By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 27, 2012
. Tonight
Lightning vs. Canadiens
When/where: 7:30, Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 970-AM
Key stats: Lightning RW Teddy Purcell has four goals, nine assists in a six-game points streak. … Tampa Bay's power play is on a 5 for 16 streak. … The Canadiens entered Monday with the league's top penalty kill, 89.2 percent. … Montreal D Josh Gorges has a league-best 180 blocked shots.
Times wires
Monday, February 27, 2012
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Yu Darvish faced two Rangers minor-leaguers in a spring training practice session Monday. On March 7, he will face big-league hitters from another team for the first time.
The two-time defending AL champs said Darvish will start against the Padres in Peoria, Ariz. He would likely pitch two innings.
The Rangers signed the right-hander, 25, to a six-year, $56 million contract on Jan. 18. With the posting money, the Rangers paid more than $107 million for the star of seven seasons in Japan.
Darvish threw 34 pitches on Monday to Mike Bianucci and Vince DiFazio, who have not played above Double A. Bianucci said the two talked about going deep off Darvish in batting practice, but it did not happen.
"It would have been great to do it, but a guy with a movement like that you're just trying to put a good swing on it, especially with him," Bianucci said.
VARITEK TO RETIRE: Longtime Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, 39, will retire after a 15-year career, the Boston Globe reported. Varitek batted .256 with a .341 on-base percentage and a .435 slugging percentage in 1,546 games and was a three-time All-Star.
EX-RAY CALLS IT QUITS: Right-hander Danys Baez, the Cuban defector who had 71 saves in two seasons with the Rays, retired after a 10-year career. Baez, 34, was an All-Star in 2005 when he saved 41 games for Tampa Bay, third-most in club history.
DODGERS SAGA: Seven groups of bidders for the Dodgers, including Magic Johnson and Stan Kroenke, will interview with baseball's ownership committee in the next step toward selling the bankrupt team by the end of April.
RELIEVER PONDERS RETIREMENT: His season ended by a torn elbow ligament, Twins right-hander Joel Zumaya is trying to decide whether his career is finished as well. "Right now, my perspective is probably not," Zumaya, 27, said. "I know I'm pretty young, but I'm probably going to go on six surgeries if I go get another one."
ZIMMERMAN DEAL: Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's new contract with the Nationals includes a five-year, $10 million personal services clause for when he finishes playing.
OBITUARY: Pro scout and one-time Mariners director of player development Frank Mattox died at his home in Peoria, Ill. He was 49.
ASTROS: Owner Jim Crane said the team is "leaning heavily" toward new uniforms for next season, its first in the AL.
A'S: Third baseman Scott Sizemore will miss the season with a torn ligament in his left knee.
CARDINALS: Outfielder Allen Craig ran for the first time since having screws inserted into his right kneecap in November. He's unlikely to be ready by opening day.
REDS: Left-handed setup man Sean Marshall agreed to a new contract that adds $16.5 million over three seasons through 2015. Marshall, 29, was guaranteed $3.1 million this season.
ROYALS: Catcher Salvador Perez, 21, signed a five-year, $7 million contract with club options through 2019.
Times wires
Monday, February 27, 2012
CLEARWATER — In 1983, Mike Schmidt finished third in National League MVP voting despite a .255 batting average and league-leading 148 strikeouts. Three years later, Schmidt won the MVP at age 36 with a .290 batting average and more walks (89) than strikeouts (84).
"I changed," Schmidt said, "and I was very stubborn throughout my career. I was in my 14th year and made major changes to my approach both mentally and physically. I became maybe the best hitter in my career in my last couple of years."
That's why manager Charlie Manuel has asked Schmidt to extend his annual stay this spring at Phillies camp as a guest instructor. Typically, Schmidt spends about a week with the team. The Hall of Fame third baseman said he'll stay through at least the middle of March this time.
"I have a little bit more of a tighter job description than I did in the past," Schmidt, 62, said. "They asked me to be a little more involved than I have in the past with hitting programs."
HOWARD CHECKUP: Phillies 1B Ryan Howard is in Baltimore to have his surgically repaired left Achilles' examined. Scott Sheridan, the Phillies head athletic trainer, said the visit wasn't a sign of a setback on Howard's rehabilitation.
Yanks: Not tempting
TAMPA — Andy Pettitte was the first of the Core Four to retire, and wearing pinstripes for the first time since doing so in 2010 had the left-hander thinking about coming back.
To Tampa, next spring, again as a guest instructor.
But not back on the mound in any consequential way.
"To a certain degree," said Pettitte, 39, asked if being back in uniform got him thinking about pitching again. "But then you take a step back and you evaluate where you're at and what you've been doing and the things that I've done, the reason why I retired. And that was to be with the family and spend time with them. Things are good. Things are really good. Just loving life."
CHAVEZ SIGNS: Backup INF Eric Chavez, 34, finalized a $900,000, one-year deal that allows him to earn $3.05 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
Jays: Fine impression
DUNEDIN — The Blue Jays hitters got their first look at new closer Sergio Santos, and they're glad they don't have to face him.
The right-hander, 28, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the White Sox, threw live batting practice for the first time with Toronto. His mid 90s fastball and sharp slider sent Brett Lawrie and Edwin Encarnacion away shaking their heads and grumbling.
Santos also is working on using his changeup more, manager John Farrell said.
"The one thing we went back and looked at when he evolved into the closer role was that he became predominantly a fastball-slider pitcher," Farrell said. "The year before when he was in a late-inning (setup) role his changeup was a true weapon for him. By his own admission in conversations throughout the offseason, he felt like he got away from that pitch. It's a darn good pitch."
Times wires
Monday, February 27, 2012
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers say Kobe Bryant has a "nasal fracture" after he was smacked in the nose by the Heat's Dwyane Wade during the All-Star Game.
The team said on its website Monday that a CT scan revealed the extent of the injury, and the star guard will be re-evaluated by an ear, nose and throat specialist when he returns to Los Angeles.
