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SPORTS THE MADISON COURIER

Section B Tuesday June 12, 2012

INSIDE Scoreboard Classifieds

B2 B4

SPORTS Unlimiteds to stage Coeur d’ Alene exhibition BRIEFS

Bengals sign WR Sanu

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals have reached a deal with receiver Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers, leaving 10 of their 11 draft picks under contract before the start of their minicamp.

Sanu was the first of the Bengals’ two picks in the third round. He’s competing for a starting outside receiver spot across from A.J. Green.

Sanu had 115 catches last season, setting a Big East record. He also holds the conference’s record for career catches with 210. The Bengals need someone to take the receiver spot vacated when Jerome Simpson left as a free agent.

Defensive tackle Brandon Thompson of Clemson, the Bengals’ other third-round pick, is the only one unsigned. Cincinnati opens its minicamp today.

COURIER STAFF REPORT After a 40-year absence, H1 Unlimited has inked a deal to return Unlimited hydroplane racing to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, agreeing to stage a five-boat exhibition there later this summer.

The event will be held Aug. 31Sept. 2 on Lake Coeur d’Alene — about 40 miles from Spokane, Wash. — with an eye toward contesting an official race there on Labor

Day weekend starting next year. The Unlimiteds last raced at the site in 1968.

“When we were picking a site, we’re looking for a permanent one,” said H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole. “We don’t want just a one-year event. We are looking for long-term partners with vision and a love for hydroplanes.”

Cole was in Coeur d’Alene last week to finalize plans for the exhibi-

tion, which will feature five as yet to be determined Unlimiteds on a 2-mile course.

“The course that we’ve laid out will provide us with a 200 mile per hour course, which is pretty exciting,” said Doug Miller, president and race director of the Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup Regatta. “We have been working on bringing the races back for the past three years and we are ecstatic to see it come to fruition.”

Billy Schumacher, who currently owns the U-37 entry, won the last Diamond Cup Regatta at Coeur d’Alene in 1968 while driving the Miss Bardahl.

“The vision I have of the last heat is still very clear in my mind and it was a very exciting moment,” Schumacher said. “We had a lot of good competition in 1968, and it was anybody’s race. We are looking forward to coming back here.”

Ochocinco signs with Dolphins

MIAMI (AP) — Out of work and not ready to retire, Chad Ochocinco found a job back in his hometown.

The former Pro Bowl receiver signed with the Miami Dolphins on Monday, four days after being released by the New England Patriots. He had played previously to that with Cincinnati.

The signing came after Ochocinco had a tryout with the Dolphins, who are thin at the position and dropping a lot of passes in offseason drills.

He’s likely to join the team for this week’s OTAs, which continue through Wednesday.

“Congrats to Chad,” tweeted his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. “It’s nice to come home.”

The 34-year-old Ochocinco, a Miami native, made the Pro Bowl six times, most recently in 2009.

He had only a minor role in his lone season with the Patriots, catching 15 passes for 276 yards.

In his career, Ochocinco has caught 766 passes for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns. All of the Dolphins’ returning receivers have less than a dozen career TDs.

M

adison’s Dakota Lee (above, center), along with his Madison Post 9 teammates, warm up with some leg exercises before practice on Monday. Southwestern’s Corey O’Neal (left) throws to first during infield practice while high school teammate Darius Whitson-Spegal backs awaits his turn. Shawe’s Kyle Daugherty (below) throws home during a fielding drill. The Niners currently have 23 players from nine different high schools on their 2012 roster. (Staff photos by David Campbell)

Boxer Teofilo Stevenson dead

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson, the three-time Olympic heavyweight champion with a devastating right hand and a gentlemanly demeanor, has died.

He was 60.

“The Cuban sporting family was moved today by the passing of one of the greatest of all time,” said a statement read on the news Monday night. He died of heart disease, it added.

Earlier a sports official, speaking on condition of anonymity lacking authorization to pre-empt an official announcement, said Stevenson had a heart attack.

Considered by some to be the most accomplished amateur boxer in history, Stevenson first won gold in 1972 in Munich and followed that up in 1976 at Montreal.

“The Olympic Games in Munich and Montreal are the fondest memories I have from my life, the best stage of my career,” he told The Associated Press earlier this year.

In 1980, he won his third Olympic title in Moscow, becoming the second boxer to win gold at three separate games after Hungarian Lazlo Papp. Felix Savon, Stevenson’s countryman, accomplished the feat in 2000.

Known affectionately on the island by the nickname “Pirolo,” Stevenson was famous for his punishing right, polished technique, deft hand and footwork, and his sportsmanship.

As his accomplishments grew, boxing fans began salivating over the prospect of a “fight of the century” pitting him against Muhammad Ali. But Cuba insisted that he not lose his amateur status, and the bout never took place.

Niners up in numbers for 2012 Legion season

By DAVID CAMPBELL Courier Staff Writer

The season is already three games old, but Madison Post 9 manager Tim Armstrong is still trying to fit all the pieces together for this year’s Legion baseball squad.

The Niners, who fell to Aurora 10-7 in the season opener on Thursday before sweeping LaGrange (Ky.) 7-2 and 9-8 on Saturday, currently have 23 players on the roster, a huge number for a Legion team.

But that number is a good problem to have for a program that is still returning to form after being forced to sit out an entire season just three years ago.

“We’re ecstatic at the numbers. Last year, we had about 15 or 16 and this year we have 23,” Armstrong said.

“And all of them can play. We have a lot of depth at a lot of different posi-

“

We’re ecstatic at the numbers. Last year, we had about 15 or 16 and this year we have 23. And all of them can play. We have a lot of depth at a lot of different positions and a lot of competition.”

Madison Post 9 Manager Tim Armstrong (right)

tions and a lot of competition.”

While the roster has yet to be finalized — Armstrong said there still could be some changes in the coming weeks — there are currently nine different high schools represented.

With Scottsburg not fielding a

Legion team this year, players from Scottsburg, Austin, Henryville and Crothersville have migrated to Madison to join holdovers from the three Jefferson County schools as well as Jennings County, South Ripley and Trimble County. It’s an eclectic mix of

talent that was not by mistake.

“We have a lot of schools represented and that’s mainly because of pitching,” Armstrong said. “We went out looking for pitching and invited a lot of those guys to come here because of that.”

Armstrong feels that this year’s edition of the Niners will have little problem playing defense and should be able to put runs on the board. But it will still be pitching that will decide how far Madison goes.

So far, Armstrong likes what he has seen. Scottsburg’s Trevor Tutterow tossed a complete-game win in the opener against LaGrange while Jennings County’s C.J. Burnett, Southwestern’s Darius Whitson-Spegal and Madison’s Derek Anderson and SEE: LEGION Page B3, Column 1

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SPORTS THE MADISON COURIER

Section B Tuesday June 19, 2012

INSIDE Scoreboard Classifieds

B2 B4

SPORTS Indians outslug Reds to halt 6-game win streak BRIEFS

Notre Dame extends Brey deal

SOUTH BEND (AP) — Multiple media outlets are reporting Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey has agreed to a 10-year contract extension.

The South Bend Tribune reported on Monday that Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick will hold a news conference today to announce the deal with Brey.

The 53-year-old Brey is a threetime Big East Coach of the Year. He is 260-134 as coach of the Fighting Irish since taking over in 2000.

Brey had three years left on an extension he signed in 2008 that ran through the 2014-15 season.

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND — Dusty Baker’s instincts are usually right.

After seeing two home runs in the first inning and seven runs scored in just two, the Reds manager made a prediction.

“I told somebody early, ‘This is going to be a 10-9 game,”’ he said. “I hope it’s just us with the win.”

It wasn’t. And Cincinnati’s winning streak was stopped at six games.

Mat Latos was roughed up for four innings and the Reds couldn’t outslug the Cleveland Indians in a 10-9 loss Monday night.

“They just outhit us,” said second baseman Brandon Phillips, who had three hits and three RBIs. “There were a lot of entertaining plays. It was a tough game to lose, but a very fun game.”

Afterward, Latos implied the Indians were stealing signs with runners at second.

“I was a little up in the zone, but I thought I made some pitches they spit on with a runner on second,” he said. “The outcome changed when we changed up the signs. But I was up in the zone and they hit them.”

Joey Votto and Jay Bruce homered for the Reds and Phillips hit a “Little League” homer in the fifth, when Cincinnati scored twice to tie it 77.

But the Reds had some tough breaks and dropped the series opener after sweeping three games from the Indians last week at home.

There were no brushback pitches or angry comments this time as Baker and Indians starter Derek Lowe behaved and did not reopen their longrunning feud.

Lonnie Chisenhall finished a double short of the cycle and had three RBIs, and Casey Kotchman drove in three runs for the Indians.

“We couldn’t stop them,” Baker said. “They couldn’t really stop us.

They just got one more run.”

Chisenhall and Kotchman hit tworun homers, and both drove in runs in the sixth inning off Sam LeCure (2-2) as Cleveland snapped a 7-7 tie.

Shin-Soo Choo led off the first with a homer for the Indians, who won for just the second time in seven games SEE: REDS Page B4, Column 1

Bobcats hire St. John’s Dunlap

CHARLOTTE (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says the Charlotte Bobcats have hired St. John’s assistant Mike Dunlap to be their new head coach.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because an official announcement was still being planned for the next two days.

The Charlotte Observer first reported the news.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise because Dunlap was not one of the team’s three finalists. He was originally one of the 10 candidates to interview for the job, but the team trimmed the list to former Utah coach Jerry Sloan, Indiana assistant coach Brian Shaw and Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Quin Snyder.

Roger Clemens acquitted

WASHINGTON (AP) — Give Roger Clemens one more victory, one that offers validation — at least in a legal sense — to the 354 games he won as one of the most accomplished pitchers in baseball history.

Instead of hugs on the mound from teammates, this one wrapped up with hugs from his family in the courtroom, with Clemens’ wife dabbing his moist eyes with a tissue.

It was a courthouse shutout for The Rocket vs. the government of the United States: acquittal Monday on all half-dozen counts that he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

A trial that lasted into a 10th week produced less than 10 hours of jury deliberation over several days, capping an expensive, five-year investigation that is now another blow to the government’s legal pursuit of athletes accused of illicit drug use.

Clemens, 49, was charged with two counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obstructing Congress when he testified at a deposition and at a nationally televised hearing in February 2008. The charges centered on his repeated denials that he used steroids and HGH during a 24-year career with the Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays and Astros that produced a record seven Cy Young Awards.

