By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 18, 2012

By now, you've heard all the hype surrounding Nationals 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper.

Maybe you're already sick of it.

He was labeled "Baseball's Chosen One" on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school sophomore in Las Vegas, a prodigy like Tiger Woods and LeBron James. He blasted 550-plus-foot home runs that became YouTube sensations before he could legally vote. His junior college coach, Tim Chambers, said cameras flashed in his first game as if he were "Barry Bonds hitting No. 73."

"He's like the Justin Bieber of baseball," MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds said. "Everyone's like, 'Who is this kid?' "

That's not a clown question, bro.

As the Rays prepare to face Harper for the first time tonight in opening a three-game series in Washington, the 2010 top overall pick is viewed around baseball as a once-in-a-generation type player who has won over the industry with his skills, instincts and throwback, in-your-face style of play.

"To see a 19-year-old do some of the things that he's doing, it's pretty darn special," Yankees star third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. "He's the kind of guy I would want to pay my money to watch play. I'm sure well after I'm done, I'll be paying my money to watch him play and break all the records."

Some see the outfielder's eye black and think brash. They see the brisk home run trot and think showboat. But Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen sees a stone-cold competitor who should be emulated by others "playing his (expletive) off." Rays manager Joe Maddon notices that Harper is beyond his years in baseball acumen, going first to third and stealing home on a pickoff at first.

"He's the whole package," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "You're going to look up in a couple years, because of who he is and how good a player he's going to be, there's going to be 100 guys that are going to emulate what he does, because he'll make the game better. Because if they play as hard as he does, it's better for the game."

Guillen believes Harper is unfairly criticized and "hated" due to the oversaturated media coverage. The Marlins' recently demoted Chris Coghlan compares Harper to Tim Tebow, a lightning rod for controversy and "jealousy" due to attention he never asked for. Reynolds said no player in history has had this many eyeballs on him since his early teenage years, a product of social media and Internet booming like balls off the left-handed hitting slugger's bat.

"Mickey Mantle, you read about him once a week in Sporting News," Reynolds said. "Ken Griffey Jr., when he was on the cover of SI and did something on 60 Minutes, wow, that was big news. But now, you hear folk stories on Harper, you can see it on the Internet, instantly."

More than Harper's skills and stats — seven homers, 19 RBIs in his first 44 big-league games — Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has been impressed with the maturity and attitude that baseball's youngest player has shown in handling the hoopla, absorbing advice from veterans and "listening more than he talks."

Rays left-hander David Price, a former top pick himself, especially admired Harper's answer to a question by a Toronto reporter who asked him after a recent big game if he'd celebrate with a beer (he could legally drink in Canada).

Harper, a Mormon who doesn't drink alcohol, quipped: "That's a clown question, bro."

No surprise, the answer went viral.

•••

Chambers, who has known Harper since he was 8 years old, said he learned one lesson quickly:

"Don't take your eyes off him," says Chambers, now UNLV's coach. "Because you may see something every day you've never seen before."

There were the 15 homers Harper hit out of Southern Nevada's ballpark — at age 12. There was the 570-foot homer Harper ripped in high school. There was Harper hitting a 380-foot sacrifice fly — during an attempted intentional walk. Harper decided to get his GED after his sophomore year and enroll at Southern Nevada, bettering his competition in a wood-bat league and making him eligible a year early for the 2010 draft.

That didn't surprise Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison, who saw Harper play in high school and compared him, in some ways, to Josh Hamilton.

"This guy is different," Harrison. "He might be one of those generational-like players."

At Harper's first game, more than 2,200 fans showed up to the stadium which seated 500-600. Said Chambers: "Flashbulbs were going off like it was Barry Bonds hitting No. 73."

Harper destroyed Southern Nevada and junior college records, hitting 31 homers that season (dwarfing Nevada's previous mark of 12, set with an aluminum bat). He signed with mega-agent Scott Boras, and, as the top pick, inked a $9.9 million, five-year deal with Washington.

Harper, who slept with his bat as a kid and grew up wanting to be like Mantle, was going pro with mammoth expectations — and loftier goals.

"He wants to be the greatest player ever," Chambers said.

•••

Rizzo admits "there's really no template for a player with his skill set, this guy's baseball IQ and baseball instincts."

Harper, called up April 28, was all over SportsCenter a week later, when Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels made the much-criticized decision to hit him intentionally. Harper soon made the Phillies pay by stealing home on a pickoff throw to first.

