By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2011

HOOVER, Ala. — This week, Florida coach Will Muschamp joked that he could use the results of the SEC coaches' preseason All-SEC team as motivation for the Gators. Florida didn't have any first-team players and had just two third-team defensive selections.

Now he'll have more fuel for the fire.

In the annual SEC Media Days preseason All-SEC team selected Friday by the media covering all 12 schools, Florida didn't have a player on first-, second- or third-team offense or first- or second-team defense.

The Gators had one player selected to the second team as a specialist, junior K Caleb Sturgis. Three players were selected to the All-SEC third team: DL Dominique Easley, LB Jon Bostic and all-purpose player Trey Burton (first team, 7C).

"People are going to talk. They are going to hate. It's just what it is," senior DE William Green said Wednesday. "People don't think we're going to be any good. They think, this guy's gone, that guy's gone. They are always more comfortable with names they recognize. But it's time for some new faces to step up, and that's just how it's going to be this year."

Georgia QB Aaron Murray and TE Orson Charles, a pair of former Plant High standouts, were first-team selections.

The Gators were picked to finish third in the SEC East behind South Carolina and Georgia. Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt round out the rest of the East. The Gators were picked to finish sixth overall behind Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia.

In the West, Alabama was picked to finish first, followed by LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn and Mississippi.

Jefferson's time: To say that LSU QB Jordan Jefferson has had an up-and-down career is an understatement, but coach Les Miles continues to be his biggest supporter. Miles said Friday that he believes Jefferson is poised to have a breakout season. Jefferson, now a senior, played in all 13 games last season and was 118-of-209 for 1,411 yards and seven touchdowns. He shared time with Jarrett Lee.

"Offensively, I think the addition of (new offensive coordinator) Steve Kragthorpe has really helped Jefferson," Miles said. "Jefferson is in his final campaign and really is at the best position that he has been in, listening and taking coaching. So he's been well-coached. It appears to me that that's happening. He also has a want to make this his team, to show leadership. I think, again, it's making a difference."

Whose state is it? This week, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen downplayed the school's decision to erect a billboard on I-55 at the Louisiana/Mississippi border that features Mullen in his MSU gear and the words "Welcome To Our STATE."

"To me, we are the state university for Mississippi," Mullen said. "We're the people's university. It's really important for us and for me to get out there and make sure we show that."

On Friday, Ole Miss players seemed more amused than annoyed. After all, it is their state, too.

"If that's what it takes to get them going, so be it," DE Kentrell Lockett said. "It's a billboard. It's words. I'm not worried about it."

Maybe they can settle it when Mississippi State hosts Ole Miss on Nov. 26 in Starkville.

By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2011

TAMPA — The Dew Tour has carved a niche in the action sports world by providing daredevil athletes with a professional league and increased television exposure, transforming skateboarding and BMX from idle pastimes to full-fledged careers.

But every professional league needs a feeder program to identify young talent.

The Dew Tour has that, too.

The Gatorade Free Flow Tour has become the Dew Tour's minor league system. An amateur summer circuit in BMX and skateboarding, the Free Flow Tour, now in its seventh year, has stops across the country with winners in various categories.

Today, the Free Flow Tour comes to Skatepark of Tampa for the first time.

"Overall, it's a pretty organized series," Skatepark of Tampa general manager Ryan Clements said. "The nice thing about it is it gives athletes an opportunity to work their way up and it gives them recognition."

Skateboarding is always looking for new blood. After all, Father Time catches up fast for athletes who spend years flipping and twisting and surviving bone-crunching falls. In its ever-changing sports scene, skateboarding has undergone a youth movement with teen pros becoming standard.

But no one turns professional just because they are young. Skateboarders need a body of work. They attend amateur contests, produce web videos and generate buzz through word of mouth.

"It's a hard and long process," said CJ Dixon, who skates for Skatepark of Tampa and will participate in this weekend's Free Flow Tour. "You can put a lot of work into becoming a professional skateboarder. But there are not really clear goals or steps that you have to become one."

One of the ways skateboarders can get recognized is by attending amateur contests. One of the most renowned is the Tampa Am, which is hosted by Skatepark of Tampa each December and includes competitors from around the world. But winning the contest does not guarantee a spot as a pro.

"You just know when someone has it," Clements said. "They have that quality about them."

The Free Flow Tour offers something different. There are more than 40 contests from May through September. The winners at each stop get to compete in a contest that is held in conjunction with the Dew Tour. Two skateboarding and two BMX champions then get to compete with professionals on the Dew Tour's final stop of the season.

Instead of grinding through the amateur ranks for years, a skateboarder or BMX rider can fast-forward the process by performing well enough to get face time with some of the best in the business.

