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South Florida Bulls basketball gets improved TV exposure on ESPN networks

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Times staff, wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

TAMPA — The NCAA Tournament success of USF men's basketball has the Bulls all over ESPN's programming radar. Eight Big East games involving USF are scheduled for ESPN's family of networks, up from three last season.

The Bulls have at least one appearance on ESPN itself, a Feb. 17 Sunday afternoon home game at Louisville; a Feb. 6 home game against Marquette is set for ESPN2. A Jan. 17 game at Rutgers could be on ESPN or ESPN2, and five other games are lined up for ESPNU, including two home games: Providence on Feb. 13 and Connecticut on March 6.

A year ago, on the way to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years, the Bulls had just two games on ESPN2 and one on ESPNU.

USF opens its Big East season with a tough one-two at home: Syracuse on Jan. 6 and Villanova on Jan. 9. The Bulls never have more than two games in a row on the road or at home; USF's two games with Marquette come in a span of three games and eight days, in Milwaukee on Jan. 28 and in Tampa on Feb. 6.

The full schedule: January: 6, Syracuse; 9, Villanova; 12, at Louisville; 17, at Rutgers; 19, Georgetown; 23, at Seton Hall; 26, Notre Dame, 28, at Marquette. February: 3, at Connecticut, 6, Marquette; 9, at Villanova; 13, Providence; 17, Louisville; 20, at St. John's; 27, at Pittsburgh. March: 3, DePaul; 6, Connecticut; 9, at Cincinnati.

Texas Tech: The school said it reprimanded basketball coach Billy Gillispie this year after learning he was exceeding NCAA practice-time limits.

Football

Big ten: Penn State and Ohio State are banned from playing in the conference title game or a bowl as part of NCAA sanctions, but both are still eligible to win the conference's Leaders Division and receive a trophy this season. Penn State coach Bill O'Brien said he'd mention "the good news'' to his players but added, "I'm sure they read the Internet, so they know."

Lawsuit involves pelini: A woman sued Nebraska coach Bo Pelini's foundation and offensive coordinator Tim Beck, alleging she suffered brain injuries at a football clinic put on by the foundation two years ago. Beverly Morgan, who seeks $92,500, said she fell and hit the back of her head while running with a football through two lines of women holding blocking pads.

Illinois: Starting quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase practiced, his injured left ankle improved, but coach Tim Beckman hasn't decided if Scheelhaase can play Saturday at Arizona State.

Notre dame: Former Irish stars Mirko Jurkovic and Tim Brown will be analysts on the school's radio network the next two Saturdays. Allen Pinkett was suspended after saying teams need bad guys for an edge.

South Carolina: Quarterback Connor Shaw (bruised throwing shoulder) returned to practice and appeared pain-free. His status for Saturday against East Carolina is unclear.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.


Angels 7, Athletics 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Angels 7, Athletics 1

OAKLAND, Calif. — Torii Hunter had three RBIs and Dan Haren pitched six strong innings as the Angels completed a three-game sweep. Howie Kendrick hit a two-run single as Los Angeles got within 2½ of Oakland for one of two AL wild-card spots. The Athletics had won nine straight going into the series.

South Florida Bulls starting offensive tackles regain health

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

TAMPA — USF's running back depth remains uncertain, but the Bulls should have both starting offensive tackles back for Saturday's game at Nevada after reverting to backups in last week's opener.

Coach Skip Holtz said Wednesday that LT Darrell Williams practiced and can start after sitting out the opener due to an ankle injury; RT Quinterrius Eatmon, who rotated in Saturday after missing time with a concussion, is recovered and will start.

"Having both tackles back is a good feeling, knowing the experience you've got," Holtz said.

Four days after saying he hoped to redshirt senior RB Lindsey Lamar, Holtz said the former Hillsborough Hight standout will play against Nevada. The No. 2 running back, junior Marcus Shaw, has missed practice all week with a sprained ankle. Shaw could play Saturday if he practices today, but the Bulls plan to have Lamar ready.

THIS AND THAT: DT Cory Grissom has flulike symptoms, but Holtz is optimistic he can play Saturday. … DT Luke Sager, DE Tevin Mims and Edwards made their first career starts Saturday.

UF: CB Brown back

GAINESVILLE — Florida came into the season with four cornerbacks it felt comfortable rotating in Marcus Roberson, Louchiez Purifoy, Cody Riggs and Jaylen Watkins. Now, the Gators have another in the mix.

