Times wires
Thursday, July 26, 2012

expectations' weight

Malaysia's medal-contending shooter Nur Suryani Mohamad Taibi says she feels "good," "normal," "relaxed" and "confident with my condition," which is more than eight months' pregnant. Nur Suryani, 29, needed special permission to board the plane to London but otherwise has not had problems, team leader Muzli Mustakim told Agence France Presse. Nur Suryani, competing in the 10-meter air rifle Saturday, said her scores have remained consistent in training. She has adjusted her stance slightly to accommodate the physical changes, but the extra weight has given her better stability, she said.

time to talk about me, guys

She is the daughter of two former Olympians — one a gold medalist — and she finally made the Olympics after missing the past two because her horse was injured. Yet what reporters mostly wanted to talk to Zara Phillips about at Britain's equestrian team news conference was the rest of her family: grandmother Queen Elizabeth, grandfather Prince Phillip, cousins Will and Harry, and Will's wife, cousin-in-law Kate.

Phillips, 31, is the daughter of Princess Anne (1976 equestrian Olympian) and Anne's ex-husband, Mark Phillips (1972 equestrian gold medalist).

Asked if she felt added pressure with her cousins scheduled to watch her compete, Phillips smiled resignedly and shook her head: "Obviously, they're my family, so why should it be weird?"

Compiled by staff writer Sharon Fink from Times wires

"I just felt it was important to give someone else a chance, particularly in Switzerland. We do believe other people should also have chances."

Magnanimous Roger Federer, who turned down a chance to carry Switzerland's flag at the opening ceremony for a third straight Olympics. He told Swiss officials to pick someone else. They choose Stan Wawrinka, with whom Federer won the doubles gold medal in 2008 .

he is still penn state

Along with their countries, athletes represent other things at the Olympics, too. Many carry with them ties to their colleges. That tie is a little sharper at these Games for 18 current and former Penn State athletes representing eight countries. One of the four current Nittany Lions is U.S. fencer Miles Chamley-Watson. He took last semester off to train with his coach in New York, and he has watched from a distance as the campus and culture he knew and enjoyed have undergone seismic changes because of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. "Last time I was there, JoePa (Joe Paterno) was at our (team) dinner," he told the Chicago Tribune. "It's terrible." In April, when Chamley-Watson was named to the Olympic team, among the congratulatory phone calls he received were from fired university president Graham Spanier and deposed AD Tim Curley, who is facing charges related to the case. "Obviously, they're going through a tough time, so for them to reach out and support me, that's amazing," Chamley-Watson said. "My coaches, my athletic adviser also reached out to me. They tell me I'm going to make Penn State proud, so hopefully I will. Hopefully I'll come back with some hardware. Maybe I can shine some light."

fast or feast & pay up

With the Games falling during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Islamic athletes have had to decide whether to adhere to the protocol of abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk. British rower Mohamed Sbihi decided he couldn't do that and remain competitive. To compensate, he donated money to feed 1,800 people via the British charity Walou, which works with kids in Morocco.

"It's written in the Koran that those unable to fast have to feed 60 people or fast for 30 days for every day they miss intentionally," Sbihi said. "So it worked out 1,800 people or five years' fasting."

On the other side, two Moroccan soccer players who decided to fast found it "more or less impossible" to provide a urine sample after the team's 2-2 draw with Honduras on Thursday in Glasgow, coach Pim Verbeek said. After about 21/2 hours, the players were able to fulfill their drug test requirement.

Times wires
Thursday, July 26, 2012

Pirates 5, Astros 3

HOUSTON — Prized prospect Starling Marte homered on his first major-league pitch and Garrett Jones and Clint Barmes added two-run homers off starter Dallas Keuchel. The Pirates' bats backed A.J. Burnett, who shut out the Astros for seven innings before Chris Johnson and Carlos Corporan connected for solo homers in the eighth to make it 5-2 and usher in the bullpen to finish things off.

Times wires
Thursday, July 26, 2012

JACKSONVILLE — Jaguars star running back Maurice Jones-Drew failed to report with the rest of his teammates for the start of training camp Thursday.

Jones-Drew wants a new contract — similar to ones recently given to the Bears' Matt Forte and Ravens' Ray Rice — after leading the league with 1,606 rushing yards last season. He has two years left on a five-year, $31 million contract. He is set to make $4.45 million this season and $4.95 million in 2013.

His average salary ranks eighth among NFL backs.

Owner Shad Khan and general manager Gene Smith insisted they wouldn't negotiate a new deal, not wanting to set a precedent of paying players with two years remaining on lucrative, front-loaded deals.

Jones-Drew, who skipped all offseason workouts, can be fined up to $30,000 for each day of camp he misses.

Revis reports: Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis reported for camp on time. Last month he said he was unsure if he would do so while looking to rework his contract. Two years ago Revis held out, then signed a four-year, $46 million deal. He will make $13.5 million over the last two years.

Panther donates: Carolina receiver Steve Smith will give $100,000 to the city of Aurora, Colo., which will distribute it to victims of last week's theater shooting to offset their medical expenses.

Bounties: A hearing in New Orleans federal court for suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma ended without a decision about whether he can return to work. Vilma, suspended for the season over the team's bounty program, wants a temporary restraining order while his lawsuit against commissioner Roger Goodell proceeds. The judge did not say when he would rule.

