Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Saturday, February 19, 2011

LAKELAND — In search of its 22nd state title and 11th in a row, Brandon is having a run-of-the-mill February weekend at the Lakeland Center.

Day 1 at the state wrestling championships is where other teams line them up and the Eagles set them down in preparation to their usual finals appearances. This season, 11 of the 14 in the Brandon lineup are penciled in to today's semifinals.

Among the names are Devan Berrian (103 pounds), James Flint (112), Kevin Norstrem (125), Rossi Bruno (130), Tyler Liberatore (135), Brice Jones (140), Travis Berridge (145), Clark Glass (152), Wally Figaro (160), Kyle Koziel (171) and Mike Ettore (189).

In Class 2A, Plant City's William Joyce (112) hopes to improve on last season's state showing as he returns to the semifinals this time around. He placed fourth at 103 pounds as a sophomore.

Other Hillsborough grapplers had a strong showing Friday in Class A. While Tampa Bay Christian (29.5 points) resides in seventh place in the team standings, there is a plethora of locals peppered throughout who went undefeated.

Dylan Lucas (103), Chase Singletary (112) and Dakota Greene (130) will represent the Rams, while Strawberry Crest's Abe Fernandez (103) and Spoto's Eric Franklin (130) also cracked into those same brackets. Tampa Prep's Eric Bach (135), Jesuit's Anthony Cimino (152) and Robinson's Chris Padilla (160) also have their sights set on the podium tonight.

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Saturday, February 19, 2011

LAKELAND — With three wrestlers in the semifinals, Northside Christian isn't out of the team championship race at the state wrestling championships, but Day 1 didn't put the program where it wanted to be.

The Mustangs (32 points) had thoughts of state glory coming into the tournament, but after the first two rounds, one of the seven wrestlers to make the trip has been eliminated and four others are toiling in wrestlebacks.

Brian Travis (125 pounds), Dalton Dennis (135) and Anthony Melillo (140) went undefeated Friday to earn berths in the Class A semifinals for Northside Christian and will bear the brunt of the team points going forward if the Mustangs are going to continue to compete.

Largo (34) has also put up a solid showing in Class 2A, holding a sixth-place spot after the first two rounds. Clarence Longley (135), Josh Jeffries (145) and Chris Johnson (152) have made it through to the semifinals with hopes of competing for individual gold.

Dixie Hollins' Dana Harrington (125) will join them as the lone other Pinellas County semifinal representative in 2A. The area brought 38 to the tournament, and 18 have been eliminated from contention.

In Class 3A, Palm Harbor University's Aaron Hartman (130) and Countryside's Charles McDaniel (160) will be in the semifinals as the lone representatives from their programs to survive the top side of the bracket on the first day. Countryside had three wrestlers and Palm Harbor University began the event with four.

Nathan Cowan, Times Correspondent
Saturday, February 19, 2011

SEMINOLE — Seminole second baseman Missy Miles waited all night to get her chance.

With Seminole playing from behind throughout Friday's game against Tarpon Springs, she came through in the clutch twice.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with the Warhawks trailing 2-1, Miles singled and after moving to second on a sacrifice, scored on a single by Lauren Brucker to tie the game at 2. In the bottom of the 11th inning, Miles drove in Kristy Fudge to defeat the Spongers 3-2.

"This game shows the leadership of our two seniors," Seminole coach Mark DeRuzzo said. "They have the younger girls playing as a team."

The Spongers scored both of their runs in the first inning. Andrea Faison reached on a single and moved to second on a walk. An error by the shortstop allowed Faison to score and Hallie Marshall singled in Tarpon Springs' second run of the inning.

"Jenny Sittloh struggled in the beginning of the game," De­Ruzzo said of his pitcher who threw all 11 innings. "She kept her composure and her teammates supported her. We could have folded the tent there."

Seminole got one run back in the bottom of the first. Fudge doubled and scored on single by Tiffany Race.

Both teams had chances throughout the game but neither could push another run until late in the contest.

"We have done that all year," Spongers coach Dion Weaver said. "Timely hitting wins ball games, and we couldn't get the ball in play when we needed to."

Marshall led the Spongers with three singles and an RBI while Faison added two singles.

Brucker led the Warhawks with three singles and an RBI while Miles, Sittloh and Race had two singles apiece.

Times staff
Saturday, February 19, 2011

TODAY

Autos

Sprint Cup: Daytona 500 practice, 10:30 a.m., Speed

Nationwide: Drive4COPD 300, 1:15 p.m., ESPN2

Boxing

Bantamweight: Donaire vs. Montiel, 9:45 p.m., HBO

College baseball

USF at Florida, 4 p.m., 1010-AM

College basketball

Hofstra at Wright State, 11 a.m., ESPNU

Villanova at DePaul, noon, BHSN

Pittsburgh at St. John's, noon, ESPN

Florida State at Wake Forest, 1 p.m., Ch. 44; 1040-AM

Georgia at Tennessee, 1 p.m., Ch. 10

Mississippi at Mississippi State, 1:30 p.m., Ch. 38

Colorado at Kansas, 2 p.m., ESPN

Army at Navy, 2:30 p.m., CBSCS

Iona at Liberty, 3 p.m., ESPNU

South Carolina at Kentucky, 4 p.m., Ch. 38

Oregon State at Oregon, 4 p.m., FSN

Boston College at North Carolina, 4 p.m., ESPN

Michigan at Iowa, 4:30 p.m., Big Ten

Missouri State at Valparaiso, 5 p.m., ESPN2

Vermont at College of Charleston, 5 p.m., ESPNU

Washington at Arizona, 6 p.m., ESPN

George Mason at Northern Iowa, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Northwestern at Indiana, 7 p.m., Big Ten

