By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 10, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Worst announcers

Personally, I'm not a fan of CBS's golf announcers. They are full of cliches, light on serious analysis and way too optimistic about everything to the point that they almost never utter a critical word, even when it's called for and viewers want it. Worst of all, they consistently jump in too quickly to proclaim that someone has hit a remarkable shot when the result turns out to be not so remarkable. It's almost as if everything about CBS's coverage is to convince you that what you're watching is really good instead of just letting the viewer watch and then judge for himself. Too many times Sunday, we heard phrases such as, "What a day this is."

It's like telling someone how good a piece of cake is instead of just letting them eat it and decide for themselves.

Give me NBC's golf coverage any day over CBS.

Worst excuse

How obnoxious was it to hear CBS's Masters team making excuses for Tiger Woods when he three-putted to bogey No. 12? The announcers actually tried to pin the blame on Woods' playing partner, Martin Laird, because Woods had to wait while Laird three-putted. Funny, no one seemed to bring up how Angel Cabrera had to wait around while playing partner Rory McIlroy hacked his way through Sunday.

The only thing more obnoxious was listening to Woods give one-sentence answers to the questions he was asked by CBS's Bill Macatee after his round Sunday. Didn't Woods say something about being a changed guy after his problems last year? Wasn't he supposed to be more humble, more accessible, more respectful? Hmm, could've fooled me. Everyone else gave insightful postmatch interviews and one can't possibly suggest that the 2011 Masters meant more to Woods than it did to the others, such as Jason Day and Adam Scott. And McIlroy, who shot 80, was classier than Woods.

New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica had a good line about Woods on Sunday morning's Sports Reporters on ESPN saying: "Know who he has turned into lately? The guy at your club who wants to talk about the score he should have shot instead of the one he did."

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan was even more blunt, saying Woods is now "thoroughly unrootable and unlikable." Ryan added, "How can you root for this guy?"

Most interesting comments

Former Lightning general manager Jay Feaster, now the acting general manager of the Calgary Flames, was the guest on Hockey Night in Canada's After Hours show late Saturday night. He had a chance to take a shot at Tampa Bay hockey when he was asked about what it was like to be in Calgary as compared to Tampa Bay, where the scrutiny is much more diminished.

Even though the show airs in Canada and he could've safely assumed that no one in Tampa Bay was watching, Feaster said the only difference was that there were more media members covering hockey in Canada than Tampa Bay, but not that they were any more knowledgeable or critical than those in Tampa Bay.

Biggest criticism

The Manny Ramirez experiment by the Rays blew up badly in Tampa Bay's face, although it really should not come as any surprise. The phrase "Manny being Manny" includes shenanigans like this and the national types wasted no time taking their shots.

On the Fox Game of the Week, analyst Tim McCarver said: "He had an unconventional career that turned into the epitome of irresponsibility. … There's no question about his talent, no questions about his numbers. The questions are about everything else. And I mean everything else."

Best coverage

Nice job by Sun Sports to address the Manny Ramirez situation straight on. (Then again, it would have been criticized in this spot had it not talked at length about it.) Before Friday's game, there were interviews with key players Johnny Damon and B.J. Upton, as well as Rays manager Joe Maddon. It would have been nice if game announcers Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson had talked in greater detail about the situation, but at least the topic wasn't ignored.

Saddest quote

Fox baseball analyst Ken Rosenthal, sadly, is struggling with the same questions that all other Baseball Hall of Fame voters face in the wake of the steroid era. What, exactly, do you do with people such as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and so forth?

"I used to love voting for the Hall of Fame," Rosenthal said. "Now, I hate it."

Three things that popped into my head

1. No offense to Carolina, but the NHL is always more interesting when the Rangers are competitive. So it was a good thing for the NHL that the Lightning beat the Hurricanes on Saturday to eliminate Carolina and send the Rangers to the postseason.

2. Was there anything more painful than watching 21-year-old, third-round leader Rory McIlroy completely disintegrate Sunday?

3. When, exactly, is Magic center Dwight Howard going to grow up? He was suspended for Sunday's game against Chicago for picking up his 18th technical foul of the season. Eighteen! Okay, so it had no effect on the Magic's playoff situation, but imagine those who might have saved up money to go to Sunday's game and couldn't watch him because of his immaturity.

Biggest event

ESPN drew huge television numbers for the Thursday and Friday broadcasts of the Masters. CBS had the second-highest Saturday ratings in the past nine years of Masters coverage. When television numbers come out today for Sunday's broadcast, look for more outstanding ratings, most likely putting it among the top five Masters ever. There's one reason why: Tiger Woods. Love him or hate him, Woods remains television gold for the PGA Tour. Those who love Woods probably loved him before his scandal. And those who don't like him now probably didn't care for him much before the scandal. Tiger is the Yankees. He's Notre Dame football. He's Duke basketball. People tune in to either root for or against him. He doesn't have to win. He just has to be in contention. And if he is in contention, the networks fall all over themselves to make sure you see maximum Woods coverage. Case in point: CBS's weekend coverage, which made Woods the star with everyone else playing a supporting role. It's hard to blame CBS. It knows that the better Woods does, the more people will watch. Still, it's hard to shake the impression that the announcers really, really like Woods. A "good" Woods shot is described as "great." A "great" Woods shot is described as "incredible." And when he does something wrong, excuses are plentiful. It's one thing for the network bosses to want Woods to do well. It's another for the announcers to vocalize their desire on air.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, April 10, 2011

For Guy Boucher, seeing is the only way he will believe.

The Lightning coach has heard the reports Sidney Crosby, the Penguins' injured superstar, will not be ready when the teams begin their first-round playoff series Wednesday at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center.

Boucher just cannot afford to take them at face value as he puts together a game plan.

"So to me," Boucher said, "he's playing, period."

But Penguins coach Dan Bylsma recently said Crosby, skating with teammates but out since Jan. 5 because of a concussion, might not get medical clearance to play, at least in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.

"But we can't say if he's not (playing), they don't have a great team," Boucher said. "They're a great team. With him, they're an amazing team. We're playing against a great or amazing team, so we have to be at our best."

