We know how all this ends, so we’ll start at the beginning. In truth, I never – ever – wanted to be the Arizona men’s basketball beat guy back in the early 1990s. I all but refused, as did Dave Petruska when it was going to be either him or me in taking over for former beat writer Cindy Somers. I had heard many a time that head coach Lute Olson didn’t like the media, and often was surly with the bunch. But I took it and don’t regret one minute of it. Two books and thousands upon thousands of stories later it all ends for the Citizen. I have no regrets. How can there be? In 18 years of covering the team, I’ve covered 625 Arizona games (minus two for the birth of my first child). But this will be a testament to the Arizona program: UA is 476-149 in my time (missed wins not included). That’s an average of 26.4 wins and 8.2 losses a season. Amazing. Thanks for the ride. Thanks for the winning. It’s better to cover a winner than it is a loser. And, Lute wasn’t that bad. He seemed to always return calls. And in this business that’s all you can ask – beginning to end. I have many memories of covering the Arizona basketball team the last 18 seasons, but here are my top three:

1) The national title run

The thing I’ll remember the most is the mad scramble after the game. When Kansas star Raef LaFrentz missed a 3-pointer from the corner in an attempt to tie the game against Arizona in the Sweet 16, the UA Wildcats were overjoyed in the 85-82 win. UA had knocked off what was perceived to be the most dominating team of that season in 1997. Jason Terry jumped on the scorer’s table. Players searched for hugs. It was bedlam crazy. Heck, I remember frantically calling the airlines to see what I needed to do to change the paper’s airplane tickets just in case Arizona defeated its next opponent (turned out to be Providence) in the Elite Eight. C-R-A-Z-Y. It helped Arizona gain confidence, paving the way to a national title. Against No. 1 Kansas, it played near flawless basketball, save for giving up an 11-0 run near the end of the game to make it close. “It had to be a perfect game,’’ Jason Terry said at the time. “We had to do it all.’’ Arizona did, behind freshman guard Mike Bibby’s 21 points in a kid-cool performance. “This was big because the whole nation was watching,’’ Terry said. “We had a lot of doubters and it feels good when you stick a fork in them.’’

2) Wildcats in the pros

Apparently 1997 was a big basketball year. Back in the day when there was a huge following for UA hoops young and old, I spent nearly two weeks traveling back and forth from Chicago to Salt Lake City following the Chicago Bulls. The reason? Former UA stars Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler and Brian Williams were with the Bulls and playing in the NBA Finals. I was able to write about Michael Jordan’s 38-point performance as he played with horrible flu-like symptoms in Salt Lake City in pivotal Game 5. Many thought he wouldn’t play at all, but he found a way and had an incredible game as Chicago won, 90-88, to go up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Then came the NBA Finals, Game 6. I can’t remember how I felt, but I do remember the basketball gods had me there to tell the story. And Kerr was the story. With Chicago needing a basket in the game’s final seconds, who will the Bulls turn to? Of course, Jordan. Not so fast. It was Kerr who hit the game-winning shot (with an assist from Jordan), furthering Kerr’s legend as a sharpshooter. He later would say hitting that “big shot was my most memorable moment.’’ When the Bulls had their day to celebrate in front of thousands of fans, Kerr used his typical humor to explain the play. “When we called timeout with 25 seconds to go we went into the huddle and Phil told Michael, ‘I want you to take the last shot,’ and Michael said, ‘I don’t feel real comfortable in these situations. Maybe we need to go in another direction.’ I thought to myself, well, I guess have to bail out Michael out again.’ ’’

3) UA’s collapse vs. Illinois

Sometimes I think back and still can’t believe it. Arizona had a 77-63 lead with 3:20 remaining and an 80-72 lead left with just more than a minute left and couldn’t hold off Illinois in the Elite Eight in 2005. It would have solidified UA coach Lute Olson’s legacy, as it would have been his sixth Final Four. All Arizona needed was one basket to stem Illinois’ late-game run. It couldn’t get it. And eventually it lost, 90-89 in overtime in Rosemont, Ill. Being on the losing side of that game was “unbelievably painful,’’ Olson said in his autobiography, ‘Lute: The Seasons of My Life.’ “This game ranked close to the 2001 loss to Duke in the championship game as the toughest of my career. As hard as it was for me, I’d been through more than a thousand games, for the team this was just devastating. I felt awful for our seniors.”

Moment with Candrea

I also covered two Olympics for the Citizen: 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens. The 2004 Games affected me the most when UA softball coach Mike Candrea led Team USA to a gold medal. Candrea’s team dominated, not that it was a surprise in going 9-0 and outscoring opponents 51-1. It was his humility, poise and pride in the journey. It came just five weeks after his wife, Sue, died of a brain aneurysm while on the pre-Games tour. I remember him in the dugout, hand on chin, taking in the team celebration on the field. Heartfelt and memorable. “I thanked them all for the greatest moment of my life,’’ he said at the time. “I love this team.’’ And, through it all, he didn’t get a medal. Coaches don’t get medals. “That’s not what this is about,’’ he said.

———

RIVERA’S ALL-STARS

FIRST TEAM Mike Bibby, G 1997-98 Gilbert Arenas, G 2000-01 Channing Frye, C 2002-05 Jordan Hill, F 2007-09 Andre Iguodala, F (left) 2003-04

SECOND TEAM Damon Stoudamire, G 1992-95 Khalid Reeves, G 1991-94 Jason Terry, G 1996-99 Luke Walton, F 2000-03 Michael Dickerson, F 1995-98

THIRD TEAM Jason Gardner, G 2000-03 Jerryd Bayless, G 2008 Chris Mills, G 1991-93 Richard Jefferson, F 1999-01 Sean Rooks, C 1989-92

• Includes players from last 18 seasons, when Rivera covered UA.