Then, in a game against the Braves, Harper hustled to turn a routine single to rightfielder Jason Heyward into a double.

"Any time anybody plays the game hard, his hustle may show somebody up, they may take that as cocky or whatever, but it's not like (Harper) has wavered off it," Marlins catcher John Buck said. "I think that's just him playing the game hard. Chipper Jones and Pete Rose were the same way, and now that's the entire reason why everyone loves them.

"In my opinion, I definitely think he's lived up to the hype."

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

By Bill Hardman, Times Correspondent
Monday, June 18, 2012

What's hot: American red snapper are smoking the baits when the bite is on; when the bite is off, it's effective to dive to meet the swarms of snappers with a speargun. This is a short ARS season, and already the bumpy offshore conditions have kept most recreational fishermen off the ARS grounds. Last weekend was a good example of too much wind for most recreational boaters to venture 40 miles from shore to the ARS areas. If conditions offshore subside, the hard bottom, springs and wrecks in 120-130 feet are holding the biggest ARS concentrations.

ARS tactics: When spearing these fish, be ready to run into bigger fish under the boat. We see some larger ARS at the top of the column of fish, and that's when you need to have your line-shaft rig ready to go. Don't free shaft a fish 70-100 feet from the bottom. That's a good way to lose your spear. We tend to also find the bigger ARS in sandy areas around structure and darting toward and away from the structure. These fish are spastic and dart all around, so always be ready for a 20-plus pounder to zoom at you.

Bill Hardman teaches scuba, spearfishing and free diving through Aquatic Obsessions Scuba in St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 344-3483 and captainbillhardman@gmail.com.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 18, 2012

. Up Next

at Nationals

Tonight through Thursday

What's new: The Nationals (38-26) are one of the league's biggest surprises, leading the NL East, but are coming off a three-game sweep by the Yankees that snapped a six-game winning streak. They've been buoyed by one of the game's brightest and most hyped young stars in OF Bryce Harper, with SS Ian Desmond and 1B Adam LaRoche sparking the offense. But the key has been pitching, led by Wednesday's starter, RHP Stephen Strasburg, as the Nationals boast the league's best ERA (3.00).

Key stat: The Nationals have led their division for 54 days this season, a franchise record.

Connections: Nationals RHP Edwin Jackson is an ex-Ray, SS Steve Lombardozzi a former St. Petersburg College standout. Rays bench coach Dave Martinez and third-base coach Tom Foley are former Expos (the team moved from Montreal after the 2004 season).

Series history: The overall series is tied at 9, with the Nationals 6-3 at home.

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

MIAMI — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh walked off the floor together after Sunday's Game 3 of the NBA Finals and were immediately wrapped up in conversation as they strolled to the Heat locker room.

Their talk had nothing to do with Game 3.

The Heat's "Big Three" were already working on their plans for tonight's Game 4 against the Thunder by going over what had just happened.

Like last year, Miami leads this series 2-1 — but last year Dallas won the next three to capture the title.

"We all got caught up in the lights and the negativity last year," Bosh said. "We let that take away our energy away from focusing on what we needed to focus on. This year we're good enough to win it. We were good enough last year. We had too many letdowns."

So they're trying to avoid those this time around, which is why they're going over things as diligently as ever.

"They made an adjustment how they (were) playing us throughout the game, and immediately we talked about what we have to do to kind of (make) that adjustment as three guys that are going to have the ball in their hand most of the time," Wade said.

The talk-it-out approach isn't only going on in one locker room in this series.

Oklahoma City center Kendrick Perkins — who won a championship with the Celtics — made sure some of the younger Thunder players knew that being down 2-1 is far from the end of the world.

Perkins thinks there can't be enough positive energy now.

"I know it's got to be in the back of their mind that we've got to win this game or something to that nature," Perkins said Monday. "But I told guys after the game (Sunday) that we're going to approach Game 4 that we're not going to look at the scoreboard, see who is in the lead or not. We're just going to play hard for 48 minutes, and go from there.''

STERN'S STANCE: David Stern is determined to stop the floppers, even if it takes until the next morning. The league commissioner believes too many players are deceiving referees into calling fouls by falling down, or flopping. So he and the league's newly reformed competition committee met to discuss how it can be prevented. One option, Stern said, is a "postgame analysis" in which a player could be penalized if it was determined he flopped.

