News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 21

PLAYERS Southwest Florida pair turns affection for tennis equipment into quite a racket C8 SECTION TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005 THE NEWS-PRESS GOLF PRO FOOTBALL BASEBALL A Jt Nicklaus calls Tiger 'awesome' Rogers has one more TV run-in Incident comes at county jail booking The Associated Press 7i Hi Leader in major titles says Woods was in total control The Associated Press ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND Jack Nicklaus watched the final round of the British Open from his home in Florida before heading out to the golf course to watch some of his grandchil Mi1 MARC BEAUDINTHE NEWS-PRESS Florida Firecats linemen Tony Agee, left, and Antonio Dingle have been friends since they met on a recruiting visit to the University of Virginia 12 years ago. They're also two big reasons why Florida has arenafootball2's best record. Best fri ends make ARLINGTON, TEXAS Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers had another run-in with a cameraman Monday when he turned himself in on misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an earlier tirade against two cameramen. The three-time All-Star, who is appealing a 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine by Major League Baseball, was released after posting $1,500 bond.

Rogers jawed at a cameraman for Dallas-Fort Worth television station WFAA as he was booked into the county jail Just as with the incident that led to the charges, the exchange was caught on tape. WFAA reported on its Web site Monday that photographer Mike Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers turned to him and said, "You're getting really close; you know that? Do you hear me?" A few seconds later, Rogers again turned to the camera, saying, "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too." After Zukerman replied, "It's just my job, Kenny," Rogers responded: "Yeah. Your job. That's just your excuse." The Rangers declined to comment, referring questions huge impact for Gats JACK NICKLAUS (18 titles) Masters (6): 66,1972,1975, 1986 U.S. Open (4): 1962,1967, 1972,1980 British Open (3): 1966, 1970,1978 PGA Championship (5): 1963,1971, 1973,1975, 1980 Career Grand Slam age: 26 Linemen Agee, Dingle help Florida to af2's top record dren rut balls.

This was simply Nicklaus doing what he loves best, spending time with his family just two days after he retired from competitive golf. He was hardly grooming a champion to stop Tiger Woods' pursuit of his record 18 professional major titles. Based on what he saw Sunday at St Andrews, there might be no stopping Woods, anyway. "I have to say, that is the best I have seen Tiger swing," Nicklaus said not long after Woods shot a 2-under 70, the only round under par among the final 14 players who teed off on an Old Course that was fast, firm and fiery. "Tiger has been working on his game, and he certainly seemed to find it at St.

Andrews," Nicklaus said. 'Tiger looked in total control; he never looked like there was a chance for him to lose. It was a pretty awesome performance." It was the 10th major title for the 29-year-old Woods, leaving him one behind Walter Hagen and eight away from the benchmark i many thought never would be matched, much less broken. Nicklaus was 32 when he won his 10th major title, in the 1972 Masters Tournament "There's a few people cursing their luck now," said Colin Montgomerie, who challenged Woods -briefly but had to settle for winning the Flight at this British Open. "But you have to beat Tiger.

If he stays fit and healthy he has 10 of TIGER to Rogers' attorney, who did -P Yinfrfitiima telenhnneTalh WOODS with the NFL's Green Bay Packers in 1999. He played in NFL Europe from 2000-01. He was named to the All-NFL Europe team in 2000 after recording seven sacks with the Scotland Claymores. "Those two guys are go-getters," Cats lineman Comone Fisher said. "Agee has brought some extra protection.

And Din-, "gle? He's a beast. He's a monster in the middle. I feel sorry for the centers who have to face him because he's a monster." The two clicked immediately when they first met 12 years ago, Agee said. Dingle refers to Agee as his "best friend, a brother." "We hung out a lot (on the recruiting visit)," Agee said. See FIRECATS C3 NFL notebook C3 and Dingle in two separate trades in May after the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz jettisoned them.

1 The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Agee and the 6-3, 325-pound Dingle quickly moved into Florida's starting lineup. Agee starts at offensive guard. Dingle at nose tackle. The twosome have helped the Cats (12-2) "post the-iaf2's best record. "Oklahoma City was 2-4 at the time and their coach wanted to make some changes," Florida coach Kevin Bouis said.

