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Police say it's ready to handle mayhem

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Times wires
Sunday, April 1, 2012

A day after raucous celebrations led to more than two dozen arrests, police said it's ready to control crowds near the University of Kentucky's campus when the Wildcats play Kansas tonight for the national title.

Several hundred officers will be out in force tonight to help keep order, Lexington Police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts told the Associated Press on Sunday.

"We're prepared," she said. "We expect a majority of people to obey the law."

Police plan a few adjustments from Saturday, when thousands of fans spilled onto Lexington streets after UK defeated cross-state rival Louisville in New Orleans. Fans torched couches and overturned a car before setting it ablaze.

Roberts said police did a good job getting rowdy fans under control. Officers arrested 27 on minor charges such as disorderly conduct and alcohol intoxication.

Police who had braced for the possibility of postgame violence resorted to pepper spray, though large amounts weren't needed before officers ultimately began dispersing the throngs.

Lexington Fire Department Battalion Chief Ed Davis said there weren't any arson arrests. Police were still searching for the person who set the car on fire.

NO GRUDGE: Most fans assumed Kentucky F Terrence Jones was off to the NBA after coach John Calipari's withering, 30-second tirade filled with cringe-inducing expletives was caught by cameras in a game last season.

Calipari apologized publicly, Jones stayed and the bond between the two is so tight now, the sophomore calls his coach a "father figure."

"He's been tough on me since I first got here. It's just because he expects a lot from me. I know he loves me. I know how good he thinks I am, how much he believes in me," Jones said. "When he doesn't see how he thinks I can perform, he tells me. He's a male father figure to me.

"So it's tough love sometimes. Sometimes it's good love. I take it all in the same way. I don't care how he says it; I just listen to what he's saying."

COACHING AWARD: Kansas is guaranteed to leave New Orleans with at least one trophy.

Bill Self was selected the Naismith coach of the year, beating out Calipari. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and Missouri's Frank Haith also were finalists for the award, given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

"He's a great teacher," Kansas G Tyshawn Taylor said. "He helps us all understand the game, understand how he wants us to play for us to be successful."

GUEST APPEARANCE: Hall of Famer Larry Brown, the only coach to win NCAA and NBA titles, has been hanging around Allen Fieldhouse the past few weeks and was front and center in the Kansas section when the Jayhawks upset North Carolina to win the Midwest Region last weekend in St. Louis.

Brown, 71, also has dropped in at Villanova, Maryland and Kentucky.

"He's unemployed," Self said, drawing laughs, when asked what his mentor is doing.

Brown coached KU to the 1988 national title.

NO SECOND FIDDLE: Monday night's game will be the second time this season Kentucky and Kansas meet with all of college basketball watching.

The first matchup was in mid November at Madison Square Garden as part of a doubleheader. Second-ranked Kentucky beat No. 12 Kansas 75-65, but it wasn't the featured game.

That happened to be the night Duke beat Michigan State 74-69 to give Mike Krzyzewski his 903rd coaching victory, moving him past mentor Bob Knight to the top of Division I's all-time list for men's basketball.

MISS. STate HIRES COACH: Mississippi State hired Clemson assistant Rick Ray to be its coach, replacing the retired Rick Stansbury. Ray, 40, has been the top assistant at Clemson for the past two seasons.


Historic powers ready for battle

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Times wires
Sunday, April 1, 2012

NEW ORLEANS — Jayhawks or Wildcats, take your pick. Either can make a case for this being "their" year.

For Kansas, a season that started with low expectations keeps getting better, filled with high-wire comebacks and a feeling that this was meant to be.

For Kentucky, a cadre of NBA-caliber players have had the word "champion" practically imprinted on their chests since they gathered at Rupp Arena for the season's first practice.

They meet tonight for the NCAA championship, a history-filled matchup between the winningest programs in history. This is the one-and-dones at Kentucky vs. juniors and seniors at Kansas; Anthony Davis vs. Thomas Robinson in a frontcourt battle of All-Americans; and a title game coaching rematch between John Calipari and Bill Self.

Kentucky (37-2), in search of its eighth national title but first since 1998, has five, maybe six players who will be playing in the NBA soon. Most are freshmen and sophomores. None are better than Davis, the 6-foot-10 freshman who had 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in Saturday's 69-61 win over Louisville in the semifinals.

All season and all tournament, Calipari has not so much defended as explained his philosophy, which is to go after the best players and not demand they graduate, only that they play team basketball for whatever amount of time they spend in the Commonwealth.

"I don't like the rules," Calipari said. "I want Anthony to come back and be my point guard next year. It's really what I want. There's only two solutions to it. Either I can recruit players who are not as good as the players I'm recruiting or I can try to convince guys who should leave to stay for me."

Calipari is a win away from the first national title of his controversial career, one that includes two Final Four appearances that were vacated. Oddsmakers have Kentucky as a 6.5-point favorite to seal the deal this year against Kansas.

"Doesn't bother us," Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor said. "They've got high expectations, and they had a great year so the expectations should be high. What we think, though, is that we match up with them well. We feel confident going into this game."

The Jayhawks (32-6) get more reinforcement every game that anything is possible.

Saturday, they overcame a 13-point deficit against Ohio State. Before that in the tournament, they won close ones against Purdue, North Carolina State and North Carolina. They were comeback kids in the regular season, as well, one that began with low expectations for a roster that got hit hard by graduation and other departures, then fell to 7-3 after an ugly, unexpected home loss to Davidson.

"I was a little frustrated because I thought that we were underachieving, underperforming," Self said.

Somewhere in that mess, however, he saw the potential.

Much of it shined through thanks to the development of Robinson, a role player his first two years. He blossomed when he got regular playing time this season and is averaging 17.7 points and 11.7 rebounds.

"We know how good Thomas Robinson is," Calipari said. "We all up here know. We went against him in New York. He is as good as they get. He's a vicious competitor, great around a rim, expanded his game."

Howard misses loss

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Times wires
Sunday, April 1, 2012

ORLANDO — Many in the sellout crowd inside Amway Center must have thought it was an April Fools' Day prank when center Dwight Howard wasn't on the floor during introductions before the Magic's matchup with the Nuggets

It was no ruse.

And with the Magic's most important, and usually most durable, player sitting out for the first time this season with back spasms, the Nuggets took advantage of his absence in a 104-101 victory Sunday night.

Ty Lawson had 12 of his 25 points in the second half and Arron Afflalo added 22 points to lead Denver, which won back-to-back games for the first time since a four-game winning streak the first week of March.

Denver shot 56 percent from the field — tops for an Orlando opponent this season — and racked up 44 points in the paint. The Magic had 46 points underneath but shot just 42 percent (37-for-88) and 25 percent (8-for-25) from the field and 3-point line, respectively.

Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 27 points, followed by Ryan Anderson with 20 and Glen Davis, Howard's replacement in the starting lineup, with 18. The loss was Orlando's third straight and only the second to the Nuggets in 19 meetings at home.

After averaging 17 turnovers a game over a 10-game stretch, Orlando had 12 on Sunday. What was missing was ball movement, with the Magic posting just 15 assists.

Howard missed just the eighth game of his eight-year career.

"When you look at it, we couldn't stop them at all," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We could not get a stop on any situation. It was a very frustrating night. I've been saying it all along, we need to get a lot better defensively, and (Sunday) we were certainly exposed."

