Sports - The Salt Lake Tribune

French Open: Unlike injured Nadal, Federer has stayed healthy

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:08:22 MDT

French Open: Unlike injured Nadal, Federer has stayed healthy

by Howard Fendrich Ap Tennis Writer

Published May 24, 2013 03:08PM MDT

Paris • Perhaps not surprisingly, the first three questions posed to Roger Federer at his pre-French Open news conference Friday concerned rival and nemesis Rafael Nadal. The third was about the difficulties of making a successful return from injury, the way Nadal has, reaching the final at all eight tournaments he’s played in 2013 after going more than half a year between matches. Federer shrugged and replied simply: “I don’t know. I have never been out for seven months.” No he hasn’t. Federer ...

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5A baseball: Bingham outlasts Layton for title (with video)

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:08:22 MDT

5A baseball: Bingham outlasts Layton for title (with video)

by Christopher Kamrani the Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 03:08PM MDT

Orem • Bending each side of his blue Bingham baseball cap, Joey Sato took a very deep breath and instructed his Miners, celebrating the school’s 21st state championship, to move the hooting and hollering off the mound. It was a long, wild and wacky game that delivered Bingham the Class 5A baseball state championship, a back-and-forth error-filled extravaganza that the Miners eventually won 6-5 over a gritty group of Layton Lancers. “They knew the task,” Sato said. “I wanted them to have good, qu...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

4A boys’ soccer: Bountiful powers past Orem for title (with video)

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:39:21 MDT

4A boys’ soccer: Bountiful powers past Orem for title (with video)

by Christopher Kamrani The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 02:39PM MDT

Sandy • The lights didn’t come at Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday evening. They didn’t need to. They didn’t need to because the Bountiful Braves played their best game of the season when it mattered most. In the Class 4A state title game, Bountiful’s impressive and rare conglomerate of players and styles melded together in a 2-0 win over Orem. The lights stayed off, and once the clock ran dry, the Braves, clad in all black, sprinted to the south goal and mobbed under a nearly full moon. “This was ...

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5A boys’ soccer: Lehi blanks Bingham for state title (with video)

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:12:43 MDT

5A boys’ soccer: Lehi blanks Bingham for state title (with video)

by Christopher Kamrani The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 12:12PM MDT

Sandy • Purple streamers tumbled around the grass at Rio Tinto Stadium. Some caught onto the heels of players. Others, blowing in the wind, wrapped around the Pioneer players dancing and screaming and laughing. The accomplishment, a Class 5A boys’ soccer state championship for Lehi and its 2-0 win over Region 4 rival Bingham on Thursday evening, was dwarfed by an entire season. Jerry Preisendorf used one word to describe this year’s team, the team that ended up waving flags in the air and spra...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP source: FIFA task force seeks 5-game racism ban

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:04:03 MDT

AP source: FIFA task force seeks 5-game racism ban

by Rob Harris The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 12:04PM MDT

London • FIFA’s new anti-racism task force will ask soccer’s governing body next week to approve a mandatory five-match minimum ban for any player found guilty of racist abuse, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday. The anti-racism task force is to report to the FIFA Congress in Mauritius next week, aiming for FIFA to introduce the mandatory ban in all 209 member nations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss th...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cyclist tests positive for EPO, risks life ban

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:57:02 MDT

Cyclist tests positive for EPO, risks life ban

by Andrew Dampf Ap Sports Writer

Published May 24, 2013 11:57AM MDT

Rome • Cycling’s first major race since the end of the Lance Armstrong case was rattled by another high-profile positive doping test Friday. Former Giro d’Italia winner Danilo Di Luca tested positive for EPO in a surprise check at his home before this year’s race, organizers said. If confirmed in a backup “B’’ sample, Di Luca risks a lifetime ban since this is his third offense. “I wasn’t expecting this. It was a surprise for me. I’m disappointed,” Di Luca said upon leaving his team’s hotel in n...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

James, Bryant voted to All-NBA first team

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:57:02 MDT

James, Bryant voted to All-NBA first team

The Associated Press

Published May 24, 2013 11:57AM MDT

New York • LeBron James was a unanimous pick for the All-NBA team and Kobe Bryant earned his record-tying 11th first-team selection. James received all 119 votes for the first team from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Joining the league’s MVP and Bryant on the first team Thursday were Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, San Antonio center Tim Duncan and Clippers guard Chris Paul. Bryant tied Utah Hall of Famer Karl Malone with his 11th first-team nod. NB...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kragthorpe: SLCC softball keeps coming close