Georgetown at USF, 7 p.m., BHSN; 1250-AM

Arkansas at Alabama, 7 p.m., FSN

Cincinnati at Providence, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Utah State at St. Mary's (Calif.), 9 p.m., ESPN2

Houston at UTEP, 9 p.m., CBSCS

Illinois at Michigan State, 9 p.m., ESPN

Texas A&M at Oklahoma State, 9 p.m., ESPNU

Montana at Long Beach State, 11 p.m., ESPN2

College basketball, women

Louisville at USF, noon, 1010-AM

Army at Navy, noon, CBSCS

Baylor at Texas Tech, 1:30 p.m., FSN

Dayton at Temple, 5 p.m., CBSCS

New Mexico at Utah, 7 p.m., CBSCS

Golf

European: Avantha Masters, 9:30 a.m., Golf

PGA: Northern Trust Open, 1 p.m, Golf

LPGA: Thailand Open (taped), 3 p.m., Golf

PGA: Northern Trust Open, 3 p.m., Ch. 10

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

High school soccer, boys finals

4A: Cape Coral vs. Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee, 2 p.m., BHSN

5A: Durant vs. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 4:30 p.m., BHSN

6A: Weston Cypress Bay vs. Miami Felix Varela (taped), 9 p.m., BHSN

Horses

Trackside Live: Tampa Bay Downs, 4 p.m., Sun Sports

NBA

All-Star Saturday Night (skills challenge, 3-point contest, slam dunk), 8:30 p.m., TNT

NHL

Senators at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m., NHL

Panthers at Lightning, 7:30 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Soccer

FA Cup: Everton at Chelsea, 7:30 a.m., FSC

FA Cup: Sheffield Wednesday at Birmingham City, 10 a.m., FSC

FA Cup: Crawley Town at Man U, noon, FSC

Spanish: Levante at Real Madrid, 1:55 p.m., ESPND

Italian: Cagliari at Inter Milan, 2:30 p.m., FSC

Spanish: Atletico de Madrid at Zaragoza, 3:55 p.m., ESPND

Mexican: Cruz Azul at Atlas, 5:55 p.m., ESPND

Mexican: Queretaro at Santos Laguna, 8 p.m., Gala

Tennis

WTA: Dubai Championship, 10 a.m., Tennis

ATP: Morgan Keegan Championship, noon, Tennis

ATP: Morgan Keegan Championship, 4 p.m., Tennis

WTA: Cellular South Cup, 8 p.m., Tennis

ATP: Marseille open (taped), 10 p.m., Tennis

TV: BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; CBSCS: CBS College Sports Network; ESPND: ESPN Deportes; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel; FSN: Fox Sports Net; Gala: GalaVision

Times staff
Saturday, February 19, 2011

The poll

Now that the NFL season is over, what sport are you watching on TV? Total: 424 votes

Hockey: 33 percent

College basketball: 21 percent

Pro basketball: 17 percent

Autos: 12 percent

Golf: 9 percent

Soccer: 8 percent

Another poll

In light of several recent questionable hits on defenseless players as well as brawls in Boston and New York, do current NHL players have less respect for their opponents than their predecessors did? Total: 313 votes

Yes: 49 percent

About the same: 27 percent

No: 24 percent

This week's question

Whose Rays jersey will you be wearing this season?

Vote at rays. tampabay.com.

Times staff
Saturday, February 19, 2011

Outside the Lines: 9 a.m. on ESPN. Includes a feature on the Negro Leagues Grave Marker Project, which has been tracking down the final resting places for players of the old Negro League.

Hockey Day in America: Beginning at noon on Ch. 8. The sport is celebrated with features and three games, two on Ch. 8 then the Flames-Canadiens outdoor game on Versus at 6.

Wendell Scott: A Race Story: 9 p.m. on ESPN. A documentary of Scott, the only African-American driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup series.

By Brent Gaskill, Times Correspondent
Saturday, February 19, 2011

Getting hotter: Sheepshead have been a reliable target throughout the winter, and the action will only improve from now into early spring. The fish already have begun their annual migration down the bay as they move toward the passes for spawning. Males have gathered on many structures at the mouth of the bay and soon will be joined by larger females.

The bite: Sheepshead have a reputation for stealing bait right off the hook. Old-timers often joke about setting the hook before they bite in order not to miss them. The truth is they lose that characteristic at this time of year and feed aggressively with some strikes feeling more like grouper. Slowly raising the rod tip until the weight of the fish is felt then reeling quickly seems to work best.

Good eats: Sheepshead make excellent table fare and lend themselves to a variety of recipes. Their flesh is white, flaky and sweet. Some even believe sheepshead taste better than grouper. And with the current closure in place, they can make a fine substitute.

Brent Gaskill runs Summer Vacation Charters out of the St. Petersburg area and can be reached at captbrent@summervacationcharters.com or (727)510-1009.

Times staff
Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Associated Press Sports Editors honored St. Petersburg Times staffers individually and collectively in judging last week in Indianapolis.

The Times, competing in the largest circulation category, newspapers of more than 175,000, was named one of the nation's top 10 Sunday sports sections and received honorable mention for daily sections and special sections. The special section entry was one previewing the Rays in the playoffs, while daily and Sunday entries were a collection of mandatory and optional dates.

The Times' work on its website, tampabay.com, received honorable mention in the multimedia category for a collection of Friday Night Rewind episodes covering high school football.

Joey Knight was honored among the top 10 in the breaking news category for a story he wrote in October about a Hills­borough County cross country meet in which no athletic trainer was present and a runner collapsed.

Former staffer Izzy Gould, who now covers the University of Alabama for a group of papers including the Birmingham News, made the top 10 in the investigative category for a story uncovering several inaccuracies in the resume of a former Springstead High School basketball coach.