"The tour gives a lot of guys who have struggled to get noticed a chance," Clements said. "It can catapult you pretty quickly. There's something super positive about that and the way Gatorade has given back to skateboarding in that way and tries to recognize young talent."

And the younger the athlete is, the better. Last year, the Free Flow Tour set an age limit of 21 for competitors in skateboarding and BMX.

Dixon, 19, is close to reaching the limit. He rides for Gatorade in an ambassador program that helps him defray costs for traveling to events. Two years ago, he made it to the final of the Free Flow Tour but was not one of the two skateboarding champions who got to compete with the pros.

"Getting to the final stop is not going to automatically make you become a professional skateboarder," Dixon said. "But it will definitely give you some recognition. That's what I'm looking for. I've been skating for about 10 years now, and my goal still is to make it as a pro."

By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2011

TAMPA — The Dew Tour has carved a niche in the action sports world by providing daredevil athletes with a professional league and increased television exposure, transforming skateboarding and BMX from idle pastimes to full-fledged careers.

But every professional league needs a feeder program to identify young talent.

The Dew Tour has that, too.

The Gatorade Free Flow Tour has become the Dew Tour's minor-league system. An amateur summer circuit for BMX bikes and skateboarding, the Free Flow Tour, now in its seventh year, has stops across the country crowning winners in various categories.

Today, the Free Flow Tour comes to Skatepark of Tampa for the first time.

"Overall, it's a pretty organized series," Skatepark of Tampa general manager Ryan Clements said. "The nice thing about it is it gives athletes an opportunity to work their way up, and it gives them recognition."

Skateboarding is always looking for new blood. After all, Father Time catches up fast with athletes who spend years flipping, twisting and surviving bone-crunching falls. In its ever-changing sports scene, skateboarding has undergone a youth movement, with teenage pros becoming standard.

But no one turns pro just because they are young. Skateboarders need a body of work. They attend amateur contests, produce Web videos and generate buzz through word of mouth.

"It's a hard and long process," said CJ Dixon, who skates for Skatepark of Tampa and will participate in this weekend's Free Flow Tour. "You can put a lot of work into becoming a professional skateboarder. But there are not really clear goals or steps that you have to become one."

One of the ways skateboarders can get recognized is by attending amateur contests. One of the most renowned is the Tampa Am, which is hosted by Skatepark of Tampa each December and includes competitors from around the world. But winning the contest does not guarantee a spot as a pro.

"You just know when someone has it," Clements said. "They have that quality about them."

The Free Flow Tour offers something different. There are more than 40 contests from May through September. The winners at each stop get to compete in a contest that is held in conjunction with the Dew Tour. Two skateboarding and two BMX champions from there then get to compete with pros at the Dew Tour's final stop of the season in Las Vegas.

Instead of grinding through the amateur ranks for years, a skateboarder or BMX rider can fast-forward the process by performing well enough to get face time with some of the best in the business.

"The tour gives a lot of guys who have struggled to get noticed a chance," Clements said. "It can catapult you pretty quickly. There's something super positive about that and the way Gatorade has given back to skateboarding in that way and tries to recognize young talent."

And the younger the athlete is, the better. Last year, the Free Flow Tour set a maximum age limit of 21 for competitors in skateboarding and BMX.

Dixon, 19, is close to reaching the limit. He rides for Gatorade in an ambassador program that helps him defray costs for traveling to events. Two years ago, he made it to the Free Flow Tour Final but was not one of the two champions from that event who got to compete with the pros.

"Getting to the final stop is not going to automatically make you become a professional skateboarder," Dixon said, "but it will definitely give you some recognition. That's what I'm looking for. I've been skating for about 10 years now, and my goal still is to make it as a pro."

By Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2011

. Tonight

FC Tampa Bay at Atlanta Silverbacks

When/where: 7:30; Atlanta Silverbacks Park

Records: Tampa Bay 5-5-6 (21 points); Atlanta 2-11-3 (9 points)

Watch: fctampabay.com

Series: This is the third of four meetings. Tampa Bay earned a 1-1 draw April 30, with Mike Ambersley scoring the tying goal. In that game, Tampa Bay goalkeeper Daryl Sattler suffered a season-ending knee injury. Ambersley scored two goals in the second meeting, a 3-2 home win June 12. Aaron King's goal in the 86th minute was the winner. Silverbacks defender Willie Hunt has scored in each game of the series.

Last time out: Tampa Bay earned what might've been its best win of the year, 2-1 at then-second place Edmonton, rebounding from a 4-0 loss in its last trip to Foote Field. Tampa Bay overcame a 1-0 deficit and won on Ambersley's goal in the 71st minute. Assistant David Hayes served as head coach while Ricky Hill was away due to a death in the family. Atlanta is coming off its best road trip of the season, including a 3-2 win July 9 at Fort Lauderdale and a 2-2 draw Sunday in Montreal.

