Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

Angels 6, Orioles 0

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Brad Mills, called up from Triple A to make a spot start for the injured Dan Haren, helped the Angels record their second straight shutout. He pitched on three days' rest. The lefty, 27, is 3-3 with a 7.38 ERA in 10 major-league starts over four years but 3-0, 1.56 in three against the Orioles. The Angels have a majors-high 13 shutouts, which is two more than they had all of last year. Rookie Wei-Yin Chen allowed three homers in a span of seven batters to lose his fourth straight decision.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

PORRENTRUY, Switzerland — Bradley Wiggins kept the yellow jersey at the Tour de France. Keeping his cool was another matter.

The former Olympic champion, with ambitions to be Britain's first Tour winner, unleashed a profanity-laced tirade after Sunday's eighth stage that entered Switzerland.

Thibaut Pinot, at 22 the youngest competitor, gave France its first stage victory this year. Wiggins quashed an attack by defending champ Cadel Evans to hold the overall lead by 10 seconds.

Wiggins' Team Sky has controlled the Tour in a style reminiscent of Lance Armstrong's former U.S. Postal team. The Brit lost his composure when asked to compare the teams and comment on social media "cynics who believe that you have to be doped up to win the Tour."

"I cannot be dealing with people like that. It justifies their own bone-idleness because they can't ever imagine applying themselves to anything in their lives," Wiggins said. "And it's easy for them to sit under a pseudonym on Twitter and write that."

A crash caused defending Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez to pull out. He broke his right hand and injured his left shoulder, and could miss the London Games.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

TORONTO — Ryan Hunter-Reay became the first American in six years with three straight IndyCar victories, winning the Indy Toronto street race on Sunday and taking the points lead.

Hunter-Reay took the lead for good on Lap 57 of 85 and stayed out front of a series of pileups after a restart with three laps left.

While fighting for second, Mike Conway bumped Charlie Kimball in Turn 3, and Kimball bounced into St. Petersburg resident Sebastien Bourdais, sending him into the tire barrier. Kimball was second and Conway third; Bourdais wound up 14th.

"That's Toronto," said Hunter-Reay, who leads Will Power by 34 points with five races left. "Turn 3 is mayhem corner."

ALLMENDINGER UPDATE: AJ Allmendinger was silent a day after NASCAR suspended him for failing a random drug test, and Penske Racing owner Roger Penske said the team is "going to wait and see what the second test results are" before proceeding.

FORMULA ONE: Red Bull driver Mark Webber passed Fernando Alonso on Lap 48 of 52 to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, England. Stewards fined Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi $31,000 for a pit lane collision which slightly injured three mechanics, and fined Williams' Pastor Maldonado $12,300 for contact.

NHRA: Spencer Massey won in Top Fuel at the Summit Racing Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, beating Steve Torrence in the final. Mike Neff (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their classes.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, July 8, 2012

CLEVELAND — The Rays reset their rotation for the resumption of play after the All-Star break that starts today, giving RHP Jeremy Hellickson a welcome chance to put a rough first half behind him with a good start against the Red Sox on Friday to open the second.

"I haven't pitched like I wanted to," said Hellickson, 4-5, 3.41. "Then taking a ball off the shin and the shoulder fatigue (that landed him on the disabled list for two weeks), it's just been frustrating all in all the last month.

"So it'll be nice to take a break and start fresh that first game."

Hellickson will be followed by All-Star LHP David Price and RHP James Shields against Boston. RHP Alex Cobb and LHP Matt Moore will follow and pitch the first two of a four-game series with Cleveland.

Manager Joe Maddon said the shuffling accomplished three goals:

• Give extra rest to Shields, who threw 121 pitches over seven innings Sunday, and Price, who is expected to work an inning in Tuesday's All-Star Game.

• Split up Hellickson and Cobb, who have similar repertoires and pitching styles, as well as the lefties, Price and Moore.

• Set them up going forward deeper into the second half.

"It breaks everything up, and it kind of works out all right that way," Maddon said.

HOT STUFF: DH Luke Scott was the coldest hitter in the game as he ran a hitless streak to a team-record 0-for-41 until homering in his third at-bat Friday. And now he's one of the hottest, going 5-for-12 with two doubles and two homers and six RBIs.

pregame tweaks: When the Rays resume play Friday, Maddon hopes some changes to their pregame work routine produce better results. Maddon wouldn't get specific, though he said they would not be going old school and taking infield practice.