Davis got his first start at center in place of the six-time All-Star and helped limit Nuggets 7-footer JaVale McGee to two points.

Denver also kept the Magic in the game with 17 turnovers.

Orlando trailed throughout the second half but cut a six-point halftime deficit to 93-90 on a free throw by Davis.

The Nuggets responded with six straight points, including a dunk off a fastbreak by Kenneth Faried with 1:47 to play.

Orlando called timeout, and Van Gundy and Nelson could be seen in a somewhat heated exchange in the team huddle.

Nelson downplayed the incident afterward, saying he was simply trying to inspire his teammates.

The Magic had one more rally in it, using a three-point play by J.J. Redick to cut its deficit to 99-97.

Jason Richardson got off a desperation heave at the buzzer, but the ball bounced harmlessly off the backboard.

Meanwhile, Mavericks center Brendan Haywood denied Van Gundy's accusation that he punched Howard in the back during Friday's game.

"Man, I don't know what's wrong with Stan," Haywood told ESPN.com on Sunday. "I was watching NBA TV (Saturday). They said they looked over (footage) and couldn't find it. I guess Stan has that magical hand cam that he was taking from the bench and he got something nobody else got."

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle backed his player, saying there was no evidence of a punch.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Rajon Rondo had a triple double and the host Celtics handed Miami its biggest loss of the season, 91-72. Boston outscored the Heat 31-12 in the third quarter and stayed ahead by at least 19 the rest of the way as Rondo had 16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds. … Russell Westbrook scored 27 and Kevin Durant added 26 points and 10 rebounds as the host Thunder defeated the Bulls 92-78 and closed within a game of Chicago for the league's best record.

JORDAN DENIES SALE: Michael Jordan says he is 100 percent committed to the Bobcats and has no intention of selling the struggling franchise. The New York Daily News reported Sunday that Jordan has contemplated selling if the team doesn't turn things around, in performance and profitability. In a statement, Jordan called the story a "false report."

Nuggets 104, Magic 101

DENVER (104): Brewer 3-9 1-2 8, Faried 2-2 0-0 4, McGee 1-3 0-2 2, Lawson 10-16 3-3 25, Afflalo 8-14 3-3 22, Koufos 3-4 0-0 6, Harrington 7-14 2-3 18, Miller 4-7 7-8 15, Hamilton 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 40-72 16-21 104.

ORLANDO (101): Turkoglu 4-10 2-2 11, Anderson 7-18 3-3 20, Davis 6-14 6-11 18, Nelson 11-21 3-4 27, J.Richardson 3-12 0-0 6, Redick 4-8 5-5 15, Clark 2-5 0-0 4, Duhon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 37-88 19-25 101.

Denver 27 21 28 28— 104

Orlando 19 23 32 27— 101

3-Point GoalsDenver 8-19 (Afflalo 3-6, Lawson 2-3, Harrington 2-5, Brewer 1-3, Miller 0-2), Orlando 8-32 (Anderson 3-10, Redick 2-3, Nelson 2-8, Turkoglu 1-4, Davis 0-1, J.Richardson 0-6). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsDenver 43 (Faried 9), Orlando 51 (Davis 16). AssistsDenver 21 (Lawson 9), Orlando 15 (Nelson 5). Total FoulsDenver 22, Orlando 15. A18,846 (18,500).

Celtics 91, Heat 72

MIAMI (72): James 11-20 1-2 23, Bosh 2-11 0-2 4, Anthony 0-2 0-0 0, Chalmers 1-5 0-0 2, Wade 6-17 3-5 15, Turiaf 0-1 0-0 0, Haslem 4-7 0-0 8, Cole 2-11 2-3 7, Battier 4-8 1-2 11, Jones 0-2 0-0 0, Pittman 1-4 0-1 2, Harris 0-0 0-2 0, Howard 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-89 7-17 72.

BOSTON (91): Pierce 8-17 5-5 23, Bass 3-5 10-10 16, Garnett 5-12 0-0 10, Rondo 7-13 1-3 16, Bradley 5-10 2-2 13, Stiemsma 2-5 2-2 6, Dooling 2-4 0-0 5, Pavlovic 1-2 0-0 2, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Hollins 0-1 0-0 0, Moore 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-70 20-22 91.

Miami 19 25 12 16— 72

Boston 29 20 31 11— 91

3-Point GoalsMiami 3-16 (Battier 2-6, Cole 1-2, Jones 0-2, Chalmers 0-3, Wade 0-3), Boston 5-13 (Pierce 2-4, Rondo 1-2, Dooling 1-3, Bradley 1-3, Pavlovic 0-1). Fouled OutStiemsma. ReboundsMiami 55 (Bosh 11), Boston 52 (Rondo 11). AssistsMiami 15 (Bosh 4), Boston 21 (Rondo 14). Total FoulsMiami 15, Boston 18. TechnicalsBoston defensive three second. A18,624 (18,624).

Thunder 92, Bulls 78

CHICAGO (78): Deng 4-13 0-0 8, Boozer 4-8 0-0 8, Noah 1-8 3-3 5, Watson 2-7 0-0 4, Korver 5-13 1-2 14, Asik 0-2 0-0 0, Gibson 4-8 2-4 10, Brewer 3-8 1-2 7, Lucas 7-20 0-0 19, Scalabrine 0-1 1-2 1, Butler 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 30-91 10-15 78.

OKLAHOMA CITY (92): Durant 11-16 2-2 26, Ibaka 4-8 1-2 9, Perkins 2-3 0-0 4, Westbrook 10-18 6-6 27, Sefolosha 1-4 0-0 2, Collison 2-7 3-3 7, Harden 3-7 4-4 11, Fisher 0-2 0-0 0, Mohammed 0-1 0-0 0, Hayward 2-4 0-0 4, Ivey 1-2 0-0 2, Aldrich 0-1 0-0 0, Jackson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-74 16-17 92.

Chicago 20 19 12 27— 78

Oklahoma City 27 22 31 12— 92

3-Point GoalsChicago 8-24 (Lucas 5-13, Korver 3-5, Deng 0-3, Watson 0-3), Oklahoma City 4-9 (Durant 2-2, Westbrook 1-2, Harden 1-3, Hayward 0-1, Sefolosha 0-1). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsChicago 57 (Gibson 11), Oklahoma City 48 (Durant 10). AssistsChicago 17 (Lucas, Korver 4), Oklahoma City 20 (Westbrook 5). Total FoulsChicago 14, Oklahoma City 15. A18,203 (18,203).

Raptors 99, Wizards 92

WASHINGTON (92): Singleton 5-8 1-2 15, Vesely 5-8 0-0 10, Seraphin 8-14 0-0 16, Wall 4-8 5-7 13, Crawford 6-15 4-5 18, Mason 3-8 4-4 12, Cook 2-7 0-0 4, Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Mack 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 34-71 16-20 92.

TORONTO (99): J.Johnson 4-9 0-0 9, Bargnani 6-15 6-6 18, Gray 1-2 0-0 2, Calderon 6-10 1-1 15, DeRozan 4-11 7-9 15, Davis 4-6 0-0 8, A.Johnson 5-7 0-0 10, Uzoh 1-3 0-0 2, Forbes 3-6 3-3 9, Kleiza 1-3 0-0 2, Anderson 2-5 4-4 9. Totals 37-77 21-23 99.

