By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

BRANDON — Dwayne Roloson has said he is done discussing his age. But the Lightning goaltender on Tuesday understood it was something that needed to be addressed.

Getting tagged for 17 goals in his past three starts while turning 42 years old will do that.

"Oh, yeah," said the league's oldest player when asked if he is up to the physical challenge. "I just spent two hours on the ice. Physically, the challenge is there. Mentally, the challenge is there. It's execution."

That has not been there.

Roloson is 1-2-1 in four games with a 5.09 goals-against average that entered Tuesday last among 54 goalies listed by the NHL. His .858 save percentage was 50th. Only Ottawa's Craig Anderson had allowed more goals than Roloson's 18.

His past three games, including Monday's 7-4 loss to the Panthers, have been particularly messy as Roloson went 0-2-1 with a 6.71 goals-against average and .819 save percentage, all after a 32-save victory opening night over the Hurricanes.

"It's frustrating," said Roloson, who over the summer signed a one-year, $3 million deal with $500,000 in potential playoff bonuses. "But you have to put your frustrations in the right avenues and stay as positive as you possibly can to get out of this."

"We're not worried about him," coach Guy Boucher said. "We certainly haven't lost faith in him."

Being a goalie is unforgiving. Goals go on your record even if teammate blunders are to blame. And the Lightning hasn't given Roloson much help.

Defensive zone coverages have been poor. Players say they aren't playing with enough urgency or smarts. As defenseman Victor Hedman explained, "It's not his fault. We need to do a better job of giving him a chance to stop the puck. We need to be in the way more and help him more."

Which is fine, but as Boucher noted, "(Roloson) is the only one with a red light that lights up and says, 'You made a mistake.' "

Roloson has made errors.

There have been too many short-side goals and goals in which he was slow to be in position. Some of it is focus, goaltenders coach Frantz Jean said, some of it footwork.

"It's a little bit of everything," Jean said. "There's no tendency that you see over and over again, so it's just a matter of putting it all together and getting in some kind of comfort zone where we get into a rhythm.

"You have to go back to what works for you and put some time in practice to get your rhythm back and get your tracking back, and suddenly you're going to hit that curve when it's going to go up and you're back on track."

How long that takes is to be seen. Boucher said Roloson's practice Tuesday at the Ice Sports Forum was "way better than his previous practices."

Even so, the guess is Mathieu Garon will play Thursday against the Islanders and perhaps Saturday against the Sabres to give Roloson a chance to regroup.

In the meantime, Roloson said he will invoke his 12-hour rule, the amount of time he allows himself to stew over bad games.

"You have to look at the now, pinpoint situations and figure it out," he said.

And that has nothing to do with age.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

BRANDON — Dwayne Roloson has said he is done discussing his age. But the Lightning goaltender on Tuesday understood it was something that needed to be addressed.

Getting tagged for 17 goals in his past three starts while turning 42 years old will do that.

"Oh, yeah," said the league's oldest player when asked if he is up to the physical challenge. "I just spent two hours on the ice. Physically, the challenge is there. Mentally, the challenge is there. It's execution."

That has not been there.

Roloson is 1-2-1 in four games with a 5.09 goals-against average that entered Tuesday last among 54 goalies listed by the NHL. His .858 save percentage was 50th. Only Ottawa's Craig Anderson had allowed more goals than Roloson's 18.

His past three games, including Monday's 7-4 loss to the Panthers, have been particularly messy as Roloson went 0-2-1 with a 6.71 goals-against average and .819 save percentage, all after a 32-save victory opening night over the Hurricanes.

"It's frustrating," said Roloson, who over the summer signed a one-year, $3 million deal with $500,000 in potential playoff bonuses. "But you have to put your frustrations in the right avenues and stay as positive as you possibly can to get out of this."

"We're not worried about him," coach Guy Boucher said. "We certainly haven't lost faith in him."

Being a goalie is unforgiving. Goals go on your record even if teammate blunders are to blame. And the Lightning hasn't given Roloson much help.

Defensive zone coverages have been poor. Players say they aren't playing with enough urgency or smarts. As defenseman Victor Hedman explained, "It's not his fault. We need to do a better job of giving him a chance to stop the puck. We need to be in the way more and help him more."

Which is fine, but as Boucher noted, "(Roloson) is the only one with a red light that lights up and says, 'You made a mistake.' "

Roloson has made errors.

There have been too many short-side goals and goals in which he was slow to be in position. Some of it is focus, goaltenders coach Frantz Jean said, some of it footwork.

"It's a little bit of everything," Jean said. "There's no tendency that you see over and over again, so it's just a matter of putting it all together and getting in some kind of comfort zone where we get into a rhythm.

"You have to go back to what works for you and put some time in practice to get your rhythm back and get your tracking back, and suddenly you're going to hit that curve when it's going to go up and you're back on track."

How long that takes is to be seen. Boucher said Roloson's practice Tuesday at the Ice Sports Forum was "way better than his previous practices."

Even so, the guess is Mathieu Garon will play Thursday against the Islanders and perhaps Saturday against the Sabres to give Roloson a chance to regroup.

In the meantime, Roloson said he will invoke his 12-hour rule, the amount of time he allows himself to stew over bad games.

"You have to look at the now, pinpoint situations and figure it out," he said.

And that has nothing to do with age.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The quarterback controversy at Maryland is over, at least for now.

Sophomore C.J. Brown will start Saturday at Florida State based on his exceptional performance last weekend in a 56-45 loss to No. 8 Clemson. Brown has displaced Danny O'Brien, who started 10 games last season and the first five this year.

A week ago, Terrapins coach Randy Edsall waited until gametime to name Brown the starter. Brown ran for 162 yards and threw three touchdowns, so there was little mystery as to who would start against the Seminoles.

