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

BLACK 2C 1 Ed Mo 2C THE PALM BEACH POST WEDNESDAY JULY 2, 2008 MAGENTA Serena: enus not the favorite THE Today's men's quarterfinals Roger Federer (1) vs. Mario Ancic Marat Safin vs. Feliciano Lopez (31) RainerSchuettlervs. Arnaud Clement Andy Murray (12) vs. Rafael Nadal (2) YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Is Curt Schilling a Hall of Famer? No Yes Poll question TODAY'S WEB QUESTION Do you think the Heat will sign a big-name free agent this off-season? A.

Yes B. No To vote, visit PalmBeachPost.com and click on sports. 52 percent 48 percent WIMBLEDONraw ic streak at the All England Club to 12 matches, including 19 sets in a row. Nonetheless, at least one person who knows a thing or two about tennis and a thing or two about Venus Williams flatly rejected the notion that she's the favorite: Serena Williams. Asked after her own impressive quarterfinal victory 6-4, 6-0 against llth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska whether her older sister should be considered the likeliest champion, Serena shot back: "I would never sit here and say she's the favorite when I'm still in the draw.

What are you on?" Rather than a sibling rivalry, that response perhaps reflects nothing more than the sort of competitive drive that helped the younger Williams win eight Grand Slam singles titles. That haul includes the 2002 and 2003 Wimbledon championships, each time concluded by beating her sister. One more win apiece, and they'll reprise the all-in-the-family final tradition Saturday. In Thursday's semifinals, Serena will face 133rd-ranked Zheng Jie, who became the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals at a major tournament by upsetting 18th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Venus next plays the highest-seeded remaining woman, No.

5 Elena Dementieva, who beat No. 21 Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-3. Zheng is the first wild-card entrant to reach the women's semifinals at Wimbledon; Sports people Test your wits From staff and wire reports I won the first bout with a million-dollar gate in boxing history. The receipts totaled $1,789,238 with $50 ringside seats in front of 80,183 at Rickard's Orchard in Jersey City, N.J.? (Answer below) only one woman ranked lower has made the semifinals at any Grand Slam. "I just try my best to keep going," Zheng said.

"China has quite a lot of sports in which it is a world leader," she said through a translator. "Unfortunately, tennis is not one of them." Like Zheng, Radwanska and Tanasugarn were playing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time. Unlike her, they were forced to deal with a Williams on Tuesday. More specifically, they were forced to deal with those Williams serves, developed by Dad all those years ago on the courts in Compton, Calif. "We're different," Venus said.

"I serve big almost every time. She goes for a little more placement." Against Radwanska, Serena hit 11 aces, including four in one game while pulling even at 3-3 in the first set. On the last of those, Radwanska lunged and whiffed, then grimaced at her racket. "It's too much, you know," Radwanska said. TV Radio BEST BET: RED SOX AT RAYS 7:10, ESPN: Meaningful baseball in St.

Pete in July. Does it get any better than that for long-suffering Rays fans? Ask them in October. Television Today BASEBALL TOP HEAT PICK BEASLEY UP FOR ESPY NEW YORK Michael Beasley, the Miami Heat's first-round draft pick out of Kansas State, is nominated for Best Male College Athlete at the 2008 ESPY Awards. Beasley joins Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough (basketball) in the category. Winners are determined by fan voting online or through mobile phones.

Fans wishing to vote online can do so by visiting HEAT.com or ESPYS.tv. Voting closes on July 12 and the awards will be presented Sunday, July 20 on ESPN. Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez are the contenders for best male athlete as the ESPY nominees. Golfer Lorena Ochoa, basketball player Candace Parker, auto racer Danica Patrick and skier Lindsey Vonn are the finalists for best female athlete. AMPUTEE BEGINS OLYMPIC QUALIFYING BID MILAN, Italy Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius will begin his bid to qualify for the Beijing Olympics today.

Pistorius, 21, resumed training six weeks ago after a sports arbitration court overturned a lifetime ban from the Olympics and any other able bodied race because the IAAF said the carbon fiber prosthetic racing blades gave him an unfair advantage. He will compete in three races today in Milan, July 11 in Rome and July 16 in Lucerne, Switzerland in an attempt to qualify. He must bring his 400-meter time under 45.55 seconds. His lifetime best is 46.36. South Florida's Pre-eminent Short Course 3 12:10 p.m.

Nationals at Marlins FSN 7: 10 p.m. Red Sox at Rays ESPN BOXING 9 p.m. Brian Minto vs. John Poore ESPN2 OLYMPICS 8 p.m. U.S.

Trials: Swimming USA TENNIS 7 a.m. Wimbledon ESPN2 10 a.m. Wimbledon NBC 1 p.m. Wimbledon ESPN2 1-4- "In this era of obscene not strive to induce a little fun into the mix and at the same time present a true test of delicacy and accuracy. Not only does this sort of hole require accuracy, but the stroke must be of the proper I do not mean to imply that short par 3's don't exist anymore.

it's one of the many ways to check unbridled power, and occasionally make those long hitters' knees tremble." Quote from Ben Crenshaw "Masters of the Links" Essays on the art of golf Note: Premium channels such as ESPNU, ESPN Classic, the Tennis Channel, the Speed Channel, Fox Soccer Channel and Versus are not available on most basic cable systems. Check your listings or call your cable or satellite provider to learn whether stations are available in your area. Radio BASEBALL 12:10 p.m. Nationals at Marlins 760-AM, 790-AM, 1140-AM 7:10 p.m. Red Sox at Rays 1450-AM 8:15 p.m.

