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Tampa Bay Lightning beats Carolina Hurricanes 4-2

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — You could barely hear yourself talk in the Lightning locker room Saturday night, the music was so loud.

Some players sang along with whatever blasted out of the speakers. One even did a quick dance move.

Big wins spark that kind of behavior, and Tampa Bay's 4-2 decision over the Hurricanes at the RBC Center, which broke a four-game losing streak, fit the bill.

"That," said center Dominic Moore, "was one of our most complete efforts in a while."

He wasn't kidding. The Lightning (40-24-11) has been reeling, with just two wins in 12 games entering Saturday, and Friday's 4-3 loss to Carolina was one of its worst of the season.

"The bottom of the bottom," defenseman Mike Lundin said.

The difference Saturday was the Lightning created opportunities and cashed in on them.

Moore's power-play goal with 2:07 left in the second period broke a 2-2 tie. Simon Gagne, continuing a resurgence in which he has six goals and 10 points in six games, had two tallies, including an empty netter.

Marty St. Louis had a goal and two points, Vinny Lecavalier had two assists, and goaltender Mike Smith made 33 saves for his first win since Dec. 18.

"A huge game," Gagne said.

That lowered the Lightning's magic number to clinch a playoff spot to four points, something that can happen Tuesday if it beats the Senators in regulation and Carolina loses in regulation to the Capitals.

Still, it was startling to see Tampa Bay play so solidly after such an abysmal showing the day before.

A couple of things came into play. Carolina, ninth in the Eastern Conference and fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot, was nine points behind the Lightning. A Tampa Bay loss Saturday and the difference is seven, and suddenly a playoff spot doesn't look all that secure.

"Players realized," coach Guy Boucher said, "we're fighting for our lives."

Boucher at a pregame meeting also used Friday's loss as a teachable moment.

"We talked about deserving it," he said. "We've been waiting for games to come to us. It's not going to happen, no matter who you play."

"The lesson was that the urgency and desperation had to be there," Moore said. "If you don't have that, you give yourself no chance."

Here's how you give yourself a chance:

St. Louis scored off a pass from Lecavalier, who on a rush to the net first had to deftly avoid a stick check. Gagne scored after stealing the puck, Moore put in a Lecavalier rebound, and the team blocked 24 shots.

"We decided today we were going to work," Boucher said.

It was music to his ears.

Lightning2114
Hurricanes2002
Lightning2114
Hurricanes2002

First Period1, Carolina, E.Staal 31 (Stillman, McBain), 7:07 (pp). 2, Tampa Bay, St. Louis 27 (Lecavalier), 13:56. 3, Tampa Bay, Gagne 15, 17:36. 4, Carolina, Cole 23 (Stillman, Allen), 19:09. PenaltiesDownie, TB (hooking), 6:18; Thompson, TB (interference), 11:53.

Second Period5, Tampa Bay, Moore 15 (Lecavalier, St. Louis), 17:53 (pp). PenaltiesBrewer, TB (hooking), 6:27; Cole, Car (goaltender interference), 16:28.

Third Period6, Tampa Bay, Gagne 16, 19:11 (en). PenaltiesBowman, Car (boarding), 2:38; Brewer, TB, minor-major (cross-checking, fighting), 17:13; Bra.Sutter, Car, minor-major (slashing, fighting), 17:13; Moore, TB (roughing), 19:55; Skinner, Car (roughing), 19:55. Shots on GoalTampa Bay 7-12-13—32. Carolina 10-12-13—35. Power-play opportunitiesTampa Bay 1 of 2; Carolina 1 of 3. GoaliesTampa Bay, Smith 11-6-1 (35 shots-33 saves). Carolina, Ward 32-25-9 (31-28). A17,264 (18,680).


Dario Franchitti wins Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in dominant fashion

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By Jim Tomlin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG

Dario Franchitti won last year's IndyCar championship with flair, overhauling Will Power in the finale after trailing most of the season.

Franchitti didn't wait nearly that long to take command of Sunday's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The two-time defending series champion passed Power for first place on a Lap 5 restart and went on to lead 94 of 100 laps for his first victory on the 1.8-mile downtown street course.

"A lot hinged on that first restart, passing Will there," Franchitti said. "I forced the issue fairly aggressively, I think. I was going for it."

Franchitti, 37, took Chip Ganassi Racing to Victory Lane in St. Petersburg for the first time.

"Chip was fairly happy; he said that it was the first time we'd won here," Franchitti said.

Pole-sitter and defending race champion Power finished second, 7.1612 seconds behind, in the season opener.

"Dario beat me again!" Power said, managing a smile. "Dario got me fair and square with a move around the outside." Power added that he fell to seventh when his engine went into neutral after his car was hit on an early restart.

Tony Kanaan was third in his debut for KV Racing, which signed him Monday. He was pleased, especially after an offseason in which he lost two rides because of sponsorship issues.

"I think (with) chemistry, you either click right away or you don't," Kanaan said. "I always approve of having a good atmosphere on the team. I think we do."

Two drivers recorded career bests to round out the top five: HVM's Simona de Silvestro and KV Racing's Takuma Sato.

The race had a rough start with four caution flags in the first 14 laps. An accident in the first turn of Lap 1 ended the hopes of five contenders.

Marco Andretti flipped his car after hitting Scott Dixon's car under braking for the right turn. Andretti landed upside down but walked back to pit lane, apparently unhurt.

Andretti, who said two-time St. Petersburg winner Helio Castroneves hit him from behind entering the turn, was eliminated along with Andretti Autosport teammate Mike Conway. Dixon, Castroneves and 2009 St. Petersburg winner Ryan Briscoe re-entered the race several laps down after their teams made repairs.

"It was a start, NASCAR style," said Power, whose car wasn't touched as the mayhem broke out behind him. "And we are not NASCAR. … We can't hit each other."

Franchitti's big move came on the ensuing restart, and once he took over, he was unstoppable, losing the top spot to Power for just two laps after a pit stop on Lap 71.

Once Power made his pit stop, Franchitti kept a six- to seven-second gap until the end.

And the Scotsman got an early edge on the nonoval portion of the season, where Power won five times last year including three times on street circuits.

"We have won the odd street race ourselves," said Franchitti, who tied Johnny Rutherford for 10th on the career list of North American open-wheel series victories with his 27th. "It's the best road-course car I think I've had since I came to the team (in 2009). Things could change in a minute, though. … Barber (Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., site of the next series race April 10) could be interesting.