———

TOP UA PLAYERS BY DECADE

2000s Luke Walton, F ‘00-’03 1990s Mike Bibby, G ‘97-’98 1980s Sean Elliott, F ‘86-’89 1970s Bob Elliott, C ‘74-’77 1960s Warren Rustand, F ‘63-’65 1950s Ernie McCray, C ‘88-’91 1940s Link Richmond, F ‘44-’49 1930s Lorry DiGrazia, F ‘36-’38 1920s Harold Tovrea, G ‘21-’24 1910s James Herndon, NA ‘17-’19 1900s Charles Brown, NA ‘05-’06 As picked by Steve Rivera, based on overall play and intangibles. Rivera’s favorite all-time players Great quote: Channing Frye, Gene Edgerson, Joseph Blair. Quirkiest: Tie, Gilbert Arenas and Bennett Davison. Unbelievable talent but horrible quote: Khalid Reeves. Unflappable: Mike Bibby. Unluckiest: Jawann McClellan. Surly, but good: Salim Stoudamire

Pound for pound – and in his college years he probably could have used extra weight – Tedy Bruschi is the best football player I’ve ever seen.

Covering UA at Stanford in the beginning of “Desert Swarm” in 1992, I recall Bruschi darting untouched and arriving at the quarterback – almost as soon the ball was snapped. His force and right hand stripped the ball in the Wildcat win.

He was just a part-time starter at defensive end, but I knew he was something special.

Fast forward to “the sack,” my term for maybe his greatest college play. It came in the Arizona State game of 1995, his senior season, when he sacked ASU’s Jake Plummer on third-and-19 despite being double-teamed. It was his 52nd career sack, an NCAA record at the time, and the Cats rallied from 14 down to beat ASU 31-28.

Two other things I won’t forget after 23 years at the Citizen:

• Watching Nancy Evans pitch every inning in five games as Arizona won the NCAA championship in Oklahoma City.

Carrie Dolan, who actually had more victories than Evans going into the Series, was suspended right before the CWS, leaving the Wildcats vulnerable.

“I had to keep myself ready and not get tired,” Evans said. “Fight it off.”

• Hiking the Grand Canyon – from the South Rim to the North Rim, an exercise that sends you almost 6,000 feet down and then back up 4,500 feet of heartbreaking cliffs.

My bones ached along the way – I was toting a 40-pound pack – but the hike was worth it. It’s a shocking yet soothing way to reveal the guts and bones of creation. It stays in your dreams.

The Arizona softball team broke the national home run record as it beat Tennessee-Martin 9-3 on Friday afternoon in an NCAA regional game in Louisville.

The Wildcats advance to play Louisville at 7 a.m. Tucson time Saturday.

The record-breaking blast came from Stacie Chambers in the third inning. That was the 127th home run of the season for UA, breaking the record held by Arizona’s 2001 team.

“I do not think they give a national championship on home runs,” said UA coach Mike Candrea in a news release. “It is games that you have to win.”

Sarah Akamine (20-6) was the winning pitcher for the Wildcats. She pitched the first three innings and then re-entered in the seventh, allowing a run and four hits in four innings. She struck out three and walked one.

The Wildcats (42-14) had 12 hits, scoring four times in the second and three times in the third.

Senior Jill Malina started in right field in place of freshman Karissa Buchanan, who did not play because of a violation of team rules.

Host Louisville advanced with a 4-1 win over Purdue.

High school sports

At Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Canyon del Oro boys baseball team beat Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor 6-5 on Friday to advance to Saturday’s Class 4A Division I state championship.

It is CDO’s 10th trip to a state title game. The Dorados have won six, most recently in 2002 with an 8-6 win over Tucson High.

• Tanque Verde will play Bagdad in the finals of the 1A state tournament at Surprise Stadium at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Hawks defeated Phoenix Valley Lutheran 2-1 on Friday to advance.

VOLLEYBALL: No. 1-seeded Sahuaro advanced to the finals of the 4A/5A Division II finals after beating No. 5 Ironwood Ridge on Friday.

The Cougars won in three games 25-16, 25-15, 25-14 and will play either No. 2 Rincon/University or No. 3 Catalina at Mountain View High School at 1 p.m. Saturday.

GEOFF GRAMMER

and RAYMOND SUAREZ

Braves top D’backs

ATLANTA – Yunel Escobar hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of ninth, giving the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night after blowing a lead in the top of the inning.

With one out in the ninth, Jordan Schafer hit a single to right off Tony Pena (3-1). Pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson walked and Omar Infante singled to center. Schafer, who hesitated between second and third to see if center fielder Chris Young would catch the ball, had to hold at third.

The Associated Press

Tisdale dies at 44

Wayman Tisdale, a three-time All-American at Oklahoma who played 12 seasons in the NBA and later became a top jazz musician, died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 44.

Tisdale died Friday morning at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, hospital spokeswoman Joy McGill said.

After three years at Oklahoma, Tisdale played in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

The 6-foot-9 forward, with a soft left-handed touch on the court and a wide smile off it, averaged 15.3 points for his career. He was on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

The Associated Press

Manny apologizes to team

MIAMI – An “anxious” Manny Ramirez apologized to his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Friday, the first time he was around the club since being suspended for 50 games for using a banned substance.

Ramirez used the words “I’m sorry,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre, although many players said the apology wasn’t necessary.

“It was uncomfortable. I’ll give you that,” Torre said. “We spent some time together before we went into the meeting room and he was a little anxious. That’s the human side of this thing.

“He basically went around, shook everybody’s hand. I think guys were happy to see him. I think there was a little uneasiness on both sides.”

The brief meeting took place in a conference room at the team’s waterfront hotel in South Florida before the Dodgers arrived at the Marlins’ stadium to start a three-game series.

The Associated Press

Phelps wins in return

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Phelps still remembers how to win.

The most decorated Olympian ever won two events Friday night in his first meet since Beijing, showing he’s moved on from the embarrassment of being photographed using a marijuana pipe and serving a three-month suspension.

Phelps touched first in the 200-meter freestyle at the Charlotte UltraSwim in a time of 1 minute, 46.02 seconds. He came back less than an hour later to win the 100 butterfly in 51.72.

In both races, Phelps easily broke meet records he set three years ago, and coach Bob Bowman proclaimed him ahead of schedule as Phelps looks ahead to the world championships this summer.

The Associated Press

Preakness up for grabs

BALTIMORE – Calvin Borel has complete confidence his horse will win the Preakness, the kind of certainty expected from the Kentucky Derby-winning jockey.

