Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Pirates 5, Astros 4
PITTSBURGH — Ryan Doumit hit a three-run homer in the eighth, and the Pirates reached .500 later than at any point since 2005. Pittsburgh won for the fifth time in seven games to improve to 17-17. "We know that this is a great thing for the city, and we know that we are moving in the right direction," third baseman Neil Walker said.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tigers 5, Blue Jays 2
TORONTO — Brad Penny was almost as effective against the Blue Jays as Justin Verlander was, following the no-hitter by pitching into the eighth for the Tigers. "I said, 'Man, it's like throwing a bunch of changeups coming in after that guy,' " Penny said. Austin Jackson hit a tiebreaking homer, and Jose Valverde became the 41st player to earn 200 saves. Jose Bautista homered in his return to the Blue Jays lineup after missing five games with a stiff neck.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Red Sox 9, Twins 5
BOSTON — Adrian Gonzalez homered and Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 17 games for the Red Sox. "We're a different team because he can cause havoc for the other team on the bases, like teams do to us," manager Terry Francona said of Ellsbury, who stole a base and scored on Gonzalez's single. Gonzalez, who hit one homer through 28 games, has three in his past six.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Dodgers 4, Mets 2
NEW YORK — Andre Ethier belted a two-run homer the day after losing his 30-game hitting streak, providing some offense for Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers, who snapped a maddening four-game skid. "It's a good way to get it going again, to get the win and get things righted a bit," said Ethier, who also singled after going 0-for-4 on Saturday. "The last eight games have been tough for us."
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Marlins 8, Nationals 0
MIAMI — Fortified by his mom's pancakes, Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh and struck out a career-high 11 as the Marlins salvaged the series finale. The crowd included Sanchez's mother, Evelia, visiting from Venezuela. "She made me breakfast this morning, so that's why I threw a game like that," Sanchez said. But shouldn't he be cooking on Mother's Day? "I'm supposed to," he said, "but I'm the baby."
Times staff
Sunday, May 8, 2011
SEC championships
All schools have been with the conference since it formed in 1933 except Arkansas and South Carolina, both of which entered in 1991:
School Titles
Florida 200
Tennessee 150
Georgia 134
LSU 117
Alabama 75
Arkansas 75
Auburn 70
Kentucky 66
Mississippi State 28
Mississippi 20
Vanderbilt 10
South Carolina 8
Florida's SEC titles
Sport Titles
Men's swimming and diving 33
Women's tennis 25
Women's volleyball 19
Women's swimming and diving17
Men's golf 15
Baseball 11
Women's soccer 11
Men's tennis9
Football8
Women's golf8
Women's gymnastics7
Men's indoor track6
Women's indoor track6
Men's basketball5
Women's cross country 5
Women's outdoor track5
Men's outdoor track4
Men's cross country3
Softball 3
Note: Women's basketball has not won a title, and the SEC doesn't sanction women's lacrosse.
SEC budgets
USA Today, via public records requests, compiled athletic budgets for the 2009-10 school year. The SEC schools with number of sports they offer:
Schools No. Budget
Tennessee 20 $111,670,619
Florida 21 $105,824,376
LSU 19 $102,326,769
Alabama 20 $98,961,214
Auburn 21 $90,908,902
Kentucky 23 $79,002,986
South Carolina 20 $78,295,030
Georgia 21 $77,250,831
Arkansas 19 $71,801,905
Mississippi 18 $45,737,904
Mississippi St.16 $36,265,186
Note: As a private institution, Vanderbilt, which offers 16 sports, does not have to release financial information.
By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Early migrations: As far as the fish are concerned, they think it's summer. Various species are on the move now, weeks earlier than their normal spring migrations. Already, tarpon fishing has been steady, with numerous schools idling down the beaches. This has been going on for weeks now. The abnormally warm water temperatures from April might have kick-started many of these fish. Amberjack have also started to move farther offshore. This normally takes place in mid to late June.
Where are the kingfish? Kingfish season has been lackluster. A few reasons have been discussed between seasoned captains:
• Water temperatures rising so quickly could have made the kings swim past us quickly, or stay farther offshore.
