Boston Herald: Red Sox Dispatch Security Here After Threat

Posted Jun 30, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jun 30, 2008 at 01:48 PM

According to the Boston Herald’s Jeff Horrigan, the Red Sox and Major League Baseball have dispatched security teams to St. Petersburg for the next three days due to a recent threat made against the club’s black and Latin players.

Horrigan writes that the Red Sox recently received a mailed threat, believed to be postmarked in Memphis, Tenn., which cited at least two players by name. The named players have been informed about the threats.

“The Sox are sending at least two of their top security officials, while another security team is due from MLB’s office in New York. The FBI and police departments in St. Petersburg, Boston, Memphis and Baltimore have been apprised of the threats. According to a source, law-enforcement authorities have been looking for a suspect believed to be from Baltimore but living in the Memphis area.”

The threat, Horrigan writes, is not believed to be related to the recent tensions between the Sox and Rays, who open a three game series tonight and play for the first time since their brawl at Fenway Park on June 5.

Full story here.

---

Alonso Teammates Selected For 16U National Baseball Team Trials

Posted Jun 30, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 30, 2008 at 12:54 PM

Alonso High teammates Brandon Johnson and Thomas Dorminy could earn a spot on the U.S. 16-under National Baseball Team this summer after both players were selected this weekend to participate in the 16-under U.S. National Baseball Team Trials.

Johnson, an infielder, and Dorminy, a left-hander pitcher, were selected after their performances with the Ravens Baseball Club at last week’s 16U Championships – East in Palm Beach County.

“It’s awesome. I hope they do it,” said Alonso baseball coach Landy Faedo, who served as a coach with the Ravens Baseball Club. “Brandon hit a couple home runs and had some other extra-base hits, and Thomas pitched very well and was touching 88 [mph] in the seventh inning of his first start.”

Johnson and Dorminy, who both will be juniors next season, were among 18 players selected for the trials from the Palm Beach County site. An additional 18 players were selected from the 16U Championships – West in Peoria, Ariz. Those 36 players will compete for 18 spots on the national team.

The dates and location for the trials have not yet been announced. The 16U National Team will compete at the COPABE ‘AA’ Pan Am Championships in Panama on Aug. 22-31.

---

So what will the Lightning do today? (Update #2)

Posted Jun 30, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jun 30, 2008 at 03:42 PM

Good morning folks, how’d you sleep? Me, not so well. I can’t even make simple enough plans to play cards with the neighbors, take a jump in the pool or make a trip to Sam’s Club these days, let alone make plans for a trip to D.C. or a day at Busch Gardens without all hell breaking loose right now.

Let’s recap the week to this point:

June 23 - Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie are introduced at a press conference in Tampa, where they first announce a deal in principle is in place with Vinny Prospal and that they plan to be “shockingly aggressive’’ in free agency (certainly some foreshadow)

June 24 - Barry Melrose is introduced as the new head coach in a press conference filled with plenty of glitz and promise that also includes the announcement of Rick Tocchet and Wes Walz as part of the staff.

June 25 - Word begins to circulate that Vinny Lecavalier is on the verge of signing a contract extension worth $77 million over nine years that is later confirmed by team sources, although details are still being worked out.

June 26 - Overall No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos comes to town for his introduction to the Tampa area and meets with the local media. Meanwhile, owners Koules and Barrie head out of town for a quiet weekend before the start of free agency.

June 27 - All is quiet!!!!

June 28 - Tampa Bay acquires the negotiating rights to pending free agents Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts from Pittsburgh and immediately begins discussing contracts for both players.

June 29 - Word begins to circulate that the Lightning have come to terms on deals for both Malone and Roberts, with Malone expected to sign a seven-year deal worth $31.5 million while Roberts is expected to sign a one-year, incentive laden deal that could pay him up to $2 million.

June 29 (late night) - Tampa Bay makes another bold move acquiring the rights to negotiate with Minnesota forward Brian Rolston, giving the team about 36 hours to try to work out a deal.

June 30 - ?????? I guess we have to stay tuned to see what today brings, but I would have to think that we will get official word on the signings of Malone and Roberts. I also think that there is a good chance that we hear that Rolston could sign a contract today as well.

Now, I got word late from Koules last night when I asked him, with everything that has gone on over the weekend, what does he have in store for Tuesday, and his reply was “Maybe a big deal!!!!!!’‘

We are really going to have to keep a close eye on things right now because word continues to circulate that Dan Boyle is on the block. This doesn’t come as a shock because Boyle was nearly dealt at the trade deadline and the payroll keeps jumping up and up.

Also, as far as free agency goes, look for the team to go after a goaltender, possibly somebody like Alex Auld or Olie Kolzig. There are only three goaltenders under contract for next season right now - Mike Smith, Karri Ramo and Riku Helenius - and there is speculation that Tampa Bay would like Ramo to play down in Norfolk next year getting in 60 or so games in the minors. That way, there is a backup plan for Smith in case he can’t seize the No. 1 job.

