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Showdown in the ’Shoe

Jeter ties Gehrig No. 3 USC at No. 8 Ohio State, Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN
Derek Jeter Two stars in Saturday’s game of the week share their thoughts:
went 3-for-4
Wednesday in Ohio State safety USC offensive guard
the Yanks’ 4-2 Kurt Coleman Jeff Byers
win to tie Lou “(This game) is “Watching them, they’re
Gehrig for most going to be the at Ohio State for a reason.
hits by a Yankee determining fac- They’re talented, fast
with 2,721. But tor if we’re ready and strong, and
BILL KOSTROUN / AP to step it up to the next they’re well-
ex-Yankees Derek Jeter’s hits THURSDAY
are more level or if we have to go coached. We know
sparked a rally. Page 31 SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
impressed with back and rework some we’re going to get that
SEE A DIFFERENT GAME
the way he carries himself—all class, all things.” defense’s best effort.”
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 50
the time, according to former pitcher More from Coleman and Byers, Page 21
Tommy John. He assesses Jeter’s place
among Yankee greats.
Experts make case

“The Yankees have never really had
a hitter’s hitter, guys like Pete Rose
who get 200 hits a year, except Don
Mattingly for a while. (Jeter averages
208 per 162 games.) They’re more
power hitters, guys who get 160 hits
and hit for power. To me, Derek Jeter
is very consistent. He’s had a long
career. He’s a very good hitter. I would
love to pitch with a guy like him
backing me because you know he’s
going to be busting his butt.”
— Matt Crossman
Scoreboard
Baseball
American League
Texas 10, Cleveland 0
N.Y. Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 2
Minnesota 4, Toronto 1
Boston 7, Baltimore 5
Kansas City 5, Detroit 1
Chicago White Sox 4, Oakland 3, 13 innings
L.A. Angels 6, Seattle 3
National League
Chicago Cubs 8, Pittsburgh 5
St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 1
San Diego 4, San Francisco 2
Philadelphia 6, Washington 5
Florida 6, N.Y. Mets 3
Houston 2, Atlanta 1
Colorado 4, Cincinnati 3
Arizona 4, L.A. Dodgers 3
Go time
AFC contenders in center stagee
as NFL season begins tonight
BY CLIFTON BROWN the Redskins in freee agency.
a
cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com The Titans must prove
ro
ove they
ckk.
can pick up the slack.
Goodbye, preseason. Hello, real maance would
“A good performance
season. show that we have a lot of talent
The NFL kicks off its 90th cam- m
and we’re able to move on,” defensive
paign tonight with a matchup of two end Kyle Vanden n Bosch said. “We
AFC heavyweights. The Steelers weren’t just a one-playmaker
plaaymaker defense.”
hope to become the first team since
the ’04 Patriots to repeat as Super Can the Steelers’ blitz
littz get to Kerry Collins?
Bowl champs. But the Titans had the The Titans’ lineinne protects Collins
NFL’s best record last year (13-3) and like the secret service.
viice. He was sacked
whipped the Steelers, 31-14, in Nash- just eight times in ’08 ’08, and dhhe reads d
ville last December. defenses well.
“They beat us handily,” Steelers “His decision-making is extremely
coach Mike Tomlin said. “We will find quick,” Tomlin said. “Very rarely do
out about ourselves pretty quickly.” blitzes get him.”
Here are five questions to ponder,
while anticipating what should be a Will Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger pull
superb season opener: off another special performance?
Big Ben loves the big stage—as he
How will the Titans fare without defensive proved leading a last-minute, game-
tackle Albert Haynesworth? winning drive in Super Bowl 43.
Haynesworth became the league’s “It will be crazy—great atmosphere,
highest-paid defensive player, bolting to everybody’s watching, all of your peers
TITANS AT STEELERS
EELERS
8:30 tto
tonight ET,
ETT, NBC for USC, Buckeyes
fo
Steelers favored by 6
Perhaps the biggest nonconfer-
P
Scouting report ence game of the year kicks off
enc
Keys to Titans’, Steelers’ victory, Saturday night when USC visits Ohio
Sat
Page 6 State, and our college football writ-
Sta
Q&A with James Farrior, ers see it playing out differently:
Page 6
Ma Hayes:
Matt
Why Ohio State wins
Wh
We know the crooked num-
Week 1 ber: Ohio State is 0-5 in its last five
ber
primer games against the top five. Here’s
gam
Office pool tips,
a zero
z number with more oomph:
USC freshman quarterback Matt
Page 7
Barkley hasn’t played a college
Bar
Expert fantasy advice,
game on the road. This one—prime
gam
Page 8
Forecasting the ‘09 awards,
time, loaded with pressure, against
tim
an elite opponent—screams fresh-
Page 9
man mistakes. Too many, in fact, for
ma
USC to recover.
Ben Roethlisberger Kerry Collins
Da Curtis:
Dave
are watching,” Roethlisberger said. “I Why USC wins
think you are going to get the best from Are the Steelers ready for every opponent’s USC has more talent, more on
both teams.” best shot? the line, and more confidence out
The Steelers have won six con- of Week 1. Most important, Barkley
Will Titans wide receiver Nate Washington secutive season openers, and Heinz won’t need training wheels in his
play against his former teammates? Field will be rocking tonight. The first big game. He’ll lean on RB Joe
Washington is a game-time deci- Steelers want to prove they are not McKnight and his healthy offensive
sion with a hamstring injury. After resting on last season’s laurels. line, and make the few throws USC
averaging 16.4 yards per catch the “It’s going to be a unique atmo- will need. Add it up, and the Trojans
last three seasons with Pittsburgh, sphere; it’s going to be awesome,” grab the crucial road win.
he is being counted on to upgrade the Tomlin said. “What happened last
Titans’ passing game. year is in our rearview mirror.” Clemson at Ga. Tech, Page 19
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com See a Different Game THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 2
GUIDE

Tune In Today
A quick look at the best sports on TV
COLLEGE
FOOTBALL
7:30 p.m. Roethlisberger rejects settlement offer
OFF THE FIELD

— all times Eastern ESPN—Clemson

at Georgia Tech The attorney for Pittsburgh
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlis-
NFL CYCLING
1 a.m. berger rejected a settlement offer by
a former Nevada casino worker
Steelers at Titans VERSUS—Tour of
Missouri, fourth who claims the Super Bowl win-
8 p.m., NBC stage, St. James ner sexually assaulted her.
The NFL has a good Thursday tradition to Jefferson City,
of going with the Super Bowl champions Roethlisberger attorney David
Mo. (delayed
hosting the season opener, and this gritty tape) Cornwell says the woman’s offer is
defensive matchup should be one of the bizarre.
year’s best, most physical games. The Titans GOLF The woman wants Roethlis-
have something to prove after falling short as 9 a.m. berger to admit to the allegations,
the AFC’s top seed, and you can bet they’ll be TGC—European
aggressive in going after Ben Roethlisberger. apologize and donate $100,000
PGA Tour,
As for the champs, they’ll get an extra lift from Mercedes-Benz to the Committee to Aid Abused SHOP ARCHITECTS / AP
throngs of Terrible Towels. Championship, Women, a Reno nonprofit orga- An artist’s rendering of the Nets’ planned new home in Brooklyn, N.Y.
— Vinnie Iyer first round, nization that offers support to
at Cologne, domestic violence victims. with a canopy that juts out like up the option for a second season
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Germany In a statement Wednesday, the bill of a baseball cap. of Terrell Owens’ reality series The
3 p.m.
Cornwell says the proposal Developer Bruce Ratner unveiled T.O. Show, SportsBusiness Daily
Clemson at TGC—PGA
Tour, BMW insults women who have legiti- the new design for the Barclays reported. VH1 president Tom Cal-
No. 15 Georgia Tech Championship,
first round, at
mately suffered from sexual
misconduct.
Center on Wednesday. It replaces
a design from renowned archi-
derone in an e-mail to The Buffalo
News said the net is “extremely
7:30, ESPN Lemont, Ill.
Under rookie head coach Paul Johnson, the tect Frank Gehry. happy” with the ratings both in
6:30 p.m.
Yellow Jackets’ option offense rolled through TGC— Henry hires wife The Barclays Center is the Buffalo and nationwide.
much of the ACC last year. Clemson “held” Nationwide According to sources, the Bos- centerpiece of the multi-building Swimming superstar Michael
GT to 207 rushing yards a year ago, and the Tour, Utah ton Herald reported that the new Atlantic Yards project. Ratner Phelps’ endorsement deal with
Jackets needed a fourth-quarter TD pass from Championship,
Josh Nesbitt to grab a 21-17 win. Clemson and wife of the Red Sox’s principal took Gehry off the $1 billion Speedo has been extended
first round, at team owner John Henry has taken project in June, citing cost con- through 2013, SportsBusiness Jour-
star RB C.J. Spiller head to Atlanta looking for Sandy, Utah
revenge and a leg up in the Atlantic Division; (same-day tape) over the team’s development cerns. He was replaced by the nal’s Tripp Mickle reported. As
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, needs a win to keep NFL FOOTBALL plans at Fenway Park. firm Ellerbe Becket. The price part of the deal—terms of which
pace with Miami in the Coastal. In June, Henry was married to tag for the project was taken weren’t announced—Speedo will
— Dave Curtis 8 p.m. Linda Pizzuti and he just replaced down to $800 million. donate $10,000 to the Michael
NBC—Tennessee Janet Marie Smith, the team’s V.P. Phelps Foundation for every
TENNIS at Pittsburgh
for planning and development, Gillespie checks in world record Phelps sets.
U.S. Open TENNIS with his new bride. The Herald Former Kentucky basketball The Mets’ new Citi Field
7 p.m., ESPN2 11 a.m. reports that Smith left the team coach Billy Gillespie, who was has been “plagued by water
A Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal final is still ESPN2—U.S. recently after eight years and is fired after two seasons, checked damage to several luxury
possible, but Nadal first will have to get past Open, men’s credited with sparing Fenway into the John Lucas After Care suites” as well as “mold, falling
No. 11 seed Fernando Gonzalez today—not quarterfinals, at
New York Park from demolition as well as Rehab Facility in Houston. Last signs and falling concrete,
to mention any other fans who want to
approach him for post-match pecks. If Nadal 7 p.m. installing Monster seats. month, Gillespie was arrested flooding in outfield seats, faulty
makes it through, his semifinal opponent ESPN2—U.S. Pizzuit worked for her family’s and charged with DUI. electrical wiring and shoddy
would be either one of two emerging 20-year- Open, men’s development firm in Boston. tile work,” according to sources
olds in Marin Cilic, who beat Andy Murray in quarterfinals and Quick hits cited by the New York Post.
the fourth round, and Juan Martin del Potro, mixed doubles
who has made it to the quarterfinals of four of championship Nets’ new home VH1 on Wednesday picked — Compiled by Ken Bradley, with wire reports
the last five Grand Slam events. match, at New A new design for the Brooklyn
— Roger Kuznia York home of the New Jersey Nets fea- MORE COVERAGE from sportingnews.com
tures weathered steel and glass, SN Sporting Blog: sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com My Profile THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 3

YOUR TURN
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in the news? Sporting News Today
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and be sure to include your name

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the world’s most comprehensive (What you won’t find on Facebook … even if you are approved as a friend) PUBLISHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ed Baker
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Status: Married to Kathleen DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MEDIA. . . . . . . . . . . . Geoff Shaw
QUICK HITS Alma mater: Alabama VP, MARKETING & SALES DEVELOPMENT . .Eric Karp
What’s on TV: ESPN, CNN, NFL Network, American Idol
What’s in my iPod: James Bonamy, Elvis, Ray Charles, Jimmy EDITORIAL OFFICES
Buffett, George Jones, Motown Artists, Tim McGraw, The Eagles 120 West Morehead Street, Suite 200
What I drive: Cream 2009 Ford F-150 Charlotte, NC 28202
Favorite flicks: Rocky, Vacation, The Fugitive, Meet the Parents 704-973-1550
What I’m reading: Have read all these recently—Ordering Your 1-800-443-1886
Private World, by Gordon MacDonald; The Magic of Thinking
Big, by David Schwartz; They Call Me Coach, by John Letters to the editor:
Wooden; Racing to Win, by Joe Gibbs. yourturn@sportingnews.com
Bookmarks: ESPN, Bocabeacon.com, nfl.com
Worst habit: Biting my nails General feedback:
On my office walls: A picture of Coach Gene Stallings editors@sportingnews.com
Love to trade places for a day with … Michael Jordan. Would love to
be able to soar like he did on the basketball court. National Digital Sales Managers
CHARLES KRUPA / AP First job: Cutting grass and cleaning gutters. Started when I was 13 Joey Glowacki, 704-973-1546
Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez years. Did that until I got out of college. Got paid $25-$60. I was also a jglowacki@sportingnews.com
baseball umpire from 14-26, got paid $20-$30. Gary Strauss, 212-500-0672
Talent I’d most like to have: Sing
Power company Favorite meal: Chili—regular or chicken chili. Pot roast is a close second.
gstrauss@sportingnews.com
Only 500-HR hitters who hit home runs in same Favorite athletes to watch in other sports: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Steve
games (Through Sept. 1, 2009) ON NEWSSTANDS NOW
Nash, Tiger Woods and Jeff Francoeur
1. Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez Favorite city to visit: Boca Grande, Fla.
(July 1, 2009) Favorite team as a kid: University of Alabama
2. Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez Favorite physical attribute about myself: My smile
(June 26, 2009) Favorite values in others: Humility, kindness and unselfishness
3. Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez Dream date: I live with my dream date.
(June 13, 2009) My greatest love: My family
4. Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa My hero: My wife, Kathleen
(June 12, 2005) My bucket list: 1. Win a national championship as a head coach at Clemson, 2. Visit
5. Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmeiro
all 50 states, 3. Shoot par on a golf course, 4. Run a marathon
(June 12, 2004) My motto: All in
— Jeff D’Alessio
6. Hank Aaron and Willie Mays
(May 8, 1971)
PATRICK COLLARD / AP Tonight, the Steelers will open defense of
7. Willie Mays and Ernie Banks their Super Bowl title with a league-high
(June 17, 1970) seven entrants on SN’s list of the top 100
NFL players. See the whole list in the new
Source: David Vincent (SABR) issue of SN Magazine.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Next Gen: Recruiting THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 4
RECRUITING DISH CLASS OF 2010

Four-star defensive end Hill

chooses Alabama over UNC
TOP 25 RECRUITS
Alabama’s recruiting class of 2010 continued grow-
1. Marcus Lattimore, RB
6-0/207,
Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
8. Jackson Jeffcoat, DL
6-4/233,
Plano West Senior
14. Xavier Grimble, TE
6-5/245,
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
ing Wednesday morning, as four-star defensive end Considering: North Committed to: USC
(Plano, Texas)
Alfy Hill joined the Crimson Tide. The West Brunswick Carolina, Oregon, South Considering: USC, Texas,
(Shallotte, N.C.) strongside DE made the announce- Carolina, Penn State,
ment at a press conference at his school.
Hill, who is 6-4, 222 pounds, chose the Crimson Tide
Auburn
Oklahoma, Arizona State,
Houston 15. Jake Heaps, QB
6-2/195,
Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.) COURTESY OF DEVIN GARDNER
over in-state North Carolina. He may play outside line-
backer in college. LSU, Clemson, Tennessee, Virginia 2. Lache Seastrunk, RB
5-10/183,
Temple (Texas)
9. Demarco Cobbs, WR
6-2/200
Committed to: BYU Devin Gardner

Tech, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, South Carolina, Oregon

and West Virginia were just some of the other schools
that offered Hill a scholarship.
Considering: Auburn,
Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas,
Tulsa Central (Tulsa, Okla.)
Considering: Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, LSU,
16. Christian Jones, LB
6-4/215,
Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.)
21. Eduardo Clements, RB
5-11/185,
Booker T. Washington (Miami)
USC Tennessee, Oklahoma
“We’re basically using Alfy in different spots, wher- Considering: Florida State, Considering: Miami,
Alabama, Florida, USC Georgia, Michigan
ever he can help us the most in a game depending on
what the other team does,” West Brunswick coach 3. Seantrel Henderson, OL
6-8/301, 10. Trey Hopkins, OL
6-4/260,
Jimmy Fletcher told The Birmingham News. “His best qual-
ity is his size, and the Good Lord blessed him with great
Cretin-Derham Hall
(St. Paul, Minn.)
North Shore
(Galena Park, Texas)
17. Chris Martin, DL
6-4/222,
The Hun School
22. Lamarcus Joyner, DB
5-9/162,
St. Thomas Aquinas
speed. As a person, he’s a good young man.” Considering: Florida, Ohio Committed to: Texas
Hill is rated a four-star prospect by two recruiting State, USC, Oklahoma, Notre (Princeton, N.J.) (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Dame, Minnesota Committed to: Notre Considering: Florida State,
services, and had 112 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 12
sacks and four blocked punts as a junior. 11. Malcolm Jones, RB/LB
6-0/210,
Dame Ohio State, Florida

Northwestern (Miami) OL Torrian Wilson has chosen

COURTESY OF ALFY HILL
Alfy Hill had 112 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 12 sacks as a junior. 4. Matt Elam, DB
6-1/205,
Dwyer (Palm Beach
Oaks Christian
(Westlake Village, Calif.) 18. Brennan Clay, RB
6-0/190, 23. Devin Gardner, QB
6-4/196,
Stanford, Scout.com reported. The Miami native Considering: Stanford, Scripps Ranch (San Diego) Inkster (Mich.)
bypassed nearby Miami for the Cardinal, as well as heavily pursued by schools like Oklahoma State, Kan- Gardens, Fla.) UCLA Committed to: Oklahoma Committed to: Michigan
Committed to: Florida
Florida, LSU, Michigan and UCLA. sas and Utah, while Ashburn considered Oklahoma
Wilson is rated a four-star offensive guard by Rivals.
com.
“Their reaction was crazy,” Wilson (6-4/315) told
State, Stanford and Southern Miss, among others.
Both players are three-star prospects, according to
Rivals.com. 5. Justin McCay, WR
6-4/200,
12. Michael Dyer, RB
5-10/195,
Little Rock Christian
19. Phillip Sims, QB
6-2/215,
Oscar Smith
24. Jamel Turner, DE
6-2/205,
Ursuline (Youngstown, Ohio)
Scout.com. “I told the coaches to put me on speaker phone “It was really hard between Nebraska, Oklahoma Bishop Miege Academy (Little Rock, Ark.) Committed to: Ohio State
(Chesapeake, Va.)
at first and I asked them, ‘Do you have a jersey in my size State, Kansas and Utah,” Evans told Rivals.com. “But, I (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) Considering: Arkansas, Committed to: Alabama
Committed to: Oklahoma Auburn, Oklahoma, Notre
and do you have my jersey number?’ They were like, ‘Of just thought this was the best choice for me. It was just
Dame
course T! Of course we have all that for you, why?’ Then I
was like, ‘Because I want to commit and I want to be a
being able to be around the players, the coaches, and
stuff. It was how the coaches interacted with the play-
6. Corey Nelson, LB
20. Erik Kohler, OL
6-5/265, 25. Blake Bell, QB
6-6/215,
Cardinal!’ and they just went crazy on the phone.” ers. And the quality of education.”
6-1/200,
Skyline (Dallas)
Committed to: Texas A&M
13. Zack McCray, DL
6-4/235,
Brookville (Lynchburg, Va.)
Oaks Christian
(Westlake Village, Calif.)
Bishop Carroll
(Wichita, Kan.)
Committed to: Oklahoma
Nebraska has added its seventh and eighth com- Springville (Ala.) OL Chase Hughes has committed to Committed to:
Committed to: Virginia Washington
mitments of the class of 2010. Cornerback Ciante Evans Ole Miss. The 6-3, 290-pound center/guard was also
has given his word to the Cornhuskers, as has defen-
sive end Walker Ashburn, Rivals.com reported.
offered a scholarship by Vanderbilt, Stanford, Duke,
Auburn, Georgia Tech, Southern Miss and Tulane,
7. Gabe King, DL/LB
6-5/260,
Northern Guilford
Tech — Brian McLaughlin

Evans is a 5-11, 170-pound DB out of Seguin (Arling- among others. He is the eighth commitment for the (Greensboro, N.C.)
ton, Texas), while Ashburn is a 6-3, 240-pound DE Rebels in the class of 2010. Considering: Alabama, MORE COVERAGE from sportingnews.com
from John Curtis (River Ridge, La.). Evans was also — Brian McLaughlin California, Oregon, Tennessee Top 100 recruits: sportingnews.com/blog/TheRecruitnik/tag/160168/sn100
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Overnight Report THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 5
BASEBALL / NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL / AMERICAN LEAGUE
Arizona 4, L.A. Dodgers 3 L.A. Angels 6, Seattle 3
Morales helps secure West lead
Torre stays positive despite shrinking lead ANAHEIM—The Los Angeles Angels 6, Mariners 3
PHEONIX—Joe Torre chose to look on the Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 3 Angels realize what’s behind Seattle AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
I.Suzuki rf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .357
bright side after the Los Angeles Dodg- Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg. them and just how fast it’s mov- F.Gutierrez cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .282
Furcal ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 .258
ers walked in the winning run in a 4-3 Kemp cf 4 0 1 0 0 2 .305 ing. The more the Texas Rang- Jo.Lopez 2b 4 1 3 1 0 0 .272
Griffey Jr. dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .215
loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Ethier rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 .282 ers push them, the better the Beltre 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .261
M.Ramirez lf 3 1 2 2 1 1 .305
Wednesday night. Loney 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .280 two-time defending A.L. West Hall lf 3 1 0 0 1 3 .222
Carp 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .280
The loss sliced the Dodgers’ N.L. West Belliard 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .257 champions seem to play. Johjima c 4 1 2 1 0 0 .249
O.Hudson 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .289
lead to 2½ games over the surging Colo- R.Martin c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .256 The Seattle Mariners? Jo.Wilson ss 3 0 1 0 0 2 .281
a-M.Sweeney ph 1 0 0 1 0 0 .276
rado Rockies, but Torre said he was Garland p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .097 They’ve been left in the dust. Totals 36 3 9 3 1 11
a-Mientkiewicz ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .333
happy to take two of three from the Belisario p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Kendry Morales hit an early
Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Diamondbacks. Sherrill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- three-run double and Jered Figgins 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .303
Troncoso p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
“I’m very positive about this series,” Totals 34 3 7 3 1 11 Weaver pitched well into the M.Izturis 2b 3 1 0 0 1 1 .292
B.Abreu rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .300
Torre said. “This was a disappointment, seventh inning of the Angels’ Guerrero dh 3 2 2 0 1 0 .296
Arizona AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
this game. You’d like to win the ball- R.Roberts 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .284 fifth victory in six games, 6-3 Tor.Hunter cf 3 1 1 1 1 0 .306
K.Morales 1b 4 0 1 3 0 2 .310
game, but you had your opportunities.” S.Drew ss 4 0 1 0 1 0 .259 over the Mariners on Wednes- J.Rivera lf 3 1 1 2 1 0 .294
J.Upton rf 3 0 0 1 2 0 .304
Last season, the Diamondbacks and Reynolds 3b 3 0 1 1 2 1 .273 day night. E.Aybar ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 .303
J.Mathis c 3 0 1 0 0 0 .211
Dodgers dueled into September before Montero c 3 1 3 1 1 0 .304 Juan Rivera added a late two- Totals 30 6 8 6 5 4
C.Young cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 .198
Los Angeles pulled away. Byrnes lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .211 run homer, and Brian Fuentes
Seattle 001 001 001 — 3 9 0
This year, the Diamondbacks have Tracy 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 .229 bounced back from a blown Los Angeles 400 000 02x — 6 8 0
b-Ryal ph-1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .256
been out of contention for months, but Haren p 3 0 0 0 0 0 .238 save one night earlier to earn
a-grounded out for Jo.Wilson in the 9th. LOB: Seattle 7,
they relished playing the spoiler role in J.Gutierrez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- his A.L.-leading 40th save for Los Angeles 5. 2B: Beltre (23), Carp (2), Jo.Wilson (4),
c-Hester ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
the division race, if only for one night. d-G.Parra ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .291 the Angels, whose victory kept Guerrero (13), K.Morales (40). HR: Johjima (8), off Jer.
Weaver; Jo.Lopez (23), off Jer.Weaver; J.Rivera (22), off
“I think the whole N.L. West might 1-Oeltjen pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 their A.L. West lead at 4½ J.Vargas. RBIs: Jo.Lopez (85), Johjima (21), M.Sweeney
Totals 32 4 7 4 7 4
have been watching that game,” said games over the surging Rang- (30), Tor.Hunter (78), K.Morales 3 (98), J.Rivera 2 (78).
Runners left in scoring position: Seattle 4 (Hall 2,
Arizona manager A.J. Hinch, whose Los Angeles 100 200 000 — 3 7 1 ers, who finished a three-game I.Suzuki 2); Los Angeles 2 (E.Aybar, Tor.Hunter). DP:
Arizona 020 010 001 — 4 7 0
team snapped a six-game skid. sweep of Cleveland. Seattle 2 (Jo.Wilson, Jo.Lopez, Carp), (Beltre, Jo.Lopez).
Manny Ramirez and James Loney hit MATT YORK / AP One out when winning run scored. a-flied out for Los Angeles, which moved Seattle IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Garland in the 7th. b-grounded into a fielder’s choice
back-to-back homers for the Dodgers, Trent Oeltjen, above, scored the winning run for Arizona on Mark Reynolds’ bases-loaded walk. for Tracy in the 8th. c-was announced for J.Gutierrez back to a season-best 28 games Snell L, 4-2 5 1⁄3 6 4 4 5 2 100 5.13
J.Vargas 2 2⁄3 2 2 2 0 2 38 5.00
who are off today before opening a three- in the 9th. d-reached on error for Hester in the 9th. over .500 (83-55), will face Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
1-ran for G.Parra in the 9th. E: Troncoso (1). LOB: Los
game series at San Francisco on Friday. off a pair of pitches with two strikes. lot of choices,” Torre said. “Upton cer- Angeles 5, Arizona 11. 2B: Montero (29). 3B: Furcal (4). Texas seven times down the Jer.Weaver W, 15-5 6 1⁄3 7 2 2 0 8 111 3.76
Oliver H, 16 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 7 2.80
The Diamondbacks’ winning rally “I was just trying to put the ball in tainly has been doing a hell of a job, and HR: M.Ramirez (18), off Haren; Loney (11), off Haren; stretch, which suits Weaver Jepsen H, 13 1 1 0 0 0 2 14 4.50
Montero (14), off Garland; C.Young (12), off Garland.
began when Ramon Troncoso (4-3) play,” Reynolds said. “I just fouled off Reynolds, the one thing you feel you RBIs: M.Ramirez 2 (54), Loney (80), J.Upton (74), (15-5) just fine. T.Bell 0 1 1 1 1 0 610.06
Fuentes S, 40-46 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.99
threw away Gerardo Parra’s roller to the some tough pitches and was able to work have going is he swings and misses a Reynolds (94), Montero (53), C.Young (34). S: R.Roberts. “It’s a good thing for us,” said
Runners left in scoring position: Los Angeles 1
mound, allowing him to reach second a good AB.” lot.” (Loney); Arizona 4 (Haren 2, C.Young, Ryal). Weaver, who never allowed the T.Bell pitched to 2 batters in the 9th. Inherited
runners-scored: J.Vargas 2-0, Oliver 1-0, Fuentes
on the error. Torre said he walked Drew and Upton Juan Gutierrez (4-3) pitched out of a Mariners to have multiple run- 2-1. Umpires: Home, Bill Miller; First, Angel Campos;
Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
“I left my shoulder a little down,” to set up a force at home. He also hoped jam in the eighth and got the final five Garland 6 6 3 3 3 4 89 4.23 ners on base. “Last year, we Second, Derryl Cousins; Third, Jim Joyce. T: 2:44. A:
36,340 (45,257).
Troncoso said. Troncoso could strike out Reynolds, outs for the Diamondbacks. Dan Haren Belisario 1 0 0 0 1 0 16 2.03 clinched early and didn’t really
Sherrill 1 1 0 0 0 0 14 0.47
As it turned out, that was the only ball who leads the majors with 190 allowed three runs and struck out nine Troncoso L, 4-3 1⁄3 0 1 0 3 0 20 2.51 get that momentum going into
that left the infield in the bottom of the strikeouts. in 7 1/3 innings. Arizona IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA the postseason (where they lost
Haren 7 1⁄3 7 3 3 1 9 119 2.82
ninth. Had that happened, the Dodgers still Los Angeles’ Jon Garland started J.Gutierrez W, 4-3 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 21 4.06 a first-round series to Boston).
Trent Oeltjen ran for Parra and took would have had to retire Miguel against his former team for the second Knowing that Texas is playing
Belisario pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited
third on Ryan Roberts’ sacrifice. After Montero, who homered, doubled and time in six days. runners-scored: Sherrill 1-0, J.Gutierrez 2-0. IBB: well, we know we can’t just sit
intentional walks to Stephen Drew and singled. — The Associated Press off Garland (Tracy, Montero), off Troncoso (S.Drew, back and wait for something to
J.Upton). Umpires: Home, Hunter Wendelstedt; First,
Justin Upton, Troncoso missed with a “When you’re going through the mid- Dana DeMuth; Second, Doug Eddings; Third, Brian happen. That’s good for us.”
3-2 fastball to Reynolds, who had fouled dle of the lineup, you really don’t have a Red Sox maintain wild-card lead, Page 30 Knight. T: 2:50. A: 20,025 (48,652). — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Titans at Steelers
When: Tonight, 8:30 ET
TV: NBC
Weather: 64 degrees, showers (30%)
Line: Steelers favored by 6
Last meeting: Tennessee, 31-23 (2008)
Titans’ keys to success
1. Protect QB Kerry Collins. One
of the Titans’ biggest keys
to success last season was the
team’s ability to protect Collins.
He was sacked just eight times all
season and only once in the team’s
regular season win over the Steel-
ers in December. The Steelers,
who had an AFC-best 51 sacks last
year, want to change that. Com-
munication up front will be cru-
cial, as well as blitz-pickup for the
running backs.
2. Throw the ball. The Steelers
are expected to stack the
line of scrimmage in an attempt to
slow down running backs Chris
Johnson and LenDale White. But
the Titans were able to loosen things
up by throwing downfield in Week
16 last season, when wide receiver
Justin Gage had 104 yards receiv-
ing and a touchdown against the
Steelers. He used his size against
Pittsburgh’s secondary, and the
Titans will try to do that again.
3. Pressure Steelers QB Ben
Roethlisberger. The Titans
made life miserable for Roethlis-
berger in last year’s game, sacking
him five times while also forcing
several fumbles. And yes, that was
without All-Pro defensive tackle
Albert Haynesworth, who of
course, won’t be in the middle
again. The Titans will use a rota-
tion at defensive tackle to keep
players fresh and aim to get to
Roethlisberger up the middle—
just like last year.
Justin Gage hauled in a 34-yard TD reception in the Titans’ regular-season win over Pittsburgh.
Steelers’ keys to success
1. Throw downfield. The Steel-
ers had success throwing
deep against the Titans last sea-
son, and it is one of their offensive
mantras for this season. The devel-
opment of No. 3 receiver Limas
Sweed and the deep speed of
rookie Mike Wallace should give
Roethlisberger more opportuni-
ties downfield.
2. Keep Johnson inside the tackles.
Johnson and White com-
bined for 117 yards rushing in last
year’s meeting, but it was Johnson’s
21-yard touchdown run on fourth-
and-1 that ignited the Titans’ sec-
ond-half explosion. Keeping him
from bouncing to the corner and
making sure he doesn’t get isolated
on a linebacker or defensive back
will be a priority.
NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 6
Q&A with ... Steelers LB James Farrior
‘I know I’ve got respect around the league’
Once on the cusp of being labeled a There are no mixed signals, it’s all
first-round bust, James Farrior joined the out in the open. I guess you could
Steelers in 2002, and has since lived up Mike Tomlin relates to players,
to all the expectations that made him because he’s a little younger, he’s
the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft. A in our age bracket.
two-time Super Bowl champion, Farrior
has started all 108 games he’s played in as
a Steeler and has served as a captain for
some of this generation’s best defenses.
Q: What was the
difference between the
first championship and the
In the lead-up to tonight’s opener against second?
Tennessee, Farrior spoke with Sporting
News Today’s Albert Breer. A: Just the nature of the
games, they were different.
The second came down to the
Q: Fred Taylor told me
how underrated a piece
of that defense he feels you
wire, and was such an exciting
game, it felt that much more
rewarding. The first time we won,
are. Does the lack of guys were relieved for coach
recognition bother you? Cowher, so that added to the
A: I used to worry about it
when I was younger, that I DON WRIGHT / AP
feeling there.
JOHN RUSSELL / AP
didn’t get that recognition. But
I’ve been in the league long
enough now, I know I’ve got
James Farrior earned his second ring and
second Pro Bowl appearance in 2008. Q: What lessons do you
take from missing the
playoffs the year after the
respect around the league, and how to be a professional, how to first one?
that’s what matters. watch film, how to study.
A: I tell guys, “Don’t relax, it’s
Injury report
(OUT - Definitely will not play; DNP - Did not practice;
LIMITED - Limited participation in practice; FULL - Full
participation in practice):
Q: How would you like to
be defined? Q: What does carrying on
the Steelers’ defensive
gonna be harder to do it
again.’” And you aren’t really
defending anything, you just
TENNESSEE TITANS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS
— TENNESSEE TITANS: QUESTIONABLE: TE Jared Cook
(ankle), CB Ryan Mouton (ankle), WR Nate Washington
A: Just as a tough player who
plays every play like it’s his
last, who always hustles. I’d like to
legacy mean to you guys?
A: We look up to those guys
that established this
compete like you’re trying to win
a championship every week.
You’re getting everyone’s ‘A’ game.
(hamstring). PROBABLE: P Craig Hentrich (back).
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: DOUBTFUL: LB Lawrence Timmons consider myself a smart, crafty vet. tradition back in the day. We look
(ankle). PROBABLE: QB Dennis Dixon (right shoulder).
Q: What do you take from
at those defenses and definitely
wanted to come closer than we Q: What would a third title
mean?
3. Protect Roethlisberger. The
those years with the Jets? have to doing what they did.
A: I never thought I get one,
only new starter on the
offensive line is right guard Trai
A: It was a great learning
experience—being a high
pick, you’ve got all the attention
There’s a tradition to uphold. You
don’t want to be the team to let
them down.
just talking about three,
that’d be quite an accomplish-
ment. It’d definitely put us in a
Essex, who replaces injured Dar- on you, everyone sees what you’re special category, not just with the
nell Stapleton. But he goes against
defensive tackle Jason Jones, who
had 3 1/2 of the five sacks on Roeth-
doing. And playing for guys like
Parcells and Belichick, it was Q: What’s the difference
between Mike Tomlin
Steelers but the whole NFL.
lisberger in last year’s game. The
Steelers line must give Roethlis-
great opportunity to learn from
some of best coaches to ever
and Bill Cowher?
A: It’s not that different. Q: Do you think about how
the 1970s group won four?
berger more time tonight.
— Gerry Dulac & Jim Wyatt
coach. … Those guys I played
with—Bryan Cox, Mo Lewis,
Marvin Jones—they taught me
They’re similar in that they
go about their business and keep
everything straight forward.
A: That’s the benchmark.
Until we win a fourth, we
can’t talk to them.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 7
Tips for the office pool The confidence pool
Everything you need to know to talk trash at the water cooler: For those in weekly “con-
fidence pools,” where you
Game of the Midweek provide the exclamation point because the Jets will be able to get more points based on
Titans at Steelers (-6) against Matthew Stafford in his run the ball on Houston and which picks you’re most con-
first NFL start. their defense can force some fident about, here’s how our
Expect a hard-hitting, physical
turnovers against a potent yet prognostication panel feels Vinnie Dennis Steve Russ Clifton Albert Real
defensive-minded game with about this week’s games:
inconsistent Texans offense. Iyer Dillon Greenberg Lande Brown Breer Scouts
last year’s AFC top seed taking Shootout of the Week
on the Super Bowl champs. It’s (over the over/under) New coach Rex Ryan has a
hard to see either team pulling Broncos at Bengals (43 ½ o/u) good effect on New York’s
away late, and Tennessee Carson Palmer is expected to players all offseason, and it will
should come in confident be healthy for the opener, just show up in Week 1. 1. Saints over Lions
enough that it leaves the game in time to work over Denver’s
in doubt until late in the fourth defense with plenty of running Trap of the Week 2. Ravens over Chiefs
quarter. The home team wins support from Cedric Benson. Redskins at Giants (-6 ½)
by a field goal. On the other side, the home In general, it’s a good idea to stay
team will have its hands full away from these tough match-
3. Chargers over Raiders
trying to slow down both ups in the ultra competitive NFC
Lock of the Week Brandon Marshall and Eddie
(survival pool pick and vs. the spread) East. With two of the league’s 4. Patriots over Bills
Saints (-13) over Lions Royal in the Broncos’ passing top defensive lines going at it,
If you plan to use New Orleans attack. there will be little breathing
room for most of the game with
5. Vikings over Browns
anytime in your survival pool,
this is the week. Drew Brees & Upset Special Albert Haynesworth and Osi
Co. should move the ball at will (straight up and vs. the spread) Umenyiora wreaking havoc. 6. Cowboys over Bucs
on the lowly Leos defense at Jets over Texans (-4 ½) The hosts should win, but it
Ford Field. For good measure, This is a pretty good matchup might not be pretty or by much.
for rookie Mark Sanchez, — Vinnie Iyer 7. Colts over Jaguars
the Saints’ revamped D will

8. Falcons over Dolphins

The spread
OVER/UNDER CLOSING LINES
Week 1 schedule
9. Seahawks over Rams
At Pittsburgh (-6) ........................35 .................Tennessee ..............Titans have covered in 6 of past 8 road games. Today
Tennessee at Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m.
At Atlanta (-4)..............................43½..............Miami.....................Dolphins have covered in 6 of past 7 road games.
At Baltimore (-13) .......................36 .................Kansas City.............Ravens have covered in 4 of past 5 home games. Sunday
10. Packers over Bears
Philadelphia (-1½) ......................43 ½ .............at Carolina..............Eagles have covered in 6 of past 8 games. Miami at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Houston, 1 p.m.
At Cincinnati (-4 ).........................43½..............Denver....................Broncos have covered only once in past 6 games. Detroit at New Orleans, 1 p.m. 11. Steelers over Titans
Minnesota (-4).............................40 .................at Cleveland ...........Browns have covered only once in past 5 home games. Denver at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
At Houston (-4 ½)........................43 ½ .............New York Jets.........Texans have covered in 6 of past 7 games. Kansas City at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Dallas at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. 12. Giants over Redskins
At Indianapolis (-7) .....................44½..............Jacksonville............Jaguars have covered only once in past 7 games. Minnesota at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
At New Orleans (-13)...................49 .................Detroit....................Saints have covered in 4 of past 5 home games. Philadelphia at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Dallas (-6) ....................................39 .................at Tampa Bay .........Bucs have covered only twice in past 7 games vs. Cowboys
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. 13. Bengals over Broncos
St. Louis at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.
At Arizona (-6½)..........................46½..............San Francisco .........Cardinals have covered in 5 consecutive games. Washington at N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m.
At New York Giants (-6 ½)...........37 ½ .............Washington ...........Redskins have covered only once in past 6 games vs. Giants. San Francisco at Arizona, 4:15 p.m. 14. Cardinals over 49ers
Chicago at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m.
Seattle (-8 ½)...............................41 ½ .............St. Louis..................Seahawks have covered in 4 of past 5 games vs. Rams.
At Green Bay (-3 ½).....................46 .................Chicago ..................Bears have covered in only 6 of past 17 games vs. Packers. Monday 15. Eagles over Panthers
At New England (-11) .................47 ½ .............Buffalo ...................Bills have covered in only 3 of past 10 games. Buffalo at New England, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Oakland, 10:15 p.m.
San Diego (-9½) ..........................43 .................at Oakland .............Raiders have covered only once in past 12 games vs. Chargers.
16. Texans over Jets
— Vinnie Iyer
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 8
WEEK 1: FANTASY FOCUS

Start ’em or sit ’em

For more Start ‘em, Sit ‘em advice,
check out Vinnie Iyer’s
‘The Decider’ column at
GEORGE BILL BRAD MATT KYLE
WINKLER BENDER PINKERTON LUTOVSKY WHITFIELD
fantasy.sportingnews.com/football.
Senior Editor, Assoc. Editor, Assoc. Editor, Assoc. Editor, Fantasy
Fantasy Fantasy Fantasy Fantasy Intern VERDICT
QB Joe Flacco vs. KC Sit Start Sit Start Start Sophomore slump? Forget about it when the Chiefs come to town
RB Carnell Williams vs. DAL Sit Start Sit Sit Sit Muddled Bucs backfield has us putting Cadillac in park for now
RB Mike Bell vs. DET Start Sit Start Sit Start If Pierre Thomas (knee) can’t play, Bell will tote in favorable matchup
DENIS POROY / AP WR Justin Gage at PIT Start Sit Sit Sit Sit Steelers’ “ring night” won’t play well for Titans’ passing attack
LaDainian Tomlinson has 19 TDs in 16 career
games vs. Oakland, the Chargers’ foe this week.
TE Jermichael Finley vs. CHI Sit Sit Sit Sit Sit Finley is a potential sleeper, but it’s too early to go there

Top 10 running backs

1. Adrian Peterson, MIN, at CLE
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC, at IND
3. Steven Jackson, STL, at SEA
4. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD, at OAK
Tomlinson, 30, has averaged 119.1
rushing yards with 19 TDs in 16 career
games against Oakland. Savor the
moment. L.T. faces the Ravens, Steelers
Five stats to exploit Insurance policies
1. Oakland had the second-worst run
defense last year (159.7 yards allowed per
game), so expect both LaDainian Tomlinson
Mike Bell, RB, Saints. With Pierre Thomas (knee)
likely to miss Week 1’s matchup against the
Lions, Bell should move into a role similar to
and Darren Sproles to do damage on Monday Thomas’ last season when he split carries with
night. Reggie Bush. Bell could do some serious damage
2. The Vikings allowed the most fantasy
points per game to opposing defenses
last year (11.4). And don’t think Brett Favre
against Detroit.

