Times wires
Saturday, October 27, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. — Everett Golson scored the decisive touchdown and Manti Te'o bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy with a late interception as No. 5 Notre Dame beat No. 8 Oklahoma 30-13 on Saturday to remain undefeated.

Te'o, the star linebacker, dived when Landry Jones' pass ricocheted off Jalen Saunders and got his gloved hands under it. Kyle Brindza tacked on his third field goal soon after, and Theo Riddick added a late touchdown run as the Irish scored 20 fourth-quarter points.

Jones threw for 356 yards with no touchdowns for the Sooners, who were clinging to hope they could get back in the national title race.

Notre Dame is off to its best start in a decade, doing so as the only team in the country with four wins against Top 25 teams — including two on the road against top 10 foes.

The game revived a rivalry that had been largely dormant since the 1960s with only one meeting since then — in Bob Stoops' first season as Sooners coach in 1999. The Irish won eight of the first nine meetings, including three times when they handed Oklahoma its only loss of the season — most notably in 1957, when the Sooners' NCAA-record 47-game win streak ended.

This meeting was no different, and Notre Dame's throwback defense gave the game a taste of days gone by.

The Irish frequently gave up underneath passes but prevented them from turning into big gains, making the Sooners snap the ball over and over while the Irish waited for a mistake. Oklahoma's first two red zone possessions ended with field goals. The Sooners turned to backup quarterback Blake Bell and their "Belldozer" short-yardage run package to finally punch one in and tie it at 13 with 9:10 left.

Golson, who had to come out for the final play of the third after getting flattened by Tony Jefferson, answered on the next play, a 50-yard post pass to freshman Chris Brown — his first career reception.

It took five more plays for Notre Dame to punch it in from the 15 with Golson taking a shotgun snap for a draw and diving into the line from the 1.

Jones tried to rally the Sooners, but linebacker Dan Fox slammed into Saunders as the pass arrived and Te'o was right there to pick it off. The Irish, who were giving up just 9.4 points per game, haven't allowed more than 17 in a game this season.

That remained true when an instant replay review wiped what appeared to be a 34-yard Jones-to-Kenny Stills touchdown pass off the board on the game's final drive. Stills was called for offensive pass interference by shoving KeiVarae Russell down in the end zone on the next play, and Jones was sacked by Prince Shembo to deliver one final blow by the Irish defense.

By Joe Polito, Times Correspondent
Sunday, October 28, 2012

TAMPA — For the third consecutive game, the USF offense did just about all it could to win. But not even 552 yards of total offense were enough to stop the Bulls' losing streak, which stretched to six games after their 37-36 loss to Syracuse on Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium.

They rushed for 369 yards, including 273 in the first half. They were only forced to punt twice. They left Syracuse with no timeouts and 83 seconds to score a touchdown at the end of the game. Still, none of it was enough.

"The coaching book says you're not supposed to run for 370 yards and lose," coach Skip Holtz said. "I just have a hole in my heart for some of the players that went out and competed as well as they did, and we weren't able to get it done."

B.J. Daniels had 183 yards and one touchdown passing to go with his 134 yards rushing. Lindsey Lamar also shined, running for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown before leaving with what Holtz called a chest injury.

USF's rushing success came despite a hobbled offensive line, which was already missing starter Mark Popek and also lost right guard Danous Estenor in the second half.

"Really proud of the backs, the way they ran the ball, and obviously the line," offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said. "A couple plays we'd like to have back obviously. … The turnover in the third quarter obviously is a negative."

Fitch was referring to running back Demetris Murray's fumble that helped Syracuse climb back into the game after USF led by 20 at halftime. Fitch also said having to settle for a field goal five times helped keep the game within reach.

The Bulls reversed their trend of struggling offensively in the first half, scoring on their opening drive for the first time this season on a 1-yard Murray run.

Daniels said at halftime, he thought this was finally the game that would turn the tide for the Bulls.

"Yeah, obviously, I mean we got up on them, but we needed just to be consistent — that third quarter was kind of rough for us," the senior quarterback said.

But once again, the game was out of his control in the final seconds. Daniels said it was difficult to watch.

"I wouldn't necessarily say it's exactly the same, just getting more dramatic," he said. "It really is (hard), but honestly I feel like we're learning life lessons through this. … We're going to have to get up and make sure we do something good for the rest of the season."