BOBCATS coach: Charlotte reportedly hired St. John's assistant Mike Dunlap as coach, a surprise because Dunlap was not among three finalists and rejoined the picture late. No official announcement appears imminent. Dunlap, 54, replaces Paul Silas, whose contract was not renewed after Charlotte (7-59) finished with the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Meanwhile, Florida's Bradley Beal and Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist worked out for the Charlotte, which owns the No. 2 overall pick in next week's draft. Bernard James of FSU, a potential Round 2 pick, was among the others at predraft camp.

HORNETS: President Hugh Weber is leaving as new owner Tom Benson appointed top Saints executives Dennis Lauscha and Mickey Loomis to oversee both teams.

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

Mets 5, Orioles 0

NEW YORK — R.A. Dickey became the first pitcher in 24 years to throw consecutive one-hitters and Ike Davis hit a grand slam for New York. On Wednesday, the knuckleballer gave up only B.J. Upton's disputed infield single and struck out 12 Rays. On Monday, he struck out a career-high 13 and allowed only Wilson Betemit's clean single in the fifth. The last to throw consecutive one-hitters was Toronto's Dave Stieb in September 1988, according to STATS LLC. The Mets said the last to do it in the National League was the Boston Braves' Jim Tobin in 1944.

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors tried relentlessly — but failed miserably — to transform pitching superstar Roger Clemens into a disgraced icon of baseball's stubborn doping scandal when a jury took barely 10 hours to acquit the retired 49-year-old multimillionaire on all six counts that he lied to Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The speed of the decision Monday by the jury of eight women and four men took Clemens and his lawyers by surprise at the outset of the 10th week of tedious proceedings that featured 46 witnesses from the prosecution and defense.

Clemens was exercising with his sons near the Washington Monument shortly after 4 p.m. when word reached him that the jury had reached a decision after the first full day of deliberations.

Clemens, an intimidating 6-foot, 4-inch powerhouse known as the Rocket for a fastball that helped him win 354 games and strike out 4,672 batters in 24 seasons, teared up at a post-trial news conference within sight of Capitol Hill where his legal troubles began.

"I put a lot of hard work into that career," Clemens said. "And so again I appreciate my teammates who came in and all the emails and phone calls. Thank y'all very much."

Clemens thanked his family, called his wife Debbie "a rock" and praised former teammates and associates for stepping forward to testify on his behalf during a trial that spotlighted testimony by his wife, chief accuser Brian McNamee and McNamee's estranged wife Eileen.

Clemens choked up and stopped speaking for 20 seconds to collect himself as he thanked "the media guys who know me" from an illustrious career highlighted by seven Cy Young Awards and 11 All-Star selections.

Clemens' chief defense lawyer Rusty Hardin said the verdict vindicated Clemens' claims of innocence.

"It got to where people thought arrogant — a man saying, 'I didn't do it,' " the famed Houston defense attorney said. "Hopefully, when a man says he didn't do it, (people) will start giving him the benefit of the doubt."

Hardin admonished Clemens' critics "who made up their minds before there was a trial" to now "back up" and reconsider their views. Clemens always believed using anabolic steroids or human growth hormone was "cheating and contrary to his entire career," Hardin said.

"Justice won out," he said.

The prosecution team, including two lawyers who triggered a mistrial last year by introducing excluded evidence, said in a terse statement it respected the verdict.

"The jury has spoken in this matter and we thank them for their service," the prosecution team said.

Clemens mounted a successful multimillion-dollar defense to defeat six felony charges of lying to Congress that carried maximum cumulative penalties of up to 30 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.

The charges stemmed from Clemens' sworn testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in 2008 where the retired veteran of four teams adamantly denied receiving injections of anabolic steroids or human growth hormone between 1998 and 2001 from McNamee, his long-time strength and conditioning coach.

Clemens' trial featured sharp contrasts between Justice Department prosecutors whose humorless, monotonous approach matched the charcoal grey of their business suits, and the freewheeling, high-energy style of Hardin, who stood out in light-colored suits and colorful ties.

Clemens' defense team hammered away at the cost and scope of prosecutor's inquiry on behalf of Congress, playing into anti-Congress sentiment that had surfaced during lawyers' questioning of prospective jurors beginning April 16.

Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, a former criminal court judge and prosecutor in Harris County for more than two decades, faulted the Justice Department's priorities.

