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Dawkins replaces Pac-10 Coach of the Year Trent Johnson, who left for LSU earlier this month. Dawkins will be formally introduced in a news conference on campus Monday, the school said.

"We are thrilled to welcome Johnny and his family to Stanford," athletic director Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. "His credentials as a player, combined with his coaching experience gained mentoring under a Hall of Fame coach at a university such as Duke, made him a perfect fit for Stanford. The philosophies of the two programs both on the court and in the classroom are very similar. I am confident Johnny's leadership skills, coaching ability and commitment to attract top-flight student-athletes will be a driving force in continuing Stanford's tradition of basketball excellence."

Dawkins has no prior head coaching experience. He most recently was the Blue Devils' top assistant under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, responsible for player development and other duties.

The 44-year-old Dawkins was an All-American at Duke and has been on the coaching staff there since the 1997-98 season - the last nine as associate head coach.

"I'm heading to Hawaii," Flemings told the Honolulu paper. "I really feel like I can change the program around and help get the team to the (NCAA) Tournament."

Flemings, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound All-American for Weatherford (Texas) College, said he turned down a scheduled visit to Kentucky this weekend, and signed his official letter of intent with Hawaii Friday. Flemings visited Hawaii last weekend.

"It was so difficult," he said of the decision. "But I feel like Hawaii is the place for me."

UK Coach Billy Gillispie visited with Flemings Wednesday night and Weatherford Coach Mark Osina said Flemings seemed "pretty excited" after the meeting with Gillispie.

Sanchez pitched into the ninth and matched his career high with 10 strikeouts, outdueling Reds ace Aaron Harang and keeping Ken Griffey Jr. at 597 career home runs in the San Francisco Giants' 3-1 victory Friday night.

Sanchez (2-1) retired 16 straight during one stretch and won his second straight start after going winless in his first three outings of 2008. That spoiled Baker's first game back since he was skipper of the Cubs two years ago.

"He was locating that fastball low and away then he was throwing in that T-zone up top where it really looked like a strike but wasn't a strike when you swung at it," Baker said. "Can't take anything away from him. He threw an outstanding game and so did Aaron."

It was the second 10-strikeout game for the left-hander, who also did so April 9 at San Diego. Sanchez gave up a pinch-hit home run in the ninth to Brandon Phillips and received a visit by pitching coach Dave Righetti before allowing a single to Ryan Freel. Cincinnati's fourth hit of the night chased Sanchez, and Brian Wilson finished for his eighth save in nine chances.

Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie acknowledged during his season-ending news conference on April 17 that Jasper was thinking about leaving UK, but Jasper's comments in Friday's edition of The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, Calif., were the player's first public comments on the matter.

"I want to get closer to my family," he told The Tribune on Thursday in a phone interview from Lexington. "I'm kind of homesick, playing here in Kentucky, and I have been thinking about transferring to a West Coast school so that my family can attend more of my games."

Jasper, a graduate of Paso Robles High School, averaged 4.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in his second season with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-6 sophomore played in only 20 of Kentucky's 31 games in 2007-08 after recovering from microfracture knee surgery last summer. Jasper said he has been receiving letters from fans urging him to remain in Lexington.

"I like Kentucky, and I think we're definitely heading in the right direction," Jasper told Brian Milne of the San Luis Obispo paper. "It's just that I want to be closer to home. Sitting out a year would also be good for my knee."

So Thursday night, the 6-foot-2 Lexington Christian swing player called UK Coach Matthew Mitchell and gave him her commitment.

"I just knew it was right for me," Barnette said Friday. "I've been a UK fan my whole life. That's another thing that just made it seem right."

Her father, Ross Barnette, said Mitchell made it feel right for the family as well.

"Coach Mitchell solidified the deal for us," he said. "He's shown a lot of class in all of our dealings with him and we felt really comfortable with him and UK."

Trainer Shug McGaughey was remembering that race, the Frizette Stakes in New York, when Dancing Forever's mother fractured a hind leg, much as Barbaro had in the Preakness two years ago.

Unlike Barbaro, Dancinginmydreams survived. She spent 13 months at New Bolton veterinary hospital, the same surgery center near Philadelphia where Barbaro lived until his death caused by laminitis eight months following his accident.

And as McGaughey recalled Friday at Keeneland, Barbaro's trainer, Michael Matz, used to drive to New Bolton to check on Dancinginmydreams because his farm is close by the center.

