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| Tops are champs Mon, 26 May 2008 09:55:52 -0500 Having never won a tournament or championship baseball game at any level of his playing career, Western Kentucky senior Colby Beach wanted the ball Sunday with a chance to change that. Not only did he earn his first championship victory, but his performance helped the Hilltoppers earn hardware of their own. Fifth-seeded WKU’s offense exploded for 17 runs on 21 hits and the pitching held high-octane New Orleans to five runs as the Hilltoppers captured their second Sun Belt Conference Tournament title with a 17-5 win over the No. 2 Privateers in Lafayette, La. With the win, WKU advances to its third NCAA Regional appearance, beginning this weekend. The Hilltoppers’ tournament site and opponent were announced after press time this morning. “Words just can’t explain (how I feel),” Beach said. “To go from where I can’t even win a game in my whole life in a championship game or a tournament of any kind to winning the whole thing my senior year is just the biggest thing ever. “I’ve been struggling all year and I’m glad I could give my team a chance to win.” Beach did just that, holding the New Orleans offense in check early. Meanwhile, his Hilltopper teammates pummeled Privateer pitching to stake a 7-0 lead after the top of the third. The lead grew to 8-1 before being cut to 8-4 in the bottom of the sixth, but the offense exploded again for nine more runs over the final three innings to seal the deal. WKU coach Chris Finwood joked afterward that had he known about Beach’s bad luck in title games beforehand, he might have been a bit more nervous about handing him the ball. “I’m glad he didn’t tell me that, or I wouldn’t have started him,” laughed Finwood, whose team’s 17-5 win was the most lopsided in Sun Belt championship game history. “Colby did a great job - he went out there and threw strikes, mixed his pitches and gave us exactly what we needed today. “He wanted to pitch and he was our freshest guy, and he just gave us a great start.” As for the offensive firepower, tournament MVP Jake Wells said once things started rolling, it was tough to slow them down. “It was like a snowball effect,” said Wells, who finished the tournament hitting a blistering .571 (12-for-21). “Once you get going out there it was kind of hard to stop everything and it was definitely a model of that today.” Wells credited the Hilltopper pitching staff for the majority of the success, however, as WKU outscored its opponents 46-19 over five tournament games. “The pitching has been great all tournament,” Wells said. “They know we’re going to score runs for them and we know they’re going to throw strikes and have good outings - and this tournament, I mean they were exceptional. This is one of the best pitching performances I’ve seen from a team in a championship.” Finwood agreed, saying the pitching from top to bottom was outstanding all week long. He gave credit to ace starter Matt Ridings - who blanked Florida Atlantic in the opener and earned a save against the owls in the Hilltoppers’ semifinal win Saturday night - as well as freshman reliever Rye Davis - who threw an 88-pitch gem Friday against Louisiana-Monroe before earning a save in the title game. “I told somebody before, sometimes these conference tournaments help guys’ stars rise a bit,” Finwood said. “And Rye Davis and Bryce Jenney, both true freshmen, pitched extremely well for us. “And then you have Matt Ridings, and all he did was throw 10 shutout innings this tournament - not bad.” Wade Gaynor led the way at the plate for WKU, going 4-for-6 with three runs scored. Eight other Hilltoppers had multi-hit games, including Wells and J.B. Paxson, who each finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. In the end, Finwood said that with such a youthful group - the Hilltoppers field only four seniors - the future at WKU is extremely bright. “I’m proud of our guys, and maybe the thing I’m most proud of is that we’re still very young,” said Finwood, who will lose position players Scott Kaskie, Terrence Dayleg and Adam Rusnock, as well as Beach. “We’ve basically got them all coming back next year and that tells me that we’re building the right kind of baseball program and that’s what they hired me to do. “I couldn’t be prouder to be a Hilltopper than I am right now, and not just because we won, but because of how we’re playing and how we’re competing in one of the best baseball leagues in the country.” WKU 124 100 126 — 17 21 1 UNO 001 012 010 — 5 11 1 WP: Beach (3-3); LP: M. Brown (2-4); S: Davis (4). |
