By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Lightning's 2011-12 season opener is Oct. 7 at Carolina and its home opener is Oct. 17 against the Panthers, the team announced Wednesday.

The full scheduled will be released at 2 p.m. Thursday.

The Lightning also announced its preseason schedule. Tampa Bay will play six games, but only one at the St. Pete Times Forum -- Sept. 23 against the Panthers.

A Sept. 21 game with the Blues will be at a place and time to be determined. The game was originally schedule to be played at Winnipeg's MTS Center. The relocation of the Atlanta franchise to Winnipeg changed that plan.

Here is the chedule. All times are subject to change:

Sept. 20 at St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.

Sept 21 vs. the Blues, TBA

Sept. 23 Panthers, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 at Florida, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 1 vs. Canadiens at Quebec City, 7 p.m.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

In her past two tournaments, the ShopRite Classic on June 5 and the State Farm Classic on June 12, Lincicome has finished first and tied for third, respectively. She has boosted her yearly winnings to $498,065 (fifth on the money list), and the season is only halfway over.

A few more tournament wins and she'll be even closer to buying the USS Lincicome.

"I've got my priorities right,'' Lincicome said. "Golf first, boating second.''

Before teeing it up today with playing partners Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie, Lincicome talked about a variety of golf topics, from her hot start in June to yet another caddie change.

Lincicome has played in two tournaments this month. Out of seven June rounds, six have been in the 60s and one was a 70. No player is on a bigger roll heading into today's second major.

"I feel like I've been playing pretty well all year. It's been one little thing here or there that has kept me from winning, but then it all started to fall into place. The key was I started chipping and putting well. I've been chipping it to tap-in range lately. Hate to say it, but golf's been kind of easy lately. You never hear "golf" and "easy" in the same sentence, but that's how it's felt."

Lincicome has four career wins, including a major at the 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship. When Annika Sorenstam was 25, she had two LPGA wins and one major. Lincicome's sponsors are numerous, from Titleist and Adams Golf to Pure Silk lotion and Barbie. She is starting to get noticed more by golf fans.

"It was really weird. I was on the plane on the way home from State Farm (two weeks ago) and there were like 10 different people who recognized me and congratulated me. It's nice to be recognized for your accomplishments.''

Lincicome has made all nine cuts this year. Her only real setback was a first-round elimination at the Match Play Championship in May. She has been a member of the 2007 and 2009 Solheim Cup teams, the LPGA equivalent to the Ryder Cup. Her success in June all but solidifies another Solheim Cup appearance.

"My goals this year were to be in the top 10 in the rankings (she's 14th now) and make the Solheim Cup. I've pretty much locked up the Solheim Cup and I've got a chance to win at least twice on Tour. It's going pretty well.''

When Lincicome started on the LPGA Tour in 2005 she used her dad, Tom, as her caddie. Since then she has changed caddies three times. Her latest is A.J. Eathorne, a former LPGA player. Eathorne started at the match-play event and has been on the bag for Lincicome's last two tournaments.

"I think things get old sometimes and you need to change. It's like taking a golf lesson. Sometimes you need to see somebody else. A.J. has been a player, and she knows what a player goes through. It's kind of like she knows what I'm thinking and she's watched me play before. I can count on her for good advice. She'll tell me what to hit, or where to hit it. Our first tournament together was the match play, which only lasted 15 holes. But the next time we were together we won. It's been a good fit."

In her career, Lincicome has won $3,775,831. Her first win came at the Match Play Championship in 2006. She won again in 2007, but was winless in 2008. Since 2009, Lincicome has retained mental coaches to help with her game.

"I'm still working with the people from Vision 54. They always tell me that if you have a bad day, be positive. Get the negative thoughts out of your head. Take a negative and make it a positive. I used to have a problem with that, but when things are going badly I just take a break and get refocused.''

The only other time Lincicome has had two straight top-three finishes was in 2007, when she tied for second at the Kraft Nabisco and followed that with a win at the Ginn Open. In her next tournament, she missed the cut. Lincicome has never won twice in one year.

"It's time to take another step in my career. Things have all come together lately. It's been very stress-free, and I'd like to keep it that way. It's hard to tell what's going to happen, but I've been driving it well and everything else has just been getting better and better. This is a great time to be playing well.''

A week before the start of today's second major tournament of the LPGA season, the LPGA Championship, Brittany Lincicome was driving back from a round of golf in Sarasota. Before she arrived at her home in Seminole, Lincicome took a detour to look at a new boat. With the kind of season she has had so far, Lincicome, 25, can afford to go boat shopping.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

MILWAUKEE — So not everything went smoothly for David Price on Wednesday. He didn't get a hit in three trips to the plate (walk, flyout, strikeout) and he was at a embarrassing loss to explain how he ended up wearing the protective shin guard on his back leg during his second at-bat.

But otherwise, he pretty much had his way in the Rays 6-3 series-winning victory over the Brewers.

Certainly on the mound, as he overcame a shaky first to throw eight impressive innings with a season-high 120 pitches. During his first time up, when he drew a walk, got to slide into second and proudly showed off the cut on his right knee.

