Times wires
Sunday, April 15, 2012

Mariners 5, Athletics 3

SEATTLE — Brendan Ryan hit a two-run homer and Justin Smoak added a solo shot to back Blake Beavan, who went seven strong innings. Beavan gave up a three-run homer to Eric Sogard but recovered to retire nine of the final 10 he faced. "You've got to have a short-term memory," he said. "If you give up a couple of runs and start thinking about it and not going after the guys the way you were before that, you end up getting hurt and giving up more runs."

Times wires
Sunday, April 15, 2012

Pirates 4, Giants 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Kevin Correia pitched six effective innings, Garrett Jones homered and the Pirates ended a five-game losing streak. Jones' first homer of the season and Alex Presley's RBI single during a two-run second inning off Ryan Vogelsong supplied all the power Pittsburgh needed.

Times wires
Sunday, April 15, 2012

Marlins 5, Astros 4

11 innings

MIAMI — Omar Infante and Hanley Ramirez hit the Marlins' first homers in their new ballpark. Ramirez tied the game in the eighth with a two-run shot, then singled in the winning run with one out and the bases loaded in the 11th.

Times wires
Sunday, April 15, 2012

Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 2

DENVER — Trevor Cahill earned his first win with Arizona, and Chris Young homered and drove in three runs for the Diamondbacks. Acquired from Oakland in the offseason, Cahill allowed four singles in 71/3 innings, getting 13 outs on ground balls. "Kind of just being more aggressive," he said. "Not trying to be too fine; first pitch especially."

Times wires
Sunday, April 15, 2012

Colleges

Pitino's son hired to coach fiu basketball

LUTZ — After firing Isiah Thomas, Florida International is set to replace him as basketball coach with another recognizable name.

Richard Pitino, 29, is leaving the Louisville staff of his father, Rick, to become head coach at FIU, which has posted 12 straight losing seasons.

"You know I'm delighted, but I'm going miss (him) terribly," said Rick Pitino, who was playing with Kenny Perry in Sunday's final round of the Encompass Insurance Pro-Am at TPC Tampa Bay. "He's just waiting to talk to me when I get home."

FIU fired Thomas, a Hall of Fame player, April 6 after going 26-65 in three seasons. FIU refused to confirm Pitino had agreed on a deal. Players had not been told of a hire by school officials as of Sunday afternoon.

WESTERN KENTUCKY: Two football players were recovering after being wounded by gunshots outside a Bowling Green bar. Sophomore defensive lineman Tevin Holliman and freshman defensive back Ricardo Singh of Auburndale were each hit once; their wounds weren't life-threatening, the school said. The shooting happened hours after the team's spring game. No one had been arrested.

USF still tops: The softball and baseball teams won on the road to remain atop the Big East. In softball, the Bulls (4-16, 13-1) beat UConn 11-3 in five innings. In baseball, the Bulls (25-12, 10-2) rallied for a 9-8 win over Pittsburgh.

Soccer

Autopsy today for Italian player

An autopsy will be done today on Italian player Piermario Morosini and might reveal whether an ambulance delay contributed to his death during a Serie B game Saturday.

Morosini, 25, a midfielder for Livorno, collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest on the field at Pescara. He was declared dead at a hospital.

A car belonging to traffic police blocked the ambulance's way into the stadium. A window had to be broken so the car could be moved while players and officials frantically gestured for the ambulance.

England: Chelsea earned a meeting with Liverpool in the FA Cup final by thrashing Tottenham 5-1. … Manchester United beat Aston Villa 4-0 to restore its five-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

et cetera

BOWLING: Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., defeated Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 239-205 to capture the PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas. ... Sixteen-time winner Jason Couch, 42, of Clermont and 11-time senior winner Gene Stus, 72, of Taylor, Mich., were inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.

NFL: Receiver Lee Evans signed with the Jaguars.

Tennis: Top seed Caroline Wozniacki was upset by Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4 in the e-Boks Open final at Copenhagen, Denmark. … Juan Monaco defeated Tampa resident John Isner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the final of the U.S. Clay Court Championship in Houston.

WNBA: Los Angeles has the first pick in today's draft at Bristol, Conn. (2 p.m., ESPN2).

Rodney Page, Times staff writer; Times wires

By Antonya English and Alexandra Zayas, Times Staff Writers
Sunday, April 15, 2012

TAMPA — Former All-America center Dwayne Schintzius, who helped Florida to its first SEC championship and three NCAA Tournament appearances, died Sunday at age 43 from respiratory failure.

Mr. Schintzius died at 2:45 p.m. at Moffitt Cancer Center, where he was being treated for complications from a failed bone marrow transplant, according to his father, Ken. He was surrounded by his family, including his father, his mother, Linda, and his brother, Travis.

"He just went peacefully," Ken Schintzius said. "He didn't suffer."

Mr. Schintzius, a former Brandon High star, first underwent treatment for leukemia in 2010, and he later had a bone marrow transplant. He had a second marrow transplant in November but had suffered from complications since.

"He's been in and out of the hospital," Ken Schintzius said. "He spent a few weeks in, and he would spend a few weeks out. Went back in 31 days ago. They put him in the intensive care unit there. He had a problem breathing. He had something similar to fibrosis. And he just couldn't get oxygen. His system just kind of started shutting down early (Sunday) morning."

Mr. Schintzius was a 7-foot-2 player who was with the Gators from 1987-90, helping them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1987.

Former Gators teammate Renaldo Garcia, now the boys basketball coach at Sickles High, said he had heard from teammates that Mr. Schintzius was ill again but hadn't talked with him since November. And many teammates were unaware of his health status.

Garcia, who said he was "shocked" to hear the news, said he was recently talking with former Florida assistant Monte Towe, who asked about Mr. Schintzius.

"Just a carefree individual who loved to have fun," said Garcia, who played at Tampa Catholic as Mr. Schintzius was across town starring at Brandon, where he was a high school All-American.