"We do need to get better. We need to become a more consistent team, and postbreak, I have some ideas for that. And we'll try to implement them," he said. "It's just the way we're going to work."

The Rays scattered after the game and will reconvene Thursday afternoon at the Trop for a workout that under new MLB rules is not mandatory. Still, Maddon said, "We'll have a good turnout."

DESMOND DOWN: Slumping LF Desmond Jennings was dropped from the leadoff spot to seventh in the order for the second time in the past two weeks, and Maddon said it's "possible" he'll stay there for a while. SS Elliot Johnson hit leadoff Sunday, and Maddon seemed to like the idea.

Jennings, in 32 games since coming off the DL following a left knee sprain, has hit just .200 with 34 strikeouts and only 10 walks. Sunday, though, he had a two-run double and an 11-pitch strikeout.

"If you look at the numbers through June and July, they've not been normal Desmond numbers," Maddon said. "I've been trying to give him that opportunity. But as we move forward, we just have to become more consistent.

"And I think also it gives him a chance to work on some things. The biggest thing for me with him just would be organization of the strike zone — to accept his walks and lay off certain pitches that make the pitchers come to him more. Taking the pressure off being the leadoff hitter permits you to do that."

MISCELLANY: The Rays struck out 15 times Sunday and 40 in the four-game series. … Shields allowed 10 hits, the third straight start he has been in double digits, and has allowed a total of 34 over the 212/3 innings. … The Rays are 17-6 in "getaway" games. … OF Sam Fuld (right wrist surgery) will resume his rehab stint with Class A Charlotte tonight.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 1

PHOENIX — Paul Goldschmidt drove in a career-high four and Justin Upton fell a homer short of the cycle for the Diamondbacks, who took three of four. They backed Trevor Bauer, who retired his final 12 batters. In his first two starts, the rookie allowed a combined eight runs and 11 hits over 71/3 innings. Chris Capuano allowed a season-high five runs and fell to 2-5 in nine appearances (eight starts) against Arizona.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

Reds 4, Padres 2

SAN DIEGO — Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer and Ryan Ludwick a solo homer two pitches apart in the fourth to help lead the Reds. Zack Cozart doubled and scored in the seventh to make it 4-2. His 21st double before the All-Star break broke Nomar Garciaparra's record for a rookie shortstop set in 1997.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

Athletics 2, Mariners 1

13 innings

OAKLAND, Calif. — Josh Reddick's double drove in Jemile Weeks from first and gave Oakland its eighth walkoff win of the season. Oakland's Bartolo Colon allowed a single to his first batter, Dustin Ackley, then retired 17 in a row, before three consecutive singles, starting with Ackley, allowed Seattle to tie it.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, July 8, 2012

Best announcer

Time to put the name of ESPN's Chris Fowler, left, among the elite broadcasters in the business. That's to say he belongs somewhere high on the list, a half-notch below Bob Costas and Al Michaels. His work at Wimbledon over the weekend, as well as the past two weeks, was first-rate.

Fowler's greatest strength calling tennis — and the best part of his brilliant juggling as host of ESPN's football version of College GameDay — is his economy of words. He says exactly what needs to be said to get his point across, no more, no less. And whether it's Kirk Herbstreit on GameDay or Chris Evert or John McEnroe on tennis, Fowler is all too willing to set up his expert analysts as the stars.

The egos of a lot of play-by-play broadcasters are too large for them to do that. Those announcers not only want to be the stars of the booth, but the stars of the entire broadcast. Fowler realizes the analysts are the stars with the microphones and the event is the star of the broadcast.

Strangest feeling

The gentleman's final of Wimbledon was Sunday morning. How weird was it to turn on NBC and see … bicycling? It still feels like we should've been hearing that "Breakfast at Wimbledon'' music, with Dick Enberg and Bud Collins calling the action.

Instead, Wimbledon is on ESPN/ABC, and NBC carried the Tour de France on Sunday morning.

Records of the day

Sunday's Pirates-Giants game featured starting pitchers Tim Lincecum of San Francisco and A.J. Burnett, left, of Pittsburgh. One is now 10-2 on the season and the other is 3-10. Who would've thought it would be Burnett who is 10-2?

