argueforweb

Charges dismissed against Marine sniper accused in shooting deaths of 2 Syrians in Iraq

2012-03-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

The Marine Corps said Thursday that charges were dismissed against a Camp Pendleton Marine sniper accused in the shooting deaths of two Syrians in Iraq.

The Marine Corps said the charges against Sgt. John Winnick II were dismissed without prejudice by the commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, meaning charges could be brought again at a later time.

Winnick, 24, was charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter and failing to adhere to the military's rules of engagement by firing without reasonable certainty that his targets were hostile.

"In light of all of the circumstances, the commanding general has determined Sgt. …

Death toll feared at 7,000 - Officials discover more bodies buried by massive mudslides

2012-03-15T04:47:00.000-07:00

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - At least 7,000 people may have died inCentral America in floods and mudslides unleashed by HurricaneMitch,officials in Nicaragua and Honduras said today.

Dimas Alonzo, chief of operations for Honduras' NationalEmergencyCommittee, estimated at least 5,000 people died in his country.

"We will never know how many people died," he said on localradio.Nicaraguan Vice President Enrique Bolanos said Sunday night thatbetween 1,000 and 1,500 people were buried in a 32-square mile areabelow the slopes of the Casita volcano in northern Nicaragua.That is in addition to least 600 people killed elsewhere inNicaragua, Bolanos said.Earlier today, the …

NO: There are better ways to help and protect older workers

2012-03-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

DEBATE: SHOULD MANDATORY RETIREMENT BE ABOLISHED?

In spite of what many people seem to think, there is no law in Canada that requires everyone to retire by age 65. Mandatory retirement is a matter of human resources policies set by employers; it is implied in workplace pension plan arrangements, or it is provided for in collective agreements negotiated between the employer and the union.

It's considered a human rights issue, regulated by human rights legislation at the provincial, territorial, and federal levels. But human rights laws in some provinces-Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland-prohibit age discrimination only for those aged 18 to 64. In other …

Ex-Canada rugby star set for Aussie Rules debut

2012-03-15T00:02:00.000-07:00

Ex-Canada rugby union international Mike Pyke is set to make his debut for the Sydney Swans in an Australian Rules selection being billed as one of the most left field in the history of the football league.

Pyke, who is 2-meters (6-feet-6) tall and weighs 104 kilograms (229 pounds), was added to the Swans' rookie list late last year after the club saw video clips of his exploits on the rugby union pitch.

The highlights reel included his long-range intercept try against New Zealand at Hamilton in 2007, when he sprinted 80 meters from inside his own quarter for a score that stunned the famous All Blacks.

The 24-year-old from Victoria, British …

School to hold show auditions

2012-03-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

A School's Parent Teacher Association has invited pupils toaudition for a talent show. Pupils can get …

Two men indicted in bust that led to crash

2012-03-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Federal grand jurors have indicted two Charleston men for theiralleged roles in a drug bust last month in which a 72-year-oldJackson County woman's vehicle was struck by a car the fleeing drugsuspect was driving.

The woman, Marjorie Cavender, remains hospitalized in Charleston.

David B. Evans, 55, was indicted Thursday for distribution ofcrack cocaine. A confidential informant working for the Metro DrugUnit allegedly asked Evans to obtain crack cocaine for him.

Police say Evans contacted Willie Ware, who allegedly drove by andtossed more than two grams of crack cocaine wrapped in a napkin atthe two standing on a West Side street corner.

Undercover police …

Allen, Celtics Top Grizzlies 100-96

2012-03-14T17:01:00.000-07:00

Reserve Tony Allen filled in when Ray Allen struggled, scoring a season-high 20 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-96 on Friday night while his more celebrated namesake was scoreless into the last 10 seconds of the game.

Tony Allen scored 15 in the second quarter to help Boston take the lead for good, Paul Pierce scored 23 with 10 rebounds and Kevin Garnett also had 23 to give the Celtics their eighth straight win. James Posey had nine points and 10 rebounds while also busting open the lip of Memphis' Rudy Gay, who made just one of his first eight shots but finished with 21 points.

Ray Allen went 0-for-9 from the floor, but sank a …

King of the Chill

2012-03-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Photo: Rich Hein, Sun-Times / Embracing frigid conditions while Rockies complain, Lilly takes no-hitter into 7th to validate his 'gamer' reputation: Coverage, Slezak, De Luca, quick …

USDA AWARDS $49 MILLION FOR BIOMASS ENERGY PROJECTS

2012-03-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that 30 projects in 14 states were funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - $49 million for wood-to-energy and $8 mil- lion for biomass utilization. "These pro- jects will promote the development of biofuels from wood and help private sector businesses establish renewable energy infrastructure and accelerate availability in the marketplace," says USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. "Additionally, hazardous fu- els reduction projects utilize biomass from forested lands that, when left un- treated, increase …

Singapore Airlines to raise fuel surcharge on all flights

2012-03-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Singapore Airlines said Wednesday it will increase the fuel surcharge on all its flights beginning next week because of rising fuel costs.

The surcharge on flights operated by Singapore Airlines' unit SilkAir will also be raised, the airline said in a statement.

The surcharge on routes to Southeast Asian countries has been raised to US$35 (euro22) per flight from US$30 (euro19), the company said.

On flights to the U.S. and Canada, the levy will increase to US$150 (euro96) …

Job seekers get a jump Tough market means next year's graduates hunting for work now

2012-03-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Karaleigh Porteus already has sent out seven resumes this summer,looking for a job when she graduates from Bradley University nearly ayear from now.

The psychology student from Evanston said she wanted to get a headstart because she expects to have a tough time.

"It's a small market right now," said Porteus, 21. "I know manyother people who graduated and they are having a horrible time rightnow."

Porteus spent the weekend at a job skills training program held atthe University of Chicago and sponsored by Monster, a job recruitingWeb site. The program offered the 275 college students attending achance to network with several large companies and also …

Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modeling

2012-03-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modeling. M. Z. Jacobson. 1999. 656 pp. $49.95. Paperbound. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-63717-1.

Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modeling provides an overview of the dynamics, physical processes, and chemistry that are important to understanding atmospheric science. As the title implies, the book also presents numerical techniques to simulate dynamical, physical, and chemical equations.

Because the presentation of the atmospheric dynamics, physics, and chemistry is put forth as an overview, the textbook is appropriate for a student in the engineering or earth science fields. A graduate student in the atmospheric sciences would gain much …

New Lakers coach Brown says it's still Kobe's team

2012-03-14T02:43:00.000-07:00

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Phil Jackson is retired, the triangle offense is out, and Mike Brown is in. And the Los Angeles Lakers are still Kobe Bryant's team.

Brown made it clear Tuesday during his introduction as Jackson's successor that Bryant's role won't change under his regime. He said his first meeting with the superstar who owns five NBA championships "went very well."

"This is still his team. We'll make sure that he'll have the ball in the sweet spots that he likes," Brown said. "He has a great understanding of my vision and he's onboard."

Bryant, Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum had publicly supported longtime Lakers assistant Brian Shaw in his bid to replace Jackson, who retired after Dallas swept the two-time defending champions out of the second round.

Besides meeting with Bryant and talking on the phone with his wife, Vanessa, Brown said he's talked to Fisher and his wife, Pau Gasol, Bynum and Ron Artest.

Public reaction to Brown's hiring has been mixed.

"Everybody is entitled to their opinion, I respect that," he said. "Winning will cure all of that."

General manager Mitch Kupchak said he, owner Jerry Buss and Jim Buss, the owner's son and an executive with the team, interviewed three people for the unenviable job of following Jackson, who owns the most titles in NBA history.

Besides Shaw and Brown, Rick Adelman also was in the running.

The elder Buss said that initially he didn't think Brown "would be the man."

"Then when he started talking to us, he said how he would handle this team. He was very prepared," Buss said. "I liked his X's and O's, his visions for our future. Very few people understand that our job is to try and remain on top forever. He likes that philosophy. I like that."

