Citizen Staff Writer
THE FINAL EDITION

“Aaron passes Ruth!”

“Nixon resigns!”

Those headlines helped me sell a lot of newspapers in 1974, when my journey with the Tucson Citizen began as an 11-year-old hawker. Wearing my “Citizen Charlie” smock, I pitched the paper – which cost 15 cents back then – in front of my father’s East Side liquor store.

In between begging for tips, I pored over the sports section. I studied box scores and Citizen writers such as Regis McAuley, Corky Simpson, Jack Rickard and Bruce Johnston.

The newspaper bug had bitten me.

I took journalism at Catalina High School under J.G. Carlton, and began calling in prep box scores to the Citizen for $3 a game. By the time I landed a correspondent’s job in 1980, I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

Except for a five-year stint at USA TODAY, I worked many different jobs and many crazy hours at the Citizen until Gannett announced our closure.

Some of my favorite memories:

• High school: Sahuaro quarterback Rodney Peete threw for a then-state record 424 yards and five touchdowns in 1983 against Amphi. It ended in a 34-34 tie but was the greatest game I ever reported. Amphi countered with 361 yards on the ground in a contest that saw three TDs and one field goal scored in the final 3 minutes and 42 seconds.

• College: After covering Sean Elliott for three years at Cholla High, I watched him break Lew Alcindor’s Pac-10 career scoring record in 1989. Elliott needed 34 points and scored 35 – with six 3-pointers. It’s the loudest I’ve ever heard McKale Center, and we had a special section printed after UA routed UCLA.

• Pro: Curt Schilling sprayed champagne on me and other reporters in the locker room after the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees to win the 2001 World Series. When Luis Gonzalez singled in the winning run, strangers began hugging in the aisles at Bank One Ballpark.

• Embarrassing: On a hot night, I fainted in the elevator at Arizona Stadium during UA’s 1986 football home opener vs. Houston. When I came to, then-sports information director Butch Henry stood over me, asking in his Arkansas drawl, “Is he dead?”

• Initiation: Two Cleveland Indians players, who shall remain nameless, tried to stuff me in a locker when I was 19. To the locker-room attendant who saved me, thank you.

• Sadness: When I was an assistant city editor, I had to wake up Lute Olson to tell him that former UA basketball assistant Ricky Byrdsong had been gunned down in Evanston, Ill. After Olson’s wife, Bobbi, yelled, “No, God,” Lute gave me an eloquent quote.

• Proudest: Watching our sports staff pull together some of the biggest stories of the decade: UA football coach John Mackovic’s firing; the death of UA women’s basketball star Shawntinice Polk; Olson’s retirement and Sean Miller’s hiring as basketball coach.

I’m biased, but I considered my sports staff to be one of the hardest-working and professional in the nation.

The Associated Press Sports Editors agreed. It named us a top 10 daily sports section in the nation seven of the last nine years for our circulation category.

Credit goes to my second “family”: Steve Rivera, John Moredich, Anthony Gimino, Bryan Lee, Ken Brazzle, Geoff Grammer, Raymond Suarez and Michael Schmelzle. Correspondents Ash Friederich, Rodney Haas and Christopher Veck deserve high-fives, along with past staffers Dave Petruska, Paul Schwalbach, Michael Caccamise, Shelly Lewellen, David Pittman, Stephen Sharpton, Jessie Vanderson, Charles Durrenberger and Christopher Walsh.

More thanks go out to all the page designers I annoyed with my suggestions, Simpson for his inspiration and guidance, and Peter Madrid, who I succeeded as sports editor in 1999.

Finally, I’d like to pay tribute to all the coaches, players, parents and readers who helped suggest stories and make my job easier.

I’ll miss this place.

Citizen Staff Writer
Wildcat blog

MIKE CHESNICK

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.

Citizen Staff Writer
Youth blog

MIKE CHESNICK

Holladay Intermediate Magnet and Booth-Fickett Magnet schools earned bragging rights in local track and field for another year.

For the third time in seven years, Holladay captured the Tucson Unified School District elementary school city title April 25 at Drachman Stadium with 250.7 points, followed by Fruchthendler (212.7), Marshall (181.5), Henry (165.5) and Sewell (125).

Holladay fourth-fifth grade winners were Simon Mahaffey Bentley (high jump, Class B); Malual Amor Arob (high jump, Class D); Anita Eichenour (500-meter run, Class B); and Aria Paxton (500, Class C).

The school’s 400-meter relay team of Yelitza Partida, Ana Herrera, Melvy Garate and Ayla Condo also won the Class D title.

Holladay is coached by Walter Legan and Michael Carpio.

