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Captain's Corner: Red snapper is plentiful

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By Steve Papen, Times Correspondent
Sunday, June 3, 2012

What's hot: Red snapper has been the first target on trips offshore this past week, and it could not get much easier. These fish are stacked as high as 100 feet off the bottom in some spots.

Tactics: Red snapper have ferocious appetites and usually devour any live or frozen bait. During a feed, the dominant ones will move up the water column. To target these fish, use a knocker rig. This consists of a smaller egg lead, about a quarter-ounce or half-ounce, placed on the main line right above the hook. The smaller lead makes bait look like a stunned baitfish sinking to the bottom and, therefore, an easy target. A more traditional tactic is a fish-finder rig. This has a sliding lead on the main line, a swivel connected to a length of leader and a hook. One effective trick is dropping this rig to the bottom baited with a sardine then reeling up about 20-30 feet of line (depending on depth).

Grouper: With gag grouper closed, we are targeting big red grouper in 120-180 feet. These fish will eat most offerings, including large Spanish sardines, pinfish and other live baits. Another great way to catch them is using a 3- to 4-ounce buck-tail jig. This past week, grouper caught with artificial baits were larger than ones taken with live or frozen baits.

Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at (727) 642-3411 and fintasticinc.com.


Johnson's good hair day

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Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

DOVER, Del. — Jimmie Johnson was the mane man at the FedEx 400.

Wearing a multicolored Afro wig — tufts of green, red, yellow and blue could be spotted from the stands — Johnson had to admit it was hard to take him seriously while he played the role of race jester.

But he romped again at Dover International Speedway, racing his way into the track's history books Sunday with his seventh win on the concrete, matching the mark held by Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison.

No active driver owns the track like the five-time Sprint Cup champion. Johnson led 289 of the 400 laps and looked every bit like the driver who swept the two Cup races at Dover in 2002 and 2009. Johnson last won at Dover on Sept. 26, 2010. He also won the September 2005 race.

"I'm just proud of this hair," Johnson said of his wig. "The hair brought some speed to the team."

In Victory Lane, Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and other Hendrick Motorsports crew members wore the wacky wig seen in the talking-animal movie, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, which co-sponsored their car for the race.

They had good reason to clown around. Throw in the All-Star race and NASCAR's top organization has a four-race winning streak. Johnson won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and Kasey Kahne won the Coca-Cola 600. Johnson also won the nonpoints All-Star.

"I've never been one to pay attention to stats," Johnson said. "I just truthfully never thought I'd be the guy who'd build up any cool stats. Here I am with some pretty cool stats with legends of our sport and guys that I've looked up to."

Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five.

Johnson's win came about 390 miles after a 13-car accident ended weeks of mostly accident-free races and took out defending Cup champion Tony Stewart. Stewart returned and finished 25th.

Johnson's only real challenge for a stretch came from teammate Jeff Gordon. The No. 24 was strong enough to lead 60 laps midway through the race until a tire issue and an ill-timed debris caution combined to land him in 13th.

"It's always more frustrating when you've got a car that can win and you show it by going up there and taking the lead," Gordon said. "We don't care about finishing top 15 or top 10 right now. That does nothing for us. We need wins."

The 13-car pileup, which brought out a red flag, was Sprint Cup's biggest of the season. It happened on the ninth lap on the backstretch, triggered when Stewart made contact with Landon Cassill's left rear and sent him into the wall. Regan Smith rammed into Stewart, and nine cars plowed into them.

Smith and Stewart both took the blame. Smith said he didn't have time to slow and avoid Stewart. Stewart said it wasn't Smith's fault.

"(Cassill) was trying to get back down to the bottom, and we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Stewart said. "It wasn't Regan's fault. He was right behind us, and he didn't have anywhere to go, either. Just not a real good deal at the beginning of the race like this."

Cassill said he never felt Stewart touch him.

"When the (No.) 14 is behind me and he's going to make a pass, I'm going to let him go," Cassill said. "You want those guys to pass you. I hate it for Tony. I hate it for all the guys."

Caught up in the wreck were Juan Pablo Montoya, David Gilliland, Casey Mears, Travis Kvapil, Michael McDowell, Dave Blaney, Scott Speed, Stephen Leicht, Reed Sorenson, and Joe Nemechek. Most cars did return to the track.

Smith finished 27th and Montoya 28th. Gilliland, Speed, McDowell, Mears and Nemechek never returned.

Shooting from the lip

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Best replacement

Rays television analyst Brian Anderson was off this weekend, so Todd Kalas, left, joined Dewayne Staats in the booth for Tampa Bay's series against the Orioles. It was no surprise that the broadcasts were knowledgeable and enjoyable. Kalas is a pro and has no problem making the transition from sideline reporter to working in the booth.

The reason is that Kalas knows what he knows and knows what he doesn't know. He's not a former player, so his analysis is based on extensive homework and reporting. But he also has been around the game enough to know what he's watching.

For example, on Friday night the Rays' Carlos Peña was surprisingly gunned down at home on a grounder to short. As the replay ran, Kalas smartly zeroed in on Peña and noticed that he froze just long enough to be unable to score on a play on which he should have scored.

