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Big East TV deal might be small

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Times wires
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The "most conservative estimate" for a new Big East TV deal is $6.4 million per school annually, San Diego State president Elliot Hirschman said Wednesday.

The Aztecs get only $1.2 million this year, its last in the Mountain West before becoming a football-only member of the Big East. But last year, the Big East turned down ESPN's offer of $1.17 billion over nine years — or $13.8 million per school annually.

Since then, West Virginia and TCU left for the Big 12 and Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced they will leave for the ACC. In 2013, the league also adds Boise State from the Mountain West as a football-only member and Central Florida, Houston, Memphis and SMU from Conference USA as all-sports members. (Navy, an independent, joins for football in 2015).

C-USA's current deal nets each school about $1.3 million.

Last week, CBSSports.com reported the league could earn as little as $4 million for each of the 10 full members, including USF, $3 million for each football-only member and $1 million for each non-football member.

Under the current deal with ESPN, the Big East's eight full members get about $3.125 million annually while the eight non-football schools get about $1.5 million.

ESPN's exclusive negotiation rights begin Sept. 1 and last for 60 days. If no deal is reached, CBSSports.com reported the conference likely would talk to NBC/Comcast and Fox.

Spurrier pay proposal: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said every SEC football coach agrees with his proposal to pay college athletes.

Last year he proposed paying football players $300 a game. On Wednesday he proposed giving football players and other athletes in revenue-producing sports, such as men's basketball, "approximately $3,500 to $4,000." The NCAA is currently considering a $2,000 stipend.

Spurrier acknowledged the problems of his idea and that they won't be solved quickly.

First, there would be implications for Title IX, which guarantees women equal opportunities in athletics. Second, not every school would be able to pay student-athletes as much. Finally, football and basketball can't be the only sports to pay. It would have to be a national plan that covers all sports.

Basketball: Hoosiers, 'Cats still can't agree

INDIANAPOLIS — Negotiations to extend the Indiana-Kentucky series stalled for the second time in a month.

Indiana athletic director Fred Glass announced May 3 that the series, played every year since 1969, would end because the schools could not agree on playing at neutral sites or campuses.

According to the Associated Press, the schools restarted talks May 10. But Kentucky rejected Indiana's offer for two games at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium and one at each campus.

"I'm disappointed Kentucky rejected what I thought was a compromise that would address everyone's concerns," Glass said.

Among Kentucky's concerns, AD Mitch Barnhart said, were its scheduled game this season against Portland on the second Saturday in December, when Indiana and Kentucky traditionally meet. Moving that game would cost Kentucky $100,000.

Men's golf: Florida State shot its second straight 6-over 290 to sit third, eight behind Alabama, after the second day of the NCAA championship in Pacific Palisades, Calif. Brooks Koepka led FSU at 1-over 143, tied for 10th and six behind first-place Thomas Pieters of Illinois. Florida shot 12-over 296 and was tied for eighth, nine off the lead. Its top golfer, Tyler McCumber, was third, two off the lead. St. Petersburg's MJ Maguire shot 7-over 78 and was tied for 68th for North Florida, which was tied for fourth, nine behind Alabama.


Marlins 5, Nationals 3

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Times wires
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Marlins 5, Nationals 3

MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton hit his 12th homer in May to tie the franchise record for a single month and the Marlins earned their 20th comeback victory and completed a three-game sweep of the first-place Nationals. Still only 22, Stanton tied Dan Uggla's team record for the most homers in a month and totaled 30 RBIs in May.

OT win puts Heat up 2-0

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Times wires
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

MIAMI — The biggest postseason comeback in Heat history wasn't enough. It needed overtime to defeat the Celtics 115-111 and take a 2-0 lead in the East final on Wednesday.

LeBron James had 34 points and 10 rebounds while Dwyane Wade scored 23 for Miami.

"This group had resolve," Wade said of the Celtics. "They came out and played a great game. It was physical early. They brought the game to us. That can't happen. We used our crowd and their energy to get back into the game."

Celtics guard Rajon Rondo played all 53 minutes, recording 44 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

"He was absolutely phenomenal," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Put us, put the whole team, at times, on his shoulders."

The Heat came back from 14 down in playoff games twice, in Game 6 of the 2006 Finals — its title clincher — and last season. Wednesday, it trailed by 15 in the first half and by 11 in the third before two 3-pointers by James started a comeback. And a 9-0 run put the Heat up 98-94.

But Ray Allen's 3-pointer with 34.3 seconds left tied it at 99. Then James missed two shots, a layup, on which he got the rebound, and a jumper over Rondo at the buzzer.

In overtime, Rondo scored, the Heat tied it. Rondo scored. The Heat tied it. Rondo scored. The Heat tied it.

But Rondo missed a layup with 1:33 left, and Miami took a 107-105 lead on Udonis Haslem's dunk. After a Boston turnover, Wade drove the lane, fell after being fouled and watched his layup bounce on the rim and through. Wade made the free throw with 59.7 seconds left.

BOSTON (111): Pierce 8-19 5-6 21, Bass 2-4 4-4 8, Garnett 6-18 6-6 18, Rondo 16-24 10-12 44, Allen 5-11 1-1 13, Stiemsma 1-1 0-0 2, Pietrus 1-3 0-0 3, Dooling 1-1 0-0 2, Hollins 0-0 0-0 0, Daniels 0-0 0-0 0, Pavlovic 0-0 0-0 0, Moore 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-81 26-29 111.

