Times wires
Monday, May 2, 2011

AUTOS

POWER CONTROLS INDYCAR VICTORY

SAO PAULO — Will Power of Australia overcame a damaged car and a wet track to win IndyCar's Sao Paulo 300 on Monday, a day after the race was postponed because of heavy rain on the streets of South America's biggest city.

Graham Rahal was second and Ryan Briscoe third at the 2.5-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit.

Power, who started from the pole, drove to victory for Team Penske after Takuma Sato had to pit for fuel with about 10 minutes left in what wound up being a timed race in the rain. Sato led 23 laps but finished eighth after his KV Racing team's fuel gamble failed.

Power defended his Sao Paulo title despite damage. He lost control exiting a turn early in the race and touched the wall with his left rear tire.

"I bent the rear suspension enough to make the steering wheel quite off to the left," he said. " … I adjusted to the imbalance in the car, and it was fine."

The weather forced a time limit, and the race went only 55 of the 75 scheduled laps.

HORSES

Watch Me Go works out quietly

Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go worked out on a sealed track, clocking 5 furlongs in 1 minute, 2 seconds under Fred Lenclud in preparation for Saturday's Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Trainer Kathleen O'Connell arrived at 4 a.m. at Churchill Downs, hoping to avoid overcast conditions, but it rained 15 minutes later. Watch Me Go galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:15 and 7 furlongs in 1:29.20. "My most important thing was the gallop out," O'Connell told a track spokesman. "I wasn't looking for speed." Rafael Bejarano drew the colt's riding assignment. Post positions will be drawn Wednesday.

KENTUCKY OAKS: Grade I winner R Heat Lightning was declared out of Friday's race for fillies after heat was detected in her right front leg.

Colleges

More trouble for Buckeye football

Ohio State linebacker Dorian Bell was suspended for the 2011 season for violating team rules. The Buckeyes will already be without five players for the first five games for accepting improper benefits, and coach Jim Tressel will sit out the same length of time for failing to report his knowledge of the players' actions.

OREGON: Linebacker Kiko Alonso was indefinitely suspended after his arrest on burglary and trespassing charges.

MORE SPORTS: A fundraising effort helped save the California men's gymnastics program, which was slated to be shelved in a cost-cutting move. … Former Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt was named coach at George Mason.

ET CETERA

TENNIS: Maria Shara-pova defeated Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the third round at the Madrid Open. On the men's side, American Sam Querrey lost to Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-3.

HOCKEY: Nick Palmieri scored twice and the United States had four third-period goals to top Norway 4-2 and reach the second round of the world championships in Slovakia. The Czech Republic and Finland also clinched spots in the second round with victories, and Sweden got its first victory, 3-0 over Austria.

VOLLEYBALL: Misty May-Treanor has a sprained MCL in her left knee but won't need surgery, said her agent, Thomas McCarthy. May-Treanor was hurt Sunday in China, forcing her and Kerri Walsh to withdraw from a beach event.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Times wires
Monday, May 2, 2011

Yankees 5, Tigers 3

DETROIT — Nick Swisher hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth off closer Jose Valverde, and the Yankees handed the Tigers their seventh straight defeat. Trailing 3-0, Detroit rallied to tie it in the seventh on Alex Avila's second solo home run of the night. But with runners on first and second and one out in the ninth, Swisher singled up the middle and Mark Teixeira scored from second with a slide.

Times staff
Monday, May 2, 2011

Conference semifinals

EAST

BRUINS 2, Flyers 0

Game 1: Bruins 7, Flyers 3

Monday: Bruins 3, Flyers 2 OT

Wednesday: at Boston, 7, Versus

Friday: at Boston, 8

Sunday: at Philadelphia, 3, Ch. 8 *

May 10: at Boston, TBD, Versus *

May 12: at Philadelphia, TBD, Versus *

WEST

Canucks 1, PREDATORS 1

Game 1: Canucks 1, Predators 0

Game 2: Predators 2, Canucks 1 2OT

Tonight: at Nashville, 9, Versus

Thursday: at Nashville, 8:30, Versus

Saturday: at Vancouver, 8, Versus

Monday: at Nashville, TBD, Versus *

May 11: at Vancouver, TBD, Versus *

SHARKS 2, RED WINGS 0

Game 1: Sharks 2, Red Wings 1 OT

Game 2: Sharks 2, Red Wings 1

Wednesday: at Detroit, 8

Friday: at Detroit, 7, Versus

Sunday: at San Jose, 8, Versus *

May 10: at Detroit, TBD, Versus *

May 12: at San Jose, TBD, Versus *

* If necessary

Times wires
Monday, May 2, 2011

Red Sox 9, Angels 5

BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia fouled off nine pitches in a 13-pitch at-bat against Jered Weaver before lining a go-ahead two-run single for the Red Sox. Weaver, whose start was pushed back a day because of a stomach virus, failed to become the first pitcher since Sadie McMahon of the American Association's Baltimore Orioles in 1891 to reach 7-0 by May 2 or sooner.