"But if there's a team I want to be with in those situations, it's the Target (Ganassi) team."

Its first win in St. Petersburg in seven tries was just one more piece of evidence.

Jim Tomlin can be reached at tomlin@sptimes.com.

How the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg unfolded

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By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

Laps 1-25

The season's first turn of the first lap serves as a harbinger of the chaos that would ensue. Marco Andretti, on the inside of a four-wide formation, makes contact with Scott Dixon and overturns for the second consecutive year in a season opener. Mike Conway, Ryan Briscoe, Oriol Servia and Helio Castroneves are involved.

Particularly snakebitten is Conway, making his first start since a horrific crash on the final lap of last year's Indianapolis 500. He and Andretti are the only drivers in the initial accident not to return. Meanwhile, Andretti says Castroneves misjudged his braking point and ran up into the back of him.

The Turn 1 melee brings out the first of four cautions in the race's initial 14 laps. After one restart, pole-sitter and defending champion Will Power briefly falls to seventh after sustaining a hit and bumping into neutral.

Leaders after 25 laps

1. Dario Franchitti

2. Simona de Silvestro

3. Tony Kanaan

4. Justin Wilson

5. Will Power

Laps 26-50

Dario Franchitti, who took the lead on the third turn of Lap 5, builds nearly a three-second advantage on second-place Simona de Silvestro by Lap 30. De Silvestro, a second-year IndyCar driver, started the race in the 17th position.

IndyCar newcomer Charlie Kimball, the series' first licensed diabetic driver, sustains left-front damage after making contact with the wall in Turn 3 on Lap 39. "I overestimated the grip on the cold tires," says Kimball, acknowledging it as a "rookie mistake."

For the second time in the race, Danica Patrick sustains front-wing damage, this time after making contact with 2010 St. Petersburg runnerup Justin Wilson.

Leaders after 50 laps

1. Dario Franchitti

2. Will Power

3. Tony Kanaan

4. Simona de Silvestro

5. Alex Tagliani

Laps 51-75

By Lap 58, Dario Franchitti clinches the two series championship points for most laps led. By Lap 68, his lead over Will Power has extended to more than 4.5 seconds. He makes a clean pit stop on Lap 71 for four tires and fuel.

Power and Tony Kanaan, the latter of whom had signed on with KV Racing only six days before, take a brief lead but go to pit lane for tires (Kanaan switches from the softer reds to blacks) and fuel on Lap 72. Franchitti resumes the lead he'll never relinquish.

By Lap 74, Franchitti leads by more than six seconds. Simona de Silvestro, who never placed higher than eighth in her 2010 rookie season, is in fourth.

Leaders after 75 laps

1. Dario Franchitti

2. Will Power

3. Tony Kanaan

4. Simona de Silvestro

5. Takuma Sato

Laps 76-100

With Dario Franchitti's victory all but assured, Tony Kanaan and Simona de Silvestro wage an 11th-hour subplot with a fierce tussle for third place in the final laps. De Silvestro stays on Kanaan's heels but never can overtake the 36-year-old veteran. "I used every single strength and experience I had to hold her off," Kanaan says.

Franchitti, who led 94 of the 100 laps, whizzes in blissful isolation past the checkered flag, more than seven seconds ahead of Will Power.

Takuma Sato, embarking on his second IndyCar season, finishes fifth, four spots better than his previous career best. De Silvestro, who didn't begin working with new engineer Brent Harvey until Friday, has a career-best finish. "I never thought on Friday that we would be running so well during the race," she says.

Final leaders

1. Dario Franchitti

2. Will Power

3. Tony Kanaan

4. Simona de Silvestro

5. Takuma Sato

How the 2011 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg unfolded

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By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

Laps 1-25

The season's first turn of the first lap serves as a harbinger of the chaos that would ensue. Marco Andretti, on the inside of a four-wide formation, makes contact with Scott Dixon's car and overturns for the second consecutive year in a season opener. Mike Conway, Ryan Briscoe, Oriol Servia and Helio Castroneves are involved.

Particularly snakebitten is Conway, making his first start since a horrific crash on the final lap of last year's Indianapolis 500. He and Andretti are the only drivers in the initial accident not to return. Meanwhile, Andretti says Castroneves misjudged his braking point and ran up into the back of him.

The Turn 1 melee brings out the first of four cautions in the race's initial 14 laps. After one restart, pole-sitter and defending champion Will Power briefly falls to seventh after sustaining a hit and bumping into neutral.

Leaders after 25 laps

Dario Franchitti

Simona de Silvestro

Tony Kanaan

Justin Wilson

Will Power

Laps 26-50

Dario Franchitti, who took the lead on the third turn of Lap 5, builds nearly a three-second advantage on second-place Simona de Silvestro by Lap 30. De Silvestro, a second-year IndyCar driver, started the race in the 17th position.

IndyCar newcomer Charlie Kimball, the series' first licensed diabetic driver, sustains left-front damage after making contact with the wall in Turn 3 on Lap 39. "I overestimated the grip on the cold tires," says Kimball, acknowledging it as a "rookie mistake."

For the second time in the race, Danica Patrick sustains front-wing damage, this time after making contact with 2010 St. Petersburg runnerup Justin Wilson.

Leaders after 50 laps

Dario Franchitti

Will Power

Tony Kanaan

Simona de Silvestro

Alex Tagliani

Laps 51-75

By Lap 58, Dario Franchitti clinches the two series championship points for most laps led. By Lap 68, his lead over Will Power has extended to more than 4.5 seconds. He makes a clean pit stop on Lap 71 for four tires and fuel.

Power and Tony Kanaan, the latter of whom had signed on with KV Racing only six days before, take a brief lead but go to pit lane for tires (Kanaan switches from the softer reds to blacks) and fuel on Lap 72. Franchitti resumes the lead he'll never relinquish.

By Lap 74, Franchitti leads by more than six seconds. Simona de Silvestro, who never placed higher than eighth in her 2010 rookie season, is in fourth.

Leaders after 75 laps

Dario Franchitti

Will Power

Tony Kanaan

Simona de Silvestro

Takuma Sato

Laps 76-100

With Dario Franchitti's victory all but assured, Tony Kanaan and Simona de Silvestro wage an 11th-hour subplot with a fierce tussle for third place in the final laps. De Silvestro stays on Kanaan's heels but never can overtake the 36-year-old veteran. "I used every single strength and experience I had to hold her off," Kanaan says.

Franchitti, who led 94 of the 100 laps, whizzes in blissful isolation past the checkered flag, more than seven seconds ahead of Will Power.

