The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • C1

BASKETBALL Kobe Bryant says Lakers not giving up 8C SPORTS FOR LIVE SPORTS SCORES OR STATS, SEND TEXT MESSAGES WITH TEAM NAME (i.e., Braves), PLAYER (i.e., John Smoltz) to 44636 Also get live game scores stats online at tennessean.comsports SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2008 V7 I Tiger soars to lead on eagles LEADERB0ARD 1 Tiger Woods -3 2 Lee Westwood -2 3 Rocco Mediate -1 in the hunt. He played the final six holes in 4 under and that included a bogey and will play in the final group for the sixth time in the last eight majors. This time he has the lead, and he has never lost a major from the front. But he has never won a major with a limp, either. "Is it getting worse? Yes, it is," said Woods, playing for the first time since surgery April 15 to clean out cartilage in his left knee.

"Certain shots, I'll feel it. I can't say it's a drive, can't say it's a wedge. I'm not sure what shot it's going to happen on." Woods, grimacing with Please see OPEN, 3C Woods is up by 1 overWestwood By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press SAN DIEGO The U.S. Open went prime time, and so did Tiger Woods. With unbearable pain and three unforgettable shots, Woods turned in one of his most memorable performances in a major Saturday by holing two long eagle putts, chipping in for birdie and somehow taking a one-shot lead over Lee Westwood.

Right when some 50,000 fans at Torrey Pines thought they had seen it all, Woods knocked in a 30-foot eagle on 108TH U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP jMgfo "TV: 2 p.m., wsMv-4 Brandt HdtVJdM Snedeker's tee time: 2:20 p.m. Go to tennessean.com for a the 18th for a 1-under 70 and his first 54-hole lead in the U.S. Open since he won at Bethpage Black in 2002. Woods was at 3-under 210, one of only three players still under par.

Nashville's Brandt Snedeker's 68 was the low round of the day, leaving him at 217 going into today's final Only Sounds of silence play at empty park 1 8 1 jT 1 OTHER NOTABLES T15 Brandt Snedeker 4 U.S. Open trivia quiz. round. That Woods made it to the finish line was nearly as impressive as a magical array of shots. His tender left knee first buckled on the 15th hole, and Woods used his club as a cane to get down the fairway, limping along while trying to stay Kettlebell By PAUL KUHARSKY Staff Writer On Friday morning, Aug.

17, 2007, the Titans slept in, getting rested and ready for that evening's preseason game against the Patriots. Jason Novak was up early. The Titans assistant strength and conditioning coach had an appointment at Punch Gym in Providence, R.I., where he endured a grueling workout with Anthony DiLuglio. The session with a kettlebell picture a ball with a handle, the biggest variety a bit smaller than a bowling ball set the course for part of the Titans' offseason conditioning program. Several players have DENIS POROY ASSOCIATED PRESS Tiger Woods celebrates after making eagle during the third round of the U.S.

Open on Saturday. Woods is in the lead at -3. ON PAGE 4A In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a sandbagging siege saved the last of the city's four collection wells from contamination, but officials warned that if people didn't cut back on showering and flushing, the water will run out within three to four days. UP NEXT Nashville at Iowa (DH) When: 1:05 p.m. today Radio: 560-AM In 2002, the Class A Charleston (S.C.) Riverdogs hosted Nobody Night, during which fans were intentionally kept out of the ballpark until the fifth inning, when the game and the zero attendance became official.

"They (Charleston) did it for the publicity. As far as it being done out of necessity, like in Des Moines, I can't recall that ever being done," Pacific Coast League Commissioner Branch Rickey HI said. Please see SOUNDS, 5C of Titans bell industry. This right here is just torture, I can't even talk on it." Learning from the best Novak discovered the workouts on the Internet and jumped at a chance to meet DiLuglio. Novak took the workout to Titans strength and conditioning coach Steve Wat-terson, who's always looking for new things to incorporate into the team's program "DiLuglio is really considered the best with this, especially for sports performance," Watterson said.

Please see WANS, 8C Onininn juavia Climer Economy hasn't hit coach pay Gas is $4 a gallon and rising. The economy is struggling. Some believe the worst is yet to come. But you can't tell it by college football coaches' salaries. They're breaking the bank.

