NEW YORK (AP) -- NFL owners will pay $177 million on Thursday to complete their contributions to the player benefits program for the 2010 season.
That payment will bring the total amount funded by the 32 teams for 2010 to $245 million. It is a payment the league has made by the end of March each year under its collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.
Women's Final Four has decidedly local flavor
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer feels as if she's coming home to the women's Final Four.
She played at Indiana, coached at Ohio State and won four Big Ten titles before turning Stanford into one of the most prestigious programs in women's basketball.
She played at Indiana, coached at Ohio State and won four Big Ten titles before turning Stanford into one of the most prestigious programs in women's basketball.
Running down an unexpectedly exciting Final Four
HOUSTON (AP) -- Connecticut was supposed to be too young, Kentucky too immature, Butler too old news and Virginia Commonwealth too far off the radar.
This is some kinda Final Four, huh?
After two weeks of games even the most astute prognosticators couldn't have predicted, we're finally at a Final Four unlike any other.
This is some kinda Final Four, huh?
After two weeks of games even the most astute prognosticators couldn't have predicted, we're finally at a Final Four unlike any other.
Opening day forecast: High hopes, with rain & snow
Grab the parka, ski cap, mittens and galoshes. It's time for baseball.
From Dodger Stadium to Yankee Stadium, there was a flurry of activity as teams got ready for opening day. At Great American Ball Park, meanwhile, actual flurries.
From Dodger Stadium to Yankee Stadium, there was a flurry of activity as teams got ready for opening day. At Great American Ball Park, meanwhile, actual flurries.
League, players cooperate in marketing
NEW YORK (AP) -- Business as usual in the NFL.
Not among the owners, coaches, and players. Not between Commissioner Roger Goodell and the players' association. Nor between general managers and player agents.
In marketing the game, however, the lockout has not resulted in a dead stop.
For consumer products such as video games or trading cards, or in licensing of merchandise, not much is different even with a work stoppage.
Not among the owners, coaches, and players. Not between Commissioner Roger Goodell and the players' association. Nor between general managers and player agents.
In marketing the game, however, the lockout has not resulted in a dead stop.
For consumer products such as video games or trading cards, or in licensing of merchandise, not much is different even with a work stoppage.
Fickell picked to fill in for Buckeyes' Tressel
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel apologized Wednesday for letting people down by violating NCAA rules, calling it "a difficult past couple of months."
"The largest regrets I've had in my life have been when I've disappointed people, when I've let people down," Tressel said while facing the media for the first time since March 8, when the violations were revealed. "The mistakes I've made are very disappointing. I'm sorry for that, as I've mentioned many times."
"The largest regrets I've had in my life have been when I've disappointed people, when I've let people down," Tressel said while facing the media for the first time since March 8, when the violations were revealed. "The mistakes I've made are very disappointing. I'm sorry for that, as I've mentioned many times."
Report: Ex-Auburn players say they were paid
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn will investigate claims by four former football players, who told HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" they received thousands of dollars while being recruited by or playing for the Tigers.
Stanley McClover, Troy Reddick, Chaz Ramsey and Raven Gray told HBO for an episode that aired Wednesday night that they received cash payments - in book bags, envelopes and even handshakes. Ramsey played at Auburn most recently, in the 2007 season.
Stanley McClover, Troy Reddick, Chaz Ramsey and Raven Gray told HBO for an episode that aired Wednesday night that they received cash payments - in book bags, envelopes and even handshakes. Ramsey played at Auburn most recently, in the 2007 season.
Post-scandal Fiesta Bowl must justify place in BCS
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The head of the BCS put the Fiesta Bowl on notice Wednesday: "Follow the letter of the law" or lose its place in college football's lucrative championship system.
BCS officials challenged the Fiesta Bowl to persuade them that extravagant and improper spending behind the firing of longtime CEO and President John Junker will never happen again.
BCS officials challenged the Fiesta Bowl to persuade them that extravagant and improper spending behind the firing of longtime CEO and President John Junker will never happen again.
car crash, Giants pitcher Zito involved in Calif.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito has been examined at a hospital and released after his car was hit broadside at a West Hollywood intersection.
The crash occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Boulevard and Sunset Plaza Drive, Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Joseph Morien told The Associated Press.
The crash occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Boulevard and Sunset Plaza Drive, Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Joseph Morien told The Associated Press.
in Bonds case , Feds down to last 3 witnesses
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Prosecutors are down to their last three witnesses in the Barry Bonds perjury trial, which is progressing faster than expected.
Bonds' orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ting was expected to be the first witness called Thursday, the end of the trial's second week. Ting's appearance most likely will come after court staff read a transcript of Bonds' 2003 grand jury appearance into the record.
Bonds' orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ting was expected to be the first witness called Thursday, the end of the trial's second week. Ting's appearance most likely will come after court staff read a transcript of Bonds' 2003 grand jury appearance into the record.
Former players expected to testify at Bonds trial
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The lineup of former athletes called to the witness stand is expected to continue when Barry Bonds' perjury trial resumes on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, former San Francisco Giants outfielder Marvin Benard will face questioning from Bonds attorney Allen Ruby. Benard finished up Tuesday's testimony by telling the jury that he purchased steroids from trainer Greg Anderson.
Anderson is in jail for refusing to testify. Other former athletes are also testifying that they knowingly used steroids supplied by the trainer.
Prosecutors hope to use the players' testimony to undercut Bonds' position that Anderson duped him into unknowingly using designer steroids. None of the players, except for former San Francisco Giants catcher Bobby Estalella, are expected to directly testify about Bonds.
Prosecutors said in a court filing before the trial started March 21 that Estalella will "testify that the defendant admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, as well as their effects, and that they had several discussions regarding that topic."
Also on the government's witness list: former Oakland Athletic Randy Velarde and former Bonds teammates Armando Rios and Benito Santiago.
Colorado Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi and his brother, former major leaguer Jeremy Giambi, testified Tuesday before Benard. The Giambis gave similar accounts of their relationship with Anderson. They said that before the 2003 season Anderson supplied them with steroids designed to evade Major League Baseball's plan to test players for steroids that season.
Bonds, the major league record-holder for home runs in a career (762) and a season (73), has pleaded not guilty to four charges that he lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of obstruction.
On Wednesday morning, former San Francisco Giants outfielder Marvin Benard will face questioning from Bonds attorney Allen Ruby. Benard finished up Tuesday's testimony by telling the jury that he purchased steroids from trainer Greg Anderson.
Anderson is in jail for refusing to testify. Other former athletes are also testifying that they knowingly used steroids supplied by the trainer.
Prosecutors hope to use the players' testimony to undercut Bonds' position that Anderson duped him into unknowingly using designer steroids. None of the players, except for former San Francisco Giants catcher Bobby Estalella, are expected to directly testify about Bonds.
Prosecutors said in a court filing before the trial started March 21 that Estalella will "testify that the defendant admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, as well as their effects, and that they had several discussions regarding that topic."
Also on the government's witness list: former Oakland Athletic Randy Velarde and former Bonds teammates Armando Rios and Benito Santiago.
Colorado Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi and his brother, former major leaguer Jeremy Giambi, testified Tuesday before Benard. The Giambis gave similar accounts of their relationship with Anderson. They said that before the 2003 season Anderson supplied them with steroids designed to evade Major League Baseball's plan to test players for steroids that season.
Bonds, the major league record-holder for home runs in a career (762) and a season (73), has pleaded not guilty to four charges that he lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of obstruction.
Texas A&M finally beats Baylor for Final Four
DALLAS (AP) -- When the NCAA brackets came out, Texas A&M coach Gary Blair knew his team would have to get past top-seeded Baylor to get to the Final Four for the first time.
Well, when it mattered most, the Aggies finally beat Baylor and All-American Brittney Griner.
After eight consecutive losses to its Big 12 rivals, including the previous three this season, Sydney Carter got Texas A&M off to a fast start and went on to score 22 points in a 58-46 victory over the top-seeded Lady Bears in the Dallas Regional final Tuesday night.
"This was a very special game," Blair said. "We didn't ask to play Baylor, we asked to be recognized for what we accomplished during the year. They chose to put us in the same region. ... Both of us could have been in the Final Four, both of us should have been in the Final Four."
Baylor and Griner, who played in the Final Four last year in the 6-foot-8 center's freshman season, will have to settle for the Big 12 regular season and tournament trophies the still-young Bears (34-3) already won this season.
The Aggies (31-5) blew a nine-point lead midway through the second half in Waco last month. They squandered a 12-0 start in the Big 12 championship game just more than three weeks ago, two days before the brackets were unveiled with the conference's top two teams being the top two seeds in the same bracket.
This time, Blair's team lead from start-to-finish after Carter had a 3-pointer, an assist and a jumper in the game's first 2 minutes for a 7-0 lead. The Aggies were coming off a 41-point rout two days earlier.
"Once we beat Georgia, the feeling began then," Carter said. "There was definitely confidence, an all-around confidence going around the locker room before the game. ... We told ourselves this is our game. We were going to come in confident and this was our game."
Sydney Colson added 12 points for Texas A&M, including some important scores after two free throws by Griner had gotten Baylor within 48-41 with 4 1/2 minutes left.
Colson blew past Griner and missed, but was fouled and made both free throws. Right after that, Colson had a steal and took it all the way for a layup and was fouled again. With the A&M bench going wild, and the stunned Baylor players sitting and staring ahead, Colson finished the three-point play to make it 53-41.
On the same day leading scorer Danielle Adams was named an All-American, she was only a complementary player for the Aggies with another subpar game against Baylor. And that was plenty all right with the 6-foot-1 senior who had only six points - all after halftime.
"I was the happiest person in the world," Adams said. "Six points? I mean my teammates had my back."
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Adams was bouncing around and screaming. Then she got to help cut down the net.
Griner, coming off a 40-point game Sunday against Wisconsin-Green Bay after scoring 30 the game before that, had 20 points and nine rebounds. But she struggled all night shooting, making only 6 of 18 from the field, including a missed dunk attempt. After making all 10 free throw attempts Sunday, she was 8 of 15 against the Aggies.
"Just my shots wasn't falling," Griner said. "It wasn't anything A&M did. Just poor shooting."
Melissa Jones, the only senior who played significant minutes for Baylor, scored 13 points and had seven rebounds.
"Nobody likes to play anybody four times. Nobody, it's no fun," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey. "I said it yesterday, I'll say it next week. This is supposed to be March Madness. When you've earned a 1 and 2 seed, it's not fun."
Texas A&M plays Stanford (33-2), another top-seeded team, on Sunday in the national semifinal.
