By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 23, 2012

tom jones' two cents

Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament in the world, gets under way Monday. Here's our Two Cents preview:

Who is the man to beat?

Five-time finalist and two-time winner Rafael Nadal needed to get his swagger back, and he might have done just that by knocking off nemesis Novak Djokovic in the French Open finals. With his confidence intact, Nadal now is the favorite, although he is seeded second and Djokovic is first. Should Nadal win, it will be the third time in his career that he has won the French and Wimbledon back-to-back in the same year.

If not Nadal, then who?

Novak Djokovic, far right, or Roger Federer, near right. It's always one of those three, isn't it? Nadal, Djokovic and Federer have won 28 of the past 29 grand slams, although it has been more than two years since Federer has won a major and three years since he has won Wimbledon. Federer has a good draw, so he should get to the semifinals without much of a problem. He's only 31, but you have to wonder if he will ever win a grand slam title again. Meantime, Djokovic should not be embarrassed by losing to Nadal on the clay in Paris, but the fact is, he didn't play well. There has to be a sliver of doubt right now about where his game is.

Any chance for Andy Roddick?

We keep pulling for Andy Roddick, who turns 30 in August, to have one more big run in him, but despite his booming serve that is made for grass, Roddick, seeded 30th, would do well just to get past the fourth round.

What about Andy Murray?

The Scottish-born, 25-year-old Andy Murray is always a crowd favorite, but he can't get past the big three on the men's side. Murray has been knocked out in the semifinals each of the past three years. Murray brought in former star Ivan Lendl as a part-time coach and mentor. It's hard to say how much Lendl can help Murray here. Lendl reached the Wimbledon final twice, but it was the only major he never won.

Is it good for tennis that the men's side is dominated by Nadal, Djokovic and Federer?

There are two things that are good for a sport: dynasties and rivalries. Tennis offers both. Nadal, Djokovic and Federer are a three-man dynasty and any match between any two of them is appointment television.

"It's good for the game,'' ESPN analyst John McEnroe said.

ESPN's Chris Evert added, "I think that it's one of the most exciting times in men's tennis, because you have three men who are not only the greatest in their era, but I would put them in the top five in the greatest in the history of the game, and they all are breaking records right and left."

What about Tampa's John Isner?

You remember John Isner's famous 11-hour match against Nicolas Mahut in 2010 when Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set. Isner, seeded 11th, has never advanced past the second round at Wimbledon. Still, he could be dangerous.

"I think John Isner is going to be kind of scary to watch him serve on grass,'' Evert said. "I think his downfall has always been the return serve, but he knows it. He's aware of it, and he's trying to work on being more aggressive on that return.''

ESPN's Cliff Drysdale said, "I'm very high on John Isner because he's got the kind of game that can really work on grass.''

Is there anyone who has a chance outside of the big three and Murray?

Uh, no. But, if you're forcing us to throw out some dark horses, here's three: Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Berdych, don't forget, beat Federer on his way to reaching the Wimbledon finals in 2010, where he lost in straight sets to Nadal. Raonic recently took a set off Federer on grass. Meantime, Tsonga had four match points in Paris against Djokovic, but he couldn't close the door.

Who's the woman to beat?

In one of the more shocking upsets in sports this year, Serena Williams was knocked out of the first round in Paris. Then again, clay has never been her best surface. Grass suits her well. The four-time champ is seeded sixth, but that's only because she doesn't play regularly. Ask most tennis folks and they're taking Serena.

"In my book, Serena is the clear favorite,'' Drysdale said. "I think she was the best player in women's tennis going into the French championship. So she loses a match on clay. It's not her best surface by any means. You can name anybody including (Maria) Sharapova, and you put them head to head, Serena is the clear favorite. I still think she's the best player in the business.''

What about Venus?

Venus Williams was knocked out in the second round in Paris, and it's hard to say just where her game is these days. She's not even seeded at Wimbledon. (Neither is former No. 1 Kim Clijsters.) There's talk that this could be Venus' final Wimbledon. I don't think it is, but it might be her last chance to make a deep run at Wimbledon. Hey, she's a five-time winner. That alone makes her worth watching.

If not Serena, then who?

Maria Sharapova. After all, she's ranked No. 1 in the world and she's the top seed here. She's coming off a title in the French Open, which completed a career slam, and she's a past Wimbledon winner. Although, this snuck up on us: Her Wimbledon title came eight years ago. She reached the finals for only the second time in her career last year. Her impressive run in Paris has expectations extremely high.

Other women?