"It had no business investigating an issue that should have been left in the hands of Major League Baseball in the first place," Poe said. "Now, millions of taxpayer dollars have been squandered because of opportunists who have attempted to target and punish a successful American and baseball legend. The Department of Justice has real crimes that it should be investigating."

Clemens chose not to testify in his own defense, leaving his case in part to testimony by his wife Debbie and Eileen McNamee, the estranged wife of Clemens' chief accuser who helped undercut the credibility of the pitcher's former strength coach.

Clemens also benefited from reasonable doubt sowed by his lawyers about the origin of steroids and his DNA on medical waste retained by McNamee for seven years in a crumpled beer can. In addition, Clemens was helped by testimony from his long-time protege and one-time teammate Andy Pettitte, who said there was only a 50-50 chance that he accurately recalled Clemens confiding in 1999 or 2000 that he had used human growth hormone.

Around the majors

BLUE JAYS: Right-hander Kyle Drabek, who has a sprained UCL in his pitching elbow, will have elbow ligament replacement surgery today for the second time and is out for the season.

BREWERS: Right-hander Shaun Marcum was scratched from his start tonight because of tightness in his pitching elbow.

CARDINALS: Leftfielder Matt Holliday told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he has been dealing with a hip flexor condition since last month. He is not expected to go on the disabled list.

CUBS: Right-hander Ryan Dempster went on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his right lat muscle. Dempster, who has a 2.11 ERA and has been subject of trade speculation, said it's a minor issue.

RANGERS: Outfielder Josh Hamilton missed his fourth straight game with an intestinal virus that hospitalized him Friday.

REDS: Third baseman Scott Rolen, out since May 12 because of a sore right shoulder, was activated from the 15-day disabled list. Reserve Kristopher Negron was optioned to Triple A Louisville.

RED SOX: Outfielder Cody Ross, who has been out since mid May with a fractured left foot, is expected to be activated from the disabled list today.

WHITE SOX: Texas high school outfielder Courtney Hawkins, the 13th overall pick in the draft, agreed to terms, reportedly for the recommended slot bonus of $2.475 million.

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

Yankees 6, Braves 2

NEW YORK — CC Sabathia struck out 10, Derek Jeter drove in three runs and New York won its 10th straight game. Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano hit solo home runs as the Yankees matched their longest winning streak since May 2005. All 10 wins have come against NL teams with winning records, including a sweep at Turner Field last week. The AL East leaders moved 21/2 games ahead of the Orioles and four ahead of the idle Rays.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 18, 2012

Guest of the day

Manager Joe Maddon said his good buddy, former Bucs coach Raheem Morris, will attend the Rays-Nationals series. Morris is now defensive backs coach for the Redskins.

Rays at Nationals

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

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

Probable pitchers

Rays: LH David Price (8-4, 3.01)

NATIONALS: RH Chien-Ming Wang (2-2, 4.67)

On Price: He's coming off a rough loss to the Mets in which he allowed seven runs after having given up seven in his previous five starts combined. He is 3-3, 5.26 over six starts in National League ballparks.

On Wang: He has struggled since joining the Nationals rotation and hasn't lasted more than 51/3 innings in any start. The former Yankee is 7-5, 4.14 in 14 career starts against Tampa Bay.

Key matchups

Rays VS. WANG

Jose Molina 1-for-5

B.J. Upton 5-for-17

Carlos Peña 6-for-17, HR

NATIONALS VS. PRICE

Adam LaRoche 0-for-4

Xavier Nady 0-for-3

On deck

Wednesday: at Nationals, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.45); Nationals — Stephen Strasburg (8-1, 2.45)

Thursday: at Nationals, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (4-5, 4.16); Nationals — Gio Gonzalez (8-3, 2.52)

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Missed opportunity

Rays manager Joe Maddon lamented the fact that he neglected to come up with a clever wardrobe theme for this trip to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, considering their historical significance. It would have been especially interesting with the team traveling via train from D.C. to Philly. "(Dress up as) your favorite president, your favorite Constitutional Convention character," Maddon quipped. "There were so many things we could have done, and I screwed up."

Digs of the day

The Rays will get their first look at Nationals Park, the 40th different stadium the franchise has played in. RHP Burke Badenhop, who visited there with the Marlins after it opened in 2008, said it's his favorite park. "It's more than just the ballpark, it's the whole deal," Badenhop said. "It's the hotel, the bullpens, the clubhouse, everything else."

