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Greatest point ever: Warrick Dunn's touchdown sets up Florida State Seminoles' championship berth

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

As an electrifying player at Florida State, running back Warrick Dunn played in five games against Florida. He compiled 862 total yards in those contests, the diminutive Louisianan proving 180 pounds of unstoppable energy.

But it was Dunn's 79-yard catch-and-run at Florida Field on Nov. 27, 1993 — his freshman season — that might have been the most precious yards of all.

The touchdown broke the Gators' back, silenced a roaring crowd and propelled the Seminoles to the national championship game.

It was, simply, Florida State's greatest point ever.

"I get asked about that play all the time," the 5-foot-9 Dunn says. "It's everybody's favorite play. It's kind of like the play that made me."

Stage was set

The Seminoles had survived a meeting with Miami that October and rebounded from an emotionally draining loss at Notre Dame two weeks before, positioning them for a shot at the national title against top-ranked Nebraska.

There was just one problem: They still had to go through Florida — at Gainesville. This always proved easier said than done as other Seminole seasons had been derailed by losses to the Gators. And there was this: Florida coach Steve Spurrier was 23-0 at home.

Still, the day began swimmingly for FSU. On a day the Seminoles gained 566 yards, they cruised to a 20-point lead that seemed safe once the fourth quarter arrived.

'Something bad'

Suddenly, bad things started happening, the sorts of things average teams don't overcome on the road. A pair of turnovers inside their 10 served up easy touchdowns for the Gators.

"I've seen too many teams that were as good or better that couldn't win here," coach Bobby Bowden said that day. "You say, 'Uh-oh. Something bad is fixin' to happen to Florida State.' "

And now his Seminoles faced another predicament, third and 10 from their 21 with a confident, fire-breathing Florida defense awaiting.

First and second down hadn't been fruitful. Charlie Ward saw passes batted down by linemen William Gaines and Kevin Carter, respectively. That only created a more charged atmosphere in a stadium full of 85,000 who loved to openly hate the Seminoles.

"You could feel the stadium shaking," Dunn says now, nearly 18 years later. "The momentum was starting to change.

"But after the play, you could hear a pin drop in that place."

How it went down

With the game seemingly slipping away, Ward dropped back to pass with just under six minutes remaining. The play, called "344 takeoff," didn't work to perfection.

The ball was to be delivered to receiver Kez McCorvey. After his two previous touchdown receptions, he was well covered.

Without his first option available, Ward was left trying to scan the field for another receiver, giving the defense time to break free of the offensive line. Enter Mark Campbell and Ellis Johnson, two Gators linemen who nearly grasped the elusive Ward. But the two-sport star and eventual NBA first-round pick side-stepped both defenders, rolling to his left.

It was a particularly awkward position for a right-handed quarterback looking to throw downfield, but Ward finally found Dunn open near the left sideline.

"You could see he felt pressure and prolonged the play," said Dunn, who went on to star with the Bucs and Falcons. "That's what great players do. They keep plays alive."

Ward eventually delivered the ball over the outstretched arms of linebacker Ed Robinson, much to Dunn's surprise.

"I never thought I was going to get the ball," he said. "But I had learned from earlier in the year to always be ready with Charlie. There were a couple times he threw me the ball when he wasn't even looking at me."

Dunn made the catch in stride and almost immediately got a timely block from receiver Tamarick Vanover that sprung him. Then Dunn's quickness took over as he rocketed down the sideline untouched.

Closing in, though, at an angle was safety Michael Gilmore. He dived at Dunn's feet near the Gators 20 and came up with air. Dunn jogged the rest of the way into the end zone, and the Seminoles' jubilation began.

The play covered 79 yards, but its importance could hardly be measured.

Satisfaction

Dunn readily admits he did not do the heavy lifting. Ward, perhaps, did the most. And Dunn quickly points out he had more impressive plays during his college career.

"I just ran an out route and outran a guy," he says. "I've had much harder plays."

But few had this sort of impact, partly because it came against FSU's greatest rival.

"I think it means that much more to do it on the road at Florida," Dunn says proudly.

The play just about clinched the Heisman Trophy for Ward if he hadn't already locked it up. Analyst Bob Griese told the ABC audience after the play, "Just mail the Heisman to Charlie Ward." The 33-21 win also sent FSU to the title game, where it beat Nebraska.

And most of all, the play provided an indelible memory to Seminole fans and Dunn himself.

"I still look back at it," said Dunn, now 36, "and I smile."

Send your memories of the play to sports@tampabay.com.

As an electrifying player at Florida State, running back Warrick Dunn played in five games against Florida. He compiled 862 total yards in those contests, the diminutive Louisianan proving 180 pounds of unstoppable energy.

But Dunn's 79-yard catch-and-run at Florida Field on Nov. 27, 1993, his freshman season, were his most precious yards of all.

The touchdown broke the Gators' back, silenced a roaring crowd and propelled the Seminoles to the national championship game.

It was, simply, Florida State's greatest point ever.

"I get asked about that play all the time," the 5-foot-9 Dunn says. "It's everybody's favorite play. It's kind of like the play that made me."

Stage was set

The Seminoles had survived a meeting with Miami on Oct. 9 and rebounded from an emotionally draining loss at Notre Dame on Nov. 13 to return to No. 1 in the nation, positioning themselves for a shot at the national title.

There was one problem: They still had to go through No. 7 Florida — at Gainesville. This always proved easier said than done as other Seminole seasons had been derailed by losses to the Gators. And there was this: Florida coach Steve Spurrier was 23-0 at the Swamp.

Still, the day began swimmingly for FSU. On a day the Seminoles gained 566 yards, they cruised to a 27-7 lead that seemed safe once the fourth quarter arrived.

'Something bad'

Suddenly, bad things started happening, the sort of things average teams don't overcome on the road. A pair of turnovers inside their 10 served up easy touchdowns for the Gators that trimmed the lead to 27-21 with 5:58 left.

"I've seen too many teams that were as good or better that couldn't win here," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said that day. "You say, 'Uh-oh. Something bad is fixin' to happen to Florida State.' "

On the ensuing possession, his Seminoles faced third and 10 from their 21 with a confident, fire-breathing defense awaiting.

First and second down hadn't been fruitful. Charlie Ward saw passes batted down by linemen William Gaines and Kevin Carter, respectively. That only created a more charged atmos­phere in a stadium full of 85,507 fans — which set a Gators school record — who loved to openly hate the Seminoles.

"You could feel the stadium shaking," Dunn says now, nearly 18 years later. "The momentum was starting to change.

"But after the play, you could hear a pin drop in that place."

How it went down

The play, called "344 takeoff," didn't work to perfection.

Ward dropped back to pass. The ball was to be delivered to receiver Kez McCorvey. After his two previous touchdown receptions, he was well covered.

Without his first option available, Ward scanned the field for another receiver, giving the defense time to break free of the offensive line. Enter Mark Campbell and Ellis Johnson, Gators linemen who nearly grasped the elusive Ward. But the two-sport star and eventual NBA first-round pick sidestepped both and rolled to his left.

It was an awkward position for a right-handed quarterback looking to throw downfield, but Ward finally found Dunn open near the left sideline.

"You could see he felt pressure and prolonged the play," said Dunn, who went on to star with the Bucs and Falcons. "That's what great players do. They keep plays alive."

Ward eventually delivered the ball over the outstretched arms of linebacker Ed Robinson, much to Dunn's surprise.

"I never thought I was going to get the ball," he said. "But I had learned from earlier in the year to always be ready with Charlie. There were a couple times he threw me the ball when he wasn't even looking at me."

Dunn made the catch in stride and almost immediately got a block from receiver Tamarick Vanover that sprung him. Then Dunn's quickness took over as he rocketed down the sideline.

Closing in at an angle was safety Michael Gilmore. He dived at Dunn's feet near the Gators 20 and came up with air.

Dunn jogged the rest of the way into the end zone to give the Seminoles a 33-21 lead — just 30 seconds after the Gators' second touchdown.

And the jubilation began.