Bryant was bloodied during Sunday night's game in Orlando, which the West won 152-149. He was knocked to the floor by Wade and examined after the game.
Tentative deal reached for Kings arena
Sacramento, the Kings and the NBA announced a tentative deal to finance a new arena that would keep the team in California's capital for the long haul. The City Council will vote on the plan March 6.
Under the proposed terms the city will contribute $200 million to $250 million to the estimated $367 million arena, the Associated Press reported. The full financing plan will not be made public until at least Thursday.
The Maloof family, which owns the team, agreed to contribute $75 million in upfront cash.
Bulls: Veteran Richard Hamilton appears close to returning to the lineup. Coach Tom Thibodeau stopped short of declaring him ready, although Hamilton has taken contact in practice. Hamilton, who has not played since Jan. 29, has been limited to 11 appearances because of thigh and groin problems.
Sixers: Center Spencer Hawes will miss at least the next two weeks because of a strained left Achilles' that has forced him to sit out the past nine games. It's uncertain when he'll play again. The 7-footer is averaging 10.5 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds.
Trail Blazers: Free agent center Joel Przybilla is returning to the team. Przybilla, who spent more than six seasons in Portland before he was traded to Charlotte last season, has not played this season. The 7-foot-1 center has averaged 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and four points over an 11-year career.
Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer; Don Jensen, Times Correspondent; Times wires
Monday, February 27, 2012
tennis
djokovic resumes play with win
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic played his first match since winning the Australian Open, shaking off the rust to beat Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-4, 6-2 Monday in the first round of the Dubai Championships.
Marko Djokovic — ranked 868 spots below his brother — had a less successful day. The younger Djokovic, a wild-card entry, was bounced in the opening round with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Andrey Golubev.
Djokovic, going for a fourth consecutive Dubai title, is 8-0 this year.
Sixth-seeded Mardy Fish had an easy time against Andreas Beck, winning 6-1, 6-1. Fish broke Beck twice in the first set to lead 4-0. In the second, he broke three times before closing it out in 57 minutes.
winter sports
Knee pain forces Miller to end season
Bode Miller is setting aside his skis for the rest of the World Cup season because of a balky left knee.
The five-time Olympic medalist had a minor arthroscopic procedure on the knee this month with the hope of quickly returning. But when Miller, 34, recently arrived back in Europe, he experienced more discomfort in the knee and opted for season-ending surgery.
"I love ski racing and I love being active so I hope for a solid recovery and to get back to training as soon as possible," Miller said. "I'm still having fun and as long as skiing is enjoyable, I'm going to continue to do it."
The U.S. ski team didn't release a date for Miller's next operation.
nfl
Browns LB Jackson signs extension
The Browns signed linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, 28, to a multiyear contract extension.
ESPN reported the deal is worth $42.5 million over five years and includes $19 million in guaranteed money and roster bonuses.
Jackson, graduate of Seminole High, made a strong comeback last season, making 158 tackles — second most in the NFL — after missing nearly two complete seasons with chest injuries.
colleges
Bulls lineman heads home after seizures
USF freshman offensive lineman David Simon was released from a Tampa hospital and is headed home to Alabama as doctors look for causes of a series of seizures he suffered last week. Simon, who redshirted last season, plans to take classes online, hoping to return in the summer if medication can control the seizures.
et cetera
Greyhounds: Derby Lane landed two greyhounds on the 2011 All-America first team, led by team captain Tiger Boy of McAllister kennel and Hi Noon Renegade of Nova. The announcement came at the American Greyhound Track Operators Association spring conference in Las Vegas.
Greg Auman, Times staff writer; Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires
Times wires
Monday, February 27, 2012
WASHINGTON — Before finishing pregame warmups on senior day, Georgetown huddled in a hallway with its two departing players, Jason Clark and Henry Sims. A voice shouted:
"We've got to go out with a bang, fellas! We've got to out with a bang!"
Sure did.
Playing at home for the last time, Clark and Sims combined for 25 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and No. 11 Georgetown used its typically tough defense to beat No. 20 Notre Dame 59-41 on Monday night in a key game for Big East tournament seeding.
"If we play defense the way we did the last couple of games," Sims said, "you've got to be happy with that."
Georgetown (22-6, 12-5) and Notre Dame (20-10, 12-5) are tied for third in the Big East, a half-game ahead of USF.
The Hoyas held the Irish to 33 percent field-goal shooting, including 3-of-17 on 3-pointers (17.6 percent).
NO. 3 KANSAS 70, OKLA. ST. 58: Tyshawn Taylor scored 27 for the visiting Jayhawks (25-5, 15-2), who claimed the Big 12 title outright.
NO. 9 BAYLOR 77, TEXAS TECH 48: Perry Jones III had 15 points and 10 rebounds to help the Bears (25-5, 12-5 Big 12) win their home finale.
MIAMI PROBE: Missouri coach Frank Haith said he is fully cooperating with the NCAA in the latest round of trouble at Miami, his home for seven years before this season. The Hurricanes have declared center Reggie Johnson ineligible, saying his family received impermissible travel benefits from an unnamed staff member when Haith was in charge.
UCONN: Coach Jim Calhoun had what the school called successful surgery to address the spinal condition that has forced him to miss the past seven games.
MISSISSIPPI ST.: Backup guard Shaun Smith will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right middle finger during Saturday's loss to Alabama.
AP POLL: Florida State fell from 15th to 22nd. New Mexico fell out, replaced by No. 25 Creighton. Kentucky and Syracuse remained the top two.
Women: Bulls finish strong
TAMPA — Inga Orekhova hit a 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left to force overtime, and USF pulled away, sending senior guard Jasmine Wynne out with a 64-56 win over Providence in the final regular-season game at USF Rec Center.
"For us to finish the season like we did today, to send off our lone senior, was really special," coach Jose Fernandez said.