Two picks sign: Nose tackle Dontari Poe, the 11th overall draft pick in April, signed a day before Chiefs camp opens. Offensive tackle Matt Kalil, the fourth overall pick, signed a day before Vikings camp opens.

Cardinals: Guard Russ Hochstein signed. Last season, his 11th, he appeared in 15 regular-season games and started both playoff games for the Broncos.

Dolphins: Guard Eric Steinbach agreed to a one-year deal. He started 124 of 125 games for Cincinnati and Cleveland over his first eight seasons before sitting out 2011 with a back injury.

49ers: Safety Dashon Goldson, who last season tied for the team lead with six interceptions, signed his franchise tag tender, for one year and $6.2 million. He and the team failed to reach a multiyear deal by the July 16 deadline. He said he did not consider holding out when camp opens today.

Lions: Saadia Van Winkle sued defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for about $1 million, alleging she was hurt in a December car crash involving him. Police said Suh, whose lawyer wasn't available for comment, was not impaired and was cooperative with officers after the accident.

Ravens: Left tackle Bryant McKinnie did not report to camp. Coach John Harbaugh said only, "He's dealing with an issue."

Saints: Punter and kickoff specialist Thomas Morstead agreed to a six-year, $21.9 million extension, his agent said. Among punters, his average salary will trail only the $4 million of Oakland's Shane Lechler.

Seahawks: Receiver Antonio Bryant signed. He left the Bucs in 2010 for a four-year, $28 million deal with the Bengals. They cut him before the season, and he has been out of the league since.

UFL: A year after financial problems cut its four-team season short, the United Football League will return. The league, for players seeking to reach the NFL, begins an eight-week season Sept. 19. The number of teams has not been determined. But the league signed a deal with CBS Sports Network to air two games a week.

Times wires
Friday, July 27, 2012

Nationals 8, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE — Edwin Jackson pitched seven scoreless innings and Steve Lombardozzi hit a three-run triple as the Nationals improved to 59-39. The last time a Washington-based team was 20 games over .500 was 1933, when the American League's Senators finished 99-53.

Times wires
Friday, July 27, 2012

Mariners 4, Royals 1

SEATTLE — Jason Vargas allowed just three walks and a double in winning his career-high 11th game for the Mariners. Vargas has taken the mound after a Seattle loss in 14 of his 22 starts this year. He's now 10-2 with a 2.78 ERA in those games and 4-0, 1.46 in five July starts. He retired his first 11 batters before walking Lorenzo Cain with two outs in the fourth. He then fell behind 3-and-0 to Billy Butler, who doubled in Cain. From there, no Royal reached second.

Times wires
Friday, July 27, 2012

Mets 3, Diamondback 1

PHOENIX — Matt Harvey struck out 11, singled and doubled in his major-league debut for the Mets. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Harvey, 23, is the first pitcher since 1900 to have at least 10 strikeouts and two hits in a debut. Scott Hairston gave him all the support he needed in the first with a two-run double.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 27, 2012

TAMPA — Brian Price's failure to complete the Bucs conditioning test Thursday was not the final straw that led to the team's decision to cut ties with the troubled but talented defensive tackle, general manager Mark Dominik said Friday.

Price, a second-round pick in 2010, was only able to complete four of the required 16, 110-yard sprints with 45 seconds in between — a new measure administered by coach Greg Schiano.

Price heard and felt "a pop" while participating in the drill and could not finish. Bucs trainers believe the injury is not significant. But following the conditioning test, the Bucs traded Price to the Chicago Bears for an undisclosed draft pick.

Price, who weighed in at 303 pounds Thursday, has had many well-documented physical and personal issues, including losing his sister, Bridgette in a fatal hit-and-run automobile accident in May.

"It's something we've been thinking about and talking about," Dominik said Friday. "Certainly, we wanted to bring Brian Price back in here and have a chance to see how he looked. He did lose weight, he looked like he'd lost 20-something pounds over the offseason program, which is important. But you take the whole picture together and say this is something we felt like we should do.

"It's very difficult to think about all the things he's gone through from the losing of his sister to the injuries he's dealt with to the surgeries he's dealt with. But we have to go out there and win some football games. And part of our plan was to be involved in free agency and find guys, like Gary Gibson or Amobi Okoye and Wallace Gilberry. And we have E.J. Wilson and Roy Miller. It's a position we've focused on understanding that this day could come."

Dominik said he worked with Price's agent, Chuck Price (no relation), on finding a new home for the former UCLA star while also fulfilling the needs of the Bucs.

"At a personal level, I worked a lot with Chuck Price, spent a lot of time with Chuck, so there's no surprises from the Price family, from his agent. They knew what our expectations were, what we wanted. At the same point, we're an organization that communicates and spends a lot of time.

"We felt like Chicago was a match we wanted to make. He's on a plane right now, he's flying to the Bears."

Would Price have been cut if he passed the conditioning test?

"That's hard to say," Dominik said. "It's everything, it's taking everything across and looking at the entire picture of what Brian Price has done where he was going with his career. Certainly, as an organization you hoped and wanted him to have the success of where we drafted him at. Now it's time for us to talk about the other football players that are on this football team and looking forward to what they can do."

KEEP IT FRESH: In his 16th season, Ronde Barber is embracing a challenge.

The Bucs want to move their right cornerback to safety, opposite rookie Mark Barron. It not dissimilar to what the Packers have done with Charles Woodson.