It is the second Final Four for Blair, who is in his eighth season at Texas A&M and his 26th overall. He took Arkansas to the Final Four in 1998.
As the game ended, Colson pointed to a group close to the court, a bunch of former A&M players who helped set the foundation for Blair.
"We give a lot of thanks to them," Colson said. "They were shedding tears in the stands more than us on the court. ... They're the people who also believed in us."
Blair was also an assistant coach for two national championships at Louisiana Tech in the early 1980s when Mulkey was the point guard there.
Mulkey is the only person to win national championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach. She has 298 victories in her 11 seasons at Baylor, which had never been to the NCAA tournament and was the Big 12's worst team when she arrived. They won the national title six years ago in Indianapolis.
Baylor matched the lowest scoring first half of the season, 21 same as in its loss at Texas Tech last month. The struggles for Griner started pretty much after she grabbed a rebound when A&M missed its first shot.
Griner missed two shots in the next minute, and in between was the target of a pass that went out of bounds.
Meanwhile, Carter hit a 3-pointer before throwing a long pass to Elonu for a breakaway layup after a Griner miss. Carter was later fouled on a layup, then hit the free throw to put A&M up 12-2 only 5 minutes into the game.
All that while Adams had another bad game against Baylor. She entered the game averaging 22.7 points a game and was shooting 49 percent from the field for the season. She was 3 of 12 on Tuesday and finished 15 of 62 (24 percent) against Baylor with four of her five lowest-scoring games of the season.
About halfway through the first half, Griner missed a free throw. When the ball ricocheted off the back rim right back to her, she punched the ball out of bounds. The referee only smiled when she retrieved the ball.
After Carter hit a 3-pointer that stretched the A&M lead to 22-11, Griner tried to grab some momentum for the Lady Bears. But the standout who has five dunks in her two seasons missed a one-handed try.
Baylor had 20 turnovers, including consecutive possessions in the second half that Texas A&M turned into layups and a 41-27 lead. Colson had a steal and a breakaway layup, then White stole the ball from Griner and passed to Carter for another score.
"Our team has gone through so much. We've gone through so many things. We're here with so much adversity," Colson said. "We have so much resilience. We're the hardest workers in America by far."
Well, when it mattered most, the Aggies finally beat Baylor and All-American Brittney Griner.
After eight consecutive losses to its Big 12 rivals, including the previous three this season, Sydney Carter got Texas A&M off to a fast start and went on to score 22 points in a 58-46 victory over the top-seeded Lady Bears in the Dallas Regional final Tuesday night.
"This was a very special game," Blair said. "We didn't ask to play Baylor, we asked to be recognized for what we accomplished during the year. They chose to put us in the same region. ... Both of us could have been in the Final Four, both of us should have been in the Final Four."
Baylor and Griner, who played in the Final Four last year in the 6-foot-8 center's freshman season, will have to settle for the Big 12 regular season and tournament trophies the still-young Bears (34-3) already won this season.
The Aggies (31-5) blew a nine-point lead midway through the second half in Waco last month. They squandered a 12-0 start in the Big 12 championship game just more than three weeks ago, two days before the brackets were unveiled with the conference's top two teams being the top two seeds in the same bracket.
This time, Blair's team lead from start-to-finish after Carter had a 3-pointer, an assist and a jumper in the game's first 2 minutes for a 7-0 lead. The Aggies were coming off a 41-point rout two days earlier.
"Once we beat Georgia, the feeling began then," Carter said. "There was definitely confidence, an all-around confidence going around the locker room before the game. ... We told ourselves this is our game. We were going to come in confident and this was our game."
Sydney Colson added 12 points for Texas A&M, including some important scores after two free throws by Griner had gotten Baylor within 48-41 with 4 1/2 minutes left.
Colson blew past Griner and missed, but was fouled and made both free throws. Right after that, Colson had a steal and took it all the way for a layup and was fouled again. With the A&M bench going wild, and the stunned Baylor players sitting and staring ahead, Colson finished the three-point play to make it 53-41.
On the same day leading scorer Danielle Adams was named an All-American, she was only a complementary player for the Aggies with another subpar game against Baylor. And that was plenty all right with the 6-foot-1 senior who had only six points - all after halftime.
"I was the happiest person in the world," Adams said. "Six points? I mean my teammates had my back."
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Adams was bouncing around and screaming. Then she got to help cut down the net.
Griner, coming off a 40-point game Sunday against Wisconsin-Green Bay after scoring 30 the game before that, had 20 points and nine rebounds. But she struggled all night shooting, making only 6 of 18 from the field, including a missed dunk attempt. After making all 10 free throw attempts Sunday, she was 8 of 15 against the Aggies.
"Just my shots wasn't falling," Griner said. "It wasn't anything A&M did. Just poor shooting."
Melissa Jones, the only senior who played significant minutes for Baylor, scored 13 points and had seven rebounds.
"Nobody likes to play anybody four times. Nobody, it's no fun," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey. "I said it yesterday, I'll say it next week. This is supposed to be March Madness. When you've earned a 1 and 2 seed, it's not fun."
Texas A&M plays Stanford (33-2), another top-seeded team, on Sunday in the national semifinal.
It is the second Final Four for Blair, who is in his eighth season at Texas A&M and his 26th overall. He took Arkansas to the Final Four in 1998.
As the game ended, Colson pointed to a group close to the court, a bunch of former A&M players who helped set the foundation for Blair.
"We give a lot of thanks to them," Colson said. "They were shedding tears in the stands more than us on the court. ... They're the people who also believed in us."
Blair was also an assistant coach for two national championships at Louisiana Tech in the early 1980s when Mulkey was the point guard there.
Mulkey is the only person to win national championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach. She has 298 victories in her 11 seasons at Baylor, which had never been to the NCAA tournament and was the Big 12's worst team when she arrived. They won the national title six years ago in Indianapolis.
Baylor matched the lowest scoring first half of the season, 21 same as in its loss at Texas Tech last month. The struggles for Griner started pretty much after she grabbed a rebound when A&M missed its first shot.
Griner missed two shots in the next minute, and in between was the target of a pass that went out of bounds.
Meanwhile, Carter hit a 3-pointer before throwing a long pass to Elonu for a breakaway layup after a Griner miss. Carter was later fouled on a layup, then hit the free throw to put A&M up 12-2 only 5 minutes into the game.
All that while Adams had another bad game against Baylor. She entered the game averaging 22.7 points a game and was shooting 49 percent from the field for the season. She was 3 of 12 on Tuesday and finished 15 of 62 (24 percent) against Baylor with four of her five lowest-scoring games of the season.
About halfway through the first half, Griner missed a free throw. When the ball ricocheted off the back rim right back to her, she punched the ball out of bounds. The referee only smiled when she retrieved the ball.
After Carter hit a 3-pointer that stretched the A&M lead to 22-11, Griner tried to grab some momentum for the Lady Bears. But the standout who has five dunks in her two seasons missed a one-handed try.
Baylor had 20 turnovers, including consecutive possessions in the second half that Texas A&M turned into layups and a 41-27 lead. Colson had a steal and a breakaway layup, then White stole the ball from Griner and passed to Carter for another score.
"Our team has gone through so much. We've gone through so many things. We're here with so much adversity," Colson said. "We have so much resilience. We're the hardest workers in America by far."
Fiesta Bowl CEO Junker fired after internal probe
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Fiesta Bowl will be asked to justify its inclusion in the BCS after organizers for the Arizona game fired president and CEO John Junker for "an apparent scheme" to reimburse employees for political contributions and "an apparent conspiracy" to cover it up.
The Fiesta Bowl released a scathing internal report Tuesday.
The reimbursements, listed as at least $46,539, are an apparent violation of state campaign finance laws and the charter that allows the Fiesta Bowl its nonprofit status. The Arizona attorney general's office is conducting a probe of the matter.
The BCS reacted swiftly, saying it would undertake an investigation of its own to "consider whether the Fiesta Bowl should remain a BCS bowl game or other appropriate sanctions."
The Fiesta board of directors voted unanimously to fire Junker "for his improper and inappropriate activities documented" in the report.
"The entire Fiesta Bowl family is angered and disappointed by what we've seen in the report and by the actions of Mr. Junker," Fiesta Bowl board chairman Duane Woods told reporters at the event's headquarters in downtown Scottsdale. "The Fiesta Bowl is greater than a few individuals, and the lesson here really is that we placed too much trust in a single individual."
Woods did not take questions.
Junker, in his ubiquitous bright yellow Fiesta Bowl sports jacket, had been the face of the event for three decades, leading it from an upstart event to one of the BCS giants. With an annual salary of about $600,000, he had been on paid administrative lead since Feb. 4 after, the board said, he failed to comply with two written directives to cooperate with the investigation.
The board said the probe also uncovered "excessive compensation, nonbusiness and inappropriate expenditures and inappropriate gifts."
Junker's attorney, Steve Dichter, said via email that his client did not have access to the report before it was made public. He said the document was being studied before it was determined whether Junker would have a comment on it.
The 276-page report of an investigation that conducted by Fiesta Bowl board members and a retired Arizona state Supreme Court justice, was published on the bowl's Web site fiestabowl.org.
The investigators said it found the "apparent scheme" to reimburse at least $46,539 for employees' political contributions.
The probe also found "an apparent conspiracy to conceal the reimbursement scheme from the bowl's Board of Directors and state officials," according to the news release accompanying the report.
The BCS issued a statement from executive director Bill Hancock and Penn State University President Graham Spanier, chair of the presidential oversight committee.
"We are deeply disappointed and troubled to learn of these findings related to the Fiesta Bowl," the statement said. "Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise. "
BCS leaders said they will appoint a task force to evaluate the bowl's findings and its recommendations. They have also "asked the bowl to demonstrate why it should remain a BCS bowl game. The task force will evaluate the bowl's response, along with the full slate of reforms instituted by the bowl."
And if the bowl remains a part of the BCS, its handling of this matter will be closely monitored going forward.
Bowl officials said the initial, brief investigation of the reimbursements allegations was "flawed." That probe found no evidence of any such wrongdoing.
Woods, head of Waste Management Inc. for the Western Region, played a major role in saving the PGA's Phoenix Open. Now he's got a far bigger cleanup effort.
He said the actions of Junker "unfortunately, have tainted the stellar reputation that the Fiesta Bowl has worked so hard to maintain for more than 40 years. The Fiesta Bowl, however, is greater than a few individuals; it is the product of thousands of dedicated volunteers and exemplary employees who work tirelessly and care so deeply about the Fiesta Bowl and all it does for the state of Arizona."
