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Defenseman provides rare goal in Kings win

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Times wires
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

ST. LOUIS — Willie Mitchell doesn't mind providing some punch to a Kings roster filled with firepower.

The Kings defenseman scored his 25th career goal at an opportune time in his 664th NHL game, snapping a third-period tie with 5:49 left Tuesday to help the Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Blues.

"It was big and his first of the season and I think he's been waiting for that one for a while," Los Angeles captain Dustin Brown said of Mitchell. "It's really nice to get it at this time."

Mike Richards had a goal and an assist and the Kings got a team-leading 10th goal by Anze Kopitar for their third win in St. Louis in 11 tries.

"It was a difficult game," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "…It ended up being a pretty exciting hockey game."

CROSBY, THE DAY AFTER: Sidney Crosby felt something Tuesday he hadn't experienced in a long, long time. Tired. In the best way possible.

"Obviously, it's been a long time since I played," the Penguins star said.

Funny, it didn't look like it.

Crosby returned from a 10-month layoff while recovering from concussion-like symptoms to score two goals and add two assists in a 5-0 romp over the Islanders on Monday.

Tuesday, he joined a spirited hour-long practice, with his legs, his lungs and — most important — his head feeling just fine after his first game in 320 days. The 24-year-old felt none of the "fogginess" that kept him out nearly a year after taking head shots in consecutive games last January.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Center Kyle Turris ended his long holdout by agreeing to a two-year contract with the Coyotes. Turris sat out training camp and missed Phoenix's first 19 games.

Kings0123
at Blues1012

First Period1, St. Louis, Steen 8 (Oshie), 1:07. PenaltiesArnott, StL (tripping), 1:50; Moreau, LA (high-sticking), 5:37; Fraser, LA, major (fighting), 17:18; Nichol, StL, major (fighting), 17:18; Clifford, LA (hooking), 18:04.

Second Period2, Los Angeles, Kopitar 10 (Richards), 7:36 (pp). PenaltiesHunter, LA (slashing), 3:00; Reaves, StL (interference), 5:41; Pietrangelo, StL (interference), 10:24; Porter, StL (cross-checking), 16:59; Clifford, LA (high-sticking), 19:01; Pietrangelo, StL (slashing), 20:00.

Third Period3, Los Angeles, Richards 9 (Loktionov), 4:41. 4, St. Louis, Sobotka 2 (D'Agostini, Russell), 12:28. 5, Los Angeles, Mitchell 1 (Gagne, Williams), 14:11. PenaltiesSobotka, StL (roughing), 5:11; Gagne, LA (hooking), 8:23; Doughty, LA (cross-checking), 19:58. Shots on GoalLos Angeles 8-11-9—28. St. Louis 7-14-4—25. Power-play opportunitiesLos Angeles 1 of 6; St. Louis 0 of 6. GoaliesLos Angeles, Bernier 2-2-0 (25 shots-23 saves). St. Louis, Halak 3-7-2 (28-25). A18,178 (19,150). T2:25.

Oilers3036
at Predators0022

First Period1, Edmonton, Horcoff 5 (Nugent-Hopkins, Hall), 9:31 (pp). 2, Edmonton, Hemsky 2 (Smyth, Eberle), 11:39. 3, Edmonton, Eberle 6 (Hall, Nugent-Hopkins), 15:51. PenaltiesC.Smith, Nas (hooking), 9:09; Smithson, Nas (holding), 13:45.

Second PeriodNone. PenaltiesSmyth, Edm (hooking), 6:52; Gilbert, Edm (holding), 8:01; Petry, Edm (hooking), 12:24; Gagner, Edm, major (fighting), 15:22; Halischuk, Nas, major (fighting), 15:22.

Third Period4, Edmonton, Eberle 7 (Smyth, Smid), 5:00. 5, Nashville, Tootoo 1 (Weber, Suter), 11:32 (pp). 6, Edmonton, Petry 1 (Belanger, Hemsky), 12:22 (pp). 7, Edmonton, Horcoff 6 (Gagner, Jones), 15:03. 8, Nashville, Blum 2 (Fisher, Tootoo), 19:40. PenaltiesTeubert, Edm (interference), 5:46; Kostitsyn, Nas (interference), 6:50; Teubert, Edm (tripping), 11:26; Suter, Nas (elbowing), 12:07; Plante, Edm (cross-checking), 15:31. Shots on GoalEdmonton 13-7-12—32. Nashville 3-18-11—32. Power-play opportunitiesEdmonton 2 of 4; Nashville 1 of 6. GoaliesEdmonton, Dubnyk 3-4-0 (32 shots-30 saves). Nashville, Rinne 10-5-4 (13-10), Lindback (0:00 second, 19-16). A16,838 (17,113). T2:26.


Sports in brief: Kurt Busch, crew chief part ways

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Times wires
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

autos

kurt busch, crew chief part ways

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kurt Busch has lost his second crew chief in three seasons.

Penske Racing confirmed Tuesday that Steve Addington has left the organization. He joined Penske before the 2010 season after spending two seasons working with Busch's younger brother, Kyle.

Addington guided the 2004 NASCAR champion to four victories and spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship the past two years.

Addington has been on the receiving end this season of many of Busch's verbal assaults, including an infamous in-race meltdown in May over team radio.

Ganassi hires Hendrick engineer: NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi has lured a top engineer away from Hendrick Motorsports to be Juan Pablo Montoya's crew chief next season. Chris Heroy had been in the Hendrick organization since 2004, most recently as lead engineer for Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was a crew chief for Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson in Nationwide Series races last year.

tennis

Federer shuts down Nadal in London

Roger Federer took exactly one hour to complete a 6-3, 6-0 victory, qualifying for the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals in London with his most comprehensive victory over Rafael Nadal.

Pinned behind the baseline, Nadal found Federer's forehand unplayable. From 2-2 in the first set, Federer won 10 of the next 11 games. He finished with 28 winners to Nadal's four.

Earlier, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga kept alive his hopes of reaching the last four by beating Mardy Fish 7-6 (7-4), 6-1. Federer's win means Fish cannot advance.

The winner of Thursday's match between Tsonga and Nadal will claim the other semifinal berth from Group B.

Also, Andy Murray pulled out of the season-ending tournament with a groin strain he sustained during practice last week. He said the injury wouldn't require surgery.

et cetera

arena league: Former Jefferson standout Prechae Rodriguez signed with the Storm. The receiver, 26, has spent the past four years in the Canadian Football League.

Times wires

Tampa Bay Lightning blasted 7-1 by Toronto Maple Leafs

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

TAMPA — What is the next step for the Lightning?

There have been players-only meetings, changes of routines, tough practices and days off.

Nothing seems to be helping as the team disintegrated Tuesday night 7-1 to the Maple Leafs at the St. Pete Times Forum, the team's fourth loss in five games.

"There's always something you can do," coach Guy Boucher said. "I'm certainly not one to get discouraged. … There are solutions, but right now it's not about pointing fingers."

So, let's do it for him.

Tampa Bay (9-9-2) was done in by bad goaltending and bad defense, and that had to be frustrating for a team that played one of its best first periods of the season, outshot Toronto 13-8 and still was behind 3-1.

Yes, there were issues with a lack of push from the forwards in the second and third periods in which the Lightning was outshot 18-15. It also should be noted Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis each were minus-4.

But when the defense continually makes plays that lead to goals and goaltender Dwayne Roloson is pulled after allowing six goals on 21 shots, that is the bigger concern.

"It's frustrating, but you can only look at yourself," defenseman Eric Brewer said. "If you're frustrated with the overall picture and being part of it, you have to look at yourself and are you doing enough? You lose a game like this at home, clearly we're not."

The undoing began with Toronto's two power-play goals in 87 seconds of the first period after Lecavalier's power-play goal tied the score 1-1.

