| OCR Text |
Show Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 StatesmanSportS Page IS Jackson keeping his word Two games later in a home game against Preseason football hype in Aggie land went something like this: The defense the University of Idaho, Jackson began by would be deeper with all starters back, completing his first seven passes. But later the kicking game would have more leg on, he racked up two more interceptions and distance, and the offense under a new (one of which was taken back 98 yards for coordinator would be making more visits a score). That prompted Guy to replace Jackson with true freshman Riley Nelson to the end zone. But there's something else to mention for the majority of the remaining season. Now fast-forward to the present. In the here on a more personal player level. Quarterback Leon Jackson lit declared we Game 1 loss to UNLV, Jackson completed would all see that the 2007 Aggie cam- 13 of 19 passes for 137 yards and zero interceptions. In only one other paign will be a different one for game of 2006 did Jackson pass for him — one for the better. more yardage. "Past failures don't dictate In the second quarter, Jackson future successes," Jackson said completed a critical 27-yard pass Aug. 10. to tailback Aaron Lesue that put Of all the afore-mentioned USU at the UNLV two-yard line, predictions, Jackson's statement setting up a rushing touchdown of his own personal effort is the by Lesue. only one closest to exactness after one game. Against UNLV, In the final quarter, it was an extra point was missed, big Jackson running for the Aggies' plays were given up late in the second and final touchdown of game by the defense, and the the game. Remember, last season offense fumbled four times. the Aggie offense didn't see the end zone until the fifth game. What about Jackson? Go JACKSON "We had that emotion. There was back with me for a moment to last no thought we were going to lose September. It's all pretty plain. The Aggie football team — particularly the game," Jackson said. When asked if he thought he played the offense — was struggling. Though USU was down only 10-7 until the final sec- well, Jackson did all he could to defer the onds of the third quarter to the Wyoming attention. Cowboys in the season opener, the defense "No. Not really," he said. "I just play the finally fell apart at the seams in the fourth, game. It's just me out there. I'm not worand the game was lost 38-7. The Aggies' rying about what happens or anything. All lone touchdown came from the defense that is the past. The next play is the most — a 45-yard interception return by Antonio important play. I don't really care about Taylor. thoughts. Who cares about how I play? I That offensive scoring drought would don't care. We put points on the board and continue for three more games. In that gave ourselves an opportunity to win the four-game span, Jackson threw four inter- game late in the game." ceptions that were all taken straight into In the grand scheme of things, it's only the end zone by the other side. one game of course, but a tempo has This thorny stretch perhaps reached its been set. If Jackson peak in Game 3 vs. the University of Utah. can keep this up, the The weather was a perfect reflection of the 2007 season will cerplay on the field — absolutely dismal. Just tainly be a far cry from over a minute into the game, Jackson was last year's 1-11 nightintercepted the by the Utes' Eric Shyne, mare. who waltzed 21 yards for a score. Sammy Hislop is a Near the end of the third quarter, Jackson junior majoring in public was picked again by the Ute defense. It was relations. Comments returned 45 yards for another touchdown. can be sent to him at Head Coach Brent Guy had seen enough, samuel.hislop&aggiand for the first time in the season, Jackson email.usu.edu was benched. Seattle wins over Yankees (AP) — Roger Clemens' elbow forced him out of the opener of the New York Yankees' big threegame series against the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro Suzuki had three hits to equal another record, Clemens left early and the Mariners beat the Yankees 7-1 Monday. Clemens (6-6) allowed five runs and eight hits in four innings, then went for an MRI exam. "First three innings it was a manageable situation for him and then it started to tighten up," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Hopefully it's just something that needs a little rest." Suzuki homered in the third inning to reach 200 hits for the seventh consecutive season, tying the AL mark held by Wade Boggs (1983-89) and moving within one of the major league record held by Willie Keeler (1894-01). Seattle ended a nine-game losing streak and trimmed New York's wild-card lead to one game. The Mariners won for the first time since beating Texas 4-2 NEW YORK YANKEES CATCHER JORGE POSADA (20) tags Seattle Mariners'Adrian Beltre out at home during fifth inning MLB baseball Tuesday night, Sept. 4 at Yankee Stadium in New York. AP Photo on Aug. 24. "1 can sleep tonight," manager John McLaren said. "That's a start." In other games, it was Boston 13, Toronto 10; Los Angeles 9, Oakland 5; Cleveland 5, Minnesota 0; Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 7; and Kansas City 8, Texas 1. Felix Hernandez (11-7) allowed five hits over seven innings, improving to 5-1 in his last eight starts. The age difference between Clemens (45) and Hernandez (21) was the largest between opposing starters since Florida's Charlie Hough (46) matched up against San Francisco's Salomon Torres (22) on April 16,1994. New York's Mike Mussina pitched 3 2-3 innings in his first relief appearance in 499 regularseason games, setting the major league record for most starts to begin a career before a relief appearance. "I might be pitching Roger's