Keep checking in today, because as we’ve seen in the past 48 hours, anything can - and will - happen.

UDPATE #1

Saw this on the Minneapolis Star Tribune site today quoting new Tampa Bay VP of Hockey Operations in regards to Brian Rolston:

“This one’s pretty simple. We’ve identified Brian as one of the elite free agents available, one his ability and two his character,” Lawton said. “We’re excited to have his rights and we’ll get into it [Monday] and see where it takes us. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and a deep appreciation for him as a player and person.”

UPDATE #2

Just got word from a team source that they are still working hard on a contract for Brian Rolston, but nothing appears imminent at this point on that front, though they are still talking. Also, it appears that the deals for Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts will be made official later today.

In the meantime, Tampa Bay has acquired defenseman Janne Niskala from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2009.

Niskala, 26, appears to be an under-sized (5-foot-11) offensive defenseman after scoring 19 goals and 44 points in 80 games with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. Niskala was drafted by Nashville in the fifth round at the 2004 draft and has played one season of North American hockey. He was dealt to Philadelphia last week and is a restricted free agent who had a NHL salary of $625,000 last season.

---

Big East countdown: No. 5

Posted Jun 30, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jun 30, 2008 at 09:55 AM

This is how I voted in the Big East’s football media poll. The entire media poll will be revealed by the league on July 29.

No. 5 RUTGERS

RU instant analysis: See Ray run. That’s been Rutgers’ offense the past three seasons – the running of Ray Rice. But after a three-year run with Rice that resulted in 26 victories (by comparison, Rutgers only won 27 games the previous 10 years combined before Rice), Rice is gone. Rutgers’ two 1,000-yard wideouts – sophomore Kenny Britt and senior Tiquan Underwood, who ranked first and third in the Big East in receiving yards last year – do return along with senior QB Mike Teel. However, with defenses no longer having to stack the line of scrimmage to stop Rice, I expect Teel’s numbers (3,147 yards, 20 TDs, 13 INTs last year) to suffer the most. Defensively, All-Big East DT Eric Foster is gone and K Jeremy Ito, who had a league-high 23 field goals last year, also must be replaced.

Fun with numbers: The Scarlet Knights return 16 starters – luckily for USF none are named Rice. In the past three seasons, excluding games against Rutgers, USF allowed 125 yards rushing per game. By comparison, Rice averaged 180 yards in three games against the Bulls.

If I could attend one RU game this season it would be: Rutgers at Pittsburgh, Nov. 8. Why this game? Well, it’s a little more than a six-hour drive from Newark to Pittsburgh, but lucky for Coach Greg Schiano just past the halfway mark is a little town called State College, Pa. I’m sure after three-plus hours on the road, Schiano will want to pull the car over, say, at the Penn State president’s office. He can say hello, stretch his legs and drop off an updated resume. I’m curious to see who will coach Rutgers at Pitt in case Schiano’s car mysteriously breaks down and he spends a few extra days in State College.

Why I picked RU No. 5? The Scarlet Knights have that 3-4/4-3 Big East look this year. They should go 3-0 at home in Big East play (Syracuse, UConn and Louisville), but have the league’s toughest road schedule – at Cincinnati, Pitt, USF and West Virginia. They do have enough returning talent – and three automatic non-conference wins against Navy, Morgan State and Army – to get bowl-eligible. But I can’t see them doing much more than that and they seem destined for a middle of the pack Big East finish.

RU will finish better than 5th if: they can avoid losing their first two Big East games at West Virginia and Cincinnati. Also, Teel must prove he can be an accurate passer when defenses don’t have to stack the line against Rice. I don’t think he can.

RU will finish worse than 5th if: they don’t find adequate replacements for Rice, Foster and Ito. Last year with Rice, Rutgers was 3-4 in league play. So how can they fare better without him and also without All-Big East OLs Jeremy Zuttah and Pedro Sosa? Also if the Schiano to Penn State rumors heat up during the season, that could turn into a big distraction.

This is how I voted in the Big East’s media poll.

5. Rutgers
6. Louisville
7. UConn
8. Syracuse

Coming Tuesday: No. 4

---

Dix’s Olympic Dreams Fulfilled

Posted Jun 30, 2008 by Aaron Knox

Updated Jun 30, 2008 at 08:33 AM

By SCOTT CARTER
The Tampa Tribune

TALLAHASSEE – Florida State sprinter Walter Dix qualified for the Beijing Olympics on Sunday, and Dix has yet to compete in his best event at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Ore.

Dix ran the fastest time of his career in the 100 meters Sunday night, a wind-aided 9.80 seconds to finish second to Tyson Gay. By running a personal-best in the 100 on Sunday, Dix qualified for the U.S. team and opens his quest to qualify in the 200 meters on Friday. Dix is a three-time NCAA champion in the 200.

