The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 34

2 SPORTS SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2007 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TB0.com On 'Sports Extra' In Tuesdays Tribune Andy Staples looks at college football's postseason system and what might have happened last year if there was a playoff. Tonight at 11:25, Dave Reynolds interviews Rays pitcher James Shields and Tampa light heavyweight boxer Antonio Tarver. -a Spurs, Stay kt Home "A Getty Images Roger Federer is aiming to win the French Open, which will complete a career Grand Slam and a non-calendar Grand Slam. Federer Seeking To Add Elusive French Title OFF THE BEATEN PATH Spa Resorts Making It Easier For Guests To Achieve Fitness Goals v- VAIL, Colo. Attempt a peak without any technical or physical preparation, you probably won't get very far.

Try mountain bike racing at altitude without building stamina or learning proper pedaling technique, you'll peter out halfway up the mountain. a crack at rock climbing wlth.no prior training, chances are you're going to get hurt. You could get ready for each of these endeavors on your own, buying books and videos, taking classes, working out on your own. The problem is that it takes time to pull everything together and it's hard to be sure if you're getting the right information or preparing correctly. There's an easier way to do it.

A handful of resorts around the country have created a niche called experiential travel, meaning everything at the resort from the food to the spa treatments is geared toward helping guests reach specific fitness goals. The scenery might be different, but places such as Vail Mountain Lodge Spa; Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Hotel Del Coro-nado in California; Rosario Resort Spa in Eastsound, and The Equinox in Manchester Village, Vt have the same basic approach trying to make the experience more enjoyable. Guests at Vail Mountain Lodge Spa can prepare for a wide range of activities at the Vail Athletic Club, downstairs from the lobby. There are plenty of classes to build up basic fitness, along with sport-specific workouts for everything from rock climbing and mountain trail running to gaining core strength for golf and tennis. Other classes are technique-driven, such as how to properly paddle a kayak or form a climbing strategy.

Want to take on a single track on a mountain bike? The coaches at Vail Athletic Club also will look at your form, analyze your pedal stroke and properly fit you to a bike to make sure you're getting the most out of every motion. Ellen Miller, the first woman to summit Mount Everest from both sides, teaches the nuances of mountaineering. A spa treatment might seem like a frivolous extra to some, but it's all part of the experience at Vail Mountain Lodge Spa and hotels like it. If you're getting ready to tackle a difficult activity, the spa is there to get you loose, working the muscles with massage and heat to prime everything up. Once you're done and feeling a bit worn out, the.spa can help the recovery process with deep muscle massage, hydro and heat therapy or simply cooling tissue with cold stones or ice packs.

"We're here to help people recreate at a high level and also have some revitalization and rejuvenation so that when they return home they feel really relaxed and taken care of," said Lisa Dekoster, spa director at Vail Mountain. "For me, a spa isn't really pampering like a lot of people think it is. For me, it's a very effective way of working with muscles, relaxing the muscles, balancing the muscle tension out and really allowing the body to relax and let go." The Associii ted Press Jazz Top Perfect1 The Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY Back in the comfort of home, the Utah Jazz found some things they didn't have the first two games of the Western Conference finals: 'Confidence, defense and scorers other than Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams. Williams and Boozer still led the way, but it was the contributions of their teammates that carried Utah past San Antonio 109-83 on Saturday night, cutting the Spurs' lead in the series to 2-1. Williams had 31 points and eight assists, and Boozer had 27 points and 12 rebounds, keeping the Jazz perfect at home this postseason now 7-0 and making them 3-0 against the Spurs in Salt Lake City this season.

i Tim Duncan got in foul trouble early and never recovered. Although he didn't foul out, he played tentatively and wound up with 16 points and eight rebounds. He also had eight turnovers as his run of 20-point, 10-rebound games ended at 11 in a row. Utah's win means there will be no sweep, and that this may yet turn into a competitive series after two lopsided games in San Antonio. The loud Jazz fans in their "Think Blue" T-shirts can now start dreaming of their team being the first to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the Western Conference finals.

Why not? They've already dug out of such a hole once this postseason, against Houston in the first round. And they get to play another game in Salt Lake City on Monday night. This victory by Utah guarantees there will be a Game 5 in San Antonio on Wednesday night. Andrei Kirilenko, Jarron Collins, Gordon Giricek, Derek Fisher and Matt Harpring all pitched in for the Jazz in Game 3, providing the support Boozer and Williams were lacking in San Antonio. The Spurs came out of a choppy first half ahead by four, but Williams wasted no time showing his aggressiveness.

In the first minute, he darted down court with a different energy level than he'd had all series, missing a layup but seeing Boozer tip it in. San Antonio kept things close as long as it could, holding its final lead at 60-59. Then Fisher hit a 3-pointer and the Jazz became a different team. It was his first basket of the game, the first points by a starter other than Williams or Boozer. More rare contributions followed from Kirilenko (his first point of the game), Collins (who hadn't scored in 11 games) and Giricek.

