By Tyson Wallerstein, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

What's hot: Tarpon fishing is hot throughout the region. Plenty are migrating along beaches and staging in passes as they await the arrival of big outgoing tides and the crab flush that comes with them.

Working the beaches: Lots of fish were moving south along the beaches last week. After this stint of strong west winds, look for those fish to settle back into their normal migratory routes as more favorable beach conditions return. Setting up just inside the swim buoys will give you good shots at passing fish. Cast live threadfins, pumpkin seeds or pinfish under a float. If you want to be more aggressive and seek pods of fish, stay well off the swim buoys as a courtesy to other anglers.

Bridges and passes: Big outgoing tides this weekend will have tarpon looking for crabs being flushed out of the bay. The Sunshine Skyway bridge and the hole at Egmont Key should be hot spots. Free-line pass crabs as you drift through rolling and breaking fish.

What else? Cobia have been a target on every trip in past weeks. Jetties, reefs, channel markers, and bridge pilings and fenders are good places to look.

Tyson Wallerstein runs Inshore Fishing Charters in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and can be reached at (727) 692-5868 or via e-mail capt.tyson@hotmail.com.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

DENVER — The Rockies turned to their Big Os — Ubaldo, CarGo and Tulo — to send a message to the Giants that they're not going to fade away.

Carlos Gonzalez's two-run single off Javier Lopez capped a four-run eighth and Colorado surged back into first place in the NL West with a 5-3 win Tuesday.

With the two-game sweep, the Rockies, who also got a solo homer from Troy Tulowitzki, moved a half-game ahead of San Francisco and snapped a streak of nine losses in games started by ace Ubaldo Jimenez.

Although he's still winless since Sept. 17, Jimenez showed signs of his old self with seven sharp innings.

"It felt really good to have a game like that," Jimenez said. "The last five games that I had have been really bad and today I was able to locate the fastball."

Through seven, it appeared as if the Giants would get their sixth win in eight tries against the Rockies.

"It's nice to walk out of here being in first place," Tulowitzki said. "It's nice to kind of answer back, throw a few punches."

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

BOSTON — Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson has been tough enough to beat this postseason.

But the Bruins are finding out, like the Penguins and Capitals did before them, that it's even a challenge to get a shot through to the 41-year-old goaltender.

The Lightning entered Tuesday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final ranked second in the playoffs in blocked shots with 250. The players have sacrificed and thrown their bodies every which way. Center Steven Stamkos said it's been their team identity in the postseason.

"I think they're unbelievable at blocking shots," Bruins wing Brad Marchand said. "There's ways around it, even if you shoot wide and go for the rebounds. There's a lot of ways to get around it; you just have to see the play."

Tampa Bay has four of the top five playoff leaders in blocked shots. Defenseman Eric Brewer is No. 1 with 43, followed by Mattias Ohlund, defenseman Victor Hedman in fourth and Brett Clark fifth.

But the Lightning's stars have also gotten into the mix, including Marty St. Louis and Stamkos, who dove onto the ice to block a shot in front of his net in the first period of Game 1 on Saturday.

"To me, blocking a shot is just as good as scoring a goal," coach Guy Boucher said, "because you've prevented one and created an atmosphere and you've created standards that everybody has to follow. When it starts with your skill guys blocking shots, it trickles down real quick to everybody else. As a coach, there's nothing more inspiring than those guys doing that kind of job."

Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference said Tampa Bay's ability to block shots shouldn't keep Boston from trying to shoot at certain times because the deflections can sometimes work in the attacking team's favor.

"If you spend all night looking for a perfect (shooting) lane, you're going to be waiting a long time," Ference said. "I've seen just as many (pucks) go in off pads, or where (defensemen) end up screening their own goalie. Blocking shots, a lot is made of it when a team does it a lot, and it can help, but it can also hurt. If you're the team that's getting a lot blocked, if you stop shooting, you take away all those chances of those deflections and dirty goals and rebounds that can happen when (the puck is) hitting guys in front of the net.

"You fire away. It's the playoffs. There's not a whole lot of pretty goals."

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

BOSTON — When it was brought to Steven Stamkos' attention that some had compared Bruins prized rookie Tyler Seguin to him, the Lightning star called it flattering.

But as Stamkos started talking about Seguin's blend of speed, skills, smarts and shot, he paid the 19-year-old a pretty big compliment himself.

"He's going to be a great player in this league for a long time," Stamkos, 21, said.

Seguin gave the Lightning a glimpse of that potential Tuesday night, scoring two goals and adding two assists in the Bruins' 6-5 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final.

"He played unbelievable," forward David Krejci said. "He was dominant."

Seguin, the 2010 No. 2 pick who was a healthy scratch in the first two rounds, also scored in his playoff debut Saturday night, giving him six points in two games and sparking the TD Garden crowd to chant his name during Tuesday's game.

"Obviously, it's a great compliment," he said, smiling.

Most of the talk before the game was when injured star center Patrice Bergeron (mild concussion) would be back for the Bruins. But by night's end the player who replaced him had stolen the show.

Seguin's first goal, which tied the score 48 seconds into the second, was highlight-reel worthy. Taking the puck in the neutral zone, Seguin blew past Lightning defensemen Victor Hedman and Randy Jones, splitting the two at the blue line before making a nice deke and backhand past sprawled-out goalie Dwayne Roloson.

"He went up the ice just flying," Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "He's a great skater, he's a smart player and he's been playing great. We're definitely going to have to keep an eye on him."

Seguin had just 22 points in 74 games during the regular season (11 goals, 11 assists), saying it was a "learning curve," but he grew more comfortable and confident. With the Bruins wanting to bring Seguin along slowly, he anxiously waited for his chance, watching the first two playoff series from the press box.