Despite missing Crosby for 41 games and fellow star Evgeni Malkin, out with a season-ending knee injury, for 39, the Penguins tied the Flyers with 106 points but lost the Atlantic Division title because of fewer nonshootout victories.

A raft of other injuries helped pile up 349 man-games lost compared with 172 for Tampa Bay.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will no doubt get votes for league MVP for going 36-20-5 with a 2.32 goals-against average and .918 save percentage for a team on which Crosby still leads with 32 goals and 66 points.

Pittsburgh, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, also had the league's No. 1 regular-season penalty kill at 86.1 percent.

"You see what they've done with Malkin and Crosby out of the lineup, so by no means are we thinking we're going to steamroll them," Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos said. "These guys really are a solid team."

That finished the regular season with four straight wins and a 13-4-2 run.

"They've got small, feisty, fast players that are tough to handle and difficult to play against," Boucher said. "They're like us right now. They had a great stretch to finish, and they're not underconfident, for sure."

The Lightning, No. 5 in the East, is confident, too.

As Boucher said, "We're going in with ammunition."

The team won seven of its last eight games, has the best power play in the East at 20.5 percent and a top-10 overall penalty kill.

Center Vinny Lecavalier is playing his best since 2007-08 and has nine goals and 17 points in his past 14 games. Wing Marty St. Louis was second in the regular season with 96 points and is playing better than during his 2003-04 MVP season.

And though Stamkos, second in the league with 45 goals, has just five goals in his past 28 games, he is getting chances and Boucher believes he is on "the cusp" of breaking out.

"They're an interesting team," Bylsma told Pittsburgh reporters Sunday. "They play a fast game. They're really good in and around the net and try to get there and be factors. They play quick defensively."

The teams split the four-game season series with the Lightning just 2-for-21 on the power play but 16-for-18 on the penalty kill.

The lowlight: an 8-1 loss Jan. 5 in Pittsburgh, Crosby's last game.

"We're going to expect he'll be in the lineup," Stamkos said. "He's the best player in the world. When a team has that guy in the lineup, they're a different team."

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The roars echoed through the pines like the old days as Tiger Woods scorched the front nine.

Woods started Sunday seven shots off the lead, but he wiped out that deficit with 5-under 31 on the first nine holes at Augusta National. He made four birdies and a 10-footer for eagle at No. 8.

When Woods made the turn tied for the lead with Rory McIlroy and Charl Schwartzel, almost everyone expected him to tear through the back nine.

But Woods isn't quite his old self yet. A 3-footer for par should have been a gimme, but Woods banged it off the back of the cup for bogey on No. 12. With a chance to take the outright lead on the par-5 15th, he missed another short putt for an eagle. He made birdie, but on this day, it might as well have been bogey.

He played his last three holes at par to finish with 5-under 67, his best final round ever at the Masters. And that left him tied for fourth at 10-under 278.

"I got off to a nice start there and posted 31," said Woods, winless in 11 straight majors. "And then on the back nine, could have capitalized some more."

Which shot would he like back? "Oh, we can't do that. We do that every week and we would go crazy, wouldn't we?"

Almost Aussies' day: The Australians were headed for a good day. The leaderboard was filled with guys from Down Under.

When Adam Scott rolled in a short birdie putt at No. 16, he had the lead. Jason Day and Geoff Ogilvy were in the mix, too.

The golfing-mad country seemed poised to celebrate the only major championship it has never won. But the Aussies will have to wait a little longer.

Scott (67) and Day (68) finished two behind Schwartzel (14-under 274), and Ogilvy (67) closed four back to tie for fourth.

"It's just disappointing that I didn't win when I held the lead with a few holes to go," Scott said. "I'm usually a pretty good closer. I didn't do a bad job (Sunday), but Charl was better."

As for Day, a Masters rookie?

"You can't do anything about a guy who birdies the last four holes of a tournament," he said. "If you want to go out and win a tournament, that's how you do it."

And Ogilvy, a former U.S. Open champion, surged into contention by ripping off five straight birdies starting at No. 12.

"When I birdied the 12th, that was a bonus," Ogilvy said. "I didn't expect to birdie five in a row. But that's what happened. It's nice to finish with my best nine."

Apology to reporter: Masters officials apologized to columnist Tara Sullivan of the Bergen (N.J.) Record after she was denied entry to a locker room for an interview. A female security guard acted improperly in stopping Sullivan, Augusta National spokesman Steve Ethun said.

The jacket: With its rich shade of green known simply as "Masters green," an Augusta National logo on the crest and brass buttons, the green jacket symbolizes all the pomp and pageantry of the year's first major.

Augusta National members began wearing jackets at the 1937 Masters. Twelve years later, the club extended the honor to Sam Snead, that year's winner, and the Masters champion has been presented with one ever since.

As the tournament winds down, possible winners are noted, and someone pulls out jackets in appropriate sizes. The winner's measurements are taken later and a jacket is custom-made.

In a timeless ceremony, the man who won the jacket the previous year helps the new winner slip into the distinctive blazer.

The Masters champion can keep his jacket for a year and wear it wherever he pleases. But when returning for the next year's tournament, he must bring the jacket with him. It will be stored, never to leave the grounds again. Unless, of course, he wins another Masters title.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, April 10, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga.

For the champion, there is fame. There is a jacket of green and a paycheck of even finer green. There is a place in history inscribed with his name.

For the vanquished, there is only regret. Today, tomorrow and forever. Friends might help ease it, success might eventually dim it, but nothing will ever completely erase it.

Just ask Jean Van de Velde. Or Scott Hoch. Or Len Mattiace.

Over the years, we have seen enough hearts break and enough tears fall to have a small understanding of what it must be like to see the dream of a lifetime slip from your grasp.

And perhaps that helps explain what happened at the end of the 75th Masters on Sunday evening. Charl Schwartzel had already won the tournament, hugged his wife and was halfway to golf heaven when Rory McIlroy came up the 18th fairway.