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:51:08 MDT

Kragthorpe: SLCC softball keeps coming close

by Kurt Kragthorpe Tribune Columnist

Published May 24, 2013 11:51AM MDT

Nobody’s sure how to greet Mary Kay Amicone these days, after her Salt Lake Community College softball team finished second in the NJCAA tournament for the third year in a row. Congratulations? Condolences? Consolation? She’ll accept any combination of those expressions. Amicone realizes how difficult it is to reach the finals every year, with a revolving group of sophomores bouncing back and doing whatever it took to get there again. But losing hurts, obviously. The pain extends through a suppo...

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5A baseball: Bingham blasts Riverton, Miners to play for title

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:30:02 MDT

5A baseball: Bingham blasts Riverton, Miners to play for title

by Aaron Falk The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 09:30AM MDT

Orem • The saying in the Bingham Miners’ dugout has been the same all season. Block out everything else. Focus on “the next 200 feet.” The end finally is in sight. The Miners got hits from eight different players and a three-hit gem from pitcher Brennon Lund to beat region rival Riverton 11-1 in Thursday’s Class 5A winners bracket final at Utah Valley University. “There’s a lot of excitement right now,” said catcher Jacob Druce, who had three RBIs. “But our main focus is that we’ve still got o...

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Chicago on brink of being ousted

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:30:03 MDT

Chicago on brink of being ousted

the Associated Press

Published May 23, 2013 11:30PM MDT

Detroit • Jimmy Howard kept Jonathan Toews in his misery, making three saves against the struggling star to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 on Thursday night in Game 4 of the second round series to put the NHL’s best team during the regular season on the brink of elimination. When Howard wasn’t using his glove or pads to deny Toews, Detroit’s skaters were rattling him and his teammates with a physical presence that is clearly making them uncomfortable. “They are gettin...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

PCL baseball: Despite big hitting performances, Bees fall to Redbirds

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:42:03 MDT

PCL baseball: Despite big hitting performances, Bees fall to Redbirds

by Kyle Goon The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 10:42PM MDT

Andrew Romine and Keith Johnson have a history that stretches far beyond Salt Lake — back to when both were in Single A Cedar Rapids five years ago. Romine, the 27-year-old infielder, has learned to value his longtime manager’s advice. The two spent some time during Thursday’s batting practice talking about Romine’s slow start at the plate since coming back down to Triple A. Johnson, who doesn’t lack for talking points, had a surprisingly simple message. “It was mental approach more than physic...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

4A baseball: Slam lifts Salem Hills into title game

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:30:21 MDT

4A baseball: Slam lifts Salem Hills into title game

by Aaron Falk The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 10:30PM MDT

Orem • Salem Hills coach Scott Haney already had his ace. Colton Hill has been the Skyhawks’ No. 1 pitcher for the past three seasons. But Haney still was looking for a player to step up and win that second spot entering this season. That man was on the bump and in a jam Thursday evening with Salem Hills looking for a win to put the school in the Class 4A baseball state title game. Garret McEwan had given up a leadoff triple to Maple Mountain’s Jonah Flinders then watched as Flinders scored and ...

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4A softball: Youthful Salem Hills captures state crown

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:30:21 MDT

4A softball: Youthful Salem Hills captures state crown

by Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 10:30PM MDT

Taylorsville • They said it was a rebuilding year. They said there was no way Salem Hills could replace 11 seniors who made a run to the state championship game last season. Competing for the first state title in school history would have to wait so maturation and experience could grow and prosper. The pundits were wrong. The Skyhawks claimed the first Class 4A championship in school history Thursday afternoon when an innocent pop up fell into the glove of shortstop Abbie Tuttle for the final ou...