"He was way more talented than he got credit for. Just a super teammate and a friend. Dwayne, that was my ride home sometimes from Gainesville in my earlier years, before I had a car. He was almost like a big-brother type to us guys from Tampa."

Mr. Schintzius started all 110 games he played in at Florida, averaging 14.8 points. In 1989, he was an Associated Press and Sporting News All-American and earned first-team All-SEC honors when he led the Gators in scoring (18 points per game) and rebounding (9.7 per game). He is the only player in SEC history with more than 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 250 assists and 250 blocks. He holds the Florida record for blocks (272) and is sixth in scoring with 1,624 points.

"He is probably the least-appreciated great player in school history," said Larry Vettel, a longtime Gator broadcaster. "The fact of the matter is that 7-footers are always held to such a ridiculously high standard. And for him, he could never live up to it. I joked with (former Florida coach) Norm Sloan once that if the O'Connell Center roof leaked, most people would blame it on Dwayne. And it just was kind of the way it was.

"He was a great player. He was flat out a great player. But because he was 7-2, he was supposed to average 30 points, 20 rebounds, block 10 shots and help little, old ladies back to their car after the game."

Mr. Schintzius was a first-round draft pick (24th overall) of the Spurs in 1990. He played for five other teams — Kings, Nets, Pacers, Clippers and Celtics — during his eight-year career.

He made his acting debut in the 1996 comedy Eddie with actor Whoopi Goldberg, playing a Russian basketball player.

Although he was one of the most dominating big men ever to play for Florida, his career there ended on a stormy note. After Sloan was fired, Mr. Schintzius was suspended by interim head coach Don DeVoe and ultimately left the team midway into his senior season, reportedly after the two could not come to terms on team rules.

"What he did for Florida basketball was as much as anybody's ever done," said Bill Koss, a former Gator letterman who has broadcast Florida games for more than 30 years. "It's hard to manufacture size, and he had great size and a great presence. But underneath that was a young man trying to figure himself out, and I think he went for years trying to figure himself out.

"I really liked Dwayne. I always felt like he was underappreciated. With his size, he was the best big man probably Florida has had as far as skills. A troubled guy, yeah. A lot of situations presented themselves that made it hard for people to truly appreciate him, but he was a good person at heart. I always thought Dwayne had a big heart."

Mr. Schintzius received a warm ovation when his name was announced as he attended a Gator basketball game this past season at the O'Connell Center.

"That was very emotional," Koss said.

Both Vettel and Koss said Mr. Schintzius will forever be remembered in Gator folklore for the two free throws he made in a game against Vanderbilt during the 1988-89 season with time expired. The shots sent the game into overtime, where Florida eventually won, sealing its first SEC regular-season title.

"He hit his free throws," Vettel said. "I think the most important thing to remember is that Florida never went to an NCAA Tournament before Dwayne arrived, and the three years he was in Gainesville, they went to the NCAA Tournament each year. Florida had never won an SEC championship when Dwayne arrived, and in his third season the Gators won the SEC title."

Ken Schintzius said he and his son, Travis, will begin making funeral arrangements today.

"He was my hero," Ken Schintzius said. "He never complained. He never said, 'Why me?' He just … when (the doctors) asked him to do something, his answer was, 'You know, whatever it takes.' That was his motto.

"He was a good son. He was a good person. Had a great sense of humor. You'd walk into a room, and the whole room would just light up. I'm his dad. I'm probably tooting his horn. He was good to us. I'm going to miss him a lot. He was my friend, my buddy. He's going to be missed, and I'm going to miss him. Terrible, terrible loss."

Time staff writer Joey Knight contributed to this report.

Times wires
Sunday, April 15, 2012

PHILADELPHIA — Fists were flying faster than shots on goal. Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux even became knotted in the pushing, pulling and shoving, superstars mixing it up to prove which team was the baddest on the ice and the scoreboard.

The Penguins and Flyers talked trash, laid the smack down and played one wildly entertaining game Sunday. The result was still the same. The Flyers rallied from another early deficit for an 8-4 Game 3 victory that placed them on the brink of a sweep of the team many thought would win the Stanley Cup.

The goals might be hard to find on a highlight reel. This one was all about the brawls. In the first period, three players were tossed — each team's top defenseman, Pittsburgh's Kris Letang and Philadelphia's Kimmo Timonen, and Penguins forward Arron Asham — and Crosby squared off against Giroux.

"In the end, that's really playoff hockey," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said of that bout.

As the game wound down, a hit by Pittsburgh's James Neal started another round of brawls that led to the ejections of Neal, the Flyers' Wayne Simmonds and Penguins' Craig Adams. The teams combined for 158 penalty minutes.

Said Crosby, "You can make a story all you want about us getting frustrated. They're doing the same things we are. It's intense. … I don't like any guy on their team there."

panthers 4, devils 2: Stephen Weiss got the first two playoff goals of his 10-year career and the host Panthers got their first playoff win in nearly 15 years to even the series at a game apiece.

predators 3, red wings 2: Nashville defenseman Shea Weber turned boos into silence with a goal early in the first and the visiting Predators held on to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Weber was jeered every time he touched the puck for smashing Henrik Zetterberg's face into glass at the end of Game 1.

kings-canucks: With Vancouver trailing 2-0 in the West series, coach Alain Vigneault replaced Roberto Luongo in goal with Cory Schneider for the late Game 3. Vigneault said he was satisfied with Luongo but wanted to change things up.

playoff news: Rangers forward Carl Hagelin was suspended for three games for elbowing Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson in the head in Game 2 of their series Saturday. Alfredsson left the game and didn't return. Coach Paul MacLean said he was feeling good Sunday and would be further evaluated. The Rangers said they accepted the penalty but "are thoroughly perplexed" by the ruling's inconsistency with others this season. … Senators defenseman Matt Carkner was suspended for Game 3 tonight for jumping on the Rangers' Brian Boyle and punching him in Game 2.

lightning ahl team extends streak: Norfolk ended its regular season by extending its league winning streak to 28 with a 4-2 win over host Adirondack. League MVP and rookie of the year Cory Conacher had a hat trick.

