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Indians 3, Tigers 2

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

Indians 3, Tigers 2

DETROIT — Asdrubal Cabrera's tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning lifted Cleveland and helped right-hander Corey Kluber earn his first career victory in his seventh start. The score was tied at 2 in the seventh when Detroit reliever Darin Downs allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out. Cabrera lifted a fly to center off Brayan Villarreal.


One year later, Lee Roy Selmon's absence still felt

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 3, 2012

TAMPA — As a man who left his mark all over the city, Lee Roy Selmon's presence is still easy to find on the one-year anniversary of his death.

In life, of course, Selmon could drive on the road bearing his name, could enjoy a meal in his restaurant namesakes; in memory, his name is even more present, attached to banking centers and the main athletic facility at USF. His legacy is everywhere.

"God has done a great job of bringing us peace," his son, former USF football player Lee Roy Selmon Jr., said Saturday after a day at Busch Gardens with his daughter, Leah, who turns 6 this week. "We've been able to find joy, just knowing he's in a better place. … He left his footprints on this community, touched a lot of people. It's even more of a blessing to see his legacy live on in the Tampa Bay area."

That may be strongest at USF, where Selmon served as athletic director and current student-athletes knew him as a daily presence in the building that now carries his name. A plaque outside the main entrance pays tribute to Selmon as "an enduring example of integrity, academic excellence, compassion, competitiveness and commitment to young people," and those sentiments live on.

"Having somebody like that on your side is amazing," senior running back Demetris Murray said. "He was the true epitome of being a Bull. He came here every day, had a smile on his face and loved what he did. It's really heavy on our hearts this week, knowing it's been a year already. I know a lot of guys will play with that on their minds. We want to put it all on the line, like he did every day for the USF family."

Selmon's death, at age 56 after suffering a stroke in his Tampa home, came last year on the night before USF opened its football season with a win at Notre Dame, and the Bulls wore decals on their helmets last year with the initials and number — LRS 63 — of the man who played a central role in bringing football to USF.

Football coach Skip Holtz remembers less than two weeks before Selmon died, when he and his father, legendary coach Lou Holtz, sat with him at USF's preseason kickoff dinner. After the meal, he and his dad talked a good 20 minutes about how special Selmon was and what a blessing it was to have him a part of the Bulls' athletic program.

"He has made an impact on our players, on their lives," Holtz said. "I think Lee Roy had an impact on anybody he had the opportunity to interact with. There are a lot of memories. I remember his smiling face, his gentle spirit, just the way he interacted with people. I miss having the opportunity to just go down to his office and sit and talk."

The beauty of it was you didn't have to be the football coach to command Selmon's attention; for countless athletes, what might have been a walk-by brush with a legend turned into a full conversation with a man who took time to listen to today's athletes, to offer warm encouragement, and at times, even envy their youth.

Bulls defensive end Ryne Giddins, who grew up locally and knew well of Selmon's playing career, remembers one USF practice when he saw Selmon, a regular visitor on the sideline, approached him after a drill.

"He came up to me one time and said, 'I wish I was like you,' " Giddins said. "I was like, 'What? I wish I was like you!' I'm grateful to have the opportunity to see him and talk with him while he was here. Knowing someone of that caliber can come down and talk to us, it's amazing."

Selmon, the only Bucs player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is also a member of the Bucs' Ring of Honor. His impact on the only team he played for remains strong, as seen in another generation of Bucs players trying to follow his lead.

"When he pops into your head, you try and think of football, but it's hard because he was such a great person and was so much more than that," said Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who followed Selmon's football path from Oklahoma to Tampa Bay. "He was just so nice when you met him. I just really try to remember the things that he taught me and always use those things in my life. It doesn't feel like a year."

On Saturday, for the first time, the chain of restaurants bearing his name will open a new location, its eighth, without his smiling presence at its Brandon location. And while Selmon's enthusiasm and personality are sorely missed, his spirit is still there, in much more than just the menu.

"I do think of Lee Roy every day," said Outback Steakhouse co-founder Chris Sullivan, a restaurant partner of Selmon's. "He was such an inspirational, wonderful human being. We felt very strongly that Lee Roy's legacy, because of who he was, would remain strong in this community for a long time.

"We feel like we can celebrate Lee Roy's life and legend by continuing to operate and open Lee Roy Selmon's restaurants. We're proud to be associated with Lee Roy and his family, and we'll continue to honor him that way."

Who knew Chris Gimenez could have the big hit for Tampa Bay Rays against New York Yankees? Maybe only him

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, September 3, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Chris Gimenez?

Really?

It was late, and the score was tied, and it was no time for the supporting cast. This was a headliner's moment, one of those high-pressured September games where one star or another was going to make himself a memory. Derek Jeter, maybe. Evan Longoria, perhaps.

Chris Gimenez?

Really?

Gimenez left the dugout, and even he wasn't certain he was going to make it all the way to the plate to face reliever David Robertson. He looked to bench coach Davey Martinez, wondering if a left-handed pinch-hitter might take his turn.