The mare's hind pastern had been so badly fractured, McGaughey said, that the surgeon told him it looked as if a shotgun shell had been shot into the bone.

Team owners Lennie House of the Horsemen and Will Wolford of the Fire made a bet. The winning owner will shave the loser's head when the game ends at Freedom Hall.

"It's time to put it all on the line for this rivalry, and, Will, I mean every hair on your head," House told Wolford.

"Mr. House better be ready because I'm coming with the clippers, and my wife sure doesn't want me to lose any more hair," Wolford responded.

The Fire, in their eighth year, have professed that other opponents in their af2 division already are their rivals. But the first-year Horsemen, ranked eighth in this week's coaches' poll, are ready to challenge the established team on Interstate 64.

Andre Miller was spot on with his mid-range jumper and scored 21 points, and the rest of the Sixers ran all over the court in a dominating 95-75 victory Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.

Samuel Dalembert had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and the Sixers led by as many as 24 points in their first home playoff game since 2005.

The Sixers proved their Game 1 victory was no fluke, doing everything Detroit normally did on the way to five straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals: Hit clutch shots, never lost composure and kept the pressure on all game to never let the Pistons go on a serious runs.

Miller had the best all-around game, but he had plenty of help as four others scored double figures, including Dalembert's double-double.

Team owners Lennie House of the Horsemen and Will Wolford of the Fire made a bet. The winning owner will shave the loser's head when the game ends at Freedom Hall.

"It's time to put it all on the line for this rivalry, and, Will, I mean every hair on your head," House told Wolford.

"Mr. House better be ready because I'm coming with the clippers, and my wife sure doesn't want me to lose any more hair," Wolford responded.

The Fire, in their eighth year, have professed that other opponents in their af2 division already are their rivals. But the first-year Horsemen, ranked eighth in this week's coaches' poll, are ready to challenge the established team on Interstate 64.

Vincent's dismissal was only minutes old when speculation turned to whether Jordan, the Bobcats' part-owner with the final say on all basketball decisions, would take a 180-degree turn with his next hire.

Is the old reliable - and temperamental - Larry Brown poised to return to North Carolina, be reunited with his fellow former Tar Heel Jordan, and coach his ninth NBA team?

Neither side was talking. Jordan was unavailable for questions and the team called off a conference call Saturday night.

Brown didn't return phone calls, and his agent refused to discuss the Bobcats opening. But Joe Glass said his 67-year-old client is eager to coach again, after resigning as executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

At one point, five of seven selections had been bartered. A little while later, it was another five of six.

Jake Long just sat back and smiled - right from the outset.

The Michigan tackle already had signed with the Miami Dolphins as the top overall choice. He inked a five-year contract worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed.

"I was a little more relaxed just knowing where I was going and just being here to make it official," Long said. "That solidified it all. It was just breathtaking to walk out there and shake the commissioner's hand and hold up that jersey. It was a dream come true."

Guevara, the best player in Major League Soccer in 2004, had two goals to help Toronto FC defeat the Kansas City Wizards, 2-0, to set a franchise record with its third straight win.

The Honduran international announced his return to MLS - he played four games last year with Chivas USA before leaving the league - by netting his first two goals since the 1996 season with New York.

"Guevara was a good signing for them, and that was proven true today," Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad said.

Toronto FC goalie Greg Sutton had three saves for his second straight shutout. TFC had just five shutouts during its six-win, debut season last year.

Then they swapped their 17th pick of the first round to Detroit to inch up two spots and take Virginia offensive lineman Branden Albert, a 316-pounder who can play both tackle and guard.

In the second round, they took aim at a third glaring weakness on a team that finished with a nine-game losing streak and made Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Flowers the 35th player taken overall.

Besides two slots in the first round, the Detroit trade appeared to cost little. The Chiefs swapped third-round picks with the Lions, going from the overall 66th pick to the 76th, and gave Detroit the extra fifth-round choice they received from Miami as compensation for Trent Green.

"The key to me is we got both players," said Bill Kuharich, the vice president for player personnel. "I never thought in my wildest dreams we'd get the opportunity to get both of those."

San Diego went extra innings for the third time in five home games, including a 22-inning loss to Colorado on April 17 that lasted 6 hours, 16 minutes. This one went 4:02.

