Jeremy Criscione, Briana Whaley pull away for Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K titles

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

TAMPA — Jeremy Criscione would have happily accepted completing Saturday's 34th annual Gasparilla Distance Classic 15-kilometer race in the middle of the pack as long as the trade-off was no further damage to his oft-injured body.

Where he finished seemed insignificant, given the prior 10 months of rehab just to regain his fitness to able to compete.

Criscione, a cross country and track runner for Florida whose eligibility with the Gators expired last year, suffered a stress reaction in his leg in May that sidelined him for most of the summer. Then, five months later, he pulled his groin in the second workout back from the injury.

Saturday's 15K was Criscione's first competitive race in almost a year. It was merely going to be a test run.

He passed, with room to spare.

The 23-year-old Bartow resident pulled away from Andrew Letherby in Mile 6 of the 9.3-mile race and ran unchallenged to the finish to win in 46 minutes, 22 seconds.

"I still have a long way to go until I'm completely back from injury," Criscione said. "I feel great; it's just getting in shape. (The 15K) was a little bit of a stretch. We didn't know how much it was going to take out of me being so soon. But I'm happy."

Letherby, 37, of Clearwater trailed Criscione by 43 seconds, taking second in 47:05.

Austin Richmond, last year's 15K champion, ran 30 seconds behind his winning pace for third in 47:19.

Criscione and Letherby broke ahead of the field around the 3-mile mark and ran nearly step-for-step until Mile 6, when Criscione made his move and the challenger couldn't keep up.

"I didn't know what pace felt like because I haven't done any real extended pace work," Criscione said. "I was just kind of out there feeling out for a little bit."

Despite his limited training for the 15K, Criscione widened the gap over Letherby over the final 3 miles.

"I didn't know if I was going to be ready in time for this," Criscione said. "Just came into it with an open mind to see how I could do. … I'm glad to be back racing."

Briana Whaley's race was almost a carbon copy of the one she ran last year to win the women's 15K. The 32-year-old Clearwater resident crossed the finish with the same time of 54:05.

She also came away with the same result: the women's championship.

Whaley outkicked Apollo Beach resident and former Academy of the Holy Names runner Sara Petrick for the second year in a row, this time by 54 seconds. Whaley even started breaking away from Petrick at about the same place (Mile 7) on the Bayshore Boulevard course.

"I think last year (Whaley) was leading and just kind of took off," Petrick said. "This year I was in the lead, and then she came up behind me and passed me with about a 5K left. … I couldn't answer the call."

Whaley, who competed for Virginia Commonwealth University, was unsure how she would perform with the field gunning for her title.

"Usually if I win a race, I never get to go back because it's so far away," Whaley said. "So there was a lot of pressure coming back this time. The returning champion, I've never had to deal with that before."

Because Criscione and Whaley are both local runners, they each earned $2,000 in prize money for their victories.

The men's 5K also crowned a repeat winner as Brooksville's Ben Martucci broke the tape in 14:53. Martucci, 22, set a personal record by five seconds. A year ago, he ran 15:02 here.

"No one went out with me. I figured that was going to happen, so I had to run all by myself," said Martucci, a former standout at Hernando High and current senior track and cross country runner at Florida Southern. "But you got to do what you got to do."

James Osborne, a 22-year-old Lutz resident who competed in high school for Jesuit, was second in the 5K (15:30). Osborne and Martucci used to compete on the high school circuit but hadn't run head-to-head in about four years.

"He was my rival back in high school," Martucci said. "He always beat me by a few seconds."

The 5K female champion still attends high school. Kari Grippo, a 14-year-old freshman at Gulf, held the lead virtually from start to finish to win in her first appearance at the Gasparilla 5K.

"I had a really big lead the first 1.5 miles, and then one of the girls from (Florida State) kind of came up on me and she only got about (a foot) ahead of me," Grippo said. "But then I heard people saying, 'You got to go. You got to go.' And I heard everyone saying, 'First female.' And that kind of pumped me up to finish all the way through."

Grippo, a Hudson resident, grabbed the lead for good 2 miles in to win in 18:11. The 2010 winner, 21-year-old Bree McArdle of Tallahassee, was second in 18:16.

"I was actually going for top-10 female because I heard this is a really prestigious kind of race," Grippo said. "I'm ecstatic that I got first place."

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/running/jeremy-criscione-briana-whaley-pull-away-for-gasparilla-distance-classic/1154184

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Committee is calling time on 'Scrappy Valley' working men's club

It was the smoky, laughter-filled club where pint glasses clinked, Engelbert Humperdinck sang and darts legend Eric Bristow stepped up to the oche.

But now, one of the largest working men's clubs in the Midlands is about to be wound up.

The committee of the 900-member Scraptoft Valley WMC in Netherhall, Leicester – known affectionately as "Scrappy Valley" – has called time on the club.

City councillor John Mugglestone, who used to play darts there, said it was a sign of the times.

He said: "It is a great pity the club has closed. It used to have the best lounge of any working men's club in the country.

"But it is the victim of people buying alcohol in the supermarket and drinking at home. People just don't go out so much now."

It is understood the complex, which includes a 400-seat concert room could be sold and re-opened in the spring.

Mick Challinor, secretary of the Leicester Branch of the Club and Institute Union said: "It is a shame such a large club with such a rich history should be going.

"But it is just another one in a number of closures.

"People are simply not using the clubs these days. What with cheap booze in supermarkets and some pubs selling cut-price drinks, many clubs cannot compete.

"I spoke to the club members recently and they told me about the situation.

"It is simple. If people don't use their club they will lose it."

In recent times the club, which also has a 100-seat lounge, allowed charities to use the buildings for free.

It was also hired out for private parties, sports events and meetings.

The "Scrappy Valley" opened in a wooden shed in 1959, before moving to its purpose-built premises on Grantham Road.

Over the years, it attracted such well-known names as Eric Bristow, Norman Vaughan, Bernard Manning, The Krankies, Billy J Kramer, Englebert Humperdinck and the Barron Knights as well as many other lesser-known live entertainment acts.

As recently as 1997, the club won the 'best in the country' award.

Insolvency practitioner Situl Devji Raithatha has been asked to organise a meeting of club members to wind up the business. Mr Raithatha, of Leicester's Springfields Business Recovery and Insolvency Limited, said his first duty was to ensure that the creditors were paid from the assets of club.

A meeting is to be held for creditors and members on March 3, at 11am.

He said: "We would like as many members as possible to attend."

Members will be asked to vote in Mr Raithatha as the liquidator to wind up the club.

No members of the committee were available for comment.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/1306db4e/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0Cnews0Ccalling0Etime0Escrappy0Evalley0Carticle0E32733450Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Tampa Bay Lightning beats New Jersey Devils 2-1

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2011

TAMPA — Keep this tidbit in your back pocket when you want to impress friends at a party:

With its 2-1 victory over the Devils on Friday night at the St. Pete Times Forum, the Lightning, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, became the first NHL team to win back-to-back games against opponents with eight-game winning streaks.

Coach Guy Boucher's eyes lit up when told.

"Ooh, I've got to tell the players," he said. "We always tell the players we're in the business of doing the impossible."

That's probably overstating it a bit, but the Lightning did make a statement as it ended its 12-game homestand at 7-3-2 in front of a boisterous announced crowd of 19,563.

Tampa Bay (36-18-7) won a game as tight-checking and choking defensively as a playoff game. And it beat what Boucher called the league's most disciplined team, which went in on a 16-1-2 run.

And though second-period goals in 54 seconds by Marty St. Louis and Simon Gagne, both high on the glove side of goalie Johan Hedberg, produced a 2-0 lead, Tampa Bay was a defensive bulldog and limited New Jersey to 20 shots.

"On a scale of 1 to 10?" goalie Dwayne Roloson said when asked to rate the defensive effort. "Probably a 13, 14. The guys played unbelievable. We stuck to our game plan and did exactly what our coach wanted us to do."

That included clogging the neutral zone, not turning over the puck and getting sticks on pucks and bodies into shooting lanes.

"Every time we tried to chip it back, their D was on the puck," Devils center Dainius Zubrus said. "It was not easy to create offense."

"They are," said Hedberg, who had allowed one goal in three previous games, "a really, really good hockey team."

That team pretty much shut down Ilya Kovalchuk.

The Devils star extended his points streak to 12 games with an assist on Mark Fayne's goal 8:13 into the third period. But he had just two shots while being watched for the most part by defensemen Randy Jones and Eric Brewer and center Dominic Moore.

Jones in the defensive zone in the second period even dislodged Kovalchuk from the puck and knocked him down.

"When you can, you have to be physical on him, because he can dance around you any time," Jones said. "So you have to be physical, and there was an opportunity."