"Am I good?" Gimenez asked.

"Yeah," said Martinez. "You're good."

Gimenez, a .178 hitter who was 72 hours out of the minor leagues, continued his walk to the plate. He took a deep breath. He reminded himself to take a pitch just to look at Robertson's delivery.

"Well, this is the biggest at-bat of your life," he told himself. "Let's see what you do with it."

Let's. Five pitches later, Gimenez hit a cutter off the end of his bat, and the ball was squirting through the infield. It bounced and squibbed and played dodgeball as Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and first baseman Nick Swisher both broke for it. The ball kept bounding, sneaking into the outfield for a hit, and the go-ahead run was racing to the plate, and the Rays were on their way to winning a game that suggested this may be a playoff race after all.

Chris Gimenez!

Really!

This is the beauty of baseball. It saves some of its biggest moments for some of its littlest guys. As a sport, it can be cruel. It can beat a player up, and it can frustrate him, and it can spend a decade trying to chase him away. And then it can give him a minute that will last forever.

This time, it rewarded Gimenez, 29, with a Dan Johnson moment. In one swing of the bat, he validated all of his work, and all of his faith, and all of the doubt that a guy can pick up in spending parts of nine seasons — including most of this one — in the minors.

"It wasn't the prettiest hit ever," Gimenez said, grinning, "but I'll take it."

The ball, through Gimenez's eyes, took "about a thousand" bounces. The run to first "was the longest 90 feet I've ever run."

Still, the ball could not have been placed more perfectly. If Cano was closer, perhaps he would have come up with it. If he was further away, perhaps he could have left his feet and knocked the ball down to prevent the run from scoring.

"I was running, and I was praying, and I was watching Robbie and I was watching Swish," Gimenez said. "When it got to the outfield, I knew (Ryan Roberts) was going to score. I thought, thank God for that. For my sake, for the team's sake, for everyone's sake."

Who saw this coming? The last Rays' fans saw of Giminez, he was leaving town at the end of May with a .191 average on the season. At the time, would anyone have dreamed that Gimenez had this kind of hit in his future?

"Honestly? Yes," Gimenez said. "I knew that I had to go down and figure some stuff out. But I kept believing if I kept myself going in the right direction, I had a chance. At the plate, I've never really done anything. That's a bad portrayal of who I am offensively. I've always felt I could be a decent ballplayer if I just did things the right way."

If you are among the thousand minor-leaguers who tell themselves similar things on a daily basis, perhaps you can understand the joy that Gimenez felt. He stood at first base, beaming, looking at his teammates yell his name. This is why you stick around. This is why you keep showing up to the ballfield.

"Hopefully, there will be a lot more moments and a lot more RBI," Gimenez said.

Ah, but if not? If this turns out to be Gimenez' greatest day in baseball, well, it was one more than was promised. And, yeah, he'll tell his grandkids about it.

"By then, it will be a missile," he said. "It will have torn the glove off of the infielder."

He laughed. On Chris Gimenez Day, on the day he felled the Yankees, on the day he changed the standings, who could blame him?

Fish pulls out as medical precaution

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

NEW YORK — Mardy Fish pulled out of the U.S. Open hours before his fourth-round match against Roger Federer on Monday, citing "precautionary measures" on doctor's advice.

The former Tampa resident, 30, who was seeded 23rd, missed about 2½ months this season because of an accelerated heartbeat and had a medical procedure in May.

"We are not 100 percent sure what the issue is and if it is related to his previous issues," said Fish's agent, John Tobias. "Mardy is fine … I anticipate that Mardy will play in Asia this fall."

Fish's third-round victory over Gilles Simon went five sets, lasting more than three hours and ending after 1 a.m. Sunday. Afterward, Fish did not attend a news conference; the tournament said he was getting medical treatment.

The top-seeded Federer to reached his 34th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, extending his own record. He next faces No. 6 Tomas Berdych, who stunned Federer in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals.

"I am really sorry for Mardy. I just want to wish him a speedy recovery," Federer said in a statement. "We all want to see him back on tour soon."

In women's play, Serena Williams beat 82nd-ranked Andrea Hlavackova 6-0, 6-0 in 57 minutes. It was the first time in 62 victories at Flushing Meadows that Williams had a "double bagel." She next faces Ana Ivanovic.

McIlroy hangs on to win third of '12

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

NORTON, Mass. — Rory McIlroy got the start he wanted Monday at the Deutsche Bank Championship, erasing a three-shot deficit in five holes. The finish was hardly a masterpiece, except for the part when golf's No. 1 player posed with the trophy.

He didn't make it easy on himself on Labor Day at the TPC Boston. He tore up the turf on a tee shot that traveled 170 yards, and that was the only fairway he hit over the last five holes.

He had to make a 6-foot putt to save par from a bunker and a 5-foot putt to save bogey after a pitch sailed from one side of the green to the other. And he had to wait as Louis Oosthuizen's birdie putt to force a playoff slid below the hole.

