So we’re closing. The Big C. We’re done for. The whistle is blowing. The horn is sounding. We’ve run out of extra time. Just took a called third strike.

I’d like to think you will miss us here in Citizen sports, but I don’t want to be presumptuous.

But even if you think that only once a month we nailed a story, a scoop, a column, a feature – and I think our batting average was much higher – well, that’s one story, scoop, column, feature you won’t be getting any more.

That’s not good for anybody.

I asked Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood in February about the Citizen’s impeding demise and how it might affect his department.

“For a great number of years, we’ve had the ability to have things balanced, and all of a sudden you lose that,” Livengood said of this turning into a one-newspaper town.

“It also has an impact on the outside world, about the perception of Tucson when you lose an institution like this. There is an impression that we’re not going forward; we’re moving backward.”

Certainly, Livengood was telling me what I wanted to hear, but he also lamented a financial aspect to the closing and a potential loss of sponsorshi\n\nadvertising dollars from a reconfigured Tucson Newspapers.

I guess that’s now a story for our pals at the Arizona Daily Star to track down.

I got my start in this crazy business at the Star, back in the fall of 1986. My first byline was on a high school football game, featuring a flash of a running back from Flowing Wells. His name escapes me now.

There have been a blur of running backs, point guards, pitchers and catchers in the years since then.

It was a pleasure to chronicle the Arizona football team through most of the 1990s – the Fiesta Bowl victory over Miami, the Holiday Bowl victory over Nebraska. Waldrop. Bruschi. Bouie. McAlister. Keith and Ortege, the tag-team quarterbacks.

One of my favorite stories: Back in the early 1990s, UA football coach Dick Tomey, upset over something I had written that day, went ballistic on me after practice as the players were leaving the field.

I have never heard someone so copiously and creatively use another term for horse manure.

We agreed to disagree that day, and I feared that a good working relationship would be damaged. Football coaches have been known to hold a grudge.

But the next time I saw Tomey, it was as if nothing had happened. That was his style. Say what you have to say, and then let it go. It’s a life lesson I have never forgotten.

Elsewhere, I covered seven of Arizona’s eight national championships in softball, and had access to the mind of coach Mike Candrea for two decades. Sometimes, this job is so worth it.

No complaints here.

I had a chance to work with, travel with and learn from the twin towers of local sports columnists – retired Corky Simpson of the Citizen and Greg Hansen of the Star. Tucson was lucky to have two such voices for all those years.

So, yeah, it’s been a good ride.

It hit me a while ago, though, that the best part of this job at the Citizen for the past four and a half years had nothing to do with newspapers or journalism.

Recently, for no other reason than boredom, I reached into the closet and pulled out a box I hadn’t opened in years. It was filled with various items from college days.

Two things caught my eye.

One was a 20-year-old edition of the Tombstone Epitaph. A journalism class at the University of Arizona produced – and still does – the newspaper for the Town Too Tough To Die.

In this particular edition, I shared a few bylines with a guy named John Moredich.

As I dug deeper in the box, I found an old address book – the kind of thing we used before we all had cell phones. Thumbing through, I saw I had the old phone number of a guy named Steve Rivera.

Point is, the two writers I have worked most closely with at the Citizen since the start of 2005 – Moredich covering football, Rivera covering basketball – have been friends for more than two decades.

Working with them has been the rewarding part of the job.

Whatever you do for work, I hope you have been as lucky.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Greg Paulus is returning home to Syracuse to play football.

The former Duke point guard will enroll in graduate school at Syracuse and try to make a comeback in football for the Orange, he said Thursday.

“My gut and my heart were telling me that (Syracuse) was the best place for me,” Paulus said from Durham, N.C., during a conference call.

The decision ends a month of speculation whether the one-time star high school quarterback from Syracuse would resume his football career.

He worked out for the Green Bay Packers in April, acknowledged meeting with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez about playing for the Wolverines, also visited Nebraska and said he was contacted by about two dozen programs.

“It got me thinking, got me throwing again (and) once I got doing that, the itch and the desire came back,” Paulus said. “To have this opportunity where I have two sports, and to be able to do them both at the college level, it’s something that’s pretty unique and special.”

He said he called new Orange coach Doug Marrone on Thursday morning to notify him of his decision.

The three-year starting guard graduated from Duke earlier this month. He has one season of eligibility remaining and can play immediately if he receives a waiver from the NCAA.

Marrone could not comment on the announcement because the NCAA paperwork has not been completed.

Paulus was a record-setting quarterback in high school at Christian Brothers Academy, located less than a mile from Marrone’s office, and now has a legitimate chance at Syracuse, a proud program that’s fallen on hard times.

The Orange hired Marrone in December to resurrect the team he once played for – Syracuse has gone 10-37 over the past four seasons. He already has moved former starting quarterback Andrew Robinson to tight end and demoted Cam Dantley, last year’s starter, to backup behind redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib.

Paulus said Marrone has made “no promises, no guarantees” about playing time.

At CBA, Paulus was one of the nation’s top prep quarterbacks. As a senior running a potent spread offense, he threw for 3,700 yards and 43 touchdowns in a 13-0 season. He finished his prep career with 11,763 yards and 152 touchdowns passing.

Miami and Notre Dame offered him football scholarships, and he received a basketball offer from Syracuse before choosing to play basketball at Duke. His younger brother, Mike, is a quarterback at North Carolina.

BC linebacker has cancer

BOSTON – Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, who earned Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year honors, has cancer.

Herzlich said Thursday he was diagnosed earlier this week with Ewing’s Sarcoma after feeling pain in his leg and will undergo more tests in his home state of Pennsylvania. Ewing’s Sarcoma is a malignant tumor often found in bone or soft tissue.