In the individual writing categories, further judging will rank the top five in each category and be announced in April.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — There are certain things, besides signing players to $100 million-plus contracts, that other teams do that the Rays can't.

But as the Rays have had additional success, they've noticed that more and more teams are doing some things the way they do — in constructing their team, valuing young players and signing the best to long-term deals, stocking up on players with speed and versatility, putting an emphasis on preventing injuries.

"I'd like to be a good copycat; it's good to finish a close second and learn from the person in front of you, let them sort of run through the wind a little bit and you catch the draft," principal owner Stuart Sternberg said.

"But I do feel that certainly what we did and some of the emphasis we put on certain parts of the game, while they weren't groundbreaking, they were all in in that respect. And I do feel there, there's no question, there has been some emulation there."

They've also noticed it in the way other teams are playing their style of game, specifically the emphasis on defense and pitching, which means they have to keep evolving as well.

"I think you're going to see a lot of teams revert back to the style we've played the last couple years," manager Joe Maddon said. "I think if you look at what Texas did last year, that's a prime example of a really good team, a well-balanced team that all of a sudden started to emphasize other components of the game. And we kind of got beat with our own stick at the end of last season.

"So I really think it's imperative that we attempt to stay ahead with what we do."

Without getting too specific, he said that includes getting better at fundamentals and being more proactive "attempting to stop things" other teams try to do to them.

SEEING RED: Manny Ramirez had issues getting adjusted to the scrutiny and intensity of playing in Boston, but he said he grew to enjoy it and expects ex-Rays star Carl Crawford to adapt well.

"It's a great town to play," Ramirez said. "I think he's going to do way better over there. … Sometimes they expect so much of you, over there the competition is so good that he's going to have to maybe focus more."

Boston manager Terry Francona said of Crawford: "It's amazing how you can hate somebody so much in a different uni and then fall in love with 'em when they're in your uni."

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Individual game tickets are expected to go on sale this week; look for a premium-priced presale starting Tuesday. … RHP Matt Garza told Chicago media he knew he was likely to be traded based on the small Trop crowds: "When you're drawing 12,000 and you're in first place in the East, it's kind of rough to picture yourself there the following season." … Julianna Zobrist, wife of Ben, should have her second CD of Christian music out by June. … Among reasons Maddon suggested for fans to be interested: "We're very affable." … Though Sternberg made it clear he had no intention of getting involved with the Mets, the New York Post's Kevin Kernan wrote: "If things turn worse for the Mets owners, however, and they are forced to sell as a result of the Madoff Mess, don't count out Sternberg and his group, all New Yorkers."

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

1. Boston

Ted Williams, Larry Bird, Bobby Orr

Three of the most revered names in all of sports history. Williams is called the greatest hitter who ever lived. Bird helped save the NBA and brought the Celtics back to prominence in the 1980s. And more than a few people swear Orr is the best hockey player who ever lived. Boston is a provincial town that doesn't always welcome outsiders. Williams grew up in California. Bird was from rural Indiana. Orr was from Canada. But all three will always be sons of Boston.

2. Chicago

Ernie Banks, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan

Some Chicago fans might consider Dick Butkus or maybe even former coach Mike Ditka as the face of Bears history. But we believe the late Payton is the franchise's most beloved figure and one of the greatest football players ever. Jordan isn't one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He's the greatest player of all time. And Banks still is called Mr. Cub even though he retired 40 years ago.

3. Detroit

Gordie Howe, Al Kaline, Bobby Layne

Howe is known as Mr. Hockey in a town known as Hockeytown. Like Ernie Banks is Mr. Cub, Kaline is Mr. Tiger, having spent all 22 seasons of his Hall of Fame career in Detroit. In football, maybe a younger generation would select Barry Sanders. But Sanders retired abruptly and never won a championship. Layne is the last quarterback to lead the Lions to an NFL title, way back in 1957.

4. Philadelphia

Julius Erving, Mike Schmidt, Bobby Clarke

Dr. J remains one of the most mind-blowing, acrobatic players in NBA history and the most popular player in 76ers history. Schmidt is a local legend because he led the Phillies to their first World Series title in 1980. In hockey, Clarke, with his toothless and devious smile, was the epitome of the Broad Street Bullies, a bunch of outlaws who could beat you and beat you up. Philly fans can't get enough of that.

5. New York

Babe Ruth, Joe Namath, Walt Frazier

A case could be made that Ruth stands alongside Muhammad Ali and Jim Thorpe as the most iconic sports figures in this country's history. Namath wasn't the best football player in New York history, but he remains the favorite for representing the glitz of New York. He's even called "Broadway Joe." Frazier represents the Knicks' glory days of the 1970s and remains a popular figure because of his jobs as the Knicks' TV analyst and local pitchman.

Just missed the cut

Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh probably should be among the top five, especially when you consider the first two names on the list, the Pirates' Roberto Clemente and Penguins' Mario Lemieux. The problem is it's hard to name the ultimate Steeler. If you asked 10 Pittsburghers, you might have 10 answers. No matter which player you put in there, it would be good enough to get Pittsburgh among the top five of our list. But because we can't definitively name just one football player, we couldn't rank Pittsburgh.

Which city has the greatest sports icons? Well, for starters, let's define a sports icon. Not only does he have to be great, he has to be revered in the city he played. LeBron James and Brett Favre are among the greatest in their respective sports, but neither is respected or liked in the city where they became famous. What we did was sift through major sports cities and pick one athlete per sport who remains the most beloved in that city. No city had what truly was an icon in all four major sports, and most cities didn't even have three. Then we ranked the cities based on their most beloved sports icons.

Best of the rest

Los Angeles: There's Magic Johnson in basketball, and ex-Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela still is revered, especially among the Mexican community. After that, football offers up who? Deacon Jones? Merlin Olson? Hockey's Wayne Gretzky is more Edmonton than L.A.