MIAMI (115): Battier 3-9 0-0 9, James 7-20 18-24 34, Turiaf 1-1 0-0 2, Chalmers 8-16 3-7 22, Wade 8-15 7-11 23, Anthony 0-1 2-2 2, Miller 3-7 0-0 7, Jones 1-2 0-0 3, Cole 0-0 0-0 0, Haslem 6-12 1-3 13. Totals 37-83 31-47 115.

Boston 24 29 22 24 12— 111

Miami 18 28 35 18 16— 115

3-Point GoalsBoston 5-16 (Rondo 2-2, Allen 2-5, Pietrus 1-3, Garnett 0-1, Pierce 0-5), Miami 10-26 (Chalmers 3-6, Battier 3-8, James 2-6, Jones 1-2, Miller 1-4). Fouled OutPierce, Pietrus, Dooling. ReboundsBoston 48 (Bass 10), Miami 58 (Haslem 11). AssistsBoston 15 (Rondo 10), Miami 24 (James 7). Total FoulsBoston 33, Miami 18. TechnicalsGarnett, Chalmers. A19,973 (19,600).

Down 2-0, Thunder must find answers

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City has struggled to slow a San Antonio offense that's clicking on all cylinders during a 20-game win streak, including Games 1 and 2 of the West final.

But maybe the Thunder, which hosts Game 3 tonight, found something while trying to trim a 22-point third-quarter deficit during Tuesday's Game 2.

It turned it into a physical contest, cutting the lead to six before the Spurs held on 120-111.

"We're a physical team. We have to play that way," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "If we play free-flowing basketball, we can beat some teams. But we're not at our best if we're not being physical on the defensive end. Even on offense, we're a physical team. We set up our screens, and we attack the basket."

The Spurs scored 39 fourth-quarter points in a Game 1 rally then shot 63 percent from the field and 64 percent on 3-pointers while building the big lead in Game 2.

"We have to play with maximum effort every possession. If you don't do that, you give them so many open looks because they're the best passing team," Brooks said. "They make the plays for each other. They make them consistently, and they make them quickly and on time."

Hornets get first pick

NEW YORK — The Hornets won the lottery for the No. 1 pick, which they likely will use on Kentucky forward Anthony Davis.

"Just a first step for us to winning it all," said Tom Benson, the Saints owner who recently purchased the Hornets. New Orleans had the league's fourth-worst record and a 13.7 percent chance to win the pick.

The Bobcats, after going 7-59 for the worst win percentage in NBA history, fell to No. 2 despite having a 25 percent chance of winning the No. 1. The team with the worst record hasn't won the lottery since Orlando took Dwight Howard in 2004.

"When you win seven games, you have a lot of holes," Bobcats general manager Rich Cho said. "We know we're still going to get a good player."

Ewing out in Charlotte: Bobcats president Rod Higgins said Magic assistant Patrick Ewing won't be the team's new coach. Charlotte will interview Pacers assistant Brian Shaw today, ESPN.com reported. It previously reported it will interview Lakers assistant Quin Snyder on Monday.

Bird wants to stay: Larry Bird said he hopes to continue as Pacers president. He remains without an extension for a contract that expires after this season. Bird had been noncommittal about returning until Wednesday. He said he has talked owner Herb Simon a "few times" on the phone since the Pacers were eliminated by the Heat last week.

* From Nets

# From Timberwolves via Clippers

Full draft order, 2C

Los Angeles Kings take Game 1 of Stanley Cup final 2-1 in overtime over New Jersey Devils

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Times wires
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

NEWARK, N.J. — Anze Kopitar scored a spectacular goal on a breakaway 8:13 into overtime and the Kings beat the Devils 2-1 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday night.

Kopitar faked a backhand shot, put the puck on his forehand and beat sprawling Devils goalie Martin Brodeur by putting the puck under Brodeur's raised right lower leg.

Los Angeles has won all nine of its road games in the playoffs, a league record. The Kings are one win shy of the record for road victories in one postseason. They have won 11 consecutive road playoff games dating to last season.

More important, they are three wins from the franchise's first NHL title.

In overtime, after Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty chipped the puck up the ice, wing Justin Williams delivered a perfect backhanded pass off the wall to Kopitar, who broke in alone on Brodeur and beat him with a deke to his forehand. Brodeur went down, and Kopitar beat him from the left side for his seventh goal of the playoffs and the second OT goal of his career.

Brodeur said he thought Kopitar was going to go to his backhand. Kopitar said he went backhand on Brodeur in a shootout a "few years ago."

The Devils had two players engage on Williams at the wall, leaving Kopitar alone in the middle of the ice. Asked about the defensive breakdown, New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer said, "We're playing to win the game. I won't make any apologies for that."

The game was tightly played, in style and mind-set. By the middle of the second period, the Kings led 1-0 on a first-period goal by Colin Fraser and had nine shots. The Devils had five shots, all in the first period. "I thought we came out a bit tentative, as is expected," DeBoer said. "I thought we got better as game went on."

Los Angeles finished with 25 shots, New Jersey 18. The game "just came down to one opportunity," Kings wing Dustin Penner said.

With the scored tied at 1, the Devils had two great chances to take the lead early in the third, and for a second it appeared they went ahead with 16:02 to play when Zach Parise scored off a wild goal-mouth scramble. While the horns went off and the fans celebrated, referee Dan O'Halloran waved off the goal.

It was reviewed in Toronto, and the ruling was Parise swept the puck in with his hand.

Kings10012
Devils01001

First Period1, Los Angeles, Fraser 1 (Nolan), 9:56. PenaltiesBrown, LA (goaltender interference), 12:19.

Second Period2, New Jersey, Volchenkov 1 (Elias, Clarkson), 18:48. PenaltiesStoll, LA (tripping), 8:31; Zubrus, NJ (elbowing), 13:23.

