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Outdoors notes: Fish for free in salt waters this weekend

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Making News

License-Free Weekend Fishing in Salt waters

This weekend is shaping up as a good time to get out and fish. First, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will not require anglers to possess a saltwater fishing license on Saturday and Sunday. It is also the first weekend of red snapper season in the gulf (two per person per day). There will be another license-free saltwater fishing weekend June 18-19 to coincide with Father's Day.

REgulationS

Scallop season extended this year

Bay scallop season will begin June 25, a week earlier than usual, and will end Sept. 25, two weeks later than usual. It is legal to gather scallops north of the Pasco-Hernando county line to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County. It is against the law to possess bay scallops on the water outside open harvest areas. It is also illegal to land scallops outside open harvest areas. Scallop hunters may keep up to 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell, or 1 pint of scallop meat each day during the open season. Recreational scallopers cannot possess more than 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or a half-gallon of meat aboard any boat. You may catch bay scallops only by hand or with a landing or dip net. They cannot be sold for commercial purposes. For complete regulations, visit MyFWC.com.

Things to do

Tonight-Saturday: Johnny Ferlita Memorial Fishing Tournament (inshore species). Captains meeting, 6:30 tonight, Bay Club at Westshore Yacht Club (6001 Westshore Blvd.) in Tampa. Information: (813) 269-0955.

Saturday: Reef Monitoring Inc. is coordinating a cleanup of Dunedin Reef from 8 a.m. to noon. Interested boat owners and divers can preregister at Mac's Scuba in Clearwater and should meet at Seminole Boat Ramp in Clearwater. Cost: $10 covers administrative costs, lunch, T-shirt and free tank of air. Information: www.reefmoni toring.org or (727) 259-7404.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Solunar table

AM PM major minor major minor

6/3 6:15 12:00 6:50 12:35

6/4 7:15 1:05 7:45 1:30

6/5 8:10 2:00 8:40 2:25

6/6 9:05 2:55 9:35 3:20

6/7 10:00 3:50 10:30 4:15

6/8 10:55 4:45 11:25 5:10

6/9 11:45 5:35 0 6:00


Trailmix: Outdoors news and notes: Tarpon all the rage, fishing regulations, a monster lobster

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By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, June 2, 2011

St. Petersburg skipper sails new circuit

St. Petersburg's Ed Baird, a former America's Cup helmsman and world match-racing champion, is back on the water, this time racing across Europe in a 52-foot, carbon-fiber speed machine on a new pro circuit called the Audi MedCup. Baird is part of the only U.S. team, Quantum Racing. Last week off Cascais, Portugal, Baird's boat hit a top speed of 22 knots, quite a mark for wind-powered watercraft. To follow the action, go to Medcup.org.

Snook update

The Tampa Bay area experienced one of the worst snook kills in decades in January 2010, and state fishery managers are struggling to gauge the long-term impact it will have on this prized sport fish.

Snook season here on the west coast of Florida is closed through Aug. 31, but officials must decide soon whether to reopen the fishery this fall or keep it closed through the end of the year and perhaps even into 2012.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will receive a report next week in St. Augustine that lays out several options. The preferred alternative, the plan endorsed by state biologists, would limit snook fishing on the Gulf Coast to catch-and-release until Aug. 31, 2012. To learn more, go to MyFWC.com.

It's tarpon time. From Tampa Bay to Islamorada, anglers are pitting their skills against the silver king of sport fish, Megalops atlanticus. Here in Tampa Bay, the Suncoast Tarpon Roundup, now an all-release event with a 10-weekend format, is in full swing and runs through July 24. Go to Suncoasttarponroundup.org. Tampa Bay Watch, one of Florida's leading environmental groups, will run its annual Tarpon Rodeo on June 10-11. Go to Tampbaywatch.org to sign up. And in Boca Grande, many of the Tampa Bay area's top anglers are doing battle in the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series, which runs through June 19. To follow the action, go to PTTS.tv.

What's hot

Now that it's June and the flats are on fire, you need some gear to keep you from burning up in the midday sun. The folks from Lakeland-based Breathe Like A Fish have developed a fishing shirt that protects anglers from harmful ultraviolet rays but still lets the air flow across the body to keep it cool. These ventilated shirts come with or without a mask. Suggested retail price: $38.95 and $44.95. Available locally at Dogfish Tackle Company (8750 Park Blvd., Seminole). Go to Breathelikeafish.com.

Grouper, snapper and amberjack

Recreational anglers will finally get a chance to fish once again for gag grouper. The season in gulf federal waters will reopen Sept. 16 and run through Nov. 15.

This popular species is currently considered "overfished," which means there are too few to maintain healthy population levels, and undergoing "overfishing," which means anglers are catching too many of those that are left.

Anglers can keep two gag (within the four-fish aggregate grouper bag limit) at least 22 inches or longer during the open season.

Red snapper season opened June 1 in gulf waters. The season is expected to close July 18 when recreational anglers meet their federally mandated quota. But anglers will be able to switch gears in August and once again fish for amberjack on Aug. 1.

{outdoors-related bits and bites}

trailmix

{outdoors-related bits and bites}

You're going to need big butter

Pulling up one of their last traps on the last day of the season in Lobster Bay off Nova Scotia, skipper Landon Shand and crewmember Lorne Pace knew they had a heavy catch inside. But instead of a hefty haul of typical 2-pounders, they pulled up a 22.8-pound male lobster that would fetch more than $100 by itself at $4.50 a pound, according to the Nova Scotia Chronicle Herald. The biggest lobster ever recorded was caught off Nova Scotia in 1977, according to National Geographic, and weighed 44 pounds and was 42 inches long. "It was the biggest lobster I've ever seen come up in a (trap)," Pace said. I don't know how he got in there."

