By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, January 12, 2012

TAMPA — By switching Thursday from a cage to a visor, Lightning W Marty St. Louis took a step forward in his recovery from facial fractures sustained Dec. 8 when he was hit with a puck during a morning skate.

But coach Guy Boucher said St. Louis still has blurry vision in his left eye, which filled with blood when hit by the puck. Boucher also indicated the condition might be permanent.

"It's been tough for him to find out the inside of his eye might stay the way it is now and the fact that he doesn't have the same vision, which is his No. 1 asset," Boucher said. "It has annoyed him."

St. Louis declined to comment on his eye or that he is wearing a visor for the first time in his NHL career. But head athletic trainer Tommy Mulligan cautioned it is too early to say if St. Louis' blurred vision is permanent.

St. Louis, 36, has worn contacts on the ice for a while, and the prescription for the left eye has been updated to accommodate the injury, Mulligan said.

"So at this point, it really is a nonissue as far as his play," Mulligan said. "His on-ice vision is great."

His production hasn't suffered as St. Louis has a goal and 11 points over the 10 games he has played since missing five because of the injury.

Still, Boucher said, getting rid of the full-face cage has to make things easier.

"His eye and his cage and all that really made him feel that he wasn't at his best," Boucher said. "He felt caged in, obviously. He had trouble seeing the puck at the bottom of the cage, so it made him a bit nervous. It's been tough for him to figure out how he's going to deal with that."

MORE ST. LOUIS: St. Louis was mum on if he will keep the visor when cleared to take it off, but Boucher said he believes St. Louis, who always has resisted wearing a visor, will stick with it.

"When you don't live anything that dangerous, you feel invincible and things won't happen to you," Boucher said. "But when you actually live it yourself and you're scared to lose your sight, it does have an effect on your decisions.

"I would like him to keep it. I always wanted him to have one."

MEDICAL MATTERS: W Ryan Shannon (knee) said he would like to resume playing before the Jan. 25-29 All-Star break. … RW J.T. Wyman (pinky) saw a doctor Thursday and said his recovery will take "a little longer."

KILLING TIME: The Lightning was 4-for-4 on the penalty kill Tuesday against the Canucks, who have the league's top power play, and allowed three shots.

"We worked very hard on preventing easy zone entries," Boucher said. "We wanted to make sure they didn't get a lot of set-up time."

The same strategy was in place against Carolina, which entered on a 7-for-17 streak on the power play. The Lightning killed its only shorthanded situation while allowing two shots.

ODDS AND ENDS: D Eric Brewer played his 800th game and RW Dana Tyrell his 100th. … LW Pierre-Cedric Labrie was scratched as Boucher went with seven defensemen. … Carolina's Jay Harrison had a Gordie Howe hat trick: a goal, assist and a fight (with Ryan Malone).

Times wires
Thursday, January 12, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Austin Hollins scored a career-high 18 to help Minnesota beat No. 7 Indiana 77-74 Thursday night.

Indiana's Christian Watford missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it in the closing seconds.

Rodney Williams scored 14 and Julian Welch added 10 for the Golden Gophers (13-5, 1-4 Big Ten), who had lost four straight. Minnesota hit 6-of-13 3-pointers in the first half to take the lead, then maintained it with inside scoring and 12 offensive rebounds in the second half.

Freshman Cody Zeller matched a season high with 23 points for the Hoosiers (15-2, 3-2). Jordan Hulls scored 13, Will Sheehey 12 and Victor Oladipo 10 for Indiana, which had won three straight.

The Hoosiers were 11-0 at home this season, including victories over then-No. 1 Kentucky and then-No. 2 Ohio State.

Minnesota had been close in three of its four Big Ten losses. The Gophers lost in overtime at Illinois, by five at Michigan and by two at home against Iowa.

Minnesota seemingly had the game under control with a six-point lead and the ball in the final minute. But Zeller stole the inbounds pass, and a three-point play by Oladipo made it 71-68 with 40 seconds to play.

Minnesota's Joe Coleman hit two free throws with 39 seconds left, then Sheehey's 3-pointer made it 73-71 with 30 seconds left. Coleman hit two free throws, and Zeller's three-point play with 17.3 seconds left cut the Gophers' lead to 75-74.

Minnesota's Ryan Hollins made two free throws with 15.1 seconds left. Watford missed a 3 and Minnesota rebounded. After two missed free throws with two seconds left, Watford's pass was intercepted at halfcourt and time expired.

No. 15 Murray St. 66, Jacksonville St. 55: Donte Poole had 21 points and three steals to send the host Racers (17-0, 5-0 Ohio Valley) to the best start in school history. Murray State, No. 1 Syracuse and No. 4 Baylor are the remaining undefeated teams in Division I. With 40 seconds left fans chanted, "Undefeated!"

BC 59, Clemson 57: Dennis Clifford hit a tiebreaking jumper in the lane with 42 seconds left and finished with 15 points for the host Eagles (6-10, 1-1 ACC). Lonnie Jackson had 14 points and Clifford added seven rebounds for Boston College. Andre Young led the Tigers (9-7, 1-1) with 12 points.

Wisconsin 67, purdue 62: The Badgers (13-5, 2-3 Big Ten) ended a three-game skid and stopped the 26-game home winning streak for the Boilermakers (13-5, 3-2). "When the ball is going down, it wasn't like there was any magic, anything said differently," Badgers coach Bo Ryan said.

IOWA: Coach Fran McCaffery said he has no regrets about slamming a chair during an outburst during Tuesday's blowout loss at Michigan State. The tirade started after he was called for a technical foul while Iowa was losing 69-41. Berating his players, McCaffery picked up a folding chair and slammed it on the court. He says he's going to continue to "coach with passion" and fight for his players.

