Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Royals 2, White Sox 1
11 innings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sergio Santos' wild pitch allowed Alex Gordon to score the winning run for the Royals. White Sox starter John Danks gave up just five singles and did not allow a runner to reach third. It was his first start since June 25, when he strained his oblique. After starting 0-8 with a 5.25 ERA, Danks is 3-0 with a 0.88 ERA in his past five starts.
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Rockies 3, Braves 2
DENVER — Carlos Gonzalez singled home the winning run in the ninth for the Rockies. Eric O'Flaherty retired the first two batters of the inning before third baseman Martin Prado let Dexter Fowler's grounder go through his legs for a two-base error. Ty Wigginton was intentionally walked, and Gonzalez hit the first pitch to right. Fowler also caught Brian McCann's drive against the centerfield wall to end it.
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Brewers 5, D'backs 2
10 INNINGS
PHOENIX — Arizona lost shortstop Stephen Drew with a broken right ankle, then Milwaukee gave young reliever Ryan Cook a rude welcome to the big leagues with a three-run 10th. Drew was hurt sliding home in the fourth inning.
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Angels 9, Rangers 8
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Howie Kendrick had three hits and four RBIs, including a tiebreaking two-run single, and the Angels snapped the Rangers' 12-game winning streak. Torii Hunter homered for the Angels, whose six-run rally in the sixth wouldn't have been possible had it not been for two infield singles to shortstop by Mike Trout and Alberto Callaspo on close plays.
By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors-Fitness Editor
Thursday, July 21, 2011
There is good reason lobster divers are called bug hunters.
"The hardest part is finding them," said veteran lobsterman Bill Hardman. "They don't stay put. Lobsters love to move around."
When the special two-day spiny lobster sport season opens July 27, thousands of scuba divers and snorkelers will head to the Florida Keys hoping to bag their limit before the regular season opens on Aug. 6.
Many will go back to the same spot they dived the year before, and the year before that, but they could be disappointed.
"The hot spots change from season to season," said Hardman, who owns Aquatic Obsessions dive shop in St. Petersburg. "Weather has a lot to do with it. You can never count on finding them in the same place you found them before."
In the next six weeks, Hardman will lead trips to the state's prime lobster grounds.
Gulf of Mexico
Divers do catch spiny lobster in the waters off Tampa Bay, but these bugs tend to be scattered and more difficult to find.
"We don't have as many," Hardman said. "But the ones we do have are big — some as large as 15 pounds."
Diving the deep water of the Gulf can be challenging. Visibility can range from 80 feet on a good day to a few yards when the water is stirred up or full of algae. But if you are lucky enough to find lobsters, they taste just as good as those you will get in The Keys.
The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, ranges from North Carolina to Brazil. Divers call these creatures "bugs" because these crustaceans and insects are both invertebrates and come from the same phylum, Arthropoda.
The common traits lobster and insects share are jointed appendages — legs, antennae and mouthparts — hence the bug reference. They also have a rigid external skeleton that they molt or shed as they grow.
A Florida lobster looks a little like a crawfish. It doesn't have the large claws for hunting and defense like its cousin from the state of Maine. The spiny lobster's main defense is its speed. With one flip of the tail, these critters can take off in the blink of an eye, leaving a diver bewildered and empty-handed.
South Florida
Most of the hotels in the Keys will be booked next week, so if you don't already have reservations, you may consider an alternative lobster location. An added bonus — if you dive outside of Monroe County this sport season you can keep twice as many lobsters (12) each day as your Keys counterparts.
Jupiter, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami all have good lobstering grounds and a fraction of the divers. South Florida has another advantage. You can hunt for lobsters after sundown.
"They tend to move around more at night," Hardman said. "You will see 10, 15, even 20 of them out walking in a line across the sand."
Lobsters are great travelers. Marine biologists have tracked lobsters equipped with sonar tags for weeks at a time. One specimen walked 78 miles over a 42-day period, and then ended up in the same place it started.
But contrary to legend, lobsters do not "migrate" or walk across large expanses of open ocean. In fact, these crustaceans seldom travel far from home for one simple reason. They like warm water and the bottom of the sea floor is really cold.
Lobsters caught unprotected out on the open sand are not easy pickings. "They are faster than you think," Hardman said. "You haven't lived until you have been humiliated by a crustacean."