The applause began, polite and steady. And as McIlroy came nearer to the green, it grew in volume, intensity and, yes, in pity. It reached a point where the 21-year-old from outside Belfast, Northern Ireland, had no choice but to remove his cap and sheepishly wave.

"I don't know if people were just feeling sorry for me or whatever it was, but I'm incredibly grateful for it," McIlroy said later. "It was a really tough day for me, and for the crowds to still be behind me like that makes it a lot easier to take."

McIlroy did not win the Masters on Sunday. In the end, he was not even close.

In what will be remembered as one of the most rapid and thorough collapses in history, McIlroy went from leading almost every one of the first 63 holes, and 31/2 days of the tournament, to free falling into infamy in about 35 minutes.

It began with a missed fairway on No. 10 that somehow ended up between two of the famed white and black-trimmed cabins. Two shots later, McIlroy was off the fairway again and banging a ball off a tree.

By the time he finished the hole with triple bogey, McIlroy had gone from first place to seventh. And the bleeding did not stop there. His putter chose that moment to abandon him, and McIlroy followed with bogey and double bogey.

When his tee shot went left on No. 13, McIlroy buried his head in the crook of his arm with the club supporting his weight.

"I sort of realized then, unless I birdied my way in, I didn't have a chance," McIlroy said. "I was trying my hardest. If I had a birdie at 13 and a birdie at 15 … but once I hit my tee shot left on 13, I realized that was it."

McIlroy went from starting the day at 12 under with a four-stroke lead to shooting 8-over 80 and finishing 10 strokes behind in a tie for 15th.

"My heart goes out to him," said Luke Donald, who tied for second.

The final misfortune is that most of those watching this spectacular implosion never got to see the grace and dignity with which McIlroy handled himself.

His eyes looked red, but he never came close to tears. He stopped to answer questions three times on his way to the clubhouse, never making excuses or asking for sympathy.

He greeted his boyhood friends with a slight grin and then paused for a soft kiss on the cheek from his girlfriend. Upon entering the locker room and changing from his golf shoes to a pair of sneakers, he tried to explain the inexplicable once again.

"I just need more experience to try and hang in there and grind it out," he said. "It's never nice to be leading in a tournament and do what I did (Sunday), but it happens."

The difference between McIlroy and, say, Mattiace is that his performance in the first three days of the Masters was no fluke.

He is, without a doubt, one of the most talented golfers in the world. His future is bright enough that it might one day push this day's memories into the shadows.

Angel Cabrera, who played in the final twosome with him, said as much when he held McIlroy's face in his hands afterward.

"It's a pity what happened to him," Cabrera said. "I told him when we were finished that he is very young, and he can win this tournament many times.'

Still, there will never be an escape from the thought that something greater than a golf tournament was lost for McIlroy on Sunday.

This would have been a moment like none other. The chance for a college-aged lad from Northern Ireland to introduce himself to the world. A chance to match some of the accomplishments of Tiger Woods, the golfer he has vowed to measure himself against.

"I sometimes forget that I'm 21 years old, and I think the public sometimes forgets as well," McIlroy said. "It is very disappointing. It's the worst afternoon I've had on a golf course. But I'll get over it. I'll be fine."

Times wires
Sunday, April 10, 2011

BOSTON — Josh Beckett outdueled CC Sabathia to help the Red Sox beat the Yankees 4-0 on Sunday.

Boston came home Friday 0-6, its worst start since 0-8 in 1945. But it took two of three from its archrival.

Entering Sunday, Red Sox starters were 1-5 with a 7.41 ERA while allowing 12 homers. Over eight innings, Beckett allowed two hits and retired his final 14 batters.

"We needed a good, quality start," Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek said, "especially when you have that other guy on the mound over there."

Sabathia allowed just one run despite allowing nine hits and walking four over 52/3 innings.

"It's always like that," he said of facing the Red Sox.

"They've got a good lineup. You try to keep battling and get outs."

Sabathia has no wins this season despite allowing just four total runs in three starts. Tuesday, he allowed two hits and left after seven up 4-0. But the bullpen blew it.

"He could … easily be 3-0," manager Joe Girardi said.

Up 1-0 in the seventh, Boston loaded the bases with one out, and Marco Scutaro then delivered a two-run double.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, April 10, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods was climbing, and Rory McIlroy was falling.

The Australians were gathering like a storm, and Bo Van Pelt was sneaking in while no one was watching.

For three chaotic hours Sunday afternoon, the staid and tradition-laden Masters looked like a public links free-for-all.

Yet amid all the coming and going, one man remained steady. And when it was all over, South Africa's Charl Schwartzel had completed one of the great closing rounds in majors history with four consecutive birdies to win the 75th Masters.

"It's a dream for me," Schwartzel said. "It's obviously the highlight in my golfing career by a long way."

It was the first U.S. victory for Schwartzel, who learned the game from his father while growing up on a chicken and corn farm outside Johannesburg.

Schwartzel, who came into the tournament ranked No. 29 in the world, had a share of the lead for most of the back nine after McIlroy imploded.

The problem is most of the field seemed to have a share of the lead. Eight different players were on top of the leaderboard at some point Sunday afternoon.

Australia's Adam Scott took a one-shot lead with a birdie on No. 14, but there were six golfers a stroke behind. Scott briefly took a two-shot lead with another birdie at 16, but then Schwartzel, who had made 10 consecutive pars, closed with four birdies.

His 6-under 66 was the best final round by a Masters winner in 22 years.

"He's a very quiet, unassuming guy, and I think he's not prominent in everyone's mind," Scott said of Schwartzel. "But … you must have seen it (Sunday). He hits some beautiful shots. He's got a hell of a golf swing."

There are no fancy electronic leaderboards at Augusta National. They still chart the progress of the Masters by hand with red numbers on giant boards.

So for those in attendance, the quickest way to follow the leaders is to listen for the sound of roars and groans. Which gave Sunday's round the feel of a Holly­wood horror film.