turn the next time," Mussina said, "but we'll wait and see." \MSeeMLB,pagel6 JUSTINE H E N I N of Belgium pumps her fist after winning a point against Serena Williams of the United States during their match at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 4. AP Photo/Ed Betz Henin ousts Williams from Open quarterfinals NEW YORK (AP) —Maybe Serena Williams wasn't as healthy as she said. Maybe she wasn't as match-tested as she really needed to be. This much is certain: When it comes to playing Justine Henin at Grand Slams this year, Williams has been overmatched every time. Finding all the right angles and hanging tough on long rallies. Henin beat Williams 7-6 (3), 6-1 Tuesday night to reach the U.S. Open semifinals. They have met in the quarterfinals at three consecutive majors, and Henin is 3-0. "Playing Serena is really exciting for me," Henin said. "I was really happy about the second set: I played much more aggressive." So while the formerly No. 1-ranked Williams is the active leader among women with eight Grand Slam titles and will stay on that number, current No. 1 Henin will have a chance to get her seventh major. Henin's next opponent could be another Williams: Serena's older sister, Venus, faces No. 3 Jclena Jankovic in the quarterfinals Wednesday night. Not much question for whom Henin will be rooting — she's 1-7 against Venus Williams, 7-0 against Jankovic. Henin beat the younger Williams at the French Open en route to her fourth title in five years there, and again at Wimbledon. "I got a lot of confidence in Paris and London," Henin said. Their matchup at Wimbledon in July didn't feature Williams at her absolute best: She could barely hit backhands after spraining her left thumb and hurting her left calf in the previous round. Because of the thumb, Williams withdrew from every event she was scheduled to play in the 1 1/2 months between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. But she arrived at Flushing Meadows full of confidence, as usual, and said she didn't need tuneup tournaments to get ready. While Williams' thumb appeared fine, and there were no other obvious injuries, her father said Sunday that she was dealing with other physical problems — and doing a "marvelous job of hiding it." Regardless, Tuesday's match featured brilliant play by both past U.S. Open champions, from stinging serves to big groundstrokes to touch volleys. Henin was far better at the net, winning 11 of 14 points when she pressed forward, while Williams was only 5-for-14. Mostly, though, the difference-maker was Henin's ability to steer Williams this way and that along the baseline until the Belgian could find an open- ing for her smooth backhand or a well-placed forehand. Repeatedly, especially in the second set, Henin wrong-footed Williams to end a point. The first set was much closer and of much higher quality. Henin broke in the opening game by ending a tight net exchange with a forehand volley, and she served for the opening set at 5-4. But Williams buckled down to break back right there with a backhand return winner down the line and a loud, "Come on!" The tiebreaker began with a 23stroke point in which Williams made two great defensive plays before swatting a backhand passing winner down the line. "I really got nervous at that time," Henin said, "and I knew every point was important." She showed it, delivering a 105 mph ace to go up 4-2, followed by a forehand winner she punctuated with a yell of "Allezl" Williams seemed deflated and dumped a forehand into the net to end the set. Henin took control right away in the second set, breaking for a 2-0 lead as Williams' mother and coach, Oracene Price, rested a cheek on a hand, barely able to watch. "It's kind of like she had no energy. Noget-up-and-go," Price said. "Tennis is a head game, sometimes. Your head tells you Cubs sale process moving slowly CHICAGO (AP) —Five months after Tribune Co. announced plans to sell the Chicago Cubs, the first-place ballclub is making much more noise on the field than its corporate owners have been about the slow-moving sale process. But whether the Cubs make the playoffs or even manage to capture their first World Series in 99 years, an emerging lineup of deep-pocketed bidders has put Tribune in strong position to net a record sale price for the franchise. Tribune put the team and historic Wrigley Field on the block in April, saying it would sell the team after the season and intended to do so by the end of the year. But its bankers have yet to send out detailed financial information to prospective bidders and are not expected to do so until mid-September, jeopardizing that timetable. A source familiar with the sale process said there's no chance of the sale being completed this year, with a more realistic target now baseball's opening day in spring 2008. The source, who declined to be identified out of concern of disrupting the process, said "five or six legitimate groups" have emerged as wouldbe buyers, but declined to give details. Tribune, which is in the process of going private in an $8.2 billion buyout being led by real estate magnate Sam Zell, isn't talking about dates, names or numbers. A spokesman for the media conglomerate, Gary Weitman, said the company doesn't want the process to be a distraction to the season. "We'd like to get the sale done as soon as possible after the baseball season ends," Weitman said. "But I can't and wouldn't predict what the timing will be." Guitarist GEICO. A15-minutecall could save you 15% on car insurance. 1513 N. Hillfield Rd., Suite 3 (801)752-0485 Tommy EmmanuQl is returning to in Logan Don't miss out on this memorable performance Wad.fioptember19th at thQ UfiU Porformanee Hall 7:30 pm Tickets §15 or free with student ID For ticket reservations call 797-3011 |
