The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 38

D8 Sports 11111111111 nun mi ii nun inn Fan's Guide NEXT GAME The Boston Globe TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006 NASCAR opens with a bang At Daytona, no end to intrigue TONIGHT, 9 Boston at Utah f' ALSOONTHEAIR COLLEGE BASKETBALL BC at Virginia neN 850 Illinois at Michigan 7p-m- espn Xavier at Dayton 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 Women: South Florida at Louisville 7:30 p.m. CSTV Alabama at Arkansas 9P.m. ESPN Southern Illinois at Evansville 9 p.m. ESPNU PRO BASKETBALL Portland at LA Lakers 10:30 p.m.

NBA TV SOCCER Champions: Arsenal FC at Real Madrid CF 2:30 p.m. ESPN2 WINTER OLYMPICS See Page D2 for schedule ByFlutoShinzawa GLOBE STAFF DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The snicker goes that NASCAR, which starts the season with its version of the Super Bowl instead of ending the year with it, is a backward sport. After Sunday's Daytona 500, NASCAR's detractors were handed additional ammunition. Jimmie Johnson, the race winner, was doused with champagne, and his No.

48 Chevrolet was put on display at Daytona yesterday just a little more than a week after the same car failed postqualifying inspection. Chad Knaus, the No. 48 team's crew chief and a repeat offender, was booted for cheating, reduced to a congratulatory off-site phone call to his driver Sunday. Tony Stewart, who decried aggressive driving during the Bud Shootout exhibition race and whose concerns persuaded NASCAR to police the tactic of bump-drafting during the Daytona 500, was one of the more hot-headed drivers, punting Matt Kenseth intentionally, according to the driver of the No. 1 7 Ford.

While the veterans were expected to dominate, rookie Clint Bowyer drafted behind Dale Earnhardt the 2004 Daytona 500 winner, and scored a sixth-place finish. Three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon finished 26th after a bump with Stewart and a late-race collision with Kurt Busch. Race officials, who often call for cautions at the first sight of debris, didn't drop the yellow flag despite the raindrops that were falling on the 2.5-mile superspeed-way. Upside-down. Inside-out.

But that's what makes the Daytona 500, like most Nextel Cup races, the circus-like spectacle that enchants its followers. As in last fall's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway, when Robby Gordon flung his helmet at Michael Waltrip's door and Kasey Kahne defiantly parked his car in the path of Kyle Busch, there were feuds Stewart vs. Kenseth, Jeff Green vs. Dale Jarrett, Jamie Mc-Murray vs. Kurt Busch between the sport's stars that would make pro wrestlers scramble to take notes.

There was a junior version of the Big One, the kind of multi-car wreck that often takes place in re-strictor-plate races, when the No. 99 Ford of Carl Edwards ended up front wheels-first on top of the No. 45 of Kyle Petty, giving the Roush Racing driver a last-place showing. Amid the drama, a race actual- Jimmie Johnson had reason to break out the champagne after JfcFF SINbRKHt winning his first Daytona 500. 23d.

The Hendrick Motorsports pilot has been criticized by fellow drivers for his aggressive driving he tangled with Stewart late in Sunday's race and as a result, was often left hanging when he was seeking a drafting partner. "I didn't have much help out there today except for my brother Kurt," said the second-year driver. "In fact, he was my only help." Ryan Newman, the second-place finisher, tried to overtake Johnson on the last lap by taking the high line. Newman thought he'd get a push from Casey Mears, but the third-place driver stayed on the bottom to block a charging Elliott Sadler. Without help up high, Newman didn't have enough momentum to catch Johnson.

"Unfortunately, Casey didn't decide to follow through with that," Newman said. "He gave me a good shove to get me out of the way but didn't go with us." Newman had to try the high line because Johnson, with team engineer Darian Grubb taking Knaus's seat atop the pit box, was blocking down low, the left-side 111111,111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 in im 11 mm 1 in mini mini 11 111 Sports Log NFL Report on Williams: It wasn't marijuana After testing positive for marijuana in three previous NFL drug tests, Dolphins running back Ricky Williams tested positive again, but this time the banned substance is not marijuana, according to a report in the Miami Herald. Two sources told the paper the running back, who faces a minimum one-year ban from the league, has appealed his latest positive test in hopes of continuing his career. "I would be blown away if Ricky Williams used drugs," said the player's agent, Leigh Steinberg. Even if that is true, it would not preclude him testing positive for a banned substance.

The NFL has a list of nearly a dozen so-called supplements that are banned. Dolphins coach Nick Saban avoided the media last night, slipping into a charity function at a Miami Beach hotel through a rear entrance The Miami Herald is also reporting that the Dolphins have held preliminary talks with the Minnesota Vikings about acquiring quarterback Daunte Culpepper The Chargers are primed to let quarterback Drew Brees test the free agent market. General manager AJ. Smith said the team has declined to designate Brees as its franchise or transition player. The deadline for designating a player with either tag is Thursday.