Times wires
Monday, May 2, 2011

White Sox 6, Orioles 2

CHICAGO — Paul Konerko homered twice and Mark Buehrle pitched 62/3 scoreless innings to lead the White Sox. Konerko hit a two-run home run and a solo shot for Chicago, which ended a five-game skid with its fourth win in 19 games. The White Sox also avoided a four-game sweep by Baltimore and ended a seven-game home skid with their first win at U.S. Cellular Field since April 12.

Times wires
Monday, May 2, 2011

PHILADELPHIA — David Krejci scored 14:00 into overtime and the Bruins beat Philadelphia 3-2 on Monday night to take a two games to none lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Boston goaltender Tim Thomas stopped 46 straight shots after the Flyers took a quick 2-0 lead.

Krejci fired a one-timer from one knee that ricocheted off the back off the net and back onto the ice. Play continued until officials could review the call. But the goal was clearly good.

"At first I thought it was in. Then they kept playing," he said.

James van Riemsdyk had a breakout game for the Flyers. He scored two goals and was all over the ice trying to help the Flyers win at least one at home.

Instead, they have to rally from another deficit.

Chris Kelly and Brad Marchand also scored for the Bruins, who have taken a seemingly commanding lead on the Flyers for the second straight year. Boston led 3-0 in the East semis a year ago before the Flyers won four straight to advance — including a rally from a 3-0 hole in Game 7.

Thomas was on the bench for that collapse.

Monday, he had 52 saves as the Flyers set a team playoff record for shots in a game with 54.

"By the third period, I was really starting to get into a rhythm which was a good thing because they were really getting off shots," Thomas said.

Brian Boucher, who missed the last 8:59 of the second period because of an injury, had 32 saves.

Chris Pronger, the anchor of the Flyers defense, was scratched with an undisclosed injury.

PREGAME PRIDE: The Flyers hit the hat trick of patriotism before Game 2: God Bless America, a tribute to the troops, and almost 20,000 fans chanting "U-S-A!"

Flyers fans heard the usual stirring rendition of God Bless America, live by Lauren Hart and on video by the late Kate Smith.

The song has been a rallying anthem for the Flyers since Smith began singing it in the mid 1970s. Hart started the song, then looked up to the big screen and passed it off to Smith before Game 2. They finished in a split-screen duet.

Fans chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!" after lineups were introduced, and again after the song was finished, a day after Osama bin Laden was killed.

"It's so unique to our team, for any sport," Hart said, "to have something like this."

First Period—1, Philadelphia, van Riemsdyk 6 (Giroux, Zherdev), :29. 2, Philadelphia, van Riemsdyk 7 (Briere, Timonen), 9:31 (pp). 3, Boston, Kelly 4 (Ryder, Kaberle), 12:50. 4, Boston, Marchand 4 (Bergeron, Recchi), 14:15. Penalties—Thomas, Bos, served by Lucic (delay of game), :48; Shelley, Phi (boarding), 3:37; Campbell, Bos (holding), 8:49; Krejci, Bos (roughing), 15:04; Versteeg, Phi (holding), 15:04.

Second Period—None. Penalties—Hartnell, Phi (slashing), 18:27.

Third Period—None. Penalties—Marchand, Bos (cross-checking), 3:21; Chara, Bos (roughing), 17:21. First Overtime—5, Boston, Krejci 4 (Horton), 14:00. Penalties—None. Shots on Goal—Boston 16-13-7-5—41. Philadelphia 14-8-22-10—54. Power-play opportunities—Boston 0 of 2; Philadelphia 1 of 4. Goalies—Boston, Thomas 6-3-0 (54 shots-52 saves). Philadelphia, Boucher 4-3-0 (35-32), Bobrovsky (11:01 second, 6-6), Boucher 4-3-0 (0:00 third). A—19,962 (19,537). T—2:57. Referees—Eric Furlatt, Marc Joannette. Linesmen—Derek Amell, Pierre Racicot.

DANTON SAGA: Former Blues center Mike Danton, who served time in a murder-for-hire plot in 2004, says in an interview set to air tonight on ESPN that his target was not the one alleged by the FBI — it was his father.

Danton spent almost five years in jail for a failed scheme in which the FBI said the intended victim was David Frost, who had been Danton's agent, former coach and surrogate father. But Danton says on E:60 that the man he wanted killed was his father, Steve Jefferson — whom Danton says was abusive when Danton was young.