Texas Tech: Coach Billy Gillispie suspended freshman Terran Petteway for a game after he elbowed a Kansas player during a loss Wednesday. Petteway was ejected after he elbowed Conner Teahan with about five minutes left in the first half. He received a technical foul earlier when he appeared to touch a Jayhawk inbounding the ball. Petteway will miss Saturday's game at Texas A&M.

Women

No. 13 miami 75, no. 5 MD. 63: Riquna Williams scored 34 and the host Hurricanes (14-3, 3-1 ACC) defeated a top-five team for the first time. The Terrapins (16-1, 3-1) were held 21 points below their average of 84.4, best in the nation.

No. 9 UK 61, No. 6 Tenn. 60: A'dia Mathies drove the lane and scored with 4.2 seconds left to finish with a career-high 34 points and the host Wildcats (15-2, 4-0 SEC) snapped the 36-game conference winning streak of the Vols (12-4, 3-1). Kentucky drew up a play for the winner that it had not used this season, designed to clear out for Mathies to go one on one. "We didn't have an answer for her; it didn't start with the last shot," Tennessee associate head coach Holly Warlick said. "She was outstanding. My hat's off to her."

No. 11 Ohio St. 82, N'western 72: Tayler Hill scored 19 of her 24 in the second half as the host Buckeyes (16-1, 3-1 Big Ten) pulled away.

No. 14 Wis.-Green Bay 68, Wright State 50: The visiting Phoenix (14-0, 4-0 Horizon) tied a school record with its 34th straight regular-season victory.

No. 15 Nebraska 75, Wis. 69: Lindsey Moore scored 28 for the visiting Cornhuskers (15-1, 4-0 Big Ten).

No. 17 Purdue 72, Minn. 55: Brittany Rayburn tied an NCAA women's record with 12 3-pointers and scored 38 for the visiting Boilermakers (14-3, 4-0 Big Ten). Rayburn was 12-for-16, all from beyond the arc, to tie the mark set by Louisiana State's Cornelia Gayden in 1995.

No. 19 Georgia 61, Florida 55: The host Bulldogs (14-3, 3-1 SEC) led for almost the last 36 minutes — by as much as 15— and held off the Gators (11-6, 1-3). Florida attempted 24 more shots than Georgia but hit only 22-of-66. Jennifer George led UF with 15 points and eight rebounds.

No. 20 Del. 69, NC-Wilmington 37: Elena Delle Donne scored 23 for the host Blue Hens (13-1 overall, 4-0 Colonial).

Clemson 52, No. 22 UNC 47: The visiting Tigers (5-10, 1-3 ACC) held the Tar Heels (12-4, 2-2) to a season low in scoring and denied Sylvia Hatchell her 600th win at North Carolina.

LSU 58, No. 24 S. Carolina 48: The host Tigers rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the Gamecocks (14-3, 3-1 SEC).

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, January 13, 2012

District schedules, girls soccer

5A-7 at Bloomingdale

Tuesday: No. 3 Wharton vs. No. 6 Durant, 4; No. 2 Newsome vs. No. 7 Alonso, 6; No. 4 Bloomingdale vs. No. 5 Riverview, 8.

Wednesday: Wharton/Durant winner vs. Newsome/Alonso winner, 5; Plant vs. Bloomingdale/Riverview winner, 7.

Friday: Final, 7.

THE SKINNY: This should be a knock-em-down, drag-it-out district. Plant comes in at the No. 1 seed, but Newsome will be looking for revenge after a 1-0 early-season loss to the Panthers. Don't count out Bloomingdale or Wharton, both talented enough to reach the finals.

4A-8 at Freedom

Tuesday: No. 3 Wiregrass Ranch vs. No. 6 Chamberlain, 6. No. 4 Gaither vs. No. 5 Sickles, 8.

Wednesday: No. 1 Steinbrenner vs. lowest remaining seed, 6. No. 2 Freedom vs. second-lowest remaining seed, 8.

Friday: Final, 7.

THE SKINNY: Defending state champs Steinbrenner should be battle-tested and ready. The Warriors have played a brutal schedule, including three matches each against Bloomingdale and Newsome, a pair against Wharton and single matches against Clearwater Central Catholic and Plant — all nondistrict games. Freedom and Wiregrass Ranch have the best hope at a runnerup finish and entry into the region tournament.

4A-9 at Plant City

Tuesday: No. 6 Tampa Bay Tech vs. No. 3 Hillsborough, 4. No. 2 Plant City vs. No. 7 Armwood, 6. No. 4 Strawberry Crest vs. No. 5 Brandon, 8.

Wednesday: TBT/Hillsborough winner vs. Armwood/Plant City, 6. No. 1 East Bay vs. Brandon/Strawberry Crest winner, 8.

Friday: Final, 7.

THE SKINNY: Plant City stumbled through an uneven year after reaching the postseason for the first time in a decade in 2010-11. Still, this should come down to Plant City and East Bay in the finals. Raiders' forward Ericka Lott's a nifty striker up top.

3A-9 at Lennard

Tuesday: No. 1 Robinson vs. No. 8 Spoto, 6. No. 2 King vs. No. 7 Blake, 8.

Wednesday: No. 4 Leto vs. No. 5 Jefferson, 6. No. 6 Middleton vs. No. 8 Lennard, 8.

Thursday: Robinson/Spoto winner vs. Leto/Jefferson winner, 6. Lennard/Middleton winner vs. Blake/King winner, 8.

Friday: Final, 7.

THE SKINNY: This is Robinson's district to cruise through. The well-balanced Knights are led by Caroline King, Laura Osorio and Charlotte Rothschild, all of whom have nine or more goals on the season.

2A-9 at Tampa Catholic

Tuesday: No. 5 Holy Names vs. No. 4 Tampa Catholic, 6.

Wednesday: No. 3 Berkeley Prep vs. No. 2 St. Petersburg Catholic, 5. No. 1 Clearwater Central Catholic vs. AHN/TC winner, 7.

Thursday: Final, 7.