After the jury foreman uttered “not guilty” for the sixth and final time, Clemens teared up, and one of his lawyers, Michael Attanasio, put his arm on the former pitcher’s back. Clemens bit his lower tip, and rubbed a tear off his eye.

“Mr. Clemens, you’re free to go,” U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said.

Teague takes over Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Norwood Teague officially started his job as the new Minnesota athletic director on Monday.

Teague arrived at his office on Monday morning and started holding meetings and preparing to raise money for several big projects on campus.

Teague says the school is very close to a long-term contract extension with men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith, meaning he will inherit coaches for all three of the school’s major programs.

Madison Courier Firecracker 10K race volunteers give 2011 run winner Tate Schienbein, of Liberty, a round of applause (above) as he crosses the finish line at Lytle Park in downtown Madison with a time of 31:59.78. Madison girls varsity basketball coach Willie Humes (below) will serve as the honorary starter for this year’s Courier 10K — an official Madison Regatta Week event — on Saturday, July 7. “I’ve never done anything at the Regatta before — except go watch it. But I feel privileged that they asked me to do this,” Humes said. (Courier file photos by Mark Campbell)

Humes named starter for 34th Courier 10K Pre-registration now under way for July 7 Regatta run & walk

By MARK CAMPBELL Courier Sports Editor

It terms of athletic participation, one Madison Regatta Week event outstrides all others and it’s been that way for more than a third of a century.

A combined field of 511 runners and walkers competed or participated in the 2011 Madison Courier Firecracker 10K run and walk and registration is currently under way for this year’s event — the 34th annual — to be held on Saturday, July 7.

This year’s Madison Courier honorary 10K starter is Madison girls varsity basketball coach Willie Humes, who coached the Lady Cubs to a sectional championship last March in his first season with the team.

Although never what one would call a track athlete, Humes was a standout athlete at Madison — especially on the basketball court where he graduated in 1967 as the Cubs’ second all-time leading scorer with 1,876 points.

Humes spent two years at Vincennes University before finishing his college career at Idaho State University where he averaged 31.5 points per game and was drafted by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Humes still ranks high on Idaho State’s career scoring list in points, field goal percentage marks for scoring in a single game. He was inducted into the Bengals’ athletic

Hall of Fame last September.

With all that in mind Humes, who is quick with a laugh, said it’s a good thing his role as 10K starter is honorary because he’d otherwise be ill prepared to commence this year’s walk and race.

“I’ve never done anything at the Regatta before — except go watch it.

But I feel privileged that they asked me to do this. I’ve never done this before but I’m hoping they will give me a little help,” Humes chuckled.

“I’m really not a track runner,” Humes laughed. “I hit a few tennis balls around and I’ve played softball and baseball and basketball but I never did get into that track or running a lot.”

Humes said he was “totally shocked” when Courier 10K race organizers asked him serve as the honorary starter.

“Lou (Knoble) called me and told me that he wanted me to start the 10K and I said ‘Well I don’t know what I’m doing’ but he said ‘Me and (Harold) Peewee (Lakeman) will help you out. It’s going to be fun — I hope it’s going to be fun.”

Registration for the 2012 10K is currently under way and entry forms can be downloaded on The Madison Courier’s website — www.madisoncourier.com — or are available by stopping by the newspaper’s office at 310 West Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

The cost is $10 for walkers and $20 for runners through June 27 when the prices increases to $15 for walkers and $25 for runners. Each

pre-registered participant will receive an officially commemorative T-shirt and an information packet. Race-day registration is available beginning with the pre-race check-in at 6:30 a.m. at Madison Consolidated High School but some sizes of T-shirts may not be available for participants who do not pre-register.

The walk begins at 8 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. at the high School on the hilltop and ending at Lytle Park in downtown Madison. A shuttle bus will be available to transport participants back to their cars at the high school parking lot and water

will be provided at various stations throughout the 6.2-mile course.

The race is scored as a competitive event with awards presented to the overall male and female runner and to the top three finishers in each age division both male and female.

Last year’s overall winner was 17year-old Tate Schienbein, of Liberty, with a time of 31:59.78 while the top female runner was six-time champion Amanda Bell LeBlanc, 29, with a time of 38:03.33.

The walk is a non-competitive event and while times are recorded, no awards are presented in that division.

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SPORTS THE MADISON COURIER

Section B Tuesday July 3, 2012

INSIDE Scoreboard Classifieds

B2 B4

SPORTS Sims taking over as Shawe athletic director “Steve has a real passion for the BRIEFS school and it shows.”

By DAVID CAMPBELL Courier Staff Writer

Shawe Memorial High School turned to one of its own and it pried Steve Sims away from the radio mike to become its new athletic director.

Sims’ hiring was officially announced Monday and he will replace Travis Calvert, who resigned in June after four years on the job.

“I’ve been trying to get into teaching programs for the last couple of years,” said Sims from his new office in Shawe High School. “When this opportunity came up, it was not only an opportunity to get a teaching position, but to also allow me to do three things that I love: This school, sports and these kids. That’s why I put my name into it.”

Sims, whom Harold “Peewee” Lakeman affectionately calls the “Shawe Legend,” has always had a soft spot

I’ll Have parades at Hollywood

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another will bid fans farewell on Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

The colt will be paraded between races, giving fans a last chance to see I’ll Have Another at his home track before he begins the next phase of his career as a stallion in Japan.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez and trainer Doug O’Neill will sign autographs before the racing card starts. They were part of I’ll Have Another’s team during his bid for the Triple Crown that suddenly ended on June 8, the day before the Belmont Stakes when the colt was retired because of a tendon injury.

I’ll Have Another was recently sold to Shigeyuki Okada and will stand at Big Red Farm on the island of Hokkaido.

Prince of Peace President Phil Kahn, on new athletic director Steve Sims (left) in his heart for the small school on the hilltop. He graduated from Shawe in 2002, most of his family attended the school and in the past couple of years he coached both girls tennis and junior high basketball at Shawe.

Through it all, it has remained loyal to the Hilltoppers and credits the school for turning him into the person he is today.

“I have 25 best friends because of Shawe. Everybody in my class is super tight and that’s attributed to the small school,” Sims said. “I have learned a lot of things morally as a person from

Shawe other than just math or history.

It’s a special place to me. To me, it’s who I am.”

“It’s nice that alumni want to come back and help out. I’m an alumni myself,” said Phil Kahn, president of Prince of Peace Schools. “Steve has a real passion for the school and it shows.”

Calvert was hired in 2008 by then principal Jerry Bomholt and held the AD job at Shawe longer than anybody SEE: SIMS Page B3, Column 5

Saturday’s Courier 10K Expected to be Scorcher

Trainer ‘Boo’ Gentry dead

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Thoroughbred trainer Loyd “Boo” Gentry, who saddled 1967 Kentucky Derby winner Proud Clarion, has died of heart failure. He was 87.

A statement from his family said Gentry died Sunday in Lexington, where he lived. He also resided in Stuart, Fla. Proud Clarion ran one of the fastest times in the Derby. Gentry also trained Kauai King as a 2-year-old before the horse went on to win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in 1966 under another trainer when Gentry went into private training.

Gentry also trained Graustark, who was undefeated until his last race.

He continued breeding and training until his death.

Gentry’s father, also named Loyd, twice rode in the Derby as a jockey before turning to training, and his uncle, Olin Gentry, managed Col. E.R. Bradley’s farm.

Dontrelle Willis retires

SEATTLE (AP) — Left-hander Dontrelle Willis is retiring following a rocky stretch with Baltimore’s top farm club.

Willis was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2003 with the Marlins and quickly became one of baseball’s most popular players. But the big left-hander has struggled since he won 22 games seven years ago and was second in the NL Cy Young Award voting. “(It’s) kind of sad in a way because of how good he was. I look at it from the game of baseball,” manager Buck Showalter said before Baltimore faced Seattle on Monday night. “We’ll see what the future holds for him. I appreciate him giving it a shot with us.”

Willis won just 26 games and had 5.02 ERA over his final six seasons in the majors pitching for Florida, Detroit, Arizona and Cincinnati. His final appearance in the majors came on Sept. 25, 2011, when he beat Pittsburgh 5-4 for his only victory of the 2011 season with the Reds.

Willis was cut by Philadelphia during spring training and later agreed to a minor league deal with the Orioles. He made just four appearances for Triple-A Norfolk, going 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA. The 30-year-old Willis had a 7269 career record with a 4.17 ERA.

Woman pleads in ticket case

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A woman defrauded by ex-Ohio State and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Art Schlichter in a million-dollar sports ticket fraud has pleaded guilty to her own involvement in the scheme.

Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien says Anita Barney started out as a victim and then became an offender. Barney pleaded guilty to two felony theft charges Monday.

Organizers closely watching heat index

By MARK CAMPBELL

With just four days remaining until the 34th annual Madison Courier Firecracker 10K run and walk, race organizers have become weather watchers in an effort to once again stage a safe event on Saturday.

In addition to all the other last-minute details like processing registrations, preparing packets and organizing the huge network of volunteers that staff start and finish areas, water stations and see to the safety and comfort of participants, organizers are keeping close tabs on the current heat wave that has settled over the Ohio River Valley.

Held annually on the Saturday of Madison Regatta Weekend, the Firecracker 10K is always a hot-weather road race, but with Madison temperatures hovering in the high 90s to triple digits for days and more of the same forecast through this weekend, organizers are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of both participants and volunteers.

“We’ve held the race on some very hot days but nothing like the weather we’re currently experiencing,” said Madison Courier Publisher Jane Jacobs, one of the event organizers.

“This year it seems we’ve had unusually high temperatures so we are concerned about the heat this weekend,” Jacobs said. “We will be monitoring it closely and the morning of the race if the temperature and humidity — the heat index — would be in the unsafe zone and be expected to produce dangerous conditions we would cancel the race.”

According to Jacobs, every effort

will be made to hold the event but in the end the organizers will refer to nationally recognized standards to ensure the safety of competitors during such extreme conditions.

Similar criteria is commonly used as criteria for postponing or canceling IHSAA, KHSAA and collegiate athletic events.

The race- and walk-time temperature will be combined with the humidity levels on race morning to calculate a heat index. If that heat index is deemed too dangerous for the event, a decision will be made by 7 a.m. on race day to cancel the event.

While morning temperatures have been some of the coolest Madison has recorded over the current heat wave, that is also the time of day that typically produces the highest humidity so cooler morning temperatures are not the only consideration.