Herzlich said he was determined to return to football after fighting the disease.

The Associated Press

Grizzlies’ Miles charged

ST. LOUIS – Memphis Grizzlies forward Darius Miles, who was suspended last season for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program, was free on bond Thursday after being charged with possession of marijuana.

Miles, 27, was alone in his car in suburban Fairview Heights, Ill., Wednesday night when an officer pulled him over for allegedly failing to use a turn signal. During a search of the car, police found a small amount of marijuana in a plastic bag in the passenger compartment.

The Associated Press

Sorenstam to have girl

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

The 38-year-old Swede and her husband, Mike McGee, announced the gender of her first baby on her blog 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 Associated Press

Bradley still unhappy

CHICAGO – Milton Bradley’s suspension was reduced from two games to one by Major League Baseball on Thursday, but that didn’t make him any happier.

The Chicago Cubs outfielder still feels he was a victim of his reputation as a hothead.

“It figures,” he said after MLB announced its decision regarding the April 16 incident. “I never get treated fairly. This is me. This is exactly what I expected.

“I’m Milton Bradley, you know what I’m saying? You expect me to be crazy and throw stuff and do whatever.”

Bradley will have to sit out Friday’s game against Houston.

The Associated Press

———

SPORTS SOUND-OFF

Fans philosophical as D’backs discuss flight

Re: D’backs down to three Phoenix sites for spring training facility

• It’s time we let the D’backs leave. . . . We’ve dropped too much money and have gained very little. They have the money to have multiple farm teams, scouting divisions and inflated player contracts, so why can’t they build their own training facility? MOTORMOUTH

• The county blew it and the city blew it. If you thought it was tough in Tucson before, wait until spring training baseball is gone. LDONYO

• Tucson can’t compete with Phoenix in baseball, so we can stop trying. Let’s get creative. How about recruiting an Arena Football team for the soon-to-be-built arena? Or a minor league basketball team? Either way, it’ll be nice when the Cactus League rental car tax can go away. IT’SLILA

———

BY THE NUMBERS

1-5

Diamondbacks’ record since they replaced manager Bob Melvin with A.J. Hinch, a front-office executive. Other Arizona numbers this year:

Record: 13-22

NL West: Last place, 10.5 games behind leader Los Angeles

Batting average: .232, worst in the National League

On-base percentage: .307, worst in the National League

Runs scored: 129, ranked 15th out of 16 in the National League

———

ON THIS DATE

1981: Len Barker of Cleveland pitches the first perfect game in 13 years as the host Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0.

1993: Prairie Bayou, ridden by Mike Smith, rebounds from a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby to become the first gelding to win the Preakness in 79 years.

1998: Notah Begay III joins Al Geiberger and Chip Beck as the only players to shoot a 59 on a U.S. pro tour. He does it at the Nike Old Dominion Open.

2003: The Spurs end the Lakers’ three-year NBA title reign with a 4-2 series win in the Western Conference semifinal.

Former Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama is apparently exploring opportunities in the Canadian and Arena 2 football leagues after failing to land a free-agency shot in the NFL.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have claimed Tuitama’s negotiation rights, the Stockton (Calif.) Record reported Thursday.

The newspaper also said the Stockton Lightning, an Arena 2 minor league team for the Arena Football League, has offered Tuitama a roster spot. His mother, Nancy, is the Lightning’s travel agent, the Record said, and Tuitama is a Stockton native.

Jeff Sperbeck, an agent for Tuitama, told the Record that he has been in contact with CFL teams but was unaware of the Arena offer.

“We’re talking to some teams in Canada and trying to find an opportunity,” Sperbeck said. “Willie wants to show that he can still play.”

The CFL season begins in June, and Tuitama could negotiate with other teams if he chose not to sign with Saskatchewan, the Record said.

Sperbeck told the paper there’s still a chance Tuitama could be invited to an NFL training camp. Tucson police arrested Tuitama on March 7 on suspicion of extreme driving under the influence, which may have hurt his NFL prospects.

Meanwhile, former UA basketball player Fendi Onobun is still trying to land an NFL free-agency shot after working out for scouts for several teams, including Buffalo.

GLENDALE – Anquan Boldin’s agent has made a contract proposal to the Cardinals, but it’s questionable how interested the team is in entering negotiations.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus broke the news of the offer on his Twitter account Thursday and confirmed it to The Republic later in the day.

Rosenhaus said contrary to speculation, Boldin is not seeking a deal worth $10 million a year, which is what teammate Larry Fitzgerald is receiving. The recent offer is for less, according to Rosenhaus.

“It’s inaccurate and I just wanted to clear the record,” Rosenhaus said of the $10 million figure. Rosenhaus declined to discuss his proposal, saying, “I’m not going to negotiate Anquan’s contract through the media.”

Cardinals general manager Rod Graves was not available for comment.

An NFL source familiar with the proposal said the deal averaged just under $10 million per season.

Rosenhaus declined to say when he made the proposal to the Cardinals. He has discussed the proposal with Graves, he said, but the Cardinals have not responded with a counteroffer.

“I think we can be reasonable as long as Anquan is among the top-paid receivers,” Rosenhaus said. “We just want a contract commensurate with his performance. You find me another guy with three Pro Bowls, the same number of yards, receptions, touchdowns and toughness.”

Rosenhaus acknowledged that circumstances dictate that Boldin will make less than Fitzgerald.

The Cardinals were forced to renegotiate Fitzgerald’s contract a year ago because incentive clauses would have pushed his salaries to $14.6 million in 2009 and more than $17 million in 2009.

With two years remaining on his contract, Boldin doesn’t have that kind of leverage.

“We do have years left on our contract,” Rosenhaus said. “We’re not facing the same set of circumstances as the guy who is looking at free agency.”