Third PeriodNone. PenaltiesNone. First Overtime3, Los Angeles, Kopitar 7 (Williams, Doughty), 8:13. PenaltiesNone. Shots on GoalLos Angeles 5-9-8-3—25. New Jersey 5-4-7-2—18. Power-play opportunitiesLos Angeles 0 of 1; New Jersey 0 of 2. GoaliesLos Angeles, Quick 13-2-0 (18 shots-17 saves). New Jersey, Brodeur 12-6-0 (25-23).

Reports: Red Wings' Lidstrom to retire

DETROIT — Red Wings captain Nick Lidstrom, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and a seven-time winner of the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman, scheduled a news conference for this morning, and multiple reports said he will announce his retirement after 20 seasons.

Lidstrom, 42, was not commenting. General manager Ken Holland said, "He's going to announce (today) his decision for next year. … He can make his own announcement."

Lidstrom has been with the Red Wings since they drafted him 53rd overall in 1989.

around the league: The league will address officiating — and the perception that enforcement standards slipped this season, especially for obstruction — at a special August meeting with representatives of general managers, coaches, players and officials, hockey operations vice president Colin Campbell said after general managers met in New York. Also, talks will continue about a proposal that penalties carry over from one game to the next in a playoff series. … The league and union are setting up a schedule to begin talks on a new collective bargaining agreement in the next few weeks, commissioner Gary Bettman and union chief Donald Fehr said at a news conference. The current agreement expires Sept. 15. … The league had a record $3.3 billion in revenue this season, Bettman said.

Sports on TV/Radio for Saturday, June 2

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Times staff
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Arena Football

Storm at Jacksonville, 7 p.m., 1250-AM

Orlando at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., BHSN

Autos

Nationwide: 5-Hour Energy 200 qualifying, 10:30 a.m., ESPN2

Sprint Cup: FedEx 400 qualifying , noon, Speed

Nationwide: 5-Hour Energy 200, 2 p.m., ESPN

NHRA: Supernationals qualifying (taped), 4:30 p.m., ESPN

AMA Motocross, 5 p.m., NBCSN

Rolex Sports Car Series, 5 p.m., Speed

Baseball

Red Sox at Blue Jays, 1 p.m., MLB

Orioles at Rays, 4 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Marlins at Phillies, 4 p.m., FSN

Mariners at White Sox, 4 p.m., WGN

Yankees at Tigers, 7 p.m., Ch. 13

Rangers at Angels, 10 p.m., MLB

Boxing

Cruiserweights: Tarver vs. Kayode, 9 p.m., Showtime

Middleweights: Shumenov vs. Ornelas, 10 p.m., FSN

College baseball, NCAA tournament

Columbia Region, noon, ESPNU

Columbia Region, 4 p.m., ESPNU

Gary Region *, 4 or 8 p.m., Big Ten

Tucson Region, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Tallahassee Region, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Tucson Region, 11 p.m., ESPNU

College rugby

Collegiate Rugby Championship, 4:30 p.m., Ch. 8

College softball, World Series

USF vs. LSU, noon, ESPN2; 1010-AM

Tennessee vs. Oregon, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2

USF or LSU vs. Oklahoma or California, 7 p.m., ESPN

Tennessee or Oregon vs. Alabama or Arizona State, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

Golf

PGA Europe: Wales Open, 8 a.m., Golf

PGA: Memorial Tournament, noon, Golf

LPGA: Shoprite LPGA Classic, 2:30 p.m., Golf

PGA: Memorial Tournament, 3 p.m., Ch. 10

Champions: Principal Charity Classic (taped), 6:30 p.m., Golf

Lacrosse

MLL: Hamilton at Charlotte, 7 p.m., CBSSN

NBA playoffs

West final: Spurs at Thunder, 8:30 p.m., TNT; 1040-AM

NHL playoffs

Stanley Cup final: Kings at Devils, 8 p.m., Ch. 8

Soccer

Exhibition: England vs. Belgium, noon, FSC

Exhibition: Croatia vs. Norway, 12:55 p.m., ESPND

Tennis

French Open, 5 a.m., Tennis

French Open, noon, Ch. 8

Track and field

Prefontaine Classic, 3 p.m., Ch. 8

* Big Ten Network will air Purdue game no matter when it plays

TV: BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; CBSSN: CBS Sports Network; ESPND: ESPN Deportes; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel; NBCSN: NBC Sports Network

Rockies 13, Astros 5

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Times wires
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Rockies 13, Astros 5

DENVER — Carlos Gonzalez hit three homers in his last three at-bats, Michael Cuddyer belted a grand slam and Dexter Fowler also homered. Gonzalez broke a 5-5 tie with a solo shot in the fifth off Lucas Harrell. Gonzalez added a two-run drive as part of a six-run sixth and had another solo shot in the eighth.

Mariners 21, Rangers 8

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Times wires
Thursday, May 31, 2012

ARLINGTON, Texas — Justin Smoak hit two three-run homers against his former team and the Mariners used a pair of eight-run innings to rout the Rangers for the second straight game, winning 21-8 Wednesday.

Smoak had three hits to go with his career high for RBIs as Seattle reached double digits in back-to-back games. Jesus Montero homered among his three hits and drove in four runs, and Kyle Seager had four hits and two RBIs. Dustin Ackley also had a three-run homer in support of Blake Beavan.

The Mariners scored eight runs in the second and third innings en route to scoring the second-most runs in club history, equaling a 21-9 victory against the Angels on Sept. 30, 2000.