• The oil spill from last summer might be having more effect on the migrations and spawn of gulf kingfish, since they were settled in the northern gulf when the disaster happened.
• We will get a late-season push from these big mackerel during the next few weeks.
Something is definitely not right with this season's kingfish migration. Red Tide can cause the same type of effects, but an algae bloom has not been detected anywhere. Hopefully in a few weeks we will be able to pinpoint the reason.
Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or see www.jawstoo.com.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Giants 3, Rockies 0
SAN FRANCISCO — Ryan Vogelsong and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and the Giants completed their first series sweep of the season. Cody Ross homered and drove in all three runs to help the defending World Series champions beat the Rockies for the third straight day and pull within a game of the NL West leaders. Vogelsong was perfect through five innings and didn't allow a hit until Chris Iannetta's leadoff single in the sixth.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
White Sox 5, Mariners 2
10 innings
SEATTLE — Paul Konerko returned to the White Sox lineup and tied his career high with five hits, including a single during a three-run 10th. Alexei Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run with a double to the left-centerfield gap. Konerko was lifted for a pinch-hitter Saturday night because of stiffness in his left wrist. He went 5-for-5 and raised his batting average from .295 to .323.
By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Today: off
Up next: at Indians, 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Progressive Field, Cleveland
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable starting pitchers:
RAYS: RH Andy Sonnanstine (0-0, 2.19) ORIOLES: RH Josh Tomlin (4-1, 2.43)
On deck
Wednesday: at Indians, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (4-3, 3.26); Indians — Jeanmar Gomez (0-1, 4.91)
Thursday: at Indians, 12:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (3-1, 2.01); Indians — Justin Masterson (5-0, 2.25)
Rehab note of the day
LHP J.P. Howell worked one inning of scoreless relief in a rehab appearance at Triple-A Durham on Saturday night, allowing one hit. Manager Joe Maddon said Howell is on schedule to rejoin the Rays around May 15. "His next time out he's going to go back-to-back days," Maddon said. "He's going to get three days off and then he's going back-to-back. His velocity was up to 86, which is really a good sign. All the other pitches worked well off 85-86 with him. Furthermore, he's picked off two runners, which I have no idea how that happened."
Quote of the day
"I don't even know if I even had a hit on Mother's Day, to be honest with you."
B.J. Upton, after going 2-for-4 with a pink bat Sunday, before being reminded A's LHP Dallas Braden threw a perfect game against the Rays on Mother's Day in 2010
Auction item of the day
Rays DH Johnny Damon wore pink Puma spikes in Sunday's game that he will auction to raise money for the charitable foundation of Tracy Galvin, the sister of Rays relief pitcher Adam Russell who was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in August. "What can you say about that guy?" Russell said of Damon, right. "I've only known him for a couple months and he's going to auction off his shoes and donate them to my sister's foundation. That just shows what a great guy, what an unbelievable teammate he is, and I don't have the words to express how much I appreciate what he's doing."
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
ARLINGTON, Texas — Derek Jeter quit thinking about it and started trying to hit the ball. That philosophy is starting to pay off for the Yankees and their much-scrutinized leadoff hitter.
Jeter homered twice after going 62 games without one and finished with four hits to raise his batting average 20 points as New York beat the Rangers 12-5 Sunday, winning two of three in their only regular-season series in Texas this season.
"Everybody needs a day like this, regardless if you're swinging well or you're not swinging well," Jeter said. "I just want to be comfortable. … It's pretty difficult to hit when you're sitting around trying to think of too many things, and I found myself thinking of things early on."
Under a microscope all season as he started slowly after a 2010 dropoff, Jeter, 36, also had three RBIs and his first stolen base of the season.
"He told me the other day he's starting to feel good and he showed it today," said CC Sabathia, who got the win despite an erratic outing.
By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 8, 2011
BALTIMORE — For the second straight day, a Rays starting pitcher couldn't keep the plate from moving on him.
Wade Davis (4-2, 3.07) allowed three runs and four hits but walked five and hit a batter over five innings while picking up the win in the Rays' 5-3 victory over the Orioles on Sunday.
