Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan • Page 34

6D Sunday, April 30, 2006 SPORTS Battle Creek Enquirer Lkwnis hmh linebacker Sims Nowttzldleads Mavsto trMmph bulk up. "People talk about my height and everything but when I tackle a person, they don't ask me how tall I am," Sims said. Sims' father, Ernie played football at FSU under Bobby Bowden from 1977-81, while his mother ran track. Alice Bennett was an All-America sprinter from 1980-83. Sims laughed when reporters asked if he could outrun his mother.

"She's not faster than me. I can blow her away now," he said. "We got a real competitive family and we're always talking about that." Sims runs a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash. Sims said Marinelli showed LIONS, From lD same time you keep them structurally sound. It's easier to pull them off than sic them on them." Henderson said he will bring in Bullocks at the free safety spot.

"When he hits you, he stops you," Henderson said. The Lions had a chance to select USC quarterback Matt Leinart, but decided against taking an offensive player with their first-round choice for a seventh straight year. "We got the guy we wanted," Millen said. "He has great speed, great range." At a news conference earlier this week with his parents and agent Todd France, Sims said the NFL had projected him as an early second-round pick. Saturday, he attributed his rise into the top 10 of the first round to how he played this past season in Tallahassee.

"I'm very excited and very shocked to be a Detroit Lion," Sims said. "All I had to do really was to follow up on my career at the combine and pro day. That's how I shot up so quick." Viewed as undersized, the 5-foot-n, 234-pound Sims gave up his final year of eligibility to enter the draft. Regarded as the Florida State's finest linebacker since Derrick Brooks, scouts say Sims is an aggressive big hitter who needs to him some film of Brooks and told him he needed an impact player who could bring fire to the field. "The main thing I'm going to do is by myself on the field," Sims said.

"I like having contact. That's the name of the game. When I go out on that field, I'm not looking to make no friends. I'm trying to put people out the game." Sims started his final 24 games for the Seminoles. He had 200 tackles, 21 stops for a loss and seven sacks in his three years at Florida State.

Sims and Bullocks are the first defensive players taken in the first two rounds by Detroit since Robert Porcher and Tracy Scroggins in 1992. NFL DRAFT (SATURDAY'S FIRSTTHREE ROUNDS) NBA PLAYOFFS Daily Playoff Glance AN Tunes EOT FIRST ROUND (Best-of-7) Saturday, April 22 Cleveland 97, Washington 86 San Antonio 122, Sacramento 88 Miami 111, Chicago 106 Los Angeles Clippers 89, Denver 87 Sunday, April 23 Indiana 90, New Jersey 88 Phoenix 107, Los Angeles Lakers 102 Detroit 92, Milwaukee 74 Dallas 103, Memphis 93 Monday, April 24 Miami 115, Chicago 108 Los Angeles Clippers 98, Denver 87 Tuesday, April 25 Washington 89, Cleveland 84 New Jersey 90, Indiana 75 San Antonio 128, Sacramento 119, OT Wednesday, April 26 Detroit 109, Milwaukee 98 Dallas 94, Memphis 79 Los Angeles Lakers 99, Phoenix 93 Thursday, April 27 Indiana 107, New Jersey 95 Chicago 109, Miami 90, Miami leads 2-1 Denver 94, Los Angeles Clippers 87, Los Angeles leads series 2-1 Friday, April 28 Cleveland 97, Washington 96, Cleveland leads series 2-1 Sacramento 94, San Antonio 93, San Antonio leads series 2-1 Los Angeles Lakers 99, Phoenix 92, Los Angeles leads series 2-1 Saturday, April 29 New Jersey 97, Indiana 88, series tied 2-2 Dallas 94, Memphis 89, OT, Dallas leads series 3-0 Milwaukee 124, Detroit 104, Detroit leads series 2-1 Los Angeles Clippers at Denver, late Today Miami at Chicago, 1 p.m. Phoenix at Los Angeles Lakers, 3:30 p.m. Cleveland at Washington, 7:30 p.m. San Antonio at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Monday, May 1 Dallas at Memphis, 8 p.m. Detroit at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. Denver at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2 Indiana at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Chicago at Miami, 8 p.m.