He said teammate Shawn Thornton approached him before the East semifinal against the Flyers with some advice.

"He said, 'Look, kid, if we're going to the Cup, you're going to get an opportunity to play,' " Seguin said. " 'Have fun with it, enjoy the ride and take it all in.' "

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

Times staff, wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Yankees placed RH reliever Rafael Soriano on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after he complained of lingering tightness in his right elbow.

The former Rays closer had an MRI exam in New York that revealed no structural damage but did show inflammation in his pitching elbow.

"He's thrown the ball really well for us at times and he's struggled at times,'' said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who has used Soriano as a setup man. "Unfortunately, he hasn't felt good lately. We just need to get him back and get him healthy and get him doing what he's capable of doing.''

The Yankees recalled OF Chris Dickerson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was in the lineup batting ninth Tuesday in place of RF Nick Swisher, who had a stomach illness.

HIP, HIP, JORGE: Yankees DH Jorge Posada was back in the lineup — batting seventh — three days after he asked out of work against the Red Sox when he learned he was batting ninth. "It was the place to put him,'' Girardi said. "There are a lot of things I look at and I just thought it was the place to put him.''

LA RUSSA IRATE: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa objected to Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman calling St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter a whiner for complaining about the mound condition and the smoke that lingered from fireworks set off after a homer. La Russa said Brennaman "earned the right to get into the Hall of Fame. And now he ought to keep earning that respect instead of abusing it."

ALL-STAR GAME: The Diamondbacks' Kirk Gibson and Nationals' Jim Riggleman will be coaches for the Giants' Bruce Bochy, the NL manager, at the game in Phoenix on July 12. The Indians' Manny Acta and Blue Jays' John Farrell will be coaches for the Rangers' Ron Washington, the AL manager.

A'S: LHP Dallas Braden had surgery to repair a torn capsule in his left shoulder and likely will miss the rest of the season.

CUBS: OF/1B Tyler Colvin, who was batting .113 in 62 at-bats, was demoted to Triple-A Iowa. OF Tony Campana was called up from Iowa.

MARINERS: CF Franklin Gutierrez, out all season because of stomach problems, is feeling better at Triple-A Tacoma and could rejoin the team today.

METS: A CT scan on David Wright confirmed he has a stress fracture in his lower back, and the third baseman will be placed on the disabled list today.

ORIOLES: 1B Derrek Lee (strained oblique) and SS Cesar Izturis (numbness in right hand) are likely to go on the disabled list.

PADRES: 2B Orlando Hudson, out since May 4 with a strained hamstring, is expected to return from the disabled list when eligible Thursday.

RANGERS: OF Josh Hamilton, out since April 12 with a broken right arm, is on schedule to play his first rehab game today with Double-A Frisco.

REDS: 3B Juan Francisco, on the 15-day disabled list since April 18 with a strained left calf, was activated and optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

RED SOX: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka will go on the 15-day disabled list after an MRI exam revealed a sprained right elbow.

ROYALS: LHP Danny Duffy, 22, one of the top prospects in a vaunted system, will be called up from Triple-A Omaha today to start against the Rangers.

TWINS: C Joe Mauer took a significant step in his recovery from bilateral leg weakness, reporting to extended spring training in Fort Myers.

WHITE SOX: 3B Mark Teahen went on the 15-day disabled with a strained oblique muscle. 3B Dallas McPherson was called up from Triple-A Charlotte.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tennis

Hurt Roddick could miss French Open

NICE, France — American Andy Roddick withdrew from the Open de Nice on Tuesday and is in doubt for the French Open because of a right shoulder injury.

The 11th-ranked Roddick said he doesn't want to take any risks ahead of the French Open, which starts Sunday.

"It's running a big risk, playing on an unhealthy shoulder with Roland Garros round the corner and Wimbledon shortly afterwards," Roddick said. "I'm pulling out of Nice for now. Obviously the situation is not perfect for Roland Garros, but I still have a couple of days to hope for something to get better."

The 2003 U.S. Open champion said he will not play at Roland Garros unless he is 100 percent.

World Team Cup: Tampa resident Mardy Fish defeated Andrey Golubev 6-4, 6-2 as the United States tied Kazakhstan 1-1 in Duesseldorf, Germany. The teams play doubles today.

Boxing

Leonard: Coach sexually abused me

Sugar Ray Leonard says in his upcoming autobiography that he was sexually abused by a coach in the early 1970s.

In The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring, the Hall of Famer writes that an unnamed "prominent Olympic boxing coach," who has since died, assaulted him in a car.

Leonard, 55, won a gold medal at the 1976 Games then captured five world titles in five weight classes.

He writes: "I do know that I was in a lot of pain as I chased my dream of winning the gold."

The book, written with Michael Arkush, is due out next month.

Horses

Nehro out of Preakness

There will be no rematch between Animal Kingdom and Nehro at the Preakness.

Nehro, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby behind Animal Kingdom, will skip Saturday's second leg of the Triple Crown in Baltimore and be pointed toward next month's Belmont.

Owner Ahmed Zayat said the decision was based on Nehro's hectic spring schedule.

Et cetera

Autos: Rain limited Indianapolis 500 practice to two participants, Marco Andretti and Mike Conway. Andretti completed five laps in Conway's car with a fast lap of 220.656 mph. Conway went eight laps in the same car, hitting 219.910 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Cycling: Mark Cavendish won the 10th stage of the Giro d'Italia in a sprint finish in Teramo, Italy, and Alberto Contador retained the overall lead.

Figure skating: John Coughlin will team with Caydee Denney in U.S. pairs.

