Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Blue Jays 6, Athletics 5
OAKLAND, Calif. — Edwin Encarnacion homered and drove in two runs, Yunel Escobar also drove in two runs and Toronto salvaged a series split. Anthony Gose and Kelly Johnson also drove in runs for the Blue Jays, who have won two straight after ending a six-game losing streak. Aaron Laffey won for the third time in four decisions.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
White Sox 4, Angels 2
CHICAGO — A.J. Pierzynski tied a club record by homering in his fifth straight game, a go-ahead two-run drive in the seventh inning off former Ray Jason Isringhausen to lift Chicago. "I'm not supposed to be doing this so just ride it out as long as you can, enjoy it and have fun with it," Pierzynski said.
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, August 5, 2012
TAMPA — USF's players reported for the start of preseason camp, and coach Skip Holtz made it clear he expects more from his special-teams units, especially in punting and punt returns.
"I think we can definitely do a better job kicking the football, especially from a punting standpoint," Holtz said. "When your goal is 38 yards for a net punt, which would put you as a top 20 team, and you average 34 yards a punt, it's hard to make your net.
"I thought we did a good job, we didn't give up a lot of return yards, but we have to do a better job punting the ball."
Last year's starter, senior Justin Brockhaus-Kann, is being pushed by redshirt freshman walk-on Mattias Ciabatti, a Hillsborough grad who came out of spring drills listed as the starter. Net punting has been a concern in both of Holtz's seasons at USF, with an average of 34.7 yards last year and even lower at 34.2 in 2010.
Improvement on punt returns should be easier, with the healthy return of sophomore Terrence Mitchell, who missed most of last season after suffering a concussion. The Bulls averaged just 6.5 yards a punt return last year, down from 11.5 in 2010, when Mitchell earned freshman All-America honors. He returned healthy this spring and will be back deep this season.
"Terrence Mitchell is our starting punt returner," Holtz said. "I will say this very comfortably, that he would have to lose it. I haven't seen anything to tell me that would happen. We missed him badly when he was injured a year ago. … He's catching the ball much smoother than he has in the past. He brings that speed and athleticism."
MOVING ON: Holtz said six scholarship players who were to be with the Bulls won't be with the program this fall.
DBs Ricardo Dixon and Spencer Boyd, as expected, won't be back, and Holtz had news Sunday that three junior backups — TE Isaac Virgin, WR Stephen Bravo-Brown and G John McGhin — would not be with the team. Freshman S Jarvis McCall of Armwood had a "situation" over the summer, Holtz said, and is expected to join the team in January.
None of the six were in position to play significant roles for the Bulls. Virgin, a highly touted recruit when he came to USF, never realized that potential and had just one catch last season. Bravo-Brown was a walk-on who had been placed on scholarship last fall, but he had only four catches in 2011; McGhin graduated Saturday in just three years at USF and will not use his remaining eligibility.
Dixon has already transferred to Division I-AA Youngstown State. Boyd had been gone from the team, then was allowed back for spring drills under stipulations which were not met.
THIS AND THAT: Holtz said he has promised senior walk-on S Ernie Tabuteau he will be placed on scholarship this fall. … New freshman walk-ons include former Jesuit QB Tommy Eveld (whose brother Bobby is a junior) and Land O'Lakes TE Jackson Cannon. … The Bulls will practice in shorts today and Tuesday, then leave for 11 days in Vero Beach on Wednesday, with scrimmages planned for Aug. 13 and Aug. 18.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Blankety-blanks
The Rays have not scored since Desmond Jennings' solo homer in the seventh inning Friday, which means:
• They were shut out in back-to-back games by the same team for the first time since April 28-29, 2004, at Boston.
• They were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 7-8, 2008, at Toronto and Boston.
• They were shut out in back-to-back games for the sixth time in franchise history.
• They were shut out for the fourth and fifth times this season.
• They have been scoreless for 21 innings, five off the team record set by the 106-loss team in 2002.
Today: Off
Next game: Tuesday, vs. Blue Jays, 7:10 p.m., Tropicana Field, Sun Sports.
Probable pitchers:
Rays
RH James Shields (9-7, 4.24)
Jays
LH J.A. Happ (0-0, 5.14)
On deck
Wednesday: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (5-8, 4.60); Jays — Carlos Villanueva (6-1, 3.19)
Thursday: vs. Blue Jays, 1:10, no TV. Rays — Matt Moore (8-7, 3.84); Jays — Henderson Alvarez, RHP (7-8, 4.47)
Friday: at Twins, 8:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (6-7, 3.43); Twins — TBA
Rays disabled list
(with eligible-to-return date)
• C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day, June 5
• OF Brandon Guyer, left shoulder surgery, 60-day, July 13
• 3B Evan Longoria, left hamstring tear, 60-day, June 30
• RHP Jeff Niemann, right leg fracture, 60-day, July 14
• DH Luke Scott, oblique strain, 15-day, 15-day, Aug. 5
* out for season
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Quote of the day
"I know I didn't hug him. And I would know."
OF Matt Joyce, on the incorrectly reported farewell of teammate Ben Zobrist
Interesting number of the day
450 Approximate number of dogs in the tbt* Party Deck for the Rays first Bark in the Park event, along with 29,530 humans.