Baltimore: Baltimore's love for the Orioles' Cal Ripken is as strong as any city's love for any athlete. And you can't do much better than Johnny Unitas in football. But that's it.

Denver: Broncos quarterback John Elway remains the town's most revered athlete and even more so now that he has joined the team's front office. Hockey's Joe Sakic is beloved throughout Colorado. But the Rockies and Nuggets give us no one.

Dallas: Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach remains a legend in Big D, and the Stars' Mike Modano always will be a favorite of local hockey fans. When it comes to baseball, you probably would have to pick current part-owner Nolan Ryan. But he spent only five of his 27 seasons pitching for the Rangers. When we think of Ryan, we think of Houston.

Houston: Like we said, Ryan belongs to Houston. And actually, Houston has impressive icons if you add Earl Campbell, the old Oilers great who grew up in Texas, and Hakeem Olajuwon, who went to college and won NBA championships in Houston.

Atlanta: In baseball, there's Hank Aaron, but he spent much of his career playing in Milwaukee. Dominique Wilkins is a basketball legend in Atlanta, but the most popular football players are not all-time greats.

San Francisco: We start strong with the 49ers' Joe Montana and Giants' Willie Mays. But what about basketball and hockey? Maybe Wilt Chamberlain, but he spent only two full seasons among 14 in San Francisco.

Milwaukee: We start well with baseball's Robin Yount. The Packers are Milwaukee's team, and the iconic Packer is a coach, Vince Lombardi. The Bucks never really had an iconic figure as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson played the bulk of their careers elsewhere.

Minneapolis: Depending on the generation, Minnesotans would select Harmon Killebrew or Kent Hrbek in baseball. In football and hockey, it might be legendary coaches Bud Grant and Herb Brooks, respectively. Basketball's George Mikan was a legend but not generally remembered.

Cleveland: The Browns' Jim Brown and Indians' Bob Feller would stack up well with any city's top two stars. But there's no one is basketball or hockey, especially now that Cavs fans have turned on LeBron James.

The leftovers

The Bucs' Lee Roy Selmon would be our pick in Tampa Bay. He is the only Hall of Famer in Bucs history, and with his restaurants and ties to USF, he remains a local treasure. But the Rays and Lightning are still too new to have produced an icon. In Miami, a coach (the Dolphins' Don Shula) is the only one who really fits this list. In St. Louis, there's Cards great Stan Musial and that's about it. Seattle gives us Ken Griffey Jr. and, if you want to stretch it, Seahawks receiver Steve Largent. Washington, D.C., when you think about it, really doesn't have the type of iconic figures who would stack up against the other names we've mentioned today. And Phoenix hasn't had teams long enough to create those kinds of icons.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE

The Rays are hoping he'll be that Manny Ramirez, providing the impact bat in the middle of their lineup and a positive influence in the clubhouse. But they also know that there's a good chance that over the next 7½ months he'll be something else — good, bad or, quite possibly, indifferent. And, at some point, he'll be Manny Being Manny. The phrase has become a catchall description for all the odd things Manny does, from the quirky to the confrontational, essentially an alternative list of his greatest hits. There have been so many stories about Manny Being Manny — 215,000 hits on Google, T-shirts and, of course, a website (mannybeingmanny.com) — that espn.com did a story on the origin of the phrase. First used, reportedly, by former Indians manager Mike Hargrove in 1995 when discussing how Ramirez, in his third big-league season, left his paycheck in a pair of boots in the visiting clubhouse. Now it's commonplace, as much a part of the Manny experience as his dreadlocked hair.

There's not enough time or space to tell all the stories, but here, compiled from published accounts, reporters and baseball officials, are some of the best:

Field of dreams

Running the bases can be quite a trip for Manny, such as the 1997 game when he was essentially thrown out "stealing" first — he had taken second on defensive indifference, mistakenly thought the pitch had been fouled off, and broke back for first, then got tagged out. Put Manny in the outfield, and it can get even crazier, as he frequently turned the job into a (mis-)adventure. Like the time he was playing right in the Astrodome (July 1997) and jogged over for a ball hit down the line that rolled to a stop under the bullpen bench. Sure that by rule it was a ground-rule double, Ramirez stood there pointing at the ball while his teammates, who knew better, screamed for him to retrieve it as the batter raced around for an inside-the-park home run. Like the time he was playing left in Baltimore (May 2008) and raced back to make an over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track, then without breaking stride reached up to high-five a Red Sox fan sitting in the front row, then turned to throw the ball in and doubled off a runner. And, maybe greatest of all, like the time he was playing left in Boston (July 2004) and, after then-and-again teammate Johnny Damon raced to play a ball off the centerfield wall and get it in, Manny raced over and CUT OFF the throw — diving catch and all, one of his best — as the runner scored. It was so memorable that Damon brought it up at their Rays introductory news conference. "Since Manny's going to be the DH," he said, "he can't be the cutoff man anymore."

The O.J. moment

People close to Manny rave about how smart, savvy and aware he is. And there are times he can turn downright philosophical, such as when asked for his definition of Manny Being Manny: "For me, it means just be yourself, just go and do what makes you happy." But there are also those moments, when he does or says something that leaves everyone shaking their heads and wondering just what it's like to live in Manny's world. And that's how he could walk into the clubhouse after a 1994 game, see his teammates huddled around the TV talking about the police pursuing O.J. in that white Bronco and then say, "Oh man, what did Chad do," thinking it was then-teammate Chad Ogea rather than fleeing football star O.J. Simpson.