The Keys
If you do head to Monroe County, you will need to know how to measure a lobster. The average bug has a carapace (the shell that covers its body) length of 3 inches and weighs about 1 pound. Lobsters smaller than this are too "short" to take legally.
These creatures do get much bigger. The largest one on record had a 10-inch carapace length and weighed more than 21 pounds. Researchers aren't sure how old a lobster that size would be, but they guess about 21 years old.
You will also need to know how to identify an egg-bearing female. Female lobsters carry eggs (you will see them directly under the tail) for about a month anytime between April and August. An egg-bearing female is said to be "berried," and under the regulations they must be released unharmed.
A typical female lobster can produce about 300,000 orange-colored eggs per clutch. Large females can produce as many as 2 million eggs per clutch. The "berries" start out orange but darken as the eggs mature.
Bag limits
You may keep six lobsters per person per day in Monroe County (the Florida Keys) and Biscayne National Park, and 12 per person per day in the rest of Florida.
The possession limit on the water is equal to the daily bag limit; off the water, it is equal to the daily bag limit on the first day and double the daily bag limit on the second day.
Size limits
A legal spiny lobster must have a carapace that is at least 3 inches long, and the lobster must be measured in the water. You must have a measuring device in your possession at all times.
Special prohibitions
Night diving is prohibited in Monroe County during the sport season, but allowed in other areas of the state. A recreational saltwater license and a crawfish permit are needed for harvest. The harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season. Harvest is also prohibited during both the two-day sport season and regular season in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The NFL lockout is not over but owners are jingling the keys.
The league's owners arrived this morning at the Atlanta Marriott Gateway hopeful of voting to end the four month lockout.
"I'd be disappointed like 330 million people in America if it didn't get done today," Falcons owner Arthur Blank told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution upon arriving to the meetings Thursday.
On Wednesday, representatives from all 32 teams did grant conditional approval of the deal at the NFL Players Association meeting in Washington, D.C., assuming the antitrust lawsuit involving 10 players and other matters are resolved.
The list includes settling the television revenue lawsuit that was viewed as lockout insurance by the owners, as well as the matter of $320-million in benefits lost as part of the 2010 uncapped-year rules.
The NFLPA also would have to vote to re-certify the union so they could ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement on behalf of the players.
If owners are able to vote on the new CBA, it would require at least 24 owners to approve the deal. If it's passed by both sides, four executives from each team will be briefed today and Friday in Atlanta on the 2011 NFL calender, the rookie salary system and free agency rules.
But time is running short. The Hall of Fame preseason game in Canton, Ohio is in jeopardy as the Bears and Rams were scheduled to report to training camp Friday.
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Good news for USF baseball, as the Big East announced Thursday that the league's postseason tournament will return to Bright House Field in Clearwater for the next two seasons.
The tournament has found a home in Clearwater, playing there in 2006 in USF's first year in the league, then for the past three years at the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. It's a natural advantage for the Bulls -- that is, if USF can finish in the top eight standings and earn a spot in the tournament, something they failed to do this past season.
By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2011
HOOVER, Ala. — You can say whatever you want about Auburn's 2010 BCS title being tainted, the NCAA investigation that may or may not still be ongoing or any number of other accusations that continue to be hurled Auburn's way these days.
Gene Chizik isn't hearing you.
The Auburn coach steadfastly defended his program during a barrage of NCAA-related questions during SEC Media Days on Thursday, saying Auburn football is clean, its goals haven't changed simply because they graduated more than 20 seniors, he's moved on from last year, and his only concern is making the 2011 team the best it can be.
"The journey from this point and time last year to now has been incredible for us," said Chizik, who played a Clearwater High. "But I want to make this really, really clear because the minute our plane hit the ground in Montgomery on Jan. 11, we had moved on. We have been focused and locked on the 2011 football season."
Auburn begins the post-Cameron Newton era on Sept. 3 against Utah. And surprisingly, the Tigers don't feel like they are getting the respect due a team that finished 14-0 with a BCS title last season.
"Again, like last year, people are underestimating us and not giving us a chance so we're not in the spotlight as much," Auburn tight end Phillip Lutzinkirchen said. "But that's the way we like it. We'd rather prove everyone wrong than prove everyone right. That gives us a lot more motivation. We definitely have the talent, we just don't have the experience."
