Hornets Land Top Lottery Pick

New owner, and now a new star player. The future suddenly looks bright for the New Orleans Hornets.
Meanwhile, it was yet another loss - in a historic season full of them - for Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Hornets, recently sold by the NBA to Saints owner Tom Benson, won the NBA's draft lottery Wednesday and the No. 1 pick overall - which they almost certainly will use to pick Kentucky star Anthony Davis.
At least that's what the consensus college player of the year is expecting. Moments after the Hornets won the lottery, Davis said he was looking forward to playing professionally in the place where he led the Wildcats to a national championship in April.
The good news for the Hornets comes after a difficult season in which they traded All-Star Chris Paul and a couple of years in limbo where they couldn't do much to upgrade the roster while the league was looking for a buyer.
''Just a first step for us to winning it all,'' Benson said in a TV interview after the lottery.
The Hornets moved up from the fourth spot, where they had a 13.7 percent chance, to earn the pick.
''Everything was surreal once they announced the fourth pick,'' said Hornets coach Monty Williams, who represented the team on stage. ''I said `This is pretty cool.' I knew my wife and kids were home praying that things would go well and they did.''
The Bobcats, after going 7-59 for the worst winning percentage in NBA history, fell to the No. 2 pick. Washington will pick third and Cleveland fell one spot to fourth.

Charlotte had a 25 percent chance of grabbing the No. 1 pick, but instead will have to take the best player after Davis, possibly his teammate, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
The team with the worst record hasn't won since Orlando drafted Dwight Howard in 2004.
''We will still take the best player available and when you win seven games you have a lot of holes,'' Bobcats general manager Rich Cho said. ''From a competitive standpoint and for anyone who has played sports or been competitive, you want to win and be No. 1. We know we're still going to get a good player.''
Cho and team vice chairman Curtis Polk said they hadn't heard from Jordan, the Bobcats owner.
''Being No. 2 isn't terrible. We'll be fine,'' Polk said.
The league bought the Hornets from owner George Shinn in December 2010 and the sale to Benson was completed in April. The NBA was criticized for the conflict of interest of a league owning a franchise, particularly when Commissioner David Stern blocked a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers in December, then approved another that landed Paul with the Clippers.

The ownership uncertainty hindered the Hornets, but they were in a celebrating mood Wednesday after earning the No. 1 pick for the first time since 1991, when they were still in Charlotte and took Larry Johnson.
General manager Dell Demps said he pumped his fist in the room where the drawing took place after seeing that the balls had been drawn in the Hornets' favor.
''When our combination came up, it was an exciting feeling,'' he said. ''I got an incredible rush. ... We knew what the odds were. We hoped for the best. It was nothing we could control. We're just happy.''
The Hornets, who went 21-45, also have the No. 10 pick. They played hard at the end of the season even as it reduced their lottery odds, winning eight of their final 13 games with a young roster.
''Obviously, we're very excited,'' Demps said. ''This is a great day for the city of New Orleans, our fans. ... This is the start of a new beginning.

Though they didn't officially say it, it's expected to start with Davis, one of the most dominant defensive college players in years who was Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four even as he went 1 for 10 from the field in the championship game. He blocked a record-tying six shots and had 16 rebounds and three steals in the Wildcats' 67-59 victory over Kansas.
''Davis is not LeBron. He's not Tim Duncan. But they were young once and Tim had four years of college,'' Williams said.
The Nets were the other big loser when they stayed in the No. 6 spot. They owed their pick to Portland for this season's Gerald Wallace trade unless they moved into the top three.
The Cavs beat the odds last year and moved up to take Kyrie Irving, the eventual Rookie of the Year, and tried to follow the same formula. Nick Gilbert, the 15-year-old son of owner Dan Gilbert, was back on the podium in his bow tie, and the Cavs' traveling party that included Dan Gilbert, and former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar and current Browns players Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden sported the same dress.
But there was no repeat, as the Cavs went backward this time.
''Still feel very good about number4 pick,'' Dan Gilbert wrote on his Twitter page. ''We are getting a great player there and good additions w/our other 3 picks. I believe.''a/p press

L.A Kings Take Game 1

Kopitar faked a backhand shot, put the puck on his forehand and beat Martin Brodeur.
Los Angeles has won all nine of its road games in the playoffs, an NHL record. The Kings are now one win shy of the NHL record for postseason road victories.

More importantly, they are three wins away from the franchise's first NHL title. They have won 11 consecutive road playoff games dating back to last season.
Colin Fraser scored in the first period for the Kings, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference who beat the top three teams to get to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1993

Anton Volchenkov tied it late in the second period for New Jersey, the East's sixth seed.
Kopitar took a pass by Justin Williams from along the left wing boards and skated in alone on Brodeur. As soon as he rifled the puck into the net, he raised his hands and banged himself into the boards, facing the crowd off to Brodeur's right.

The veteran goaltender dejectedly skated off to the locker room as the rest of the Kings piled on Kopitar.
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick finished with 17 saves in what was a relatively easy night. Brodeur had 23 saves as the Devils lost in overtime for just the second time this postseason; they have won four times. LA is 3-0 in overtime this spring.

The Devils had two great chances to take the lead early in the third period, and for a split second it appeared they went ahead with 16:02 to play in regulation when Zach Parise scored off a wild goal-mouth scramble.

While the horns went off and the fans celebrated, referee Dan O'Halloran quickly waved off the goal.
It was reviewed in Toronto and replay clearly showed Parise swept the puck into the net with his hand.
Defenseman Mark Fayne was probably kicking himself six minutes later when he missed a wide-open net from the edge of the crease in what was the Devils' best period of the night.

The Kings had their chances, too, with Brodeur making two outstanding saves about 10 seconds apart. He made a stacked-pad save on a one-timer by defenseman Drew Doughty from 30 feet after a drop pass from Mike Richards. A turnover seconds later set up Dustin Penner for a shot from the left circle.
The Kings came into the finals after steamrolling the top three seeds in the Western Conference in just 14 games, and they made the Devils look ordinary in the first 40 minutes, holding them to nine shots.
But a fluke goal by Volchenkov tied the game with 1:12 left in the second.

Volchenkov took a shot from the left point that Quick kicked away in front. The puck went airborne, avoided Devils forward Patrik Elias in front and hit off the shoulder of Kings defenseman Slava Voynov before going into the net.
Until then, Fraser's first career playoff goal was beginning to look like the winner.
It was a typical Kings' goal, created off the forecheck - by the fourth line, no less.
Jordan Nolan checked New Jersey's Andy Greene behind the Devils' net, outfought him for the puck and found Fraser between the circles for a shot that beat Brodeur 9:56 into the game.
The Kings had chances to extend the lead, but Brodeur, who was the difference in the Devils' victory over the rival Rangers in the conference finals, made three good saves. The best stop by the 40-year-old, three-time Cup winner came on the opening shift of the second period when he blocked Kopitar point blank on the edge of the crease.
Kopitar, of course, would get one past Brodeur much later in the evening.
Brodeur also stopped forward Jeff Carter from in close and made a big pad stop on Penner in the second.
The Devils were held without a shot for more than 14 minutes of the period before Parise was credited with one on a short-handed attempt in which the puck rolled off his stick into the crease.
Quick, who wasn't very busy in the first two periods, made his best save with a glove stop on Dainius Zubrus from the left circle after a turnover.

However, New Jersey managed to tie it on Volchenkov's strange goal.a/p press

Tim Tebow Has Girlfriend?

Tim Tebow and Olympic runner Lolo Jones have a couple of things in common.
Both are world-class athletes who take their training very seriously. Also, both have expressed a desire to remain virgins until marriage.

So when Tebow's teammate Nick Mangold suggested on Twitter that the two should get together as a "match made in heaven," it seemed like an innocent joke.

Jones, however, raised the stakes by responding to Mangold with the insinuation that Tebow might already be spoken for.

Miami Dolphins On Hard Knocks This Summer

Head Coach Joe Philbin confirmed the news after this morning’s OTA session, revealing that fans around the world will now get an up close and personal look at training camp. The Dolphins were chosen by the National Football League and HBO to be that team that will allow the cameras to go behind the scenes for five one-hour episodes debuting Tuesday, August 7th, and running each subsequent Tuesday.