. For more photos and video from the event, go to links.tampabay.com
Positive stat of the day
21 Consecutive innings pitched by Fernando Rodney without allowing a run, tying the team record set in 2005 by Joe Borowski
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Braves 6, Astros 1
ATLANTA — Chipper Jones had hits in his last two at-bats ever against Houston and scored the go-ahead run on a sixth-inning wild pitch, helping Atlanta finish an 8-2 homestand. Jones, 40, finished .322 with 20 homers in his career against the Astros. "It's a little sad to know I won't play the Astros anymore," he said.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
KENT, Wash. — Sunday's Northwest Nationals saw the first female double in NHRA history as Courtney Force earned her first Funny Car win and Erica Enders took Pro Stock.
"To have both me and Erica in the Winner's Circle is awesome," Force said. "We're not just out here to race the boys, we're here to beat the boys and today just proves that."
Force, the youngest daughter of 15-time Funny Car champ John Force and sister of Ashley Force Hood, beat reigning series champ Matt Hagan in the final. Enders topped Jason Line in her final. Steve Torrence won in Top Fuel.
IndyCar: Dixon reigns again at Mid-Ohio
LEXINGTON, Ohio — Scott Dixon took the lead for good by passing Will Power as both made their final stops on Lap 57, then held on for his fourth IndyCar win in six years at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Dixon also won on the road course in 2007, '09 and '11.
Power finished second and took the points lead from Ryan Hunter-Reay, who was 24th. Power leads Hunter-Reay by five points with three races left.
St. Petersburg resident Sebastien Bourdais was fourth, his best finish of the season.
By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, August 5, 2012
ST. PETERSBURG — They were the hugs heard around the Twitter-verse.
Except — sorry to ruin a good tweet or two — they never happened.
When 2B Ben Zobrist left Sunday's game after the third inning, there was a post on Twitter, which spread rapidly, that he was hugging teammates as he left the dugout, a sign that he had been traded. Soon several national media folks, some with more than 500,000 followers, were reporting on the hug and speculating where he was headed, with a Philadelphia writer chiming in. So, too, were some radio talkers. (The better question was why the Rays would trade him, but that seemed to be lost in the moment.)
But, as it turned out, Zobrist left because he had a spasm in his back. And he didn't hug his teammates as he left with a trainer to evaluate what was wrong.
His reaction to the trade frenzy?
"That's hilarious," Zobrist said.
As for the back? He said he felt it running off the field after the top of the third. He doesn't think it was serious but wanted to be cautious since the Rays are off today, and he expects to be back Tuesday.
"I really think it's just a little minor thing," he said. "Give it a day and it'll be fine."
PRICE CHECK: LHP David Price did what he could, especially without his best fastball, shutting out the Orioles for eight innings while allowing only two hits but getting nothing for his efforts.
It was the fourth time this season the Rays were held scoreless with Price on the mound, but he was diplomatic, giving credit to Orioles pitchers, even if he didn't know starter Miguel Gonzalez's name.
"It was a well-pitched game," he said. "Hernandez threw the ball extremely well — or Gonzalez, excuse me."
PEN PAL: The Rays' bullpen has been the best in the majors since the All-Star break with a 1.39 ERA, but it has two losses after Joel Peralta allowed a one-out walk to Mark Reynolds and a two-out full-count double to No. 9 hitter Taylor Teagarden for the game's only run. Worse, Teagarden was 1-for-his-last-25, and he has only three hits in his 10 games with the O's.
"He's not the best hitter on their team, but to me he was today," Peralta said.
In Peralta's defense, manager Joe Maddon had him warmed up in the eighth, then changed plans and didn't use him until the 10th, a circumstance the Rays typically avoid. "It's nothing that I can use as an excuse," Peralta said. "I don't think that's why I leave the pitch up there."
REHAB REPORT: DH Luke Scott looked free and easy taking 30-plus swings in coach-pitch batting practice, with no restrictions from his mild exterior oblique strain. He is expected to hit at the Trop again Tuesday and Wednesday then head out on a rehab assignment, with the potential to rejoin the Rays next week in Seattle.
RHP Jeff Niemann will begin what is scheduled as a four-start rehab assignment on Wednesday in Port Charlotte for the advanced Class A Stone Crabs, limited to 45 pitches. Niemann, out since mid May with a broken right leg, is targeted for a late August return.
MISCELLANY: RF Matt Joyce made a tremendous back-to-the-field catch in the second. … The O's have won 11 straight extra-inning games. … The Rays are 16-15 in 1-0 games all-time.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The coach of the Canadian women's soccer team took a swipe at the Americans on Sunday, accusing them of "highly illegal" tactics.
John Herdman, whose team plays the Americans in the semifinals today, said they go beyond the rules with their physical play on set pieces.
"Some of the blocking tactics, which are highly illegal, we'll keep an eye on them in the game.," Herdman said. "We've starting working on that in training without trying to injure our players."