Washington 21 21 19 31— 92

Toronto 22 24 25 28— 99

3-Point GoalsWashington 8-20 (Singleton 4-4, Mason 2-4, Crawford 2-6, Martin 0-1, Wall 0-2, Cook 0-3), Toronto 4-17 (Calderon 2-6, Anderson 1-2, J.Johnson 1-4, Kleiza 0-2, Bargnani 0-3). Fouled OutSingleton. ReboundsWashington 35 (Singleton 8), Toronto 48 (Gray, Bargnani 8). AssistsWashington 25 (Wall 11), Toronto 22 (Calderon 8). Total FoulsWashington 22, Toronto 22. TechnicalsWall, Toronto defensive three second. A16,858 (19,800).

Pacers 104, Rockets 102, OT

INDIANA (104): Granger 11-20 4-4 32, West 5-12 2-2 12, Hibbert 6-14 3-3 15, Collison 4-8 3-6 11, George 3-7 3-3 9, Hansbrough 1-7 7-8 9, Barbosa 4-8 2-2 10, Amundson 2-3 0-0 4, Hill 1-2 0-0 2, Jones 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 37-83 24-28 104.

HOUSTON (102): Parsons 6-12 0-0 14, Scola 6-16 1-2 13, Camby 5-8 0-2 10, Dragic 8-14 3-4 22, Lee 9-17 0-0 20, Budinger 2-7 1-2 6, Boykins 2-8 0-0 5, Morris 0-1 0-0 0, Patterson 4-12 0-0 8, Dalembert 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 44-101 5-10 102.

Indiana 27 17 19 30 11— 104

Houston 23 19 31 20 9— 102

3-Point GoalsIndiana 6-15 (Granger 6-8, Barbosa 0-1, Collison 0-1, Jones 0-2, George 0-3), Houston 9-21 (Dragic 3-6, Parsons 2-4, Lee 2-5, Boykins 1-2, Budinger 1-4). Fouled OutDragic. ReboundsIndiana 62 (Hansbrough 10), Houston 50 (Camby 9). AssistsIndiana 23 (Collison 7), Houston 25 (Dragic 6). Total FoulsIndiana 16, Houston 23. A18,197 (18,043).

Sports in Brief

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Times wires
Sunday, April 1, 2012

Tennis

Djokovic serves his way to title in Key biscayne

KEY BISCAYNE — World No. 1 Novak Djokovic held every service game to beat Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) in the Sony Ericsson Open final Sunday.

Djokovic is 20-2 this year and 90-8 since the start of 2011. He didn't lose a set in six matches at Key Biscayne and saved 25 of 30 break points against him.

"I'm playing at the peak of my form, the best tennis that I have played," Djokovic said. "I have to use that as much as I can."

The lone break point Djokovic faced Sunday came in the match's fifth game. (Though in the tiebreaker, he lost one service point.) "He doesn't have many holes in his game," Murray said. "That's why he's been so good the last 18 months."

NFL

Report: Bounty appeal is Tuesday

The NFL will hear the appeal of Saints coach Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis for their roles in a bounty program Tuesday, ESPN.com reported. Neither the league nor the Saints confirmed the report. Payton is suspended for a season, Loomis for eight games. A date for the appeal of linebackers coach Joe Vitt (six games) has not been set.

More bounties: The players union has told players involved in the program they could face criminal charges, the Associated Press reported. It also told them it has hired lawyers to represent them if needed and suggested they have one and a union representative present if interviewed by NFL investigators, the report said.

Soccer

NASL standout, Rowdies foe dies

Giorgio Chinaglia, an Italian striker and the North American Soccer League's all-time leading scorer, died in Naples from complications of a heart attack. He was 65. He played alongside Pele and Franz Beckenbauer for the New York Cosmos, scoring 262 goals from 1976-83. He often drew the wrath of Tampa Bay Rowdies fans at Tampa Stadium. He was hosting a soccer show on Sirius XM satellite radio. In December, he talked about a Rowdies fan who hit him in the back of the head with a cup of beer during halftime of a game.

U.S. women: Alex Morgan scored in the 72nd minute to give the United States a 1-1 tie against host Japan in a round-robin exhibition tournament with three of the world's top four teams.

Horses

Huge long shot wins stakes race

Hero of Order, which went off at 109-1, won the $1 million Grade II Louisiana Derby in New Orleans by a half-length over favored Mark Valeski. It was just his second win in 14 starts, but the $600,000 prize will be enough to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. His trainer, Gennadi Dorochenko, said he hasn't decided on going to Louisville.

Tampa Bay Downs: Trainer Jamie Ness eclipsed his track wins record, his three Sunday giving him 69 at the Oldsmar meet. The previous record was 68 in 2007-08.

Et cetera

College baseball: James Ramsay (Brandon High) hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh as host USF beat Notre Dame 6-4. The Bulls (20-9, 5-1 Big East) are five wins from equaling last season's total. … A one-out throwing error in the ninth gave host Mississippi a 7-6 win over Florida, the first series loss of the year for the top-ranked Gators (24-4, 6-3 SEC).

BOWLING: Andres Gomez won his first PBA title, beating Wes Malott 246-207 at the Carmen Salvino Classic in Las Vegas.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Shocking miss on No. 18 turns major

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Times wires
Sunday, April 1, 2012

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — I.K. Kim raised her left hand to her mouth and turned her head, unwilling to look at what just happened. Fans at Mission Hills gasped, groaned and screamed in a chorus of shared pain.

With a major championship resting on a 1-foot putt, Kim lived every golfer's nightmare.

She had done the unthinkable. She had missed the unmissable.

A few minutes later, the Kraft Nabisco Championship was in a playoff — and with an improbable second chance, Sun Young Yoo didn't flinch.

Yoo won the LPGA Tour's first major of 2012 with an 18-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday, earning her first major title after Kim's mind-boggling miss on the final hole of regulation.

Kim, 23, a South Korean who lives near Los Angeles, couldn't explain any of it. After barely missing a long birdie putt, she lined up the 1-footer patiently, and thought she hit it decently. But the ball toured the lip of the cup before coming out.

After tapping in for bogey that dropped her into a tie with Yoo, Kim raised both hands to her ears as she left the green, staring down blankly while walking to the scorers' tent.

The playoff ended four strokes later, with Yoo confidently seizing her second career LPGA victory.

"On the playoff hole, it's just hard to kind of focus on what's going on right now," Kim said. "Because I was still a little bit bummed (about) what happened on 18, honestly."

Yoo was steady play on a day in which five players held the lead. After finishing with par in the group before Kim, Yoo figured she would collect a fat runnerup check and head home to Orlando. Kim made a 15-foot birdie on No. 16 and a 20-footer on No. 17 to break a three-way tie for the lead.

Then Kim made a mistake reminiscent of Scott Hoch's missed 2-foot putt that would have won the 1989 Masters, and Doug Sanders' 3-footer miss to cost him the 1970 British Open.

"I thought I had no chance," Yoo said. "I thought I.K. was going to make the putt, but it didn't happen."

Yoo, 25, also of South Korea, and Kim finished at 9-under 279 after each shot 3-under 69.

Yoo and Kim played No. 18 again in the playoff, and Kim's drive barely cleared the water, landing in the rough. She left a birdie putt short from the fringe, and Yoo finished it off.

