Times wires
Sunday, April 24, 2011

GAINESVILLE — The Florida men's tennis team completed an unexpected run to its fourth SEC tournament title Sunday, blanking Kentucky 4-0 at Linder Stadium, while the highly ranked UF women beat host Tennessee 4-0 for their 17th SEC title.

It marked the third time that both programs captured the league tournament title in the same season (2000, 2005).

The 17th-ranked Gators men (18-8) came into the event as the No. 5 seed and beat three higher seeds, including No. 2-ranked Tennessee, becoming just the second team in the 22-year history of the event to win the championship with four victories in four days without the benefit of a first-round bye. Ole Miss was the other in 1996.

"Four matches in four days in the best tennis conference, or at least as good as anyplace else in the country, they have a lot to be proud of," coach Andy Jackson said. "Now we've got a chance to host an NCAA regional, we're improving, and we're very excited."

UF senior Alexandre Lacroix earned tournament MVP honors and was an all-tournament selection with Nassim Slilam.

The Gators now await their NCAA Tournament draw, which will be announced May 3.

The top-seeded and second-ranked UF women (25-1) have dominated the SEC tournament, winning 17 times in the event's 24-year history.

"We take pride in our fitness and our durability and grit," coach Roland Thornqvist said. "Winning a three-day event in the heat against a field as tough as the SEC means a lot. It tells you where you are heading into the NCAA Championships."

Sophomore Allie Will was named the event's MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by freshman Olivia Janowicz.

The women's NCAA field will also be announced May 3.

Times wires
Sunday, April 24, 2011

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The toughest part of Brandt Snedeker's day was spent in the clubhouse.

Snedeker posted 7-under 64 on Sunday to come from six back to finish at 12-under 272 and in the lead at the Heritage nearly two hours before the round ended.

So Snedeker waited to see if he'd get back on the course. He did, beating Luke Donald (70) in a playoff and denying the Englishman a chance at No. 1.

"It was brutal," Snedeker said of his time in front of the TV. "I don't want them to do bad, but I don't want them to do great, either."

Snedeker survived a three-hole playoff for his second PGA Tour win and first since the 2007 Wyndham Championship.

"To win this time, after all the hard work I put in the last three or four years, trying to improve, trying to get better," he said. "I feel like my game is finally there."

Snedeker birdied seven of his first 12 holes to grab the lead just as the final pair of Donald and defending champion Jim Furyk teed off. Then Snedeker closed with a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 at Harbour Town Golf Links.

"It's a storybook ending really, to be playing Luke in a playoff, to even have a chance to win was exciting to me," he said.

Donald would've risen to the top spot in the world from No. 3 had he won. His countryman, Lee Westwood, moved from No. 2 to No. 1, replacing Martin Kaymer, after winning the Indonesian Masters earlier Sunday.

Snedeker and Donald traded birdies on the first extra hole, the 18th, and pars on the second one, the 17th. Back at No. 18, Donald got a partially buried lie in a front bunker. He blasted out about 15 feet from the flag, and his chip for par from just off the green hit the edge of the cup and bounced away, giving Snedeker the win and $1,026,000.

At least Donald leaves No. 1 at something, making $615,000 to top the PGA Tour money list.

"It was going to be some big rewards if I won (Sunday)," he said. "But I'll try and find the positives from this week and move on."

Furyk finished with his highest score, 76, of his past 33 rounds at Harbour Town to tie for 21st at 5 under.

"I just kind of got on a bad roll, and it snowballed on me (Sunday)," he said.

Westwood takes No. 1 after winning, waiting

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Lee Westwood won the Indonesian Masters and regained the No. 1 spot in the world when Luke Donald lost to Brandt Snedeker in a playoff at the Heritage.

Westwood shot 3-under 69 to win by three at 19-under 269 over Thongchai Jaidee (65).

The English star, ranked second behind Martin Kaymer entering the week, won the Asian Tour event on his 38th birthday.

Westwood took a five-stroke lead into the final day.

"It was quite a day, really," he said. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy with a five-shot lead. I'm experienced enough to know that patience is the key."

Champions: The putt to extend the playoff looked like a tap-in to Kenny Perry. Maybe 14 inches. His opponents saw it as closer to 3 feet. Bottom line: Perry missed.

As a result, David Eger and Mark McNulty won the better-ball Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf on the second playoff hole against Perry and Scott Hoch in Savannah, Ga.

Eger and McNulty, who started four back, closed with 11-under 61 for 27-under 189. Perry and Hoch shot 64 to get into the playoff.

Both teams made par on the first playoff hole, No. 18. They played the hole again, with McNulty tapping in for par. Then Hoch and Perry missed short putts to extend the match — Perry's ball lipping out.

"It's a 14-inch putt that you don't even think much of," Perry said. "But, when it's all on the line, things change, and I pushed it and it didn't go in. So typical."

McNulty said Perry's ball was outside his, which he estimated to be about 3 feet from the cup. Still, it was a putt nearly everyone figured Perry could tap in.

"I was very surprised," Eger said. "I never expected Kenny to miss that putt."

Times wires
Sunday, April 24, 2011

Tennis

German youth tops No. 1 Wozniacki

STUTTGART, Germany — Julia Goerges upset women's No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 22-year-old German won in Bad Gastein, Austria, last year but had never captured a title in one of the WTA's premier events. Goerges had lost both previous matches against Wozniacki.

"I only know I won, but I don't know how," Goerges said. "Playing against Caroline is like climbing a high hill."

Goerges becomes the first German to win the tournament since Anke Huber in 1996 and will move to a career-best ranking of 27th.

Wozniacki was looking for her fourth title of the year.

"Julia played very well and very aggressive. I wasn't good enough today," said Wozniacki, who had not dropped a set in the tournament until the final and had not lost a match on clay this year.