Herdman said he also hoped to "raise awareness" of the issue with game officials. Canada is winless in its past 26 matches vs. the United States.
douglas' mother bankrupt: The mother of U.S. women's gymnastics all-around gold medalist Gabby Douglas filed for bankruptcy in January in Virginia, court records show. Natalie Hawkins filed for Chapter 13, which allows a person to reorganize their finances and pay down debt over several years. The documents list Hawkins as having assets totaling $163,706, including a townhouse in Virginia Beach, and roughly $80,000 in debts. An order issued in March said Hawkins was to pay $400 toward her debts over nearly five years. Hawkins' attorney declined to comment.
official: wife no issue: Former 100-meter world champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis was missing for several days before he was expelled from the Olympics, said Dennis Knight, vice president of the country's Olympic committee. Collins left the athletes village Wednesday to meet his wife and after that was not in touch in time to be confirmed for the 100 heats Friday, he said. Collins has said he was punished for spending time with his wife. Knight said the wife had nothing to do with it.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
SOCCER
MLS midfielder dies after visit to bar
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Midfielder Kirk Urso of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew died early Sunday in a central Ohio hospital, a county coroner said.
No cause of death has been determined for the 22-year-old Urso, Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak said. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
Police were called to a bar in the city at about 12:50 a.m., and Urso was taken from there to the hospital, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Police did not immediately return messages seeking details on the circumstances.
Urso played in six games this season and was sidelined by groin surgery in May and recently had expressed his frustration with injuries. He was not with the team Saturday for its 1-0 loss to D.C. United in Washington, team spokesman Marco Rosa said.
"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Columbus Crew and Hunt Sports Group are with the Urso family in this time of need," a team statement said.
NBA
Millsap, Pierce may ignore extension offers
The Jazz are offering forward Paul Millsap a maximum contract extension of three years and $25 million, but the six-year veteran seems ready to seek his value through free agency, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Millsap, 27, is in the final year of his contract with the only NBA team he has played for, and the Jazz offer is the max he can get under the new collective bargaining agreement.
Meanwhile, forward Paul Pierce, 34, told the Boston Globe he would likely spurn an extension offer from the Celtics, the only team he has played for, and test free agency next summer. He is under contract for 2013-14, but it's a nonguaranteed team option. "I want to see what it feels like to be a free agent for once in my life," he said. "I think I am going to play this one out."
Et cetera
Horses: Irish Mission won the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine in Toronto.
Tennis: Second-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov rallied to beat fourth-seeded Tommy Haas 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-1 in the men's final at the Citi Open in Washington. … The French Open extended its U.S. television contract with NBC through 2024, with the network adding Memorial Day and women's semifinal coverage.
Times wires
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
NEW YORK — Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, out since July 25 with a fractured left pinkie, had an X-ray Thursday and told the New York Daily News on Sunday that everything looked "A-okay."
"Waiting now, just have to wait it out," Rodriguez told the newspaper. "There's nothing I can do but wait it out now."
Rodriguez was hurt when he was hit by a pitch from Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez. The Yankees said then that he was likely to miss four to six weeks.
Rodriguez is batting .276 with a .358 on-base percentage and a .449 slugging percentage in 94 games this season.
Meanwhile, LHP Andy Pettitte, who fractured his left ankle June 28 when he was struck by a line drive, told the Daily News that he felt better after a minor setback in his rehab and was back to riding the stationary bike, swimming and throwing in the cage.
Pettitte said an X-ray on Thursday showed that some swelling in the ankle had gone down.
"I feel much better," he said. "I am just waiting until the doctors tell me I can get on the mound."
More Yankees: OF Ichiro Suzuki got exactly one hit in his 12th straight game with his new team. His hitting streak with one hit in each game is the longest since the Dodgers' Willy Aybar had a 13-game streak in 2006.
ORTIZ STILL AILING: Red Sox DH David Ortiz said the pain from his right Achilles strain has not gone away, and he might receive an injection today to help reduce the inflammation in his heel, ESPN.com reported. Ortiz, who went on the disabled list July 16, told the website that he doesn't expect to return during the homestand that ends Wednesday.
In other Red Sox news, LF Carl Crawford played his eighth straight game a little more than a week after manager Bobby Valentine said the former Ray would be limited to four games in a row because of a medically mandated program. Also, Boston acquired 3B Danny Valencia from the Twins for Class A OF Jeremias Pineda.
YOUKILIS A RENTAL: The White Sox don't plan to pick up 3B Kevin Youkilis' $13 million club option for 2013, the Boston Globe reported. Youkilis, 33, acquired in a June trade with the Red Sox, would become a free agent after the season.
TIGERS-CUBS TRADE: Detroit acquired INF Jeff Baker from Chicago for two minor-leaguers to be named later. Also, the Tigers put OF Ryan Raburn, a former Durant High standout, on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb. And the Cubs called up 3B Josh Vitters and OF Brett Jackson, two of their top prospects, from Triple-A Iowa.
CELEBRITY DONATION: Actor Charlie Sheen, a Reds fan, has pledged to donate $50,000 to the team's Community Fund, matching the amount broadcaster Marty Brennaman raised for charity in return for having his head shaved on the field.
ATHLETICS: RHP A.J. Griffin went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder, and OF Michael Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. LHP Pedro Figueroa and RHP Evan Scribner were recalled from Sacramento.
BLUE JAYS: RHP Carlos Villanueva left the team for personal reasons, and RHP Jesse Chavez was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. Villanueva will not make his scheduled start against the Rays on Tuesday and will be replaced by LHP J.A. Happ.
PADRES: RHP Miles Mikolas was recalled from Triple-A Tucson to join the bullpen.
RANGERS: All-Star SS Elvis Andrus left in the ninth inning because of pain in his right shoulder.