“Number one it was a football decision and it was made by the football operations staff,” Philbin said. “Our owner, Steve Ross, supported our decision but in no way, shape or form forced us to make this decision. I’m personally very excited about it and I shared my thoughts about it with our football team this morning. It’s a football show and it’s a show that’s going to showcase our players and the great group of men that we have assembled here in Miami as they go through training camp.

“The second thing is I think it’s a great opportunity for us to connect with our fans and to the people that aren’t going to be able to come out here on a daily basis in 110-degree heat index weather and watch our guys participate in training camp. The third thing is I think it’s a chance for us to show the new direction, the identity of this football team, where we’re headed and at the same time also connect with our past and the great history, tradition and heritage that we have here in Miami.”

For more than a decade, the popular cable television series has given fans a new perspective on the nation’s most popular sport and has consistently drawn high ratings. It’s allowed the viewer to feel as if he or she is on the sideline and in the locker room with the team.

Philbin isn’t concerned about any perceived distractions because he reminded his team that there are cameras everywhere on Sunday afternoon during game day. He doesn’t plan to do anything different in practice or the meeting rooms just because the cameras are there.

“I think the number one thing in coaching from a philosophical standpoint is that you have to be yourself,” said Philbin, who is in his first year as a head coach in the league. “Probably 20 years from now it will be a lot of fun to watch but I’ve never seen the show. That’s the truth and I certainly wasn’t necessarily auditioning for it. The easy answer would have been to say no but we thought it was in the best interest of the organization at this point to do it.”

Four current members of the Dolphins have been on Hard Knocks in the past – defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle when he was with the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback David Garrard general manager Jeff Ireland  and linebacker Jamaal Westerman

“On the 40th anniversary of the greatest season in NFL history – Don Shula’s perfect ’72 Dolphins – it is perfectly fitting that Hard Knocks is heading to Miami to capture the start of a new era for one of the league’s proudest teams,” said NFL Films president Steve Sabol. “After Hard Knocks’ hiatus last summer, I know our team at NFL Films can’t wait to get back on the field.”by andykent

Detriot Lions Face Penalties Over Recent Arrests

The drug- and alcohol-related arrests of two Detroit Lions players this offseason may lead to financial penalties for the franchise itself.

Under NFL rules, any club that has at least two players suspended for violations in the same season under three different policies (performance-enhancing drugs, substances of abuse and personal conduct) must remit a portion of their salary to the league.

Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley and running back Mikel Leshoure are potentially facing suspensions under the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Fairley was arrested early Sunday morning on charges of drunk driving and trying to elude police after being clocked at driving 100 miles per hour in Mobile, Ala. Fairley’s arrest came seven weeks after he was arrested for marijuana possession in Mobile.

Leshoure was arrested on marijuana possession charges in February and March.
If both are suspended for repeat violations under the substance-abuse policy, the Lions will be required to submit to the NFL 25 percent of their respective base salaries for each game missed up to $200,000. Neither player would be paid during the suspensions.
Fairley is slated to earn $48,500 each game as part of his $824,500 base salary for 2012. Leshoure will earn $465,000, which translates to roughly $27,350 per game.

The collected money would be used by the NFL to support the steroid and drug policies, the Player Care Foundation, and other research and player development programs.
The NFL is expected to rule on the playing status of Leshoure and Fairley later this offseason.

Fairley’s arrest was the latest in a series of off-field mishaps for a Lions team that was criticized for lacking on-field discipline during the 2011 season. Reserve offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath paid a fine for marijuana possession following his January arrest. Wide receiver Titus Young another member of the 2011 draft class that included Fairley, Leshoure and Culbreath didn’t attend the offseason program last week after reportedly punching teammate Louis Delmas.
Young and Fairley both participated Tuesday in Detroit’s offseason workout program. Young issued a statement of apology that was posted on the team’s website.

“My recent actions have not always been up to the standards the Lions expect or the standards that I expect from myself,” said Young, who caught 48 passes for 607 yards and six touchdowns in 2011. “I am truly sorry for those times when I didn’t meet those standards. My absence from the practice last week was necessary for both myself and the team.
“The time away from the team afforded me the opportunity to reflect and come to the realization that by putting those incidents behind me I will be able to focus on becoming the best teammate and player that I can be.

The Lions are hoping Fairley, Leshoure and Young will play major roles for the team this season. Fairley, the team’s 2011 first-round pick, was projected  starter alongside 2010 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Ndamukong Suh. Fairley’s playing time was limited last season because of injuries.

Leshoure, a second-round pick, missed his entire rookie campaign after tearing his Achilles' tendon during the preseason. The Lions are expected to use Leshoure, Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith in a running back-by-committee approach that would augment the team’s high-powered passing game led by quarterback Matt Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson.byalexmarvez

injury lands Lucroy on 15-day DL

Rampant injuries had been doing their best to dismantle the Brewers already-struggling offense all throughout the month of May, but on Monday, the team was dealt quite possibly its worst news yet.

After a freak accident involving Jonathan Lucroy caused him to be scratched from Monday's lineup, an MRI revealed that Lucroy has a boxer's fracture of the right hand on his fifth metacarpal -- an injury that the team announced will land the hot-hitting Brewers catcher on the 15-day disabled list.

Lucroy will be re-examined by Milwaukee team doctor William Raasch when he returns to Wisconsin, but Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash told reporters after the game that Lucroy's injury will likely keep him out for four to six weeks, a crushing blow to a team desperate for the key offense Lucroy has provided in the past month. As one of the hottest hitters in baseball in May, Lucroy was batting .345 with five home runs and 30 RBI this season.

"Obviously it hurts our team a lot," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "But I feel really bad for him, too. He's having some kind of incredible year so far. He feels really bad, and I feel bad for him."

Catcher Martin Maldonado will be called up from Triple-A Nashville to take Lucroy's place on the roster and back up George Kottaras. Maldonado had been struggling to hit for average in Nashville, as his batting average sits at .198, but he has added four home runs and 13 RBI in 35 games with the Sounds this season. Roenicke said that he'll get the chance to play right away, considering that Kottaras is still not at 100 percent. Kottaras had injured his hamstring slightly in the Brewers' final game against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Lucroy told reporters before the game that he sustained the injury when his wife accidentally dropped a suitcase on his hand, while searching underneath his hotel bed for a lost sock last night. No doubt, it was as strange of an injury as the Brewers have seen all season long.

But nothing should surprise Milwaukee at this point, as two Brewers players tore their ACL's on seemingly regular plays -- a slide and chasing a foul pop fly. It's the sheer frequency of the team's injuries that has been the most concerning though, as the Brewers already have three season-ending injuries from Mat Gamel, Chris Narveson, and Alex Gonzalez and have seen Marco Estrada, Carlos Gomez, Travis Ishikawa, Cesar Izturis, and now, Lucroy, all spend significant time on the disabled list.byryankartje

Angels Weaver Leaves With Injury

Los Angeles Angels  Jered Weaver left his start against the Yankees in the first inning Monday night after apparently injuring his back while pitching.

Weaver gave up two hits and a run in his first three batters before pulling up awkwardly after pitching to cleanup hitter Robinson Cano.

Weaver walked around the mound and eventually attempted to throw a warmup pitch that didn't have much zip, and he went to the Angels' clubhouse with their training staff. The Angels eventually announced Weaver apparently has a lower-back injury.

Weaver began the night 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA, second in the AL in victories. Any extended absence could be disastrous for the Angels, whose touted starting rotation hasn't been impressive beyond Weaver's steady play.

The right-hander was making his first start at Angel Stadium since throwing a no-hitter May 2 in Anaheim against Minnesota. Weaver was 4-0 with an 0.83 ERA at home this season.
Weaver went 18-8 with a 2.41 ERA last season, making his second All-Star team and finishing second in the AL Cy Young voting.

Derek Jeter led off with a single against Weaver. He advanced to second on Curtis Granderson's single and then scored when Erick Aybar booted Alex Rodriguez's grounder.
After Weaver left, reliever Bobby Cassevah struck out Cano, but walked Mark Teixeira and allowed Raul Ibanez's sacrifice fly. Rodriguez scored another Yankees run when Cassevah made a poor throw to first base, allowing Nick Swisher to reach.
Cassevah retired Russell Martin on a bases-loaded flyout to end the inning with the Angels down 3-0.

