Cherry Fulfills Olympic Dream

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Jul 13, 2008 at 11:56 AM

Damu Cherry’s persistence has paid off. After sitting out two years with a suspension and getting herself back to world-class form, the former Leto and USF track standout earned a berth in the Beijing Games by finishing second in the 100-meter hurdles at Sunday’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

The 30-year-old Cherry has repeatedly denied that she knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs but her appeal was denied and she was hit with the ban. As a result, she missed the 2004 trials and had to train on her own with her coach and eventual fiance, former Olympic sprint medalist Dennis Mitchell, at the National Training Center in Clermont.

After breezing through two qualifying rounds, Cherry reached Sunday’s finals. She said she experienced some problems with the strong tailwind and nearly over-ran the final two hurdles. But after bolting out with eventual winner Lolo Jones, Cherry maintained her form in the final 30 meters and grabbed the silver medal in a time of 12.58 seconds. Jones, a two-time world indoor champion, was first in 12.29.

“I feel great. I kept seeing myself crossing that finish line and getting on the [Olympic] team,” said Cherry, a Leto High and University of South Florida graduate. “I saw myself with the [American] flag. I kept seeing it over and over again and I said ‘No matter what, I’m going to be on this team.’ “

Cherry started out her athletic career as a standout gymnast but by the time she was a sophomore at Leto, she had earned first team All County honors in the hurdles from the Tampa Tribune. That was 1994, a team I actually picked.

Damu was a good high school hurdler, but not the best. She was third in the 100 hurldes at the Class 6A state meet during her senior year. Her freshman year at USF, she was running 14.4 for the event—two seconds slower than she is now at age 30. But by her sophomore season, she had set school records for the Bulls in the 100 (11.78) and 100 hurdles (13.41) and was showing serious promise as an elite hurdler.

By her junior year at USF, Cherry had qualified for the NCAA championships. And when she was a senior, she had returned to the NCAA finals and lowered her 100 hurdles PR to 13.26. But here, too, Cherry was a good collegiate hurdler but not among the nation’s best collegiate hurdlers. She wasn’t even a Conference USA champ because 11-time NCAA All-American Jenny Adams was running for the University of Houston during Cherry’s time at USF.

What Cherry has always been, however, is determined. Once she left USF with her degree and started training under Mitchell in Gainesville, Cherry became a national-class hurdler, finishing fifth in the USA Outdoor National Championships in 2003. And she did this while still holding down a job. But that was the same year she received the ban and, despite her pleas of innocence and mounting a strong case to support her appeal, was forced out of competition for two long years. In this sport at this level, that’s often long enough to end a career.

But Cherry and Mitchell eventually relocated their training base to the NTC in Clermont and in that rather remote location, Cherry managed to remained focused on the event until she was allowed to return to competition in 2005. All during that time, Cherry had to make ends meet by working a full-time job as a gymnastics coach. The following year, she was back among the U.S. and world rankings and taking aim once more at the Olympic Games.

You may not want to give Cherry the benefit of a doubt regarding her suspension, but there’s no denying she has made a remarkable, virtually unheard of comeback. And with track athletes undergoing blood testing at these trials for the first time, you can feel more comfortable about the cleanliness of the U.S. squad going to these Olympics.

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Margalis Ends Swim Trials With A Smile

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Jul 6, 2008 at 10:31 PM

Clearwater’s Robert Margalis, a University of Georgia graduate, made his third appearance in a Olympic swim trials final Sunday and finished seventh in the 1,500-meter freestyle at 15:19.96.

The closest Margalis came to making the team was on opening day of the trials eight days ago, when he finished third in the 400 individual medley. Only the top two in that event earn a spot in the Olympics and the top two places went to stars Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, who both broke the world record.

This was Margalis’ third Olymoic trials without making the Olympic team. In 2000, he was third in two events. Although he’s 26—relatively old for a world-class swimmer—Margalis said he has no plans of retiring.

“I’m having too much fun and that’s the main goal,” Margalis said.

After the 1,500 finished, Margalis made sure to find his parents at the Qwest Center and thank them for their support.

“I told my parents I loved them and I was glad they came even though I didn’t give them the show I thought I would. They seemed pretty happy and they had a good time here, so that’s what matters.”

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Football assistants get big salary bump

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jul 6, 2008 at 09:23 PM

For three years, the University of South Florida’s football assistants have been among the lowest paid in the BCS. Last season, for instance, five of USF’s nine assistants were the lowest paid at their respective positions, including offensive coordinator Greg Gregory, who made less than all 12 offensive coordinators in Conference USA, the Bulls’ former league.