"I had a couple of wobbles coming in, but I obviously did enough and I'm very excited to get a victory," McIlroy said.

That's all anyone will remember.

On a leaderboard packed with some of the biggest names in golf, the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland took a giant leap toward establishing himself as the best in the game.

With four birdies in six holes at the start, and by limiting the damage from his mistakes at the end, McIlroy closed with 4-under 67 for a one-shot victory over Oosthuizen, joining Tiger Woods as the only three-time PGA Tour winners this year.

McIlroy finished at 20-under 264 and moved to No. 1 in the FedEx Cup. With one of his wins being the PGA Championship, that might be enough for his peers to vote him player of the year. He also has a comfortable gap in the world ranking.

"He's not No. 1 in the world for nothing," Oosthuizen said. "He's a great young talent, a lot of majors left for him to win. He's such a cool kid on the course. It's great playing with him. He makes tough shots look really sometimes, especially long irons.

"I don't think the back nine he hit the ball that great after what he did on the front nine, but he did what he had to do."

Giants 9, Diamondbacks 8, 10 innings

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

Giants 9, D'backs 8

10 innings

SAN FRANCISCO — Marco Scutaro hit an RBI single in the 10th for San Francisco.

D.J. Ware finds comfortable spot with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 3, 2012

TAMPA — After his release from the Giants on Friday, it didn't take long for RB D.J. Ware to determine Tampa Bay was the place for him.

The Bucs are closer to his home state of Georgia, and former Giants assistant Mike Sullivan is Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator.

"First and foremost, I think he can be a third-down back," coach Greg Schiano said. "He's done that in this league effectively. That would be nice to start there. Carrying the football? We'll have to see. There's only so many touches, and those touches are earned."

With rookie Doug Martin named the starter and with veteran LeGarrette Blount and seventh-round pick Michael Smith on the roster, would the Bucs activate all four backs on game days? Schiano said only if some play on special teams.

Ware said Tampa was right for him.

"When doors close, another one opens," he said. "The Bucs brought me in. I felt wanted. I felt needed. Anything I can do, I'm willing to do."

HARD FEELINGS: DT Amobi Okoye, released Friday after agreeing to an injury settlement, questioned Schiano's character Monday because of statements he made about a "history" of knee issues. Okoye has joined the Bears, for whom he played last season.

"It's too bad to hear the unfortunate things he's saying about my knee," Okoye said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "It's kind of unfair of him to say what he said to the media, painting a bad picture like my knee was always bad."

Okoye had offseason knee surgery and, he says, returned too early. An ensuing setback caused him to miss the final three preseason games.

Last week, Schiano said of Okoye, "You can be a little cautious at times. We've tried to do that. But at the end of the day, you've got to go out and earn a spot."

Okoye took aim at those comments.

"It really makes me question character of himself, because, while I was there, he was trying to mold us to be kind of like him," Okoye told the Sun-Times. "It made me question all the things he was teaching me. … It's like, 'Wow, what type of guy is this?' That really hurt."

It's unclear what the Bucs told Okoye after the surgery, or what their expectations were.

COMING OR GOING?: DL Wallace Gilberry, pulled off the practice field Saturday because he was being released, re-signed after G Julian Vandervelde was released. "I was just under the impression I was going to go home and stay in the gym and stay in shape to be ready," Gilberry said. "But God had another plan and so did Coach Schiano and (GM) Mark Dominik. I'm definitely happy."

PRACTICE SQUAD: The team signed OL Bradley Sowell, LB Jacob Cutrera, TE Drake Dunsmore, WR Dale Moss, WR Bert Reed, LB J.K. Schaffer, QB Adam Weber and DE Markus White.

Tampa Bay Rays: Joe Maddon sorry for blowup at umpire

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 3, 2012

Rays vs. Yankees

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field

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

Tickets: $17-275, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within 5 hours of game time.

Promotion: Fernando Rodney T-shirt to first 10,000 fans.

Probable pitchers

Rays: RH Alex Cobb (8-8, 4.39)

YANKEES: RH Freddy Garcia (7-5, 4.90)

On Cobb: Failed to get the win despite six runs of support in last outing Wednesday at Texas. Rays have won his past six starts. Is 0-1, 3.46 in two starts vs. Yankees, losing June 6 in New York.

On Garcia: Journeyman is 7-3, 3.82 over his past 16 games (11 starts). Is 9-2, 3.28 in 18 games (17 starts) vs. Rays, including 5-2, 3.63 at the Trop.