On Saturday at Texas A&M, redshirt junior Jeremy Brown is expected to make his first appearance since 2010. Brown missed 2008 and 2009 with a back injury and all of last season with a knee injury. He missed fall camp after wrist surgery.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn called it "a great story of hanging in there and keep persevering. He made a nice pass breakup in practice. You really saw his speed and stuff."

Josh Jurnovoy, Times correspondent

FSU: Bracy slowed

TALLAHASSEE — In February, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher grinned as he talked about WR recruit Marvin Bracy, one of the nation's fastest sprinters. But this week? "I've got a frown now," Fisher said.

A slow-healing hamstring injury flared again Tuesday, making a redshirt more likely.

"He's still just not healthy," Fisher said of the freshman.

Orlando Sentinel

UM: Struggling D

MIAMI — The Hurricanes struggled defensively during Saturday's 41-32 win at Boston College, but CB Thomas Finnie said the issues were "very easy to correct."

Coach Al Golden said he has complete confidence in the game plan, it just comes down to execution.

Miami has a No. 106 national pass-defense ranking after surrendering 441 yards. The Eagles were missing their top wide receiver and tight end.

"Blown assignments," coordinator Mark D'Onofrio said.

South Florida Sun Sentinel

Tampa Bay Bucs' Ronde Barber says 200th straight start is just another game

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

TAMPA — Ronde Barber will play his first regular-season game at safety for the Buccaneers on Sunday. But that's not what will make the day special.

Entering his 16th season, Barber will make his 200th straight start, extending his record among active defensive backs.

"That's a lot of starts," Barber said Wednesday. "To me, it's another start; I've been fortunate to be able to do this for a long time. I've got an organization that's believed in me for 14 years, or however many years that streak goes over. So it's a little bit of an honor but I'm preparing for it like any other week.

"Some people would say luck's involved; I think your answer would be luck might be a part of it but other factors, too. I've been fortunate not to be hurt, certainly. But I don't believe in luck. I'm a guy who takes care of the things I need to take care of and prepare myself every week."

The Bucs are commemorating the occasion with free parking and half-price concessions (excluding alcohol) and a Barber gym bag for every fan. Barber says he's just excited for another opening day in the NFL.

"Absolutely. There will be a lot more fanfare surrounding me of course (with) Ronde Barber Day," Barber said. "So it'll be something special. I've gotten more requests than I've ever had for any game, but that's just part of it. Like I said, it's nice to be recognized for an achievement."

CORNERING THE MARKET: The Bucs re-signed CB Brandon McDonald to their 53-man roster and released G Derek Hardman. McDonald, 27, played in 13 games for the Lions last season. The Bucs also signed G Julian Vandervelde to the practice squad and released WR Bert Reed, a former FSU standout.

Tampa Bay has 11 defensive backs on its active roster compared to 10 offensive linemen.

Coach Greg Schiano said that shouldn't be a problem. "At the end of the day you are only going to dress seven or eight (offensive linemen) anyway," he said. "So we are able to practice. We are not putting a load on anybody.

"Defensive back, we have a couple guys that have nagging little things, and you know (the Panthers, Sunday's opponent) are going to play three wideouts and they are going to do those things. We have to be able to have enough defensive backs to defend them. We just want to make sure that we have the guys in house that can do it, and Mac (McDonald) is a guy who was with us and knows what we are doing and did a good job when he was here."

GAME DAY UPGRADES AT RJS: Fans who attend Bucs games at Raymond James Stadium this season will experience several game day enhancements.

The team announced Wednesday that it will offer free Wi-Fi, top-of-the-line game production, a new replay system and bolstered customer service.

"We're leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to maximize home-field advantage and make Sundays memorable for our fans," said Brian Ford, vice president of business administration.

Bucs fans also will experience a "Bucsparilla" pregame parade with the team's Gasparilla float manned by Captain Fear and his Krewe that will roll through parking lots and tailgate areas around RJS, distributing beads and other prizes.

Clubs will open an hour earlier and close an hour later than they did in 2011, and both entrances include a box office ticket service concierge stationed to answer any questions.

SELLOUT OR BLACKOUT?: The Bucs declined to disclose how many tickets remained to avoid a local television blackout of Sunday's game. The Bucs said on Friday they needed to sell 9,000 tickets by 4:25 p.m. today to reach the 85 percent general threshold to avoid a blackout. The fact the organization won't comment on how many seats remain could be an ominous sign.

Line drive to head knocks out A's starter

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — Athletics RHP Brandon McCarthy left his start against the Angels in the fourth inning Wednesday after Erick Aybar's line drive hit him in the head.

McCarthy was taken to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland as a precaution, and the team said doctors wanted him to stay overnight for further observation. The A's also announced McCarthy would not travel with the team to Seattle today.