First Period—1, Pitts, Staal 1 (Kunitz, Michalek), 3:52. 2, Phila, Talbot 2 (Giroux, Carle), 6:44 (sh). 3, Phila, Briere 3 (Hartnell, Jagr), 8:19 (pp). 4, Phila, Briere 4 (Simmonds, Schenn), 11:45. 5, Pitts, Neal 1 (Niskanen, Malkin), 15:17. 6, Phila, Read 1 (Briere), 15:40. Penalties—Engelland, Pit (roughing), 2:39; Rinaldo, Phi (roughing), 2:39; Voracek, Phi (high-stick), 5:14; Niskanen, Pit (cross-check, roughing), 6:44; Giroux, Phi (roughing), 6:44; Letang, Pit (cross-check), 7:24; Sullivan, Pit (rough), 12:02; Crosby, Pit, major (fight), 12:02; Letang, Pit, major-game misconduct (fight), 12:02; Timonen, Phi, minor-major-game misconduct (slash, fight), 12:02; Giroux, Phi, major (fight), 12:02; Voracek, Phi (rough), 12:02; Asham, Pit match penalty (match—deliberate injury), 14:15; Schenn, Phi (charge), 14:15.

Second Period—7, Pitts, Neal 2 (Malkin, Crosby), 10:31 (pp). 8, Phila, Read 2 (Jagr, Schenn), 14:18 (pp). 9, Pitts, Staal 2 (Neal, Kunitz), 15:40. 10, Phila, Simmonds 1 (Coburn), 19:14 (pp). Penalties—Staal, Pit (hooking), :35; Grossmann, Phi (kneeing), 9:13; Kunitz, Pit (tripping), 12:30; Kunitz, Pit (slashing), 17:22.

Third Period—11, Phila, Giroux 4 (Jagr), :27. 12, Phila, Talbot 3 (Voracek, Coburn), 17:14 (pp). Penalties—Adams, Pit, minor-major-game misconduct (instigator, fighting), 15:18; Kunitz, Pit (roughing), 15:18; Engelland, Pit, misconduct, 15:18; Crosby, Pit (roughing), 15:18; Neal, Pit, minor-misconduct (charging), 15:18; Hartnell, Phi, minor-major (roughing, fighting), 15:18; Voracek, Phi (roughing), 15:18; Simmonds, Phi, minor-misconduct (roughing), 15:18; Rinaldo, Phi (cross-checking, unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:38. Shots—Pitts 12-12-11—35. Phila 19-9-6—34. PP opps—Pitts 1 of 6; Phila 4 of 6. Goalies—Pitts, Fleury 0-3-0 (28 shots-22 saves), Johnson (0:00 third, 6-4). Phila, Bryzgalov 3-0-0 (35-31).

First Period—1, Nash, Weber 2 (A.Kostitsyn, Radulov), 2:48 (pp). Penalties—Miller, Det (goalie interfere), 1:35; Kronwall, Det (hook), 8:56; Legwand, Nas (trip), 12:53.

Second Period—2, Nash, Klein 1 (Erat), 3:50. 3, Det, Datsyuk 1, 15:03. Penalties—Tootoo, Nas (roughing), 1:21; Franzen, Det (slashing), 8:06; Quincey, Det (cross-checking), 9:43; Legwand, Nas, served by Hornqvist (interference), 14:33; Franzen, Det (slashing), 14:33; Fisher, Nas (roughing), 17:46; Bertuzzi, Det (roughing), 17:46; S.Kostitsyn, Nas (high-stick), 19:49.

Third Period—4, Nash, S.Kostitsyn 1 (Fisher, Klein), 16:30. 5, Det, Zetterberg 2 (Datsyuk, Kronwall), 19:06 (pp). Penalties—Legwand, Nas (holding), 18:23. Shots—Nash 9-9-4—22. Det 11-13-19—43. PP opps—Nash 1 of 4; Det 1 of 4. Goalies—Nash, Rinne 2-1-0 (43 shots-41 saves). Det, Howard 1-2-0 (22-19).

First Period—1, Fla, Weiss 1 (Samuelsson, Versteeg), :23 (pp). Penalties—Greene, NJ (tripping), :11; Kulikov, Fla (delay of game), 7:38; Ponikarovsky, NJ (high-sticking), 19:43; Clarkson, NJ (charging), 19:43.

Second—2, Fla, Weiss 2 (Goc, Garrison), 1:12 (pp). 3, Fla, Goc 1 (Campbell, Bergenheim), 14:39. Penalties—Samuelsson, Fla (hook), 2:07; Carter, NJ (hook), 7:48.

Third Period—4, NJ, Zajac 1 (Greene, Ponikarovsky), :48. 5, NJ, Kovalchuk 1 (Henrique), 2:02. 6, Fla, Fleischmann 1, 19:59 (en). Penalties—None. Shots—NJ 4-9-12—25. Fla 3-11-10—24. PP opps—NJ 0 of 2; Fla 2 of 4. Goalies—NJ, Brodeur 1-1-0 (23 shots-20 saves). Fla, Theodore 1-1-0 (25-23).

Times wires
Monday, April 16, 2012

Yankees 11, Angels 5

NEW YORK — Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hit a three-run homer to extend his fast start and Ivan Nova won his 14th straight decision. Raul Ibanez added a homer and Jeter also doubled during a four-run rally. The Angels lost for the sixth time in eight games, and $240 million slugger Albert Pujols went 1-for-5 with an RBI single but is still homerless with his new team.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

BOSTON — There is a lot of chatter around the Rays about how every member of their rotation has the talent to be the ace of a staff. But there are certain times, when things are spinning fast and spiraling downward, as they had been, that a starter has to step up on the mound and prove it.

And James Shields showed yet again Monday, stopping a four-game skid and a three-day Boston battering with a stellar performance in a 1-0 win, that he is the most valuable starter the Rays have.

"He was everything we needed him to be," third baseman Evan Longoria said. "Incredible."

"Unbelievable," manager Joe Maddon said. "We absolutely needed something like that (Monday). James did not disappoint."