But Rosenhaus said he and Boldin are not “just going to sit pat and look forward to another uncomfortable year like last year. We’re going to continue to talk to the team about a new deal and continue to hope the team will be flexible for a trade.”

Boldin believes the team has reneged on a promise to address his contract situation and would prefer to be traded.

Last week, Rosenhaus wrote on Twitter that he thought Boldin would be traded before training camp. Rosenhaus can’t negotiate a contract with other clubs unless given permission, but going public with the recent proposal to the Cardinals lets other teams know Boldin’s asking price is less than $10 million a year.

It could be the range of $8 million to $9 million a year on average. T.J. Houshmandzadeh signed a five-year, $40 million deal with Seattle this spring, with $15 million guaranteed.

Dallas traded for Roy Williams last year then signed him to a five-year, $45 million deal with $20 million guaranteed.

Boldin re-signed with the team in 2005, two years into his rookie contract, and received $10 million in bonuses. He is due to make $2.75 million this year and $3 million in 2010.

It’s difficult for Wendell Bryant to pinpoint the moment that he finally decided to end years of drug and alcohol abuse.

Maybe it was the death of his grandfather, who helped raise him, in January 2008. Or, it might have been May 2008 when his baby daughter, Devin, who couldn’t tell her dad was in a stupor, pulled Bryant close and kissed him.

Or maybe it was last June 3, when Bryant, the Cardinals’ first-round pick in 2002, was leaving his Ahwatukee home to check into the Chandler Valley Hope treatment center.

“I had one last piece of joint,” Bryant said, “and I thought, ‘OK, I’m going to smoke this on the way.’ ”

But his lighter wouldn’t work. Bryant pulled the car over, tried the lighter again. Still no flame. He looked at the joint. Then the lighter. Then he looked up.

“I said, ‘All right, I get it,’ ” Bryant said. “I threw it out of the car window and drove my ass over to Chandler and from there I started on the path.”

The path has led him to nearly a year of sobriety and maybe back to the doorstep of the NFL. Bryant wants back in the league, although he hasn’t played since being suspended for the 2005 season after committing his third strike in the league’s substance abuse policy.

“You really don’t know the opportunities you have until they are gone,” Bryant said. “It took me a long time to realize that. You don’t realize how much you love something until it’s taken away.”

Bryant knows the odds are against him. He’s a recovering addict who hasn’t played a down of football in five years. Even when he did play, he was far from a Pro Bowler. He turns 29 this September and knows he spent his prime getting drunk and high.

But Bryant’s physique is testament to his seriousness. He’s dropped nearly 30 pounds, down to 295, while working with Scottsdale trainer Chad Ikei over the past year. Bryant appears in far better shape than he was in his three years with the Cardinals, when other players teased him about his doughy body.

“He actually has a physique,” Ikei said. “He’s not going to be on the cover of Men’s Fitness, but he’s much better than he was.”

Ikei had worked with Bryant before, knew his history and had seen Bryant at the house-warming party of a mutual friend about a year earlier.

“He’s done,” Ikei thought to himself.

So Ikei was dubious about Bryant’s commitment when Bryant approached him last summer. Not any more.

Bryant has been diligent about training, even though he lives 40 minutes away from Ikei’s facility. Bryant hasn’t missed sessions, even when there have been two-a-days, and Ikei believes Bryant is ready to give the NFL a shot. If the NFL will give him one.

“The league is very nonforgiving for some and sometimes forgiving for others,” Ikei said. “In Wendell’s case, I don’t think it will be very forgiving. If he was a Pro Bower the first two, three years before he got kicked out, it would be a different story.

“If he does what I think he’s capable of doing, it’s going to be a great inspiring story for many young athletes.”

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.

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

———

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

– CLICK HERE to view team-by-team schedules –

As the state’s all-time winningest high school football coach, Amphi’s Vern Friedli has plenty of victories he can look back on fondly.

To be precise, he has 309.

“But there isn’t a sweeter feeling we ever had than those bus rides down Oracle Road after upsetting CDO,” said Friedli, whose Panthers beat Canyon del Oro 22 times in Friedli’s 33 seasons of coaching at Amphi.

CDO has won the last five games between the two schools, including the past three in lopsided fashion, but it was still one of Tucson’s longest standing football rivalries.

That ended Tuesday when the 2009 football schedule was released. For the first time since 1968, Amphi and CDO won’t play football against each other.

“It’s a shame,” Friedli said.

While Amphi’s enrollment, and in turn student participation in football, has plummeted since Ironwood Ridge High opened earlier this decade, CDO has developed into one of the state’s top Class 4A programs.

“It was pretty heated my first couple years and Amphi just completely dominated the rivalry,” said former CDO coach Pat Nugent, who now coaches Pima Community College.

“I know that Ironwood Ridge opening really hurt Amphi and the fact of the matter is it just hasn’t been that much of a rivalry recently.”

Friedli acknowledges his program’s drop in numbers in recent years has hurt the program, pointing out there were eight starters on either Ironwood Ridge or CDO who attended middle school within Amphi High’s boundaries. That was before open enrollment allowed students to go to any one of the three schools in the Amphi district.

“You give us back eight starters last year and we’re a hell of a lot more competitive,” said Friedli, whose team went 6-5 and qualified for the 4A Division II playoffs. “But that’s not how it is anymore. Now, like we’ve always done, we’ll play the hand we’re dealt.”

Amphi returned to the playoffs in 2008, but its less-than-typical record in previous years began hurting CDO’s power ranking points, the system used to seed the state tournament that rewards teams for playing tough opponents.

The more wins your opponents have, the higher your power ranking.