In the TUSD middle school meet April 25 at Catalina High, Booth-Fickett (448.5) won the city title over Utterback (244.3), Townsend (227.4), Magee (221.5) and Secrist (151).

Multiple boys winners for Booth-Fickett were eighth-graders Jordan Hughes (100, 200), Sunthi Danh (100, 200, long jump, 400 relay) and Danny Robles (100, 400 relay); seventh-grader Jude Ruiz (800, 1,600); and sixth-grader Jarrett Corkill (100, 400).

Eighth-grader Brianna Schneider (400 relay, 800) and seventh-grader Katie Jenkins (1,600, 800) were multiple girls winners for Booth-Fickett, coached by Jason Karn and Andrea Lopez.

• Go to www.tucsoncitizen.com/blog for more blogs.

Citizen Staff Writer
Wildcat blog

MIKE CHESNICK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Citizen Staff Writer
THE BOUNCE

TOROS OPENER

• Chico (Calif.) at Tucson, 7 p.m. May 21, Hi Corbett Field

• Tickets: 325-1010

MIKE CHESNICK

mchesnic@tucsoncitizen.com

Concern about the swine flu has caused a Golden Baseball League team from Mexico to cancel its season, forcing the new Tucson Toros to try to fill six home dates and six road games.

The Tijuana Potros, also an expansion team in the independent league, were scheduled to visit Hi Corbett Field on June 23-25 and July 7-9. The Toros were set to visit Tijuana on May 26-28 and June 5-7.

Toros owner Jay Zucker said he would look for other opportunities to fill the lost dates, such as exhibitions or fantasy camps.

Mexican soccer teams have banned fans from attending recent games because of the flu epidemic, which has killed 44 people in the country and two in the United States.

As a result, the Tijuana team couldn’t risk launching its season with uncertainty about sponsors, ticket sales and stadium availability.

“We weren’t worried about our players being infected,” Zucker said. “The league just felt it couldn’t wait any longer” for the concerns to subside with the season only two weeks away.

The Toros, who now have 38 home games set, begin their season May 21 against the Chico Outlaws at Hi Corbett.

With Tijuana out, the league is down to nine teams.

Tucson will be in the South Division with Yuma, St. George (Utah) and Orange County (Calif.).

The North Division will feature Edmonton, Calgary and Victoria from Canada and Chico and Long Beach from California.

Tijuana plans to return to the league next season, team president Jose Manuel Peña said in a statement.

“We know this will pass and the Potros will be ready for next year,” he said, “but realize the timing of this natural disaster has left us with no other choice.”

Citizen Staff Writer
Wildcat blog

MIKE CHESNICK

It’s been a tough few days for two former University of Arizona football players.

Dallas Cowboys kicker Nick Folk is recovering from surgery Tuesday to repair a torn cartilage in his hip.

And the Washington Redskins have cut rookie free-agent linebacker Ronnie Palmer after signing him five days before.

The Cowboys would like to see Folk, a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2007, resume light kicking in about eight weeks. They hope he can handle full kicking work in 12 weeks when training camp starts.

For insurance, the Cowboys drafted USC kicker David Buehler in the fifth round last month.

Folk had surgery in Colorado to repair a right hip labral tear, a condition that can be caused by repetitive motions such as kicking.

If Folk doesn’t make a speedy recovery, it could be a big blow to Dallas. He’s never missed a game and has the best field goal accuracy rate among active kickers, making 46 of 53 field goals (86.8 percent) in his two-year career.

Citizen Staff Writer
Wildcat blog

Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller’s first recruiting class is already getting raves. Adding McDonald’s All-American Lance Stephenson would make the class one of the best in the nation.

It’s unclear how interested Arizona is in getting Stephenson, a shooting guard/small forward who is rated the No. 8 player overall for the 2009-10 class by Scout.com.

Fox Sports, citing unnamed sources, says Arizona likely won’t “make a move on the talented, yet enigmatic wing player” from Coney Island, N.Y. UA is concerned with the player’s off-the-court issues, Fox said.

But the New York Daily News, also citing an unnamed source, says Arizona is making “a big-time push” for the 6-foot-5 Stephenson, who passed NBA player Sebastian Telfair as the leading scorer in New York schoolboy history.

One thing working in UA’s favor: new assistant coach Emanual “Book” Richardson has strong New York City ties and has coached Stephenson before.

Fox Sports and the Daily News report that new Memphis head coach Josh Pastner, a former UA assistant, is pursuing Stephenson.

Kansas also was in the running, but the Jayhawks opted to take Xavier Henry instead. St. John’s and Maryland also wanted Stephenson.

