The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 11

E2 THE VANCOUVER SUN, TUESDAY, MAY 30. 2006 SPORTS Doctors reduce Rooney's chances Heat's Wade kids around to put Pistons down 3-1 Miami inches closer to its first trip to finals with win BY TIM REYNOLDS 0 BY BEN FENTON AND CELIA HALL CD if i) SOCCERI LONDON Hopes were fading on Monday that Wayne Roomy would play in the World Cup after it emerged that the injury to his right foot may be worse than initially thought. His club, Manchester United, said the metatarsal fracture suffered last month involved damage to the bone's joint "which takes longer to The news came as United agreed to the Football Association's request to bring forward the final scan on Rooney's foot by seven days to June 7. This would give England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson time to choose a replacement before submitting his tournament squad to Fifa on June 9. One leading sports therapist said the injury was too serious even to consider taking Rooney to Germany.

However, Eriksson maintained Monday he was confident the striker would have a role to play in the a NBA PLAYOFFS I MIAMI With the outcome decided, Dwyane Wade strutted toward a swarm of teammates with his right fist clenched and a victorious smile lighting his sweat-drenched face. The night belonged to him and the Miami Heat. With one more win, so will the Eastern Conference crown. Wade scored 12 of his 31 points in the final quarter Monday night, leading a late charge that carried the Heat to an 89-78 win over the Detroit Pistons and a 3-1 lead in the series. Miami is on the cusp of its first trip to the NBA Finals.

"I'm just a kid. There's a kid inside of me who loves to play the game of basketball and is getting the opportunity to on the highest level," Wade said. "And I'm just trying to do my best job at it. Like I said, I'm just a kid in a candy store right now, having fun on one of the best teams in the NBA." A year ago, two chances at ending Detroit's reign atop the East weren't enough for Miami, as the Pistons rallied from 3-2 down to win in seven games. Now, the Heat get three cracks at breaking through, starting Wednesday in suburban Detroit and this time, they have a healthy Wade and Shaquille O'Neal to carry them.

"We don't want to get too high and mighty," O'Neal said. "Job's not done yet." 0'Neal had 21 points albeit with a 5-for-15 night at the foul line and nine rebounds, while Udonis Haslem added 16 points for the Heat. "We want to get to 12 wins and if they want it, and they want to get to the finals, it'd be a first for this franchise," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "I think they're hun ADRIAN WYLDCANADIAN PRESS Ricky Williams takes a break with John Avery during his first practice with the Argonauts Monday In Mlsslssauga, Ont. World Cup, which starts on June 9.

Popp pops off "It is important the scan will be done before I have to give the listtoFIFAon June 9," he said. "We have to take the deci mnuor aocxs 10 DAYS TO GO Argos over signing cfl Montreal GM says contract is Inappropriate' sion and we want tq have the scan as close to that date as possible. I am always very optimistic and still think he will play a part in the World Cup." But Eriksson appeared to be prepar-ing for a World Cup without he is understood to have selected Steven Gerrard to partner Michael Owen in attack in the role previously filled by Rooney. BIBLICAL BACKING: The Church of England is wrestling with a problem: its General Synod will be in session at precisely the time the World Cup final kicks off and some of its members want to make sure they're in front of a television. According to th London Times, Synod membersjsJI have been told there is Biblical rriu Williams impresses in practice DEBUT I MISSISSAUGA, Ont Ricky Williams wasted little time impressing offensive co-ordinator Kent Austin in his first official practice with the Toronto Argonauts on Monday.

The former Heisman Trophy winner saw limited action in the morning session but did show the explosion and acceleration one would expect from one of the NFL's premiere running backs whenever given the ball. Clad in shoulder pads, shorts and a blue practice jersey with his new No. 27, Williams was very impressive in the eight-on-eight skeleton drills. 7 His best move came on a sweep to the short side of the! i field when he abruptly made a cut near the sideline to his left and not only hit a tiny hole in front but accelerated through it untouched, drawing a chorus of good-natured cat calls from Argos defenders who weren't involved in the drill. "Sometimes you lose your coaching hat and turn around your fan hat so you have to be careful," Austin said about watching Williams run.

Canadian Press Two other Argonauts, receiver R. Jay Soward and offensive-tackle Bernard Williams, were under contracts to NFL teams when they ventured north. "I'm all for giving people many chances," Popp said. "But pro leagues don't want guys jumping out of contracts. We do this so guys in our league don't bolt.

