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TITANS AT STEELERS
EELERS
“The Yankees have never really had
a hitter’s hitter, guys like Pete Rose
8:30 tto
tonight ET,
ETT, NBC for USC, Buckeyes
fo
who get 200 hits a year, except Don Steelers favored by 6
Perhaps the biggest nonconfer-
P
Mattingly for a while. (Jeter averages
Scouting report ence game of the year kicks off
enc
208 per 162 games.) They’re more
Keys to Titans’, Steelers’ victory, Saturday night when USC visits Ohio
Sat
power hitters, guys who get 160 hits
Page 6 State, and our college football writ-
Sta
and hit for power. To me, Derek Jeter
is very consistent. He’s had a long AFC contenders in center stagee Q&A with James Farrior, ers see it playing out differently:
Page 6
career. He’s a very good hitter. I would
love to pitch with a guy like him as NFL season begins tonight Ma Hayes:
Matt
backing me because you know he’s Why Ohio State wins
Wh
going to be busting his butt.” BY CLIFTON BROWN the Redskins in freee agency.
a
— Matt Crossman cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com The Titans must prove
ro
ove they We know the crooked num-
ckk.
can pick up the slack.
Week 1 ber: Ohio State is 0-5 in its last five
ber
Goodbye, preseason. Hello, real maance would
“A good performance primer games against the top five. Here’s
gam
Scoreboard season. show that we have a lot of talent Office pool tips,
a zero
z number with more oomph:
USC freshman quarterback Matt
Baseball The NFL kicks off its 90th cam- m
and we’re able to move on,” defensive Page 7
Barkley hasn’t played a college
Bar
American League paign tonight with a matchup of two end Kyle Vanden n Bosch said. “We Expert fantasy advice,
game on the road. This one—prime
gam
AFC heavyweights. The Steelers weren’t just a one-playmaker
plaaymaker defense.” Page 8
Texas 10, Cleveland 0 Forecasting the ‘09 awards,
time, loaded with pressure, against
tim
N.Y. Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 2 hope to become the first team since an elite opponent—screams fresh-
Page 9
the ’04 Patriots to repeat as Super Can the Steelers’ blitz
littz get to Kerry Collins? man mistakes. Too many, in fact, for
ma
Minnesota 4, Toronto 1 USC to recover.
Bowl champs. But the Titans had the The Titans’ lineinne protects Collins
Boston 7, Baltimore 5 Ben Roethlisberger Kerry Collins
NFL’s best record last year (13-3) and like the secret service.
viice. He was sacked
Kansas City 5, Detroit 1 whipped the Steelers, 31-14, in Nash- just eight times in ’08 ’08, and dhhe reads d Da Curtis:
Dave
Chicago White Sox 4, Oakland 3, 13 innings ville last December. defenses well. are watching,” Roethlisberger said. “I Why USC wins
L.A. Angels 6, Seattle 3 “They beat us handily,” Steelers “His decision-making is extremely think you are going to get the best from Are the Steelers ready for every opponent’s USC has more talent, more on
National League coach Mike Tomlin said. “We will find quick,” Tomlin said. “Very rarely do both teams.” best shot? the line, and more confidence out
Chicago Cubs 8, Pittsburgh 5 out about ourselves pretty quickly.” blitzes get him.” The Steelers have won six con- of Week 1. Most important, Barkley
Here are five questions to ponder, Will Titans wide receiver Nate Washington secutive season openers, and Heinz won’t need training wheels in his
St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 1
while anticipating what should be a Will Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger pull play against his former teammates? Field will be rocking tonight. The first big game. He’ll lean on RB Joe
San Diego 4, San Francisco 2 superb season opener: off another special performance? Washington is a game-time deci- Steelers want to prove they are not McKnight and his healthy offensive
Philadelphia 6, Washington 5 Big Ben loves the big stage—as he sion with a hamstring injury. After resting on last season’s laurels. line, and make the few throws USC
Florida 6, N.Y. Mets 3 How will the Titans fare without defensive proved leading a last-minute, game- averaging 16.4 yards per catch the “It’s going to be a unique atmo- will need. Add it up, and the Trojans
Houston 2, Atlanta 1 tackle Albert Haynesworth? winning drive in Super Bowl 43. last three seasons with Pittsburgh, sphere; it’s going to be awesome,” grab the crucial road win.
Colorado 4, Cincinnati 3 Haynesworth became the league’s “It will be crazy—great atmosphere, he is being counted on to upgrade the Tomlin said. “What happened last
Arizona 4, L.A. Dodgers 3 highest-paid defensive player, bolting to everybody’s watching, all of your peers Titans’ passing game. year is in our rearview mirror.” Clemson at Ga. Tech, Page 19
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com See a Different Game THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 2
GUIDE
Tune In Today
A quick look at the best sports on TV
COLLEGE
FOOTBALL
7:30 p.m. Roethlisberger rejects settlement offer
OFF THE FIELD
YOUR TURN
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in the news? Sporting News Today
welcomes reader-submitted stories
of 150 words or less. E-mail them
to yourturn@sportingnews.com
Dabo Swinney THE WORLD’S FIRST DIGITAL
DAILY SPORTS NEWSPAPER
Evans is a 5-11, 170-pound DB out of Seguin (Arling- among others. He is the eighth commitment for the (Greensboro, N.C.)
ton, Texas), while Ashburn is a 6-3, 240-pound DE Rebels in the class of 2010. Considering: Alabama, MORE COVERAGE from sportingnews.com
from John Curtis (River Ridge, La.). Evans was also — Brian McLaughlin California, Oregon, Tennessee Top 100 recruits: sportingnews.com/blog/TheRecruitnik/tag/160168/sn100
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Overnight Report THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 5
BASEBALL / NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL / AMERICAN LEAGUE
Arizona 4, L.A. Dodgers 3 L.A. Angels 6, Seattle 3
Morales helps secure West lead
Torre stays positive despite shrinking lead ANAHEIM—The Los Angeles Angels 6, Mariners 3
PHEONIX—Joe Torre chose to look on the Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 3 Angels realize what’s behind Seattle AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
I.Suzuki rf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .357
bright side after the Los Angeles Dodg- Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg. them and just how fast it’s mov- F.Gutierrez cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .282
Furcal ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 .258
ers walked in the winning run in a 4-3 Kemp cf 4 0 1 0 0 2 .305 ing. The more the Texas Rang- Jo.Lopez 2b 4 1 3 1 0 0 .272
Griffey Jr. dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .215
loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Ethier rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 .282 ers push them, the better the Beltre 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .261
M.Ramirez lf 3 1 2 2 1 1 .305
Wednesday night. Loney 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .280 two-time defending A.L. West Hall lf 3 1 0 0 1 3 .222
Carp 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .280
The loss sliced the Dodgers’ N.L. West Belliard 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .257 champions seem to play. Johjima c 4 1 2 1 0 0 .249
O.Hudson 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .289
lead to 2½ games over the surging Colo- R.Martin c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .256 The Seattle Mariners? Jo.Wilson ss 3 0 1 0 0 2 .281
a-M.Sweeney ph 1 0 0 1 0 0 .276
rado Rockies, but Torre said he was Garland p 2 0 0 0 0 2 .097 They’ve been left in the dust. Totals 36 3 9 3 1 11
a-Mientkiewicz ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .333
happy to take two of three from the Belisario p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Kendry Morales hit an early
Los Angeles AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Diamondbacks. Sherrill p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- three-run double and Jered Figgins 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .303
Troncoso p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
“I’m very positive about this series,” Totals 34 3 7 3 1 11 Weaver pitched well into the M.Izturis 2b 3 1 0 0 1 1 .292
B.Abreu rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .300
Torre said. “This was a disappointment, seventh inning of the Angels’ Guerrero dh 3 2 2 0 1 0 .296
Arizona AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
this game. You’d like to win the ball- R.Roberts 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .284 fifth victory in six games, 6-3 Tor.Hunter cf 3 1 1 1 1 0 .306
K.Morales 1b 4 0 1 3 0 2 .310
game, but you had your opportunities.” S.Drew ss 4 0 1 0 1 0 .259 over the Mariners on Wednes- J.Rivera lf 3 1 1 2 1 0 .294
J.Upton rf 3 0 0 1 2 0 .304
Last season, the Diamondbacks and Reynolds 3b 3 0 1 1 2 1 .273 day night. E.Aybar ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 .303
J.Mathis c 3 0 1 0 0 0 .211
Dodgers dueled into September before Montero c 3 1 3 1 1 0 .304 Juan Rivera added a late two- Totals 30 6 8 6 5 4
C.Young cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 .198
Los Angeles pulled away. Byrnes lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .211 run homer, and Brian Fuentes
Seattle 001 001 001 — 3 9 0
This year, the Diamondbacks have Tracy 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 .229 bounced back from a blown Los Angeles 400 000 02x — 6 8 0
b-Ryal ph-1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .256
been out of contention for months, but Haren p 3 0 0 0 0 0 .238 save one night earlier to earn
a-grounded out for Jo.Wilson in the 9th. LOB: Seattle 7,
they relished playing the spoiler role in J.Gutierrez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- his A.L.-leading 40th save for Los Angeles 5. 2B: Beltre (23), Carp (2), Jo.Wilson (4),
c-Hester ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
the division race, if only for one night. d-G.Parra ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .291 the Angels, whose victory kept Guerrero (13), K.Morales (40). HR: Johjima (8), off Jer.
Weaver; Jo.Lopez (23), off Jer.Weaver; J.Rivera (22), off
“I think the whole N.L. West might 1-Oeltjen pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 their A.L. West lead at 4½ J.Vargas. RBIs: Jo.Lopez (85), Johjima (21), M.Sweeney
Totals 32 4 7 4 7 4
have been watching that game,” said games over the surging Rang- (30), Tor.Hunter (78), K.Morales 3 (98), J.Rivera 2 (78).
Runners left in scoring position: Seattle 4 (Hall 2,
Arizona manager A.J. Hinch, whose Los Angeles 100 200 000 — 3 7 1 ers, who finished a three-game I.Suzuki 2); Los Angeles 2 (E.Aybar, Tor.Hunter). DP:
Arizona 020 010 001 — 4 7 0
team snapped a six-game skid. sweep of Cleveland. Seattle 2 (Jo.Wilson, Jo.Lopez, Carp), (Beltre, Jo.Lopez).
Manny Ramirez and James Loney hit MATT YORK / AP One out when winning run scored. a-flied out for Los Angeles, which moved Seattle IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Garland in the 7th. b-grounded into a fielder’s choice
back-to-back homers for the Dodgers, Trent Oeltjen, above, scored the winning run for Arizona on Mark Reynolds’ bases-loaded walk. for Tracy in the 8th. c-was announced for J.Gutierrez back to a season-best 28 games Snell L, 4-2 5 1⁄3 6 4 4 5 2 100 5.13
J.Vargas 2 2⁄3 2 2 2 0 2 38 5.00
who are off today before opening a three- in the 9th. d-reached on error for Hester in the 9th. over .500 (83-55), will face Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
1-ran for G.Parra in the 9th. E: Troncoso (1). LOB: Los
game series at San Francisco on Friday. off a pair of pitches with two strikes. lot of choices,” Torre said. “Upton cer- Angeles 5, Arizona 11. 2B: Montero (29). 3B: Furcal (4). Texas seven times down the Jer.Weaver W, 15-5 6 1⁄3 7 2 2 0 8 111 3.76
Oliver H, 16 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 7 2.80
The Diamondbacks’ winning rally “I was just trying to put the ball in tainly has been doing a hell of a job, and HR: M.Ramirez (18), off Haren; Loney (11), off Haren; stretch, which suits Weaver Jepsen H, 13 1 1 0 0 0 2 14 4.50
Montero (14), off Garland; C.Young (12), off Garland.
began when Ramon Troncoso (4-3) play,” Reynolds said. “I just fouled off Reynolds, the one thing you feel you RBIs: M.Ramirez 2 (54), Loney (80), J.Upton (74), (15-5) just fine. T.Bell 0 1 1 1 1 0 610.06
Fuentes S, 40-46 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.99
threw away Gerardo Parra’s roller to the some tough pitches and was able to work have going is he swings and misses a Reynolds (94), Montero (53), C.Young (34). S: R.Roberts. “It’s a good thing for us,” said
Runners left in scoring position: Los Angeles 1
mound, allowing him to reach second a good AB.” lot.” (Loney); Arizona 4 (Haren 2, C.Young, Ryal). Weaver, who never allowed the T.Bell pitched to 2 batters in the 9th. Inherited
runners-scored: J.Vargas 2-0, Oliver 1-0, Fuentes
on the error. Torre said he walked Drew and Upton Juan Gutierrez (4-3) pitched out of a Mariners to have multiple run- 2-1. Umpires: Home, Bill Miller; First, Angel Campos;
Los Angeles IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
“I left my shoulder a little down,” to set up a force at home. He also hoped jam in the eighth and got the final five Garland 6 6 3 3 3 4 89 4.23 ners on base. “Last year, we Second, Derryl Cousins; Third, Jim Joyce. T: 2:44. A:
36,340 (45,257).
Troncoso said. Troncoso could strike out Reynolds, outs for the Diamondbacks. Dan Haren Belisario 1 0 0 0 1 0 16 2.03 clinched early and didn’t really
Sherrill 1 1 0 0 0 0 14 0.47
As it turned out, that was the only ball who leads the majors with 190 allowed three runs and struck out nine Troncoso L, 4-3 1⁄3 0 1 0 3 0 20 2.51 get that momentum going into
that left the infield in the bottom of the strikeouts. in 7 1/3 innings. Arizona IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA the postseason (where they lost
Haren 7 1⁄3 7 3 3 1 9 119 2.82
ninth. Had that happened, the Dodgers still Los Angeles’ Jon Garland started J.Gutierrez W, 4-3 1 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 21 4.06 a first-round series to Boston).
Trent Oeltjen ran for Parra and took would have had to retire Miguel against his former team for the second Knowing that Texas is playing
Belisario pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited
third on Ryan Roberts’ sacrifice. After Montero, who homered, doubled and time in six days. runners-scored: Sherrill 1-0, J.Gutierrez 2-0. IBB: well, we know we can’t just sit
intentional walks to Stephen Drew and singled. — The Associated Press off Garland (Tracy, Montero), off Troncoso (S.Drew, back and wait for something to
J.Upton). Umpires: Home, Hunter Wendelstedt; First,
Justin Upton, Troncoso missed with a “When you’re going through the mid- Dana DeMuth; Second, Doug Eddings; Third, Brian happen. That’s good for us.”
3-2 fastball to Reynolds, who had fouled dle of the lineup, you really don’t have a Red Sox maintain wild-card lead, Page 30 Knight. T: 2:50. A: 20,025 (48,652). — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 6
Q&A with ... Steelers LB James Farrior
Titans at Steelers
When: Tonight, 8:30 ET
‘I know I’ve got respect around the league’
TV: NBC Once on the cusp of being labeled a There are no mixed signals, it’s all
Weather: 64 degrees, showers (30%)
first-round bust, James Farrior joined the out in the open. I guess you could
Line: Steelers favored by 6
Steelers in 2002, and has since lived up Mike Tomlin relates to players,
Last meeting: Tennessee, 31-23 (2008)
to all the expectations that made him because he’s a little younger, he’s
the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft. A in our age bracket.