Silver kings test anglers' mettle

Mets 9, Pirates 8

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Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Mets 9, Pirates 8

NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran's three-run homer started the Mets' rally from a seven-run deficit and Ruben Tejada finished it with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. It was New York's biggest rally to win since June 30, 2000, when it overcame an 8-1 deficit by scoring 10 times in the eighth to beat Atlanta 11-8, STATS LLC said.

Dr. Remote

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Boxing classic: 8 p.m. on ESPN2. A replay of Buster Douglas' 1990 upset of heavyweight champ Mike Tyson.

Friday Night Fights: 9 p.m. on ESPN2. The card comes from Tampa's A La Carte Event Pavilion as junior middleweight Yudel Johnson (10-0, seven knockouts) and former featherweight title challenger Walter Estrada (38-14-1, 25 knockouts) are featured in co-main events.

Rays at Mariners: 10 p.m. on Sun Sports. Nothing beats late-night baseball, especially if you don't have to get up early on Saturday.

Show of the day

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Show of the day

Former local TV sports anchor Al Keck begins a weekly one-hour program at 4 p.m. today on WTAN-AM 1340. For now, the show will run each Friday, but there is a chance it could be expanded in the coming months.

Point of the day

Philadelphia Daily News columnist Rich Hofmann points out there was "not a word about hockey'' during the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday, the day before the Stanley Cup final began. Of course, that night was Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which was being shown by ESPN's corporate partner, ABC. Hofmann wrote, "On the one hand, the NHL is growing. … But on the other hand, if ESPN is any kind of barometer of mainstream American sporting thought, well, what?"

Li reaches another Slam final

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Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

PARIS — As Maria Sharapova prepared to serve while only a point from defeat in the French Open semifinals, Li Na was thinking what any opponent would at that precise moment.

"I was, like, 'Please, double fault. That way I can win the match,' " Li explained to the crowd a few moments later.

Sharapova obliged. Her second serve hit the white tape atop the net and bounced back for Sharapova's 10th double fault of an error-filled afternoon, closing Li's 6-4, 7-5 victory Thursday. The result ended Sharapova's bid to complete a career Grand Slam, and allowed Li to reach a second consecutive major final.

At the Australian Open in January, Li was runnerup, the first player from China to reach a major final. At the French Open on Saturday — when she will play defending champion Francesca Schiavone — the sixth-seeded Li can become the first Grand Slam champion from her nation of more than 1 billion people.

A year ago at Roland Garros, Schiavone became the first woman from Italy to win a major. But she had failed to make it to the final of any tournament since then, until taking the last four games to beat 11th-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-3 Thursday.

"When I come here," the fifth-seeded Schiavone said, "I feel something special."

Wesley Chapel residents Mike and Bob Bryan lost to Juan Sebastian Cabal and Eduardo Schwank 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in a doubles semifinal.

Today's men's semis: Even Rafael Nadal acknowledged his semifinal against Andy Murray is not nearly as intriguing as the one between unbeaten Novak Djokovic and 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

"It's the best player of today against the best player in history. … It's going to be a beautiful match," Nadal said. "I would watch it — if I was a spectator."

It's only the 12th time in the Open era, which dates to 1968, that the top four seeds have reached the semifinals at any Grand Slam event.

Djokovic is 41-0 in 2011, and a win over Federer ties John McEnroe's record for best start to a season in the Open era, 42-0. Add in two victories in December, and Djokovic's winning streak stands at 43 overall, three shy of Guillermo Vilas' mark of 46 in a row. And if he beats Federer, Djokovic will be assured of rising to No. 1 in the rankings for the first time.

"There's less at stake for me than for him," Federer said. "He's got a lot of things going."

Obituary: Hall of Famer Pauline Betz Addie, the top women's player in the United States in the 1940s, died Tuesday in Potomac, Md. She was 91.

Shooting from the lip

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 2, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up his Two Cents on the world of sports.

Popular team of the day

It looks as if Tampa Bay jumped on the Lightning bandwagon this spring. Earlier in the NHL playoffs, the Rays were routinely outdrawing the Lightning on TV. But the No. 1 television program in all of Tampa Bay on May 27 was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final between the Lightning and Bruins.

Versus scored a 7.8 rating for the market, meaning 7.8 percent of households in Tampa Bay tuned in. It marked the best rating ever for Versus in the Tampa Bay market. Meantime, 2.55 million viewed the game nationally, the highest for a conference final game since 2002 and Versus' best non-Stanley Cup final rating since it began carrying the NHL during the 2005-06 season.

Hire of the day

ESPN announced Thursday that tennis legend Chris Evert will join the network's coverage of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Evert, who won three Wimbledons and six U.S. Opens, will work both in the studio and at courtside calling matches.

"I am really excited about working again in tennis as an analyst,'' Evert, 56, said. "I've been away from TV for 10 years because my priority was raising my three boys. And now that they are older, it is the right time to join the exceptional tennis team at ESPN. I have many friends there and enjoy watching their coverage. So I look forward to getting back behind the microphone."

Analyst of the day

Now that the always-entertaining Shaquille O'Neal is retired, might his next move be to the broadcast booth? It seems like a natural jump for an outspoken player with Shaq's sense of humor. Then again, O'Neal has long held dreams of being in law enforcement after his playing days.

