Main page | March 6, 2008 »

Division II girls hockey championship

North Smithfield 4, La Salle 3, o.t.

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 9:33 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Division II boys basketball semifinals

West Warwick 64, Coventry 44
Classical 61, Rogers 54

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 8:51 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Division II girls basketball semifinals

Mount St. Charles 49, Woonsocket 47, o.t.
Barrington 46, Scituate 32

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 8:39 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats sign safety Tank Williams

The St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune are reporting that the New England Patriots have signed safety Tank Williams to a one-year contract.

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 5:48 PM to Patriots | Permalink | Comments 0

Steinbrenner daughter hopes she has a Derby winner

By Richard Rosenblatt
AP Racing Writer

The excitement in her voice was unmistakable.

Jessica Steinbrenner was chatting up her 3-year-old colt Majestic Warrior, and wanted it known that her father is caught up in more than just spring training.

"He is absolutely ecstatic he could have another shot at the Kentucky Derby," Jessica, the younger of George Steinbrenner's two daughters, was saying the other day by phone from Florida. "He had a great chance a few years ago with Bellamy Road but that didn't work out. He's excited all over again."

While the 77-year-old Steinbrenner recently turned over the day-to-day running of the New York Yankees to sons Hal and Hank, Jessica has been managing dad's Kinsman Stable the past few years.

On Saturday, the Steinbrenners will find out whether Majestic Warrior moves forward on the road to the May 3 Derby when he runs in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds. It will be the colt's first race since finishing sixth in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 6, when he most likely developed an ankle injury that set back his training.

"If you love horses, these are the most exciting months of the year," Jessica Steinbrenner said. "I can hardly think of anything else."

It seems dad is loving it, too. Jessica says she gave her father a picture of Majestic Warrior, and it's "hanging above the mantel in his bedroom." And, she added, the blanket from winning the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last Sept. 3 hangs over the Boss' office chair.

"He's always said his dream is to win the Kentucky Derby, and that hasn't changed," Jessica said.

Steinbrenner has been in the thoroughbred business since the 1970s. Kinsman Stable currently has about 25-30 horses in training as well as about 40 broodmares, many of them in Kentucky. The 750-acre farm in Ocala, Fla., has a private home for each of Steinbrenner's four children.

Three years ago, Bellamy Road was Steinbrenner's sixth and best chance to win the Derby. The colt went off as the favorite but finished seventh.

Majestic Warrior came along last year, a striking son of 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy. He won his first start by 31/2 lengths at Saratoga on Aug. 4, then captured the Grade 1 Hopeful by 21/4 lengths. The offers to buy the colt poured in, but the Steinbrenners did not want to give up total control. They sold a 50 percent interest to Coolmore Stud for an undisclosed amount.

The sale has not dampened Jessica Steinbrenner's enthusiasm for the colt, a homebred who was turned out in the paddock next to her farmhouse.

"He was the Alpha male of the group," she said. "Always does everything right. He naps when he's supposed to, he's well behaved and does whatever is asked. He's everything you want, and he's well bred to boot. A terrific specimen."

Two-time Derby winner Nick Zito trained Bellamy Road, but this time fellow Hall of Famer Bill Mott was chosen to handle the Steinbrenners' top colt. Mott is best known as the trainer of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar in the mid-1990s, and he has excelled with older horses, especially fillies and mares. Both have been training for the Steinbrenner's for years.

"We chose Bill because it has been a constant that he gets our fillies and the colts were going elsewhere - and he deserved a shot with our best colt," Jessica Steinbrenner said. "He takes great care of horses. He won't run them too soon, and he won't run them if he doesn't believe it's a safe choice. ... I really look up to him. He is a great trainer."

Mott trained one of Steinbrenner's Derby horses - Blue Burner, who finished 11th in 2002. While Zito is Derby driven with 19 starters since 1990, Mott has sent out four since his first one in 1984.

