By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Florida Gators track and field athletes Jeff Demps, Cory McGee and Jeremy Postin each earned weekly recognition from the SEC today for their performances at this past weekend's Pepsi Florida Relays.

Demps was named the SEC Men's Runner of the Week, McGee was named the SEC Women's Freshman of the Week and Postin was named the SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Week.

Demps ran the nation's fastest time in the men's 100-meter dash, winning the event at the Pepsi Florida Relays in a time of 10.07 (+2.2).

That also goes down as the top wind-aided time in the world this season. Demps also anchored Florida's third-place men's 4x100-meter relay team that finished in a time of 38.91, charting the eighth-fastest time in school history.

Demps, who is a starting RB for the Gator football team, is not participating in spring drills while he concentrates on the outdoor track season. He will return to football full-time in the fall.

McGee was part of two event victories for the Gators: she won the women's 800-meter run in a time of 2:07.45, and anchored the school's winning sprint medley relay team that finished in a time of 3:45.46. Her 800-meter run time currently ranks second nationally among all freshmen. The school's SMR team finished just off the school record of 3:43.11 in that event.

Postin broke his own UF school record in the men's hammer throw for the second consecutive week, turning in a personal-best toss of

65.09m/213-6. He currently ranks ninth in the nation and third in the SEC in the men's hammer throw so far this season.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Aging contenders

Jack Nicklaus was 46 in 1986 when he won his 18th and final major championship. He is the oldest Masters champion, but there are a few 40-somethings in this year's field not named Phil Mickelson who have a shot at contending.

Times staff
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Masters classics: All day (and night) on ESPN Classic. The network continues with its marathon of Masters highlights.

Yes Sir — Jack Nicklaus and the 1986 Masters: 6 p.m. on ESPN. A look at the Bear's famous victory at Augusta when he was 46.

Inside NASCAR: 9 p.m. on Showtime. A look back at Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Martinsville and ahead to Saturday's race in Texas.

By Tyson Wallerstein, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

What's hot: Big tides following the new moon will have redfish and trout on the feed this week. Start on the morning low tide to target mullet schools that are pushed to the edge of the flats as they wait for the tide to come in.

Tactics: Set up for the longest possible cast to reach the fish. Top-water walking lures are deadly in this situation; fan cast the area until you pick up a fish. Once a productive area has been found, switch to subsurface twitch baits, such as a Sebile Stick Shad. These lures are less likely to spook the fish and are just as productive.

Before you leave: If your fishing slows, cast out fresh-caught (but dead) threadfins on the bottom where you believe fish are holding. This will usually get a few more bites.

High-tide approach: Once the water is covering the mangrove roots, target oyster clumps along the shoreline. Wind might dirty the water close to the shoreline, so knowledge of the land will give you an advantage. High-tide fishing has been mostly a dead-bait situation. Fresh threadfins work great, and ladyfish, pinfish and mullet work as well. Work along the shoreline with the wind at your back, targeting points and coves that have the highest concentrations of mullet.

Tyson Wallerstein runs Inshore Fishing Charters in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and can be reached at (727) 692-5868 or via e-mail at capt.tyson@hotmail.com.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Cubs 6, D'backs 5

CHICAGO — Marlon Byrd had three hits, doubling in a key run in the seventh, and the Cubs beat the Diamondbacks for the seventh straight time. Byrd drove in pinch-hitter Jeff Baker with a one-out double to left off Sam Demel, putting Chicago up 5-4 after it had blown a three-run lead.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — Butler spent a year plotting its Hollywood ending.

The Bulldogs expected to play for a national championship. They expected to bring home the trophy that eluded them last season. And they expected to achieve all that despite their midseason stumbles.

Now, after a second straight loss in the title game, the Bulldogs will have to settle for being the gold standard for the mid-majors.

"(Butler coach) Brad (Stevens) has done an incredible job," Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said after winning his third national title Monday night. "Their kids compete. They run their offense full speed. They were a magnificent opponent."

Eleven other tourney foes over the past two seasons know exactly what Calhoun means.

The Bulldogs' list of victims in the past two postseasons includes Florida, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Syracuse.

But for the second straight April, Butler's players and coaches went home dejected.

The Bulldogs' first loss in two months, ending a 14-game winning streak, puts them on the short list of back-to-back national runnersup. The others: Ohio State with Jerry Lucas in 1961-62, Houston with Phi Slama Jama in 1983-84 and Michigan with the Fab Five in 1992-93.

And while Monday night's title game will go down as one of the ugliest in history because of Butler's record-low field goal percentage (18.8), the team has already won over fans by proving their run in 2010 was no fluke.