Andre’ Davis, WR, Texans. It’s uncertain if Kevin

and Dolphins the next three weeks.
5. Michael Turner, ATL, vs. MIA
6. Matt Forte, CHI, at GB
7. Brandon Jacobs, NYG, vs. WAS
will be a big help— the Jets ranked second Walter (hamstring) will be ready for the matchup
(10.6). Consider the Browns’ D/ST a sleeper against the Jets on Sunday. If he’s unable to go,
this week. Davis would likely get the start and makes a
3. It could be a quiet passing day in Tampa.
Both the Bucs and Cowboys ranked in the
top five in pass defense in ’09.
sneaky WR3 play for the pass-happy Texans.

8. Frank Gore, SF, at ARI

Kenny Britt, WR, Titans. Although the Titans have

9. DeAngelo Williams, CAR, vs. PHI 4. Lions starting QB Matthew Stafford

10. Brian Westbrook, PHI, at CAR
— Bill Bender
For a full look at the rankings, go to
sportingnews.com/fantasy/football
threw an INT in every preseason game
this year, so New Orleans’ defense has some
big-play potential.
5. Good news for Oakland TE Zach Miller—
San Diego was the worst team in the NFL
at defending tight ends in ’08 (11.1 fantasy
points allowed per game).
— Matt Lutovsky
not ruled out Nate Washington (hamstring), he is
listed as questionable for Thursday’s game
against Pittsburgh. Britt has been practicing
with the first-team offense. However, we don’t
recommend starting any Titans receiver against
the Steelers.
— Brad Pinkerton
DAVID DUPREY / AP
For all game-time decisions, check out experts.sportingnews.
The Saints’ defense could have a big day against Lions rookie Matthew Stafford. com/blog/FantasySourceBlitz.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 9
NFL ROUNDTABLE
Forecasting the ’09 awards
Five questions before kickoff
As we open the 2009 NFL season
tonight with the Titans-Steelers AWARD ALBERT BREER CLIFTON BROWN DENNIS DILLON VINNIE IYER
game, we asked Sporting News MVP
Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan,
Today’s four NFL staff writers— Patriots Saints Chargers Falcons
Albert Breer, Clifton Brown, Dennis Offensive Andre Johnson, Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson, Philip Rivers,
player of the year Texans Patriots Vikings Chargers
Dillon and Vinnie Iyer—for their
Defensive DeMarcus Ware, DeMarcus Ware, Ed Reed, Justin Tuck,
quick thoughts on five big questions player of the year Cowboys Cowboys Ravens Giants
before kickoff: Offensive Percy Harvin, Percy Harvin, Percy Harvin, Donald Brown,
rookie of the year Vikings Vikings Vikings Colts
Defensive Malcolm Jenkins, Aaron Curry, Aaron Curry, Brian Orakpo,
Q: Which is a better overall team,
Brett Favre’s Vikings or Aaron
Rodgers’ Packers?
rookie of the year
Comeback
Saints
Tom Brady,
Seahawks
Carson Palmer,
Seahawks
Tom Brady,
Redskins
Tom Brady,
player of the year Patriots Bengals Patriots Patriots
Breer: Packers. The Vikings have more
talent, but the pieces in Green Bay fit better Coach Sean Payton, Sean Payton, Tom Coughlin, John Harbaugh,
of the year Saints Saints Giants Ravens
and thus make for the better team. They
were among the youngest teams in the Executive Ted Thompson, Jerry Angelo, Jerry Angelo, Ozzie Newsome,
of the year Packers Bears Bears Ravens
league last year and have a bevy of rising
stars.
Brown: Vikings. Percy Harvin gives the
Vikings a dimension they did not have last
season, and Adrian Peterson takes tons of
pressure off Favre. The Packers will be
improved, but the Vikings are the team to
PAUL CONNORS / AP
Aaron Rodgers (4,038 yards, 28 TDs in ‘09) is looking to build on a successful first season as the Packers’ starter.
have a big impact—one way or another.
This is a team that was 9-3 last year
before Favre’s injured arm sunk its
Q: Which head coach will be the
first to go?
Breer: Dick Jauron, Bills. If Buffalo is
beat in the NFC North. chances and is built on a loaded defense 2-6 or 1-7 at the bye—which, looking at the
Dillon: Vikings. Not because of Favre healthy, no way the Dolphins win the AFC win the NFC South—but that’s kind of a and running game. Sanchez is the schedule, is possible—that locker room
but because the Vikings have the best East. And look at their first three games— cop-out considering the team did finish X-factor. will be combustible. The team jettisoned its
running back in the league and a premier at Falcons, Colts, at Chargers. The Dol- 8-8 last year. Brown: WR Percy Harvin, Vikings. left tackle and offensive coordinator a
defense. The Packers will have some phins could easily start 1-2 or 0-3. Brown: Saints. Going worst to first is Tempted to say Sanchez, but Harvin will week before the opener, so it won’t be
growing pains with their new 3-4 scheme. Dillon: Panthers. They’re going into the how they do things in the NFC South. Led cause nightmares for defensive coordina- afraid to whack the head man in
Iyer: Packers. Green Bay has more season with an injured Jonathan Stewart, a by Drew Brees, the Saints already have one tors. The Vikings can get the ball to him in midseason.
offensive pop, and the transition to Dom questionable defense and a challenging of the league’s best offenses, and their so many ways—receiver, wildcat forma- Brown: Jauron. This could get ugly
Capers’ 3-4 defense suits their personnel schedule. Last year’s NFC South champs defense should be improved. tion, special teams. He should fit in quickly. Turk Schonert already has been
well. will be hard-pressed to finish .500. Dillon: Saints. There isn’t a dominant perfectly. made a fall guy when he was fired as
Iyer: Panthers. The Panthers have a team in the NFC South, but there’s a Dillon: Harvin. He’s Minnesota’s offensive coordinator. The next fall guy is

Q: Which ’08 playoff team will

take the biggest fall this year?
Breer: Ravens. A couple teams are
protected by bad divisions, so I’ll take the
Ravens to fall below .500. The offense will
improve around a talented line, but losing
coordinator Rex Ryan is a big deal.
Brown: Dolphins. If Tom Brady stays
brutal schedule, and their defensive
injuries already are taking a toll. Unfortu-
nately, it looks like their year-on, year-off
trend will continue.
Q: Which is the best candidate to
go from last to first this year?
Breer: Saints. I think the Saints will
dominant quarterback, Brees.
Iyer: Saints. Of last year’s eight last-
place teams, the Saints are the most
version of Devin Hester—only he’ll be a
bigger playmaker on offense, racking up
yards as both a runner and a receiver.
Jauron.
Dillon: Jauron. He’s doing everything he
can to save his job, but he’s running out of
talented, especially on offense. Iyer: RB Donald Brown, Colts. The key chances.
word is “impact,” and that means helping a Iyer: Tom Cable, Raiders. It’s only a
Q: Which rookie will have the
biggest impact?
Breer: QB Mark Sanchez, Jets. He’ll
playoff team. Brown will play a significant
role in resuscitating Indy’s 31st-ranked
running game.
matter before Cable does something to
upset owner/G.M. Al Davis enough to
remove a coach in midseason again.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 10
Q&A with … Falcons QB Matt Ryan

‘Tony is a great leader … and he’s going to have a great season’

If Matt Ryan progresses as much in Year 2 as he
did as a rookie, he’ll enter elite territory in 2009.
The Falcons did their part by acquiring TE Tony
Gonzalez, one of the best chain-movers and red
zone threats in the league. In an interview with
Sporting News Radio’s Tim Montemayor, Ryan
talked about preparing for his second season,
Michael Turner and Gonzalez.
good plays. You’ve got to trust what you
see and for the most part I did that last
year and hopefully I’ll continue to do
that this year.
Q: I really believe that if you
guys get what you need out
of Michael Turner offensively that
easy with any team because you like to
have those guys around. It was an easy
fit with Tony, and I feel like he’s been
there. He just meshes really well with
everyone; it feels like he’s been there
for a long time. It was a huge pickup
for us. He’s a great leader for our
football team, and he’s going to have a
great season.

Q: Has the start to this year

been different than the start
there’s no reason he can’t be in the
MVP conversation.
to last year as a rookie?

A: Yeah, no question. I feel a lot

more comfortable with what
we’re doing as an offense and as a team
heading into this season. Training camp
has been really good, and I feel really
prepared heading into the regular
season.
A: No question about it. He was
last year and that’s because he’s
a big, powerful runner and we’re a
power run football team. We’re going to
make our living by running the foot-
ball. I certainly think he’s one of the top
players in the NFL, and we’re happy to
have him.
Q: Looking back on your rookie
year, you had to have no idea
what you would become. But I
would imagine you felt like you had
a great rookie year.
A: No question about it. You don’t
know what to expect when you
come in as a rookie, and it’s going to
take time to feel out whether you can
play and whether you can’t. But looking

Q: How much does feeling

prepared boost your
confidence?
Q: You’ve got Roddy White
back. You’ve added Tony
Gonzalez, who’s not just a target for
back on it, I feel like I learned a lot over
my rookie season. I was able to go out
there and be competitive and help our

A: I think it helps a bunch. It

makes you confident going into a
game when you’re as prepared as can
you but a big-bodied guy who
knows how to block. It would seem
like Turner is set up to have an even
team win games, so I have to feel good
about that.

be, you know what to expect from the
team you’re going against, you know the
playbook inside and out. I think a whole
other offseason of really studying our
offense really helped me feel that much
more prepared.
bigger season than he had last year.
A: I think so, and he’s worked so
hard this offseason. He has
really put in the time to give himself the
Q: You guys had a lot of
turnover on defense from
last year to this year. How have the
chance to be successful this year. And guys looked so far?
as a player, that’s what you love to
have. You love to have guys like that in
the locker room, that are here in the
A: They’re doing a good job, and
you know when you see them
every day in camp you see things that

Q: It seems like you’re a lot

more confident, and when
the ball leaves your hand, you know
offseason working hard in the OTAs,
making an effort to get better every day.
they’re working on and then they’re
going out there and trying those things
during the preseason, which is good. I
you’re making the right decision. think we’ve got some young guys that

A: Yeah, you have to be, especially

in this league. Sometimes you’re Q: How has Tony Gonzalez fit
into the mix this offseason?
will step up and help us, and we have
veteran guys like John Abraham who

Matt Ryan was sharp in the preseason, completing 22-of-29 passes in limited playing time.
JOHN AMIS / AP
going to make some poor decisions, but
that’s just the nature of playing in the
NFL and guys are going to make some
A: He’s fit in great. He’s a great
guy, and he works so hard. He’s
a great player. A guy like that fits in
will be game-changers for us. I look
forward to them getting us the ball in
some good situations this season.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Tough ticket market forces NFL teams to be creative
BY DANIEL KAPLAN
SportsBusiness Journal
Chiefs fans struggling with ticket
payments can finance them on a
team-issued credit card. Got a dirty
windshield? Bills boosters renew-
ing season tickets online enjoy a
free car wash. Ford Field, home of
the Lions, claims the NFL’s first all-
you-can-eat section. Jaguars sup-
porters choose among a dozen
ticket packages. The Raiders even
subsidize the train to the game.
NFL teams, confronting the worst
economy many have ever faced,
unveiled a rush of new ticket sales
initiatives this offseason that just 12
months ago would have been
unthinkable for the country’s most
popular sport league.
According to a SportsBusiness
Journal survey of the NFL’s 32 teams
(see chart), only three—the Ravens,
Eagles and Titans—did not try a
new sales push or freeze ticket
prices this offseason.
Giveaways, food discounts and
flexible payment plans—once the
domain of other sports burdened
by longer seasons and less popular
games—are now seeping into the
NFL, whose regular season kicks
off today.
“In St. Louis, the days of rolling
out the football and expecting to sell
out are done, and maybe across the
NFL as well,” said Kevin Demoff,
the chief operating officer of the
Rams, which had two games
blacked out last season and are
struggling to sell out this season.
“We are more aggressively pushing
single-games seats. It is difficult for
us in this economy. Coming off a
2-14 season, it is a double whammy.
Despite initiatives like creative payment plans and conference calls with the coaching staff, the Vikings still might not sell out all their games.
We have shaken off all the people
who were tangential followers.”
Teams failing to sell out within
72 hours of kickoff cannot televise
the contest locally, a painful hit for
sponsors expecting that exposure,
not to mention the loss to fans. Last
year, blackouts afflicted only nine
out of 256 games, but the percent-
age is sure to rise this season after
the league informed owners last
month that nearly two of every five
teams were struggling to sell out.
The NFL will never mimic the
NFL
minor leagues with their well-worn
staple of corny sales gimmickry, or
even for that matter the NBA, MLB
or NHL, whose teams have five to
10 times the number of regular-
season home games to sell. But the
NFL is clearly moving away from
its plain-vanilla sales culture.
The most popular response to the
recession has been freezing or cut-
ting ticket prices, with 22 teams
taking that measure. Another five
largely kept prices flat but had some
increases elsewhere in their
TOM OLMSCHEID / AP
stadiums. Only four teams—the
Titans, Eagles, Ravens and Tex-
ans— raised ticket prices across the
board. The Cowboys opened a new
stadium this year, so price compari-
sons are not relevant, in part
because the club has been selling
2009 for several years.
Other popular approaches to the
poor economy are group-ticket
packages and flexible payments.
Even teams like the Redskins and
Broncos, which sold out easily, said
they were more flexible with late
payments.
With every fan precious, no detail
is too minor. At a Falcons town hall
meeting, a fan asked team owner
Arthur Blank why the cannons that
shoot T-shirts can’t reach the Geor-
gia Dome’s upper deck. So the team
hired 16 game-day workers to throw
out T-shirts in the upper deck.
On Feb. 18, 1,800 people went to
a 49ers town hall gathering featur-
ing coach Mike Singletary and chief
operating officer Andy Dolich. In
another move, the team opened to
fans an ESPN filming of a show fea-
turing Jerry Rice, and 2,000 fans
attended.
“For many years, as you know,
the major marketing program here
was to display another Super Bowl
trophy,” Dolich said. Now, Dolich
has added a 10-person ticket service
group, which includes an office at
Candlestick Park, and spearheaded
renovations to the team’s stadium,
including a hall of fame wing.
Although NFL clubs are trying
different sales and marketing tech-
niques, some still have not fully
embraced the new world. Take
food, for example. Packaging food
with tickets is an obvious lure to
penny-pinching fans.
“Tickets plus food is a very attrac-
tive package if you will in the cur-
rent economic climate,” said Raiders
chief executive Amy Trask, whose
team for the first time this season
sold value tickets and created a pro-
gram so season-ticket holders could
earn points toward awards, includ-
ing free food.
However, just three other teams
surveyed by SportsBusiness
Team-by-team look at ticketing strategies, AFC: Page 12 | NFC: Page 13
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 11
Journal—the Cardinals, Lions and
Jaguars—offered food discounts.
Only six teams reported giving
away free items to season-ticket
holders for the first time this offsea-
son. The Browns had a contest to
give away prizes for renewing sea-
son-ticket accounts while the Dol-
phins are giving hand-held TV
devices to their club-seat holders.
Just three teams—the Giants, Fal-
cons and Vikings—added customer
service groups this offseason (the
49ers created their division in
2008). Other clubs beefed up fan
communications.
Some teams are responding with
multigame packages. Many teams
traditionally sold only season tick-
ets, with limited inventory available
for individual games. But even the
Jets, surprisingly struggling to sell
out, offered a half-season package
for the first time.
The Jaguars doubled to a dozen
the number of ticket packages they
sell, though apparently to little avail
as the club said all of its home games
will endure blackouts. And the
Bengals offered a four-game pack-
age and brought back their two-
game package, last sold in 2005.
“The four-game package does not
seem to be getting a lot of traction; it
is still a lot of money for people,”
Bengals manager of ticket sales
Andrew Brown said. “Other sports
have had a lot more flexibility in
discounting tickets and being more
creative. Our teams are being forced
to get into that now.”
— Daniel Kaplan is a staff writer for SportsBusiness Journal.
E-mail him at dkaplan@sportsbusinessjournal.com
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 12

AFC TEAM-BY-TEAM LOOK AT TICKET STRATEGIES

BALTIMORE RAVENS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: No new initiatives. New offseason ticketing initiatives: Extended final payment date; offered a branded credit card for fans who needed
to finance that last payment; added 3,000 more $250 season tickets, bringing the number to 5,000; a mixture of ticket
Comments: Coming off an AFC Championship appearance, the team was one of the few in the league to raise prices, and still price freezes, increases and decreases.
enjoyed a 99 percent renewal clip. Comments: The team began in the middle of last season to add cheaper tickets and value concession items, and expects to be sold out.

BUFFALO BILLS MIAMI DOLPHINS

New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; free one-game parking pass for season-ticket renewals ($20
value); free car wash for online renewals; thank you cards for renewals including a 50th-season commemorative bumper
sticker; teleconference for season-ticket holders with players.
Comments: The Bills will have their third-best season for season tickets this year, around 54,000, fueled by some of the lowest
prices in the NFL and the Terrell Owens signing.
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Lowered seat prices on a few thousand season tickets in the upper deck by up
to 30 percent; directed a personalized video e-mail campaign at individual ticket prospects that helped generate 8,000
new season-ticket holders; extended payment plans for season-ticket holders.
Comments: The Dolphins, under new owner Stephen Ross, have been busy adding glitz to the team to attract fans, so ticketing initiatives
revolved around a viral marketing campaign, which has helped increase season-tickets sales from 46,000 last year to low 50,000s.

CINCINNATI BENGALS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; deferred seat-license payments; season-ticket holder confer-
ence call with head coach and draft picks; new club-seat contracts reduced from the standard three years to two; digital
billboards used in marketing.
Comments: For a club known as a laggard in pushing sales, the economy has finally moved the Bengals into action, but continuing
to sell out still is not a certainty.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; season-ticket holders who paid by certain dates were entered
into contests for varying levels of prizes dependent on how early they paid, ranging from a Super Bowl trip to free
parking.
Comments: If even the Browns, one of the top draws in pro sports, feel the need to offer something extra to draw in renewals, then
the economy really is an issue.
DENVER BRONCOS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; sold out months before the season; extended payment plans
for season-ticket holders who requested them.
Comments: The Broncos have no issues selling out, though club seats and suites have moved slower this offseason than in past
years.
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices.
Comments: The teams season-ticket renewal rate was a bit down from past years, at 95 percent compared to 98 percent, but with
Tom Brady coming back and the team’s history of success, moving tickets has not been a problem.
NEW YORK JETS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; first marketing campaign to move season tickets; recorded
call from new head coach Rex Ryan to all season-ticket holders; pre-draft conference call with GM with premium-seat
holders; half-season ticket; viral marketing campaign.
Comments: Because of the economy, and season-ticket holders who left because of costs involved with seats in the new stadium
opening in 2010, the Jets had a few thousand more tickets than usual available, but fully expect to sell out.
OAKLAND RAIDERS*
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; season-ticket holders receive 3 to 6 percent of the price of
a season ticket for a referral; expanded rewards programs that allow season-ticket holders to earn points for food and
merchandise; more value-added tickets that include food; youth groups buying tickets get discounts to other venues
such as museums and the zoo; game-day travel discount for ticket holders taking Amtrak from Sacramento.
Comments: The Raiders have often battled to sell out, and have underperformed on the field, so the team has a blizzard of initiatives.

HOUSTON TEXANS PITTSBURGH STEELERS

New offseason ticketing initiatives: The team could only cite sending cheerleaders to local malls more than in years New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices.
past as a difference this offseason.
Comments: The Texans, a leader in sales since coming into the league in 2002, raised ticket prices in the offseason. Comments: Winning a Super Bowl and being the Steelers has its advantages, even in a severe recession.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

New offseason ticketing initiatives: For group tickets of 100 or more for preseason games, each fan received a free
pass to a water theme park; preseason ticket stubs also give the holder free entry into the NCAA Hall of Champions;
froze ticket prices other than for 1,600 seats, which were increased from $44 to $54.
Comments: The team is sold out for the regular season in its second year in its new stadium, so the focus was on the preseason,
which sold more slowly in the down economy.
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Instituted a longer payment plan; expanded the family seating section, thereby lowering
prices on 1,000 seats to $48 a game from $63 (all other prices were frozen); held a stadium meeting for past season-ticket
holders who did not renew; created two five-game packages; sent 50th anniversary decal to season-ticket holders.
Comments: The Chargers play in an outdated stadium and have struggled in recent years to sell out some games, so the team is
moving aggressively to ensure every seat is sold this season.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TENNESSEE TITANS

New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; created roughly a dozen ticket packages, double that of a New offseason ticketing initiatives: No new initiatives.
typical year; selling groups of four or more tickets that include a free meal; referral program gives season-ticket holders
a chance to win sideline passes. Comments: Individual game tickets sold out in hours; the Titans are one of the fortunate few in the NFL to increase prices modestly.
Comments: The Jaguars are the poster child for ticket sales problems; despite these efforts, the team has already said it is unlikely
to sell out any game. *Team had blackout(s) in 2008 — Compiled by Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 13

NFC TEAM-BY-TEAM LOOK AT TICKET STRATEGIES

ARIZONA CARDINALS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Modest price increases in lower bowl seats; value meals of $7 for kids and $9.75
for adults; individual tickets to Packers and Vikings games available only with purchase of two other designated games
(including a preseason contest).
Comments: Getting to the Super Bowl has its advantages as witnessed by the price increase and additional ticket requirements for
high-profile games, but in recession-wracked Phoenix, the team still introduced three value meals for kids and one for adults.
ATLANTA FALCONS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze or reduced prices on two-thirds of seats, increased the remainder slightly;
added four-person customer service team for season-ticket holders; season-ticket holders meeting with owner, head
coach and GM; new six-month payment plan.
Comments: Even coming off a surprising playoff run behind rookie QB Matt Ryan, the team must work hard in the fickle Atlanta
market.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; offered two-game packages for the first time, selling 5,300
such plans.
Comments: Most Panthers tickets are spoken for by PSL owners, so much of the team’s offseason focus was on sponsorship and
suite sales.
CHICAGO BEARS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; thank you e-mails and videos to season-ticket holders; season
tickets delivered to 20 customers personally by mascot and players; decal sent to all season-ticket holders; five season-
ticket holders will be given pregame field passes per game; accepted credit cards for the first time.
Comments: The team describes these moves as the natural evolution of its customer service efforts and not a reaction to the
economy. Season-ticket renewals at 99 percent attest to that.
DALLAS COWBOYS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: The only team with a new stadium opening this year has been selling the venue
for several years; the team says it has done little differently in response to the economy.
Comments: While there has been some outcry in Dallas over ticket prices, the team remains one of the country’s top draws.
DETROIT LIONS*
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Generally froze ticket prices; first and so far only NFL team to offer an all-you-can-eat
option, which is available to 5,500 season-ticket holders; season-ticket renewals offered $500-$1,000 discounts on Ford cars
and given VIP cards entitling them to 20 percent off merchandise at Ford Field; two town hall meetings with season-ticket
holders, and one with suite and club-seat holders; last 10 rows of upper deck in end zones named the Roar Zone and priced at
$30 per game, 25 percent less than last year; reduced club-seat prices; season-ticket holders entitled to 20 percent off a suite.
Comments: When statewide unemployment is at 15 percent and the team went 0-16 the season before, creativity is the name of the game.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices for the second year in a row.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; sent handwritten thank-you notes to each of the 17,000
season-ticket holder accounts; started the selling before last season ended.
Comments: The Saints sold out again, reflecting lower-than-average prices, a good team and a new stadium deal that shows the
team is staying in town for the foreseeable future.
NEW YORK GIANTS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; added season-ticket holder staff to communicate better with
fans; conference call with quarterback and GM drew 6,000 fans.
Comments: Most of the team’s offseason efforts were designed toward moving into the new stadium in 2010. The team was long
ago sold out of season tickets for 2009.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
New offseason ticketing initiatives: No new initiatives.
Comments: The team raised ticket prices 5 percent on 80 percent of its seats, renewing them at a 99 percent clip, and sold out its
handful of individual game tickets in 10 minutes.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; upgraded restaurants and added a hall of fame; hosted first
state-of-the team address with head coach, owner and front office executives.
Comments: The Niners are long removed from the glory years, a double whammy given their creaky, outmoded stadium. While
the team hopes to cut a deal to build a stadium in Santa Clara, the earliest a transaction could occur would be next year.
ST. LOUIS RAMS*
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; offered a payment plan; sold three-game packages.
Comments: For a team that went 5-27 the last two years and had three blackouts last year, ticketing initiatives have been relatively
tame.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices.
Comments: Many of the fan outreach initiatives other teams are employing, the Seahawks have done for years. The team says it
will be sold out every game this year and had a more than 90 percent season-ticket renewal rate in the offseason.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; season-ticket holders now can do one-year contracts instead
of the 10 years previously required; payment plans for tickets; partial packages for the first time; half-price tickets in
certain sections for kids under 16.
Comments: The Bucs have been seen by some as being in a cost-cutting mode, perhaps due to their owner’s debt tied to his own-
ership of Manchester United. So even though sellouts have not been a problem, the team is aggressively moving to keep fans happy.

Comments: If the Packers had difficulty moving tickets, the league would be in some serious trouble. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: More leniency on extending payment plans.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; payment plan that allows season-ticket holders to make Comments: One of the top sellers in the NFL, the Redskins did little new in the offseason. For the fourth consecutive season, the
monthly, or even weekly, payments; season-ticket conference calls with head coach and executives; invited season- team did not raise ticket prices.
ticket holders to a state-of-the-Vikings town hall event.
Comments: The team, in its outdated stadium, struggled before the economy cratered, so the club’s task of selling tickets had
been tough. Even with Brett Favre, a season sellout is not a certainty. *Team had blackout(s) in 2008 — Compiled by Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 14

AFC That’s another reason Mack was drafted.

INSIDE DISH
Baltimore Ravens — Mike Preston
The Ravens worked out former
Giants WR David Tyree but
apparently won’t sign him
until after the season begins, if Tyree is
still available. Tyree had a good workout
and impressed coach John Harbaugh. But
Harbaugh said the Ravens have to make
sure Tyree, who has some minor injuries,
is 100 percent. In other words, the Ravens
don’t want to sign Tyree before the opener
because he would have to be paid a year’s
salary if on the 53-man roster in Week 1.
If he isn’t, the the Ravens can sign him
and virtually pay him game by game. The
Ravens have only four receivers and would
like to add Tyree as a fifth. Tyree eventually
could become the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver. ...
Pro Bowl S Ed Reed said he still has problems
with a neck injury from last season, but
it’s no longer a major factor. Reed no
longer tackles opponents head-on, instead
attempting to tackle by slinging players to
the ground with his arms.
Buffalo Bills — Allen Wilson
Coach Dick Jauron has some
understandable concern about
starting three neophytes on
his offensive line but said Wednesday he’s
comfortable with the decision. Second-year
LT Demetrius Bell, who didn’t play a down
last season, has joined rookie Gs Eric Wood
and Andy Levitre on the first-string line. Bell
replaces Langston Walker, who was released in
the latest offensive shakeup since the firing
of coordinator Turk Schonert. Jauron says Bell,
Wood, Levitre along with C Geoff Hangartner
and RT Brad Butler will make for a tougher,
nastier and more athletic line. But with youth
and inexperience comes the possibility of
mistakes. Bell, Wood and Levitre must prove
they can read and counter the stunts and
Broncos QB Kyle Orton has worn a glove on his throwing hand to help deal with the effects of a dislocated finger.
exotic blitzes they are sure to see every week.
… After dumping Walker, the Bills re-signed
Kirk Chambers, who they cut last Saturday, to be
the swing tackle.
Cincinnati Bengals — Chick Ludwig
A year ago, RE Antwan Odom (three
sacks) and LE Robert Geathers (2.5)
fought injury problems. If they’re
able to stay on the field, their production
should increase along with the club’s
postseason chances. Geathers, who landed
on I.R. with a knee injury after 11 games, is
a quick rusher off the left edge. He has the
strength in his upper and lower body to shed
blockers and the speed and quickness to
burst around bigger, slower offensive tackles.
Odom, limited to eight starts in 12 games
because of a sprained foot and shoulder, is a
long, lean pass rusher who has done a good
job of improving his overall strength and
hand movement. He uses his long arms to get
separation against offensive tackles.
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP
Cleveland Browns — Steve Doerschuk
Although The Plain Dealer
reported Wednesday that Brady
Quinn has beat out Derek Anderson
for the starting QB job, neither coach Eric
Mangini nor any of the players or coaches will
confirm it. Mangini is also staying mum
about whether rookie first-round pick Alex
Mack or Hank Fraley will start at center. Mack
has made substantial progress with his
poise after being skittish early in camp. He
is a smart player and has the physical tools
to cope with large, quick defensive linemen.
He does not have the experience to have an
even chance at dealing with Minnesota DTs
Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, who represent
about as big a challenge as possible. Fraley,
on the other hand, knows all the tricks and
still has enough left to function against most
defensive lines. Minnesota is not most lines.
The Vikings have the kind of overwhelm-
ing inside presence Fraley struggles against.
Mangini only will say that both Fraley and
Mack will play.
Denver Broncos — Frank Schwab
QB Kyle Orton hasn’t been
declared the starter for Sunday’s
opener at Cincinnati, but the
signs are positive. Orton, who dislocated
his right index finger in the third preseason
game, has been throwing with a glove
because it helps his grip on the ball. He has
done everything asked of him in practice,
and the coaches haven’t noticed any limita-
tions. Still, the Broncos want to wait and
see whether Orton can be totally effective in
the offense. If the injury won’t allow that,
backup Chris Simms (ankle) is back to full
health and the team has confidence in him.
… WR Brandon Marshall hasn’t created any
drama in his first week back from suspen-
sion. He didn’t play in any preseason games,
but all signs point to him having a normal
role Sunday. He is a good enough athlete
that he can probably overcome the lack of
practice and game playing time. … RB Know-
shon Moreno (knee) said he isn’t 100 percent
yet. Because the Broncos have good depth
at running back, they don’t need to rush
him back to a full workload. Moreno will
likely play but could have a limited role as
coaches ease him into theoffense.
Houston Texans — John McClain
QB Matt Schaub (sprained left
ankle) increased his work load
in practice Wednesday and looks
as if he’ll be able to start Sunday vs. the Jets.
If Schaub aggravates the injury and has to
leave the game, Rex Grossman will replace him.
Grossman won the backup competition
with Dan Orlovsky. ... WR Kevin Walter (pulled
hamstring) and FS Eugene Wilson (sprained
knee) didn’t practice Wednesday. If Walter
can’t play, Andre Davis would replace him.
If Wilson is out, his replacement would be
Nick Ferguson. ... In Week 2 at Tennessee, the
Texans expect to welcome back CB Jacques
Reeves, who fractured his fibula early in
camp. He practiced Wednesday but won’t
play vs. the Jets. Next week, the defense will
have its starting corners, Reeves and Dunta
Robinson, on the field together for the first
time since last season. They’ll also be six
deep at corner with Fred Bennett, Glover Quin,
Brice McCain and Antwaun Molden in the picture.
Indianapolis Colts — Mike Chappell
S Bob Sanders likely will miss the
Sunday’s opener vs. Jacksonville
while continuing his rehab from
offseason knee surgery. He’s a difference-
maker when on the field, but the team has
learned to adapt when he is out. He has
missed 35 of a possible 80 regular-season
games. Backup S Melvin Bullitt stepped in last
season when Sanders missed 10 games with
a knee injury and produced a team-high four
interceptions. Bullitt again will get the nod
Sunday. He is always around the ball and
is a big hitter. ... Rookie WR Austin Collie has
beat out second-year pro Pierre Garcon for the
No. 3 receiver role. Collie likely will work
out of the slot in three-receiver formations
but might have to split out wide when the
coaches want Reggie Wayne in the slot.
Jacksonville Jaguars — Michael C. Wright
The Jaguars’ signing of FS Brian
Russell this week appears to be a
sign of a lack of confidence in the
safeties already on the roster. Coach Jack Del
Rio hasn’t indicated displeasure with starter
Reggie Nelson, but it’s likely the club didn’t
acquire Russell (94 starts, including 32 over
the last two seasons) to sit on the bench.
Nelson struggled somewhat at absorbing
the scheme last season, which is part of the
reason why the club signed Sean Considine
to be a steadying influence. Russell played
for defensive coordinator Mel Tucker for two
seasons in Cleveland, so he’s familiar with
the scheme. That eventually could lead to
Russell taking Nelson’s job. Russell (6-2,
210) possesses better size, but Nelson (5-11,
202) is more athletic and rangy. Russell
makes up for any lack of athleticism with
veteran savvy and smart play. Once Russell
becomes more acclimated to Jacksonville’s
scheme, look for him to take on a larger role.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
AFC
INSIDE DISH
Kansas City Chiefs — Adam Teicher
The Chiefs sifted through
several punt returner
candidates and were unable to
find a satisfactory candidate. They could
wind up going with Dantrell Savage, who
averaged a mere 2.1 yards per return
last season and wasn’t a candidate when
camp started. But Savage is the safest
pick. Rookie Quinten Lawrence is fast but
had trouble judging and catching the ball.
Similarly, Maurice Leggett dropped a punt
during one preseason game and allowed a
punt to be downed inside the 5 in another.
With an offense struggling to earn first
downs and score, the issue is important.
The Chiefs can use all the favorable field
position they can get.
Miami Dolphins — Jeff Darlington
During a week in which coach
Tony Sparano is preaching the
importance of stopping the
Falcons’ running game, it is perhaps
appropriate that NT Jason Ferguson was
voted a team captain in the same week.
Ferguson’s role on this team is always
critical—and this week is no different.
Miami must rely on the team’s run-
stuffer to prevent Michael Turner from
doing the type of damage Sparano
fears. On Wednesday, Sparano cited a
statistic that Atlanta, during its last 10
wins, has rushed the ball an average
of 38 times for 163 yards. Message to
Ferguson: Get ready. A 13-year veteran,
Ferguson’s consistency has made him
one of Bill Parcells’ favorite players over
the years. Ferguson’s massive strength
works perfectly in a 3-4 scheme, but his
reliability has made him one of the NFL’s
most underrated run-stuffers.
New England Patriots — Ian R. Rapoport
The Patriots spent plenty of
money in the offseason to
solidify the secondary. They’ll
have an immediate opportunity to learn if
it worked. WR Terrell Owens, a player many
of the younger defensive backs grew up
idolizing, comes to town Monday night,
and so does the Bills’ no-huddle scheme.
Owens is joined by a talented group that
includes Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed.
New England’s finished last in passing
yards allowed in preseason. ... QB Tom Brady
said he doesn’t worry about his backups.
Brian Hoyer and practice squad player Isaiah
Stanback have not taken an NFL snaps, so
Brady has the right idea. Stanback said he’s
excited about getting to play quarterback
again, after trying to latch on in Dallas as a
receiver. … New England signed veteran G
Kendall Simmons to add depth. Simmons inked
a three-year deal, a significant commitment
for a player coming off an Achilles injury.
He may pressure a starter such as Stephen
Neal.
New York Jets — J.P. Pelzman
CB Darrelle Revis had a boring
preseason. That’s because oppo-
nents went away from the bud-
ding star as often as possible. But Revis will
get plenty of chances to showcase himself
Sunday when the Jets visit Houston. He will
have the task of shadowing star WR Andre
Johnson, who had eight 100-yard receiving
games last season. What makes Johnson so
difficult to defend is the fact that unlike
some other big-time receivers, he lines up
all over the field, including the slot. So
opponents first have to figure out where he
is. Coach Rex Ryan likes to send pressure and
may have to commit more players to the
pass rush with DE Shaun Ellis and OLB Calvin
Pace out with suspensions. As a result,
Revis’ performance could be pivotal.
Oakland Raiders — Steve Corkran
DE Richard Seymour’s holdout
and silence stretched into a
fourth day Wednesday. He was
NFL
Though Pittsburgh’s coaches are pleased with his backup, RB Willie Parker will get the lion’s share of carries tonight.
traded to the Raiders on Sunday but has
failed to report or speak publicly on the
matter. Coach Tom Cable said he spoke with
Seymour by phone Monday and that Sey-
mour wants to play for the Raiders. Other-
wise, there hasn’t been any indication that
Seymour’s arrival in Oakland is imminent.
Numerous reports suggest Seymour isn’t
pleased at being traded to the Raiders and is
mulling his options. He doesn’t have many,
other than to honor the final year of his con-
tract, fail to report or retire. The Raiders
remain hopeful of Seymour reporting in the
next day or two and starting at right end in
their regular-season opener against the
Chargers Monday night. Seymour would
provide a clear upgrade and help shore up
the run defense—a major problem area. …
Cable announced three starters: C Chris Mor-
ris, MLB Kirk Morrison and SLB Ricky Brown.
Morrison started in the middle the past
three seasons, but he was pushed by Brown
in camp. The decision to move Brown to the
strong side wasn’t a surprise; he began last
season at that spot. Morris seemingly came
PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS / AP
out of nowhere to win the center job. But he
outplayed Samson Satele, who started all 32
games for the Dolphins the past two sea-
sons before being traded to Oakland,
throughout camp. Morris makes up for a
lack of size with above-average intelligence
and an intense desire to succeed.
Pittsburgh Steelers — Gerry Dulac
It doesn’t appear that RB Willie
Parker has to worry about splitting
time with Rashard Mendenhall, last
year’s first-round pick who missed most of
his rookie season with a broken scapula.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Parker, a two-time Pro
Bowler, is his feature back and will get most
of the workload tonight against the Titans,
even in short-yardage situations. But that
doesn’t mean the coaches are displeased
with Mendenhall. He has been hitting holes
hard and cutting inside tackles, though
he has failed to break off many long runs.
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians toyed with
the idea of using Parker and Mendenhall
together last season but junked that plan
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 15
because neither is much of a blocker. The
team, though, might use a big wishbone-
type backfield in short-yardage situations,
using Parker behind 250-pound RB Frank
Summers and 265-pound TE/H-back David
Johnson.
San Diego Chargers — Kevin Acee
The Chargers plan to have DE
Travis Johnson, acquired from
Houston last week, ready to
play Monday against the Raiders. But
coach Norv Turner said the team won’t know
how much they can use Johnson until after
the next few practices. The key factor is
how well Johnson knows his run gaps in
the team’s 3-4 system after playing in a 4-3
scheme with the Texans. Johnson has
recovered from sports hernia surgery. …
LT Marcus McNeill, who wore a gigantic col-
lar before undergoing offseason neck sur-
gery, is wearing a smaller brace this year.
He said he’s using the new collar simply
for precautionary reasons. ... With an
extra day of preparation due to the Mon-
day opener, the Chargers had light prac-
tices on Monday and Wednesday. They’ll
begin their preparation in earnest today.
They have won 11 straight games against
the Raiders.
Tennessee Titans — Jim Wyatt
With most eyes on new WRs Nate
Washington and Kenny Britt, veteran
WR Justin Gage quietly has had
the best offseason of any of the receivers.
He has been a consistent target for QB Kerry
Collins in preseason games and in practices.
Collins and Gage connected on TD passes
in back-to-back games late in preseason.
If Gage is healthy, he should have a big
season despite the additions. Gage led the
Titans in receiving yards last season (651)
and really produced when healthy down
the stretch—he posted 100-yard games in
two of his last three, including a 104-yard
game against the Steelers on Dec. 21. With
Washington’s injury, he’ll be Collins’ top
target tonight vs. the Steelers along with the
tight ends.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 16