In place of the annual CDO/Amphi game, CDO will play Ironwood Ridge. The two teams have only played three times, but it is one of the area’s best budding rivalries.

“Getting them to open things up, I can tell you the kids are already excited about that game,” CDO first-year coach Dustin Peace said.

While CDO/Amphi is no more for the season, that doesn’t mean there will be a shortage of strong matchups for the 2009 season among Tucson-area teams.

Here is a look at 15 games with intriguing storylines this fall:

Sabino at Sahuaro (Aug. 27)

Scott McKee’s first game as Sahuaro head coach will be tough. He faces a powerful Sabino team he starred for in the 1990s. Of course, that was long before Sabino beat Sahuaro by a combined 143-19 the past three seasons.

Ironwood Ridge at CDO (Aug. 28)

Ironwood Ridge and CDO are two of the best teams in Tucson and will be breaking in new head coaches in the season opener with Matt Johnson (Ironwood Ridge) and Dustin Peace (CDO). The teams have only played three times, but it’s hard not to call this one of the area’s best rivalries and the Dorados are still looking for payback for the Nighthawks beating them twice in 2006, including in the state playoffs.

CDO at Santa Rita (Sept. 4)

Two of Tucson’s best teams over the past two years go at it. Santa Rita coach Jeff Scurran coached at CDO from 1984-86.

Santa Rita at Sabino (Sept. 11)

Scurran returns as opposing coach at Sabino, where he was one of the state’s most dominant coaches in the 1990s, winning three state championships.

Salpointe at Ironwood Ridge (Sept. 25)

Salpointe took a perfect record into the Ironwood Ridge game in 2008 before the Nighthawks thumped the Lancers 41-14.

Scottsdale Saguaro at CDO (Oct. 2)

A rematch of the 2007 4A-I state title thriller. Saguaro has been as dominant as anyone in Arizona for three years, going 41-1 with three state titles. In its current 33-game win streak, nobody put a scare into Saguaro quite like CDO did at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2007, when Saguaro hit a game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining.

Salpointe at Chandler Hamilton (Oct. 9)

Salpointe trades in a series with one 5A-I powerhouse, Phoenix Brophy, for one with Chandler Hamilton, the state’s top college recruiting factory.

Amphi at Santa Rita (Oct. 16)

Anytime Friedli and Scurran go at it, it’s fun to watch. Amphi put one heck of a scare into the Eagles in 2008 and, short of a win, it’s hard to imagine anything that makes Friedli more happy than making Scurran sweat.

Cholla at Rio Rico (Oct. 16)

Both teams struggled through 0-10 seasons in 2008. While I don’t think it will happen again, it’s nice to know winless seasons for both won’t happen again in 2009.

Ironwood Ridge at Sunnyside (Oct. 23)

The two teams have played four times the past two seasons, splitting 2-2 and not having a game determined by more than a touchdown in the span. Sunnyside ended the Nighthawks’ season in the 2007 5A-II playoffs. Ironwood Ridge returned the favor in 2008.

Flowing Wells at Catalina Foothills (Oct. 23)

First-year Flowing Wells coach Mark Brunenkant returns to Foothills, where he coached the Falcons for nine of the program’s 15 seasons.

Sunnyside at Salpointe (Nov. 6)

With Salpointe slapped with a postseason ban next year because of recruiting violations, this will be the Lancers’ final game of the season, but it isn’t as if added motivation is needed.

Cienega at Sahuaro (Nov. 6)

Former Sahuaro coaches Nemer Hassey, the head coach at Cienega, and Chuck McCollum, an offensive line coach at Cienega, return to play the Cougars.

Palo Verde at Santa Rita (Nov. 6)

This game has determined the 4A Gila Region title the past two seasons. Even without Adam Hall at Palo Verde, it could be a big test for Santa Rita.

Sabino at CDO (Nov. 6)

In its first year in the 4A Sonoran Region, the Sabercats could be playing CDO for the region title. Aside from the region implications, sought-after college recruits Sabino’s Keanu Nelson and CDO’s Josh Robbins will be winding down their senior seasons.

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

Team-by-team schedules for the 25 southern Arizona football teams competing in 4A and 5A classifications in 2009. Games are Fridays at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted

Amphi

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Marana

Sept. 4 – at Chandler Seton Catholic

Sept. 11 – vs. Flowing Wells

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 2. – vs. Palo Verde

Oct. 2 – at Rio Rico

Oct. 9 – vs. Sahuarita

Oct. 16 – at Santa Rita

Oct. 23 – at Cholla

Oct. 30 – vs. Douglas

Nov. 6 – at Catalina

Buena (Sierra Vista)

(5A-I Southern Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Cienega

Sept. 4 – vs. Phoenix Camelback

Sept. 11 – at Gilbert Perry

Sept. 17 – at Flowing Wells (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – vs. Rincon/University

Oct. 2 – at Salpointe

Oct. 9 – vs. Sunnyside

Oct. 16 – at Ironwood Ridge

Oct. 23 – at Tucson High

Oct. 30 – vs. Mountain View

Nov. 6 – bye

Canyon del Oro

(4A Sonoran Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Ironwood Ridge

Sept. 4 – at Santa Rita

Sept. 11 – vs. Tucson High

Sept. 17 – at Queen Creek (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Nogales

Oct. 2 – vs. Scottsdale Saguaro

Oct. 9 – at Catalina Foothills

Oct. 16 – at Flowing Wells

Oct. 23 – vs. Pueblo

Oct. 30 – bye

Nov. 6 – vs. Sabino

Catalina

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Flowing Wells

Sept. 4 – vs. Goodyear Desert Edge

Sept. 11 – at Sahuaro

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 25 – at Douglas

Oct. 2 – at Palo Verde

Oct. 9 – vs. Rio Rico

Oct. 16 – at Sahuarita

Oct. 23 – vs. Santa Rita

Oct. 30 – at Cholla

Nov. 6 – vs. Amphi

Catalina Foothills

(4A Sonoran Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Palo Verde

Sept. 4 – vs. Sahuarita

Sept. 11 – at Salpointe

Sept. 17 – vs. Sahuaro (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Desert View