Woods outlined the time line that began with a report in The Arizona Republic in December, 2009, that five former or current Fiesta Bowl employees had been reimbursed for political donations they were encouraged to make. A brief investigation by former Arizona attorney general Grant Woods, no relation to the board chairman, led the board to conclude there was no credible evidence to support the allegations. Now, the board says that report was "flawed."
Duane Woods said that last September, an employee - identified in the report as Junker's executive assistant Kelly Keough - came to his office and told him that indeed the reimbursements had been made. That led to the lengthy probe that resulted in Tuesday's report.
Retired state Supreme Court justice Ruth McGregor, one of the three-member investigative panel, said the trio was given full access to everything related to the probe without any resistance from the board.
"We are confident that our report is thorough and accurate," she said. "Although the findings are deeply disturbing, I am gratified that the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors is moving forward with affirmative and concrete steps to address its problems."
The reimbursements go back to at least 2002, the report concluded. The political donations, mostly to Republican candidates and causes, were not required but strongly suggested, several employees told the investigators.
According to the report, when the initial investigation was made following The Republic's story, lobbyist Gary Husk helped guide Woods away from those who had actually been given reimbursements and groomed others who were interviewed on what to say. The Husk Brothers lobbying firm was paid $286,000 by the Fiesta Bowl in 2009, according reports filed by the IRS.
The board announced a series of steps to reform its operations and operate transparently to prevent any repeat of such problems. That includes hiring a chief financial officer and a general counsel/compliance officer.
The bowl has three years left on its four-year BCS contract, but that might not protect it from the possibility of being booted off college football's biggest stage.
There are plenty of other bowls that would like a chance to hold the highly lucrative national title game, including the Cotton Bowl played at the Dallas Cowboys' lavish new stadium. Cotton Bowl officials have never hidden their desire to return to elite bowl status.
Cotton Bowl President Rick Baker declined comment through a bowl spokesman.
Among the many expenditures questioned by the report was the 50th birthday celebration for Junker paid for by the Fiesta Bowl at a cost of $33,0000 at Pebble Beach, Calif.;, his car allowance and paid membership in four elite private golf clubs. There also was a $1,200 trip for Junker and two others to a Phoenix strip club.
Dichter said Junker was not asked about the birthday party by the panel. He said he had nothing to do with paying for it, that it was done by another employee at the time. Junker's attorney provided The Associated Press with the transcripts of the now-ousted CEO's interview with the investigators.
The Fiesta, which also operates the Insight Bowl and many other smaller events, staged the highly anticipated matchup between Auburn and Oregon for the national championship this year.
The seven-member BCS task force investigating the matter will be headed by Spanier and includes Northern Illinois president John Peters, Big East commissioner John Marinatto, Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters, and athletic directors Jeremy Foley of Florida, Bob Bowlsby of Stanford and Richard Giannani of Southern Mississippi.
---
http://www.fiestabowl.org/-documents/reports/Press-Release-3-29-2011.pdf
The Fiesta Bowl released a scathing internal report Tuesday.
The reimbursements, listed as at least $46,539, are an apparent violation of state campaign finance laws and the charter that allows the Fiesta Bowl its nonprofit status. The Arizona attorney general's office is conducting a probe of the matter.
The BCS reacted swiftly, saying it would undertake an investigation of its own to "consider whether the Fiesta Bowl should remain a BCS bowl game or other appropriate sanctions."
The Fiesta board of directors voted unanimously to fire Junker "for his improper and inappropriate activities documented" in the report.
"The entire Fiesta Bowl family is angered and disappointed by what we've seen in the report and by the actions of Mr. Junker," Fiesta Bowl board chairman Duane Woods told reporters at the event's headquarters in downtown Scottsdale. "The Fiesta Bowl is greater than a few individuals, and the lesson here really is that we placed too much trust in a single individual."
Woods did not take questions.
Junker, in his ubiquitous bright yellow Fiesta Bowl sports jacket, had been the face of the event for three decades, leading it from an upstart event to one of the BCS giants. With an annual salary of about $600,000, he had been on paid administrative lead since Feb. 4 after, the board said, he failed to comply with two written directives to cooperate with the investigation.
The board said the probe also uncovered "excessive compensation, nonbusiness and inappropriate expenditures and inappropriate gifts."
Junker's attorney, Steve Dichter, said via email that his client did not have access to the report before it was made public. He said the document was being studied before it was determined whether Junker would have a comment on it.
The 276-page report of an investigation that conducted by Fiesta Bowl board members and a retired Arizona state Supreme Court justice, was published on the bowl's Web site fiestabowl.org.
The investigators said it found the "apparent scheme" to reimburse at least $46,539 for employees' political contributions.
The probe also found "an apparent conspiracy to conceal the reimbursement scheme from the bowl's Board of Directors and state officials," according to the news release accompanying the report.
The BCS issued a statement from executive director Bill Hancock and Penn State University President Graham Spanier, chair of the presidential oversight committee.
"We are deeply disappointed and troubled to learn of these findings related to the Fiesta Bowl," the statement said. "Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise. "
BCS leaders said they will appoint a task force to evaluate the bowl's findings and its recommendations. They have also "asked the bowl to demonstrate why it should remain a BCS bowl game. The task force will evaluate the bowl's response, along with the full slate of reforms instituted by the bowl."
And if the bowl remains a part of the BCS, its handling of this matter will be closely monitored going forward.
Bowl officials said the initial, brief investigation of the reimbursements allegations was "flawed." That probe found no evidence of any such wrongdoing.
Woods, head of Waste Management Inc. for the Western Region, played a major role in saving the PGA's Phoenix Open. Now he's got a far bigger cleanup effort.
He said the actions of Junker "unfortunately, have tainted the stellar reputation that the Fiesta Bowl has worked so hard to maintain for more than 40 years. The Fiesta Bowl, however, is greater than a few individuals; it is the product of thousands of dedicated volunteers and exemplary employees who work tirelessly and care so deeply about the Fiesta Bowl and all it does for the state of Arizona."
Woods outlined the time line that began with a report in The Arizona Republic in December, 2009, that five former or current Fiesta Bowl employees had been reimbursed for political donations they were encouraged to make. A brief investigation by former Arizona attorney general Grant Woods, no relation to the board chairman, led the board to conclude there was no credible evidence to support the allegations. Now, the board says that report was "flawed."
Duane Woods said that last September, an employee - identified in the report as Junker's executive assistant Kelly Keough - came to his office and told him that indeed the reimbursements had been made. That led to the lengthy probe that resulted in Tuesday's report.
Retired state Supreme Court justice Ruth McGregor, one of the three-member investigative panel, said the trio was given full access to everything related to the probe without any resistance from the board.
"We are confident that our report is thorough and accurate," she said. "Although the findings are deeply disturbing, I am gratified that the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors is moving forward with affirmative and concrete steps to address its problems."
The reimbursements go back to at least 2002, the report concluded. The political donations, mostly to Republican candidates and causes, were not required but strongly suggested, several employees told the investigators.
According to the report, when the initial investigation was made following The Republic's story, lobbyist Gary Husk helped guide Woods away from those who had actually been given reimbursements and groomed others who were interviewed on what to say. The Husk Brothers lobbying firm was paid $286,000 by the Fiesta Bowl in 2009, according reports filed by the IRS.
The board announced a series of steps to reform its operations and operate transparently to prevent any repeat of such problems. That includes hiring a chief financial officer and a general counsel/compliance officer.
The bowl has three years left on its four-year BCS contract, but that might not protect it from the possibility of being booted off college football's biggest stage.
There are plenty of other bowls that would like a chance to hold the highly lucrative national title game, including the Cotton Bowl played at the Dallas Cowboys' lavish new stadium. Cotton Bowl officials have never hidden their desire to return to elite bowl status.
Cotton Bowl President Rick Baker declined comment through a bowl spokesman.
Among the many expenditures questioned by the report was the 50th birthday celebration for Junker paid for by the Fiesta Bowl at a cost of $33,0000 at Pebble Beach, Calif.;, his car allowance and paid membership in four elite private golf clubs. There also was a $1,200 trip for Junker and two others to a Phoenix strip club.
Dichter said Junker was not asked about the birthday party by the panel. He said he had nothing to do with paying for it, that it was done by another employee at the time. Junker's attorney provided The Associated Press with the transcripts of the now-ousted CEO's interview with the investigators.
The Fiesta, which also operates the Insight Bowl and many other smaller events, staged the highly anticipated matchup between Auburn and Oregon for the national championship this year.
The seven-member BCS task force investigating the matter will be headed by Spanier and includes Northern Illinois president John Peters, Big East commissioner John Marinatto, Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters, and athletic directors Jeremy Foley of Florida, Bob Bowlsby of Stanford and Richard Giannani of Southern Mississippi.
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http://www.fiestabowl.org/-documents/reports/Press-Release-3-29-2011.pdf
MLB institutes 7-day DL for concussions
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A seven-day disabled list for concussions wouldn't have done Aaron Hill much good when the Toronto Blue Jays second baseman missed the final four months of 2008 with the injury.
That didn't stop him from saying the move, and several other guidelines instituted by Major League Baseball on Tuesday, was another positive sign the sport is doing more and more to address concussions.
MLB and the players' union announced a new set of protocols that take effect on opening day to deal with concussions, including the creation of the new seven-day disabled list that should give team doctors and the injured players more flexibility to address head injuries.
"I think it's good they're paying more attention to these things because they're seeing the long-term effects concussions can have on players," Hill said before the Blue Jays played an exhibition game against Baltimore. "Not just baseball, but all sports. So, it's a good thing they're looking into it."
It's the latest in a series of moves by professional sports leagues to address an injury that doctors, players and executives are only beginning to fully understand. The NFL started imposing heavy fines and threatening suspensions for hits that were deemed illegal or dangerous last season. And NHL officials earlier this month recommended tighter enforcement of boarding and charging penalties in an effort to reduce concussions.
The joint statement from MLB and the union establishes mandatory baseline testing for all players and umpires and new steps for evaluating players who may have suffered the injury and for having them return to action.
The new disabled list is in addition to the 15- and 60-day DLs that already exist. Any player needing more than 14 days to recover will automatically be transferred to the 15-day disabled list.
"It really is comporting our disabled lists with the reality of management of concussions," MLB senior vice president of labor Dan Halem said.
Each team will also have to designate a specialist who deals with mild brain injuries to evaluate players and umpires when needed and be required send its medical reports to Dr. Gary Green, MLB's medical director, for approval before the injured player is cleared to return to the field.
