QUICK LINKS: MLB > 17 NFL > 28 NBA > 6 NHL > 11 NASCAR > 15 COLLEGE FOOTBALL > 32 COLLEGE BASKETBALL > 32 LACROSSE > 31 Chicago 4, Vancouver 2 Making his Mark Denver 106, Dallas 105 Fifty-year-old Mark Martin moved into playoff position with a victory at Darlington Raceway. Page 15 Mayfield suspended, Page 16 JONATHAN HAYWARD / AP Samuel Pahlsson and the Blackhawks took a 3-2 series lead. Page 11 SUNDAY SEE A DIFFERENT GAME Scoreboard MAY 10, 2009 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 292 NBA Playoffs MATT SLOCUM / AP Western Conference semifinals Carmelo Anthony hit the winning Denver 106, Dallas 105 3-pointer after a non-call on an attempted intentional foul. (Denver leads series 3-0) Denver leads the semifinal series 3-0. Eastern Conference semifinals Five NFL teams head to camp Page 7 Cleveland 97, Atlanta 82 (Cleveland leads series 3-0) Rudderless not knowing who’ll be their QB ‘A great friend NHL Playoffs BY ALBERT BREER Minnesota Vikings Western Conference semifinals [email protected] The contenders: Tarvaris Jackson, to all coaches’ Chicago 4, Vancouver 2 Sage Rosenfels. Chuck Daly was a study in persever- (Chicago leads series 3-2) The Bears and Chiefs filled holes at The chase: Forget perception. Nei- ance. In 1981, he was so desperate to Eastern Conference semifinals quarterback with trades for Jay Cut- ther the financial nor the draft-pick take an NBA head coaching job that Pittsburgh 4, Washington 3, OT ler and Matt Cassel, but five other compensation the Vikings surren- he accepted the reins for a sad-sack (Pittsburgh leads series 3-2) NFL teams have a QB competition dered suggests Rosenfels has to start. Cleveland team. The Cavaliers went brewing. That can be good. Or bad. Jackson played fairly well down the 9-32 under Daly, and he was fired. Baseball “A three-way competition is stretch, and this race likely will go to Things improved, of course, when always bad,” said Jim Miller, part of the man who best moves the chains Daly went to American League Detroit, building multiple QB battles in 12 NFL sea- and protects the ball. Or Brett Favre. Tampa Bay 14, Boston 5 the Pistons into Toronto 6, Oakland 4 sons. “Two-way competitions are two-time cham- manageable, but the guys on the New York Jets Baltimore 12, N.Y. Yankees 5 pions as part of team know who should emerge, and The contenders: Kellen Clemens, Chicago White Sox 3, Texas 2 a 14-year career when it goes against that you have Mark Sanchez. that earned him Detroit 4, Cleveland 0 problem. The chase: If Sanchez picks up the a spot in the Minnesota 9, Seattle 6 “Usually, it’s good for everyone to offense, it’s his job. Rex Ryan hinted at Basketball Hall Chuck Daly L.A. Angels 1, Kansas City 0 feel that pressure that you’ll feel on BILL KOSTROUN / AP ED BETZ / AP that last weekend, saying he “has a of Fame. Daly Sundays.” Jets coach Rex Ryan has hinted he’d like Mark Kellen Clemens has said he expects to be good idea” of what will happen and has died Saturday at National League Here is a quick look at five QB Sanchez, above, to grab the starting job. ‘under center opening day in Houston.’ experience winning with a rookie QB. 78 after battling pancreatic cancer. battles: “He was a great friend to all N.Y. Mets 10, Pittsburgh 1 coaches,” said Mavericks coach playoffs. Despite the perception it’s when Stafford, the $41.5-million L.A. Dodgers 8, San Francisco 0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rick Carlisle, one of Daly’s former The contenders: Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 2 Denver Broncos Orton’s job, coach Josh McDaniels man, will start. It could be a func- Josh Freeman, assistants, “extremely generous The contenders: Kyle Orton, Chris calls the competition “real.” tion of “when” his teammates can Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown. Houston 5, San Diego 4 and there are very few people that Simms. give him a chance. Until then, the The chase: McCown looked shaky Cincinnati 8, St. Louis 3 have had such a great impact on the The chase: Some don’t believe it, Detroit Lions Lions might let Culpepper take the early this spring, making Leftwich game, and such humility.” Florida 3, Colorado 1 but Orton was the key piece in the The contenders: Daunte Culpep- punishment, although coach Jim the likely bridge to Freeman. Most — Sean Deveney Milwaukee 12, Chicago Cubs 6 Cutler trade. In Simms’ only season per, Matthew Stafford. Schwartz says, “We don’t have a scouts say it’ll take Freeman time to Washington 2, Arizona 1 as a starter, he led Tampa to the The chase: It’s only a matter of depth chart.” adjust to the NFL. Yao out for