"There are so many roars that go on around Augusta, especially on the back nine," said Schwartzel, who finished at 14-under 274 to win $1,440,000 for his first major championship. "It echoes through those trees.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking at the leaderboard. But sometimes I would look at it and not register what I was looking at. And I think that sort of helped."

For a short time, it looked as if Australia was going to end decades of heartbreak at Augusta. Scott and fellow Aussies Jason Day and Geoff Ogilvy held the lead at various points on the back nine and were poised to end the suffering of a continent of Greg Norman fans.

As it turned out, Scott (67) and Day (68) tied for second, two strokes back, and Ogilvy (67) tied for fourth with Luke Donald (69) and Woods (67), who made an early charge but lost momentum on the back nine.

"Obviously, we fell short a little bit, but it just shows how good Australian golf is right now," Day said. "There's a lot of good Australian golfers."

But Schwartzel, 26, finished the best.

"It was always going to come down to the back nine, who made the birdies coming in," said Schwartzel, who began the day four strokes behind McIlroy. "That's normally what wins any golf tournament, the back nine. It managed to go my way."

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik not only has been able to navigate the off-season amid the NFL lockout, but he's also dealt with some real labor uncertainty.

Dominik and his wife, Amy, welcomed the arrival of their third child, a girl, Avery Jane, on March 24. On Monday, Dominik's successful nurturing of the youngest team in the NFL earned him a new four-year contract with the Bucs.

"I've always believed, and it's been instilled in me a long time, that loyalty means a lot to everybody in any industry,'' Dominik said. "It's been really fun growing up with the Bucs and having been around so many guys who have been promoted to different levels in the National Football League from the executive side and so many guys who have come through our building and become head coaches in the National Football League.

"I guess that's the one thing that has been the most rewarding through this whole thing: it's 16 years now and it'll be 20 years by the time this contract expires. It's pretty neat to work with all the people who have come through and all the players as well.''

Dominik, who began his career with the Bucs in 1995, was promoted steadily in the organization from pro personnel assistant, scout, coordinator of pro personnel and director of pro personnel before being named general manager in 2009. Last season, Dominik presided over the club's biggest single-season turnaround in franchise history as the Bucs went from 3-13 to 10-6 and narrowly missed the playoffs.

Dominik had one year remaining on his contract and is now signed through 2014. By extending Dominik's deal, the Bucs essentially doubled down in terms of continuity, having picked up a 2-year option on coach Raheem Morris' contract in January.

"I think the main thing is the direction we're headed is one that everybody wants to go -- myself, obviously ownership, the head coach, the scouts and our position coaches,'' Dominik said. "I think everybody is on the same ship and we are going the right direction. The encouragement of a deal or the extension is the fact that ownership concurs and that's what you're looking for. Obviusly, at the same time, you're judged by wins and losses and last year was a really good step to where we want to be.''

Dominik didn't waste any time putting his handprint on the Bucs. He immediately purged many popular veterans, including Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn, while drafting a core of young stars like quarterback Josh Freeman, receivers Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn, safety Cody Grimm and trading for tight end Kellen Winslow. Last season, Dominik raided opposing rosters for rookies like running back LeGarrette Blount and guard Ted Larsen to keep the team competitive despite a despite a litany of injuries that required backups to play central roles.

The Glazer family, which owns the team, was apparently sold.

"It has been a pleasure working with a person and a talent like Mark, and so gratifying to witness his well-deserved success," co-chairman Joel Glazer said. "By the end of this contract, Mark will have dedicated two decades to giving Tampa the winner it deserves."

So what have the past three weeks been like for Dominik?

"It's been a busy three weeks. Really, it's been a busy off-season,'' he said. "You continue to prepare for everything, free agency and the draft, obviously, your home. It's been non-stop but that's the way the football world is now even with the uncertainty of the labor situation.''

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

In the aftermath of their arrests this past weekend, Florida Gators basketball players Erik Murphy and Cody Larson have been suspended from the team, UF coach Billy Donovan announced today.

Murphy, a sophomore forward, and Larson, who is a freshman who was redshirted this past season, each face felony burglary charges stemming from an arrest early Sunday morning in St. Augustine. They are currently out on bail.

"I'm aware of Cody and Erik's situation and very disappointed with the news,'' Donovan said in a statement released this morning. "The two are currently suspended from basketball-related activities. I'm not going to comment further until I have more information and get a chance to meet with both student-athletes."

According to police. Larson and Murphy went into Scarlett O'Hara's Bar and Restaurant around 2 a.m. Sunday, claiming they had lost a wallet. Police said the men tried to get close to an employee who was counting money from the night.

Bouncers eventually forced Larson and Murphy to leave. Moments later, according to the report, they saw the men breaking into a co-worker's car in a parking lot across the street.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

The NFL Draft is now only 17 days away, and Monday morning was a busy one for the USF Bulls' draft hopefuls, with Bulls working out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at One Buc Place, according to defensive back Mistral Raymond.

Raymond went through position drills with the Bucs, as did much of USF's senior class -- receiver Dontavia Bogan, defensive ends Craig Marshall and David Bedford, running back Mo Plancher, tight end Kevin Gidrey, tackle Jake Sims and center Sampson Genus. Raymond said the Bulls were part of a group of about 16 players, including other Tampa area graduates, like Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy, West Virginia receiver Jock Sanders, Central Florida receiver Jamar Newsome and former South Carolina reciever O.J. Murdock.

Raymond has had a busy past week, having worked out for the Vikings on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Bears on Thursday and Friday -- Chicago also had linebacker Jacquian Williams in town at the same time. For many of Monday's group, this was their first NFL team workout -- Gidrey flew in from Virginia for the workout and now will continue training in North Carolina for the draft.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

There hasn't been anything else from former Tampa Bay Ray DH Manny Ramirez since his comments to ESPNdeportes.com that he was "at ease" and heading off to Spain. And not much written, yet anyway, about what led to his positive drug test and retirement.

But Will Carroll, the injury expert now with SI.com, has a few pieces of information: Ramirez was caught during one of the additional tests he had to take having already violated the rules, and this violation wasn't for the same drug as in 2009, when he tested positive for hCG, known as a female fertility drug that some say is used to mask steroid use.