Iguchi's homer came on a full-count pitch from Petit (0-1). It was his first home run for the Padres and his first since Aug. 27 when he played for Philadelphia.

The home run was also San Diego's first hit since the sixth inning as it won for just second time in 11 games.

Glendon Rusch (1-2) allowed two hits in four innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

The Falcons chose the Boston College star with the third overall pick in Saturday's NFL draft. Ryan could compete for the starting job as a rookie. He'll also give the franchise a much-needed new identity.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff, the former director of college scouting in New England, compared Ryan's leadership qualities with those of Patriots star Tom Brady.

"I think with Matt, it's a combination of the intelligence he has, the leadership ability he has and I can't stress enough he has the ability to take not only the offense but the entire team," Dimitroff said.

"That's huge. I've been around a situation with New England where we had a quarterback that had the whole team. That was one aspect I think was very attractive as well as his skill set on the field."

While Target Chip Ganassi teammates Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon swept the front row in qualifying on the 1.5-mile oval, Patrick was again the focal point of attention as she backed up her big day last Sunday in Japan with a solid run.

"We arrived here with a good car and we had a good run here today," said Patrick, who had her game face back on after a week of celebrating her first win in 50 IndyCar Series starts. "The car is really well-balanced.

"Hopefully, we can get out in front of the red and white (Target) cars," she added.

Dixon, who won from the pole in the season-opener last month at Homestead-Miami Speedway and finished third in Japan, took the top spot early in the Kansas qualifying with a four-lap average of 213.956 mph.

"I came here to get in contention and win a golf tournament," said Scott, who stayed home only a week after the Masters. "I feel like I've been playing well this year and haven't quite done it. So I'm kind of pushing myself a little bit to do that."

He only needs one more good round to win the EDS Byron Nelson Championship.

Scott took a three-stroke lead into the final round after a 3-under 67 Saturday got him to 8-under 202. He birdied two of the last three holes, including a 3 1/2-footer at the 429-yard 18th.

"It all depends on Adam," said Bart Bryant, among the quartet of players three strokes behind. "Obviously, he's a world-class player. He has the potential to go out and kind of run away with it."

The Rams' defensive ends totaled 5 1/2 sacks last year and top pass rusher Leonard Little is coming off toe surgery that limited him to one sack in seven games. That made the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Long, an All-American and son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, the logical selection over LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey on Saturday.

"I don't want to use the overused term, no-brainer," coach Scott Linehan said. "But I guess I'm going to have to. It's just going to be a great fit for us and a great fit for the city.

"I'm a little geeked up right now."

In the second round the Rams addressed another need, taking Houston wide receiver Donnie Avery with the 33rd overall pick. Avery was the first wide receiver taken in the draft after being among the fastest at his position at the NFL Combine and St. Louis has need after the departure of Isaac Bruce, a second-rounder in 1994 and also the last player St. Louis took with the 33rd overall pick.

Even though the Raiders are pretty well-stocked in the backfield, a player with the dynamic talents of Darren McFadden proved too tempting to pass up. Oakland selected the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up with the fourth pick in the draft Saturday, giving last year's No. 1 overall pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, a potential gamebreaker on offense.

"I knew months ago that this was the guy that we had to have and we had to figure out a way to get him," Kiffin said. "Hopefully, he was going to fall to us. ... Fortunately, he was still available and in the end we got everybody on the same page. We're all really excited."

Considered by many scouts as the most talented player in the draft, McFadden has been compared by Kiffin to 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, who starred at Southern California when Kiffin was the Trojans' offensive coordinator.

McFadden ran for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns in three seasons for Arkansas, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also showed off his passing skills with seven touchdown passes and caught 46 passes for a team that did not use its running backs as receivers very often.

Franchitti, who came to NASCAR this season as the reigning IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, also was treated for contusions and was unlikely to race Sunday in the Sprint Cup event.

Chip Ganassi Racing didn't immediately announce a replacement driver, but David Stremme said following the race that the team had approached him about filling in. Stremme drove that car for two seasons before he was replaced by Franchitti this season.

Franchitti wrecked when his car apparently lost its right rear tire on the 10th lap of the Nationwide Series race.

His Dodge bounced into the wall and spun down the track, finally drifting down to the apron. It was there that the real damage was done - a car driven by Larry Gunselman slammed into his driver side door.

The game was a makeup from Friday night's rainout.

Burres (3-1) had faced one batter in the bottom of the first Friday before rains halted play and the game was eventually called.