Key matchups

Rays VS. GARCIA

Jose Molina 11-for-26

Carlos Peña 5-for-42, HR

B.J. Upton 3-for-11, HR

YANKEES VS. COBB

Robinson Cano 1-for-6, HR

Derek Jeter 0-for-6

Nick Swisher 2-for-6, HR

On deck

Wednesday: vs. Yankees, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (10-8, 3.58); Yankees — Hiroki Kuroda (12-9, 2.98)

Thursday: Off

Friday: vs. Rangers, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (8-10, 3.41); Rangers — TBA

Saturday: vs. Rangers, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (17-5, 2.54); Rangers — TBA

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

AL East

Team W L Pct. GB

New York 76 58 .567—

Baltimore 75 59 .560 1

Tampa Bay 74 61 .548 21/2

Boston 62 74 .456 15

Toronto 60 74 .448 16

AL race for wild cards

Team W L Pct. GB

Oakland 76 58 .567—

Baltimore 75 59 .560—

Tampa Bay 74 61 .548 11/2

Detroit 72 62 .537 3

Los Angeles 72 63 .533 31/2

Top two wild cards make postseason; GB is games behind second wild card

Quote of the day

"Bob, I apologize. I didn't say anything bad. I really enjoy Bob. … He was right. I want everyone to know that."

Rays manager Joe Maddon, after acknowledging that 2B ump Bob Davidson got the call that led to Maddon's ejection and protest right.

Number of the day

8

Games the Rays gained on the Yankees (from 10 ½ to 2 ½ out) since July 18

Super stat

17

Homers by B.J. Upton, matching Carlos Peña for the team lead.


Angels 8, Athletics 3

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — Vernon Wells would be thrilled to have a more regular role down the stretch as the Angels chase a playoff spot they believe is within reach.

Chris Iannetta hit a two-run homer in a three-hit day, Wells had a solo shot and RBI single and Los Angeles snapped the Athletics' season-best nine-game winning streak, 8-3 Monday.

Wells earned another start tonight from manager Mike Scioscia. The outfielder missed 55 games with a right thumb injury and is no longer a constant in the lineup since returning July 27.

"The biggest thing is when I do get a chance to play just try to do what I can to help this team win, whether it's in the box or on the field," Wells said. "It was difficult at first. The more you go through it, you live for today. That's the best way to go through life: enjoy the moment."

C.J. Wilson pitched five innings while dealing with a blister, helping the Angels to their sixth victory in their past seven games.

Tampa Bay Rays starter James Shields responds to "playoff atmosphere" against New York Yankees

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 3, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — The thought of playing a 1:10 p.m. game Monday after flying back from Toronto Sunday night did not sound particularly appealing to the Rays. But once RHP James Shields took the mound, he liked everything he heard.

"It felt like a playoff atmosphere," he said. "We had the crowd, that was amazing. How many showed up (28,585), that was awesome. That kind of got me going early in the game."

Shields (13-8, 3.88) started well, navigated a bit of a bad-bounce fourth in giving up three runs and the lead then finished strong. He had thrown 100 pitches when Maddon let him go back out for the eighth — "I was kinda hoping," Shields said — and got to stay after a 10-pitch battle with Derek Jeter that ended in a walk and finish the inning, with help from a double play.

The 121 pitches where the second most Shields has thrown this season, but Maddon was willing to let him go even further. "I just thought he had plenty left in the tank," Maddon said.

NIEMANN OUT INDEFINITELY: RHP Jeff Niemann is sidelined indefinitely, and possibly the rest of the season, after a exam by Dr. Koco Eaton found slight inflammation in his rotator cuff.

Niemann, who came back Saturday after missing 3 ½ months after breaking his right leg, said his shoulder was still sore, but he is trying to remain optimistic that he can return. Maddon said it was "unclear" if he can.

"We're just going to take a few days and see where we go from there," Niemann said. "It's definitely frustrating to do as much as we've done and have gone through as much as we've gone through already this season, to have something like this happen at a very inopportune time for the team. … It's not fun."

LONGORIA OKAY: There was justifiable concern when 3B Evan Longoria left the game after seven innings with the score tied, then the dugout.

But Longoria said he was fine and there were no issues besides "a little fatigue" with his left hamstring, which sidelined him for more than three months. His early exit was mutually agreed upon with manager Joe Maddon and he'll be in the lineup tonight.

"Just kind of a long day traveling (Sunday), and it was just the right thing to do," Longoria said.

FERNANDO MANIA: RHP Fernando Rodney's 41st save was a bit dramatic, as a throwing error by 3B Elliot Johnson helped the Yankees get the tying run to third. But Rodney struck out Curtis Granderson, matching Baltimore's Jim Johnson for the major-league lead.

ROSTER MOVEMENT: C/OF/1B Stephen Vogt and RHP Dane De La Rosa are expected to be called up, with Triple-A Durham ending its season, and join the Rays on Wednesday. One other callup — perhaps RHP Chris Archer — is possible. … INF Will Rhymes and RHP Albert Suarez, designated for assignment last week to clear 40-man roster space, cleared waivers and remained in the organization.

MISCELLANY: The Rays won the third one-run game in their past 14. … For the second straight day, all nine Rays starters got a hit. … INF Sean Rodriguez, sidelined after fracturing his right hand punching a locker at Durham on Aug. 26, is confident of returning before season's end. "Good chance I'll be back, it's just a matter of when," he said. … C Robinson Chirinos, sidelined since a spring training concussion, was happy just to be in the clubhouse, planning to work out a bit with the Rays this week then join the instructional league team next week. … Maddon was ejected for the third time this season, 26th as a Ray. … The Yankees activated Alex Rodriguez off the DL.