REDS: 2B Brandon Phillips remained out of the starting lineup with a left calf strain. Phillips, who has yet to start a game in August, is still expected to avoid the disabled list.
ROYALS: SS Yuniesky Betancourt was designated for assignment, and SS Tony Abreu was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.
Times staff
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Country G S B T
China30171461
U.S.28141860
Britain16111037
Russia4161535
Japan2121327
France 8 8 9 25
Germany 5 10 7 22
S. Korea 10 4 6 20
Australia 1 12 7 20
Italy 6 5 3 14
4 a.m. – 8 p.m. NBCSN
• Basketball (M) – Australia-Russia (LIVE, 4 a.m.), U.S. vs. Argentina (LIVE, 5:15 p.m.)
• Field hockey (W) – U.S.-South Africa (LIVE, 5:45 a.m.)
• Soccer (W) – Semifinal, U.S.-Canada (LIVE, 2:45 p.m.)
• Volleyball (M) – Qualifying (LIVE)
• Weightlifting (M) – Final
• Shooting (M) – Final
• Table Tennis (W) – Team semifinal
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. TELEMUNDO
• Track and field – Qualifying
• Volleyball (M) – Qualifying
• Synchronized Swimming – Duet qualifying
• Beach volleyball (M) – Quarterfinals
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. MSNBC
• Beach volleyball (M) – Quarterfinals (LIVE)
• Basketball (M) – Spain vs. Brazil (LIVE)
• Wrestling – Greco-Roman finals (LIVE)
• Table Tennis (M) – Team semifinals
• Field hockey (W) – Qualifying
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ch. 8
• Track and field – Women's steeplechase final; qualifying
• Volleyball (M) – U.S. vs. Tunisia (LIVE, 3 p.m.)
• Water Polo (M) – U.S. vs. Hungary (LIVE, 10:30 a.m.)
• Cycling (W) – Omnium
• Equestrian – Team jumping final
• Synchronized swimming – duet qualifying
• Canoeing – Heats
5 – 8 p.m. CNBC
• Boxing (M, W)– Quarterfinals
• Water polo (M) – Qualifying
8 p.m. – Midnight Ch. 8
• Gymnastics – Individual event finals: men's rings, vault; women's uneven bars
• Track and field – finals: men's 400M, 400M hurdles; women's pole vault
• Beach volleyball (M) – Quarterfinal, U.S.-Latvia
• Diving (M) – 3M qualifying
Midnight – 2:30 a.m. TELEMUNDO
• Track and field – Finals
• Gymnastics – Individual event finals
• Diving (M) – 3M Qualifying
• Boxing (M) – Quarterfinals
12:35 – 1:35 a.m. Ch. 8
• Track and field – finals
• Beach volleyball (M) – Quarterfinal
(M) – men's event; (W) – women's event
See a full day-by-day TV schedule at tampabay.com/london olympics.
All events streamed live at NBCOlympics.com.
By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Largo lost 5-3 to host West Melbourne on Sunday afternoon but advanced to the semifinals of the Little League Senior Baseball Southeast Region Tournament.
A 1-2 record in Pool B put Largo in a three-way tie for the second semifinal bid. Largo (11-3) won the tiebreaker over Hart County, Ga., and Myrtle Grove Optimist, N.C., because the Florida representative allowed 11 runs, fewer than Georgia (17) and North Carolina (21).
Largo took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Derek Gibree, a Clearwater Central Catholic standout, scored the first run. He walked after eight pitches, stole second and scored on a single by Matt Schaefer, a Seminole standout.
In his first start since shutting out Dade City in the state final, Michael Del Monte, the ace who also pitches for Clearwater Central Catholic, was solid but surrendered three runs in the third to put West Melbourne ahead. Largo tied it at 3 in the top of the fifth, then West Melbourne scored two in the bottom half.
The close game gave Largo players and coaches confidence.
"There's no doubt that I feel like we're as good as (West Melbourne)," Largo coach Bob Gibree said. "I told the kids that it doesn't matter how we got here. Anything can happen now."
Largo faces Darlington County, S.C., at 10 this morning. South Carolina won Pool A with a 3-0 record and is 6-1 over the past two weeks since winning its district. It is the second straight season Darlington has represented South Carolina in the Senior Baseball region tournament.
Largo needs two wins to become the first Suncoast team to advance to the Little League Senior World Series in Bangor, Maine, since Dade City in 2004.
West Melbourne plays Virginia at 10:30 this morning.
The title game is at 10:30 Tuesday morning.
Times staff, wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Time for another bad hair day
And you thought the world of Gabby Douglas has been all sunshine, rainbows and wannabe sponsors throwing millions of dollars at her since she won the women's all-around gold medal Thursday. Of course it hasn't. She has gotten plenty of criticism — for having messy hair. Some were so offended by her hair not staying in a perfectly coiffed knot while she jumped, tumbled, flipped, ran, flew in the air and sweated, they took to the Internet to complain about it. "I don't know where this is coming from. What's wrong with my hair?" said Douglas, 16, the first black gymnast to win the all-around and who is back in action in the uneven bars individual event final today. "I'm like, 'I just made history and people are focused on my hair?' "
Birth of a track hooligan
As if the men's 100 meters wasn't seeping with enough drama Sunday, someone in the stands decided to make it more intense by tossing a bottle onto the track seconds before the starting gun was fired. The thrower's arm, or aim, or both weren't great. The bottle landed harmlessly in the Lane 5 of Jamaica's Yohan Blake a few feet behind the starting block as the runners were called to the set position, and the race wasn't affected. Blake got the silver medal and the runner in Lane 6, American Justin Gatlin, got the bronze, though he said he was aware of "a little distraction." But justice was served on the thrower, if you believe Dutch judoka Edith Bosch, a bronze medalist in the 154-pound class at the Games. "A drunken guest throws a bottle … on the track! I HAVE BEATEN HIM .... Unbelievable!" she said on Twitter. It made her miss the race, she said. (A group of orange-clad Dutch athletes was sitting in the stands near the starting blocks.) Police said a man was detained.