Skinny: Tampa Bay defender and team captain Frankie Sanfilippo will miss the game; he was hospitalized Thursday after suffering dehydration symptoms during practice. Sanfilippo has played all 1,440 minutes this season. … Tampa Bay is unbeaten its past four league games and past five overall (3-0-2), including the exhibition win over English Premier League team Bolton on July 14. That's the second-longest unbeaten streak in team history (it had a seven-game streak in May). … Tampa Bay has earned points in each of its past three road games (one win, two ties). … Atlanta has scored eight goals in its past three games. … Chad Burt (foot) is doubtful — he has missed the past seven league matches — and midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (hamstring) is probable. Hill will miss his second game.

Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 22, 2011

. tonight

Storm (6-11) vs. San Jose (7-10)

When/where: 7:30; St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa

TV/radio: BHSN; 1250-AM

The skinny: With neither team making the playoffs, tonight's game is for pride and auditions for next season. Former USF QB Matt Grothe is expected to make his first AFL start for the Storm. Grothe came on in relief during last week's 58-40 loss to Georgia and went 12-for-24 for 161 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. … LB Cliff Dukes, who missed the Georgia game after signing with the United Football League's Virginia Destroyers, returns to the Storm finish the season. Dukes, who is back because the UFL postponed the start of its season, is three sacks from equaling the AFL single-season record of 15½. … San Jose has been hampered by injuries all season, sending 22 players to the injured reserve list. SaberCats QB Mark Grieb needs 150 yards to surpass Chris Greisen's single-season passing yardage record of 5,146. … This is the 15th meeting; San Jose holds an 8-6 advantage. The teams have combined to appear in 14 of the 23 ArenaBowls. The Storm has the most titles (five) in league history; the SaberCats have three. … This marks just the third time in team history the Storm will not be in the postseason (2006, 2008). Its six wins are tied for the fewest in team history. Its 11 losses are the most in team history, although the season was extended to 18 games this year.

Brandon Wright, Times correspondent

By Dave Walker, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 22, 2011

What's hot: With stifling heat and afternoon thunder­storms occurring almost daily, those early risers among us have had some angling success in the first part of the day. Waking before the roosters is not only more comfortable, but it's usually more successful. Recent morning high tides have made for some quality fishing and also enabled anglers to be back in port before lunchtime.

Tip: Heat and sun abatement are an issue this time of year. Large, big-brimmed hats are a great method of solar protection. Loose cotton clothing and a good pair of sunglasses are also very useful. Taking the sun seriously will not only help keep you cool, but it also might even save your life. By the way, crank-up style outdoor umbrellas in a rod holder can create a highly coveted shade area, in lieu of a proper T-top.

What's hot: Fishing has been a bit tough lately, though those dealing with the dog days of summer have been catching mangrove snapper in good numbers. Snapper are really quick and especially delicious. Serious mangrove snapper anglers bring extra bait and patience; these fish are notorious bait stealers. Regular shrimp and small baitfish will usually trigger strikes from the sneaky rascals that would be comfortable in a Jacuzzi. The strikes from a summer mangrove snapper are often subtle. Therefore, anglers seeking the snapper supper need to be on their "A" game and have a quick reaction time.

Dave Walker charters out of Tampa and can be reached at captdavewalker@verizon.net, snookfish.com or (813) 310-6531.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

Cubs 4, Astros 2

CHICAGO — Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano hit fifth-inning homers and the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano won for the first time since he returned from the DL with lower back tightness. Soriano started the four-run fifth with his first homer since June 19. "I just feel like I was thinking too much," Soriano said.

New York Times
Friday, July 22, 2011

After Tiger Woods revealed this week that he had fired longtime caddie Steve Williams, it didn't take long to start getting ugly. Williams has used his website and a TV interview to blast Woods.

Contrast this firing, in an age of inside information, with what happened in 1981 when Jack Nicklaus ended his relationship with his caddie, Angelo Argea, after 18 years. Argea, a fixture as the most recognizable caddie on tour because Nicklaus was the best player and thus got the most TV time, was aggrieved that Nicklaus did not give him what he considered to be a suitable send-off.

The situations are not precisely parallel, mainly because Argea was not nearly as skilled as Williams at the caddie's basic duties. He never tried to talk Nicklaus out of a strategic decision nor into switching his club choice. Neither had Nicklaus been embroiled in any scandals that might have given Argea ammunition for vague threats about an upcoming expose.

But one thing that was similarly handled was the way Argea made his grievances public. Not on his website, because there was no such thing in 1981. He picked up a phone and called a golf writer in Miami to reveal that Nicklaus had fired him and had offered him a job picking up range balls at a North Palm Beach golf course — at minimum wage.