Goerges collected a sports car donated by the title sponsor of the indoor tournament.

"I walked past this car every day to practice. I never imagined that I would be driving it," Goerges said.

By breaking into the top 30, Goerges gave Germany two players ranked that high for the first time since August 1999. The other is Andrea Petkovic, who will be No. 15 when the rankings come out today.

More Tennis

Nadal wins his sixth Barcelona clay crown

Men's No. 1 Rafael Nadal beat David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4 in their second all-Spanish final in two weeks to claim his sixth Barcelona Open title.

Nadal won his 29th straight match at the claycourt event when the fourth-seeded Ferrer hit his backhand wide.

"It is a dream for me to win here six times," said Nadal, whose sole loss at Barcelona came against another countryman, Alex Corretja, in 2003. "I think it will be difficult to repeat. Six years is a long time in the life of a tennis player."

It was Nadal's 45th career ATP title and his second consecutive trophy after beating Ferrer at Monte Carlo in straight sets April 17.

Nadal won at Barcelona from 2005-09, including finals victories over Ferrer in 2008 and 2009, before sitting out last year's edition to rest.

The 24-year-old Nadal became the first player to win two tournaments six or more times — he has won Monte Carlo seven times — in the tour's Open era. His 31st claycourt title also moved him into third place all time.

ET CETERA

Cycling: Philippe Gilbert shook off brothers Frank and Andy Schleck in an uphill sprint to win the Liege-Bastogne-Liege in Belgium, Gilbert's fourth victory in two weeks. Frank Schleck took second.

Horses: Heavy favorite Amazombie won in a romp despite a full field of 11 late Saturday in the $125,000 Tiznow Stakes at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. Ultra Blend rallied from sixth to win the $125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes and Nahem won the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes.

Soccer: Arsenal's slim hopes of winning England's Premier League were virtually extinguished on a last-minute goal by Bolton substitute Tamir Cohen in a 2-1 loss. Third-place Arsenal is nine points behind league leader Manchester United with four matches remaining. … Reigning Major League Soccer MVP David Ferreira of FC Dallas has a double fracture in his right ankle. The midfielder was injured on a tackle by Whitecaps defender Jonny Leathers late Saturday in Vancouver. The team said surgery would be scheduled after Ferreira saw doctors in Dallas.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 24, 2011

Quote of the day I

"We were calling for the ball at that point."

Manager Joe Maddon after the Rays retired Jose Bautista — on a screaming liner — for the first time in his 11th plate appearance of the weekend

Comparison of the day

2.71 Rays ERA during their 10-3 run.

4.73 Rays ERA during their 1-8 start.

Number of the day

13 Games, of 22, in which Rays starters have gone seven or more innings, tops in the majors.

Today: Off

Up next: at Twins, 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, Sun Sports

Probable pitchers:

Rays

RHP Wade Davis (2-2, 2.73)

Twins

LHP Francisco Liriano (1-3, 7.40)

On deck

Wednesday: at Twins, 8:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (0-3, 7.08); Twins — Nick Blackburn (1-3. 4.01)

Thursday: at Twins, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.32); Twins — Scott Baker (1-2, 3.24)

Friday: vs. Angels, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (3-2, 3.19); Angels — TBA

Saturday: vs. Angels, 1:10, Ch. 13. Rays — James Shields (2-1, 2.35); Angels — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Quote of the day III

"I might just rack up some pay-per-view charges."

OF Sam Fuld, on plans to spend most of today's much-needed off day in bed watching movies

Chart of the day: April power

Longest April hitting streaks in team history:

13: Johnny Damon, 2011

12: Carlos Peña, 2009

12: Delmon Young, 2007

12: Randy Winn, 2002

Quote of the day II

"I know I didn't spend that much time in the minor leagues, but I don't want to go back and spend any more."

3B Evan Longoria, lobbying for a shorter rehab assignment

Times wires
Sunday, April 24, 2011

ST. LOUIS — The Reds placed veteran 3B Scott Rolen on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left shoulder, Cincinnati's seventh player on the DL this season.

Rolen, 36, had two cortisone injections in his shoulder Thursday and hoped to play this weekend, but the shots apparently had little effect.

A 16-year veteran and six-time All-Star, Rolen has had shoulder problems for much of his career. He missed most of the 2005 season while with the Cardinals because of a torn left labrum and needed two operations to fix it.

Rolen is batting .217 with a .246 on-base percentage and a .417 slugging percentage this season. He played in 133 games last season, his most since 2006, and batted .285/.358/.497 to help the Reds to the NL Central title.

With Rolen's backup, Juan Francisco, also on the DL with a strained calf, Cincinnati called up INF Chris Valaika from Triple-A Louisville.

BLUE JAYS: 2B Aaron Hill went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Wednesday with tightness in his right hamstring.

BREWERS: RHP Zack Greinke threw 54 pitches in 22/3 innings in his second rehab start at Triple-A Nashville and remains on track for an early May return. Greinke is on the disabled list with a cracked left rib. … RF Corey Hart, out all season with a left ribcage strain, is scheduled to play all nine innings for Nashville tonight and rejoin Milwaukee on Tuesday.

INDIANS: RHP Carlos Carrasco left his start after three innings with tightness in his pitching elbow. He'll be reevaluated today.

MARINERS: 1B Justin Smoak, who went on the bereavement list Tuesday after the death of his father Keith in South Carolina, is expected to rejoin the team in Detroit on Tuesday afternoon.

PADRES: RHP Pat Neshek was optioned to Triple-A Tucson when LHP Wade LeBlanc was recalled from Tucson to start against the Phillies.

PHILLIES: RHP Jose Contreras, filling in at closer with RHP Brad Lidge on the disabled list, joined Lidge on the DL with a strained right elbow.