Oct. 2 – at Cienega

Oct. 9 – vs. Canyon del Oro

Oct. 16 – at Sabino

Oct. 23 – vs. Flowing Wells

Oct. 30 – at Pueblo

Nov. 6 – bye

Cholla

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Desert View

Sept. 4 – bye

Sept. 11 – at Marana

Sept. 17 – vs. Pueblo (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Sahuarita

Oct. 2 – vs. Santa Rita

Oct. 9 – at Palo Verde

Oct. 16 – at Rio Rico

Oct. 23 – vs. Amphi

Oct. 30 – vs. Catalina

Nov. 6 – at Douglas

Cienega

(4A Kino Region)

Aug. 28 – at Sierra Vista Buena

Sept. 4 – vs. Cave Creek Cactus Shadows

Sept. 11 – vs. Sahuarita

Sept. 17 – at Ironwood Ridge (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Flowing Wells

Oct. 2 – vs. Catalina Foothills

Oct. 9 – at Desert View

Oct. 16 – vs. Marana

Oct. 23 – vs. Nogales

Oct. 30 – bye

Nov. 6 – at Sahuaro

Douglas

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – at Bisbee

Sept. 4 – bye

Sept. 11 – vs. Nogales

Sept. 18 – at Desert View

Sept. 25 – vs. Catalina

Oct. 2 – at Sahuarita

Oct. 9 – at Santa Rita

Oct. 16 – vs. Palo Verde

Oct. 23 – vs. Rio Rico

Oct. 30 – at Amphi

Nov. 6 – vs. Cholla

Desert View

(4A Kino Region)

Aug. 28 – at Cholla

Sept. 4 – at Pueblo

Sept. 11 – vs. Rincon/University

Sept. 18 – vs. Douglas

Sept. 25 – vs. Catalina Foothills

Oct. 2 – at Sabino

Oct. 9 – vs. Cienega

Oct. 16 – at Sahuaro

Oct. 23 – at Marana

Oct. 30 – vs. Nogales

Nov. 6 – bye

Flowing Wells

(4A Sonoran Region)

Aug. 28 – at Catalina

Sept. 4 – bye

Sept. 11 – at Amphi

Sept. 17 – vs. Sierra Vista Buena (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – vs. Cienega

Oct. 2 – vs. Nogales

Oct. 9 – at Marana

Oct. 16 – vs. Canyon del Oro

Oct. 23 – at Catalina Foothills

Oct. 30 – at Sabino

Nov. 6 – vs. Pueblo

Ironwood Ridge

(5A-II Southern Region)

Aug. 28 – at Canyon del Oro

Sept. 4 – vs. Mesa Skyline

Sept. 11 – at Laveen Cesar Chavez

Sept. 17 – vs. Cienega (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – vs. Salpointe

Oct. 2 – at Rincon/University

Oct. 9 – vs. Tucson High

Oct. 16 – vs. Sierra Vista Buena

Oct. 23 – at Sunnyside

Oct. 30 – bye

Nov. 6 – at Moountain View

Marana

(4A Kino Region)

Aug. 28 – at Amphi

Sept. 4 – vs. Mountain View

Sept. 11 – vs. Cholla

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 25 – at Sabino

Oct. 2 – at Pueblo

Oct. 9 – vs. Flowing Wells

Oct. 16 – at Cienega

Oct. 23 – vs. Desert View

Oct. 30 – vs. Sahuaro

Nov. 6 – at Nogales

Mountain View

(5A-II Southern Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Tempe Marcos de Niza

Sept. 4 – at Marana

Sept. 11 – at Mesa Red Mountain

Sept. 17 – vs. Sabino (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Sunnyside

Oct. 2 – at Tucson High

Oct. 9 – vs. Rincon/University

Oct. 16 – bye

Oct. 23 – vs. Salpointe

Oct. 30 – at Sierra Vista Buena

Nov. 6 – vs. Ironwood Ridge

Nogales

(4A Kino Region)

Aug. 28 – at Sahuarita

Sept. 4 – vs. Sunnyside

Sept. 11 – at Douglas

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 25 – vs. Canyon del Oro

Oct. 2 – at Flowing Wells

Oct. 9 – vs. Sahuaro

Oct. 16 – vs.Pueblo

Oct. 23 – at Cienega

Oct. 30 – at Desert View

Nov. 6 – vs. Marana

Palo Verde

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – at Catalina Foothills

Sept. 4 – vs. Sahuaro

Sept. 11 – at Tempe McClintock

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 25 – at Amphi

Oct. 2 – vs. Catalina

Oct. 9 – vs. Cholla

Oct. 16 – at Douglas

Oct. 23 – vs. Sahuarita

Oct. 30 – vs. Rio Rico

Nov. 6 – at Santa Rita

Pueblo

(4A Sonoran Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Rio Rico

Sept. 4 – vs. Desert View

Sept. 11 – bye

Sept. 17 – at Cholla (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Tucson High

Oct. 2 – vs. Marana

Oct. 9 – vs. Sabino

Oct. 16 – at Nogales

Oct. 23 – at Canyon del Oro

Oct. 30 – vs. Catalina Foothills

Nov. 6 – at Flowing Wells

Rincon/University

(5A-II Southern Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Santa Rita

Sept. 4 – vs. Phoenix Carl Hayden

Sept. 11 – at Desert View

Sept. 17 – at Phoenix Pinnacle (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Sierra Vista Buena