It's not as if the Devils had zero chances. Roloson, who had 19 saves, stopped Kovalchuk and Nick Palmieri on breakaways. But Tampa Bay did not give up a shot in the final 2:10, and Jones and Brewer each had blocks.

"I loved the way we played the last five minutes, with aggressiveness and poise and confidence," Boucher said.

"Nobody was panicking. Nobody was screaming at refs. We weren't looking for anyone to help us. We were doing it."

And making history, too.

Lightning	0	2	0	2
Devils	0	0	1	1

Lightning	0	2	0	2
Devils	0	0	1	1

First Period—None. Penalties—None.

Second Period—1, TB, St. Louis 23 (Downie, Stamkos), 2:20. 2, TB, Gagne 10, 3:14. Penalties—Arnott, NJ (hooking), 18:51.

Third Period—3, New Jersey, Fayne 4 (Kovalchuk, Zajac), 8:13. Penalties—Bergenheim, TB (holding), 2:01; Tedenby, NJ (holding), 3:31. Shots on Goal—New Jersey 7-5-8—20. TB 8-15-7—30. Power-play opportunities—New Jersey 0 of 1; TB 0 of 2. Goalies—New Jersey, Hedberg 13-11-2 (30 shots-28 saves). TB, Roloson 17-19-2 (20-19). A—19,563 (19,758). T—2:23. Referees—Paul Devorski, Rob Martell. Linesmen—Brian Murphy, Pierre Racicot.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/tampa-bay-lightning-beats-new-jersey-devils-2-1/1154035

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2A region basketball: Tampa Prep 52, Admiral Farragut 44 (2OT)

Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Saturday, February 26, 2011

TAMPA — Two gritty teams. Two overtime periods. Too many mistakes by Admiral Farragut.

Tampa Prep (25-3) forced 25 turnovers and Josh Heath scored 26 points as the fourth-ranked Terrapins outlasted AFA 52-44 Saturday night, earning their third consecutive trip to the Class 2A state tournament. Tampa Prep will play Orlando First Academy on Wednesday at the Lakeland Center.

"It was the survival of the fittest," Tampa Prep coach John Fenlon said. "It's unreal (going back to state). We graduated seven seniors last year; it's a whole different group with a whole different feel."

AFA (15-7) took a 10-point lead early in the third quarter, but Tampa Prep turned up its full-court pressure defense. The Blue Jackets missed two potential winning shots in the final seconds of regulation.

In the second overtime, Tampa Prep snapped a 43-all tie as Devontae Morgan's steal led to a three-point play by Heath. It started a 9-0 run by the Terrapins and three AFA starters fouled out, including top scorer Chris Myrick (13 points, all in the first half).

"When you get late (with the basketball) and turn it over, it's a tough one to overcome," AFA coach Sylvio Brutus said. "These are the types of games high school players enjoy, coaches enjoy and fans enjoy. When you get two teams that make it to the regional finals, this is what you expect."

Alvin Cunningham added 10 points for AFA.

"Their big kids, (Daniel) Salomon and (Max) Eaton, were really, really good," Fenlon said. "(AFA) had 15 offensive rebounds in the first half. We did a much better job in the second half."

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/preps/2a-region-basketball-tampa-prep-52-admiral-farragut-44-2ot/1154218

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Everyone likes lists

The 11 things you'll learn about economics if you read 20 of the profession's most influential papers. Here's my favorite:

9. The average bill for surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1953 was $99.

Source: http://feeds.voices.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=d373ffa86a313d573d7cd2ececd92412

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Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon on a mission to help growing Hispanic population integrate into hometown of Hazleton, Pa.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — Manager Joe Maddon has a new cause.

Having worked extensively to help the homeless in the Tampa Bay area through his Thanksmas charity program, Maddon has now set his sights on his hometown of Hazleton, Pa.

In short, he wants to help integrate the growing Hispanic population (in excess of 10,000) into a seemingly reluctant old-school community to help keep the whole city from dying.

After meeting with Hispanic families during his holiday visit home, Maddon said he realized the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics there now are following the same path the European immigrants, including his own family, did generations ago but are not being welcomed.

"It's exactly what we looked like 50, 60, 70 years ago. … There's no difference, and I think that's where the people back home are losing sight, or our memories are too short," Maddon said. "And at that moment, it slapped me in the face exactly what we needed — these people want to work, they want to help our city thrive, and they want something better for themselves. … "

Eventually, Maddon would like to see the Hispanics opening restaurants and stores to revitalize the city. But his first steps will be more general, to make the Hispanics feel welcome and to raise awareness and some funding.

He hopes to bring in several Hispanic Rays for a postseason visit and wants to host a showing of the movie It's a Wonderful Life and stage a Thanksmas meal event. With the help of his wife, Jaye, and other relatives who still live in Hazleton, he hopes to find funding for the purchase of a community center, where Hispanic kids could gather after school to stay out of trouble and adults can take English classes.

"Let's take advantage of these good people and help them assimilate into the community because otherwise the city is going to go away as far as I can tell," he said. "It's going to be a very lackluster place to live and not attract anything dynamic. I think these people have a chance to make it a dynamic area."

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Among the themed dress-up road trips being planned: skinny jeans. … Maddon was ranked MLB's fifth-best manager by the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo. … After putting seven Rays prospects in its top 100, Baseball America also raved about LHP Alex Torres, calling him "the most unsung player in the deep Rays system." BA editors weren't kind to SS Tim Beckham, saying "there doesn't appear to be any argument" to place him among the top 300 prospects. … The Rays are planning to travel twice this season by train between New York and Boston. … ESPN's Buster Olney ranked the Rays' early season scheduled as the seventh easiest among AL teams.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-manager-joe-maddon-on-a-mission-to-help-growing-hispanic/1154203

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Sports in brief

Times wires
Sunday, February 27, 2011

Soccer

Birmingham wins League Cup on gift

WEMBLEY, England — Birmingham scored in the 89th minute off a blunder to beat Arsenal 2-1 and win the League Cup, one of three major English trophies, on Sunday.

It's the first trophy of any kind since 1963 for Birmingham, which sits 16th among 20 Premier League teams. Arsenal is second.

A long ball went toward Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Lau­rent Koscielny. Both went for it. But it squirted away to Obafemi Martins, who put it into the empty net.

Said Martins: "I think this is the easiest goal I've ever scored in my career."

Et cetera

College track: Christian Taylor led a triple jump sweep and running back Jeff Demps won the 60 meters as Florida's men ended host Arkansas' six-year run as SEC indoor champ. LSU won the women's title with Florida third.

Horses: Uncle Mo, a favorite for the Kentucky Derby, is one of six nominated by trainer Todd Pletcher for the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. But it is expected to run in the Timely Writer on the same day at Gulfstream. Pletcher also nominated Sam F. Davis winner Brethren for the Grade II race, which drew 38 horses.

Sailing: Miami's Steve Bourdrow and Augie Diaz beat St. Petersburg's Ethan Bixby and Chris Brady to win the 505 class at the Midwinter Championships off of Pass­-a­-Grille. Denmark's Soren Andreasen won the Contender class over St. Petersburg's Ben Moon.

Bowling: Norm Duke of Clermont beat Mika Koivu­niemi in the U.S. Open final in North Brunswick, N.J.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent, Times wires

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/sports-in-brief/1154319

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Short-handed no more, Pistons respond

Times wires
Saturday, February 26, 2011

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Rodney Stuckey had 28 points and a big steal in the final minute, helping the Pistons bounce back from an embarrassing start to the weekend with a 120-116 win over the Jazz on Saturday.

One night earlier, Detroit used only six players in a lopsided loss at Philadelphia after several Pistons missed at least part of a team shootaround. Stuckey and Austin Daye, who arrived late to the shootaround and didn't play Friday, were back on the court against the Jazz. Daye scored 18 points, 11 in the fourth quarter.

Paul Millsap led Utah with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Will Bynum, who had played all 48 minutes against Philadelphia, put Detroit ahead for good with a driving three-point play with 1:52 remaining. That gave the Pistons a 111-108 lead.

Millsap then appeared to be hit in the head while losing the ball inside. When Detroit came up with it, Utah had to foul to prevent a five-on-four situation while their forward was slow getting up. Bynum made both free throws to push the lead back to five.

Utah cut the lead to 114-112 when Al Jefferson scored inside with 27.4 seconds remaining, but Stuckey made two free throws, then swiped a Utah pass to help the Pistons to hold on.

Ben Gordon scored 17 for the Pistons, and Charlie Villanueva added 16. Rookie Greg Monroe contributed 12 points and 16 rebounds, and Bynum scored 11 in 22:41 of action — an easy night's work compared to Friday.

