Times wires
Monday, May 30, 2011
Padres 3, Braves 2
10 innings
ATLANTA — Pinch-hitter Kyle Phillips broke a tie at 2 in the 10th with his first career home run, helping the Padres to their third straight win. Phillips, a rookie with a .167 average in 30 at-bats, led off the inning and hit the second pitch from George Sherrill.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/padres-3-braves-2-10-innings/1172678
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Brewer was the Browns' starting tight end 1961-65 and finished with 89 catches for 1,256 yards and six touchdowns.
View full sizeJohnny Brewer caught 25 passes for the 1964 NFL champion Cleveland Browns.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Johnny Brewer, 74, the starting tight end on the Browns' championship team in 1964, passed away Friday in Madison, Miss.
Brewer was drafted by the Browns in the fourth round -- 41st overall -- of the 1960 draft after playing on two national championship teams at Ole Miss, where he was an All-American.
Brewer was the Browns' starting tight end 1961-65 and finished with 89 catches for 1,256 yards and six touchdowns. His most productive season was 1964, when he caught 25 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns in helping lead the Browns to the championship game, where they defeated the Baltimore Colts, 27-0.
In 1966, Brewer was moved to right outside linebacker and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl after the 1967 season. He finished his career as a linebacker with the New Orleans Saints, retiring after the 1970 season.
Brewer was inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. After football, he had a long career in the insurance industry.
Brewer is survived by his wife of 46 years, Anita Wood Brewer, daughter Jonnita Barrett, and sons John Brewer Jr. and Sean Brewer. Memorial services will be Saturday in Vicksburg, Miss.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/05/johnny_brewer_1937-2011_was_a.html
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A drug dealer was caught with a stash of cannabis and amphetamine with a street value of �750,000.
Daniel Loweth admitted supplying, possessing and intending to supply the class B drugs between September 2009 and February last year.
The 38-year-old, of Hand Avenue, Braunstone, was jailed for a total of 16 months.
He also admitted possessing criminal property, namely �10,120 in cash, and possessing a prohibited weapon, a CS gas canister.
Mary Prior, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court police raids on Loweth's home and his girlfriend's address in Ashthorpe Road, Braunstone, uncovered drugs and cash.
Drugs found at Ashthorpe Road included one-and-a-half kilos of herbal cannabis, worth �11,000, as well as bags of amphetamine with a maximum street value of �705,000.
Found at the defendant's home were two kilos of lactose, commonly used as a cutting agent, as well as smaller amounts of drugs.
Mrs Prior said just under five kilos of amphetamine from both addresses amounted to a street value of between �372,000 and �746,000.
James Varley, mitigating, said Loweth was a social drug user and was holding the larger quantities on behalf of others "higher up the chain".
He said Loweth was on incapacity benefit and living with his mother.
Mr Varley added that Loweth was frank with the police when they turned up to search his home and pleaded guilty.
He said his client had told him: "I'm going to prison so I'd rather start serving the sentence now."
The defendant's girlfriend will be sentenced at a later date.
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Times wires
Monday, May 30, 2011
White Sox 7, Red Sox 3
BOSTON — Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin had two RBIs each during a four-run sixth as the White Sox roughed up Jon Lester, snapping his seven-game winning streak. Paul Konerko added a solo homer for Chicago, which halted a three-game skid and won its 11th in 13 games against the Red Sox. Jake Peavy, making his fourth start since working back from right shoulder surgery in July, pitched seven sharp innings.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/white-sox-7-red-sox-3/1172721
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Times wires
Saturday, May 28, 2011
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd are at the point where they only care about winning a championship.
Luckily for them, their teammates feel the same way.
From Shawn Marion to Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler to Brendan Haywood, Peja Stojakovic to DeShawn Stevenson, the Mavericks are a collection of guys who have played at least 10 seasons without winning a title. Their willingness to accept whatever playing time and stats they pile up is a big reason Dallas is in the Finals.
"This is a bunch of veterans who want to play and are unselfish," Nowitzki said. " … Everybody sacrificing for each other."
The Finals are an interesting clash in team-building formulas.
The Heat has stars Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh plus the best role players it could afford with the remaining room under the salary cap.
Dallas was built to be deep and versatile. The Mavs knew Nowitzki would be the main option every night, with Kidd guiding the offense, but the No. 2 scorer and other roles would depend on matchups or who had the hot hand.
A team that struggled to make it work at times last season has bought into the concept.
Haywood signed last summer to be the starter, lost his job to Chandler and was so uncomfortable as a backup that he was suspended for a game in November. But in the playoffs, he has done everything a backup big man should.
Stevenson also has been in and out of the lineup.
Marion is a four-time All-Star who became a backup for the first time when he joined Dallas last season. He became a starter for good in March. "There's a point in everybody's career where you've got to make certain sacrifices if you really want to get to that ultimate goal," he said.
LeBron: MJ's better
MIAMI — Scottie Pippen said LeBron James may be basketball's greatest player ever.
Among those who disagree: LeBron James.
The Heat forward provided his reaction to Pippen's comparison between James and Michael Jordan on Saturday, saying he was flattered by the sentiment but doesn't believe he's done enough to merit mention among the game's elite.
"I'm not better than Jordan," James said.
Pippen — who won six championships alongside Jordan in Chicago with the Bulls in the 1990s — said Friday that while Jordan is "probably the greatest scorer to play the game," James "may be the greatest player to ever play the game."
"Michael's an unbelievable player," James said Saturday. "I've got a long way — long way — to be mentioned as far as one of the all-time greats. Not even just Jordan. There's a lot of great players. … Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, all these guys who are floating around with multiple rings. Bill Russell, all these guys who have pioneered this game.
NBA Finals
Heat vs. Mavericks
Tuesday: at Miami, 9, Ch. 28
Thursday: at Miami, 9, Ch. 28
June 5: at Dallas, 8, Ch. 28
June 7: at Dallas, 9, Ch. 28
June 9: at Dallas, 9, Ch. 28 *
June 12: at Miami, 8, Ch. 28 *
June 14: at Miami, 9, Ch. 28 *
* If necessary
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/mavs-bond-over-title-chase/1172465
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EAST YORKS: Rail-users experienced major delays during the bank holiday weekend after power lines were damaged.
Passengers of the East Coast Main Line services faced scores of cancellations and delays after overhead lines were damaged in two separate incidents.