Victoria Azarenka won the first major of the year in Australia and was ranked No. 1 in the world, but she has since lost that title to Sharapova. She lost it because of a crummy clay season, but grass could give her a new start. She reached the semis at Wimbledon last year. Fourth-seed Petra Kvitova is the defending champ, and she made the semifinals at the Australian and French. That's the good news. The bad news is, she seems to be regressing of late.

Is there a long shot on the women's side?

Tsvetana Pironkova is unseeded and ranked 40th in the world. But if tennis were played only on grass, the 24-year-old Bulgarian would be ranked much higher. Quite simply, she's a grasscourt specialist. She reached the semifinals in 2010 and eliminated Venus Williams last year on her way to the quarters. She isn't going to win the whole thing, but she is capable of taking out a big name.

Who has the best chance of blowing a gasket and getting in trouble?

Serena Williams is always a good candidate to lose her cool and threaten a linesman or cuss out a chair umpire. On the men's side, David Nalbandian is the meathead who was thrown out of the Queen's Club tournament for kicking an advertising sign and inadvertently cutting the leg of a linesman who was sitting behind the sign. You would think Nalbandian wouldn't be so stupid to do something like that again, but we didn't think he would be so stupid to do it the first time.

By Ed Walker, Times Correspondent
Saturday, June 23, 2012

What's hot: Now that most adult tarpon have finished spawning, look for them to change their patterns. When these fish return to the coast from their offshore mating rituals, they become more focused on feeding. Earlier in the season the fish seldom ventured far from school formation to eat. To draw a strike you had to place the bait directly in the path of the group, and even then they didn't always bite. Now that feeding has again become their top priority, they are more likely to be found in small groups or as singles, which are far more likely to chase down bait.

Tips: It is a common mistake for beach tarpon hunters to fish only when large, obvious schools are sighted. Be sure to look into the water for what is passing by beneath the waves, preferably while sitting still with the motor off. Be sure to drift a couple of live baits behind the boat while watching. We catch random unseen tarpon like this all the time.

Tactics: Don't be afraid of dirty water. For the past two seasons, our best tarpon trips have both come in rough, dirty water. Again, you probably will not see many fish rolling, but when you figure out where they are in murky water, they will bite just about every offering.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs. He can be contacted at lighttacklecharters.com or at (727) 944-3474.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 23, 2012

PHILADELPHIA — The Rays had a lot to overcome against the Phillies on Saturday, including their shorthanded roster and now somewhat standard assortment of mistakes and missteps.

But after coming back with two runs in the ninth against old Red Sox nemesis Jonathan Papelbon to tie, they still came up frustratingly short, losing 7-6 on a walkoff pinch-hit homer by Jim Thome off Jake McGee.

"It's definitely a tough loss," starter James Shields said. "We've just got to get better overall. We've got to get better pitching and me doing my job. We've got to get better everywhere. In the past, we definitely finished it off. We did a great job of coming back. We didn't quit — that's a good sign. But it's a tough loss."

Manager Joe Maddon praised the players for their attitude and effort as they battled back after a 3-0 lead turned into a 6-3 deficit, but he also acknowledged it was the kind of game that they typically win.

"We did a lot of good stuff, but we made a couple mistakes that did hurt us; that's what it comes down to," he said. "We are not that group that normally makes those kind of mistakes that prevent us from winning those one-run games like tonight. We normally win those because we don't make the mistakes. And that's the part of the game we've got to get back badly."

The loss was their third in four games on the road trip and seventh in their past 10 as they dropped to 38-32 and are closer to fifth place than first in the AL East.

The list of transgressions was lengthy.

Shields made a few over his five innings, walking opposing starter Kyle Kendrick before a pop fly homer by Jimmy Rollins, and allowing a two-out hit to pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot. But the most glaring was a three-run homer to Juan Pierre, just his 17th in 7,024 career at-bats.

There was a team effort in the seventh, when second baseman Ben Zobrist missed a Pierre grounder, rightfielder Hideki Matsui made a weak throw allowing Pierre to second and catcher Jose Lobaton failed to stop him from stealing third, leading to the Phillies' sixth run.

And again in the eighth, when the Rays loaded the bases with no outs against Antonio Bastardo but scored only one run, as Brooks Conrad struck out, Sean Rodriguez singled, Desmond Jennings took a called third strike and Carlos Peña flied out.

They did rally, however, in the ninth off Papelbon, who had converted his first 17 saves as a Phillie. Jeff Keppinger, logging his team-record and career-high-tying fifth hit in his first game off the DL, singled in Matsui, then Conrad, in his first game since being claimed on waivers, knocked in pitcher Chris Archer, who was forced into pinch-running duty.

The last mistake came from McGee, whom the Rays had to use for a rare second inning given the void in the bullpen left by Joel Peralta's suspension.