Takuma Sato, embarking on his second IndyCar season, finishes fifth, four spots better than his previous career best. De Silvestro, who didn't begin working with new engineer Brent Harvey until Friday, has a career-best finish. "I never thought on Friday that we would be running so well during the race," she says.

Final leaders

Dario Franchitti

Will Power

Tony Kanaan

Simona de Silvestro

Takuma Sato

Josef Newgarden wins Indy Lights debut in St. Petersburg

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By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Josef Newgarden knew his Indy Lights debut would be as much about strategy as speed.

Through the first 11 laps of Sunday's race, Newgarden stayed safely behind the leader, Peter Dempsey, and any potential wrecks.

Then Newgarden made his move.

On Turn 5 of the 12th lap, Newgarden mashed the gas pedal, swerved inside and pushed his car past Dempsey's. By propelling to the front in what turned out to be the only lead change of the race, Newgarden powered his way to victory in 56 minutes, 11.0037 seconds. Conor Daly was second in 56:11.8589 and Dempsey fell back to third in 56:14.1388.

"Our attack strategy was take what you can get," Newgarden said. "It was a long race and we wanted to conserve the car. I could tell Dempsey was starting to lose his rear end on turn 12. He made a mistake and we able to make a move."

Esteban Guerrieri started the race in the pole position, but was overtaken by Dempsey on the first lap. Dempsey appeared to have control and maintained a one-second lead over Newgarden through the first 11 laps.

"It got a fantastic start, it was a first-ever roll-in start," Dempsey said. "I thought once I get inside these top three cars would run a bit fast and try to chase each other and they did. I led for the first 10-15 laps and the tires let off a little bit."

It was quite a day for rookies in the Indy Lights race as they took the first 12 spots Sunday.

All in a Daly's work: Daly's runner-up finish in Sunday's Indy Lights Series race marked a commencement — and not a capper — to his day.

Roughly four hours after placing second in the 45-lap race, Daly boarded a flight from Tampa International Airport to England to begin a three-day test at the Silverstone Grand Prix with his British-based GP3 team.

"I get there (Monday) morning and I believe I'm in the car Tuesday or Wednesday," said Daly, who rose at 6 a.m. Sunday. "Can't wait."

The whirlwind itinerary won't be Daly's last of the season. After the second race of the Indy Lights season at Alabama's Barbor Motorsports Park April 8-10, he'll immediately fly to Barcelona for a three-day GP3 test.

Leapfrogging: Petri Suvanto won the second race of the USF2000 series on Sunday, beating rival Spencer Pigot by 1.311 seconds.

Suvanto and Pigot spent the weekend trying to pass each other for wins — and points. On Saturday, Pigot started from the pole position and won the first of two races by 0.515 seconds over Suvanto. Pigot also vaulted ahead of Suvanto in points, 79-73.

It didn't last.

Suvanto, who earned the pole by recording Saturday's fastest lap, reclaimed the top spot in points, 106-104, by winning Sunday's race.

Shannon McIntosh, who is racing for St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports, finished 13th on Sunday.

Long wins again: Belleair resident Patrick Long completed a weekend sweep by winning his second World Challenge GT race.

Long, a two-time American Le Mans Series champion, entered the World Challenge as a late addition this week. On Sunday, he took the lead in Lap 30 and beat James Sofronas by 0.627 seconds.

Eric Foss won the GTS class and Tristan Hervert took the TC class in Sunday's race.

Tampa Bay Rays: Treat of the day, Quote of the day, Prank of the day continued

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

Treat of the day

Johnny Damon is considered a great teammate everywhere he goes, and he showed why again Sunday. Around the sixth inning, he reached up over the top of the dugout and — borrowing money from video coordinator Chris Fernandez — bought three snow cones from a stadium vendor, and got a fourth free. "They just looked good," Damon said. "I had one, the coaches had some and Zobi (Ben Zobrist) had one."

Quote of the day

"This is probably the best I've felt coming out of spring training."

Rays LHP David Price.

Number of the day

8 Spring losses by one run, of 14 overall

Prank of the day, continued

Saturday, the Rays hazed minor-league INF Tyler Bortnick for his over-the-top Facebook comments on getting a hit off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon in a minor-league exhibition. Sunday, they added to it, bringing him to Bradenton to play in his first big-league exhibition, having him introduced, and wear a jersey, with his screen nickname, WHAMMYYY.

Scenic route of the day

Manager Joe Maddon took the long way on Sunday from Port Charlotte to Bradenton, driving his 1972 Chevy Malibu convertible — top down, Bruce Springsteen blaring — up U.S. 41 through the heart of Sarasota, and dug the scene. "It kind of had a California vibe to it," he said.

Recovery of the day

Bullpen coach Bobby Ramos insists he'll be ready to return to active duty by Friday's opener, having been limited since straining his rib cage — while sneezing — March 3. "He has to get stretched out, and that's fun to watch," manager Joe Maddon said. "If he withstands the stretching by (strength and conditioning coordinator Kevin Barr), then we'll let him catch a bullpen."

Rays at Yankees

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Steinbrenner Field, corner of Dale Mabry and Martin Luther King, Tampa

Tickets: $17-33, available via Yankees.com, Ticketmaster and at the stadium

Radio: 620-AM

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — James Shields, Jake McGee, Adam Russell; Yankees — A.J. Burnett, TBA

Heads-up

McGee and Russell are scheduled to make the second of back-to-back appearances, which can be telling.

Who is this Ray?

He was part of the first 2-6-2 triple play in big-league history. Undrafted out of high school, he played at two small colleges (Olivet Nazarene and Dallas Baptist) and was a sixth-round pick in 2004 by Houston. He was acquired in trade for Aubrey Huff. His father is a minister and his wife a singer finishing her second CD.

On deck

Tuesday: at Red Sox (Fort Myers), 1:05. Rays — Wade Davis; Red Sox — Clay Buchholz

Who is this Ray answer: INF/OF Ben Zobrist

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Dr. Remote

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Times staff
Sunday, March 27, 2011

College basketball classic: 5 p.m. on ESPN Classic. The 1993 national championship game between Michigan and North Carolina, best remembered for Michigan's Chris Webber calling a timeout he didn't have in the final minute.

30 Clubs in 30 Days: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. The spring training tour stops to preview the Braves.

MLB's Greatest Games: 9 p.m. on MLB Network. The network continues counting down the greatest games of the past 50 years. This episode features game No. 8.