THE SKINNY: This four-team district is balanced from top to bottom, with CCC a notch above the rest. Each has the team only has to win one match to reach the finals, so this should be an interesting tourney.

1A-7 at various sites

Tuesday: No. 5 Indian Rocks Christian at No. 4 Cambridge Christian, 4. No. 6 Calvary Christian at No. 3 Carrollwood Day, 4. No. 7 Seffner Christian at No. 2 Bishop McLaughlin, 7. No. 8 Academy of the Lakes at No. 1 Tampa Prep, 7.

Thursday (at Tampa Prep): Bishop McLaughlin/Seffner Christian winner vs. Carrollwood Day-Calvary Christian winner, 6. Cambridge Christian/Indian Rocks winner vs. Tampa Prep/Academy at the Lakes winner, 8.

Friday: Final, 7.

THE SKINNY: Tampa Prep breezed through the district slate this year and the tournament should be no different. LSU-bound senior Colby Maffei leads the Terrapins with 36 goals but teammates Alyssa Bryant and Alexandra Daley are also both double-digit scorers.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have requested and received permission to interview Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Zimmer, who we introduced you to on Thursday, is an experienced NFL assistant who is well respected in coaching circles. Zimmer helped the Cincinnati defense become one of the more solid units in the league this season, the Bengals finishing seventh in total defense.

Also today, it's being reported the Bucs are arranging an interview with Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, a fast riser in the coaching ranks who is credited with quickly developing quarterback Cam Newton, the presumptive offensive rookie of the year. Chudzinski who has worked for the University of Miami and Cleveland Browns, also interviewed for the still-vacant Rams opening.

Speaking about the prospect of Chudzinski leaving, Carolina receiver Steve Smith this week told the Charlotte Observer, "If you have any one of your good soldiers leave, the battalion is going to be down a little bit. They're going to look for that specialty that he brings to the group. Everybody kind of goes, 'Well, who's going to fill his spot?' And that's natural.

"There is a tendency to worry a little bit, to be concerned, because, 'Hey, he just got here and he's pretty darned good, and now we have to break in someone new.'"

Carolina this season set a franchise record for total yards (6,237).

Today's news shows the Bucs are broadening their search. Previously, just one of the four candidates known to have interviewed was a current coordinator, Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. The remaining candidates -- Mike Sherman, Marty Schottenheimer and Brad Childress -- were all head coaches in their last NFL jobs.

Friday, January 13, 2012

If the Tampa Prep girls soccer team captures the Class A state championship this year, each girl on the team may end up sending thank you notes to the Lakeland George Jenkins squad.

Jenkins, a perennial state power in Class 4A, downed the Terrapins 6-2 last week, providing Tampa Prep a healthy reminder of what it will require to get to state.

"They know to play in the state finals we're going to have to play at that level," Coach Cindy Schofield said. "We took it on the chin, but it was the best thing for us. We learned a lot about ourselves: how to handle different situations, how to make adjustments and who to move around.

"They were able to see what we need to do to get to the state final."

Last season, the Terrapins reached the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year and advanced to the 2A state semifinal before losing to Winter Park Trinity Prep 2-1.

Two keys have returned to help produce an even better outcome in 2012: seniors Alyssa Bryant and Colby Maffei. Bryant earned Schofield's praise this season after moving from mid centerfielder to mid defender.

"She's helped calm things down in the back and really lead us in the back," Schofield said. "She's been key for us."

Meanwhile, Maffei has continued the goal scoring that helped her earn a scholarship offer from LSU. Schofield said she doesn't need a lot of time or space to put the ball in the back of the net, and she can score in a variety of ways.

Sophomore Alexandra Daley added another dimension this year, rotating between forward and defender depending on the opponent's attack. If the Terrapins advance through the Class A, District 7 tournament that begins Monday, Dalely likely will be called upon to draw defensive pressure away from Maffei.

Overall, the Terrapins appear primed to make another run, but they can't take any of their opponents lightly.

"I get a little worried early on in the district tournament because some teams sit back and bunker and we have to adjust," Schofield said. "But once we reach regionals, the team will be focused. It's a mentality. They want to be in the final four.

"They want to be in the state finals."

By Laura Keeley, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

Matt Henson grew up a Tar Heels fan. His son John, a graduate of Sickles High, fulfilled a childhood dream when he became North Carolina's first commitment in the class of 2009. But Matt's daughter Amber committed to Duke and is now a freshman in Durham, N.C.

So, when Matt traveled to Utah to watch the Blue Devils' women's team open the season against Brigham Young, he opted for a darker shade of blue.

"It felt dirty," Matt said, joking. "That takes a little work to get used to. But I'll do it for her. I'm comfortable walking around Tampa with Carolina shirts on. I haven't gotten there with the Duke shirt yet."

Luckily for Matt and his wife, Annette, they get to wear their Carolina Blue today as they travel to Tallahassee to watch John and the No. 3-ranked Tar Heels (15-2, 2-0 ACC) against Florida State (10-6, 1-1) at 2 p.m. in the Tucker Center.

John, who opted to return to Chapel Hill for his junior year instead of entering the NBA draft, is averaging a double double, with 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The reigning ACC defensive player of the year has Tar Heels fans grinning and opponents groaning with his offensive improvement, particularly his expanded shot selection. Instead of automatically throwing up a putback or hook shot, Henson has more frequently been catching the ball with his back to the basket before unleashing turnaround jump shots. It's a welcome re-emergence in his father's eyes.

"It's good to see; it's been a while since I've seen him do that," Matt said. "He could always do it. He started out doing it, then he kind of stopped, he got to college and had to get his confidence back, so it's good to see him confident in that part of his game and just playing more relaxed."

The same night Matt had his "breakthrough moment" (Amber's words) as a Duke women's basketball fan, Annette saw her son's improvement firsthand when she attended North Carolina's season-opening 67-55 win against Michigan State in the Carrier Classic, played off the coast of San Diego on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. Henson scored 12 and flashed his trademark defense with a team-high seven rebounds and nine blocks while his mother sat among the 8,111 spectators, including active military members and President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.