Journeys on the route, which runs between Aberdeen and London's Kings Cross, were affected for much of Sunday, after power lines in Copmanthorpe, south of York, were damaged.
Diesel trains carried passengers through the affected area, but many travellers faced hour-long delays.
The problems followed hours of chaos on the line on Saturday, when 200 metres of power lines were damaged near Grantham, Lincolnshire, leading to disruption on 70 scheduled services.
A spokeswoman for service operator East Coast said both incidents had been resolved and trains were running as scheduled yesterday.
EAST HULL: Arsonists attacked children's play equipment. Wooden playground equipment at the recreation ground off Stonebridge Avenue was deliberately set on fire.
Firefighters were called out to the blaze at 6.37pm on Sunday.
Police are now investigating.
WEST HULL: A newsagent has been fined �200 for selling cigarettes to children.
Rakhshinda Mufti, 25, of Muftis in Albert Avenue, west Hull, was fined �200 for selling cigarettes to youngsters who were underage.
He pleaded guilty at Hull Magistrates' Court and was ordered to pay a �15 victims' surcharge and �260 court costs.
EAST YORKS: The cost of owning a property by the sea has more than doubled in the past decade.
According to Halifax, house prices in seaside towns have soared by 128 per cent since 2001, with seven out of ten towns seeing increases in property values.
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THEY might not be the quickest creatures, but turtles are enjoying their own fast food at The Deep.
The four amphibians, the aquarium's newest residents from Bristol Zoo, are dining on vegetarian kebabs to keep them healthy.
The specially designed gourmet treats have been created by The Deep's aquarist team after their food was being stolen by other creatures in the tank.
But now, the two Amazon yellow spotted river turtles and two Geoffroy's side-necked turtles are enjoying their food undisturbed.
Emma Haines, The Deep's reptile specialist, said: "It is crucial that our Amazon turtles receive a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables.
"We found that some of the other inhabitants of the Amazon Flooded Forest tank were also enjoying the turtle food so we had to come up with a way that would ensure they could eat undisturbed.
"We had the idea of threading their food onto cable ties which we could then be presented to them on their basking island above the tank, so they can munch their lunch undisturbed."
Emma prepares the kebabs behind the scenes in The Deep's kitchen.
The tasty treats feature all the river turtle's favourite foods including melon, grapes, baby sweetcorn, carrots, peppers and tomatoes.
These turtles join a whole host of life already at home in the display including silver arowana, ripsaw catfish, motoro stingray, tiger shovelnose catfish and pacu.
Turtles are an ancient species that have been around for 250 million years, yet in the last 30 years human exploitation has resulted in the extinction of many species with many more in immediate danger. They are threatened with over-fishing for food and for their supposed medical value as well as the destruction of their habitats.
The Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit looks at the flooded forests which annually receive over 9m of rain in just three months.
As a result the Amazon quickly bursts its banks and floods the surrounding area. These areas are incredibly diverse yet vulnerable environments which become home to a huge range of species, including turtles.
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Times wires
Monday, May 30, 2011
Soccer
Suspended fifa executive plans his appeal
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — FIFA executive Mohamed bin Hammam plans to appeal his suspension over bribery allegations, claiming Monday that he was being "punished before I am found guilty."
A FIFA ethics committee provisionally suspended bin Hammam and FIFA vice president Jack Warner on Sunday, pending a full inquiry into allegations Caribbean soccer leaders were paid $40,000 each to back the Qatari's now-abandoned bid for the FIFA presidency.
In a statement released Monday, bin Hammam said he has lodged a request with FIFA to file his appeal by today so he could be reinstated ahead of Wednesday's congress where FIFA executives will vote for a president.
Bin Hammam, 62, was incumbent Sepp Blatter's only challenger before he withdrew from the race hours before the ethics committee issued its ruling Sunday.
"The way these proceedings have been conducted is absolutely not compliant with any principles of justice. I am punished before I am found guilty," bin Hammam said Monday.
"I get the impression that the outcome of these proceedings had been defined from the very beginning as it has been made evident at the press conference on Sunday evening at which FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke showed his bias very clearly. This is not acceptable as the FIFA Ethics Committee is supposed to be a fully independent body."
After a daylong hearing Sunday, the FIFA ethics panel said there was sufficient evidence to further investigate allegations that bin Hammam and Warner, the CONCACAF president, offered the bribes to more than two dozen delegates at a Caribbean soccer association meeting May 10-11 in Trinidad.
The payments were allegedly made to secure votes for bin Hammam in his campaign to unseat Blatter. If found guilty, bin Hammam and Warner could be expelled from FIFA and banned for life from all soccer activity.
More soccer
Chicago Fire dismisses coach
The Chicago Fire dismissed Mexican coach Carlos de los Cobos after his struggling Major League Soccer team recorded one win in 11 games this season. Fire technical director Frank Klopas will serve as interim coach.
Vancouver fires coach: The Vancouver Whitecaps fired head coach Teitur Thordarson and goalkeeper coach Mike Salmon. The expansion Whitecaps have not won in MLS since opening day March 19.
et cetera
Horses: Tizway had it all his way in winning the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap, running the second-fastest mile in the storied history of the New York race. The 6-year-old son of Tiznow left his 10 rivals in the dust once he made the turn for home and scorched the mile in 1:32.90 at Belmont Park — just nine hundredths of a second off the record set by Honour and Glory in 1996. … Dubawi Heights wore down leader Celtic Princess in the final strides to win the $250,000 Gamely Stakes by a head at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. In the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap, Camp Victory finished second by a half-length but got the victory after winner Amazombie was disqualified and placed third for an incident in the stretch.
Cycling: Matthew Busche won the USA Pro road race in Greenville, S.C., outsprinting hometown favorite George Hincapie at the line in a rousing finish to the national championships.
Times wires
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HOSPITAL staff in East Yorkshire are having to deal with an average of 32 admissions due to alcohol-related illness and injury every day.
The scale of the problem was revealed in alarming figures that show the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions reached 11,715 in 2009-10.
This has increased from 10,043 the previous year.
The admissions include alcohol-related injuries, alcoholics who need detox treatment and people with alcohol poisoning.
Health officials say the figures, which are the latest available from the NHS Information Centre, are worrying.
Phil Morley, chief executive at Hull And East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, in Cottingham, said: "Any avoidable hospital admission is something we should be concerned about.
"Increasing alcohol consumption is an incredibly complicated social issue influenced by a wide range of factors.