Third-round co-leaders Yani Tseng (73) and Karin Sjodin (74) fell out of contention late. Sjodin and Hee Kyung Seo each led by three strokes at one point in the round.

Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse finished with 73—287, tied for 26th.

Mahan takes Houston

HUMBLE, TEXAS — Hunter Mahan shot 1-under 71 to win the Houston Open, edging Carl Pettersson by a stroke and becoming the first two-time champion on the PGA Tour in 2012. Mahan, 29, shot 16-under 272 and moved to No. 4 in the world, the first time he has been the highest-ranked American. "That's a pretty surreal thing to think about," he said.

EUROPEAN: Thorbjorn Olesen shot 69 to win the Sicilian Open by a shot at 15-under 273 in Sciacca. He held off Chris Wood, who equaled the course record with 8-under 64.

Baylor, Notre Dame advance to women's NCAA championship game

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Times wires
Sunday, April 1, 2012

DENVER — One win from perfection.

Brittney Griner was constantly hounded and double-teamed, scoring one basket in the second half. So the Baylor supporting cast jumped in and carried the unbeaten Bears to the national championship game.

Griner finished with 13 points and nine rebounds to lead Baylor to a 59-47 win over Stanford on Sunday night and into the NCAA final against Notre Dame.

"We're not the Brittney Griner show," Bears coach Kim Mulkey said. "Brittney Griner is the face of women's basketball, and she deserves to be, but this team is bigger than Brittney. She will tell you that. Brittney Griner double- and triple-teamed allows other players on her team to have opportunities."

Baylor (39-0) is one win from becoming the seventh team to finish undefeated and the first in NCAA history to win 40.

The top-seeded Bears faced the Irish in the preseason WNIT final, with Baylor winning in Waco 94-81 on Nov. 17.

"It's going to be a good game," Griner said. "We beat them earlier in the season, but we've got to get ready because this is the game they really want. So it's going to be laid out on the floor."

Stanford (35-2) fell short in the Final Four for the fifth straight season, ending a school-record 32-game winning streak.

Cardinal players refused to let the 6-foot-8 Griner beat them, collapsing on her in the paint. The strategy worked for 20 minutes before the other Bears started making shots.

Trailing 31-29 early in the second half, the Bears went on an 11-1 run keyed by Jordan Madden. The junior guard had an acrobatic three-point play then a layup that made it 40-32. Griner followed with her only basket of the half, hitting a tough baseline turnaround that capped the burst.

The Cardinal could only get within six the rest of the game despite Nnemkadi Ogwumike's best efforts. The senior led Stanford with 22 points and nine rebounds. Coach Tara VanDerveer took her out with about 30 seconds left and gave her a long embrace.

The 6-foot-2 forward did all she could to keep the Cardinal in the game but got little help. Her younger sister, Chiney, who had such a strong sophomore season, was ineffective. She fouled out midway through the second half with just four points.

NOTRE DAME 83, UCONN 75 OT: The Irish are back in the title game thanks to Skylar Diggins' steady leadership and Brittany Mallory's clutch shooting.

Diggins scored 19 and Mallory hit two big 3-pointers in overtime for Notre Dame (35-3). The two hooked up for a game-turning play in overtime when Diggins stood her ground on a fast break, blocked the shot to prevent the Huskies (33-5) from retaking the lead, then fed Mallory for her second important 3.

"That was game-saving. That was huge," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "That would have turned it around if they made that layup. She sprinted the floor, made that huge play. It gave us such a big momentum lift, and Britt hitting that 3 made it a huge play."

Notre Dame also beat Connecticut in the semifinals last year but stumbled 48 hours later, losing to Texas A&M in the title game in Indianapolis.

Tampa Bay Rays' B.J. Upton targeting return by mid-April

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 2, 2012

Tampa Bay Rays centerfielder B.J. Upton said he is making good progress in his recovery from back soreness and is targeting a return during the April 10-19 road trip to Detroit, Boston and Toronto.

"That's what we're shooting for,'' Upton said this morning.

Upton said he ran and threw on Sunday and felt good today, a change from earlier in his recovery when he would be sore the next day.

"That's a good sign,'' he said.

Upton planned to hit in the cage today and continue to accelerate his workouts.

However, he has played only part of one minor-league game since being hurt in the March 14 collision with Desmond Jennings, and the Rays are going to want him to get at-bats and see live pitching before he can return.

Upton said he will move with the team back to St. Petersburg on Tuesday and go on the roadtrip, hoping to make a few minor-league rehab appearances and then rejoin the lineup.

"I wanted to be back for opening day and I think everybody as a hole was trying to get me ready for opening day, and that may have not necessarily been the thing to do in this situation,'' Upton said. "So I'm glad we just let it rest and it's getting better. That's all we can ask for right now.''

The powerful piece of paper that is the Tampa Bay Rays lease

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By John Romano, Times Columnist
Monday, April 2, 2012

The threat begins on page 32 of the document. It doesn't sound scary at all.

And, yet, it is the reason politicians, business leaders and maybe even the commissioner of baseball are careful what they say about a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

This brief, four-sentence section is known as the "exclusive dealings'' portion of the stadium use agreement between the Rays and St. Petersburg.

In other words, it is the lock keeping the Rays inside Tropicana Field. And if you doubt its ability to intimidate, you haven't been paying attention.

Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan recently expressed great frustration at the stadium stalemate — and then said he needed to talk to the county attorney. Pinellas County Commissioner Norm Roche also raised the stadium issue with his colleagues — and they all decided to get the county attorney involved.

Even a private group seeking a new stadium for downtown Tampa has danced delicately around the concept of "tortious interference."

Which is exactly what the city had in mind in the early 1990s when its attorneys were studying the leases of other Major League teams while drafting this agreement.

The clause, essentially, forbids the Rays from negotiating to play in any stadium other than Tropicana Field before 2027. And any violation would result in "irreparable harm and damages.''

Translation: We'll sue the jockstrap off ya.

"Did we do our homework?'' asked St. Petersburg City Attorney John Wolfe, who was an assistant city attorney at the time. "Yes, we did.''

What's interesting in retrospect is that it was seen as a one-sided deal for the then-Devil Rays in 1995.

Between debt service and upkeep, the city was spending millions every year, and had an empty stadium to show for it. Either St. Pete signed this deal, or Major League Baseball was threatening to find another expansion city.

City Council members complained about the team getting to keep the bulk of revenues from a public building, but Wolfe said he and then-City Attorney Mike Davis were focused on ensuring a tenant for years to come.

They knew a little something about trying to poach an existing big league team. Tampa Bay had once been linked to efforts to lure the Twins, White Sox, Rangers, Giants and Mariners to town. This agreement was actually drafted a few years earlier for the Giants.

So when it was suggested the Devil Rays document might include an attendance clause that could trigger an early release from the lease, the city refused.

"Our priority was to have the team here. I know a lot of people criticized it for not tapping into other revenue streams,'' Wolfe said. "I think we got the best deal we could for the people of St. Petersburg.

"It's been proven to be a pretty good deal, if what you want is a baseball team.''

So is the exclusive dealings clause ironclad?

If it isn't, it is pretty close to it. The city has sent more than one letter warning others to watch what they say about the Rays moving out of Tropicana.

Bankruptcy might eventually be a weapon for the Rays and MLB. More than likely, a negotiated settlement would come first.