"Just how people are perceiving us to be this year, I think we are under the radar," wide receiver Emory Blake said. "People aren't expecting much from us and we take that to heart. We use that in our workouts and we're working hard."
The main reason preseason prognosticators may be looking past the Tigers is the loss of 18 starters, including Newton- the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner who accounted for a school-record 4,327 total yards last season and 20 touchdowns. Also gone is defensive tackle Nick Fairley, a first round NFL draft pick, and nearly its entire starting offensive line. Only nine players remain from the 2007 and 2008 signing classes, Chizik said.
"We have a very young team," Chizik said. "But make no mistake about it, the standard for Auburn University and the goals for Auburn University, no matter if we are going to play 22 freshmen, have not changed. That is to graduate our players and win championships."
Chizik, who is 22-5 in two seasons at Auburn, deftly handled questions about recent reports that the NCAA has not concluded its investigation into the recruitment of Newton, and about an alleged heated conversation between he and NCAA vice president of enforcement Julie Roe Lach during the SEC spring meetings in June in Destin. Several SEC coaches spoke on the record about the incident with a reporter and said Chizik was told the NCAA has not concluded its overall investigation.
"I'll make this real clear: The NCAA on more than one occasion has said that Auburn has done nothing wrong in the recruitment of Cam Newton," Chizik said. "Nothing's changed. I can't control everybody's microphone. Can't control everybody's opinion. Don't try to. … I feel great about where we are as a football program. I sleep really good every night that my head hits the pillow. That's what I can control. So I know we're every day doing things the right way. That's what I can put my time and energy into. So that's what I do."
Antonya English can be reached at English@sptimes.com.
By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2011
HOOVER, Ala. — If Mark Richt is a coach on the hot seat, he clearly didn't show it during his appearance at SEC Media Days on Thursday.
Richt is entering his 11th season as Georgia's coach, and the Bulldogs are coming off a seven-loss season, their first losing season since 1996. But Richt said he's energized and believes the Bulldogs are ready to get back on the right track. Everything's all right in Athens, he said.
"I know if you walk in the Butts-Mehre (football facility) building, there's not one sense off doom or gloom," Richt said. "There's only excitement, only guys that are thankful that we've got a new season and a clean slate and the ability to play some great opponents to start the year. The expectations are just as high as they've ever been going into any season. … I don't worry about all that. I don't worry about the future. I worry about enjoying the ride. We're in good shape."
The Bulldogs will find out quickly whether that's true. Georgia opens the season in the Georgia Dome against Boise State, then hosts SEC East favorite South Carolina. Richt said he's playing Boise State out of necessity.
"There's a risk in playing a team that might whip your tail because they might whip your tail," he said. "But in order for us to get back where we want to be, which is highly-ranked and highly thought of, we need to play this game."
Meanwhile, the Georgia players want to do everything they can to make sure he remains the Georgia coach.
"It (criticism) kind of hurts a little bit because coach Richt is a tremendous man," said QB Aaron Murray, a former Plant standout. "I love playing for him, the team loves playing for him and we definitely want him to be here throughout our time at Georgia. So we're going to get things done this year. We're going to get some wins under our belt and make sure he stays here for the long run."
LIVE AND LEARN: It took awhile, but ultimately Tennessee coach Derek Dooley was unable to escape a question about how he handled two of the strangest endings in college football last season: the 16-14 loss at LSU and a 30-27 double overtime loss to North Carolina in the Music City Bowl. Both were games the Vols thought they had won, but a penalty and an officials review allowed LSU and North Carolina final plays that changed the outcome.
"I told everybody I was 8-7 in postgame handshakes," Dooley said. "You live, you learn and you move on. I'm glad those things happened in my first year. I hope they don't happen as we get deeper into this experience."
By Seth Leto, Times Correspondent
Thursday, July 21, 2011
What's hot: The daytime snook bite has slowed a bit, but the nighttime bite continues to be hot. Remember, snook remain off limits for harvest in Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County waters, so they must be released. Snook can be seen spawning during the afternoon outgoing tide. The fish will drop into deeper water after they finish the spawn, and as the sun starts to set they feed aggressively. Snook feed throughout the night, although the best bite will be during the first hours before and after the tide turns.