Los Angeles returned from a 10-game road trip on a six-game winning streak, while the Yankees had won five in a row. A/P press

Dominik Hasek Interested In NHL Comeback

The 47-year-old Czech goaltender isn't quite ready to say goodbye to the game he loves, telling Denik Sport that he is working hard to make a comback to professional hockey.

Hasek has been in and out of retirement for the last 13 years, winning a pair of Stanley Cups since he first decided to hang up the skates.

But now he is 47 years old and hasn't played in the NHL since 2008. Despite playing in the Czech Extraliga and KHL since ending his NHL career, the market for Hasek may not be what he's hoping for.

Still, the two-time Hart Trophy winner is testing the waters. Hasek was recently seen visiting his son at Michigan State University and used the trip to meet with several NHL general managers, according to Denik Sport. The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning are said to be potential suitors for the unconventional goaltender.

Any team that takes a shot on Hasek would be wise to do so with a backup role in mind. Relying on him to play more than 20 games at his age and with his style of play is a huge gamble.

The Dominator's potential return to the NHL will be a compelling storyline, but expectations must be tempered.by matthew fairburn

Luke Donald Top In The World

Luke Donald is at the top of the world ranking for the third time in 10 weeks by retaining the BMW PGA Championship title Sunday, boosting his hopes of finally ending his major drought this summer.

Displaying his trademark consistency on the greens and from the tee, Donald cantered to a four-stroke victory at the biggest event on the European Tour by shooting a 4-under-par 68 — his fourth straight round under 70 — to finish 15 under par at Wentworth

Donald's second victory of the year, after the Transitions Championship in March, saw him leapfrog McIlroy at the same location where 12 months ago he first guaranteed he would rise to the top of the pile after a playoff win over Lee Westwood.

''There's something sweet about going 12 months and still being No. 1,'' Donald said. ''It's an indication that I'm doing the right things.''

Donald held a two-shot lead over  when he began his final round in still, sunny conditions. He said he felt tense in the opening stretch of holes, culminating in a bogey 6 on the long fourth hole. A birdie for Rose at the same hole drew the players even at 10 under and with Peter Lawrie and Paul Lawrie within two shots at that stage, a tight finish seemed likely.

Donald ensured that didn't materialize, however, rediscovering his form with the putter to birdie four of the next seven holes, including a 30-foot putt on No. 10 that drew cries of ''Luuuuke'' from the gallery and left Rose three shots behind and with too much to do.
Finding the fairway with disturbing regularity for his rivals, Donald earned himself the luxury of strolling down No. 18 armed with a four-shot cushion. He suddenly had the aura of the best player in the world.

Rose missed a short birdie putt at the last to finish with a 70 and tied for second with Paul Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion who compiled a 66 for the joint lowest round of the day with George Coetzee.
''There were no loose shots coming down the stretch. And with his short game and him making 20- and 30-footers, he's tough to beat,'' Rose said of his Ryder Cup colleague.
Not only did a sixth victory in 15 months earn Donald $950,000, it also gave him a major lift before the US Open in San Francisco next month, when he will try to win his first major.

''I feel I am getting closer. Every time I get a success like this, it adds to my confidence. These victories are key to bringing that confidence to the majors,'' said the 34-year-old Englishman, who topped the money lists both sides of the Atlantic in 2011.

''It's putting four rounds together like I did this week.''
It's the sixth change at the top of the rankings between Donald and McIlroy in 12 weeks. McIlroy missed the cut at Wentworth after a second-round 79.
The win ensured Donald became the third player, after Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, to retain the title at the flagship event and marked the first time he has won an event for two straight years.
''I feel that when I'm playing well, I'm hard to beat. But I think there could be 20, 25 guys who would say that,'' a typically modest Donald said
.
''After the fourth, I didn't give him (Rose) a hole where he was teeing off first other than the 18th. I got the job done.''
Scores were significantly lower than Saturday, when gusting winds of up to 30 mph played a vital role in splitting the field during the third round.
Peter Lawrie punched the air after a birdie on the last hole left him alone in fourth place, with South Africa's Branden Grace, a three-time winner on the European Tour this year — a shot further back in fifth.
Wentworth course designer Ernie Els, who apologized for his expletive-laced outburst about the state of the greens Saturday, tied for seventh with Marcel Siem and Francesco Molinari after a 72 while playing in the second-to-last group.

Siem was afforded arguably the biggest cheer of the day when he made a hole in one at No. 2, using an 8-iron from 160 yards.A/P

Bobby Valentine Calls out the Devil Rays

Bobby Valentine called out the Tampa Bay Rays' coaching staff a day after the teams were involved in a benches-clearing scrum.

Valentine said the Rays' staff escalated the tense situation in the ninth inning of Tampa Bay's 7-4 win on Friday night after Red Sox reliever Franklin Morales hit Luke Scott on the right leg. He called their actions ''unprofessional.''
''I thought their coaches were really aggressive, as a matter of fact I took offense to the aggressiveness of their coaches.'' Valentine said. ''I thought it was really unprofessional. I was really proud of the way my coaches and what they were trying to do, what they were supposed to do in those situations.

The Rays  seemed very immature and out of control,'' Valentine said. ''Coaches are supposed to stop those things from happening and their coaches were agitating, aggravating, and instigating the situation.''
Rays manager Joe Maddon was asked a few different times to comment on Valentine's accusations, but avoided it by specifically praising Boston's players.
''I covered everything I wanted to cover on that last night,'' Maddon said. ''The thing I want to cover today is how much respect I have for the Red Sox players. I've been doing this for seven, eight years in the American League East and I have a strong feeling for the professionalism of the Red Sox players during that time — guys like (David) Ortiz and (Dustin) Pedroia and (Kevin) Youkilis and (Josh) Beckett, who's pitching tonight. My respect goes out to them.
''As we move this thing forward, I think we have that kind of respect with this group here. These players have come here to play baseball. We come here to play hard every night,'' Maddon added. ''We've come to think about it as the 'Rays way' of doing things.''

Benches cleared after Morales threw behind DH Luke Scott with the first pitch of an at-bat and hit him on a 3-1 pitch. Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia stepped in front of Scott as he was looking out at Morales when the benches and bullpens emptied. There was a lot of pushing and shoving along the first base line that carried over behind home plate before order was restored.
Boston pitching coach Bob McClure and bench coach Tim Bogar were noticeably in the middle of things with Rays players.
Afterward, Maddon said of the Red Sox's actions:

''That's truly somebody flexing their muscles on the other side, and they need to put them in their back pocket and understand they can hurt their own team for something like that,'' Maddon said. ''To be really carelessly incompetent on their side and truly try to hit someone and throw behind somebody and hitting them in the leg for all the wrong reasons eventually they can get their own guys hurt. That was ridiculous. It was absurd, idiotic. I'll use all those words.

''That was ridiculous. It was absurd, idiotic.'' He later said the video would show who wanted Morales' action to take place.by A/P

Celtics Win Game 7 76ERS Sent Packing

Big Three is already a memory.
''I don't look at them as the Big Three. I look at them as the Championship Four,'' the Philadelphia coach said. ''Because if you're going to leave Rondo out, you're making a huge mistake.''
Rajon Rondo helped his aging teammates keep their season going Saturday night, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in Game 7 against the 76ers to lead Boston to an 85-75 victory and into an Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Miami Heat.

The Celtics will open the third round of the NBA playoffs in Miami on Monday night.
''I've already packed,'' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ''We'll be ready. It's going to be a tough turnaround, but we're not an excuse team. We'll be ready on Monday.''
Bouncing back from his worst game of the playoffs  and snapping out of a 32-minute scoreless streak in which he had just two assists and five points — Rondo scored nine straight Boston points after Paul Pierce fouled out to help the Celtics turn a three-point edge into a double-digit lead.
Rondo had 11 points in the fourth quarter, including his first three-pointer in five games, made all four of his free throws down the stretch and grabbed his 10th rebound in the final minute — chucking it over his head and into the frontcourt to help the Celtics wind down the clock.

''He really came through,'' Sixers guard Jrue Holiday said. ''He put the team on his back.''
Andre Iguodala scored 18 points, and Holiday and Elton Brand had 15 apiece for the 76ers, who eliminated the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first round, but couldn't do the same with the Celtics.
Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, and Ray Allen hit a pair of fourth-quarter three-pointers after missing his first five attempts.