And especially when he wandered uninvited from the on-deck circle to butt in to a conversation between Elliot Johnson and third-base coach Tom Foley at a key seventh-inning moment in what was then a 3-2 game, and ended up predicting Johnson's three-run blast that broke the game open.

"He said, 'Hit a homer and bring them in so I don't have to,' " Johnson said. "He called it."

"I just wanted to be part of the game, I guess," Price explained. "I just wanted to hear what (Foley) was going to tell him. What, hitters don't do that?"

The combination of Price's pitching and homers from the unlikely duo of Johnson (who hadn't had a hit since coming off the disabled list June 12) and Kelly Shoppach (who, even with recent improvement, had only 19 hits all season) was enough for the Rays to notch a rare feat. They became just the third team, joining the Reds and Mets, to win a series all season at Miller Park from the Brewers, who have the majors' best home record (26-11).

The Rays, meanwhile, continued their road warrior ways, improving to 23-16 away from the Trop and, with an 11-6 run going, 41-24 overall and moving back within 3½ games of first-place Boston.

"We come up here, they're a really good home team, we're a really good road team, so I anticipated a good series and it turned out to be that," manager Joe Maddon said. "I'm obviously much happier because we won two out of three. We played good. I'm pleased with the boys, man. We go on the road it doesn't bother us."

The signs for success were good going into the game, Price feisty and focused about making up for his rough last outing, Brewers starter Shaun Marcum pitching with a sore hip. So of course Price, with no help from home-plate umpire Brian Knight, went out and gave up two runs in a 27-pitch first, and the Rays went down meekly.

But Shoppach, benefitting from extensive work with hitting coach Derek Shelton and more of a rightside approach, tied it with a two-run shot in the second. B.J. Upton's single put them up 3-2 in the sixth, and Johnson's three-run blast in the seventh was pretty much it, though the Brewers loaded the bases in the ninth before Kyle Farnsworth finished.

Price, meanwhile, got himself locked in, improving his tempo and his command, and took it from there, striking out 10, walking one, allowing five hits total.

"After the first inning," Shoppach said, "he was as good as he was all year."

Price, winless in his two previous starts, said he welcomed the challenge: "I felt like I needed to step it up."

"He went to the uber level today," Maddon said. "That's what he had to do, and he knew that. We split the first two games, they're a really good ball club. We're playing in their ballpark where they're really good. He understands that, and we had to get that kind of pitching performance to beat them."

Price couldn't wait to talk about the cut on his knee and blood on his uniform pants from being forced out at second. "I'm a player today," he said.

The mix-up with the shin guard, not so much. "I didn't even know until (Jeremy Hellickson) came up before my third at-bat and he was like, "Hey, you know you had that on your back leg your last at-bat?" I had no idea," Price said. "I don't know what happened."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com

By Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

TAMPA — Coming off a disappointing 3-1 loss in Carolina on Saturday, FC Tampa Bay coach Ricky Hill gave his players Monday and Tuesday off before regrouping for the first practice of the week Wednesday.

With the third loss in six weeks to the RailHawks, Tampa Bay (3-5-4, 12 points) fell 14 points behind the NASL's first-place team.

Before Wednesday's practice, Hill told he team to put those disappointments out of its mind. He told his players to look at the remaining slate as a 16-game season.

"What's happened in the past is in the past," Hill said. "It's gone. You can't affect that. We can only go on from here. It's not over. We're not even halfway through the season."

Tampa Bay, off until June 29 at Fort Lauderdale, has lost three of four, including two to Carolina. But Hills is more disappointed in coming out of those contests with no points. He said he believed the club's play warranted more.

In the home loss to Carolina on June 4, a controversial penalty gave the RailHawks their first goal. Saturday, Tampa Bay scored first but couldn't put them away.

"When we scored, the dynamics changed," Hill said. "Our mistakes enabled them to get back in the game. They had to work everything to get back into it. We let them back into it. We couldn't change up. We didn't know how to play from ahead."

Rodrigues' return on the horizon

Defender J.P. Rodrigues, who was injured May 31 at Edmonton, participated in his first full practice after having arthroscopic knee surgery and is eying the Fort Lauderdale game for his return.

"I'm going through as much as my knee will allow," Rodrigues said. "So far, no pain, no swelling. It feels great. I'm just a little out of breath. It will take a couple of training sessions to get back into shape, but I'll be good to go. I'm hoping to play 90 minutes in that game."

During Wednesday's practice, Rodrigues looked quick with the ball and made some nice runs during short field drills. The rest might have done him well. He hasn't had much of a break, playing for Miami last season then Milwaukee in the winter's Major Indoor Soccer League.

"It's almost like I haven't skipped a beat," he said. "I felt better on the ball a little bit. It almost feels like the two and a half weeks have been a rest for my body. I think my legs and body are ready for the long run."

Kickin' it with | Defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe

Was it a surprise for you when the Fire put you on loan?

They kind of saw they didn't see me in their plans at the moment, which is fine. A loan is definitely a good opportunity because you're not wasting a year on the bench. In order to improve you've got to get games. Everyone wants to get first-team football minutes.