"C.J. played well. He's the No. 1 quarterback as we go into Florida State," Edsall said Tuesday. "He made a lot of good decisions, but we want him to improve, just like everybody else."

It would be difficult for Brown to top his numbers against Clemson. In addition to setting a single-game rushing mark for a Maryland quarterback, he guided a no-huddle attack that ran 83 plays and rolled up 468 yards, 291 on the ground.

Brown, a perfectionist, isn't satisfied.

"After watching the game with the coaches and sitting down and critiquing yourself, you definitely want to improve some of the reads, the tempo of the offense," he said. "It's scary to think about, but we can still go faster."

QB SWAP AT AUBURN: Sophomore quarterback Clint Moseley will make his first career start Saturday for the No. 19 Tigers at No. 1 LSU. Moseley is replacing Barrett Trotter. In other Auburn news, guard Jared Cooper will miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on his lower right leg.

TREE POISONING: An attorney for the man accused of poisoning the trees at Auburn's Toomer's Corner is asking a judge to reduce the charges to misdemeanors. Attorney Everett Wess filed the motion on behalf of Harvey Updyke Jr. in Lee County Circuit Court. Wess said in filings that the state of Alabama "has explicitly set the value of an oak tree" at $20, which would be below the level for a felony.

ARKANSAS: The school unveiled details of an estimated $300 million athletic facilities plan, one that includes the enclosing of the north end zone at Razorback Stadium. The plan would take 30 years and affect each of the university's 19 athletic programs.

ARKANSAS ST.: Senior safety A.J. Hills was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

LA. TECH: Running back/wide receiver Lyle Fitte will not play again this season because of a knee injury.

LOUISVILLE: Coach Charlie Strong agreed to a new seven-year contract. His current contract ran through the 2015 season. The new deal increases his base salary from $1.6 million to $2.3 million. Strong was named co-Big East coach of the year last season, his first with the school.

MICHIGAN ST.: The school said the Big Ten notified it of a possible "conduct violation" stemming from its emotional win over Michigan.

TULANE: Coach Bob Toledo resigned. Offensive line coach Mark Hutson was named interim coach for the remaining six games. Toledo is 15-40 with the school, including a 2-5 start this season.

Times wires
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar will get help investigating of the crash that killed St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon.

IndyCar says Formula One's governing body (FIA) and the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States, an umbrella organization of auto racing sanctioning bodies in the United States, will assist in a full investigation of the crash.

Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, died was killed in a fiery 15-car crash during Sunday's season-ending race at Las Vegas. He was 33.

Also, IndyCar officials canceled this week's two-day test of the new 2012 car at Las Vegas. Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull said IndyCar made the call on its own. Four-time series champ Dario Franchitti, Wheldon's close friend and former teammate, was scheduled to run at the 1.5-mile oval today and Thursday.

And Darren Turner will replace Wheldon in a V8 Supercar race this weekend in Queensland, Australia. Wheldon had been one of six IndyCar drivers slated to running at Queensland. Will Power withdrew after injuring his back in Sunday's accident and Tony Kanaan cited Wheldon's death in pulling out. Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves and Alex Tagliani still planned to race.

Times wires
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

ST. LOUIS — Batter up … and bundle up!

The forecast is calling for upper 40s temperatures with a chance of rain and wind for the World Series opener tonight between the Rangers and Cardinals.

The wind chill is expected to drop into the upper 30s as the game progresses. It was in the mid 50s as the teams took batting practice Tuesday at Busch Stadium, though some players wore ski caps.

It has been damp in St. Louis before during the World Series. A game in 2006 against Detroit was postponed by rain, and there was rain in 2004 against Boston.

ROTATION CHANGE: With LHP Derek Holland struggling, Rangers manager Ron Washington announced that RHP Colby Lewis would start Game 2 on Thursday night. In two starts in the AL Championship Series against the Tigers, Holland allowed seven runs on 11 hits, including four home runs, in 71/3 innings for an 8.59 ERA.

GARCIA FOR CARDS: Matched against Lewis for Game 2 will be LHP Jaime Garcia, the Cardinals announced. Manager Tony La Russa prefers to start Garcia at Busch Stadium, where he had a 2.55 ERA in 15 starts vs. 4.61 in 17 on the road this season. MLB.com reported La Russa is likely to make two roster changes, replacing RHP Kyle McCllelan with RHP Jake Westbrook in the bullpen and OF Adron Chambers with INF/OF Skip Schumaker on the bench.

NL RULES: The Rangers are likely to play Michael Young at first base in St. Louis, benching Mitch Moreland, who is 2-for-19 (.105) in the postseason.

UMPING CREW: Umpire Jerry Layne was named crew chief. The six-man crew includes two umpires working their first World Series: Greg Gibson and Ron Kulpa. Gary Cederstrom, Ted Barrett and Alfonso Marquez will make their second World Series appearances.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

LONDON — Pass rushing Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has been responsible for some changing of the guards, but nothing like what took place Tuesday at Buckingham Palace.

With a game against the Bears on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, McCoy and his teammates were in London, visiting British schoolchildren and taking in the sights with crews from Sky Sports and Fox television.

The day began with a group of 13 players, mostly rookies, including Adrian Clayborn, Da'Quan Bowers and Mason Foster, visiting the Harris Academy South Norwood in southern London to teach American football drills.

Meanwhile, McCoy was trailed by a camera crew from Sky Sports, which took him on a city tour beginning with a boat ride on the Thames River.

Then it was off to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Horse Guards and 10 Downing Street, the home of the prime minister.

