QUICK LINKS: MLB > 18 NFL > 28 NBA > 10 NHL > 13 NASCAR > 33 COLLEGE FOOTBALL > 16 COLLEGE BASKETBALL > 8 MLB DRAFT > 5 NFL Old masters ThumbsThum up for Cox Sporting News Today’s former NFL Randy Johnson beats GeorgiaGeor QB Joe Cox solidified scouts rank their top defensive his sspotpot as Matthew Stafford’s coordinators: Nats, is 24th pitcher rereplacement.place Dick LeBeau to get milestone win “It wwould be very difficult to 1. Steelers Page 20 knoknockc him out of the box,” GeGeorgiao coach Mark Richt tells Jim Johnson SSNN Today. 2. Eagles Leslie Frazier FRIDAY Richt Q&A, Page 16 3. Vikings JUNE 5, 2009 SEE A DIFFERENT GAME Jim Bates JOHN BAZEMORE / AP 4. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 318 Bucs Dom Capers 5. Packers NBA FINALS GAME 1: L.A. LAKERS 100, ORLANDO 75 STANLEYS CUP FINALS GAME 4: PITTSBURGH 4, DETROIT 2 Full list, Page 30 Scoreboard Lakers open with domination Cup chase down to best-of-3 NBA LOS ANGELES—Finally. It’s taken time, but it PITTSBURGH—After the game, Sidney Crosby seems the team many expected the Lakers to could admit it. It felt good to get that first goal Finals be—a big, strong bunch capable of dominat- of the Stanley Cup finals. The fact that it was L.A. Lakers 100, Orlando 75 ing at both ends—has arrived for good. the game-winner? Even better. (L.A. Lakers lead series 1-0) That version of the Lakers has made only With their 4-2 win over Detroit, the Penguins NHL cameo appearances this postseason, but in evened the finals, 2-2, and seized momentum in Stanley Cup finals The Finals opener, the Lakers were back, a series that once looked like a Detroit lock. Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 2 winning handily, 100-75. “Both teams held serve at home, now it’s a As Magic coach Stan Van best of three,” Pittsburgh’s (Series tied 2-2) Gundy said, “We were totally Mark Eaton said. Baseball dominated at both ends of the Three things we American League floor and on the boards.” learned L.A. Angels 6, Toronto 5 Three things we Boston 6, Detroit 3 MARK J. TERRILL / AP Pittsburgh’s stars are learned clicking: N.Y. Yankees 8, Texas 6 Kobe Bryant hit 16 of 34 shots for 40 points and added 1. Crosby had his The Magic will reconsider eight rebounds and eight assists in L.A.’s rout. best game of the series with GENE J. PUSKAR / AP Minnesota 11, Cleveland 3 Sean Deveney 1. the plan on Kobe Bryant. Craig Custance a goal and a pretty assist on Sidney Crosby scored his first goal of the finals as the Oakland 7, Chicago White Sox 0 PRO BASKETBALL Orlando attempted to put and he carried himself well, scoring six points HOCKEY Tyler Kennedy’s goal in the Pens evened the series. Tampa Bay 3, Kansas City 2 Bryant in single coverage, and giving out four assists in 23 minutes. second period. “I was happy National League focusing on stopping the players around him. to see one go in,” Crosby said. Evgeni Malkin Marc-Andre Fleury has emerged: After get- Pittsburgh 11, N.Y. Mets 6 But Bryant killed Orlando’s defense in pick- The Lakers will lean on their bigs. L.A. did a scored his 14th goal of the playoffs and, at 3. ting outplayed by opposing goalie Chris San Francisco 5, Washington 1, 1st game and-rolls , tallying 40 points, and the Magic 3. terrific job shutting down Orlando’s front times, was the most dominant player on the Osgood earlier in the series, Fleury was sharp couldn’t keep L.A.’s supporting cast in check. line, and the Lakers outscored the Magic in the ice. in Game 4 and finished with 37 saves. “He San Fran. 4, Washington 1, 6 inn., 2nd game “Offensively, Kobe was amazing tonight,” paint, 56-22. “We’ve got to keep that up,” forward The Red Wings are worn out: Detroit wasn’t knows when the important time is to make Chicago Cubs at Atlanta, ppd., rain forward Lamar Odom said. “Defensively, Pau Gasol said. “No let-up. This is just the first 2. crazy about playing back-to-back games you a big save,” Crosby said. “He’s been huge Florida 4, Milwaukee 3 too.” game.” to open the series and looked exhausted on for us.” Colorado 10, Houston 3 Jameer Nelson will be a factor. Nelson’s [email protected] Thursday, the fourth game in six nights. [email protected] St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 1 2. return to action after more than three “Tonight, they had more energy than us,” Philadelphia 3, L.A. Dodgers 0 months off was a bit of a surprise in Game 1, Loss in ‘08 Finals drives Lakers, Page 10 Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. Pens pumped, Wings wilting, Page 13 SPORTING NEWS TODAY www.sportingnews.com See A Different Game