McGee got to a full count and misplaced a 96-mph fastball to the 41-year-old Thome, who knocked it over the leftfield seats for the 609th homer of his career (tying Sammy Sosa for seventh place) and the 13th walkoff, most all time.

"It's a bad feeling," McGee said.

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

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

If the Saints were out to hurt Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game, they did it in the best way possible.

They defeated him.

During the NFL's investigation into the Saints bounty program, the league said New Orleans targeted Favre, with money being offered for any player taking the quarterback out of the game.

They didn't get that done, but the Saints beat Favre's Vikings 31-28 on the way to winning Super Bowl XLIV.

"My feeling, and I mean this wholeheartedly, is I really don't care," Favre told the NFL Network. "What bothers me is we didn't win the game."

Besides, as he says, "They didn't take me out of the game."

SAPP SAYS HE'S SORRY: NFL Network analyst and former Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp said he has apologized to Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey for publicly accusing him of being the whistle-blower to the league about the Saints bounty program.

Shockey denied the accusation and reportedly considered taking legal action. Commissioner Roger Goodell also said Sapp was incorrect.

"I saw Jeremy about a week after it all went down (last month) at a Heat game. … I said, 'I apologize for putting it on the street level and making it derogatory toward you,' " Sapp, 39, told 98.5-FM in Boston on Friday. "I stand by my source, but I hate that I put it on a level, that wasn't the way it should be."

MARSHALL SUIT DISMISSED: A lawsuit against Bears receiver Brandon Marshall, filed by an ex-girlfriend who accused him of abusing her, was dismissed. Rasheedah Watley, who filed the suit in 2009, had her case dismissed in Georgia State Court, the Chicago Tribune reported. The former UCF star joined Chicago in the offseason after two years with the Dolphins.

BRADFORD GIFT: Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, a former Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma, donated $500,000 to the school to help fund a student housing facility.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — South Carolina is in line to win its third consecutive College World Series title, but Arizona coach Andy Lopez already has a rare triple, and is seeking a special double.

Arizona is the third team Lopez has brought to Omaha, where, beginning tonight (8, ESPN2), the Wildcats (46-17) face the Gamecocks (49-18) in the best-of-three championship series. Only two other coaches — Larry Cochell and Ron Polk — have led three schools to the CWS. This is the fifth trip for Lopez, who won a national title with Pepperdine in 1992, brought Florida in 1996 and 1998, and came with Arizona in 2004.

Now Lopez can make more history and join Augie Garrido (Cal State Fullerton and Texas) as the only coaches to win national titles at two schools.

"I hope he doesn't take a fourth team to Omaha because I want him to be our coach," Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne said.

South Carolina is back in the finals after Tyler Webb and Matt Price combined for seven innings of shutout relief in a 3-2 win Friday over Arkansas.

USF gets back: DeLand running back JoJo Kemp committed to coach Skip Holtz for 2013 at USF's annual SuperBull gathering of top recruits. Kemp chose USF over West Virginia, Kentucky, Arizona State and Purdue.

Boise waffling? Six months ago, Boise State said it would join the Big East for the 2013 season, but it still hasn't officially withdrawn from the Mountain West, and the Broncos are in talks about staying, CBSSports.com reported. If the Broncos leave before July 1, the exit fee is roughly $2.5 million. But if they go after that date, the cost could go as high as $24 million. If Boise State doesn't join the Big East, it owes the league $5 million.

Times staff writer Greg Auman and the Orlando Sentinel contributed to this report.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

SONOMA, Calif. — Few drivers expect to go through today's Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway without getting a little frustrated with their competitors.

With so few passing zones at Sonoma, double-file restarts and increased parity among drivers, there has been no shortage of accidents — or acts of retaliation — in recent years.

"Most of the wrecks that happen here just happen from people being idiots," driver Jamie McMurray said Friday. "You can't be the guy that's run 17th all day and on the last restart expect you're going to pass six rows of cars in Turn 7. That's what happens here every single year."

Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart said the increased competition level has led to more contact between cars. Last year, though, he spun Brian Vickers in Turn 11 midway through the race. Later, Vickers retaliated by forcing Stewart's car into the tire barrier.

"What causes a lot of it is just that the competition is so close," Stewart said. "With double-file restarts, we're not stringing out like we used to here. The frustration comes more on starts and restarts than it does anything."

MAKING UP, SORT OF: Road-course specialist Boris Said knows he's probably not on Greg Biffle's "Christmas card list" but believes the two are at least on decent terms after they got into an altercation at Watkins Glen last year.

Late in that road-course race in upstate New York, Said bumped into David Ragan, Biffle's then-teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, resulting in a crash that totaled the cars of Ragan and Zephyrhills' David Reutimann.

