Saturday May 17, 2008
SPORTS FRONT PAGE 
Canada to face Russia for gold
One minute 12 seconds.That is the sum total of time Canada has spent trailing in a hockey game at the world championship - with now but a single game to play for the gold medal.
HOCKEY
Russia romps into final
Tic-tac-toe.What else is there to say?Russia defeated Finland 4-0 in the semi-final of the world hockey championship here yesterday and it not only looked as simple as child's play, at times the Colisee Pepsi looked more like a board game than a hockey rink.
The rise of junior hockey's Sunbelt kids
The rink was located in a mall in Palm Springs, Calif., the desert resort that is home to golfing retirees, weekending celebrities, and September temperatures in the high 30s.It is not exactly a hockey town.
Pens want to end it at home
The Pittsburgh Penguins refuse to listen to the whispers that every 33 years an NHL team manages to overcome a 3-0 series disadvantage in the Stanley Cup playoffs.The Penguins had an opportunity to sweep their Eastern Conference final against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, but the Flyers prevailed with a 4-2 win to give life to the slim possibility that they, too, can join the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and 1975 New York Islanders as the only two clubs in Stanley Cup playoff history to storm back with four consecutive victories to clinch a series.
World Fishing Network lands first big catch
When Brian Cooper told people he was planning to start a fishing channel on TV, they wondered if he had stayed out in the sun too long, dipping a line in the water, no doubt.
Good and bad news for Flyers defencemen
Given the alternative, Kimmo Timonen is willing to withstand de agony of de feet tomorrow, if you will forgive the hoary chestnut.The Philadelphia Flyers defenceman says he is sure he can play in the fifth game of their NHL playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins despite a blood clot in his ankle. All he has to do, if practice goes all right today, is put up with numbness in his left foot and a lot of pain.
'We want to finish them off,' Holmstrom says
The Detroit Red Wings sound as if the Western Conference final has lasted long enough.They're ready to eliminate the Dallas Stars today in the fifth game and earn a spot in the Stanley Cup final for the first time since winning in 2002.
Home cooking
Justin Azevedo scored in overtime to lead the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-5 win over the Gatineau Olympiques to open the 2008 Memorial Cup tournament last night.Azevedo wired a wrist shot past Gatineau goaltender Ryan Mior on his glove side at 6 minutes 59 seconds of the extra period for the power-play winner. The Olympiques had been called for too many men on the ice 14 seconds earlier.
Home cooking
Justin Azevedo snuffed out the Gatineau Olympiques' comeback bid with an overtime goal, which gave the host Kitchener Rangers a 6-5 win to open the 2008 Memorial Cup last night.
Blocking it out
They were two goaltenders united under the Maple Leaf before their paths widely diverged.Ryan Mior of the Gatineau Olympiques and Carey Price of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens were teammates on Canada's under-18 team four years ago.
Go north, young man
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Tyler Myers was born and raised in Houston, and played hockey there from age 6 to 10. He is also Texas-sized: 6 foot 6, and 200 pounds.
Laviolette's job safe in Carolina
Peter Laviolette will be back for a fifth season as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. General manager Jim Rutherford said yesterday the team will retain the coach, who in 2006 led the Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup. Speculation swirled for the past month about Laviolette's future after Carolina missed the playoffs in both seasons after its championship run. Rutherford said Laviolette met this week with owner Peter Karmanos Jr. as part of the team's standard postseason review. He added the concern about the coach's future has been ''a little blown out of proportion.''
BASEBALL
Werth a one-man wrecking crew against Jays
Jayson Werth could not remember being this productive in a game - that's including Little League.Werth homered in his first three at-bats and tied a Philadelphia Phillies record with eight runs batted in during a 10-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays last night.
Werth makes former team pay
Jayson Werth could not remember being this productive in a game - that's including Little League.Werth homered in his first three at-bats and tied a Philadelphia Phillies record with eight runs batted in during a 10-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays last night.
New York managers get all-star call
Managers Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees and Willie Randolph of the New York Mets have been asked to serve as coaches for the all-star game in New York. The game will be played at Yankee Stadium on July 15.
