By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 6, 2012

TAMPA — Much is expected of Lavonte David. As he walked from the field after practice Monday, the first-year linebacker carried his helmet and shoulder pads in his right hand and those belonging to veteran linebacker Adam Hayward in his left.

Hauling equipment is part of a rookie's obligations, meant to keep him humble amid the hype.

But on the field, David is becoming a dependable fixture at weakside linebacker and was listed as a starter when the depth chart was released on Monday. Even before he became a valet for Hayward, the second-round pick from Nebraska knew he'd have his hands full.

"The pressure to play right away has been on me ever since I went to college," David said. "When you play football and you love the game so much, you want that pressure to be on you. You want to be able to make that play, but it's a team game, and it takes everybody playing together."

At 6 feet 1, 233 pounds, David bears a physical resemblance to Bucs great Derrick Brooks, the Tampa Bay Storm president who attended practice Monday. Though David plays the same position, the comparisons end there.

When Brooks entered the league as a first-round pick in 1995, he had a Pro Bowl middle linebacker in Hardy Nickerson to mentor him. The Bucs are likely to start Mason Foster, who struggled as a rookie last season, alongside David.

"When you first look at them, you appreciate the athleticism," Brooks said Monday of the Bucs' young linebackers. "They do have a lot of the characteristics that we had when we were young players."

When coach Tony Dungy arrived in 1996 and installed a new defense, the Bucs started 0-5. But as those young players became more familiar with the system, the Bucs won five of their final eight to finish 6-10.

Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan has thrown the new playbook at David. He also has given him more repetitions than most defenders. In addition to his duties in the base defense, David has gotten looks at middle linebacker in nickel passing situations with the second unit.

"He's doing good," Sheridan said. "Like all the rookies, at some point in camp, it starts to mount up mentally. But he's plowing through it. The nice thing is he's getting a ton of reps with the ones (starters) and the twos, so he's getting coached off film because he's in there a lot. I'm sure guys wish they were getting the kind of reps we're affording him.

"What he brings is he's real instinctive, so even if he technically screws up, he's got great recovery."

David's playmaking ability helped Miami Northwestern High to state titles in 2006 and '07 but he was not heavily recruited and wound up at Fort Scott (Kan.) Junior College. After transferring to Nebraska in 2010, David set a school record with 152 tackles and became a two-time All-American.

David credits his Fort Scott teammate, offensive lineman Jamarcus Hardrick, for helping secure him a scholarship to Nebraska, having insisted on a package deal. Hardrick was reunited with David after signing with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent.

"When my name gets called, I've got to step in right away, especially at this level," David said.

"…Just the speed of the game is so great, you've got to be on point with everything. You've got to be right with your run fits, because backs in this league, they hit it downhill fast. You've got to be in the right place at the right time and handle your responsibility."

Once the Bucs begin preparing for the regular season, David will have less to remember because the game plan will be scaled to fit the opponent.

"So far, so good. Lavonte has been able to pick everything up," coach Greg Schiano said.

Including an extra helmet and shoulder pads.

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

no medal for douglas in uneven bars final

Gabby Douglas left the gymnastics venue without a medal for the first time at these Games, finishing last in the uneven bars in the individual event finals. Though her aerodynamic bars routines had earned the all-around and U.S. team gold medalist her "Flying Squirrel" nickname, a medal was always a long shot. Winner Aliya Mustafina of Russia, silver medalist He Kexin of China and bronze medalist Beth Tweddle of Britain have far more difficult routines. Plus, "you get toward the end of the Olympics and you get kind of drained," Douglas said. In the men's vault, American Sam Mikulak finished fifth. South Korea's Yang Hak-seon added gold to his world title.

brandon's colwill makes 3m semifinal

Brandon's Chris Colwill advanced to today's semifinal of the men's 3-meter diving competition, finishing seventh in the preliminaries. The top 18 divers moved on to the semifinals, with the top 12 making the final later today. American Troy Dumais was third in a competition marred by pratfalls. Two divers scored all zeros, and two others got low scores for badly botching their dives. Even China made a rare mistake. Ilya Zakharov of Russia topped the prelims. Zakharov earlier won silver medal in synchronized 3-meter with partner Evgeny Kuznetsov and was the silver medalist in the individual event at last year's world championships.

clearwater's railey eighth in laser radial

Clearwater's Paige Railey finished sixth in the Laser Radial medal race off Weymouth and ended up eighth overall at her first Olympics. "I saw an improvement on things, and I'm happy," Railey told USA Sailing. Railey said she struggled with her downwind speed throughout the competition. "We tried to take one race at a time. When it started going wrong, I had to focus on what was going well," she said. China's Xu Lijia won the gold. She took bronze in 2008. "I want to take this experience back to China so more can experience the beauty of this sailing," Xu said.

two medals guaranteed for u.s.

A U.S. boxing program struggling in recent Games received a double infusion of success when flyweight Marlen Esparza and middleweight Claressa Shields won quarterfinal matches and assured the Americans of at least two bronzes in the inaugural women's competition. The event was limited to 12 fighters in each weight division, and each U.S. boxer drew a bye into the quarterfinals, putting each a victory away from a medal. Esparza, 23, beat Venezuelan Karlha Magliocco 24-16. "It took me like 50 fights to get where I am, so it doesn't seem like an easy route to a medal to me," Esparza said. Shields, 17, beat Sweden's Anna Laurell, 32, 18-14.