Shortly before his introduction, Brown signed a four-year deal worth roughly $18 million.

Matt Barnes was the only player on hand for Brown's introduction at the Lakers' practice facility, stopping after a rehab session nearby.

"Coming here is tough. He's coming to LA, one of the biggest markets, one of the best teams in sports history," Barnes said. "To carry himself the way he did, and answered all the questions and didn't really shy away from anything just showed a lot that he's ready and hope he's got his thick skin."

The 41-year-old Brown led Cleveland to the 2007 NBA finals and went 272-138 with the Cavaliers, becoming the most successful coach in franchise history while compiling the league's best regular-season record in each of his last two seasons.

He got fired last year before LeBron James packed his bags for Miami. Brown had been working as an ESPN analyst.

Brown knows there will be endless comparisons and references to Jackson, and he's ready for it.

"I'm not sure what size shoe he wears, but I'm not here to fill his shoes," he said. "I'm here to help this team and organization carve our own path to success."

That includes dumping the famed triangle offense that Jackson employed to such success in both Los Angeles and Chicago. Unlike Jackson, Brown may call more timeouts, too.

"We're not going to run the triangle offense, but we will have bits and pieces of it that will be incorporated," said Brown, adding that his offense will be tailored to 7-footers Bynum and Gasol, similar to what was run for big men Tim Duncan and David Robinson during his time as an assistant in San Antonio.

Brown ticked off his top three essentials on both offense and defense.

"If they don't buy in right away, they will," he said. "If they don't, there's going to be a problem because I'm going to hold people accountable."

Brown said he wants to foster a culture that includes trust, communication, defense, a no-excuses mentality, a family environment, and a determined work ethic.

"As long as the group is willing, which it sounds like it is, we'll get it done," he said. "We want to be at the top forever."

New dietary guidelines easier on fat: ; Advocacy group says revision is too weak

2012-03-13T23:52:00.000-07:00

DAILY MAIL STAFF

In an age when more West Virginians are overweight than everbefore, the controversial new U.S. dietary guidelines tell Americansto be less afraid of fat. The U.S. Department of Agriculturerevises the guidelines every five years. This year's set is lessrestrictive on fat intake. That's because the 1995 guidelinesbackfired.

"The difference between these and the old ones is that they'veliberalized them," said Linda St. Clair, director of dietaryservices and a registered licensed dietician at Highland Hospital."We cut so much fat out of our diets that we increased carbohydratestoo much and ate more calories."

Some, however, think the new guidelines are too liberal,especially since these are the regulations that are used to setschool lunch programs.

Schools will only be reimbursed for food if it meets thesestandards.

"Basically, we feel like the guidelines in general are just tooweak," said Patricia Bertron, a consultant to the PhysiciansCommittee for Responsible Medicine, an organization that promotesvegetarianism. "The rate of obesity is at an all-time high. We wouldlike to see more emphasis put on grains, vegetables, fruits andlegumes."

West Virginia has the highest rate of obesity in the nation andresidents have been growing steadily fatter for years.

This year's nutritional guidelines softened restrictions on fatin hopes that people will eat more sensible and varied meals. Theyalso included a section about exercise for the first time since theguidelines came into existence in 1985.

The USDA says the guidelines are meant only to promote a healthyweight and are not a dieting tool.

"The guidelines were not designed as a weight-loss program," saidJohn Webster, director of public information at the USDA Center forNutrition, Policy and Promotion. "If people eat the number ofcalories according to their weight and do physical activity, theywill maintain a healthy weight."

This year's set of guidelines discusses regular exercise as a wayto stay healthy - something the USDA hopes will cut back on obesityand sedentary lifestyles.

"We have always focused on food," Webster said. "With theseguidelines, we focus on the need of food and physical activity. It'snatural, but we really never put it together in a document."

Another complaint is the lack of vegetarian guidelines in thegovernment release. The guidelines do not tell people how to live ahealthy vegetarian lifestyle, but do mention getting enough vitaminsif you choose not to eat from one certain food group.

Because there are no guidelines for vegetarians, St. Clairrecommends that people choosing these diets visit dieticians orother health professionals to make sure they will get enoughnutrients. She said that adolescents, especially, often quit eatingmeat but do not replace those vitamins with nutrients from othersources.

The physicians' committee would like to see vegetarianismactively promoted by the government.

"You don't have to have dairy to have an adequate diet," Bertronsaid. "We would really like to see the government start to push thebenefit of plant-based foods."

The committee feels that part of the reason the governmentincluded meat in the food pyramid is because of strong lobbyistssuch as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Lobbyists foralmost all major food industries pressure the USDA.

"It's been very strongly stated this go-around that when theyeased up on the guidelines there must be lobbyists," St. Clair said."They're out there, and I'm sure they wanted to see more of theirproducts promoted, but I don't think these guidelines areemphasizing any food groups."

The guidelines are made by a separate non-government committee ofdieticians and other health professionals, many who come fromuniversities. They are not supposed to be influenced by lobbyists.

"There are obviously people who will criticize us that we havemeats even displayed (on the pyramid)," Webster said. "There areopponents to virtually everything. We have relied on the bestscience available."

The final complaint that the group has with the guidelines is thevague language. For example, the guidelines say to "limit yourintake of sugars," but they do not state a number of grams of sugaror any way for people to measure their sugar intake.

"It's pretty meaningless," Bertron said. "What's moderate to oneperson could be extreme to someone else. They need to be much morespecific."

Others say that the guidelines shouldn't be specific since theywill apply to large groups of people - such as students in theschool lunch program - and not so much to individuals.

"They are really just a guide anyway," St. Clair said.

Writer Deanna Wrenn can be reached at 348-4810 or by e-mail atdwrenn@dailymail.com.

OFF THE RECORD

2012-03-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

"A conservative group is asking Americans to boycott all companies who advertise on Monica Lewinsky's new reality show. The conservative group is made up of several right-wing Republicans and one female Democratic senator."

- Conan O 'Brien

"I know I can beat George Bush. Why? Because Al Gore and I already did."

- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman

"It was the black vote that decided the 2000 election - Clarence Thomas's."

- Democratic presidential candidate Carol Moseley Braun

"It's like Jim Jones giving out Kool Aid. It tastes good, but it will kill you."

- Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton on the Bush tax cut proposal

"President Bush took one look at them and said, 'I might win this one fair and square.'"

- David Letterman, on the Democratic presidential field

"Even though Iraq has been liberated we still have to teach them about democracy and the voting election process because there is still some confusion about voting and the election process. Oh wait, that's Florida."

- David Letterman

"'War and Peace'is (a) shorter and (b) better."

- George Will, comparing the literary classic to the 1,600-page federal court ruling on the recent campaign finance act.

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

George W. Bush: "We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or it is against us. There is no middle ground here."

Al Gore: "I invented the chicken. I invented the road. Therefore, the chicken crossing the road represented the application of these two different functions of government in a new, reinvented way designed to bring greater services to the American people."

Colin Powell: "Now at the left of the screen, you clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road."

Ham BHx: "We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed access to the other side of the road."

Bill Clinton: "It depends what you mean by the word 'cross.'"

Ralph Nader: "The chicken's habitat on the original side of the road had been polluted by unchecked industrialist greed. The chicken did not reach the unspoiled habitat on the other side of the road because it was crushed by the wheels of a gas-guzzling SUV."

Pat Buchanan: "To steal a job from a decent, hard-working American."

Ernest Hemingway: "To die. In the rain. Alone."

Aristotle: "It is the nature of chickens to cross the road."

Karl Marx: "It was an historical inevitability."

Voltaire: "I may not agree with what the chicken did, but I will defend to the death its right to do it."

Captain Kirk: "To boldly go where no chicken has gone before."

Col. Sanders: "I missed one?"