Golf: France will host its first Ryder Cup after being awarded the 2018 tournament, beating out sentimental favorite Spain as the popular choice after the death of Seve Ballesteros this month. The biennial match between Europe and the United States will be played at Le Golf National course near Paris.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin and Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writers
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The specifics of the time sharing remain to be worked out, but Elliot Johnson is going to be playing more at shortstop and struggling Reid Brignac less.

Manager Joe Maddon said there wouldn't be a straight platoon (Brignac swings lefty, Johnson is a switch-hitter) nor a set pattern.

"I don't want to be committed to that. You're going to see more of Elliot. Let's put it that way," Maddon said. "I think he's done a nice job."

Brignac has struggled since inheriting the starting job following the trade of Jason Bartlett, hitting .179 with one extra-base hit and a .212 on-base percentage. Johnson, after going 1-for-3 Tuesday with his second homer, is batting .260 overall, including .353 over his past five starts.

"I wanted to just give them both an opportunity a little bit," Maddon said. "You're going to see them both bounce back and forth a little bit right now."

Johnson, 27, said he welcomes the chance to play more. "If I get the opportunity to do that, great," he said. "And hopefully I can just continue to help this team win."

TOUGH ROAD: The Rays left after the game on a grueling road trip to Toronto, South Florida and Detroit that includes two 4 a.m. arrivals (this morning and Friday) and two afternoon games in the Miami heat, and the illogical scheduling of flying through basically the same airspace four times in logging 4,464 miles.

"We've just got to watch our guys," Maddon said. "We've got to make sure somebody gets some rest here or there and really be cognizant of that. You've got to. You could run somebody in the ground right now at the end of May easily if you don't pay attention to it. By the time we get (to Miami), I'm probably going to be the most concerned with how our guys are doing."

C Kelly Shoppach said that between the travel and the heat, it also will be important to stay hydrated.

Maddon and several players wondered why MLB officials didn't check the schedule for such hardships. "I'm sure they did," Shoppach said. "But I don't think they care."

Then again, the Rays could have made it easier on themselves by playing Tuesday's game in the afternoon, though that would have affected attendance and TV ratings.

ENCORE PERFORMANCE: The Rays would love for RHP Jeremy Hellickson to go out tonight and stage a repeat performance of his last start, a complete-game shutout of the Orioles. But what he won't get to do is throw anywhere near the career-high 120 pitches he racked up Friday.

The 24-year-old rookie likely will be limited to 100-105 pitches, though Maddon said he doesn't want to make it a hard rule. "I don't want to put any real restraints on him," Maddon said. "It's his time to become a major-league pitcher and I want him to go out there and pitch. I don't want him to be thinking about things like that. I've just got to watch it."

Hellickson flew ahead to Toronto on Tuesday afternoon to get a full night's rest.

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell appears set to rejoin the Rays on Friday. He made his final scheduled rehab appearance on Tuesday for Class A Charlotte, throwing 27 pitches over 11/3 innings and allowing a run on two hits. "As of right now, he's all set to go,'' Maddon said.

MISCELLANY: 3B Evan Longoria was 0-for-4, dropping him to .111 (with no extra-base hits) over his past four games. … DH Johnny Damon had his third three-hit game. … Maddon said RHP Andy Sonnanstine will definitely make a third start on Friday at the Marlins, as the Rays want to give him another chance to show improvement on the mound and want to take advantage of his hitting ability (a .318 career average) while playing under NL rules. … The Rays presented grants to 15 nonprofit organizations in a pregame ceremony.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

VANCOUVER — Sharks captain Joe Thornton tried to get the Western Conference final off to a raucous start when he asked gritty Canucks forward Ryan Kesler to drop the gloves right off the opening faceoff.

"Why not?" Thornton said Tuesday, confirming he made the invitation to Kesler. "Let's fight. Let's start the series off with a bang."

It didn't happen. But the game ended with a bang. Vancouver scored twice in the third period to win 3-2 on Sunday, and the Sharks are behind in a series for the first time this year.

Kesler said he laughed at Thornton's invitation after a lot of jostling got both players tossed out of the series' first faceoff.

"I'm not intimidated by anyone," Kesler said, pointing to Nashville defenseman Shea Weber and his thick, scraggly playoff beard as proof. "I played against Weber and that beard last round."

The Sharks were ahead 2-1 going into the third but gave up two goals 79 seconds apart and were outshot 13-7 in the final frame. That makes three blown third-period leads in four games for the Sharks, going back to their semifinal win against the Red Wings, who came back from 3-0 down in the series to tie it.

Fatigue might have played a role in the Sharks' latest letdown. Coming off an emotional Game 7 win against Detroit and with only two days off before starting the West final, San Jose looked tired against the Canucks' third-period push.

Both teams took Monday off and practiced Tuesday.

"(Monday) helped us a little," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "Doesn't guarantee we'll skate any better, but it's a step in the right direction."

Flyers: Forward Dan Carcillo was suspended for the first two games of next season for confronting officials during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston. The league said Carcillo behaved aggressively and inappropriately with officials between the first and second periods of the game, which Philadelphia lost 5-1 to be swept out of the second round. Carcillo also confronted linesman Brian Murphy at the Flyers' bench and argued with him before the start of the second period. Carcillo said during a hearing he regrets his actions.

Hurricanes: Speaking for the first time since the end of the regular season, general manager Jim Rutherford voiced support for coach Paul Maurice, whose team has missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — Harmon Killebrew earned every bit of his frightening nickname, hitting tape-measure home runs that awed even fellow Hall of Famers.

Yet there was a softer side to "The Killer," too.

The balding gentleman who enjoyed a milk shake after each game. The fisherman who was afraid of bumping into alligators. The MVP who always had time to help a rookie.