It was eerily similar to the five-walk performance by Jeremy Hellickson on Saturday at Camden Yards. Rays pitchers walked 18 during the three-game series, but only two of those baserunners scored.
"We got two similar pitching performances where Davis and Hellickson both had a hard time finding the plate," manager Joe Maddon said. "But we were able to work through it. The bullpen did a great job in both situations."
Hellickson was pitching with two extra days of rest, but Davis simply had no command of his fastball.
"I thought with Hellickson, the layoff had something to do with it," Maddon said. "With Wade, I don't know. We went over some things with him. We saw better velocity I thought. Just could not get the feel for where the ball was going. I do not have a good explanation. I do not. With Hellickson, I give him a hall pass with the time off. With Wade, man, if he could just pound the zone. And he's going to. The fastball was really good today. He was throwing it by some guys. But he could just not get it where he wanted to."
Davis suggested his mechanics were just a little out of synch.
"I was a little late with my arm every now and then and it just kind of peeled off and would run away from me," Davis said. "And then I'd find it again. It was just kind of coming in and out. I felt strong. My stuff felt really good. I just never really got into a good rhythm."
TRANSACTION OF THE DAY: OF Brandon Guyer's historic weekend with the Rays ended Sunday.
The Rays optioned Guyer, who homered Friday night against the Orioles in his first major-league at-bat, to Triple-A Durham and recalled RHP Rob Delaney.
With RHP Andy Sonnanstine scheduled to start Tuesday at Cleveland, the Rays needed Delaney to fill the void in their bullpen. The rookie pitched a perfect sixth inning Sunday.
Sonnanstine will take the spot in the rotation that belonged to RHP Jeff Niemann, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a lower-back strain and could miss three weeks.
"I just tried to make the most of my opportunity," said Guyer, who was informed of the move Sunday morning. "I had fun with it. Getting sent down will only motivate me that much more to get back up.
"It was a short time, but at the same time it was great. Nothing compares to being a big-leaguer. That's what I worked my whole life for. … I'm going to be determined to get back up here."
EXTRA BASES: The Rays have the day off today in Cleveland before starting a three-game series with the Indians. … Maddon said he plans for Sonnanstine to remain in Niemann's spot in the rotation until he comes off the disabled list. His last start came Oct. 2 in Kansas City on the final day of the regular season.
By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 8, 2011
GAINESVILLE — It has become a familiar refrain for volleyball coach Mary Wise when her team goes on the road in the SEC — a sentiment other Florida coaches echo.
"Everywhere we go, everybody wants to beat the Gators," Wise said.
With good reason.
In the SEC, Florida has become the standard-bearer of winning. When the men's golf team won the SEC title April 17, it represented the school's 200th regular-season conference title since the SEC's inception in 1933. Second is Tennessee with 150.
Florida's coaches say the accomplishment is even more impressive when you look at the level of competition in the SEC — and how much everyone targets the Gators.
"You know you're getting everybody's best shot every time," said Wise, a former Iowa State coach who spent five years as an assistant at Kentucky before coming to Florida in 1991.
"I think that's every sport."
This sports calendar year, Florida has won SEC regular-season titles in volleyball, soccer, women's cross country, men's basketball, men's indoor track, women's tennis and men's golf. The women's lacrosse team won a title but does not compete in the SEC because the conference does not sanction the sport.
"It's a source of pride," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said. "If you win a conference championship in this league, you never take that for granted, and you always enjoy it because this is a tough league; a lot of great coaches, a lot of great institutions."
It's no coincidence, Florida coaches say, that 102 of the titles have come during the 19 years of Foley's leadership.
"I'm prejudiced, but I feel like it's the best-run athletic association in the country," said men's tennis coach Andy Jackson, a former Kentucky tennis player who spent 18 seasons as coach at Mississippi State before joining Florida in 2002.
"And I feel like Jeremy Foley sets the standard. And he does it pretty simply: You are given what you need, you are asked not to waste things, and you're asked to be among the best year after year after year. It's not easy, but it's what's expected. And it works."
