She survived heart surgery

"I learned the game when I was in diapers," Elizabeth Berry said. "It's passed down from generation to generation."

The game of soccer doesn’t make miracles, but Elizabeth Berry will never be convinced otherwise.

She underwent heart valve surgery four years ago that had an unusual twist.

“I had a congenital condition and had to have an aortic valve replaced,” she said. “Three months later I found out I was pregnant. Nobody in the U.S. had ever been pregnant with that surgery, so I became a case study.”

Today, son, Kyle, 2, carries the spotted ball around like other toddlers tote pacifiers or blankets.

“It’s all he knows about sports,” the mother said, days before the local Tucson Association of Realtors Shootout. “I learned the game when I was in diapers. It’s passed down from generation to generation.”

Berry’s grandfather was playing for the national Romanian team circa World War II when he was separated from his family. While trying to find them he was arrested, and spent the war years in four different concentration camps.

“He’s 83 now and very open about it,” Berry said. “It’s not ‘hey, look what happened to us,’ but part of our history.”

Berry is convinced and doctors agree that the physical fitness she attained from playing soccer as a youth helped her survive surgery and rehab.

Today, she can’t play the game itself, so she has become a survivor spokeswoman for the Arizona Heart & Lung Association. Part of her task is to counsel kids about fitness, including soccer aspirants.

“I see a kid and ask, ‘Do you play?’ ” she said. “They answer, ‘I don’t know how to get into it,’ so I help them.”

The family gatherings during Tucson’s action-packed weekend are unique event, she said.

“There are things for the kids and entire families,” she said. “It’s so special. Soccer groups, too, are like second families.”

Berry and her husband, Kevin, are alums of the soccer event back in the days when it was known as the Fort Lowell Shootout.

After graduation from Rincon High School, Berry served in the Navy for four years without a hint about her hidden condition.

Then, at times, she had was having breathing problems. Then came the severe chest pains.

“One doctor told me somebody my age doesn’t have chest pains that bad. See a shrink.”

She found the right medical care and now wants to continue in school to obtain a B.A. in alternative medicine, continue to medical school and become a cardiac specialist.

Valve problems come on suddenly. Many times a person is not so fortunate as she. One can be hiking in the mountains and drop dead.

“We must catch it at a young age and figure out how to manage it,” she said.

Berry’s 30th birthday treat for herself this year will be to jump out of a plane. She wanted to at 25 but had other priorities.

She is convinced also that her love for soccer and desire to bounce back was an emotional lift along with the support group her vibrant personality attracted. Skydiving should be a run on the trail compared to what she’s survived.

“You come to terms with your mortality real quick,” she said.

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SHOOTOUT INFO

When: Friday-Sunday.

Who/where: 289 teams, U-8 to U-17; 11 local fields, including Fort Lowell Park, at Craycroft and Glenn.

Opening ceremonies: 6 p.m. Friday, Fort Lowell Park. A $3 shuttle is available from 4:30-10 p.m. at SE corner of Craycroft and River.

Panthers player Julia Bryson, 10, works on her footwork while preparing for the upcoming Fort Lowell Shootout.

Ten-year-old Julia Bryson knows she’s in the game when those corner kicks come around.

“It’s a little scary,” the Fort Lowell Panthers defender says. “We get the corner kick when the other team kicks it out of bounds behind their goal. When our kicker kicks it, we have to stay back in case it rebounds back to us, and then we try to score.”

Bryson and her teammates will make up one of 289 teams this weekend in the 19th annual Tucson Association of Realtors Shootout, a Southwestern soccer festival using 11 local fields that gains yearly in club prestige.

The tournament – sponsored previously by Coldwell Banker and informally known as the Fort Lowell Shootout – brings almost 6,000 visitors with an economic impact of $3.2 million, organizers say.

Bryson’s 11-under team is led by Mark Metsger, who has started his second phase of coaching Fort Lowell club teams.

Two years ago, he finished a 6-year tenure of coaching girls from the age level of 10-and-under. He began last season with a new group, the Panthers, and hopes to “grow” with them as they move up in age groups.

“My daughter, Mia, was playing at this level and the coach didn’t know what he was doing,” Metsger says. “So I started watching film so I could learn how to teach skills at practice.

“Then it was, ‘Wow, these girls are getting better.’ So we moved up, and one year got fifth (place) in the state. I guess I learned on the fly.”

Metsger took over the Panthers, who hadn’t won a game in 2006-07, and turned them into a winner last season by emphasizing passing and strategy.

Janet Squire, 10, is a Panthers midfielder. She has to be disciplined, but she enjoys just being out there and running free.

“I just go back and forth, right or left and follow the ball,” Squire says. “And that includes the scramble that is the corner kick.”

Bryson, who started playing the game when she was 4, loves the strategy and is becoming more and more fond of winning.

“It’s possible we can win all our games,” she says, “if everybody works together.”

Panthers coach Mark Metsger (left) watches Janet Squire, 10, practice.

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SHOOTOUT INFO

When: Friday-Sunday.