Except Borel won’t be riding the Derby winner on Saturday.

He made the unprecedented decision to get off Mine That Bird and onto Rachel Alexandra, the spectacular filly who is the 8-5 early favorite for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

“It’s hard to leave a Kentucky Derby winner,” jockey Robby Albarado said. “You’re the only one with the chance of winning the Triple Crown. It’s a hard decision to make.”

Mine That Bird is the co-third choice at 6-1 with Friesan Fire, the Derby wagering favorite who staggered home next-to-last on the first Saturday in May.”

The 12 other horses are going to have to run the race of their life or me fall off or something stupid happen,” Borel said by phone Friday from Louisville, Ky., where he took a break from mowing his lawn to chat. “I just got to point her in the right direction and she’ll get me there.”

If that happens, Rachel Alexandra would become only the fifth filly to win the Preakness. Ten have tried since Nellie Morse in 1924 was the last to wear the winner’s blanket of black-eyed Susans.

The Associated Press

Favre talks to surgeon

MINNEAPOLIS – With the Minnesota Vikings eagerly waiting, Brett Favre has sought the advice of a noted surgeon about his beat-up throwing arm, according to the latest report on the quarterback’s status.

Citing an anonymous source, ESPN.com reported that Favre consulted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews about options for healing the partially torn biceps tendon that has caused pain in his right shoulder. Andrews is one of the most consulted surgeons in pro sports.

Favre declared his retirement for the second time in February because of the injury, which he blamed for his poor performance in December while the New York Jets missed the playoffs.

The Associated Press

For a while, my friends blamed me instead of Dick Tomey, John Mackovic or Mike Stoops for the Arizona football program’s demise.

From 2001 to 2007, Arizona went 26-53 after I took over the beat job in the third game of 2001. Finally, I got to cover a bowl game when UA went 8-5 in 2008.

Here are two of my top memories:

• In 2004, the UA baseball team traveled to play Long Beach State in a super-regional with little hope against pitcher Jered Weaver and the 49ers. Weaver struck out 12 Wildcats, but UA won the opener 6-5 on a Trevor Crowe triple. UA lost the second game, but won the deciding contest in the 11th on a Nick Hundley sacrifice fly.

The good news was I got to cover a College World Series, but my family wasn’t too happy. We had to cancel a vacation.

• In 2003, the one Friday night I decided to go to a movie for a rare date with my wife, there were 11 messages waiting for me on my cell phone.

Had the world come to an end?

It turned out to be news of Mackovic banning several players from the team dinner the night before a game. Forty-eight hours later, he was history and UA started a coaching search.

Following tips and Internet rumors became a 24-hour job. One name kept popping up: Mike Stoops.

Although Stoops wouldn’t confirm his interest in the job, I was able to get the first interview with him. You could tell he would be UA’s next coach.

I’m glad I didn’t have to cover a coaching change last year. Despite what some might think, reporters don’t like to write about firings and buyouts. We’d rather write about touchdowns.

Fred W. Enke and Joe Batiste might have been the most versatile athletes in southern Arizona history.

Enke was named all-state in football, basketball and baseball at Tucson High in the 1940s – and starred in all three sports at the University of Arizona before playing in the NFL.

Batiste, also a Tucson High star, set a world record in 1939 in the 120-yard high hurdles at 14.0 seconds. He also was a standout running back.

Abe Chanin, a graduate of Tucson High and the former sports editor of the Arizona Daily Star, marveled in a 1999 Citizen article at the talent of Enke, whose father was the longtime basketball coach at the University of Arizona.

“He was a marvelous athlete all the way around,” Chanin said. “He was the greatest all-around athlete for the University of Arizona ever, as well. He was a great three-sports star, just superb in each of those sports.”

During his years as a Badger, Enke was voted all-state in each sport at least once: football (1941-42), basketball (1943) and baseball (1943). In his three years at the varsity level in three sports, he was on eight state title teams with the Badgers, missing a sweep in 1941 when the basketball team failed to win.

He was the quarterback in football, a guard in basketball and a fleet outfielder in baseball.

Enke was the first Arizonan to play quarterback in the National Football League. From 1948 to 1951 he played for the Detroit Lions. Then he spent a year with the Eagles and finished his career with the Baltimore Colts in 1953-54.

Batiste, an African-American, was not allowed to participate in football at first because of his race. It wasn’t until Mesa High tried to lure Batiste away that Tucson High allowed him to play. His refusal to run track unless he was allowed to play football was another factor in finally getting a shot at football.

Joe’s main talent was track. His 120-yard hurdles world record stood for 18 years.

“He could do almost anything there is in track. He was brilliant in sprints. Today, he would most likely be a decathlon athlete,” Chanin said.

Batiste qualified for the 1940 and 1944 United States Olympic teams as a hurdler and a decathlete, but the war forced the cancellation of those games. He died in 1958.

Coach Lute Olson and the UA basketball team celebrates their 1997 national title win over Kentucky. The Wildcats made three other Final Four trips under Olson - in 1988, 1994 and 2001.

KING LUTE

Athletic director Cedric Dempsey lured Lute Olson from Iowa in 1983 to rebuild Arizona basketball. Olson did much more, putting UA on the national radar before retiring. His legacy – 589 wins, 23 straight NCAA tourneys, a national title in 1997, 4 Final Fours, 11 Pac-10 titles, 33 NBA-drafted players – will be tough for new coach Sean Miller to follow.

‘THE STREAK’

In basketball, it’s UA’s 25 straight NCAA tourneys, but football fans won’t forget the Wildcats’ 8-0-1 mark over Arizona State from 1982-90, started by the late coach Larry Smith. “The Streak” took the sting out of UA being on probation for a slush fund by ex-coach Tony Mason, and it turned around a rivalry that saw ASU go 15-2 from 1965-81.