The Mariners started the game with only one player hitting better than .250 in the lineup. No matter, they sent 27 batters to the plate in the second and third innings, scoring 16 runs on 15 hits.

Yankees 6, Angels 5

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Times wires
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Yankees 6, Angels 5

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nick Swisher hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to drive in Raul Ibanez with the go-ahead run and reliever Rafael Soriano got Mark Trumbo to fly out with two on in the ninth for the Yanks. Curtis Granderson hit a three-run homer, and Robinson Cano hit a two-run shot in New York's five-run third.


Diamondbacks 4, Giants 1

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Times wires
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Diamondbacks 4, Giants 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Paul Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning to help Ian Kennedy snap a five-start losing streak, and the Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep. Kennedy outdueled Tim Lincecum in a matchup of struggling aces to win for the first time in seven starts since beating the Braves on April 22. Goldschmidt crushed a 1-and-0 offering into the leftfield bleachers for his fourth career home run off Lincecum.

Tampa's Antonio Tarver, 43, looks to defend IBO cruiserweight title against Lateef Kayode

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By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

TAMPA

Antonio Tarver is still here. • Still fighting. • Still winning. • Hard to believe, isn't it? • Unless you consider that this is what Tarver does, what makes him special. • He gets down, then up, then down again, then back up. • When you think he has left the building, you turn around and see him standing in the doorway. • "Just when they think I'm out," he said, "I slide back in."

The 43-year-old IBO cruiserweight champ from Tampa will slide back into the ring Saturday night to defend his title against 29-year-old Lateef Kayode, an undefeated but unproven contender from Nigeria, at the Home Depot Center in Carson City, Calif. St. Petersburg's Winky Wright, 40, is fighting Peter Quillin on the undercard.

Kayode is 18-0 and has knocked out 14 of his first 15 opponents. He is strong and trained by Freddie Roach, who also trains world champion Manny Pacquiao. Kayode thinks this is his time.

Tarver, 29-6 with 20 knockouts, disagrees.

"I've been there, I know what he feels," he said. "I understand his excitement, but I'm not ready to go anywhere yet. Really, I'm not."

The self-described "Magic Man" thinks he has more tricks to pull out of his hat, which has a seemingly endless supply.

His boxing career was almost derailed as a youngster by drug problems, then in 1992 he lost during qualifying for the Olympics.

But in 1996, he made the team at age 27, and though he was expected to win gold, came home with a bronze medal.

He made his pro debut at 28 and worked his way into a fight to qualify for a shot at Roy Jones Jr.

His first chance at dethroning Jones was unsuccessful. His second? Magical.

In one of the most stunning knockouts in boxing history, Tarver put Jones away with a second-round bolt of lightning from his left fist in 2004.

He lost his next fight to Glen Johnson … but won the rematch, and his loquaciousness led to a starring role as the bad guy in the 2006 film Rocky Balboa.

Two fights later, he lost to Bernard Hopkins but reclaimed the IBF and IBO light-heavyweight titles by beating Clinton Woods at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

After two straight losses to Chad Dawson in 2008 and '09, Tarver appeared finished as a legitimate fighter and emerged as a top boxing analyst.

But then he won a heavyweight fight in 2010 and stopped Danny Green to add a cruiserweight title to his resume last summer.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride, but it's been great," Tarver said. "I've stayed relevant by, I guess you could say, reinventing myself, time and time again.

"I've gotten to being a five-time champion by having the will and the determination to bounce back when everyone else has pretty much counted you out. That's really been the story of my life and career. I take pride in that."

For his next trick, Tarver wants to fight Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko and become heavyweight champion.

While he has to weigh in under 200 pounds for Saturday's fight, he says he walks around at 210 or so. At 220, he thinks he has the power, and the skill, to write yet another chapter in one of boxing's most unlikely stories.

"I want to bring the heavyweight championship back to America," Tarver said. "I think I'm the man to do it. That's my goal."

But first he has an angry, heavy-handed opponent who took umbrage with some things Tarver said about him as a Showtime analyst during Kayode's last fight.

In an unpopular decision win over Tarpon Springs' Nick Iannuzzi, Kayode was criticized by Tarver for his youth and inexperience. Tarver said he was just doing his job; Kayode is using the criticism as motivation.

"If he thinks he's going to be the bully in this fight, then he's got another thing coming. If he thinks he's going to bring power to this fight, he's going to find out early that he's got another thing coming," Tarver said. "He'd better have an A, B, C, D plan, because it's going to take more than one game plan to beat me. …

"I've fought bullies before and I've knocked them out. I've fought the very best in the world and I've beat them. So Lateef Kayode has a chance of a lifetime to be a legend for one night, but he's going to have to bring his butt to get it."

John C. Cotey can be reached at cotey@tampabay.com

USF Bulls softball falls 5-1 to Oklahoma Sooners in College World Series

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY — USF softball was the unseeded surprise team making its College World Series debut Thursday while Oklahoma was the national power­house in its seventh appearance playing a half-hour from campus at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

Yet in the bottom of the fourth, USF had a 1-0 lead, ace Sara Nevins pitching a no-hitter with five strikeouts against a lineup featuring three All-Americans.

That changed suddenly. Destinee Martinez singled. Then freshman Lauren Chamberlain, one of the All-Americans, crushed a home run to straightaway center for a 2-1 lead, and the Sooners pulled away for a 5-1 victory.

"The margin of error becomes smaller at this level against a great hitting team like that," USF coach Ken Eriksen said of a Sooners lineup that hit its nation-high 96th homer compared to his team's 27. "Their team took advantage of a couple of mistakes we made pitching-wise. You've got to play flawless softball to move into the winners' bracket."