Tampa Bay Rays' lineup vs. Yankees likely to be close to their regular-season batting order

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

BRADENTON — The lineup the Rays use tonight against the Yankees is pretty much how they plan to open the season Friday against the Orioles.

That means manager Joe Maddon has decided that Ben Zobrist will be the leadoff hitter against right-handers and that Dan Johnson, at least initially, will hit fifth and Matt Joyce seventh. Johnny Damon will be second, Evan Longoria third, Manny Ramirez fourth and B.J. Upton sixth.

What he hasn't decided is how to set up the final two spots. C John Jaso is set to hit eighth tonight and SS Reid Brignac ninth, but Maddon said before Sunday's 5-4 loss that he was leaning toward flipping them so that Jaso is ninth.

"Part of that is about feeding back into the top part of the batting order," Maddon said. "Jaso being a much higher on-base percentage guy, I'd rather feed him into Zobrist-Damon-Longoria as opposed to feeding into Brignac, so that's the issue."

Against left-handed starters, Maddon has settled on Upton as the leadoff hitter and is considering C Kelly Shoppach, who hit his team-high-matching fourth homer of the spring (off LHP Paul Maholm), as high as fifth. "He really does hit lefties well," Maddon said.

AN A FOR ADAM: Reliever Adam Russell showed "quite an improvement" in his overall mechanics and with the break on his slider during his one-inning stint (1 H, 1 K), Maddon said. "Overall, better." After allowing 24 baserunners (19 hits) in his first eight innings, Russell spent several days making adjustments.

PRICE CHECK: LHP David Price tuned up for Friday's opening-day start with a 46-pitch, four-inning outing, allowing five hits, and said he was ready to go. "This is the best my stuff has been heading into the year," Price said. "Last year I felt pretty good but this year I do feel better. I'm looking to help us get off to a good start and it starts with opening day."

DEAL OF THE DAY: INF Joe Inglett, sent down Saturday, was traded to the Astros on Sunday for either a player to be named later or cash, and apparently will be on their big-league team.

Inglett, 32, a veteran of five big-league seasons, signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on Feb. 21. "I've always liked the way he plays, it just wasn't working out right now," Maddon said. "It was kind of a nice thought to have him within our minor-league system, but if it's good for him and his family I'm all for it."

Maddon said there was no update on the status of veteran 1B Casey Kotchman and INF Felipe Lopez, who also were reassigned on Saturday.

GAME BOY: Maddon plans to be liberal, proactive and communicative in resting veterans Damon, 37, and Ramirez, 38, usually on days before or after team off days.

But that didn't necessarily mean Damon's streak of playing at least 140 games for 15 seasons was in jeopardy. Maddon said, "That's a reasonable number," and Damon said that was good to hear: "I plan to keep doing that."

GAME DETAILS: Jaso tied the score with a leadoff homer in the ninth, but the Rays (14-14-1) gave the run back and lost on a throwing error by minor-league 3B Daniel Mayora. … Zobrist hit his fourth homer, a deep blast to left. … Brignac made one dazzling diving play and several other good ones. … The Pirates used a dramatic over-shift vs. Johnson.

MINOR MATTERS: RHP Chris Archer, the top pitching prospect acquired from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade, will start the season at Double-A Montgomery, where he will join LHP Matt Moore to form an impressive tandem. Archer, 22, spent the second half of last season with Chicago's Double-A Tennessee team, going 8-2, 1.80 in 13 starts. Moore was 6-11, 3.36 for Class A Charlotte last season, leading the minors in strikeouts for a second straight season.

MISCELLANY: The Rays averaged 5,819 for their 15 home spring games with three sellouts, the 87,291 total the lowest of their three springs at the Charlotte Sports Park. … Several big-name Rays will work out at the Trop on Tuesday rather than make the trip to Fort Myers. … Longoria said the CD release party he hosted Saturday in Tampa for singer-songwriter Daniel B. Marshall went well.


New IndyCar restart rule creates mayhem in St. Petersburg

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By Joey Knight and Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writers
Sunday, March 27, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Sunday was the first test run of a new restart rule in the IndyCar series.

It became a point of interest, to say the least.

The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was the first street or road course to have double-file restarts in the series. IndyCar announced the change on March 11.

In the first 13 laps Sunday there were two restarts in which cars collided within a lap of the green flag.

None of the top three finishers expressed much enthusiasm for the new rule.

"The problem is, they have so many cars bunched in such a tight space," runnerup Will Power said. "... I think this is just going to continue every race, and then it's just going to be people getting knocked out every single restart."

Danica Patrick had to stop twice to repair damage to the nose of her car after sustaining contact in separate incidents, both shortly after restarts. She finished 12th after being penalized one spot for what IndyCar called avoidable contact with rookie JR Hildebrand on the final lap.

"Overall, I have to feel pretty fortunate to have made it to the end," she said.

Series officials made the final restart rule decision, but race winner Dario Franchitti, who said Saturday that, "they consulted us about five minutes before they did it," pointed out Sunday that owners wanted the change too.

"So there's probably a few of them sitting there scratching their heads just now looking at bills for lots and lots of carbon fiber and going, 'Why didn't I ever think of that?' " he said.

SO CLOSE TO PODIUM: Second-year driver Simona de Silvestro finished a career-best fourth after hounding third-place Tony Kanaan for most of the final 25 laps.

Her week started with a personnel change on her KVM team as her race engineer, Michael Cannon, left to work with Kanaan at KV Racing.

"It was definitely hard because all last weekend we were debating who we were going to get," de Silvestro said. "It was kind of like a crisis within the team.

"But we chose Brent Harvey and he's great. I think it really clicked this morning and we started really well working together. I've had my best result so far with him and I think we make a great team."

And as for the restart rule controversy?

"I think it's pretty cool because I got to pass a lot of cars," said de Silvestro, who started 17th and was second by Lap 14.

NON-STARTER: Four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais, who was supposed to make his IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing, didn't start after a crash in the morning warmup.

He clipped a wall then crashed into a tire barrier in Turn 12.

"Very small error with massive consequences," said Bourdais, who lived in St. Petersburg when he dominated Champ Car from 2004-07. "I tapped the wall on the inside of the fast chicane and broke off the right front suspension and that sent the car for a ride. It went straight, I had no control anymore."

There was major damage on the right side, and Bourdais said the tub was cracked.

Back in time: Lightning star Vinny Lecavalier, who had two assists in Saturday's win at Carolina, arrived in time to be the grand marshal for the race.