NFC recovered from a hamstring injury, but

INSIDE DISH
Arizona Cardinals — Kent Somers
WR Anquan Boldin (hamstring)
missed another day of practice
Wednesday, and No. 3 WR Steve
Breaston admitted he’s not close to 100 per-
cent in his recovery from a knee injury suf-
fered nearly a month ago. Boldin didn’t play
in the last two preseason games and hasn’t
practiced this week, but coach Ken Whisen-
hunt said he is improving and called his
chances of playing Sunday against the
49ers “very good.” Breaston played about
15 snaps last week against Denver and has
practiced this week. If Boldin is ready, the
club likely will have six receivers available
on Sunday. Jerheme Urban, the fourth receiver,
could play a larger role, as could former
practice squad player Lance Long. … The club
signed Jeremy Bridges because of his ability to
play guard and tackle. The Cardinals cut
Elton Brown, who was mainly a guard.
Bridges’ versatility gives coaches the option
of suiting up only seven O-linemen on game
day.
Atlanta Falcons — D. Orlando Ledbetter
DRE John Abraham and rookie
backup S William Moore were the
only players who did not partici-
pate fully in practice on Wednesday. Abra-
ham was limited with a knee injury, and
Moore has knee and hamstring issues. If
Abraham can’t play, it would be a major
loss to a defense that is trying to replace five
starters. He was a force last season, setting
a franchise record with 16½ sacks. He didn’t
play much during the preseason, and it’s
not known when he suffered the injury.
The team is counting on Abraham to pro-
vide a consistent pass rush so the corner-
backs won’t be exposed. If Abraham is
unable to play, second-year player Kroy Bier-
mann will likely get his some of his snaps in
After a disappointing first 10 games in Dallas, Roy Williams is looking to prove himself as a top-shelf receiver.
pass-rushing situations. Chauncey Davis or
Jamaal Anderson also could ge some time at
right end. If Abraham can’t go, there will be
a major drop-off no matter how the team
tries to replace him.
Chicago Bears
Carolina Panthers — Darin Gantt
RB Jonathan Stewart participated
in his first practice in a month—
and his ninth in 49 workouts
since the spring—on Wednesday. Stewart
(Achilles’) ran without limitations during
practice. Coach John Fox was pleased with
what he saw and didn’t seem concerned
about the missed practice time. “We just
didn’t want it to be a month during the reg-
ular season,” Fox said. “The good news is it
was a month during the preseason. That
was the plan, and if we had our druthers
that is the way we’d prefer it.” Fox said
Stewart’s conditioning isn’t an issue and
shrugged off questions about his lack of
contact in the preseason. Stewart (5-10, 235)
adds some size and power to a running
game that could prosper against an Eagles
defense that’s small and inexperienced up
the middle. … MLB Jon Beason returned to
TONY GUTIERREZ / AP
practice less than three weeks after sprain-
ing his MCL. He brings much-needed sta-
bility to a defense that looked lost without
him.
— Gene Chamberlain
QB Jay Cutler will check his
blood sugar level regularly Sun-
day night at Lambeau Field. He
may have had trouble playing in the NFL
years ago, but modern medicine has kept
his diabetic condition from affecting his
play. Cutler said a lot of factors can contrib-
ute to his condition, such as long drives,
emotion-packed games and weather condi-
tions. His blood sugar level can range
greatly in high heat or when he’s tired. …
Cutler had an adversarial relationship with
Chargers QB Philip Rivers when he played in
Denver, and their teams were involved in
several tight games. Cutler doubts he’ll have
a nasty rivalry with Green Bay QB Aaron
Rodgers because the two have become friends
after spending time together at various
events. … The Bears will wait until late in
the week to announce who starts at the two
safety positions. Danieal Manning has
rookie SS Al Afalava and veteran FS Kevin
Payne played well together in camp and
could keep those spots.
Dallas Cowboys — Jean-Jacques Taylor
WR Roy Williams said he feels a
lot better about his role in the
offense than he did last year,
when he caught just 19 passes and scored
one touchdown in 10 games. Williams, who
believes he has been unfairly criticized
since arriving in Dallas, said he’s looking
forward to showing his critics he can be a
No. 1 wideout. The Cowboys will give him
an opportunity to make plays, though they
also have made it made clear they want QB
Tony Romo to spread the ball around. Wil-
liams will get much of his work on under-
neath routes, which could help the Cowboys
to control the ball and the clock. He can use
his big body to shield defensive backs and
give Romo a good target. Williams runs
solid routes and has excellent hands. The
question is whether he can still create sepa-
ration from corners, which will give Romo
an opportunity to hit him downfield.
Detroit Lions — Tom Kowalski
Though QB Matthew Stafford has
been given the starting job for
the entire season, there are sev-
eral other positions in which starters could
be determined on a game-to-game basis for
the first few weeks. Those spots include left
guard (Daniel Loper is trying to hold off a
challenge from Manny Ramirez), left end (Cliff
Avril and Jason Hunter are competing) and
defensive tackle (several players hope to
land the starting spot next to veteran Grady
Jackson). … All indications are veteran K Jason
Hanson (knee) will be able to handle most, if
not all, of the field goal duties on Sunday.
Hanson, who went 8-for-8 on field goal tries
of 50 yards or more last season, could
stretch to 50-yard territory but not much
beyond. Hanson may also attempt to handle
kickoff duties, but it’s possible the Lions
will sign a kicker late in the week for that
role.
Green Bay Packers — Tom Silverstein
Rookie DL B.J. Raji (ankle) prob-
ably won’t play in the opener
against Chicago, which leaves a
hole at backup nose tackle. The club will
hold its breath that starter Ryan Pickett
doesn’t get hurt. Depending on how often
the coaches use substitute packages that
don’t include him, Pickett might be able to
play the whole game. If he can’t, DE Johnny
Jolly will slide over and play the nose. The
325-pound Jolly can’t anchor like the 350-
pound Pickett and that could affect the run
defense. … Special teams play has been a big
reason the Bears hold a 7-3 mark against
the Packers since Lovie Smith took over as
Chicago’s coach. The Packers have been up-
and-down on special teams while the Bears
have been consistently good. The Packers
took special teams into account in a big way
when they completed the roster this week.
Players like Spencer Havner, first-round pick
Clay Matthews and Brandon Chillar will add some
spark to the units.
Minnesota Vikings — Rick Alonzo
QB Brett Favre addressed the
team on Monday, saying he felt
he needed to have a talk from
the heart about the way things unfolded
before he signed. By addressing team-
mates, he hoped it would help them better
understand his motivations for returning.
There had been so many rumors and
reports that Favre wanted to clear things
up. Favre’s talk had something of an apol-
ogetic tone, and teammates appreciated
that Favre wasn’t above making himself
accountable. … Favre said he’s not sure
how he will hold up physically. “I may not
finish the year,” he said. “No one thought
I’d play 18 straight years without missing
a game, me included. I have no idea what’s
going to happen.” … WR Bernard Berrian
(hamstring) and TE Jim Kleinsasser (left
hand) were limited in practice Wednes-
day. Berrian wouldn’t say whether he
expects to play Sunday, but it would be
surprising if he sits out. He missed the last
three preseason games.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 17

NFC San Francisco 49ers — Matt Barrows

INSIDE DISH
New Orleans Saints — Mike Triplett
This new version of the Saints’
defense is supposed to be more
aggressive and disruptive, espe-
cially when it comes to pressuring and con-
fusing quarterbacks. So what better
opportunity in Week 1 than to match up
against the Lions’ Matthew Stafford, who will
be making his NFL debut? The Saints will
try to keep him off-balance with a variety of
blitzes, fronts and alignments. The goal is
to prevent him from ever getting comfort-
able in the pocket. Backup DE Jeff Charleston
labeled Stafford as “fresh meat,” but he and
his teammates said they still need to respect
what Stafford can do. After all, they lost
their first matchup against Atlanta rookie
Matt Ryan last year. … RB Pierre Thomas con-
tinues to look doubtful for the opener after
sitting out Wednesday’s practice. He said
he’s still hoping to practice today and play
Sunday, but that would be a quick turn-
around for a guy who has missed almost
three weeks with a sprained MCL. Pre-
season star Mike Bell would likely pick up
carries in Thomas’ place.
New York Giants — Paul Schwartz
The Giants believe they have
enough in the interior offensive
line—C Shaun O’Hara, LG Rich Seu-
bert and RG Chris Snee—to contain Redskins
star DT Albert Haynesworth. That trio works
well together, and that chemistry will be
especially important in this game as the
Giants try to avoid one-on-one matchups
with Haynesworth. Snee and Seubert rely
more on athleticism and strength than pure
size, so this will be a tough assignment.
Haynesworth (6-6, 350) lines up mostly on
the right side, which will put Seubert in the
line of fire. Seubert, adept at pulling in the
running game, will have to hold up at the
Rams QB Marc Bulger seems to have recovered from a finger injury in time for their opener against Seattle.
line of scrimmage to prevent Haynesworth
from wrecking the offensive flow.
Philadelphia Eagles — Geoff Mosher
RB Brian Westbrook is out to
prove that not every running
back who hits 30 is destined to
fade away. Westbrook said he’s still dynamic
and intends to prove it in 2009, starting
with Sunday’s opener at Carolina. But he
also admitted he’s a little “rusty,” having
not played in a game since the end of the
2008 season. Coming off knee and ankle
surgeries, Westbrook was held out of all
four preseason games. In the past, West-
brook has received 20 to 25 touches per
game, but with the addition of impressive
rookie LeSean McCoy and multidimensional
FB Leonard Weaver, the coaches could scale
back Westbrook’s workload and balance
out the running back snaps to preserve
Westbrook for the long haul. … Reserve
MLB Joe Mays will miss Sunday’s game with
a sprained shoulder. If starting MLB Omar
Gaither is injured, SLB Chris Gocong will move
TONY AVELAR / AP
to the middle and rookie Moise Fokou will
replace Gocong on the strong side.
St. Louis Rams — Jim Thomas
QB Marc Bulger took his first
snaps from under center
Wednesday since suffering a
broken pinky finger during a practice Aug.
17. Bulger took most of the snaps with the
first unit, so barring some kind of setback
between now and Sunday he will start at
Seattle. The Rams are giving backup QB
Kyle Boller some reps with the starters just in
case, but Bulger’s passes looked sharp and
accurate in practice. Whether the three
weeks of lost practice time will affect his
continuity with a young unit of wideouts
remains to be seen. … Coach Steve Spagnuolo
confirmed what had become increasingly
obvious over the past week or so: first-
round pick Jason Smith will start at right
tackle Sunday. So for the first time really
since the start of camp, the Rams had their
entire first offense on the field for practice
Wednesday.
The starting right cornerback
job was supposed be decided
between youngster Tarell Brown
and veteran newcomer Dre’ Bly. In the end,
a third candidate, Shawntae Spencer, won
the job. Spencer has plenty of experience.
He’s one of the few players on the team
that was drafted by the Dennis Erickson
regime, and he has started 40 games over
five years. He was still recovering from an
ACL tear when the competition between
Bly and Brown began in May. Brown fell
behind because of a toe injury. In choosing
Spencer over Bly, who started all four pre-
season games at right corner, the 49ers
opted for the steadier player over the risk-
taker. Coach Mike Singletary said Spencer is
familiar with the defense and doesn’t
make many “mental errors.” Bly has more
playmaking potential but also can be
caught out of position, something the
49ers feel they can’t afford Sunday against
QB Kurt Warner and the Arizona receivers.
Seattle Seahawks — Danny O’Neil
LT Walter Jones won’t play in the
opener against the Rams. Jones
is recovering from surgery on
his left knee to clean up scar tissue from
microfracture procedure. Sean Locklear is
seen as the heir to Jones’ spot, but he’s not a
mauling blocker and has had difficulty
against stronger, straight-ahead rushers.
Mora left open the possibility Jones will be
back in Week 2. C Chris Spencer (quadriceps)
also won’t play in the opener. His replace-
ment Steve Vallos is versatile and has good
command of the calls a center must make at
the line. Add that to the departure of LG
Mike Wahle, who was waived after failing to
recover from shoulder surgery, and the
back injury that left CB Marcus Trufant on the
PUP list and Seattle will be missing four
players projected as starters before camp.
Rob Sims had a great training camp in Wahle’s
place after losing a few pounds to increase
his mobility. Trufant’s replacement Josh Wil-
son is short, at 5-9, but he’s not small and
among the fastest players on the roster.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Roy Cummings
Players are finding out that
being a starter on coach Raheem
Morris’ team doesn’t mean much.
To Morris, starters are nothing more than
the guys who run out of the tunnel during
pregame introductions. With the exception
of the quarterback, the middle linebacker
and the offensive linemen, the Bucs plan to
use rotations at almost every spot. For
example, the Bucs’ plan to work in seven
defensive linemen in the opener against
Dallas. The idea is to keep all the players
fresh not only through the end of the game
but through the end of the season. The Bucs
will work a similar rotation at running back
with Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham and Cadillac
Williams and at safety with Jermaine Phillips,
Sabby Piscitelli and Will Allen. … The team will
go into the season with just one fullback, but
Graham could fill in there if starter B.J. Askew
goes down. Graham has played fullback
before and is a willing blocker. If Graham
has to work more at fullback, the team will
lean more on Clifton Smith as a running back.
Washington Redskins — John Keim
Though the Redskins signed
DT Albert Haynesworth to help
improve the pass rush, he is
known best for stopping the run. And he
needs to start earning his money Sunday
against the Giants, who rushed for 154 in
last season’s opener against Washington.
Starting DT Cornelius Griffin and reserve Kedric
Golston should flourish next to Haynes-
worth, who ties up two blockers on most
plays. Though many wonder about Hayne-
sworth’s durability, he showed this sum-
mer he can still dominate. … After entering
camp behind fellow second-year WR Devin
Thomas, Malcolm Kelly earned the starting
flanker position opposite Santana Moss by
showing more explosiveness than Thomas,
particularly on deep balls. The Redskins
want Kelly (6-4, 227) to provide big plays
downfield and help in the red zone—two
problem areas for Washington in 2008.
Antwaan Randle El will play in the slot as the
No. 3 receiver.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football

WHAT WE LEARNED Sporting News Today’s Dave Curtis analyzes

what Wednesday’s buzz means to college football

Rising Rams
BYU’s huge win over Oklahoma
boosts the Mountain West, no
doubt. But victories such as Colo-
rado State’s on Sunday at Colorado
mean just as much. Remember, the
powers-that-be will view the per-
formance of the entire conference
when they consider the MWC for
an automatic BCS berth.
Utah, TCU and BYU can’t carry
the league all the way to its prom-
ised land. Big wins and successful
seasons from the other six MWC
members, then, help chip away at
the status quo.
Other opportunities come this
weekend, with UNLV hosting Ore-
gon State, TCU heading to Virginia,
Air Force visiting Minnesota and
even Wyoming entertaining (gulp) BRETT FLASHNICK / AP
No. 2 Texas. QB Joe Webb ran for 194 yards in UAB’s pasting of Rice.
Colorado State coach Steve
Fairchild seemed fired up by the Michigan State, meanwhile, 25-year-old senior, Nixon came to
rivalry win but cautioned his pro- continues to deal with the Kirk the Sun Devils after a minor league
gram still needs much improve- Cousins/Keith Nichol stalemate. baseball career and has shown a
ment. “We’re not up to par with Both guys were great against tremendous knack for the ball. He
those teams you’re talking about,” Montana State, and, you guessed picked off five passes last year and
Fairchild said on the MWC coaches it, both will play significant time grabbed three more Saturday,
teleconference, referring to BYU, Saturday against Central Michi- returning one for a score. He also
Utah and TCU. “We’re certainly gan. Just don’t ask coach Mark blocked a punt.
not there yet.” Dantonio how much and in which Joe Webb, QB, UAB. Webb domi-
The folks in Boulder might dis- order. nated Rice wire-to-wire in a 44-24
agree with all that. “I’m not going to sit here and say victory. He ended the week second
every week this is who’s starting in the nation in total offense, pass
QB questions OK and this is who’s not,” he said. efficiency and rushing; his 194
So much for all the hubbub about Mississippi State and Boston rushing yards, on 20 carries, were
using August to pick a starting College, among others, also con- 101 yards better than any other
quarterback. With Labor Day in tinue to juggle QBs as they head quarterback in Division I-A.
the rearview, a handful of key into Game No. 2. MSU coach Dan Victor Ugenyi, DT/Josh McNary, DE,
teams still don’t know exactly Mullen said Wednesday he won’t Army. The Black Knights’ linemen
what’s happening behind center. know his starter until he deter- each posted 2.5 sacks against East-
Virginia played three quarter- mines his first play call. Yikes. ern Michigan. Their play adds to
backs in the opener and came away the optimism along the Hudson, as
happy with none; Michigan played Four on the scene the Knights’ new option offense
three and came away happy with Quick thoughts on four players ran for 300 yards in a 31-14 victory
all. Both schools might play three coming off big games: over Eastern Michigan. Duke
guys in the spot this week. Mike Nixon, LB, Arizona State. A comes to town Saturday.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 19
Spotlight Game
Clemson at No. 15 Georgia Tech, 7:30 tonight ET, ESPN
The Line: Georgia Tech by 5½

Series record: Georgia Tech leads 47-24-2

Last meeting: Georgia Tech won 21-17 last
season

WHAT’S AT STAKE
An early edge in their respective ACC
divisional races. Both teams are coming off
easy wins against overmatched opponents
(Georgia Tech beat I-AA Jacksonville State 37-17,
Clemson knocked off Middle Tennessee 37-14),
so this will be their first serious test. For Georgia
Tech, it’s the start of a key two-game stretch
that includes another Thursday night matchup
against Miami.

KEY MATCHUP
Georgia Tech’s option offense against
Clemson’s defense. The Yellow Jackets rushed
for 335 yards in their opening game, and they
MARY ANN CHASTAIN / AP JOHN AMIS / AP set up the threat of the pass by throwing for 162
Hamstring and foot injuries limited C.J. Spiller to just four carries in the opener against Middle Tennessee State. QB Josh Nesbitt completed about 44 percent of his passes last season, but was 6 of 11 in the 2009 opener. yards. Clemson has plenty of talent on defense,
including end Ricky Sapp, but the Tigers will
Three reasons Clemson will win Three reasons Georgia Tech will win have stick to their assignments and play with
discipline.
Short Week: Pick the sports analogy for facing Georgia Tech’ option offense. Maybe
1. C.J. Spiller: Spiller, if healthy and happy, might be the biggest offensive game-changer in
the ACC. But the struggle to keep him in good shape has hampered his career so far.
He’s finally the go-to guy for the Tigers, with only sophomore Jamie Harper to challenge him
1. it’s like facing a knuckleball pitcher on the diamond, or playing Princeton in hoops.
“It’s a totally different style,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. Regardless, the task
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clemson: QB Kyle Parker. The redshirt fresh-
man was only 9 of 20 in his first college game,
for significant carries. And though he sat the second half against Middle Tennessee State, gets trickier with two days shaved off preparation time. The Yellow Jackets can keep
but he had two touchdown passes and didn’t
Clemson coaches insisted this week he feels fine. Assuming they’re right, Spiller has the their routine, even in a short week, and prepare as though they were facing anybody in throw any interceptions. He’ll need to step up his
abilities—and the stage on Thursday—to prove himself as one of the best in the South. the ACC. Clemson has to alter everything for a team that might run the ball three, four, efficiency to take the heat off star RB C.J. Spiller.
Kevin Steele: The Tigers’ defensive coordinator reflected this week on the struggles he maybe five times as much as it passes. Good luck, Dabo. Georgia Tech: RB Jonathan Dwyer. The
2. faced as a Nebraska linebackers coach preparing to practice against the Huskers’
option offense back in the 1990s. College football doesn’t have a Tommie Frazier right now, 2. Confident QB: Through the back half of last season and into Saturday, Tech’s Josh
Nesbitt has proven himself as a quality passer. One of his milestone performances
reigning ACC player of the year picked up
where he left off in 2008, breaking off a 74-yard
touchdown run the first time he touched the
but the Yellow Jackets’ scheme comes closest to resembling those unstoppable Huskers. came in Death Valley a year ago, when he hit Demaryius Thomas for gains of 23 and 24
ball this season.
Clemson played OK when GT visited last year, yet they still allowed 207 yards in a 21-17 yards (the last for the TD) on a fourth-quarter, game-winning drive. Nesbitt’s passing
loss. But Steele’s got the experience to put a so-so set of defensive players into position to impressed Johnson throughout the spring and his 6-for-11, 141-yard performance in the FACTS & FIGURES
tackle speedy back Jonathan Dwyer. Whether they tackle Dwyer remains to be seen. opener added evidence to those reviews. Those numbers came against Jacksonville Ten of the last 13 games in this series have
State; how will they translate against an ACC foe? been decided by five points or less. ... Georgia
Special teams: Spiller and Jacoby Ford, Clemson’s two top offensive skill players,
3. scored touchdowns on returns in week one. Spiller’s came on the game’s opening
kickoff, Ford’s on a punt. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, meanwhile, said his squad’s 3. Rattle the rookie: Kyle Parker has enjoyed a near-perfect athletic career so far. He
balanced spring practice and baseball for a few weeks, quarterbacking and desig-
Tech has won the last two meetings. ... Clemson
has a 2-8 record in Thursday night games. ...
Clemson hasn’t beaten a ranked team on the
early special-teams play frustrated him, especially in the punt game. On the speed with nated hitting with equal aplomb. By late August, he had beat out veteran Willy Korn to
road since a 10-9 victory at Florida State in 2006.
which punter Chandler Anderson booted the ball, Johnson said in a press conference, win the No. 1 QB job. And he started his career with an interception-free, two-touch-
... Dabo Swinney faced Georgia Tech in his first
“A couple of times, I thought we would have to wait until Sunday for him to kick it.” If down effort against Middle Tennessee. His first road start comes tonight against a game as Clemson’s coach after taking over for
form holds, the Tigers carry a huge kicking-game advantage into Atlanta. Look for defense that forced 29 turnovers and allowed fewer than 21 points per game a year ago. Tommy Bowden during the 2008 season.
their speed to make a big play or two tonight. If the Jackets can bother Parker, they should roll at home. — The Associated Press
— Dave Curtis — Dave Curtis
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 20
PLAYER DIARY

