. Iveta Bene-
sova (32), Czech Republic, 6-0, 6-2.
Dominika Cibulkova (20), Slovakia, def.
Gisela Dulko, Argentina, 6-4, 6-2.
Agnes Szavay (29), Hungary, def. Venus
Williams (3), United States, 6-0, 6-4.
Dinara Safina (1), Russia, def. Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova (27), Russia, 6-2, 6-0.
Li Na (25), China, def. Olga Govortsova,
Belarus, 7-5, 6-1.
Maria Sharapova, Russia, def. Yaroslava
Shvedova, Kazakhstan, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Victoria Azarenka (9), Belarus, vs. Carla
Suarez Navarro (22), Spain, 5-7, 7-5, susp.,
darkness.
Doubles
Men, First Round
Mahesh Bhupathi, India, and Mark Knowles
(4), Bahamas, def. Josselin Ouanna and
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France, 6-3, 6-2.
Second Round
Simon Aspelin, Sweden, and Paul Hanley,
Australia, def. Frantisek Cermak, Czech
Republic, and Michal Mertinak (12),
Slovakia, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Pablo Cuevas, Uruguay, and Luis Horna (8),
33
Peru, def. Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer,
Austria, 6-3, 6-4.
Jaroslav Levinsky, Czech Republic, and Igor
Zelenay, Slovakia, def. Marcel Granollers
and Santiago Ventura, Spain, 6-3, 6-2.
Marc Lopez and Tommy Robredo, Spain,
def. Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin
Matkowski (6), Poland, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut,
France, def. Travis Parrott, United States,
and Filip Polasek (15), Slovakia, 6-2, 6-4.
Wesley Moodie, South Africa, and Dick
Norman, Belgium, def. Jan Hernych, Czech
Republic, and Christophe Rochus, Belgium,
6-4, 6-4.
Bruno Soares, Brazil, and Kevin Ullyett (5),
Zimbabwe, def. Simone Bolelli and Andreas
Seppi, Italy, 6-3, 6-1.
Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske,
Germany, def. Lukasz Kubot, Poland, and
Oliver Marach (9), Austria, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5).
Lukas Dlouhy, Czech Republic, and Leander
Paes (3), India, def. James Cerretani, United
States, and Sergiy Stakhovsky, Ukraine,
4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov, Russia,
def. Fabio Fognini, Italy, and Teimuraz
Gabashvili, Russia, 6-2, 6-3.
Women
Second Round
Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia
Ruano Pascual (3), Spain, def. Ekaterina
Dzehalevich, Belarus, and Andreja Klepac,
Slovenia, 6-2, 6-4.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, United States, and
Nadia Petrova (10), Russia, def. Alona and
Kateryna Bondarenko, Ukraine, 6-1, 6-3.
Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska, Poland,
def. Chuang Chia-jung, Taiwan, and Sania
Mirza (14), India, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs (4),
Australia, def. Lourdes Dominguez Lino,
Spain, and Sara Errani, Italy, 6-3, 6-4.
Cara Black, Zimbabwe, and Liezel Huber
(1), United States, def. Jelena Dokic,
Australia, and Alisa Kleybanova, Russia,
walkover.
Serena and Venus Williams (5), United
States, def. Gisela Dulko, Argentina, and
Agnes Szavay, Hungary, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Mixed
First Round
Flavia Pennetta, Italy, and Dusan Vemic,
Serbia, def. Kveta Peschke and Frantisek
Cermak, Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-1.
Vania King, United States, and Marcelo
Melo, Brazil, def. Virginia Ruano Pascual,
Spain, and Stephen Huss (8), Australia,
6-4, 6-3.
Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan (1), United
States, def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, United
States, and Kevin Ullyett, Zimbabwe, 7-6
(6), 6-3.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Virginia beats Strasburg, San Diego State 5-1
IRVINE, CALIF.—San Diego State ace Stephen
Strasburg lost for the first time this season
as Robert Morey pitched six shutout innings
and Steven Proscia hit a two-run homer in
Virginia’s 5-1 victory in an NCAA regional
Friday night.
Strasburg (13-1), the probable No. 1 overall
pick in the draft next month, struck out 15
in seven innings. Strasburg said it was dif-
ficult to prepare against the Cavaliers.
“I was pretty excited to be out there, but
it’s pretty tough to pitch against a team that
you’ve never really heard of, you don’t really
have a good scouting report on them,” Stras-
burg said. “They put a good bat on the ball.”