"While people are drinking more, we will see increased numbers of people coming to hospital with alcohol-related injuries, as well as alcohol-related diseases.
"Clearly, this is an increased pressure on our services, in the same way that admissions due to smoking-related diseases put pressure on hospitals.
"There are clear national recommendations for the daily amount of alcohol men and women should consume and I would encourage our local population to drink in moderation in order to reduce the risk of serious diseases, such as mouth, throat or neck cancer, or cirrhosis."
Hull has about 44,000 residents who drink up to or more than twice the recommended level of alcohol each week and a further 8,000 who are dependent on alcohol.
Meanwhile, in the East Riding, about 62,000 people drink up to or more than twice the recommended level of alcohol every week. There are about 9,500 people who are dependent on alcohol in the county.
In 2008-09, there were 4,840 alcohol-related hospital admissions in Hull and 5,203 in the East Riding. This increased to 5,637 in Hull and 6,078 in the East Riding in 2009-10.
The problem has increased at a faster rate in Hull and the East Riding than nationally, where the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions has topped one million, according to the figures in the report.
Paul Laing, public health lead for alcohol at NHS Hull, the city's primary care trust (PCT), said work is being done to tackle the problem.
He said investment has been made in more alcohol detox beds and community-based detox programmes, as well as hospital-based alcohol workers who ensure alcoholics get the right support when they leave hospital.
Screening for 10,000 people is also carried out every year to determine how much they drink.
If it is considered to be a harmful level, they are given information about the impact it could have on their health and are offered support.
Mr Laing said: "Drinking behaviour has changed and people are drinking more.
"There is more availability with extended licensing hours and cheaper alcohol, so because of that, there is more alcohol-related harm.
"Often, people drink to manage periods of stress and boredom, and that can include areas of deprivation. But drinking goes across the board.
"Where there is a high level of alcohol-related harm, it is linked to deprivation and that is a problem in Hull because we have a high level of deprivation.
"But it's not just defined by that.
"If you have a lot of money or a high-powered job, it grabs people at all levels."
East Riding GPs also offer screening, as well as information or referral to specialist services.
NHS East Riding of Yorkshire, the county's PCT, said there is also a community specialist alcohol service that offers advice, as well as community or inpatient detox.
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Times wires
Sunday, May 29, 2011
IRVING, Texas — Walking down the 18th fairway during a playoff and realizing he was about to get his first PGA Tour victory, Keegan Bradley got emotional thinking about a cowbell.
The one that is in the World Golf Hall of Fame. The one his grandmother rang after every win by his famous aunt, LPGA Tour great Pat Bradley, whose 31 victories included six majors.
"It was like pull it together, don't start thinking about the cowbell," Keegan Bradley said. "The cowbell in my family is an iconic thing."
Bradley settled himself and won the Byron Nelson Championship, parring the first hole of a playoff with Ryan Palmer on Sunday. Bradley sank a 2-foot par putt at the 419-yard 18th hole in the playoff, while Palmer's approach went into the water before a 13-foot bogey putt.
Bradley, a PGA Tour rookie who never won on the Nationwide Tour, got his first professional victory nine days before his 25th birthday. He looked forward to talking to his aunt.
"She is a lot calmer on the golf course than she is watching me. I'm sure she was by the TV going crazy," Bradley said. "I talk to her regularly through text messages and phone calls about tournaments and what it's like to come down near the end. … This is the closest thing we ever had in common in terms of playing."
About an hour before the playoff, Bradley finished his closing round of 2-under 68 with a par at No. 18, dropping into a squat and hopping a few times in frustration when his 10-foot birdie chance slid by the hole.
Palmer (72) and Bradley finished at 3-under 277, the highest winning score on the PGA Tour this year and the highest in relation to par in a non-major since 1999. It was the fifth playoff in six weeks and 10th overall.
Palmer forced the extra hole with a 6-foot putt at No. 18 for the second birdie there all day.
Amateur Jordan Spieth, 17, had a rough finish, closing with two double-bogeys and two bogeys for a 7-over 77 and 6 over for the tournament.
"I was humbled by this back nine," said the future Texas Longhorn. "I'm focused on college now. Had I won today, who knows, but I'm focused now on the next step."
CHAMPIONS: Tom Watson summoned up some of his old major magic, holing a 3-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat David Eger in the Senior PGA Championship in Louisville, Ky. Watson, 61, who was down a shot with four holes left in regulation, became the oldest player to win a major since the seniors tour was created in 1980. Watson closed with 2-under 70 to finish at 10-under 278 and capture his 14th career major, six since turning 50.
EUROPEAN: Luke Donald won a duel for No. 1 with a playoff victory over fellow Englishman Lee Westwood at the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England. Donald's approach shot on No. 18, the first playoff hole, landed a few feet from the hole. Westwood, who went in as the world No. 1, sent his shot into a water hazard. Westwood shot 3-under 68 in regulation and Donald shot 70 to both finish at 6-under 278.
LPGA: Mariajo Uribe shot 6-under 66 to beat Lindsey Wright by a stroke in the 36-hole Brazil Cup in Rio de Janeiro. Uribe had seven birdies and a bogey to finish at 9-under 135 in the 30-player exhibition event.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/rookie-bradley-gets-first-win/1172571
Times wires
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Yankees 7, Mariners 1
SEATTLE — CC Sabathia pitched eight strong innings, Andruw Jones lined a bases-clearing double to highlight a five-run third and the Yankees avoided a three-game sweep. New York knocked around Mariners starter Jason Vargas and salvaged one game in the first stop of a three-city, nine-game West Coast trip. Sabathia won for the third time in four tries when pitching after a loss, allowing two hits before giving up Justin Smoak's homer in the sixth.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/yankees-7-mariners-1/1172555
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By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, May 27, 2011
BOSTON
What you ask is simple:
That, in the fury of the playoffs, a team leave nothing behind.
And so let it be recorded that Tampa Bay's postseason began six weeks ago with Marty St. Louis surrendering his teeth in Pittsburgh, and it ended Friday night in Boston with Steven Stamkos offering the blood from his broken nose.
And in between?
This determined, likable, overachieving team left its heart on the ice.
Yet, when the final seconds of the season's 100th game ticked away, it was not quite enough.
"In terms of dedication, relentlessness, structure, paying the price, fighting for the guy beside you, you couldn't have asked for more," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "This was a family.