Best contest

Did you see who won the Miss Florida 2012 pageant Saturday night? Laura McKeeman, who you often can find working the Rays telecasts on Sun Sports. McKeeman, who entered the pageant after winning the Miss Pinellas contest, will represent Florida in the Miss America 2013 pageant in Las Vegas in January. McKeeman was born in Atlanta, raised in Florida and spent time in China and Washington, D.C., studying ballet. She went to the University of Florida, where she became involved in sports journalism. She covers high school recruiting for Fox Sports Florida but mostly is known for her work on the Rays broadcasts.

Best stat

Did you see last week that former Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson ran his mouth about how a bunch of guys shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame. Reggie's list of guys who shouldn't be in the Hall included Jim Rice, Don Sutton, Phil Niekro and Bert Blyleven. Jackson has a right to his opinion, but he stooped pretty low to also say that a couple of Hall of Famers who have passed away — Kirby Puckett and Gary Carter, who died in February — also shouldn't be in. Those guys aren't around to defend themselves against baseball's all-time strikeout leader.

The New York Daily News' Bill Madden looked up how Jackson fared against Blyleven and found some interesting numbers. Even though Blyleven isn't a Hall of Famer in Jackson's eyes, Jackson hit a paltry .214 against Blyleven with 49 strikeouts. Blyleven has the fifth-most strikeouts in major-league history and struck out Jackson more than any other hitter. Meantime, Jackson struck out against Blyleven more than any other pitcher.

Best newcomer

Nice work by former golf star Annika Sorenstam as an analyst for NBC's U.S. Women's Open coverage. She sounded extremely comfortable for someone with so little broadcasting experience. Plus, you know how some people are just likeable? That's Sorenstam.

Sorenstam said she is interested in occasionally working in the booth, but she doesn't want a full-time gig because she doesn't want to be away that much from her two children. After all, if she was willing to be a full-time announcer, she might as well start playing again. She's only 41.

Speaking of NBC's U.S. Women's Open coverage, it was — no surprise — an outstanding weekend. And it also was no surprise that Dottie Pepper, among the best analysts, golf or otherwise), made the smooth transition from on-course walker to lead analyst.

Three things that popped into my head

1. Now it appears the Rays' Evan Longoria won't be back until maybe August. But we can all thank our lucky stars he is well enough to take a break from rehab to attend this week's ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. (Why, yes, that is sarcasm.)

2. Can't wait for tonight's Home Run Derby. (Why, yes, that is sarcasm, too.)

3. This might make you feel old: O.J. Simpson turns 65 today.

Smartest move

Great move Saturday by CBS during its PGA coverage after Troy Kelly, above, shot 62 to move near the top of the leaderboard. Most folks, even golf fans, would have trouble picking Kelly out of a one-man lineup. He went into the weekend ranked 464th in the world. So CBS brought Kelly into the booth with host Jim Nantz and lead analyst Nick Faldo to, in effect, introduce him to the audience. CBS knew full well Kelly was going to be a major part of the coverage Sunday, so the network wanted to make sure fans knew his story, including past injuries, where he grew up and who his idols were. CBS was dealt a bad hand when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson missed the cut, but it changed on the fly nicely and told fans why they should tune in Sunday by telling them why Kelly was interesting even if he wasn't well known. As it turned out, Kelly was a major part of Sunday's broadcast. He lost in a playoff to Ted Potter.

Saddest news

Legendary Raiders star Ben Davidson passed away Tuesday of prostate cancer at the age of 72. What I didn't know until seeing an item in the New York Post was that the day before, an NBC executive named Julian Goodman, left, died at the age of 90. Who was Goodman? Why is he mentioned in a sports column? And what does he have to do with Davidson?

Goodman was the NBC president who was blamed for the network switching from a Jets-Raiders game in 1968 to the movie Heidi. The Raiders rallied for two late scores to win after the switch in a game forever known as "The Heidi Game.'' Davidson played in that game.

tom jones' two cents

Tampa Bay Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up his best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Best performance

Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player ever, right? That was true before Sunday. After beating Andy Murray for his seventh Wimbledon singles title, Federer owns 17 major championships. After the match, ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe summed it up perfectly: "(Jimmy) Connors loved the fight. (Pete) Sampras loved to win. This guy loves it all. He loves everything about (tennis)."

