QUICK LINKS: MLB > 5 NFL > 30 NBA > 27 NHL > 21 NASCAR > 37 COLLEGE FOOTBALL > 36 COLLEGE BASKETBALL > 35 RECRUITING > 4 NHL PLAYOFFS Favre: No thanks Brett Favre reportedly has decided to stay retired rather than take a shot with the Vikings. Ten reasons Favre should stay on the farm. Page 31 Vikings coach reportedly never FRIDAY MARK AVERY / AP got face-to-face meeting. Page 30 MAY 8, 2009 Johan Franzen, left, had two goals SEE A DIFFERENT GAME BILL KOSTROUN / AP and an assist as the Red Wings beat VOLUME 1 ISSUE 290 Anaheim and tied the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2. Page 22 Washington at Pittsburgh Scoreboard 7 tonight, Versus The fallout of Manny’s Capitals lead series 2-1 NBA Playoffs Pittsburgh’s Game 3 overtime Eastern Conference semifinals 50-game sitting streak win over Washington shifted the Cleveland 105, Atlanta 85 You’re out! series momentum to the Penguins. (Cleveland leads series 2-0) BY STAN MCNEAL | [email protected] They’re playing better hockey than JEFF CHIU / AP the Capitals and will enjoy home- More Manny ice advantage again tonight. NHL Playoffs Hours after the Los Angeles Dodgers improved to a major-league Western Conference semifinals Will Leitch: Fans don’t know But for those who are excited best 21-8 and broke a 98-year-old major league record for best home what to think anymore, Page 5 about how Pittsburgh played Chicago 2, Vancouver 1, OT start, their world was rocked. Manny Ramirez, their best player, Stan McNeal: Dodgers are still Wednesday, Washington coach (Series tied 2-2) was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a performance- the team to beat, Page 6 Bruce Boudreau offers a subtle Detroit 6, Anaheim 3 enhancing drug. Dodgers react: Ramirez thinks reminder that his Capitals are still (Series tied 2-2) Repercussions will be felt by Ramirez, his team and the sport. he let team down, Torre says, Page 10 up 2-1 in the series. “They outplayed us (Wednesday) for sure, but I’d much rather be Baseball where I am right now than where American League Big mistake Today. “I think the problem has been pervasive for a Ramirez said in a statement that he took a doctor- long, long time.” they are,” Boudreau said. Kansas City 3, Seattle 1 — Craig Custance prescribed drug that “unfortunately” was on the Baseball can take solace in one way from Ramirez’s Oakland 9, Texas 4 banned list. The New York Daily News reported suspension: No one can accuse the game of not punish- NBA PLAYOFFS Tampa Bay 8, N.Y. Yankees 6 Ramirez tested positive for a drug known for return- ing its superstars. Baltimore 5, Minnesota 4 ing testosterone to normal levels after steroid use. “MLB is doing its part to get rid of the cheaters,” L.A. Lakers at Houston Boston 13, Cleveland 3 Major League Baseball said only that Ramirez was Padres closer Heath Bell told SN Today. “If you come up 9:30 tonight, ESPN Chicago White Sox 6, Detroit 0 suspended for a violation of its drug policy. positive, they’re going to bang you whether or not you’re Series tied 1-1 L.A. Angels 6, Toronto 1 After waiving his right to appeal, Ramirez will be a $25 million player.” Say what you will about Lakers eligible to return July 3. PG Derek Fisher, he’s not usually National League Dodgers will miss him accused of being dumb. But, as former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy Atlanta 4, Florida 2 Baseball’s black eye The Dodgers say they “will welcome back” Ramirez A day after one superstar was disciplined, when he is eligible to return. Until then, the club can rely told SN Today, “What Derek Fisher St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 2 did in Game 2 was very, very dumb.” another blemished superstar, Alex Rodriguez, is on a still-potent offense that leads the N.L. in runs, a San Francisco 8, Colorado 3 Indeed, Fisher was suspended for expected to return the Yankees’ lineup. And the pitching staff anchored by emerging ace Chad Billings- tonight’s Lakers-Rockets Game 3 in San Diego 4, Arizona 3, 10 innings list of tarnished reputations that already ley, a solid bullpen and a defense that allowed only one Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 5 Houston after chucking Rockets PF Luis includes Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens unearned run in the team’s first 29 games. Scola in Game 2. After a series of near N.Y. Mets 7, Philadelphia 5 continues to grow. The Dodgers also will benefit from playing in the weak fisticuffs and brouhahas broke out in Chicago Cubs 8, Houston 5 “I’m not surprised,” former commis- N.L. West—a division they probably would have been Game 2, this is one to keep an eye on. Washington 11, L.A. Dodgers 9 sioner Fay Vincent told