On Tuesday, the Bulls’ assistants got a hefty raise as part of Coach Jim Leavitt’s new seven-year, $12.6 million deal he signed in March.

Leavitt’s new deal included an additional $200,000 for his assistants on top of an already $100,000 scheduled raise, increasing USF’s assistants pool to $1.25 million for the 2008-09 school year. While it is a substantial increase, USF’s $1.25 million assistant’s salary pool for the upcoming 2008-09 school year still ranks below the 2007-08 average for Big East Conference assistants, which was $1.29 million according to a national salary survey obtained by The Tampa Tribune.

But, at least, the Bulls continue to make progress.

The biggest beneficiary is defensive coordinator Wally Burnham, who received a $55,000 increase this year from $165,000 to $220,000. Gregory also received a healthy bump from $120,000 to $160,000, as did WRs coach Mike Canales, who got a $50,000 raise to $150,000.

Here’s a look at USF’s assistants’ new 2008 salaries (followed by 2007 figures):

Wally Burnham, defensive coordinator $220,000 ($165,000)
Greg Gregory, offensive coordinator $160,000 ($120,000)
Carl Franks, running backs $150,000 ($120,000)
Mike Canales, wide receivers $150,000 ($100,000)
Troy Douglas, secondary $130,000 ($95,000)
Mike Simmonds, offensive line $100,000 ($65,000)
Larry Scott, tight ends $90,000 ($50,000)
x-John Hendrick, defensive line $120,000
x-Kevin Patrick, defensive end $90,000

x-Hendrick and Patrick figures are for this year only. They were not on USF’s staff last year. All salary information provided by USF. The assistants’ salaries add up to $1.19 million, meaning there’s another $60,000 not attributed to the correct assistant(s) and/or another individual. I will update this when I am provided this information from USF.

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USF grad Cherry makes Olympics

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jul 6, 2008 at 10:28 PM

It came years later than she expected, but at age 30, former University of South Florida standout Damu Cherry fulfilled her dream Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Running in the women’s 100-meter hurdles final at Hayward Field, Cherry flew over the 10 hurdles in a wind-aided time of 12.58 seconds to win the silver medal and, more importantly, earn a trip to next month’s Beijing Games to compete on her sport’s biggest stage.

For the former Leto High and USF star, who missed the 2004 Olympic Trials because she was serving a two-year drug suspension for use of a banned steroid, Sunday’s final was redemption in the greatest sense of the word.

Cherry, who has always denied any intentional use of performance-enhancing drugs, was able to rise up out of the ashes. During her suspension, she could not race, yet she spent those two years in high-level training under her coach and fiance, former Olympic sprint medalist and University of Florida star Dennis Mitchell, at the National Training Center in Clermont.

Here’s the story in Sunday’s Tampa Tribune about Cherry reaching Sunday’s semifinals.

Also, Saturday night former USF star Chandra Brewer finished fourth in the shot put and just missed a top three finish to qualifying for the Olympics in Beijing.

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Random postgame notes

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jul 6, 2008 at 04:37 PM

* According to my old pal Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com the Indians and Brewers have agreed upon a trade that will send C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee for three prospects led by former Gators star Matt LaPorta. No surprise there, as the Brewers have been rumored to be leading the hunt for Sabathia for a while now.

* Word from the Rays this afternoon is that Vero Beach outfielder Desmond Jennings will undergo shoulder surgery Wednesday. Jennings, you may recall, hurt first his back and then his shoulder in spring training. He had returned to play 24 games for Vero, hitting .259 and posting a .360 OBP, but this procedure likely will end his season. Baseball America rated Jennings the Rays’ sixth-best prospect entering the year and had him 59th in their overall Top 100.

* In Cincinnati, Tampa’s own Elijah Dukes spoke to reporters earlier today after suffering a serious knee injury last night that led to him being carted off the field. Apparently the former Ray will be out 4-6 weeks.

* In New York, Johnny Damon has been placed on the 15-day DL as expected, so the Rays could conceivably see an outfield that includes both Brett Gardner and Justin Christian when they hit the Bronx in a couple days.

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Navarro, Kazmir are All-Stars

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jul 6, 2008 at 05:15 PM

The Rays have the best record in baseball, and they have been rewarded with more than one All-Star for only the second time in their history.

