The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 9

QIhe dimes CONTACT SCOTT FERRELL 459-3299 or sbrevcpornimcs THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 "rivr 1 fTSH SPORTS LINEUP DeCaro forced to mask pain of latest mishap Vludbugs eye playoff sweep 1.1 Roy Lang III OPINION By Kelly Morris kmorris4gannett.com It's April 1, but don't be fooled. The Bossier-Shreve-port Mudbugs victims of playoff sweeps in 2008 and 2009 have a chance to be to approach (Game 4) just like the first game. It's fun, but everyone is just so focused right now. We're playing as Lucas back on the winning side of one. The Mudbugs, John DeCaro was the master of deception Tuesday night.

Fitting, considering this is a guy who makes a living wearing a mask. IXCaro strolled through the CenturyTel Center smiling, shaking hands and signing autographs during the Bossier-Shreveprt Mudbugs' dominating victory over Colorado in the Northern Conference Semifinals. Following the win, which gave his team a commanding 3-0 series lead, DeCaro exited the Mudbugs' locker room with a grin. Soon his defense mechanism had run its course he knew the questions were coming. In reality, DeCaro was speechless, and a bit lost.

For the second time in a year, a freakish injury derailed his hockey career. "It was the worst thing that could have happened," he said. Instead of preparing for up H) in tne Northern Conference Semifinals, are one win away from eliminating the Colorado Eagles from rflanggannett.com tonight's game, DeCaro was prepping for surgery. He successfully went under the knife Wednesday as doctors repaired his most recent injury, an excruciating tear of his right groin suffered Saturday. "It was unbelievable pain," DeCaro said.

"The popping was the tear. I wanted to puke in my mask. I can't explain how painful it was." The feeling of sickness hasn't subsided much. He was unable to ask the doctor performing the surgery any questions during consultation because he was "in shock." See LANG 4B Eagles at Mudbugs Today, 7:05 p.m. Radio: 1130 AM a total team right now.

Every guy wants it so bad." Their performance in Game 3 went a long way in showing how focused they are. The Mudbugs outhustled the Eagles winners of the President's Cup in 2005 and 2007 in almost every facet of the game. The Eagles outshot the Mudbugs 25-20 but didn't generate much traffic in front of the net Ken Carroll (2-0) has allowed four goals on 54 shots in the series. See MUDBUGS 4B the playoffs. The potential series-clincher is 7:05 tonight at the CenturyTel Center.

"We're not looking past them, but we know it's in our hands," Mudbugs forward Tyrel Lucas said. "We're going Henrtotta WlldsmlthThe Times Mudbugs' Jeff Kyrzakos (16) and Colorado Eagles' Ryan Tobler fight for the puck during Tuesday's game at the CenturyTel Center. Bossier-Shreveport will take on Colorado tonight with hopes of sweeping the best-of-seven series and advancing in the CHL playoffs. Rangers' Kinsler could open on DL Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler (above) is expecting to open the season on the disabled list because of a high ankle sprain. Twins' Span hits mom with foul ball Minnesota Twins' Denard Span hit a hard foul ball that struck his mom in the upper chest Wednesday.

She was treated by paramedics and back in the stands minutes later. SEE PAGE 5B to hmmf "Gin hF "xf rl'y -pry KiLfi By Jimmy Watson jimwatsongannett.com When the port Battle Wings kick off the 2010 season Saturday evening in the CenturyTel Center, fans of the 10-year-old franchise can expect to see something entirely different For one thing, the team is no longer a member of the now-defunct arenafootball2 league and its patronizing salaries. The Battle Wings are now members of the Arena Football League, indoor football at its highest level vy Sure, the rules will remain" the same and they'll see a MttHm LeBron James likely to skip Team USA Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James said Wednesday night that he's "probably not playing" for Team USA this summer in the world championships in Turkey. ill: i V' i f-' smattering of the same' old faces off last year's club. but' they'll also see a faster game with some er athletes Norrls Dickerson resigns at Tulane University Tulane University's men's basketball coach Dave Dickerson has resigned, ending a five-year stint as head coach of the Green, Wave.

SEE PAGE 5B Hamlin has knee surgery NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin is home resting following surgery on his left knee on Wednesday morning. i I' AP playing a more efficient contest "I see quite a few names I recognize' from around nhe AFL and the talent from top to bottom is a lot better than it was in the af2 especially at the quarterback position," said Battle Wings coach Jon Norris. The Rules The Players: Each team can carry 23 active players on their roster with 20 dressing for each contest. There are eight players on the field with many playing both offense and defense. Players can be substituted at will.