“We would hate to have to make that call but what is most important is the safety of our participants and our volunteers,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs said until forced to make that call, organizers will continue preparing for the event. At this point, all systems are already in place to hold the event if the weather will cooperate.

“We have always been well-prepared for the weather and we will have a variety of water stations throughout the course, we will have King’s Daughters’ Hospital EMS monitoring the course, the Madison amateur radio club is stationed throughout the course and Madison Police Department,” Jacobs said. “All of these things are in place to assure the safety for our participants. But we will also keep an eye on the weather.”

The Air National Guard Unlimited Hydroplane Series will return to Sacramento, Calif. for the first time since 1967, H1 Unlimited announced Monday.

The H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series will be part of “Big Wake Weekend” at Granite Bay State Rec-

reation Area on Folsom Lake May 31-June 2, 2013.

“We’re excited to bring the fastest boats in the world and the thrill of the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane series back to Northern California and the Capital City,” said Cole.

The USA Racing partners stopped in

Courier Sports Editor

Runners break at the start of last year’s Courier 10K (top), 10K starters Chelsea Stephen (above left) and Josh Wilber welcome runners before the race and then cool off with a cool bottle of water (right) after the the 6.2 mile run. High heat and humidity a concern heading into this year’s event.

(Courier file photos) One change runners and walkers will notice when they check-in prior to the event on Saturday is the adoption of a chip timing system to track timing and provide faster results at the conclusion of the event.

Stuart Racing LLC, of Aurora, has been hired as the official timer of the 34th annual Courier 10K and all SEE: COURIER 10K Page B3, Column 5

Unlimiteds returning to Sacramento’s Folsom Lake Sacramento on their way to the season opener this weekend in Madison and had their 88 Degree Men Hydroplane on display at the press conference.

The Unlimiteds have raced twice previously in Sacramento. Warner Gardner won the 1966 event aboard the Miss Lapeer and Billy Schum-

acher, the current owner of the U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing, won in 1967 while driving the Miss Bardahl.

The Unlimiteds held an exhibition in Sacramento last year with Schumacher’s 88 Degree Men, the 11 Miss Peters & May and the 21 Albert Lee Appliance.

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SPORTS THE MADISON COURIER

Section B Tuesday July 17, 2012

INSIDE

Scoreboard Gold Cup Classifieds

B2 B3 B4

SPORTS Votto to have knee surgery, miss 4 weeks discovers torn BRIEFS MRI cartilage, ‘scope’

Griffin has left knee surgery

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clippers forward Blake Griffin had arthroscopic surgery on Monday to repair the medial meniscus tear of his left knee that he injured during practice with the U.S. national team in Las Vegas.

Griffin returned to Los Angeles last Thursday after experiencing discomfort in the same knee that bothered him during the playoffs.

He will miss the London Olympics, but the Clippers say he should be ready for the start of the NBA season.

Brewers scratch Greinke

MILWAUKEE (AP) — After Zack Greinke’s three straight starts apparently left him feeling fatigued and out of his routine, the Milwaukee Brewers are skipping his scheduled start Wednesday and will sit him down until next week.

“We probably put too much on him, thinking he’d be fine, and he wasn’t,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said before Monday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Greinke, a potential trade target for contending teams with the deadline approaching at the end of this month, was ejected in the first inning of a July 7 start in Houston.

He pitched again the next day, then started Milwaukee’s first game after the All-Star break. He gave up 10 runs in eight-plus innings during those three starts.

Roenicke acknowledged he was second-guessing himself for having Greinke pitch all three games, which the second-year manager said wore the right-hander down and disrupted his routine. Roenicke said Greinke was feeling some soreness as well, but nothing particularly concerning.

Paternoville now Nittanyville

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The Penn State student group that manages the area outside Beaver Stadium where students camp out for prime football tickets has changed the name of the tent city that spouts up the week before home games in Happy Valley.

The also-renamed Nittanyville Coordination Committee said Monday that student officers decided the name change would “return the focus to the overall team and the thousands of students who support it.”

Late coach Joe Paterno was fired in November soon after his former assistant, Jerry Sandusky, was charged with child sexual abuse.

An independent investigation led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh released a report last week that concluded Paterno and other top Penn State administrators concealed Sandusky’s abuse to shield the university from bad publicity.

Mayo headed to Mavs?

DALLAS (AP) — Free agent shooting guard O.J. Mayo tweeted that he “will be signing” with the Dallas Mavericks.

Soon after Mayo posted his note on Twitter late Monday night, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sent out his own tweet that read, “Welcome to the family OJ. We are fired up !!

MFFL Mavs/Mayo Fan For Life!”

Jose Bautista injures wrist

NEW YORK (AP) — Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista left Monday night’s game against the New York Yankees in the eighth inning because of a wrist injury.

Bautista immediately grabbed his left wrist and dropped into a crouch outside the batter’s box after hitting a long foul ball against David Robertson.

After the game, the Blue Jays said Bautista did not break a bone but he has a tendon injury and will have an MRI today to determine the severity.

procedure is today

By JOE KAY

AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Reds first baseman Joey Votto will have surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, leaving the NL Central leaders without their best hitter for the next three to four weeks.

The 2010 National League MVP hurt the knee while sliding into third base June 29 in San Francisco, but has continued playing. Votto started for the NL in the All-Star game last Tuesday.

A medical exam Monday night detected the tear and Votto will have arthroscopic surgery today.

General manager Walt Jocketty said Votto didn’t have an MRI earlier because the first baseman didn’t think he needed one.

“He didn’t request it until then,” Jocketty said. “He said it wasn’t a problem until the last couple of days.”

Votto decided to have the surgery.

Jocketty said it’s a simple procedure that takes only 20 to 30 minutes.

“It is in my best interest and in the best interest of the team to do it now so that I can be healthy during the last two months of the pennant race,” Votto said in a statement.

Votto is batting .342 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs. He leads the NL in doubles, walks, on-base percentage and extra-base hits.

“We’ll see what we can do internally, initially,” Jocketty said. “But it’s going to be difficult to replace Joey Votto.”

He went hitless in his first two games back from the All-Star game then had a single and an RBI double during a 4-2 win over St. Louis on Sunday night that moved the Reds into sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

The Reds didn’t immediately make a move to replace him on the roster.

Cincinnati has been in first place for 46 days because of its pitching and the NL’s top defense. The Reds have used only five starters, a modern franchise record this deep into the season, and their bullpen is the best in the league.

The offense has struggled, ranking in the middle of the league, and the loss of Votto costs the team its most consistent hitter.

Votto was named MVP after the Reds’ run to the NL Central title in 2010, but Cincinnati got swept by Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.

He received a 10-year contract extension before the start of this season that added $225 million to his deal.

Now, the Reds will find out just how much he means to the franchise.

They lost their first game without him, 5-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

SEE: VOTTO Page B4, Column 5

PAYING NOW, PENNANT LATER?: Reds first baseman Joey Votto (above) was hurt sliding into third base on June 29 at San Francisco. He had continued to play on the tender knee since, but will now have surgery in an effort to be healthy for a possible pennant run later this season. (Associated Press photo)

Reds miss Votto in 5-3 loss to Arizona

By JOE KAY

AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI — One bit of news took the Cincinnati Reds from their season high point to a new low — they have to try to hold onto first place without Joey Votto.

The Reds had their sixgame winning streak snapped on Monday night shortly after learning they’ll be without their best hitter for up to a month.

Miguel Montero drove in four runs, and the Arizona Diamondbacks ended the Reds’ surge with a 5-3 victory.

All that seemed secondary to wor-

ries about a future without the 2010 NL MVP. Shortly before the game started, the Reds got MRI results showing Votto has torn cartilage in his left knee and will be out for three to four weeks.

“He’s an MVP, a Gold Glover. What more can you ask in a guy?” said Todd Frazier, who filled in at first base.

“Injuries are huge in baseball. He’s got that presence. Whenever he is out there, he can do damage.”

Votto hurt his left knee while sliding on June 29, but kept playing because

he didn’t think the injury was severe.

He started for the National League in the All-Star game on Tuesday, and played all three games of a sweep over the St. Louis Cardinals that left Cincinnati alone in first place in the NL Central.

He didn’t have an MRI until Monday because he didn’t think he needed one.

“He didn’t request it until then,” general manager Walt Jocketty said.

“He said it wasn’t a problem until the last couple of days.”

Votto will have surgery today, costSEE: REDS Page B4, Column 1

USA starts slow, finishes strong to beat Brazil

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

WASHINGTON — Tough start for the Americans. The Olympic basketball team couldn’t get a stop, the president couldn’t get a kiss.

Eventually, things worked out for both of them.

LeBron James scored 30 points and the U.S. rallied from an early 10-point deficit to beat Brazil 80-69 on Monday night in its final exhibition game on home soil.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden watched the Americans get off to a dismal start, then turn it around by holding the

Brazilians to two baskets in the second quarter.

“They came out really counterpunching and taking advantage of our aggressiveness on defense, and they’re well-coached. They came in with a great plan and executed their plan very well start of the game,” U.S. guard Kobe Bryant said. “We made our adjustments second quarter, kept them to five points, which after the 20-something point first quarter is pretty impressive.”

James helped the U.S. pull away in the final four minutes after they led by only seven with 4 1/2 minutes left, getting his final point on a free

throw with 31 seconds left as Obama departed. James scored 14 points in the final period.

Kevin Durant, a D.C .native, added 11 and Chris Paul scored 10 for the Americans, who will leave today for Europe to complete their Olympic preparations. They face Britain in Manchester, England on Thursday before traveling to Barcelona to play Argentina and Spain.

It’s a solid exhibition schedule, and this game showed the Americans have some work to do before they get to London. They were just 1 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half and struggled offensively when forced to

play in the halfcourt.

“It felt good, though, to compete and stuff like that,” Paul said. “Like we said, our defense is what’s going to win games for us and obviously we imposed that after the first quarter.”

The president met with the men’s and women’s teams, who swept the doubleheader from Brazil. He received a loud cheer when he arrived but like the U.S. players got off to a slow start. He needed a second chance in the fourth quarter before first lady Michelle Obama would grant him a SEE: USA Page B4, Column 1

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Section B Tuesday August 14, 2012

SPORTS BRIEFS

INSIDE Scoreboard Classifieds

B2 B4

Raiders Off To 3-0 Start

Lakers sign Jodie Meeks

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers resigned forward Devin Ebanks on Monday and added free agent guard Jodie Meeks.

Terms of the deals were not released.