"It's really hard to put that into words right now 'cause we wanted a little bit more," Matt Howard, a senior, said after Monday's loss. "Maybe at some point I can look back and be proud of what this group has accomplished."

Butler will lose five seniors — including former Wharton standout Shawn Vanzant — who took the program to unprecedented heights.

"They're just good guys. People at Butler really like 'em, not because they're basketball players, because they're just good guys," Stevens said.

But don't count out the Bulldogs (28-10) next year.

If shooting guard Shelvin Mack returns, as expected, he and 6-11 Andrew Smith will form a strong foundation. Point guard Ronald Nored, who started in 2009 and 2010, will likely reclaim his starting job. Three-point specialist Chase Stigall and freshmen Khyle Marshall and Chrishawn Hopkins will return, and 6-7 Garrett Butcher and 6-9 Erik Fromm will add size and depth.

Perhaps the most important return would be Stevens, 34. He has led the Bulldogs to four straight Horizon League regular-season titles, four straight tourney appearances and consecutive title games. Stevens is 11-4 in tourney play, and with his stock rising rapidly, he doesn't appear to be in any hurry to leave.

"You hear people say this all the time, that the grass is greener somewhere else," Stevens said Sunday. "I think we recognize the grass is very green at Butler. I've said this many times. We're happy."

And maybe they'll get another chance to deliver a storybook ending.

"I think we've got really good players that really believe in the system," Howard said. "We've got great coaches that always have us prepared to play. When all the players buy in, and you believe in each other, I think you can achieve a lot of things."

Ratings: UConn's win on CBS earned an 11.7 fast national rating and 18 share, down 18 percent from last year's Duke-Butler final. The entire tournament, with every game televised nationally for the first time, averaged a 6.4/14, up 7 percent. Ratings represent the percentage of all households with TVs tuned into a program. Shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

autos

johnson: I was speeding; sorry, nascar

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson admitted Tuesday he was speeding on pit road at Martinsville and apologized for criticizing NASCAR for his late-race penalty Sunday.

But the five-time defending Sprint Cup champion remained adamant NASCAR should post pit road speeds in real time and said if the information had been readily available, he wouldn't have argued the penalty.

Johnson said he learned of his speeds Monday. "It's probably not good for me to climb out of the car and call NASCAR's credibility into judgment, and I apologize for that. When you're only dealing with part of the information and heat of the moment, it's easy to react," he said.

Johnson was flagged on the race's final stop for going over the 30 mph limit. He was second at the time but fell back to 11th and finished in that position.

NASCAR vice of president of competition Robin Pemberton said Johnson had access to the information. He said Sprint Cup series director John Darby radios down the pit road speeds after a penalty and the information was passed to Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus.

Pemberton also defended NASCAR's policy of not posting the speeds in real time, saying it could risk creating a competition on pit road.

soccer

Man U's Rooney will appeal cursing ban

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney acknowledged using offensive language during an English Premier League game but said he will appeal his automatic two-match ban, calling it "clearly excessive."

The governing body hears the appeal today. If the appeal fails, Rooney risks further discipline in addition to suspension for Saturday's league match vs. Fulham and next week's Football Association Cup semifinal vs. Manchester City. During a win Saturday, Rooney cursed at a TV camera after scoring his third goal.

european Champions league: Schalke and Real Madrid won first-leg games over defending champion Inter Milan and Tottenham, respectively, putting them on the brink of reaching the semis. The second legs are April 13.

ET CETERA

tennis: Kim Clijsters is sidelined for a month with shoulder and wrist injuries and will miss Belgium's Fed Cup semifinal next week against the Czech Republic. She aims to play in the French Open, which begins May 17.

Times wires

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Steve Yzerman at the end of the season will ask Lightning players who do not wear visors to consider adding them for 2011-12.

"We don't want people getting injured," Tampa Bay's general manager said. "We want to keep their eyesight and noses in place, so it's something we would like to push moving forward."

Yzerman's statement came two days after C Vinny Lecavalier was hit in the right eye with a stick blade during Sunday's victory over the Blackhawks.

The captain sustained a scratch and a bruise to his cornea, and though there was no structural damage, Lecavalier said he was "pretty lucky," so much so, he said, he will experiment this summer with wearing a visor with the intent of making it permanent.

Lecavalier, who played Tuesday against the Sabres and is under doctors orders to wear a visor for at least the rest of the regular season, said he took off the visor he wore in juniors because, as a rookie in 1998, "nobody really played with a visor."

"If I never took it off, I'd be fine with it," he said. "But once you take it off and you see perfect, when you put it back on, you feel a little restricted. It fogs up. The right thing to do would be to come from junior and never take it off."