"I just want to play, I want to win," Barber said. "It's not very often you get to not only play 16 years, but to find new challenges in your 16th year and new opportunities to prove yourself. I'm very comfortable not being status quo, not doing what I've always done, and finding new ways to better myself and help this football team."

ROSTER MOVES: The Bucs placed LT Donald Penn on the non-football injury list with a calf strain. Penn was injured in Los Angeles training for the Bucs conditioning run, Dominik said. He is expected to miss a few weeks.

Tampa Bay signed North Illinois WR Landon Cox and Southern Miss DB Marquese Wheaton, and claimed former Toledo CB Desmond Marrow off waivers from Houston.

Cox takes the spot on the Bucs roster vacated by receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who was released Thursday after failing his conditioning test. Wheaton takes the roster spot of CB Derrick Roberson, who was placed on the active physically-unable-to-perform list.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 27, 2012

After it's all said and done, it doesn't matter why the Bucs traded Brian Price.

What's important, now that he's gone, is how the Bucs plan to make up for the loss of a defensive tackle who started 14 games in 2011. There's no final answer at the moment, but we can begin to narrow down the options.

First, based on interviews and observations, Amobi Okoye, while talented, doesn't appear to be the guy. Because Price had settled into a nose tackle role in Tampa Bay, alongside three-technique defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, a likelier option is former Rams tackle Gary Gibson – a more conventional nose tackle. Also in the mix: veteran Roy Miller.

Okoye will have an important role this season, but the Bucs don't see him as an ideal run-stopping nose tackle on early downs. For his part, Gibson hopes he can be a difference maker.

"I'm hoping I get a bunch of snaps," Gibson said after today's first training camp practice. "I'm ready to do some work with this team. I feel great.

"In the last couple of years, I've really fallen into a role of a guy who plays on first and second down. If I can get to the quarterback in that time, I'm going to do it. But as a defensive tackle, especially for me, stopping the run is a priority. If you don't stop the run, you ain't doing much else."

At 312 pounds, Gibson is 20 pounds bulkier than the 292-pound Okoye. Miller, who weighs 310, also has the body type of a nose tackle.

But Okoye, who has some potential to play defensive end, according to the Bucs, is a natural fit next to McCoy on passing downs. That's when the athletic Okoye can utilize his burst off the line of scrimmage to create a pass rush and, potentially, collapse the pocket. Okoye sees himself as a pass rusher before anything else.

"I'll play any (position) that allows me to sack the quarterback," he said, "and we have a nice menu this year."

Another player to watch is Wallace Gilberry. Though he seems undersized, at 268 pounds, his name has come up when the subject of interior linemen comes up. Wallace has 14 combined sacks in his past three season while playing in a reserve capacity for the Chiefs, so he has some pass-rush ability.

Again, the Bucs don't have all the answers yet. But they're going to have to figure things out over the coming weeks given the importance of the defensive tackle position.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 27, 2012

TAMPA — Weeks from now, when the Bucs line up and begin playing games that count, it won't matter why the team traded embattled defensive tackle Brian Price.

What will be important, now that Price went to the Bears for a seventh-round pick Thursday, is how the Bucs plan to account for the loss of a player who started 14 games in 2011.

Currently, there's no answer. But the process of identifying and evaluating options is well under way.

"I think we have plenty of talent," tackle Gary Gibson, signed from the Rams in May, said Friday. "In these next 45 days or so before the (season opener), we have to grow together and become a solid unit.

"And we have more than enough talent to do that."

That task of rebuilding the interior defensive line began in earnest Friday, when the Bucs took the field for the first time since reporting for training camp.

But really, the Bucs have been scrutinizing the position for quite some time, knowing Price's future was uncertain.

Which brings us to Gibson.

While the Bucs made headlines in the offseason for signing free agents Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks, Gibson could become an important pickup in his own way. Along with veteran Roy Miller, Gibson has a chance to take on the role of run-stopping nose tackle formerly occupied by Price.

"I'm hoping I get a bunch of snaps," Gibson said. "I'm ready to do some work with this team. I feel great.

"In the last couple of years, I've really fallen into a role of a guy who plays on first and second down. If I can get to the quarterback in that time, I'm going to do it. But as a defensive tackle … stopping the run is a priority. If you don't stop the run, you ain't doing much else."

With oft-injured Gerald McCoy, the third overall pick in 2010, still being counted on as the penetrating tackle, it's up to the nose tackle to take on double-teams and plug holes in the middle of the field.

Gibson (6 feet 3, 312 pounds) and Miller (6-2, 310) are best suited for that role. Miller hasn't shined much lately, but the 2009 third-round pick can be an asset, coach Greg Schiano said, because of how the Bucs intend to use him.

"He's a very powerful guy and, I think, if put in the right position, he can use that power to his advantage," Schiano said. "There's a lot of things that he can do for us in our scheme that will make him effective."

Another option is Amobi Okoye, the 10th overall pick by the Texans in 2007 who also signed as a free agent. Okoye, who played for the Bears in 2011, would at first glance seem one of the candidates to replace Price. But at 292 pounds, the Bucs believe he lacks the bulk to consistently handle double-teams as a nose tackle on first and second downs.

But Okoye likely will have an important role, particularly as a pass-rushing tackle, perhaps paired with McCoy on third downs. Getting to the quarterback is something he prides himself in.

"I'll play any (position) that allows me to sack the quarterback," Okoye said.