Seven Pistons missed at least part of Friday's shootaround, and none of them played against the 76ers. The team said Richard Hamilton, Chris Wilcox, Stuckey and Daye missed the bus, with Stuckey and Daye able to arrive late.

Tayshaun Prince (back) and Tracy McGrady (illness) missed both games. Ben Wallace was unavailable after the death of his brother earlier Saturday.

PERKINS SETTLES IN: Kendrick Perkins started to hear it from his new teammates when he walked into the Thunder's practice facility wearing sneakers that were Celtics green. It didn't take long to remedy that.

By the end of his first practice with Oklahoma City, he had new shoes and talked of his desire to stay with the Thunder long term.

Perkins was tearful upon learning he was traded from Boston, but he says the Celtics are no longer at the top of his list when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

"I hope I can be here. I want to be here," Perkins said of the Thunder. "I couldn't find a better situation for myself."

Pistons 120, Jazz 116

UTAH (116): Kirilenko 9-11 3-5 21, Millsap 9-12 5-8 23, Jefferson 10-17 0-0 20, Harris 3-9 9-11 17, Bell 6-9 0-0 14, Price 0-2 0-0 0, Favors 3-5 4-7 10, Watson 0-2 0-0 0, Miles 3-6 2-3 9, Elson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 44-74 23-34 116.

DETROIT (120): Daye 6-13 2-2 18, Wilcox 3-4 1-3 7, Monroe 6-12 0-1 12, Stuckey 9-18 10-11 28, Gordon 5-13 5-7 17, Summers 3-5 0-0 7, Bynum 4-9 3-3 11, Villanueva 6-10 0-0 16, Maxiell 1-2 2-4 4. Totals 43-86 23-31 120.

Utah 28 25 31 32— 116

Detroit 27 31 25 37— 120

3-Point Goals—Utah 5-13 (Bell 2-3, Harris 2-5, Miles 1-1, Kirilenko 0-1, Watson 0-1, Price 0-2), Detroit 11-17 (Villanueva 4-5, Daye 4-5, Gordon 2-2, Summers 1-3, Stuckey 0-1, Bynum 0-1). Fouled Out—Bynum. Rebounds—Utah 45 (Millsap 11), Detroit 47 (Monroe 16). Assists—Utah 37 (Harris 12), Detroit 22 (Stuckey, Bynum 8). Total Fouls—Utah 25, Detroit 30. Technicals—Bell, Utah defensive three second, Bynum, Detroit defensive three second. A—18,564 (22,076).

Grizzlies 120, Kings 92

SACRAMENTO (92): Casspi 2-6 2-2 6, Thompson 1-6 2-2 4, Dalembert 3-7 1-2 7, Udrih 10-13 3-4 24, Taylor 4-9 0-0 9, Jackson 3-7 0-0 6, Jeter 2-6 0-0 4, Thornton 7-18 1-2 15, Cousins 5-12 4-7 14, Greene 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 38-85 13-19 92.

MEMPHIS (120): Young 5-9 0-0 10, Randolph 10-15 3-4 23, Gasol 10-15 1-1 21, Conley 3-8 2-2 8, Allen 1-2 2-2 4, Williams 3-6 0-0 6, Battier 1-3 0-0 2, Mayo 4-12 2-2 13, Vasquez 2-4 0-0 4, Arthur 7-8 3-4 17, Haddadi 5-11 0-1 10, Carney 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 52-95 13-16 120.

Sacramento 28 21 17 26— 92

Memphis 23 33 33 31— 120

3-Point Goals—Sacramento 3-12 (Greene 1-1, Udrih 1-2, Taylor 1-2, Jeter 0-1, Casspi 0-2, Thornton 0-4), Memphis 3-11 (Mayo 3-7, Williams 0-2, Battier 0-2). Fouled Out—Cousins. Rebounds—Sacramento 48 (Casspi, Dalembert 8), Memphis 51 (Randolph 12). Assists—Sacramento 22 (Thompson, Udrih 5), Memphis 23 (Williams 5). Total Fouls—Sacramento 19, Memphis 18. Technicals—Randolph. A—16,028 (18,119)

Mavericks 105, Wizards 99

DALLAS (105): Stojakovic 2-6 0-0 5, Nowitzki 6-18 8-11 21, Chandler 10-14 3-4 23, Kidd 1-1 0-0 3, Beaubois 1-7 0-0 2, Marion 4-6 5-6 13, Terry 10-18 3-5 25, Mahinmi 0-1 0-0 0, Barea 4-8 0-0 9, Haywood 1-1 2-5 4, Stevenson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 39-81 21-31 105.

WASHINGTON (99): Howard 3-9 3-5 9, Lewis 5-7 0-0 13, McGee 3-9 0-0 6, Wall 11-26 1-4 24, Young 7-16 0-0 14, Seraphin 4-5 0-0 8, Booker 3-5 2-7 8, Bibby 1-5 0-0 2, Evans 2-4 0-0 5, Crawford 5-9 0-0 10, Yi 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-95 6-16 99.

Dallas 23 36 19 27— 105

Washington 22 27 23 27— 99

3-Point Goals—Dallas 6-17 (Terry 2-5, Nowitzki 1-1, Kidd 1-1, Stojakovic 1-3, Barea 1-4, Stevenson 0-1, Beaubois 0-2), Washington 5-14 (Lewis 3-3, Wall 1-1, Evans 1-2, Crawford 0-2, Bibby 0-2, Young 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Dallas 59 (Chandler 13), Washington 54 (McGee 11). Assists—Dallas 28 (Kidd 14), Washington 17 (Wall 5). Total Fouls—Dallas 15, Washington 22. Technicals—Washington defensive three second. Flagrant Fouls—Evans. A—19,203 (20,173).

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/short-handed-no-more-pistons-respond/1154240

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6A region basketball: Orlando Dr. Phillips 57, Wharton 54

Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

TAMPA — The surgery spanned 16 excruciating minutes. For the entire first half of Saturday's Class 6A region final, Dr. Phillips dissected Wharton, compiling 26 interior points en route to a 20-point halftime lead.

But that metaphorical scalpel never once penetrated the Wildcats' collective heart. Buoyed by 6-foot-5 senior A.J. Astroth (24 points), a resurgent defensive effort and an energetic crowd of 908, the hosts (23-6) nearly turned the operating tables.

The rally ended when officials ruled Astroth's foot touched the sideline after taking an inbound pass with 3.1 seconds remaining, preserving Dr. Phillips' 57-54 win.

"As ugly as the first half was, the second half couldn't have been more rewarding as their coach to see them go out and play the way they played," Wildcats coach Tommy Tonelli said. "I couldn't be more proud of how they walked off that floor and left it, despite the loss."

Employing clever screens and crisp passes to the interior by DePaul-bound point guard Shane Larkin (17 points), the Panthers outscored Wharton 26-6 in the paint en route to a 38-18 halftime lead. Meantime, Astroth and fellow 6-5 senior Xavier Owens — Wharton's top scorers — had two combined field goals at halftime.

"Owens and Astroth are very, very good but they're more wing players," Dr. Phillips coach Anthony Long said. "So we thought we might be able to hurt them inside a little bit and we did, especially in the first half."

The Wildcats began chipping away at the Panthers' lead but trailed 49-34 entering the fourth quarter. Astroth's 3-pointer with 3:29 to play made it 53-43. Dr. Phillips still led by seven with less than a minute remaining, but Sir Patrick Reynolds' trey — after a Panthers turnover — made it 55-51 with 35.5 seconds to play.

Another Dr. Phillips turnover on the far sideline with 25 seconds to play was answered by an Astroth 3. Panthers guard Isaac Lane missed the front end of a one-and-one with 9.8 seconds to go, but converted a pair four seconds later after an Astroth foul.

That set up the final flawed inbound play. Before that, Astroth tallied 17 second-half points.

"I thought maybe (Astroth) got bumped, but it's tough; I didn't really see it all the way," Tonelli said. "I thought I could've given him more help, called a better sideline out-of-bounds play than I did. If I could change it I would."

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/preps/6a-region-basketball-orlando-dr-phillips-57-wharton-54/1154226

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Indians kick off tributes to Feller

Times wires
Sunday, February 27, 2011

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — There's a noticeable absence, an emptiness this year at training camp that the Indians will never fill.

Bob Feller isn't around.

The late Hall of Fame pitcher, who played his entire career with Cleveland and whose ties with the organization spanned more than 70 years, was honored Sunday before the Indians opened their exhibition season with a 7-6 loss to the Reds.