The play covered 79 yards, but its importance could hardly be measured.

Satisfaction

Dunn readily admits he did not do the heavy lifting. Ward, perhaps, did the most. And Dunn quickly points out he had more impressive plays during his college career.

"I just ran an out route and outran a guy," he says. "I've had much harder plays."

But few had this sort of impact, partly because it came against FSU's greatest rival.

"I think it means that much more to do it on the road at Florida," Dunn says proudly.

If he hadn't already locked it up, the play just about clinched the Heisman Trophy for Ward.

"Just mail the Heisman to Charlie Ward," ABC analyst Bob Griese said afterward.

The 33-21 win sent FSU to the Orange Bowl, where it beat Nebraska 18-16 for its first national championship.

And most of all, the play provided an indelible memory for Seminole fans and Dunn himself.

"I still look back at it," said Dunn, now 36, "and I smile."

Send your memories of the play to sports@tampabay.com. Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.


Outdoors news: Reef monitoring discussion, gulf red snapper season near end

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

Making news

Experts spill knowledge of local reefs

St. Petersburg College and Reef Monitoring Inc. will hold a multimedia presentation on the state of Pinellas County reefs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Clearwater campus. Admission is free. There will be presentations from various experts on subjects ranging from goliath grouper population counts and artificial reef cleanups to monitoring data from sport divers and larval fish monitoring studies. For information, go to reef monitoring.org.

Regulations

Few days remain for red snapper

The recreational red snapper season in the gulf closes Tuesday. During the open season, recreational fishermen may keep two red snapper at least 16 inches in total length. The 48-day season was implemented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to rebuild overfished stocks.

Things to Do

Learn to stand, then paddle forth

Stand-up paddleboarding is gaining in popularity, and if you want to learn how it's done Watersports West is offering free lessons every Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at Keegan Clair Park in Indian Rocks Beach. There will be boards available from kids sizes to those with a rating of more than 300 pounds. For information, go to water sportswest.com.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Solunar table

AM PM major minor major minor

7/15 6:10 0 6:25 12:15

7/16 6:55 12:40 7:20 1:10

7/17 7:45 1:35 8:15 2:00

7/18 8:35 2:25 9:00 2:45

7/19 9:20 3:10 9:50 3:30

7/20 10:05 3:55 10:35 4:20

7/21 10:50 4:40 11:20 5:05

Captains corner: Permit circling offshore structures

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By Rob Gorta, Times Correspondent
Thursday, July 14, 2011

What's hot: Offshore wrecks and artificial reefs are holding large schools of permit, which feed off of the structure, eating barnacles, shrimp and crabs. I fill the well with crabs the day before and keep them alive with an aerator. The strongest outgoing tides toward the end of the day are the most productive for locating crabs. The grass lines formed by the current will usually hold crabs.

Tactics: Once I get to a wreck, I anchor using my high-definition global positioning system trolling motor. All I have to do is put the motor in the water and hit the "Anchor" button on the remote control. If I am off my mark, I can "jog" the boat left or right with the arrow buttons.

Tackle: Due to the size of permit, I like to use heavier tackle. Ten-pound gear will not work in deep water; it's just too light to pull large fish from deep water. Thirty-pound braid with a long, 30-pound fluorocarbon leader is needed to land these strong fish. Permit have large eyes and become leader shy if you use anything heavier than 30-pound fluorocarbon. A large 6000 series reel capable of holding 300 yards or better of line is needed. Permit can peel off line in seconds.

Rob Gorta charters out of St. Petersburg. Call him at (727) 647-7606 or visit www.captainrob gorta.com.

Friend to a predator

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By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, July 14, 2011

SANIBEL — Chris Fischer is a man with a mission.

"We have to do something before they are all gone," said the 43-year-old expedition leader for the National Geographic television series Shark Men. "I think the work we do will make a difference."

Fischer and his crew circle the globe aboard their mother ship, Ocean, a 126-foot, steel-hulled, converted Bering Sea crabber, catching, tagging and releasing the world's largest sharks.

The Louisville, Ky., native has been up close and personal with more than a dozen great whites in the 4,000-pound range, equipping the fearsome predators with satellite tags so scientists can study their migratory patterns.

Last month, Fischer and his crew were filming an episode for Season 3 in Boca Grande, where they got a chance to see Florida's apex predators, the great hammerhead and bull sharks.

"Those bull sharks are something else," he said. "They have a mouth like a great white and body that's half the size."

After catching and releasing several big bulls and monster hammerheads, the crew brought the Ocean to Sanibel, where the one of the show's sponsors was showing new products to the boating media.

Fischer, who splits his time between Louisville and nearby Marco Island, won two Emmy Awards for his show Offshore Adventures before launching Shark Men in 2009. Season 3 will air in summer 2012.

"I have fished all over the world for everything from blue marlin to tarpon," Fischer said. "But this show is not just about catching big fish. What we do, we do for science. The information gathered will go a long way to preserving one of the most magnificent creatures on earth."

Fischer, a member of the prestigious Explorers Club in New York City, has poured millions of his personal fortune into Shark Men, which just completed its run of Season 2 episodes. But he said every penny will be worth it if, in the end, he can turn the tide for sharks.

"Two sharks are killed every second," he said. "That is 90 million sharks a year taken by the commercial fishing industry just for their fins. … Such a waste.

"If we allow this to continue, the number of sharks will plummet in a matter of decades and the overall balance of the ocean will shift," he said. "We can't just wait around to see what happens. We have to act, and act now."

On a typical episode, the Ocean's crew catches a big shark on hook and line, and coaxes it into the ship's "cradle," a hydraulic platform that lifts the shark out of the water so it can be tagged or have a DNA sample extracted.

The anglers and the ship's crew are all hard-core fishermen. They stand right next to the shark, and to date, no one has been injured. The dramatic scene attracts viewers, and more viewers means more advertising dollars, which Fischer needs to spread the word.

"It takes money to affect change," he said. "And if we really want to make things happen, we have to be able to work on a global scale."

Fischer would like to see the practice of shark finning, the removal of the fins (usually for soup) and dumping of the body at sea, go the way of the buffalo hunt. He is an ardent admirer of the late ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, but instead of a Speedo, Fischer wears surf trunks and paddles a stand-up paddleboard.

He has fished with presidents and testified before policymakers in Washington, D.C., and he believes that average anglers, the weekend warriors who catch trout on spinning rods, will be the vanguard in the next great conservation fight.

"Recreational fishermen will save the oceans just like the hunters saved the forests," Fischer said. "They are the only hope."

He is a vocal supporter of marine protection areas, but unlike other conservationists who believe these areas should be closed to all fishing, Fischer believes that only commercial fishing should be banned.

"We are not the problem," he said. "Recreational anglers take only 3 percent of the fish in the ocean. If you cut out the longlines, the indiscriminate killing and the bycatch, you will see an improvement in the stocks overall."

Fischer's nonprofit research organization, Ocearch, is working to not only promote cutting-edge science but to help shape policy. A champion of balanced, fact-based, sustainable fisheries management, Fischer hopes Shark Men is just the beginning of a new era in marine conservation.

"To succeed, we need everybody's help," he said. "We have to start now."

To learn more about Chris Fischer and Ocearch, go to ocearch.org.

Tampa Bay Rays start second half with telling seven-game stretch vs. Red Sox, Yankees

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — There will be a couple of new faces when the Rays resume play tonight against Boston — catcher Jose Lobaton called up to replace injured John Jaso, and lefty Jake McGee added to the bullpen — and a slightly revised rotation, with David Price leading off.

But more crucial is the players they have, specifically the hitters, doing better as they face a season-high six-game deficit and a weeklong gantlet of games against the Red Sox and Yankees that could determine their fate collectively in terms of the postseason and individually in regard to the July 31 trade deadline.

"A big week for us," Price said.

"Very important," DH Johnny Damon said.

"The playoffs," reliever J.P. Howell said, "are kind of starting now."