"The carrier game was one of the most exciting experiences I've ever had while playing a basketball game," John Henson said. "There was so much involved with that game that the game was kind of a side note."

Amber, who has had a strong jump shot since she was a 9-year-old shooting over the backboard in the family's driveway, played in eight games before having season-ending knee surgery Jan. 6 to fix an aliment she has been battling since her time at Sickles. John was there to visit her in the hospital.

"He came by to check on me, but before that we'd hang out on the weekends. I get to see him quite often," Amber said, noting that when they meet up for dinner, it's either at a restaurant near where U.S. Highway 15-501 meets Interstate 40, such as Outback or Red Robin, or a place like the Front Porch on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. "We got close in high school."

It's a bond that runs deeper than one of the greatest rivalries in college sports.

"Of course I want to see my school do well, but this could be my brother's last year. You never know, so I want to see him win the big games like that," Amber said of the two impending North Carolina-Duke games on Feb. 8 and March 3. "I'll definitely be cheering for my brother."

By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

APOLLO BEACH — Sara Petrick trains hard every day, logging countless miles on runs by herself. She races as many weekends as possible. She is getting faster and faster.

Still, it might not be fast enough when she competes in today's U.S. Olympic marathon trials in Houston.

Petrick, a former standout at Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa and the University of Florida, knows her chances of being one of the three women to make the team for the London Games in August are slim.

"It's a very competitive race," Petrick said. "I'm competing against the best. I'm just happy that I was able to make it."

Petrick, 24, is one of two Floridians who qualified for the women's trials (Kim Pawelek of Jacksonville is the other). The women's "A" standard is 2 hours, 39 minutes. The "B" standard is 2:46. Petrick qualified with a time of 2:45.28 at the Houston Marathon last January.

To run a 2:45.28 marathon, Petrick had to keep a pace of 6 minutes, 18.9 seconds a mile over 26.2 miles — unimaginable by most recreational runners' standards but still far behind the world's best.

"To give you an idea of how fast that pace is, you have to turn the speed on a treadmill to 9.7 and run 26 miles at that speed to reach that time," Petrick said.

To compete for a spot on the Olympic team, Petrick would have to drop her marathon time by at least 23 minutes.

"There are a lot of runners who have more experience," she said. "I'm just a novice when it comes to marathon running."

The trials mark just the third time Petrick has competed in a marathon. In high school and college, she concentrated on cross country and 10K (6.2 mile) races.

After graduating from Florida, Petrick did well in half-marathons, so much that some suggested she could do well enough in marathons to qualify for the trials.

Her baptism into marathon running did not go exactly as planned.

Two years ago at the Chicago Marathon, Petrick collapsed at the finish line. Soon after, her body went into convulsions.

"It was a disaster," she said. "It was really warm that day, and it was quite a harrowing experience. But I learned several important lessons from that race, especially about being hydrated and staying at a more even pace."

Still, the time in her first marathon was 2:50.33, not far off what was needed to qualify for the trials.

Last year in Houston, Petrick did not have to beat the heat, just the clock. She did that as she stood past the finish line in a state of blissful fatigue.

"One of my proudest moments was knowing I had a qualifying time to compete in the trials," Petrick said.

But there are no second chances in this Olympic quest. To qualify for the Games, Petrick will have to run her best today. There are no exceptions made for someone who has an injury or an off day.

The trials offer Petrick the chance to line up alongside the country's best.

She hovers just below the top tier of national runners, picking up ribbons here and there by winning 5K and 10K races in the bay area, including the past two Times Turkey Trots.

She cannot support herself by running alone, so she scrambles to train around a full-time job. She also is self-coached.

"I kind of follow a training plan and do the workouts that I want to do," Petrick said. "I was running around 87 miles a week, but I've increased that to 92 the past few weeks. I try to go on one long run a week.

"But I did miss some 20-mile runs during the holidays. Hopefully I've done enough prior to that to run a great race at the trials."

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8129.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

Quarterbacks

What a year for QBs in the playoffs. Of the eight starters still alive, there are, potentially, four future Hall of Famers. And that doesn't even count Tim Tebow, whose bust might end up on a side of a mountain someday. You can practically flip a coin among the top four, and you can argue they're the top MVP candidates. They've all won Super Bowls, and really, you wouldn't complain if any was your QB.

. 1. Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

2. Drew Brees (Saints)

3. Tom Brady (Patriots)

4. Eli Manning (Giants)

5. Tim Tebow (Broncos)

6. Joe Flacco (Ravens)

7. Alex Smith (49ers)

8. T.J. Yates (Texans)

Coaches

How can you not put the Pats' Bill Belichick and his three Super Bowl rings at the top of the list? Sean Payton, Mike McCarthy and Tom Coughlin have won Super Bowls. John Fox and Gary Kubiak have done more with less than any two coaches in the NFL. And the Harbaugh brothers went a combined 25-7 this season. There isn't a weak coach in the bunch.

. 1. Bill Belichick (Patriots)

2. Mike McCarthy (Packers)

3. Sean Payton (Saints)

4. Tom Coughlin (Giants)

5. John Harbaugh (Ravens)

6. Jim Harbaugh (49ers)

7. John Fox (Broncos)

8. Gary Kubiak (Texans)

Defense

It's said defense wins championships, yet the NFL seems to have changed. How else can you explain the Packers and Patriots, the two No. 1 seeds in the playoffs, having, statistically, the two worst defenses in the league? The four worst passing defenses this season? Counting back from the worst: Packers, Patriots, Saints, Giants. Here is how the remaining playoff teams ranked in total defense in 2011.

