OCR Text |
Show TODAY Briefing q Golf . Longtime Nicklaus aide dies NORTI I Canadian broadcaster w ho became the longtime pub- $nst tor Jack Nicklaus. died Friday at 83. ' (J Bnen died from complications of Parkiason's . disease, liis family said; () Bnen tirst met Nicklaus in 1962 when he tried to persuade t he new .U.S. Open champion to play in the Canadian Ojwn. Ten years later. Nicklaus asked him to work for his company and handle his PGA Tour af f airs. side with me for the majority "Larry w as side-bol my carter and served an important rde in my .'. company as well as for my family." Nicklaus said. "1 ai ry was a j;ood fiend to us. someone we consid. Green Bay 3 p.m. FOX NBA ' San Antonio at Detroit 10:30 a.m. ABC L.A. Lakers at Miami 1p.m. ABC ,. ; ''; NFL Chicago at Green Bay Minnesota at Baltimore "'. 3 p.m. 6:30 p.m. FOX ered one of 'the family. O'Brien covered cr.ime for the Montreal Star and did radio tor the Brooklyn Dodgers farm ., ream m Montreal. He moved over to television ' ; and called the first sporting event on TV in Canada, a Montreal Royals baseball game on July i'y. 1952 He also broadcast the Grey Cup and the .'.Montreal Canadians; ,'.'.'';"'',';:. ;. He eventually moved to Florida to help with the j:i7 P( iA 1. . 1320AM Boras left New York hours after finalizing Da- - ' $52 million deal with the Yankees mon's four-yeaon Friday to meet with Red Sox representatives. Boston president Larry Lucchino declined to comment on whether an offer was made. Earlier this week. Boras was in Texas to talk about the 2005 AL ERA champion with the Rangers. "I can confirm that we are in the process seeking to sign Millwood," Lucchino said Friday night, adding that a resolution was not imminent. Boras didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment. Millwood went 1 with a 2.86 ERA in 30 starts , for the Indians last season and made S7 million. He was limited to 25 starts with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004, when he was bothered bv'elbow swelling. While he was 6 with a 4.85 ERA for the Phillies that . season, he won, only two games after hurting his right elbow. Although the Red Sox need a shortstop, a first baseman and a center fielder, they would appear to have plenty of starting pitchers. But lefty David Wells has asked for a trade closer to his West Coast home, and the' team has said it would try to accommodate him. Left fielder Manny Ramirez has also asked for a trade. Lucchino said discussions on Wells and Ramirez continue "with some frequency." BU FOOTBALL 9-- for Nicklaus. Baseball Red Sox court Millwood BOSTON Days after losing Johnny Damon to the New York Yankees, the Red Sox were meeting with his agent. Scott Boras, about bringing pitcher Kevin Millwood to Boston. Championship, where he went to work 5 p.m. KJZZ , ESPN y " NBA Memphis at Utah r, Television Larry O'Brien, a PALM BEACH. Fla. Chicago at Todd Christenseh "QiBYUFootball MONDAY 10 NFL ON THE AIR at 83 Sunday, December 25. 2005 HERALD DAILY D4 . Somewhere in Utah County happy has opened is playing his off with the ship. In another there is a group his M) and wrists and fingers avant garde game part of the county of young men that are riding their', x in the back- new . OLYMPICS yard, screaming with glee as the frigid wind blows through their hair. In yet another home, there is the. impressionable young man who has gone to his girlfriend's home to endow her with that dia- - ' mond ring, which not only is the best gift of all. but makes her the happiest and luckiest girl in the ' Davis skates to own tune on nath to OlvninICS 1 Paul Newberry Most black kids growing up 'jn ( 'hicagrt's South Side in the mn and '90s wanted to soar ' 'hr.ough the air like' M.J. or 'lake handofl's for Da Bears. Sham Davis had other ideas. A couple of tunes a week: he climbed into a car with his dot inn mother for the und-- i commute to the m lit h side, where he would don a pai.ro! skates, snuggle into a tight lilting suit and try to go laster than anyone else on the ' ' one-hou- ice Davis' friends struggled to make sense of it all. turning to those familiar weapons of child-hKi- Ridicule Scorn. Humiliation. 'They doled Out deroga-torterms about his sexuality, called him an "Oreo" for hanging with all those white people at the rink. They wondered v " I why someone of obvious athletic ability would pass up the chance to shoot hoops or run with the football especially during such a glorious era in the Windy City's sporting life. Speedskating? What's that? "It was pretty derogatory st uf f . especially at t hat young . of an age.'' Davis recalled. "But what I was doing was so different. Now. when.l see some of those same people, they.truly respect what I do. A lot of them say they're sorry for what they said. I don't hold,it against them. They just didn't know any tiling about it." the Davis still skates to his own tune, an er-city interloper who has stirred" things up in a close-kniinn- spoil. always went against the grade." he said. "I didn't care what people said. That's skin deep. I did what I like." Come February, despite having failed in his historic quest to qualify for both the short and long track teams, Davis could be one of the biggest American stars at the Turin Games. For starters, his skin color ensures he will stand out few blacks compete in any of the winter sports. Then there's liis prowess on t he big oval world record holder in the 1.000 meters, former holder of the 1.500 mark, already qualified for the Olympic team. He very well could return to his old 'hood in Hyde Park with a gold medal or two hanging around his neck. No