Defenseman Victor Hedman was called for a four-minute high-sticking penalty which led to Tim Connolly's tip-in goal with 2:04 left. And when defenseman Pavel Kubina joined Hedman because of an interference penalty Boucher called "stupid," Tyler Bozak scored five-on-three with 37.1 seconds left.

Defensive miscues by Hedman and defensemen Brett Clarke, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Matt Gilroy also led to goals, and Roloson needed to stop Clarke MacArthur's deflection from the slot 41 seconds into the first.

Then there was this:

In a three-on-three situation in the third, Roloson tried to sweep a puck around the net but gave it directly to Bozak, who scored to make it 5-1. Joffrey Lupul's short-side goal that made it 6-1 should not have gone in, either.

"It's like a leaking ceiling," Boucher said. "You patch one hole and then you start worrying about the other hole that's leaking, and you look at the first one that's leaking again. That's what we got."

And who knows what's next?

Maple Leafs3137
Lightning1001

First Period1, Toronto, MacArthur 7 (Gardiner, T.Connolly), :41. 2, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 9 (Stamkos, Malone), 8:38 (pp). 3, Toronto, T.Connolly 3 (Kulemin, Franson), 17:56 (pp). 4, Toronto, Bozak 3 (Kessel, T.Connolly), 19:22 (pp). PenaltiesDupuis, Tor (hooking), 3:27; Gardiner, Tor (hooking), 7:42; Hedman, TB, double minor (high-sticking), 16:20; Kubina, TB (interference), 18:44.

Second Period5, Toronto, Colborne 1 (Frattin, Liles), 17:45. PenaltiesRosehill, Tor (holding stick), 4:26.

Third Period6, Toronto, Bozak 4, 3:07. 7, Toronto, Lupul 11 (Bozak, Phaneuf), 4:28. 8, Toronto, Crabb 3 (Frattin, Gardiner), 14:28. PenaltiesFranson, Tor (hooking), 1:13; Purcell, TB (diving), 1:13; Shannon, TB (tripping), 2:29; T.Connolly, Tor (interference), 2:52; Gardiner, Tor (holding), 11:17; Gardiner, Tor, double minor (roughing), 18:11; Stamkos, TB, double minor (roughing), 18:11. Shots on GoalToronto 8-10-8—26. Tampa Bay 13-6-9—28. Power-play opportunitiesToronto 2 of 4; Tampa Bay 1 of 6. GoaliesToronto, Gustavsson 6-4-0 (28 shots-27 saves). Tampa Bay, Roloson 6-6-1 (21-15), Garon (4:28 third, 5-4). A19,204 (19,204). T2:24.

Thanksgiving weekend sports television highlights

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

By RODNEY PAGE

Times Staff Writer

Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863. Shortly thereafter, a group of guys got together and started playing pick-up football games to get out of doing the dishes. That second part may not be totally true, but it sure is nice to have sports as a holiday diversion.

There is always plenty of football, hockey or basketball on television to help us work off the turkey and mashed potatoes. In fact, there is so much that it is hard to keep everything straight. That's where our annual Sports on TV holiday chart comes in handy.

Here are the highlights for this year's Thanksgiving holiday weekend:

THURSDAY

Event Time TV Why you should watch

NFL: Packers at Lions 12:30 p.m. Ch. 13 This game hasn't been very good since Barry Sanders and Brett Favre played. But this year the Lions should be able to hang.

NFL: Dolphins at Cowboys 4 p.m. Ch. 10 The Dolphins have won three straight (and missed out on Andrew Luck) so this should also be close.

College basketball: FSU vs. Massachusetts 4:30 p.m. Versus If you need a break from football, check out one of the local schools playing in the Bahamas.

College football: Texas at Texas A&M 8 p.m. ESPN It's rivalry week, and this rivalry goes back to the 1900s. But does anyone care this year?

NFL: 49ers at Ravens 8:20 p.m. NFL It's HarBowl 2011, pitting sibling head coaches Jim (49ers) and John (Ravens) Harbaugh. The 49ers can clinch a playoff spot with a win.

FRIDAY

Event Time TV Why you should watch

College football: Louisville at USF 11 a.m. ESPN2 If B.J. Daniels doesn't play, it could be a black Friday for the Bulls.

College football: Iowa at Nebraska noon Ch. 28 This game looked pretty good in the preseason. Now? Not so much.

NHL: Red Wings at Bruins 1 p.m. Ch. 8 If you need a diversion from football, the defending champs take on Detroit.

College football: Arkansas at LSU 2:30 p.m. Ch. 10 No. 1 vs. No. 3 in the BCS standings. If you can only watch one game today, make it this one.

College football: Boston College at Miami 3:30 p.m. Ch. 28 See Iowa at Nebraska.

College football: Pittsburgh at West Virginia 7 p.m. ESPN The backyard brawl, one of the most heated in the Big East.

NHL: Lightning at Panthers 7:30 p.m. Sun Sports The Lightning try to figure things out in South Florida.

College basketball: North Carolina vs. South Carolina 10 p.m. ESPN2 They have to go all the way to Las Vegas to play it, but it's a pretty good game to end your night.

SATURDAY

Event Time TV Why you should watch

College football: Ohio State at Michigan noon Ch. 28 Ohio State has dominated this series lately, but this year they could get tattoed.

College football: Georgia at Georgia Tech noon ESPN Georgia already knows its playing in the SEC championship. Georgia Tech is playing for pride.

College football: Alabama at Auburn 3:30 p.m. Ch. 10 These guys hate each other. You can believe Alabama remembers last year's second half collapse.

College football: Virginia Tech at Virginia 3:30 p.m. Ch. 28 This is for a berth in the ACC championship game, thanks to a Florida State missed field goal.

College football: Penn State at Wisconsin 3:30 p.m. ESPN Despite all the turmoil, Penn State keeps winning. But not this week, right?

College football: Florida State at Florida 7 p.m. ESPN2 Fans of both schools just want this season to end. But there's one more week of watching mediocre quarterbacks and overrated defenses.

NHL: Panthers at Lightning 7 p.m. Sun Sports If you're not into college football, here's a good alternative.

College football: Clemson at South Carolina 7:45 p.m. ESPN Clemson got blown out by lowly N.C. State last week while S.C. continues to win ugly. Can the Tigers rebound?

College football: Notre Dame at Stanford 8 p.m. Ch. 28 The Irish may have enough to stay with Andrew Luck and Stanford this year.

College football: UCLA at USC 10:30 p.m. FSN This used to be the game, but now it has fallen out of prime time and off network TV. Still a good rivalry.

SUNDAY

Event Time TV Why you should watch

NFL: Bills at Jets 1 p.m. Ch. 10 Both teams seem to be fading to the finish line.

NFL: Bucs at Titans 1 p.m. Ch. 13 Is there any way to get road games blacked out as well?

NFL: Broncos at Chargers 4 p.m. Ch. 10 We get to see Tebow! We get to see Tebow!

College basketball: Tournament championships 7 and 9 p.m. ESPN and ESPN2 The Old Spice Classic and the 76 Classic both end tonight, for all you hoops junkies.

NFL: Steelers at Chiefs 8:15 p.m. Ch. 8 Is it just me or are the Steelers on TV here every week?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reduce season-ticket prices for 80 percent of seats in 2012

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

TAMPA — In an effort to spur attendance in one of the NFL's most depressed markets, the Bucs announced sweeping changes Wednesday in the pricing and structure of the team's 2012 season tickets.

Prices on 80 percent of the seats at Raymond James Stadium will be reduced next season while others will remain flat for a fourth consecutive season, according to the team.

The team, citing feedback from fans, is taking steps to increase attendance at their home venue, where sales have been sluggish during the past several seasons. The team said fans requested more affordable prices in desirable seating locations.

General admission tickets for kids that currently sell for $17.50 will be reduced to $15, and some adult general admission tickets that currently cost $35 will be reduced to $30.