Instead, the Bulls (50-13) get today off, then play an elimination game at noon Saturday against LSU, the only other unseeded team in the World Series. The Tigers lost 5-3 to top-seeded Cal.

Win there, and the Bulls play again Saturday night. Then they would have to win twice more on Sunday to reach the best-of-three championship series.

USF was outnumbered in the capacity crowd, but its fans wore neon green T-shirts reading, "Feed the Mouse," Eriksen's phrase for sending grounders to the steady glove of senior third baseman Jessica Mouse.

"I'm so thankful our fans were able to make it out to Oklahoma City," Mouse said. "It's definitely nice to have people cheering for you in your corner, especially when you're going up against a team that's 20 miles down the road. They've got the whole state behind them."

USF got a runner in scoring position with one out in the first and in the third. In the fourth, Mouse reached on an error. She went to second on a groundout, and pinch-runner Courtney Goff scored on a two-out single by shortstop Kourtney Salvarola.

"That's a tough place to play," Eriksen said. "You're playing in front of a lot of hometown people. My team just showed me what they're made of because they didn't show any type of nervousness whatsoever."

USF trailed 2-1 in the sixth. But Chamberlain (who has 28 home runs) doubled, and pitcher and fellow All-American Keilani Ricketts — who had 11 strikeouts — tripled. She scored on a two-out single. Oklahoma (51-8) closed its scoring with a bases-loaded walk, reaching five runs for the 14th game in a row.

Nevins, a Pinellas Park High graduate, had allowed only three earned runs over 18 postseason innings. The sophomore allowed five Thursday over 4⅔ innings but earned the respect of Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso.

"Sara Nevins is a tough, tough lefty; very, very good pitcher," she said. "I wouldn't want to face her again. I hope we don't."

Other games: Dallas Escobedo allowed just five hits and an unearned run to lead Arizona State past Oregon 3-1. … Cassie Reilly-Boccia's three-run double highlighted a four-run first as Alabama beat Tennessee 5-3. … Jamia Reid singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth as Cal beat LSU 5-3.

Baltimore Orioles' hot start no surprise to Tampa Bay Rays DH Luke Scott

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — The Orioles surprised a lot of people this season with their hot start as they enter tonight's series with the Rays playing for first place in the American League East.

But DH Luke Scott is not one of them.

Scott, who played four seasons in Baltimore before signing with the Rays in the offseason, saw the Orioles go on a similar run late in 2010, finishing with a 34-23 stretch. Scott said Baltimore is using a similar recipe for success; it is tied for the fourth-best ERA in the league, 3.67.

"It started with our pitching. When we pitched well, we won a lot of games," Scott said. "Because the lineup can swing the bats; there's a lot of good hitters in that lineup. Mix in some good pitching, a very good bullpen, and they'll win some games."

Baltimore has received key contributions in the rotation from ex-Ray Jason Hammel, and its bullpen ranks among the league's best. The Orioles' core of young players, including CF Adam Jones, RF Nick Markakis and C Matt Weiters, has stepped up, though Baltimore enters tonight's game having lost five in a row.

"They've had talent and have been gaining experience the last couple years," said tonight's Rays starter, David Price. "They're putting that experience out there on the field. They're playing to their potential."

Though it's only June, 1B Carlos Peña said this series is important.

"I think it's going to be intense," Peña said. "In the back of our minds, even though we want to treat every single game the same, we understand there's a lot hanging on these games."

PRICE CHECK: Price enters tonight's start in a groove, having worked seven innings or more in each of his past five outings. It matches the longest such stretch of his career (the other from Aug. 12 to Sept. 5, 2011), and is the longest current streak in the American League.

"I feel pretty good," Price said. "I've been able to throw all my pitches for strikes right now. I've been able to get ahead and get some early outs. (C Jose Molina) and I have been on the same page; we've been going pretty good."

MEDICAL MATTERS: OF Desmond Jennings (left knee sprain) went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored playing leftfield for Class A Charlotte on Thursday, the first game of his rehabilitation assignment. He was scheduled to play for Triple-A Durham today and hoped to rejoin the Rays on Tuesday in New York.

GOOD CAUSE: The Rays have printed an additional 1,000 "Players and their Pooches" 2012 calendars, which will go on sale today for $13 at Pet Pal Animal Shelter, Pet Pal Veterinary Clinic, the team store at Tropicana Field, and the Rays Pro Shop in Tampa ($13). The first 1,000 calendars sold out, raising $15,000 for Pet Pal Animal Shelter. … 3B Evan Longoria and Red Bull will contribute $1,000 per home run and $500 per RBI to refurbish Tampa Bay Little League facilities through the "Tampa's Got Wings" program.

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

Florida Gators second baseball Casey Turgeon eventually has impressive freshman season

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Like any freshman, Casey Turgeon wanted to make an immediate impact on the Florida baseball team this season.

He has done so, starting 58 games.

But what has made his season more impressive is the Dunedin alumnus overcame a scooter accident that kept him out for almost all fall practice and dealt with hamstring and groin injuries to emerge as one of the Gators' top newcomers.

"He's probably one of our toughest competitors," coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "What he's done is no surprise."

Turgeon was riding to the baseball stadium on Sept. 29 when his scooter collided with a car at an intersection. Turgeon, who was not wearing a helmet, was hospitalized with a concussion and other injuries. He missed all but two at-bats of fall practice.

Tonight Turgeon will be in the starting lineup at second base when Florida opens NCAA tournament play against Bethune-Cookman. He says it's a pleasant surprise.