. 1. Texans (DT Earl Mitchell, above)

2. Ravens

3. 49ers

4. Broncos

5. Saints

6. Giants

7. Patriots

8. Packers

Intangibles

1. Packers: Homefield advantage on the frozen tundra, the best QB in football and the defending champs.

2. Patriots: Homefield advantage and one of the best playoff quarterbacks and coaches ever.

3. Ravens: Probably the best big-play defense left and a ball-control offense.

4. Saints: The Who Dat Saints would be Super Bowl favorites if they could play the next two games inside their dome as opposed to, likely, going on the road.

5. Giants: The same feel I had about this team as when it won the Super Bowl four years ago, but winning at Green Bay is a major hurdle.

6. 49ers: Solid defense and NFL's best running game is a great formula for the playoffs. The path is just too hard.

7. Broncos: Tim Tebow is an intangible all by himself. The league's best running game means little in a possible shootout against the Patriots.

8. Texans: League's No. 2 running game, but they're down to their third QB.

Totals

Packers 24 points

Patriots 23 points

Saints 22 points

Ravens 20 points

Giants 17 points

49ers 14 points

Broncos 13 points

Texans 11 points

tom jones' two cents

When it comes to the playoffs, I believe in four categories: quarterback, coach, defense and intangibles. You can compare this offensive line with that defensive line, this wide receiver against that cornerback, this fullback against that linebacker. But in the end, the teams that have the most success in the playoffs usually have a great quarterback, a smart coach who can make adjustments, a sturdy defense, and that something special that other teams don't have. So today, I rank the eight remaining playoff teams. Teams get eight points for a first-place ranking, seven points for second place and so forth.

By Neil Taylor, Times Correspondent
Friday, January 13, 2012

What's hot: The influx of "overslot" trout has occurred, with trout longer than 20 inches being caught every outing. Fiery in cooler water because of the recent cold snap, these fish fight with more vigor than at other times of the year.

Tackle: Use ultralight to medium rods with small to medium reels, a light main line and a fluorocarbon leader no heavier than 20 pounds. Use a 1/16- to ⅛-ounce jighead with the tails on the lures 3-5 inches long. Darker-colored lures are outperforming lighter shades. Live bait can be used but isn't going to outperform artificials.

Techniques: Going early morning or late afternoon is usually best, but if there is good tidal movement, the trout might be feeding any time of the day or night. Make long casts across grassy bottom areas and retrieve the lure at a pace where it stays close to the bottom. On lower tides, the large trout congregate in the ruts and troughs on the outer flats, usually staying out of the shallows. On the mid tides, the fish wander the depths from just a foot of water out to 6 or 7 feet deep. On higher tides, the largest trout will be caught mixed in with redfish up against the trees.

Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area and can be reached at strikethreekayakfishing.com and (727) 692-6345.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

Saints (14-3) at 49ers (13-3)

Time: 4:30 p.m. TV/radio: Ch. 13; 1010-AM

Coaches: Saints — Sean Payton (61-34); 49ers — Jim Harbaugh (13-3)

The Saints win if …

They can run the ball against the 49ers' tough front seven. That would keep the secondary honest and allow the Saints and QB Drew Brees to mix up their play-calling.

The 49ers win if …

They squash the run and Frank Gore eats up both yards and the clock on the ground, keeping Brees sidelined.

Matchup to watch

LB Aldon Smith, far left, the seventh overall pick, took the NFL by storm during his rookie season by recording 14 sacks (tied for fifth in the league). However, the Saints, led by LT Jermon Bushrod, allowed just 24 sacks, second fewest in the league.

Our take

The 49ers are very much the real deal. But the fear is if the Saints and their offensive machine get rolling even a little, can the 49ers close the gap on the scoreboard? We don't believe the Saints will run away with it, but they will make their share of plays.

Prediction | Saints 24, 49ers 21

Broncos (9-8) at Patriots (13-3)

Time: 8 p.m. TV/radio: Ch. 10; 1010-AM

Coaches: Broncos — John Fox (9-8, 82-79 overall); Patriots — Bill Belichick (139-53, 175-97 overall)

The Patriots win if …

They can put Broncos QB Tim Tebow in third-and-long situations. He has matured as a passer, but enough to top Tom Brady, left, on the road?

The Broncos win if …

They can run the ball against a porous New England defense, thereby keeping Brady and his weapons sidelined. A big factor is Tebow's option runs.

Matchup to watch

Former Gators TE Aaron Hernan­dez, far left, had his way in New England's first meeting vs. Denver's linebackers, catching nine passes for 129 yards. If fellow TE Rob Gronkowski joins in, watch out.

Our take

The Broncos' strengths are their defense and their running game, and both will be overmatched here. The defense isn't good enough to stop the Patriots offense, and the running game might not provide enough firepower to keep pace.

Prediction | Patriots 30, Broncos 17

Stephen F. Holder, Times staff writer

Stat pack

passing yards

rushing yards

passing yards allowed

rushing yards allowed

Saints

49ers

334.2

183.1

132.9

127.8

108.6

77.2

259.8

230.9

offensive rankings: Saints — 1st; 49ers — 26th

defensive rankings: Saints — 24th; 49ers — 4th

points scored: Saints — 34.2 (1st); 49ers — 23.8 (11th)

points allowed: Saints — 21.2 (13th); 49ers — 14.3 (2nd)

Stat pack

passing yards

rushing yards

passing yards allowed

rushing yards allowed

Broncos

Patriots

152.1

317.8

164.5

110.2

126.3

117.1

231.5

293.9

offensive rankings: Broncos — 23rd; Patriots — 2nd

defensive rankings: Broncos — 20th; Patriots — 31st

points scored: Broncos — 19.3 (25th); Patriots — 32.1 (3rd)

points allowed: Broncos — 24.4 (24th); Patriots — 21.4 (15th)

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, January 13, 2012

On the main stage, kennel owner Malcolm McAllister is most comfortable. His top greyhounds are megastars, often favored to win Derby Lane's richest races.

