Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

Women's World Cup

Okay, so it's happening earlier than they expected. But quarterfinals or the final, the Americans insist they're ready for Brazil and dynamic playmaker Marta.

Excited about it, too.

"Obviously nobody wants to lose in a World Cup," Lauren Cheney said Thursday. "We're still smiling, we're still enjoying this journey. Our belief in each other is unbelievable. No matter what happens, we believe we can make it and carry on. That's what we did. From the coaching staff on down, we all still have a lot of confidence."

The expectation all along has been that the top-ranked Americans would win their group, setting up a showdown with two-time defending champion Germany in the semifinals. Win that game, and the United States would play Brazil for yet another title — this one at the World Cup. The United States beat Brazil to win gold at the past two Olympic Games; Brazil was runnerup at the 2007 World Cup after knocking the Americans out in the semifinals.

But the Americans blew the game plan with their 2-1 loss to Sweden on Wednesday night. Needing only a draw to avoid Brazil, the United States instead lost a group stage game for the first time at the World Cup.

The United States and Brazil play Sunday, with the winner taking on either England or France in the semifinals Wednesday.

"We go into every game wanting to win. And we didn't," Shannon Boxx said. "The good thing is, now we're into the quarterfinals anyway. We have a tough opponent against Brazil and we're excited about it. We said we'd have to face them at some point if we went all the way. Now we're just facing them a little earlier."

What the Americans see as confidence others might call denial. This, after all, is the same team that has lost four games since November after going unbeaten for more than two years. The same team that lost in regional qualifying to Mexico, which had gone oh-fer against the Americans in the first 25 tries. The same team that left more chances on the field in the first three games than some teams will see in three World Cups.

But it's those chances that have the United States convinced it is only inches away from a commanding performance that could make all the different scenarios at the World Cup irrelevant.

"We had so many chances and we had good opportunities. We're happy with the fact we had so many shots on goal," said Cheney, who put a side volley over the crossbar early in the second half. "So they're coming. We're creating chances, which is great. We felt a little unlucky some of them didn't go in, but that's just the way soccer is sometimes.

"The goals are going to come. We need to just keep doing what we're doing."

Well, not everything they're doing.

Sweden scored its first goal off a penalty kick after Amy LePeilbet tripped Lotta Schelin in the box in the 14th minute, and the U.S. defense looked downright clunky in the first half as it failed to contain the speedy, aggressive tandem of Schelin and Josefine Oqvist. The United States got away from coach Pia Sundhage's preferred style of offense, reverting to its old habit of sending long balls over the defense rather than creating plays through the midfield.

"We could have been a little more patient, especially in the attacking third," Sundhage said. "We were too eager to get in the box."

Despite all that, the Americans had a whopping 20-9 advantage in shots, including a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.

"I never once thought we were going to lose, not until the final whistle blew," Cheney said. "If the effort is there, we're all talented soccer players. It's going to come together for us."

Thursday, July 7, 2011

LISIEUX, France — Alberto Contador knew it made little sense to take risks on a day when blinding, torrential rain lashed riders in the Tour de France.

The 141-mile course Thursday, the sixth and longest stage of the three-week race, made for a dangerous trip. And the field was fortunate to avoid a major crash a day after several riders went tumbling.

"It was another nervous stage, and because of the rain, I virtually couldn't see anything," said Contador, the defending champion and three-time Tour winner. "At the end of the stage, I was moving to the very front of the pack simply to avoid accidents and not because I wanted to attack."

Two-time runnersup Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck also didn't take chances as Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen led a sprint to capture the stage. Australia's Matt Goss was second and overall race leader Thor Hushovd of Norway third.

Evans kept second overall. The Australian is one second behind Hushovd. Schleck, from Luxembourg, is 12 seconds behind in 10th, Contador 1:42 behind in 34th.

Moving fairly close to the front meant relative safety for Contador, Schleck and Evans. They were among the first 50 of the 197 riders who completed the stage.

"Yesterday wind, today rain. Luckily, there seemed to be some kind of understanding within the peloton not to take too many risks," Schleck said. "As if all the teams had suffered enough crashes yesterday."

A rider would have encountered untold trouble if caught behind the peloton in a dominolike crash on the treacherous, narrow roads snaking toward Normandy. Wind made things even more hazardous.

After sustaining cuts and bruises in a crash Wednesday, it looked as if Contador was set for more bad luck Thursday when he had to change bikes about 50 miles in. Teammate Daniel Navarro gave him his.

"When you have little cuts and scratches, you're not comfortable until you're warmed up," Contador said. "I had a problem with the water, the roads, with a little stone."

By Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 7, 2011

TAMPA — Charles Clark has been a Bucs fan since Day 1.

On Thursday afternoon, the 34-year season-ticket holder from Tampa sat in his Moffitt Cancer Center hospital room, draped in a white blanket, his body weak from blood cancer treatments, fragile from losing 30 pounds after a bone marrow transplant two weeks ago.

Atop his head sat a red Bucs cap, under his blanket he wore a black Bucs T-shirt. The worst news he has heard, NFL lockout aside, is that his treatments might force him to miss Tampa Bay home games this season.

Then a visitor, Bucs offensive tackle James Lee, walked into the room and it was the perfect medicine for the 67-year-old ailing grandfather.