By the way, the McEnroe brothers, Patrick and John, were splendid throughout the fortnight. And though Chris Evert was steady enough on the women's matches, the coverage really missed Mary Carillo, who no longer works for ESPN. If Carillo isn't calling a high-profile women's match, it just doesn't fell like a high-profile women's match.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

KOHLER, Wis. — Na Yeon Choi was cruising to victory in the U.S. Women's Open when her trademark consistency suddenly deserted her.

After yanking her tee shot into the woods on the 10th hole, Choi made triple bogey — cutting her lead over playing partner Amy Yang from five to two strokes.

"That moment, maybe I thought I might screw up today," Choi said. "But I thought I needed to fix that. I can do it. So I tried to think what I have to do."

Choi birdied the next hole, danced around a few more potential pitfalls on the back nine and went on to win by four strokes Sunday at Blackwolf Run.

It's the first major and sixth career LPGA Tour victory for the 24-year-old South Korean star, who came into the tournament ranked fifth.

Choi shot 1-over 73 on Sunday and finished at 7-under 271. Yang, also from South Korea, had 71 to finish second.

Choi's victory came at the same course where Se Ri Pak won the Open in 1998, a victory that inspired Choi and many other young South Koreans to try to make it on the women's tour.

"And 14 years later I'm here right now, and I made it," Choi said. "My dreams come true. It's an amazing day today, and like I really appreciate what Se Ri did and all the Korean players, they did. It's really no way I can be here without them."

Pak was in a group of friends who met Choi after she finished on No. 18, showering her with hugs — and victory champagne.

And look at what Pak started: Choi is the fourth Korean in five years to win the U.S. Open.

Seminole's Brittany Lincicome, who shot 71 to finish 6 over, said: "Maybe I should spend a week with one of them and kind of figure out what they do. Obviously, they practice unbelievably hard. They're not fishing on their weeks off like I am."

Choi could afford to have one bad hole thanks to her remarkable performance Saturday when she matched the fifth-lowest round in Open history with 65.

Michelle Wie finished 10 over. After shooting 66 Friday to get within a stroke of the lead, she had weekend rounds of 78-80.

Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse was the top area finisher, tying for 14th at 5-over 293 after shooting 72; she matched her best finish at a major (also 2011 LPGA). Tampa's Kristy McPherson (79) tied for 60th at 18 over.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

NBA

Magic to ship Anderson for Hornets' Ayon

The Magic agreed to a sign-and-trade deal that will send restricted free agent forward Ryan Anderson to the Hornets for forward Gustavo Ayon, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

Anderson, 24, was set to sign an offer sheet for four years and, according to Yahoo Sports, about $36 million. So the Magic, which wanted cap flexibility instead of Anderson, moved to get something in return and pitched the sign-and-trade.

No transactions can be finalized until the NBA's moratorium period ends Wednesday.

Ayon, 27, played in 54 games last season, and averaged 5.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Anderson started 61 games and averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, winning the league's most improved player award.

Celtics eye Lee: In the wake of losing shooting guard Ray Allen to the Heat, the Celtics increased their efforts to land Courtney Lee, sending coach Doc Rivers to meet with the free agent guard Saturday, ESPN.com reported. Lee averaged 11.4 points for the Rockets last season and hit 40 percent of his 3-pointers. Houston is reportedly interested in participating in sign-and-trade deals involving both Lee and Marcus Camby.

Bucks: Free agent forward Ersan Ilyasova is close to re-signing with the team, the Associated Press reported.

Bulls: Guard Kirk Hinrich, who was traded to the Wizards in 2010 and played for the Hawks last season, is expected to sign a two-year deal to return for about $6 million, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Obituary

Electric Football inventor dies

Norman Sas, the man who invented tabletop Electric Football in 1948 and later sold more than 40 million vibrating metal fields for tiny plastic players to tumble upon, died June 28 at age 87 in Vero Beach.

Inspired by a vibrating horse-racing toy, Mr. Sas introduced the football game in 1949 but his toy didn't truly take off until 1967, when he signed a deal with NFL Properties, the league's product licensing division. From then on the players represented actual NFL teams.

"For the first 10 years, we generated more money for NFL Properties than anyone else," Mr. Sas told the Washington Post in 1998. "Then the (video) games came out, and that was the beginning of the end."

Et Cetera

Horses: Game On Dude carried Chantal Sutherland to victory Saturday in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., making her the first female jockey to win the 73-year-old race.