Mets at Cardinals 1590-AM JUPITER DUNES TEST YOURSELF 401 N. A1A Ideally located at the SE corner of Al A and Jupiter Beach Road in Jupiter Tee times never required 561-746-6654 www.jupiterdunesgolf.com WfBm- SJ Area events AMERICAN AMATEUR BASEBALL 7 p.m. Palm Beach (561) 512-2255 vs. North Palm Beach (at Dwyer HS) AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL 7 p.m. Boynton 164 vs.

Lake Worth 47 (561) 758-9299 (at Dick Brown Field) 7 p.m. West Boca vs. Seminole 367 (561)758-9299 (at RPB HS) BASEBALL 12:10 p.m. Nationals at Marlins (305) 626-7400 PAUL WHITEThe Associated Press FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE 7 p.m. Palm Beach at Vera Beach (866)363-4377 7:05 p.m.

Brevard County at Jupiter (561) 775-1818 MOTORSPORTS at Moroso Motorsports Park (561) 622-1400 6 p.m. Kart: Arrive Drive DOG RACING 12:40 p.m. Palm Beach Kennel Club (561) 683-2222 HARNESS RACING 7:25 p.m. Pompano Park (954) 972-2000 JAI ALAI Noon Miami Jai-Alai (305)633-6400 7 p.m. Miami Jai-Alai (305)633-6400 7 p.m.

Dania Jai-Alai (954)927-2841 WRMF IGBSM The Variety of the Today HI iJBI In the spotlight A GIFT WORTHY OF A KING MADRID Spanish national soccer team coach Luis Aragones (left) shows the Euro 2008 Championship trophy to Spain's King Juan Carlos at the Zarzuela Palace. Contact us Telephone: (561) 820-4440; (800) 432-7595 Fax line: (561) 820-4481. E-mail: pbsportspbpost.com SPORTS EDITOR Nick Moschella, (561) 820-4441, nickmoschellapbpost.com PRO SPORTS DaveTepps, (561) 820-4742, daveteppspbpost.com COLLEGESHIGH SCHOOLS Jim Coleman, (561) 820-4815, jimcolemanpbpost.com Report resultsnews to (561) 820-4440 or (800) 432-7595 AREA RESULTSCALENDAR TamiTolley, (561) 820-4440, tamitolleypbpost.com LETTERS Fax to (561) 820-4481; e-mail to letitrippbpost.com; or send them by regular mail to: Let It Rip, The Palm Beach Post, Sports Department, Box 24700, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33405 Press pass NASCAR NEEDS BETTER PLAN FOR RAIN What was learned from Sunday's rain fiasco? Two things: That every NASCAR track needs full lighting. Loudon has no lights.

And that these 2 p.m. starting times are for the birds. Putting in lights everywhere and moving starting times back to no later than 1 p.m. local time would give NASCAR officials a lot more leeway on race day when confronted by rain.This season all but one of the tour's 36 regular-season races start at 2 p.m. or later.

Maybe that helps NASCAR promoters sell more Coke, beer, hotdogs and souvenirs. Maybe it does something for TV ratings. But do these late race starts really provide any added value for the fans. The fans that spend good money and brave horrendous traffic jams to attend these high-dollar races deserve better. Mike Mulhern, Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal BOTH TEAMS HAVE BEEN GETTING DRUMMED DENVER Before Monday night's battle for last place in the feeble National League Worst, Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle sent a greeting to the visitors' dugout for San Diego Padres manager Bud Black.

"If it was easy," Hurdle shouted from the batting cage, "anybody could do it." Black grinned. Ringo Starr should be singing the seventh inning stretch for both these clubs. Nine months after they played for the NL wild card, it don't come easy. Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News hip Trivia answer Jack Dempsey, who knocked out Georges Carpentier at 1:16 of the fourth round on July 2, 1921. On this date wjtiftTi fer lust mgima mmi49iim skup rioiato 4) mil 1927: Helen Wills beat Lili de Alvar 6-2, 6-4 for the women's Wimbledon title.

1937: Don Budge beat Gottfried von Cramm, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to win Wimbledon. Budge swept the singles, doubles and the mixed doubles crowns. 1 3i mini tiufi Jf. Ic UN lEk 9 Ripley returns as John Carroll AD Research and compare vehicles, find a vehicle, search for a dealer, calculate payments, find specials and deals. 18 years, nine as athletic director, to take a teaching job in South Carolina.

"It won't be easy, because Joe Paschal is so well-respected on this campus," Ripley said. "I'm happy and excited, and a little nervous as well." Ripley has been a teacher and basketball coach in South Florida for 30 years, working at Miami-Monsignor Pace, Port St. Lucie High and Centennial in addition to John Carroll. "Steve matches the same tireless work ethic that his predecessor had," Hopper said. "He brings those organizational skills and people-person skills that we need to make John Carroll the best it can be." Ripley, 52, said he doesn't expect to coach at John Carroll.

The only vacancy he must fill is finding a replacement for Paschal, who coached track. benvolinpbpost.com By BEN VOLIN Palm Beach Post Staff Writer John Carroll Principal Ben Hopper hired a familiar face to take over as the school's athletic director. Steve Ripley, the Rams' boys basketball coach from 1982-84 and 2001-07, returns to John Carroll after coaching for one year at Centennial. Ripley replaces Joe Paschal, who announced in May he would leave John Carroll after Click On Autos.