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Show je HERALD BRIEFING BB ontis NY. eden Chantel 5 p.m. ESPN an tem. Set aeeneretinyquicions See Seton ree yho's considering retirement, and ee ee he ON THE AIR Televisi BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall announced on Monday that running back recruit Harvey BY Unga has requested to delay his enrollmentat YU “Wefeel this decision is best for both Harvey and our program,” Mendenhall said. “Through the process of making this decision, Harvey has expressed his strong commitment to our program. We are WNBA wiIh Ann Charlotte at Washington wantsback, apparently regardless of whether Williams is acquired. _6pm._ESPN2 Boxing_ equally committed to Harveyand look forward to him joining our program.” Unga was oneof three players from Provo's Timpview HighSchooltosign with BYUin February, The 6-foot, 210-pound running back had over 1,300 yards rushing in 2004 in helping Timpview to the Class 4Astate title. » Sikma signs contract extension with Sonics: At Seattle, the SuperSonics signed assistant coach Jack Sikma to a three-year contract extension Monday. Sikma, who played nine seasons with Seattle, the Sonics in 2003 as special assignments coach and was promoted to assistant coach last year. TENNIS Agassi out; Roddick eager to tune up for U.S. Open Radio Pioneer Piones Casper at Orem Baseball “Tp.m. 1400 AM WASHINGTON — ForAndy Roddick, the various stops on the summer hard-court circuit are the means to an end, a chance to do what's needed to get ready for the U.S. Open. WhatAndre Agassi’s 35-yearoid back needs right now is some rest, so he’s skipping this week’s Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Agassi withdrew Monday, hours before play began at the $600,000 tournament where Roddick is Mendenhall said Unga is expected to enroll in Janu- ary andjoin the team at that time. Also on Monday, Mendenhall announced he has released offensiveline recruit Peter Vailahi from his commitmentto playfootball for the Cougars. “This was a mutualdecision madein the best interest of Peter, as well as our football program,” Mendenhallsaid. Vailahi,a 6-foot-4, 290-poundoffensivelineman Yet whenthe league's moratorium onsignings formally expires today at noon EDT, the Heat could quickly find themselves in a barrageof other activity — including a trade that reportedly would send away veteran Eddie Jones and his $14.5 million salary. Team ownerMicky Arison said signed with the Cougarsin Februaryand is expected to pursue other playing opportunities closerto his Mondaythat O'Neal’s deal will be- comeofficial “within a very short period”following the end of the moratorium, which was pushed homein North arte ) UVSCsignscenter: UVSC women's basketball coach Cathy Nixon announcedthe signing of Lauren Smith, a 6-foot-5 center from Paso Robles High Schoolin Paso Robles, Calif. Smith averaged a double-doubleof11 points and 10.1 rebounds per gameduring her senior yearof high schoolfor the Paso Robles Bearcats. Nixonhas also added former Eastern Utah standout Veva Whiteartothe roster for the 2005-06 season. Whitear, a 5-4 guard from MorganHigh School, averaged 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds,3.9 assists and 37 steals per game during her sophomoreseasonat CEU and was named Second Team All-Region in the Scenic West Athletic Conference. NBA End of moratorium could usherin Shaq deal, and other Heat moves MIAMI— Shaquille O'Nealwill soonsign a longterm contract to stay with the Miami Heat, a move that can hardlybe considered a surprise. Owlz Continued from C1 Martinez followed with a single and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Billy Boyer then hit a groundball in the holethat lookedlike it would sneak intoleft field, but Casper shortstop Corey Wimberly made a backhanded stop and threw to third ahead of Martinez, whowas tagged out in a rundown. “Wehada coupleof base-running mistakes and when you're struggling to score runs, you can't make those mistakes,” said Orem manager Tom Kotchman.“It's just fundamental baseball. It’s something you practice every day in batting practice, but unless you doit in a game... it’s the way things have been going. I don’t have any answersforit.” The Rockies got to Orem starter Stephen Marek for three runs in the first inning. Casper would have scored even moreif Martinez, Orem’s catcher, hadn't picked off Wimberly at third with the bases loaded andnoouts. After Martinez’ big ive play, Marek got Kyle Blumenthaltofly out, but couldn't get out of the inning. Trevor Allen singled in a run and Daniel Mayora doubled in two runs with a shottocenterfield that rolled to the wall Orem got one of those runsback in Challenge Continuedfrom C1 In frontoflarge galleries that were obviously there to see the actor and hear him spout someone-liners, the weekend hacke.s oftenhit someshots that had the crowd