“It’s so exciting for Walt and the program,’’ FSU coach Bob Braman said. “This really validates his decision to not go pro last year after having a great season or skip the NCAAs this year after he got injured. We’re so happy for Walt because he did it the right way. It sends such a great message that the money is going to be there, but you can go back to college to have fun and win championships. He used his last year to prepare for the big stage and now he’s ready.”

Dix spurned offers to go pro after winning the 100- and 200-meter NCAA titles as a junior, returning to FSU and helping the Seminoles win their third consecutive national outdoor title earlier this month. Dix’s senior season and Olympic hopes were in question when he pulled a hamstring in the Seminole Invitation on April 12, but Dix has rebounded and is now on his way to Beijing, the first FSU male athlete to qualify for the U.S. team since two-time Olympian Arthur Blake in 1992.

Dix isn’t the only FSU athlete going to Beijing. Freshmen Ngoni Makusa (long jump – Zimbabwe) and Gonzalo Barroilhet (decathlon – Chile) have also earned Olympic berths for their respective countries.

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

---

Now the Lightning have acquired Rolston!!!!!

Posted Jun 29, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jun 29, 2008 at 11:26 PM

The Lightning didn’t stop at just Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts, acquiring the rights to negotiate with pending unrestricted free agent Brian Rolston from the Minnesota Wild for a conditional draft pick, which was not available at press time. Rolston, 35, has scored at least 31 goals in each of his three seasons in Minnesota where he played with new Lightning assistant coach Wes Walz. Rolston is regarded as a top-level, two-way player capable of running the point on the power play, being a top penalty kill and owns one of the top slap shots by a forward in the league.

More details as they become available.

UPDATE

OK, here are the details from the Lightning on the draft pick. I’m just going to cut and paste this because I think you might need a law degree or a master’s from Yale to understand it all. But here it goes:

The Wild trades the rights to player Brian Rolston to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Tampa Bay’s own 3rd round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.

(a)      If at any time before the commencement of the 2009 Entry Draft Tampa Bay acquires a 4th Round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, Tampa Bay shall assign that 4th round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft to Minnesota in return for Tampa Bay’s own 3rd round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.

(b)      If Tampa Bay signs Brian Rolston for any portion of the 2008-2009 NHL season, AND the transfer described in paragraph (a) above has occurred, the Wild shall return the 4th round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft from paragraph (a) to Tampa Bay, AND Tampa Bay shall transfer to the Wild the option of:

(i)            San Jose’s 3rd round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft (currently held by Tampa Bay), OR

(ii)          Tampa Bay’s own 3rd Round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft

The option shall be exercised by the Wild, at the latest, when Tampa Bay’s turn to exercise San Jose’s 3rd round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft is called from the podium.

UPDATE 2

Here’s a quote from owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie from the team’s press release:

  “As we said earlier this week and we are trying to prove after making our deal with Pittsburgh yesterday, we will work feverishly to improve the Lightning team for the 2008-09 season,” owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said. “We believe getting the Lightning a head start in the negotiating and signing process can help us secure the players we are targeting. Nothing is guaranteed here, but we hope to have a chance to get another quality player in a Lightning uniform sooner rather than later.”

---

Big East countdown: No. 6

Posted Jun 29, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jun 29, 2008 at 09:39 PM

This is how I voted in the Big East’s football media poll. The entire media poll will be revealed by the league on July 29.

No. 6 LOUISVILLE

UL instant analysis: Bobby Petrino, ancient history. Brian Brohm, gone. And if you check out “fun with numbers” below, you’ll see it’s been a revolving door lately in the ‘Ville. What’s left in Louisville? Thirteen returning starters from last year’s snake-bit 6-6 team. If UConn was the nation’s luckiest team last year – Louisville was one of the unluckiest in Coach Steve Kragthorpe’s debut season. A blown coverage in the last minute against Kentucky and a blown official’s call against UConn cost the Cards two wins and a bowl berth. This year, senior QB Hunter Cantwell should be an adequate replacement for Brohm. And – believe it or not – the defense could actually be a strong point with former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English taking over for Mike Cassity, who was fired after last season. Louisville lost too much to immediately return to the success of the Petrino years, but the Cardinals should have enough talent to get back to a bowl game.

Fun with numbers: This one is courtesy of the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Brian Bennett: Since the spring of 2007, the Cardinals have had 21 scholarship players leave the program. That’s mind-boggling. Next year, the Cardinals might have the first single-digit APR in NCAA history.

If I could attend one UL game this season it would be: UL at Memphis, Oct. 10. I could certainly stomach this former C-USA rivalry only if it included stopping by Rendezvous or Corky’s for some pre-game BBQ and then afterward hitting the North End for some legendary hot fudge pie and a cold beer.

