The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page C002

BLACK 2C ColorFinal 2C THE PALM BEACH POST THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2009 Minutes From staff and wire reports 'We played a 40-minute game We didn't play the last 20 and they're too good of a team not to play (60) minutes' MARC SAVARD, Boston Bruins forward, on the team's third-period collapse in its 5-2 loss to San Jose on Tuesday. MAGENTA 2 U.S. squad defeats Mexico in qualifier Aussie champs Serena Williams and Nodal win. Who's in the news Book explores where few dare to tread: why Manny is Manny A book to be published March 10 tries to explain how Manny Ramirez arguably baseball's best hitter has cisms of Boston's omnipresent media and fans than Ted Williams, who also often said he wanted to be traded away. Ramirez is almost universally beloved by teammates for his work ethic and his love of the game and that few of them wanted to see him run out of Boston last summer.

"To be honest," former teammate Pedro Martinez is quoted as saying, "I don't have enough kind words to say about Manny. I think he's misunderstood." Excerpts of the book, written by Shawn Boberg and Jean Carnes, appeared Wednesday in the Boston Herald and on its Web site. of Becoming Manny: Inside the Life of Baseball's Most Enigmatic Superstar say. Among the findings in the book, which Ramirez authorized and for which he and his family gave rare interviews: The Boston traveling secretary with whom Ramirez had an altercation last year over tickets the incident that led the Red Sox to trade him had often insulted him in front of other players. Ramirez had little use for high school, but he'd rise at 4:30 a.m.

every morning during those years to run hills with weights tied to his waist. Ramirez was far milder in his criti become known as a dreadlocked goofball and a spoiled star and offers details into some notorious incidents. Ramirez presently without a team, having turned down a $25 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers is intensely shy, Ramirez grants few interviews and has no interest in managing the media's perception of him, the authors What's on Death unlikely to change extreme sport Television AUTO RACING 9:30 a.m. NASCAR: Truck Series practice 11 a.m. NASCAR: Truck Series practice 2 p.m.

Nascar Sprint Cup: Duel at Daytona 7 p.m. NASCAR: Truck Series qualifying COLLEGE BASKETBALL Post Staff and Wire Reports COLUMBUS, Ohio Michael Bradley scored twice to lead the United States to a 2-0 victory over Mexico in a World Cup qualifier Wednesday night, preserving the Americans' domination in the series over the last nine years. On a wet and windy night at Crew Stadium under the threat of a tornado watch the Americans ran their record to 9-0-2 on U.S. soil against Mexico since 2000. Tickets had sold out in 90 minutes, with many of the 23,776 fans showing up hours before to stand in the rain while waving flags and wearing their national colors.

As usual when the two teams meet, there was rough play. Mexico captain Rafael Marquez was ejected in the 65th minute when he went high to spike goalkeeper Tim Howard as they went for a loose ball. Tennis: Top-ranked Serena Williams defeated Iveta Ben-esova of the Czech Republic 6- 1, 6-4 to move into the second round of the Open GDF Suez in Paris. Williams, who resides in Palm Beach Gardens, was ill after winning the Australian Open and wasn't able to practice until Monday. Jelena Jankovic, Elena Dementieva, Agnieszka Rad-wanska, Patty Schnyder and Amelie Mauresmo also won on a perfect day for seeds in the indoor event.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal rallied from a set down to beat Simone Bolelli 4-6, 6-2, 7- 5 and advance to the second round at the ABN Amro in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Earlier Wednesday, Mikhail Youzhny upset sixth-seeded David Ferrer 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. Fourth-seeded Radek Stepanek defeated Chris Gu-ccione 6-2, 7-6 (1) to advance to the quarterfinals at the SAP Open in San Jose, Calif. Tommy Haas beat Chris-tophe Rochus, 6-2, 7-5, in another second-round match. Golf: The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, one of the PGA Tour's most-relaxed events, begins today in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Its field includes three of the top five players in the world Vijay Singh, Phil Mickel-son and double major winner Padraig Harrington. The celebrity shootout field includes Peyton Manning, Bill Murray, Justin Timberlake, Kevin James, Huey Lewis and George Lopez, among others. Former amateur rivals Morgan Pressel of Boca Raton and Michelle Wie highlight a big-name field competing in the SBS Open in Kahuku, Hawaii, the first event on the LPGA Tour this season. It is Wie's first event as a fully exempt tour member. Chris Dachisen and Sam Kang of New Jersey combined for a 12-under 60 and the first-round lead in the Oxford Golf Senior-Junior, the opening event of the sixth season on the Treasure Coast Senior Tour in Palm City.