Orekhova also hit a 3 for the first points in overtime and finished with 17 points. Wynne added 15 on senior night.
The Bulls (16-14, 8-8 Big East) will be the ninth seed in the Big East tournament, opening with Pittsburgh (0-16) Friday in Hartford.
NO. 1 BAYLOR 69, NO. 17 TEXAS A&M 62: Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims scored 25 each for the visiting Bears (30-0, 17-0 Big 12), who led the Aggies (20-8, 11-6) by one before going on a 6-0 run that was aided when a ball that was headed out of bounds bounced off a ref and remained on the court, setting up a layup by Sims.
NO. 3 NOTRE DAME 72, NO. 4 UCONN 59: Natalie Novosel scored 21 as the Irish (28-2, 15-1) won their first outright Big East regular-season title. The Huskies (26-4, 13-3) have lost consecutive home games for the first time in 19 years.
NO. 18 ST. JOHN'S 54, NO. 12 G'TOWN 45: The visiting Red Storm (21-8, 13-3 Big East) outrebounded the Hoyas (22-7, 11-5) 44-31 and held them to 6-of-30 shooting in the second half.
NO. 20 LOUISVILLE 63, SETON HALL 53: Shawnta' Dyer came off the bench to score a career-high 22 to lift the visiting Cardinals (21-8, 10-6 Big East).
NO. 23 RUTGERS 69, MARQUETTE 58: April Sykes scored 20 for the host Scarlet Knights (21-8, 10-6 Big East), who improved to 9-0 in the series.
AP POLL: Miami dropped two spots to No. 7. South Carolina re-entered at No. 25 and DePaul fell out. Baylor remained a unanimous No. 1.
Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.
By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 27, 2012
DAYTONA BEACH — Danica Patrick's Sprint Cup debut started with sparks, and the Daytona 500 hopes of five-time series champion Jimmie Johnson ended early Monday night.
The two were among six cars involved in a wreck going into Turn 1 in the second lap. Elliott Sadler's No. 33 Chevrolet nudged Johnson, whose No. 48 Chevy veered into the outside wall before turning and sliding down the track.
David Ragan and defending champion Trevor Bayne, also involved in the crash, used "bonehead" to describe the move.
"We were all just getting up to speed, and I had some help from behind that got me out of control," Johnson said. "From then on, I was just spinning."
As Johnson spun, Ragan's No. 34 Ford slammed hard into his left side, nearly blowing off Johnson's hood and sending sparks shooting along Daytona International Speedway.
The aftermath collected Patrick, Bayne and Kurt Busch. Patrick's No. 10 Chevy also hit Johnson and sustained heavy damage to its rear.
It was Patrick's third wreck in her week at Daytona, after crashes in Saturday's Nationwide race and in Thursday's 500 qualifying. After her crew made repairs to her car, Patrick returned to the race down 62 laps to the leaders, earning cheers from the grandstands as she pulled out of the garage area.
Bayne and Busch also returned.
Johnson didn't return and finished 42nd, his worst finish in 53 starts spanning four series at the famed track. Since winning the 500 in 2006, Johnson has been 39th, 27th, 31st, 35th and 27th. "I'm just really, really bummed to start the season this way," he said.
Ragan didn't return and finished 43rd and last.
Halfway bonus: NASCAR reinstated a bonus of $200,000 to the team leading at the race's halfway mark. Martin Truex Jr. took that prize when Toyota teammate Denny Hamlin pushed him ahead of Greg Biffle in Turn 3 on Lap 100. Biffle retook the lead at lap later.
Future schedules: Shortly after postponing the Daytona 500 because of rain on Sunday, Daytona International Speedway president Joie Chitwood III said he expected to receive backlash from fans for moving the race back a week.
The race traditionally has taken place over Presidents Day weekend. That gave organizers a Monday rain day that was a holiday if bad weather forced postponement. NASCAR moved the event back a week this year to prolong the offseason and prevent future conflicts with the NFL if it moves the early February Super Bowl back in the future.
Chitwood said he didn't think this year's rain would prompt NASCAR to move the race back.
Prime-time effect: The postponement made this year's 500 the first to be broadcast in weeknight prime time TV. NASCAR president Mike Helton said Fox officials were involved in discussions with Sprint Cup and track officials about when the race should begin.
Information from Times wires was used in this report. Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@tampabay.com.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tampa Bay Rays lefthander Matt Moore (lower abdominal strain) is feeling better, but not enough to where he will throw today, and admits he'll likely miss his second scheduled live batting practice session Wednesday.
Moore said if he does throw Wednesday, it'll be to play catch.
"It's (frustrating)," Moore said. "But, at the same time, I'm happy my arm is healthy and my legs are feeling good. It's a little hiccup that will be cleared up, not sure how much time, but hopefully it's not any more than it needs to be."
Moore first felt the strain in Friday's bullpen session, and while he hasn't been throwing since, he's been participating in all the other drills and stretches. Moore, baseball's top prospect, is expected to be part of the Rays rotation this season.
"What's funky is that I'm running around, doing all the drills, bending over, doing all my rotations and it's fine," Moore said. "It's that coming down motion that if I was to get violent with it right now, I may feel it again. But doing nice and easy stretching, no pain. It's just when I get into that place where I provoke it, it's usually when I'm going downhill...
"I know it's not all the way better from three days ago. And there's no sense, that if it's not all the way better to even touch it."
Rays manager Joe Maddon continued to reiterate Moore's abdominen strain is not a concern, they're just being overcautious with him.
"It's an over-conservative thing we're doing right now," Maddon said. "I really believe the next day or two, he should be fine."
Maddon also said DH/1B Luke Scott (shoulder) will not play in the first 3-4 exhibition games, as he continues to recover from surgery.
"The priority with a guy like him is to be ready April 6," Maddon said.
BUSH, NIEMANN IMPRESS: Maddon was impressed with both RHP Matt Bush and RHP Jeff Niemann in their live batting practice sessions. Maddon continues to like Bush's delivery, and stuff, seeing his breaking ball today.