More Sports

• The U.S. men's basketball team turned a one-point game into a blowout with a 42-point third quarter, beating Argentina 126-97. Kevin Durant scored 17 of his 28 points in the third.

• The defending champion U.S. men's volleyball team clinched a top seed in the knockout round with a three-set win over Tunisia. It was coming off a loss to Russia, that ended an 11-match winning streak in Olympic play dating to the Americans' undefeated march to the 2008 gold.

• American Matt Emmons got bronze in the 50-meter three-position rifle event.

• Americans Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal were knocked out in the beach volleyball quarterfinals.

a win with 'extra spunk'

F or the first time before a big meet, Jenn Suhr heard a positive message from her husband, Rick, who's also her coach. "He said, 'You're going to win this,' " Suhr said. "I've competed 100 times, and that's not something he says. It puts that extra spunk that I could do this. Someone else believes in me that much." Suhr vaulted 15 feet, 7 inches Monday to defeat Cuba's Yarisley Silva, who cleared the same height but lost on a tiebreaker because she had one more miss in the competition. Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva failed to become the first woman to win the same individual track and field event at three consecutive Olympics. She settled for bronze with a vault of 15-5. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor staggered to the finish in the 400-meter hurdles for fifth place in a race won by Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic. American Michael Tinsley took silver. Former Gator Kerron Clement, the 2008 silver medalist, finished last. With no American men in the 400 final for the first time, 19-year-old Kirani James gave Grenada its first Olympic medal. "This is a huge step … going out there and putting us on the map," he said. The government declared this afternoon a holiday. It was the first time since the U.S-boycotted 1980 Games that someone other than an American won. Defending champion LaShawn Merritt pulled up with a hurt hamstring in the first round.

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

DETROIT — Justin Verlander raised his left arm to acknowledge a standing ovation.

It was his right arm, though, that gave the Yankees so much trouble.

Verlander matched a career high with 14 strikeouts, and Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera homered to lead the Tigers over New York 7-2 Monday night.

"Felt pretty good," Verlander said.

He looked good, too.

Verlander threw 132 pitches, his most in a regular-season game, to lift the Tigers to a fifth straight win.

The reigning AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner struck out former teammate Curtis Granderson with an 85 mph breaking pitch to lead off the game and struck out the first two Yankees in the second. After walking Raul Ibanez in the eighth, he struck out Nick Swisher, Eric Chavez and Ichiro Suzuki to tie his strikeout high set last year against Arizona.

"In the eighth inning, he still had a 100 mph fastball," Ichiro said through an interpreter. "The rest of his pitches are great, too."

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 6, 2012

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State started preseason practice Monday with one big addition.

Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said offering a scholarship to 6-foot-4, 252-pound TE Kevin Haplea, a Penn State transfer, was an easy decision.

The Seminoles recruited Haplea out of high school in Annandale, N.J. He played every game for the Nittany Lions last season, catching three passes for 21 yards and one touchdown. He also was credited with opening running lanes for 1,200-yard rusher Silas Redd, who is going to Southern California.

Haplea is among eight confirmed Penn State players who have transferred since the NCAA slapped sanctions on the school for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

"He called us," Fisher said. "We did not go after any of the Penn State players and we're not going to."

RAINED OUT: The Seminoles were on the field for about 45 minutes, including stretching, before rain ended practice.

Associated Press

UF: Muschamp happy with retention rate

GAINESVILLE — It's early in fall camp, but Florida coach Will Muschamp said Monday one of the things he's most impressed with is the way the Gators retained first-year offense coordinator Brent Pease's system from spring to now. Florida had 14 practices to learn the basics of the system, and Muschamp said that knowledge has carried over.

"It was very evident in their first three days on both sides of the ball, the retention we had from spring, which credits our players and the job they did this summer," Muschamp said. "We are far ahead of, after three practices mind you, where we thought we would be on both sides of the ball. … (Players) are far ahead mentally than I thought we would be at this point and certainly what Brent thought as well."

OPEN PRACTICE: Florida will hold one open practice session on Aug. 18, from 9-11 a.m. The practice will run in conjunction with fan day, which will be held at 3 p.m.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

UM: OT Henderson finally arrives

CORAL GABLES — OT Seantrel Henderson was back after missing the first three practices attending a friend's funeral in Minnesota.

"I'm glad just to see he's okay, because no one really heard from him," QB Ryan Williams said.

The 6-foot-8, 340-pound right tackle addressed the team Sunday. Players were told not to talk specifics regarding the meeting, Williams said. Henderson did not speak with reporters Monday.

Sun Sentinel

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

White Sox 4, Royals 2

CHICAGO — Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham homered late, Chris Sale pitched eight solid innings and Chicago won for the 10th time in 13 games. Konerko tied it leading off the seventh and Beckham gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead with a solo shot in the eighth off Luis Mendoza. A.J. Pierzynski added two hits. Although he didn't go deep after tying the White Sox record with homers in five straight games, he drove in the first run with a double in the second.

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

soccer

early report: midfielder's death natural

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A coroner said signs pointed to "an apparent natural death" pending results from toxicology tests and on other tissue after an autopsy performed on Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso on Monday.