Shields tamed the same Sox lineup that tagged the Rays for 31 runs and 39 hits the previous three days, allowing only four singles and two walks (and only one runner past second base) while working into the ninth.

"It was my job to stop the bleeding," Shields said. "We had a rough three games. They were hot. They were swinging the bats pretty well. It was my job to go out there and get it done."

There was some question if the Rays would bring Shields back, as he turned 30 — a scarlet number as they hadn't used a starter that old since 2007 — but also because of his $8 million option, the highest salary current Rays ownership has paid a pitcher. But days like Monday show just how valuable he can be.

"It's very big," Maddon said. "(He) serves as an example for the rest of the group to attack the strike zone, get after these guys, don't try to be so fine with our stuff. That's what we've been doing. We've been tap-dancing around the strike zone. We have not really pitched our typical kind of game not because anybody's hurt or down; I think we've been out-thinking ourselves just a little bit."

After watching David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore struggle, Shields was well aware of his responsibility: "I think that's what we all do as a staff — we get a couple of guys who aren't throwing so well, the next guy's got to pick him up. Fortunately for me, (Monday) was my day."

Shields wasn't quite the whole story as the Rays averted a four-game sweep and evened their record at 5-5.

Longoria is in there, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the seventh off Daniel Bard to force in the only run. So is Fernando Rodney, who took over for Shields with a man on and got Adrian Gonzalez to ground out and, after intentionally walking David Ortiz, struck out Cody Ross looking at 97 mph heat. Also catcher Jose Molina, for throwing out Ross to end the sixth.

And, of course, Boston manager Bobby Valentine. Already having a bad day given reaction to his comments that Kevin Youkilis wasn't as committed as in the past, Valentine made it worse by not taking out converted reliever Bard, who had loaded the bases with two outs by walking Sean Rodriguez, allowing a single to Desmond Jennings and throwing four straight balls to Carlos Peña, pushing his pitch count to 107.

"The wrong decision, obviously," Valentine said.

"I didn't even think he was going to leave him in for Carlos," Longoria said. "And then I was really surprised he left him in for me."

Bard's first pitch missed by a few inches, and that was the best of the four. Maddon put on the take sign at 3-0 — or, as he called it, "7-and-0," just to be sure — but Longoria had no plans to swing. The Rays had their run and, a few anxious innings later, an important win as they headed off following the marathon day matinee for Toronto.

"Eleven o'clock in the morning after losing three games in a row here, a lot of teams would give up at that point," Maddon said. "Our guys did not. Pretty outstanding."

And it all started with the starter.

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

By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Monday, April 16, 2012

Red grouper: The season has been steady for the past few weeks. All the spots we have fished have had decent numbers. Some stops have been awesome, producing numerous keepers; other spots have produced only a few. Closely monitoring the bottom machine at slow speeds has helped us find awesome spots. Each day we find a new spot holding fish. Some traditional spots are holding fish and some are not. This tells me fish locations could change in the next few weeks. At the end of the day we have been rewarded with at least 15 keeper-sized reds.

Tackle and locations: A 6- to 8-ounce sinker is ideal for grouper digging at these depths. We have found them in large areas of limestone rock. Keeper grouper are congregating along the edges of the rock and sand, and better numbers of keeper-sized red grouper are being taken at 70 feet and deeper.

Other species of interest: Numerous sailfish have been hooked in depths of 30 to 40 feet lately. This is quite common during April. Along with scattered reports of sailfish, are blackfin tunas, with the best numbers being caught in 100 feet of water. We caught a few in shallower depths of 40 feet while slow trolling for kings. Even tarpon have been stealing the show for anglers kingfishing closer to shore. This next two months will be interesting, since earlier migrations of many fish have merged with the normal migrations of others. This has produced some outrageous action. Bottom line: you never know what's going to take your baited hook at this time.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or visit jawstoo.com.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, April 16, 2012

Trent. It has to be Trent Richardson. Doesn't it?

It has to be Richardson because the Bucs could use a complete back. It has to be Richardson because he has the highest grades for a running back since Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. It has to be Richardson because the favorite way of new head coach Greg Schiano to get the ball into the end zone is to run it there.

Yep, if he is there at the fifth pick, the Bucs should, without a doubt, hoist him onto their shoulders and carry him directly to the nearest third-and-goal.

Unless, of course, they decide to draft Morris Claiborne instead.

It has to be Claiborne because the pitiful Bucs defense can use all the help it can get. It needs Claiborne because great cornerbacks are harder to find than great running backs. It needs Claiborne because Schiano is at heart a defensive coach.

And so the local debate rages between Richardson, a guy who scores touchdowns, and Claiborne, a guy who keeps them from happening. This is the reward for suffering a season that is hardly worth talking about; fans get a draft that is worth yelling.

The Richardson vs. Claiborne chatter has gone on for weeks, and from the sound of it, it is likely to continue until the draft begins on April 26. Perhaps longer.

You start with a simple question: If both Claiborne and Richardson are available when it is time for the Bucs to pick, which one do you prefer? The ensuing discussion will take you through a winding discussion about players, about positions, about performances, about perceptions, about incumbents, about Wonderlic scores and about prom dates.

Me? Today, I would vote for Claiborne.

Tomorrow, I will probably change my mind.

"It's a great question,'' said Tim Ruskell, who has worked as director of player personnel for the Bucs, Falcons and Bears and who was once the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks. "Five years ago, you would take the running back. No doubt about it. They were franchise players, and you could ride their backs and be a great team. I don't think you can do that anymore with one guy.

"The question is: Has the shutdown corner eclipsed the running back when it comes to the value of the position? In some places, it has. If you can take away the other team's best receiver, you can do so much more on defense.''

Here's a hint: There isn't a wrong answer. The Bucs could find plenty of work for both players. As bad as they were over their final 10 games last season, maybe they deserve them both.