But San Diego State’s first tournament
appearance in 18 years was spoiled by
Morey (3-0), who allowed five hits and
struck out nine for Virginia (44-12-1). The
Cavaliers have won six straight.
Phil Gosselin took the first pitch he saw
against Strasburg with one out in the first
inning and smacked it over the 380-foot
sign in left-center field to give the Cavaliers
a quick 1-0 lead over the Aztecs (40-22).
In the late game, UC Irvine beat Fresno
State 4-2.
Atlanta Regional
Georgia Tech 9, Georgia State 3
Deck McGuire scattered three runs over
seven innings and Matt Skole hit a grand
slam for Georgia Tech.
Southern Mississippi 17, Elon 15
Kyle Maxie had a pinch-hit two-run
homer, and Bo Davis added a solo shot to
highlight a five-run ninth inning for South-
ern Miss.
Houston Regional
Rice 5, Sam Houston State 2
Mike Ojala pitched seven strong innings
and Brock Holt had two hits and scored the
go-ahead run to lead Rice.
Georgia Tech’s Matt Skole, center, is greeted at home plate after his grand slam helped the Yellow Jackets rally to beat Georgia State.
Kansas State. 16, Xavier 8
Justin Bloxom went 5-for-5 with two
home runs, and Kansas State made an
impressive NCAA tournament debut with
a victory over Xavier.
Austin (Texas) Regional
Texas 3, Army 1
Cole Green struck out six in seven innings
and went 1-or-1 in his first collegiate appear-
ance as a hitter to help Texas, the No. 1
national seed, beat Army.
College Baseball
NCAA REGIONAL ROUNDUP
Boston College 8, Texas State 7
John Spatola hit a three-run homer dur-
ing a six-run ninth, and Boston College
reliever struck out Lance Loftin to strand
the tying run on second base.
Fort Worth (Texas) Regional
Oregon State 9, Texas A&M 8
John Tommasini’s two-run triple keyed a
four-run second inning, and Oregon State
held on after Texas A&M scored seven
unanswered runs.
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 34
than he had all season, and the Cowboys
put to rest any criticism that they didn’t
belong in the NCAA tournament.
Norman (Okla.) Regional
Oklahoma 5, Wichita State 4
Aaron Baker’s double and Garrett
Buechele’s two-run single keyed Oklaho-
ma’s three-run sixth inning.
Arkansas 10, Washington State 3
Scott Lyons hit a three-run homer and
Arkansas rallied for nine runs in the eighth
inning to beat Washington State.
Gainesville (Fla.) Regional
Florida 8, Bethune-Cookman 7
Teddy Foster’s two-run single in the
ninth inning helped Florida avoid a stun-
ning upset, edging Bethune-Cookman.
Miami 9, Jacksonville 4
Jason Hagerty homered from both sides
of the plate, Chris Herrman added a two-
run shot and Miami opened its 37th NCAA
tournament with a win.
Chapel Hill (N.C.) Regional
North Carolina 5, Dartmouth 2
Dustin Ackley drove in two runs to help
North Carolina, the No. 4 national seed,
beat Dartmouth.
CURTIS COMPTON / AP Coastal Carolina 11, Kansas 3
David Anderson homered and drove in
three runs, and Big South champ Coastal
Carolina won for the 15th time in 16 games.
TCU 6, Wright State 3
Paul Gerrish held Wright State scoreless Baton Rouge (La.) Regional
in six of his seven innings and Chris Elling- Baylor 5, Minnesota 0
ton had three hits. Shaver Hansen hit a two-run homer, Bay-
lor starter Willie Kempf pitched six shutout
Clemson (S.C.) Regional innings and the Bears beat Minnesota.
Clemson 5, Tennessee Tech 4
Jeff Schaus doubled home two runs in the LSU 10, Southern 2
ninth to help Clemson. Austin Ross tied a career high with 10
strikeouts, and LSU scored seven two-out
Oklahoma State 10, Alabama 6 runs in the seventh inning for the win.
Tom Belza hit three homers, one more — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Baseball SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 35
Oxford (Miss.) Regional
NCAA Division I regionals glance All times ET, double elimination
Mississippi 8, Monmouth 1
At Clark-LeClair Stadium At McKethan Stadium LSU 10, Southern U. 2 2 p.m. Drew Pomeranz struck out 10
Greenville, N.C. Gainesville, Fla. Baylor 5, Minnesota 0 Game 4 — Boston College (34-24) vs. Texas and held Monmouth scoreless over
Friday Friday Today (42-13-1), 7 p.m.