"I thought I was going to be way behind," Turgeon said Thursday. "But (shortstop Nolan Fontana) took me under his wing. I got a lot of extra work, and where I am today, it's awesome.

"We started really small, just (fielding) ground balls and whatever the doctor would let me do. And then once I got fully cleared, I was out there hitting, and I was doing everything, running, anything to get back in shape."

And helping the Gators.

"No," Fontana said when asked if he envisioned Turgeon recovering well enough to play as well as he has. "And he's done an awesome job. He's come a long way since being hurt.

"And I don't think anybody thought he'd be back out here but him, and he knew it. He worked really hard to get here."

Fontana has participated in a classic example of paying it forward. Former Gator second baseman Josh Adams took a young Fontana under his wing and taught him the nuances of the college game. Something about Turgeon made Fontana want to do the same for him.

"I saw a lot of myself in Casey when he first got here, and that was a big part of making a connection with him," the junior said. "And also him playing up the middle with me was a big part of it as well.

"He's a great kid. He works hard. He's a hard-nosed guy, and I love that. He's a guy that loves playing the game of baseball each day. He just grinds it out. He knows that baseball is a game of failure, and that's a big part of how you become successful."

Turgeon enters the tournament with a career-high six-game hitting streak during which he is 8-for-21 (.381) with six RBIs, two doubles and a triple. At last week's SEC tournament, for which he was selected to the all-tournament team, Turgeon hit .429 (6-of-14) with four RBIs and two doubles.

For the season, Turgeon is hitting .271 with three homers, 24 RBIs and eight stolen bases.

The left-handed batter is playing precisely the way O'Sullivan envisioned.

"I think he's got a chance to go down as one of the best infielders to ever play here," O'Sullivan said. "He plays great defense. He runs the bases well. He can hit lefties. He uses the entire field. I think that's probably the biggest thing that's helped him. His freshman year, he started to use the left side of the field a lot better.

"He's just a good player. He stands out when you go to a high school game or a summer league game. He played on some really good teams, and he just stood out. He always seems to be in the middle of the action. I'm not surprised by what he's been able to accomplish this year."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com. Read her blog at tampabay.com/blogs/gators.

Detroit Red Wings' Nick Lidstrom pays tribute to former teammate and Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

When Red Wings defenseman Nick Lidstrom announced his retirement Thursday, the first former teammate he thanked was Steve Yzerman.

When Lidstrom talked about building the foundation for his career, Yzerman — Detroit's captain when Lidstrom joined the team in 1991 and now the Lightning's general manager — was his first reference point.

"Stevie was our leader," Lidstrom said. "What I learned from him over the years was his work ethic. He never took anything for granted. He worked hard, whether it was on the ice in practice or in the gym afterward. When you see a player like that, one of the leaders and one of the best players in the world do that, it's easy for young guys to follow."

"Nick's being very kind, and I appreciate it," Yzerman told the Tampa Bay Times. "But the reality is from the very first day, Nick was the same way: professional, classy, hard-working. He never changed for 20 years."

Yzerman, who played 14 seasons and won three Stanley Cups with Lidstrom before retiring in 2006, called his former teammate who succeeded him as captain one of the NHL's greatest players regardless of position.

"The consistency that he played with over 20 years from such a high level, from his very first game in the NHL, puts him among the all-time greats," Yzerman said.

"I don't know that people realize or appreciate how skilled he was. He was a tremendous athlete, but because he was such an intelligent player, it wasn't obvious. Everything he did was subtle. I always compare him to Roger Federer. He plays hockey like Roger Federer plays tennis."

Outdoors news and notes: Red snapper season is open; free fishing days

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By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Making news

REd Snapper season lasts just 40 days

The harvest season for red snapper opened this morning, but anglers better catch them while the catching is good. Federal officials predict recreational anglers will fill their quota by July 11 when the season will shut down again at 12:01 a.m.

Here on Florida's central gulf coast you have to travel about 30 miles offshore to catch these prized sport fish. Anglers may keep two fish per day, 16 inches or longer.

But before you head offshore, consider helping the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in an ongoing study of red snapper and other reef fish. FWC biologists have been distributing survey cards at public areas, including boat ramps, piers and marinas.

If any angler catches a red snapper, regardless of the time of year, he can use the card to note where the snapper was caught and, if appropriate, released, as well as the type of equipment used, the size of the fish and its condition.

Fisheries researchers and managers use the data to assess the status of the recreational fishery. To request a postage-paid survey card in the mail, email your name and address to FishStats@MyFWC.com. You can also download a data sheet at myfwc.com/research/salt water. Click on "Recreational Fisheries" and select the article "FWC enlists anglers to assist reef fish studies."

Anglers can call in a report if they catch a tagged grouper or snapper. Since 2009, state biologists have been tagging and releasing fish to evaluate their post-catch survival. The yellow or orange tags are near the dorsal fin of the fish, and each tag has a unique number printed on the side.

If you catch a tagged fish, call the Angler Tag Return Hotline toll-free at 1-800-367-4461. Note the species, tag number, date and time of capture, catch location, fish length, type of bait used and whether the fish was kept or released. If the fish is to be released, leave the tag on.

Free fishing days

Grab your fishing gear and head to the nearest pier. Florida officials have scheduled more free fishing days. You won't need a saltwater license, just a rod, reel and bait if you go Saturday.

But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has spread out the opportunities this year so more people can take advantage of the free fishing days on the state's lakes, rivers or saltwater destinations. Make note of these free fishing Saturdays in 2012: June 9 for freshwater and Sept. 1 for saltwater.

Send your outdoors news to Terry Tomalin at ttomalin@tampabay.com or call (727) 893-8808.