How much do you follow what's going on in Chicago?

I always do. My roommate was (Fire GK) Sean Johnson. We talk at least two to three times a week. The whole team, we're all friends. No matter where you go in soccer, you're going to know somebody. It's a small fraternity. Soccer is my life so I keep in touch with everybody.

What would be on your iPod right now?

R and B & Hip Hop. I listen to a lot of R and B before games to help me relax. I also listen to motivational stuff. It allows me to look myself in the mirror and see what I can do within myself and focus, because soccer is more mental. People are going to be as athletic and as fast.

How would you describe the gap between D-1 and D-2 soccer in the US?

I think it's the speed of play and thinking as well. The players over there are pretty technical as well. Some of our players here are technical too. But it's the one-touch that's different.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Even now, the engravers are busy.

There are trophies to personalize, and there are busts to polish. Soon, sports will enter the greatness business again, and the various Halls of Fame will make room for a little more greatness.

Here in Tampa Bay, immortality's waiting room, we bide our time.

Soon, there will be calls from the Hall.

When it comes to Tampa Bay, there has never been a lot of acknowledged fame from the various Halls. Lee Roy Selmon fits just nicely in Canton, and Wade Boggs finished a career here on the way to Cooperstown. Who knows? If Phil Esposito wasn't a Hall of Famer, he might not have been able to father the Lightning. But, no, it isn't as if the Halls have Tampa Bay sub-divisions.

Over the next few years, that may change. There will be more Hall of Fame discussions over more Tampa Bay athletes than at any point in history. It's going to be interesting (and infuriating) to see how these athletes play to the nation's voters.

So why wait for the debate?

Tampa Bay's most likelies:

1. Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Bucs: Even the voters know who Brooks is by now. He was the finest player on the finest defense of his generation. He made 11 Pro Bowls, nine all-pro teams and won a defensive player of the year award. He's not only a Hall of Famer, he's a first ballot guy.

Hall of Fame chances: 96 percent.

2. Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Bucs: The only knock on Sapp is that he spent a lot of time in a bad mood. Granted. On the other hand, this isn't Miss Manner's Hall of Etiquette. The best way to define Sapp is that when a potentially great defensive lineman is drafted across the league, Sapp is the usual comparison. What does that tell you? He won a defensive player of the year award, too.

Hall of Fame chances: 92 percent.

3. Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning: For St. Louis, this was the season that should have put him over the top. Once again, he led his team deep into the playoffs, and once again, he was a finalist for the Hart Trophy (which he won in 2004). Voting against St. Louis is like voting against fun. And overachievement.

Hall of Fame chances: 90 percent.

4. Tony Dungy, Tampa Bay Bucs: There have been coaches who have won more games, and certainly those who have won more Super Bowls. There haven't been many who have turned around a bigger mess than Dungy did in the mid-to-late '90s with the Bucs. The voters are also likely to remember that Dungy was among the NFL's most admired men. Expect heavy discussion on this one.

Hall of Fame chances: 83 percent.

5. John Lynch, Tampa Bay Bucs: Yes, I would vote him higher, too. But it always has been difficult for safeties to get into the Hall of Fame. Had Lynch won one more Super Bowl, he would be an easy choice. As it is, I think he'll get in eventually, but it might take some arguing.

Hall of Fame chances: 78 percent.

6. Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning: For Andreychuk, the wait might end as early as next week, when the NHL announces this year's inductees. No one ever scored more power play goals, and Andreychuk's 640 overall kind of makes you wonder why he isn't in already. The seasons he spent as the Lightning's clubhouse leader (and the enduring photo of him lifting the Cup) should end all arguments. Still, some people seem unconvinced.

Hall of Fame chances: 73 percent.

7. Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay Bucs: No other player has 40 interceptions and 25 sacks in his career. The thing is, that isn't the kind of statistic that means enough to the voters. Still, it's hard to suggest there have been many (any?) cornerbacks who have made a bigger impact over the last dozen seasons. This may be the loudest argument of all.

Hall of Fame chances: 50 percent.

8. Johnny Damon, Tampa Bay Rays: Just last week, Damon was answering questions about the Hall of Fame. After all, Damon has become the 11th player in history to collect 500 doubles, 100 triples, 200 home runs and 2,500 hits. All 10 of the others are in the Hall of Fame. Still, it's a quirky stat. Damon needs to get closer to 3,000 hits or he might be left on the porch.

Hall of Fame chances: 40 percent.

9. Doug Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs: If fame is the criteria, who has more of it than Williams? He won one of football's most significant games while with the Redskins, but his career numbers don't knock you over.

Hall of Fame chances: 29 percent.

10. Fred McGriff, Tampa Bay Rays: I've said this before, but McGriff may be the biggest victim of baseball's steroid years. If others weren't fattening their stats with the juice, then McGriff's numbers would look a lot more impressive. No one has ever accused McGriff of artificial muscle, and he still hit 493 homers. Still, he has been eligible for two years, and sadly, he hasn't cracked 22 percent of the vote.

Hall of Fame chances: 22 percent.