South Carolina 11, George Mason 3 Miami 9, Jacksonville 4 Game 3 — Southern U. (30-16) vs. Minnesota Sunday the first eight innings.
East Carolina vs. Binghamton, ppd., rain Florida 8, Bethune-Cookman 7 (38-18), 2 p.m. Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.
Today Today Game 4 — LSU (47-16) vs. Baylor (30-24), 7 p.m Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner,
Game 2 — East Carolina (42-17) vs. Binghamton Game 3 — Jacksonville (36-21) vs. Bethune- Sunday 7 p.m. Western Kentucky 11, Missouri 5
(29-20), 10 a.m. Cookman (32-27), 1 p.m. Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. Monday
Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 Wade Gaynor hit a three-run homer
Game 3 — George Mason (42-13) vs. Game 2 Game 4 — Miami (37-20) vs. Florida (40-20),
loser, 2 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. p.m., if necessary in the first inning and Matt Ridings
Game 4 — South Carolina (39-21) vs. Game 2 Sunday Monday
winner, 6 p.m. Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 At Packard Stadium struck out eight to lead the Sunbelt
Sunday Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, p.m., if necessary Tempe, Ariz. Conference co-champ Hilltoppers.
Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Friday
Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Monday At L. Dale Mitchell Park Oral Roberts 13, Cal Poly 3
6 p.m. Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6:30 Norman, Okla.
Friday
Arizona State 17, Kent State 6
Today
Tallahassee (Fla.) Regional
Monday p.m., if necessary
Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 Arkansas 10, Washington State 3 Game 3 — Cal Poly (37-20) vs. Kent State Georgia 24, Ohio State 8
p.m., if necessary At Dick Howser Stadium Oklahoma 5, Wichita State 4 (42-16), 5 p.m. Matt Cerione and Joey Lewis hom-
Tallahassee, Fla. Today Game 4 — Oral Roberts (32-13) vs. Arizona State
At Boshamer Stadium Friday Game 3 — Washington State (31-24) vs. Wichita (45-12), 10 p.m. ered in Georgia’s eight-run first
Chapel Hill, N.C. Georgia 24, Ohio State 8 State (30-26), 2 p.m. Sunday inning and the Bulldogs used seven
Friday Florida State 16, Marist 4 Game 4 — Arkansas (35-22) vs. Oklahoma Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 4 p.m.
Coastal Carolina 11, Kansas 3 Today (42-18), 8 p.m. Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, home runs to cruise past Ohio State.
North Carolina 5, Dartmouth 2 Game 3 — Ohio State (40-18) vs. Marist (31-27), Sunday 9 p.m.
Today Noon Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. Monday
Game 3 — Kansas (37-23) vs. Dartmouth Game 4 — Georgia (38-22) vs. Florida State Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 Florida State 16, Marist 4
(27-17), 1 p.m. (43-16), 4 p.m 8 p.m. p.m., if necessary
Monday Mike McGee and Jason Stidham
Game 4 — Coastal Carolina (47-14) vs. Sunday
North Carolina (43-16), 5 p.m. Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, Noon Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8 At Anteater Ballpark hit three-run homers as top-seeded
Sunday Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, p.m., if necessary Irvine, Calif.
Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Friday Florida State rallied to a victory
Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Monday At Reckling Park Virginia 5, San Diego State 1 over Marist in its NCAA regional
5 p.m. Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 Houston UC Irvine 4, Fresno State 2
Monday p.m., if necessary Friday Today opener.
Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 Kansas State 16, Xavier 8 Game 3 — San Diego State (40-22) vs. Fresno
At Jim Patterson Stadium Rice 5, Sam Houston State 2 State (32-29)
p.m., if necessary
Louisville, Ky. Today Game 4 — Virginia (44-12-1) vs. UC Irvine Tempe (Ariz.) Regional
At Doug Kingsmore Stadium Friday Game 3 — Xavier (38-20) vs. Sam Houston State (44-13) Oral Roberts 13, Cal Poly 3
Clemson, S.C. Middle Tennessee 5, Vanderbilt 4 (36-23), 3 p.m. Sunday
Friday Louisville 8, Indiana 2 Game 4 — Kansas State (42-16-1) vs. Rice Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 7 p.m. Juan Martinez, Seth Furmanek
Oklahoma State 10, Alabama 6 Today (40-15), 7 p.m. Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, MATT A. BROWN / AP and Cody Price each homered in
Clemson 5, Tennessee Tech 4 Game 3 — Vanderbilt (34-26) vs. Indiana Sunday 11 p.m.