Times wires
Monday, May 2, 2011

CHICAGO — The Hawks stared down Superman, and they weren't blinking against the Bulls, either.

Joe Johnson had 34 points and Atlanta beat top-seeded Chicago 103-95 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

As if the loss weren't bad enough, the Bulls got a scare when Derrick Rose came up limping after he turned his left ankle at the end of the game. Their MVP candidate stepped on Jamal Crawford's foot as he dribbled out the final seconds and was helped off by teammates and a trainer.

"I should be okay," Rose said. "I'll probably get treatment right now, go home, get some more treatment and be ready to go for (Game 2) Wednesday."

There were several reports Monday night that Rose, 22, would be announced as the MVP, making him the youngest to receive the award and the second Bull along with Michael Jordan.

That announcement is expected today, with the presentation at Game 2. If the Bulls keep playing like this, that could be their final appearance at the United Center.

The Hawks went on a 15-2 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to turn a 69-65 deficit into an 80-71 lead with 10:27 left. Johnson hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 during that stretch, and the Hawks hung on.

Johnson hit 12 of 18 shots and all five 3-pointers. Crawford scored 22, and Jeff Teague added 10 while starting at the point for the injured Kirk Hinrich and got the game ball from coach Larry Drew.

"We're the team that nobody talks about," Crawford said.

This is a good way to get them talking: shoot 51.3 percent against one of the league's stingiest defenses and take a series opener days after upsetting Dwight Howard the Magic.

As alarming as all that was for the Bulls, though, the sight of Rose limping off sent a real shiver through Chicago.

"It's tough when your best player is limping off the court with an injury that you know he's had before," said center Joakim Noah, the former Gator. "It's tough, but right now, we have a game on Wednesday in less than 48 hours."

Rose twisted the same ankle in the opening round against Indiana, but even before he limped off the court, this wasn't his best night. He scored 24 but was just 11-of-27 from the field and did not attempt a free throw.

Luol Deng scored 21 for Chicago, and Carlos Boozer added 14 points and eight rebounds despite a right turf toe injury.

Hawks 103, Bulls 95

ATLANTA (103): Williams 2-6 1-1 5, Smith 3-11 2-4 8, Horford 4-7 1-2 9, Teague 5-11 0-0 10, Johnson 12-18 5-5 34, Wilkins 2-4 0-0 4, Crawford 8-16 4-4 22, Pachulia 2-2 2-2 6, Collins 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 40-78 16-20 103.

CHICAGO (95): Deng 8-12 5-6 21, Boozer 6-11 2-2 14, Noah 3-7 5-6 11, Rose 11-27 0-0 24, Bogans 1-4 0-0 3, Brewer 2-4 1-2 6, K.Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Korver 3-7 0-0 9, Gibson 1-3 0-0 2, Watson 2-7 0-0 5, Asik 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 37-83 13-16 95.

Atlanta 28 23 21 31— 103

Chicago 18 32 21 24— 95

3-Point Goals—Atlanta 7-13 (Johnson 5-5, Crawford 2-4, Teague 0-1, Smith 0-1, Williams 0-2), Chicago 8-18 (Korver 3-4, Rose 2-7, Brewer 1-1, Bogans 1-3, Watson 1-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 45 (Horford 13), Chicago 46 (Noah 9). Assists—Atlanta 20 (Teague 5), Chicago 21 (Rose 10). Total Fouls—Atlanta 17, Chicago 16. Technicals—Noah, Chicago Coach Thibodeau, Chicago defensive three second. Flagrant Fouls—Smith. A—22,890 (20,917).

Times wires
Monday, May 2, 2011

Marlins 6, Cardinals 5

ST. LOUIS — Mike Stanton hit a tying home run in the fifth inning and tripled and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth to lift the Marlins. Gaby Sanchez ended Kyle Lohse's 22-inning scoreless streak with his first grand slam, also Florida's major league-high third of the season. The Marlins improved to 18-9, their best start ever.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Dodgers 5, Cubs 2

LOS ANGELES — Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 28 games with an infield single that capped a three-run fifth for the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw pitched seven innings, giving up Alfonso Soriano's major league-leading 11th homer in the seventh. He did not walk a batter for the first time in seven starts this season. Vicente Padilla pitched a perfect eighth and Jonathan Broxton did likewise in the ninth for his sixth save.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Pirates 4, Padres 3

SAN DIEGO — Garrett Jones and Chris Snyder each hit a two-run homer in the first inning and the Pirates snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Padres dating to 2009. San Diego had the potential tying run on third with two outs in the ninth but Will Venable hit into a force. The Padres wore camouflage jerseys to honor the military.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

MLB.com reports that the father of Tampa Bay Rays exec VP Andrew Friedman is heading a second group seeking to buy the Astros . Another group, headed by Jim Crane, already has exclusive negotiating rights. Kenny Friedman, according to the report, already has been approved by MLB.

