By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 21, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — Manager Joe Maddon had lots to talk about in an opening address that stretched past 15 minutes.

With so many different faces among the 62 players in front of him, Maddon mixed some old concepts with some new, and one of the themes he made most clear was an emphasis on starting well — both the season overall and in individual games.

"We want to push, push, push the action all the time," he said.

Similarly, he said there needed to be an accelerated learning curve for the new players to learn the Rays way of playing the game.

Among other points, he stressed the need to take care of all facets of the game due to the thin margin between winning and losing, "the controllable components of your game," such as defense, baserunning and situation hitting; re-emphasized their determination to defend their American League East title; and hit on his slogan of the need, because of all the players they lost, to find "another way" to win.

"You pretty much go into that meeting knowing what he's going to say," CF B.J. Upton said. "A lot of us know what it takes to get there, and I think it just brings it back to the forefront of our mind."

TURF WARS: The Rays had an infield installed at the practice complex with the same new AstroTurf that was installed at Tropicana Field, and if it plays the same indoors during the season as it did Monday, it should be good.

"It's real nice," 3B Evan Longoria said. "It's playing just like it should, just like real grass."

Also important, several infielders said, was that there wasn't much spin on balls coming off the turf on the dirt as there had been at the Trop.

"This one was as true as you can get," 2B Sean Rodriguez said.

STEPPING IN: With the first exhibition game Saturday, the spring schedule is a bit compressed, so the hitters had the uncomfortable assignment of stepping in on their first day for live batting practice against pitchers who'd been in camp for a week.

"You're not supposed to hit them right now," LF Johnny Damon said.

RHP James Shields had his fun with Longoria, saying he was going to start him off with a curveball before throwing a fastball. … Upton's offering included one of LHP R.J. Swindle's special 50 mph curves. "Right around my bat speed," Upton said. … Longoria said he enjoyed hitting in a group with Manny Ramirez and Damon.

HELLICKSON UPDATE: RHP Jeremy Hellickson played catch for about 15 minutes Monday, a sign of progress in recovery from the mild right hamstring strain that sidelined him the previous three days.

"He keeps getting better," Maddon said. "(Head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield) is seeing improvement every day, so it sounds like all good news."

MISCELLANY: Asked when he was last in this good shape, 38-year-old Ramirez said, "Maybe (when) I was like 22 — it's been a while." … The squad was completed with the arrival of nonroster INFs Joe Inglett and Daniel Mayora. … Rodriguez was proudly wearing around his neck a gift he was handed by a young fan, a small baseball on a cord.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 21, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE

Standing on the field with 62 blue-clad players sitting in front of them before Monday's first full-squad workout of the spring, the long offseason that saw nearly half their team leave via free agency and trades officially over, the two top Rays couldn't help but enjoy the view. "As I'm looking at everybody, that's the part that really struck me," manager Joe Maddon said. "We did lose a lot, but my goodness, we've got a lot here, too." "As much physical talent in this camp," executive vice president Andrew Friedman said, "as we've ever had." Much of the focus the next five weeks will be on the field, as they sort out who will play where and sift through the dozen mostly inexperienced candidates to fill out the bullpen that is the only glaring weakness as they seek to defend their American League East championship. But the more important work will be done in the clubhouse, on bus rides, during informal and casual sessions before and after workouts and even away from the complex as they transform the collection of players into a team, developing the camaraderie and the chemistry that is an integral part of their success.

"That's huge," Maddon said. "To be good, to be good in baseball, to be good where we play, that is really, really important to have that togetherness going on. It's getting them out there, getting them intermingled, having a joke now and then, the work ethic, getting involved in drills, these meetings that we're doing, all this stuff hopefully to bring the group together."

The smiles were abundant Monday, the mood light and the laughter at times loud, especially when travel director Jeff Ziegler cracked up the group at the end of the preworkout meeting with a joke that used their biggest name acquisition, Manny Ramirez, as the punch line.

Ramirez laughed with them — "a pretty big guffaw," according to Maddon — then said the feeling is mutual.

"We've got a great bunch of guys," Ramirez said. "We getting along very well inside, now we're going to go outside and take it to the field."

"I think our main focus in spring training is to work on that chemistry," veteran starter James Shields said. "To work on getting to know each other, to really develop that relationship with each other to move on and win."

The Rays know it can't be forced, especially with 25 of the 62 players (including 13 on the 40-man roster) new to the organization.