Urso, 22, was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m. Sunday at Grant Medical Center after collapsing at a downtown Columbus bar and restaurant.

Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak said toxicology tests will be finalized in four to six weeks.

"It's leaning toward an apparent natural death, but we don't know why," Gorniak said.

She said the autopsy revealed no trauma to Urso's body, and no blood clots. In addition to toxicology tests, the coroner's office will also take a closer look at what Gorniak referred to as "heart changes."

Urso played in six games with the Crew and was rehabbing from a groin injury sustained in May. He did not travel to the game at D.C. United on Saturday night.

nhl

No labor deal is no cause for concern

The NHL and the NHL Players' Association can agree there's more than enough time to reach a new labor deal even though the union has yet to submit a counteroffer with less than six weeks left before the current collective bargaining agreement expires.

"I don't think time's running out yet," Players' Association executive director Don Fehr said from Barcelona, where he met with about 40 players. "I still think if the parties are dedicated to it, there's sufficient time to reach an agreement."

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly concurred.

"While time is getting shorter, we continue to feel there is sufficient time to reach a deal before Sept. 15," Daly wrote in an email to the Associated Press.

Fehr has already proposed having talks continue beyond the deadline and having the season open without disruption under the current system.

Negotiations will resume today at league headquarters in New York. Fehr is expected to be back at the table by as early as Wednesday.

nba

Kings keep Smart through 2013-14

Keith Smart is getting the closest thing he has ever had to a long-term deal as an NBA coach.

The Kings extended Smart's contract through the 2013-14 season. His deal had been set to expire after the upcoming season.

Smart, 47, took over for the fired Paul Westphal in January after a 2-5 start. The Kings went 20-39 the rest of the way under Smart during the lockout-shortened season.

"I'm excited to continue this process with the Kings," Smart said. "We're trying to get our franchise moving in the right direction."

Sacramento has missed the playoffs six straight years.

The Warriors decided not to extend Smart's contract last year after he replaced Don Nelson before training camp and led the franchise to a 36-46 record — a 10-game improvement from the previous season. Smart also was the Cavaliers' interim head coach for the final 40 games in 2003.

Smart, a former Indiana University guard best known for hitting "The Shot" against Syracuse to win the 1987 NCAA title, is 65-116 as an NBA head coach. He already has built a strong relationship with Kings players, notably volatile big man DeMarcus Cousins, and gained the backing of the Maloof family that owns the team.

Times wires

Times staff
Monday, August 6, 2012

Country G S B T

China31191464

U.S.29151963

Russia7171842

Britain18111140

Japan2121428

France89926

S. Korea115622

Germany5101722

Australia212822

Italy76417

4 a.m. – 8 p.m. NBCSN

• Equestrian – Team dressage final (LIVE, 5 a.m.)

• Triathlon (M) – (LIVE, 6:30 a.m.)

• Basketball (W) – Quarterfinal, U.S.-Canada (LIVE, 9 a.m.)

• Soccer (M) – Semifinals, Mexico-Japan (LIVE, noon), South Korea-Brazil (LIVE, 2:45 p.m.)

• Weightlifting (M) – Superheavyweight final

• Canoe – Heats

• Handball (W) – Qualifying

• Field Hockey (M) – Qualifying

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. TELEMUNDO

• Soccer (M) – Semifinals (LIVE)

• Boxing (M) – Quarterfinals

• Track and field – Qualifying

• Volleyball (W) – Quarterfinals

• Synchronized swimming – Duet final

• Beach Volleyball – Semifinals

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. MSNBC

• Beach Volleyball (M) – Semifinal (LIVE)

• Volleyball (W)– Quarterfinals (LIVE)

• Water Polo (W) – Semifinal, Hungary vs. Spain (LIVE, 4:40 p.m.)

• Synchronized swimming – Duet final

• Wrestling – Greco-Roman Final

• Table Tennis (W) – Team final, Italy vs. Korea

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ch. 8

• Water polo (W) – Semifinals, U.S.-Australia (LIVE, 10:30 a.m.)

• Volleyball (W) – Quarterfinal, U.S.-Dominican Republic (LIVE, 2 p.m.)

• Beach Volleyball (W) – Semifinals, U.S. (Kessy and Ross) vs. Brazil (LIVE, 4 p.m.)

• Track and field – Qualifying

• Diving (M) – 3M semifinals

• Cycling – Track Final

5 – 8 p.m. CNBC

• Boxing (M) – Quarterfinals

• Table Tennis (W) – Team final

8 p.m. – Midnight Ch. 8

• Gymnastics – Individual event finals: Men's parallel bars, high bar; women's balance beam, floor exercise

• Track and field – Finals, men's 1,500M, high jump; women's 100M hurdles

• Beach volleyball (W) – Semifinal, U.S. (May-Trainor and Walsh Jennings) vs. China

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. TELEMUNDO

• Track and field – Finals

• Gymnastics – Individual event finals

• Diving (M) – 3M final

12:35 – 1:35 a.m. Ch. 8

• Diving (M) – 3M final

Track and field – Finals

(M) – men's event; (W) – women's event

All events streamed live at NBCOlympics.com.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, August 6, 2012

LONDON — In an Olympics that has had everything, what we need now is a villain.