11. Simeon Rice, Tampa Bay Bucs: Rice says he belongs, and to be honest, his stats agree wholeheartedly. Rice had 122 sacks, No. 12 on the official all time list. Still, it's hard to like Rice's chances. Too many people remember him as a one-trick pony, as a pass rusher who didn't pay enough attention to the run. It's a shame. It would have been a doozy of an induction speech.

Hall of Fame chances: 17 percent.

12. Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay Bucs: The suggestion the Hall of Fame might close its doors on Alstott is bound to infuriate some of his fans, and there are hordes of them. In Tampa Bay, Alstott was beloved for his effort, for his attitude, for his versatility. But those things don't get a running back into the Hall of Fame. Yardage stats do, and Alstott never had a 1,000-yard season. Terrell Davis had four of them (and three of 1,500 yards or more), and he isn't in. Still, when Alstott makes the team's Ring of Honor, you can remember him as Tampa Bay's secret.

Hall of Fame chances: 14 percent.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

1. Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Bucs

Even the voters know who Brooks is by now. He was the finest player on the finest defense of his generation. He made 11 Pro Bowls and nine All-Pro teams and won a defensive player of the year award. He's not only a Hall of Famer, he's a first-ballot guy.

Hall of Fame chances: 96 percent.

2. Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Bucs

The only knock on Sapp is that he spent a lot of time in a bad mood. Granted. On the other hand, this isn't Miss Manners Hall of Etiquette. The best way to define Sapp is that when a potentially great defensive lineman is drafted across the league, Sapp is the usual comparison. What does that tell you? He won a defensive player of the year award, too.

Hall of Fame chances: 92 percent.

3. Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

For St. Louis, this was the season that should have put him over the top. Once again, he led his team deep into the playoffs, and once again, he was a finalist for the Hart Trophy (which he won in 2004). Voting against St. Louis is like voting against fun. And overachievement.

Hall of Fame chances: 90 percent.

4. Tony Dungy, Tampa Bay Bucs

There have been coaches who have won more games, and certainly those who have won more Super Bowls. There haven't been many who have turned around a bigger mess than Dungy did in the mid to late '90s with the Bucs. The voters are also likely to remember that Dungy was among the NFL's most admired men. Expect heavy discussion on this one.

Hall of Fame chances: 83 percent.

5. John Lynch, Tampa Bay Bucs

Yes, I would vote him higher, too. But it always has been difficult for safeties to get into the Hall of Fame. Had Lynch won one more Super Bowl, he would be an easy choice. As it is, I think he'll get in eventually, but it might take some arguing.

Hall of Fame chances: 78 percent.

6. Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning

Andreychuk's wait might end next week when the NHL announces its inductees. No one scored more power-play goals, and his 640 overall kind of makes you wonder why he isn't in already. The seasons he spent as the Lightning's clubhouse leader (and the enduring photo of him lifting the Cup) should end all arguments. Still, some seem unconvinced.

Hall of Fame chances: 73 percent.

7. Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay Bucs

No other player has 40 interceptions and 25 sacks in his career. The thing is, that isn't the kind of statistic that means enough to the voters. Still, it's hard to suggest there have been many (any?) cornerbacks who have made a bigger impact over the last dozen seasons. This may be the loudest argument of all.

Hall of Fame chances: 50 percent.

8. Johnny Damon, Tampa Bay Rays

Just last week, Damon was answering questions about the Hall of Fame. After all, Damon has become the 11th player in history to collect 500 doubles, 100 triples, 200 home runs and 2,500 hits. All 10 of the others are in the Hall of Fame. Still, it's a quirky stat. Damon needs to get closer to 3,000 hits or he might be left on the porch.

Hall of Fame chances: 40 percent.

9. Doug Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs

If fame is the criteria, who has more of it than Williams? He won one of football's most significant games while with the Redskins, but his career numbers don't knock you over.

Hall of Fame chances: 29 percent.

10. Fred McGriff, Tampa Bay Rays

I've said this before, but McGriff may be the biggest victim of baseball's steroid years. If others weren't fattening their stats with the juice, then McGriff's numbers would look a lot more impressive. No one has ever accused McGriff of artificial muscle, and he still hit 493 homers. Still, he has been eligible for two years, and sadly, he hasn't cracked 22 percent of the vote.

Hall of Fame chances: 22 percent.

11. Simeon Rice, Tampa Bay Bucs

Rice says he belongs, and to be honest, his stats agree wholeheartedly. Rice had 122 sacks, No. 12 on the official all-time list. Still, it's hard to like Rice's chances. Too many people remember him as a one-trick pony, as a pass rusher who didn't pay enough attention to the run. It's a shame. It would have been a doozy of an induction speech.

Hall of Fame chances: 17 percent.

12. Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay Bucs

The suggestion the Hall of Fame might close its doors on Alstott is bound to infuriate some of his fans, and there are hordes of them. In Tampa Bay, Alstott was beloved for his effort, for his attitude, for his versatility. But those things don't get a running back into the Hall of Fame. Yardage stats do, and Alstott never had a 1,000-yard season. Terrell Davis had four of them (and three of 1,500 yards or more), and he isn't in. Still, when Alstott makes the team's Ring of Honor, you can remember him as Tampa Bay's secret.