Oct. 2 – vs. Ironwood Ridge

Oct. 9 – at Mountain View

Oct. 16 – vs. Salpointe

Oct. 23 – bye

Oct. 30 – vs. Sunnyside

Nov. 6 – at Tucson High

Rio Rico

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – at Pueblo

Sept. 4 – vs. Buckeye Verrado

Sept. 11 – vs. Empire

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 25 – at Santa Rita

Oct. 2 – vs. Amphi

Oct. 9 – at Catalina

Oct. 16 – vs. Cholla

Oct. 23 – at Douglas

Oct. 30 – at Palo Verde

Nov. 6 – vs. Sahuarita

Sabino

(4A Sonoran Region)

Aug. 27 – at Sahuaro (Thursday)

Sept. 4 – at Phoenix Moon Valley

Sept. 11 – vs. Santa Rita

Sept. 17 – at Mountain View (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – vs. Marana

Oct. 2 – vs. Desert View

Oct. 9 – at Pueblo

Oct. 16 – vs. Catalina Foothills

Oct. 23 – bye

Oct. 30 – vs. Flowing Wells

Nov. 6 – at Canyon del Oro

Sahuarita

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Nogales

Sept. 4 – at Catalina Foothills

Sept. 11 – at Cienega

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 25 – vs. Cholla

Oct. 2 – vs. Douglas

Oct. 9 – at Amphi

Oct. 16 – vs. Catalina

Oct. 23 – at Palo Verde

Oct. 30 – vs. Santa Rita

Nov. 6 – at Rio Rico

Sahuaro

(4A Kino Region)

Aug. 27 – vs. Sabino (Thursday)

Sept. 4 – at Palo Verde

Sept. 11 – vs. Catalina

Sept. 17 – at Catalina Foothills (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – vs. Queen Creek

Oct. 2 – at Sunnyside

Oct. 9 – at Nogales

Oct. 16 – vs. Desert View

Oct. 23 – bye

Oct. 30 – at Marana

Nov. 6 – vs. Cienega

Salpointe

(5A-I Southern Region)

Aug. 28 – bye

Sept. 4 – at Rio Rancho, N.M.

Sept. 11 – vs. Catalina Foothills

Sept. 17 – vs. Casa Grande (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – at Ironwood Ridge

Oct. 2 – vs. Sierra Vista Buena

Oct. 9 – at Chandler Hamilton

Oct. 16 – at Rincon/University

Oct. 23 – at Mountain View

Oct. 30 – vs. Tucson High

Nov. 6 – vs. Sunnyside

Santa Rita

(4A Gila Region)

Aug. 28 – at Rincon/University

Sept. 4 – vs. Canyon del Oro

Sept. 11 – at Sabino

Sept. 18 – bye

Sept. 25 – vs. Rio Rico

Oct. 2 – at Cholla

Oct. 9 – vs. Douglas

Oct. 16 – vs. Amphi

Oct. 23 – at Catalina

Oct. 30 – at Sahuarita

Nov. 6 – vs. Palo Verde

Sunnyside

(5A-II Southern Region)

Aug. 28 – at Phoenix North Canyon

Sept. 4 – at Nogales

Sept. 11 – bye

Sept. 17 – vs. Mesa Mountain View (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – vs. Mountain View

Oct. 2 – vs. Sahuaro

Oct. 9 – at Sierra Vista Buena

Oct. 16 – vs. Tucson High

Oct. 23 – vs. Ironwood Ridge

Oct. 30 – at Rincon/University

Nov. 6 – at Salpointe

Tucson High

(5A-I Southern Region)

Aug. 28 – vs. Phoenix Desert Vista

Sept. 4 – bye

Sept. 11 – at Canyon del Oro

Sept. 17 – at Mesa Westwood (Thursday)

Sept. 25 – vs. Pueblo

Oct. 2 – vs. Mountain View

Oct. 9 – at Ironwood Ridge

Oct. 16 – at Sunnyside

Oct. 23 – vs. Sierra Vista Buena

Oct. 30 – at Salpointe

Nov. 6 – vs. Rincon/University

Magazine names tight end 2nd-team All-American

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

ALAMEDA, Calif. – First-round draft pick Darrius Heyward-Bey sat out the final day of the Oakland Raiders’ minicamp Sunday because of a sore hamstring and fatigue.

Second-round pick Mike Mitchell and fourth-rounder Louis Murphy also missed the workout for similar reasons.

“Just tightened up,” Heyward-Bey said. “My legs are a little too tight. Running too fast.”

Heyward-Bey, who had the fastest time in the 40-yard dash (4.3 seconds) at the Scouting Combine in February, was injured late in Saturday’s practice and did not work out in the afternoon.

He spent Sunday as a spectator alongside Murphy and fellow wide receiver Javon Walker, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery.

“It’s the toughest transition for the rookies with all the running we do,” head coach Tom Cable said. “You just want to be smart with them. It’s precautionary.”

Along with the three receivers and Mitchell, the Raiders were also without left guard Robert Gallery (calf), defensive tackle Gerard Warren (pectoral muscle), defensive end Derrick Burgess (stomach flu) and reserve offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, who is still recovering from knee surgery last season.

The Raiders will resume their offseason workout program on May 19.

Falcons’ Jerry injured

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith says first-round draft pick Peria Jerry has a mild right knee sprain.

A day after leaving practice early with the injury, Jerry stood on the field with other defensive linemen Sunday, but didn’t participate as Atlanta finished its three-day mini-camp. The former Mississippi tackle walked without a limp and wasn’t wearing protection on his right knee.

Falcons are off until May 19, when the team begins voluntary offseason training activities. Jerry, who wasn’t available to talk with reporters, missed the afternoon session Saturday to visit a specialist.