| College basketball recruiting facing growing scrutiny Mon, 26 May 2008 00:36:00 EST The epicenter of concern is at the offices of the NCAA in Indianapolis, where President Myles Brand worries about the academic and ethical implications of college coaches pursuing prospects as young as 14 and 15 years old. |
| Dixon finally seals the deal Mon, 26 May 2008 01:48:00 EST Scott Dixon now has a routine for future Indianapolis 500s. Pancakes for breakfast, milk as an afternoon snack. The Australian-born New Zealander capped his shining moment at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by kissing his new wife, Emma, and showering himself with the ceremonial bottle of milk that has gone to each 500 winner since 1936. |
| 'Very minor' hoof crack slows Big Brown's work Mon, 26 May 2008 01:31:00 EST Big Brown, attempting to become the first horse to sweep the Triple Crown in 30 years, has developed a quarter crack on the inside of his front left hoof, his trainer, Rick Dutrow, said. But Dutrow said that he is confident the unbeaten Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will be "100 percent" for the June 7 Belmont Stakes in New York. |
| Fitness focus pays on and off court for AVP's Loomis Mon, 26 May 2008 01:52:00 EST Anytime you can get on a list with Tiger Woods and Barack Obama, that's a plus. Ty Loomis found himself in select company when the professional beach volleyball player joined Woods and Obama as one of the 25 fittest Americans chosen by Men's Fitness magazine. |
| Churchill better watch path it takes Mon, 26 May 2008 01:38:00 EST A Triple Crown bid means potential boom times for horse racing, at least in terms of marketing and exposure. But at the world's most famous race track, the only boom heard these days is the rumbling of a potential corporate implosion. |
| Stewart's flat tire gives race to Kahne Mon, 26 May 2008 01:51:00 EST Tony Stewart suffered his second heartbreaking defeat of the season last night when a flat tire late in the Coca-Cola 600 handed Kasey Kahne the victory in NASCAR's longest race of the year. |
| Regional softball, baseball start today Mon, 26 May 2008 01:27:00 EST The Seventh Region softball tournament will get going with a bang this afternoon at the University of Louisville's Ulmer Stadium. |
| Blevins understands impact Mon, 26 May 2008 00:17:00 EST J.P. Blevins, who committed to the University of Kentucky as a high school junior from Metcalfe County in the 1990s, knows firsthand the impact of choosing a school early. |
| Green's homers lead Bats' hitting barrage Mon, 26 May 2008 01:23:00 EST Andy Green homered twice to lead six Louisville players with at least two hits, and the Bats defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 10-4 last night to avoid a four-game series sweep. |
| UK dedication began early Mon, 26 May 2008 00:23:00 EST Vinny Zollo's early commitment to Kentucky was no surprise to those who know him. "He said he was going to UK when we first took him to camp there in the fourth grade," Zollo's mother, Robyn Curry, said. "It's always been his dream." |
| Indian Ashton claims win in Churchill feature Mon, 26 May 2008 01:21:00 EST Favored Indian Ashton led from the start and held on for a one-length victory in the $50,400 turf sprint feature yesterday at Churchill Downs. |
| Churchill Downs Graded Entries Mon, 26 May 2008 01:22:00 EST |
| PREP BASEBALL: Elizabethtown upends Central Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:08 -0500 ELIZABETHTOWN What a difference two weeks can make. |
| PREP BASEBALL: John Hardin sweeps North Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500 RADCLIFF It’s been said that hitting is contagious and the John Hardin Bulldogs certainly had a bad case of it spread through the team Thursday night. |
| PREP SOFTBALL: Krupinski, Central Hardin shut out John Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500 CECILIA Having been shut out in their previous two games, the Central Hardin Lady Bruins were in a little bit of a funk. |
| PREP SOFTBALL/BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Lady Panthers fall; Mayfield moves to 7-1 Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500 The slumping Elizabethtown Lady Panthers lost for the 10th time in 13 games, falling to visiting Warren Central on Thursday, 3-1. |
| BOYS'/GIRLS' PREP TENNIS RESULTS: Thursday's Matches Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500 Results from Thursday's area high school tennis matches: |
| NCAA Division I Baseball Regionals Mon, 26 May 2008 16:09 EDT (Double elimination; all times EDT) At USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary, N.C. Friday, May 30 Game 1 -- North Carolina (46-12) vs. Mount St. Mary's, Md. (21-32) Game 2 -- North Carolina Wilmington (42-15-1) vs. Elon (43-16) |