Today (32-26), 3 p.m. Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. Monday Cal State Fullerton’s Gary Brown is caught stealing by Utah’s Michael Beltran. Oral Roberts’ four-run third inning.
Game 3 — Alabama (37-20) vs. Tennessee Tech Game 4 — Middle Tennessee (44-16) vs. Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 11
(30-23-1), 3 p.m. Louisville (45-15), 7 p.m 7 p.m. p.m., if necessary
Game 4 — Oklahoma State (33-22) vs. Clemson
(41-19), 7 p.m.
Sunday
Sunday
Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner,
Monday
Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7
p.m., if necessary
At Goodwin Field
Fullerton, Calif.
Friday
Meinhart slams Vanderbilt Arizona State 17, Kent St. 6
Jason Kipnis, Kole Calhoun and
Zack McPhee each had three of Ari-
Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. 7 p.m.
Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Monday At Lupton Baseball Stadium Gonzaga 19, Georgia Southern 10
LOUISVILLE, KY.—Stuart Meinhart fourth of the season. zona State’s 17 hits as the Sun Dev-
7 p.m. Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 Fort Worth, Texas Cal State Fullerton 18, Utah 2
Monday p.m., if necessary Friday Today hit a grand slam and Taylor Dennis In the other Louisville game, ils won in a rout.
Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 Oregon State 9, Texas A&M 8 Game 3 — Georgia Southern (42-16) vs. Utah
p.m., if necessary At Oxford-University Stadium TCU 6, Wright State 3 (26-30), 5 p.m. added a solo shot in the seventh Louisville beat Indiana 8-2 as Jus-
Oxford, Miss. Today
Game 3 — Texas A&M (36-23) vs. Wright State
Game 4 — Gonzaga (36-16) vs. Cal State
Fullerton (43-14), 9 p.m.
inning, helping Middle Tennessee tin Marks held Indiana to two runs Fullerton (Calif.) Regional
At Russ Chandler Stadium Friday
beat in-state rival Vanderbilt 5-4 over seven innings. Gonzaga 19, Georgia Southern 10
Atlanta Western Kentucky 11, Missouri 5 (33-29), 3 p.m. Sunday
Friday Mississippi 8, Monmouth, N.J. 1 Game 4 — Oregon State (36-17) vs. TCU (37-16), Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 5 p.m. on Friday in the Louisville Gonzaga used 18 hits, including
Southern Mississippi 17, Elon 15 Today 7 p.m. Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner,
Georgia Tech 9, Georgia State 3 Game 3 — Missouri (34-26) vs. Monmouth, N.J. Sunday 9 p.m. regional. Greenville (N.C.) Regional three home runs, to win its first
Today (32-24), 2 p.m. Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. Monday The victory snapped a seven- South Carolina 11, NCAA tournament game since 1981.
Game 3 — Elon (40-17) vs. Georgia State Game 4 — Western Kentucky (40-18) vs. Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9
(39-21), 3 p.m. Mississippi (41-17), 6 p.m. 7 p.m. p.m., if necessary game NCAA tournament losing George Mason 3
Game 4 — Southern Mississippi (36-23) vs. Sunday Monday streak for second-seeded Middle Parker Bangs’ two-run homer Cal State Fullerton 18, Utah 2
Georgia Tech (36-17-1), 7 p.m Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7
Sunday Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, p.m., if necessary Tennessee (44-16) and made a win- keyed a four-run fourth inning, and The four-time national champion
Game 5 : Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. 6 p.m. ner of Kenneth Roberts. South Carolina took advantage of Titans scored eight runs in the first
Game 6 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Monday At UFCU Disch-Falk Field
7 p.m. Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8 Austin, Texas Meinhart’s homer was the 100th four errors by George Mason. The three innings, quickly taking the
Monday p.m., if necessary Friday
Game 7 : Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 Boston College 8, Texas State 7 this season for the Blue Raiders, Binghamton-East Carolina was suspense out of the Utes first NCAA
p.m., if necessary At Alex Box Stadium Texas 3, Army 1 who came in tied for 10th nation- postponed due to rain and will be appearance since 1960.
Baton Rouge, La. Today
Friday Game 3 — Texas State (41-16) vs. Army (34-20), ally. Dennis, the No. 9 hitter, hit his played today. — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Preakness winner won’t run at Belmont
LEXINGTON, KY.—Preakness winner
Rachel Alexandra will not run in the
Belmont Stakes, opening the way for
jockey Calvin Borel to return to Ken-
tucky Derby winner Mine That Bird
in his quest for a personal Triple
Crown.