"And you know what's tough? It's that you lose, but you know not everybody is going to be back. You know this was a special team with special people. That's what I told the players after the game."
The Bruins beat Tampa Bay 1-0 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, putting an end to the most shocking season the Lightning has known.
A franchise that had been left for dread not long ago came within one victory of reaching the Stanley Cup final for the second time in seven years.
"The last few days, you're so close, you start thinking about it. You start dreaming about it," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "You have to stop yourself and focus on the next game. But it's so hard not to think about it."
The Lightning simply did not have enough in the end. It wasn't any one thing, and it wasn't any one person.
The offense was shut out for the second time in the series, but this is the same team that scored 21 goals in the other five games against Boston's Tim Thomas.
And Dwayne Roloson lost for the first time in his career in eight elimination games, but he was brilliant for most of the night. Even better than Thomas.
And the defense had a lapse in the third period, but how do you blame a unit that gave up one goal in its two Game 7 performances this postseason?
You can nit, you can pick, you can analyze it all summer long, but the Bruins were simply better. Maybe by an inch or two, but it was ultimately enough.
And how can you be disappointed by that?
"No regrets," Lecavalier said. "Since the first day of training camp we've worked so hard for this. The whole year, just believing and believing.
"That's what makes this so hard now."
In the days to come, this will surely be recalled as the most unexpected season in the history of a franchise. More shocking even than the Stanley Cup title of 2004.
For, if you think back, you'll remember the promise and momentum of the 2004 team had been gathering over several calendars. You could at least see it coming, even if you weren't fully convinced they were going to pull it off.
This time, the Lightning appeared without any thunder at all. No one was talking about the Stanley Cup, and only the most hopeful were expecting a spot in the playoffs.
This was a brand new owner putting his faith in an unproven GM who hired an untested head coach who led an uneven roster to within one win of the Stanley Cup final.
"So much positive this year. Just that one little negative. That Game 7 we lose," said St. Louis. "As you get older, they hurt more I think. Because you know now how hard it is to get here."
This was a team that was hard to watch, but impossible to ignore. A team that seemed to revel in the uneasy moments between doubt and despair.
And, make no mistake, desperation has been a large part of this run. The Bolts have been behind in most of the games they've played. They trailed the Penguins from the start of that series, and were chasing the Bruins for most of this series.
Tampa Bay tried to mimic the style it played when it beat Pittsburgh 1-0 in a Game 7 a month ago, but the result was reversed.
This time the Lightning blinked when Mattias Ohlund, Eric Brewer and Stamkos had a momentary miscommunication in the defensive zone.
"It's that gray area of, 'Is he mine, is he yours?' And everybody hesitated," Boucher said. "We had numbers. It wasn't a breakaway, it wasn't two-on-one, it wasn't any of that.
"That's the one thing we didn't want. We didn't want to come out of this game giving up a freebie for a goal and for the rest of the summer go, "What …' "
So savor it. Revel in it. Remember it all.
Because no matter how it ended, it should not be forgotten what these players accomplished.
It was not just the 46 victories in the regular season, and it was not simply the victories over Pittsburgh and Washington in the playoffs.
It was the way a team helped you fall in love with hockey all over again.
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BARCELONA 3 (Pedro 27, Messi 54, Villa 69) MANCHESTER UNITD (Rooney 34)
Chris Hatherall at Wembley Stadium
THE inscription in Pele’s autobiography read simply “I dedicate this book to all those who make the game beautiful”. Now, 24 years on, there couldn’t be a better strap line for a match report of Barcelona’s wonderful performance against Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League Final as they proved once and for all they have no peers.
Has there ever been a team in the history of football that plays the game this way?
Pep Guardiola’s side have the wonderful natural skills of the Brazilian greats – take a look at David Villa’s impudent goal here at Wembley to confirm that; in Messi they have a dribbler of such pace, balance and panache that a comparison with Diego Maradona or George Best – who graced the final at this same ground in 1968 – is not unwarranted; and to top it all they have the passing skills of the Dutch masters combined with a high-energy pressing game that has not been matched by any side in history.
United, with all their own history, all their own skills and passion – and with Wayne Rooney sweating blood for the cause – did everything in their power to try and stop them and were even level 1-1 at half-time.
But a final glance at the statistics show Barca had almost 70 per cent possession, created a dozen chances and restricted their rivals to only one shot on target – Rooney’s 34th minute effort that equalised an opener which had been set up by the outstanding Xavi and finished sweetly by Pedro.
United fans and players will be distraught at the final scoreline – the disappointment on the faces of Ferguson’s squad was clear for all to see; but when they reflect on the game tomorrow they will know they simply lost to a wonderful side who would have beaten anyone placed in front of them.
Some of the football played by Guardiola’s team was a joy to see; swift inter-passing, remarkable, mazy runs from Messi and improbable almost impossible-to-see through-balls from Xavi and Iniesta.
The opening goal was created by Xavi’s vision and finished sweetly and ruthlessly by Pedro –a player not even regarded as one of Barca’s superstars but who played a major part in their victory.
Rooney’s equaliser – a one-two at pace with Giggs and a wonderful finish – made Barca prove they know how to fight, too, and they dominated the second half - forcing van der Sar into four smart saves as well as producing two wonderful goals that would grace any European final.
The pictures of man-of-the-match Messi racing towards his own fans after whipping home a left-foot effort that was all of his own making will be one of the iconic images of the final, as will the post-match ticker-tape celebrations; but perhaps the real crowning glory was David Villa’s impudent chip – the Spaniard somehow finding time to trap the ball in the middle of the area before lifting it expertly into the top corner.
Now that really was true qualty.
As for United, they must know there is absolutely no shame in losing to a goal like that; absolutely no shame in being second best on a night when football finally found a way to forget about corruption, super-injunctions and controversies and remember what the sport is meant to be about.
At last, after everyting we have been through, the people who make football beautiful are back in charge.
Man Utd Van der Sar, Fabio Da Silva (Nani 69), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick (Scholes 76), Giggs, Park,Rooney, Hernandez.
Barcelona Valdes, Dani Alves (Puyol 88), Mascherano, Pique, Abidal, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Villa (Keita 86), Messi, Pedro (Afellay 90).
Att: 87,695
Ref: Viktor Kassai (Hungary).
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/P5y21ME9yiE/post.aspx
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Times wires
Saturday, May 28, 2011
WEMBLEY, England — The debate is over: Barcelona is on the list of soccer's greatest teams.