McAllister once called Flying Coal City "phenomenal" and Flying Stanley "one in a million." Each dog won five stakes at the St. Petersburg track, laying the foundation for the four-time leading kennel's recent milestone.

Tiger Boy's victory in the $8,000 St. Petersburg Inaugural on Jan. 7 gave McAllister its 20th stakes win at Derby Lane. Owned by Vince Berland of Abilene, Kan., Tiger Boy was the ninth greyhound to win a stakes for McAllister, the only kennel with at least one stakes victory in the past six meets. The stakes winners, all since 2007, have totaled $856,000 in first-place paychecks.

"If it wasn't for stakes races, I might as well go fishing," McAllister said. "(Berland) promised me the best dogs he had, and I stay (at Derby Lane) for that."

Barbara McAllister, Malcolm's wife and kennel trainer, said Tiger Boy appears capable of carrying on the kennel's tradition.

"It looks like this track fits him like a glove," she said. "Hopefully he's going to do what (Flying) Coal City did."

Flying Coal City, who was retired in September, captured the industry's Triple Crown in 2010 as All-America team captain and winner of the Rural Rube (best sprinter) and Flashy Sir (best distance) awards. Flying Stanley preceded him. He was the 2007 All-America team captain and Rural Rube recipient. Flying Stanley's win in the 2007 Derby Lane Million was worth $500,000.

Tiger Boy, a 27-month-old male out of a litter by Flying Penske and Flying Exquisite, is unbeaten in three Derby Lane starts. Previously, he raced at Mardi Gras in Hallandale Beach, Naples-Fort Myers, Southland Park in West Memphis, Ark., and VictoryLand in Shorter, Ala.

At 17 months old, he became the youngest winner of the $75,000 Hollywood World Classic at Mardi Gras. He clocked a season-best 550-yard time (29.88 seconds) at Naples-Fort Myers on Nov. 25 and set a 660 track record (36.16) at Southland Park on Aug. 19.

"He's smart and that's what makes him special," Malcolm McAllister said. "He's unreal as a three-eighths (660) dog. In February, he'll be on the backside to see if he can handle the distance.

"But until I see him take Coal City's emblem away, he's got a lot to run for."

HORSES: Delightful Magic is the 5-2 morning-line choice in the $100,000 Gasparilla (Race 8, 3:42 p.m.) and For Oby is the 5-2 favorite in the $100,000 Pasco (Race 10, 4:40) on Skyway Festival Day at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Derby Lane will hold a matinee performance on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There will be no night racing. Poker and simulcast wagering will be available at Derby Lane, Tampa Bay Downs and Tampa Greyhound Track.

San Francisco Chronicle
Friday, January 13, 2012

As part of one of the NFL's most prolific offenses — "the Greatest Show on Turf" — former Rams receiver Torry Holt knows about the issues facing record-breaking, pass-happy dome teams when they play outdoors on grass.

Such as the Saints today against the 49ers.

The stats suggest a grass surface slows the Saints — slightly.

On turf, Drew Brees has a 122.4 passer rating. On grass, 88.9. The Saints averaged 13 fewer points on grass and are 3-2 on it as opposed to 10-1 on turf.

So will the 49ers get Saints Lite today? Don't count on it, Holt said. Not with a weather forecast lacking rain, wind, sleet or snow.

"When you're clicking … it doesn't matter where you play," said Holt, now an NFL Network analyst. "And right now, they have the hot hand. I don't see that stopping because they're going out to San Francisco and it's going to be 60-something degrees."

In other words, it is grass, not quicksand.

New Orleans played four games on grass over the first six weeks of the season; before, Brees said, the offense clicked into overdrive. The Saints enter today with a nine-game win streak during which they've averaged 36.9 points and Brees has 30 touchdowns and four interceptions.

In their lone game on grass during the streak, 22-17 over Tennessee on Dec. 11, New Orleans had 437 yards and Brees was 36-of-47 for 337 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The problem? It failed to score a touchdown on three red-zone possessions.

"I feel like our offense and our team is built for whatever conditions," Brees said "We feel like we're the type of team that should be able to go anywhere, any time and play our type of football. There are elements, at times, you have to deal with, no matter where it is. But we'll adjust accordingly."

By one measurement, the Saints were more productive than any team in history. They had a league-record 7,474 yards, smashing the mark held by … the 2000 Rams (7,075).

"They play at a speed that we played at," Holt said. "It brings back a lot of memories like, 'Wow, that's what we were doing.' "

Times wires
Friday, January 13, 2012

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For his latest trick, Tim Tebow is making Tom Brady disappear from the headlines.

Photos of the Broncos quarterback celebrating a touchdown or kneeling in prayer are a weekly occurrence. But where are the photos of the Patriots quarterback with his supermodel wife?

That's what happens when Tebow leads Denver to four overtime wins, including one that got it to tonight's division game.

"It's not like it's something that you ask for," Tebow said. "You care about going out there and trying to get better every day and trying to be a great teammate."

For Brady, greatness is expected, not often celebrated.

"I'm never surprised at what gets talked about anymore," Patriots left tackle Matt Light said. "I think I saw a seven-minute (video) piece on a girl that ate M&Ms while doing a handstand.

"Any time there's anything new … he's obviously new, and he's done some incredible things. I think the hype is justified."

Tebow brought the Broncos back from a 1-4 start to the playoffs despite completing just 46.5 percent of his passes and losing the last three regular-season games. Then he completed an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime of last week's wild-card game against the heavily favored Steelers.

That cranked up the Tebowmania volume across the nation. Not in Denver's locker room.

"Everybody else outside of here can have fun with that," safety Quinton Carter said. "We're here to work. We're here to win."

But Tebow, who played four seasons at Florida, hasn't been in many games below 20 degrees.

"I'd say probably a handful," he said; "not as many as Mr. Brady has probably."

