CMYK PAGE 6B
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011
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THE TIMES LEADER
www.timesleader.com
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
GOLF
Fiesta Bowl’s status up in air
Big-hitter Vegas back at home
A corruption scandal could cost the event its spot in the Bowl Championship Series. By BOB BAUM The Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Fiesta Bowl ejected its chief executive amid corruption allegations and now faces a new challenge: convincing the BCS to let it stay in the lucrative bowl system used to crown a national champion. If Fiesta Bowl officials can’t, BCS executive director Bill Hancock says the organization has no problem booting them. “We want to send a clear and very strong signal to the public about the standards and values (that) the conferences that make up the BCS stand for,” Hancock told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Fiesta Bowl released an
internal report that uncovered “excessive compensation, nonbusiness and inappropriate expenditures and inappropriate gifts” and fired longtime CEO and President John Junker. The BCS has set up a task force to help determine if the leaders of major college football want to continue doing business with the Fiesta Bowl. It is in the second year of a four-year deal to be part of the BCS. The reimbursements, listed as at least $46,539, are an apparent violation of state campaign finance laws and the charter that allows the Fiesta Bowl its nonprofit status. Arizona state prosecutors are also conducting a probe. The Fiesta board unanimously fired Junker “for his improper and inappropriate activities documented” in the report. “The entire Fiesta Bowl family is angered and disappointed by what we’ve seen in the re-
port and by the actions of Mr. Junker,” board chairman Duane Woods told reporters at the event’s headquarters in downtown Scottsdale. “The Fiesta Bowl is greater than a few individuals, and the lesson here really is that we placed too much trust in a single individual,” he added. Woods did not take questions. The investigators said they found the “apparent scheme” to reimburse at least $46,539 for employees’ political contributions. Report: Ex-Auburn players say they were paid MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Auburn will investigate claims by four former football players, who have told HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” they received thousands of dollars while being recruited by or playing for the Tigers. Stanley McClover, Troy Red-
dick, Chaz Ramsey and Raven Gray told HBO for an episode airing Wednesday night that they received cash payments — in book bags, envelopes and even handshakes. Ramsey played at Auburn most recently, in the 2007 season. “While HBO confirmed to us they have no proof that any of these claims are true, we contacted both the NCAA and Southeastern Conference as soon as these allegations surfaced,” Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said in a statement released Wednesday night. “We have engaged outside counsel to investigate this matter and will spare no resources to find the truth.” University President Jay Gogue said he is confident Jacobs and his department “will investigate these allegations thoroughly and completely.” Tommy Tuberville, Auburn’s
AP FILE PHOTO
The Fiesta Bowl fired CEO John Junker for "an apparent scheme" to reimburse employees for political contributions.
By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer
HUMBLE, Texas — Jhonattan Vegas could barely speak English when he made his first appearance in a PGA Tour event, as an amateur at the 2003 Houston Open. He was 18 then, and qualified less than a year after moving from his native Venezuela to Houston to fine-tune his game with Franci Betancourt, an instructor who had taught him as a boy. Vegas missed the cut, but felt secure enough to make the city his adopted hometown. He’s back at Redstone for the Houston Open this week, now a Up Next fast-rising tour rookie SHELL with a victory HOUSTON already unOPEN der his belt. TV Coverage The bigToday 3 p.m., GOLF hitting Vegas Friday is one of 33 3 p.m., GOLF players in the Saturday field who 3 p.m., NBC have already Sunday qualified for 3 p.m., NBC next week’s Masters. But a win in Houston would have additional meaning to Vegas, a former University of Texas star who now lives only 20 minutes from the course. “That first tour experience was this one here and since that time, it’s great to be back,” Vegas said. “I think just the whole state of Texas, I’ve been in a pretty ’home’ feeling. When I’m here, I feel really comfortable. I like everyone around.” Vegas earned his invitation to Augusta when he won the Hope Classic in January in just his fifth career start on the tour. “I knew that I could win here — I didn’t know it was going to be that quick,” he said. “You never know when things are going to happen. That’s kind of what I do and just try as hard as I can every single time and hope for the best.” Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Fred Couples are also in the field, using the tournament to tune up for the season’s first major. Anthony Kim is the defending champion. Organizers have embraced the Houston Open’s distinction as the run-up to the Masters, setting up the Tournament Course with conditions similar to those at Augusta. The fairways are wide and mowed toward the tees, the rough is light, the greenside mounds are shaved and the greens themselves are lightningfast. Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen is playing the course for the first time after hearing positive feedback about it.
coach during the recruitment of all four players, declined comment Wednesday. He is now the head coach at Texas Tech. McClover said he “felt totally obligated” to play for the Tigers after getting money — he wasn’t sure how much — in a book bag. “I almost passed out. I literally almost passed out, I couldn’t believe it was true,” the former defensive end told HBO. “I felt like I owed them.”