Led by another dominant performance from Lionel Messi, Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 on Saturday to earn its third European Champions League title in six seasons and No. 4 overall.
"You always want to win, but the way we have won is what I am most proud of," coach Pep Guardiola said. "This is the way we want to play football. Lionel is the best player I have seen and probably the best I will ever see."
Messi put Barcelona ahead to stay with his 53rd goal of the season and helped create another score to give the Spanish league champion breathing room on United, owned by the Glazer family, which also owns the Bucs.
Barcelona dominated play with its trademark one-touch passing, but it needed the Argentine striker to conjure a 54th-minute solo strike from the edge of the penalty area to take the lead for the second time at 2-1.
There seemed to be no space as Messi was tracked by fullback Patrice Evra. But the two-time world player of the year spotted a gap between the defenders and shot down the middle, beating goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
"They do mesmerize you with their passing, and we never really did control Messi," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "But many people have said that."
FC Tampa Bay draws
Jeff Attinella had eight saves to post his second straight shutout and FC Tampa Bay picked up a point after a scoreless tie with host Minnesota in Blaine on Saturday night.
Attinella made a big save in the 60th minute when he stopped Andrei Gotsmanov.
Tampa Bay (2-2-4, 10 points) had its chances in the second half, but Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren stopped forward Warren Ukah after a breakaway and forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake hit the crossbar.
"We had opportunities again to get ourselves ahead in the match, but we were not able to convert," coach Ricky Hill told the team website. "But I was delighted with Jeff's performance."
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/messi-leads-barcelona-to-champions-crown/1172498
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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, May 27, 2011
And so it ends, this wild, wonderful ride of the overachievers who would not leave the rink.
It ends beneath an ugly scoreboard. It ends with the wrong team celebrating. It ends a long way from fans who still had some cheering left to do. It ends, as these things usually do, with slumped shoulders and grim faces and the dull ache of a team as it realizes its success is complete.
The Lightning lost Friday night,
The most surprising season in franchise history came to a sudden, solemn end.
Oh, this likable lot of dreamers lasted a lot longer than anyone suspected it would. For 18 games, and for 45 days, and for what must have been a thousand skipped heartbeats, the Lightning scrapped and scuffled from one shift to the next. Somewhere along the way, the players washed the tarnish off a franchise, and they rekindled a town's passion, and they made their sport matter again.
Still, they did not win. In the immediate aftermath of a 1-0 loss to Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, nothing else seemed to matter.
This is the way professional sports works. The better a team plays, and the closer it gets to a trophy, the worse is the sting that comes at the death of a season. No one is ever sorry to see a bad season end, after all. A bad team is like a bad tooth, and the quicker you can get rid of it, the better.
When a team is successful, however, you cannot help but notice the opportunity that was missed. A bounce here, a block there, and the Lightning could have won this series and advanced to the Stanley Cup final. For the players, and for those fans who have followed them through the lost years, part of this season will always be measured by the distance they didn't quite cover. One game. One goal. One gut-wrenching finale.
Eventually, however, the frustration of this final loss will fade, and the bigger picture will become clearer, and most of us will sum up the season in this way:
Wow, wasn't that fun while it lasted?
In the persistent fog of recent Lightning seasons, perhaps you had forgotten how terrific the NHL playoffs are. No other playoffs send you on such a ride. No other postseason demands so much physically, so much mentally and so much emotionally from its players and its fans. It is growing beards and fresh scars and maddening calls. It is a whirling collection of moments when you think your team can fly and others when you are certain it is going to crash.
When a team has not reached the playoffs for four years, when it has not won a series for seven, when it has been reduced to an afterthought, this season has been especially delicious. No one saw this coming. At the end of the regular season, most of Tampa Bay would have been satisfied with winning one playoff round, thrilled with two and amazed with three.
Think of it like this: If you do not count the 2003-04 championship season, this franchise had won 10 playoff games in its history. This team won 11 in six weeks.
Along the way, it had some moments. Didn't it?
Remember Marty St. Louis and his broken teeth back in the first playoff game against Pittsburgh. Remember Steven Stamkos and his bloody face Friday. Remember Sean Bergenheim coming from East Nowhere to star, and teammate Teddy Purcell from West Nowhere? Remember Dwayne Roloson, old Rip Van Goaltender, shining in the moments he was needed the most.
Remember Vinny Lecavalier, the kid who grew into the captain, stuffing in the overtime winner against Washington in Game 2? Remember Smitty's Game, where Mike Smith came into the game in goal, settled down his team and allowed it to tie the Boston series at two games each? Remember Victor Hedman, the kid learning as he goes? In particular, he has learned to duck during sucker-punch time.
Every night, every game, it seemed there was a different player to discuss. Simon Gagne. Eric Brewer. Steven Stamkos. Dominik Moore. Ryan Malone. And on and on. Remember them all. Remember Wayne Fleming, the assistant coach who had a brain tumor removed during the playoffs. Remember coming back from 3-1 against Pittsburgh. Remember sweeping the Capitals and reminding Washington that it was impossible to spell the word "collapse'' without "c-a-p-s"?
You know the truth? Tampa Bay needed every player, and it needed every moment. It was as if every game, every goal, wiped out another bad memory. There has been so much dysfunction for this franchise over the years. You know the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Around here, their names are Takashi Okubo, Art Williams, Oren Koules and Len Barrie.
This is the season that changed everything. It was the season that restored the bond between a franchise and its fans. It was unexpected success for a community that needed to cheer. It was a promise from a new front office.
In Jeff Vinik, the Lightning finally has an owner who cares enough to want to win but who knows enough to stay out of the way of it. In Steve Yzerman, it finally has a general manager who has a knack for bringing in the right player at the right time. In Boucher, it has a coach who knows the difference in a team playing with fire or playing in a frenzy.
The result is that the Lightning suddenly looks smart enough, competitive enough, creative enough to keep this thing going for a while.
Once the disappointment of Friday night fades, perhaps even the players will appreciate how important this year was for a franchise.
If the Lightning is going to lift a Stanley Cup next year, or the year after, or anytime soon, this will be the year when it began.
Remember it fondly. And by the way, don't expect it to be seven more years until the Lightning wins another playoff series.
Remember, most of all, it felt like a start.
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ROMANS came back to life as parents and children flocked to the city this weekend for the launch of National Family Week.