ACC Not so fast, ACC bashers: ‘It’s tough

FSU president, NCAA spar over cheating case
The battle of words between the
NCAA and Florida State over sanc-
tions for an academic cheating case
is heating up.
In an unusual move Wednesday,
the NCAA issued a statement say-
ing that President T.K. Wetherell’s
description of an agreement with
the NCAA was not true.
Wetherell says he’ll provide docu-
mentation of an understanding he
had with the NCAA on the penalties
when they meet Nov. 15 at the
NCAA’s Indianapolis headquarters.
Florida State is appealing part of
the penalty that would force the
school to forfeit records in 10 sports,
including two seasons of football.
That would take away as many as
14 wins from coach Bobby Bowden, who
is the second-most-winning coach in
major college football history.
North Carolina is making no
secret about what it wants to do on
offense early this season.
“We’re trying to establish our
identity as running team,” RG Alan
Pelc told The News & Observer of
Raleigh, N.C. “We have a great line
and we’re hoping our running game
will be big-time this season.”
The Tar Heels ran the ball 44
times and gained 261 yards—RB
Shaun Draughn rushed for 118—in the
opener against The Citadel but face
a tougher test Saturday at Connecti-
cut, which allowed 61 yards rush-
ing to run-oriented Ohio in Week 1.
Coach Butch Davis noted that
UConn is a “dramatically different
INSIDE DISH
Shaun Draughn (118 yards) and the Tar Heels shredded The Citadel’s rushing defense.
team” than the Tar Heels faced in
the opener, but he said he was
pleased with his offensive line,
which includes two new starters.
Maryland isn’t giving up on its
new aggressive, blitzing defense or
its new coordinator, Don Brown, after
getting burned for 542 yards in a
52-13 loss to California in the opener.
“Cal did a very good job of pick-
ing up the blitzes,” coach Ralph Fried-
gen said, according to a report by
The Baltimore Sun. “It’s the first time
running the defense so I think there
is some growing pains.”
Still, players were concerned
enough for a defense only meeting,
called by S Terrell Skinner and CB
Nolan Carroll after Monday’s practice.
Skinner said the goal was “to make
sure everyone is still one cohesive
GERRY BROOME / AP
unit. … I think I reached them.”
Miami coach Randy Shannon said
the Hurricanes came away with no
major injuries from their win Mon-
day night at Florida State.
Shannon said QB Jacory Harris,
whose throwing arm temporarily
went numb after he was hit on the
funny bone, is fine.
Junior CB DeMarcus Van Dyke left the
game early and did not return, but
Shannon said, “He just got banged
up,’” according to The Miami Herald.
Sophomore WR Aldarius Johnson sus-
tained an apparent groin injury.
Shannon said he hopes DBs Ryan Hill
and Vaughn Telemaque—they sat out the
opener with shoulder injuries—can
return Thursday for Georgia Tech.
They also play special teams, where
Miami had problems against FSU.
to judge the conference after just one game’
BY DEUNTA WILLIAMS
For SN Today
Our defense had a really good
day last Saturday, and we were
definitely thinking about a shut-
out at halftime. We were actually
thinking about keeping a dough-
nut up on that board before the
game even started. So at the end
of the day, it was slightly disap-
pointing that we weren’t able to
get it done, but it was still a solid
performance.
We appreciate the vote of confi-
dence the defense has been get-
ting from Coach (Butch) Davis.
During summer camp, he wasn’t
saying much, just staying low-key
about how good we could be, but
he was definitely pushing us to be
the best. Throughout training
camp, I was constantly remind-
ing our guys to just keep
pushing.
Even though the ACC was only
4-6 in nonconference games this
past weekend, it’s tough to judge
the conference after just one
game. Some teams lost a lot of
really good players, like Virginia
for example. All you can say is
where each team is right now.
Coach Davis has always said that
Week 2 is when you have your
biggest improvement during the
season, so hopefully the confer-
ence can rebound a little bit this
week.
If you look at the conference
right now, all four of the ACC’s
ranked teams are in the Coastal
Division. I don’t see that as a
BOB CHILD / AP
Connecticut lost a first-round talent in
Donald Brown, but Andre Dixon, above,
could help fill the void this season.
disadvantage, but it definitely
makes things interesting on our
side. There are still some really
good teams in the Atlantic Divi-
sion, teams that are still capable
of doing big things, so you can’t
count any of them out.
About the author
Deunta Williams, North Carolina S
A junior, Williams had two interceptions, including
one in the end zone, in last weekend’s win against The
Citadel. The Tar Heels play at UConn from the Big East at
noon Saturday.
We’ve got Connecticut this Sat-
urday, and their running game is
still strong even after losing Don-
ald Brown. He was a great back,
but now they’ve got two guys
(Jordan Todman and Andre
Dixon) who can go the distance at
any time. So this year we’ve got to
prepare for two guys instead of
just one, but I think we’ll be ready.
Our rush defense is much
improved this year, and we’re
able to do the little things to make
sure those guys can’t get to the
edge.
Our inside is really solid, with
big Cam (Thomas) and Marvin
(Austin) down there, and as big
and strong as they are, they take
up the A and the B gaps. So if
we’re able to do what we did last
week, hopefully we can get into
more of a power game, and that’s
when we can use our speed to get
around some of the power that
they have.
We snuck up on Connecticut
last year, but this time they know
what we’re about. As long as we
play to the best of our abilities, we
can still catch them off guard
with the things we’ve installed
for this week.
— As told to James Boswell
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Q&A with ... Ohio State S Kurt Coleman
‘We believe we’re the best team’
Ohio State senior safety Kurt Coleman
was a second-team All-Big Ten selection
last season and is among the nation’s
best defensive backs this fall.
Coleman led the team with nine
tackles and an interception in Saturday’s
31-27 win over Navy. This week, it’s a bit
more difficult when USC comes to town.
Coleman spoke recently with
Sporting News Today’s Matt Crossman.
Q: How much better is
QB Terrelle Pryor
this year?
A: It’s unbelievable how
much he’s grown as a QB,
as a player, as a leader. You can
definitely tell the way the game
has slowed down for him.
Everything has come together.
He’s going to be the total package
this year.
He’s a good 6-6, 240. He’s a
solid guy, and he’s constantly in
the weight room. He’s big, and
he’s tough to tackle, especially
when he gets in the open field.
Q: How about the
chatter surrounding
this super-40 time (4.33)
that he ran?
A: It’s legit.
Q: Were you there?
A: Yeah.
Q: What was your
reaction?
A: It was unbelievable.
Lamaar Thomas had
run right before him, and he
College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 21
PLAYER DIARY
‘You can’t worry about your opponent’
BY JEFF BYERS
make more big plays. I need to For SN Today
get more interceptions.
Good win for us on Saturday against
Q: Are you a guy who
relishes big hits?
San Jose. I played center the whole game
instead of guard, with Kris O’Dowd out
A: I love big hits. I want to
be a big hitter, but I’m
more of a sure tackler. I’m not
with an injury. It’s good to have that on
tape so I can show people in the NFL that
I can be versatile.
going to let anybody get by me. There’s not a huge difference between
the two positions. The center spot is
Q: Did you consider
leaving for the NFL?
about finesse and control, while guard in
more physical. You just come off the ball AGGIE SKIRBALL / USC
Charles Brown likely knows all the O-line calls,
A: Yeah, I was strongly
considering it. I felt like I
and be aggressive and hammer guys.
The center also makes the line calls, but teammate Jeff Byers says.
was mentally prepared. I felt like I
was physically prepared. But
there were several things I wanted
if you have experience, you usually know
what’s going on. I’m sure Charles Brown,
our tackle, knows all the calls even
Men’s Football.” It’s like you’d play when
you were little, where you’ve got one
quarterback and everybody’s a receiver.
to come back and do at Ohio State. though he doesn’t make them. There’s nobody blocking.
Everybody’s talking about how big a It looks pretty comical when we’re out
Q: Was the national
championship at the
top of that list?
game this one is coming up. Really, we don’t
take it any differently than last week or the
next game. You can’t worry about your
there. Butch Lewis tends to do a good job
as our quarterback, but it rotates to
almost everybody. It would never be
A: I definitely want to leave
as a national champion.
And I want to get my degree.
opponent. One big difference this week is
that it’s on the road, and it’s a two-day trip
for us. It’s usually how we travel when we
me—I’ve got a terrible arm.
Friday after dinner is still pretty seri-
ous preparation. We have a special teams
TERRY GILLIAM / AP I’ve always felt like that was go east of the Mississippi. Here’s a quick meeting, then the offense meets, then we
Kurt Coleman, who had 79 tackles last season, had nine in the opener against Navy. very important to me. look at our usual itinerary for those trips. have a whole team meeting. Saturday, if
We’ll practice a little earlier today and it’s a night game, we get breakfast on our
ran a 4.38, then Terrelle came
out and ran that, and every-
national champion
contenders? Q: You give a lot of
speeches to different
then go to LAX and fly out. We get into
Columbus real late tonight and go right to
own and go into position meetings to
refresh ourselves on protections.
body just started laughing. His
stride length is so ridiculous. A: We believe that we are.
We believe we’re the
organizations. When are
you more nervous, five
bed. We’ll get our normal sleep, get up, go
to meetings and a walk-through at the hotel
Then we get a little time off, maybe
watch some of the other games on TV,
Q: Is USC the game to
measure your
best team in the nation. If not,
don’t step out on the field.
minutes before a speech, or
five minutes before
kickoff?
and then head over to the opponents’ sta-
dium in the afternoon.
We just get familiar with the stadium
and get into game mode. We eat as a team,
get on the bus and go try to win a game.
Hopefully that routine can get us
progress?
A: No question. That’s Q: What have you worked
on since last season? A: Truthfully, neither. I’m
not nervous. When I’m
and the locker room, and the linemen
usually play a little game we call “Fat
another big win at Ohio State.
— As told to Dave Curtis
going to be the deter-
mining factor if we’re ready to
step it up to the next level or if
A: My main factor was
gaining some more
weight. And really working on
speaking to crowds or
churches or whatever, I’ve got
the hand of God with me. He About the author
we have to go back and rework
some things.
my cover skills. I want to be the
versatile safety to where I can
calms all my nerves. I feel the
same way when I step on the
Jeff Byers, USC OL
A senior, Byers helped the Trojans rush for 342 yards last weekend in a
Q: Are you guys
thinking you’re
come down and play man at all
times, on any receiver. I feel like
I’m a sure tackler. I want to
football field. I pray right
before I go out. Whatever I do,
it’s up into His hands.
56-3 victory over San Jose State. Byers and his teammates, ranked No. 3 in
the country, play at No. 8 Ohio State at 8 p.m. Saturday.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
BIG EAST
INSIDE DISH
Penn State scars run deep for Orange coach
Rookie Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said one of the
team’s goals when he played for the Orange under Dick
MacPherson from 1983-85 was to beat the teams that Syr-
acuse played at least twice.
And the Orange had a lot of success, with one glaring
exception.
“We beat a lot of teams, but the team in the four years
I was here that we didn’t beat was Penn State,” Mar-
rone told The Associated Press. “I look back on my
career and I apologize to our fans, to Coach. They put in
so much effort and I was never able to be part of a team
that beat Penn State, and I know everyone that played
with me feels that way.”
Syracuse, which lost 55-13 at home a year ago to the
Nittany Lions, travels to No. 9 Penn State on Saturday.
South Florida’s Moise Plancher is determined to make
the best of an opportunity as the Bulls’ featured run-
ning back. The senior rushed for a career-high 78 yards
and two touchdowns in USF’s season-opening rout of
Wofford, taking advantage of an increased workload
with Mike Ford suspended for the first two games and
Jamar Taylor out with a knee injury.
“It’s always a boost of confidence early in the season,
especially to gain the trust of my coaches and my team-
mates,” Plancher told The AP.
Plancher was the starting tailback before suffering a
knee injury in the 2006 season opener and missing the
rest of the year. Since returning the following season
and carrying the ball just 10 times for 17 yards, he has
gradually worked his way up the depth chart.
Cincinnati S Aaron Webster felt weird.
The senior safety is the only starter left from last
year’s defense, which helped the Bearcats win their
first Big East title and play in the Orange Bowl. When-
ever he’d line up with the newcomers this spring and
summer, he couldn’t get over the change.
“Oh, yeah, it was weird just because I hadn’t really
played with them before,” Webster told The AP. “It was
new faces. You go from last year and being used to the
College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 22
PLAYER DIARY
‘Don’t let Scooter go, or we’ll all be running’
BY SCOOTER BERRY
For SN Today
We won the game, but we could
have played a whole lot better. Lib-
erty came to play ball, but going
into the game, honestly I thought
we were going to put up a lot of
points, and that we’d hold them to
very few, and that just wasn’t the
case. I don’t think everyone was
satisfied with our overall perfor-
mance, from the defensive line to
the secondary.
We messed up a couple of plays
because we didn’t communicate
properly, so that’s something we
need to improve. I don’t like to
make excuses, but I had a couple of
ailments going into the game, and
it got worse during the game. So,
personally, I’ve got to get healthy.
CHRIS O’MEARA / AP Julian Miller played a great
After two seasons of working his way back up the depth chart, game at defensive end. He often
USF RB Moise Plancher rushed for a career-high 78 yards and two TDs. says he looks up to me, but I have JEFF GENTNER / AP
to step my game up to match him. Ask Scooter Berry’s teammates—he doesn’t field punts, he chases quarterbacks.
people that were around, and this year it’s almost like a J.T. Thomas played well at line-
whole new crowd. That’s just different—not good or bad.” backer, and our young kicker, they both caught them. I’m glad it If we try to go into the game look-
So far, so good. Tyler Bitancurt, I want to give him wasn’t me out there. Earlier in the ing for revenge, we’ll let our emo-
The revamped defense gave up an opening-drive his due. day, I stepped in front of a screen tions get the best of us and we
touchdown, then clamped down in a 47-15 win at Rut- I was asleep by 10 o’clock Satur- pass and it went straight through won’t play our best.
gers on Monday. Webster got knocked out of the game day night, so I didn’t really have an my fingers. My teammates were — As told to Paul Day
for one play early in the second quarter, then returned eventful weekend. I played with like, “Don’t let Scooter go, or we’ll
and made an interception on the same drive—one of my three dogs, took them on all be running.” Coach (Bill) Stew-
three Bearcats interceptions in the game. walks. My girlfriend is going to art even took his turn; he missed About the author
massage therapy school and lives the first two but caught the third Scooter
West Virginia DE Julian Miller said hitting a quar- with me now. I get massages two one. Berry,
terback and then finding out he doesn’t have the foot- to three times a week, and I think I definitely take pride in the Big West
ball is like expecting an Xbox for Christmas and getting it’s going to be beneficial for me on East during nonconference play. Virginia DT
Berry, a
socks instead. the field. We play in a tough hard-nosed junior with
His feelings for opposing quarterbacks are clear. We condition on Sundays and conference, and when we win 25 career
“I don’t like them,” Miller told The AP. “I try to let Tuesdays. We had a great practice games outside the league, it looks starts,
them know it with my pads rather than my mouth.” on Tuesday, and afterward, we good for everyone else. and the
Miller is off to a good start. In his third career start, had two of our linemen—Chris As for East Carolina this week- Mountaineers host East Carolina
on Saturday after a 33-20 open-
the sophomore posted 1.5 sacks and seven tackles over- Neild and Selvish Capers—field end, we don’t want to look at it as a ing weekend win over Liberty.
all in West Virginia’s win over Liberty. punts to get us out of running, and payback game. That was last year.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
BIG TEN
Flu outbreak slows down Badgers
Wisconsin officials have
announced that at least 10 players
have been hit with flu-like symp-
toms, though it hasn’t been con-
firmed whether anybody has
contracted swine flu.
“We’ve been preparing for this
for quite some time,” Dennis Helwig,
the director of UW sports medicine,
told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“We felt it was coming because of
everybody coming back to school.
That is when we usually see an out-
break of symptoms like this.”
According to the newspaper, the
Badgers did not work out in full
pads Tuesday. Coach Bret Bielema
directed a modified practice in
preparation for Saturday’s game
against Fresno State.
“We didn’t want to tax them and
wear them down,” Bielema told the
newspaper, adding that he’s not
sure who will be available Satur-
day. “We had a number of guys out
today, but hopefully, with some of
the things we’re doing in the train-
ing room and just getting some good
rest, those guys will be able to join
us tomorrow.”
Bielema did not identify the
affected players.
Dennis Kelly might be one of Pur-
due’s most inexperienced offensive
linemen, but he started against
Toledo last Saturday at the all-
important left tackle position and
received one of the highest grades
from coaches.
Coach Danny Hope even said the
INSIDE DISH
MORRY GASH / AP
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema is not sure
who’ll be healthy enough to play Saturday.
6-8, 291-pound sophomore has the
potential to be a star.
“He has a great future in football,”
Hope said. “He runs good, and he’s
smart. He’s a tough guy. He’s young
and inexperienced in ways, but he’s
a super talent.”
Kelly struggled with a bout of
mononucleosis near the end of
training camp, but seems to have
recovered.
“We had some concerns with
College Football
him, that he was running out of
fuel, if you will,” Hope said. “And
we held him out of practice for a
couple of days and got him ener-
gized back up a little bit. But he
played really well.”
Forget all that Terrelle Pryor-Matt
Barkley matchup analysis, or talk of
a USC blowout when the Ohio State
Buckeyes and Trojans play
Saturday.
The important statistic to remem-
ber is 24-1—Ohio State coach Jim
Tressel’s nonconference record at
Ohio Stadium.
And it wasn’t just any old non-
conference team that delivered that
single loss in Columbus. It was the
Texas Longhorns, who used that
25-22 victory as a springboard to a
national championship in 2005.
Ironically, the quarterback for
that Texas team was Vince Young, the
player that Buckeyes QB Pryor
often is compared to.
With RBs Daniel Dufrene and
Jason Ford already questionable
because of injuries, Illinois coach
Ron Zook announced Wednesday
that Mikel LeShoure has been sus-
pended for Saturday’s game against
Illinois State for violating team
rules.
LeShoure, a sophomore, and Troy
Pollard both rushed for a team-high
38 yards last Saturday in a loss to
Missouri. If neither Dufrene nor
Ford can play, Justin Green will
become Pollard’s backup.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 23
BIG 12
INSIDE DISH
Colorado’s Scott wants more carries
Colorado sophomore TB Darrell Scott, who entered
last season as one of the most celebrated recruits in
the nation, says he was disappointed and surprised
that he had only one rushing play in Sunday’s loss to
Colorado State.
“I was warm. I was hyped. I was ready,” Scott told
The Denver Post. “Yeah, (I was surprised), but if
that’s how it goes, that’s how it goes.”
Scott returned five kickoffs, averaging 27.6 yards,
and caught one pass. But his only carry was a 1-yard
gain.
“After meetings (Monday), it was like, ‘We’re
going to try to work you in,’ “ Scott told the newspa-
per, referring to a talk with running backs coach DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP
Darian Hagan. “That kind of reassured me on every- Darrell Scott averaged 27.6 yards on kickoffs for Colorado, but got
thing. (Getting carries) is what I was recruited for. only one carry from scrimmage for one yard vs. Colorado State.
We’ll see on Friday. There’s really not much I can
say right now.” Jermaine Gresham, who has undergone season-ending
Hagan explained that when Colorado fell behind knee surgery.
early, the Buffaloes were forced to play catchup,
which gave extra playing time to Demetrius Sumler, a New Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads, when asked
better blocker. Sumler had a team-high eight about the importance of Saturday’s game against in-
carries. state rival Iowa, called it simply “the second game
“I’ve told Darrell that,” Hagan told the newspaper. on the schedule.”
“There were circumstances. At times, you weren’t Perspective is good, but Rhoads might be mis-
comfortable with (Scott) in pass protection, espe- judging the feelings of his fan base, which has
cially with CSU blitzing like they were. But Darrell exulted over seven wins in the last 11 games between
has gotten better in that regard.” the schools.
“It’s a different kind of rivalry. It’s competitively
Oklahoma’s offensive line, one of its biggest friendly,” Rhoads said. “People enjoy this game.
strengths last season, has drawn a lot of criticism in They know there’s going to be a winner and a loser,
the wake of the Sooners’ season-opening loss to but they move on after that.”
BYU that included a number of penalties and the
injury of starting QB Sam Bradford. The Tulsa World reports that Oklahoma State
But there was one bright spot—the play of first- OG Anthony Morgan, who missed the season opener
time starter Brody Eldridge at center. Offensive line against Georgia with a knee injury, probably will
coach James Patton reviewed game film and told start Saturday’s game against Houston. Morgan, a
reporters Eldridge had more than 20 knockdowns junior college transfer, will break up the all-senior
against the Cougars. offensive line that started against the Bulldogs—LT
The bad news: Eldridge has been moved back to Russell Okung, LG Noah Franklin, C Andrew Lewis, RG
his natural position of tight end to replace star Andrew Mitchell and RT Brady Bond.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
PAC-10
INSIDE DISH
Pac-10 welcomes marquee nonconference games
When it comes to nonconference scheduling, the Pac-
10 has an unofficial motto.
Anyone, anywhere, anytime.
No. 3 USC is traveling to eighth-ranked Ohio State on
Saturday, the same day UCLA visits Tennessee. Later
this month, Arizona and No. 10 California will venture
into Big Ten territory, and Arizona State goes to No. 21
Georgia. Four Pac-10 teams are also challenging 18th-
ranked Notre Dame.
“Strong out-of-conference matchups capture the pub-
lic’s imagination,” Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott told
The Associated Press.
Pac-10 teams this season will play 15 games against
BCS conferences and Notre Dame—more than the larger
SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. Pac-10 teams say
they play tough schedules because they want to improve
the national perception of the league—a strange goal for a
conference that went 5-0 last postseason. In some cases,
Pac-10 teams also need to sell tickets, and Notre Dame is
better box office than North Dakota, which played at the
Big 12’s Texas Tech last Saturday.
“We need that national recognition,” Arizona athletic
director Jim Livengood told The AP. “When you play good
people, the chance is you’re going to be on TV, the chance
is that the story’s going to be reported.”
Washington State WR Kevin Norrell has been dis-
missed after being arrested by Pullman police and
charged with driving under the influence, The Spokes-
man-Review of Spokane reported.
Norrell was arrested early Monday morning in
Pullman.
In other Washington State news, the school is cur-
rently in the midst of a swine flu outbreak, with more
than 2,000 students reporting flu-like symptoms. Atten-
dance at last Saturday’s game in Pullman was down,
likely because of publicity about the flu. Hand sanitizer
was available at the concession stands.
Coach Paul Wulff said 16 players have come down with
the flu at different times, and top WR Daniel Blackledge
missed practice Tuesday because of it. Wulff, however,
College Football
DEAN HARE / AP
Stanford WR Chris Owusu tallied two TDs and one concussion last week.
said that to his knowledge none of his players have con-
firmed cases of the H1N1 virus.
Stanford sophomore WR Chris Owusu has been cleared
to practice by team doctors after sustaining a concussion
in the Cardinal’s season-opening 39-13 victory over
Washington State on Saturday, The AP reported.
Owusu said trainers were able to relieve headaches
and he slept just fine on the plane home. Owusu, who
caught a 63-yard touchdown reception and returned a
kickoff 85 yards for another score, was named the Pac-10
special teams player of the week.
Also, Stanford senior OT Matt Kopa sustained a broken
bone in his right foot and will undergo surgery. He will
miss at least six weeks.
Along with Owusu, Cal QB Kevin Riley and Arizona
State LB Mike Nixon also were honored by the league. Riley,
the offensive player of the week, completed 17-of-26
passes for 298 yards and a career-high four touchdowns
in the Golden Bears’ 52-13 victory over Maryland.
Nixon, who won the defensive award, intercepted three
passes, including one he returned for a touchdown, in
the Sun Devils’ 50-3 victory over Idaho.
SEC
INSIDE DISH
LSU not worried about offense’s slow start
LSU’s offense was expected to put up big numbers
in the opener against Washington, but one number
stood out: 48.
That’s how many offensive plays the Tigers ran—
the fewest amount since Les Miles took over the pro-
gram five years ago, according to The Advocate. LSU
had just four first-half possessions and five in the
second half of their 31-23 victory.
LSU managed three touchdowns and a field goal
on those nine possessions (LSU added a defensive
touchdown).
Meanwhile, Washington tallied 83 plays, 478
yards and almost 37 minutes of time of possession.
“There were some calls there that we didn’t get
the opportunity to execute based on the communi-
cations,” Miles told the newspaper. “Some of it was
certainly the stadium that we were in, and some of it
was the youth at quarterback.”
After completing just one pass in LSU’s first 20
plays, Jordan Jefferson found his rhythm and finished
11-of-19 for 172 yards and three scores.
“We finally found a rhythm we were looking for
the whole game,” Jefferson told The Advocate of the
team’s final scoring drive in the fourth quarter. “We
were able to move the ball like we wanted to.”
If Alabama coach Nick Saban sticks around for
another nine years, it will be worth $5 million to
him and, the Crimson Tide hopes, a few more cham-
pionships for the program.
The university system’s Board of Trustees com-
pensation committee unanimously approved the
three-year extension through Jan. 31, 2018, on
Wednesday that doesn’t include a salary hike but
rewards him for staying put and guarantees that he
will remain among college football’s five highest
paid coaches.
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen thinks senior
quarterback Tyson Lee will be ready to play against
Auburn after having shoulder spasms and missing
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 24
JOHN FROSCHAUER / AP
Terrance Toliver’s touchdown was one of LSU’s few first-half
offensive highlights in their 31-23 win over Washington.
the second half last week, according to The Clarion-
Ledger. Lee and Chris Relf split time at quarterback in
the Bulldogs’ 45-7 win against Jackson State.
Mullen will try to become the first Mississippi
State coach since Rockey Felker in 1986 to win his SEC
opener.
Georgia defensive back Makiri Pugh will play Sat-
urday against South Carolina after missing the
Bulldogs’ opener after testing positive for the H1N1
virus, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
Also, Georgia coach Mark Richt said freshmen
receivers Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten will get
their first-game action Saturday.
A Mississippi spokesman says running back
Dexter McCluster spent Tuesday night in the hospital
because of flu symptoms. McCluster, a versatile star
for the sixth-ranked Rebels, was released Wednes-
day morning but did not attend the afternoon
practice.
McCluster is one of 22 players—or about 20 per-
cent of the team—who are in some stage of the flu.
The list includes starting quarterback Jevan Snead.
The Rebels do not play this week.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
TCU coach: Find way to hate for 3 hours
The challenge for No. 16 TCU
on Saturday at Virginia?
Playing with emotion, says
Horned Frogs coach Gary
Patterson.
“When we play Texas or Okla-
homa, everyone knows someone
on the other side,” Patterson said
during his weekly news confer-
ence. “A couple of years ago,
when we went to Stanford, we
didn’t play with a lot of emotion.
“We have to find a way to hate
somebody for three hours. It’s a
lot easier to do that when you are
playing other Texas kids,
because there is an emotional
factor there.”
Patterson’s team was off last
weekend while almost everyone
else in college football played,
and he didn’t like it.
“If I had it to do over again, we
would’ve already played,” he
said. “Virginia has a chance to
know what they have, correct it
and get better.”
Virginia lost four fumbles and
threw three interceptions in its
opener, a home loss to I-AA Wil-
liam & Mary.
The last time Notre Dame
saw Greg Robinson, he was riding
off the field as the coach at Syra-
cuse, soon to be fired but last
November celebrating the
Orange’s 24-23 victory in South
Bend.
The Irish will see him and his
schemes again Saturday at
Michigan, where Robinson now
coaches the Wolverines’ defense,
the area that always has been his
strength.
“He’s a very good week-to-
INSIDE DISH
Greg Robinson will face Notre Dame on Saturday as Michigan’s defensive coordinator.
week game plan coach,” Notre
Dame coach Charlie Weis said in a
report by the Chicago Tribune.
“That’s his M.O. and he’s good at
it. He’s not afraid to make
changes ... to put his team in the
best position.”
Notre Dame converted only
four of 16 third downs in the loss
to Syracuse.
“The biggest thing is we got a
chance to see it live last year,”
Irish OT Sam Young said of Robin-
son’s scheme. “So there are going
to be some lessons learned going
into this weekend.”
Houston coach Kevin Sumlin
looks at Saturday’s game at No. 5
Oklahoma State as a measuring
stick for his program.
“Our guys are looking forward
to going up there,” Sumlin said
in a report by the Houston Chron-
icle. “Just talking with our team,
if we play as good as we can play,
I think everybody will be happy.
College Football
JOE RAYMOND / AP
If we play as good as we can play
and it’s not enough, that’s fine,
too.
“But I think if we play as good
as we can play, we’re going to be
all right.”
Cougars QB Case Keenum, who
threw for 5,020 yards last sea-
son, was 23 of 30 for 359 yards
and four touchdowns in last Sat-
urday’s 55-7 win over North-
western State.
Wyoming coach Dave Chris-
tensen says QBs Robert Benjamin
and Austyn Carta-Samuels both will
play in Saturday’s home game
against No. 2 Texas.
Benjamin will start for the
second straight week. Carta-
Samuels got most of the snaps in
the Cowboys’ opening win over
Weber State.
“We may not decide until Fri-
day night exactly what the rota-
tion is going to be,” Christensen
said.
Scores and schedule
Betting lines
FAVORITE TODAY O/U UNDERDOG
Sept. 6
SOUTH
S. Carolina St. 34, Grambling
Today St. 31
at Georgia Tech ...... 5 ½ ........43 .......... Clemson Mississippi 45, Memphis 14
FAR WEST
Friday Colorado St. 23, Colorado 17
Colorado......................4 ........54 ..........at Toledo
Sept. 7
EAST
Saturday
Cincinnati 47, Rutgers 15
North Carolina ....... 4 ½ ....45 ½ .at Connecticut
SOUTH
at West Virginia ...... 6 ½ ........44 ....East Carolina
Miami 38, Florida St. 34
at Penn St.............28 ½ ....52 ½ ..........Syracuse
at Virginia Tech .....19 ½ ....42 ½ .......... Marshall Today’s games
at Michigan St......14 ½ ........53 Cent. Michigan
EAST
at Northwestern ..19 ½ ....52 ½ ..... E. Michigan Wagner at N.Y. Maritime, 7 p.m.
Iowa6 ½ ...............45 ½at Iowa St.
at Auburn..................14 ....41 ½ ..Mississippi St. SOUTH
Clemson at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m.
at Army .................. 1 ½ ........43 ................Duke
Florida A&M at Winston-Salem,
at Wisconsin............OFF ......OFF .........Fresno St.
7:30 p.m.
at Wake Forest ............3 ........44 ...........Stanford Union, N.Y. at SE Louisiana, 8 p.m.
at Georgia....................7 ........38 .South Carolina
Pikeville at Tennessee Tech, 8 p.m.
at Tennessee .......... 8 ½ ........45 ................UCLA
BYU17 ½ ...................54at Tulane Friday’s game
at Oregon ..................12 ....58 ½ .............Purdue MIDWEST
Colorado at Toledo, 9 p.m.
Texas.....................33 ½ ....56 ½ .... at Wyoming
at Navy ................... 7 ½ ........50 .Louisiana Tech
Saturday’s games
Notre Dame ................3 ....49 ½ .....at Michigan
EAST
at Washington ..........21 ....52 ½ ...............Idaho
Duke at Army, Noon
at UAB .......................12 ........60 .................SMU
Pittsburgh at Buffalo, Noon
Pittsburgh ............10 ½ ........49 .........at Buffalo North Carolina at Connecticut,
TCU11 ...................40 ½at Virginia Noon
at Boston College.20 ½ ........46 ............Kent St.
Syracuse at Penn St., Noon
at Texas Tech.........27 ½ ....65 ½ ..................Rice Hofstra at Bryant, 1 p.m.
Sacred Heart at Holy Cross, 1 p.m.
at Minnesota.......... 3 ½ ....47 ½ ...........Air Force
Hawaii-x......................2 ........51Washington St. Drake at Marist, 1 p.m.
Maine at Northeastern, 1 p.m.
at Indiana....................1 ........52 ....W. Michigan
Morehead St. at St. Francis, Pa.,
at Missouri ...........18 ½ ........58 Bowling Green
1 p.m.
Kansas ..................12 ½ ....62 ½ ............at UTEP Kent St. at Boston College, 2 p.m.
at Southern Miss.......15 ........51 .................. UCF
Richmond at Delaware, 3:30 p.m.
at Oklahoma St. ...15 ½ ........67 ...........Houston Louisiana Tech at Navy, 3:30 p.m.
at Boise St. ...........36 ½ ....52 ½ ...Miami (Ohio)
Howard at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m.
at LSU ...................14 ½ ........45 ....... Vanderbilt East Carolina at West Virginia,
3:30 p.m.
Tulsa17 ½.............57 ½at New Mexico
Southern Cal ...............7 ........45 ........at Ohio St. Robert Morris at Bucknell, 6 p.m.
Stony Brook at Colgate, 6 p.m.
Utah13 ½.............47 ½at San Jose St.
Lafayette at Georgetown, D.C.,
Oregon St. ...................7 ........54 ............at UNLV
6 p.m.
at Nebraska..........23 ½ ....56 ½ .....Arkansas St.
Albany, N.Y. at Massachusetts,
at Alabama ...............34 ........48 .............Fla. Intl 6 p.m.
South Florida .......24 ½ ....47 ½ at W. Kentucky Lehigh at Villanova, 7 p.m.
at Florida ..............36 ½ ........59 ..................Troy
Ohio3.........................52at North Texas SOUTH
Stanford at Wake Forest, Noon
at Middle Tenn. ...........1 ....52 ½ .........Memphis
Troy at Florida, 12:21 p.m.
Kansas St.....................7 ........59at La.-Lafayette
Campbell at Birmingham-
x-at Seattle
Southern, 1 p.m.
Lenoir-Rhyne at Davidson, 1 p.m.
Off Key Elon at Presbyterian, 1:30 p.m.
Wisconsin players questionable due to illness Marshall at Virginia Tech, 1:30
p.m.
All Times ET
Duquesne at Nicholls St., 2 p.m.
McNeese St. at Appalachian St.,
3:30 p.m.
BYU at Tulane, 3:30 p.m.
TCU at Virginia, 3:30 p.m.
S. Carolina St. at Bethune-
Cookman, 4 p.m.
UCLA at Tennessee, 4 p.m.
SMU at UAB, 4 p.m.
Alabama St. at Savannah St.,
5 p.m.
Furman at Chattanooga, 6 p.m.
Jacksonville St. at Florida St.,
6 p.m.
James Madison at Maryland,
6 p.m.
Norfolk St. at N. Carolina A&T,
6 p.m.
Murray St. at N.C. State, 6 p.m.
Virginia Union at Old Dominion,
6 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at W. Carolina,
6 p.m.
Fla. International at Alabama,
7 p.m.
Hampton at Alabama A&M,
7 p.m.
Mississippi St. at Auburn, 7 p.m.
Monmouth, N.J. at Coastal
Carolina, 7 p.m.
South Carolina at Georgia, 7 p.m.
Northwestern St. at Grambling
St., 7 p.m.
Tennessee St. vs. Jackson St. at
Memphis, Tenn., 7 p.m.
Vanderbilt at LSU, 7 p.m.
N.C. Central at Liberty, 7 p.m.
Kansas St. at Louisiana-Lafayette,
7 p.m.
Texas Southern at Louisiana-
Monroe, 7 p.m.
Memphis at Middle Tennessee,
7 p.m.
Jacksonville at Samford, 7 p.m.
UCF at Southern Miss., 7 p.m.
Central St., Ohio at Southern
U., 7 p.m.
Cent. Connecticut St. at William &
Mary, 7 p.m.
Charleston Southern at Wofford,
7 p.m.
South Florida at W. Kentucky,
7:30 p.m.
MIDWEST
W. Michigan at Indiana, Noon
Iowa at Iowa St., Noon
Cent. Michigan at Michigan
St., Noon
E. Michigan at Northwestern,
Noon
Fresno St. at Wisconsin, Noon
E. Illinois at Indiana St., 12:05
p.m.
Urbana at Dayton, 1 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 25
Top 25
Butler at Franklin, 1:30 p.m.
Morgan St. at Akron, 2 p.m.
Valparaiso at Concordia, Wis.,
Sept. 7
Miami 38,
No. 18 Florida State 34
2 p.m.
Today
Arkansas St. at Nebraska, 2 p.m.
Notre Dame at Michigan, 3:30 No. 15 Georgia Tech
p.m. vs. Clemson, 7:30 p.m.
Tenn.-Martin at Missouri St., Saturday
4 p.m. No. 1 Florida vs. Troy,
Austin Peay at Youngstown 12:21 p.m.
St., 4 p.m.
No. 2 Texas at
South Dakota at N. Iowa, 5:05
Wyoming, 3:30 p.m.
p.m. No. 3 Southern Cal at
New Hampshire at Ball St., 7 p.m.
No. 8 Ohio State, 8 p.m.
Illinois St. at Illinois, 7 p.m.
Air Force at Minnesota, 7 p.m. No. 4 Alabama vs.
Bowling Green at Missouri, 7 p.m. Florida International,
Georgia Southern at S. Dakota 7 p.m.
St., 7 p.m. No. 5 Oklahoma
SE Missouri at Cincinnati, 7:30 State vs. Houston, 3:30
p.m. p.m.
W. Illinois at N. Illinois, 7:30 p.m.
No. 7 Penn State vs.
Southern Cal at Ohio St., 8 p.m.
Syracuse, Noon
No. 9 BYU at Tulane,
SOUTHWEST
Houston at Oklahoma St., 3:30 p.m.
No. 10 California vs.
3:30 p.m.
Langston at Ark.-Pine Bluff, Eastern Washington,
5 p.m. 5:35 p.m.
Ohio at North Texas, 7 p.m. No. 11 LSU vs.
Idaho St. at Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.
N. Dakota St. at Sam Houston
No. 12 Boise State vs.
St., 7 p.m. Miami (Ohio), 8 p.m.
Texas College at Stephen F.Austin,
No. 13 Oklahoma vs.
7 p.m.
Rice at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Idaho State, 7 p.m.
Kansas at UTEP, 7:30 p.m. No. 14 Virginia Tech
vs. Marshall, 1:30 p.m.
FAR WEST No. 16 TCU at
Dixie St. at Montana St., 3:05 Virginia, 3:30 p.m.
p.m. No. 17 Utah at San
Idaho at Washington, 3:30 p.m.
Jose State, 10:30 p.m.
Texas at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m.
No. 18 Notre Dame at
San Diego at N. Colorado, 3:35
Michigan, 3:30 p.m.
p.m.
S. Oregon at Portland St., 4:05 No. 19 North Carolina
p.m. at Connecticut, Noon
Weber St. at Colorado St., 5 p.m. No. 21 Georgia vs.
E. Washington at California, South Carolina, 7 p.m.
5:35 p.m. No. 22 Nebraska vs.
Hawaii vs. Washington St. at
Arkansas State, 2 p.m.
Seattle, 7 p.m.
No. 23 Cincinnati vs.
Sacramento St. at Cal Poly, SE Missouri, 7:30 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
No. 24 Kansas at
Miami (Ohio) at Boise St., 8 p.m.
Tulsa at New Mexico, 8 p.m. UTEP, 7:30 p.m.
Prairie View at New Mexico No. 25 Missouri vs.
St., 8 p.m. Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
S. Utah at San Diego St., 8:30
p.m.
N. Arizona at Arizona, 10 p.m.
Montana at UC Davis, 10 p.m.
Purdue at Oregon, 10:15 p.m.
Utah at San Jose St., 10:30 p.m. Conference standings,
Oregon St. at UNLV, 11 p.m. schedules, Page 26
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 26
Conference standings
ACC BIG EAST BIG TEN BIG 12 CONFERENCE USA MAC
Atlantic Conference All Games Conference All Games North East East
Conference All Games W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA Conference All Games Conference All Games Conference All Games
W L PF PA W L PF PA Cincinnati 1 0 47 15 1 0 47 15 Indiana 0 0 0 0 1 0 19 13 W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA
Boston College 0 0 0 0 1 0 54 0 Connecticut 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 16 Iowa 0 0 0 0 1 0 17 16 Iowa St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 34 17 UAB 1 0 44 24 1 0 44 24 Bowling Green 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 14
Clemson 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 14 Louisville 0 0 0 0 1 0 30 10 Michigan 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 7 Kansas 0 0 0 0 1 0 49 3 East Carolina 0 0 0 0 1 0 29 24 Buffalo 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 17
Maryland 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 52 Pittsburgh 0 0 0 0 1 0 38 3 Michigan St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 44 3 Kansas St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 21 17 Marshall 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 28 Kent St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 18 0
N.C. State 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 South Florida 0 0 0 0 1 0 40 7 Minnesota 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 20 Missouri 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 9 Southern Miss. 0 0 0 0 1 0 52 0 Akron 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 31
Wake Forest 0 0 0 0 0 1 21 24 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 1 0 33 20 Northwestern 0 0 0 0 1 0 47 14 Nebraska 0 0 0 0 1 0 49 3 UCF 0 0 0 0 1 0 28 24 Miami (Ohio) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 42
Florida St. 0 1 34 38 0 1 34 38 Syracuse 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 23 Ohio St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 27 Colorado 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 23 Memphis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ohio 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 23
Rutgers 0 1 15 47 0 1 15 47 Penn St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 7 Temple 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 27
Coastal Purdue 0 0 0 0 1 0 52 31 South West
Conference All Games Sept. 7 Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 1 0 28 20 Conference All Games Conference All Games West
W L PF PA W L PF PA Cincinnati 47, Rutgers 15 Illinois 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 37 W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA Conference All Games
Miami 1 0 38 34 1 0 38 34 Saturday’s games Baylor 0 0 0 0 1 0 24 21 Tulsa 1 0 37 13 1 0 37 13 W L PF PA W L PF PA
Georgia Tech 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 17 Syracuse at Penn St., Noon Saturday’s games Oklahoma St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 24 10 Houston 0 0 0 0 1 0 55 7 Ball St. 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 20
North Carolina 0 0 0 0 1 0 40 6 Pittsburgh at Buffalo, Noon Iowa at Iowa St., Noon Texas 0 0 0 0 1 0 59 20 SMU 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 23 Cent. Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 19
Duke 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 24 North Carolina at Connecticut, Noon Syracuse at Penn St., Noon Texas A&M 0 0 0 0 1 0 41 6 UTEP 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 23 E. Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 1 14 27
Virginia 0 0 0 0 0 1 14 26 Howard at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. W. Michigan at Indiana, Noon Texas Tech 0 0 0 0 1 0 38 13 Rice 0 1 24 44 0 1 24 44 N. Illinois 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 28
Virginia Tech 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 34 East Carolina at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m. E. Michigan at Northwestern, Noon Oklahoma 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 14 Tulane 0 1 13 37 0 1 13 37 Toledo 0 0 0 0 0 1 31 52
SE Missouri at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. Fresno St. at Wisconsin, Noon W. Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 31
Sept. 7 Noon South Florida at W. Kentucky, 7:30 p.m. Cent. Michigan at Michigan St., Noon Sept. 6 Texas at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 6 East Carolina at West Virginia,
Miami 38, Florida St. 34 Marshall at Virginia Tech, 1:30 Notre Dame at Michigan, 3:30 p.m. Colorado St. 23, Colorado 17 Houston at Oklahoma St., 3:30 Mississippi 45, Memphis 14 3:30 p.m. Friday’s game Kent St. at Boston College, 2
p.m. Air Force at Minnesota, 7 p.m. p.m. SMU at UAB, 4 p.m. Colorado at Toledo, 9 p.m. p.m.
Today’s game Kent St. at Boston College, 2 Illinois St. at Illinois, 7 p.m. Friday’s game Idaho St. at Oklahoma, 7 p.m. Saturday’s games Rice at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Saturday’s games Ohio at North Texas, 7 p.m.
Clemson at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m. Southern Cal at Ohio St., 8 p.m. Colorado at Toledo, 9 p.m. Rice at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Marshall at Virginia Tech, 1:30 UCF at Southern Miss., 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Buffalo, Noon Bowling Green at Missouri, 7
p.m. TCU at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. Purdue at Oregon, 10:15 p.m. Bowling Green at Missouri, 7 p.m. Memphis at Middle Tennessee, W. Michigan at Indiana, Noon p.m.
Murray St. at N.C. State, 6 p.m. Saturday’s games p.m. BYU at Tulane, 3:30 p.m. 7 p.m. E. Michigan at Northwestern, New Hampshire at Ball St., 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games James Madison at Maryland, Iowa at Iowa St., Noon Kansas St. at Louisiana- Houston at Oklahoma St., 3:30 Kansas at UTEP, 7:30 p.m. Noon W. Illinois at N. Illinois, 7:30
Duke at Army, Noon 6 p.m. Arkansas St. at Nebraska, 2 Lafayette, 7 p.m. p.m. Tulsa at New Mexico, 8 p.m. Cent. Michigan at Michigan p.m.
Stanford at Wake Forest, Noon Jacksonville St. at Florida St., p.m. Kansas at UTEP, 7:30 p.m. St., Noon Miami (Ohio) at Boise St., 8
North Carolina at Connecticut, 6 p.m. Morgan St. at Akron, 2 p.m. p.m.

MOUNTAIN WEST PAC-10 SEC SUN BELT WAC INDEPENDENTS

Conference All Games Conference All Games East Conference All Games Conference All Games W L PF PA
W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA Conference All Games W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA Army 1 0 27 14
Air Force 0 0 0 0 1 0 72 0 Stanford 1 0 39 13 1 0 39 13 W L PF PA W L PF PA Arkansas St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 61 0 Idaho 1 0 21 6 1 0 21 6 Notre Dame 1 0 35 0
BYU 0 0 0 0 1 0 14 13 Arizona 0 0 0 0 1 0 19 6 Florida 0 0 0 0 1 0 62 3 Louisiana-Lafayette 0 0 0 0 1 0 42 19 Boise St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 19 8 Navy 0 1 27 31
Colorado St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 17 Arizona St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 50 3 Kentucky 0 0 0 0 1 0 42 0 North Texas 0 0 0 0 1 0 20 10 Fresno St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 51 0
UNLV 0 0 0 0 1 0 38 3 California 0 0 0 0 1 0 52 13 South Carolina 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 3 Fla. International 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hawaii 0 0 0 0 1 0 25 20 Saturday’s games
Utah 0 0 0 0 1 0 35 17 Oregon St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 34 7 Tennessee 0 0 0 0 1 0 63 7 Florida Atlantic 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 49 Louisiana Tech 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 37 Duke at Army, Noon
Wyoming 0 0 0 0 1 0 29 22 Southern Cal 0 0 0 0 1 0 56 3 Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 1 0 45 0 Louisiana-Monroe 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 59 Nevada 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 35 Notre Dame at Michigan, 3:30 p.m.
TCU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 UCLA 0 0 0 0 1 0 33 14 Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 24 Middle Tennessee 0 0 0 0 0 1 14 37 San Jose St. 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 56 Louisiana Tech at Navy, 3:30 p.m.
New Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 41 Oregon 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 19 Troy 0 0 0 0 0 1 14 31 Utah St. 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 35
San Diego St. 0 0 0 0 0 1 14 33 Washington 0 0 0 0 0 1 23 31 West W. Kentucky 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 63 New Mexico St. 0 1 6 21 0 1 6 21
Washington St. 0 1 13 39 0 1 13 39 Conference All Games
Sept. 6 W L PF PA W L PF PA Saturday’s games Saturday’s games
Colorado St. 23, Colorado 17 Saturday’s games Alabama 0 0 0 0 1 0 34 24 Troy at Florida, 12:21 p.m. Fresno St. at Wisconsin, Noon
Stanford at Wake Forest, Noon Arkansas 0 0 0 0 1 0 48 10 Arkansas St. at Nebraska, 2 p.m. Idaho at Washington, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday’s games Idaho at Washington, 3:30 p.m. Auburn 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 13 Ohio at North Texas, 7 p.m. Louisiana Tech at Navy, 3:30 p.m.
BYU at Tulane, 3:30 p.m. UCLA at Tennessee, 4 p.m. LSU 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 23 Kansas St. at Louisiana-Lafayette, 7 p.m. Hawaii vs. Washington St. at Qwest Field, 7 p.m.
Texas at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m. E. Washington at California, 5:35 p.m. Mississippi St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 45 7 Fla. International at Alabama, 7 p.m. Miami (Ohio) at Boise St., 8 p.m.
TCU at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. Hawaii vs. Washington St. at Qwest Field, 7 p.m. Mississippi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Memphis at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m. Prairie View at New Mexico St., 8 p.m.
Weber St. at Colorado St., 5 p.m. Southern Cal at Ohio St., 8 p.m. Texas Southern at Louisiana-Monroe, 7 p.m. Utah at San Jose St., 10:30 p.m.
Air Force at Minnesota, 7 p.m. N. Arizona at Arizona, 10 p.m. Sept. 6 p.m. South Florida at W. Kentucky, 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa at New Mexico, 8 p.m. Purdue at Oregon, 10:15 p.m. Mississippi 45, Memphis 14 Fla. International at Alabama,
S. Utah at San Diego St., 8:30 p.m. Oregon St. at UNLV, 11 p.m. 7 p.m.
Utah at San Jose St., 10:30 p.m. Saturday’s games South Carolina at Georgia, 7
Oregon St. at UNLV, 11 p.m. Troy at Florida, 12:21 p.m. p.m.
UCLA at Tennessee, 4 p.m.
Vanderbilt at LSU, 7 p.m.
Mississippi St. at Auburn, 7

WEEKDAYS 10AM–1PM ET
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SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Lincecum thinks he could return as soon as this weekend
Giants P Tim Lincecum told the San
Francisco Chronicle that the back
injury that sidelined him Tuesday
isn’t serious. “I feel fine,” Lincecum
told the newspaper. “The steps I’ve
taken in the last 48 or 60 hours, my
back has gotten a lot better. I don’t
see why I can’t make it out there in a
few days. They’ve taken the right
steps. They don’t need to push it
right now.” The reigning N.L. Cy
Young Award winner will continue
his rehab today and will be re-eval-
uated Friday. Though he isn’t
scheduled to start until Monday,
Lincecum thinks there is a chance
he could pitch this weekend. Lince-
cum is 13-5 with a 2.34 ERA and an
MLB-best 233 strikeouts in 28
starts this season.
According to the St. Louis Post-
Dispatch, Cardinals OF Matt Holliday
suffered a bruised knee in Wednes-
day’s game and was removed for
precautionary reasons. The team is
off today. In other Cardinals news,
the newspaper reported the team
has approached 3B Mark DeRosa about
a contract extension. DeRosa,
acquired in late June from the Indi-
ans, is set to become a free agent
after the season and likely will need
offseason wrist surgery.
Jake Peavy threw a bullpen ses-
sion Wednesday but is still unsure
if he will make start for the Chicago
White Sox this season. Peavy was
acquired from San Diego at the July
31 trade deadline. The righthander
has been on the disabled list since
June 13 with a strained tendon in
his right ankle and was struck on
his pitching elbow during a rehab
game on Aug. 24.
INSIDE DISH
Tim Lincecum, before missing a start, was on pace to pitch a career-high 233 innings.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre told
the Los Angeles Times that he doesn’t
attribute OF Manny Ramirez’s ongoing
struggles to age or the absence of
performance-enhancing drugs.
Said Torre: “I think if I see him
doing things he’s always done and
not getting to the ball, I’d start
thinking that way. But right now,
his front side is flying a lot. If he’s
together mechanically and he can’t
get there, we can start talking about
that. He’s still able to get to pitches.
He can still drive the ball to center
field, so he’s not cheating to the
point he has to pull the ball.”
Baseball
MATT SLOCUM / AP
A day after pulling closer Brad
Lidge the ninth inning, Philadelphia
in
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel
wouldn’t commit to keeping him in
that role. In fact, Manuel used Ryan
Madson to close out Wednesday’s win
over Washington. Meanwhile, The
Philadelphia Inquirer reported Phillies
P J.A. Happ (rib cage) will miss another
start this weekend. Happ was
scratched from his start this past
Monday but was penciled in to start
one of the games in Saturday’s dou-
bleheader against the Mets. That
won’t happen, and the team isn’t sure
when Happ will be ready to return.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 27
THE LAUNCHING PAD
What to expect in the major leagues today
Either Jamie Moyer or Kyle Kendrick could
start in Happ’s place Saturday. In
other Phillies news, P Scott Eyre (elbow)
was sent back to Philadelphia for tests
and P J.C. Romero (forearm) will rest for
a couple of days after getting a corti-
sone shot.
Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki (back)
likely will miss a few more games,
according to The Denver Post. Tulow-
itzki suffered the injury in Monday’s
game, and both he and manager Jim
Tracy expressed an aversion to trying
to rush back into action.
There is good news on the
injury front for the Rangers. The JOHN BAZEMORE / AP
Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Since the All-Star break, batters are hitting .329 against Derek Lowe.
3B Michael Young (hamstring) is able
to jog and do agility drills, and OF Contreras at Coors
Yet another example of a struggling A.L. pitcher who made the move to
Josh Hamilton (back) could be ready to
the N.L. and found success, righthander Jose Contreras will make his second
return this weekend. Young hasn’t start for the Rockies this afternoon. After posting a 5-13 record and a 5.42
played since Sept. 1, while Hamilton ERA with the White Sox, Contreras was dealt to Colorado before the Aug. 31
has been sidelined since Sept. 2. waiver trading deadline. In his first start for the wild card-leading Rockies,
Contreras limited the Diamondbacks to one earned run in 6 2/3 innings.
Today at Coors Field, he will face the Reds, as the Rockies try to put another
The Chicago Sun-Times speculated
half-game between themselves and the idle Giants in the N.L. wild-card
that Cubs OFs Alfonso Soriano (knee) and chase.
Reed Johnson (foot) are close to being
shut down for the season. Johnson’s
fractured left foot has not healed com-
Staying in the hunt
The Marlins and Braves, both of whom still are in the N.L. wild-card pic-
pletely. He’s been on the disabled list ture, will wrap up series tonight. Neither playoff hopeful has much margin
since July 30 after fouling a ball off the for error at this point, with just over three weeks left in the regular season.
top of his left foot July 29. Manager Lou Florida will call upon rookie lefthander Sean West at Citi Field. West is com-
ing off his shortest outing (three innings) of the season, and has a 6.55 ERA
Piniella told the newspaper that Soriano
in seven road starts this season (3.26 ERA in nine home starts). Meanwhile,
is unlikely to play in the team’s seven- Atlanta righthander Derek Lowe will try to win for the seventh time in his
game homestand that starts Friday. past nine decisions when he starts at Houston.
Soriano soon could opt for surgery.
Baker is cookin’
Indians OF Grady Sizemore had Twins righthander Scott Baker hasn’t lost since July 7, a span of 11 starts.
arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow This afternoon at Toronto, he will try to win his eighth consecutive decision.
Wednesday. He is scheduled to have To do so, he will have to pitch better than he did in his first outing of the sea-
son against the Blue Jays. Back in April, Toronto took Baker deep four times
lower abdominal surgery next
and knocked him around for six earned runs in four innings. In his past seven
Wednesday to repair a groin injury. starts combined, Baker has allowed only four homers.
Sizemore finished with a .248 aver-
age, 18 homers and 64 RBIs. — Chris Bahr
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 28
Q&A with ... Cubs SP Ted Lilly

‘I’m not going to give up hope just yet. The bell hasn’t rung’
By picking up his 10th win earlier this
month, Lilly assured himself of a double-
digit win total for the seventh consecutive
Q: So you don’t think it’s too
late?
You’re 7-1 with a 1.72 ERA
there.
season. This season, he has bounced back
from knee surgery and a sore left shoulder
to go 11-8 for an underachieving Cubs team.
A: I’m not going to give up hope
just yet. The bell hasn’t rung.
It’s not over.
A: There are numerous things
you can point to. We’ve
scored some runs when I’ve pitched
Lilly recently spoke with Sporting News there. The team, in general, plays
Today’s Bill Eichenberger about how he has
managed to be so effective for so long, what
has gone wrong with the Cubs this season,
and more.
Q: You know how many
games this team won last
year and the potential this team
better when we are at home over the
last few years. Every time I get the
chance, I’m certainly looking
has. What has kept that from forward to having the chance to
translating to success on the pitch there. At the same time, all the

Q: How have you been able

to win consistently year
after year in the major leagues?
field this year?