Titans’ keys to success two-time Super Bowl champion, Farrior
be, you know what to expect from the bigger season than he had last year.
team you’re going against, you know the
playbook inside and out. I think a whole
other offseason of really studying our
A: I think so, and he’s worked so
hard this offseason. He has
really put in the time to give himself the
Q: You guys had a lot of
turnover on defense from
last year to this year. How have the
offense really helped me feel that much chance to be successful this year. And guys looked so far?
more prepared. as a player, that’s what you love to
have. You love to have guys like that in
the locker room, that are here in the
A: They’re doing a good job, and
you know when you see them
every day in camp you see things that
Matt Ryan was sharp in the preseason, completing 22-of-29 passes in limited playing time.
JOHN AMIS / AP
going to make some poor decisions, but
that’s just the nature of playing in the
NFL and guys are going to make some
A: He’s fit in great. He’s a great
guy, and he works so hard. He’s
a great player. A guy like that fits in
will be game-changers for us. I look
forward to them getting us the ball in
some good situations this season.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 11
Comments: If the Packers had difficulty moving tickets, the league would be in some serious trouble. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: More leniency on extending payment plans.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
New offseason ticketing initiatives: Froze ticket prices; payment plan that allows season-ticket holders to make Comments: One of the top sellers in the NFL, the Redskins did little new in the offseason. For the fourth consecutive season, the
monthly, or even weekly, payments; season-ticket conference calls with head coach and executives; invited season- team did not raise ticket prices.
ticket holders to a state-of-the-Vikings town hall event.
Comments: The team, in its outdated stadium, struggled before the economy cratered, so the club’s task of selling tickets had
been tough. Even with Brett Favre, a season sellout is not a certainty. *Team had blackout(s) in 2008 — Compiled by Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NFL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 14
Rising Rams
BYU’s huge win over Oklahoma
boosts the Mountain West, no
doubt. But victories such as Colo-
rado State’s on Sunday at Colorado
mean just as much. Remember, the
powers-that-be will view the per-
formance of the entire conference
when they consider the MWC for
an automatic BCS berth.
Utah, TCU and BYU can’t carry
the league all the way to its prom-
ised land. Big wins and successful
seasons from the other six MWC
members, then, help chip away at
the status quo.
Other opportunities come this
weekend, with UNLV hosting Ore-
gon State, TCU heading to Virginia,
Air Force visiting Minnesota and
even Wyoming entertaining (gulp) BRETT FLASHNICK / AP
No. 2 Texas. QB Joe Webb ran for 194 yards in UAB’s pasting of Rice.
Colorado State coach Steve
Fairchild seemed fired up by the Michigan State, meanwhile, 25-year-old senior, Nixon came to
rivalry win but cautioned his pro- continues to deal with the Kirk the Sun Devils after a minor league
gram still needs much improve- Cousins/Keith Nichol stalemate. baseball career and has shown a
ment. “We’re not up to par with Both guys were great against tremendous knack for the ball. He
those teams you’re talking about,” Montana State, and, you guessed picked off five passes last year and
Fairchild said on the MWC coaches it, both will play significant time grabbed three more Saturday,
teleconference, referring to BYU, Saturday against Central Michi- returning one for a score. He also
Utah and TCU. “We’re certainly gan. Just don’t ask coach Mark blocked a punt.
not there yet.” Dantonio how much and in which Joe Webb, QB, UAB. Webb domi-
The folks in Boulder might dis- order. nated Rice wire-to-wire in a 44-24
agree with all that. “I’m not going to sit here and say victory. He ended the week second
every week this is who’s starting in the nation in total offense, pass
QB questions OK and this is who’s not,” he said. efficiency and rushing; his 194
So much for all the hubbub about Mississippi State and Boston rushing yards, on 20 carries, were
using August to pick a starting College, among others, also con- 101 yards better than any other
quarterback. With Labor Day in tinue to juggle QBs as they head quarterback in Division I-A.
the rearview, a handful of key into Game No. 2. MSU coach Dan Victor Ugenyi, DT/Josh McNary, DE,
teams still don’t know exactly Mullen said Wednesday he won’t Army. The Black Knights’ linemen
what’s happening behind center. know his starter until he deter- each posted 2.5 sacks against East-
Virginia played three quarter- mines his first play call. Yikes. ern Michigan. Their play adds to
backs in the opener and came away the optimism along the Hudson, as
happy with none; Michigan played Four on the scene the Knights’ new option offense
three and came away happy with Quick thoughts on four players ran for 300 yards in a 31-14 victory
all. Both schools might play three coming off big games: over Eastern Michigan. Duke
guys in the spot this week. Mike Nixon, LB, Arizona State. A comes to town Saturday.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 19
Spotlight Game
Clemson at No. 15 Georgia Tech, 7:30 tonight ET, ESPN
The Line: Georgia Tech by 5½
WHAT’S AT STAKE
An early edge in their respective ACC
divisional races. Both teams are coming off
easy wins against overmatched opponents
(Georgia Tech beat I-AA Jacksonville State 37-17,
Clemson knocked off Middle Tennessee 37-14),
so this will be their first serious test. For Georgia
Tech, it’s the start of a key two-game stretch
that includes another Thursday night matchup
against Miami.
KEY MATCHUP
Georgia Tech’s option offense against
Clemson’s defense. The Yellow Jackets rushed
for 335 yards in their opening game, and they
MARY ANN CHASTAIN / AP JOHN AMIS / AP set up the threat of the pass by throwing for 162
Hamstring and foot injuries limited C.J. Spiller to just four carries in the opener against Middle Tennessee State. QB Josh Nesbitt completed about 44 percent of his passes last season, but was 6 of 11 in the 2009 opener. yards. Clemson has plenty of talent on defense,
including end Ricky Sapp, but the Tigers will
Three reasons Clemson will win Three reasons Georgia Tech will win have stick to their assignments and play with
discipline.
Short Week: Pick the sports analogy for facing Georgia Tech’ option offense. Maybe
1. C.J. Spiller: Spiller, if healthy and happy, might be the biggest offensive game-changer in
the ACC. But the struggle to keep him in good shape has hampered his career so far.
He’s finally the go-to guy for the Tigers, with only sophomore Jamie Harper to challenge him
1. it’s like facing a knuckleball pitcher on the diamond, or playing Princeton in hoops.
“It’s a totally different style,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. Regardless, the task
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clemson: QB Kyle Parker. The redshirt fresh-
man was only 9 of 20 in his first college game,
for significant carries. And though he sat the second half against Middle Tennessee State, gets trickier with two days shaved off preparation time. The Yellow Jackets can keep
but he had two touchdown passes and didn’t
Clemson coaches insisted this week he feels fine. Assuming they’re right, Spiller has the their routine, even in a short week, and prepare as though they were facing anybody in throw any interceptions. He’ll need to step up his
abilities—and the stage on Thursday—to prove himself as one of the best in the South. the ACC. Clemson has to alter everything for a team that might run the ball three, four, efficiency to take the heat off star RB C.J. Spiller.
Kevin Steele: The Tigers’ defensive coordinator reflected this week on the struggles he maybe five times as much as it passes. Good luck, Dabo. Georgia Tech: RB Jonathan Dwyer. The
2. faced as a Nebraska linebackers coach preparing to practice against the Huskers’
option offense back in the 1990s. College football doesn’t have a Tommie Frazier right now, 2. Confident QB: Through the back half of last season and into Saturday, Tech’s Josh
Nesbitt has proven himself as a quality passer. One of his milestone performances
reigning ACC player of the year picked up
where he left off in 2008, breaking off a 74-yard
touchdown run the first time he touched the
but the Yellow Jackets’ scheme comes closest to resembling those unstoppable Huskers. came in Death Valley a year ago, when he hit Demaryius Thomas for gains of 23 and 24
ball this season.
Clemson played OK when GT visited last year, yet they still allowed 207 yards in a 21-17 yards (the last for the TD) on a fourth-quarter, game-winning drive. Nesbitt’s passing
loss. But Steele’s got the experience to put a so-so set of defensive players into position to impressed Johnson throughout the spring and his 6-for-11, 141-yard performance in the FACTS & FIGURES
tackle speedy back Jonathan Dwyer. Whether they tackle Dwyer remains to be seen. opener added evidence to those reviews. Those numbers came against Jacksonville Ten of the last 13 games in this series have
State; how will they translate against an ACC foe? been decided by five points or less. ... Georgia
Special teams: Spiller and Jacoby Ford, Clemson’s two top offensive skill players,
3. scored touchdowns on returns in week one. Spiller’s came on the game’s opening
kickoff, Ford’s on a punt. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, meanwhile, said his squad’s 3. Rattle the rookie: Kyle Parker has enjoyed a near-perfect athletic career so far. He
balanced spring practice and baseball for a few weeks, quarterbacking and desig-
Tech has won the last two meetings. ... Clemson
has a 2-8 record in Thursday night games. ...
Clemson hasn’t beaten a ranked team on the
early special-teams play frustrated him, especially in the punt game. On the speed with nated hitting with equal aplomb. By late August, he had beat out veteran Willy Korn to
road since a 10-9 victory at Florida State in 2006.
which punter Chandler Anderson booted the ball, Johnson said in a press conference, win the No. 1 QB job. And he started his career with an interception-free, two-touch-
... Dabo Swinney faced Georgia Tech in his first
“A couple of times, I thought we would have to wait until Sunday for him to kick it.” If down effort against Middle Tennessee. His first road start comes tonight against a game as Clemson’s coach after taking over for
form holds, the Tigers carry a huge kicking-game advantage into Atlanta. Look for defense that forced 29 turnovers and allowed fewer than 21 points per game a year ago. Tommy Bowden during the 2008 season.
their speed to make a big play or two tonight. If the Jackets can bother Parker, they should roll at home. — The Associated Press
— Dave Curtis — Dave Curtis
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 20
PLAYER DIARY
‘We believe we’re the best team’ ‘You can’t worry about your opponent’
BY JEFF BYERS
Ohio State senior safety Kurt Coleman make more big plays. I need to For SN Today
was a second-team All-Big Ten selection get more interceptions.
last season and is among the nation’s Good win for us on Saturday against
best defensive backs this fall.
Coleman led the team with nine
tackles and an interception in Saturday’s
Q: Are you a guy who
relishes big hits?
San Jose. I played center the whole game
instead of guard, with Kris O’Dowd out
31-27 win over Navy. This week, it’s a bit
more difficult when USC comes to town.
Coleman spoke recently with
A: I love big hits. I want to
be a big hitter, but I’m
more of a sure tackler. I’m not
with an injury. It’s good to have that on
tape so I can show people in the NFL that
I can be versatile.
Sporting News Today’s Matt Crossman. going to let anybody get by me. There’s not a huge difference between
the two positions. The center spot is
A: It’s legit.
A: It was unbelievable.
Lamaar Thomas had
run right before him, and he Q: Are you guys
thinking you’re
come down and play man at all
times, on any receiver. I feel like
I’m a sure tackler. I want to
football field. I pray right
before I go out. Whatever I do,
it’s up into His hands.
56-3 victory over San Jose State. Byers and his teammates, ranked No. 3 in
the country, play at No. 8 Ohio State at 8 p.m. Saturday.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 22
PLAYER DIARY
Penn State scars run deep for Orange coach We won the game, but we could
have played a whole lot better. Lib-
Rookie Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said one of the erty came to play ball, but going
team’s goals when he played for the Orange under Dick into the game, honestly I thought
MacPherson from 1983-85 was to beat the teams that Syr- we were going to put up a lot of
acuse played at least twice. points, and that we’d hold them to
And the Orange had a lot of success, with one glaring very few, and that just wasn’t the
exception. case. I don’t think everyone was
“We beat a lot of teams, but the team in the four years satisfied with our overall perfor-
I was here that we didn’t beat was Penn State,” Mar- mance, from the defensive line to
rone told The Associated Press. “I look back on my the secondary.
career and I apologize to our fans, to Coach. They put in We messed up a couple of plays
so much effort and I was never able to be part of a team because we didn’t communicate
that beat Penn State, and I know everyone that played properly, so that’s something we
with me feels that way.” need to improve. I don’t like to
Syracuse, which lost 55-13 at home a year ago to the make excuses, but I had a couple of
Nittany Lions, travels to No. 9 Penn State on Saturday. ailments going into the game, and
it got worse during the game. So,
South Florida’s Moise Plancher is determined to make personally, I’ve got to get healthy.
the best of an opportunity as the Bulls’ featured run- CHRIS O’MEARA / AP Julian Miller played a great
ning back. The senior rushed for a career-high 78 yards After two seasons of working his way back up the depth chart, game at defensive end. He often
and two touchdowns in USF’s season-opening rout of USF RB Moise Plancher rushed for a career-high 78 yards and two TDs. says he looks up to me, but I have JEFF GENTNER / AP
Wofford, taking advantage of an increased workload to step my game up to match him. Ask Scooter Berry’s teammates—he doesn’t field punts, he chases quarterbacks.
with Mike Ford suspended for the first two games and people that were around, and this year it’s almost like a J.T. Thomas played well at line-
Jamar Taylor out with a knee injury. whole new crowd. That’s just different—not good or bad.” backer, and our young kicker, they both caught them. I’m glad it If we try to go into the game look-
“It’s always a boost of confidence early in the season, So far, so good. Tyler Bitancurt, I want to give him wasn’t me out there. Earlier in the ing for revenge, we’ll let our emo-
especially to gain the trust of my coaches and my team- The revamped defense gave up an opening-drive his due. day, I stepped in front of a screen tions get the best of us and we
mates,” Plancher told The AP. touchdown, then clamped down in a 47-15 win at Rut- I was asleep by 10 o’clock Satur- pass and it went straight through won’t play our best.