Manager Joe Maddon cringes when he hears such assessments, saying to look at this week as season-deciding, or anything more than seven individual games, is not only wrong but dangerous.

"If you start thinking in that other direction, then you could really lose your whole season right here," Maddon said. "There's a chance we could lose a couple games, obviously, within this homestand, and that does not put us out of the race. So I want our guys to understand and continue to play it one day at a time. … Any other way to do it is almost baseball suicidal in some ways. You just don't want to go there."

Yet Maddon stood in rightfield with the players sitting circled around him and talked for nearly 30 minutes before Thursday's workout, telling them specifically what they need to do better when hitting, pitching and running the bases, and what they need to correct, starting with the recent high number of mental mistakes, to reach their goal.

"We have very high expectations for ourselves," Maddon said, "and our expectations are to play in the playoffs."

Their defense has been the majors' best, and their pitching, starting and relieving, relatively strong. The primary problem has been the offense, which ranks eighth in the American League in runs (4.22 per game), 11th in on-base percentage (.313) and 12th in batting average (.245) and, even more mystifying, noticeably worse at home (3.26, .297, .228).

"We've got to be more consistent scoring runs," Maddon said. "It just fluctuates way too much. I know pitching has been better in general throughout baseball, but for us to get there we have to be more consistent offensively.

"We can't be perfect all the time pitching or on defense. We're going to make some mistakes. So we have to be able to hit through some mistakes on occasion. That to me is the one area we have to be able to get better on a nightly basis."

Unless they trade for an impact bat, which seems unlikely, the improvement will have to come from within as they stress the "team offense" concept, talking a lot about having "more professional" and "quality" at-bats.

Maddon specifically mentioned that third baseman Evan Longoria (hitting .239 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs) has "a lot of room for improvement," and he said Ben Zobrist (.269, 10, 43) can do more, and B.J. Upton (.239, 15, 50) needs to continue what he's doing. It doesn't have to be said they need more from shortstop Reid Brignac (.193, 1, 9) and catcher Kelly Shoppach (.168, 5, 15), who might get more playing time with Jaso out at least two weeks with a right oblique strain.

"I think it's all on the offense," Damon said.

They need to improve soon, or it may not matter. Not only could their postseason hopes slip away this week, but a bad week could make this something of their last (home)stand, as they leave town after the finale of the Yankees series next Thursday and don't return until after the trade deadline. A larger deficit would make deals more likely.

"There's still plenty of time to get this done," Maddon said. "We have better baseball to play. We just played the Yankees, I know we can beat them. We played the Red Sox here recently, I know we can beat them. And so do our guys. It's just a matter of doing it."

Combines can shine light on unheralded high school players

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By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

TAMPA

His aspirations are fully developed, even if his growth plates aren't.

Adam Posateri, a Bloomingdale High School receiver with a thicket of brown chin stubble, dreams of someday running fly routes for the University of Florida. At this point, his 5-foot-9 frame and 40-yard dash time (anywhere from 4.7 to 4.9 seconds) are working against him.

But he believes in his ability to catch anything thrown in his vicinity and dupe corners at the line of scrimmage. To alert Florida — or any college — of these attributes, Posateri has shown a willingness to pay the price. This past spring, it ranged from free to $40 to nearly 200 bucks, depending on the weekend.

"A little pricey," his mom, Diane Wilson, says.

Posateri, 16, is among hundreds of teens who have tried gauging their potential and gaining college exposure at a prep football combine, an industry as polarizing as it is burgeoning.

Essentially, it's a daylong test of agility, strength, fleetness and physical dimensions, with perhaps some football drills thrown in. Participants are measured, weighed, timed in the 40-yard dash, and charted in areas including bench press, broad jump, vertical leap and the like.

That data, combine organizers insist, is passed on to colleges of all sizes. The combines can be loosely structured or nationally backed. Name a national sports apparel firm — Nike, Under Armour, etc. — and chances are they sponsor a combine.

Posateri has attended five this year already. Neither Gators coach Will Muschamp nor his peers have attended any. NCAA rules prohibit Division I-A coaches from attending or conducting tryouts.

"So that sort of eliminates the combines," longtime UF compliance chief Jamie McCloskey said.

Yet the combine services boast of having dozens of D-I schools and national recruiters among their subscribers, who pay to have players' combine information sent to them. That's legal, McCloskey said, as long as the data is available to every school for the same price. Some distribute the information for free.

"I think it's a good thing for kids to get exposure," said third-year Bloomingdale coach John Booth, who inherited a program with one playoff berth in more than a quarter-century of existence.

"We're coming from a school that doesn't have necessarily the notoriety of other programs in this county or in this state. Unfortunately we have players who might get overlooked, and it's a good opportunity for kids like Adam to show he has some talent and can compete with some of the more notable players in the area."

Others, however, are far more critical of this flourishing enterprise that has joined 7-on-7s as prevalent cogs in the prep football subculture.

"We are not big fans of combines," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "We like camps. I only send our kids to combines if I have a kid who has measurables — height, weight, 40 (time), vertical (leap). Otherwise it can only do him potential damage in the college game."

Armwood's Sean Callahan is similarly skeptical, though he has allowed scaled-down versions to be held on his campus.

"Combines have hurt Armwood kids more than helped them through the years," he said.

Coaches' concerns are diverse. A kid who runs a lousy 40 time — Posateri ran a 4.97 at one in March in St. Petersburg — could find his college hopes crippled by that documented effort alone. Moreover, who's to say the person timing the athlete was qualified to do so?

And why, many coaches ask, should a player pay for a combine to assess his skills and expose him to colleges when a high school coach worth his salt will do the same free of charge?

"If you're going to evaluate (nationally heralded Hawks safety) Leon McQuay, and Sean Callahan gave you his academic information and some film on him and said he's a 4.5 (in the 40), then you've got to believe Sean Callahan," the veteran Hawks coach said.

"If everybody has a 40 time on Leon McQuay, that might range from 4.7 to 4.4. Now you've got issues about where he's at."

Yet those fears haven't discouraged kids from converging at combines by the dozens.

Is the price right?

In mid March, roughly 120 players in grades 8-11 dished out between $89.99 (for pre-registration) to $120 (walk-ups) to participate in the Schuman's National Underclassmen Combine at St. Petersburg's Northside Christian.

According to the combine's website, more than 1,000 athletes from its 2010 events held nationwide earned Division I and I-AA offers. It also indicates several national recruiting services — Rivals.com, ESPN, Tom Lemming — use its combine results to rank players.

Northside coach Andre Dobson said six of his coaches were paid to run the event, and his players were allowed to participate for half price.

Some of Dobson's offensive skill players failed to eclipse five seconds in the 40. But 5-foot-7 receiver Evan Howard ran a 4.58 and has since been contacted by four small colleges.

ESPN national recruiting analyst and Boca Ciega graduate Jamie Newberg says combines are best suited for undersized, unheralded prospects like Howard.

"There are just too many kids out there for schools to know absolutely every single prospect out there," Newberg said via e-mail. "Combines, (7-on-7s), etc. are platforms for kids to get initially identified, for young kids to emerge, etc."

But Newberg, and even Dobson, join the chorus of those who decry the practice of charging kids to participate. Dobson cites the National Underclassmen Combine as an exception because he has seen it evolve into something "good and reputable" over the years.

"I have never been a believer in charging kids a fee, even a small one, for combines," Newberg said. "At the same time I understand there is a cost to them, especially if you don't have a sponsor."

Hence the reason Charles Fishbein, president of South Florida-based Elite Scouting Services and a combine organizer for roughly a decade, charges $30 per participant ($35 for walk-ups). For that fee, kids not only go through the routine combine drills, but are lectured on key recruiting issues such as dealing with the media, handling late-night calls from coaches and knowing what constitutes a scholarship offer.

"At the end of the day you have costs for the combine as far as insurance and things like that," said Fishbein, who estimates losing between $2,000-$3,000 at a Jacksonville combine last year. "You're not making money."