A: I don’t have all the answers.

But the first thing is perfor-
starts on the road are equally
important. So you’d like to be
equally effective at home and on the

A: First of all, I’ve been fortu-

nate enough to play on some
mance. I don’t think you can look at
one, two or three guys. Just as a
road.

good ballclubs. That certainly helps

when you have a club with a good
bullpen, a good supporting staff.
When you have guys around you
who are going deep into games and
saving the ’pen. Also having that
’pen come in behind you and getting
you out of jams. All those things
add up.
club, I think we haven’t played well
together on the field. I think
sometimes you see clubs that find a
way to win games regardless of
what it looks like. We haven’t been
able to do that like we are capable
of. We’ll see what happens. Hope-
fully, at the end of this season I’m
telling you a different story about
how we snuck into the playoffs. You
Q: What about the park
itself?
A: It’s a great place to pitch,
really. There are those few
occasions when the wind is blowing
out. But more often than not, you
have that thick grass in the outfield
and the infield. It’s real hard to hit
the ball out to right field if you’re a
righthanded hitter. There is that gap

Q: How are you physically

after coming back from
the injuries you’ve had this
year? You seem to be as good as
never know. in left-center where some balls go,
but I think it’s a friendly park for
Q: Is there extra pressure on
the Cubs given their long
pitchers.

ever.

A: Obviously, I got bored real

fast being on the D.L. I
worked as hard as I could to try to
get back as fast as I could without
being too stupid. Maybe there was
some risk involved. But I under-
stood our situation as a club trying
to get into the playoffs and knew it
was very important for me to do
what I needed to do to get healthy
and strong and be prepared to help
us win games. Hopefully, we can
make a push here at the end and
find a way to sneak into the playoffs.
World Series drought? Are
Cubs players aware of the angst
of the fans?
Q: What was your reaction
recently when you were
nominated by the Cubs for the
A: I don’t look at it as extra
pressure. I look at it as extra
incentive. You know what I mean?
Roberto Clemente Award for
your work for animal rights and
underprivileged kids?
Guys always talk about wanting to
be supported. Well, we have the
fans and the city to do it. I don’t
A: That’s one of the greatest
honors of my career. It’s a
privilege to be associated with a
know why we haven’t been able to man with that kind of character and
go all the way. the other guys nominated from
around the league. You do stop and
Q: Any idea why you have
been so effective at
Wrigley Field this season?
think about the influence that he
had and what he gave himself up
for—which was the people. Since 2006, Ted Lilly is 23-11 at Wrigley Field, including 7-1 this season. On the road this season, he’s just 4-7.
GENE J. PUSKAR / AP
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 29
Fantasy Focus LEAGUE LEADERS
American League standings
Batting Average Home Runs East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Stock Watch New York 91 50 .645 — — 8-2 W-4 49-20 42-30
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Boston 81 58 .583 9 — 6-4 W-2 47-21 34-37
Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Tampa Bay 72 68 .514 18½ 9½ 1-9 L-8 43-26 29-42
Mauer Minnesota .367 Ha. Ramirez Florida .357 C. Pena Tampa Bay 39 Pujols St. Louis 47 Toronto 62 77 .446 28 19 3-7 L-1 37-36 25-41
Baltimore 56 83 .403 34 25 3-7 L-2 34-37 22-46
I. Suzuki Seattle .357 Pujols St. Louis .331 Teixeira New York 35 Reynolds Arizona 41
Mi. Cabrera Detroit .336 Sandoval San Francisco .327 Bay Boston 31 Fielder Milwaukee 38 Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Bartlett Tampa Bay .331 Helton Colorado .327 Branyan Seattle 31 Howard Philadelphia 38 Detroit 75 63 .543 — — 7-3 L-2 45-22 30-41
Minnesota 70 69 .504 5½ 11 6-4 W-1 39-30 31-39
Jeter New York .330 D. Wright New York .318 N. Cruz Texas 31 Ad. Gonzalez San Diego 37 Chicago 70 71 .496 6½ 12 6-4 W-1 40-32 30-39
MYoung Texas .322 L. Castillo New York .313 A. Hill Toronto 31 A. Dunn Washington 35 Cleveland 60 79 .432 15½ 21 2-8 L-3 30-39 30-40
Two tied .314 Braun Milwaukee .309 Three tied 30 Werth Philadelphia 33 Kansas City 54 85 .388 21½ 27 5-5 W-3 29-44 25-41
West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Runs Stolen Bases Los Angeles 83 55 .601 — — 7-3 W-2 41-26 42-29
Texas 79 60 .568 4½ 2 7-3 W-3 44-25 35-35
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Seattle 72 68 .514 12 9½ 4-6 L-4 39-30 33-38
Oakland 62 77 .446 21½ 19 5-5 L-1 34-36 28-41
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team
Seth Smith is on some September tear. Figgins
Damon
Los Angeles
New York
104
100
Pujols
Braun
St. Louis
Milwaukee
116
97
Ellsbury
Crawford
Boston
Tampa Bay
60
56
Bourn
Morgan
Houston
Washington
52
42
National League standings
East W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
A quick look at who is moving up Jeter New York 97 Zimmerman Washington 97 Figgins Los Angeles 39 Kemp Los Angeles 31 Philadelphia 79 58 .577 — — 5-5 W-2 36-31 43-27
Pedroia Boston 97 Utley Philadelphia 96 B. Upton Tampa Bay 37 Fowler Colorado 26 Florida 74 65 .532 6 5½ 7-3 W-2 39-33 35-32
and down in the fantasy world: B. Roberts Baltimore 97 Victorino Philadelphia 91 R. Davis Oakland 34 Rollins Philadelphia 26 Atlanta 71 68 .511 9 8½ 3-7 L-1 35-33 36-35
New York 62 77 .446 18 17½ 4-6 L-2 36-35 26-42
Scutaro Toronto 95 Ha. Ramirez Florida 89 Three tied 28 Pierre Los Angeles 25
▲ UP: Seth Smith, OF, Rockies. For the Cano New York 92 Three tied 87 Taveras Cincinnati 25
Washington 47 92 .338 33 32½ 1-9 L-2 28-43 19-49
first time in his young career, Central W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Smith is getting regular playing St. Louis 84 57 .596 — — 8-2 W-3 43-26 41-31
RBIs Pitching Chicago 71 67 .514 11½ 8 6-4 W-3 40-27 31-40
time—and is making the most of it. Houston 68 71 .489 15 11½ 6-4 W-1 40-31 28-40
A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L. Milwaukee 66 73 .475 17 13½ 3-7 L-3 34-37 32-36
He has five multihit games and Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Cincinnati 63 76 .453 20 16½ 7-3 L-3 31-37 32-39
four multi-run games in Septem- Teixeira New York 106 Fielder Milwaukee 125 Feldman Texas 16-4 Wainwright St. Louis 18-7 Pittsburgh 54 84 .391 28½ 25 1-9 L-3 36-34 18-50
ber, as well as a two-homer game. Longoria Tampa Bay 103 Pujols St. Louis 124 Sabathia New York 16-7 C. Carpenter St. Louis 16-3 West W L Pct GB WCGB L10 Str Home Away
Smith has hit at least .296 in every Bay Boston 100 Howard Philadelphia 116 Verlander Detroit 16-8 Marquis Colorado 15-10 Los Angeles 83 58 .589 — — 5-5 L-1 43-29 40-29
month but May this year, and he Morneau Minnesota 100 D. Lee Chicago 96 Jer. Weaver Los Angeles 15-5 Jo. Johnson Florida 14-4 Colorado 80 60 .571 2½ — 8-2 W-6 44-27 36-33
San Francisco 76 64 .543 6½ 4 5-5 L-2 45-23 31-41
has posted double-digit RBI totals C. Pena Tampa Bay 100 Braun Milwaukee 95 F. Hernandez Seattle 14-5 De La Rosa Colorado 14-9 San Diego 63 78 .447 20 17½ 7-3 W-2 36-34 27-44
in each of the past three months. K. Morales Los Angeles 98 Four tied 94 Beckett Boston 14-6 Pineiro St. Louis 14-9 Arizona 62 79 .440 21 18½ 3-7 W-1 32-37 30-42
Two tied 94 Halladay Toronto 14-9 Cain San Francisco 13-4 z-first game was a win
▼ DOWN: Brad Lidge, RP, Phillies.
Hits Strikeouts
Despite repeated assurances from Pitching matchups Today’s games (All times Eastern)
Charlie Manuel that Lidge is “still A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L.
American League The Line
the closer,” the end appears to be Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team
I. Suzuki Seattle 196 Ha. Ramirez Florida 178 Verlander Detroit 230 Lincecum San Francisco 233 Minnesota (S.Baker 13-7) at Toronto (Cecil 6-4), 12:37 p.m. Min -125 at Tor +115
near. Lidge was removed from Detroit (Washburn 9-8) at Kansas City (DiNardo 0-0), 2:10 p.m. Det -155 at KC +145
Jeter New York 186 Braun Milwaukee 166 Greinke Kansas City 210 J. Vazquez Atlanta 208
Tuesday’s game during a save Cano New York 177 Tejada Houston 166 Lester Boston 204 Haren Arizona 197 Seattle (Rowland-Smith 3-2) at L.A. Angels (Lackey 9-7), 10:05 p.m. at LA -175 Sea +165
chance, and was not called to close Mi. Cabrera Detroit 172 Pujols St. Louis 162 F. Hernandez Seattle 188 Gallardo Milwaukee 192
out Wednesday’s game. Either Ryan Markakis Baltimore 171 F. Lopez Milwaukee 161 Halladay Toronto 183 Wainwright St. Louis 175 National League The Line
Madson (who got Wednesday’s A. Hill Toronto 168 Three tied 160 Sabathia New York 177 W. Rodriguez Houston 168 Cincinnati (K.Wells 1-3) at Colorado (Contreras 1-0), 3:10 p.m. at Col -220 Cin +200
save) or recently-activated Brett M. Young Texas 168 Beckett Boston 176 Two tied 167 Philadelphia (Blanton 9-6) at Washington (Li.Hernandez 7-10), 7:05 p.m. Phi -175 at Was +165
Myers should assume closer duties Florida (West 6-5) at N.Y. Mets (Parnell 3-7), 7:10 p.m. Fla -110 at NY +100
Doubles Saves Atlanta (D.Lowe 13-9) at Houston (Oswalt 8-5), 8:05 p.m. at Hou -115 Atl +105
if/when Lidge is demoted. Grab
Madson and/or Myers if you’re A.L. N.L. A.L. N.L.
chasing saves. Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team
— Matt Lutovsky B. Roberts Baltimore 50 Sandoval San Francisco 40 Fuentes Los Angeles 40 H. Bell San Diego 37
Butler Kansas City 45 Tejada Houston 40 Ma. Rivera New York 39 Franklin St. Louis 37
MORE COVERAGE Lind Toronto 45 Ethier Los Angeles 39 Nathan Minnesota 38 Br. Wilson San Francisco 34
Markakis Baltimore 42 Ha. Ramirez Florida 39 Papelbon Boston 35 Broxton Los Angeles 34
Get everything you need to Pedroia Boston 42 Hawpe Colorado 38 Aardsma Seattle 34 Street Colorado 33
dominate your fantasy league at Cano New York 41 Pujols St. Louis 37 Rodney Detroit 32 Cordero Cincinnati 33
sportingnews.com/fantasy/baseball Longoria Tampa Bay 41 Rollins Philadelphia 36 Jenks Chicago 28 Two tied 30
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 30
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston 7, Baltimore 5 American League Texas 10, Cleveland 0
wild-card standings
V-Mart shows pinch-hitting skills Boston
Texas
Seattle
W
81
79
72
L
58
60
68
Pct.
.583
.568
.514
GB
—
2
9½
Feldman’s blissful ride continues
CLEVELAND—Scott Feldman Rangers 10, Indians 0
BOSTON—The Boston Red Sox wanted Tampa Bay 72 68 .514 9½ started the season in the bull- Texas AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Borbon lf 5 2 1 0 1 1 .320
Victor Martinez because he could help pen. He’ll end it as a Cy Young Andrus ss 5 2 3 1 0 0 .277
them at first base, catcher and desig- Red Sox 7, Orioles 5 award candidate. Kinsler 2b 5 1 1 0 0 1 .258
M.Byrd cf 5 2 2 4 0 0 .287
nated hitter. Baltimore AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Feldman (16-4) pitched seven N.Cruz rf 5 0 0 0 0 0 .271
He’s turned out to be a pretty good B.Roberts 2b 3 1 1 1 2 0 .283 shutout innings, Esteban Ger- Dav.Murphy dh 5 1 2 1 0 1 .270
Pie cf 5 0 1 1 0 1 .267 I.Rodriguez c 5 1 2 3 0 1 .283
pinch hitter, too. Reimold lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 .274 man went 5-for-5 and Marlon C.Davis 1b 4 0 1 0 1 2 .215
Markakis rf 4 1 3 0 1 1 .305
Martinez came off the bench and hit a Mora 3b 5 0 0 0 0 1 .261 Byrd hit a three-run homer as German 3b 5 1 5 1 0 0 .320
Wieters c 4 2 2 0 1 1 .272 Totals 44 10 17 10 2 6
three-run double to break a seventh- Scott dh 3 0 1 1 1 2 .255 the Texas Rangers beat the
inning tie, leading the Red Sox to a 7-5 Wigginton 1b 5 1 2 0 0 0 .268 Cleveland Indians 10-0 on Cleveland AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
C.Izturis ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 .251 J.Carroll 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .285
victory over Baltimore on Wednesday Totals 37 5 12 4 5 8 Wednesday, completing a three- Valbuena ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 .244
night. It was his second pinch-hitting Boston AB R H BI BB SO Avg. game sweep within 24 hours. Choo rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .298
Ellsbury cf 3 1 1 0 2 0 .300 Jh.Peralta 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .272
appearance since coming to Boston at Pedroia 2b 5 0 2 1 0 0 .295 Feldman tied New York’s CC Hafner dh 4 0 1 0 0 2 .278
the trading deadline; he is 2-for-2 with J.Drew rf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .266 Sabathia and Detroit’s Justin LaPorta lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .248
Youkilis 1b-3b 3 2 2 0 2 0 .313 Shoppach c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .211
four RBIs. D.Ortiz dh 4 0 2 0 1 1 .228 Verlander for the A.L. lead in N.Romero 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .000
3-N.Green pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
“I think he enjoys that situation, for Bay lf 5 1 3 2 0 2 .263 victories despite not entering Crowe cf 2 0 1 0 1 0 .213
Lowell 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 .296 Totals 33 0 6 0 2 7
sure,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona 2-Bri.Anderson pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
Texas’ rotation until April 25.
said. “I think he’d rather have been D.Brown c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Feldman allowed five hits and Texas 500 000 005 — 10 17 1
Varitek c 3 0 2 1 0 1 .218 Cleveland 000 000 000 — 0 6 1
starting, but it’s nice on nights that he 1-Gathright pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333 struck out five to win his eighth
hasn’t started, that he’s sitting there Kottaras c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230 consecutive road start, a new E: German (3), R.Perez (1). LOB: Texas 9, Cleveland 8.
a-V.Martinez ph-1b 1 0 1 3 0 0 .295 2B: German (1), Valbuena (22). HR: M.Byrd (17), off
ready to hit.” Ale.Gonzalez ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 .282 club record. His 12 road victories Carmona; I.Rodriguez (2), off Carmona. RBIs: Andrus
Totals 35 7 15 7 6 5
Billy Wagner (1-0) pitched a perfect this year are also a new team (32), M.Byrd 4 (76), Dav.Murphy (44), I.Rodriguez 3
Baltimore 010 012 001 — 5 12 1 (11), German (3). Runners left in scoring position:
seventh inning, striking out two, for his Boston 200 101 30x — 7 15 1 mark and tops in the A.L. Texas 4 (Borbon 4); Cleveland 3 (LaPorta, Valbuena,
first win in more than two years and the a-doubled for Kottaras in the 7th. 1-ran for Varitek in the
“I think it’s a pretty humbling Hafner).
first A.L. decision of his career. Jona- STEVEN SENNE / AP 6th. 2-ran for Lowell in the 7th. 3-ran for D.Ortiz in the game, so you can’t get too high Texas IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
8th. E: Wigginton (6), Delcarmen (1). LOB: Baltimore
than Papelbon got four outs for his 35th Victor Martinez’s three-run double in the eighth inning gave the Red Sox a lead they wouldn’t surrender. 12, Boston 12. 2B: B.Roberts (50), Markakis (42), Scott or low,” Feldman said. “I just Feldman W, 16-4 7 5 0 0 2 5 111 3.46
(20), Varitek (23), V.Martinez (30). RBIs: B.Roberts (66), C.Wilson 1 1 0 0 0 2 16 3.20
save, giving up one run but keeping the Pie (25), Reimold (43), Scott (65), Pedroia (61), Bay 2 try to focus on my next start W.Eyre 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 2.92
Red Sox two games up in the A.L. wild- Lowell, Jason Varitek and David Oritz Matt Albers (2-5) faced three batters, (100), Varitek (49), V.Martinez 3 (95). SB: B.Roberts and stay prepared.” Cleveland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
(28), Lowell (1). S: Ale.Gonzalez 2. SF: Reimold, Scott. Carmona L, 3-10 2⁄3 6 5 5 1 1 41 6.48
card race over Texas, a 10-0 winner since coming to Boston, but Martinez giving up two hits, including Dustin Runners left in scoring position: Baltimore 7 (Mora Feldman has been one of the J.Lewis 3 1⁄3 2 0 0 0 1 46 4.64
2, B.Roberts, C.Izturis, Markakis 2, Reimold); Boston
over Cleveland. has made it difficult for Francona to Pedroia’s comebacker that bounced off 5 (Lowell, Bay, Pedroia 2, D.Brown). DP: Baltimore 1 biggest surprises in the A.L. Gosling 4 2 0 0 1 2 60 4.76
(C.Izturis, B.Roberts); Boston 1 (Ale.Gonzalez, Pedroia, R.Perez 1⁄3 6 5 3 0 0 20 7.94
Nick Markakis had three of Balti- leave him out of the lineup. His other Albers’ leg toward third base for a game- Youkilis).
after entering this season with a Sipp 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 2 13 3.13
more’s 12 hits, but the Orioles stranded pinch-hitting appearance for the Red tying single. 7-13 career mark and a 4.97 ERA.
Baltimore IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Inherited runners-scored: J.Lewis 2-0, Sipp 3-1.
12 baserunners. Sox, on Aug. 25, he hit a game-tying Brian Roberts doubled in the fifth Berken 5 1⁄3 8 4 3 4 3 95 6.02 He has allowed one earned run Umpires: Home, Marvin Hudson; First, Angel Hernan-
“We had the same opportunities,” single in the seventh against the White inning to become the fourth player in A.Castillo H, 2 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 5 3.18 in his last four starts, going 4-0 dez; Second, Randy Marsh; Third, Lance Barksdale. T:
Albers L, 2-5 BS, 3-3 1⁄3 2 1 1 0 0 17 5.46 3:00. A: 14,637 (45,199).
Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. Sox and then doubled in the eighth for major league history to have three sea- Hendrickson 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 6 4.59 with a 0.34 ERA.
Baez 2⁄3 2 2 2 2 0 19 4.22
“It didn’t happen for us. It happened for an insurance run. sons with at least 50 doubles. Hall of Henn 1⁄3 2 0 0 0 1 11 6.94 “I know he’s getting credit in
Meredith 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 13 4.71
them.” “Every time I come to the plate, my Famers Tris Speaker, Paul Waner and Boston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Texas, I don’t know if he’s get-
Martinez split his time at catcher and goal is to be a tough out,” said Martinez, Stan Musial are the others. P.Byrd 5 6 2 2 3 1 83 6.08 ting it other places,” Rangers
Delcarmen BS, 3-3 1⁄3 2 2 1 1 1 24 3.48
first base with Cleveland, but the three- who said he enjoys being in a pennant “It’s probably one of the only things R.Ramirez 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 2 14 2.85 manager Ron Washington said.
Wagner W, 1-0 1 0 0 0 0 2 16 1.93
time All-Star was rarely out of the lineup race while the Indians struggle. “When that I’ll be in that company for,” said Rob- D.Bard H, 10 2⁄3 1 0 0 1 2 25 3.32 “As long as he keeps winning
over the first 7½ years of his career. He you’re in a race, it’s always interesting. erts, who is the third second baseman Papelbon S, 35-38 1 1⁄3 2 1 1 0 0 29 1.92 ball games, I couldn’t care less
was 9-for-25 with the Indians as a pinch- When you get to the ballpark, you know with consecutive seasons with 50 dou- Albers pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. Inherited if he gets (attention) nationally.
runners-scored: A.Castillo 1-0, Albers 1-1, Hen-
hitter, never getting much more than a you’re playing for something.” bles. “I had about 30 games. I figured I’d drickson 1-0, Baez 1-1, Meredith 2-0, R.Ramirez 3-1, It’d be nice for Feldman, but it’s
Papelbon 2-0. Umpires: Home, Mike Reilly; First, Chuck
handful of at-bats in a season. Jason Bay had three hits for Boston, could dink one in there at some point.” Meriwether; Second, Laz Diaz; Third, Eric Cooper. T: 3:41. all about us right now.”
He has been in a rotation with Mike which is 13-2 against the O’s this year. — The Associated Press A: 37,712 (37,373). — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 31
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 2 Chicago White Sox 4, Oakland 3, 13 innings

Jeter ties Iron Horse on team’s hit list Yankees 4, Rays 2

Dotel turns OT into victory
White Sox 4, Athletics 3, 13 innings
NEW YORK—Derek Jeter stood at first CHICAGO—Octavio Dotel put
Tampa Bay AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Oakland AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
base and waved his batting helmet, Bartlett ss 3 1 1 1 1 0 .331
the game on his shoulders, and Kennedy 3b 6 0 0 0 0 1 .282
cheers resonating from the upper Crawford lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .304 A.J. Pierzynski sent him home R.Davis cf 6 1 3 0 0 1 .307
Longoria 3b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .280 R.Sweeney rf 5 0 2 1 1 2 .284
reaches of a packed Yankee Stadium. Zobrist 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .280
with a win. Hairston lf 5 1 2 1 1 0 .242
After tying Lou Gehrig atop the Yan- Burrell dh 4 0 1 1 0 1 .232 Dotel pitched three scoreless K.Suzuki c 6 0 1 1 0 1 .269
Ch.Richard 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .200 Cust dh 5 0 0 0 0 3 .238
kees hit list, the ever-confident captain d-Kapler ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .232
innings, Pierzynski hit a game- M.Ellis 2b 5 0 2 0 0 1 .280
suddenly wasn’t so sure of himself. Gross rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .240 ending RBI double in the 13th D.Barton 1b 5 0 0 0 0 2 .216
Navarro c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .224 Pennington ss 4 1 2 0 1 0 .268
“I really didn’t know what to do B.Upton cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .236
inning and the Chicago White Totals 47 3 12 3 3 11
because we were losing at the time and I F.Perez cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .176 Sox beat the Oakland Athletics Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
didn’t want to disrespect Tampa,” Jeter Totals 30 2 3 2 3 7 4-3 on Wednesday night. Podsednik lf 7 1 4 1 0 0 .307
Al.Ramirez ss 6 1 2 2 1 0 .277
said. “I never dreamt about all of this.” New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Alexei Ramirez singled with Pierzynski c 5 0 2 1 2 0 .314
Jeter broke out of his slump in a big Jeter ss 4 0 3 0 1 0 .330 one out in the 13th against Konerko dh 5 0 2 0 0 1 .282
Damon lf 4 0 1 0 1 1 .286 Dye rf 6 0 0 0 0 2 .256
way Wednesday night, getting three hits Teixeira 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .280 Edgar Gonzalez (0-2) and Pier- Kotsay 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .272
to match Gehrig’s franchise mark, and A.Rodriguez 3b 4 1 2 0 0 1 .283 zynski followed with a double a-Quentin ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .231
H.Matsui dh 4 0 2 0 0 0 .271 Fields 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 .221
New York rallied for a 4-2 victory over 1-Hairston Jr. pr-dh 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263 off the wall in left-center. Rios cf 5 0 1 0 0 0 .247
the Tampa Bay Rays thanks to a three- Swisher rf 4 1 1 1 0 1 .254 Dotel (3-3) gave Chicago’s Getz 2b 5 1 0 0 1 2 .267
Cano 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .314 J.Nix 3b 5 1 1 0 0 2 .231
run homer by pinch-hitter Jorge Posada Gardner cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .266 bullpen some rest one night b-Wise ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .205
in the eighth inning. b-Posada ph-c 1 1 1 3 0 0 .285 after the White Sox used five Lillibridge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .145
J.Molina c 2 0 0 0 0 1 .241 Totals 51 4 14 4 4 7
Jeter tied Gehrig with 2,721 hits in a a-Hinske ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .229 relievers in an 11-3 loss to
Cervelli c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 Oakland 101 000 010 000 0 3 12 2
Yankees uniform, a mark the Hall of c-Me.Cabrera ph-cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .279
Oakland. Chicago 120 000 000 000 1 4 14 1
Famer had held by himself for more Totals 36 4 10 4 2 9 “I just wanted to win or lose
One out when winning run scored. a-flied out for Kotsay
than 70 years. Tampa Bay 200 000 000 — 2 3 2
the game,” Dotel said. “I just in the 10th. b-flied out for J.Nix in the 12th. E: Ken-
“He’s one of the classiest people to New York 000 000 04x — 4 10 0 said give me one more, give me nedy (14), Cahill (1), Rios (5). LOB: Oakland 8, Chicago
16. 2B: R.Davis (18), R.Sweeney (24), Hairston (10),
ever play this game,” Jeter said during a-flied out for J.Molina in the 7th. b-homered for Gard-
one more.” Podsednik 2 (24), Pierzynski (22). RBIs: R.Sweeney
an on-field, postgame television inter- BILL KOSTROUN / AP ner in the 8th. c-flied out for Cervelli in the 8th. d-struck Ramirez drove in two runs (42), Hairston (32), K.Suzuki (69), Podsednik (44),
Al.Ramirez 2 (65), Pierzynski (43). SB: R.Davis 2 (34),
view pumped over the stadium public Jorge Posada’s pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth helped the Yankees complete a four-game sweep. out for Ch.Richard in the 9th. 1-ran for H.Matsui in the for the White Sox, who have Hairston (3), K.Suzuki (7), M.Ellis (8), Podsednik (27).
8th. E: Ch.Richard (1), B.Upton (3). LOB: Tampa Bay 4, CS: R.Davis (9), M.Ellis (3), Pennington (4). S: Rios. Run-
address system. “It’s just kind of mind- New York 10. 2B: Jeter (26). HR: Bartlett (14), off Cham- won six of eight and moved ners left in scoring position: Oakland 7 (K.Suzuki 2,
boggling to have my name next to his.” their longest skid since dropping eight ager Joe Maddon said. berlain; Posada (21), off Balfour. RBIs: Bartlett (61), within 6½ games of A.L. Cen- Hairston, D.Barton, R.Sweeney, M.Ellis, Cust); Chicago 9
Burrell (58), Swisher (78), Posada 3 (75). SB: Crawford (Kotsay, Konerko 2, Getz 2, Al.Ramirez, Dye 2, Wise). DP:
Moments after Posada’s homer, Jeter straight in July 2007. — The Associated Press (56), Jeter (25). Runners left in scoring position: tral-leading Detroit. Chicago 3 (J.Nix, Getz, Kotsay), (Pierzynski, Pierzynski,
received a booming ovation as he Already on their feet in anticipation, Tampa Bay 2 (Gross, Kapler); New York 6 (A.Rodriguez, “All we can do is try to win Al.Ramirez), (Fields, Getz).
Gardner 2, Teixeira 2, Damon).
stepped to the plate in the eighth with a fans at Yankee Stadium let loose with a games and try to forget about Oakland IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
chance to break the record. But he roar when Jeter’s sharp grounder inside Tampa Bay IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Detroit,” Dotel said. Cahill 3 5 3 3 2 2 74 4.74
walked against reliever Grant Balfour, the first-base line got by a diving Chris Yankees’ greatest hits Niemann
Cormier L, 2-3
7
0
8
1
1 1 1 8 110 3.57
2 1 0 0 3 3.33 Chicago nearly handed Oak-
Gray
Blevins
1 1⁄3
2⁄3
2
1
0 0 0 1
0 0 0 0
20 1.93
15 6.00
bringing boos from the crowd. Richard in the seventh. A list of New York Yankees who have Shouse H, 9 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 5 5.09 land a run in the top half of the Ziegler 1 1 0 0 1 2 17 2.98
2,000 or more career hits with the team Balfour BS, 5-6 1⁄3 1 1 1 1 0 15 4.90 Wuertz 2 1 0 0 0 1 27 3.00
The Yankees are off today. Jeter gets Jeter’s parents, watching from an Choate 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 2 3.81 13th when center fielder Alex Breslow 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 3.79
(x-active): New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Kilby 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 1 1 21 0.00
his next chance to set the record Friday upstairs box between home plate and Chamberlain 3 3 2 2 1 3 55 4.45
Rios dropped Scott Hairston’s Ed.Gonzalez L, 0-2 1 2⁄3 3 1 1 0 0 25 4.92
night at home against Baltimore. first base, raised their arms and HITS PLAYER Aceves 3 0 0 0 1 3 44 3.72 routine fly with one out. Hair- Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Albaladejo W, 5-1 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 4.85 Garcia 6 5 2 2 3 5 87 4.40
“I have a pretty good feeling that it’s exclaimed in excitement. 2,721 Lou Gehrig Bruney H, 13 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 7 4.18
ston wasn’t running hard and Thornton H, 22 1 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 2 17 2.56
going to happen pretty quickly,” man- Jeter took off his helmet and twice Coke S, 2-7 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 5 4.97 only made it to first. He then T.Pena BS, 1-1 1⁄3 2 1 1 0 1 12 4.44
2,721 x-Derek Jeter Jenks 2 2 0 0 0 1 21 3.44
ager Joe Girardi said. waved it to the crowd of 45,848 during Niemann pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Cormier pitched
made another baserunning Dotel W, 3-3 3 2 0 0 0 2 30 3.54
2,518 Babe Ruth
Shut down by Jeff Niemann most of an ovation that lasted about 2 minutes. to 2 batters in the 8th. Inherited runners-scored: blunder when he was doubled
Inherited runners-scored: Blevins 1-0, Ed.Gonzalez
the night, the Yankees completed a four- Rays players and coaches clapped as 2,415 Mickey Mantle Cormier 1-1, Shouse 2-0, Balfour 2-2, Choate 1-0, Coke off on Kurt Suzuki’s high 2-0. IBB: off Ziegler (Pierzynski). HBP: by Ed.Gonzalez
1-0. WP: Chamberlain, Coke. PB: Navarro. Umpires: (Konerko). WP: Cahill. Umpires: Home, Phil Cuzzi; First,
game sweep and sent the A.L. champion Jeter stood at first base. 2,336 Bernie Williams Home, Fieldin Culbreth; First, Tim Welke; Second, infield popup. Brian O’Nora; Second, Jerry Crawford; Third, Tom Hallion.
Rays to their eighth consecutive loss. It’s “I’m very happy for him,” Rays man- Jim Wolf; Third, Gary Cederstrom. T: 3:08. A: 45,848 — The Associated Press T: 3:50. A: 23,703 (40,615).
(52,325).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 32
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota 4, Toronto 1 Kansas City 5, Detroit 1