The women's tennis team has won the most titles — 25 of the SEC's 32 — of any women's program. It is a "culture of winning" that permeates the program and carries a burden and a responsibility, coach Roland Thornvist said.
"That's, frankly, why I came here," he said. "I wanted to have the bull's-eye on your back. I think our players treasure that challenge also. And with that comes responsibility and pressure."
Critics point to the vast resources Florida has as a major factor in its success — and there's no denying it has the resources. The Gators reported they had a school-record $96.4 million budget this sports calendar year. But does money buy victories?
"There are plenty of programs out there that have money that aren't doing what we do here," said Florida track coach Mike Holloway, who has led the men's and women's teams to five SEC titles. "There have been people here before me and some of the other coaches who weren't as successful, and obviously, the money was here then. So it's not about the money.
"We know how everybody looks at us. I was at a track meet once, and I heard somebody refer to our athletic association as a Fortune 500 company. We know that's their view of us. But I take this personally. And I know my fellow coaches feel the same."
But there is a unique benefit to what money can buy: an atmosphere in which bitterness doesn't fester.
"Because of the resources and, thankfully, the revenues that football draws and the boosters (contribute), the pie from which we all share from, the portions we share aren't so small," Wise said. "For us to be successful, we're not having to shortchange another program. There is no jealousy. We're a large athletic department, but we don't have the sports by the numbers that some other schools our size do. There's enough to go around.
"No one is going hungry at the dinner table."
Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com. Check out her blog at tampabay.com/blogs/gators.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao returned to his corner before the 12th round to an unfamiliar soundtrack of steady boos rising from the MGM Grand Garden crowd.
The fans weren't jeering the beloved Filipino congressman Saturday night. They were incensed that "Sugar" Shane Mosley apparently was scared to fight him.
"I told him in the last round, 'You've got to knock this guy out, because it's embarrassing,' " Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. "He told me, 'Coach, I'm trying, I'm trying.' "
Mosley was in full retreat from the opening round against Pacquiao, backpedaling and scrambling simply to avoid getting knocked out.
"It wasn't my best performance," Pacquiao said. "I did my best. I did not expect this result."
Pacquiao, 32, who won his 14th straight fight by lopsided unanimous decision to retain his WBO welterweight title, has seen a similar strategy before. Most everybody agrees Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been dodging Pacquiao for the past year, only he has been doing it outside the ring.
If Mayweather again declines a chance to fight Pacquiao in the most anticipated matchup in boxing, Pacquiao will keep busy with his congressional duties until his next fight in early November.
Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts) flummoxed Mosley, who at age 39 embarrassed himself in probably the last megafight of his decorated 18-year career.
So who else might be next for "Pac-Man" if not Mayweather? A third fight with Mexican star Juan Manuel Marquez apparently is promoter Bob Arum's first choice. If Marquez doesn't like the deal, Arum will turn to bruising 140-pound champ Timothy Bradley or veteran Zab Judah.
Roach would prefer Mayweather, believing it's the most intriguing matchup and most lucrative opportunity.
Yet Mayweather, 34, faces many more upcoming court dates than fight dates as he trashes Pacquiao on Twitter and gambles heavily on sports.
"There isn't a day in my life that goes by that somebody doesn't ask me about that fight," Roach said. "People say, 'Make that fight.' I wish I could."
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 8, 2011
TAMPA — Lightning coach Guy Boucher said LW Simon Gagne will practice with the team today and indicated he should be ready to play when the East final against the Bruins begins.
Gagne (upper-body injury), who has been out since hitting his head on the ice in Game 1 of the Capitals series, skated on his own during Sunday's practice.
"He's feeling very good," Boucher said. "Chances are, he'll be playing."
D Pavel Kubina, who was knocked out of the same game when Capitals LW Jason Chimera sent his head into the glass, is taking a little bit more time, Boucher said, and is day to day.
Gagne's return would provide a big boost, a top-six forward and veteran who had two goals and five assists in the playoffs before getting hurt. It will also provide depth.