Hall of Fame chances: 14 percent.

E ven now, the engravers are busy. There are trophies to personalize, and there are busts to polish. Soon, sports will enter the greatness business again, and the various Halls of Fame will make room for a little more greatness. Here in Tampa Bay, immortality's waiting room, we bide our time. Soon, there will be calls from the Hall. When it comes to Tampa Bay, there has never been a lot of acknowledged fame from the various Halls. Lee Roy Selmon fits just nicely in Canton, and Wade Boggs finished a career here on the way to Cooperstown. Who knows? If Phil Esposito weren't a Hall of Famer, he might not have been able to father the Lightning. But, no, it isn't as if the Halls have Tampa Bay sub-divisions. Over the next few years, that may change. There will be more Hall of Fame discussions over more Tampa Bay athletes than at any point in history. It's going to be interesting (and infuriating) to see how these athletes play to the nation's voters. So why wait for the debate? Tampa Bay's most likelies:

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Rays at White Sox rerun from 2009: 7 p.m. on ESPN Classic. The Rays are off today, but if you are a glutton for punishment you can watch Mark Buehrle throw a perfect game against them.

NBA draft: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. It's not only interesting to see who will go first or who your favorite team will draft, but it's also amusing to see the players dwarf commissioner David Stern on the podium.

Phillies at Cardinals: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. Teams headed in different directions. The Cardinals are trying to hold on until Albert Pujols returns while the Phillies are sitting pretty in the NL East.

Times staff and wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Tampa Bay Golf Tour

Looking for one website for information on area public courses? Tampabay.com/golf has you covered. The site has all public regulation and executive courses in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. Each course has a video review, breakdown of yardage, greens fees and contact information.

Number of the day

15-1 Odds the Las Vegas Hilton sports book gave on Tiger Woods winning the British Open. It is likely the longest odds on Woods winning a major since he won the 1997 Masters. Predictably, Rory McIlroy, right, is the favorite at 6-1.

Quote of the day

"The golf I played, I'd never played before in my life."

Rory McIlroy, talking to Sky Sports News after his eight-shot win at the U.S. Open

By Steve Papen, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

What's hot: Red snapper have been the first target on offshore trips this past week, and it could not get much easier. These fish are stacked as high as 100 feet off of the bottom in some spots. Since there are so many fish on each spot feel free to use any number of techniques to catch them.

Tactics: Red snapper have ferocious appetites and usually devour any live or frozen bait. During the course of a feed the larger and more dominant snapper will move up in the water column. To target these fish try a "knocker rig." This setup consists of a smaller egg lead, usually about ¼ to ½ ounce, placed on the main line right above the hook. The smaller lead will present the bait in such a way that it looks like a stunned baitfish sinking to the bottom and therefore an easy target. Another more traditional style of fishing is a standard fish-finder rig. This rig has a sliding lead on the main line, then a swivel, connected to a length of leader and finished with the hook. A trick that works for us: drop this rig to the bottom baited with a sardine, then reel up about 20-30 feet of line (depending on depth) and wait for the hit.

Grouper: With gag grouper closed we target big red grouper in depths of 120-180 feet. These fish will eat most offerings, such as large Spanish sardines or pinfish and other live baits. Another way to catch these brutes is the use of a 3- to 4-ounce bucktail jig. This past week the groupers caught with artificial baits were larger than the ones taken on live or frozen baits.

Bonus fish: While anchored for bottom fishing have a flat-lined bait swimming behind the boat. We have seen schools of mahi-mahi in depths of 110 feet and more. Having a surface bait out will almost always yield action, and in some cases a fish of a lifetime, such as a sailfish or a big wahoo.

Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at (727) 642-3411 or www.fintasticinc.com.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Yankees 4, Reds 2

Game 1

CINCINNATI — Jorge Posada ended the second-longest homer drought of his career, hitting a two-run shot that sent New York to its fourth straight win in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Posada's tiebreaking homer in the sixth off Mike Leake ended his stretch of 126 at-bats without one. "I don't know when's the last time I hit one, but I wasn't trying to hit one," Posada said.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Pirates 5, Orioles 4

PITTSBURGH — Second baseman Blake Davis, in his big-league debut, made an error that allowed Pittsburgh to go ahead for good. Josh Harrison's grounder with two outs and runners on second and third in the fifth went through Davis' legs. Brandon Wood and Michael McKenry scored. "I misread it," Davis said. "I thought it was going to skip and up and bounce a little higher and it didn't."

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Braves 5, Blue Jays 1

ATLANTA — Returning from the disabled list with a flourish, rookie Brandon Beachy had a career-high 11 strikeouts in his first start in nearly six weeks, helping Atlanta complete a sweep. Dan Uggla and Brian McCann hit two-run homers for the Braves, who won their fourth straight game. "I felt good," Beachy said. "My arm feels strong and rested."

