The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California · Page 38

SP_D_1_D1_LA_1_06-08-05_we_2_CMYK 2005:06:07:23:00:40_ SPORTS CC / SF / VN / OC latimes.com/sports Wednesday,June8,2005 D By Sam Farmer Times Staff Writer Despite action by the Pasadena City Council that appeared to end the prospect of a pro football team playing in the Rose Bowl, the NFL said Tuesday it wasnot ready to give up on that option. Plans to coax the NFL back to the Los Angeles area in a refurbished Rose Bowl effectively evaporated late Monday when it became apparent that there was not enough support among Pasadena City Council members to continue courting the league. “I believe that the NFL effort has been terminated because it became clear last evening that there are not five votes willing to pursue it or to give consideration,” Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard said Tuesday. “To me, the matter has been decided.” While conceding Monday’s meeting “was not a positive development,” the league executive overseeing the region’s stadium process said the NFL wasnot ready to give up on the Pasadena option. “We’ve spoken to and will continue to speak to city leaders and stadium supporters — and we know there are a lot of them out there — and we’ll assess where we are in the next few days and coming weeks,” said Neil Glat, NFL vice president for strategic planning. The apparent pullout by Pasadena leaves the Coliseum and Anaheim as the two remaining stadium concepts in what a month ago was a four-site competition. Carson dropped out of the race in May, opting to pursue a“mega mall” instead of a football stadium. “From our perspective it really doesn’t change anything,” said Pat Lynch, general manager of the Coliseum. “Our issues are still our issues.” For more than a year, the Coliseum has been in position to strike a deal with the league. So far, NFL executives say, the sticking point in the negotiations involveshow much rent the league should be required to pay. But Lynch said the rent issue has not been broached in recent discussions with the league. “We’ve always felt we were in prime position,” he said. “But it takes two to finish this deal. We’re ready to sit down and cut all the final details.” Meanwhile, Anaheim officials are optimistic that they can reach an agreement with the league, which is considering a Then There Were …Two? Rose Bowl appears to be out of the NFL stadium derby, leaving only the Coliseum and Anaheim. But league says it hasn’t given up on Pasadena. [ See Pasadena, Page D3 ] By Steve Henson Times Staff Writer It sure seemed mundane for something that never happened in 105 years. The Detroit Tigers had played 16,164 games before Tuesday night. Never had they defeated the Dodgers. Then Scott Erickson and Duaner Sanchez came out of the Dodger bullpen and history was made. A two-run lead was gone in an instant, replaced by a four- run deficit that held up in the Tigers’ 8-4 victory at Dodger Stadium. Two storied franchises. Same old story for Dodger middle relievers. “That part you would like to see go better,” Manager Jim Tracy said. As multi-century accomplishments go, this wasn’t all it appeared to be. The Dodgers had played the Tigers only four Dodgers’ Bridge Is Blown Up by Tigers Middle relievers fail to get L.A. from starter to Gagne, as Detroit rallies for six runs to win, 8-4. Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times NO NEED TO BE FLIP ABOUT IT: Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis tosses to Jeff Kent for a force out in the second inning. [ See Dodgers, Page D7 ] By Eric Stephens Times Staff Writer Ricky Romero dreamed of playing baseball at its highest levels, even thoughmany youngsters he grew up with in East Los Angeles didn’t share those aspirations. But Romero broke the mold, first starring at Los Angeles Roosevelt High and now at Cal State Fullerton. And Tuesday, the left-handed ace pitcher for the defending College World Series champions took a step toward the next level when he was selected sixth overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft. Romero was part of a banner day for local college and high school players, four of whom wereselected among the first seven. USC catcher Jeff Clement went third to Seattle and University of Miami third baseman Ryan Braun, a former Granada Hills High star, went fifth to Milwaukee. After Romero was chosen, Colorado took Long Beach State shortstop Troy Tulowitzki with the seventhpick. Romero and Braun became the first two former City Section players to be selected in the first round in 25 years. Braun’s selection was the highest by aCity Sectionplayer since Darryl Strawberry was chosen first by the New York Mets in 1980. For Romero, a former City player of the year, the last two years have been especially rewarding.