''Ray is the ultimate gunslinger,'' Rivers said. ''That's what makes great players great. I was a basketball player someday, and I would have never taken that shot.''
Pierce had 15 points and nine rebounds before fouling out with 4:16 left.
That's when Rondo took over.

The point guard, who had nine points and a playoff-low six assists in the Game 6 loss in Philadelphia, scored on a baseline drive and followed it up with a long two-pointer (originally scored a three) with 2:47 left. Then he made a three with a little more than two minutes left to make it a 10-pont game and, after Brand scored on a tip-in, Rondo went to the line as the crowd chanted ''M-V-P! M-V-P!'' He hit a pair of free throws to leave Boston with an 80-70 lead with 1:44 left.

The Celtics will now face the actual NBA MVP — LeBron James — along with Dwyane Wade and the rest of the Heat. Miami advanced to the conference finals by eliminating the Indiana Pacers in six games.

Miami beat Boston in five games in the conference semifinals last year. In 2010, the Celtics eliminated the Heat in the first round, then knocked James and the Cavaliers out in the second — LeBron's final game with Cleveland before defecting to Miami.

''Last year is in the past,'' Rondo said. ''This year, we're a totally different team. We feel we can beat Miami. We got to this point; there's no doubt in my mind we can. We've got to go down there and take care of business.''
Philadelphia had one last chance with 1:40 to play after Holiday made a three to cut it to seven points. Pierce was left with nothing to do but cheerlead, waving his arms to encourage the crowd as Garnett went to the line with just under a minute left.
He made one of two, but Holiday lost the ball on the way to the basket and Rondo made a pair of free throws with 54 seconds left. Allen made a pair himself as the crowd chanted ''Beat the Heat!''

Jodie Meeks' desperation three rimmed out, the ball bounced to the floor and Rondo got his hands on it to complete the triple-double.
Pierce picked up two fouls seven seconds apart with about eight minutes to play, then his fifth with 5:16 left. Rivers left him in, and Pierce picked up No. 6 a minute later — a charging call against Thaddeus Young out by the free throw line.

Boston got off to a fast start, taking a 10-2 lead thanks to four assists and two rebounds from Rondo in the first three minutes. ... The Celtics missed their first 14 attempts from three-point range and made their last three. ... Seven of the first nine fouls were called against the Celtics. ... It was the 25th anniversary of Larry Bird's steal and pass to Dennis Johnson to beat Detroit in the 1987 playoffs. ... CNN anchor John King, a Boston native, took in the game from courtside, as did TV personality Paula Abdul. ... Philadelphia shot just 28 percent from the floor in the first half.by A/P

Soldier Proposal Before Cardinals- Phillies Game

ST. LOUIS — Shelby Fetsch rushes from the mound into the arms of the love of her life.everything that follows becomes a blur: the cheers at Busch Stadium, the pictures, the congratulations from strangers, the joy that comes with knowing she and her boyfriend — Spc. William Johanson-Kubin of the 463rd Military Police Company — are now engaged.

Fetsch's hands shake when the couple moves to the side of the field after Johanson-Kubin caught her first pitch prior to the St. Louis Cardinals' game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. Johanson-Kubin made the surprise visit from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, where he has been stationed since December. He wanted the moment to be perfect.

"Oh, my God," said Fetsch, 20, shortly after Johanson-Kubin knelt near home plate.

Johanson-Kubin's appearance was one to remember. He and Fetsch have grown close over the past year, and he knew his Cardinals-loving girlfriend would cherish the memory.

The day, like the two that came before since Johanson-Kubin arrived in St. Louis on his stealth mission, was filled with nervous energy. At last, he was engaged to his love. After all the hours of waiting, he felt like the happiest man alive.

"God," Fetsch said on the field, "I'm so glad he's home

Johanson-Kubin sits in a hotel lobby in downtown St. Louis, well awake after a restless night. It's a little after 10 a.m. Friday. He has been eager to pop the life-changing question since starting his day before 4:30 a.m.

He's anxious as he leans forward on a couch dressed in uniform, but his choice to propose feels right. He has learned the value of trust and sacrifice since his relationship with Fetsch began about six months ago. He's confident in what he's about to do, because she makes him whole.

"Everything has just seemed to work out perfectly," he says.

Johanson-Kubin met Fetsch in St. Louis through a mutual friend more than a year ago. Their connection started with small talk, then it strengthened with more time spent together.

They became a couple last winter, about a month before he left for Afghanistan. Early dates included visits by Fetsch to see Johanson-Kubin at Fort Leonard Wood, located in south central Missouri about 10 miles south of Waynesville. There also were trips to St. Louis to enjoy the City Museum and Six Flags.

Those shared moments made their love grow. Johanson-Kubin has missed Fetsch while overseas, but he has learned to appreciate the depth of their bond. They speak online through Skype, and he estimates thousands of emails have been sent between the two in the past five months. They talk about the routine he lives during 13-hour shifts at Bagram Airfield. They discuss their pasts, and they try to make the more than 7,000 miles between them feel a little closer.

"It's a lot of give and take," says Johanson-Kubin, 22. "She's willing to be here while I'm over there and actually make sacrifices. … It showed me a lot."

She showed him enough that he knew it was time to make their bond lasting. They had discussed engagement before. Johanson-Kubin remembers Fetsch telling him that she wanted a proposal to be large and memorable.

Not long ago, an idea came to mind. Fetsch has been a Cardinals fan for years. So when Johanson-Kubin's superior, 1st Sgt. Mark Hillman, mentioned a chance for him to return to St. Louis to take part in FOX Sports Midwest's "This One's For You" pregame ceremony, asking the big question became a priority.

"Probably her face," Johanson-Kubin says in the hotel, smiling, before walking away to wait out the final hours before leaving for Busch Stadium. "That's probably what I'll remember most."


After the ceremony Friday night, Fetsch and Johanson-Kubin walk into a small room deep inside Busch Stadium. Fetsch's hands are still shaking. Johanson-Kubin is still smiling. Both are elated.

"I woke up at 4 this morning," Johanson-Kubin says to his fiancée at a table. "I'm reading your emails, and I'm not responding. It was hard."

"I know," Fetsch says through nervous laughter. "I didn't even email you (further), because I didn't know (if) you were going to be able to respond."

"Sneaky," Johanson-Kubin continues, grinning.

The shock for Fetsch hasn't gone away, but her happiness is only beginning. The couple plan to enjoy the next two weeks with each other. They will spend most of the next seven days in St. Louis before visiting Johanson-Kubin's family in Washington state. Johanson-Kubin is scheduled to return to Afghanistan after the two-week break.

"In my mind, we were already married," Fetsch says. "I'm completely committed to him."

Johanson-Kubin grins. For him, the past three days had been a mix of nerves and excitement. Now the worry was gone.

Fetsch's love had calmed him in Afghanistan. He couldn't think of a more memorable night. At last, he anticipated their new life together.

"I know it was meant to be," he says, "because it was perfect." by andrew astleford  

Dan Wheldon's wife accepts trophy at Indy

Dan Wheldon's wife accepted a replica of the Borg Warner trophy on behalf of the two-time Indianapolis winner. He was killed in a crash during the October season finale race at Las Vegas. Susie Wheldon held her 3-year-old son, Sebastian, while accepting the trophy.
She was also presented with a plaque from The American Dairy Association to commemorate Wheldon's win last May. The award is a reminder of Louis Meyer, who originated the tradition in 1933 of drinking milk in victory lane.A/P press

Defending series champion Dario Franchitti was presented with his champions ring during the driver meeting, and Josef Newgarden received his Indy Lights championship ring.

Streaker Runs Wild In Cardinals/Phillies Game

There was plenty happening on the field at Thursday night’s Cardinals-Phillies game at Busch Stadium, and it wasn’t all baseball.
The game was interrupted prior to the start of the seventh inning when a fan jumped over the wall, took off his clothes and went streaking across the field.
Fans cheered, flashbulbs popped and security hurried after him as the man, identified in a police report as 22-year-old Collin Grundstrom of Jefferson City, Mo., made his way from the right-field foul line way out into left field.