Until then, consider yourself warned.

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


Tampa Bay Rays' Sam Fuld to have wrist surgery, out four to five months

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By Joe Smith and Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writers
Monday, April 2, 2012

PORT CHARLOTTE — OF Sam Fuld will have surgery on his right wrist today, and is expected to be out 4-5 months, the Rays announced.

Fuld said the procedure, done at the Cleveland Clinic, will be to repair the ligament, or sheath, that stablizes a tendon.

"I was definitely expecting to have to operate," Fuld said. "I'm confident I'll be back and ready to contribute by the latter part of the summer."

Fuld's wrist has bothered him since he sprained it in a game in September. He then re-aggravated the wrist on a swing-and-miss in a game March 23. An MRI last week revealed the sheath surrounding the tendon is stretched and that permits the ligament to slide out of place. Fuld then sought a second opinion in Cleveland by Dr. Tom Graham.

Manager Joe Maddon felt for Fuld because he was in line for a more secure role with the Rays, his second year on the team.

"It's unfortunate because he fits so well," Maddon said. "But it's not the end; he'll be back. A bigger and better version of Sam Fuld coming back, if that's possible."

UPTON UPDATE: CF B.J. Upton said he is making good progress in his recovery from back soreness and is targeting a return during the April 10-19 roadtrip to Detroit, Boston and Toronto.

"That's what we're shooting for," Upton said Monday.

Though Maddon is encouraged, he's unsure on the timetable, saying they haven't even scheduled the specifics of a rehab assignment yet. Upton said he ran and threw on Sunday and felt good Monday, a change from earlier in his recovery when he would be sore the next day.

"That's a good sign," he said.

Upton planned to hit in the cage Monday and continue to accelerate his workouts. However, he has played only part of one minor-league game since being hurt in the March 14 collision with Desmond Jennings, and the Rays are going to want him to get at-bats and see live pitching before he can return.

Upton said he will move with the team back to St. Petersburg on Tuesday and go on the roadtrip, hoping to make a few minor-league rehab appearances and then rejoin the lineup.

"I wanted to be back for opening day and I think everybody as a whole was trying to get me ready for opening day, and that may have not necessarily been the thing to do in this situation," Upton said. "So I'm glad we just let it rest and it's getting better. That's all we can ask for right now."

PRICE CHECK: LHP David Price appeared in regular season form in Monday's final spring start, a very sharp, four-inning outing in which he allowed just one hit and struck out six.

"I felt like I continued to get better throughout spring; I feel good right now," Price said. "I'm ready for Saturday."

Price was especially happy with his slider, saying it's "the best it's been," and hopes to regain the confidence and sharpness he had in the pitch in 2008. "It's getting there," he said. Said Maddon: "I thought David had a really good day."

MEDICAL MATTERS: RHP Fernando Rodney said his previously bruised right forearm feels good after Sunday's bullpen session, and plans to pitch today in the Rays game with the Twins. He also expects to be ready for opening day. Rodney was bruised after getting hit with a line drive Wednesday. "I feel good," he said. RHP Jeff Niemann says blister on his right middle finger is "getting a lot better," but will throw Wednesday with a bandage, which is not allowed in the regular season.

GAME DETAILS: Cody Rogers hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth to lift the Rays to a 6-6 tie with the Twins. 3B Evan Longoria had another good day, with two hits, a run and an RBI. DH Luke Scott, in the second spot in the order, hit an opposite field double. INF Sean Rodriguez had two hits, a solo homer and bunt single. Maddon said LHP J.P. Howell was "tremendous" in a scoreless inning.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

Finally, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Greg Schiano can get down to business

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 2, 2012

TAMPA — When he was introduced to the world as the Bucs' new coach in January, Greg Schiano made it a point to lay out some of his non-negotiable principles and expectations.

On Monday, Schiano finally was able to convey that message to his team.

Schiano used the first official day of offseason work to set the tone for his tenure in Tampa Bay as the Bucs began their revamped offseason program in accordance with the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement.

For Schiano, the day was a long time in the making.

"Today marks the beginning of something," he said. "It's nice to have a football team to stand in front of. Our coaching staff has worked incredibly hard since they've trickled into Tampa.

"We're in the beginning stages of who we're going to be. To be able to talk to the team about football and talk about what we're going to be as an organization, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I didn't fly out of bed this morning excited to go."

For Schiano and his staff, Monday was really just the symbolic start to the 2012 campaign, with only strength and conditioning permitted during the next two weeks.

Still, it marks a key point in the offseason.

The NFL's collective bargaining agreement, agreed to in July, strictly limits the kinds of activities teams can conduct during the offseason. There also are firm timeframes during which certain kinds of workouts are prohibited.

Until Monday, Schiano and his coaches were barred from even discussing basic football matters with their players. For a team preparing to install new offensive and defensive schemes, this presented a unique challenge.

The new offseason rules have frustrated many coaches, who find it limiting that they're unable to communicate with players about football until April — even if those players wish to.

Some are voicing those concerns.

"Just speaking from a head coach's perspective, I think we would be unanimously in favor of them maybe revisiting (the rules)," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said last week. "It's good not only for coaches, but for young players to develop. You're waiting so long (to get started).

"Not that you have to go to extremes, but it would be great to have the quarterback in the building, especially from a new head coach's standpoint and an installation standpoint with a new offense. Having to wait until April 1 is difficult."

Nonetheless, the wait is over for the Bucs.

Schiano said he was encouraged by Monday's attendance.

"It was great," he said. "We had a really good turnout. I had some guys who contacted me before and let me know that they had some things they had scheduled previously. This is not mandatory. I was very impressed with the commitment level of our guys, being here on time and ready to go."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @HolderStephen.

Captain's Corner: Find widespread kingfish activity offshore

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By Jay Mastry, Times Correspondent
Monday, April 2, 2012

What's hot: Kingfish have dominated much of the offshore activity, and the action has been widespread. This past week we caught kings in the Egmont Ships Channel and the Clearwater hard bottom and there's been a bunch caught in between. What's remaining of old artificial reefs in 20 feet off St. Pete Beach and the dropoff Blinds Pass has held good numbers of kings. A few in the 40-pound class have been caught by slow trollers with live bait or those anchored and chumming.

More options: The 26-foot hard bottom about 5 miles west of St. Pete Beach has held better quality size kings. The "parking lot," another 1 1/2 miles out in 28-31 feet, has long been productive. Artificial reefs in 30 feet — St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Clearwater — are producing kings and mackerel. Markers 5 and 6 in the "ditch" produced kings; markers 9 and 10 out to 3 and 4 produced kingfish and mackerel.

Bigger fish: Trips within a couple miles off Sand Key produced fewer quantity but better quality size kings. We had them up to 30 pounds, several in the 20s. Saturday we caught kings up to 25 pounds until high winds and rough seas muddied the water on the Clearwater hard bottom and ran us off the beach.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

Reid Brignac-Sean Rodriguez battle comes down to the wire with Tampa Bay Rays

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 2, 2012

PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays expected it would be a difficult decision to pick the starting shortstop, with Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez battling it out all camp.

And with the roster deadline Wednesday at 5 p.m., manager Joe Maddon says they still don't know, but they're "pretty close" to the final call.

"The 11th hour is a real powerful hour," Maddon says, "We have to play it all the way out."