Plancher was the starting tailback before suffering a gers on Monday. Webster got knocked out of the game day night, so I didn’t really have an my fingers. My teammates were — As told to Paul Day
knee injury in the 2006 season opener and missing the for one play early in the second quarter, then returned eventful weekend. I played with like, “Don’t let Scooter go, or we’ll
rest of the year. Since returning the following season and made an interception on the same drive—one of my three dogs, took them on all be running.” Coach (Bill) Stew-
and carrying the ball just 10 times for 17 yards, he has three Bearcats interceptions in the game. walks. My girlfriend is going to art even took his turn; he missed About the author
gradually worked his way up the depth chart. massage therapy school and lives the first two but caught the third Scooter
West Virginia DE Julian Miller said hitting a quar- with me now. I get massages two one. Berry,
Cincinnati S Aaron Webster felt weird. terback and then finding out he doesn’t have the foot- to three times a week, and I think I definitely take pride in the Big West
The senior safety is the only starter left from last ball is like expecting an Xbox for Christmas and getting it’s going to be beneficial for me on East during nonconference play. Virginia DT
Berry, a
year’s defense, which helped the Bearcats win their socks instead. the field. We play in a tough hard-nosed junior with
first Big East title and play in the Orange Bowl. When- His feelings for opposing quarterbacks are clear. We condition on Sundays and conference, and when we win 25 career
ever he’d line up with the newcomers this spring and “I don’t like them,” Miller told The AP. “I try to let Tuesdays. We had a great practice games outside the league, it looks starts,
summer, he couldn’t get over the change. them know it with my pads rather than my mouth.” on Tuesday, and afterward, we good for everyone else. and the
“Oh, yeah, it was weird just because I hadn’t really Miller is off to a good start. In his third career start, had two of our linemen—Chris As for East Carolina this week- Mountaineers host East Carolina
on Saturday after a 33-20 open-
played with them before,” Webster told The AP. “It was the sophomore posted 1.5 sacks and seven tackles over- Neild and Selvish Capers—field end, we don’t want to look at it as a ing weekend win over Liberty.
new faces. You go from last year and being used to the all in West Virginia’s win over Liberty. punts to get us out of running, and payback game. That was last year.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 23
Flu outbreak slows down Badgers Colorado’s Scott wants more carries
Wisconsin officials have him, that he was running out of Colorado sophomore TB Darrell Scott, who entered
announced that at least 10 players fuel, if you will,” Hope said. “And last season as one of the most celebrated recruits in
have been hit with flu-like symp- we held him out of practice for a the nation, says he was disappointed and surprised
toms, though it hasn’t been con- couple of days and got him ener- that he had only one rushing play in Sunday’s loss to
firmed whether anybody has gized back up a little bit. But he Colorado State.
contracted swine flu. played really well.” “I was warm. I was hyped. I was ready,” Scott told
“We’ve been preparing for this The Denver Post. “Yeah, (I was surprised), but if
for quite some time,” Dennis Helwig, Forget all that Terrelle Pryor-Matt that’s how it goes, that’s how it goes.”
the director of UW sports medicine, Barkley matchup analysis, or talk of Scott returned five kickoffs, averaging 27.6 yards,
told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. a USC blowout when the Ohio State and caught one pass. But his only carry was a 1-yard
“We felt it was coming because of Buckeyes and Trojans play gain.
everybody coming back to school. Saturday. “After meetings (Monday), it was like, ‘We’re
That is when we usually see an out- The important statistic to remem- going to try to work you in,’ “ Scott told the newspa-
break of symptoms like this.” ber is 24-1—Ohio State coach Jim per, referring to a talk with running backs coach DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP
According to the newspaper, the Tressel’s nonconference record at Darian Hagan. “That kind of reassured me on every- Darrell Scott averaged 27.6 yards on kickoffs for Colorado, but got
Badgers did not work out in full Ohio Stadium. thing. (Getting carries) is what I was recruited for. only one carry from scrimmage for one yard vs. Colorado State.
pads Tuesday. Coach Bret Bielema And it wasn’t just any old non- We’ll see on Friday. There’s really not much I can
directed a modified practice in conference team that delivered that say right now.” Jermaine Gresham, who has undergone season-ending
preparation for Saturday’s game single loss in Columbus. It was the Hagan explained that when Colorado fell behind knee surgery.
against Fresno State. Texas Longhorns, who used that early, the Buffaloes were forced to play catchup,
“We didn’t want to tax them and 25-22 victory as a springboard to a which gave extra playing time to Demetrius Sumler, a New Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads, when asked
wear them down,” Bielema told the national championship in 2005. better blocker. Sumler had a team-high eight about the importance of Saturday’s game against in-
newspaper, adding that he’s not Ironically, the quarterback for carries. state rival Iowa, called it simply “the second game
sure who will be available Satur- that Texas team was Vince Young, the “I’ve told Darrell that,” Hagan told the newspaper. on the schedule.”
day. “We had a number of guys out MORRY GASH / AP player that Buckeyes QB Pryor “There were circumstances. At times, you weren’t Perspective is good, but Rhoads might be mis-
today, but hopefully, with some of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema is not sure often is compared to. comfortable with (Scott) in pass protection, espe- judging the feelings of his fan base, which has
the things we’re doing in the train- who’ll be healthy enough to play Saturday. cially with CSU blitzing like they were. But Darrell exulted over seven wins in the last 11 games between
ing room and just getting some good With RBs Daniel Dufrene and has gotten better in that regard.” the schools.
rest, those guys will be able to join Jason Ford already questionable “It’s a different kind of rivalry. It’s competitively
us tomorrow.” 6-8, 291-pound sophomore has the because of injuries, Illinois coach Oklahoma’s offensive line, one of its biggest friendly,” Rhoads said. “People enjoy this game.
Bielema did not identify the potential to be a star. Ron Zook announced Wednesday strengths last season, has drawn a lot of criticism in They know there’s going to be a winner and a loser,
affected players. “He has a great future in football,” that Mikel LeShoure has been sus- the wake of the Sooners’ season-opening loss to but they move on after that.”
Hope said. “He runs good, and he’s pended for Saturday’s game against BYU that included a number of penalties and the
Dennis Kelly might be one of Pur- smart. He’s a tough guy. He’s young Illinois State for violating team injury of starting QB Sam Bradford. The Tulsa World reports that Oklahoma State
due’s most inexperienced offensive and inexperienced in ways, but he’s rules. But there was one bright spot—the play of first- OG Anthony Morgan, who missed the season opener
linemen, but he started against a super talent.” LeShoure, a sophomore, and Troy time starter Brody Eldridge at center. Offensive line against Georgia with a knee injury, probably will
Toledo last Saturday at the all- Kelly struggled with a bout of Pollard both rushed for a team-high coach James Patton reviewed game film and told start Saturday’s game against Houston. Morgan, a
important left tackle position and mononucleosis near the end of 38 yards last Saturday in a loss to reporters Eldridge had more than 20 knockdowns junior college transfer, will break up the all-senior
received one of the highest grades training camp, but seems to have Missouri. If neither Dufrene nor against the Cougars. offensive line that started against the Bulldogs—LT
from coaches. recovered. Ford can play, Justin Green will The bad news: Eldridge has been moved back to Russell Okung, LG Noah Franklin, C Andrew Lewis, RG
Coach Danny Hope even said the “We had some concerns with become Pollard’s backup. his natural position of tight end to replace star Andrew Mitchell and RT Brady Bond.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 24
PAC-10 SEC
INSIDE DISH INSIDE DISH
Pac-10 welcomes marquee nonconference games LSU not worried about offense’s slow start
When it comes to nonconference scheduling, the Pac- LSU’s offense was expected to put up big numbers
10 has an unofficial motto. in the opener against Washington, but one number
Anyone, anywhere, anytime. stood out: 48.
No. 3 USC is traveling to eighth-ranked Ohio State on That’s how many offensive plays the Tigers ran—
Saturday, the same day UCLA visits Tennessee. Later the fewest amount since Les Miles took over the pro-
this month, Arizona and No. 10 California will venture gram five years ago, according to The Advocate. LSU
into Big Ten territory, and Arizona State goes to No. 21 had just four first-half possessions and five in the
Georgia. Four Pac-10 teams are also challenging 18th- second half of their 31-23 victory.
ranked Notre Dame. LSU managed three touchdowns and a field goal
“Strong out-of-conference matchups capture the pub- on those nine possessions (LSU added a defensive
lic’s imagination,” Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott told touchdown).
The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Washington tallied 83 plays, 478
Pac-10 teams this season will play 15 games against yards and almost 37 minutes of time of possession. JOHN FROSCHAUER / AP
BCS conferences and Notre Dame—more than the larger “There were some calls there that we didn’t get Terrance Toliver’s touchdown was one of LSU’s few first-half
SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. Pac-10 teams say DEAN HARE / AP the opportunity to execute based on the communi- offensive highlights in their 31-23 win over Washington.
they play tough schedules because they want to improve Stanford WR Chris Owusu tallied two TDs and one concussion last week. cations,” Miles told the newspaper. “Some of it was
the national perception of the league—a strange goal for a certainly the stadium that we were in, and some of it the second half last week, according to The Clarion-
conference that went 5-0 last postseason. In some cases, said that to his knowledge none of his players have con- was the youth at quarterback.” Ledger. Lee and Chris Relf split time at quarterback in
Pac-10 teams also need to sell tickets, and Notre Dame is firmed cases of the H1N1 virus. After completing just one pass in LSU’s first 20 the Bulldogs’ 45-7 win against Jackson State.
better box office than North Dakota, which played at the plays, Jordan Jefferson found his rhythm and finished Mullen will try to become the first Mississippi
Big 12’s Texas Tech last Saturday. Stanford sophomore WR Chris Owusu has been cleared 11-of-19 for 172 yards and three scores. State coach since Rockey Felker in 1986 to win his SEC
“We need that national recognition,” Arizona athletic to practice by team doctors after sustaining a concussion “We finally found a rhythm we were looking for opener.
director Jim Livengood told The AP. “When you play good in the Cardinal’s season-opening 39-13 victory over the whole game,” Jefferson told The Advocate of the
people, the chance is you’re going to be on TV, the chance Washington State on Saturday, The AP reported. team’s final scoring drive in the fourth quarter. “We Georgia defensive back Makiri Pugh will play Sat-
is that the story’s going to be reported.” Owusu said trainers were able to relieve headaches were able to move the ball like we wanted to.” urday against South Carolina after missing the
and he slept just fine on the plane home. Owusu, who Bulldogs’ opener after testing positive for the H1N1
Washington State WR Kevin Norrell has been dis- caught a 63-yard touchdown reception and returned a If Alabama coach Nick Saban sticks around for virus, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
missed after being arrested by Pullman police and kickoff 85 yards for another score, was named the Pac-10 another nine years, it will be worth $5 million to Also, Georgia coach Mark Richt said freshmen
charged with driving under the influence, The Spokes- special teams player of the week. him and, the Crimson Tide hopes, a few more cham- receivers Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten will get
man-Review of Spokane reported. Also, Stanford senior OT Matt Kopa sustained a broken pionships for the program. their first-game action Saturday.
Norrell was arrested early Monday morning in bone in his right foot and will undergo surgery. He will The university system’s Board of Trustees com-
Pullman. miss at least six weeks. pensation committee unanimously approved the A Mississippi spokesman says running back
In other Washington State news, the school is cur- three-year extension through Jan. 31, 2018, on Dexter McCluster spent Tuesday night in the hospital
rently in the midst of a swine flu outbreak, with more Along with Owusu, Cal QB Kevin Riley and Arizona Wednesday that doesn’t include a salary hike but because of flu symptoms. McCluster, a versatile star
than 2,000 students reporting flu-like symptoms. Atten- State LB Mike Nixon also were honored by the league. Riley, rewards him for staying put and guarantees that he for the sixth-ranked Rebels, was released Wednes-
dance at last Saturday’s game in Pullman was down, the offensive player of the week, completed 17-of-26 will remain among college football’s five highest day morning but did not attend the afternoon
likely because of publicity about the flu. Hand sanitizer passes for 298 yards and a career-high four touchdowns paid coaches. practice.
was available at the concession stands. in the Golden Bears’ 52-13 victory over Maryland. McCluster is one of 22 players—or about 20 per-
Coach Paul Wulff said 16 players have come down with Nixon, who won the defensive award, intercepted three Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen thinks senior cent of the team—who are in some stage of the flu.
the flu at different times, and top WR Daniel Blackledge passes, including one he returned for a touchdown, in quarterback Tyson Lee will be ready to play against The list includes starting quarterback Jevan Snead.
missed practice Tuesday because of it. Wulff, however, the Sun Devils’ 50-3 victory over Idaho. Auburn after having shoulder spasms and missing The Rebels do not play this week.
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 25
INSIDE DISH Scores and schedule All Times ET
Top 25
Betting lines
TCU coach: Find way to hate for 3 hours FAVORITE TODAY O/U UNDERDOG
Sept. 6
SOUTH
S. Carolina St. 34, Grambling
Duquesne at Nicholls St., 2 p.m.
McNeese St. at Appalachian St.,
3:30 p.m.
Butler at Franklin, 1:30 p.m.
Morgan St. at Akron, 2 p.m.
Valparaiso at Concordia, Wis.,
Sept. 7
Miami 38,
No. 18 Florida State 34
Today St. 31 BYU at Tulane, 3:30 p.m. 2 p.m.
Today
The challenge for No. 16 TCU at Georgia Tech ...... 5 ½ ........43 .......... Clemson Mississippi 45, Memphis 14 TCU at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. Arkansas St. at Nebraska, 2 p.m.
S. Carolina St. at Bethune- Notre Dame at Michigan, 3:30 No. 15 Georgia Tech
on Saturday at Virginia? FAR WEST
Friday Colorado St. 23, Colorado 17 Cookman, 4 p.m. p.m. vs. Clemson, 7:30 p.m.
Playing with emotion, says UCLA at Tennessee, 4 p.m. Tenn.-Martin at Missouri St., Saturday
Colorado......................4 ........54 ..........at Toledo
Horned Frogs coach Gary Sept. 7 SMU at UAB, 4 p.m. 4 p.m. No. 1 Florida vs. Troy,
Patterson. EAST Alabama St. at Savannah St., Austin Peay at Youngstown 12:21 p.m.
Saturday 5 p.m. St., 4 p.m.
Cincinnati 47, Rutgers 15 No. 2 Texas at
“When we play Texas or Okla- North Carolina ....... 4 ½ ....45 ½ .at Connecticut
SOUTH Furman at Chattanooga, 6 p.m. South Dakota at N. Iowa, 5:05
at West Virginia ...... 6 ½ ........44 ....East Carolina
Wyoming, 3:30 p.m.
homa, everyone knows someone Miami 38, Florida St. 34 Jacksonville St. at Florida St., p.m. No. 3 Southern Cal at
at Penn St.............28 ½ ....52 ½ ..........Syracuse 6 p.m. New Hampshire at Ball St., 7 p.m.
on the other side,” Patterson said No. 8 Ohio State, 8 p.m.
at Virginia Tech .....19 ½ ....42 ½ .......... Marshall Today’s games James Madison at Maryland, Illinois St. at Illinois, 7 p.m.
during his weekly news confer- at Michigan St......14 ½ ........53 Cent. Michigan 6 p.m. Air Force at Minnesota, 7 p.m. No. 4 Alabama vs.
EAST
ence. “A couple of years ago, at Northwestern ..19 ½ ....52 ½ ..... E. Michigan Wagner at N.Y. Maritime, 7 p.m. Norfolk St. at N. Carolina A&T, Bowling Green at Missouri, 7 p.m. Florida International,
6 p.m. Georgia Southern at S. Dakota 7 p.m.
when we went to Stanford, we Iowa6 ½ ...............45 ½at Iowa St.
at Auburn..................14 ....41 ½ ..Mississippi St. SOUTH Murray St. at N.C. State, 6 p.m. St., 7 p.m. No. 5 Oklahoma
didn’t play with a lot of emotion. Clemson at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m. Virginia Union at Old Dominion, SE Missouri at Cincinnati, 7:30 State vs. Houston, 3:30
at Army .................. 1 ½ ........43 ................Duke
“We have to find a way to hate Florida A&M at Winston-Salem, 6 p.m. p.m. p.m.
at Wisconsin............OFF ......OFF .........Fresno St. Gardner-Webb at W. Carolina, W. Illinois at N. Illinois, 7:30 p.m.
somebody for three hours. It’s a 7:30 p.m. No. 7 Penn State vs.
at Wake Forest ............3 ........44 ...........Stanford Union, N.Y. at SE Louisiana, 8 p.m. 6 p.m. Southern Cal at Ohio St., 8 p.m.
lot easier to do that when you are at Georgia....................7 ........38 .South Carolina
Syracuse, Noon
Pikeville at Tennessee Tech, 8 p.m. Fla. International at Alabama,
No. 9 BYU at Tulane,
playing other Texas kids, at Tennessee .......... 8 ½ ........45 ................UCLA 7 p.m. SOUTHWEST
Hampton at Alabama A&M, Houston at Oklahoma St., 3:30 p.m.
because there is an emotional JOE RAYMOND / AP BYU17 ½ ...................54at Tulane Friday’s game No. 10 California vs.
at Oregon ..................12 ....58 ½ .............Purdue MIDWEST 7 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
factor there.” Greg Robinson will face Notre Dame on Saturday as Michigan’s defensive coordinator. Colorado at Toledo, 9 p.m. Mississippi St. at Auburn, 7 p.m. Langston at Ark.-Pine Bluff, Eastern Washington,
Texas.....................33 ½ ....56 ½ .... at Wyoming
Patterson’s team was off last at Navy ................... 7 ½ ........50 .Louisiana Tech
Monmouth, N.J. at Coastal 5 p.m. 5:35 p.m.
weekend while almost everyone week game plan coach,” Notre If we play as good as we can play Saturday’s games Carolina, 7 p.m. Ohio at North Texas, 7 p.m. No. 11 LSU vs.