Bucs offensive linemen Donald Penn, Davin Joseph, James Lee and Jeremy Zuttah filmed light-hearted teasers for the Fox TV pregame show and had tons of fun doing it.

"I seen all the great sites of London today," McCoy tweeted. "What a blessing!!"

The Bucs returned to the Pennyhill Park Luxury Hotel and Spa in Surrey, 45 minutes from London.

They will move to a downtown hotel Friday and have a walk-through Saturday at Wembley Stadium in preparation for the game.

Times wires
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

tennis

nalbandian, blake advance in stockholm

STOCKHOLM — David Nalbandian dropped the first set before going on to beat Xavier Malisse 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3) in the first round of the Stockholm Open on Tuesday.

The Argentine will next face Ivan Dodig, who beat Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5).

Tampa's James Blake beat Olivier Rochus 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 and will face second-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in the second round.

Kevin Anderson also needed tiebreakers to win against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-4), and will face Tommy Haas in the second round.

Jarkko Nieminen, who reached the final of the tournament in 2009, beat Marcus Copil 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to set up a second round matchup with Stanislas Wawrinka.

Milos Raonic edged out Marcos Baghdatis 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-4), 6-4.

Kremlin Cup: American Alex Bogomolov Jr. rallied to defeat Dusan Lajovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in his debut in Moscow, the city where he was born.

Bogomolov made a nervous start by dropping the first set and gave up a 4-1 lead in the deciding set before winning the match.

He was born in Moscow but moved to Mexico with his family when he was 9 and then to the United States about two years later.

In other matches Tuesday, qualifier Ekaterina Ivanova upset 13th-ranked Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

golf

McIlroy shares Grand Slam lead

Rory McIlroy made four birdies on the back nine to grab a share of the lead with Keegan Bradley at the PGA Grand Slam in Hamilton, Bermuda, featuring the winners of this year's majors.

The pair finished the first round tied at 4-under 67, well ahead of Charl Schwartzel, the Masters winner who shot 74, and British Open champion Darren Clarke, who finished with 77.

McIlroy, who won the U.S. Open, missed a host of putts on the front nine.

"It was getting frustrating," he said. "I was reading them and every time … I felt as if I was hitting the putt on the line I wanted to, but it was going nowhere near the hole."

Women to take on men: Annika Sorenstam and Morgan Pressel will team up to compete against the men for the first time in the ADT Skills Challenge on Nov. 7 in Palm Beach. The men's teams will be defending champions Nick Price and Mark O'Meara, Nick Faldo and Rocco Mediate, and Jerry Kelly and Zach Johnson. Golfers will compete for $800,000 in such skills categories as long drive, mid-iron, bunker shot, chip shot, trouble shot and short iron.

et cetera

pan am games: The United States won four of five gold medals to leave Brazil in its wake. Julia Smit, Arthur Frayler, Sean Mahoney and the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team won to give the Americans 12 golds in swimming through four days in Guadalajara, Mexico. Brazil, the biggest U.S. challenger for pool supremacy with six gold, failed to win a race on the daily program for the first time at this year's games.

Times wires

Times wires
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Carson Palmer went to bed a retired player resigned to the fact that the Bengals would never grant his wish to be traded.

He woke up to a text message early Tuesday telling him to fly to Oakland to complete a trade with the Raiders, who are counting on Palmer to replace the injured Jason Campbell and lead the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

"It's been a whirlwind," said Palmer, 31. "I understand what's expected of me. I know what playing quarterback is about, and it's about winning."

The Bengals had been adamant about not trading Palmer, but with rookie Andy Dalton's strong play they took a 2012 first-round pick and a second-rounder in 2013 that can become a first if Oakland reaches the AFC title game in either of the next two years.

Coach Hue Jackson said he believes Palmer is the ideal fit, having recruited and coached him at Southern California and also having been an assistant in Cincinnati.

"Probably the greatest trade in football. This guy can play and he knows how to elevate the players around him," Jackson said.

Campbell had surgery Monday and is expected to miss at least six weeks, leaving the Raiders with only Kyle Boller and Terrelle Pryor.

The Raiders gave Palmer $2.5 million guaranteed for this season and $40.5 million for the following three years.

Also, the league suspended Bengals running back Cedric Benson one game — reduced from three — for his misdemeanor assault cases settled before the season.

ASSAULT ON HESTER: A 52-year-old man was arrested and accused of battery after slapping Bears star Devin Hester on the back of his head at a casino, police said. Des Plaines (Ill.) Police Chief Jim Prandini said Daniel G. Rago hit Hester and walked away on Friday. Hester, a former college star at Miami, then told casino security; police said he did not retaliate. Rago was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery and posted $100 bond.

TRADE: The Eagles sent out-of-favor running back Ronnie Brown, a former Dolphin, to the Lions for running back Jerome Harrison and a 2013 seventh-round draft pick.

EX-BILL HULL DIES: Kent Hull, Jim Kelly's center during the Bills' AFC title years in the early 1990s, died Tuesday. He was 50. The cause of death was not known. Kelly said Hull, his best friend, "will be missed and never forgotten."

BROWNS: Defensive end Marcus Benard pleaded not guilty to two traffic charges stemming from his motorcycle crash last week in which he broke his hand. He is out for the season.

STEELERS: Coach Mike Tomlin said All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu can play Sunday after passing a concussion test.