Visors are now required in juniors, as well as the minor American League.

Lecavalier does not guarantee he will wear one full time. And W Ryan Malone, another of 10 Lightning players without a visor, pretty much rejected the notion outright:

"When I've worn a visor in the past, at the Olympics and so forth, it's more of a pain. I feel like I'm wasting more energy cleaning it."

Asked if he should wear a visor, Malone said, "I probably should. But we all are in this from the beginning knowing, knock on wood, there's a lot of crazy things that might happen out there with blades, sticks and pucks. It comes with the territory."

Territory Yzerman said he wants to make a bit safer.

"I never wore one until I got hit in the eye with a puck my second-to-last year," he said. "Once you get used to it, it's fine. We don't want people getting injured."

RECOVERY: Lecavalier said he was surprised he recovered fast enough to play against Buffalo. He said he is "not 100 percent" and still has discomfort but added, "Even the first night to (Monday night) was a huge improvement."

At Tuesday's skate, Lecavalier wore a tinted visor to shield his eye from the light. "But when I stepped on the ice, I felt fine," he said, and had a clear visor fitted.

Lecavalier tried to sneak into power-play practice. Coach Guy Boucher said no until the new visor was attached.

JONES SKATES: D Randy Jones (high ankle sprain) skated with the team for the first time since his March 7 injury.

Boucher said Jones might be ready for the playoffs. Jones said playing before that "would be difficult to do."

ODDS AND ENDS: D Eric Brewer (lower body) missed a second game. Boucher said he likely will play this weekend. … C Blair Jones has 177 points in 270 games for AHL Norfolk and is the team's all-time leading scorer. … D Matt Smaby also was scratched.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge ruled jurors in the Barry Bonds trial may not hear a rediscovered recording of two key witnesses — ridiculed by the defense as a "miracle tape" — as prosecutors rested their case against the home-run king Tuesday after 2½ weeks and 25 witnesses.

The defense said it planned to call up to six witnesses, including possibly Bonds himself, in a presentation that lawyers projected will start and end today. If that schedule holds up, closing arguments would take place Thursday morning and the case could go to the jury of eight women and four men later in the day.

Bonds, the season and career home run leader, is accused of four counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice for telling a grand jury in 2003 that he didn't knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs. Prosecutors ended their presentation with a 1 hour, 35 minute reading of portions of Bonds' grand jury testimony.

Bonds alternately watched for the jurors' reaction and followed in a three-ring binder as his testimony was read.

Jurors and Bonds' mother laughed when Bonds' 7½-year-old answer to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nedrow was read back in which the star said: "Yes. You are confusing. I'm telling you," before addressing the grand jurors directly and telling them: "Is he confusing to you guys? I'm glad it's not just me."

After the prosecution rested, Bonds' lawyers filed four motions with the court, the most significant of which asked U.S. District Judge Susan Illston to acquit Bonds now. They also filed motions to strike testimony by four players on how they received drugs from former Bonds' trainer, Greg Anderson, testimony on the side effects of steroids and HGH and part of the taped conversation between former Bonds business partner Steve Hoskins and Anderson.

Illston said she was inclined to strike part of the Hoskins-Anderson conversation that was played for the jury and testimony from Bonds' former girlfriend Kimberly Bell about his shrunken testicles, which the government says is a side effect from steroids use. She also wondered aloud whether the government had provided any evidence to back its count charging Bonds with lying when he said he received only vitamins from Anderson before the 2003 season.

CRAWFORD BUMPED UP: A day after dropping former Rays LF Carl Crawford from third to seventh in the batting order, Red Sox manager Terry Francona moved him back up to second against the Indians. Francona had said he moved Crawford down because he was pressing.

ANGELS: Manager Mike Scioscia said rookie RHP Jordan Walden will take over as closer from struggling RHP Fernando Rodney. … LH reliever Scott Downs, out since mid March with a broken toe, threw a 15-pitch simulated game and hopes to begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon.

BLUE JAYS: RF Jose Bautista left the team to deal with a "personal family matter" and is expected to miss the three-game series against the A's.

CARDINALS: LF Matt Holliday played catch and ran a few sprints four days after having an appendectomy and said he expects to travel with the team on a 10-game West Coast trip that starts Friday.

CUBS: RHP Andrew Cashner was pulled in the sixth inning of his major-league debut with tightness in his right shoulder.

GIANTS: Closer Brian Wilson, out since March 23 with a strained left oblique, is expected to be activated today.

MARLINS: RF Mike Stanton has a slight left hamstring strain and will likely remain out of the lineup until at least Friday, but he will not go on the disabled list.