Meeks, a three-year veteran out of Kentucky, appeared in 66 games last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 8.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 24.9 minutes.

Meeks has career averages of 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 200 career games.

Ebanks, a second-round pick of the Lakers in 2010, played in 24 games last season and averaged 4.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 16.5 minutes. Ebanks has career averages of 3.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 44 games.

Win costly as Colts lose top tackler with injury

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

VH1 pulls ‘Ev and Ocho’

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — For Chad Johnson, a weekend confrontation with his wife has led to repercussions beyond a misdemeanor charge and NFL unemployment.

VH1 pulled the series “Ev and Ocho” from its schedule, citing “the seriousness of the allegations” against Johnson. The network said Monday it had no plans to air the show.

The Dolphins terminated Johnson’s contract Sunday night, about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife, Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show “Basketball Wives.”

Coach Joe Philbin says the decision to release the six-time Pro Bowl receiver wasn’t based on any single incident and wasn’t made to send a message. Instead, Philbin decided Johnson and the Dolphins were simply a bad fit.

Big East hires TV negotiator

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Big East has hired a sports media firm, led by one of the consultants who negotiated the Pac-12’s $3 billion deal, to work on its upcoming media rights negotiations.

The conference announced Monday it had hired Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures as its lead negotiator.

Co-founder Chris Bevilacqua helped the Pac-12 land its landmark 12-year television deal last season and launch its own network. He also negotiated the Rose Bowl’s most recent television contract with ESPN, a deal worth $80 million annually for 12 years.

The Big East will begin a 60-day exclusive negotiating window with ESPN on Sept. 1.

The rebuilding conference is hoping to net its football members upward of $10 million per year in revenue from a new deal.

Ex-champ Dokes dead at 54

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Michael Dokes, a former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, has died. He was 54.

The Rhoden Memorial Home in Akron said Dokes died Saturday.

The Akron Beacon Journal reported that the boxer died in an Akron hospice from liver cancer.

Known as “Dynamite” Dokes because he packed a powerful punch, the fighter won the WBA title in 1982 by defeating Michael Weaver. He lost the title a year later when he was beaten by Gerrie Coetzee.

Dokes had a career record of 53-6-2. A run of legal problems began late in his career. In 1986, Dokes was arrested in Las Vegas for cocaine trafficking and served two years’ probation. In 2000, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to attempted murder, second-degree kidnapping and intent to commit sexual assault against his girlfriend. He was released in 2008.

TRIMBLE RAID: Trimble County senior Kelsie Courtney (above, 6) shares a light moment with teammates Kayla Baker (3) and McKenna Ginn (13) during Monday’s match in Bedford. Paige Black (below, 1) blocks an Owen County shot. The Raiders won in two games to win their volleyball home opener and improve to 3-0 on the season. (Staff photos by David Campbell)

Trimble beats NCKC rival Owen Co. in home opener

By DAVID CAMPBELL Courier Staff Writer

Trimble County made the most of its first match at home by rolling over conference rival Owen County in two games, 25-21, 25-15 Monday in volleyball.

The Lady Raiders, already playing their third match of the season, were in control of both games nearly the entire way. Yet Trimble coach Ruth Staples couldn’t but feel that OLLEYBALL help her team still has a little more in OUNDUP the tank.

“We’re struggling with serving. I’m not happy with the serving, I’m not happy with the transition from offense to defense,” Staples said. “But a win is a win. If we can struggle and win, I can’t be that disappointed.”

Trimble (3-0, 1-0 North Central Kentucky) roared out of the gates against an Owen County squad that was playing its first match of the season. Junior Paige Black served the Raiders to a 5-0 lead and Trimble never trailed in the opener.

Despite leading the entire way, game one wasn’t as easy as it looked.

The Raiders built up leads of 10-3 and 16-8 but still had to withstand two Owen County rallies. The first closed the margin to 17-14 while the second was six-straight Owen points after the Raiders had earned matchpoint at 24-15.

Both runs ended after Staples was forced to call timeouts to end the momentum.

“I didn’t want to; you hope they can play through it,” Staples said. “But that’s why they give us two, thank goodness.”

The two teams traded points in game two before the Raiders finally put together a run of five-straight points to go ahead 10-6. The lead ballooned to 18-11 before Trimble put the match away.

Staples admitted that the slow start in game two — and the Owen rallies in game one — may have been a result of playing at home.

“There were a little bit of nerves.

We were at home for the first time and we had a large crowd of friends and family on hand,” Staples said. “I think

V R

it affected them a little.”

Black, who served the first five points of the match and the final six, ended up having a huge night at the serving line by going 17-for-18 with five aces. She also added seven kills and two blocks while teaming with all-state candidate Kelsie Courtney on the front line.

Courtney finished with 10 kills and two blocks while going 7-for-8 serving. The pair of tall, lanky Raiders proved to be too much for Owen County.

“Paige is ready to step up and she wants to do it,” Staples said. “Kelsie is going to get a lot more attention and she’s doing a much better job of hitting around the blocks. It’s nice to have both of them out there.”

Kayla Baker, who was a hitter on junior varsity a year ago, was 24-for26 on sets and 2-for-3 serving while also collecting two kills. McKenna Ginn was 9-for-10 serving, had three kills and was 23-for-34 in sets, Kayla Greenwood was 2-for-4 serving and had a kill and nine digs, and Sydney Weaver was 4-for-5 serving with 12

digs.

“I’m encouraged. We have a lot of young talent out here and a lot of young girls are stepping up and doing big things early in the season,” Staples said. “Kayla Baker has just started setting and she’s helping us a whole lot.”

The Raiders face another NCKC opponent on Thursday when Trimble hosts Henry County.

3-0 win over Knights ‘great start’ for new-look Rebels

Southwestern volleyball made short work of South Dearborn, picking up a 25-12, 25-10, 25-19 win in its season opener Monday on the road.

The Lady Rebels, who are replacing several key parts from last year’s team, got strong contributions from several players as they kicked off the season.

“Tonight was a great start to the season,” Southwestern coach Chris Johnson said. “We really played pretty well in all facets of the game.”

SEE: VOLLEYBALL Page B3, Column 1

INDIANAPOLIS — Chuck Pagano’s first NFL win came at a pretty steep cost.

Less than 24 hours after beating St. Louis 38-3 in the preseason opener, the Colts’ new coach said starting inside linebacker Pat Angerer, last year’s leading tackler, could miss at least six weeks because of a broken foot.

It’s a big loss for a team trying to make a turnaround after a dismal 2-14 season gave them the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.

“He’s the signal-caller, he’s the guy that stands in front of the huddle,” Pagano said Monday. “When you lose your middle backer for an extended period of time, it hurts a lot, and the guy is a warrior, he’s a Colt, he’s got all of Colt traits you’re looking for. Now it will be up to somebody else to step up and fill that void until we get him back.”

Angerer led the Colts with 146 tackles last season after replacing captain Gary Brackett, who missed most of the season with a torn rotator cuff.

Pagano also said backup linebacker Scott Lutrus will need season-ending surgery after a torn ACL, starting offensive guard Mike McGlynn will be out indefinitely because of a high ankle sprain and backup running backs Mewelde Moore and Delone Carter both have injured ribs that could keep them out of action, too.

The combination could leave the Colts thin at two key positions — linebacker and running back — heading into Sunday night’s game against Pittsburgh.

The problems at linebacker are of greater concern, though, as Indy makes the transition from a traditional 4-3 look to a 3-4 scheme. The move had already prompted Pagano to move Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis to linebacker and use another Pro Bowl defensive end, Dwight Freeney, in a standup spot, too.

Then, on the first day of training camp, the Colts lost linebacker A.J. Edds in a non-contact drill with a left knee injury. Two days later, Pagano confirmed Edds would miss the season with a “significant” injury to his anterior cruciate ligament.

New general manager Ryan Grigson has tried to add some reinforcements, picking up linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd in a trade with Philadelphia.

Who will replace Angerer? That’s still up in the air.

“Obviously, a smart move by Ryan getting two linebackers in here from Philly, so we have them,” Pagano said. “Jerrell Freeman played well and the other guys played well, and we’ve got Mario Harvey, who’s been kind of a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. We’ll continue to look at the waiver wire and see if there’s anyone there that we’ve had some kind of history with and maybe bring somebody in.”

Pagano did not say which foot Angerer injured.

One player who is available is Brackett, the longtime linebacker SEE: COLTS Page B3, Column 1

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Section B Tuesday August 28, 2012

INSIDE

Scoreboard B2 Local Sports B3 Classifieds B4

SPORTS Arroyo belts go-ahead HR in Reds win BRIEFS

Fox sets H1 broadcast dates

Fox Sports and the H1 racing series have announced tentative air dates for the 2012 Air National Guard Series races this fall.

The series will be broadcast at 5 p.m. on consecutive Thursdays beginning on Oct. 18 starting with the season opener at Madison and running through Nov. 15 for broadcast of the San Diego race.

A press release from Fox Sports and H1 indicated that the season finale in Doha, Qatar, will be broadcast on Christmas Day. However, that race has been rescheduled for mid-January.

Repeat airings will be scheduled the first part of the week following the original airing and each episode will air at the same local time nationwide.

PHOENIX (AP) — A little heat and humidity shortened Bronson Arroyo’s evening Monday but didn’t lessen his impact.

Arroyo pitched six strong innings and homered in the sixth inning for the go-ahead run of the Cincinnati Reds’ 3-2 victory over the fading Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arroyo “Things are kind of working out a little bit,” Arroyo said. “I’m feeling good, but I’ve been feeling good all year. Sometimes you

have to get things going and they’ve been going to last six weeks.”

Arroyo (11-7) allowed two runs and five hits for his fourth straight win. He took himself out after the sixth, having pitched out of trouble in the fourth and run the bases in the top of the inning.

“There was a kind of a weird vibe all day,” Arroyo said. “It was a little humid and I just felt like I was gassed.

It was a good time to turn it over. With the bullpen we have it’s nice to know you can go out and maybe give up a

little sooner than you would otherwise and still win.”

Sean Marshall came on in the seventh, Jonathan Broxton pitched the eighth and Aroldis Chapman retired the side in the ninth for his 32nd save.

“We take the blessings that we have been given,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said with a smile.

Brandon Phillips added an RBI double for the Reds, who remained six games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central and gave Baker his 400th win with the club.

Lady Cubs fire ‘record’ 158 to beat Highlanders

Air Date/Time Thursday, Oct. 18, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 25, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 1, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 15, 5 p.m.