| Big Brown develops 'minor' hoof crack Mon, 26 May 2008 02:03 EDT Big Brown's seemingly anxiety-free path to a potential Triple Crown was spoiled Sunday when his trainer, Rick Dutrow, revealed that the colt had sustained a quarter crack on the inside of his left front hoof. Big Brown, the undefeated Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner who has a history of sore feet, has not been to the racetrack to gallop since Friday when Dutrow sensed something was amiss. He saw a small spot on Big Brown's foot Friday afternoon and summoned hoof specialist Ian McKinlay to Belmont Park later that night. By Saturday, the spot had turned into a slight quarter crack about five-eighths of an inch long. Dutrow insists this is a minor setback and Big Brown will be in excellent shape for the Belmont Stakes on June 7 and an opportunity to become the 12th Triple Crown champion, and the first since Affirmed in 1978. He is expected to meet as many as eight challengers in what is known as the test of the champion, a grueling mile-and-a-half marathon. "If the race was today, yesterday or tomorrow, this would not be an issue and he'd run," Dutrow said Sunday morning at Belmont Park. "We're all concerned with a big race coming up, but it's better that it happened now." He added: "It's not going to be an issue. It's bad that it happened, but we're going to be able to fix him up. The amount of training he is missing is nothing. He is going to be ready to roll." |
| 'Smoke' fades, Kahne in clear Mon, 26 May 2008 07:52 EDT For the second time this season, Tony Stewart had victory in sight at one of NASCAR's crown jewel events. He again came up empty. But unlike the heartbreak at the Daytona 500, when a last-lap pass left him devastated, Stewart stormed into his trailer kicking at the cabinets after a fluke flat tire with three laps to go stole his Coca-Cola 600 win. Kasey Kahne, meanwhile, celebrated in Victory Lane for the second straight week. "Tony Stewart had the win right there, and had a little problem, so we definitely had some help," Kahne said after Sunday night's win at Lowe's Motor Speedway. |
| Lexington needs all nine Eviston TDs Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04 EDT A 35-point lead had been reduced to six, and the Lexington Horsemen were desperate for a spark against visiting Quad City in arenafootball2 Sunday. So the following Horsemen did this: William Mulder returned a kickoff 56 yards to the Quad City 2. Chad Spencer caught a touchdown pass and extra point toss from Eddie Eviston. After the kickoff, Earven Flowers intercepted a long pass. Five plays later, Spencer caught his sixth touchdown pass, a franchise record, and the Horsemen outlasted the Steamwheelers 69-55 before 1,802 fans in Rupp Arena. In the process, Eviston threw for a franchise-record nine TDs. Dusty Bonner held the previous record with eight. |
| UK not among host sites Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04 EDT When the 16 NCAA Division I hosts for regional baseball tournaments were announced Sunday, Kentucky's name was not called. The Wildcats expect to be called Monday, though, when the full 64-team field is announced. The Cats (42-17) won't be watching the televised 12:30 p.m. announcement. "We're going to be practicing during that time," Coach John Cohen said Sunday night. "We're kind of sending a message that we don't care what region we're in. The preparation part, it's all about us." The Cats were hoping to be selected as a regional host for the second time in three years, although they went 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. |
| Lexington fails to hit the board Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04 EDT After getting shut out the night before, the Lake County Captains returned the favor and blanked the Lexington Legends 4-0 on Sunday. Roman Pena had three RBI for the Captains, who ended a three-game losing streak. The Captains pitching staff has seven shutouts. The Captains struck early against Legends starter Sergio Severino (3-3), getting first-inning RBI from Pena and Dustin Realini. They extended the lead to 4-0 in the second inning on a two-RBI double by Pena. Kelvin De La Cruz (4-2) got the win by scattering two hits, walking three, and striking out seven in six innings. Kyle Landis and Jonathan Holt finished the shutout. Monday Captains at Legends |