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

East W L T Pct PF PA

New England 5 1 0 .833 185 135

Buffalo 4 2 0 .667 188 147

N.Y. Jets 3 3 0 .500 145 131

Miami 0 5 0 .000 75 128

South W L T Pct PF PA

Tennessee 3 2 0 .600 105 94

Houston 3 3 0 .500 141 124

Jacksonville 1 5 0 .167 72 132

Indianapolis 0 6 0 .000 104 163

North W L T Pct PF PA

Baltimore 4 1 0 .800 148 71

Cincinnati 4 2 0 .667 137 111

Pittsburgh 4 2 0 .667 119 102

Cleveland 2 3 0 .400 91 117

West W L T Pct PF PA

San Diego 4 1 0 .800 120 109

Oakland 4 2 0 .667 160 150

Kansas City 2 3 0 .400 77 150

Denver 1 4 0 .200 105 140

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

East W L T Pct PF PA

N.Y. Giants 4 2 0 .667 154 147

Washington 3 2 0 .600 96 83

Dallas 2 3 0 .400 115 121

Philadelphia 2 4 0 .333 145 145

South W L T Pct PF PA

Tampa Bay 4 2 0 .667 113 145

New Orleans 4 2 0 .667 177 151

Atlanta 3 3 0 .500 135 147

Carolina 1 5 0 .167 133 163

North W L T Pct PF PA

Green Bay 6 0 0 1.000 197 114

Detroit 5 1 0 .833 178 114

Chicago 3 3 0 .500 146 132

Minnesota 1 5 0 .167 121 145

West W L T Pct PF PA

San Francisco 5 1 0 .833 167 97

Seattle 2 3 0 .400 94 122

Arizona 1 4 0 .200 96 121

St. Louis 0 5 0 .000 49 137

Sunday, Oct. 23

Tampa Bay vs. Chicago at London, 1

Houston at Tennessee, 1

Washington at Carolina, 1

San Diego at N.Y. Jets, 1

Seattle at Cleveland, 1

Denver at Miami, 1

Atlanta at Detroit, 1

Kansas City at Oakland, 4:05

Pittsburgh at Arizona, 4:05

St. Louis at Dallas, 4:15

Green Bay at Minnesota, 4:15

Indianapolis at New Orleans, 8:20

Open: Buffalo, Cincinnati, N.Y. Giants, New England, Philadelphia, San Francisco

Monday, Oct. 24

Baltimore at Jacksonville, 8:30

Times wires
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

ST. LOUIS — If this is Albert Pujols' farewell tour with the Cardinals, it's coming on the grandest of stages.

The three-time National League MVP has consistently avoided discussing free agency and was not making exceptions on the eve of the World Series. Swatting aside questions about his future not once but three times Tuesday, the big bat for the wild-card Cardinals was insistent on staying in the moment.

"Let's talk about something else," Pujols said. "Let's talk about baseball. I don't concentrate about that."

Contract talks can wait just a little longer for the front office, too. General manager John Mozeliak declined to estimate the odds Pujols will be batting third on opening day in 2012 for the Cardinals after building a Hall of Fame resume in his first 11 seasons in St. Louis.

Mozeliak has gone all year without addressing that topic after Pujols, 31, cut off negotiations on the first day of spring training, and he found no reason to break the truce now.

"I think at this point we'll table all free agents until our season ends," he said. "The way I'd like to look at things from tomorrow on is just enjoy the experience.

"It's been a very unique ride and it's time to step back and just enjoy it."

Pujols has been at the forefront of a team that disposed of the 102-win Phillies and Brewers, the club that finished ahead of it to win the NL Central, since completing an improbable comeback to take the wild card. He's batting .419 with two homers and 10 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .490 in the postseason.

He's very much on the minds of the Rangers.

Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson, who opposes St. Louis right-hander Chris Carpenter in Game 1 tonight, will be facing Pujols for the first time. He's worried about the big bats surrounding Pujols, too.

Lance Berkman provides power from the left side and Matt Holliday is regaining his stroke after missing time with a finger injury. Sixth-place hitter David Freese was the NL Championship Series MVP and is batting .425 with four homers and 14 RBIs overall in the postseason.

"Holliday's the biggest human being I've ever seen," the Rangers' Ian Kinsler said. "He's humongous. And you've got Pujols right in front of those guys."

So there's a lot to consider.

"It's an American League lineup, just like ours," Wilson said. "It's the same way I have to navigate a Yankees game or a Red Sox game or anything like that."

Pujols, he knows, is the key.

"I made a joke the other day, 'Yeah, I'll just throw it down the middle,' because I'm not going to tell you guys what my game plan is," Wilson said. "You can't just go there and try to be macho and throw the ball as hard as you can.

"I think you guys have seen that he's hit like 500 home runs or something like, so it's not really a good idea."

Pujols is the first player to hit 30 homers, drive in 100 runs and hit .300 each of his first 10 seasons and missed by a hair of making it 11 in a row this year: He batted .299 and had 99 RBIs. Manager Tony La Russa has always been sensitive to overpraise but in this case couldn't help himself.

"I said after his rookie year, he's the best player I've ever seen, and that was 10 years ago," La Russa said. "I can't tell you what a privilege it is to watch the guy for 11 years, the way he plays the game and the way he is off the field."

Around Labor Day, Pujols thought the Cardinals were going nowhere and just wanted to finish strong. Fans showered him with applause during the final regular-season home series against the Cubs, figuring that was his finale. They're about to get a bonus shot at attempting to sway No. 5's mind.

Teammates have done their part, too.

"Chucking the ball across the diamond to Albert Pujols every day, that's something I never thought would happen," said Freese, a hometown star. "He's one of the greatest hitters ever. It's pretty incredible to put on the jersey next to him."

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Maybe it's the refreshing chill in the England air, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting healthier and could have several players back for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who did not play last week because of a high ankle sprain, was heavily taped but showing good movement in practice today. Tight end Luke Stocker, who missed last week's game against the Saints with a knee sprain, also worked out Wednesday. Finally, receiver Sammie Stroughter, who has not played since suffering a foot fracture in the season opener, returned to practice Wednesday.