"You can't cheat chemistry," Friedman said. "You can't create it artificially."

Nor can it be rushed, said third baseman Evan Longoria, who will assume the clubhouse leadership role with Carlos Peña and Carl Crawford among the departed.

"That stuff is all going to take time, but the spring is long enough for that to happen," he said. "I think everyone in this clubhouse is enthused and excited to be here, and it's going to be a pretty cohesive group, a group of guys able to get along easily."

With just a few exceptions, that has been the case during much of their three-year run of success. Maddon prefers a light mood in the clubhouse and is constantly seeking team-building moments; Friedman boasts they encourage individualism.

Making their two main acquisitions Ramirez and Johnny Damon shouldn't do anything to change that, as Damon explained — on cue — by, somehow, sampling the 1985 Chicago Bears.

"Those guys got along great before," he said. "We're here to cause no trouble — we're not here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle, but we're here to cause no trouble. But it's good everyone has the same common goal."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Monday, February 21, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — For one night, free-throw shooting in the Big East turned upside down.

No. 17 Syracuse, last in the 16-team league in that stat at 65.5 percent, made the free throws that counted Monday night in a 69-64 victory over No. 15 Villanova, the conference's best team at 76.8 percent.

Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson — a couple of Philly kids — combined for 38 points, and freshman Dion Waiters, another Philadelphia product, and Jackson made the final free throws that sealed the win.

"We've been pretty good at the end of games," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "We've been pretty good when we need them, and (Monday night) we needed them."

Jardine had 20 points and six assists and Jackson had 18 points, five rebounds and four blocks for the Orange (23-6, 10-6), which beat a ranked team for the sixth time this season. That ties No. 5 Texas for the most in the nation.

The teams swapped road wins, with Villanova winning 83-72 at Syracuse on Jan. 22.

"After they beat us like that with all those 3s (11), we got them off their spots and our guards did a great job of staying in front of them," Jackson said.

Corey Stokes returned after missing three games with a turf toe injury to lead the Wildcats (21-7, 9-6) with 24 points, including matching his season high with five 3-pointers.

"I felt great," Stokes said. "It's always good to be back on the floor with your teammates. We just have to work on our defense and get better."

It was at the free-throw line where the teams traded places.

Villanova was 17-of-27. Stokes, third in the nation at 93.5 percent, went 5-of-8.

Syracuse went 13-of-17, a performance topped by Waiters' two with 14.1 seconds left for a 67-64 lead, and Jackson making two — the second a bank shot — with 4.6 seconds to go for the final margin.

UCF 74, UTEP 68: Keith Clanton had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Knights (17-9, 4-9 C-USA), who snapped the Miners' 15-game home win streak.

AP POLL: Duke jumped from No. 5 to No. 1 for the first time in just more than a month. No. 23 St. John's entered for the first time in more than a decade, replacing Utah State. Florida came in at 13th.

Women

NO. 4 TENN. 77, NO. 22 UGA 44: The host Volunteers (26-2, 14-0) blasted the second-place Bulldogs (20-7, 10-4) to clinch their 16th SEC regular-season title.

NO. 12 MIAMI 74, WAKE 46: Shenise Johnson had 19 points as the host Hurricanes (24-3, 10-2) stayed in contention for the ACC regular-season title.

N.C. STATE 88, NO. 13 UNC 72: Amber White had 23 points for the host Wolfpack, which handed the Tar Heels (22-5, 8-4 ACC) their second straight loss.

NO. 21 MARIST 79, ST. PETER'S 38: Erica Allenspach had 13 points and a career-high seven steals for the visiting Red Foxes (25-2, 16-0), who clinched the MAAC tournament's top seed for the seventh straight year.

AP POLL: Connecticut returned to No. 1 for the first time since falling to second Jan. 3. Miami climbed from 13th to 12th and FSU from 15th to 14th.

Times staff, wires
Monday, February 21, 2011

nba

knicks obtain anthony for players, picks

The Knicks acquired Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony on Monday, according to reports.

Denver will get Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, a 2014 first-round draft pick, second-round picks in 2012 and 2013, and $3 million. New York also gets Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Tampa native Renaldo Balkman.

Anthony wasn't at practice, an excused absence.

"We gotta go forward with what we got,'' Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said.

The Denver Post reported that the Knicks will send Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to the Timberwolves as part of the deal.