RED SOX: OF prospect Ryan Kalish partially tore his labrum diving for a ball Thursday night at Triple-A Pawtucket. Kalish, 23, will try to rehab the injury but may need season-ending surgery.

WHITE SOX: RHP Jake Peavy threw 40 pitches off a mound with no problems and could pitch in a minor-league game Friday. Peavy, on the DL with rotator cuff tendinitis, had his rehab halted last week because of muscle tenderness and irritation in his right shoulder.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 24, 2011

TAMPA — In an attempt to narrow his team's focus for tonight's Game 6, Lightning coach Guy Boucher gave players an option of staying in a downtown hotel Sunday night, and some did.

While it's not a typical routine, Tampa Bay did it during the 2004 Stanley Cup run, and veteran RW Marty St. Louis has stayed in a hotel before home games during this series.

"Bubble hockey I call it," Boucher said. "It's just like those bubble hockey (games). You have the window on top. Anything outside can't affect our game. That's the way we're approaching it. It's not that we don't like our fans. We love our fans. They were terrific the last two games. But it's important now that the calm in our task has to be there.

"If you look at the two games here that we played, we started very nervous. We want to do well, but we want to do too much. We've got to calm it down."

C Steven Stamkos said the team was too eager to make a big play in its first two home games (both losses) and strayed from the structure that made it so successful. He acknowledged it was partly a product of not handling the Game 2 victory well, a lesson the Lightning says it has learned.

"I don't want to say we were a little cocky. But we felt a little comfortable after Game 2 that our job was done; that we'll win the next two games at home," RW Simon Gagne said. "But that's not the way it goes."

Gagne said it was a different feeling staying in a hotel Sunday but believed it could help. After all, the road team has won four of the five games this series.

"We're going to try to make that happen, like we're on the road," Gagne said. "I think you're going to see a better team, more prepared and maybe (more) understanding of what's going on and how the playoffs have to be played."

COMING THROUGH: Boucher says Gagne has always been a "clutch player," so he wasn't surprised the veteran came up with two goals in Game 5.

"That's the best time to play," Gagne said of the postseason, during which he has two goals and four assists. "It's fun. I like it.

"You don't need too much motivation to come to the rink and play. You play for one thing. It's the Stanley Cup. When you go to overtime and you could be the difference, I like to be that guy."

IN AND OUT: D Mike Lundin logged just 9 minutes, 48 seconds in Game 5. Boucher said it had more to do with how well D Marc-Andre Bergeron performed in his first playoff action.

"(Bergeron has) brought a better transition than we had the previous game," Boucher said. "He's taking shots right away in the offensive zone. He was terrific on the power play because he's healthy now. He gave us what we were expecting when we brought him in."

Like Game 5, the Lightning is likely to go with seven defensemen with Randy Jones, who sat out the first five games, in the mix.

NUMBERS GAME: Tampa Bay is tied with Anaheim for first on the power play during the playoffs (36.4 percent) and second behind Montreal on the penalty kill (96 percent). … St. Louis is tied for the league lead in points (eight) as well as points on the power play (five).

MISCELLANY: C Dana Tyrell (lower-body maintenance) and LW Ryan Malone (rest) did not participate in Sunday's practice. … With AHL Norfolk's season over, the Lightning recalled forwards Mattias Ritola and Blair Jones and G Dustin Tokarski.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Sunday, April 24, 2011

NEWARK, N.J. — George Martin, an 11th-round draft pick, played 14 seasons for the Giants, made captain, won a Super Bowl. Martin the philanthropist raised millions for charity, even walked across the country, 3,000 miles from the George Washington Bridge on the Hudson River to San Diego. Martin the businessman never held a position lower than vice president.

Yet Martin's hardest endeavor began about 19 months ago, when he became president of the NFL Alumni Association. His charge: to transform a charitable organization into the voice for retired players, to merge a multitude of factions, to forge improved relations with the league and its players union, the NFLPA, which recently decertified.

"This is by far the hardest thing I've done," Martin said. "It has been the epitome of crisis management at its finest or at its worst, I'm not quite sure."

In recent weeks, largely because of mistrust born from $1.6 million in loans his association got from the NFL, Martin has feuded with the union he helped build. Martin said his relationship with the league had been "grossly mischaracterized.

"To realize that I didn't have an honored place in that organization — to say it was disconcerting would be an understatement," Martin said. "I've been through the strikes. I fought."

When Martin took over, he changed the alumni association's mission, structure and board.

He found that so many organizations lobbied on behalf of retired players that they divided themselves over what Martin called "irreconcilable similarities."

"Somebody had to be in charge of herding all these cats," said Randy Cross, a TV analyst and retired offensive lineman. "George is the right guy. But his initial job was the definition of thankless."

As the NFL and the players union entered into labor negotiations, Martin saw an opportunity, a spotlight for changes needed.

Instead, his issues with the players association — whose former leader, the late Gene Upshaw, once remarked that he didn't work for retired players — only worsened. Rock bottom came last month at the players' meetings in Marco Island. Martin said he was required to fill out a "lengthy questionnaire" regarding his allegiance to the league. He said he was "cross-examined for two hours" after a 15-minute address.

One player in the meeting described Martin as "angry and confrontational." Martin compared the meeting to the "Nuremberg trials," a remark for which he later issued an apology. Martin said he had not spoken to the NFLPA since.

Yet under Martin, the transformed alumni association is more organized than ever. It helped secure additional long-term health benefits for retired players, though the details remain in dispute. He sees improved pension benefits as a "when scenario," not if.

"We've been waiting for something like this to come along," said Russ Francis, a retired player and a friend of Martin. "George Martin has our attention. He has our commitment. With the right support, the right tools, he'll make history again."