On the down side, C Jeff Faine has a biceps pull and did not practice along with running back LeGarrette Blount, who is expected to be questionable with a knee sprain. Defensive end Michael Bennett also was not working Wednesday.

By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

IndyCar will hold a public memorial service for driver Dan Wheldon at 4 p.m. Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the series announced Wednesday.

The St. Petersburg resident was killed in a fiery 15-car crash at Sunday's Las Vegas Indy 300. He was 33.

St. Petersburg is scheduled to hold a public remembrance at Thursday's 3 p.m. council meeting at City Hall.

IndyCar also announced that a trust fund has been set up for Wheldon's widow and two children. Contributions can be made to:

Fifth Third Private Bank

Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust

251 North Illinois St.

Suite 1000

Indianapolis, IN 46204

By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

St. Petersburg is scheduled to hold a public remembrance for IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon at Thursday's 3 p.m. council meeting at City Hall. There also may be another memorial service Saturday morning in St. Petersburg, but more details have yet to emerge.

The St. Petersburg resident was killed in a fiery 15-car crash at Sunday's Las Vegas Indy 300. He was 33.

IndyCar will hold a public memorial service for Wheldon at 4 p.m. Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the series announced Wednesday.

IndyCar also announced that a trust fund has been set up for Wheldon's widow and two children. Contributions can be made to:

Fifth Third Private Bank

Attn: Dan Wheldon Family Trust

251 North Illinois St.

Suite 1000

Indianapolis, IN 46204

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Tampa Bay Buccaneers long-snapper Andrew Economos suffered a torn Achilles just prior to the start of training camp. But his season may not be over.

Economos returnd to practice Wednesday at the Bucs' facility in Surrey, England. General manager Mark Dominik says the Bucs have 21 days to activate Economos and expects to do so.

By Rod Gipson, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

TAMPA

When the Jesuit bus rolls into St. Petersburg tonight, the Tigers will be carrying more than their perfect Class 5A, District 8 record into the showdown with Lakewood.

They'll also carry the "Tiger football" way of doing things that has them 6-1 (6-0 in the district) this year and owners of a 17-2 overall record since coach James Harrell took over before the 2010 season.

"The mind-set is that we prepare for everybody the same way," Harrell said. "We understand what this game means toward a district championship. That's what we work for. We will show up and play Tiger football."

That mantra will be put to the test tonight as Lakewood (6-0 and 5-0 in 5A-8) hosts the Tigers in a huge 5A-8 contest.

Jesuit comes in on a six-game winning streak since losing on opening night to Plant on Sept. 2. The Tigers have been dominant since, solidifying their quarterback spot with Tommy Eveld and playing prolific offense.

Eveld has thrown for 1,225 yards and nine touchdowns since taking over for an injured Aaron Paulsen a little more than a month ago.

"He (Eveld) has come into his own," Harrell said of his 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior. "His decision making is where it needs to be and he has really come along."

Eveld's primary decisions have included getting the ball to wideout Travis Johnson, who leads the Tigers with 26 receptions and handing off to backs Kevin Newman and Rico Gonzalez, who have a combined 475 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

All will need to be on their game against the Spartans, who boast the district's top defense. The team appears to play down to the competition, having struggled against winless Middleton and Seminole, but it should be fired up tonight.

Lakewood has yielded an average of less than two touchdowns (72 points) a game this season. And that has mostly been without standout defensive end Dante Fowler, who is back after sitting out several games for disciplinary reasons.

On offense, the Spartans provide multiple playmakers for quarterback Tracy Johnson, whose 18 touchdown passes and 56 percent completion rate are among the best in Pinellas County. He has one of the best targets in the bay area in wideout Rodney Adams, a transfer from St. Petersburg Catholic who has eight touchdowns in six games this year.

"We know how good they are," Harrell said of the talented Spartans. "They're real good and well-coached."

A Jesuit win would all but seal the district crown and make next week's Lakewood at Robinson game an elimination contest for the district's second playoff berth.

"Our kids will be motivated," Harrell said. "Their kids will be motivated. I'm even motivated. It should be exciting."

(All kickoffs are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless noted)

Berkeley Prep (6-0) at Clearwater Central Catholic (5-1)

LAST GAMES: Berkeley Prep defeated St. Petersburg Catholic 45-0 on Oct. 6; CCC defeated Tampa Catholic 24-17 on Oct. 7.

THE SKINNY: The winner of this Class 3A, District 5 will all but own the district crown. Both teams are 1-0 in the district and have had two weeks to prep for this contest. As outstanding as Berkeley athlete Nelson Agholor has been, QB Destin Nichols has made the offense go with his 63 percent completion rate, 14 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. CCC, meanwhile, comes in with a five-game win streak thanks in part to RB Blair Vaughn's 17-yard touchdown run to beat district foe Tampa Catholic two weeks ago.

St. Petersburg Catholic (2-5) at Tampa Catholic (5-1), 7 p.m.

LAST WEEK: St. Petersburg Catholic defeated Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 39-33; Tampa Catholic defeated Winter Park Trinity Prep 35-0.

THE SKINNY: Tampa Catholic (0-1 in 3A-5), which must win to stay in the 3A-5 race, bounced back from its loss to CCC with an outstanding all-around effort on the road at Trinity Prep. RB Trevor Register ran for 131 yards as backfield mate Jordan Rich-Rogers rested a sore hamstring. The fact that the Crusaders are hitting on a lot of offensive cylinders isn't a good sign for SPC (0-1), whose defense has yielded 31 points a game.