Drafted No. 28 overall, Jerry had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee last August to repair a torn meniscus.

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 to the situation.

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.

“That type of decision is up to Brett Favre, and I’ll leave it to Brett Favre to give you that answer,” Wilf said.

His agent, Bus Cook, has said that Favre remains retired to his knowledge. Cook did not immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press on Monday.

Wilf, who along with brother Zygi purchased the team in 2005, spoke about Favre during a previously scheduled community visit. It was the first question asked by a fan during a panel discussion between Wilf and linebackers Chad Greenway and Ben Leber as part of a “You Made the Team” luncheon with the Marshall Chamber of Commerce.

After Greenway gave a politically correct answer, Wilf jumped in to defend the current stable of quarterbacks — incumbent Tarvaris Jackson, newcomer Sage Rosenfels and third-stringer John David Booty.

“With Sage and Tarvaris and John David, we’re pleased with the quarterbacks we have,” Wilf said. “Let’s not let that get forgotten here. And we just feel as a whole as a roster, we’re trying to improve every day. We feel we’ve made a lot of steps to improve off an NFC North division win and we’re ready to take the next step and to go all the way.”

It’s a little bit of deja vu for the Vikings. Last year, Favre renounced his retirement from the Packers and, after being told Green Bay was going with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, it was believed that Favre wanted to play for the NFC North rival Vikings.

After a messy divorce with Green Bay, Favre was shipped to the Jets, where he threw 22 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions for a team that finished 1-4 to miss the playoffs.

The Vikings won the division without him, but have been unsettled at the sport’s most important position for the past three-plus years. Quarterback continues to be viewed as one of the team’s few weak spots on an otherwise talent-laden roster.

“Last year it didn’t become a distraction and we kind of went through the same thing during training camp, which is right at the peak time,” Greenway said. “For us, it’s like we battled through that, were NFC North champs from last year and it obviously didn’t affect us. We got off to a relatively good start so I don’t think that had any type of effect.”

But with Favre, retirement has become an annual ordeal. He was released by the Jets on April 28 and now is free to sign with the Vikings if he is healthy enough and still has the desire to play.

“He’s retired a couple of times so you wonder where his loyalties lie,” Greenway said. “For us, we’re moving forward with what we’ve got here. We have a team that can obviously win at a high level and we have a team that, moving forward, we think can really compete for an NFC North title again and get to the championship game and hopefully further.

“As good as something may sound, we have a great team to play with right now and there is no sense in looking outside of what we have within our 53 (man roster).”

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – For Brad Childress, it was just another day at the office. And, for now, Brett Favre is not wearing purple.

The Minnesota Vikings’ dalliance with the supposedly retired quarterback didn’t reach the stage of face-to-face, close-the-deal talks Thursday – and maybe they never will.

Yahoo! Sports reported that Favre called Childress sometime Wednesday or early Thursday and told the coach he wants to stay retired. Favre’s longtime agent, Bus Cook, reiterated for the second straight day that his famously fickle client hadn’t changed his plan to stay out of the game.

ESPN and USA TODAY said Cook told reporters in Mississippi, where Favre lives, that the former MVP was still retired – though the agent added that Favre could always change his mind in the future.

One certainty was Childress spent office hours at work in Minnesota.

After reports the coach was to travel south for discussions with Favre, Twin Cities television station KMSP broadcast video of his early-morning arrival at Winter Park.

The coach’s black sports utility vehicle was still parked at the team’s facility in suburban Minneapolis into the evening, and through a team spokesman he declined comment to a handful of media across the street.

Yahoo cited an unidentified source close to the team in reporting that the Vikings won’t sign the 39-year-old quarterback.

If Favre doesn’t come back to fill the only glaring hole on an otherwise Super Bowl-ready roster, the Vikings will have to go with the original plan of trying to win with quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

MILWAUKEE – Does Brett Favre really want to play quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings – or is he simply willing to jump at any chance to play against Green Bay and prove a point to the man who traded him, general manager Ted Thompson?

That doesn’t seem to be a particularly important question in the Twin Cities right now, where the potential signing of Favre is seen as the final piece in an otherwise Super Bowl-ready roster. The chance to tweak a division rival makes it even juicier.

Even Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty – perhaps forgetting that he’d need to pick up a vote or two in Wisconsin if he runs for president in 2012 – called the potential Favre signing “a wonderful little salt to rub in the eyes of some of our Green Bay Packer friends” on Wednesday.

“Can you imagine Brett Favre going into Lambeau Field in Viking purple and maybe even wearing No. 4?,” Pawlenty asked. “There would be audible gasps.”

Right now, the collective sound emanating from Wisconsin is a loud, protracted groan.

The 39-year-old Favre, who is a free agent after retiring for the second time in as many years and being released by the New York Jets, is scheduled to meet with Minnesota coach Brad Childress this week to discuss the possibility of playing for the Vikings.

Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, told USA TODAY that Favre remains retired, said he wasn’t aware of any meeting with Childress, and denied that Favre would return simply out of spite.

“If he came back, it would be because he wants another chance to win a Super Bowl,” Cook said.

For now, much remains unclear about Favre’s situation, including just how much he has left to give. He was awful at the end of last season, and apparently hasn’t had surgery to fix an arm injury that might explain his subpar play.

And he shouldn’t expect his former Packers teammates to take it easy on him.

Packers linebacker Nick Barnett posted on his Twitter account Wednesday that Favre should “do whatever he feels is in his heart” – as long as he’s prepared for Packers players to treat him like the enemy.

“Once he puts (on) that purple, he will become an enemy which is all part of the game,” Barnett said. “It’s hard to imagine him doing that.”