Times staff
Sunday, April 24, 2011

Times staff
Sunday, April 24, 2011

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 24, 2011

TAMPA — Dwayne Roloson said he lives by the 12-hour rule.

Something happens in a game, good or bad, the Lightning goaltender gives himself 12 hours to think about it.

"You have time to reflect on it but don't dwell on it," Roloson said of the rule suggested by a former coach. "Forget about it and move forward."

And if his performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals is any indication, he thrives on it as well.

One game after allowing the deciding goal in a 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Penguins on a shot he should have stopped, Roloson redeemed himself in Saturday's 8-2 romp.

Thirteen of his 31 saves came in the first period while Tampa Bay was badly outplayed. He kept his team in the game until Simon Gagne and Steven Stamkos scored for a 2-0 lead.

It is exactly the kind of effort the Lightning — down three games to two in the best-of-seven series — needs in Game 6 tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum to again avoid elimination in a series in which the team scoring first has won each time.

But just as he compartmentalized his Game 4 disappointment, Roloson did the same with his Game 5 achievement.

That is crucial for goalies, who are scrutinized and critiqued more than any other player on the ice. But Roloson said it can work for any player.

"As a team, we have to have amnesia," he said. "Forget about last game, play our system and do the little things to win games."

"He's excellent at that," goaltenders coach Frantz Jean said. "He's one of the best I've seen. You know you're going to have bad goals. You know you're going to make great saves. The question is to be able to have a sustained and quality effort every time you go out there. If you do that, you'll be okay."

Roloson, 41, has been more than okay. His .942 save percentage is second in the playoffs among goalies with more than 100 minutes. His 2.06 goals-against average is third.

There have been soft goals, such as Max Talbot's short-sider to open the 3-2 Game 3 loss and, most notably, James Neal's Game 4 winner on a puck flung at the net from a sharp angle.

But Roloson has been more consistent than Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury, who since his Game 1 shutout has a 3.16 goals-against average and .870 save percentage.

"We know he's going to be there," right wing Steve Downie said of Roloson, and added of how he played in Game 5, "He made some incredible saves. He deserves the credit."

But Roloson was reluctant to accept it.

"It's not just one individual," he said. "It's everybody doing the little things to win. It's the little things that lead to the big picture. You can't just come up with a picture that's going to sell for a million dollars. It takes the little brushstrokes all the way through."

As for the little things Roloson does, he said, "Getting in front of shots. That's all you can do," and he joked he follows the KISS method of goaltending: Keep it simple, stupid.

Then there is the 12-hour rule.

"He'll look at stuff, rationalize stuff. There's a work in progress there that will last a few hours or a day," said coach Guy Boucher, who added he expects Roloson to "put his last performance in perspective, too, and come up with an even bigger one (today)."

Times wires
Sunday, April 24, 2011

ATLANTA — For most of Sunday night, the Hawks struggled to make free throws and labored to put away the Magic. But with the game on the line at the line, Joe Johnson came through.

Jamal Crawford scored 25 for the Hawks and Johnson made four big free throws in the final 20 seconds to preserve an 88-85 victory over the Magic.

Atlanta has a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference series and can end it Tuesday in Orlando.

The Hawks made only 12 of 20 free throws, yet all was forgiven when Johnson knocked down the ones that mattered.

"That's what they get paid for. We rely on Joe and Jamal to get it done in tough situations," Hawks forward Josh Smith said. "They answered the bell again."

Running out of time and forced to go for a tying 3-pointer, the Magic set up a play for Hedo Turkoglu. But former Gator Al Horford knocked the ball away. Turkoglu got it back with only enough time to force one up. It missed badly.

Dwight Howard led the Magic with 29 points and 17 rebounds. His night was marred by eight turnovers, including a couple of walking calls when he tried to back in on the collapsing defense.

Gilbert Arenas scored 20, but no other Orlando player had more than 11. The Magic is shooting just 40 percent from the field in this series. Orlando shot only 39 percent (31-for-79) in this one, and rallied to reach that number.

"They're playing good defense. I'm not taking anything away from them. But we're getting good enough looks," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I don't know what to tell you about the shooting. I really don't."

Howard challenged his team to bounce back.

"I just told them," he said, "if they don't believe we can still win, stay in Atlanta."

Hawks 88, Magic 85

ORLANDO (85): Turkoglu 2-12 2-4 6, Bass 4-6 3-4 11, Howard 9-14 11-16 29, Nelson 3-12 0-0 6, Q.Richardson 3-5 0-0 7, Anderson 1-6 2-2 4, Redick 0-6 2-2 2, Arenas 9-18 1-1 20. Totals 31-79 21-29 85.

ATLANTA (88): Smith 4-10 1-4 9, Horford 6-15 2-2 14, Collins 1-2 0-0 2, Hinrich 6-11 0-0 14, Johnson 6-15 7-8 20, Williams 1-2 0-0 2, Crawford 10-18 2-6 25, Powell 1-2 0-0 2, Armstrong 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-75 12-20 88.

Orlando 17 20 24 24— 85

Atlanta 25 21 20 22— 88

3-Point Goals—Orlando 2-23 (Arenas 1-3, Q.Richardson 1-3, Redick 0-3, Anderson 0-4, Nelson 0-4, Turkoglu 0-6), Atlanta 6-15 (Crawford 3-6, Hinrich 2-3, Johnson 1-4, Smith 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Orlando 53 (Howard 17), Atlanta 51 (Horford 12). Assists—Orlando 11 (Nelson 6), Atlanta 21 (Crawford 6). Total Fouls—Orlando 21, Atlanta 26. Technicals—Smith, Atlanta three second. A—19,490.

Celtics sweep Knicks

NEW YORK — The Celtics never let this develop into the intriguing series that was expected. Instead, it was easy.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 21 points and 12 assists, and the Celtics ousted the Knicks 101-89 to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Celtics swept a series for the first time since a 3-0 victory over Indiana in 1992.