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

HUNGTINGON, W.Va. — Latavius Murray accounted for four touchdowns, Quincy McDuffie returned two kickoffs for scores and Blake Bortles passed for two TDs as UCF routed Marshall 54-17 Saturday night to stay unbeaten in Conference USA.

Murray ran for three touchdowns on 156 yards with 16 carries while also catching two passes for 38 yards and a score.

Bortles was 15-of-21 for 277 yards passing with two interceptions for the Knights (6-2, 4-0), who became bowl-eligible for the fifth time in the last eight seasons.

The Thundering Herd (3-5, 2-2) scored first with a field goal but, just one play after that, UCF got rolling. McDuffie returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a 7-3 lead and the Knights never looked back as they scored 27 straight points.

McDuffie wasn't done, though, as he took the second-half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and a 34-10 UCF lead.

It was the first time in school history a Knight returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a game.

UCF went ahead 14-3 early in the second quarter as Murray scored on a 2-yard run. He then put UCF up 27-3 with a 75-yarder. His 20-yard receiving touchdown came in the third quarter and put UCF on top 40-10. Murray capped his touchdown day on a 42-yard run with 3:24 left in the third quarter.

Former Largo standout Brynn Harvey capped the scoring late in the fourth quarter when he finished the Knights' 15-play, 99-yard drive with a 21-yard run for a 54-17 lead.

The drive took 10 minutes, 10 seconds off the clock.

The Knights' 54 points are the most Marshall has ever allowed in Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

Bortles' 277 yards were a career high and he threw two interceptions.

Defensively, the Knights' Jonathan Davis recorded nine tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss.

Deion Green had two sacks among his six tackles.

The Knights host Southern Methodist at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Bright House Networks Stadium in the school's homecoming game.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Florida fell from second to seventh in the BCS standings Sunday after losing to Georgia, and Kansas State moved into second behind Alabama.

Notre Dame became the latest team to move past Oregon, taking third place. The Ducks remained fourth.

Alabama is locked in at No. 1, and if the Crimson Tide keeps winning, it will play for its third championship in four years. The Wildcats, Fighting Irish and Ducks need to remain unbeaten. The computer ratings are still holding the Ducks back because their strength of schedule lags behind the other contenders'.

Five of the top eight teams are from the SEC. It's the first time in BCS history five schools from the same conference are ranked this high.

Florida State's win over Duke moved it up three spots, from 12th to ninth. FSU is back in the top 10 for the first time since October 2005.

In the Associated Press poll, the Gators dropped from No. 3 to 8, and FSU moved up to No. 9 from 11. Alabama remained No. 1, getting all 60 first-place votes, followed by Oregon, Kansas State, Notre Dame and LSU.

Lattimore dislocates knee

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore dislocated his right knee and sustained ligament damage against Tennessee, but coach Steve Spurrier believes the junior could eventually return to football.

Team doctor Jeffrey Guy said Lattimore's knee was hyperextended, which resulted in injuries to several ligaments. But there were no fractures, broken bones or other injuries, and Lattimore's surgically repaired left knee from torn ligaments last year was not affected, he said in a statement. "Marcus has already begun the process of prehabilitation prior to surgery and to his eventual return to football," the statement said.

Lattimore has not used a redshirt season, so he could take one next year and return to the Gamecocks in 2014.

"He knows what the road ahead is," said Spurrier, who visited Lattimore on Sunday and said the player had a good attitude. "We're all hoping and praying he'll be back."

In the second quarter against the Vols, Lattimore was wrapped up from behind on a 2-yard run when defensive back Eric Gordon came in low. Lattimore's right leg flopped over and slammed against the turf.

University President Harris Pastides visited with Lattimore on Sunday and said a rally would be held in the player's honor on campus today.

Senior Kenny Miles will be South Carolina's starter. Lattimore finishes with 662 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Gator facing charges: Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Trip Thurman, 20, is facing misdemeanor charges of having a fake ID and possession of alcohol stemming from a Sept. 27 arrest at a country music concert in Gainesville, the Miami Herald reported. Thurman has played in three games this season, mostly on special teams. The school did not respond to a Herald request for comment. Thurman is the 11th player to be arrested since Will Muschamp took over for Urban Meyer as coach in 2011.

Michigan: Quarterback Denard Robinson injured a nerve in his right (throwing) elbow against Nebraska, leaving him unable to grip the ball. Coach Brady Hoke said he wasn't concerned about Robinson's availability for Saturday against Minnesota.