And as Carroll points out:

"Once a player tests positive, he is placed in a program that requires both counseling and additional random testing. Knowing he was facing as many as 10 tests makes it much tougher — or dumber — for Ramirez to sneak some substance with a short detectable period through."

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

As expected, USF announced Monday that sophomore guard Mike Burwell, who averaged 1.7 points per game, requested and has been granted a release to transfer from the Bulls, along with junior point guard Shedrick Haynes.

USF coach Stan Heath has known of the departures long enough that both scholarships are already spoken for, as USF has gotten recent commitments from junior college combo guard Blake Nash and prep point guard Anthony Collins.

Burwell stepped up in nonconference play when point guard Anthony Crater was injured, playing 44 minutes in USF's 77-75 overtime loss to BYU, getting nine points, four rebounds and four assists. But once Crater was healthy, Burwell didn't play significant minutes -- he totaled 14 points in 20 Big East games. He'll have two years of eligibility remaining after he sits out the upcoming season wherever he chooses to transfer.

Haynes, whose departure was previously reported, played even less than Burwell, averaging 1.1 points per game. Haynes totaled just seven points in Big East play, his only assists in conference games coming in the season finale after Crater had injured his shoulder.

With Burwell and Haynes, USF has had 12 scholarship players transfer out in the four years since Heath was hired -- eight played Division I basketball at other schools last season.

While junior forward Augustus Gilchrist is exploring the possibility of entering the NBA Draft, USF is likely finished recruiting for the 2011-12 cycle, with all scholarships currently accounted for. The Bulls will have senior Anthony Crater, sophomores Blake Nash and LaVonte Dority and freshman Anthony Collins at point guard; sophomore Vic Rudd, juniors Jawanza Poland and Shaun Noriega, senior Hugh Robertson at shooting guard/small forward; Gilchrist, junior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick and senior Ron Anderson at power forward; and junior Andre Jackson and freshman Jordan Omogbehin at center.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier was named the NHL's second star for the week ending Sunday. Buffalo's Thomas Vanek was first. Ducks and former Ligthning goalie Dan Ellis was third.

Here is the announcement from the league:

Buffalo Sabres left wing Thomas Vanek, Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier and Anaheim Ducks goaltender Dan Ellis have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending Apr. 10.

FIRST STAR -- THOMAS VANEK, LW, BUFFALO SABRES

Vanek recorded consecutive three-point games, helping the Sabres (43-29-10) clinch a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive season. He notched his first hat trick of the season and seventh of his NHL career in a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Apr. 5 and scored the overtime winner and added a pair of assists in Buffalo's playoff-clinching 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Apr. 8. Vanek completed the 2010-11 regulation as the Sabres leader in goals (32), assists (41) and points (73). He tied for the team lead in power-play goals (11) and game-winning goals (five). Vanek and the Sabres open their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series at Philadelphia Thursday (7:30 p.m., ET, TSN, VERSUS joined in progress).

SECOND STAR -- VINCENT LECAVALIER, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Lecavalier recorded goals in each of Tampa Bay's three games, finishing the week with five points (four goals, one assist) as the Lightning (46-25-11) secured the #5 seed in the Eastern Conference. He tallied one goal in a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Apr. 5, recorded two goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-2 victory over the Florida Panthers Apr. 8 and finished the week with one goal and one assist in a 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Apr. 9. The Lightning captain was one of the NHL's top scorers down the stretch, registering points in 12 of Tampa Bay's final 14 regular-season games (9-8--17). Lecavalier and the Lightning travel to Pittsburgh for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final beginning Wednesday (7 p.m., ET, CBC).

THIRD STAR -- DAN ELLIS, G, ANAHEIM DUCKS

Ellis posted a 2-0-0 record, 1.21 goals-against average and .964 save percentage in three appearances as the Ducks (47-30-5) staged a late charge up the Western Conference standings that resulted in home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ellis stopped 80 of 83 shots last week, beginning with 14 saves in 29 minutes of relief work for starter Ray Emery in a 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks Apr. 6. Ellis then backstopped the Ducks to a sweep of their season-closing, home-and-home series with the Los Angeles Kings, recording 23 saves in a 2-1 victory at Anaheim Apr. 8 and 43 stops in a 3-1 win at Los Angeles Apr. 9. Ellis improved to 8-3-1 with a 2.39 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 13 games with Anaheim following his acquisition in a trade with Tampa Bay on Feb. 24. The Ducks host the Nashville Predators in their Western Conference Quarter-Final opener on Wednesday (10:30 p.m., ET, TSN).

Times wires
Monday, April 11, 2011

Rangers 2, Tigers 0

DETROIT — To Victor Martinez, the Rangers' ploy made perfect sense. Texas had closer Neftali Feliz intentionally walk Miguel Cabrera with two outs in the ninth, even though it meant bringing Martinez to the plate as the potential winning run. The Tigers newcomer, who's batting .225, grounded out with two runners on then said he wasn't surprised by the strategy to pitch around Cabrera. "He's been swinging the bat good, and I haven't been swinging the bat good at all," he said. "They took a chance on me."

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

TAMPA — As soon as Vinny Lecavalier saw teammate Marty St. Louis pick off the pass, Lecavalier was off to the races.

"The work on that, for me, is to beat the D," Lecavalier said.

That is because the Lightning center knew St. Louis' first instinct would be to pass to his fastbreaking teammate.

And that is just what happened in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Hurricanes as Lecavalier took the pass in stride and scored on a breakaway.

"I knew the puck would be there," Lecavalier said Monday at the St. Pete Times Forum. "We just know how each other plays."

Watching Lecavalier and St. Louis, two of Tampa Bay's most iconic figures, play on the same line the past few weeks has been quite a show. Not only because it hasn't happened consistently since the first half of the 2008-09 season, but because, as St. Louis said, "It really feels like we're back to where we once were. … This is the best we've played together since our good years together."