Times staff writer Joe Smith contributed to this report.

Braves bench All-Star 2B Uggla

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

ATLANTA — Slumping 2B Dan Uggla, hitting only .208, has been benched by the Braves in a move manager Fredi Gonzalez acknowledged was "not easy."

Uggla, who started in this year's All-Star Game, said Gonzalez told him of the change Sunday.

"He didn't really explain anything to me," Uggla said. "He just kind of said, 'We've got to make a change. I don't know how much playing time you're going to get the next 29 days.' "

Martin Prado started at second against the Rockies on Monday for the second straight day.

The Braves acquired INF Jeff Baker from Detroit on Friday and also have INF Tyler Pastornicky on the bench. Both can play second base, but Gonzalez said Prado is the new starter.

"It's a situation where we feel like we need to do something for the team and the name on the front of the uniform," Gonzalez said. "It's hard. It's not easy. Two months ago, you don't even think about it."

Uggla hit only .233 in 2011, his first season in Atlanta, but finished strong with a career-best 36 homers with 82 RBIs. He is the first second baseman in the major leagues with five 30-homer seasons.

Uggla started slowly last season but recovered with a 33-game hitting streak and was the NL player of the month in August. He hasn't had a similar turnaround this season, hitting .160 in June, .115 in July and .207 in August.

"I understand what my numbers are. I'm not blind to that," Uggla said.

Uggla also said "numbers don't mean anything to me. … I'm part of the team that got us where we are now."

Gonzalez said he couldn't ignore Uggla's prolonged struggles at the plate.

"You just look at the big sample size," Gonzalez said.

BOSOX WOE: Red Sox GM Ben Cherington admits his current team "is hard to watch." And that was before his team lost its seventh straight game.

Boston has lost eight of 10 since sending stars Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to the Dodgers in a nine-player trade. The Red Sox are 62-74, following their historic September collapse with an all-out plummet.

Cherington called the team's sad state "a reflection on all of us."

"When we made the trade we knew we were not helping our team the rest of this year," he said. "That said, it's still hard to watch. There are things we need to accomplish the rest of the year."

STRASBURG LIMIT: A day after announcing that RHP Stephen Strasburg will start only twice more this season, Nationals manager Davey Johnson met with his ace to explain the decision. Johnson was joined by GM Mike Rizzo and pitching coach Steve McCatty. Strasburg, who is 15-6 with a 2.94 ERA and leads the NL with 195 strikeouts, had reconstructive elbow surgery two years ago.

VOTTO IMPROVING: Reds 1B Joey Votto, out since July 15 with damaged cartilage in his left knee that required two operations, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville. The former NL MVP said he felt better than he did a couple of days earlier.

FSL PLAYOFFS: The Dunedin Blue Jays visit the Lakeland Flying Tigers at 6:30 tonight to open the best-of-three North Division playoff series. The series returns to Dunedin on Wednesday and Thursday, if necessary. The winner plays for the league championship.

MARLINS: The team plans to use a six-man rotation for the rest of the season, manager Ozzie Guillen said. LHP Wade LeBlanc will start tonight, pushing RHP Jacob Turner back a day in a rotation that also includes LHP Mark Buehrle and RHPs Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Nathan Eovaldi.

WR Arrelious Benn back at practice for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 3, 2012

TAMPA — Arrelious Benn hates to sit still, which as a slot receiver is a good thing because he's frequently in motion.

But when Benn suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee on the first day of training camp after a collision that also resulted in a broken foot for cornerback E.J. Biggers, it was hard to keep moving.

The rehab was slow and the digital clock mounted in the locker room by Greg Schiano counted down the days, hours and minutes until the season opener Sunday against Carolina.

"It got hard because I'd come in here in the morning and look at the clock and I'm sore one day and not the next," Benn said. "But it takes time. Time is all I needed."

The Bucs believe Benn will eventually begin fulfilling his promise as a second-round pick from Illinois in 2010.

The 6-foot-2 Benn has averaged only 27.5 receptions in his two seasons. But his 15.2-yard per catch average is respectable, especially considering he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament with one game remaining in 2010.

"We're fortunate a guy like Regis is a top-flight receiver, or is going to be, and yet is a really good team player," Schiano said. "He's a valuable guy, we need to get him back healthy. … Little by little, he's inching back so hopefully he can help us. I don't know. Is Week 1 going to be too soon? I don't know, we'll have to see."

Benn, who resumed practicing late last week, has no doubt.

"I definitely expect to play," Benn said of Sunday's game. "It's just a matter of me going out there and getting back into the flow of things and letting everything else fall in place.

"I feel confident in my body, so I'm pretty much good to go."

By all accounts, Benn has had an outstanding offseason. The workout warrior could not get into playing shape a year ago because of the NFL lockout and the limitations of recovering from a knee injury. Benn said he weighed 230 pounds a year ago and is down to 218.