Here is the report:

Houston attorney Kenny Friedman confirmed Monday night he's spoken to Astros owner Drayton McLane about putting together a group to try to buy the Astros.

Friedman, the father of Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman, said Monday he has a group of investors lined up to make a possible proposal to McLane, but acknowledged he has to wait and see what happens with Houston businessman Jim Crane, who is trying to buy the club.

"It's been just a very short period of time, just a few weeks, but I've been very pleased with the response we've gotten from a number of people," Friedman said. "I understand they recently entered into an exclusive negotiating period with Mr. Crane and his group, which is not surprising. They're well ahead in their efforts. I'm going to continue to keep pushing until someone tells me not to."

McLane on Monday acknowledged the agreement with Crane, but said nothing is imminent. "We have an agreement where we're talking with Jim Crane right now, but have not reached an agreement with him," McLane said.

Friedman, a senior partner in the Houston office of Dallas-based law firm Haynes and Boone, is chairman of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. He said he's already been approved by Major League Baseball.

"We have a number of investors that are major investors," Friedman said. "We have a number of people that have said, 'If you need a deal, I think we're in good shape.'"

Friedman was asked about his confidence to put a deal together if Crane doesn't buy the team. "My confidence is 100 percent," he said. "I think it would take us a few weeks to put together a solid deal."

McLane announced in November he was accepting offers for the sale of the club he purchased over 18 years ago, and he said he desired local ownership.

Crane is the CEO and founder of Houston-based Crane Capital Group.

McLane said in December 2009 that he'd had a tentative agreement with Crane to purchase the Astros following the 2008 season, but a deal couldn't be reached.

Crane previously bid to purchase the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers. The negotiations are being handled by Steve Greenberg of Allen & Company, a New York-based investment bank. Greenberg said in March he was in discussions with multiple parties and that the process was "closer to the finish line than we are the starting line," but didn't acknowledge Crane's interest.

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

TAMPA — FC Tampa Bay starting goalkeeper Daryl Sattler tore the ACL in his right knee and is out for the rest of the season.

Sattler was injured during a collision in the 10th minute against Atlanta on Saturday.

Arguably Tampa Bay's most valuable player, Sattler started all four games this season, winning North American Soccer League defender of the week in Week 3. He had two shutouts and allowed two goals.

Sattler said he'll have surgery within a week. He wouldn't rule out a return this season, but the likelihood he'll be available in 2011 appears unlikely.

"I want to try to be positive, and hopefully when the time comes around, I'm an option to be a backup," he said. " … I would say it's probably a season-ending injury. That's hard to swallow and take in."

Former Countryside High and USF standout Jeff Attinella entered for Tampa Bay in the 1-1 draw against Atlanta and allowed one goal while making three saves in his professional debut. Clearwater's Attinella will make his first pro start against Carolina on Saturday at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg.

"I was actually talking to people about how I thought the way Daryl was playing that I might get my opportunity next year because I thought Daryl would be in the MLS truthfully the way he started the season," Attinella said. " … I was here just in case something did happen to Daryl. It's not the way I wanted to get it, but I'm definitely excited to have the opportunity to kind of hop in goal for the team and see what I can do at the professional level."

Coach Ricky Hill said the team will sign another goaltender to back up Attinella.

Champions League: Barcelona in final

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona outclassed rival Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final.

Pedro Rodriguez scored off a through pass from Andres Iniesta in the 54th minute and Barcelona earned a 1-1 tie to win the semifinal on 3-1 aggregate.

Seeking its fourth Champions League title and third in six years, Barcelona plays Manchester United or Schalke on May 28 at Wembley Stadium in London.

It marked the fourth match between the rivals in 18 days, which included Madrid's win in the Copa del Rey final.

"The last 20 days have been really hard, a lot of tension," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said, adding that Madrid was "probably the best team in the world apart from my team, maybe."

Racism inquiry: French soccer authorities are looking into claims that national coach Laurent Blanc and other coaches secretly agreed on a quota restricting the number of black and Arab players in training programs. The aim was to limit to 30 percent the number of players of African and North African descent in training academies once they reached age 13, investigative website Mediapart said last week. Blanc insists such a move was never discussed.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Wayne Fleming is undergoing at least eight hours of surgery today at an Irvine, Calif., hospital to address a malignant brain tumor that was diagnosed before the playoffs. Players said the news is not a distraction, but it does add another layer to a story that includes the Lightning dedicating the playoffs to someone they call a member of their family.