Jess Jackson, Rachel Alexandra’s co-
owner, said Friday the spectacular filly
“deserves a well-earned vacation.”
Rachel Alexandra had been set to
work out Monday at Churchill Downs
in Louisville, and no announcement
was expected until after that. But Jack-
son explained the filly simply needed a
rest after running—and winning—four
graded stakes races since March 14,
including a dominating victory in the
Kentucky Oaks.
“We know the media and many fans
would have liked to see her run in the
Belmont Stakes—we feel the same,”
Jackson said in a statement. “But all of
us sincerely interested in the horse must
agree that we only want to see her run
when it is best for her. While she is in
great shape, having strong works, and
recovering well from her amazing per-
formances, we feel Rachel deserves a
well-earned vacation.”
Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY—Washington is closing
in on the Women’s College World Series
final. The Huskies (48-11) are one victory
from the championship round after beat-
ing defending champion Arizona State
1-0 in eight innings Friday night. Mor-
gan Stuart singled home the winning
run and Danielle Lawrie pitched a two-
hitter for third-seeded Washington.
Arizona State (47-18) must win three
in a row to get to the championship game.
Later Friday night, No. 1 seed Florida
blanked fifth-seeded Michigan, 1-0.
Back Page
IN BRIEF
Major League Soccer
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L
Chicago 5 0
D.C. 3 1
Toronto FC 4 3
Kansas City 4 4
Columbus 2 2
New England 2 3
New York 2 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L
Chivas USA 7 2
Seattle 4 2
Houston 4 2
Colorado 3 2
Real Salt Lake 3 5
Los Angeles 1 1
FC Dallas 1 6
San Jose 1 7
NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.
Wednesday’s game Toronto FC at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Columbus 2, San Jose 1 Columbus at Seattle FC, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday’s game Kansas City at Los Angeles, 10:30
Chicago 3, Chivas USA 2 p.m.
Today’s games Real Salt Lake at San Jose, 10:30
Colorado at New York, 7:30 p.m. p.m.
AP D.C. United at New England, 7:30 Sunday’s game
p.m. FC Dallas at Chicago, 3 p.m.
Washington’s Danielle Lawrie, left, pitched a two-hitter to beat defending softball champ ASU.
Cycling Boxing eighth-seeded giant-killer Georgia 3-1-1,
MOUNT VESUVIUS, ITALY—Lance Arm- HELSINKI—Ruslan Chagaev failed a “medi- seventh-seeded Texas A&M edged sixth-
strong is getting back in shape after 3½ cal requirement” on Friday, forcing his seeded Michigan 3-1-1 in a dramatic fin-
years of retirement. Staying on his bike challenge for Nikolai Valuev’s WBA heavy- ish in the other semifinal. Arkansas and
is another matter. weight title to be called off a day before the A&M will meet for the title with 18 holes
The seven-time Tour de France win- fight. Finnish officials said “Chagaev has of match play today.
ner fell again at the Giro d’Italia on Fri- been unable to fulfill the Finnish Boxing
day after bumping wheels with the rider Federation’s medical requirements,” and Swimming
in front of him. His tumble came on a gave no further details. LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—The World
day when Spain’s Carlos Sastre cap- “It was a big shock for us today,” said Anti-Doping Agency and swimming’s
tured the 19th stage and Russia’s Denis Wilfried Sauerland, Valuev’s manager. governing body appealed to sports’ high-
Menchov all but wrapped up the Giro Local media reports said Chagaev est court to restore Jessica Hardy’s two-
title as riders headed up the Mount had a hepatitis infection and that all 11 year doping ban. The Court of Arbitration
Vesuvius volcano. The race ends Sun- bouts on the card were canceled. for Sport said Friday that WADA and
day in Rome. FINA want the American swimmer
Armstrong finished 16th—1 minute, Golf barred for two years and ruled out of the
42 seconds after Sastre—and remained TOLEDO, OHIO—David Lingmerth aced 2012 London Games. CAS is expected to
12th overall, 13:29 behind Menchov. the third hole and won his match in the rule within four months. Hardy tested
Menchov crossed fourth with the same semifinals Friday, helping fourth-seeded positive for the anabolic agent clenbuterol
time as Danilo Di Luca and kept an Arkansas advance to the NCAA Divi- at the U.S. Olympic trials last July and
18-second lead over the Italian in the sion I men’s team championship against missed the Beijing Games.
overall standings. Texas A&M. While the Razorbacks beat — The Associated Press
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 36
TRANSACTIONS
BASEBALL
American League
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Purchased the
contract of C Matt Wieters from Norfolk
QUEBEC CAPITALES: Signed RHP Deibis
Gomez, C Patrick D’Aoust and INF
Morgan Brown.