"If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and dry cleaners depressed? "Whatever happened to Preparations A through G? "Why do we say something is out of whack? What's a whack? "If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

"If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

"If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

"When someone asks you, 'A penny for your thoughts' and you put your two cents in ... what happens to the other penny?

"Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

"Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with? "When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

"Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a race car not called a racist?"

- George Carlin

"I'm one of those mayors whose management style is to allow free and unlimited debate, to a point."

- Former Washington, U.C., Mayor Marion Barry

"Is the country still here?"

- President Calvin Coolidge after a long nap

Spain coach Luis Aragones leaves Raul off his squad for Euro 2008

2012-03-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Spain coach Luis Aragones omitted Raul Gonzalez from his squad for the European Championship on Saturday, ignoring pressure to recall the national team's all-time leading scorer.

Raul, who has scored 44 goals in 102 international matches, hasn't played for Spain since a 3-2 qualifying loss at Northern Ireland in September 2006.

However, many believed the Real Madrid captain deserved a recall after scoring 18 goals this season to help his team to a record 31st Spanish league title, his sixth in 14 seasons at the club.

"There has been a debate (about Raul) because he has been an extraordinary player and is a media icon," Aragones said. "I look at players, not if their clubs are first, second or third in the standings. There are other players who, in terms of the minutes they have played, have scored more goals and they're not going either."

Raul, who turns 31 next month, had played in the previous five World Cup and European Championships.

He hinted about his omission on Thursday, saying his plans after the season ends on Sunday were to "rest and gather forces."

Instead of Raul, Aragones opted for Zaragoza rookie Sergio Garcia as his fourth striker for the June 7-29 tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

Garcia, who began his career with FC Barcelona, has delivered a series of standout performances despite his team's struggle against relegation.

"He is enjoying an extraordinary end of season and we need someone who can play on the right. He can also play as a second striker and has been in Spain's under-21s and under-17s," Aragones said of Garcia.

Garcia could have faced competition from 17-year-old Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic, but he opted out due to the fatigue of his debut season in the first team.

Another newcomer was midfielder Santi Cazorla, who has helped Villarreal finish runner-up this season, the best placing in its history.

Cazorla replaced Albert Riera, who has featured in Aragones' recent squads. Riera was one of three Espanyol players omitted, the others being strikers Raul Tamudo and Luis Garcia.

Another discarded player was Valencia midfielder David Albelda, who was axed by then team coach Ronald Koeman in December. Koeman's dismissal in April led to Albelda's recall to Valencia's team, but Aragones said he hadn't played enough since then to merit inclusion.

Aragones included five players from English clubs _ goalkeeper Pepe Reina, defender Alvaro Arbeloa, midfielder Xabi Alonso and striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool, together with Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The other 18 squad members all play in Spain, with Valencia supplying the most with four _ defenders Raul Albiol and Carlos Marchena, midfielder David Silva and striker David Villa.

Spain, which has gone 14 games undefeated, plays friendlies against Peru on May 31 and United States on June 4.

Aragones' team then kicks off in Group D against Russia on June 10. It plays Sweden on June 14 before facing defending champion Greece four days later.

Spain won the 1964 European Championship at home for its only major international trophy.

Aragones said he thought Spain could win the tournament.

"I have to believe so in order to transmit the feeling to the players. You have to believe it," he said.

The squad announcement had been delayed for 24 hours following the death of Spain's doctor, Genaro Borras, on Thursday.

___

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Andres Palop (Sevilla).

Defenders: Raul Albiol (Valencia), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Juanito Gutierrez (Real Betis), Fernando Navarro (Mallorca), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool).

Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), David Silva (Valencia), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Ruben De La Red (Getafe), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal).

Forwards: Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Mallorca), Sergio Garcia (Zaragoza).

H-F May Test St. Charles' Title Bid

2012-03-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Four years ago, St. Charles hoped to put together a respectableteam. Now the Saints are taking aim at their first state title ingirls golf. Homewood-Flossmoor could challenge the Saints while ahost of others battle for third place.

1. St. Charles: The Saints have talent and depth. Returning isthe formidable one-two punch of seniors Megan Morgan (average round,79) and Ashley Webb (80). Senior Megan Leuzinger (86) and juniorJenny Dwyer (90) give the Saints stable scoring from the third andfourth spot. Sophomore Michelle Sweda is expected to contribute.

"Two years ago we wanted to get Downstate and last year we wantedto place," said St. Charles coach Rod Osborne, whose team finishedsecond to Regina in 1992. "Now we want to improve and move up onespot. The girls played a lot this summer and I can see the progressalready."

2. Homewood-Flossmoor: If there's a team that could beat St.Charles it's the Vikings. Seniors Libby Gilley (79) and KerrieMilligan (83) are the strength of the Vikings. For the Vikings towin state they will need a strong effort from junior Jenny Okleshenand senior Heather Aeschlman.

"Our goal is to qualify and win state," H-F coach Jan Noltingsaid. "The girls have been practicing with a higher sense ofpurpose, especially our seniors."

Gilley agrees.

"If we all play well, we have a chance to win state, it's areachable goal," Gilley said.

3. Waukegan: The Bulldogs return one of the top players in juniorTracy Barron (82). Junior Melissa Melius (89) and Amy Holm (98) willlend support.

"We have some good players," said Waukegan coach Bob Franz. "Howwe do will depend on how our younger kids progress."

4. Providence: Junior Pina Gentile (85) returns after qualifyingfor state last year. Gentile shot a personal best 8-over par 80 atCog Hill this summer. Senior Lisa Rouskey (85) hopes to go Downstatethis year and Christine Walczak (100) is back.

5. Fremd: Senior star Karen Karmazin (82) returns afterqualifying for state last year. Senior Stacy Kozlicki and sophomoreJamie Rogers lend support.

6. Glenbrook South: Senior Cathy Schmitt (86) is a statequalifier, sophomore Megan Roberts (91) returns and a host ofunderclassmen will vie for the third and fourth spots.

7. New Trier: The Trevians are led by juniors Lee Sullivan (88)and Rebecca Halpern (90). Seniors Anne-Marie Perlitz, Melissa Kenny,Susanne Gerghty, Alison Buckley Susan Gauger, Anne Hoos and ClaireKenneally. All shoot in the 90's.

"We have a good opportunity to get Downstate," New Trier coachGary Groh said. "Everyone is working hard. We have some girls whocan hit the ball really well, it's just a matter of getting someconsistency." 8. Barrington: Seniors Brenna Boncosky, Jody Field and freshman PamBuff shoot in the 90's. Junior Jenny Bullerdick can break 100.

"We're hoping to have a couple of girls qualify for state," saidBarrington coach Jody Schoeck.

9. Regina: Coach Vi Reego, who won eight state titles in 13years, is retired. Dave Nicholson has the task of rebuilding thePanthers. Junior Molly Cleland, sophomores Erin Lynch, MaureenCollins and freshman Alison Klinesh will give Nicholson a solid groupto work with.

"When you look at the banners (for state titles the school haswon) you kind of shake your head," Nicholson said. "We're a youngteam, but we have the potential to score real well."

10. Naperville North: Coach Ed Rosenthal hopes his young teamdevelops quickly. Senior Jillian Sitter (95), sophomore Kelly Clark(96) and freshman Jen Reitz (97) return. Junior Julie Fritz andfreshman Betsy Levstik show promise.

"We have some girls who have hit the ball really well, but wehave a young team and we're probably a year away," Rosenthal said."Hopefully, we can go Downstate."

TODAY'S ODDS

2012-03-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

ODDS PROVIDED BY SPORTSLINE

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY (O/U) UNDERDOG

Friday

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP

At Huntington, W.Va.

at Marshall 201/2 201/2 (55) W. Michigan

Saturday

Navy-x 51/2 61/2 (50) Army

at Miami (Fla.) 28 291/2 Temple

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP

At San Antonio, Texas

Nebraska 8 8 (52) Texas

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP

At Atlanta, Ga.