The reporter tried to contact Nicklaus, phoning his PR man. Nicklaus could not be reached — no Twitter, e-mail or text messages back then — until the next day, when he phoned to confirm the firing, which was for neglecting to get hole placements at a tournament, and politely set the record straight on the disparities between what Argea had claimed and what actually had happened.

The whole thing was largely forgotten in a couple of weeks.

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 22, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Six time zones and more than 5,000 miles from his birthplace, Radivoje (Rod) Kalajdzic waited for the bell to ring.

The headgear was gone. The crowd was large. None of that mattered to the Derby Lane leadout.

Kalajdzic's professional boxing debut, a knockout of Nyantu Bolo June 3 at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, is still the buzz at the St. Petersburg greyhound track. As he celebrates his 20th birthday Wednesday, Kalajdzic will continue to train for his next light-heavyweight fight Sept. 9 at the same venue. The opponent for the native of Zenica, Serbia, has not been announced.

Kalajdzic dropped Bolo with a dynamic right hand, ending the scheduled four-round bout in only 34 seconds. Bolo, 35, a former bodybuilder and MMA fighter, had won his lone previous boxing decision.

"I was supposed to be live on ESPN (that night), but something happened and I was the last bout on the card," Kalajdzic said. "I guess I gave the fans something to wait for."

A year ago, Kalajdzic was hired at Derby Lane as a leadout, responsible for taking greyhounds to the starting box. He had quit boxing, but he returned at the urging of Jim McLoughlin, his agent and trainer who was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame on June 24.

"I honestly see Rod going a long way and becoming a champion," McLoughlin said. "He is such a great kid, and his composure is amazing."

McLoughlin, a longtime Derby Lane maintenance employee, owns Fourth Street Boxing and Community Center in St. Petersburg, where Kalajdzic started fighting five years ago. A 2010 graduate of Northeast High, Kalajdzic was 19-6 as an amateur.

Kalajdzic moved to St. Petersburg in 1998 when war broke out in Serbia. His uncle and aunt, St. Petersburg residents Jovo and Ljubica Todic, assisted in the relocation.

"A majority of my family, probably close to 50, are here now," Kalajdzic said. "At first, there were 20 to 25 of us that moved, and we all lived in one one-bedroom apartment."

His biggest fans are parents Marko and Sladjana Kalajdzic; sister Vanja, 22; and brother Veljko, 6. Radivoje has a green card and plans to become a U.S. citizen this year. He said footwork, hand speed and arm length are his strongest ring traits. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder has sparred with fighters such as former super-middleweight champion Jeff Lacy of St. Petersburg.

"I do fairly well with them, and they always tell me that I can be a champion one day," he said. "So I believe I can be."

McLoughlin said Kalajdzic is a dedicated fighter.

"Since Rod turned pro, he trains like an animal," he said. "I told him to take the Fourth of July off. I drove by the gym that day, the door was open, and in there was Rod by himself, training his butt off. That's what separates good fighters from the great fighters. He is hungry to be a champion."

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

EDMONTON, Alberta — Helio Castroneves is returning to Edmonton to defend a win he says was stolen from him.

"I can't wait to be there to turn my season around and get my second victory in a row for Edmonton," he said. "Unfortunately the series didn't agree with me."

Castroneves finished first at Edmonton's City Centre Airport last year but was cited for blocking Team Penske teammate Will Power three laps from the finish. The drive-through penalty dropped Castroneves to 10th and Scott Dixon, who crossed the finish line after Castroneves, was declared the winner.

The ruling sent Castroneves into a rage, and he had to be restrained after he stormed the race officials' tower.

"I don't agree with what they did, but you have to move on," the 36-year-old Brazilian said.

He went on to wins twice late last season, but 2011 has been marked by multiple crashes and mediocre finishes for Castroneves.

He has yet to finish on the podium in 10 races this season — his best finish was fourth last month on the oval in Texas.

He sits 12th in the championship, a distant 181 points behind leader Dario Franchitti heading into Sunday's Edmonton Indy.

It has gotten so bad that the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner has drawn criticism from other drivers, including Franchitti and Alex Tagliani.

Castroneves was involved in three crashes in the first three races. Then last month in Milwaukee, Franchitti accused him of repeatedly blocking and not understanding basic driving concepts.

"We've all had to adapt (to not blocking) … but Helio has not really (adapted), and he continues to do it," Franchitti said at the time.

Castroneves disagreed and compared the Scotsman to a whiny child.

Tagliani, sent for a spin by Castroneves July 10 in Toronto, has since stressed that any success in Edmonton is tied to how much distance he can put between himself and the Brazilian.

"It's a snowball nightmare," Castroneves said. "I've been doing everything the same. I guess it's just one of those seasons.