"I was shocked when he told me he was going to get rid ofhis two best linemen. On the flip side, Agee and Dingle both wanted to play here, so it all fell into place for us." Agee is in his fourth af2 sea-soa Dingle played nine games BY CHRIS UMPIERRE They met in a University of Virginia dormitory room 12 years ago. Two highly ranked high school junior football players, Tony Agee and Antonio Dingle were on a recruiting visit. They were assigned to the same for -the- Agee and Dingle became such good friends that the latter pledged to go to college wherever the former chose. Agee, 29, and Dingle, 28, have been inseparable ever since.

The best friends played together at the University of Virginia from 1995-98. They've played together on three arena-fbotball2 league teams. Looking to bolster their line play, the Florida Firecats acquired Agee NEXT GAME Who: Florida Firecats at Green Bay -(Wfe.) Blizzard When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: The Resch Center, Green Bay, Wis. Radio: WGUF-FM (98.9), WJG0-FM (102.9) (10 titles) Masters (4): 1997,2001, 2002,2005 U.S.

Open (2): 2000,2002 British Open (2): 2000, 2005, onship (2): 1999-00 Career Grand Slam age: 24 PRO BASKETBALL June 29, Rogers lashed put at two cameramen as they taped him walking to the field for pregame stretching. The episode led to one of those cameramen, Larry Rodriguez of KDFW, being treated at a hospital after the camera was ripped from his hands and thrown to the ground. Rogers apologized a week later, saying the incident was out of character and would never happen again. Gilfour said Fox Sports which owns the camera that Rogers damaged in the shoving of Rodriguez has declined to press criminal charges. Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said Rogers faces a charge of assault with injury in the shoving of Rodriguez, She also said police will mail an assault citation to Rogers' attorney for shoving Fox Sports Net Southwest cameraman David MammelL The assault charge involving Rodriguez is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.

The other charge is punishable by a fine More baseball C4-5 these majors now, and we all know Jack had 18. Can he achieve the impossible? He's on his way." This one had a look of familiarity to it Whenever he wins a major by such a large margin five shots over Montgomerie it raises the question whether Woods is that good or his competition is not up to the task. "What we've seen is that he went ahead "of the pack very early in his career," Royal See WOODS C6 Reports: Brown leaving Pistons Detroit said to be working on buyout f3 Li JT 'I i ARMSTRONG RESUMES CHASE FOR NO. 7 Tour de France C2 Kenny Rogers spiritually, Larry wants to coach. What's going to happen next I will talk to the Pistons (today) and move forward." Former Minnesota Timber-wolves coach Saunders is the-leading candidate to replace Browa Brown's future has been uncertain for months, and the Pistons apparently lost patience with all the uncertainty.

After the season, Brown underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic for a bladder problem, which has bothered him since midway through last sea-soa When the Pistons and Brown met last week, Brown couldn't guarantee that he would be healthy for all of the upcoming season. He missed 17 games last year after having surgery twice for a hip replacement and first of his two surgeries for the bladder problem. See BROWN C6 More pro basketball C6 Knight Ridder News Service DETROIT All indications are that Larry Brown's days as the Detroit Pistons' coach are over. The Pistons worked on the final details of a buyout Monday. No announcement was made, but one is expected soon, perhaps as early as today.

Several news outlets, including the Detroit News, ESPN and Sports Illustrated, reported that Brown was gone for sure. Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball operations, wouldn't confirm or deny those reports. Joe Glass, Brown's agent, acknowledged that the sides negotiated again Monday, but said no settlement had been reached. "Larry's not quitting," Glass said "He wants to be the Pistons' coach on Oct 3, but seeing that the Pistons supposedly have already talked to Flip Saunders, that doesn't look like it's going to be a possibility. "Health-wise, emotionally and i fX FILE PHOTO Detroit coach Larry Brown, left, directs his team as the Pistons' Chauncey Billups watches during NBA Finals in June.

Various news outlets reported Monday that Brown will not return as the Pistons' coach next season. JLx. INSIDE INDEX Fanfare C2 Pro football C3 Youth sports C3 CONTACT US MarkBickel Sports Editor, 335-0357 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday BASEBALL Scott Kazmir held Boston to three hits over six Innings to help Tampa Bay hand Boston its sixth loss in seven games Roundups C5 PRO FOOTBALL Receiver Tim Brown retires as an Oakland Raider, announces plans to partner with Roush Racing on a NASCAR team C3 Baseball C4-5 Pro basketball C6 Scorecard C7 Players C8.