PHILLIES: 2B Chase Utley is making progress from a right knee injury and could start jogging "in the next couple of days," general manager Ruben Amaro said. Utley is likely to begin a rehab assignment when he can run at full speed without pain.

Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Clearwater Central Catholic could have not envisioned a worse start to the baseball season. The Marauders committed costly errors. They were unable to come up with timely hits. And they could not hold on to a lead.

It all contributed to loss after loss. CCC began the season 2-7.

Then there was the U-turn.

The Marauders became airtight on defense. They got the right hits at the right times. And they held on to leads.

That all contributed to win after win. CCC reeled off six straight victories heading into last week's Dunedin Spring Invitational. The streak continued as the Marauders won four more to capture the tournament title for the first time since 2008.

Spring tournaments come at a crucial time, usually a few weeks before the start of districts. A strong performance can give a team a much-needed boost before a possible postseason run.

And no team helped itself more than CCC.

The Marauders started the tournament locked in a tight game against Pinellas Park. The game went 14 innings before it was suspended because it ran late. After inclement weather caused two days of postponements, the Marauders broke a 2-2 tie by scoring seven runs in the 15th to win 9-2.

After routing St. Petersburg 11-0, the Marauders faced district rival Tampa Catholic in the semifinals of the tournament. CCC fell behind 2-0 before scoring a run each in the third, fourth and fifth innings to win 3-2.

In the final, the Marauders again rallied, scoring three runs in the sixth to win 7-6 over Countryside. Jeff Campbell drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the tying run. The winning came on an error.

CCC, which has won 10 straight, hosts Tampa Catholic tonight in a game that could decide the top seed in Class 3A, District 10. Last year, the Marauders won the district title by beating Tampa Catholic in the final.

But CCC was not the only team that got some momentum from winning a spring tournament. Here are some others.

SEMINOLE: Early in the season, the Warhawks had trouble winning close games. All three losses have come by one run. But in the past two weeks, Seminole has reversed that trend. The Warhawks beat Dunedin 1-0 in a regular-season game. And last week, Seminole rallied in the seventh inning to beat IMG Pendleton 2-1 in the final of the Warhawks' Steve Georgiadis Tournament. Pitching has always been there for Seminole. Now the hitting is coming around, too. Scott Withrow had six hits in the tournament and Brett Phillips had a triple in the championship game that led to him scoring the winning run off a passed ball.

OSCEOLA: The Warriors had a bit of a letdown three weeks ago with consecutive losses to Dunedin and Seminole. Since then, Osceola has got back to winning. Last week, the Warriors beat Lakewood 16-7 in the final of the Northeast Tournament.

By Ed Walker, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

What's not hot: Heavy rain runoff has stained the North Suncoast waters dark brown. From the Cotee River to Palm Harbor, the flats along the mainland shore are so dark, it is difficult to see the bottom, even in 2 feet of water. This has made sight-fishing for redfish and cobia difficult.

Modifying strategies: Redfish and cobia can be targeted in murky water by focusing on scent. Oily cut baits fished along deep mangrove edges work great for redfish. Fresh bait is better than frozen; thread herring and ballyhoo are among my favorites. To catch flats cobia when there is no visibility, attract stingrays to your boat. Rays have a keen sense of smell and are easily drawn to the smell of food on the bottom. In off-color conditions, we anchor and toss chunks of cut fish around the boat, then rig live baits such as pinfish under floats. We cast the live baits outside the perimeter of the chum. As the rays come into the chum, the cobia, which follow the rays, encounter the live bait suspended in the water.

Venture out: Most of the biggest cobia migrating through the area this year have been found offshore. That water has been mostly clear and has yielded shots at numerous cobia each trip, with most of the fish we have caught weighing between 45 and 70 pounds. The bigger wrecks have held three or four big cobia. By moving around often, you can maximize opportunities for hooking up.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at info@lighttacklecharters.com or (727) 944-3474.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

This year's Par-3 curse goes to …

No player has won the Par-3 contest and the Masters in the same year. In line for the dubious distinction this year is Luke Donald, left, who shot 5-under 22 Wednesday to win. His best finish in six previous Masters: tie for third. "(My) game is fine," said the fourth ranked player in the world. "I've been preparing well." Other streaks for the Englishman to contend with: The last European to win the Masters was Jose Maria Olazabal, 1999. The last Englishman to win was Nick Faldo, 1996.

The family that golfs together …

Ian Poulter, who has family members with him in Augusta for the Masters, asked his mother, Theresa, to caddy for him in the Par-3 tournament. She hadn't done it before. Poulter posted on his Twitter account afterward: "Had a great time playing the par 3 with mum on the bag. Its great to share with friends & family. Special."