| Tigers run win streak to 20 Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04 EDT The LSU Tigers once seemed a long shot to even make the Southeastern Conference Tournament, and were snubbed when the post-season honors came out. They're hard to ignore now. Tournament MVP Blake Dean hit a two-run homer, and the Tigers scored the final seven runs to beat Mississippi 8-2 on Sunday, win a school-record 20th game in a row and claim their first SEC Tournament title since 2000. "In the middle of the season, we were fighting just to get into this tournament," said Ryan Schimpf, who had a two-run double. "To come out on top was just a tremendous accomplishment." LSU (43-16-1), which took the lead with a five-run fifth, matched Vanderbilt (2007) and South Carolina (2000) for the second-longest winning streak in SEC history. |
| Starters finish for Reds; 2-out error in 18th lethal Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04 EDT Five hours and 57 minutes after the first pitch, Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 18th inning to give the San Diego Padres a 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The Reds went ahead three times in the late innings. The Padres tied it each time, twice on home runs. The game tied for the third-longest by innings in Reds history. It was the fourth time the Padres played at least 13 innings this season. They played a 22-inning game at home against Colorado on April 17-18, losing 2-1. "It was a great clubhouse scene after the game," Manager Bud Black said. "As much as we'll remember, long-term, the 22-inning game, the guys will remember this one, too. This was a great win." Scott Hairston started the winning rally with a one-out walk off Edinson Volquez (7-2), the second starting pitcher the Reds put on the mound in extra innings. Brian Giles reached on first baseman Joey Votto's two-out throwing error, moving Hairston to third. Gonzalez then hit a full-count changeup over the fence in straightaway center field for his 14th homer. |
| LIVE: Indianapolis 500, 1 p.m. ABC Sun, 25 May 2008 09:06 EDT |
| Does Big Brown belong? Sun, 25 May 2008 06:57 EDT Big Brown has his hooves wrapped all around that Triple Crown, as many believe with the Belmont Stakes coming up June 7. And with the race approaching, here's some advice: forget the debate raging over his quality or the depth of competition he's faced. Ignore the smack and the trash-talkin' because none of this will matter if he wins the Triple Crown. People won't care if he's simply the best in a mediocre year -- or the best to come along in some time. The achievement will stand so far out there on its own that 10 or 20 years from now, no one will care or even remember if Big Brown beat horses or goats. What they will remember is that Big Brown was only the 12th Thoroughbred to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes since the time in the mid- and latter-nineteenth century when these three races began. |
| Ray or Rip: UConn alums take rivalry to conference finals Mon, 26 May 2008 16:45 EDT Richard Hamilton's postseason is going like his past five in a lot of ways, scoring 20 points on most nights and helping the Detroit Pistons reach the Eastern Conference finals. In one major way, it's unlike any other. Deuce has done it. Hamilton became a father last Halloween and Richard Hamilton II, or Deuce as he's known, has treated the All-Star shooting guard to a new way of life. "It's the best. It puts everything in perspective," Hamilton said Sunday. "Stuff that you used to think was important, isn't important when you have a little man. It slows you down a whole lot. You grow up real fast. You put on your seat belt every time you get in the car. You're always home. You don't hang out as much. |
| Ex-MLB pitcher Gonzalez killed by lightning Mon, 26 May 2008 16:45 EDT Former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez, who won 11 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, was killed by a lightning strike in his native Venezuela on Sunday. He was 33. Emergency management official Herman Bracho said Monday that Gonzalez was struck by lightning at a beach. Gonzalez pitched for five major league teams from 1997-2006. The right-hander appeared in 131 games with 83 starts, compiling a 30-35 record. Gonzalez also played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He made a combined 24 appearances for the Mets and Brewers in his final major league season in 2006. The Toronto Blue Jays released him during spring training last year. Gonzalez then moved to Japan and pitched in five games for the Yomiuri Giants. |