wineing instead of admiring, Murrayseized lot of those moments, to the crowd's delight. But the heckling waspriceless, worth every pennyfora little innocent embarrassment “Weall hit a few bad shots, but this isn't pressure,” Freeman said. “Actually the comments from the peanutgallery makeit morefun.” back fromJuly 22 to allow attorShaquille O'Neal neysfor the league and union to finish drafting a written version of the new six-yearcollective baraining agreement. The Heatare believed io be offering O'Neal a five-year deal worth around$125 million, although neither the team nor the 12-time All-Star center's representatives would comment Mondayonfinancial pentti of Ecuador, who beat Nicolas Mahutof France HOCKEY Panthers sign free agents Nieuwendyk, Roberts MIAMI — Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts wanted the chanceto finish their careers together. The Florida Panthers sought savvy veterans to mold their youngtalent into winners. “It’s a very attractive situation,” Nieuwendyk said. Indeed,for both sides. The Panthers made the first movein hockey's free agent signing period Monday, signing the four-time All-Star center Nieuwendyk and longtime left wing Roberts away from the Toronto Maple Leafs hit a sinkerlinerthatfell in front of a hard-charging Stantrel Smith in center and skipped by him. Rightfielder Josh Cowles tracked downthe ball and threwit to third, but by that time Fowler was already safe.at third with atriple. Casperfinished off the inning with a sacrifice fly from Ramon Rodriguez and after Wimberly singled andstole second, he scored on an RBIsingle from Cole Garner to give Casper a 7-1 lead. Orem did manage to make a game ofit with a pair of runs in the seventh. Billy Boyersingled to leadoff the bottom of the seventh, just Orem'sthird hit of the game. After Colby Overstreet flew out, Cowles was hit by a pitch to keep the inning going and a passed ball allowed the runnersto moveinto scoring position. Coonsent a single up the middle to scoreboth runs,trimming the lead to 7-3, but Casperreliever Rafael Sanchezgot Statia to fly out to end the MARIO RUIZ/Dally Herald inning. Orem Owiz shortstop Hainley Statia slides into second base underRockies’ Eric The loss dropped Orem to0-2 in the YoungJr. at Monday night's game. ae half and 18-22 on the year, while np to 2-0 in the second wall aid 22-18. the bottomof the first when Bradley flu, held the Rockies scoreless for the The same two teams play again toCoon walked,stole second and scored next three innings before the Rocknight at 7 p.m. at Parkway Crossing whenHainleyStatia hit a groundball ies put the game awaywith four runs Field in Orem. that went under Blumenthal’s gloveat in the sixth. Allen led off the inni first base. with a solo homerun to rightfield. » Neil K. Warner can be reachedat Marek, whowas pitching with the Mayorawalked and Dexter Fowler nwarner@heraldextra.com. Today's cee CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT Time: 8 a.m. Location: Thanksgiving Point Driving Range NOKIA CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT Tee Time: 9 a.m. Format: Professionals and partners will play a scramble tournament competing againstthe other teams. rounds, ‘That speed wasirritating some pros, and Leisterfielded a complaint about it chimed inonceina while,too. ‘as he conducted aninterview There wereno hostilities from those in Murray's group, They would've played all day if they could. Murray seeminglyhad a punchline for any occasion. After one playerhit a few shotsintothe same ravine(from Murray was a dreampartner, joking After a quarterfinal loss to Robby Ginepriat Indianapolis, Roddickcited a sore right knee in taking last week off. He pronounced himself fit as he prepares to return to action tonight. Asoneofthe top 16 seeded players,he gota firstround bye. Roddick will start off against Giovanni La- The Miami Herald, quoting unnamed league sources, reported Mondaythat the Heat may trade Jones to the Memphis Grizzlies for point guard Jason Williams and small forward James Posey. TheHeathas also metthis offseason with free agent forward Antoine Walker, a three-time All-Star who averaged 19.1 points and nine rebounds last season for the Atlanta Hawksand BostonCeltics. They've already agreed to a five-year deal worth just more than $30 million with forward Udonis Has- Andstill, Miami is apparently considering a major star Dale Murphy, Murray's caddy, around with his scramble teammates. Hecalled them by name and even took a few pokes at groups in front or behind his. He had the time. Play was moving at molasses-like pace — around six-hour seeded No,1. shake-up. specifics. tire peanut gallery. Former major league Murraywas, for the most part, the en- Andy Roddick three different holes), Murray asked if hehadrelatives there. “You sure do aim for that areaa lot,” he finished. Later, Murray's group was downright