We need a bully, a braggart, a bad guy. We need someone to glower and glare. We need someone who appears intimidating, invincible, inscrutable.

We need Alexander Karelin. We need Teofilo Stevenson. We need Kornelia Ender.

You know, just to make it interesting.

In the middle of the colors and the pageantry, what we need now is a rival. We need another country to dislike. We need a nation to scorn and to suspect of cutting corners. We need another nation that makes you feel giddy once you beat them.

We need Russia. We need Germany. We need Australia. You know, like in the old days.

Now, there is nothing wrong with the way the United States is clipping along in these Olympics. The anthem sounds good, and the athletes seem happy, and given the economy, we can use all the gold we can import. It's that sometimes it feels like the biggest rival to our No. 1 athlete in a sport is our No. 2 athlete.

In other words, what happened to the world?

Is Russia even attending these Games? Entering Monday, the Russians, the greatest of American rivals, had won only four gold medals. And get this: Three of those were in judo. They added three Monday, but the Russians have averaged 17 golds per Olympics over the past four (since the breakup of the Soviet Union).

And whatever happened to Germany? The Germans used to bring a terrific team to the Olympics. This time they have won five golds, but two have come in equestrian and two in rowing. For the first time in 80 years, the Germans failed to win an individual gold in swimming. Over the previous four Olympics, the Germans averaged 15½ medals.

Then there are the Australians. Did the Aussies get on a tour bus instead of the one heading to the Olympic plaza? These days, "down under" means the medal standings. Australia didn't win an individual gold in the pool for the first time since 1976. It has won two overall. Over the previous four Olympics, Australia averaged 14 golds.

One reaction goes something like this: Nyah, nyah, nyah.

The other is this: What happened? The medal standings are a staggering sight these days, what with Germany trailing France and Australia behind New Zealand and Russian having one-fourth the gold total of the United States. Forever these have been powerhouse Olympic nations.

Overnight, they have become the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Rams and the Los Angeles Clippers. Move along, folks. Nothing to see here.

Granted, there is China. The Chinese won more gold than anyone in Beijing. They have a slight lead on the Americans in golds and overall medals. Can't we work up a good lather in the name of China, a nation with a history of doping problems and age-rule scandals?

Someday, maybe. When an American (non-Olympic) coach accused Ye Shiwen, a 16-year-old Chinese girl, of swimming a suspicious 400-meter individual medley final (her last lap was faster than men's 400 IM winner Ryan Lochte's), the Chinese accused Michael Phelps right back, and for a day it felt as if a new rival had landed.

Ye passed her drug test, but given masking techniques, that doesn't mean a lot. Besides, when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs, American athletes have taken enough to know what those performances look like.

Still, that controversy faded until the next international competition, and except for the medal table, no one thinks much about China, a country where the most important sports don't mesh with ours. China has won five of its golds in badminton and two in table tennis, for instance. Not to belittle those sports, because those medals are shiny, too, but they aren't exactly the sports that make Americans yell at referees.

Can you imagine the outcry if this falloff happened in the United States? It isn't any quieter elsewhere. Russia used to be the coldly efficient country that produced athletes such as Karelin, the great wrestler. Germany — especially when part of it competed as East Germany — once produced a steroid-fueled swimming team that included women such as Ender. Cuba (now buried in the medal standings at 21st) had boxers such as Stevenson. And on and on.

As you might imagine, a lot of nations seem to be angry.

In Russia, sports minister Vitaly Mutko has promised "very tough" changes to the country's federations. "We're almost at war," he said. Yeah, that's a Russian. The fencing and shooting coaches have resigned.

In Australia, there is talk of additional funding. That may solve future frustrations, but for now, it stings. "It's probably the greatest disappointment in my time," wrote the Melbourne Herald Sun's John Anderson.

In Germany, there is talk of changes, too. About time, said former swimmer Frannie Van Almsick: "This is a problem we have had for some time."

In the Olympics, failure happens. Excuses happen. But they aren't supposed to happen to these countries.

Once, they were fierce. Once, they were powerful. These days? A bronze would be nice.

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

Cardinals 8, Giants 2

ST. LOUIS — Jake Westbrook pitched six solid innings and Carlos Beltran homered as St. Louis beat Matt Cain and San Francisco for its fourth straight win overall and seventh straight at home. The Giants had a three-game winning streak stopped. Jon Jay went 4-for-4 and drove in two runs for the Cardinals, and Matt Carpenter added a two-run bases-loaded single.

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Garrett Reid was a "happy-go-lucky" guy who conquered drug addiction, loved being in the weight room and enjoyed making players laugh.

That's how many of the Philadelphia Eagles closest to Reid remembered their coach's oldest son, who was found dead Sunday morning in a dorm room at the club's Lehigh University training camp. Police said the 29-year-old's death was not suspicious, and the cause was under investigation.

"I spent plenty of time with him," guard Evan Mathis said Monday. "He was always in the weight room with us and was always on the field with us. He was a happy-go-lucky guy and always a joy to be around, always telling jokes and having fun. Really just brightened your day when you were around him."

Funeral services will be today.

Monday night Andy Reid, who has yet to address the media, issued a statement via the team.

"We loved Garrett so much. He was a wonderful son and brother. He made us laugh, he was a pleasure to be around, he always had a smile on his face, and we will miss him dearly," Andy Reid said.