"It's what we expected coming in. We knew it wasn't going to be easy, obviously Games 1 and 2, but we found a way to put it away," Rondo said.

The Celtics had a 23-point lead cut to four in the fourth quarter but pulled away as Garnett scored 20 after halftime.

Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and nine rebounds, and Amare Stoudemire, who decided to play after his back felt better, finished with 19 points and 12 boards but shot only 5-for-20 from the field.

Celtics 101, Knicks 89

BOSTON (101): Pierce 5-18 2-2 13, Garnett 10-16 6-6 26, J.O'Neal 1-2 0-0 2, Rondo 8-12 5-11 21, Allen 5-13 2-2 14, Davis 6-8 2-2 14, Krstic 2-2 0-0 4, Green 2-7 1-1 5, West 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 40-81 18-24 101.

NEW YORK (89): Anthony 10-24 10-11 32, Stoudemire 5-20 9-12 19, Turiaf 1-2 1-3 3, Douglas 3-11 0-0 6, Fields 0-3 1-2 1, Jeffries 0-1 0-0 0, Walker 2-5 0-0 5, Sha.Williams 2-9 0-0 6, Carter 5-7 0-0 11, Mason 2-6 0-0 6. Totals 30-88 21-28 89.

Boston 29 26 27 19— 101

New York 23 15 34 17— 89

3-Point Goals—Boston 3-12 (Allen 2-6, Pierce 1-4, West 0-1, Green 0-1), New York 8-27 (Mason 2-5, Sha.Williams 2-5, Anthony 2-7, Carter 1-2, Walker 1-4, Fields 0-1, Douglas 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Boston 61 (Garnett 10), New York 51 (Stoudemire 12). Assists—Boston 24 (Rondo 12), New York 19 (Carter 4). Total Fouls—Boston 23, New York 25. Technicals—West, Stoudemire. Flagrant Fouls—Anthony. A—19,763.

76ers not ousted yet

PHILADELPHIA — The sweep for the Heat was 95 seconds away. Miami held a six-point lead and had the Big Three on the court. All the 76ers had was their unwavering belief.

When they told Doug Collins in the huddle, "We're going back to Miami," his reply was simple.

"I'll be there with you," said the 76ers coach.

Lou Williams hit the go-ahead 3-pointer over a lunging Dwyane Wade with 8.1 seconds left and lifted Philadelphia to an 86-82 win to avoid a sweep.

His 3-pointer came 28 seconds after Jrue Holiday's 3-point shot that sliced the deficit to one. It was all part of a 10-0 closing run that sends the series to Game 5 Wednesday in Miami.

"D-Wade gave me a little room, and I was able to knock it down," said Williams, who scored 17. "We've always been a team that fought, all the way until the end."

76ers 86, Heat 82

MIAMI (82): James 11-20 9-11 31, Bosh 5-12 2-2 12, Ilgauskas 0-3 1-2 1, Bibby 0-6 0-0 0, Wade 9-21 3-4 22, Anthony 0-2 2-2 2, Chalmers 3-9 0-0 9, Jones 2-5 0-0 5, Howard 0-0 0-0 0, House 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-78 17-21 82.

PHILADELPHIA (86): Iguodala 5-13 4-4 16, Brand 6-11 3-4 15, Hawes 1-8 2-2 4, Holiday 4-11 0-0 10, Meeks 2-3 0-0 5, Young 1-4 0-0 2, Battie 0-2 0-0 0, Williams 6-14 3-4 17, Turner 7-13 2-2 17. Totals 32-79 14-16 86.

Miami 16 31 19 16— 82

Philadelphia 28 18 18 22— 86

3-Point Goals—Miami 5-23 (Chalmers 3-9, Jones 1-3, Wade 1-3, James 0-4, Bibby 0-4), Phi. 8-18 (Iguodala 2-4, Holiday 2-5, Williams 2-6, Meeks 1-1, Turner 1-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Miami 43 (Wade 8), Phi. 58 (Brand 11). Assists—Miami 14 (James 6), Phi. 18 (Holiday 5). Total Fouls—Miami 17, Phi. 18. Technicals—Jones, Young. A—19,048.

Late Saturday: Serge Ibaka tied his career high with 22 points and the Thunder beat the host Nuggets 97-94 to give Oklahoma City a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. J.R. Smith nearly brought Denver back from 10 points down in the final 50 seconds when he hit two 3-pointers, but he air-balled a 29-footer in the final seconds that could have forced overtime.

Bulls-Pacers: Bulls star Derrick Rose had a walking boot on his left foot as a precaution a day after spraining his ankle in the first quarter of an 89-84 loss to Indiana. He played on and scored 15 but reported soreness Sunday. Rose, listed as day to day, did not speak to reporters, but his teammates said they expect him to play Tuesday.

Times wires
Sunday, April 24, 2011

Cardinals 3, Reds 0

ST. LOUIS — Jake Westbrook pitched six three-hit innings in his first career start on three days' rest and Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Edinson Volquez, lifting the Cardinals. The outing was the season's longest for Westbrook, who entered with a 9.82 ERA and gave up seven runs in three innings Wednesday against the Nationals. St. Louis took two of three, breaking a tie with the Reds for first place in the NL Central.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 25, 2011

Win four matches in four days.

That's the challenge the Florida Gators men's tennis team was faced with when the SEC Men's Tennis Tournament began in Gainesville last Thursday.

In order to win it all, the Gators needed to win four matches in four consecutive days.

So when the Gators secured a 4-0 victory over Kentucky Sunday afternoon - at their own Ring Tennis Complex - to earn the championship, Florida coach Andy Jackson said the team's wild celebration was a reflection of the emtions that have accompanied the tough season they've endure.