But the lefty was plenty sharp coming back Saturday, giving up singles to Jim Thome in the first, Carlos Quentin in the second and Toby Hall in the sixth.

Winning a pitcher's duel against Chicago southpaw John Danks, Burres retired 20 of the final 21 batters he faced. He walked none and struck out four in his 98-pitch performance. The eight innings marked the longest outing of his career.

Sorenstam, seeking her 71st LPGA Tour victory, has won five straight events when she's taken a one-shot lead into the final round.

She chipped in for birdie on the second hole, then made 12 consecutive pars before a bogey at the par-3 15th. Her putter finally cooperated at 17, however, knocking down a birdie at the short par-3. And on the par-5 18th, after missing the island green to the left, Sorenstam squeezed a testy par putt in to hang on to the outright lead, pumping her fist as the final ball fell.

Still, if momentum carries over from one day to the next, though, Creamer would have a big edge.

Creamer - who hasn't finished higher than a tie for 21st in her previous three events - had a flawless, four-birdie, no-bogey round of 67, capped by a birdie at the finishing hole.

Franzen - a 6-foot-3, 220-pound center known as "Mule" - redirected a shot in front of the net early in the game, scored on a wraparound in the second period and whacked a rebound out of the air in the third for his first career hat trick.

He had two goals in Detroit's series-opening win.

Colorado's Ian Laperriere scored early in the third period, avoiding a shutout.

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Colorado.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders said McDyess' availability for Sunday's Game 4 would depend on how he felt after surgery. McDyess was injured Friday in the third quarter of Detroit's 95-75 loss to the 76ers.

Game 4 is Monday night, and the Nuggets are going to have to get more out of their All-Star duo of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson if they hope to take the series back to the Staples Center.

Anthony and Iverson were miserable from the floor, shooting a combined 10-for-38 and finishing with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Bryant was quiet, too, at least in the first half, when he scored eight points on 3-for-8 shooting.

He scored nine quick points in the third quarter, however, to put the Lakers ahead 64-51 and quiet the Pepsi Center crowd that loves to hate him.

A few minutes later, the notoriously critical Jets fans welcomed the Ohio State defensive end to their team with satisfied cheers.

"It was crazy," Gholston said with a smile Saturday night at the Jets' headquarters, a few hours after being selected with the No. 6 overall pick. "When they got to the sixth pick and I was still on the board, they started chanting my name and everything. I guess they anticipated it."

And, the Jets hope Gholston will further improve their pass rush in a big way. The speedy and powerful defensive end is expected to play outside linebacker in New York's 3-4 defense, which registered just 29 sacks last season.

The 6-foot-4, 264-pound Gholston set an Ohio State record with 14 sacks last season despite facing double teams regularly. In the 3-4, he'll be asked to stand up as a linebacker more after playing mostly from a three-point stance in college.

Tigers rookie Armando Galarraga didn't get a decision after pitching 5 2-3 hitless innings to start the game. He wound up allowing three runs - one earned - on three hits and two walks in six-plus innings.

Todd Jones, the fourth Detroit pitcher, got his fourth save with a scoreless ninth.

Because of injuries, the Tigers still haven't gotten their best lineup on the field - Carlos Guillen missed this one with a bruised knee - but they still managed to snap the Angels' three-game winning streak.

Detroit went ahead in the first on Ordonez's RBI double, then increased the lead to 3-0 on Polanco's two-run single in the fifth.

"To say I'm totally convinced (it will work out), no, I don't know that," the Cowboys owner said Saturday. "I don't know that at all. But I do know enough to do what we're doing. And I feel positive enough that it's worth that."

Jerry Jones said the trade to acquire Pacman from the Tennessee Titans is done "for all practical purposes." Although they agreed in principle Wednesday, things have dragged on because the parameters and contract talks that have included both teams, Pacman, the league office and the players association.

"That's quite a convoluted situation," Jerry Jones said.

The crux of the deal is Dallas giving up a fourth-round pick this year and a sixth next year, plus Jones getting a four-year contract. The Cowboys would get back a fourth-rounder in 2009 if Jones isn't reinstated, or a fifth-rounder if he returns then gets busted again.

PLAYERS NEEDED

Morse Academy Danville Travel Teams--Two more each for 22u, 19u, 15u, 14u; One more for 9u. Paul Morse (859) 236-6009.

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