Sox prospect treated for lymphoma
Boston Red Sox minor-leaguer Anthony Rizzo, an 18-year-old first baseman, is being treated for lymphoma and there is ''an excellent chance of cure and complete recovery,'' the team said yesterday.
Indians to fill closer's role with four pitchers
Rafael Betancourt has lost his job as interim closer for the Cleveland Indians, who plan to use several relievers at the end of games until Joe Borowski returns from an arm injury.
COLUMNISTS
Youth movement charges into PGA Tour spotlight
Sergio Garcia's win in the Players Championship last week means golfers in their 20s have won six of the past seven PGA Tour events. Does this mean a wave of younger players is ready to challenge Tiger Woods more frequently?
FOOTBALL
Dunigan cooks up new TV gig as host of barbecue show
Football fans are familiar with Matt Dunigan, the star quarterback. Soon foodies will meet Matt Dunigan, the celebrity chef.On Monday, the former Canadian Football League standout will make his debut on the Food Network as host of Road Grill, a new series devoted to barbecuing.
BASKETBALL
Prince of the Palace helping Pistons at both ends of the floor
In some ways, Tayshaun Prince seems like the same player he was when he suddenly went from the bench to playing for the Detroit Pistons during the 2003 NBA playoffs.
James scores 32, Cavs force seventh game
The Cleveland Cavaliers packed for a weekend stay in Beantown - not a few weeks on Cape Cod.They've got at least one more game left, and in the NBA, it's as big as they ever get.
Suns to interview Rockets assistant
The Phoenix Suns will interview Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner next week as a replacement for former head coach Mike D'Antoni, who resigned to coach the New York Knicks. The 48-year-old Turner has been an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and Houston. Turner joins Detroit Piston assistant Terry Porter and former player Mark Jackson as candidates.
Nesterovic opts to stay in Toronto
Toronto Raptors centre Rasho Nesterovic has exercised the player option on his contract for next season. The seven-foot, 270-pounder averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 71 games last season, his second with the Raptors and 10th in the NBA. Nesterovic, who will make $8.4-million next season, has averaged 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 699 career games with the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto.
OTHER SPORTS
Toronto FC aim for revenge
The since-departed Collin Samuel failing on a limp penalty kick late in the first half, and Jim Brennan's shot in the second might well have crossed the line before being cleared but was ruled no goal.
THE LISTINGS
TODAYAUTO RACING NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, TSN, 7 p.m.BASEBALL MLB, Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox, Fox, 3:30 p.m. MLB, Toronto Blue Jays at Philadelphia Phillies, Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL'S PICKS OF THE WEEKEND TELEVISION CROP: ALL TIMES EASTERN
1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPHOCKEYDid we really need two weeks of games to tell us that Canada, Sweden, Finland and Russia are the four best hockey nations in the world? Probably not. Nevertheless, the meaningless rounds at the world hockey championship are over and Canada, Sweden, Finland and Russia have emerged as the four best. Now, they are playing for all the marbles, er, medals, with Canada going up against Russia for gold. As it should have been from the beginning. TSN, 2:50 p.m. today (bronze-medal game); 1 p.m. tomorrow (gold-medal game).
ACTIVITY
BASEBALLMajor League BaseballMLB--Suspended unaffiliated RHP Aaron Jackson 50 games after a positive drug test.American LeagueCleveland Indians--Recalled LHP Jeremy Sowers from Buffalo (IL). Designated OF Jason Tyner for assignment.
Big Brown seems to have no weaknesses
Big Brown is the big shot at Pimlico Race Course this week: stabled in the stall reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner, led to the track by police escort, installed as the 1-to-2 early favourite for today's Preakness Stakes.
Qualifiers at mercy of the weather
John Andretti has been around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway long enough to know that the weather can fool you.After scrambling the previous day, along with everyone else, to get track time in gloomy, cold and windy conditions, yesterday's sunshine and warmer temperatures weren't going to con Andretti, who will try today to qualify for his ninth Indianapolis 500 start dating to 1988.