It is the fourth SEC Tournament title for the men's team since the event began in 1990, Florida's first since 2005. The Gators also won in 1994 and 2000.

"I was extremely happy for them becasuse they've worked very hard,'' Jackson said Monday morning. "That's a level of success, just putting your heart into things and investing in things. It's not like we weren't successful (this season), but we lost a lot of close matches and we felt like we should be achieving more. . . .So I was very, very happy for them because they put in a lot of work and they were able to see a tangible result.''

The Gators (18-8) came into the SEC Tournament as the No. 5 seed and without a first-round bye, but defeated three higher seeds, including top-seeded Tennessee in the semifinals and No. 3-seed UK (26-8) in the final. Jackson's squad became just the second team in the 22-year history of the event to win the championship with four victories in four days without the benefit of a first-round bye. The other team to do so was Mississippi State in 1996 - incidentally also coached by Jackson who was the head coach for othe Bulldogs at the time.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 25, 2011

Florida Gators men's basketball coach Billy Donovan on Monday hired Florida Atlantic assistant coach Matt McCall to fill the third and final vacancy on his staff.

McCall has spent the past three seasons as an assistant at FAU under head coach Mike Jarvis. He is returning to Florida after spending several years with the program, including as a student manager, while earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees at UF.

"Matt is someone that worked for our program for seven years, he knows the University of Florida and he knows me," Donovan said. "I felt,

in losing three assistant coaches, that it was really important to have a level of familiarity on my staff.''

McCall originally joined the UF program as a student manager in the 2001-02 season and became the head manager the following year. After earning his degree in exercise and sports science in 2004, McCall continued with the program while earning his master's in secondary education in May 2006. McCall accepted a position as Florida's director of basketball operations, which he held for two seasons from 2006-08, including UF's second national title run in the 2006-07 season.

Earlier this month, Donovan added former UF assistant and Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey, and former St. John's head coach Norm Roberts to his staff.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 25, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays starter James Shields has been named AL Player of the Week for his pair of complete game victories.

Shields became the third Ray to log complete game wins in consecutive starts, joining Rolando Arrojo (1998) and Albie Lopez (2000).

He beat the White Sox at the Trop last week and then shutout the Jays on Sunday in Toronto, compiling a 2-0 record with a 0.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts, allowing just a .138 average. His 18 innings were tops in the majors.

This is Shields' second AL Player of the Week award; he also won in April 2008.

For winning, he gets a Game Time watch.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 25, 2011

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the dates and times for their four preseason games Monday.

Tampa Bay will begin by traveling to Kansas City on Friday, Aug. 12 for a nationally televised game on FOX at Arrowhead Stadium at 8 p.m.

The Bucs will play at Raymond James Stadium against the New England Patriots on Thursday, Aug. 18, and host Miami on Saturday, Aug. 27. Both games are at 7:30 p.m.

The preseason ends when the Bucs play at Washington on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m.

All games at RJS are subject to local NFL blackout rules.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 25, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — The Rays delight in the havoc caused by stealing bases, and the threat of doing so, having led the leagues in larceny during Joe Maddon's five-plus seasons holding the green light.

But they decidedly detest being the victims, as they have increasingly been, and are determined to do something (actually several things) about it.

"I don't like it," Maddon said. "We really take a lot of pride in that not happening. We have to do better at that. I really talked about it a lot in spring training because I thought you were going to see a lot more of it from all the teams this year. …

"I don't want people doing to us what we do to them."

So far, they haven't done a very good job. The 21 steals against them (in 22 games) is the third most in the American League, and their five runners thrown out is more than just five teams.

And from early indications the challenge is going to continue to grow with more teams on the run.

"The game's changing," bench coach Dave Martinez said. "Teams are building themselves more around speed, they're hitting and running more, they're bunting more, and they're stealing more.

"We do it as a big part of our game, so we're trying to defend it as much as possible."

The fastest way for the Rays to stop teams from running is to have their pitchers be quicker in their deliveries to the plate, increasing the chances for catchers John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach to throw them out.

But that has been a, um, slow process, so the Rays are resorting to other means: making more throws over to first, having the pitchers vary their delivery speeds to disrupt the runners' timing, and trying more pickoffs (with four so far, third most in the majors).

They are also paying much more attention to runners on second base, experimenting with a series of pickoff moves and set plays, seeking to cut down on thefts, or at least big leads.

"We're trying all kinds of things," Martinez said. "We want to keep double plays in order, we want guys to stay closer to the base to give our outfielders a chance to throw them out, we want to keep them from taking the extra base."

The difference between a quick-enough and a too-slow delivery to the plate is miniscule, but that fraction of a second can make all the difference.

A good delivery time from the stretch, Maddon said, is 1.3 seconds from when the pitcher first lifts his foot until the ball hits the catcher's glove. "At 1.35 to 1.4, the better baserunners can really take advantage," he said. "And at 1.4-plus a lot of guys can take advantage."

The pitchers are just the first line of defense. The average time for a catcher to make the throw to second is 2.0 seconds, so any delay there can be just as impactful. And accuracy is important because the time it takes the infielder to make the tag is also part of the equation.

"We're not good," Maddon said. "We've got to get better. I've been on them about it."

Jeff Niemann, the tallest of the Rays starters at 6-foot-9, has, not surprisingly, been the biggest offender, with 26 of the past 29 basestealers against him (going back to 2009) reaching safely. Jaso has been the problem at the other end, throwing out just one of 17 so far this season (with Shoppach three of eight, and one caught stealing credited to a pitcher).

"Each person in that scheme has to do their job to shut down the running game," Shoppach said.