Feller, who died in December at age 92, epitomized the Indians. Whether throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on a humid afternoon in Florida, signing countless autographs or simply being the sometimes irascible Bob, Feller — beloved No. 19 — was a rite of spring for Cleveland fans, who idolized the legendary right-hander and American original.

He's gone now. The Indians miss him.

"You can't help but notice that he's not around," Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. "He was a presence. I remember back in the days when we would go to Winter Haven, he'd be around playing catch. There never has been a Hall of Fame-caliber guy who you identify so much with one franchise.

"Bob meant a lot to us."

The Indians are planning a season-long tribute to Feller, who won 266 career games and is regarded as one of the game's greatest pitchers.

In other Indians news, rightfielder Shin-Soo Choo sat out the game to rest his sore left elbow.

ROBINSON HONOR: A quaint Montreal home that served as a sanctuary to Jackie Robinson and his wife while he advanced toward breaking baseball's color barrier is being recognized by the U.S. government.

That chapter in American civil-rights history will be celebrated today when U.S. diplomats unveil a commemorative plaque at the apartment Robinson and his wife Rachel called home in the summer of 1946.

GERUT RETIRES: Outfielder Jody Gerut retired after six seasons in the majors. Gerut, 33, played for five teams.

A'S: Right-hander Rich Harden, who had hoped to start throwing again by today, will get another week off to recover from lat stiffness under his right arm, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

CARDINALS: Rightfielder Lance Berkman said his left elbow is sore, but he'll still play in today's spring opener against the Marlins.

MARLINS: Rightfielder Mike Stanton left the spring opener after straining his right quadriceps while trying to beat out a groundball. The team declined to predict how long he'll be out.

RANGERS: Right-hander Brandon Webb threw 26-28 pitches off a mound, his first mound work in 10 days. The former Cy Young Award winner, who hasn't pitched in a major-league game in two years, said he felt good and had "zero issues."

ROCKIES: Third baseman Ian Stewart sustained a slight left knee sprain in a collision with leftfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/indians-kick-off-tributes-to-feller/1154317

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Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, February 26, 2011

Radio silence of the day

David Price figured he'd catch a lot of grief after taunting former Vanderbilt teammate and roommate (and current Pirate) Pedro Alvarez for weeks that he'd hit him in Saturday's opener then failing to even throw the ball over the plate, issuing a four-pitch walk. "I'm not going to answer the phone or respond to any texts from him," Price said.

Rays at Pirates

When/where: 1:05 today; McKechnie Field, 1611 9th St. W, Bradenton

Radio: 620-AM

Tickets: $10-20, available by calling (877) 293-2827, via pirates.com and at the stadium.

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — James Shields, Brian Baker, Jonah Bayliss, Chris Bootcheck, Richard De Los Santos, Brandon Gomes, Alex Torres; Pirates — Kevin Correia, Brian Burres, Joel Hanrahan, Joe Beimel, Jose Veras, Tony Watson, Chris Leroux

Heads- up

Most of the big-name players, besides starter James "Big Game" Shields, aren't on the trip; those who are include RF Matt Joyce, CF Desmond Jennings, C Kelly Shoppach and 1B Casey Kotchman.

Who is this Ray?

He was drafted by the Rays out of high school but opted for college ball instead. He shared an apartment there with two future MLB All-Stars. He is an avid golfer, with a 10 handicap.

On deck

Monday: Pirates, 1:05. Rays — RHP Jeff Niemann; Pirates — RHP Bryan Morris

Tuesday: at Orioles (Sarasota), 1:05. Rays — TBA; Orioles — TBA

Wednesday: at Blue Jays (Dunedin), 1:05. Rays — TBA; Blue Jays — TBA

Upcoming schedule

March

3: Yankees

4: at Twins

5: Twins

6: at Phillies (ss)

7: at Pirates

8: Jays

9: Jays; and vs. Netherlands at Al Lang

10: Red Sox

11: Pirates

12: at Phillies (ss)

13: at Jays

14: Off

15: Marlins

16: at Marlins

17: at Yankees, 7:05

18: Red Sox (ss), 7:05

19: at Twins

20: Orioles

21: Yankees, 7:05

22: at Red Sox, 7:05

23: Phillies

24: at Astros

25: Pirates

26: Orioles

27: at Pirates

28: at Yankees, 7:05

29: at Red Sox

30: vs. Jays at Tropicana Field, 4:10

Who is this Ray answer: LHP Cesar Ramos

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Quotes of the day

"He's kind of Mr. February/March."

Manager Joe Maddon on Sean Rodriguez, who homered Saturday after hitting .460 with six homers last spring

"He should be in the spring training Hall of Fame."

RHP James Shields, on the same

Tribute of the day

Rays players and coaches wore St. Petersburg police caps for the game in honor of the three slain officers, and also observed a moment of silence. Stadium flags were at half-mast. "It's a small token from our perspective," manager Joe Maddon said. "Our tip of the cap to the entire force."

Playing around

CF B.J. Upton was the big winner at Friday's charity golf tournament, leading his knickers-clad team to victory and claiming the long-drive competition with a blast of 375 yards. "Now," Upton said, "if I could just hit a baseball that far."

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-news-and-notes/1154212

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Man in court charged with murdering child killer

A PRISONER charged with the murder of a child sex killer has appeared at Beverley Magistrates' Court.

Damien Fowkes, 35, is accused of murdering Colin Hatch at Full Sutton prison near Pocklington on Tuesday, February 22.

A post-mortem examination revealed Hatch, 38, was strangled.

Fowkes appeared in a brief hearing at Beverley via video link from Full Sutton Prison.

Hatch was serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting and murdering a seven-year-old boy in London in 1993.

Fowkes will remain in custody and appear at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday, March 8.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503342/s/12f7a516/l/0L0Sthisishullandeastriding0O0Cnews0CMan0Ecourt0Echarged0Emurdering0Echild0Ekiller0Carticle0E32691740Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Men's college basketball preview capsule: Florida State Seminoles vs. Miami Hurricanes

Times staff
Friday, February 25, 2011

Florida State vs. Miami

When/where: 2; Tucker Center, Tallahassee

TV/radio: Ch. 44; 1040-AM

Records: FSU 19-8, 9-4 ACC; Miami 17-11, 5-8

Notable: Without star F Chris Singleton (fractured foot), FSU is 1-1 after Wednesday's 78-62 loss to Maryland in which the Seminoles had 17 turnovers. G Derwin Kitchen had four turnovers but scored 16 and had seven rebounds and six assists. FSU, 6-0 in ACC home games and 11-2 at home overall this season, is hoping a victory over Miami coupled with a win over North Carolina can get them off the bubble for an NCAA bid. … FSU won the Jan. 19 meeting 55-53, the Seminoles' fourth-straight win in the series. … With a win today, FSU would reach 20 for the fifth time in the past six seasons under coach Leonard Hamilton. … FSU's 1972 team that reached the national title game vs. UCLA will be honored at halftime.

Times staff

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/college/mens-college-basketball-preview-capsule-florida-state-seminoles-vs-miami/1154020

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USF Softball Stadium opens with 8-0 Bulls win

Times staff, wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

TAMPA — Ken Eriksen had waited 15 years for a new ballpark, and USF's softball coach got a grand opening to be proud of Thursday night as the Bulls one-hit Central Connecticut State in an 8-0 win to introduce USF Softball Stadium.

"I had to bring (the players) down. They were so jacked up, I was afraid they might burn out in the first or second inning," said Eriksen, who didn't get the green light from a fire marshal inspection to play in the stadium until mid afternoon. "I think the experience of our coaching staff kind of kept them in a cool position to play the whole game on an even keel."

In front of 785 fans, sophomore Lindsey Richardson took a no-hitter into the fourth before allowing only a single down the rightfield line. Freshman Sara Nevins closed out a perfect fifth to clinch the win. A pair of freshmen led the way at the plate for the Bulls (6-5). Shortstop Kourtney Salvarola and first baseman Stephanie Medina had three RBIs each.

"It was kind of terrifying," Richardson said of earning the stadium's first start. "We're not used to this amazing facility, and with everybody here and screaming, you can't hear anything out there. It was crazy to finally have it done, and I think everybody had an amazing time."

UF baseball records: Sophomore left-hander Brian Johnson retired the first 17 batters, setting a school record of 27 straight (he retired the final 10 USF batters Friday) in a 4-0 win over Boston College. UF set a school record with its 19th straight home victory, breaking the mark set March 16-May 13, 1963, and Feb. 10-March 31, 1998. Bryan Augenstein retired 23 straight vs. Cincinnati on Feb. 11, 2006.