New England won 41-23 in Denver on Dec. 18. It trailed 16-7 early in the second quarter, but three Denver turnovers in the quarter proved costly.

"I think everybody has a story to tell. Every player who has made it this far has had to overcome some adversity," said Brady, a sixth-round pick. "It could be injuries or a lack of opportunities or you're stuck behind someone else. There are very few people that get brought to the NFL ushered in on a red carpet."

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

WASHINGTON — Lightning C Steven Stamkos dived into the fray with fists flying.

Teammate Marty St. Louis, with 6:11 left in the third period Friday, had just been checked from behind into the side boards by Washington's Troy Brouwer, and Stamkos said he knew he had to respond.

"Stick up for your teammates," he said. "That's the way I was brought up. It's a team mentality. Anyone would do that for Marty as well."

That it was Stamkos, with a league-best 30 goals, who was acting as enforcer made it all the more notable. But not unexpected, St. Louis said.

"He's known for his goal scoring, but 'Stammer' plays physical, and he plays the game," St. Louis said. "He's not just about scoring goals. He has a feel for the game, and when it's time to step up, he's done that in the past. So I don't expect anything less."

St. Louis was turned toward the boards when Brouwer hit him behind the shoulder and sent him sprawling.

"I just went in hard finishing my check like I usually do," Brouwer said. "Marty was there. I don't know how it played out, if he turned, what happened. It's good to see that he's okay, that he's not hurt out of the result."

As for Stamkos, Brouwer said, "He's just sticking up for his teammate, which you've got to commend him for that."

Stamkos received a roughing penalty. Brouwer, who had a game-high seven hits, got roughing and boarding penalties.

"I'm proud of him," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said of Stamkos. "We stick together. It's like marriage. They ask you through thick and thin, the answer is always yes. But when the tough comes, how do you react? We react by sticking together."

QUICK STRIKE: A festering problem for the Lightning is allowing goals almost immediately after it scores. Four times in its past six games, Tampa Bay allowed goals fewer than 35 seconds after it lit the lamp: twice (in 33 and 17 seconds) Jan. 3 against the Maple Leafs; in 30 seconds Tuesday against the Canucks, and in 24 seconds Thursday against the Hurricanes.

The Lightning lost each game.

"Whenever you score a goal and they score one right back, it really takes the wind out of your sails," C Nate Thompson said. "So the shift after is huge."

Carolina scored right after Thompson's breakaway goal cut the Hurricanes' lead to 2-1.

Boucher has said the first duty of the shift after scoring is to protect the puck. He was less forthcoming Friday.

"There are different lines with different people, so the frame of mind is probably where it starts," he said. "I'd have to go blow by blow and see what happened there, but they are all different."

ODDS AND ENDS: Tampa Bay was 1-for-5 on the power play in the 4-3 loss to the Capitals and is on a 2-for-39 streak on the road. … D Eric Brewer had a season-high 28:05 of ice time and five hits. … D Marc-Andre Bergeron was scratched for what the team said was an upper-body injury. He has missed some practices but also struggled against Carolina. … RW J.T. Wyman (pinky) also was scratched. … Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin has points in 33 of 44 career games against the Lightning.

Times staff, wires
Friday, January 13, 2012

Autos

$600K raised for Wheldons

An auction dedicated to the late Dan Wheldon raised more than $600,000 that will go to his wife and two young sons.

The $627,203 total was released Friday by organizers of the Dan Wheldon Auction. The St. Petersburg resident and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner died during an IndyCar race in the Oct. 16 season finale at Las Vegas.

"When (driver) Graham (Rahal) reached out to me with the auction total, I was very touched by everyone's generosity," Wheldon's widow, Susie, said in a statement. "I want everyone to know how grateful I am and how much I appreciate everyone's kindness and their love."

YOUTH SPORTS

Two locals in Punt, Pass & Kick finals

Tampa's Madison Shelquist (Girls 14-15) and Tarpon Springs' Valentina Estrada (Girls 12-13) compete today in the NFL's Punt, Pass & Kick national championships in Baltimore. They came through local, sectional and team competitions and now face four other competitors in their age divisions. Each finalist will launch two punts, passes and kicks. Scores are based on distance and accuracy. The winners will be recognized on CBS (Ch. 10) after the third quarter of Sunday's Ravens-Texans playoff game.

tennis

Fish reaches final

Mardy Fish beat Jurgen Melzer 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to reach the final of the Kooyong invitational in Melbourne, Australia, against Australian teenager Bernard Tomic.

ET CETERA

BOXING: Amir Khan was granted a rematch against Lamont Peterson by the WBA. No date has been set. Khan lost his WBA and IBF belts to Peterson on a split decision after being docked two points for pushing on Dec. 10. He also questioned the presence of a "mystery man" distracting judges.

Soccer: West Ham signed American defender George John on a two-month loan from FC Dallas.

Paul Driscoll, Times staff writer; Times wires

Times wires
Friday, January 13, 2012

BALTIMORE — The Ravens and Texans are quite content to run against the grain in the pass-happy NFL.

Baltimore relies heavily on RB Ray Rice and its No. 3-ranked defense. Houston relies heavily on RB Arian Foster and its No. 2 defense. Neither team intends to alter that approach when they meet Sunday.

"The objective, first and foremost, is to stop the run," Baltimore DE Cory Redding said. "You can't let (Foster) get going."

On Oct. 6, the Ravens limited Foster to 49 yards on 15 carries in a 29-14 home win. Foster ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns in last week's wild-card win over the Bengals. "We've got to see how the game goes, but I know that we need to stay committed to running the football," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "We know it will be a difficult task, but we're preparing to go do it."

Rice ran for 101 yards and caught five passes for 60 yards in the regular-season matchup.

"It's been a pass-friendly league," Rice said. "There wasn't a 2,000-yard rusher this year. There wasn't even an 1,800-yard rusher this year. But if you look at where I put myself in the situation, I gave you (1,300 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards) to put myself at 2,000 yards.