Discounts for season tickets versus individual games will be larger, in some cases as much as 45 percent (taking into account Ticketmaster processing fees). For instance, a family of four sitting in Section 310 — located in the upper deck and on the 50-yard line — would save nearly $1,500 by purchasing season tickets rather than buying single-game tickets.

Some lower-level end zone seats, which currently cost $89, will be reduced to $75 per game.

The team said it wanted to set a tone of inclusion, making the game-day experience seem less out-of-reach.

"Listening to our fans, the overwhelming recommendation they made is more value and more options between the most affordable seats and the most exclusive," Bucs co-chairman Ed Glazer said in a press release.

"For 2012, we sought to make lower-level seats more accessible to a greater number of people while also giving more fans than ever the chance to become season-pass members through a completely overhauled pricing system intended to offer something for everyone."

In addition to the reduced prices, there will be perks the team hopes will appeal to fans, including meet-and-greets with players, free wireless Internet access and exclusive events limited to club-seat purchasers.

The food and beverage discount offered to season-ticket holders will increase to 15 percent from 10 percent, and the 10-month payment plan returns for a second straight year.

It remains to be seen what the impact of the price reductions will be.

Chris Munzo of New Tampa, who attends several games per season, was encouraged by the news but doesn't view it as a cure-all for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003.

"The economy is tough all over," he said. "If other teams were experiencing these same problems (with attendance), then I think you could say that prices are the (only) problem. I mean, is the Pittsburgh area any bigger than Tampa?

"But cheaper ticket prices won't hurt. I'm glad they're making the effort. I'd also like to see them put the money into a couple of free agents, though."

The Bucs are in the midst of a season during which just two of nine home games (including the preseason) are expected to sell out.

That means local fans have been largely unable to watch home games because of the NFL's local television blackout policy, which prohibits home games from being televised in the local market when not sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

Tampa Bay was the only team to have all of its home games blacked out in 2010. This season, only October's Monday Night Football game against the Colts and the Dec. 17 game against the Cowboys have sold out.

Attendance at Raymond James Stadium dipped as low as 46,995 for a Sept. 25 game against the Falcons. The stadium has a capacity of 65,000.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com. For the latest Bucs news go to tampabay.com/blogs/bucs.

College basketball preview: No. 22 FSU Seminoles vs. Massachusetts Minutemen, Battle4Atlantis

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Times staff
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

New baseball labor agreement could hamper Tampa Bay Rays

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By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Call them loopholes. Call them market inefficiencies.

Call them whatever you like, the Rays have forever been on the lookout for ways to keep up with baseball's heavyweights while producing a fraction of their revenues.

So they outspend the Yankees in the amateur draft. They start academies in Venezuela and Brazil hoping to strike gold. They stockpile draft picks through technicalities.

It's all legal. It's all rather shrewd. And it's all now in danger because of the new collective bargaining agreement announced Tuesday by Major League Baseball.

The headlines in this labor agreement may focus on expanded playoffs and testing for HGH, but the true impact could be the roadblocks erected in front of poorer teams.

And that does not even include the possibility of an unbalanced schedule even more tilted than the current one, a change that would be devastating to Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Now it's possible the new CBA will have some loopholes of its own that could be exploited over time. And it's possible some of those changes will not have the exact consequences widely predicted in the past 48 hours.

But it's also fair to say the Rays are going to have to rethink some of their strategies due to changes in the draft, free agent compensation and international scouting.

Here are some examples, in real world terms, of the changes ahead:

Draft cap

Teams are going to be limited to a specific dollar amount in the draft, depending on where they are selecting and how many picks they have. If they go over that cap, they will pay a heavy tax and potentially lose first- and second-round picks the following year.

This is potentially a doomsday scenario for teams such as the Rays if that draft cap is too restrictive. Since Tampa Bay cannot overspend for major-league free agents, the Rays have instead gambled by paying over recommended slots for hard-to-sign draft picks.

For instance, in 1999, the Rays drafted a highly touted prep quarterback in the second round and paid him about $400,000 over slot to leave football behind. Within years, Carl Crawford was one of the best leftfielders in baseball.

In 2005, the Rays drafted a prep pitcher in the fourth round and overpaid him around $250,000 to give up his scholarship at LSU. In 2011, Jeremy Hellickson was the American League rookie of the year.

Just a few months ago, the Rays took Taylor Guerrieri near the end of the first round even though he was committed to the University of South Carolina. They paid him more than six players chosen earlier and may have gotten a top-10 talent as a result.

By limiting how much teams can spend in the draft, MLB is taking away the most efficient method the Rays have for adding high-end talent.

Free agent compensation

The Rays lost a bundle of free agents last winter but took advantage by compiling the greatest war chest of draft picks in baseball history.

Acquiring 12 of the first 89 picks in the June draft took some of the sting out of losing so many players on the 40-man roster. Except, under proposed new rules, that type of haul will likely never happen again.

If you applied this system to last year's draft, the Rays probably would have had no more than six picks in the first 89.

For the past 30 years, baseball has used Type A and Type B rankings supplied by Elias to determine compensation for departing free agents. Type A players netted two draft picks, and Type B players brought one pick. Those Elias rankings no longer matter.

Now a free agent will bring compensation only if his former team offers him a one-year deal equal to what the top 125 highest-paid players make, which is currently around $12 million. In other words, midlevel free agents will no longer bring compensation.

That means the incentive to trade B.J. Upton may be greater today than it was a week ago.

You see, if the Rays were certain Upton was going to get a multiyear deal worth a ton of money on the free agent market, they could offer him the $12 million, one-year deal knowing he would turn it down. That would get the Rays two compensatory draft picks.

But if Upton has a subpar year, the Rays aren't going to offer him the $12 million out of fear he will accept it. And that means he could leave as a free agent, and the Rays would get nothing in return. Thus, trading him this winter might look more attractive.

MLB seemed to understand this was not good news for competitive balance, and so the new CBA calls for a lottery for six sandwich picks after both the first and second rounds of every draft to be distributed among baseball's smallest markets and lowest revenue teams.

International spending cap

The impact of this rule is not going to be immediately felt by fans, but it could be a major blow to Tampa Bay's future prospects.

The Rays have not yet been big players in the international free agent market, but they have slowly built their presence in Latin America in recent years. The idea was that once they had the infrastructure in place, they would have a leg up on other teams.

Now baseball is instituting a salary cap on amateur signings outside the Untied States — beginning this season at $2.9 million — so the Rays have potentially lost another avenue for high-end talent. To put that figure in perspective, the Rangers spent more than $17 million in international signings just in the past year.

Bottom line

This CBA is not good news for Tampa Bay. It may not be the disaster that some baseball officials are quietly predicting, but it does not help the cause of competitive balance.

At this point, the still-undisclosed schedule could be the make-or-break issue for the Rays. If MLB is truly interested in competitive balance, it will create a balanced schedule that gives every team the same opportunity to earn a wild card. An unbalanced schedule (i.e. more games against the Yankees and Red Sox) just puts the Rays in a deeper hole.

Labor peace is obviously important for baseball in the long haul, but its cost may have been higher than a low-revenue team such as the Rays can afford.

John Romano can be reached at jromano@tampabay.com.

Preview: Thursday's NFL games

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Today

Packers (10-0) at Lions (7-3)

12:30 p.m., Ch. 13

Line; O/U: Packers by 6; 551/2

The undefeated Packers look a little vulnerable after Sunday's toughie against the Bucs. Their opponents' formula seems to be run well and keep the ball away from QB Aaron Rodgers, and when he does get possession, force him to make tough throws against tight man-to-man coverage. Rodgers had 11 incomplete passes against the Bucs on Sunday, his most since Oct. 9 against the Falcons. The Lions haven't shown enough consistency running the ball, but they rank fifth in pass defense.