Sacramento at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 Milwaukee at Detroit, 6 or 7:30 p.m. Washington at Cleveland, 7 or 8:30 p.m. Memphis at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., if necessary points, Richard Jefferson had 22 and the New Jersey Nets beat the Indiana Pacers to tie the Eastern Conference first-round series at two games apiece.

Nenad Krstic added 21 points for the Nets and Jason Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal scored 22 points before fouling out with 1:21 left. Pacers forward Peja Stojakovic sat out with an injured right knee. Associated Press IMEMPHIS, Tenn. Dirk tyowitzki scored 36 points, including a 3-pointer to send tpe game into overtime and six points in the extra peri-ad, to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 94-89 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday for a 3-0 lead in the fjrst-round series.

The Grizzlies, still without a postseason victory, slowed the Dallas offense that had cjverpowered them in first jvo games and held off the Mavericks until late in regulation. However, Nowitzki and the Mavs were simply too much. Dallas outscored Memphis 18-13 in overtime, led by Nowitzki and Jason Terry who had five points in the extra period to finish with 22. Game 4 is Monday in Memphis. Pau Gasol, the Grizzlies' scoring leader who has struggled against the Mavericks, scored 16 points two in overtime.

Chucky Atkins had 20 points to lead Memphis, but missed the Grizzlies' final shot in regulation on an attempted layup. The Grizzlies dropped to 0-11 in the playoffs, the longest losing streak of any playoff team before a first postseason victory. They also tied the NBA record for consecutive playoff losses set by Denver in 1994. Memphis, in the playoffs for the third time in franchise history, was swept last year by Phoenix and the year before by Sah Antonio. Josh Howard had 16 points Jerry Stackhouse added 10 for Dallas.

Eddie Jones scored 14 for Memphis. Hakim Warrick scored 11, and Shane Battier and Lorenzen Wright added 10 each. Wright also had 10 rebounds. NETS 97, (AT) PACERS 88 Vince Carter scored 28 Winston, ot, Miami. 67.

Green Bay, Abdul Hodge, lb, Iowa. 68. St Louis (from San Francisco through Denver), Claude Wroten, dt, LSU. 69. Oakland, Paul McQuistan, ot Weber State.

70. Buffalo (from Tennessee), Ashton Youboty, db, Ohio State. 71. Philadelphia (from New York Jets), Chris Gocong, lb, Cal Poly. 72.

Arizona, Leonard Pope, te, Georgia. 73. Chicago (from Buffalo), Dusty Dvoracek, dt, Oklahoma. 74. Detroit, Brian Calhoun, rb, Wisconsin.

75. Green Bay (from Baltimore through New England), Jason Spitz, Louisville. 76. New York Jets (from Philadelphia), Anthony Schlegel, lb, Ohio State. 77.

St Louis, Jon Alston, lb, Stanford. 78. Cleveland, Travis Wilson, wr, Oklahoma. 79. Atlanta, Jerious Norwood, rb, Mississippi State.

80. Jacksonville (from Dallas), Clint Ingram, lb, Oklahoma. 81. San Diego, Charlie Whitehurst, qb, Clemson. 82.

Miami, Derek Hagan, wr, Arizona State. 83. Pittsburgh (from Minnesota), Anthony Smith, db, Syracuse. 84. San Francisco (from Washington), Brandon Williams, wr, Wisconsin.

85. Kansas City, Brodie Croyle, qb, Alabama. 86. New England, Dave Thomas, te, Texas. 87.

Baltimore (from New York Giants), David Pittman, db, Northwestern State. 88. Carolina (from Chicago), James Anderson, lb, Virginia Tech. 89. Carolina, Rashad Butler, ot Miami.