"I just love seeing him happy like that," said Geneva, Clark's wife of 38 years. "There are three things in his life: God, his wife and the Bucs."

From the moment the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Lee shook his hand, Clark was smiling. Lee signed a number of footballs and posed for photos. Clark and his wife told Lee about the room in their home dedicated to the Bucs, which is painted red, pewter and black with photos that pay homage to past players.

"I've got to get in that room," Lee said, laughing.

With the lockout in effect and the future of this season still in limbo as training camp looms, Lee, 25, said the time off has given him the opportunity to do more work in the community.

Lee, who went from being undrafted out of South Carolina State in 2008 to becoming the Bucs' starting right tackle, has had to earn everything in his NFL career. And this year, Lee started the James Lee Children's Foundation in his hometown of Belle Glade.

"We have sugar mills and jails and a lot of crime," Lee said. "The only thing we have is football. If you don't make it in football, a lot of guys don't make it. I want to get these kids to open their eyes to new things."

Last month, Lee held a football camp there and is planning a summer bus trip for rising high school seniors to get college exposure while showing them a new environment. He is also planning a back-to-school drive to get kids bookbags, supplies and haircuts, and he's hoping to expand that effort to Tampa Bay.

Players usually do community work and make appearances via the team, but because of the lockout, the Bucs can't make contact with Lee. So when he heard about Clark through a friend, he was immediately sold on a visit.

"We just had to come up with a date and a time," Lee said. "In my heart, that's no problem.

"There's a lot of time we have on our hands. This offseason, you want to give back to the community. They support us and we support them. I've been trying to keep a positive mind-set throughout the whole thing and just do positive things."

And Clark might be one of the Bucs' biggest fans. He sat behind one of the end zones for the first game at Tampa Stadium in 1976 and he has missed only a handful of home games since, according to his son, Barry.

"Regular season, maybe two," Barry Clark said.

Barry Clark said while his father was diagnosed with blood cancer 1½ years ago, the bone marrow procedure he had has a 99 percent success rate. If everything goes well, he can go home Sunday, but Barry Clark said his father will likely miss the first half of the season's home schedule while he builds up his immune system.

"I know I'm going to have a fight on my hands trying to keep him away from that stadium," Geneva Clark said.

"I was actually rooting for the lockout, because it would give him a chance to get better and not miss any games."

And now, when Clark does return to Raymond James Stadium — his tickets are right above the Bucs' tunnel — he will watch for a new favorite player.

"He went way out of his way for this," said Clark after the visit, the brim of his hat now autographed. "That was just great on his part."

Eduardo A. Encina can be reached at eencina@sptimes.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Lightning has some work to do to sign restricted free-agent forwards Steven Stamkos and Teddy Purcell.

But assuming those contracts take care of themselves, as general manager Steve Yzerman said he believes they will, Tampa Bay's roster was completed Thursday with the signing of free agent right wing Ryan Shannon. "We are in a position now where we are a set roster," Yzerman said.

Tampa Bay also signed left wing Alex Picard to a one-year, two-way deal, but that is more for organizational depth.

It is believed Shannon, 28, with 11 goals and 27 points in 79 games last season for the Senators, will get the chance to earn the top-six forward spot vacated by Simon Gagne, who signed with the Kings.

With the available bottom-six forward position expected to be filled through competition among Tom Pyatt, Mattias Ritola, Blair Jones and perhaps Carter Ashton, Yzerman said he is willing to stand pat, including having eight defensemen with one-way deals.

"If something unforeseen comes along, we will re-evaluate," he said. "If there is a good player we can afford to sign, we will explore it. But for now, we have a player who fits what we're trying to do and the way we play."

As for Stamkos, Yzerman said he spoke to agent Don Meehan on Thursday and reiterated "we are making progress." Yzerman and Purcell's agent, Kent Hughes, have said they expect to reach a deal before their arbitration hearing.

That brings us back to Shannon. "He can really skate," Yzerman said. "He's a smart player. He's got good skills and can play any of the three forward positions. And his contract fits in with what we're trying to do right now." Said Shannon, "I love the game. I just want to be part of a winning culture, and that is what Tampa Bay is."

Realignment: Wild owner Craig Leipold may have given details in a radio interview. The Wild will be in a division with the Jets, Blues, Predators, Stars, Blackhawks and maybe Blue Jackets, he told Minneapolis' KFAN-AM in comments reported by prohockeytalk.com. Columbus is the only team not in the Central time zone; Yahoo Sports has reported that new divisions, in effect for 2012-13, would be time zone-based.

Flyers: Right wing Wayne Simmonds agreed to terms on a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension. He was acquired from the Kings last month in a trade that sent captain Mike Richards west.

panthers: Craig Ramsay, let go as coach after the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg in May, was hired as an assistant for new coach Kevin Dineen. Ramsay, an ex-Lightning assistant, was an associate Panthers coach during the franchise's first two seasons (1993-95).

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams, who won two World Series titles with Oakland and led two other teams to pennants, died Thursday of a ruptured aortic aneurysm near his home in Henderson, Nev. He was 82.

Mr. Williams and Bill McKechnie are the only managers to win pennants with three teams.