Notre Dame ................3 ....49 ½ .....at Michigan South Carolina at Georgia, 7 p.m. Idaho St. at Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
EAST Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.
else in college football played, Dame coach Charlie Weis said in a and it’s not enough, that’s fine, at Washington ..........21 ....52 ½ ...............Idaho
Duke at Army, Noon Northwestern St. at Grambling N. Dakota St. at Sam Houston
at UAB .......................12 ........60 .................SMU
No. 12 Boise State vs.
and he didn’t like it. report by the Chicago Tribune. too. Pittsburgh at Buffalo, Noon St., 7 p.m. St., 7 p.m. Miami (Ohio), 8 p.m.
Pittsburgh ............10 ½ ........49 .........at Buffalo North Carolina at Connecticut, Tennessee St. vs. Jackson St. at Texas College at Stephen F.Austin,
“If I had it to do over again, we “That’s his M.O. and he’s good at “But I think if we play as good No. 13 Oklahoma vs.
TCU11 ...................40 ½at Virginia Noon Memphis, Tenn., 7 p.m. 7 p.m.
would’ve already played,” he it. He’s not afraid to make as we can play, we’re going to be at Boston College.20 ½ ........46 ............Kent St. Vanderbilt at LSU, 7 p.m. Rice at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Idaho State, 7 p.m.
Syracuse at Penn St., Noon
said. “Virginia has a chance to changes ... to put his team in the all right.” at Texas Tech.........27 ½ ....65 ½ ..................Rice Hofstra at Bryant, 1 p.m. N.C. Central at Liberty, 7 p.m. Kansas at UTEP, 7:30 p.m. No. 14 Virginia Tech
Sacred Heart at Holy Cross, 1 p.m. Kansas St. at Louisiana-Lafayette, vs. Marshall, 1:30 p.m.
know what they have, correct it best position.” Cougars QB Case Keenum, who at Minnesota.......... 3 ½ ....47 ½ ...........Air Force
Hawaii-x......................2 ........51Washington St. Drake at Marist, 1 p.m. 7 p.m. FAR WEST No. 16 TCU at
and get better.” Notre Dame converted only threw for 5,020 yards last sea- Maine at Northeastern, 1 p.m. Texas Southern at Louisiana- Dixie St. at Montana St., 3:05 Virginia, 3:30 p.m.
at Indiana....................1 ........52 ....W. Michigan
Virginia lost four fumbles and four of 16 third downs in the loss son, was 23 of 30 for 359 yards Morehead St. at St. Francis, Pa., Monroe, 7 p.m. p.m. No. 17 Utah at San
at Missouri ...........18 ½ ........58 Bowling Green Memphis at Middle Tennessee, Idaho at Washington, 3:30 p.m.
threw three interceptions in its to Syracuse. and four touchdowns in last Sat- 1 p.m. Jose State, 10:30 p.m.
Kansas ..................12 ½ ....62 ½ ............at UTEP Kent St. at Boston College, 2 p.m. 7 p.m. Texas at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m.
opener, a home loss to I-AA Wil- “The biggest thing is we got a urday’s 55-7 win over North- at Southern Miss.......15 ........51 .................. UCF
No. 18 Notre Dame at
Richmond at Delaware, 3:30 p.m. Jacksonville at Samford, 7 p.m. San Diego at N. Colorado, 3:35
Michigan, 3:30 p.m.
liam & Mary. chance to see it live last year,” western State. at Oklahoma St. ...15 ½ ........67 ...........Houston Louisiana Tech at Navy, 3:30 p.m. UCF at Southern Miss., 7 p.m. p.m.
at Boise St. ...........36 ½ ....52 ½ ...Miami (Ohio) Central St., Ohio at Southern S. Oregon at Portland St., 4:05 No. 19 North Carolina
Irish OT Sam Young said of Robin- Howard at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m.
at LSU ...................14 ½ ........45 ....... Vanderbilt East Carolina at West Virginia, U., 7 p.m. p.m. at Connecticut, Noon
The last time Notre Dame son’s scheme. “So there are going Wyoming coach Dave Chris- 3:30 p.m. Cent. Connecticut St. at William & Weber St. at Colorado St., 5 p.m. No. 21 Georgia vs.
Tulsa17 ½.............57 ½at New Mexico
saw Greg Robinson, he was riding to be some lessons learned going tensen says QBs Robert Benjamin Southern Cal ...............7 ........45 ........at Ohio St. Robert Morris at Bucknell, 6 p.m. Mary, 7 p.m. E. Washington at California, South Carolina, 7 p.m.
off the field as the coach at Syra- into this weekend.” and Austyn Carta-Samuels both will Stony Brook at Colgate, 6 p.m. Charleston Southern at Wofford, 5:35 p.m. No. 22 Nebraska vs.
Utah13 ½.............47 ½at San Jose St. 7 p.m. Hawaii vs. Washington St. at
Lafayette at Georgetown, D.C., Arkansas State, 2 p.m.
cuse, soon to be fired but last play in Saturday’s home game Oregon St. ...................7 ........54 ............at UNLV
6 p.m. South Florida at W. Kentucky, Seattle, 7 p.m.
at Nebraska..........23 ½ ....56 ½ .....Arkansas St.
No. 23 Cincinnati vs.
November celebrating the Houston coach Kevin Sumlin against No. 2 Texas. Albany, N.Y. at Massachusetts, 7:30 p.m. Sacramento St. at Cal Poly, SE Missouri, 7:30 p.m.
at Alabama ...............34 ........48 .............Fla. Intl 6 p.m. 7:05 p.m.
Orange’s 24-23 victory in South looks at Saturday’s game at No. 5 Benjamin will start for the No. 24 Kansas at
South Florida .......24 ½ ....47 ½ at W. Kentucky Lehigh at Villanova, 7 p.m. MIDWEST Miami (Ohio) at Boise St., 8 p.m.
Bend. Oklahoma State as a measuring second straight week. Carta- at Florida ..............36 ½ ........59 ..................Troy W. Michigan at Indiana, Noon Tulsa at New Mexico, 8 p.m. UTEP, 7:30 p.m.
The Irish will see him and his stick for his program. Samuels got most of the snaps in Ohio3.........................52at North Texas SOUTH Iowa at Iowa St., Noon Prairie View at New Mexico No. 25 Missouri vs.
Stanford at Wake Forest, Noon Cent. Michigan at Michigan St., 8 p.m. Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
schemes again Saturday at “Our guys are looking forward the Cowboys’ opening win over at Middle Tenn. ...........1 ....52 ½ .........Memphis
Troy at Florida, 12:21 p.m. St., Noon S. Utah at San Diego St., 8:30
Michigan, where Robinson now to going up there,” Sumlin said Weber State. Kansas St.....................7 ........59at La.-Lafayette
Campbell at Birmingham- E. Michigan at Northwestern, p.m.
x-at Seattle
coaches the Wolverines’ defense, in a report by the Houston Chron- “We may not decide until Fri- Southern, 1 p.m. Noon N. Arizona at Arizona, 10 p.m.
the area that always has been his icle. “Just talking with our team, day night exactly what the rota- Lenoir-Rhyne at Davidson, 1 p.m. Fresno St. at Wisconsin, Noon Montana at UC Davis, 10 p.m.
Off Key Elon at Presbyterian, 1:30 p.m. E. Illinois at Indiana St., 12:05 Purdue at Oregon, 10:15 p.m.
strength. if we play as good as we can play, tion is going to be,” Christensen Wisconsin players questionable due to illness Marshall at Virginia Tech, 1:30 p.m. Utah at San Jose St., 10:30 p.m. Conference standings,
“He’s a very good week-to- I think everybody will be happy. said. p.m. Urbana at Dayton, 1 p.m. Oregon St. at UNLV, 11 p.m. schedules, Page 26
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Football THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 26
Conference standings
ACC BIG EAST BIG TEN BIG 12 CONFERENCE USA MAC
Atlantic Conference All Games Conference All Games North East East
Conference All Games W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA Conference All Games Conference All Games Conference All Games
W L PF PA W L PF PA Cincinnati 1 0 47 15 1 0 47 15 Indiana 0 0 0 0 1 0 19 13 W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA
Boston College 0 0 0 0 1 0 54 0 Connecticut 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 16 Iowa 0 0 0 0 1 0 17 16 Iowa St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 34 17 UAB 1 0 44 24 1 0 44 24 Bowling Green 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 14
Clemson 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 14 Louisville 0 0 0 0 1 0 30 10 Michigan 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 7 Kansas 0 0 0 0 1 0 49 3 East Carolina 0 0 0 0 1 0 29 24 Buffalo 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 17
Maryland 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 52 Pittsburgh 0 0 0 0 1 0 38 3 Michigan St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 44 3 Kansas St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 21 17 Marshall 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 28 Kent St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 18 0
N.C. State 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 South Florida 0 0 0 0 1 0 40 7 Minnesota 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 20 Missouri 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 9 Southern Miss. 0 0 0 0 1 0 52 0 Akron 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 31
Wake Forest 0 0 0 0 0 1 21 24 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 1 0 33 20 Northwestern 0 0 0 0 1 0 47 14 Nebraska 0 0 0 0 1 0 49 3 UCF 0 0 0 0 1 0 28 24 Miami (Ohio) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 42
Florida St. 0 1 34 38 0 1 34 38 Syracuse 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 23 Ohio St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 27 Colorado 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 23 Memphis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ohio 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 23
Rutgers 0 1 15 47 0 1 15 47 Penn St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 7 Temple 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 27
Coastal Purdue 0 0 0 0 1 0 52 31 South West
Conference All Games Sept. 7 Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 1 0 28 20 Conference All Games Conference All Games West
W L PF PA W L PF PA Cincinnati 47, Rutgers 15 Illinois 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 37 W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA W L PF PA Conference All Games
Miami 1 0 38 34 1 0 38 34 Saturday’s games Baylor 0 0 0 0 1 0 24 21 Tulsa 1 0 37 13 1 0 37 13 W L PF PA W L PF PA
Georgia Tech 0 0 0 0 1 0 37 17 Syracuse at Penn St., Noon Saturday’s games Oklahoma St. 0 0 0 0 1 0 24 10 Houston 0 0 0 0 1 0 55 7 Ball St. 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 20
North Carolina 0 0 0 0 1 0 40 6 Pittsburgh at Buffalo, Noon Iowa at Iowa St., Noon Texas 0 0 0 0 1 0 59 20 SMU 0 0 0 0 1 0 31 23 Cent. Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 19
Duke 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 24 North Carolina at Connecticut, Noon Syracuse at Penn St., Noon Texas A&M 0 0 0 0 1 0 41 6 UTEP 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 23 E. Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 1 14 27
Virginia 0 0 0 0 0 1 14 26 Howard at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. W. Michigan at Indiana, Noon Texas Tech 0 0 0 0 1 0 38 13 Rice 0 1 24 44 0 1 24 44 N. Illinois 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 28
Virginia Tech 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 34 East Carolina at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m. E. Michigan at Northwestern, Noon Oklahoma 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 14 Tulane 0 1 13 37 0 1 13 37 Toledo 0 0 0 0 0 1 31 52
SE Missouri at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. Fresno St. at Wisconsin, Noon W. Michigan 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 31
Sept. 7 Noon South Florida at W. Kentucky, 7:30 p.m. Cent. Michigan at Michigan St., Noon Sept. 6 Texas at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 6 East Carolina at West Virginia,
Miami 38, Florida St. 34 Marshall at Virginia Tech, 1:30 Notre Dame at Michigan, 3:30 p.m. Colorado St. 23, Colorado 17 Houston at Oklahoma St., 3:30 Mississippi 45, Memphis 14 3:30 p.m. Friday’s game Kent St. at Boston College, 2
p.m. Air Force at Minnesota, 7 p.m. p.m. SMU at UAB, 4 p.m. Colorado at Toledo, 9 p.m. p.m.
Today’s game Kent St. at Boston College, 2 Illinois St. at Illinois, 7 p.m. Friday’s game Idaho St. at Oklahoma, 7 p.m. Saturday’s games Rice at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Saturday’s games Ohio at North Texas, 7 p.m.
Clemson at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m. Southern Cal at Ohio St., 8 p.m. Colorado at Toledo, 9 p.m. Rice at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Marshall at Virginia Tech, 1:30 UCF at Southern Miss., 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Buffalo, Noon Bowling Green at Missouri, 7
p.m. TCU at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. Purdue at Oregon, 10:15 p.m. Bowling Green at Missouri, 7 p.m. Memphis at Middle Tennessee, W. Michigan at Indiana, Noon p.m.
Murray St. at N.C. State, 6 p.m. Saturday’s games p.m. BYU at Tulane, 3:30 p.m. 7 p.m. E. Michigan at Northwestern, New Hampshire at Ball St., 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games James Madison at Maryland, Iowa at Iowa St., Noon Kansas St. at Louisiana- Houston at Oklahoma St., 3:30 Kansas at UTEP, 7:30 p.m. Noon W. Illinois at N. Illinois, 7:30
Duke at Army, Noon 6 p.m. Arkansas St. at Nebraska, 2 Lafayette, 7 p.m. p.m. Tulsa at New Mexico, 8 p.m. Cent. Michigan at Michigan p.m.
Stanford at Wake Forest, Noon Jacksonville St. at Florida St., p.m. Kansas at UTEP, 7:30 p.m. St., Noon Miami (Ohio) at Boise St., 8
North Carolina at Connecticut, 6 p.m. Morgan St. at Akron, 2 p.m. p.m.
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SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 27
INSIDE DISH THE LAUNCHING PAD
Lincecum thinks he could return as soon as this weekend What to expect in the major leagues today
Giants P Tim Lincecum told the San Either Jamie Moyer or Kyle Kendrick could
Francisco Chronicle that the back start in Happ’s place Saturday. In
injury that sidelined him Tuesday other Phillies news, P Scott Eyre (elbow)
isn’t serious. “I feel fine,” Lincecum was sent back to Philadelphia for tests
told the newspaper. “The steps I’ve and P J.C. Romero (forearm) will rest for
taken in the last 48 or 60 hours, my a couple of days after getting a corti-
back has gotten a lot better. I don’t sone shot.
see why I can’t make it out there in a
few days. They’ve taken the right Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki (back)
steps. They don’t need to push it likely will miss a few more games,
right now.” The reigning N.L. Cy according to The Denver Post. Tulow-
Young Award winner will continue itzki suffered the injury in Monday’s
his rehab today and will be re-eval- game, and both he and manager Jim
uated Friday. Though he isn’t Tracy expressed an aversion to trying
scheduled to start until Monday, to rush back into action.
Lincecum thinks there is a chance
he could pitch this weekend. Lince- There is good news on the
cum is 13-5 with a 2.34 ERA and an injury front for the Rangers. The JOHN BAZEMORE / AP
MLB-best 233 strikeouts in 28 Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Since the All-Star break, batters are hitting .329 against Derek Lowe.
starts this season. 3B Michael Young (hamstring) is able
to jog and do agility drills, and OF Contreras at Coors
Yet another example of a struggling A.L. pitcher who made the move to
According to the St. Louis Post- Josh Hamilton (back) could be ready to
the N.L. and found success, righthander Jose Contreras will make his second
Dispatch, Cardinals OF Matt Holliday return this weekend. Young hasn’t start for the Rockies this afternoon. After posting a 5-13 record and a 5.42
suffered a bruised knee in Wednes- played since Sept. 1, while Hamilton ERA with the White Sox, Contreras was dealt to Colorado before the Aug. 31
day’s game and was removed for has been sidelined since Sept. 2. waiver trading deadline. In his first start for the wild card-leading Rockies,
precautionary reasons. The team is Contreras limited the Diamondbacks to one earned run in 6 2/3 innings.