matter what happens, ' Mom has his back. "I ' ' If ' . i ' 3Ll KEV0RK v & DJANSEZIANAssociated Shani Davis waves to the crowd after falling in the Press Cherie Davis raised her only child as a single parent, got him involved in roller skating when he was 2 : ("he would go a couple of laps, then ask for quarters so he could play the video games"), became his manager and closest confidante, and defiantly stands up to even the smallest of slights. She's had a long-runnin- g battle with U.S. Speedskating and the country's Olympic hierarchy, believing they haven't done enough to support her son. She doesn't hesitate to rip off scathing to other skaters or their parents, warning them to stay out of Shani's business. She claims her son endured all sorts of racial harassment from a white skating community that called him "boy" and was quick to disqualify him from races at the smallest sign of trouble. "They turned up their nose and snubbed us," Cherie Davis said. "Now, they want to be our friends. Well, I don't want to be friends. I'll be the bad guy. People always say, 'Shani is really sweet, but ohhhh his mother."' Indeed, it's impossible to talk about Shani without bringing up his mom. Most skaters and officials are reticent to discuss her on the record, but their rolling eyes and tightened lips are a telling sign of how she's viewed in the speedskating world. That said, Shani wouldn't think of loosening ties with the woman who raised him, who made sure he never wanted for anything even when money was tight, who went out of her way to get him to every practice, every meet. The women who now fights all his battles so he can focus on his skating. Early January Indoor Soccer ( ' Rookie Hockey t Skatittg Lessons Hockey Lessons' d, was effort, excellent pass protection, terrific catches, hard running, steely resilience, the ability to comeback, superior quarterback play and a consuming belief in one another. A .500 record would seem to indicate that the team could be headed in any sort of direction but I am a "half-fulkind of guv. so I will jump on the bandwagon with the rest of the 30.000-odfaithful who packed Sam Boyd Stadium in Vegas. That being said. I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to proffer my own mythical Christmas gifts on this holiday. There are a myriad to be given. but I will focus on three here that I believe will be particularly useful for the program in the year 2006. 11. To John Beck: Serenity. While it was clearly a stellar year for Beck statistically, the rigidity of his play belied the joie de vivre' that should be his as a premier college quarterback. Most ev- -' eryone by now is aware of his background and affinity for the legacy of BYU football. At times it appeared that he was carrying that, the program, the team, and the University itself on his back.. As he heads into his fourth year as a starter, he needs to control what he can and play the game with all of his assets arm, feet, head and heart, unconcerned about anyone's opinion other than coaches and teammates. If he does this, the "legacv" will take care of itself. 1 2. To the BYU defense: s. Yes. there were a plethora of injuries, and yes, they were at inopportune times, but the reality is that even the injured players were not play makers. There is something to be said for a coaching staff to put people in the right positions, but I cannot shake that picture of little Chris Hale, a converted wide receiver, try- ing to tackle 5, Maurice Stovall of Notre Dame. Too many times the Cougars were overmatched on this side of the ball. An outside pass rusher, a couple of nosetackles, some athletic safeties and any corners that could cover . would immediately be given keys to the city. non-sto- p l" d v Play-maker- , . rican-America- . j -- ASSOCIATED PRESS ' d g Sharapova withdraws from tournament GOLD COAST, Australia Maria Sharapova with- Co-e- unexplained slow start, too many penalt ies. inconsistency on both sides of the ball, ineffective special teams, missed tackles, a defense that could not stop anyone and an inability to execute in the clutch. On the other hand though, there hard-hittin- THE Ftttsal 35-2- 8 185-pou- TENNIS o Now!! Register Start -- ... The 20U5 football season for BYU is not dissimilar to the variety of these Christmas experidefeat at the ences, and the hands of the Cal Bears in the Las Vegas Bowiwas a microcosm of said analogy. There was the - 1,000-met- . . socks. . semifinals at the U.S. Short Track championships in this Dec 16 photo. Davis started breaking the norm early in life. While most of his friends on Chicago's South Side preferred sports such as basketball and football, Davis headed to the skating rink. Ice Skating Holiday Family Fun! Programs overall standings one spot "Tf someone is doing someaw.ay from making the five-- ' thing against your child, team.his best in not man that's something He won't even attend the interests, how many parents U.S. long track championships. would stand aside and let that which begin Tuesday in Salt happen?" he said. "I never Lake City, preferring to begin asked to be put on this Earth. I never talked to my mom behis Olympic training in solitude forehand and said, 'Hey, I want rather than take part in a trials-- ' to be born, I want to be in this style meet that will fill out the remaining spots on the team. sport, I want to do this or that.' Davis' failure to qualify for She feels it's her duty and I short track could benefit his agree with her to take care of me. If taking care of me performance on the big oval. He.won't have to worry about means getting involved in my