This isn't about Ricky Williams the per-son or competing against Toronto." Popp isn't the only person who is questioning Williams's trip north. Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle Scott Schultz doesn't like it. "We're welcoming folks with drug histories and active suspensions," Schultz said Monday. "I think it sends a poor message. "My teammates and I go out in communities and talk about healthy lifestyles and making good choices.

It's terrible that they're rolling out the red carpet" CanWest News Service the Als' negotiation list and made an inquiry to the CFL's head office. The point became moot when the Argos became the first team to exercise that option. Popp hinted he could have removed Williams's name from Montreal's negotiation list that same day had the Als been first to claim him and then learned the player's NFL contract hadn't expired. Popp said he has raised his concern with the league, but received no response. Michael Copeland, the league's chief operating officer, said Williams was allowed to sign with Toronto only with the Dolphins' consent.

As it was, CFL commissioner Tom Wright intervened, assuring Miami that Williams will return to the NFL without having to exercise the option year of his Toronto contract. "It's a very unique situation and doesn't happen often," Copeland said. "We do have intent within the CFL to respect other leagues' contracts." BY HERB ZURKOWSKY ST. JEAN, Que. Montreal Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said he can't understand why the Canadian Football League allowed Ricky Williams to sign with Toronto, Montreal's primary division rival, when he's already under contract to the National Football League's Miami Dolphins.

"I don't think it's appropriate," Popp said. "I'm trying to figure 'l out how he, and others, sign' 1 1 contracts when they're under contract to another league." Williams was signed by the Argonauts last weekend to a one-year contract, plus an option, and is expected to earn a base salary of approximately $250,000. Toronto put the running back on its negotiation list when it learned he had failed an NFL-imposed drug test for the fourth time. That has resulted in a yearlong suspension for Williams. Popp, ironically, was interested in putting Williams on precedent to suggest England gry and I think we're going to go get it.

We have great respect for the Pistons, but I think our heart's into moving on." Tayshaun Prince had 15 points and Chauncey Billups added 14 for the Pistons, who'll host Game 5 on Wednesday night. "We've got a lot of fight in Bulups said. "We have been down 3-1 before not against a team as good as the Heat, though And they're playing great, man. You've got to give it to them. They are.

They're playing great ball. Their great players are playing phenomenal and other guys are chipping in pretty well." Teams taking 3-1 leads in the penultimate round either the conference finals or division finals, as they were once known have prevailed 40 times in 43 previous opportunities, and each of the last 16 teams with a 3-1 cushion has gone on to reach the NBA Finals. "Strange things happen," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "One play can change a game, in the final. You see, the Israelites) spent 40 years wandering in the i wilderness and it is 40 years since England won the event.

WEIGHING IN: Ronaldo, who will start in Brazil's attack when the defending champions debut against Croatia on June 13, says he hasn't been bothered by comments that he's overweight. "I don't care about them. People who are saying this are not well-informed," he said. "I'm coming off an Injury and didn't play for almost a month." Ronaldo had various injuries at the start of the year and played sparingly for Real Madrid, scoring onh five Nohra lays down the law for Lions Veteran tailback takes leave from law school to play supporting role for B.C. goals in the team's first 19 match BY GARY KINGSTON VANCOUVER SUN one game can change a series.

Basically, what we've got to do is come up with that play at home and try to change the series." Those oh-so-resilient Pistons who've rallied from 2-1 or 3-2 series deficits five times in the last four postseasons dug deep in Game 4, trailing by 14 points late in the first half as a white-towel-waving Miami crowd worked itself into a frenzy. The Pistons answered with a 29-11 run over a 7-minute stretch capped by Rasheed Wallace's three-pointer with 5:04 left in the Marsh signs up ABB0TSF0RD Import back Dante Marsh has signed a contract extension with the B.C. Lions through the 2008 CFL season. third quarter for a 57-53 lead. Marsh, 27, started all 18 games in 2005, A7 es.

He is ted with Pele with 12 World Cup goals and is only three shy of becoming the World Cup's leading scorer. Ronaldo, 29, also said Monday that he plans to play in the U.S. later in his career, though he has no plans to leave Madrid anytime soon. DOUBTS GROW: Germany captain Michael Ballack and defender Robert Huth are still doubtful for their team's World Cup warmup match against Japan today in Geneva. Ballack, who has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea, hasn't practised with the team since hurting his left ankle in a practice game Thursday, athough he has been doing fitness exercises.