McCarthy, Oakland's opening day starter, had almost no time to react when Aybar lined his 91 mph cutter back to him. The ball bounced off the right side of McCarthy's head, knocking the pitcher down. He also landed on his head on the infield grass.

3B Josh Donaldson picked up the deflected ball and threw out Aybar for the second out of the inning.

McCarthy curled up in a ball and writhed in pain. Team trainers checked on him for several minutes as A's players huddled around the infield and on the top step of the dugout.

Aybar stood on first base and looked on with concern. He could be seen in the Angels dugout later sitting with his head down and his hands over his head.

McCarthy eventually sat up and ran his hands through his hair and around his head. He walked off the mound under his own power to an ovation from the Oakland Coliseum crowd.

McCarthy, who left with Oakland trailing 3-1, fell to 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA.

Florida state League PLAYOFFS: The Dunedin Blue Jays lost 3-0 to the visiting Lakeland Flying Tigers and were eliminated in the best-of-three league semifinal two games to none.

DODGERS STARTER OUT: Dodgers RHP Chad Billingsley will miss the rest of the season after being placed on the 60-day disabled list because of elbow pain. Billingsley, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 24, was 10-9 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts.

PETTITTE RECOVERING: Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte, out since June 27 with a fractured left ankle, threw 15 pitches in his first action against live hitters. He's still is on track to return to the rotation later this month.

ANGELS ACE AILING: Angels RHP Jered Weaver, who was struck on his pitching arm by Dustin Ackley's line drive against the Mariners on Sunday, returned to Southern California for further examination and will likely miss his next start Friday against the Tigers.

INDIANS DISPUTE: Manager Manny Acta shrugged off comments by closer Chris Perez about the way the team has been run, saying he cares more about how the right-hander performs in the ninth inning. Perez was quoted in a foxsports.com report, saying the difference between the Indians and Tigers is "different owners." He said Tigers owner Mike Ilitch is spending money, and "he's got a team to show for it." Acta says that's Perez's opinion, and he doesn't have anything to add to it.

CLEMENS COMEBACK: RHP Roger Clemens will pitch to his oldest son on Friday when he makes his second start for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner told a Houston television station that having Koby Clemens as his catcher in the game against Long Island is "cool stuff." Clemens, 50, pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings for Sugar Land on Aug. 25, his first professional outing since 2007.

ASTROS: The team plans to go with a six-man rotation for the rest of the season.

BLUE JAYS: Mired in a 12-game losing streak, LHP Ricky Romero will skip his scheduled start Saturday at Boston and will work on nine days rest Sept. 12 against Seattle.

PADRES: OF Chris Denorfia agreed to a two-year contract that runs through the 2014 season.

TWINS: LF Josh Willingham, still bothered by a sore right hamstring, was not in the starting lineup. He did pinch-hit in the ninth, flying out to end the game.

Tigers 7, Indians 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Tigers 7, Indians 1

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Prince Fielder added a solo shot in the eighth to help the Tigers avoid a three-game sweep. Doug Fister pitched seven strong innings fs to outduel Ubaldo Jimenez, who settled down after Cabrera's homer. The Tigers lost back-to-back 3-2 games to start this series but took the finale to remain a game behind the first-place White Sox in the AL Central.

Road series to merge

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH — Sports car racing in North America is getting a makeover, as Grand-Am and American Le Mans announced a merger Wednesday that will join them as one series beginning in 2014.

Grand-Am founder Jim France and ALMS founder Don Panoz said in a joint statement at Daytona International Speedway that the new series will start with the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2014 and likely include 12 races.

Panoz said the merger will "strengthen professional sports car racing beyond what either of our organizations could have achieved separately."

Many details are being worked out, including a series name, the 2014 schedule and technical regulations. The merger involves eight North American sports car series, and the unified organization would run the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Appeals: Richard Childress Racing told NASCAR it will appeal the six-week suspension of Craig Smokstad, the car chief for Paul Menard's No. 27 Sprint Cup car, and engineer Grant Hutchens. However, the team will not appeal crew chief Slugger Labbe's $100,000 fine and six-week suspension, nor the loss of 25 driver and 25 owner points. NASCAR said the car's frame rails were modified in an effort to deceive inspectors.

Briscoe in limbo: Penske Racing picked up the contract options on IndyCar points leader Will Power and Helio Castroneves, but the status of Ryan Briscoe, currently sixth in points, is uncertain. "We've told Ryan Briscoe it would be okay for him to go look and try to understand what's out there because our deal will come together late," Penske president Tom Cindric said.