Despite the rain, Hull city centre was packed out with families, who enjoyed a range of activities and events in Queen Victoria Square, the library, the Museum Quarter, Ferens Art Gallery and King Edward Street on Saturday.
In the Museum Quarter, young Roman soldiers were taught the lessons of battle by Maximus the gladiator.
Deny Greening, of west Hull, took her grandchildren Aidan Staves, 8, and his younger brother Kieran along.
She said: "Aidan loves the Horrible History series on television and is really into the gore, like a typical boy. So this was the ideal place to bring them.
"I was looking after them for the day – so this has certainly kept them occupied."
Jean Horton, of west Hull, was out with her grandson Bradd McGarry, 7, who enjoyed playing a giant game of dominoes near Queen Victoria Square.
Mrs Horton said: "We went to Ferens and Bradd made finger puppets and a face mask.
"I think it is good that all these activities have been put on in Hull. There's quite a lot to do."
Other events included an inflatable football pitch set up by The Tigers Educational Trust, a chance to meet Po from Kung Fu Panda 2, cookery workshops and arts and crafts.
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Kate and William may have taken a shine to The Shining.
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Times wires
Sunday, May 29, 2011
MONACO — Sebastian Vettel won the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday for his fifth victory in six races this season, holding off Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button.
The race featured almost as many twists and turns as Monaco's famed street circuit.
"It was unbelievable. The race (Sunday) was pretty entertaining," said Vettel, the defending Formula One champion. "The roulette button must have stopped last night and kept on spinning."
The German leads Lewis Hamilton by 58 points, Red Bull teammate Mark Webber by 64, Button by 67 and Alonso by 74.
Vettel gambled by staying on the same set of soft tires, turning the last 15 laps into a battle of wits, with Alonso and Button on his tail. It appeared the move was going to backfire before a crash on Lap 72 resulted in a red flag that brought a suspension just as he was about to be caught.
Vettel was able to change tires before the race resumed, making the last few laps a procession.
"I saw the only chance to win this race was to try and stay out," said Vettel, who started from the pole for the fifth time.
Meanwhile, Mexican driver Sergio Perez remained in the hospital as a precaution after sustaining a concussion and sprained thigh from a crash during qualifying Saturday. He was to have a scan today, his Sauber team said.
East Bay Raceway: Jeff Rodgers led from the start to pick up his fifth straight feature win in Street Stock racing late Saturday in Gibsonton.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/vettel-extends-f1-control/1172574
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A �1 million scheme to overhaul a medical records department has dramatically reduced the number of missing patient notes.
The project at Leicester's hospitals, which has taken five years, uses new technology and extra training to make it quicker and easier to get the right notes to clinics in time.
As a result, the number of missing notes dropped from 30 per cent to 0.4 per cent – one of the lowest levels in the country, where the national standard is four per cent.
Cathy Lea, medical records site service manager for Leicester's hospitals trust, said: "On the first day I arrived at Leicester Royal Infirmary it was very messy.
"There were notes all over the place, even on the floor.
"It has taken quite a time but I am really pleased it is working so well."
The department deals with about one million requests a year for patient notes from clinics, wards and hospitals and houses 2.5 million records.
Now, records are automatically requested when an outpatient appointment is booked and hospital staff from any of the city or community hospitals can order them online.
A computer system keeps track of where the notes are and a "receipt and delivery" collection office has been established at the infirmary.
Cathy said: "By reducing the number of missing notes, the project has improved the safety and reliability of care.
"Medical records is not a frontline clinical service but it is a vital one.
"Medical notes help clinicians make accurate diagnoses and decisions on treatment."
It is estimated the cost in staff time of each request for notes in 2007 equated to �3.27. The new system has reduced this to just over �2 – saving �1.19 million a year.
Carla Sharman, deputy team leader of the rheumatology department at Leicester's hospitals, said: "Before this, our clinic co-ordinators would have to fetch all the records for every patient on the list.
"Notes were often in the wrong place and it could be time-consuming to find them."
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Times wires
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Soccer
Challenger pulls out of election for FIFA president
LONDON — Mohamed bin Hammam withdrew from FIFA's presidential election a few hours before facing an ethics hearing over alleged corruption during the campaign.
The Qatari challenger to 13-year incumbent Sepp Blatter has been accused of arranging bribes for up to 25 presidential voters on a campaign visit to the Caribbean earlier this month.
Bin Hammam, Blatter and FIFA vice president Jack Warner are due to face a FIFA ethics hearing today over the bribery allegations with the election scheduled for Wednesday.
Bin Hammam decided to try to become the first Asian president in FIFA's 106-year history after playing an important role in Qatar successfully winning the vote in December to host the 2022 World Cup.
"Recent events have left me hurt and disappointed — on a professional and personal level," Bin Hammam wrote on his website. "It saddens me that standing up for the causes that I believed in has come at a great price — the degradation of FIFA's reputation. This is not what I had in mind for FIFA, and this is unacceptable.
"I cannot allow the game that I loved to be dragged more and more in the mud because of competition between two individuals. The game itself and the people who love it around the world must come first."
More soccer: Arsenal received approval from the Premier League for American Stan Kroenke to take control of the club. Kroenke also owns the NFL's Rams, NBA's Nuggets, NHL's Avalanche and Major League Soccer's Rapids. He gained a controlling stake in the English club by buying shares from fellow directors and launched a mandatory takeover bid that values the club at $1.2 billion.
Cycling
Spaniard nears Giro d'Italia title
Alberto Contador , the two-time defending Tour de France champ, closed in on his second Giro d'Italia title during the next-to-last stage in Sestriere, Italy. He finished eighth to maintain his lead of 5:18 over second-place Michele Scarponi and 6:14 over Vincenzo Nibali in cycling's biggest race behind the Tour de France. It will take a mishap for the Spaniard or a massive effort by the Italians in today's 19.5-mile individual time trial to prevent Contador from winning.
Et cetera
Track: Caster Semenya, the 2009 800-meter world champion, won the event at the IAAF World Challenge Dakar Grand Prix in Senegal. It was her fifth win in five races this year but the first race outside of her native South Africa since a gender controversy and back injury sidelined her last year. Semenya, 20, finished in 2 minutes, 0.61 seconds. It was her best time this year but far off the 1:55.45 at the 2009 world meet.
Horses: Hibaayeb beat Giants Play by a length in the $150,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes for fillies and mares at Belmont Park in New York. The 4-year-old, the 7-5 favorite, earned her fourth win in 14 starts by running 13/8 miles in 2:15.92.