Maryland: The team has lost a fourth quarterback to a season-ending injury. Freshman Caleb Rowe tore an anterior cruciate ligament against Boston College, coach Randy Edsall said. Either converted linebacker Shawn Petty or converted tight end Brian McMahon will start Saturday against Georgia Tech.

basketball: Wisconsin, ranked 23rd in the preseason AP poll, lost starting point guard Josh Gasser for the season when he tore his left ACL in practice Saturday.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2012

TAMPA — Eric Wright will become the second Buccaneers defensive back to be suspended this season for using the stimulant Adderall, according to a report Sunday by Fox NFL analyst Jay Glazer.

Cornerback Aqib Talib has one week remaining on his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Talib was shut down by the league after he said he admitted to taking one Adderall pill without a prescription before training camp.

Adderall is a stimulant used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but considered by the NFL to be a banned performance-enhancing drug when used without a prescription.

Both the Bucs and the NFL declined comment Sunday, because apparently, the matter has not been resolved.

Talib, who is scheduled to return to the team Nov. 5, did not appeal his suspension. That might not be the case with the 27-year-old Wright.

The report by Glazer surfaced during his segment on Fox NFL Sunday. Later, he tweeted: "With Bucs starting Cb Aqib Talib suspended 4 games for Adderall, their other starting CB Eric Wright also facing a 4 game ban for Adderall.

"The whole Adderall thing is tricky (because) several players legitimately need such meds but league has become very strict who takes it."

Wright was one of Tampa Bay's touted free agents who signed a five-year, $38 million contract in March. He was given the responsibility of covering the opponent's top receiver once Talib, 26, was suspended Oct. 13.

Wright has started all seven games this season and has 31 tackles, an interception and eight passes defensed.

If he is suspended by the league, barring an appeal, it means the Bucs could be without both starting cornerbacks for Sunday's game at Oakland. E.J. Biggers has started the past three games at left cornerback in place of Talib.

In Thursday night's 36-17 victory at Minnesota, former Largo High standout Leonard Johnson started at nickel corner. The Bucs also have Brandon McDonald, who has been hobbled by an ankle injury.

Another option might be moving safety Ronde Barber back to cornerback, a position he played for 15 seasons.

Wright, who also played for the Lions and Browns, has had a tumultuous start to his career in Tampa Bay. He was arrested in the offseason in Los Angeles on suspicion of driving under the influence, but that charge was dropped by prosecutors.

According to Glazer, several players in the league take the drug to deal with ADHD.

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com and can be heard from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WDAE-AM 620.

By Dave Zalewski, Times Correspondent
Sunday, October 28, 2012

What's hot: Until the wind started blowing, canceling offshore trips, we were starting every day targeting Spanish mackerel on our way offshore as soon as we had to reduce speed because of the no-wake zone out of John's Pass. The speed's ideal for trolling and deploying No. 1 planers and small spoons. In addition to mackerel, we caught ladyfish, bluefish, speckled trout, jack crevalle, blue runners and small gag grouper. On several days, the mackerel action was such that it paid to stay within 100 yards on either side of the bridge. We've come across schools of ravenous bull redfish in the 15-30 pound class running offshore and now keep at least two rods rigged and ready for them.

Tip: A gathering of frigate birds (four or more), within 100 yards of shore out to the artificial reefs, is worth investigating. There's no mistaking a school of these fish feeding on the surface by the commotion they make and their color when the sun reflects off them.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2012

tom jones' two cents

Tampa Bay Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Best coverage

Saturday's Florida-Georgia game wasn't the best-played college football game ever. Actually, it was a dog with both teams playing sloppily.

But CBS's broadcast was superb. Leading that charge was analyst Gary Danielson, who had his best day of the season. Danielson's analysis was spot-on all day, and he was excellent in his anticipation.

His finest moment: In the first quarter, Danielson noticed how a Georgia defensive end crashed toward the running back on a quarterback option play. Danielson pointed out that Gators QB Jeff Driskel could have had a big run if he had held on to the ball and to look for that play later in the game.

Sure enough, in the fourth quarter, Driskel held the ball, that same end crashed the middle, and the quarterback raced for a 20-yard run.

Danielson also had the best line of the weekend. When talking about whether or not a play should be reversed on a video replay, Danielson talked about the different philosophies of replay officials:

"Sometimes,'' Danielson said, "they won't overturn anything unless it's obvious to 10 guys in a bar.''

Worst graphic

WTSP-Ch. 10 put up a graphic during the Florida-Georgia game promoting its postgame show. Nothing wrong with that.