Pirates 6, Astros 3

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Pirates 6, Astros 3

PITTSBURGH — Kevin Correia pitched six solid innings as a fill-in starter and Alex Presley, a late addition to the lineup, had two hits and three runs for the Pirates. Correia, who stepped in for injured right-hander Jeff Karstens, began the season in the rotation but was bumped to the bullpen when Pittsburgh acquired Wandy Rodriguez on July 24.


Sports in brief

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Paralympics

Former F1 Star Zanardi takes gold

LONDON — Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi of Italy won the gold medal in the 10-mile hand cycling time trial Wednesday at the London Paralympics. The two-time CART champion who lost both legs in a 2001 race crash posted a time of 24 minutes, 50.22 seconds. Powered by the arms, a hand cycle has two coasting rear wheels and one steerable front wheel. "It's an amazing feeling. I'm really, really happy for the result," said Zanardi, 45, who slid out of his cycle and lifted it over his head with one hand.

Pistorius gold: Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee who ran in the earlier Olympic Games, won his first gold medal of these Paralympic Games, helping South Africa win the 400-meter relay in a world-record time of 41.78.

No go on complaint: The International Paralympic Committee said there is no evidence to back South Africa's complaint that athletes are switching the size of their blades. Pistorius accused Alan Oliveira of Brazil of running on lengthened blades in his win in the 200 meters Sunday.

Locals lock medal: With a third-place finish in the 10th of 11 two-person keelboat races, St. Petersburg's Jen French and JP Creignou are second overall and have clinched a medal, either silver or bronze.

GOLF

Olazabal stunned by U.S. snub of Mahan

Hunter Mahan's absence from the U.S. Ryder Cup team surprised European captain Jose Maria Olazabal. Olazabal was sure Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk would receive wild cards. U.S. captain Davis Love chose Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker, passing over Mahan, a two-time PGA Tour winner this year and part of the past five Ryder Cups.

"Davis could have picked any four. The only question mark as I see it was Snedeker picked ahead of Mahan, but then Davis has gone for form," Olazabal said. The Ryder Cup is Sept. 28-30 at Medinah outside Chicago.

Et cetera

High schools: Austin Hatch, a Michigan basketball recruit from Fort Wayne, Ind., who survived a plane crash last year that killed his father and stepmother, was granted an extra year of high school eligibility that enables him to play two more seasons for Canterbury High.

NBA: Magic owner Rich DeVos, 86, is in good condition and recuperating at home after suffering a mild stroke last month.

NHL: Though labor talks remain in recess with 10 days before the league has threatened a lockout, the Senators signed center Zack Smith, 24, to a four-year extension worth $7.55 million.

WNBA: The league received a combined "A-plus" for its diversity efforts in grades released by the UCF Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. The combined grade for race and gender marked the eighth straight time, and ninth since 2001, the WNBA received at least an "A." The 95.7 points the WNBA received for the overall grade was the highest since the study began in 1999.

Times wires

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton enters opener against Tampa Bay Bucs saying he's striving for greatness

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

BRADENTON — Cam Newton's boyish, seemingly permanent grin is the most disarming part of the package.

And seeing him grace the pages of this month's GQ magazine modeling a cardigan, J.Crew button-down shirt and Banana Republic shoes only reinforces the image that has made him a darling of Madison Avenue.

It's almost easy to forget there's another, distinctly different side to this star quarterback: The one who wants to be great. That's the side, as the Bucs can attest, that wants to shred opponents on the way to the record books.

Newton, whose Carolina Panthers open the season against the Bucs on Sunday, seamlessly blends the two, joyously throwing and running for touchdowns, always with a smile, always having a blast.

"I think you just get one (side) with the other," said Newton, known for his end zone Superman poses. "When you play this game long enough, you have to get some kind of edge. I think my edge is coming out and continuously, every single day, considering this a blessing.

"A lot of guys don't get the opportunity to play in the NFL. Every single chance I get, I'm going to do it with a smile on my face. But at the same time, (I do it) respecting the game enough to want to be the best. There's greatness out there that I have to strive to get."

Newton and the Panthers have moved their team south ahead of this weekend, displaced from their downtown Charlotte facility by the Democratic National Convention. They're practicing at IMG Academy, the same place Newton has spent the past two offseasons chasing greatness.

If Newton begins 2012 the way he kicked off his offensive rookie of the year campaign last season, the Bucs will regret it. He threw for 854 yards in his first two games and didn't let up later against Tampa Bay. He accounted for eight touchdowns in two meetings against the Bucs, rushing for three scores in one game and throwing for three in the other.