"He wasn't like they are today. He could raise some hell," said Rays special adviser Don Zimmer, who played with Mr. Williams in Brooklyn during the 1950s. "Great manager. He really knew what he was doing."

Mr. Williams had his biggest success with Oakland, winning a division title in 1971 and the World Series in 1972 and 1973.

"He came to us at a good time in our development and certainly for me as a young player full of talent," said Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, part of the title teams. "We … needed to understand how to go about winning and take the final step to become a great team."

Fed up with owner Charley Finley's meddling, Mr. Williams quit after the second title.

In his first season as a manager, 1967, Mr. Williams led Boston's "Impossible Dream" team. A year after finishing ninth in the 10-team AL, the Red Sox won their first pennant since 1946. They lost the World Series in seven games to the Cardinals.

Mr. Williams also took the Padres to their first playoff berth and World Series in 1984.

"I owe Dick a lot," said Tony Gwynn, the Padres Hall of Famer who as a youngster was pulled for not running out a grounder. "The city and the Padres owe him a lot."

In 21 seasons, including stints with the Angels and Mariners, Mr. Williams went 1,571-1,451. The wins are 18th all time. He also played 13 seasons, mostly a part-time player for five teams.

Reyes to DL: The Mets put SS Jose Reyes on the DL with a strained left hamstring. He was hurt running to first on July 2.

Kendall hurt again: Royals C Jason Kendall retore his right rotator cuff. Kendall, 37, needs a second surgery that likely will sideline him through 2012. He last played Aug. 30.

All-Star game: Phillies CF Shane Victorino and White Sox 1B Paul Konerko won the Internet vote for the final two spots. Victorino beat Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, Rockies 1B Todd Helton, Nationals 1B/LF Mike Morse and Diamondbacks RHP Ian Kennedy. Konerko beat Tigers C/1B Victor Martinez, Royals LF Alex Gordon, Orioles CF Adam Jones and Rays INF/OF Ben Zobrist.

A's: LF Josh Willingham (out since June 18 with a left Achilles' strain) and RH reliever Grant Balfour (June 22, strained right oblique) were activated.

Brewers: LF Ryan Braun missed his fifth game with a strained left calf. But an MRI exam showed no damage, and he hopes to return this weekend.

Cardinals: C Gerald Laird returned after missing 40 games with a broken right index finger.

Indians: 3B Lonnie Chisenhall left after being hit in the right side of his face by a pitch. His status is unknown.

Reds: RHP Edinson Volquez and SS Paul Janish were sent to Triple A. Volquez's 55 walks are second in the majors. Janish is hitting .227 with no homers.

Rockies: LF Charlie Blackmon is out indefinitely after breaking his left foot while running the bases. Also, RF Carlos Gonzalez (bruised right wrist) and SS Troy Tulowitzki (strained right quad) missed their fourth and third games, respectively, and are day to day.

Tigers: CF Austin Jackson left in the third with a sore left wrist. His status is unknown.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Instead of teeing it up when she comes back to the Broadmoor, Cristie Kerr's next shot at the U.S. Women's Open will be a blast out of the bunker on the front, right side of the seventh green.

A difficult shot. But it could be worse.

A quirky day of thunder and lightning — but only spits of rain — suspended play Thursday with only 25 players finished with their first round. It was a bad break on the opening day of the toughest test in golf.

"That's part of the gamble," said Christina Kim, who will try to squeeze in 36 holes today.

The rain halted a mini streak for Kerr, who had made two straight birdies to get into a tie for the lead at 2 under par with amateur Amy Anderson. After her second birdie, Kerr, who opened her round on the back, teed off into the right rough on No. 7, then hit her approach into the sand. That's when the siren sounded and the players headed to the clubhouse.

"At least I'll get to practice some long bunker shots before we go out, so maybe it's a good thing for me," she said.

Everything was relative on this day.

After halting play, the USGA kept the players in the clubhouse for 21/2 hours, but with the thunder still rumbling and the radar blinking red, officials called play. There were 75 players on the course and 66 who hadn't hit a shot. That means nearly half the field, including defending champion Paula Creamer and Yani Tseng, trying to complete her career Grand Slam, could face 72 holes packed into three days of action on a typically rough U.S. Open setup. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome is among those who have yet to tee off.

The Broadmoor is the first course to measure more than 7,000 yards for the U.S. Women's Open — quite a haul, even at 6,700 feet in altitude.

"We were actually sitting here debating, what's the better draw?" Kim said. "Is it the one we have and we try to get 36 in in one day, or the one where you have 19 hours between shots in the same round?"

Sarah-Jane Smith of Australia falls into the latter category, but only barely. After hearing her name announced on the first tee box, Smith striped her first shot down the middle of the fairway and started walking. Suddenly, the sirens blared and she made a U-turn back to the clubhouse.

"I've not teed off at all before," she said. "But I've never hit one, then walked straight back in. I'm looking forward to it."

PGA: Kris Blanks birdied his final five holes to finish with 8-under 63 and grab the first-round lead at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.

Blanks, who played the back nine first, rolled in a 25-foot putt on No. 5 to start his late run and capped it with an 11-footer to leave him alone at the top after Canadian rookie Matt McQuillan and veteran Davis Love III held that spot much of the day with 64s.