Martin Catalioto of Ramsey, N.J., shot four-under 68 to earn his first Minor League Golf Tour victory in Hialeah. Skiing: The US. team said Lindsey Vonn, who severed a tendon in her thumb on a broken champagne bottle Saturday, is out of today's giant slalom and has been downgraded to a possible starter for Saturday's slalom at the world championships in Val d'Isere, France. Vonn has already won the super-G and downhill world titles. Louisville at Notre Dame Temple at Saint Joseph's George Mason at Delaware Belmont at Lipscomb Women: Michigan State at Indiana Women: Florida at Vanderbilt Women: Purdue at Minnesota UCLA at Arizona State Illinois at Northwestern SE Missouri State at Eastern Kentucky Women: Mississippi State at Mississippi USC at Arizona Gonzaga at St.

Mary's (CA) Women: Alabama at Tennessee (taped) Maybank Malaysian Open (taped) PGA Tour: Pebble Beach National Pro-Am SBS Open at Turtle Bay ESPN2 Speed Speed Speed ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU CSS Big Ten Sun Big Ten ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU Sun FSN ESPN2 Sun Golf Golf Golf TNT TNT FSN The death of freestyle motocross standout Jeremy Lusk after an accident Saturday in Costa Rica probably won't deter any of the extreme sport's elite participants from trying stunts like the one that killed the racer known as "Pit Bull." "Everyone I know in the freestyle game are strong individuals freethinkers," said Mike "The Godfather" Metzger, whose career ended in 2007 when he broke his back trying to jump between two barges. "I don't see the loss of a brother stopping them from what they enjoy doing in life." Lusk, a gold medalist at the 2008 Games, died from head injuries after he tried a move known as a Hart Attack backflip, in which the rider extends his legs with one hand on the handlebars and the other on the rear of his seat while inverted. He failed to rotate fully while soaring more than 20 feet above the ground. He landed on his front tire and then crashed face-first into the dirt. He trying a similar move at the 2007 Games but walked away unhurt, although the crash scared him enough to keep him from 7 p.m.

7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m.

9 p.m. 9 p.m. 9 p.m. 9 p.m. 10 p.m.

10:30 p.m. 11 p.m. 11:30 p.m. GOLF 9:30 a.m. 3 p.m.

6:30 p.m. NBA 7 p.m. 9:30 p.m. NHL 7 p.m. Radio ALBERT MARINLa Nacion Jeremy 'Pit Bull' Lusk pulled off this stunt at Saturday's competition in San Jose, Costa Rica, but died from head injuries sustained on another jump.

trying the trick again for a few months. He found his nerve, however, and won a silver medal for a similar move at the 2008 Games. Paul Taublieb, the motocross sport organizer at the Games, said Lusk distinguished himself with his willingness to push limits with innovation and style. "That means taking huge risks," Taublieb said. "It's a tragedy what happened." Heat at Bulls Celtics at Mavericks Panthers at Hurricanes COLLEGE BASKETBALL 640-AM 1590-AM 760-AM, 940-AM 1450-AM 790-AM Denver at Florida Atlantic UCLA at Arizona State Heat at Bulls Maple Leafs at Lightning Panthers at Hurricanes 7 p.m.

9 p.m. NBA 7 p.m. NHL 7 p.m. 7 p.m. Now age 50, 'Stars' a challenge for LT Lawrence Taylor turned 50 last week but apparently hasn't lost his competitive spirit.