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

Indians 10, Reds 9

CLEVELAND — Lonnie Chisenhall and former Ray Casey Kotchman had three RBIs apiece as Cleveland ended Cincinnati's six-game winning streak. Chisenhall and Kotchman hit two-run homers, and both drove in runs in the sixth inning off Sam LeCure as the Indians snapped a tie at 7.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, June 18, 2012

TAMPA — Aqib Talib makes a living backpedaling as an NFL cornerback, but he was always straightforward by insisting he would be cleared of a felony charge in Texas that jeopardized his career the past 13 months.

That's what he told NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in August and new Bucs coach Greg Schiano in February.

On Monday, Talib made good on his promise.

Prosecutors in Dallas County dismissed all charges against Talib, according to his attorney Frank Perez.

Talib, 26, the Bucs first-round pick in 2008, was scheduled to stand trial on charges of assault with a deadly weapon June 25 in Dallas County, Texas.

Police said that on March 11, 2011, Talib pistol-whipped and fired shots at Shannon Billings, 42, the live-in boyfriend of Talib's sister, Saran, who resides in Garland, Texas. Billings is currently jailed as a repeat sex offender, and Perez said that in reviewing the case, prosecutors did not believe their chief witness would be credible.

"I guess the district attorney, in preparing for trial, had a chance to evaluate the case," Talib's attorney told the Tampa Bay Times on Monday. "The bottom line is that the complainant is sitting in jail as a repeat child molester and has prior cases of the same nature."

The dismissal of the second-degree felony, which could have carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, means Talib's legal issues appear to be behind him for now. He can begin the season under Schiano with a clean slate.

"We felt strongly the whole time that this would be resolved in Aqib's favor," Perez said. "He's very excited he can resume his career and have a fresh start with no problems."

Talib's attorneys, Perez and Jay Reisinger, later released a statement on Talib's behalf:

"Today, the District Attorney for Dallas County, Texas, dismissed all of the charges that were filed against Aqib Talib in March, 2011. We appreciate the District Attorney's thorough review of this case. Aqib is appreciative of the support that he received from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' organization, his teammates, Buccaneers' fans and his friends and family during this difficult period. With this matter now successfully behind him, Aqib's sole focus is on contributing to a successful 2012 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."

Billings, a registered sex offender with the state of Texas, is sitting in Dallas County jail in lieu of $265,000 bail after being arrested March 1 on charges of indecency with a child/sexual contact.

He also was arrested Dec. 10 on a charge of sexual assault and was jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail. However, the grand jury returned a "no bill'' in the case, according to court records.

Through his attorney, Talib has maintained his innocence in the 2011 shooting.

At the time of Talib's arrest, Garland police said he tried to pistol-whip Billings with a Springfield 9mm. During a struggle, the gun jammed after it struck a fence and was retrieved by Billings. About that time, Talib's mother, Okolo, 59, arrived at the scene and fired several shots with a .38-caliber Ruger. At some point, Aqib Talib gained possession of his mother's gun and fired two shots at Billings, according to arrest warrants.

In an interview with detectives four days after the shooting, Okolo may have provided police with the most incriminating evidence against her son. She said after he took the gun from her, "she did hear a shot and eventually admitted it could've been Aqib who shot," according to the affidavit. She also said that after Aqib "took the gun from her, he chased after Billings with the gun."

Police found shell casings belonging to the gun fired by Okolo in a driveway across the street.

Talib was indicted in May 2011. In July, the Bucs conferred with him once the NFL's labor lockout ended and allowed him to return to the team. Despite having suspended him for the first game in 2010 for punching a St. Petersburg cab driver, Goodell agreed to allow Talib to play last season while the league monitored the case.

Schiano said Thursday that he was "concerned'' about Talib's impending trial but prepared for any outcome. Talib has one season remaining on his five-year, $14 million contract and will earn $1.852 million in 2012.

"We're pleased that this is behind us," the Bucs said in a statement released Monday. "Aqib has had a positive offseason, which we expect will continue into training camp and the season."

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — The Florida baseball team spent a good chunk of the season ranked No. 1 and held that spot in the seeding entering the College World Series.

That makes the Gators' latest elimination even more stunning.

The curse of the No. 1 seed continued at the CWS on Monday as Florida left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and failed to score, ending a 5-4 loss to CWS debutant Kent State at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. UF is the 13th straight No. 1 seed to leave without the title.