Catcher Dioner Navarro and left-hander Scott Kazmir will represent the Rays at Yankee Stadium on July 15—and they may be joined by Evan Longoria.

Navarro, a first-time selection, has been among the most productive catchers in the league both offensively and defensively. He’s hitting .318 with 14 doubles, four homers and 33 RBIs, and has thrown out 38.1 percent of runners attempting to steal against him—the best percentage in the American League and second-best in baseball.

“I know everybody looks at the batting average, but that, to me, is secondary,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. “You look at our team ERA – his game-calling has gotten a lot better, and blocking the ball he’s been spectacular.”

Kazmir, who also was an All-Star in 2006, is 7-3 with a 2.63 ERA in 12 starts after opening the season on the disabled list. Opponents have hit only .204 against him and he has struck out 75 batters in 72 innings.

Kazmir was voted in via the player balloting, while Navarro was selected by AL manager Terry Francona.

“That was a big thing, just to know that your peers really respect your game and voted you in like that,” Kazmir said. “That means the most to me.”

Longoria is one of five players in the running for the 32nd and final spot on the AL team, with the winner to be selected in online balloting this week. Longoria is up against Jason Giambi, Jermaine Dye, Jose Guillen and Brian Roberts, so that’ll be a tough sell. Voting is open now on MLB.com and continues through 5 p.m. ET Thursday.

“Just to be included in that list of names is awesome,” said Longoria, who then admitted he would vote for himself and guessed his mom back in California already had spent a good hour voting for him as well.

Kazmir said he wasn’t necessarily disappointed the Rays didn’t have more representatives.

“As long as there’s more than one, we’re fine with that,” he said. “There’s a lot of guys here that really deserve to be a part of it, and we have Longoria still up for the ballot, so we’re going to make a push for him to play in New York.”

The only other time the Rays have had more than one All-Star was 1999, when Jose Canseco and Roberto Hernandez were selected. A back injury kept Canseco from attending the game.

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You Know It—Colwill Is In

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Jul 6, 2008 at 05:36 PM

Chris Colwll has made the U.S. Olympic Diving Team 3-meter springboard and, with Jevon Tarantino, in 3-meter synchro.

You know it, I know it, his parents, know it and so does his coach, Dan Laak. More importantly, the members of the selection committee who will meet later this afternoon already know it. Colwill dominated 3-meter individual at this week’s Selection Camp at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and he teamed up with Tarantino to do the same thing in synchro.

Besides that, Colwill owns all the tiebreakers the selection committee will be looking at to name the 12 remaining members of the men’s and women’s U.S. dive team.

Still, we’ll have to wait until Monday’s USA Diving news conference to get the official roster headed to Beijing. Maybe then, Colwill will cut loose and do a little celebrating. Until then, he’s playig it cool. “You never know until it’s official,” Colwill said after his last dive of the camp Saturday.

But c’mon. You know it, I know it and so does anyone who has seen him dive in the last year.

Chris Colwill is going to Beijing.

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Shooting for seven

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jul 6, 2008 at 11:50 AM

Greetings from the Trop, where the Rays today will be looking for their seventh consecutive win. They’ve won six in a row for the third time this year and are seeking their longest streak since winning 12 straight June 9-22, 2004.

The big news of the day should come between 2 and 3 p.m., when the All-Star teams are announced. The Rays already know who their representative(s) will be but naturally are sworn to secrecy until the official unveiling. I’d imagine Dioner Navarro and Scott Kazmir have the strongest cases for inclusion on the AL squad. And I do understand what Joe Maddon has said about his team not having a bunch of guys with All-Star numbers, but I still think this is the year to reward the Rays with more than one spot based on the way they have played.

One other bit of news—sounds like Al Reyes is headed back to join Vero Beach for some rehab work this week, beginning with an inning Tuesday. He’ll keep up a regular schedule with an eye on being activated coming out of the All-Star break.

Here are the lineups:

Royals
Gathright CF
Grudzielanek 2B
DeJesus LF
Guillen DH
Teahen RF
Gload 1B
Buck C
German 3B
Pena SS
Hochevar P

Rays
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Upton CF
Pena DH
Longoria 3B
Aybar 1B
Zobrist SS
Gross RF
Riggans C
Shields P

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Report: Samuels To Return Next Season

Posted Jul 6, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jul 5, 2008 at 11:58 PM

Tampa Bay veteran receiver/linebacker Lawrence Samuels apparently has come to a decision on his football career. According to a report in the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register, Samuels has informed Storm coaches that he will return for the 2009 season.