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

PGA not in McIlroy's plans

U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy is not a member of the PGA Tour, and he won't be a member next year either. The PGA has a rule that members must play at least 15 tournaments, and McIlroy decided that would be too much time away from Europe. As a nonmember, he is limited to 10 tournaments each year. McIlroy's agent, Chubby Chandler, told the Irish Times: "He'll play more (in 2011), but he won't play (the obligatory) 15 though. I think that's too difficult."

Meanwhile, McIlroy, 22, told Sky Sports TV he's ready to handle increased expectations: "I expect big things from myself, but as long as I can keep the commitment and dedication and put the hard work in, I don't see why there's any reason not to handle it okay."

Celebrating Babe

The 100th birthday celebration of the Babe Zaharias Golf Course in Tampa is Saturday. There are two four-person best-ball tournaments scheduled, one at 9 a.m. and one at 2 p.m. There will be food and entertainment all day. For information, call (813) 631-4374.

Woods out of AT&T, mum on British

Tiger Woods will not play in the AT&T National next week outside Philadelphia as he recovers from injuries to his left leg. "Doctor's orders," Woods posted on Twitter. He said he would be at Aronomink Golf Club to support the event, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundations. Woods has not completed a tournament since he tied for fourth at the Masters. He said he hurt his left knee and Achilles hitting a shot from an awkward stance. Woods did not mention whether he planned to play the British Open, which starts July 14.

Local tournament

The St. Paul United Methodist men's tournament will be held Saturday at East Bay Country Club in Largo. It is a four-person best-ball scramble with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $75 per person. For information, contact John Hamilton at (727) 531-5061 or e-mail john.hamilton@baycare.org.

Seve's foundation surpasses $1M

More than $1 million has been donated to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation after a series of fundraising activities at Wentworth in honor of the late Spanish golfer. A pro-am last month featuring a field of 24 leading golfers was held at the European Tour's headquarters in England, while there also was an auction and donations from the public. The European tour says the money will go to Ballesteros' foundation in partnership with Cancer Research UK. Ballesteros died May 7 from brain cancer.

This week on tour

PGA: Travelers Championship; TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn. TV: Today-Friday, 3 p.m. Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 3 p.m. Ch. 10.

LPGA: LPGA Championship; see information at right.

Champions: Dick's Sporting Goods Open; En-Joie Golf Course, Endicott, N.Y. TV: Friday, 6:30 p.m. Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Golf Channel.

European: BMW International Open; Munich Nord-Eichenried Golf Club, Germany. TV: Today-Friday, 9 a.m. Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Golf Channel.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer; Times wires

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Padres 5, Red Sox 1

71/2 innings

BOSTON — Will Venable hit a leadoff home run and Clayton Richard got some rare support as San Diego won the rubber match in a game delayed by rain four times before it was called. The Padres won their second straight game since a season-worst six-game losing streak and finished their road trip at 3-6. Boston absorbed consecutive losses for the first time this month.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Tigers 7, Dodgers 5

LOS ANGELES — Casper Wells opened the game with the first of four Detroit home runs, and the Tigers avoided a three-game sweep. Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez also homered, and Don Kelly connected as a pinch-hitter for Ordonez in the eighth.

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

TAMPA — April 1 seems like an eternity ago for the Storm.

Jacksonville shut it out in the fourth quarter on its way to a 54-30 win at the St. Pete Times Forum. That was the Storm's third consecutive defeat and came in the middle of a stretch during which it lost six of eight.

But there have been more than a few changes since then.

Saturday, Tampa Bay (6-7) hopes to atone for the loss and win three straight games for the first time this season when it travels to Jacksonville.

"We're a different football team," Storm coach Dave Ewart said. "It'll be nice to take the bus ride up there and have some confidence."

Since the 2-6 start, Tampa Bay has won four of five, including 46-44 on Friday against division rival Orlando. Brian Zbydniewski, the backup quarterback for the first meeting against the Sharks, is entrenched as the starter. And linemen Tim McGill and Jermaine Smith, who weren't on the roster at the time, have helped the Storm record a league-high 33 sacks (one more than the Sharks).

Few teams have hung with Jacksonville. Since dropping its first game of the season, it has won 12 straight behind QB Aaron Garcia, 40, the league's all-time leader with 48,566 passing yards and 1,043 passing touchdowns.

"They have a great quarterback, a good defense and pass rush and a very smart secondary," Ewart said. "They didn't get to 12-1 by being bad."

Sack watch I: Cliff Dukes collected one sack against Orlando, running his season total to 121/2. He is three off the league record with five games to play.

SACK Watch II: The 41/2 sacks by lineman Jarriett Buie against Orlando, for which he was named the league's defensive player of the week, tied the franchise record. The standout at USF and Seffner's Armwood High matched the total of Craig Walls on July 17, 1987, during the league's first season and when the franchise was based in Pittsburgh.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

WIMBLEDON, England — Time and again after losing a point, Venus Williams rolled her eyes, slumped her shoulders and let out a shriek of dismay that echoed through Centre Court.

Facing the most experienced woman in the Wimbledon field — 40-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm — Williams was mired in a three-set struggle that lasted nearly three hours Wednesday. It was a tight, high-quality contest brimming with the sort of at-the-net, classic grass-court play seen so rarely nowadays.