There's still a possibility Brignac and Rodriguez make the team and play in a platoon situation, but that remains to be seen. What the Rays do know is that both have fared well during the spring, and improved on the subtle, "under the hood" type of aspects of their games Maddon outlined for them at the beginning.

Brignac, though limited for a couple weeks due to a plantar fasciitis issue, made strides at situational hitting, bunting and baserunning, and is hitting .286 through 12 games. Rodriguez, while playing great defense, is batting .250, but has had more consistent at-bats, narrowing his strikeouts-to-walk ratio (13:8).

"Nobody was really going to be separating themselves," Maddon said. "Both are really good players, they're both similar kind of players. So you weren't necessarily going to see this tremendous discrepancy between the both. Anytime you get to that point in spring training, like the (Jeff) Niemann and (Wade) Davis (decision), it's always going to be a very close call. And then sometimes it's going to go beyond what the average fan may see in a game. It's tough, but a great problem to have."

Brignac earned the starting shortstop job last year before losing it midseason due to offensive struggles (.193 average). He said he's more prepared to handle it this year, and is happy with what he's shown in camp.

"I feel like I've done what they've asked me to do," Brignac said. "I've sacrificed, I've stole some bags. I've been aggressive on the basepaths. I just got to show them that it wasn't that I couldn't do these things, it's just maybe with the opportunities that I had, I wasn't as successful with them."

Rodriguez also struggled with offensive consistency last season, hitting .223 (with 87 strikeouts and 38 walks). He worked on ways he could improve his approach, specifically with two strikes, and find other ways to get on base. Case in point was Monday, when Rodriguez hit a solo homer, but also dropped a perfectly-placed bunt down the third base line for a single in the third. As versatile as Rodriguez is, with the ability to play most every position, shortstop is his favorite, and would love to be a regular there.

"You want to play everyday — everybody does," Rodriguez said. "And that's all I'm looking for."

Both Brignac and Rodriguez have said the right things, how they want what's best for the team, and willing to help in any way they can. And while Rodriguez said he initially didn't understand when Maddon told him the "under the hood" factors could decide the job, he does now.

Rodriguez smiles: "I've been trying to get my engine ready."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

Tampa Bay Rays: Rays to raise their latest playoff banner; another spring training tie equals mark

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 2, 2012

Quote of the day

"I like the way Carlos is swinging a lot — not a little bit, a lot. I want him to stay right like that. Carlos is going to swing and miss sometimes, that's just who he is. … But from where he's hitting from right now, I see him having a chance to be more consistent with the long ball and well-struck balls in general when he gets to it."

Manager Joe Maddon on 1B Carlos Peña, who went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and is hitting .107 this spring

Rays at Twins

When/where: 1:05 today; Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers

Tickets: $10-$40, available at box office, through twinsbaseball.com or call toll-free 1-800-338-9467.

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297

Pitchers: Rays — Jeremy Hellickson, relievers TBD; Twins— Liam Hendriks, Matt Capps, Glen Perkins, Brian Duensing, Alex Burnett, Kyle Waldrop, Jeff Gray

Heads-up

DH Luke Scott, OF Matt Joyce and INFs Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac are scheduled to make the trip to Fort Myers today.

On deck

Wednesday: vs. Future Rays, 1:40 p.m., at Tropicana Field. Rays — LHP Matt Moore; Future Rays — TBD. Tickets $10, general admission.

Thursday: Optional workout, 9:30 a.m., Tropicana Field. Closed to public.

Friday: Season opener, vs. Yankees, 3:10 p.m., Tropicana Field. Rays — James Shields; Yankees — CC Sabathia. Sold out.

Saturday: vs. Yankees, 7:10 p.m., Tropicana Field. Rays — David Price; Yankees — Hiroki Kuroda

Sunday: vs. Yankees, 1:40 p.m., Tropicana Field. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson. Yankees — Phil Hughes

Who is this Ray?

He's a coach who played 13 big-league seasons, all in the National League. He played all four infield positions, while also playing one game in the outfield and pitching in a game.

Who is this answer: Third-base coach Tom Foley

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

A banner day

Prior to Friday's opening day game with the Yankees, the Rays will raise a 2011 AL wild-card banner to hang on the catwalk with the 2008 and 2010 flags.

Did you know?

The Rays and Orioles each have six ties this spring, more than any other team since the Elias Sports Bureau began tracking stats in 1993.

Number of the day

2-5-1 Rays record against the Twins this spring, heading into today's final matchup in Fort Myers.

Giants give Cain record contract

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Times wires
Monday, April 2, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — When Matt Cain pondered his future, staying put in San Francisco where his career took off became the top option.

He emerged as an All-Star and front-line starter with the Giants and helped lead them to an improbable World Series championship two years ago.

Now, Cain has that hefty new contract he hoped for before opening day, awarded for what he has done and what San Francisco's brass is confident he will continue to do in a star-studded rotation.

Cain and the Giants agreed Monday to a $127.5 million, six-year contract, the largest deal for a right-handed pitcher in history.

"This is a decision that was made pretty simple for us. It was a process and it was a negotiation. It was good for my family and I to go through all of that," Cain said, his wife Chelsea in the back of the room for his news conference. "To be able to know this is probably going to be our lifetime as a Giant, that's pretty cool for us."

The agreement adds $112.5 million over five years to the $15 million salary for 2012 that remained on the All-Star's previous deal. Cain gets a $5 million signing bonus as part of the new contract and $20 million annually from 2013-17. The deal includes a $21 million option for 2018 with a $7.5 million buyout that, if exercised, would raise the total to $141 million over seven seasons.

Cain, 27, went 12-11 with a 2.88 ERA in 2011, reaching 200 innings for the fifth straight season.

The record contract for a right-hander was Kevin Brown's $105 million, seven-year deal with the Dodgers after the 1998 season.

UBALDO SUSPENDED: Indians right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez was suspended for five games and fined by Major League Baseball for intentionally throwing at Rockies shortstop and former teammate Troy Tulowitzki during a spring training game.

Jimenez will serve his suspension during the first five games of the season unless he asks the players' association to appeal, which manager Manny Acta expects him to do.

VOTTO DEAL PENDING: The Reds are close to signing first baseman and former NL MVP Joey Votto to an extension worth $225 million over 10 years, according to USA Today. The deal would be the fourth biggest ever and run from 2014-23.

In other Reds news, left-hander Aroldis Chapman is headed back to an injury-depleted bullpen after spending spring training getting ready to be a starter.

BRAVES: Right-hander Tim Hudson made his first appearance of the spring, allowing an infield single over two innings against the Mets. Hudson had offseason back surgery and isn't expected back until May. … Right-handed reliever Cristhian Martinez was arrested in Atlanta and charged with drunken driving. … Rookie Tyler Pastornicky, 22, was named the starting shortstop.

BREWERS: Rightfielder Corey Hart has had no issues with his surgically repaired right knee while playing in minor-league games and appears likely to be ready for opening day.

METS: Closer Frank Francisco was scheduled for an MRI exam on his left knee a day after fluid was drained.

ORIOLES: Right-hander Jake Arrieta will start the season opener Friday.

RANGERS: Outfielder Josh Hamilton is suffering from migraine headaches and is day to day.