Solunar table

AM PM

minor major minor major

6/1 3:00 9:10 3:20 9:40

6/2 3:55 10:05 4:15 10:35

6/3 4:50 11:00 5:10 11:40

6/4 5:55 0 6:15 12:05

6/5 6:50 12:35 7:20 1:10

6/6 7:55 1:45 8:30 2:15

6/7 8:55 2:45 9:25 3:10


Ben Zobrist and Drew Sutton team up once again for Tampa Bay Rays

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — The fact Ben Zobrist and Drew Sutton's lockers are side by side in the Rays clubhouse is more than fitting.

After all, the two are like family.

They've been linked since they were drafted by Houston in 2004, when they were both the first person the other met in pro baseball. They roomed together the first two spring trainings and lived together in Nashville in the 2005-08 offseasons, as they nearly simultaneously molded into switch-hitting utility players. Sutton was an usher at Zobrist's wedding, Zobrist standing up in Sutton's.

"We became kind of like brothers," Zobrist said.

Though their careers took different paths — Zobrist, 31, a mold-breaking All-Star with a long-term deal and Sutton, 28, a journeyman trying to stick — they followed each other from afar. The two joked about being teammates again, and on May 20, they were reunited when Sutton was acquired by the Rays from the Pirates.

"Just being able to get to experience something like this where you get to play on the same team as one of your best friends, that probably doesn't happen a whole lot," Sutton said. "But it's a pretty cool thing."

• • •

Sutton, an El Dorado, Ark., native, was drafted out of Baylor in the 15th round by the Astros in 2004, nine rounds after Zobrist, a Eureka, Ill., native out of Dallas Baptist University.

But the two were randomly put together as roommates after the draft and joined again during instructional league.

They became fast friends, and when Sutton moved to Nashville in 2005, they lived and worked out together in the offseasons. Sutton said they'd get to a local facility around 10 a.m., take ground balls, hit batting practice off each other. "He was a pitcher in college, so he was probably better," Sutton quipped. "But we had some good battles."

Sutton, 28, laughed as he recounted how the two would go to an indoor soccer field and make up their own games to work on their fielding. They used a pitching machine, one that would swivel, and shoot baseballs toward a soccer goal from 100 feet away. If Zobrist shot a ball into the net, he'd get a point. If Sutton blocked it, he scored.

"We were turning that thing up to 95-100 miles per hour," Sutton said. "They would get intense. That was when we hadn't quite made it to the majors, so we were betting lunch on it. So $7-$8 was a big deal back then."

Sutton, traded to Cincinnati in March 2009, started to groom himself into a super­utility player one year after Zobrist played six positions in the Rays' World Series run.

"We kind of became the same player," Zobrist, 31, said. "It's just been really fun to watch each other do well. I feel like when he does well, I feel like it's myself out there. I'm really a fan when I watch him because we're so close."

• • •

Sutton's whirlwind May 20, when he got traded twice, had a happy ending, as he was sent to the Rays from the Pirates for a player to be named later.

Zobrist said he got a text message around 11:30 that night from Sutton:

"I'm coming to Tampa, can I stay at your place?"

Zobrist was stunned.

"I called him and right away, he was like, 'What's up teammate?' " Zobrist said. "I was like, 'No way! You're kidding!' "

Zobrist asked home clubhouse/equipment manager Chris West­moreland to set Sutton up in the open locker next to his. "It made the transition a lot easier," Sutton said.

Sutton, who has played parts of four big-league seasons (94 games) with four teams, is getting his first extended opportunity with the injury-plagued Rays. He has played three positions (first, second and third base), hit cleanup in the order twice, and played in eight straight games. Like Zobrist, he has a handful of gloves in his locker.

But Sutton knows his buddy is a tough act to follow.

"I don't know about making an All-Star Game. I'd just like to stay in the big leagues for a full year," Sutton said, smiling. "I'm not trying to get too greedy."

Captains corner: Fish a bit deeper for red snapper

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By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Great offshore action: Red snapper season opens today and ends July 11. Traditionally, water depths of around 100 feet hold decent numbers. However, we have found the fish to be a bit deeper (120 feet plus) this year.

Bait choices: Red snapper love frozen sardines, squid and a variety of dead baits. One of our favorites is bonito fillet. Cutting the fillet into thin strips will get many of the big snappers to bite. A large variety of live baits work, too. Large squirrel fish and Spanish sardines are two favorites. In addition to traditional spots, such as wrecks and the pipeline, many red grouper spots we fish hold schools of red snapper, too. This allows us to catch keeper red grouper along with the snappers. Gulf anglers can keep four red grouper per person, so numerous fillets can be taken for the table.

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

State officials to discuss future of snook regulations

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By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors-Fitness Editor
Thursday, May 31, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG

Fishing for snook is not a sport. It's a religion.

Anglers who target the legendary Florida "linesider" are the true believers of sport fishing.

They also might catch trout, redfish, even a tarpon or two, but the species that really gets their blood boiling is centropomus undecimalis. This species is difficult to catch, and pound-for-pound, unequaled in fighting ability. And if that isn't enough, you won't find a better fish for the grill.

These hard-core snook fanatics usually fall into one of two distinct sects. In one group, you have the hunters, the kind of fishermen who would like nothing more than to catch and cook a snook a day as long as the season lasts.

On the other side you have the conservationists, some might even call them preservationists, who dare not touch a snook, let alone kill one.

These two camps have been on opposite sides of the battle over snook regulations for more than a decade now. But the rhetoric really heated up in January 2010 when a series of cold fronts killed tens of thousands of warm-water-loving snook on both coasts of Florida. It was one of the state's worst fish kills in decades, prompting state officials to shut down the snook fishery in a series of regulatory moves through Aug. 31 this year.