And that makes the pair a huge story as the Lightning and Penguins begin their playoff series Wednesday at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

"It's great to see Vinny and Marty getting that chemistry back," center Steven Stamkos said. "It's an exciting thing for our team and probably not for the team we're facing."

A couple of caveats: Coach Guy Boucher is not married to lines, and players on Monday spoke vaguely about several combinations discussed at an hourlong team meeting.

Boucher also isn't above floating information for the sake of gamesmanship. So, while he said he was keeping Lecavalier and St. Louis together, today's practice will provide more proof.

That said, the two have played so well it would be a surprise if they were separated.

"They're our leaders," Boucher said. "They've lived it before. They've got the experience, the knowledge and the drive to do it, and they've done it together."

Lecavalier and St. Louis, teammates since 2000 and Stanley Cup champions in 2004, were the league's hottest combo during the 2006-07 season.

Lecavalier led the league with 52 goals and had a career-best 108 points. St. Louis had career highs of 43 goals and 102 points.

They remained a pair until then-coach Rick Tocchet in January 2009 switched St. Louis to Stamkos' line, where he flourished. That is, until last month, when Boucher decided a Lecavalier-St. Louis reunion was in order for the playoffs: "We needed a big push."

Boucher also wanted to take pressure off Stamkos, 21, who has 45 goals but just five in his past 28 games.

"By separating Stamkos and St. Louis, you relieve the pressure on Stamkos," Boucher said. "We're looking to our guys who lived it before, who managed it before, to give that push. The pressure should be on them, not a 20-year-old."

The pressure will be on Pittsburgh to cope with a talented playmaker in St. Louis, who had a career-best 68 assists, and a rejuvenated finisher in Lecavalier, who had 25 goals in an injury-shortened 65 games but nine and 17 points in his past 14.

"Marty is such a quick skater, he makes you come along with him," Lecavalier said. "He makes things happen, and it seems like we know where each other is on the ice.

"We can sense what we're going to do. We can anticipate. It creates things."

Such as the breakaway against Carolina, that began with St. Louis swiping a pass in the defensive zone and immediately banking the puck off a side wall to a streaking Lecavalier.

"It's not the first time we did that. It's just awareness," St. Louis said. "If I put it somewhere close to there, there's a good chance Vinny is going to be there."

NOTES: Defenseman Randy Jones, out 16 games with a high ankle sprain, is "ready to play," Boucher said. With nine defensemen on the roster, that means tough decisions for the coach. … Lecavalier, with four goals and five points in three games, is the league's second star for the week ending Sunday. Buffalo's Thomas Vanek was first. Ducks and former Tampa Bay goalie Dan Ellis was third. … Game 4, April 20 in Tampa, is a 7 p.m. start to accommodate CBC in Canada.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

Lightning vs. Penguins

Wednesday: at Pittsburgh, 7, Sun Sports

Friday: at Pittsburgh, 7 #

Monday: at Tampa Bay, 7:30 #

April 20: at Tampa Bay, 7 #

April 23: at Pittsburgh, TBA * #

April 25: at Tampa Bay, TBA * #

April 27: at Pittsburgh, TBA * #

* If necessary # Sun Sports or FSN

All games on 970-AM, except Games 5 and 6, which will be on 620-AM.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

E:60: 7 p.m. on ESPN. The network's news magazine show returns with five new episodes running each Tuesday for the next five weeks. Tonight's episode includes the story of Christina Taylor Green, the youngest victim in the Tucson, Ariz., shootings in January and the granddaughter of former big-league manager Dallas Green.

NHL Playoff Preview Show: 7 p.m. on Versus. A preview of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and for the first time in a while, Lightning fans have a reason to watch.

NHL Draft Lottery: 8 p.m. on Versus. The draft lottery for the teams that missed the NHL playoffs.

By Dave Zalewski, Times Correspondent
Monday, April 11, 2011

What's hot: After last week's severe cold front, the fishing became as great as the weather. Spanish mackerel and their larger cousins, kingfish, made a strong showing up and down the Suncoast. The key is to determine if baitfish are present, then concentrate efforts near their schools. Baitfish can often be seen on the surface. On many days, the schools of bait stay below the surface and must be found by watching diving birds or with a fish finder. Bait will appear on a depth sounder as a mound on the bottom or as a mass suspended in the water column.

Tactics: Stop over the bait and deploy a sabiki rig to determine what size the baitfish are, then use the proper-sized spoon or plug if you're using hardware. If the decision is to slow-troll live bait, nothing beats bait caught onsite. Many times the bait seen on the machine will be too small, so hardware must be used. Cobia have been spotted near many buoys along the shipping channel, and it is worthwhile to check each one as you pass. At times, cobia will strike anything. When they are hesitant to strike, use a sabiki and fresh live bait near the buoy.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach and can be reached at Luckytoo2@aol.com or (727) 397-8815.

Monday, April 11, 2011

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — One year after Henrik Sedin led the league with 112 points, twin brother Daniel finished atop the NHL with 104 points, becoming the first brothers to win the Art Ross Trophy in consecutive seasons.

Siblings have claimed NHL scoring titles in the past — Roy Conacher in 1949 after Charlie Conacher in 1934 and 1935; Doug Bentley in 1943, followed by Max Bentley in 1946 and 1947 — but none did it back to back.

"To see Henrik do it last year was unbelievable, and to be able to do it again this year is amazing," Daniel said Monday. "You might not ever get another chance, so it's nice to be able to get it done."

Henrik, who finished fourth in scoring this season with 94 points, was happy for his brother. Still, he couldn't resist taking a gentle shot.

"It's not that special anymore for me," said a smiling Henrik, pointing out that his brother's winning total was eight behind his own. "I told him that for sure."

The Sedins, who play for the Canucks, credit each other for their success. Their ability to cycle the puck between each other leaves defenders spinning.

But the Sedins insist the short little passes and bank plays off the boards — often to a spot where the other will be, rather than where they were — are a product of playing together since minor hockey, not some special power privy to identical twins.

"Two of the smartest hockey guys ever," teammate Kevin Bieksa said.