What was wrong was that the graphic once stayed up long enough to block the view of the hold and kick of a critical field goal that made the score 10-9 in the fourth quarter.

Rule No. 1 when it comes to posting graphics: It can never ever get in the way of the play.

Worst game

The NFL continues to push this London game, and I don't get it.

First off, why not make it a big deal in this country? Make it a Friday game. Or a Saturday game. Why not make it the Monday night game? Make it special, instead of just one of the slate of 1 o'clock Sunday games. Sunday's Patriots-Rams game from London wasn't even on in much of this country, including here.

It wasn't a big deal in England either. Media outlets reported there was very little buzz about the game and that much of the country was focused on the highly anticipated soccer match between Manchester United and Chelsea.

If it's not a big deal here and it's not a big deal there, what's the point?

Best sight

ESPN has re-signed college football analyst Lee Corso to a two-year extension.

Corso's only duties these days are as a panelist on Saturday morning's College GameDay. The 77-year-old had a stroke three years ago and it badly affected his on-air work for some time. However, the Florida State alumnus appears pretty much recovered.

Credit ESPN for sticking with Corso and, while Kirk Herbstreit is the star of the show, GameDay wouldn't seem right without Corso. And, let's be honest, watching Corso pick the game of the week by putting on mascot's head is still one of the best moments on TV.

Best news

ESPN signed announcer Dan Shulman to a multiyear extension last week.

Shulman will continue to be the play-by-play man on Sunday Night Baseball, as well as prime-time college basketball telecasts.

Shulman, who has been with the network since 1995, is the best play-by-play voice ESPN has and, on a side note, a heck of a good guy, too.

Coolest gadget

Watching the World Series on Fox has been a dud. That's no one's fault. The series just hasn't been that interesting.

But how cool is that X-Mo ultra slow-motion stuff? While it's interesting to watch the ball hitting the bat, the super slo-mo is most compelling when it shows just how much strain and torque can be seen on a pitcher's arm.

Funniest sight

I don't know what's funnier, watching College GameDay's Kirk Herbstreit scramble away from live animals during the predictions segment or watching the look of horror on his face when co-host Lee Corso fires guns in the air.

Coolest story

ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown analyst Cris Carter was talking about the unwritten rules of football and told a cool story involving former NFL and Gators linebacker and Titusville native Wilber Marshall.

"When you take away the ability of a player to take care of his family or to feed his kids, we know as former players that it is totally out of bounds,'' Carter said. "I broke my collarbone in Week 17 with the Vikings, out the rest of the season. We played the Washington Redskins the next year in the playoffs. We threw an interception early in the game. I'm going to make the tackle. Right before I make the tackle, Wilber Marshall yells out 'Cris!' and I stop for a second. Didn't make the tackle, but he could have ended my career. There are some gentlemen behind these gladiators that play the game.''

Strangest story

Strange doings last week on ESPN2's First Take. It sounded as if Stephen A. Smith, who is African-American, used a version of the N-word. While dismissing the idea that Lakers star Kobe Bryant would miss the season opener, Smith said something that sounded a little like "(N-word) please!''

A bunch of people got riled up enough that ESPN had Smith address the incident on air. He said he didn't use the N-word, but he never talked about what words he might have used that led to the confusion. He only said that he is a New Yorker and that he talks "very fastly'' and was misunderstood.

The whole thing was rather silly, when you think about it. The website Deadspin put it in pretty good perspective, saying it was dumb that white people demanded an apology, that it was dumb that ESPN asked Smith for an explanation, that Smith never really apologized, and that ESPN edited the clip on repeats of the show even though it said it had accepted Smith's explanation.

Then Deadspin's kicker: "We are, as usual, all dumber for having watched First Take.''

Most interesting quote

While reporting on Bucs cornerback Eric Wright facing a possible suspension for using the NFL-banned Adderall, Fox NFL Sunday insider Jay Glazer said, "There are several players in the NFL that are taking Adderall for attention deficient disorder. Some are getting caught and facing a four-game suspension and some aren't. It's a slippery slope."

Here's my thought about Glazer's quote. I'm not so sure these NFL players are taking Adderall "for attention deficient disorder.'' I think there are other reasons and they have to do with gaining a competitive edge.

I do agree with Glazer's final thought. It is a slippery slope.