Miami ad leaving? Hurricanes athletic director Kirby Hocutt is having serious discussions with Texas Tech about replacing retiring AD Gerald Myers. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported that Hocutt was offered the job, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported he will take it, though it was unclear when. The job would give Hocutt, 39, a chance to return to his home state and likely a sizable raise.

Football

UF-georgia: The Georgia athletic board put a hold on a proposed $10 price hike for tickets to the annual game against Florida in Jacksonville. The hike recently was approved by UF's athletic board. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said the increase proposed by UF would be reconsidered for the 2012 game. Tickets are $40 and $70.

Pay updates: The Tulsa World reported that Oklahoma's Bob Stoops got a $1 million raise to bring his yearly salary to $4.875 million, the third-highest paid coach behind Alabama's Nick Saban ($5.16M) and Texas' Mack Brown ($5.1M). … LSU officials will seek a $700,000-per-year contract for new offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe and raises for other assistants.

USC: The team hired longtime Nebraska assistant Ted Gil­more as receivers coach. Gilmore, 43, who was also the Cornhuskers' recruiting coordinator, was dumped in a staff shakeup last week. He replaces John Morton, who left last month to join Jim Harbaugh's staff with the 49ers.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/colleges/usf-softball-stadium-opens-with-8-0-bulls-win/1153774

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Rods and reels: Forget one size fits all

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, February 24, 2011

When a customer walks into Dogfish Tackle looking for a rod and reel combo that "will do everything," Dave Bayes begs them to reconsider.

"It's just not going to happen," said Bayes, who has been working in the Seminole-based fishing supply store for 14 years. "You end up buying a combo that is all right for a lot of stuff but not great for anything in particular."

When it comes to saltwater fishing rods and reels, I have some good news and bad news.

First, the bad news: There is no rod and reel combo that will work in every scenario.

If you want to be an all-around angler, count on buying at least a dozen different rods. You will need a grouper rod to fish offshore, a couple of trolling rods for kingfish, a snook stick to reel in those linesiders, and a light-tackle rig to set that 2-pound test world record for spotted sea- trout. And that is just a start.

Now, the good news: Fishing is a sport that you can do from the time you are young until you are old and gray. There's no rush. Start slow. Take it one rod at a time. You have your whole life to buy equipment.

Method to madness

Before you buy a rod and reel, consider what type of fishing you plan to do.

"If you are going to spend 90 percent of your time fishing with artificial lures, then buy a combo designed specifically for artificial lures," Bayes said. "If you want to catch tarpon, then buy a tarpon rod."

But if you are dead set on taking a "generalist" approach, there is an answer. "That is your basic, inshore spinning rod," Bayes said. "That is pretty much all you need to fish the flats around here."

This combo serves as most anglers' introduction to the local flats fishing scene. You don't need a boat to get to some of the best spots. Just grab a pair of old sneakers and start walking along most causeways.

In general, a 6 ½- to 7-foot, medium-action rod rated for 8- to 12-pound test line will work well for an angler who plans to wade, fish from a seawall, dock or boat, where there are few obstructions.

Most rods come in one- or two-piece models. Many veteran anglers prefer one-piece rods because of their superior strength and flexibility. But beginning anglers will find two-piece rods work just as well, and they are easier to transport. A quality inshore rod and reel combination costs around $150, but less expensive models are available.

Bridges, piers and the open water

They don't make a fishing rod that will hook and land everything swimming around a bridge such as the Sunshine Skyway. If you have a heavy rig and are gunning for tarpon, it's doubtful you will hook a kingfish. If you are after kings, slim chance you'll stop a tarpon.

For years, the standard bridge and pier combo was a heavy-duty glass rod and 4/0 reel. An 8-foot rod with 60-pound test is big enough to bring in just about anything.

But today's fishing equipment is more sophisticated. Lighter, stronger materials have allowed for rods and reels to become more specialized. No self-respecting saltwater angler would dare fish for tarpon, kingfish and grouper all with the same rod.

Offshore fishermen typically have one set of rods for trolling, another set for bottom fishing, and yet another set for specialized pursuits such as live-bait kingfishing.

For example, if you want to drag Islander lures or ballyhoo for dolphin and wahoo you might consider buying a Shimano TLD25 ($180) and a 6 ½-foot stand-up trolling rod ($180-$250).

But if you are after grouper, a bottom fishing combo comprised of a Daiwa Sealine 400H ($130) and a Dogfish Stik 15H ($129) will do the trick. This same combo can double as a snapper and amberjack outfit.

If winning a kingfish tournament is your goal, you'll need a live-bait kingfish outfit, such as a Shimano Torium 30 reel ($200) and a matching Tallus rod ($139).

"There are a lot of rods and reels out there," Bayes said. "But the best bet is to go down to your local bait and tackle shop. Tell them what you want to do. Don't be afraid to ask some questions and be prepared to answer a few yourself."

Next month in our Fishing 101 series: sheepshead.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/rods-and-reels-forget-one-size-fits-all/1153641

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Shooting from the lip

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Most and least supportive fans

The Cavaliers lost superstar LeBron James. They own the worst record in the NBA at 10-47. They recently lost 26 games in a row to tie the 1976-77 Bucs for the longest streak in modern-day North American professional sports. But their fans (shown above) might be the best in the NBA. The Cavaliers are playing to 98.5 percent capacity, which is more than 20,000 fans a game. It's easy to support a winner, but fans of the Cavs are still cheering what could be the worst team in all of sports. That makes the Cavs fans, arguably, the most dedicated and supportive sports fans in the land. You can't blame fans for not supporting losing teams, and you expect fans to show up for good teams. The true test? Fans who flock to see bad teams or don't show up to watch good ones. With that in mind, here's a look at some attendance figures to determine which fans we consider the most and least supportive right now.

Major League Baseball

Most supportive: It has become nearly impossible to get Red Sox tickets, especially since the team won the 2004 World Series. Despite the team suffering a rash of injuries and missing the playoffs last year, Red Sox Nation still filled up Fenway Park. The Sox drew an average crowd of 37,619 (100.9 percent capacity). Cubs fans also should be praised as the team played to 92 percent capacity despite a losing season. Because Wrigley Field holds more than Fenway, the Cubs actually drew more fans, 37,814 a game.

Least supportive: Tampa Bay fans set records for watching the Rays on television, but the criticism fans get for not showing up at Tropicana Field is deserved. Blame the economy, blame stadium location, blame whatever you want. Bottom line: The Rays had the second-best record in baseball last season but played to only 52 percent capacity. The other teams that played to less than 60 percent capacity last season were the Marlins, Mariners, Nationals, Royals, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, A's and Blue Jays. Of those teams, only one had a winning record. And that was the Blue Jays, who finished fourth in the American League East. It also included all six of the majors' last-place teams.

National Basketball Association

Most supportive: After the loss of All-Star LeBron James, it seems as if the Cavaliers fans have defiantly rallied behind the team to show they don't need no stinkin' LeBron. The team is going to go down as one of the worst in NBA history but still is drawing 20,257 per game, third best in the NBA.

Least supportive: The city of Atlanta often is criticized for not showing passion for local teams. Rumors are swirling that the NHL's Thrashers might not last much longer in Atlanta. And the NBA's Hawks are struggling with attendance. They are 11 games over .500 and heading toward the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Still, they are playing to only 78 percent capacity and just an average of 14,613 fans.

National Football League

Most supportive: The Cowboys built the swankiest stadium in sports, and fans showed up in droves even though the team was crummy for most of the season. The Cowboys went 6-10 but played before an NFL-leading 87,047 per game. That was 108.8 percent capacity, the highest in all of pro sports over the past year.

Least supportive: Sorry, locals, but again, you have to look at Tampa Bay. The team had a sensational turnaround, going from 3-13 in 2009 to 10-6 last season. Yet all home games were blacked out, meaning the team didn't sell out once. The Bucs officially played to only 75.1 percent capacity. But it often looked as if the stadium was way more than a quarter empty.

National Hockey League

Most supportive: There's a reason Toronto is considered the epicenter of hockey. It loves even bad hockey. The Maple Leafs have missed the playoffs all five seasons since the 2004-05 lockout and likely will miss them again this season. Still, the Maple Leafs have played to 102.7 percent capacity. The Blackhawks are struggling to get into the playoffs yet are playing to 108.3 percent capacity in the cavernous United Center. Then again, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last season, so interest should be high.

Least supportive: Are we seeing a theme here? Numbers don't lie, and the Lightning is playing to only 85.1 percent capacity even though it is one of the best and most surprising teams of the season. This recent 12-game homestand, tied for the longest in NHL history, didn't do the team any favors. It's hard for fans to spend that kind of money when the games are packed this close together. Still, the Lightning ranks 23rd in attendance capacity and 20th in average attendance.