Another late starter, Steve Marino, also came in with 64. Mark Wilson, who has won twice on the tour this year, and Kyle Stanley were another stroke back, while Steve Stricker, seeking his third straight title in the tournament, was part of a large group at 66.

Blanks, 38, is in his third year on the tour.

"It was good to finally see some putts fall, which I've been struggling with all year," said Blanks, who came in tied for 175th in putting. "So that was definitely a positive. It's just fun to make some putts."

David Toms (hip) and Robert Garrigus (back) withdrew halfway through their rounds because of injuries. Toms said his injury will keep him out of next week's British Open.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

NASHVILLE — Quarterback Kerry Collins is retiring from the NFL after 16 seasons, his agent announced Thursday.

"The past several months have brought on much introspection, and I have decided that while my desire to compete on Sundays is still and always will be there, my willingness to commit to the preparation necessary to play another season has waned to a level that I feel is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the position," Collins, 38, said in a statement.

Collins was facing free agency after his contract expired in March, though he said as recently as last month that he still wanted to play. Tennessee has said it plans to trade or release quarterback Vince Young after the lockout ends, which would leave just this year's eighth overall draft pick, Jake Locker, and Rusty Smith, a sixth-round pick in last year's draft, on the roster at the position.

"His work ethic and commitment were a great example to his teammates of what it took to be successful in this league," Titans coach Mike Munchak said.

In 195 career games, Collins had a 55.8 completion percentage and threw for 40,441 yards, 206 touchdowns and 195 interceptions. He was the fifth overall pick by the Panthers in 1995 out of Penn State. He also played for the Saints, Raiders and Giants, which he led to a Super Bowl loss after the 2000 season.

Labor talks: Leaders for team owners and the players association met in New York for more than 12 hours, but failed to reach a deal to end the labor lockout. Emerging from the discussions, NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith said, "We still have a lot of work to do." U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur J. Boylan, who has served as a mediator, was involved. He is scheduled to go on vacation Saturday, but talks are expected to continue in his absence.

The New York attorney general's office has launched an investigation into whether the lockout violates state antitrust laws. New York Assistant Attorney General Richard Schwartz said in a letter to commissioner Roger Goodell that the lockout will "inflict significant economic injuries statewide." The Jets have canceled their planned training camp in the upstate city of Cortland.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Aimee Bergeron may be only 12 years old, but she is already a four-time national champion roller skater. Bergeron has been racking up gold medals since she was 8, competing against older girls in figures and loop competition.

On July 24 in Fort Wayne, Ind., Bergeron will try to make it five straight national championships when she competes in the elementary division for girls 12 and 13 years old. Once again, she will be skating against older, more experienced girls. Does she expect to win for a fifth straight time?

"Not really,'' she said. "This is my first year in elementary and I'm skating against older girls. Usually, first-year girls don't win, but I won twice before in my first year, so we'll see.''

Bergeron started skating when she was 41/2 years old. She was a ballet dancer and took to skating pretty much right away.

"She loves to dance,'' said Bergeron's mother, Carol. "I think that's helped her in roller skating.''

Aimee Bergeron said she liked skating because it was a challenge.

"I liked it at first because I didn't know how to do it,'' she said. "I fell down a lot. But I got good at it pretty quick.''

Bergeron, who lives in Bradenton but trains five days a week at Astro Skate in Pinellas Park, worked hard in her first few years to learn how to do figures and skate competitively. She made it through local and regional competition as an 8-year-old and qualified for her first national event.

After the event, when judges announced the winners, Bergeron wasn't even listening for her name. She figured there was no way she would win a medal.

"It was my first year and we just signed up for the experience,'' Bergeron said. "When it was over I took my skates off and we were just hanging around watching the other skaters. We went to eat a funnel cake and they were announcing the winners. And they said, 'First place winner, from Florida, Aimee Bergeron.' I had to put my skates back on. I didn't think I would win.''

She has been winning national titles ever since.

Bergeron qualified for this year's national championships by finishing first in elementary girls figures, elementary girls loops and second in elementary solo dance. The dance part of roller skating is new, and it may take time before Bergeron masters it.

"She was excellent at the figures and loops,'' Bergeron's trainer/coach Cookie Crumbock said. "This year it will be much harder to learn the body movements required in dance. But she certainly has the ability to do it.''

Other Astro Skate members joining Bergeron in Fort Wayne are Bridget Budny, Joseph Budny, Nicole Ogloza, Joseph Ott, Ruth Ross, Samantha West, Ashley Kasprack, Linda Hebert and Fred Wheeler.

Golf

The County Golf Association held an individual tournament at Isla Del Sol on June 30. The regular division gross winner was Tom Parsley, who shot 74. The regular division net winner was Fred Kummer, who shot 62. The senior division gross winners were Jim Fannin and Connie Wren, who shot 77s. The senior net winners were Richard Drake and Larry Deavers, who shot 64s. The ladies net winner was Jeannine Wiles, who shot 74.

Tennis

St. Petersburg's Peachy Kellmeyer was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum in Newport, R.I., on Saturday. Kellmeyer has worked at the Women's Tennis Association for 38 years, the WTA's first employee in 1973. She is currently the operations executive consultant, overseeing the WTA alumni program, and is on the Fed Cup committee.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 7, 2011

NEW YORK — At least part of RHP Wade Davis' problems have been due to tightness in his forearm, the Rays acknowledged Thursday by placing him on the 15-day disabled list with a strain.

