CBS Dallas / Fort Worth » Sports

Mariners Rout Rangers, Holland 21-8

mgoodman — Thu, 31 May 2012 03:54:19 +0000

ARLINGTON (AP) – Justin Smoak hit two three-run homers against his former team and the Seattle Mariners used a pair of early eight-run innings to rout the Texas Rangers for the second straight game, winning 21-8 Wednesday night.

Smoak had three hits to go with his career high for RBIs as Seattle reached double digits in back-to-back games against the AL West leaders. Jesus Montero homered among his three hits and drove in four runs and Kyle Seager had four hits and two RBIs. Every Seattle starter had at least one hit in amassing 20 hits.

Dustin Ackley also had a three-run homer in support of former Rangers minor league prospect Blake Beavan (3-4).

Cowboys Owner Jones Accepts Cap Hit, Not Trading Jenkins

jeffburkett — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:30:28 +0000

ARLINGTON (AP) – Jerry Jones says the Dallas Cowboys have no intention of trading cornerback Mike Jenkins or any interest in going to federal court to further fight the NFL about a $10 million salary cap reduction.

Jones made it clear Wednesday that he fully expects Jenkins to stay with the Cowboys, even as the cornerback was missing another week of voluntary workouts. Jenkins has remained home in Florida after shoulder surgery and there have been numerous reports he wants to be traded after Dallas added two prominent cornerbacks in recent weeks.

“I’m real excited about what we can do defensively with having his skills along with the other corners we have. … We could really have a chance to do something exceptional in our secondary and I want to give us every chance to do that,” Jones said. “I’m sure not interested in the future. I’m all about what we can do next season.”

Jenkins, who is going into the final year of his contract, was the first topic presented to Jones during an impromptu 25-minute session with reporters on the field at Cowboys Stadium, where the team practiced instead of Valley Ranch because of some rain overnight and that morning.

Jones called last season “probably the most disappointing” in his tenure as the Cowboys owner. Dallas finished 8-8 after losing the season finale against the New York Giants, who claimed the NFC’s last playoff spot with that victory and went on to win the Super Bowl.

The owner’s session came a week after arbitrator Stephen Burbank upheld the NFL’s salary cap reductions against the Cowboys and Washington Redskins. Burbank ruled in favor of the league and dismissed the grievances by both teams. Dallas lost $10 million in salary cap for overloading contracts during 2010, while the Redskins lost $36 million for this season and next.

“We were very emphatic that there was no deal among the owners about anything to do with a cap, and that was our position,” Jones said. “We honor the arbitrator. The ruling was that the place to hear this was not in his jurisdiction, the place to hear it was over in federal court, which we’re not interested in getting involved like that.”

Asked why not, Jones responded, “I just don’t want to” without elaborating.

Jones again talked about how feels the team’s window to contend with players like quarterback Tony Romo, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and tight end Jason Whitten was getting shorter.

“There is an urgency. It’s my perception that decides when the windows are and where they are,” he said. “With that in mind, I’m saying that we need to get out here, get down to business, get in some playoffs and get knocking on the door.”

Jones has owned the Cowboys since 1989, and they haven’t been back to the Super Bowl since winning three titles in a four year span in the mid-1990s. Plus, the owner will turn 70 during the upcoming season, so he knows he’s not getting any younger.

“I think about it in everything I do,” Jones said. “I remember when I was younger I wanted to be older so people would pay more attention and I could talk to them better. So it seems like we’re always referring to that, experience or age, but from my perspective right now, I don’t have time to have a bad time.”

Even with the $10 million salary cap reduction, $5 million each this year and next, the Cowboys were able to fill some pressing needs in free agency. They then moved up eight spots while giving up their second-round pick in the draft to select LSU All-America cornerback Morris Claiborne sixth overall.

Dallas got its top offseason target in free agency, signing cornerback Brandon Carr to a $50 million, five-year contract with $26.5 million guaranteed. Offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings got starter-worthy multiyear contracts, and Dallas also signed backup quarterback Kyle Orton, safety Brodney Pool, linebacker Dan Connor and fullback Lawrence Vickers.

The additions of Carr and Claiborne certainly could have an impact on playing time for Jenkins, who started 12 games last season. He missed four with a hamstring injury, though dealt with other nagging injuries all season.

Even with Carr and Claiborne, Jones still expects Jenkins to be a big part of the Cowboys defense.

“I can’t think of anything that helps the Cowboys better than to have Jenkins on the team. Nothing. And I’m not interested in what we gain in the future,” Jones said, again dismissing any idea of a trade “And I’m certainly not interested in the iffiness in the future when I’ve got my hands on someone that I know can play winning football this year.”

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NFL Keeps Pro Bowl On The Schedule

jeffburkett — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:21:50 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) - After a promise from players that the game will be more competitive, the NFL will hold the Pro Bowl in Honolulu next Jan. 27, a week before the Super Bowl.

Commissioner Roger Goodell had made it clear canceling the all-star game was a possibility after the uninspired play of this year’s 59-41 AFC victory. Following discussions between the league and the players’ union, the NFL announced Wednesday that Aloha Stadium would host the Pro Bowl for the third straight year.

It will be the 33rd Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

“The players have made it clear through the NFL Players Association that they would like the opportunity to continue to play the Pro Bowl in Hawaii,” said NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson. “We will support the players on this initiative to improve the Pro Bowl. We have had many discussions with the players in recent years about the Pro Bowl and they recognize that the quality of the game has not been up to NFL standards. We look forward to working with the players toward the goal of improving the competitiveness of this season’s game.”

The Pro Bowl was held in Hawaii from 1980-2009. In 2010, the NFL moved the game to the week before the Super Bowl for the first time, and it was held in Miami, site of the Super Bowl that year. The Pro Bowl returned to Hawaii for the 2011 and 2012 games but remained one week before the Super Bowl.

“The players believe that the Pro Bowl is an important tradition,” NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth said. “We worked hard with the league to make sure the best players in the NFL are honored for their achievements on the field.”

News of the Pro Bowl’s return was met with praise by Hawaii tourism officials and Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Both Abercrombie and Mike McCartney, chief executive of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, hinted the state plans to deepen its ties to the league by helping it establish relationships in Asia — a continent with several major markets for tourism to the Aloha State.

“Beyond Hawaii’s shores, we look forward to assisting the NFL in expanding upon their relationships in Japan, and help them to establish a presence in China — both important markets for Hawaii tourism,” McCartney said.

McCartney said the relationship of more than 30 years goes beyond the Pro Bowl game itself and both the state and the NFL would work on improving the overall experience.

“Hawaii looks forward to building upon our long-standing relationship with the NFL Pro Bowl well into the future,” McCartney said.

Goodell had expressed his displeasure with this year’s game several times, acknowledging it could be scrapped if the level of play doesn’t improve.

“The issue is we recognize it is an all-star game, but we also believe fans expect more from an NFL game,” he said recently. “If we believe we can achieve that, we want to give them every opportunity to do that.”

For last January’s game, TV ratings were strong, with 12.5 million viewers, making the Pro Bowl the most watched of all all-star games for the 2011 season.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Roy Oswalt Expects To Join Rangers After 4 AAA Starts

mgoodman — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:40:25 +0000

Starting pitcher Roy Oswalt of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on April 26, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Roy Oswalt is bringing a veteran presence to the Texas Rangers pitching staff. During a conference call with reporters Wednesday afternoon we learned where the starting pitcher is at as he tries to make a return to the big league.

Back problems prematurely ended Oswalt’s season in 2011.

On conditioning: Oswalt says he has been throwing bullpen sessions for the last six weeks. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday he throws between 65 and 85 pitches.

“My arm feels great,” proclaimed Oswalt to the reporters.

Oswalt is scheduled to pitch Saturday for the club’s AAA Round Rock team. He hopes to throw between 50 to 60 pitches. And after that? “I’m hoping after four starts to be ready to join the team,” explained the right hander.

On teams interested in him: Oswalt says the Los Angeles Dodgers were in the picture. But, the Rangers struck a one year, $5 million deal for his services. And Roy says a conversation with a former Rangers pitcher gave him insight into the club.

“I talked to Cliff Lee a little bit about the clubhouse and he said it was great. He loved the time he was there,” said Oswalt.

Lee was traded to the Rangers during the 2010 season and helped get the team to its first World Series in franchise history.

On the Rangers: Oswalt says that one thing that stands out is Texas’ lineup and wealth of hitters. “The Rangers have great power 1 to 9. They also have guys who put the bat on the ball.”

If he gets the run support, Oswalt could rack up the wins for Texas the rest of this season.

Late Auto Designer Carroll Shelby Was A Texas Chili King, Too

jeffburkett — Wed, 30 May 2012 17:51:09 +0000

Many thousands of words have been written since auto designer Carroll Shelby’s recent death at the age of 89. Most of them documented his championship driving days, the Shelby Cobra he designed, his innovative run through the auto industry, his fundraising endeavors and his determination to keep going strong even after a heart transplant more than 20 years ago.

But to me, there was something missing from the resume. In a word, chili. I’ll bet chili heads (as we like to be called) around the world have raised a bowl of red in his memory.

Many of them probably are asking: He built cars, too?

Ever walk through your grocer and notice a nifty-looking brown paper bag with the words: “Carroll Shelby’s Original Texas Brand Chili Kit?” That’s Shelby. And by the way, the kit is still around more than 50 years after it first showed up.

Shelby, simply put, was the Chili King.

This is the man who founded the International Chili Society in the 1960s, and the hundreds of competitions held each year since have raised more than $90 million for a variety of charities. Each year, the chili season crowns a champion at the ICS World’s Chili Championships. The first one in 1967, naturally, was staged on Shelby’s ranch — “150,000 acres of rattlesnakes and rocks,” he once said — in Terlingua, Texas.

The grand finale of each chili season has become a moveable feast through the years, with winners being crowned in Arizona, California and Nevada, and more recently in New Hampshire and West Virginia.

From the start, Shelby picked trusted friends to run the ICS for him. There was Jim West, former manager of Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers. Currently, the organization is under the direction of Carol Hancock, whose competitive fires helped her win the championship in 1985.

My wife, Jenny Kellner, and I were lucky enough to hang out with Shelby while researching our own chili cookbook. We stood apron-to-apron with him in judging tents all over California during the mid-1990s. We watched in awe as a 70-something Shelby tucked himself into an original Cobra and gunned it for a few laps around Pomona Raceway. We spent time at his cabin on Lake Tahoe, and basically shot the bull with a guy who had so many ideas he had a hard time deciding which one he liked better.

“He wants to be the best and he wants to do it fast,” a friend once said of Shelby.

He certainly wanted the best chili to be recognized.

To that end, he created his own genuine Texas twist that simply cannot be found in commercial chili mixes. And then the Chili Society put out the call for cooks to gather and vie for the title of best chili cook on the planet. All you have to do is concoct a perfect blend of meat and spices (no beans in ICS competition, thank you very much) — to win enough votes from a panel of judges hand-picked by Shelby and his advisers.
None of this was planned. Shelby was going to be a chicken farmer. But one day in 1951 he woke up to find 4,000 of his birds dead of limberneck disease. So he decided to drive race cars, instead. And he was good, going on to become one of the best known and most successful drivers.

A heart condition eventually pulled him off the track. But he wasn’t going far. If he couldn’t drive the cars, he’d design them. And so came the Shelby Cobra, which went on to beat Ferrari. And through it all… there was chili.

“I didn’t know anyone who didn’t like chili,” he told us during our interviews. “My mom and daddy both cooked chili and I remember it vividly. They put their own personality into it back then, the way people do now. I cooked chili at home because I enjoyed it, but I didn’t get into it until we started putting the cook-offs on.”

“What’s the best chili you ever tasted?” we asked at the time.

“Actually I hope I haven’t tasted it yet,” he said.

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O, The Humanity. Oswalt Coming; Owens Gone.

jeffburkett — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:10:15 +0000

Roy Oswalt is 34. A losing pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies last year, he’s been on the disabled list five times the last six years. And, at this point, he’s a fly-ball pitcher.

Know what else: Despite that he’s a perfect fit for the Texas Rangers.

Why? Because he costs nada.

Thanks to Rangers fans that have already flocked to Arlington in record numbers, team ownership has more money in the bank than expected. It’s why the potential $5 million to rent Oswalt for half a season is a bargain. With no salary cap, the more the merrier. Right?

Oswalt isn’t Cliff Lee. But this also isn’t a Cliff Lee situation where the Rangers are forced to fork over prospects like Justin Smoak and Blake Beavan. This is a money move, and money – you listening, Tom Hicks? – is indeed replaceable.

“The bottom line is I think we’re better today with Roy in the fold,” Rangers’ general manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday night. “Ownership stepped out. This wasn’t something we contemplated in the budget.”