All in all, I still prefer the voice of a former player in the booth. Such an analyst lends a perspective a nonplayer can't provide, and Anderson does that very well. However, for a few times a year, it's good to hear Kalas in the booth. The Rays could've replaced Anderson with a former player, such as Orestes Destrade. But this allows Kalas a chance to show his stuff and perhaps work his way into a booth, if not here, then with another team if that's what he wants to do.

Grossest moment

The Detroit Grand Prix had to be shut down for a while Sunday when chunks of the track started coming up. There was plenty of bumpy racing even before the race was stopped. How bumpy? During a red-flag interview with ABC's Jamie Little, driver Oriol Servia held up his hand to the camera to show a nasty blister from trying to hold the shaky steering wheel.

Little laughed and said, "Thanks for turning my stomach with that blister.''

You know, along with hockey players, IndyCar drivers might be the most cooperative bunch of athletes around.

Best feature

ESPN's Outside the Lines aired a feature Sunday that almost surely will get nominated for an Emmy. It was about FC Start, a soccer team composed of bakery employees who were former professional soccer players from Kiev in the then-Soviet Union. In 1942 it defeated a team of Nazis 5-3 in a match despite orders from the Nazis to lose. Ten players on the winning team were sent to concentration camps, and four were later executed.

Outside the Lines retelling of the story was inspirational, heartbreaking, chilling and sad. The match was the basis of the 1981 film Victory starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Pele, though the players in the film all escaped capture.

The final of this year's European Championship tournament, which begins this week, is in Kiev.

Worst time

Fox is in a stretch of showing its Saturday baseball Game of the Week broadcasts in prime time. I don't like it.

Saturday Game of the Weeks are supposed to be played during the afternoon. That's the way it has always been. It's the way it always should be. Most baseball games are at night. TBS has a Sunday afternoon national game, but there's something special about Saturday afternoon baseball. It might be true that kids don't have early bedtimes on Saturday, but let's look at Saturday's Fox game between the Yankees and Tigers. It was a heck of game, so good that announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver correctly suggested that it wasn't quite like a post-season game but it did feel more important than just another regular-season game in June.

Know what time it ended? Close to midnight. How many 6-year-olds, 8-year-olds, even 10-year-olds are up at that time?

Best news

An official announcement is expected this week, but Dick Vitale's gala last month to raise money for pediatric cancer raised $2.1 million, a record for the seven-year event.

Think about that. More than $2 million in one night. The college basketball world gets credit, of course, but most of this is due to Vitale's tireless work and commitment. He's one of the good guys, folks.

Strangest ovation

I'm not sure who was more excited about Tiger Woods winning the Memorial on Sunday, Tiger himself, CBS's broadcasters, the PGA or the fans. The roar Tiger received as he walked up the 18th fairway and then after he won was deafening, even through the television.

I'm all for forgiveness and second chances, but I still am puzzled by the depth of support for Woods. Many fans overwhelmingly embrace him even as he continues to keep everyone at arm's length with his standoffish behavior. It leads me to believe that some folks just love someone who wins, no matter what he has done away from the playing field and how he acts on it sometimes.

Best yet worst moment

If you're a Mets fan, you certainly rejoiced in Johan Santana throwing the first no-hitter in the 51-year history of the team Friday. But for the rest of us, didn't you kind of enjoy that no-hitter drought? Not because it was the Mets, but because it was one of those interesting peculiarities in sports, and sports seems ever-so-slightly less interesting now.

It's like the Bucs going all those years without returning a kickoff for a touchdown. It was always fun, just before a kickoff, for someone to say, "You know, the Bucs have never returned a kickoff for a touchdown.'' The same with the Mets. Every time someone took a no-hitter to even the fifth or sixth inning, an announcer would bring up that the Mets had never had a no-hitter. Now it's gone. Sigh.

Three things that popped into my head

1. The Red Wings' Nick Lidstrom retired last week. After Bobby Orr, we're talking about the best defenseman who has ever lived. And even if he came back next season at age 42, he'd still be among the top 10 defensemen in the NHL right now.

2. Kurt Busch needs some serious anger-management counseling. Until then, he needs to do two things: shut up and go away.

3. In years past, it used to be stunning when the Rays made an error. Now it's a shocker when they go through an entire game without making one.

Most boring

I fully expected to spend a good portion of this column talking about the first two games of the Stanley Cup final between the Kings and Devils, and what a great job NBC's Mike Emrick, Pierre McGuire and Ed Olczyk are doing. • Instead, despite a couple of 2-1 overtime Kings victories, the series has been kind of boring. NBC is doing a good job, but you could make only so much lemonade out of two lemons. • Emrick, the play-by-play guy, has been the star, but that's mostly because the analysts haven't had much to analyze.

tom jones' two cents

Tampa Bay Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Tiger Woods rallies to win Memorial, ties Jack Nicklaus in PGA Tour wins

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Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

DUBLIN, Ohio — Tiger Woods was at his best Sunday at the Memorial. He hit nearly every shot just the way he wanted, worked the gallery into a frenzy with one last charge over the final hour and left everyone buzzing, especially Jack Nicklaus, with a shot they will talk about for years.

Better yet was the timing of his 73rd win.

Woods tied Nicklaus for career PGA Tour victories at the tournament that Jack built. And the 14-time major champion suddenly looks equipped to resume his chase of another Nicklaus mark: 18 major championships.

The U.S. Open starts in 11 days.