| Red Wings' Franzen to play Game 2 Mon, 26 May 2008 16:50 EDT Red Wings forward Johan Franzen has been cleared by doctors and put in the lineup for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals Monday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Franzen hasn't played since Game 1 of the Western Conference finals because of recurring headaches. He is tied with teammate Henrik Zetterberg for the NHL playoff lead with 12 goals. Franzen was allowed to return to practice Friday and was on the ice Monday for the Red Wings' morning skate. On Sunday, he said he had been symptom-free for seven to 10 days and was awaiting permission from doctors to play. |
| Big Brown on road to recovery from cracked hoof Mon, 26 May 2008 18:10 EDT The trainer calls it a "hiccup" and the owner is sure everything will be fine. So far, there doesn't seem to be a crack in the confidence of camp Big Brown. Twelve days before the Belmont Stakes, hoof specialist Ian McKinlay began repairing a quarter crack to the left front hoof of the Triple Crown hopeful. He carved a little trench along the slight crack and stitched it up with stainless steel wire Monday. It was another step in a several-days process that would allow Big Brown to resume training as early as Wednesday for his attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion in 30 years. "Just a little hiccup on the way over there that's all it is," trainer Rick Dutrow said a few minutes after McKinlay briefed him on the colt's condition. "The time that he has missed means nothing to me or him." Michael Iavarone, co-president of Big Brown's majority owner IEAH Stables, stopped by barn 2 at Belmont Park for an update. |
| Olson, Markakis help Orioles end Yankees' win streak Mon, 26 May 2008 18:00 EDT Garrett Olson pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 with a home run, and the Baltimore Orioles ended the New York Yankees' five-game winning streak with a 6-1 victory Monday. Aubrey Huff also homered for the Orioles, who snapped a five-game skid that began with successive defeats in New York. Hideki Matsui had three of New York's five hits and scored the Yankees' lone run, on a ninth-inning single by Chad Moeller. Olson outpitched Darrell Rasner, who gave up one run and five hits in six innings. Rasner (3-1) had won each of his three starts since being recalled from the minors on May 4. Markakis put Baltimore up 1-0 with his ninth homer on a 3-2 pitch in the sixth, and he added an RBI single in a five-run seventh against New York relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Veras. |
| Dempster leads Cubs over Dodgers 3-1 Mon, 26 May 2008 18:00 EDT Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez homered to back Ryan Dempster, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Monday. Lee hit a two-run drive in the first inning off Chad Billingsley (4-6) for his 250th home run, and Ramirez added a solo homer against Scott Proctor in the eighth. Dempster (6-2) gave the bullpen some rest after the Cubs combined to use 11 relievers in consecutive extra-inning losses at Pittsburgh. He allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings before Bob Howry and Kerry Wood finished. Dempster gave up a run-scoring infield single to Juan Pierre in the fifth, then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, striking out Blake DeWitt on a check swing before retiring Luis Maza on a flyout. Los Angeles loaded the bases against Howry in the eighth when Jeff Kent singled, Matt Kemp doubled with one out and Blake DeWitt was intentionally walked. |
| Kapler's pinch single gives Brewers 4-3 win Mon, 26 May 2008 17:55 EDT Pinch-hitter Gabe Kapler singled home the decisive run in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Monday. Prince Fielder led off the 11th with an opposite-field double to left against an exaggerated shift, then moved to third on Corey Hart's sacrifice bunt. After Russell Branyan struck out, Kapler lined the first pitch from Saul Rivera (3-2) to center for an RBI single. Carlos Villanueva (3-5) pitched two scoreless innings, striking out five of the six hitters he faced. Salomon Torres got the final three outs for his third save in five tries. Dmitri Young hit a disputed solo homer off Brian Shouse in the eighth to tie the game after Fielder's sacrifice fly had given the Brewers a 3-2 lead in the top of the inning. Young's drive, originally ruled in play by second base umpire Paul Emmel, appeared to hit off the top of a secondary wall behind the center-field wall for a triple. Nationals manager Manny Acta asked the umpires to huddle, and they awarded Young his first homer of the season. As Young trotted home with the tying run, Milwaukee manager Ned Yost protested to no avail. |