Dwight Thomas, who spent 33 years as a head coach in Florida before moving to the recruiting side with his parent company LRS Sports, said he has never charged a penny in 15 years of operating combines. But he doesn't begrudge those who must charge a fee.

And he acknowledges combines are not for everyone.

"There are some really good football players out there that just can't test good," said Thomas, who won two state titles at Pensacola's Escambia High behind a sleek, short tailback named Emmitt Smith. "If you're not a good tester you want to be careful because that information gets put out there."

A kid such as Posateri can attest. For now, the measurements from his combines drift ominously in cyberspace. He wishes the combine honchos had paid more attention to his one-on-one work, when he brandished soft hands and forced cornerbacks out of their backpedal. Nonetheless, as a rising junior, he won't give up on combines. They've offered him a gauge of his skills and a goal to pursue. If he can lower his 40 time and elevate his vertical leap over the next two years, colleges might take notice.

"Nowadays I don't know if I could leave it all up to a high school coach (to get recruited)," said his mom. "You have to do some work on your own."

Joey Knight can be reached at jknight@sptimes.com.

Football combines can shine light on unheralded high school players

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By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

TAMPA

His aspirations are fully developed, even if his growth plates aren't.

Adam Posateri, a Bloomingdale High School receiver with a thicket of brown chin stubble, dreams of someday running fly routes for the University of Florida. At this point, his 5-foot-9 frame and 40-yard dash time (anywhere from 4.7 to 4.9 seconds) are working against him.

But he believes in his ability to catch anything thrown in his vicinity and dupe corners at the line of scrimmage. To alert Florida — or any college — of those attributes, Posateri has shown a willingness to pay the price. This spring, it ranged from free to $40 to nearly $200, depending on the weekend.

"A little pricey," his mom, Diane Wilson, says.

Posateri, 16, is among hundreds of teens who have tried gauging their potential and gaining college exposure at a prep football combine, an industry as polarizing as it is burgeoning.

Essentially, it's a daylong test of agility, strength, fleetness and physical dimensions, with perhaps some football drills thrown in. Participants are measured, weighed, timed in the 40-yard dash and charted in areas including bench press, broad jump, vertical leap and the like.

That data, combine organizers insist, is passed on to colleges of all sizes. The combines can be loosely structured or nationally backed. Name a national sports apparel firm — Nike, Under Armour, etc. — and chances are they sponsor a combine.

Posateri has attended five this year. Neither Gators coach Will Muschamp nor his peers have attended any. NCAA rules prohibit Division I-A coaches from attending or conducting tryouts.

"So that sort of eliminates the combines," longtime UF compliance chief Jamie McCloskey said.

Yet the combine services boast of having dozens of D-I schools and national recruiters among their subscribers, who pay to have players' combine information sent to them. That's legal, McCloskey said, as long as the data is available to every school for the same price. Some distribute the information for free.

"I think it's a good thing for kids to get exposure," said third-year Bloomingdale coach John Booth, who inherited a program with one playoff berth in more than a quarter-century of existence.

"We're coming from a school that doesn't have necessarily the notoriety of other programs in this county or in this state. Unfortunately we have players who might get overlooked, and it's a good opportunity for kids like Adam to show he has some talent and can compete with some of the more notable players in the area."

Others, however, are far more critical of this flourishing enterprise that has joined 7-on-7s as prevalent cogs in the high school football subculture.

"We are not big fans of combines," Plant coach Robert Weiner said. "We like camps. I only send our kids to combines if I have a kid who has measurables — height, weight, 40 (time), vertical (leap). Otherwise it can only do him potential damage in the college game."

Armwood's Sean Callahan is similarly skeptical, though he has allowed scaled-down versions to be held on his campus.

"Combines have hurt Armwood kids more than helped them through the years," he said.

Coaches' concerns are diverse. A kid who runs a lousy 40 time — Posateri ran a 4.97 at one in March in St. Petersburg — could find his college hopes crippled by that documented effort alone. Moreover, who's to say the person timing the athlete was qualified to do so?

And why, many coaches ask, should a player pay for a combine to assess his skills and expose him to colleges when a high school coach worth his salt will do the same free of charge?

"If you're going to evaluate (nationally heralded Hawks safety) Leon McQuay, and Sean Callahan gave you his academic information and some film on him and said he's a 4.5 (in the 40), then you've got to believe Sean Callahan," the veteran Hawks coach said.

"If everybody has a 40 time on Leon McQuay, that might range from 4.7 to 4.4. Now you've got issues about where he's at."

Yet those fears haven't discouraged kids from converging at combines by the dozens.

Is the price right?

In mid March, roughly 120 players in grades 8-11 dished out between $89.99 (for pre-registration) to $120 (walk-ups) to participate in the Schuman's National Underclassmen Combine at St. Petersburg's Northside Christian.

According to the combine's website, more than 1,000 athletes from its 2010 events held nationwide earned Division I and I-AA offers. It also indicates several national recruiting services — Rivals.com, ESPN, Tom Lemming — use its combine results to rank players.

Northside coach Andre Dobson said six of his coaches were paid to run the event, and his players were allowed to participate for half price.

Some of Dobson's offensive skill players failed to eclipse five seconds in the 40. But 5-foot-7 receiver Evan Howard ran a 4.58 and has since been contacted by four small colleges.

ESPN national recruiting analyst and Boca Ciega graduate Jamie Newberg says combines are best suited for undersized, unheralded prospects such as Howard.

"There are just too many kids out there for schools to know absolutely every single prospect out there," Newberg said via e-mail. "Combines, (7-on-7s), etcetera are platforms for kids to get initially identified, for young kids to emerge, etc."

But Newberg, and even Dobson, join those who decry the practice of charging kids to participate. Dobson cites the National Underclassmen Combine as an exception because he has seen it evolve into something "good and reputable" over the years.

"I have never been a believer in charging kids a fee, even a small one, for combines," Newberg said. "At the same time I understand there is a cost to them, especially if you don't have a sponsor."

Hence the reason Charles Fishbein, president of South Florida-based Elite Scouting Services and a combine organizer for roughly a decade, charges $30 per participant ($35 for walk-ups). For that fee, kids not only go through the routine combine drills but are lectured on key recruiting issues such as dealing with the media, handling late-night calls from coaches and knowing what constitutes a scholarship offer.

"At the end of the day you have costs for the combine as far as insurance and things like that," said Fishbein, who estimates losing between $2,000-$3,000 at a Jacksonville combine last year. "You're not making money."

Dwight Thomas, who spent 33 years as a head coach in Florida before moving to the recruiting side with his parent company, LRS Sports, said he has never charged a penny in 15 years of operating combines. But he doesn't begrudge those who must charge a fee.

And he acknowledges combines are not for everyone.

"There are some really good football players out there that just can't test good," said Thomas, who won two state titles at Pensacola's Escambia High behind a sleek, short tailback named Emmitt Smith. "If you're not a good tester, you want to be careful because that information gets put out there."

A kid such as Posateri can attest. For now, the measurements from his combines drift ominously in cyberspace. He wishes the combine honchos had paid more attention to his one-on-one work, when he brandished soft hands and forced cornerbacks out of their backpedal. Nonetheless, as a rising junior, he won't give up on combines. They've offered him a gauge of his skills and a goal to pursue. If he can lower his 40 time and elevate his vertical leap over the next two years, colleges might take notice.

"Nowadays I don't know if I could leave it all up to a high school coach (to get recruited)," said his mom. "You have to do some work on your own."

Joey Knight can be reached at jknight@sptimes.com.

Up next for Tampa Bay Rays: vs. Boston Red Sox

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011


Red Sox bring slightly altered rotation into series with Tampa Bay Rays

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Red Sox have a lot to feel good about heading into today's series opener with the Rays, having won 10 of their last 11 and holding a one-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

But they'll likely feel a lot better when their rotation does, as two of their top three starters (left-hander Jon Lester and right-hander Clay Buchholz) are on the disabled list, and right-hander Josh Beckett pulled out of the All-Star Game with soreness in his left knee.

Manager Terry Francona said Beckett is "pretty confident" he will start Sunday.