With a chip-in that Woods called one of the toughest shots he has ever made, he birdied three of his last four holes to close with 5-under 67 and turn a two-shot deficit into a two-shot win over Rory Sabbatini and Andres Romero.

Coming off a two-putt birdie on the 15th, Woods hit 8-iron over the green at the par-3 16th and into a tough lie. It was buried in deep rough, the pin 50 feet away along a ridge. Woods hit a full flop shot, hopeful to give himself a putt for par. More likely was the ball going short and down a slope away from the pin, or coming out too strong and rolling into the water.

No one was thinking birdie, not even Woods, until he took two steps and delivered an uppercut when the ball fell in.

Nicklaus gushed from the broadcast booth: "The most unbelievable, gutsy shot I've ever seen."

"He lands the ball exactly where it has to land," Nicklaus said later. "Going in the hole was a bonus. … I don't think under the circumstances I've ever seen a better shot."

Woods, who finished at 9-under 279, won the Memorial for the fifth time. At age 36, he is 10 years younger than Nicklaus when the Golden Bear won his 73rd tournament at the 1986 Masters. Sam Snead holds the PGA Tour record with 82 wins.

Woods ended his worst stretch as a pro. After winning at Bay Hill in March, he tied for 40th in the Masters, missed the cut at Quail Hollow and tied for 40th at the Players Championship.

Asked about whether his game is back, Woods, who moved to No. 4 in the world, sighed, "I'll let you guys figure that out."

Woods reached the par-5 15th into the wind in two shots to set up a two-putt birdie and get within one shot of Sabbatini. But just like that, it looked as if his chances were over when his 8-iron bounded into that tough lie.

"I went for it. I pulled it off," he said. "And for it to land as soft as it did was kind of a surprise, because it was baked out and it was also running away from me."

From the middle of the 18th fairway, with Nicklaus watching, Woods hit 9-iron to the back of the green, where it caught the slope and rolled to inside 10 feet for the final birdie. Woods raised the putter in his left hand before the ball disappeared in the cup. That was the pose Nicklaus struck so often in his career.

"That was some good stuff out there," Woods said. "I never really missed a shot today."

Meanwhile, Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint early Saturday in Ardsley and arrested on DWI and aggravated DWI charges. Police say Steinberg's blood-alcohol content was 0.18 percent. The legal limit in New York for DWI is 0.08 percent.

Diamondbacks 6, Padres 0

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Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

D'backs 6, Padres 0

SAN DIEGO — Trevor Cahill pitched a six-hitter and Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Montero and Gerardo Parra homered for Arizona. Cahill pitched his second career shutout and complete game. He pitched a three-hitter for the A's in a 6-0 win over the Royals on Aug. 2, 2010. Cahill, born and raised in Vista about 40 miles north of San Diego, won for the first time in six starts. Goldschmidt extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games.

Tigers' ALCS hero Ordonez retires

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Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

DETROIT — The ball sailed deep toward the leftfield seats off Magglio Ordonez's bat — in a video on the Comerica Park scoreboard this time — and the crowd cheered its approval of one of the greatest moments in Tigers history.

Ordonez officially announced his retirement Sunday, and Detroit fans had a chance to celebrate his stellar career in a ceremony before the Tigers hosted the Yankees. Among the highlights was a video tribute that included Ordonez's pennant-winning home run in Game 4 of the 2006 AL Championship Series.

"Big hit after big hit, leadership qualities," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "We'll also always smile — in 2006, in that fourth game of the ALCS — when we see that ball going over the leftfield fence, for one of the biggest hits in Detroit Tigers history."

Ordonez, 38, finishes his career with a .309 average over 15 seasons with Detroit and the White Sox. His 294 homers are the second-most by a Venezuela-born player, trailing Andres Galarraga's 399.

In 2007, the year after his ALCS homer eliminated Oakland, he became the first Tiger to win the batting title in 46 years. He hit .363 that year — the highest average by a Detroit player since 1937 — with 28 home runs, 54 doubles and 139 RBIs.

"I'm happy. I'm at peace," Ordonez said at a news conference shortly before the onfield ceremony. "I think the way that I left the game was the right way. I went to the playoffs, I did good 15 years in the big leagues, playing at a good level. I'm really proud."

Ordonez had family in attendance at his announcement, along with Dombrowski, Detroit owner Mike Ilitch and Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

"As a manager, one of your biggest thrills is to watch the best players in the world play the game, and I can't tell Magglio what a treat it was for me to have watched him play on a daily basis," Leyland said, choking up as he spoke. "I think the best thing that I can say to Magglio is, a manager has players over the years, and not all of them become friends, but you've become a friend."

In other Tigers news, OF Andy Dirks went on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon. The contract of OF Matt Young was purchased from Triple-A Toledo.

NO JOKE: Stand-up comic and political satirist Bill Maher revealed that he owns a stake in the Mets. Team senior vice president of marketing and communications David Newman confirmed that Maher bought a minority share months ago.

ASTROS: 1B Carlos Lee went on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. INF Brett Wallace was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

BLUE JAYS: DH Edwin Encarnacion left the game shortly after being hit on the right hand by a pitch from Red Sox RHP Daniel Bard. Encarnacion stayed in to run the bases but was lifted for pinch-hitter Jeff Mathis in the fifth.

NATIONALS: The team purchased the contract of veteran LH reliever Mike Gonzalez, who's expected to fortify a bullpen still without injured closer Drew Storen.

