SEASON - The Salt Lake Tribune

Utahn a finalist on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:14:50 MDT

Utahn a finalist on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

By Scott D. Pierce The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 19, 2013 10:14AM MDT

Jenna Johnson has been preparing for “So You Think You Can Dance” for more than half her life. OK, she just turned 19. But she’s known she wanted to be on the show since it debuted in 2005. And she was named one of this season’s top 20 finalists on Tuesday’s episode of the Fox dancing competition. “I knew I wanted to be on that stage,” said Johnson, a Provo resident and Timpview High grad. “That’s why I trained in all the styles possible was with the ultimate goal to be here one day. That’s alwa...

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Pitcher safety against liners still issue for baseball

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:57:14 MDT

Pitcher safety against liners still issue for baseball

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 19, 2013 08:57AM MDT

Cleveland Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano has a recurring dream. A batter hits a line drive right back up the middle and it’s screaming toward his head. He wakes up just before impact. The real thing is a nightmare scenario that happens a couple times a season in the major leagues. “Guys are bigger now and hitting the ball harder and we’re throwing the ball harder and when a guy hits one right on the screws bad things can happen,” Pestano said. Most recently, it happened Saturday night i...

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Utah Football: Quinton Pedroza dismissed for violating team rules

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:16:23 MDT

Utah Football: Quinton Pedroza dismissed for violating team rules

By Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 19, 2013 11:16AM MDT

Two months remain until Utah makes its football season debut against Utah State. But the Utes are already thinner at wide receiver. Receiver Quinton Pedroza was dismissed from Utah for a violation of team rules, university officials told The Salt Lake Tribune. The 6-foot-2 California native had been poised to have a big junior season in Dennis Erickson’s new pass-oriented offense. Instead, this could turn out to be a big loss. Pedroza played sparingly in his first two years in the program, mos...

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

Winter sports: Lolo Jones rankles some bobsledders’ feathers

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:16:23 MDT

Winter sports: Lolo Jones rankles some bobsledders’ feathers

combined news services

Updated Jun 19, 2013 11:16AM MDT

Des Moines, Iowa • Lolo Jones’ attempt at humor in a video that’s gone viral received a chilly reception from some members of the bobsledding community. Like that, the U.S. hurdler who also recently picked up bobsled finds herself under scrutiny again. Jones posted a Vine video in which she pokes fun at a check she received for $741.84 as prize money from the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. In the spoof, she picks up the phone and says, “I’m going to be a little bit late on my rent.” Now, ...

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

Utah Jazz: UCLA’s Muhammad shows up but can’t work out

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:24:24 MDT

Utah Jazz: UCLA’s Muhammad shows up but can’t work out

By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 07:24AM MDT

The most high-profile player among the 12 invited to work out for the Utah Jazz on Monday never took a shot or participated in any drill. UCLA shooting guard Shabazz Muhammad attended the audition but could not play because of an ankle injury. His left foot was in a walking boot when he met the media. Muhammad said his ankle “just got really sore” after a workout in Minnesota on Sunday. He skipped working out for the Jazz as a precaution, although he wanted to meet the team’s personnel and coa...

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Bruins coach Claude Julien keeps even keel

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:36:36 MDT

Bruins coach Claude Julien keeps even keel

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 17, 2013 01:36PM MDT

Boston • Claude Julien doesn’t pay much attention to compliments or criticism. Just give him a pair of skates, players to teach and a spot behind the bench and the coach of the Boston Bruins is thrilled. “If I could come to work every day, do this stuff, then walk out of the rink and nobody knew who I was, I’d be the happiest guy in the world,” he says. “That’s just the way I am. It’s my personality.” It’s tough for him to be anonymous, however, when he’s three wins from a second Stanley C...

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

Women’s volleyball: Utes to appear at least 11 times on Pac-12 Networks

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:08:46 MDT

Women’s volleyball: Utes to appear at least 11 times on Pac-12 Networks

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 17, 2013 11:08AM MDT

Utah women’s volleyball will appear on the Pac-12 Networks at least 11 times next season as the broadcast schedule was released Monday. This includes 17 appearances for the returning conference champion Stanford. Additionally, 11 of the 12 Pac-12 rivalry matchups will air on Pac-12 Networks with Utah, Arizona State, Oregon State, California and Washington State opening Conference play at home against their regional rival Sept. 24-25, then close out the season as the visiting team Nov. 27-29. The...