Alas, the Bucs get to pick just one, which means they have to hope the talk about the Vikings taking Claiborne at No. 3 and the Browns taking Richardson at No. 4 is just smoke. (No, USC tackle Matt Kalil should not be considered a write-in vote. Both Richardson and Claiborne are better.)

Let's start with the argument for Richardson. No, he isn't quite the home-run threat that Peterson is, but he breaks tackles, he moves the chains and he makes his quarterback better. True, it is possible to find good — sometimes very good — running backs later in the draft, but for the most part, the great ones go early.

For the Bucs, what you think of Richardson has to be tempered with what you think of LeGarrette Blount. If you think Blount can be an every down back, you probably don't burn for Richardson.

The argument for Claiborne is a solid one, too. I mean, did you see that (alleged) defense last year? Put it this way: If you heard the Bucs had a Bounty program, you would probably think it had to do with buying paper towels to clean up their mess.

Claiborne would help. The NFC South is filled with quarterbacks and receivers, and he could help reduce the number of big plays the Bucs give up. He could also reduce the worry about Aqib Talib's upcoming trial.

As far as Claiborne's widely reported score of four on the Wonderlic, it shouldn't worry anyone. As Ruskell said, Claiborne doesn't play dumb. Think about it like this: while Claiborne is trying to cover Roddy White downfield, no one is going to ask him what color a firetruck is.

So what happens if Claiborne and Richardson are gone? Do the Bucs change the conversation to Kalil vs. Justin Blackmon? Or do they signal "retreat'' as loudly as they can?

I love when general managers say they would consider trading down for the right price. Well, of course they would. It's just a little tricky to pull off the part about the right price.

For instance, it isn't a secret that the Dolphins, who pick eighth, like quarterback Ryan Tannehill. But what price should they throw in to move up three spots? According to the NFL trade value chart (again, a reminder: it's only a guide), their second-round pick is too much to give up, and their third isn't enough.

For the Bucs, moving backward makes sense. They need linebackers and safeties and any extra picks you can spare.

Ah, but if it is greatness you desire, most of it is found in the first few picks of the draft.

So go on. Argue. It's cheap. It's interesting. It's fun.

When you get down to it, don't the Bucs owe you a little of that?

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

Rays minor-league pitcher Matt Bush was treated "dramatically different" than other people in similar DUI hit-and-run cases, with his $1.015 million bond excessive and "inappropriate," his attorney Russell Kirshy said.

Kirshy has filed a motion for a bond reduction, with a hearing set for Monday in Punta Gorda.

Bush is in Charlotte County Jail facing seven charges after his arrest March 22, when police said he hit the motorcycle of 72-year-old Tony Tufano and fled the scene. Bush, driving teammate Brandon Guyer's Dodge Durango, had a suspended license, with police saying he had a blood alcohol level of .180, more than double the 0.08 percent at which a driver is considered impaired.

Tufano suffered serious injuries and was in the intensive care unit of a Fort Myers hospital for a couple of weeks. He was released last week and is home.

In his motion, Kirshy said he researched all similar DUI with serious bodily injury cases the past five years in Charlotte County, and the highest bond set in those cases was $65,000. In that time, even those cases involving DUI manslaughter, suspended license and leaving the scene of a crash involving death, the highest bond set was $96,000, Kirshy wrote.

Tufano's family attorney, Paul Sullivan, said the cases Kirshy included in his motion aren't "comparing apples to apples" considering Bush's arrest record, his limited ties to the community and the fact that he got into three hit-and-run accidents March 22. Tufano's family will attend Monday's hearing.

"The idea that we should take pity on Mr. Bush and say he's not a danger to the community would be laughable if it weren't so outrageous and if the situation we're all looking at wasn't so terrible," Sullivan said. "It's bad enough he was driving around Charlotte County, running into people and leaving them for dead. There's zero assurance that Mr. Bush won't drink and drive and cause mayhem wherever he goes."

Despite Bush's $3.15 million signing bonus as the 2004 top overall pick, Kirshy writes the 26-year-old is living "payday to payday," with very little savings and no other liquid assets he can convert to cash. The Rays have since put Bush on the restricted list.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

Rays minor-league pitcher Matt Bush was treated "dramatically different" than other people in similar DUI hit-and-run cases, with his $1.015 million bail excessive and "inappropriate," his attorney Russell Kirshy said.

Kirshy has filed a motion for a bail reduction, with a hearing set for Monday in Punta Gorda.

Bush is in Charlotte County Jail facing seven charges after his arrest March 22, when police said he hit the motorcycle of 72-year-old Tony Tufano and fled the scene. Bush, driving teammate Brandon Guyer's Dodge Durango, had a suspended license, with police saying he had a blood alcohol level of .180, more than double the 0.08 percent at which a driver is considered impaired.

Tufano suffered serious injuries and was in the intensive care unit of a Fort Myers hospital for a couple of weeks. He was released last week and is home.

In his motion, Kirshy said he researched all similar DUI with serious bodily injury cases the past five years in Charlotte County, and the highest bail set in those cases was $65,000. In that time, even those cases involving DUI manslaughter, suspended license and leaving the scene of a crash involving death, the highest bail set was $96,000, Kirshy wrote.

Tufano's family attorney, Paul Sullivan, said the cases Kirshy included in his motion aren't "comparing apples to apples" considering Bush's arrest record, his limited ties to the community and the fact that he got into three hit-and-run accidents March 22. Tufano's family will attend Monday's hearing.

"The idea that we should take pity on Mr. Bush and say he's not a danger to the community would be laughable if it weren't so outrageous and if the situation we're all looking at wasn't so terrible," Sullivan said. "It's bad enough he was driving around Charlotte County, running into people and leaving them for dead. There's zero assurance that Mr. Bush won't drink and drive and cause mayhem wherever he goes."