Florida 7 7 (53) Alabama

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY (O/U) UNDERDOG

Thursday

at Jacksonville 101/2 101/2 (371/2) Pittsburgh

Sunday

at Miami 11/2 2 (43) Indianapolis

at Detroit 21/2 31/2 (481/2) Washington

N.Y. Jets 1 21/2 (34) at N.Y. Giants

Tennessee 31/2 31/2 (37) at Baltimore

Green Bay 3 3 (39) at Chicago

at Cincinnati 11/2 3 (391/2) San Francisco

St. Louis 7 7 (49) at Carolina

at Atlanta 4 4 (391/2) New Orleans

at Arizona 61/2 7 (37) Philadelphia

at Denver 31/2 4 (381/2) Kansas City

at Oakland +1 OFF (OFF) Seattle

at San Diego 7 71/2 (36) Cleveland

at New England 1 21/2 (371/2) Dallas

Monday

Minnesota 3 21/2 (401/2) at Tampa Bay

NCAA BASKETBALL

Today

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG

Washington 21/2 at N.C.-Wilmington

at Kansas 21 Pepperdine

at N. Illinois 71/2 Ill.-Chicago

at N. Iowa 51/2 Wis.-Green Bay

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Tonight

FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG

San Antonio 9 at New Jersey

Sacramento 1 at Atlanta

at Minnesota 8 Orlando

New York 41/2 at Milwaukee

Dallas 3 at Chicago

Seattle 8 at Golden State

at L.A. Clippers 2 Houston

National Football League

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

East

W L T Pct. PF PA

Indianapolis 9 2 0 .818 307 204

Miami 8 3 0 .727 219 203

Buffalo 8 4 0 .667 228 173

New England 6 5 0 .545 232 218

N.Y. Jets 4 7 0 .364 173 187

Central

Jacksonville 10 1 0 .909 287 125

Tennessee 9 2 0 .818 239 202

Pittsburgh 5 6 0 .455 202 167

Baltimore 4 7 0 .364 196 211

Cincinnati 2 10 0 .167 188 356

Cleveland 2 10 0 .167 137 317

West

Seattle 8 3 0 .727 239 180

Kansas City 6 5 0 .545 256 201

Oakland 5 6 0 .455 240 226

Denver 4 7 0 .364 221 226

San Diego 4 7 0 .364 183 252

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

East

W L T Pct. PF PA

Washington 7 4 0 .636 330 287

Dallas 6 5 0 .545 255 182

Arizona 5 6 0 .455 162 220

N.Y. Giants 5 6 0 .455 194 222

Philadelphia 3 9 0 .250 183 276

Central

Detroit 7 4 0 .636 239 214

Minnesota 7 4 0 .636 272 226

Tampa Bay 7 4 0 .636 174 141

Green Bay 6 5 0 .545 212 212

Chicago 5 7 0 .417 207 242

West

St. Louis 9 2 0 .818 366 147

Carolina 5 6 0 .455 261 249

San Francisco 3 8 0 .273 166 301

Atlanta 2 9 0 .182 155 269

New Orleans 2 9 0 .182 182 269

Thursday's Game

Pittsburgh at Jacksonville, 8:20 p.m.

Sunday's Game

Green Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis at Miami, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

New York Jets at New York Giants, 1 p.m.

St. Louis at Carolina, 1 p.m.

San Francisco at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Tennessee at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Washington at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Philadelphia at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.

Cleveland at San Diego, 4:15 p.m.

Kansas City at Denver, 4:15 p.m.

Seattle at Oakland, 4:15 p.m.

Dallas at New England, 8:20 p.m.

OPEN: Buffalo

Monday's Game

Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 9 p.m.

NFL Injury Report

Today

PITTSBURGH (5-6) AT JACKSONVILLE (10-1) - Steelers: OUT: WR WillBlackwell (foot). DOUBTFUL: WR Courtney Hawkins (ankle); RB RichardHuntley (foot); CB Chad Scott (knee). QUESTIONABLE: C DermonttiDawson (hamstring); DE Nolan Harrison (pectoral). PROBABLE: WR TroyEdwards (stomach); CB Lethon Flowers (shoulder); S Jason Simmons(hamstring). Jaguars: OUT: TE Kyle Brady (knee); G Rich Tylski(foot). QUESTIONABLE: RB Fred Taylor (hamstring). PROBABLE: SDonovin Darius (groin); TE Rich Griffith (knee); WR Lenzie Jackson(groin); TE Damon Jones (ankle); DE Renaldo Wynn (thigh).

Sunday

CLEVELAND (2-10) AT SAN DIEGO (4-7) - Browns: OUT: T Lomas Brown(knee). QUESTIONABLE: DE Arnold Miller (finger); WR Leslie Shepherd(hamstring). PROBABLE: T Orlando Brown (hand); K Phil Dawson (foot).Chargers: OUT: CB Terrance Shaw (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DT Norman Hand(hamstring); S Rodney Harrison (shoulder); S Greg Jackson (knee); RBNatrone Means (knee). PROBABLE: QB Ryan Leaf (shoulder); T VaughnParker (ankle); DT John Parrella (knee); WR Chris Penn (neck); LBJunior Seau (abdomen); RB Tremayne Stephens (hamstring).

DALLAS (6-5) AT NEW ENGLAND (6-5) - Cowboys: OUT: G Larry Allen(knee); WR Michael Irvin (neck)DOUBTFULCB Kevin Mathis (hamstring).QUESTIONABLE: WR Alvin Harper (quadricep); RB Ryan Neufeld (ankle);CB Kevin Smith (hamstring); CB Mark Stepnoski (calf). PROBABLE: SChris Akins (groin); RB Emmitt Smith (hand). Patriots: QUESTIONABLE:TE Ben Coates (foot); LB Vernon Crawford (knee).

GREEN BAY (6-5) AT CHICAGO BEARS (5-7) - Packers: OUT: T RossVerba (knee). QUESTIONABLE: TE Jeff Thomason (knee). PROBABLE: PLouie Aguiar (groin); T Earl Dotson (ankle); CB Antuan Edwards(hip); LB Bernardo Harris (knee); LB George Koonce (shoulder); RBDorsey Levens (rib); WR Bill Schroeder (nose). Bears: QUESTIONABLE:CB Jerry Azumah (back).

INDIANAPOLIS (9-2) AT MIAMI (8-3) - Colts: DOUBTFUL: WR JeromePathon (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: G Steve McKinney (appendectomy).PROBABLE: DT Larry Chester (foot); C Jason Johnson (back); TE MarcusPollard (ankle); DE Mark Thomas (ankle). Dolphins: OUT: RB CecilCollins (leg). QUESTIONABLE: T James Brown (ankle); WR O.J. McDuffie(toe). PROBABLE: LB Dwight Hollier (hamstring); QB Damon Huard(ankle); S Calvin Jackson (hamstring); CB Sam Madison (knee); QB DanMarino (cervical nerve root); WR Tony Martin (groin).

KANSAS CITY (6-5) AT DENVER (4-7) - Chiefs: QUESTIONABLE: CBJames Hasty (calf); LB Mike Maslowski (head); T Glenn Parker (back);RB Rashaan Shehee (ankle-knee). PROBABLE: CB Juran Bolden (ankle); CTim Grunhard (knee-elbow); TE Mitch Jacoby (hip); LB Greg Manusky(shoulder); DT Chester McGlockton (ankle); T John Tait (thigh); DEDan Williams (knee-elbow). Broncos: OUT: QB Chris Miller(concussion); TE Shannon Sharpe (clavicle-injured reserve).QUESTIONABLE: T Tony Jones (elbow). PROBABLE: QB Bubby Brister(rib); RB Olandis Gary (knee); QB Brian Griese (shoulder); DE HaraldHasselbach (eye); DT Mike Lodish (calf); RB Derek Loville(hamstring); C Tom Nalen (knee); T Trey Teague (knee).