NBA ROUNDUP
NHL ROUNDUP
Carmelo scores 39 again in Knicks’ win
Sabres stop hot Rangers
games behind Indiana for the final playoff spot in the East. NEW YORK — Carmelo Andrea Bargnani scored 22 Anthony scored 39 points for points and DeMar DeRozan the second straight game, including the tiebreaking jump- had 20 for the Raptors, who er with 1:08 left, and the New lost their fifth straight. Leandro Barbosa had 18 points and York Knicks rallied from a Jose Calderon scored 13, while 16-point deficit to beat the James Johnson added a careerNew Jersey Nets 120-116 on high 10 rebounds. Wednesday night. Chauncey Billups added 33 Bobcats 98, Cavaliers 97 points, six rebounds and six CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Boris assists, and Amare Stoudemire Diaw scored 26 points and hit scored 23 points for the the tiebreaking free throw with Knicks, who have won two in 14 seconds left to lead the a row after a six-game losing streak and trimmed their mag- short-handed Charlotte Bobic number for clinching a play- cats to a victory over the gritty Cleveland Cavaliers. off spot to three. Diaw added 11 assists and Anthony scored only two seven rebounds in becoming points in the fourth quarter Charlotte’s main scoring opafter a 20-point third, but it tion after Stephen Jackson was was the basket the Knicks sidelined with a troublesome needed in the first meeting since they beat out the Nets in hamstring injury. Kwame the race to acquire the All-Star Brown had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who forward. won their fourth straight game Deron Williams had 22 to stay close with Indiana in points, eight rebounds and eight assists in his return from the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. a six-game absence with an A night after an emotional injured wrist, but was short on a potential tying jumper in the home victory over Miami and LeBron James, the Cavaliers final seconds and appeared almost secured their first twohurt again after going down trying to chase down his miss. game winning streak in nearly five months. But Anthony 76ers 108, Rockets 97 Parker missed a runner at the buzzer. PHILADELPHIA — Jrue Holiday had 24 points and 12 Hawks 85, Magic 82 assists, and Thaddeus Young ATLANTA — Joe Johnson’s scored 22 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to win over floating one-hander in the lane put Atlanta ahead with 55.4 the Houston Rockets. seconds remaining and OrlanAndre Iguodala had 10 asdo’s Jameer Nelson missed sists and the Sixers had 30 of two chances to tie it, allowing them on 46 baskets. Spencer the Hawks to escape with a Hawes and Jodie Meeks each victory in a likely playoff prescored 12 points. view. Kyle Lowry led the Rockets Josh Smith led the Hawks with 19 points and Kevin Marwith 26 points, and Johnson tin had 18. Luis Scola scored added 18. 17 and Chase Budinger 15. Nelson paced Orlando with The Rockets cruised in a 112-87 win over New Jersey on 20 points, but he missed a jumper with 38 seconds reTuesday night, moving them maining, then badly on a drive within two games of eighthwith 6 seconds left. place Memphis in the West, Jason Collins hit one free but their playoff push took a throw, giving the Magic one hit down I-95. last chance to send the game The Sixers put this one to overtime. But Atlanta away with a 10-2 run early in played tight defense, and the the fourth. best Orlando could do was a The Rockets made 21 of 22 free throws; the 76ers 11 of 12. long 3-point attempt by Hedo Turkoglu that didn’t come Bucks 104, Raptors 98 close. Atlanta won its third in a TORONTO — Brandon row and took the season series Jennings scored 25 points, 3-1. Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden both had doublePacers 111, Pistons 101 doubles and the Milwaukee INDIANAPOLIS — Darren Bucks beat the Toronto RapCollison scored 20 points, tors. Danny Granger added 17 and Gooden had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Bogut had 17 the Indiana Pacers used a 31-12 points and 10 rebounds for the run in the second quarter to help lead them to a victory Bucks, who had lost three of over Detroit. their previous four games. Josh McRoberts added 15 Carlos Delfino added 14 points points and Roy Hibbert 12 for for Milwaukee. the Pacers, who are 34-42 with Michael Redd scored five points in eight minutes for the six games remaining. Indiana maintained its hold on the last Bucks, who entered three
The Texas All-American launched his PGA career in the 2003 Houston Open.