Davis, according to manager Joe Maddon, shouldn't be out much, if any, more than the mini­mum and, because of the All-Star break, could miss only one start, two at the most. He was sent back to St. Petersburg for a visit with Dr. Koco Eaton, and the MRI exam results, according to Maddon, were encouraging.

"Nothing severe, nothing serious. We felt pretty good about it actually," Maddon said. "But there is definitely a strain there of some sort. And with that, it was best for us, we thought, to DL him right now. We don't think it's going to be a prolonged thing. It might even be a minimum thing regarding time."

RHP Brandon Gomes was recalled from Triple-A Durham to join the bullpen for now, though RHP Alex Cobb is expected to be called up to take Davis' spot in the rotation. Conceivably, the Rays wouldn't need a fifth starter until July 19.

Davis and the Rays have maintained he has been healthy throughout his inconsistent season — his first after signing a four-year, $12.6 million deal that with options could be worth almost $38 million over seven — including after Wednesday's five-inning outing in Minnesota.

But Maddon said Davis has been bothered by the forearm issue "for probably the last two-three starts," and "if you talk to him, he might say some more than that." Further, the strain has prevented Davis, 25, from throwing his slider, a key pitch in his arsenal.

Maddon said head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield seemed confident that a couple weeks of rest and treatment would be sufficient. Davis was to rejoin the Rays in New York, and further decisions will be made after he plays catch with Porterfield.

JOHNNY BE BETTER: DH Johnny Damon's left hand remained swollen and discolored Thursday, but it didn't hurt as much as expected, leaving him hopeful of returning to the lineup by Saturday.

"That's what we're shooting for," Damon said.

Maddon was a little more optimistic, saying there was a chance Damon could return tonight.

"It probably looks (worse) than it actually is based on the color," Maddon said.

The biggest issue the day after being hit by a Francisco Liriano pitch was a lack of strength.

"The problem is it's weak, like trying to open a water bottle, trying to open a door," Damon said. "That's where I feel the pain."

GOOD GOMES: Gomes was the obvious choice for promotion as the Rays fortified their bullpen. After spending most of May with the Rays (3.09 ERA in 10 games), he went back to Triple A and dominated, posting a 0.75 ERA (one earned run) in 12 innings over nine games, striking out 18.

"Just tried to work on some of the things we talked about up here before I left," Gomes said.

That included improving his delivery time and the addition of a Joel Peralta-style quick pitch.

STARRY-EYED: INF/OF Ben Zobrist finished last among the five candidates for the final spot on the American League All-Star roster (won by Chicago's Paul Konerko) but said a decent consolation prize was getting to spend the break at his Nashville home: "I felt honored that I was even on the ballot."

The chances for RHP Kyle Farnsworth to be added to the team, as Maddon has been pushing, diminished with Angels closer Jordan Walden — who was next highest on the players' ballot— named to replace Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who withdrew due to a sore right arm.

MISCELLANY: 3B Evan Longoria, bothered recently by a nerve problem in his left foot, was the DH in Damon's absence with Sean Rodriguez at third. … Zobrist reached base five times and has done so in seven straight at-bats overall, one shy of the team record. He was a double shy of joining B.J. Upton as the only Rays to hit for the cycle. … The Rays are 36-8 when scoring first. … Upton has six homers in his past 13 games.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

BALTIMORE — John Mackey revolutionized the tight end position, his incomparable ability to catch passes off the line of scrimmage helping to usher the NFL into the pass-happy modern era.

After his retirement, Mackey remained on the forefront of change in professional football. He pushed for better health care and championed the cause of former players, even as he battled the dementia that ultimately forced him into an assisted-living facility.

The Hall of Famer for the Baltimore Colts died Wednesday at age 69. Mr. Mackey's wife notified the team about his death, Ravens spokesman Chad Steele said Thursday. No cause was given.

"John Mackey was one of the great leaders in NFL history, on and off the field," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "He was a Hall of Fame player who redefined the tight end position. He was a courageous advocate for his fellow NFL players as head of the NFL Players Association. He worked closely with our office on many issues through the years, including serving as the first president of the NFL Youth Football Fund. He never stopped fighting the good fight."

Mr. Mackey played for the Colts from 1963-71, during a time when tight ends were viewed as additional offensive tackles. His speed, soft hands and bruising running made him difficult to cover, giving Johnny Unitas another top target in the passing game.

Together, they helped the Colts beat the Cowboys in the 1971 Super Bowl by connecting on a pass after it deflected off two other players for a 75-yard touchdown. Mr. Mackey also played for the Chargers in 1972, and finished his 10-year career with 331 catches for 5,236 yards and 38 TDs.

His efforts after his playing days were just as important.

A labor agreement ratified in 2006 includes the "88 Plan," named for Mr. Mackey's number. The plan provides up to $88,000 a year for nursing care or day care for former players with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, or $50,000 for home care.

"John Mackey is still our leader. As the president of the NFLPA, he led the fight for fairness with a brilliance and with ferocious drive," union executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "His passion continues to define our organization and inspire our players. His unwavering loyalty to our mission and his exemplary courage will never be forgotten."