"Unfortunately, it seems like guys have kind of got hit by the bug or something, because it's one guy after another," said left-hander Andrew Miller, who starts tonight. "But that's what I'm here to do is fill in as best I can. I know I can't replace some of these guys' shoes, but if we can go out there and win some games, we're reaching our goal."

Lester (strained lower lat muscle) is working his way back, having played catch from 60 feet at Fenway Park. Buchholz (lower back soreness), who hasn't pitched since his June 16 start against the Rays, is still at least a couple of weeks away.

Beckett's injury came in the bullpen before Tuesday's All-Star Game, when he pulled himself out as a precaution. Francona said if Beckett can't go Sunday, they can push him back a few days and have right-hander Kyle Weiland step in.

"I have a feeling that will be the worst-case scenario, which is good," Francona said.

Francona has been pleased with how others have picked up the slack. Right-hander John Lackey (6-8, 6.84 ERA) ended a three-game skid his last time out with 6 2/3 scoreless innings against Baltimore.

In the Red Sox's last series with the Rays, it was starting pitching that set the tone. After Rays right-hander James Shields' shutout, both Beckett and Buchholz came up big, as the teams combined for just 13 runs over three games.

"They are missing a little bit here or there," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But overall, they're still thick and good."

Boston Red Sox bring slightly altered rotation into series with Tampa Bay Rays

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Red Sox have a lot to feel good about heading into tonight's series opener with the Rays, having won 10 of their past 11 and holding a 1½ lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

But they'll likely feel a lot better when their rotation does, as two of their top three starters, left-hander Jon Lester and right-hander Clay Buchholz, are on the disabled list, and right-hander Josh Beckett pulled out of the All-Star Game with soreness in his left knee.

Manager Terry Francona said Beckett is "pretty confident" he will start Sunday.

"Unfortunately, it seems like guys have kind of got hit by the bug or something, because it's one guy after another," said left-hander Andrew Miller, who starts tonight.

"But that's what I'm here to do is fill in as best I can. I know I can't replace some of these guys' shoes, but if we can go out there and win some games, we're reaching our goal."

Lester (strained lower lat muscle) is working his way back, having played catch from 60 feet at Fenway Park. Buchholz (lower back soreness), who hasn't pitched since his June 16 start against the Rays, is still at least a couple of weeks away.

Beckett's injury came in the bullpen before Tuesday's All-Star Game, when he pulled himself out as a precaution. Francona said if Beckett can't go Sunday, they can push him back a few days and have right-hander Kyle Weiland step in.

"I have a feeling that will be the worst-case scenario, which is good," Francona said.

Francona has been pleased with how others have picked up the slack. Right-hander John Lackey (6-8, 6.84 ERA) ended a three-game skid his last time out with 6⅔ scoreless innings against Baltimore.

In the Red Sox's last series with the Rays, it was starting pitching that set the tone. After Rays right-hander James Shields' shutout, both Beckett and Buchholz came up big, as the teams combined for just 13 runs over three games.

"They are missing a little bit here or there," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But overall, they're still thick and good."

Tampa Bay Rays catcher John Jaso out two weeks with side strain

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By Marc Topkin and Joe Smith, Times Staff Writers
Thursday, July 14, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — C John Jaso didn't show any signs of injury starting two of the Rays' last three games before the break, but he will miss at least two weeks after being diagnosed with a right oblique strain.

Switch-hitting C Jose Lobaton was summoned from Triple-A Durham and will take over some starting duties against right-handed pitchers, though veteran Kelly Shoppach will also get more playing time, manager Joe Maddon said.

Lobaton, 26, was hitting .293 with eight homers, 31 RBIs and a .410 on-base percentage. He has seven games of big-league experience with the Padres in 2009, and had a two-day stint with the Rays last season but didn't play.

Jaso, hitting .222, has been bothered by soreness in his right side since the Rays played in Minnesota on July 4-6, Maddon said. Head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield recommended "it was best to calm it down for at least a couple weeks."

The injury can lead to extended absence, as 3B Evan Longoria missed a month and others have been out 6-8 weeks.

"It's not awful," Maddon said. "He sounds as though he might be more on the minimal side of that particular injury, as opposed to the greater side of it."

LEANING LEFT: Jake McGee was called up to give the Rays three lefties in the bullpen for the first time this season.

Maddon said McGee could be kept around beyond Monday or Tuesday, when RHP Alex Cobb will be recalled, so another pitcher would be sent out. McGee started the season with the Rays but was sent down May 1 with a 5.14 ERA in 11 appearances. He is 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 24 games for Durham, converting nine of 10 saves with a 0.77 ERA in those situations.

PITCHING IN: LHP David Price made a rapid recovery from the turf toe issue that kept him out of the All-Star Game, allowing the Rays to set up their rotation as they planned, with Price and RHP James Shields pitching the first two games vs. Boston and the last two vs. New York.

RHP Jeff Niemann will pitch Sunday vs. Boston, and they haven't decided whether to have RHP Jeremy Hellickson face the Yankees on Monday and expected call-up Cobb go Tuesday, or the other way around.

RHP Wade Davis, on the 15-day DL with a right forearm strain, said he's feeling strong, with all the inflammation gone. He planned to play catch Thursday and throw a couple of bullpen sessions with hopes of rejoining the rotation during the last week of the month.

Price said he believes he's a better pitcher than he was last year, but said he has to be more consistent.

"I want to come out here and perform at a level that I know I can, and I know that my teammates know that I can," Price said. "It's tough to do that every time out, but I feel like the good ones, they can come pretty close do doing that. So that's where I want to get back to doing, and it starts (tonight)."

SOX YARNS: Red Sox DH David Ortiz was suspended four games for charging the mound in the July 8 benches-clearing melee with the Orioles. But Ortiz, who was not at the Trop for the Sox workout, is expected to play against the Rays by appealing his punishment from MLB.

Sox LF Carl Crawford is close to returning from a hamstring strain but will miss the series with his former mates. Crawford will play rehab games this weekend for Triple-A Pawtucket (vs. the Rays' Durham team) and could rejoin the Sox on Monday.

MISCELLANY: Demoted RHP Andy Sonnanstine made his first appearance for Triple-A Durham on Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits in four innings. … DH Johnny Damon (bruised left hand) he expects to play tonight.

Reports: Sides make progress on rookie contracts

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Times wires
Thursday, July 14, 2011

NEW YORK — Players and owners made significant progress Thursday on rookie contracts, according to various media reports. The issue has been a major stumbling block in the latest round of labor talks.

ESPN reported that the sides agreed in principle to a new rookie wage system. The owners will have an option for a fifth year on a rookie contract for a predetermined amount based on the player's performance during the previous years of the deal, the Associated Press reported.

Owners and players were in their second straight day of negotiations, trying to resolve the impasse that has shut down the league for four months. They were expected to meet again today.

The NFL locked out players in March after negotiations broke down and the old collective bargaining agreement expired.

The Hall of Fame Game that opens the preseason is scheduled for Aug. 7 between the Rams and Bears, who hope to be able to start training camp at the end of next week. Camps will not open without a new labor deal in place.

Even once a deal in principle is drawn up, more will need to be done. That's because certain issues won't be addressed in full until after the players association re-establishes itself as a union — that might take a couple of days — and can then serve again as a collective bargaining unit for the players.

Items that could fall under that umbrella include the league's drug-testing program, health insurance and retired players' pensions, none of which is likely to be resolved completely while the union is dissolved.

A group of retired players has sent the NFL a letter asking to be part of the negotiations. The players refer to a letter they received from Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Packers CEO Mark Murphy that said improving benefits and retirement plans were a "top priority." The retired players say the disbanded union does not have the right to negotiate for them.

Writer advises Harrison: The writer of the controversial James Harrison article for Men's Journal, Paul Solotaroff, told the Steelers linebacker to do whatever he needs to do to make peace with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whom Harrison criticized along with numerous others, including commissioner Roger Goodell. Harrison, in a statement Thursday, apologized "for some of the words" he said he used over four days of interviews for the story. He said the critical comments about Roethlisberger and other teammates were taken out of context, and a gay slur about Goodell was a "careless use" of slang and not intended to be derogatory against gays.