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

Ex-WNBA chief suggests changes to NCAA basketball

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:27:38 MDT

Ex-WNBA chief suggests changes to NCAA basketball

By doug feinberg The Associated Press

Updated Jun 17, 2013 10:27AM MDT

The WNBA’s first president suggested that women’s college basketball needs to make changes if the sport is to grow. Val Ackerman was hired by the NCAA in November to assess the state of the women’s game. In a report submitted to the NCAA last week, Ackerman advised moving the Final Four back to a Friday-Sunday format, exploring a two-site super regional for the second week of the NCAA tournament and returning to a format in which the top 16 teams host the first two rounds. In Ackerman’s prop...

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

Football Writers honor Colts coach Pagano

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:10:02 MDT

Football Writers honor Colts coach Pagano

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 17, 2013 09:10AM MDT

Indianapolis • Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano has won the George Halas Award from the Professional Football Writers Association for overcoming adversity. Early in his first season as Colts coach, Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia and took a leave of absence. The team began winning under offensive coordinator Bruce Arians while Pagano underwent treatment for 12 weeks. Pagano worked from his hospital bed on game plans and analyzing practices even as he was recovering from the disease. After ...

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

4A softball MVP: Salem Hill’s Kirtlyn Bohling

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:03:03 MDT

4A softball MVP: Salem Hill’s Kirtlyn Bohling

By Eric Butler Special to The Tribune

Updated Jun 17, 2013 12:03AM MDT

One of the great things about Salem Hills softball standout Kirtlyn Bohling, according to her coach, is that she easily can shrug off something pretty quickly. High praise or big accomplishments don’t go to her head. Something undesirable fails to keep Bohling from keeping on track. That was especially useful in her position as the ace pitcher for the Skyhawks during the season. “She’s got a short memory,” Salem Hills coach Renae Kinghorn said. “She doesn’t dwell on a bad call. Whether striking ...

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

3A softball MVP: Stansbury’s Janessa Bassett

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:16:00 MDT

3A softball MVP: Stansbury’s Janessa Bassett

By Alex Riggins The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 17, 2013 12:16AM MDT

If softball is going to dominate a player’s life, then it helps if the player can dominate a game. Stanbury’s Janessa Bassett fit that description this season, dominating games and the base paths while helping the 4-year-old high school win its first state championship in any sport. “She’s the best player I’ve ever coached,” said Stansbury coach Bridget Clinton, who coached Grantsville to a state title in 1998. “She is the quintessential five-tool player. She has the best arm I’ve ever seen, a ...

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

2A softball MVP: San Juan’s Tatiana Su’esu’e

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:15:08 MDT

2A softball MVP: San Juan’s Tatiana Su’esu’e

By Aaron Falk The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 17, 2013 12:15AM MDT

Tatiana Su’esu’e wrote down her goals before each game of the season, a list of objectives her coaches had called “I Wills.” I will control my emotions, she wrote. Su’esu’e had set out to prove that she belonged in a Bronco uniform last season as a freshman on the San Juan softball team, trying to embarrass older batters with her pitching and swinging harder at the plate against older hurlers. Her father had prepared her for the challenge. For as long as she could remember, he had come home fro...

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

Tulowitzki on DL, out six weeks

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:37:45 MDT

Tulowitzki on DL, out six weeks

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 15, 2013 12:37AM MDT

The Colorado Rockies placed Troy Tulowitzki on the disabled list on Friday, and the star shortstop could miss up to six weeks because of a broken rib. Team spokesman Nick Piburn said an MRI taken Thursday night revealed a right rib fracture. Tulowitzki was injured earlier in the day while diving for a ball in the eighth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals. “I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s a big loss for us,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said Friday before Colorado hosted the Phila...

