Friday May 16, 2008
SPORTS FRONT PAGE 
Flyers show signs of life
The Philadelphia Flyers may only be prolonging their agony - but after three careless outings, they finally came through with a determined effort last night against their state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sharp Swedish team sets sights on Canada
There's no ''i'' in team.But there could be a ''prick'' or two.Easy now. We're talking Swedish, not English - and this is still a family newspaper.In Swedish, sensational 20-year-old forward Nicklas Backstrom, for example, has two dots or prickar over the ''a'' and the ''o'' in his surname. And Henrik Lundqvist - said by many to be the best goaltender in these world hockey championships - has one prick over the ''i.''
Flyers show signs of life
In the city where the motion picture Rocky took place, the Philadelphia Flyers took a cue from the ultimate underdog to finally pick themselves up off the canvas and gain a victory against their state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
HOCKEY
Kitchener enjoying a dream season
It's been 41 years since the New York Rangers flipped their fledgling junior hockey franchise for $1, getting out of what had been a money-losing enterprise and handing the club over to the community of Kitchener, Ont.
Timonen may return
Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen, who was expected to miss the NHL playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins because of a blood clot in his ankle, said he will try to play in the next game. Timonen, the Flyers' best defenceman, told reporters he feels well enough to play on Sunday in the fifth game of the NHL Eastern Conference final. This would be a huge boost for the Flyers.
Pittsburgh unable to close the deal
It seems the Pittsburgh Penguins are still in need of a little more maturity.While they have grown remarkably despite their youthful makeup, the Penguins could use more experience when it comes to the killer instinct. For the second NHL playoff series in a row, they failed to close the deal in an elimination game.
Penguins unable to close the deal
It seems the Pittsburgh Penguins are still in need of a little more maturity.While they have grown remarkably despite their youthful makeup, the Penguins could use more experience when it comes to the killer instinct. For the second NHL playoff series in a row, they failed to close the deal in an elimination game.
Women's hockey pioneers honoured
Geraldine Heaney, Angela James and Cammie Granato made women's hockey history yesterday.The trio of pioneers became the first women players inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, along with former superstar Mario Lemieux, Russian great Igor Larionov and the first French player to skate in the NHL, Philippe Bozon.
Holmstrom's presence a significant factor
A few days ago, Dallas Stars goaltender Marty Turco made an interesting observation about Tomas Holmstrom - his primary nemesis in the NHL's Western Conference final against the Detroit Red Wings.
BASEBALL
OWNERS RATIFY TOUGHER DRUG TESTS
Baseball owners unanimously ratified tougher drug testing rules yesterday and commissioner Bud Selig said he will now turn his attention to whether maple bats have become dangerous.Players have until May 23 to ratify the drug agreement, which will increase the frequency of tests and the authority of the program's independent administrator.
Jays 'keep on trucking' to sweep Twins
The Toronto Blue Jays tip-toed through the Metrodome minefield all afternoon in their series finale against the Minnesota Twins yesterday.They survived an erratic outing from starter Dustin McGowan, who walked five, hit a batter and allowed a Minnesota run on a wild pitch.
COLUMNISTS
TSN, RDS profits continue to soar
Led by TSN and its French language counterpart, RDS, sports channels earned huge dollars in Canadian television last year.CTV-owned TSN and RDS posted profits (all figures before interest and tax) of $58.82-million and $22.76-million, respectively, in the 2007 fiscal year.
Door is always open for Nash, Rautins says
Leo Rautins couldn't help himself.The head coach of the Canadian men's basketball team wasn't making a public appeal for Steve Nash to join his team as it attempts to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
FOOTBALL
NFL's Jaguars lock in Vancouver tackle
The Jacksonville Jaguars gave Canadian defensive tackle Rob Meier a bigger contract to go along with his bigger role. Meier, who is replacing three-time Pro Bowl player Marcus Stroud in the starting lineup this season, signed a four-year contract extension yesterday. Financial details weren't disclosed but Meier of Vancouver said the new deal will pay more than the $2.095-million he was due in the final year of his previous contract.
BASKETBALL
Defending champs not done yet
The San Antonio Spurs' Big Three came through. Now, they have to win one on the road to keep their NBA title defence alive.Manu Ginobili scored 25 points, Tim Duncan had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Tony Parker added 15 points in the Spurs' 99-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets last night.