Ahead only by six early in the fourth quarter, Paul Millsap joined the list of new contributors with a dunk that bumped the lead into double digits for the first time. He scored a layup the next time down, making it 83-71, and San Antonio was never closer than 11 the rest of the game. Spurs forward Bruce Bowen got a A to-" ..4 ff: 4 FRENCH OPEN WHEN: Begins today. The women's singles final is June 9, the men's singles final is June 10. 2006 CHAMPIONS: Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin.

NO. 1-RANKED MAN: Roger Federer, bidding to complete non-calendar and career Grand Slams by winning a fourth consecutive major title. No man has held all four major titles simultaneously since Rod Laver in 1969. NO. 1-RANKED WOMAN: Henin, who like Nadal is trying for a third French Open championship in a row.

PRIZE MONEY: For the first time, men and women will receive equal prize money throughout the tournament. The total is about $20.53 million, with about $1,345 million to the men's and women's singles champions. TV: NBC, ESPN2, The Tennis Channel The Associated Press I Keyword: Sports for com plete French Open coverage, including live up dates, players to watch and tournament history. As no less an authority than Andre Agassi put it: "We're watching history in the making." And yet, because Federer's attacking flair is somewhat dulled by the slowness of the clay, he's had far more trouble at Roland Garros than Melbourne Park, the All England Club or Flushing Meadows. "To me, if he's going to win the French, it's going to have to be real soon: This year, next year," said John McEnroe, whose collection of seven major titles doesn't include the French Open.

"He's not a natural clay-court player. He's an all-around player. So it's somewhere where I think there's a sense of urgency." Nadal will be trying to make some history, too. Only one man has won at least three straight French Open ti-. ties: Borg in 1978-81.

Justine Henin also is aiming for a third consecutive championship.S-vetlana Kuznetsova, last year's runner-up to Henin, and Jelena Jankovic, who won the Italian Open on clay, could make deep runs or, because of wear and tear, disappear before the second week. ma 5 tJ7 (4 The Associated Press Utah's Carlos Boozer, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds, shoots over the Spurs' Fabricio Oberto. PLAYOFF SCHEDULE CONFERENCE FINALS (Both best-of-7) EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit vs. Cleveland (Pistons lead series 2-0) All games on TNT Game 1: Pistons 79, Cavaliers 76 Game 2: Pistons 79, Cavaliers 76 Today: at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday: at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

Thursday: at Detroit, 8 p.m. Saturday: at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. June 4: at Detroit, 8 p.m. WESTERN CONFERENCE San Antonio vs. Utah (Spurs lead series 2-1) Game 1: Spurs 108, Jazz 100 Game 2: Spurs 105, Jazz 96 Game Jazz 109, Spurs 83 Monday: at Utah, 9 p.m.

(ESPN) Wednesday, at San Antonio, 9 p.m. (ESPN) Friday: at Utah, 9 p.m. (ESPN) June 3: at San Antonio, 8:30 (WFTS, Ch. 28) -if necessary technical foul with 5:17 left and the Spurs were pretty much done after that. Little-used Beno Udrih played the last 4:54 and Duncan was out the final 4:11.

Tony Parker led San Antonio with 25 points and seven assists. Manu Ginobili was the only other double-digit scorer, with 14, as the Spurs went from shooting 55 percent the first two games to making only 44 percent this time. Fisher and Giricek finished with 11 points each. SAN ANTONIO (83) Bowen 2-3 O-O 5, Duncan 6-9 4-5 16, Oberto 24 1-2 5. finley 1-4 0-0 3.

Parker 9-18 6-6 25. Ginobili 412 4-S 14. Horry 1-3 2-2 S. Barry 2-7 0-0 5. Vaughn 1-41-2 3.

Qson 0-1 2-2 2. Udrih 0-0 0-0 0. Bonner 0-1 0-0 0. "totals 28-64 20-25 83. UTAH (109) Kirilenko 0-2 2-4 2.

Boozer 12-19 3-4 27. Okur 0-3 0-0 0. Fisher 4-82-2 1 1. Wlliams 1049 7-831, Collins 2-3 3-3 7, Giricek 4-8 2-2 11, Milisap 4-7 O-O 8, Harpring 4-6 0-3 8. Araujo 0-0 2-2 2.

D.Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Brewer 1-2 0-4 2. Totals 41-77 21-32 109. San Antonio Utah 23 24 JO 16 83 15 28 32 34 109 3-Polnt Goals-San Antonio 7-21 (Ginobili 2-5. Bowen 1 -2, Horry 1-2.

Parker li, Finley 1-3, Barry 1-6. Bonner 0-1), Utah 6-9 (Williams 4-5, Giricek 1-2, Fisher 1-2). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-San Antonio 36 (Duncan 8), Utah 52 (Boozer 12). As-sists-San Antonio 17 (Parker 7), Utah 26 (Williams 8).

Total Fouls-San Antonio 30, Utah 26. (19.911). 7 Ml -i! CAN COMPLETE CAREER, NON-CALENDAR SLAM By HOWARD FENDRICH The Associated Press For all of Roger Federer's titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open and there are 10 and counting his career very well may be defined eventually by how he fared at the French Open. Federer is well aware of that.