uglyas it skulled tee shots, Hitting last, Murray calmly senthis ball down the middle ofthe fairway. (After sarcastically asking, “How doesa person follow shotslike those?”) Hereturned to his cart, where more signature seekers awaited. "See,fellas,” he chortled. “That's what happens whenyou hit the good shots. You get to sign the autographs.” Whenthe crowds started to suffocate him, Murray stepped back, andpointed out thathis wife had arrived. He put his arm around an eight-year-old girl, who wasall smiles. So wasTy Mattingly, a former BYU football player who received a genuine compliment on No. after he drilled a perfect 6-iron. Murray was headed back to his cart when the Provo businessman strucka crisp shot on the par-3 that bounced ontothe green and struck the flag. “Great shot,” Murraysaid. No joke. The man who hadthe best view, and didn't have to pay a dime to getit, was Pleasant Grovepatrol sergeant Darrin Brown. Hesaid it was random drawthat allowed him the chance to hang with Murrayforthe loop.It wasn't all laughs, though.Talkingto a reporter, the security guard had one eye on Murray the wholetime. Dressed likea typical golf fan —“pall: cap, white short-sleeved shirt and khakis — Brown'sonly difference from the crowd wasthathe also packed heat. Crazygolf hooligans, you know. “It’s a little bit harder job because you haveto stay focused the whole time,” Brownsaid, “Butit'sstill a lot of fun. You get to hear lot of jokes with this group. Andit didn't cost his company any money,or Brown any embarrassment from showcasing an erratic driver. Murraycalled him byfirst name, too, » Jason Franchuk canbereac!hed at jfranchuk@heraldextra.com. “HE TOLD ME, 1 DID SOMETHING IGNORANT’ ” nagumare wed be et Proofthat parents aren't nearly done wrecking kids’ games came in twostories that crossed paths last week. One of them may have set a new low in youth-league ing — andto get a sense of just how low,the story it slithered underinvolved a few dozen 8 and 9-year-olds watching a parent go after an umpire who was all of 15. Oneofthe coaches presentat that game,in Carteret, N.J., called it “the most outrageous and horrendous thing+that I've ever dealt with.” Andthat was the lesserof the twoevils. You never know when story aboutyet another sadistic Little League parent or coach — all too often, one and the same — is going to get traction with the public. The most encouraging thing about the case of 8-year-old Harry Bowersis that it already has traction wa coeslss County prosecutors nnsylvania. Bree stuck Bowers’ T-Ball coach, Mark Downs Jr., 27, with twocountsof criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault and one count each of corruption of minors,criminal ou,of person.Heis accused ofof aici one of Bowers’ teammates $25 to knock Bowersoutof the game during warmups. But wait,it gets worse, Bowersis coping with autism, a speechimpairment and memory problem, which can make catching a ball tough. Andjust before a playoff gamein late June, 8year-old Keith Reese said Downs told him to warm up with Bowers in practice. This, Reese said in a preliminary hearing in Uniontown, Pa.,last week,is what Downs told him next: “He told me if I would hit (Bow- ers) in the face, he would pay me $25,” Reese said. Reese's first toss hit Bowersin the groin. Downs then allegedly told him, “Go out there and hit him * harder.” “So I wentout,” said Reese, one of the team’sstars,“andhit him in the ear.” The bylawsof the R.W.Clark Youth Baseball Leaguestateall players must play three innings in every game. After her son was plunked twice, Jennifer Bowers said Downs told her,“The balls must be after him. He should take the dayoff.” Even moreincriminating was something Reese's father, Keith ReeseSr., testified that Downs said after the game. “Hetold me,'I did somethingignorant. I told (Keith)I'd give him $25 to hit Harryin the face to take him outof the game,”the elder Reese said. Downs,whowill be arraigned Sept. 15, didn’t testify at the hearing. But attorney Thomas Shaffer denied theallegations, explaining that the confusion was understandable. Accordingto Shaffer, Downsjokingly offered a $25 bounty during a previous game to “anybody whocan line drive the ref with the ball” — after Downs wascautioned by the umpirein that game. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Either way, more and more of theseincidents are bubbling up in recentyears, thoughit’s difficult to say whether that’s a function of a growing hysteria or simply moreextensive reporting. In 1996, most such episodes were es) place at the high schoollevel. During one notorious six-weekstretch thatfall, a soccerplayer in New ney suffered a concussion and needed 16 See LITKE, C4 “Fimallh, a G pack for tine winolle fannie” tickets 6 drinks 4 hot dogs Monday August 1st Orem Owlz Vs. Casper Rockies @7:05 PM 6 for $36 Sponsored by call 377- www.oremowlz.com |