"We just have to regroup, keep moving forward. The ovals seem okay, but the road courses seem really difficult."

Castroneves has taken the checkered flag at least once in each of his 11 seasons with Penske, but he says he isn't focusing on keeping his streak going.

"I don't worry about that," he said. "If it will be, it will be."

He said it's not that is performance has fallen off, but that the other drivers on the IndyCar circuit are that much better.

"People don't realize the level of competition is so high — the level of the teams, the cars — that one bad result makes it very difficult (to compete for the title) now," he said.

It has been a humbling experience for the man from Sao Paulo with the infectious smile who has been second only to Danica Patrick among IndyCar drivers in mainstream popularity, having vaulted into the limelight after he won Dancing With the Stars in 2007.

His world was turned upside down soon after when he, his sister, and a third party were charged with federal income tax evasion.

He was acquitted after a six-week trial in 2009, but this May the IRS filed a civil claim in U.S. Tax Court saying Castroneves owes more than $6 million in taxes and penalties.

"The scar will always be there. We'll never forget what happened to us," he said. "It's not completely 100 percent over. All I can say is I have the right people to take care of this issue.

"I just have to continue racing. That's my expertise."

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

ALPE D'HUEZ, France — After 2,105 miles and nearly three weeks of racing, through three steep climbs into the Alps, the Tour de France will be decided today in a 26.4-mile sprint through Grenoble. This is like deciding a marathon with a 100-meter dash.

The potentially dramatic situation emerged Friday when, in the final mountain stage of the Tour, Luxembourg's Andy Schleck secured the overall leader's yellow jersey. Unlike the previous two Tours, he won't enter the penultimate and decisive stage behind Spain's Alberto Contador. But Australia's Cadel Evans lurks close, 57 seconds out, and is considered a superior time trialist.

One by one, in reverse order of the standings, riders will set out today in an individual time trial, the ultimate race against the clock. Their teammates will not be around to pull them along, as they dutifully did through ascents in the Pyrenees and the Alps.

Whoever stands on top after today will be sipping champagne Sunday during the final stage, a ceremonial ride into Paris.

"I couldn't have told a writer to create a better Tour de France," Schleck said. "It's all there — the suspense is perfect."

Much of the suspense lies in the Schleck-Evans showdown. Can Schleck, not a strong time trialist, make his lead stand up?

If Schleck felt he failed to properly widen his gap over Evans, he didn't show it after Stage 19. As he pulled on the yellow jersey, he kissed a stuffed animal, then told reporters: "My motivation is super. My legs are good. The condition is there. So I'm confident I can keep this into Paris."

France's Thomas Voeckler, who had been the leader from Stage 9 until Friday, did what he had predicted for a week: drop in the standings, into fourth. Schleck's brother Frank retained his hold on second.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

Tennis

Isner, Fish reach semis in Atlanta

NORCROSS, Ga. — John Isner says he'll need to be well-rested to beat Gilles Muller in the semifinals of the Atlanta Tennis Championships.

Isner took the right path to saving energy, overwhelming Yen-Hsun Lu 6-1, 6-2 in 56 minutes Friday.

The 6-foot-9 Isner, who needed almost three hours to beat fellow Tampa resident James Blake in three sets Wednesday night, faced little resistance from Lu.

"It's good to get off the court quickly," said Isner, the No. 3 seed. "It's what I didn't do my first round, so I'll definitely be fresh (today)."

Muller upset No. 2 seed Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3) to reach his first ATP semifinal since 2005.

Another Tampa resident, top seed Mardy Fish, advanced to the semifinals by beating Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 6-3. Fish faces Ryan Harrison or Rajeev Ram, who played late.

Soccer

U.S. women retain lead in FIFA rankings

The United States remained atop the FIFA women's world rankings despite its World Cup final defeat against Japan in a penalty-kicks shootout Sunday.

The United States, which has topped the standings since March 2008, was followed by Germany, Brazil, Japan and Sweden. England climbed four places to No. 6, ahead of France.

Canada fell two spots to No. 8, and Carolina Morace resigned as coach after the team failed to win a World Cup game.

Bribery case: Mohamed bin Hammam said he believes FIFA already has decided to find him guilty of bribing voters in his presidential contest against Sepp Blatter but insisted that "justice will eventually prevail." He has been accused of conspiring to pay Caribbean soccer leaders $40,000 at a May 10 meeting in Trinidad. A FIFA ethics panel was hearing his case, with a verdict expected today.