Assuming he passes his physical Thursday and has no setbacks during 3-4 minor league starts at AAA Round Rock, Oswalt will be pitching for the Rangers in late June. He’s a veteran with two 20-win seasons and three All-Star appearances who won the NLCS MVP in ’05, helping the Houston Astros to the World Series.

When Neftali Feliz returns from his elbow soreness, I’m guessing he goes back to the bullpen. If he can regain his old form, Oswalt could be in the short rotation in a playoff series. And if he sucks, it cost the Rangers, well, next to nothing. With the addition of another Wild Card team to the post-season, teams will be less likely to part with veteran pitchers at the trade deadline, making Oswalt even more attractive.

And, at the very least, the Rangers are keeping Oswalt from joining the Anaheim Angels, who are in need of pitching in the wake of ace Jered Weaver going on the disabled list with back problems of his own.

There was a time when the Rangers couldn’t afford top-flight pitching and it didn’t matter because elite pitchers didn’t want to pitch in Arlington. Those days are gone. Oswalt reportedly turned down more money from the Phillies and Dodgers to pitch in Texas.

While we wait for Oswalt to arrive, can we – again, for the next last time – say goodbye forever to Terrell Owens?

The petulant former Cowboys’ receiver was cut by the Indoor Football League’s Allen Wranglers Tuesday, with co-owner John Frankel citing a lack of commitment on and off the field.

To be fair, criticizing and even disciplining T.O. for not wanting to play in playoff-impactful road games is asinine because Owens’ contract called for him to play only home games. But if he didn’t show up to a scheduled appearance at a children’s hospital we … are supposed to be surprised?

Said Frankel, “It’s disappointing and unfortunate, but he could no longer be tolerated by the Wrangler organization.”

T.O. is done. At 38 and with a disruptive reputation further cemented, no NFL team is that desperate. Next time we see Owens he’ll be in the ring of WWE.

Or worse.

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Cowboys Stadium Sold Out For Mexico Vs. Brazil

KTVTPhil — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:25:45 +0000

ARLINGTON (AP) - Organizers say the 80,000-seat Cowboys Stadium has sold out for Sunday afternoon’s international soccer match between Mexico and Brazil.

The stadium in Arlington, located midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, is the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

The game will close out the Mexican National Team’s 2012 five-game U.S. tour.

The sellout was announced Tuesday.

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Eagles Top FC Dallas 2-0 In U.S. Open Cup Match

KTVTPhil — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:26:20 +0000

FRISCO (AP) - Clinton Irwin made 10 saves, leading the Charlotte Eagles to a 2-0 upset over FC Dallas of MLS on Tuesday night.

It was Irwin’s second consecutive shutout in the U.S. Open Cup, allowing the USL Pro’s Eagles to advance to the quarterfinals against another lower-division team, the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions.

Charlotte put only two shots on Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz, but scored on both.

Darryl Roberts headed in Nate Thornton’s cross from the right corner in the 43rd minute. In stoppage time after the second half, Roberts passed to Thornton for the second goal.

FC Dallas played a man short for the final 12 minutes after Jackson received a red card.

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SEC Coaches Want Top 4 In Football Playoffs

KTVTPhil — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:19:54 +0000

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) - The Southeastern Conference is looking out for No. 1.

Maybe even No. 2.

Football coaches from the powerhouse and recently expanded league were in unison Tuesday that they want a proposed four-team playoff to include the best teams in the country — and not be tied to conference champions.

Their solidarity came as no surprise considering the league has won six consecutive national championships, with the latest one coming when Alabama knocked off LSU after not winning its division or making the league title game.

“I think it needs to be the four best teams in the country,” Florida coach Will Muschamp said. “I don’t think it needs to be the conference champions because in our league we might have four of the best teams in the country.”

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive has been a driving force behind a proposed playoff for years, and remains as committed as anyone to getting it done this summer.

The playoff system could debut as early as the 2014 season, replacing a current No.1 vs. No. 2 BCS championship matchup that has rotated among the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose Bowl sites.

Slive expects the four-team model to be discussed by coaches, athletic directors and school presidents/chancellors, and an official league decision is expected to be announced Friday.

“Our league has been consistent that if you’re going to have a four-team playoff that the best four teams ought to be selected to play for the national championship,” Slive said. “If the issue is how teams are selected, then let’s go and talk about the selection process and make the selection process more palatable to everybody rather than try to gerrymander who the top four teams are.

“I’m very open to looking at any and all ways to make changes in the actually selection process itself.”

Slive said the league also will settle on a format for football following the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M, with teams likely to play six division games, maintain one cross-division rival and alternate an eighth conference game among the other six teams from the opposing division.

The designated rivalries are expected to be finalized, too. All indications are Missouri and Arkansas will be deemed cross-division rivals, leaving South Carolina to pair with Texas A&M.

Also, basketball coaches are close to finalizing an 18-game schedule that would put teams back into divisions. The coaches dropped division last season.

But the proposed football playoff dominated discussion on Day 1.

“We’re so much closer to having the best teams play,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “Every single game is so critically important in college football and we should embrace that. You can lose six games, eight games in basketball and still win a national championship. You can’t do that in college football. I think we’re very close.”

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney has said the new format shouldn’t include a team that doesn’t win its conference division — an obvious reference to national champion and SEC West runner-up Alabama.

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott is pushing to have two semifinal games played at campus stadiums, which seems to address the concerns of playoff opponents who say that such a system would lessen the importance of the regular season. After all, that would reward the two highest-seeded teams with a home game — a huge incentive and major advantage.

Slive believes the semifinal games would be part of the bowl system.

“My guess is that it will end up being in the bowl system,” Slive said. “I think it’s better for college football as a whole than just a plus-one.”

Not surprisingly, Slive’s coaches seemed to wholeheartedly back his plan — although South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier reiterated his preference for an eight-team playoff.

“Do you know who’s won the Super Bowl the last two years?” Spurrier said. “Weren’t the Giants 8-8? And the Packers didn’t even win their division the year before and got hot in the playoffs. It just depends on how much importance you want to place into a playoff system, a tournament. I know there have been a lot of NCAA (basketball) champions that didn’t necessarily win their conference but they got hot in the tournament.

“I don’t know how it will play out.”

Deciding how to select the Final Four is up for debate.

“I don’t know. The way we do it now?” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “Just take the top four teams in the BCS instead of the top two. That’s one way of doing it. It’s already in place. You wouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel. Change is here, it sounds like, I suppose it’s worthy of discussion as to how to do it. But I’m not for making it a prerequisite that you have to be the winner in your in league. I wouldn’t make that part of it.”

Neither would any of his colleagues.

LSU’s Les Miles, Alabama’s Nick Saban and several others made it clear that limiting a four-team playoff to conference champs likely would benefit everyone outside the SEC.

“It’s just like politics and self-interest,” Saban said. “Somebody wants to create a circumstance that’s going to help their situation or conference. That’s not in the best interest of college football.”

Added Richt: “If you take the top four teams, I think we’d all be in favor of that in our league. If you take four teams that have win a conference championship, it would guarantee that only one of us could go. If you had it the other way, we’d have a shot at two going. You can say it any way you want, but that’s what everybody is talking about.”

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Franchitti ‘Not Comfortable’ On High Oval Tracks

KTVTPhil — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:15:49 +0000

FORT WORTH (AP) - Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti says he’s still “not very comfortable” racing on a high-banked oval.

The Indianapolis 500 was the first IndyCar race on an oval since Dan Wheldon’s fatal accident in last season’s finale at Las Vegas. But the June 9 race in Texas will be the first on a high-banked track similar to Las Vegas.

Franchitti tested at Texas last month and said Tuesday that he will do his absolute best to win there. IndyCar races on a street course Sunday at Belle Isle, Mich.

Wheldon was killed when his car sailed into the fence in a 15-car accident last October, and his head hit a post in the fence. A report later determined that pack racing on a high-banked oval contributed to the accident.

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Clemens Lawyers Play Up Pitcher’s Work Ethic

KTVTPhil — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:03:24 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawyers have launched their defense of Roger Clemens with what seemed more like a testimonial dinner than a trial, putting on a pair of witnesses who described in reverential terms the famed baseball pitcher’s work ethic in high school and college.

The message the defense began hammering home Tuesday was that hard work, not steroids or human growth hormone, turned Clemens into a great pitcher. That came after prosecutors used two dozen witnesses over 19 days to try to prove that Clemens lied to Congress in 2008 when he denied taking performance-enhancing drugs.

One of Clemens’ former high school teammates in Texas, Todd Howey, said he and his friends would see Clemens jogging on Friday nights while they were out “looking for trouble.” Clemens did so many runs in the outfield that he dug a trail that looked like it had been carved by a cow in a pasture, the witness testified.

“I’ve yet to see anybody work like Roger Clemens,” Howey said. Despite the dedication, Clemens was not an exceptional pitcher back then, he said, reaching only 83-84 mph on his fastball.

“We just didn’t think he was that good,” he said.

But when Howey played against him in college — Howey for Texas Tech and Clemens for the University of Texas — Clemens was throwing a lot harder.

“He proved us all wrong,” Howey said, who talked so fast he had to be slowed down by the court reporter and Clemens lawyer Rusty Hardin.

“You’re one of those unusual things — a fast-talking Southerner,” Hardin quipped.

Mike Capel, a former major league pitcher and longtime friend of Clemens, had played against him in high school and was a teammate in college. He made a similar observation about Clemens’ transformation in college, describing him as a harder thrower, more athletic and trimmed down compared with high school. He said Clemens had a “very, very, very good” work ethic.

Clemens, who through most of the trial has taken frequent notes, put the pen down during their testimony but watched closely.

Prosecutors tried to exclude the glowing testimony, noting that seven government witnesses already testified during cross-examination how hard Clemens worked. They wrote in a filing late Monday that it invited jurors to infer that because Clemens didn’t use performance-enhancing drugs early on, he must not have later in his career.

Prosecutors argued that if the testimony were to be allowed, the judge should let them rebut it with evidence from other players who also worked hard but still used steroids or HGH.

But U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ruled against them on both counts.

“Athletes who are hard workers tend to last longer and perform better,” said Walton, a former athlete himself who went to college on a football scholarship.

Clemens’ lawyers started their case after the government rested Tuesday. The government’s main witness was Clemens’ former strength coach, Brian McNamee, who said he injected the ex-pitcher with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and with human growth hormone in 2000.

Clemens is charged with two counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction of Congress. All relate to his testimony at a congressional hearing in February 2008 and his deposition that preceded it.

The heart of the case is the allegation that Clemens lied when he said he had never used steroids or HGH, but the obstruction count included 15 statements, or “acts,” in which Clemens is alleged to have misled Congress on a variety of issues. Walton dismissed two of those acts Tuesday.

The first dismissed act dealt with Clemens’ claim that he had “no idea” that former Sen. George Mitchell wanted to talk with him in preparation for the 2007 Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball. The government couldn’t prove otherwise because some of its evidence was ruled inadmissible due to rules over attorney-client privilege.

The second dismissed act deals with Clemens’ statement in his 2008 deposition that “I couldn’t tell you the first thing about (HGH).” The judge said that statement could be misinterpreted because it was asked in the context of whether Clemens had ever done any research into HGH.

Thirteen alleged misleading statements remain in the charges. The government only needs to prove one to gain a conviction for obstruction of Congress.

One of the government’s final witnesses was Anthony Corso, who worked out with McNamee in New York City. Corso related a pair of conversations meant to show that McNamee didn’t start making up allegations and fabricating evidence against Clemens to placate federal investigators in 2007.

“Mr. McNamee had mentioned that Mr. Clemens was one of the athletes that was getting positive results from” HGH, said Corso, recalling a conversation from around 2002.

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Spurs Take 2-0 Series Lead Over Thunder

KTVTPhil — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:59:31 +0000

Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs is defended by Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on May 29, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. (credit: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs are making this look way too easy.

Parker had 34 points and eight assists, Manu Ginobili added 20 points and the Spurs stayed perfect in the playoffs with a 120-111 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night.

So far, the Spurs have turned a hotly anticipated matchup between the league’s top two scoring teams into a lopsided mismatch more befitting of an early round.

Game 3 is Thursday night in Oklahoma City, and the Thunder can only hope that a change of venue throws San Antonio out of its groove. The Spurs put on an offensive clinic for three quarters on Tuesday night, shooting 60 percent and building a 22-point lead.

“We like to play like that,” said Parker, who hit 16 of 21 shots. “That’s the way we play.”

The Spurs set an NBA record with their 20th consecutive victory bridging the regular season and the playoffs. They came in sharing the longest such streak with the 2000-01 Lakers, who won 19 straight before losing to Philadelphia in the first game of the finals.