Florida starting pitcher Hudson Randall left after the first inning because of heat-related symptoms. The defense, which committed three errors in Saturday's loss to SEC rival South Carolina, was charged with two more against the Golden Flashes, the MAC champions.

And when it looked like the Gators might capitalize on CWS newcomer Kent State's shaky relief pitching in the ninth, they couldn't get the call they needed from the umpire.

"It's an unfortunate way to end the season, but I think Kent State deserves a lot of credit for the way they played," Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "They hung in there, got a big strikeout at the end, and our guys hung in there right to the last out."

Florida (47-20), which lost to South Carolina in last year's final, came to Omaha as the favorite. But the Gators went 0-2 and became the 13th straight No. 1 seed to leave without the title.

The Gators gave up four unearned runs and another on a wild pitch while falling behind 5-1. But they chipped away at their deficit and loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against Kent State relievers Michael Clark and Josh Pierce.

Pierce fought back from a 3-and-0 count to strike out Dunedin's Casey Turgeon when Turgeon checked his swing. He was called out on an appeal to the third-base umpire. Justin Shafer then flew out to right to end it.

"I've been able to make it out here three times and all three times I've been just as disappointed," said catcher Mike Zunino, the Dick Howser Trophy winner as the national player of the year.

George Roberts drove in runs each of the first two innings for Kent State (47-19) after shortstop Nolan Fontana and third baseman Josh Tobias committed errors.

Florida scored in the sixth and added two in the seventh to make it 5-4.

Clark walked Plant High grad Preston Tucker on four straight pitches to start the ninth. He was 2-and-0 on Zunino when coach Scott Stricklin called on Pierce, who walked Zunino.

Tucker closes his career as the NCAA's active career leader in games played (265), home runs (57), total bases (596) and RBIs (258). He ranks third in hits (340) and doubles (70) and second in at-bats (1,032).

It was 95 degrees at the start, the warmest first pitch at the CWS since June 11, 2001.

ARKANSAS 2, SOUTH CAROLINA 1: Ryne Stanek and Barrett Astin combined on a four-hitter and Arkansas ended the Gamecocks' record NCAA Tournament winning streak at 22. The Gamecocks (46-18) must beat Kent State on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of a third straight national title. The Razorbacks (46-20) earned two days off.

USF BASKETBALL: The nonconference schedule for 2012-13 is complete, with home games against Bradley, Youngstown State, Bowling Green and George Mason announced. The Bulls, coming off of their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years, also play at Stetson. "This is possibly one of our best non-conference schedules, especially when you look at the amount of attractive home games on the schedule," coach Stan Heath said. The full nonconference schedule: Nov. 10 vs. UCF, Nov. 16 vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore, Nov. 17 vs. Western Michigan, Nov. 18 vs. Loyola-Chicago, Nov. 20 vs. Bradley, Nov. 26 at Stetson, Nov. 30 vs. Georgia, Dec. 5 at Oklahoma State, Dec. 18 vs. Youngstown State, Dec. 21 vs. Bowling Green, Dec. 29 vs. George Mason and Jan. 2 at UCF. The Big East schedule will be released later.

MEYER CONTRACT: Ohio State is paying football coach Urban Meyer a minimum of $4 million annually — more than ousted predecessor Jim Tressel — and detailing what he must do if an NCAA rules violation occurs under his watch. The school's board of trustees is expected to approve the contract this week. Meyer, who won two national championships at Florida before a one-year retirement, was hired in November to rebuild a program which is under a one-year bowl ban for NCAA rules violations committed during Tressel's tenure. Meyer's deal guarantees at least $4 million annually — up from Tressel's $3.8 million — not including bonuses, youth camps and other compensation.

WILLIAMS DEAL: Former Bucs quarterback and executive Doug Williams, in his second stint as Grambling State coach, has a new three-year deal worth at least $250,000 annually.

JURISPRUDENCE: Arkansas offensive lineman Jason Peacock pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to 10 days in jail. The senior was arrested March 16 for allegedly taking a fellow student's debit card and using it to buy $35 worth of gas.

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

nfl

tomlinson retires as a charger

SAN DIEGO — Joined by his family and several former teammates, LaDainian Tomlinson ended his brilliant 11-year career the same way he started it — with the Chargers.

Tomlinson signed a one-day contract with the Chargers on Monday then announced his retirement.

"It wasn't because I didn't want to play anymore. It was simply time to move on," he said.