Today at Coors Field, he will face the Reds, as the Rockies try to put another
off today. In other Cardinals news, MATT SLOCUM / AP The Chicago Sun-Times speculated
half-game between themselves and the idle Giants in the N.L. wild-card
the newspaper reported the team Tim Lincecum, before missing a start, was on pace to pitch a career-high 233 innings. that Cubs OFs Alfonso Soriano (knee) and chase.
has approached 3B Mark DeRosa about Reed Johnson (foot) are close to being
a contract extension. DeRosa, shut down for the season. Johnson’s
acquired in late June from the Indi- Dodgers manager Joe Torre told A day after pulling closer Brad fractured left foot has not healed com-
Staying in the hunt
The Marlins and Braves, both of whom still are in the N.L. wild-card pic-
ans, is set to become a free agent the Los Angeles Times that he doesn’t Lidge the ninth inning, Philadelphia
in pletely. He’s been on the disabled list ture, will wrap up series tonight. Neither playoff hopeful has much margin
after the season and likely will need attribute OF Manny Ramirez’s ongoing Phillies manager Charlie Manuel since July 30 after fouling a ball off the for error at this point, with just over three weeks left in the regular season.
offseason wrist surgery. struggles to age or the absence of wouldn’t commit to keeping him in top of his left foot July 29. Manager Lou Florida will call upon rookie lefthander Sean West at Citi Field. West is com-
ing off his shortest outing (three innings) of the season, and has a 6.55 ERA
performance-enhancing drugs. that role. In fact, Manuel used Ryan Piniella told the newspaper that Soriano
in seven road starts this season (3.26 ERA in nine home starts). Meanwhile,
Jake Peavy threw a bullpen ses- Said Torre: “I think if I see him Madson to close out Wednesday’s win is unlikely to play in the team’s seven- Atlanta righthander Derek Lowe will try to win for the seventh time in his
sion Wednesday but is still unsure doing things he’s always done and over Washington. Meanwhile, The game homestand that starts Friday. past nine decisions when he starts at Houston.
if he will make start for the Chicago not getting to the ball, I’d start Philadelphia Inquirer reported Phillies Soriano soon could opt for surgery.
White Sox this season. Peavy was thinking that way. But right now, P J.A. Happ (rib cage) will miss another Baker is cookin’
acquired from San Diego at the July his front side is flying a lot. If he’s start this weekend. Happ was Indians OF Grady Sizemore had Twins righthander Scott Baker hasn’t lost since July 7, a span of 11 starts.
31 trade deadline. The righthander together mechanically and he can’t scratched from his start this past arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow This afternoon at Toronto, he will try to win his eighth consecutive decision.
has been on the disabled list since get there, we can start talking about Monday but was penciled in to start Wednesday. He is scheduled to have To do so, he will have to pitch better than he did in his first outing of the sea-
son against the Blue Jays. Back in April, Toronto took Baker deep four times
June 13 with a strained tendon in that. He’s still able to get to pitches. one of the games in Saturday’s dou- lower abdominal surgery next
and knocked him around for six earned runs in four innings. In his past seven
his right ankle and was struck on He can still drive the ball to center bleheader against the Mets. That Wednesday to repair a groin injury. starts combined, Baker has allowed only four homers.
his pitching elbow during a rehab field, so he’s not cheating to the won’t happen, and the team isn’t sure Sizemore finished with a .248 aver-
game on Aug. 24. point he has to pull the ball.” when Happ will be ready to return. age, 18 homers and 64 RBIs. — Chris Bahr
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 28
Q&A with ... Cubs SP Ted Lilly
‘I’m not going to give up hope just yet. The bell hasn’t rung’
By picking up his 10th win earlier this
month, Lilly assured himself of a double-
digit win total for the seventh consecutive
Q: So you don’t think it’s too
late?
You’re 7-1 with a 1.72 ERA
there.
season. This season, he has bounced back
from knee surgery and a sore left shoulder
to go 11-8 for an underachieving Cubs team.
A: I’m not going to give up hope
just yet. The bell hasn’t rung.
It’s not over.
A: There are numerous things
you can point to. We’ve
scored some runs when I’ve pitched
Lilly recently spoke with Sporting News there. The team, in general, plays
Today’s Bill Eichenberger about how he has
managed to be so effective for so long, what
has gone wrong with the Cubs this season,
and more.
Q: You know how many
games this team won last
year and the potential this team
better when we are at home over the
last few years. Every time I get the
chance, I’m certainly looking
has. What has kept that from forward to having the chance to
translating to success on the pitch there. At the same time, all the
ever.
Pavano helps Twins finally upend Halladay Butler delivers more doubles
TORONTO—Roy Halladay was good. KANSAS CITY—Barrel-chested Royals 5, Tigers 1
Twins 4, Blue Jays 1 Detroit AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Carl Pavano was even better. Minnesota AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Billy Butler always had power- Granderson cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .253
Justin Morneau and Orlando Cabrera Span cf-rf-lf 5 0 0 0 0 2 .309 ful wrists and quick reflexes. Polanco 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .277
O.Cabrera ss 5 1 1 1 0 2 .274 C.Guillen lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .246
homered and the Minnesota Twins Mauer dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .367 Only now his mental ability is Mi.Cabrera 1b 3 1 0 0 1 1 .336
finally got the best of Halladay, beating Morneau 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .279 catching up with his physical A.Huff dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 .244
Kubel rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .306 Thomas rf 4 0 1 0 0 3 .244
the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Wednesday Gomez cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 talent. Inge 3b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .231
night. Delm.Young lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .265 Picking on three different Laird c 2 0 0 0 1 2 .216
2-A.Casilla pr-2b 0 1 0 0 0 0 .195 b-Avila ph 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295
Cabrera tied it with a leadoff shot to Buscher 3b 4 1 3 0 0 0 .238 pitchers Wednesday night, Santiago ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .259
left in the sixth and Morneau hit a two- J.Morales c 2 0 0 0 1 1 .342 Butler doubled three times for c-Thames ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .249
1-Tolbert pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .178 Totals 32 1 5 1 3 11
out tiebreaking drive to right in the Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 1 .242 a club-record fourth time this
eighth for his 30th homer. Pinch-hitter Punto 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .221 season to help the Kansas City Kansas City AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
a-Cuddyer ph-rf 1 0 1 2 0 0 .269 DeJesus lf 5 1 1 1 0 1 .275
Michael Cuddyer added a two-run dou- Totals 37 4 9 4 1 9 Royals beat Justin Verlander Maier cf-rf 3 1 1 1 0 2 .248
ble in the ninth. and the Detroit Tigers 5-1 for Butler 1b 5 1 3 2 0 1 .304
Toronto AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Jacobs dh 3 0 1 1 0 1 .237
“Fortunately we took advantage of the Scutaro ss 2 0 1 0 2 0 .282 their first three-game winning a-B.Pena ph-dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 .274
very, very few mistakes that Halladay J.Bautista rf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .223 streak since July. Callaspo 2b 2 0 1 0 2 0 .298
Lind dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .301 Teahen rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .274
made,” Cuddyer said. Overbay 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .268 According to STATS LLC, J.Anderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
Pavano (12-11) allowed one run and V.Wells cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .252 the 23-year-old is the first J.Buck c 4 0 1 0 0 1 .209
Barajas c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .238 A.Gordon 3b 3 1 1 0 1 1 .202
six hits in 7 1/3 innings to win for the Encarnacion 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .182 player since at least 1954 to have Y.Betancourt ss 3 1 1 0 1 1 .237
first time in three starts, improving to Snider lf 3 0 2 1 0 1 .230 four games with three or more Totals 33 5 10 5 5 9
Jo.McDonald 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .258
3-3 since he was acquired last month in Totals 31 1 6 1 2 6 doubles in a season. Detroit 000 000 001 — 1 5 0
a trade with Cleveland. “I don’t think there’s any Kansas City 001 000 13x — 5 10 0
Minnesota 000 001 012 — 4 9 1
“Our story was Pavano,” Twins man- Toronto 000 010 000 — 1 6 1 doubt how talented he is,” Roy- b-hit a sacrifice fly for Laird in the 9th. c-flied out for
ager Ron Gardenhire said. “He was fan- als manager Trey Hillman said. Santiago in the 9th. LOB: Detroit 8, Kansas City 11. 2B:
a-doubled for Punto in the 9th. 1-ran for J.Morales in C.Guillen (7), Thomas (11), Butler 3 (45), A.Gordon (3).
tastic. What a great night.” the 7th. 2-ran for Delm.Young in the 9th. E: J.Morales “I think everyone knows that. RBIs: Avila (12), DeJesus (67), Maier (24), Butler 2 (76),
Halladay (14-9) allowed nine hits, FRANK GUNN / AP (3), Scutaro (8). LOB: Minnesota 7, Toronto 6. 2B: But mentally, he’s come a long Jacobs (52). SB: Laird (4). S: Maier. SF: Avila. Runners
Delm.Young (10), Buscher (3), Cuddyer (30), Snider left in scoring position: Detroit 5 (C.Guillen, Inge,
struck out nine and walked one in his The 8th-inning homer by Justin Morneau, right, helped Minnesota beat Roy Halladay for the first time. 2 (9). 3B: Encarnacion (1). HR: O.Cabrera (6), off Hal- ways just with his approach. I Polanco, Thomas, Thames); Kansas City 7 (Y.Betancourt
major league-leading seventh complete laday; Morneau (30), off Halladay. RBIs: O.Cabrera think the sky’s the limit for him 2, Callaspo, DeJesus, Teahen 2, B.Pena).
(57), Morneau (100), Cuddyer 2 (70), Snider (17). SB:
game. The righthander dropped to 8-1 against Texas on April 30, 2002. Toron- out and doing your job, being part of a Scutaro (12), V.Wells (16). S: J.Bautista. Runners left as long as he continues to learn Detroit IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
with a 2.90 ERA in 13 games, 11 starts, to’s lowest attendance ever was 10,074 team and winning, the team concept,” in scoring position: Minnesota 4 (J.Morales, Span 2, at the rate that he’s learned Verlander L, 16-8 6 6 1 1 3 8 112 3.24
O.Cabrera); Toronto 5 (Overbay 2, J.Bautista, Barajas, Seay 1 1 1 1 1 1 24 3.72
against Minnesota, which was the only on April 17, 1979, against the Chicago Pavano said. “I haven’t been able to do Lind). DP: Minnesota 1 (O.Cabrera, Morneau). between last year and this Rodney 2⁄3 2 3 3 1 0 17 3.82
A.L. team that hadn’t pinned a loss on White Sox. that. I try not to harp on it too much and year.” Fien 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 5 8.31
Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
him. “In order to get back to where we’re focus on it but it is a nice reminder of the Pavano W, 12-11 7 1⁄3 6 1 1 2 5 103 4.92 Butler had two RBIs in his Tejeda W, 2-1 6 3 0 0 2 8 98 3.21
“I know I made mistakes that cost me, going, we certainly need our fans out hard work that I put in to get to where I Mijares H, 21 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 8 2.17 fifth straight multihit game, Farnsworth H, 5 2 0 0 0 0 2 25 5.12
Nathan S, 38-43 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 2.24 J.Wright 1⁄3 2 1 1 1 1 17 4.87
and that bothers me, but any time you’re here,” manager Cito Gaston said. “We am now.” Toronto IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA backing another strong start by Soria S, 24-27 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 11 2.60
not winning games, it’s frustrating,” need their support. Hopefully they’ll Jose Mijares replaced Pavano with the Halladay L, 14-9 9 9 4 4 1 9 108 3.03 Robinson Tejeda (2-1). Tejeda
Inherited runners-scored: Fien 1-1, Soria 3-1. IBB:
Halladay said. realize that and come out and support tying run on second and got out of the Inherited runners-scored: Mijares 1-0. Umpires: matched his career high with off Seay (Callaspo). HBP: by Seay (Maier). Umpires:
Coming off a one-hitter against the us.” jam by striking out Adam Lind and get- Home, Paul Nauert; First, Joe West; Second, Ed Rapuano; eight strikeouts and allowed Home, Marty Foster; First, Mark Carlson; Second, Kerwin
Third, Paul Schrieber. T: 2:23. A: 11,159 (49,539). Danley; Third, Wally Bell. T: 3:08. A: 10,584 (38,177).
New York Yankees on Friday, Halladay Pavano said he’s enjoying being part ting Lyle Overbay to ground back to the just three hits. Tejada, who was
was solid again in this one, striking out of a playoff push in Minnesota after mound. Joe Nathan finished for his 38th a reliever all year until making
five of six in one stretch, but still lost for struggling through four injury-plagued save in 43 chances. an emergency start last week,
the fourth time in five starts. seasons with the Yankees and a tough Minnesota’s Brian Buscher matched a has a 19-inning scoreless streak
The crowd of 11,159 was the smallest beginning of the year with the Indians. career high with three hits and is 5-for-7 that probably will earn him a
in the 20-year history of Rogers Centre, “This is what we wake up every day against Halladay in his career. tryout for next year’s rotation.