"This policy, which reflects the collective expertise of many of the foremost authorities in the field, will benefit players, umpires and clubs alike, and I am proud of the spirit of cooperation that has led us to this result," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.
It's a topic that has been on baseball's radar for more than two years, Halem said.
With players such as Hill, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and New York Mets outfielder Jason Bay missing huge chunks of games because of concussions in the last few seasons, baseball officials formed a committee to examine the issue this winter.
"The one thing you don't want to do is put someone in position the day after or two days later all of a sudden by saying, 'Are you feeling OK?'" Morneau said. "The worst thing you can do with a concussion is rush back to play. You're diagnosed and you have a week and if it clears up like most people hope it does and they usually do, with most people it's short-term, that's the best-case scenario."
The committee was chaired by Dr. Alex Valadka, MLB's consultant on mild traumatic brain injuries and the chief of adult neurosciences and neurosurgery at the Seton Brain and Spine Institute in Austin, Texas. It included Green, head athletic trainers from the Twins, Brewers and Indians, team doctors from the Pirates, Indians and White Sox, and Tony Clark, the union's director of player relations.
Halem said that several medical experts on the committee recommended the seven-day DL as a way to address one of the most fundamental challenges to evaluating players with concussions. He said medical research has shown that the average concussion - not the more serious ones suffered by Morneau, Bay and Hill, of course - clears within five to seven days.
"The problem that baseball had with the 15-day disabled list was that the clubs were reluctant to put a player on it for 15 days if he could be back in seven days," Halem said. "So some players who maybe should have been on the disabled list probably weren't."
Committee member Rick McWane, head athletic trainer for the Twins, said one of the goals was to take the onus off the player.
"You try to take as much off the player as possible, to try to be a hero, to try to shake it off," McWane said. "That's just not acceptable."
The committee met at the winter meetings in December and held numerous conference calls before finishing their proposal. It was submitted to Selig, who approved it, and then sent to the players' union before it was put into effect.
"Player safety is a major concern of the collective bargaining parties, and these new protocols and procedures should enhance our ongoing efforts to protect the health of players and umpires," MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner said in a statement.
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi welcomed the new list, saying it will give the team and the player more options in the event of a concussion.
"I like it," Girardi said. "Sometimes that two or three days, or four or five, where a guy can't play really can put you in a hole when you don't want to sit him down 15 days. So, I think it's great."
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon wondered if a player really could recover from a concussion in seven days and said he would love to use the shorter DL for "little tweener injuries."
"I like the idea of the seven-day DL for that little thing that's bothering somebody that permits you to stay at full strength and not hurt somebody else in the process," he said.
But baseball officials are adamant that this list is for concussions only, and they are taking steps to prevent abuse of the system. McWane said the team will have to submit a report to Green with as much detail as possible, including any available video of when the injury occurred, to prove that the player does have a concussion and not, say, a pulled hamstring.
"I think it takes some getting used to because what you don't want to have anyone do is manipulate the rule," Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren said. "I think this winter we finally got comfortable with the fact that it is necessary and we're not going to manipulate it. No one is going to try to manipulate it. If a guy has a concussion, he has a concussion."
---
AP Sports Writers David Ginsburg in Baltimore and Charles Odum in Atlanta, and AP freelance writers Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., Amy Jinkner-Lloyd in Atlanta and Maureen Mullen in Fort Myers, Fla., contributed to this report.
That didn't stop him from saying the move, and several other guidelines instituted by Major League Baseball on Tuesday, was another positive sign the sport is doing more and more to address concussions.
MLB and the players' union announced a new set of protocols that take effect on opening day to deal with concussions, including the creation of the new seven-day disabled list that should give team doctors and the injured players more flexibility to address head injuries.
"I think it's good they're paying more attention to these things because they're seeing the long-term effects concussions can have on players," Hill said before the Blue Jays played an exhibition game against Baltimore. "Not just baseball, but all sports. So, it's a good thing they're looking into it."
It's the latest in a series of moves by professional sports leagues to address an injury that doctors, players and executives are only beginning to fully understand. The NFL started imposing heavy fines and threatening suspensions for hits that were deemed illegal or dangerous last season. And NHL officials earlier this month recommended tighter enforcement of boarding and charging penalties in an effort to reduce concussions.
The joint statement from MLB and the union establishes mandatory baseline testing for all players and umpires and new steps for evaluating players who may have suffered the injury and for having them return to action.
The new disabled list is in addition to the 15- and 60-day DLs that already exist. Any player needing more than 14 days to recover will automatically be transferred to the 15-day disabled list.
"It really is comporting our disabled lists with the reality of management of concussions," MLB senior vice president of labor Dan Halem said.
Each team will also have to designate a specialist who deals with mild brain injuries to evaluate players and umpires when needed and be required send its medical reports to Dr. Gary Green, MLB's medical director, for approval before the injured player is cleared to return to the field.
"This policy, which reflects the collective expertise of many of the foremost authorities in the field, will benefit players, umpires and clubs alike, and I am proud of the spirit of cooperation that has led us to this result," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.
It's a topic that has been on baseball's radar for more than two years, Halem said.
With players such as Hill, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and New York Mets outfielder Jason Bay missing huge chunks of games because of concussions in the last few seasons, baseball officials formed a committee to examine the issue this winter.
"The one thing you don't want to do is put someone in position the day after or two days later all of a sudden by saying, 'Are you feeling OK?'" Morneau said. "The worst thing you can do with a concussion is rush back to play. You're diagnosed and you have a week and if it clears up like most people hope it does and they usually do, with most people it's short-term, that's the best-case scenario."
The committee was chaired by Dr. Alex Valadka, MLB's consultant on mild traumatic brain injuries and the chief of adult neurosciences and neurosurgery at the Seton Brain and Spine Institute in Austin, Texas. It included Green, head athletic trainers from the Twins, Brewers and Indians, team doctors from the Pirates, Indians and White Sox, and Tony Clark, the union's director of player relations.
Halem said that several medical experts on the committee recommended the seven-day DL as a way to address one of the most fundamental challenges to evaluating players with concussions. He said medical research has shown that the average concussion - not the more serious ones suffered by Morneau, Bay and Hill, of course - clears within five to seven days.
"The problem that baseball had with the 15-day disabled list was that the clubs were reluctant to put a player on it for 15 days if he could be back in seven days," Halem said. "So some players who maybe should have been on the disabled list probably weren't."
Committee member Rick McWane, head athletic trainer for the Twins, said one of the goals was to take the onus off the player.
"You try to take as much off the player as possible, to try to be a hero, to try to shake it off," McWane said. "That's just not acceptable."
The committee met at the winter meetings in December and held numerous conference calls before finishing their proposal. It was submitted to Selig, who approved it, and then sent to the players' union before it was put into effect.
"Player safety is a major concern of the collective bargaining parties, and these new protocols and procedures should enhance our ongoing efforts to protect the health of players and umpires," MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner said in a statement.
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi welcomed the new list, saying it will give the team and the player more options in the event of a concussion.
"I like it," Girardi said. "Sometimes that two or three days, or four or five, where a guy can't play really can put you in a hole when you don't want to sit him down 15 days. So, I think it's great."
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon wondered if a player really could recover from a concussion in seven days and said he would love to use the shorter DL for "little tweener injuries."
"I like the idea of the seven-day DL for that little thing that's bothering somebody that permits you to stay at full strength and not hurt somebody else in the process," he said.
But baseball officials are adamant that this list is for concussions only, and they are taking steps to prevent abuse of the system. McWane said the team will have to submit a report to Green with as much detail as possible, including any available video of when the injury occurred, to prove that the player does have a concussion and not, say, a pulled hamstring.
"I think it takes some getting used to because what you don't want to have anyone do is manipulate the rule," Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren said. "I think this winter we finally got comfortable with the fact that it is necessary and we're not going to manipulate it. No one is going to try to manipulate it. If a guy has a concussion, he has a concussion."
---
AP Sports Writers David Ginsburg in Baltimore and Charles Odum in Atlanta, and AP freelance writers Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., Amy Jinkner-Lloyd in Atlanta and Maureen Mullen in Fort Myers, Fla., contributed to this report.
Alabama is making sure Anthony Grant stays focused on his own team
NEW YORK (AP) -- Alabama is making sure Anthony Grant stays focused on his own team rather than watching his former team's incredible NCAA tournament run.
JaMychal Green scored 22 points, Trevor Releford scored the go-ahead basket in the closing seconds, and Grant's top-seeded Crimson Tide withstood a late rally to beat Colorado 62-61 in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night.
Releford finished with 13 points and six assists for the Crimson Tide (25-11), who advanced to play Wichita State on Thursday night for the championship. The Shockers beat Washington State 75-44 in the other semifinal game at Madison Square Garden.
Alabama trailed 61-60 with 12 seconds left when Releford slipped along the baseline and scored the go-ahead basket. After a timeout, Colorado got the ball into the hands of sophomore star Alec Burks, whose off-balanced shot at the buzzer clanked off the rim.
Burks finished with 20 points, Levi Knutson added 14 and Cory Higgins had 13 for the Buffaloes (24-14), who made a run to the Big 12 tournament semifinals before losing to eventual champ Kansas, a late-season charge they thought would get them into the NCAA tournament.
The Crimson Tide likewise would have happily accepted a No. 11 seed to the NCAA tourney over their No. 1 seed in the NIT. Instead, one of the last at-large berths went to Grant's former team, VCU. The Rams have turned their good fortune into the feel-good story of March, winning a game in the "First Four" and then upsetting their way to the Final Four in Houston.
Grant has been asked as much about the Rams as his Crimson Tide during the NIT, and politely reminded reporters this week that he coaches in Tuscaloosa now.
Still, Grant is proud of the job his former players have done this postseason. Jamie Skeen transferred into his program before Grant left, and scored 26 points in the Rams' upset of No. 1 seed Kansas. Grant also recruited Bradford Burgess, whose layup in overtime beat Florida State, and Joey Rodriguez, who had 12 points and 11 assists in a third-round upset of Purdue.
The Rams' success is almost certainly bittersweet for Grant, especially after Alabama was jilted by the NCAA tournament selection committee.
The Crimson Tide's success in the NIT? Well, that's simply been sweet.
Their top three scorers will all be back next year, including Green, who surprised Grant recently by saying he'll return for his senior season. The 6-foot-8 All-SEC forward led the team in scoring and rebounding this season and could have been a first-round NBA draft pick.
Alabama led 36-30 at halftime, after both teams used 10-0 runs in the first 20 minutes in an attempt to take control. The Crimson Tide built the lead to 40-30 on a pair of baskets by Green shortly after the break before Colorado slowly climbed back into it.