Lecavalier traded a Lightning jersey for one of driver Alex Tagliani's racing suits. Lecavalier also took parade laps with racing legend Mario Andretti.

"I've driven some cars before, but that's definitely a different ball game," Lacavalier said. "I couldn't believe how fast it was, especially since I wasn't driving, and I didn't know where we were going."

Times staff writers Bob Putnam and Joey Knight contributed to this report.

He wrote it

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Times staff
Sunday, March 27, 2011

He wrote it

(Butler coach Brad) Stevens is not just the best young coach in the country. He is among the best coaches — period —- in the country. Any athletic director with an opening and a lick of sense will make that exploratory phone call. In the end, I don't think it's a question of if Stevens leaves Butler. It's a question of when.

Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star

He wrote it, too

When did fast breaks in basketball become "They've got numbers"? And how come no one — at least not yet — calls buzzer-beaters "walkoffs"?

Phil Mushnick, New York Post

He wrote it, three

If the Yankees get big seasons out of A-Rod and CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano and Mo Rivera — seriously, how do you pick against them in the American League East?

Mike Lupica, New York Daily News

Phillies send ailing closer Lidge for MRI

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Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

LAKE BUENA VISTA — With his shoulder soreness lingering, Phillies closer Brad Lidge was scheduled for an MRI exam Tuesday in Philadelphia.

GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the right-hander, who will open the season on the disabled list, visited team physician Michael Ciccotti on Friday and showed some improvement. The team is hoping the MRI exam rules out structural damage in the shoulder.

"He still has some posterior soreness in his shoulder," Amaro told MLB.com. "We don't have a diagnosis until we know what the MRI looks like. We'll treat it from there."

Lidge was out for two weeks because of biceps tendinitis, pitched twice last week but said Friday he felt pain in the back of his right shoulder.

HALLADAY SHARP: RHP Roy Halladay breezed through his final tuneup for the regular season, allowing two hits in three innings in the Phillies' 6-1 win over the Braves.

Yanks: No progress

FORT MYERS — LH reliever Pedro Feliciano, who hasn't pitched since March 9 because of a left triceps injury, felt some discomfort after playing catch and is almost certain to open the season on the disabled list.

"He played catch (Sunday) and didn't feel great," manager Joe Girardi told MLB.com. "It's pretty hard to think that he would start (the season) with us."

RHPs Luis Ayala, Mark Prior and Romulo Sanchez are candidates to replace Feliciano on the roster. Another option is Steve Garrison, who has a 5.59 spring ERA but has the advantage of being left-handed like Feliciano.

"We've been impressed with the way he's thrown in spring training for us," Girardi said of Garrison. "He's another guy we feel could possibly get lefties, he could give you a little distance, too, because he has been a starter."

HERO WORSHIP: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez met 12-year-old Julianne Ramirez, the girl he invited to the game after learning she saved a friend who was drowning last summer. "It's amazing how courageous she was," Rodriguez said. "Sometimes we don't give kids the credit they deserve. They're very smart and very intuitive."

Jays: Get it over with

DUNEDIN — LHP Ricky Romero, Toronto's opening-day pitcher, ended his spring the same way he started it: getting knocked around, giving up runs and getting frustrated.

An Orioles split squad tagged Romero for eight hits and five runs in 51/3 innings before the Blue Jays rallied for a 9-5 win.

"I've said many times I hate giving up runs, especially when (I'm) going good and feeling good. I'm just glad (spring training) is over and we can move on to the season," said Romero, who allowed 17 runs and 24 hits over 191/3 innings in five starts.

"I've done everything I had to do to get my body ready, and my confidence is good. I know what I can do when the lights turn on," he said. "I'm ready for Friday. I can't be happier than it's going to be here pretty soon."

Bosox manager irked by Showalter

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Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

SARASOTA — Red Sox manager Terry Francona defended general manager Theo Epstein on Sunday from criticism by Orioles manager Buck Showalter.

In the April edition of Men's Journal magazine, Showalter took a shot at the GM: "I'd like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll."

"I got asked that the other day and I hadn't seen it. I got it third-hand, and I kind of joked about it a little bit. Then I read it and actually I was kind of aggravated a little bit," Francona told the Boston Globe. "I don't think that's anybody's place. That's my boss. I was actually kind of aggravated a little bit. It's not the end of the world, but I thought he shouldn't have done it."

Francona told the Globe he was surprised by the comments. "I can't say I sat there and thought about it a lot. But I didn't see any reason to do that," he said.

Showalter also told the magazine, "That's why I like whipping their butt. It's great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, 'How the hell are they beating us?' "

Said Francona: "I don't remember them beating us that much. Maybe it was a different schedule."

The Orioles finished 9-9 against Boston last season, 3-3 after Showalter was hired.

"Way to go," Francona said sarcastically.

In the interview with Men's Journal, Showalter also was critical of Derek Jeter, saying the Yankees shortstop constantly jumps back from balls just off the plate.

"I've never heard someone make a big deal out of how someone takes inside pitches," Jeter told ESPN. "So after I figure out this stride thing (in my swing), I'll work on how I take pitches."

ESPN research showed that Jeter had more inside strikes called against him than the major-league average.

"You hear that, Buck?" Jeter replied. "There you go. So pass that along to Buck."

PARTING SHOT: The Cubs released right-hander Carlos Silva one day after being told he would not make the opening-day roster. They didn't mince words, either, in responding to the veteran pitcher's criticisms of pitching coach Mark Riggins and the organization.

"Obviously we're dealing with a man at this stage of his career who's not willing to face the facts," general manager Jim Hendry told ESPN. "What he's done for the last few years in his career, except for a two-month period, is way below major-league standards. And he seems to have the continual problem (of) blaming everybody but himself."

NATIONALS-BREWERS TRADE: Washington traded outfielder Nyjer Morgan to Milwaukee for minor-league infielder Cutter Dykstra and cash. Morgan became expendable once it became clear that Rick Ankiel and Jerry Hairston would platoon in centerfield. Dykstra is the son of former major-leaguer Lenny Dykstra. He played third base for Class A Wisconsin last season, where he hit .312 with a .416 on-base percentage.

A'S: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy was named the No. 5 starter. McCarthy did not make a start in the majors last season because of a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade.

CARDINALS: Leftfielder Matt Holliday was scratched because of a sore right big toe and is day to day.

DODGERS: Right-hander Ramon Troncoso was reassigned to minor-league camp, leaving right-hander Lance Cormier, a former Ray, and left-hander Scott Elbert to compete for the final bullpen spot.