Holder's pick: Packers 34, Lions 24

Dolphins (3-7) at Cowboys (6-4)

4:15 p.m., Ch. 10

Line; O/U: Cowboys by 7; 44

Miami has averaged 28.6 points in its past three games, all wins, so the Dolphins might have the ability to make some plays against a talented Cowboys defense. During their three-game winning streak, the Dolphins have held the Chiefs, Redskins and Bills to single digits in scoring. The Cowboys have a bit more offensive firepower, though, and QB Tony Romo is undefeated on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys' offensive balance could be the difference.

Holder's pick: Cowboys 27, Dolphins 21

49ers (9-1) at Ravens (7-3)

8:20 p.m., NFL Network

Line; O/U: Ravens by 31/2; 381/2

Isn't family supposed to get together on Thanksgiving? This family affair pits 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh against brother and Ravens coach John, and this is a very big test for both teams. It's a matchup of teams with similar styles and strengths. Both want to run the ball and play stout defense. This game feels like a tossup. So we'll go with the home team.

Holder's pick: Ravens 23, 49ers 21

Stephen F. Holder, Times staff writer


Captain's Corner: Baits and tides

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By Rick Frazier, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bait presentation: Bait presentation is key to being a consistently successful angler no matter which fish is targeted. The more natural the offering appears, the more strikes the bait will get, regardless if it is a tail-hooked live shrimp or a slow-moving artificial crawling across the bottom. If the bait appears unnatural or intrusive, forget it. One way to present your offering in the most natural way is by paying attention to moving water. Use water movement or nonmovement to your advantage. The first step is being able to read a tide chart. Knowing and recognizing the nuances of everyday tidal patterns help greatly in predicting the best time for a specific type of fishing.

For example: Bottom fishing for snapper and grouper along the edge of the shipping channel in Tampa Bay is very popular. When is the best time to go? In tidal bodies of water, the key to feeding activity is moving water. But in this case, the only way to get a natural presentation without using a pound of lead is to fish when the tide slackens. Better yet, targeting both sides of the tide change, when the water flow is slowest, allows for more fishing time. It's the opposite if you're fishing grass flats. Peak water movement is wanted in this situation. Game fish follow prey up on the flat when the tide is rising and follow it off when it's falling. Usually, when the tide peaks or bottoms out on the flats, so does the fishing.

Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 510-4376.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett likely to sit out Sunday

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

TAMPA — Michael Bennett could handle the doubters and double-teams. But Wednesday, the Bucs defensive end finally found his groin injury to be too burdensome to play through.

"It just got to the point where I just couldn't go," said Bennett, an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M claimed off waivers from Seattle in 2009.

"I had to go sit down. I could barely get down in my stance. I couldn't move my legs right. They've told me I probably need to sit out a couple of weeks. That's the only way you get healthy with this thing: rest."

Coach Raheem Morris held out hope Bennett could play.

"He'll be day to day. We'll have to see what's going on by the end of the week," Morris said.

Bennett, 26, has 31 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

His play has been good enough to keep rookie Da'Quan Bowers, a second-round draft pick, out of the starting lineup. But coaches have been raving about Bowers' play recently, and it's likely he will replace Bennett on Sunday at Tennessee.

Bowers said he might not have been ready for the responsibility earlier but now feels prepared. "Mental sharpness" was what he cited as his biggest area of improvement this season.

"It's not much physical, but being mentally prepared each week," he said. "That's half the battle, just knowing the ins and outs."

Morris said Bowers has improved as the season has progressed.

"The last game may have been one of his more productive games," he said. "The game before that, you kind of saw some flash from him. He's settled in at that left end spot. He's comfortable. He's playing aggressive. He's violent and starting to pick things up pretty quickly."

More injuries: S Tanard Jackson, who missed Sunday's game at Green Bay and has been plagued by a hamstring strain since Oct. 23 against the Bears, returned to practice and is expected to start against the Titans.

Jackson, who missed 56 weeks serving a league suspension for violating its substance-abuse policy, was injured returning an interception against the Bears. He played poorly in a loss to the Texans on Nov. 13 and was inactive Sunday against the Packers.

"Tanard went out there and did mostly everything," Morris said. "He participated in everything. I watched him go out and run around, and I'm feeling really good about that one."

LB Dekoda Watson has been battling a groin injury but participated in practice. And DT Brian Price was limited with a forearm injury.

HASSELBECK WILL PLAY: Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck confirmed he will play Sunday against the Bucs.

Hasselbeck left Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Falcons with a sprained right elbow. Rookie Jake Locker took over and nearly led a comeback win in throwing for 140 yards.

"He's awesome," Hasselbeck said of Locker, the eighth overall draft pick out of Washington. "He and I are good friends, and our whole quarterback room has been great this year.

"Jake has a ton of ability. He came in and played the fourth quarter this past week and played really, really well. It's no secret why he was a first-rounder.

"For him, I'm sure it's fun being in the NFL. But at the same time, I'm sure he's getting antsy and itching for his chance to play. And I'm sure he'll get his chance at some point and have a long, successful career."

ROSTER MOVE: DT Frank Okam, released from the active roster Tuesday, was added to the practice squad Wednesday. The Bucs released DT Swanson Miller from the practice squad to make room.

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson getting time to regroup

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

BRANDON — It was a drill conceived so players could have fun, but to Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson, it was deadly serious.

Sliding to his right, then his left, throwing his legs out, making saves with his stick, Roloson put on a show Wednesday at the Ice Sports Forum against teammates shooting from no more than 15 feet away.

"Any little thing is important," Roloson said. "You have to practice like you're in a game. The old cliche is, you do something 1,000 times, you're good at it. You do it 10,000 times, you're an expert."

Tampa Bay (9-9-2) could use some expertise from Roloson.

In fairness, when a team loses four of five games, more is going wrong than just inconsistency in net, and the Lightning sure could use a sturdier defense.

But Roloson, Tampa Bay's No. 1, is supposed to bail out teammates when they make mistakes. That hasn't happened lately. And in Tampa Bay's past two losses — 4-2 to the Devils and 7-1 to the Maple Leafs — Roloson not only was leaky, but puck blunders allowed goals that never should have happened.

It's enough that coach Guy Boucher will give backup Mathieu Garon the start Friday at Florida and would not commit to Roloson on Saturday against the Panthers at the St. Pete Times Forum despite it being the second of back-to-back games.

"Right now he's got a lot of games in a row, and he's going to get a break," Boucher said. "He's had a breather and practices before where he's had success, and all of a sudden he clears his mind and he's back on track. This is a great opportunity for him to master his game."

Roloson's numbers are not good. His 3.46 goals-against average entered Wednesday tied for 59th in the league. His .887 save percentage was 57th.

In his past four games, Roloson is 1-3-0 with a 4.64 goals-against average and an .851 save percentage. Garon, 33, hasn't been sharp, either, going 0-2-0 in his past five games with a 5.23 goals-against average and an .827 save percentage.

But it is Roloson, 42, the league's oldest player, who is supposed to be Tampa Bay's go-to guy, and he was that Thursday when he made 33 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Penguins.

What Roloson is not supposed to do is sweep the puck directly to Toronto's Tyler Bozak for an empty-net goal or try to fling the puck with his glove backhand to a teammate, only to see it go to New Jersey's Ryan Carter, who also scored into an empty net.

That kind of inconsistency has plagued the entire team. It is just much more glaring when it afflicts a goalie.

"Just trying to do too much," Roloson said of the miscues. "You're trying to do something that's not really your forte. When you try to do too much, it usually comes back to bite you."

How does he regroup?

"Don't worry about anything else except the things you can control," Roloson said.

Such as Wednesday's practice, during which teammates shook their heads as the goalie made save after save.

"He was outstanding," Boucher said.

"Anyone who knows 'Roli' knows he is never not focused," center Dominic Moore said. "Even playing a fun game, he's playing for keeps."