Green went to the bench with his fourth foul with 12:19 left, and Colorado pulled ahead 48-47 moments later on a basket by Releford and a free throw by Higgins.
Colorado still led 57-52 with 6:02 left, about the same time that Green finally checked back into the game. He scored a couple minutes later to start an 8-0 run, which Charvez Davis capped with a basket that made it 60-57 with 2:56 remaining.
Green fouled out with 2:27 left, and the Buffaloes pulled back ahead on a pair of free throws by Burks and a basket by Andre Roberson. They just couldn't get another shot to go, including the final one of the game.
JaMychal Green scored 22 points, Trevor Releford scored the go-ahead basket in the closing seconds, and Grant's top-seeded Crimson Tide withstood a late rally to beat Colorado 62-61 in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night.
Releford finished with 13 points and six assists for the Crimson Tide (25-11), who advanced to play Wichita State on Thursday night for the championship. The Shockers beat Washington State 75-44 in the other semifinal game at Madison Square Garden.
Alabama trailed 61-60 with 12 seconds left when Releford slipped along the baseline and scored the go-ahead basket. After a timeout, Colorado got the ball into the hands of sophomore star Alec Burks, whose off-balanced shot at the buzzer clanked off the rim.
Burks finished with 20 points, Levi Knutson added 14 and Cory Higgins had 13 for the Buffaloes (24-14), who made a run to the Big 12 tournament semifinals before losing to eventual champ Kansas, a late-season charge they thought would get them into the NCAA tournament.
The Crimson Tide likewise would have happily accepted a No. 11 seed to the NCAA tourney over their No. 1 seed in the NIT. Instead, one of the last at-large berths went to Grant's former team, VCU. The Rams have turned their good fortune into the feel-good story of March, winning a game in the "First Four" and then upsetting their way to the Final Four in Houston.
Grant has been asked as much about the Rams as his Crimson Tide during the NIT, and politely reminded reporters this week that he coaches in Tuscaloosa now.
Still, Grant is proud of the job his former players have done this postseason. Jamie Skeen transferred into his program before Grant left, and scored 26 points in the Rams' upset of No. 1 seed Kansas. Grant also recruited Bradford Burgess, whose layup in overtime beat Florida State, and Joey Rodriguez, who had 12 points and 11 assists in a third-round upset of Purdue.
The Rams' success is almost certainly bittersweet for Grant, especially after Alabama was jilted by the NCAA tournament selection committee.
The Crimson Tide's success in the NIT? Well, that's simply been sweet.
Their top three scorers will all be back next year, including Green, who surprised Grant recently by saying he'll return for his senior season. The 6-foot-8 All-SEC forward led the team in scoring and rebounding this season and could have been a first-round NBA draft pick.
Alabama led 36-30 at halftime, after both teams used 10-0 runs in the first 20 minutes in an attempt to take control. The Crimson Tide built the lead to 40-30 on a pair of baskets by Green shortly after the break before Colorado slowly climbed back into it.
Green went to the bench with his fourth foul with 12:19 left, and Colorado pulled ahead 48-47 moments later on a basket by Releford and a free throw by Higgins.
Colorado still led 57-52 with 6:02 left, about the same time that Green finally checked back into the game. He scored a couple minutes later to start an 8-0 run, which Charvez Davis capped with a basket that made it 60-57 with 2:56 remaining.
Green fouled out with 2:27 left, and the Buffaloes pulled back ahead on a pair of free throws by Burks and a basket by Andre Roberson. They just couldn't get another shot to go, including the final one of the game.
Clemens says he's eager for trial
HUMBLE, Texas (AP) -- Roger Clemens says he's eager to defend himself in federal court this summer.
The seven-time Cy Young winner says prosecutors have damaged the reputations of others as they've tried to prove that he lied to a congressional committee about alleged steroid use.
Clemens was serving as a caddie for PGA Tour player Ryan Palmer on Wednesday morning in the pro-am event leading up to this weekend's Houston Open.
Clemens faces a trial in July on allegations that he lied to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in February 2008. Prosecutors say Clemens was not telling the truth when he testified that he did not use steroids or human growth hormone during his 23-season career.
Clemens says he's not following Barry Bonds' perjury trial.
The seven-time Cy Young winner says prosecutors have damaged the reputations of others as they've tried to prove that he lied to a congressional committee about alleged steroid use.
Clemens was serving as a caddie for PGA Tour player Ryan Palmer on Wednesday morning in the pro-am event leading up to this weekend's Houston Open.
Clemens faces a trial in July on allegations that he lied to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in February 2008. Prosecutors say Clemens was not telling the truth when he testified that he did not use steroids or human growth hormone during his 23-season career.
Clemens says he's not following Barry Bonds' perjury trial.
No underdogs needed in Final Four
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Leave the bracket-busting unpredictability to the men's tournament. In the women Final Four, it's a dose of March Mildness.
Connecticut, Stanford, Notre Dame and Texas A&M, two No. 1 seeds and two No. 2s, will be in Indianapolis on Sunday for the national semifinals.
The double-digit seeds don't rule here - just the double-digit wins. The Huskies, Irish, the Cardinal and the Aggies all won their regional final games by at least 10 points, sucking the drama out of the most meaningful games of the season.
In one game in Indianapolis, the top-seeded Huskies (36-1) have a third straight national championship in sight when they play second-seeded Notre Dame (30-7). The Big East teams already played three times this season, UConn winning each time.
In another game, No. 1-seed Stanford (33-2) makes its fourth straight Final Four and plays second-seeded Texas A&M (31-5).
The winners play Tuesday for the national championship.
The Huskies made their fourth straight Final Four after cruising to a 75-40 win Tuesday night against Duke. Maya Moore, only the second four-time All-American, expects to leave the Huskies with a third straight national title.
"One thing is the absolute truth, there's only one team playing right now that knows how to win a national championship," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "Only a couple kids playing next weekend know how to win a national championship and I'm fortunate to have them on my team."
In UConn's way is a Notre Dame team that will have the home-state advantage, but not much else. The Irish are 0-3 this season against their Big East antagonist: losing 79-76 on Jan. 8; 78-57 on Feb. 19; and 73-64 in the conference tournament on March 8.
"You would love to be playing somebody that's not in your conference, but, at the same time, there's going to be a Big East team playing for the national championship next Tuesday night and that's pretty cool," Auriemma said.
The Huskies are two victories away from winning an eighth overall championship to match Tennessee's record. It would also match the title run that the Huskies had from 2002-04 and the one that the Lady Vols achieved from 1996-98.
Notre Dame was making its first trip to the Final Four since 2001, when Muffet McGraw's team won it all. In that season, the Irish lost to Connecticut in the Big East tournament championship game before beating UConn in the national semifinals.
"I think it's just another example of how exceptionally strong our conference is," McGraw said Tuesday. "Connecticut is a tremendous team and, of course, we're both very familiar with one another from our three games earlier this season. It should be another competitive and exciting matchup and we'll be working hard in practice this weekend to get ready for Sunday night's game in Indianapolis."
Perhaps the Irish can take some inspiration from the Aggies, who proved a lengthy losing streak against one team isn't fatal in the NCAA tournament. Texas A&M lost eight straight against Baylor, including three this season, before pulling off the 58-46 win on Tuesday and advance to the first Final Four in team history.
"We're coming in as a two-seed, a very good two-seed that could've been a one-seed. We're coming in with a lot of ammunition," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said.
For Stanford's Jeanette Pohlen and Kayla Pedersen, they've reached the Final Four in every season of their four-year careers, a run that began by winning the 2008 Spokane Regional final behind Candice Wiggins. The Cardinal have won 27 straight games to match the longest winning streak in school history.
Notre Dame, only 140 miles north of Indianapolis, should have Conseco Fieldhouse colored in green. But Notre Dame's win denied the Final Four a now-rare matchup in the marquee - and nasty - Tennessee-UConn rivalry.
The two storied programs haven't played since 2007. That's fine with Auriemma.
"We're playing who we're supposed to be playing," Auriemma said. "Why? Why would I miss it? I don't miss it all. If Maya was supposed to play them we would have played them. ... The object of coming to Connecticut is to play against the best teams in the country and Maya's done that."
She has at least one more ahead.
Connecticut, Stanford, Notre Dame and Texas A&M, two No. 1 seeds and two No. 2s, will be in Indianapolis on Sunday for the national semifinals.
The double-digit seeds don't rule here - just the double-digit wins. The Huskies, Irish, the Cardinal and the Aggies all won their regional final games by at least 10 points, sucking the drama out of the most meaningful games of the season.
In one game in Indianapolis, the top-seeded Huskies (36-1) have a third straight national championship in sight when they play second-seeded Notre Dame (30-7). The Big East teams already played three times this season, UConn winning each time.
In another game, No. 1-seed Stanford (33-2) makes its fourth straight Final Four and plays second-seeded Texas A&M (31-5).
The winners play Tuesday for the national championship.
The Huskies made their fourth straight Final Four after cruising to a 75-40 win Tuesday night against Duke. Maya Moore, only the second four-time All-American, expects to leave the Huskies with a third straight national title.
"One thing is the absolute truth, there's only one team playing right now that knows how to win a national championship," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "Only a couple kids playing next weekend know how to win a national championship and I'm fortunate to have them on my team."
In UConn's way is a Notre Dame team that will have the home-state advantage, but not much else. The Irish are 0-3 this season against their Big East antagonist: losing 79-76 on Jan. 8; 78-57 on Feb. 19; and 73-64 in the conference tournament on March 8.
"You would love to be playing somebody that's not in your conference, but, at the same time, there's going to be a Big East team playing for the national championship next Tuesday night and that's pretty cool," Auriemma said.
The Huskies are two victories away from winning an eighth overall championship to match Tennessee's record. It would also match the title run that the Huskies had from 2002-04 and the one that the Lady Vols achieved from 1996-98.
Notre Dame was making its first trip to the Final Four since 2001, when Muffet McGraw's team won it all. In that season, the Irish lost to Connecticut in the Big East tournament championship game before beating UConn in the national semifinals.
"I think it's just another example of how exceptionally strong our conference is," McGraw said Tuesday. "Connecticut is a tremendous team and, of course, we're both very familiar with one another from our three games earlier this season. It should be another competitive and exciting matchup and we'll be working hard in practice this weekend to get ready for Sunday night's game in Indianapolis."
Perhaps the Irish can take some inspiration from the Aggies, who proved a lengthy losing streak against one team isn't fatal in the NCAA tournament. Texas A&M lost eight straight against Baylor, including three this season, before pulling off the 58-46 win on Tuesday and advance to the first Final Four in team history.