Despite Bush's $3.15 million signing bonus as the 2004 top overall pick, Kirshy writes the 26-year-old is living "payday to payday," with very little savings and no other liquid assets he can convert to cash. The Rays have since put Bush on the restricted list.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

. UP NEXT

at Blue Jays

Tonight-Thursday

What's new: The Jays came out of a great spring training with expectations they could crack the Big Three in the AL East. But the bullpen, which added Francisco Cordero, Darren Oliver and Sergio Santos, has proved to be a problem as it has blown four saves already. Also, the offense, led by two-time AL home run champ Jose Bautista, has yet to get untracked. Bautista, hitting .206 with one homer, had seven homers and a 1.137 OPS in 15 games vs. the Rays last season. 3B Brett Lawrie is a rising star.

Key stat: In going 12-6 vs. the Jays last season, the Rays pitched to a 2.49 ERA and allowed only a .207 average.

Connections: Bautista was a Ray briefly in 2004, 3B coach Brian Butterfield is a former Eckerd College assistant. … Rays C Jose Molina was a Jay in 2010-11.

Series history: Jays lead 68-53 at Rogers Centre, Rays lead 122-117 overall.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

Rays at Blue Jays

When/where: 7:07 tonight; Rogers Centre, Toronto

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers:

Rays: RH Jeff Niemann (0-1. 5.40) Jays: LH Ricky Romero (1-0, 3.38)

Watch for …

Tall order: Niemann felt good about his season debut Thursday despite throwing 102 pitches in 5 IP. He is 4-3, 5.23 overall against the Jays, 3-1, 5.21 in six starts at Rogers Centre.

Mister Ricky: Romero has emerged as one of the top lefties in the game and had a solid last outing vs. Boston (1 run, 3 hits in 8 1/3 IP). He is 5-4, 3.18 in 10 starts vs. Tampa Bay.

Rays VS. ROMERO

Desmond Jennings 1-for-9, HR

Evan Longoria 5-for-20

Sean Rodriguez 1-for-15

Jays VS. Niemann

Jose Bautista 4-for-18, HR

Edwin Encarnacion 1-for-9

Adam Lind 11-for-26, 2 HRs

On deck

Wednesday: at Blue Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (1-1, 4.82); Jays — Brandon Morrow (0-0, 2.57)

Thursday: at Blue Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 3.29); Jays — Henderson Alvarez (0-0, 2.77)

Friday: vs. Twins, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (0-1, 5.54); Twins — Liam Hendriks (0-0, 1.50)

Rays disabled list

C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 15-day

RHP Kyle Farnsworth, right elbow strain, 15-day

OF Sam Fuld, right wrist surgery, 60-day

C Jose Lobaton, right shoulder soreness, 15-day

OF B.J. Upton, lower back soreness, 15-day

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Quote of the day

"I know some baseball purists don't like it or dig it. I love it, and you could put a capital L-O-V-E in there. He's just expressing himself and for those that have a hard time with that, too bad."

Manager Joe Maddon, on reliever Fernando Rodney wearing his hat crooked.

Number of the day

3-0

Rays record in Patriots Day games

Stat of the day

Ben Zobrist played his 247th game in the outfield without an error, the most of any active player to start his career and the most since Darren Lewis went 392 games with the Giants and A's in 1990-94 before his first.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

USF football suffered a significant injury in Monday morning's practice as senior defensive tackle Cory Grissom — the only player at his position with extensive starting experience —fractured the fibula in his right ankle in a non-contact drill and was carted off the field.

USF did not indicate a timetable for his return, but he'll have surgery Thursday, and it's reasonable to think he'll miss at least some of the 2012 season.

The Bulls were practicing in shorts when Grissom, reaching for a loose ball in a fumble drill, went down. Trainers attended to him for several minutes before he left for X-rays and an MRI exam.

Grissom has been a key part of USF's run defense in both of Skip Holtz's seasons at USF, starting all 25 games. He set career highs last season with 38 tackles and six tackles for losses.

It's the second injury to USF's defensive line in less than a week, as backup defensive end Anthony Hill tore his ACL in practice Wednesday and will require surgery, costing him at least the start of the upcoming season. The Bulls have had junior Luke Sager working as a starter alongside Grissom, with sophomores Elkino Watson and Todd Chandler as the top backups.

Two USF starters who were held out last week, guard Danous Estenor and safety JaQuez Jenkins, participated in non-contact work at practice.

Basketball

A PITINO JOINS PANTHERS: Richard Pitino left his father Rick's staff at Louisville and signed a five-year contract with Florida International, agreeing to be paid $250,000 annually in base salary. The 29-year-old will lead a program for the first time. "I may be young," Richard Pitino said, "but I'm not inexperienced."

LSU INTRODUCES COACH: The job that Johnny Jones coveted for so long is officially his. "It's a dream come true," Jones, a former LSU player and assistant, said when he was introduced as the Tigers' 21st coach. "I am home, and there is no place like home."

DEPARTING 'CATS? Five Kentucky underclassmen, including projected No. 1 NBA draft pick Anthony Davis, are expected to announce their draft intentions at a joint news conference today. A news release said freshmen Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague, along with sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, will appear for the announcement in Lexington.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

BOSTON — Joe Maddon will keep the scorecard, as well as the ball that equipment manager Chris Westmoreland delivered to his office. But Maddon won't take any credit for reaching the 500-win mark with the Rays.

"It really speaks to the quality of the players and the organization, is what it does. Whereas the first couple years spoke to the lack of quality. All of a sudden it got better in years three, etc.," Maddon said. "I just happen to be standing in the corner of the dugout. … Better baseball players make you a lot smarter manager."

Maddon is the fifth manager to have at least 500 wins with his current team, joining Ron Gardenhire (Twins), Jim Leyland (Tigers), Charlie Manuel (Phillies) and Mike Scioscia (Angels).

He said he appreciated the opportunity to stick around after going 127-197 in his first two seasons.

"At the end of the second year that was that moment where ownership could have thought something differently, but did not," he said. "They chose to stay with me, and part of that is why I wanted to sign the extension when we got that opportunity. I've said it before, this is the best place in the major leagues to be as a manager. And I really believe we've become a destination spot for players.

"I know maybe we don't pay the most money, but as a place to participate and as a place to grow and feel free as a major-leaguer to take your game to the field, I think this is a great place to play."