"She doesn't play anywhere near her age," Williams said.

In the end, Williams, a five-time champion at the All England Club, pulled out a 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 8-6 victory and reached the third round.

"She played unbelievable," Williams said. "I thought she had some luck on her side, too, with net cords, balls hitting lines. … Thankfully I had some answers."

Date-Krumm, who reached the semifinals in 1996, quit tennis later that year and came out of retirement in 2008, marveled at Williams' serve afterward: "Not only speed, it's on the corner. So it was very, very difficult to break her."

Rain prevented any action on the grounds until after 3 p.m. other than under the retractable roof at the main stadium. One match was suspended in progress; six singles matches and all men's doubles matches were postponed entirely because of rain and darkness.

After Williams, fans with Centre Court tickets saw easy wins for Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick. The top-ranked Nadal beat American Ryan Sweeting 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Roddick's strong serve was clicking again in a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Victor Hanescu. Other winners included No. 4 Andy Murray.

Times staff, wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Owners and players met Wednesday in the Boston area in the latest attempt to work out a new collective bargaining agreement, the Associated Press reported.

Commissioner Roger Goodell and members of his labor committee resumed negotiations with players association chief DeMaurice Smith and several players, the AP said. A day earlier, owners were briefed on recent progress on a new agreement.

Two days of meetings were scheduled, but it was not clear whether the talks would continue today.

Both sides seemed optimistic about reaching an agreement after owners were briefed on a proposal that would net the players just under 50 percent of total revenue.

A league-imposed lockout has been in place since March 12. Training camps are scheduled to open in late July.

The owners spent five hours Tuesday listening to updates on collective bargaining issues. Afterward, the league's chief negotiator, Jeff Pash, said "we're eager to accelerate the pace of the negotiations."

In the latest proposal, the players' share of revenue would approach the 50 percent the union has said it has received throughout the last decade, the AP reported. But the expense credits that the league takes off the top — about $1 billion last year —would disappear.

Also, there would no longer be "designated revenues" from which the players would share, the AP said. Instead, the players would share from the entire revenue pie.

A salary floor keeping teams within 90 percent of the cap also would be included. The players have been concerned that some teams whose revenue streams don't match up with the richer clubs would try to hold down salary spending.

Ex-Bucs employee arrested in sex sting

A former luxury suite sales manager for the Bucs was among 32 men arrested in a sex sting operation, the Leesburg Daily Commercial reported.

Brian Weiss was among the men ranging in age from 19 to 63 who arrived at a Clermont vacation home with the intent of having sex with girls age 9 to 14, the Lake County Sheriff's Office told the newspaper. Instead, they were met by sheriff's deputies in a predator sex-sting operation that began June 14 and ended Sunday.

Weiss was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, obscene communication using a computer, and lewd and lascivious behavior. If convicted, he could 25 years in prison.

Bucs spokesman Jonathan Grella declined to comment but said Weiss no longer works for the team.

To lure Weiss and others, undercover detectives pretended to be children in chat rooms looking for men interested in having sex. When the men showed up at the vacation home, they were arrested.

"These suspects came with the intention of having sex with a child," Sheriff Gary Borders said at a news conference Tuesday. "Instead, they went to jail,"

This is the fifth Bucs-related arrest in the past 11 months. Jay Kaiser, 37, assistant to head coach Raheem Morris, was charged with driving under the influence. Pro scouting coordinator Shelton Quarles, 39, and then-defensive line assistant coach Chris Mosley, 32, were arrested on DUI charges. Defensive back Aqib Talib was indicted last month of charges of aggravated assault with deadly weapon in connection with a shooting in Texas.

Ravens: Uncertainty over the lockout forced the team to move its training camp this year to its facility in Owings Mills, Md., from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., vice president of operations Bob Eller said.

Times staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

MILWAUKEE — INF Elliot Johnson didn't need to be reminded that he hadn't had a hit in 15 at-bats since rejoining the Rays from the disabled list 10 days earlier.

"I knew it," he said. "I knew it well. Trust me."

He had started to feel more comfortable at the plate Monday and even his first two times up Wednesday, when he struck out and grounded out. But, still, he wasn't expecting what happened the third time, when he crushed a 2-and-1 pitch for a three-run homer to right that broke open what had been a 3-2 game.

Actually, with runners on first and second with no outs and pitcher David Price not exactly menacing on deck, he wasn't sure he would even get to swing, as manager Joe Maddon could have had Johnson bunt then sent up Johnny Damon to pinch-hit.

But because Price was pitching so well, Maddon planned to leave him in. And as a byproduct, Johnson got to swing away — though his goal was a ground ball in the hole between short and third.

"They were kind of anticipating a bunt and I was trying to hit the ball there but (reliever Tim Dillard) he came down and in and I just reacted to it," Johnson said. "That's hitting though. You try and hit a home run, it's probably not going to happen. You try and do something small, and good things happen."

Johnson missed 16 games with a left knee sprain and is wearing a bulky brace that has noticeably affected his speed but, he said, isn't an issue when he's hitting.

"It's just about getting the timing back," he said. "And I certainly feel better."