Three things that popped into my head

1. Okay, I'm sure a bunch of Georgia folks will write me, accusing me of being a Gators graduate or fan, but I'm neither. I'm just saying: The Georgia football team seems like a mouthy, disrespectful, showboating, trash-talking sort. A reflection of the coaches, I suppose.

2. Maybe the USF football team should get blown out next week just to, you know, mix things up a bit.

3. Just as well that the Gators lost. Despite their undefeated record going into the weekend, I didn't think they were in the same class as Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State and, apparently, Notre Dame.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Bears find way, Panthers still lost

CHICAGO — Brandon Marshall saw Jay Cutler's grin, and that was all it took to put the wide receiver at ease. The Bears trailed again. Time was running out.

"That's when you want that type of quarterback," Marshall said.

Robbie Gould kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired after Cutler rallied Chicago in the fourth.

The Bears trailed 19-14 when Panthers receiver Steve Smith slipped on an out pattern and cornerback Tim Jennings returned his second interception of the game 25 yards to give Chicago a 20-19 lead. The Panthers retook the lead, but Cutler moved the Bears 55 yards to the Panthers 23, setting up Gould.

Though Jennings has six picks this season, Smith wasn't heaping praise on him.

"I know you want to pump him up," he said to the media. "I've been kicking his (butt) every time I've come up here, and today was no different. Do you disagree? I didn't think so."

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Richardson pride of Browns, Brown

CLEVELAND — Trent Richardson broke one tackle, then another and was gone.

The Chargers couldn't stop the rookie running back who might make the Browns relevant once more. On a day when every yard counted, Richardson delivered a dominant day that even made Hall of Famer Jim Brown proud.

"Great running backs break tackles," Brown said after Cleveland's win. "You do that, you are in control. … The other team is disheartened. That's football."

And that's why the Browns chose Richardson. Cleveland's rookie out of Alabama, still playing with a rib injury, rushed for 122 yards in nasty weather and scored the game's only touchdown.

Richardson said once he was deep in San Diego's secondary, there was no stopping him. "They don't want no problems," he said.

Afterward, Brown, who called Richardson an "ordinary" back on the day Cleveland selected him No. 3 overall in April's draft, was waiting at the young star's locker.

Both offenses struggled with winds off Lake Erie gusting to more than 40 mph and a steady rain falling from start to finish.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Diving effort and Luck spark Colts

NASHVILLE — Andrew Luck needed a little longer than usual to pull out a win for the Colts.

The rookie quarterback came through in overtime, hitting Vick Ballard on a 16-yard touchdown 4:49 to beat the Titans.

The win boosted the Colts to 4-3, giving Luck one more win than his predecessor, Peyton Manning, chalked up in his entire rookie season with Indianapolis.

In overtime, Ballard took a screen pass up the left sideline and got his feet knocked out from under him, but he leaped and twisted toward the pylon for the score. Officials reviewed the play before ruling it a touchdown.

"They were all around, and I just knew I had to get in," Ballard said. "The only way I could get in from the 5 was to jump so I did."

The Colts have beaten Tennessee in seven of eight overall and seven of the past 10 in Nashville.

Luck, the No. 1 overall draft pick out of Stanford, set up Delone Carter's 1-yard TD run that tied it at 13 with 3:24 left in the fourth.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

New WR threat lifts Lions in rally

DETROIT — The Lions drafted Titus Young last year, envisioning him as the receiver to eventually replace veteran Nate Burleson. It happened sooner than planned, and Young is taking advantage.

Young caught his second touchdown from Matthew Stafford on a 1-yard slant with 20 seconds left, lifting Detroit.

"Matthew trusted me all day, and he gave me a perfect opportunity to make a play at the end," Young said. "I wanted do that for everyone on the team, but I especially wanted to do it for Nate."

Burleson broke his right leg Monday at Chicago, pushing Young up the depth chart. Young caught a go-ahead TD in the second quarter and totaled nine catches for 100 yards, both career highs.

"I wasn't worried about Titus," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. "Titus has never lacked for self-confidence."

Young needed to make the second TD catch after tight end Zach Miller had a spectacular, 16-yard snag from Russell Wilson with 5:27 left to put the Seahawks up.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Jets still talk, but Fins walk the walk

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Reggie Bush and the Dolphins were over all that trash-talking from last week. The Jets? They were still going at it after the game.

But after a week of chatter, Miami settled this one. No contest.

Matt Moore passe for a touchdown to Anthony Fasano after stepping in for injured Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins rolled to their third straight victory.