Maddon, interim manager of the Angels in 1999, is 519-492 overall.

GOMES UP, COBB DOWN: The Rays shuffled their bullpen for the third time in four days, though they now have a mix that seemingly could work a while, calling up RHP Brandon Gomes while sending RHP Alex Cobb back to Triple A.

Cobb had taken the place of RHP Dane De La Rosa, who had replaced RHP Josh Lueke as the Rays wanted to have a fresh arm to handle extended innings if necessary. But they felt better with the previously taxed pen rested following James Shields' 81/3-inning Monday outing, and with RHP Wade Davis ready again after a three-inning outing Friday.

Impressive as a 2011 rookie, Gomes was sent down so he'd have additional time to increase velocity and sharpen command following offseason back surgery. He has looked sharp in six scoreless innings over five games for Durham, allowing only two hits while striking out eight.

FERNANDO-MANIA: Standing on the mound with his cap typically askew, RHP Fernando Rodney enjoyed the serenade of the Fenway faithful chanting "ROD-NEE, ROD-NEE."

Even better, he liked shutting them up with the final two outs for his AL-co-leading fourth save, in four chances, without allowing even a hit. (David Ortiz, on an intentional walk, is the only one of the 14 batters he has faced to reach base.)

"Outrageous," Maddon said. "He's come in really calm. He's been a strike-thrower. Very aggressive. He's just looked really good. We've been able to shorten up the inning for him a couple times which I kind of like as we're building his confidence, which right now I would consider soaring."

Rodney, proving a capable replacement thus far for injured RHP Kyle Farnsworth, said he feels good and enjoys the pressure situations, like he had Monday. "I like people talking when I'm pitching," he said. "I feel more comfortable with that."

TIP OF THE DAY: After reviewing video of LHP Matt Moore's Sunday game, pitching coach Jim Hickey said he has "zero concern" that the prized rookie was tipping his pitches.

The issue was raised in the Rays' dugout during the game, as the Sox were taking aggressive swings at Moore's pitches, but Hickey said Monday it was the result of the poor quality of some of Moore's pitches. "My level of concern had nothing to do with anything except misplaced fastballs," he said.

MISCELLANY: CF B.J. Upton (sore back) went 2-for-4 with two singles, a walk and an RBI in the first of three final rehab games for Double-A Montgomery. He's targeting a Friday return. … RHP Matt Buschman, LHP David Price's roommate at Vanderbilt, was acquired from Washington for cash and sent to Montgomery. … Maddon will be featured on tonight's episode of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, airing at 10.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012

BOSTON — Joe Maddon will keep the scorecard, as well as the ball that equipment manager Chris Westmoreland delivered to his office. But Maddon won't take any credit for reaching the 500-win mark with the Rays.

"It really speaks to the quality of the players and the organization, is what it does. Whereas the first couple years spoke to the lack of quality. All of a sudden it got better in years three, etc.," Maddon said. "I just happen to be standing in the corner of the dugout. … Better baseball players make you a lot smarter manager."

Maddon is the fifth manager to have at least 500 wins with his current team, joining Ron Gardenhire (Twins), Jim Leyland (Tigers), Charlie Manuel (Phillies) and Mike Scioscia (Angels).

He said he appreciated the opportunity to stick around after going 127-197 in his first two seasons.

"At the end of the second year that was that moment where ownership could have thought something differently, but did not," he said. "They chose to stay with me, and part of that is why I wanted to sign the extension when we got that opportunity. I've said it before, this is the best place in the major leagues to be as a manager. And I really believe we've become a destination spot for players.

"I know maybe we don't pay the most money, but as a place to participate and as a place to grow and feel free as a major-leaguer to take your game to the field, I think this is a great place to play."

Maddon, interim manager of the Angels in 1999, is 519-492 overall.

GOMES UP, COBB DOWN: The Rays shuffled their bullpen for the third time in four days, though they now have a mix that seemingly could work a while, calling up RHP Brandon Gomes while sending RHP Alex Cobb back to Triple A.

Cobb had taken the place of RHP Dane De La Rosa, who had replaced RHP Josh Lueke as the Rays wanted to have a fresh arm to handle extended innings if necessary. But they felt better with the previously taxed pen rested following James Shields' 81/3-inning Monday outing, and with RHP Wade Davis ready again after a three-inning outing Friday.

Impressive as a 2011 rookie, Gomes was sent down so he'd have additional time to increase velocity and sharpen command following offseason back surgery. He has looked sharp in six scoreless innings over five games for Durham, allowing only two hits while striking out eight.

FERNANDO-MANIA: Standing on the mound with his cap typically askew, RHP Fernando Rodney enjoyed the serenade of the Fenway faithful chanting "ROD-NEE, ROD-NEE."

Even better, he liked shutting them up with the final two outs for his AL-co-leading fourth save, in four chances, without allowing even a hit. (David Ortiz, on an intentional walk, is the only one of the 14 batters he has faced to reach base.)

"Outrageous," Maddon said. "He's come in really calm. He's been a strike-thrower. Very aggressive. He's just looked really good. We've been able to shorten up the inning for him a couple times which I kind of like as we're building his confidence, which right now I would consider soaring."

Rodney, proving a capable replacement thus far for injured RHP Kyle Farnsworth, said he feels good and enjoys the pressure situations, like he had Monday. "I like people talking when I'm pitching," he said. "I feel more comfortable with that."

TIP OF THE DAY: After reviewing video of LHP Matt Moore's Sunday game, pitching coach Jim Hickey said he has "zero concern" that the prized rookie was tipping his pitches.

The issue was raised in the Rays' dugout during the game, as the Sox were taking aggressive swings at Moore's pitches, but Hickey said Monday it was the result of the poor quality of some of Moore's pitches. "My level of concern had nothing to do with anything except misplaced fastballs," he said.

