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Show iitntiiii - MFj v -- ' .i ',,.M I,. s vs : ,MU. raisin W.rf t I ! Local News Classified Ads News at jm hours ei 2,4,6.8,10,12 SECTION 2007 MONDAY, APRIL 2, SPORTS EDITOR ?Darne!l Dickson Jason Franchuk ddicksonheraldextra,com 344-255- 5 UTAH BLAZE The Front Row '. Big fourth quarter lifts Blaze to win DAILY 4 HERALD LAS VEGAS The Utah Blaze jumped out to a 21-- 3 first quarter lead BECK THE SAME L SUCCESS OR FAILURE but had to battle back to knock off Western Division rival Las Vegas in Sunday's 5747 victory in front of 5,416 fans at the Orleans Arena. "It is difficult to stay focused when you get a big lead on a team," said Blaze head coachgeneral manager Danny White. "I am glad that we regained our composure and finished strong in the fourth quarter. Division wins are big and we will take this one and get ready for Austin next week." The Blaze (4-- were led by Offen sive Player of the GameWRSiaha Burley, who had eight receptions for 163 yards and four touchdowns. Blaze QB Joe finished the game completing 47 passes for 360 yards, seven touchdowns and no Ger-mai- UTAH LAS VEGAS 57 20-o-- tors . Siaha Burley, WR, Utah Burley caught four of the Blaze's TD See The Blaze outscored the Gladia- - BLAZE, passes and had 163 yards receiving. Play of the game 2-- 0 interceptions. that his college career's over and he's about to an NFL draft pick, I feel comfortable telling a story Player of the game in the fourth quarter, while touchBurley tallied three second-hal- f downs and helped lead Utah to victory. The victory allows the Blaze to maintain sole possession of first in the Western Division and improve their in the division. record to The ADT Defensive Player of the Game was DB Orshawante Bryant, who tallied 6.5 totaj tackles, while Ironman of the Game DBKR Clarence Lawson added 6.0 total tackles, forced a fumble, a fumble recovery 20-- 7 After retaking the lead at 44-4- 0 early in the fourth quarter, the Blaze successfully converted an onside kick that was recovered by Ryan Dennard. On the ensu- ing drive, Utah scored a TD to lead. open up a double-digit C2 Now UTAH JAZZ about John Beck. Allow for a few paragraphs of (hopefully entertaining) back- ground, and we'll reach a point that should touch a nerve on all of our futures. It was last August, as this publication puts out one of the finest football preview sections around national-award- , winning as of a recent announcement, and I'll take the least amount of credit for its Look how success. The assignment came often people my way to do a on Beck's find success story last chance at and become BYU to become a winner. unbearable, Asking a teammate (who or fail and will remain anonymous) become how the fellas poor sports. had responded to Beck conBeck is a sidering a fractorchbearer, tured, emotional career through at this point, three tumulyears on how to tuous struck a chord. I asked if handle life. players had been OK with Beck crying earlier in his career. Way too often, shedding tears can be taken the wrong sports world. way in the alpha-mal- e Show some vulnerability, and suddenly you're shacking in the same re Comeback masters Jazz rally from nine down to beat Rockets Kristie Rieken THE PRESS HOUSTON The Utah Jazz lead the league in winning games in which they were down 10 points or more. They've done it 16 times this season. The Jazz came just short of adding to that number on Sunday, as they only had to , work their comeback magic to deficit in overcome a nine-poian 3 victory over the Houston Rockets. Mehmet Okur scored 20 points and Carlos Boozer added e 13 in the win, which broke a road losing streak. With the 86-8- six-gam- closet as John AmaechL See ASSOCIATED FRANCHUK, C2 f r ' V 1; 1 ' A o victory, in a game that will likely be a preview UTAH 86 for the first HOUSTON 83 round of the playoffs, the Jazz remain ahead of the Rockets in fourth place in the Westo ern Conference standings. "If we play defense, we can beat anybody," said Utah's Deron Williams. "If we match up with Houston in the playoffs, it will be great series." before Utah Houston led scored five straight points to get within two with 3:10 remaining. The teams exchanged a pair of baskets before a three-poiplay by Matt Harpring gave Utah an 1 lead with 1:35 remaining. "I kept cutting all game and Press I wasn't able to get open until 77-7- 0 82-8- PAT SUUJVANAssociated JEREMY HARMONDaily HefSld Bed laughs with his teammates near the end of the New Mexico game on Nov. 18, 2006. BYlTl John Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady, center, goes to the basket while being double-teame- d by Utah Jazz defenders Andrei Kirilenko, left, and Carlos Boozer in the first half Sunday in Houston. The Jazz won, 86-8- See JAZZ, C3 3. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Ike to 'Play Ball!' Mets hammer Cardinals on Ronald Blum opening night R.B. THE Terry Francona sat Fallstrom Tom Glavine patiently watched the St. Louis Cardinuk cekirale the World Scries title, a diarnpionship the New York Mets could have won themselves. went out and set Then the ST. LOUS a good example for how the Mcts might i'TiIc l finish the Job this son, beating the cham in the major league opener on pions , Sunday night. JTTTJS 6-- 1 See i METS, In the dugout at Kansas City's Kauff-ma- n Stadium on a warm, sunny Sunday and expressed the feelings of most baseball fans. "Opening day is 24 hours away," the Boston Red Sox manager said. "If you're not optimistic you're crazy. But I think we have a legitimate reason to be optimistic We think we've got a pretty good TW ASSOCIATtO PRESS team." TOM OANNAM Associated PSS he home to score from second as tries out at St on a double by Preston Wilson as New Yorfe Mets Paul Lo Duca harujs on to the baseball game Sunday in St. Louis. C4 ball In the sixth Inning of their opening-da- Louis Cardinals' David Eckstein, left, is y CPS ASSOCIATED PRESS Enough of the practice in Florida and Arizona. It's time to play ball for reaL After getting the final out rum lusit imiuf Baseball openers the Mets and Cardinals played Sunday night, most While of the league will open play today. Full schedule, C5 i - of last year, the St. Louis Cardinals began the long season Sunday night when they hoisted the World Series flag in See OPENERS, C4 |