By Steve Lee, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

ZEPHYRHILLS — By advancing players to four of the five finals yet to be played, Pasco all but clinched the rain-impacted Class 2A, District 6 girls tennis tournament that resumes at 8:30 a.m. today at Zephyr Park.

Rain delayed play Tuesday by more than five hours, and matches went on until 9:30 p.m. because Zephyr Park has lights.

Wednesday's play rolled along, but a Florida High School Athletic Association rule prohibits players from playing four matches in one day.

In an e-mail to the FHSAA on Wednesday morning, Zephyrhills coach Lorraine Hinkle inquired about a fourth match for some players in order for the event to be completed. She soon got a response from Gary Pigott, senior director of athletics.

"He said that if the coaches agreed we could play a fourth," Hinkle said. "If not, we have to play (today)."

Pasco coach Don Charlick was among several of his peers who favored extending to a third day.

"I'm not going to subject the kids to that," he said of a possible fourth match in one day. "The FHSAA has a lot more experience than me, and they probably set that (guideline) for a reason."

The top-seeded Pirates, who went 8-0 in regular-season district play, head into today with a tournament-leading 11 points. Land O' Lakes has nine with host Zephyrhills and Gulf tied at 8.

Zephyrhills prevented Land O'Lakes from inching closer by winning Wednesday's final match. Sarah Vande Berg and Sydney Owens defeated the Gators' Linzi Arndt and Wenyi Gu 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles final. At No. 5 singles, Mitchell's Rachel Crumbliss topped Pasco's Sarah McCord 6-2, 6-3.

In today's finals, Pasco's No. 2 doubles team of Mady Johnson and Norah Taylor face Gulf's Alyssa Lukish and Katelyn Magolan. Johnson will also face Zephyrhills' Owens in the No. 2 singles final, while Taylor takes on Land O'Lakes' Joslyn Lafond in No. 4 singles. Pasco's Rebecca Pelham will meet Gulf's Magolan in No. 3 singles. The remaining final is No. 1 singles, Zephyrhills' Vande Berg vs. Land O'Lakes' Gu.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Who to watch

Many players in the field have little or no chance of contending. Old-timers such as Ben Crenshaw, Larry Mize, Craig Stadler and Sandy Lyle, and newcomers such as amateurs Peter Uihlein, Lion Kim, David Chung and Jin Jeong would have to play beyond expectations to get near the leaderboard. As for who has a good shot at getting near, or on, the leaderboard, aside from Tiger Woods and defending champ Phil Mickelson:

Lee Westwood: He is ranked second in the world and plays well on big stages. He was runner­up to Phil Mickelson last year and is long enough off the tee to do well at Augusta National.

Dustin Johnson: The 26-year-old was in contention at the PGA Championship last year before grounding his club in a hazard. He is long off the tee, almost emotionless and has four worldwide wins.

Nick Watney: He has won once this year, and his game seems to have rounded into shape. He shot 65 in the final round of the Masters last year.

Graeme McDowell: He won last year's U.S. Open and is a good putter. He's not the longest driver, but if he keeps it straight, he can make up for it on the greens.

Rickie Fowler: He has the length, the putter and the mentality to survive 72 holes. But the last player to win the Masters on his first try was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Woods just another player this year

When Tiger Woods played in the 2010 Masters, it was his first tournament since his personal life publicly became a mess. After he tied for fourth, many thought he would soon get back to winning. Wrong.

In 69 rounds since the Masters, Woods has broken par 31 times. In 14 of 18 tournaments, he has finished at least seven shots out of the lead; in the 18 tournaments leading up to his downfall, that happened three times. This year he has played in four tournaments, and his best finish is a tie for 10th. He doesn't exactly have a head of steam heading into Augusta, but Woods is optimistic.

"This year it's nice to have some tournaments under my belt," he said. "Last year I went into (the Masters) just like I did the '08 U.S. Open. I didn't really practice before the '08 U.S. Open because my leg was broken. Just go out there, show up and play. Those two venues, I knew the golf course, and that helps a lot. It's nice to be actually in more tournament shape going in."

No. 1 up for grabs

Fresh off his win in Houston on Sunday, Phil Mickelson has another chance to reach No. 1 in the world for the first time. In all, six of the top seven players have a chance to reach the top by winning this week. Martin Kaymer, right, remains No. 1, followed by Lee Westwood, Mickelson, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Paul Casey and Tiger Woods. Casey is the only player who could not reach No. 1 by winning because he has played more tournaments than Woods. Mickelson last year had a dozen chances to reach No. 1 until he began to slide down the ranking.