business, that's fine." doing the doublcallowing him to concentrate on the events Another long track skater, where he has the best chance Kip Carpenter; insists Davis is for medals. "a great guy" who gets along "They always say when just fine with his fellow competone door closes, another one itors. Still, Carpenter acknowlopens." Davis said. "It's up to edges the unique arrangement me to find it. Hopefully, all my of "Team Shani." "He's his own person, but experiences (at the short track I don't know how many decitrials) will motivate me. I had a grasp of my goal, and I fumsions he makes on his own," bled it. I've got to make sure Carpenter said. "I believe he I catch it the next time. I can't has a lot of direction. In a lot of instances, he doesn't even have any mistakes. I've got to make an effort, someone else master it." Even if he does. Davis is makes the effort for him or just handles it. I was maybe 7 skeptical about the prospects of or 8 the last time my mom put cashing in on Olympic gold. He clothes out for me to wear for 'doesn't believe U.S. Speedskatschool." ing does enough to promote Davis became the first black its athletes, andnis battle over speedskater to make the U.S. sponsorship issues led to him Olympic team in 2002. He harddemanding that his biography be removed from the organizaly had time to celebrate before another skater screamed fix, tion's Web site. "The rights of the athlete are accusing Apolo Anton Ohno sold away." he said. "There's and Rusty Smith of conspiring no type of individualism. If ybu to get their friend on the short .track squad. The charges were try to be an individual, you're tossed out and Davis stayed on punished for it." the team, but he wasn't picked ' Davis knows better than to skate in Salt Lake City. anyone that speedskating Over the past four years, remains a minor sport in the Davis emerged as one of the U.S.. popping up every four world's best long track skaters, years and fading away as soon his frame 2, as the flame is extinguished. better suited to racing against When people say an Olympic the clock on a big, sweeping medalWould bring all sorts of oval. Still, he refused to give financial rewards, he quickly up short track, reveling in the points out that he heard the excitement of pack racing on a same thing before he marie his first World Cup team, before tightly bunched hockey rink. Earlier this month, having he won his first world championship, before he set his first already qualified for the long track team through his strong world record. World Cup performances, Davis "I've gotten more and more tried to become the first Ameriattention, but I've never gotten can to make both speedskating . anything else," Davis said. "I'm still waiting. A lot of people say squads at the same Olympics. It it will come when I'm an Olymwas a daunting challenge that left his fellow skaters in awe. pic champion. Well, at least "I tell people it's like having there will be no more excuses a track cyclist go do road cyif that happens. We'll really see what it's all about. I'm not even cling," Ohno said. "It's two to; tally different sports. It's crazy. sure anymore." I don't know how he does it." Davis' mother is even more blunt in her assessment. Alas, Davis came up short at the short track trials in "What would I tell other A'f-n kids?' she said. Marquette, Mich., earlier this month, falling in the final event "I would tell them to do track and winding up sixth in the and field." . t, white-dominate- d ' 1 . hen-som- e , c , world. Of course there is also the fa-ther who stares in disbelief at the tie which marks the 12th straight Christinas in which he has been stuck with' such paisley polyester. There is the mother who does not understand why people do not realize that just because she can cook well does not mean that she wants recipe books for a gift. And then there is the young man who would like to know what the compulsion for his grandparents is that they need to give him tube g 3. To Bronco Mendenhall: Vision. It was his first year in a job that is overwhelming in its responsibility, most of which is not even on the field. Nevertheless, it is the Australian Open (in January)." The Sharapova sustained the injury in the second half of this season after she became the first Russian-born female to reach the 'No. 1 ranking. She reached at least the quarterfinals at all 15 events she played, losing to the eventual champion at all four majors this year. drew from the Australian women's hardcourt tennis tournament at Royal Pines ' on Saturday due to a strained right shoulder. "I am very disappointed to have to withdraw because my right shoulder is not yet ready to allow me to compete at the tour level," Sharapova said in a stateFILC PHOTO Associated Press ment. "I hope to be able to play Maria Sharapova wiH not (there) in 2007, and will be compete at this year's doing everything possible in Australian women's hardcourt consultation with my doctors tennis tournament because of to be healthy enough to play a strained shoulder. incumbent upon Mendenhall to further his scope of understanding and broaden his savvy in terms of game-tim- e decisions. He needs to consider the possibility of hiring a defensive coordinator, or, if not, ceding some decision-makin- g to other assistants. He also needs to ,takea hardlookathisJ3-5de- - "''. r fense which, in as vast an under--' statement as 1 can make, was inef-- 1 fective. Regardless, it can be said with certitude that if the program does not move forward, it will not be for a lack of vigilance on the part of the head coach. , Merry Christmas ' " |