"His breaking ball is pretty advanced for this part of camp already," Maddon said. 'That, and i like the way he's dealing with everything. Here's a young man that's gotten a second chance and he's done a lot of good with it. It's impressive to watch."
Niemann, who turned 29 today, had a scare during his live BP session, with Sean Rodriguez ripping a line drive up the middle to the left of the protective screen. Niemann quickly ducked out of the way.
"That was almost the worst birthday present, ever," Niemann said.
Maddon said they're going to try to wrap up the workout earlier tommorrow, easing their workload from all the long days on the field - and on their feet.
Maddon also said that SS Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez will alternate starting exhibition games as part of that competition.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
PORT CHARLOTTE — Stuart Sternberg was a little worried this winter.
His top baseball man, Andrew Friedman, was being targeted by the Angels and Astros. His manager Joe Maddon, was linked to several high-profile openings, a preview of what would happen if he reached the end of his contract after this season. And with only a moderate increase in payroll budgeted, it wasn't likely his team could make the significant additions needed.
"There were some challenges there," Sternberg said.
But then Friedman told the others he wasn't interested, and Maddon agreed to stick around, and Matt Moore became the latest player to sign a team-friendly long-term deal. Sternberg looked around at what they'd all done and decided that, as principal owner, he had to do his part.
"I'm a competitive guy and I'm a fan," Sternberg said. "These players, what they did last year was extraordinary. The commitments that were made in the offseason by a number of people … and other players, while it's an unreasonable thing to do as a business person, it's a reasonable thing to do for what they've provided this organization, and the commitments and sacrifices they're making potentially. …
"They've all made it clear they want to be here because of what we've all done together. With what's gone on in other places in baseball, it's become more and more unique as the days go on. I think they cherish it, and I have to do everything I can, and then some, to give them a chance to succeed."
Which is how he got here Tuesday morning, standing under a bright blue sky on a rich green field, watching a team fortified by a 50-plus percent increase in payroll — to about $65 million — and now considered a favorite to get back to the playoffs for a fourth time in five years.
"Our expectations are that we have a very, very good team this year," Sternberg said during his first visit of the spring. "Ideally, you'd like to say the best team we've put out, but you never really know 'til we go out there."
When Sternberg and Co. took over six-plus years ago, their computer programs and their processes projected a run of success from 2010-15 and — though it started sooner than planned, in 2008 — expect to ride it for a while.
"We're still peaking," he said. "And I think we can get even better."
Winning has become his salve, as well as his strategy, in the ongoing battle to push attendance from the bottom of the MLB ranks and to break the impasse on movement toward a new stadium in the Tampa Bay area.
"If I didn't think it would work, we wouldn't be spending what we're spending here to win," he said. "I think the winning and the continued winning and the continued success gives us the best chance to ultimately put us in a position to have this sustainable."
But, claiming they are losing money by doing so, Sternberg said they won't be able to continue this way indefinitely, beating out teams such as the Red Sox and Yankees who outspend them by three and four times. He has resigned himself to a stadium resolution taking years, but, locked into a lease at Tropicana Field through 2027, warns "this can't go on" for decades.
"The reason why you want more revenue is to give yourself a better opportunity to compete," Sternberg said. "We are competing without the revenue. That is not an endless cycle.
"I don't mind the difficulty of doing it. I like the challenge — that's all fine and dandy. You want to have a ray of hope that we can sustain this, and we have to this point. It's been very fortuitous. We've been very fortunate. That's really what it's all about.
"There are teams with a lot more revenue that don't win like we do. I would much rather have less revenue and winning. And if you could say to me, 'Gee, Stu, don't worry — your attendance will stay where it is, and your revenue will stay where it is, but you can keep winning, or be certain you'll have a good opportunity to win the next 10-15 years,' I'm fine. But it's unrealistic."
Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
PORT CHARLOTTE — Stuart Sternberg was a little worried this winter.
His top baseball man, Andrew Friedman, was being targeted by the Angels and Astros. His manager, Joe Maddon, was linked to several high-profile openings, a preview of what would happen if he reached the end of his contract after this season. And with only a moderate increase in payroll budgeted, it wasn't likely his team could make the significant additions needed.
"There were some challenges there," Sternberg said.
But then Friedman told the others he wasn't interested, and Maddon agreed to stick around, and Matt Moore became the latest player to sign a team-friendly long-term deal. Sternberg looked around at what they'd all done and decided that, as principal owner, he had to do his part.
"I'm a competitive guy and I'm a fan," Sternberg said. "These players, what they did last year was extraordinary. The commitments that were made in the offseason by a number of people … and other players, while it's an unreasonable thing to do as a business person, it's a reasonable thing to do for what they've provided this organization, and the commitments and sacrifices they're making potentially. …
"They've all made it clear they want to be here because of what we've all done together. With what's gone on in other places in baseball, it's become more and more unique as the days go on. I think they cherish it, and I have to do everything I can, and then some, to give them a chance to succeed."
Which is how he got here Tuesday morning, standing under a bright blue sky on a rich green field, watching a team fortified by a 50-plus percent increase in payroll — to about $65 million — and now considered a favorite to get back to the playoffs for a fourth time in five years.
"Our expectations are that we have a very, very good team this year," Sternberg said during his first visit of the spring. "Ideally, you'd like to say the best team we've put out, but you never really know 'til we go out there."
When Sternberg and Co. took over six-plus years ago, their computer programs and processes projected a run of success from 2010-15 and — though it started sooner than planned, in 2008 — expect to ride it for a while.
"We're still peaking," he said. "And I think we can get even better."
Winning has become his salve, as well as his strategy, in the ongoing battle to push attendance from the bottom of the MLB ranks and to break the impasse on movement toward a new stadium in the Tampa Bay area.