Why I picked UL No. 6? The Cards all but folded after early losses to Kentucky, Syracuse and Utah. This year, the Cards open with four winnable home games and play six of their first seven at Papa John’s Stadium. If Louisville can get off to a fast start and gain some early season momentum, it should be prepared for a tough final four-game stretch of Pittsburgh (away), Cincinnati (home), West Virginia (home) and Rutgers (away).

UL will finish better than 6th if: the Cards take advantage of four home Big East games and Cantwell turns out to be as nearly as good as Brohm. Also, the much-maligned defense – which allowed at least 38 points in seven games last year – does a 180 under English.

UL will finish worse than 6th if: there is a huge drop off offensively and no improvement defensively. Both, of which, are very real possibilities.

This is how I voted in the Big East’s media poll.

6. Louisville
7. UConn
8. Syracuse

Coming Monday: No. 5

---

Bucs, Graham Reach Accord on Contract Extension

Posted Jun 29, 2008 by Roy Cummings

Updated Jun 29, 2008 at 09:24 PM

TAMPA - The Bucs reduced their list of disgruntled players by one on Sunday when they reached agreement on a contract extension with running back Earnest Graham.

The new deal is expected to keep Graham in a Bucs uniform through the 2012 season is reportedly worth $11 million, according to NFL.com

The deal comes in the wake of Graham’s holdout from offseason workouts and should put an end to any speculation Graham might skip the start of training camp.

The only portion of the offseason program that Graham participated in this year was the mandatory minicamp. During the camp, however, Graham did not rule out the possibility he might skip camp in an effort to get the contract he was looking for.

---

Local Athletes Dominate AAU Track Meet

Posted Jun 29, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 29, 2008 at 09:28 PM

Paced by Chamberlain-senior-to-be Dentarius Locke, track and field athletes from Hillsborough County were once again a dominant force at the AAU Region 4 Championships at Showalter Field in Winter Park.

Representing the Matrix Track Club, Locke captured gold medals in three events Sunday—100- and 200-meter dashes and 4x400 relay. He went 10.59 to take the 100 just ahead of Hillsborough High’s Lindsey Lamar (10.73) and fourth-place Leon Robinson of Tampa Bay Tech. In the 200, Locke turned in a winning 21.17, just off his lifetime best, and came back to anchor The Matrix 4x400 to first place in a sizzling time of 3:15.87. The second-place team was 2.5 seconds behind the Matrix. Joining Locke on that foursome was Wharton’s Keyon Jones and Chris Watson and Hillsborough’s Mark Williams.

The top four individuals and relay teams in each event qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games, July 26-Aug. 2 in Detroit.

“I wanted to run the 100 and 200 a little faster but I’ll take the wins,” said Locke, who last week finished second in the Nike Outdoor Nationals in both events. “It’s a long wait until the championships in Detroit so I just have to go back to training Monday and get back to work.”

Several other local prep athletes left the meet Sunday with gold or silver medals from the Young Men or Women’s divisions, including TBT’s Tanesha Maxwell, who won the 100 in 12.45, Jefferson’s Brittany Barton, second in the 400 at 58.15, Keyon Jones of Wharton, who prior to his 4x400 leg was second in the open 400 (48.87), Berkeley Prep’s Charles Klug, second in the javelin (118-7), Gaither’s Morgan Scherschel, second in the pole vault (10-6), and TBT’s LaVaughn King, winner of the triple jump (44-10.75).

In the Intermediate Girls 400 finals, La’Shae White of TBT turned in one of the top performances of the meet when clocked 56.54, just .03 off her lifetime best set at this year’s Class 3A state finals.

---

Margalis Misses Olympic Team By One Place—Again

Posted Jun 29, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM

Clearwater’s Robert Margalis was once again in the worst possible position at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials: third place, just one spot away from making the Olympic team.

With Olympic star Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte of Daytona Beach both swimming under the previous world record for the 400-meter individual medley, Margalis, a Clearwater High and University of Georgia product, wound up third at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

Phelps swam 4 minutes, 5.25 seconds to beat his previous WR of 4:06.22 and Lochte, who competed for the University of Florida, also eclipsed that mark at 4:06.08. At 4:13.85, Margalis swam just off his lifetime best for his third, third-place finish in three appearances at U.S. trials. In the 2000 trials, Margalis was third in two events, the 1,500 free and 400 freestyle.

It was another Olympic trials disappointment for Margalis, but his father, Bob Margalis, said his son wasn’t too upset.

“We talked to him face-to-face after the race and he’s fine,” Bob Margalis said. “He said it was an honor being part of a race where two people broke the world record. He’s OK. He’s the kind of kid who puts it behind him pretty quickly.”

Margalis is still expected to swim in the 200 freestyle (today), 200 butterfly, 200 IM and 1,500 free.

---