FRIDAY, JUNE 05, 2009 2 GUIDE OFF THE FIELD Are you a fan with AUTO RACING 7 p.m. Tune In Today 7 a.m. ESPN—NCAA SPEED—Formula Division I, Super something A quick look at the best sports on TV One, practice for Regionals, Game 1, — all times Eastern Turkish Grand Prix, Rice at LSU Browns’ Stallworth at Kadikoy, Turkey to say? 10:30 p.m. Noon ESPN2—NCAA COLLEGE BASEBALL SPEED—NASCAR, Division I, Super pleads not guilty Sprint Cup, prac- Regionals, Game 1, tice for Pocono Louisville at NCAA Super Regionals 500, at Long Pond, Cal St. Fullerton Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth pleaded not guilty to DUI man- Noon-10:30 p.m., Pa. GOLF slaughter charges from a fatal Miami car ESPN, ESPN2 3:30 p.m. 10 a.m. crash in which a pedestrian died. SPEED—NASCAR, TGC—European The plea was entered at a brief court Sprint Cup, pole After taking down unbeaten pitcher PGA Tour, Wales hearing Thursday by defense attorney qualifying for Open, second Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State and Christopher Lyons. The 28-year-old Stall- sweeping top-ranked UC-Irvine in the Pocono 500, at round, at Newport, regionals, the Virginia baseball team can Long Pond, Pa. Wales worth did not appear in court. A trial take another step toward the College World date has not been set. Stallworth faces Series today. The Cavaliers, in their first trip 6 p.m. Noon up to 15 years if convicted. JOIN THE SPORTING NEWS to the NCAA super regionals, face Ole Miss ESPN2—NASCAR, ESPN2—LPGA, FAN NETWORK at 2 p.m. on ESPN2 in Game 1 of the best- Nationwide State Farm Classic, Quick hits of-three series. “Confidence-wise, we’re Series, practice second round, at Team up with the Sporting News Fan Network and have your sky-high,” Virginia sophomore Phil Gosselin for Federated Springfield, Ill. Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba’s voice heard! You’ll have the opportunity to interact with other said. The winners of the eight super region- Auto Parts 300, at 11-year-old son and his brother-in-law Sporting News insiders, provide your thoughts on everything Lebanon, Tenn. als will meet in Omaha, Neb., for the College 1 p.m. are free again after being kidnapped from current sports subjects for publication in Sporting News Magazine TGC—Nationwide World Series, starting June 13. Other Game in Venezuela. Police in Venezuela said to valuable feedback on marketing strategies of our partners, 1 matchups today are Arkansas-Florida State 9 p.m. Tour, Prince the pair were abducted on their way to MARICE COHN BAND / AP (noon, ESPN), Rice-LSU (7 p.m., ESPN) and SPEED—NASCAR, George’s and win special prizes. Louisville-Cal State Fullerton (10:30 p.m., Truck Series, County Open, the boy’s school and that the kidnap- Donte Stallworth faces 15 years in prison if ESPN2). WinStar World second round, at pers demanded $466,000 in ransom. convicted of DUI manslaughter. —Derek Samson Casino 400, at Fort Mitchellville, Md. Wilmer Flores Trossel, director of Venezu- EXCLUSIVE MEMBER BENEFITS: Worth, Texas ela’s federal police, said no ransom Sept. 20 and 27 immediately after FOX’s s!CCESSTOPRE RELEASEPRODUCTSANDEXCLUSIVEOFFERSFROM More on Super regionals, Pages 36-37 3 p.m. our partners BOXING TGC—PGA Tour, was paid. He said police “established a NFL broadcasts. 8:30 p.m. The Memorial circle” around the kidnappers, and s/PPORTUNITIESTOATTENDREGIONALSporting News events GOLF ESPN2— Tournament, the “pressure was fruitful.” Nets owner Bruce Ratner has replaced s5PDATESONNEWSporting News features and product offerings Welterweights, second round, at the architect of a pricey planned arena in Carlos Molina Dublin, Ohio The Memorial Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor, Marcus Brooklyn. The arena is a centerpiece of (16-4-1) vs. Danny MEMBERSHIP IS FREE! Tournament Perez (34-5-0), at 6:30 p.m. Allen, Eric Dickerson, Jim Rice and Goose Gos- the $4 billion Atlantic Yards develop- Miami TGC—Champions sage will usher in a new era in golf long ment of office towers and apartments. To join log on to 1 p.m., The Golf Channel Tour, Triton drive competitions later this month in The project has been delayed by the eco- COLLEGE Financial Classic, the Big Shots/Titans of the Tee, a team- nomic downturn, years of opposition sportingnews.com/fannetwork BASEBALL first round, at Well, so much for Jack Nicklaus making based tournament that will air this fall lawsuits and the near $1 billion price of Noon Austin, Texas his Muirfield Village course too hard for (same-day tape) on FOX. The competition tees off June the Frank Gehry-designed arena.