"If I didn't think it would work, we wouldn't be spending what we're spending here to win," he said. "I think the winning and the continued winning and the continued success gives us the best chance to ultimately put us in a position to have this sustainable."
But, claiming they are losing money by doing so, Sternberg said they won't be able to continue this way indefinitely, beating out teams such as the Red Sox and Yankees who outspend them by three and four times. He has resigned himself to a stadium resolution taking years, but, locked into a lease at Tropicana Field through 2027, warns "this can't go on" for decades.
"The reason why you want more revenue is to give yourself a better opportunity to compete," Sternberg said. "We are competing without the revenue. That is not an endless cycle.
"I don't mind the difficulty of doing it. I like the challenge — that's all fine and dandy. You want to have a ray of hope that we can sustain this, and we have to this point. It's been very fortuitous. We've been very fortunate. That's really what it's all about.
"There are teams with a lot more revenue that don't win like we do. I would much rather have less revenue and winning. And if you could say to me, 'Gee, Stu, don't worry — your attendance will stay where it is, and your revenue will stay where it is, but you can keep winning, or be certain you'll have a good opportunity to win the next 10-15 years,' I'm fine. But it's unrealistic."
Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com.
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Tampa Bay Lightning roster took a hit overnight as forwards Teddy Purcell and Nate Thompson and defenseman Brendan Mikkelson got the flu and are so sick, coach Guy Boucher said, if even one of them plays tonight against the Canadiens, he would consider it a bonus.
To take their places, the Lightning recalled three players from AHL Norfolk who were sent down on Monday: forwards Trevor Smith and Mike Angelidis and defenseman Evan Oberg. There also was speculation Pierre-Cedric Labrie would also be recalled but that has not happened yet.
Add defensemen David Lee and Mike Commodore, acquired before Monday's trade deadline, and forward Brandon Segal, who on Monday was called up from Norfolk, and the Lightning will be looking a lot different on the ice.
"I don't know who's going to play tonight," Boucher said. "We'll see who we've got on the ice."
Other stuff from the morning skate: Right wing Brett Connolly certainly is happy to still be with the Lightning. Tampa Bay had until the trade deadline to send him to Tri-City of the junior Western league so he would be eligible for its playoffs. But Tampa Bay decided it was better for his development that he remain with the big club. That, and the team simply needs bodies right now. Whatever the reason, Connolly breathed a sigh of relief. "I can focus on contributing more and be part of us getting into the playoffs. I'm very excited to be playing more and contributing very soon." Connolly's past three games, in which he has gotten power-play time, have been his best in a while. He has one assist in his past 26 games. In a wild understatement, he said, "When I'm playing 13, 14 minutes, I feel better than when I'm playing five minutes in terms of my legs." ... Commodore, who played just 17 games for the Red Wings before being traded to the Lightning for a conditional seventh-round draft pick, said he had a "great time" in Detroit "all things considered. The guys were awesome. There were a lot of great people there." But he was frustrated because he said the Wings gave him a 15-minute window to sign a free-agent contract on July 1, "So, I thought there was going to be an opportunity for me. It just didn't work out for me for whatever reason. I just never really got a shot, so you move on. I wish them nothing but the best." ... Speaking of Commodore, he was a member of the 2004 Flames tam that lost the Stanley Cup to Tampa Bay. "They have some nice reminders here in the dressing room, so that's nice to look at," Commodore said of the Tampa Bay Times Forum. That was obviously one of the things on my mind when I came in here seeing all the pictures." Commodore won a Cup in 2006 with the Hurricanes. "I've gotten over it," he said of 2004. "I was fortunate to get back to the finals the next year after the lockout, so I got over it by getting it right the next time." ... Defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron flew to New York on Tuesday to see a doctor about the back injury that is affecting his sciatic nerve. "We want to find a way to get it better. I'm sure there's a way to get rid of it and resolve the situation." ... Boucher said he is hopeful center Vinny Lecavalier (fractured right hand) can be back in 10 days, though that is optimistic.
By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
GAINESVILLE — Danny Wuerffel, the former Florida Heisman Trophy winner who led the Gators to their first football national championship, is among 76 players on the 2012 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced Tuesday.
The Hall of Fame class will be announced on May 15, and those selected will be inducted at the 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 4. Wuerffel was the Gators' quarterback from 1993-96.
If selected, Wuerffel would be the second Gator in as many years to be elected into the College Hall of Fame. Former Florida wide receiver Carlos Alvarez was inducted in 2011.
Former Miami quarterbacks Georgia Mira (1961-63) and Vinny Testaverde (1982, 84-86) are the only other candidates from Florida schools on the ballot.
Antonya English, Times staff writer
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
TAMPA — As both USF basketball teams sort out their postseason future, Stan Heath and Jose Fernandez have improbably combined for the best improvement of any teams in college basketball's major conferences.
USF's men are 11-5 in the Big East after going 3-15 last year; USF women finished 8-8 after going 3-13 a year ago.
So in terms of combined conference wins, men and women, USF has 13 more than it finished last year with, easily the greatest improvement of any program in the "Power 6" conferences. The closest any school from a major conference gets is California, plus-9 entering Tuesday's games, and in all of Division I basketball, out of 344 schools, only Davidson —- a combined plus-15 — has seen greater improvement.
The improvement comes at a time when the Bulls' home arena, the Sun Dome, is being renovated, so home games have been played at alternate venues. USF's women's team made its gains despite top scorer Andrea Smith missing the entire season recovering from knee surgery. And the men's team's surge into Big East relevance has a historical significance to it, already counting as the best single-season improvement in the conference in more than a decade.
Only two men's teams in Big East history have made a bigger jump than Heath's team, which has eight more conference wins and still has two games left, tonight at Louisville and Saturday at home against West Virginia. Boston College went from worst to first in 2001, an improvement of 10 conference wins, and Miami went from 0-18 to 9-9 in 1995. Those are the only teams with greater leaps in the standings than USF this season.