Today is a scheduled day off, so the team is expected to join their coach at the funeral.

LEAGUE DENIES VILMA OFFER: The NFL calls a report it has offered a settlement and reduced suspension to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma "completely inaccurate." Vilma was suspended for the season for his role in the Saints bounty program, which he says did not exist. ESPN.com reported the league offered Vilma an eight-game suspension if he'd drop his defamation lawsuit against commissioner Roger Goodell.

NEW HOME FOR T.O.: The Seahawks agreed to terms with Terrell Owens after a tryout. Owens, 38, whose 15,923 receiving yards are second all-time to Jerry Rice, sat out 2011 and played briefly this summer for a minor-league indoor team.

FEMALE MILESTONE: With regular referees locked out, Shannon Eastin will become the first woman to officiate an NFL game when she works as a line judge for Thursday's Green Bay-San Diego preseason game.

BROWNS: In an expected move, coach Pat Shurmur named rookie Brandon Weeden the starting quarterback.

DOLPHINS: David Garrard was listed as the first-team quarterback ahead of Matt Moore and first-round pick Ryan Tannehill, but coach Joe Philbin said there was no guarantee Garrard would start Friday's preseason opener against the Bucs.

JAGUARS: Receiver Justin Blackmon agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth $18.5 million, becoming the last first-round pick to reach a deal. He was chosen fifth overall.

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

MANCHESTER, England

On the verge of missing the gold-medal game for the first time, the U.S. women's soccer team caught a break when the referee made a call rarely seen in the sport.

Then the Americans put together a final winning surge, inspired by the familiar: a pep talk from co-captain Abby Wambach.

"I know I've said this before," the former Gator said she told her teammates during extra time. "But it really does just take one moment and one chance, one moment of brilliance for somebody to do something individually spectacular."

The moment came beyond the 90 minutes of regular time, beyond the scheduled 30 minutes of extra time. In the third and final minute of injury time, with goalkeeper Hope Solo already preparing for a penalty kick shootout, Alex Morgan looped in a 6-yard header on a long cross from Heather O'Reilly, giving the United States a 4-3 win over Canada in the Olympic semifinals at Old Trafford.

"It was amazing," Morgan said of her goal. "I didn't even see it go in. They wanted it, and we wanted it. And we got it."

Next comes the game the Americans have been eyeing for more than a year, a rematch with Japan, a 2-1 semifinal winner over France, on Thursday at Wembley Stadium with gold on the line. The top-ranked Americans lost to Japan on penalty kicks in the World Cup final last summer, a stunning blow that became a source of motivation as the players prepared for the Olympics.

The Americans overcame three one-goal deficits, all due to Christine Sinclair goals in the 22nd, 67th and 73rd minutes. Megan Rapinoe scored in the 54th and 70th minutes and Wambach in the 80th for the United States.

It was the sequence that led to Wambach's tying goal that left the Canadians fuming. It started when goalkeeper Erin McLeod was whistled for holding the ball more than six seconds, a call even U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said she had never seen before.

That gave the Americans an indirect free kick inside the area. Rapinoe took the kick and rammed it into the Canadian wall, the ball glancing off the arm of defender Marie-Eve Nault. Referee Christiana Pedersen of Norway then awarded the United States a penalty kick, which Wambach converted off the left post.

McLeod said she did not receive the usual warning from the referee about holding the ball too long, although she said the linesman had told her at the start of the second half not to slow play.

"I think the referee was very one-sided," McLeod said. "We feel like we got robbed in this game."

Canada coach John Herdman said he believed the referee also missed a hand ball in front of the U.S. goal.

Referring to Thursday's bronze medal game, Sinclair said, "Maybe the referee will wear a Canadian jersey for this game."

The U.S. team has played in the title match in every Summer Games since women's soccer was introduced in 1996. It won the gold in 1996, 2004 and 2008 and got the silver in 2000.

In many ways this win was reminiscent of the landmark comeback victory against Brazil in last year's World Cup, when Wambach willed the team to a shootout win in the quarterfinals. Wambach knew her teammates could rally against the Canadians.

"Even when they scored their third goal, there was something in me that knew that we had more, that we could give more."

Times wires
Monday, August 6, 2012

Brewers 6, Reds 3

MILWAUKEE — Catcher Martin Maldonado had a homer, two doubles and three RBIs, and Yovani Gallardo allowed one run in seven innings for the second straight start as Milwaukee bounced back from an ugly three-game sweep by the Cardinals. Cincinnati lost its second straight game after winning five in a row. The Reds hadn't lost two in a row since July 3-4.

Times staff
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

TODAY

Baseball

Blue Jays at Rays, 7 p.m., Sun Sports; 620-AM

Yankees at Tigers, 7 p.m., MLB

Marlins at Mets, 7 p.m., FSN

Cycling

Tour of Utah, 4 p.m., FSN

Little League World Series

Southwest Region semifinal: Teams TBA, 5 p.m., ESPN2

Southwest Region semifinal: Texas West vs. TBA, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Olympics

4 a.m. – 8 p.m. NBCSN

• Soccer (M) – Semifinals, Mexico-Japan (LIVE, noon), South Korea-Brazil (LIVE, 2:45 p.m.)

• Triathlon (M) – (LIVE, 6:30 a.m.)