Stephenson also could go the route of former UA recruit Brandon Jennings and head to Europe for a year before entering the 2010 NBA draft.

Three top-100 players already are headed to Arizona: forward Solomon Hill, center Kyryl Natyazhko and wing Kevin Parrom.

As for Stephenson, he already has his own online reality documentary site, BornReadyTV.

Citizen Staff Writer
Wildcat blog

Despite the current inflation rates for coaching salaries, University of Arizona officials don’t appear to be breaking the bank with their proposed contract extension for Mike Stoops.

The football coach would receive $1 million for the 2009 season and a $100,000 raise the following four years. Regents could approve the contract during their meeting next weekend, or as early as April 30. Stoops, who helped give UA fans their first bowl win in 10 years last season, made just under $700,000 a year in his old contract.

UA, conversely, is scheduled to pay new basketball coach Sean Miller $2 million a year as part of a five-year deal worth $11 million.

Of course, $1 million a year is still A LOT of money, and Stoops would stand to make even more under incentives of up to $655,000:

• Athletic: Participation in a preseason game, $50,000; Pac-10 champion, $125,000; non-BCS bowl game, $75,000; BCS bowl other than national title game, $100,000; BCS national title game, $150,000

• BCS national rankings: 1-10, $50,000; 11-15, $40,000; 16-25; $30,000.

• Win-loss record for 12-game season (excludes preseason or bowls): 7-5, $40,000; 8-4, $50,000; 9-3, $60,000; 10-2, $70,000; 11-1, $80,000; 12-0, $90,000.

• Average home paid attendance: 48,001-50,000, $45,000; 50,000-plus, $60,0000

• Total season tickets sold: 35,000-40,000, $60,000; 40,000-45,000, $70,000; 45,001-plus, $80,000

• Coach of the year honors: Pac-10, $30,000; national, $50,000

If UA fires Stoops for cause, it is liable for salary due at the date of termination. If UA fires Stoops without cause, it must pay him one-half of the remaining value of the guaranteed compensation.

If Stoops leaves before 2013, he must pay UA $250,000 in liquidated damages at school president Robert Shelton’s discretion.

Citizen Staff Writer
Wildcat blog

Mike Chesnick

One of new Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller’s biggest recruiting tools is playing time.

“There’s never been a period of time where there’s more opportunity to play as a freshman and get some great minutes,” Miller said Thursday on the Dan Patrick Show, telling the national radio host how he would pitch the UA program to prospective recruits.

Arizona is losing Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill to the NBA, and junior guard Nic Wise said he will test the draft waters.

Patrick, acting as a recruit, asked Miller, “How many shots will I be able to take?”

“That’s when a red flag goes up,” Miller said, joking that he probably wouldn’t consider a recruit who is a ball hog.

Miller said he has talked to former UA players such as Steve Kerr, Luke Walton and Andre Iguodala, and is using their NBA careers as ammunition to sell the UA program to recruits.

“If you ask most (recruits), they want to play in the Final Four, win an NCAA title and play in the NBA,” said Miller, who pointed out that UA has had 13 first-round picks, nine lottery picks and possibly two more with Hill and Budinger. The Cats have been to four Final Fours, including winning the 1997 national title.

Miller said one of the reasons he came to the Pac-10 was the competition, and he cited how well teams such as Arizona State, Washington, UCLA, California and Stanford have recruited recently.

The new UA coach agreed with Patrick that he’s “happy” about not having to face ASU guard James Harden, the Pac-10 player of the year who left early for the NBA. Harden helped ASU trounce Xavier his freshman season.

Patrick kidded with Miller about a YouTube video that shows a 10-year-old Miller demonstrating his Pete Maravich-like ball-handling skills.

“I peaked at 10,” Miller joked. “It’s been all downhill since then.

“Hopefully, I’ll redeem myself at Arizona.”

Citizen Staff Writer
Wildcat blog

Mike Chesnick

Sports editor

Arizona’s and interim coach Russ Pennell’s unlikely journey to the Sweet 16 caught the nation’s attention.

On Monday, Pennell was the subject of a USA TODAY cover story and was interviewed on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” by Washington Post columnists Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.

Kornheiser asked how being a “co-coach” with assistant Mike Dunlap, who calls a lot of the Wildcats’ plays, has worked out.

“The best part is that I get paid more than him,” Pennell quipped. “Mike is an unbelievable basketball mind. It would be very foolish for me not to draw upon his wisdom.”

Pennell said he and Dunlap are like Kornheiser and Wilbon: “Just like you guys, we take turns playing good cop and bad cop.”