Sports in brief

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Times wires
Thursday, July 14, 2011

Golf

Good play helps petrovic beat heat

MADISON, Miss. — Tim Petrovic found a way to beat Mississippi's suffocating July heat without the help of air conditioning or a swimming pool: play good golf.

"When you're hitting it like I hit it (Thursday), making some putts, you don't tend to sweat so much," Petrovic said.

Petrovic shot 7-under 65 in the first round of the Viking Classic to be part of a six-way tie atop the leaderboard. Nine players were tied for second at 6 under.

Frequent storms this week left Annandale Country Club's Bermuda grass soft. The PGA allowed players to lift, clean and place balls in the fairway, which helped keep scores low.

Because the PGA Tour tournament is the same week as the British Open, its 250 Fed Ex Cup points and $3.6 million purse are about half those of a normal tour event.

Tiger in play? Notah Begay III said former Stanford teammate Tiger Woods would play Aug. 31 in his mixed-team charity event to benefit American Indian youths. Woods has not confirmed his participation. He is missing his second straight major championship this week as he recovers from an injured leg.

NBA

League lays off more than 100 around world

The NBA laid off about 114 people over the past two days, planned cost-cutting moves a league spokesman said are "not a direct result of the lockout."

The laid-off employees represent about 11 percent of the league office workforce in New York, New Jersey and internationally.

The layoffs are "not a direct result of the lockout but rather a response to the same underlying issue; that is, the league's expenses far outpace our revenues," spokesman Mike Bass said.

"The roughly 11 percent reduction in head count from the league office is part of larger cost-cutting measures to reduce our costs by $50 million across all areas of our business."

The league said it lost $300 million last season after losing hundreds of millions in each previous year of the collective bargaining agreement that expired June 30.

Owners locked out the players after the sides remained far apart in their final proposals.

Bobcats: The agent for rookie Bismack Biyombo insisted the seventh overall pick in the draft will play for Charlotte next season despite a buyout dispute with his Spanish team. A spokesman for Madrid's Fuenlabrada said last month the team is fine in letting Biyombo, 18, out of the final two years of his contract but expects a $1.4 million buyout for the 6-foot-9 forward-center. The sides held a mediation session this month. Agent Igor Crespo declined to reveal the results, saying he believed the buyout figure was made public to "put pressure on us."

Warriors: Point guard Stephen Curry and forward Dorell Wright said they are considering playing overseas if the lockout extends into the season.

Et cetera

Horses: Race day medication will be banned at the Breeders' Cup starting with 2-year-olds in 2012 and covering all races beginning in 2013.

Tennis: Juan Carlos Ferrero knocked out the last seeded player left at the Mercedes Cup, beating No. 3 Mikhail Youzhny 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-2 in the second round at Stuttgart, Germany. … Second-seeded David Ferrer reached the Swedish Open quarterfinals, beating Pere Riba 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) in Bastad.

Times wires

Tampa Bay Rays news and notes: Wave of national exposure; David Price embraces his place in history; Johnny Damon strikes pose for cause

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 14, 2011

Rays vs. Red Sox

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

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

Tickets: $19-$300 at box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa.

Promotion: Kyle Farns­worth T-shirt to first 10,000 fans.

Starting pitchers:

Rays

LH David Price (8-7, 3.70)

Red Sox

LH Andrew Miller (3-0, 3.57)

Watch for …

Price check: Price is winless in his past three starts. He is coming off a five-inning outing in New York in which he allowed Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit. He is 4-3 with a 3.43 ERA in seven starts vs. Boston. He closed out Game 7 of the 2008 AL Champion ship Series.

Could have been: Miller, a Gainesville native, was the Rays' third-round draft pick in 2003 but didn't sign. He has bounced around from the Tigers to the Marlins to the Red Sox. This is his fifth start since being called up.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Miller

Johnny Damon 2-for-4

Sam Fuld 1-for-2

B.J. Upton 2-for-4, HR

Sox vs. Price

David Ortiz 2-for-13, 5Ks

Marco Scutaro 3-for-20

Kevin Youkilis 5-for-15

On deck

Saturday: vs. Red Sox, 4:10; Ch. 13. Rays — RHP James Shields (8-7, 2.33); Sox — John Lackey (6-8, 6.84)

Sunday: vs. Red Sox, 8:05; ESPN. Rays — Jeff Niemann (4-4, 4.53); Sox — Josh Beckett (8-3, 2.27)

Monday: vs. Yankees, 7:10; ESPN. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (8-7, 3.21) or Alex Cobb (2-0, 3.41); Yankees — A.J. Burnett (8-7, 4.15)

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Altered look

Bench coach Dave Martinez trimmed the bushy beard he had been sporting all season: "I just got tired of it." Martinez said, though he could have something else in the works.

National exposure

The Rays will be on national TV Saturday on Fox and Sunday-Monday on ESPN. To this point, they'd never had two straight regular-season games on. Plus, tonight's game and Thursday's will be seen in the rest of the country on the MLB Network.

Price embraces his place

LHP David Price apparently isn't that bothered by the infamy of giving up Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit. He agreed to an admittedly lucrative deal with Steiner Sports to sign various collectible items, some with the Yankees shortstop and by writing: "I Gave Up DJ's 3K." Said Price: "I'm over it. It's done."

A little captain in him

DH Johnny Damon and Captain Morgan himself will invite fans onto the field after tonight's game to strike the rum maker's "Captain's Pose" in order to raise money for the United Way of Tampa Bay. Captain Morgan will donate $1 for each fan who participates. The Rays' goal is 25,000. "It's going to be fun," Damon said.

FC Tampa Bay defeats Bolton Wanderers 1-0

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Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer


Thursday, July 14, 2011

FC Tampa Bay defeated the English Premier League's Bolton Wanderers Thursday night at Al Lang Stadium. FC Tampa Bay scored in the second half on a goal by forward Matt Clare in the 65th minute.


Up next races on major auto circuits

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Times wires
Thursday, July 14, 2011

Up next | Races on major circuits

Sprint Cup

What: Lenox Industrial Tools 301

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 11:30 a.m.), qualifying (Speed, 3 p.m.); Saturday, practice (Speed, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.); Sunday, race (TNT, 1 p.m.); Loudon, N.H.

Fast facts: This is the start of the second half of the 36-event season. … Kevin Harvick, above, has three wins this season. … Clint Bowyer won the Chase for the Championship opener at the track in September.

Standings: 1. Kyle Busch, 624; 2. Carl Edwards, 620; 3. Harvick, 614; 4. Kurt Busch, 606; 5. Jimmie Johnson, 605; 6. Matt Kenseth, 602; 7. Jeff Gordon, 553; 8. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 548; 9. Ryan Newman, 538; 10. Denny Hamlin, 529

Nationwide

What: New England 200

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 1:30 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 10:30 a.m.), race (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.); Loudon, N.H.

Fast facts: Kyle Busch has five wins this year, 48 total, one shy of Mark Martin's series record.

Standings: 1. Elliott Sadler, 641; 2. Reed Sorenson, 637; 3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 614; 4. Justin Allgaier, 598; 5. Jason Leffler, 568

Trucks

What: Coca-Cola 200

When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, qualifying; race (Speed, 8 p.m.); Newton, Iowa

Fast facts: Mike Skinner won the inaugural trucks race at the track in 2009.

Standings: 1. Johnny Sauter, 347; 2. Cole Whitt, 324; 3. Austin Dillon, 322; 4. James Buescher, 315; 5. Parker Kligerman, 312

IndyCar

Next: Edmonton Indy, July 24, Edmonton

Standings: 1. Dario Franchitti, 353; 2. Will Power, 298; 3. Scott Dixon, 270; 4. Oriol Servia, 232; 5. Tony Kanaan, 221

Formula One

Next: German Grand Prix, July 24, Nuerburg

Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel, 204; 2. Mark Webber, 124; 3. Fernando Alonso, 112; 4. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, 109

NHRA

Next: Mopar Mile-High Nationals, July 22-24, Morrison, Colo.

Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 1,003; 2. Spencer Massey, 872. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 1,005; 2. Jack Beckman, 833. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 858; 2. Greg Anderson, 804. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Eddie Krawiec, 485; 2. Karen Stoffer, 479

Judge faults feds for mistrial

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Times wires
Thursday, July 14, 2011

WASHINGTON — Almost as soon as it began, former star Roger Clemens' perjury trial ended Thursday in a mistrial the judge blamed on prosecutors for doing something he said a "first-year law student" would have known to avoid.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton called a halt to the trial after prosecutors showed jurors evidence that he had ruled out: videotaped revelations that a teammate had said he'd told his wife Clemens confessed to using a performance-enhancing drug.

Walton scolded prosecutors and said he couldn't let the former All-Star pitcher face prison if convicted on such "extremely prejudicial" evidence.

"Mr. Clemens has to get a fair trial," Walton said. "In my view, he can't get it now."

Defense attorney Rusty Hardin, who had asked for a mistrial, patted Clemens on the back as the judge announced his decision. As he left the courthouse, Clemens did not comment. He accepted hugs from court workers, shook hands with the security guards and autographed baseballs for fans.

The quick end on the second day of testimony was the second mistrial involving a superstar player accused in baseball's steroids scandal. Home run king Barry Bonds was convicted three months ago of obstruction of justice, but a mistrial was called on three more serious false-statements charges after jurors couldn't agree on a verdict.

Walton said he would hold a hearing Sept. 2 to decide whether Clemens should face another trial. Walton could end the prosecution by declaring a new trial would run afoul of double jeopardy, the right not to be brought to trial twice on the same charges for the same offense. Experts said it was unlikely he would go that far, especially because the trial was just under way.

The Washington U.S. attorney's office, which tried the case, said it would have no comment because of a gag order Walton had imposed.

The unraveling of the case began as prosecutors were showing jurors a video of Clemens' 2008 testimony before Congress. Clemens is accused of lying under oath during that testimony when he said he never used performance-enhancing drugs.

Clemens' former Yankees teammate and friend, Andy Pettitte, had told committee investigators Clemens confessed in 1999 or 2000 that he used human growth hormone. Clemens has said Pettitte "misremembers" or "misheard" their conversation.

Prosecutors had wanted to call Pettitte's wife, Laura, as a witness to back up her husband's account; she says her husband told her about the conversation the day it happened. But Walton had said Laura Pettitte's statement wasn't admissible because it didn't involve direct knowledge of what Clemens said.

In the video prosecutors showed the jury, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., referred to Pettitte's conversation with his wife during the questioning of Clemens. Walton cut off the tape and eventually told the jurors to leave while he discussed the issue with attorneys in open court. Hardin asked for a mistrial; prosecutors suggested the problem could be fixed with an instruction to the jury to disregard the evidence. Walton responded they could never know what impact the evidence would have during the jury's deliberations.

"I don't see how I unring the bell," he said.

Tom Lewis, Thomas Bjorn lead after first round of British Open

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Times wires
Thursday, July 14, 2011

SANDWICH, England — Tom Lewis gets his name from Tom Watson, who was his father's golf hero. Dad, by the way, spent his formative years as a club rival of a young up-and-comer named Nick Faldo.

Watson and Faldo have eight British Open titles between them. But not even they accomplished what Lewis did Thursday:

The lowest round by an amateur at a major championship and a share of the Open lead.

"I think I was in the zone. I didn't really know what I was doing," said Lewis, 20, whose birdies at Nos. 14-17 helped him shoot 5-under 65 and tie Thomas Bjorn at Royal St. George's.

"I was just thrilled to be here, but to shoot 65 in the first round was something I wouldn't have thought. I was just happy to get the drive off the tee on the first (hole)."

The only other amateurs to shoot 65 in a major did it at the U.S. Open: James McHale (1947), Jim Simons (1971) and Nick Taylor (2009). Lewis became the first amateur to lead a major since Mike Reid at the 1976 U.S. Open.

Lewis, who captured the British Boys' Championship two years ago on this same course, earned his Open place two weeks ago by winning a 36-hole qualifier in Rye. The reward: a tee time with his namesake.

"He's quite a refined player," said Watson, 61, a five-time Open winner. "I just had to smile inside to watch him play.

"He could be my grandson."

Born in Welwyn, a small town north of London, Lewis was taught the game by his father, Brian, who briefly played on the European PGA Tour. His mother, Lynda, joked her younger son Jack is named after Nicklaus.

"Is it just the boys?" she was asked.

"No, we have a daughter," she said.

When pressed about which golfer Stacy might be named for, she said she was actually named "after a model my husband fancied."

Lewis is dyslexic, so school was a struggle. Just 16, he jumped at the chance to take a different path, to devote his life to golf.

His swing coach is Pete Cowen, who works with Bjorn and other PGA Tour and European Tour players. And he has faced formidable competition.

Since December, he has played in the Dubai Desert Classic, the Australian Open — where he finished 12th, ahead of Greg Norman, John Daly and Fred Couples — and the New South Wales Open — where he lost in a playoff to veteran Peter O'Malley.

Lewis expects to turn pro after September's Walker Cup, the amateur version of the Ryder Cup.

Thursday, he needed only eight putts to get through the first eight holes, including birdies at Nos. 3, 7 and 8. The rest were saves after he missed the green. He kept bailing himself out, chipping up next to the flag and sinking the putts.

Bogeys at Nos. 11 and 13 stymied his momentum. But Lewis pulled himself together to put together the four consecutive birdies and par at No. 18.

He was asked if he could have imagined shooting 65 or being tied for the lead, at the beginning of the tournament.

"Obviously it's one day," Lewis said. "I'm going to have to play just as well as I did (Thursday). I'm sure I'm not going to shoot four 65s."

Then, with a smile lifting the corners of his mouth, he added, with great timing, "And if I did, I will be winning."

That broke up the room.

As the laughter subsided, Lewis finished his answer.

"But I don't think that's going to be happening," he said. "I'm going to have tough moments (today). So as long as I limit my mistakes and shoot 70 or below, then I'll be more than happy.

"But to shoot 65 was excellent, but to then hold off the best players in the world is going to be even harder. I'm just going to focus on what I can do and then see what happens."

Kellmeyer honored by Hall

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Longtime St. Petersburg resident Fern "Peachy'' Kellmeyer, the first employee of the Women's Tennis Association, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., on July 9. Kellmeyer and eight-time Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi were the 2011 inductees.

"It's a special day in my life,'' Kellmeyer said before the ceremony. "Tennis has been my life and my passion, so I just couldn't be happier.''

Kellmeyer, 66, was a standout junior and collegiate player before getting into coaching and administration. She held just about every job at the WTA, from player relations to policy decisions to directing tournaments around the world. She works part time at the WTA headquarters as a consultant.

"I very much still enjoy working with (WTA chairman and CEO) Stacey (Allaster) and with my colleagues in the St. Petersburg office,'' Kellmeyer said. "I'm very lucky I'm a consultant now. I don't have to go 9 to 5; I like that. But I just like to be involved so very much because it's my passion.''

More tennis

Alexis Franco of Largo won the girls 14 singles championship at the Summer Hummer Super Series in Orlando on July 3. She defeated No. 2 seed Emily Louie-Meadors 7-5, 6-0.

• The Seminole Lake Tennis Center July Spectacular Super Series was held July 2-4. The boys 14 singles winner was John Carlin, the 12 winner was Sebastian Korda and the 10 winner was Chase Martin. The girls 14 winner was Kyla Nuesa, the 12 winner was Laetitia Pulchartova and the 10 winner was Katya Vazhenin.

• The Timmy the Tiger's Summer Local tournament was held July 9-11 at the Royal Racquet Club in Clearwater. The boys 18 singles winner was Zachary Bessette, the 16 winner was Justin Hall and the 14 winner was Aaron Carey. The girls 18 singles champ was Carolina Barnett, the 16 winner was Taylor Kries and the 14 winner was Shannon Wagner.