Middleton (0-6) at Gibbs (2-4)

LAST GAMES: Middleton lost to Blake 41-19 on Oct. 6; Gibbs lost to Robinson 36-18.

THE SKINNY: The bad news for Gibbs is that it has lost three games in a row. The good news is that it is hosting Middleton, which has mustered just seven points per game this season. At 2-3 in Class 5A-8, Gibbs is out of the district race. But, with three district games happening tonight, Gibbs still has plenty to play for. Middleton, meanwhile, is looking to avoid the mistakes that led to a 22-point loss to rival Blake and perform like it did in a 15-12 loss against unbeaten Lakewood last month.

Carrollwood Day (4-3) at Cambridge (5-2)

LAST WEEK: CDS defeated Bradenton Christian 33-17; Cambridge defeated Keswick Christian 36-22.

THE SKINNY: Two solid, scrappy teams in the Class 2A, District 5 race. With five wins this season, Cambridge has already topped its win totals in each of coach Bob Dare's first two seasons. And at 4-2 in 2A-5, the Lancers are a game out of first place in pursuit of their first-ever playoff berth. Meanwhile, CDS's potent offense, led by QB Deuce Gruden's 1,000-plus combined yards and 10 TDs, has scored more than 40 points in four of its seven games. The Patriots are 2-3 in district play.

Rod Gipson can be reached at hillsnews@sptimes.com.

By Stephen F. Holder and Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writers
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been in the London area for nearly 48 hours already, conducting their first practice there today, the Bears — Sunday's opponent — remain in Chicago and won't depart until Thursday evening.

And Chicago coach Lovie Smith says he believes it's the right approach.

Asked today by Tampa media on a conference call whether the Bucs would have an advantage because of the longer adjustment period, Smith said, "No, I don't. For us, we wanted to keep -- as much as we could -- a regular game-week routine in place. That's what we're doing. As far as getting acclimated, you can bog your mind down with all of that talk, but we're going to go there and be there Friday. We're leaving Thursday from here and that's plenty of time.

"You can get as much rest as you need. We're going to end up playing the game at 12 o'clock Chicago time. I don't think that's an issue at all. I think normally when you go overseas, I think the best football team normally wins. It's kind of simple as that and that's what'll happen this time around."

In their first trip to London, in 2009, the Bucs left Tampa on Friday morning, arriving in London late Friday night local time. Then, on Saturday, their walkthrough was canceled because of rain in the area and a fear that the wet field at Wembley Stadium could be damaged.

So, this time around, the Bucs left Tampa on Monday morning, opting to stay in the London area for the week, allowing for a smoother adjustment.

"The reason I wanted to come out at this time was to get the guys acclimated, get them in the city," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said, "kind of get them on a normal schedule."

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

SEFFNER

Garrett Saunders carefully walked along the crumbling patio and through the doorway of a dilapidated house.

His plan for the summer day? Tear down some siding, replace a rotting floor in the kitchen and, if time allowed, hang some drywall in a closet-sized space that doubles as the family room.

But Saunders wasn't working construction at a summer job trying to earn a little extra change. He was on a South Dakota American Indian reservation, thousands of miles from Seffner, doing mission work with his church youth group.

"We get in there and try to fix these houses up that the people live in," he said. "Most of their housing situations are just terrible.

Saunders, a senior tight end at Seffner Christian, has made the mission trips for the past three years, each time spending a week of his summer to assist needy families on American Indian reservations throughout the country.

"He's a special kid," coach Steve Lewis said.

The conditions of the two-room shanties left Saunders "amazed." Many had leaky roofs, few had reliable plumbing and most were devoid of carpeting. Saunders said that removing black mold from some of the houses "was the worst."

"It was all over the place," he said. "The smell was awful."

It wasn't all work, however. At the end of each week, Saunders said he got to play with the local kids and read them stories from the Bible.

Saunders said the mission trips have made him more thankful.

"You think at home that you don't have that much, but then you see how these people live," he said. "It's very humbling."

He plans on making another trip next summer, possibly to New Orleans, and hopes to do his first international mission trip to Jamaica in 2012 as well.

"A lot of the people there would ask us why we were helping them," he said. "It makes you feel good knowing you made a difference."

Saunders has made quite a difference for the Crusaders on the football field. He has helped build the second-year program much like he built up the homes on the reservation.

Saunders leads Seffner Christian in receptions (13), yards (203) and TDs (4) for the surprising second-year 5-1 Crusaders. He also doubles as the deep tailback in Seffner Christian's heavy package and is fourth with 264 yards rushing on just 24 carries.

"Everyone has learned so much just from last year, especially the offensive line," Saunders said of the Crusaders' inaugural 2-7 2010 season. "This year instead of (quarterback) Tanner (Richardson) getting hit before he even hands the ball off, the offensive line is opening up huge holes."

Saunders, Richardson and Seth Lewis have proved to be a dynamic trio for Seffner Christian. Richardson has accounted for more than 800 yards of offense, while Lewis, the coach's son, is second on the team in rushing.

In the Crusaders' 56-7 win against Shorecrest last week, Richardson accounted for five touchdowns (three running, two passing), Saunders caught both scoring receptions and Lewis led the team with 121 yards on eight carries, while adding two touchdowns.

The win guaranteed them their first .500 season in school history. Seffner Christian has scored at least 35 points on its five-game winning streak and outscored its opponents 235-46 during that stretch.

But Lewis cautioned that tonight's opponent, Community School of Naples, will present a much stiffer challenge.

"From what we've seen on film of them they are fast and quick to the ball," he said. "It's going to be quite a challenge for us. They are a very good football team."