In addition, there is Wallace Gilberry, a former Chiefs defensive end signed in June who is showing versatility, including the ability to play tackle.

Given the lack of great depth and roster limits, the Bucs are stressing flexibility with their defensive line.

"Amobi's more natural (lining up outside the shoulder of a guard). But I think guys can play other things," Schiano said. "Gilberry's playing all over the place as well. That's part of what we're trying to get to in training camp — who fits best."

Price, it appears, did not fit. Now those who do need to prove themselves.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @HolderStephen.

Bryan Burns, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 27, 2012

TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Rowdies are on their most prosperous run in recent team history, having won six of their past seven matches. And probably the biggest key to the Rowdies' success has been continuity within the lineup.

Tampa Bay's starting 11 has remained nearly identical game to game during the team's sizzling stretch, save for some tinkering with the three forwards. In five of the past six games, the personnel in midfield and on the back line stayed exactly the same, the only tweak coming when Andres Arango was inserted into the starting lineup in place of J.P. Rodrigues at Minnesota (July 12) because of a red card Rodrigues picked up in the previous game.

"I think everybody just has a good understanding of each other and I think that's what's been helping us out for the last six weeks," said team captain Frankie Sanfilippo, who was named the NASL's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after scoring a goal in the 2-0 win over Puerto Rico last Saturday.

Sanfilippo is one of three Rowdies — along with fellow defender Takuya Yamada and goalkeeper Jeff Attinella — who have played every minute of every game this season, ensuring that more than half of the defense is the same every time out.

In 2011, Tampa Bay struggled to field a consistent lineup and had to overcome major injuries to vital players. Goalkeeper Daryl Sattler tore his ACL in the fourth game and was lost for the season. Chad Burt's fractured foot sidelined him for nearly three months. A thigh contusion and ankle injury kept Arango in and out of the lineup.

Rodrigues had midseason arthroscopic knee surgery and also missed time after a call up from the Guyana national team. Another defender, Yendry Diaz, never made it to field after tearing his ACL in preseason, and Jeremy Christie only played in five late-season games after offseason hip surgery.

What resulted was a string of uneven performances and an inability to sustain success. The Rowdies won back-to-back games only once last season.

This season has been more fortuitous to the Rowdies injury-wise, leading to greater cohesion on the field and more victories.

"I think the spirit of the side right now is fantastic," coach Ricky Hill said. "I just really think there's a camaraderie amongst the group that you'd go a long ways to find where everyone seems to be very comfortable with everyone else and, in terms of professionalism, it's where we want it to be."

More good injury news: Defender Draymond Washington, one of the few Rowdies to sustain an injury this season, will be available for selection tonight for the first time since tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee at Puerto Rico (June 9). Washington returned to practice following the team's 1-0 win at Edmonton (July 15) and has been declared fit enough to play by Hill if needed against the Eddies.

Remember me? The Rowdies (well, technically, FC Tampa Bay) received a mention Wednesday during the ESPN2 broadcast of the MLS All-Star Game. Justin Morrow, who last year around this time was on loan to Tampa Bay from MLS' San Jose Earthquakes, made his first all-star appearance, starting at left back for the MLS All-Stars.

Morrow started two games during his short-lived loan last season to Tampa Bay in July. That was his second stint on loan to Tampa Bay. His first came a year earlier during the final five matches of the 2010 season.

Morrow was MLS all-stars coach Ben Olsen's selection to replace the injured Heath Pearce.

By Bryan Burns, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 27, 2012

TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Rowdies are on their most prosperous run in recent team history, having won six of their past seven matches. And probably the biggest key to their success has been continuity within the lineup.

Tampa Bay's starting 11 has remained nearly identical during the sizzling stretch, save for some tinkering with the three forwards. In five of the past six games, the personnel in midfield and on the back line stayed the same; the only tweak coming when Andres Arango started in place of J.P. Rodrigues on July 12 at Minnesota because of his red card in the previous game.

"I think everybody just has a good understanding of each other, and I think that's what's been helping us out for the last six weeks," said captain Frankie Sanfilippo, who was named the NASL's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after scoring a goal in the 2-0 win over Puerto Rico on July 21.

Sanfilippo is one of three Rowdies — along with fellow defender Takuya Yamada and goalkeeper Jeff Attinella — who have played every minute of every game this season, ensuring more than half the defense is the same every time out.

In 2011, Tampa Bay struggled to field a consistent lineup and had to overcome major injuries. Goalkeeper Daryl Sattler tore his ACL in the fourth game and was lost for the season. Chad Burt's fractured foot sidelined him nearly three months. A thigh bruise and ankle injury kept Arango in and out of the lineup.

Rodrigues had midseason arthroscopic knee surgery and also missed time after a callup from the Guyana national team. Another defender, Yendry Diaz, never made it to the field after tearing his ACL in preseason, and Jeremy Christie played in only five late-season games after offseason hip surgery.

What resulted was a string of uneven performances. The Rowdies won back-to-back games only once last season.

This season has been more fortuitous in terms of injuries, leading to greater cohesion and more victories.

"I think the spirit of the side right now is fantastic," coach Ricky Hill said. "I just really think there's a camaraderie amongst the group that you'd go a long ways to find where everyone seems to be very comfortable with everyone else and, in terms of professionalism, it's where we want it to be."