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RG3 still aiming to return by Week 1

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:41:02 MDT

RG3 still aiming to return by Week 1

Published May 23, 2013 07:41PM MDT

Robert Griffin III’s rehab started with a “cry festival.” On Thursday, the road back included running some drills at an offseason practice. Wearing a helmet but no jersey and sporting a large brace on his reconstructed right knee, Griffin did some handoffs and throws with other teammates recovering from injuries. It’s the latest step toward his goal of playing in the season opener in September. “As soon as I woke up out of the surgery, I put the date of the first game in my phone,” Griffin said....

NBA playoffs: Heat, Pacers say Game 2 should be even better

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:07:34 MDT

NBA playoffs: Heat, Pacers say Game 2 should be even better

by Tim Reynolds The Associated Press

Published May 23, 2013 07:07PM MDT

Miami • Losing a game at the final buzzer, no less than a playoff game on the road against the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat, would seem to have potential to demoralize the Indiana Pacers. Or not. “Our belief,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said Thursday, “has strengthened.” Barely 12 hours after LeBron James scored on a drive as time expired in overtime to give the Heat a win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Pacers were more steeled than shaken when they arrived for practice at the...

Favors, Hayward get USA invites

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:21:02 MDT

Favors, Hayward get USA invites

the Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 06:21PM MDT

Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward will both participate in a Team USA minicamp this summer in Las Vegas, according to their agents. Both third-year players were members of the USA Men’s Basketball Select Team, which practiced against the Team USA before the London Olympics. Among other players known to be attending the camp, July 22-25, are Wizards guard Bradley Beal, Rockets forward Chandler Parsons, Bulls forward Taj Gibson and Bucks center Larry Sanders. The roster has not been announced by...

Friday’s TV/radio sports programming

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:10:03 MDT

Friday’s TV/radio sports programming

Published May 23, 2013 06:10PM MDT

Television — Auto racing • IRL, IndyCar, Indianapolis 500 Carb Day, 9 a.m., 11 a.m., NBCSN • IRL, Indy Lights, Freedom 100, 10 a.m., NBCSN Boxing • Junior middleweights, Delvin Rodriguez vs. Freddy Hernandez, 8 p.m., ESPN2 College baseball • Pac-12, Washington State at Oregon State, 5 p.m., Pac-12 • Pac-12, UCLA at Stanford, 8 p.m., Pac-12 College softball • NCAA Division I playoffs, Oklahoma at Texas A&M, 5 p.m., ESPN • NCAA Division I playoffs, Alabama vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m., ESPN2 • NCAA Div...

NBA playoffs: Grizzlies coach focused on Spurs, not his contract

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:56:02 MDT

NBA playoffs: Grizzlies coach focused on Spurs, not his contract

by Teresa M. Walker The Associated Press

Published May 23, 2013 05:56PM MDT

Memphis, Tenn. • Lionel Hollins has been more successful than any Grizzlies coach and will be a free agent after June 30. He has the Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals for the first time and has won more games with this team than any other coach. He probably wouldn’t have a problem getting another job, but is very happy with the one he has. And he’s not worrying about what the future holds. “I have a job,” Hollins said. “I’m happy with where we are and excited about what we’re doing. Th...

Golf: Colonial member Palmer has 1st-round lead with 62

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:53:03 MDT

Golf: Colonial member Palmer has 1st-round lead with 62

the Associated Press

Published May 23, 2013 05:53PM MDT

Fort Worth, Texas • Ryan Palmer was standing in the fairway on his last hole Thursday when his longtime caddie and fellow Colonial member issued a challenge. James Edmondson, who won his third Colonial club championship last year, told Palmer that a birdie would match the caddie’s low round at Hogan’s Alley. “What do you do when you get that thrown at you,” Palmer said. Palmer hit his approach to 5 feet at the 388-yard ninth hole for an 8-under 62 that matched the lowest PGA Tour first round at...

Auto racing: Andretti heads into Indy 500 trying to shake curse

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:20:02 MDT

Auto racing: Andretti heads into Indy 500 trying to shake curse

by Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

Published May 23, 2013 04:20PM MDT

Indianapolis • Shortly before he left home for Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Marco Andretti watched a documentary that showed his grandfather, Mario, at the famed track. “It was him and [radio announcer] Paul Page, they were walking down the start finish line and he said, ‘You know, I always said I hated this place,’” Andretti recalled. “And then he paused for a while and said, ‘I lied.’ That pretty much tells it all. We’ve been through a lot here, but we live for it.” Five different drivers from...