• Basketball (W) – Quarterfinal, U.S.-Canada (LIVE, 9 a.m.)

• Weightlifting (M) – Superheavyweight final

• Canoe – Heats

• Equestrian – Team dressage final (LIVE, 5 a.m.)

• Handball (W) – Qualifying

• Field Hockey (M) – Qualifying

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. TELEMUNDO

• Men's Soccer – Semifinals

• Men's Boxing – Quarterfinals

• Track and Field – Qualifying Rounds

• Men's Diving – Springboard Semifinals

• Women's Volleyball – Quarterfinals

• Synchronized Swimming – Duet Gold Medal Final

• Beach Volleyball – Semifinals

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. MSNBC

• Beach Volleyball – Semifinals (LIVE)

• Women's Volleyball – Quarterfinals (LIVE)

• Women's Water Polo – Semifinals (LIVE)

• Wrestling – Gold Medal Final

• Women's Table Tennis – Team Gold Medal Final

9 a.m. – 9 p.m. NBC BASKETBALL

•Women's Basketball – Quarterfinals

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Ch. 8

• Water polo (W) – Semifinals, U.S.-Australia (LIVE, 10:30 a.m.)

• Volleyball (W) – Quarterfinal, U.S.-Dominican Republic (LIVE, 2 p.m.)

• Beach Volleyball (W) – Semifinals, U.S.-Brazil (LIVE, 4 p.m.)

• Track and field – Qualifying

• Diving (M) – 3M semifinals

• Cycling – Track Final

Noon – MidnightNBC SOCCER

• Men's Soccer – Semifinals

5 p.m. – 8 p.m. CNBC

• Men's Boxing – Quarterfinals

8 p.m. – MidnightCh. 8

• Gymnastics – Individual event finals: Men's parallel bars, high bar; women's balance beam, floor exercise

• Track and field – Finals, men's 1,500M, high jump; women's 100M hurdles

• Beach volleyball (W) – Semifinal, U.S.-China

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. TELEMUNDO

• Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals

• Gymnastics – Individual Event Gold Medal Finals

• Men's Diving – Springboard Gold Medal Final

12:35 – 1:35 a.m.Ch. 8

• Diving (M) – 3M final

Track and field – Finals

(M) – men's event; (W) – women's event

See a full day-by-day TV schedule at tampabay.com/londonolympics.

All events streamed live at NBCOlympics.com.

Soccer

Mexican Cup: Jaguares at Morelos, 5 p.m., ESPND

Mexican Cup: Cruz Azul at Altamira, 10 p.m., ESPND

Tennis

ATP: Rogers Cup, 11 a.m., Tennis

Times wires
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Nationals 5, Astros 4

11 innings

HOUSTON — Roger Bernadina scored when Houston made two errors on the same play in the 11th, and Washington won its third straight.

Times wires
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Padres 2, Cubs 0

SAN DIEGO — Eric Stults and four relievers combined on a five-hitter, and San Diego handed Chicago its sixth straight loss. Stults pitched 51/3 strong innings in his first start since June 3, and Brad Brach, Dale Thayer, Luke Gregerson and Huston Street combined for 32/3 innings of no-hit relief. Yonder Alonso and Everth Cabrera drove in runs as the Padres won for just the fourth time in 10 games.

Times wires
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Angels 4, Athletics 0

OAKLAND, Calif. — Jered Weaver pitched a four-hitter for his major league-leading 15th victory, and Los Angeles overtook Oakland and Baltimore for the final spot in the crowded AL wild-card standings. Weaver, who faced the minimum through 41/3 innings, has won a career-best 10 straight starts, matching Chuck Finley's franchise record set in 1997. Erick Aybar singled three times and scored twice in his first game back from the disabled list. Oakland lost its third straight.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

TAMPA — It may seem like just another play in an inconsequential game, but when Todd Chandler takes the field in USF's football opener Sept. 1 against Chattanooga, it will be a moment nearly three years in the making.

"I can't wait. If it's the last play of the game, I'm just so excited, I might just break down and cry right there," said Chandler, a sophomore defensive tackle from Miami's Liberty City neighborhood who last played at Miami Northwestern High in 2009.

It hasn't been easy for Chandler, who came to USF with high expectations, rated the nation's No. 7 defensive tackle by ESPN. He redshirted his first season, then had to drop a class that first year, which put him below the NCAA minimum of nine credit hours in a semester and made him ineligible last season. That second year away was difficult, but it changed him.

"It built me as a person," said Chandler, who worked on USF's scout team and was named its defensive MVP. "It built me up. It hurt real bad, knowing I couldn't do whatever my role was going to be last year. But like Coach (Skip) Holtz tells me, I put myself in this position, so I have to work through it."

Chandler found a new focus, improving his grades and attending church at Extreme Life Ministries in Tampa with his mother, Ruskin resident Taweaka Martin. The short but powerful 310-pounder changed in football as well, dedicating himself in the weight room and showing coaches commitment in practice.

"When Todd really impressed me was a year ago," Holtz said. "It was a hard experience for Todd to go through last year. … It's a shame to go through a lesson like that and not learn from it. I saw him become a leader last year. His mind-set changed. Here's a guy that was ineligible a year ago that's sitting, watching, but I thought his attitude changed tremendously. He has a chance to help this football team."