‘FOX’ WHO BUILT McKALE

The late Fred “The Fox” Snowden, the first African-American Division 1 basketball coach, ushered in McKale Center with the “Kiddie Corps” – Coniel Norman, Eric Money, Al Fleming, Jim Rappis and Bob Elliott. They took UA to its first NCAA tourney in 1976. Story, Page 6C

SPRING TRAINING

From Hi Corbett Field to Tucson Electric Park, spring training has boosted our economy and prepared three World Series champs: Cleveland (1948), Diamondbacks (2001) and White Sox (2005) and a runner-up, Colorado (2007). In 1975, the Indians’ Frank Robinson became the first African-American to manage a big-league team. But with the White Sox now in Glendale, the future is unclear.

HIGH SCHOOL DYNASTIES

In 1999, Tucson High became the nation’s first school to earn 500 victories in football and 1,000 wins each in baseball and boys basketball. Then there’s Sunnyside wrestling: 12 straight state team titles, 28 overall. Other dynasties: Amphi football, Canyon del Oro baseball/softball, Salpointe tennis and Catalina Foothills swimming/tennis.

‘DESERT SWARM’

Coach Dick Tomey unveiled his run-stopping defense in 1992, led by Tedy Bruschi, and the Wildcats went on to upset No. 1 Washington and beat Miami 29-0 in the Fiesta Bowl and earn Sports Illustrated’s preseason No. 1 ranking in 1994. The success helped recruiting, which led to a 12-1 season in 1998 and a Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska.

PROFESSIONAL GOLF

Ray Magnum edged Byron Nelson to win the first PGA Tour event here in 1945 at El Rio. His prize: $1,000. When Tiger Woods won the 2008 Accenture Match Play title in Marana, he took home $1.35 million! The Tucson Open rose to fame in the 1970s at Tucson National, thanks to three-time winner Johnny Miller and NBC.

RISE OF SOFTBALL

No UA team has dominated more than Mike Candrea’s softball squad: eight NCAA titles since 1991 and 21 College World Series in 22 years. From pitchers Susie Parra to Jennie Finch to Taryne Mowatt, the Wildcats have made Tucson a softball hub and energized the high school scene.

JERRY’S KIDS

Coach Jerry Kindall guided UA to its first major NCAA team title in the 1976 College World Series. The Cats captured two more NCAA crowns in 1980 and 1986, led by Terry Francona and Chip Hale, respectively. Francona managed the Red Sox to two World Series titles, and ex-UA star Trevor Hoffman is baseball’s all-time saves leader.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE BASEBALL

From 1915 to 1958, Tucson boasted minor league teams like the Cowboys and Lizards. But it wasn’t until 1969, when the Triple-A Toros made their PCL debut, that fans got a chance to see future major league stars at Hi Corbett. The Toros won titles in ’91 and ’93 before the Sidewinders took over in 1997 at TEP and won the 2006 title. They left for Reno after 2008, but the independent Toros are back.

E ven without a major professional sports team, Tucson can make the case for being a sports town – thanks to success at the college and high school levels and a climate that draws major events. Some highlights:

Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez meets fans Kim Filip (left) and Tracy Toland in March 2009. The Cactus League was born in 1947, with Cleveland at Hi Corbett and the New York Giants in Casa Grande. The Rockies took over for the Indians in 1993.

A decade of Tucson Sports Photos

Citizen photographers had several sports images over the past decade to show Tucson sports.

Producer: FRANCISCO MEDINA

Slide 1 of 35.
Bullrider Ian Male is sent air mail courtesy Pudd the bull during the 81st Annual Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Rodeo Sunday Feb. 19, 2006.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 2 of 35.
Coach Richard Sanchez joins his team in a prayer before the game the Blue Devils went on to lose 6-0 to the Scottsdale Saguaro Sabercats on Nov. 19, 2004.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 3 of 35.
Isaiah Fox jumps up for the rebound with Wright State's Zach Williams in the first half of the Cats' game in the second round of the NIT.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 4 of 35.
Sunnyside's Mike Smith (right) jumps over some players and evades a tackle by Sandra Day O'Conner's Chad Duncan (33).
Source: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson CitizenSlide 5 of 35.
Glendale Cactus Manny Solarez (1) dives for a pass as Rincon's Bryan Marchbanks defends in the second quarter. The pass was incomplete. Tucson, AZ.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson CitizenSlide 6 of 35.
Lionel Dotson (54) and Paul Phillip (56) celebrate after a play as Arizona was beating UCLA 31-7 st the half.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 7 of 35.
Bo Casper hangs on at the start of a bareback horse ride on Rooster Cogburn. He scored a 75 at yesterday's La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson CitizenSlide 8 of 35.
Arms raised in a victory salute, Robbie Ventura of Wildwood, Ill., crosses the finish line first in the 20th El Tour de Tucson in 2002.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson CitizenSlide 9 of 35.
Victorious Blue Devils from Tucson's Sunnyside High School hoist the trophy from their Class 4A state football championship of 2003.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 10 of 35.
Steam rises off the head of Mountain View's Delbert Gallego after he went to the bench and watched his teammates finish off Canyon del Oro in the final seconds of game on Oct. 29, 2004.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 11 of 35.
UA Students Ricky Garrett, 19, (blue) and Brian Blessing, 19, cheer as they are surrounded by older fans during the University of Washington game. Arizona won 91-82.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 12 of 35.
Jawaan McClellan sits on the the floor with his face covered after their 90-89 overtime loss to Illinois in Chicago at the Allstate Arena.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 13 of 35.
Tucson High School swimmer Stephanie White works out in preparation for 2004 regional state competition.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 14 of 35.
Arizona fans climb the goal post as they celebrate Arizona's win over Arizona State 34-27.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson CitizenSlide 15 of 35.
Sabino's Michael Dillon weeps as he meets with the Saguaro team after losing to them Saturday afternoon, December 9, 2006, in the Class 4A Division I state championship.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 16 of 35.
Rick Wock Jr. tries to hold on to Avalanche for the full eight seconds but came up short during the bull riding event at the 80th annual Tucson Rodeo.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 17 of 35.
Hassan Adams slams the ball during a steal in the first half of their NAU game at McKale Center. UA struggled but pulled off the win 75-66 over NAU.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 18 of 35.
Arizona's Michael Thomas (10) keeps his eye on the ball as it is broken up by Washington's Roy Lewis (28) in the first quarter.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 19 of 35.
Santa Rita's Aubura Taylor (6) and his teammates came back to beat Coronado 38-37 to advance in the the 4A state play off game.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 20 of 35.
Acrobatic Wildcat catcher Jaclyn Coburn catches a foul ball and is prevented from tumbling into the dugout of opponent Lafayette by teammate Kristie Fox. The action took place during the playoffs in Tucson on May 21, 2004.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson CitizenSlide 21 of 35.
Arizona's Jennifer Klein (3) and New Mexico's Nicole Pitcock (2) fight for control.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson CitizenSlide 22 of 35.
In the return of boxing to Tucson at the Desert Diamond Casino, David Lopez lands a left hook to the face of Jerson Ravelo, knocking him out in the ninth round of a 10-round middleweight bout on March 2, 2004.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 23 of 35.
Bronco Nick Johnson (51) rallies his team during halftime in the American Youth Playoff Football game against the Redskins at Tucson High on Nov.13, 2004.
Source: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson CitizenSlide 24 of 35.
Chicago's Pablo Ozuna dives to tag out Arizona's Eric Byrnes in a run down between first and second, in a spring training game at Tucson Electric Park, Thursday, March 2, 2006.
Source: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson CitizenSlide 25 of 35.
Arizona State's Audree Johnson and the Utes' Kim Smith fight over a loose ball in the first half.Game action at McKale Center, Tucson, Arizona.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson CitizenSlide 26 of 35.
Catcher Richard McCorkle goes after the ball as Art Radke makes it safely home during a baseball game at Udall Park, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006.
Source: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson CitizenSlide 27 of 35.
Johnny Bessett (22) heads off Cholla defender Eric Nava (14), in Friday's game at Sahuarita High School.
Source: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson CitizenSlide 28 of 35.
Chaparral Firebirds Safety Adam Baily (2) goes after an interception after Sunnyside Blue Devil Wally Altamirano misses the pass in the Sept. 3, 2004, at Sunnyside High School.
Source: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson CitizenSlide 29 of 35.
Hassan Adams goes for a slam during practice in this 2003 photo-illustration.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 30 of 35.
Diamondback Jay Bell jumps into the arms of teammate Matt Williams after crossing home plate with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the New York Yankees and clinch the 2001 World Series.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 31 of 35.
Tiger Woods shouts after sinking a putt for eagle at No. 17 hole to put him one up and give him the lead as he went on to beat J.B. Holmes.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 32 of 35.
Hundreds of fans rush Fourth Ave after Arizona lost to Duke in the 2001 NCAA Championship.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 33 of 35.
UA basketball players mob freshman guard Salim Stoudamire after he led them to the Pac-10 Conference Tournament title on Saturday March 13, 2002.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 34 of 35.
UA's Jason Gardner is fired up after making a play to force ASU to take a timeout in the first half on Jan, 23, 2003.
Source: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson CitizenSlide 35 of 35.
This cowboy got a little muddy during the 1999 Tucson Rodeo.
Source: XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson Citizen