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up his Two Cents on the world of sports.

ESPN's new ombudsman

ESPN and the Poynter Institute announced Thursday the creation of the Poynter Review Project, which will review ESPN content across all platforms and publicly comment on ESPN's work.

Essentially, Poynter is now ESPN's ombudsman, acting as an ethics and standards watchdog for all of ESPN's platforms. Poynter takes over the job held by former TV executive Don Ohlmeyer and previously held by former New York Times sports editor Le Anne Schreiber and former Washington Post sports editor George Solomon.

As with the previous ombudsmen, Poynter's role with ESPN will last 18 months. A rotation of three Poynter professors are expected to write monthly columns as well as other pieces as dictated by breaking issues. The columns will appear on ESPN.com starting next month.

The Poynter Institute, which owns the St. Petersburg Times, is a journalism school located in St. Petersburg.

ESPN executive vice president and executive editor John Walsh said, "The Poynter Institute's reputation in the field of journalism is unmatched, and we welcome the panel's scrutiny in this new format. Our goal is to improve our content through increased accountability, transparency and timeliness.''

Timeliness, of lack of it, plagued the tenure of Ohlmeyer, the weakest of ESPN's ombudsmen so far. Poynter should offer a fresh perspective from the previous ombudsmen with heavy sports backgrounds. However, there are two concerns that are really no different than previous ombudsmen or, for that matter, media critics.

One is if Poynter will ignore the concerns and comments of ESPN's viewers and simply work off its own agenda. The other is if ESPN actually listens to the ombudsman anyway. ESPN began having an ombudsman in 2005 yet has continued to have various conflicts of interest, including the much-criticized LeBron James' Decision show last summer.

Media tidbits

• Matt Reitz of NBCSports.com, reports that after reviewing a USA Hockey report, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida are the "fastest-growing states'' in terms of youth hockey registration.

• NBA television ratings are up 32 percent on ABC, 26 percent on TNT and 15 percent on ESPN. At a local level, TNT's rating are up 50 percent in Boston, 39 percent in Los Angeles and 65 percent in Miami. You would expect LeBron James joining the Heat has something to do with that. But according to USA Today, the biggest jump of all has been in Oklahoma City, where TNT's ratings are up 150 percent.

• With the NFL labor situation heating up, ESPN has hired Andrew Brandt, president of the website National Football Post, to serve as an NFL business analyst. Brandt spent nine seasons in the Packers front office and teaches at the Wharton School of Business. He will continue to write for the National Football Post and teach at Wharton.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/shooting-from-the-lip/1153734

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Computer with details of hundreds of children stolen in youth club burglary

​A COMPUTER containing the names, ages, addresses and medical conditions of hundreds of children has been stolen in a raid on a youth club.
Details of up to 700 youths are stored on the computer belonging to Sparks Project in Courtway Road, Orchard Park, north Hull.
Tony Fee, who launched the youth project in 2006, has stressed the computer is password-protected, but admitted he was deeply concerned by the theft.
He said: "All our records going back five years are on that computer, including the names, ages and addresses of children who have attended the Sparks Project.
"It was information we were required to keep so we could apply for funding.
"We also keep details of the children's medical conditions for reference for use in an emergency."
Burglars smashed the front door of the premises next to The Parks Primary School shortly after midnight last Saturday.
The break-in, which was captured on CCTV, was discovered the following morning by the caretaker.
Mr Kemp said: "The door was kicked in. I have not yet had the bill, but we are looking at about �150. We are having to pay that money ourselves."
Staff are considering writing to parents to inform them of the loss of records.
Mr Kemp said: "Most people around here know about the break-in.
"The records go back five years – some of those people will be adults and so no longer attend."
Other items stolen in the raid include two portable petrol generators, two computer monitors, six tool kits, a DVD player and a camcorder.
Mr Fee said: "The generators were used to power floodlights so we could hold evening football classes for youngsters at The Parks Primary. We are now having to hold the sessions at another venue.
"The toolkits contained pliers and other bits and bobs for jewellery-making classes."
Mr Kemp said his staff, both paid and voluntary, have been left disappointed by the break-in at what is seen as a valuable resource for residents on the estate.
He said: "It's very disappointing, especially if it turns out  a local person was responsible.
"They have taken something away from the children of this estate – possibly their own neighbours.
"There is no doubt Sparks has helped reduce antisocial behaviour on the Orchard Park estate.
A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "Some of the property has been recovered, but the computer and television are still missing.
"The stolen property will impact on the provisions and services available to young people in the  area."
Anyone with information should call   0845 6060222.
* A 23-year-old man  has been arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen goods and   bailed until an undisclosed date, pending  inquiries.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503342/s/12fd1ac8/l/0L0Sthisishullandeastriding0O0Cnews0Cdetails0Ehundreds0Echildren0Estolen0Eyouth0Eclub0Eburglary0Carticle0E32720A740Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Joe Haden likes cornerback Patrick Peterson, receiver A.J. Green in NFL draft: Cleveland Browns Insider

Browns cornerback Joe Haden would be thrilled of the Browns could land either premier cornerback Patrick Peterson or premier receiver A.J. Green with the No. 6 overall pick.

View full sizeNate Billings l The Oklahoman via APLSU's Patrick Peterson was the 2010 Jim Thorpe Award winner.

INDIANAPOLIS — Browns cornerback Joe Haden, a finalist for NFL Rookie of the Year, would be thrilled if the Browns could land either premier cornerback Patrick Peterson of LSU or top receiver A.J. Green of Georgia with the No. 6 pick in the draft.

"If Patrick gets all the way to No. 6, for sure we should get him," said Haden, who tied for fifth in the NFL with six interceptions. "It would almost be a no-brainer. The more talent the better. He's definitely a top-five talent. I've watched him and I really like him."

Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said the Browns wouldn't hesitate to take Peterson at No. 6 a year after picking Haden at No. 7.

"If there's a really good one, you're not gonna pass on him," Heckert said. "So I think corner is just as good a possibility as anything. I go back to Philadel phia, where we had Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, two Pro Bowl corners. We drafted Lito [Sheppard] and Sheldon [Brown] one, two in the same draft. I wouldn't have any problem with that. I mean you've got to have three corners."

Haden, in a phone interview, said the 6-0, 220-pound corner has little downside.

"Patrick is fast, strong, he can jump, and he's an excellent cover corner," Haden said. "On top of that, his special teams play is amazing. He can punt return, kick return. If he's on the board at No. 6, it'd be a great upgrade for us. Me, T.J. Ward and Patrick in the secondary would be crazy."

Haden is also high on Green, whom he played against while at Florida.

"He was the best receiver I played against," Haden said. "He was tall, long and fast. Even though he's fast, he still has really good feet coming out of his breaks. He can go deep and he catches everything. He's a talent."

Haden likes Peterson and Green so much that he doubts they'll be there at No. 6.

"I'd be very surprised," he said.

Haden said secondary coach Jerome Henderson, a holdover from Eric Mangini's staff, told him the new defense is less complicated. "He said we'll be able to play a lot faster because there's a lot less to think about," said Haden.

Tenders coming: Heckert said the Browns will tender most of their four-to-six year veterans, making them restricted free agents. The players affected include linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, fullback Lawrence Vickers, cornerback Eric Wright, and safety Abe Elam. It's unclear if the tenders will hold up under a new collective bargaining agreement.

Dawson mum: Heckert has no idea if kicker Phil Dawson plans to sign his franchise tender, which will be for about $3.25 million. Dawson wanted to test the market and seemed primed for a fresh start.

"I have not talked to him," Heckert said. "I've tried to get a hold of him. I've spoken to his agent."

He said the Browns would love to sign him to a multiyear deal.

"Any time we've got a guy that we like and we want, we'd love to have him longterm," he said.

Wallace coveted: Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur want to re-sign Seneca Wallace, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent. Wallace said he wants a chance to start somewhere. They also said they wouldn't rule out having both Wallace and Jake Delhomme back. Delhomme would most likely have to take a pay cut from his $5.4 million base salary.

"We haven't had this discussion with Jake," Heckert said. "That will be something down the road that we talk to him about."

Heckert can and might talk to Wallace and other unrestricted free agents before the CBA expires Thursday.

"We want Seneca back. He knows that. I think he's at least open to it. So we'll have to wait and see," Heckert said. "He got a chance to play and played pretty well and got hurt."

Added Shurmur: "I'm a Seneca fan. He's a West Coast quarterback. I'm not thinking just about the wildcat. He can line up under center. He's done it for a lot of years in this system."

Heckert said it's not "super far out" to bring back both Wallace and Delhomme. "If not, you have to find another one," he said.