Barring a Big East championship, USF's women are likely headed to the Women's NIT. But there's a greater opportunity for Heath's team, which has a chance to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years. That, more than any statistical honor, would cement this team's place in USF history.
GETTING HEALTHY: Former Bulls RB Darrell Scott, who left after his junior year to enter the NFL draft, ran a disappointing 4.73 at the NFL combine this week, but said Monday that he did so while limited by a quad injury, one he hopes to have recovered from when USF holds its Pro Day for scouts on March 20. Scott, who weighed in at 230 pounds, wants a time closer to 4.5 seconds and believes he can do it in Tampa. "I know I can do way better than what I did," Scott said.
THIS AND THAT: After a 3-0 start, USF baseball stumbled to a combined three losses against North Florida and Bethune-Cookman going into Tuesday's game at Central Florida. The Bulls' pitching has come through as Lelo Prado had hoped, but the hitting and defense aren't there yet. The Bulls were hitting .223 as a team entering Tuesday, and the Bulls had 10 errors, including five by shortstop Chad Taylor, who shifted in from the outfield. ... Pinellas Park's Sara Nevins was named Big East Pitcher of the Week after the sophomore went 2-0 last week, with a win, save, and 23 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. USF softball is 10-1 entering today's home game against No. 12 Michigan. ... USF baseball gets a spring training exhibition at 1:05 Friday against the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field.
Greg Auman can be reached at auman@tampabay.com and at (813) 226-3346. Check out his blog at tampabay.com/blogs/bulls and follow him at Twitter.com/gregauman.
By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
She is a braided wonder who slashes to the basket and generates excitement for Florida International University. With a crossover dribble that freezes defenders in their hightops, and with a feathery touch to match, Jerica Coley has become a scoring machine.
Coley, a former standout at St. Petersburg Catholic High School, is the nation's third-leading scorer in Division I women's basketball, averaging 24 points per game. She has scored in double figures in her past 31 games, a streak that dates to the final three games of last season. And she has injected life into the Panthers (20-9), helping them reach their first 20-win season in a decade and securing the No. 3 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, which starts Saturday in Hot Springs, Ark.
By attacking the rim and hitting shot after shot, Coley, a sophomore, has become so dynamic that FIU's sports information department is promoting her as an All-American candidate. Coley now has a nickname (Holy Coley) that appears regularly on Twitter hash tags and a YouTube video produced by the school.
"I definitely would not have expected any of this," Coley said. "It's hard to say this was a goal of mine, to be that high in the nation in scoring. I didn't even know it at first. I think I first heard about that from one of my coaches."
In high school, Coley thrived in the spotlight. She was the Times' All-Suncoast Player of the Year two times. Her senior season at St. Petersburg Catholic, she averaged 23 points, seven blocks, five steals and four assists per game. Her best game came in the playoffs when she scored 39 points and was one assist from a quadruple double in a win over Lakeland Tenoroc.
Her performance prompted Tenoroc coach Vic Smith to say: "We didn't run out of gas. We ran into Coley. The scouting reports said she was the ice cream, cake and sliced bread. They didn't lie."
Still, no big-time women's basketball program in the state wanted her because she is only 5 feet 7.
"I don't know the reason why some of the bigger schools passed on me because I never heard from them," Coley said. "They didn't recruit me. I did hear from my high school coaches that it was probably because of my size."
Florida International not only offered her a scholarship but a chance to play right away.
"They told me we would all get an opportunity no matter what grade we were in," Coley said. "That was exciting to me and a big reason I wanted to go there."
As a freshman, Coley got significant playing time, averaging 14 points per game.
"I just loved the way she played and that's before I even knew her as a person," FIU coach Cindy Russo said. "And then after I started to know her, I became constantly amazed all the time."
Everyone knows Coley can score. But she also had to provide leadership this season. She took on that role with the same determination she shows zig-zagging through defenders on the way to the basket.
"When I first came in I had to adjust to players being bigger, stronger and faster," Coley said. "Now, I'm just trying to take on whatever role we need to help everyone on the team. I'm not going out there and trying to score every time with the ball.
"The points are nice, but the only thing I'm worried about, especially at this point in the season, is winning."
Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@tampabay.com.
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
TAMPA — Stan Heath had been relatively relaxed in the moments before Sunday's game against Cincinnati. That is, until he was reminded of the significance of the run his Bulls team has been making.
"My athletic director, Doug Woolard, grabbed me before the game and said, 'This is the biggest game in our history, you know that?' " Heath joked after his Bulls (18-11, 11-5 Big East) pulled out a 46-45 thriller. "I got really nervous after that."
Wednesday, as the Bulls see a huge opportunity — and a difficult challenge — playing at No. 19 Louisville, a major part of why they're in the national spotlight is the way Heath's players haven't gotten caught up in the hoopla of their rise to the NCAA Tournament bubble.
"They've done a great job of just focusing on the next task," Heath said Tuesday, knowing well that one quality win could solidify the Bulls' NCAA chances tremendously. "They know that our league is so good, the teams are so talented that if you take a night off, you really don't give yourself a chance. They lock in on the next opponent, and that's the way it should be."
This opponent isn't one Heath worries about overlooking; USF's history against Louisville isn't a pretty one. The Bulls are 3-25 all time against the Cards, having lost 11 in a row. They've won only once at Louisville, in 1998, but Heath said his team won't lack for confidence.
"This is a little different Louisville team than in the past. They've always had great talent," Heath said. "I think this team maybe doesn't have the same kind of depth as Louisville teams past. Because of that, I'm not sure they can go 40 minutes straight of pressing and really attacking you the way they've done in the past."
Relatively speaking, Louisville is vulnerable: The Cardinals have already lost three Big East games at home, the most they've dropped since their first season in the conference in 2005-06. In the past two weeks, they've played close games; last-place DePaul took them to overtime, and a Pittsburgh team that USF swept lost by only three this week. The Cardinals lost at Cincinnati, which then came to Tampa and lost to the Bulls on Sunday.