Dollar daze

Manny, obviously, has plenty of money, with career earnings of more than $200 million. But he doesn't, apparently, always keep track of it well. He left the check in the boots, and he sometimes didn't have cash to pay for a meal or had to have teammates cover his clubhouse tips. (He also once played without taking out a $15,000 diamond earring and lost it when sliding into third.) As a rookie, Ramirez and teammate Julian Tavarez actually asked the writers covering the Indians for a small loan — just $30,000 each so they could buy motorcycles. A few years later, he had one of the Cleveland clubhouse attendants take his car to get washed and told him there was money to pay for it in the glove box. Sure enough, when the kid looks there's an envelope with somewhere between $4,000 and $10,000.

Traffic jam

Ramirez has collected a few tickets over the years — as well, legend goes, as driver's licenses. And he got stopped by police in Seattle for, of all things, jaywalking. But the most entertaining run-in had to be the 1997 day he got nabbed in downtown Cleveland for having his windows too dark and his music too loud. Not only didn't he have any of his five licenses with him. And not only did he supposedly respond to the officer's orders that he was giving him a ticket by saying, "I don't need any tickets, I can give you tickets." But after he got the citations, Manny pulled away and made an illegal U-turn — and got another ticket.

Cars and grills

Ramirez likes to buy and collect classic cars, and several times he has been generous enough to donate them to be auctioned off for charitable causes, most recently last July when his 1994 Porsche brought in $50K for the Dodgers' team charity and a home for girls. Less charitable — and more comedic — was the March 2007 listing on eBay — to sell a gas grill, complete with a photo of Manny standing next to it. Apparently, he was just trying to help a friend and broke what had been an extended silence with the media to share. "Hey, did you check out eBay this morning?" he said to mlb.com's Maureen Mullen. "I just got to sell the grill and that's it. I don't need this game. I don't have to play anymore — just sell the grill."

Not all fun and games

Manny was accused several times during his stint in Boston of quitting on his team, asking out of the lineup for questionable reasons, not trying during pinch-hit appearances and loafing on the bases. And he never quite seemed into being with the White Sox at the end of last season. With the Red Sox he got into a dugout scuffle with Kevin Youkilis during a June 2008 game vs. the Rays (though not everyone thought Manny was wrong). But the one incident that seemed universally recognized as Manny Being Wrong came later that season, when he was upset that Boston travel director Jack McCormick couldn't fill his ticket request and shoved down the then-64-year-old. (For what it's worth, Rays travel director Jeff Ziegler is a fit 46 and a former St. Petersburg police officer.)

Hide and pee

Several times during pauses in play with Boston, Manny would take his own break by going into the small room inside the Green Monster wall. He was seen one time getting a drink, another time making a call on a cell phone. But the most memorable had to be a July 2005 game when he, um, needed to use the facilities and barely got zipped up and back on the field for the next pitch.

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com. Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

Quote of the day

"The clubhouse is a lot quieter."

LHP David Price, on no longer having RHP Matt Garza, left, on the team

Ben and Julianna's international adventure

• INF/OF Ben Zobrist and wife Julianna went on a 10-day offseason trip to work with friends who are missionaries in the Ukraine. "It was eye-opening," Zobrist said. "I have never been over to that part of the world, so it was a good experience. It brings perspective, which was good for us."

• A delayed flight from Detroit forced the Zobrists to miss their connection and spend a night in Paris. But it wasn't as romantic or as exciting as it sounded as they had to stay out by the airport and didn't have time to see any sights. "It was actually torture," Zobrist said. "We're stuck in Paris for the night, but at a rinky-dink European hotel where they were totally rude."

Another international incident

INF Elliot Johnson enjoyed playing winter ball in the Mexican beach city of Mazatlan, enjoying the scenery and the food, and the occasional action in the stands, especially during games in Mexicali. "There were fights breaking out everywhere," he said. "It's like, here's the pitch, then you're watching these guys just throw punches. That was a lot of fun, very entertaining."

List of the day: Most ML service time

Manny Ramirez 17.033

Johnny Damon 15.051

Kyle Farnsworth 11.100

x-Felipe Lopez 8.027

x-Juan Cruz 7.121

x-Casey Kotchman 5.144

Kelly Shoppach 5.021

Joel Peralta 4.132

B.J. Upton 4.126

James Shields 4.125

J.P. Howell 4.007

x-nonroster invitees

Who is this Ray?

His mother is a New Hampshire state senator, his father a dean at the University of New Hampshire. He has an economics degree from Stanford. He once interned at Stats Inc. He was acquired in trade.

The dish

Today's workout for pitchers and catchers starts at 9:30 at the Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and lasts two hours. Admission and parking are free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 South to Toledo Blade Road, go west 6½ miles to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, stadium complex is on left. Details: (941) 235-5025.

Heads-up

The pitchers have one last day to focus on those all-important fundamentals before full-squad workouts begin Monday.

Who is this Ray answer: OF Sam Fuld.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — First base isn't versatile Ben Zobrist's first choice for a position. But he reported to camp Saturday saying he is willing to make it his first priority this spring to get more comfortable in case he's used there.

"I definitely need that experience," Zobrist said. "At the end of the year when I played a little bit more first base, I felt a little bit uncomfortable because I didn't have that."

Zobrist, 29, will be plenty busy. The Rays plan to return him to more of a super-utility role, playing all over the field as opposed to primarily second base and rightfield as he did last season. And he hopes to recapture his 2009 team MVP batting form after dropping from .297 with 27 homers, 91 RBIs and a .948 OPS to .238/10/75/.699.

Manager Joe Maddon said he didn't know yet how much he'd use Zobrist at first, and that even though as a switch-hitter he seems the likely choice against left-handed pitchers, starter Dan Johnson also can hit lefties well.

"I do want him to be comfortable there, more than he was last year," Maddon said.

Zobrist is getting ready. After using Johnson and Willy Aybar's gloves for the 14 games he played at first in 2010, he ordered his own at the end of the season and is making sure it's broken in.