RED SOX: New closer Andrew Bailey has been told he needs surgery on his right thumb, the Boston Globe reported. It's unknown how long he'll be out. … Right-hander Josh Beckett went to Texas to have his injured thumb examined. Manager Bobby Valentine said he expected the oft-injured starter to be ready for the season.

Goodell won't stop Saints, Parcells

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Times wires
Monday, April 2, 2012

NEW YORK — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he won't stand in the way if the Saints ask Bill Parcells to take over as interim coach for suspended Sean Payton.

"That's their decision. They need to make those decisions and we'll move forward," Goodell said Monday at the opening of an NFL apparel store. "Bill's a great coach, and I'm sure (he) will add a lot of personality and intrigue."

Before the Saints pick someone to run the team this year, Goodell has to rule on Payton's appeal of his seasonlong suspension, along with the appeals of shorter suspensions to assistant coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis and penalties handed down to the team.

Goodell expects to hear the appeals this week, and hopes to rule shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile, league officials met with NFL Players' Association representatives about penalties for players who took part in the bounty program.

The union has asked the league to provide all the information from the investigation that revealed 22 to 27 defensive players were part of the Saints' pay-for-pain bounty pool.

Goodell said the league has given the NFLPA two confidential reports on the investigation.

"I think we all need to move forward," he said. "We've been open about what we've been able to find. We released it publicly."

LEAF ARRESTED AGAIN: Ex-quarterback Ryan Leaf was arrested again just days after posting bail on similar charges that he burglarized a home and stole prescription drugs, authorities said. Leaf's arrest Friday came after police in Montana found oxycodone pills that an acquaintance said Leaf stole from his home. Leaf posted a $76,000 bond, then was arrested again Monday after homeowners picked him out of a photo lineup as a man they said they found in their house, claiming to have the wrong address. They said after he left, three bottles of medication were missing.

DUERSON FUND: The family and friends of late Bears star Dave Duerson started a program to help high school and middle school athletes in his hometown of Muncie, Ind., who suffer head injuries. Duerson suffered chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition caused by repeated brain trauma, before killing himself a year ago.

UNIFORM CHANGE: Nike is marking its takeover in the manufacture of the league's uniforms with a gala unveiling today in New York. The design details are a secret as the apparel maker takes over from Reebok. Nike is perhaps most famous in football circles for reinventing the look of the Oregon Ducks — repeatedly, to the point where the school now has five different helmets, seven jerseys and six pants for 210 uniform combinations, not counting socks and shoes.

LIONS: Police say running back Mikel Leshoure was caught chewing marijuana at a recent traffic stop in southwestern Michigan. The March 12 incident came less than a month after police in a different community say they caught Leshoure with marijuana. The Detroit Free-Press reported that Leshoure failed to show for his arraignment for the latest incident.

RAMS: Torry Holt, a seven-time Pro Bowl receiver, will sign a one-day contract on Wednesday, then retire. Also, former Saints linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar signed as a free agent, profootballtalk.com reported.

VIKINGS: Receiver and former Florida star Percy Harvin posted on Twitter that he needs shoulder surgery, according to profootballtalk.com, and expects to be back for summer workouts.


Pettitte says he's getting stronger

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Times wires
Monday, April 2, 2012

TAMPA — Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte moved closer to pitching in a game after another positive throwing session.

Pettitte made 25 pitches off a bullpen mound on Monday, two days after his second simulated game.

"I bounced back really good after that last outing," Pettitte said. "I wanted to throw this pen and see how I felt. I felt really good."

Pettitte and Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild, the former Rays manager, will discuss what the pitcher's next step will be. Options include pitching in a minor-league game or another simulated game Thursday.

Jays: Losing his job?

LAKELAND — Another rocky outing by LHP Brett Cecil has left Blue Jays manager John Farrell with a difficult decision mere days before the season begins.

Cecil, who seemed to have a lock on a rotation spot, gave up nine runs, seven earned, and 11 hits in four innings in an 11-8 loss to the Tigers. He allowed eight straight batters to reach in the second inning, including back-to-back homers by Prince Fielder and former Ray Delmon Young.

Cecil finished the spring with a 6.48 ERA in 162/3 innings.

"There's concern," Farrell said of Cecil's status. "… You'd like to see guys on the incline going into the start of the season, rather than the reverse."

Farrell said the team will wait until after today's spring finale to announce the final two starters.

Phils: Who's in left?

PHILADELPHIA — Though newcomer Juan Pierre started in leftfield for the Phillies on Monday for the third time in four games, manager Charlie Manuel insisted that John Mayberry will get every opportunity to prove himself a starter.

"I think he is going to have a chance to become a regular player," Manuel said. "(GM) Ruben (Amaro Jr.) and I talked about that."

Mayberry, 28, batted .273 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 104 games for the Phillies last season and was widely assumed to be the heir to the departed Raul Ibanez in left.

"I think from how he played last year, I think he has earned a right to do that," Manuel said. "He may not be an everyday starter starting out, but he's going to play a lot and he'll be given every chance in the world to be an everyday player."

CAUTIOUS WITH THOME: Manuel said that he won't overwork Jim Thome at first base, a position the 41-year-old hasn't played at all since 2007. "He hasn't played (first) in four or five years," Manuel said. "(After) six innings he's going to get a little sore."

Course has budding issue

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Times wires
Monday, April 2, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Something is missing from the Masters this year, a tradition at this tournament that ranks right up there with Amen Corner, endless roars on a Sunday afternoon and a green jacket for the winner.

Augusta National is no longer blazing with color.

Azaleas typically bursting with red and pink already have lost their bloom, or are wilting quickly. The beautiful contrast of white comes from the sand in the bunkers, not the dogwoods. Spring came early in much of the country this year, and Augusta was not immune.

Where have the flowers gone?

"I saw them," defending champion Charl Schwartzel said. "But it was last week. I was here a week ago last Thursday, and they were beautiful. But the first thing I thought was, 'They're all going to be gone.' I thought Augusta would be able to do something — get the fans on them or something. It's weird."

The 13th hole has an estimated 1,600 azalea bushes — that's why it's called "Azalea" — yet only a dozen or so behind the green still have blooms. Fans on the course Monday for a practice round posed for pictures in front of one azalea bush with its pink flowers having fallen onto the pine needles.

It's like Wrigley Field without the ivy. It's like Ian Poulter dressed in white.

"You're kidding. No flowers?" said Poulter, a fan of loud colors who arrived Monday dressed head to toe in white. "I can't believe that."

It's not the first time this has happened, and if nothing else, it should put the rumors to rest that Augusta National packs ice on the azaleas to keep them from blooming until Masters week.

Those aren't the only rumors.

"I always heard they had hot and cold water running through the pipes to control when it blooms," Jonathan Byrd said.

Byrd added his own pcolor — a pink ribbon on his cap with the letter "K" to celebrate his daughter, Kate, born Friday.

But the golf won't suffer. Players have raved about the course's conditioning. All eyeballs will be on a little golf ball, not the bloom on a dogwood.

But it's different, nonetheless.

"Everybody would love to see the flowers, and we'd love to have them here," said Lance Barrow, the coordinating producer of CBS Sports, which is televising the Masters for the 57th year. "But we have no control over Mother Nature."

BRADLEY AT HIS BEST: Fifteen months ago, Keegan Bradley flew well below the radar heading into his rookie season on the PGA Tour. Bradley stood No. 329 in the world and was known mostly as the nephew of former LPGA star Pat Bradley, a World Golf Hall of Fame member.