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

Giants star receiver Cruz signs $2.879 million tender

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:37:46 MDT

Giants star receiver Cruz signs $2.879 million tender

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 15, 2013 12:37AM MDT

New York • Wide receiver Victor Cruz has signed his $2.879 million tender with the New York Giants. Two people familiar with the contract told The Associated Press on Friday that the restricted free agent with three years in the NFL had signed the tender while he works on a long-term deal with the Giants. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced publicly. Had the 26-year-old Cruz not signed before Monday, the Giants’ offer could have been reduced to $...

This weekend on TV: "True Blood" is just for true fans of the show

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:23:03 MDT

This weekend on TV: "True Blood" is just for true fans of the show

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 14, 2013 05:23PM MDT

HBO's vampire series is a bloody mess - literally. True Blood (Sunday, 10 p.m., HBO) is swimming in faux plasma. And the convoluted plotlines have traveled far from Charlaine Harris' books. As Season 6 begins, Bill is resurrected; Sookie and Jason's fairy grandpa shows up; and vampires and humans are at each other's throats. If you aren't already a fan, you'll be totally lost.Friday on TV ...Dateline (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): A young sister and brother are torn apart when their mother disappear.Conti...

MLB teams playing unusual number of extra-inning games

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:37:46 MDT

MLB teams playing unusual number of extra-inning games

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 15, 2013 12:37AM MDT

Oakland, Calif. • Josh Reddick rushed out of the ballpark, more eager than ever to get home from yet another extra-long work day. Extra innings, that is. And a lot of them. Who could blame Reddick for his swift departure? He had played the equivalent of a day-night doubleheader, minus the break in between. Oakland teammate Brandon Moss followed closely behind en route to the Coliseum exit Thursday night after a 3-2 victory in 18 innings over the New York Yankees that gave the A’s a hard-earn...

Tulowitzki to miss up to 6 weeks with broken rib

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:37:47 MDT

Tulowitzki to miss up to 6 weeks with broken rib

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 15, 2013 12:37AM MDT

Denver • Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will be out between four and six weeks with a broken rib. Colorado Rockies spokesman Nick Piura said an MRI Thursday night revealed a right rib fracture. Tulowitzki was injured diving for a ball in the eighth inning of a 5-4 loss Thursday to the Washington Nationals. Tulowitzki told the Denver Post in a text that he was in a lot of pain and was upset after working so hard to come back from an injury-plagued 2012 season. Tulowitzki underwent season-...

Manchester City hires Manuel Pellegrini as manager

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:37:47 MDT

Manchester City hires Manuel Pellegrini as manager

The Associated Press

Updated Jun 15, 2013 12:37AM MDT

Manchester, England • Manchester City hired Manuel Pellegrini as manager Friday, entrusting a man nicknamed “The Engineer” with constructing a team to reclaim the Premier League title and become a force in the Champions League. The 59-year-old Chilean had been courted for months by City following impressive spells in Spain with Villarreal and Malaga. He also coached Real Madrid during his nine-year stint in Spain but was fired after one season despite guiding the team to its then-record points...

Weber State basketball: USU, BYU and UCLA on schedule

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:37:47 MDT

Weber State basketball: USU, BYU and UCLA on schedule

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 15, 2013 12:37AM MDT

Weber State basketball coach Randy Rahe built a schedule for the upcoming season which should present challenges to a squad which returns nearly intact from a 30-win season. The expected victories for the Wildcats, coming off a school-high 30-7 record in 2013 and the championship game of the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament, include home games against Saint Katherine College on Dec. 17 and Northern New Mexico on Dec. 28. The Wildcats expect harder going when they play at UCLA on Dec. 22....

Scott D. Pierce: Caan returns as an older, wiser mobster

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:23:01 MDT

Scott D. Pierce: Caan returns as an older, wiser mobster

By Scott D. Pierce The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 13, 2013 04:23PM MDT

Four decades ago, James Caan became a huge star playing a gangster in “The Godfather.” His portrayal of hotheaded Sonny Corleone remains memorable 41 years after the movie was released. He’s joined the cast of “Magic City” as that show’s second season gets under way (Friday, 10 p.m., Starz). And he’s once again playing a mobster. But don’t try to tell him he’s come full circle. “I’m not Anthony Quinn just yet,” Caan said. “I hope to close the circle at some point.” But not just yet. And he does...