NEW ORLEANS (2-9) AT ATLANTA (2-9) - Saints: OUT: LB Ink Aleaga(knee); WR Brett Bech (hernia-injured reserve); DE Jared Tomich(ankle). DOUBTFUL: S Chris Hewitt (knee); QB Billy Joe Tolliver(knee); TE Josh Wilcox (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: DT Austin Robbins(knee); RB Ricky Williams (toe); DE Troy Wilson (shoulder).PROBABLE: CB Tyronne Drakeford (shoulder); LB Mark Fields (back); RBLamar Smith (shoulder); CB Fred Weary (neck). Falcons: QUESTIONABLE:CB Michael Booker (quadricep); WR Jammi German (hamstring); DE ChuckSmith (knee). PROBABLE: CB Ronnie Bradford (shoulder); DE PellomMcDaniels (knee-ankle).

NEW YORK JETS (4-7) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (5-6) - Jets: PROBABLE: LBBryan Cox (abdomen); P Tom Tupa (hamstring); T Ryan Young (knee).Giants: OUT: RB Charles Way (knee). QUESTIONABLE: LB Marcus Buckley(leg-concussion); CB Conrad Hamilton (knee); LB Corey Widmer (back);S Shaun Williams (hamstring). PROBABLE: QB Kent Graham (concussion);WR Joe Jurevicius (back); CB Bashir Levingston (concussion); RB JoeMontgomery (foot); CB Phillippi Sparks (groin).

PHILADELPHIA (3-9) AT ARIZONA (5-6) - Eagles: OUT: WR CharlesJohnson (knee). DOUBTFUL: WR Alex Van Dyke (elbow). QUESTIONABLE: LBJames Darling (ankle); CB Troy Vincent (concussion); DT Mark Wheeler(stinger). PROBABLE: LB Mike Caldwell (knee); TE Chad Lewis(stinger); QB Donovan McNabb (toe); T Oliver Ross (toe). Cardinals:OUT: DE Andre Wadsworth (knee). DOUBTFUL: RB Michael Pittman (toe).PROBABLE: RB Joel Makovicka (neck); LB Patrick Sapp (shoulder).

ST. LOUIS (9-2) AT CAROLINA (5-6) - Rams: OUT: S Keith Lyle(shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: DT D'Marco Farr (thigh); WR Ricky Proehl(shoulder). PROBABLE: S Devin Bush (rib); TE Ernie Conwell (knee);RB Amp Lee (knee). Panthers: OUT: WR Rae Carruth (personal).QUESTIONABLE: G Nate Newton (elbow); DE Jason Peter (neck).PROBABLE: RB Tshimanga Biakabutuka (ankle); G Matt Campbell (knee);RB Fred Lane (groin); WR Muhsin Muhammad (hamstring); TE WesleyWalls (hip).

SAN FRANCISCO (3-8) AT CINCINNATI (2-10) - 49ers: OUT: CB R.W.McQuarters (shoulder blade-injured reserve); CB Monty Montgomery(arm); QB Steve Young (concussion). DOUBTFUL: WR Tai Streets(Achilles); LB Joe Wesley (knee). PROBABLE: TE Greg Clark (rib); SLance Schulters (ankle); DE Gabe Wilkins (foot); LB Lee Woodall(knee). Bengals: DOUBTFUL: CB Roosevelt Blackmon (ankle); QB AkiliSmith (toe). QUESTIONABLE: G Brian DeMarco (elbow). PROBABLE: RBClif Groce (abdomen); LB Takeo Spikes (ankle); LB Reinard Wilson(hamstring).

SEATTLE (8-3) AT OAKLAND (5-6) - Seahawks: LB DeShone Myles(knee). DOUBTFUL: DT Sam Adams (knee); S Brian Walker (hamstring).QUESTIONABLE: RB Mack Strong (neck); S Darryl Williams (hamstring).Raiders: OUT: DE Tony Bryant (ankle); S Eric Turner (calf).QUESTIONABLE: QB Rich Gannon (quadricep-wrist); DT Russell Maryland(quadricep); C Barret Robbins (ankle).

TENNESSEE (9-2) AT BALTIMORE (4-7) - Titans: QUESTIONABLE: SBlaine Bishop (thumb); WR Isaac Byrd (hamstring); DE Henry Ford(calf); RB Spencer George (groin); S Steve Jackson (back); TE MikeRoan (neck); WR Yancey Thigpen (ankle). Ravens: QUESTIONABLE: WRBilly Davis (shoulder); TE A.J. Ofodile (knee); RB Errict Rhett(calf); DE Keith Washington (knee). PROBABLE: LB Peter Boulware(shoulder); CB Chris McAlister (shoulder); DE Fernando Smith(shoulder).

WASHINGTON (7-4) AT DETROIT (7-4) - Redskins: QUESTIONABLE: TEStephen Alexander (hip). PROBABLE: LB Shawn Barber (shoulder); SLeomont Evans (foot); LB Greg Jones (back); G Keith Sims (knee); TKipp Vickers (concussion); WR Michael Westbrook (wrist). Lions: CBKevin Abrams (toe); RB Ron Rivers (ankle). DOUBTFUL: RB SedrickIrvin (knee); TE David Sloan (toe); CB Bryant Westbrook (hamstring).QUESTIONABLE: DE Jared DeVries (foot); DE Travis Kirschke (ankle).PROBABLE: QB Charlie Batch (thumb).

Monday

MINNESOTA (7-4) AT TAMPA BAY (7-4) - Vikings: DOUBTFUL: CB KeithThibadeaux (shoulder). PROBABLE: G Matt Birk (thumb); WR Cris Carter(ankle). Buccaneers: OUT: QB Trent Dilfer (shoulder). DOUBTFUL: GKen Blackman (knee). PROBABLE: RB Warrick Dunn (ankle); S John Lynch(knee); S Damien Robinson (hip); CB Floyd Young (shoulder); QB EricZeier (rib).

College Bowl Games

All Times EST

(Subject to change)

Saturday, Dec. 18

Las Vegas Bowl

At Las Vegas

Payout: $1.2 million

Utah (8-3) vs. Fresno State (8-4), 6 p.m. (ESPN)

Heritage Bowl

At Atlanta

MEAC vs. SWAC, 12:30 p.m. (NBC)

Wednesday, Dec. 22

Mobile Alabama Bowl

Payout: $750,000

Texas Christian (7-4) vs. East Carolina (9-2), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Saturday, Dec. 25

Blue-Gray Classic

At Montgomery, Ala.

Gray vs. Blue, Noon (ABC)

Aloha Bowl

At Honolulu

Payout: $800,000

Arizona State (6-5) vs. Wake Forest (6-5), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Oahu Bowl

At Honolulu

Payout: $800,000

Oregon State (7-4) vs. Hawaii (8-3), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Dec. 27

Motor City Bowl

At Pontiac, Mich.

Payout: $750,000

Marshall or Western Michigan vs. Brigham Young (8-3), 1:30 p.m.(ESPN)

Tuesday, Dec. 28

Alamo Bowl

At San Antonio

Payout: $1.2 million

Big 12 No. 4 vs. Penn State (9-3), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Music City Bowl

At Nashville, Tenn.

Payout: $750,000

SEC vs. Syracuse (6-5), 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Holiday Bowl

At San Diego

Payout: $1.8 million

Big 12 No. 3 vs. Washington (7-4), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 30

Humanitarian Bowl

At Boise, Idaho

Payout: $750,000

Boise State (9-3) vs. Louisville (7-4), 3 p.m. (ESPN2)

Micronpc.com Bowl

At Miami

Payout: $750,000

Virginia (7-4) vs. Illinois (7-4), 7 p.m. (TBS)

Peach Bowl

At Atlanta

Payout: $1.6 million

SEC vs. Clemson (6-5), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday, Dec. 31

Insight.com Bowl

At Tucson, Ariz.

Payout: $750,000

Big East vs. Big 12 No. 5, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sun Bowl

At El Paso, Texas

Payout: $1 million

Oregon (8-3) vs. Minnesota (8-3), 2:15 p.m. (CBS)

Liberty Bowl

At Memphis, Tenn.