REDS: Left-hander Dontrelle Willis and outfielder Jeremy Hermida were reassigned to minor-league camp.

Captain's Corner: Tactics for snagging speckled trout

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By Jim Huddleston, Times Correspondent
Sunday, March 27, 2011

What's hot: March is usually the month spring fishing kicks off on the west coast of Florida. Speckled trout are at their peak in size, and often the biggest of the year are caught just off the spoils along the Intracoastal Waterway. Schools of oversized redfish are forming and number in the hundreds on good moon phases with peak high water. As whitebait begins to arrive back on the flats, snook will soon follow.

Trout tactics: With trout providing good numbers of hookups, many anglers are pressuring these head-shaking gamefish with all types of artificials and live shrimp. These fish become seasoned to the normal offerings anglers throw at them. The water off north Pinellas County is so clear on the flats that any type of added terminal tackle will dissuade trout from taking the offering. To catch trout when they start to get finicky, remember that less is often better. Eliminate any swivels or snap locks that attach to lures. That will only give the fish more to look at.

More tactics: A direct line to leader knot attached to a 4-foot length of 15 fluorocarbon leader will disguise the presentation and result in more bites. Eight-pound superbraid will also cast farther and provide a cushion to keep weary fish at a distance. A freelined shrimp will look natural and won't be overlooked by a school of speckled trout when staged up in a good current.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at jim@captainhud.com or (727) 439-9017.

Harvick leads lap that counts

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Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

FONTANA, Calif. — Kevin Harvick isn't one of those drivers who jumps out front and stays there all the way to the checkers.

He's a lingerer and closer, staying close to the front then make his move at just the right time.

Harvick was at his pass-at-the-end best on Sunday, overtaking Jimmie Johnson on the final turn at Auto Club Speedway to win after trailing the entire race.

"I wish we could just go out there and wear 'em out one day, just not have to worry about waiting until the last lap," Harvick said. "It does kind of seem we wait until the last moments to really get going. It's probably somewhat of a bad habit I have, but I guess it worked out."

Kyle Busch had the dominant car most of the day and led a race-high 151 laps, including off a restart with nine laps left.

Johnson, a five-time winner at Fontana, chased down Busch for the lead with two laps left. Then Harvick nailed the finish.

Harvick had a rough start to the season, finishing 42nd at Daytona after a blown engine and hadn't pulled it together since despite having fast cars. His best finish was fourth at Phoenix.

Harvick didn't have a particularly strong qualifying session at Fontana, starting 24th.

He gradually worked to the front, pulling up behind Johnson after getting past Busch.

Taking advantage of a small gap to the outside, Harvick made his move going into Turn 3, and completed it coming around Turn 4 for his 15th career win.

"I really felt good when they had that restart because I knew his car was really fast on the long run," said Richard Childress, owner of Harvick's No. 29 car. "I knew if they didn't get too far out in front of us, we'd have a shot. All we needed was to get him side-by-side and start racing. That gave Kevin a chance to catch them and he made the right move going into 3."

There were few lead changes, in part because the opening 75 laps were under green to set a track record. Overnight rain, which lingered as mist, also played a role. Drivers who got the setup right got out front and stayed there while others tinkered.

Busch took his first lead on Lap 22 and lost it a few times on green-flag pit stops, but was out front within a few laps, pulling away on each of the four restarts.

He just didn't have enough left after the leaders stayed out on the last caution.

"It's real unfortunate and disappointing and frustrating all in one," Busch said. "You ask a little bit more from your race car at the last moments and it just doesn't have anything left to give. We were just a sitting duck waiting for those guys to go around us."

Johnson started 16th and worked toward the front, tracking Busch down for the late pass after losing a race off the line to him on the final restart. Johnson just couldn't hold off Harvick,.

"Looking back, maybe if I could have got by Kyle a lot earlier, maybe it could have made a difference," Johnson said. "But he (Harvick) was rolling off the top really, really fast."

Pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya remained winless in oval races. A two-time winner on road courses, he led the first six laps, then drifted back before making a late charge to finish 10th.

. fast facts

Gearhead stats

Winner's average speed: 150.849 mph

Time of race: 2 hours, 39 minutes, 6 seconds

Margin of victory: 0.144 seconds

Caution flags: 4 for 16 laps

Lead changes: 18 among 10 drivers

Lap leaders: J.Montoya 1-6; D.Hamlin 7-21; Ky.Busch 22-31; J.Montoya 32; C.Bowyer 33; J.Johnson 34; J.Yeley 35-36; Ky.Busch 37-66; M.Truex Jr. 67; T.Stewart 68-69; Ky.Busch 70-76; T.Stewart 77-79; R.Newman 80-87; T.Stewart 88-91; Ky.Busch 92-137; T.Stewart 138-139; Ky.Busch 140-197; J.Johnson 198-199; K.Harvick 200

Sprint Cup points

Through 5 of 36 races. The top 10 drivers plus two wild cards (based on wins) through 26 races make the Chase for the Championship.

Driver Pts. Back

Carl Edwards 187—

Ryan Newman 178 9

Kurt Busch 17710

Kyle Busch 176 11

Jimmie Johnson 173 14

Tony Stewart 17017

Paul Menard 16423

Juan Montoya 16126

Kevin Harvick 157 30

Matt Kenseth15730

Kasey Kahne15730

Note: Points unofficial; NASCAR posts official points today.

Up next

Goody's Fast Relief 500, 1 p.m. Sunday, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va. TV: Ch. 13.

Vettel starts fast, rolls to victory in F1 opener

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Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

MELBOURNE, Australia — Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel opened his Formula One title defense by driving a flawless race and beating McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Starting from the pole, Vettel kept his lead after the first turn and opened a gap of more than two seconds over Hamilton after the first lap.

The German's lead was never seriously threatened.

Vettel, 23, who used a two-stop strategy on the new Pirelli tires, made his first pit stop to change to softer rubber in the 14th lap, emerging in third place ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button. He regained the lead two laps later when Hamilton made a tire change, and he never looked back, winning by more than 22 seconds.

"The car was quick but also reliable, and that is the key," Vettel said. " … With Lewis dropping off later in the race, there was no pressure, so I was able to control it."

Renault's Vitaly Petrov was a surprise third, claiming his first podium finish. "To be honest, I can't believe I'm sitting with these guys," he said.