"It was very satisfying for us, as good as it gets," Bush said. "Once we got them down early, I thought that was it."

Olivier Vernon recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown and blocked a field goal, and the Dolphins smothered Mark Sanchez and the Jets.

Stung by the loss, a few Jets players were still zinging the Dolphins after the game.

"They're not a very clean team," wide receiver Chaz Schilens said. "They're a little cheap."

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie also called Bush "a punk."

The Dolphins didn't care.

"It feels good to do no more talking and feels even better to back it up," Moore said. "Our special teams put us in great situation to win this, but we were ready as soon as we stepped off the bus."

Tannehill injured his left knee and quadriceps muscle on a sack on Miami's second possession. Coach Joe Philbin had no immediate word on the severity of the injury.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

New England or old, Pats still roll

LONDON — The Patriots showed that old England is their domain as well.

After the Patriots gave up an early 50-yard scoring play, Tom Brady responded by leading five straight touchdown drives and New England ran over the Rams in the NFL's annual regular-season game at Wembley Stadium.

"I hope they enjoyed the game, all the fans," Brady said, "I know it got out of hand there, but that's how the Patriots like it."

New England had at least 350 yards of total offense for the 17th straight game, breaking a record set by the Rams in 1999-2000, back when Kurt Warner was leading "The Greatest Show on Turf."

Rob Gronkowski caught eight passes for 146 yards and two TDs — one punctuated by a Buckingham Palace changing-of-the-guard dance. That pleased the 84,004 fans who mostly cheered the Pats, though the Rams were the designated home team.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY — The first big dose of small-market reality has hit the Thunder.

Before the Thunder even played its first real game after a trip to the NBA Finals, the franchise parted ways with 2011-12 sixth man of the year James Harden in a trade with the Rockets, fracturing the team's core and substantially changing the second unit.

"We made several efforts to try to make this work," general manager Sam Presti said Sunday. "I think there's a point in every negotiation where you start to realize where things are lining up, and at that point you have to play the hand that you're dealt. I feel like as an organization, we've made some tough decisions. This one was right up there with them."

Presti said the Thunder made what was supposed to be a final offer Friday, then approached Harden one last time before pulling off the trade Saturday night, making sure the 23-year-old realized he could be dealt if he didn't accept.

But Harden, who developed into one of the league's most dynamic shooting guards after being the No. 3 pick in the 2009 draft, still wanted more.

"It happened so fast; it happened very fast," said Harden, who started seven games in three seasons but became an indispensable reserve, averaging 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season. "But this is the position I'm in now. Just have to make the best out of it."

Oklahoma City already had All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and NBA blocks leader Serge Ibaka signed to long-term, eight-figure deals, and even with an arena upgraded by taxpayer funds that has been sold out for every game, it wasn't willing to offer Harden a maximum contract.

Presti said the club made an "extraordinary effort" to keep Harden but sidestepped whether it tried to low-ball him.

"That's for other people to determine, I suppose, and ultimately we'll live with that. We understand what we were able to do, and what we did, and the significance and the importance it made, especially considering the commitments that it would have taken our payroll to," Presti said. "Our ownership group was absolutely behind that effort."

Harden said Sunday he expects to sign a long-term deal with Houston before the regular season starts. He was saying the same thing about Oklahoma City when training camp began.

Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka took marginally less than they could have demanded on the open market to stay in Oklahoma City, but Presti suggested "the term 'sacrifice' gets thrown around maybe too loosely." He said the Thunder didn't begrudge Harden for rejecting their offers.

The Thunder isn't in a position to spend like the Heat, which went over the salary cap to add Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis after beating Oklahoma City in the Finals last season, or the Lakers, who added All-Stars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the offseason to go along with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

Oklahoma City received guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round draft picks and a second-round pick in the swap with Houston, and also sent Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to the Rockets.

Harden will have to adjust to a starting role in Houston, joining Jeremy Lin in the backcourt.

Mavs: Forward/center Melvin Ely and forward Chris Douglas-Roberts were waived, leaving the club with one roster move to make by today. It is expected to permanently part with guard Delonte West, who last week was suspended indefinitely for unspecified conduct issues. That would mean former USF guard Dominique Jones, a first-round pick of the Grizzlies in 2010, would make on the team.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Tennis

SerENA downs sharapova for season-end title

ISTANBUL — Serena Williams dismissed Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3 Sunday to win the season-ending WTA Championships for the third time and finish the year with another title but not the top ranking.