When asked during Thursday's online chat with readers about whether ABC/ESPN might be interested in bringing O'Neal aboard, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor John Walsh wrote, "If Shaq, independent of his proclaimed career as a man of the law, would entertain the possibility of a career in broadcasting, we certainly would be interested in having a conversation.''

Speaking of O'Neal, where, exactly, would he rank on the all-time list of centers? His resume is impressive with four NBA titles, three NBA Finals MVP awards, one regular-season MVP award and 15 All-Star selections. But he still doesn't crack the top three among centers with Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar no-brainer picks. Older generations would insist on including 1940s and 1950s legend George Mikan among the big three. After that, you could start making an argument for O'Neal.

The ratings game

NBC earned an overnight Nielsen rating of 3.2 for Wednesday's night Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final between the Canucks and Bruins. That means 3.2 percent of all U.S. households with televisions tuned in, about 4.6 million viewers. That is the best Game 1 rating the league has had since Dallas and Buffalo met in 1999 on Fox despite having only one U.S. team in the series. (Vancouver's viewers aren't counted.) It's also a 14.3 percent increase from last year's Game 1 between Chicago and Philadelphia, which aired on a Saturday night. Boston led all U.S. markets with a 25.5 local rating, meaning about a quarter of the Boston area tuned in. But those numbers don't come close to the NBA. Tuesday night's Game 1 of the Finals between the Heat and Mavs delivered a 9.0 rating on ABC. About 15.1 million people tuned in to make it the most-viewed Game 1 of the Finals since the Lakers and Pistons met in 2004. And it was a 3 percent jump from a season ago, when the Lakers and Celtics met. Miami-Fort Lauderdale led all U.S. markets with a 31.9 local rating; Dallas-Fort Worth was second at 29.9.

Best decision of the day

Kudos to the NHL for naming former NHL player Brendan Shanahan as the league's dean of discipline. Shanahan will handle league suspensions, taking over for Colin Campbell, who will concentrate on his other duties in the NHL office.

Campbell handled the league's supplemental discipline cases for 13 years and, by all accounts, is a man of integrity and honor. And yes, it is a thankless job full of second-guessing. However, things became complicated when Campbell's son Gregory became an NHL player. He now plays for the Bruins after five seasons with the Panthers.

Campbell excused himself from handling discipline on games involving his son's teams. But the appearance of a conflict of interest, regardless of how much you believed in Campbell's integrity, was always going to be an issue as long as Campbell's son played in the league.

The league didn't make the change because of the conflict, but it just never seemed worth it for the league to have to defend itself constantly from such questions.

Okay, so Campbell didn't rule on something that happened in a Bruins game, but what about this scenario: An elite player such as Alex Ovechkin of the Caps does something that warrants a suspension. In three games, the Caps play the Bruins. So does Campbell's ruling include a suspension that keeps him out of playing against the Bruins? Even if Campbell never considered something such as that, the league still was forced to deal with the question of bias.

Late last year, several leaked e-mails from Campbell to league officials indicated he has issues with certain referees and even questioned penalty calls against his son. That surely must have been on the mind of every official who ever called a game involving his son.

It just never made sense to me why the NHL just didn't get someone different to do the job. The move is a few years too late, but at least it was finally made.

And Shanahan is the perfect choice. He played as recently as 2009. He was a skilled player. He was a tough player. He played with a bit of an edge and dropped the gloves if he had to. So he understands the modern game, how all types of players think and behave, and what goes on in all situations.

Three thumbs-up

1. To 620-AM afternoon host Steve Duemig for an absolutely classic 15-minute insulting, angry and hysterically funny rant on Wednesday, tearing into Rays catchers John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach. Regardless of whether you like him or not, that's how talk radio is done, folks.

2. To 1010-AM afternoon host J.P. Peterson for dubbing Jaso and Shoppach "The Deadliest Catchers.''

3. To NBC for its Game 1 Stanley Cup final coverage, especially replays and analysis of Vancouver's Alex Burrows biting the finger of Boston's Patrice Bergeron. Although, funny, the NHL claims it can't prove Burrows bit Bergeron and didn't suspend him. Maybe someone at the NHL should have watched NBC's broadcast.

NCAA baseball regionals

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Times staff
Thursday, June 2, 2011


Up next auto races on major circuits

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Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Sprint Cup

What: STP 400

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, noon); Sunday, race (Ch. 13, 1 p.m.); Kansas City, Kan.

Fast facts: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is winless in 105 races and has one victory — on fuel mileage at Michigan in June 2008 — in 120 starts for Hendrick Motorsports. He had 17 victories in 291 starts for Dale Earnhardt Inc. … Kevin Harvick has led a combined nine laps in his three victories this season.

Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 445; 2. Harvick, 409; 3. Jimmie Johnson, 408; 4. Earnhardt, 402; 5. Kyle Busch, 392; 6. Kurt Busch, 377; 7. Matt Kenseth, 374; 8. Clint Bowyer, 365; 9. Tony Stewart, 356; 10. Ryan Newman, 353

Nationwide

What: STP 300

When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.), race (ESPN, 8 p.m.); Joliet, Ill.

Fast facts: Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick return to the series. Bayne has been sidelined by an illness with symptoms including nausea, fatigue and impaired vision. He last raced April 23 at Nashville.