Mr. Mackey has become closely associated with the plight of many former players who took to the field in an era before million-dollar contracts, safer equipment and better health care coverage.

He suffered from frontotemporal dementia that is believed to have been caused by the contact associated with playing football. The costs associated with his care, which far outpaced Mr. Mackey's pension, led the push toward better health care for former players.

Mr. Mackey was drafted in 1963 out of Syracuse — twice, actually. He was selected by the NFL's Colts in the second round and the rival American Football League's Jets in the fifth round.

He wound up playing for the Colts and caught 35 passes for 726 yards as a rookie in 1963, when he was selected to the first of five Pro Bowls. He also was voted first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 1966, '67 and '68.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

Marlins 5, Astros 0

MIAMI — Mike Stanton homered for Florida and Brad Hand allowed two hits over seven innings for his first victory in the majors. Hand, a 21-year-old rookie left-hander, had his longest outing and held the Astros without a hit until one out in the fifth when Clint Barmes singled to center. Hand lowered his ERA to 2.77 in five starts. The Astros, who tied a season-low with three hits, were shut out for the fourth time this season.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 7, 2011

NEW YORK — Anticipation was building throughout the day and all through the stadium, and Derek Jeter didn't let it last long Thursday, taking the first of the final three steps toward 3,000 hits by ripping Jeff Niemann's opening pitch to left-center for a double.

But Jeter didn't get any closer in the Rays' 5-1 victory. He grounded out the next four times, denied twice on dazzling plays by third baseman Sean Rodriguez, and ending the night with 2,998 hits.

"After the first one, I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't think it was attainable today,'' Jeter said. "I thought I'd get a couple.''

The Yankees captain will resume his quest tonight against Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson, who grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, with his father a Yankees fan and has a dog — a Yorkie he got in 2005 — named Jeter.

"I like Jeter," Hellickson said. "But that's not something I'll be thinking about out there. The plan is not to let him get it."

Jeter's pursuit of 3,000 hits was the main attraction Thursday with the stadium packed with 47,787, the crowd cheering loudly before each pitch to him then falling silent as he prepared to swing.

Tickets on the secondary market averaged close to $200. Special numbered baseballs were put in play for his at-bats. An HBO special is in the works. His parents and others were watching from a suite. An extra 50 media were on hand, and DJ3K bracelets were being sold at the stadium with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

Jeter prefers to shy away from individual attention, steering the focus whenever he can to the team.

But this is different, and he said he knows it, which was obvious simply because he was answering questions in a formal pregame media conference rather than at his locker or on the field. The challenge is not letting it affect him.

"It doesn't make it harder when I'm out there," he said. "Before the game and after the game, I have to answer more questions. But when we're playing the game, I don't think it's that much harder."

But Yankees manager Joe Girardi knows his shortstop well enough to know it is something of a distraction.

"Knowing Derek, I think he would like to get it over with, in a sense, just because he's having to do press conferences and he's not being able to do his normal routine every day," Girardi said. "And he's about being normal and preparing to play and preparing to win and doesn't necessarily like the focus on him. I think he'll enjoy it, but I think he's looking forward to that to stop."

The Rays say it's inevitable Jeter will get there, and probably this weekend, but they like prolonging it.

Niemann had been in this position before, facing Jeter on Sept. 9. 2009, and allowing three hits as Jeter tied Lou Gehrig's franchise hits record. So after allowing the double Thursday, he paused to reflect.

"Everyone knows what's going on,'' Niemann said. "I just tried really to bear down because no one wants that to be them.''

Rodriguez said he wasn't trying any harder, diving to his right to rob Jeter in the fifth and charging aggressively in the ninth to make the final out.

"Any time a guy hits the ball at you, you just try to make a play,'' he said. "And the guy just happened to be Jeter those two times.''

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

tennis

with 21 aces, isner advances to semifinal

NEWPORT, R.I. — Top-seeded John Isner has been relying on his overpowering serve all week on Newport's grass courts — never more so than in closing out a tough first set Thursday.

Isner continued his strong run at the Hall of Fame Championships, reaching the semifinals with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over No. 5-seeded Alex Bogomolov.

Isner, of Tampa, had 21 aces — four in the tiebreak and three in the final game — while becoming the first top-seeded player to gain the semis since Andy Murray in 2006. The No. 1-seeded player has never won the title in the tournament's 35 years.

"I served really well. That was the difference," he said. "It was huge. I felt like in the first set I played tentative. I got away with it because of my serve. I was lucky there. I need to play more aggressive."

Isner will next play eighth-seeded Tobias Kamke, who beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, in the other quarterfinal.

They will play on center court Saturday following an induction for the 2011 class. Andre Agassi headlines the class that will be enshrined during an on-court ceremony.

Swedish Open: Barbora Zahlavova Strycova reached the semifinals in Bastad after ousting second-seeded Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Zahlavova Strycova became the highest seed left at No. 7, after fourth-seeded Lourdes Dominquez Lino lost 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to Johanna Larsson.

soccer

Qatar: No change to play periods

Qatari organizers of the 2022 World Cup dismissed claims by one of its stadium engineers that FIFA could change the timing of matches to help players cope with intense heat.