If the Chargers had slapped either of the tags on Brees, he would be guaranteed nearly $10 million for a one-year salary next season. That's too rich for the Chargers, considering Brees was injured in the season finale, tearing the labium in his throwing shoulder. Brees underwent surgery last month and is expected to begin throwing in May. But whether he will be at full strength by July isn't known. Brees and the Chargers are talking about a multiyear pact.

Jets sidestep Pennington situation Chad Pennington is rehabbing his shoulder and working hard to get back onto the field. That was about all new Jets coach Eric Mangi-ni was willing to divulge when asked about the team's quarterback. Mangini did everything he could to avoid answering the biggest question facing the Jets this week: Will they retain Pennington at a reduced salary or cut him? The Jets started renegotiating with the quarterback last week, hoping to slash his base pay to make his contract more salary cap-friendly. The team is about $26 million over the cap and needs to come to an agreement with Pennington before the start of free agency. If not, Pennington could be looking for a new team.

"Chad's status with the Jets is unchanged," Mangini said Mangini unveiled his coaching staff, which includes former Jets and Patriots linebacker Bryan Cox as assistant defensive line coach, and ex-Jets running back Richie Anderson, who will work with wide receivers and tight ends. Bob Sutton was promoted from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator, while Jimmy Raye rejoined the Jets as running backs coach. Mangini also announced other coaches brought in from outside: Mike Devlin, assistant offensive line; Jim Herrmann, linebackers; Noel Mazzone, wide receivers; and Tony Wise, who will coach the offensive line. NBA Clippers enlist former Celtic Baker The Los Angeles Clippers have signed former Celtic power forward Vin Baker. Baker has been a free agent since playing for the Houston Rockets in the 2004-05 season.

Terms of the deal were not released. Baker, 34, has averaged 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 783 career games. He was suspended and subsequently had his contract terminated during the 2003-04 season his second in Boston for violating terms of an alcohol treatment program Charlotte Bobcats guard Raymond Felton was slightly injured in an auto accident Sunday and his status for an upcoming six-game road trip is unclear. He was vacationing in Myrtle Beach, S.C, where his car was rear-ended at a red light, the team said. He sustained whiplash and complained of a sore back.

COLLEGES Duke No. 1 in both AP basketball polls Duke moved back to No. 1 in the Associated Press men's basketball poll, replacing the only other team to hold the top spot this season. The Blue Devils (25-1) were second to Connecticut the last four weeks and went back on top following the Huskies' loss to Villanova last week. Villanova (21-2) jumped from fourth to second and UConn (23-2) dropped to No.

3. Memphis (24-2) fell one place to fourth in the shake-up at the top. Boston College climbed from No. 13 to No. 1 1 following victories over Stony Brook and Miami Duke is also on top in the women's poll, as North Carolina went from third to second, setting up a 1-2 meeting with the Blue Devils in Chapel Hill Saturday.

BC is tied for 17th Minnesota remained No. 1 in the USCHO.com Division 1 men's hockey poll. Boston University climbed to No. 4, and BC plummeted from fourth to ninth after losing a pair of weekend games at Maine, which moved from 11th to No. 8.

New Hampshire leads the women's hockey poll, while Beanpot champion BC climbed to No. 10. TENNIS Service problems don't derail Myskina Former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina overcame trouble with her serve she committed nine double faults to beat China's Zheng Jie, 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, in the first round of the Dubai Women's Open In Rotterdam, Nikolay Davydenko overcame an injury to his left foot and defeated Jan Hernych, 6-3, 6-3, in the opening round of the ABNAmro At Rio De Janeiro, Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic beat Spain's Albert Montanes, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, in the first round of the clay court Brazil Open Qualifier Paul Capdeville of Chile rallied to upset third-seeded Tommy Robredo, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis. MISCELLANY Ames replaces Bjorn, will face Woods Golfer Thomas Bjorn withdrew from the Match Play Championship in Carlsbad, because of a sore neck, allowing Stephen Ames to get into the 64-man field where he'll face Tiger Woods in the first round Ronaldo, the three-time world soccer Player of the Year, said he'll reconsider his future at Real Madrid after the season because the team's fans are critical of him. ly took place, featuring the 190-mile-per-hour decisions, strategy, and teamwork that make the Daytona 500, as in Spanish, an upside-down exclamation point that kicks off the season.

At Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway, the fastest of NASCAR's tracks, cars must work together in the draft. A driver who takes off without a partner quickly gets left with exhaust fumes in his face. Leading up to the race, Stewart explained how a driver must earn trust to be successful at Daytona. "When I started in this series, I couldn't get people to draft with me either," Stewart said last Friday. "You have to trust the people you're around, especially when it's the biggest race of the year.