Standings: 1. Elliott Sadler, 452; 2. Ricky Stenhouse, 451; 3. Reed Sorenson, 450; 4. Justin Allgaier, 430; 5. Aric Almirola

Trucks

What: O'Reilly Auto Parts 250

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 11 a.m.), race (Speed, 2 p.m.); Kansas City, Kan.

Fast facts: The race is the series' 400th.

Standings: 1. Cole Whitt, 260; 2. Johnny Sauter, 259; 3. Ron Hornaday, 257; 4. Matt Crafton, 243; 5. Austin Dillon, 240

NHRA

What: Supernationals

When/where: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.); Englishtown, N.J.

Fast facts: In 2008 at the track, Scott Kalitta was killed after his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during qualifying. As a safety measure following Kalitta's death, the NHRA cut the length of Top Fuel and Funny Car races from a quarter-mile to 1,000 feet — a reduction of 320 feet.

Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 613; 2. Tony Schu­macher, 534. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 593; 2. Jack Beckman, 557. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 578; 2. Greg Anderson. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Karen Stoffer, 278; 2. Andrew Hines

IndyCar

Next: Firestone Twin 275s, June 11, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth

Standings: 1. Will Power, 194; 2. Dario Franchitti, 178; 3. Oriol Servia, 150; 4. Tony Kanaan, 135; 5. Scott Dixon, 129

Formula One

Next: Canadian Grand Prix, June 12, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal

News: The series' governing body plans to decide today whether to reschedule the Bahrain Grand Prix for later this season, with some drivers and team officials saying the race should be scrapped. Bahrain organizers say they're ready to host the race, which was to open the season but was postponed after antigovernment protests in February. The Bahraini government lifted emergency rule on Wednesday.

Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel, 143; 2. Lewis Hamilton, 85; 3. Mark Webber, 79; 4. Jenson Button, 76; 5. Fernando Alonso, 69

A-Rod, cousin public meet-ups not off base

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Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Responding to reports that Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and his cousin Yuri Sucart have been spotted together at the team hotel multiple times dating to last season, Major League Baseball and the Yankees offered mostly a shrug Thursday.

Sucart, who reportedly supplied the then-Rangers shortstop with performance-enhancers from 2001-03, is prohibited from restricted areas and banned from having contact with the team.

"Our position is, we told the Yankees, they agreed, that (Sucart) should not be allowed in any nonpublic areas: clubhouses, any team charters, buses. And it's our understanding that that prohibition has been respected," MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred told ESPN.com.

"I understand people wanting to ask, but us legislating who he can associate with in public, that's not going to happen," GM Brian Cashman told New York's Newsday.

Mauer Plays D: Twins C Joe Mauer caught three innings in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers, his first action on defense since he was sent to the 15-day disabled list nearly two months ago with weakness and soreness in his legs. He went 0-for-5 with two flyouts and three groundouts. Afterward he said he was out of breath and "a little fatigued" but otherwise fine. "There's a lot of pain gone, which is good," said Mauer, who added he remains committed to catching.

More Twins: DH Jim Thome (left quadriceps) and OF Jason Kubel (sprained left foot) became the seventh and eighth players on the DL. The team has used the DL 13 times this season. "I don't even count any more," manager Ron Gardenhire said. RF Ben Revere and INF Luke Hughes were recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

Cardinals: RHP Maikel Cleto, who began the season at Class A Palm Beach, was recalled to take the roster spot of OF Matt Holliday, who went on the DL with a left quadriceps strain.

Giants: 3B Pablo Sandoval (right wrist surgery) begins a rehabilitation assignment today, and LHP Barry Zito (sprained right foot) is to start his minor-league stint early next week.

Royals: LHP John Lamb, one of the club's top prospects, is expected to have ligament-replacement surgery on his left elbow today.

World Baseball Classic: The WBC will expand by 12 countries in 2013, bringing the field to 28 teams.

McIlroy off to a fast start

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Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

DUBLIN, Ohio — Rory McIlroy gets to play only three regular PGA Tour events this year. He showed Thursday why the Memorial Tournament was one of them.

On a Muirfield Village course that already ranks among his favorites, McIlroy had a birdie putt on his last eight holes and converted half of them on his way to 6-under 66 to join Chris Riley in the lead after the first round.

McIlroy hit the ball so pure that he shot 32 on the front nine despite missing three birdie putts inside 8 feet.

"A great way to start the tournament," McIlroy said.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland narrowly made the cut at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship and wound up in a tie for 24th. Asked the difference between last week and this week, he replied, "It's about 30 degrees warmer."

A tournament known for its sloppy weather has been spectacular, and it showed in the scoring on a well-manicured course.

Chris DiMarco and Josh Teater were at 67, followed by a large group at 68 that included Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Stewart Cink and Rickie Fowler, runnerup at the Memorial last year.

Fifty-one players in the 120-man field broke par.

Luke Donald, in his debut as the No. 1 player in the world ranking, recovered from a slow start by making four straight birdies toward the end of his round for 70. He played with Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and four-time major champion Phil Mickel­son, who each had 72. Mickelson did that without making birdie on the par 5s.

Riley relied heavily on his putter to take advantage of the smooth greens.

"The less I think, the better I play," Riley said. "And today, I didn't have time to think. The pace of play was so good and I didn't stand around and think about shots. I just played golf."

By giving up his PGA Tour membership, McIlroy is allowed to play only 10 tournaments. That includes the four majors and three World Golf Championships,

"This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, one of my favorite courses," he said.