This week, Pat Bradley will attend the Masters for the first time. And Keegan Bradley no longer sails below the radar.

He's a two-time tour winner, a major champion, the No. 20 player in the world and a legitimate candidate to slip into a green jacket Sunday night.

"I can't tell you how proud I am," Pat Bradley said. "I'm going to watch my little nephew walk those historic fairways, the same ones Bobby Jones walked."

Keegan Bradley won the PGA in August, in his first major start. That punctuated a breakout season in which he was rookie of the year. But he still has a way to go to catch Aunt Pat, who had 31 LPGA wins, including six majors.

Veteran of "Black Hawk Down" operation inspires Union College hockey team in Frozen Four

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By Laura Keeley, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 2, 2012

As sporting seasons come to a close, the urge to describe elimination games and series in terms of war metaphors seems to rise. Games are described as battles, critical passes and scores as bombs, and defeats as deaths.

There are parallels between war and sports, especially ones like hockey. Just ask Frozen Four-bound Union College and one of its biggest fans, retired 1st Sgt. Matt Eversmann. As a Army Ranger, Eversmann did two overseas tours of duty, one in Iraq and another in Somalia, including action in the Battle of Mogadishu, better known by the title of the movie it inspired: Black Hawk Down.

"The whole dynamic is very similar," Eversmann said. "Hockey is a tough sport, it's not for the faint or weak-hearted. It's a physical, physical game. Everything you do on the ice directly affects your teammates, those skating in front of you, behind you, it doesn't matter. There's an intrinsic quality that is just like what it's like to be in the military getting ready for battle."

Eversmann is a Union hockey fan by marriage. When he married his wife, Tori, on May 18, 2002, he inherited a Union alumnus. Father-in-law Ned Dukehart is a 1973 graduate of the liberal arts school of about 2,000 students, which does not give athletic scholarships.

During his 15-month deployment to Iraq in 2006-07, the Dutchmen, at Dukehart's suggestion, put together a care package to send to Eversmann. Head coach Rick Bennett, then an assistant, remembers that well, as he was the one who took it to the post office.

"I remember writing on it the exact address, and they told me at the post office that I couldn't do that for security reasons," said Bennett, in his first year as head coach. "So they helped me with that and made sure it went to the right place with the right labels. It was interesting."

In the box was a Union hockey cap that Eversmann wore while he was in Southwest Baghdad, then a stronghold of Al-Qaida and hotbed of sectarian violence. It was a welcome piece of home for the lifelong hockey fan originally from Long Island, N.Y.

"That was a tough separation from your friends and family," said Eversmann, who has a young daughter, Molly. "Every letter, every care package meant so much. And particularly if you're a hockey fan, to get something from a hockey team, that's sort of extra special. Who wouldn't want to be associated with a sports team? How cool is that?"

Recently, Eversmann, who now lives in Baltimore, gave something back to Union. His father-in-law again reached out to his alma mater to set Eversmann up for his first Dutchmen hockey game. Bennett had another idea: Would Eversmann be willing to address the team?

So, before Union's Feb. 3 contest against Colgate, Eversmann made a surprise appearance in the locker room. On an earlier bus trip, Bennett had shown his team Black Hawk Down, the movie depiction of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, which claimed the lives of 18 American soldiers over the two-day span. Eversmann was an Army Ranger Sergeant who dropped from a helicopter into the battleground.

"We knew we had a speaker, and guys were guessing on who it was, a range of guys from boxers to NHL players or GMs," said Jeremy Welsh, the Dutchmen's leading scorer. "When they introduced him, everyone was awestruck. He relayed what they were going through in their minds on the helicopter ride into the city with his group of soldiers, which he equated to teammates. You prepare beforehand, you put in the hard work and the training with your teammates, and once you hit the ice, you just let your instincts take over."

The experience left Bennett feeling like an awestruck child, and he asked Eversmann for his autograph (that's only the third signature he's ever asked for; the other two are former Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr and former Cowboys defensive lineman Randy White). Eversmann gave Bennett something else too, something tangible like a baseball cap: a combat-worn, black-and-grey Army Ranger patch, shaped like a finish-line ribbon. Bennett always keeps it in his left pants pocket.

As Union has advanced to the first Frozen Four berth in its history, Bennett and Eversmann have remained in touch. Bennett says Eversmann writes great emails with inspirational sayings. His favorite?

"The enemy has a vote in every battle. The warriors who have what it takes will go back to the battlefield stronger."

Miller joins big sister in Hall

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Times wires
Monday, April 2, 2012

NEW ORLEANS — Reggie Miller rode his sister's coattails all the way to the Hall of Fame.

The five-time All-Star joined longtime NBA coach Don Nelson and college standout Ralph Sampson on Monday as part of a 12-member class that will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September. Miller's sister, Cheryl, was enshrined in 1995.

Miller was at home when he received the call a couple of days ago that he had gained entrance to the exclusive club. He quickly called his sister, one of the pioneers of the women's game.

"I can still hear her screaming in my ear," Miller said, smiling.

Miller often tells how his sister would beat him one-on-one growing up. It wasn't until he'd grown to 6 feet 7 and could block Cheryl's shot that they quit playing those driveway pickup games.

"She was a role model. She is a role model. She set the bar high for the family," Miller said, "and I'm just glad I'm on her coattails, dragging me along to the Hall of Fame."

After a standout career at UCLA, Miller became one of the NBA's best perimeter shooters with the Pacers. Only John Stockton and Karl Malone played more games with one franchise.

He also caused untold fits for the Knicks, once scoring eight in 8.9 seconds to almost single-handedly win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Not making it: Rick Pitino, Maurice Cheeks, Bill Fitch, Bernard King and Dick Motta.

Ray plans quick turnaround

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Times wires
Monday, April 2, 2012

STARKVILLE, Miss. — New Mississippi State coach Rick Ray doesn't sound like a man ready for a long rebuilding.

"We will be successful," Ray said. "I don't know how to lose. All I have known is winning my whole life."

Ray was introduced as the Bulldogs' coach on Monday at Humphrey Coliseum after a nearly three-week search. He promised to bring a hard-nosed approach to a program that has struggled with discipline.

Ray, 40, spent the past two years as the top assistant at Clemson. He has also spent time as an assistant coach at Purdue, Northern Illinois and Indiana State.

Ray touted his experience at hard-nosed programs, especially Purdue and Indiana State, as an indicator of how the Bulldogs' program would be run.

"The system we will run is based on integrity," Ray said. "I believe you win by doing things the right way. I want to make sure we put a team on this court that you guys are proud of."

BOBCATS PICK COACH: Ohio University plans to introduce Jim Christian as its coach today, hoping he can build on the program's best NCAA Tournament showing in 48 years. The TCU coach would return to the Mid-American Conference, where he led Kent State to six straight 20-win seasons from 2002-08.

CANISIUS: Jim Baron signed a five-year contract to be coach a month after he was fired after 11 years at Rhode Island.

CENTRAL MICH.: Keno Davis, fired in March at Providence, will be introduced as coach today, replacing Ernie Zeigler.

N. CAROLINA: Kendall Marshall won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard.

TEXAS: Guard J'Covan Brown, the Big 12 scoring leader, said he will skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft.

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