Times wires
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/sports-in-brief/1172496
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Ryan Sherlock
TODAY'S stage looked like it was going to be reasonably straightforward.
We leave Portumna, our finish town from yesterday, on mostly flat roads, not too small, a three kilometer climb 90 kilometers in followed by some rolling roads along the coast into our finish in Kilrush.
Well, it was straightforward on paper.
As I mentioned yesterday, the weatherman was predicting strong winds – a steady 70 kilometer per hour westerly with 100 kilometer gusts!
If I was home and I saw weather like that, I would either ride my mountain bike or the indoor trainer – I wouldn't be on my road bike.
Like yesterday, the race started fast, well no, the race started hard – the severe headwind meant that average speeds were very low.
In fact, by the time the winner finished the race, it was the slowest race (speed wise) I had been in on a road bike!
After several kilometers of attacks, a group finally got away.
Over the next 20 kilometers, several other riders made efforts to bridge and then around Gort, a large bunch split off the front of the peleton.
With the winds, it was going to be impossible to bridge across and as I mentioned yesterday, any hope of a high placing in the overall classification ended for over 100 riders.
I was unfortunately one of them.
These things happen in bike racing, especially Irish bike racing which is known as being especially unpredictable.
The rest of my day was spent trying to keep my bike upright in the severe winds while we traversed some of Irelands most stunning roads.
Todays race was over, so I conserved as much energy as I could and tried to enjoy the view.
Five and a half hours riding, in these conditions, gives you a lot of time to think.
I'm frustrated though, as my aspirations for an overall placing are over, but I do end up looking at the bright side of things.
I'm now far enough back that I'm not a threat to any of the riders fighting for overall glory and that could possibly be useful while in breaks later in the week.
The wind is to die down a little tomorrow, and we will be soon hitting the mountains – my playground.
Tomorrow will possibly be the toughest day of the race.
We will race 175 kilometers to Castleisland on mostly main roads. The winds are supposed to moderate a little but they will still cause havok with some hills at the end to shake things up.
I expect something like today again!
Until tomorrow night...
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/6rNJfgKQiAU/post.aspx
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Times wires
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Pirates 10, Cubs 0
CHICAGO — The Pirates, who had 13 runs in Paul Maholm's first 10 starts combined, hit four homers, and Maholm pitched a three-hitter and retired the side in order in seven innings for his first win since April 25. "You do everything you can to make sure the team has a chance. And I think I've done that," Maholm said. "And (Saturday) the guys broke out and scored a bunch of runs and made it easier on me."
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/pirates-10-cubs-0/1172475
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Times wires
Friday, May 27, 2011
More soccer: FIFA placed its own president under investigation Friday in a widening bribery scandal just days before Sepp Blatter faces re-election against Mohamed bin Hammam. With both candidates now under investigation, it's unclear how this will affect Wednesday's election. Blatter is accused of ignoring alleged bribes to Caribbean voters. Bin Hammam denies accusations of buying votes.
Pro basketball
Dydek, 7-foot-2 former WNBA star, dies
Margo Dydek, a 7-foot-2 former WNBA player who led the league in blocks nine times, died Friday in Brisbane, Australia after being placed in a medically induced coma following a heart attack a week ago. She was 37 and was coaching the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League. Mrs. Dydek, early in pregnancy with her third child, collapsed at her home in Brisbane on May 19. The fetus died.
Et cetera
Vick dogfighting update: An animal rights group bought NFL star Michael Vick's former dogfighting compound in Norfolk, Va., and plans to turn it into a rehabilitation center for chained and penned dogs. Dogs Deserve Better of Tipton, Pa., bought the five-bedroom home for about $600,000.
Olympics: Todd Hays was named U.S. women's bobsled coach through at least the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Sailing: American Brad Van Liew won the Velux 5 Oceans solo round-the-world race, sweeping all five legs. Van Liew, 43, of Charleston, S.C., sailed his 60-foot yacht across the finish line off La Rochelle, France. He completed the final sprint of 3,600 nautical miles from Charleston to La Rochelle in 12 days, 23 hours and 52 minutes.
Times wires
Soccer
Interest high for today's uefa final
WEMBLEY, England — When English champion Manchester United and Spanish title-winner Barcelona meet in the UEFA Champions League final today at Wembley Stadium, the event is expected to equal, and perhaps surpass, the Super Bowl in worldwide audience and to provide another glimpse at the continued popularity growth of the sport in the United States.
For the second year in a row, the game will be shown on network television in the United States.
United is a clear underdog despite having reached a third final in four seasons.
"The success both teams have had in the past decade has been enormous," said Man U coach Alex Ferguson. "It really could be the best final of the decade. The attraction of two teams with such history is obvious. Anything could happen in this game."
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/sports-in-brief/1172295
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Times wires
Saturday, May 28, 2011
CONCORD, N.C. — Matt Kenseth, starting in unfamiliar territory, passed Roush Fenway teammate Carl Edwards with two laps to go to win the Nationwide Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Kyle Busch was third and Roush Fenway's Ricky Stenhouse fourth to move within a point of series leader Elliott Sadler.
Kenseth filled in for Trevor Bayne, out with an inflammatory condition, in the No. 16 Ford. The Sprint Cup regular entered with 25 Nationwide wins but none since the series shifted to a new car. He said he felt comfortable after a few laps.
"You have to drive them a little different because of the horsepower difference," Kenseth said. "But they're really a lot like the Cup car."
Kenseth was more comfortable than former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen, who finished four laps down in 27th. A week after finishing 15th in his NASCAR debut in the truck series, he found trouble throughout.
Raikkonen started 22nd and complained early of his No. 87 Toyota being tight. He didn't wear heat shields on his shoes and said his feet were burning. He scraped a wall, and his first green-flag pit stop in NASCAR competition ended with a speeding violation.
Raikkonen's next step is uncertain. "I have to go back to Europe and do some rallies," said Raikkonen, who is not scheduled for another NASCAR race. "And then we'll see what happens."
F1: Sergio Perez will miss today's Monaco Grand Prix after sustaining a concussion and a thigh injury in a qualifying crash. Tied for 13th in points, he lost control of his car, the front slamming into a tunnel barrier and the car spinning into a tire wall. Points leader Sebastian Vettel earned the pole. His lap of 1 minute, 13.556 seconds, edged Jenson Button (1:13.997).