USF has picked up national attention as one of the most compelling teams on the NCAA bubble, having overcome early injuries and nonconference struggles to battle for a top-four seed and double bye in the Big East tournament. Since Dec. 28, the Bulls haven't lost to an unranked opponent, something only Kentucky, Syracuse and North Carolina can boast.
Wednesday is a different challenge: stepping up and beating a ranked opponent on the road, potentially filling that biggest hole in their NCAA resume. They'll have another chance at a key win Saturday at home against West Virginia, but for now, their focus is squarely on Louisville and the historic opportunity that presents them.
"The plays we're making out there, I feel like they're not really plays for us," senior Ron Anderson said after the Cincinnati win. "They're plays for the university, for the overall success of the program, really."
By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
DAYTONA BEACH — After the puddles dried and the smoke cleared, NASCAR and Matt Kenseth claimed victories from the first primetime Daytona 500.
The Associated Press reported that Fox's telecast drew 36.5 million viewers — up 22 percent from last year — and gave the network its best Monday night rating since Game 5 of the 2010 World Series.
Talk radio buzzed Tuesday with NASCAR chatter after 30 hours of rain delays and a fiery explosion pushed Kenseth's victory into early Tuesday morning. Brad Keselowski picked up 140,000 Twitter followers after posting pictures from a two-hour delay onto his account.
But Kenseth was at the drama's center, standing in the confetti at victory lane to savor his second Daytona 500 win.
"I can't believe we're standing here twice in one week," said Kenseth, who also won the second qualifying race with his No. 17 Ford last week.
Kenseth survived water from two days of rain and a spitting radiator. He survived fire and the two-hour delay from Juan Pablo Montoya's collision with a safety truck and its jet engine.
He survived three wrecks and three restarts — including the green-white-checkered finish — after taking the lead for good on lap 165. And he survived charges from Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the race for the second time in four years.
"Matt Kenseth deserves this win," teammate Carl Edwards said.
Maybe after leading 50 laps in the wildest Daytona 500 yet, Kenseth deserves to be considered among the sport's elite drivers, too.
Only nine drivers in NASCAR history have won the series' biggest race more than once. Jeff Gordon is the only other active driver with multiple 500 wins and a points title, which Kenseth claimed in 2003.
"It's been quite a run," team owner Jack Roush said.
And it was quite a weekend for NASCAR. The race began with a national, primetime audience watching the sport's biggest event under the lights. Then Montoya's fiery explosion spilled 200 gallons of burning jet fuel onto Turn 3 and pushed the checkered flag past East Coast bedtimes and into Tuesday morning.
"We have never seen anything like it," Tampa native Aric Almirola said.
The sport's biggest names struggled on the primetime stage. Previous race winners Jimmie Johnson, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray and Gordon all crashed or had engine problems. Accidents also collected defending series champion Tony Stewart and rookie Danica Patrick.
"The thing that comes into my mind is that NASCAR can't catch a break," Earnhardt said.
But the delays and flames fanned interest for a sport with slipping sponsorship and appeal.
Track president Joie Chitwood III said attendance was better than he expected.
NASCAR president Mike Helton said it gave the series "a sample to look at" regarding possible future weeknight races.
Until then, Kenseth stood in victory lane again, celebrating his 22nd career victory early Tuesday as the rest of the teams packed up. Their trailers pulled away through the 2 a.m. fog to begin the 2,200-mile drive to Phoenix for Sunday's race.
The drama-filled 36 hours of Daytona were finally over.
Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@tampabay.com.
By Tim Whitfield, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
What's hot: With the fronts blowing in every six or seven days the bite has been all over the map. There is a steady bite before fronts, and trout and feeding well. The days between the fronts are solid as well as soon as the weather pattern becomes more consistent. But what do you do when the front comes on Friday and you are literally blown off the water?
Redfish: Reds are cooperative after a front, providing you can get to them in rough or shallow water. With the wind out of the north, take the bay boat, run to the desired area and wade to them. Mullet are a key factor in finding redfish, which hang out with mullet to take advantage of the bait fish and crustaceans that mullet kick up as they swim and jump. Bigger schools with lots of jumping mullet seem to hold the most fish. Use cut bait soaked in or on the outside edges of the mullet schools. Dead sticking (letting the scent do the work) scented baits in the mullet works well too — a very boring way to fish but it can produce big time.
Tim Whitfield can be reached at tim@swiftfishcharters.com or (813) 714-0889.
By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Best birthday gift
OF Brandon Guyer is a huge fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and went to his first event in Chicago on his birthday (Jan. 28). With a buddy working for UFC, Guyer got seats five rows back and a pre-fight tour of the octagon and met the fighters backstage, getting "starstruck" when he saw Jon "Bones" Jones. Said Guyer: "The best (present) ever. I went to one, now I want to go to a ton."
Worst birthday gift
RHP Jeff Niemann, who turned 29 Tuesday, got a "wakeup call" in live BP when INF Sean Rodriguez ripped his last pitch up the middle and through the protective screen. Niemann, all 6-foot-9 of him, ducked out of the way. "He almost gave me the worst birthday present ever," Niemann joked. "That was a close call." The two hugged after. "… I'll tell you what, he's feeling healthy, because he got out of the way," Rodriguez said. "He got low."
Who is this Ray?
He's an avid reader whose books this offseason included Falling Forward by John Maxwell, Buddha's Brain by Dr. Rick Hanson and Uncommon by Tony Dungy. He was acquired in the Matt Garza trade.
The dish
Today's full-squad workout starts around 9:30 a.m. at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and lasts until 11:40. Admission and parking free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 South to Toledo Blade Road, go west 6½ miles to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, stadium complex is on left. For more information: (941) 235-5025.
Heads up
Live batting practice starts around 11, with Jeff Niemann, Jeremy Hellickson and Alex Cobb among those scheduled to throw.