After the race, according to witnesses, Biffle took at least one swing at Said, who was still in his car. Said got out of his car and went after Biffle, who was then being guarded by his crew.

Later in an interview, Said called Biffle "an unprofessional little scaredy-cat" among other things and added, "he needs a whooping, and I'm going to give it to him." Biffle later tweeted, "Boris, 'the road course ringer' caused that wreck."

Biffle said Friday that he has talked to Said on the phone but that the two have different goals today. Said is not a regular on the Cup circuit. Biffle is third in points and wants to stay in contention.

"I just didn't understand where he was coming from with me being a part-time guy, and I shouldn't drive as aggressively as I can drive. But I was getting paid to do a job, and I can't lay down, you know," Said said. "I have to give it 100 percent. … So it was just one of those things where he was having a bad day and I took some of the brunt of it."

GORDON'S PLANS: Owner/driver Robby Gordon said he believes today's event will be his last this season.

Gordon has no sponsorship lined up beyond this week and has raced only twice this season — the season-opening Daytona 500 and at Phoenix. He has failed to qualify twice since.

"I'd love to go to Watkins Glen, but I don't have a sponsor right now to go there," Gordon said. "So as we sit here right now, there's nothing on the table for anything until next season."

Gordon, 43, said he has money lined up for two races in both 2013 and '14, but he has no intention of attempting to run a full schedule again unless a funding package comes through.

. fast facts

Sprint Cup points

Through 15 of 36 races. The top 10 drivers plus two wild cards (based on wins) through 26 races make the Chase for the Championship.

Driver Pts. Back

Matt Kenseth 565—

D. Earnhardt Jr. 561 4

Greg Biffle 548 17

Jimmie Johnson 532 33

Denny Hamlin 514 51

Kevin Harvick 504 61

Martin Truex 497 68

Tony Stewart 491 74

Clint Bowyer 481 84

Brad Keselowski 458 107

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — The first U.S. Olympic swimming trials showdown between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte came at the edge of a curtained-off interview room, not far from the temporary pool where the event begins Monday.

Phelps rubbed his thick mustache and queried Lochte about his smooth face.

"I had one, but I had to shave it," Lochte said.

"C'mon, man, you've got to keep it as long as you can," Phelps replied, breaking into a big smile beneath all that hair.

The meeting Saturday between swimming's two biggest stars — who are also friends — was downright cordial. Expect it to be different when they get in the water.

Phelps is a 14-time gold medalist trying to put an appropriate finish on his brilliant career at the London Olympics, which begin July 27. (He has said he will retire at Games' end.)

Lochte is the guy standing in Phelps' way, a laid-back Floridian and former Gator who beat Phelps twice at last year's world championships and keeps saying, "This is my time."

"Michael Phelps definitely set the limit," Lochte said. "But, I mean, he's human. He's not a fish or anything like that."

Phelps has already hoarded more gold than any other Olympian, and he has regained the motivation that faded after he toppled Mark Spitz's iconic record by winning eight events at the 2008 Games.

"I'm a lot more relaxed than I've ever been," he said. "We'll see after this week what size cherry I want to put on my sundae."

Lochte has entered a staggering 11 events at the trials, though he surely will drop several of those by tonight's scratch deadline and perhaps use others for training purposes in the preliminaries.

Phelps has entered seven races, including the 400-meter individual medley, potentially setting up his first clash with Lochte, the defending world champion.

Lochte and Phelps will certainly face each other in two of their best events: the 200 IM and the 200 freestyle. Phelps is the defending Olympic champion in both races (a two-time defending champ in the medley). But Lochte took them both at the 2011 worlds, setting a world record in the 200 IM.

diving: David Boudia qualified for his second spot on the U.S. team, winning the men's 10-meter platform at the trials in Federal Way, Wash. He totaled 1,642.40 points over the six-round final, easily defeating platform synchro partner Nick McCrory (1,582.55), who also got his second spot on the team. The duo had already made the team by winning the platform synchro event. Cassidy Krug is going to her first Olympics after winning the women's 3-meter springboard with 1,094.85 points. Christina Loukas earned her second straight Olympic berth by finishing second (1,017.85).

basketball: The Heat's Dwyane Wade said he soon will have his ailing left knee examined and he might need surgery, which would keep him off the U.S. team. USA Basketball plans to have the team convene in Las Vegas for a training camp that starts July 6.

tennis: The Games' tournament will be held at Wimbledon beginning July 28, three weeks after the end of the grasscourt Grand Slam event. The grass will be the same, but Wimbledon's all-white dress code will be waived and Olympic logos will replace the traditional dark green backdrops. "It will be surreal," said 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning this year's French Open and can become the second woman to claim a career Golden Grand Slam if she wins the Olympics, joining Steffi Graf.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

CROMWELL, Conn. — Englishman Brian Davis shot 6-under 64 and Roland Thatcher had 65 Saturday to share the third-round lead in the Travelers Championship at 12-under 198.