NFL: Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, charged with resisting arrest and accused of shoving an off-duty police officer at a club, wrote on Twitter: "Thank you for waiting for the facts. Truth will surface."

Soccer: Didier Deschamps was named France's national team coach, replacing Laurent Blanc, who turned down a new contract offer last month. As a player, Deschamps, 43, captained France to victory at the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship.

WNBA: San Antonio won its seventh in a row, 94-81 over host New York. … Host Tulsa beat Washington 78-62.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Ted Potter's first PGA Tour victory means a lot more than a big paycheck. The 28-year-old rookie can take a trip to Augusta National off his wish list.

With a 4-foot birdie on the third hole of a playoff Sunday to beat Troy Kelly in the Greenbrier Classic, Potter earned a spot in the Masters.

Potter, who joined the former Nationwide Tour in 2004, had little success until last year.

"When you're missing cuts every week, you get down on yourself," he said. "I mean, it's hard to pick yourself back up. But the plus side for me is I was still young."

Potter, ranked 218th, erased a four-stroke deficit with four holes left, ending with 6-under 64 to match Kelly at 16-under 264. Kelly closed with 66.

Potter also gets a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and earned his way into this month's British Open. He was second in money last year on the second-tier tour (recently renamed the Web.com Tour).

Webb Simpson lost a one-stroke lead on the back nine for the second straight year. The U.S. Open champion made three straight bogeys, shot 73 and tied for seventh at 11 under.

Potter made long putts to birdie No. 15 and eagle 17, and his 5-footer for birdie at No. 18 forced the playoff.

CHAMPIONS: Kirk Triplett won the First Tee Open in Pebble Beach, Calif., for his first win on the tour in his eighth start since turning 50 in March. He shot 66 to finish at 10-under 206, beating Mark McNulty by two shots.

EUROPEAN: Marcel Siem shot 4-under 67 to win the French Open at 8-under 276, edging Francesco Molinari by one shot in Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines for his first win since 2004.

Times wires
Sunday, July 8, 2012

HOUSTON — Before his second straight start Sunday, Brewers RHP Zack Greinke was excited to learn he'll become the first pitcher to start three games in a row in one season since 1917.

After giving up three runs in the first, he grew worried.

"If you lose all three of them, that would be the worst thing ever," he said.

His teammates ensured he won't by rallying for a 5-3 10-inning win over the Astros.

Saturday, Greinke threw four pitches and was ejected for spiking the ball after a close play at first. He was charged with a run and took the loss.

On May 21, the Angels' C.J. Wilson threw 22 pitches before a rain delay forced him out then started the next day. Before that, the last to start on consecutive days was Texas' Aaron Myette, who was ejected after two pitches on Sept. 3, 2002.

Greinke, who pitched just three innings Sunday, also is set to start the first game after the All-Star break on Friday. That will make him the first to start three straight games in one season since Red Faber of the White Sox in 1917.

"I'm considering it a record," Greinke said. "Even though it's been done before, I feel like it's the first time ever being done. I think it's really neat, but I don't know if anyone else does."

All-Star Game: White Sox RHP Jake Peavy, who lost the fan vote for the final roster spot, replaced Wilson. Wilson has a blister on his left middle finger.

A's: CF Yoenis Cespedes left in the third after spraining his left thumb on a headfirst slide. It's not clear if he will miss any time.

Blue Jays: 3B Brett Lawrie sat due to tightness in his lower back. Manager John Farrell said it was only precautionary and he expects Lawrie to return after the All-Star break. … LH reliever Luis Perez left in the seventh and went on the DL with tightness in his left elbow.

Braves: SS Andrewlton Simmons broke his right pinky on a headfirst slide. His return hasn't been determined.

Indians: LH reliever Nick Hagadone went on the disqualification list a day after being sent to Triple A. The team said he sustained a "self-inflicted injury to his pitching hand," after allowing two runs, two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning Friday against the Rays. Over his past seven outings, he has allowed 12 runs, 14 hits and seven walks over 52/3 innings. Hagadone, who apparently punched something, won't be paid while on the list.

Marlins: The team said RF Giancarlo Stanton's arthrosco­pic surgery on his right knee went well. There is no timetable for his return. … 3B Hanley Ramirez left in the sixth due to a right finger laceration sustained when he punched a cooling fan in the dugout after grounding out. He's not expected to miss any games.