Tomlinson rushed for 13,684 yards, fifth all-time, and scored 162 touchdowns, third-most ever. His 145 rushing touchdowns are second most in history.

Tomlinson, who turns 33 Saturday, said he knew at the end of last season that he'd probably retire.

bounty evidence: The NFL went public with some of its evidence against the four players suspended for their roles in the Saints bounty program. Among the things the league revealed: a prize of $35,000 for knocking Brett Favre out of the NFC championship game in January 2010.

The league also displayed a computer slide it obtained from the Saints, dating from before a playoff game against Seattle the following season, showing photos of three Seahawks with "Now it's time to do our job. Collect bounty $$$!. No apologies. Let's go hunting" printed on it.

NFL lead counsel Jeff Pash showed reporters the material at the end of a day when the suspended players — Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove, Scott Fujita and Jonathan Vilma — each attended appeals hearings with commissioner Roger Goodell at NFL headquarters in Manhattan.

et cetera

Soccer: Spain and Italy advanced to the European Championship quarterfinals in Warsaw, Poland. Defending champion Spain sealed the top spot in Group C by beating Croatia 1-0 with a late goal by substitute Jesus Navas. Forward Mario Balotelli came off the bench to score Italy's second goal in a 2-0 victory against Ireland.

Tennis: Melanie Oudin won her first WTA tournament, defeating Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-2 in the rain-delayed grasscourt final of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, England. … U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur lost in the opening round of the Unicef Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands, falling 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 to Kirsten Flipkens. Top-seeded Stosur, a Tampa resident, double-faulted seven times.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Troy Dumais and Kristian Ipsen took control over the last two rounds and built a 27.33-point lead in 3-meter synchro at the U.S. Olympic diving trials on Monday night, ahead of Brandon's Chris Colwill.

Dumais is trying to book a spot in the London Games, which start next month, and join Greg Louganis as the only American man to make four Olympic teams. He and Ipsen totaled 876.00 points through the preliminaries and semifinals to advance to Friday's final.

Dumais got sick a week ago and was tested for strep throat. "There's never a right time to be sick, but sometimes it can help you," he said in a strained voice.

Colwill, a 2008 Olympian and former high school standout at Tampa Prep, and partner Drew Livingston were second at 849.33 after edging Dumais and Ipsen in the prelims.

"I don't think anybody gave us any chance in this event, but we had two good lists," Livingston said. "We've underperformed at nationals. These guys (Dumais and Ipsen) have world experience."

David Bonuchi and Michael Hixon were third at 779.28. Justin and Dwight Dumais were chasing their brother, Troy, in fourth place.

Late Sunday, Nick McCrory and David Boudia dominated the early rounds in 10-meter synchro. They led by 114.84 points at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, south of Seattle. McCrory seeks his first Olympics, while Boudia is going for his second. Toby Stanley and Steele Johnson were second at 805.02, while Johnson was third with a different partner, Dashiell Enos, at 782.16. Scores carry over to Thursday's final.

Today's slate includes preliminaries in the women's 3-meter springboard and men's 10-meter platform.

SOCCER: Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan each scored twice to give the U.S. women a 4-1 win over World Cup champion Japan in an exhibition in Halmstad, Sweden, the Americans' penultimate tuneup for the Olympics. The United States plays Canada on June 30 in Sandy, Utah, before going to London.

FACEBOOK SPOT: Facebook launched an official London Games page for fans to connect with athletes and teams, a move it says can help make this summer's games the first "truly social" one. Many athletes — as well as London organizers — already connect with their fans on the online social network, but Facebook says its "Discover London 2012" page brings together the profile pages of hundreds of athletes, national teams, and official organizing bodies to make them more accessible to its 900 million users. The page is available in 22 languages.

TICKETS: Greek and Serbian Olympic officials denied they were involved in selling tickets to the Games on the black market. The International Olympic Committee is investigating allegations in Britain's Sunday Times that officials and ticket agents in several countries were caught selling tickets for up to 10 times their face value. The Olympic committees of both nations denied wrongdoing.

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

Brewers 7, Blue Jays 6

MILWAUKEE — Aramis Ramirez's liner down the leftfield line was ruled a homer after umpires reversed a foul ball call using video replay in the seventh, snapping a tie for Milwaukee. Ramirez's shot hit the outside corner of a yellow pad below the foul pole.