Fernando Alonso finished fourth, while Australian Mark Webber was fifth, as both used three-stop strategies — one more than the podium finishers. Webber finished fifth in his home race for the third time.

Button was sixth, falling short in his bid to win the race for a third straight year.


Home break-in victimizes Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria, David Price, Reid Brignac

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

BRADENTON — Evan Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac tried to look at the positive: None were home Saturday when the Port Charlotte house the three Rays rented for spring training was broken into and robbed.

"Thank God nobody was there," Brignac said Sunday. "If we were there, it would have been a different story."

"That was one of the biggest things," Longoria said, "that everybody was okay and safe, and nobody had to fight their way out of a home invasion robbery. … A multitude of different things could have happened, and there could have been people injured."

Still, it was a troubling event, as their electronics, jewelry and other items were stolen in the middle of the day while they were at the game at the nearly adjacent Charlotte Sports Park.

"They took pretty much everything that was ours inside the house," Longoria said.

Price, who as a starting pitcher gets to leave before the game is over, was the first to return and noticed some plants were knocked over. He then saw that every drawer was open, realized what happened and called the others, who raced over.

"Everything was gone," Brig­nac said. "It's just a crappy situation."

Among the items taken were a 60-inch flat screen TV, three iPads, two Xbox game systems, headphones, Price's laptop and several of Price's high-priced watches that were packed in a bag of clothes. "They probably didn't even know what was in it," he said. Price estimated his loss in excess of $50,000, though he said his most expensive watch was insured.

"David got the worst part of it," Brignac said. "I feel bad for him."

The players praised the response and the efforts of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and said they were told there were several good leads, possibly some people who had stopped at the house earlier in the week to ask if it was to be available for rent and who the players told they were moving out soon.

"The good thing was that nobody was there and nobody got hurt and everything is material that we can replace," Brig­nac said. "It's very unfortunate that people would stoop that low. That's what we get for being trusting, kind people. These random people came up and we could have been like, 'No, y'all get out of here.' "

Charlotte Sheriff's watch commander Sgt. Mike Krzysiak confirmed the break-in and the investigation but said he couldn't provide any further details.

"They promised us they'll do their best to find whoever did it," Longoria said. "Hopefully, they can do some good police work and figure it out and try to recover some of the stuff."

This was the second time this spring Longoria has been victimized, as his 1967 Camaro was stolen in early March from the lot of an Arizona shop where it was being refurbished.

"It's unfortunate," he said. "You just hope that karma catches up with whoever did it."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

Vols hire Missouri State's coach

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Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee hired Missouri State's Cuonzo Martin on Sunday to take over a Volunteers program facing punishment by the NCAA for recruiting violations.

Martin, 39, replaces the popular Bruce Pearl, who was fired March 21, a month after being charged with unethical conduct for lying to NCAA investigators.

Martin was hired in 2008 by Missouri State after eight years as an assistant at Purdue and went 61-41 in three seasons. He was this season's Missouri Valley Conference coach of the year after the Bears finished 26-9 and won the program's first MVC regular-season championship.

"Cuonzo is among the most promising young coaches in the game, and we are excited about the coaching ability, toughness and energy that he brings to our program," Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "He has a proven track record of success as a head coach at Missouri State and an assistant at Purdue as well as an outstanding career as a college basketball player."

A news conference to introduce Martin was scheduled for this afternoon.

SPIDERS EXTEND COACH: Richmond coach Chris Mooney signed a 10-year contract extension after leading the Spiders to this year's Sweet 16. Mooney, 38, received an extension for the third straight year, this one after Richmond won a school-record 29 games, topping the mark of 26 set last season. Richmond won the Atlantic 10 tournament for the first time in 10 years.

Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman praises coaches' handling of team's recent struggles

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — Lightning coach Guy Boucher got a solid thumbs-up from GM Steve Yzerman for how he has handled the team's recent skid.

"I'm pleased with the way the coaches have handled it," Yzerman said Saturday between periods of Tampa Bay's 4-2 victory over the Hurricanes at the RBC Center.

"I know how hard these coaches work, how much time they put into everything. Our players have stuck together and are playing hard every game. … We've done a pretty good job, despite our record, of not falling apart. We're working our way through this."

Funny how one win can change the emotional lay of the land. Tampa Bay, a dismal 3-6-4 in its past 13 games, needs only four points (on its own or with Carolina losses) to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in four years.

Worry in the locker room morphed into a party Saturday as players blasted celebratory music. Yzerman, though, personifies emotional calm.

He said he and Boucher never altered their pregame and postgame meetings in which they discuss the power play, penalty kill and line combinations. But Yzerman also reminded his first-year coach that bad times are as much a part of the team-building process as the good.

"To a point, it's good that you've got to face some adversity that you have to battle through as a team," Yzerman said. "You just stick with it and fight your way through it. It's a challenge to be mentally strong and get through it and survive it. I think you're a better team for it."

BIG SAVE: Saturday's outcome might have been different if not for a smart play early in the third period by D Mike Lundin, who preserved a 2-2 tie by picking off Erik Cole's pass to Eric Staal at the left post of Tampa Bay's net.

Had the pass been completed, Staal would have had an open net at which to shoot.

"I knew he was over there," said Lundin, who was positioned between Cole and Staal. "I was just waiting for that pass, and he put it right on my stick. I didn't have to do much."

MILESTONE: Blipped over in Friday's home loss to the Hurricanes was the 20th goal by C Vinny Lecavalier, who reached the mark for the 11th straight season.

Though the total is less than generally expected from the captain, it is notable in a season that has included knee and hand surgeries, and the reworking of his game to make him a more complete player.

"I've said it before, it all comes with that confidence," said Lecavalier, who has 20 goals and 46 points in 58 games but seven goals and 16 points in his past 15. "Things have been rolling pretty good. I want to keep it going."

REJUVENATED: With six goals and 10 points in six games, LW Simon Gagne, who had two goals Saturday, is in his best stretch of the season.

"He's making it happen not because of his skill but because he's charging through, and that's what he's known for," Boucher said. "It's been a tough year for him, and for him to come up big, I'm pretty happy about that."

REJUVENATED II: What was the best part of G Mike Smith's 33-save win Saturday?

"I liked the way he deflected rebounds to the corners, so he avoided rebounds in the slot," Boucher said. "He's a fighter, and he fought, so it's good for him and good for the team."

Smith, largely because of injury and a demotion to AHL Norfolk, had not won in the NHL since Dec. 18. He called the victory a huge confidence boost.