As defenseman Randy Jones said, "This is a big family and he's a big part of it. Your thoughts and prayers are with him and you're thinking about him."

But Jones said Fleming would not want to be a distraction for tonight's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against Capitals.

"He'd want us to go and focus 100 percent on this game and work hard, and that's what we have to do."

Tampa Bay players and coaches already had dedicated the first round of the playoffs to Fleming, and have the puck used to finish off Game 7 against the Penguins. But Jones said the dedication "doesn't stop just because we're done with round one. We're playing this entire playoffs for Flemmer. He's in a pretty big battle right now and we're doing whatever we can to support him. He's in our thoughts and prayers and we're playing for him.

No doubt, Fleming would be proud of his penalty kill. The squad he coached all season has killed 45 of 46 penalties in the playoffs and 30 straight. Marty Raymond has taken over while Fleming is away from the team.

Other stuff from the morning: Lightning coach Guy Boucher made it sound as if neither injured left wing Simon Gagne nor defenseman Pavel Kubina will play in Games 3 or 4. "They're day-to-day except for today and tomorrow," Boucher said. ... Kubina spoke publicly for the first time since his head was knocked into the glass in Game 1 by an elbow from Washington's Jason Chimera. He said he is feeling better every day and that his recovery is a "process." He declined to comment on what he thought of Chimera's hit or what symptoms he is feeling. There is no official word on the injury, though assuming he experiencing at least concussion-like symptoms is not a stretch given how the injury occurred. ... Two stick blades to the mouth of Lightning wing Marty St. Louis during Game 2 (neither of which were called for penalties in one of the most poorly officiated games of the postseason) caused St. Louis to have the three teeth loosened by a stick to the mouth in the Penguins series to be re-cemented into place. No root canals this time, but, again, the procedure, performed Monday by team dentist Sam Carranante, will allow St. Louis to eat without problems during the playoffs. ... St. Louis was pretty blunt that the Lightning has not played particularly well during the two games it won in Washington. "I know we're up 2-0 in the series but I don't think it's been played like that. We got some lucky bounces and have been very opportunistic with some of our chances. But we've been outshot in both games. We know we have to shoot the puck more. We need more offensive zone time. Roli (goaltender Dwayne Roloson) has been stellar, and that's why we're up 2-0." ... There was some buzz among Washington reporters that coach Bruce Boudreau might switch goaltenders. Apparently Boudreau generally does not speak to his goalies, Washington reporters said, so when he called Semyon Varlamov into his office on Monday in Washington, the whispers began. But Boudreau today said he has no plans on changing, and Michal Neuvirth, who has not played badly in the series, took shots during the morning skate. ... In the we-have-nothing-else-to-talk-about department, Lightning star Steven Stamkos was named one of the "25 fittest guys in the world" by Men's Fitness magazine. Stamkos said he didn't even know about this until two days ago. No photo shoot, no interview, just his name and a brief write-up that he worked out six days a week during the summer with fitness guru and former NHL player Gary Roberts. ... Someone today actually asked Capitals player Jason Arnott if Washington was having trouble matching Tampa Bay's intensity. Seeing the Caps dominated play in Games 1 and 2 and if not for Roloson would be ahead 2-0 in the series, Arnott answered in the only way he could: "What?"

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Infielder Felipe Lopez was designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays to make room for Evan Longoria.

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Jacqueline Jacobs, 13, of Spring Hill is shining on the national gymnastics stage once again.

Jacobs, who trains at Suncoast Gymnastics in Port Richey, has won countless medals in the past, including the all-around title at last year's Illinois Gymnastics Institute Chicago Style Invitational, when she was a Level 9 competitor.

She will be competing at an even bigger event May 15, at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., when she fights for the title at this year's Junior Olympics National Championships. Now a Level 10 competitor, which is very high for her age, Jacobs had to qualify through state and regional meets to get to the national competition.

PHCC CHEERLEADING: Pasco-Hernando Community College is holding tryouts for its cheerleading squad at 6 p.m. May 25 in the fitness center at the West Campus in New Port Richey.

Tryout preparation sessions will be at 6 p.m. May 23 and 24. Skills required for the final tryouts will be taught during the preparation period.

Cheerleaders promote school spirit on campus and at home basketball games. Team members will also have the opportunity to support additional PHCC athletic programs, host fundraisers and participate in community service projects.

Male and female PHCC students, including incoming freshmen, returning sophomores and transfer students in good academic standing may try out.

For information, visit phcc.edu/athletics/cheerleading.

DUNES WOMEN'S GOLF: The Dunes women's league had its annual member-guest tournament April 14.

There were 72 participants in the tournament, which was played in a best-ball format. Members prepared a breakfast for everyone, and a catered lunch was provided.