The Lightning just needs to see it more when it counts.

MOVES: Forward Blair Jones, a healthy scratch in 10 of 20 games, is on waivers for the purpose of sending him to AHL Norfolk. Wing Dana Tyrell was called up.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @LightningTimes.

Fanconi anemia turns life upside down for Jimbo Fisher, wife Candi and their son

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

It began as a family trip to celebrate Christmas, but little did Candi Fisher know 11 months ago that it was the beginning of the end of normal. • On a fateful day last December in her native Alabama, what seemed like a simple case of a kid with the flu led to a diagnosis that changed her family's life in unimaginable ways. • Doctors discovered Ethan Fisher, the 6-year-old son of Candi and Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher, has Fanconi Anemia, a rare blood disease inherited from a gene in both parents that decreases production of blood cells and eventually leads to bone marrow failure. Of the more than 4.2 million births in the United States each year, only about 31 are born with the disease. There is no cure, and in three to five years he will need a bone marrow transplant. • The diagnosis devastated the Fishers. • "We were trying to keep the kids from seeing us struggling because we were both struggling," Candi Fisher said, referring to Ethan and his 10-year-old brother, Trey. "There were so many days I would take the kids to school, and then come back home and get in the bed because I couldn't find it in myself to move forward at that point."

After learning all she could about the disease and getting Ethan set up with specialists in Minnesota, what she found in herself was a fierce determination to find a cure for Ethan and all the other children stricken with the disease.

"She meets everything head on, and there was no doubt about this," Jimbo Fisher said. "I mean, it was a shock, because her love for her kids is unbelievable and her commitment to them. But there was no doubt in my mind that she would attack this thing."

The Fishers, who met when they were introduced by mutual friends and have been married 18 years, founded the Kidz 1st Fund, a non-profit group to help raise awareness and money to find a cure. Since September, it has raised nearly $500,000 and far exceeded Candi Fisher's expectations.

"From the very beginning when Ethan first got sick, I thought I've got to do something," she said. "I'm a fixer by nature, I just am. I want to fix it today and I want to move on tomorrow. And this has definitely been one of those things for me where it has taught me that not everything can be handled that way. I wonder if in some way that God's testing me and trying to teach me to have patience and learn that not everything can be fixed. Not everything is going to be fixed immediately."

Trip that changed everything

Candi Fisher and her children were visiting her mother, Suzanne Ballard, in Birmingham during the Christmas holidays last year when Ethan began running a fever and exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Routine tests at a local urgent care facility indicated Ethan's platelet count was unusually low. His mother was told it most likely was due to the virus but she should have Ethan checked when they returned home.

The twice-monthly tests kept coming back abnormal, and the Fishers were referred to doctors at Shands in Gainesville. For about 2½ weeks after the test was administered, the Fishers tried to go about life as usual.

And then came the call on March 28.

Candi Fisher was at home cooking dinner. Jimbo and the boys were out riding around a nearby pond. In hysterics, she went to find them.

"Everything changes," Candi Fisher said. "Everything was different. Life changed at that point. What I thought was important all of a sudden wasn't as important anymore. For awhile it was hard to find the willpower to get out of the house every day. But I had to keep the kids' routine regular. They needed normalcy."

And she needed to make something positive out of the situation. Initially, she and Jimbo struggled with whether to go public. It's hard enough being the son of a coach of a big-time college football team. But they decided it was worth opening themselves up publicly if it meant saving lives.

"We didn't want Ethan to be the poster-child for anything, and I don't mean that to sound terrible …" she said. "I didn't want it to be just another thing that drew even more attention to the kids. But we decided that instead of it being Ethan's battle, it's our family's battle."

When word got out about the foundation, she was contacted by several local individuals who wanted to help. They immediately formed a board that meets once a week, and Fisher travels around the area getting the word out about the disease and fundraising. She would love to take her voice nationwide, but for now she refuses to do anything that takes her away from her children. "My children are my first priority," she said.

Three weeks ago, the Boston College women's ice hockey team presented the Fishers with a $2,500 donation. In addition, many ACC and SEC coaches have privately donated to the foundation. And then there are the other Fanconi anemia families, including Virginia coach Mike London and his wife, Regina, whose daughter Ticynn was diagnosed in 2000 and eventually had a transplant.

"It's something that we had never even heard of, yet now that we're doing all of this, we have met so many people now who are reaching out," Fisher said. "And they are saying my child has this, and thank you for bringing awareness to this."

A mother's love

Suzanne Ballard had grown to love the role of doting grandmother to Ethan and Trey, and was basking in the glow of that unconditional love grandchildren bring without the full responsibility of parenting them. But when Ethan's diagnosis came, her life would be turned around, too. She knew it the moment she heard her daughter's voice on the telephone.

"The moment I heard the pain in her voice, immediately my thoughts went to her," Ballard said. "She couldn't even really get the words out, but I knew. And as much as I love Ethan, which is unbelievable, my thought at that moment, and my pain was for her. Immediately my thought was, 'Oh my gosh, this is my child and she's going to have to go through this.' And what can I do to help her? She will be there for Ethan, Jimbo will be there for Ethan. What can I do to help them? And so it's the mother that took priority then, rather than the grandmother."

Her first priority these days is making sure Candi is okay. She travels back and forth from Birmingham to Tallahassee more often now to provide love and support in any way she can.

"I've always been proud of her, but I have a whole new respect and amazement as I watch her go through her day-to-day," Ballard said. "Unless you're walking in their shoes, you have no idea what they face and deal with every day."

Facing the future

For now, Ethan Fisher is relatively healthy, able to do what any other kid his age can, his mom says. He gets his blood count checked every three months, and a chart is maintained to ensure he remains stable. Doctors are watching for trends, and when the decline begins, he will be closer to marrow failure and the need for a transplant. There is no cure, but the success rate of bone marrow transplants for Fanconi anemia patients has increased from 30 percent to nearly 85 percent over the past 15 years. However, those with the disease are more likely to develop cancer at a significantly higher rate than the general population.

The waiting, wondering, and worrying would be more torturous if not for Candi Fisher's work with the foundation. It's why she's devoting so much time to it now, while Ethan's still healthy. Her biggest concern is keeping the agenda fresh so people will want to continue to help. The way she has managed to balance it all, says Jimbo Fisher, is a testament to her dedication to her family and finding a cure.

"I mean, it's unbelievable what a coach's wife does when everything is perfect, they have to handle the kids, the family, every situation known to man and everything else," Jimbo Fisher said. "But then what she's done chairing this fund, it's been a tremendous burden for her and time consuming, but it's something she is very passionate about and has done a tremendous job, has raised a ton of money, has organized a great deal and doing everything she can do for our son while I'm coaching and trying to do this. …

"It's actually remarkable what all she's taken on, what she does within a day and what she accomplishes. … Her energy level and commitment is unbelievable, and I'm very blessed to have her."

Fear and faith

Faith, friends and family have enabled Candi Fisher to go on. And on those days when doubt and fear creep in, she reminds herself that there's a greater purpose to what her family is enduring.

"I have to believe that we were given this for a reason, otherwise I would be angry," she said. "And yeah, I get angry. I get angry a lot of times. I get angry at the situation, I get upset, I get sad. I have days where it's very difficult to not cry all day long. But for the most part, I've got to believe that God knows what he's doing. … Maybe our son having this will save other people's lives. I have to believe that. Because I can't accept the alternative."

Antonya English can be reached at aenglish@tampabay.com.

Chiefs grab Orton to replace Cassel

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Times wires
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kyle Orton has a new home in the AFC West.

Orton was claimed off waivers Wednesday by the Chiefs, who were in the market for a veteran quarterback after losing Matt Cassel to a season-ending injury to his throwing hand.