More good injury news: Defender Draymond Washington, one of the few Rowdies to sustain an injury this season, will be available for selection tonight for the first time since tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee June 9 at Puerto Rico. He returned to practice after the team's win at Edmonton on July 15.

Remember me? The Rowdies (well, technically, FC Tampa Bay) received a mention Wednesday during the ESPN2 broadcast of the MLS All-Star Game. Justin Morrow, who last year around this time was on loan to Tampa Bay from MLS's San Jose Earthquakes, made his first all-star appearance, starting at left back for the MLS All-Stars.

Morrow started two games during his short-lived loan, his second stint on loan to Tampa Bay. His first came a year earlier during the final five matches of the 2010 season.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, July 27, 2012

TAMPA — The passer was about to pass out.

Quarterback Josh Freeman bent over at the waist during the middle of practice Friday, the first training camp under new Bucs coach Greg Schiano, and, well, started hurling something besides footballs.

"Josh was really pushing himself really hard," Schiano said. "I think he felt a little nauseous. Nothing big. I think he's fine."

Freeman was taken inside the training facility to be treated for dehydration and returned a few minutes later. He finished practice, as did several other players who at one time or another Friday were overcome by 90 degree temperatures and the tempo of Schiano's first training camp practice at One Buc Place.

"I think it's good training," Schiano said.

Of course he did.

One day after putting Bucs players through a brutal conditioning test — a mandatory 16, 110-yard sprints with only 45 seconds of rest in between — Schiano directed a 2 hour and 45 minute practice in helmets, T-shirts and shorts that included a pair of five-minute water breaks.

There was no cool down trailer, no walking to or from the practice fields.

To find a Bucs coach who put his team through conditioning runs on the first day of training camp, you probably have go back to Sam Wyche. It's hard to know how many games Schiano will win in his first season, but he's determined to beat the heat.

"It was hot. That's the obvious thing," defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "For day one, it was a good start. Coach even said he made it a little harder on us on purpose. But we grinded and he got out of us what he expected."

Say this for Freeman: His teammates will follow him. Cornerback Aqib Talib, guard Carl Nicks, tight end Collin Franklin and linebacker Mason Foster all suffered with cramps from dehydration, but they pushed ahead.

"Now we get into the grind," Schiano said. "Just reload and do it again. Meet and sleep and practice and eat and practice and meet and eat — that's training camp. We need to make sure it's productive, it's efficient and that we're getting better every step of the way."

Because of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, two-a-days are a thing of the past. However, rather than break up the practices with a morning and afternoon session, players have to endure the longer workout.

"Quite frankly, it would be better to have two and shorten them up," Schiano said.

It was a good practice. Freeman hits some deep balls, rookie running back Doug Martin looked quick, the defense hustled to the football.

"The most important thing is this team coming together as a team and as a family," Schiano said. "Pressing through 2 hours and 40 minutes in the heat — that's how it happens. Doing the easy things doesn't really bring you together. It's doing the tough stuff."

By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 27, 2012

What's hot: Water temperature is important this time of year. To keep baits alive anglers need to adjust if fishing warmer shallow water. Most of the baits netted in deeper waters around bridges will not stay alive when moved onto the shallow flats. The water temperature in the deep areas where the baits are hanging is in the mid 80s. On the flats, the water temperature is in the 90s. To keep the baits alive, place jugs of frozen water in the live well to bring the water temperature down.

Tips: This time of year we have a run of spawn moving from the upper parts of the bay and out to the passes. They are great baits for mackerel, trout and bluefish. The trick to catching the spawn is to use a ¼-inch mesh net. When you see bait that looks like rain hitting the water, cast the net on the edge of the bait so you won't catch a full net of snagged bait to clean up. If you bring in the net and the baits are large enough to not be snagged, recast into the middle of the school and load the live well. When the well is full, dump six to eight 5-gallon buckets of water in to help keep the baits alive. Most of the fish anglers will want to target will be over the grass that's in 6 feet of water.

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

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 27, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Chances are you won't see much of Phil and Heather Marsella at Derby Lane.

Owners of the track's newest kennel, the Port St. Lucie couple is usually together on the highways, hauling greyhounds nationally to race tracks and adoptive families. While one Marsella sleeps, the other drives. They live on cell phones. And their 2006 Ford F-250, which is equipped to transport eight dogs at a time, has logged more than 1 million miles.

"Hauling is our base employment, and the phone never stops ringing," Heather said. "Phil tells people we're on the road 350 days a year. I miss my coffee pot and my three girls (greyhounds) at home."

The Marsellas joined Derby Lane on July 1. They also have a booking at Palm Beach Kennel Club. Wins have been rare at the St. Petersburg track, but Heather says patience is the key.

"We're hoping within a couple of months we'll have our full active list of dogs," she said. "It's been slow because you just can't take a Palm Beach dog and bring it to Derby Lane. You need a powerhouse dog that can run a stretch, finish a race and not tire."

Entering Friday, Marsella was last in Derby Lane's 16-kennel standings. It had nine victories at an average payout of $25.80 for a $2 win ticket. Many of Marsella's 50 dogs compete in lower grades. Of 137 starts, 102 have been at Grade D or M, none at Grade A. The kennel lost its first 23 races before winning with Cross Fire, one of six Grade D victories. Magic Kit Kat scored Marsella's highest-graded victory Thursday at Grade B.