The duo that came in first with low gross was Dot Cleary and her guest, Shari Pfannenstein, with a 66. They edged out Betty Richmond and her guest, Nancy Groth, (67) by one shot.

In the net scoring, the team of Bev Pickens and guest Pat Saisi placed first. Ruby Foust and Rusty Ryal came in second, with Karen Berch and Ann Piechota rounding out the top three.

Nancy Stewart and Ro Newsome won the member closest-to-the-pin awards, while Groth and Ryal took home the guest awards.

MLB HIT, PITCH & RUN: The city of Brooksville will host the Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Competition for area youth at 1 p.m. May 14 at Tom Varn Park in Brooksville.

The event is free for all participants, but officials ask entrants to arrive early to register. All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and fill out a registration/waiver form before the start of competition.

Competitors are divided into four age divisions: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 12-14. The winners will have a chance to advance through four levels of competition, including team championships at major league ballparks and the national finals at the 2011 MLB All-Star Game.

No child who participated in the event at the YMCA in Spring Hill on Sunday may participate in this event.

For information, call Tina Nichols at (352) 540-3835.

KIWANIS SUPERKIDS TRIATHLON: The third annual Kiwanis SuperKids Triathlon will take place May 21 at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.

Limited to the first 200 participants, the event has three age groups: 5-8, 9-12 and 13-18. Everyone who participates will receive an award. There will be swimming, biking and running. Helmets are required for the biking portion.

Sign-in is from 5 to 7 p.m. May 20; bring bikes for inspection and overnight securing. The triathlon will begin at 7:15 a.m. the next day.

For information, visit kidssupertriathlon.com.

HYL FOOTBALL: The Hernando Youth League is beginning registration for the 2011 season.

Teams are available for kids ages 5 to 15. Registration sessions will be on the following Saturdays at Ernie Wever Park in Brooksville: May 7, May 21 and June 11.

Registration forms are available at leaguelineup.com/hylfootball. Forms must be presented at time of sign-up. The cost is $125, and space is limited.

For information, call Rick Hankins at (352) 346-0000 or send e-mail to popwarnerhernando@gmail.com.

JEROME BROWN GOLF: World Woods Golf Club, north of Brooksville, is hosting the Jerome Brown Golf Classic on June 4, sponsored by Bright House Networks.

Proceeds will benefit the Jerome Brown Youth Foundation. For an entry fee of $65, each golfer gets 18 holes of golf, a cart, lunch and a cap. The format is a four-person scramble.

Registration is at 11:30 a.m., with lunch at noon. The shotgun start is at 1 p.m.

For information, call Dianna Rusk Yoder at (352) 796-2526.

BRITISH SOCCER CAMP: The First Hernando Youth Soccer Club has teamed up with Challenger Sports to host a weeklong British soccer camp July 18 to 22 at Anderson Snow Park in Spring Hill.

Each child will work with a member of the team of more than 1,000 British coaches being flown to the United States exclusively to work with this and other programs. Challenger Sports will have more than 3,000 camps this summer and coach more than 120,000 children between the ages of 3 and 19.

Space is limited, and parents are encouraged to register their kids as soon as possible. To attend for a half day from 9 a.m. to noon, the cost is $117 for the week for ages 5 to 18. For a full day, the fee is $165 for ages 10 to 18. Goalkeepers ages 10 to 18 can attend from 5 to 8 p.m. for a cost of $117.

Each camper will receive a T-shirt, soccer ball, poster and personalized skills evaluation.

For information, call Robert Andreu at (813) 283-4523 or send e-mail to robertandreu@bellsouth.net. To register, visit challengersports.com.

KIWANIS GOLF: The Brooksville Country Club at Majestic Oaks is hosting the 41st annual Brooksville Kiwanis Golf Invitational on June 1.

The cost is $75 per golfer, which includes golf, cart, dinner and prizes. The shotgun start is set for 1 p.m. The format of the tournament is a four-man scramble. First-come, first-served.

The registration deadline is May 20.

Cash prizes, door prizes and prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive will be awarded. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For information, call Barbara Hitzemann at (352) 442-3412 or visit kiwanisclubofbrooksville.org.

To notify us of community sports achievements or coming events, contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.

By Larry Blue, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

What's (not) hot: Though there was a great angler turnout at a recent king mackerel tournament, the lack of kingfish caught may be telling. The annual spring run of king mackerel has been pale by the standards of many seasoned anglers in the Tampa Bay area. Some are saying we may be paying the price for targeting the large breeder kings. Prevailing weather conditions haven't helped locate the fish, with typically wind-battered rough seas. But weather can't take the blame for the insufficient number of kingfish caught when the wind isn't blowing. A normal spring day should provide mind-boggling numbers of "schoolie" king mackerel, but that's just not the case this year.