Corky Simpson and Jeff Smith

The parade’s gone by. No more trumpets. No more drums. No hoofbeats, no streamers.

And the hush of the street is overwhelming.

The death of a newspaper is very much the end of a living, breathing soul. And there’s never been one quite as unique as the Tucson Citizen.

Years from now when you tell young people what the Citizen was like, remember this: It had a heartbeat.

It was the harvest, the milling and the preparation of ideas by people of character, most of whom were characters. They gave the paper its heart, its spirit and its blemishes.

Some had swagger, and over the years many had stagger.

We’ve been peopled by saints and sinners, wise men and flim-flammers and in the old days, a few fall-down drunks who always got up in time to put the old gal to bed.

We’ve had Daniel Boone characters who talked like Jed Clampett and wrote like Stephen Vincent Benet.

We’ve had stutterers who sounded like Mortimer Snerd but had a mind like Carl Sagan.

And there were the legends.

Ted Craig was a gifted editor and writer, but his real talent was the telling of tall tales. Well, that and sizing down human monuments to arrogance.

Ted was a fine athlete, though he didn’t exactly look the part. He was an outstanding golfer because he hit the ball so straight, no matter what club he used.

He also played a good game of tennis and was known to pack the most potent “grapefruit juice” ever tasted in his Thermos bottle.

Phil Hamilton was an Okie. I mean, he dripped Okie. He lived in my part of town and gave me a ride one day after I’d left my old Ford with Bill the mechanic at Palo Verde Automotive out on East 22nd Street.

“Cain’t have a body out in this heat, footback a’ walkin,’ ” Hamilton drawled.

Phil did everything. Reported, edited, wrote a column, covered politics, read copy, wrote headlines. And he was superb.

Bob Campbell was one of the funniest men who ever lived. Our liaison with the back shop when we actually had a back shop, Bob occasionally came to work late – and always had a story to tell to start off the day.

Such as the time, around Halloween, when Campbell announced he knew exactly how many people had come to his house to trick or treat – even though Bob wasn’t at home.

“I went to the bank and got 20 shiny new silver dollars,” he said, “and I spread them out on a card table in my front yard. When I got home, every one of them was gone, so I know conclusively, that there were 20 trick-or-treaters.”

Stu Robertson was a copy editor who occasionally nodded off late in the day. One afternoon he had a cigarette between two fingers and he had that hand on his forehead as he drifted into dreamland – and set his hair on fire.

Micheline Keating wrote the most beautiful movie reviews you’ve ever read. Somebody told me “Mike” had been a friend of the famous writer-poet Dorothy Parker, known for her wit and wisecracks.

John Jennings may not have been the best storyteller on the old Citizen staff, but he could imitate storytellers in such a way that he outdid their talent. Just recently we laid our beloved “J.J.” to rest.

There were so many characters. Such as the guy on the copy desk way back when, who came to the Citizen out of rehab and who thought he was Humphrey Bogart. Had the lisp, the voice and the mannerisms. Unfortunately, he didn’t have Lauren Bacall.

For nearly 140 years the Citizen brought you news from around the community, the state, nation and world. Through war and peace, famine and times of plenty. From the frontier of territorial days through statehood.