"Now that I can be honest, I really wanted to win," Williams said. "I wanted it so bad, but I didn't want to say it. … It was good for my sanity to win."

Williams ends the year with a 59-4 record and seven titles. Since her first-round loss at the French Open, she is 31-1, winning Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal and the U.S. Open. The 31-year-old became the oldest player to capture the year-end event for the top eight players. She finishes ranked No. 3, behind No. 1 Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Sharapova, because she did not play as well in the first half of the year. Azarenka lost to Sharapova in the semifinals.

More tennis

Del Potro downs Federer in Swiss Indoors final

Juan Martin del Potro took Roger Federer's Swiss Indoors title, beating the hometown favorite 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-3) at Basel. "It was an unbelievable final," said Del Potro, who never dropped serve. Federer, who won the event in five of the past six years, was seeking his 77th career title to tie John McEnroe at fourth on the Open era list. "I didn't play a good tiebreaker in the third, and that was the story of the match," he said. Also, he said he pulled out of the Paris Masters, which begins today, to rest for the season-ending World Tour Finals next month.

Et cetera

Soccer: Chelsea accused referee Mark Clattenburg of directing "inappropriate language" at two players at different times in its 3-2 English Premier League loss to Manchester United and lodged an official complaint. Club officials said one comment was a racial slur directed at a black player, England's Guardian newspaper reported. The other player involved was believed to be white, possibly Spanish, it said. Clattenburg sent off two Chelsea players and allowed Javier Hernandez's contentious late winning goal that appeared to be offside. The Professional Game Match Officials Board said it would investigate. … NBC's networks will televise Premier League games under a $250 million, three-year deal that begins next season, taking coverage from Fox and ESPN.

Alpine skiing: American Ted Ligety won the season-opening men's World Cup giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, by the biggest winning margin since 1979, 2.75 seconds.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Nick Watney took a few peeks at the leaderboard and heard the echo of raucous cheering at regular intervals in the distance as Tiger Woods was commencing his last-round charge. Watney, starting two groups behind, knew it was going to take a special round Sunday to win the CIMB Classic.

Hole by hole, birdie after birdie, the 31-year-old American could feel momentum gathering pace. At the 13th, when he moved into a tie for first, he started to believe he could win. After the 14th, he started honing in on a rare round of 59.

With 11 birdies in 17 holes, including six on the back nine, he went to the par-4 18th needing birdie for 59 but decided he was playing only for the win. He bogeyed 18, still enough for a course-record 10-under 61 and 22-under 262 to hold off defending champion Bo Van Pelt and Robert Garrigus by one to claim the $1.3 million first prize.

"I saw Tiger got off to a good start, so I wasn't really thinking about winning when I teed off," said Watney, who started four shots back and in seventh place. "But the round sort of built momentum, and things just kept getting better and better."

After five birdies on the first seven holes, Woods finished with 63 to tie for fourth at 19 under with Chris Kirk and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge.

And by the time Woods finished — the 14-time major winner opened with three birdies and had eight in all, including at the 16th and 17th to put pressure on the leaders — all the attention was on Watney.

"I really wanted to finish strong … but winning the tournament was more important than a 59 for me," Watney said.

"I needed to get to 20-plus," Woods said. "That was the goal score. … Looks like Nick went ahead and put it to us."

LPGA: Suzann Pettersen won the Taiwan Championship, her second straight tour victory, rallying to beat Inbee Park by three in Yang Mei. Pettersen closed with 3-under 69, finishing at 19-under 269 for her 10th tour title. Last week in South Korea she beat Catriona Matthew in a playoff. Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse (80) finished at 10-over 298, and Tampa resident Kristy McPherson (82) was at 12-over 300.

Champions: David Frost won the AT&T Championship, beating Bernhard Langer with a birdie on the second playoff hole after overcoming a six-stroke deficit in the final round at San Antonio, Texas. Frost and Langer each shot 6-under 66 to finish 8-under 208.

Europe: Sweden's Peter Hanson won the BMW Masters, his second tour victory of the year, shooting 5-under 67 to hold off Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy by a stroke in Shanghai, China. Hanson finished at 21-under 267 and earned $1,166,600 in the tour's richest regular event. "It's fantastic to win … and to go head-to-head with the world No. 1 is always nice, but to come out on top, it feels great," he said. McIlroy, last year's winner when the event was a nonsanctioned exhibition, shot 67.