eclipsing the previous low of 12,571 thinking about, being successful, going — The Associated Press — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 33
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado 4, Cincinnati 3 National League San Diego 4, San Francisco 2
wild-card standings
LeBlanc justifies team’s faith
Rockies rally in ninth to win sixth straight
W L Pct. GB
Colorado 80 60 .571 —
San Francisco 76 64 .543 4
Florida 74 65 .532 5 1/2 SAN FRANCISCO—Wade LeBlanc Padres 4, Giants 2
Chicago 71 67 .514 8 peeked out of the San Diego dug- San Diego AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
DENVER—The Colorado Rockies are out as his turn to hit approached E.Cabrera ss 4 2 1 0 1 1 .261
Rockies 4, Reds 3 Eckstein 2b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .266
starting to show everyone 2007 was no in the eighth inning. No one was Ad.Gonzalez 1b 4 1 2 3 0 0 .274
Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg. Headley 3b 5 0 2 0 0 1 .260
fluke. Stubbs cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .258 warming up in the Padres’ O.Salazar lf 5 1 1 1 0 1 .310
Janish ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .214
Seth Smith hit a two-out, two-run Votto 1b 3 0 0 0 1 3 .296 bullpen. H.Bell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
single in the ninth inning to give the B.Phillips 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .271 “That was a real good feel- Venable cf-rf 4 0 1 0 0 3 .279
Rolen 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .278 Ed.Gonzalez rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .205
surging Rockies a 4-3 victory over the Balentien lf 3 1 1 0 1 2 .274 ing,” LeBlanc said. “It lets you Gwynn cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .258
D.McDonald rf 4 1 1 1 0 2 .222 H.Blanco c 1 0 1 0 3 0 .236
Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. C.Miller c 2 0 0 0 0 1 .129 they have confidence in you.” LeBlanc p 2 0 0 0 1 1 .167
Colorado won its sixth straight game a-Sutton ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .180 Adrian Gonzalez hit his Gregerson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hanigan c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .271
and extended its N.L. wild-card lead to Arroyo p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .113 career-high 37th homer and Macias lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174
b-Barker ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 .381 Totals 33 4 10 4 5 8
four games over San Francisco, which Rhodes p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 drove in three runs, helping
Masset p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- San Francisco AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
lost 4-2 to San Diego. And it is now only Cordero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- LeBlanc and the Padres beat A.Torres lf 3 1 1 2 0 0 .250
2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers for first Totals 31 3 5 3 3 11 the San Francisco Giants 4-2. c-Velez ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .281
place in the West. Colorado AB R H BI BB SO Avg. LeBlanc (2-1) pitched a career- F.Sanchez 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .296
E.Young 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .300 Sandoval 1b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .327
The Rockies won 14 of their last 15 Quintanilla 2b-3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173 best seven innings to win his B.Molina c 4 0 2 0 0 0 .260
games in 2007 to win the wild card on d-Spilborghs ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248 second straight start. Uribe 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .278
C.Gonzalez cf 5 1 1 0 0 2 .294 Renteria ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .256
their way to their first World Series. S.Smith lf 4 0 2 3 0 0 .317 “This one was a lot better,” he Rowand cf 2 0 0 0 1 1 .272
Helton 1b 3 0 2 0 1 0 .327 Schierholtz rf 2 1 1 0 1 0 .273
They have a different manager and the 1-Fowler pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 said. “I was able to set the Zito p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .130
players say things are different than two McCoy 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- tempo for the most part from
G.Atkins 3b-1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 .227 a-J.Guzman ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .125
years ago, but they keep playing like the Hawpe rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .289 pitch number one.” Joaquin p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
Torrealba c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .278 Runzler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
’07 N.L. champions. Barmes ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 .243 Padres manager Bud Black Romo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hammel p 3 0 0 0 0 0 .130 b-Frandsen ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .125
“It’s never say die here,” starter Jason R.Betancourt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- said LeBlanc earned the chance Br.Wilson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Hammel said. “I honestly don’t believe Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --- to continue. Totals 29 2 5 2 3 5
Daley p 0 0 0 0 0 0 ---
we understand how much pressure is DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP c-Giambi ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .400 “He was throwing the ball San Diego 102 001 000 — 4 10 0
2-Marquis pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .193
there right now and I don’t think we Seth Smith fouled off four pitches before hitting his game-winning, two-run single in the ninth. Totals 33 4 8 4 5 5 well,” Black said. “He made one San Francisco 002 000 000 — 2 5 0
even care.” Cincinnati 000 000 021 — 3 5 1 mistake but besides that there a-struck out for Zito in the 5th. b-fouled out for Romo
The walk-off win, Colorado’s sixth pinch-runner Jason Marquis. what the rest of us are trying to get to.” Colorado 002 000 002 — 4 8 0 was not a lot of hard contact. He in the 8th. c-struck out for A.Torres in the 8th. LOB: San
this season, had the Reds shaking their “The ball was kind of rolling around The Rockies blew a 2-0 lead in the Two outs when winning run scored. a-sacrificed for threw strikes and the fifth, sixth, Diego 10, San Francisco 4. 2B: Headley (26), H.Blanco
C.Miller in the 8th. b-doubled for Arroyo in the 8th. (11). HR: Ad.Gonzalez (37), off Zito; O.Salazar (3), off
heads. and I see Marquis rounding third and eighth. Darnell McDonald and pinch- c-walked for Daley in the 9th. d-walked for Quintanilla seventh innings were efficient.” Joaquin; A.Torres (3), off LeBlanc. RBIs: Ad.Gonzalez 3
“The last two or three years they have coming for home,” Barmes said. hitter Kevin Barker had RBI doubles in the 9th. 1-ran for Helton in the 8th. 2-ran for Giambi LeBlanc, who made his big- (85), O.Salazar (8), A.Torres 2 (16). SB: E.Cabrera 2 (23).
in the 9th. E: Janish (3). LOB: Cincinnati 5, Colorado 9. S: Eckstein, LeBlanc, Zito. Runners left in scoring
some sort of magic here at home,” starter The Rockies mobbed Smith at first and Scott Rolen put Cincinnati in front 2B: Janish (12), Balentien (6), D.McDonald (3), Barker league debut last year, is a dif- position: San Diego 6 (LeBlanc, E.Cabrera 4, O.Salazar);
(2), Barmes (27). HR: Rolen (2), off Daley. RBIs: San Francisco 2 (Renteria, F.Sanchez). DP: San Diego 2
Bronson Arroyo said. “They don’t go base in celebration. with a leadoff homer in the ninth, his Rolen (10), D.McDonald (7), Barker (3), S.Smith 3 ferent pitcher this go around. (Headley, Eckstein, Ad.Gonzalez), (E.Cabrera, Eckstein,
(51), G.Atkins (41). SB: C.Gonzalez (12). S: Sutton. SF:
down very easily. If it’s close, they just “The at-bat that our guy had with two second with the Reds. S.Smith. Runners left in scoring position: Cincinnati “It’s not even close,” he said. Ad.Gonzalez); San Francisco 1 (F.Sanchez, Renteria).
give themselves a chance.” outs was phenomenal,” Rockies man- “God, we played good tonight,” Reds 3 (B.Phillips 3); Colorado 3 (G.Atkins, Torrealba, Hawpe). “I was a totally different guy.
DP: Cincinnati 1 (Janish, B.Phillips, Votto). San Diego IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Clint Barmes started the winning ager Jim Tracy said. “He was fouling off manager Dusty Baker said. “And they Last year I tried to strike every- LeBlanc W, 2-1 7 4 2 2 3 3 94 5.01
Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Gregerson H, 23 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 2.98
rally with a one-out double off All-Star pitches that would strike people out. took it from us.” Arroyo 7 5 2 2 2 4 100 4.17 body out.” H.Bell S, 37-40 1 1 0 0 0 1 19 1.98
closer Francisco Cordero (2-5). Pinch- That was just a heck of an at-bat.” Hammel pitched 7 1/3 innings, allow- Rhodes 2⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 9 2.72 Gonzalez connected for a San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Masset 1⁄3 0 0 0 1 0 9 2.66
hitters Jason Giambi and Ryan Smith is hitting .471 in the first nine ing two runs and three hits. He retired CorderoL,2-5BS,3-36 2⁄3 2 2 2 2 1 24 2.44 two-run shot in the third. Oscar Zito L, 9-12 5 6 3 3 2 2 93 3.99
Colorado IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Joaquin 1 1⁄3 2 1 1 1 3 26 4.91
Spilborghs walked before Cordero games of the 10-game homestand. 20 of 21 batters after Paul Janish’s one- Hammel 7 1⁄3 3 2 2 1 8 101 4.31 Salazar also homered for the Runzler 1 1⁄3 0 0 0 2 3 33 0.00
R.Betancourt BS, 2-2 1⁄3 1 0 0 1 0 11 1.62 Romo 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 5 4.50
struck out Carlos Gonzalez to bring “It’s a feeling that only comes along out double in the first. Beimel 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 3.58 Padres. Br.Wilson 1 2 0 0 0 0 17 2.73
Smith to the plate. for maybe a week or two in a season,” he Matt Daley (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings Daley W, 1-1 1 1⁄3 1 1 1 0 3 18 3.80 The N.L. wild-card contend-
Smith fouled off four pitches before said. “That’s what the great ones do, for the Rockies, getting the win despite Beimel pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. Inherited ers have lost three of their last LeBlanc pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. Inherited
runners-scored: Masset 1-0, R.Betancourt 1-1, Beimel runners-scored: Gregerson 2-0, Romo 2-0. HBP: by
lining a base hit off second baseman (Albert) Pujols, Todd (Helton), they stay allowing Rolen’s homer. 2-0, Daley 3-0. Umpires: Home, Jeff Kellogg; First, Tim four. Runzler (Ad.Gonzalez). PB: B.Molina. Umpires: Home,
Brandon Phillips to drive in Barmes and in that zone for an entire season. That’s — The Associated Press Timmons; Second, Mark Wegner; Third, Rick Reed. T: — The Associated Press Ted Barrett; First, Jim Reynolds; Second, Bill Welke; Third,
2:45. A: 23,721 (50,449). James Hoye. T: 2:48. A: 30,312 (41,915).
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Baseball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 34
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 1 Chicago Cubs 8, Pittsburgh 5
21
the Oct. 1 season openers, Sporting
Goals per game 2.82 17
News Today will preview each of the 2008-09 record: 41-30-11, 93 points Penalty kill percentage 82.64 9
NHL teams, counting backward from Last Playoff: 2000 (lost in conference quarterfinal) Power play goals 51 25
its July 24 Power Poll. Coach: Peter DeBoer Power Play Percentage 16.56 24
Saves 2620 1
Save percentage .922 3
BY LUKE DECOCK young players are signed to long-term con- Shorthanded goals 7 16t
Sporting News Yearbooks tracts. Keith Ballard, Nathan Horton, David Shots against per game 34.67 30
Booth, Stephen Weiss and Rostislav Olesz Shots per game 29.41 15
For the past four years, the Panthers have gave Florida its best season in almost a decade Shutouts 9 4t
been knocking on the door of the playoffs. under first-year coach Peter DeBoer. Total points 627 18
And for the past four years, they have fallen As Bouwmeester’s replacement, Leopold Faceoff percentage .479 24
short—although never by more than nine might not have his all-around game, but he Goals against per game 2.72 9t
points. has plenty to offer on the blue line. He’s the
Power Play
Last season, a playoff spot was denied latest addition to a line that now lacks a No. 308 29
Opportunities
only by a tiebreaker when Florida finished 1 workhorse, but still can move the puck. Shorthanded Goals
with 93 points, its highest total in nine This season’s blue line should be more 9 9t
Against
years. Now everyone wonders whether this mobile, more versatile and better equipped Times Shut Out 4 18t
is the season the Panthers get over the to handle the intensity of a stretch drive.
hump and back to the playoffs for the first “You don’t replace a guy like Bouw- Offseason moves
time since 2000. meester, who was eating 28 to 30 minutes
They’ll have to do it without cornerstone a night, and his mobility,” Sexton said. Additions
defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who was “The approach we’ve taken is adding some Scott Clemmensen, G (Devils); Ville Koistinen, D
traded during June’s draft because the Pan- depth and mobility, and we think we’ve (Predators); Jordan Leopold, D (trade, Flames);
thers could not re-sign him. But that’s noth- done that.” Graham Mink, RW (Capitals); Steve Reinprecht, F
ing new for this franchise. Veteran Bryan McCabe will be asked to (trade, Coyotes); Jeff Taffe, F (Penguins); Clay Wilson,
During the 2006 draft, they traded carry a heavier load. At 34, he’s still capable D (Thrashers).
franchise goalie Roberto Luongo when but the clock is ticking. He played 69 games
they couldn’t re-sign him. At the 2008 last season and was never healthy, strug- Subtractions
draft, Florida traded captain Olli Jokinen, gling with back, wrist and facial injuries. Craig Anderson, G (Avalanche); Jay Bouwmeester,
seemingly blaming him for the late-season Ballard and Bryan Allen, who played D (trade, Flames); Nick Boynton, D (Ducks); Tanner
collapse that kept the Panthers out of the only two games last year because of a knee Glass, F (Canucks); Drew Larman, C (Bruins); Stefan
playoffs. injury, are solid defenders, and Florida Meyer, LW (trade, Coyotes); Karlis Skrastins, D (Stars);
The Panthers held on to Bouwmeester added free agent Ville Koistinen. Anthony Stewart, RW (Thrashers); Richard Zednik, F
this spring, hoping they could make the But there’s still a spot or two open. Rook- (Russia).
postseason. The gamble failed when the ies Keaton Ellerby and Jason Garrison and GREGORY SMITH / AP
Canadiens nipped them at the finish line Dmitry Kulikov will get long auditions in David Booth, Florida’s leading goal scorer with 31, was one of five forwards with more than 40 points last season. Martin Brodeur was injured and should
and Bouwmeester, as expected, wanted to training camp. give Vokoun a strong challenge.
play elsewhere. So there’s some youth around which to lik have the potential to get better together. Horton to move back to wing, where he has Getting into the postseason is going to
General manager Jacques Martin left build, but it’s nothing compared with the The list doesn’t include Olesz, who was put up his best offensive numbers. take a combination of factors, including a
after the season to coach the Canadiens, Panthers’ young forwards. Booth, with 53 limited to 37 games by an abdominal injury Tomas Vokoun has been the team’s No. 1 strong start—which Florida hasn’t enjoyed
leaving the organization in the hands of goals over the past two seasons, and Hor- but had shown steady improvement over goalie since Luongo’s departure, and he in the past three years. A year ago, the Pan-
interim G.M. Randy Sexton, who did the ton (four straight seasons of 20-plus goals) the previous three seasons. The youngsters battled Craig Anderson for playing time thers had the league’s worst record in
best he could getting something for Bouw- lead the way. are surrounded by savvy veterans Radek last season to create a successful tandem. November, but eventually played their way
meester—a third-round pick and the rights The Panthers had five forwards with more Dvorak and Stillman, who continues to Anderson left as a free agent, but the Pan- into playoff contention.
to veteran defenseman Jordan Leopold, than 40 points last season. Other than captain produce offensively at age 35. thers signed Scott Clemmensen, setting the “We played at a 110-point pace after that,”
who played for Calgary last season. Cory Stillman, all were 25 or younger. Booth, The Panthers also added center Steve stage for another battle between the pipes. Sexton said. “We need to play at that pace
The good news is the rest of Florida’s core Horton, leading scorer Weiss and Michael Fro- Reinprecht, whose presence will allow Clemmensen shined in New Jersey when from the get-go.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com NBA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 39
INSIDE DISH
Iverson worth the risk for Grizzlies
Wade will wait on contract until next summer What on earth, you might ask, would a team like
the Grizzlies—a young, impressionable and still very
It’s been pretty clear throughout the past year that this much rebuilding bunch—want with an aging mal-
would be the case, but Wednesday, Heat G Dwyane Wade content like Allen Iverson? Fair question, because
confirmed to Sporting News Today that he would not be many around the league are asking the same thing.
signing a contract extension this summer with Miami. As one East general manager told me, “You have a kid
“It’s just a matter of keeping my options open,” said Wade, like Mike Conley. You have a kid
speaking just before his Wade’s World Weekend charity like O.J. Mayo. You have Rudy Gay.
event in Chicago. “I could sign it now, I could sign some- You have Hasheem Thabeet, the No.
thing next summer. To me, I want to see how the season 2 pick in the draft. How is a guy like
goes before I make those kinds of decisions.” Iverson going to help them?”
Wade’s assertion is not a surprise, and he also made Considering the events of last sea-
clear that by not signing an extension now, Heat fans son, when Iverson was traded to
should not immediately jump to the conclusion that he Detroit for Chauncey Billups and pro-
is leaving town. “It doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “It Sean Deveney ceeded to shred the Pistons’ chemis-
only means that I will make that decision next summer PRO BASKETBALL try, skepticism about Memphis’
instead of this summer.” signing of Iverson to a one-year deal
— Sean Deveney for a reported $3.5 million is rampant. But it shouldn’t
be. Because, in the end, consider what the Grizzlies just
The Hornets have agreed to trade reserve PG Anto- did—they signed the 16th-leading scorer in NBA history
nio Daniels and a 2014 second-round draft pick to Min- to a contract that ends in seven months and costs them
nesota in exchange for F Darius Songaila and G Bobby less than half what they’re due to pay Marko Jaric.