TBA

Purdue suspends arrested LB

WEST LAFAYETTE (AP) — Purdue has suspended starting linebacker Dwayne Beckford indefinitely.

Coach Danny Hope made the announcement late Monday, saying Beckford was arrested for what he described as a violation of Beckford’s “probationary status.”

Hope says the school will examine details of what happened before determining Beckford’s long-term status at Purdue.

The 6-foot-1, 228-pound senior finished second on the team with 91 tackles in 2011. Beckford also had seven tackles for loss and three sacks. But he has struggled off the field.

He was arrested in December on a drunken-driving charge for his third brush with Tippecanoe County law enforcement of the year. He was suspended for Purdue’s bowl game and for the second semester last year by the school and the team.

The 22-year-old Beckford pleaded guilty in July to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and illegal consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Carroll: Owens can still play

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle coach Pete Carroll says that despite the Seahawks’ decision to release Terrell Owens he still believes the 38-year-old wide receiver can play in the NFL. Carroll said Monday he has no doubt that Owens can still play and would be surprised if he didn’t catch on with another team. Owens was released by the Seahawks on Sunday as they made their initial round of cuts to reach the 75-man league-mandated roster limit.

Owens arrived at Seahawks camp in terrific shape and looked good on the practice field, but couldn’t transfer it to the games. He had just two catches for 41 yards in two preseason games that were more notable for his drops.

But Carroll said the team would not rule out looking at Owens later in the season if needed. Carroll said Owens was great and did everything asked of him.

Horse safeguard hits snag

F R A N K F O RT, K y. ( A P ) — A proposed regulation that would allow only government veterinarians to administer race-day drugs to horses has hit a snag in Kentucky.

Lawmakers refused to give their OK on Monday, citing a disagreement among the thoroughbred industry over the controversial proposal.

The Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations voted 19-1 on Monday to find the proposed regulation deficient, which leaves its fate uncertain.

SEE: REDS Page B3, Column 1

GOLF ROUNDUP

———

Race Madison, Ind. Detroit, Mich.

Tri-Cities, Wash.

Seattle, Wash.

San Diego, Calif.

Doha, Qatar.

Justin Upton drove in both runs for the Diamondbacks, who have lost four straight and six of eight during their 10-game homestand.

Arizona slipped below the .500 mark for the first time since August 15 and trails San Francisco by 7 1-2 games in the NL West with 33 to play.

With two outs in the sixth, Arroyo lofted a pitch from Tyler Skaggs toward the left-field bleachers where it struck a railing and ricocheted to the left and back onto the field.

LADY PANTHERS IN ACTION: Carroll County’s Ariel Hotfil (above) battles at the net with Walton-Verona’s Maggie Angel while Karley Prosser (7) backs up the play. The Panthers’ Brittany Yocum (below) goes to her knees to dig a serve. The Panthers lost in three games to the Bearcats Monday night in Carrollton. (Staff photos by Mark Campbell)

Receiving costs Carroll against W-V

By MARK CAMPBELL Courier Sports Editor

Carroll County’s volleyball team ripped out to a 25-19 win over Walton-Verona Monday night in Carrollton but that just made what followed all the more disappointing to coach Kristen Hooper and her Lady Panthers.

The Bearcats outscored Carroll 8-0 to start game two and led 15-4 en route to a 25-11 win to knot the match one-all. Walton-Verona then rode that momentum through game three to beat the Panthers 25-15 and take away a 2-1 North Central Kentucky Conference win.

“I’m disappointed tonight. I’m disappointed in the way we played. I’m disappointed in our lack of communication,” Hooper said. “I just felt like we gave up on each other, which has yet to happen yet this year. I’m not 100 percent sure what caused it tonight — what caused us to give up on each other tonight. We just played very off tonight.”

Carroll served well, passed crisply and accurately and finished with strong attacks in the first game win but that all flip-flopped in games two and three and the all-important momentum shifted to Walton-Verona and never came back.

According to Hooper, the flow of the game pivoted on serve reception and Carroll’s poor reception eventually infected just about everything else the Panthers tried to do.

“Our serve receiving in games two and three was atrocious,” Hooper said, noting “it’s a mystery to me” how the Panthers could execute so well in game one and so poorly in games two and three.

Carroll’s reception average was 80 percent in game one — which was right on mark for one of the team’s goals — but it plummeted to 58 percent in game two and 68 percent in game three. Those numbers closely

COURIER STAFF REPORT Madison’s golf team fired an impressive 158 to beat Floyd Central by nine strokes 158-167 Monday at Valley View Golf Club in Floyds Knobs.

Madison coach Doug Rusk believes the score may be a school record for a nine-hole meet. Whether or not a record, it was still the Cubs’ best performance in years.

“The girls are playing very, very well right now,” Rusk said. “I still think we have some Detmer improving that we can do but it’s hard to argue with a school record.”

Sophomore Amanda Detmer collected her 10th medalist performance of the season with a two-over 37. Hannah Holt and Sydney Dailey weren’t far behind with a pair of 40s and Alyssa Fulton carded a 41.

In non-scoring rounds, Abbi Wynn shot a 47, Jordan Dean had a 59 and Kyla Johnson had a 60.

“Floyd Central won the Bedford tournament a couple of weeks ago and we finished fourth. For us to go down to their home course and beat them says a lot about our girls,” Rusk said. “All of them played very well.”

Madison plays Lawrenceburg, East Central and Milan at Hidden Valley Golf Course today in Lawrenceburg.

Lady Rebels fall 195-228 to Silver Creek at Spring Hills

Southwestern dropped a 195-228 dual golf match with Silver Creek Monday at Spring Hills Golf Course in Hanover.

The Rebels were playing without their No. 2 golfer, Ashley Stoner, but the rest of the team stepped up to play one of its best rounds of the year.

Kelsey Reeves led Southwestern with a 48, Beth Reno had a 51, Kyla Harsin carded a 60 and Julia Vasquez shot a 69.

“That was a decent score for us. If we can shoot that, we have a chance in our conference, ” Southwestern coach David Bright said. “It was a drizzly day but Kelsey still shot one of her best rounds of the season and both Beth and Kyla cut 10 off their best scores.”

Vasquez, an exchange student from Spain, was playing in her first official golf match after just taking up the game a few weeks ago.

SEE: CARROLL Page B3, Column 1

SEE: GOLF Page B3, Column 5

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Section B Tuesday September 4, 2012

INSIDE

Scoreboard Local Sports Classifieds Hanover

B2 B4 B4 B8

SPORTS Blueboys romp over Hanover 51-28 in opener BRIEFS

By MATT ERNSTES Courier Sports Writer

Hamlin holds off Jeff Gordon

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Denny Hamlin won his second straight Sprint Cup race, holding off Jeff Gordon in a green-white-checkered finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday night.

With his series-leading fourth win of the season, Hamlin put himself in position to top the standings when the 12-driver Chase starts after next weekend’s race at Richmond.

Asked if he feels like the driver to beat for the championship, Hamlin replied, “I don’t have to say anything. Wins are all that matters.”

Martin Truex Jr. appeared to be positioned for his first win since 2007 until Jamie McMurray smashed into the wall on the front straightaway, bringing out a caution with three laps to go. The leaders went to pit road, and Hamlin’s crew got him back on the track first, just ahead of Truex.

While Truex struggled to get up to speed on the restart, Hamlin pulled away with Gordon right on his bumper. The four-time Cup champion desperately needed a win to bolster his chances of getting into the Chase, but couldn’t get by Hamlin on the final lap.

Gordon was kicking himself for failing to pull off a pass on Hamlin, saying he was too tentative going into turn three. Instead of putting pressure on the leader, the No. 24 car drifted up near the wall going through the high-banked turn while Hamlin pulled away.

Now, Gordon will almost surely have to win at Richmond to claim a wild card.

Colts sign 2 to practice squad

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts have brought back defensive back D.J. Johnson and running back Alvester Alexander to their practice squad.

Johnson came to the Colts in an offseason trade with Philadelphia.

He spent all of training camp with Indy before being cut Saturday when the Colts claimed three players off waivers. Indy trimmed its roster to the NFL limit of 53 on Friday.

Alexander was an undrafted rookie from Wyoming, who originally signed with the Chicago Bears. He was released by Chicago in July, joined the Colts in mid-August as a free agent and also was waived in the first cutdown.

Indianapolis now has eight players on the practice squad as it prepares for Sunday’s season opener at Chicago.

NCAA looking at UCLA recruits

LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA freshmen Kyle Anderson and Tony Parker are being investigated by the NCAA for potential basketball recruiting violations, according to a Scout.com report.

Freshman Shabazz Muhammad has been the subject of an ongoing NCAA investigation involving alleged improper benefits he received in his recruitment from boosters of his AAU program. The forward from Las Vegas was one of the nation’s mostly highly soughtafter recruits last spring when he chose UCLA over Kentucky and Duke.

The report posted Sunday on Scout.com’s website, which cites unspecified sources close to the situation, says the NCAA is looking into allegations of violations involving Anderson and Parker. It says sources have indicated another college basketball program turned in evidence of violations in the recruitments of Muhammad, Anderson and Parker. The report said it was unknown whether UCLA was specifically named in the alleged violations.

A UCLA spokesman did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The forecast called for strong winds, cloudy skies and rain most of the day, but one Illinois College player shined bright as he set a school record for rushing yards in a game as the 13th-ranked Blueboys beat Hanover College 51-28 on Saturday.

Junior running back Cecil Brimmage ran for a school record 341 yards on 28 carries to ruin Steve Baudendistel’s head coaching debut at Hanover.

“They showed us what we need to work on,” Baudendistel said. “We knew they were a good football team.

They were a 9-1 football team last year. We knew they were good. We

knew up front they were going to be a bit bigger than us.”

Brimmage broke Phil Pohlman’s 29-year-old record of 302 yards set in 1983. Three of the 28 carries went for touchdowns.

The Blueboys (1-0) finished the game with 465 yards on the ground and 632 total yards.

“We knew they had some weapons.

They didn’t do anything we didn’t

expect,” Baudendistel said. “We just weren’t physical enough. We have to watch the film to get a better grasp of it.”

Illinois led 16-0 after the first quarter thanks to Brimmage and Michael Bates, who each scored a touchdown.

The Panthers (0-1) scored early in the second quarter when junior quarterback Dexter Britt connected with Dwayne Eubanks on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Eubanks finished with four catches.

Illinois answered with back-to-back touchdown drives and extended the lead to 30-7 before the Panthers scored with 23 seconds left before halftime when Colton Zeck punched the ball in from 1-yard out.