Et cetera

Basketball: Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki will play for Germany at the European Championship from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18 in Lithuania. The finalists qualify for the 2012 Olympics. … Trail Blazers assistant Bernie Bickerstaff interviewed with the Timberwolves for their head coaching job. … Nick Arison, 30, son of Heat owner Micky Arison, was named CEO. … The WNBA will celebrate its 15th anniversary by honoring the 15 best players in history — as voted on by fans, sports writers and current players and coaches — during halftime of today's All-Star Game (3:30, Ch. 28) in San Antonio, Texas. … The U.S. under-19 women (2-0) beat Russia (1-1) 76-53 at the World Championship in Puerto Montt, Chile. The three-time defending champs finish preliminary-round play against Argentina (0-2) today.

Horses: Uncle Mo completed his first workout since missing the Kentucky Derby with a liver ailment, breezing 3 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The 2-year-old could return for the King's Bishop on Aug. 27 at Saratoga. … Heavily favored Georgie's Angel scored a 1½-length victory in the 93rd running of the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on opening day at Saratoga.

Track: Usain Bolt overcame a tentative start to win the 100 meters in 9.88 seconds at the Monaco Diamond League meet. The Jamaican improved his personal best this season by 0.03 seconds, edging countryman Nesta Carter (9.90) and American Michael Rodgers (9.96). Carmelita Jeter (22.20) won the 200, with fellow Americans Allyson Felix (22.32) and Shalonda Solomon (22.63) finishing second and third, respectively.

Times wires

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

The NCAA told Ohio State it won't face the most severe charges possible in the scandal that cost coach Jim Tressel his job.

NCAA investigators said they found no evidence that Ohio State failed to properly monitor its football program or any evidence of a lack of institutional control, according to a letter sent to the university and released Friday.

Investigators also said they have not found new violations.

The notice clearing Ohio State of the most serious of institutional breaches is a big break for the university, which will meet with the NCAA's committee on infractions Aug. 12. That committee could accept penalties Ohio State placed on itself or could pile on recruiting restrictions, bowl bans and other, stiffer sanctions.

Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch said the NCAA's findings were consistent with the university's investigation into what happened.

Tressel stepped down under pressure in May, months after the university discovered e-mails showing he had been warned by an attorney in April 2010 about his players' involvement with a Columbus tattoo parlor owner. The coach knew players received cash and tattoos for autographs, championship rings and equipment but did not tell anyone at Ohio State or the NCAA for about nine months.

The university said this month that it would vacate the 2010 season, including its Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas and its share of the Big Ten champion­ship. It self-imposed a two-year probation, in addition to suspending six players for the first five games and forcing Tressel out.

Miles responds: LSU coach Les Miles defended his program's purchase of videos from a scouting service run by Willie Lyles, saying the Tigers needed the package to see game action of recruits. LSU is under investigation by the NCAA for its dealings with Lyles, who was already being looked into for the $25,000 fee he charged Oregon. LSU paid $6,000 for Lyles' junior college package, which Miles said was helpful in scouting junior college quarterback Zach Mettenberger.

More football: Kansas freshman quarterback Brock Berglund faces a misdemeanor assault charge after being accused of hitting a man April 9 during a party in Sedalia, Colo. … Texas A&M bumped coach Mike Sherman's salary up to $2.2 million annually ($400,000 raise a year) and added a year to the four remaining on his contract.

Tennessee punishes itself: Tennessee self-imposed a two-year probation on its athletics department as part of its response to alleged NCAA violations, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. The 12 charges against the school, including recruiting violations, were made by the NCAA in February after nearly two years of investigating basketball coach Bruce Pearl, football coach Lane Kiffin and their coaching staffs. Kiffin had already left for USC, and Pearl was fired in March. The school is awaiting the NCAA's final ruling and any additional penalties.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

Braves 6, Reds 4

CINCINNATI — Dan Uggla, who missed Thursday's game with a strained left calf and didn't start Friday, hit his first career pinch-hit homer to lift the Braves. His blast came with two outs in the ninth off Nick Masset with Alex Gonzalez on second. Uggla's 18th homer of the year extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The question is speculative, of course, but Johnny Damon has his reasons, some sentimental, for saying that if he were fortunate enough to be elected to the Hall of Fame, he would like to be inducted as a Royal.

"I think that would be the fairest thing," the designated hitter said Friday.

And he has some specific issues with the two teams he won World Series with, the Red Sox and Yankees.

Damon, 37, said a perfect scenario would be to stay with the Rays as long as he can, at least two more seasons to get the 330 hits he needs to reach the 3,000 milestone, then eventually return to finish his career with the Royals in a part-time role. He broke into the majors in 1995 and played six seasons with the Royals, whom he rooted for as a kid, having been born in Kansas.

"Like a final goodbye," he said. "That would allow the fans — they saw some glimpses, but they were never allowed to see me become a superstar (as he got traded after his stellar 2000 season to Oakland)."