| Webb drops 2nd straight as Diamondbacks fall to Braves 7-3 Mon, 26 May 2008 17:35 EDT Brandon Webb is on a different type of streak, thanks to Mark Teixeira and the Atlanta Braves. Teixeira drove in four runs against Webb as the Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-3 Monday and sent Webb to his second straight defeat. Webb (9-2) allowed seven runs - four earned - and a season-high 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings, his shortest start since Oct. 1, 2006. He won his first nine decisions before losing 3-1 at Florida last Wednesday. Webb struck out eight, walked three and fell behind 5-1 in the second inning. The hits were the most he allowed since San Diego had 11 last July 15. Manny Acosta (3-1) pitched two hitless innings to win in relief of Jair Jurrjens, who gave up three runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. Jeff Bennett entered with a 5-3 lead, a man on and two outs in the fifth and retired Mark Reynolds on a flyout. |
| Pucks, octopi rain down at Joe Louis Arena Mon, 26 May 2008 16:40 EDT NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spent his annual Stanley Cup finals news conference discussing scheduling, expansion, labor issues and ... octopus gunk. Octopus what? The finals must be back in Detroit. A 56-year-old playoff tradition is alive - if not the octopi, which are smuggled into Joe Louis Arena and hurled on to the ice by rabid Red Wings fans, who send the slimy mollusks airborne to celebrate a good play or goal. Unless the Pittsburgh Penguins can figure out how to stop Detroit's forwards and generate a few scoring chances in Game 2 Monday night, the Joe Louis ice is going to resemble the bottom of the ocean. |
| Saving wedge gives Mickelson Colonial victory Mon, 26 May 2008 16:40 EDT Phil Mickelson was asked to describe the 72nd-hole birdie that gave him a one-stroke victory at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. "Well, it was a last-hole driver, and a wedge, 8 feet and make it for birdie," Mickelson said, with a smile. Lefty only made it look that easy. Having just gotten back into a share of the lead after playing partner Rod Pampling's bogey at No. 17, Mickelson hit his final drive Sunday well left - into heavy rough and under the trees 140 yards from the hole. Pampling then drove into the middle of the fairway. Play it safe and chip back into the fairway? Not Mickelson, who is second to Tiger Woods in the world rankings. |
| FIFA provisionally suspends Iraq Mon, 26 May 2008 16:40 EDT Iraq's soccer team was provisionally suspended from competition for one year by the sport's ruling body Monday due to the Iraqi government's decision to disband all national sports federations. The FIFA executive committee imposed the ban on the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) following a governmental decree last week that also dissolved the Iraqi National Olympic Committee. On the first day of its meetings in Sydney, FIFA said it would revoke the suspension if it received by Thursday "written confirmation from the Iraqi government that the decree has been annulled." Iraq was due to play Australia in a World Cup qualifier at Brisbane on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive in the Queensland state capital late Tuesday from Thailand, where the team was training. Earlier Monday, FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said he remained confident Iraq would be able to fulfill its commitments, but did not rule out the possibility it would be suspended. |
| Ex-NFL players' suit to move ahead despite suicide Mon, 26 May 2008 16:35 EDT A former hedge fund manager's suicide has no effect on a lawsuit filed by six former NFL players against the league and its players union over $20 million they say they lost in an investment scheme, an attorney for the plaintiffs said Monday. The lawsuit claims the union endorsed Kirk Wright's services even though he had liens against him. Wright hanged himself in a suburban Atlanta jail on Saturday, three days after he was convicted of leading an investment scheme that caused clients, ranging from the former NFL players to his mother, to lose millions of dollars while he spent the money on jewelry, real estate and a $500,000 wedding. Wright, 37, faced up to what would have amounted to a life sentence. He hanged himself with bedsheets, said John Mansch, chief of the Union City jail. He did not leave a note and officials had "no indication whatsoever he intended to do any harm to himself," Mansch said. An attorney for the former players said they weren't planning on using Wright as a witness in the case. |
| Gasquet withdraws from French Open Mon, 26 May 2008 16:35 EDT Richard Gasquet has withdrawn from the French Open because of a left knee injury. The eighth-seeded Frenchman pulled out shortly before he was scheduled to play Florent Serra on Monday. Florian Mayer of Germany also withdrew. Mayer, who will be replaced by Evgeny Korolev of Russia, pulled out because of gastroenteritis. Korolev will now face Fabrice Santoro in the first round. |