HELLICKSON UPDATE: RHP Jeremy Hellickson remained sidelined due to a mild right hamstring strain sustained Thursday, but Maddon said the reports from head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield are encouraging. "Ronnie said he came in better and he liked the way he was moving around," Maddon said.

Hellickson is expected to take the spot opened in the rotation by the Matt Garza trade, and Maddon said missing a short amount of time now shouldn't affect his readiness to start the season. Plus, with an off day in the first week, the Rays wouldn't need a fifth starter until April 10, so there would be some extra prep time if needed.

MAKING HIS CASE: Equally versatile INF/SS Elliot Johnson also reported, saying he considers this spring the opportunity to make the team he has been waiting for.

"This is it," he said.

Johnson, 26, is confident after hitting .319 with 11 homers, 56 RBIs and 30 steals and playing solid shortstop during a breakout season at Triple-A Durham that got him put back on the 40-man roster after being dropped last spring.

"I don't know if you can find somebody that played shortstop in the minor leagues that is major-league ready that has the stats that I put up last year," he said. "I come in with a lot of confidence knowing that I proved the consistency question over the span of 450 at-bats."

Plus, he cut down on strikeouts, walked more and played good defense. "I feel like I did what was asked," he said. "Now I'm just hoping for an opportunity to prove that I can do the same thing at the big-league level."

MISCELLANY: Nonroster INFs Ray Olmedo and Daniel Mayora and just-signed Joe Inglett are the only position players who haven't reported in advance of Monday's first full-squad workout. … RHP Juan Cruz remains delayed by visa issues. … Maddon said he was impressed by SS prospect Tim Beckham's attitude and improved physique: "He just looks different."

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

5 questions | C Nate Thompson

Was it hard to be convinced to shave your head April 7 to raise money for cancer research? I talked to the lady who runs it about how much money they raise. That's the most important thing. I couldn't justify my own self-image for a good cause.

Any reservations? I'm sure I'll have reservations after I cut it.

Ever shave your head before? My third year in the minors. We did Mohawks.

What did that look like? It was weird. I kept trying to grab my hair.

Any upside? It does feel good, and it's a lot less work, so that was nice.

Dancing fools

When Lightning players were introduced during the Feb. 13 Glitz 'N' Sticks charity event, each did a quick dance move while walking onto the stage at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Asked who had the best moves, D Randy Jones said it was pretty much a tie between RW Teddy Purcell and C Nate Thompson.

"They set a time from 4 to 5 every day to get their patterns down," Jones said.

"Randy Jones is just jealous," Thompson said. "You can't teach it. It just flows from us."

Homebody

For about two months after June reconstructive surgery on his right knee, Marc-Andre Bergeron was pretty much stuck at home outside Quebec City. Instead of fretting, the defenseman said he used the time to strengthen bonds with his kids: Sofia, 4, and Frederic, 2.

"Now my daughter is asking about me all the time," Bergeron said. "I built something with them, and maybe it's a little bit because of that (surgery). You have to give something to get something."

Quote to note

"I don't read the papers. I'm happy the way I play. If I started listening to every media throughout my whole career, I'd never stop worrying about things."

C Vinny Lecavalier, on his lack of points

Number of the day

1 Hockey player enshrined in the Florida Sports Hall of Fame after the induction Wednesday of former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

Did Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman just have his Jay Feaster moment?

Yzerman on Friday acquired veteran defenseman Eric Brewer from the Blues — basically for a song; he traded a 2011 third-round draft pick and the rights to blue-line prospect Brock Beukeboom — in a move that gives Tampa Bay an experienced minute muncher who can stabilize the defensive zone and, as a former captain, provide leadership.

That sounds a lot like when Feaster, the Lightning's general manager in 2004, brought in defenseman Darryl Sydor from the Blue Jackets for disappointing center Alexander Svitov and a third-round pick.

That trade, regarded as one of the best in team history, provided a missing piece in the drive to the Stanley Cup.

Not saying the Lightning is on its way to a championship, but a more capable, deeper defense might mitigate some of the speed and coverage deficiencies exposed, especially in the first period, of Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Red Wings.

And though Yzerman said defenseman Mike Lundin's injury (out indefinitely with what is believed to be an abdominal issue) did not push him to make the trade, Lundin's absence, and the hole it created, is another reminder of the team's lack of defensive options.

So, where does Yzerman go from here as the Feb. 28 trade deadline approaches? If he follows Feaster's model, he looks for depth.

Feaster in 2004 also picked up defensemen Stan Neckar and Timo Helbling. Though Neckar was in just two playoff games and Helbling was a minor-leaguer, Tampa Bay had more bodies on which to fall back in case of injuries.

Given Mattias Ohlund's creaky knees and that Matt Smaby — as even he says — is a "magnet" for annoying hurts (he was twice hit with pucks during Friday's practice), better safe than sorry, an axiom Yzerman already has taken to heart.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

TODAY

No. 14 Florida at LSU

When/where: 1; Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La.

TV/radio: ES-PN; 620-AM

Records: Florida 20-5, 9-2 SEC; LSU 10-16, 2-9

Notable: Florida will take the court for the first time in eight days, and though the Gators might be rested, they will be without senior F Chandler Parsons, who suffered a deep thigh bruise Feb. 12 against Tennessee and has not practiced all week. … With Parsons out, the Gators will play a three-guard rotation for a more extended time than any other this season. … Although LSU is in last place in the SEC West, the Gators haven't won in Baton Rouge since 2003 and are preparing to face a team that continues to give opponents a worthy fight. "In fairness to LSU, they got hit with a rash of injuries and have had different guys out throughout the course of the year, and that's a difficult thing to overcome," UF coach Billy Donovan said. "The last two games they've played pretty well. . . . So they are a good team."

Antonya English, Times staff writer

Times wires
Saturday, February 19, 2011

LAKELAND — First baseman Miguel Cabrera missed the Tigers' first day of a full-squad practice, and the team doesn't know when he will report.