Both are looking for their first win on the PGA Tour.

Davis made an early move, shooting 29 on the front nine with six birdies. Thatcher overtook him with three straight birdies on the back nine and had a one-stroke lead before missing a 7-foot par putt on the 17th hole.

"I executed just really well in that stretch," Thatcher said. "It's easy to say they're easy holes, and that's what you should do, but you still have to execute."

Seventeen other players were within five strokes of the lead entering the final round.

John Rollins, James Driscoll and Stuart Appleby were two strokes back. Defending champ Fredrik Jacobson, who led after two rounds, shot par 70 to remain at 9 under.

Davis said his fast start was helped by the thunderstorms that pushed the finish of the second round to Saturday morning and softened up the greens.

"I didn't even realize I had shot 29," said Davis, who has been a runnerup on tour five times. "I was just playing and everything was going right. Then obviously we hit the turn and we had the wind pick up for about three holes and it was playing tough all of the sudden."

LPGA: South Korea's Inbee Park shot 5-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in Waterloo, Ontario. The 2008 U.S. Women's Open champion was at 14-under 199 at Grey Silo. Tampa's Kristy McPherson shot 68 to move into a tie for 35th at 3-under 210.

CHAMPIONS: Bob Tway shot 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Mark Calcavecchia after the second round of the Montreal Championship in Sainte-Julie, Quebec. Tway was at 9-under 135 on Vallee du Richelieu Golf Club's Vercheres Course.

FLORIDA AMATEUR: Lutz's Joe Alfieri and Panama City's Chase Seiffert were tied for the lead heading into today's final round of the 95th Florida State Amateur Championship in Jupiter. The two are at 2-under 214. Tequesta's Brant Peaper was third, two shots back.

By Bob Putnam, Times staff writer
Saturday, June 23, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Last weekend, the Rowdies had perhaps their most impressive victory this season, rallying on the road to hand Minnesota its first home loss.

But to keep the momentum going Saturday night to start a three-game homestand, Tampa Bay had to get past a team undefeated on the road.

The Rowdies did it in stunning fashion.

Trailing San Antonio 2-1, Tampa Bay scored twice in the final minutes, including the winner by Tsuyoshi Yoshitake with the very last kick of the game for a 3-2 victory.

Not only was it the first time the first-year Scorpions (6-2-4) lost away from home, it was the first time the Rowdies (5-5-3) beat San Antonio in three meetings, with two at Al Lang Field.

"The way we were able to come back, from that perspective, did a world of good for our players," Tampa Bay coach Ricky Hill said. "Last week's game against Minnesota was a catalyst for this to some degree."

In the first half, the Scorpions kept finding open spaces in front and had eight shots, six on goal. Still, Tampa Bay goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, a former USF and Countryside High standout who entered with a league-best 49 saves, thwarted most of them.

But one got away in the 28th minute when Jonathan Greenfield scored to give the Scorpions a 1-0 lead.

The Rowdies, who had three shots in the first half, came to life late when Yoshitake headed in a goal off an assist from Keith Savage in the 39th minute for a tie at 1 at halftime.

That was the first goal San Antonio keeper Daryl Sattler had allowed since May 27. Sattler, who played for Tampa Bay the previous two seasons, saw his league-best goals-against average increase from 0.37 to 0.66.

The second half was a fac­simile of the first. Again, the Scorpions scored early, from Esteban Bayona in the 53rd minute.

But the Rowdies have showed a penchant for last-minute panache. They had 13 shots in the second half and their aggressive offense paid off on Luke Mulholland's goal off a free kick in the 88th minute to tie. At Minnesota, Savage scored in the 87th minute from the outside.

"It's crazy the way this game turned out," he said. "We were talking about how the bounces weren't going our way. Tonight, lady luck was with us."

The three goals were the most San Antonio has allowed since April 15, a 4-0 loss to Puerto Rico. It was the first time the Scorpions had allowed a goal in four games.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 23, 2012

PITTSBURGH — It did not take long for Lightning GM Steve Yzerman to turn the team's depth in net from liability to strength.

Drafting Russia's Andrei Vasilevski, the No. 1 European goalie as ranked by NHL Central Scouting, was a nice followup to the trade this month for hoped-for No. 1 Anders Lindback and the signing of prospect Riku Helenius.