ORIOLES: CF Adam Jones is scheduled to have an MRI exam on his sore right wrist today.

PHILLIES: All-Star 2B Chase Utley, out all season with a left knee injury, is expected to report to Clearwater this week for extended spring training.

ROCKIES: RHP Juan Nicasio went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left knee, and RHP Guillermo Moscoso was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Florida Gators beat Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 15-3 to reach NCAA baseball Super Regions

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, June 3, 2012

GAINESVILLE — After jumping to an early seven-run lead, Florida produced a seven-run fifth inning, during which 12 batters came to the plate, on its way to beating Georgia Tech 15-3 and winning its region tournament at McKethan Stadium on Sunday.

Florida's 10th region title put it in the Super Region for the fourth consecutive season. The Gators, who outscored opponents 25-5 in going 3-0, play N.C. State or Vanderbilt. Those two meet in the deciding game of their region tournament today in Raleigh, N.C.

"I think this team is probably tired of hearing about how people have not thought they have played up to their potential," Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "We're the No. 1 national seed, and we're using that as motivation moving forward."

The Gators (45-18) have been nearly unstoppable in region play on Sundays. Over their past four, they have outscored opponents 57-11.

Sunday, Brian Johnson (8-4) went five innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four.

Up 4-0, the Gators added three in the second on a home run by catcher Mike Zunino, who is projected to be among the top five picks of today's draft.

"It was one of the better balls I've hit this year," said Zunino, who has 18 homers this year.

Georgia Tech struggled after beating College of Charleston 3-0 in an elimination game that started at noon Sunday. (Alex Cruz allowed two hits over six innings for the Yellow Jackets.)

"It has to take a toll," Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall said.

Florida's Casey Turgeon went 2-for-3 and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The Dunedin High graduate was joined on the all-tournament team by Gators Nolan Fontana, Preston Tucker (of Tampa's Plant High), Zunino and Jonathon Crawford, who threw a no-hitter in Friday's opener.

"I didn't really know that I was going to get MVP because I know Crawford threw a no-hitter," said Turgeon, who added he would have voted for Crawford. "But when my name was called, it was awesome."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com.

Dixon survives potholed course

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Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

DETROIT — Scott Dixon got his first IndyCar victory of the year Sunday in the Detroit Grand Prix, leading from start to finish a race marred by poor track conditions that forced a two-hour delay and then the race to be shortened from 90 laps to 60.

"We have to focus on the positives," Dixon said. "I'd like to give a lot of credit to everyone at IndyCar and the Detroit staff for getting the track back in shape so we could race. The final 15 lap shootout was exciting for me."

The 2.07-mile road course was on Belle Isle, an island park in the Detroit River between the United States and Canada. It hadn't hosted a race since 2008.

The course had chunks of asphalt and concrete missing. Pot holes and grooves that recently were filled with synthetic rubber became exposed. Crews filled the gaps with epoxy that settled enough for the race to resume after the delay.

The first sign of trouble was James Hinchcliffe losing control because he ran through a huge divot in the road and slammed into a tire barrier on Lap 39.

"I have never seen anything like it," he said after a 21st-place finish. "The lap before the accident I had this chunk hit me in the wing."

A red flag halted the race 45 laps in.

The sprint to the finish was stunted by a caution flag because light rain made the track even more slippery. Dixon pulled away after the final restart on Lap 55, finishing almost 2 seconds in front of teammate Dario Franchitti. Rookie Simon Pagenaud was third.


Lewis to rise as top American

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Sunday, June 3, 2012

GALLOWAY, NJ. — Stacy Lewis won the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Sunday and is poised to rise to the top of another list.

Lewis shot par 71 at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, to finish at 12-under 201 and four strokes better than Katherine Hull.

Lewis, 27, has won two of her last three starts and has three career wins. She likely will be the top-ranked American (No. 3) when the rankings come out today.

Cristie Kerr has been the top American since Nov. 23, 2009.

Lewis, who had back surgery a decade ago that almost derailed her career, said: "I'm speechless. To go from back surgery where I couldn't even sit up by myself to now playing golf, having fun with it, playing with the best players in the world and being one of them? It doesn't get any better than that."

Hull closed with 3-under 68 to finish at 205, and Mika Miyazato also shot 68 to end up third at 206 with Azahara Munoz.

The tournament has been played 24 times and no returning champion, including Seminole's Brittany Lincicome this year, has successfully defended. Lincicome shot 72 for a 1-over 214 total, tied for 29th.

Iowa triple: Jay Haas finished with a 16-under 197 total to win the Principal Charity Classic in West Des Moines by five strokes, becoming the first to win the Champions Tour event in Iowa three times. Haas, the winner at Glen Oaks Country Club in 2007 and 2008, led by three and shot a final round 5-under 66. Haas' 16-under tied the tournament mark set by Gil Morgan in 2006. Kirk Triplett set a course record with 9-under 62 and finished second with Larry Mize.

Florida State Seminoles beat Samford 5-2 to reach NCAA baseball Super Regions

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Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

TALLAHASSEE — Eight days after going 0-3 in the ACC tournament, Florida State reversed course — in a big way.

The Seminoles beat Samford 5-2 on Sunday to sweep their region tournament and advance to a fifth consecutive Super Region. They host Stanford, which beat Pepperdine 8-7 on Sunday to cap a perfect run through the region it hosted.