"We had great contribution from our third and fourth line. With Gagne coming in, it certainly will give a break to some of the other guys," Boucher said. "Because we played with 11 forwards and some guys got a lot of ice time … we can spread it out a little more evenly."
CLASS REUNION: Lightning W Marty St. Louis and Bruins G Tim Thomas have remained friends since they played together at the University of Vermont from 1993 to 1997. But St. Louis said facing each other in the conference final is, really, a nonstory.
"We're, like, 14 years removed from college," St. Louis said. "I think we've moved on. Early on when we played against each other, it was weird because you just came from college playing four years together.
"We've been on different teams for a long time. I don't think this is Timmy vs. Marty. It has nothing to do with that."
St. Louis and Thomas are in Vermont's athletic Hall of Fame, and both are up for major awards.
St. Louis is a finalist for the Hart Trophy given to the league MVP. Thomas is a favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie.
"We've both found our way in the NHL, and I'm just excited to be in the tournament like he is," St. Louis said. "I'm approaching this series not going there to play Timmy Thomas. I'm going to play against the Boston Bruins, and it happens Timmy is in net."
NO WORRIES: With a layoff of at least a week between rounds, Boucher was asked if he was worried about his team losing some momentum from its seven-game winning streak.
Boucher pointed out Boston is in the same boat, having swept its series and getting a similar amount of days off.
"We're on equal grounds with the other team, and I think that's important," Boucher said. "I know a lot of people said they were hoping the (Boston-Philadelphia) series would last longer and that they would get tired. I was actually hoping for the opposite; that we'd both be in the same boat."
ODDS AND ENDS: The series will begin Thursday or Saturday in Boston, Boucher said. … Lightning F Dana Tyrell (foot) did not skate along with D Randy Jones and RW Steve Downie, both of whom got extra rest time, the team said.
Times staff writer Damian Cristodero contributed to this report. Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Maryland's search to replace Gary Williams as men's basketball coach continued to come up dry.
Late Saturday night, Sean Miller, the top target of athletic director Kevin Anderson, agreed to a contract extension with Arizona. Last season, his second with the school, Miller led the Wildcats to the Pac-10 regular-season title and an Elite Eight berth.
Terms were not disclosed, but the Arizona Republic reported he earned $2.435 million in salary and endorsements last season.
"While it's flattering to be mentioned … for job openings," Miller said in a statement the school released, "such speculation only means that our staff is doing great things here in Tucson."
Williams retired Friday.
On Sunday, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, a Maryland native, and Butler's Brad Stevens turned down a chance to interview. Last week, Pitt's Jamie Dixon and Villanova's Jay Wright did the same.
The school will shift its focus to Texas A&M's Mark Turgeon, according to ESPN.com.
Duke: Jeff Capel, a former guard at the school who was fired as Oklahoma's coach in March, was hired as an assistant.
Football: Defensive backs Jamal Reid and Devont'a Davis and linebackers Travis Williams and Kevin Nelson will transfer from Miami. None were starters, and only Nelson was listed on the two-deep depth chart after spring practice. … Michigan receiver Darryl Stonum, suspended indefinitely by the school Saturday for undisclosed reasons, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Friday morning, the Associated Press reported.
Golf: Bethune-Cookman's Matthew McKnight shot 1-under 71 to win the Division I individual title with a 1-under 215 total and help the Wildcats take the team title in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at Port St. Lucie.
Baseball: Mike McGee homered and allowed one run over seven innings to lead host Florida State past Central Florida 6-1. The Seminoles (36-12), ranked No. 8 by Baseball America, took two of three from the Knights (29-19).
Softball: Kelsey Horton, a Durant High grad, homered to help host Florida beat Tennessee 7-2 and clinch its fourth straight SEC East title. The Gators (45-8, 19-7 SEC), No. 6 in the USA Today coaches' poll, open the SEC tournament Thursday against Auburn in Oxford, Miss.
Women's lacrosse: Florida (15-3), in its second season of existence, was named the No. 4 seed for its first NCAA tournament and will host Stanford in a first-round game at 1 p.m. Saturday. Defending champion Maryland is the top seed.