Brandon Wright can be reached at hillsnews@sptimes.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

What exactly happened to Eric Brewer? No one at the Tampa Bay Lightning is saying except that he has an upper-body injury and is day-to-day. The funny thing is, coach Guy Boucher said the injury did not happen at a practice or in a game. Brewer practiced Tuesday but not Wednesday, so whatever happened might have in the interim.

"We'll see (Thursday) morning," Boucher said when asked if Brewer was undergoing any medical tests. "I'm going to go to church and light a few candles."

Whatever happened, if the Lightning loses Brewer it will be a crushing blow for a defense that already is struggling and already is without Mattias Ohlund, who is out after arthroscopic surgery on both knees.

Brewer, 32, acquired last season at the trade deadline from the Blues, has been part of the top defensive pairing with Victor Hedman. He has an assist and six penalty minutes and is averaging 22:19 of ice time.

The Lightning has six other defensemen on the roster. In the short term, Bruno Gervais, who has been a healthy scratch in four of the Lightning's six games, would immediately be pressed into service.

In other practice news, Boucher said Mathieu Garon will start in net Thursday against the Islanders. No surprise with Dwayne Roloson struggling.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Eric Brewer wanted it known he had not had "any kind of incident."

The Lightning defenseman indicated late Wednesday that as far as he was concerned, he would be available for tonight's game with the Islanders and said an MRI exam he had was "possibly" about an injury that had lingered for a while.

"We always try to be on top of things," he said.

It wasn't much, but it was far more than what was known earlier in the day, when Brewer was not at practice at the Ice Sports Forum and coach Guy Boucher said the defenseman had an upper-body injury that was not sustained at a game or practice.

General manager Steve Yzerman created more intrigue when he wrote in a text message in response to an inquiry about what had happened to his top defenseman: "Don't really know."

Brewer has been banged up. He also had surgeries in December 2008 and April 2009 for a herniated disc in his back.

"It's nothing serious, we hope," Yzerman wrote of Brewer's current situation and added he was unsure if Brewer would play today.

"We'll see (today)," Boucher said. "I'm going to church to light some candles."

Losing Brewer, 32, would be a crushing blow for the Lightning's struggling defense, already without Mattias Ohlund, who is out after arthroscopic surgery on both knees.

Brewer has been part of the top defensive pairing with Victor Hedman. He has an assist and six penalty minutes and is averaging 22:19 of ice time.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

LONDON — Maybe it's the refreshing chill in the England air, but the Bucs are getting healthier and could have several players back for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who did not play last week because of a high ankle sprain, was heavily taped but showing good movement in practice Wednesday. Tight end Luke Stocker, who missed last week's game against the Saints with a knee sprain, and receiver Sammie Stroughter, who has not played since suffering a foot fracture in the season opener, returned to practice as well.

On the down side, C Jeff Faine has a biceps pull and did not practice. Nor did running back LeGarrette Blount, who is expected to be questionable with a knee sprain.

Linebacker Mason Foster, who played last week despite an ankle sprain, did not practice on Wednesday. Defensive end Michael Bennett also was not working Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury.

"You know, in the National Football League, the team that stays healthy is the team that usually wins — other than the Green Buy Packers last year," coach Raheem Morris said. "But we had a chance to get some players back. ... To have (McCoy) with a chance to get him back is exciting for us."

KICK TO HESTER?: Bears quarterback Jay Cutler enjoys nothing more than watching the fallout from one of Devin Hester's patented kick- or punt return touchdowns, the kind of play that can break an opponents' backs.

"On our sideline, the biggest thing when special teams is out there is whether they're going to kick it to him or not," Cutler said on a conference call today. "Because, if they do, there's a strong chance it could possibly get returned for a touchdown.

"Whenever (he scores), it's so dramatic. It's such a kill shot for the other team. It takes the life out of them. He's come so far as a receiver and his ability to be able to do both is phenomenal."

Hester struck again Sunday night when he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against the Vikings. The feat extended his NFL record to 16 career touchdown returns, a mark he's set in just 82 games. The closest active player on the list, Josh Cribbs, sits in fifth place with 10 touchdowns in 96 games.

The Bucs on Sunday could opt not to kick to Hester. Coach Raheem Morris suggested as much on Wednesday, saying they would consider directional kicking by punter and kickoff specialist Michael Koenen.

But Bears coach Lovie Smith said teams, somewhat surprisingly, have been kicking at Hester, which is fine with him.

"In the time that Devin has been here, we've seen it all," Smith said. "Once a player gets hot and starts returning a lot, often the next approach is to kick it away from him. That's been a common thing we've seen in games.

"But this year, teams have kicked the ball off to him quite a bit. He's our kickoff returner and our punt returner, so he's getting a few opportunities. Right now, teams are kicking it off and saying they're just going to cover. We hope teams continue to do that."

ECONOMOS COMEBACK: Long-snapper Andrew Economos suffered a torn Achilles just prior to the start of training camp. But his season may not be over. Economos returnd to practice Wednesday at the Bucs' facility in Surrey, England. General manager Mark Dominik says the Bucs have 21 days to activate Economos and expect to do so.

Staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Hernando High School will induct the second class of athletes into its Sports Hall of Fame in early November.

The oldest high school in Hernando County will add eight members to its most honored list of athletes and athletic contributors: Fred Abbott (former Florida football captain), Ernie Chatman (longtime baseball, track and cross-country coach), Ricky Feacher (former Cleveland Browns receiver), George Floyd (member of the College Football Hall of Fame after attending Western Kentucky University), Buster McGee (member of 1967 Hernando state championship baseball team), Kristi Poore (second-leading scorer in Hernando girls basketball history), Frank Vohun (Florida State football standout) and Tyrone Woods (led the Korean League in home runs with 42 in 1998).