I’ve never seen that in my life,” Cardinals rookie outfielder Adron Chambers said after the game, a 10-9 Phillies win. “Somebody yelled about a naked guy on the field. That’s the last thing I’m expecting to see, a naked guy running across the field.”
The man made it to left field before a group of stadium ushers and police officers finally corralled him and pinned him to the ground. His clothes were brought from right field and he was forced to put on his shorts before rising to his feet.
As he jumped to acknowledge the cheering crowd, the man was body-slammed to the ground by a police officer. A second officer helped as the man was walked out through the Cardinals bullpen.
A photo showed him sporting an upper-body tattoo that read “Hakuna Matata,” a phrase meaning “No worries” made famous by a song in the animated movie “The Lion King.”
It was the second incident involving a fan running onto the field in a game between the two teams in barely two years. A fully-dressed 17-year-old boy was Tasered on the field by security at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia when the Cardinals were in town on May 3, 2010.
“There’s something going on with us and Philly,” Cardinals third baseman David Freese said. “That’s (two) streakers between the two of us.”
Asked if he was concerned or scared, Freese said, “He’s naked so I don’t think he’s carrying much. That relaxes that bit of the drama. I guess naked is better. Less to worry about.”
Grundstrom was arrested and charged with two city-ordinance violations, being a spectator on a playing field and lewd and lascivious behavior.
Cardinals director of security Joe Walsh said Grundstrom “appeared to have been drinking” and that he explained to police that he ran onto the field because he “lost a bet”.
According to Walsh, Grundstrom was kept in a holding cell at Busch Stadium before being transported to the city jail, where he is expected to stay until late Friday afternoon should he not post bail.

A male and female both ran onto the field at Busch Stadium on July 31, 2011, during a nationally televised Sunday night game. The man was quickly caught while the female ran free in the outfield for several seconds. Thursday’s game was broadcast nationally on the MLB Network.

Charlie Sheen Buy Lawerence Taylor Super Bowl Ring?

Charlie Sheen may be the buyer who paid $230,000 to purchase Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl XXV ring at auction earlier this week. Taylor and his agent Mark Leipseiter were apparently informed Wednesday night that the former star of "Two and a Half Men" was the bidder who paid the hefty sum for the piece of bling. However, this hasn't been confirmed.
"The Dan Patrick Show" reached out to Sheen for confirmation, but the actor texted "no comment" in return.
Taylor had originally presented the ring to his son T.J. as a gift, but the younger Taylor decided to put it up for sale, which didn't bother his father.

The ring was sold online through SPC auctions. Current New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora had offered to buy the ring back for Taylor as a gift if he picked up 500,000 Twitter followers, but that plan fell decidedly short.by jay glazer

Robert Griffin III First Nfl Player With Roman Numerals

Robert Griffin III  became the first Baylor University player to win the Heisman Trophy, and now he’s becoming the first NFL player with Roman numerals on the back of his jersey, according to Uni Watch’s research.
Uni Watch’s Paul Lukas says the NFL added a rule that allows generational titles on players’ nameplates. Griffin’s teammate Roy Helu Jr. will also change the back of his jersey to include “Jr.”
Lukas believes that Griffin will become the first player in any of the four major sports to have a Roman numeral on the back. He also speculates that Griffin’s desire to have this inclusion is tied to his endorsement deal with adidas. Lukas points out that the Roman numeral three looks similar to adidas’ three stripes logo.

We know adidas wasted no time coming up with their first RG3 product, so that wouldn’t be a surprise. We also know how concerned Griffin is about everything regarding his last name, so that furthers the notion that this was a conscious decision.

Wes Welker Wants To Stay A Patriot

No long-term deal is imminent, though.
“Well we’d like to see him be a Patriot for life, but it takes two sides,” Kraft told NFL Network. “We’re just happy he’s back in the system. He’s a wonderful young man, and a special guy. I think both sides would like to do a deal, but it requires intelligence and putting our team first.”

Welker recently claimed that the Patriots lowered their contract offer to him, but he did sign his franchise tender and reported for workouts.

“Anyone can say whatever they want,” Kraft said. “He’s done a great job for us. We’re always trying to do whatever we can do to put our team in the best position to win. That means balancing a lot of things, understanding what the cap is, what the cap growth is, how things fit in the system and we try to have values for every.by aaron wilson

SHAK Talking To Orlando Magic About GM Job?

The Orlando Magic is set to meet with former star Shaquille O'Nea about the team's vacant general manager position next week, ESPN reported Wednesday, citing sources.

O'Neal, who spent his first four NBA seasons in Orlando, would be an odd choice, given he has no front-office experience and has had a longstanding feud with Magic superstar Dwight Howard.
The 40-year-old has constantly needled Howard over his use of the "Superman" nickname, which O'Neal claims belongs to him.
O'Neal, who is in his first season as an analyst for TNT, has also labeled the Lakers' Andrew Bynum the best big man in the NBA, even though it is widely believed that the title belongs to Howard.
The Magic fired head coach Stan Van Gundy on Monday following a tumultuous season in which he clashed publicly with Howard, and the team also announced it had mutually parted ways with general manager Otis Smith.
The situation with Van Gundy and Howard culminated in early April when the coach revealed that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year had asked for him to be fired.
The earlier part of the shortened season was marked by near-daily speculation about whether the team would be forced to trade Howard. In a dramatic shift at the trade deadline, the 26-year-old declared he would opt in for the final year of his contract in 2012-13.

However, the team's next coach and general manager will enter amid continued uncertainty over whether Howard will sign a long-term extension to stay in Orlando.

Arrest In Oklahoma City Shooting

Police in Oklahoma City arrested a 19-year-old man Tuesday in connection with a shooting that left nine people injured following the Thunder playoff win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rodney Dewon Hill was arrested on eight complaints of shooting with intent to kill after being identified by one of the victims, The Oklahoman reported.
The shooting, which took place in a downtown area that had been blocked off Monday night for Thunder fans to watch the game on a large screen, left one 22-year-old man fighting for his life.
Norman Michael Richards remained in critical condition after being struck in the back by a bullet as he walked along Thunder Alley, family members confirmed to KOCO-TV on Tuesday.
According to the arrest affidavit, Hill, two other men and a woman were involved in an altercation with several of the victims before one of the men pulled a gun and started firing into the crowd.
Hill was not specifically named as the shooter in the affidavit, according to The Oklahoman.

The seven other shooting victims reportedly sustained non-life-threatening wounds, while police said a ninth victim of the melee, a pregnant woman, suffered blunt trauma after she was punched or kicked.
The incident soured what was otherwise a celebratory night in Oklahoma City after the Thunder booked their spot in the Western Conference finals with a 106-90 win over the Lakers.
Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty told The Oklahoman he and Mayor Mick Cornett had met to discuss whether the city should continue to host game-day festivities on Thunder Alley, located just blocks from Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Giancarlo Stanton Breaks ScoreBoard

Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins is a tremendous power hitter. Monday night, Stanton proved that by smoking a grand slam off the ageless Jamie Moyer. The ball was hit so hard that it broke the scoreboard in left field. Now that is getting your money’s worth on a homer.
That takes a lot of power to do that. Scoreboards tend to be reinforced pretty well for circumstances like this. Then again, Giancarlo Stanton is a different breed of cat. He is pure power. He is going to hit some massive home runs by the time his career is over. He might not hit the most homers in a season, but he might have the most total distance on them.
That is just incredible looking at that picture. He did not just break a little tiny chunk. That is actually a decent amount of the scoreboard out. I mean, you can still see a lot of it but you can notice the missing part. I wish I had the power to do that. That would be a story that you can tell your kids for a long time.
Maybe breaking scoreboards is the baseball equal to players shattering the backboard in basketball. Both involve impressive feats of strength and both probably cost a lot of money to fix. Giancarlo Stanton gets to join that exclusive club of people who have broken scoreboards. It is so exclusive, I have no idea who else would be in it.