At last Florida Gators pitcher can smile

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 2, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Tommy Toledo walked into the first-base dugout Thursday morning with a smile that indicated he's a young man thoroughly enjoying life right now.

When you consider what the Florida pitcher and graduate of Tampa's Alonso High has been through the past three years, his joy is understandable. Since he arrived in Gainesville, the 2007 St. Petersburg Times All-Hillsborough County Player of the Year has endured two devastating injuries that robbed him of one full season and a portion of another.

But when the SEC champion Gators begin play today in the NCAA tournament, Toledo will be an important part of a standout staff.

And after all he has endured, that's more than enough reason to smile.

"He's one of my favorites," Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "To go through what he went through last year, it affected all of us. Obviously, it affected him and his family. But it affected the players. It affected the coaches. He's got such a good demeanor about him. And for him to come back this year, regain his form, his velocity, his arm is healthy and the way he's supported the rest of the team with his leadership, it's just been outstanding."

Toledo, a redshirt junior right-hander, sat out all of 2009 after reconstructive shoulder surgery. He was expected to miss 18-24 months but returned to start the 2010 season opener against USF on Feb. 19, going 31/3 innings in his first appearance since May 31, 2008.

But about one month later, on March 14, Toledo was on the mound against Charleston Southern when a line drive struck him in the face — causing severe facial fractures that sidelined him for another two months.

"The mental part was toughest because I had already sat out the whole season before," Toledo said. "I was trying to get out there again to get some more innings. Then a freak accident like that happens and sidelines me again. So the only thing I could do was try to get back out there as quickly as I could."

Toledo has learned that the old adage, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, is quite true.

"I hope nobody has to go through that," he said. "Those injuries can really take a toll … but you learn a lot from that adversity, too. My teammates helped me out through everything. It was so much fun to get back out here and play with these guys."

In 24 appearances (three starts) this season, Toledo is 4-3 with one save, a 3.31 ERA, 30 strikeouts and one home run allowed.

"He's doing better than he ever has," said UF infielder/outfielder Preston Tucker, a former Tampa Plant High standout. "He's coming in with runners in scoring position and leaving them on base. And he's not really giving hitters too much to hit. He's done a great job of doing exactly what we've asked of him."

"Tommy has been great," senior infielder Josh Adams said. "Everything he's been through, it's rough. For him to be able to come back and do what he's doing now, it's … something special, and it's fun to be a part of."

Toledo said there's one key to his success this season: He's not hurt.

"I feel like I've contributed a lot more because I've been healthy the whole season," he said. "It's definitely comforting because I know what I'm capable of. It's just a matter of doing it. I've finally had the opportunity this year to do it. This all means so much to me. I'm looking forward to us, hopefully, making a good run."

Gator likely out: Sophomore pitcher Brian Johnson, who last week sustained a concussion after being hit in the head by a thrown ball, likely will miss this weekend's region games. He is still experiencing headaches and sensitivity to light. Alex Panteliodis, an Alonso High graduate, likely will start Florida's third game in Johnson's place.

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

Sports in brief

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Times staff, wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

WNBA

Seattle favored to repeat as league champ

Seattle had such a dominant run to the league championship last year, it is the overwhelming favorite to win again as the WNBA opens its 15th season tonight.

The Storm rolled through the regular season with a 28-6 record — the only team in the Western Conference with a winning record — and went 7-0 in the playoffs to win its second championship.

"You have to start with Seattle, because not only did they win the championship, but the way they won the championship and their run through the West a year ago," San Antonio coach Dan Hughes said. "Plus they've added Katie Smith. And that is a pretty significant quality to add to an already championship-caliber team."

The Storm acquired Smith, a 12-year veteran who won two titles with Detroit, from Washington in a three-team trade in April. She joins a team led by three-time MVP Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Swin Cash.

The season tips off tonight when Candace Parker and Los Angeles host Maya Moore and Minnesota. Seattle opens Saturday, hosting Phoenix.

Seattle will try to become the first team to win consecutive titles since Los Angeles in 2001-02.

NFL

Talib attorney to request quick trial

The attorney for indicted Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib hopes to meet with Dallas County prosecutors today, and Frank Perez said he plans to ask for a quick trial date. Last week a grand jury indicted Talib, 25, and his mother, Okolo, 58, on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a March 21 shooting in Garland, Texas.

More labor: The Jets, Eagles and Bills joined several other teams in saying they were unaware of and don't support a brief filed by the NFL Coaches Association that sided with the players against the owners.

Ex-QB has brain tumor: Former quarterback Ryan Leaf said he could face radiation treatments if the part of a brain tumor doctors couldn't remove gets bigger. Leaf, 35, said the California doctor who performed the surgery May 25 couldn't get all the tumor because parts were wrapped around brain stem nerves that affect swallowing and shoulder movement. Doctors said the tumor was benign. Leaf was diagnosed last month.

Medicine

Phone app joins concussion aids

A doctor at the University of North Carolina teamed with other head-trauma researchers to develop an application for mobile phone devices that helps determine whether someone may have sustained a concussion.

Jason Mihalik of UNC's brain injury research center said it's the first observer-based concussion app. After the user answers a series of questions based on material from the Centers for Disease Control, the app determines the likelihood of a concussion and can e-mail information to a doctor.

Rick Stroud, Times staff writer; Times wires

Brad Richards says he'd listen to Tampa Bay Lightning if former team interested during free agency

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Neither Brad Richards nor his agent said the Lightning will have an edge if it wants to pursue the former Tampa Bay star in free agency.