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Lucas Glover figures he has played more than 100 rounds with Jonathan Byrd, from junior golf when they were teenagers to their years together at Clemson and nearly a decade on the PGA Tour.
The stakes were never as high as they were Sunday in the Wells Fargo Championship.
Glover was never better.
Clinging to a one-shot lead, Glover closed with three pars on the brutal finishing stretch at Quail Hollow, slamming his fist when he made the last from 7 feet for 3-under 69 and what looked to be a sure win at 15-under 273. Then came Byrd, with two pars followed by a shot into 15 feet that he made for birdie on 18 for even 72 to force a playoff.
Glover wound up a winner with par on the first extra hole, ending a drought of 41 tournaments since his U.S. Open win at Bethpage Black in 2009.
"I'm elated," Glover said. "Any time you win, you're pleased. It means you beat everybody. You did what you set out to do on Thursday morning when the bell rang. Against this field and on this golf course and in a tournament of this magnitude, I'm thrilled."
And against one of his best friends? That might have helped. Glover, in his first PGA Tour playoff, felt calm playing against Byrd, who had won his past two tournaments in extra holes.
In the playoff, Glover striped his tee shot down the middle and two-putted from 25 feet.
Byrd, who went from a fairway bunker to the hazard left of the green — just short of the stream — hit a difficult chip 25 by the hole and wound up with bogey.
"If I couldn't win, I couldn't pick anybody else I'd want to win other than Lucas, so I'm very happy for him," Byrd said.
CHAMPIONS: Tom Lehman won the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Ala., for his third victory in seven tour events this year, beating Peter Senior with a par on the second playoff hole.
Senior missed a 5-foot par putt when it lipped out on No. 18. Lehman two-putted from about 20 feet, polishing off his second bogey-free day at the first tour major of the season. They quickly walked over to shake each other's hands in a subdued reaction.
Times staff
Sunday, May 8, 2011
He wrote it
"I won't even begin to predict the Stanley Cup winner. But I can predict this with some certainty: There will be plenty of cheap shots, more players will be hurt and (NHL vice president Colin) Campbell will confound everybody with the punishment he hands down. Garage League? Did somebody say garage league?"
Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Correction of the day
From the New York Times: "An item in the Extra Bases baseball notebook last Sunday misidentified, in some editions, the origin of the name Orcrist the Goblin Cleaver, which Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey gave one of his bats. Orcrist was not, as Dickey had said, the name of the sword used by Bilbo Baggins in the Misty Mountains in The Hobbit; Orcrist was the sword used by the dwarf Thorin Oakenshield in the book. (Bilbo Baggins's sword was called Sting.)"
Proposal of the day
Bryan "The Beast" Baker defeated Joe Riggs in the second round of his mixed martial arts fight Saturday night then proposed to his girlfriend during the postfight interview on MTV2. Wonder what Baker would've done had he lost?
Times wires
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Horses
Animal Kingdom Group debates Preakness run
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will be heading to his home turf to await a likely run in the second leg of the Triple Crown.
He became the first horse in the 137-year history of the Derby to win in his debut on dirt, having run three times on synthetic surfaces and once on turf.
Animal Kingdom will return to Maryland on Tuesday to begin preparations for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness on May 21 at Pimlico, about 60 miles from his home base at Fair Hill Training Center.
Barry Irwin, who oversees the Team Valor partnership that owns the horse, said it's likely but not yet certain Animal Kingdom will continue on the Triple Crown trail.
"I'm pretty sure we're going to do it, but I want to talk about it," he said Sunday. "I'm a careful guy, so let's see how he's doing. If you've got a horse that's amazing, you can go for the Preakness. But your regular, average Derby winner has a real tough time coming back."
Trainer Graham Motion wants to keep jockey John Velazquez on his colt for the Preakness. Animal Kingdom's regular rider, Robby Albarado, broke his nose and had facial cuts and abrasions after a spill Wednesday. Velazquez was available after Uncle Mo was scratched Friday.
While Irwin mulls the Preakness, the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes on June 11 is a strong option. "The Belmont is the kind of race that this horse is bred to win, let's face it," he said.