• The Countryside Summer NTRP Designated was held at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater on July 9-11. The men's 3.0 singles winner was Larry Green, the 3.5 winner was Kevin Gunn, the 4.0 winner was Jaime Pineda, the 4.5 winner was Driss Ouazzani and the 5.0 winner was Patrick Gillant. The women's 4.0 winner was Gillian Dionne and the 4.5 winner was Maisa Kingstone.

Golf

The 19th annual Innisbrook Amateur tournament was held July 2-4. The winner was Rick Kittelstad of Tampa, who shot 213. Matt Cote of Palm Harbor was second with 214. Other locals include Rick Kerper of Safety Harbor (219), Devin Hernandez of Seminole (219), Linzy Clark III of Palm Harbor (223), Travis Ralph of Reddington Beach (223) and Neil Vanleeuwen of Tarpon Springs (224).

• The Future Masters tournament was held in Dothan, Ala., on June 30-July 2. Taylor Hancock of Clearwater finished tied for second with a three-round total 204. Pinellas Park's Jeffrey Heinicka, Palm Harbor's Dustin Dingus, Palm Harbor's Travis Huston, Clearwater's Harrison McClimans and St. Petersburg's Anthony Quinttessenza did not qualify for the final round.

• The County Golf Association held a better ball tournament July 11 at Feather Sound. The regular division gross winners were Kevin Andress and Jim Fannin, who shot 73. The senior division gross winners were Bobby Kilgore and Brian Hawke, who shot 66. The overall net winners were Jim Hammar and Dan Barbaro, who shot 62.

• The West Coast Women's Golf Association held a tournament at the Bayou Club. The overall winner was Ryan Ashburn, who shot 74. The AA flight winner was Sisi Hedges, who shot 83. The A Flight winner was Kim Hollister, who shot 83. The B Flight winner was Sheila LeFors, who shot 86. The C Flight winner was Nan Habjan, who shot 87. The D Flight winner was Margie Irvin, who shot 92.

Baseball

Northeast Little League won the District 5 10 to 11-year-old championship July 9. The team advances to sectional play in two weeks in Holiday. Team members are Conlan Hale, Frankie Vitarelli, Bobby Helmling, Nick Miller, Alec Hower, Greg Miller, Will Bond, Jackson Parker, Micah Foerster, Dylan Ohanain and Luke Vari. Coaches are Frank Vitarelli, Jack Hower and Rob Helmling.

• The Pinellas Park Sharks 7-under All-Star team won the Dizzy Dean state tournament with a 4-1 record. The team plays this weekend in Calhoun, Ga., at the Dizzy Dean national tournament. Team members are Trevor Armstrong, JoJo Becker, Chad Cloud, Joseph Garcia, Jacob Green, Justin Jacobs, Jordan Lawton, Shane McClanahan, Caiden O'Brien, Luke Percifield, Matthew Robinson, Jack Thompson, and Dallas Webb. The team is coached by Dave Thompson, Joey Becker, Dave Armstrong, and Geovanni Garcia.

Senior Games

The 2011 Senior Games were held in Houston in June and early July, and several area athletes earned medals. In badminton, Christopher Hee of Dunedin teamed with Pravit Choonit to finish second in the men's doubles 7-74 age group. In 3-on-3 basketball, the Clearwater Aces finished second with a 7-2 record. In bowling, Christine Srock of Pinellas Park teamed with Katie O'Brien to win the women's doubles 55-59 age group. Srock also teamed with Dean Tabbert to finish second in the mixed doubles 55-59 group. In cycling, Carol Jean Vosburgh of Treasure Island won the 20K road race in the 65-69 age group. Vosburgh also finished second in the 10K time trials and won the women's 65-69 triathlon. In softball, the Freedom Spirit of St. Petersburg finished third in the 70-plus age group. In table tennis, Nahed Williams of Redington Shores was third in both the women's singles and doubles 65-69 age group, and Sari Kisbany of Redington Shores teamed with Harriet Brin to win the women's 80-84 doubles. She also won the mixed doubles with Robert Quinn. Al Palumbo of Safety Harbor was second in both men's doubles and mixed doubles in the 75-79 age group. In the women's 70-74 triathlon, Rose Marie Ray of Seminole was second.

Volleyball

The Pinellas Heat 14 Elite team played in the National Junior Olympics in Atlanta and tied for third in the American division. Team members are Ashley Albers, Ava Lombardi, Marissa Brown, Majo Amundaray, Sara Brown, Sydney Burkett, Shea Hamilton, Rachel Odell, and Katie Moore. The coach is Kelleigh O'Neill.

The first round

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Forgetting 2003

Eight years ago, the last time the Open was held at Royal St. George's, Thomas Bjorn squandered a two-stroke lead over the final three holes. That included needing three swings to escape a bunker at No. 16. The Dane didn't even get into this year's event until Monday, when Vijay Singh withdrew. On Thursday, Bjorn birdied Nos. 14-16 and shot 5-under 65 to share the lead. "I probably didn't dwell on it as much as some people thought," Bjorn said of his 2003 collapse. "I think the only really hard time I had with it was when I came back … the year after." Bjorn got some good fortune at No. 16 this time. Appearing headed to the bunker, the ball instead bounced onto the green and rolled toward the cup. "We all know what it's like," Bjorn said. "A bounce here or there, and then it goes either wrong or right. (Thursday), it went my way." Through it all, he said, there was no thought of trying to make up for 2003. "A lot of people make a lot of things about that," he said. "But the only way I can play golf is to concentrate on the shot in front of me. It never entered my mind."

Hole of the day: No. 17

Distance/par: 426 yards; 4

Stroke average: 3.89 (second lowest)

The skinny: Amateur Tom Lewis birdied the hole to move into a tie for the lead. Miguel Angel Jimenez, Lucas Glover and Webb Simpson, tied for third at one back, also birdied the hole. Co-leader Thomas Bjorn parred it.

Around the links

Ben Curtis, above, who won in 2003, the last time the Open was held at Royal St. George's, shot 7-over 77. Six golfers matched that, and there were four worse scores, including David Duval's 78. … Nearly half the field had completed the first round when Ricky Barnes found out he was even playing. Nicolas Coelsarts withdrew an hour before his afternoon tee time with an elbow injury. Barnes, the first alternate, warmed up quickly and shot 68. … A total of 35 players broke par on the normally tough layout, and another 15 matched par. The field average was 71.9. … No rain is projected for today, but winds are expected to increase as the day goes on to 20-25 mph.

Compiled from Times wires

Getting acclimated

PGA rookie Kyle Stanley missed a 9-footer Sunday for par at No. 18, helping Steve Stricker win the John Deere Classic. But he earned a spot in the Open by being the top finisher among those not qualified. Stanley, who shot 2-under 68, was optimistic enough that he took his passport to the John Deere but not enough so that he brought warm clothes, which he bought in England. "I didn't expect to be here," Stanley, 23, said. "But now I am, and I just hope I can take advantage of the opportunity."

Overlooked

Rory McIlroy, top left, was all the rage after routing the field at last month's U.S. Open. But Thursday it was fellow Northern Irishman Darren Clarke who had the big day, shooting 2-under 68.

"It's only the first round, but I played very nicely," said Clarke, whose round came during the calm weather of the afternoon. "My ball flight was pretty much under control, and that's what you've got to do to do well on links."

McIlroy battled winds and occasional rain in the morning to shoot 71. He three-putted for bogeys at Nos. 1 and 3 but played the final 15 holes at 1 under.

"It was a day where you just need to grind out a score," McIlroy said. "Anywhere around even par was a good start."

Quote of the day

"I'm not very excited. I'm going to go home and sleep."

Dustin Johnson, who made a hole-in-one at the 161-yard No. 16 with a wedge, on if it was hard to calm down on the next tee shot; he birdied No. 17 and shot par 70

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