Shurmur said he likes Delhomme in the mentoring role for Colt McCoy.

"I saw it in St. Louis. A.J. Feely was outstanding for Sam Bradford," he said.

"When I had the chance to meet Jake, I sensed that. What I know about Jake, he's an outstanding person."

Jackson wanted: Heckert said the Browns want D'Qwell Jackson back despite season-ending pectoral injuries the past two years. The Browns are expected to restrict him for the second straight year. He said Jackson is better suited to the 4-3, which the Browns are switching to.

"I think he is and I think D'Qwell feels that way," he said. "He can play either one, a 4-3's probably better for him. He's not a huge guy inside. In a 4-3 he can play [middle linebacker] or [strongside linebacker]. He's just better suited body-type."

On Green: Heckert acknowledged a lot of teams pass on receivers in the top 10 because of the bust-factor. But Heckert and Shurmur didn't rule out Green, a potential gamebreaker.

"Explosive players on offense are what you're looking for," Shurmur said. "Obviously, he fits in that explosive player category."

Pashos set: Heckert said the Browns are set at right tackle with Tony Pashos, who went on injured reserve Oct. 20 with an ankle injury.

"We like Tony, we really do," Heckert said. "I thought Tony played really, really well before he got hurt. Tony's our starter."

Double H backfield: Shurmur said he can see Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty together in the backfield. "Obviously in traditional two-back sets you can have two halfbacks in there which we did quite a bit in Philadelphia when we had Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook. You can still run traditional I-formation-type plays but use them and utilize them as either runners or pass-receivers."

He said both the tailback and fullback will need to have good hands.

Kelce ill: University of Cincinnati center Jason Kelce, a native of Cleveland Heights, suffered a bad case of stomach flu Monday that derailed his combine.

Kelce said he lost 15 pounds, dropping him to 280 on his official weigh-in, and had to cancel his bench-press Friday. He hopes to get some food down and be able to run for scouts today.

Kelce said teams assured him he won't lose his draft status as long as he recovers his strength and can work out at his pro day.

"Pretty much the worst [time to get sick]," Kelce said. "What I'm hearing from most teams is as long as I put the weight back on and work out at my pro day, it won't be a setback."

Scouting services project Kelce as a late-round pick.

Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi contributed to this report.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/02/joe_haden_likes_cornerback_pat.html

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Computer with details of hundreds of children stolen in youth club burglary

​A COMPUTER containing the names, ages, addresses and medical conditions of hundreds of children has been stolen in a raid on a youth club.
Details of up to 700 youths are stored on the computer belonging to Sparks Project in Courtway Road, Orchard Park, north Hull.
Tony Fee, who launched the youth project in 2006, has stressed the computer is password-protected, but admitted he was deeply concerned by the theft.
He said: "All our records going back five years are on that computer, including the names, ages and addresses of children who have attended the Sparks Project.
"It was information we were required to keep so we could apply for funding.
"We also keep details of the children's medical conditions for reference for use in an emergency."
Burglars smashed the front door of the premises next to The Parks Primary School shortly after midnight last Saturday.
The break-in, which was captured on CCTV, was discovered the following morning by the caretaker.
Mr Kemp said: "The door was kicked in. I have not yet had the bill, but we are looking at about �150. We are having to pay that money ourselves."
Staff are considering writing to parents to inform them of the loss of records.
Mr Kemp said: "Most people around here know about the break-in.
"The records go back five years – some of those people will be adults and so no longer attend."
Other items stolen in the raid include two portable petrol generators, two computer monitors, six tool kits, a DVD player and a camcorder.
Mr Fee said: "The generators were used to power floodlights so we could hold evening football classes for youngsters at The Parks Primary. We are now having to hold the sessions at another venue.
"The toolkits contained pliers and other bits and bobs for jewellery-making classes."
Mr Kemp said his staff, both paid and voluntary, have been left disappointed by the break-in at what is seen as a valuable resource for residents on the estate.
He said: "It's very disappointing, especially if it turns out  a local person was responsible.
"They have taken something away from the children of this estate – possibly their own neighbours.
"There is no doubt Sparks has helped reduce antisocial behaviour on the Orchard Park estate.
A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "Some of the property has been recovered, but the computer and television are still missing.
"The stolen property will impact on the provisions and services available to young people in the  area."
Anyone with information should call   0845 6060222.
* A 23-year-old man  has been arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen goods and   bailed until an undisclosed date, pending  inquiries.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503342/s/12fd1ac8/l/0L0Sthisishullandeastriding0O0Cnews0Cdetails0Ehundreds0Echildren0Estolen0Eyouth0Eclub0Eburglary0Carticle0E32720A740Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Sports on TV/Radio

Times staff
Thursday, February 24, 2011

TODAY

Autos

Nationwide: Bashas Supermarkets 200 qualifying, 2 p.m., Speed

Sprint Cup: Subway 500 qualifying, 3:30 p.m., Speed

Nationwide: Bashas Supermarkets 200, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2

NHRA: Winternationals qualifying (taped), 11 p.m., ESPN2

Bowling

PBA: U.S. Open, 10 p.m., ESPN2

Boxing

Lightweight: Acosta vs. Rios, 10 p.m., Showtime

Baseball, spring training

Pirates at Rays, 1 p.m., 620-AM

Phillies at Yankees, 1 p.m., MLB

Rockies at Diamondbacks, 11 p.m., MLB

College baseball

UC-Irvine vs. Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m., MLB

Grambling State vs. Southern, 8 p.m., MLB

Elon at USF, 7 p.m., 1010-AM

College basketball

Tulsa at Marshall, 10 a.m., CBSCS

Bowling Green at Miami (Ohio), 11 a.m., ESPNU

Missouri at Kansas State, noon, ESPN

Boston College at Virginia, noon, FSN

Syracuse at Georgetown, noon, Ch. 10

Bridgeport at C.W. Post, noon, CBSCS

Wichita State at Missouri State, 1 p.m., ESPN2

Arkansas at Auburn, 1:30 p.m., Ch. 38

Miami at Florida State, 2 p.m., Ch. 44; 1040-AM

USF at DePaul, 2 p.m., Ch. 28; 1250-AM

BYU at San Diego State, 2 p.m., Ch. 10; 1010-AM

St. John's at Villanova, 2 p.m., ESPN

Memphis at UTEP, 3 p.m., ESPN2

Florida at Kentucky, 4 p.m., Ch. 10; 970-AM

Arizona at UCLA, 4 p.m., FSN

Alabama at Mississippi, 4 p.m., Ch. 38

Wake Forest at Clemson, 4 p.m., Sun Sports

Kansas at Oklahoma, 4 p.m., ESPN

Lehigh at Holy Cross, 4 p.m., CBSCS

Michigan at Minnesota, 4:30 p.m., Big Ten

Alabama-Birmingham at Houston, 6 p.m., CBSCS

Mississippi State at Tennessee, 6 p.m., ESPN

Iowa at Illinois, 7 p.m., Big Ten

South Carolina at Georgia, 7 p.m., Sun Sports

Seton Hall at Notre Dame, 7 p.m., ESPNU

New Mexico at TCU, 8 p.m., CBSCS

UC Santa Barbara at Long Beach State, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Texas A&M at Baylor, 9 p.m., ESPNU

Duke at Virginia Tech, 9 p.m., ESPN

Cal Poly at Cal State Fullerton, 11 p.m., ESPN2

Texas at Colorado (taped), 11:30 p.m., BHSN

College basketball, women

USF at Villanova, noon, BHSN; 1010-AM

Charlotte at St. Bonaventure, 2 p.m., CBSCS

Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 6 p.m., FSN

UCLA at Arizona State, 10:30 p.m., FSN

College lacrosse

Siena at Johns Hopkins, 1 p.m., ESPNU

Georgetown at Maryland, 3 p.m., ESPNU

Golf

WGC: Match Play Championship, 9 a.m., Golf

LPGA: HSBC Women's Champions (taped), 2 p.m., Golf

WGC: Match Play Championship, 2 p.m., Ch. 8

PGA: Mayakoba Classic, 6:30 p.m., Golf

High school basketball, girls finals

5A: Fort Lauderdale Dillard vs. Winter Haven, 3:30 p.m., BHSN

6A: Lake Mary vs. Orlando Dr. Phillips or Hollywood South Broward, 7 p.m., BHSN

4A: Lakewood vs. Pensacola (taped), 9 p.m., BHSN

Horses

Gulfstream Park racing, 4 p.m., 1010-AM

NBA

Bulls at Bucks, 8:30 p.m., WGN

Celtics at Clippers, 10:30 p.m., NBA

NHL

Penguins at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m., NHL

Rugby

International Rugby Union: England vs. France, Noon, BBC America

Soccer

German: Nurmberg at Schalke 04, 9:25 a.m., ESPND

EPL: Manchester United at Wigan, 10 a.m., FSC

Spanish: Barcelona at Mallorca, 1:55 p.m., ESPND

Italian: Bologna at Juventus, 2:30 p.m., FSC

Mexican: Guadalajara at Jaguares, 5:55 p.m., ESPND

Mexican: Cruz Azul at Queretaro, 6 p.m., Uni

Mexican: San Luis at Pachuca, 8 p.m., TeleF

Mexican: Monterey at Atlas, 10 p.m., TeleF

Tennis

ATP: Dubai Championship final, Djokovic vs. Federer, 10 a.m., Tennis

ATP: Delray Beach International, 2 p.m., Tennis

WTA Championship final, Zvonareva vs. Wozniacki (taped), 4:30 p.m., Tennis

ATP: Delray Beach International, 7 p.m., Tennis

ATP: Mexico Open final (taped), 11 p.m., Tennis

TV: BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; CBSCS: CBS College Sports Network; ESPN Deportes; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel; FSN: Fox Sports Net; Gala: Galavision; Show: Showtime; TeleF: Telefutura; Uni: Univision.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/tvradio/sports-on-tvradio/383382