Mets: LHP Johan Santana, previously set to start Friday, instead will go Sunday or Monday. Manager Terry Collins said he wants to give Santana, who twisted his right ankle Friday, extra rest.

Phillies: CF Shane Victorino, the subject of trade rumors, was a last-minute scratch. The team did not disclose a reason.

Reds: 3B Scott Rolen returned to the lineup a week after back spasms forced him out.

Red Sox: 1B Adrian Gonzalez left in the third with an undisclosed illness.

Times wires
Monday, July 9, 2012

Yankees 7, Red Sox 3

BOSTON — Ivan Nova struck out 10, Andruw Jones hit his fourth homer in three games and the Yankees went into the break taking three of four at Fenway Park to boosted their record to a majors-best 52-33. Nova allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. Jones provided a cushion with a two-run homer in the seventh.

Times wires
Monday, July 9, 2012

Rangers 4, Twins 3

13 innings

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ian Kinsler singled to leftfield with the bases loaded to score Daniel Murphy in the 13th after the Rangers scored three unearned runs in the ninth against Glen Perkins to send it into extras.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 9, 2012

Under normal circumstances, Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel would have spent the early part of the offseason examining film from the 2011 season, breaking down his team's performances then devising improvements.

But this isn't a normal offseason for Missouri.

Instead of looking back at games against Baylor and Oklahoma, Pinkel has looked ahead to games against Georgia and Florida.

"We've looked at all the different schemes we're going to see, offensively and defensively, kicking," said Pinkel, who is entering his 12th season in Columbia. "It's like anything you do. You adjust. You get as much information as you can. You decide your plan, and you adjust accordingly."

Missouri and Texas A&M became the newest members of the SEC on July 1 (its first expansion in 20 years). But Pinkel and Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin have been preparing for the move from the Big 12 for six months — or since last season ended.

Sumlin has the added responsibility of adjusting to a new job. He was hired in December from Houston.

"Transition is tough for everybody," Sumlin said. "For me, it's all new, and the experiences that we're going to have are new to everybody; for our administration, our fans, me. In a way, it's kind of an advantage because (other SEC schools) don't know what's coming either. Because of that, there's a lot of excitement."

While the coaches have been preparing for life on the field, there also have been intense preparations off it. The SEC assembled a transition team to visit each campus. Then administrative staff from both schools attended meetings at the league offices in Birmingham, Ala., to learn conference bylaws. There were visits to various SEC campuses to study gameday management.

Interest at both schools is at a fever pitch. In June, the SEC hosted a pep rally/reception for both schools in Atlanta that drew about 1,000 fans. Texas A&M held a flag-raising ceremony on July 2 to commemorate its entry. Billboards began going up months ago in both states. And if you log onto Texas A&M's website (tamu.edu), one of the first things that jumps out at you is the slogan "This Is SEC Country."

"Our fans are extremely excited, and I know our players are," Sumlin said. "I think you can tell by season-ticket sales. Our place is sold out for every game. Everybody that I've been in contact with, from former students to current students to our players, are excited about joining the SEC and looking forward to this year."

That excitement has already carried over into other aspects of the athletic programs. Missouri recently received a $30 million gift from the Kansas City Sports Trust to kick off a $200 million plan for facility improvements, which the school said is vital to its ability to be successful in the SEC. Plan include adding 6,000 seats to Faurot Field, the football stadium that currently is among the smallest in the league at 71,004.

"We are moving into the nation's best and most competitive conference," Missouri athletic director Mike Alden said. "And by committing to this master plan, we feel this is a statement that Mizzou is going to be a factor on the conference and national levels."

Preparing to face the nation's best is why Sumlin's and Pinkel's offseason has been so busy.

"We've had to analyze every single SEC school we're going to play against; all the personnel and all the schemes," he said. "I have great respect for the SEC. The difference between the SEC and the Big 12 is that there are a lot more good teams in the SEC.

"It's been interesting. You're coaching in the Big 12. And then all of a sudden, you're in a new league. It's been good, but it's been a lot of work."

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

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 9, 2012

American League manager Ron Washington said Rays LHP David Price was a consideration to start the All-Star Game, but only until the Rays said he was limited to pitching one inning.

With that request, Washington said what would have been a tougher decision became easy to pick Detroit's Justin Verlander.

"I wanted the guy who started the game to be able to go two, and when I talked with Tampa they only wanted Price to go one,'' Washington told the Times after Monday's press conference. "They only wanted him to go one.