“I feel if I had left after this year, it would have left a bad taste in my mouth,” Samuels told the Press-Register, his hometown paper. “I told the coaches I’m coming back to give it one more chance to try and win another championship. That’s the way I want to end my career, with a championship.”

It will be Samuels’ 16th AFL season, and his 15th in Tampa Bay. Samuels, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, has not yet re-signed with Tampa Bay.

Samuels was non-committal on a return following Tampa Bay’s season-ending victory over Los Angeles on June 21, saying only that he would discuss the situation with his family before making a decision. The decision to return isn’t too shocking, especially considering the way Samuels played during the second half of the season.

After a slow start, Samuels turned it on late and finished with a team-high 121 receptions for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns. Samuels also was an impact player on defense, and earned his second consecutive nod on the AFL’s All-Ironman Team for his work as a two-way player.

Samuels is one of the most decorated players in AFL and Tampa Bay team history. During the 2008 season he became the first AFL player to reach the 1,000 reception mark for his career.

Samuels’ decision to return is the latest good news to come for Tampa Bay after a difficult season in which the Storm missed the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history. Since the season ended, Tampa Bay has agree to contract extensions with receivers Hank Edwards and Tyrone Timmons and also re-signed defensive back Byron Jones and receiver/kick returner Sedrick Robinson.

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The Bucs, The Bolts, And Now The Rays?

Posted Jul 5, 2008 by Tom McEwen

Updated Jul 5, 2008 at 06:03 PM

Just as a few years back we had a professional football team that could do no wrong and who went to (and won) the Super Bowl.

Just as we had that selfless Lightning hockey team win the Stanley Cup in Tampa.

And now we have in the works an equally remarkable sports development and miracle: the Rays baseball operation that took so long to get is on track to win 101 games and a championship in the toughest of divisions, the American League East, home of the Yankees and Red Sox.

I do not believe the big-league planners figured on such success of this expansion team so quickly.

But, lately, these Rays have been blessed with good decisions overall and dandy work in uniform, afield and in the dugout where manager Joe Maddon commands. I mean, they even chose to go with Rays only and the color blue only. Few knew or cared what a devil ray was and blue is a can’t-miss color.

Maddon has also been so accommodating and candid, giving away little when he said is team is hitting well, fielding well, running well and playing smart.

Rays promotions, under veteran Rick Vaughn (with sage counsel from executive Rick Nafe, who so deserves this winner), has been packing them in at the Trop with promotions and the best lure of all — winning and winning when you are supposed to, not supposed to, or by rallies and by hanging on, and with guys hurt. Guys will get hurt. Guys have gotten hurt, but recovered. Maddon, without changing expression, has handled the adversities, and moved on.

And, somehow, he has managed to develop a complete pitching staff that is a mix of youth and experience, even a thread of gray or two.

Now, perhaps we all wondered if baseball on a daily basis would work here, for sure. Figured it would. Research said it would. Baseball people said it would, including Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, so helpful in the early days of selling the Tampa Bay Area where he lives, works and he brought his Yankees to train.

I remember he went to Honolulu and threw a party for baseball years ago to show his support. It helped. I suppose some of the Yankees wonder at that when they check the standings and see the Rays he helped so out in front of the Yankees.

But, a man and a sport so conscious of need for public approval has to celebrate the wonderful success of the Rays as a new Tampa area adventure. The dolled up — a bit — Trop has attendance admired around the bigs. Sellouts to near-sellouts have been common, and indeed contribute to the team’s success. The players have said that. Maddon has said that. Ownership has said that. The place has been abuzz, supportive, loud to be spread out so.

Know this: complaints about the Trop have faded some, notably when thundering and lightning have arrived outside. The shortcomings of an indoor arena have subsided somewhat in some areas. But, the location remains a general concern and will be addressed by a committee now appointed and looking in the future of the franchise.

Sure, they have to look at a new place. Sure they have to look at the Tampa side of the bay for a future location of a stadium. But, nothing is in stone. One thing for sure is the new place won’t go on the beautiful Al Lang Field property on St. Pete’s striking downtown waterfront. The committee, hopefully, has already moved past that.

But, friends, these are good problems to have.

We’ve got among us a baseball winner none could have so soon expected, to create a following that assures this present pursuit is a neato problem to have.

Go Rays!

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