The Sedins credit having each other as a workout partner for the annual physical improvements that have accompanied a steady rise in production, saying it's harder to cheat or take a day off with the other one pushing.

But it was the broken foot that kept Daniel out 19 games last season that led to their jump from reliable point-a-game players to back-to-back scoring titles.

"It was more a confidence-builder to see he could do it without me," said Daniel, who had 85 points in 63 games. "If we played the same way this year, why couldn't we do it again?"

The Sedins now also have a chance to become the first brothers to win separate Hart Trophies as league MVP. But Daniel isn't thinking about that.

"Our job is to score goals and score points, and I'm more proud of that," he said.

Back to Europe: The league announced four games next season in Berlin, Stockholm and Helsinki. It marks the fifth straight season the NHL will play regular-season games in Europe. The Ducks and Sabres will play Oct. 7 in Helsinki. The Rangers and Kings meet in Stockholm. The Sabres and Kings play the following day in Berlin (the NHL's first regular-season game in Germany), with the Rangers-Ducks game in Stockholm.

Wild fires coach: Minnesota fired Todd Richards after the team missed the playoffs in each of his two seasons, going 77-71-16, and for a third straight season overall. General manager Chuck Fletcher picked Richards as a first-time NHL head coach — he had been an assistant in the league for one year — over several more seasoned candidates. Fletcher refused to second-guess his first major decision on the job or blame Richards, 44, for the 12th-place finish in the West.

Panthers: General manager Dale Tallon won't rush to replace fired coach Pete DeBoer. Tallon called DeBoer a good coach and a good guy but said he was looking for someone "more like me." He said prior NHL head-coaching experience wasn't a requirement but ruled out promoting assistant coach Gord Murphy. "When you go through something like this, you want to show people that they made a mistake," DeBoer said. "I'm attracted to any job in the NHL. 'Open for business,' I guess, is the sign."

Eastern Conference

(1) Capitals vs. (8) Rangers

Wednesday: at Washington, 7:30

Friday: at Washington, 7:30, Versus

Sunday: at New York, 3, Ch. 8

April 20: at New York, 7, Versus

April 23: at Washington, 3, Ch. 8*

April 25: at New York, TBD*

April 27: at Washington, TBD*

(2) Flyers vs. (7) Sabres

Thursday: at Philadelphia, 7:30

Saturday: at Philadelphia, 5

Monday: at Buffalo, 7, Versus

April 20: at Buffalo, 7:30, Versus

April 22: at Philadelphia, 7:30*

April 24: at Buffalo, 3, Ch. 8*

April 26: at Philadelphia, TBD*

(3) Bruins vs. (6) Canadiens

Thursday: at Boston, 7, Versus

Saturday: at Boston, 7, Versus

Monday: at Montreal, 7:30

April 21: at Montreal, 7, Versus

April 23: at Boston, 7, Versus*

April 26: at Montreal, TBD*

April 27: at Boston, TBD*

Western Conference

(1) Canucks vs. (8) Blackhawks

Wednesday: at Vancouver, 10, Versus

Friday: at Vancouver, 10, Versus

Sunday: at Chicago, 8, Versus

Monday: at Chicago, 8, Versus

April 21: at Vancouver, 10, Versus*

April 24: at Chicago, 7:30*

April 26: at Vancouver, TBD*

(2) Sharks vs. (7) Kings

Thursday: at San Jose, 10, Versus

Saturday: at San Jose, 10, Versus

Monday: at Los Angeles, 10:30, Versus

April 21: at Los Angeles, 10:30

April 23: at San Jose, 10:30, Versus*

April 25: at Los Angeles, TBD*

April 27: at San Jose, TBD*

(3) Red Wings vs. (6) Coyotes

Wednesday: at Detroit, 7, Versus

Saturday: at Detroit, 1, Ch. 8

Monday: at Phoenix, 10:30, Versus

April 20: at Phoenix, 10:30 Versus

April 22: at Detroit, 7, Versus*

April 24: at Phoenix, TBD*

April 27: at Detroit, TBD*

(4) Ducks vs. (5) Predators

Wednesday: at Anaheim, 10:30

Friday: at Anaheim, 10:30

Sunday: at Nashville, TBD

April 20: at Nashville, TBD

April 22: at Anaheim, 10*

April 24: at Nashville, TBD*

April 26: at Anaheim, TBD*

* If necessary

Times wires
Monday, April 11, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds is going to have to wait a bit longer for his verdict.

The jury considering four felony counts against the home run king deliberated without a conclusion for the second day Monday. The eight women and four men, who started their discussions Friday before a weekend break, will resume work this morning.

Bonds is charged with three counts of making false statements to a grand jury in 2003 and one count of obstruction of justice. He's accused of lying when he denied receiving steroids and human growth hormone from personal trainer Greg Anderson and for saying he allowed only doctors to give him an injection.

The jury has made requests to rehear two pieces of evidence that both center on the injection count.

Friday, the jurors asked to hear a replay of the 2003 secret recording made by former Bonds business partner Steve Hoskins in which Anderson talks about injecting the slugger. Monday, the panel spent 71 minutes hearing a clerk read back the March 31 testimony of Bonds' former personal shopper Kathy Hoskins, Steve's sister. She testified that she saw Anderson inject Bonds near the navel in 2002.

A'S: All-Star RHP Trevor Cahill, 23, agreed to a five-year contract worth $30.5 million. … RHP Rich Harden, who was scheduled to throw to hitters for the first time since going on the disabled list March 30, was shut down because of a setback with his strained lat muscle.

BLUE JAYS: CF Rajai Davis went on the disabled list after aggravating a right ankle injury sustained April 1.

BREWERS: Starting C Jonathan Lucroy was activated from the disabled list after being out since spring training with a broken finger.

meTS: The contract of RHP Jason Isringhausen was bought, and RHP Blaine Boyer was designated for assignment. Isringhausen, 38, last pitched in the majors for the Rays in 2009.

NATIONALS: All-Star 3B Ryan Zimmerman is expected to go on the disabled list today with an abdominal strain.