The Germans will leave Geneva after today's game and fly to Ouesseldorf, where they will be based until their final warmup game on Friday against Colombia. The players will then get two days off before assembling in Berlin next Monday, four days before Germany kicks off the World Cup in Munich against Costa Rica. Daily Telegraph and Associated Press COMING WEDNESDAY: Your guide to Group A But Detroit managed only three more points in the quarter, and Wade hit a pair of free throws with 1.5 seconds left to put Miami up 62-60 entering the fourth. Detroit never led again. Associated Press path.

I always loved law. I was always watching the legal-themed TV shows. "It was a blessing that UBC let me in there. They have applicants and take 180 people, so I was very fortunate. And it's been really a pleasure.

You have such a wide range of people in law school helicopter pilots, microbiologists and cancer researchers. How often do you get to mix with people like that? Listen to their experiences, get their point of views." It generally takes three years to complete law school Depending on how many semesters he takes off for football, Nohra will take a little longer. He's got a keen interest in tort law and civil litigation, but says it's too early in his career to decide on a speciality yet It's late in his football career, but Canadian running backs Milson Jones, Darren Joseph et. al. do seem to have a habit of sticking around into their mid-30s.

Ex-Lion Sean Millington came out of retirement to join the Toronto Argos last season at 37. "I don't think I want to play that long," laughs Nohra. "Honestly, one game at a time. If it turns out to be a great year, then you put another great year together. It's up to the coaches, too.

Who knows? It could end up being another five, it could end up being one. Then I just go into a different arena." gkingslonpng.canwest.com The 5-11, 225-pound Nohra, who rushed for 1,426 yards in two seasons with the Eskimos as a rare Canadian starting tailback, will likely be one of three non-import running backs on the Lions' roster, joining holdover veteran Lyle Green and rookie Alexis Bwenge. "We think he can help us in a lot of ways," said Lions head coach Wally Buono. "He's a good team guy. You could sense in our discussions in the off-season that he was hungry to play again.

His body has held up nicely and sometimes being away from football is a benefit" Nohra will play special teams, perhaps do some kick returning and be a valuable insurance policy. He knows he won't start in. But it was that fervent belief in himself early in his career that he could play tailback as a Canadian that manifested itself in his application to law school "It intrigued me," he said after a training camp practice on a cool Monday in Abbots-ford. "I wanted to try something extreme, you know what I mean, really pull something off that not too many people attempt to pull off, go from football to law and see if I can shake things up." Born in Beirut and raised in Toronto, Nohra remembers plenty of wide-ranging, lawyer-like, dinner-table discussions with his father about politics, world issues and philosophy. "My dad's a real thinker and kind of got me started on that TRAINING CAMP I ABBOTS-FORD In the early part of his CFL career, if somebody was to ask Mark Nohra, How was the practice? he might well talk torts or reference the latest moralethical dilemma faced by Bobby Donnell or Jimmy Berluti before discussing I-formations and whether it's too late in the season to be going in full pads.

You see, Nohra is a legal TV fan, who found The Practice and LA Law and shows of that ilk every bit as engrossing as Friday Night Football on TSN. Now 32 and thinking post-football career, Nohra is one year into law studies at UBC, from where he graduated in 1997 with a degree in political science. But he'll be taking next semester off because, as much as he wants to learn how to trade wits in a courtroom with legal beagles, the running back still has an itch to trade helmet paint with steely-eyed linebackers. Nohra played just two games with the B.C. Lions in 2004 before a knee injury cut short his seasoa He then sat out all of last season, immersing himself in law school and his part-time work as a personal trainer.

Still, there was that void. When the Lions, for whom he played in 1998-99 before stints in Edmonton and Ottawa, expressed an interest in bringing him back, he worked out a leave with UBC. "Love of the game" he says Dante Marsh kes and three interceptions. "I'm looking forward to being here for quite some time," said Marsh, one of a group of secondary starters tied up long term. "Any time you get a chance to have guys together for some years, It's real good for the continuity and cohe-siveness of the group.

Revolving doors just don't work. Those guys In Saskatchewan have been together five, six years and it shows. You keep a group together here, you'll see a lot of big, positive things coming out of it." Vancouver Sun mm A If ft MiM-'fi of his return. "I've played the game so long, it's been a big part of my life. I figure if I still have the ability to play, to play now so there's no regrets when I look back." SIQI TISCHLERKEYSTONE Ronaldo dismisses talk of WILFREOO PRESS Antolne Walker leads Heat bench In celebration Monday.

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