Who/where: 289 teams, U-8 to U-17; 11 local fields, including Fort Lowell Park, at Craycroft and Glenn.

Schedule: Friday (parade and opening ceremonies, 6 p.m.; soccer olympics, 7 p.m., Fort Lowell Park) Saturday (games 7:45 a.m.-9 p.m; U-9/10 Spirit Cup and soccer olympics, 5:30 p.m.) Sunday (games 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; championships 2-4 p.m.)

Info: www.fortlowellshootout.com

Shaun Haley and Paula Morrison were the winners for the 2008 Southern Arizona Roadrunners annual Grand Prix.

The Grand Prix is a cumulative points derby for 11 SAR road race events.

Haley totaled 334 men’s points in running in 10 events. Morrison notched 320 women’s points in competing in eight of the 11 events.

Sun Run begins SAR slate

The Southern Arizona Roadrunners’ 2009 season begins Jan. 25 with the annual Sun Run for Pima Community College Cross Country and Track & Field.

The road race will start near Ramada 31 at Reid Park. Events are a USA Track and Field certified 10K and 5K Run/Walk.

For information call 326-9383 or 977-4072. The SAR Web address is azroadrunners. org.

TBC set for March

The annual Tucson Bicycle Classic tops the lineup of Arizona Bicycle Racing local and area events in 2009.

The 21st annual TBC will be March 6-9 with time trial, road race and circuit race events.

The Picacho Time Trial Series will be July 25, Aug. 16 and Sept. 6.

Other local and area races are:

• Colossal Cave Time Trial and Road Race, March 28-29

• Tumacacori Road Race and University of Arizona Criterium, April 4-5

• Downtown Saturday Night Criterium, April 18

• Sonoita-Patagonia Time Trial, May 17

• Thunder Road Time Trial, May 31

• Mount Lemmon Hillclimb Time Trial, June 28

• Kitt Peak Hillclimb Time Trial, Sept. 20

• Mount Graham time trial hillclimb state championship, Sept. 27

ABRA calendar available

The 2009 Arizona Bicycle Racing Association wall calendar is currently on sale.

The calendar features Mason Ibas photography from past local and state events.

Featured among the 28 pages is the 2009 schedule, full color photography, information on Arizona racing and cycling quotes.

It is a specialty item and supplies are limited. The calendar sells for $13.99 and is available online at masonibas.com or at local bicycle shops.

Schreiber points victor

Tucson’s Nick Schreiber was the winner of the senior Pro 1-2 category for 2008, the Arizona Bicycle Racing Association announced.

Schreiber totaled 447 points of ABRA sanctioned events with Brian Forbes of Mesa second at 310. In women’s 1-2, Melanie Meyers of the University of Arizona team was the winner (161) over Marisa Russell (130) of Chandler.

Other Tucson division winners included David Swanson, Master Men 30-34; Lisa Ribes, Master Women 30-34; Scott Biaggi, Master Men 40-44; Jo Roberts, Master Women 45-49; and Thomas Jondall, Junior Men 17-18.

<h4>Made in the shade: Audience members wear special glasses as they watch a live 3D broadcast of the BCS Championship title game between Florida and Oklahoma on Thursday at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.</h4>

Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras have left inspiration in their wake and the Williams sisters are stars, but the sport could use a Tiger Woods to turn youth tennis into gold in the U.S.

“As far as players who make it on the national stage, I guess you could say we’re in something of a recession,” says Desert View girls tennis coach Stacy Haines. “But youth tennis in Tucson is thriving, especially in the high schools.”

Events such as the just-completed Copper Bowl junior tournament in Tucson have no problem drawing players and crowds.

Tucson is not alone, believes Joey Blake, the owner and director of Scottsdale’s Topnotch tennis academy.

Tennis is convenient to play and a popular recreation but the nation doesn’t seem to be turning its lonely eyes to national heroes such as John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors like it did in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.

“Tiger did a huge thing for golf,” said Blake, a contemporary player of Agassi and Sampras. “A lot more people wanted to play it because of him and the funny thing is people that used to play tennis for business lunches and weekends turned to golf.”

Tennis players around the world are serious about the sport, even if the U.S. doesn’t seem to be.

“In Europe, Asia and South America it’s a different mind-set,” Blake said. “They take it more seriously. A European soccer coach told me, and it applies to tennis, that the difference between them and U.S. youth is the worse thing that can happen here is go on to college.

“We have a great society that allows us to do that. The worse thing that can happen there is they could end up sweeping streets. They put in all the time and effort and they either make it or don’t.

“Serbia has been a war-torn country and they are using drained-out swimming pools for tennis courts.”

Locally, according to Haines, youth teams are getting larger, so the signs are good, “not only at powerhouses such as Salpointe, Sabino and Catalina Foothills but a ‘nontennis’ school such as mine (Desert View).

“For the past several years, we’ve had 30 or more players on our girls teams, and it’s cool to see Pueblo, Sunnyside and Cholla catching up.”

Haines says there is a “glass ceiling,” though, because of the great expense for kids to rise to higher levels. Therefore, a decline in some socioeconomic groups.

“At this year’s Copper Bowl there were dramatically fewer African-Americans and Hispanic players. . . . but every coach I spoke with at the tournament said the same thing – it favors the affluent, not the best athletes.

“That explains why so few Tucson players were competing in a tournament being held in their hometown.”

Blake sees the need for some kind of boon, as with a Tiger who grew up to stardom under the eye of a nation.

“There are a lot of juniors playing but if you ask me where tennis is in the U.S., we’re probably doing better. But we’re a long way from catching up to a Serbia or a Spain.”

Auction for rare card halted

FRESNO, Calif. – Somewhere amid her collection of worn jukeboxes and slot machines, a 72-year-old California woman recently discovered an antique worth saving: a rare baseball card of the first professional team in the United States.

And if it weren’t for the keen intervention of a friend, she would have sold the 1869 card of the Cincinnati Red Stockings on eBay for just $10.

“I didn’t even know baseball existed that far back,” said Bernice Gallego, who owns an antique shop in Fresno, a mid-sized city in the state’s farming region. “I don’t think that I’ve ever been to a baseball game.”

She put a $10 price tag on it, but decided against $15. She pulled it from auction after realizing it could be worth much more when someone asked her to end the auction immediately.

The front of the card features a sepia-toned, gelatin-silver photographic print of the entire team. The reverse is a red-and-white advertisement for Peck & Snyder, a New York sports equipment manufacturer.

Experts at the Los Angeles-based PSA, the leading sports card grading and authenticating company, say the card is authentic and the team photo is relatively unscathed. Sports card collectors prize any card featuring the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who laid the foundation for today’s Major League Baseball.

“They were kind of an All-Star team before that concept really existed,” said Tim Wiles, who directs research at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. “They went around and challenged all comers. They barnstormed around the country and were undefeated.”

The Associated Press

Plenty riding on playoffs

BURBANK, Calif. – A close shave is expected for either the announcer or bandleader on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” based on who wins the Giants-Eagles playoff game Sunday.

Announcer John Melendez, a Giants fan, vows to shave his head if his team loses. Bandleader Kevin Eubanks will shave his mustache if the Eagles don’t win.

Leno’s monologue was repeatedly interrupted by bickering over which team would win Sunday’s NFL divisional playoff game. Leno explained the problem during Wednesday’s monologue.

“We had a bit of an outburst the last couple of nights,” Leno said. “John’s a Giants fan; Kev’s an Eagles fan. To keep them from arguing in the monologue – they kept interrupting me – if the Giants win, Kev has to shave his mustache. If the Eagles win, John has to shave his head.”

The Associated Press

Petty, GEM join forces

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Richard Petty’s famed No. 43 Dodge was rescued from near ruin Thursday when Gillett Evernham Motorsports agreed to merge with Petty’s slumping organization to create a new team.

GEM had been in exclusive negotiations with Petty Enterprises to combine the two teams into one four-car organization, and an agreement in principle was reached Thursday.

The deal is not expected to be closed until the end of the month.

The team will be co-owned by Richard Petty, Petty Holdings – which is owned by majority shareholder Boston Ventures – and Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Ray Evernham, who formed his team in 1999 but sold majority interest to Canadian businessman George Gillett Jr. in 2007, will be a minority owner in the venture.

The name of the new team was not released, but it’s believed the parties are leaning toward re-branding the organization Richard Petty Motorsports to capitalize on the seven-time NASCAR champion’s name.

The Associated Press

QUOTABLE

'Tebow, just call him Superman.'

PERCY HARVIN,

Florida receiver, on quarterback Tim Tebow (right) after the Gators beat Oklahoma for the national title Thursday.

———

SPORTS SOUND-OFF

Get over the Utah thing, Gimino

Re: Gimino column – Utah deserves chance to be ranked No. 1

• Voting for a non-BCS team is like voting for Ralph Nader at every presidential election – it’s a wasted vote and a total waste of everybody’s time. Unfortunately Utah didn’t play anyone. OLD WARRIOR

• Utah beat four teams in the top 25 and six bowl teams. That stacks up with every other team that is in the national title discussion. ROB L.

• I am afraid if Utah had played at Oregon State, Utah would have lost. Same goes for the BYU game. Strength of schedule. UACATFAN

———

ON THIS DATE

1942: Joe Louis knocks out Buddy Baer with 4 seconds left in the first round at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain the heavyweight title.

1977: Oakland wins its first NFL title and the Minnesota Vikings drop their fourth Super Bowl as the Raiders post a 32-14 triumph.

1996: The Toronto Raptors set an NBA record by not making a single free throw in a 92-91 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The expansion Raptors shoot 0-for-3 from the foul line.

2004: Brian Boucher of Phoenix posts his fifth straight shutout in Coyotes’ 2-0 win over Minnesota.

Gregory Anderson of Tucson lost 6-1, 6-0 in the annual Copper Bowl junior national tournament 12-and-under division finals Wednesday at El Conquistador.

Maybe if 4-foot-8 Tucson tennis player Gregory Anderson was a bit more imposing, he might have had more success with the missiles that Zandrix Acob sent his way Wednesday morning.

“He was bigger and stronger than me,” said Anderson, 12, who lost 6-1, 6-0 in the annual Copper Bowl junior national tournament 12-and-under division finals at El Conquistador’s center court.

“He’s feeling like he got his butt kicked pretty good, which he did,” said his coach, Joey Blake, a playing contemporary of Andre Agassi and the owner and director of Scottsdale’s Topnotch Tennis academy.

“But I’ve never known a pro in any sport who hasn’t. The bigger kid won. He muscled his way around the court and had the strokes to back it up.

“That being said, Gregory is developing his game and he’ll be OK. I have no problems about this getting him down for long. As I told his father (Jon Anderson), I saw (Pete) Sampras lose as a 12-year-old, and now who’s holding all the trophies?”

Even though Acob, from Hilo, Hawaii, had the match won from practically the first game, Anderson followed to a tee his coach’s order of technique before triumph.

And although the score doesn’t show it, Anderson held his own in the firestorm of volleys.

“I used a heavy topspin and tried to play the corners,” Anderson said. “It’s what I’ve been working on. It didn’t work today.”

Work ethic is a strength of Anderson. In his third year of tennis, the game takes up half of his time on weekdays.

Blake compares him to a youthful Agassi or Jennifer Capriati and said on his Web site that in 33 years of coaching, “Gregory is by far the best talent I’ve worked with in all my years. They developed their games for the future and didn’t always win along the way.”

After Wednesday’s match, Blake said, “Tucson has a very good one on its hands. I don’t say that about many kids. The people here should see it.”

Judy Miller and Craig Bauley were the winners of the Tucson City Amateur women’s and senior golf titles.

Miller’s 36-hole 4-over-par 148 won the women’s event by 10 strokes against Kelly Loeb. Nicole Tucker (161) was in third at Randolph North.

Bauley shot a 1-over 145 to defeat Russell Hatfield by five strokes to win the Tucson Senior Amateur, also at Randolph. Cyrus Whitney was third at 151.

First-flight Women’s gross honors went Nicole Gentry at 162 followed by Michelle Safely (185). Donna Patek (150) was the low net winner with Heidi Sasselli (159) second.

In Seniors play, Bob Petrillo (151) won first-flight low gross followed by Craig Nass (154) and Mike Steffey (157). Cyril Shettleroe (137) won first-flight low net and Clay Steffey (140) was second.

In seniors second-flight play, Paul Norris (157) was the winner with Pat Dar (154) second and and John Philpot (170) third. In low gross play, Yasuo Toyota (139) was the winner and Rico Sasselli (143) was second.

Holes-in-one

Doug Edwards, 161-yard No. 3 at Santa Rita Golf Club, 5-iron. Witness: Rita Edwards.

Rick Hunter, 85-yard No. 9 at Haven, pitching wedge. Witnesses: Bill Ellis, Charles Gales II, Red Mee.

Lan Lester, 175-yard No. 12 at Silverbell, 5-iron. Witnesses: Tricia Wahbe, Daryle Jenseon.

John M. Davis, 166-yard No. 2 at Fred Enke, 13-wood. Witnesses: Peter Bourque, Frank Van Ardoy, Bob Davis.

Henning Borchert, 147-yard No. 7 at Haven, 7-iron. Witnesses: Tom Schnell, W.H. Hydee, H.W. Agor.

Bruce Gogowski, 117-yard No. 13 at El Rio, 9-iron. Witnesses: Dan Diggins, Steve Claneal.

Barney Lanning, 158-yard No. 11 at Dell Urich, PING Finebird. Witnesses: Marc Pearlman, Ron Richelieu, Marilyn Stoutenberg.

Louis Cifaldi, 127-yard No. 7 at Haven, driver. Witness: Dale Plante.

Dale L. Clark, 166-yard No. 12 at Fred Enke, 5-wood. Witness: Rich Stockton.

The National Adult Baseball Association is coming to Tucson.

NABA has players ranging in age from 18 to 65-and-over competing around the country.

“It’s to make baseball accessible to everyone who wants to play,” said Blake Baron, the Tucson NABA president. “All skill levels are welcome and all age levels are welcome. It’s to bring baseball to the masses.”

Open tryouts will at 9 a.m. Jan. 10 at Santa Rita Park (400 E. 22nd St.), with the season opening March 7.

The league will run 16 games and they will be at Reid Park on Saturdays.

“(NABA) is one of the largest and fastest growing baseball associations in the country,” Baron said.

The league fee is $150 per player.

The purpose of the NABA is to bring affordable and competitive baseball to Tucson, and to educate through youth mentorship, partnership and leadership within the community.

“I’ve gotten responses from guys who haven’t played baseball since high school in the ’80s and responses from guys who are former college players. It’s really a mixed bag of baseball. It really can be good baseball.

“Our main goal is to bring fun and affordable baseball to Tucson. Eventually, we would like to expand to community outreach and go beyond playing baseball. Since it’s nonprofit, all games are free for the public to come out and see. We’re just looking to start this league in Tucson and become a part of the community.”

Call 520-305-4874 for more information.

BELGRADE, Serbia – Defender Neven Subotic has chosen to play soccer for Serbia instead of the United States.

Subotic, who was born in Bosnia and holds an American passport, played for the U.S. under-17 and under-20s teams. He now plays for Borussia Dortmund in the German league.

Subotic wrote to U.S. soccer officials, informing them of his decision to play for Serbia.

“We wish Neven all the best and continued success in the future,” U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said Thursday.

BASEBALL: Put up as temporary structures, the two Olympic baseball stadiums and a practice facility probably will be razed next year unless baseball backers devise a plan to make the game profitable on a high-priced slice of land in west Beijing.

The venues were built on a 125-acre site slated to become a shopping mall and a sports and entertainment complex with 5,000 parking spaces.

TENNIS: Two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce isn’t ready to hang up her racket. Despite being sidelined by a knee injury since 2006, the Frenchwoman told sports daily L’Equipe that she’d like to play again at the French Open.

Pierce, who turns 34 next month, ruptured a ligament in her left knee in October 2006 and hasn’t competed professionally since.

Tucson All-Stars, Marana Broncos win national championships

Tucson youth football has been well represented in the past week, as two local teams won national championships.

• The Tucson All-Stars, which consisted of 14-year-old players around the city, defeated the Phoenix All-Stars 44-8 Friday in Orlando, Fla., to claim the American Youth Football national title.

Tucson led 14-8 at halftime before a 30-0 second-half barrage.

Pierre Arnaud traveled with his son Alex, 14, who played offensive guard/tackle and center to watch the tournament.

“This was incredible,” Pierre said. “The discipline and responsibility has taught them about integrity. This team has only been together 12-14 days. It’s been a growing-up experience.”

Alex will attend Salpointe Catholic next year.

In the semifinals, the Tucson All-Stars defeated the New York All-Stars 36-0.

The tryouts for the Tucson team were held on Nov. 24-25, when 45 kids came out, of which 22 made the team.

The Tucson Southwest Rams Jr. Peewees took third in the event at Orlando. They beat a team from New York 30-24 in triple overtime in the third-place game.

• The Marana Broncos traveled to Las Vegas last week and brought home the 9-10 year-old National Youth Football national championship.

The Broncos defeated the Vacaville (Calif.) Bulldogs 20-14 in overtime after running back Anthony Marshall scored on a 1-yard touchdown.

The game was played Nov. 29.

Anthony, coach Steve Marshall’s son, finished the game with 150 yards rushing.

The Broncos trailed at one point during the game 14-8.

“This was a magical run. This is the youngest age I’ve ever coached,” Steve Marshall said. “They’re anxious to learn. One of the keys is I’m allowed on the field as a coach and in the huddle with them.”

The Broncos played their first game on Sept. 6 and had all of their home games at Marana High. They finished 10-2 overall.

The Colorado Rockies will play more Cactus League games on the road than at Hi Corbett Field in 2009, while the Arizona Diamondbacks will play 17 home games, 15 on the road.

The Rockies’ 33-game schedule includes 16 at home, 17 on the road, including two games against the D’backs at Tucson Electric Park, according to the Cactus League’s Web site.

The opener for both teams is Feb. 25, when the Rockies host the D’backs at Hi Corbett.

The D’backs have 17 home games and 15 road games, including two games at Hi Corbett Field.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will play at Hi Corbett on Feb. 28 against the Rockies and March 31 against the D’backs at TEP. The Dodgers moved their spring training site from Vero Beach, Fla., to Glendale, where they will share a facility with the Chicago White Sox.

The Cleveland Indians, who trained in Tucson from 1947-92 at Hi Corbett Field, will play the Rockies there on March 26. The Indians play the D’backs at TEP on March 28. Cleveland is moving into a new facility in Goodyear.

The Chicago Cubs play at TEP on March 15 and March 28 at Hi Corbett.

Tickets for Rockies games go on sale Jan. 10. Tickets for D’backs games go on sale Jan. 24.

———

D’BACKS SCHEDULE

Feb. 25 At Rockies

Feb. 26 At Indians, Goodyear

Feb. 27 White Sox

Feb. 28 Rangers

March 1 Athletics

March 2 At Cubs, Mesa

March 3 At Giants, Scottsdale

March 4 World Baseball Classic team TBA

March 7 Angels

March 8 Mariners, Peoria

March 9 Padres

March 10 At Dodgers, Glendale

March 12 At Athletics, Phoenix

March 13 Mariners

March 14 At Royals, Surprise

March 15 Cubs

March 16 Rockies

March 17 At Athletics, Phoenix

March 18 Brewers

March 20 At Angels

March 21 Royals

March 22 At Padres, Peoria

March 24 Giants

March 25 At Rangers, Surprise

March 26 At White Sox, Glendale

March 27 Angels

March 28 Indians

March 29 White Sox

March 30 At Rockies

April 1 At Brewers, Maryvale

April 2 Rockies

ROCKIES SCHEDULE

Feb. 25 Diamondbacks

Feb. 26 White Sox

Feb. 27 At Angels, Tempe

Feb. 28 Dodgers

March 1 At Indians, Goodyear

March 2 Angels

March 3 at Brewers, Maryvale

March 5 Mexico

March 6 At Padres, Peoria

March 7 at Giants, Scottsdale

March 8 San Diego

March 10 Oakland

March 11 At Indians, Goodyear

March 12 At Angels, Tempe

March 13 Giants

March 14 Mariners

March 15 At Dodgers, Glendale

March 16 At Diamondbacks

March 17 Royals

March 19 At Dodgers, Glendale

March 20 Rangers

March 21 At Rangers, Surprise

March 22 Indians

March 23 Brewers

March 24 At Cubs, Mesa

March 26 Dodgers

March 27 at Mariners

March 28 Cubs

March 29 At Athletics, Phoenix

March 30 Diamondbacks

April 1 At Royals, Surprise

April 2 At Diamondbacks

Sports Illustrated 2008 Sportsman of the Year Michael Phelps

NEW YORK – Michael Phelps achieved another unprecedented feat: the first swimmer honored as Sports Illustrated’s sportsman of the year.

Phelps broke Mark Spitz’s iconic record with eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in August and became the winningest Olympian ever with his 14 career victories. Olympians in other sports have earned the award before in its 54-year history, but never a swimmer. In 1972, the year Spitz won his medals, UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and tennis great Billie Jean King were honored by the magazine.

“Honestly, I feel like the same person I’ve been my whole life,” Phelps told The Associated Press at a recent photo session where he posed for the Sports Illustrated cover. “I’m doing what I love. I was able to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish this year. It’s been a dream come true of a year, and I definitely couldn’t ask to change anything.”

The 23-year-old Phelps follows a more traditional winner, NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Sports Illustrated Group editor Terry McDonell called the selection of Phelps “the easiest choice I have made.”

“It is so obvious that he changed not only swimming, but the entire Olympic landscape,” McDonell said.

Phelps captivated Americans during his record chase, driving up NBC’s television ratings and inspiring conversations about swimming among people who had never followed the sport before. He returned to the U.S. to the ultimate validation of pop culture relevance: He hosted the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.”

“The football players and basketball players and baseball players have it a little bit different. Everybody sees their faces more often,” Phelps said.

“Just being able to have the attention of the American public is something I’ve always wanted for our sport. I’ve been able — not only myself but my teammates — have been able to work together to allow that to happen.”

The driver who witnesses said turned in front of an El Tour de Tucson pack, injuring five cyclists Saturday, has been identified “through an attorney,” a sheriff’s spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Dawn Barkman, a deputy with Pima County Sheriff’s Department, called him a “person of interest” in the case.

“At this time, his name is not being released pending completion of the investigation,” she said in a news release.

The sheriff’s Traffic Unit is continuing to investigate the collision “through investigative leads and witnesses.”

Sheriff’s deputies said the driver failed to yield to a pack of about 60 riders heading west on Ina Road when he turned in front of them onto North Westward Look Drive.

Ten bicyclists, unable to stop in time, collided with the vehicle, deputies said.

Witnesses said the man got out of his car, looked at the damage to his car and at the fallen bicycles, got back in his vehicle and drove away.

The man was described as elderly, 6 feet tall, weighing 190 pounds and wearing metal-framed glasses.

The most seriously injured bike rider – Gary L. Stuebe, 42, of Surprise – is at a Phoenix hospital.

His condition could not be obtained because federal law prohibits the release of health information without the patient’s consent.

Dozens of Tucson police, sheriff’s deputies and Department of Public Safety officers were posted along the bike racers’ route Saturday to ensure riders’ safety.

Some directed traffic at intersections, stopping motor vehicles for several minutes or more to allow bicycle riders to keep moving.

Varitek may return; Mason leads Blues; FIFA suspends Peru

LONDON- Athletes anxious about the retesting of their doping samples from the Beijing Olympics will be kept hanging for a while longer.

The International Olympic Committee says it will be several more weeks before scientists start reanalyzing the 1,000 or so samples, and the final results might not be announced for months.

“We will probably start after Christmas and have the results maybe at the end of the first quarter of 2009,” IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The IOC said Oct. 8 that it would recheck Beijing samples to look for traces of CERA, a new version of the endurance-enhancing hormone EPO.

No test for CERA was available in Beijing, but a new blood test developed by the French Anti-Doping Agency has exposed four Tour de France riders for using the blood-booster.

• Jenny Lang Ping, who led the U.S. women’s volleyball team to the silver medal in Beijing, has decided not to extend her contract with the team.

Varitek may return

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox have expressed an interest in bringing back captain Jason Varitek but have not made a contract offer, the catcher’s agent said Tuesday.

Varitek filed for free agency after 11 years with the Red Sox in which he grew particularly valuable for his defense and handling of the pitching staff. His offensive numbers dropped this season, when he batted .220 with 13 homers.

• Longtime major league coaches Mel Stottlemyre and Lee Elia will not return to the remodeling Seattle Mariners in 2009, leaving a new staff for first-time manager Don Wakamatsu.

Mason leads Blues

Blues 1, Predators 0: In Nashville, Tenn., Chris Mason made 47 saves through overtime and then was perfect in two shootout rounds to lead St. Louis. Mason earned his first shutout of the season and the 13th of his NHL career. He outdueled Nashville’s Dan Ellis, who allowed shootout goals to Dave Perron and Brad Boyes.

Thrashers 6, Maple Leafs 3: In Toronto, Todd White scored two goals and Johan Hedberg made 32 saves in Atlanta’s win.

Flames 6, Kings 2: In Calgary, Alberta, Rene Bourque scored twice and linemate Curtis Glencross added a goal and two assists for Calgary.

FIFA suspends Peru

SOCCER: FIFA suspended Peru from international soccer Tuesday, including the 2010 World Cup, because the government is feuding with the national federation.

TENNIS: Maria Sharapova expects to be back on the tennis tour at the start of 2009 and defend her Australian Open title after being sidelined since July with an injured right shoulder.

David Salomon (left), Carlos Hernandez (center) and Eduardo Lugo are the first to cross the finish line of the 26th annual El Tour de Tucson on Saturday. All three are from Hermosillo, Son.

Two years ago, the odds were against Tucsonan Evan Unger. He had to have knee surgery and then dealt with a pulmonary embolism, causing him to miss last year’s event.

Saturday, Unger, 52, teamed with longtime tandem partner and sometime single bike rival Dwight Nelson to win El Tour de Tucson’s 109-mile tandem division.

“He’s a driven man,” said Nelson after their time of 4 hours, 32 minutes, two seconds.

Nelson was riding in his 23rd El Tour and his name has been on the leaderboard about as many times.

Unger is known to blitz the course at first in valiant attempts to beat the single racers.

“I just hang on,” Nelson said. “We bogged down at the first railroad crossing and we had some gears problems, but we broke away.”

Unger is nationally known on two fronts. A physician, he’s the chief executive of ImaRX Therapeutics Inc., an area firm that does research in medical technology. In 2005, he teamed with local John Simonson to win Masters National championships in time trials and road racing.

In his comeback, he has tried not to miss a beat.

“I felt the effects a little bit but I wasn’t going to let it stop me,” he said. “We were chasing them and stayed there after the second crossing.”

Mexican team dominates

Things were going too smoothly for three Mexican national road racers Saturday.

It seemed as if they could have ridden tricycles to victory in El Tour de Tucson, such was their domination of the 109-mile event. But then, with a three-minute lead racing west on Tangerine Road and 14 miles from the finish line, they ran into a Cortaro Road freight train.

Not literally, but you would think so from their reactions at being stopped at the tracks.

“We were very nervous; we were going to ask back the time we lost,” said David Salomon, the eventual winner for the P&S Specialized team. “But it was a fast train.”

Forty seconds later, the trio continued across the tracks. At the finish line, the team manager shouted, “Uno, dos, tres” and a few seconds later, quatro

Never before at the race had three teammates finished in the top spots in order, not to mention four.

“They worked team tactics to a tee, a beautiful performance,” said Fair Wheel Bikes owner Ralph Phillips, who was in the race’s pace car. “A lot of people don’t understand team in cycling. It’s the strength of a team that can decide the winner.”

The top three alternated leads, drafting off each other and never weakened, finishing in 4:20:35.

Veteran Salomon was given the first-place title.

“This means so much to me,” Salomon said. “We have raced in the U.S. but haven’t received much respect. We hope now to get (more) chances.”

Allar wins for teacher

Erica Allar, a 23-year-old relative neophyte in road racing, found the motivation to win El Tour de Tucson women’s division title.

It wasn’t all good news for her, though. Jame Carney, now a Tucson resident, had a flat tire on Sunrise Drive, with 60 miles to go and while in contention. Carney began Allar’s road racing career three years ago as her coach.

“I felt so bad for Jame,” Allar said after outsprinting a small pack of female racers in 4:38:02. “I decided I wanted to win it for him.”

Allar is collecting credits for an undergraduate degree at Penn State University. Her home is Fogelsville, Pa.

“Jame saw that I had potential,” she said. “I had dabbled in all sports but now I’ve finally found the right one.”

Clegg leads locals

The highest single finish for a Tucsonan in the 109-mile event went to Spring Clegg, 32, third in the women’s division at 4:38:04.

Brett Johnson, 36, of Oro Valley won the 57-mile event (2:59:05) and former local junior champion Jake Merry, 19, got the first-place win in a tie time of 1:29:54 in the 33-mile with Jon Roberts, 50, and his 10-year-old son, Cole.

That wasn’t all for the Roberts family. Wife and mother, Jo, finished seventh overall in the 80-mile, 11 minutes faster than women’s runner-up Teri Albertazzi.
26th El Tour de Tucson

El Tour de Tucson

The 26th annual El Tour de Tucson was held Saturday. More than 9,000 riders participated in the event this year.

Producer: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson Citizen

Slide 1 of 7.
From left: David Salomon (9), Carlos Hernandez (2) and Eduardo Lugo (68) are the first to cross the finish line of the 26th annual El Tour de Tucson Saturday. All three are from Hermosillo, Sonora.
Source: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson CitizenSlide 2 of 7.
Michael Futch, 13, enjoys food at the El Tour de Tucson. Futch is a member of Boy Scout Troop 299. The Boy Scouts were there to sort chips for the riders. Each rider wears a chip to mark his or her time.
Source: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson CitizenSlide 3 of 7.
Tucsonan Thomas Chong crosses the finish line with an unofficial time of 4:46:19 at the El Tour de Tucson Saturday.
Source: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson CitizenSlide 4 of 7.
Bruce Balch of Las Vegas walks across the finish line of El Tour de Tucson Saturday.
Source: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson CitizenSlide 5 of 7.
Lisa DeLaOssa cheers and reminds riders to slow down as they finish the El Tour de Tucson. DeLaOssa is a first-year volunteer for El Tour.
Source: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson CitizenSlide 6 of 7.
Tracy Szabo, of Albuquerque, N.M., comes around the corner onto Granada from Congress for the last 100 yards of El Tour de Tucson Saturday. Szabo finished with an unofficial time of 5:37:10.
Source: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson CitizenSlide 7 of 7.
Dylan Kowan, 9, cheers for riders as they go by Saturday morning.
Source: JENNIFER WEST/Tucson Citizen

Carlos Hernandez of Hermosillo, Mexico, crosses the finish line to win the El Tour de Tucson last year.

What to do when a bicycle team gangs up on you? Join the team theme.

Partly in an effort to overcome national men’s and women’s teams that secured victories in last year’s El Tour de Tucson, Tucson pro Scott Blanchard formed an elite local group to compete Saturday.

The other reason is to promote a new health energy drink, “Xood,” manufactured by locals and which has become the official drink of El Tour and the Tucson Marathon. Developers and owners of the drink are local cardiologists/cyclists Salvatore Tirrito and Lou Lancero.

Blanchard’s Xood team, which includes 2005 El Tour winner Curtis Gunn and state hillclimb champion David Glick, will need new energy to beat back the formidable Mexican Nationals.

They combined to place three in the top 10 last year, including winner Carlos Hernandez, while the likes of Gunn (fourth) and second-place J.R. Grabinger of Flagstaff had to deal with a host of Mexican riders with one setting a fierce middle pace.

“The numbers were against us,” Gunn said.

The Mexican team escorted leader David Salomon to second place in 2007. He was third last year.

Nine local women will team to race against the U.S. national Cheerwine team, which produced El Tour winner Laura Van Gilder in 2007.

“It will be a challenge,” said Blanchard, who, ironically, will not be in on the fun. His responsibility is overseeing the Junior El Tour team (story, 1C). “They’ll be stronger this year. When there are cash bonuses involved, nobody is messing around.”

Glick, a longtime teammate of Blanchard’s for the Eclipse Racing team, won the Arizona State Hillclimb Championship this year.

Other local men’s team members are elite masters racer Jon Black; Tyler Ford, who with wife, Mimi, has won the El Tour mixed tandem the last two years; Brian Cornelius, a three-year Category 2 racer; and Jonathan Schonick, a veteran mountain bike racer.

Leading the local women’s team will be Mimi Ford, a four-time Ironman triathlete; Kathryn Bertine, an Olympic candidate in 2008; Dianna Del Fanter, third in El Tour in 2007; and Tammy Lamb, three-time Tour of the Tucson Mountains.

Others are Sabrina Savage, second in the 2008 Arizona State Road Race; Jessica Munson, this fall’s Tempe SOMA Quarterman triathlon; Spring Clegg, a climbing specialist; Cara Gillis, a former Canadian national rowing athlete; and Emily Francone, a former national team mountain bike racer.

Route changes

Cyclists in the 109-mile event will start by heading south on Granada Avenue this year – instead of north to Broadway – because of Interstate 10-related construction.

Riders will turn right onto Clark Street, riding under the overpass before making a left to head south on the 1-10 Frontage Road. They will turn right on Silverlake Road and head west before turning left and heading south on Mission Road.

Another course change occurs in Oro Valley, where riders heading north on Oracle Highway will turn west on First Avenue, then east on Tangerine Road and north on Innovation Park Drive before hooking up with Rancho Vistoso Drive.

———

UMC EL TOUR DE TUCSON

Presented By Diamond Ventures

What: 26th annual bicycle tour of Tucson’s perimeter

When: Saturday

Events/starts: 109-mile, 7 a.m., Congress and Granada; 81-mile, 9 a.m. Pima Community College East; 67-mile, 10:30 a.m., Morris Udall Park; 35-mile, 12:30 p.m., Ironwood Ridge High School; 1/4-mile Kids and Family Fun Ride, 9:45 a.m., Congress and Granada

Finish: Congress and Granada, all events

Chief beneficiary: Tu Nidito Children and Family Services

Info: perimeterbicycling.com