Those Lakers went on to win the championship and Parker’s performance is yet another reason to think the Spurs will do the same.

“It’s great and it is a great run,” said Tim Duncan, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds. “But we are only worried about the next two wins in this series. That is all that matters, at this point.”

The Thunder made a late surge to get within six points, but Parker, Ginobili and Duncan helped San Antonio finish them off. Oklahoma City is 5-0 at home in the playoffs, but only 14 teams have come back from 2-0 deficits to win a series in NBA playoff history.

“First, we’ve got to worry about Game 3,” Thunder guard Russell Westbrook said. “Regardless of what’s going on with this last game or the next game, we’ve got to worry about Game 3 and come in with the same mindset and try to get a win.”

Kevin Durant had 31 points, Westbrook had 27 points and eight assists and James Harden rebounded from a rough Game 1 to score 30 for the Thunder, who have lost two straight for the first time since early April. Oklahoma City dropped to 15-4 in games after losses this season.

“There are no moral victories for us,” Durant said. “We were down. We dug ourselves a hole. We did what we normally do, which is fight all game, and we lost.”

San Antonio picked up where it left off from the 39-point fourth quarter that turned Game 1 on Sunday. With sharp passes and hot shooting, the Spurs jumped to a 19-9 lead after the Thunder missed six of their first seven shots and had three turnovers in the first 4 minutes.

Durant was on the bench at the start of the second quarter, and Parker and the Spurs put together a 14-4 spurt to stretch the gap to 13 points. Westbrook hammered Parker’s arm on a drive and he crumpled to the court. That didn’t faze Parker, who scored the Spurs’ next seven points to keep San Antonio rolling.

The Spurs shot 58 percent (22 of 38) and had 13 assists in the first half. They also cut down their turnovers, committing only six in the first half after giving away 14 in the first two quarters of Game 1.

“You never go out and say, `We’re going to start out fast,”‘ San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “You don’t know what is going to happen. You just want your team to be aggressive.”

After the break, the Spurs resumed picking apart Oklahoma City’s defense with precision passes, scoring on five straight possessions. The biggest cheer from the crowd came after Ginobili flipped a behind-the-back pass to Parker in the corner for another 3 and the lead ballooned to 78-58.

Late in the third quarter, the Thunder began intentionally fouling Tiago Splitter, a 32 percent free-throw shooter during the playoffs.

That backfired, too. Splitter went 5 for 10 over a 54-second span before Popovich replaced him with Duncan, and Oklahoma City trailed by the same margin — 16 — that it did when Brooks called for the “Hack-a-Splitter” strategy.

It may not have showed on the scoreboard, but the Spurs seemed to lose their edge after that.

“There’s a reason why you do it, to kill the rhythm,” Parker said. “I think it got us out of our rhythm.”

Parker, Ginobili and Duncan were on the court together at the 8-minute mark, after the Thunder cut the deficit to eight. Ginobili’s floater in the lane was only the Spurs’ third field goal of the fourth quarter and put San Antonio up 99-89.

The Thunder had the deficit down to six with just over 5 minutes remaining. The Spurs missed 12 of 15 shots during one stretch, but Parker hit an off-balance, high-arcing jumper with 3:39 left for a 107-96 lead and San Antonio controlled the game from there.

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Mariners Beat Rangers To Snap Losing Streak

Ryan Crowe — Wed, 30 May 2012 03:37:27 +0000

ARLINGTON (AP) - Seattle finally got offensive and snapped a five-game losing streak.

John Jaso hit a two-run homer early, then added an RBI single in the Mariners’ sixth-run eighth against two of Texas’ top two setup relievers. Seattle ended up matching its highest-scoring inning and game of the season in a 10-3 victory over the AL West-leading Rangers.

“It’s definitely good for us to be able to put up some runs, especially late in the game,’ said Kyle Seager, whose leadoff double in the eighth was his third hit. “Every once in a while you break out. Any time we can get everybody putting up some good ABs like that, it’s definitely positive.”

The first seven Seattle batters reached in the eighth, six hits and an error by shortstop Elvis Andrus, against Alexi Ogando and Mike Adams. Ichiro Suzuki then greeted the third Texas pitcher of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

I don’t think you’ll see again I have to out and get Mike and Ogando in the same inning,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “They put the ball in play, found holes.”

Jaso’s homer in the second put the Mariners ahead to stay. They scored twice with two outs in the fifth for a 4-1 lead after third baseman Adrian Beltre’s throwing error.

“Everybody was going up there with a plan. We had runners on all the bases and guys were going up there with a good approach,” Jaso said. “That is a good feeling right there and a good thing to see. It wasn’t any big swings, jam jobs or stuff like that. It was good hard hit balls on the ground.”

Josh Hamilton hit his majors-best 21st homer and drove in all three runs for the Rangers. The slugger was playing despite a sinus infection and upper respiratory problem that kept him out of the lineup the previous night, and even though he said before the game he felt no better.

“It’s Josh Hamilton,” Washington said. “He went out, he worked, he said he felt good enough to play. He played and he delivered three runs for us. But it just wasn’t enough, because we couldn’t get anything going.”

The Rangers (31-19) had a four-game winning streak ended by their most lopsided loss of the season. They still matched their best 50-game record in team history.

Vargas (6-4) allowed three runs and five hits over 6 2-3 innings. The left-hander struck out two and walked three.

That troubled fifth for Scott Feldman (0-3) and the Rangers came at the same time team president Nolan Ryan and general manager were announcing that Texas had reached a minor league deal with free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt.

Feldman was making his second start in place of injured Neftali Feliz since the closer-turned-starter went on the disabled list May 21 with right elbow inflammation. The big right-hander gave up four runs (two earned) with three strikeouts and three walks over 4 2-3 innings.

The injury to Feliz accelerated the Rangers’ interest in Oswalt, who they had been in contact since the offseason. They had watched him pitch at his home in Mississippi only days before Feliz got hurt.

“I don’t really have a reaction to it,” Feldman said. “I just work here, and do what I’m told to do here.”

Oswalt, who has pitched 11 major league seasons with Houston (2001-10) and Philadelphia (2010-11) is scheduled to travel to Texas on Thursday for a physical. If all goes well, he will then go to Triple-A Round Rock and on Saturday make the first of what will likely be several minor league starts.

Seattle got going in the fifth after a one-out double by light-hitting Brendan Ryan, the No. 9 batter hitting only .176 coming into the game, before Dustin Ackley walked. Alex Liddi then struck out, but both runners advanced on a double steal

The Rangers then intentionally walked Ichiro Suzuki to load the bases. Jesus Montero hit a grounder wide of third that Beltre fielded in the hole. But his throw sailed high over first baseman Mike Napoli’s head and out of play, allowing two runs.

Hamilton’s two-run homer came in the sixth off Vargas, bumping his majors-best RBIs total to 56 and cutting the gap to 4-3. His grounder in the first pushed home Andrus, who had doubled and advanced on a wild pitch.

Seattle’s big eighth came after Vargas had thrown his last pitch.

“I said `Come on. Let’s get some runs guys’. I proceeded to go put ice on,” Vargas said. “I got to take the ice off before the inning was over, so that’s a good thing.”

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Terrell Owens Released From Allen Wranglers

jeffburkett — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:45:42 +0000

ALLEN (CBSDFW.COM) – The Allen Wranglers Indoor Football League team announced on Tuesday that co-owner and WR Terrell Owens has been officially released.

“It’s disappointing and unfortunate,” Allen Wranglers owner John Frankel said of releasing Owens, “but (he) could no longer be tolerated by the Wrangler organization.”

Owens joined the IFL team to much fanfare in February as co-owner and star player with a reported six-figure salary. The wide receiver, known for his his flamboyant touchdown celebrations and public persona, once played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49′ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.

Owens, who was not required to play in all of the Wranglers road games caught a total of 35 passes for 420 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games for the Wranglers in 2012.

Per the Wranglers website, the news of the release included a note from team President and Co-Owner Tommy Benizio that told the story of what pushed the team over the edge saying, “The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for Mr. Owens was his no–show to a scheduled appearance at a local children’s hospital with other Wrangler players and coaches. It is not the desire of the Allen Wranglers’ organization to disappoint fans by having our most notable player miss a scheduled appearance.”

Owens’ ownership stake has also been terminated because he violated his contract.

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Rangers Sign Free Agent Pitcher Roy Oswalt

jeffburkett — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:13:35 +0000

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – The Texas Rangers have added another arm to the already strong bullpen by signing free agent Roy Oswalt (9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 2011) to a reported one year $5 million deal – with another $1 million in incentives.

It was reported that several teams were in the hunt to acquire Oswalt including the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers with whom he worked out with recently.

The 34-year old pitcher, who has been sidelined twice to the DL recently due to lower back issues, chose to ignore offers from the Detroit Tigers and Red Sox in the off-season for the chance to be picked-up by the Rangers or Cardinals after the season started.

With Neftali Feliz on the DL the Rangers had an open spot to fill after moving Scott Feldman into the rotation.

Oswalt is expected to join Texas after making 3 or 4 minor league starts.

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Cuban! Are You Watching The Spurs?

jeffburkett — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:39:18 +0000

Last year at this time the Mavericks were on their way to the NBA Finals and would soon win their first championship in franchise history.

This year they were swept out of the playoffs in the first round, and with the majority of their roster looking at free agency, the team that once was the toast of the town, now is full of question marks.

It appears the franchise is on the decline and that Dirk will win just one championship during his Dallas stay, even if the they do sign Deron Williams in the off season.

So how did this happen so fast? And how do the Mavs get back on top?

One way…follow the lead of the San Antonio Spurs.

The team is on the cusp of another NBA Finals berth, and continue to get better despite being called old. The average age of the team is 27.4 years. That’s younger than your Dallas Mavericks.

They have been able to keep the big three together (Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili) and surround them with talented players, not through huge free agent signs, but skillful scouting and innovative trades.

The Spurs only have one lottery pick on their roster and have continues to thrive despite being in a small market. Most of the big time free agents tend to migrate to markets like New York and Los Angeles. But the Spurs keep away from big names, instead worrying about depth and role players.

It helps that the team has Tim Duncan, probably the most under appreciated player in the game. He continues to be a dominant force in the post season and a team leader off the court.

While Dirk may be a more talented scorer, Duncan is far more well rounded, playing great defense, as well as making everyone else around him better.

The Spurs also load their roster up with players that know and understand their roles. Danny Green and Gary Neal are such players, who could start for some teams, but embrace their roles off the bench with the Spurs. Ginobili would start for any team in the NBA, but comes off the bench for the Spurs.

The Mavs rely so heavily on free agency and cap space, the were forced to let key pieces of their championship team go, so they could try and win again sometime down the road.

So while the Spurs continue to re-load, the Mavs will have to rebuild. And maybe its time for Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson to take a look at the team down south and strip a page from their playbook.

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Duncan Not Leaving San Antonio In Free Agency, “I’m a Spur For Life”

jeffburkett — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:38:23 +0000

SAN ANTONIO (CBSSPORTS.COM) – This will come as no shock to you, but Tim Duncan has already made it clear, publicly in an interview with Yahoo Sports, that he’s not going to be going anywhere when he hits the free-agent market this summer.

Duncan now says it’s realistic to expect him to play another year or two. Three or four years, he thinks, would be a stretch, even in his improved condition. This much is certain: He has little interest in testing the free-agent market when his contract ends after this season, negotiating leverage be damned.

“Though I shouldn’t say that; I have to threaten them that I’ll leave,” he joked. “No … I’m not going anywhere. You can print that wherever you want to. I’m here and I’m a Spur for life.”

Read more at CBS SPORTS.COM

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5 Up, 5 Down: Fantasy Baseball Advice For May 29th

mreal197 — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:23:27 +0000

By: Jack Moore

Each week we’ll be providing you with insight into the best (and worst) baseball players to play in your fantasy baseball league.

As I turn in this week’s column, I own a three strikeout lead on my opponent in my one head-to-head league, and he still has Jonny Venters in the Sunday Night game. If I don’t turn in a column next week, it’s because the suspense has killed me.

5 UP

1. Norichika Aoki, OF, MIL: Aoki has moved into an everyday role in right field for Milwaukee, forcing their hand with his performance so far this season. Another 2-for-4 day Sunday raises his average to .313 with decent doubles power and a healthy 8.4% walk rate. He has 11 runs in 95 plate appearances and that rate should skyrocket with regular plate appearances in front of Ryan Braun. He won’t provide much in RBI or HR, and he only has one stolen base, but it can be extremely hard to find high-average guys at this point in the season and Aoki could be one.