Help needy volunteers
Looking for a special Games souvenir, can't get to London and not interested in getting the Olympic rings engraved on a body part? Official Games volunteers, officially called Gamesmakers, are already selling some of their official uniform pieces on eBay, including red Swatch watches and Adidas sneakers.
Better than a phelps face
London tattoo parlors say the most popular choice of fans looking for a Games souvenir that will last longer than a T-shirt — and over which they will have total control of stretching or shrinkage — is the Olympic rings. And the majority of those fans are American, says Darryl Gates, owner of the Diamond Jacks tattoo parlor. "There's a lot of Americans in town," he says.
Readers ask us
Is there an age limit to compete in the Olympics?
The International Olympic Committee does not set any age limits. It lets each sport's governing body set limits for its sport, contingent upon IOC approval. For example, in gymnastics, international rules state a girl must turn 16 in the calendar year of an event such as the Olympics to compete in it.
My question concerns water polo and the cap all of the teams are wearing in the pool. On each side of the cap is a hard covering over the ears. Is the ear covering only for the physical protection of the ear, or are there other purposes?
Those malleable coverings are for protection of the ears, and they are required for caps by the rules of the sport's international governing body, FINA.
And bikinis, too!
John McEnroe, one of tennis' biggest promoters, is attending his first Olympics, as a commentator for NBC, and his experience has given him ideas on how the sport that has given him so much can break out of some of its fusty ways.
"Over at beach volleyball, it gets crazy. They even have DJs. I think we should incorporate more of that into our sport."
Compiled by Times staff writer Sharon Fink, from Associated Press, England's Telegraph newspaper.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
AKRON, Ohio — Keegan Bradley never looked like a winner over four days and 71 holes at Firestone until he poured in a 15-foot par putt on the final hole Sunday.
Given the way golf has gone this year, no one should have been surprised.
Two weeks after Adam Scott gave up a four-shot lead with four holes to play in the British Open, Jim Furyk was poised to finish off a wire-to-wire win at the Bridgestone Invitational until he made double bogey from the middle of the 18th fairway.
His 5-foot bogey putt to at least get into a playoff never had a chance, and he dropped his putter and bent over with a mixture of shock and disgust.
"I led the golf tournament the entire way and lost it on the very last hole," Furyk said. "To get that close and to know that I played more than good enough to win the golf tournament, and not close the door, is disappointing. It is a cruel game. I've lost some tournaments in some pretty poor fashions, but I don't think I've let one ever slip nearly as bad as this one. This was my worst effort to finish off an event."
Lost in his 18th-hole collapse was a sterling performance by Bradley, who shot 31 on the back and came up with one clutch putt after another. None was bigger than the final stroke of his 6-under 64. After blasting out of a plugged lie in the bunker, he poured in a 15-foot putt for par that turned out to be the winner.
"I didn't think for a second I was going to miss it," Bradley said. "It was unbelievable. I got behind it, and I barely even had to read it. I knew the exact way it was going to break. I just needed to hit it hard enough. I knew that. And it was dead center."
Bradley, who won for the third time in his career, finished at 13-under 267 and is all but assured of making his first Ryder Cup team.
CHAMPIONS: Bernhard Langer rallied to win the 3M Championship for the second time in four years, shooting 10-under 62 to overcome a six-stroke deficit in Blaine, Minn. The German finished at 18-under 198 at the TPC Twin Cities for his 15th tour title. He ended a 24-event victory drought, his longest on the 50-and-over tour. David Peoples, three strokes ahead entering the final round, shot 70 to finish second, two shots behind.
PGA: J.J. Henry won the Reno-Tahoe (Nev.) Open for his second PGA Tour title, beating Brazil's Alexandre Rocha by a point in the modified Stableford event. Henry finished with 43 points. Players received eight points for double eagle, five for eagle, two for birdie and zero for par. They were docked a point for bogey, three points for anything worse.
McClatchy Newspapers
Sunday, August 5, 2012
LONDON — For a few heady moments on Sunday afternoon, the lively Castle pub in London's Islington section went nearly silent in anticipation.
On television, Britain's Andy Murray was points away from a resounding victory in the men's tennis gold medal match. On his smartphone, stockbroker James Hathaway pulled up video of British gymnast Louis Smith trying to clinch gold on the pommel horse.
"How bloody exciting is this," said Hathaway, 32.
While Murray sealed his gold, Smith settled for a narrow silver and his teammate Max Whitlock won bronze — among eight medals overall for Great Britain on Sunday as it capped off perhaps the greatest sports weekend in the country's history.