Mr. Killebrew, the big-swinging slugger for the Twins and the face of the franchise for many years, died Tuesday at age 74 after battling esophageal cancer.

"It's a sad day. We lost an icon. We lost Paul Bunyan," former Twins star Kent Hrbek said.

Mr. Killebrew was genuinely modest about ranking 11th all-time with 573 homers. His approach to life was mild and patient, except when he got in the batter's box and unleashed a swing strengthened by teenage summers in Idaho, lifting 10-gallon jugs working on a milk truck.

The Twins said Mr. Killebrew died at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., with his wife, Nita, and their family at his side. He announced his diagnosis six months ago, and last week he said he was settling in for the final days of his life with hospice care after doctors deemed the "awful disease" incurable.

At Target Field, the scoreboard showed a picture of a smiling Mr. Killebrew, and his retired No. 3 was etched in the dirt behind second base. Then the grounds crew slowly lifted home plate and put under it a plastic-encased, black-and-white photo of Mr. Killebrew. The picture, believed to be from the 1960s, will stay beneath the plate the rest of the season.

Along with a statue in his likeness outside Target Field, there's a giant bronze glove where fans pose for snapshots. The glove is 520 feet from home, the distance of Mr. Killebrew's longest homer.

Much farther away, Mr. Killebrew was on the minds of current and former major-leaguers.

"I lost a hero," former Twins pitcher Jack Morris said. "The one thing that hits home the most with Harmon is his strength. Not as a player but as a person. In his strength and his kindness. To me, he was a real man, he was all man, because he loved so much. He is this family that we call the Minnesota Twins."

Former Twins Paul Molitor, Tony Oliva and Julio Becquer made trips to the Scottsdale area last weekend to say goodbye. Oliva and Becquer went together and found Mr. Killebrew in good spirits before things took a turn for the worse.

"(He) was laughing, and that was happy for me because I was thinking I would go see him in very bad shape, and when I saw him laughing and talking it was a big surprise for me," Oliva said. "That was Saturday and I was happy for me to have that opportunity to get there and see him in person. Sunday was a different story. I came back and was visiting and he was very down. … He said, 'You know I love you.' "

Whether as an 18-year-old with the Washington Senators in 1954 or playing for Kansas City in his final season in 1975, Mr. Killebrew carried himself the same unassuming way.

"He never walked around with his nose in the air. Never, ever. He used to go out after every game and get a milk shake. A super guy," said former second baseman Frank White, who played with Mr. Killebrew in Kansas City.

Mr. Killebrew spent most of his first five seasons in the minors, then hit 42 homers in his first full season in 1959. The Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961, and he hit 190 homers in his first four years there, including 49 in 1964.

Behind their soft-spoken slugger, the Twins reached the World Series in 1965 and back-to-back AL Championship Series in 1969 and 1970. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984, the first Twins player to be enshrined. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984.

But it was the way his easygoing demeanor contrasted starkly with his presence at the plate. "I didn't have evil intentions," Mr. Killebrew once said. "But I guess I did have power."

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki showed no rust from a long layoff, making 10 of his first 11 shots and an NBA playoff-record 24 straight free throws on the way to 48 points, leading the Mavericks to a 121-112 victory over the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference final Tuesday night.

Nowitzki was impossible for the Thunder to cover. Six guys tried stopping him, and the big German shot over them or put them in foul trouble. He made 13 free throws in the third quarter.

"I was really looking to shoot early and was able to get my rhythm after the first couple of shots," said Nowitzki, who finished 12-of-15 from the field and 24-of-24 from the line "I kept attacking, and my teammates kept feeding me and feeding me, and I was able to take advantage over some smaller players."

Despite going nine days between games, the Mavericks picked up where they left off in a sweep of the Lakers. They have won seven straight this postseason and are 6-0 at home.

Kevin Durant scored 40 for the Thunder, and guard Russell Westbrook struggled, finishing 3-for-15 from the field. He scored 14 of his 20 from the line.

Mavericks 121, Thunder 112

OKLAHOMA CITY (112): Durant 10-18 18-19 40, Ibaka 7-11 3-3 17, Perkins 3-4 1-2 7, Westbrook 3-15 14-18 20, Sefolosha 2-2 0-0 6, Collison 2-4 0-0 4, Harden 5-9 1-1 12, Maynor 0-1 0-0 0, Mohammed 0-1 0-0 0, Cook 2-4 0-0 6, Robinson 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 34-72 37-43 112.

DALLAS (121): Marion 5-10 1-1 11, Nowitzki 12-15 24-24 48, Chandler 1-2 1-2 3, Kidd 1-3 0-0 3, Stevenson 1-4 0-0 3, Terry 8-16 4-4 24, Haywood 1-1 1-2 3, Brewer 1-2 0-0 2, Stojakovic 1-8 0-0 3, Barea 8-12 3-3 21. Totals 39-73 34-36 121.

Oklahoma City 27 21 31 33— 112

Dallas 20 35 35 31— 121

3-Point Goals—Oklahoma City 7-16 (Sefolosha 2-2, Cook 2-3, Durant 2-5, Harden 1-4, Robinson 0-2), Dallas 9-23 (Terry 4-8, Barea 2-3, Stevenson 1-3, Kidd 1-3, Stojakovic 1-6). Fouled Out—Marion. Rebounds—Oklahoma City 42 (Durant 8), Dallas 38 (Chandler 8). Assists—Oklahoma City 19 (Durant 5), Dallas 22 (Kidd 11). Total Fouls—Oklahoma City 27, Dallas 28. Technicals—Oklahoma City Coach Brooks, Perkins, Oklahoma City defensive three second 2, Dallas Coach Carlisle, Chandler, Terry.