Gallinari could end up getting traded again, perhaps to the Nets or Clippers, because Nuggets officials disagree about his potential.

more nba: Sunday's All-Star Game earned its highest TV rating since Michael Jordan's last appearance in 2003. The West's 148-143 win on TNT drew a 5.2 rating, up 37 percent from last year. Ratings measure the percentage of all homes with TVs tuned into a program. ... Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who hurt his right ankle at the All-Star Game, practiced and is okay to play tonight against the Kings. ... Lakers guard Matt Barnes returned to practice after missing six weeks (knee surgery).

ET CETERA

nfl: The league and players' union had a fourth consecutive day of federally mediated negotiations. "Things are going well," said Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, a member of the NFL Players Association executive committee. "We'll see how things progress over the coming days." Neither side would discuss details. … The Dolphins hired three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bryan Cox as pass rush coach, bringing him back to the franchise that drafted him 20 years ago. Cox was a defensive line coach with the Browns and Jets. … The Vikings put the franchise tag on linebacker Chad Greenway, 28, their leading tackler for three straight seasons.

greyhounds: McAllister Kennel's Flying Coal City was chosen captain of the 2010 All-America team Monday at the American Greyhound Track Operators Association conference in Las Vegas. Another Derby Lane dog, Tmc's Remedy, was on the first team. Aerial Battle made the second team.

horses: Archarcharch pulled ahead on the home stretch to win the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

tennis: Top-seeded Andy Roddick withdrew from this week's Delray Beach Tennis Championships due to flu-like symptoms. The next-highest seeds are Tampa's Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey and Tampa's John Isner. … Lucie Safarova upset seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the opening round of the Qatar Open in Doha. Marion Bartoli and Nadia Petrova also advanced.

soccer: Midfielder Josh Gardner signed a multiyear contract with Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew. The 28-year-old spent the last four seasons in the United Soccer Leagues.

skiing: Austria's Hans Grugger was released from an Innsbruck hospital, one month after brain surgery following a near-fatal downhill crash, and moved to a rehabilitation center for further recovery.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Lefthanded pitcher David Price, last season's Cy Young runner-up, will start the Tampa Bay Rays' exhibition opener Saturday in Port Charlotte against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Price will work either one or two innings depending on the number of pitches thrown.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Florida Gators sophomore shortstop Nolan Fontana is the first SEC Baseball Player of the Week for the 2011 season.

Fontana went 9-for-12 (.750) in a series sweep of USF at McKethan Stadium this past weekend. Fontana had a stretch of seven-consecutive hits (last four at bats on Friday and first three on Saturday), one shy of the school record held by Kurt Keene (5/8-5/11/1999), and he led Florida in batting average (.750), slugging percentage (.833), on-base percentage (.786), total bases (10) and runs scored (five). It is the first time that Fontana received Player of the Week honors; he was Freshman of the Week twice last season.

It is also the first time a UF player has been named player of the week in baseball since Cole Figueroa on May 19, 2008.

Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

FC Tampa Bay will play a six-game preseason schedule, including local games against the University of Tampa, Florida Gulf Coast, St. Leo and USF.

Their schedule will also include a game against Swedish first division club BK Hacken on March 12 at Lockhart Stadium.

The club will open its preseason schedule March 5 against UT at Pepin Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

FC Tampa Bay's regular season opens April 9 vs. the Montreal Impact at Al Lang Field.

The preseason schedule:

• March 5: vs. UT (at Pepin Stadium), 7:30

• March 12: vs. BK Hacken (at Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale), Time TBD

• March 19: vs. FGCU (at Brandon Area Youth Soccer League, Brandon), 4 p.m.

• March 26 or 27: vs. UCF (Site TBD), Time TBD

• March 30: vs. St. Leo (at Azalea Youth Soccer League, St. Petersburg), 7:30 p.m.

• April 3: USF (at USF), 7 p.m.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Tampa Bay Rays and Sun Sports announced a schedule today for TV coverage of 150 games, starting with the April 1 opener.

Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson will be the booth, with Todd Kalas as the reporters for 145 games and in the booth for five. There will also be contributions from Orestes Destrade, Angela Jacobs and newcomer Laura McKeeman. There will be a 30-minute pre-game show for home games, and extended post-game coverage for all.