The Marsellas, both 46 and married 24 years, purchased their first racing greyhounds 10 years ago. Their bookings began years later at Sarasota. They have raced at Flagler in Miami, Naples-Fort Myers in Bonita Springs and Sanford-Orlando in Longwood.

The Marsellas were part of the last roster at Tampa Greyhound Track, which ended live racing abruptly in 2007. Their Tampa operation was known as MJG Greyhounds, and it tied for fourth in the win standings among 12 kennels. Tampa was competing year-round against Derby Lane, but canceled racing after only 49 days and 56 performances. The Marsella dogs moved to Flagler, Heather said.

Winning races isn't the only agenda for the Marsellas. They want to educate their three children in the industry. Joe Marsella, 19, assists trainer John Farmer at Derby Lane. At Palm Beach, Michael Marsella, 24, is a trainer and Gabriella Marsella, 17, is a kennel assistant.

"What we're really trying to do is set a business up, one for Michael and one for Joe," Heather said. "But they need to learn more before they can go on their own. Gabriella handles dogs like she's been in the business her whole life."

MORE DOGS: Win leader Venus Espinosa of Patriot kennel goes for his ninth consecutive victory in Race 10 (10:11 p.m.).

Times wires
Friday, July 27, 2012

Cardinals 9, Cubs 6

CHICAGO — The Cardinals became the first team since the Astros eight years ago to hit a home run in each of the first five innings. Lance Lynn (13-4) tied for the NL wins lead.

By Stephen F. Holder and Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writers
Friday, July 27, 2012

Training camp

Where: One Buc Place, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Admission: Free

Et cetera: All practices are weather permitting and subject to change. For updates, go to buccaneers.com.

Schedules

Public practices

Today: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Sun.: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Wed.: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Fri.: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 4: 6:30 to 9 p.m. *

Aug. 6: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 7: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

* Intrasquad scrimmage at Raymond James Stadium; free parking, autograph sessions, $1 hot dogs and soft drinks, and fireworks

Preseason games

Aug. 10: at Dolphins, 7:30, Ch. 10

Aug. 17: Titans, 7:30, Ch. 10 *

Aug. 24: Patriots, 7:30, Ch. 10 *

Aug. 29: at Redskins, 7:30, Ch. 10

* Subject to blackout

Talib has much less on his mind

Charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon against Aqib Talib were dismissed last month in Texas. As a result, the cornerback said, he enters this season with a clear mind.

"You just sleep better, eat better," Talib said. "Wake up with nothing to think about but football. Feed the kids some cereal, and you're back to thinking about football. You don't have to worry about calling a lawyer or a lawyer calling you or texting you."

It's the first time in three seasons Talib does not begin camp with a legal cloud over his head. In 2010, the league suspended him one game for punching a St. Petersburg cab driver. At the start of last season, he had to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell about his case in Texas.

Under the hair is a receiver

Rest assured, the bearded player at practice Friday wearing No. 19 and "Williams" on the back of his jersey was, indeed, Mike Williams.

If you didn't recognize the receiver, it's because his face was partly obscured by one massive, thick beard.

Williams said it took him about a month to grow the beard, which he likened to NBA standout James Harden.

Minor injuries

• Cornerback E.J. Biggers, above, sustained a left leg injury while colliding with a receiver. Coach Greg Schiano did not seem concerned but had no update on his status.

• Talib, quarterback Josh Freeman, guard Carl Nicks, and tight end Collin Franklin suffered heat-related dehydration but finished practice.

By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, July 27, 2012

TAMPA — One game.

Sixty minutes of football separated the Storm from making the playoffs for an Arena Football League-record 18th time. But in the end, an 8-10 record wasn't good enough for the five-time champs.

"I was pleased with our effort, our enthusiasm, how hard these guys worked," coach Dave Ewart said. "But yes, it's a disappointment to not still be playing."

A win July 21 at Spokane would have put Tampa Bay in the playoffs. Instead, it lost 63-53, and Georgia and New Orleans earned the American Conference's final two berths.

"You can point to a game here or a game there," Ewart said. "But we just didn't get it done ultimately."

The Storm failed to reach the postseason for just the fourth time but second season in a row.

"We came up a little short," Ewart said. "Everyone, starting with myself, needs to be a little better."

There were bright sports for the Storm, starting with an improvement from its 7-11 record of a year ago. The offense finished sixth among 17 teams at 304.6 yards per game and eighth at 56.7 points per game. Prechae Rodriguez, a graduate of Tampa's Jefferson High, is a rookie of the year candidate after leading Tampa Bay in catches (125), receiving yards (1,653) and touchdowns (32).

"Prechae was very good for us," Ewart said. "All of our receivers were."

Chandler Williams caught 83 passes for 996 yards and 17 touchdowns before signing with the Canadian Football League and missing the final six games. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and led the league at 23 yards per return.

"It was tough not having a net man," Ewart said. "That's something we'll have to address in the offseason."

After shuffling through five starting quarterbacks in 2011, the Storm improved vastly with Stephen Wasil and Nick Hill.

Hill, one of the league's top free agents before the season, signed with the NFL's Packers two weeks before the Storm opened training camp. Wasil (294-of-489 for 3,666 yards, 71 touchdowns and 17 interceptions) played well but gave way to Hill (114-of-168, 1,447 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions) when he re-signed in early June.

"Stephen came in and was a gunslinger for us," Ewart said. "And I thought Nick did well in limited time. It was a crazy situation, though."