The field: The game is played on a 50-yard long by 85-feet wide field. Sideboards, made of high-density foam rubber, surround the field and players are considered down when pushed into them. The goal posts are 9 feet wide, compared to the NFL's 18.5-foot width. The net: Behind the end zone is a net arid footballs thrown or kicked into the net are live. Kickoffs routinely hit the net, so the return man must turn his back to the defense to receive the bal1- See AFL 5B Philadelphia Soul's Mike Brown leaps oyer Jason Ball of the Cleveland Gladiators on a return for a touchdown during a 2008 Arena Football League playoff game in Philadelphia.

The Cleveland Gladiators are among the Arena Football League teams returning to the AFL. Wings ready for step up in competition LSU rallies past Binghamton LSU put together a seven-run eighth inning to overcome a one-run deficit and defeat Binghamton, 13-7, at Alex Stadium on Wednesday. SEE PAGE 5B "It's major, league foot-, ball. The talent level, is going to be Vipers at exceptional. It VVingS der." But Berry doesn't wonder if he belongs in the AFL He was set to play for the New Orleans Vodoo last year before the team ceased operations.

Without an AFL to play in, Berry came to Bossier-Shreveport and played for the Battle Wings. Still, he can already tell a difference in the af2 game and the AFL See WINGS 5B argue that point with Nor? v'ris. The Arena Football League is combining teams from the old Arena Football League and the a2 where the Battle Wings played through last season. While the Wings open up Saturday against former af2 member the Alabama Vipers, Bossier-Shreveport will be in a division that includes former AFL member Dallas. The Orlando Preda- 'tors and Chicago Rush are also among the former AFL teams playing in the newly formed AFL Battle Wings wide receiver PJ.

Berry said he could already sense some disrespect from the former AFL teams toward the former af2 teams in the new league. "I saw it two weeks ago," Berry said, referring to the Battle Wings' preseason game with Dallas. "It's going to be a chip on my shoul By Scott Ferrell sferrellgannett.com Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings coach Jon Norris understands his team's step up in competition this season as they move from af2 to the Arena Football League. "People around here are going to have a real good seat to see some great athletes," Norris said Wednesday at his team's weekly media luncheon. Will piU Ol5- er-Shreveport on the sports map." Saturday, 5 p.m.

Radio: 95.7 FM NBA Norris says the level of play will be the best the Ark-La-Tex has ever seen. As leagues go, few would Atlanta 109 Miami 98 L.A. Lakers 92 Detroit 81 Charlotte 103 Phoenix 116 Philadelphia 84 New Jersey 105 Cleveland 101 Minnesota 108 Milwaukee 98 Sacramento 99 Toronto 114 Washjngton, -96. L.A. Clippers 92 New Orleans 91 Okla.

City 109 Dallas 106 Boston 104 Memphis 102(OT) NHL I Buffalo 6 Chicago 4 Florida 2 Minnesota 0 Carolina 2 Dallas 5 Montreal 1 San Jose 1 Tampa Bay 2 Anaheim 5 Pittsburgh 0 Colorado 2 i tion Gent ears eoary conference affilia "UNO has Its own set of challenges and Is probably about six months behind where Centenarry Is In making the move." Tom Tallach, Centenary athletic director to D-HI, to possibly join the ASC. As a small, private school, Centenary would have an advantage over the 'f is probably about six months behind where Centenary is in making the move." Also: in the running for UNO's top athletic job are Rob Bernardi of Nicholls State, Richard "Dick" Strockbine of the University of Dallas and AndyBenoitofUNO. The position was last held by Jim Miller who stepped down in Jury. UNO Vice Chancellor for Campus Services Joel Chatelain has served as interim athletic director since November. By Jimmy Watson jimwatsongannett.com Centenary College could be close to joining the Division III American Southwest Conference after playing its final season in The Summit League this fall.

According to published reports, ASC commissioner. Amy Carlton said the current 15-member league wants to cap membership at 16 and Centenary, which began the move from Division I down 2B to Division III after a Board of Trustees vote last summer, is the prime candidate for the final spot. Things could change," Carlton said in an Associated Press story, noting that the 16-team cap is flexible. "Every institution that seeks membership is judged on the merits of what they can bring to the conference." Carlton's comments came in response to overtures from the University of New Orleans, which is also dropping High School Athletics Tallach Major League Baseball 3B Golf 3B 4B is one of four finalists for the same position at UNO and could find out this week if he is moving from one D-III school to another. "I thought the interview went well.

Now it's just wait and see," Tallach said. "UNO has its own set of challenges and D-III programs are private and Centenary is located close to a group of ASC member schools in Texas, including East Texas Baptist in Marshall. Louisiana College in Pineville is also an ASC member. Incidentally, Centenary athletic director Tom Tallach NBA larger, public UNO. UNO has seen enrollment fall from 17,000 to about 12,000 since Katrina, but Centenary has well under 1,000 students.

Approximately 80 percent of College Basketball 4B 5B 5B Scoreboard Tennis I.