Tech talk

Don't look for massive video boards or electronic scoreboards at the Masters. At least not as long as Billy Payne, above, is chairman.

"We already have cutting-edge technology. But most of it's buried underground," Payne said during his annual address.

The Masters has one of the most advanced websites in sports (masters.com) that will include a tournament 3-D video stream. The first Masters iPad app was unveiled last week. And the Masters is the backdrop for the latest edition of EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game.

Field maxing out

Today, 99 players tee off for the year's first major. That's the most since 1966, when the tournament had 103 players, and Masters chairman Billy Payne says the field is close to reaching its limit. Augusta National will review qualifying procedures after seeing how this year's tournament goes. "There is a maximum number of competitors for which we can give the experience that we want them to have and do it in a way that's manageable; (100) pushes that limit quite significantly," Payne said.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The dish

Rays at White Sox

When/where: 2:10 today; U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers

RAYS: LHP David Price (0-1, 5.14)

WHITE SOX: RHP Edwin Jackson (1-0, 3.00)

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Watch for …

Price check: Price was solid in his opening day start, allowing four runs over seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. He is winless in three starts against the White Sox (0-3, 5.00 ERA), including two starts in Chicago.

Action Jackson: Jackson, a former Ray, threw a unique no-hitter the last time he faced his former team on June 25, walking eight and throwing 149 pitches. He is 2-0, 1.59 in two career starts against Tampa Bay.

Key matchups

White Sox vs. Price

Paul Konerko 4-for-9, HR

Carlos Quentin 1-for-6

Alexei Ramirez 2-for-8

Rays vs. Jackson

Kelly Shoppach 2-for-11

Johnny Damon 8-for-38

Ben Zobrist 1-for-5

On deck

Friday: at White Sox, 8:10, FSN. Rays — James Shields (0-1, 2.45); White Sox — John Danks (0-1, 3.00)

Saturday: at White Sox, 4:10, FSN. Rays — Wade Davis (0-1, 5.68); White Sox — Phil Humber (0-0, 27.00)

Sunday: at White Sox, 2:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (12-8, 4.39); White Sox — Gavin Floyd (0-0, 5.14)

Quote of the day

"I don't need to impress nobody. I've got almost 600 home runs."

DH Manny Ramirez, smiling, when asked if he were pressing to make a good impression. Ramirez has 555 homers in his career.

Quote of the day 2

"I don't always want to rely on road trips to the Northeast to get on a roll."

Manager Joe Maddon, whose team is heading on a seven-game trip to Chicago and Boston, after getting reminded how last season's hot start was sparked by a 9-1 road trip to Baltimore, Boston and Chicago

Turn back the clock

The Rays held their Senior Prom for Senior Citizens day at Tropicana Field, with old-school music, entertainment, a prom king and queen and a postgame centerfield shuffle. The event, created last season, will happen again Sept. 7.

Numbers of the day

15 Strikeouts by Rays pitchers on Wednesday, tied for third most in team history (record was 17 on Sept. 19, 2007, vs. Boston).

0.76 ERA by opposing starting pitchers in the Rays' five games.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's Stephen Garcia has been indefinitely suspended from the football program, less than two weeks after the former Jefferson High quarterback guaranteed he would not get in trouble again.

Athletic director Eric Hyman announced the suspension Wednesday.

"Stephen has exhibited behavior that is unacceptable for one of our student athletes," he said.

Coach Steve Spurrier said the suspension would last through the spring semester and Garcia's status beyond that would be determined later: "If he's back, he's back. If he's not back, it's really the same thing as a guy getting hurt, a guy going pro or whatever. … This instance should have never happened, but it did."

Spurrier would not go into details of what caused Garcia's fifth suspension — and second this spring — since he arrived on campus in January 2007. Spurrier said he, Hyman and university president Harris Pastides were involved in deciding what should be done with the Gamecocks' most experienced quarterback.

Garcia would not discuss the reason for the latest suspension, saying only it did not involve an arrest nor was it drug or alcohol related.

"I don't want to talk about it now," he said in a brief phone interview with the Associated Press.

Last month Garcia promised his problems were behind him. He pledged to be smarter in his life and avoid the mistakes he made in previous years. He was suspended for the first week of spring practice by Spurrier for violating undisclosed team rules during South Carolina's trip to the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

"Nothing bad is going to happen again. That's guaranteed," Garcia said March 24.

Now that it has, his future at the school is in jeopardy.

He helped the Gamecocks win the SEC East and earn a trip to the league's championship game in the fall. Garcia leads all SEC returning quarterbacks in passing yards.

