<h4>Game interrupted </h4>
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez breaks his racket during a match at the Italian Rome Masters tennis tournament in Rome on Thursday.
One member of the Baucus family wasn’t enough.
The University of Arizona football team received a commitment from offensive tackle Mickey Baucus on Thursday. His brother, Jack, a tight end, signed with the Wildcats in February as part of the 2009 recruiting class.
The two could some day line up next to each other.
“My brother being there is obviously huge,” Mickey said in a phone interview Thursday. “We are really close and wanted to play together in college. I’m excited to have the chance.”
The younger Baucus, from Carmel High School in Mundelein, Ill., scheduled several unofficial trips this spring to check out schools.
Arizona was the place for a 6-foot-8, 255-pound player who has good size and leverage for his tackle position.
“Combined with good flexibility for a big man, we feel he has the tools and athletic ability to start his career at left tackle,” ESPN.com wrote.
“For a person of his size, his ability to bend at the waist and knees is an attribute. . . . Can dominate at the line of scrimmage.”
Baucus took little time to accept a scholarship offer from UA offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh.
“I’ve been ready to commit for two months now,” Mickey said. “This is the right choice for me. I told my brother and he was stoked.”
Jack is rehabilitating a knee injury that he suffered late in his team’s November playoff run.
“He is sprinting now and the rehab is going really well,” Mickey said.
Jack arrives in June, with Mickey slated for the 2010 season.
More A-Rod accusations
NEW YORK – A new, unflattering biography of Alex Rodriguez reportedly says he may have used steroids as early as high school and even after he joined the New York Yankees.
Rodriguez admitted in February to using steroids while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03, but insisted he stopped before he was traded to the Yankees in February 2004.
He brushed off a question Thursday about details from Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts’ upcoming book “A-Rod” that cast doubt on his earlier statements.
“I’m not going there,” he said after homering in an extended spring training intrasquad game in Tampa, Fla. Rodriguez has been rehabbing from hip surgery in March and hasn’t played for the Yankees this season.
“I’m just so excited about being back on the field and playing baseball. My team has won two games (in a row) up there and hopefully I can come back and help them win some more,” he said.
The Daily News reported Thursday that Roberts’ book portrays the three-time AL MVP as a needy personality who wanted his ego stroked constantly and a player who tipped opponents to pitches in blowout games, hoping the favor would get returned someday.
A high school teammate of A-Rod’s told Roberts that the future No. 1 draft pick was on steroids as a prep player and his coach knew it – an allegation the coach, Rich Hofman, denied.
Rodriguez said he wasn’t worried that the steroids issue was being brought up again.
“No. Not really,” he said. “I’m in a good place. I think more importantly physically I feel like I’m getting better everyday.”
The Associated Press
McDaniel going for title
Canyon del Oro High School graduate David McDaniel will go after his fourth straight Tucson City Amateur golf title this weekend at Randolph North.
McDaniel led the field in the first two tournament rounds last weekend at Dell Urich with a 5-under 139, and leads Ironwood Ridge High sophomore Alex McMahonby two strokes. Phil Summersett trails by four.
Play will resume Saturday at Randolph North with the five other flights. Finals will be Sunday.
McDaniel has won eight straight area amateur tournaments he has entered, winning three times each the Tucson City and Pima County amateurs and the 2006 and 2007 Oro Valley amateurs. He was not entered in the Oro Valley tournament event in 2008.
Citizen Staff Report
Cinco de Mayo Sunday
The 26th annual Cinco de Mayo 10K road race, Tucson’s oldest, will be held Sunday. The race will commence at 7 a.m., with a two-mile fun run set at 7:05.
The race course begins at Cholla High School and goes through rolling hills along Starr Pass Road.
Doug Friman of Tucson won his second Cinco de Mayo title last season (32 minutes, 36 seconds) as did Paula Morrison (36:57) in the women’s division.
Citizen Staff Report
NUMBER OF THE DAY
33.5
Career scoring average by Michael Jordan in the NBA playoffs, the best in league history. Other leaders:
Allen Iverson 29.7
Jerry West 29.1
Tracy McGrady 28.5
LeBron James 27.9
Elgin Baylor 27.0
George Gervin 27.0
Hakeem Olajuwon 25.9
QUOTABLE
'It's special to be part of this, and I know that it's a series people will be talking about for a long time.'
JOAKIM NOAH,
Bulls center, on the Boston-Chicago series in the NBA playoffs
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ON THIS DATE
1920: Joe Oeschger of the Boston Braves and Leon Cadore of the Brooklyn Dodgers each pitch 26 innings in a 1-1 tie, the longest game in major league history.
1943: Count Fleet, ridden by Johnny Longden, wins the Kentucky Derby by three lengths over Blue Swords.
2002: With a save against the Chicago Cubs, San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman sets the major league record for the most saves with one team, 321. He breaks Dennis Eckersley’s record of 320 with Oakland.
The Associated Press
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SPORTS SOUND-OFF
Doing what’s best for himself
Re: Zane Johnson leaving UA basketball team
• Zane’s an excellent shooter and it’s too bad he didn’t shoot more. I suspect he knows he’s not going to get much playing time because of the new recruits, so he’s doing what’s in his best interest. Good luck. EASEO
• Well how nice of Zane. Thank you oh so much for demonstrating the leadership skills you would have doled out to the team next year. ARIZONA91
Re: UA lands quarterback recruit Matt Brown
The new offense is attracting the top QBs. We have never had that luxury. 3829
I saw this kid at Nike and the Rivals combine in Dallas. He was MVP at both combines. Lightning quick with his feet, 4.5 speed and strong/accurate passer. DOLLAR BILL