Kornheiser put Pennell on the spot with his final question: How sweet would it feel to beat Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who has been rumored as a candidate for the Arizona job? “The reason I want to beat Rick is to go to the Elite Eight,” said Pennell, giving the politically correct answer.

Whatever happens, Pennell should be able to use the national exposure to help land a decent head coaching job next season.

Citizen Staff Writer
MATCH PLAY

1. Tiger Woods (USA)

Born: Cypress, Calif. Age: 33 Pro wins: 89 (PGA 65, Majors 14) Match Play: 31-6 Notable: Beat Stewart Cink to win 2008 Match Play. Won U.S. Open in June before knee surgery. Did you know? Top-paid athlete of 2007 with $122 million, including endorsements.

2. Sergio Garcia (Spain)

Born: Castellon, Spain Age: 29 Pro wins: 19 (PGA 8) Match Play: 8-7 Notable: Garcia surged to No. 2 after winning the HSBC Champions tournament in November. Did you know? Mar Garcia, his sister, was a UA golfer.

3. Padraig Harrington (Ireland)

Born: Dublin, Ireland Age: 37 Pro wins: 24 (PGA 14, Majors 3) Match play: 9-9 Notable: In 2008, won PGA Championship and second straight British Open. Did you know? His late father, “Paddy,” was a police officer.

4. Vijay Singh (Fiji)

Born: Lautoka, Fiji Age: 45 Pro wins: 57 (PGA 34, Majors 3) Match Play: 11-9 Notable: Won the 2008 FedEx Cup title; 14th in all-time PGA wins. Did you know? As a kid, Singh used coconuts for golf balls.

5. Phil Mickelson (USA)

Born: San Diego Age: 38 Pro wins: 41 (PGA 34, Majors 3) Match Play: 13-9 Notable: Led after first two rounds at Riviera this week; 500-plus weeks in Top 10. Did you know? ASU grad is righty but plays golf lefty.

6. Henrik Stenson (Sweden)

Born: Gothenburg, Sweden Age: 32 Pro wins: 11 Match Play: 11-2 Notable: Won 2007 Match Play title, defeating Geoff Ogilvy 2 and 1. Did you know? Reached No. 5 in rankings in 2007, highest for a Swedish player.

7. Robert Karlsson (Sweden)

Born: Katrineholm, Sweden Age: 39 Pro wins: 10 Match Play: 0-3 Notable: Won 2008 European Order of Merit title. Did you know? One of the tallest golfers on the European Tour at 6 feet 5 inches.

8. Geoff Ogilvy (Australia)

Born: Adelaide, Australia Age: 31 Pro wins: 5 (PGA 4, Majors 1) Match Play: 11-2 Notable: 2007 Match Play champ won this year’s PGA opener (Mercedes-Benz). Did you know? Owns MOJO (Australian) Pies in Scottsdale.

9. Camilo Villegas (Columbia)

Born: Medellin, Colombia Age: 26 Pro wins: 7 (PGA 2). Match Play: 0-1 Notable: Won his first PGA Tour title in September (BMW Championship). Did you know? One of Tour’s top drivers, averaging 302.1 yards last year.

10. Kenny Perry (USA)

Born: Elizabethtown, Ky. Age: 48 Pro wins: 13 (PGA 12) Match Play: 3-5 Notable: Jumped into top 10 with a win Feb. 1 at FBR in Scottsdale. Did you know? Helped the U.S. retake the Ryder Cup title for first time since 1999.

11. Anthony Kim (USA)

Born: Los Angeles Age: 23 Pro wins: 2 (PGA 2) Match Play: 0-1 Notable: Won his first two PGA events in 2008 and was key in U.S. Ryder Cup victory. Did you know? Wears trademark belt buckles with initials “AK.”

12. Lee Westwood (England)

Born: Worksop, England Age: 35 Pro wins: 29 (PGA 1) Match Play: 4-8 Notable: Finished third at 2008 U.S. Open. Did you know? Payed rugby, cricket and football before taking up golf and becoming a junior champion.

13. Ernie Els (South Africa)

Born: Johannesburg, South Africa Age: 39 Pro wins: 60 (PGA 16, Majors 3). Match Play: 6-9 Notable: Won 1994, 1997 U.S. Open and 2002 British Open. Did you know? Won 1984 Junior World title over Phil Mickelson.

14. Jim Furyk (USA)

Born: West Chester, Pa. Age: 38 Pro wins: 22 (PGA 13, Majors 1) Match Play: 7-8 Notable: Ex-UA star won first major at 2002 U.S. Open. Did you know? His trademark looping golf swing begins with ball at heel of club.