They are also trying to be more creative, especially at second base, where there typically isn't much done to defend runners. They've worked hard on a "quick pick" move where the pitcher whirls and throws as the infielder breaks — with some risk of course — and caught ex-mate Carl Crawford that way April 12. They have also sampled several set plays, where they fake to one base and throw to another.

"There's a lot of emphasis at second base," pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "You kind of forget about it. When you have a runner at first you're conscious of the fact that he may steal, you're trying to be quick to home, you're trying to vary your times, you're trying to throw over. And at second base you kind of get away from that a little bit."

Rays ace David Price has, of course, his own ideas on how better to control the running game: "Don't let them on base."

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

By Rick Stroud, Times staff writer
Monday, April 25, 2011

TAMPA — In normal times, the Bucs would not still have to wonder if Cadillac Williams is going to be their third-down back. Or if Davin Joseph is going to stand guard in front of quarterback Josh Freeman. Or if Barrett Ruud is going to solve the riddle at middle linebacker.

That's because free agency has always preceded the NFL draft the way the national anthem is played before the coin toss.

But because of the league's labor situation, it appears that order will be reversed. Teams cannot contact, let alone negotiate, with any free agents during the lockout.

So while Bucs general manager Mark Dominik would like to sign those aforementioned free agents, he said his team will approach the NFL draft as if there's an opening at nearly every position.

"It's going to be unusual to have the draft prior to free agency," Dominik said. "That's kind of bizarre. ... I think it opens up the draft board for the organization.

"Certainly, there are still questions to be answered on this roster. Again, we're at the beginning in the process with this football team. I like the success we had last year, but we didn't make the playoffs, we haven't won a playoff game. We didn't accomplish much and we're just getting out of the starting gate. You just look at the board and be honest with yourself and say, 'Where's the right talent for this football team in 2011 and 2014 and 2015.' "

According to some experts, without free agency to fill their needs, teams may actually reach to draft a player at certain positions because there's no guarantee they'll be able to address it once the approximately 500 free agents become available.

"You just might have an extra need and you may have to sit there and fill that position because you don't know you can fill it with free agency later," said former Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly, an NFL analyst for CBS. "It will be interesting to see if teams start reaching for players, and that's where you're going to start making mistakes."

A year ago, players with at least six years in the league were eligible for free agency. That enabled the Bucs to retain the right of first refusal on players like Ruud and tackles Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood by offering them a one-year tender.

Tampa Bay has tendered contracts to all their free agents again, but it's unlikely that will mean much once the new collective bargaining agreement is signed.

Dominik has said whenever the free agent signing period begins, the Bucs will focus most of their efforts on re-signing their own players.

"You have to have a lot of scenarios in place," said NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi. "Free agency is a little bit like signing a junior college kid in college. You fill a need, you move forward to the draft and that gets your rookie class. But the reality of it is this will be very difficult."

Of course, the Bucs have not been big players in free agency lately. Dominik is committed to building through the draft, and they've probably had more misses than hits in free agency in recent years — running back Derrick Ward, quarterback Byron Leftwich and Keydrick Vincent. Last year, their best free agent acquisition was Eagles safety Sean Jones.

But what normally happens in March — whether it be free agency or a trade — has an impact on draft plans.

"In 2009, when I first got here, I made the trade for Kellen Winslow," Dominik said. "I wasn't going to draft a tight end in the first or third round of that draft because I had filled that spot, even if I felt there was a tight end there and thought, 'Wow, this is a really talented guy.' It just didn't make sense because I had just filled it with what I thought was a Pro Bowl caliber tight end.

"Yeah, it's inverted right now because we haven't filled those spots. And even though we have players that will be or could be unrestricted free agents, you've got to assume you have none of them and work from there going forward."

Of course, there's another form of free agency that won't take place immediately after the draft. NFL teams will not be permitted to sign undrafted college free agents once the seventh round concludes Saturday. Remember, players such as Earnest Graham and LeGarrette Blount went undrafted.

"It was a three or four hour event upstairs that was organized chaos," Dominik said. "That's what you tried to make it. And to not have that is another kind of bizarre feeling.

"When that seventh-round compensatory pick goes in for the Bucs, everybody goes home. That's going to be a lot different feeling. Other than that, you prepare as if you're ready for whenever that day comes that the college free agency opens up and certainly pro free agency."

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 25, 2011

TAMPA — In normal times, the Bucs would not still have to wonder if Cadillac Williams is going to be their third-down back. Or if Davin Joseph is going to stand guard in front of quarterback Josh Freeman. Or if Barrett Ruud is going to solve the riddle at middle linebacker.

That's because free agency has always preceded the NFL draft the way the national anthem is played before the coin toss.

But because of the league's labor situation, it appears that order will be reversed. Teams cannot contact, let alone negotiate, with free agents until the lockout is resolved.

So while Bucs general manager Mark Dominik would like to sign free agents, he said his team will approach the draft as if there's an opening at nearly every position.

"It's going to be unusual to have the draft prior to free agency," Dominik said. "That's kind of bizarre. … I think it opens up the draft board for the organization.

"Certainly, there are still questions to be answered on this roster. Again, we're at the beginning in the process with this football team. I like the success we had last year, but we didn't make the playoffs; we haven't won a playoff game. We didn't accomplish much, and we're just getting out of the starting gate. You just look at the board and be honest with yourself and say, 'Where's the right talent for this football team in 2011 and 2014 and 2015?' "

According to some experts, without free agency, teams might reach to draft a player at certain positions because there's no guarantee they can address it once the nearly 500 free agents become available.

"You just might have an extra need and you may have to sit there and fill that position because you don't know you can fill it with free agency later," said former Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly, an NFL analyst for CBS. "It will be interesting to see if teams start reaching for players, and that's where you're going to start making mistakes."

A year ago, players with at least six years in the league were eligible for free agency. That enabled the Bucs to retain the right of first refusal on players like Ruud and tackles Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood by offering a one-year tender.