The Hall of PalmBeachPost.comdolphins 18 NEW GREENS I NEW CLUB HOUSE Walking nQ Green FeesCart A tax. exp. 4-12-09 J. tax. exp.

41209 Tt Tt- Fame linebacker for the New York Giants would watch Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Jason Taylor and Warren Sann on ABC's be a finalist or even better, join Smith as a champion. "I don't expect to do any less than that," Taylor, who started rehearsals for the show on Monday, told The New York Times. "It'd be embarrassing if I did." The show could be the start of several middle-aged star turns for Taylor, whose cocaine use during the 1980s and 1990s led some to wonder if he reach his 50th birthday. Taylor, who told the Times he hasn't used drugs in 10 years, said his agent is in negotiations to sell the rights to his life story. Kiper's pick? Terps receiver ESPN offered up NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper on a two-hour conference call Wednesday and, after he predicted the Dolphins will select Maryland's Darius Hayward-Bay at No.

25, we asked why they'd go back to wide IW.ydri Dancing with the Stars. B3 mSS ttw'o The Links at I Madison Green "Palm Beach County's Best Value." Golf Magazine 1106 "Best Conditions in South Florida." Golfcourse.com Taylor Taylor will compete in the show's eighth season, which starts March 9. Like his predecessors, he expects to 2001 Crestwood Royal Palm Beach Tee Times: 866-492-1824 ext. 100 receiver after taking Ted Ginn Jr. with their No.

1 pick just two years ago. "Ted Ginn is not anywhere near where he needs to be as a wide receiver by any stretch," Kiper said. "Hayward-Bay brings a lot of skills. If he had been more productive, he would have been a much higher pick." Leonard Worrell glad for shot with Padres Ginn HAVE YOU LEFT YOUR jWBWBBnWBnBHpflliM PRIVATE CLUB DUE TO BSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSm THE ECONOMY? BMMM HAVE WE GOT A BEMKESflliMKifllflliM deal for you! CALL NOW FOR BEST MEMBERSHIP RATES HsHKBMflHiBMiM IN PALM BEACH RBSSBSsSfSBsSfS Jupiter is just 30 miles from his home in Boynton Beach, but reliever Mark Worrell is thrilled to be heading 2,400 miles away for spring training. The 2001 John I.

Leonard graduate will leave Friday to join the San Diego Padres, in Peoria, Ariz. He's not at all sad that he won't be returning to Roger Dean Stadium to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals. "Every year I put up great numbers and so far I feel like I didn't get a fair shot," Worrell told the Posfs Joe Capozzi said. After breaking into the majors with four relief appearances for the Cardinals last June, Worrell was traded for shortstop Khalil Greene.

Despite recording 80 strikeouts with a 2.15 ERA in 58 23 innings for Class AAA Memphis, Worrell wasn't called up in September. "Obviously the Cardinals don't really respect me," he said at the time. Worrell has a good shot to win a spot in San Diego's first bullpen of the post-Trevor Hoffman era. BEST CONDITIONS BEST PRICE BEST VALUE! "Best Places to Play" Golf Digest 1008 Another possibility for a big wideout would be North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks but only if he has good 40-yard dash times at next week's NFL Draft combine in Indianapolis. Kiper also offered up his opinion that Chad Pennington will be the QB starter this year as a "one-year bridge" to Chad Henne, who sat last season after being the team's second-round pick out of Michigan.

"They passed on Matt Ryan (at the top of the draft) for Jake Long, but three or four years down the road Henne is going to be the guy who is compared to Ryan," he said. "We already know how good Ryan is going to be. They'd better hope Henne is right with him or passing on Ryan is going to be a bad move." Brian Biggane Turnpike Exit 99 West Palm Beach. Head west on Okeechobee Blvd approx. 6 miles.

Entrance is on the right. Follow the signs to the Clubhouse. Three rings, one diploma: Aikman gets UCLA degree the KIDS i 4 Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman says he's passed his two final college courses and will graduate in June from UCLA, 20 years after he left for the NFL. Aikman, who led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships in the 1990s, is getting a bachelor's degree in sociology and will participate in UCLAs graduation ceremonies. "I'm going to feel a little old," said Aikman, 42.