One night earlier, in the span of less than one hour, the host nation had won three Olympic gold medals in track and field, on the heels of three golds clinched earlier in the day. As the medal haul continued Sunday, Britain firmly established itself in third place behind China and the United States, two nations several times its size.
After pre-Olympic concerns that London was unprepared to play host, and then a shaky start by athletes during the first week of the games, the British find themselves in an unfamiliar position on the world sporting stage: They're winning.
Medals are tumbling in so fast that rival nations are starting to chafe with resentment as the home team seems poised to improve on its fourth-place finish at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Britain has sent more than 200 additional athletes to these games, and as of Sunday night it had collected 37 medals, including 16 gold. The total in Beijing was 47.
It was just last Tuesday that London's mayor, Boris Johnson, joked that Britain was "showing great natural restraint and politeness as host nation in not hoarding the medals more so far." But the hosts are enjoying a dramatic surge as the scene has shifted to events where the British have tended to do better, such as cycling, rowing and sailing.
"We are good at sports where we're sitting down," Hathaway explained.
On a Saturday that one newspaper dubbed "Britain's greatest day," Team GB grabbed a remarkable six medals — in sitting-down events, yes, but also on the track inside the Olympic Stadium. In front of a screaming home crowd and many more crowding around TVs in living rooms and pubs across the country, the games' British poster girl, Jessica Ennis, took the women's heptathlon; Greg Rutherford was a surprising winner in the men's long jump; and Mo Farah, the inspirational Somali-born runner, outclassed the field in the men's 10,000 meters.
"I think it probably was the best sporting night I've ever seen," said Hugh Sweeney, 55, of Airdrie in Scotland, who came down to London with his daughter to attend Olympic events.
"And," he added, "we're beating the French."
Britain's rival France is in fifth place, behind South Korea, after a disappointing first week that has sparked growing Gallic frustration. After Britain captured four gold medals in indoor cycling — breaking records on a fast track inside the new saddle-shaped velodrome dubbed "the Pringle" — the director of the French cycling team speculated that the British team was using "magic wheels."
"We are looking a lot at the equipment they use," Isabelle Gautheron told the French newspaper L'Equipe. "We are asking a lot of questions: How have they gained so many tenths of seconds?"
French attitudes weren't helped after British track cyclist Philip Hindes said that he deliberately crashed his bike in qualifying on Thursday to ensure a restart. Then on Saturday two British rowers, Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase, were granted a restart after their seat came loose, even though that's not considered an equipment failure. French fans took to Twitter, predictably, to mock what they called British "cheating."
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
gold turns to silver for two
M cKayla Maroney didn't need to look at the scoreboard. Neither did Louis Smith. The gold medals they were expected to win were going to others. "It happens. It's gymnastics," Maroney said. "You can't be perfect, and sometimes things don't go as you planned." Maroney wound up with a silver on vault after a rare fall Sunday, and Smith was on the wrong end of tiebreak rules for a second straight Olympics. Despite Smith and Krisztian Berki finishing with the same score on pommel horse, Berki got the gold and Smith the silver because the Hungarian's execution mark was better. In 2008, a tiebreak gave Britain's Smith a bronze on horse. Maroney, the defending world champ on vault, was considered pretty much a lock for the gold. No one in the world comes close to her execution, but on her second of two vaults, her feet slid out from under her as she landed, and she fell to the mat with a loud "plop!" The American looked shell-shocked as Romania's Sandra Izbasa did two impressive vaults to claim the gold. China's Zou Kai defended his floor exercise title.
proud day for mangold family
More than a dozen members of American Holley Mangold's family watched her finish 10th in weightlifting's superheavyweight event, including her brother Nick, a center for the New York Jets. "The fact that she has only been doing this for a handful of years and here she is … at the Olympics competing, I think that's fantastic," said Nick, who left training camp to see his sister. Holley, 22, hurt her right wrist in the snatch portion; she said she thought she retore a tendon. Then the back of her uniform ripped. Her combined total in the snatch and the clean and jerk was about 529 pounds, 30 pounds below her personal best. China's Zhou Lulu won with an Olympic record 735 pounds.
mendelblatt-fatih end up seventh in star
Star sailors Mark Mendelblatt, a St. Petersburg native, and Brian Fatih of Miami finished the medal race in sixth to round out their overall standing to seventh in the racing off Weymouth and Portland. "It's the biggest honor to represent the U.S.," Mendelblatt told USA Sailing. "It's the biggest honor as an athlete. I'm sorry I didn't get a medal. We gave it our all." Sweden's Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen were the surprise gold medalists. In Finn, Britain's Ben Ainslie won his fourth gold medal to become most decorated Olympic sailor in history.
u.s. clinches spot in quarters with big win
The U.S. women's basketball team tied its Olympic scoring mark in a 114-66 rout of China that gave it the top seed in its group for the quarterfinals. Diana Taurasi scored 22 as the Americans matched the 114 they scored against Spain in 1992; they fell well short of the women's Olympic mark of 128 points set by Brazil in 2004. They also set American Olympic records with 33 assists that led to another team milestone of 52 baskets. "We've got a lot of good offensive players," said U.S. coach Geno Auriemma. "When everything is clicking and they're in sync and the ball's moving like it was today, we're a fun team to watch."