ORIOLES: SS J.J. Hardy is expected to miss 2-3 weeks after an MRI exam revealed a strained oblique muscle.

TIGERS: RF Magglio Ordonez is out indefinitely with an Achilles' tendon injury.

TWINS: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka won't need surgery on his fractured fibula and could return in 4-6 weeks.

Times wires
Monday, April 11, 2011

TENNIS

CLIJSTERS DOUBTFUL FOR FRENCH

BRUSSELS — Another foot fault has deprived women's tennis of one of its best players.

Kim Clijsters mangled her ankle at a wedding party last weekend, likely forcing the U.S. Open and Australian Open winner from the French Open, which starts May 22.

Her mishap recalls the accident that sidelined Serena Williams right after her Wimbledon victory last year. Williams cut her foot on broken glass at a restaurant in Germany, resulting in two operations. She has not played since and has dealt with a blood clot in her lungs and a hematoma.

On Saturday, Clijsters was wearing high heels when she stepped on someone's foot at the wedding of her cousin Tim. The complex injury — ligaments were stretched on top of a torn ankle joint capsule and tendon sheath — will force her to keep her ankle immobilized for several days.

According to her website, the No. 2-ranked player faces a recovery of at least four to six weeks. The 27-year-old Belgian is playing again after a 2½-year break to start a family and has won three Grand Slams since coming back.

MONTE CARLO MASTERS: No. 12 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Florian Mayer beat No. 10 seed Mikhail Youzhny in the first round. No. 1 Rafael Nadal opens his bid for a seventh straight title Wednesday.

WNBA

Moore at top again

Maya Moore is used to winning titles at Connecticut.

Now she's ready to bring that same mentality to her new team — the Minnesota Lynx, which took her with the first pick in Monday's WNBA draft.

"Every year the goal is a championship," she said. "That's what I expect."

She helped UConn to a record 90-game winning streak and two national championships in her four-year career.

The next picks were Elizabeth Cambage of Australia (Tulsa), Courtney Vandersloot of Gonzaga (Chicago) and Amber Harris of Xavier (Minnesota). See WNBA.com for a complete list.

TRACK AND FIELD

Lewis in Senate run

Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis says he'll run again — for New Jersey Senate. "When I run — as you see from my record — I run to win," Lewis, 49, a Willingboro, N.J., native, said in announcing his bid. This is his first try at elected office. In fact, he said he had registered to vote earlier in the day but said he had been registered previously in California and Texas. Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals.

SOCCER

29 in frame for U.S.

Two former standouts at Florida, defender Heather Mitts and forward Abby Wambach, were among 29 players invited to the U.S. women's national team training camp in preparation for the World Cup. The team will train in West Palm Beach from April 18 to May 6; the World Cup starts in late June in Germany.

ITALY: AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic was banned for three of his team's remaining six league games this season for insulting a linesman.

ET CETERA

GOLF: The final round of the Masters drew its second-best preliminary TV rating in 10 years. The finish didn't match 2010, Tiger Woods' return from a five-month layoff. But Sunday's finale, won by Charl Schwartzel, drew an average overnight rating (percentage of total TVs) of 10.4 and a 22 share (percentage of TVs in use at the time). Last year drew a 12.0/25.

OLYMPICS: Herve Madore resigned as deputy director of Annecy's 2018 Winter Games bid, less than three months before the IOC vote. The French city is up against Pyeongchang, South Korea, and Munich.

Times wires

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, April 11, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan suspended sophomore forward Erik Murphy and freshman forward Cody Larson after the two were arrested and charged with felony burglary Sunday in St. Augustine.

"I'm aware of Cody and Erik's situation and very disappointed with the news," Donovan said in a statement released Monday. " … I'm not going to comment further until I have more information and get a chance to meet with both student-athletes."

Police said Larson, 19, and Murphy, 20, were arrested after employees at Scarlett O'Hara's Bar saw the players breaking into a co-worker's car in a parking lot.

According to the St. Augustine Record, police Sgt. Jason Etheredge said that while Murphy was handcuffed and left alone in the back of a police car, Larson kept calling Murphy's cell phone. Etheredge said a recording of the players in the car includes admissions that they participated in the burglary.

USF TRANSFERS: As expected, USF said sophomore guard Mike Burwell, who averaged 1.7 points a game, requested and has been granted a release to transfer along with junior guard Shedrick Haynes. Coach Stan Heath has known of the departures long enough that both scholarships are spoken for, with recent commitments from junior college combo guard Blake Nash and prep point guard Anthony Collins.

BETTING ALLEGATIONS: A former University of San Diego star and nine others were charged with running a sports betting business to affect the outcome of games, federal authorities said. An indictment named Brandon Johnson, USD's all-time leading scorer who finished his career last year; Thaddeus Brown, an assistant coach in 2006-07; and Brandon Dowdy, who played in 2006-07 at USD then at Cal-Riverside. Authorities did not say how the scheme worked and said they were trying to determine its scope.

BAYLOR: Freshman standout Perry Jones said he's staying in school, skipping the chance to declare for the NBA draft.

CONNECTICUT: The Hartford Courant reported that Kemba Walker, the star of this season's national title team, will announce today that he will skip his senior season and declare for the NBA draft.

TENNESSEE: Former director of basketball operations Ken Johnson provided two free tickets to the mother of an athlete in March, a secondary violation that played a role in his firing and the firing of coach Bruce Pearl and his staff. The school detailed the violation in a letter March 25 to the SEC. The name of the athlete was blacked out.

WOMEN: Stanford assistant Bobbie Kelsey will replace Lisa Stone as Wisconsin's coach.

FOOTBALL: Villanova won't take a vote scheduled for this week to decide if the program, now in Division I-AA, would move to the Big East. In a statement, the school said the league needs time for due diligence.

JURISPRUDENCE: A grand jury will hear a first-degree murder case vs. former Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely, 23, who is accused of killing his girlfriend. Yeardley Love, 22, a member of the women's lacrosse team, was killed May 3, 2010.

Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report, which used information from Times wires.