Payout: $1.2 million

Colorado State (8-3) vs. Southern Missisisippi (8-3), 5 p.m.(ESPN)

Independence Bowl

At Shreveport, La.

Payout: $1 million

SEC vs. Big 12, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, Jan. 1

Outback Bowl

At Tampa, Fla.

Payout: $1.9 million

SEC vs. Purdue (7-4), 11 a.m. (ESPN)

Cotton Bowl

Payout: $2.5 million

At Dallas

Big 12 No. 2 vs. SEC, 11 a.m. (FOX)

Gator Bowl

At Jacksonville, Fla.

Payout: $1.4 million

Georgia Tech (8-3) vs. Big East No. 2, 12:30 p.m. (NBC)

Citrus Bowl

At Orlando, Fla.

Payout: $3.8 million

Florida-Alabama (SEC title game) loser vs. Michigan State (9-2),1 p.m. (ABC)

Rose Bowl

At Pasadena, Calif.

Payout: $12 million

Stanford (8-3) vs. Wisconsin (9-2), 4:30 p.m. (ABC)

Orange Bowl

At Miami

Payout: $11-13 million

Michigan (9-2) vs. BCS, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)

Sunday, Jan. 2

Fiesta Bowl

At Tempe Ariz.

Payout: $11-13 million

BCS vs. BCS, 8 p.m. (ABC)

Tuesday, Jan. 4

Sugar Bowl

At New Orleans

Payout: $11-13 million

Florida State (11-0) vs. BCS No. 2, 8 p.m. (ABC)

COLLEGE MEN

Wednesday's Major Scores

EAST

Bucknell 68 St. Francis, Pa. 63

Drake 64, Stony Brook 57

Penn St. 85, Clemson 75

Pittsburgh 102, Norfolk St. 78

Rhode Island 77, Brown 70

St. John's 75, Coppin St. 52

SOUTH

Auburn 65, Belmont 56

Centenary 73, Southern U. 69

Creighton 58, Georgia St. 54

East Carolina 59, Old Dominion 57

Elon 85, N. Carolina A&T 73

Florida Atlantic 67, Nova Southeastern 63

Georgia 84, Tennessee St. 78

Grambling St. 102, Jarvis Christian 90

Lafayette 64, Howard 55

Md.-Eastern Shore 74, Delaware St. 72, OT

Memphis 79, Jackson St. 74

Michigan 80, Georgia Tech 77

Michigan St. 86, North Carolina 76

Mississippi 77, Alabama St. 65

Mississippi St. 70, SE Louisiana 56

N.C. Charlotte 74, Davidson 55

N.C.-Wilmington 76, William & Mary 66

Richmond 68, James Madison 58

Tennessee 78, Miami, Ohio 59

Troy St. 77, Jacksonville 69

UAB 103, Texas-Pan American 82

UNC-Greensboro 78, Coastal Carolina 76

VMI 82, Bluefield 76

W. Carolina 94, N.C.-Asheville 86

Wofford 77, King, Tenn. 59

MIDWEST

Bowling Green 80, Illinois St. 60

Bradley 79 W. Illinois 75, OT

Butler 77, Indiana St. 55

Cent. Michigan 81, Rochester, Mich. 63

Dayton 83, UMBC 60

DePaul 104, Chicago St. 57

Florida St. 60, Northwestern 46

Kansas St. 69, Saint Louis 68

Missouri 63, SMU 60

N.C. State 61, Purdue 59

SOUTHWEST

Oklahoma St. 68, Wichita St. 56

Texas A&M 70, Stephen F.Austin 65

Texas Tech 100, North Texas 70

Tulsa 76, Texas-San Antonio 59

UTEP 84, New Mexico 69

FAR WEST

Arizona 86, BYU 62

Arizona St. 72, Colorado St. 57

Gonzaga 71, Boise St. 55

Oregon St. 66, Idaho 49

San Diego 93, Holy Names 51

Santa Clara 50, San Jose St. 42

Southern Cal 94, UC Santa Barbara 73

UC Irvine 69, Loyola Marymount 59

UCLA 100, Morgan St. 39

Weber St. 84, Utah 72

Middle school girls

Wednesday

Poca 20 15 10 6 - 51

Logan 7 12 7 11 - 37

Poca - Kara Cloxton 17, Rudi Raynes 14, Ashley Anderson 10, SusanCompton 10.

Logan - Brittany Mullins 12, Constance Jackson 10.

High school boys

Wednesday

Teays Valley Christian 20 18 18 18 -74

Ohio Valley Christian 8 9 13 11 -41

TV - John Paul Richardson 18, Joe Young 14, Andrew Doss 13.

OV - Chris Barnette 11.

National Hockey League

Wednesday's Games

Dallas 3, Montreal 2

New Jersey 3, N.Y. Rangers 2

Detroit 4, San Jose 2

Edmonton 3, Colorado 1

Tampa Bay 4, Anaheim 2

Today's Games

Philadelphia at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Boston at Washington, 7 p.m.

Calgary at N.Y. Islanders, 7:30 p.m.

San Jose at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

Nashville at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Edmonton at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

Friday's Games

Ottawa at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.

Montreal at N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Florida at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.

BASEBALL

American League

CHICAGO WHITE SOX-Named Nick Levya manager for Charlotte of theInternational League.

CLEVELAND INDIANS-Named Grady Little bench coach. Re-signed DanWilliams, working coach.

MINNESOTA TWINS-Agreed to terms with OF Midre Cummings on a one-year contract.

NEW YORK YANKEES-Placed DH Chili Davis on waivers for the purposeof giving him his unconditional release.

National League

CHICAGO CUBS-Agreed to terms with SS Manny Alexander on a one-year contract.

CINCINNATI REDS-Named Cotton Nye and Mark Corey area scouts.

FLORIDA MARLINS-Named Pat Hernan ticket and public relationsmanager for the team's Brevard County operations.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES-Agreed to terms with RHP Mike Jackson on aone-year contract.

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS-Signed G Chris Carr.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS-Activated G Kobe Bryant from the injured list.Placed G-F Devean George on the injured list.

MIAMI HEAT-Placed G Tim Hardaway on the injured list. Activated FHarold Jamison from the injured list.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS-Placed F-C Jermaine O'Neal on the injuredlist. Activated C Joe Kleine from the injured list.

VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES-Activated G Dennis Scott from the injuredlist.

FOOTBALL

National Football League

GREEN BAY PACKERS-Signed WR Tyrone Goodson from the practicesquad. Signed LB Deon Humphrey to the practice squad.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS-Placed WR Brett Bech on injured reserve.Signed DT Robert Newkirk.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS-Signed QB Scott Milanovich to a one-yearcontract. Waived WR Yo Murphy. Released OT DeMarcus Curry from thepractice squad.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

BOSTON BRUINS-Recalled LW Jay Henderson from Providence of theAHL.

DETROIT RED WINGS-Recalled G Aren Miller from Cincinnati of theAHL.

EDMONTON OILERS-Assigned C Rob Murray to Hamilton of the AHL.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Placed F Mark Lawrence and D Rich Pilon onwaivers.

NEW YORK RANGERS-Claimed D Rich Pilon off waivers from the NewYork Islanders.

PHOENIX COYOTES-Traded C Rob Murray to the Edmonton Oilers for CEric Houde. Assigned Houde and RW Tavis Hansen to Springfield of theAHL.

ST. LOUIS BLUES-Assigned F Ladislav Nagy to Worcester of the AHL.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS-Assigned F Jarkko Ruutu to Syracuse of the AHL.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION-Placed MF Kris Kelderman on waivers.

NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY METROSTARS-Placed F Eduardo Hurtado onwaivers.

COLLEGE

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE-Suspended officials Al Ford, BudWilliams, Ron Leatherwood, Al Matthews, Blake Parks, Ben Oldham, andToby Silberman for missing a crucial call in the Georgia-GeorgiaTech game on Nov. 27.