Pavano helps Twins finally upend Halladay Butler delivers more doubles
TORONTO—Roy Halladay was good. KANSAS CITY—Barrel-chested Royals 5, Tigers 1
Twins 4, Blue Jays 1 Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Carl Pavano was even better. Minnesota AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Billy Butler always had power- Granderson cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .253
Justin Morneau and Orlando Cabrera Span cf-rf-lf 5 0 0 0 0 2 .309 ful wrists and quick reflexes. Polanco 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .277
O.Cabrera ss 5 1 1 1 0 2 .274 C.Guillen lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .246
homered and the Minnesota Twins Mauer dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .367 Only now his mental ability is Mi.Cabrera 1b 3 1 0 0 1 1 .336
finally got the best of Halladay, beating Morneau 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .279 catching up with his physical A.Huff dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .244
Kubel rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .306 Thomas rf 4 0 1 0 0 3 .244
the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Wednesday Gomez cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 talent. Inge 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .231
night. Delm.Young lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .265 Picking on three different Laird c 2 0 0 0 1 2 .216
2-A.Casilla pr-2b 0 1 0 0 0 0 .195 b-Avila ph 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
Cabrera tied it with a leadoff shot to Buscher 3b 4 1 3 0 0 0 .238 pitchers Wednesday night, Santiago ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .259
left in the sixth and Morneau hit a two- J.Morales c 2 0 0 0 1 1 .342 Butler doubled three times for c-Thames ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .249
1-Tolbert pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .178 Totals 32 1 5 1 3 11
out tiebreaking drive to right in the Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 1 .242 a club-record fourth time this
eighth for his 30th homer. Pinch-hitter Punto 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .221 season to help the Kansas City Kansas City AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
a-Cuddyer ph-rf 1 0 1 2 0 0 .269 DeJesus lf 5 1 1 1 0 1 .275
Michael Cuddyer added a two-run dou- Totals 37 4 9 4 1 9 Royals beat Justin Verlander Maier cf-rf 3 1 1 1 0 2 .248
ble in the ninth. and the Detroit Tigers 5-1 for Butler 1b 5 1 3 2 0 1 .304
Toronto AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Jacobs dh 3 0 1 1 0 1 .237
“Fortunately we took advantage of the Scutaro ss 2 0 1 0 2 0 .282 their first three-game winning a-B.Pena ph-dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 .274
very, very few mistakes that Halladay J.Bautista rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .223 streak since July. Callaspo 2b 2 0 1 0 2 0 .298
Lind dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .301 Teahen rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .274
made,” Cuddyer said. Overbay 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .268 According to STATS LLC, J.Anderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
Pavano (12-11) allowed one run and V.Wells cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .252 the 23-year-old is the first J.Buck c 4 0 1 0 0 1 .209
Barajas c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .238 A.Gordon 3b 3 1 1 0 1 1 .202
six hits in 7 1/3 innings to win for the Encarnacion 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .182 player since at least 1954 to have Y.Betancourt ss 3 1 1 0 1 1 .237
first time in three starts, improving to Snider lf 3 0 2 1 0 1 .230 four games with three or more Totals 33 5 10 5 5 9
Jo.McDonald 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .258
3-3 since he was acquired last month in Totals 31 1 6 1 2 6 doubles in a season. Detroit 000 000 001 — 1 5 0
a trade with Cleveland. “I don’t think there’s any Kansas City 001 000 13x — 5 10 0
Minnesota 000 001 012 — 4 9 1
“Our story was Pavano,” Twins man- Toronto 000 010 000 — 1 6 1 doubt how talented he is,” Roy- b-hit a sacrifice fly for Laird in the 9th. c-flied out for
ager Ron Gardenhire said. “He was fan- als manager Trey Hillman said. Santiago in the 9th. LOB: Detroit 8, Kansas City 11. 2B:
a-doubled for Punto in the 9th. 1-ran for J.Morales in C.Guillen (7), Thomas (11), Butler 3 (45), A.Gordon (3).
tastic. What a great night.” the 7th. 2-ran for Delm.Young in the 9th. E: J.Morales “I think everyone knows that. RBIs: Avila (12), DeJesus (67), Maier (24), Butler 2 (76),
Halladay (14-9) allowed nine hits, FRANK GUNN / AP (3), Scutaro (8). LOB: Minnesota 7, Toronto 6. 2B: But mentally, he’s come a long Jacobs (52). SB: Laird (4). S: Maier. SF: Avila. Runners
Delm.Young (10), Buscher (3), Cuddyer (30), Snider left in scoring position: Detroit 5 (C.Guillen, Inge,
struck out nine and walked one in his The 8th-inning homer by Justin Morneau, right, helped Minnesota beat Roy Halladay for the first time. 2 (9). 3B: Encarnacion (1). HR: O.Cabrera (6), off Hal- ways just with his approach. I Polanco, Thomas, Thames); Kansas City 7 (Y.Betancourt
major league-leading seventh complete laday; Morneau (30), off Halladay. RBIs: O.Cabrera think the sky’s the limit for him 2, Callaspo, DeJesus, Teahen 2, B.Pena).
(57), Morneau (100), Cuddyer 2 (70), Snider (17). SB:
game. The righthander dropped to 8-1 against Texas on April 30, 2002. Toron- out and doing your job, being part of a Scutaro (12), V.Wells (16). S: J.Bautista. Runners left as long as he continues to learn Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
with a 2.90 ERA in 13 games, 11 starts, to’s lowest attendance ever was 10,074 team and winning, the team concept,” in scoring position: Minnesota 4 (J.Morales, Span 2, at the rate that he’s learned Verlander L, 16-8 6 6 1 1 3 8 112 3.24
O.Cabrera); Toronto 5 (Overbay 2, J.Bautista, Barajas, Seay 1 1 1 1 1 1 24 3.72
against Minnesota, which was the only on April 17, 1979, against the Chicago Pavano said. “I haven’t been able to do Lind). DP: Minnesota 1 (O.Cabrera, Morneau). between last year and this Rodney 2⁄3 2 3 3 1 0 17 3.82
A.L. team that hadn’t pinned a loss on White Sox. that. I try not to harp on it too much and year.” Fien 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 5 8.31
Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
him. “In order to get back to where we’re focus on it but it is a nice reminder of the Pavano W, 12-11 7 1⁄3 6 1 1 2 5 103 4.92 Butler had two RBIs in his Tejeda W, 2-1 6 3 0 0 2 8 98 3.21
“I know I made mistakes that cost me, going, we certainly need our fans out hard work that I put in to get to where I Mijares H, 21 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 8 2.17 fifth straight multihit game, Farnsworth H, 5 2 0 0 0 0 2 25 5.12
Nathan S, 38-43 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 2.24 J.Wright 1⁄3 2 1 1 1 1 17 4.87
and that bothers me, but any time you’re here,” manager Cito Gaston said. “We am now.” Toronto IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA backing another strong start by Soria S, 24-27 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 11 2.60
not winning games, it’s frustrating,” need their support. Hopefully they’ll Jose Mijares replaced Pavano with the Halladay L, 14-9 9 9 4 4 1 9 108 3.03 Robinson Tejeda (2-1). Tejeda
Inherited runners-scored: Fien 1-1, Soria 3-1. IBB:
Halladay said. realize that and come out and support tying run on second and got out of the Inherited runners-scored: Mijares 1-0. Umpires: matched his career high with off Seay (Callaspo). HBP: by Seay (Maier). Umpires:
Coming off a one-hitter against the us.” jam by striking out Adam Lind and get- Home, Paul Nauert; First, Joe West; Second, Ed Rapuano; eight strikeouts and allowed Home, Marty Foster; First, Mark Carlson; Second, Kerwin
Third, Paul Schrieber. T: 2:23. A: 11,159 (49,539). Danley; Third, Wally Bell. T: 3:08. A: 10,584 (38,177).
New York Yankees on Friday, Halladay Pavano said he’s enjoying being part ting Lyle Overbay to ground back to the just three hits. Tejada, who was
was solid again in this one, striking out of a playoff push in Minnesota after mound. Joe Nathan finished for his 38th a reliever all year until making
five of six in one stretch, but still lost for struggling through four injury-plagued save in 43 chances. an emergency start last week,
the fourth time in five starts. seasons with the Yankees and a tough Minnesota’s Brian Buscher matched a has a 19-inning scoreless streak
The crowd of 11,159 was the smallest beginning of the year with the Indians. career high with three hits and is 5-for-7 that probably will earn him a
in the 20-year history of Rogers Centre, “This is what we wake up every day against Halladay in his career. tryout for next year’s rotation.
eclipsing the previous low of 12,571 thinking about, being successful, going — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 33
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado 4, Cincinnati 3 National League San Diego 4, San Francisco 2
wild-card standings
LeBlanc justifies team’s faith
Rockies rally in ninth to win sixth straight
W L Pct. GB
Colorado 80 60 .571 —
San Francisco 76 64 .543 4
Florida 74 65 .532 5 1/2 SAN FRANCISCO—Wade LeBlanc Padres 4, Giants 2
Chicago 71 67 .514 8 peeked out of the San Diego dug- San Diego AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
DENVER—The Colorado Rockies are out as his turn to hit approached E.Cabrera ss 4 2 1 0 1 1 .261
Rockies 4, Reds 3 Eckstein 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .266
starting to show everyone 2007 was no in the eighth inning. No one was Ad.Gonzalez 1b 4 1 2 3 0 0 .274
Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Headley 3b 5 0 2 0 0 1 .260
fluke. Stubbs cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .258 warming up in the Padres’ O.Salazar lf 5 1 1 1 0 1 .310
Janish ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .214
Seth Smith hit a two-out, two-run Votto 1b 3 0 0 0 1 3 .296 bullpen. H.Bell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
single in the ninth inning to give the B.Phillips 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .271 “That was a real good feel- Venable cf-rf 4 0 1 0 0 3 .279
Rolen 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .278 Ed.Gonzalez rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .205
surging Rockies a 4-3 victory over the Balentien lf 3 1 1 0 1 2 .274 ing,” LeBlanc said. “It lets you Gwynn cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .258
D.McDonald rf 4 1 1 1 0 2 .222 H.Blanco c 1 0 1 0 3 0 .236
Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. C.Miller c 2 0 0 0 0 1 .129 they have confidence in you.” LeBlanc p 2 0 0 0 1 1 .167
Colorado won its sixth straight game a-Sutton ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .180 Adrian Gonzalez hit his Gregerson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hanigan c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .271
and extended its N.L. wild-card lead to Arroyo p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .113 career-high 37th homer and Macias lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174
b-Barker ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 .381 Totals 33 4 10 4 5 8
four games over San Francisco, which Rhodes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 drove in three runs, helping
Masset p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- San Francisco AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
lost 4-2 to San Diego. And it is now only Cordero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- LeBlanc and the Padres beat A.Torres lf 3 1 1 2 0 0 .250
2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers for first Totals 31 3 5 3 3 11 the San Francisco Giants 4-2. c-Velez ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .281
place in the West. Colorado AB R H BI BB SO Avg. LeBlanc (2-1) pitched a career- F.Sanchez 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .296
E.Young 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .300 Sandoval 1b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .327
The Rockies won 14 of their last 15 Quintanilla 2b-3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173 best seven innings to win his B.Molina c 4 0 2 0 0 0 .260
games in 2007 to win the wild card on d-Spilborghs ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248 second straight start. Uribe 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .278
C.Gonzalez cf 5 1 1 0 0 2 .294 Renteria ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .256
their way to their first World Series. S.Smith lf 4 0 2 3 0 0 .317 “This one was a lot better,” he Rowand cf 2 0 0 0 1 1 .272
Helton 1b 3 0 2 0 1 0 .327 Schierholtz rf 2 1 1 0 1 0 .273
They have a different manager and the 1-Fowler pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 said. “I was able to set the Zito p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .130
players say things are different than two McCoy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- tempo for the most part from
G.Atkins 3b-1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 .227 a-J.Guzman ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .125
years ago, but they keep playing like the Hawpe rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .289 pitch number one.” Joaquin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Torrealba c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .278 Runzler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
’07 N.L. champions. Barmes ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 .243 Padres manager Bud Black Romo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hammel p 3 0 0 0 0 0 .130 b-Frandsen ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .125
“It’s never say die here,” starter Jason R.Betancourt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- said LeBlanc earned the chance Br.Wilson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hammel said. “I honestly don’t believe Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- to continue. Totals 29 2 5 2 3 5
Daley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
we understand how much pressure is DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP c-Giambi ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .400 “He was throwing the ball San Diego 102 001 000 — 4 10 0
2-Marquis pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .193
there right now and I don’t think we Seth Smith fouled off four pitches before hitting his game-winning, two-run single in the ninth. Totals 33 4 8 4 5 5 well,” Black said. “He made one San Francisco 002 000 000 — 2 5 0
even care.” Cincinnati 000 000 021 — 3 5 1 mistake but besides that there a-struck out for Zito in the 5th. b-fouled out for Romo
The walk-off win, Colorado’s sixth pinch-runner Jason Marquis. what the rest of us are trying to get to.” Colorado 002 000 002 — 4 8 0 was not a lot of hard contact. He in the 8th. c-struck out for A.Torres in the 8th. LOB: San
this season, had the Reds shaking their “The ball was kind of rolling around The Rockies blew a 2-0 lead in the Two outs when winning run scored. a-sacrificed for threw strikes and the fifth, sixth, Diego 10, San Francisco 4. 2B: Headley (26), H.Blanco
C.Miller in the 8th. b-doubled for Arroyo in the 8th. (11). HR: Ad.Gonzalez (37), off Zito; O.Salazar (3), off
heads. and I see Marquis rounding third and eighth. Darnell McDonald and pinch- c-walked for Daley in the 9th. d-walked for Quintanilla seventh innings were efficient.” Joaquin; A.Torres (3), off LeBlanc. RBIs: Ad.Gonzalez 3
“The last two or three years they have coming for home,” Barmes said. hitter Kevin Barker had RBI doubles in the 9th. 1-ran for Helton in the 8th. 2-ran for Giambi LeBlanc, who made his big- (85), O.Salazar (8), A.Torres 2 (16). SB: E.Cabrera 2 (23).
in the 9th. E: Janish (3). LOB: Cincinnati 5, Colorado 9. S: Eckstein, LeBlanc, Zito. Runners left in scoring
some sort of magic here at home,” starter The Rockies mobbed Smith at first and Scott Rolen put Cincinnati in front 2B: Janish (12), Balentien (6), D.McDonald (3), Barker league debut last year, is a dif- position: San Diego 6 (LeBlanc, E.Cabrera 4, O.Salazar);
(2), Barmes (27). HR: Rolen (2), off Daley. RBIs: San Francisco 2 (Renteria, F.Sanchez). DP: San Diego 2
Bronson Arroyo said. “They don’t go base in celebration. with a leadoff homer in the ninth, his Rolen (10), D.McDonald (7), Barker (3), S.Smith 3 ferent pitcher this go around. (Headley, Eckstein, Ad.Gonzalez), (E.Cabrera, Eckstein,
(51), G.Atkins (41). SB: C.Gonzalez (12). S: Sutton. SF:
down very easily. If it’s close, they just “The at-bat that our guy had with two second with the Reds. S.Smith. Runners left in scoring position: Cincinnati “It’s not even close,” he said. Ad.Gonzalez); San Francisco 1 (F.Sanchez, Renteria).
give themselves a chance.” outs was phenomenal,” Rockies man- “God, we played good tonight,” Reds 3 (B.Phillips 3); Colorado 3 (G.Atkins, Torrealba, Hawpe). “I was a totally different guy.
DP: Cincinnati 1 (Janish, B.Phillips, Votto). San Diego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Clint Barmes started the winning ager Jim Tracy said. “He was fouling off manager Dusty Baker said. “And they Last year I tried to strike every- LeBlanc W, 2-1 7 4 2 2 3 3 94 5.01
Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Gregerson H, 23 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 2.98
rally with a one-out double off All-Star pitches that would strike people out. took it from us.” Arroyo 7 5 2 2 2 4 100 4.17 body out.” H.Bell S, 37-40 1 1 0 0 0 1 19 1.98
closer Francisco Cordero (2-5). Pinch- That was just a heck of an at-bat.” Hammel pitched 7 1/3 innings, allow- Rhodes 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 9 2.72 Gonzalez connected for a San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Masset 1⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 9 2.66
hitters Jason Giambi and Ryan Smith is hitting .471 in the first nine ing two runs and three hits. He retired CorderoL,2-5BS,3-36 2⁄3 2 2 2 2 1 24 2.44 two-run shot in the third. Oscar Zito L, 9-12 5 6 3 3 2 2 93 3.99
Colorado IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Joaquin 1 1⁄3 2 1 1 1 3 26 4.91
Spilborghs walked before Cordero games of the 10-game homestand. 20 of 21 batters after Paul Janish’s one- Hammel 7 1⁄3 3 2 2 1 8 101 4.31 Salazar also homered for the Runzler 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 2 3 33 0.00
R.Betancourt BS, 2-2 1⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 11 1.62 Romo 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 5 4.50
struck out Carlos Gonzalez to bring “It’s a feeling that only comes along out double in the first. Beimel 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 3.58 Padres. Br.Wilson 1 2 0 0 0 0 17 2.73
Smith to the plate. for maybe a week or two in a season,” he Matt Daley (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings Daley W, 1-1 1 1⁄3 1 1 1 0 3 18 3.80 The N.L. wild-card contend-
Smith fouled off four pitches before said. “That’s what the great ones do, for the Rockies, getting the win despite Beimel pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited ers have lost three of their last LeBlanc pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. Inherited
runners-scored: Masset 1-0, R.Betancourt 1-1, Beimel runners-scored: Gregerson 2-0, Romo 2-0. HBP: by
lining a base hit off second baseman (Albert) Pujols, Todd (Helton), they stay allowing Rolen’s homer. 2-0, Daley 3-0. Umpires: Home, Jeff Kellogg; First, Tim four. Runzler (Ad.Gonzalez). PB: B.Molina. Umpires: Home,
Brandon Phillips to drive in Barmes and in that zone for an entire season. That’s — The Associated Press Timmons; Second, Mark Wegner; Third, Rick Reed. T: — The Associated Press Ted Barrett; First, Jim Reynolds; Second, Bill Welke; Third,
2:45. A: 23,721 (50,449). James Hoye. T: 2:48. A: 30,312 (41,915).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 34
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 1 Chicago Cubs 8, Pittsburgh 5