Damon, in his first season with the Rays, said he would've considered representing the Yankees had they let him stay more than four seasons. "That's one of the tough things," he said. "That could have been them, easy."

He has no such feelings about the Red Sox, saying part of the reason he declined a waiver-claim trade there from Detroit last season was distrust for the Red Sox front office. "Who knows what Boston would have done?" he said. "Maybe I go there and they don't play me, and it's more about me than the team. Or maybe they release me and embarrass me. There's definitely no love between the front office and myself, so I can't trust them for anything."

Damon said he is aware of some current trade rumors and that since he doesn't have a no-trade clause — "that kind of stinks," he said — the Rays at least keep him apprised of the situation.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

Red Sox 7, Mariners 4

BOSTON — Jacoby Ellsbury continued his July power surge with his seventh homer of the month and John Lackey picked up his third consecutive win, helping extend the Mariners' losing streak to 13. Seattle is one loss away from tying the franchise record for consecutive losses, which was set in September 1992. Felix Hernandez pitched six strong innings but unraveled in the seventh as the Red Sox scored five runs.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

Angels 6, Orioles 1

BALTIMORE — Ervin Santana took a one-hitter into the eighth, Vernon Wells hit a grand slam in the ninth and the Angels got their first win against the Orioles since Aug. 17, 2009. Los Angeles went 0-6 against Baltimore last season. Santana earned his first road win in seven starts since April 29. The only hit against him over the first seven innings was an double by No. 9 hitter Blake Davis with one out in the sixth.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

Dillon ends skid with trucks win

LEBANON, Tenn. — Austin Dillon earned his first victory this season in the NASCAR truck series, leading the final 23 of 150 laps to take the Lucas Deep Clean 200 at the 1.333-mile Nashville Superspeedway.

Dillon earned his third series victory and first since September at Las Vegas.

Points leader Johnny Sauter was second, followed by Timothy Peters and Nelson Piquet Jr. Clearwater resident Ricky Carmichael was 16th. Sauter leads Dillon 431-413 in points.

Foyt sticking with Honda for 2012

A.J. Foyt became the second IndyCar team owner to announce that he'll stick with Honda engines for 2012. Chevrolet and Lotus are joining the series next season. Chip Ganassi also is staying with Honda, the exclusive supplier to the series since 2006; Roger Penske's team is going with Chevrolet. Also in IndyCar, heavy rains washed out the first day of practice at the Edmonton Indy. The pools of water put the open-wheel cars at risk of hydroplaning. The rain was forecast to run its course late Friday, with clouds on Saturday but sunny and hot for the race on Sunday afternoon.

Elsewhere

This is the last off-week of the season for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. The series picks up next weekend with the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. … Nationwide series driver Michael Annett pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in relation to his arrest Feb. 6 in Iredell (N.C.) County. Annett received a suspended sentence of 120 days in jail, 48 hours of community service, a $200 fine plus court costs and two years of unsupervised probation. … Karun Chandhok of India will take over Jarno Trulli's Lotus seat this weekend in the German Grand Prix. Team principal Tony Fernandes said the Formula One team is negotiating a contract extension with Trulli. Fernandes didn't say if Trulli would return for the next race, July 31 in Hungary. Also, this week prosecutors in Munich charged a former executive at a German bank for allegedly taking bribes from F1 CEO Bernard Ecclestone in connection with the 2006 sale of the bank's stake in the series. Prosecutors said Gerhard Gribkowsky sold the stake without updating its valuation in return for bribes disguised as consulting contracts. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Ecclestone has met with prosecutors and said he is confident he will be exonerated of any wrongdoing.

Times wires

Sprint Cup points

Through 19 of 36 races. The top 10 plus two wild cards (based on wins) through 26 races make the Chase for the Championship.

Driver Pts. Back

Carl Edwards 652—

J. Johnson 645 7

Kurt Busch 641 11

Kevin Harvick 637 15

Kyle Busch 632 20

Matt Kenseth 626 26

Jeff Gordon 587 65

Ryan Newman 586 66

D. Earnhardt Jr. 577 75

Denny Hamlin 570 82

Tony Stewart* 570 82

Clint Bowyer 542 110

David Ragan* 524 128

Kasey Kahne 523 129

Greg Biffle 523 129

* Wild cards if Chase field were set today; Ragan is only driver in spots 11-20 with a win, Stewart in via tiebreaker.

NASCAR drivers say NFL receiver Tate dropped ball

Seahawks receiver Golden Tate ruffled NASCAR drivers and fans when he tweeted last week that driving a car doesn't show athleticism. Some drivers still aren't too happy with the NFL player. "You can say that about a lot of sports," Brad Keselowski said Friday. "Whether it's looking at John Daly in golf or a kicker on a football team, and some kickers are (athletic), there are sports where you don't have to be an athlete to do it, but you have to be an athlete to do them well. Racing's one of those." Tate tweeted when Sprint Cup driver Jimmie Johnson was included in the Best Male Athlete category for the ESPY awards. NASCAR fans immediately stuck up for their favorite drivers so much that Tate relented. Said truck series driver Johnny Sauter: "I'll invite anybody to come sit in the truck for 21/2 to three hours and let me know how they feel at the end of it."