15. Justin Rose (England)

Born: Johannesburg, South Africa Age: 28 Pro wins: 7 Match Play: 4-4 Notable: Burst onto scene at age 17 at 1998 British Open, finishing tied for fourth. Did you know? Married Kate Phillips, an ex-British gymnast.

16. Rory McIlroy (N. Ireland)

Born: Holywood, Northern Ireland Age: 19 Pro wins: 1 Match Play: 0-0. Notable: His first professional win came Feb. 1 at Dubai Desert Classic. Did you know? Became youngest golfer to crack Top 50 last November.

17. Mike Weir (Canada)

Born: Sarnia, Ontario Age: 38 Pro wins: 13 (PGA 8, Majors 1) Match Play: 6-8 Notable: First Canadian to win a major (2003 Masters) and second left-hander, along with Phil Mickelson. Did you know? Graduate of BYU.

18. Adam Scott (Australia)

Born: Adelaide, Australia Age: 28 Pro wins: 14 (PGA 6) Match Play: 13-7 Notable: Took off after winning Tour Championship in 2006. Did you know? Compared to Greg Norman, whose former caddie joined Scott in 2004.

19. Martin Kaymer (Germany)

Born: Dusseldorf, West Germany Age: 23 Pro wins: 10 Match Play: 0-1 Notable: Finished 2008 Dubai Desert Classic birdie-birdie-eagle but fell to Tiger Woods by 1 stroke. Did you know? Shot a 61 at 2007 Portugal Masters.

20. Steve Stricker (USA)

Born: Edgerton, Wis. Age: 41 Pro wins: 11 (PGA 4) Match Play: 9-5 Notable: Won the Match Play title in San Diego in 2001, defeating Pierre Fulke 2 and 1. Did you know? Voted Comeback Player of the Year in 2006.

21. Stewart Cink (USA)

Born: Huntsville, Ala. Age: 35 Pro wins: 12 (PGA 5) Match Play: 13-9 Notable: Fell to Tiger Woods 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final at last year’s Match Play event. Did you know? Reached as high as No. 6 in 2008.

22. K.J. Choi (Korea)

Born: Wando, South Korea Age: 38 Pro wins: 15 (PGA 7) Match Play: 6-6 Notable: First Korean to earn a PGA Tour card. Did you know? Was competitive power lifter, nicknamed “Tank,” before taking up golf.

23. Paul Casey (England)

Born: Cheltenham, England Age: 31 Pro wins: 8 Match Play: 5-6 Notable: Lost 2006 European Tour Order of Merit to Harrington in final event. Did you know? First to win three straight Pac-10 titles (1998-2000).

24. Miguel Angel Jiminez (Spain)

Born: Malaga, Spain Age: 45 Pro wins: 18 Match Play: 5-7 Notable: Had two wins in 2008, placing him on Europe’s Ryder Cup team. Did you know? Known as “The Mechanic” for his hobby of repairing high-end cars.

25. Trevor Immelman (South Africa)

Born: Cape Town, South Africa Age: 28 Pro wins: 10 (PGA 2, Majors 1) Match Play: 7-5 Notable: Won 2008 Masters despite double bogey on No. 16. Did you know? Missed start of 2008 with benign tumor near his rib cage.

26. Alvaro Quiros (Spain)

Born: La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain Age: 26 Pro wins: 5 Notable: Won 2009 Qatar Masters to break into Top 50. Did you know? Was longest driver on European Tour from 2006-08, averaging 310 yards.

27. Justin Leonard (USA)

Born: Dallas Age: 36 Pro wins: 12 (PGA 12, Majors 1) Match Play: 8-9 Notable: Biggest win came at 2007 British Open. Did you know? His 45-foot birdie putt in 1999 capped remarkable U.S. comeback win in Ryder Cup.

28. Zach Johnson (USA)

Born: Iowa City, Iowa Age: 32 Pro wins: 16 (PGA 4, Majors 1) Match Play: 5-4. Notable: Won 2007 Masters by 2 strokes over Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, and Rory Sabbatini. Did you know? Played collegiately at Drake.

29. Ben Curtis (USA)

Born: Columbus, Ohio Age: 31 Pro wins: 3 (PGA 3, Majors 1) Match Play: 1-1 Notable: Won 2003 British Open, his first pro victory. Did you know? Tied for second at 2008 PGA Championship, earning U.S. Ryder Cup spot.

30. Robert Allenby (Australia)

Born: Melbourne, Australia Age: 37 Pro wins: 20 (PGA 4) Match Play: 8-8 Notable: Seventh at 2008 British Open, 2004 U.S. Open. Did you know? First to win Australian “triple crown” (Masters, PGA, Open), 2005.