UPSTATE EIGHT

2012-03-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

OUTLOOK: Waubonsie Valley has 18 starters back. St. Charles lost 18from its conference champs, but the Saints were 9-0 last season onall three levels. Larkin, Lake Park, Elgin and Streamwood willchallenge.TOP 5 PLAYERS: R.J. Luke, Waubonsie, TE, 6-2 1/2, 228, Sr.; JonPeacock, Lake Park, QB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Teddy Bedford, Elgin, LB, 6-2,235, Sr.; Vince Webber, Larkin, RB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Brian Archibald,Streamwood, LB, 6-3, 225.DID YOU KNOW? Lake Park's Anthony Moorman is a two-time tracksprint champion.QUOTE: Waubonsie coach B.J. Luke: "We missed the playoffs the lasttwo years, we are not happy about it and we need to get our swaggerback."PREDICTIONS: Waubonsie Valley 7-2, 6-1; St. Charles 7-2, 5-2; Larkin7-2, 5-2; Lake Park 5-4, 4-3; Elgin 5-4, 3-4; Streamwood 4-5, 3-4;DeKalb 2-7, 1-6; East Aurora 2-7, 1-6.

NFL, union extend deadline to solve differences

2012-03-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (AP) — Timeout, NFL. And NFLPA.

Buying time to try to close big gaps on big issues, the NFL and the players' union agreed Friday to extend the deadline for negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement by a week.

The current labor deal had been set to run out Thursday night. But the sides used an initial 24-hour extension to discuss and vote on the second, lengthier delay. Now the league and union will take a break over the weekend to assess their positions, resume mediation Monday, then have until the end of next Friday to talk.

"We're obviously having a lot of dialogue," Commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday, the 11th day that he and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith have spent time at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. "We met for a lot of days. And we are going to meet for more."

Although the seven-day extension is the first true signal that owners and players might avoid a protracted legal skirmish and work stoppage, it's clear they are not close to a new CBA.

"It's a challenge," NFL general counsel and lead labor negotiator Jeff Pash said. "We've got very serious issues. We've got significant differences."

Most significant: money.

One person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that the NFLPA has not agreed to any major economic concessions — and that the NFL has not agreed to the union's long-held demand that the league completely open its books and share all financial information.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because mediator George Cohen asked everyone involved not to comment publicly on the substance of the talks.

No one would say whether yet another extension would be possible if no new deal is reached by next Friday.

While Goodell and Pash declined to discuss any details as they spoke to reporters outside Cohen's office at about 3 p.m., Smith did the same on a sidewalk in front of the NFLPA's headquarters about three city blocks away.

Referring to next week's round of bargaining, Smith said: "We look forward to a deal coming out of that."

But when asked whether trust between the sides has been rebuilt, Smith replied: "When you say something about 'trust' or when you raise issues about things like 'confidence' — none of those things are repaired quickly."

If the sides hadn't extended the CBA, the union was prepared to decertify Thursday, meaning it no longer would represent the players, who would be giving up their rights under labor law and instead take their chances in court under antitrust law. The NFLPA took that course in 1989.

The owners, meanwhile, could have locked out the players, raising the specter of games lost to a work stoppage for the first time since the players' strike in 1987.

"This is going to get resolved through negotiations, not through litigation," Goodell said. "So talking is better than litigating."

That willingness to continue meeting with the mediator certainly indicates neither side was ready to make the drastic move of shutting down a league that rakes in $9 billion a year and is more popular than ever. The last two Super Bowls rank No. 1 and No. 2 among most-watched TV programs in U.S. history.

Cohen said that since he began mediating talks Feb. 18, he has been able to encourage the sides "to fully, frankly and candidly talk to each other" and that they are having "constructive discussion."

The key issues all along have been:

— How to divide revenues, including what cut team owners should get up front to help cover costs such as stadium construction and improvement. Under the old deal, owners received about $1 billion off the top. They entered these negotiations seeking to add another $1 billion to that.

— A rookie wage scale, and where money saved by teams under that system would go.

— The owners' push to expand the regular season from 16 games to 18 while reducing the preseason by two games.

— Benefits for retired players.

Under terms of the seven-day extension, no player transactions will be allowed while it is in effect, and players' health insurance coverage will remain in place.

"There's been enough serious discussion to warrant both sides taking this step," Pash said after the extension was announced. He also said he wouldn't be surprised if team owners participated in mediation next week, a step that could indicate discussions were reaching a critical stage.

"It's time for us really to dig — to dig deep — and try to find solutions," Pash added, "and try to be creative and try to compromise in a way that will work for everybody."

Goodell dismissed the notion that the NFL became more willing to negotiate after Tuesday's decision by U.S. District Court judge David Doty that sided with the union in a case about whether the league can have access to about $4 billion from TV contracts. The union accused the NFL of improperly negotiating deals to have money available in event of a lockout, and Doty — who has jurisdiction over NFL labor matters under the old CBA — agreed.

Asked whether there is any truth to the idea that Doty's decision got the league back to the table, Goodell said: "No. We've been at the table."

And they'll be there next week.

Noted Goodell: "The fact that we're continuing this dialogue is a positive sign."

___

AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and AP Sports Writer Joseph White in Washington, and Sports Writer Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this story.

Renault sales grow 22 percent in first half

2012-03-13T02:02:00.000-07:00

France's Renault SA reported Thursday a 21.6 percent rise in car sales in the first half of the year, boosted by growth in emerging markets such as Brazil and North Africa.

Renault says it sold 1.34 million vehicles from January through June, up from 1.1 million in the first half of 2009.

The French carmaker forecast a continuing decline in car sales in Europe for the rest of the year, with the phasing out of cash-for-clunker government schemes during the financial crisis to encourage new car purchases.

Sales in Brazil rose 26.6 percent, and were up 14 percent in North Africa despite an overall slump in car sales there, Renault said in a statement. They were up 45 percent in the Asia and Africa region, the statement said, without providing a breakdown by country.

"Outside Europe, we will continue our offensive in reinforcing our presence in emerging countries, which are the basis for growth in the years to come," Jerome Stoll, deputy director for commercial and utilitary vehicles, said in the statement.

It forecast an overall rise in car sales over the year of 8 percent, but an overall decline in European sales for all of 2010 of 7 percent to 9 percent. Earlier this year it said the European car market could contract by 10 percent.

Crosstown rival Peugeot Citroen SA reported Wednesday a record number of unit sales in the first half of the year helped by strong demand for new cars in China. Sales of cars and light trucks rose 17 percent to 1.86 million units in the first six months of the year.

U.S. Says 6 Ex-Gitmo Detainees Active

2012-03-12T23:04:00.000-07:00

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Former Guantanamo detainees have organized a jailbreak in Afghanistan, kidnapped Chinese engineers and taken leadership positions with the Taliban, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

The former detainees were released from the prison at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba between 2002-2004 by claiming to be innocent or low-level figures, the military said in a statement, responding to questions about ex-prisoners who have allegedly resumed fighting.

The Pentagon gave brief descriptions of six detainees, including two it said were killed in fighting in Afghanistan, which the U.S. invaded to oust the Taliban regime following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

The statement suggested that the six were released from Guantanamo by mistake.

"These former detainees successfully lied to U.S. officials, sometimes for over three years," said Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, a Pentagon spokesman.

Last week, a Pentagon official, Joseph Benkert, testified to Congress that about 30 former detainees have rejoined the fight against the United States. Other U.S. officials have made similar claims about prisoners at Guantanamo, where the military now holds about 380 men mostly on suspicion of links to al-Qaida or the Taliban.

Guantanamo critics have been skeptical of the claims, saying it is part of a U.S. campaign to justify the detention of hundreds of men without charges at the remote base.