"If you look at his stat line last year, not many have stopped him," Bucs coach Greg Schiano said. "Anytime we play great players, it isn't really (about) stopping them because they're going to get their plays. You try to limit them."

Those aren't words that describe a player who isn't serious about his craft, even if it isn't obvious.

"You haven't seen him after a (loss)," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. "He puts so much pressure on himself to be great.

"But he does enjoy playing. He enjoys everything about sports. When we're having meals and we have the TV on sports, his seat is always right in the front. … He loves to compete. I think that's a great thing. I think it permeates throughout our team. It's an infectious thing. He's serious enough when he has to be, but he enjoys himself when he wants to."

Newton is nothing if not driven. He's a regular at IMG because of his coach-student relationship with former Panthers and Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, director of the facility's football program.

Weinke, knowing only what he saw from afar, initially wondered about Newton's makeup.

"From the outside looking in, people that don't know him wonder," Weinke said. "I learned he's one of the most competitive guys I've ever been around.

"What I found from Day 1 is that he didn't just want to be good, he wanted to be great. He didn't just want to be just another guy. He wanted to be the guy. He used the naysayers as motivation. He came to me and said, 'I want to be a big-time NFL quarterback.' "

After throwing for a rookie record 4,051 yards and establishing an all-time quarterback record with 14 rushing touchdowns, that mission's accomplished.

But how does a player who has so much on his shoulders — living up to his status as a No. 1 draft pick, the hopes of an entire franchise, not to mention the fates of fantasy football players everywhere — deal with it with a smile?

"So many people have expectations and feel a certain way about me, but I don't think any of them will ever be as high as mine," Newton said. "I've said it once and I'll say it again: I'm not surprised by anything that I do. The only thing that surprises me is when I do not play to my potential. Nothing has changed from a year ago.

"There's no pressure on me nor is there any pressure on anybody else, especially if your personal expectations are high."

Quintessential Andy

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

NEW YORK — In his last match, Andy Roddick was perfect Andy Roddick.

He played so hard that sweat dripped off his cap, making a watery river of effort. He was twitchy and always moving, hardly able to sit down even during changeovers. He earned a quick advantage over a higher-seeded opponent but then started to slow. Because after the serve, his options slowly went away.

And after Roddick lost his final match, to seventh-seeded Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (4-7), 2-6, 4-6, Roddick, seeded 20th, swiped tears from his eyes. Then he made everyone laugh.

Asked how he would like to be remembered, Roddick answered quickly: "I want everyone to look back and think that I was awesome." He was laughing.

A week ago today, when he turned 30, Roddick said his career would be finished when he lost at the U.S. Open, where he won his only major title, in 2003.

The high point of his final match — suspended Tuesday because of rain with Roddick leading 1-0 in the first-set tiebreak — might have been a skipping forehand winner that gave him the set and prompted Roddick to pump his fists and yell, "Come on." But after that Roddick began rubbing his right shoulder, which he suggests will need surgery. And he began having trouble withstanding the easy power of 2009 Open champion del Potro.

Roddick finishes with 32 titles in all and a record of 612-213. He led the United States to the 2007 Davis Cup championship and was runnerup in four other majors, three times at Wimbledon and once at the U.S. Open, losing each time to Roger Federer. "I don't know what the emotions are," he said. "I'm a little overwhelmed. Normally I feel like I can grasp things pretty quickly and clearly. I don't feel that way right now."

Federer falls in quarters

Federer was stunned in the quarterfinals by sixth seed Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, a loss that sends the top seed out of the tournament before the semifinals for the first time since 2003.

Federer's forehand was way off, and Berdych kept pounding serves and groundstrokes right where he wanted them. It was Berdych's fourth victory in his past seven meetings against Federer, including in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals. Berdych joins Rafael Nadal (eight wins) and Djokovic (five) as the only players to defeat Federer more than once in Grand Slam play since Federer won his first major, Wimbledon in 2003.

Federer had been 8-0 in U.S. Open quarters. He has gone four Opens without winning the title since his last one in 2008. This is the longest drought of his career for any major he has previously won.

Andy Murray was the first man into the semis, beating 12th seed Marin Cilic 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-0.

In today's quarterfinals, del Potro faces defending champion Novak Djokovic, who advanced when No. 18 Stanislas Wawrinka stopped playing because of illness and fatigue while trailing 6-4, 6-1, 3-1. That match also was suspended because of rain Tuesday. No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic advanced by finishing a rain-interrupted 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory over No. 19 Philipp Kohlschreiber.