| Blue Jays beat Royals 7-2 for four-game sweep Mon, 26 May 2008 16:30 EDT Shaun Marcum won for the first time in four starts, Gregg Zaun hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Kansas City 7-2 Sunday to complete their first four-game sweep of the Royals. Toronto outscored the Royals 23-4 in the series and extended Kansas City's losing streak to eight, the Royals' longest since Sept. 17-26, 2006. Manager Trey Hillman held a pregame meeting and canceled batting practice, but neither measure worked for Kansas City, which has scored 16 runs during its slide - half in an 11-8 loss at Boston. Marco Scutaro also homered for the Blue Jays (28-25), who have won five straight and 11 of 14 to move three games above .500 for the first time this season. Marcum (5-3) gave up two runs-one earned- and five hits in 7 1-3 innings, lowering his ERA to 2.64. He struck out six and walked one. The Kansas City, Mo., native is 3-1 with an 1.09 ERA in seven career games against his hometown team. Jesse Carlson and Jason Frasor completed a seven-hitter. |
| Syracuse wins NCAA lacrosse championship Mon, 26 May 2008 16:30 EDT Syracuse won its 10th NCAA men's lacrosse championship Monday, beating defending champion Johns Hopkins 13-10 behind three goals from Dan Hardy. The crowd of 48,970 was the largest to see an NCAA championship outdoors in any sport - the BCS football championship game isn't an NCAA event. John Galloway stopped seven shots for the Orange, who won their first title since 2004 and improved to 3-2 against Hopkins in NCAA title games. Mike Leveille, who had five goals in the semifinal win over Virginia, was the tournament's most outstanding player. Paul Rabil scored a career-high six goals for Johns Hopkins, one off the title-game record. Blue Jays goalie Michael Gvozden stopped 20 shots. Syracuse and Johns Hopkins are the two most successful teams in college lacrosse history - by wins and championships. Hopkins also was going for its 10th title since lacrosse became an NCAA sport in 1971; Syracuse's 10 championships include the one it won in 1990 that was later vacated for using an ineligible player. |
| Federer, Jankovic advance to French Open 2nd round Mon, 26 May 2008 14:45 EDT Roger Federer made a winning return to the French Open, the only Grand Slam title that has eluded him. The top-ranked Federer beat Sam Querrey of the United States 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 Monday in the first round at Roland Garros, where the 12-time major champion is trying to become only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam. Federer was broken once early in the first set, but he managed to win five times on Querrey's serve. "Once I got settled I played a little bit more better," Federer said. "I was able to create myself a few opportunities against his serve, which was sort of good. ... Give me a few days now again to practice, and hopefully I can play a bit better the next match." On the women's side, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and No. 8 Venus Williams advanced before play was suspended for the day because of rain. Williams joined sister Serena in the second round, but she struggled in the second set before beating Tzipora Obziler of Israel 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. "It's nice to have a quick match but it's nice to have a challenge also," said Williams, who had eight double-faults. "I'm glad at the end that I figured it out." |
| Hoof specialist optimistic about Big Brown Mon, 26 May 2008 14:40 EDT Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown is responding well to treatment and could return to the track Wednesday. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay was optimistic after a brief examination Monday. Big Brown has a crack on the inside of his left front hoof and has not been out of his Belmont Park barn since Saturday. McKinlay told The Associated Press that plans were to "put a stitch in it and lace it up" Monday and then continue treatment. "On Wednesday or Thursday we will stabilize it with a new stitch and a fiberglass reinforced patch that is probably stronger than the hoof wall," he said. Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion, will attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 when he runs in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. |