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

Cubs 12, White Sox 3

CHICAGO — Bryan LaHair and Alfonso Soriano homered to lead the Cubs. With winds gusting to 41 mph, the Cubs had season highs in runs, homers (five) and hits (15). Starlin Castro and Luis Valbuena also homered, and Geovany Soto added a solo shot in his first game back from the disabled list.

Times wires
Monday, June 18, 2012

Astros 9, Royals 7

HOUSTON — Brian Bixler and Justin Maxwell drove in three runs each for Houston, which scored five in the eighth to go up 9-2 then barely held on in the ninth. Kansas City scored five off Brett Myers and had the bases loaded with two outs, but Astros reliever Xavier Cedeno got Mike Moustakas to foul out to end it.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 19, 2012

D'backs 7, Mariners 1

PHOENIX — Aaron Hill hit a solo homer in the seventh inning to become the fifth Arizona player to hit for the cycle. Hill hit a single in the first inning off Hector Noesi, a triple in the third and a double off the Seattle starter in the fifth. He finished it off in style, hitting a one-out homer off Shawn Kelley in the seventh for the majors' second cycle this season.

Times wires
Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Rangers 2, Padres 1

SAN DIEGO — David Murphy hit a two-run single in the first, Matt Harrison won his fifth straight decision and Texas won its fourth straight game. Harrison tied the Yankees' CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova for the AL lead with his ninth victory. Joe Nathan allowed two-out singles to Chris Denorfia and Jeff Baker in the ninth before retiring Chase Headley on a grounder to second.

By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Since recently acknowledging it used five ineligible football players during its undefeated state championship season last fall, Armwood High has awaited the grim formality of having its title taken away.

The wait ended Tuesday, with a 16-page document steeped in stern language and irony.

Nearly six months to the day after their 40-31 victory against Miami Central in the Class 6A final, the Hawks must relinquish their trophy and pay more than $12,000 in fines and investigative costs, the Florida High School Athletic Association informed the school Tuesday.

Officially, the school must forfeit every game in which the ineligible players competed last season. Additionally, Armwood must forfeit 11 games from the 2010 season in which an ineligible player competed.

The football program also was placed on three years' administrative probation and given a letter of reprimand. Additionally, principal Michael Ippolito, coach Sean Callahan and athletic director Don Hill must attend an FHSAA compliance seminar.

Callahan declined comment when reached Tuesday, referring all questions to Ippolito, who was attending a teachers' job fair at Jefferson High.

University of Oklahoma-bound outside linebacker Eric Striker, the catalyst of Armwood's '11 defense, declined comment. Right guard Cody Waldrop, reached Tuesday at the University of South Carolina, said the 2011 team will forever be champion in his eyes.

"No matter what happens, no one can take that season and that day (the state title game) away from us," said Waldrop, who signed with the Gamecocks in February.

The $12,743.46 price tag includes $6,543.46 for the costs of a six-month probe conducted by Troy Pumphrey, a former Washington, D.C., detective hired as an independent contractor for $250 a day. The $6,200 in fines breaks down to a $100 per-player penalty for each game in which an ineligible student-athlete competed.

FHSAA policies call for a $2,500 per-student, per-contest fine, but the FHSAA lowered the penalty considerably "as a result of the school's cooperation with the investigative process."

Hillsborough County school district spokesman Steve Hegarty said the school is on the hook for the investigative costs, but emphasized no taxpayer money will be used to pay them.

However, Hegarty said Armwood will require the parents of the ineligible players to pay their share of the fine total, citing a form parents sign at the beginning of the school year agreeing to pay any monetary penalties incurred by them or their children.

"Some of these students have graduated already, but we're going to contact the parents and tell them we expect them to pay their share," Hegarty said.

The monetary penalties and forfeited title are the harshest of seven sanctions administered by the FHSAA after a six-month investigation found the families of five players falsified residence information to enroll at the school, thereby making them ineligible.

Last week, Armwood agreed with those findings in a formal response to the probe.

Bearing some of the collateral damage will be Callahan's quest for a milestone. Callahan initially entered the 2012 season three victories shy of 200.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Tampa Bay Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson is headed to the 15-day DL with right shoulder fatigue, and RHP Chris Archer has been called up and will make his major-league debut on Wednesday.

Hellickson said there was no pain or discomfort in the shoulder, but "just a little fatigue" and "weakness."

He said he expects to miss only two starts, and be back on the mound June 30.