Cavs land top spot: The Cavs got a huge jump on their rebuilding process, winning the lottery and the No. 1 selection in next month's draft. Turning a pick they acquired from the Clippers into the top selection, the Cavs will pick first for the first time since 2003, when they drafted LeBron James. He left for the Heat last summer, and the Cavs tumbled to the second-worst record in the league, but they will have two of the top-four picks (see chart for order).

Rivers fine after surgery: Celtics coach Doc Rivers is recovering from surgery to remove a benign polyp in his throat. Doctors told Rivers he is cancer free, the team said. He joked that his family will be happy he can't talk for two weeks.

Heat 'a whiny bunch': Forget "Big Three" when it comes to the Heat. Charles Barkley prefers to go with "whiny bunch." In Chicago for TNT's coverage of the East final between the Heat and Bulls, Barkley offered his thoughts while on the local ESPN Radio affiliate. "Those guys are actually a whiny bunch," he said. "They never take any personal responsibility to why people take shots at them."

Raptors: Bryan Colangelo will remain president and general manager, agreeing to a multiyear extension. Terms were not disclosed.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The latest class of college football Hall of Famers is loaded with players from the state and bay area.

The 14 players and two coaches inducted include Deion Sanders (he sometimes spelled it $anders), a cornerback during a powerhouse 1985-88 period at FSU; Carlos Alvarez, a UF receiver from 1969-71 who still holds school records for receptions in a season (88), receptions in a game (15) and career receiving yards (2,563); and Marty Lyons from St. Petersburg Catholic, who was a standout defensive tackle at Alabama from 1975-78.

"Speechless,'' said Alvarez, 61, who was born in Havana and nicknamed the "Cuban Comet."

Lyons, 54, choked up talking about the deadly tornados that hit Alabama last month. "Right now they're going through a difficult time in their life," he said. "But come Dec. 6 I'm going to put them all on my back and we're going to get inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame."

Some other notables: Lloyd Carr, who won 75 percent of his games and the 1997 national championship in 13 seasons coaching Michigan; defensive tackle Russell Maryland, who helped Miami win two national titles from 1986-90; and Georgia defensive back Jake Scott, who went on to star for the 1972 undefeated Dolphins. (Full list, 3C)

Tommie Frazier said he was "not losing any sleep'' after not getting elected in his first year. The quarterback from Bradenton led Nebraska to perfect seasons and national championships in 1994 (beating Miami) and '95 (beating UF).

USF adds ex-Gator

TAMPA — USF coach Skip Holtz confirmed that former Florida receiver Chris Dunkley joined the Bulls on scholarship as a transfer. "We're really excited to have Chris join the program," Holtz said. "He's very talented."

Dunkley, a five-star recruit out of Pahokee in 2009 who redshirted in his only season at Florida, will sit out the 2011 season as required and have three years of eligibility with the Bulls.

Another former Florida recruit, freshman running back Mike Blakely, is making a formal visit to USF this weekend, his Manatee High coach said.

more football: After a spending scandal, the NCAA will let the Fiesta Bowl keeps its license on a one-year probationary basis. Also, the bowl wants Arizona politicians, including U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl, to return $48,225.17 in campaign contributions that the bowl reimbursed employees for making. … The family of a former Mississippi player filed a wrongful death suit against the school, coach Houston Nutt and the NCAA. Bennie Abram collapsed at a workout in 2010 and died from complications associated with sickle cell trait. … Storm Johnson, projected to be Miami's third-string running back, is the fifth Hurricane to transfer this month.

basketball: The Big Ten/ACC Challenge was announced. Highlights on Nov. 29 include Duke at Ohio State and Miami at Purdue, and on Nov. 30 FSU at Michigan State and Wisconsin at North Carolina. (Full schedule, 3C). … Valparaiso coach Homer Drew is retiring after 22 seasons and former Crusaders star Bryce Drew will replace him. Homer Drew won 640 games, seventh most among active coaches. Bryce Drew's buzzer-beater against Mississippi followed by a win over FSU took Valpo to the NCAA region semifinals in 1998. … Division I women's games set an attendance record of 8,127,779.

Lowder off board: Powerful Auburn trustee Bobby Lowder, who in 28 years on the governing board was criticized by some of micromanaging sports programs to the point of interfering, will not seek another term.

Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Rays at Blue Jays

When/where: 7:07 tonight; Rogers Centre, Toronto

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable starters:

RAYS: RH Jeremy Hellickson (4-2, 2.98)

JAYS: RH Jesse Litsch (4-2, 4.14)

Watch for …

Complete Game Jeremy: Hellickson is coming off a stellar start, a complete-game shutout of the Orioles on Friday, and hasn't allowed a run over his past 14 IP. His only start against the Jays was April 22, when he went 7 innings, allowing 3 runs, and got no decision.

Familiar face: Litsch was pushed back after Tuesday's rainout in Detroit. He is a Dixie Hollins High grad and was a Rays batboy in 2002-03, and is 1-3, 3.89 in six starts against his former employers. He has pitched well since recovering from 2010 shoulder surgery.

Key matchups

Rays vs. LITSCH

Johnny Damon 7-for-17, HR

B.J. Upton 3-for-17

Ben Zobrist 1-for-3

Jays vs. Hellickson

Jose Bautista 1-for-3, HR

Rajai Davis 1-for-3

Yunel Escobar 0-for-4

On deck

Thursday: at Blue Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (4-3, 3.47); Jays — Ricky Romero (3-4, 3.35)

Friday: at Marlins, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Andy Sonnanstine (0-1, 3.92); Marlins —Javier Vazquez (2-4, 7.55)

Longoria goes to the mat

3B Evan Longoria said his first yoga-for-charity session went well, with a dozen classmates at the Bella Prana studio in Tampa raising about $1,200 for the Moffitt Cancer Center. Longoria, who began doing yoga 3 years ago, said his favorite position is standing on his head. "Doing the upside-down stuff is the most fun for me," he said. Monthly sessions are planned (next is June 14) and may be expanded. E-mail bellaprana@gmail.com for more information.