The gulf coast stocks appear to have been harder hit than those on the east coast. As a result, Atlantic anglers were able to fish for three months in the fall of 2010, but then that fishery closed again until it reopened in September 2011. It closes once again today.

The current round of regulations are set to expire in the fall, right about the time the snook finish spawning in the passes and start moving onto the flats to fatten up for the winter.

One of the most popular and tightly regulated game fish in Florida, the snook has become a real conservation success story. Sound fishery management and an increasing number of anglers practicing catch-and-release have made snook one of Florida's top recreational fisheries.

"You could say that all those years of doing the right thing was like putting money in the bank," said Ron Taylor, Florida's resident snook guru. "The freeze hurt us, and we had to spend a little of the interest we made all those years, but the principle is still there."

State officials plan to meet later this month to discuss the future of this prized fishery. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials have two options.

They could vote to keep the fishery closed another year, or perhaps even two, to let the fish that were born after the freeze reach the legal slot limit of 28 to 33 inches in gulf waters. That would be the safe course of action and would surely please the most conservative sector of the fishing public.

Or state officials could let the current regulations expire and go back to the old winter and summer closures. That means anglers statewide would be allowed to catch and keep snook come Sept. 1.

When making such a decision, commissioners must consider not only biological considerations, but also the social and economic impact of another closure.

If they vote to keep snook off limits for another two years, we will no doubt have an incredible fishery in 2014. But can the bait and tackle shops handle another 24 months of snookless fishing?

If they vote to keep snook off limits for just one more year, we will most likely have a great snook fishery in 2013. But will the fishing guides who depend on out-of-state anglers still be in business when the closure ends?

If the commissioners vote to let the current regulations expire at the end of August, Florida's gulf coast will still have a good snook fishery. And in a couple of years, our snook fishing probably will be great, perhaps even incredible.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am the kind of snook fisherman who usually keeps one fish in the spring and one in the fall. I love to eat snook, but like I consume stone crabs, I choose to do so only a couple of times a year.

If another angler disagrees, and believes that all snook should be released, then he can exercise that freedom of choice by practicing catch-and-release. And those anglers who want to keep a fish now and then may do so as well.

Up next for the Tampa Bay Rays: vs. Baltimore Orioles

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

. Up next

vs. Orioles

Tonight-Sunday

What's new: The Orioles (29-22) haven't gone away, still atop the American League East despite a five-game losing streak. Their pitching has been a big factor in their success, although their starters scuffled during a sweep by the Blue Jays this week. C Matt Wieters is cooling off after a hot start, and CF Adam Jones had his career-best hit streak of 20 games end Wednesday. OF Nick Markakis will have surgery (broken bone in right wrist), so he will join OF Nolan Reimold and LHP Zach Britton on the DL.

Key stat: Baltimore has a league-leading 47 errors and is tied with the Rays with the lowest fielding percentage in the AL (.977).

Connections: Orioles RHP Jason Hammel is a former Ray. DH Luke Scott is a former Oriole.

Series history: The Orioles took two of three in Baltimore last month and lead the overall series 122-121. The Rays are 64-57 at Tropicana Field.

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Tampa Bay Rays news and notes: Going gladiator; top Buc to toss; Price on radar gun

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Number of the day

94.9 Average fastball velocity for Rays LHP David Price, the highest among qualifying American League pitchers, says FanGraphs. LHP Matt Moore is second at 94.4.

Rays vs. Orioles

When/where: 7:10 tonight, Tropicana Field

TV/radio: Sun Sports;

620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Promotion: Jeremy Hellickson rookie of the year figurine to the first 10,000 fans

Probable pitchers

Rays:

LH David Price (6-3, 2.71)

Orioles:

LH Wei-Yin Chen

(4-1, 3.31)

On Price: He has been on a good roll, allowing two earned runs or fewer in six of his past eight starts. He is 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA in nine career appearances against the Orioles.

On Chen: The 26-year-old from Japan makes his 10th big-league start. He is winless in his past two starts, but he allowed just two runs over six innings vs. the Royals. He is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in four road starts.

Orioles vs. Price

Adam Jones 3-for-20

Matt Weiters 6-for-18

Rays vs. Chen

Has never faced

On deck

Saturday: vs. Orioles, 4:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 2.83); Orioles — Brian Matusz (4-5, 4.82)

Sunday: vs. Orioles 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (1-5, 4.76); Orioles — TBA

Monday: Off

Rays disabled list

(with eligible-to-return date)

1B/OF Brandon Allen, right quad strain, May 25

C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day, Tuesday

RHP Kyle Farnsworth, right elbow strain, 60-day, Tuesday

OF Sam Fuld, right wrist surgery, 60-day, Tuesday

OF Brandon Guyer, left shoulder strain, 60-day, July 13

OF Desmond Jennings, left knee sprain, 15-day, Sunday

INF Jeff Keppinger, right toe fracture, 15-day, Sunday

3B Evan Longoria, left hamstring tear, 15-day, May 16

RHP Jeff Niemann, right leg fracture, 60-day, July 14

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Guest of the day

New Bucs coach Greg Schiano will throw out the ceremonial first pitch today.

Gladiator garb

Playing off the gladiator masks 1B Carlos Peña and DH Luke Scott have worn recently, the team ordered shirts with a picture of the mask on the front and Vires et Honestas (Latin for "strength and honor") on the back. "That's the way we like to think of ourselves. We're gladiators," Peña said. "We come out and battle every day."

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