Tactics: Snook can be found in deeper cuts along the beach and in the passes leading out from the Intercoastal Waterway to the gulf. For the bigger snook, try using a hand-size pinfish, mullet or threadfin herring, and concentrate on the passes. Look for an area of good moving water that is diverted by structure, such as a point, jetty or bridge piling. The biggest concentrations of fish will be in the eddies formed by swift-moving current that passes around the structure. Cast your bait up current and let it drift naturally with the tide.
Tackle: When fishing the beach, all that is needed is a 10- to 12-pound spinning outfit, a piece of 30-pound leader and a hook to match the size of the bait. When fishing around bridge or dock pilings, beef up the tackle. Use 30- to 50-pound braid on a large spin or conventional outfit, a piece of 48-pound test leader and a thicker gauge hook. If the current is too strong, use a little weight to slow the bait down during its drift.
Seth Leto charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at capt.seth@yahoo.com or (727) 385-0382.
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
By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Making news
fwc LIFTS cAMPFIRE BAN AFTER RAINS
Recent rains have allowed Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials to lift a ban on campfires in wildlife management areas, wildlife and environmental areas and other land it manages. The ban was in place because dry conditions made it more likely for fire to spread. Of course, wildfires can still occur, so the FWC urges campers to ensure the fires remain under control and are completely extinguished after use.
State welcomes help with fish kills
The summer combination of high temperatures and rainy days is not always good for fish. This is the time of year when fish kills are common in Florida waters, but do not worry, they are natural occurrences. The FWC is looking for your help in recording fish kills. Residents who find fish kills in natural bodies of water are urged to report them at www.myfwc.com/fishkill or call toll-free, 1-800-636-0511.
Fishing
Ladies-only event benefits charities
The Old Salt Fishing Club will hold its 23rd annual ladies tournament Aug. 11-13 at the Madeira Beach Municipal Marina. While men can captain and mate the boat, only women can actually catch the fish. Species range from redfish and trout to grouper and amberjack. The tournament benefits the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation and All Children's Hospital. For information, call (727) 216-6601 or e-mail info@oldsaltfishingfoundation.org.
Volunteers
Tarpon event needs keen eyes
The Suncoast Tarpon Roundup is looking for observers and judges for its "Finale Day" on July 30. Observer/judges are responsible for verifying release times and taking a DNA sample. Fishing hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, contact webmaster@suncoast tarponroundup.org.
Things to do
• Island Nautical grand opening and open house; 2233 3rd Ave. S., St. Petersburg; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. On hand: marine product reps, tours, food and drinks. Information: (727) 577-3220.
Rodney Page, Times staff writer
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
LE MONETIER-LES-BAINS, France — Andy Schleck led a daring attack in the Alps to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, putting him within seconds of the yellow jersey and quashing the hopes of a fourth title for Spain's Alberto Contador'
France's Thomas Voeckler narrowly kept the lead by muscling up a punishing final climb to limit the damage at the end of the 125-mile trek from Pinerolo, Italy, to the Galibier Serre-Chevalier ski station in France.
Contador started the stage trailing Voeckler by several minutes after a rough start to the three-week race and finished it with a dismal final climb. "Victory is impossible now," said Contador, who has won the past two Tours and three of the past four.
Luxembourg's Schleck began the day fourth and is now 15 seconds behind Voeckler. He attacked on the second of three grueling climbs and held on all the way on the fabled Galibier pass to the highest-altitude finish in the race's 108-year history.
"I told the team (Wednesday) that I had this in mind. I wasn't going to be fourth in Paris," Schleck said. "I said I'd risk it all. …It's my character: I'm not afraid to lose."
Standing next to Schleck, Voeckler — who has repeatedly insisted that he can't win when the race finishes Sunday in Paris — said: "You'll get it."
Frank Schleck was second Thursday, trailing his brother by 2:07. Frank Schleck is third overall, 1:08 back.
Contador was the day's biggest loser, trailing in 15th place — 3:50 behind. Overall, he trails the French leader by 4:44 in seventh place.
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Braves 9, Rockies 6
DENVER — Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman each homered and the Braves overcame Tommy Hanson's shaky start. Trailing 6-5, Brooks Conrad tied it in the seventh with a homer, Alex Gonzalez doubled and Nate McLouth tripled.