Hanover cut the deficit to a 14 mid-

way through the third quarter thanks to an 80-yard drive that was capped with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Britt to senior Daniel Passafiume.

Passafiume, who missed all of last season due to an illness, caught 10 passes for 67 yards in his first game since November 2010. He extended his school record for career receptions to 264.

“I thought he (Passafiume) played well. He anticipated being a little rusty. We did too,” Baudendistel said.

“Daniel took some hits today … broke some tackles and got up. He definitely dedicated himself to getting a little stronger and being a little tougher. He SEE: HANOVER Page B8, Column 1

Madison boys, girls split with Corydon soccer

By DAVID HILL Courier Staff Writer

After a scoreless first half Saturday at Madison, Corydon notched three goals in a four-minute span and held on to blank the Lady Cubs 3-0 in girls soccer.

“We put forth a lot of effort, but several mistakes throughout the match didn’t help our cause,” said Madison coach Darren Harmon. “We’re young and still learning. We had three freshmen and three sophomores on the field at the same time.”

The first half was defensive, as both teams were able to keep the other from scoring. There were a few shots on goal, but the goalkeepers were right there to make the stops.

Corydon began controlling the ball more as the second half got under way and finally broke the ice with 32:50 remaining on an unassisted goal by Kaitlin Salomon. Leading up to the goal, Madison was trying to get the ball turned around toward the other end before Salomon intervened.

The Panthers had a pair of unsuccessful shots on goal over the next two minutes and continued to pound the Cubs’ defense.

Corydon’s next goal, with 29:10 remaining, was a perfectly-executed cross pass from Danielle Uesseler to Jordan Dagenhart to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Not even a minute went off the board before the visitors were celebrating another goal — another Dagenhart strike off an assist by Aly Chambers.

“You have to give (Corydon) credit,” Harmon said. “That was a great cross pass and goal. That’s something our team and lots of others continuously practice.

“They also did a good job spreading the field, especially in the second half,” Harmon added.

Harmon said the game helped Madison to identify several things that teh Cubs need to work on before their next game.

“We need to concentrate on passing, ball stops and throw-ins,” he said.

“We’re losing focus on who to throw the ball into some of the time.”

Madison’s Molly McGarry went down with a rib injury during Saturday’s action and Cara Walker rolled an ankle. They’ll be using the holiday weekend to heal those injuries.

Madison hosts South Dearborn on

M

adison’s Noah Miller (above, 14) hammers a shot against Corydon on Saturday and the Lady Cubs’ Sydney Studebaker (right, 5) battles for the ball against the Lady Panthers. Miller scored the lone goal in the Cubs’ 1-0 win while the Madison girls lost 3-0.

(Staff photos by David Hill) Thursday.

In the boys’ game, Madison’s Noah Miller scored a goal with 37:31 remaining in the second half to give the Cubs a 1-0 win.

Phillip Smith assisted on the scoring play.

The game was called with 15 minutes to play due to bad weather.

The Cub defense had dominated the game from the start.

“We came out in the first half and were all over them, never gave them a chance to breath,” Madison coach Jeff Gleeson said.

Madison, now 3-2 on the season, hosts Christian Academy on Tuesday.

Lady Rebels roll to ORVC golf title at North Branch

COURIER STAFF REPORT Southwestern placed three golfers on the all-conference team and rolled to the team title in the Ohio River Valley Conference girls golf championships at North Branch Golf Course on Saturday.

The Lady Rebels shot a 440 — 21 strokes better than runner-up Milan’s 461. Jac-Cen-Del was third with a 477.

Only three schools fielded complete teams and only four schools sent golfers but that fact didn’t diminish

Southwestern’s feelings about the win.

“This was one of our goals. Our primary goals were to have fun and get better but we also wanted to win conference and get some girls on the all-conference team,” Southwestern coach David Bright said. “Beth Reno and Kyla Harsin really stepped up and played the best rounds of their life.

But it was really a collective effort by all of them. We couldn’t have won it without all of them playing the way they did.”

Kelsey Reeves, Reno and Harsin each earned spots on the six-member All-ORVC team from Southwestern.

Reeves shot a 104, Reno had a 108 and Harsin a 109. Ashley Stoner added a 119 and Julia Vasquez had a 129.

Hannah Lewis shot a 109 to lead Milan and earn All-ORVC honors.

Kaitlin Stuble had a 110, Haley Zornes had a 117, Sarah Sellers had a 125 and Sarah Pitts a 132 for the Indians.

Jac-Cen-Del’s Sydney Keene shot

a 96 to earn medalist honors as the individual conference champion.

McKenzie Strugg had a 116, Kaylyn Balyout had a 132 and Kiersten McAdams and Chassidy McNew both had 133s for the Eagles.

Switzerland County’s Suzie Reyes shot a 102 to finish as the individual conference runner-up and was named All-ORVC. Kayla Hall had a 118 for the Pacers.

Southwestern hosts Switzerland County and Lawrenceburg on Wednesday.

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Section B Tuesday September 25, 2012

SPORTS BRIEFS

Bullington may stay with Carp

HIROSHIMA, Japan — With the 2012 Nippon Professional Baseball season wrapping up, Madison’s Bryan Bullington is beginning to turn some attention to the future.

Bullington is currently closing out his second season with the Hiroshima Carp of the NPB’s Central League under terms of a one-year contract that paid him about $1.6 million.

That contract includes an opt-out clause that would allow Bullington, Bullington 31, to leave the Carp after this season provided he does not sign with another NPB team.

However, Bullington told reporters on Sunday that he would like to return to Hiroshima in 2013 if given the opportunity and Hiroshima management has previously said they would like to re-sign the 6-foot-4 right-hander.

An unnamed Carp source said Sunday, “(Bullington) pitches a good game and we also like his attitude toward baseball.”

So at this point, it looks like there is a good chance that the 1999 Madison graduate and former Indiana Mr. Baseball will return to Hiroshima next season.

With 10 games left this season, Bullington is 6-14 in 25 starts with the Carp for a 3.41 ERA after going 13-11 with Hiroshima in 2011 with a 2.42 ERA. He pitched 204.1 innings in 2011 and 163.2 innings to date in 2012.

In two seasons of NPB play, Bullington has allowed 117 earned runs on 340 hits with 264 strikeouts and 87 walks for a combined 2.86 ERA. Bullington led Madison to the 1999 Class 3A state championship.

He was a standout pitcher for Ball State and the No. 1 overall Major League Baseball draft pick in 2002 by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bank buys Farmer’s house

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The foreclosed home of former University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer has been sold at auction for $175,000 in the latest blow to the sports icon.

Master Commissioner Charlie Jones sold the home Monday at the Franklin County Courthouse.

First National Bank of Manchester, which held the $317,929 mortgage, bought it and will put it back on the market.

Farmer’s athletic stardom helped him to win two terms as state agriculture commissioner. He lost a race last year for lieutenant governor.

Since then, he has gotten divorced, been lambasted in a state audit that accused him using state workers to do personal chores, and now is under FBI investigation.

Unemployed since he left office last December, Farmer lost a bid last week to have his child support payments reduced.

Walsh expecting third child

NEW YORK (AP) — Kerri Walsh Jennings says she was pregnant when she won her third beach volleyball gold medal.

Walsh Jennings said on NBC’s “Today” show Monday she is 11 weeks pregnant. That means she was already expecting her third child when she and Misty May-Treanor won the Olympic gold medal in London on Aug. 8.

CORRECTION A Sports Briefs item in Monday’s

edition contained incorrect information on Saturday’s Notre Dame football game. The Fighting Irish (4-0) beat No. 18 Michigan 13-6.

INSIDE Scoreboard Local Sports Classifieds

B2 B4 & B8 B4

Mr. Basketball and more It’s time for fill-in refs to go R

Larry Humes

‘I love my teammates and I love this school’

By DAVID CAMPBELL

L

Courier Staff Writer

arry Humes admits that he wasn’t known to be very talkative in his younger days. But now that the Madison High School legend is older, he has no problem spinning a yarn or two about growing up and the sport he loves.

On Saturday, Humes addressed a small crowd at his alma mater for a informal two-hour question and answer session in the gym he starred in as Indiana’s Mr. Basketball in high school. Among the topics discussed were the only regular season loss he suffered at Madison, life after basketball and of course his teammates.

“I love my teammates and I love this school,” Humes said.

“I wouldn’t have been anything without my teammates and I mean that.”

Humes showed no signs on Saturday of the shy kid who was unwilling to speak up, riffing on several subjects. He said that it was part of his “dual” personalities and told a story about a college professor who learned the lesson first-hand.

“When I was getting my Master’s in counseling, my professor couldn’t believe I coached basketball in the inner city,” Humes said. “He said, ‘You just sit there and never say anything. I have got to come to one of your games.’ So he did, and he watched how I was on the basketball court. The next day he said, ‘Mr. Humes, you have

L

arry Humes smiles as he tells a story (top) during a question and answer session at Madison High School on Sunday.

Humes, the all-time leading scorer at the University of Evansville, signs an autograph (right) for Madison sophomore Olivia Crozier (above). Crozier has already verbally committed to Evansville, earning Humes’ praise. (Staff photos by David Campbell)

what I would call a split personality.’”

Humes was in town for the 50th reunion of the Class of 1962, arguably one of the most successful athletic classes Madison High School has ever produced.

Along with Humes, who was Mr. Basketball that season and an Indiana Basketball Hall-of-Famer,

the class also featured Gary O’Neal, a baseball star who ended up in the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame as a coach.

It was O’Neal who set up the talk with Larry Humes at the high school and several of Humes’ high SEE: HUMES Page B8, Column 1

emember this a year or two from now, when a video of the final play of Monday night’s Packers-Seahawks game turns up on a blooper reel: It wasn’t all that funny watching it the first time around.

Two replacement officials, positioned perfectly on either side of the corner of the end zone, appeared to come up with two different calls.

After looking at each other, one waved both arms back and forth, either signaling a touchback or a stoppage of play.

The other signaled touchdown.

If you tried to stage a photograph to symbolize the confusion that’s JIM LITKE dogged the NFL AP Sports Writer and its games since commissioner Roger Goodell let a lockout of the regular officials spill over into the regular season, you couldn’t have done it any better.

The reaction was predictable, overwhelmingly negative, and swift.

Anyone still have questions about the integrity of the game? Thought so.

Let’s put it this way: If the NFL were a hamburger chain, Goodell would have been fired on the spot.