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The long and short of it

OF Sam Fuld is used to being kidded over his size. So he found it quite humorous when a teammate — he believes it's B.J. Upton — hung some kid-sized uniform pants (a youth medium) in his locker. "I laughed," the 5-foot-10 Fuld said. "I haven't tried them on yet though. I'll spare myself that."

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

CINCINNATI — Reliever Kerry Wood's throwing error let two runs score and Chris Heisey followed with a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth that sent the Reds over the sloppy Cubs 7-5 on a wet Tuesday night.

Chicago self-destructed with four errors in a steady rain. All of Cincinnati's runs were unearned.

Wood threw wide of third while trying to get a forceout on Ryan Hanigan's sacrifice bunt, allowing the catcher to go to third base while the tying runs scored. Heisey put the Reds ahead and Joey Votto added an RBI double.

The Reds won for the 11th time in 13 games, sweeping the two-game series.

While the Reds reached a season-high eight games over .500, the Cubs fell to a low at 17-23, collapsing for the second game in a row. On Monday night, Chicago blew a four-run lead and lost 7-4, leading to manager Mike Quade calling a closed-door meeting.

Former Ray Carlos Peña put the Cubs up with a three-run homer in the first.

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

White Sox 4, Rangers 3

CHICAGO — Gordon Beckham scored on Cody Eppley's wild pitch in the eighth inning, lifting the White Sox to a sorely needed victory. Chicago was coming off a listless 4-0 loss to the Rangers and had dropped 10 of its past 11 home games. Beckham began the eighth with a walk and made it to third on pinch-hitter Dallas McPherson's single to center. Eppley then bounced his first pitch to Alexei Ramirez, and Beckham rushed home for a 4-3 lead.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

BOSTON — Lightning coach Guy Boucher's update Tuesday on D Pavel Kubina was not promising, an assessment that raised questions whether the veteran will return this postseason.

Kubina did not travel with the team to Boston for the first two games of the Eastern Conference final.

"The update is not very good," Boucher said. "Every day there seems to be a little progression, it kind of slips back a bit."

Kubina was hurt April 29 in Game 1 of the semifinal series against the Capitals, taking an elbow to the back of the head from Washington LW Jason Chimera. As a result, Kubina's head bounced off the glass.

He has not practiced with the team since and is believed to be suffering from concussion-like symptoms, though the Lightning has called it an upper-body injury.

Kubina, 34, one of three Lightning players who was on the 2004 Stanley Cup team, has two goals, three points and is plus-2 in eight playoff games in 2011, while averaging 15:17 in ice time. He also has played a key role on the second power-play unit.

"Obviously, we're missing him," Boucher said. "He's got size. He's got some offensive abilities, and our second power play, he made a big difference on it. Right now, we've adapted, (Marc-Andre) Bergeron has kind of taken the lead on the power play. We've had to adapt because he was doing very well."

In Kubina's absence, the minutes of D Eric Brewer, D Victor Hedman and D Mattias Ohlund have increased, with Brewer averaging more than four additional minutes per game than in the regular season. And there's still no timetable on Kubina's return.

"It's the kind of injury you never know," Boucher said. "You wake up the next day and everything is great or just keeps going the same way, so it's very hard to monitor what's going on with him."

EASY DOES IT: Bergeron entered Tuesday with power-play goals in back-to-back games, delivering the type of shots from the point that the Lightning envisioned when signing the veteran power-play specialist in January.

It broke a slump of nearly three months without a goal, dating to Feb. 18, and Boucher said there's a reason; Bergeron has been showing more poise with his shot rather than forcing it.

"What was happening before, he was trying to get the puck through the net and the board and the stands and right down to the parking lot," Boucher said. "That has a tendency to miss the net more often. So he went back to having a heads up. Because he's one of those guys that can actually move and have heads up and shooting at the same time without looking at his puck. Very few guys can do it."

MEDICAL MATTERS: Bruins star C Patrice Bergeron (mild concussion) didn't play for the second straight game, though speculation brewed that the team's top playoff scorer and faceoff man is close to returning.

Bergeron practiced with the team for the second straight day, and coach Claude Julien was coy, only saying "if he's in, you're going to see him in warmups tonight."

Bergeron hasn't played since suffering the injury in Game 4 of the semifinal series against the Flyers.

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

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Net presence

Lightning C Nate Thompson doesn't like the goal nets at Boston's TD Garden. The netting is too loose. Pucks that hit the net are swallowed and fall to the ice. Tighter nets act like a trampoline and bounce pucks out. Why does Thompson, right, care? "When you see the puck go in (on a goal) and out pretty quick, there's that illusion your shot is harder than it really is," he said. "When it's loose like that, (the puck) just falls like it barely went in." Thompson said the nets at the St. Pete Times Forum are better. "They're pretty tight. I scored one earlier this year when (the puck) went in and out pretty quick. It made me feel pretty good about it."

Same is different

Much was made in the Boston media after the Lightning's 5-2 Game 1 win about how Tampa Bay "changed" from its usual 1-3-1 defensive posture to a more forecheck-heavy system that caught the Bruins off-guard. If Boston truly was surprised, that would be because of bad coaching. The Lightning has alternated its defensive systems all season. "The 1-3-1 gets a lot of attention," C Steven Stamkos said. "It's different, and people like to talk about that. But we went to something we've done all year. It wasn't anything that was a big adjustment for us. It was made more of a big deal than it really was."