"I came back in shape and felt confident in what I was doing," Benn said. "I was healthy for the first time. Then that happened, but it's all about how you come back from adversity. I'm not worried about anything else. Whatever people are going to say, I'm going to come out here and do my job."

Benn's job may include kickoff return duties, something he did at Illinois but not much as a pro. Aside from that, he'll have to earn time on an improved receiving corps that includes ex-Charger Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams and Preston Parker.

"Sometimes, I put a lot of pressure on myself," Benn said. "But at the same time, I've got to realize this is only my third year in the NFL. I've only been here two seasons. I've battled injuries, but I always fight through them and come back stronger."

Panthers prep near Bucs' back yard

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers coach Ron Rivera said his players are approaching their six-day trip to Florida this week like a college bowl game.

The Panthers wanted to get away from Charlotte as it prepares for this week's Democratic National Convention. The team leaves today for the IMG Football Academy in Bradenton to get ready for Sunday's opener against the Bucs in Tampa.

"It's an opportunity to get away and focus in on an opponent and focus in on football," Rivera said.

BEARS: All-Pro linebacker linebacker Brian Urlacher practiced for the first time since July 31 and has told Fox TV: "I'm playing Sunday. That's a done deal." He had arthroscopic surgery to his left knee Aug. 14. Also, the team released former Bucs defensive tackle Brian Price.

BROWNS: Rookie running back Trent Richardson practiced for the first time since Aug. 9 knee surgery.

CHARGERS: Running back Ryan Mathews did drills for the first time since breaking his collarbone Aug. 9.

JAGUARS: Coach Mike Mularkey said Maurice Jones-Drew, off of a long contract holdout, will begin the season as a backup and third-down back.

JETS: Coach Rex Ryan finally talked about a poorly kept secret: The team will run plays out of the wildcat with former Florida star Tim Tebow in Sunday's opener against Buffalo.

Wednesday

Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 8:30

Sunday

Indianapolis at Chicago, 1

Philadelphia at Cleveland, 1

St. Louis at Detroit, 1

Miami at Houston, 1

Atlanta at Kansas City, 1

Jacksonville at Minnesota, 1

Washington at New Orleans, 1

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 1

New England at Tennessee, 1

Seattle at Arizona, 4:25

San Francisco at Green Bay, 4:25

Carolina at Tampa Bay, 4:25

Pittsburgh at Denver, 8:20

Monday, Sept. 10

Cincinnati at Baltimore, 7

San Diego at Oakland, 10:15

White Sox 4, Twins 2

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

White Sox 4, Twins 2

CHICAGO — Gordon Beckham hit a two-run homer and Hector Santiago won in his first major-league start for Chicago, which opened a 10-game homestand by reclaiming sole possession of first place from the Tigers. The White Sox were coming off a 1-6 road trip that was capped by a sweep in Detroit.

Sports in brief

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Times staff, wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

paralympics

pistorius: wrong time to criticize

LONDON — After years as the poster boy of the Paralympics, a chastened Oscar Pistorius moved Monday to defuse the row that threatens to blemish the image he forged during a protracted struggle for acceptance within his sport.

His bid for a third straight gold in the 200 meters was thwarted Sunday night by another double amputee on carbon fiber prosthesis.

Victory seemed certain for Pistorius when he reached the bend on the London track, but Alan Oliveira of Brazil came storming down the home straight to overtake the defending champion.

Rather than hailing his rival, Pistorius accused Oliveira, 20, of gaining an unfair edge by using lengthened blades. To many, he sounded like a sore loser by launching his tirade within minutes of his first Paralympic loss in the 200.

"I would never want to detract from another athlete's moment of triumph," he said in a statement. "And I want to apologize for the timing of my comments."

However, Pistorius was unwavering in his determination to ensure the International Paralympic Committee tightens the formula used to calculate the acceptable length of blades.

"I do believe that there is an issue here and I welcome the opportunity to discuss it with the IPC, but I accept that raising these concerns immediately as I stepped off the track was wrong," Pistorius said.

The IPC insists the length of Oliveira's blades were proportional to his body. The formula that determines the length of blades allowed calculates the predicted height of an athlete, plus 3.5 percent to account for the on-toes running position.

Pistorius' maximum allowable height is 6 feet, 4 inches, yet he opts to stand at about 6 feet in blades that were subjected to stringent testing in 2008 to show they provide no advantage when competing alongside able-bodied rivals.

Oliveira, whose limit is about 6 feet, claimed Monday his blades gave him a race height of about 5-11 the previous night.

et cetera

Obituary: William Tortorella, father of Rangers and former Lightning coach John Tortorella, died Sunday in Boston, the Rangers announced. No other details were available. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be sent to Massachusetts General Hospital, Patient Care Service, Attention Development Office, Neuroscience, 55 Fruit St., Boston, Mass., 02114

autos: NHRA officials postponed the final two days of the U.S. Nationals in Clermont, Ind., until Saturday-Sunday. The final two rounds of qualifying, rained out Sunday, will be held Saturday. Final eliminations will be Sunday.

