Monday May 12, 2008
SPORTS FRONT PAGE 
Penguins take charge
Maxime Talbot returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup just in time.The Penguins' fourth-line energy player from Lemoyne, Que., missed the past three games with a foot injury, but when he recovered in time for the second game of the NHL's Eastern Conference final last night, he came up big with his first career game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
HOCKEY
Penguins take charge
There were two modifications to the lineups of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers for the second game of the NHL Eastern Conference final at Mellon Arena last night.The Flyers opted for more grit with rugged forward Steve Downie and Pittsburgh saw the return of sparkplug Maxime Talbot after a three-game absence because of a foot injury. Both played roles in the deciding goal of the Penguins' 4-2 victory, which increased their series lead to 2-0.
Philadelphia not feeling lucky
The Philadelphia Flyers were much better in all areas last night except one - luck.In the second game of their NHL playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers did a better job of checking Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Their goaltender, Martin Biron, was much better. But their luck was just as bad as it was coming into the Eastern Conference final as the Penguins grabbed a 4-2 win and 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Philadelphia not feeling lucky
The Philadelphia Flyers were much better last night than they were in the opening game of their NHL playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, except for one thing - luck.They did a better job of checking stars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. The Flyers goaltender, Martin Biron, was much better. But their luck was just as bad as it was coming into the Eastern Conference final, allowing the Penguins to grab a 4-2 win and 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Feisty Finns ready for Canada
This tournament turned ugly over the weekend.An ugly win for Canada over Germany on Saturday.An ugly end to the Finland-U.S game yesterday.All of which serves to make today's matchup between rolling Team Canada and spunky Finland one to watch. Whoever wins will lock up first place and get the fourth-place team in the beginning of the elimination matches leading toward next weekend's medal matches.
Ribeiro, Osgood stay in the game
The verdict came early last night: Dallas Stars forward Mike Ribeiro will not be suspended for his love tap, baseball-style, on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood as time ran out in the Stars' 2-1 loss on Saturday.
Gale's goal, Nelson's stops lead Humboldt to crown
Flyers, Pens coaches have had run-ins before
Before the NHL's Eastern Conference final is over, there's a chance John Stevens and Michel Therrien will rekindle their rivalry.Or perhaps, as they've tried to spin it to the media over the past week, they've left all that personal animosity behind them in the AHL and they're above that now.
BASEBALL
Rain gives Blue Jays extra day to ponder
The rain washed out yesterday's game, giving the Toronto Blue Jays another 24 hours or so to try to figure out whatever has become of their bats.Maybe the Jays should plan a team excursion to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to see whether that might rekindle some passion in their dead wood.
Brewers pull Gagné from closer's role
The Milwaukee Brewers yanked Eric Gagne from the closer's role yesterday after the reliever called his latest performance embarrassing and said he didn't feel he deserved to pitch the ninth inning any more.
Sexson's suspension reduced to five games
Seattle Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson had his suspension reduced to five games from six after appealing the punishment, the club announced yesterday. Sexson received the banishment and an undisclosed fine on Friday after charging to the pitcher's mound and inciting a benches-clearing brawl on Thursday during a 5-0 loss to the Texas Rangers. A high pitch from Texas hurler Kason Gabbard prompted Sexson to run to the mound, toss his helmet at Gabbard and tackle the southpaw pitcher, actions that Major League Baseball dubbed ''violent and aggressive.''
Padres pick up Corey in trade with Red Sox
The San Diego Padres acquired right-handed reliever Bryan Corey from the Boston Red Sox yesterday for a player to be announced later or for cash. To make room on their roster, the Padres optioned left-hander Joe Thatcher to Triple-A Portland. Corey was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket on April 30 by the Red Sox. He had a 10.50 earned-run average in seven relief appearances during two stints with the Red Sox this season. The 34-year-old appeared in five games in relief over two stints with Triple-A Pawtucket, with one save.
COLUMNISTS
Tremors rumble through tennis
What a week. You need only first names - Justine, Serena, Roger and Rafael - to know the mighty who fell at the German Open (women) and the ATP Masters Series tournament in Rome (men) in the past seven days.
BASKETBALL
SPURS 100, HORNETS 80
Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Hornets 100-80 last night in the fourth game to even the NBA Western Conference semi-final 2-2.
SPURS 100, HORNETS 80
Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Hornets 100-80 last night in the fourth game to even the NBA Western Conference semi-final 2-2.
REPORT SAYS MAYO ACCEPTED CASH
O.J. Mayo, a former basketball player at the University of Southern California and a projected lottery pick in this year's NBA draft, received thousands of dollars in cash, clothes and other benefits in apparent violation of National Collegiate Athletic Association rules while he was still in high school and during his one year in college, a former Mayo associate told ESPN's Outside the Lines.
Orlando Magic: new act needed
His team backed into a 3-1 corner in the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals, Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson guaranteed a victory when the series returns to Detroit tomorrow.
Beat goes on for Jazz
The Utah Jazz had plenty of chances to crumble and nearly did.They let a 12-point lead slip away in the final four minutes and faced overtime against league most valuable player Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of wilting, Utah played its toughest defence of the playoffs and pulled out a 123-115 victory yesterday, tying the NBA Western Conference semi-final 2-2.
Mayo received illegal gifts, ex-associate tells ESPN
A former associate of University of Southern California freshman guard O.J. Mayo claims the basketball star received thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts from an event promoter over the past four years in violation of National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, ESPN reported yesterday. Louis Johnson told ESPN's Outside the Lines that Rodney Guillory gave Mayo about $30,000 and other benefits while the player attended high school and during his sole season at USC. Mayo has decided to forgo his sophomore year and enter the NBA draft.