The league’s foot-dragging in bargaining talks with the regular officials was based on the assumption the replacements would get better.

In the meantime, it threatened to fine any coach or player who suggested it was worse. After a string of screw-ups by the officials in Sunday’s games, this one ripped the lid off.

Somehow, the mildest reaction of the night came from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. after the Seahawks’ 14-12 win was in the books, he was asked whether he’d ever experienced a more bitter defeat.

“Uh, no,” Rodgers replied and left it at that.

But why stop there? The replacement officials don’t know the rules.

They can’t control the players or coaches. And both are playing them for suckers.

Just last week, the league sent around a warning against berating the officials. The coaches and players treated it like a dare.

Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan followed the officials into the tunnel in Washington after a loss, hurling curses. Steelers linebacker Larry Foote did the same to a different crew in Oakland. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick tried grabbing an official running by him when the game ended in Baltimore to get an explanation he’s waiting for still.

Earlier in that same game, the hometown fans rendered their verdict on the officiating by yelling one word so long and so loud, it can’t be repeated here.

“That’s the loudest manure chant I’ve ever heard,” NBC announcer Al Michaels said.

But more than feelings are getting hurt. In separate games, Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was concussed and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo could have been on helmet-to-helmet hits that weren’t called.

It was slight consolation for Matt Schaub that the Broncos’ Joe Mays was called for doing the same thing to him, because the Texans quarterback lost a chunk of his left earlobe in the vicious collision.

Players seem determined to try SEE: LITKE Page B3, Column 3

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Section B Tuesday November 13, 2012

INSIDE

Scoreboard B2 Local Sports B3 Classifieds B4

SPORTS Staples voted 8th Region coach of year BRIEFS

By DAVID CAMPBELL Courier Staff Writer

Gordon fined, docked points

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — FourTime NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has been fined $100,000 and docked 25 points for intentionally wrecking Clint Bowyer at Phoenix International Raceway.

Gordon was also placed on probation Monday through Dec. 31. But he avoided suspension for his actions in Sunday’s race, which triggered a fight in the garage area between his crew and Bowyer’s crew.

Team owner Rick Hendrick was also docked 25 car owner points, and crew chief Alan Gustafson was placed on probation through the end of the year.

Bowyer crew chief Brian Pattie was fined $25,000 and placed on probation through the end of the year.

Brad Keselowski was fined $25,000 and placed on probation for having an electronic device inside the car — presumably the phone he used to tweet during a red flag period.

Hoosiers still top hoops poll

UNDATED (AP) — The opening weekend of the 2012-13 college basketball season did little to change The Associated Press’ Top 25.

Led by Indiana and Louisville, the first seven teams in the initial regularseason poll were the same as the preseason Top 25. The Hoosiers (1-0) were again a solid No. 1, receiving 46 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel. Louisville (1-0) was No. 1 on 18 ballots.

Kentucky (1-0), which received one first-place vote, was third, followed by Ohio State, Michigan, North Carolina State and Kansas.

Syracuse and Duke swapped places at eighth and ninth and Florida again rounded out the top 10.

The only newcomer to the poll is Connecticut (1-0), which jumped in at No. 23 after beating then-No. 14 Michigan State (0-1) in a game played in Germany. Florida State (0-1), which lost 76-71 to South Alabama, dropped out from 25th.

BCS sets six-game playoff

DENVER (AP) — The new college football postseason system will have six games as originally planned, but now a spot in the marquee bowls will be reserved for the best team from a group five conferences that includes the Big East.

The tweak to the postseason format that will start in 2014 was made Monday during a meeting of conference commissioners and university presidents.

In September, a proposal was put forth to add a seventh game to the format that would match the best team from the Big East, Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt and Mid-American Conference against a team from the Pac-12 or Big 12.

But ultimately that plan was dumped, and instead an automatic spot was created to give those conferences access to the top games.

D’Antoni takes over Lakers

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Just when everybody thought the Los Angeles Lakers were getting back together with Phil Jackson, they switched course in the middle of the night and went with Mike D’Antoni.

What a weekend in Hollywood — and the real drama isn’t over yet.

The Lakers reacted with ample excitement and a little bewilderment Monday to their front office’s surprising decision to hire D’Antoni as coach Mike Brown’s replacement over Jackson.

The Lakers’ third coach in four days won’t take over the team until later in the week. D’Antoni still hasn’t been cleared to travel after undergoing knee replacement surgery earlier in the month, although the Lakers are optimistic he’ll arrive Wednesday.

Big men Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol both believe D’Antoni’s uptempo style can work well for the Lakers.

Ruth Staples

Trimble County’s volleyballers didn’t win a district game this season but the Lady Raiders were still impressive enough to garner their coach an impressive postseason honor.

Ruth Staples, who has guided Trimble’s volleyball program since its inception, has been named Eighth Region Coach of the Year in voting by her peers.

The award is all the more impressive considering that North Oldham, which ousted Trimble from the 31st District Tournament, reached the state semifinals before falling in five sets.

“I was quite surprised. It’s quite an honor,” said Staples. “It’s easy to coach when you have a great group of players and that’s what I had. They made my job much easier.”

Trimble County failed to break through with a win against the elite

teams this past season but made up for it by beating everybody else on their schedule.

The Raiders tied the school record for wins with 21 and all eight of their losses came either in the All “A” Classic State Finals or against the Oldham County schools. Trimble went 12-0 in the North Central Kentucky Conference for the second-straight year and won the All “A” Classic Eighth Region title for the second-straight time.

“We went undefeated in the NCKC last year and I think that might have caught some of the coaches’ attention,” Staples said. “A lot of those coaches are in the Eighth Region and I think they probably voted for me.”

Two of Trimble’s eight losses were to North Oldham, which finished the year with a 30-11 record. The Raiders played well in both losses despite falling in straight sets.

“It doesn’t look as bad when you lose

to a team that went to the final four,” Staples said. “And they were close to going to the finals.”

Trimble also lost to Oldham County in a match the Raiders led 2-1 at one point. Under last year’s rules, when matches were best-of-three affairs, Trimble would have scored the win.

Staples was honored by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association at the state finals along with Eighth Region Player of the Year Madison Tinder of North Oldham and the rest of the region coaches of the year.

Allen Central, which beat Trimble in the All “A” Classic State Finals, had both the player and coach of the year in the 15th Region, Courtney Hodge and Larry Maynard. Caldwell County, which also beat Trimble in the state finals, had the Second Region Player of SEE: STAPLES Page B2, Column 5

No. 1 Indiana fends off Bison, 87-61

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

BLOOMINGTON — Cody Zeller and his teammates were not themselves Monday night.

The 7-foot center had an excuse — he was sick. His teammates looked like they caught the same bug.

Fortunately, the Hoosiers found a remedy at halftime.

Zeller, Remy Abell and Jeremy Hollowell turned the game with a second-half run that finally allowed No. 1 Indiana to pull away to an 87-61 victory over pesky North Dakota State in the first round of the Progressive Legends Classic.

“Your fundamentals, your technique, all your experiences, all those things are really, really important, but there’s nothing bigger than energy and toughness.

It’s got to be there constantly,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said. “Once we got that figured out tonight and we had some guys that figured it out from the beginning, but we didn’t have a team of guys that figured it out from the beginning, and once we did, I thought we played pretty well.”

It just took so long to find that winning combination.

This was the kind of game that had given Indiana problems in previous seasons. Fans, and perhaps Indiana’s players, figured those struggles were over since the Hoosiers (2-0) reclaimed their spot on top of the college basketball world.

But North Dakota State proved how dangerous assumptions can be.

The Bison (1-1) were content to challenge every shot Indiana took — regardless of the cost.

It took a toll, too.

When the Hoosiers couldn’t get their up-tempo, inside-out game in sync, the

FLUSHED: Indiana’s Cody Zeller (right) dunks over North Dakota State’s Taylor Braun during the first half of Monday’s NCAA college basketball game in Bloomington. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) offense sank. The grind-it-out style made Indiana look like, well, ordinary.

Their outside shooters were just 4 of 11 from the 3-point arc in the first half and 1 of 2 in the second half. The energy that persisted throughout Friday night’s season-opening rout over Bryant was missing, too.

Crean was flummoxed.

“There’s conventional, there’s unconventional and then there’s tonight,” he said. “We need to do the same thing next Monday and Tuesday. We’ve got to do the same thing against Ball State and North Carolina. It makes no difference.”

the right call by NASCAR, which walks a fine line between sport and entertainment — and has only itself to blame.

Some viewed Sunday as a black eye for NASCAR, but others were Gordon celebrating it as one of the best races of the season. It wasn’t lost on Kevin Harvick, who snapped a 44-race losing streak with the victory.

“The sport was made on fights. We should have more fights,” he said.

“Fights are what made NASCAR what it is.”

NASCAR heard the complaints from fans that drivers had become too corporate, the sport had strayed too far from its rough and tumble roots and scores were no longer settled at the track. The 2009 finale at Homestead was one of those throwback races, and

the crowd roared as drivers used their cars to deliver old-school justice.

President Mike Helton said at the time: “We didn’t certainly intend to make it too sterile, but the drivers were afraid to be themselves, and that’s not good.”

So NASCAR relaxed at the start of the next season, using a “Boys, Have At It” policy that allowed the drivers to police themselves.

The boys tested NASCAR just four races in when Carl Edwards waited 153 laps for his crew to fix his car for the sole purpose of getting back on the track at Atlanta to wreck Brad Keselowski. Edwards’ high-speed contact sent Keselowski’s car airborne, and there were immediate calls for Edwards to be suspended.

But doing so would have been the immediate end of the policy, and Edwards instead got off with a mere three races of probation. The boys have been allowed to have at it ever since.

There has been bumping and banging, and Tony Stewart’s threats

Crean learned that lesson the hard way against the same North Dakota State program six years ago. Back then, the Bison rolled into Milwaukee, upset No. 8 Marquette 64-60 and returned home SEE: INDIANA Page B3, Column 6

Suspending Gordon would end ‘Boys Have At It’

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer

NASCAR had a real dilemma on its hands with this whole Jeff Gordon mess hanging over the season finale.

History suggested Gordon could have been suspended from Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway as punishment for intentionally wrecking Clint Bowyer at Phoenix, sparking a brawl in the garage. That’s the punishment Kyle Busch got a year ago for retaliating against Ron Hornaday Jr. in a Truck Series event at Texas.

But was NASCAR seriously going to sit the four-time champion? From the season finale?