"That played into it. Also, Justin is a big-time pitcher. He's been a big-time pitcher for many years, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to hopefully watch him go out there and throw up two zeroes right off the bat.''

But Price said that was not the case. He said the Rays were fine with him working two innings if he was the starter, but preferred he only work one in relief, which is often the case, anyway.

The Rays say the same thing. So maybe Washington just wanted to start Verlander anyway.

Told of Washington's comments, Price said — and posted on his Twitter account — that they were false.

"He really said that? That's pretty funny. We said if I did not start, then I was only throwing one,'' Price said. "If I started, I would throw two innings. But if I'm not starting, I wasn't going to throw two innings.''

Washington said the game situation will factor in how he uses Price and the rest of his staff.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 9, 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — American League All-Star manager Ron Washington wanted Detroit's Justin Verlander to start tonight's game. That much seems obvious.

Less clear is how much of a shot Rays lefty David Price had for the honor.

Washington said after Monday's announcement that a request by the Rays to limit Price to one inning factored into his decision.

"I wanted the guy who started the game to be able to go two," said Washington, also the Rangers manager. "And I talked with Tampa. They only wanted Price to go one. That played into it."

But Price said — and tweeted — that wasn't true, as did the Rays and he was ready, willing and available to start and work two innings.

"He really said that? That's pretty funny," Price said. "We said if I did not start, then I was only throwing one. If I started, I would throw two innings."

Washington acknowledged even if he thought he could have used Price for two innings, "I don't know if it would have been tougher" to decide between him and Verlander.

"Justin is a big-time pitcher," Washington said. "He's been a big-time pitcher for many years. And I couldn't pass up the opportunity to, hopefully, watch him go out there and throw up two zeros right off the bat."

Price is tied with Texas' Matt Harrison for the league lead in wins at 11-4 and fifth with a 2.82 ERA. Verlander, last year's AL Cy Young and MVP, is 9-5 and fourth with a 2.58 ERA.

Price is still scheduled to pitch, expected to follow Verlander, though Washington said the game situation ultimately will be a factor in how he uses the rest of the staff.

By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Monday, July 9, 2012

What's cool: Most fish at this time of year seek cool water. The cooler spots are under the shade of a bridge, mangrove shoreline or docks. The water temperature on the flats is 90 degrees or warmer. Most baits won't live more than 30 minutes in those conditions. So use a live or cut pinfish. They will live for hours and work great on redfish as cut bait. At sunup, we use topwater plugs until the strikes stop. We then move to the flats and look for reds schooling close to the mangroves. The reds have been hanging close to the mullet schools and oyster bars. Many small pinfish are schooling near the reds. A cut pinfish will last long enough for the reds to find it.

Snook: Snook action in the gulf is catch-and-release until September 2013. The best action is near the passes. Look for small numbers hanging in the swash channel just off the beach. The best baits are threadfins and pinfish. Pinfish will stay close to the bottom while the threads want to swim on the surface and draw the birds over the snook. The pins will draw more strikes by staying deep and not attracting the birds to spook the school.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389.

By Sharon Fink, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 9, 2012

This year Britain has already made popular contributions to world conversation: Queen Elizabeth II's celebration of 60 years on the throne; the latest boy band to send young girls into frenzies of screams and Twitter trends (its name is One Direction; some of you may have heard of it and thought it was a hot new GPS device); the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking; Prime Minister David Cameron leaving his 8-year-old daughter in a pub. • Britain makes what should be its most popular contribution beginning July 27. That's when the 27th Summer Olympics begin in London, the first city to host the Games three times in the modern era (the others were in 1908 and 1948). • Here are more facts and figures to help with your Olympic warmup.

Sources: Times wires; Allure magazine; Vogue magazine; infostradalive.com; Guardian newspaper, London; Ventura County Star; Tendersinfo News

10,500 Approximate number of athletes participating.

212 Extra staff members hired by the London borough of Westminster to help with cleanup efforts.

10 Olympic appearances for Canadian equestrian Ian Millar, the first athlete to reach that mark; he breaks a tie with Hubert Raudaschl, an Austrian sailor from 1964-96. Millar, 65, made his Olympic debut in 1972. He could have 11 appearances, but Canada was among the countries that boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games.