The Storm's biggest weakness was the defense, which allowed a league-high 61.6 points per game while struggling to muster a consistent pass rush.

"It's tough to play man-to-man (coverage) when you don't get a good rush," Ewart said.

Tampa Bay also led the league at 71.2 penalty yards per game.

With all players on one-year contracts until a collective bargaining agreement is reached, it's hard to tell what the Storm will look like next season. Tampa Bay opened with 10 rookies on its roster this season, but Ewart said he is excited to bring back the core of this team.

"You go from coaching 34-year-olds to 24-year-olds, and that's a huge difference," he said. "We had to teach a lot of these guys the indoor game, but I think we have a good nucleus going into next year."

Times staff
Friday, July 27, 2012

Country G S B T

XXXX XX XX XX XX

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* late results not included

Michael Phelps begins his campaign to be the most decorated Olympian bright and early today. He is in the 400 IM heats beginning at 5 a.m. on Ch. 8, along with his rival for headlines Ryan Lochte. Look for both in the final tonight on Ch. 8 starting at 8. In men's cycling, Bradley Wiggins, a week removed from his Tour de France wins, is back on his bike, but his focus is to help British teammate Mark Cavendish win the gold, also during Ch. 8's 5 a.m. show. American Taylor Phinney is a medal contender, too. The men's gymnastics team qualifying even begins (8, Ch. 8).

Best bets

4 a.m. – 8 p.m. NBCSN

• Soccer (W) – U.S. vs. Columbia (LIVE), Brazil-New Zealand (LIVE); France-North Korea (LIVE)

• Beach Volleyball – China vs. Russia (LIVE)

• Volleyball (W) – China vs. Serbia (LIVE)

• Equestrian – Eventing Dressage

• Fencing (W) – Individual Foil (LIVE)

• Badminton (W) – Qualifying

• Shooting (W) – 10M Air Rifle Final

• Archery (M) – Team Final

• Handball (W) – Qualifying Round

• Table Tennis (M) – U.S.-North Korea

4 a.m. – 7 p.m. NBC BASKETBALL

• Basketball (W) – U.S.-Croatia (LIVE); China-Czech Republic (LIVE); Canada-Russia (LIVE); Turkey-Angola (LIVE); Brazil-France (LIVE); Australia-Great Britain (LIVE)

5 a.m. – 6 p.m. Ch. 8

• Swimming – Heats (LIVE)

• Cycling (M) – Road Race (LIVE)

• Beach Volleyball (M) – U.S.-South Africa

• Volleyball (W) – U.S. vs. South Korea (LIVE)

• Basketball (W) – U.S.-Croatia (LIVE)

• Rowing – Heats

7 a.m. – 3 p.m. BRAVO

• Tennis – First Round (LIVE)

7 a.m. – 5 p.m. MSNBC

• Soccer (W) – Japan-Sweden (LIVE); Canada-South Africa (LIVE); Great Britain-Cameroon (LIVE)

• Beach Volleyball (M) – Great Britain-Canada (LIVE)

• Handball (W) – Qualifying Round

• Fencing (W) – Individual Foil Final

• Badminton (M) – U.S.-South Korea

• Table Tennis (W) – U.S.-Croatia, U.S.-Mexico

7 a.m. – 8 p.m. NBC SOCCER

• Soccer (W) – Qualifying Round: Japan vs. Sweden (LIVE), New Zealand vs. Brazil (LIVE), U.S. vs. Columbia (LIVE), France vs. South Korea (LIVE), Canada vs. South Africa , Great Britain vs. Cameroon

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. TELEMUNDO

• Opening Ceremony

• Swimming – Heats

• Volleyball (W) – Qualifying Round

• Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round

• Boxing – Elimination Bouts

8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CNBC

• Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. CNBC

• Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

8 p.m. – Midnight Ch. 8

• Swimming – Finals: Men's and Women's 400M Individual Medley, Men's 400M Freestyle, Women's 400M Freestyle Relay

• Gymnastics (M) – Team qualifying

• Beach Volleyball (W) – U.S.-Australia

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. TELEMUNDO

• Swimming – Finals

• Gymnastics (M) – Team qualifying

12:30 – 1:30 a.m. Ch. 8

• Weightlifting (W) – Final

• Gymnastics (M) – Team Qualifying

(W)– Women's event ; (M)– Men's event

Notebook

Times wires
Friday, July 27, 2012

NBA

Stern: Howard Drama keeps fans engaged

Commissioner David Stern said the Dwight Howard-Magic saga is good for his league.

"To me, it is the soap opera our fans turn in for; the drama on the court and the drama off the court," Stern told USA Today. "When we cease to have a story popping up, we probably won't exist. … Frankly, it engages our fans, it engages our reporters, it engages our bloggers. It makes people happy, mad, sad."

Dream beaters: Heat star LeBron James joined Lakers star Kobe Bryant in stating his belief that the current U.S. Olympic men's basketball team could beat the 1992 Dream Team. "We understand what they did for our game, but we also are big-time competitors as well, so if we got the opportunity to play them in a game we feel like we would win, too," James told ABC News' Nightline.