2. Tom Wilhelmsen, RP, SEA: With Brandon League out as closer in Seattle, the Mariners are going to a committee. Expect Wilhelmsen to come out on top. The 28-year-old righty has 30 strikeouts in just 24.1 innings and is the best righty in the Mariners’ pen at this time. Don’t be fooled by his 4.44 ERA – a 3.24 FIP suggests that number will come down, and with a hot start he could entrench himself as Seattle’s closer.

3. Colby Rasmus, OF, TOR: Rasmus scorched the ball this week, going 10-for-28 (.357) with two homers, two steals and five RBI. The main scourge behind his .227/.298/.411 line remains a .260 BABIP. Owners who pick him up now likely won’t have to deal with that and can reap the benefits of hitter-friendly Rogers Centre as he heats up. He could be a sneakily cheap source of both power and steals.

4. Adam Wainwright, SP, STL: Wainwright followed up a shutout gem earlier in the week with a six inning, one run start Sunday against the Phillies, giving him just one run allowed in his last 15 innings. It’s time to buy on Wainwright. He’s seen his velocity tick up, particularly on his cutter, and that could indicate he’s returning to the form which had him competing for Cy Youngs in the latter part of the last decade.

5. Matt Moore, SP, TB: Moore’s 7 IP, 10 K, 2 ER start against the White Sox on Memorial Day was overshadowed by Chris Sale’s gem (and understandably so). But let’s not lose sight of the future ace — he now has four straight starts with at least six strikeouts and has allowed no more than three earned runs in each. He has a 30:10 K:BB ratio in those four starts (covering 22 innings) and looks like he might be turning a corner. Don’t get left behind.

5 DOWN

1. Derek Lowe, SP, CLE: Lowe was beat up in two starts this week, allowing 10 runs on 16 hits in 8.1 innings. Lowe struck out just five batters and has a swinging strike rate of just 4.6% on his career. What we saw last week is just what happens when a pitcher gives up as much contact as Lowe does – he allowed 16 hits, including a homer, and even his pristine control (just one walk) doesn’t always help with major league hitters in the batter’s box.

2. Michael Young, INF, TEX: Young has struggled mightily to open 2012, and another down week (.222/.236/.278 in 55 PA) has his overall line down to .282/.305/.379. His power is almost completely gone; he has just a .097 ISO, and at 36 there doesn’t seem to be much reason to believe it will come back. Young always seems to have fans somewhere, so a reasonable return could probably be had here, too.

3. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY: The Jeter cool-down has begun. The Captain is hitting just .250 in his last two weeks (12 games, 54 PA) despite a BABIP of .297 in that span. He’s certainly not worth giving up on – he’s probably a .280-.290 hitter with a very good run total at the end of the season – but if you can capitalize on his .338/.380/.465 start, do so and do so quickly.

4. Matt Capps, RP, MIN: Capps finally blew his first save of the season Sunday, giving up a two-run homer to Miguel Cabrera to lose the game for the Twins. The problem with Capps is that he just doesn’t miss bats any more – he has just a 4.5 K/9 and in many ways is the relief pitcher version of Lowe. He’s had exceptional control thus far, walking just one batter all year, but if he does lose track of the strike zone, it could fall apart very quickly in Minnesota for Capps.

5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, NYM: Nieuwenhuis was a darling early in the season as he put up a .325 average in April. May has not been so kind. The 25-year-old has just a .261 average in May, and he may not even sustain that going forward. He was 0-for-4 with a strikeout Sunday, his 53rd of the year in just 47 games. It’s almost impossible to maintain any sort of a reasonable batting average with a 30% strikeout rate or higher, and Nieuwenheis is now at 30.5% on the year. Expect him to be closer to .250 than his current .288 for the rest of the season.

Jack Moore is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Mathematics and Economics. His work can also be found at FanGraphs.com, DisciplesOfUecker.com, RotoWire.com, AdvancedNFLStats.com and ESPN. Follow him on twitter at @jh_moore.

How Does Jason Garrett Rank In The NFL?

jeffburkett — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:45:02 +0000

DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) – Recently a list came out of the top coaches in the NFL. How does the Cowboys top man rank among other NFL coaches? RAGE discusses.

PLAY: Where is Jason Garrett ranked amongst NFL head coaches?

Download: 052512-garrett.mp3

Listen to Richie & Greggo “RAGE” weekdays 2:00pm – 7:00pm on 105.3 The Fan. Follow us on Twitter @1053RAGE @RichieWhitt @TCUWhiteTrash @ArmenontheAir @Sybil1053

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Almost Lost For Season, Travis Zajac Helping Fuel Devils’ Run

mreal197 — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:16:22 +0000

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Most of the talk about the Devils and their run to the Stanley Cup finals against the Los Angeles Kings has focused on Martin Brodeur, Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and Peter DeBoer.

The 40-year-old goaltender, the team’s two big goal scorers and the new coach all have played major roles in getting the Devils back to the championship round just a year after they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

The guy who tends to get lost in all the talk is Travis Zajac.

This was almost a lost season for the Devils’ No. 1 center. He tore an Achilles tendon in August, had surgery the next day and tried to come back in December. He lasted eight games before calling it quits.

Over the next two months, there were times he thought his season was over as the injury and soreness wouldn’t go away. The 27-year-old continued his rehab and eventually came back in late March. It took him a couple of weeks to find his game but one can argue he has been the best player for the Devils in the postseason, which will start its final round on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Kings visit New Jersey.

“He is the type of player who does a lot of things well, from the faceoff to the forcechecking, taking the body,” Brodeur said. “He does a lot of little things. A lot of people who are not watching him and who only look at the stats, miss a lot. He is an effective player. He logs a lot of important minutes. That’s what you have to look at, and who he plays against every single shift, and that tells you a lot about them.”

His statistics aren’t shabby either. Zajac has seven goals — tied for the team high with Kovalchuk and Parise — and five assists. His 12 points are tied for eighth best in the postseason. He also played on New Jersey’s power play and kills off penalties averaging more than 20 minutes a game, third highest among the teams’ forwards.

Not bad for player who appeared in 15 regular-season games.

“Getting this far I’m sure it’s enjoyable for everyone but it really is for me,” Zajac said after the Devils practiced Monday for the first time since winning the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers on Friday night. “Playing this late in the season really makes me feel like I didn’t miss the whole season. It’s really a fun time to play hockey.”

Coming into this season, Zajac had been the Devils’ current iron man. He had played in 401 consecutive games for the team between 2006 and the end of the 2010-11 season only to get hurt working out at home before training camp.

If there has been a positive in terms of the injury, Zajac is fresh. While most of his teammates have played around 100 games, he has played in 33 and seemingly is rounding into midseason form.

Veteran forward Dainius Zubrus said Zajac’s return has been one of the keys to the Devils’ success.

Instead of gambling and making a deal for a top center at the trading deadline, general manager Lou Lamoriello stood pat and waited for Zajac to be ready.

“It took time, but the surprising thing for me is how well the guy can play after basically missing the whole year,” said Zubrus, who plays on Zajac’s right wing with Parise on the left. “He is playing top minutes, PP and PK, and all that stuff. You can’t get a player like that on deadline. When he got healthy it was a big addition.”

DeBoer said Zajac’s contributions are immeasurable.

“We wouldn’t be here without Travis,” said DeBoer, who was forced to use roughly 10 different centers this season in searching for replacement for Zajac. “The fact that we were able to fill … the hole he left is a credit to Patrik Elias, (Adam) Henrique and (Stephen) Gionta, and (others).”

“Looking back now in reflection, that was an awfully big hole,” DeBoer added.

In facing the Kings, the Devils will be taking on the NHL’s top team in the postseason. Los Angeles is 12-2 and it has barely been tested in knocking off the top three seeds in the Western Conference — Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix. In each series, Los Angeles won the first three games.

“They have big size up front, they check well and control the puck offensively, that’s been one of their strengths throughout the playoffs,” Zajac said. “They have some D-men who can make plays and jump up on offense.”

The Kings also play like the Devils. They roll four lines and have an outstanding goaltender in Jonathan Quick.

“There are similarities for sure, but every team at this point plays a similar style, they forecheck hard and the D keeps puck alive,” Zajac said. “I think every team that has been successful was similar structure.”

The Kings traveled on Monday to New Jersey. A media day for the teams is scheduled Tuesday.

Will Zajac and the Devils hoist the Cup? Make your prediction in the comments below!

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Memoriam Day

jeffburkett — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:57:34 +0000

I lied to get into the sports media business. Sorta.

Went down like this:

In 1986 a few months before I graduated UT-Arlington with a degree in journalism I caught the eye and grabbed the ear of an editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“I’ll do anything, for any price,” I begged, attempting to jam the tip of my toe into what I perceived to be a sliver in the door.

“Hmm, okay,” returned the editor. “Do you follow soccer?”

“Are you kidding?!” I fibbed, having attended a Dallas Tornado game or two as a kid but not really knowing a goal from a goal kick. “One of my favorite sports!”

Two nights later I was inside Reunion Arena covering a team called the Dallas Sidekicks and a sport called the Major Indoor Soccer League. Orange ball? Walls? A guy who takes his shirt off when he scores? I was clueless. And I was hooked.

Not necessarily on the MISL, but on getting paid to attend sporting events. What a scam. One I’ve somehow perpetrated ever since.

Since that day I’ve covered sports in the Metroplex for 26 years, writing on everything from dart tournaments to The Olympics. Last week in a nostalgic fit I began attempting to piece together the most memorable events I’ve covered during 18 years at the Star-Telegram, seven more at the Dallas Observer and the last 3 1/2 at CBS Radio/105.3 The Fan.

I narrowed it to 20. Not necessarily the best moments. Merely the most memorable.

Hope you enjoy re-living them half as much as I enjoyed covering them.

20. February 16, 2001; Daytona 500 – Assigned to capture the suds, speed and socializing of the Daytona 500, I drove through the tunnel at the Daytona International Speedway and immediately saw a woman. Walking. On her hands. Naked. With grinnin’ guys playing ring toss. Using her legs as the targets. Swear.

19. April 6, 1997; Mav-Wrecks – Though the franchise had bottomed out a couple years earlier with head coach Quinn Buckner and consecutive 13- and 11-win seasons, the Mavs managed only two points – on a pair of Derek Harper free throws – in the third quarter of a lowly loss to the Lakers in The Fabulous Forum.

18. Nov 30, 2006; Anna Nirvana – Got to play three games of tennis at the T Bar M Racquet Club in North Dallas against one of the hottest females on the planet, Anna Kournikova. Nothing really spectacular about the tennis, other than the fact that it was against one of the hottest females on the planet, Anna Kournikova.

17. June 20, 1987; Sidekicks Win – Down 3-1 with less than two minutes to play in Game 7 of the MISL Championship Series, the Sidekicks pulled their goalie in desperation. After an improbable two goals to force overtime, Tatu drilled a shot that Mark Karpun re-directed for the goal that stunned the Tacoma Stars and 20,000 fans in the Tacoma Dome. Two days later I covered a championship parade through downtown and around Reunion Arena.

16. Dec. 10, 1989; Bounty Bowl II – After Cowboys’ head coach Jimmy Johnson had chastised the Eagles’ Buddy Ryan for putting out a bounty on kicker Luis Zendejas in a Thanksgiving Day game at Texas Stadium, the payback at Veterans Stadium was gruesome. Philadelphia beat an infamously futile Cowboys team, 20-10, punctuated by batteries wrapped in iceballs hurled at the sideline and even inside CBS’ broadcast booth at Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw.

15. June 29, 1998; Dirk’s Arrival – He stepped off the plane from Wurzburg, Germany all of 19 years old. Chili-bowl haircut. Big, gold hoops dangling from each ear. But then Dirk Nowitzki dazzled us inside the Baylor-Tom Landry Center gym. 3-pointers with each hand. And a smooth, flowing stride leading to effortless dunks. The Flamingo Fadeway wasn’t yet born, but just days after the NBA Draft Nowitzki’s star was already rising.

14. Dec. 20, 2008; Farewell, Old Friend – It was freezing that night. Winter wind whipping through the tunnel at Texas Stadium. But with the Cowboys rallying and former players lined up to see the last game in Texas Stadium it would end up warm and cozy. Right? Nope. As Baltimore Ravens’ fullback LeRon McClain rumbled 82 yards right up Dallas’ gut it almost made us vomit. Then, about 17 months later, an 11-year-old from Tyler pushed a plunger that imploded my all-time favorite sports stadium.

13. May 14, 2005; Tiger Prowls – Back when Tiger Woods was Tiger Goods, I followed his every move at the Byron Nelson golf tournament. On the 9^th fairway he exited a Port-a-Pot … to a rousing ovation.

12 July 4, 2004; Fantastic Federer – Only thing more amazing than sitting at Centre Court Wimbledon and watching Andy Roddick spank 140-mph serves was witnessing Roger Federer deftly return them for winners with merely a flick of his legendary wrist.