NJ DEVILS TIE SERIES WITH 4-1 WIN

(Reuters) - The New Jersey Devils beat the New York Rangers 4-1 in a spiteful encounter on Monday to tie the NHL Eastern Conference final series at 2-2 as escalating tension between the cross-river rivals boiled over.
The best-of-seven series between the two neighboring foes has now become the best-of-three and is living up to all the fiery expectations, with the teams and coaching staff trading insults and blows on and off the ice.
Three players, Mike Rupp and Stu Bickel from the top-ranked Rangers, and New Jersey's Ryan Carter, were each given 10-minute misconduct penalties after a brawl in the third period that began when Rupp knocked Devils goalie Martin Brodeur on his backside with a punch to the chest.
"I was minding my own business," Brodeur said.
"I think it's a good sign when they take liberties on players because it means they're off their game a little bit."
The Rangers' Ryan McDonagh and Devils' Adam Henrique were given five minute majors when they dropped the gloves in the opening period and squared off for the first fist-fight of the series.
New York captain Ryan Callahan and New Jersey's Russian winger Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk continued to taunt each other from their opposing penalty boxes after they came to blows.
A total of 18 penalties, 12 against the Rangers and six against New Jersey, were issued during the hostile game, triggering an ugly spat between the opposing coaches, the Devils' Peter DeBoer and the Rangers' John Tortorella, who began shouting at each other during the final period.
The pair had already been bad-mouthing each other in the lead-up after New York forward Brandon Prust was suspended for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov in Game Three on Saturday, but neither wanted to talk about the latest incident.
"This isn't about John and I, this is about the guys on the ice," said DeBoer. "We're trying to win a series and get to the Stanley Cup, we don't need any extra fuel.
"You've got two competitive teams, there's a lot at stake, they're battling to the buzzer, that's the way I saw it."
SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Unlike Saturday's third game, when sixth-seeded New Jersey failed to score despite firing 36 shots at the New York net, the Devils took their chances this time.
They finally found a way past the impenetrable defense of New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who recorded shutouts in two of the previous three games, when Brian Salvador scored with a wrist shot then Travis Zajac netted a slap shot less than four minutes later in the opening period.
New Jersey captain Zach Parise added two more goals in the final period, the first off a power play and the latter into an empty net when Lundqvist was pulled after the Rangers had scored a consolation goal through Ruslan Fedotenko five minutes from the end.
"It was a struggle for a number of our guys but we have to move on and have a short-term memory," said Tortorella.
"I'm truly confident that we'll respond the right way because we've done it all through the playoffs."
There is never any love lost between the teams but with a place in the Stanley Cup final at stake, the animosity has been steadily building with each game, and there are no signs of it letting up with the sides heading back to the cauldron-like Madison Square Garden on Wednesday for Game Five.
"Throughout a seven game series, both teams are going to get frustrated at certain things," said Parise.
"I think the intensity is only going to rise from here, there's a lot at stake, and we're up for the challenge."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Babe Ruth jersey sells for $4.4 million

A baseball jersey worn by The Bambino sold for more than $4.4 million Sunday, a record for any item of sports memorabilia, according to the buyer and seller.

SCP Auctions, based in California, said the circa 1920 New York Yankees uniform top is the earliest known jersey worn by Ruth and it fetched $4,415,658 at the company's April auction, which ended Sunday. That price broke the previous record of $4,338,500 set in 2010 for James Naismith's founding rules of basketball.
Lelands.com said it submitted the winning bid for the jersey, which had been displayed for years at The Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum in Baltimore. The road top has ''New York'' written across the front and the Hall of Fame slugger wore it shortly after he was sold to the Yankees by the Boston Red Sox for $100,000 following the 1919 season.
Suzan French, a spokeswoman for Lelands.com, said the company plans to sell the jersey privately rather than re-auction it.
''Such a spectacular piece will find a home with one of our private clients who truly appreciates its historic significance,'' Lelands.com president Michael Heffner said in a statement.
Ruth retired in 1935 with 714 home runs, the major league record for nearly 40 years. Hank Aaron broke that mark and then was passed by Barry Bonds, who finished with 762.
In addition, Ruth's 1934 New York Yankees cap that was owned by former major league pitcher David Wells sold for $537,278 at auction. The colorful Wells bought the cap for about $30,000 from a collector and famously paid homage to his idol by wearing it on the mound with the Yankees during a game on June 28, 1997.

Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor's New York Giants Super Bowl ring from the 1990 season went for $230,401.
Those items also set records, for a baseball cap and a Super Bowl ring, SCP Auctions said.
''This proves again that Babe Ruth is `king' in the sports memorabilia world,'' SCP Auctions president David Kohler said in a statement.

Also included in the auction was the high-end baseball card collection belonging to former big league All-Star Dmitri Young. Top prices were a 1954 Hank Aaron rookie card ($537,954) and a 1955 Roberto Clemente rookie card ($432,690). The proceeds will help Young begin a foundation to help kids and student athletes near his home in Ventura County, Calif., SCP Auctions said.
Other auction highlights included:

- 1924-28 Babe Ruth H&B professional model game-used bat ($591,007).
- 1968 Mickey Mantle autographed New York Yankees game-worn road jersey ($366,967).
- Circa 1931 Lou Gehrig New York Yankees game-worn home jersey ($275,706).
- Bobby Thomson's 1951 ''Shot Heard `Round the World'' cap ($173,102).

- Jackie Robinson 1950 All-Star game professional model bat ($133,234).A/P press

Dodger Stadium Arrests After Beating

A driver was beaten in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after a weekend game and four people were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police said Monday.

The driver, a man in his 20s, was in stable condition with scrapes and cuts to his face and his injuries are not life-threatening, Sgt. David Armas said. His name was not released.
The man was involved in a minor collision with another driver as he was leaving the stadium parking lot, and three men from another car also got involved, Armas said.

''They basically held the victim down while the original suspect kicked and hit him about the head and face area while he was on the ground,'' Armas said.
The violence comes after a Giants fan was severely injured in a beating during last year's opening game. Bryan Stow was left brain damaged during a confrontation in the parking lot, and stadium officials had promised to increase security after the attack.
Armas said Dodgers security staff and uniformed off-duty Los Angeles police were at the stadium Sunday and responded quickly.

Calls to Dodgers representatives seeking comment were not immediately returned.
The four men involved in the latest attack, all in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon because the victim was kicked, Armas said. One of them suffered bumps and scrapes to his face, ''probably as a result of the victim defending himself,'' Armas said.
A woman in the victim's car who was eight months pregnant was not hurt but she was examined at a hospital as a precaution, he said.

Armas said the suspects did not appear to have any street gang affiliations.

''It was just a minor fender bender that just got totally out of hand,'' Whats this world coming to.A/P

Olympic Torch On Ebay?

London Olympic flame carriers were offering their prized torches on eBay on Sunday, with one selling the memorabilia just hours after taking part in the historic 2012 relay.
Andrew Bell, 32, was among the first entrusted with the iconic emblem as it began its 8,000-mile trip across Britain ahead of the summer Games.

LIGHT IT UP

The Olympic torch relay is on its epic journey from Greece to London. See the latest torchbearers.

Yet he tried to cash in on the once-in-a-lifetime honor by putting the torch and his Olympic outfit up for sale soon afterward.
And at least four others have followed him, some advertising their torches and apparel before taking part in the procession.
New father Bell said, "I understand some people may find the idea of selling an Olympic torch offensive but we could genuinely use the money. Without giving you a sob story, we've a lovely baby boy and my wife has just gone back to work after maternity leave. Also, the torch is nearly a meter long and looks weird on the mantelpiece."
On eBay, Bell -- who finished his relay leg in Marazion, southwestern England, just after 9 a.m. local time Saturday -- invited bidders to "be one of the first to own this ultimate Olympic souvenir."
Games chiefs said the torches are worth about $780 but were given to bearers for around $465.
The different eBay ads attracted plenty of bids but some of over $100,000 were clearly hoaxes.
Rowing enthusiast Bell later withdrew his ad but others remained, including from sellers in UK locations that the flame is yet to visit.
In total, 8,000 bearers will help take it through 1,019 cities, towns and villages, each carrying it about 300 meters before using it to light the next torch.

A spokeswoman said, "The majority of people will want to keep their torch, but ultimately it's their property and for them to decide what to do with it. We hope the torches and uniforms find good homes."

Colorado Avalanche Milan Hejduk Sign's One Year Contract

Next season will mark the 36-year-old forward's 14th in the NHL, all of which have been spent with the Avalanche. He will enter the season nine games shy of becoming the first player in Avalanche history to appear in 1,000 games with the team.
Hejduk has tallied 371 goals and 423 assists in 991 career games and ranks fourth in franchise history in goals and points. He ranks fifth in assists.