Martin said her son was grounded by the harsh contrast of going from high school star to just another player at USF, then watching others get on the field when he couldn't.

"Him not playing those two years really made him appreciate the fact that he has to really work hard to stay on top of his game," said Martin, who works for A Kid's Place, a nonprofit charity in Brandon for abused and neglected children. "It really humbled him a lot. You go from being the big man on campus in high school where everybody knows your name to college, where you're up against players who have been there two or three years, where nobody knows your name."

Just as the absence of football changed him the presence of his daughter Tod'Jhay, who will turn 2 next week, has been a major part of his maturation. He came home from his first USF training camp for her birth, and she now lives with Chandler's mother, where he can see her every day. His maturation has run parallel with fatherhood.

"It gave me patience," he said. "It controlled my anger a lot. I used to have a real bad temper. I wasn't able to listen to the message the coaches were trying to get to me. My daughter taught me to take a deep breath and talk it out, explain what's going on."

She knows the Bulls hand sign and "talks all day," he says, and she'll watch with her mother and grandmother in less than a month when her father realizes a dream. Chandler is battling for a spot on USF's two-deep depth chart, but all he wants is a chance to play.

"If they want me to run down on punt return, I'll do anything," he said. "I feel like I owe these guys everything. During that suspension, all my teammates were in my ear, saying, 'Don't give up. Just keep pushing. Go to class.' I owe them that much, to do whatever my role is on this team. …I knew at some point I had to change what I was doing, to do something different. This year, it showed."

And his mother, who went back to school and earned her GED the week Chandler graduated, is still inspired by her son. So she too looks forward to that first play with pride.

"My baby told me, 'Mama, I can't wait to feel the turf under my feet,' " she said. "That's what every football player wants. … Todd is an amazing kid. I'm so proud of him."

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The Sept. 23 Tampa Bay Rays game against the Toronto Blue Jays will benefit the Hernando County Education Foundation when tickets are purchased through the local organization.

First pitch for the Sunday contest will be at 1:40 p.m., with gates opening at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at 11:40 a.m. The first 10,000 kids will receive a Rays bobblehead, and kids will be allowed to run the bases after the game.

Tickets in the lower box seats are available for $20 each, with a deadline of Sept. 11 for purchase.

For information, contact Frank Zito at (407) 697-0868 or fzito80@yahoo.com.

KIWANIS GOLF TOURNAMENT: Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville will play host to the seventh annual Kiwanis of Spring Hill Children Charity Golf Invitational on Sept. 20.

Proceeds will be distributed by Kiwanis Club to various local charities and organizations that benefit children.

Registration is scheduled for 8 a.m., when breakfast will be served. The shotgun start is set for 10 a.m., with a buffet lunch, awards ceremony and silent auction at the conclusion of play.

Participants may register by visiting springhillkiwanis.org. The registration fee is $110 per player or $400 per foursome. The deadline is Sept. 10.

For information, contact Richard Sanvenero at (352) 263-7829, ext. 25, or nero280@aol.com.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS FEST: Special Olympics of Hernando County is holding Olympic Fest 2012 on Sept. 15 at Springstead High School in Spring Hill.

Open to all groups from 3 years old to 40-plus, the event will raise money for Special Olympics. Seven different age groups will compete in short sprints. The entry fee is $5 for kids ages 3 to 13, $8 for ages 14 to 17 and $10 for adults over 18.

There will be vendors, live music, raffles and other games. Activities begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m.

For information, send email to Andrea Lee Purvis at AndreaCan Create@yahoo.com.

BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT: The local chapter of the Florida Council on Delinquency and Crime is organizing a golf tournament at Brooksville County Club at Majestic Oaks on Sept. 30.

The four-person scramble will benefit facilities that assist victims, including the Dawn Center for domestic violence victims in Hernando County and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. The registration fee is $240 per foursome or $60 per golfer for those who do not have a group.

The fee includes golf, cart and lunch. The shotgun start will be at 8:30 a.m., with prizes awarded for first, second and third place; longest drive, and closest-to-the-pin.

The registration deadline is Sept. 10, limited to the first 100 golfers.

For information, call Tonya Griffin at (352) 797-3410.

SPRING HILL DIXIE BASEBALL: Spring Hill Dixie Baseball will hold registration for the fall season at Anderson Snow Park this month.

League officials will accept sign-ups in the office at the park. Volunteers will be there from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 20 and 23 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 25.

All potential players must turn 5 years old by April 30, 2013. Participants cannot turn 15 years old before Nov. 23.

The cost is $70 for the first child from a family and $65 for other children. A copy of the child's birth certificate is necessary for registration. The fees cover games, insurance and trophies.

A $30 late fee will be charged after the registration dates. There will also be a $30 concession deposit required during sign-ups, but the fee will be refunded after three hours of volunteer work in the concession stand.

For information, call Joe Abbadessa at (352) 263-4488.

BROOKSVILLE BULLDOGS BASEBALL: The Brooksville Bulldogs, an AAU travel club, are seeking players for the coming baseball season, which runs from September through February.

The team plays doubleheaders in Brooksville and tournaments in Central Florida in the 14-and-younger age division.

For information, contact Bruce Price at (813) 714-1054 or bruce 67price@hotmail.com.