More Horses
Injured colt's future uncertain
Archarcharch, the colt who fractured his left front leg while finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby, was scheduled to have surgery late Sunday in Lexington, Ky. He was bumped coming out of the starting gate, jockey Jon Court's saddle slipped then the colt got bumped again.
Trainer Jinks Fires said he wouldn't know if Arch-archarch could race again until after the surgery.
Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher said Uncle Mo wouldn't run in either of the final two Triple Crown races while the lingering stomach ailment is diagnosed.
Derby favorite Dialed In, who finished eighth, will try the Preakness, trainer Nick Zito said.
Hockey
Czechs stop Russia, Ovechkin
The Czech Republic overcame the arrival of Capitals star Alex Ovechkin to beat Russia 3-2 and maintain a perfect record at the hockey world championship in Slovakia.
Russia also lost 2-1 to the Czechs in last year's finals at the worlds.
Because Sweden beat Switzerland 2-0 to secure a place in the quarters, the United States was also assured of advancing.
Et cetera
NFL: Former Patriots player Mack Herron, 62, is in custody after being charged with heroin possession in Chicago. Police say Herron has been arrested at least 20 times and served jail time, mainly on drug convictions.
Soccer: Manchester United, owned by the Bucs' Glazer family, is on the verge of a record 19th English Premier League title after beating Chelsea 2-1. Man U is six points ahead of Chelsea with two games to go and will regain the trophy with at least a draw Saturday at Blackburn. … Barcelona moved within one point of its third straight Spanish league title by beating Espanyol 2-0.
Tennis: Former top-10 Fernando Verdasco beat rising star Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Italian Open in Rome.
Times wires
By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 8, 2011
St. Petersburg Times staff writer Rodney Page looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.
Best spectacle
Aside from maybe the Super Bowl, no sporting event gets more same-day hype than the Kentucky Derby. There was more than seven hours of prerace coverage Saturday on Versus and NBC. All this for a race that lasts two minutes, mind you. Versus' coverage started at 11 a.m. and showed the preliminary races between some riveting segments. There was one about how to make a $1,000 mint julep (it includes ice from Tasmania made from water that has never touched the ground, dried and toasted sugar, and Woodford Reserve bourbon). And supermodel Marisa Miller talked to Maria Menounos about hats and how to pick a Derby winner. She took Pants On Fire because of the horse's female jockey, Rosie Napravnik. "And I like the name. It's all about the name and color at the end of the day."
NBC took over at 4 p.m. and guess who popped up 40 minutes into the show? Miller! She was being interviewed by … Menounos. They talked about hats and how to pick a Derby winner. Miller took Pants On Fire (again) because of the female jockey. Hey, it isn't easy filling more than two hours.
But when the crowd sings My Old Kentucky Home, things start to get exciting. Tom Hammond did his usual thorough job of introducing each horse and jockey during the post parade. When the race started, it was a little strange not hearing Tom Durkin call it. Larry Collmus took over for Durkin this year and, maybe it was just my TV, but Collmus seemed drowned out by the in-house track announcer. It was a little hard to hear his call.
As for the other hosts, Bob Costas was his typical smooth self. Donna Barton Brothers has to be the best horse-riding interviewer on TV. Gary Stevens was the most credible of the analysts, having ridden in the Derby many times. And he was in the movie Seabiscuit. Case closed. But as good as they all are, Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia picked Animal Kingdom.
Kentucky Derby coverage seems to follow the same formula every year. Show a few feel-good stories, make some predictions, find some celebrities and run the race. This year it was good, but not great. And we learned Miller looks nice in a hat but doesn't know anything about picking horses.
Worst news
Sad news arrived Saturday with the passing of Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros. CBS sprinkled its coverage of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C., with memories of Ballesteros and interviews with players who knew him. Players wore black ribbons in his honor. There was also footage of his more notorious shots, including one from the parking lot at the 1979 British Open. And in Sunday's final round, there was an emotional moment of silence when players stopped to remember Ballesteros. The Golf Channel had segments on Ballesteros, as did ESPN. Even Bob Costas took a moment during Kentucky Derby coverage to talk about Ballesteros. The Spanish golfer was considered Europe's Arnold Palmer, and in a strange way his death on Saturday, while golf was being aired worldwide, allowed him to get the tribute he deserved.