Damian Cristodero, Times staff writer; Times wires


FSU defensive end Brandon Jenkins out for season

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Times staff, wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Monday that senior DE Brandon Jenkins is out for the season with an injured left foot. Jenkins, who led the Seminoles in sacks the past two seasons, was hurt in Saturday's victory over Murray State.

"It was determined that Brandon will miss the 2012 season with a Lisfranc injury," Fisher said in a statement.

Jenkins, first-team All-ACC as a sophomore and second-team last season, was injured when a teammate stepped on his foot in the first half. He could take a redshirt and return, but is projected as a first-round NFL pick.

The news might have Fisher reconsidering his decision to redshirt touted DL recruit Mario Edwards Jr.

USF: Too soon to know on ankle injuries

TAMPA — Two key members of USF's offense missed Monday's practice with ankle injuries, and coach Skip Holtz said it's too soon to know how long RB Marcus Shaw and OT Darrell Williams will be sidelined.

Holtz said Shaw is the bigger question: "We have to see how he's going to respond.''

Holtz said Williams "was really limited'' in Saturday's win over Chattanooga. "Dealing with ankle, you're dealing with a tendon, you don't know how fast the healing process is going to begin. There's not an exact science with that, so we have to wait and play it by ear,'' Holtz said.

Shaw, who rushed for 22 yards on four carries, had his ankle iced after the game. Williams sprained his ankle in practice Tuesday and was held out of the game. If Shaw can't play, it could impact plans to redshirt senior RB Lindsey Lamar; if Williams can't go, the Bulls could stick with Saturday's starter, senior Damien Edwards, or could move LG Mark Popek back outside to where he started every game last season.

If Popek goes back to tackle, Holtz said there are several options for left guard, including backup guards Brynjar Gudmundsson and Lawrence Martin, or Max Lang, who started at right tackle and is listed behind Quinterrius Eatmon on the depth chart.

THIS AND THAT: LB DeDe Lattimore, who had a team-best 10 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, was named to the Big East's weekly honor roll. The Bulls totaled 12 tackles for loss, for a combined 69 yards against Chattanooga. … In all, 30 players made their USF debut Saturday, including several local walk-ons: Tyler Robb (Tampa Catholic), Spencer Cavalieri (Gaither), Mattias Ciabatti (Hillsborough), Jake Smith (Bloomingdale), Mak Djulbegovic (Carrollwood Day) and Stefan Konjanovski (Largo).

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

UCF: RB questionable

ORLANDO — UCF coach George O'Leary said senior RB Latavius Murray was "week-to-week" with a bruised shoulder. He gained 108 yards on 14 carries in Thursday's win at Akron.

QUICKER PLEASE: O'Leary said sophomore QB Blake Bortles played well in his first career start, but he has to get rid of the football faster next time against No. 18 Ohio State. Bortles took a few big hits Thursday that O'Leary attributed to a breakdown in protection and the quarterback holding the ball too long.

Iliana Limón Romero, Orlando Sentinel

UM: Humble frosh

CORAL GABLES — Miami RB Duke Johnson had the most yards of any freshman in the country on opening weekend with 135 in Saturday's win at Boston College. He had two touchdown runs, both exceeding 50 yards — something only three major-college players did in one game last season. He even got a mention in a tweet from NBA MVP LeBron James of the Miami Heat.

Johnson's reaction to his performance and the ensuing hoopla?

"My sister and a couple of my friends, they were more excited than I was," Johnson said.

Associated Press

Virginia Tech kicks, picks way to OT win

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Times wires
Monday, September 3, 2012

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Cody Journell, who missed a 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, redeemed himself with a 41-yarder on the final play of regulation to force overtime and an 18-yarder to win it Monday as No. 16 Virginia Tech beat ACC rival Georgia Tech 20-17 in the opener for both teams.

Journell's kick to end regulation came 38 seconds after Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington hit running back Deon Hill for a 10-yard touchdown and a 17-14 lead.

Georgia Tech got the first overtime possession, but Hokies cornerback Kyle Fuller picked off Washington's wild pass under pressure on the third play.

AUBURN: The mother of fullback Jay Prosch died of brain cancer. Coach Gene Chizik said Iris Prosch died Monday morning. Prosch transferred from Illinois in January to be closer to his stricken mother.

HOUSTON: Offensive coordinator Mike Nesbitt resigned two days after a 30-13 opening loss to Texas State, which was making its Division I-A debut. Travis Bush, who was coaching the running backs, will assume play-calling duties and coach the quarterbacks.

LSU: Tyrone Mathieu told WVUE, the Fox TV affiliate in New Orleans, that his adopted son, 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu, will enroll in school today after completing two stages of rehabilitation in Houston. The cornerback was kicked off the Tigers last month and won't play this fall.

MICHIGAN: ESPN reported that coach Brady Hoke reinstated running back Fitzgerald Toussaint and defensive end Frank Clark. Both were suspended for Saturday's loss to Alabama. Also, Hoke said starting cornerback Blake Countess is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered Saturday.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE: The NCAA suspended cornerback C.J. Wilson for four games because of an academic issue, coach Tom O'Brien said.