It's been a good week for ...
ASDRUBAL CABRERAWhat is it with the Cleveland Indians, names of a different kind, and triple plays? Asdrubal, one of six Cabreras employed by major-league baseball teams, turned the 14th unassisted triple play in major-league history in the second inning of the second game of the Indians' doubleheader with the Blue Jays on Monday. Turns out the Tribe have been involved in six of those triple plays, including the only one in postseason play, by Bill Wambsganss in the 1920 World Series.
Byrd makes most of easy conditions
Jonathan Byrd took advantage of soft fairways and receptive greens at Tournament Players Club Sugarloaf yesterday, shooting his second consecutive six-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead in the ATandT Classic.
RAIN WASHES OUT SECOND ROUND OF SYBASE CLASSIC
- Despite being under par for the round and having a share of the lead, Rachel Hetherington wasn't overly disappointed yesterday, when the LPGA Tour took the rare step of washing out play at the Sybase Classic.
European Tour
Tour rookie Michael Lorenzo-Vera shot two-under-par 70 yesterday to lead by one stroke after the second round of the Irish Open. The 23-year-old, who led the second-tier European Challenge Tour in earnings last year, is at six-under 138.
Champions Tour
- Andy Bean and Monday qualifier Mike Goodes shot seven-under-par 65s yesterday to share the first-round lead in the Champions Tour's Regions Charity Classic.Leading money-winner Bernhard Langer was two strokes back on the 7,503-yard Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge course.
Teen star could make difference for Cardiff
From Stanley Matthews to Steven Gerrard, the FA Cup final has had a long list of star performers.The next one could be Aaron Ramsey.The 17-year-old Welshman, who was taking his school exams a year ago, has the big Wembley Stadium stage to make his name today, when Cardiff City from the second tier of English soccer takes on Premier League side Portsmouth in the 127th final.
Speedo rivals get chance to pitch their swimsuits
Manufacturers trying to match Speedo's record-breaking swimsuit have been given a new chance to get their products approved before the Olympics. Swimming governing body FINA has set a special meeting for June 3 in Lausanne, Switzerland, to approve new suits.
Canada to face Brazil's best
Brazil has summoned Kaka, Robinho and a host of other big names to play against Canada and Venezuela in soccer exhibitions. Ranked second in the world behind Argentina, Brazil is slated to play Canada at Qwest Field in Seattle on May 31, and Venezuela at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on June 6. Canada, tied for 62nd in the world ranking with Bosnia-Herzegovina, is using the Brazil exhibition and a June 4 game against Panama in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as tune-ups for a two-legged World Cup qualifying playoff with No. 145 St. Vincent and the Grenadines on June 15 and 20.
Montgomery sentenced to jail time for fraud
Olympic gold medalist Tim Montgomery has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for his part in a fake-cheque scheme. The American sprinter hung his head as a judge imposed the sentence yesterday in White Plains. The 33-year-old former track star pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy in a multimillion-dollar bank fraud and money laundering plot. Prosecutors say he had a hand in depositing bogus checks worth $1.7-million (all currency U.S.). Montgomery retired in 2005 after he was banned from track and field for doping.
Eight Belles was clean
- A steroids test for filly Eight Belles has come back negative. The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority said yesterday that test results showed no traces of steroids in the filly, who was euthanized moments after finishing second to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 because she broke ankles in both of her front legs. Eight Belles and the other 19 horses in the Derby were also tested for improper medication levels, as was the entire field in the Kentucky Oaks, won by Eight Belles' stablemate Proud Spell. All the medication tests came back negative. An autopsy on Eight Belles completed this week showed she had no diseases or pre-existing bone abnormalities before her breakdown.
Canadians cheer decision to give double-amputee Olympic shot
The fastest man on one leg will be cheering for the fastest man on no legs this summer.Canadian Earle Connor, who has covered 100 metres in 12.14 seconds using a carbon-fibre prosthetic, was surprised and delighted yesterday to hear double-amputee South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius had been allowed to compete for a spot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