Here is the Sun Sports release:

SUNRISE — Sun Sports will produce and televise 150 Tampa Bay Rays games during the 2011 Major League Baseball season, with all games scheduled to be distributed in high definition. Coverage begins on Opening Day when the Rays host the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, April 1 at 7:00pm ET. Home game telecasts will also include half-hour Rays LIVE pregame shows and all will offer extended post-game coverage from site.

Dewayne Staats returns this year for his 14th season as play-by-play announcer for Tampa Bay Rays baseball on the regional network and will be joined in the TV booth by former MLB player Brian Anderson, who moves into the analyst role on a full-time basis. Staats enters his 34th year broadcasting baseball and just last season celebrated his 5,000th career telecast. Anderson enters his 3rd season providing analysis on Sun Sports and will also be a part of Rays LIVE pre- and postgame coverage.

Also in his 14th season, Todd Kalas serves as reporter on 145 games and will sit in the analyst position alongside Staats on five games. He will also host Rays LIVE pre- and postgame shows. Orestes Destrade, Angela Jacobs and newcomer Laura McKeeman round out the television talent lineup for Rays baseball on Sun Sports in 2011, appearing on and providing feature reports for Rays LIVE.

Going beyond just coverage of games, Sun Sports' partnership with the Rays provides fans with more opportunities to get to know the team and its players. Nine half-hour HD episodes of Sun Sports popular Inside the Rays are planned this year and will include player profiles, with rare behind-the-scenes stories and interviews, plus episodes offering inside access to other aspects of the team and its operations – all designed to bring the fans closer to their favorite team.

Complementing the network's live television coverage of games will be unique content on the network's website, www.foxsportsflorida.com, including reports, exclusive video, commentary and opportunities for fans to interact via both the website and social media at http://www.twitter.com/SunSportsRAYS and www.facebook.com/foxsportsfloridasunsports.

To help fans get ready for the upcoming season, Sun Sports will produce its annual Tampa Bay Rays Season Preview, premiering Sunday, March 21, at 6:30pm on sister network FOX Sports Florida.

In 2010, Sun Sports' production team, led by producer Kevin Patterson and director Thom Hastings, was awarded a Suncoast Regional Emmy Award for its coverage of Tampa Bay Rays baseball.

Highlights on the 2011 regional telecast schedule include 33 games against the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees including 12 over the final three weeks of the season.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

One of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' all-time greats is officially back in the fold.

Cornerback Ronde Barber has signed a one-year contract extension just days before his contract was set to expire. Barber, who already has played 14 seasons, will be 36 on opening day but is coming off a strong finish to the 2010 season.

Barber, drafted in the third round in 1997, finished the season with three interceptions and 82 tackles, his most stops since 2006. He finished 2010 as the team's starting right cornerback and will likely be a candidate to continue starting there in 2011. He will, however, have to fend off youngsters E.J. Biggers and Myron Lewis, both drafted in the past two years.

Barber will become the first Buccaneer to play 15 seasons with the team, though it's not certain that this will be his last. Instead, Barber said, he and the Bucs plan to re-evaluate the situation after the 2011 season and make a decision that works for both parties.

"That's sort of the purpose of this one-year deal," he said. "The deicision is not, at the end of the day, 'Do they want to let go of me or do I want to let go of them?' It'll be a mutually beneficial decision each year. That's kind of how it was this year and how it'll be next year. You have to take some pride in that, some blessings on my side where I've been able to maintain myself throughout these 14 years. I always give myself credit for that.

"It wasn't easy. It's not ging to be easy this year. But at the end of the day, I walk out of here knowing I've done exactly what I wanted to do"

Another issue moving forward is Barber's role on the team. Though he ended the 2010 as a starter and last month coach Raheem Morris declared Barber the Bucs' starting right cornerback, Barber admits he'll be challenged by younger players on the roster. When those challenges come, Barber vows to be ready. In fact, he was practically defiant.

"That always plays itself out," Barber said. "That somewhat depends on their development and what they get done in the offseason. But I know I'm going to go out and be who I've always been. If they're better than me, then perhaps my role does change. But for the time being, I think I'm going in as I left it. I think they'd appreciate having to beat out somebody who's better than you. If they're able to do that, then good for them. It's better for this football team.

"At this point in my career, I know what I am. I try to go get better every day. They're still going to have to work at it if they're going to get on the field ahead of me."