UMPIRE CLINICS: The Hernando-Sumter Umpires Association has scheduled its sixth annual umpires clinics.

The clinics are designed to train anyone who wants to become an umpire, and also can help seasoned umpires improve. Clinics will take place at the Anderson Snow Sports Complex in Spring Hill on Sunday and Sept. 2 and at Ridge Manor Park in Ridge Manor on Aug. 19. All sessions run from noon to 3 p.m.

The clinics are open to men and women ages 16 and older. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. each day. There is a $20 charge for each participant, and everyone will receive a Major League Baseball rule book, along with other handouts.

Visit hernandosumterumpire.com to register in advance. For information, call (352) 593-6998 or send email to clinics@hernando sumterumpire.com.

BADDEST MUDDER: The Baddest Mudder 5K is coming to Brooksville on Nov. 3 and 4.

Baddest Mudder is a group that runs obstacle races around the Suncoast. It will be holding its first event at the Hernando County Fairgrounds on U.S. 41 in Brooksville.

The race is open to all ages, teams and skill levels. Sign-up prizes will be offered to all participants. The event includes a well-marked and defined course, food, drinks, music and field games.

The two-day event starts at 7 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m. each day.

Participants may sign up at baddestmudder.com. There are discounts for groups, and early-bird registration is currently open for $49.95 per runner.

Kids are welcome; organizers are offering a kids-only "Mini Mudder" pit for free.

Contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.

By Dave Walker, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

What's hot: August is one of the toughest times for fishing in Tampa Bay. With water and air temperatures in the 90s, it is tough on fishermen as well making the fish lazy. An early start will provide better fishing, offer some heat relief and help to avoid dangerous afternoon thunderstorms. Deep water trout and shipping channel grouper are active in Tampa Bay. It is a myth that one must head for the horizon to catch gag grouper. The trout fishery has come around since the horrible red tide of a few years ago. They are relatively easy to catch and therefore a hit with the kids (big kids included).

Tip: Be cautious of infections during summer, when there are many microbiological nasty critters in our waters. If an infection occurs after a fishing trip, take it seriously. Recently my feet were infected to the point of hospitalization. This stuff spreads in hours, literally.

Boat tips: Now is a good time to get motors, trailers and reels repaired or serviced.

Captain Dave Walker charters out of Tampa Bay and can be reached at (813) 310-6531 or snookfish.com.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

TAMPA — Don't place too much importance on the Bucs' first depth chart, coach Greg Schiano said Tuesday. Since they haven't played a preseason game, it's impossible to determine the pecking order for the Sept. 9 season opener against Carolina.

"We released a depth chart, strictly because it's league mandated, I guess, so we did it," Schiano said. "I wouldn't read too much into it right now. We haven't played anybody, we haven't been able to play one live snap, other than the young kids (Saturday). But just for us, we'll be spending a lot of time together these next couple months I think. The way that I've handled, and the way that I will handle the depth chart is, every move that we make is whatever gives us the best chance to win."

Among the most interesting items: LeGarrette Blount is the starting tailback over first-round pick Doug Martin. Two rookies are penciled in as starters on defense: S Mark Barron, a first-round pick from Alabama, and Lavonte David, a second-rounder from Nebraska, at weakside linebacker.

Roy Miller is the starter at nosetackle, ahead of Gary Gipson. Bears free agent Amobi Okoye is listed as the backup to Gerald McCoy. Anthony Gaitor is the backup to starting right CB Eric Wright. Myron Lewis, who has had a good training camp, is third at left cornerback behind starter Aqib Talib and rookie Leonard Johnson.

BOBBLE HANDS: Bucs receivers dropped a lot of passes in Tuesday's practice, a rarity that Schiano explained as tired legs, not bad hands.

"Usually, it's a fundamental flaw, you don't get your hands together, you don't get your hands up in time, you don't get your eyes around, those kinds of things," Schiano said. "That ball is coming now, and when you're tired, if you miss by a tenth of a second, it can lead to you not catching the football."

As the Bucs prepare for their first preseason game Friday at Miami, Schiano said he had no plans to let up on his players after nine straight days in pads.

"No. Not right now," Schiano said. "We will. I mean, I'm not trying to be a hard guy or anything. … We'll be feeling good and ready to play. Right now, we're building the foundation of our 2012 team and part of that foundation is built through suffering together.

"I thought they worked hard today. It's getting to that point where they're tired. Sore. They're fighting through it, and I know we have a game Friday, but right now, it's about the Buccaneers. It's about us. We got to get better. We're not ready to be preparing and getting ready for another football team yet. So that's what we did. Guys pushed through the pain, pushed through the discomfort."

WRIGHT STUFF: It has been a rocky first few months for Wright since he signed his five-year, $37 million contract in March. But he appears to be doing better, both physically and in his comfort level in the defense.

First, he was slowed by an undisclosed illness that kept him out of numerous offseason workouts. Wright says that issue, which remains undisclosed, is behind him. He also closed the book last month on a DUI charge in Los Angeles, with prosecutors deciding not to pursue it.

Now, after a sore back limited his effectiveness during the first week of camp, Wright is looking better than he has at any time since joining the Bucs.

"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity, so I'm going to treat it as such," Wright said. "I'm going to go out here and work hard and work through injuries. That's the name of the game we play and love. That's a responsibility that I have to this team."

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.