MISCELLANY: CF B.J. Upton (sore back) went 2-for-4 with two singles, a walk and an RBI in the first of three final rehab games for Double-A Montgomery. He's targeting a Friday return. … RHP Matt Buschman, LHP David Price's roommate at Vanderbilt, was acquired from Washington for cash and sent to Montgomery. … Maddon will be featured on tonight's episode of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, airing at 10.

Times wires
Monday, April 16, 2012

HORSE RACING

KENTUCKY BID TO BAN DRUG FAILS IN COMMISSION VOTE

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A proposal to ban an anti-bleeding drug on race days in Kentucky lost Monday in a debate dividing a hobbled industry struggling to preserve the Bluegrass state's reputation as the nation's horse capital.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ended the tense discussion on the use of furosemide with a 7-7 roll call vote on the proposed regulation that would have prohibited the drug from the Kentucky Derby in 2014, and in the whole state starting in 2015. The race-day ban would have first applied to 2-year-olds racing in 2013.

The proposal would have made Kentucky the first state to ban race-day use of furosemide, marketed under the brand names Lasix or Salix. The drug is used to treat pulmonary hemorrhaging in racehorses. Furosemide is the only medication allowed to be given to horses on race day in the United States. Its use is banned in other countries because it enhances performance.

soccer

Muamba released from hospital

Fabrice Muamba was discharged from the hospital where the midfielder had been treated since collapsing from a cardiac arrest during a game less than a month ago. Muamba, of English Premier League club Bolton, had been in the London Chest Hospital since March 17. His heart stopped beating on its own for 78 minutes while doctors worked to resuscitate him. The 24-year-old recovered remarkably quickly, leaving his bed just nine days after collapsing.

AUTOPSY INCONCLUSIVE: The autopsy on Livorno player Piermario Morosini proved inconclusive and his body will soon be released back to his family. Morosini died Saturday of cardiac arrest during a second-division match in Italy. He was 25. Also, the Serie A matches postponed over the weekend out of respect for Morosini will be held April 24-25.

SKIING

Vonn pays $1.7M in back taxes

Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn announced through her Facebook page that she has paid the more than $1.7 million she owed in back taxes. According to public records obtained through the Elko County (Nev.) recorder's office, the IRS hit the overall World Cup champion and her estranged husband with a tax lien this month.

YACHTING

Search for missing called off

The search for four yacht crew members thrown from their boat during a weekend race off Northern California was indefinitely suspended, with the Coast Guard saying the "window of survivability" had passed. On Saturday, the four were part of an eight-member crew racing around the Farallon Islands near San Francisco when their sailboat was hit by powerful waves that forced it onto rocks. The body of one crew member was pulled from the water hours after the accident. The three other crew members were rescued.

ET CETERA

TENNIS: No. 13 seed Fernando Verdasco, No. 15 Jurgen Melzer and No. 16 Alexandr Dolgopolov reached the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco.

WEIGHTLIFTING: Pat Mendes, the top American at the 231-pound class, was suspended for two years after testing positive for HGH.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, April 16, 2012

ATLANTA — The four former NFL players who sued the league on Monday in a Georgia state court could lead a wave of new lawsuits that cite the Saints' bounty system as evidence that pro football didn't properly protect its players from concussions.

Legal experts and trial attorneys say they expect more complaints against the NFL to point to the Saints' scandal after the ex-players filed suit contending the bounty system was another example that the league "explicitly relied on violence" and neglected to educate players on the dangers of concussions.

The NFL's investigation found that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams offered thousands of dollars in cash payouts for violent hits over the past three seasons, including the team's Super Bowl run. The players named in the suit don't claim to be victims of the scheme but say it indicates a culture that has left them and other ex-players with debilitating conditions.

Coach Sean Payton was suspended for a year and Williams (now with the Rams) was suspended indefinitely for the scandal. Others banned were assistant and interim coach Joe Vitt (six games) and general manager Mickey Loomis (eight games) and the team was fined $500,000 and stripped of two second-round draft picks.

"Although the NFL has now punished Williams and the Saints, for almost its entire history the NFL glorified violent hits," the complaint said. "It encouraged its players to think of themselves as gladiators. But … the NFL failed to educate its players about the consequences of such a win-at-all costs mentality."

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said any allegation that the league intentionally sought to mislead players is without merit.

The suit was filed on behalf of former players Myron Guyton, Lomas Brown, Jessie Small and Willie Whitehead.

Meanwhile, NFL Network reported that Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma expects to be suspended at least two and up to eight games. Vilma, a former college star at Miami, was the only player named in the league's report about the bounty system.

Also, quarterback Drew Brees was in New York to join players' union officials at NFL offices to discuss the bounties. According to NFL Network, Brees said: "We didn't get any meaningful evidence, or any meaningful truth or facts" regarding proof of the bounty program.

BRONCOS: On the day Peyton Manning reported for the start of the team's offseason conditioning program, one of his former Colts receivers, Brandon Stokley, signed for one year to rejoin Manning in Denver.

CARDINALS: Quarterback Kevin Kolb says he has no hard feelings toward the team for pursuing Manning, but said he wishes the team had communicated with him better about it. "I'd just rather hear it from him than the ticker," Kolb said of coach Ken Whisenhunt. "He agreed. That's how relationships grow and that's where we're heading."

GIANTS: Former Patriots cornerback Antwaun Molden signed.

JAGUARS: Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton will miss at least three months of the team's offseason program after eye surgery. He was hurt April 8 when he was hit with a bottle at a Jacksonville nightclub.

JETS: Linebacker Aaron Maybin signed his one-year restricted free agent tender.

REDSKINS: Linebacker London Fletcher, who has played 224 straight games, re-signed.

STEELERS: Backup quarterback Charlie Batch re-signed to a one-year contract for his 15th season.

JURISPRUDENCE: Jury selection started in the trial of former Bengals and Bucs linebacker Nate Webster, who faces sex-related charges involving the teenage daughter of a former Cincinnati assistant. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was subpoenaed as a defense witness during the trial in Cincinnati.

OBITUARY: Rich Saul, who played center for the Rams for 12 years and made six Pro Bowls, died Sunday of complications from leukemia at his home in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 64.