PURDUE: The team will honor one of the school's most famous graduates, Neil Armstrong, with a sticker on its helmets. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and a 1955 Purdue graduate, died Aug. 25.

VANDERBILT: Coach James Franklin said he heard from the SEC office 15 minutes after his Commodores lost 17-13 to No. 9 South Carolina on Thursday. He would not say what he was told about the lack of a flag on an obvious pass interference on fourth down that ended the Commodores' bid for an upset.

BASKETBALL: UCLA said two freshman recruits have not received final amateurism certification from the NCAA but disputed what it called "misleading and inaccurate public reports" regarding its incoming class. A Scout.com report said Kyle Anderson and Tony Parker are being investigated for possible recruiting violations.

Dodgers 4, Padres 3, 11 innings

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Times wires
Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Dodgers 4, Padres 3

11 innings

LOS ANGELES — A.J. Ellis singled in the winner in the 11th inning, giving Los Angeles its second straight walkoff win. Andre Ethier tied it at 3 with a one-out homer in the ninth.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers appeal to business community to boost ticket sales

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 4, 2012

TAMPA — It has been 14 years, but the memories have hardly faded for Greg Schiano.

The current Bucs coach traveled to Tampa in 1998 as a member of the Chicago Bears' defensive staff for the first regular-season game at Raymond James Stadium. All these years later, what unfolded remains imprinted in his mind.

"I'll never forget it," Schiano told business leaders at a local civic event Tuesday. "It was hot and the crowd was crazy. We jumped out to a quick lead. I said, 'This is a beautiful thing.' And you know what happened?

"Seventeen straight points later, in the heat, the Bucs prevailed. They beat the Chicago Bears. And I can't wait because I just remember the pressure on our team. The fans were yelling at us. We need to get back to that so when every football team comes out of the tunnel, they go, 'Oh, man, we're in for a long day.' We'll do our part if you do your part."

It was part of an impassioned plea by Schiano to motivate those in the audience to support the Bucs, a franchise in the midst of a years-long slump in ticket sales that continues this season. Sunday's regular-season opener against the Panthers is potentially headed for a local television blackout despite the team's aggressive efforts to mitigate the situation.

Schiano, co-chairman Bryan Glazer and general manager Mark Dominik made good use of the appearance at Tuesday's "Chalk Talk" event at the Grand Hyatt, an annual gathering bringing together the Clearwater Regional, St. Petersburg and Greater Tampa Chambers of Commerce.

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson, running back Doug Martin and safety Mark Barron also attended.

Before an influential audience that included the kind of corporate customers the team needs more of, Glazer made his "pitch," as he called it.

"We're going to need you in our corner when we kick off at 4:25 this Sunday so we can re-establish an atmosphere that will fuel our team and frustrate our opponents," he said.

He reiterated the team's efforts to close the sales gap created by a recessed local economy and apathy about the team. Glazer cited efforts to maintain or lower ticket prices. He also said the team asked for later kickoff times for early-season games to address the heat-related concerns of fans.

"(The league) listened to our request," he said, noting that the Sept. 30 game against the Redskins also begins at 4:25 p.m.

The team's most recent update on sales, provided Friday, indicated it was 9,000 seats shy of the threshold at which the NFL will lift the television blackout. The Bucs were one of a handful of teams to avail themselves of a new rule that permits clubs to lower the blackout threshold. Now, just 85 percent of non-premium seats must be sold 72 hours before kickoff for a blackout to be lifted.

Schiano just hopes the Bucs can get back to the environment he experienced on that day in 1998, when the Bucs won 27-15. The Bucs went 6-2 at home that season, while finishing 2-6 on the road under coach Tony Dungy.

"I promise you that we will make you proud," Schiano said. "Proud of the way we play, proud of the way we live. But I need to ask you guys something. I let Bryan handle the business part. Now I'm going to ask you the second part. In addition to coming to the game and buying suites and all those things, I need you to do one simple thing: In the upcoming three, four, five weeks, when you're at the (country) club, when you're at the restaurant or when you're at the office, you need to grab hold of the one on your left and the one on your right and start talking about the Bucs.

"We need to make the Bucs the buzz again. I promise you these (players) and my coaching staff, we are going to do our part on the field. If you will do your part in your communities, we will make that stadium, Raymond James Stadium, the biggest homefield advantage in the National Football League."

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

Cheerleader Spotlight

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Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Cheerleader Spotlight

Danielle Blasini Seffner Christian

Age: 17

Class: Senior

Cheer history: Eight years, including three at Seffner Christian Academy.

College plans: Wants to attend either Liberty University or a fashion institute with plans on majoring in fashion merchandising.

Favorite aspect of cheering: "I cheer competitively so I like that aspect of it. It's a big rush to be out here on Fridays."

Other athletic interests: Danielle also played soccer at SCA before switching to cheerleading full time.

Brandon Wright, Times correspondent

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