women debut in the ring
Women's boxing made its Olympic debut. Russia's Elena Savelyeva beat North Korea's Hye Song Kim 12-9 in the opening bout, which also featured a female referee, Algeria's Kheira Sidi Yakoub. U.S. lightweight Queen Underwood lost a close fight to Britain's Natasha Jonas. The crowd roared for every fighter, clearly enjoying the tight competition and disciplined styles. "I gave away like half my life to this, and this doesn't feel like the reward," said Underwood, who survived years of sexual abuse by her father. "Just being here doesn't feel like enough."
other sports
• China's Wu Minxia won the women's 3-meter for her record-tying sixth career diving medal but first individual gold. Wu, 26, tied retired countrywoman Guo Jingjing as the most decorated divers in Olympic history. Her success came days after a newspaper said her parents had kept the death of her grandparents and her mother's breast cancer from her in order not to distract her preparations for the Games. The win made China 5-for-5 in diving at the Games.
• Two-time gold medalists Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor beat the Netherlands to advance to the quarterfinals in beach volleyball. The No. 2 U.S. team, Jennifer Kessy and April Ross, also advanced.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Brennan Franklin was ready to play junior college football at Eastern Arizona when Penn State defensive coordinator Ted Roof called the linebacker.
The Division I scholarship offer was too good to pass up, even if it came after the NCAA announced sanctions against the Nittany Lions, including a significant hit in scholarships.
Penn State has lost more than half a dozen players in light of the penalties July 23, but Franklin will have the distinction of being the first scholarship player to sign in Happy Valley since the NCAA announced its decisions.
The Nittany Lions open preseason camp today.
"The first thing he asked was if I'd ever been in a fight," Franklin said of Roof in a recent phone interview. He replied yes.
"He said, 'That's good, because that's what this is going to be.' "
The NCAA — as part of its landmark punishment of the program for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal — reduced the maximum number of scholarships that Penn State could offer each year from 25 to 15 for a four-year period, starting with the 2013 recruiting class. And PSU can't have more than 65 scholarship players at any time for a four-year period starting in 2014, down from 85.
The NCAA has allowed current players to transfer and have immediate eligibility. Nine have done so, the latest being Justin Brown, last year's top receiver for the Nittany Lions who is transferring to Oklahoma.
Saban: Predictions 'hijack the game'
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Here's a prediction: Nick Saban won't like questions about predictions. The Alabama coach has no interest in dissecting the national championship race or discussing which young Crimson Tide players are poised to blossom into stars. "All these predictions that you all make, they hijack the game," Saban told the media. "All anybody worries about in college football is the BCS, who's going to be in the final game. We have a lot of great games. … And why do we play the games? To answer the questions."
AIR FORCE: Coach Troy Calhoun said five players were off the team: Linebacker Jamil Cooks, receivers Brandon Hirneise and Mikel Hunter, tight end Devin Durden and safety Anthony Wooding. All five are still enrolled at the academy.
GEORGIA: Cornerback Branden Smith, who is on the preseason Hornung Award watch list for the nation's most versatile player, will not be suspended for an offseason arrest. The senior was arrested on a marijuana possession charge and eventually received pretrial intervention. Normally under UGA athletic policy, a misdemeanor arrest triggers a one-game suspension for football, but coach Mark Richt said they had received enough information to let Smith play.
PITT: Coach Paul Chryst said offensive lineman Juantez Hollins was suspended for the season for breaking team rules.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
LONG POND, Pa. — In a race marred by the death of a fan hit by lightning, Jeff Gordon earned his first victory of the season Sunday, taking advantage of an accident involving teammate Jimmie Johnson.
Gordon was ahead when the race was called because of a downpour preceding the fatal storm.
After the Pennsylvania 400, officials at Pocono Raceway said one person died and nine others were injured after a lightning strike in the parking lot behind the grandstand.
"You hate to hear something like that," Gordon said. "Certainly our thoughts are with them."
Gordon earned his 86th career victory and first since September 2011 at Atlanta to thrust himself into wild-card contention in the Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship.
This was the first time his wife and both of his young children joined his celebration.
"That experience to me today means so much more than anything else," he said.
Johnson inadvertently gave his Hendrick Motorsports teammate the help he needed. Johnson's No. 48 had a flat tire off a restart and slammed Matt Kenseth into the wall. Kenseth slid down the track and took out Denny Hamlin and three other cars.
With an unexpected opening triggered by the accident, Gordon, who started 27th, zipped through the holes in traffic in his No. 24 Chevrolet.
It couldn't have come at a better time. The skies opened and cars were ordered off the track. The race was called moments later with 98 of 160 scheduled laps completed.
It was a belated present for Gordon a day after his 41st birthday.
The win moved him into the second wild-card spot that would guarantee a berth in the Chase field. He and Ryan Newman are tied for 13th with 611 points. Each has one win; the next tiebreakers are most second-place finishes, most thirds and so on. Gordon owns the spot with two fifth-place finishes to Newman's one.
Gordon, who also won a rain-shortened race at Pocono in 2007, passed Bill Elliott for most wins at Pocono with six.
Gordon had winless seasons in 2008 and 2010 — a late-career drought far removed from the years when he was a regular in Victory Lane. He had double-digit victories in three straight seasons (1996-98) and seemed a lock to hit 100 victories by 35 and put himself behind only Richard Petty on the all-time list.