Nope. He instead got a $100,000 fine from NASCAR, which also docked him 25 points in the championship standings.

Maybe NASCAR should have also thanked him for triggering the fight and frenzied final sequence of events that had half the country talking about the series on Monday.

Even without that, the penalty was

to wreck each and every driver who blocks him from now until the end of time. There’s an occasional flare-up, an intentional act or two, and NASCAR intervenes when needed.

Then came last November at Texas, when Busch blatantly put Hornaday, a championship contender, into the wall under caution.

Unlike Edwards, he absolutely deserved to be suspended.

Where NASCAR erred was in insisting that Busch had been suspended solely for the Hornaday incident when he had been out of control most of last season and arrogantly behaving as if his talent made him untouchable. In fact, Hornaday had called for Busch to be suspended for that weekend’s Cup race, an option Busch seemed to dismiss in an interview after the accident.

By suspending him the next morning, NASCAR sent a message it was in charge and Busch better start behaving.

SEE: GORDON Page B2, Column 5

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Section B Tuesday December 11, 2012

INSIDE

Scoreboard B2 Local Sports B3 Classifieds B4

SPORTS Ludwick chooses Reds over more money BRIEFS “

By JOE KAY

AP Baseball Writer

CINCINNATI — Ryan Ludwick left the Reds to see if there was a better deal available on the free agent market. He found at least one, but turned it down to stay with Cincinnati.

The left fielder signed a two-year, $15 million deal on Monday that includes a mutual option for the 2015 season. He agreed to the contract over the weekend and came for the formal announcement.

The 34-year-old outfielder batted .275 with 26 homers and 80 RBIs in 125 games last season, when he started 107 times in left field. After first baseman Joey Votto got hurt at midseason, Ludwick emerged as one of the team’s most consistent run

Kentucky names Brown O.C.

LEXINGTON, KY. (AP) — Texas Tech’s Neal Brown, the team’s offensive coordinator the past three years, resigned to take the same job at Kentucky.

Brown is departing Texas Tech in the wake of head coach Tommy Tuberville’s resignation to become the head football coach at Cincinnati. Brown will join the staff of recently hired Wildcat head coach Mark Stoops.

Brown, 32, was a walk-on wide receiver at Kentucky under former head coach Hal Mumme’s “Air Raid” offense, before transferring to Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s offensive line coach, Chris Thomsen, will serve as interim coach of the Red Raiders for their bowl game this month against Minnesota.

Thomsen got the nod Monday, two days after Tuberville left for Cincinnati and Brown left for Kentucky.

The Red Raiders play Minnesota in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston on Dec. 28.

RGIII’s knee evaluated

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — All the medical terms associated with Robert Griffin III’s knee injury can be boiled down to one simple message: It’s not too bad.

Beyond that, there are still some very important unknowns.

The NFL’s top-rated quarterback might or might not play Sunday when the Washington Redskins visit the Cleveland Browns. Coach Mike Shanahan, knowing full well that it makes the other team work extra to prepare for two quarterbacks, will no doubt wait as long as possible to publicly commit one way or the other to Griffin or fellow rookie Kirk Cousins.

The interior of Griffin’s right knee was the subject of intense scrutiny during Shanahan’s weekly news conference, when it was shown that an injury to a franchise player like RG3 can flummox even a seasoned coach. Shanahan initially said Griffin had a “strain of the ACL” before later correcting the diagnosis to a sprained LCL, with the coach stepping away from the podium to demonstrate the location of the ligament involved.

The upshot: Griffin has a mild, or Grade 1, sprain of the lateral collateral ligament located on the outside of the knee, caused when he was hit by defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at the end of a 13-yard scramble late in regulation of the 31-28 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens.

The LCL is one of four ligaments in the knee. A Grade 1 sprain typically means the ligament is stretched or has some minor tears and usually doesn’t require surgery. Griffin will get multiple treatments daily and will probably have to wear a brace for several weeks.

Indiana, Duke still ranked 1-2

UNDATED (AP) — Indiana is No. 1 for a sixth straight week in The Associated Press college basketball poll.

The Hoosiers are again followed in the Top 25 by Duke, Michigan and Syracuse. The only changes in Monday’s poll is the order, not who’s ranked.

The Hoosiers (9-0) received 44 first-place votes from the 64-member national media panel. Duke (9-0) again drew the other No. 1 votes.

Florida and Louisville switched places at fifth and sixth. They were followed by Ohio State, Arizona, Kansas and Illinois. The Illini (10-0) beat fellow unbeaten Gonzaga on Saturday, moving into the top 10 for the first time since the next-to-last poll of 2005-06. Gonzaga dropped to 14th.

He had several clubs chasing after him ... At least one had more money on the table.

I think it’s a credit to Ryan that we tried to make a deal that was fair, that we felt comfortable with.”

Reds GM Walt Jocketty on Ryan Ludwick (pictured)

producers, helping the Reds win the NL Central for the second time in three years.

“I think ultimately I’ve always wanted to prove that one All-Star year wasn’t a fluke and I can be

an All-Star again,” said Ludwick, an All-Star with St. Louis in 2008.

“The ultimate goal would be to win a World Series. That’s one of the reasons I came back here. I think we have guys in place one through nine (in the batting order). We brought back pretty much the whole team.”

Ludwick hit three homers during the Reds’ first-round loss to the San Francisco Giants in the playoffs.

He came to Cincinnati on a oneyear, $2 million deal for 2012 that included a mutual option for 2013 at $5 million. Instead, he took a $500,000 buyout, interested in seeing what other teams would offer. GenSEE: REDS Page B3, Column 1

South Oldham makes quick work of Raiders to finish with running clock

By DAVID HILL Courier Staff Writer

CRESTWOOD, Ky. — Host South Oldham opened up a big early lead and coasted to a lopsided 90-42 win over Trimble County in boys varsity basketball action Monday night in Crestwood.

The final minutes of the contest were played with a running clock except for timeouts and free throws, a new implementation by KHSAA in the offseason similar to the running clock in football in games where the margin is 40 points or more.

South Oldham junior guard Kyle Young, potent from the inside as well as the outside, scored 17 of his game-high 30 points in the first quarter, when the Dragons got off to a 27-2 start en route to a 35-8 lead at the end of the quarter.

“They are arguably the best team in the Eighth Region,” said Trimble County head coach John Leep Jr. “They came out with a high level of varsity intensity and we didn’t play with near enough intensity to overcome a lead of that magnitude. Their offense produced a high number of early points and their defense forced us into numerous turnovers.”

As the second quarter progressed, South Oldham continued its dominance — this time fueled by a 13point period by senior reserve guard Devonte Jones.

The Raiders came out of their shell later in the second period, thanks to the play of senior forward Ethan Merrill and freshman forward Michael Dunaway, who scored six and four points, respectively, during the quarter. Trimble also had some 3-point help from Merrill, Andrew Young and Ethan Young.

Meanwhile, South Oldham padded its lead even more and was up, 5726, at halftime.

By the time the third period had ended, South Oldham owned a 77-37 advantage behind a balanced scoring attack to invoke the runing clock.

Leep was pleased with Merrill’s performance. “Ethan was the only one who came to play from the beginning and I was proud for that,” Leep said. “I thought Michael (Dunaway) had some good assists from the high post when our guards were able to get him the ball and not turn it over.

He didn’t get nearly enough touches.

Thirty-some turnovers just won’t produce a win.”

Young’s 30 points for the Dragons led all scorers while teammates Mitch Cantinna and Jones added 15 each.

Merrill led Trimble County with 15 points while Dunaway and Rob Brooks aded eight points each.

The Raiders play their first home game of the season Friday when they host Oldham County as part of a girls-boys varsity double-header in Bedford.

——— MONDAY’S BOYS GAME

Bobby Petrino

WKU hires Petrino as head coach for football

By GARY GRAVES AP Sports Writer

REACH: South Oldham’s Devonte Jones (middle) appears to have the upper hand on a rebound while being sandwiched between Trimble County’s Ethan Merrill (34) and Dusty Wyssbrod Monday in Crestwood.

South Oldham won, 90-42. (Staff photo by David Hill) at Crestwood, Ky. SOUTH OLDHAM 90, TRIMBLE CO. 42 TRIMBLE CO. SOUTH OLDHAM

8 35

18 22

11 5 — 42 20 13 — 90

TRIMBLE CO. (2-3, 0-1 District) — (f)Merrill 15, (g)Brooks 8, (f)Dunaway 8, (g)Long 3, (g)Young 3, Blanton 3, James 2, Hankinson 0, Creech 0, Wyssbrod 0, Rexroat 0, Craig 0, Taylor 0, Payton 0.

SOUTH OLDHAM (3-2, 1-0 District) — (g)Young

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30, (g)Catinna 15, Jones 15, (f)Goodlett 8, (g)Ma. Haysley 7, Griffin 6, (g)Mi. Haysley 4, Greenwood 3, Blair 2, Jacob 0.

3-Point Goals — Trimble Co. 5 (Merrill 2, Blanton 1, Young 1, Long 1); South Oldham 10 (Young 3, Catinna 3, Jones 2, Ma. Haysley 1, Greenwood 1). Total Fouls — Trimble Co. 6, South Oldham 7.

Free Throws — Trimble Co. 5-7 (71.4%), South Oldham 8-9 (88.9%). Fouled Out — None. Next Game — Trimble Co. hosts Oldham Co. Friday, South Oldham hosts Western Hills Thursday.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Now that Bobby Petrino is back in the coaching ranks, he wants to make the most of his second chance.

Petrino was introduced Monday as Western Kentucky’s new head football coach. The 51-year-old was fired by Arkansas in April for a “pattern of misleading” behavior following an accident in which the coach was injured while riding a motorcycle with his mistress as a passenger.

“At this point in my career, it’s about getting back and coaching players,” Petrino said. “It just happened to open up at a place we love.

“I hope it can be as long as possible.”

Petrino had a 34-17 record at Arkansas before he was dismissed in the wake of the scandal. Petrino had an affair with former Razorback volleyball player Jessica Dorrell, who he later hired as a football assistant had gave $20,000 in gifts.

Petrino said initially he was the only person on the motorcycle but later admitted to Dorrell’s presence.

“I’m going to be able to sit down with mom and dad and the studentathlete and make them understand how this experience has made me a better coach, a better person and will make me understand their son better,” Petrino said during a packed news conference at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity I’ll be able to give student athletes when they make a mistake.”

Petrino is replacing Willie Taggart, who left WKU last week SEE: PETRINO Page B3, Column 1

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