Orton was released by the Broncos on Tuesday, six weeks after he was benched following a 1-4 start. The former Bears starter, who passed for 3,000 yards each of his first two seasons in Denver, became expendable when the Broncos opted to go with former Gators Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow as their starter.

The Chiefs will be responsible for approximately $2.5 million remaining on Orton's nearly $8.9 million salary this season, but they had plenty of space under the salary cap.

It was unclear when Orton would report, though he almost certainly won't be available Sunday against the Steelers. That means Kansas City will again start journeyman Tyler Palko, who was 24-of-37 for 230 yards and three interceptions in his first NFL start, a 34-3 loss to the Patriots on Monday night.

BILLS LOSE RB: Running back Fred Jackson will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his lower right leg, an injury that could derail Buffalo's once-promising season.

The Bills, who have lost three in a row, placed Jackson on injured reserve hours after coach Chan Gailey said he wouldn't play Sunday against the Jets. Jackson has 1,376 yards from scrimmage, behind only Bears running back Matt Forte (1,391).

Buffalo claimed running back Tashard Choice off waivers from the Redskins.

BEARS ADD QB: Chicago signed quarterback Josh McCown to a one-year contract. McCown will back up Caleb Hanie, who was pushed into starting duty after Jay Cutler sustained a season-ending broken thumb.

PETERSON IFFY: Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said star running back Adrian Peterson will not play Sunday against the Falcons if he cannot practice by Friday. Peterson's sprained left ankle remained in a walking boot.

SCHAUB ON IR: Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was placed on injured reserve, ending his season, and the team signed quarterback Kellen Clemens. Schaub hurt his right foot in the Nov. 13 win over the Bucs.

BRONCOS: Denver prosecutors won't file charges against defensive lineman Ryan McBean, who was arrested last month after a former girlfriend said he was stalking her.

BROWNS: Running back Montario Hardesty has recovered from a calf injury and could play Sunday against the Bengals after missing three games.

CARDINALS: Quarterback Kevin Kolb, who has missed three games with a right turf toe and a bruise on the side of the same foot, went through a substantial practice for the first time since his injury and said he is optimistic he will play Sunday against the Rams.

COLTS: Coach Jim Caldwell told players and reporters that quarterback Curtis Painter will make his eighth start Sunday against Carolina.

EAGLES: Quarterback Michael Vick did not practice because of broken ribs, and it's uncertain whether he will play against the Patriots on Sunday.

FALCONS: Rookie receiver Julio Jones is expected to be back at practice today, and coach Mike Smith said he should play Sunday against the Vikings if he gets through a couple of practices without reinjuring his ailing right hamstring.

GIANTS: Left tackle Will Beatty is scheduled to have surgery today to repair a detached retina in his right eye.

RAIDERS: Rookie receiver Denarius Moore was held out of practice and wore a protective boot on his right foot, and veteran T.J. Houshmandzadeh also sat out the workout.

49 years in the making

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New York Times
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The undefeated and seemingly unstoppable defending champions from Green Bay sweep down into Detroit, where a determined bunch of Lions awaits.

That describes today's game at Ford Field, where the 10-0 Packers will tangle with the 7-3 Lions. But that was also the situation 49 years ago, the last time an undefeated team played on Thanksgiving. That was when the Packers, 10-0 and the winners of 12 straight, including the 1961 NFL championship game, went to Detroit on Thanksgiving and fell in one of the most stunning losses of the Vince Lombardi era.

The Packers were a fearsome machine in 1962, featuring stars Bart Starr, Jim Taylor, Paul Hornung, Forrest Gregg, Jerry Kramer, Ray Nitschke and Willie Wood. Through 10 games they had outscored opponents 309-74.

"They had it all," said Keith Dunnavant, author of America's Quarterback, a recent biography of Starr. "Just about everybody on the team was at their peak."

Yet the Lions were nearly their equal, especially on defense, where they had five future Hall of Famers, including middle linebacker Joe Schmidt and defensive backs Dick "Night Train" Lane and Dick LeBeau.

"We all felt we had a better football team," Schmidt said. But it would be the front four of Sam Williams, Alex Karras, Roger Brown and Darris McCord— the original Fearsome Foursome — that left an imprint that day, Brown in particular.

Detroit fans camped out overnight in the bitter cold to snap up the few bleacher tickets available. Tiger Stadium was filled with 57,598 fans on a blustery afternoon, and millions more tuned in to CBS for the noon start.

"Everyone watched that game," Brown said recently. "God and his 12 disciples were watching."

Green Bay had shown some vulnerability. The Packers needed a fourth-quarter touchdown and two goal-line stands to defeat Baltimore 17-13 the previous weekend. Hornung, the reigning MVP, injured a knee six weeks earlier and missed the game. And guard Fuzzy Thurston, the man responsible for blocking Brown, lost his mother earlier in the week.

Brown was a terror, 6 feet, 5 inches and 300 pounds of bad news, the first player to combine enormous size with the speed and agility to beat opposing linemen. He sacked Starr for a 15-yard loss on Green Bay's first series, an announcement that the Packers' line would be in trouble.

"We confused their blocking with twists and stunts, and they lost their poise," Schmidt said.

Brown said, "We did all kinds of nutty things to get to Starr." He said Thurston could have had a howitzer "and he wouldn't have stopped me; he was overwhelmed."

After the sack, Boyd Dowler shanked a punt that traveled 15 yards. It took three plays for Detroit to score, with Gail Cogdill beating Wood for a 33-yard touchdown. Things did not get better for Starr on his next possession: He was sacked for a 9-yard loss by "a whole host of Lions," according to the official play-by-play report.

The final score was 26-14. Detroit had 11 sacks, with Brown taking a part in seven. The Lions forced five turnovers and held Green Bay to 122 total yards.

"Most observers couldn't have been more surprised if Santa Claus himself had sparked the winning assault," Robert Teague wrote in the New York Times.

Sports in Brief

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Times wires
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

. fast facts

Times Turkey Trot

The 33rd annual event is today at Clearwater High's Jack White Stadium, 540 S Hercules Ave. The Wingding, Gobbler and Turkey Trot begin on Keene Road, south of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. The Fun Run begins on Druid Road.

• Wingding, a 3.1-mile race, starts at 7 a.m.

• Fun Run, a 3.1-mile fitness run/walk, starts at 7:30

• Gobbler, a 1-mile fitness run/walk, starts at 8:30

• Turkey Trot, a 6.2-mile race, starts at 8:45

• Onsite registration begins at 6 a.m. ($20 for Wingding and Turkey Trot, $15 for Gobbler and Fun Run)

For more information: go to tampabay.com/turkeytrot

NBA

Players, owners reportedly talk

NEW YORK — Talks aimed at ending the NBA lockout resumed, the Associated Press reported Wednesday, with the sides hoping to start a 66-game season by Christmas.

Neither side commented.

The talks are focused on settling their lawsuits. The players filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league in Minnesota, and the league filed a pre-emptive suit in New York seeking to prove the lockout is legal.

Because the union disbanded, it cannot negotiate a new agreement. But the settlement talks could lead to one. A deal can only be completed once the union has reformed.

With the union no longer representing the players, it was unclear who was involved in the talks. Union executive director Billy Hunter is part of the players' legal team, so he's able to take part.

Commissioner David Stern previously said it would take about 30 days from an agreement to the start of the regular season, meaning a deal might need to be reached by the end of this week to begin on Christmas.

Baseball

Indians keep Sizemore

The Indians re-signed OF Grady Sizemore to a one-year deal with a base salary of $5 mil­lion. He can make $4 million more based on plate appearances. Injuries limited him to 210 games the past three seasons. Cleveland had declined a $9 million option for 2012.

other moves: LHP Bruce Chen, 12-8 in 2011, re-signed with Kansas City for two years, $9 million, the Associated Press reported. … C/OF Ryan Doumit, who missed 85 games for the Pirates in 2011 with a broken left ankle, signed with Minnesota for one year, $3 million.