The three-time Olympian won a gold medal with the Czech Republic at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and a bronze medal at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy.A/P Source

Minnesota High School Pitcher Strikes Out Five Batters One Inning

A pitcher can strike out no more than three batters in an inning, right? Wrong.
Eric Veglahn, a senior at La Crescent Senior High School in La Crescent, Minn., did something no major league pitcher has ever mastered. Not only did he strike out the side, but according to the Minnesota Baseball Hub, Veglahn struck out two more batters in that same inning -- a five-strikeout frame.
It may seem unbelievable and impossible, but it's not. The first two batters of the inning went down looking, and the third struck out swinging. But the catcher dropped the third strike and could not find the ball, allowing the batter to reach first.

The same thing happened to the next victim, who became the fourth strikeout but also reached base. That put men on first and second in the bottom of the seventh inning, with four strikeouts credited to Veglahn. He finished the job with a fifth K.by Austin Pollack

"I have never seen five strikeouts in an inning at any level, anywhere," La Crescent coach Rick Boyer said.

The score remained 4-1, and Veglahn set a state record with five strikeouts in an inning. He has fanned 101 batters this season, which places him first in the state in that category, according to the Minnesota Baseball Hub.

UFC champ Jones Facing DWI charge

UFC star Jon "Bones" Jones was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) early Saturday after the car he was driving struck a utility pole, police said.A/P Press

In a statement, police said they dispatched units at 5:02 a.m. for a one-car accident. Jones' 2012 Bentley struck a pole, according to the statement.

Jones was released to family members and was issued a ticket to appear at a later date, police said.
Officials said the police report on the incident was not yet available and wouldn't comment on whether there were other passengers in the vehicle.
Jones is a native of upstate New York and lives in Ithaca.
Jones’ manager confirmed the arrest
Jones was released to family members and was issued a ticket to appear at a later date, police said.
Officials said the police report on the incident was not yet available and wouldn't comment on whether there were other passengers in the vehicle.
Jones is a native of upstate New York and lives in Ithaca.
Jones’ manager confirmed the arrest.
“While the facts of this situation are still being gathered and situated,” Jones’ manager, Malki Kawa, said in a statement, “First Round Management fully supports Jon, and we are asking for fans and media to respect the privacy of Jon and his family during this time."
The release said neither Jones nor his representative would be granting interviews.
Jones is the UFC's 205-pound champion and one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts. The 24-year-old former college wrestler has skyrocketed to the top of his sport since turning pro in April 2008, going 16-1 with an unmatched combination of incredible athleticism and ever-improving technique.
He won the UFC light heavyweight title in March 2011 with a third-round stoppage of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. He has defended his belt three times against elite 205-pounders Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans, who lost a unanimous decision to Jones on April 21 in Atlanta. Jones had never even been stretched to a five-round decision during his MMA career before beating Evans, his bitter rival, on a pay-per-view show.
His next bout is expected to be Sept. 1 against veteran Dan Henderson at UFC 151 in Las Vegas, although the UFC hasn't formally scheduled the fight.
Jones is one of the UFC's biggest pay-per-view stars, with lucrative endorsement deals and a growing national profile after appearing on "The Tonight Show" and in other national media. Jones also is a devout Christian who had a squeaky-clean image before this arrest.
Jones has two brothers who play in the NFL: Baltimore defensive lineman Arthur Jones and Patriots rookie Chandler Jones, who starred at Syracuse last season.

Pepsi Sponsorship Drppoed After Animal Abuse

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Soft drink maker Pepsi said on Thursday that it was dropping sponsorship of a prestigious national horse show, one day after ABC News broadcast footage of a horse in training for a show being beaten by a trainer.

The Walking Horse National Celebration said that Pepsi had been a sponsor since 2010 of the nation's leading competition for Tennessee Walking Horses, a breed known for its high-stepping gait.

"We have ended our sponsorship of the event," Pepsi spokesman Vincent Bozek said on Thursday without elaborating.

Neither Pepsi nor officials of the horse show would confirm the reason for the cancellation of the sponsorship. But an expert on the Tennessee Walking Horse show circuit, who asked not to be identified, said he believed it was because of the ABC News report, which showed an abusive practice known as "soring."

The Humane Society of the United States conducted an undercover investigation and filmed the video which was given to ABC News and broadcast, said Keith Dane, the society's director of equine protection.

An animal rights activist went to work in a horse barn and secretly taped the abuse in March and April, 2011. It shows the horses being beaten with wooden sticks and poked with electric cattle prods. The horses' ankles were slathered with caustic chemicals and ankles wrapped with plastic to amplify the pain.

The chemicals induce pain and cause the horse to raise its front legs high while in the show ring.

Soring has been such a pervasive practice among Tennessee Walking Horse trainers that in 2009 the industry set up an organization and hired veterinarians to tour shows and inspect the horses.

Dr. Stephen Mullins, president of SHOW, the organization that inspects the horses, said he was disgusted by the video.

"For any animal to be abused like that ... I totally disagree with that," Mullins said.

The Humane Society video was the latest example of the organization going undercover to expose alleged animal abuse. Animal rights groups have used undercover investigations to film practices such as chickens in small cages, diseased cattle dragged by tractors while they are still alive, sows confined in crates.

Their efforts have prompted egg producers to agree to an increase in the size of cages, and some major buyers of pork recently said they would no longer buy from farms which confining mother sows in crates.

But the undercover operations also have prompted a backlash from some farm state lawmakers, who have passed laws to make it a criminal offense to infiltrate an agricultural business.

The Humane Society's Dane said the group decided to go undercover in the horse barn because the Tennessee Walking Horse industry's self-policing of the practice of "soring" was not working. He applauded the Pepsi decision, which he said might help clean up the industry.

"This procedure of soring has been going on far too long ... the industry itself has been allowed to self-police and with very poor results," Dane said.

The chief executive of the Walking Horse National Celebration, Doyle Meadows, said in a statement: "The Celebration has worked extremely hard over recent years to gain the trust of our corporate partners and we would do nothing to destroy that relationship. As the Celebration moves forward to promote a sound horse we hope that everyone will assist in our efforts to promote this magnificent breed."

The Walking Horse National Celebration takes place every summer in Shelbyville, Tennessee.by tim ghianni

      

Cubs Kerry Wood Retiring

 Kerry Wood woke up today, he decided it would be his last as a Major Leaguer.
I’m not a Cubs fan, but Kerry Wood’s name will forever remain synonymous with their emblem. I remember that May 6th, 1998 afternoon like it was yesterday–the 20 strikeout game.

He’s made himself available to pitch out of the bullpen one last time at Wrigley Field in this afternoon’s contest against the Chicago White Sox. After that, he’ll hang up the cleats and close out a 14-year career for good. Hopefully the baseball Gods will have their way with things and make it so.

I think it’s been mentioned in these parts before; but after making a trip to Wrigley a few weekends ago, there’s nothing better to kick off a weekend of fun than a beautiful afternoon game at Wrigley. In a way, Wood’s career ends fittingly.by the naturalmevs

Jonathan Vilma sues Roger Goodell

NEW ORLEANS --Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a defamation lawsuit Thursday against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming the league's top executive made false statements that tarnished Vilma's reputation and hindered his ability to earn a living playing football.
The suit in U.S. District Court in New Orleans claims Goodell, "relied on, at best, hearsay, circumstantial evidence and lies" in making comments about Vilma while discussing the NFL's bounty investigation of the New Orleans Saints.
Goodell has said Vilma was a leader of the team's bounty program that put up thousands of dollars for hits which took out opposing teams' star players from 2009-11, including $10,000 each on then-Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and then-Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre during the playoffs in 2010.

"Commissioner Goodell opted to make very public and unfortunately erroneous allegations against Jonathan," said Vilma's attorney, Peter Ginsberg. "By making these false and public statements, he has significantly harmed Jonathan's reputation and ability to make a living.
"By suing Commissioner Goodell in court, Jonathan opted to use a fair playing field where he has procedural rights and protections to remedy the harm Commissioner Goodell has done to him."