Celtics can finish Cavs with road win
It's do or summertime for the Cleveland Cavaliers.One more loss, and a second consecutive Eastern Conference title is history.One more win, and it's back to Chowderland for a seventh game.
Barkley pressured to repay gambling debt
Charles Barkley acknowledged he owes $400,000 (all currency U.S.) to a Las Vegas Strip casino and promised yesterday to repay the gambling debt after a prosecutor said the retired NBA star faced criminal charges. ''My mistake,'' Barkley said in an interview at a pro-am golf tournament in Hoover, Ala. ''I'm not broke, and I'm going to take care of it.'' In a civil complaint filed Wednesday in a Nevada state court and reported by the Las Vegas Sun, the Wynn Las Vegas resort said Barkley failed to repay four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, received last Oct. 18 and 19. Barkley, however, said the debt stems from losing bets on the 2008 Super Bowl.
OTHER SPORTS
ON TELEVISION
(All times Eastern)BASEBALL MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs, WGN, 2:20 p.m. MLB, Minnesota Twins at Colorado Rockies, Sportsnet (West), 10 p.m. MLB, San Diego Padres at Seattle Mariners, Sportsnet (Pacific, HD), 10:30 p.m.
ACTIVITY
BASEBALLAmerican LeagueNew York Yankees--Recalled RHP Ian Kennedy from Scranton/Wilkes Barre (IL). Optioned LHP Kei Igawa to Scranton/Wilkes Barre.National LeagueColorado Rockies--Placed RHP Ryan Speier on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 12. Recalled LHP Josh Newman from Colorado Springs (PCL).
TFC coach Carver keeps focus on Crew
Toronto FC has five games in two weeks coming up but head coach John Carver has eyes for only the first one, tomorrow at BMO Field against Major League Soccer's best team, the Columbus Crew.
Race favourite Big Brown shows off new shoes
Before anointing Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown the next coming of Secretariat, consider this: The colt enters tomorrow's Preakness off a two-week turnaround, the shortest of his career; he's got problem front feet; and there are 12 horses with connections eager to show Big Brown can be beaten.
Green, Singh top Irish Open leaderboard
Richard Green of Australia birdied three of the last five holes for six-under 66 yesterday and a share of the lead after the first round of the Irish Open.
Sorenstam strong at Sybase Classic
The Annika Sorenstam goodbye tour is off to a great start.Two days after announcing this would be her final season on the LPGA Tour, Sorenstam shot five-under 67 yesterday for a share of the first-round lead in the Sybase Classic. Two-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa was a stroke back.
Perry survives wet day for share of AT&T lead
Kenny Perry sloshed through the water-logged fairways, ducking under an umbrella every chance he got. He also hit plenty of good shots on a miserable day at the Tournament Players Club Sugarloaf.
Wings sniper named MVP
Philadelphia Wings forward Athan Iannucci was named the National Lacrosse League's most valuable player yesterday. The native of Port Moody, B.C., set a new league record with 71 goals, smashing the previous mark of 61 set by Gary Gait in 2003, while leading the 10-6 Wings back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Canadians impress before Chinese audience
Brandon O'Neill of Edmonton took silver in floor exercise and Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs of Toronto grabbed silver in the uneven bars at the World Cup finals in Tianjin, China. It was Hopfner-Hibbs' third World Cup medal this season on uneven bars. She won gold last month in Slovenia and bronze at the Doha, Qatar stop. The impressive performances came as the draw for Olympic groupings in Beijing was announced, and, both Canadian men and women are grouped with the Chinese.
Eight Belles autopsy finds no surprises
An autopsy reveals that euthanized filly Eight Belles had no pre-existing bone abnormalities that caused her to break down after the Kentucky Derby. The tests were performed by chief Kentucky veterinarian Lafe Nichols. His report confirmed compound fractures of both front legs at the fetlock joints.
Andretti plans rebirth of Toronto Grand Prix
Michael Andretti is hoping to bring open-wheel racing back to the city in which he posted seven victories of his own.Andretti Green Promotions said yesterday that it has formed a wholly-owned Canadian company, Andretti Green Toronto, and completed the purchase of the assets of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto, which owned and operated the race left off the 2008 schedule after Champ Car was absorbed into the Indy Racing League.