11. June 17, 1994; White Bronco – International media from the globe’s four corners descended upon Fair Park to cover the World Cup, but suddenly we all found ourselves not watching soccer inside the Cotton Bowl but instead huddled around a TV gawking at O.J. Simpson leading Los Angeles police on a low-speed chase.

10. January 17, 1993; How ‘Bout Them Cowboys?! – Candlestick Park. The mud. Major underdogs. Up 24-20 with four minutes remaining, but backed up to their own 10. Get conservative and work on the clock? Nah. How about Troy Aikman to Alvin Harper for the most important 70-yard pass play in franchise history. Cowboys 30, 49ers 20. Hello, Super Bowl.

9. February 28, 1989; Doomsday Indeed – Only days after he was fired by new owner Jerry Jones, Cowboys’ coach Tom Landry went to Valley Ranch and cleaned out his office. Unfortunately, I had to document every sad detail.

8. June 14, 1998; The Joy of Six – With his Chicago Bulls on the brink of losing Game 6 and having to play a Game 7 in the Delta Center against the Utah Jazz, Michael Jordan scored, stole the ball from Karl Malone and then shoved Bryon Russell out of the way before swishing an 18-foot jumper to seal his sixth title. We forget John Stockton front-rimmed an open 3-pointer at the buzzer.

7. October 22, 2010; Hello, World Series! – When closer Neftali Feliz struck out Alex Rodriguez on a nasty curveball, we pinched ourselves. Yep, after 38 seasons the Texas Rangers were finally going to the World Series.

6. February 8, 1986; Spud Soars – On NBA All-Star Saturday at Reunion Arena it was 5-foot-7 Spud Webb who stole the show by winning the Slam Dunk title. But in the locker room it was Celtics’ legend Larry Bird who chugged a Lone Star beer, loudly burped and then offered “Excuse me, I’ve got a trophy to win.” He then went out and at one point made 12 straight 3-pointers en route to the Long Distance Shootout championship.

5. July 27, 1996; Olympic Bombing – During The Summer Olympics in Atlanta I saw Michael Johnson’s double in 200/400, the Dream Team cream everybody and Andre Agassi win gold. But it was 1:30 a.m. when our bus taking us to our dorms at Emory University abruptly stopped. Announced our driver, “A bomb went off in Centennial Park.” Still get chill bumps. I had been there 20 minutes before.

4. August 22, 1989; 5,000 – I was assigned to paint the scene surrounding Nolan Ryan’s historic 5,000^th strikeout. Not Nolan fanning the A’s Rickey Henderson or the ball caught by Chad Krueter, but more so the scalpers selling box seats for, get this, $150 a pop. Probably go for $1,500 today.

3. October 27, 2011; So Close … – One strike away. Twice. I was lined up with a gaggle of media underneath Busch Stadium, awaiting the Texas Rangers’ World Series celebration that would never happen. Plastic was hung from lockers. Boxes of championship hats and T-shirts were carted past. But after David Freese off Neftali Feliz and Lance Berkman off Scott Feldman, it was instead our worst case of blue balls. Ever.

2. January 31, 1993; Super Bowl, XXVII – From Garth Brooks’ National Anthem to Michael Jackson’s halftime show to Troy Aikman’s four touchdown passes to the nine turnovers, the Cowboys’ 52-17 romp over the Buffalo Bills is so vivid it feels like it went down yesterday.

1. June 12, 2011; NBA Champs – As Dirk Nowitzki made a lefty layup to give the Mavs a 9-point lead in the final minute, I found myself trying to do my job – blog and type and talk – amidst a stream of tears. It was so perfect. In Miami, against the Heat team and player (Dwyane Wade) that negated the ’06 title run. Favorite moment: Original owner Don Carter handing the Larry O’Brien trophy to Finals MVP Nowitzki. Sometimes, if you stick with it long enough, life turns out to be fair after all.

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Texas Teams Dominate NCAA Baseball Tournament

jeffburkett — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:47:05 +0000

DALLAS (AP) – Baylor is the No. 4 seed nationally and leads an eight-team Texas contingent in the NCAA baseball tournament, while the Texas Longhorns will miss the postseason for the first time since 1998.

The seeding awarded Monday means the Bears (44-14) will get to host one of eight super regionals if they win the Waco regional that includes Dallas Baptist (39-17), Texas-Arlington (36-23) and Oral Roberts. Baylor opens against Oral Roberts.

Rice and Texas A&M also are hosting double-elimination regionals. The Owls (40-17) face Prairie View (28-23) in their opener, while Sam Houston State (38-20) faces Arkansas.

The Aggies (42-16) open against Dayton, and TCU (36-19) will face Ole Miss.

All the regionals start Friday.

The Longhorns last missed the tournament in coach Augie Garrido’s second season.

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Prosecutors Ready To End Case Against Clemens

KTVTPhil — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:43:11 +0000

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government is expected to finish its perjury case against former major league pitcher Roger Clemens on Tuesday, and the defense should begin its case.

The trial is entering its seventh week. Clemens’ lawyers say they will need seven or eight court days to put on their defense.

On Friday, a government witness testified that two cotton balls and a syringe needle — allegedly saved after a steroids injection — tested positive for Clemens’ DNA.

Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, is accused of lying to Congress in 2008 when he denied using steroids or human growth hormone.

Earlier in the trial, Brian McNamee, Clemens’ former strength and conditioning coach, said he had injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and with human growth hormone in 2000.

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Napoli & Cruz Homer As Rangers Top Mariners

Ryan Crowe — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:21:00 +0000

ARLINGTON (AP) - Mike Napoli and Nelson Cruz both homered before combining on a big defensive play, and Matt Harrison pitched eight strong innings to lead the Texas Rangers past the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Monday night.

Napoli homered for the second game in a row, a tiebreaking, three-run shot in the sixth. Cruz went deep in the second to help the Rangers win their fourth straight game.

Harrison (6-3) struck out five and allowed two runs. Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances.

After Michael Saunders singled in the eighth for Seattle, Brendan Ryan hit a liner to right-center that bounced over the glove of a diving Craig Gentry and rolled to the wall.

Saunders scored easily, but Cruz ran the ball down and threw to second baseman Ian Kinsler, who made a perfect relay to the plate. Napoli tagged out the sliding Ryan, who was denied an inside-the-park homer because the catcher had blocked the plate with his left leg.

The Rangers (31-18) have the best record in the American League, but only one winning streak longer than four in a row – an eight-gamer in April.

Napoli’s ninth homer came off reliever Steve Delabar (1-1), who gave up three runs while facing only four batters. Napoli was mired in a career-long 24-game homerless drought before his two-run shot Sunday.

After Kevin Millwood was replaced by Delabar to start the sixth, the reliever walked Adrian Beltre and gave up a single to David Murphy before striking out Cruz. With Rangers fans chanting “Nap-o-li!, Nap-o-li!”, the catcher hit a 401-foot homer that ricocheted off the facade of the second deck of seats in right field for a 4-1 lead.

The 37-year-old Millwood struck out five and allowed only one run, but was done after throwing 97 pitches on a warm night in Texas, his home park from 2006-09.

Millwood still has allowed only two earned runs over 27 innings (0.67 ERA) in his last four starts. He matched his career-high streak of consecutive scoreless innings at 18 after getting through the first, but Cruz ended that an inning later with his one-out homer down the right-field line that tied the game at 1.

Seattle led 1-0 in the first after Chone Figgins snapped an 0-for-24 slide with a double, his first hit since April 29. Though Figgins was retired on a fielder’s choice by Ichiro Suzuki, he stayed in a rundown long enough for Suzuki to get to second base. Jesus Montero followed with an RBI single.

Cruz also got an outfield assist in the fifth after Kinsler misplayed Alex Liddi’s popup in short right. Cruz picked up the ball and fired to first baseman Mitch Moreland to catch Liddi off base, and the runner was tagged out in a rundown.

NOTES: Rangers RHP Scott Feldman (0-2) gets another start Tuesday, his second in a row against the Mariners since Neftali Feliz went on the disabled list. Feldman gave up a grand slam and lost at Seattle last Wednesday. … Mariners lefty Jason Vargas (5-4, 3.39 ERA) starts Tuesday. … Rangers right-handed reliever Alexi Ogando has a bruised right hand. Manager Ron Washington said Ogando was just sore. … Washington said RHP Yu Darvish was getting treatment for back stiffness, but said the pitcher is fine.

Hunter Rejoins Angels, Says Son Is “Upbeat”

Ryan Crowe — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:37:20 +0000

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Torii Hunter was blindsided by the news his teenage son had been arrested. On the flight back home to Prosper two weeks ago, he went through a litany of emotions — confusion, guilt, fear.

The Los Angeles Angels’ right fielder and clubhouse leader had to be a dad, shelving his high-paying job on the West Coast for more important duties. He’s ready to return to baseball, but only because he’s confident his son will be all right.

“I’ve sacrificed a lot for baseball, but I’m not sacrificing my family,” Hunter said. “I love them more than baseball, and I love this game.”

Hunter rejoined the Los Angeles Angels on Monday after a 14-game absence. The veteran outfielder didn’t come off the Angels’ restricted list before they opened a three-game series with the New York Yankees, but Hunter thinks he’ll be ready to play soon.

Hunter left the Angels on May 14, a few hours after 17-year-old Darius McClinton-Hunter was arrested in a sexual assault case in Prosper, where the Hunter family lives.

Hunter is a long-distance father for most of the year. His wife stays with their three teenage sons, Darius, Torii Jr., and Monshadrik “Money” Hunter, who are finishing their junior years at Prosper High. All three are expected to be Division I football prospects.

On that flight home, Hunter wondered about his own culpability in his son’s trouble. He has tried to be an attentive father with a disciplinarian streak, saying he doesn’t hesitate to “whoop” his kids, but just isn’t around them for much of the year.

“I thought, man, I wish I could have been here, not just four months (in the winter),” Hunter said. “I wish I could be there 12 months and be in their lives, and none of this would happen, and this and that. I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know the stories, anything like that. It took me a couple of days to get the story. Once we got the truth to come out, I felt better about it.”

Although Hunter tried to restrain himself from discussing the legal aspects of his son’s case while sitting in the Angels’ dugout, the loquacious outfielder couldn’t resist declaring that much about the police’s investigation doesn’t add up. For example, Prosper police said its five arrests followed a monthlong investigation, but Hunter claims the alleged assault happened only a week before his son’s detainment.

“Can’t really talk about much,” Hunter said. “I’m not a no-commenter. You know I want to tell you everything, but I can’t do it. I’ve got to let the justice system play its part, and let my attorneys do what they have to do, and hopefully this thing gets dropped, but we’re ready to go to court no matter what.

“I don’t wish this on any father out there,” he added. “I know a lot of fathers have been through it, but I don’t wish this on anybody, to see your son go through this. All the embarrassment, all the lies that are out there — don’t always believe what you read, because it’s not even close. But it’s a lot better.”

Hunter spent the last two weeks with his family, making time almost every day to watch the Angels on television. Los Angeles is 9-5 without Hunter, climbing out of last place heading into a key homestand against the Yankees and the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.

The Angels didn’t hesitate to allow Hunter to take an indefinite leave. General manager Jerry Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia checked in with the veteran almost daily during his absence. “That decision wasn’t tough at all,” Scioscia said. “We all love this game and understand the sense of duty you have to this game, but there’s things you have to handle with your family.”

Even when outfielders Vernon Wells and Ryan Langerhans got hurt during Hunter’s absence, the Angels didn’t rush him back. Hunter thought about rushing himself when Langerhans ran into an outfield wall in San Diego, but his wife wouldn’t allow it.

Hunter took his son to the movies last weekend and was pleased to see Darius’ first smiles in nearly two weeks when they saw “The Avengers.” McClinton-Hunter has been recruited as a receiver by several schools, and the elder Hunter said Utah and Texas Tech already have contacted the family to say they’re still interested in Darius.

Torii Hunter is prepared to return to Texas if his son’s case proceeds through the justice system, but he’s eager to get back to his game as well.

“They all seemed like they were a lot better,” Hunter said. “My wife can handle the situation. My attorneys can handle the situation. My three boys, they’re very upbeat. We were talking a lot. Through all this stuff, my family and I, we got a little closer.”