Holliday’s scare tempers otherwise great day Cardinals 5, Brewers 1

St. Louis AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Z loses to Lou, but still wins game
Schumaker 2b 5 0 0 0 0 1 .294
Rasmus cf 4 2 2 1 1 0 .256 PITTSBURGH—Carlos Zam- Cubs 8, Pirates 5
Pujols 1b 5 2 3 3 0 0 .331
MILWAUKEE—Adam Wainwright, Albert Holliday lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 .379 brano won for the first time Chicago AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Pujols and the rest of the St. Louis Car- a-Ankiel ph-lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .232 since July 22 by limiting the Fukudome cf 5 2 2 0 1 1 .269
Ludwick rf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .274 Theriot ss 4 0 2 1 1 0 .288
dinals keep rolling through September. DeRosa 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .246 Pirates to two runs over six D.Lee 1b 4 2 1 0 1 0 .299
They hope Matt Holliday’s tumble Y.Molina c 3 0 1 0 0 1 .284 innings, and the Chicago Cubs M.Hoffpauir rf 2 3 2 2 2 0 .236
Br.Ryan ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .288 Je.Baker 3b 2 0 0 1 1 2 .305
doesn’t trip them up. Wainwright p 3 1 1 0 0 1 .154 finished off a three-game sweep Fontenot 2b 4 0 2 1 1 0 .227
Wainwright became the first pitcher T.Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- by beating Pittsburgh 8-5. Scales lf 4 0 1 1 0 2 .244
Motte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Fuld lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .275
to reach 18 wins this season, Pujols hit e-Thurston ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .223 Micah Hoffpauir homered K.Hill c 5 1 2 2 0 1 .240
two home runs for a majors-leading 47 D.Reyes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- against former Cubs pitcher Zambrano p 4 0 0 0 0 2 .217
McClellan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Grabow p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
and the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Totals 36 5 11 5 1 4 Kevin Hart (4-6), drove in two Gregg p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Brewers 5-1 Wednesday. runs, scored three times and b-Miles ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .180
Milwaukee AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Marmol p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
St. Louis got a scare when Matt Holli- F.Lopez 2b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .306 was among five Cubs batters Totals 36 8 13 8 7 8
day tripped running out a grounder in Counsell 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .286 with two hits. Chicago has won
Braun lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .309 Pittsburgh AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
the third. He bruised his left knee and Fielder 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .298 26 of 32 from the Pirates. A.McCutchen cf 4 0 1 2 1 1 .278
left two innings later. The star left fielder C.Hart rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .260 The biggest talking point of Delw.Young 2b 4 0 0 0 1 2 .271
Gerut cf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .216 G.Jones rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .301
said he’d be back in the lineup Friday. Kendall c 3 0 1 0 0 1 .240 the game was a lively conversa- Moss lf 3 1 0 0 1 2 .245
“I took my eye off of what I was doing A.Escobar ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .262 tion as Cubs manager Lou Pin- Pearce 1b 2 0 0 0 2 1 .224
Suppan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171 N.Walker 3b 4 2 1 0 0 2 .214
and my cleat got caught,” he said. “I’m b-McGehee ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .291 iella replaced Zambrano (8-6) Cedeno ss 4 1 3 3 0 1 .284
all right, it’s just a little bit swollen. With Narveson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 after the righthander warmed Jaramillo c 4 1 0 0 0 1 .255
c-Gamel ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 K.Hart p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .200
an 11½-game lead, there’s no reason to d-Bourgeois ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .179 up to start the seventh. When Karstens p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .056
push it.” C.Smith p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 the Pirates brought up a-R.Vazquez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .243
Totals 31 1 6 1 1 7 D.Bautista p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Holliday is hitting .360 with 12 home lefthanded-hitting Ramon Capps p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
runs and 42 RBIs since the Cardinals St. Louis 100 030 100 — 5 11 0 Vazquez, Piniella decided to c-An.LaRoche ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .246
Milwaukee 000 000 010 — 1 6 0 Totals 32 5 6 5 5 11
got him from Oakland on July 24. St. bring in lefty John Grabow.
Louis is 32-11 since getting him and well a-popped out for Holliday in the 5th. b-struck out for The hard part for Piniella Chicago 111 010 220 — 8 13 0
Suppan in the 5th. c-was announced for Narveson in Pittsburgh 000 200 030 — 5 6 0
on its way to a fourth N.L. Central title. the 8th. d-flied out for Gamel in the 8th. e-grounded was telling Zambrano, who
Wainwright (18-7) pitched seven out for Motte in the 9th. LOB: St. Louis 7, Milwaukee 5. clearly didn’t want to leave. a-grounded out for Karstens in the 7th. b-singled for
2B: DeRosa (7), Y.Molina (21), Wainwright (3), Counsell Gregg in the 9th. c-flied out for Capps in the 9th. LOB:
scoreless innings. He’s in contention (21), Fielder (31). 3B: Rasmus (2). HR: Pujols (46), Zambrano and Piniella had an Chicago 11, Pittsburgh 6. 2B: M.Hoffpauir (9), Scales
with teammate and former Cy Young off Suppan; Pujols (47), off Narveson; F.Lopez (9), off animated talk on the mound (4), A.McCutchen (21). HR: M.Hoffpauir (10), off K.Hart;
T.Miller. RBIs: Rasmus (46), Pujols 3 (124), Holliday (42), Cedeno (5), off Gregg. RBIs: Theriot (51), M.Hoffpauir
winner Chris Carpenter, for this year’s F.Lopez (48). S: Suppan. SF: Holliday. Runners left in that continued in the dugout. 2 (28), Je.Baker (17), Fontenot (40), Scales (8), K.Hill 2
N.L. award. scoring position: St. Louis 5 (DeRosa 2, Schumaker, “I wanted to pitch another (23), A.McCutchen 2 (47), Cedeno 3 (18). SB: Theriot
Br.Ryan 2); Milwaukee 3 (F.Lopez, McGehee, A.Escobar). (17). S: K.Hart. SF: M.Hoffpauir, Je.Baker. Runners
“It’d be cool. It’d be awesome, but win- DP: Milwaukee 1 (F.Lopez, A.Escobar, Fielder). inning but it’s Lou’s decision,” left in scoring position: Chicago 6 (Fontenot, D.Lee 2,
ning for the team comes first,” Wainwright MORRY GASH / AP said Zambrano, who struck out K.Hill, Zambrano, Fuld); Pittsburgh 4 (K.Hart, Pearce 2,
St. Louis IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Delw.Young). DP: Pittsburgh 2 (K.Hart, Cedeno, Pearce),
said. “Whether I win it or not, I still feel Albert Pujols’ 10th multihomer game of the season ties him with Mark McGwire for the club record. Wainwright W, 18-7 7 5 0 0 1 6 98 2.59 eight and gave up five hits. “You (Cedeno, Delw.Young, Pearce).
good about how the season’s been.” T.Miller 2⁄3 1 1 1 0 1 10 1.86 saw the replay, everybody
Motte 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 3 5.12 Chicago IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Pujols tied Mark McGwire’s franchise scattered five hits while surpassing 200 snapping his streak of 13 straight out- D.Reyes 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 4 3.38 thought I was arguing but we Zambrano W, 8-6 6 5 2 2 3 8 98 3.77
mark with 10 multihomer games in a innings this year. ings of two runs or less. McClellan 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.09 were just talking. Every time Grabow 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 2.95
Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Gregg 1 1 3 3 2 2 28 4.92
season and has put up MVP-like num- “It’s a milestone that in your head you “It was what I needed,” Wainwright Suppan L, 6-9 5 8 4 4 1 0 71 5.05 Lou talks it seems like he’s Marmol S, 11-15 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 3.29
bers by hitting .331 with 124 RBIs. Man- think you’re going to at least throw that. said. “Not that I needed reassurance Narveson 3 2 1 1 0 4 40 4.50 mad, the way he moves his Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
C.Smith 1 1 0 0 0 0 8 3.67 K.Hart L, 4-6 5 6 4 4 6 3 108 4.86
ager Tony La Russa refused to address It certainly wasn’t a goal to throw only after the last start, but it’s nice to get hands, but he’s not. He’s very Karstens 2 3 2 2 1 4 43 5.12
who might win that individual honor. 200 innings,” he said. “If you’re carry- back on track.” HBP: by Suppan (Y.Molina). WP: Suppan. Umpires: professional.” D.Bautista 1 3 2 2 0 0 14 5.19
Home, Sam Holbrook; First, Gerry Davis; Second, Dan Capps 1 1 0 0 0 1 10 5.89
“Those are the kind of questions that ing your team deep into games, the goal Brewers manager Ken Macha said St. Iassogna; Third, Larry Vanover. T: 2:23. A: 26,559 Zambrano, sidelined recently
are distracting and I don’t answer should be a little bit more.” Louis’ pitching staff will be tough in the (41,900). for three weeks by back spasms, IBB: off Karstens (Fontenot). HBP: by D.Bautista
(Je.Baker). Umpires: Home, Rob Drake; First, Andy
them,” La Russa said. Wainwright was sharp after allowing postseason. threw 98 pitches. Fletcher; Second, Greg Gibson; Third, Tim McClelland. T:
Wainwright struck out six and six runs in his previous appearance, — The Associated Press — The Associated Press 2:53. A: 10,899 (38,362).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 35
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 6, Washington 5 Florida 6, N.Y. Mets 3 Houston 2, Atlanta 1
Phillies 6, Nationals 5
Madson called Philadelphia AB R H
Rollins ss 5 0 1
BI
1
BB
0
SO
1
Avg.
.241
Marlins enjoying this playoff drive Tejada spoils Hanson’s gem
to close it out Victorino cf
Utley 2b
Howard 1b
5 0 2
5 0 0
3 1 1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
.296
.292
.275
Marlins 6, Mets 3
Florida AB R H BI BB SO Avg. HOUSTON—The Houston
Coghlan lf 2 1 0 0 2 0 .305 Astros 2, Braves 1
Ibanez lf 5 1 2 1 0 2 .280
WASHINGTON—There was plenty Werth rf 4 2 2 2 1 2 .270 N.Johnson 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 .302 Astros were just glad to see Atlanta AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
P.Feliz 3b 3 2 2 1 1 0 .268 1-Helms pr-3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .278 McLouth cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .260
of drama over who would come Bako c 2 0 0 0 1 1 .203 Ha.Ramirez ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .357 Tommy Hanson out of the Prado 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .296
out of the Philadelphia Phillies’ c-Tracy ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Cantu 3b-1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .285 game. C.Jones 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .268
C.Ruiz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 Uggla 2b 4 2 1 2 0 0 .241 Y.Escobar ss 2 1 0 0 2 1 .300
bullpen in the ninth inning. Cl.Lee p 4 0 1 1 0 1 .304 C.Ross rf 4 1 1 3 0 0 .267 One inning after the Atlanta McCann c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .271
Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz Park p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 R.Paulino c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .272 Braves’ rookie pitcher left, M.Diaz rf 3 0 2 1 0 1 .324
Madson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Maybin cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .229 Ad.LaRoche 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .271
had hit back-to-back homers in Totals 37 6 11 6 5 8 Nolasco p 3 0 0 0 0 0 .143 Miguel Tejada hit a two-run Infante lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .288
the eighth inning to give the Phil- Pinto p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 single with the bases loaded in Hanson p 3 0 0 0 0 3 .063
Washington AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Donnelly p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- R.Soriano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
lies a 6-5 lead over the Washing- Maxwell cf 5 1 3 0 0 2 .195 e-Gload ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .264 the bottom of the ninth to give Totals 29 1 3 1 2 10
ton Nationals on Wednesday. C.Guzman ss 4 1 1 2 0 1 .295 L.Nunez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- the Astros a 2-1 victory.
A.Dunn 1b 5 0 2 2 0 1 .282 Totals 35 6 8 6 2 2 Houston AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Chan Ho Park pitched a score- Zimmerman 3b 4 1 0 0 0 1 .297 Hanson had been overpow- Bourn cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .294
Willingham lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .281 New York AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
less eighth for the defending Dukes rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .258 Pagan lf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .306
ering for eight innings, striking K.Matsui 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 .243
Berkman 1b 4 1 2 0 0 1 .271
World Series champions. J.Bard c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Dessens p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- out seven and allowing five Ca.Lee lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .306
d-W.Harris ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .229 L.Castillo 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .313
Then came the question: Would MacDougal p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- D.Wright 3b 3 1 0 0 1 1 .318
singles and no walks in his lon- Tejada ss 4 0 1 2 0 0 .302
Alb.Gonzalez 2b 3 2 3 0 0 0 .259 Pence rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .286
closer Brad Lidge get another Beltran cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .333 gest major league outing. Blum 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 .261
e-Orr ph-2b 0 0 0 1 0 0 .345 Dan.Murphy 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .259
chance a night after his 10th Mock p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .053 Francoeur rf 2 0 0 1 0 0 .265 So Houston felt it had a a-C.Johnson ph-3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J.Flores ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .308 Quintero c 2 0 0 0 0 0 .231
blown save? Thole c 2 0 0 0 0 0 .286 chance when closer Rafael b-Erstad ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .205
Bergmann p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-Tatis ph 1 0 0 1 0 0 .266
Ryan Madson pitched the ninth S.Burnett p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Santos c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Soriano (1-5) entered to try to Coste c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
b-J.Padilla ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .111 W.Rodriguez p 2 0 1 0 0 1 .125
instead of the struggling Lidge, Clippard p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A.Hernandez ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 .255 get the save. W.Wright p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Misch p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
earning his sixth save in as many f-Nieves ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .253 a-Reed ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .255 Kaz Matsui led off the ninth c-Michaels ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .231
Totals 36 5 11 5 1 5 Broadway p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- Valverde p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
six chances as Philadelphia beat HENNY RAY ABRAMS / AP with a single and Lance Berk- Totals 31 2 8 2 1 8
S.Green p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
the Nationals for the ninth Philadelphia 030 010 020 — 6 11 1 Cody Ross, left, and the Marlins remain six games behind Philadelphia. c-N.Evans ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222 man doubled to left. Carlos Lee
Washington 100 020 110 — 5 11 1 d-Sullivan ph-lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 .283 Atlanta 010 000 000 — 1 3 0
straight time. was intentionally walked and Houston 000 000 002 — 2 8 0
Totals 28 3 4 3 3 4
“When the eighth inning rolled a-grounded out for Mock in the 5th. b-singled for NEW YORK—Cody Ross didn’t look up there after Tejada’s single up the middle
S.Burnett in the 7th. c-struck out for Bako in the 8th. Florida 400 001 100 — 6 8 0 One out when winning run scored. a-popped
around and I didn’t pitch, I didn’t d-flied out for J.Bard in the 8th. e-hit a sacrifice fly for slumped into a chair in the every out in every inning. I New York 000 000 300 — 3 4 0
handed Soriano his fourth out for Blum in the 5th. b-struck out for Quintero
know what to expect,” Madson Alb.Gonzalez in the 8th. f-grounded out for Clippard in clubhouse and, with many just look up there and see blown save. in the 8th. c-struck out for W.Wright in the 8th.
the 8th. E: Howard (12), Nieves (5). LOB: Philadelphia a-grounded out for Misch in the 6th. b-grounded out LOB: Atlanta 4, Houston 5. 2B: Berkman (28).
said. “If they call my name I’ll be 9, Washington 7. 2B: Victorino (33), Ibanez 2 (29), of his Florida teammates, what’s going on,” Ross said for Thole in the 7th. c-was announced for S.Green in
Tejada admitted he was glad RBIs: M.Diaz (45), Tejada 2 (72). SB: Berkman
ready to go get some outs—that’s C.Guzman (23), Willingham (28), Alb.Gonzalez 3 (16). watched the ninth inning of scoreboard watching. “I the 8th. d-walked for N.Evans in the 8th. e-flied out to not have to face Hanson. (7). S: Prado. Runners left in scoring position:
HR: Werth (33), off Clippard; P.Feliz (10), off Clippard. for Donnelly in the 9th. 1-ran for N.Johnson in the 7th. Atlanta 1 (McCann); Houston 2 (Ca.Lee, Berkman).
what I was thinking.” RBIs: Rollins (62), Ibanez (83), Werth 2 (84), P.Feliz (66), of the N.L. East-leading know (the Phillies) tied it LOB: Florida 5, New York 2. 2B: N.Johnson (22), Maybin “Not just me,” Tejada said. DP: Atlanta 2 (Y.Escobar, Prado, Ad.LaRoche),
Cl.Lee (1), C.Guzman 2 (49), A.Dunn 2 (94), Orr (4). SB:
Madson replaced Lidge during Rollins (26), Howard (6), Maxwell (4). S: C.Guzman. SF: Philadelphia’s game. up, that they were up by (7), Pagan (14), Dan.Murphy (30). HR: C.Ross (21), off “Everybody was. The way the (C.Jones, Prado, Ad.LaRoche).
Misch; Uggla (26), off Misch. RBIs: N.Johnson (55),
the ninth inning Tuesday, leading Orr. Runners left in scoring position: Philadelphia No matter the first bus two, and I knew right Uggla 2 (74), C.Ross 3 (79), Dan.Murphy (54), Francoeur game was going, the way he Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
7 (Howard, Utley 2, Werth 2, Ibanez 2); Washington 5
to talk about whether Lidge may (Mock, Zimmerman 2, A.Dunn, Nieves). DP: Philadel- back to the hotel was leav- before we made the final (68), Tatis (39). SF: Francoeur. Runners left in scoring was pitching, we weren’t doing Hanson 8 5 0 0 0 7 98 2.83
phia 1 (Utley, Rollins); Washington 1 (Alb.Gonzalez, position: Florida 2 (Ha.Ramirez, Helms); New York R.Soriano L, 1-5 BS, 4-2 61⁄3 3 2 2 1 1 20 2.80
have lost his closer role. ing in 20 minutes, the out they were up by one. I 2 (Beltran, L.Castillo). DP: Florida 2 (Cantu, Uggla, much.” Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
A.Dunn).
Phillies manager Charlie Man- Marlins are in a playoff mean you got a lot of time N.Johnson), (Cantu). Astros manager Cecil Cooper W.Rodriguez 7 3 1 1 2 6 85 2.76
Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA W.Wright 1 0 0 0 0 2 13 5.61
uel didn’t say who would be Cl.Lee W, 6-2 7 10 5 4 0 4 107 3.11
race. And boy, is it fun. on your hands in the Florida IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA was another person happy that Valverde W, 4-2 1 0 0 0 0 2 16 1.91
pitching the ninth before Wednes- Park H, 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 14 4.54 Ross hit a three-run outfield. Nolasco W, 11-8 6 1⁄3 4 3 3 2 4 105 5.23 Hanson was out of the game.
Madson S, 6-11 1 1 0 0 0 1 10 3.11 Pinto 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 10 3.35 IBB: off R.Soriano (Ca.Lee). Umpires: Home,
day’s game, but when it came time Washington IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA homer in a four-run first “All that doesn’t matter Donnelly H, 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 15 1.93 “We probably wouldn’t have Paul Emmel; First, Todd Tichenor; Second, Gary
Lidge stayed in the bullpen and Mock 5 6 4 4 3 4 106 5.75 inning, Ricky Nolasco shut if we’re not doing our own L.Nunez S, 20-26 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 4.11 gotten anything off of him,” Darling; Third, Bruce Dreckman. T: 2:13. A: 22,392
Bergmann 1 1⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 19 5.18 New York IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA (40,976).
Madson took the mound. S.Burnett 2⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 17 2.91 down the Mets into the business,” he said before Misch L, 1-2 6 6 5 5 0 1 78 3.86 Cooper said. “It didn’t look like
“Madson pitched good last Clippard L, 2-2 1 2 2 2 0 1 19 3.16 seventh and the Marlins tuning into the end of the Broadway 1 1 1 1 1 0 18 4.50 it. We had chances and we
MacDougal 1 2 0 0 0 2 19 2.40 S.Green 1 0 0 0 0 1 13 5.01
night,” Manuel said. “I like him, kept pace in the division Phillies’ 6-5 win that kept Dessens 1 1 0 0 1 0 17 2.73 didn’t really do anything
plus I wanted to leave Lidge Cl.Lee pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. Inherited with a 6-3 victory over the their six-game lead in the against him. That kid’s pretty
runners-scored: Park 2-1, S.Burnett 1-0. IBB: off Inherited runners-scored: Pinto 1-1. IBB: off Dessens
alone.” S.Burnett (Howard). WP: Mock. PB: Bako 2. Umpires: New York Mets. division intact. (Coghlan). HBP: by Misch (Coghlan). Umpires: Home, impressive.”
Home, Ron Kulpa; First, Dale Scott; Second, Mike Esta- Jeff Nelson; First, Tim Tschida; Second, Bob Davidson;
— The Associated Press brook; Third, Jerry Meals. T: 3:04. A: 16,818 (41,888).
“I’d be lying if I said I — The Associated Press Third, Scott Barry. T: 2:40. A: 37,312 (41,800). — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Prospects tournament produces ready-to-contribute talent
BY CRAIG CUSTANCE
ccustance@sportingnews.com
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH.—It wasn’t long
ago that elite players attending the
Red Wings’ annual prospect tourna-
ment in Traverse City stood out like
Alex Ovechkin in a beer league.
When guys like Ilya Kovalchuk and
Henrik Zetterberg played in the
camp, their future stardom was pain-
fully apparent.
Now, that’s not the case.
“This tournament has stepped up
where the play is lightning fast,
everybody’s skill level is very good,”
said Curt Fraser, who has been
coaching the Red Wings prospects.
“It’s good hockey. You’re not going to
get those guys who stand out as much
as you did before because there’s a lot
of good players on every team and a
lot of prospects.”
Last year, the tournament pro-
duced NHL-ready prospects like
Patrik Berglund, Zach Bogosian,
Cal Clutterbuck, T.J. Oshie, James
Neal and Jakub Voracek.
This year won’t be any different.
These five players competing in
Traverse City are ready to contrib-
ute in the NHL—now:
1. Brandon Sutter, F, Hurricanes
In his first two games in the
tournament, Sutter had a goal and an
assist and was a plus-2. He’s the NHL
veteran of the group, having played
in 50 games last year for the Hurri-
canes. Right now, he’s known more
for the hit he took from Doug Weight
that led to a concussion than any-
thing he has produced on the ice. He’s
ready for that to change.
“Playing last year was great; I had
a chance to do a lot,” Sutter said. “I
hope I can prove that this year and
play a full year.”
Former ’Canes defenseman Glen
Wesley, who has been in Traverse
City working with the young Hur-
ricanes, likes what he has seen from
Sutter so far.
“He’s a man out there against
boys,” Wesley said. “He’s a smart
hockey player and comes from great
genes.”
The Hurricanes also like Zach
Boychuk and will give him a seri-
ous look in training camp. Boychuk
had two goals through two games
in the prospect tournament. Paul
Maurice said this may be the deep-
est the Hurricanes have ever been
as an organization.
2. Alex Pietrangelo, D, Blues
Last year, Blues prospects
Berglund and Oshie impressed scouts
during the Traverse City tournament
and ended up playing a big part in St.
Louis’ push for the playoffs. This year,
the club hopes the same thing hap-
pens with Pietrangelo.
Pietrangelo was the only player
drafted in the top five of the 2008
entry draft who didn’t see serious
NHL time last year. But his talent has
stood out nearly every time he has
taken the ice in Traverse City. That,
however, is not what has pleased St.
Louis vice president of player person-
nel Doug Armstrong the most.
“His confidence level is at a
higher level,” Armstrong told
Sporting News Today. “The way he
carries himself around the other
players, he looks so much more
comfortable.”
There’s a roster spot available in St.
Louis if Pietrangelo has a good camp.
“He’ll have a really good opportu-
NHL
After 50 games in the NHL last season, F Brandon Sutter has led a team of young ‘Canes to a strong showing at the annual prospect tournament.
nity,” Armstrong said.
3. Evgeny Grachev, F, Rangers
Grachev was asked by
Rangers coaches this week where he
prefers playing—in the middle or on
the wing. He didn’t have an answer.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I don’t
care at all.”
What does matter, one scout
observed, is scoring. The 6-4 Rus-
sian loves to score goals and has a
knack for it. He scored 40 in the
OHL with Brampton, and provided
KARL B. DEBLAKER / AP
the opposition with another player
to worry about besides Cody Hodg-
son and Matt Duchene.
“It was fun to play (with Hodgson
and Duchene),” Grachev said.
“They play in the middle, that
helped me very much. They can
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 36
score, they can pass.”
He’s proving to be every bit as tal-
ented as those two.
4. Jamie Benn, F, Stars
Benn got off to a slow start
in the tournament, and was held
without a point in Dallas’ first two
games. But new Stars G.M. Joe
Nieuwendyk expects Benn to see
NHL time this season.
“If he doesn’t make our team, he’ll
be with our team from time to time,”
Nieuwendyk said. “I don’t think
he’s far off at all.”
Nieuwendyk said Benn has an
NHL-ready body and will get a
good look when training camp
opens in Dallas. The Stars are
loaded with natural left wingers so
Benn’s best chance to contribute
with the big club will be if he can
make a successful transition to the
right side.
5. Evander Kane, F, Thrashers
Kane caught the eye of one
Western Conference scout by scor-
ing a goal shortly after an opposing
player leveled him with a big hit in
one of the early games of the tour-
nament. As the No. 4 overall pick in
the 2009 draft, there’s no denying
Kane’s talent, but observers in Tra-
verse City have loved his level of
competitiveness.
He has put on seven pounds of
muscle this summer and should
make the Thrashers out of training
camp. His potential is one of the
reasons Atlanta has resisted sign-
ing another top-six forward.
“I definitely feel like there’s an
opportunity to make the team,” Kane
said. “It’s up to me to make the most
of that opportunity.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Burke says he won’t extend offer sheet to Kessel
Toronto general manager Brian Burke
quashed rumors that he plans to put
together an offer sheet for 21-year-old
Boston star Phil Kessel, though he does
admit the Maple Leafs still might be
interested in acquiring the 36-goal
scorer via trade.
“We are not going to (make an offer),”
Burke told The Associated Press. “That’s
not the plan now, no. Everyone knows
that we’ve reacquired a draft pick. It
puts us in a position to affect a chain of
events with certain players. It’s kind of a
day-to-day thing. I don’t know what the
next step is.”
Kessel, a restricted free agent, remains
unsigned as the Bruins prepare to start
training camp. When Burke re-acquired
the Leafs’ second-round 2010 draft pick
from the Blackhawks over the weekend,
he triggered speculation he was getting
in position to extend an offer sheet to
Kessel.
That’s not to say the interest is not still
there. The Globe and Mail reported
Wednesday that Burke has told Boston
G.M. Peter Chiarelli an offer still might be
coming—a trade offer.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported
that Penguins G.M. Ray Shero has set a new
contract for D Sergei Gonchar as a top prior-
ity while also expressing interest in
extending the contract of D Kris Letang.
“I sat down with (Gonchar) last week
for a little bit, just to kind of get things
started,” Shero told the newspaper.
“Those (talks) will continue a little bit, to
a certain extent, and we’ll see what hap-
pens. He certainly is a guy we’d like to
extend, to have him around Pittsburgh.
He’s done a fantastic job for us.”
Gonchar is entering the final season of
a five-year contract and, if he is not
re-signed before July 1, will become an
unrestricted free agent. Letang is going
into the last season of a three-year deal
and can become a restricted free agent.
“We’ll probably explore something (with
Letang) at some point,” Shero told the
newspaper. “He’s a big part of our future.”
The International Ice Hockey Fed-
eration has ruled that Red Wings for-
ward Jiri Hudler can sign with Dynamo
Moscow of Russia’s KHL.
Hudler was awarded a $10-million,
two-year contract by Dynamo Moscow in
July. USA Hockey filed an appeal, saying
Hudler was still under contract with the
Red Wings.
An IIHF investigation revealed that
although Hudler’s agent had filed for
salary arbitration with Detroit on his
client’s behalf, Hudler never actually
signed the filing notice himself, making
it invalid.
The governing body also ruled that
USA Hockey did not submit its appeal
“within the formal deadlines provided
by the IIHF.
If Ottawa G.M. Bryan Murray is asked
what he did over his offseason, don’t
expect him to answer with a smile. His
summer of (Dany Heatley) discontent has
been a major drag.
“When you talk about the hours and the
phone calls spent on this, I think I’ve spent
more time on this than I did with my fam-
ily during the summer,” Murray told Sun
Media. “It’s frustrating in a lot of ways to
have to go through that process. It didn’t
work and unless something comes up in
the next day or two, we’ll have to make it
work here.”
After an outstanding season in
NHL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 37
INSIDE DISH
which he scored 25 goals and 88 points
while helping the Boston Bruins post the
best record in the Eastern Conference,
veteran C Marc Savard was understandably
looking ahead to a possible Olympic ros-
ter spot.
But while teammate Milan Lucic and 45
other NHL stars received invitations to
Team Canada’s Olympic orientation
camp in Calgary, Savard got the silent
treatment.
“I was pretty upset about it,’’ Savard
told The Boston Globe. “I feel that I had a
chance to at least go to the camp. I didn’t
really come out and say anything. I had
a lot of calls for a couple weeks after that.
It’s something I didn’t want to talk
about.
“I was pretty mad about it. I’ve had to
prove myself over and over again. I’m
hoping to get off to a good start. I still
haven’t counted myself out, so I guess
that’s all that matters.’’
Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie and
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are
expected to spend as much as 40 minutes
apiece Friday answering questions from
lawyers in bankruptcy court proceed-
ings to determine the fate of the Phoenix
Coyotes.
Both are scheduled to appear before
the court early Friday—the second of two
days Judge Redfield T. Baum has set aside to
oversee an auction for the team. Balsillie
has filed a bid contingent on moving the
Coyotes to Hamilton. The league has filed
the only other official bid, hoping to keep
the team in Glendale, Ariz.
Ice Edge Holdings, a group of Cana-
dian and American businessmen, con-
firmed Wednesday that it would not take
part in the auction, hinting it may try to GENE J. PUSKAR / AP
buy the team later. Sergei Gonchar, left, entering the final year of a five-year deal, is a priority for the Penguins, G.M. Ray Shero said.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
NHL countdown
21
BY LUKE DECOCK
Sporting News Yearbooks
For the past four years, the Panthers have
been knocking on the door of the playoffs.
And for the past four years, they have fallen
short—although never by more than nine
points.
Last season, a playoff spot was denied
only by a tiebreaker when Florida finished
with 93 points, its highest total in nine
years. Now everyone wonders whether this
is the season the Panthers get over the
hump and back to the playoffs for the first
time since 2000.
They’ll have to do it without cornerstone
defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who was
traded during June’s draft because the Pan-
thers could not re-sign him. But that’s noth-
ing new for this franchise.
During the 2006 draft, they traded
franchise goalie Roberto Luongo when
they couldn’t re-sign him. At the 2008
draft, Florida traded captain Olli Jokinen,
seemingly blaming him for the late-season
collapse that kept the Panthers out of the
playoffs.
The Panthers held on to Bouwmeester
this spring, hoping they could make the
postseason. The gamble failed when the
Canadiens nipped them at the finish line
and Bouwmeester, as expected, wanted to
play elsewhere.
General manager Jacques Martin left
after the season to coach the Canadiens,
leaving the organization in the hands of
interim G.M. Randy Sexton, who did the
best he could getting something for Bouw-
meester—a third-round pick and the rights
to veteran defenseman Jordan Leopold,
who played for Calgary last season.
The good news is the rest of Florida’s core
NHL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 38
Numbers
Every day in September leading into
FLORIDA PANTHERS CATEGORY TEAM STATS RANKS
the Oct. 1 season openers, Sporting
Goals per game 2.82 17
News Today will preview each of the 2008-09 record: 41-30-11, 93 points Penalty kill percentage 82.64 9
NHL teams, counting backward from Last Playoff: 2000 (lost in conference quarterfinal) Power play goals 51 25
its July 24 Power Poll. Coach: Peter DeBoer Power Play Percentage 16.56 24
Saves 2620 1
Save percentage .922 3
young players are signed to long-term con- Shorthanded goals 7 16t
tracts. Keith Ballard, Nathan Horton, David Shots against per game 34.67 30
Booth, Stephen Weiss and Rostislav Olesz Shots per game 29.41 15
gave Florida its best season in almost a decade Shutouts 9 4t
under first-year coach Peter DeBoer. Total points 627 18
As Bouwmeester’s replacement, Leopold Faceoff percentage .479 24
might not have his all-around game, but he Goals against per game 2.72 9t
has plenty to offer on the blue line. He’s the
Power Play
latest addition to a line that now lacks a No. 308 29
Opportunities
1 workhorse, but still can move the puck. Shorthanded Goals
This season’s blue line should be more 9 9t
Against
mobile, more versatile and better equipped Times Shut Out 4 18t
to handle the intensity of a stretch drive.
“You don’t replace a guy like Bouw- Offseason moves
meester, who was eating 28 to 30 minutes
a night, and his mobility,” Sexton said. Additions
“The approach we’ve taken is adding some Scott Clemmensen, G (Devils); Ville Koistinen, D
depth and mobility, and we think we’ve (Predators); Jordan Leopold, D (trade, Flames);
done that.” Graham Mink, RW (Capitals); Steve Reinprecht, F
Veteran Bryan McCabe will be asked to (trade, Coyotes); Jeff Taffe, F (Penguins); Clay Wilson,
carry a heavier load. At 34, he’s still capable D (Thrashers).
but the clock is ticking. He played 69 games
last season and was never healthy, strug- Subtractions
gling with back, wrist and facial injuries. Craig Anderson, G (Avalanche); Jay Bouwmeester,
Ballard and Bryan Allen, who played D (trade, Flames); Nick Boynton, D (Ducks); Tanner
only two games last year because of a knee Glass, F (Canucks); Drew Larman, C (Bruins); Stefan
injury, are solid defenders, and Florida Meyer, LW (trade, Coyotes); Karlis Skrastins, D (Stars);
added free agent Ville Koistinen. Anthony Stewart, RW (Thrashers); Richard Zednik, F
But there’s still a spot or two open. Rook- (Russia).
ies Keaton Ellerby and Jason Garrison and GREGORY SMITH / AP
Dmitry Kulikov will get long auditions in David Booth, Florida’s leading goal scorer with 31, was one of five forwards with more than 40 points last season. Martin Brodeur was injured and should
training camp. give Vokoun a strong challenge.
So there’s some youth around which to lik have the potential to get better together. Horton to move back to wing, where he has Getting into the postseason is going to
build, but it’s nothing compared with the The list doesn’t include Olesz, who was put up his best offensive numbers. take a combination of factors, including a
Panthers’ young forwards. Booth, with 53 limited to 37 games by an abdominal injury Tomas Vokoun has been the team’s No. 1 strong start—which Florida hasn’t enjoyed
goals over the past two seasons, and Hor- but had shown steady improvement over goalie since Luongo’s departure, and he in the past three years. A year ago, the Pan-
ton (four straight seasons of 20-plus goals) the previous three seasons. The youngsters battled Craig Anderson for playing time thers had the league’s worst record in
lead the way. are surrounded by savvy veterans Radek last season to create a successful tandem. November, but eventually played their way
The Panthers had five forwards with more Dvorak and Stillman, who continues to Anderson left as a free agent, but the Pan- into playoff contention.
than 40 points last season. Other than captain produce offensively at age 35. thers signed Scott Clemmensen, setting the “We played at a 110-point pace after that,”
Cory Stillman, all were 25 or younger. Booth, The Panthers also added center Steve stage for another battle between the pipes. Sexton said. “We need to play at that pace
Horton, leading scorer Weiss and Michael Fro- Reinprecht, whose presence will allow Clemmensen shined in New Jersey when from the get-go.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
INSIDE DISH
Wade will wait on contract until next summer
It’s been pretty clear throughout the past year that this
would be the case, but Wednesday, Heat G Dwyane Wade
confirmed to Sporting News Today that he would not be
signing a contract extension this summer with Miami.
“It’s just a matter of keeping my options open,” said Wade,
speaking just before his Wade’s World Weekend charity
event in Chicago. “I could sign it now, I could sign some-
thing next summer. To me, I want to see how the season
goes before I make those kinds of decisions.”
Wade’s assertion is not a surprise, and he also made
clear that by not signing an extension now, Heat fans
should not immediately jump to the conclusion that he
is leaving town. “It doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “It
only means that I will make that decision next summer
instead of this summer.”
— Sean Deveney
The Hornets have agreed to trade reserve PG Anto-
nio Daniels and a 2014 second-round draft pick to Min-
nesota in exchange for F Darius Songaila and G Bobby
Brown, The Associated Press reported. The move will
cut the Hornets’ payroll by $1.3 million this season.
Songaila has been in the NBA for six seasons, averag-
ing 7.0 points. Brown, who was on the Hornets’ summer
league team in 2008, played 68 games with Sacramento
and Minnesota last season, his first in the NBA.
The Warriors re-signed restricted free agent G C.J.
Watson, the team announced Wednesday. Terms of the
deal were not announced, but the Contra Costa Times
reported it’s believed to be a one-year contract. Watson
averaged 9.5 points and 2.7 assists per game last season.
Free-agent SG Rashad McCants is still looking for a
home for next season, but says he’s drawn interest from
the Bobcats, Nuggets and Heat.
“I’ve talked with Charlotte and I’m working out with
them on Monday. I worked out for Denver and I’m wait-
ing on them and Miami has offered me a spot in train-
ing camp,” McCants told RealGM.com.
McCants averaged 9.6 points per game last year,
splitting the season with Minnesota and Sacramento.
The 76ers agreed to terms with F Rodney Carney for
one-year deal at the fourth-year minimum of $855,189,
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Carney, who spent
NBA
WILFREDO LEE / AP
Dwyane Wade says he wants to keep his options open.
his first two seasons in Philadelphia, played in Minne-
sota last season, averaging 7.2 points and 1.9 rebounds.
Wizards C Ronny Turiaf, Spurs PG Tony Parker and
Bobcats F Boris Diaw combined for 54 points, helping
France beat Russia 69-64 Wednesday and finish the
group phase undefeated at the European basketball
championship. Spain, which also advanced to the next
round, held off Slovenia 90-84. Blazers SG Rudy Fernan-
dez scored 19 points for Spain. Russia, Germany, Slove-
nia, Serbia, Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey,
Poland and Lithuania also advanced.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 39
Iverson worth the risk for Grizzlies
What on earth, you might ask, would a team like
the Grizzlies—a young, impressionable and still very
much rebuilding bunch—want with an aging mal-
content like Allen Iverson? Fair question, because
many around the league are asking the same thing.
As one East general manager told me, “You have a kid
like Mike Conley. You have a kid
like O.J. Mayo. You have Rudy Gay.
You have Hasheem Thabeet, the No.
2 pick in the draft. How is a guy like
Iverson going to help them?”
Considering the events of last sea-
son, when Iverson was traded to
Detroit for Chauncey Billups and pro-
Sean Deveney ceeded to shred the Pistons’ chemis-
PRO BASKETBALL try, skepticism about Memphis’
signing of Iverson to a one-year deal
for a reported $3.5 million is rampant. But it shouldn’t
be. Because, in the end, consider what the Grizzlies just
did—they signed the 16th-leading scorer in NBA history
to a contract that ends in seven months and costs them
less than half what they’re due to pay Marko Jaric.
There are four ways this thing can play out for the
Grizzlies, who will hold a press conference today to
announce the signing. And even the worst-case sce-
nario is not all that bad.
1. Everything could be perfect. Iverson could come in,
average 20 points, be a leader and model team-
mate, and lift the Grizzlies into the Western Confer- PAUL SANCYA / AP
ence playoffs. He could become so popular in Allen Iverson will be making less than half what Marko Jaric is set to earn.
Memphis that he signs with the team next summer.
This is, admittedly, a remote possibility. hopefully sell tickets to boot.
2. Iverson could have a productive season in Memphis.
Chances are, the lack of interest in Iverson this
summer has been humbling. The attitude and work-
3. Iverson could have a productive half-season in Memphis.
This is the really intriguing possibility for the
Grizzlies. Iverson is not really part of the team’s
ethic problems that have attached themselves to Iver- future, so if he goes through the first three-plus
son’s reputation, and which were amplified by the months playing well and not causing problems, the
Detroit disaster, remain his biggest problem. Grizzlies might have the chance to offer him up to a
But you have to think that if Iverson is serious about contending team at the trade deadline.
wanting to compete for a championship, he under-
stands that he needs to put out a good effort on the
floor and an even better effort in practice and in the
locker room. It’s the only way a contender will be
4. The whole thing could be a disaster. If it is a disaster,
you know what? The Grizzlies can simply cut
Iverson. They’ll be out $3.5 million, but weighing that
interested in him next summer. potential loss against the potential benefits of the
In the meantime, though, the Grizzlies will get one deal, it’s worth the risk.
of the greatest scorers in league history for a year, and sdeveney@sportingnews.com
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Passion, consistency lead Sloan to Hall
BY SEAN DEVENEY
sdeveney@sportingnews.com
In most NBA quarters, there is
unprecedented excitement for this
year’s group of Hall of Fame induct-
ees. Just don’t ask Jerry Sloan to get
all hyped up for the occasion, even
though the longtime Jazz coach is
part of the incoming class.
Truth is, he’s never been to the Nai-
smith Memorial Basketball Hall of
Fame in Springfield, Mass., and he
probably wouldn’t be going this week
unless he’d been talked into it. “There
was some hesitation,” Sloan said. “I
never saw myself that way. ... But I
talked to my kids and my family and
that’s what changed my mind.”
This is, of course, typical of Sloan,
who usually presents his basketball
achievements—which include a
coaching record of 1,137-751 and 15
consecutive playoff appearances—
as some kind of goofy oversight.
Don’t be fooled, though. Sloan has,
for two decades now, earned the
respect of players for his consistency
and his straightforward approach.
That’s his identity, and it has become
the identity he demands of his teams.
It’s the reason he wins.
“If you want to see what Jerry
Sloan is all about, go to a Utah Jazz
practice,” said Frank Layden,
Sloan’s predecessor in Utah. “The
players are there on time. They are
out there, running hard. The shirts
are tucked in. They’re listening.
That’s the kind of attention that
Jerry commands.”
When Sloan met with the media
last week to discuss his impending
Hall of Fame status, you could not
have imagined a more uncomfortable
guy. But he is comfortable talking
Utah coach Jerry Sloan has led the Jazz to a remarkable 15 consecutive playoff appearances.
about his background, about how
unlikely a story his is. Hearing him
remember his childhood in the tiny
farming town of McLeansboro, Ill., is
a bit like hearing your grandfather
recall walking to 10 miles to school
everyday during the Depression,
uphill both ways. Except Sloan is not
exaggerating.
“When we started off in high
school, my high school coach
expected us to be at practice at 7 in
the morning, and then we had to
practice afterwards, too,” Sloan
said. “I would hitchhike 16 miles to
get there. The bus came around
about a quarter of a mile from my
house, but it did not get (to school)
NBA
BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP
at 7 o’ clock. So I would have missed
practice if I waited for the bus. I feel
very good about the fact that I
played high school basketball and I
never missed a practice. … If you
liked to play, you’d figure out a way
to do it, and I liked to play.”
In the end, though he is obviously
reluctant to acknowledge this fact,
stories like that made Sloan what he
was as a player and what he is as a
coach, helped him reach the level of
consistency that has defined his
career. He liked to play basketball;
he likes to coach basketball. The
fact that he’s done it so well makes
him a worthy Hall of Famer—no
matter what he says.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 40
Stockton always came ready to play
BY SEAN DEVENEY
sdeveney@sportingnews.com
Suppose you were a player for the John Stockton-Karl
Malone Jazz teams of the ’90s, and suppose you were
feeling a bit of soreness flaring up in your knee just
before a game. Not unbearable pain, but enough to give
you a limp. And suppose you took that limp into the
locker room. Well, there was one quick cure for that
hitch in your step—a Stockton stare.
“That was all it took,” former Jazz center Mark
Eaton said. “A guy would come limping into the locker
room and he would get that look from John. All the
sudden, the limp would go away. He didn’t need to
say anything. But you knew the way things were in
John’s eyes. If you could walk, you could play, and if
you could play, you were 100 percent.”
Over the course of 19 seasons, durability was one of
Stockton’s strengths, and he demanded the same from
teammates. He suited up for 1,504 out of a possible 1,526
games. That’s one reason he was able to establish an
incredible NBA record for career assists, with 15,806—
well ahead of Mark Jackson, No. 2 on the list at 10,334.
It’s also a big part of the reason Stockton will get the call
from the Hall of Fame on Friday. He played through
sore knees. He played through illness. He even played
for the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics despite a
stress fracture in his leg.
“I will tell you, there was one year in the early’90s
and we were playing Seattle in the playoffs,” said Jazz
assistant coach Phil Johnson. “John had an elbow
injury, and he could not lift his right arm. He spent KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / AP
most of the series dribbling with his left hand. He even John Stockton, right, missed only 22 games in his 19 NBA seasons.
considered shooting free throws with his left hand, but
he did not want to let the Sonics know that he was hurt. perhaps the best point guard ever to run the pick-and-
He never told the press, never told anyone. After the roll. He led the league in assists nine straight times
season, he had surgery on his elbow. No one ever knew. and put up a record 14.5 assists per game in 1989-90.
We knew in the locker room only because he didn’t He holds the NBA career record for steals (3,265), also
want to hurt the team.” by a wide margin.
There was more to Stockton than merely staying on Stockton remains the NBA’s gold standard for play-
the court and his famed reluctance to let the media makers, and it’s hard to imagine someone even near-
know about his injuries. His toughness and work ing his assists record. “When I am asked about John,”
ethic were big parts of his identity, but they should Johnson said, “I go to what (late Jazz owner) Larry
not overshadow the fact that he was, arguably, the Miller used to say: John Stockton is exactly what you
greatest natural playmaker in NBA history and would want him to be.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY
If the Irish’s newcomers in the frontcourt relieve some of the heat that Luke Harangody, left, felt last season, the team will be better off.
www.sportingnews.com College Basketball
Better offense, not defense,
will improve Irish’s might
It is so convenient the joke almost
writes itself, so how much fun can it
be?
Notre Dame.
ND.
No defense.
Isn’t that hilarious? Well, here’s
the funny thing
about all that. The
popular wisdom
that the Irish failed
last season—failed
to contend in the
Big East, failed to
reach the NCAA
Mike DeCourcy T o u r n a m e n t ,
COLLEGE BASKETBALL failed to live up to
their own stan-
dards—simply because they couldn’t
guard anyone? Flat wrong.
No one is going to confuse Notre
Dame with the ’96 Kentucky Wild-
cats at the defensive end, but that’s
like saying U2 wouldn’t do justice to
Beethoven’s 9th. The Irish aren’t
designed to excel on defense. They’re
built to score. And they were lousy
at it last season.
“If you really look at us, we
couldn’t score it to the level we need
to in this league,” Notre Dame coach
Mike Brey said. “We couldn’t get the
thing rolling enough.
“My goal is to get us back in the
offensive rhythm that’s been very
successful for us. How can we get this
thing back to 80 points a game?”
Notre Dame averaged 75 points in
league games in 2008-09, down
more than five points per game from
the team that led the Big East in scor-
CHRIS CARLSON / AP ing the previous season. The Irish
ranked just 10th among league
members in field-goal percentage,
making only 42.9 percent of their
attempts.
What’s weird about that is they
still led the league in 3-point shoot-
ing at an impressive 38.9 percent.
Which means the Irish converted
only 45 percent of their shots inside
the arc. It’s not easy to win that way.
Notre Dame’s problems last sea-
son developed mostly at the forward
positions. The three players who
consumed most of the minutes there
(Ryan Ayers, Zach Hillesland and
Luke Zeller) weren’t dynamic attack-
ing the basket nor rugged along the
baseline. That allowed the best
opponents to gang up on All-Amer-
ica center Luke Harangody and vet-
eran shooter Kyle McAlarney.
“I think physically the league was
at such a level that they were able to
take away some of our skill guys,”
Brey said. “We couldn’t do much in
between, other than Tory (Jackson)
putting the ball on the floor and get-
ting into the lane.”
The new Irish should not have the
same problems. Forward Scott Mar-
tin, who began his career at Purdue,
looks like the most versatile player
Brey has coached at his position
since at least Danny Miller, and
maybe ever.
Martin averaged 8.5 points in 22
minutes per game as a Boilers fresh-
man. He’ll need to be much more
accurate as a shooter, but he does
have the ability to put the ball on the
floor and attack the rim and the guts
to attempt big shots.
Ben Hansbrough, who transferred
in from Mississippi State, is more of
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 41
a shooting specialist, but he does
bring some of his brother Tyler’s
maniacal competitiveness.
The combined threat those two
pose should force defenses to play
Harangody more honestly. And he’ll
be required to force fewer attempts.
At times last season, he shot because
the Irish had run out of other options,
not because it was ideal.
“I don’t think he’s ever been in a
position where he’s really been the
voice, set the tone, been a leader,”
Brey said. “I told him, to be the best
player you can be, you being in a
leadership role is important.
“I want him to enjoy this. Luke is
such an intense guy, he’s so hungry,
and he wants it so bad—I want him
to enjoy the trip. I don’t want the
weight of the world on him.”
Harangody entered the 2009 NBA
draft and thought seriously about
moving on from college basketball.
At his size—6-8 is small for an NBA
power forward—it’s unlikely he’ll
play his way to first-round status
even with a spectacular senior year.
But he can depart with the Big
East and Notre Dame school scoring
records—indeed, it is possible for
him to pass the great Austin Carr—
and also help put the Irish back into
the NCAA Tournament. That’s how
Harangody came into college bas-
ketball, and it’s how he would prefer
to leave it.
“No one’s more ticked off about
not making the NCAA Tournament
than Jackson, Harangody and Brey,”
the coach said. “We’ll give it a shot.”
He means that literally, of course.
decourcy@sportingnews.com
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
INSIDE DISH
Samford player Griffin found dead
Samford reserve F Jim Griffin was found dead in his
dorm room after apparently dying in his sleep, the
school said.
The body of Griffin, 23, a senior from Chicago, was
discovered Tuesday morning in his room at Samford’s
Beeson Woods residential village.
The Jefferson County coroner’s office said results of
an autopsy, conducted Wednesday, would be released
in about two weeks. But a university news release indi-
cated Griffin died in his sleep after playing in a pickup
game and lifting weights on Monday night before
returning to his room.
“This is a tremendous loss for our university and our
team,” Samford coach Jimmy Tillette said. “Our objective
now is to help Jim’s family and his teammates and
friends deal with the situation.”
Griffin averaged 18 minutes in 32 games last season.
Muhamed Hasani, a guard from Kosovo, has signed a
scholarship agreement to attend Rutgers.
A member of the Kosovo senior national team since
2007, Hasani was scheduled to arrive on campus on
Wednesday and will play this season.
“We feel very fortunate to add a player of this caliber
to our roster at such a late stage,” coach Fred Hill said.
“He is a solid player with experience who handles and
shoots the ball well.”
Hasani, 20, has played for the KB Sigal Prishtina
Junior team since 2005, winning two U18 titles and
two U16 championships with the club. He is fluent in
four languages (Albanian, Turkish, Serbo-Croatian
and English).
Former Kentucky G Derrick Miller has been charged
with one count of felony in connection to a scam to sell
fake season tickets, according to a police statement.
Miller, 42, played for the Wildcats from 1986-90 and
is the second former Kentucky player in a week to be
hit with similar charges. Edward Davender was charged
last week with three felony counts of theft by deception
and one count of trafficking a controlled substance
within 1,000 yards of a school.
Lexington police spokesman Lt. Douglas Pape says the
cases were not related.
College Basketball / Golf THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 42
GOLF
PGA Tour statistics
(Through Sept. 7) Players plodding toward
Scoring average
1, Tiger Woods, 68.23. 2, Steve Stricker, 69.16. 3, David Toms,
69.53. 4, Hunter Mahan, 69.56. 5, Zach Johnson, 69.62. 6,
Furyk, 69.66. 7, Tim Clark, 69.70. 8, Kenny Perry, 69.77. 9, the $10 million prize
Lucas Glover, 69.79. 10, Retief Goosen, 69.86.
Driving distance LEMONT, ILL.—Only one day sep-
1, Robert Garrigus, 312.2. 2, Bubba Watson, 310.7. 3, Dustin arated the final round of one
Johnson, 307.7. 4, Gary Woodland, 307.3. 5, Tag Ridings, 306.4. BMW Championship
6, Nick Watney, 305.7. 7, Angel Cabrera, 304.6. 8, J.B. Holmes, PGA Tour playoff event and the
302.3. 9, Troy Matteson, 301.5. 10, Harrison Frazar, 301.3. pro-am round of the next one, Site: Lemont, Ill.
Driving accuracy percentage and even players who are in the
1, David Toms, 74.38% 2, Scott McCarron, 73.54%. 3, Joe best position to capture the
Schedule: Today-Sunday
Durant, 73.52%. 4, Tim Clark, 72.80%. 5, Scott Verplank,
72.44%. 6, Kirk Triplett, 72.08%. 7, Bart Bryant, 71.90%. FedEx Cup and its $10 million Course: Cog Hill Golf and
8, Brian Gay, 71.85%. 9, Zach Johnson, 71.57%. 10, Patrick prize are fighting some fatigue.
Sheehan, 71.09%. Country Club, Dubsdread
Tiger Woods might have Course (7,616 yards, par 71).
Greens in regulation percentage summed it up best.
1, John Senden, 70.58%. 2, Joe Durant, 70.37%. 3, Jay Purse: $7.5 million. Winner’s
Williamson, 69.50%. 4, Jonathan Byrd, 69.49%. 5, Greg Owen, Walking off the fifth tee share: $1.35 million.
69.19%. 6, Robert Garrigus, 69.06%. 7, Jason Bohn, 68.98%. Wednesday morning at Cog Hill,
8, Charles Warren, 68.85%. 9, Hunter Mahan, 68.61%. 10,
Scott Sterling, 68.60%. he turned to a member of his staff TV: Golf Channel (Today-
and said with a mock moan, “I Friday, 3-6 p.m., 8:30-11:30 p.m.)
Total driving and NBC (Saturday, 3-6 p.m.;
1 (tie), Jonathan Byrd and Lucas Glover, 78. 3, John Rollins, don’t want to go to school today.”
91. 4, Kenny Perry, 94. 5, Boo Weekley, 97. 6, Hunter Mahan, Sunday, 2-6 p.m.).
102. 7, Charles Warren, 105. 8, Tiger Woods, 109. 9, 9, Heath
A few minutes later, Woods
Slocum, 110. 10, and Robert Allenby, 114. added, “It will be a little differ-
Putting average ent (today).”
1, Steve Stricker, 1.725. 2, Anthony Kim, 1.726. 3, Joe Ogilvie, The BMW Championship is
1.728. 4, Dean Wilson, 1.730. 5, Luke Donald, 1.731. 6, Charlie the third straight week of play- “The pressure is getting big-
Wi, 1,732. 7, Scott Verplank, 1.733. 8, Jason Day, 1.734. 9,
Daniel Chopra, 1.735. 10, Harrison Frazar, 1.736. offs, one step closer to the big- ger every week we play.”
Birdie average gest prize in golf, and the And they are playing a lot of
1, Dustin Johnson, 4.21. 2, Tiger Woods, 4.15. 3, Hunter possibilities keep growing. No golf. For every player in the top 20,
Mahan, 4.13. 4, Anthony Kim, 4.12. 5, Steve Stricker, 4.06. 6, one paid much attention to this will be at least their fifth tour-
Jason Day, 4.05. 7, Fred Couples, 4.02. 8, Lucas Glover, 4.01. 9,
Jonathan Byrd, 4.00. 10, Joe Durant, 3.98. Heath Slocum until he won The nament in the last six weeks. Mak-
Eagles (holes per) Barclays. Woods was at his cus- ing it even more difficult is the
1, Bubba Watson, 70.9. 2, Retief Goosen, 83.6. 3, Phil tomary top of the list until Steve short turnaround from the Labor
Mickelson, 99.0. 4, Kevin Stadler, 99.8. 5, Pat Perez, 104.7. 6, Stricker birdied the last two Day finish outside Boston to the
Dustin Johnson, 108.0. 7, Chris Riley, 109.8. 8, Zach Johnson,
110.8. 9, Jimmy Walker, 113.4. 10, Andres Romero, 115.7. holes to win the Deutsche Bank typical Thursday start at Cog Hill.
Sand save percentage Championship on Monday and Scott Verplank arrived in this
1, Luke Donald, 68.55%. 2, Kevin Na, 63.01%. 3, David Mathis, move to No. 1 in the standings. south Chicago suburb Tuesday
MEL EVANS / AP 62.07%. 4, Mark Wilson, 61.36%. 5, Brian Gay, 60.83%. That means he will be playing and only walked the golf course,
6, Matt Kuchar, 60.75%. 7, Nick O’Hern, 60.34%. 8, Webb
Rutgers coach Fred Hill landed a player from the Kosovo national team. Simpson, 59.86%. 9, Brad Adamonis, 59.81%. 10, Joe Ogilvie, the first two rounds with Woods except for the par-5 15th.
59.31%. for the third straight week. “Too big of a hill to climb,” he
Darryl LaBarrie is returning to Georgia Tech to serve All-Around ranking “It would really be nice to have said.
on Paul Hewitt’s coaching staff. 1, Tiger Woods, 182. 2, Steve Stricker, 320. 3, Hunter Mahan, the lead going into the Tour The opponent is the Dubs-
335. 4, Jason Day, 339. 5, Jonathan Byrd, 372. 6, Dustin
LaBarrie, 30, replaces Charlton Young, who left in May Johnson, 378. 7, Zach Johnson, 382. 8, Kevin Na, 393. 9, Lucas Championship,” Stricker said. dread course at Cog Hill, recently
to become Georgia Southern’s head coach. Glover, 399. 10, Kenny Perry, 406. “That means going out this week renovated by Rees Jones with
LaBarrie played at Georgia Tech for three seasons, PGA TOUR official money leaders and playing well to maintain hopes of attracting a U.S. Open.
including Hewitt’s first year as coach in 2001 when the 1, Tiger Woods, (15), $8,348,163. 2, Steve Stricker, (20), that lead. I have every belief that It now measures 7,616 yards at a
$6,045,086. 3, Zach Johnson, (23), $4,127,213. 4, Kenny Perry,
Yellow Jackets advanced to the NCAA Tournament. (22), $4,092,987. 5, Phil Mickelson, (16), $3,939,161. 6, Geoff Tiger is going to play great, so par 71, and it should be all they
LaBarrie spent the past two seasons as an assistant Ogilvy, (18), $3,693,245. 7, Lucas Glover, (24), $3,474,480. 8, that means that I’m going to have can handle.
Sean O’Hair, (21), $3,438,993. 9, Y.E. Yang, (21), $3,323,766.
coach at East Carolina. 10, Retief Goosen, (18), $3,032,775. to play good. — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com
Chevy Rock & Roll 400
at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN/Sirius Satellite Ch. 128
Track layout: .75-mile oval
Race distance: 400 laps/300 miles
Estimated pit window: 85-95 laps
Qualifying: Friday, 5:40 p.m. ET
2008 winner: Jimmie Johnson
2008 polesitter: Kyle Busch
10 to watch
BY BILL MARX
bmarx@sportingnews.com
The field for the 2009 Chase for
the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be
decided Saturday night at Richmond
International Raceway. Here’s a look
at the 10 drivers battling for the final
eight spots in the 12-driver field. All
statistical references are for Sprint
Cup races at Richmond unless oth-
erwise indicated.
NASCAR
JOHN BAZEMORE / AP
Kasey Kahne’s win at Atlanta gave him an additional buffer in trying to qualify for the Chase.
past three races erased what was top fives, but he also has seven fin-
considered an impregnable lead of ishes of 31st or worse. He finished
races and 11th after the other two.
He has finished 10th through 14th
in the past six races this season, but
that might not be good enough
given Kyle Busch’s record at Rich-
mond. Kenseth has one win and
nine top 10s at Richmond, but he
has none in his past four starts,
including finishes of 38th and 39th.
If he finishes in the 30s again, he
misses his first Chase.
13. Brian Vickers, 3,057. History
is not with Vickers at
Richmond, but … he did win the pole
in May for his second pole at the
track, and he finished 15th for his
best finish since an eighth as a rookie
in his first Cup start at Richmond in
2004. Vickers has been driving
with the pressure on for weeks and
has responded in a huge way. He has
six top 10s, including a win, in his
past eight starts, and finished 11th
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 43
INSIDE DISH
Stewart wins his third
Prelude to the Dream
With a pass of Kenny Wallace on
Lap 13 of the 30-lap feature, Tony
Stewart shot to the front and stayed
there through two subsequent cau-
tions and won the Gillette Young
Guns Prelude to the Dream on
Wednesday night at Eldora Speed-
way in Rossburg, Ohio. TERRY RENNA / AP
Stewart, who owns the half-mile Robby Gordon will be off-road racing this
dirt track, won by a whopping weekend instead of running at Richmond.
3.358 seconds over Clint Bowyer, who
shoved Wallace out of the way after
a restart with 10 laps remaining.
Kyle Busch finished third in the
International Off-Road Racing
Trophy Truck standings and has
opted to compete in the Nevada
event benefiting four military- event instead of Richmond.
themed charities, followed by Ryan Gordon is 33rd in the Cup driver
Newman and Matt Kenseth. Cruz standings and 34th in the owner
Pedregon, David Reutimann, Aric Almi- standings. He had competed in the
rola, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson previous 76 Sprint Cup events.
completed the top 10. Gilliland has driven most of the
“Kenny Wallace got a really good season for TRG Motorsports and
start and got out, but after that cau- drove for the Wood Brothers last
tion (on Lap 2), it seemed like his week. He is expected to drive for

5. Carl Edwards, 3,162 points. Just

a few weeks ago, anyone
would have said Edwards had a bet-
ter chance of breaking a foot playing
Frisbee than missing the Chase.
Then he went and broke his foot play-
ing Frisbee … and his once-comfort-
able lead of 216 points over the
13th-place driver is down to 105.
Edwards still should make the Chase,
but he sure made it hard on himself.
275 points over the 13th-place
driver. Now it’s 95. It’s still healthy,
but Busch must be a lot more care-
ful. He has one win and five top 10s
in 17 starts at Richmond.
8. Juan Pablo Montoya, 3,145.
Montoya has one top 10 in
five starts, and it came in the spring.
He has done a terrific job points
racing and will get the job done Sat-
urday night. He is 88 points north
fifth at Richmond in May for his
third top five in a row at the track.
Overall, he has 16 top fives and 26
top 10s in 47 starts at Richmond.
His lone win came in 1990.
11. Greg Biffle, 3,125. Biffle
scrambled to a 10th-place
finish last week, which sends
mixed signals. The positive is that
Biffle pulled out a top 10 under
extreme pressure, but the down-
and 12th in the other two races.
When he started this run, he was
17th, 197 points out of 12th. If he
makes the Chase, it will be one of the
biggest stories of the year.
14. Kyle Busch, 3,040. Which
leads us to Busch. If he
doesn’t make the Chase, that will be
one of the biggest stories as well. Sat-
urday night’s race will be his
“clutchest” of his young career. For-
right rear went off a little bit, and he
lost some drive,” said Stewart, who
won the race for the second straight
year and the third time since its
inception in 2005. “Kyle and Clint
and myself and Ryan and whoever
else was behind Ryan there, we all
kind of ganged up on Kenny there,
unfortunately, and we all caught
him.”
— Reid Spencer, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
TRG in five of the final 10 races and
is considered to be the leading can-
didate to drive in three upcoming
Cup races for Joe Gibbs Racing.
— SceneDaily.com
Kevin Conway has signed with
R3 Motorsports and will make his
debut in the team’s Nationwide
Series No. 23 Chevrolet at Kansas
Speedway on Oct. 3.