Garcia, 23, has struggled to stay out of trouble throughout his career. He came to South Carolina as a highly coveted prospect, yet was arrested twice his first two months at school. A year later, he was suspended a third time and prevented from working out with the team for more than four months.

Things had calmed for him off the field the next few years until this spring. "Every single thing I've done has been my fault," Garcia said last month.

Irving gone: Duke point guard Kyrie Irving is leaving school after one season to enter the NBA draft. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said Irving plans to hire an agent, which would end his college career.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds' defense team apparently is convinced it did not need to take a single swing at the prosecution's perjury case to knock it out of the park.

After more than two weeks of testimony from more than two dozen prosecution witnesses, Bonds' defense lawyers did not put on a single witness Wednesday, setting up closing arguments this morning.

The decision was not a particular surprise, given strong signals from the defense team that any case it mounted would be, at most, brief. And defendants seldom testify in criminal trials because of the risk. Legal experts have predicted it would be far too dangerous to call Bonds in a perjury case that rests in large part on circumstantial evidence and inferences.

Lead defense attorney Allen Ruby declined comment. But experts said the strategy was designed as a show of confidence for the jury.

"I read that as (Bonds' lawyers) saying, 'We don't have to do anything, they haven't proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt,' " said Robert Talbot, a University of San Francisco law professor. "Why mess around."

Greg Scott, Sacramento's former U.S. attorney, agreed, calling the decision a "classic defense tactic in these types of cases."

"They have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he committed perjury," Scott said of the prosecution. "The government's case has been completely circumstantial. The defense has done the math and made a calculated, strategic decision the government has not" proven its case.

Bonds, 46, faces three counts of perjury and one count of obstructing justice for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury in 2003 about knowingly using steroids. Federal prosecutors dropped a fourth perjury count after it became clear U.S. District Judge Susan Illston was poised to dismiss it because of insufficient evidence to back it up.

ROCKIES ACE ON DL: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez went on the 15-day disabled list with a cracked cuticle on his pitching thumb, the first DL trip for the 27-year-old Dominican who was the All-Star Game's NL starter last summer.

CABRERA HEARING: An administrative hearing was postponed on whether to reinstate Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera's driver's license after it was suspended last month following his arrest on drunken-driving charges. The change was made to give an arresting deputy a chance to testify. No new date was scheduled.

CANCER BENCHES KILLEBREW: Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, who is battling esophageal cancer, won't travel to Minnesota to throw out the first pitch before the Twins' home opener Friday, saying the trip from Arizona would disrupt his treatment schedule. Twins legend Tony Oliva will throw the first pitch instead.

JAYS MAY PLAY MONTREAL: Blue Jays president Paul Beeston wants to take baseball back to Montreal, at least on a part-time basis. "Certainly we would like to play a game in Montreal or in Quebec at some point in time," Beeston said, without getting specific. "I think it would be a terrific idea."

ANGELS: SS Erick Aybar sat out for the third straight game and will have an MRI exam on his injured oblique muscle.

ATHLETICS: RH reliever Michael Wuertz went on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring. RHP Tyler Ross was recalled from Triple A.

CUBS: Starting pitchers Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner went on the 15-day DL with arm injuries. GM Jim Hendry said the right-handers won't throw for two weeks then will be re-evaluated.

DODGERS: 3B Casey Blake, out since injuring his back March 12, was activated and made his season debut.

GIANTS: Closer Brian Wilson, on the DL since March 17 with a strained muscle in his left side, was activated.

MARINERS: 2B Jack Wilson came out of the game in the third inning after falling hard trying to turn a double play in the second.

ORIOLES: RHP Jeremy Guthrie was released from the hospital after being treated for pneumonia, and the team hopes he'll be able to start Sunday.

YANKEES: RH reliever and former Rays closer Rafael Soriano apologized for leaving the clubhouse early Tuesday night after a poor performance that helped lead to a loss to the Twins.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Horses

Jockey fined for Breeders' actions

Jockey John Velazquez agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to settle allegations he violated rules in riding Life At Ten in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.

Velazquez said in televised comments before the race he was concerned Life At Ten hadn't warmed up properly. She then lagged far behind the field and finished last. Racing officials said the jockey should have alerted veterinarians about his concerns or given the horse a normal ride. For doing neither, he was cited for engaging in "conduct that is against the best interest of horse racing."

In the agreement, Velazquez admitted "one or more rules may have been violated." In a statement, he said, "I do believe that this resolution is right for racing." John Veitch, chief steward for Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., faces the same charge. A hearing hasn't been scheduled.

Illinois derby: Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go was made the 7-2 favorite and drew the No. 4 post for Saturday's Kentucky Derby prep race at Hawthorne in Stickney. There are 12 horses in the $300,000 race.