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver won a riveting duel with fellow All-Star C.J. Wilson, and the Angels converted an error by Texas center fielder Endy Chavez into an unearned run, beating the Rangers 1-0 on Thursday and moving within three games of the AL West leaders.
"You knew it was going to be a battle because C.J. is having a great year and he's turned himself into a great pitcher," Weaver said. "It's been fun going out there and battling."
Weaver scattered seven hits in seven-plus innings and struck out six to win his seventh straight decision and reduce his major-league-best ERA to 1.81, the lowest ever by an Angels pitcher through his first 21 starts of a season.
The Angels got a break in the second when Mike Trout's routine flyball broke off the glove of Chavez in right-center for an error that allowed Howie Kendrick to score from second with two outs.
Wilson allowed two hits over eight innings, struck out eight and walked one.
"I'm sure all 18 hitters that started were frustrated," Angels DH Torii Hunter said. "But it was an old-time pitchers' duel and everyone else loved it. We hated it."
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Cardinals 6, Mets 2
NEW YORK — Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Jake Westbrook had the Mets pounding the ball into the ground over eight innings to avoid a three-game sweep. Westbrook recorded 17 outs on ground balls, including two double plays, and allowed only four hits and two runs. "This guy don't mess around," Pujols said. "Working fast, keeping the ball down. He had his sinker going."
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Padres 5, Marlins 3
MIAMI — Dustin Moseley and three relievers held the Marlins without an earned run, and the Padres, who had a scary moment with Orlando Hudson (see notebook, below) completed a three-game sweep. Cameron Maybin, playing against his former team, had four hits and scored twice for the Padres, who outscored the Marlins 23-6.
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Blue Jays 7, Mariners 5
TORONTO — Rajai Davis hit a tiebreaking double over rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki in the eighth to hand the Mariners their 12th straight loss. Miguel Olivo erased a 5-1 deficit by hitting Seattle's first grand slam of the season in the top of the eighth. "We've got to get tougher," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "This game will eat you up if you don't get tougher. … We can't keep pouting about it."
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2011
. UP NEXT
at Royals
Tonight-Sunday
What's new: The Royals, who traded ace Zack Greinke in the offseason, are working on an increasingly bright future. Top prospects 3B Mike Moustakas and 1B Eric Hosmer have been called up and inserted in the lineup, joining LF Alex Gordon and DH Billy Butler. Pitching, as usual, is the problem, specifically a rotation that has only 20 wins and a 4.99 ERA. They're also in sellers' mode, trading INF Wilson Betemit to Detroit and reportedly talking about others, such as OFs Melky Cabrera and Jeff Francouer. The bigger prize is closer Joakim Soria.
Key stat: Royals outfielders lead the majors with 33 assists and have thrown out 18 runners at the plate.
Connections: Rays DH Johnny Damon, RHP Kyle Farnsworth, LHP J.P. Howell, RHP Joel Peralta and injured RHP Juan Cruz are former Royals. … K.C. hitting coach Kevin Seitzer is the father of Rays' 11th-round draft pick 1B Cameron Seitzer, now playing at Princeton.
Series history: The Rays lead 60-46, including 25-24 at Kauffman Stadium.
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Times wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
MIAMI — Padres 2B Orlando Hudson made a quick recovery Thursday afternoon from a collision with a wall that knocked him unconscious.
Hudson left the field strapped to a stretcher on a cart with his neck in a brace. But shortly after a 5-3 win over the Marlins, he was walking in the clubhouse texting on his phone.
Hudson went to a hospital for precautionary tests. He was expected to be fine and was likely to rejoin the team in Philadelphia today, a Padres spokesman said.
"It was a scary moment," manager Bud Black said. "When a guy goes unconscious, you're worried. Any sort of collision with a wall or a teammate is just a sickening feeling in your stomach, and I think we all had that."
After Hudson leaned forward to make a running catch of a popup in foul territory, his momentum took him into the padded wall. He turned away just before hitting the wall, so the back of his head and right shoulder took the brunt of the impact.
Hudson fell onto his back with the ball in his glove. Umpire Tim Timmons signaled the batter out, then began waving for help.
The game was delayed for nearly 10 minutes while Hudson received treatment on the field and regained consciousness. Eventually he moved his arms, spoke and shook at least one teammate's hand.