Not just anyone can do this job and do it right. Not even trained journalists. Especially trained journalists!

It takes newspaper people, some of whose personal flaws over the years somehow enabled them to create professional refinement.

The awards, the prizes, the hardware from corporate honchos were just trinkets. The Citizen’s real honor was a decoration of the heart – hardworking professionals doing their best to give Tucson its best news coverage and presentation.

Now the little paper at Park and Irvington has been given its summons to join the innumerable once-upon-a-time caravan.

When you remember the time this city had two newspapers competing – and making each other better – don’t think of this one as the loser.

The loser is the community. Tucson has lost an essential voice, living, breathing, ink-stained history recorded by the finest, most competent and dedicated ding-a-lings on Earth.

Things happened, news broke and time passed away. So, now, has the Tucson Citizen.

The parade’s gone by.

And now, final words from Corky and Jeff

Our heart beat as one with the Old Pueblo’s

Corky Simpson is a retired sportswriter who graced our pages regularly from Labor Day 1974 to Dec. 22, 2006.

Brooks scores 26, Houston stifles rally to force Game 7

Houston's Aaron Brooks (left) shoots as the Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom defends during Thursday's game in Houston. The series is tied 3-3 with the deciding Game 7 set on Sunday.

HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets keep surprising everyone but themselves, and now they’ve got a chance to pull off the ultimate stunner: knocking out the Los Angeles Lakers.

Aaron Brooks scored 26 points, Luis Scola added 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the scrappy, undermanned Rockets pushed the Lakers to the limit in their Western Conference semifinal series with a 95-80 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night to tie the series 3-3.

Reserve Carl Landry scored 15 as the Rockets built another huge lead in the first half, then fought off a Lakers rally to force Game 7 on Sunday at the Staples Center.

“For the last two days, all I’ve heard is that we weren’t going back to L.A.,” said Houston coach Rick Adelman. “Our guys in the locker room didn’t believe that.”

Kobe Bryant scored 32 and Pau Gasol added 14 for Los Angeles, which lost for only the third time in the last 18 games when it has a chance to close out a series.

The Lakers have one more opportunity to finish off Houston, but they probably didn’t expect to need it, three games after Yao Ming exited the series with a broken left foot.

“They all have the same mentality, they all fight for everything they get,” Bryant said of the Rockets. “That’s why we’re in the position that we’re in right now. They don’t quit. So Game 7 is going to be exciting.”

The winner will play the Denver Nuggets, who finished off Dallas on Wednesday night and now have a few extra days to rest.

Like Bryant, Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson tried to put a positive spin on his team’s predicament.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” he said. “We are just going to go out and play. It’s our home court and it’s what we play for. We play a different game on our court, and that’s pretty obvious to see.”

Los Angeles won Game 5 by 40 points, matching Houston’s worst playoff loss, but the Rockets came out dominant instead of demoralized on Thursday.

They put together a near carbon copy of the first half of Game 4, when they seemed to hit every open shot, smothered the Lakers on defense and built an 18-point halftime lead.

“We really came out with a great deal of aggression,” said Shane Battier, who played 42 minutes despite an illness. “We were just focused. We took care of the ball, we swung the ball around and we played the way we know we can play.”

Bryant missed a halfcourt shot at the halftime buzzer and angrily shook his head as he stormed off the court. The Rockets led 52-36 at the break – one basket shy of the halftime score in Game 4.

“We just didn’t start the game off the way we should have,” Bryant said. “We didn’t execute right. They jumped on top of us.”

On Sunday, Houston stretched its lead to 29 and cruised to a 99-87 win. This time, the Lakers made a game of it, opening the second half with a 16-2 spurt.

But Landry converted a three-point play to break the Lakers’ momentum and Brooks hit a 3-pointer to help Houston rebuild its lead.

The Rockets hit their last eight shots in the third quarter and took a 75-65 lead to the fourth. Landry drove down the lane for a one-handed dunk with 6:56 left to put Houston up 81-71 and Bryant checked in after a long rest.

But Bryant missed four of his next six shots and Brooks scored eight points over the next five minutes.

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Scott Walker (front) celebrates his winning goal with teammates Ray Whitney (left) and Eric Staal. The goal came in overtime against the Boston Bruins on Thursday in Boston.

BOSTON – Scott Walker delivered the final knockout punch to the Boston Bruins.

His overtime goal sent the Carolina Hurricanes into the Eastern Conference finals and eliminated the top-seeded team in the process.

Four days after decking Aaron Ward with his right fist, Walker flipped his first NHL playoff goal over goalie Tim Thomas 18:46 into overtime to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 win in Game 7 Thursday night and foil the Bruins’ hopes to win after a 3-1 series deficit.

“I just went to the net and whacked one in,” Walker said after his 25th career NHL playoff game. “Didn’t take much skill.”

The Hurricanes will open the East finals on Monday at Pittsburgh against the Penguins.

Thomas stopped Ray Whitney’s shot with his upper body, and the puck dropped in front of him. Walker, with Bruins defenseman Dennis Wideman beside him, shot just as the goalie reached out with his stick, too late to stop Walker from putting the puck over Thomas’ left shoulder.

The red light went on and Thomas sped from the net toward his bench while the Hurricanes celebrated.

“I saw the guy coming down the lane, laying up for the shot,” said Thomas, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. “I saw the shot. I made the save and left the rebound up in the air.”

Carolina, which beat New Jersey in the first round, will now take on the fourth-seeded Penguins, who beat the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of that series on Wednesday.

“Just because we won these series doesn’t mean we are going to change our approach against Pittsburgh,” Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. “If we try to trade goals with them, it will be a short series.”

Cleary’s goal lifts Wings

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings were pushed to the brink of elimination on home ice by the Anaheim Ducks.

Dan Cleary came through, though, scoring a tiebreaking goal with 3 minutes left that lifted Detroit to a 4-3 win Thursday night that sent the defending Stanley Cup champions to the Western Conference finals for the third straight year with a victory in the seventh and deciding game of the West semifinals.

“Most teams that have won the Stanley Cup don’t even get here,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “For us to be in this situation is a real positive, but we have a hungry Chicago team waiting for us.”