Warmer than normal water that is already in the mid 80s may mean we are coming to the end of king mackerel fishing for this season. Calls to charter boats south of Tampa Bay have revealed no kings. Several big kingfish were caught several miles from shore. Enthusiasts are optimistic that the king mackerel might still be staged offshore in deep water and the abundant bait on our beaches could draw them closer. Otherwise, a long boat trip to cooler/deeper water may be necessary.

Larry Blue charters the Niki Joe from Madeira Beach Marina. Call (727) 871-1058 or visit CaptainLarryBlue.com.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Conference semifinals

EAST

BRUINS 2, Flyers 0

Game 1: Bruins 7, Flyers 3

Game 2: Bruins 3, Flyers 2 OT

Tonight: at Boston, 7, Versus

Friday: at Boston, 8

Sunday: at Philadelphia, 3, Ch. 8 *

May 10: at Boston, TBD, Versus *

May 12: at Philadelphia, TBD, Versus *

WEST

Canucks 1, PREDATORS 1

Game 1: Canucks 1, Predators 0

Game 2: Predators 2, Canucks 1 2OT

Tuesday: at Nashville, late

Thursday: at Nashville, 8:30, Versus

Saturday: at Vancouver, 8, Versus

Monday: at Nashville, TBD, Versus *

May 11: at Vancouver, TBD, Versus *

SHARKS 2, RED WINGS 0

Game 1: Sharks 2, Red Wings 1 OT

Game 2: Sharks 2, Red Wings 1

Tonight: at Detroit, 8 (Versus, in progress, 9:30)

Friday: at Detroit, 7, Versus

Sunday: at San Jose, 8, Versus *

May 10: at Detroit, TBD, Versus *

May 12: at San Jose, TBD, Versus *

* If necessary

Times wires
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

colleges

pac-10 tv deal a conference record: $3 billion, 12 years

In the richest conference TV deal ever, the Pac-10 will start a cable network in 2012 and sell most of its marquee football and basketball games to Fox and ESPN for about $3 billion over 12 years, more than quadrupling what the two networks have been paying.

The Pac-10, which is expected to announce the agreements today, is following the model of the Big Ten, which in 2007 created a network for its teams and negotiated a 10-year, $1 billion deal with ESPN. The Pac-10 will retain full ownership of its network. Fox Cable Networks owns 49 percent of the Big Ten channel.

Boise State: The NCAA has accused the school of committing 22 violations, one of them major, over five years in football and four other sports and said the violations' scope and nature show Boise State lacked institutional control, according to a report. School president Bob Kustra said the university has made fixes, including a new executive director of compliance. The NCAA Infractions Committee has scheduled a hearing on June 10.

central florida: The compliance department was contacted by the NCAA amid reports of possible improper recruiting activities, said the school, which confirmed it is conducting an internal review. Reports by the New York Times and ESPN.com detail a link with Ken Caldwell, who reportedly has ties with ASM sports agency.

Miami: Offensive lineman Joel Figueroa was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

tennis: The Florida men (May 13-14) and women (May 14-15) will host NCAA tournament regions. The men open at 1 on May 13 against South Carolina State, with Miami facing Nebraska; the women also open against South Carolina State, at noon May 14. The FSU men open vs. Mississippi State in the Georgia Tech region, and the FSU women open vs. Southern in the Texas A&M region. The USF women play Texas in the Miami region May 13 or 14.

tennis

Man charged with stalking Serena

A man was charged with stalking Serena Williams after police say they caught him trying to walk into her gated subdivision in Palm Beach Gardens.

Police said Patenema Ouedraogo, 40, told officers he was going to Williams' home Monday night "because he loves her" and "he knows the feelings are reciprocal." An attorney for Williams said he had obtained a restraining order after Ouedraogo tried to contact her three times. Ouedraogo was held on $25,000 bond.

Madrid Open: Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the third round in Spain by defeating Bojana Jovanovski 6-4, 6-4. Tampa resident Samantha Stosur also advanced, edging Daniela Hantuchova 7-6 (7-1), 7-5. On the men's side, 2009 U.S. Open winner Juan Martin del Potro overcame a hip problem to beat 13th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the second round.

ET CETERA

autos: Media giant News Corp., owned by Rupert Murdoch, and an Italian investment firm linked to Ferrari, the sport's oldest team, are working together to find other investors to potentially fund a bid for the Formula One series, which has been owned by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners since 2006. CVC said the series isn't for sale. … Driver Martin Truex Jr. fired his pit crew after a botched final stop during Saturdays's Sprint Cup race, and Michael Waltrip Racing responded with four personnel changes: new tire carriers and changers for the front and rear of the No. 56 Toyota.

hockey: The Blues' Alex Pietrangelo scored at 4:14 of overtime to give Canada a 4-3 win over Switzerland to complete the group stage of the world championships in Slovakia 3-0.

horses: Toby's Corner was withdrawn from Saturday's Kentucky Derby with a left hind leg problem.

