Frances Duffy, 100, (left) of Medford, Ore., and Violet Lynam, 102, of Arizona are greeted by Giants mascot Lou Seal at the San Francisco Giants' home opener yesterday. The two women were among a group of survivors of the 1906 earthquake who were invited to the game.
The University of Arizona football team won’t mess around during its second public scrimmage of the spring at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.
After going 57 plays last week, the Wildcats plan to double the action at Arizona Stadium. Look for the Cats to try new plays and formations both on offense and defense.
“We are constantly working to show different looks and cover stuff that gave us problems last year,” UA coach Mike Stoops said.
The Wildcats’ offense scored only once last week, on the opening possession of the scrimmage, before the defense took over. That was only the second day in pads. The offense gets a second chance to polish things with Willie Tuitama in control.
Arizona could be without receiver Mike Thomas (dislocated finger) and offensive lineman Adam Hawes (sprained foot).
Sporting News pumps up Cats’ Williams, Budinger
The Sporting News was kind to the Arizona men’s basketball team in its 2006-07 preview.
The magazine lists UA’s Marcus Williams among “10 players on the rise,” saying the freshman guard “is a dangerous long-range shooter who can score in other ways.”
Others on the list were: G Mario Chalmers, Kansas; G Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State; F Jeff Green, Georgetown; F Richard Hendrix, Alabama; G Kyle Lowry, Villanova: G Jerel McNeal, Marquette; C Cedric Simmons, N.C. State; F Sam Young, Pitt; and F Sean Williams, Boston College.
UA signee Chase Budinger, a 6-foot-8 forward, made the “six impact newcomers” list with G Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech; F Kevin Durant, Texas; C Spencer Hawes, Washington; G Tywon Lawson, North Carolina; and F Vernon Macklin, Georgetown.
Citizen Wire Report
Fantasy baseball: Sabino
grad could be sleeper
Now’s the time for fantasy baseball league owners to start keeping track of sleeper players who could make an impact by midseason. Young players on the verge of breakout seasons:
J.J. Hardy, Brewers, SS. Call me a homer, but the 23-year-old former Sabino High School star is off to a great start – .364 average and two homers.
Matt Murton, Cubs, LF. Manager Dusty Baker has high hopes for the 24-year-old.
Hanley Ramirez, Marlins, SS. The 23-year-old leadoff hitter has All-Star talent.
Others to watch: Pitchers Matt Cain (Giants), Francisco Liriano (Twins), and Zach Duke (Pirates) and position players Ryan Zimmerman (3B, Nationals), Mike Jacobs (1B, Marlins), Nick Swisher (OF-1B, A’s) and Ian Kinsler (2B, Rangers, Canyon del Oro grad).
Shelly Lewellen
slewelle@tucsoncitizen.com (slewelle@tucsoncitizen.com)
Parting word: Bonds series intriguing – ratings or not
Despite mixed reviews, the ESPN reality series “Bonds on Bonds” makes it impossible to tear your eyes away from it.
In the first episode, airing this week, Barry Bonds, the San Francisco star, a suspected steroid abuser, doesn’t reveal a single new thing about himself. But his ego and disregard for everyone else make for a fascinating character study, even if the show drew just 0.4 percent of cable TV households.
The producers insert items about the steroid accusations against Bonds, but he never directly addresses them himself. It’s surprisingly direct in some areas, considering that Bonds gets to approve all the material.
We do get a glimpse of what may drive Bonds’ perseverance: his father, Bobby Bonds, who died in 2003. The show suggests Barry has his father’s ghost continually whispering in his ear, “Don’t you dare ever quit.” The second of the 10-episode series airs at 4 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.
- Lewellen
Around the horn: Laughing
in the woods can be a crime
RUNNING: After joggers complained that Joachim Bahrenfeld was disturbing the peace, a German court ordered the 54-year-old accountant to stop laughing out loud in the woods or face six months in jail. “It’s freeing and healthy,” he said.
BOXING: Sugar Ray Robinson will be honored on a 39-cent stamp unveiled today. It’s designed to resemble a vintage fight poster of the 1940s and 1950s. Robinson, who died in 1989, was 174-19-6 with 109 knockouts.
BASKETBALL: The William Morris Agency has acquired the movie rights to the story of Jason McElwain, who has autism and is the manager of a high school team in Rochester, N.Y. He got into a game and scored 20 points in four minutes. Magic Johnson has asked to be a producer.
Citizen Wire Report