United League
(IL). Designated C Chad Moeller for RIO GRANDE VALLEY WHITEWINGS:
assignment. Signed OF Alfred Joseph, RHP Reymond
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Announced the Cruz, RHP Mike Swords, RHP Steve
T Pts GF GA
6 21 20 13 retirement of director of park opera- Romero and RHP Fendi Vasquez.
7 16 17 15 tions David Schaffer, effective June 1.
4 16 16 16 Named Troy Brown senior director of FOOTBALL
3 15 15 13 event operations, Greg Hopwood senior National Football League
6 12 14 16 CHICAGO BEARS: Agreed to terms with
director of stadium operations and Julie
4 10 8 16 DT Israel Idonije on a two-year contract
3 9 10 13 Taylor senior director of guest services
and diamond suites. Placed OF Carlos extension and LB Pisa Tinoisamoa on
a one-year contract. Agreed to terms
T Pts GF GA Quentin on the 15-day DL, retroactive
to May 26. Activated OF DeWayne Wise with CB D.J. Moore, WR Johnny Knox,
3 24 17 9
4 16 14 8 from the 15-day DL. LB Marcus Freeman, S Al Afalava, TE
3 15 11 7 CLEVELAND INDIANS: Recalled LHP Lance Louis and WR Derek Kinder.
4 13 13 11 Rafael Perez from Columbus (IL). NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Released P
2 11 14 13 Aaron Perez.
8 11 12 12 Designated OF David Dellucci for
assignment. WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Released T
3 6 9 17
2 5 10 21 NEW YORK YANKEES: Activated C Jorge Jon Jansen.
Posada from the 15-day DL. Optioned
Canadian Football League
C Kevin Cash to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
CFL: Named R. John Butler chairman of
(IL).
the board of governors.
TEXAS RANGERS: Recalled RHP Tommy
EDMONTON ESKIMOS: Signed DB Lamar
Hunter from Oklahoma City (PCL).
Herron, DB Darrell Hunter and DB
Placed LHP Matt Harrison on the 15-day
Bobby Keyes.
DL, retroactive to May 26.
National League
HOCKEY
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Purchased National Hockey League
the contract of LHP Daniel Schlereth FLORIDA PANTHERS: Signed G Alexan-
from Mobile (SL). Optioned LHP Doug der Salák.
Slaten to Reno (PCL).
COLORADO ROCKIES: Fired manager SOCCER
Clint Hurdle. Named Jim Tracy manager Major League Soccer
for the remainder of the 2009 season. PHILADELPHIA UNION: Named Peter
NEW YORK METS: Acquired OF Emil Nowak manager.
Brown from San Diego for a player
to be named and assigned Brown to COLLEGE
AUBURN: Announced the resignation of
Buffalo (IL).
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: Activated OF assistant baseball coach Matt Heath.
Ryan Ludwick from the 15-day DL. BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN: Named
Placed SS Khalil Greene on the 15-day Demarco McNeil, Tim Sanders, and Burt
Stuart assistant football coaches.
DL, retroactive to May 28.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS: Purchased BRIDGEWATER, MASS.: Named John
the contract of RHP Mike MacDougal Pringle men’s and women’s swimming
from Syracuse (IL). Optioned C Luke and diving coach.
Montz to Harrisburg (EL). DUKE: Dismissed QB Zack Asack from
American Association the football team for a violation of
GRAND PRAIRIE AIRHOGS: Released team policy.
RHP Matt Minor. ST. EDWARD’S: Announced the resigna-
LINCOLN SALTDOGS: Signed RHP David tion of men’s basketball coach Ryan
Humen. Marks to become men’s basketball
Can-Am League coach at Texas-Pan American.
NEW JERSEY JACKALS: Released RHP VASSAR: Named Candice Brown
Gary Novakowski. women’s basketball coach.
NEW HAMPSHIRE AMERICAN DEFEND- XAVIER: Named Amy Waugh women’s
ERS: Released OF Josh Doane. assistant basketball coach