| Scott Dixon beats Meira in Indianapolis 500 Mon, 26 May 2008 14:40 EDT Scott Dixon stayed ahead of the trouble, got a boost from his crew and drove to his first Indianapolis 500 victory Sunday. Dixon sped out of the pits ahead of Vitor Meira on the final round of stops, then held off the Brazilian and hard-luck Marco Andretti to win the first 500 since the two warring open-wheel series came together under the IndyCar banner. Danica Patrick failed to finish for the first time in four trips to Indy, though it wasn't her fault. She was clipped on pit road by Ryan Briscoe with 29 laps to go, breaking the left rear suspension on a car that had run in the top 10 most of the race but never seriously challenged for the lead. She finished 22nd. Patrick's mishap was one of numerous crashes and mechanical failures that slowed the race under the yellow caution flag eight times for a total of 69 laps. But Dixon, who started from the pole, clearly had the strongest car on the track. "There were so many yellows," Dixon said, "it was really hard to get into a rhythm." |
| Kahne capitalizes on Stewart slip to win Coca-Cola 600 Mon, 26 May 2008 16:25 EDT For nearly a year, nothing went right for Kasey Kahne. Over a two-week span, nothing has gone wrong and Kahne's season suddenly seems back on track. Kahne earned a Lowe's Motor Speedway sweep Sunday night when he pounced on Tony Stewart's bad luck to win the Coca-Cola 600. It was the second straight victory for Kahne, who won the All-Star race eight days ago to bring a wave of momentum into NASCAR's longest event of the year. "I can tell you that this team has had a much different step since they won that feature, that race here last week," team co-owner Ray Evernham said. "That momentum is something. I don't how you measure it in professional sports." Kahne had no momentum at all before the series rolled into Charlotte for two weeks of racing. He'd led just five laps all season heading into Sunday's race and had a 52-race winless streak in points events dating back to October 2006. |
| All it took was 1 match for US men to improve at French Open Mon, 26 May 2008 05:50 EDT To James Blake, 1-0 sounds a lot better than 0-9. A year after all nine U.S. men competing at the French Open lost in the first round, Blake won his opener at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament Sunday, beating former top-10 player Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3). "We've already done more," the No. 7-seeded Blake said with a laugh. "We set the bar low enough that we're over the bar by 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. It was a tough situation last year, but now maybe it's just like playing with house money this year." He lost to Ivo Karlovic in four sets at Roland Garros in 2007, part of the worst showing by American men at any major tennis championship in 34 years. It also continued their recent trend of struggling on clay. "We all feel like, you know, last year was an aberration that should never happen again," Blake said, "and this year we're definitely looking for better results." |
| Kuerten exits like a champ Mon, 26 May 2008 02:04 EDT The French Open's first day featured a celebration for a loser. Gustavo Kuerten, the owner of three French Open titles and a former No. 1 who is now ranked outside the top 1,000, is retiring at age 31 because of chronic hip injuries. "This particular tournament is really like home for me," said Kuerten, who plans to play doubles in Paris but will never play singles again. He was beaten 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 by 18th-seeded Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, hardly a surprising result on a day when surprises were few and far between. There was one relatively big one, though: No. 16 Carlos Moya, the 1998 French Open champion but someone with a .500 record on clay this season, lost 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-7 (1), 4-6, 6-3 to qualifier Eduardo Schwank of Argentina. Schwank never had played at a major and now boasts a 4-5 career record in tour-level matches. |
| Sports briefs Mon, 26 May 2008 08:21 EDT COLLEGE BASEBALL WESTERN WINS SUN BELT TITLE Jake Wells had three hits and was one of eight Western Kentucky batters with two or more hits as the Hilltoppers beat New Orleans 17-5 on Sunday to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Lafayette, La. Western Kentucky (33-25) earned an automatic bid to an NCAA regional after setting the record for largest margin of victory in the league title game. Wade Gaynor (Hancock Co.) had four hits and Matt Rice and Scott Kaskie each drove in four runs in the win. Wells (Apollo) was named the tournament's MVP, finishing 12-for-21 with eight RBI. |
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