Stephen McGee and Josh Delph hit two-run singles in the second and third innings, respectively for FSU (46-15).

"They did not panic (after the ACC tournament)," FSU coach Mike Martin said "They went out there and did what they needed to do."

Especially his pitchers.

FSU starters allowed just two earned runs and four overall. Saturday, Brandon Leibrandt allowed three hits over eight innings in beating Samford 8-1. Sunday, fellow freshman Mike Compton (11-2) allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) over six-plus innings.

"Just keep them off balance," Compton said. "It was mainly changing speeds and working the corners."

Earlier, Samford eliminated Mississippi State 3-2. Brandon Miller scored twice and doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh.

UCF fails in its first chance to advance

CORAL GABLES — Maxx Tissenbaum and Tanner Nivins drove in two runs to lead Stony Brook to a 12-5 win over Central Florida that forced a deciding game at 7 tonight. Both seek their first Super Region berth.

The Seawolves scored three in the second and three in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead.

Earlier, Stony Brook ousted Missouri State 10-7. Down 7-3, it scored seven in the seventh, highlighted by Kevin Courtney's three-run double.

Softball: Oklahoma, Alabama reach final

OKLAHOMA CITY — Jackie Traina and Keilani Ricketts pitched and hit their teams into the World Series final. Traina homered and threw a two-hitter as Alabama beat California 5-2, and Ricketts struck out 13 and drove in a run as Oklahoma beat Arizona State 5-3.

The best-of-three series starts tonight.

The Tide was eliminated in the semifinals three of the past four years. The Sooners are in the final for the first time since winning their only national title in 2000, when it was decided by a single game.

Football: Two Ohio State starters, tight end Jake Stoneburner and offensive lineman Jack Mewhort, were arrested in Delaware, Ohio, for what police called only obstructing official business, a misdemeanor. Details were not disclosed. The school said only it was aware of the situation and was trying to get more details.

Men's golf: Dylan Frittelli made a 20-foot birdie to give Texas the national title over Alabama in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The schools split the first four matches, and Frittelli and Cory Whitsett started 18 all square. It's Texas' first title since 1972, when they had future PGA Tour stars Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.

James sees Celtics tie series from bench

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Sunday, June 3, 2012

BOSTON — Rajon Rondo had 15 points and 15 assists, and scored the final three points of the Celtics' 93-91 overtime victory over the Heat on Sunday that evened the Eastern Conference finals at two games apiece.

LeBron James fouled out for the first time since joining the Heat, and the Celtics recovered after blowing an 18-point lead in regulation to move two games away from a third trip to the NBA Finals in five years. Dwayne Wade missed an open 3-pointer that would have won it for Miami at the end of OT.

Paul Pierce, who led the Celtics with 23 points, fouled out early in overtime, and James followed him on an offensive foul with 1:51 left.

Kevin Garnett added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics.

"Stops," Rondo said when asked what was the difference in the tight game. "I think we executed offensively, came up with some lucky plays and we got stops at the end."

James had 29 points and Wade scored 20 after another dismal start for the Heat, which hosts Game 5 on Tuesday night.

In a game that started as a Celtics blowout and turned into a foul- and tension-filled fourth quarter, followed by the second overtime in this series, the Celtics held on when Wade faked defender Marquis Daniels out of position but missed the 3.

"We knew they were going to Wade," Rondo said. " … We're lucky we got a stop."

Mickael Pietrus drew James' sixth foul as they fought for position and had two offensive rebounds that extended consecutive possessions for the Celtics, who lost Game 4 in OT in a second-round series against the Heat last year with a chance to tie the series.

This time, they overcame their second-half stall on the offensive end and in OT limited the Heat to a dunk by former Gator Udonis Haslem.

Rondo's layup gave the Celtics a 92-91 lead with 2:34 left, and neither team scored again until he made a free throw with 21 seconds to play.

In a halftime interview, Rondo said the Heat was "complaining and crying to the referees in transition." He didn't back down after the game: "What I said was true. I don't take back what I said."

MIAMI (91): James 12-25 4-8 29, Battier 2-4 0-0 6, Anthony 1-1 0-0 2, Chalmers 5-13 2-2 12, Wade 7-22 4-5 20, Miller 1-4 0-0 2, Haslem 4-6 4-4 12, Cole 1-2 3-5 5, Jones 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 34-80 17-24 91.

BOSTON (93): Pierce 8-18 5-6 23, Bass 3-8 5-5 11, Garnett 8-20 1-1 17, Rondo 7-14 1-2 15, Allen 6-16 0-0 16, Stiemsma 0-0 0-0 0, Daniels 0-1 1-2 1, Dooling 3-5 1-2 10, Pietrus 0-3 0-2 0. Totals 35-85 14-20 93.

Miami 23 24 21 21 2— 91

Boston 34 27 12 16 4— 93

3-Point GoalsMiami 6-19 (Battier 2-3, Wade 2-6, Jones 1-2, James 1-3, Miller 0-2, Chalmers 0-3), Boston 9-27 (Allen 4-11, Dooling 3-4, Pierce 2-6, Garnett 0-1, Rondo 0-2, Pietrus 0-3). Fouled OutJames, Pierce. ReboundsMiami 56 (Haslem 17), Boston 53 (Garnett 14). AssistsMiami 20 (Wade 6), Boston 22 (Rondo 15). Total FoulsMiami 28, Boston 30. TechnicalsRondo. A18,624 (18,624).