Dividing matches into three 30-minute periods was never an option, Qatar officials said in a statement.

"Splitting the games held during the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar has not been discussed at any time," the Qatar team said. "All 64 games in 2022 will be played in carbon- neutral, cooled stadiums in two halves of 45 minutes as per regulations."

Copa America: A second-string Costa Rica boosted its chances of reaching the knockout stage of the tournament by defeating 10-man Bolivia 2-0 in Jujuy, Argentina. Costa Rica went ahead through Josue Martinez's goal in the 60th minute and put the game away with Joel Campbell's strike in the 79th. Costa Rica will take on host Argentina on Monday, knowing a draw should be enough to reach the quarters, while Colombia will face Bolivia.

et cetera

Boxing: Ricky Hatton, who has not fought since suffering a brutal second-round knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, announced his retirement. Hatton, 32, is a former junior welterweight world champion and former welterweight titleholder. He was 45-2 with 32 KOs during a career that began in 1997.

Cycling: Doctors treating Juan Mauricio Soler at St. Gallen Hospital in eastern Switzerland say he's showing signs of "serious cognitive deficits" after waking from an induced coma three weeks after crashing in the Tour of Switzerland. The 28-year-old Colombian rider crashed and fractured his skull June 16.

Pro football: The Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League added Maurice Clarett to the active roster. The former Ohio State star running back, 27, spent last season with the team.

Times wires

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

SPARTA, Ky. — Kyle Busch picked up his fifth NASCAR truck series win Thursday night, roaring from the back row to win the 225-mile race at Kentucky Speedway.

Busch was ordered to the rear of the field at the start of the race for missing driver introductions, but he had little trouble picking his way through traffic. He held off Parker Kligerman during a green-white-checkered finish to win by 0.302 seconds.

Brendan Gaughan was third, followed by Todd Bodine and Jason White.

"On the (last) restart … I figured if I could just get another good restart where I didn't spin my tires, I'd be all right," Busch said. "Those guys spun their tires every time, and it kind of worked for us.

"It's hard to not be the leader in those positions and not spin your tires. I know how they feel."

The win was Busch's 29th in the series and 98th in NASCAR, putting him third all time. Busch, 26, has 21 Sprint Cup victories and 48 in the Nationwide series. He celebrated by doing a lengthy burnout before grabbing the checkered flag.

Points leader Johnny Sauter was in contention for long stretches of the 150-lap race but went to the garage with less than 25 laps remaining after his truck broke its rear axle. He finished 24th but extended his lead to 23 points over Cole Whitt as several of the series regulars ran into trouble on the bumpy, quirky 1.5-mile tri-oval.

Whitt began the night 20 points behind Sauter but was caught up when Ron Hornaday Jr. got loose coming out of Turn 4 and collected Whitt, Josh Richards and John King.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, July 7, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — In his contract year, Prince Fielder is on pace to hit around .300 with 40 home runs. And he is not the free agent I would chase this offseason.

In the final year of his deal, Jose Reyes is leading the National League in hitting and has 30 stolen bases by the All-Star break. And he would not be the object of my winter affection.

C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell are scheduled to be free agents in a few months, and none of them would be at the top of my list.

In some ways, the most intriguing free agent in baseball is a guy who neither pitches, hits nor runs the bases. He has been operating without a contract for the past six years and keeps his profile undercover as much as possible.

Yet he has taken a franchise that had one of the lowest payrolls in the majors in 2010, lopped off another 40 percent worth of salaries for 2011, and has that team playing a series in Yankee Stadium this weekend with playoff possibilities in the air.

Is there any wonder Andrew Friedman has dream-date status in his hometown of Houston?

The Rays' executive vice president remains at the center of a rumor that simply won't die. From newspaper columns to blogs to TV commentators to Twitter there seems to be hopeful, and giddy, speculation that incoming Astros owner Jim Crane is infatuated with the idea of bringing Friedman back home.

So would Friedman be willing to take Crane's phone call when the businessman's purchase is approved by Major League Baseball in the coming weeks?

Has Rays president Matt Silverman, who was responsible for introducing Friedman to owner Stuart Sternberg years ago, had earnest conversations about it with his longtime friend?

Is Sternberg even remotely worried about the rumors?

As far as the public is concerned, there are no answers, because Friedman, Silverman and Sternberg declined to talk about it Thursday.

Now you might consider that a bit suspicious when the rumors could be put to rest with the right statement or two.

Or you could look at it as another example of the unique relationship shared among the three men and interpret it as a sign that they forever remain on the same page.

And that, more than anything, will keep Friedman in Tampa Bay.

I don't think he will stay because the farm system is ripe. I don't think he will stay because the American League East is baseball's greatest challenge. I don't even think it will take the offer of a contract that he has never had with the Rays.

Friedman will stay because he will never find another working relationship quite like the one he has with Silverman and Sternberg. It is not just that he has autonomy, which he does. And it is not just that the three arrived with similar work backgrounds, which they did.

The key is that they think alike. They share philosophical views. They are comfortable with one another, and that exists on a level well beyond the boxscore.

Think about the moves this organization has made. Think about Friedman trading Scott Kazmir in the middle of a pennant race and Sternberg not worrying about a public backlash. Think about the Pat Burrell signing that helped torpedo the 2009 season but was never second-guessed by Sternberg.