playoffs, Page 9 SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com See a Different Game SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2009 2 AUTO RACING OFF THE FIELD If you deliver 6 a.m. Tune In Today SPEED—GP2 Championship Series, at Barcelona, Spain (same- A quick look at the best sports on TV day tape) it daily, they — all times Eastern 7:30 a.m. Hicks’ loan default casts SPEED—Formula One, Spanish Grand Prix, at Barcelona, Spain Noon shadow on Rangers, Stars NBA VERSUS—IRL, pole qualifying for will come. Indianapolis 500 Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars owner Lakers at Rockets Tom Hicks, who defaulted last month on $525 3:30 p.m., ABC COLLEGE SOFTBALL million in loans tied to those teams, says 12:30 p.m. the issue is a “nonevent” for coaches, play- By winning Game 1 in the conference semis, FSN—Big 12 Conference, cham- ers, fans and the rest of the operations. the Rockets grabbed momentum and sowed pionship game, teams TBA, at seeds of doubt in what was expected to be Oklahoma City Financial analysts aren’t so sure. the Lakers’ march to the NBA Finals. Now, with “The notion that this is a modest hic- C Yao Ming out with a broken foot and SF Ron GOLF cup, where all he’s really trying to do is Artest having been ejected from consecutive 9:30 a.m. buy himself a few weeks before he makes games, it is the Rockets on the ropes in Game TGC—European PGA Tour, Italian payments so that he can properly run 4. Coach Phil Jackson has, at times this season, Open, final round, at Turin, Italy his franchises ... I don’t find that part questioned his team’s killer instinct. It has a (same-day tape) chance to how him that instinct today. 2 p.m. compelling,” said Andrew Zimbalist, a TONY GUTIERREZ / AP — Sean Deveney NBC—PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS Smith College economics professor who While his team is down 3-0 to Denver, Dirk NHL Championship, final round, at specializes in sports business. Nowitzki is dealing with a personal issue. Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. However, some analysts consider it Hurricanes at Bruins 3 p.m. fairly unlikely that Hicks will lose either nearly a decade to work for Magic Johnson ESPN2—LPGA, Michelob ULTRA 7:30 p.m., Versus Open, final round, at Williamsburg, of the teams, citing the value of the fran- Enterprises, SportsBusiness Journal’s Terry Va. chises ($810 million combined, accord- Lefton reported. Browne Sanders was The Hurricanes pulled off the large shocker ing to Forbes magazine) relative to the paid $11.5 million in the 2007 settlement FREE! by beating the Devils in the first round, but now that they have Boston facing elimination MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL debt and the large number of lenders of a sexual harassment suit against Sign up tonight, maybe nothing they do from now on 12:30 p.m. tied up in the loans (about 40). Thomas and MSG. Today! should be considered surprising. Eric Staal and TBS—Atlanta at Philadelphia Jussi Jokinen have been beasts throughout 2 p.m. WGN—Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Nowitzki’s credit cards at risk? Attorneys for Jayson Williams say they’ll Carolina’s playoff run, and G Cam Ward still The love interest of Mavericks star seek to have the former NBA star’s convic- hasn’t lost a playoff series. Boston’s biggest 8 p.m. Dirk fault is scoring just three goals in the last three ESPN—Tampa Bay at Boston Nowitzki may have gained access to his tions for covering up a fatal shooting games—all losses. credit cards without permission, The thrown out on grounds of racial bias. At The country’s fi rst and only — Roger Kuznia MOTORSPORTS Dallas Morning News reported, but it’s issue is a racial slur used by a former BASEBALL 4 p.m. unknown if, or how much, she was able employee of the Hunterdon County (N.J.) daily digital sports newspaper. SPEED—FIM World Superbike, at Monza, Italy (same-day tape) to use them. Cristal Taylor may have also Prosecutor’s Office. Rays at Red Sox victimized her former husband in simi- Williams was convicted of four counts 8 p.m., ESPN NBA BASKETBALL lar fashion, racking up $330,000 in of covering up the shooting death of a Delivered via email every morning, 7 days a 3:30 p.m. debt, according to the newspaper. Taylor hired driver at his Hunterdon County Tonight’s game is already the 10th between ABC—Playoffs, conference was arrested at Nowitzki’s home mansion in 2002. week, Sporting News Today is your one-stop these two teams this season, with Tampa Bay semifinals, Game 4, L.A. Lakers at Wednesday. She was taken to Dallas holding a 6-3 edge.