Obituary: LeRoy Ellis, who played 14 years in the NBA after a standout career at St. John's, died of prostate cancer in Portland, Ore. He was 72. Mr. Ellis, who played at St. John's from 1959-62, still holds the school single-season record for rebounding (16.5 a game) and the record for most rebounds in a game with 30 against NYU on Dec. 30, 1961. Mr. Ellis appeared in 1,048 NBA games with the Lakers, Baltimore, Portland and Philadelphia.

Mets 6, Cardinals 1

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Times wires
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Mets 6, Cardinals 1

NEW YORK — Jonathon Niese struck out a career-high 10 in six scoreless innings and New York shut down St. Louis for the third straight game. Niese followed Johan Santana's no-hitter in the series opener Friday night and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey's shutout Saturday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign first-round draft pick Doug Martin to five-year deal

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Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 4, 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced earlier today that rookie running back Doug Martin, the second of the team's two first-round picks, has signed a five-year contract.

That's true — technically. But there's a little more to this.

Martin, like all other first-round picks, is signing a four-year contract that includes a team option for a fifth year. This is a new feature under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement implemented last year. Under its terms, all rookies sign four-year contracts, except for first-round picks. Their contracts must include the fifth-year option according to the CBA, which Martin's deal will.

That option, though applicable only to the final year of the deal, comes into play much earlier. Teams are required to make a decision on that option after the player's third season.

If they exercise the option, players chosen between Nos. 11 and 32 (Martin was the 31st pick) are scheduled to earn the average salary of the third through 25th highest paid players at their position in that fifth year. Top 10 picks (such as Mark Barron) must earn the average salary of the top 10 players at their position if the option is exercised.

Here is the official release from the team:

BUCCANEERS SIGN 2012 DRAFT PICK RB MARTIN

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that they have signed 2012 first-round pick RB Doug Martin to a five-year contract.

Martin was selected 31st overall out of Boise State University, where he started 25 of the 51 games he played. During his collegiate career, Martin collected 3,431 yards rushing, the fifth-most in school history, and 43 touchdowns, the third-most in school history, on 617 carries (5.6 ypc avg.). He also totaled 67 receptions for 715 yards (10.7 avg.) and four touchdowns and 26 kickoff returns for 739 yards (28.4 avg.) and one touchdown, while adding 32 special teams tackles. A first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection in 2011 and All-Western Athletic Conference in 2010, Martin became just the fourth Bronco to rush for 1,000-plus yards twice during their career.

As a senior, Martin carried the ball 263 times for 1,299 yards (4.9 ypc avg.) and 16 touchdowns. He also recorded 28 receptions for 255 yards (9.1 avg.) and two touchdowns, in addition to 10 kickoff returns for 338 yards that included a school-record 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Arizona State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas.

Martin recorded six 100-yard rushing performances as a junior, finishing with 1,260 yards and 12 touchdowns on 201 rushes (6.3 ypc avg.) in his first year as a starter. In his sophomore year, he recorded 765 rushing yards and a team-leading 15 touchdowns despite not starting a single game. That season, he also added 16 defensive tackles and a forced fumble as he shifted to cornerback for the first three games of the season.

Shelton: Miami Heat remains team we love to see fail

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, June 4, 2012

Someday you may feel their pain. • Just not yet. • Someday you may feel the ache of LeBron James' hunger. Someday you may see him as a sympathetic figure trying to overcome his bravado. Someday you might enjoy the notion of him as a champion. • But not now. • Someday you may cheer Dwyane Wade as he drives toward the basket. Someday you might wince as his final shot clanks harmlessly away. Someday you think another ring might look good on his hand. • Still, it is going to take some time. • I'd say, oh, until 2017 or so. • Maybe 2018. • For now the players of the Miami Heat remain the favorite villains of the NBA. To many they are still the guys who tried to stack the deck, the guys who started counting their titles before they shed a drop of sweat, the guys who carry themselves as the self-appointed royalty of the NBA. It doesn't matter which NBA team you pull for, the Heat is still the one you are most likely to pull against.

This year it has been slightly different. There seems to be less volume to the dislike of the Heat. Outsiders still don't pull for the Heat, but last year's outrage seems to have been replaced by a quieter disdain, one where fans wait until the team stumbles before they chuckle out loud.

This is progress, one supposes. Still, if this season ends short of a championship for the Heat, the celebration from outsiders will sound like a special episode of Glee. Only with more, you know, glee.

All of which leads us to tonight, and to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final, and to what might be the most important game of the James-Wade Look At Me Tour. Just that.

Call it a heat-on-Heat proposition. The Heat has to win. It has now lost two games in a row, and Wade keeps having bursts of ordinary, and the 78-year-old players of the Celtics suddenly look spry.

Also, the team keeps starting slow, and the players keep grousing about the officiating, and coach-for-now Erik Spoelstra has talked about how his team needs more energy. That isn't a call a coach should have to make at this point of the playoffs.

Lose this game and the odds are the Heat will lose the series. Then what happens? Aside from the aforementioned pointing and laughing, I mean.