But both indicated Thursday that Richards, who has spent three-plus seasons with the Stars and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1, will listen if the Lightning comes calling.

"I never really wanted to leave Tampa," Richards told the St. Petersburg Times. "So, obviously, on July 1, if they talk to me, it's going to be something I'll listen to because of my history there."

Richards' preferences became a major issue Thursday with word that Dallas, which will not have a new owner in place by the time free agency begins, will not make an offer to the center, who is at the end of a five-year, $39 million deal signed with Tampa Bay before the 2006-07 season.

"There's really no point because we know he's not going to sign without an owner," Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk told ESPN.com Dallas.

The question then is will Richards waive the no-move clause in his contract so Dallas can trade his negotiating rights before July 1. That is to be seen. But if Richards, 31, becomes a free agent, interest will be keen.

A third-round draft choice in 1998, Richards played seven seasons with Tampa Bay, with 150 goals, 489 points in 552 games. He was MVP of the 2004 Stanley Cup run, with 12 goals, including seven winners, and 26 points in 23 games.

Under pressure from incoming owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, the team traded Richards in February 2008 to the Stars for goalie Mike Smith, center Jeff Halpern, wing Jussi Jokinen and a draft pick.

Richards still spends the bulk of his summers in Tampa (he no longer owns a home but rents), trains in Saddlebrook in Wesley Chapel, is close with former teammates Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis, and took great interest in the team's resurgence.

"Obviously, it's back on the map," Richards said. "It's going in the right direction."

"Brad is going to examine all his options, but it is clear and is publicly known that he didn't want to leave Tampa," his agent, Pat Morris, said. "If Tampa likes him, he's certainly going to listen to what they have to say, among many, many other teams, I'm sure."

No suspension for Canuck in biting case

VANCOUVER — Canucks forward Alex Burrows avoided a suspension in the Stanley Cup final when the league decided it couldn't prove he bit the finger of the Bruins' Patrice Bergeron during Vancouver's series-opening 1-0 victory Wednesday.

Bergeron said after the game Burrows bit his right index finger through his glove during a scrum after the first-period buzzer. Burrows denied it.

League senior vice president of hockey operations Mike Murphy spoke to Burrows Thursday; no hearing was held. The league concluded that whatever happened was scrum-related and no on-ice official saw it. "I can find no conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron," Murphy said in a statement.

"I'm over it," Bergeron said after the Bruins' light practice. "I'm looking forward to the next game. We've got to get back in the series. … I don't want to whine about that stuff. I don't care."

Penguins: Sidney Crosby, who didn't play after Jan. 5 because of a concussion, has been cleared by team doctors to start offseason, off-ice workouts. He has not worked out since late April, when his attempt to return for the playoffs was halted by the reoccurrence of headaches.

Winnipeg: The team's name will be announced when the franchise meets its goal of selling 13,000 season tickets, spokesman Scott Brown told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. By Thursday afternoon, 4,170 had been sold, the team's website said.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Rangers 7, Indians 4

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Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

Rangers 7, Indians 4

CLEVELAND — Endy Chavez had four hits and the Rangers overcame a three-run deficit. Yorvit Torrealba drove in two runs and Nelson Cruz twice doubled to start three-run rallies as Texas won for the fourth time in its past five road games. Since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on May 14, Chavez is hitting .415 (17-of-41).


Shaquille O'Neal

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Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011

MIAMI — Shaquille O'Neal won his last championship with Dwyane Wade. He tried to help LeBron James win his first ring in Cleveland.

Seems like the Big Fella is still rooting for his former teammates.

Hours after Wade and James took a break from preparing for Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday to speak of their fond memories of playing with O'Neal in Miami and Cleveland, the retiring center posted a video on Twitter thanking them for their kind words and telling them to beat the Mavericks in the title series.

"LeBron, D-Wade, I saw the comments you guys said about me," O'Neal said in the short clip, one of several he has made since using Twitter to announce his retirement Wednesday. "Appreciate it very much. It was an honor playing with you two guys. You guys made me better. You guys are legends, future Hall of Famers. Go get that ring, baby. Love you guys. Peace."

The Heat honored O'Neal by playing a video montage of some of his best moments in Miami — including the scene at the 2006 championship parade — during a first-quarter timeout of Thursday's game.

O'Neal and Wade spent parts of four seasons together in Miami. O'Neal was with James in Cleveland for the 2009-10 season. He will formally announce his retirement at his home near Orlando today.

"As a teammate, as I've always been, I was just always appreciative of the opportunity to play with one of the greats to ever put on an NBA jersey," Wade said. "I really learned a lot from him as a professional. We had some great years together. Humbled and totally honored to have been a teammate. But as a fan, seeing the dominance of what he did will never be forgotten."

James and O'Neal had a relationship that began long before they were teammates in Cleveland, both respecting the other for his basketball and business sides.

"His 19 years in this league goes unprecedented," James said, "what he was able to do for this league not only on the court, but off the court. I think he's probably one of the only big men to ever play this game to be able to market and to be able to be marketable off the court. He sold shoes. He did movies. He did a lot of things off the court."

"Don't forget rap," Wade interjected.

"He rapped, too," James said, laughing. "Sold records. He did a lot. He did everything. His personality is definitely something I gravitated toward … even before I had him as a teammate."

Wade and James know O'Neal will remain in the spotlight somehow.

"This won't be the last time we see Shaq," Wade said.