Making Barber's decision to return a bit easier was the Bucs' 10-6 record in 2010. He admitted that another season like 2009, when the Bucs went 3-13, might have impacted his desire to give it another go. Instead, Barber is excited about playing on an up-and-coming team that is growing before his eyes and has a chance to make serious gains in 2011.

"Now is the time," Barber said. "We're still classified as a young football team, but our young guys played like veterans last year. You'd have to be excited about that. I know they are as well. I look forward to not dealing with the pressure of being a young football next year. I think we have different challenges now. Nobody's going to be surprised when we play well. That confidence in ourselves should make us better – at least I hope so."

When the topic turned to his play in particular, Barber said he went about his usual postseason evaluation process, one in which defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake is heavily involved. When all was said and done, Barber felt he was still playing at a high level.

"That evaluation process started right after the season," he said. "The tape was really good. There's some things they asked me to do that I had never done before and I did it really well. To me, it was a really good season. Obviously the numbers were better than the year before. The win column was better than the year before. I think I was a big part of that. I think (coaches) think I was. The evaluation speaks for itself. Tape doesn't lie."

By Jackie Otto, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

What's hot: Mackerel and sheepshead fishing from the Sunshine Skyway fishing piers was the hot item this past week. The bait shop at the north or south fishing pier can offer advice on what gear to bring and what types of fish are biting. Only the west side of the fishing pier is open because the east side is deteriorating and no longer provides strength or safety for the public.

Techniques: Sheepshead anglers are dropping sand fleas, shrimp and fiddler crabs down the pilings using enough weight to keep the line near the structure. For mackerel fishing, try casting Sea Striker's Got-Cha plugs or a sabiki No. 3-drop, 0-sized hook weighted with a 2-ounce drop sinker out and retrieve quickly.

Jackie Otto can be reached at Betts Fishing Center at (727) 518-7637 or jackieotto@msn.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

ESTERO — Lightning players on Tuesday stood at center ice at Germain Arena and raised their sticks to the 300 or so people who had come to watch.

The salute not only ended a 90-minute practice but two days in which the team tried to break the monotony of a 12-game home­stand with golf in Naples, a team dinner and a workout where Tampa Bay shares an ECHL affiliate with the Hurricanes.

"It was great to get away and break up the schedule and the daily routine," defenseman Mattias Ohlund said. "We had a great couple of days."

And now, back to reality.

The Lightning, whose lead in the Southeast Division has shriveled to one point over the Capitals, faces a gauntlet to end the homestand on which it is 5-3-2 but is staggering toward the finish — 2-3-2 in its past seven games and 0-2-1 in its past three.

Tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, it's the Coyotes, who entered Tuesday with a seven-game winning streak. On Friday it's the Devils, who entered Tuesday on a 15-1-2 run.

"Very difficult against two opponents who don't want to lose," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "We have to force it down their throat or it ain't going to happen."

And, really, that's what the past two days were all about, getting the players refreshed and refocused and back to playing a style in which they dictate the pace and flow of games.

It hasn't been that way for a while. The power play has 13 goals in 26 games. The penalty kill has allowed goals in seven straight games. And No. 1 goalie Dwayne Roloson is 1-3-1 in his past five starts with a 4.51 goals-against average and .854 save percentage.

No wonder the team needed a break.

Not everyone played golf; some players lounged at the pool and on the beach. And the team dinner helped defensemen Marc-Andre Bergeron and Eric Brewer bond with new teammates.

"It's always a mental refresher," said goalie Dan Ellis, who tonight could get his second straight start. "We didn't get away from our practices. We still practiced hard and did what we had to do to learn and build."

One who found more angst than rejuvenation was Boucher, who said he was up until 3 a.m. Tuesday fretting about special teams and whom to start in net.

He does not want his players worrying about the Capitals.

"We don't care about the race," Boucher said. "Every time we start looking at standings and start talking about it, that's when we start having slumps. Our slumps have been very short because we stopped talking about it."

Mostly.

"It's going to come down to the last few games," Ohlund said of the Southeast race. "But the focus for us has to be to worry about ourselves. We're playing some of the best teams in the NHL in the next little while. We have to take our game up a notch. Our game hasn't been fantastic the past few weeks. We've done some good things but we haven't played the way we know we can."

Something which the team hopes a little R & R will cure.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

MLB Network Countdown: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. Counting down the 75 greatest robbed home runs in major-league history.