6. Kasey Kahne, 3,153. Kahne

has experience making the
Chase in the final race. This time he
of 13th-place Brian Vickers.

9. Ryan Newman, 3,138. New-

must protect his lead rather than
drive his way in and hope for the
best. Kahne has one win and five top
10s in 11 starts, but he finished 29th
in May and 19th last September.
man doesn’t have the lead
he once had, but he has finished in
the top 10 the past two races to sta-
bilize his team. He finished fourth
at Richmond in May and has one
win and nine top 10s in 15 starts.
side is that he teetered on disaster,
which isn’t the first time that has
happened this season. Biffle has
five top 10s in 14 starts at Rich-
mond but none in his past five. Not
a good sign.
12. Matt Kenseth,
Kenseth is in familiar ter-
3,077.
tunately for Busch, it comes at a track
on which he has excelled. He won
here in May for his seventh top five
in nine starts. His 6.1 average finish
at Richmond is his best at any Cup
track. If I may state the obvious: He
needs another finish of sixth or bet-
ter to even have a shot at the top 12.
Owner/driver Robby Gordon will
compete in the SCORE Terrible’s
Primm 300 off-road race this
weekend in Nevada and leave the
seat of his No. 7 Sprint Cup car to
David Gilliland for Saturday night’s
Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at
R3 has fielded cars for five driv-
ers this year: Robert Richardson Jr., Ken
Butler III, Chris Cook, Jeff Fuller and Jean-
Francois Dumoulin. The team is 28th
in the owner standings.
Conway, 31, is winless in 18
Nationwide starts over five sea-
sons. His best career finish is 15th

7. Kurt Busch, 3,152. Finishes of

36th and 38th in two of the
10. Mark Martin, 3,126. Martin
is coming off consecutive
ritory—he has been 12th in the
standings in five of the past seven
The team is thinking win. It might
be right.
Richmond.
Gordon leads the 2009 SCORE
at Kentucky Speedway in June.
— SceneDaily.com
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NASCAR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 44
AVG. RUNNING POSITION LAPS IN TOP 15 POINTS STANDINGS
Sprint Cup statistics
(Through 25 of 36 races)
Sum of driver position on each lap
divided by the laps run in the race.
Season to date laps: 6,936
RK. DRIVER PTS.
PTS.
ST. WINS T-5 T-10 DNF
LAPS
BACK LED
RK. DRIVER PCT. LAPS
RK. DRIVER ARP 1. Tony Stewart 3,694 0 25 3 13 18 0 275
1. Jimmie Johnson 83.3 5,779
1. Jimmie Johnson 8.3 2. Jeff Gordon 3,457 -237 25 1 11 17 1 601
2. Mark Martin 78.8 5,464
2. Tony Stewart 10.8 3. Jimmie Johnson 3,404 -290 25 3 9 15 1 1,252
3. Kurt Busch 77.1 5,347
3. Kurt Busch 11.1 4. Denny Hamlin 74.5 5,170 4. Denny Hamlin 3,296 -398 25 1 8 13 1 693
4. Jeff Gordon 11.9 5. Jeff Gordon 74.0 5,133 5. Carl Edwards 3,162 -532 25 0 7 11 1 159
5. Kyle Busch 12.1 6. Tony Stewart 72.7 5,042 6. Kasey Kahne 3,153 -541 25 2 5 10 0 180
6. Denny Hamlin 12.2 7. Kyle Busch 71.1 4,932 7. Kurt Busch 3,152 -542 25 1 6 13 2 391
7. Mark Martin 12.9 8. Carl Edwards 65.3 4,526 8. Juan Montoya 3,145 -549 25 0 2 12 0 164
8. Carl Edwards 13.8 9. David Reutimann 61.1 4,241 9. Ryan Newman 3,138 -556 25 0 5 11 0 157
9. Greg Biffle 14.6 10. Greg Biffle 59.0 4,090 10. Mark Martin 3,126 -568 25 4 8 13 3 704
10. Kasey Kahne 14.8 11. Juan Montoya 57.0 3,956 11. Greg Biffle 3,125 -569 25 0 8 12 2 432
11. Juan Montoya 14.9 12. Ryan Newman 55.3 3,836 12. Matt Kenseth 3,077 -617 25 2 4 9 1 195
12. Brian Vickers 14.9 13. Kasey Kahne 54.1 3,750 13. Brian Vickers 3,057 -637 25 1 4 12 3 101
13. Matt Kenseth 15.6 14. Matt Kenseth 53.1 3,686 14. Kyle Busch 3,040 -654 25 4 6 8 2 916
14. David Reutimann 16.0 15. Brian Vickers 52.3 3,630 15. David Reutimann 2,945 -749 25 1 5 8 0 77
15. Ryan Newman 17.1 16. Clint Bowyer 51.5 3,575
16. Clint Bowyer 17.7 16. Clint Bowyer 2,909 -785 25 0 4 10 1 40
17. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 49.0 3,397
CAROLYN KASTER / AP 17. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 17.8 17. Marcos Ambrose 2,733 -961 25 0 4 7 2 10
18. Jeff Burton 47.3 3,279
Denny Hamlin clinched his spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup by finishing sixth 18. Martin Truex Jr. 18.3 18. Jeff Burton 2,629 -1,065 25 0 2 6 2 69
19. Martin Truex Jr. 41.5 2,877
at Atlanta. Hamlin has qualified for the Chase in each of his four Cup seasons. 19. Jeff Burton 19.4 19. Joey Logano 2,584 -1,110 25 1 1 5 2 35
20. Kevin Harvick 39.9 2,767
20. Kevin Harvick 21.0 20. Casey Mears 2,566 -1,128 25 0 0 3 0 4
DRIVER RATING 21. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,528 -1,166 25 0 2 5 3 96
FASTEST LAPS RUN PERCENTAGE OF LAPS 22. Jamie McMurray 2,482 -1,212 25 0 0 3 2 1
Formula combining the following categories: Wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, average Number of laps where driver had the RUN ON LEAD LAP 23. Kevin Harvick 2,475 -1,219 25 0 3 4 2 75
running position while on lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, led most fastest speed on the lap. Season to date laps: 6,936
Total green flag laps: 5,706 24. Martin Truex Jr. 2,409 -1,285 25 0 0 3 2 177
laps, lead-lap finish. Maximum: 150 points per race. Must have raced in 75 percent of
scheduled point-paying races. RK. DRIVER PCT. LAPS 25. AJ Allmendinger 2,361 -1,333 25 0 1 3 0 0
RK. DRIVER PCT. LAPS 1. Jimmie Johnson 93.4 6,475 26. Elliott Sadler 2,355 -1,339 25 0 1 3 0 35
RK. DRIVER MAKE TEAM RATING 1. Jimmie Johnson 12.9 734 2. Kurt Busch 92.9 6,444 27. Sam Hornish Jr. 2,292 -1,402 25 0 2 6 4 3
1. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 110.5 2. Mark Martin 7.5 427 3. Mark Martin 90.1 6,246 28. Reed Sorenson 2,275 -1,419 25 0 0 1 0 5
2. Tony Stewart Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing 102.6 3. Jeff Gordon 7.4 421 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 89.9 6,234 29. David Ragan 2,250 -1,444 25 0 0 1 4 4
3. Denny Hamlin Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 99.6 4. Greg Biffle 6.8 387 5. David Reutimann 89.5 6,209 30. Bobby Labonte 2,229 -1,465 25 0 1 1 5 14
4. Kyle Busch Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 99.5 5. Kurt Busch 6.2 356 6. Denny Hamlin 88.1 6,112 31. David Stremme 2,204 -1,490 25 0 0 0 5 4
5. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 99.3 6. Denny Hamlin 5.7 324 7. Jeff Gordon 87.2 6,050 32. Paul Menard 2,128 -1,566 25 0 0 0 3 7
6. Kurt Busch Dodge Penske Racing 99.1 7. Kyle Busch 5.7 323 8. Carl Edwards 86.6 6,005 33. Robby Gordon 2,015 -1,679 25 0 1 1 5 7
7. Mark Martin Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 97.9 8. Tony Stewart 4.2 241 9. Tony Stewart 85.5 5,927 34. Michael Waltrip 1,946 -1,748 23 0 0 1 4 16
8. Carl Edwards Ford Roush Fenway Racing 91.8 9. Carl Edwards 3.9 221 10. Greg Biffle 85.2 5,912 35. Scott Speed 1,809 -1,885 24 0 1 1 6 19
9. Greg Biffle Ford Roush Fenway Racing 89.8 10. Kasey Kahne 3.7 212 11. Ryan Newman 85.1 5,905 36. John Andretti 1,714 -1,980 23 0 0 0 1 4
10. Juan Montoya Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 89.5 11. Juan Montoya 3.0 173 12. Juan Montoya 83.2 5,770 37. David Gilliland 1,382 -2,312 23 0 0 0 11 3
11. Kasey Kahne Dodge Richard Petty Motorsports 88.9 12. Brian Vickers 2.8 158 13. Brian Vickers 82.3 5,708
13. Martin Truex Jr. 2.2 125 38. Regan Smith 1,071 -2,623 12 0 0 0 0 0
12. Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull Racing 87.3 14. Kyle Busch 81.1 5,624
14. Jeff Burton 2.1 121 39. Joe Nemechek 921 -2,773 20 0 0 0 18 2
13. Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Fenway Racing 85.1 15. Kasey Kahne 80.3 5,571
14. Ryan Newman Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing 81.4 15. David Reutimann 2.1 117 40. Brad Keselowski 878 -2,816 8 1 1 3 0 1
16. Clint Bowyer 80.2 5,561
15. David Reutimann Toyota Michael Waltrip Racing 80.5 16. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2.0 115 41. Dave Blaney 878 -2,816 22 0 0 0 21 3
17. Jeff Burton 78.9 5,474
16. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 80.1 17. Matt Kenseth 2.0 114 18. Matt Kenseth 78.0 5,408 42. Bill Elliott 737 -2,957 8 0 0 0 1 0
17. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports 76.1 18. Marcos Ambrose 1.9 111 19. Marcos Ambrose 73.6 5,105 43. Max Papis 687 -3,007 9 0 0 1 1 0
18. Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 74.4 19. Kevin Harvick 1.9 108 20. Martin Truex Jr. 73.3 5,087 44. Aric Almirola 451 -3,243 7 0 0 0 2 0
19. Jeff Burton Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing 73.2 20. Clint Bowyer 1.6 91 45. Scott Riggs 448 -3,246 8 0 0 0 3 3
20. Marcos Ambrose Toyota JTG-Daugherty Racing 71.6 46. Tony Raines 426 -3,268 10 0 0 0 7
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Soccer THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 45
Israel 8 3 3 2 17 9 12 Turkey 4, Estonia 2 AFRICA
WORLD CUP QUALIFYING Glance Luxembourg 8 1 2 5 3 20 5 At La Coruna, Spain GROUP NINE
Moldova 8 0 3 5 3 12 3 Spain 5, Belgium 0 GP W D L GF GA Pts FINAL ROUND
All Times ET
United States 1, Trinidad and Tobago 0 Sept. 5
Wednesday’s games
At Yerevan, Armenia
q-Netherlands 8 8 0 0 17 2
Norway 8 2 4 2 9 7
24
10
Winners qualify
NORTH AND At Chisinau, Moldova Armenia 2, Belgium 1 Scotland 8 3 1 4 6 11 10
CENTRAL AMERICA GROUP A
Moldova 0, Luxembourg 0 At Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina Macedonia 8 2 1 5 5 11 7

U.S. one win short of qualifying AND CARIBBEAN

FINALS
Top three qualify
At Ramat Gan, Israel
Latvia 1, Israel 0
At Basel, Switzerland
Switzerland 2, Greece 0
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1, Turkey 1
At Merida, Spain
Spain 3, Estonia 0
Iceland
q-qualified

Sept. 5
8 1 2 5 7 13 5
Gabon
Togo
GP W D L GF GA Pts
Cameroon 4 2 1 1 4 2 7
4 2 0 2 6 5 6
4 1 2 1 2 4 5
Fourth-place team advances to playoff Morocco 4 0 3 1 2 3 3
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD—Ricardo Clark’s second- Wednesday’s games GROUP SIX At Glasgow, Scotland
vs. South America fifth-place team At Ramat Gan, Israel GP W D L GF GA Pts Scotland 2, Macedonia 0
half goal lifted the United States to a 1-0 victory over Sept. 5
Israel 7, Luxembourg 0 q-England 8 8 0 0 31 5 24 At Reykjavik, Iceland At Libreville, Gabon
GP W D L GF GA Pts At Riga, Latvia Croatia 9 5 2 2 17 12 17 Iceland 1, Norway 1
Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, meaning the United States8 5 1 2 14 9 16 Cameroon 2, Gabon 0
Latvia 2, Switzerland 2 Ukraine 8 4 3 1 14 6 15 Wednesday’s games Sept. 6
Americans need one more victory to guarantee Mexico 8 5 0 3 12 9 15 At Chisinau, Moldova Belarus 8 3 1 4 15 11 10 At Oslo At Lome, Togo
Honduras 8 4 1 3 14 8 13 Moldova 1, Greece 1 Kazakhstan 8 2 0 6 10 23 6 Norway 2, Macedonia 1
reaching their sixth straight World Cup. Costa Rica 8 4 0 4 9 13 12 Togo 1, Morocco 1
Andorra 9 0 0 9 3 33 0 At Glasgow, Scotland Wednesday’s game
Clark scored in the 62nd minute off passes from El Salvador 8 2 2 4 8 10 8 GROUP THREE q-qualified Netherlands 1, Scotland 0 At Yaounde, Cameroon
Trinidad 8 1 2 5 8 16 5 GP W D L GF GA Pts
Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, hammering a Cameroon 2, Gabon 1
Slovakia 8 6 1 1 21 8 19 Sept. 5 SOUTH AMERICA
30-yard shot over the outstretched hand of Trini- Sept. 5 Slovenia 8 4 2 2 13 4 14 At Kiev, Ukraine Top four teams qualify GROUP B
At Sandy, Utah N. Ireland 9 4 2 3 13 10 14 Ukraine 5, Andorra 0 Fifth-place team advances to playoff
dad goalkeeper Clayton Ince. United States 2, El Salvador 1 GP W D L GF GA Pts
CzechRepublic 8 3 3 2 15 6 12 At Zagreb, Croatia against CONCACAF fourth place Tunisia 4 2 2 0 6 3 8
The United States has 16 points to top the CON- At San Pedro Sula, Honduras Poland 8 3 2 3 19 11 11 Croatia 1, Belarus 0 Nigeria 4 1 3 0 5 2 6
Honduras 4, Trinidad and Tobago 1 San Marino 9 0 0 9 1 44 0 Wednesday’s games GP W D L GF GA Pts
CACAF region with two games left: Oct. 10 at Hon- At San Jose, Costa Rica Mozambique 4 1 1 2 2 4 4
At Minsk, Belarus q-Brazil 16 9 6 1 32 9 33 Kenya 4 1 0 3 3 7 3
duras and Oct. 14 against Costa Rica at Washington, Mexico 3, Costa Rica 0 Sept. 5 Belarus 0, Ukraine 0 q-Paraguay 16 9 3 4 22 13 30
Wednesday’s games At Chorzow, Poland At Andorra La Vella, Andorra Chile 16 8 3 5 27 20 27
D.C. Trinidad has five points and cannot qualify. At Port-of-Spain, Trinidad Sept. 6
Poland 1, Northern Ireland 1 Kazakhstan 3, Andorra 1 Ecuador 16 6 5 5 21 23 23 At Maputu, Mozambique
The top three teams in the six-nation group qual- United States 1, Trinidad and Tobago 0 At Bratislava, Slovakia At Wembley, England Argentina 16 6 4 6 20 19 22 Mozambique 1, Kenya 0
At San Salvador, El Salvador Slovakia 2, Czech Republic 2 England 5, Croatia 1 Uruguay 16 5 6 5 26 18 21
ify for next year’s tournament in South Africa. The El Salvador 1, Costa Rica 0 At Abuja, Nigeria
Wednesday’s games Venezuela 16 6 3 7 22 27 21 Nigeria 2, Tunisia 2
No. 4 team advances to a playoff against South At Mexico City At Uherske Hradiste, Czech GROUP SEVEN Colombia 16 5 5 6 10 14 20
Mexico 1, Honduras 0 Republic GP W D L GF GA Pts Bolivia 16 3 3 10 20 34 12
America’s fifth-place finisher. Saturday, Oct. 10 GROUP C
Czech Republic 7, San Marino 0 Serbia 8 6 1 1 16 6 19 Peru 16 2 4 10 9 32 10 GP W D L GF GA Pts
“It’s huge. It’s huge. It gives a little bit of space Costa Rica vs. Trinidad and Tobago At Belfast, Northern Ireland France 8 4 3 1 10 8 15 q-qualified Algeria 4 3 1 0 6 1 10
Honduras vs. United States Slovakia 2, Northern Ireland 0 Austria 8 3 2 3 11 11 11
when things are getting tight in our group,” Clark Mexico vs. El Salvador Egypt 4 2 1 1 6 4 7
At Maribor, Slovenia Lithuania 8 3 0 5 7 8 9 Sept. 5 Zambia 4 1 1 2 2 4 4
said. “We knew we had to come out in this game and Wednesday, Oct. 14 Slovenia 3, Poland 0 Romania 8 2 3 3 9 12 9 At Lima, Peru Rwanda 4 0 1 3 0 5 1
El Salvador vs. Honduras FaeroeIslands 8 1 1 6 4 12 4 Peru 1, Uruguay 0
get a win.” Trinidad and Tobago vs. Mexico GROUP FOUR At Medellin, Colombia Sept. 5
Trinidad had the better scoring chances in a wide- United States vs. Costa Rica GP W D L GF GA Pts Sept. 5 Colombia 2, Ecuador 0 At Kigali, Rwanda
open first half, though the United States also could Germany 8 7 1 0 24 4 22 At Graz, Austria At Asuncion, Paraguay Egypt 1, Rwanda 0
EUROPE Russia 8 7 0 1 18 4 21 Austria 3, Faeroe Islands 1 Paraguay 1, Bolivia 0
have broken through on shots by Jozy Altidore and Winners qualify Sept. 6
Finland 8 4 2 2 11 12 14 At Saint-Denis, France At Rosario, Argentina At Blida, Algeria
Top eight second-place teams advance Wales 8 3 0 5 6 10 9 France 1, Romania 1 Brazil 3, Argentina 1
Landon Donovan. to European playoffs Algeria 1, Zambia 0
Liechtenstein 8 0 2 6 2 19 2 Wednesday’s games At Santiago, Chile
Trinidad’s Kenwyne Jones had an early chance in FERNANDO LLANO / AP Azerbaijan 8 0 1 7 1 13 1 At Toftir, Faeroe Islands Chile 2, Venezuela 2 GROUP D
GROUP ONE Faeroe Islands 2, Lithuania 1 Wednesday’s games
the 27th on a close-in header that U.S. keeper Tim Ricardo Clark (13) scored in the 62nd minute off passes GP W D L GF GA Pts GP W D L GF GA Pts
Sept. 5 At Bucharest, Romania At La Paz, Bolivia q-Ghana 4 4 0 0 7 0 12
Howard scrambled to save. Two minutes later Trin- from Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. Denmark 8 5 3 0 15 4 18 At Lankaran City, Azerbaijan Romania 1, Austria 1 Ecuador 3, Bolivia 1
Sweden 8 4 3 1 9 3 15 Mali 4 1 2 1 5 5 5
idad’s Cornell Glen lobbed a ball over Howard that Finland 2, Azerbaijan 1 At Belgrade, Serbia At Montevideo, Uruguay Benin 4 1 1 2 3 5 4
Portugal 8 3 4 1 10 5 13 At St. Petersburg, Russia Serbia 1, France 1 Uruguay 3, Colombia 1
hit the crossbar and bounded away. Fabregas, Santi Cazorla and Juanma Mata scored for Hungary 8 4 1 3 9 5 13 Sudan 4 0 1 3 1 6 1
Russia 3, Liechtenstein 0 At Asuncion, Paraguay q-qualified
Albania 9 1 4 4 5 9 7 Wednesday’s games GROUP EIGHT Paraguay 1, Argentina 0
The U.S. had its best early chance in the 31st when Spain is a 3-0 victory at home over Estonia. Malta 9 0 1 8 0 22 1 At Vaduz, Liechtenstein GP W D L GF GA Pts At Salvador de Bahia, Brazil Sept. 6
Altidore drove a long shot straight into the chest of While they joined the Netherlands in next year’s Liechtenstein 1, Finland 1 Italy 8 6 2 0 13 3 20 Brazil 4, Chile 2 At Contonou, Benin
Sept. 5 At Hanover, Germany Ireland 8 4 4 0 10 6 16 At Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Ince. 32-nation field in South Africa, 11 more European At Copenhagen Benin 1, Mali 1
Germany 4, Azerbaijan 0 Bulgaria 8 2 5 1 10 7 11 Venezuela 3, Peru 1 At Accra, Ghana
Trinidad threatened again in the 38th on a berths are undecided. Denmark 1, Portugal 1 At Cardiff, Wales Cyprus 8 1 3 4 8 12 6 Ghana 2, Sudan 0
At Budapest, Hungary Russia 3, Wales 1 Montenegro 8 0 5 3 7 13 5 ASIA
30-yard free kick from Trent Noel that Howard Australia, Brazil, Ghana, Japan, North Korea and Sweden 2, Hungary 1 Georgia 8 0 3 5 4 11 3 PLAYOFF GROUP E
dived to save. Noel drove a nearly identical free kick South Korea already had clinched berths. Wednesday’s games GROUP FIVE Winner advances to playoff vs. GP W D L GF GA Pts
At Ta’Qali, Malta GP W D L GF GA Pts Sept. 5 Oceania champion
just wide four minutes later. In South America, Diego Maradona’s Argentina Sweden 1, Malta 0 Ivory Coast 4 4 0 0 15 3 12
q-Spain 8 8 0 0 21 2 24 At Sofia, Bulgaria Bahrain vs. Saudi Arabia Burkina Faso 4 2 0 2 7 10 6
stumbled again in a 1-0 loss at Paraguay and fell out At Tirana, Albania Bosnia-Herz. 8 5 1 2 21 8 16 Bulgaria 4, Montenegro 1 Guinea 4 1 0 3 6 9 3
Albania 1, Denmark 1 Turkey 8 3 3 2 11 8 12 At Tblisi, Georgia Sept. 5
A rejuvenated England, European champion of the top four in the South American standings. At Budapest, Hungary Malawi 4 1 0 3 3 9 3
Belgium 8 2 1 5 11 18 7 Italy 2, Georgia 0 At Manama, Bahrain
Spain and Paraguay clinched World Cup berths The loss was Argentina’s fourth in its last five Portugal 1, Hungary 0 Estonia 8 1 2 5 7 22 5 At Nicosia, Cyprus Bahrain 0, Saudi Arabia 0 Sept. 5
with two games to spare Wednesday night. qualifiers and was sure to turn even more heat on Armenia 8 1 1 6 5 18 4 Ireland 2, Cyprus 1 Wednesday’s game At Blantyre, Malawi
GROUP TWO Wednesday’s games At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard scored two Maradona. Maradona said after a 3-1 loss to Brazil GP W D L GF GA Pts Malawi 2, Guinea 1
Sept. 5 At Podgorica, Montenegro Saudi Arabia 2, Bahrain 2 At Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Switzerland 8 5 2 1 15 8 17 At Yerevan, Armenia Montenegro 1, Cyprus 1 2-2 aggregate
goals each and Wayne Rooney added another, leading on Saturday that he would not resign. Greece 8 4 2 2 13 7 14 Ivory Coast 5, Burkina Faso 0
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2, Armenia 0 At Turin, Italy Bahrain advanced on 2-0 away goals
England over visiting Croatia 5-1 at Wembley. Cesc — The Associated Press Latvia 8 4 2 2 13 8 14 At Kayseri, Turkey Italy 2, Bulgaria 0
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Tennis THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 46
U.S. OPEN

Glance
A look at Wednesday’s play at the
$21.6 million U.S. Open tennis
championships:
Weather: Mostly cloudy and cool.
High of 76.
Attendance: Day: 22,679; Night:
23,881. Total: 46,560.
Men’s winners: Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 4 Novak
Djokovic.
Men’s losers: No. 10 Fernando
Verdasco and No. 12 Robin Soderling.
Women’s winners: Quarterfinals:
No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki and Yanina
Wickmayer.
Women’s losers: Kateryna
Bondarenko and Melanie Oudin.
Top players on court today: Men:
No. 3 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 11 Fernano
Gonzalez, No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro
vs. No. 16 Marin Cilic in quarterfinals
matches.
Stat of the day: Before this year’s
U.S. Open, unseeded semifinalist
Yanina Wickmayer had only advanced
as far as the second round twice in six
Grand Slam tournaments.
Quote of the day: “When you get
to the third, fourth round, you start sur-
prising yourself. But actually, I’ve been
staying pretty calm. I’ve worked really
hard for this.” — Yanina Wickmayer
Today on TV (All Times EDT):
ESPN2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 7-11 p.m.
On this date: Sept. 10: In 1989, Boris
Becker becomes the first German to win
the men’s singles title. In 1994, Arantxa
Sanchez-Vicario becomes the first
Spaniard to win the women’s singles
title. In 2000, Marat Safin becomes the
first Russian to win the men’s singles
title.
Oudin out, Federer in another Grand Slam semi
NEW YORK—Maybe it all was a little
too much, a little too soon for Mela-
nie Oudin.
The 17-year-old from Marietta,
Ga., kept erasing big deficits and
upsetting older, taller, higher-
ranked players at the U.S. Open,
generating more and more interest
in her magical ride.
But her surprising story ended
Wednesday night with a 6-2, 6-2
loss to No. 9-seeded Caroline
Wozniacki of Denmark.
“It was a lot,” Oudin conceded.
“These past two weeks have been
really different for me. I’ve gone
from being just a normal, like, ten-
nis player to almost everyone in
the United States knowing who I
am now.”
“This has been a great experi-
ence for me. I had a great run here,”
the 70th-ranked Oudin told the
crowd during an on-court inter-
view right after the match, an
honor usually reserved for the
winner. “I hope to come back next
year and do even better.”
An additional distraction did not
come to light until Wednesday
night, when SI.com reported that
Oudin’s father, John, filed for
divorce from Leslie in July 2008
on grounds of adultery. According
to the report, John Oudin alleged
in a sworn statement last month
that his wife had an affair with
Brian de Villiers.
Wozniacki will play her first
Grand Slam semifinal against
another 19-year-old, Yanina Wick-
mayer of Belgium. The 50th-
ranked Wickmayer—never before
past the second round at a major
tournament—beat Kateryna Bond-
Caroline Wozniacki, above, eliminated the darling of the U.S. Open, Melanie Oudin, in straight sets.
arenko of Ukraine 7-5, 6-4.
The other women’s semifinal
Friday features two far more famil-
iar names: defending champion
Williams against 2005 champion
Kim Clijsters.
The men’s semifinals Saturday
will include—no surprise
here—Roger Federer, who
improved to 12-0 against Robin
Soderling by beating the 12th-
seeded Swede 6-0, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6
(6) Wednesday night. Federer,
seeking a sixth consecutive U.S.
Open title, extended his own
record by reaching a 22nd straight
DARRON CUMMINGS / AP
Grand Slam semifinal.
“It was so close towards the end.
It’s a great relief to come through,
because Robin started playing bet-
ter and better as the match went
on,” Federer said. “I knew he’d be
tough, but the beginning was way
too easy. He found his way into the
Results
Wednesday
At The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
New York
Purse: $21.6 million (Grand Slam)
Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Singles
Men
Quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic (4), Serbia, def. Fernando Verdasco (10), Spain, 7-6
(2), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Roger Federer (1), Switzerland, def. Robin Soderling (12), Sweden,
6-0, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (6).
Women
Quarterfinals
Yanina Wickmayer, Belgium, def. Kateryna Bondarenko, Ukraine,
7-5, 6-4.
Caroline Wozniacki (9), Denmark, def. Melanie Oudin, United
States, 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles
Men
Semifinals
Lukas Dlouhy, Czech Republic, and Leander Paes (4), India, def.
Bob and Mike Bryan (1), United States, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6).
Mahesh Bhupathi, India, and Mark Knowles (3), Bahamas, def.
Max Mirnyi, Belarus, and Andy Ram (5), Israel, 6-4, 6-2.
Women
Quarterfinals
Cara Black, Zimbabwe, and Liezel Huber (1), United States, def.
Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (6), Spain,
6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
Serena and Venus Williams (4), United States, def. Yan Zi and
Zheng Jie (11), China, 7-5, 6-4.
match.”
Federer improved to 12-0 against
Soderling, including victories over
the Swede in the French Open final
and Wimbledon’s fourth round
this year.
“For sure, I feel like I have a
chance every time I play against
him, even though it’s pretty small,”
Soderling said. “He always plays
well, it feels like.”
Federer will put his 39-match
Flushing Meadows winning streak
on the line against No. 4 Novak
Djokovic, who eliminated No. 10
Fernando Verdasco of Spain 7-6
(2), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.
— The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Back Page THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 47
Major League Soccer All Times ET IN BRIEF
TRANSACTIONS
Celski beats Ohno in short track nationals
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA BASEBALL practice roster.
Columbus 10 4 9 39 34 25 American League United Football League
Chicago 10 6 8 38 33 28 BALTIMORE ORIOLES: NEW YORK SENTINELS:
D.C. 8 5 12 36 38 36
New England 9 7 6 33 28 30 Acquired LHP Sean Henn Signed RB Chris Barclay,
Toronto FC 8 9 7 31 30 34
MARQUETTE, MICH.—J.R. Celski Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia from Minnesota for a WR Daron Clark, WR
Kansas City 6 11 6 24 24 32 keeps beating childhood idol finished first in qualifying player to be named or cash TJ Courman, LB Tim
New York 4 16 4 16 20 41
Apolo Anton Ohno. Wednesday for the individual considerations. Named Goodwell, C Jasper Harvey,
Celski easily won the 1,500 ribbon event at the rhythmic Janet Marie Smith vice TE Christian Hopkins, OT
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA president of planning and Kenyatta Jones, DE David
meters at the U.S. short track gymnastics world development. Miller, LB Joe Mortensen,
Houston 11 7 7 40 31 22
Los Angeles 9 4 11 38 28 23 speedskating national champi- championships. MINNESOTA TWINS: Acto- OL Daniel Oliphant, DL Nate
Colorado 10 7 6 36 36 27 onships Wednesday night. He Kanaeva, who won two gold vated LHP Francisco Liriano Robinson, WR Jamayel
Seattle 8 6 10 34 29 23
Chivas USA 10 9 3 33 23 24 crossed the finish line waving medals on Tuesday, received from the 15-day DL. Smith, WR Junior Taylor,
Real Salt Lake 9 9 6 33 35 27 National League WR Craphonso Thorpe,
FC Dallas 6 11 6 24 33 37 his right arm in the air, leaving 28.425 points from the judges to CINCINNATI REDS: Activated LB Rian Wallace and DE
San Jose 5 12 5 20 27 40 Ohno and Jordan Malone to bat- finish first in qualification for C Ryan Hanigan from the Rodney Wormley.
tle it out for second. today’s final in ribbon. 15-day DL.
NOTE: Three points for victory, one COLORADO ROCKIES: HOCKEY
point for tie. Saturday’s games Ohno barely got his blade in Olga Kapranova of Russia National Hockey League
Colorado at Toronto FC, 3:30 p.m. Activated OF Dexter Fowler
Sept. 5 Seattle FC at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
front of Malone, who ended up was second with 27.550 points, from the 15-day DL. BOSTON BRUINS: Signed D
Kansas City 4, New England 2 Kansas City at New York, 7:30 p.m. crashing into the boards after and Daria Kondakova of Russia PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: Andy Wozniewski.
FC Dallas 2, D.C. United 2, tie Chicago at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. Recalled LHP Sergio Es- COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:
Colorado 1, Toronto FC 0 FC Dallas at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. they crossed the line. is in third place with 26.700.
calona from Reading (EL). Re-signed LW Alexandre
Celski, a 19-year-old skater Kanaeva won gold in the indi- Picard to a one-year
Wednesday’s game Sunday’s game Purchased the contract of
D.C. United 1, Kansas City 0 Houston at Columbus, 5 p.m. from Federal Way, Wash.—a vidual hoop and rope events on 1B Andy Tracy from Lehigh contract.
suburb of Ohno’s hometown of Tuesday. Valley (IL). Released RHP TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:
Seattle—was timed in 2:22.834. Russia leads the team compe- Rodrigo Lopez. Re-signed D Mike Lundin to
Can-Am League a one-year contract.
He won the nine-lap time trial a tition with 253.075 points, fol- WORCESTER TORNADOES:
WNBA All Times ET night earlier with a personal- lowed by Belarus with 237.200 Released LHP Steve SOCCER
best time that left Ohno in sec- Major League Soccer
and Ukraine with 229.800. Cadoret.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FC DALLAS: Signed M-D
W L Pct GB ond in their head-to-head BASKETBALL Daniel Hernandez.
Indiana
Atlanta
22
17
10
15
.688
.531
—
5
pairing. Cycling National Basketball TORONTO FC: Announced the
Ohno was clocked in 2:23.050, CARAVACA DE LA CRUZ, SPAIN— Association retirement of F Danny Dichio.
Detroit 16 16 .500 6
Chicago 15 17 .469 7 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS:
and Malone was third in American rider Tyler Farrar Re-signed G C.J. Watson. COLLEGE
Connecticut 15 17 .469 7
Washington 15 17 .469 7 2:23.058. won the 11th stage of the Span- Women’s National CANISIUS: Signed men’s ice
New York 12 20 .375 10 The men’s final was jammed ish Vuelta, and Spanish rider Basketball Association hockey coach Dave Smith
SEATTLE STORM: Signed G-F to a contract extension
WESTERN CONFERENCE with seven skaters, including CARLOS OSORIO / AP Alejandro Valverde remained La’Tangela Atkinson.
W L Pct GB through 2012-2013 season.
Phoenix 22 10 .688 — Eddy Alvarez who got in after J.R. Celski, right, won the 1,500-meter race over childhood idol Apolo Anton Ohno. the overall leader. COLUMBIA: Named Marlon
Seattle 19 13 .594 3 Joey Lindsey was disqualified Farrar, who rides for Garmin- FOOTBALL
Los Angeles 16 16 .500 6 National Football League Sears men’s basketball
Minnesota 14 18 .438 8 for impeding in their earlier 2,112. He trails second-place Olympic Games, the first games Slipstream, finished the 124.3- CAROLINA PANTHERS: assistant coach.
San Antonio 14 18 .438 8 heat. Ohno false-started before Malone by 168 points. in which women competed in mile leg featuring several Signed WR Charly Martin to MORAVIAN: Named Bill
Sacramento 11 21 .344 11 Maxwell men’s tennis
the 13½-lap race began slowly. On the women’s side, Kather- the pole vault, and is a two-time difficult mountain ascents in 5 the practice squad.
DENVER BRONCOS: coach.
Sept. 5 Los Angeles 76, San Antonio 68 The speed picked up with five ine Reutter won the 1,500 in world champion. hours, 11 minutes, 10 seconds. Released CB Joshua Bell RICHMOND: Named Jill
Minnesota 76, Seattle 68
San Antonio 89, Los Angeles 72 Wednesday’s game laps to go and Celski leading the 2:24.184. “It was great to be a pioneer in Belgian rider Philipe Gilbert and G Matt McChesney Briles-Hinton women’s golf
Phoenix 100, Atlanta 82 Minnesota 75, Detroit 72 way. Ohno moved from fourth to this sport,” Dragila told The was second in the same time, after reaching injury coach.
SAM HOUSTON STATE:
Sept. 6 Today’s games second over the final laps, with Track and field Associated Press. ahead of Marco Marcato of settlements.
Named Keith Herston
Indiana 72, Washington 61 New York at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:
Detroit 84, Chicago 75 Indiana at Chicago, 8 p.m.
the five-time Olympic medalist PARIS—Former world and She cleared 14 feet, 7¼ inches Italy. Signed S De’von Hall and assistant track and field
Phoenix at Seattle, 10 p.m. using his racing experience to Olympic champion Stacy but missed three attempts at Valverde finished 14th in the TE Jason Pociasck to the coach.
Sept. 8 San Antonio at Sacramento, ST. JOHN’S, N.Y.: Named
Indiana 69, New York 63 10 p.m. edge Malone at the finish. Dragila ended her 14-year pole 14-11 to finish behind Russian same time to maintain his 7-sec- practice squad. Released
WR Sam Giguere from the Said Hamdan associate
Celski earned 1,000 points for vaulting career with a second- Tatiana Polnova, who cleared ond overall advantage over athletic trainer.
practice squad.
the win, giving him 2,800 in the place finish at the DecaNation that height. Cadel Evans, who was 12th. The Canadian Football League THIEL: Named Angela
overall standings. Ohno picked athletics meet on Wednesday. Caisse D’Epargne rider’s over- WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS: Zeuch women’s basketball
up 800 points for second, but The 38-year-old American Gymnastics all time is 45:37:51. Added DB Nick Kordic to the coach.
remained third overall with won gold at the 2000 Sydney MIE, JAPAN—Olympic champion — The Associated Press