Times wires

Times wires
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

CLEVELAND — Indians RF Shin-Soo Choo was arrested Monday on suspicion of drunken driving after a breath test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .201, more than double Ohio's legal limit of .08.

Choo, the sixth major-leaguer to be cited on a drunken driving charge this year, was arrested in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, after he failed a field sobriety test. An officer following Choo's white Cadillac SUV said he was driving erratically before he was stopped.

The South Korean, 28, traveled with the Indians and was expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday night. Cleveland began the week with the best record in the majors.

General manager Chris Antonetti issued a statement Tuesday, saying the club has spoken to Choo about the incident.

"The Indians organization takes these issues very seriously and we are disappointed in the matter," Antonetti said. "We will continue to monitor the situation and we will not have any further comment at this time."

According to police, a patrolman first spoke to Choo at 2:25 a.m. He told the officer he was lost and needed directions to Avon Lake. Choo was allowed to continue driving but was later pulled over when he twice crossed the double-yellow lines and drifted into a bike path. He told the officer his GPS had broken and he was unable to get directions home.

Choo's eyes were bloodshot and he smelled of "an alcohol beverage," police said, and he was ordered out of the SUV.

Choo was unable to complete a heel-to-toe walking test, losing his balance, and failed two other sobriety tests, the report said.

UECKER HONORED: Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker was presented with the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's Hall of Fame award before Milwaukee's game at the Braves. Uecker, nicknamed "Mr. Baseball," received a Hall of Fame plaque during a short ceremony in the radio booth.

ASTROS: LF Carlos Lee rejoined the team, but the left side of his ribcage was too sore to allow him to play. He bruised his ribs Sunday in a collision with SS Angel Sanchez.

A'S: LHP Dallas Braden is scheduled have his troublesome shoulder examined again by renowned orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum today. … Closer Andrew Bailey, out since mid March with a strained right forearm, is set to face live hitters for the first time today.

BREWERS: CF Nyjer Morgan was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list, and LH reliever Zach Braddock went on the DL because of a sleep disorder.

MARINERS: OF Milton Bradley was suspended for one game and fined after his ejection Saturday.

METS: LF Jason Bay took paternity leave to be with his wife for the birth of their third child. OF Lucas Duda was called up from Triple-A Buffalo.

RANGERS: The team is close to announcing a deal with Cuban defector Leonys Martin, 23, the Associated Press reported. Several sources reported that the deal with the speedy outfielder is worth $15.5 million over five years. … CF Josh Hamilton, the defending AL MVP who has been out since fracturing his upper right arm April 12, is expected to swing a bat off a tee today, one week ahead of schedule.

RED SOX: 3B Kevin Youkilis was scratched because of an undisclosed illness.

ROCKIES: 3B Ian Stewart, who was demoted to the minors after a 2-for-26 start, was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Former Rays INF Ty Wigginton went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique.

TIGERS: DH Victor Martinez, out since April 18 with a strained right groin, was activated from the disabled list.

TWINS: Minor-league LHP Paul Bargas, 22, was diagnosed with brain cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. … C Joe Mauer will begin doing some light swinging and throwing today as he rehabs from leg weakness. … DH Jim Thome was scratched because of a sore oblique muscle.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 3, 2011

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose was born in 1988, the year Wes Unseld was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, so there was no reason to expect the Bulls' star point guard to be familiar with the man he supplanted Tuesday as the youngest NBA MVP ever.

Rose only knew Unseld's throwback No. 41 jersey.

"The Bullets, right? Wasn't he a big man or something like that?" Rose asked. "I never watched any of his games."

Rose earned the award — receiving 113 out of a possible 121 first-place votes — after propelling the Bulls to the league's best record while averaging 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds in his third season.

He had even more reason to be happy, practicing a day after turning his ankle in Chicago's loss to Atlanta in Game 1 of their second-round series. Rose said he'll be ready to play tonight.

Rose is 22 years, 7 months. Unseld turned 23 nine days before he won the MVP award with Washington in 1968-69. The honor was more low-key in Unseld's day. He told the Washington Post on Tuesday that he found out when he returned from a fishing trip and a message from the Bullets (now Wizards) awaited.

"I called them and they said, 'You won most valuable player.' I said, 'Thank you.' They said, 'Okay.' And that was it," Unseld said.