Worst scheduling
This wasn't NBC's fault, but it missed out on some Sunday afternoon programming when the Bruins swept the Flyers in the second round of the NHL playoffs. If the Flyers had won just once, NBC would've had a coveted weekend game. Instead, Ch. 8 showed an episode of a classic cars show, Fins and Chrome. On a relatively slow Sunday, it would have been nice to watch playoff hockey.
Worst argument
Evidently there is widespread panic in New York that Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter just might be washed up. At almost 37, Jeter was hitting .256 with only three extra-base hits in 117 at-bats before Sunday. New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica defended Jeter on ESPN's Sports Reporters, while Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan blasted Jeter. "Yankees fans are tripping over themselves getting off the Jeter bandwagon," Lupica said. "I may be the last guy in town who thinks hitting .250 isn't the same as what the Red Sox saw from Carl Crawford. Do I think Derek Jeter is going to hit .350 again? No. Do I think he is the same player he was at 27? No. But this is a proud guy. Hitting .250 doesn't mean he's washed up."
Yes it does, Ryan said. "I think this is a disaster," he said. "(Three) extra-base hits, 11 infield hits and most of them are dribblers. There's no punch left in the bat. You can't avoid it. That's the fact."
Jeter hit two homers against the Rangers on Sunday. That's a fact.
Best decisions
There were a couple of interesting TV moments in the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday. Viewers called and e-mailed PGA Tour officials saying they thought Padraig Harrington, who has had some rules problems in the past, teed off in front of the tee markers on the 13th hole, which would be a penalty. But after looking at video, officials determined it was inconclusive. "I can see how on TV it might look close," Harrington told CBS's Peter Kostis. "But after looking at it, it's inconclusive. For once I'm not going to be a martyr and take it."
Meanwhile, Rory Sabbatini finished at 14 under and shared the lead. He also faces a suspension after getting into a shouting match with playing partner Sean O'Hair a few weeks ago. Kostis wanted to interview Sabbatini, but he would only do it if they didn't talk about the suspension. To CBS's credit, it refused the interview. Players can't dictate the questions, and good for CBS for not airing a watered-down interview.
Rays go national
A sizable part of the country got to see the Rays-Orioles game on Saturday, mainly because the Red Sox game was in a rain delay. The Fox "B" team of Kenny Albert and Mark Grace did a solid job. National broadcasters have to do their homework because the game is being shown in the local market. We know all about the Rays, and it appeared Albert and Grace do as well.
Albert even said: "(Orioles pitcher) Jeremy Guthrie was very good on opening day in defeating the Rays down in St. Pete."
He said St. Pete! A national broadcaster said St. Pete! Hallelujah! But an inning later Grace ruined it by saying "B.J. Upton had a walkoff in Tampa last week." Oh well.
One of the better moments of the broadcast came in the fourth inning, when James Shields, who pitched Friday, talked with Albert and Grace. Grace kind of stumbled through the interview, but with the count 3-and-2 on the Orioles' Mark Reynolds and a runner on second with one out, Grace asked Shields what pitch he would throw. "I'd go with the changeup," Shields said. Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson threw a changeup and struck out Reynolds. "You've got to go with the changeup when you have a base open like that," Shields said. Good insight.
And Fox hit a home run again in the sixth when it showed a segment with the Orioles' Adam Jones miked for batting practice. "Every time I swing hard, I ground out to short," Jones said to bench coach Willie Randolph. Moments later, Jones grounded out to short. Those segments added to a game that turned into a Rays blowout.
Three things that popped into my head
1. Like him or not, it didn't seem right for the Lakers' Phil Jackson to end his coaching career by getting swept in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
2. Playoff hockey is awesome, but when the home team is playing, it's like standing on the edge of a mountain for three hours.
3. Okay, I give. Rays outfielder Sam Fuld really is a superhero.