Last season, Jerome Brown (former NFL All-Pro), Bernice Mosby (former WNBA player and all-time Hernando leading scorer), Bronson Arroyo (MLB All-Star), Tom Fisher (Tennessee football standout), Maulty Moore (two-time Super Bowl champion), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Olympic discus thrower), Jason Sartor (all-time leading scorer in Hernando boys basketball history) and Tom Varn (coach of the 1967 Hernando state championship baseball team) made up the inaugural class.

Hernando will host a Sports Hall of Fame Banquet at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Michael A. Imhoff Gymnasium on campus. Tickets are $20 per person for the banquet and are available at the school.

The inductees will also be introduced during halftime of the varsity football game Nov. 4 at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium when the Leopards play Mitchell at 7:30 p.m.

For information, call Joy Nagy at (352) 797-7015, ext. 410.

JUNIOR CIRCUIT TENNIS: The Junior Circuit Tennis Series had its second event on Oct. 8 at Inverness Country Club, but due to a series of rain-outs and postponements, the tournament carried into the following weekend as well.

The event drew 23 players from Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and other counties, two more than the first. Four divisions competed: high school boys, middle school boys, high school girls and middle school girls.

Carl Zee of Spring Hill defeated Hernando's Rishi Guernani in the high school boys division in three sets. Guernani, playing his first JCT tournament, pushed Zee before losing 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-4. Jesse DeWitt of Brooksville won the consolation match to come in third.

Brody Summer of Crystal River won his second consecutive middle school boys title with a victory over Spring Hill's Cody Wiley in straight sets (6-4, 6-1). Vasu Malhotra of Brooksville placed third.

The girls high school division final was decided between Amber Gamble of Lecanto and Sarah Labrador of Inverness. Gamble won in three straight sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Dade City's Madison Jender swept Kayla Brady of Brooksville in straight sets (6-1, 6-4) for her first JCT title in the girls middle school division.

The next JCT tournament is scheduled for Nov. 5 and 6 at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville. To register, e-mail Judy Jeanette at jjeanette3saj@aol.com. The deadline is 9 p.m. Nov. 2.

For information, visit Junior Circuit Tennis on Facebook and send a friend request.

LIFECHOICES WOMEN'S CARE GOLF: LifeChoices Women's Care will have its inaugural Golf for Life charity golf tournament Saturday. The tournament will be at Lexington Oaks Golf Club in Wesley Chapel.

The cost is $75 per golfer, which includes greens fees, range balls, door prizes, contests, goodie bags, dinner and awards. This is a non-handicap tournament, and everyone is welcome.

Proceeds will go to LifeChoices Women's Care, formerly the Lutz-Land O'Lakes Pregnancy Center. The facility has been helping women facing unplanned pregnancies with free services since 2009.

The tournament is being sponsored by Knights of Columbus Monsignor Kevin S. Mullens Council 12956, but sponsorship opportunities are still available. Organizers also are accepting donations for door prizes.

For information, visit golfevent.lifechoiceswomenscare.org or call (813) 948-7734.

PHCC 5K: Pasco-Hernando Community College will host its seventh annual PHCC 5K Race at 8 a.m. Sunday at the New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road.

Proceeds will benefit the PHCC women's cross-country program. The registration fee of $15 includes a race T-shirt; the deadline is Saturday.

A free Family Fun Run will be offered for all children 12 and under. Participants will receive goodie bags and an award. T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Race day registration begins at 6:30 a.m., and preregistered participants are encouraged to arrive at 7 a.m. Awards will be given by age group and to the top male and female finishers. The event will feature free post-race refreshments, games, photos and drawings.

For information or to register online, visit active.com/running/new-port-richey-fl/phcc-quista-5k-2011.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. If interested, send e-mail to Jacki Wachtel at wachtej@phcc.edu.

NATURE COAST DISC GOLF: The Nature Coast Disc Golf Club has weekly events in the area.

At 10 a.m. on Sundays at Floral Park in Floral City, players can compete in a 19-hole handicap round. Members also gather at 3 p.m. each Saturday for a round at Tom Varn Park in Brooksville.

For information, call club president Buz Ryalls-Clephane at (352) 584-5078 or treasurer Brandi Laudermilch at (352) 263-4475. The club can be reached by e-mail at naturecoastdiscgolfclub@hotmail.com.

FIRST TEE GOLF: The Brooksville Parks and Recreation Department is getting ready to host another session of First Tee Golf for children looking to learn how to get onto the links.

The First Tee Golf/Life Skills is for youth ages 7 to 17 and starts Nov. 7. The instructors teach the First Tee Nine Core Values through the game of golf. Students have the opportunity to work on basic life and golf skills, including putting, chipping, driving and golf course etiquette. The sessions will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays at the Quarry Golf Course in Brooksville.

For information, call Mike Groff at (352) 540-3835.

ALZHEIMER'S CHARITY GOLF: The Alzheimer's Family Organization, which serves Hernando, Pasco, Citrus and other counties on the Suncoast, will have its 11th annual charity golf tournament Nov. 12 at Seven Springs Country Club in New Port Richey.

Registration is scheduled for 6:30 a.m.; breakfast will be provided by IHOP. The shotgun start is set for 8 a.m., with lunch provided by Argento's Italian Bistro at the conclusion of play. The tournament is 18 holes with a four-person scramble format.

There will be awards for the top three teams, as well as additional prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin and a hole-in-one (a car provided by Ed Morse Auto Plaza). Full Circle Financial is sponsoring a putting contest, with a chance to win $10,000.

The registration fee is $80 per player. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For information, call Kathy Montero at (727) 848-8888 or toll-free 1-888-496-8004.

Contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.