Wood Memorial: Uncle Mo, unbeaten in four races, was made the 1-5 favorite and drew the No. 5 post for Saturday's Derby prep at Aqueduct in New York. There are 10 horses in the $1 million race.

Santa Anita Derby: Premier Pegasus was made the 8-5 favorite and drew the No. 8 post for Saturday's Derby prep in Arcadia, Calif. There will be 10 horses in the $1 million race.

Olympics

Women's ski jumping finally gets a spot

After an unsuccessful legal battle for inclusion at the 2010 Winter Games, women's ski jumping won a place for 2014 during an International Olympic Committee meeting in London. Ski jumping and Nordic combined (ski jumping and cross-country skiing) were the only Winter events open only to men.

The IOC twice rejected women's ski jumping for the Vancouver Games, saying the sport lacked enough elite competitors. Jumpers took their case to the Supreme Court of Canada but failed to get the decision reversed.

The sport seemingly sealed its case at the Nordic world championships in March. IOC board member Gerhard Heiberg said he was impressed by the level of competition and would recommend the event's inclusion.

The board also approved the addition of men's and women's ski halfpipe, mixed relay in biathlon and team events in luge and figure skating.

Tennis

Wozniacki cruises in Circle Cup opener

After a first-round bye, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki beat Irina Falconi 6-1, 6-1 at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. No. 5 Samantha Stosur also won.

Andalucia Experience: Victoria Azarenka, coming off the Sony Ericsson Open title, won her opener in Marbella, Spain.

ET CETERA

Soccer: Host Manchester United beat Chelsea 1-0 and host Barcelona beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 in the first legs of European Champions League quarterfinals.

Greyhounds: Kiowa Sky Selma and Mohican Mink Mae won qualifiers for the Distance Classic at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Other dogs in Saturday's final: Bow Timeless, Flying Masago, Kelsos Ace High, Magic Finch, Midnight Light and Uss Gazillionair.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

By Chris Girandola, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Kathryn Komarnicki won the first set of her No. 1 singles final rather easily over Canterbury's Taylor Kreis on Wednesday and seemed to be on her way to capturing the 10th singles match for the Shorecrest girls when her leg cramps began.

"Ugh, I was so upset," Komarnicki said. "It started in my thighs, then went down to my calves, and before you know it, my arms were feeling it. By that point, I was in the third set and pretty much about done."

Komarnicki could not hold on as Kreis rallied 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Kreis' victory was the only final won by a school other than Shorecrest as both the Chargers girls and boys claimed Class A, District 9 team titles at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center.

"I was determined to get the win, and I just made sure to move my feet more in the second set," said Kreis, who qualified for the state tournament for the first time in her career. "I wanted to go undefeated for the season, but that didn't happen. Reaching states, though, is definitely better."

Canterbury and Clearwater Central Catholic's girls tied for second with eight points and will have a playoff today or Friday at a site to be determined.

After resting, Komarnicki teamed with Savana Roy at No. 1 doubles to beat the Marauders' Stephanie Cruz and Meredith Reagin 7-5, 6-3.

At No. 1 singles on the boys side, Shorecrest's Garrett Betsarakis beat CCC's Ricky Symanski 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 to avenge last season's district final loss. Betsarakis teamed with Alex Saltiel to win No. 1 doubles over Symanski and Andreas Lazaro.

"I worked hard on my mental game after last year's loss, and it's been very beneficial to my development as a player," Betsarakis said. "I want to start in college (at Florida Atlantic) so I am committed to working hard to get to that point."

The Marauders boys finished second with 10 points.

2A-9: Osceola girls advance as runnerup

The Osceola girls finished as district runnerup to Englewood Lemon Bay at Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton and will move on to next week's playoffs. In the No. 1 doubles final, Osceola's Jade and Jayla Smith defeated Lemon Bay's Linda Antonova and Anita Vorlicek 6-4, 6-1. The Osceola boys were just a point behind the leaders after Monday's first round, but Bayshore came on strong in the finals to repeat as district champs, scoring 15 points to defeat runnerup Sarasota Booker (10). Bayshore's Pedro Garcia (No. 2) defeated Osceola's Trey Gleim 6-3, 6-1 in the finals.

The Herald

Times wires
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Marlins 7, Nationals 4

MIAMI — John Buck hit a bases-loaded triple as the Marlins rallied for the second night in a row, erasing a four-run deficit. Buck, who hit a grand slam on opening day, missed another by inches in the fifth and settled for a tying triple. Former East Lake standout Chris Coghlan had three doubles and a single.