Cashing in: Woods is expected to get a $2 million appearance fee and McIlroy $1 million for their one-day exhibition today in Zhengzhou, China. McIlroy and Woods will play their first head-to-head match in an event without other competitors at Lake Jinsha International Golf Club. "We're going to try and put on a good show, shoot a low round and have a little bit of fun," said Woods. Said McIlroy: "I do treat these … as a bit of fun, and it will be good to get a little bit of bragging rights."

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Jaguars scrappy but Packers better

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers blowout just about everyone had expected never materialized.

Aaron Rodgers hit Donald Driver for a 4-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth as Green Bay escaped with a surprisingly tough win over one of the league's worst.

"It was definitely a grind-it-out type victory today," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Rodgers threw for two touchdowns, moving him past Bart Starr into second on Green Bay's career list with 153. Brett Favre had 442 for the Packers.

Green Bay's special teams chipped in with another score, recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown for the first time in 22 years. Davon House blocked Bryan Anger's kick in the second quarter, and Dezman Moses fell on the ball in the end zone.

"They're an NFL team, not to get that wrong, but the Jacksonville Jaguars stayed around in Lambeau Field," Packers tight end Jermichael Finley said. "They were supposed to have been under the Frozen Tundra at halftime."

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Steelers abuzz after quieting RG3

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers watched opponents panic when preparing for Robert Griffin III and vowed not to suffer the same identity crisis.

"We didn't want to get too creative," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "We just wanted to play the way we know how."

Besides, why mess with a good thing?

Wearing throwback jerseys — with horizontal black-and-gold stripes that drew comparisons to everything from prisoners to hulking bumblebees — the Steelers swarmed Washington's precocious star.

Griffin completed just 16 of 34 passes for 177 yards and a score and had 8 yards rushing, finding little room to showcase his talent. But then, the Steelers are 14-1 against rookie quarterbacks since 2004.

And RG3 got little help. The Redskins dropped 10 passes, and the Steelers kept the league's top rushing team under wraps with a season-low 86 yards.

Times wires
Sunday, October 28, 2012

Raiders keep safe QB, hex over Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Carson Palmer walked off the field at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Raiders had won for the sixth straight time, and looked just like he did at the start.

Not a grass stain on him. No laundry detergent needed.

Palmer passed for 209 yards and two touchdowns while having all the time he needed in the pocket to beat the Chiefs again. "Phenomenal," Palmer said. "I don't think my jersey needs to be washed."

Oakland nearly became the third straight team to keep the Kansas City offense out of the end zone.

The Chiefs haven't led in a game this season, the first time since at least 1940 that a team has gone this long without a lead, according to STATS LLC.

Matt Cassel returned to replace quarterback Brady Quinn, who left in the first half with what the Chiefs called a head injury.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, October 28, 2012

TAMPA — Senior Lindsey Lamar, who has sparked USF's offense in his return to running back, likely has played his final snaps as a Bull after fracturing his collarbone in Saturday night's loss to Syracuse.

Lamar was injured early in the fourth quarter and had difficulty breathing, prompting a trip to Tampa General Hospital, where he stayed until late Sunday afternoon.

"I hate it. He's really been coming along, been developing every week," said coach Skip Holtz, who added that Lamar had a nonsurgical procedure to set the collarbone. "It'll be a blow to us offensively, with the productivity he's had in the last two weeks, rushing for (255) yards. We're definitely going to miss that production, and we're going to have to make it up."

Holtz said three other injuries to key players could affect Saturday's game at Connecticut: Senior G Danous Estenor (ankle), senior TE Evan Landi (ankle) and junior WR Derrick Hopkins (knee) are "questionable to doubtful."

"I would not think we're going to have all of them," Holtz said. "I just don't know which ones are going to be back at this point."

Lamar reset his career high in rushing yards each of the past two games, first with 110 in a loss at Louisville, then 145 Saturday. His absence means the Bulls will utilize junior Marcus Shaw more in rotation with senior Demetris Murray. Junior Bradley Battles could help, and redshirt freshman Willie Davis had his foot in a boot this past week due to a sprained ankle.

THIS AND THAT: Holtz said he had not made any decisions about changes he might make to his defense and had not ruled out changes to his defensive coaching staff after the Bulls gave up a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final 1:23 to lose 37-36 to Syracuse. … Holtz said he was pleased to see first-time starters shine in true freshman DE Eric Lee (six tackles) and redshirt freshman G Thor Jozwiak, who played "really well" as part of a young offensive line.