"Miguel is not going to be here (Saturday) nor will be here for the next couple of days," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "We had conversations (Friday) between the commissioner's office, the players association, myself and Miguel's representative and him, and we've decided that it's best to meet with some doctors in the beginning of the week and completely assess what has taken place."

The first baseman was arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving in Fort Pierce, about 110 miles southeast of Lakeland.

Dombrowski said he won't know when Cabrera might return until after the doctors see him.

"I would anticipate, after the doctor visits with him, having some type of feel by at least the middle of this week," he said. "I've talked to him on the phone a couple of times. He's as down as he can be. He feels terrible."

Manager Jim Leyland reiterated that Cabrera is his first baseman and part of the team no matter what.

"We will welcome him back with open arms. We are a family," Leyland said. "We support him and always will. We can take care of it. I love that kid.

"I am not enjoying it right now, but I can't wait for the kid to come in. I love the kid."

Cabrera, 27, hit .328 with 38 home runs last season and finished second in the AL MVP vote to Texas' Josh Hamilton.

YOUNG ARRIVES: Michael Young reported to spring training on time for the Rangers, saying he was ready to play and try to make the best of "a situation that is less than ideal" after the team was unable to fulfill his request for a trade.

Young, the longest-tenured Rangers player going into his 11th season, arrived at camp a day before the first full-squad workout for the AL champions.

"I have nothing to hide. I have nothing to be ashamed of. There's not a thing I would change. So I'm not uncomfortable," Young said. "If I had a horrible relationship with guys in that room or my manager, I would be uncomfortable, but I don't. I love my teammates. I love my manager."

Adrian Beltre was signed this winter, supplanting Young at third base. The Rangers plan for Young to be their primary DH and have him fill in at every infield position.

ASTROS: Outfielder Hunter Pence, 27, won his arbitration case and will make $6.9 million rather than the team's offer of $5.15 million.

ROCKIES: Right-hander Matt Belisle, the team's most consistent reliever last season, signed a deal through 2012 that buys out his first year of free agency. Belisle, 30, posted a 2.93 ERA in 92 innings last season.

Times wires
Saturday, February 19, 2011

WASHINGTON — Commissioner Roger Goodell, union executive director DeMaurice Smith and members of their negotiating teams participated in a second consecutive six-hour session with a federal mediator Saturday, trying to spur progress less than two weeks before the league's labor deal expires.

They're not revealing how it's going. Neither Goodell nor Smith stopped to take questions as they left Saturday's meeting at the office of George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a U.S. government agency.

They met with Cohen for the first time Friday after agreeing to the mediation, which is not binding but is meant as a way to initiate progress in the slow, sometimes contentious bargaining.

The plan calls for several days of negotiations with Cohen, who asked participants not to comment publicly on the process.

The collective bargaining agreement runs out at the end of the day March 3.

Ruling: former safety committed suicide: Dave Duerson, a four-time Pro Bowl safety who won two Super Bowls, committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest, the Miami-Dade County medical examiner said in a ruling reported by a Chicago TV station. In a text message to family members, Duerson asked that his brain be left for research, the station said. Duerson, who won Super Bowls with the Bears and Giants, was found dead Thursday in his home on Sunny Isles Beach in northeast Miami-Dade County. He was 50.

Bengals: Receiver Terrell Owens said the team went 4-12 last year because of the coaches and owner Mike Brown. "We really didn't have the coaching that we really needed to muster what we had on the offensive side of the ball," he said on the NFL Network. Of Brown, he said, "I think even before I got there, they said the owner was a little different. Obviously, I saw that."

Ratings: Last year's scouting combine was watched by 5.2 million people on the NFL Network, the Miami Herald reported. That is a better number than major-league baseball gets on ESPN, though ESPN is in 43 million more homes. This year's combine begins Thursday in Indianapolis.

Obit: Ollie Matson, a Hall of Fame running back who was once traded for nine players during his 14-year career and won two track medals at the 1952 Olympics, has died at 80. He died Saturday of respiratory failure at his Los Angeles home. The third overall pick by the Chicago Cardinals in 1952, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players in 1959.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 19, 2011

TAMPA — C Jeff Faine has assurances he will be on the Bucs' roster next season. Staying on the field is another matter.

Faine, who turns 30 on April 6, has missed 12 of the past 32 games. In 2009, he missed four games with a triceps tear. In 2010, a quadriceps injury shut him down for four games at midseason, and he missed the final month after another triceps tear. None of those injuries required surgery.

"Obviously, the last two years has been a little unfortunate," Faine said. "I'm just trying to analyze what I can do differently, what I can do better, whether it's massage or active release therapy (soft-tissue therapy massage techniques). But I'm exhausting all options to see what I can do.

"I think it might be a little bit of training. Also, I'm not a big partier. It wasn't like I was tearing down my body. … It might just be a matter of taking extra care of my body during the week. We're looking into that. I'm going to figure out how to keep my body in peak shape. Usually I work out pretty hard and stay in pretty good shape. That's not the issue. It might be a combination of a little more rest and a little more alternative maintenance."

Faine is a team captain and the Bucs' union representative. On the youngest roster in the NFL, he will soon join the endangered list of 30-something players on the back nine of their career.

What's more, Faine is scheduled to earn $4.575 million next season after earning $5 million in 2010 while playing in half the games.

In the past, the Bucs have parted with players such as Faine. After going 5-3 with Jeremy Zuttah at center, they might be expected to do it again.

Zuttah, who turns 25 on June 1, is younger and certainly cheaper. He will earn $555,000 in 2011, and offensive coordinator Greg Olson has said center is probably a better position for him than guard.

But the Bucs really aren't deep on the offensive line, and nobody has doubted Faine's production when healthy.