J.P. DINGED: LHP J.P. Howell flew home to have his sore left foot examined by team doctor Koco Eaton but was confident he would not end up on the disabled list.

"NO way is it DL," Howell said via text message. "It's half as bad as last couple days."

Head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield also does not think it's serious, Maddon said, and though Howell was "very sore" the Rays consider the situation more of "a nuisance" than an injury.

Also, the Rays want to be cautious since Howell just returned after missing all of 2010 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. "With a foot injury our biggest concern is that he would re-hurt his arm by adjusting to it," Maddon said.

NUMBERS GAME: Price threw 120 pitches, the second most of his 71-start career, and welcomed the opportunity. "Awesome," he said. He threw 122 in a 2-1 loss to Minnesota on July 2, 2010. With 10 strikeouts, he reached double digits for the sixth time in his career, third this season. The Rays are 6-0 in those games.

DAMON RESTED: After starting in leftfield Monday and Tuesday, Damon was out of the lineup. Maddon said it was more a matter of giving Damon, 37, rest and not liking the matchup with Brewers starter Shaun Marcum than a reflection on Damon's defense after a challenging outing Tuesday. Justin Ruggiano started in left, and Sam Fuld ended up replacing him.

"Johnny can still cover the ground and can still go catch the ball but when it comes to throwing, these other guys have an edge and we know that," Maddon said. "But he was not awful (Tuesday) by any means. There were some tough moments, he had to move laterally. … They were testing his arm, that was in their game plan. That's the way it works sometimes."

MISCELLANY: Two Rays were picked off first base, 2B Sean Rodriguez in the third inning and Ruggiano in the fourth. … Switch-hitters Ben Zobrist and Johnson batted right-handed against Marcum, whom the Rays consider more effective against lefties. … Dan Johnson hit a three-run homer to lead Triple-A Durham to a 9-3 win over Buffalo; it was his second in four games but just his third in 26 since being demoted.

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

NEW YORK — Mets 1B Ike Davis might need season-ending ankle surgery if his bone bruise has not healed sufficiently in three weeks for him to resume baseball activities.

General manager Sandy Alderson said that Davis, 24, has not improved from the injury that has sidelined him since May 11. An MRI exam taken Wednesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York showed cartilage damage in the left ankle.

"We're hopeful that over the next three weeks he will progress to running. If that is not successful, then there may be some consideration about doing some surgery on the ankle. Right now I don't see him coming back anytime soon," Alderson said. "Basically over the next three weeks he'll progress to hopefully running. And if he can't tolerate the running, then we go to Plan B."

That plan would be an operation similar to microfracture surgery, which Davis said would require three months before rehab could begin. In microfracture surgery, tiny cracks are made in the bone to enhance cartilage growth. It is most commonly performed on knees.

"Obviously surgery is an athlete's nightmare, but I've had one surgery — on my wrist — and it worked out really well and it came back better than I was before," Davis said.

Davis will shed the protective boot that he was wearing for the past three weeks in an effort to enhance circulation in the ankle. The second-year slugger and Alderson acknowledged that the boot could have hindered the healing process.

Alderson also said, "I don't think there was any expectation the cartilage would be a major issue at this point."

Davis was off to a strong start in his second major-league season, batting .302 with a .383 on-base percentage and a .543 slugging percentage in 36 games before he was hurt in a collision with 3B David Wright on May 10 while camped under a popup near the Coors Field mound.

CUBS OWNER SUED: Two Nebraska women sued Cubs co-owner Joe Ricketts, a founder of online brokerage TD Ameritrade, claiming he fired them from his Omaha charity after they accused its chief operating officer of sexual harassment. Patricia Davis and Patricia Duncan filed a federal lawsuit against Ricketts and the Opportunity Education Foundation, which provides educational opportunities to children in developing nations.

In other Cubs news, play-by-play announcer Len Kasper signed a five-year contract extension through the 2016 season.

ANGELS: RF Torii Hunter left the game at Florida in the fifth inning after making a running catch then hitting the wall hard.

ASTROS: RH reliever Brandon Lyon plans to have surgery on his pitching shoulder next week and likely is out for the season.

A'S: 2B Mark Ellis was activated from the 15-day disabled list, and 1B Daric Barton was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Ellis, a longtime starter, will back up rookie Jemile Weeks for now.

CARDINALS: Struggling RH reliever Miguel Batista was given his unconditional release.

REDS: LH reliever Aroldis Chapman, on the DL since May 16 with left shoulder inflammation, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville at the end of his rehab assignment. … RHP Sam LeCure was activated off the 15-day disabled list, and LHP Travis Wood was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

RED SOX: RHP Josh Beckett, who was scratched from Tuesday's start with the flu, is meeting with doctors and is unlikely to make his next scheduled start Saturday. … SS Marco Scutaro was scratched because he was ill.

ROCKIES: RHP John Maine left the club's Triple-A Colorado Springs affiliate and is considering retiring. Maine, 30, has pitched seven seasons in the majors.

TWINS: RH reliever Joe Nathan, on the disabled list since May 24 with a right flexor muscle strain, is expected to be activated this weekend.