In South Florida there has been talk that a quick loss in the playoffs would invite a discussion of how severely to revamp this team. For crying out loud, there have been rumors of the Heat trading for Magic center Dwight Howard. And you think the Heat is disliked now? Add Howard to this roster and you might hire Ozzie Guillen as coach, Metta World Peace as general manager and Mel Gibson as public relations director.

Still, can you imagine the aftermath if the Heat lets another NBA title get away? Of course you can. For a lot of NBA fans, there is no finer concept than the Heat underachieving once more. That's what the Heat has brought on itself: Win a title or explain why it didn't.

To be candid, I've never been convinced the backlash toward the Heat is entirely reasonable. James didn't invent free agency, or the idea of leaving Cleveland. There is nothing sinister about Wade. Chris Bosh? In the pecking order of the Big Three, he's Fredo Corleone. Nothing much to fear there.

But this is who we are. We like a bad guy in the script, and we like to see him fail in his attempt at world domination. Tell us how good you are and we will laugh as life humbles you.

And so we notice when the Heat shoots 1-for-8 in overtime. And when LeBron passes up a big shot at the end. And when Wade misses one.

Who knows? Someday perhaps we will look at things differently. Perhaps James will evolve into an elder statesman, measured with his words, careful with his approach. Perhaps Wade will become an ambassador. Perhaps the franchise will be admired.

First, they have to win a title or two.

Maybe three.

Captain's Corner: Red grouper plentiful, eager to eat

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By Steve Papen, Times Correspondent
Monday, June 4, 2012

What's hot: Red grouper in depths of 90 to 220 feet have been very good. The past few trips we have only had to make a few stops to get enough tasty grouper. These guys have not been picky with what they are eating, though the larger fish have been coming off live baits. Often offshore anglers mistake the large shows on their bottom machines as small baitfish, when most of the show is a large school of small vermillion snapper that take up residence on small chunks of hard bottom. Large red grouper will inhabit the same spots, since meals are close by.

Best bet: Red snapper limit catches have been taken with ease, on live, frozen and artificial baits. The larger fish will be higher in the water column. Look in depths of 120 feet or more to find the best action.

Venting: Since the red snapper season is so short, many anglers will cull their catch and just try to catch the larger fish. A venting tool helps ensure the survival of unwanted fish and will give them the best chance at getting back to the bottom. The needle should be placed at a 45 degree angle (toward the head of the fish), just behind where the pectoral fin lays against its side. Insert the needle about an inch or until you hear gasses escaping from the bladder.

Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at (727) 642-3411 and fintasticinc.com.


Tampa Bay Rays up next: at New York Yankees

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 4, 2012

.Up next

at Yankees

Tonight through Thursday

What's new: The Yankees (29-24) are hanging in the AL East race after a 6-3 road trip. Though their offense has been inconsistent, they rank fifth in the league in runs. SS Derek Jeter (hitting .336) is still the catalyst, with OF Curtis Granderson (17 homers, 33 RBIs) providing power. With RHPs Mariano Rivera and David Robertson hurt, ex-Rays RHP Rafael Soriano has taken over the closer's duties and has seven saves.

Key stat: Granderson has played in every Yankees inning (469) this season, all in centerfield.

Connections: Soriano is an ex-Rays closer, RHP Cory Wade a former minor-leaguer and pitching coach Larry Rothschild a former manager. Rays LF/DH Hideki Matsui, C Jose Molina and RHP Kyle Farnsworth are former Yankees, 1B Carlos Peña played one year in their farm system and hitting coach Derek Shelton was a minor-league coach.

Series history: The Rays have won four of six this season, though the Yankees took two of three at Yankee Stadium in early May. The Yankees lead 152-92 overall, 83-38 in New York.

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Tampa Bay Buccaneers to name new member of Ring of Honor

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 4, 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing to name the next member of their Ring of Honor.

The team said it will unveil the newest member, to be enshrined this fall, during a Wednesday press conference.

Who is it? So far, no one's talking. But we can certainly make some educated guesses. The most obvious candidate is Doug Williams, the team's former quarterback who helped take Tampa Bay to the 1979 NFC Championship Game. Most thought Williams was the most likely candidate to be named after Lee Roy Selmon and coach John McKay, but it's believed lingering feelings from his unceremonious exit from the front office two years ago played a role in keeping him out in 2011.

Former tight end Jimmie Giles was added instead. Has enough time passed to allow for healing between the Bucs and Williams? That's the unknown that will be answered soon. Co-chairman Bryan Glazer said last year he believed Williams would make it in at some point.

If not Williams, there are other candidates.

Another player from Williams' era, running back James Wilder, is a conceivable choice. Wilder set and still holds numerous franchise rushing and scoring records. Among his marks: most rushing yards in a single season (1,544 in 1984), total yards in a single season (2,229 in 1984) and rushing yards in a single game (219 on Nov. 6, 1983).

Beyond Wilder, there are others, still: The likes of Paul Gruber and Richard "Batman" Wood come to mind as possibilities.

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that the Bucs have never promised players would be enshrined chronologically. Even though the first three selections have come from the team's early years, Glazer has said the team could deviate from that at any time. If that was to happen this year, a long list of younger candidates -- Mike Alstott, Derrick Brooks and others -- come into play.

Tampa Bay Rays: Jose Molina heads north early for rare visit with brother; Joe Maddon participates in annual fundraiser

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 4, 2012

Family gathering of the day

C Jose Molina flew up to New York Sunday night so he could visit with his brother, Cardinals C Yadier Molina, right, in town to play against the Mets. "We don't get to see each other very much," Jose said. "So it'll be nice."