Mavericks center Brendan Haywood said he has always a fan of O'Neal and not just because the 15-time All-Star center once offered him a loan.

"I remember meeting him on the elevator my rookie year, and he asked me, 'Are you good? Is your family good? Do you need any money?' " Haywood said. "I was like, 'No, I'm good Shaq, but thanks for offering.' "

The Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki also admires O'Neal for his personality.

"Over the years, being in the same locker room in the All-Star Games, he's one of the funniest characters this league has ever seen," Nowitzki said. "He always had something funny to say; always made you smile, made you laugh."

Meanwhile, the third member of the Heat's Big Three, Chris Bosh, said he's delighted to be so close to his first championship. In his seven seasons with the Raptors, he reached the playoffs twice and lost in the first round both times.

"I'm noticing how the level of play changes," said Bosh, who entering Thursday was averaging 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds in the playoffs. "I'm trying to be the best I can be, elevating my game and intensity and becoming a better player."

Dallas Mavericks stage huge rally to beat Miami Heat 95-93, even NBA Finals

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, June 2, 2011

MIAMI — The celebration was in full swing late Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat dancers were gyrating, the crowd swaying and the players, perhaps, mulling some early morning revelry. Lively Latin music pumped through the speakers, and there was nary a sweaty palm in the building.

With Miami sporting a 15-point lead — and Dallas seemingly losing interest — why should there be? At that very moment, no one could have predicted the series of events to come.

Closing the game with a 22-5 run, the Mavericks shocked the Heat with a 95-93 win that left the best-of-seven NBA Finals tied at 1 as the scene shifts to Dallas for Games 3, 4 and 5.

The story of the game starts and ends with Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki who after playing one of his most uninspired games of the postseason finished with a championship-worthy performance capped by a driving layup against Chris Bosh with 3.6 seconds left.

After making six of his first 17 shots, Nowitzki made four of his final five to score Dallas' final nine. He finished with 24 points. But even more impressive was the fact that a couple of Nowitzki's late shots were finished with his left hand, the hand on which he has a torn tendon in the middle finger.

"I played with (Larry) Bird for three years when he was the best player in the world," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Guys like that don't feel pain right now. You play, and if you're feeling pain, you make yourself numb. You've got to be a warrior."

Before Nowitzki upstaged him, Miami's Dwyane Wade seemed intent on winning another Finals most valuable player award. His 3-pointer with 7:14 left gave Miami an 88-73 lead and him 36 points.

He would not score again. Dallas' defense clamped down, and Miami folded.

Will the Heat recover?

"When it started to slide, it just kept on going," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We've had our moments where we feel uncomfortable and feel like our backs are against the wall. That's when we've responded and been at our best."

Thursday, there was a stark contrast to the in-your-face, no-room-to-breathe brand of defense exhibited by both clubs in Game 1. The pace of the game was quite different, featuring many more fastbreaks.

That's a style of play embraced by the Mavericks. Carlisle even conceded before the game they would be hard-pressed to win a series playing a halfcourt game.

The problem is Miami can play that game, too. There was no better evidence than the opening minutes of the third quarter, during which the Heat had three straight fastbreak baskets.

A Nowitzki turnover led to the first, a breakaway dunk for LeBron James. The next was one of the flashiest highlights of these playoffs, Wade grabbing the ball in the open court, racing past Nowitzki while wrapping the ball around his back and finishing with a two-handed reverse slam. Finally, Wade tossed an alley-oop to James, leaving Dallas trailing 57-52.

All night, Miami made runs, and Dallas didn't respond — until the end.

Miami still led by 10 with 5:21 left, but Dallas kept chipping away. Jason Kidd cut the lead to 90-84 with a 3-pointer. Then after a Miami miss, Jason Terry hit a pull-up jumper to slice the deficit to four.

Then Nowitzki happened. And this series got turned upside down.

Mavericks 95, Heat 93

DALLAS (95): Marion 9-14 2-2 20, Nowitzki 10-22 3-3 24, Chandler 4-6 5-8 13, Kidd 2-7 0-0 6, Stevenson 3-6 0-0 9, Stojakovic 0-0 0-0 0, Terry 5-11 6-6 16, Haywood 1-2 0-0 2, Barea 2-7 1-2 5, Cardinal 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-75 17-21 95.

MIAMI (93): James 8-15 2-4 20, Bosh 4-16 4-4 12, Anthony 0-0 0-0 0, Bibby 5-8 0-0 14, Wade 13-20 8-12 36, Haslem 1-3 0-0 2, Chalmers 3-8 2-4 9, Miller 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 34-73 16-24 93.

Dallas28232024—95

Miami28232418—93

3-Point GoalsDallas 6-17 (Stevenson 3-5, Kidd 2-5, Nowitzki 1-2, Terry 0-2, Barea 0-3), Miami 9-30 (Bibby 4-7, Wade 2-7, James 2-7, Chalmers 1-6, Miller 0-3). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsDallas 51 (Nowitzki 11), Miami 39 (Bosh, James 8). AssistsDallas 18 (Kidd, Terry 5), Miami 13 (Wade 6). Total FoulsDallas 20, Miami 17. TechnicalsDallas Coach Carlisle, Miller. A20,003 (19,600).

Tampa Bay area's jokers flipped for owners of more effort

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By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, June 2, 2011

TAMPA — In other towns, owners were moguls. Barons. Titans.

In another era, owners have been despised. Ridiculed. Vilified.

Here, they are something different. Right now, they are something better.