Soccer

Samoa wins its first

Host American Samoa beat Tonga 2-1 in World Cup qualifying, its first international win ever. Since 1994, the U.S. protectorate in the South Pacific with a population of about 55,000 had been 0-30 and outscored 229-12, It's tied for 204th (last) in FIFA's rankings. "I can't explain it," said Ramin Ott, who scored in the 40th minute. "I'm elated. I'm above everything right now."

Et cetera

Tennis: David Ferrer handed Novak Djokovic his fifth loss this year, 6-3, 6-1 at the World Tour Finals in London. It put Ferrer into the semis. Djokovic can advance in the round-robin event by beating Janko Tipsarevic on Friday.

Autos: Shane Wilson will replace Gil Martin as Kevin Harvick's crew chief. Martin, the crew chief since 2009, will be director of team operations. Wilson spent the past three seasons as crew chief for fellow Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer, who is moving to Michael Waltrip Racing. … Jim Rathmann, 83, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1960 and finished second in 1952, 1957 and 1959, died in Melbourne nine days after suffering a seizure.

Times wires


Reports: Urban Meyer, Ohio State near deal

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Times wires
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Ohio State met with Urban Meyer on Wednesday, and the possibility that he will become the football coach there next season is close to becoming a reality. Still, the final word will not come until after Saturday, when the Buckeyes play Michigan in their final game of the regular season.

Several websites, TV stations and the Columbus Dispatch have reported Meyer has reached an agreement with Ohio State and, barring any last-minute problems, will be introduced as the Buckeyes' coach next week.

In a statement Wednesday morning, Meyer said: "I have not been offered the job. I have not taken the job. I will not comment any further. I'm going to do Thanksgiving with my family."

WKMG-TV in Orlando reported late Tuesday that Meyer had agreed "in principle" to a seven-year, $40 million contract. The report also indicated current UF linebackers coach D.J. Durkin and strength coach Mickey Marotti would join Meyer's staff.

There are a handful of obstacles Meyer must clear before further engaging with Ohio State, the New York Times reported. That includes speaking with his family over Thanksgiving and further researching how significant the NCAA sanctions against Ohio State may be.

Meyer, 47, won a pair of national championships at Florida, where he went 65-15 in six years before stepping down last year for health reasons and to spend more time with his family. He has worked as a commentator for ESPN this season.

Ohio State, under interim coach Luke Fickell, plays at No. 17 Michigan on Saturday. Fickell declined to address the story.

"No, I won't," he said. "It's not about that. I'm going to have enough respect for this football game to make sure it's about this football game."

Meyer, a native of Ohio, was a graduate assistant coach with the Buckeyes in the mid 1980s.

Former Gator Tim Tebow and current Broncos quarterback said he was glad to hear Meyer might be coming back to coaching.

"Whatever he decides to do, I'll be 100 percent behind him," he said. "It will be exciting to see what happens. I know, more than anything, he wants to be right by his family and have their support in anything he does. Most of when we've talked it's been about that."

Alabama coach Nick Saban said he understood why Meyer had apparently changed his mind about returning to coaching.

"As you go through life and you do things and you make choices and decisions about what you do — and I know his involved … his health — but still you learn about yourself in everything you do," Saban said. "As you learn these things, sometimes things change in terms of what his direction is. I think everybody has to do that, and I don't think anybody should be criticized for that."

Jim Tressel resigned as Ohio State's coach in May. He had been suspended for five games for not being forthcoming with investigators about his knowledge that players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, had received improper benefits.

"I'm in a good place right now mentally and physically," Meyer told the Gainesville Sun on Monday. "So if something happens with Ohio State, I'll have a decision to make. But there has been no interview."

Hawaii is quiet on gambling allegation

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Times wires
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

HONOLULU — Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said after Wednesday's practice he has been asked not to comment on allegations that some players have been involved in point-shaving.

Tuesday, the school said it received an anonymous letter Nov. 3 accusing unnamed players of intentionally playing poorly to affect the final score as part of a gambling scheme. Honolulu police and the NCAA were notified after the university received the letter, but police have said there isn't enough information for a criminal investigation.

McMackin directed questions to a university spokeswoman, who wouldn't comment Wednesday on if the university would conduct a probe. Tuesday, she declined to say if the anonymous letter referred to current members of the team or incidents alleged to have happened in previous seasons.

Also Wednesday, the NCAA said it was "extremely concerned" by the allegations and has been in contact with the school since early this month.

The Warriors won 10 games in 2010 but are 5-6 this season with two regular-season games left. They're 3-7-1 against the point spread this season and 0-5-1 in the six games since a win at Louisiana Tech on Oct. 1.

Rivalry goes on hiatus after tonight

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The winner of Texas and Texas A&M's annual game usually gets a year of bragging rights in this football-crazy state. The victor tonight will get to boast for a lot longer.

It is Texas A&M's last Big 12 game before its move to the SEC next season. Tonight is the 118th meeting since 1894, the third longest in Division I-A rivalry. (Missouri and Kansas meet for the 120th time Saturday, and Minnesota has met Wisconsin 121 times).

The Aggies hoped to continue the rivalry, but the Longhorns have said their schedule is full through 2018.

Texas coach Mack Brown said he told his players about the chance to go out on top.

"You should enjoy this because this could be the last time Texas ever plays Texas A&M," Brown said he told them. "If that happens, you've got something to talk to your kids about, your grandkids about. You'll be part of history."

The Longhorns got Brown's point loud and clear.

"This game will be remembered," safety Blake Gideon said. "The score will be remembered just because it is the last one in a long series."

Texas A&M defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter and coach Mike Sherman conveyed a similar message to their players.

"This game's never just another game," DeRuyter said. "The fact that it's the last one for a long time has Coach Sherman and I (saying): 'It's the one you're going to remember for years; 15 or 20 years down the road, you'll be talking about it. It's your chance to affect that.' "

Oklahoma St.: Receiver Justin Blackmon said he is leaning toward skipping his senior season in order to enter the draft. "Right now, I think that would be the best thing for me," said Blackmon, who is first in Division I-A in catches (15), second in catches (103) and sixth in receiving yards (1,241). "So that will probably happen."

Tennessee: Receiver Matt Milton, defensive back C.J. Fleming, defensive back Nick Branum and linebacker Robert Nelson, all reserves, were suspended for Saturday's game for undisclosed reasons.

Tulane: The school asked for permission to talk to Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Oklahoma State did not say if it granted the request. Bob Toledo resigned as Green Wave coach after a 2-5 start. Offensive line coach Mark Hutson is the interim coach.

Minus Augustus Gilchrist, USF Bulls rout Georgia Southern Eagles 66-46

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

TAMPA — The story going into Wednesday night's USF game against Georgia Southern was how the Bulls would have to play without top returning scorer Augustus Gilchrist, who is nursing a shoulder injury from Sunday's loss to Penn State.

Coming out, however, the buzz was about how USF's three point guards kept a high level of energy with starter Lavonte Dority scoring eight points and backups Blake Nash and Anthony Collins combining for 10 assists, 13 points and five steals in the Bulls' easy 66-46 win at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"Our point guard play has been improving tremendously," said senior center Ron Anderson, who led the Bulls with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. "I think game by game, our point guards are starting to get a lot more comfortable with the feel of the game and the tempo. We had a fresh point guard in at all times, and I think it helped them out a lot."

After the Bulls (4-2) built a 21-7 lead early, Nash and Collins played in the same backcourt at times with Nash sliding over to shooting guard, giving the Bulls a small but quick look that coach Stan Heath wants to see more.

"It was good to see how the two little guys played together, AC and Blake," Heath said; "like a whole bunch of mosquitoes just causing a lot of havoc out there."