In 1995, Bobby Bowden became the first $1 million coach in college football. Now, the average salary for head coaches at major college football programs exceeds $1 million a year. Six SEC coaches half the league make at least $2 million annually. This is a tough sell considering the current economic climate and the rising cost of higher education. At many schools, tuition is increasing while faculty is being downsized and classes are being cut, but the coach is getting a raise.

UT Athletics Director Mike Hamilton has indicated that Phillip Fulmer is in line for an extension and a raise. In late May, Fulmer's agent, Jimmy Sexton, said that a new deal was all but finalized. So what gives? Is UT getting cold feet? Is Fulmer balking at the terms? No. And no. Timing is everything.

It's tough to run a football coach's raise through the spin cycle at the same time you're announcing tuition hikes and academic cutbacks. Such tail-wagging-dog financial maneuvering doesn't sit well with those who don't ooze orange. Mixed messages UT also has announced that students will be charged for football tickets for the first time $15 per game or $90 for a season ticket. Meanwhile, season tickets for Joe Fan were bumped $19. The changes were made "to avoid a multi-million dollar budget shortfall" in 2009, according to a university statement.

Currently, UT is among a handful of schools less than 10 out of 120 Division I-A athletics programs that breaks even or turns a profit without a subsidy from the university. But that doesn't make it any easier to sell a raise for the football coach in this climate. At least UT is holding that line in its athletics program. Some schools are cutting minor sports in order to make more money available for big-ticket items like football. Arizona State recently axed three men's sports track, swimming and wrestling in order to save about $1 million annually.

A year earlier, Dennis Erickson was hired as football coach at Arizona State with a five-year contract for $5.6 million, plus incentives. Capitalism lives. Where college coaching salaries are concerned, it is whatever the market will bear. If you're a successful coach who is in demand, you are paid accordingly. Plus you get a free car from a local auto dealer.

No word yet on who pays for the gas. David Climer's columns appear on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 615-259-8020 or dclimertennessean.com. Go to tennessean.com for David Climer's video commentary. To Attendance is zero after flood in Iowa By RANDY PETERSON The Des Moines Register DES MOINES, Iowa Matt Murton likened it a sand-lot game.

Brad Nelson called it amazing. Both descriptions fit what the Iowa Cubs and the Sounds did Saturday afternoon at Principal Park. They played baseball with no fans in the stands. The baseball game won by Iowa 5-4 had an official attendance of zero. The attendance was on purpose.

City officials issued a mandatory evacuation of the downtown area because of flooding this week. "I'm just amazed that we played. From looking at the pictures of the stadium on Friday, I didn't think there was any way," said Nelson, the Sounds first baseman and a native of Algona, Iowa. "Unprecedented," said Murton, the Cubs left fielder. "Even when I was 5 years old, my dad used to watch me and my brother play catch in the backyard." Unprecedented? Just barely.

tests mettle Search TITANS for a slideshow of the players using the kettlebell in their workouts. been enduring the Wednesday workouts, much to the chagrin of some. "I don't enjoy it," cornerback Cortland Finnegan said. "I can run all day, 40s, 100s, 180s, and not sweat as much as I do in here and be in as much pain. This kettlebell workout, Jay has taken this thing to the next level.

"This ain't for me. I can't really speak on the kettlebell; you'll have to find someone more profound on the kettle DANIEL SATO DES MOINES REGISTER Nashville Sounds strength coach Tom Reynolds takes in Saturday's game from the outfield bleachers during the Iowa Cubs' 5-4 victory. Fans were not allowed into Principal Park in Des Moines because the area is flooded. The main video scoreboard above Reynolds was not used during the game; instead the teams relied only on the hand-operated scoreboard. GEORGE WALKER IV THE TENNESSEAN Titans rookie Craig Stevens works out with a kettlebell at Baptist Sports Park.

The Titans like to weave unconventional techniques into their offseason workouts. This year's addition has been work with kettlebells. ill nmm miM i reach sports: Phone: 259-8010 Fax: www.tennessean.com E-mail: tnsportstennessean.com Sports Editor: Larry Taft, 259-8352 Deputy Sports Editor: Mike Jones, 259-8013.