Tee time of the day

Manager Joe Maddon participated Monday in the annual Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center Celebrity Golf Classic at the Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, N.J. Last year's event raised more than $325,000 to benefit the ongoing educational and community programs in the region.

Shooting for stars

OF Matt Joyce, an All-Star last year, will join Yankees 2B Robinson Cano and OF Curtis Granderson at the MLB Fan Cave today for a press event revealing the first All-Star Game balloting update.

Rays at Yankees

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Yankee Stadium, New York

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

Probable pitchers

Rays:

RH James Shields (6-3, 3.95)

Yankees:

LH Andy Pettitte (2-2, 3.49)

On Shields: He's winless in his past three starts and gave up a season-high-matching six runs his last outing. He's 0-4 with a 4.18 ERA over his past five starts in New York, with the Rays losing all five.

On Pettitte: He has pitched pretty well in four starts since coming out of retirement to return to the Yankees this season. He's 16-6 with a 4.11 ERA in 31 career appearances (30 starts) against Tampa Bay.

Yankees vs. Shields

Robinson Cano 25-for-64, 4 HRs

Alex Rodriguez 13-for-43, 3 HRs

Derek Jeter 22-for-73, HR

Rays vs. Pettitte

Carlos Peña 13-for-40, 6 HRs

B.J. Upton 8-for-28, HR

Ben Zobrist 7-for-16, 2 HRs

On deck

Wednesday: at Yankees, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (2-1, 3.71); Yankees — Ivan Nova (6-2, 5.60).

Thursday: at Yankees, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (7-3, 2.44); Yankees — CC Sabathia (7-2, 3.68).

Rays disabled list

(with eligible-to-return date)

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

C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day, June 5

RHP Kyle Farnsworth, right elbow strain, 60-day, June 5

OF Sam Fuld, right wrist surgery, 60-day, June 5

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

OF Desmond Jennings, left knee sprain, 15-day, May 27

INF Jeff Keppinger, right toe fracture, 15-day, June 3

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

Cardinals 5, Mets 4

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Times wires
Monday, June 4, 2012

Cardinals 5, Mets 4

NEW YORK — Allen Craig hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, and St. Louis stopped its season-worst skid at five. The Cardinals have never been swept in a four-game series in New York. The World Series champions had been outscored 19-1 by the Mets and no-hit by Johan Santana before salvaging the finale at Citi Field.

Tampa Bay Rays' Hideki Matsui still excited to return to New York

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 4, 2012

DH/OF Hideki Matsui will return to where it all started for him — at least in the United States — when he heads back to Yankee Stadium tonight.

Matsui, 37, said he has fond memories of New York, where he spent seven seasons, made two All-Star teams and won a World Series MVP in 2009.

"Certainly the World Series MVP, the World Series experience was great. But regardless of that, the overall experience for me — everything was positive," Matsui said through interpreter Roger Kahlon. "It was just a great experience, a great organization, great city, great fans."

It was in New York where Matsui started his American career in 2003 after making the admittedly difficult decision to leave Japan, where he was a three-time MVP for its version of the Yankees, the Yomiuri Giants.

Matsui has returned as a visitor the past two seasons while with the Angels and A's, and he remains a fan favorite in New York, where he still has a Manhattan apartment.

"I'm sure you're acquainted already when you saw Johnny (Damon) when he went back to the stadium, too, but it's been similar," Matsui said. "Every time I stepped to the plate, fans have been very welcoming."

Matsui, who was selected last week from Triple-A Durham after signing a minor-league deal, has two homers and four RBIs in his first five games with the Rays. With LF Desmond Jennings (left knee sprain) expected to come off the disabled list today, it'll be interesting to see how much Matsui plays.

The Yankees know what kind of a threat their former mate is.

"Obviously, I hope he doesn't do much against us, but it'll be good to see him," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters in New York. "The bottom line is, he can hit a home run against anyone if you don't make your pitches."

DANDY ANDY: The Rays will get their first look tonight at Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte since he came out of retirement this past offseason. Pettitte, a three-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, rejoined New York's rotation in mid May after signing a minor-league deal.

"I knew he had something left on him," said Rays C Jose Molina, Pettitte's former teammate in New York. "It's always nice to see him back. … He's one of the greatest, because he's a winner. … He's one of my favorite players of all time."

STEPPING IN: RHP James Shields enters tonight's start against the Yankees winless in his past three and coming off a loss to the White Sox in which he allowed six runs and 10 hits.

But Shields, who is looking for his seventh win, likes where he's at.

"I looked at my video, and I still feel like I made good pitches," Shields said. "I'm not going to dwell on what happened. Obviously, I want better results. But it was kind of one of those outings where you feel good, you pitch good, you just have to continue that and carry it on to the next game."

Shields would like better results against the Yankees, too, having gone 0-4 with a 4.18 ERA in his past five starts in New York.

Said Shields: "Every start is a new start, so you can't really think about that."

MEDICAL MATTERS: Jennings, who spent the weekend on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham, could give the Rays a boost, back in his old leadoff spot and in leftfield, if he returns as expected tonight.

"There's one piece of our puzzle coming back," Shields said. "That's a good sign. He's a big part of our team."

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