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/kenseth-gets-used-to-new-car-earns-win/1172449
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Thursday, May 26, 2011
Last week seemed to be a big one for championships in our area. Pinellas County teams brought home soccer, baseball and basketball state championships.
The West Florida Elite 11-under baseball team won the USSSA boys Florida State Championship May 21-22 in Kissimmee. The team was 6-0 in the tournament and defeated the Daytona Stingrays 8-3 in the championship game. The team is made up of boys ages 9-11 from East Lake and Trinity areas. It also won the USSSA 11-under national championship last fall in Leesburg. Team members are Jon Jon Kostantis, Zach Henderson, Brenden Gerlach, LJ Pratt, Justin Koehler, Colin Wray, Tyler Odak, Kam Volchko, Connor Marley, Logan Ganoe, Derick Stager and Reece Marley.
The 10th-grade Suncoast Basketball Club of Clearwater won the Grade DI state championship last week in Clearwater. The team was 4-0 in the tournament. Team members are Kayla Kivinski, Rachel Boyette, Kaylin Ingram, Neena Pacholke, Reggine Brown and Jamie Appelt. Coaches are Jim Appelt and Aaron Pacholke.
And then there's the Oldsmar Legends under-13 girls soccer team. It qualified for the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Cup final four May 21-22 in Auburndale despite having only 11 players and a losing record in the regular season. After defeating Jacksonville 2-1 in the semifinal, Oldsmar faced Ponte Vedra in the final. Oldsmar won 1-0 to claim the championship. Team members are Allyssa Woodring, Savannah Plentovich, Lauren Dodge, Carly Plentovich, Emily Cady, Elisha Holmes, Abby Harkins, KB Weimer, Kai Greenless, Katie Ernst, Molly Geier, Francesca Mascali and Kathryn Huapaya.
Tennis
In keeping with state championship theme, Pinellas County (Clearwater) won the women's 4.0 championship in Daytona Beach on May 25, defeating Orange/Seminole counties 2-1 in the final. The Pinellas squad was captained by Anne Pulley. Teammates are Debbie Dawson, Sally Marshall, Henriette Skoczen, Nancy Bahls, Leslie Godwin, Deborah McCleery, Marion Murch, Ann Worthington, Sharon Carlile and Sandy Martin. The team advances to the USTA League Senior 3.0 and 4.0 national championships in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Oct. 14-16.
• St. Petersburg's Danielle Collins continues to add to her junior tournament resume. She won the ITF Junior 18-and-under tournament in Fort Lauderdale by defeating Allie Kiick 6-0, 6-2 in the singles final. Collins lost only one set in the tournament. Last week, Collins won two golf balls at the Women's Supernational, also in Fort Lauderdale. She won her singles final 6-3, 6-1 over Sherry Li. In mixed doubles, she teamed with Tampa's Kent Wright to win the championship.
Golf
The County Golf Association held an individual tournament May 19 at Seminole Lake CC. The regular division gross winner was John Lisenbee, who shot 72. The regular division net winner was Mike Zehnder, who shot 60. The senior gross winner was Mark Wheaton, who shot 65. The senior net winner was George Leone, who shot 61.
The CGA's better ball tournament was held May 23 at Isla Del Sol. The regular division gross winners were John Ladd and George Leone, who shot 69. The senior division gross winners were Bobby Kilgore and Mark Wheaton, who shot 66. The overall net winners were Walter Durrett and Bob Lent, who shot 60. The ladies net winners were Karen Engle and Linda Bryan, who shot 66.
Gymnastics
The Gold Medal Gym in Pinellas Park competed in the AAU spring state championships in Tampa on May 7-8. Level 3 winners were Wynn Bryant (vault, bars, overall) and Kira Minor (beam). Level 4 winners were Hannah McAuliffe (beam, floor), Tiffany Bare (vault) and Meghan Hashem (floor). Level 7 winner was Teresa Petroski (beam).
• The Tampa Bay Turners of St. Petersburg competed in the Prep-Op Regional Championship meet April 29-May 1. Winners were Bonnie Barber (beam, all-around), Monica Coundouriotis (vault, all-around), Mina Kim (vault, bars, floor, all-around), Casey McLaughlin (bars, floor) and Melissa Morgan (beam, all-around).
Basketball
The Masters Basketball Association's National Senior Championship was held May 9-14 in Coral Springs. The winning team in the 45-over group was Gulfshore Sports, which defeated South Florida Elite in triple overtime. Two local players were on that team, Jeff Hadden and D.J. Jackson, both of Clearwater.
Bowling
The Gulf Coast USBC Open City Championship was May 14-15 Twedt's Lanes in Seminole. The winning team with a score of 2,905 was Chris Swenton, Timothy Gnauck, James Billera and Jason Krzyzanowski. Doubles winners were April Lewis and Joe Le and Casey Whitlock and Jacob Leach, who rolled 1,494. The singles winner was Jacob Leach, who rolled a 2,386.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/community/elite-11-under-team-is-champ/1172012
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Times wires
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Mariners 4, Yankees 3
SEATTLE — Ichiro Suzuki and Brendan Ryan hit run-scoring grounders during the sixth for the Mariners. Seattle, which scored all of its runs on groundouts, rallied from a three-run deficit to win for the ninth time in 11 games and get back to .500 for the first time since April 4. Yankees starter A.J. Burnett labored through five innings but gave up just two runs and seemed poised to break a five-game road losing streak.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/mariners-4-yankees-3/1172353
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Times wires
Friday, May 27, 2011
DETROIT — Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford homered in a five-run third inning to help the Red Sox beat the Tigers 6-3 on Friday.
Boston won for the 12th time in 14 games and has scored 34 runs in its last three.
Tim Wakefield picked up his 195th career win, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings.
Rick Porcello gave up a season-high six runs in three innings in his first start since allowing one hit in eight innings vs. Pittsburgh.
Rookie Charlie Furbush kept the Tigers in the game with five shutout innings of relief. He has not allowed a run in 8 2/3 innings in his first two major-league appearances.
The Red Sox trailed 2-1 until the third. Ellsbury started the inning with a solo homer. Dustin Pedroia walked, Adrian Gonzalez singled and Kevin Youkilis gave Boston a 4-2 lead with a two-run double.
One batter later, Crawford hit his fourth homer to put Boston ahead by four. The former Ray has nine hits in his last 12 at-bats.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/crawford-sox-remain-on-tear/1172315
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