H. Candace Gorman, a Chicago-based attorney for two Guantanamo detainees, noted that three of the names on the Pentagon list do not appear on official rosters of detainees. She said she believes they were never actually held at the prison in southeast Cuba.

"To say detainees are back on the battlefield has become one of their justifications for indefinite detention," Gorman said. "They have to justify the cruelty of what they're doing."

The military said two of the men were killed in Afghanistan: Mohammed Yusif Yaqub, a commander of Taliban operations in southern Afghanistan who died in May 2004 while fighting U.S. forces, and Maulavi Abdul Ghaffar, a Taliban leader killed in a September 2004 raid by Afghan security forces.

A third man, Mohammed Ismail, was captured during an attack on U.S. forces near Kandahar.

The military also said Abdullah Mahsud, released in March 2004, was discovered after his release to have links to the Taliban and al-Qaida. He allegedly directed the kidnapping of two Chinese engineers in Pakistan in October 2004.

The other two on the list were Abdul Rahman Noor, who was released from Guantanamo in July 2003 and "has since participated in fighting against U.S. forces near Kandahar," and Mohammed Nayim Farouq, who "renewed his association with Taliban and al-Qaida members," after his July 2003 release.

Mexico, 'middle ground' countries offer WTO solution for industrial trade

2012-03-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

A group of Latin American and Asian countries is proposing to break the divide between rich and poor nations with a compromise deal to tear down barriers in industrial commerce while allowing emerging economies to shield strategic sectors.

The proposal, obtained by The Associated Press, entails concessions for both sides and could serve as the basis of a World Trade Organization breakthrough. On the other hand, it could be universally rejected.

Drafted by the so-called "middle ground" countries _ which include Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand _ the offer will be presented to WTO delegations Friday.

It comes as a crucial week of talks on a new global commerce pact faces perhaps its decisive moment, with rich and countries at sharp odds over opening up trade in agriculture and manufacturing.

The pressure has been on developing countries since Tuesday, when the United States made a key concession by proposing to cut its farm subsidy limits deeper than it previously had offered. For their agricultural concessions in the WTO talks, the U.S. and the European Union have demanded reciprocal moves by emerging powers such as Brazil, China and India to open up their industrial markets.

After four days of negotiations in Geneva, the two sides were still far from agreement. India, in particular, was described as the main hindrance to a compromise, with a number of trade officials citing it for offering no flexibility on industrial trade.

The "middle ground" proposal contains provisions that would be seen as concessions for developing countries. They would have to choose from a set of industrial tariff caps ranging from 20 percent to 25 percent _ a steeper cut than what they have accepted in the WTO talks.

But Brazil, India, China and others would also be granted generous exceptions under the plan. They would be able to protect up to 14 percent of their manufactured goods by maintaining higher tariffs for foreign competitors.

In a blow to the United States and European exporters such as Germany, the proposal would also allow emerging countries to shield up to 90 percent of goods in any single industrial sector _ such as automobiles _ from opening to greater international competition under an agreement.

Such a result would break the poorly named "anti-concentration clause" that has become a symbolic last stand for some European countries, which feel they have sacrificed too much in agriculture in exchange for too few opportunities for their industrial exporters.

Washington also strongly opposes allowing emerging economies to carve out nearly entire industries from greater liberalization.

The middle ground of countries first formed as an informal WTO group in June 2007, shortly after talks among the U.S., 27-nation EU, Brazil and India fell apart in Germany.

The collapse was the latest in a series of high-level failures that has plagued the WTO's seven-year Doha round of trade talks, and the middle ground's creation was seen as sign that some developing countries were breaking ranks with Brazil and India.

But those countries, along with China, have continued this week in their leadership roles on behalf of developing countries, negotiating in a select group with the U.S., EU, Japan and Australia.

The WTO is hoping for agreement this week or next on a deal that would liberalize world agriculture and manufacturing, setting the stage for an overall trade accord by the end of the year. But there is widespread skepticism.

Thank Buddha it's Friday

2012-03-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting next to Susan Horowitz and Jan Stevenson in the DIA Diego Rivera Court, a venue of special romantic endearment for both BTL co-publishers.

Years ago when Susan - living and working in New York City - had her fortune told following a breakup, she was advised by her psychic contact, "Your next soul mate will have something to do with Diego Rivera." (Sure, sure, said Susan. Diego who?)

Months later she met Jan (who looks nothing like Diego Rivera) while attending an LGBT Affirmations event. Out of the blue, and as a gesture of welcome to Detroit, Jan said, "While you're visiting you might like to see the world-famous Diego Rivera murals at the DIA." ('Oh, wow!' said Susan to herself. 'This is cosmic! ')

Beloved PG reader: Is that Soul Mate City, or what?

Anyway, that was 15 years ago, with a wonderful Windsor Rose Garden marriage that I, valid passport in hand, attended. (Jan still looked nothing like Diego.)

As a favor to Susan, who - as the aforementioned anecdote suggests - has marked Buddhist tendencies - and to Jan - who has MBA banking enlightenments-I, artist of otherworldly concoctions, am along for TBIF ride. We threesome are getting as close to being blissed out as we're likely to get here or hereafter.

Gathered with us are about 100 devotees of ashram musical, ninechakra tastes, here to listen with one-pointed attention to "Digital Buddha," a 45-minute multimedia offering created by Jin Hi Kim, involving kumungo - both traditional and electric versions of the fourth-century Korean zither - percussion, and video.

"The New York Times gives it high marks," offers Susan, smiling perhaps just a tad too beatifically for Jan's pragmatic, let's-balancethe-accountmg-books-of-business-before-lauching-into-the-Nirvanalifestyle, take on things.

To be on the safe side, I put my mind into a mental lotus position, focus on my third eye (the one with gay dar possibilities) and silently repeat the mantra, "Shouldn't have eaten two eclairs."

The lights dim. On the screen, a disc of red-orange-gold sunlight appears. Bursts. Spins. Spins. Spins. Hypnotically. Emitting spirals of smoke. Wheels of colors. Hinted human figures with imploring gestures. It undulates. It contracts. Vibrates. Urges. Insists. On and on. ON and ON!

No one whispers. No one dares cough. Buddha knows this is serious business. The Diego images of Edsel Ford, his stern foremen, tired plant workers of decades, decades gone by, are about to be challenged. (Perhaps given an opportunity to repay their collective karmic - and automotive - debt).

Delicate and tiny Korean Miss Kim - who has written and performed for chamber groups orchestras, avant-garde jazz improvs, multicultural ensembles - is joined by drummer-macho, beau-handsome, Westerner percussionist Gerry Hemingway. (You know the type.)

As both do mandala homage, wooing the authence out of earthbound, day-to-day complacency, it becomes apparent that, as far as performance pyrotechnics go, Gerry has met match in Kim. They complement each other. Compete with each other. Unintentionally vie with the digitally enhanced Buddha presence.

The drums pound, pound, snap, snare. The kumungo - or, whatever in heck it's called - plucks, plicks, plinks away, then plinks, plicks, plucks away. Thirty-eight minutes, 29 seconds pass. Plink. Plunk. Cymbal crash. (But who's counting?)

I stop focusing on my third eye long enough to sneak-peak at Susan, who gives a hint of nodding asleep or jolting awake. (Jan appears to be counting on her fingers, but with The Digital B whiring colors every which way, creating planets and moons, I'm probably hallucinating.) I surpress a heartfelt giggle. Susan smiles indulgently. Covertly giggles. Elbows me. Jan, well, looks like Jan. Thankfully.

Buddhist wisdom: Nothing lasts forever. Peace, sadly, most of all.

[Author Affiliation]

Charles@pridesource. com

Conservatives projected to retain power in Canada

2012-03-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

Canadian media projected that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has led his Conservative Party to victory but did not win enough seats to form a majority government.

Harper called the election early last month in hopes of getting a majority so he could govern without the need for opposition support to adopt legislation, but he was hurt by his slow reaction to the market meltdown.

The party winning the most seats generally forms the government, with its leader becoming prime minister.