90. Tampa Bay, Maurice Stovall, wr, Notre Dame. 91. Cincinnati, Frostee Rucker, de, Southern Cal. 92.

Dallas (from Jacksonville), Jason Hatcher, de, Grambling. 93. St Louis (from Denver through Atlanta and Green Bay), Dominique Byrd, te, (x-Compensatory Selection) ROUND ONE 1. Houston, Mario Williams, de, NX. State.

2. New Orleans, Reggie Bush, rb, Southern Cal. 3. Tennessee, Vince Young, qb, Texas. 4.

New York Jets, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, ot, Virginia. 5. Green Bay, A.J. Hawk, lb, Ohio State. 6.

San Francisco, Vernon Davis, te, Maryland. 7. Oakland, Michael Huff, db, Texas. 8. Buffalo, Donte Whitner, db, Ohio State.

9. Detroit, Ernie Sims, lb, Florida State. 10. Arizona, Matt Leinart, qb, Southern Cal. 11.

Denver (from St Louis) Jay Cutler, qb, Vanderbilt 12. Baltimore (from Cleveland), Haloti Ngata, dt, Oregon. 13. Cleveland (from Baltimore), Kamerion Wimbley, de, Florida State. 14.

Philadelphia, Brodrick Bunkley, dt, Florida State. 15. St. Louis (from Atlanta through Denver), Tye Hill, db, Clemson. 16.

Miami, Jason Allen, db, Tennessee. 17. Minnesota, Chad Greenway, lb, Iowa. 18. Dallas, Bobby Carpenter, lb, Ohio State.

19. San Diego, Antonio Cromartie, db, Florida State. 20. Kansas City, Tamba Hali, de, Penn State. 21.

New England, Laurence Maroney, rb, Minnesota. 22. San Francisco (from Washington through Denver), Manny Lawson, de, N.C State. 23. Tampa Bay, Davin Joseph, Oklahoma.

24. Cincinnati, Johnathan Joseph, db, South Carolina. 25. Pittsburgh (from New York Giants), Santonio Holmes, wr, Ohio State. 26.

Buffalo (from Chicago), John McCargo, dt, N.C. State. 27. Carolina, DeAngelo Williams, rb, Memphis. 28.

Jacksonville, Marcedes Lewis, te, UCLA. 29. New York Jets (from Denver), Nick Mangold, Ohio State. 30. Indianapolis, Joseph Addai, rb, LSU.

31. Seattle, Kelly Jennings, db, Miami. 32. New York Giants (from Pittsburgh), Mathias Kiwanuka, de, Boston College. ROUND TWO 33.

Houston, DeMeco Ryans, lb, Alabama. 34. Cleveland (from New Orleans), D'Qwell Watch, Wager on the Jackson, lb, Maryland. 35. Washington (from New York Jets), Rocky Mcintosh, lb, Miami.

36. New England (from Green Bay), Chad Jackson, wr, Florida. 37. Atlanta (from San Francisco through Denver and Green Bay), Jimmy Williams, db, Virginia Tech. 38.

Oakland, Thomas Howard, lb, UTEP. 39. Philadelphia (from Tennessee), Winston Justice, ot, Southern Cal. 40. Detroit, Daniel Bullocks, db, Nebraska.

41. Arizona, Deuce Lutui, Southern Cal. 42. Chicago (from Buffalo), Danieal Manning, db, Abilene Christian. 43.

New Orleans (from Cleveland), Roman Harper, db, Alabama. 44. New York Giants (from Baltimore), Sinorice Moss, wr, Miami. 45. Tennessee (from Philadelphia), LenDale White, rb, Southern Cal.

46. St Louis, Joe Klopfenstein, te, Colorado. 47. Green Bay (from Atlanta), Daryn Colledge, ot Boise State. 48.

Minnesota, Cedric Griffin, db, Texas. 49. New York Jets (from Dallas), Kellen Clemens, qb, Oregon. 50. San Diego, Marcus McNeill, ot, Auburn.

51. Minnesota (from Miami), Ryan Cook, c. New Mexico. 52. Green Bay (from New England), Greg Jennings, wr, Western Michigan.