Detroit will host the Blackhawks in Game 1 on Sunday, matching up the two teams in the playoffs for the first time since the conference finals in 1995.

Before Detroit did it, Colorado was the most recent NHL team to reach the conference finals after hoisting the Cup. The Avalanche lost to Detroit 7-0 in the deciding game in 2002.

New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli dives to tag out the Blue Jays' Rod Barajas as he slides into home during Thursday's game in Toronto.

TORONTO – Welcome back, Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui.

The two Yankees stars returned from nagging injuries and delivered key hits to lead CC Sabathia and New York past the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Thursday night.

“You have to give our trainers Trainer of the Day for getting them back in there,” manager Joe Girardi joked.

Jeter tied it with an RBI single in the seventh inning, Matsui put New York ahead with a solo homer in the eighth and Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save in eight chances.

“You know I don’t like watching so it was good to get back out there,” Jeter said. “It’s been a couple of days. It’s a big win for us. We needed that one.”

Sabathia (3-3) allowed five hits in eight innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season. He walked four, one intentional, and struck out five to help the Yankees take two of three from Toronto, the surprise leader in the AL East.

“I’m just trying to pound the strike zone, getting guys to swing early in the count, keeping the pitch count down and just trying to pick the team up,” Sabathia said.

Sabathia, who pitched a four-hit shutout at Baltimore May 8, improved to 8-3 in 11 career games against the Blue Jays.

“He pitched well against one of the best offenses in the league,” teammate Johnny Damon said.

Indians 11, Rays 7: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Victor Martinez had four hits and drove in four runs, raising his batting average to .400 and helping Cleveland get the victory.

Angels 5, Red Sox 4, 12 innings: At Anaheim, Calif., Jeff Mathis hit an RBI single in the 12th, Torii Hunter had a two-run double and an RBI triple, and the Angels won.

Twins 6, Tigers 5: At Minneapolis, Joe Crede capped the second Minnesota comeback in two days with a two-out, two-run single in a six-run seventh inning that ruined Justin Verlander’s strong start as the Twins finish a three-game sweep.

Rangers 3, Mariners 2: At Arlington, Texas, Chris Davis hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting Texas to a three-game sweep.

Orioles 9, Royals 5: At Kansas City, Mo., Cesar Izturis and Nick Markakis each drove in three runs and the Orioles won.

NL: Martin leads Dodgers past Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – Russell Martin hit a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning and Matt Kemp followed with an RBI double to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3.

Chad Durbin (1-1) retired the first two batters, then walked Andre Ethier. Martin doubled for a 4-3 lead and after an intentional walk, Kemp delivered.

Cubs 11, Padres 3: At Chicago, Bobby Scales hit a pair of two-run doubles and Ryan Dempster excelled with both his arm and bat as Chicago took advantage of 10 walks to beat skidding San Diego.

Brewers 5, Marlins 3: At Milwaukee, Prince Fielder hit a go-ahead homer and Dave Bush turned in another strong start for Milwaukee.

Astros 5, Rockies 3: At Denver, Wandy Rodriguez struck out a career-high 11 and Michael Bourn stole home on the back end of a double steal, leading Houston over Colorado.

Cardinals 5, Pirates 1: At Pittsburgh, Colby Rasmus’ two-run homer in the second inning gave St. Louis’ slumping offense a lift and the Cardinals avoided being swept by last-place Pittsburgh.

Mets 7, Giants 4: At San Francisco, David Wright hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning and finished with four of New York’s franchise-record seven stolen bases.

He leads win over Celtics, forces decisive Game 7

Magic center Dwight Howard pulls down an offensive rebound in front of Boston Celtics guard Paul Pierce during Thursday's game in Orlando.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dwight Howard demanded the ball, and delivered when the Orlando Magic gave it to him.

Now he needs to back it up, one more time.

Howard had 23 points and 22 rebounds after challenging Stan Van Gundy’s coaching strategy, and the Magic beat the Boston Celtics 83-75 on Thursday night to force a decisive Game 7.

“I just tried to be me,” Howard said. “I just have to go out there and play and not worry about nothing.”

And what did he learn from his comments?

“Biggest lesson?” Howard said. “Keep my mouth shut.”

Rashard Lewis had 20 points, and Hedo Turkoglu made a 3-pointer to highlight an 11-2 run to close the game for the Magic, who haven’t made it to the conference finals since 1996.

But it was Howard who the Magic leaned on after he called out Van Gundy for not getting the ball enough in Game 5.

“I guess Dwight Howard was right,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “My gosh. He was unbelievable.”

Rajon Rondo finished with 19 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, and Paul Pierce scored 17 for the Celtics, who led by 10 points in the second half before falling apart. Game 7 is Sunday in Boston.

The Celtics also failed to close out the Chicago Bulls in Game 6 of their first-round series, a triple-overtime epic. Boston will now go the distance in its first two series for the second straight year.

The two days off before Game 7 should give an older, worn out Boston team a chance to rest its tired legs. It’s still not enough for Rivers.

“I would take a week off and do it like the Super Bowl,” Rivers joked.

Boston had chances.

The Celtics held the Magic scoreless for more than five minutes to start the third quarter, building a 10-point lead on a jumper by Glen “Big Baby” Davis.

But Howard led the Magic back, with a backspin alley-oop from Turkoglu that highlighted a spurt to end the third quarter. Orlando took its first lead with 8:38 remaining in the fourth.

<h4>Going green on Irish course </h4>

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy lines up his shot on the 17th hole in the first round of the Irish Open in Baltray, Ireland, on Thursday.

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

QUOTABLE

'We're digging ourselves a hole. If we keep digging too much longer, it's going to be tough to get out of.'

MARK REYNOLDS,

Diamondbacks third baseman, on team's 13-22 record

———

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.

Tucson no longer has the Triple-A Sidewinders, but that hasn’t stopped the Tucson Toros from having a relationship with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Toros and Diamondbacks announced a two-game exhibition schedule Thursday. The Toros will compete against D’backs players who are in extended spring training.

The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday; the second will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Admission is free to both games.

The contests will be at Hi Corbett Field, 3400 E. Camino Campestre.