Kasey Kahne, who owns the other wild-card spot with his two wins, finished second, followed by Martin Truex, Brad Keselowski and Tony Stewart.
Kahne refused to rule out another Gordon championship run if he stays in the Chase field.
"Absolutely. It's Jeff Gordon. Look what he's done," Kahne said.
After the wreck, Hamlin was taken to the infield care center and complained of discomfort around his abdomen but was released.
Johnson blamed a flat tire for sparking the accidents.
"I shouldn't feel bad about that, but not much you can do with a right-rear flat," he said.
As for the lightning strike, it wasn't immediately clear if all 10 people were hit in the parking lot behind the grandstands, nor how many strikes occurred.
Track president Brandon Igdalsky said a fan died at Pocono Medical Center, but he provided no further details.
Times wires
Sunday, August 5, 2012
WIMBLEDON, England — Andy Murray stood with the Union Jack draped over his shoulders, a gold medal around his neck, flanked by the man he had just beaten, Roger Federer, and basking in the roar of the Centre Court crowd.
No wonder the often dour Scotsman was grinning.
Murray won one for the home team Sunday, beating Federer 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in the tennis final at Wimbledon. The victory marked a career breakthrough for Murray. He has lost all four of his Grand Slam finals, three against Federer, including Wimbledon a month ago.
"It has been the best week of my tennis career by a mile," Murray said. "I've had a lot of tough losses. This is the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final. I'll never forget it."
For Federer, the drubbing marked another Olympic disappointment. Playing in the Games for the fourth time, he sought a victory to complete a career Golden Slam but settled for silver, his first singles medal. "Don't feel too bad for me," Federer said. "I felt like I won my silver, I didn't lose it. So I feel really happy."
Murray swept nine consecutive games to take control, breaking Federer's serve four times in a row, his inspired play a reflection of raucous crowd support. He erased all nine break points he faced.
"He never looked back," Federer said. "His credit for getting in the lead and using the crowd to come through. He did an unbelievable job."
Murray settled for a silver in mixed doubles with teammate Laura Robson. They lost to Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
Serena Williams and Venus Williams won the women's doubles title, beating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4.
Serena became tennis' first double gold medalist at an Olympics since Venus won singles and doubles at the 2000 Games. The sisters also won the doubles gold in 2008. And with Sunday's victory, each has a record four Olympic gold medals.
While Serena was thrilled to win singles, the doubles is what she most cared about, considering the emotional and physical struggles for Venus, diagnosed last year with an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue.
"I really feel proud of what happened here at the Olympics," Venus said.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
CANTON, Ohio — Drew Brees led New Orleans to a touchdown on his only series Sunday, and the Saints beat the Cardinals 17-10 in the Hall of Fame Game, officiated by a crew with college experience.
Brees was sharp, completing 4 of 5 passes for 41 yards on the 10-play drive. Brees skipped offseason workouts and minicamp because he was unhappy getting the franchise tag. He later agreed to a five-year, $100 million deal.
The win completed a good weekend for the Saints, whose offseason was marred by the bounty scandal. Former Saints tackle Willie Roaf was part of the six-man class inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb threw an interception and left with bruised ribs, damaging his chances of winning the starting job. Kolb was tackled hard as he let go of a pass for his only completion in three series. Kolb, who was 1-for-4 for 4 yards, is competing against John Skelton.
"You never want to have an injury in the preseason, especially an early game like this, having to play that fifth preseason game," said Skelton, who was 4-for-6 for 32 yards. "But he will be okay."
Regular officials are locked out in a labor dispute with the league. Referee Craig Ochoa flipped the coin to start the game, then incorrectly announced New Orleans had won the toss and deferred. He caught his mistake as he started to walk away. "Correction, Arizona won the coin toss." The officials had trouble spotting the ball after a punt that involved a penalty, repeatedly moving the ball after talks.
Seahawks cut ex-Buc
Receiver Antonio Bryant, who last played a regular-season game in 2009 for the Bucs, was released by the Seahawks.
Bryant, 31, had signed with Seattle in July after a minicamp tryout. He has been suffering from hamstring issues since early in training camp, and the team had signed veteran receiver Braylon Edwards last week.
After catching 83 passes for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008 for Tampa Bay, Bryant's 2009 production fell off and he was released.
He signed a four-year, $28 million deal with the Bengals before the 2010 season but never played a down as he injured a knee and was cut after camp.
Lions' Avril reports: Defensive end Cliff Avril signed his tender and reported to camp after missing more than a week of practice. He will earn $10.6 million this season as a franchise-tagged player.
Bears: Receiver Devin Thomas, saying he wants to mentor kids, announced his retirement at age 25. … Linebacker Brian Urlacher will miss Thursday's exhibition with a sore left knee, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Bengals: Former UF defensive end Derrick Harvey, who signed as a free agent, was released.
Cowboys: Receiver Miles Austin, who missed six games last season, has hamstring issues again. Coach Jason Garrett said Austin will miss at least a few days and maybe a week..
Steelers: A day after a teammate stepped on his left foot, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger skipped practice with a bruised foot and is day to day.
Vikings: Rookie receiver Greg Childs, who landed awkwardly leaping for a pass Saturday, is expected to have surgery soon after tearing the patella tendon in both knees, ESPN.com reported.