"Going through with a bunch of 22-year-olds." The Fox broadcaster promised his mother when he left school just two courses shy of a degree that he'd return and finish. He got Ns in his final classes: one on race and ethnicity and another on aging. sayTUAMIC Online poll at PalmBeachPost.comsports Today's question: Who was the better quarterback? A. Dan Marino B. Brett Favre This week's area schedules MONDAY FEB.

9 SUNDAY FEB. 8 TUESDAY FEB. 10 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY FEB. 11 FEB. 12 FEB.

13 SATURDAY FEB. 14 David W. Dodson, M.D. For Sponsoring: Palm Beach Gardens High School By adopting a classroom through The Palm Beach Post's Newspapers in Education (NIE) program, you have contributed newspapers to the classroom that became part of the students' daily requirement of reading and writing. Do the kids appreciate it? The thank you notes we've received from them indicates they do.

And we do, too. Florida Panthers llSUTl at vs. palmbeachpost.companthers hSuK? FLA 5 CAR NYR BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise URSaEr" TOR 4 7pm 7'30 Tickets: (954) 835-PUCK FSN FSN Miami Heat MIA qB DEN qq ru. PalmBeachPost.comheat RSE IVMM5, ucn aa UHI AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami aM CHA 92 MIA 82 7 p.m. Tickets: (786) 777-1502 LHJ SUN Today's area events POLO At International Polo Club, Wellington 11a.m.

BTAv. Mount Brilliant (561) 282-5290 1 p.m. Lechuza Caracas v. Isla Carroll (561) 282-5290 3 p.m. San Saba v.

Lucchese (561) 282-5290 DOG RACING 1 p.m. PBKC (561) 683-2222 HORSE RACING 1:15 p.m. Gulfstream (954)454-7000 JAI ALAI Noon Miami (305) 633-6400 7 p.m. Dania (954)927-2841 University of Miami PalmBeachPost.comum BankUnited Center, Coral Gables Tickets: (800) GO-CANES Basketball Sunday: N. Carolina, 7:45 p.m., FSN Feb.

18: at FSU, 7 p.m., ESPNU Feb. 21: Boston College, noon Feb. 26: at Virginia, 8 p.m., Raycom March 4: atGa. Tech, 7:30 p.m. March 7: vs.

NC State, noon University of Florida PalmBeachPost.comuf O'Connell Center, Gainesville Tickets: (800) 34-GAT0R Basketball Saturday: at Georgia, 3:30 p.m., ABC Feb. 18: Alabama, 7 p.m., Sun Feb. 21: Vanderbilt, 3 p.m., Raycom Feb. 24: at LSU, 9 p.m., ESPN March 1: Tennessee, 2 p.m., CBS March 4: at Miss. 8 p.m., Raycom Florida State University PalmBeachPost.comfsu Leon Cty.

Civic Center, Tallahassee Tickets: www.seminoles.cstv.com Basketball Saturday: at Wake 4 p.m., Raycom Feb. 18: Miami, 7 p.m., ESPNU Feb. 21: at Va. Tech, 3:30 p.m., Raycom Feb. 24: at Boston College, 9 p.m., ESPNU Feb.

28: vs. Clemson, 2 p.m., Raycom March 3: at Duke, 8 p.m., Raycom How to contact us Telephone: (561) 820-4440 Fax line: (561)820-4481 E-mail: pbsportspbpost.com SPORTS EDITOR Nick Moschella, (561) 820-4441 nickmoschellapbpost.com Florida Atlantic University PalmBeachPost.comfau FAU Arena, Boca Raton Tickets: (866) FAU-OWLS Basketball Today: Denver, 7 p.m. Saturday: at South Alabama, 8 p.m. Feb. 18: at Savannah State, 7 p.m.

Feb. 21: Middle Tennessee 7 p.m. Feb. 26: at Western Kentucky, 8 p.m. Feb.

28: at FIU, 7 p.m..