Matt McCune has taken advantage of his first opportunity of being a professional baseball player.

The 22-year-old Catalina Foothills High graduate signed with the independent Tucson Toros Wednesday after emerging from a list of local prospects.

“This is awesome,” said McCune during a press conference near the pitcher’s mound at Hi Corbett Field. “I am ready to get the season going. This is a good opportunity for me. It has always been my dream to be a professional baseball player. I am excited to pitch for the Tucson Toros.”

McCune, who works at a local UPS Store and also attends classes at the University of Arizona, was chosen from six pitchers invited back following Saturday’s tryout that drew 160 players.

“I knew I threw well even though no one spoke to me,” McCune said. “I felt I threw to my potential. I felt I did my job.”

McCune, a right-hander, went 5-0 at Foothills in his senior season of 2005, earning all-state honorable mention honors. He also played for GateWay Community College in Phoenix before going to Kansas Wesleyan University.

“He opened a lot of eyes,” Tucson manager Tim Johnson said. “We felt he was the right guy. I am going to put him in situations to get his feet wet a little bite and I am going to put him in situations where it’s going to be tough. We’re going to go game to game. But I feel good and our coaching staff feels good.

“He has good presence on the mound. He throws 88 and 89 (miles per hour). He’s not just a guy who tries to nibble. He know how to throw balls by guys. He has a good breaking ball and changeup. He has a good fastball.”

McCune was working his afternoon shift Tuesday at the UPS store near North Kolb Road and East Sunrise Drive when the Toros dropped in to tell him about the contract.

He plans to put his communication degree on hold at UA.

“I was leaning toward getting my degree in that and see what job openings there are,” McCune said. “Once I found out that the Toros were coming, there was nothing I wanted to be. I want to work hard and be a part of this club. I can always go back to (UA). This is my No. 1 priority.”

The Toros plan to invite 30-plus players to their spring training on Monday, including former local high school pitchers Jason Hanna and Tom Wihelmsen and Canadian Byron Bell, the club said.

Terry, Mavs need help

DALLAS – Ex-UA Wildcat Jason Terry is the Dallas Mavericks’ mood-lifter, the guy who pumps up teammates and fans every chance he gets.

Yet after enduring a second straight pounding in Denver, Terry couldn’t even fake being positive on Tuesday.

“Not tonight,” he said, declining to be interviewed. “I don’t have anything tonight.”

The Mavericks went into this second-round series convinced they could hang with the Nuggets, pointing to three narrow losses in the regular season as proof of how close they were. Besides, they proudly noted, they were on their best roll of the season, having blown through the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

So far, Denver has toyed with Dallas. Denver is up 2-0 in the series and 6-0 for the season. The Mavs must win four of the next five. Game 3 is Saturday in Dallas.

The Associated Press

NBA star has intruder

DALLAS – FBI agents have arrested a woman on a probation violation and theft of service warrants at the home of Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki.

Dallas police said 37-year-old Cristal Taylor was taken into custody Wednesday at Nowitzki’s home. She has eight aliases, police said.

The Associated Press

Big 12: Keep tiebreaker

PHOENIX – Big 12 coaches have rejected a proposal to change the controversial tiebreaker that gave Oklahoma the nod over Texas in the three-way tie in the Big 12 South last season.

Meeting at a resort on Wednesday, they voted to keep the Bowl Championship Series standings as the method to break ties between more than two teams. Under that rule, the Sooners edged the Longhorns by 13 thousandths of a point in December.

The coaches had considered adopting a three-team tiebreaker that would eliminate the lowest-ranked team in the BCS standings, then go to the head-to-head result of the remaining two teams.

If that had been in place last year, Texas Tech would have been eliminated, and Texas would have emerged as the division champion because it had defeated Oklahoma.

The Associated Press

ASU lands running back

PHOENIX – Deantre Lewis, a 5-foot-10, 189-pound running back from Norco (Calif.) High School has given an oral commitment to Arizona State, according to Scout.com.

Lewis, who was also being recruited by Oregon and Oregon State, is ASU’s second commitment for 2010, along with running back Taylor Walstad of Chandler High.

The Arizona Republic

TRIVIA QUESTION

Who was lowest-seeded team to win the NBA Finals?

Answer: The 1994-95 Houston Rockets, who defended their NBA title as the sixth seed. With series victories over the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic, the Rockets became the first NBA team to beat four teams with 50 or more wins in the playoffs.

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ON THIS DATE

1972: The Los Angeles Lakers win their first NBA championship with a 114-100 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 5.

1977: Heavily favored Seattle Slew, ridden by Jean Cruguet, wins the Kentucky Derby by 1 3/4 lengths over Run Dusty Run.

1982: A federal jury rules that the NFL violated antitrust laws when it unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the Oakland Raiders from moving to Los Angeles.

1995: Reggie Miller scores eight points in the last 16 seconds to lead Indiana to a 107-105 win over the Knicks in the second-round opener of the NBA playoffs.

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SPORTS SOUND-OFF

Readers mixed on getting top basketball recruit

Re: Cats in running for Lance Stephenson

• Getting Lance out of New York and the circle of influence he runs with., and you may find a fresh start is exactly what he needs to rise above it all. ZOMBIE

• Take a guy with his issues, move him all the way across the country away from any sort of family/friends, and you’re asking for trouble. Regardless of how good this guy might be, it’s not worth the risk to the university’s basketball reputation. Pass on him. ARIZONA91

• I’m sure he isn’t the only kid brought into our program with a checkered past. The key is, UA has always had great leadership and a strong influence over these kids. If he brings value to the team, I say give the kid a chance. AZCAT01

• Did you guys see his YouTube stuff? He is just trying to market himself for the NBA. YOUSTRUELY