A Rare Medium Well Done: 5.28.12

jeffburkett — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:02:02 +0000

Editor’s note: Greggo doesn’t want us to edit this. So we won’t.

with apologies to jonas grumbly…HOSPITALS SUCK!..there is not one thing good ’bout em..(unless of course they save your life or you can tag a hot nurse)…but for the most part they are dungeons of discomfort…they are the last place on the planet to get rest…sleeping on the central expressway median would be easier….if its not the myriads of 2am bloodletting…endless vital sign checks…bitchy nurses…and doctors who pop their heads in to ask how you’re feeling..and bolting before you give an answer…it really seems they go out of their way to make a horrible situation even worse…here are just a few instances…

-beds…no way you can get comfortable…and the inclining and declining make it impossible to rest…and the linens…their thread count must be about a 15…think of lounging on sandpaper…and the plastic pillows?…I swear they could be used as a floatation device
-TV..something out of 1985…and that stupid ass remote…if you miss your channel..ya gotta roll all the way thru again…and the sound is like a drive-in movie from the 50′s…
-gowns…for some reason…I had to wear one of those revealing and uncomfortable garments…no way you can experience one sliver of dignity…and trust me…you don’t wanna see my ass
-that f&)!$ iv machine…turn the wrong way and it starts wailing like a crying kid on a plane…and the bitchy nurse says she will come fix it…and she does…about 20 MINUTES LATER!..
-endless reams of tape…they use it too much…..im convinced you can tape a skyscraper together with that tape…so that with the fact im a hairy guy…I looked like I had been waxed when they tore that stuff off…thought I might have to be hospitalized again for 3rd degree burns..
-the extremely plain looking walls..hospital rooms must use the same decorator as death row designer in a prison
-checking out…was told I was being released at 10am…the crazy amount of paper work was finished at 3:30…I finally walked out at 4:00
-only hours after my surgery..they had me up walking…and during my imprisonment…they stayed on my ass to walk…and walk…and walk…I did so alone…and pushing two iv machines..no help..none needed…but I wasnt allowed to walk out…had to take a wheelchair pushed by saddam
hussein…it was fine walking up and down corridors by myself…but now I had to take a ride…just another instance of robbing dignity

Now I know most of these things are cuz of insurance reasons…which is a whole other subject…but the next time I have to go to hospital…I want to arrive DOA…I promise that will be a much more pleasant experience…until next time…stay outta hospitals…

Sapp Out Of Showtime’s “Inside The NFL”

KTVTPhil — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:23:43 +0000

NEW YORK (CBS SPORTS) - Warren Sapp is out as an analyst on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” after CBS and Showtime declined to renew the former defensive tackle’s contract. Sapp, a seven-time Pro Bowler and current NFL Network analyst, was hired to appear on on “Inside the NFL” in August of 2008, though he took a break when he appeared on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Sapp’s name has been in the news a lot recently — on Twitter he accused Jeremy Shockey of being a “snitch” in the Saints bounty scandal.

Click Here To Read More From CBS Sports

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Rangers Still In The Race For Oswalt

KTVTPhil — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:15:25 +0000

NEW YORK (CBS SPORTS) - As if Roy Oswalt’s first foray into free agency this year wasn’t interesting enough, his second go-round may be topping it.

Oswalt was said to hoping to be back on a major-league mound by June 15, but for now there still seems to be more intrigue than substance. And that June 15 target date seems optimistic now.

The Rangers, one of his preferred teams, definitely are in the Oswalt derby. So are the Orioles, a surprise team this year. The Red Sox are interested, and the Phillies may be, too (and you have to wonder whether Roy Halladay’s shoulder concern enhances any interest there). Then there are the rumors. There was one whisper Oswalt, 34, worked out for the Dodgers recently. But sources familiar with their situation insisted that the Dodgers’ interest came “awhile back” and that there was no evidence of any renewed contact by the Dodgers.

Texas probably remains the most logical team for Oswalt (9-10 with a 3.69 ERA last year), but while they would like to sign him now it seems clear there must be a difference in dollars. While the scouts who have seen him suggest he can help a team, word is that the asking price isn’t insignificant.

Click Here To Read More From CBS Sports

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Colts Reportedly Want Jenkins From Cowboys

KTVTPhil — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:06:04 +0000

NEW YORK (CBS SPORTS) - There were reports a couple days ago that Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins is not happy with his current place of employment. In fact, he’s skipped OTAs so far because he wants to be traded (probably because the Cowboys went out and got cornerback Brandon Carr in free agency — and paid him $50 million to do so — and then traded up to draft Morris Claiborne).

The Cowboys have said that they’re not interested in trading their 2008 first-round draft pick (after all, a secondary featuring Carr, Claiborne, Orlando Scandrick and Jenkins would be pretty sweet for Dallas’ defense), but that might have changed. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Colts have made multiple trade offers and the Cowboys might be wavering on whether they’d accept a swap.

The NFL’s Ian Rapoport, though, talked to a high-ranking Cowboys official who said Dallas still isn’t interested.

Click Here To Read More From CBS Sports

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NFL & Union Fight Over Survivor Benefits

KTVTPhil — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:00:03 +0000

NEW YORK (CBS SPORTS) - The NFLPA is circulating a petition to its players which asks the NFL to pay in full the entire cost of providing benefits to widows and survivors of deceased NFL players. CBS Sports obtained a copy of the petition from former player Jeff Nixon.

The NFL, according to the petition letter, had agreed to fund 51 percent of the fund. It’s an important thing. A very important thing. But the union says the NFL now wants to use player fine money to fund it. So whenever a player, say, is fined $10,000 for an illegal hit, that money would go to the fund.

There’s a problem with this, players say. That would mean in essence players would be the ones almost entirely funding it. This would be unfair, they say.

Click Here To Read More From CBS Sports

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Spurs Get “Nasty” To Top Thunder In Game 1

KTVTPhil — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:51:59 +0000

Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2012 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. (credit: Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Trailing in the fourth quarter, Gregg Popovich snarled an order in the huddle that the NBA Coach of the Year punctuated with a sharp and angry sweep of his hand.

“I want some nasty!”

But truthfully, Popovich was already getting what he really wanted: the San Antonio Spurs finally in a game they might actually lose.

Popovich’s caught-on-camera “nasty” command in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals is likely coming soon to T-shirts, Internet memes and the lexicon of the NBA playoffs for the foreseeable future. But after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 on Sunday night for their 19th win in a row — tying the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs — Popovich wasn’t flustered by the near-loss.

He was almost grateful for it.

“We wanted it about 15 games ago,” Popovich said. “At least I did.”

Manu Ginobili scored 26 points as the Spurs escaped a tantalizing near-upset for the young Thunder, who came closer than anyone to beating the Spurs for the first time in 46 days. But a nine-point lead didn’t last after the famously mercurial 63-year-old Popovich huddled his lagging team together in the fourth and told them to “get nasty.”

“I said that?” Popovich said afterward.

A nationally television audience heard it.

“The heat of the game, stuff comes up,” Popovich said. “So I talked to them about they’ve got to get a little bit uglier, get a little more nasty, play with more fiber and take it to these guys. Meaning you have to drive it, you have to shoot it.”

And when they did, the Thunder couldn’t keep up.

Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 27 points. Russell Westbrook had 17, and insisted he was OK after taking a spill that was nasty in its own right — face first, bracing his fall with his hands and sitting under the basket for more than a minute while the entire Thunder bench walked across the court to check on their All-Star point guard.

“I shot good shots, made good passes,” Durant said. “Unfortunately, we lost.”

After being held to just 16 third-quarter points, San Antonio scored 39 in the fourth. Westbrook chalked it up to a defensive breakdown that “got out of hand” but it still left the Thunder in search of the road win they’ll need to in this series to reach the NBA finals for the first time since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2009.

Game 2 is Tuesday night.

“How it happened is irrelevant,” Thunder guard Derrick Fisher said of letting a lead slip away. “Whether we lose by 20 or lose by one, we lost.”

That’s something the Spurs haven’t been able to say since April 11. They joined the 2001 Lakers as the only other team to carry a winning streak this long in the playoffs — and that Los Angeles team did so on its way to a championship.

The Spurs matched the fourth-longest streak in NBA history, and with one more will become just the fourth team to surpass 20. Tim Duncan had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Tony Parker shook off a dismal start to finish with 18 points.

And of getting “nasty”?

“Pop’s always trying to motivate us,” Parker said.

But it was Ginobili who steered the Spurs to strike first in a highly anticipated matchup of the West’s top two teams for practically the entire regular season. In his first game against the Thunder this year — he was sidelined by injury in the three regular-season meetings — Ginobili put up a playoff high after sputtering through the first two series.

“It just happened,” Ginobili said. “I don’t know how exactly because I haven’t scored like this all season long, but it happened and I am very happy about it.”

On the other end, Oklahoma City’s own Big Three struggled to find its shot early before awakening in the second half. Durant, Westbrook and James Harden at one point through the second quarter were 5 of 21 — a typically ominous stat line for a trio that had been responsible for nearly 70 percent of Oklahoma City’s points through the playoffs so far.

The Thunder were ousted in the Western Conference finals a year ago and were in position for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs until being overtaken by the Spurs in the final month of the season. But it was a fittingly close opener for two franchises with so many similarities.

That includes Thunder general manager Sam Presti — the architect of the Thunder’s rapid turnaround from a 23-win season to consecutive Western Conference finals in just four years — getting his big break in the NBA as an intern in San Antonio.

And the Thunder didn’t even need their own Big Three to keep things close.

They leaned on none more so than Fisher, whose famous game-winner for the Lakers on this same court in the 2004 playoffs has made “0.4 seconds” a phrase that needs no further explanation to the Spurs. Eight years later, and the oldest player in this series at 37, Fisher already met his playoff average at halftime and finished with 13 points.

Gary Neal added 12 points and was the only other Spurs player in double figures.

Harden lost in the first round of his matchup with Ginobili, who’s also a lefty and a former Sixth Man of the Year winner. Harden finished with 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting but started by missing nine of his first dozen shots.

Tipping off another conference finals couldn’t happen soon enough for Oklahoma City. With nothing to do but prepare for the Spurs all week — and be asked about the Spurs — the Thunder grew weary of questions about being perceived underdogs. About not having the same championship pedigree. About how they’ll possibly stop a team rolling through one of the 10 longest winning streaks in NBA history.

So repetitive were the questions that Durant, visibly annoyed, suggested earlier this week that someone instead ask how the Thunder are going “to come at” the Spurs. That didn’t stop Oklahoma City from facing more of the same at shootaround Sunday morning, when Thunder coach Scott Brooks tried quashing again the idea his team was somehow intimidated.

“They’re not going to be in awe. They’re going to have respect for them,” Brooks said. “We know we can beat them.”

They’ve still got to prove it.

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Johnson Overcomes Dufner To Win At Colonial

atgarciacbsnews — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:22:11 +0000

FORT WORTH (AP) – Zach Johnson won the Colonial for his first victory since also winning at Hogan’s Alley two years ago, pulling ahead Sunday when Jason Dufner finally faltered.

Johnson was assessed a two-stroke penalty for failing to replace his ball to its original position after marking it on the 18th hole. That left him with a 2-over 72 and a one-stroke victory.

“I’m going to focus on the positives, because I hit a really solid putt and it’s a good thing I made it,” Johnson said. “No harm, no foul. It was my fault.”

Johnson moved his original ball mark out of the line of Dufner’s putt on the 18th green. But he forgot to move it back before his final 5-foot putt.

Even with the penalty assessed before signing his scorecard, Johnson’s 12-under 268 total was enough to edge Dufner, who closed with a 74.

Tommy Gainey was a distant third at 7 under after a 67, a stroke better than Jim Furyk.

In what was essentially a match-play final round for the winner’s plaid jacket, Johnson took command at the 414-yard 15th hole. Dufner’s approach hit the left side of that green then rolled into a ditch, leading to a triple bogey that put him four strokes back after Johnson’s par.

It was the eighth PGA Tour victory for Johnson, who won $1,152,000. The 2007 Masters champion’s record streak of 15 consecutive under-par rounds at Colonial ended.

Dufner’s only two PGA Tour victories came in the last four weeks, a stretch when he also got married.

After winning last week at the Byron Nelson Championship, he was trying to match Ben Hogan, his hero, as the only players to win both PGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the same year. Hogan did it in 1946, when the tournaments weren’t played in consecutive weeks.

“Pretty good run, today obviously a little disappointing to play that poorly and not kind of a chance there at the end,” said Dufner, insisting fatigue didn’t come into play. “I feel pretty good actually. … I just played really poorly today.”

There had already been four two-stroke swings between Dufner and Johnson before that fateful 15th hole.

Dufner drove into a fairway bunker before the shot that trickled over a ledge into the water. He then pitched his drop all the way over the green and missed a 4-foot putt for double bogey.

Johnson made par at the same hole where a day earlier his approach settled into a grassy clump only inches from going into that ditch. With his feet together to keep from falling over himself, Johnson’s pitch from about 81 feet rolled only inches from the cup to set up a tap-in par-saver.

A hole earlier, Johnson had regained the lead with a 9-foot birdie putt at the 445-yard 14th after having blown a two-stroke lead.