Sports Jobs With Junior Seau: 10:30 p.m. on Versus. Seau learns the ins and outs of being a Los Angeles Dodgers bat boy.

Late Show With David Letterman: 11:35 p.m. on Ch. 10. Former major-league great Hank Aaron is one of the scheduled guests.

By Joe Smith and Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writers
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — With the Rays deciding they will use LHP Jake McGee as a reliever, he's embracing the role.

And the hard-throwing converted starter believes he has the mentality to finish games as the closer — even as a rookie.

"I think I can handle it," said McGee, 24. "Especially last year, the bigger games I got into, it was the same every time, I didn't get too overhyped and all of that."

With ex-Rays closer Rafael Soriano, who led the American League in saves last season, signing with the Yankees, Tampa Bay appears headed for a closer-by-committee approach. McGee was impressive in his September stint with the Rays, coming through with scoreless outings in seven of his eight appearances after a rocky debut.

"I thought he did a wonderful job last year," manager Joe Maddon said. "He handled himself perfectly, was calm when he pitched. … He's at the point where he's starting to believe that he belongs here and that's really important to us."

A key for McGee in spring training will be improving his slider, especially against left-handers, giving him another option to go along with his mid to high 90s fastball.

Maddon already believes McGee's mental makeup is impressive, as the touted prospect who had to bounce back from Tommy John surgery seems to take everything in stride.

"I have a pretty calm demeanor, kind of like Soriano did last year, he never got really hyped up or never got really down," McGee said. "Just the same guy every day."

FOR STARTERS: LHP David Price, the Cy Young runner-up expected to start the April 1 season opener, will start Saturday's exhibition opener in Port Charlotte against the Pirates and work one to two innings. In what could be a preview of the regular-season rotation, RHP James Shields will start Sunday and RHP Jeff Niemann on Monday.

DAVIS DELAY: RHP Wade Davis didn't throw batting practice with the rest of his group Tuesday, saying he felt fine but skipped the session because he wanted to "work on some stuff" and instead threw a 53-pitch bullpen session Monday. Davis said he will throw BP with his group Thursday.

HELLICKSON HEALING: RHP Jeremy Hellickson, sidelined since Friday with a mild right hamstring strain, said he feels close to 100 percent and hopes to return to the mound by the weekend. Hellickson played catch for a second straight day.

TV TIME: Sun Sports announced a schedule for TV coverage of 150 games, starting with the April 1 opener. Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson will be in the booth, with Todd Kalas the reporter and pre- and postgame host. There will be a 30-minute pregame show for home games, and extended postgame coverage, with contributions from Orestes Destrade, Angela Jacobs and newcomer Laura McKeeman.

PITCHING IN: Maddon was very impressed with Niemann's work during batting practice: "All of his pitches were live … great movement." Among others catching Maddon's eye was RHP Chris Bootcheck. … LHP Alex Torres impressed some of the hitters. "Nasty stuff," INF Elliot Johnson said.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Hairy tale of the day

Photo day is always interesting anyway, and Manny Ramirez made it more so Tuesday morning. During a video interview, Ramirez invited Times photographer Dirk Shadd, left, to sit with him on the bench and compare dreadlocks. Even though Ramirez, 38, had only been growing his five years, compared to 39-year-old Shadd's 15, Manny was sure his were longer. Shadd didn't say much back.

Number of the day

3 Rays games not scheduled to be shown on TV between Sun Sports, Fox and ESPN.

List of the day

Most innings pitched AL, since 2007

Felix Hernandez, Mariners 879.1

Justin Verlander, Tigers 867

James Shields, Rays 853

Mark Buehrle, White Sox 843.1

CC Sabathia, Indians/Yankees 831

Offseason addition

Some people add a room on their house or have a pool installed. 1B Dan Johnson went a little further this off-season, building a 90x50-foot lighted hockey rink in the back yard of his Ham Lake, Minn., home with the help of a neighbor. Johnson claims he did it for 6-year-old son Kaden and his friends but admitted he stepped on the ice a few times himself. "So much fun," said Johnson, who played hockey through his freshman year at the University of Nebraska.

Different look

Evan Longoria said it's a little different being in a hitting group with new players, albeit the well-known Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. Even more odd is for the three-time All-Star to be in a trio where he is, essentially, the junior partner. "And," he said, "they're definitely the seniors."

Who is this Ray?