“This is definitely going to let me see what kind of talent we have and what kind of players because you’re playing in a competitive situation,” Toros manager Tim Johnson said.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ll be able to, and the coaches will be able to, see what we have. I think it’s great.

“I want to play as many of these games as I can.”

Ex-Toros manager Bob Didier (1987-89), who manages the D’backs’ extended spring training, was instrumental in getting the exhibition games scheduled.

“(Didier) has been a great baseball guy for a long time and his father, Mel Didier, is like a father to me,” Johnson said.

Didier sees advantages for both sides.

“We’re looking forward to the games because we’re playing older veterans,” Didier said. “It will be good experience for the guys.”

Tucson opens its independent Golden Baseball League schedule with a home game against the Chico (Calif.) Outlaws at 7 p.m. May 21.

Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes walks Preakness entrant Pioneerof the Nile around the stakes barn after the horse arrived at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Wednesday. Trainer Bob Baffert believes the filly Rachel Alexandra has a good shot at winning Saturday's race.

BALTIMORE – University of Arizona graduate Bob Baffert oozed confidence in Pioneerof the Nile leading to the Kentucky Derby.

The colt was in front coming down the stretch, and for a few moments the Hall of Fame trainer thought he had his fourth Derby victory.

“It just took the air out of us,” Baffert recalled Thursday.

As was the case with most of the 150,000 people at Churchill Downs that day. Calvin Borel and 50-1 shot Mine That Bird blew by Pioneerof the Nile to win by 6 3/4 lengths in the second-biggest upset in Derby history.

Now Baffert and his colt are back for a rematch in Saturday’s Preakness.

Not only will they have to contend with the Derby winner, but Borel also has switched horses and will ride stellar filly Rachel Alexandra, the 8-to-5 morning line favorite who brings a five-race winning streak into the 1 3-16-mile race at Pimlico.

“I would’ve taken a shot at the Derby with her. She’s just a tremendous athlete,” Baffert said. “She’s a good filly and these classics are huge. There’s not a lot of money to run for fillies. She fits with these boys, so I don’t blame them for taking a shot.”

Baffert did the same thing with Excellent Meeting in 1999, but she was pulled up as a precaution and didn’t finish the race.

He expects a better result for Rachel Alexandra, who will break from the No. 13 post on the far outside under Borel.

“He’ll have her right in contention immediately,” Baffert said. “She’ll probably be sitting second or third and just cruising.”

Pioneerof the Nile is the 5-1 second choice in the 13-horse field and drew the No. 9 post. Garrett Gomez and the colt figure to be stalking the pace from an outside position.

“The questions that weren’t answered in the Derby we’re going to find out in the Preakness,” said Baffert, back in the Triple Crown’s second race for the first time in six years.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is picking the filly to win, but he gives Baffert a solid chance at winning his fifth Preakness, which would tie him with Lukas and T.J. Healey for second on the career list.

Rachel Alexandra isn’t the only unknown factor in the Preakness. The weather figures to play a part, too, with a 50 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

That could turn Pimlico’s dirt into mud, the same kind of slop that bogged down most of the 20 horses in the Derby, except Mine That Bird, who went flying through it.

“I still want to see what my horse does on dirt. He’s seen sticky mud,” Baffert said. “My horse has never run on a dry track. He’s trained well on a dry track. I’m hoping it moves him up.”

The Cincinnati Reds' Adam Rosales (left) scores on a wild pitch as the Arizona Diamondbacks' Bobby Korecky waits for the ball. The Reds outscored the D'backs 26-9 in the three-game sweep.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks hoped a managerial switch would change their fortunes.

It has – for the worse.

Picked by many to contend this season, the Diamondbacks are 1-5 since they replaced Bob Melvin with A.J. Hinch, a front office executive with no managerial experience.

The Washington Nationals, the only major league team that has fewer wins than the Diamondbacks, took two out of three at Chase Field.

Then the Cincinnati Reds came to town and swept a three-game series by a combined score of 26-9.

As the Diamondbacks begin a 10-game road trip Friday, they’re 13-22 and in last place in the NL West, 10 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“It’s been tough, not only because we’re changing staffs but because we’re not winning games,” third baseman Mark Reynolds said.

Hinch has tried to jump-start the team by shuffling the lineup. He moved error-prone third baseman Reynolds to first base for a game, the second time he has played that position in his career.

He batted catcher Miguel Montero second for the first time in his career, then put shortstop Stephen Drew in the cleanup spot for the first time.

“I’m not grabbing it out of a hat,” Hinch said. “I’m doing it with a purpose.”

The new lineups have worked about as well as the old ones. With the exception of streaking right fielder Justin Upton, the Diamondbacks have been unable to shake themselves out of a season-long slump at the plate, where they’re hitting a major league-worst .232.

Outfielder Eric Byrnes is hitting .200 in the second year of a three-year, $30 million contract.

Outfielder Chris Young, who was given a $28 million, five-year contract extension in April 2008 after only one full major-league season, is batting .185 and has 11 more strikeouts than hits.

Catcher Chris Snyder is batting .215. Infielder Chad Tracy has been benched with a .200 average.

The malaise at the plate has carried into the field, where the club has looked disorganized and lethargic at times.

In a 13-5 victory Monday night, Cincinnati scored twice on wild pitches by reliever Bobby Korecky. Two nights later, Montero threw a ball into center field while trying to nail a base stealer at second, allowing a runner from third to trot home.

“There’s no magic potion here,” Hinch said. “There’s obviously some fundamental things that we can do better.”

Every miscue has prompted a new round of boos from the usually placid Chase Field crowds.

“If anything, we share that frustration with the fans,” Hinch said. “Ultimately I think everybody kind of understands that this is a rut that we’ve got to get ourselves out of, and we’re going to have to do it ourselves.”

Hinch, who turns 35 on Friday, has faced questions about his credentials. But as a former vice president for player development, Hinch is intimately familiar with the background of homegrown players such as Reynolds, Upton and Stephen Drew.

“My frustration is obviously not six days old,” Hinch said. “I feel exactly what these guys have gone through and I’m willing to dig down and help them get out of it the best we can as a group.”