"We're coming in as a two-seed, a very good two-seed that could've been a one-seed. We're coming in with a lot of ammunition," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said.
For Stanford's Jeanette Pohlen and Kayla Pedersen, they've reached the Final Four in every season of their four-year careers, a run that began by winning the 2008 Spokane Regional final behind Candice Wiggins. The Cardinal have won 27 straight games to match the longest winning streak in school history.
Notre Dame, only 140 miles north of Indianapolis, should have Conseco Fieldhouse colored in green. But Notre Dame's win denied the Final Four a now-rare matchup in the marquee - and nasty - Tennessee-UConn rivalry.
The two storied programs haven't played since 2007. That's fine with Auriemma.
"We're playing who we're supposed to be playing," Auriemma said. "Why? Why would I miss it? I don't miss it all. If Maya was supposed to play them we would have played them. ... The object of coming to Connecticut is to play against the best teams in the country and Maya's done that."
She has at least one more ahead.
Moore gets No. 3,000 and UConn heads to Final Four
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Maya Moore is headed to the Final Four with a chance to pad perhaps the most impressive resume in the history of women's college basketball with yet another championship.
Connecticut's latest star is already a four-time All-American with 3,000 career points. Nice personal milestones for sure, but far from the biggest prize.
To her and the rest of the Huskies it's all about cutting down those nets in Indianapolis and locking up a third straight national title.
Moore scored 28 points, including the 3,000th of her career, to lead top-seeded UConn to a 75-40 win Tuesday night against Duke and a fourth straight trip to the Final Four.
"I don't think about it right now," Moore said about becoming the seventh Division I player to reach the 3,000-point mark. "Of course it's really exciting to be at a program where I've been able to flourish as an offensive player."
Coach Geno Auriemma wasn't surprised by his star's huge game.
"We did talk in the locker room that this was going to be a big night for Maya," Auriemma said. "You could just sense it. Too many games leading up to this where things didn't click for whatever reason. She doesn't let a lot of big games go by without going off in a couple of them."
With two more victories, the Huskies will match the record for consecutive NCAA titles set by Tennessee (1996-98) and equaled by UConn (2002-04).
Next up for Auriemma's current juggernaut is Notre Dame on Sunday in the national semifinals.
The two Big East teams are plenty familiar with each other, having played three times this season already. UConn won all of those matchups including a 73-64 victory in the Big East tournament championship game.
"It's going to be rough," Moore said. "We know each other so well and there are not a lot of surprises. It's going to be a battle to grind it out. We're representing well for our conference. It should be fun."
Once again rural Storrs, Conn., is the center of the college basketball world as both the men's and women's teams are in the Final Four. It's the third time in the past seven years that both programs have advanced this far with 2004 culminating in dual titles.
Throw in the football team reaching the BCS as Big East champions for the first time and its the first time ever one school has been in all three events.
"Take that!," Auriemma said.
Earlier in the day, Moore became only the second four-time AP All-American. She was a unanimous choice for the third straight year and has helped Connecticut to an unprecedented 149 victories while losing only three times.
Tuesday night she became the first D-I player to reach 3,000 points since Southwest Missouri State star Jackie Stiles in 2001.
Moore, who earned outstanding player of the regional honors, fell a bit short of achieving the school's first triple-double since Laura Lishness had one in the Big East tournament title game in 1989. Moore finished with 10 rebounds and seven steals.
"She does what she always does in big games lifting us on her back," said Auriemma.
Auriemma continue his success in his hometown. The Hall of Fame coach made his first Final Four in 1991 after playing at the regional at the Palestra.
"Here we are 20 years later and that team was pretty special because no one ever expected us to do something like that," he said. "What this team did in its own way with the schedule we played and what we did was an incredible accomplishment."
Auriemma also won his second national championship in Philadelphia in 2000.
Now the Huskies (36-1) are back in the Final Four for the fourth straight season and 12th time in the last 17 years.
The Blue Devils (32-4) faced questions leading up to the game on what they'd do differently than they did in a 36-point blowout loss to UConn on Jan. 31. In that game, the Huskies delivered an early knockout blow, scoring 23 of the first 25 points.
On Tuesday night, UConn got off to another quick start tallying 10 of the first 12 points. But this time Duke survived the early flurry, rallying back behind Shay Selby and Jasmine Thomas.
Selby's back-to-back 3-pointers cut the deficit to 17-14 midway through the half. Duke still trailed by three before UConn threw the knockout punch.
The Huskies scored the final seven points of the half, once again keyed by Moore. She hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then ended the period with a baseline jumper that made it 30-20.
Moore had 13 points, nine rebounds and five steals by the break.
The Huskies scored 22 of the first 25 points in the second half to put the game away. Moore had six of the nine points in the spurt, including an acrobatic tip-in off a missed shot that made it 39-22 with 15:56 left.
Her jumper later in the burst gave her 21 points and the Blue Devils still had 22.
Moore broke the 3,000-point milestone on a fouline jumper with 3:45 left in the game. The record basket was a sigh of relief for Huskies fans as Moore had left the game a few minutes earlier after hitting the floor hard. She slowly got up and jogged over to the bench as Auriemma called time out. Moore later said that she had just banged knees with a Duke player and was fine.
After riding the stationary bike on the sideline, Moore returned to get the milestone points.
"That's the first time I did that with anyone to get something done like that," Auriemma said. "I'm glad we did it and it's out of the way rather than her having to answer about it all week."
Thomas finished her stellar career at Duke with an off-game. The senior guard had 17 points to lead Duke, but was just 7 for 22 from the field.
"Jasmine Thomas has been incredible," Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "She was left a little bit on an island today with not much help offensively."
She was the only player in double figures for Duke, which shot 25 percent from the field compared to UConn's 59 percent.
The Blue Devils were trying to complete a sweep of the top two teams in the Big East conference. Duke knocked off DePaul 70-63 in the regional semifinals.
"We had a great season," Thomas said. "We had a young team and we grew together as a team. This team is going to bounce back from this."
Duke and Connecticut met once before in the regional final when the Blue Devils came away with a 63-61 victory in 2006 before falling in the NCAA championship game to Maryland.
Monique Currie, who played on that Duke team, was in the crowd Tuesday night sitting behind the Blue Devils bench. She hit four key free throws down the stretch to seal that victory over the Huskies.
It was the only previous NCAA tournament meeting between the teams.
Connecticut's latest star is already a four-time All-American with 3,000 career points. Nice personal milestones for sure, but far from the biggest prize.
To her and the rest of the Huskies it's all about cutting down those nets in Indianapolis and locking up a third straight national title.
Moore scored 28 points, including the 3,000th of her career, to lead top-seeded UConn to a 75-40 win Tuesday night against Duke and a fourth straight trip to the Final Four.
"I don't think about it right now," Moore said about becoming the seventh Division I player to reach the 3,000-point mark. "Of course it's really exciting to be at a program where I've been able to flourish as an offensive player."
Coach Geno Auriemma wasn't surprised by his star's huge game.
"We did talk in the locker room that this was going to be a big night for Maya," Auriemma said. "You could just sense it. Too many games leading up to this where things didn't click for whatever reason. She doesn't let a lot of big games go by without going off in a couple of them."
With two more victories, the Huskies will match the record for consecutive NCAA titles set by Tennessee (1996-98) and equaled by UConn (2002-04).
Next up for Auriemma's current juggernaut is Notre Dame on Sunday in the national semifinals.
The two Big East teams are plenty familiar with each other, having played three times this season already. UConn won all of those matchups including a 73-64 victory in the Big East tournament championship game.
"It's going to be rough," Moore said. "We know each other so well and there are not a lot of surprises. It's going to be a battle to grind it out. We're representing well for our conference. It should be fun."
Once again rural Storrs, Conn., is the center of the college basketball world as both the men's and women's teams are in the Final Four. It's the third time in the past seven years that both programs have advanced this far with 2004 culminating in dual titles.
Throw in the football team reaching the BCS as Big East champions for the first time and its the first time ever one school has been in all three events.
"Take that!," Auriemma said.
Earlier in the day, Moore became only the second four-time AP All-American. She was a unanimous choice for the third straight year and has helped Connecticut to an unprecedented 149 victories while losing only three times.
Tuesday night she became the first D-I player to reach 3,000 points since Southwest Missouri State star Jackie Stiles in 2001.
Moore, who earned outstanding player of the regional honors, fell a bit short of achieving the school's first triple-double since Laura Lishness had one in the Big East tournament title game in 1989. Moore finished with 10 rebounds and seven steals.
"She does what she always does in big games lifting us on her back," said Auriemma.
Auriemma continue his success in his hometown. The Hall of Fame coach made his first Final Four in 1991 after playing at the regional at the Palestra.
"Here we are 20 years later and that team was pretty special because no one ever expected us to do something like that," he said. "What this team did in its own way with the schedule we played and what we did was an incredible accomplishment."
Auriemma also won his second national championship in Philadelphia in 2000.
Now the Huskies (36-1) are back in the Final Four for the fourth straight season and 12th time in the last 17 years.
The Blue Devils (32-4) faced questions leading up to the game on what they'd do differently than they did in a 36-point blowout loss to UConn on Jan. 31. In that game, the Huskies delivered an early knockout blow, scoring 23 of the first 25 points.
On Tuesday night, UConn got off to another quick start tallying 10 of the first 12 points. But this time Duke survived the early flurry, rallying back behind Shay Selby and Jasmine Thomas.
Selby's back-to-back 3-pointers cut the deficit to 17-14 midway through the half. Duke still trailed by three before UConn threw the knockout punch.
The Huskies scored the final seven points of the half, once again keyed by Moore. She hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then ended the period with a baseline jumper that made it 30-20.
Moore had 13 points, nine rebounds and five steals by the break.
The Huskies scored 22 of the first 25 points in the second half to put the game away. Moore had six of the nine points in the spurt, including an acrobatic tip-in off a missed shot that made it 39-22 with 15:56 left.
Her jumper later in the burst gave her 21 points and the Blue Devils still had 22.
Moore broke the 3,000-point milestone on a fouline jumper with 3:45 left in the game. The record basket was a sigh of relief for Huskies fans as Moore had left the game a few minutes earlier after hitting the floor hard. She slowly got up and jogged over to the bench as Auriemma called time out. Moore later said that she had just banged knees with a Duke player and was fine.
After riding the stationary bike on the sideline, Moore returned to get the milestone points.