The Associated Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jhonas Enroth capably filled in for injured Ryan Miller by stopping 23 shots for his first career shutout, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers in a seventh-place showdown Wednesday night. Tim Connolly scored 5:28 into the second period to help the Sabres (39-29-9) earn their 87th point and move into tie with the Rangers (41-31-5) for seventh in the Eastern Conference with 10 days left in the season. Buffalo also was able to maintain at least a three-point edge over ninth-place Carolina, which was hosting Montreal. The Rangers lost in regulation for the first time in eight games (6-1-1) and dropped to 8-2-1 in their past 11.
The Associated Press
AP PHOTO
Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire (1) scores in against New Jersey’s Kris Humphries during the first half of Wednesday’s game at Madison Square Garden in New York.
playoff spot in the Eastern Conference — one game ahead of Charlotte. Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Richard Hamilton added 19, Tayshaun Prince and Greg Monroe 14 each and Chris Wilcox 10. Detroit, 11th in the conference, slipped to 26-48 with its fourth loss in five games. The only win was a 100-88 victory over the Pacers on Saturday. Heat 123, Wizards 107 WASHINGTON — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat had a surprisingly tough time against the lowly Wizards — even after No. 1 draft pick John Wall was ejected for a second-quarter scuffle. James finished with 35 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Wade had 33 points and nine assists, and Chris Bosh scored 26, helping Miami get past Washington and avoid what would have been a second consecutive embarrassing loss.
assists. Randolph had 13 rebounds and six assists as Memphis extended its hold on the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Bulls 108, Timberwolves 91 MINNEAPOLIS — Derrick Rose had 23 points and 10 assists in three quarters and the Chicago Bulls blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves. Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 14 rebounds and the Bulls recorded 31 assists on 41 field goals to stay 21⁄2 games ahead of Boston and Miami in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Kevin Love had 16 points and nine rebounds, but was limited to 27 minutes in his first game back from a strained left groin. The Timberwolves (17-58) lost their eighth straight game and have sunk to the bottom of the West.
Hornets 95, Trail Blazers 91 NEW ORLEANS — Carl Landry scored 21 points and the New Orleans Hornets jumped ahead of Portland for Grizzlies 110, Warriors 91 sixth place in the Western MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tony Conference with a 91 victory Allen scored 21 points and over the Trail Blazers. helped reverse Memphis’ lackaChris Paul had 11 points and daisical first-half effort in the 12 assists, and Emeka Okafor Grizzlies’ victory over the had 15 points and 10 rebounds Golden State Warriors. before fouling out with 1:38 Allen added eight rebounds left. Willie Green added 12 and four assists as Memphis points, 10 in the fourth quarnot only won its fifth straight ter. at home, but assured the GrizLaMarcus Aldridge had 24 zlies (42-33) of their first win- points and 15 rebounds for ning season since 2005-06, the Portland (43-32), which is tied last time the team made the with New Orleans in the playoffs. standings, but has lost the Mike Conley and Zach Ran- season tiebreaker with the dolph scored 20 apiece, with Hornets having won three of Conley also recording seven four meetings.
Devils 3, Islanders 2 NEWARK, N.J. — Andy Greene’s goal with 4:56 left snapped a tie and lifted the Devils to a win over the New York Islanders that kept New Jersey barely alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Hurricanes 6, Canadiens 2 RALEIGH, N.C. — Jeff Skinner had two goals and an assist, fellow rookie Jamie McBain also scored twice and Cam Ward made 38 saves for Carolina. Blues 10, Red Wings 3 DETROIT — Cam Janssen and Chris Porter scored for the first time this season, helping the St. Louis Blues beat the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings gave up eight goals in the first two periods of a game for the first time since 1986 and 10 in a game for the first time since 1993. Joey MacDonald, playing for the injured Jimmy Howard, was chased after giving up five goals midway through the second period. MacDonald was back in net for the third period after Thomas McCollum allowed three goals on eight shots in the second.
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