Think about Sternberg approving the payroll-busting trade for Rafael Soriano in 2010, and think about Friedman never complaining about the cuts that resulted in 2011.

The three have never jockeyed for credit or ducked responsibility, and those are traits more rare than you could ever imagine in this game.

So, no, I don't think Friedman is looking for a greener lawn.

The only wild card is how determined Crane might be. And perhaps whether he might be willing to offer Friedman the type of ownership stake VP-GM Billy Beane has in Oakland.

Because trust me, Friedman is worth it. If you don't grasp how remarkable it is that the Rays won an AL pennant with a $43 million payroll in 2008, or came back to beat the Red Sox and Yankees again in the AL East in 2010, or jettisoned the seven highest-paid players on their roster and still remain in contention in 2011, then you're following the wrong sport.

Players come and go, and even the very best have an impact of no more than 10 or so victories a season. Friedman's impact in Tampa Bay has been larger than that.

And if the Rays are lucky, it will continue for a long time to come.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 7, 2011

Rays at Yankees

When/where: 7:05 tonight, Yankee Stadium, New York

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 1040-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers

RAYS: RH Jeremy Hellickson (8-7, 3.21)

YANKEES: RH Freddie Garcia (7-6, 3.13)

Watch for …

Cool Hand Jeremy: Hellickson, who snapped a four-game losing streak in his last outing, is making his first start at Yankee Stadium, having pitched in relief, and well, in a key September 2010 game. He is 1-0, 4.91 in two outings vs. the Yankees.

The Chief: Garcia is another veteran castoff the Yankees signed and have gotten a lot out of, including a 341/3-inning homerless streak. He is 8-2, 3.56 in 15 games against the Rays.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Garcia

Johnny Damon16-for-62,

4 HRs

Casey Kotchman4-for-13

B.J. Upton2-for-5

Ben Zobrist1-for-6

Yankees vs. HELLICKSON

Derek Jeter1-for-2

Alex Rodriguez1-for-3

Mark Teixeira1-for-2

On deck

Saturday: at Yankees, 1:05. Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (8-7, 3.56); Yankees — A.J. Burnett (8-7, 4.12)

Sunday: at Yankees, 1:05. Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (8-6, 2.47); Yankees — CC Sabathia (12-4, 2.90)

Monday: Off

Tuesday: All-Star Game, Phoenix

Wednesday: Off

Thursday: Workout at Tropicana Field

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Actors of the day

LHP David Price, left, and RHP James Shields spent a couple of hours Thursday at the MLB Fan Cave, getting a tour and filming a funny promo spot — themed as "The Pitching Firm of Shields and Price — that will appear online. They handled their acting duties well, though neither was planning on a second career. "I'm sticking to pitching," Price said. Added Shields: "I messed up too much. But it was a lot of fun."

Derek Jeter quote of the day

"As many World Series as he's played in, there's more pressure playing in the World Series than getting three hits in a four-game series."

George Brett, Hall of Famer and one of 27 players with 3,000 hits

Number of the day

11 Consecutive games the Rays are playing against the Yankees and Red Sox, the second-longest such streak in franchise history. They had 14 in a row in 2001 and went 3-11.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

Indians 5, Blue Jays 4

CLEVELAND — Travis Hafner hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to cap Cleveland's five-run rally. Hafner hit the first pitch from Luis Perez to right for the Indians' second walkoff slam this year. Carlos Santana did it to beat Detroit 9-5 on April 29. Hafner's 12th career slam made a winner of Tony Sipp, who yielded Jose Bautista's 29th homer.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run homer and Boston added three consecutive home runs in the seventh as the Red Sox hit six overall to beat the Orioles 10-4 on Thursday.

"There were a lot of good pitches to hit tonight and we didn't miss them," said Pedroia, who hit one of the first two homers against Orioles starter Jake Arrieta. Boston moved a half-game up on the Yankees in the AL East.

Adrian Gonzalez's solo shot put Boston up 5-3 in the fourth, then Jacoby Ellsbury hit a two-run homer in the sixth for a 7-3 lead.

David Ortiz, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit three in a row that helped the Red Sox blow it open in the seventh. Ortiz made it 8-3 off Pedro Viola with a drive to center. Reddick followed with a homer to right, then Saltalamacchia cleared the Green Monster.

The home run total was the most for Boston since hitting six in a 10-0 win over the Orioles in September 2009.

Baltimore has allowed 40 runs during its current four-game skid.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

Twins 6, White Sox 2

CHICAGO — Joe Mauer drove in two runs and was flawless in his first game at first base for the Twins. The 2009 MVP had appeared in 863 games, 714 at catcher and 149 as designated hitter. He last played first base in 2002 in Class A. But the need to rest his legs and star first baseman Justin Morneau's neck injury prompted Minnesota to give Mauer, who singled in runs in the first and fourth, a shot at first. The Twins have won eight in a row over the White Sox.

Times wires
Thursday, July 7, 2011

Cubs 10, Nationals 9

WASHINGTON — Darwin Barney's tiebreaking ninth-inning double capped off a wild eight-run comeback. Tony Campana reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored when Barney doubled.