Three stars

Tyler Seguin: The Bruins prized rookie center had four points in the second period (two goals, two assists) to tie the league record for points in a playoff period held by, among others, Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.

Vinny Lecavalier: The Lightning center scored a goal and had three assists for a team playoff record four-point night and created other quality scoring chances.

Michael Ryder: The Bruins wing scored two goals, both in the final five minutes of the second period, and added an assist for a three-point night.

Quote to note

"Everybody would rather there be a lot of pressure than no pressure. Nobody would like it if you're in Florida and there's less pressure. This is the Stanley Cup playoffs. You have to be under the heat every day."

Bruins D Tomas Kaberle

Tickets

Games 3 and 4 and a potential Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa are sold out, though unused team tickets might be released on game days. Check with the box office at (813) 301-6600 and Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-3000).

The series Tied 1-1

Game 1, Lightning 5, Bruins 2: Three goals in 1:25 of the first spark Lightning.

Game 2, Bruins 6, Lightning 5: Bruins score five in the second.

Thursday: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus

Saturday: at Tampa Bay, 1:30, Ch. 8

Monday: at Boston, 8, Versus

May 25: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus *

May 27: at Boston, 8, Versus *

Radio: 970-AM except May 25, which is 620-AM

* If necessary

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — James Shields missed on a few pitches Tuesday, specifically the two Alex Rodriguez deposited over the outfield fence. But it was the opportunities missed by his Rays teammates at the plate that were just as relevant a reason for their 6-2 loss to the Yankees.

"We had baserunners out there, we just couldn't get a knock," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Today was just an inability to get the big hit when we needed it."

The Yankees got what they needed most of all, which was a victory after six consecutive losses and a weekend of controversy.

"We needed to win this game," manager Joe Giradi said. "This was, I don't want to say a must win, but as close as you can get to a must win in the month of May."

Packing a 24-18 record and a two-game AL East lead, the Rays headed out afterward for a challenging and taxing trip to Toronto, Florida and Detroit — and they couldn't be happier to be going.

The loss, before a crowd of 27,123, dropped them to 11-13 at the previously friendly confines of Tropicana Field (compared to 13-5 on the road) and marked the 15th time in those 24 games they scored three runs or fewer under the tilted roof.

"It's kind of weird," Shields said. "Over the last few years we had that so-called homefield advantage, and now it's almost like we have road-field advantage. … We've definitely got to get better at home, no doubt about it."

The Rays, who ended up 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 on, had several chances. But the big moment came in the sixth.

Down 2-1 after Elliot Johnson hit a homer (pulling even in his heated competition with Sam Fuld at 2-2) and Rodriguez hit his two (on a 2-and-2 changeup in the fourth and a 1-and-0 fastball with two outs in the sixth), the Rays had a prime opportunity to take control of the game: bases loaded, one out, with B.J. Upton and Casey Kotchman coming up against reliever Dave Robertson.

Both went down without even putting the ball in play, Upton swinging, Kotchman looking.

"We had an opportunity there to get on top and then stay on top," Maddon said. "That was pretty much the turning point."

Especially because of the way things turned in the Yanks' favor after that, a double by Jorge Posada (who batted seventh in the New York lineup), a bunt, a broken-bat single and an ill-advised and errant throw by Ben Zobrist leading to two more runs.

The Yanks added two in the ninth, and the Rays one, though they thought they may have had another on a Kelly Shoppach fly ball that may have hit the catwalk.

Maddon thought, by the way it changed direction before being caught, it hit the C-ring. Crew chief Gary Darling, after a four-plus minute video review, said "it didn't hit anything." Replays indicated it may have hit the B-ring, thus was in play and out anyway.

In any event …

"We lost the game of inches tonight," Maddon said.

Shields ended up with his first loss since the opening series of the season rather than his fifth straight win, but the margin wasn't much. He went seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits, walking one, striking out nine and throwing 102 pitches.

"I made two bad pitches," Shields said. "That's the way I feel, and that's about it. I think overall with that kind of lineup, I did pretty well."

But on this night, his teammates couldn't say the same.

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

Times wires
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Cardinals 2, Phillies 1

ST. LOUIS — Lance Berkman lined a bases-loaded single over a drawn-in outfield with one out in the ninth, lifting the Cardinals. Jaime Garcia gave up a 1-0 lead in the eighth, enabled when second baseman Tyler Greene dropped Jimmy Rollins' routine pop with one out. The Phillies' Roy Oswalt pitched five efficient innings in his first start off the 15-day disabled list.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Yankees' six-game losing streak, like Alex Rodriguez's two towering home runs Tuesday night, is gone, goodbye.

A-Rod launched a pair of solo homers off Rays starter James Shields to give New York a lead it never relinquished in a 6-2 win over Tampa Bay.

Rodriguez's blasts traveled 432 feet and 417 feet, respectively, at Tropicana Field.

They could carry the Yankees, who crept back to within two games of the AL East-leading Rays, much further than that.

"My struggles have been really unacceptable," Rodriguez said. "But hopefully (Tuesday) was a start to good things to come.

"(The win) was huge. I mean, it was desperation to win the game."

Rodriguez had been suffering a power outage heading into the two-game series with the Rays. Prior to Tuesday, he had one home run in his past 21 games while batting .171 during that stretch. Forget dingers; A-Rod was struggling just to reach base, mired in a 3-for-24 slump and batting .242 with six homers overall when he came to the plate with the Yankees trailing 1-0 with one out in the fourth.