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Marquette stops UConn in OT

Times wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

HARTFORD, Conn. — Darius Johnson-Odom scored nine of his 17 points in overtime Thursday night to lead Marquette to a 74-67 victory over No. 14 Connecticut, which played without coach Jim Calhoun on the bench.

Jimmy Butler added 16 points for the Golden Eagles (17-11, 8-7 Big East), who tied it at 59 with 5.3 seconds left on a drive by Johnson-Odom.

Kemba Walker led the Huskies (20-7, 8-7) with 27 points, but the guard missed four shots and committed a turnover in overtime.

Calhoun left Wednesday to be with his family in New Hampshire after his sister-in-law died.

This was the 15th game for which associate head coach George Blaney replaced Calhoun on the bench (UConn is 7-8).

The Huskies opened the second half with a 26-7 run to wipe out an 11-point halftime deficit. The Golden Eagles pulled within 51-49 with 6:55 to play. There were two lead changes and three ties from there, including Johnson-Odom's drive that tied it with 5.3 seconds left.

no. 4 pitt 71, west va. 58: Lamar Patterson scored the first five points of the second half, sparking a key run for the host Panthers (25-3, 13-2 Big East). Pitt freshman forward Talib Zanna will miss three to six weeks with a broken right thumb.

last winless team wins: Centenary, the last winless team in Division I, ended its 33-game losing streak with a 73-60 victory over visiting Western Illinois. The Gentlemen (1-28), located in Shreveport, La., were within one loss of tying the Division I record set by Sacramento State from 1997-99. "We have been waiting on this day for a very long time,'' coach Adam Walsh said.

fau 77, troy 60: The host Owls (20-9, 12-3 Sun Belt) achieved their first 20-win season in 18 seasons of Division I play.

georgetown: Starting point guard Chris Wright is expected back for the NCAA Tournament after having surgery for a broken bone in his nonshooting hand.

oklahoma stATE: Guard Ray Penn was suspended indefinitely for failing to follow team policy.

Mississippi State: Guard Jalen Steele will miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury.

Women: Miami beats FSU with 18-0 run

CORAL GABLES — Shenise Johnson had 25 points and No. 12 Miami defeated No. 14 Florida State 84-68, pulling away with an 18-0 run late in the game.

Miami and Duke remained tied for the ACC lead, with FSU falling a game back.

The Hurricanes (25-3, 11-2) close out the season Sunday at Georgia Tech.

Courtney Ward led FSU (22-6, 10-3) with 19 points.

vols win rain-abbreviated game: No. 4 Tennessee was awarded a 66-39 win at Mississippi when storms sent water through air vents in the roof and onto the floor with 5:24 left. "I'm just glad nobody got hurt," Vols coach Pat Summitt said. "Now I hope we can get home."

No. 2 Stanford 73, Oregon St. 37: The host Cardinal (25-2, 16-0) clinched a share of the Pac-10 title and can win it by beating Oregon on Saturday.

No. 9 Duke 71, Virginia 48: Jasmine Thomas had 18 points and the visiting Blue Devils (25-3, 11-2 ACC) held the Cavaliers without a field goal for almost 16 minutes in the first half.

ohio st. 54, no. 10 mich. st. 53: Jantel Lavender scored 24 for the Buckeyes, her free throw with 1:50 left the final scoring. The Spartans (24-4, 12-3 Big Ten) had a 20-game home winning streak end, but they clinched the outright conference title when Penn State lost to Purdue.

No. 11 UCLA 74, Arizona 70: The Bruins (23-3, 13-2 Pac-10) tied a school record with their 11th road victory of the season.

GA. Tech 64, No. 13 UNC 57: Alex Montgomery scored 15 of her 22 in the first half for the visiting Yellow Jackets. The Tar Heels (22-6, 8-5 ACC) had 22 turnovers.

No. 17 Wisc.-Green Bay 75, Valpo 48: The host Phoenix (26-1, 15-0) wrapped up the outright Horizon League championship. Green Bay has won outright or shared the regular-season crown for 13 consecutive years, the longest streak in the nation.

No. 15 Maryland 61, Va. Tech 48: Alyssa Thomas scored 15 and the host Terps (22-6, 8-5 ACC) needed a late 21-7 run to beat the conference's last-place team.

No. 20 Kentucky 55, Ark. 54: A'dia Mathies made the winning layup with 4.4 seconds left, the first time the host Wildcats (21-7, 10-5 SEC) led in more than 12 minutes.

Auburn 63, No. 22 Georgia 58: Alli Smalley scored 22 and the visiting Tigers beat the Bulldogs (20-8, 10-5 SEC).

UF postponed: The Gators' game at Vanderbilt scheduled for Thursday was postponed until 6 tonight because of storms.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/marquette-stops-uconn-in-ot/1153778

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Annual fundraiser for programs aiding Tampa Bay Downs backside workers is March 7

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, February 25, 2011

OLDSMAR — They awaken before the rooster crows to care for the horses they love. They work on the Tampa Bay Downs backside, where grooming, bathing and feeding are prerequisites before any race is run.

"The backside workers help put the show on every day," trainer Anthony Granitz said. "They're very important."

More than 400 individuals work on the backside. Granitz, 47, who has 846 career victories and more than $15.5 million in purse earnings, employs five at his 15-horse stable: assistant Juan Gongora, exercise rider Francisco Veloz and the Uribe brothers, Adrian, Jorge and Pedro, all grooms. Granitz, a husband and father to three daughters, said his workers, all from Mexico, are like a second family.

"Juan has been with me for 20 years," Granitz said. "He has three children and a wife. I've seen all his kids grow up, and we've been a family for a long time. Juan's dad also used to work for me. And it's exciting to have the three brothers because they communicate well and get along great."

When the workers' daily responsibilities are complete, the Downs division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America offers support. A nonprofit organization, the group helps backside workers with programs including church services, counseling, English and computer classes, softball, soccer and fishing trips. Sharyn Wasiluk is president of the Downs chapter.

Substantial revenue for the projects is generated through the group's annual fundraiser, Hearts Reaching Out, this year on March 7. The benefit is composed of a golf tournament, a dinner and an auction. The four-person scramble golf event is at 11 a.m. at, for the first time, Cheval Golf and Country Club in Lutz. The dinner and auction are at 5:30 p.m. at the Downs tent pavilion near the paddock. The auction features racing and sports memorabilia. For information, call (813) 494-1870 or (813) 298-1576.

Granitz, president of the chaplaincy group's Illinois division, will be the auctioneer.

"The fundraiser is a big highlight for the chaplaincy," he said. "The money raised is for use all year and benefits the workers."

MORE HORSES: Grade II winner Striking Dancer is the 2-1 early-line favorite for today's $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes (Race 8, 3:54 p.m.) at the Downs. … Trainer and co-owner Cathy Cole-Rivera recorded her first career win Thursday when D'coffee Cat broke his maiden under jockey Jorge Guerra.

GREYHOUNDS: Unbeaten Odd Inspector is the points leader with 32 as the $64,000 Sprint Classic enters third-round qualifying tonight at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Aerial Battle, a 2010 All-America second-team choice Monday, is second with 26. Both are in Race 6 (8:55 p.m.). The other qualifier is Race 10 (10:11). All-America team captain Flying Coal City has been eliminated.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/parimutuels/annual-fundraiser-for-programs-aiding-tampa-bay-downs-backside-workers-is/1154052

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