<h4>Wish I could fly like Superman </h4>
Minnesota's Brendan Harris (right) steals second as Florida Marlins second baseman Andy Gonzalez jumps for the throw from home during Tuesday's game in Jupiter, Fla. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez backs up the play.
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AUSTIN, Texas – Lance Armstrong is planning to ride in the Giro d’Italia in May even though his broken collarbone is a bit more serious than first thought.
“I think the Giro is still very doable,” the seven-time Tour de France champion said Tuesday night during a conference call with reporters. “This is definitely a setback, no doubt. It’s the biggest setback I’ve ever had in my cycling career, so it’s a new experience for me.”
Although initial indications were it was a clean break, the 37-year-old American cyclist said new tests in Austin showed “multiple pieces” of broken bone.
He will have surgery Wednesday, and Austin sports medicine specialist Dr. Douglas Elenz, an orthopedic surgeon, will insert a plate to stabilize the collarbone.
“I think they try to put the puzzle back together,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong crashed Monday in the first stage of the Vuelta of Castilla and Leon race in northern Spain. He flew home to Austin on Tuesday and went straight to visit Elenz.
After surgery, Armstrong will take a mandatory 72-hour rest period. Then the surgeon will determine if Armstrong can get on an indoor training bike to resume his workouts.
Although the recovery typically takes four to six weeks, Armstrong hopes his will be faster.
“It’s a very common cycling injury,” he said. “You hear of guys who race two weeks later; you hear of guys who race two months later.”
The Giro runs from May 9-31. The Tour de France is July 4-26.
Armstrong said he was frustrated the injury happened just as he was getting into top shape. He was among the top 10 riders for much of the race Monday before he crashed about 12 miles from the end of the stage. Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel said Armstrong hit the ground hard with his head.
Decisions, decisions
Before CBS announces anything, you might be able to figure out who’ll play in this weekend’s NCAA men’s college basketball tournament games.
CBS sets tip times and doesn’t like to say where it would slot Elite Eight games before the Sweet 16 play. But, based on CBS’ past picks, these are gimme putts.
If Duke wins Thursday, it gets Saturday’s marquee late-game slot (4:05 p.m. Tucson time). If North Carolina wins Friday it should get Sunday’s late game (2:05 p.m.).
CBS scheduler Mike Aresco notes CBS sometimes gets a “hard time” for its Duke ties – CBS Sports head Sean McManus is an alum – but “we’re only looking at ratings potential. That’s all we think about.”
And if Duke loses Thursday and UNC loses Friday, they’re going to have to think harder.
If defending champ Kansas and No. 1 overall seed Louisville advance Friday, they’d likely get Sunday’s late game.
CBS would have a real jump ball deciding Saturday’s late game if Duke loses Thursday but other seedings hold – having to choose between Memphis-Connecticut or Pittsburgh-Villanova.
USA TODAY
Player’s wife questioned
PLANT CITY, Fla. – A 2-month-old is back in the arms of her parents and the wife of a top Pittsburgh Pirates minor league prospect is suspected of taking the infant from a health clinic outside Tampa, authorities said Tuesday.
Amalia Tabata Pereira, 43, was being questioned by Florida detectives in Manatee County, where the girl was found unharmed Tuesday afternoon, a day after she was taken from the clinic. Plant City Chief of Police Bill McDaniel said authorities are looking to charge Pereira with false imprisonment.
She is the wife of Jose Tabata, 20, an outfielder and one of the top three prospects for the Pirates, who train in Bradenton, which is in the county where the infant was found. In a statement, Pirates president Frank Coonelly said they have received “no indication that Jose is believed to have had any involvement in this matter.”
Sandra Cruz-Francisco was taken from her mother, Rosa Sirilo-Francisco, about 3 p.m. Monday by a woman her family only knew as “Janet,” Plant City police said.
The Associated Press
Pima softball
The No. 12-ranked Aztecs (43-7) swept visiting Arizona Western in a doubleheader Tuesday, winning 2-0 and 8-6.
Chelsea Evanoff (Sabino High School) earned the win in the first game to improve to 17-2, while Jordan Trujillo (Sierra Vista Buena, 11-2) picked up the win in the nightcap.
Logan Hall (Sahuaro) had a combined 5 for 7 at the plate on the day with two doubles and two RBIs.
The Aztecs visit No. 2 Yavapai College for a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday in Prescott.
Pima baseball
Pima dropped a pair of one-run games to host Scottsdale on Tuesday, losing 5-4 and 2-1.
Kody Johnson (Cienega) hit a home run in each game for Pima (20-15-1), which hosts Glendale for a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday.
Pima men’s tennis
The Aztecs are 4-4 after a 5-4 win over visiting Glendale on Tuesday. The Aztecs won four of the six singles matches, led by a 6-2, 6-0 victory from Nolan Alexander at No. 1.
Pima women’s tennis
Pima improved to 7-4 with a 5-3 win at Glendale on Tuesday. Ali Brackey won 6-4, 7-5 at the No. 3 singles for the Aztecs.
NUMBER OF THE DAY
30.5
Points per game scored by Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin in the NCAA Tournament, the most of any player whose team is still alive. Other top scorers:
Sherron Collins, Kansas 28.5
Nic Wise, Arizona 25.0
Roburt Sallie, Memphis 24.0
Wayne Ellington, N. Carolina 24.0
A.J. Price, Connecticut 23.5
QUOTABLE
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ON THIS DATE
1972: Bill Walton scores 24 points to lead UCLA to an 81-76 victory over Florida State and the NCAA basketball title. The Bruins finish 30-0 and increase their winning streak to 45.
1972: Maryland beats Niagara 100-69 in the NIT championship, becoming the first team to score 100 points in the finals.
1990: Pat Bradley becomes the first LPGA player to reach $3 million in career earnings with a one-stroke victory in the $500,000 Turquoise Classic in Phoenix.
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SPORTS SOUND-OFF
Readers split over Livengood
Re: UA athletic director Jim Livengood
• Livengood is well thought of in AD circles. He has dealt with adversity well, and in his own mistakes, he has or is in process of correcting them. We could do a lot worse. Our problem is, we were spoiled by Ced Dempsey, the best ever.
3829
• Jim Livengood should not be allowed to serve one day past the end of his contract. He has done more to foul up the Arizona athletic department than any director we’ve ever had. He should have been fired years ago . . . If he wants to keep working, let him go screw up another school. He’s done enough damage here.
JEFF BRITT
• Livengood needed to go yesterday.
INDOSHAK