31. Ian Poulter (England)

Born: Hitchin, England Age: 33 Pro wins: 9 Match Play: 10-6 Notable: Led 2008 Masters after first round, aided by ace on No. 16 at Augusta. Did you know? Radical dresser, known for flashy trousers and sunglasses.

32. Tim Clark (South Africa)

Born: Durban, South Africa Age: 33 Pro wins: 9 Match Play: 1-5 Notable: Best Major finishes: 2nd Masters, 2006; T3 U.S. Open, 2005; 3rd PGA Championship, 2003. Did you know? Played at North Carolina State.

33. Retief Goosen (South Africa)

Born: Petersburg, South Africa Age: 49 Pro wins: 29 (PGA 6, Majors 2) Match Play: 12-9 Notable: Ranked in top 10 from 2001-07 after winning 2002, 2004 U.S. Opens. Did you know? Survived lightning strike on course as boy.

34. Jeev Milkha Singh (India)

Born: Chandigarh, India Age: 37 Pro wins: 7 Match Play: 0-1 Notable: First Indian player on European Tour in 1998. Did you know? Son of famous Indian Olympic athlete Milkha Singh; played collegiately at Abilene Christian.

35. Ross Fisher (England)

Born: Ascot, England Age: 28 Pro wins: 2 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Won European Open in 2008 with wind-assisted 413-yard drive on No. 9. Did you know? Won a Jaguar in nearest-to-the-pin contest in 2006.

36. Luke Donald (England)

Born: Hemel Hempstead, Herffordshire, England Age: 31 Pro wins: 5 (2 PGA) Match Play: 6-4. Notable: Moved to No. 7 in rankings in early 2007. Did you know? Won NCAA title in 1999 while at Northwestern.

37. Graeme McDowell (N. Ireland)

Born: Portrush, Northern Ireland Age: 29 Pro wins: 4 Match Play: 1-2 Notable: Earned 2.5 points for Europe in 2008 Ryder Cup; finished fifth in Order of Merit. Did you know? Named top collegiate golfer, 2002, at UAB.

38. Andres Romero (Argentina)

Born: Tucuman, Argentina Age: 27 Pro wins: 8 (1 PGA) Match Play: 5-4 Notable: Made 10 birdies in final round of 2007 British Open to finish third. Did you know? Won first PGA event at 2008 Zurich Classic; nicknamed “Pigu.”

39. Stephen Ames (Canada)

Born: San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago Age: 44 Pro wins: 10 (PGA 3) Match Play: 3-4 Notable: Claimed first PGA win at 2004 Western Open. Did you know? Has dual citizenship in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.

40. Shingo Katayama (Japan)

Born: Chikusei, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan Age: 36 Pro wins: 26 Match Play: 2-7 Notable: All 26 wins came on Japan Tour; fourth at 2001 PGA Championship. Did you know? Called “Cowboy Shingo” for cowboy-style hat.

41. Rory Sabbatini (South Africa)

Born: Durban, South Africa Age: 32 Pro wins: 4 (all PGA) Match Play: 3-5 Notable: 12th on 2008 money list; tied for second at 2007 Masters. Did you know? One of two ex-UA Wildcats in Match Play (with Jim Furyk).

42. Aaron Baddeley (Australia)

Born: Lebanon, N.H. Age: 27 Pro wins: 6 (PGA 2) Match Play: 4-2 Notable: Battled Tiger Woods in last year’s Match Play quarterfinals, losing on second playoff hole. Did you know? Has U.S. and Australian citizenship.

43. Oliver Wilson (England)

Born: Mansfield, England Age: 28 Pro wins: 0 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Finished 11th in European Tour Order of Merit in 2008. Did you know? Became Europe’s first Ryder Cup player without having won a pro tourney.

44. Richard Sterne (S. Africa)

Born: Pretoria, South Africa Age: 27 Pro wins: 8 Match Play: 0-1 Notable: In 2008, fell to Hunter Mahan in first round of Match Play, won Sunshine Tour Order of Merit. Did you know? Is friends with icon Gary Player.

45. Dustin Johnson (USA)

Born: Columbia, S.C. Age: 24 Pro wins: 2 (PGA) Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Qualified by winning Pebble Beach last week. Did you know? Picked up second PGA Tour win in 36 career starts – quicker than Anthony Kim.

46. Stuart Appleby (Australia)

Born: Cohuna, Australia Age: 37 Pro wins: 13 (PGA 8) Match Play: 6-10 Notable: Won the Mercedes Championship three times. Did you know? Lost in a four-man playoff in 2002 British Open, his best major finish.