He was in uniform for the Rays' final out of the 2008 ALDS win over the White Sox. He is one of the tallest players on the roster. He was drafted out of Ohio University. He was acquired in trade.

The dish

Today's third full-squad workout starts at 9:30 at Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and lasts 3½ hours. Admission and parking are free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Toledo Blade Road, go west 6½ miles to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, complex is on left. More information: (941) 235-5025.

Heads-up

David Price, James Shields and Kyle Farnsworth are among the pitchers scheduled to throw live batting practice today, starting at 11 a.m.

On deck

Today-Friday: Workouts at Port Charlotte.

Saturday: Exhibition opener, vs. Pirates, 1:05.

Sunday: at Pirates (Bradenton), 1:05

Monday: Pirates, 1:05.

Who is this Ray answer: RHP Adam Russell

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Deal of the day

NBC will broadcast all three legs of horse racing's Triple Crown through 2015, meaning all three races will be on one network for the first time since 2005. NBC already had the rights to the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, but ABC had been carrying the Belmont for the past five years. Meanwhile, the network said it and Versus will provide 25 hours of coverage associated with the races, including the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and other Preakness-day and Belmont-day programming.

House of the day

Former Dolphins star QB Dan Marino finally sold his South Florida home after having it on the market for six years. And he didn't get what he wanted for it. The 19,500-square-foot home, which sits on a 4.3-acre peninsula near the Everglades, went on the market in 2005 with an asking price of $15.9 million. He sold it for $7.2 million.

By Katie Sanders, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — David Goldstein was a freshman on his high school soccer team last year when he was called in to sub during district finals.

It was a dream situation, one he couldn't let go even after colliding head-to-head with another player in the first half. "My hands went to my head, and I knew something wasn't right," he said.

Goldstein played through the second half for Miami's Ransom Everglades and during a scrimmage the next day. He didn't figure out he was probably suffering from a concussion until he could hardly move from the pain. Goldstein says he could have avoided the headaches, nausea and months of hourslong naps during school had he been properly educated about brain injuries and stopped playing.

Now he's on a mission with a batch of state lawmakers, former NFL players and medical experts. They spoke at the Capitol on Tuesday to support a bill that aims to curb concussions in youth sports through education and regulation.

"In the past, it was 'you got your bell rung.' You shake it off and got back in the game," said Rep. Ronald Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, a bill sponsor.

HB 301 and SB 730 would require the Florida High School Athletic Association to remove athletes showing signs of a concussion during a game or practice until they receive clearance from a medical professional.

Students and parents would sign consent forms that explain the risk of concussions, and returning to play too soon, every year before the start of practice or games. These rules would not just apply to FHSAA-governed sports, but to organized youth athletics at government-owned facilities. The FHSAA supports the measure.

National experts estimate 140,000 high school athletes suffer concussions every year. About 40 percent return to play before they have recovered. Repeat concussions can affect mood, social development, memory and worse, Renuart said.

A national poll last fall found that only 8 percent of parents with children ages 12-17 who play school sports have read or heard about the risks of repeat concussions.

Nine states have passed similar bills. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants each state to have a law by 2015, said Kenneth Edmonds, the league's government relations and public policy director.

Goldstein still plays soccer, though only while wearing a rugby helmet. He came to Tallahassee with his parents, Cheryl and Adam, who is president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

"Now I know, and I'm a different player now," he said. "I'm trying to spread that message to as many people as possible."

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Times wires
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

TAMPA — When Derrick Hopkins won the Big East indoor track titles in the 60 meters and 200 meters this past weekend, he became the first USF athlete to win both and the first from any Big East school to do so in at least a decade.

Hopkins, quick but tiny at 5 feet 5, 155 pounds, is a backup receiver on the football team, and the Big East is used to having football players from its Florida schools dominate sprints. Hopkins' personal-best time of 6.77 seconds is all the more impressive when you compare him with a Pro Bowl lineup of sprinters who represented Miami in the same Big East event when the Hurricanes were in the league.

Devin Hester? 6.82 in 2004. Willis McGahee and Andre Johnson? 6.81 and 6.96 in 2002. Phillip Buchanon? 6.80 in 2001. Clinton Portis ran a 6.93 in 2000, the same year Santana Moss matched Hopkins' time with a 6.77. Of those, Johnson was the only one to win a Big East title. Hopkins is certainly a smaller runner than those big NFL names, but he's working to make his speed an asset for Skip Holtz's football team.