Sporting News favored to win even if they hadn’t re-signed Ramirez. — Sean Deveney SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com See a Different Game FRIDAY, MAY 08, 2009 2 AUTO RACING 1 p.m. TGC—PGA Tour, OFF THE FIELD If you deliver 8 a.m. SPEED—Formula THE PLAYERS Tune In Today Championship, One, practice for A quick look at the best sports on TV Spanish Grand second round, Dolphin Stadium officially named Land Shark at Ponte Vedra it daily, they — all times Eastern Prix, at Barcelona, Spain Beach, Fla. The Dolphins and minority investor 11:30 a.m. Jimmy Buffett will announce today the SPEED— 2 p.m. renaming of Dolphin Stadium as Land NBA NASCAR, Sprint ESPN2—LPGA, will come. Cup, practice for Michelob Shark Stadium, after the beer brewed by Southern 500, at ULTRA Open, Anheuser-Busch under a license with Lakers at Rockets second round, at 9:30 p.m., ESPN Darlington, S.C. the entertainer’s Margaritaville market- 1:30 p.m. Williamsburg, Va. Physicality has been a big part of the first ing arm, SportsBusiness Journal’s Terry SPEED— two games of this series, and now the Lakers NASCAR, Sprint MAJOR Lefton reported. will have to play without one of their starters Cup, “Happy LEAGUE The next Pro Bowl and Super Bowl are because of it. PG Derek Fisher is suspended Hour Series,” scheduled to be played in the facility, but from tonight’s game after trying to run through BASEBALL final practice for a Luis Scola pick in Game 3. With Fisher’s pen- 8 p.m. the NFL will not allow the Land Shark Southern 500, at chant for hitting big shots, that is a big blow for WGN— Chicago name to be used during its jewel events. Darlington, S.C. Los Angeles and it puts additional pressure on Cubs at 3 p.m. The facility will revert to being called Kobe Bryant. The only pressure on Houston is Milwaukee SPEED— Dolphin Stadium next January, so, in to hold the home-court edge it stole with its NASCAR, essence, Land Shark Stadium will be an Game 1 win. NBA Nationwide BASKETBALL eight-month naming-rights deal, though Series, pole sources noted there are other consider- AMY SANCETTA /AP qualifying for 7 p.m. NHL Diamond Hill ESPN—Playoffs, ations in the deal, including Buffet per- Gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson got an award Plywood 200, at conference formances at the stadium and a possible from People magazine for her good looks. Capitals at Penguins Darlington, S.C. semifinals, Game Margaritaville Lounge in the venue. 7 p.m., Versus 5 p.m. 3, Boston at , one of four remaining Orlando Shawn Johnson Pittsburgh fans finally had an Evgeni Malkin SPEED— Go to game, catch a movie celebrities on Dancing with the Stars, is FREE! sighting in Game 3, so it’s not surprising to see NASCAR, Sprint the Penguins win that contest and hold serve Cup, pole 9:30 p.m. The Brewers will turn a parking lot at the only athlete featured among People Sign up in this hotly contested best-of-7 matchup. The qualifying for ESPN—Playoffs, Miller Park into a drive-in movie theater magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People Today! Penguins need to keep peppering Capitals Southern 500, at conference this summer, erecting a full-size screen, this year, SportsBusiness Daily reported. rookie Simeon Varlamov, who has seen 32 more Darlington, S.C. semifinals, Game transmitting the movie’s audio to car shots than has his counterpart, Marc-Andre 7:30 p.m. 3, L.A. Lakers at radios and offering concessions from IndyCar driver Danica Patrick has Fleury. And despite some morbid comments ESPN2— Houston from one fan, Alex Ovechkin will be part of a NASCAR, Klement’s Sausage Haus, the Business more than 2,000 followers on Twitter Capitals team trying to go up 3-1. Nationwide NHL HOCKEY Journal of Milwaukee’s Mark Kass but has yet to post an update. Wrote the The country’s fi rst and only Series, Diamond 7 p.m. reported. On June 5, Anchorman will Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Dave Kall- Hill Plywood 200, VERSUS— lead off followed by Jaws. On June 6, The mann: “Not sure what they’re daily digital sports newspaper. BASEBALL at Darlington, S.C. Playoffs, Eastern Sandlot kicks off with Major League fol- following.” Conference lowing. The movies for Aug. 7-8 have BOXING semifinals, Game Cubs at Brewers not been announced. Former Arizona State and Nebraska Delivered via email every morning, 7 days a 8 p.m., WGN 10 p.m. 4, Washington at Pittsburgh quarterback Sam Keller has filed a class- The Brewers started slowly, but they’ve gone ESPN2— week, Sporting News Today is your one-stop 12-4 in their past 16 games, getting better than Middleweights, Quick hits action lawsuit in Federal Court in Oak- Brian Vera (16-2-0) 9:30 p.m.