Vilma wrote on his Twitter account that, "As I've said before..I NEVER PAID, NOR INTENDED TO PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY, TO ANY PLAYER FOR INTENTIONALLY HURTING AN OPPONENT."
Goodell has suspended Vilma, an eight-year veteran and defensive captain, for the entire 2012 season. Vilma and three other current of former Saints who received shorter suspensions -- defensive end Will Smith, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and linebacker Scott Fujita -- all have appealed their punishments. Hargrove now plays for Green Bay while Fujita is with Cleveland.
"However, our commitment to player safety and the integrity of the game is our main consideration. We recognize that not everyone will agree with decisions that need to be made."
The NFL also hired former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White in late 2011 to review its evidence in the case, and White has said the NFL's findings are corroborated by multiple independent witnesses as well as documentation.
Vilma's lawsuit, which is expected to be heard by Judge Ginger Berrigan, asks for unspecified monetary damages as well as punitive damage and attorneys fees.
The lawsuit states that Goodell, "knew and intended that Vilma would suffer severe emotional distress" when the NFL published its bounty report and handed down punishment for the 30-year-old linebacker.

"Vilma will soon have to leave behind the world of professional football and will likely face difficulties in obtaining other employment and entering into new ventures as a result of Goodell's false and defamatory statements," the lawsuit said. "Media will forever mention his name in the context of the bounty investigation and fans will forever remember Vilma with ill repute rather than remember his substantial accomplishments on and off the field."
The players' association has said that the league has refused to turn over what the union would view as hard evidence that Vilma or the other sanctioned players tried to intentionally injure targeted opponents, or sponsored such behavior.
"It is certainly the case that in court, Jonathan will have a right to see whatever it is that Commissioner Goodell has been hiding from us and what Commissioner Goodell contends gave him a basis to make these false allegations," Ginsberg said. "We will have a fair and neutral judge to preside over the dispute rather than contending with the executioner also being the person making the final decision."
Vilma's lawsuit states that the linebacker "never 'pledged,' made or received payments of any kind encouraging or resulting from an opposing player being injured."
The NFL found that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams oversaw a bounty program in New Orleans from 2009 to 2011 which paid off-the-books cash bonuses of $1,500 for "knockouts," or hits which forced a player out of games, and $1,000 for "cart-offs," which left players needing help off the field.
The Saints have been punished harshly as an organization. Head coach Sean Payton has been suspended for all of 2012 for failing to put a stop to the program and attempting to cover it up, while general manager Mickey Loomis has been suspended eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt six games. The club also was fined $500,000 and docked two second-round draft picks.
Williams, now with St. Louis, has been suspended indefinitely.

Payton, Loomis and Williams all have issued written public apologies regarding the bounty scandal.source A/P Press

Dolphins back Reggie Bush: 'I Want The Rushing Title"

In 2011, Reggie Bush stunned the world by being something he'd never been in his career before: a traditional running back. Bush rushed for 200 yards in one game and topped 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the first time in his career.

Now Bush has an even bolder goal: he wants to lead the entire NFL in rushing yards in 2012.

"I want the rushing title," Bush said, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "This offseason, I've been working toward that goal. Just being effective like I was this past season. Every time I rush the ball, I want four yards. I'm keeping my focus simple and small but at the same time helping my team progress."

The last time that the NFL leader in rushing yards posted less than 1,600 yards was 2007, when LaDainian Tomlinson won the title with 1,474. So if we assume that Bush needs at least that much to lead the league and he averages four yards a carry, he'll need 400 carries to get to 1,600 yards.

If Bush manages to repeat last year's success of five yards per carry, he'll need 320 carries to hit 1,600 yards. Even if he hits his career high of 5.6 yards per carry (from 2009 when he carried the ball just 70 times), Bush will need 285 carries to hit 1,600 yards.

What I'm trying to get at is that it's pretty unlikely that Bush will lead the league in rushing yards -- he's never carried the ball more than 215 times in a season, and he did that last year over the course of 15 games.

He's also transitioning to a Joe Philbin-run offense, which will be good for him in the sense that he's the type of running back who can do damage in both the running and passing game.

It'll be "bad" for him in the sense that he's not going to get the touches necessary to lead the league in rushing. But props to him for elevating his goals as he continues to reinvent his game.

Derby-winning colt gets a day off

BALTIMORE (AP) — Four days before the Preakness, I'll Have Another trainer Doug O'Neill was feeling very skittish about his pending appearance on the grand stage.

His nervousness had nothing to do with saddling up the Kentucky Derby winner Saturday with the Triple Crown hanging in the balance. O'Neill didn't care that it was too wet to send I'll Have Another out on the track, and he certainly wasn't uneasy about the Preakness coming down to another duel between his horse and Derby pace-setter Bodemeister.
No, the usually laid-back O'Neill was fretting over his assignment Tuesday night at Camden Yards: Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in my hotel room throwing shampoo bottles at pillows," he said Tuesday morning. "My biggest thing is not bouncing it. The more people say don't bounce it, the more likely you will bounce it. I'm just trying to stay focused on throwing it straight and strong and not embarrassing the I'll Have Another team."
He did a fine job. Standing in front of the mound, O'Neill peered for an imaginary sign from Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty, who was poised behind the plate. O'Neill then went into an exaggerated windup and unleashed a high pitch that Flaherty snagged after leaping from his crouch.
O'Neill broke a trend by shipping the his horse to Pimlico Race Course just two days after the Derby, and he arrived in town two days after that. Since then, he's been preparing I'll Have Another for the Preakness and doing all things Baltimore.
O'Neill watched the Baltimore Ravens rookies practice last weekend and had lunch with coach John Harbaugh. On Monday night, he tried crabs for the first time.

"It's a lot of work with a mallet. I felt like a carpenter," O'Neill said. "It was good. We experienced the common food of Baltimore. I think next time I'll look for the crab cakes. That's the lazy man's way of eating crab. Pulling the legs and cracking this and that, it does seem like too much work."

On the topic of work, O'Neill decided I'll Have Another didn't have to do any Tuesday on a wet, dreary morning at Pimlico.
"With I'll Have Another being as fit as he is and the fact he's doing so good, we figured the weather forecast is supposed to be nice starting tomorrow, so why take him out there?" O'Neill said. "Like the rest of us, we all like a day off. We gave the whole barn a day off. He looks fantastic.
"You would expect good energy, which he has. We needed a lip chain to keep him on the ground. He was prancing around there. He's happy. We'll probably walk him a couple of more times throughout the day. He'll probably be a little stir crazy without going to the track. I just thought it was the safest, smartest move."
Since rallying past Bodemeister in the Derby, I'll Have Another has showed absolutely no sign of fatigue. If the rousing run to the finish took anything out of him, it sure didn't show in his appetite.

"Every morning we find a clean, licked-up feed tub," O'Neill said. "He's a really mellow horse in the stall. He's a horse that every morning looks like he had a good night's sleep."

Many of the horses that ran in the Derby, including Union Rags and Hansen, have opted out of the Preakness. O'Neill, on the other hand, threw I'll Have Another into the Preakness mix at the winner's circle at Churchill Downs.

"You need a special horse to do it," he said in front of Barn D at Pimlico, the temporary home of I'll Have Another. "I could see where those guys probably want a little more time to recover. Fortunately, I'll Have Another has recovered super quickly. It's still going to be a tough race with Bodemeister and Graham Motion's horse.

Win or lose, O'Neill won't soon forget this magical two-week stay in Baltimore — even if he does bounce that first-pitch fastball at Camden Yards.

"The fact we get paid to do something we all love is incredible," he said. "As friends and family come visit the barn, you can see how they just love the whole environment. We're enjoying every minute of it. Who knows if we'll ever be back again with a Derby winner? Hopefully we will be. We are just soaking it all in. We're so blessed to have a brilliant horse like him."david ginsburg a/p

Curt Shilling's Company In Trouble?

According to a report by Providence’s NBC 10, Rhode Island state officials have been meeting with 38 Studios, the video game company owned by Curt Schilling.
“We’re always working to keep Rhode Island companies solvent, and that’s what we’re doing with 38 Studios,” Governor Lincoln Chafee said.
38 Studios was originally Massachusetts based, but Rhode Island lured the company in 2010 with a $75 million loan guarantee.

38 Studios declined to comment on the report. The company released it’s first game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, in February to solid reviews. It’s currently at work on a MMO called Copernicus.