More NBA: Hornets first-round draft pick Austin Rivers had surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right ankle but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp. … The Hornets, Suns and Timberwolves officially completed the deal that will send center Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick from Phoenix to New Orleans, while moving forward Wesley Johnson and a first-round draft pick from Minnesota to the Suns. The deal sends the contracts of Jerome Dyson and Brad Miller from New Orleans to Phoenix. Minnesota receives three second-round picks. … The Timberwolves signed forward Andrei Kirilenko, 31, who spent the 2011-12 season with the CKSA Moscow club.

College Football

Penn State coach not giving up

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien isn't about to cave in the face of the sanctions imposed on his program.

"I don't understand how people think you just say, 'Well I quit, see you later.' That's a bunch of bull," O'Brien said at Big Ten Media day in Chicago.

"You look at the sanctions and you figure out how to deal with them," said O'Brien, acknowledging he will have to be careful in how he uses the reduced number of scholarships he has.

He also might consider changes to the uniforms, the Reading (Pa.) Eagle reported, including putting names on the back for the first time in school history.

Meanwhile, former players Franco Harris, Rudy Glocker and Christian Marrone wrote an email to alumni saying the report on the handling of the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse scandal "is highly flawed, and factually insufficient." The email says there was a rush to judgment by the media, the board of trustees, university officials and the NCAA.

Soccer

Chelsea captain charged anew

Chelsea captain John Terry was charged by the English Football Association with racially abusing an opponent, two weeks after he was cleared by a court of the same offense.

The FA said it considered evidence from the trial before charging Terry with directing abuse at Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

Terry said he looks forward to defending himself against the charges.

A magistrate who ruled on the earlier case found Terry not guilty after deciding it was "impossible" to be sure what he said.

Et cetera

NHL: The Kings hired former St. Louis head coach Davis Payne as an assistant. … The Jets signed defenseman Toby Enstrom, 27, to a five-year extension, but the value of the deal was not disclosed.

Times wires

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, July 27, 2012

LONDON

The Nowhere Man of the Olympics would have loved this. The spectacle. The sizzle. The fireworks.

Guor Marial has seen so much horror in his time, so much pain. He has been lost, and he has been hungry, and he has been afraid. He has been wrenched from his parents, from his home, from everything he knew.

Now, Marial is on his way to the Olympics.

What a shame he did not make it in time for Friday night's opening ceremony.

Across the globe, Marial has become known as the Man Without a Country, the miracle marathoner who defied all logic to qualify for these Games. When he arrives — next week, perhaps, if his paperwork can be sped along — he will compete under a flag depicting only the Olympic rings.

In some ways, you can think of Marial as the ultimate Olympian, an athlete not bound by colors or anthems or sponsors or celebrity. He is here to run, the way he once ran to stay alive. He is here to make you pay attention to his story, and because of it, he might make you pay attention to the troubles he escaped.

This is what opening ceremonies do. They glisten, and they dazzle, and they make you believe in dreams and ideals. For a little while, they can make you forget about the problems of the world.

Marial would have loved Friday, the lights and the sounds and the guy dressed like the queen who parachuted with the guy dressed like James Bond, and the 50-foot Voldemort and the Mary Poppins flying squadron and the Beatle and, of course, the athletes of the world. It was not as dazzling as, say, Beijing's ceremony, but it was a cool show to see.

Five thousand miles away, in Flagstaff, Ariz., Marial watched it all. You wonder. How old was he when he learned what a Beatle was? How many popular culture references did he get?

And how many memories came rushing back at him?

Marial was 9, living in the Sudan, when the men came. He was with friends, on his way to the river to swim. The men spoke Arabic, but they promised cows and goats for his family. They took him. They made him walk. They put him to work at a labor camp. He feared he would never see his home again.

So he ran from them. He and another boy, slightly older, ran away from the morning sun. They were children, running until they could not run, then walking, avoiding roads, eating nuts and fruit as they went. Once, they found a cave to sleep in.

"It was scary," he said Thursday night by phone. "But I wasn't afraid of the animals. I was not scared of snakes or lions. I would rather something kill me than a human come and take me and do something to me."

Eventually he found his way to a city and to the arms of relatives who had been looking for him. But it has been almost two decades since he has seen his mother and father. He talked to his father five years ago, to his mother three.

Soon, he hopes both can see him run. In his village in South Sudan, 35-40 miles from the nearest city, he says there are no phones, no electricity, no running water. He says a relative plans to get his parents to a place they can watch the marathon on Aug. 12, the Games' last day.

The world, too, might notice a struggling nation that could use a little help.

"I hope," he said. "I hope it can bring awareness, but awareness cannot initiate itself unless people see the truth. That region is damaged. You would be surprised how almost every single household lost people."

He remembers. He remembers losing 28 relatives to the Sudanese civil war in which almost 2 million people died. He remembers the soldier clubbing his jaw with a rifle. He remembers the other Lost Boys and wonders whatever happened to them. He remembers moving to Egypt, then on to the United States in 2001.

He remembers, too, swearing that he would never run again. "I ran for my life," he said. "I did not want to run again.

That changed. He ran cross-country for Iowa State. Last year, he ran his first marathon. He finished in 2:14.32, fast enough to qualify for the Olympics. He was not an American citizen, however, and South Sudan is a year-old nation that does not have an Olympic charter. Still, the Olympics decided they were better with him included.

Now he runs for awareness, for refugees, for South Sudan, for the United States, for the Olympics. In some ways he runs for the frightened child hiding in the cave. For the memories of a lot of other frightened children, too.

This time, however, Marial will run toward the light.

Some of it, perhaps, will shine on his country.