Number of the week

8 Current streak of consecutive different winners in the NASCAR Nationwide series heading into tonight's Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. They are Ricky Stenhouse, Matt Kenseth, Justin Allgaier, Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch, who is taking this weekend off.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

PITTSBURGH — Albert Pujols went 4-for-5 and homered for the second straight game as the Cardinals won 6-4 Friday and pulled into a virtual tie with the Pirates in the crowded NL Central standings.

David Freese broke out of a slump with two hits, including a two-run homer.

Chris Carpenter gave up four runs in eight innings to win his fourth straight decision. Fernando Salas pitched the ninth for his 18th save.

Paul Maholm had won four straight at PNC Park, but a sloppy first inning sent him to his first home loss in two months.

Pujols has had little trouble having his way with Maholm. His two-run shot in the first inning was his 27th at PNC, the most home runs he has hit in a road venue. He later added a double off the veteran left-hander to improve to .583 lifetime (21-for-36) against him during his career.

Freese entered 2-for-22 over the first six games of the swing, but he hit a two-run shot in the first to give the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

DOVER, Del. — A Delaware judge on Friday rejected the Dodgers' proposed $150 million bankruptcy financing plan, directing the team to instead negotiate a loan deal with Major League Baseball.

Judge Kevin Gross said the team failed to show that the terms of its secured financing with hedge fund Highbridge Capital were fair, given the more favorable financial terms in MLB's unsecured loan offer.

The Dodgers previously rejected MLB's offer and had refused to negotiate with the league, arguing that its financing proposal was simply an attempt by commissioner Bud Selig to take control and force a sale.

While acknowledging an "underlying feud" between Selig and Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, Gross said he based his decision on debtor-in-possession financing on the narrowest grounds possible and leaving arguments over the team's management for later.

Bruce Bennett, an attorney for the Dodgers, said he had spoken with McCourt, and that the owner was satisfied.

"He was pleased that the financing will not have any impact on the Dodgers' reorganization strategy," Bennett said.

The Dodgers already have asked MLB for a draft credit agreement reflecting the judge's requirements, said Bennett, adding that the loan agreement could be wrapped up next week.

Giants fan update: Bryan Stow, the Giants fan who was beaten at Dodger Stadium at the season opener and suffered brain damage, opened and closed his eyes on command, moved his right hand and mouthed his last name, according to a message posted on the family's website. Stow, 42, had surgery Monday for fluid buildup in his head that caused a seizure. Doctors have kept him under heavy sedation.

Meanwhile, authorities now believe Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30, were responsible for the attack. They were charged with assault and mayhem and remained in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail. Both have violent criminal histories, according to court records. A third person, Dorene Sanchez, also was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact to a felony, police records show. Sanchez, 31, is the sister of Louie Sanchez. She is out on bail.

Dykstra case: Former Mets and Phillies OF Lenny Dykstra, 48, was ordered to stand trial in Los Angeles on car theft and drug possession charges. He will go to trial on 25 counts, and if he is convicted, Dykstra faces up to 12 years in prison. He remains in jail, and also faces federal bankruptcy fraud charges.

Brewers: All-Star LF Ryan Braun did not start in order to rest his lingering left calf strain. Mark Kotsay started instead.

Giants: C Buster Posey had the screws removed from his surgically repaired left ankle but is still weeks away from putting weight on it. He tore three ligaments in his ankle and fractured a bone in his lower left leg in a collision at the plate with Florida's Scott Cousins on May 25.

Phillies: Former closer Brad Lidge (elbow, shoulder) was activated and reliever Danys Baez was designated for assignment.

Rangers: All-Star 3B Adrian Beltre left Friday's game after straining his left hamstring running from first to third on a single. He will have an MRI exam today. … Manager Ron Washington said he was fined for criticizing umpire Angel Hernandez this month. Washington said the fine "wasn't nice" and wouldn't say how much it was. … RHP Brandon Webb, 32, will have rotator cuff surgery again, a setback for the 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner.

Reds: 3B Scott Rolen (strained left shoulder) was put on the disabled list, while RHP Jose Arredondo (strained right forearm) was activated from the DL.

Red Sox: LHP Jon Lester (strained back muscle) is slated to come off the DL and pitch Monday. RHP Clay Buchholz, out since mid June with a back strain, is still feeling discomfort and has only thrown on flat ground.