Having struck out three times and gone hitless in four at-bats Monday, Rodriguez worked the count full against Shields, who had retired him on a sharp groundout to third baseman Evan Longoria the first time up.

"I felt good my first at-bat," Rodriguez said. "I fought to 3-2 and hit the ball hard to third base. I thought that set the tone for me.

"(The home runs) felt great. It seemed like my legs were being used nicely. They felt good off the bat. One was a changeup, and one was a fastball."

Rodriguez's second home run, to straightaway centerfield on a 1-and-0 pitch with two outs in the sixth, gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead. New York touched Shields for two runs on three hits in the seventh.

"We had some big hits from Alex early on, two home runs, and we seemed to be able to tack on some really good at-bats by some guys," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Shields had pretty good success keeping the ball in the yard against A-Rod, who had one homer and two RBIs in 29 career at-bats against him going in.

"I think I have to be a little bit smarter to him, with two outs especially," Shields said. "The first one, I left a changeup up, and the second one, two outs, I definitely have to make better pitches in that situation."

It had been a tough week for the Yankees and Rodriguez, whose error Sunday night allowed Dustin Pedroia to score the winner for the Red Sox.

"He looked great tonight," Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner said. "He drove the ball well. Anytime a guy in the middle of the lineup like that gets going and gets hot, hopefully it's something he continues to do."

Rodriguez's success in Tampa Bay should not have come as a big surprise. His 24 career home runs at Tropicana Field are the third most by a visiting player.

"We've seen him hit two, too many times," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Tuesday, May 17, 2011

BOSTON — The streak is over, and once again, the cynics will speak of his age.

A game has been lost, and once more, the critics will discuss his resilience.

The series has been tied, and as much as ever, the Lightning is in the hands of Dwayne Roloson.

For once, he was not amazing, and for a change, he was not historic. On Tuesday night, against a desperate, relentless Bruins team, Roloson dared to be ordinary. For that matter, so did the defense in front of him.

It is a dangerous thing for Roloson to be, ordinary. By now, it has been well-established that the Lightning expects Roloson to fit in somewhere between magical and magnificent or trouble occurs. In particular, a 6-5 defeat happens, and the first Lightning loss in nine games happens, and a 1-1 tie in the Eastern Conference final happens.

And now, we will see how Roloson bounces back.

Again.

After eight memorable games, games that had the statisticians reaching for the record books, this was a forgettable night for Roloson, 41. He gave up six goals in two periods, including four of them (in 13 shots) in five-on-five situations. He gave up five goals in the second period on nine shots. Even with a porous defense, that's too many.

It was a stunning enough sight — especially compared to the way Roloson had been playing — that coach Guy Boucher pulled him from for the final period in favor of Mike Smith.

No, most of it was not Roloson's fault. His defense left him out to dry too many times. On most of the goals he surrendered, it would have taken an incredible play to stop the puck.

Still, incredible is what we have seen from Roloson. Incredible is what we expect. An extra ounce or two of incredible, and the Lightning could have won this game.

"There was a time out there I was thinking, 'We're leaving him all alone back there,' " teammate Sean Bergenheim said. "It wasn't his fault. Roli is the mentally toughest player I know. He'll be fine."

Again, you can look at this two ways. One, Roloson gave up too many goals. Two, his teammates let him down worse than he let them down.

Take that five-on-three in the first period. For a while, it looked as if Roloson had walked into a skeet shoot and someone had yelled "pull!" There was the swarm: The Bruins were all over him from the first period on. There was the speed: There is something about Tyler Seguin on the open ice that seems to make Lightning defenders fall over sideways at the sight. There was the squatter: The Lightning allowed Boston's Michael Ryder to camp unruffled in front of the net.

"We aren't worried about Roli," Steven Stamkos said. "We're worried about ourselves. This wasn't Roli's fault. He gave up six goals, but I don't think any of them were soft."

What happened? Perhaps Roloson had this kind of night coming. Perhaps the Lightning did, too. Perhaps the Lightning took too many penalties and gave up too much momentum early, as Stamkos suggested. This is the NHL playoffs, and this is a feisty Bruins team. No one should expect Boston to surrender.

What happens next? That's the bigger question, isn't it? The last time Roloson lost a game, way back on April 20, the Lightning won eight straight afterward, and Roloson averaged surrendering two goals per game.

During the regular season, he was the same. Four times this year, Roloson gave up five or more goals in the regular season. Every time, he won the next time out. In January, after giving up five to Carolina, he won five straight.

In other words, Roloson has been resilient all season. There is no reason to doubt Boucher when he says he believes Roloson will be good again Thursday night in Game 3. If the Lightning is to succeed, he had better be.

"I've forgotten already," Roloson said. "That's part of being a goaltender. This game was just one of those things. We just had a total breakdown of structure, from myself to the D-men to the forwards."

As for being resilient?

"That's what goaltenders do."

The best goaltenders are a forgetful lot, after all. Scorch them, burn them, chase them from the game, and they turn loose of it in about an hour. Roloson has lasted so long in this league because he has the ability to bounce back.

"That's exactly what he is," Boucher said. "He's a resilient guy. He's somebody who has tremendous concentration. And you know he always bounces back. We're not expecting anything less than what he's given us throughout the year. I'm not worried.

"I'm not looking for news to give some tools for our goaltender to rebound. He knows how to do it. He's done it. We're not going to mess with it."

At this point, the Lightning has no choice. It can bounce back, but only if Roloson does. It can restore order, but only if Roloson does. It can begin another winning streak, but only if Roloson does.

The guess here? Roloson will be very good Thursday. If his defense allows it, he will be good enough.