"It was a lot of hard work, and it always feels good when you put hard work into something and accomplish your goals," said Hopkins, who was part of a state-record 4x100-meter relay at Miami's Monsignor Pace High two years ago with two of his current USF football teammates, Kayvon Webster and Sterling Griffin.

Hopkins had to be at USF for the flight to Akron, Ohio, at 8 a.m. Friday, but two hours earlier, he attended a winter conditioning workout. Holtz didn't make him run, of course, but wanted him to be there for the camaraderie.

"It's always good to be out there with the guys; it's something I love to do," Hopkins said. "Even though I wasn't participating, I felt like I was a part of it."

USF track coach Warren Bye said Holtz has been amenable to sharing his fastest players, allowing Hopkins and Webster to attend track practice a few days a week as long as their grades remain in good shape. Being able to balance sports and classwork in just their second year is a sign of their maturity as much as their athletic talent, Bye said.

"They've done a really good job of handling that," Bye said. "It shows another year of maturity for them. They're holding up their end with football, and it's challenging for them, but it's good because it means a lot for them to be two-sport athletes."

Hopkins didn't get a catch as a redshirt freshman last fall but is hopeful he can make an impact this fall, and his track work should only help with his quickness. He was back at football practice Monday, taking congratulations from his teammates for being named the conference's most outstanding track performer.

He wasn't the only USF athlete with a strong showing in Akron. Denise von Eynatten won the women's pole vault, setting a meet record with a mark of 14 feet, 1.75 inches, which stands as the sixth-best mark in the country this season.

This and that: Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden, now an NFL analyst with ESPN, will be the keynote speaker at Holtz's annual coaches clinic, March 24-26. … DT Terrell McClain will be USF's lone representative at the NFL combine workouts in Indianapolis, starting Friday. A strong showing could solidify McClain's position as a potential second-round pick or better. … In addition to the spring football game April 2 at Raymond James Stadium, Holtz will have a "Green and Gold Bowl" open scrimmage for students and fans at the track stadium April 9.

Times wires
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox general manager Kenny Williams says talk of $30 million-a-year players is "asinine" and he would support a work stoppage to bring fiscal sanity.

Williams said he doesn't want a stoppage but said the sport's future needs to be protected for fans and smaller markets.

With Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols eligible for free agency after the World Series, there has been speculation he could be the first with a $30 million average salary. Williams said Tuesday his comments were not directed at Pujols.

"I said what I said. I said what I felt," Williams said as he sat in his golf cart watching his team's first full-squad workout.

His comment about a shutdown drew attention.

"Do I want that? Who does? Come on. Come on. This is a game where millions upon millions of people watch on television and come to the ballpark to get away from some of the things that are going on in life, to have a little bit of entertainment," Williams said. "That's all I'm saying."

MORNEAU ENCOURAGED: First baseman Justin Morneau took the field with his Twins teammates for the first time since sustaining a concussion in July. Morneau said he "felt good" but wasn't about to proclaim himself 100 percent. Also, Twins catcher Joe Mauer received a shot of medication that general manager Bill Smith said will lubricate his surgically repaired left knee.

O'NEIL AWARD: Former general manager Roland Hemond was selected to receive the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hall of Fame. O'Neil, a Negro league star, received the first award in 2008, two years after his death.

BONDS SAGA: Defense attorneys for Barry Bonds are fighting to prevent federal prosecutors from introducing evidence they say is irrelevant to his perjury trial. Prosecutors want to admit statements showing that Bonds had a temper and often mistreated people. Bonds' defense argues that his character has nothing to do with the charge that he lied about knowingly using steroids.

CARDINALS: Infielder Nick Punto is expected to miss two to three months after hernia surgery.

DODGERS: Right-hander Vicente Padilla will have an MRI exam on his sore right elbow. Padilla was sidelined by nerve problems for almost two months last season.

INDIANS: Infielder Orlando Cabrera, who signed a free-agent contract last week, denied a report that he will retire after this season. Cabrera said he was misunderstood in an interview he gave in his native Colombia.

RANGERS: Left-hander C.J. Wilson, 30, is set to be the opening-day starter for the AL champs.

REDS: Right-hander Edinson Volquez, 27, was named the opening-day starter.

TIGERS: Right-hander Justin Verlander, 28, will make a fourth straight opening-day start.