With solid passes inside, the Bulls went 10-for-10 on 2-point attempts in the first half, keeping the Eagles (1-3) at a distance. In Gilchrist's absence, Anderson came a point shy of a career high in scoring but shot 3-for-11 on free throws. Heath said he'll take his share at the line in the next few days.

"Guess where he's going to be living over the next couple of weeks," Heath said. "We have a beautiful building with a bunch of baskets. He's going to live on that free-throw line. We're going to get that fixed."

The actual attendance at the Times Forum looked to be less than half the announced attendance of 2,361. The Bulls will next play at the University of Tampa's Martinez Center on Saturday against Florida Atlantic.

Heath said he'll be cautious in bringing Gilchrist back from the shoulder injury.

Hoyas show rapid growth

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Times wires
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

LAHAINA, Hawaii — Despite losing by just four to a Top 25 team, Georgetown coach John Thompson III was frustrated at his young squad for failing to make plays down the stretch against Kansas to open the Maui Invitational.

Two days later, against another ranked team, the Hoyas were the ones making the plays.

Jason Clark hit a big 3-pointer in overtime on his way to 26 points and Georgetown played with poise down the stretch to hold off No. 8 Memphis 91-88 in the fifth-place game of the Maui Invitational on Wednesday.

"In the Kansas game, I told our guys we made mistakes coming down the stretch that we can control," Thompson said. "Tonight we made plays as opposed to making mistakes at key points, so hopefully that's growth for this group."

Memphis and Georgetown didn't look like teams playing for fifth place, trading monster dunks, 3-pointers and leads throughout regulation.

The Hoyas went up 90-86 in overtime after Clark hit a 3 with 51 seconds left and Markel Starks sank two free throws.

The Tigers (2-2) cut the lead to two on Stan Simpson's two free throws and had a shot to tie after Georgetown's Hollis Thompson made just 1 of 2 from the line. But Memphis didn't get a good look at the end of regulation and did it again in overtime, with Antonio Barton's 3-pointer coming up well short at the buzzer.

Will Barton led Memphis with 22 points and Joe Jackson added 20.

"It was really frustrating, because we didn't play our best ball," Will Barton said. "We regrouped and got ourselves together … then we come here in our last game and we just came up short."

NO. 2 KENTUCKY 88, RADFORD 40: Terrence Jones had 17 points and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 15 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (5-0) in their first home game in nearly two weeks. They improved to 35-0 at Rupp Arena since John Calipari took over as coach in 2009.

NO. 3 OHIO ST. 107, VMI 74: William Buford had 23 points and Jared Sullinger added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the host Buckeyes (5-0), who shot 68 percent from the field.

NO. 9 BAYLOR 75, TEXAS-ARLINGTON 65: Freshman Quincy Miller had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Bears (5-0) won their second home game in less than 24 hours.

NO. 13 ALABAMA 82, ALABAMA A&M 45: Charles Hankerson Jr. came off the bench to score a career-high 16, and the Crimson Tide (6-0) won its 23rd straight home game.

NO. 15 MICHIGAN 79, UCLA 63: Zack Novak scored a career-high 22, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 and the Wolverines (5-1) made 15 of 23 shots in the second half to pull away and take third place in the Maui Invitational.

SAN DIEGO ST. 61, NO. 23 ARIZ. 57: Chase Tapley had 17 points for the Aztecs, who took a 17-point lead in the opening minutes and never trailed to break a 22-game home winning streak by the Wildcats (4-2).

SAINT LEO 66, P.R.-BAYAMON 54: Tom Neary had 15 points and seven rebounds for the host Lions (3-2).

Women

USF 86, CENTRAL MICH. 80, OT: Andrell Smith hit two tying free throws in the final second of regulation, and Kaneisha Saunders had 18 of her season-high 23 points after halftime to lead the Bulls (4-2) at the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, their fourth straight win.

SAINT LEO 60, P.R.-BAYAMON 37: Sarah Winans had 11 points to lead the host Lions (3-0), who held the Cowgirls to 26 percent shooting.

NO. 9 MIAMI 72, ALA.-ANCHORAGE 55: Shenise Johnson had 18 points to lead the Hurricanes (3-1) at the Great Alaska Shootout.

NO. 14 KENTUCKY 81, NEB.-OMAHA 48: A'dia Mathies had 11 points, seven rebounds and nine steals for the host Wildcats (5-0), who pulled away with a 26-2 first-half run.

Louisville Cardinals defeat USF Bulls 34-24

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 25, 2011

TAMPA — In his previous four losses, all by less than a touchdown, USF coach Skip Holtz made a point in his postgame comments to say how proud he was of his players, how a single play here or there separated victory from defeat.

There was no such consolation Friday afternoon, as Holtz's Bulls, staked to a 17-3 lead just before halftime, pulled together an ineffective offense, a consistently disappointing third-down defense and awful special teams play, helping Louisville pull away to a 34-24 win.

"Defensively, we were poor. You shouldn't leave that many guys uncontested, wide open," Holtz said. "We did not play very smart today as a football team. … Take 17 points off the board and ask how big special teams were in this game. I think it was absolutely huge."

The Bulls (5-6, 1-5 Big East) are in serious jeopardy of missing a bowl game. They must beat West Virginia (7-3) on Thursday to be eligible, then hope a bowl is willing to invite a team that lost six of its last eight.

If the season has slipped away from Holtz and USF, which has its most losses in six years, so too has its fan base. Just six days earlier, the Bulls announced 57,572 fans for a home game against Miami, but this time, saddled with an 11 a.m. Friday morning kickoff, the Bulls announced just 33,416 — USF's smallest crowd in more than five years. The actual attendance was just 19,115, less than half of the 46,245 actually there for Miami on Saturday.

And after handling loss after loss as a unified team, there were signs of frustration within the locker room, as redshirt junior running back Darrell Scott said complaints were made among players about costly turnovers.

"We've got to come together first. We can't split apart," Scott said. "(Saturday) we have off, and the next day we've got to get together, work and sort this out … We were kind of bickering a little amongst each other. We've got to stay together. We will. You know how you point fingers for turnovers and stuff. We're not used to all these L's."

The offense played without starting quarterback B.J. Daniels, who hurt his throwing shoulder in the Miami loss. Backup Bobby Eveld, in just his second start, struggled to move the ball in the second half for the second week in a row.

Whether by special teams mistakes or offensive turnovers, USF's defense faced many short fields — Louisville (7-5, 5-2) had four scoring drives shorter than 40 yards as it clinched a share of first place in the Big East. USF's offense struggled enough in the second half that the defense was on the field more than twice as often.

"We kind of like it for the game to be on our backs, but it kind of wears down on us a little bit," senior defensive tackle Keith McCaskill said. "We have to keep a positive mind and just keep going out there and fighting."

Bold playcalling helped the Bulls to a 17-3 lead, with a 35-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-3 gamble, then another touchdown was set up by a fourth-and-1 conversion from the wildcat formation, with receiver Victor Marc (who muffed a punt return earlier) taking the direct snap.

Momentum shifted to Louisville in the final minute of the half, when Senorise Perry returned a short squib kickoff 54 yards to the USF 25 with 35 seconds left. Two plays later, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater found fellow freshman DeVante Parker for a 17-yard touchdown, cutting the Bulls' lead to 17-10 with 22 seconds on the clock.

"That kickoff return was huge," Bridgewater said. "We were killing ourselves early in the game with penalties and just not finishing. For him to get a return like that, he just broke it loose. It was just what we needed, and it got us started."

Trailing 24-20 in the fourth quarter and facing fourth and 1 at the USF 13, the Cardinals converted, then got another Bridgewater touchdown pass for a 27-24 lead with 9:38 left.

With 5:43 left, USF got the ball on its 6, but its last hopes ended when freshman receiver Andre Davis fumbled at the USF 17; two plays later, Louisville scored another touchdown and the game was out of reach.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Greg Auman can be reached at auman@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3346. View his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/usf.

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