"That's the first time I did that with anyone to get something done like that," Auriemma said. "I'm glad we did it and it's out of the way rather than her having to answer about it all week."
Thomas finished her stellar career at Duke with an off-game. The senior guard had 17 points to lead Duke, but was just 7 for 22 from the field.
"Jasmine Thomas has been incredible," Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "She was left a little bit on an island today with not much help offensively."
She was the only player in double figures for Duke, which shot 25 percent from the field compared to UConn's 59 percent.
The Blue Devils were trying to complete a sweep of the top two teams in the Big East conference. Duke knocked off DePaul 70-63 in the regional semifinals.
"We had a great season," Thomas said. "We had a young team and we grew together as a team. This team is going to bounce back from this."
Duke and Connecticut met once before in the regional final when the Blue Devils came away with a 63-61 victory in 2006 before falling in the NCAA championship game to Maryland.
Monique Currie, who played on that Duke team, was in the crowd Tuesday night sitting behind the Blue Devils bench. She hit four key free throws down the stretch to seal that victory over the Huskies.
It was the only previous NCAA tournament meeting between the teams.
Heat 102-90, Cavaliers top LeBron
CLEVELAND (AP) -- In an unbearable season of losses, Cleveland got the win it wanted most.
The Cavaliers took down LeBron James.
Despite blowing a 23-point lead, the Cavs battled back and beat the Miami Heat 102-90 on Tuesday night, getting a dose of revenge against James, who was making his second homecoming visit to Cleveland since leaving last summer.
J.J. Hickson scored 21 and Anthony Parker scored 20 for the Cavs, who were embarrassed by James and the Heat 118-90 on Dec. 2 - a night when Cleveland fans unleashed their hatred on the superstar.
This time, James left the floor hanging his head. He finished with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
In the closing seconds, a sellout crowd of 20,562 cut loose at a victory even the most loyal Cleveland fan couldn't have imagined. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who accused James of quitting in last year's playoffs after the two-time MVP announced he was joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a poorly conceived TV special, high-fived anyone within reach.
On the floor afterward, Parker, whose last 3-pointer with 2:47 left capped a 12-0 run and put the Heat away, addressed Cavs fans.
"You guys deserve it," he said.
The Cavaliers were a different team - literally - from the one that laid down against the Heat here in December. Injuries and trades have reduced Cleveland's roster to a shell of the one James played with and helped win 60 games last season.
The Heat nearly rallied from 23 down, and tied it at 83-all on Mike Bibby's seventh 3-pointer with 7:03 left. But Miami, which wasted a chance to move into second place in the Eastern Conference standings, went scoreless for 4:24, allowed the Cavs to get their 15th win and post their most lopsided win this season.
Wade added 24 for the Heat, who had their winning streak stopped at five.
Cleveland shot 56 percent from the field, a number that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will certainly use to motivate his team to play better defense as it gets ready for the postseason.
Baron Davis made his first start since coming to Cleveland in a trade, and the veteran scored 10 points and provided leadership. The Cavs also got a big lift from center Ryan Hollins, who had 13 points, three blocks and played physically - something none of Cleveland's players did in December.
There wasn't the same venom and hatred that shrouded James' first visit four months ago. The crowd was energetic but not as outwardly angry toward James, who was booed every time he touched the ball. Security was extremely high, but there were no reported incidents.
The teams took turns going on extended runs in a wild, back-and-forth third quarter.
Cleveland scored 18 straight points and opened a 71-48 lead, sending their fans into a frenzy and putting the Heat in a deep hole. But Miami was a long way from done as Wade hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points in a 19-1 spurt that pulled the Heat within 72-67 on James' jumper.
Christian Eyenga's 3-pointer with 2 seconds left put the Cavs ahead 75-67. James flung a 3-pointer from a few steps beyond halfcourt to end the quarter, a shot that was initially ruled no good but changed after the officials reviewed TV replays between periods and determined there was a clock malfunction.
James arrived at the arena that was his pro basketball home for seven seasons at 5:12 p.m. Wearing headphones and a shirt with the inscription: "Long Live The King," James went through security and waved to a few guards before ducking into the visitor's locker room for the second time.
James wasn't sure what he would be facing, but he was confident things would not be nearly as hostile as his previous visit.
"I expect the worst," he said. "But worse than last time, Dec. 2? No."
James dodged the first barrage of boos by staying in the locker room during player introductions. He entered the arena under the cover of darkness while the Cavs were being introduced.
After James' return in December, the Cavs were criticized by their fans for the way they acted around their former teammate. Fans felt there was far too much joking around, and they thought someone needed to step up to James and deliver a hard foul.
Hollins took it upon himself to get physical, hitting with Wade with a forearm. Moments later, the two had words and were both assessed technicals.
Hickson knocked James on his rear in the lane later in the first quarter, but James made the shot as he fell to the floor and completed the three-point play. He finished the quarter with 13 points, but didn't score in the second when the Cavs built a 16-point lead.
Miami cut it in half with an 8-0 run, but Davis knocked down a 3-pointer at the horn to give the Cavs a 53-42 halftime lead.
Notes: Heat F Mike Miller sat out with a bruised knee that Spoelstra described as "slightly sprained." Miller will be re-evaluated when his knee "calms down," Spoelstra said. ... During a timeout in the second quarter, a fan made a 3-pointer and won $10,000.
The Cavaliers took down LeBron James.
Despite blowing a 23-point lead, the Cavs battled back and beat the Miami Heat 102-90 on Tuesday night, getting a dose of revenge against James, who was making his second homecoming visit to Cleveland since leaving last summer.
J.J. Hickson scored 21 and Anthony Parker scored 20 for the Cavs, who were embarrassed by James and the Heat 118-90 on Dec. 2 - a night when Cleveland fans unleashed their hatred on the superstar.
This time, James left the floor hanging his head. He finished with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
In the closing seconds, a sellout crowd of 20,562 cut loose at a victory even the most loyal Cleveland fan couldn't have imagined. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who accused James of quitting in last year's playoffs after the two-time MVP announced he was joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a poorly conceived TV special, high-fived anyone within reach.
On the floor afterward, Parker, whose last 3-pointer with 2:47 left capped a 12-0 run and put the Heat away, addressed Cavs fans.
"You guys deserve it," he said.
The Cavaliers were a different team - literally - from the one that laid down against the Heat here in December. Injuries and trades have reduced Cleveland's roster to a shell of the one James played with and helped win 60 games last season.
The Heat nearly rallied from 23 down, and tied it at 83-all on Mike Bibby's seventh 3-pointer with 7:03 left. But Miami, which wasted a chance to move into second place in the Eastern Conference standings, went scoreless for 4:24, allowed the Cavs to get their 15th win and post their most lopsided win this season.
Wade added 24 for the Heat, who had their winning streak stopped at five.
Cleveland shot 56 percent from the field, a number that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will certainly use to motivate his team to play better defense as it gets ready for the postseason.
Baron Davis made his first start since coming to Cleveland in a trade, and the veteran scored 10 points and provided leadership. The Cavs also got a big lift from center Ryan Hollins, who had 13 points, three blocks and played physically - something none of Cleveland's players did in December.
There wasn't the same venom and hatred that shrouded James' first visit four months ago. The crowd was energetic but not as outwardly angry toward James, who was booed every time he touched the ball. Security was extremely high, but there were no reported incidents.
The teams took turns going on extended runs in a wild, back-and-forth third quarter.
Cleveland scored 18 straight points and opened a 71-48 lead, sending their fans into a frenzy and putting the Heat in a deep hole. But Miami was a long way from done as Wade hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points in a 19-1 spurt that pulled the Heat within 72-67 on James' jumper.
Christian Eyenga's 3-pointer with 2 seconds left put the Cavs ahead 75-67. James flung a 3-pointer from a few steps beyond halfcourt to end the quarter, a shot that was initially ruled no good but changed after the officials reviewed TV replays between periods and determined there was a clock malfunction.
James arrived at the arena that was his pro basketball home for seven seasons at 5:12 p.m. Wearing headphones and a shirt with the inscription: "Long Live The King," James went through security and waved to a few guards before ducking into the visitor's locker room for the second time.
James wasn't sure what he would be facing, but he was confident things would not be nearly as hostile as his previous visit.
"I expect the worst," he said. "But worse than last time, Dec. 2? No."
James dodged the first barrage of boos by staying in the locker room during player introductions. He entered the arena under the cover of darkness while the Cavs were being introduced.
After James' return in December, the Cavs were criticized by their fans for the way they acted around their former teammate. Fans felt there was far too much joking around, and they thought someone needed to step up to James and deliver a hard foul.
Hollins took it upon himself to get physical, hitting with Wade with a forearm. Moments later, the two had words and were both assessed technicals.
Hickson knocked James on his rear in the lane later in the first quarter, but James made the shot as he fell to the floor and completed the three-point play. He finished the quarter with 13 points, but didn't score in the second when the Cavs built a 16-point lead.
Miami cut it in half with an 8-0 run, but Davis knocked down a 3-pointer at the horn to give the Cavs a 53-42 halftime lead.
Notes: Heat F Mike Miller sat out with a bruised knee that Spoelstra described as "slightly sprained." Miller will be re-evaluated when his knee "calms down," Spoelstra said. ... During a timeout in the second quarter, a fan made a 3-pointer and won $10,000.
closes out at 1:29 a.m. Federer win
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) -- After a succession of marathons at the Sony Ericsson Open, Roger Federer hurried into the quarterfinals.
Long matches pushed Federer's start into early Wednesday morning, and he wrapped up a victory at 1:29 a.m., needing just 52 minutes to beat qualifier Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-1.
Federer couldn't remember ever starting a match so late. He found it odd even to be up at such an hour, given that he's the father of young twins.
"I'm getting up usually at 1:30," he said. "That's what tennis is all about. We don't know when we play, and we don't have a set schedule, and so we have to be able to adapt."
Federer took the court after Maria Sharapova earned a semifinal berth by winning a 3 1/2-hour match that ended at 12:19 a.m. She beat No. 26-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5).
Sharapova's opponent Thursday will be No. 21 Andrea Petkovic, who earlier played for nearly three hours on the same stadium court to notch her second upset in two days, beating No. 6 Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Petkovic eliminated No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round.
Two-time champion Kim Clijsters also went the distance, overcoming five match points to beat No. 19-seeded Ana Ivanovic, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (5).
American Mardy Fish advanced to the quarterfinals, and even his victory in straight sets was grueling. Hobbled by cramps at the end, a gimpy Fish whacked a service winner on match point to beat Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5, 7-6 (5).