Exhibition schedule
Rays tickets: $9/12-27, available at box office, via raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster.
Info: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)
All games 1:05 unless noted
March
3: at Twins
4: Twins
5: Orioles
6: Twins
7: at Yankees
8: Tigers (ss)
at Twins (ss)
9: Orioles
10: at Red Sox (7:05)
11: Pirates
12: Twins
13: at Orioles
14: Marlins
15: Phillies
16: at Jays
17: at Pirates
18: Red Sox
19: Off
20: at Marlins
21: Yankees
22: at Pirates
23: Jays (7:05)
24: at Twins (3:05)
25: Marlins
26: at Twins
27: at Red Sox (1:35)
28: Pirates (7:05)
29: at Phillies
30: at Pirates
31: Red Sox
APRIL
1: at Orioles
2: Twins
3: at Twins
4: vs. Future Rays, 1:40, at Trop.
* Value game, $2 off
Who is this answer: RHP Chris Archer
Joe Smith, Times staff writer
Quote of the day
"I was talking to our scouts that are in town (and) I said, 'I promise you can walk to any field right now, and watch any one of our guys throw and you'll be impressed.' "
Manager Joe Maddon, on the Rays pitchers
Reaction of the day
LHP David Price, asked how he feels to start the Rays' exhibition opener against the Twins: "I'm excited for it. When is it?" When reminded it was Saturday, Price smiled, "I can do that."
Times wires
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
HOUSTON — A Texas agency turned down a request by an Orthodox Jewish school in Houston to reschedule a championship game potentially involving its boys' basketball team because the game time falls during the Sabbath.
The Beren Academy advanced to the semifinals in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools' 2A tournament with a 23-5 record and was scheduled to play Dallas Covenant at 9 p.m. on Friday.
Beren players observe the Sabbath between Friday night and Saturday night and won't play during those hours.
The agency's nine-member board unanimously voted down the academy's appeal to have the game time moved.
"The sacred mission will trump excellence in the secular world," said Rabbi Harry Sinoff, Beren's head of school.
Dallas Covenant will instead play Kerrville Our Lady of the Hills, the team that Beren defeated in the regional final. The Beren team will continue practicing this week, hoping that TAPPS moves the game time to earlier Friday.
"They say the inconvenience of rescheduling the games outweighs any other factors," Beren coach Chris Cole said Tuesday. "That's a decision for people who are a little higher than I am."
TAPPS director Ed Burleson said Tuesday that he doesn't expect the agency to reverse course. He said he has received hundreds of emails and phone calls, some from as far away as Canada, accusing him of bigotry and anti-Semitism.
Burleson said the decision had nothing to do with religion, but rather with the organization's longstanding policy not to change the playoffs date — a rule that has been in place since TAPPS' inception in 1978.
Beren joined TAPPS last year, and Burleson said the school was told then to not expect TAPPS to adjust its postseason schedule.
Cole, the coach since the 2002-03 season, acknowledged that he was aware of the possibility of scheduling conflicts but was hoping TAPPS would make an exception.
"We felt like … the request was reasonable," said Cole, who cited a precedent to Beren's request. Last year, the soccer team at Arlington Burton Adventist Academy reached the TAPPS semifinals and faced a similar Sabbath conflict.
Burleson said the logistics were much easier for the smaller soccer tournament.
TAPPS is comprised of 220 schools, and Cole said most schools have been "very understanding and accommodating" in adjusting game times to allow the Beren players to observe the Sabbath.
Conflicts between religious beliefs and scheduling are becoming more commonplace because of the nation's changing demographics, said Sarah Barringer Gordon, a professor of law and history at the University of Pennsylvania.
"Some associations are rethinking who their constituencies are," Gordon said. "As pluralism works its way through American sports, we're going to see more and more situations like this one."
The enrollment at Beren is 274, and most students have grown up together, in a culture where faith and religion come before virtually everything else.
"There's nothing in the Jewish religion that doesn't want us to play basketball," Beren point guard Isaac Mirwis said. "But it's tradition, it's principle, and we stick true to our principles and that's what makes an identity ... God doesn't take a week off from us, so we can't take a week off from God."
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
PORT CHARLOTTE — Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg reiterated his faith in the Tampa Bay market during a visit to spring training Tuesday, saying he was "pretty certain" it can be a viable home long-term.
"I'm optimistic," he said, "and my belief since day one is that it can and it will work in this market."
After a January meeting with Sternberg, St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster said he felt the Rays "have a question about the ability of the region to support baseball." Tuesday, Sternberg made it clear the Rays could stay here long-term, and said: "I read some things that characterized that I might not believe that to be the case, and there's nothing further from the truth."
Sternberg said he was pleased with the increased level of discussion around the area about the team's future, led by the Tampa Bay Partnership. And he indicated that while Major League Baseball officials are impatient with the stadium impasse, there would not necessarily be threats and ultimatums forthcoming.
"I'm a conciliatory kind of guy, and we just want to keep getting the message out," Sternberg said. "And I believe brighter, more sensible minds will prevail."
Sternberg said he was "encouraged" by recent talks between Foster, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and business leaders, "but I also think it's going slower than it can be."
Sternberg specifically praised the efforts of the Tampa Bay Partnership led by Chuck Sykes, to focus on the team as a regional asset.
"It's incredible, the work they're doing and the time they're taking and the energy they're putting in, and most importantly, the regionalization of the team, which I've been a proponent of since '06, since it was clear to me upon coming in here, is what's really going to make this thing really hum over time," he said.
"I can't underestimate the great job Chuck and the people he's working with — and the willingness to do that job — have done."
Rays officials are hoping for an increase in attendance based on a slight increase in season ticket sales and what they perceived to be an overall increased level of interest in the team and improvement in the economy.
A key, he said, will be support from the business community. "I ask the businesses just if they're thinking about it, get off the fence and buy a plan or season tickets," he said.