Brown, The Associated Press reported. The move will There are four ways this thing can play out for the
cut the Hornets’ payroll by $1.3 million this season. Grizzlies, who will hold a press conference today to
Songaila has been in the NBA for six seasons, averag- announce the signing. And even the worst-case sce-
ing 7.0 points. Brown, who was on the Hornets’ summer nario is not all that bad.
league team in 2008, played 68 games with Sacramento
and Minnesota last season, his first in the NBA.
Passion, consistency lead Sloan to Hall Stockton always came ready to play
BY SEAN DEVENEY
sdeveney@sportingnews.com BY SEAN DEVENEY
sdeveney@sportingnews.com
In most NBA quarters, there is
unprecedented excitement for this Suppose you were a player for the John Stockton-Karl
year’s group of Hall of Fame induct- Malone Jazz teams of the ’90s, and suppose you were
ees. Just don’t ask Jerry Sloan to get feeling a bit of soreness flaring up in your knee just
all hyped up for the occasion, even before a game. Not unbearable pain, but enough to give
though the longtime Jazz coach is you a limp. And suppose you took that limp into the
part of the incoming class. locker room. Well, there was one quick cure for that
Truth is, he’s never been to the Nai- hitch in your step—a Stockton stare.
smith Memorial Basketball Hall of “That was all it took,” former Jazz center Mark
Fame in Springfield, Mass., and he Eaton said. “A guy would come limping into the locker
probably wouldn’t be going this week room and he would get that look from John. All the
unless he’d been talked into it. “There sudden, the limp would go away. He didn’t need to
was some hesitation,” Sloan said. “I say anything. But you knew the way things were in
never saw myself that way. ... But I John’s eyes. If you could walk, you could play, and if
talked to my kids and my family and you could play, you were 100 percent.”
that’s what changed my mind.” Over the course of 19 seasons, durability was one of
This is, of course, typical of Sloan, Stockton’s strengths, and he demanded the same from
who usually presents his basketball teammates. He suited up for 1,504 out of a possible 1,526
achievements—which include a games. That’s one reason he was able to establish an
coaching record of 1,137-751 and 15 incredible NBA record for career assists, with 15,806—
consecutive playoff appearances— well ahead of Mark Jackson, No. 2 on the list at 10,334.
as some kind of goofy oversight. It’s also a big part of the reason Stockton will get the call
Don’t be fooled, though. Sloan has, DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP from the Hall of Fame on Friday. He played through
for two decades now, earned the Utah coach Jerry Sloan has led the Jazz to a remarkable 15 consecutive playoff appearances. sore knees. He played through illness. He even played
respect of players for his consistency for the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics despite a
and his straightforward approach. about his background, about how at 7 o’ clock. So I would have missed stress fracture in his leg.
That’s his identity, and it has become unlikely a story his is. Hearing him practice if I waited for the bus. I feel “I will tell you, there was one year in the early’90s
the identity he demands of his teams. remember his childhood in the tiny very good about the fact that I and we were playing Seattle in the playoffs,” said Jazz
It’s the reason he wins. farming town of McLeansboro, Ill., is played high school basketball and I assistant coach Phil Johnson. “John had an elbow
“If you want to see what Jerry a bit like hearing your grandfather never missed a practice. … If you injury, and he could not lift his right arm. He spent KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / AP
Sloan is all about, go to a Utah Jazz recall walking to 10 miles to school liked to play, you’d figure out a way most of the series dribbling with his left hand. He even John Stockton, right, missed only 22 games in his 19 NBA seasons.
practice,” said Frank Layden, everyday during the Depression, to do it, and I liked to play.” considered shooting free throws with his left hand, but
Sloan’s predecessor in Utah. “The uphill both ways. Except Sloan is not In the end, though he is obviously he did not want to let the Sonics know that he was hurt. perhaps the best point guard ever to run the pick-and-
players are there on time. They are exaggerating. reluctant to acknowledge this fact, He never told the press, never told anyone. After the roll. He led the league in assists nine straight times
out there, running hard. The shirts “When we started off in high stories like that made Sloan what he season, he had surgery on his elbow. No one ever knew. and put up a record 14.5 assists per game in 1989-90.
are tucked in. They’re listening. school, my high school coach was as a player and what he is as a We knew in the locker room only because he didn’t He holds the NBA career record for steals (3,265), also
That’s the kind of attention that expected us to be at practice at 7 in coach, helped him reach the level of want to hurt the team.” by a wide margin.
Jerry commands.” the morning, and then we had to consistency that has defined his There was more to Stockton than merely staying on Stockton remains the NBA’s gold standard for play-
When Sloan met with the media practice afterwards, too,” Sloan career. He liked to play basketball; the court and his famed reluctance to let the media makers, and it’s hard to imagine someone even near-
last week to discuss his impending said. “I would hitchhike 16 miles to he likes to coach basketball. The know about his injuries. His toughness and work ing his assists record. “When I am asked about John,”
Hall of Fame status, you could not get there. The bus came around fact that he’s done it so well makes ethic were big parts of his identity, but they should Johnson said, “I go to what (late Jazz owner) Larry
have imagined a more uncomfortable about a quarter of a mile from my him a worthy Hall of Famer—no not overshadow the fact that he was, arguably, the Miller used to say: John Stockton is exactly what you
guy. But he is comfortable talking house, but it did not get (to school) matter what he says. greatest natural playmaker in NBA history and would want him to be.”
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com College Basketball THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 41
Sept. 5
8 1 2 5 7 13 5
Gabon
Togo
GP W D L GF GA Pts
Cameroon 4 2 1 1 4 2 7
4 2 0 2 6 5 6
4 1 2 1 2 4 5
Fourth-place team advances to playoff Morocco 4 0 3 1 2 3 3
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD—Ricardo Clark’s second- Wednesday’s games GROUP SIX At Glasgow, Scotland
vs. South America fifth-place team At Ramat Gan, Israel GP W D L GF GA Pts Scotland 2, Macedonia 0
half goal lifted the United States to a 1-0 victory over Sept. 5
Israel 7, Luxembourg 0 q-England 8 8 0 0 31 5 24 At Reykjavik, Iceland At Libreville, Gabon
GP W D L GF GA Pts At Riga, Latvia Croatia 9 5 2 2 17 12 17 Iceland 1, Norway 1
Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, meaning the United States8 5 1 2 14 9 16 Cameroon 2, Gabon 0
Latvia 2, Switzerland 2 Ukraine 8 4 3 1 14 6 15 Wednesday’s games Sept. 6
Americans need one more victory to guarantee Mexico 8 5 0 3 12 9 15 At Chisinau, Moldova Belarus 8 3 1 4 15 11 10 At Oslo At Lome, Togo
Honduras 8 4 1 3 14 8 13 Moldova 1, Greece 1 Kazakhstan 8 2 0 6 10 23 6 Norway 2, Macedonia 1
reaching their sixth straight World Cup. Costa Rica 8 4 0 4 9 13 12 Togo 1, Morocco 1
Andorra 9 0 0 9 3 33 0 At Glasgow, Scotland Wednesday’s game
Clark scored in the 62nd minute off passes from El Salvador 8 2 2 4 8 10 8 GROUP THREE q-qualified Netherlands 1, Scotland 0 At Yaounde, Cameroon
Trinidad 8 1 2 5 8 16 5 GP W D L GF GA Pts
Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, hammering a Cameroon 2, Gabon 1
Slovakia 8 6 1 1 21 8 19 Sept. 5 SOUTH AMERICA
30-yard shot over the outstretched hand of Trini- Sept. 5 Slovenia 8 4 2 2 13 4 14 At Kiev, Ukraine Top four teams qualify GROUP B
At Sandy, Utah N. Ireland 9 4 2 3 13 10 14 Ukraine 5, Andorra 0 Fifth-place team advances to playoff
dad goalkeeper Clayton Ince. United States 2, El Salvador 1 GP W D L GF GA Pts
CzechRepublic 8 3 3 2 15 6 12 At Zagreb, Croatia against CONCACAF fourth place Tunisia 4 2 2 0 6 3 8
The United States has 16 points to top the CON- At San Pedro Sula, Honduras Poland 8 3 2 3 19 11 11 Croatia 1, Belarus 0 Nigeria 4 1 3 0 5 2 6
Honduras 4, Trinidad and Tobago 1 San Marino 9 0 0 9 1 44 0 Wednesday’s games GP W D L GF GA Pts
CACAF region with two games left: Oct. 10 at Hon- At San Jose, Costa Rica Mozambique 4 1 1 2 2 4 4
At Minsk, Belarus q-Brazil 16 9 6 1 32 9 33 Kenya 4 1 0 3 3 7 3
duras and Oct. 14 against Costa Rica at Washington, Mexico 3, Costa Rica 0 Sept. 5 Belarus 0, Ukraine 0 q-Paraguay 16 9 3 4 22 13 30
Wednesday’s games At Chorzow, Poland At Andorra La Vella, Andorra Chile 16 8 3 5 27 20 27
D.C. Trinidad has five points and cannot qualify. At Port-of-Spain, Trinidad Sept. 6
Poland 1, Northern Ireland 1 Kazakhstan 3, Andorra 1 Ecuador 16 6 5 5 21 23 23 At Maputu, Mozambique
The top three teams in the six-nation group qual- United States 1, Trinidad and Tobago 0 At Bratislava, Slovakia At Wembley, England Argentina 16 6 4 6 20 19 22 Mozambique 1, Kenya 0
At San Salvador, El Salvador Slovakia 2, Czech Republic 2 England 5, Croatia 1 Uruguay 16 5 6 5 26 18 21
ify for next year’s tournament in South Africa. The El Salvador 1, Costa Rica 0 At Abuja, Nigeria
Wednesday’s games Venezuela 16 6 3 7 22 27 21 Nigeria 2, Tunisia 2
No. 4 team advances to a playoff against South At Mexico City At Uherske Hradiste, Czech GROUP SEVEN Colombia 16 5 5 6 10 14 20
Mexico 1, Honduras 0 Republic GP W D L GF GA Pts Bolivia 16 3 3 10 20 34 12
America’s fifth-place finisher. Saturday, Oct. 10 GROUP C
Czech Republic 7, San Marino 0 Serbia 8 6 1 1 16 6 19 Peru 16 2 4 10 9 32 10 GP W D L GF GA Pts
“It’s huge. It’s huge. It gives a little bit of space Costa Rica vs. Trinidad and Tobago At Belfast, Northern Ireland France 8 4 3 1 10 8 15 q-qualified Algeria 4 3 1 0 6 1 10
Honduras vs. United States Slovakia 2, Northern Ireland 0 Austria 8 3 2 3 11 11 11
when things are getting tight in our group,” Clark Mexico vs. El Salvador Egypt 4 2 1 1 6 4 7
At Maribor, Slovenia Lithuania 8 3 0 5 7 8 9 Sept. 5 Zambia 4 1 1 2 2 4 4
said. “We knew we had to come out in this game and Wednesday, Oct. 14 Slovenia 3, Poland 0 Romania 8 2 3 3 9 12 9 At Lima, Peru Rwanda 4 0 1 3 0 5 1
El Salvador vs. Honduras FaeroeIslands 8 1 1 6 4 12 4 Peru 1, Uruguay 0
get a win.” Trinidad and Tobago vs. Mexico GROUP FOUR At Medellin, Colombia Sept. 5
Trinidad had the better scoring chances in a wide- United States vs. Costa Rica GP W D L GF GA Pts Sept. 5 Colombia 2, Ecuador 0 At Kigali, Rwanda
open first half, though the United States also could Germany 8 7 1 0 24 4 22 At Graz, Austria At Asuncion, Paraguay Egypt 1, Rwanda 0
EUROPE Russia 8 7 0 1 18 4 21 Austria 3, Faeroe Islands 1 Paraguay 1, Bolivia 0
have broken through on shots by Jozy Altidore and Winners qualify Sept. 6
Finland 8 4 2 2 11 12 14 At Saint-Denis, France At Rosario, Argentina At Blida, Algeria
Top eight second-place teams advance Wales 8 3 0 5 6 10 9 France 1, Romania 1 Brazil 3, Argentina 1
Landon Donovan. to European playoffs Algeria 1, Zambia 0
Liechtenstein 8 0 2 6 2 19 2 Wednesday’s games At Santiago, Chile
Trinidad’s Kenwyne Jones had an early chance in FERNANDO LLANO / AP Azerbaijan 8 0 1 7 1 13 1 At Toftir, Faeroe Islands Chile 2, Venezuela 2 GROUP D
GROUP ONE Faeroe Islands 2, Lithuania 1 Wednesday’s games
the 27th on a close-in header that U.S. keeper Tim Ricardo Clark (13) scored in the 62nd minute off passes GP W D L GF GA Pts GP W D L GF GA Pts
Sept. 5 At Bucharest, Romania At La Paz, Bolivia q-Ghana 4 4 0 0 7 0 12
Howard scrambled to save. Two minutes later Trin- from Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. Denmark 8 5 3 0 15 4 18 At Lankaran City, Azerbaijan Romania 1, Austria 1 Ecuador 3, Bolivia 1
Sweden 8 4 3 1 9 3 15 Mali 4 1 2 1 5 5 5
idad’s Cornell Glen lobbed a ball over Howard that Finland 2, Azerbaijan 1 At Belgrade, Serbia At Montevideo, Uruguay Benin 4 1 1 2 3 5 4
Portugal 8 3 4 1 10 5 13 At St. Petersburg, Russia Serbia 1, France 1 Uruguay 3, Colombia 1
hit the crossbar and bounded away. Fabregas, Santi Cazorla and Juanma Mata scored for Hungary 8 4 1 3 9 5 13 Sudan 4 0 1 3 1 6 1
Russia 3, Liechtenstein 0 At Asuncion, Paraguay q-qualified
Albania 9 1 4 4 5 9 7 Wednesday’s games GROUP EIGHT Paraguay 1, Argentina 0
The U.S. had its best early chance in the 31st when Spain is a 3-0 victory at home over Estonia. Malta 9 0 1 8 0 22 1 At Vaduz, Liechtenstein GP W D L GF GA Pts At Salvador de Bahia, Brazil Sept. 6
Altidore drove a long shot straight into the chest of While they joined the Netherlands in next year’s Liechtenstein 1, Finland 1 Italy 8 6 2 0 13 3 20 Brazil 4, Chile 2 At Contonou, Benin
Sept. 5 At Hanover, Germany Ireland 8 4 4 0 10 6 16 At Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Ince. 32-nation field in South Africa, 11 more European At Copenhagen Benin 1, Mali 1
Germany 4, Azerbaijan 0 Bulgaria 8 2 5 1 10 7 11 Venezuela 3, Peru 1 At Accra, Ghana
Trinidad threatened again in the 38th on a berths are undecided. Denmark 1, Portugal 1 At Cardiff, Wales Cyprus 8 1 3 4 8 12 6 Ghana 2, Sudan 0
At Budapest, Hungary Russia 3, Wales 1 Montenegro 8 0 5 3 7 13 5 ASIA
30-yard free kick from Trent Noel that Howard Australia, Brazil, Ghana, Japan, North Korea and Sweden 2, Hungary 1 Georgia 8 0 3 5 4 11 3 PLAYOFF GROUP E
dived to save. Noel drove a nearly identical free kick South Korea already had clinched berths. Wednesday’s games GROUP FIVE Winner advances to playoff vs. GP W D L GF GA Pts
At Ta’Qali, Malta GP W D L GF GA Pts Sept. 5 Oceania champion
just wide four minutes later. In South America, Diego Maradona’s Argentina Sweden 1, Malta 0 Ivory Coast 4 4 0 0 15 3 12
q-Spain 8 8 0 0 21 2 24 At Sofia, Bulgaria Bahrain vs. Saudi Arabia Burkina Faso 4 2 0 2 7 10 6
stumbled again in a 1-0 loss at Paraguay and fell out At Tirana, Albania Bosnia-Herz. 8 5 1 2 21 8 16 Bulgaria 4, Montenegro 1 Guinea 4 1 0 3 6 9 3
Albania 1, Denmark 1 Turkey 8 3 3 2 11 8 12 At Tblisi, Georgia Sept. 5
A rejuvenated England, European champion of the top four in the South American standings. At Budapest, Hungary Malawi 4 1 0 3 3 9 3
Belgium 8 2 1 5 11 18 7 Italy 2, Georgia 0 At Manama, Bahrain
Spain and Paraguay clinched World Cup berths The loss was Argentina’s fourth in its last five Portugal 1, Hungary 0 Estonia 8 1 2 5 7 22 5 At Nicosia, Cyprus Bahrain 0, Saudi Arabia 0 Sept. 5
with two games to spare Wednesday night. qualifiers and was sure to turn even more heat on Armenia 8 1 1 6 5 18 4 Ireland 2, Cyprus 1 Wednesday’s game At Blantyre, Malawi
GROUP TWO Wednesday’s games At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard scored two Maradona. Maradona said after a 3-1 loss to Brazil GP W D L GF GA Pts Malawi 2, Guinea 1
Sept. 5 At Podgorica, Montenegro Saudi Arabia 2, Bahrain 2 At Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Switzerland 8 5 2 1 15 8 17 At Yerevan, Armenia Montenegro 1, Cyprus 1 2-2 aggregate
goals each and Wayne Rooney added another, leading on Saturday that he would not resign. Greece 8 4 2 2 13 7 14 Ivory Coast 5, Burkina Faso 0
Bosnia-Herzegovina 2, Armenia 0 At Turin, Italy Bahrain advanced on 2-0 away goals
England over visiting Croatia 5-1 at Wembley. Cesc — The Associated Press Latvia 8 4 2 2 13 8 14 At Kayseri, Turkey Italy 2, Bulgaria 0
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Tennis THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 46
U.S. OPEN
Glance
A look at Wednesday’s play at the
Oudin out, Federer in another Grand Slam semi
$21.6 million U.S. Open tennis NEW YORK—Maybe it all was a little Results
championships: too much, a little too soon for Mela-
Wednesday
nie Oudin. At The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Weather: Mostly cloudy and cool.