G Davin Joseph is an unrestricted free agent, and though he remains a priority to be re-signed, there's no guarantee that will happen. Tampa Bay also could lose RT Jeremy Trueblood, who lost his starting job due to a knee sprain sustained against the Rams in October but never wrestled it back from James Lee. Trueblood is an unrestricted free agent, and the Bucs might not attempt to re-sign him.

Rookies Ted Larsen and Derek Hardman played well at guard when pressed into service, and the Bucs still are eager to see what they have in G Brandon Carter and T Will Barker.

But protecting QB Josh Freeman will continue to be a priority. That's why for the time being, Faine has every expectation of reclaiming his job next season.

WILL CADDY ROLL AGAIN?: The Bucs haven't had a more inspirational player recently than RB Cadillac Williams — or a more reliable one.

Williams sustained devastating knee injuries in 2007 and 2008. But in the past two seasons, he played in each of the Bucs' 32 games, starting 15 in '09 and half of the games last year before losing his job to rookie RB LeGarrette Blount.

Clearly, Blount, who led all rookies with 1,007 yards rushing, will carry the mail for the Bucs next season. Williams, meanwhile, is an unrestricted free agent.

But Williams has morphed into one of the NFL's top third-down backs. He had a career-high 46 catches for 355 yards and the winning touchdown against the Rams last year.

Perhaps more important, there might not be a better pass protector against the blitz at running back than Williams.

Not only does he grade at nearly 100 percent on assignments, but his technique is as sound as any running back in the NFL.

It's hard to predict what kind of market Williams will find as a free agent given his reduced role with the Bucs and injury history. But there's no question Tampa Bay would like to have him back in 2011.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, February 19, 2011

DAYTONA BEACH

He is nearing his 40th birthday, and is clearly over the hill.

He has won only one race in the past three years, and is obviously slowing down.

He has been completely upstaged by the kid he hired, and completely overwhelmed by the legacy he built. Sad to say, Jeff Gordon appears to be nearing the end of his road as an active legend.

If only he would stop passing cars.

Yes, it is an odd thing to be beaten over the head with your own success. For there was a time when Gordon was collecting more victories at a younger age than any driver who had ever gotten behind the wheel of a stock car.

Which is why the shortage of checkered flags in recent seasons has grown so noticeable. It's almost as if a temporary slump gave way to a new reality. Almost as if his foray into management coincided with his decline as a driver.

But here's the rub:

Gordon is still racking up points with greater regularity than any NASCAR driver except one.

The problem is he is not matching the standard of his protege, Jimmie Johnson. Or even the standard of his youth.

"I can tell you it hasn't been quite as much fun the last couple of years," Gordon said. "We have still been fairly competitive, just not as competitive as we've been in the past. Now it's a goal and a challenge to get back and see, "Do I still have what it takes?'

"I think this year is a real test for me."

Gordon is one of three drivers — Johnson and Denny Hamlin are the other two — to have qualified for the season-ending Chase for the Championship in each of the past five years. And he has been in the top 10 in the Sprint Cup standings in 16 of the past 17 seasons.

So vision tests and right-hand lanes probably are not in his immediate future.

But, the truth is, Gordon has been more consistent than dramatic in recent seasons. He knows how to stay out of trouble, and he knows how to maximize point totals, so he has given the appearance of being more competitive than he has probably been.

Or here's a simpler way of putting it:

In his past 113 starts, Gordon has one victory. There was a time, during his peak, when Gordon won 37 times in a 113-race span.

Back then, Gordon seemed a cinch to rival some of the greatest numbers in NASCAR's record books. He won 55 races in his 20s, only five fewer than Richard Petty had. He won four Cup titles at age 30, three more than Dale Earnhardt had.

But where Petty's career took off at age 30, and Earnhardt picked up steam at 35, Gordon has slowed. He has gone nine seasons without a Cup champion­ship, and he has dropped to 27 victories in his 30s.

He's no longer much of a threat to match the seven titles won by Petty and Earnhardt, and it's no longer a foregone conclusion that he will join Petty and David Pearson as the only drivers with 100 or more career victories. Gordon goes into this season at 82.

It might be modesty talking now, or maybe disappointment, but Gordon said he never considered himself a threat to reach seven championships, even though he was more than halfway there at such a young age.

"I never thought it was a reality. I just looked at seven like it was crazy to be able to do that," Gordon said. "We went on a heck of streak there, and you just hope to keep that going for as long as you can. But you never know when the day comes and the momentum slows down and stops, and then you have to reinvent yourself.

"Once it dies down, you can never have it quite like it was when you were at that peak. Not if you had the kind of success that (Johnson) is having, that I had, or even Richard or Dale."

If seeing Johnson's success up close has been painful for Gordon, he does not let it show. Still, it is not hard to notice that Gordon won the Cup title in 2001 and then, along with Rick Hendrick, became a co-owner of Johnson's No. 48 car in 2002.

Gordon finished fourth in points that season, and Johnson finished fifth. Since then, Johnson has finished ahead of Gordon every single season.

In an effort to shake things up for both Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick moved crew chiefs around for the 2011 season. Steve Letarte joins Junior after five seasons with Gordon, and Alan Gustafson is Gordon's crew chief after working with Kyle Busch and Mark Martin in recent seasons.

"I never expected to make it to this level. I never expected to win one race, let alone 82," Gordon said. "I don't have to win another race to be content, to be happy with my career, with my life.

"But, you know, when you work for Hendrick Motorsports and you've had the success that we've had, you want to keep it going. You don't know how many more years you have left in you. You don't know how many more races you can win. You want to seize those opportunities."

Once, he was the youngest Cup champion in modern history at 24. Now, he is six months from his 40th birthday. As always, the race is on for Jeff Gordon.