Add backup Mathieu Garon, minor-leaguers Dustin Tokarski, Jaroslav Janus and Pat Nagle, and junior prospect Adam Wilcox, and the lineup is as deep a one as the organization has had.

It is a welcome development for a team that has used 18 goalies, most in the league, since winning the 2004 Stanley Cup.

"I think it's pretty drastic," coach Guy Boucher said of the transformation. "I've heard some people say (Vasilevski) is probably the best we've seen in years at that age."

"We've got bodies now, anyway," Yzerman said Saturday. "We just want to make sure we have good, young prospects and see how they develop."

Or explore what they can bring in trade. Yzerman isn't necessarily looking to shop any of them, but he did mention the Capitals, who had Braden Holtby, Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth before Varlamov was sent to the Avalanche for a first-round pick last offseason.

"So if you're fortunate to have good ones, it gives you options to do other things," Yzerman said. "They're valuable assets. Hopefully, they all turn out. That would be a great problem to have."

DEALING: Yzerman said he had "a lot of discussions" during the draft about trading for a top-line defenseman but "wasn't able to come to terms with any of it."

OFF THE BOARD: Perhaps the most interesting draft pick was Cedric Paquette, whom the Lightning took in the fourth round, 101st overall. The center, who plays for Blainville of the Quebec junior league, was not ranked by Central Scouting, which slotted the top 210 North American skaters.

"I don't know what to say, I'm so excited," Paquette said. "I don't know why this round, but I'm very happy."

"He's a competitor," said Al Murray, the Lightning's head of amateur scouting. "He's not the greatest skater, but he's hard-nosed. He scores goals because he goes to the tough areas."

Paquette had 31 goals, 48 points and 88 penalty minutes in 63 games. He had seven goals and 17 points in 11 playoff games.

Asked the importance of the NHL rankings, Murray said, "As far as putting it into where we select players, it has zero effect."

FAMILIARITY: RW Brian Hart, the Lightning's 53rd overall pick (the one transferred by the Panthers) and C Tanner Richard, the 71st pick, attended Lightning games at the Tampa Bay Times Forum during the Cup run.

Hart, whose grandparents live in Zephyrhills, said he saw a game against the Canadiens. "They were smashing the car out front," Hart said of a car covered in Montreal logos outside the arena. "I was pretty fired up for Tampa that night."

Richard, who attended during a family visit to the area, said he became a fan of Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier after a Cup final game against the Flames.

"He ran the goalie, and I thought that was awesome," Richard said. "I went down and bought a hat and went home and started a new season with Tampa Bay on PlayStation, and (Lecavalier) was my top scorer."

OFFERS COMING: Qualifying offers to pending restricted free agents are due Monday. Those not receiving offers become unrestricted and can sign with any team.

ODDS AND ENDS: Canada produced 99 of the 211 drafted players. The United States was next with 56. … Defensemen led with 77 selections. … RW Miles Koules, son of former Lightning owner Oren Koules and the 201st-ranked North American skater, was undrafted. Reports are he will play for Medicine Hat of the Western junior league.

Around the league: In a trade that was rumored since last season, the Flyers acquired defenseman Luke Schenn from the Maple Leafs for wing James van Riemsdyk. Schenn, 22, is the older brother of Flyers forward Brayden Schenn, 20. … Jordan Staal, traded by the Penguins to the Hurricanes on Friday, confirmed he turned down a 10-year contract extension and said he had wanted to play the final year of his current four-year deal in Pittsburgh before deciding his future. But Staal, 23, said he had no hard feelings and was excited to join his older brother Eric, 27, Carolina's captain. … Avalanche All-Star forward Matt Duchene signed a two-year contract worth a reported $7 million.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Soccer

Spain tops France to reach Semis

DONETSK, Ukraine — Spain got two goals from Xabi Alonso and the defending champions, who are trying to win a third straight major title, advanced to the European Championship semifinals with a 2-0 win over France on Saturday.

"These types of games, in this type of competition, are always very tense," coach Vicente del Bosque said, "and you need to have the know-how to win them."

Alonso provided that as the Real Madrid midfielder scored an early header and a late penalty kick. The win was Spain's first over France in a competitive match in seven attempts.

Portugal and star Cristiano Ronaldo will provide a stern test Wednesday in the next round as Spain tries to become the first team to hold two European titles and the World Cup title at the same time.

Meanwhile, England must beat Italy today to reach the final four. England has never defeated Italy at a major event.

Anniversary

Obama hails Title IX's effects

President Barack Obama marked the 40th anniversary of the landmark antigender discrimination law known as Title IX, saying it has proved to be a "springboard for success."