53. Dallas (from Washington through New York Jets), Anthony Fasano, te, Notre Dame. 54. Kansas City, Bernard Pollard, db, Purdue. 55.

Cincinnati, Andrew Whitworth, ot LSU. 56. Baltimore (from New York Giants), Chris Chester, Oklahoma. 57. Chicago, Devin Hester, db, Miami.

58. Carolina, Richard Marshall, db, Fresno State. 59. Tampa Bay, Jeremy Trueblood, ot, Boston College. 60.

Jacksonville, Maurice Drew, rb, UCLA. 61. Denver, Tony Scheffler, te, Western Michigan. 62. Indianapolis, Tim Jennings, db, Georgia.

63. Seattle, Darryl Tapp, de, Virginia Tech. 64. Minnesota (from Pittsburgh), Tarvaris Jackson, qb, Alabama State. ROUND THREE 65.

Houston, Charles Spencer, ot -Pittsburgh. 66. Houston (from New Orleans), Eric Win a.m. Dy Keith Davis How important is it to cure concrete? Very! The strength and durability of concrete will be fully developed only if it is cured. Proper curing will Devils sweep NYR Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 6 Jackson Harness increase auraoiiity, strengtn, wateragntness, aorasion resistance, volume stability, and resistance to freezing and thawing and deicers.

Curing should begin immediately following placing and finishing so that the desired properties may develop. Special precautions are necessary when concrete work continues during periods of adverse weather. In cold weather, arrangements should be made in advance for heating, covering, insulating, or enclosing the concrete. Hot-weather work may require special precautions against rapid evaporation, drying and high temperatures. Southern Cal.

94. Indianapolis, Freddie Keiaho, lb, San Diego State. 95. Pittsburgh (from Seattle through Minnesota), Willie Reid, wr, Florida State. 96.

New York Giants (from Pittsburgh), Gerris Wilkinson, lb, Georgia Tech. 97. x-New York Jets, Eric Smith, db, Michigan State RECENT HEISM AN WINNERS DRAFT LIST Where Heisman Trophy winners were drafted with their year, school, position, year of draft NFL team, round-overall number if available. Total rounds of draft in parentheses: 2005 Reggie Bush, junior, Southern Cal, RB, 2006, New Orleans, irst-2 (7). 2004 Matt Leinart junior, Southern Cal, QB, 2005, not eligible.

In 2006, Arizona, first-10 (7). 2003 Jason White, junior, Oklahoma, QB, 2004, not eligible. In 2005, NOT SELECTED. 2002 Carson Palmer, senior, Southern Cal, QB, 2003, Cincinnati, first-1 (7). 2001 Eric Crouch, senior, Nebraska, QB, 2000 Chris Weinke, senior, Florida State, QB, 2001, Carolina, fourth-106, (7).

1999 Ron Dayne, senior, Wisconsin, RB, 2000, New York Giants, first-11, (7). 1998 Ricky Williams, senior, Texas, RB, 1999, New Orleans, irst-5, (7). 1997 Charles Woodson, junior, Michigan, CB, 1998, Oakland, first-4, (7). 1996 Danny Wuerffel, senior, Florida, QB, 1997, New Orleans, fourth-99, (7). 1995 Eddie George, senior, Ohio State, RB, 1996, Houston, irst-14, (7).

1994 Rashaan Salaam, junior, Colorado, RB, 1995, Chicago, irst-21. (7). 1993 Charlie Ward, senior, Ficrida State, QB, 1994, NOT SELECTED, (7). 1992 Gino Torretta, senicr, Miami, QB, 1993, Minnesota, seventh-192, (8). 1991 Desmond Howard, junior, Michigan, WR, 1992, Washington, first-4, (12).