"It might not be 2,000 yards rushing. But me just doing my job this Sunday … I think will be good enough."

Broncos: Veteran LS David Binn signed after Lonie Paxton was ruled out of today's game against the Patriots to deal with an undisclosed family issue. Binn, who turns 40 next month, spent 17 seasons with the Chargers before being cut in the preseason. G Chris Kuper backed up Paxton before breaking his left leg two weeks ago. To make room for Binn, the Broncos waived FB Austin Sylvester, who did not play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Steelers. Also, Eric Decker, who had team highs of 44 catches and 612 yards, was ruled out with a sprained MCL in his left knee. He was hurt Sunday on a hit by Steelers LB James Harrison.

Patriots: Starting S Patrick Chung was added to the injury report. He is questionable with a knee injury that limited him at practice. Chung missed seven games with a foot injury before returning Jan. 1 for the regular-season finale against the Bills. New England listed 12 players as questionable, but all are expected to play: WR Wes Welker, WR Matthew Slater, G Logan Mankins, OT Sebastian Vollmer, G Dan Connolly OT Marcus Cannon, CB Kyle Arrington, S James Ihedigbo, and LB Rob Ninkovich, LB Brandon Spikes, LB Dane Fletcher and LB Tracy White.

Times wires
Friday, January 13, 2012

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —Not only is Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw's cracked right foot feeling better, it's looking better. That's what X-rays have shown.

Bradshaw missed four games after injuring the foot against the Dolphins on Oct. 30 but has come on strong recently.

"I've been taking some Forteo," he said. "It helps you grow bone."

According to drugs.com, Forteo "is a man-made form of a hormone called parathyroid that exists naturally in the body. Forteo increases bone density and increases bone strength to help prevent fractures." It is often used to treat osteoporosis in men and women with a high risk of bone fractures.

Running backs who run on the outside of their feet, such as Bradshaw, also see a benefit.

In his first two games back, Bradshaw averaged 25 yards. That included 38 on 11 carries on Dec. 4 against the Packers, whom the Giants face Sunday.

In the four games since, he has averaged 58 and had a run of at least 17 in each.

Bradshaw left last week's wild-card game against Atlanta with a sore back (one of the side effects of Forteo) and did not practice until Friday. But he's listed as probable.

"It's no big deal. It is just a lot of tightness," he said of his back. "It feels better now."

Packers: About 450 people showed up to shovel snow at Lambeau Field while about 800 were turned away. It takes about four hours to clear snow from the stadium bowl. Fans were paid $10 per hour, $2 more per hour than last year.

Saints: Many analysts already are envisioning a matchup with the Packers, another high-powered offense, in the NFC title game.

But New Orleans coach Sean Payton insists his team found out the hard way last season not to take anything for granted when it lost to the Seahawks in a wild-card game.

"When you finish the season and you finish with a tough loss, that's something you remember and you really remember forever," Payton said. "There are certain things you learn from. You understand the finality of this time of the year, and you never take things for granted. All of us, players and coaches, will all carry that tough loss with us just as we will the really good wins we have."

49ers: Today marks the second matchup of the season against the Saints. In coach Jim Harbaugh's first game as coach, the preseason opener, New Orleans rolled to a 24-3 victory at the Superdome.

The Saints blitzed throughout the game and finished with six sacks. It's plenty fresh for San Francisco.

"I'm sure they slept well that night because they really got after us," offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. "The Saints, if they choose to be, can be one of the best blitzing teams in the league."

Times wires
Friday, January 13, 2012

Florida State vs. No. 3 North Carolina

When/where: 2; Tucker Center, Tallahassee

TV/radio: ESPN; 1040-AM

Records: FSU 10-6, 1-1 ACC; North Carolina 15-2, 2-0

Notable: The Seminoles return home after their first true road win of the season, 63-59 at Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Senior F Bernard James scored a career-high-tying 18 and had a career-high 15 rebounds. … The last time UNC visited, Harrison Barnes' 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left lifted the Tar Heels 72-70 on March 2, 2011. Barnes scored 18 and Sickles High grad John Henson had 19. … FSU will rely on its defense to pull off an upset. The Seminoles blocked a school-record-tying 15 shots against Virginia Tech and rank sixth nationally (7.1). They are third nationally in field goal percentage defense (.360). FSU is 10-0 this season when outrebounding its opponent. … ESPN's College Basketball GameDay will be on hand (10 a.m. to noon).

Times wires

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

No. 19 Florida at South Carolina

When/where: 7; Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C.

TV/radio: BHSN; 620-AM

Records: Florida 13-4, 1-1 SEC; South Carolina 8-8, 0-2

Notable: The Gators head to South Carolina for their second conference road game hoping to reverse fortunes on the road. So far Florida is 0-4 in road games. … The Gators are coming off a home win over Georgia and keeping that momentum going is crucial. Another poor performance and loss on the road (like Tennessee) could drop UF out of the Top 25 poll. … South Carolina is winless in SEC play, but the Gamecocks are holding opponents to 62.1 points per game, which is fourth in the SEC.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012

TODAY

USF women at Seton Hall

When/where: 4; Walsh Gymnasium, South Orange, N.J.

TV/radio: BHSN; 1010-AM (taped, 11:30)

Records: USF 9-8, 1-2 Big East; Seton Hall 7-10, 0-3

Notable: This is another chance for a Big East road win for USF, which opened the season with a win at Cincinnati after going 1-7 on the road in the conference last season. … Bulls G Inga Orekhova averaged 14.5 points in her first two games, with eight 3-pointers. … Senior G Jasmine Wynne leads the Bulls averaging 16.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. … The Pirates are led by G Jasmine Crew (18.6 points per game). … The key may be turnovers: USF is forcing an average of 22 per game, and Seton Hall has committed 106 more than it has forced.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer