An unidentified fan dressed as a devil runs ahead of the pack during the sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia race, from Bressanone to Mayrhofen, Austria, on Thursday.

MAYRHOFEN IM ZILLERTAL, Austria – Levi Leipheimer’s chance of winning the Giro d’Italia keeps getting better. Lance Armstrong keeps losing time.

Leipheimer finished in the main pack in Thursday’s sixth stage, with the race crossing into Austria.

Leipheimer, who is from Montana, remained fourth overall, 43 seconds behind leader Danilo Di Luca of Italy.

“I’m happy with how it’s gone so far,” Leipheimer said. “We saw some people who fell away (Wednesday) and some people who were strong, so the picture is more clear now and I’m still in that picture.”

For the third consecutive stage, Armstrong was dropped from the lead group. This time, the seven-time Tour de France winner was undone by a steep downhill run.

Armstrong lost 1:15 and dropped from 22nd to 25th overall, 4:13 behind Di Luca. The Texan returned this season after 3 1/2 years of retirement and broke his collarbone in March.

“I can’t expect to be too strong right now,” he said. “It’s been a complicated preparation. I have to be realistic and just ride my rhythm.”

Italy’s Michele Scarponi of the Diquigiovanni team won the stage after a long breakaway. He covered the 154-mile leg in 5 hours, 49 minutes, 55 seconds. Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway followed, 32 seconds behind.

Allan Davis of Australia was third, also 32 seconds back.

All the favorites – including Di Luca, Ivan Basso and Leipheimer – finished with the main pack, 36 seconds after Scarponi.

Nadal among winners

MADRID – Defending champion Andy Murray, top-ranked Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer advanced to the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open on Thursday.

Andy Roddick advanced after Nikolay Davydenko withdrew with a leg injury. Roddick will next face Federer, who defeated James Blake 6-2, 6-4.

Murray stopped Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, and Nadal moved up after Philipp Kohlschreiber also withdrew with a leg injury. Third-seeded Novak Djokovic defeated Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4. He will play wild-card Ivan Ljubicic, who rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over 2008 finalist Gilles Simon.

The last time the Federer and Blake met at the Beijing Olympics, Blake ended the Swiss star’s hopes of capturing his first Olympic singles medal.

“We haven’t played since the Olympics and I was pleased with the way it went today, especially with him playing so well recently,” Federer said.

The second-seeded Federer is looking forward to playing the sixth-seeded Roddick on a different surface.

“I’ve played Andy so many times, it’s time we played each other on clay,” Federer said.

Nadal will play Fernando Verdasco, who rallied from a break down in both sets to beat Juan Monaco 7-5, 6-2.

In the women’s draw, top-ranked Dinara Safina overcame a mid-match dip, defeating Lucie Safarova 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.

So. Miss guard leaving

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss basketball guard Jeremy Wise has hired an agent, ending his college career a season early.

The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 16.7 points and 4.7 assists last season.

ALPI DI SIUSI, Italy – Lance Armstrong is still a long way from regaining the form that won him a record seven consecutive Tour de France titles.

The Texan finished nearly three minutes behind the leaders in the grueling uphill finish in the fifth stage of his first Giro d’Italia on Wednesday. Armstrong dropped from sixth to 22nd overall, 3 minutes, 34 seconds behind new race leader Danilo Di Luca.

“I didn’t come in with any big illusions. I knew that I would be minutes behind the best guys,” Armstrong said.

Denis Menchov sprinted away from a select group of riders and held off Di Luca in a sprint for the stage victory. In the overall standings, Di Luca holds a five-second overall lead on Sweden’s Thomas Lovkvist. Armstrong teammates Levi Leipheimer is fourth (43 seconds back) and Chris Horner eighth (1:17 behind).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Pitt senior middle linebacker Adam Gunn has been suspended indefinitely from the team after being charged with public drunkenness and several other offenses resulting from a dispute outside a Pittsburgh nightclub.

NFL: Baltimore Ravens right offensive tackle Willie Anderson, 33, is retiring. He played 11 years with the Bengals, named to the Pro Bowl four times.

SOCCER: Manchester United moved within one point of a record-tying 18th English league title, rallying to win 2-1 at Wigan on Wednesday night behind second-half goals from Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick.

TENNIS: Rafael Nadal powered into the third round of the Madrid Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jurgen Melzer. Novak Djokovic beat Oscar Hernandez 6-3, 6-3, Andy Roddick beat Tommy Haas 1-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4, and James Blake downed Ivo Karlovic 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6(4) to set up a match with Roger Federer.

<h4>Mutual respect: </h4>

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (left) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin shake hands following the Penguins' 6-2 win in Washington on Wednesday, sending the Penguins to the next round of the NHL playoffs.

&gt; Go to <a href="http://www.tucsoncitizen.com">www.tucsoncitizen.com</a> for more sports photo galleries.

In the case of USC basketball coach Tim Floyd’s recruitment of O.J. Mayo, it might come down to a case of he said vs. he said.

Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo’s, has told federal and NCAA investigators that Floyd gave $1,000 in cash to a man who helped steer the star player to the Trojans, according to Johnson’s attorney, Anthony V. Salerno.

Whatever happens, there was a sense of relief at the University of Arizona, which had courted Floyd this spring before hiring Xavier coach Sean Miller.

UA athletic director Jim Livengood denied he had offered Floyd the job. But he said he had asked Floyd about the reports and his relationship with Mayo.

“I asked him the question,” Livengood said. “He said there’s nothing to that. So end of question. We didn’t go any farther.”

Floyd has yet to respond to the allegations, which first appeared in a Yahoo! Sports report.

“That’s really the whole thing: who do you believe?” Salerno told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “Tim Floyd had a motive to pay O.J. Mayo to get there. Louis really doesn’t have any motives. He doesn’t have an ax to grind against Tim Floyd.”

Salerno said he thinks investigators believe Johnson’s story. Johnson has told them that he accompanied Mayo’s handler, Rodney Guillory, to a meeting with Floyd at a Beverly Hills cafe on Valentine’s Day 2007, and that Guillory emerged with an envelope stuffed with $100 bills.

“I don’t think they’ve expressed any indication that they don’t believe him,” Salerno said, referring to NCAA investigators. “And for what it’s worth, I think the U.S. government, through the Justice Department, believes him, too.”

Johnson’s account comes as USC deals with allegations that 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush received improper benefits from a sports marketing agent while at USC.

If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid Guillory for delivering Mayo to USC, that would be a major violation. The Trojans could be forced to forfeit victories, and could face recruiting restrictions and lose scholarships.

USC athletic department spokesman Tim Tessalone said the school could not comment on an ongoing NCAA investigation.

Mayo played one season at USC, leading the Trojans to a 21-12 record and an NCAA Tournament berth. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the third overall pick. He was runner-up for the NBA’s top rookie award to Chicago’s Derrick Rose.

Salerno said he wonders why Floyd has not disputed Johnson’s account if it’s false.

“Tim Floyd easily could have said, ‘That’s baloney, it’s slanderous and not true, I never did that,’” Salerno said. “In my opinion, it’s kind of damning, his being silent. It’s not like this is a criminal case for him. It’s not like this is a subtle allegation. It’s black and white.

Ex-Pistons honor Daly

TEQUESTA, Fla. – Chuck Daly’s team gathered around him one last time. Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn were side by side on one end, Joe Dumars on the right, Isiah Thomas and Vinnie Johnson standing together a few feet back.

The Bad Boys were together again, not as players but pallbearers who gave their coach a sad, fond farewell.

“He was coaching all of us until the day he died,” Thomas said.

Here’s how much Daly meant to Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, an ex-Daly assistant: His team was in Denver, a playoff game was six hours away, and Carlisle was still in South Florida, to help carry his mentor out of the church.

“Missing this was not an option,” Carlisle said.

Daly, 78, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer in Jupiter, Fla.

The Associated Press

Taylor rejoins Dolphins

MIAMI – Jason Taylor’s newest step has him back where he started. The dancing linebacker signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract with Miami.

He played his first 11 seasons with the Dolphins before being traded a year ago to Washington – a fallout from his stint on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars.” He was released by the Redskins in March after an injury-plagued season.

The Patriots courted Taylor, but he wanted to return to South Florida, where he still lives.

The Associated Press

Streaker pleads not guilty

NEW YORK – A streaker who disrupted a New York Mets game by jumping onto Citi Field naked except for a stuffed monkey tied around his waist pleaded not guilty to trespassing charges Wednesday.

Craig Coakley was arraigned in state Supreme Court in Queens on a charge of interfering with a professional sporting event and criminal trespassing.

The 38-year-old plumber jumped onto the field, with only the stuffed monkey and “Lets Go Mets” painted on his back.

The Associated Press

UW athletics lays off 12

SEATTLE – The University of Washington athletic department is trimming an additional $1.6 million from its operating budget by laying off a dozen staffers and streamlining operations.

Athletic director Scott Woodward announced the additional cuts on Wednesday. He had already decided to end the men’s and women’s swimming programs. Cutting those teams is expected to save the Huskies $1.2 million.

He said the cuts were necessary to “preserve the viability” of the UW’s remaining teams.

The Associated Press

It’s a girl for WNBA star

NEW YORK – Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker has given birth to a girl.

It is the first child for the WNBA’s reigning MVP and rookie of the year and husband Shelden Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The baby, born in Los Angeles on Wednesday, weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 inches long.

Parker plans to rejoin the Sparks once she gets the OK from her doctor. The WNBA season begins June 6.

The Associated Press

NUMBER OF THE DAY

56

Consecutive games in which the Yankees’ Joe DiMaggio got hits in 1941 – the longest such streak in baseball history. The other top streaks:

Pete Rose, Cincinnati, 1978 44

Willie Keeler, Baltimore, 1897 44

Bill Dahlen, Chi. Cubs, 1894 42

George Sisler, St. Louis, 1922 41

Ty Cobb, Detroit, 1911 40

Paul Molitor, Milwaukee, 1987 39

Tommy Holmes, Boston, 1945 37

Jimmy Rollins, Phil., 2005 36

Chase Utley, Phil., 2006 35

QUOTABLE:

'It would have sucked a lot more if we had lost.'

RYAN ZIMMERMAN,

Washington third baseman, whose hitting streak ended at 30 games. He went 0-for-3 but the Nationals beat San Francisco 6-3.

———

ON THIS DATE

1913: Washington’s Walter Johnson gives up a run in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Browns to end his streak of 56 scoreless innings.

1967: Mickey Mantle’s 500th home run, off Stu Miller, lifts the Yankees over the Orioles 6-5.

1999: Ex-UA Wildcat Annika Sorenstam shoots an 11-under 61, the best score in LPGA history on a par-72 course.

2004: Ex-UA Wildcat Richard Jefferson scores 18 of his 31 points after regulation to lead New Jersey to a 127-120 triple-overtime win over Detroit and a 3-2 lead in the NBA Eastern semifinals.

———

SPORTS SOUND-OFF

If Cats don’t yowl, NCAA will do it again

Re: Candrea tells Cats: Let go of anger

• This is the second year in a row that Arizona gets the shaft (failing to host an NCAA softball first-round regional). And if Arizona does not do anything, then expect more of the same treatment. One was acceptable. Two is just personal. CLAUDIA44

• Truth is Arizona has won the regional out of state before, and here is one fan hoping the Wildcats do it again. AZMSKI

Amphi-CDO football series should be revived

Re: Amphi coach laments lapse in rivalry with Canyon del Oro

• What a shame! This was a great football rivalry. The games were always well-attended and usually were very well-played. Hopefully, the powers that be will look at picking this game up next year. 6652

Softball is 1st-class sport, but NCAA treatment is not

UA senior first baseman Sam Banister practices at Hillenbrand Stadium. She was named to the All-Pac-10 second team on Wednesday. Stacie Chambers, Brittany Lastrapes and Jenae Leles received first-team honors. Story, 1C

When coach Mike Candrea began taking Arizona to the Women’s College World Series 21 years ago, the event was held in an out-of-the-way place in northern California.

Not San Francisco. Not even San Jose. Nearby Sunnyvale.

The venue for the event? If you’ve ever been to the Sports Park on the Northwest Side, you have the right image in your head.

“A four-field setup. Very basic,” Candrea remembered.

The infields in Sunnyvale had such a crown – designed to promote rain runoff into foul territory – that Candrea, standing in the third-base coaching box, had a hard time seeing plays at first base over the rise of the field.

“You couldn’t see the feet of the first baseman,” he said.

Let’s just say that two decades ago, college softball was just a half step up from the summer youth leagues.

Not exactly first class.

Since then – and Tucson can certainly attest to this – college softball has become one of the most visible women’s sports in the NCAA.

If the Wildcats navigate through the 2009 postseason – which begins at 1 p.m. Tucson time Friday in Louisville – they will end up in a world-class facility in Oklahoma City, in a game on ESPN, probably playing a team from the SEC.

That right there – the venue, the blanket coverage from the worldwide leader in sports and the rise of a powerful conference – are three reasons why softball has gone relatively mainstream in recent years.

Which makes it so frustrating when the NCAA continues to nickel and dime the sport.

“That will always be the case for this sport, no matter what,” Candrea said.

The local sports outrage of the moment is Arizona being sent to Louisville for a four-team regional. Nobody would appreciate having postseason home games more than Arizona fans.

The Wildcats have led the nation in attendance nine of the past 16 seasons. The school averaged a school-record average of 2,458 fans this year.

But the NCAA has 64 spots to fill in the softball postseason, including automatic qualifying spots to smaller Eastern conferences, whose teams have as much shot of winning the World Series as Harvard does the BCS football championship.

The NCAA is a slave to geography in arranging the regional sites, preferring to send one Western team east, rather than send three Eastern teams west. Save a few bucks on air fare.

Softball deserves better.

“From a coaching standpoint . . . I don’t worry about it,” Candrea said. “I just worry about getting the team prepared and going wherever you’re going. Like I tell the kids, at least you’re playing.”

Football and basketball have to pay the freight for everything else, but you would think there would be some loose change in the NCAA’s couch cushions from its TV megadeals.

The NCAA is in the midst of an 11-year, $6 billion deal with CBS to televise the men’s basketball tournament. The NCAA and ESPN reached an agreement in the fall on a four-year, $500 million deal for the rights to televise four of the five BCS bowl games, including the title game.

But, apparently, it is too much to ask for the NCAA to send Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State a little farther to Tucson rather than have them play in a regional at Arizona State.

The Sun Devils are seeded one spot below ninth-seeded Arizona and finished 3 1/2 games behind the Wildcats in the Pac-10 standings.

But ASU, not Arizona, gets the home regional because of geography.

Nickels and dimes.

Candrea shrugs.

“I’m too old to fight the battle anyway,” he said.

Someone asked me the other day about my favorite memories across two decades or so of being a sports reporter/columnist in Tucson. My answer was that there were too many to mention, but that, without question, I would rather cover softball than anything else.

Part of that is because the sport is charmingly small. You rarely find oversize egos. You find athletes appreciative of their opportunities.

There are chances to tell untold stories. But the sport isn’t as small as the NCAA makes it out to be this time of year.

It’s a shame there is no college softball at Hillenbrand Stadium this weekend.

Anthony Gimino’s e-mail: agimino@tucsoncitizen.com

Candrea

———

RADIO, ONLINE COVERAGE

UA’s games in the Louisville Regional won’t be on TV, but will be on 1290 AM. Go to www.tucsoncitizen.com/ua_softball for updates.

Friday – Game 1: ARIZONA (41-14) vs. Tennessee-Martin (38-22), 1 p.m. Game 2: Louisville (47-9) vs. Purdue (29-18), 3 p.m.

Saturday – Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 a.m. Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 9 a.m. Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, noon

Sunday – Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 11 a.m. Game 7: Repeat, if needed, 1 p.m.

Lopez can point to players like Tigers’ Perry, Padres’ Hundley

Ryan Perry, who graduated from Marana High School, has struck out 10 batters in 12.1 innings for Detroit this year.

Marana High grad Ryan Perry is a reliever for the Detroit Tigers – less than a year after helping pitch the University of Arizona to the super-regional of the NCAA Tournament.

Former UA reliever Mark Melancon made it to the big leagues with the New York Yankees before being sent back down last week for – of all players – Alex Rodriguez.

Ex-Wildcat Nick Hundley is the starting catcher for the San Diego Padres, while former UA outfielder Brian Anderson is working his way back from the disabled list for the Chicago White Sox.

They are just a few of the players UA coaches are using as recruiting bait to improve the future of a team sitting in eighth place in the Pac-10 with a 25-23 record. The Wildcats, trying to make a late run to reach the postseason, face Washington at home Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

“How is my son going to develop? That’s a question we get a lot from parents,” UA coach Andy Lopez said. “We mention guys like Perry and Melancon and guys I had at Florida. It’s an important question in the recruiting process.”

UA has had 37 players drafted since 2003, with many on the verge of joining Perry, Hundley and Anderson in the majors.

Shortstop Jason Donald (Philadelphia), pitcher Brad Mills (Toronto), outfielder Trevor Crowe (Cleveland), pitcher John Meloan (Cleveland) and first baseman Jordan Brown (Cleveland) are all seeing time at the Triple-A level.

Lopez gets the credit, but he passes along the praise to chief recruiting assistant Mark Wasikowski.

“Waz has done a great job in recruiting. My assistants have done a marvelous job. We have not messed them up and they have developed,” Lopez said. “And really, none of those guys came in here as (guaranteed) first or second-round picks.”

Lopez developed major leaguers David Eckstein, Mark Ellis, Brad Wilkerson, David Ross, Ryan Shealy and Josh Fogg while at Florida before arriving at Arizona.

Perry leapfrogged through the Tigers organization to quickly make it to “The Show,” but Lopez remembers his first few days at UA being rough.

“We were working together in the pen, and he’s looking at me like I am talking a foreign language. Holy smokes, I am thinking I need an interpreter,” Lopez said. “Four year later, he’s in the big leagues.”

Perry entered this week with an 0-1 record in 12 1/3 innings for the Tigers. He’s allowed four earned runs, while striking out 10 and walking 11 in 13 games.

“I’m not surprised by his talent,” Lopez said. “He has a gorgeous delivery. He’s young and really eager to get better.”

As for Hundley, he’s established himself as an offensive weapon for the Padres and a solid catcher for a promising pitching staff.

“A good makeup (character) and work ethic will get you somewhere. Nick is proof of that,” Lopez said. “His work ethic is off the charts. He gets behind there and runs the show.”

Hundley is batting .263 through 22 games, with 8 RBIs and a homer.

Anderson, a former first-round pick of the White Sox in 2003, is a backup outfielder for Chicago but has been on the disabled list with a strained side muscle. He’s beginning to take part in light batting practice, and could be back with the club by next week.

Anderson has developed a reputation for his defensive skills, but he must improve on his .227 career average. He was hitting .288 before going on the DL.

Potential arm issues dropped Melancon to the ninth round of the 2006 draft, but he was one of college baseball’s top closers from 2004-06.

Lopez told anybody who would listen not to worry about Melancon’s health or determination.

The Yankees listened. It took a few years, but Melancon made his first major league appearance a couple of weeks ago, shutting out Boston for two innings.

Melancon walked five in 3.1 innings, however, and was sent down to Triple-A Scranton-/Wilkes-Barre. He’s hoping to make it back to New York soon.

“I told the Yankees scouts when his arm was hurting that I would sign this guy in a heartbeat,” Lopez said. “Mark would will himself to the big leagues. Not for one second was I surprised he (made it).”

San Diego Padres catcher Nick Hundley, a former Wildcat, can't get the tag on the Los Angeles Dodgers' Juan Pierre in time during a game earlier this month in Los Angeles.

Former UA reliever Mark Melancon of the New York Yankees hangs his head after throwing a wild pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in a May 1 at Yankee Stadium.

———

WILDCATS DRAFTED

Arizona has had 37 players picked in the Major League Baseball draft since Andy Lopez took over in 2003:

Year No.

2003 4

2004 3

2005 8

2006 4

2007 7

2008 11

———

Washington (23-25, 12-9) at Arizona (25-23, 8-13)

Saturday: 7 p.m.

Sunday: 6 p.m.

Monday: noon

> Games at Sancet Stadium, 1290 AM

CLIFTON, N.J. – Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam is going to have a girl this fall.

The 38-year-old Swede, former UA golfer, and her husband, Mike McGee, announced the gender of her first baby on her blog on Thursday.

“To use golf terms, we just “made the turn” from a timing standpoint and are very excited that everything looks good so far,” Sorenstam said. “We’ll keep you posted.”

Sorenstam retired from the LPGA Tour last year after 72 victories and 10 majors, saying she wanted to start a business and a family.

The Pima Community College women’s 3,200-meter relay team set a meet record with a time of 9:20.93 at the two-day Region I Championship in Mesa.

The team of Brittany Delker (Desert View High), Danielle Higgins (Benson), Cherise Price (Catalina) and Leandra Treusch (Catalina Foothills) already had qualified for the national junior college championships May 21-23 in Hutchinson, Kan.

Monica Honyumptewa (Hopi) won the 10,000 meters in 44:59.47, while Priscilla Urquides (Tucson High) took second in the 400 hurdles (1:08.16). Both qualified for the nationals meet.

On the men’s side, Jeremiah Korn (Sahuaro) earned a regional title in the men’s hammer throw of 151-7 and a spot in nationals.

Korn qualified for the national meet earlier this season in the shot put.

Matt Lundstrom (Mountain View) took second in the 10,000 meters (33:25.48) to also qualify for nationals.

Both Pima squads were in third place going into Thursday’s final day of Region I competition.

University of Arizona football signee Ryan Milus tied a 31-year-old state record in the boys 100 meters on Wednesday in a preliminary heat on Day 1 of the Class 5A Division I track championship at Chandler High School

Milus, a senior at Chandler Hamilton who will play cornerback for the Wildcats, finished in 10.33 seconds, the sixth fastest high school time in the country this year, according to the track and field Web site Dyestat.com.

He tied the record set in 1978 by El Mirage Dysart High School sprinter LaNoris Marshall.

The championship heats for most events, including the 100 meters, are Saturday at Chandler High School.

In the five events that crowned state champions Wednesday, the best southern Arizona result was by Sierra Vista Buena’s Jeremy Tuttle, whose discus toss of 169 feet, 7 inches was good for second place.

Class 4A Division I and II

Sabino’s Alex Evans won 4A-I state championships in the boys 1,600 meters (4:19.61) and the 800 meters (1:54.72) at Mesa Community College, giving his team 20 points in the meet’s first of two days.

Daniel McIver’s high jump of 6-feet, 6-inches was good for the 4A-II title for the Catalina senior.

In girls competition, Canyon del Oro senior hurdler Kala Stepter posted the top preliminary times in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.

For more on high school sports, check out the Grammer School sports blog.

Winning regional, ‘matter of coming together,’ slugger Leles says

The Arizona softball team got five minutes Sunday to grouse about not getting to host an NCAA regional.

Then the Wildcats were instructed by coach Mike Candrea to “let it go.”

Arizona was sent to Louisville, Ky., where it opens against Tennessee-Martin on Friday.

“You have to get over the anger,” said UA senior third baseman Jenae Leles, who is second on the team in home runs (22).

There are other immediate matters at hand, like facing the postseason with peak performance and synchronizing all those necessary cylinders – namely pitching and defense to go with the team’s powerful offense.

The next homer by UA will break the NCAA – and school – season record of 126 dingers.

There are variables to consider, such as the humidity. There’s also the fact UA will face opponents that, while not highly rated, are capable of sending the Wildcats home heartbroken.

Leles, whose power shots are legend, said criticism that the Cats are just a bomber team is passe.

“I think we have proved the last few weeks that we can win with pitching and defense, too,” she said. “It’s all a matter of coming together.”

If Arizona tradition still intimidates foes, parity in college softball has diminished it.

“Our job, especially in the postseason, is to get higher than the emotional level of a team we play,” Leles said. “Tradition, though, can motivate us.”

What hurts the most for the seniors is they weren’t prepared to have their season end at home before May, as the weird 2009 schedule demanded.

“But there is still a chance that we can host the super regional next week,” Leles said.

In the meantime, politics means nothing on the field.

“Coach told us to get used to (politics),” she said. “It’s not so much we see it in softball but more than we will see it in life.”

———

LOUISVILLE REGIONAL

Friday

Game 1: UA vs. Tennessee-Martin

Game 2: Louisville vs. Purdue

Saturday

Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner

Sunday

Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner

Game 7: Same teams (if necessary)

NEW YORK – Roger Clemens tried the silent treatment for more than a year and saw where that got him.

With many fans believing allegations that the seven-time Cy Young Award winner used performance-enhancing drugs, he’s now attempting a different strategy. Clemens hired a firm that guides high-profile figures through public relations crises, and Tuesday he broke his silence with a radio appearance.

Clemens again denied that former personal trainer Brian McNamee injected him with performance-enhancing drugs in a phone interview on ESPN’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning.”

“He’s never injected me with HGH or steroids,” Clemens said of McNamee’s assertions to baseball investigator George Mitchell.

About three weeks ago, Clemens met in Houston with Washington-based Levick Strategic Communications. He chose to speak out Tuesday because it was the release date of a book about his alleged drug use.

Clemens appeared on CBS’ “60 Minutes” in January 2008, then held a news conference the next day. But he had stayed quiet since testifying before Congress the following month.

While “American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America’s Pastime” was officially released Tuesday, its revelations were not new to the public. The book, by four New York Daily News reporters, recaps previous reports in the newspaper.

Clemens is under investigation by a federal grand jury in Washington that is trying to determine whether he lied when he told a congressional committee that he had not used illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Clemens said he had not been summoned to testify before the grand jury.

He also has sued McNamee for defamation. While not mentioning McNamee by name, Clemens said Tuesday that “you’ve got somebody that’s out there that is really just crawling up your back to make a buck.”

“This, in my view, is going to backfire, because he’s publicly now poking a stick in Congress’ eye,” McNamee’s lead lawyer, Richard Emery, said. “And, to me, all that’s going to do is vitalize the prosecutors going forward. Nobody, for a minute, thinks he’s not a liar just because he’s talking.”

Clemens said he gave a DNA sample to federal investigators but that syringes provided by McNamee would not link him to performance-enhancing drug use “because he’s never given me any,” Clemens said.

His radio appearance returns him to the spotlight as other stars had replaced him as the most visible reminders of baseball’s drug scandal. Alex Rodriguez admitted before the season he had used steroids, and Manny Ramirez was suspended last week for violating MLB’s drug policy.

Clemens said it would have been “suicidal” for him to use steroids because of a history of heart problems in his family.

Apology I

DALLAS – Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has apologized to the mother of Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin.

Cuban made a crack after a Mavs loss in Dallas on Saturday in their NBA playoff series. According to Cuban, a fan called the Nuggets “thugs.” Cuban looked at Martin’s mother, Lydia Moore of Dallas, and said, “That includes your son.” Martin’s agent told the Denver Post that Cuban said to Martin’s mother that her son is a “punk.”

In a Tuesday post on Cuban’s blog titled “An Apology to Kenyon Martin’s Mom,” Cuban wrote that he shouldn’t have said anything. He added that this matter has gotten out of hand.

The Mavs trail the series 3-1 after winning Monday 119-117. Game 5 is Wednesday at Denver.

The Associated Press

Apology II

WALTHAM, Mass. – Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis apologized Tuesday for bumping a 12-year-old boy while celebrating his game-winning shot against the Orlando Magic.

Davis said he got emotional and didn’t see the boy as he turned and ran to the Celtics bench following a 21-foot jumper that gave the Celtics a 95-94 win Sunday, tying the series at 2.

“If I’ve hurt anybody or if I’ve done any harm to anybody, please forgive me because my intentions were just harmless,” he said.

Video of the play shows the 6-foot-9, 289-pound Davis ducking behind a referee and stepping out of bounds before appearing to place a hand in the small of the boy’s back. The boy took a step back and his hat fell off.

The boy’s father, Ernest Provetti, wrote the NBA office demanding an apology, saying Davis had “no regard for fans’ personal safety.”

The Associated Press

NFL may deploy more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After seeing fans jam London’s Wembley Stadium to watch the NFL the past two years, the league may add a second regular-season game overseas for 2010.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the second game could also be played in London or another location in the United Kingdom. The issue will be discussed at next week’s league meetings, and could be included in a larger plan to add up to two regular-season games to the NFL schedule.

The NFL first staged a regular-season game in London in 2007, when the New York Giants beat Miami 13-10. Last year, New Orleans beat San Diego 37-32.

Both games were sellouts, and fans gobbled up tickets for this year’s game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 25.

“The fan reaction we’ve had in London has been extraordinary. We would like to feed that passion,” Goodell said.

But some players have been critical because of the extensive travel involved in the middle of the season. One team also loses a home game, a potential competitive disadvantage.

The Associated Press

Delaware may get sports betting

DOVER, Del. – The state Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would authorize Delaware to become the only state east of the Mississippi River to offer sports betting, sending it to Gov. Jack Markell for a promised signature.

The Senate passed the bill 17-2.

Because of a brief unsuccessful experiment with a sports lottery in the 1970s, Delaware is one of only four states, along with Nevada, Montana and Oregon, exempted from a 1992 federal law banning sports gambling.

The Associated Press

Utah hoops coach gets raise

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah has rewarded basketball coach Jim Boylen with a raise and new contract after only two years.

Utah announced Tuesday that Boylen has signed a five-year deal that will pay him $850,000 annually with potential for $1 million with incentives.

Boylen, who had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Arizona job, had three years remaining on his original contract, which paid him $575,000 a year. Boylen has gone 42-25 in two seasons at Utah.

The Associated Press

———

SPORTS SOUND-OFF

Preseason picks always wrong?

Re: Anthony Gimino’s sneak peek at college football season

• The only thing certain about preseason prognostication is it is always wrong. It would not surprise me if this is the year Arizona comes out of almost nowhere to make it to our first Rose Bowl. Of course, it also wouldn’t surprise me if we lost by 14 to Central Michigan in the season opener. AZCATFAN85

• I’m looking forward to a challenging year for the Cats. Our wide open offense should be more polished now. I think our quarterbacks will come through for us. If Matt Scott can throw accurately, he should be exciting to watch. DSTOWE

Bring shooting guard to Arizona

Re: UA hoops signee Parrom, prospect Stephenson shine in tourney

• Lance Stephenson would make Jerryd Bayless look like a slow/poor shooter. YES, Stephenson is that good as a shooting guard. . . . He’s played with Parrom and knows UA assistant coach “Book” Richardson. Even if he’s a “one and doner,” I’d vote a big fat yes to bring him to Arizona. John Wall (Raleigh, N.C.) is the other Top 5 recruit that hasn’t committed yet. He’s a natural point guard. New Memphis coach Josh Pastner has him on speed dial! CACTUS PETE

———

BY THE NUMBERS

29

Points separating the leader and second place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings:

Driver Points

1. Jeff Gordon 1,601

2. Tony Stewart 1,572

3. Kurt Busch 1,546

4. Jimmie Johnson 1,465

5. Denny Hamlin 1,445

6. Jeff Burton 1,384

7. Kyle Busch 1,380

8. Ryan Newman 1,363

9. Greg Biffle 1,345

10. Matt Kenseth 1,326

———

ON THIS DATE

1952: In an Appalachian League game, Ron Necciai of the Bristol Twins strikes out 27 batters while pitching a 7-0 no-hitter against the Welch Miners.

1958: Stan Musial gets his 3,000th hit with a pinch-double off Chicago’s Moe Drabowsky at Wrigley Field in a 5-3 win.

1976: The New York Nets overcome a 22-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 112-106 to win the ABA title 4-2.

2005: Tiger Woods misses a 15-foot par putt at the Byron Nelson Championship, ending his record of 142 straight cuts made over the last seven years on the PGA Tour.

Jones

BALTIMORE – Larry Jones knows something about running a filly against the boys in a Triple Crown race, and he’s not looking forward to the threat posed by Rachel Alexandra.

The trainer saddled Eight Belles to a gallant second-place finish in last year’s Kentucky Derby before she broke her front ankles past the finish line and had to be destroyed on the track.

Now Jones is preparing to send this year’s beaten Derby favorite Friesan Fire in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes against stellar filly Rachel Alexandra, who has won five consecutive races by a combined 43 1/2 lengths.

“Anytime the horse is as fast as her, you wish you didn’t have to run against them,” Jones said Tuesday. “I’ve chased her twice with fillies. If I’ve got any shot of beating her, it’s going to have to be with a boy. I ain’t got a filly that can try her.”

Armstrong loses time

SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA, Italy – Lance Armstrong looked weary, his face was drawn, and he was sweating profusely after losing 15 seconds in the first mountainous stage of the Giro d’Italia.

Yet the seven-time Tour de France champion was not upset. At 37, Armstrong is still regaining his form after 3 1/2 years of retirement and a broken collarbone in March.

“I’m happy with my performance today. This was my first big climb since retiring,” he said. “I had a good feeling and no collarbone pain at all.”

Italy’s Danilo Di Luca won the fourth stage in an uphill sprint Tuesday and Sweden’s Thomas Lovkvist of Team Columbia-High Road took the overall leader’s pink jersey from Alessandro Petacchi.

Lovkvist holds a two-second lead over Di Luca in the overall standings, while Armstrong dropped from fifth to sixth overall, 28 seconds behind Lovkvist.

Armstrong lost contact with the leaders in the final mile and declined to speak with reporters in the finish area. He was not happy when his handlers could not immediately give him a cold drink.

“Come on, guys,” said the Texan, who was also slowed by a gear problem on his bike.

Swine flu stops Japan

TOKYO – The Japanese women’s soccer team canceled a tour in the United States on Tuesday because of the swine flu outbreak.

The team was scheduled to play the U.S. team on May 20 in Frisco, Texas, and May 23 in Sandy, Utah. The team was to travel to Canada for a match in Toronto on May 25.

Japan’s health ministry confirmed the fourth case of swine flu on Sunday, a day after the country’s first three were reported.

Arizona shortstop Bryce Ortega had some empathy for Loyola Marymount on Monday, but not too much after UA rallied in the ninth for a 7-6 victory.

Ortega laid a sacrifice bunt down in the bottom of the ninth at Sancet Stadium, just trying to get Mike Weldon to second base.

Ortega got much more when Loyola pitcher John Lally retrieved the grounder, but threw wildly to first base.

The Lions went chasing after the ball in the right-field corner while Weldon sped home to tie the game and Ortega went to third with nobody out.

Brad Glenn eventually hit a walk-off sacrifice fly ball to center field to score Ortega after Dillon Baird and Jett Bandy were intentionally walked to load the bases.

“It was the easiest walk-off I’ve ever had,” Glenn said.

The Wildcats (25-23), lacking late-inning breaks all season, finally got one on Lally’s error.

“I feel bad for the other team. I’ve been in that boat walking back to the bus, but right now I don’t really care,” Ortega said.

Arizona swept the three-game series with the Lions. UA begins a home series against Washington on Saturday.

Weldon opened the home ninth by being hit by a pitch. Ortega had a drag bunt down the first base line. The throw to get him wasn’t close.

“I saw him jump and I said, ‘Oh God, it’s going down the line,’ then turned on the afterburners,” Ortega said.

The ninth-inning rally was only the second comeback the Wildcats have had all season. Glenn also drove in that winner with a two-run single for a 7-6 victory over USC on April 3.

The Wildcats, trailing 5-2 heading into the seventh inning Monday, were unable to get the big hit through most of the game, leaving runners in scoring position in the first, fifth, seventh and eighth.

Arizona didn’t need a hit in the ninth to prevail.

“It is good to get a win, although we didn’t hit the ball like we had in the past,” Glenn said. “The whole night was kind of dead with our bats. We were not hitting like we usually do, but we hung in there.”

Loyola Marymount starter Ramiro Carreon, who had a 5.31 ERA coming into the game, gave the Wildcats few good looks.

He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits, while striking out six and walking none.

The Wildcats’ biggest chance came in the fifth after Carreon retired 11 straight batters. Bobby Coyle and Hunter Pace reached with singles. Coyle scored on a Dwight Childs groundout to trim the deficit to 5-2.

Ortega singled and Baird was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Bandy hit a harmless fly ball to right field to end the threat.

The Lions had a four-run first inning off starter Daniel Workman. The freshman, suffering from strep throat, lasted only two-thirds of an inning.

Angelo Songco highlighted the frame with a towering three-run homer. He also had a solo blast against Joe Allison in the third for a 5-1 Lions lead.

It was one of the few mistakes Allison made. The reliever kept the Lions under control, giving up four hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings. Jason Stoffel (2-1) picked up the win.

“Usually we are in the other end of these one-run losses,” Ortega said.

“(This) is a little gratifying.”

———

UA BASEBALL

Washington (23-24, 12-9) at Arizona (25-23, 8-13)

Saturday: 7 p.m. (1290 AM)

Sunday: 6 p.m. (1290 AM)

Monday: noon (1290 AM)

Arizona’s basketball connection in New York City is faring well in postseason all-star action.

UA signee Kevin Parrom and UA prospect Lance Stephenson helped the Panthers AAU team advance to the semifinals of the Nike Spring High School Classic in New York over the weekend.

Parrom, a 6-foot-6 small forward, scored 11 of his 13 points in the third quarter to lead the Panthers to a 91-81 second-round win Saturday over N.Y.A.B.C.

Stephenson, a 6-6 guard-forward, pumped in a game-high 38 points Sunday as the Panthers ousted N.Y. Elite 84-76 in the quarterfinals.

The Panthers will meet New Heights in the semifinals Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Tucson time in the prestigious tournament.

Arizona and Memphis are reportedly interested in signing Stephenson, a McDonald’s All-American who set the New York schoolboy record for career points. He averaged 31.9 points and 12.8 rebounds during his senior season at Lincoln High in New York.

Parrom told Five Boro Sports that Stephenson said he would visit Arizona shortly. The final day of the early signing period is May 20.

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings have spoken: Yes, they’re interested in Brett Favre.

The Vikings broke their silence Monday, with president Mark Wilf saying the team is considering the supposedly retired star.

“He’s a Hall of Fame quarterback. He’s a great competitor,” Wilf said. “Ultimately, you’ll have to ask Brett what his plans are, but sure there’s interest in Brett Favre. But again, it’s part of a process we have in general with any of our players. We’re always looking to make our team better.”

Several conflicting and contradictory media reports swirled last week around the possibility of Favre, who retired for the second time at the end of last season, returning to play for the Vikings.

Neither Favre nor the Vikings commented last week, which only added more confusion.

Favre was released by the New York Jets on April 28 and issued a statement that said, “At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.”

He hasn’t been heard from since.

Manny’s test revealed

BRISTOL, Conn. – Manny Ramirez’s positive urine test showed an elevated testosterone level, and a lab used a test to determine whether the hormone was naturally produced to build evidence against him, ESPN.com reported Monday.

Baseball asked the World Anti-Doping Agency lab in Montreal to perform a carbon isotope ratio test, which determines whether testosterone is natural or synthetic, the Web site reported.

MLB then asked Ramirez to produce medical records, as required under the drug agreement.

Ramirez’s test had a testosterone-epitestosterone ratio between 4:1 and 10:1, ESPN.com reported. Typically, a person naturally produces the hormones at a ratio of 1:1; tests of 4:1 or greater are flagged.

The Associated Press

Old Vail student a finalist

Brandon Smith, an eighth-grader at Old Vail Middle School, was one of nine finalists in Major League Baseball’s “Breaking Barriers” essay contest.

Smith, who suffered a head injury after an accident, wrote that “baseball has taught me about determination.”

“It is so hard to stay focused when you have a head injury. But it seemed like baseball was the one place that it was easy for me to focus. It was a quiet place in my life where everything started to make sense.

Baseball has changed my life. I have actually forgiven the driver that crashed into me. . . . If I met him today, I would have to thank him.”

Nearly 8,000 students in grades 4 through 8 entered the contest.

Smith plays in the Rincon Little League.

Citizen Staff Report

Jenks sends message

CLEVELAND – Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks is done throwing purpose pitches.

That’s what he said Monday, following his performance last weekend when he sailed a fastball behind Texas’ Ian Kinsler, a Canyon del Oro High grad.

Jenks later said the pitch was intentional because he was tired of watching White Sox hitters getting plunked with no retribution. Major League Baseball wants to investigate the matter.

“I’ll not do it again,” Jenks said. “But again, I wasn’t trying to hit him. If they’ll investigate that, they’ll see that. It wasn’t a dirty pitch. It wasn’t up. It was right at his butt.”

The Associated Press

Father upset with ‘Big Baby’

ORLANDO, Fla. – The father of the 12-year-old boy bumped by Celtics big man Glen “Big Baby” Davis after Sunday’s game-winning shot is demanding an apology.

Ernest Provetti told the Orlando Sentinel that he wrote the NBA office demanding an apology from Davis for acting like a “raging animal with no regard for fans’ personal safety.”

NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the league received the e-mail but declined to comment on it.

Video of the play shows Davis ducking behind a referee and stepping out of bounds as he ran back to the Celtics bench. Provetti told the paper it was his son, Nicholas, whose hat fell off as Davis bumped him.

The Associated Press

Rachel Alexandra to race

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rachel Alexandra is in the Preakness. Finally. Probably.

The superstar filly will get her chance to run with the boys during Saturday’s second jewel of the Triple Crown after a series of potential roadblocks were lifted over the weekend.

Pimlico vice president Mike Gathagan said Monday there are 13 horses, including Rachel Alexandra, expected to enter the 1 3-16-mile race. The field will be set by noon Wednesday, with the draw at 5 p.m.

If Rachel Alexandra missed the Preakness, it would mean Mine That Bird could retain jockey Calvin Borel.

Borel has already agreed to ride Rachel Alexandra for the rest of the year.

The Associated Press

NUMBER OF THE DAY

559

Career saves by former Arizona Wildcat Trevor Hoffman, the most in MLB history. Other current leaders:

Mariano Rivera 488

Billy Wagner 385

Troy Percival 357

Francisco Cordero 220

Francisco Rodriguez 217

Joe Nathan 205

Eddie Guardado 187

Brad Lidge 168

———

ON THIS DATE

1970: Ernie Banks hits his 500th career home run – off Pat Jarvis – in the Chicago Cubs’ 4-3 victory over Atlanta at Wrigley Field.

1974: The Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 102-87 to win the NBA championship in seven games.

2000: Boston’s Pedro Martinez, who had 17 strikeouts in his last start May 6 against Tampa Bay, strikes out 15 in a 9-0 win over Baltimore, to tie an AL record set in 1968 by Cleveland’s Luis Tiant for most strikeouts over two games.

The Associated Press

———

SPORTS SOUND-OFF

NCAA called a ‘biased bureaucracy’

RE: UA softball team sent to Louisville for postseason play

• I think Livengood must have done something that the NCAA just continues to punish him for. Baseball, softball and basketball continue to get sent far, far away for postseason play. Mike Candrea is the No. 1 softball representative on the planet Earth, and Arizona’s history in softball at the NCAA level is second only to UCLA, and that’s debatable. The NCAA is a biased bureaucracy that can arbitrarily do whatever the hell they want to.

AZLIFEGUARD

• Don’t forgot that UA has one of the best softball fields in the country. The only way NCAA can justify ASU getting to host is that they are the defending national champs. I think all national champs should get that courtesy, but that said, we deserve one, too!

MIA S.

Magazine names tight end 2nd-team All-American

Arizona's Rob Gronkowski signs posters of the team for fans before the start of the annual Spring Game at Arizona Stadium last month. Gronkowski was named a second-team preseason All-American by Lindy's magazine, due out soon.

Spring football is all wrapped up, so the next thing in the college football calendar is the preview magazine season.

They’ll be coming soon – in some cases, later this month – to newsstands near you.

I’ve been doing my part, thoroughly immersed with production on Lindy’s six college football editions in the past couple of weeks, which means I know at least one thing: I absolutely can’t wait for the season to begin.

Here are 25 things – local, regional and national – to whet your appetite for the 2009 season . . . or at least until the magazines come out.

1. Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes took a trip in the offseason to visit with the staff of the Dallas Cowboys. The purpose: To study how it used tight end Jason Witten.

Dykes came back to Tucson with new ideas on how to involve junior tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“We took some of the stuff we saw with the Cowboys,” Dykes said. “We are trying to put it in our packages.”

2. Gronkowski is a Lindy’s second-team preseason All-American behind Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham, who surprisingly came back for his senior season.

3. I normally wouldn’t divulge Lindy’s No. 1 team, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out this season. It’s Florida.

Question is, who is No. 2 . . . Texas or Oklahoma? Or should that be Oklahoma or Texas?

4. Lindy’s picks the best of the decade in this year’s editions, and the question about the 2009 Gators is if they can become the team of the decade.

The champ in the clubhouse is 2001 Miami, which went undefeated, outscored opponents 512-117 and produced 15 first-round picks in the next three drafts.

5. I can’t wait to see how Salpointe Catholic graduate and former Arizona assistant Rich Ellerson does at Army. Ellerson made one of the most fascinating moves of the spring, switching starting left tackle Ali Villanueva (6 feet 10 inches, 283 pounds) to wide receiver.

Villanueva is expected to be a red-zone threat and serve as a heck of a blocker on screen passes.

6. Sure looks like a down year for the Pac-10, with eight of the teams having some sort of quarterback battle in the spring.

The only ones that didn’t were Oregon (Jeremiah Masoli) and Washington (Jake Locker, coming back from a thumb injury).

7. It figures: East Carolina junior Dustin Lineback is a . . . linebacker.

8. It doesn’t figure: Defensive back Miami Thomas plays for Illinois, running back Princeton McCarty plays for Idaho, Bob Toledo coaches Tulane, and the University of Washington doesn’t have anyone named Washington, although it does have a player named Houston, which is something Houston doesn’t have.

Running back Darius Marshall got it right. He plays for – you guessed it – Marshall.

9. Looking for a reason why the Big Ten flops in big games? It’s not because of speed at the skill positions; it’s because of speed and athleticism at defensive tackle.

Consider this: NFL teams have drafted 16 defensive tackles in the first round since 2004. None has been from the Big Ten.

10. The SEC, not deep in quarterbacks this season after Florida’s Tim Tebow and Mississippi’s Jevan Snead, is nonetheless the conference of elite quarterbacks. Five of the past 12 No. 1 overall draft picks have been SEC quarterbacks.

11. Salpointe Catholic graduate Kris O’Dowd, a junior at USC, is Lindy’s first-team preseason All-America center.

12. The middle of the Pac-10 is a jumbled mess. The top three are USC, Cal and Oregon. The bottom two are Washington and Washington State. Flip a coin for the teams in between, although Lindy’s picked Arizona fifth.

Lindy’s went with Oregon State at No. 4, because at least the Beavers have two quarterbacks they can win with – rehabbing Lyle Moevao (shoulder) and Sean Canfield. The rest of the Pac-10 middle has big questions at QB.

13. The ACC is 2-9 in BCS bowl games and has barely sniffed the national title since expansion. Blame a lack of skill: Of the past 29 first-round picks from the league, only four have been a quarterback, receiver or running back.

14. This year’s BCS buster: TCU.

15. Then again, if Boise State beats visiting Oregon on Sept. 3, who is going to stop the Broncos?

16. Arizona opens against Central Michigan on Sept. 5. The Chippewas are the pick to win the Mid-American Conference, and good-looking pro prospect Dan LeFevour is rated the eighth-best quarterback in the country, higher than anyone from the Pac-10.

17. Notre Dame isn’t in the preseason Top 25, but the Irish could get there because of an easy schedule and an offense that has a chance to be all grown up. Their receiving corps is a national top 10 group.

18. Florida’s defense is this good: The Gators have the nation’s top-rated defensive line, the second-rated linebackers and the top secondary.

19. And that Tebow guy is Lindy’s favorite to win the Heisman.

20. Alabama launched its 12-0 regular season in 2008 with a season-opening blasting of ACC favorite Clemson in Atlanta.

The Tide’s path is the same, a season opener in Atlanta vs. ACC favorite Virginia Tech.

21. Would it kill the Pac-10 to hold a coaches’ teleconference with the media in the spring like other major conferences?

22. Oklahoma State: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

The Cowboys have the nation’s best trio of quarterback, receiver and running back. The defense hasn’t finished better than 74th nationally since 2001. Is that the right combination to challenge Oklahoma and Texas?

We might know after opening week. Georgia plays at Oklahoma State.

23. Steve Spurrier is still hoping Stephen Garcia is his long-awaited answer at quarterback for South Carolina.

But an SEC coach, speaking to Lindy’s on condition of anonymity, said this of the Gamecocks: “I don’t see them being a very good football team. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he (Spurrier) called it quits after this season.”

24. The Pac-10 has four players rated the best at their positions: O’Dowd, USC safety Taylor Mays, Cal running back Jahvid Best and UCLA kicker Kai Forbath.

25. A year from now, Tennessee, Miami, Notre Dame and Michigan could be back in the preseason Top 25. But not this summer.

Anthony Gimino’s e-mail:

Anthony Gimino’s e-mail: agimino@tucsoncitizen.com