In the women's quarters, Maria Sharapova erased a 4-0 deficit in another rain-delayed match and beat No. 11 Marion Bartoli 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Winning in straight sets were Serena Williams over No. 12 Ana Ivanovic and No. 10 Sara Errani over No. 20 Roberta Vinci.

Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine pulls Tampa Bay Rays' Joe Maddon into his latest dispute

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Embattled Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine dragged Rays manager Joe Maddon into his latest controversy.

During a combative Boston radio interview in which he was asked about showing up late by manager standards — around 4 p.m. — for a recent night game in Oakland, Valentine claimed, incorrectly, that Maddon routinely arrives at that time.

"Four o'clock. That's so late for a 7:05 game," Valentine said on WEEI. "Joe Maddon gets there every day at 4 o'clock, just for the record."

Maddon responded with a smile, a few comments about being both "amused" and "slightly flattered" and a couple of one-liners of his own:

First, as he walked out for his daily pregame interview, he said: "Sorry I'm late, I just got here."

Then he posted on his @RaysJoeMaddon Twitter account: "Apologies to the writers for being late to today's pregame session. My pedicure appointment ran a little late."

Maddon, for what it's worth, usually arrives at the Trop by 2:45 and at road stadiums by around 3. "It varies by the day," he said. "I'm here in plenty of time."

Valentine, who responded to radio host Glenn Ordway asking the Sox manager if he had "checked out" on the season by saying if he were in studio, "I'd punch you right in the mouth," came back to Maddon again.

Valentine explained that he was delayed that day because he was picking his adult son up at a San Francisco airport and got caught in traffic, and he said that reporters were, among other things, "irresponsible" for reporting he was "late" getting to work.

"To get there the same time as another manager in my division gets there every day, just about," Valentine said, then, continuing, when asked: "Joe Maddon. That's when he shows up every day. Not a day, every day, okay?"

Valentine said he based his information on Maddon from a Sports Illustrated story on Maddon, but no such info shows up in database searches.

Valentine later said he was joking about punching Ordway.

Braves 1, Rockies 0

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Braves 1, Rockies 0

ATLANTA — Mike Minor took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and Craig Kimbrel earned a four-out save for the Braves. Minor lost his no-hit bid when Jordan Pacheco led off the seventh with a single. Pacheco stole second but was stranded when Minor struck out Ramon Hernandez swinging, Chris Nelson on a foul tip and Andrew Brown looking. Minor threw 63 of 108 pitches for strikes.

Blue Jays 6, Orioles 4

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

TORONTO — Rookie Adeiny Hechavarria drove in the go-ahead run with a bunt single, Rajai Davis homered and had three RBIs and the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 6-4 Wednesday night to knock Baltimore out of a first-place tie.

The Orioles fell a game behind the Yankees in the AL East a day after tying them. Adam Jones hit a solo home run and Mark Reynolds had a two-run drive off Casey Janssen in the ninth, his sixth in six games for Baltimore.

The Orioles return home today for a pivotal seven-game homestand that begins with four against New York, followed by three against the Rays. The three teams are separated by 2½ games.

Yunel Escobar led off the seventh with a broken bat double and moved up on Kelly Johnson's bunt hit. With one out, Hechavarria put down a safety squeeze. Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez charged and tried to scoop the ball to the plate with his glove, but it rolled past Matt Wieters as Escobar slid in, giving the Blue Jays their first lead in September.

Brewers 8, Marlins 5

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Brewers 8, Marlins 5

MIAMI — Rickie Weeks homered twice and drove in four runs to help Wily Peralta win his first major-league start, and the Brewers won for the 13th time in 16 games to climb within 6½ games of the Cardinals for the second NL wild-card spot.


Tampa Bay Rays' Sean Rodriguez says Dane De La Rosa sparked hand-breaking punch

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — INF Sean Rodriguez admitted that the frustration that led him to breaking his right hand at Triple-A Durham was the result of what he considered disrespectful actions by RHP Dane De La Rosa.

The two are again teammates with the Rays, with De La Rosa called up Wednesday. Rodriguez said there "definitely" are still issues, but he will be professional about it and not create any disturbances in the clubhouse.

"I'm trying to avoid him as much as possible," he said.

Rodriguez would not get into specifics over what led him to punch a locker after the Aug. 26 game, except to say it was how De La Rosa reacted when Rodriguez said something about the song that was being played in the (winning) clubhouse.

"How do you disrespect somebody without touching them? You say things or talk in a manner that's very disrespectful," Rodriguez said. "In a baseball clubhouse people do that all the time. But when you turn to ask somebody, 'Are you being serious right now?' the way someone's tone is, the way they're talking to you and they either just smirk or ignore you leads you to believe one or the other, right?