High of 76. The 17-year-old from Marietta, New York
Purse: $21.6 million (Grand Slam)
Ga., kept erasing big deficits and Surface: Hard-Outdoor
Attendance: Day: 22,679; Night: upsetting older, taller, higher-
23,881. Total: 46,560. Singles
ranked players at the U.S. Open, Men
generating more and more interest Quarterfinals
Men’s winners: Quarterfinals: Novak Djokovic (4), Serbia, def. Fernando Verdasco (10), Spain, 7-6
No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 4 Novak in her magical ride. (2), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Djokovic. But her surprising story ended Roger Federer (1), Switzerland, def. Robin Soderling (12), Sweden,
6-0, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (6).
Wednesday night with a 6-2, 6-2 Women
Men’s losers: No. 10 Fernando loss to No. 9-seeded Caroline Quarterfinals
Verdasco and No. 12 Robin Soderling. Yanina Wickmayer, Belgium, def. Kateryna Bondarenko, Ukraine,
Wozniacki of Denmark. 7-5, 6-4.
Women’s winners: Quarterfinals: “It was a lot,” Oudin conceded. Caroline Wozniacki (9), Denmark, def. Melanie Oudin, United
States, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki and Yanina “These past two weeks have been
Wickmayer. really different for me. I’ve gone Doubles
Men
from being just a normal, like, ten- Semifinals
Women’s losers: Kateryna
nis player to almost everyone in Lukas Dlouhy, Czech Republic, and Leander Paes (4), India, def.
Bondarenko and Melanie Oudin. Bob and Mike Bryan (1), United States, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6).
the United States knowing who I Mahesh Bhupathi, India, and Mark Knowles (3), Bahamas, def.
Top players on court today: Men: am now.” Max Mirnyi, Belarus, and Andy Ram (5), Israel, 6-4, 6-2.
Women
No. 3 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 11 Fernano “This has been a great experi- Quarterfinals
Gonzalez, No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro ence for me. I had a great run here,” Cara Black, Zimbabwe, and Liezel Huber (1), United States, def.
vs. No. 16 Marin Cilic in quarterfinals Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (6), Spain,
the 70th-ranked Oudin told the 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
matches.
crowd during an on-court inter- Serena and Venus Williams (4), United States, def. Yan Zi and
Zheng Jie (11), China, 7-5, 6-4.
Stat of the day: Before this year’s view right after the match, an
U.S. Open, unseeded semifinalist honor usually reserved for the
Yanina Wickmayer had only advanced winner. “I hope to come back next
as far as the second round twice in six
year and do even better.” match.”
Grand Slam tournaments.
An additional distraction did not Federer improved to 12-0 against
Quote of the day: “When you get come to light until Wednesday Soderling, including victories over
to the third, fourth round, you start sur- night, when SI.com reported that the Swede in the French Open final
prising yourself. But actually, I’ve been Oudin’s father, John, filed for and Wimbledon’s fourth round
staying pretty calm. I’ve worked really
divorce from Leslie in July 2008 this year.
hard for this.” — Yanina Wickmayer
on grounds of adultery. According “For sure, I feel like I have a
Today on TV (All Times EDT): to the report, John Oudin alleged DARRON CUMMINGS / AP chance every time I play against
ESPN2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 7-11 p.m. in a sworn statement last month Caroline Wozniacki, above, eliminated the darling of the U.S. Open, Melanie Oudin, in straight sets. him, even though it’s pretty small,”
that his wife had an affair with Soderling said. “He always plays
On this date: Sept. 10: In 1989, Boris
Brian de Villiers. arenko of Ukraine 7-5, 6-4. here—Roger Federer, who Grand Slam semifinal. well, it feels like.”
Becker becomes the first German to win
the men’s singles title. In 1994, Arantxa Wozniacki will play her first The other women’s semifinal improved to 12-0 against Robin “It was so close towards the end. Federer will put his 39-match
Sanchez-Vicario becomes the first Grand Slam semifinal against Friday features two far more famil- Soderling by beating the 12th- It’s a great relief to come through, Flushing Meadows winning streak
Spaniard to win the women’s singles another 19-year-old, Yanina Wick- iar names: defending champion seeded Swede 6-0, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 because Robin started playing bet- on the line against No. 4 Novak
title. In 2000, Marat Safin becomes the mayer of Belgium. The 50th- Williams against 2005 champion (6) Wednesday night. Federer, ter and better as the match went Djokovic, who eliminated No. 10
first Russian to win the men’s singles
ranked Wickmayer—never before Kim Clijsters. seeking a sixth consecutive U.S. on,” Federer said. “I knew he’d be Fernando Verdasco of Spain 7-6
title.
past the second round at a major The men’s semifinals Saturday Open title, extended his own tough, but the beginning was way (2), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.
tournament—beat Kateryna Bond- will include—no surprise record by reaching a 22nd straight too easy. He found his way into the — The Associated Press
SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com Back Page THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 47
Major League Soccer All Times ET IN BRIEF
TRANSACTIONS
Celski beats Ohno in short track nationals
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA BASEBALL practice roster.
Columbus 10 4 9 39 34 25 American League United Football League
Chicago 10 6 8 38 33 28 BALTIMORE ORIOLES: NEW YORK SENTINELS:
D.C. 8 5 12 36 38 36
New England 9 7 6 33 28 30 Acquired LHP Sean Henn Signed RB Chris Barclay,
Toronto FC 8 9 7 31 30 34
MARQUETTE, MICH.—J.R. Celski Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia from Minnesota for a WR Daron Clark, WR
Kansas City 6 11 6 24 24 32 keeps beating childhood idol finished first in qualifying player to be named or cash TJ Courman, LB Tim
New York 4 16 4 16 20 41
Apolo Anton Ohno. Wednesday for the individual considerations. Named Goodwell, C Jasper Harvey,
Celski easily won the 1,500 ribbon event at the rhythmic Janet Marie Smith vice TE Christian Hopkins, OT
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA president of planning and Kenyatta Jones, DE David
meters at the U.S. short track gymnastics world development. Miller, LB Joe Mortensen,
Houston 11 7 7 40 31 22
Los Angeles 9 4 11 38 28 23 speedskating national champi- championships. MINNESOTA TWINS: Acto- OL Daniel Oliphant, DL Nate
Colorado 10 7 6 36 36 27 onships Wednesday night. He Kanaeva, who won two gold vated LHP Francisco Liriano Robinson, WR Jamayel
Seattle 8 6 10 34 29 23
Chivas USA 10 9 3 33 23 24 crossed the finish line waving medals on Tuesday, received from the 15-day DL. Smith, WR Junior Taylor,
Real Salt Lake 9 9 6 33 35 27 National League WR Craphonso Thorpe,
FC Dallas 6 11 6 24 33 37 his right arm in the air, leaving 28.425 points from the judges to CINCINNATI REDS: Activated LB Rian Wallace and DE
San Jose 5 12 5 20 27 40 Ohno and Jordan Malone to bat- finish first in qualification for C Ryan Hanigan from the Rodney Wormley.
tle it out for second. today’s final in ribbon. 15-day DL.
NOTE: Three points for victory, one COLORADO ROCKIES: HOCKEY
point for tie. Saturday’s games Ohno barely got his blade in Olga Kapranova of Russia National Hockey League
Colorado at Toronto FC, 3:30 p.m. Activated OF Dexter Fowler
Sept. 5 Seattle FC at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
front of Malone, who ended up was second with 27.550 points, from the 15-day DL. BOSTON BRUINS: Signed D
Kansas City 4, New England 2 Kansas City at New York, 7:30 p.m. crashing into the boards after and Daria Kondakova of Russia PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: Andy Wozniewski.
FC Dallas 2, D.C. United 2, tie Chicago at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. Recalled LHP Sergio Es- COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:
Colorado 1, Toronto FC 0 FC Dallas at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. they crossed the line. is in third place with 26.700.
calona from Reading (EL). Re-signed LW Alexandre
Celski, a 19-year-old skater Kanaeva won gold in the indi- Picard to a one-year
Wednesday’s game Sunday’s game Purchased the contract of
D.C. United 1, Kansas City 0 Houston at Columbus, 5 p.m. from Federal Way, Wash.—a vidual hoop and rope events on 1B Andy Tracy from Lehigh contract.
suburb of Ohno’s hometown of Tuesday. Valley (IL). Released RHP TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:
Seattle—was timed in 2:22.834. Russia leads the team compe- Rodrigo Lopez. Re-signed D Mike Lundin to
Can-Am League a one-year contract.
He won the nine-lap time trial a tition with 253.075 points, fol- WORCESTER TORNADOES:
WNBA All Times ET night earlier with a personal- lowed by Belarus with 237.200 Released LHP Steve SOCCER
best time that left Ohno in sec- Major League Soccer
and Ukraine with 229.800. Cadoret.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FC DALLAS: Signed M-D
W L Pct GB ond in their head-to-head BASKETBALL Daniel Hernandez.
Indiana
Atlanta
22
17
10
15
.688
.531
—
5
pairing. Cycling National Basketball TORONTO FC: Announced the
Ohno was clocked in 2:23.050, CARAVACA DE LA CRUZ, SPAIN— Association retirement of F Danny Dichio.
Detroit 16 16 .500 6
Chicago 15 17 .469 7 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS:
and Malone was third in American rider Tyler Farrar Re-signed G C.J. Watson. COLLEGE
Connecticut 15 17 .469 7
Washington 15 17 .469 7 2:23.058. won the 11th stage of the Span- Women’s National CANISIUS: Signed men’s ice
New York 12 20 .375 10 The men’s final was jammed ish Vuelta, and Spanish rider Basketball Association hockey coach Dave Smith
SEATTLE STORM: Signed G-F to a contract extension
WESTERN CONFERENCE with seven skaters, including CARLOS OSORIO / AP Alejandro Valverde remained La’Tangela Atkinson.
W L Pct GB through 2012-2013 season.
Phoenix 22 10 .688 — Eddy Alvarez who got in after J.R. Celski, right, won the 1,500-meter race over childhood idol Apolo Anton Ohno. the overall leader. COLUMBIA: Named Marlon
Seattle 19 13 .594 3 Joey Lindsey was disqualified Farrar, who rides for Garmin- FOOTBALL
Los Angeles 16 16 .500 6 National Football League Sears men’s basketball
Minnesota 14 18 .438 8 for impeding in their earlier 2,112. He trails second-place Olympic Games, the first games Slipstream, finished the 124.3- CAROLINA PANTHERS: assistant coach.
San Antonio 14 18 .438 8 heat. Ohno false-started before Malone by 168 points. in which women competed in mile leg featuring several Signed WR Charly Martin to MORAVIAN: Named Bill
Sacramento 11 21 .344 11 Maxwell men’s tennis
the 13½-lap race began slowly. On the women’s side, Kather- the pole vault, and is a two-time difficult mountain ascents in 5 the practice squad.
DENVER BRONCOS: coach.
Sept. 5 Los Angeles 76, San Antonio 68 The speed picked up with five ine Reutter won the 1,500 in world champion. hours, 11 minutes, 10 seconds. Released CB Joshua Bell RICHMOND: Named Jill
Minnesota 76, Seattle 68
San Antonio 89, Los Angeles 72 Wednesday’s game laps to go and Celski leading the 2:24.184. “It was great to be a pioneer in Belgian rider Philipe Gilbert and G Matt McChesney Briles-Hinton women’s golf
Phoenix 100, Atlanta 82 Minnesota 75, Detroit 72 way. Ohno moved from fourth to this sport,” Dragila told The was second in the same time, after reaching injury coach.
SAM HOUSTON STATE:
Sept. 6 Today’s games second over the final laps, with Track and field Associated Press. ahead of Marco Marcato of settlements.
Named Keith Herston
Indiana 72, Washington 61 New York at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:
Detroit 84, Chicago 75 Indiana at Chicago, 8 p.m.
the five-time Olympic medalist PARIS—Former world and She cleared 14 feet, 7¼ inches Italy. Signed S De’von Hall and assistant track and field
Phoenix at Seattle, 10 p.m. using his racing experience to Olympic champion Stacy but missed three attempts at Valverde finished 14th in the TE Jason Pociasck to the coach.
Sept. 8 San Antonio at Sacramento, ST. JOHN’S, N.Y.: Named
Indiana 69, New York 63 10 p.m. edge Malone at the finish. Dragila ended her 14-year pole 14-11 to finish behind Russian same time to maintain his 7-sec- practice squad. Released
WR Sam Giguere from the Said Hamdan associate
Celski earned 1,000 points for vaulting career with a second- Tatiana Polnova, who cleared ond overall advantage over athletic trainer.
practice squad.
the win, giving him 2,800 in the place finish at the DecaNation that height. Cadel Evans, who was 12th. The Canadian Football League THIEL: Named Angela
overall standings. Ohno picked athletics meet on Wednesday. Caisse D’Epargne rider’s over- WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS: Zeuch women’s basketball
up 800 points for second, but The 38-year-old American Gymnastics all time is 45:37:51. Added DB Nick Kordic to the coach.
remained third overall with won gold at the 2000 Sydney MIE, JAPAN—Olympic champion — The Associated Press