Tampa Bay has tendered contracts to all their free agents again, but it's unlikely that will mean much once the new collective bargaining agreement is signed.

Dominik has said that whenever the free agent signing period begins, the Bucs will focus on re-signing their own players.

"You have to have a lot of scenarios in place," NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi said. "Free agency is a little bit like signing a junior college kid in college. You fill a need, you move forward to the draft and that gets your rookie class. But the reality of it is this will be very difficult."

The Bucs have not been big players in free agency lately. Dominik is committed to building through the draft, and they've probably had more misses than hits in free agency in recent years — running back Derrick Ward, quarterback Byron Leftwich and guard Keydrick Vincent. Last year, their best free agent acquisition was Eagles safety Sean Jones.

But what normally happens in March — whether it be free agency or a trade — has an impact on draft plans.

"In 2009, when I first got here, I made the trade for Kellen Winslow," Dominik said. "I wasn't going to draft a tight end in the first or third round of that draft because I had filled that spot, even if I felt there was a tight end there and thought, 'Wow, this is a really talented guy.' It just didn't make sense because I had just filled it with what I thought was a Pro Bowl caliber tight end.

"Yeah, it's inverted right now because we haven't filled those spots. And even though we have players that will be or could be unrestricted free agents, you've got to assume you have none of them and work from there going forward."

Of course, there's another form of free agency that won't take place immediately after the draft. NFL teams can't sign undrafted college free agents once the seventh round concludes Saturday. Remember, players such as Earnest Graham and LeGarrette Blount went undrafted.

"It was a three- or four-hour event upstairs that was organized chaos," Dominik said. "That's what you tried to make it. And to not have that is another kind of bizarre feeling.

"When that seventh-round compensatory pick goes in for the Bucs, everybody goes home. That's going to be a lot different feeling. Other than that, you prepare as if you're ready for whenever that day comes that the college free agency opens up and certainly pro free agency."

Where: Radio City Music Hall, New York

Bucs — Round 1: 20; Round 2: 19 (51st overall); Round 3: 20 (84); Round 4: 19 (116); Round 5: 20 (151); Round 6: 22 (187); Round 7: 19 (222), 35 (238)

Times wires
Monday, April 25, 2011

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A federal judge on Monday ordered an end to the NFL lockout, giving the players an early victory in their fight with the owners over how to divide the $9 billion business.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson said she was swayed by the players' argument that the lockout, now in its second month, was causing irreparable harm to their careers.

The plaintiffs "have made a strong showing that allowing the League to continue their 'lockout' is presently inflicting, and will continue to inflict, irreparable harm upon them, particularly when weighed against the lack of any real injury that would be imposed on the NFL by issuing the preliminary injunction," Nelson wrote.

The NFL promised an immediate appeal.

"We will promptly seek a stay from Judge Nelson pending an expedited appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals," the league said. "We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor disputes. We are confident that the Eighth Circuit will agree. But we also believe that this dispute will inevitably end with a collective bargaining agreement, which would be in the best interests of players, clubs and fans. We can reach a fair agreement only if we continue negotiations toward that goal."

Owners imposed the lockout after talks broke down March 11 and the players disbanded their union. A group of players filed the injunction request along with a class-action antitrust lawsuit against the league.

The owners argued it was their right to institute the lockout and suggested Nelson didn't have jurisdiction while the National Labor Relations Board considers an unfair labor charge filed by the league that players didn't negotiate in good faith.

Nelson disagreed and said the NLRB proceeding shouldn't be used to affect this case.

Nelson heard arguments on the injunction at a hearing April 6 and ordered the sides to resume mediation while she was considering her decision. The owners and players, who failed to reach consensus after 16 days of mediated talks this year, met over four days with a federal magistrate but did not announce any progress on solving the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.

They are not scheduled to meet again until May 16, four days after another judge holds a hearing on whether players should get damages in their related fight with owners over $4 billion in broadcast revenue.

And now comes Nelson's decision to lift the injunction.

"(T)he public ramifications of this dispute exceed the abstract principles of the antitrust laws, as professional football involves many layers of tangible economic impact, ranging from broadcast revenues down to concessions sales," she wrote. "And, of course, the public interest represented by the fans of professional football — who have a strong investment in the 2011 season — is an intangible interest that weighs against the lockout. In short, this particular employment dispute is far from a purely private argument over compensation."

If her ruling stands, it is still unclear exactly what happens next. The collective bargaining agreement has expired, so how the league would handle free agency, trades and offseason workouts at team headquarters, all of which were banned under the lockout, remains to be seen.

The NFL even argued to Nelson that stopping the lockout would open all 32 teams up to additional antitrust claims simply for working together to solve the labor dispute. Antitrust claims carry triple damages for any harm proved, meaning hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.

But with appeals expected, the fight seems likely to drag on through the spring and, possibly, into the summer. The closer it gets to August, when training camps and the preseason get into full swing, the more likely it becomes that regular season games will be lost.

"Tomorrow is going to come regardless of what we do here, so we have to work within that framework," Hall of Famer Carl Eller, a plaintiff, said after one of the recent mediation sessions. "In order to have a season, preserve a season, prepare for a season, those are real consequences."

And the antitrust lawsuit is pending, too, with lead plaintiffs that include MVP quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The suit has been combined with two other similar claims from retirees, former players and rookies-to-be, with Eller the lead plaintiff in that group.

Granting the injunction swings some of the leverage to the players' side, which could actually bring the sides closer to a resolution, said Seth Borden, a labor law expert at McKenna, Long and Aldridge in New York.

"It's still going to boil down to the way the parties view their respective positions and respective leverage," Borden said. "Until the league and the players feel like they're at the point of no return for next season, progress will be slow toward that overall resolution."