The federal law is best known for promoting high school and college sports programs for women. Obama wrote in Newsweek magazine that women who went to school under Title IX now "pioneer scientific breakthroughs, run thriving businesses, govern states, and, yes, coach varsity teams."

Boxing

Ortiz breaks jaw, falls in upset

Unheralded Josesito Lopez stopped welterweight star Victor Ortiz, apparently breaking Ortiz's jaw in the ninth round to earn a stunning upset in Los Angeles. Ortiz (29-4-2) and his corner stopped the fight before the 10th round when the injury left him unable to close his mouth. Lopez (30-4, 18 KOs) leaped onto the ropes to celebrate one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history.

Tennis

Roddick boosted by win on grass

Andy Roddick won the Eastbourne Championships in England, beating defending champion Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-2 in the men's final. Tamira Paszek defeated Angelique Kerber 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in the women's final.

More tennis: The blue clay that upset Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at last month's Madrid Open is going away. ATP president Brad Drewett posted on the tour's website that blue claycourts will not be allowed at tour events next season.

Et cetera

Horrses: I'll Have Another, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes winner who pulled out of a Triple Crown bid just before the Belmont, is headed to Japan to begin his stud career, owner J. Paul Reddam told New York's Newsday.

Greyhounds: Terrific Timing, a 50-1 shot, joined Art Allen, Budz Crosby and Magic Bagels as first-round winners in the $40,000 St. Petersburg Derby at Derby Lane. The derby and consolation finals are Saturday.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Nelson Piquet Jr. has raced on some of the world's biggest stages.

Now he hopes Saturday's Nationwide series victory at Road America will help him catch the eye of a NASCAR team owner willing to give him a boost.

"I think the best thing that could come out of this was to show team owners and bosses that I'm capable of doing it, if I just get the right car and the right team," Piquet said.

Piquet, 26, whose Formula One career was much shorter than that of his three-time world champion father, is the first Brazilian to win in a NASCAR national touring series. It came in the third Nationwide race for the full-time truck series driver.

Michael McDowell was second in the Sargento 200, followed by Ron Fellows and Max Papis.

Danica Patrick ran in the top five almost all day but settled for 12th after contact with former F1 and Indianapolis 500 champion Jacques Villeneuve on the final lap. Villeneuve finished sixth.

"Where Villeneuve goes, there tends to be cars that have problems, whether it's his fault or the other car's fault or (just) stock car racing at the end of the race," Patrick said of her spin.

Villeneuve had words with a member of her crew afterward.

"We were racing hard, and I wasn't even fighting with Danica, I was fighting with Max Papis," Villeneuve said. "And … he pushed me into the grass, and you don't slow down that much in the grass. So by the time I was on the racetrack again, I was going a little bit slower than Danica."

INDYCAR: Road America president George Bruggenthies said "it's a long shot" that the track will host a series race. He said the track made a proposal for Aug. 19, replacing a canceled race in China. But Bruggenthies said the sides were six figures apart on the sanctioning fee. Also, the race at Iowa was not over at press time; see sports.tampabay.com for a result.

FORMULA ONE: Sebastian Vettel, the two-time defending world champion, earned the pole for today's European Grand Prix with a lap of 1 minute, 38.086 seconds on a 3.3-mile street circuit in Valencia, Spain.

GRAND AM: Scott Pruett and co-driver Memo Rojas won at Road America, taking advantage after Ricky Taylor had an apparent suspension failure as he led late in the two-hour race.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Cardinals 8, Royals 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Matt Holliday had four hits and two RBIs and Allen Craig homered and had three RBIs to pace a second straight big game for the Cardinals offense. A day after they matched a season high with 17 hits, they broke out again to back Adam Wainwright, who allowed only a bunt single and a broken-bat hit in the first five innings and wound up allowing two runs in seven.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Reds 6, Twins 0

CINCINNATI — Johnny Cueto improved to 4-0 in four June starts, pitching seven innings and driving in two runs with a squeeze bunt and a bases-loaded groundout to lead the Reds, who ended their season-worst losing streak at four games. Cueto struck out a season-high nine. The right-hander has allowed five runs for a 1.47 ERA on the month. Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer for Cincinnati.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Rockies 11, Rangers 7

ARLINGTON, Texas — Tyler Colvin and Chris Nelson had consecutive two-out two-run singles in a third-inning outburst to help the Rockies end the Rangers' seven-game winning streak. Texas hadn't allowed more than three runs in a game during its winning streak.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Pirates 4, Tigers 1

PITTSBURGH — Brad Lincoln pitched six strong innings, Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer and the Pirates won for the sixth time in seven games. Lincoln had a no-hitter until Ramon Santiago singled to lead off the sixth. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera homered to lead off the seventh and end Lincoln's afternoon. Lincoln had a career-high seven strikeouts.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Blue Jays 7, Marlins 1

MIAMI — Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth and Colby Rasmus had a grand slam later in the inning for the Blue Jays. Encarnacion led off the ninth with a home run off Steve Cishek to break a tie at 1. Jeff Mathis laid down a bunt that Cishek mishandled, allowing Reed Johnson to score. Then Rasmus hit his third career grand slam, this one off Edward Mujica.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

EUGENE, Ore. — Second by second, the clock to the side of the track ticked away, daring Ashton Eaton to cross the finish line in a time that would put his name in the record books.