In Tampa Bay, we are in our own golden era of sports owners.

Naturally, this is a relative designation. I mean, who really loves a sports owner?

On any given day, they are either too cheap, too greedy, too bossy or too aloof. They are either interfering with success, or they are ignoring failure. And they all seem to agree that beer is just slightly behind gold in its cost per ounce.

Having said that, Tampa Bay appears to be ahead of the curve.

It is not so much the day-to-day decisions being made by Stuart Sternberg, Jeff Vinik and the Glazer family. Because, when it comes to the details, there is still plenty to disparage.

For instance, you can criticize the Glazers for budget tightening to an extreme. Some years ago, the Buccaneers were as profitable as any team in the NFL, and yet the Glazers stopped investing in payroll around the same time they bought Manchester United.

And you can throw darts at Sternberg for his rush to impatience when he knew full well that he was able to buy the Rays at a bargain price due to many of the same circumstances he is complaining about today.

As for Vinik, he is still on his honeymoon. That is, provided he can get Steven Stamkos signed to a long-term deal.

But in a grander sense, the Bucs, Rays and Lightning have never been in better hands. And if you doubt that, try reading Hugh Culverhouse's will with a straight face.

For every time you want to scream at the Glazers for skulking around like the CIA on a black bag job, and every time you curse Sternberg for letting another free agent skip town, I would remind you of three names:

Culverhouse.

Vince Naimoli.

Oren Koules.

They are the unholy trinity of ownership. In the name of cheap, crazy and devious, amen. Seriously, has one market ever been cursed with such a rogue's gallery of clownish front men?

The Culverhouse of terror was so disastrous, even 17 years after his death the Bucs are 31st out of 32 NFL teams in all-time winning percentage.

Naimoli had a relatively limited stay in the owner's suite at Tropicana Field, and yet managed to tick off his employees, partners and an entire region of fans before he sold out.

Koules? I'll just remind you he's one of Charlie Sheen's advisers now.

The point is we sometimes forget how bad we had it. The Bucs used to be a late-night punch line. The Rays were teetering on the edge of collapse. And the Lightning was passed around more often than a frat party bong.

What Sternberg, Vinik and the Glazers have done is stop the comedy. You may not trust their bookkeepers, and you may not agree with their decisions, but you have to admit the franchises are on more solid footing than they had ever been under previous ownership.

The only other owner that came close to providing this type of stability was the late Bill Davidson and the Lightning, but even he was an absentee caretaker forever trying to sell the team. And his designated point man in Tampa Bay was despised by his head coach.

For the most part, what the current owners have done is hire some of the brightest young executives in sports, and allowed them to run the franchises with minimal interference.

Whether you realize it or not, that should be every fan's dream.

For what you hope for in an owner is someone who seems to care as much as you do. Someone willing to spend. Someone who puts the focus on his players, and not his ego.

At one time or another, all three of the local ownership groups have fit that description. Maybe not every season, and maybe not to your complete satisfaction, but certainly more than previous owners we've seen in this market.

In the end, all we really ask of our owners is to give the community a franchise worthy of our devotion.

You have to admit, the Glazers, Sternberg and Vinik have done just that.

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg takes a little poke at Hillsborough County

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By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, June 2, 2011

TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Sports Commission's inaugural Sneaker Soiree on Thursday night was a nicely scripted celebration of excellence in sports business.

The speeches were on target, the tributes were moving, and the awards were deserving. Even so, the event's best moment may have been the one time it went off cue.

During a mostly benign 20-minute roundtable with Bryan Glazer, Stuart Sternberg and Jeff Vinik, host Rock Riley asked the Rays owner what he has learned about Tampa Bay that he did not know when he bought the Rays.

You could almost see Sternberg debating the virtues of decorum and honesty before finally answering:

"Water is a big divide."

After 16 seconds of laughter and applause, Sternberg added a deadpan kicker:

"The rest of it, I got cold."

Sternberg's response seemed to indicate his disappointment with the number of fans who come from Hillsborough County to Tropicana Field.

He went on to say the community has been wonderful since his purchase of the Rays six years ago, before returning to the issue of fans making the trek to St. Petersburg.

"You know, we've learned really lots about what — I would say — (are) the driving habits of people," Sternberg said. "And their … ability to sort of navigate bridges."

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg tweaks Hillsborough fans who won't cross the bay

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By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, June 2, 2011

TAMPA — Rays owner Stuart Sternberg insinuated Thursday night that baseball fans in Hillsborough County are reluctant to drive to St. Petersburg to watch the Rays play.

During an owners roundtable discussion at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission's inaugural Sneaker Soiree, Sternberg was asked by moderator Rock Riley what he has learned about Tampa Bay that he did not know when he bought the team.

Sternberg paused briefly before answering: "Water is a big divide."

After 16 seconds of laughter and applause, Sternberg added a deadpan kicker: "The rest of it, I got cold."

Sternberg went on to say the community has been wonderful since he bought the team, but his answer eventually returned to the issue of fans making the trek to St. Petersburg.

"You know, we've learned really lots about what — I would say — (are) the driving habits of people,'' Sternberg said. "And their … ability to sort of navigate bridges.''

The defending AL East champs are last in the American League in attendance with an average of 17,954 a game.

Only three teams have won more games than Tampa Bay since 2008, yet the Rays have never finished in the top 20 in MLB attendance in any season.

The Rays have data on how many season tickets are purchased in various counties in the bay area but have never released that information.

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