Winning with less duress were No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Novak Djokovic. Nadal committed only five unforced errors and defeated No. 21 Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-2. Djokovic extended his winning streak to 23 consecutive matches by beating fellow Serb Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-2.
Clijsters, the tournament champion in 2005 and again last year, was serving at 1-5, love-40 when her comeback begin. Ivanovic took the loss badly.
"You should see my racket," Ivanovic said, managing a smile. "I kind of broke my racket, and then kind of cried a little bit, and then I was OK."
Sharapova won despite 17 double-faults and twice as many unforced errors as Dulgheru.
"It was long. It was tough," she said. "It was not my best performance, but, you know, I gutted it out till the end."
Sharapova turned her ankle late in the third set and required treatment from a trainer in the middle of a game. The crowd gasped when her misstep was replayed on the video scoreboard, but the injury didn't appear to affect her.
"It hurt when I did it," she said. "I iced it a lot, and did an ice bath and got it taped. I think I'll be OK. I'm tough."
When John Isner lost, Fish became the lone U.S. player among the 16 male and female quarterfinalists. At 29, he'll overtake Andy Roddick and become the top-ranked American man for the first time if he defeats No. 6 David Ferrer on Wednesday.
"Being the No. 1 American would be something that would be pretty cool to tell my kids about," said Fish, who is married but not yet a dad.
The U.S. men's rankings face a possible shake-up because Fish's longtime friend Roddick lost his opening match last week and is expected to drop from eighth to about 15th, the lowest he has been since 2002.
By contrast, Fish's fortunes are on the rise. He's ranked a career-best 15th and is into the Key Biscayne quarterfinals for the first time in his 12-year career.
"I've got some time still, and still feel relatively young - although I probably won't tonight," said Fish, healthy now after battling frequent injuries. "I've had some years where I haven't played very many matches, and I'll hopefully get those on the back end."
He and del Potro both looked weary at the end of their 2 1/2-hour slugfest in humid, 85-degree sunshine. When Fish began cramping in the tiebreaker, he knew he needed to avoid a third set.
"I was very lucky - I would not have recovered," he said. "I was struggling just to serve there that last point."
Ferrer will be a handful. He topped Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-2 and has lost only 12 games in three matches.
Isner, seeded 30th, lost to Kevin Anderson 6-3, 7-6 (4). Anderson's reward will be a chance to end Djokovic's winning streak Wednesday night.
Long matches pushed Federer's start into early Wednesday morning, and he wrapped up a victory at 1:29 a.m., needing just 52 minutes to beat qualifier Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-1.
Federer couldn't remember ever starting a match so late. He found it odd even to be up at such an hour, given that he's the father of young twins.
"I'm getting up usually at 1:30," he said. "That's what tennis is all about. We don't know when we play, and we don't have a set schedule, and so we have to be able to adapt."
Federer took the court after Maria Sharapova earned a semifinal berth by winning a 3 1/2-hour match that ended at 12:19 a.m. She beat No. 26-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5).
Sharapova's opponent Thursday will be No. 21 Andrea Petkovic, who earlier played for nearly three hours on the same stadium court to notch her second upset in two days, beating No. 6 Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Petkovic eliminated No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round.
Two-time champion Kim Clijsters also went the distance, overcoming five match points to beat No. 19-seeded Ana Ivanovic, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (5).
American Mardy Fish advanced to the quarterfinals, and even his victory in straight sets was grueling. Hobbled by cramps at the end, a gimpy Fish whacked a service winner on match point to beat Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5, 7-6 (5).
Winning with less duress were No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Novak Djokovic. Nadal committed only five unforced errors and defeated No. 21 Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-2. Djokovic extended his winning streak to 23 consecutive matches by beating fellow Serb Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-2.
Clijsters, the tournament champion in 2005 and again last year, was serving at 1-5, love-40 when her comeback begin. Ivanovic took the loss badly.
"You should see my racket," Ivanovic said, managing a smile. "I kind of broke my racket, and then kind of cried a little bit, and then I was OK."
Sharapova won despite 17 double-faults and twice as many unforced errors as Dulgheru.
"It was long. It was tough," she said. "It was not my best performance, but, you know, I gutted it out till the end."
Sharapova turned her ankle late in the third set and required treatment from a trainer in the middle of a game. The crowd gasped when her misstep was replayed on the video scoreboard, but the injury didn't appear to affect her.
"It hurt when I did it," she said. "I iced it a lot, and did an ice bath and got it taped. I think I'll be OK. I'm tough."
When John Isner lost, Fish became the lone U.S. player among the 16 male and female quarterfinalists. At 29, he'll overtake Andy Roddick and become the top-ranked American man for the first time if he defeats No. 6 David Ferrer on Wednesday.
"Being the No. 1 American would be something that would be pretty cool to tell my kids about," said Fish, who is married but not yet a dad.
The U.S. men's rankings face a possible shake-up because Fish's longtime friend Roddick lost his opening match last week and is expected to drop from eighth to about 15th, the lowest he has been since 2002.
By contrast, Fish's fortunes are on the rise. He's ranked a career-best 15th and is into the Key Biscayne quarterfinals for the first time in his 12-year career.
"I've got some time still, and still feel relatively young - although I probably won't tonight," said Fish, healthy now after battling frequent injuries. "I've had some years where I haven't played very many matches, and I'll hopefully get those on the back end."
He and del Potro both looked weary at the end of their 2 1/2-hour slugfest in humid, 85-degree sunshine. When Fish began cramping in the tiebreaker, he knew he needed to avoid a third set.
"I was very lucky - I would not have recovered," he said. "I was struggling just to serve there that last point."
Ferrer will be a handful. He topped Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-2 and has lost only 12 games in three matches.
Isner, seeded 30th, lost to Kevin Anderson 6-3, 7-6 (4). Anderson's reward will be a chance to end Djokovic's winning streak Wednesday night.
List of Sports Leagues in the United States
The Four Major Sports Leagues
* National Football League (NFL)
* Major League Baseball (MLB)
* National Basketball Association (NBA)
* National Hockey League (NHL)
Other Sports Leagues
* American National Rugby League (AMNRL)
* Arena Football League (AFL)
* Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP)
* Champions Tour, for men's golfers 50 and over; operated by the PGA Tour
* LPGA Tour
* Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
* Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
* Major League Soccer (MLS)
* National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR)
* National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
* National Lacrosse League (NLL)
* PBA Tour
* Professional Bull Riders (PBR)
* PGA Tour
* Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)
* Professional Inline Hockey Association (PIHA)
* Rugby Super League (RSL)
* Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
* United Football League (2009) (UFL)
* United States of America Cricket Association (USACA)
* United States Australian Football League (USAFL)
* United States Tennis Association (USTA)
* USA Swimming (USA-S)
* Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
* Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
* World Juggling Federation (WJF)
* Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
* National Football League (NFL)
* Major League Baseball (MLB)
* National Basketball Association (NBA)
* National Hockey League (NHL)
Other Sports Leagues
* American National Rugby League (AMNRL)
* Arena Football League (AFL)
* Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP)
* Champions Tour, for men's golfers 50 and over; operated by the PGA Tour
* LPGA Tour
* Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
* Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
* Major League Soccer (MLS)
* National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR)
* National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
* National Lacrosse League (NLL)
* PBA Tour
* Professional Bull Riders (PBR)
* PGA Tour
* Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)
* Professional Inline Hockey Association (PIHA)
* Rugby Super League (RSL)
* Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
* United Football League (2009) (UFL)
* United States of America Cricket Association (USACA)
* United States Australian Football League (USAFL)
* United States Tennis Association (USTA)
* USA Swimming (USA-S)
* Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
* Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
* World Juggling Federation (WJF)
* Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
Team Sports - American football
Football, also known as gridiron or American football outside of North America, attracts more television viewers than baseball (although baseball attracts significantly more ticket sales due to its much longer schedule). Despite being entirely male, it has the most participants of any sport at both high school and college (NCAA) levels.
The NFL is the preeminent professional league in the United States. Through expansion teams and the landmark merger with the American Football League in 1970, the NFL has reached its current mark of 32 franchises divided into two conferences. After a 16-game regular season, each conference sends six teams to the NFL Playoffs, which eventually culminate in the league's championship game, the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest annual sporting event held in the United States. The Super Bowl itself is always among the highest-rated programs annually in the Nielsen ratings. Some notable former players include Joe Montana, Jim Brown, Roger Staubach, Brett Favre, Dick Butkus, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Otto Graham, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Jerry Rice, Fran Tarkenton, Kurt Warner, Johnny Unitas and Lawrence Taylor. Some notable current NFL players include Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ray Lewis, Tony Romo, Tom Brady, Brian Urlacher, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Michael Vick, Jared Allen, Ben Roethlisberger, and Donovan McNabb.
Additionally millions also watch college football throughout the fall months, and some communities, particularly in rural areas, place great emphasis on their local high school football team. The popularity of college and high school football in areas such as the Southern United States and the Great Plains stems largely from the fact that these areas historically generally didn't possess markets large enough for a professional team. Nonetheless, college football has a rich history in the United States, predating even the NFL, and fans and alumni are generally very passionate about their teams.
Arena football, a form of football played in indoor arenas, has a professional league, the Arena Football League. The original league was active from 1987 to 2008 and folded in 2009, but several teams from the AFL and its former minor league, af2, relaunched the league in 2010. Several semi-professional leagues, mostly regional in nature, also exist.
Sports in the United States
Sports in the United States is an important part of American culture. The four most popular team sports are ones that developed in North America: baseball, American football, basketball and ice hockey. The major leagues of these sports, the National Football League (NFL), the Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) enjoy massive media exposure and are considered the preeminent competitions in their respective sports in the world. Each of these leagues besides the NFL have teams that play in Canada, and all four are among the most lucrative sports leagues in the world. Soccer (association football) is less popular as a spectator sport in the United States than it is in many other countries, though it has wide amateur participation, particularly among youths.
Professional teams in all major sports operate as franchises within a league. All major sports leagues use the same type of schedule with a playoff tournament after the regular season ends. In addition to the major league-level organizations, several sports also have professional minor leagues.
Sports are particularly associated with education in the United States, with most high schools and universities having organized sports. College sports competitions play an important role in the American sporting culture. In many cases college athletics are more popular than professional sports, with the major sanctioning body being the NCAA.
Professional teams in all major sports operate as franchises within a league. All major sports leagues use the same type of schedule with a playoff tournament after the regular season ends. In addition to the major league-level organizations, several sports also have professional minor leagues.
Sports are particularly associated with education in the United States, with most high schools and universities having organized sports. College sports competitions play an important role in the American sporting culture. In many cases college athletics are more popular than professional sports, with the major sanctioning body being the NCAA.