7 Gold medals swimmer Michael Phelps could win. That would give him 21 for his career; he already is the all-time leader for the Summer and Winter Games with 14. And with Phelps having 16 total medals already, two more of any color ties him for the most decorated Olympian, Summer or Winter, with Larysa Latynina, a gymnast for the former Soviet Union in the 1950s and '60s.

26 Gold medals won by the United States in 3-meter diving, the most by any country in any discipline in any sport. Brandon's Chris Colwill is one of two U.S. men competing in the event at London. He won the Olympic trials.

38 Total seconds it took Jamaican sprinting world-record holder Usain Bolt to win three gold medals in three finals in 2008 (100 meters, 200 meters, a 100-meter leg in the 400 relay).

26 Sports to be contested, two fewer than 2008. Baseball and softball are gone, voted out by the International Olympic Committee in 2005. Baseball suffered from not having major leaguers compete, and IOC president Jacques Rogge said at the time its drug-testing program fell way short of international standards. As for softball, Rogge said it had to increase its "global appeal" (perceived by some to mean the United States won too much).

60 Age of the average elite rower's back, according to doctors, says British rower Mohamed Sbihi.

4 Sports that have been in every Summer Games: track and field, swimming, fencing and artistic gymnastics ("artistic" being the event with men and women competing on apparatus such as the vault, as opposed to rhythmic gymnastics, the one in which women do routines with ribbons and Hula Hoops).

9 Bikinis two-time defending beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor of the United States plans to take to London.

1 New event: women's boxing. It has received the most publicity for its controversy over the Amateur International Boxing Association's initial ruling that women had to wear skirts in the competition so they could be distinguished from the men. After many of the women objected, the association backed off and said they could wear skirts or shorts.

$25 Donations being requested at a fundraising-sendoff barbecue for the defending silver medalist U.S. men's water polo team Saturday in Camarillo, Calif.

5 feet 2 Height of U.S. gymnast Jonathan Horton, who goes to his second Olympics as the defending silver medalist on high bar. "I come from a long line of short people," he says. "It's almost like I was designed for the sport."

6,000 Calories consumed daily by Britain's rowers, says coxswain Phelan Hill (who says he consumes 1,000 to 1,500 a day).

13 Shoe size of U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin, 17, who also will swim in seven events and is expected to be one of the Games' big stars.

71 Age of Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu, expected to be the oldest competitor.

By George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal
Monday, July 9, 2012

AKRON, Ohio — It could be a case of high risk, high reward in building Akron's football program to a level of respectability.

One player is on campus taking classes and participating in conditioning drills. The other, an incoming freshman, is set to report in the fall. Both have had issues in their past.

They're the kinds of chances a program such as the Zips must take occasionally, first-year coach Terry Bowden said.

The son of longtime Florida State coach Bobby Bowden inherited a team that has won one MAC game and two total over the past two seasons and whose last winning season came in 2005.

"We all make decisions based on relationships we have established that would be considered a risk," Bowden said. "Whether I was at Auburn, whether I was at Salem College or North Alabama, there are situations where that occurs. I look at each situation on an individual basis."

Avis Commack, a cornerback coming from Florida State with a year of eligibility remaining, could bring much-needed experience and depth to the secondary, an area in which defensive coordinator Chuck Amato expressed concern during spring practice.

But Commack left the Seminoles after being charged with stealing a fellow student's iPad, according to media reports. He pleaded no contest.

Bowden said Commack didn't plan to return to FSU after graduating in December.

"(Defensive backs coach) Terrell Buckley has worked with him on and off the field for the past couple of years. So we felt he was an ideal guy to take a chance on," Bowden said. "He made a mistake, and we felt like we could give him an opportunity."

Running back Hakeem Lawrence, out of Hialeah-Miami Lakes High, represents a problem familiar to college coaches.

A talented athlete doesn't take academics seriously, and by the time he graduates, he finds the chance to play in college slipping from his grasp. Bowden said the Zips are waiting for his documentation to go through the NCAA's clearinghouse but expect him to be eligible.

As a senior, Lawrence rushed for 1,818 yards (10.6 per carry) and 22 touchdowns. But he found few willing to take him because of his academic record.Bowden said he's a typical spread offense back who can run, catch and return punts and kickoffs.

"We're trying to get as many people (as we can) at that position. You have to have one shine," Bowden said. "If you have any chances to take, it needs to be a difference-maker or someone who can score points in a game."