Cardinals: SS Ryan Theriot sat out after his two-game suspension for making contact with an umpire during an argument was cut in half. When Theriot appealed, the league offered to drop the penalty to one game if he served it immediately, and he agreed.
Diamondbacks: INF Cody Ransom was called up from Triple-A Reno to replace injured SS Stephen Drew, who broke his right ankle Wednesday sliding into home. Drew is out for the season and probably needs surgery, the team said.
Rockies: OF Carlos Gonzalez homered but left in the fifth with a right wrist injury while swinging. It's the same wrist that sustained a bone bruise July 3 and caused him to miss eight games.
Twins: OF Jason Kubel (sprained left foot) is expected to be activated from the disabled list pending a medical evaluation. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Kubel would likely play today.
Times staff, wires
Thursday, July 21, 2011
NBA
Turkish team ponders LOCKOUT offer to Kobe
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish club Besiktas is in talks with Kobe Bryant's representatives about the Lakers star playing in Turkey during the lockout.
"It is a fact that Kobe Bryant's managers have contacted us," coach Ergin Ataman said, a week after Besiktas signed Nets point guard Deron Williams.
Ataman said Bryant was waiting for an offer from Besiktas. The club said it needs a sponsor to pay for Bryant's contract.
"Our board will evaluate that," Ataman said.
Bryant has been on a tour of China. He said he would consider playing overseas during the NBA lockout and mentioned China and Turkey as possibilities.
PISTONS: The team reportedly will offer Lawrence Frank its coaching position within two days. John Kuester was fired June 5. Frank, 40, was 225-241 in 61/2 seasons as coach of the Nets, who fired him in November 2009 after an 0-16 start. He was a Celtics assistant last season. Former Hawks coach Mike Woodson was the other finalist. Other known candidates included former Piston Bill Laimbeer and Magic assistant Patrick Ewing.
Soccer
Chavez, Castro agree: Venezuela was robbed
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez commiserated with his country's fans, saying the national team was "robbed" of a goal in Wednesday's Copa America semifinal loss to Paraguay.
Chavez, who is undergoing cancer treatment in Cuba, posted messages on his Twitter account Thursday morning.
"Paraguay didn't beat us in that game," one message said. The president added that he had been watching the match with former Cuban President Fidel Castro and they both "clearly saw the goal they took away from us."
"In my modest opinion," Chavez continued, " … THEY ROBBED US OF THE VICTORY GOAL! And I hope that with this I'm not offending anybody!"
Big signing: Barcelona signed Chile forward Alexis Sanchez from Udinese to a five-year, $37 million deal, the European champion's first major signing during the offseason transfer market. Sanchez, 22, is the first Chilean player to join Barcelona.
Et cetera
Basketball: Former Olympic sprinter Marion Jones was cut by the WNBA's Tulsa Shock, bringing her future in the sport into question. She was averaging less than a point per game in 14 appearances. The guard, 35, said she appreciates the "opportunity to fulfill a dream" and hopes to still contribute to professional women's basketball. … The U.S. under-19 women beat Japan 85-63 in the opener of the World Championship in Puerto Montt, Chile. The three-time defending champion plays Russia today.
Colleges: The Big East announced that its postseason baseball tournament will return to Bright House Field in Clearwater for the next two seasons.
NHL: Mike "Doc" Emrick is stepping down as the voice of the Devils after 21 years. Emrick, almost 65, is leaving MSG Network and will work a reduced schedule for NBC and Versus. … The brother of former Wild and Rangers player Derek Boogaard, who died from a drug overdose in May, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing illegal prescription pills on the same night. Aaron Boogaard, 24, was held without bail in Minneapolis.
Running: Former Olympic and world 100-meter champion Linford Christie was banned from the road for 15 months and fined $8,000 after being found guilty of careless driving in London.
Horses: Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was arrested Wednesday night in San Diego for investigation of DUI.
tennis: No. 1 seed Mardy Fish of Tampa opened defense of his title in the Atlanta Tennis Championships with a 6-3, 6-3 third-round victory over Nicolas Mahut in Norcross, Ga. Fish, who is 3-0 against Mahut, next plays No. 8 seed Somdev Devvarman.
Greg Auman, Times staff writer; Times wires