D'Antoni accepts challenge to resurrect woeful Knicks
Mike D'Antoni has agreed to coach the New York Knicks, bringing his entertaining offensive style from the Phoenix Suns to a club coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history. The Knicks released a statement on Saturday saying they had agreed in principle with D'Antoni and that a news conference would be held once the contract had been completed. D'Antoni had two years and $8.5-million left on his Phoenix contract. Suns owner Robert Sarver wouldn't confirm that D'Antoni had taken the New York job. The offer is reportedly for $24 million over four years, making him one of the NBA's top-paid coaches.
BOSTON CELTICS: ROADKILL
Kevin Garnett stutter-stepped as he reached a potential right turn down a seemingly endless hallway early yesterday morning. After losing the third game, he and Boston teammate Paul Pierce were on their way to a media interview room proving difficult to find.
OTHER SPORTS
Canada hangs tough in friendly
This time, Canada earned a tie with Argentina.Last year, also on May 11 at BMO Field, Argentina scored in the 88th minute to defeat Canada 2-1 in an exhibition game that was used to prepare for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
ON TELEVISION
(All times Eastern)BASEBALL MLB, Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians, Sportsnet, 7 p.m. MLB, Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels, Sportsnet (Pacific), 10:30 p.m.BASKETBALL
ACTIVITY
BASEBALLAmerican LeagueBaltimore Orioles--Purchased the contract of INF Alex Cintron from Norfolk (IL). Optioned RHP Bob McCroy to Norfolk.Boston Red Sox--Activated INF Alex Cora from the 15-day DL. Option INF Jed Lowrie to Pawtucket (IL).
Safina continues string of upsets
Dina Safina pulled off her third upset of a top-10 player in a week at the German Open, winning the title yesterday by defeating ninth-ranked Elena Dementieva 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Djokovic wins confidence-builder on clay
Having already displayed his prowess on hard courts this season, Novak Djokovic is showing he's capable of dominating on clay, too.Djokovic won the 10th title of his career yesterday, rallying to beat unseeded Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the ATP Masters Series tournament in Rome.
NESTOR, ZIMONJIC FOILED IN FINAL
Daniel Nestor of Toronto and partner Nenad Zimonjic were defeated 3-6, 6-4 10-8 (match tiebreaker) yesterday by top seeds and world Nos. 1 Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States in the doubles final of the ATP Masters Series tournament in Rome.
CORRECTION
Canadian kayaker Mark Oldershaw underwent surgery to remove a tumour before breaking a bone in his left hand last spring. Incorrect information appeared on Saturday.
Man United wins 10th Premier League title
Manchester United won its 10th Premier League title in 16 years yesterday, getting a penalty goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Ryan Giggs to beat Wigan 2-0 on the final day of the season.
New set of contenders set to take a run at Big Brown
Big Brown was so overpowering in winning the Kentucky Derby, none of the 19 rivals he dusted off is showing up for another try in the Preakness Stakes.This is a significant development.
Island comes to Garcia's rescue
Yesterday at Sawgrass felt tougher on Sergio Garcia than what he faced last summer at the British Open, a playoff loss that seemed to define a career filled with more talent than trophies.
KNOST BY A STROKE
Colt Knost won the Fort Smith Classic yesterday, shooting five-under-par 65 to edge Darron Stiles by a stroke.Knost, the U.S. Amateur winner last year, finished at 12-under 268. Stiles, who won this Nationwide Tour event two years ago, shot 71 and finished 11 under.
'Annika's back,' with seven-stroke victory
Annika Sorenstam is on her way back, and a performance that harked back to her game before an injury-filled 2007 season suggests she's close.''That's the way I used to play,'' Sorenstam said yesterday after hitting every fairway and almost every green in a round of five-under-par 66 that made her the runaway winner of the Michelob Ultra Open with a tournament-record 19-under 265. She beat four others by a record-tying seven strokes.
OTTO TOPS IN ITALY
Hennie Otto won his first PGA European Tour title by shooting three-under-par 69 yesterday to hold off Oliver Wilson by one stroke at the Italian Open.The South African had four birdies and a bogey at the Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club to finish at 25-under 263. Wilson, an Englishman, shot eight-under 64, the best round of the day.
Beckham's Toronto debut delayed again
David Beckham was named to England's squad for exhibition games against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, but as a result of his international duty will miss his Major League Soccer debut in Toronto for the second year in a row.
Kai's three goals help U.S. rout Canada
Natasha Kai had her first career three-goal performance, scoring three second-half goals to lead the U.S. women's team to a 6-0 win against Canada in an exhibition game at RFK Stadium on Saturday. Carli Lloyd, Leslie Osborne and Lindsay Tarpley also scored and Abby Wambach had three assists for the United States, which is 13-0-1 this year. Kai headed in two goals six minutes apart to break open the game. The first, in the 54th minute, came when Kai headed a high, arcing pass from Lloyd. The ball glanced off Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod and into the net. Kai found the net again soon after, beating McLeod to a pass from Shannon Boxx in the 60th minute. She finished her scoring with a goal in the 75th minute.
NASCAR: BUSCH TOPS
Kyle Busch is NASCAR's most hated driver. And he loves it. Viciously booed during prerace introductions, Busch soaked up the venom by encouraging the crowd at the Darlington Raceway on Saturday to keep it coming. When he heard a member of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew jeer him as he passed by on the parade lap, Busch smugly flipped him the bird.
Massa feasts on Turkey
Felipe Massa held off Lewis Hamilton to win his third consecutive Turkish Grand Prix yesterday and earn Ferrari's fourth Formula One victory in a row.Massa finished 3.779 seconds ahead of McLaren driver Hamilton on the 58 laps at the Istanbul Speed Park to continue a trend of winning from the pole position in Turkey. All four winners at the circuit have come from the pole.