"So instead of me normally doing what I normally would have done in the past, which is basically just to go and do a lot of things to him, I tried to exert my energy and frustration elsewhere to try to let it go. Bad job of trying to deal with it."

Rodriguez, who hopes to return from the disabled list when eligible Sept. 15 at least to pinch-run and play defense, admitted it was an act of "stupidity" on his part to hurt himself and the team.

De La Rosa said the situation could be "interpreted in a lot of different ways" but declined to be specific.

"One of my biggest things is being good to teammates and being good to coaches," he said. "Obviously I didn't really mean to offend anybody. What happened is what happened. We haven't talked. Just getting up here, I just want to feel things out first, then definitely talk to Joe (Maddon) and clear things up. That's pretty much all I'll say for now."

NIEMANN UPDATE: RHP Jeff Niemann got good news on his visit to Dr. James Andrews: that the issue in his right shoulder is no more than the inflammation in the rotator cuff that was diagnosed. Also, that he might be able to resume throwing in a couple of weeks, meaning the injury may not be season-ending. "I don't know that, but it may not be," Maddon said."

SOME R&R: CF B.J. Upton was out of the lineup so he'd benefit from two-plus days of rest as the Rays are off today, though he pinch-hit in the eighth and struck out. INF Ryan Roberts was also off. … Evan Longoria, who said his legs felt tired Monday, needed one more day at DH, Maddon said, and should return to third base over the weekend.

MINOR MATTERS: Class A Bowling Green opened best-of-three Midwest League playoff action by losing 5-4 to Lake County (Indians). … Double-A Montgomery opens best-of-five Southern League play tonight at Mobile (D'backs). Manager Billy Gardner Jr. was named league manager of the year. His father won it in 1973 with Jacksonville … Rookie-level Princeton manager Michael Johns has joined the coaching staff to lend an extra hand, as will Durham manager Charlie Montoyo.

MISCELLANY: The Rays lost for an MLB record-tying third time this season when their pitchers struck out at least 15; it was only the third time in franchise history the Yankees won with 15 Ks. … Shannon Magrane, American Idol finalist and daughter of former TV analyst Joe, will open Sunday's postgame Coco Jones concert.

Times staff writer Joe Smith contributed to this report.

Players at greater risk for brain diseases, new study says

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

NEW YORK — A study of former NFL players finds they were unusually prone to dying from degenerative brain disease, the latest indication that repeated blows to the head might cause serious trouble later on.

The death rate from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's disease combined was about three times what one would predict from the general population, researchers reported.

Prior research had suggested football players were unusually prone to those diseases, said lead researcher Everett Lehman of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is part of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study, reported online Wednesday in the journal Neurology, looked at death certificates. It drew on a long-running study of more than 3,400 NFL players with at least five playing seasons in the league between 1959 and 1988. Some 334 had died by the end of 2007, the cutoff for being included in the study. Researchers compared their death rates from various causes to that of a comparable group of American men.

One or another of the three brain diseases was listed as the underlying cause of death in 10 cases, which is about three times the general rate for American men, the researchers reported.

Researchers noted that the study can't prove that the results were caused by football-related concussions, and that they might not apply to pro or amateur players who have played fewer than five years.

Also on Wednesday, the NFL announced a donation of $30 million for medical research to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the fundraising arm of the NIH. Commissioner Roger Goodell said the research could benefit athletes and potential areas of study might include CTE, concussion management and treatment.

No Witten waiver: The Cowboys denied an ESPN.com report that claimed tight end Jason Witten was willing to sign a waiver that would free the team and its doctors from liability if he was allowed to play Wednesday against the Giants, USA Today reported. Witten, who suffered a tear to his spleen in the last preseason game, was not listed among the inactives and was cleared to play in the regular-season opener, where he caught two passes for 10 yards in the victory over the Giants.

Sanchez rattled, WR says: Quarterback Mark Sanchez was "rattled" and in a state of shock when he got word of the trade that brought Tim Tebow to the Jets, receiver Santonio Holmes told Newsday. Holmes said he spoke to Sanchez by phone and the quarterback's initial reaction was a mixture of shock, confusion and insecurity. " 'Wow. How did this happen?' " Holmes recalled Sanchez asking.

Fan forum: Before the season opener, Goodell met with fans representing each team, and they told him they want cheaper tickets for preseason games, to be online while at the game, and some want more cold-weather Super Bowls. Goodell said preseason ticket price is a big issue among fans, saying: "I hear that almost No. 1. I think it's probably fair to say people probably are not fans of the preseason."