"They have given me a lot of support for a long time, and recently Jessica has given me a big chance with a couple of colts," Mott said, adding that Majestic Warrior has trained well at Payson Park in Miami in the weeks leading to the race.

Mott has Derby hopefuls for other owners as well. Among them are Court Vision and Z Humor, who ran third and fourth in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream on Feb. 24.

"We're glad to be able to have some potential horses for all these prep races and we hope we come out of it in good order and have something to run on the big day," Mott said. "That's what we're shooting for."

Majestic Warrior could put Mott and the Steinbrenners a step closer to Churchill Downs with a big effort in New Orleans. Risen Star winner Pyro is the morning-line favorite in a nine-horse field.

"I've been to Louisiana, but never for the races," Jessica Steinbrenner said. "This is an exciting time."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Tonight's readers picks: West Warwick, Classical, Woonsocket and a toss-up

Readers at HSGametime.com have been voting since Monday on the winners of tonight's Division II boys and girls semifinal games. The polls will remain open until the games begin tonight, but here's a 2:30 snapshot on where things stand:

In the boys games, readers favor West Warwick to beat Coventry, 81 votes to 49 (62 percent to 38 percent). And they are picking Classical to beat Rogers, by a 74-to-51 vote margin (or 59 percent to 41 percent). The boys games are at CCRI-Warwick, beginning with the Wizards and the Oakers at 6:30.

On the girls side, readers are picking Woonsocket to win their city rivalry game with Mount St. Charles, 50 votes to 39 (or 56 percent to 44 percent). Readers are just about split on the other game, a rematch of last season's Division II final between Barrington and Scituate. Right now Barrington has 42 votes to Scituate's 41. The girls games are at Rhode Island College, beginning with the Villa Novans and the Mounties at 6:30.

You can click here to vote on all the remaining high school playoff games. And remember to check HSGametime tomorrow for photo galleries of all four games.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:34 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Murcer's biopsy shows no sign of tumor

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A brain biopsy on New York Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer showed no sign that a tumor had reoccurred.

An MRI exam last week showed an area of concern, which prompted the biopsy Monday at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

"We received great news this morning," Murcer said in statement released by the Yankees on Wednesday. "The biopsy revealed scar tissue. It showed no signs of cancer. It's what we had hoped for all along. I plan on resting at home over the next few weeks and focusing my energy on returning to the stadium for its final opening day. My family and I thank everyone for their prayers, e-mails, cards and thoughts."

Murcer was scheduled to leave the hospital Wednesday and return to his Oklahoma home.
An All-Star outfielder who played 17 seasons in the major leagues, Murcer had surgery in December 2006 - four days after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

The 61-year-old Murcer played for the Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs from 1965-83, batting .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs. He has been a popular broadcaster on Yankees games for 23 seasons, winning several Emmy Awards.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

HotBytes audio: Hot striper lures for 2008

What's your go-to lure for striped bass this season?

Over the weekend, Tom Meade asked three expert anglers who also run tackle shops.

Now on Tom's HotBytes blog, you can listen to opinions from Jack Balant of The Fish Connection, Elisa Jackman of Snug Harbor Marina, and Ron Mouchon of Breachway Bait & Tackle.

Post a comment about your favorite striper lures.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Fantasy baseball player rankings updated now

Head over to our Fantasy Sports Blog to see David Ferris' latest complete player rankings to help you prepare for your fantasy draft. Ferris ranks starting pitchers and relievers, plus hitters by position.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Download today's sports cover

On today's sports cover, we bring you the results of last night's Division I high school basketball semifinals. Sean McAdam writes that Jonathan Papelbon's contract demands are indicative of a larger trend in major league baseball. Paul Kenyon examines the URI Rams' many postseason scenarios. Shalise Manza Young has news that Jabar Gaffney has re-signed with the Patriots. And we have analysis of Brett Favre's decision to retire.

Click here to download the file in pdf format.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments 0