“It’s just unbelievable, the things that have happened to me,” hesaid. “Winning a national championship. Now this. There’s no better way to script it.” Romero, who is 12-5 with a 2.95 earned-run average, will pitch this weekend, when the Ti- tansplayhost to Arizona State in anNCAA super-regional beginning Friday night. He said his focus wason getting back to Omaha and the College World Series but acknowledgedthat it was a big day in the family’s home. He said that, after signing Romero Fulfills Baseball Dream Cal State Fullerton’s ace is selected sixth in the amateur draft. USC’s Clement is third and Long Beach State’s Tulowitzki is seventh. [ See Draft, Page D4 ] By Mark Heisler Times Staff Writer SAN ANTONIO — The great Laker- Spur rivalry is over. The Lakers won three titles to the Spurs’ two. The Lakers said goodbyein last spring’s final duel of the Shaq-Kobe era, when Derek Fisher broke the Spurs’ heartsin the second round of the playoffs. On the other hand, the Shaq-Kobe era is over but the Spurs aren’t. Nor are they running down. With four starters 29 or younger, their top three players signed through 2010 and no ego conflicts, the Spurs may only have just begun. They’re special but not because they’re so talented. The Spurs are spe- cial because they’re the one good team that hasn’t blown itself up since the mid-’90s, when the league turned young and entitled. Not that Gregg Popovich, coach, president and proprietor of the best little dynasty in Texas, wonders how they did it. “David Robinson and Tim Duncan,” he said last week after the Spurs hadput away the PhoenixSuns, breaking up the interview room. “What franchise has been more fortunate than that? “...What we have done really well is, we haven’t screwed it up. But that’s it.” Actually, that’s not it at all. Even with their twin lightning bolts of fortune, this wasn’t inevitable, or even probable. ‘He strikes a great balance between discipline and humor. He’s a really fun guy to play for.’ Steve Kerr , TNT announcer, on Gregg Popovich, who coached him in San Antonio Elsa Hasch Getty Images THE CHOSEN FEW: Point guard Tony Parker, left, forward Tim Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili, right, the Spurs’ three best players, are trying to win their second NBA title in three years. All were drafted on Gregg Popovich’s watch. Ronald Martinez Getty Images Eric Gay Associated Press POP CULTURE The Spurs built and rebuilt a champion around Duncan and, perhaps just as important, with Popovich’s vision [ See Spurs, Page D5 ] By Paul Gutierrez Times Staff Writer ATLANTA — Darin Erstad said he left a phone message Tuesday morning at the home of Johnny Estrada, telling the in- juredAtlanta catcher he was thinking of him, that he hoped everything would beOK and he was sorry he had been hurt in the previous night’s plate collision between the two. The Braves sent a message back. Horacio Ramirez’s first pitch to Erstad sailed behind his back, bringing both teams to the edges of their dugouts and prompting plate umpire Lance Barksdale to issue a warning to the teams. The 3-2 loss to the Bravesin front of an announced25,276 at Turner Field only made the first-inning pitch all the more frustrating for the Angels. “He should have been ejected,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Ramirez. “There was no doubt on the intent. “I don’t know what [Barksdale] could have been looking at to miss the intent of that pitch.” The left-handed Ramirez kept a straight face when denying he purposely threw behind Erstad. “It was a little two-seamer that got away from me,” Ramirez said. When asked whether he realized who was batting at the time, Ramirez said, “A left-han- der?” Ramirez’s control was impeccable the rest of the night as he limited the Angels to three hits Erstad Unable to Put Dispute Behind Him He fails to reach catcher on the phone, and the Braves respond strongly in 3-2 win over Angels. [ See Angels, Page D7 ] Contreras Is Showing Signs of Improvement Boxer injured in Staples Center fight is coming out of a coma but could face a long recovery. D3 No Shortcuts Through Panama in Soccer Awin tonight in Panama City would put U.S. in strong position in World Cup qualifying. D3 Bruins Are Taken to Limit by Wolverines Michigan beats UCLA, 5-2, to force a deciding third game in NCAA softball title series. D4 She’s Still an Amateur, and in Good Standing UCLA’s Henderson, who opted not to turn pro, seeks her first NCAA title this week in 400. D4 Mike Penner/Sound and Vision.... D2 High Schools........................................ D4 WNBA..................................................... D5 Newswire............................................... D8 INSIDE Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Best-of-seven series THE SCHEDULE All games 6 p.m. PDT TV: Channel 7;*if necessary 8 Game 1: Thursday, at San Antonio 8 Game 2: Sunday, at San Antonio 8 Game 3: Tuesday, at Detroit 8 Game 4: June 16, at Detroit 8 Game 5: June 19, at Detroit* 8 Game 6: June 21, at San Antonio* 8 Game 7: June 23, at San Antonio* NBA Finals