Eaton was every bit as relentless and stubborn as that clock Saturday. He set a personal best in the decathlon's exhausting 1,500-meter finale and is now the world-record holder in the event. Eaton finished with 9,039 points in the U.S. Olympic trials to beat the 11-year-old mark of the Czech Republic's Roman Sebrle by 13 points.

"It's like living an entire lifetime in two days," said Eaton, who also overtook Dan O'Brien's U.S. record of 8,891 set in 1992.

Eaton, 24 and a former NCAA champion for Oregon, needed a time of 4 minutes, 16.37 seconds in the 1,500 to break the mark at the school's Hayward Field. He finished in 4:14.48.

Joining him in London is world champion Trey Hardee (8,383 points). Florida All-American Gray Horn was third (7,954).

In a development almost as shocking as Eaton's record, defending Olympic champion Bryan Clay missed his chance to defend when he had fouls on each of his three discus attempts for no points. He finished 12th.

Clay initially was disqualified right before the discus after missing a barrier in the 110 hurdles. His points for the event were reinstated on appeal.

"There was a lot of hope and expectation there," Clay said of his performance. "To see it all go out the window is pretty disappointing."

There was one big question mark when the day ended: Which three women made the team in the 100 meters?

Allyson Felix left the stadium thinking she'd lost the third spot to Jeneba Tarmoh by less than 0.0001 in the final. But after a lengthy review, officials declared the race a dead heat, then huddled to figure out how to break the tie. The United States cannot send more than three people for the race. USA Track and Field has no procedure to break a tie.

There were two photo-finish cameras, one on the outside of the track and one on the inside, USA Track and Field said. On one camera, the view was obscured by other athletes' torsos. On the other, running 3,000 frames per second, Felix and Tarmoh were viewed as a dead heat.

Carmelita Jeter, the 2011 world champion, won in 10.92 seconds. Tianna Madison was second in 10.96. Tarmoh and Felix were timed in 11.068.

UCF's Octavious Freeman of Lake Wales and Aurieyall Scott did not advance to the final.

Dawn Harper won the 100 hurdles for the chance to defend her gold medal. She goes to London with runnerup Kellie Wells and Lolo Jones.

Candice Davis Price, wife of Bucs defensive tackle Brian Price, missed making the final by .01 seconds. She was third in her heat behind Harper in 12.85. The top two in each of three semifinal heats and the next two fastest on time made the final.

In men's 100 qualifying, Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, won his heat in 9.90, the best preliminary time. Also advancing to today's semifinals were Tyson Gay, former Seminole and 2008 bronze medalist Walter Dix, Florida State's Maurice Mitchell and Florida's Jeff Demps.

In other events, Florida's three-time NCAA champion Tony McQuay made the men's 400 final, but former Gator and Lutz native Calvin Smith did not. Michelle Jenije, who just finished her Florida State career, advanced to the women's triple jump final. Florida All-American Dwight Barbiasz made the high jump final.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Red Sox 8, Braves 4

BOSTON — Rookie Will Middlebrooks had a solo homer among his three hits and drove in two runs, Franklin Morales provided a decent start in place of Josh Beckett and the Red Sox won for the eighth time in 10 games to ensure a winning interleague record for the eighth straight season. They improved to 10-7 against NL opponents.

Times wires
Saturday, June 23, 2012

BALTIMORE — The reason the Nationals lead the National League East can be summed up in one word: pitching.

Former Ray Edwin Jackson hammered home that point against the Orioles on Saturday night, taking a one-hitter into the seventh inning to provide Washington with a 3-1 victory.

Adam LaRoche homered for the Nationals, who are 10-7 in interleague play and 2-3 against Baltimore.

Jackson retired the first 12 batters and permitted only one runner past first base through six innings. He appeared dominant, but it was actually a struggle.

"It was kind of a funny game because Edwin didn't feel too good when he started the game," manager Davey Johnson said.

Said Jackson: "I wasn't sick. It was just one of those days you don't have blow-away stuff. You just have to go out and pitch. That's pretty much what it was from the time I started throwing in the pen."