At the 616-yard 11th, a straight par 5, Johnson’s drive to the left hit a tree and ricocheted back into the middle of the fairway. He took advantage with an 18 1/2-foot birdie putt to get to 15 under.

Dufner wasn’t as fortunate with his wayward drive, which settled under a tree. He had to punch a low shot around the branches before hitting his approach into a greenside bunker and two-putting from 23 feet for bogey.

But Dufner needed only one hole to get even again, with an 8-foot birdie at No. 12. Johnson hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker, then his first attempt out of there hit the lip and rebounded over and behind him. He settled for a bogey after a 90-foot shot out of the fringe settled about a foot past the hole.

Dufner and Johnson were tied at 14 under going to the back nine after Dufner’s double bogey at the 386-yard par 4 ninth hole, where his approach from 103 yards hit just short of the green and rolled back into the water.

In a rare and still slight show of frustration, Dufner slapped his hands together when the ball came up short before his first double bogey in 147 holes.

It looked as if Johnson was the one in trouble at the ninth, when his drive settled in the rough. He had an awkward stance, with one foot in the bunker the ball just missed, when he hit his approach to 15 feet. And he almost made birdie, but the putt lipped the cup and rolled away.

After both started with disappointing pars at the easiest hole on the course, the opening par 5, there was a two-stroke swing at the 382-yard second hole that cost Dufner his lead.

Dufner drove into a fairway bunker on the left side, then three-putted from 28 feet for his first bogey on any of the first eight holes all week. Johnson made a 28-foot birdie putt to go in front by a stroke.

At No. 5, Dufner made an 8-footer for his third birdie of the week at the tight par 4 parallel to the Trinity River that is one of Colonial’s toughest holes. Even after a frustrating tee shot into the rough at the sixth hole, Dufner regained the lead by rolling in a 34-foot birdie putt.

Johnson trailed by two strokes when his tee shot at the 188-yard eighth was way left before his short pitch shot missed the green and he bogeyed.

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Yu & Beltre Lead Rangers Past Blue Jays 12-6

atgarciacbsnews — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:11:58 +0000

ARLINGTON (AP) - Yu Darvish had to deal with an upset stomach and a sore lower back. At least he didn’t have the misfortune of facing the bruising Texas lineup.

Adrian Beltre homered during a seven-run second inning, Darvish posted his seventh victory and the Rangers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 12-6 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

“I did tell the coaches that I wasn’t feeling good,” Darvish said through a translator. “I could have gone six or seven innings. In the end, the manager made the decision to stop me.”

Darvish (7-2) breezed through the first two innings, but gave up single runs in each of the next three innings and was pulled. He threw 93 pitches on a 91-degree day, allowing seven hits and walking three to win his 100th combined game in Japan and the United States.

“I’m not looking at it as an injury,” Darvish said. “I feel comfortable saying that I should be able to treat this and be ready for my next start.”

In his previous outing, he allowed five runs and walked a career-high six in four innings against Seattle.

The AL West leaders outscored the Blue Jays 34-16 in the series, extending Toronto’s losing streak to five games. J.P. Arencibia hit two solo home runs for the Blue Jays.

Ian Kinsler homered, doubled and drove in four runs and Michael Young had three hits for Texas. Mike Napoli added a two-run shot, ending his 24-game homerless drought.

“It’s always been a terrific lineup,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “We have All-Stars. The guys who hit behind (Josh) Hamilton are guys who can drive in runs.”

Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando left the game in the eighth with a bruised right hand when a line drive from Brett Lawrie glanced off him. X-rays were negative and the team said he is day-to-day.

Kyle Drabek (4-5) allowed a career-high nine runs in three innings and lost for the second time this season to Darvish.

“We needed a win and I just wasn’t there for the team,” Drabek said.

Toronto pitchers had a 7.81 ERA on a 1-5 road trip that included a stop at Tampa Bay. Blue Jays relievers threw 18 2-3 innings in the Texas series.

“We had some momentum going into this road trip,” Toronto manager John Farrell said. “We ran up against two really good teams.”

Colby Rasmus had three hits, including a two-run homer in the ninth for the Blue Jays. Toronto last lost five in a row during the middle of the 2010 season.

The Rangers sent 11 batters to the plate and had five hits in the big second. Drabek gave up a single to Young and walked two to load the bases with one out, and a walk to Mitch Moreland forced home a run. Kinsler and Elvis Andrus hit two-run doubles and Beltre capped the burst with his 10th home run.

It was the fourth time this season the Rangers have scored seven or more runs in an inning.

Kinsler’s two-run homer in the fourth made it 9-1.

“Their starting pitcher is good so it was nice to get runs early,” Young said. “It was a big lift for us.”

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Blue Jays Make Pitcher Change Before Playing Rangers

atgarciacbsnews — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:41:42 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The Toronto Blue Jays have recalled right-handed pitcher Chad Beck and selected the contract of right-hander Jesse Chavez from Triple-A Las Vegas before Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers.

To make room for the two pitchers, the Blue Jays optioned infielder Yan Gomes to Las Vegas and designated right-handed pitcher Ryota Igarashi for assignment.

Gomes hit .227 with two home runs and five RBIs in eight games with Toronto. Igarashi, who was called up from Triple-A Friday, pitched one inning and allowed four runs in two appearances against the Rangers.

Beck was 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA and seven saves in 19 games with Las Vegas. Chavez made 10 starts with the Triple-A team and was 6-2 with a 3.72 ERA.

James Stewart Sweeps Motos At Wortham

atgarciacbsnews — Sun, 27 May 2012 02:52:32 +0000

WORTHAM (AP) - James Stewart swept the motos Saturday for his second consecutive 450 Class victory to start the AMA Pro Motocross season, and Eli Tomac dominated the 250 Class at Freestone Raceway.

Stewart, the Team Yoshimura Suzuki star from Haines City, Fla., raced to his 18th career victory. Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, from Belle Plaine, Minn., was second in both motos.

“I thought my day went good,” Stewart said. “It was a tough one, but fun. I got two good starts, made quick passes, and set the tone with a good pace. Ryan rode really well, but I did my own thing out front. I knew he’d be there the whole time. I felt like we were even today and if he had gotten out front, he could have done the same thing.”

Stewart extended his championship lead to 14 points over Dungey.

“I got off to good starts in both motos,” Dungey said. “I tried to make a pass happen the whole moto, but there was maybe more I should have done. It just didn’t come together. James is a tough competitor and it’s good for the both of us to push each other to new limits.”

In the 250 Class, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, from Cortez, Colo., also swept the motos for his second career victory. He recently won the AMA Supercross Western Regional title.

“The last two seasons have been roller-coasters to say the least,” Tomac said. “I pretty much ruined my rookie season here (due to the heat), so to come back and get a win is just awesome. I’ve been doing this for three years and every year you learn the tracks and the bikes more, and I feel like everything is working perfectly now. I didn’t get the greatest starts today, but I found some good lines and got a good flow.”

Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett, from Grand Terrace, Calif., was second in both motos. He leads the standings.

In the Women’s Motocross Championship, Honda’s Ashley Fiolek, from St. Augustine, Fla., overcame food poisoning for her first victory of the season.

Hamilton’s Homer Ends 13-Inning Marathon

atgarciacbsnews — Sun, 27 May 2012 00:29:33 +0000

Updated at 7:44 5/26/12

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning, lifting the Texas Rangers to an 8-7 victory over the Toronto Blue jays.

Toronto had taken a 7-5 lead in the top half, but Elvis Andrus doubled in a run off Ryota Igarashi to start the comeback. Hamilton’s third game-ending homer came off Jason Frasor (0-1) and was his 20th home run of the year.

Ian Kinsler walked to start the inning — the fifth-straight inning that the Rangers got their leadoff batter on base — and Andrus doubled. Frasor relieved and gave up the home run.

In the top of the 13th, Omar Vizquel hit an RBI single for Toronto and later scored after Nelson Cruz misplayed a flyball by Yunel Escobar with two outs. Vizquel went 3 for 6 with his first two RBI’s of the season.

The Rangers left a runner stranded at third base in the seventh, ninth, 10th and 11th innings, and before Hamilton’s hit, Texas was 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Yoshinori Tateyama (1-0), the seventh Rangers pitcher, got one out for the win.

Texas relievers Mike Adams, Joe Nathan, Koji Uehara and Robbie Ross combined to retire 14 in a row starting with the final out of the seventh until Ross walked Colby Rasmus with one out in the 12th.

The Rangers got out of that inning even after Rasmus made it to third on Edwin Encarnacion’s single with two outs when J.P. Arencibia grounded out to Ross. Then in the 13th, Ross gave up a single to Brett Lawrie with one out, leading the way for Vizquel’s RBI.

Kinsler led off the game with a double, and Andrus followed with a fielder’s choice that Kinsler beat out at third base. Hamilton grounded out to score Kinsler for a quick 1-0 lead for Texas, then Andrus scored on Adrian Beltre’s sacrifice fly.

Texas’ 2-0 lead held up until the fifth when Rasmus homered off the right field pole to tie it.

David Cooper had an RBI single in the sixth and Texas starter Colby Lewis deflected Vizquel’s bunt toward first base for a run-scoring hit to make it 4-2.

Lewis left after 5 1-3 innings having given up 10 hits.

Texas’ big bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth inning. After consecutive groundouts to pitcher Henderson Alvarez, Texas’ 7-8-9 hitters Cruz, Yorvit Torrealba and Mitch Moreland each hit 400-plus foot home runs to left-center field. Torrealba’s and Moreland’s drives landed in the Toronto bullpen for a 5-4. It was the seventh time in club history the Rangers hit three consecutive home runs in an inning. The Rangers did it twice last year, the last time being Sept. 27 against the Angels.

Alvarez, who pitched 5 2-3 innings and gave up five runs on nine hits, was ejected after he threw a pitch far inside to Kinsler just after giving up the back-to-back-to-back home runs.

Toronto tied the game 5-all after Jose Bautista hit a leadoff double and scored when J.P. Arencibia singled.

NOTES: It was the Rangers 15th sellout of the season with 47,430 fans in attendance. … The game lasted 4 hours, 38 minutes and many fans remained.

Durfner has 1-Stroke Lead Over Johnson At Colonial

atgarciacbsnews — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:16:20 +0000

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Jason Dufner matched playing partner Zach Johnson’s birdie putt on the 17th hole Saturday, then overcame a wayward final tee shot to save par and keep the lead at the Colonial.

Slowed by two late bogeys, Dufner shot a 4-under 66 in the third round for a 15-under 195 total.

That put him a stroke ahead of Johnson, who shot 65 to set up what could basically be a match-play final group Sunday for the winner’s plaid jacket. Tom Gillis was a distant third at 7 under after a 69.

Dufner, the winner last week in the Byron Nelson Championship about 30 miles away, is trying to win for the third time in five weeks. He also is trying to do something only Ben Hogan has done.

Hogan, Dufner’s hero, is the only player to win both PGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the same year. When he did it in 1946, they weren’t played in consecutive weeks.

The last player to win in consecutive weeks on the PGA Tour was Tiger Woods in 2009. Nobody won more than two tournaments last season.

After bogeys at Nos. 14 and 16, Dufner’s approach at the 379-yard 17th rolled about 8 feet from the flag.

Johnson, within a stroke of the lead after a 17-foot birdie at the par-3 16th, followed Dufner at No. 17 with a shot to the same spot — his ball up and stopped against the one already on the green. After a rules official sorted out the marks, Johnson curled in a birdie putt. Dufner then did the same to keep his lead.

When his final tee shot of the day went way left, closer to the 10th fairway than the 18th, Dufner got his next shot on the green and two-putted from 68 feet to save par.

Dufner has led or shared the lead after 12 of his last 35 rounds, including five of the last seven.

Before winning at New Orleans on April 29, the 35-year-old Dufner was winless in his previous 163 PGA Tour starts. He then took a week off to get married, returned to play at The Players Championship before winning the Nelson.

Bo Van Pelt had his streak of 13 consecutive sub-par rounds at Hogan’s Alley end with a 71. But he was fourth at 204.

Johnson wore a plaid-collared shirt for the third round. The last of his seven PGA Tour victories came two years ago when he slipped on a plaid jacket at Colonial.

When Dufner and Johnson completed their first nine holes Saturday, they were tied at 13 under and had a five-stroke lead on the rest of the field. Dufner then had three straight birdies.

Dufner made a 20-foot birdie putt at the 386-yard 10th hole, where Johnson had his first two-putt of the round — from nearly 51 feet — to save par.

At the straight 630-yard 11th, Dufner hit an approach from 108 yards inside 5 feet for a birdie. Johnson two-putted from 7 feet for par.