It's why he tweaked his schedule and his practice routine in the months before heading to Paris. It's why he ratcheted up his commitment to fitness training, knowing what a grind playing on red clay can be. "There's more focus on the French Open, and it would be just so nice to win it," Federer said, "so I'm going to give myself the best possible chance." He also knows that his success elsewhere might in a way be a result of his lack of success in the past at Roland Garros, where the year's second Grand Slam tournament begins today. Pretty much everyone expects to see Federer face two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal in the men's final, just like last year. And just like last year, Federer heads to the French Open hoping to complete a career Grand Slam and a non-calendar Grand Slam.

Since losing in the first round of the French Open in 2003, Federer has won 10 of the past 15 majors going 93-5 in matches in those Grand Slam tournaments. If he can win the French Open, it would be his fourth consecutive major championship, something only Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969 have accomplished (although they did it within a calendar year). It also would make Federer the sixth man to have won each of tennis' top tournaments at least once. And it would put him on track for a true Grand Slam, given that he's won Wimbledon the past four years and the U.S. Open the past three.

By reaching the June 10 final, Federer would play in his eighth major title match in a row, something no man has done. SPORTS BOOK REVIEW Talcs from the Impossible Dream Title: "Rico Petro-celli's Tales from the Impossible Dream Red Sox" Authors: Rico Petrocelli and Chaz Scoggins Publisher Sports Publishing Reviewer's Rating: The Skinny: They adopted the theme song from the Broadway hit, "Man of La Man-otia," and it was appropriate, because the 1967 Red Sox nearly achieved "The HIGH FIVE What to do and watch during the upcoming week: 1. Auto racing takes center stage today with the running of the Indianapolis 500 (WFTS, Ch. 28, 1 p.m.) and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Coca-Cola 600 (WTVT, Ch. 13, 5 p.m.).

2. The Rays return home to Tropicana Field to take on the Detroit Tigers (Monday-Wednesday) and the Kansas City Royals (Thursday-June 4). J. The Stanley Cup Finals begin Monday with Ottawa playing at Anaheim (Versus, 8 p.m.). 4.

Beach volleyball comes to the St. Pete Times Forum (sand will be put in the parking lot to create courts) this week with the AVP Esurance Tampa Open (qualifying is Thursday and the main draw is Friday-next Sunday). 5. Roger Federer hopes to get revenge on defending champion Rafael Nadal in the French Open. Play begins today (Tennis Channel, 5 a.m., and ESPN2, noon).

Father Files Suit," May 25). I would also sue the state of Missouri for not making it illegal to talk on cell phones. Who else can Dean Hancock blame? He could sue the towns where Josh grew up or Major League Baseball because you are supposed to get drunk after games. Maybe he could sue the car manufacturer for not installing a shut-off device when the smell of alcohol is detected. It is sad, but put the blame where it belongs.

RICH HARRELL via e-mail Photo Of Clemens' Pitching Form Should Serve As A Model The great photo of Roger Clemens on the front page of the May 19 Sports section should be on, the wall of every pitcher as an example of the proper way to throw a baseball. Photographer Scott Iskowitz did a tremendous job to get it the way he did. JAMES GRIFFIN Valrico MAILBAG Looks Like Dukes Really Passed' His Anger Management Course Elijah Dukes threatens to annihilate his family after completing a mandated course on anger management. There's no truth to the rumor, however, that he threatened to "blow up the Rays' front office." I'd say he passed. BOB NELSON Tampa Fan Grateful Rays Pitching Staff Is Being Taken To Task Thank you for taking a stand when some reporters still sugarcoat the Rays' pitching situation.

The host of their postgame radio show argues with true, frustrated fans and hangs up on them because he's a Rays apologist. When is the team going to apologize to its fans for not putting its best foot forward? DEVIN JOHNSON Wesley Chapel Hancock's Death Was Tragic, But Put Blame Where It Belongs I heard Josh Hancock also was held down and forced to drink alcohol RICO PETROCELLI and Chaz Scoggins Impossible Dream." Driven by Dick Williams, their abrasive manager, Red Sox rose from ninth place in 1966 to reach Game of the World Series in '67. Petrocelli, the starting shortstop for those Sox, recalls that magical season. There is the triumph of Cart Yastrzemski, whose Triple Crown season carried the team late in the season. And the tragedy of Tony Conigliaro, whose promising career was cut short when he was hit in the eye by an errant fastball.

It's peek into the clubhouse of the team that won one of baseball's wildest pennant races. Forty years later, Boston houses a baseball power; this book recalls the excitement that helped spawn the Red Sox Nation. Boh D' Angela Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity. They must be brief, signed and include a daytime YOUR TURN We want to hear from you. Go to Keyword: Sports.

SOUNDOFF POLL phone number for verification. Send them to Kim Pendery, Senior Editor for Multimedia Sports, P.O. Box 191, Tampa FL 33001; at TBO.com, Keyword: Sports Mailhag; or by e-mail to sportsletters9itampatrih.com. Does Keyshawn Johnson belong in the Hall of Fame? What should the Devil Rays do about Elijah Dukes?.