47. Sean O’Hair (USA)

Born: Lubbock, Texas Age: 26 Pro wins: 2 (both PGA). Match Play: 1-2 Notable: Won PGA rookie of year honors in 2005, earning $2.5 million. Did you know? Turned pro after junior year in high school under direction of dad.

48. Hunter Mahan (USA)

Born: Orange, Calif. Age: 26 Pro wins: 2 (PGA 1) Match Play: 1-1 Notable: His first PGA win, at 2007 Travelers, put him in top 100 of rankings. Did you know? Transferred from USC after one year to Oklahoma State.

49. Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa)

Born: Mossel Bay, South Africa Age: 26 Pro wins: 5 Notable: All five of his wins came on the Sunshine Tour. Did you know? Turned pro at age 19; member of South Africa’s World Amateur champion team in 2000.

50. Boo Weekley (USA)

Born: Milton, Fla. Age: 35 Pro wins: 2 (all PGA) Match Play: 2-1 Notable: Fan favorite reached Match Play quarterfinals last year and helped U.S. win Ryder Cup. Did you know? Boo comes from cartoon’s Boo Boo Bear.

51. Anders Hansen (Denmark)

Born: Sonderborg, Denmark Age: 38 Pro wins: 4 Match Play: 0-1 Notable: Had six top-10 finishes in 2006, including third in Dubai. Did you know? Qualified for 2007 PGA Tour but couldn’t keep playing status.

52. Soren Hansen (Denmark)

Born: Copenhagen, Denmark Age: 34 Pro wins: 3 Match Play: 0-1 Notable: Member of European Tour since 1999, with two wins. Did you know? Represented Europe in the 2008 Ryder Cup, but did not win a match.

53. Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand)

Born: Hua Hin, Thailand Age: 42 Pro wins: 7 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Won 2007 Volvo Masters of Asia. Did you know? Dedicated last season to Thai golfer Suppha-phorn Maphungphong, who died two weeks prior to start.

54. Lin Wen-Tang (Taiwan)

Born: Taiwan Age: 34 Pro wins: 6 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Moved up in rankings after wins at Asian Tour International and UBS Hong Kong Open in 2008. Did you know? His two brothers play with him on Asian Tour.

55. Mathew Goggin (Australia)

Born: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Age: 34 PGA wins: 0 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Had five top-10 PGA finishes in 2008, including a second at Memorial. Did you know? Mother, Lindy, is three-time Australian Amateur champ.

56. Rod Pampling (Australia)

Born: Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia Age: 39 Pro wins: 5 (PGA 2) Match Play: 3-4 Notable: Second PGA win at 2006 Bay Hill Invitational lifted him to top 50 of rankings. Did you know? Tied for fifth at 2005 Masters.

57. Kevin Sutherland (USA)

Born: Sacramento, Calif. Age: 44 Pro wins: 1 Match Play: 8-2 Notable: Won 2002 Match Play title over Scott McCarron 1-up. Did you know? In 26 starts in 2008, he had two top-5 and six top-10 finishes.

58. Peter Hanson (Sweden)

Born: Svedala, Sweden Age: 31 Pro wins: 7 Match Play: 0-1 Notable: Finished in top 20 of European Tour Order of Merit in 2007 and 2008. Did you know? Finished 10th in last month’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

59. Davis Love III (USA)

Born: Charlotte, N.C. Age: 44 Pro wins: 34 (PGA 20, Majors 1) Notable: Won 1997 PGA Championship. Did you know? His 20th career PGA win at 2008 Children’s Miracle Network Classic gave him lifetime tour exemption.

60. Angel Cabrera (Argentina)

Born: Cordoba, Argentina Age: 39 Pro wins: 20 (PGA 1, Majors 1) Match Play: 6-7 Notable: Won 2007 U.S. Open, beating Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by one stroke. Did you know? Nickname is “El Pato,” or The Duck.

61. Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark)

Born: Arhos, Denmark Age: 33 Pro wins: 3 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Won European Tour’s 2005 season-ending event, the Volvo Masters, by two shots. Did you know? Biggest win was Diageo Championship in 2003.

62. Pat Perez (USA)

Born: Phoenix Age: 32 Pro wins: 3 (PGA 1) Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Won first PGA event at Bob Hope Classic last month by 3, capped with eagle on final hole. Did you know? Played collegiately at Arizona State.

63. Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)

Born: Johannesburg, South Africa Age: 24. Pro wins: 4 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Won Madrid Masters in 2008, his third European title. Did you know? Won third straight Sunshine Tour Order of Merit in 2007.