You're not just going to go out there if you see somebody with yellow stripes required of rookies on their rear bumpers and think, 'OK, I'm going to trust this kid that doesn't have a lot of experience here with myracecar." Such is the fate that befell Kyle Busch, the younger brother of the 2004 Cup champion, who finished a home JAY HEAPS "It is smart to come here" Seeking feel advantage tires of the No. 48 Chevy hugging the yellow line. Johnson said that staking a claim to the bottom groove was the key to winning the race, his first Daytona 500 victory and sixth for team owner Rick Hendrick, who placed two of his vehicles in the top 10. Meanwhile, the Roush Racing powerhouse, which placed all five cars in the Chase for the Cup last season, had a rotten day. Mark Martin had the best performance for team owner Jack Roush, a 12th-place finish.

Edwards, last year's third-place driver in the points standings, completed only 78 laps Sunday and is already 151 points behind Johnson as the series travels to Fontana, for Sunday's Auto Club 500. And so the Cup transporters roll on, steaming their way to and from their shops in the greater Charlotte area, arriving in New Hampshire in five months for the New England 300 at NHIS. Between now and then, as the Daytona 500 proved, there's only one thing race fans can expect: the unexpected. besides goalkeeper Matt Reis, will be lining up in the same starting position as they did in the MLS Cup, a 1-0 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy Nov. 13.

Hernandez (groin) is questionable for the game but has a lot of recent experience playing against Alajuelense with CID Necaxa. "I am familiar with the way they play," Hernandez said. "The last time we played them, we should have moved on to the next round. But this is a different situation; both teams are different and we shouldn't look at this like a chance for revenge. "There is a lot at stake, the reputations of both clubs and the league." This marks a major advancement in the Revolution's credibility and performance level.

Even with three of the team's best offensive threats (Jose Cancela, Khano Smith, and Ralston), plus regulars Marshall Leonard (groin) and Parkhurst, either injured or on the bench, the Revolution should be able to match one of the region's most successful clubs. "It is going to be two really good clubs going at it," Heaps said. "It's exciting stuff for us, the reputations of clubs and the league on the line. You always compare yourself to other leagues, and if we can get to the next round, we would obviously play in Foxborough and you would have some great international clubs involved "In the past, LA and DC. United have done well, and that helps the MLS.

The further you go, the greater the prestige and Bermuda seems to suit Revolution By Frank Dell'Apa GLOBE STAFF HAMILTON, Bermuda No Boston professional sports team can match the Revolution for performing in exotic locations. The New England climate has forced the Revolution to find homes away from home, and they have selected a 55-square-mile island nation off the North Carolina coast for their Champions Cup match against LD Alajuelense tomorrow. But it was not a random choice; the smooth playing surface at the National Sports Centre favors the Revolution's game plan of possession and keeping the ball on the ground. "It is smart to come here because it fits our style," defender Jay Heaps said yesterday. "The way we want to play, we want to keep the ball." Heaps has been performing in central defense in a 4-4-2 alignment and will be paired with Daniel Hernandez or Avery John tomorrow.

The Revolution have abandoned their 3-5-2 setup without Michael Parkhurst and Steve Ralston, both out with quadriceps injuries. "We are playing four in the back, obviously, because of the personnel we have available," Heaps said. "It is a different style but I like it because it gives us a chance to attack from the back. "It is a safer system; you have more guys behind the ball. But in a game like this, it is not in our best 1 referee decided the game.

"But it showed the character this team has, that we were going to battle and fight." Revolution coach Steve Nicol has energized the team's offense in recent seasons, but is being cautious in this series. Andy Dorman has been training alongside Joseph in central midfield, and Tony Lochhead (a defender for the New Zealand national team) has been playing on the left wing. But the Revolution have hardly renounced their attack. Clint Dempsey, Pat Noonan, and Taylor Twellman are in prime condition after performing with the US national team since Jan. 4.

Dempsey scored for the US in a 3-2 win over Japan Feb. 10 and has converted seven times in 108 minutes of victories over the Bermuda U20 team (8-1) and Bermuda national team (3-0). "It is just a matter of finding good spots and taking advantage, anticipating," Dempsey said. "Sometimes the ball falls right for you, sometimes it doesn't. And you have to have teammates getting you the ball.

"You have to take chances. If you don't shoot, you don't score, and you have to have the confidence to take on that responsibility. If you miss, it's your fault. But you can't be afraid you have to take chances, take risks. If you are worried about things, you won't be comfortable and you won't play your best.

"It's a game and so you have to be out there having fun. If not, what's the point?" Only three Revolution players, 3 interest to go bombing forward." The only other time the Revolution have played a competitive "home" match outside the country was during the 2003 Champions Cup in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Then, Alajuelense won, 4-0, as the home team and lost, 3-1, as the visitors, both matches at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. The Revolution had players red-carded in both legs of the total-goal series. This time, the Revolution have attempted to work the format to their advantage, hot completely surrendering the home-field edge.

"What I remember about the last time we played is that we should have won," said midfielder Shalrie Joseph, who made his Revolution debut at right back and was ejected in the 63d minute against Alajuelense. "We had them on the ropes and we should have scored more goals. Then the.