ODDS AND ENDS: Lecavalier flawlessly on Sunday said, "Drivers, start your engines" at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. … C Blair Jones was reassigned to AHL Norfolk.

No doubting Rams anymore

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Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The team that many thought should not be in the NCAA Tournament rushed the floor at the final buzzer, then delved deep into the crowd for hugs and disbelieving smiles as another vanquished and surprised opponent shuffled silently off the court.

A topsy-turvy, wildly unpredictable tournament had its most surprising moment Sunday as 11th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth continued what might be the most improbable run in history, beating top-seeded Kansas 71-61 to reach the Final Four in Houston.

"Once again we felt like nobody really thought we could win going into the game," said VCU's 33-year-old coach, Shaka Smart, who wore the net clipped from one of the Alamodome baskets around his neck like a lei. "But these guys believed we could win. They knew we could win. And we talked before the game about how nobody else really matters."

VCU (28-11), the surprise winner of the Southwest Region, will play a national semifinal game Saturday against Butler, which navigated through the Southeast Region as an eighth seed.

Kansas (35-3), the last of the No. 1 seeds in the tournament, had won its previous three games by an average of 17.7 points, all over opponents seeded ninth or lower. To get to its 14th Final Four, Kansas needed to beat teams seeded 16th, ninth, 12th and, on Sunday, No. 11 VCU.

But the hot-shooting Rams sprinted to an 18-point lead in the first half. More impressive, they withstood a Kansas rally that cut their lead to 46-44 with 13:11 remaining.

"We're crushed," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "But at the end of the day, we tried real hard and just came up empty against a team that was better than us today."

VCU became the third 11th-seeded team to reach the Final Four, and the first that needed to win five games to get there, thanks to the expansion of the field to 68.

Before its latest and greatest victory, VCU sat in its locker room and silently watched a big screen, set in the middle of the narrow room, showing more clips of television pundits saying they would lose. That trick had worked four times before.

"Either you get motivated or you curl up in a ball," said VCU's Ed Nixon, who attended Lakewood High. "We got motivated."

And the Rams were headed home — to what they expected to be a huge reception at VCU's urban campus in Richmond. They will return to Texas this week for the Final Four.

Players pondered whether anyone believed they could go this far.

"Us," guard Bradford Burgess said. "The city. That's about it."

VCU's 11-0 run in the first half, behind a fast-moving offense and a frenetic defense, gave the Rams a quick 20-10 lead. The Jayhawks were unusually flustered and never fully recovered.

"All the pressure was on them," Burgess said. "They were the No. 1 seed, and no one expected us to be here."

Kansas could find no one to make a field goal other than 6-foot-9 forward Marcus Morris for the first 11 minutes. Markieff Morris broke the string with a 3-pointer with 8:41 left.

The Jayhawks arrived as the best shooting team in the country, making 51.4 percent of their attempts. But they had their worst shooting game of the season at the worst possible time, making only 22 of 62 shots (35.5 percent). Most damaging was their 2-of-21 shooting from 3-point range and their 15-of-28 rate from the free-throw line.

VCU had no such trouble, making 12 of 25 3-pointers. Forward Jamie Skeen made four on his way to 26 points.

"That game was all about style of play," Smart said. "We got the style going the way that we wanted in the first half. And if you watch closely, their players were tugging on their shorts for much of the game. When you don't have your legs, it's hard to make outside shots."

Sports in Brief

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Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

Soccer

2014 World Cup likely to have goal technology

PARIS — World soccer boss Sepp Blatter expects goal-line technology to be in place for the 2014 World Cup.

"I believe we will have a system in 2012 (that) allows us to say whether it was a goal or not," Blatter, the president of FIFA, the game's international governing body, said during an interview with French TF1 television aired Sunday.

"And this system will then be introduced for the 2014 World Cup."

FIFA has been reluctant to bring modern technology into the game. But a growing number of players, referees and officials want technology to help determine if a ball crossed the line via video evidence or a chip in the ball. In a 2010 round of 16 game, a clear England goal against Germany was not awarded.

"To avoid what the English have (called) a flagrant injustice, the discussion had to be reopened," Blatter said. "And that is what we did."

FIFA decided earlier this month to delay a decision on goal-line technology to allow further testing of chip balls and goal cameras. A decision now is expected in March 2012.

Tennis

Fish stays in line to overtake Roddick

Mardy Fish beat Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3 in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne. If the Tampa resi­dent wins two more rounds, he likely will overtake Andy Roddick as the top-ranked American in the world.

Fish currently is a career-best 15th. Roddick lost his opening match Saturday and is expected to drop from eighth to about 15th depending on the results of other matches.

"I wouldn't be the No. 1 American really," Fish said. "I certainly wouldn't feel like the top-ranked American considering what Andy has accomplished and what I've accomplished. His career has quadrupled mine, at least."

Women: Kim Clijsters earned her 500th career win, toppling Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in Key Biscayne. She reached the fourth round despite 10 double faults and 39 unforced errors.

pro Basketball

Swoopes reportedly to come back to WNBA

Sheryl Swoopes will return to the WNBA to play with Tulsa, the Associated Press reported. An announcement is expected today. Swoopes, 40, last played in the league in 2008, for Seattle. She took 2009 off and played 2010 in Greece. She won four WNBA titles with Houston and earned three MVP awards, the last in 2005.

Horses

Long shot likely earns spot in Kentucky Derby

Twice The Appeal, which went off at 25-1, passed Astrology down the stretch and beat him by a length to win the $800,000 Sunland Derby in Sunland Park, N.M. With the $400,000 first-place prize, Twice The Appeal moves up to sixth in Kentucky Derby graded earnings, likely clinching a spot in the May 7 field.

Tampa Bay Downs: A total of 111 horses have been nominated for the six $75,000 stakes races at Florida Cup Day on April 9 at the track in Oldsmar.

Et cetera

College hockey: Brett Hextall, son of former NHL goalie Ron Hextall, had a goal and an assist as No. 2 seed North Dakota beat Denver 6-1 in Green Bay, Wis., and into the Frozen Four. It faces Michigan on April 7 in St. Paul, Minn. … Billy Maday scored the eventual winner with five seconds left in the second as visiting Notre Dame beat New Hampshire 2-1 to reach the Frozen Four. The Irish face Minnesota-Duluth.

Cycling: Spain's Alberto Contador won the seven-stage Volta of Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, his second straight victory since he avoided a doping ban this month. Last year's Tour de France winner took the lead Wednesday and held off Italy's Michele Scarponi by 23 seconds.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

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