64. Brendan Jones (Australia)

Born: West Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia Age: 33 Pro wins: 10 Match Play: 0-0 Notable: Spent time on Japan Tour, where he won eight titles. Did you know? Has unenviable task of facing Tiger Woods in first round.

FIRST ALTERNATE

65. Richard Green (Australia)

Born: Williamstown, Australia Age: 37 Pro wins: 5 Match Play: 0-4 Notable: Lefty tied record at Carnoustie with 64 in 2007 British Open.

Citizen Staff Writer
The blog

Mike Chesnick

Corky Simpson, the Tucson Citizen’s former sports columnist, wishes he could get his Hall of Fame baseball picks back after leaving all-time steals leader Ricky Henderson off his ballot.

“I screwed up on the Henderson nonvote,” said Simpson, who detailed his choices in a Dec. 10 column for the Green Valley News. “You get to vote on 10 and I only picked eight. I probably did it too quickly.”

No player has ever been a unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame, and the omission caused an Internet uproar when ESPN.com detailed Simpson’s eight picks, including Tim Raines and Matt Williams. Some bloggers compared Simpson’s vote to 1992, when he was the only voter to pick Alabama No. 1 all season in the college football poll. Simpson said this time he just made a mistake. A few more writers could leave Henderson off their ballots when the voting tallies are released Monday. But for now, Simpson must endure the mean-spirited criticism.

Citizen Staff Writer

MIKE CHESNICK

mchesnic@tucsoncitizen.com

A national search has begun to replace Lute Olson, who retired Thursday as Arizona basketball coach after a 25-year run that included an NCAA title in 1997.

In the meantime, fans are left with several questions:

• Will UA associate head coach Mike Dunlap, a former Denver Nuggets assistant, be the interim coach for the season?

“We have to move quickly,” UA Athletics Director Jim Livengood said. “I intend to recruit a coach who is worthy to inherit Lute’s astounding legacy.”

Citizen Web site readers offered suggested successors, including Gonzaga coach Mark Few.

• Did the health of Olson, 74, affect his decision to retire? He missed last season because of personal and medical-related concerns.

“At this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends,” Olson said in a statement.

• When will fans see Olson next?

UA plans to hold a “celebratory event” in the near future involving former players and fans, said Livengood. He said he plans to hold a news conference with Olson and UA President Robert Shelton.

Citizen Staff Writer
THE BOUNCE

Jose J. Escobar started a Little League tournament six years ago to
honor his son, Joey, who died in 2002 at age 6. Joey’s Fall Ball
Classic, which helps raise money for special needs children in Tucson,
will be held again this weekend.

There’s something refreshing about watching kids play sports for the
joy of the game. You can see what I mean if you check out the two-day
baseball and softball tournament that begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at
Field of Dreams, South Kino Boulevard and 36th Street.

Sunday’s feature game at 9 a.m. features Challenger Little League,
which includes special needs players who played at the Little League
World Series last month in Williamsport, Pa..

Little League players also are urged to attend a clinic at 7 p.m.
Thursday at Field of Dreams, hosted by Pima Community College baseball
coach Edgar Soto and Pima softball coach Armando Quiroz.

MIKE CHESNICK

mchesnic@tucsoncitizen.com

Citizen Staff Writer
The blog

For nearly 25 years, Henry Ortega taught many Tucson kids the game of baseball. It seems only fitting that former players and parents will hold a pickup game Tuesday at Freedom Park to honor the Little League coach who died last month of cancer.

Mr. Ortega, 51, coached 9- to 12-year-olds in the Major division – first for Sunnyside Little League, then Old Pueblo and finally Freedom. He also usually helped manage each league’s All-Star teams.

In his final year of coaching, his grandson was able to play for him.

“Henry was only sick the last six months, and came out to coach whenever he was up to it,” said Freedom president Cindy Snow. “He would even come if all he could do was sit and watch.”

That type of dedication endeared him to many – and Snow’s league will have a pickup game at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Field No. 2 at Freedom Park, on East 29th Street (west of South Craycroft Road).

The league will sell Diamondbacks T-shirts and donate the proceeds to Ortega’s family. The snack bar will be open.

Mr. Ortega died Sept. 15. He is survived by his wife, Vickie; daughter, Celina Ortega and step-daughter, Tiffany Lawson; sisters Maria (Ernesto) Banuelos, Erminia (Guillermo) Jayme, Erlinda (Oscar) Rodriguez and Stella Ortega; brothers Greg (Artemisa), John (Frances), Joe (Nadine) and Ruben (Corie); and three grandchildren.