Johnson drove into a fairway bunker at No. 12 but saved par with pitch shot inside 2 feet. Dufner got a break when his tee shot rolled through a bunker there and his approach to 4 feet for birdie to get to 16 under.

Dufner had a streak of 38 consecutive bogey-free holes snapped at the 449-yard 14th when he drove into the rough then missed the green with the second shot. But Johnson had his first three-putt of the tournament at the same hole, from 60 feet after his approach from a fairway bunker.

At No. 15, Johnson’s second shot settled into a grassy clump only inches from rolling over a ledge into a ditch. With his feet together to keep from falling over himself, Johnson’s pitch from about 81 feet rolled only inches from the cup to set up a tap-in par-saver.

That was the kind of scrambling the 2007 Masters champion had to do several times.

Johnson needed only eight putts for a 31 on the front nine, though some of those putts were just to save par since he hit just three of those greens in regulation.

While he used his putter after his approach at No. 2 went through the green into the rough, and made the 28-footer for his second consecutive birdie, that didn’t even count as a putt.

His approach at No. 3 was short of the green, and he chipped to 3 feet for par. Then he was in the front bunker at the 218-yard fourth hole, where he blasted inside 4 feet for another par, then got even closer out of the sand at par-3 eighth. He rolled in a 26-foot birdie putt at No. 9 to match Dufner.

Divots: Masters runner-up Louis Oosthuizen opened his third round with four consecutive birdies. He was in a group of seven players tied for seventh, but 11 strokes behind Dufner. .. That group at 206 includes Kelly Kraft, the 2011 U.S. Amateur who turned pro after the Masters. The former SMU player was 6 under through his first eight holes and played even the rest of the round. … Vijay Singh, who got the last of his 34 PGA Tour wins four years ago, was 4 under through six holes Saturday. He had four consecutive bogeys on the back nine.

Devils Exorcise ’94 Demons, Advance To Stanley Cup Finals For 5th Time

mreal197 — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:51:59 +0000

Updated at 12:30 a.m., May 26, 2012

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The memory of missing the playoffs for first time since 1996 and the ghost of an 18-year-old wound were wiped out with a sweep of rookie Adam Henrique’s stick.

The New Jersey Devils are going back to the Stanley Cup finals, thanks to Henrique, a 40-year-old goaltender and a coach who’d never been to the postseason in the NHL.

How’s that for a turnaround?

Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front at 1:03 into overtime and the Devils defeated the rival New York Rangers, 3-2, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2003.

“It means a lot,” Devils leading scorer Ilya Kovalchuk said minutes after reaching the Cup finals for the first time. “It’s a great feeling. Last year was a tough one, but this year was totally different. We played well all year. The first round of the playoffs was a little tough but after that, I think we figured out our game and what it takes to win.”

After beating Florida, Philadelphia and their biggest rivals, the Rangers, only the Los Angeles Kings stand in the way of a fourth Cup for New Jersey.

The title round begins here Wednesday.

This series win came against the Devils’ most intense rival, and it was that much sweeter.

“That one was like Christmas,” said Henrique, who also scored the series winner in overtime as Devils’ first-round, Game 7 win over the Panthers.

It also was needed. The Devils blew a 2-0 first-period lead and didn’t want to head back to New York for a Game 7 on Sunday.

“It didn’t matter how it got to overtime, we were in a good position,” Devils captain Zach Parise said. “We were at home. We just needed one shot.”

Actually, the Devils needed four shots to win the game.

Henrique’s winner came after Henrik Lundqvist stopped Kovalchuk twice and Alexei Ponikarovsky. The last shot lay in the crease and Henrique tapped it home.

“We caught them on a line change and their defensemen were tired,” said Devils coach Peter DeBoer, who was fired by Florida after missing the playoffs in his three seasons. “We found a way to jam one in. That’s the only way you’re going to score on Lundqvist. You’re not going to get a clean one. You’re going to have to work for it around the net.

“And that’s what we did.”

Ryan Carter and Kovalchuk also scored for the Devils, whose biggest move this year was hiring DeBoer. He has more than proved his coaching ability.

Ruslan Fedotenko and Ryan Callahan tallied for top-seeded New York, which had a good flurry just before New Jersey scored to end it.

Henrique, who is nominated for the Calder Trophy — given to the NHL’s top rookie — skated away from the crease and jumped against the end boards in the corner as his teammates hopped off the bench and mobbed him.

The six Rangers on the ice just stayed down in disbelief and frustration. This was very much like Game 5, which the Devils won 5-3. New York carried the play after the first period and had a 35-29 edge in shots.

But when it came time for a game-deciding play to be made, it was a Devil who made it.

“When they scored, it was such an empty feeling,” said Lundqvist, who said the puck took a weird bounce on the final play. “It is shocking.”

Henrique overcame injury to score this one. He seemed to take a stick from Brian Boyle in the groin area late in the third and had to leave the ice.

He felt no pain after the game winner.

All the Rangers could do was bow their heads and then line up for the traditional handshake after losing to their cross-rival rivals in a series that was close.

“That’s playoff hockey, and that’s usually where you get an overtime goal,” Rangers veteran Brandon Prust said. “Just whacking away in front of the net, getting rebounds.”

Martin Brodeur, 40, kept the Devils alive in the third. He stopped a power-play shot by Brad Richards, made a save on Artem Anisimov between the circles and used his stick to deflect a pass from the boards by Carl Hagelin in the final minute just before it got to Marian Gaborik on the edge of the crease.

“You could tell he was in the zone. He led us,” Parise said. “He made some big saves tonight.”

Lundqvist’s best stop in the third was on Dainius Zubrus on a shot from behind the circles.

Facing elimination and down 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Rangers found their game in the second period and tied the game at 2-all on goals by Fedotenko and Callahan in a roughly four-minute span.

Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who assisted on both goals, made the big play to get New York back in the game. He collected the puck above the left circle, skated around the net and tried a wrap around. The shot didn’t go on goal but it turned out to be a perfect pass to Fedotenko who a tap-in into an open net at 9:47.

Callahan, who had a New York goal go off his leg in the Devils’ 5-3 win on Wednesday, tied the game at 13:41 when Dan Girardi’s shot from the right point deflected off his leg into the open lower corner of the net. Callahan’s sixth of the postseason was set up when Brandon Dubinsky won a faceoff in the left circle.

Carter, who scored the game winner in New York on Wednesday night after the Devils blew a 3-0 lead, put New Jersey ahead again at 10:05 of the opening period.

The play started with a bad pinch at the point by Rangers defenseman Marc Staal. Steve Bernier led a 3-on-1 and found Stephen Gionta coming down the middle for a solo chance against Lundqvist. The Rangers goaltender stopped the shot, but Carter swatted the rebound home for his fourth of the playoffs.

Kovalchuk’s seventh goal of the postseason and fifth on the power play was a thing of beauty. All five Devils skaters touched the puck with tape-to-tape passes with Zubrus finding Kovalchuk alone low in the left circle for a shot that Lundqvist had little chance to stop.

The Devils — as is the tradition for many Cup finalists — did not touch the Prince of Wales Trophy that was presented at center ice. As the team skated off to their locker room, “Glory Days,” the 1984 hit from New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen serenaded them.

The game was played on the 18-year anniversary of the Rangers’ dramatic, 4-2, Game 6 victory over New Jersey at the Meadowlands, a victory that pushed that classic Eastern Conference final series to a Game 7 and eventually led New York to its first Stanley Cup in 54 years. That game, of course, was preceded by a guarantee from Rangers captain Mark Messier, who delivered three goals en route to the victory.

This time, though, there will be no Game 7.

NOTES: The Empire State Building’s tower lights were lit in red and blue on Friday to cheer on the Rangers. … Mogul and TV personality Donald Trump was at the game. … Devils C Travis Zajac left the ice briefly in the second after being slashed on the left hand by Prust. No penalty was called. … New Jersey is 4-1 in overtime in the postseason. New York finished 2-3 after regulation.

Rangers Power Past Blue Jays 14-3

Ryan Crowe — Sat, 26 May 2012 05:09:52 +0000

ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 25: Derek Holland #45 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on May 25, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

ARLINGTON (AP) - Nelson Cruz helped the Texas Rangers bust out of their offensive funk in a big way.

Cruz hit a grand slam and tied his career high with eight RBIs, Josh Hamilton hit his 19th home run of the season and the Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 14-3 Friday night.

The Rangers are the top-scoring team in baseball despite averaging 3.5 runs over their previous 10 games. Texas was held to seven runs in dropping two of three to Seattle earlier in the week.

Cruz had a three-run double in a six-run first, then capped his big night with a 414-foot grand slam that landed in the upper deck of in right.

“You dream to have those kinds of days,” said Cruz, who also had an RBI single in the sixth and went 4 for 5. “It can’t happen every day. When it happens, you should be happy and enjoy it.”

Cruz also drove in eight runs against Toronto on July 22, 2011. His grand slam in the seventh was the fourth of his career and second of the season.

Cruz is the sixth players in Rangers history to drive in eight or more runs in a game. Ivan Rodriguez has the Rangers team record with nine on April 13, 1999 against Seattle.

“Some guys work hard to get to get that many RBIs in one month,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “(Cruz) did it one night. That’s what he’s capable of doing.”

Toronto starter Brandon Morrow (5-3) was knocked out after recording just two outs in the first. The right-hander, who had two shutouts in his previous four starts, gave up six runs and five hits in the shortest start of his career.

The Blue Jays used four relievers which included backup catcher Jeff Mathis, who pitched for the first time since he was in high school.

Mathis pitched a scoreless eighth, becoming the sixth position player in Toronto history to pitch.

“The biggest part was running in from the bullpen,” Mathis said. “That was real weird.”

Derek Holland (4-3) struck out a season-high nine in 7 1-3 innings. He allowed two runs and five hits.

Hamilton, who leads the majors in home runs, had gone 11 games without a homer before leading off the second with his first since May 12. He left the game in the seventh inning with a head cold.

Yorvit Torrealba added his first home run, and Adrian Beltre and Michael Young each had three hits. The Rangers finished with 18 hits.

“It was nice to break out like this,” Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler said.

Edwin Encarnacion hit his 15th home run of the season for the Blue Jays, who have lost three in a row.

Morrow threw 44 pitches in the first inning and faced 10 batters before he was relieved by Carlos Villanueva.

Beltre had a two-run single and Cruz’s bases-loaded double gave the Rangers a 5-0 lead.

Mitch Moreland‘s RBI single capped the scoring in the first, and Morrow was relieved one batter later after Kinsler doubled to center.

In four other road starts this season, Morrow had given up two earned runs in 28 2-3 innings.

“I’m just going to pretend that that game never happened,” said Morrow, who cut off his postgame interview after taking only one question.

Mathis was the fifth Blue Jays pitcher of the game – and the only one to not give up a run. He allowed a double and a walk in the eighth. Alberto Gonzalez flew out to end the eighth.

Hamilton’s home run leading off the second landed in the second deck in right and gave him 50 RBIs this season. He became first player in club history to hit 19 home runs in the team’s 46 games of the season.

NOTES: Mathis was the first Blue Jays position player to pitch since Mike McCoy last June 11. … Rangers C Mike Napoli was held out of the lineup with an upset stomach. … Hamilton tied the club record with his 10th home run in May. … Toronto 2B Kelly Johnson singled in the third to reach base in his 19th straight game. … Pro golfer Jason Dufner threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Dufner leads the Colonial, which is being played in nearby Fort Worth, after two rounds.

Ranger Of The Week: Mitch Moreland

Ryan Crowe — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:30:03 +0000

SEATTLE, WA – MAY 22: Mitch Moreland #18 (R) of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by Josh Hamilton #32 (L) and Nelson Cruz #17 after scoring on a triple by Elvis Andrus against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on May 22, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -While the past week probably won’t make the Rangers 2012 highlight DVD, there was one bright spot for the team. But even we admit, we’re having to stretch the determination of ‘week’ to get there.

Mitch Moreland lit the ball on fire May 17 against the A’s, single-handedly scoring 2 home runs. – yes, that was 8 days ago, but then he sat for the 3 games against the Astros. After flying to the Pacific Northwest, Moreland was able to get the ONLY run scored Monday in Seattle’s spacious Safeco Field, knocking a 432 foot home run in the 7th.

The lefty has scored 4 runs in his last 4 games, hitting 3 home runs and swinging a Hamilton-esqe .364.

Because he was benched in favor of Michael Young due to the idiosyncrasies of interleague play, we can’t say how he would have done for the .500 Rangers the past few days. But, we do know that when he’s been in, he’s the biggest threat the Rangers currently have.

And for that, this week’s nod goes to Mitch Moreland. Honorable mention goes to Colby Lewis for his 8 innings of shutout ball, and for sporting a .500 batting average in the same game.