A Tampa Bay fan won applause by asking why the league doesn't dump the "archaic" local blackout system for games that fail to sell out. Goodell noted blackouts are far less frequent than they used to be and that tickets sales are important to the clubs. The deadline for the Bucs to sell out their opener is 4:25 p.m. today, unless the team is granted an extension.

Bounty case: A federal judge in New Orleans has all but ruled out any prospects for a settlement in the case of four players challenging their bounty suspensions. U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan asked for more filings pertaining to the players' request for a temporary restraining order that would allow them to return to their teams while their case against the NFL proceeds.

Bears: Linebacker Brian Urlacher (left knee) practiced and was listed as a full participant in preparations for the Colts.

Redskins: Strong safety Brandon Meriweather will miss the season opener because of sprained ligaments in his left knee.

Tampa Bay Rays: Promotion a financial boost to soon-to-be-married Dane De La Rosa; Joe Maddon excited to do nothing

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

AL East

Team W L Pct. GB

New York 77 59 .566—

Baltimore 76 60 .559 1

Tampa Bay 75 62 .547 21/2

Boston 63 75 .457 15

Toronto 61 75 .449 16

AL race for wild cards

Team W L Pct. GB

Baltimore 76 60 .559—

Oakland 76 60 .559—

Tampa Bay 75 62 .547 11/2

Los Angeles 74 63 .540 21/2

Detroit 73 63 .537 3

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

Quote of the day

"I'm looking forward to doing nothing."

Rays manager Joe Maddon, on having today off, at home, after playing 29 of 30 days.

Wedding gift of the day

Getting called up after a strong season at Triple-A Durham meant a lot to RHP Dane De La Rosa from a baseball standpoint. And also from a financial sense. De La Rosa, anything but a bonus baby, is getting married Nov. 3, and the $75,000 or so he'll make over the final month (prorated from his $480,400 salary) will make a big difference. "It's a great wedding gift from the Rays," he said. "Starting a new life, the bankroll obviously helps to just get things going and paying for stuff that maybe might have not been paid for for the next three years."

Number of the day

34

Active players, most since 35 in September 2008, and with two more possible additions.

Today: off

Next game: vs. Rangers, 7:10 Friday. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (8-10, 3.41); Rangers — Derek Holland (10-6, 4.79)

On deck

Saturday: vs. Rangers, 7:10 Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (17-5, 2.54); Rangers — Yu Darvish (14-9, 4.29)

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Nationals 9, Cubs 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Nationals 9, Cubs 1

WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper hit two homers and the Nationals went deep six times for the second straight game, helping Gio Gonzalez to his 18th victory. Adam LaRoche had three hits for Washington, which again tied the franchise record for home runs in a game.

Romo finds new favorite

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Cowboys waited all year for another shot at the Giants. When they got it in the 2012 season opener, they were ready.

So were the replacement officials, who barely were a story as Dallas dominated the Super Bowl champions for much of a 24-17 victory Wednesday night.

It won't make up for the New Year's Day loss that cost the Cowboys the NFC East title and sent the Giants on their way to the NFL championship. It sure could provide impetus for this season, though, particularly with the discovery of a new game breaker in Kevin Ogletree.

The officials, a focal point as the league's lockout of the regulars continued, had no controversies, no blatant mistakes or rampant confusion. The spotlight belonged squarely on the Cowboys, from Tony Romo's three touchdown passes and 307 yards in the air to DeMarco Murray's 129 yards rushing to Ogletree's two scores.

Dallas' defense frustrated Eli Manning and his offense with three sacks, a half-dozen pressures, all before the largest crowd at MetLife Stadium for a Giants game, 82,287.

When the Cowboys were threatened late, Romo hit Ogletree for 15 yards on third down to clinch it. That gave Ogletree 114 yards on eight catches; he had 25 receptions for 294 yards and no scores entering the night.

The Cowboys' big-time receivers — Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten — were eclipsed by Ogletree, who sure didn't resemble a backup. In the first half, he had five catches for 47 yards and a TD, and broke free for a 40-yard reception early in the third quarter.

Ogletree thoroughly fooled New York's top cornerback, Corey Webster, on that long score to start the second half.

"I was not the primary receiver," Ogletree told the Philadelphia Inquirer about the play. "Execution was key to that play and the key tonight."

And the Cowboys got another huge play from Murray, who broke two tackles in the backfield, scooted down the right sideline for 48 yards, and set up Dan Bailey's 33-yard field goal for a 17-10 lead through three quarters.

After Manning connected with former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett for a 9-yard touchdown with 2:36 remaining, Dallas never gave the ball back.

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