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Rangers 1 Montreal 6, Carolina 1 Buffalo 3, Philadelphia 2, 20T Sunday, April 23 Edmonton 4, Detroit 2 San Jose 3, Nashville 0 Tampa Bay 4, Ottawa 3 Anaheim 4, Calgary 3 Monday, April 24 New Jersey 4, N.Y. Rangers 1 Buffalo 8, Philadelphia 2 Montreal 6, Carolina 5, 20T Colorado 5, Dallas 4, OT Tuesday, April 25 Ottawa 8, Tampa Bay 4 Calgary 5, Anaheim 2 San Jose 4, Nashville 1 Edmonton 4, Detroit 3, 20T Wednesday, April 26 Jersey 3, N.Y. Rangers 0 Philadelphia 4, Buffalo 2 Carolina 2, Montreal 1, OT Colorado 4, Dallas 3, OT Thursday, April 27 Ottawa 5, Tampa Bay 2 Detroit 4, Edmonton 2 Anaheim 3, Calgary 2, OT, series tied 2-2 San Jose 5, Nashville 4, San Jose leads series 3-1 Friday, April 28 Carolina 3, Montreal 2, series tied 2-2 Philadelphia 5, Buffalo 4, series tied 2-2 Dallas 4, Colorado 1, Colorado leads series 3-1 Saturday, April 29 Edmonton 3, Detroit 2, Edmonton leads series 3-2 New Jersey 4, N.Y. Rangers 2, New Jersey wins series 4-0 Ottawa 3, Tampa Bay 2, Ottawa wins series 4-1 Anaheim at Calgary, late Today Philadelphia at Buffalo, 2 p.m. Colorado at Dallas, 2 p.m.

Montreal at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. San Jose at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 1 Detroit at Edmonton, 10 p.m. Calgary at Anaheim, TBA Tuesday, May 2 Buffalo at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Carolina at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Colorado, 9:30 p.m., if necessary Nashville at San Jose, 10:30 p.m., if necessary Wednesday, May 3 Edmonton at Detroit, 7 p.m., if necessary Anaheim at Calgary, 10 p.m., if necessary Thursday, May 4 Montreal at Carolina, 7 p.m., if necessary Philadelphia at Buffalo, 7 p.m., if necessary Colorado at Dallas, TBA, if necessary San Jose at Nashville, TBA, if necessary Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle was penalized for tripping with 3:34 left in the third with 20 seconds remaining on a Tampa Bay power play. The Lightning got their fourth and final man advantage with 55 seconds left, but failed to generate the equalizer. Associated Press NEW YORK They stood as a team at center ice as they had so many times this season, raising their sticks to acknowledge the Madison Square Garden crowd. Except this time, Neil Diamond was not crooning "Sweet, Caroline," to celebrate a victory. This time, the New York Rangers were saying farewell.

Instead, the New Jersey Devils were the ones exchanging hugs as they advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs by completing a four-game sweep with a 4-2 win over the Rangers Saturday. "You always look at the way you finish a season and it wasn't pretty," said Rangers right wing Jaromir Jagr, who played just 49 seconds before re-injuring his dislocated left shoulder when a Brad Lukowich check sent him crashing into the boards. "We weren't able to score goals and we made a lot of bad defensive mistakes." The Devils, who beat the Rangers in a playoff series for the first time in four tries, have now won 15 straight. They will face Carolina in the second round if the Hurricanes eliminate the Montreal Canadiens. Otherwise, the Devils will meet the winner of the Buffalo-Philadelphia series.

CAT) SENATORS 3, LIGHTNING 2 Martin Havlat helped Ottawa finish off defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay in five games, scoring a power-play goal in the second period and adding an assist. Peter Schaefer and Andej Meszaros scored first-period goals and Ray Emery made 26 saves for Ottawa, which advanced past the first round for the fourth time in nine straight playoff appearances since 1996-97. Evgeny Artyukhin and Brad Richards scored in the second for the Lightning, who twice drew within one in the period, but were unable to tie it. mm mas P2057SR-1S P21575R-15 P22575R-15 P185J65R-14 31X10.50R-15 P26575R-16 LT23575R-15 P2457SR-16 P2S570R-16 P26570R-16 2niC3EST0Z nairr- dHVCUPTO WEII YOU BUY SELECT BRIDGESTOUE TIRES! Offer valid 4606 to 5606. MaR-ii rebate offec See store for details.

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