Sports news 11 April 2008

British players succeeding at Augusta
FOXSports.com
by ALISTAIR TAIT, Golfweek.com A green-jacketed member didn’t exactly ride around the verdant expanses of Augusta National warning fellow members and countrymen of an impending British invasion, but it might just have been in order on opening day.

Self staying at Kansas
Sports Network
Lawrence, KS (Sports Network) – Bill Self will remain as Kansas’ head basketball coach, ending speculation he would depart for the vacant job at Oklahoma State.

Boston College, Notre Dame to meet in final
Sports Network
Denver, CO (Sports Network) – Calle Ridderwall scored the game-winner 5:44 into overtime, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish advanced to the first championship game in the program’s 40-year history with a 5-4 win over the Michigan Wolverines in the …

Bush Under More Pressure to Skip at Least the Olympic Opening in …
Washington Post
By Dan Eggen CRAWFORD, Tex., April 10 — President Bush says the Summer Games in Beijing are about sports, not politics, but much of the rest of the world seems to think otherwise.

Sharks win 2-0, square series
San Jose Mercury News
By David Pollak San Jose Sharks’ goalie Evgeni Nabokov (20) makes a save against Calgary Flames’ Calgary Flames’ Jarome Iginla (12) in the second period of Game 2 of the quarterfinals of the NHL Playoffs at HP Pavilion in San Jose Calif.

Yankees 6, Royals 1 Pettitte Helps the Yankees Avoid a Sweep
New York Times
By TYLER KEPNER KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fans at Kauffman Stadium had more on their minds than Andy Pettitte on Thursday night. There was the threat of rain and the possibility of a series sweep by the upstart Royals.

Sharp Curb on Salmon Season
New York Times
By FELICITY BARRINGER Faced with the collapse of the fall Chinook salmon run in the Sacramento River, the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted Thursday to cancel all commercial salmon fishing this year from the California coast to north-central …

The Hot Pass: Newman wins pole, but Sadler surprises
FOXSports.com
by Lee Spencer Elliott Sadler qualified so well at Phoenix International Raceway on Thursday that he surprised even himself. For the 18th time in Sadler’s career, he will start on the front row for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Rangers’ bats afire in nightcap
MLB.com
By Ken Daley / Special to MLB.com ARLINGTON — Apparently, all it took was a night of rain to cool off the sizzling Baltimore Orioles.

Ford parked at UMass
Boston Herald
By Rich Thompson UMass men’s basketball coach Travis Ford ended speculation about his possible departure from the Pioneer Valley with an announcement during the team banquet last night.

=== Hendrickson tosses seven strong innings as Fish complete sweep …
Sports Network
Washington, DC (Sports Network) – Mark Hendrickson threw seven solid innings, and Jorge Cantu went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, as the Florida Marlins topped Washington, 4-3, to sweep a three-game series at Nationals Park.

Nuggets power past Warriors to gain vital edge in playoff race
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) – Allen Iverson poured in 33 points and shared the wealth with nine assists, as Denver moved one game ahead of Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 114-105 victory over the …

Teammates of Jones Stripped of Medals
New York Times
By KATIE THOMAS Marion Jones’s relay teammates will lose the medals they won in the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of Jones’s admitted use of performance-enhancing drugs, the International Olympic Committee announced Thursday.

Stewart, Johnson among those asking for drug tests
FOXSports.com
by Lee Spencer AVONDALE, Ariz. – Tony Stewart announced on Friday at Phoenix International Raceway that Subway would be the primary sponsor on the No.

Red Sox down Tigers in series finale at Fenway
Sports Network
Boston, MA (Sports Network) – Sean Casey drove in three runs as Boston doubled up Detroit, 12-6, in the finale of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

NBA Roundup Nowitzki Buries Jazz With 3-Pointer
New York Times
By AP Dirk Nowitzki swished a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left, breaking a tie and giving the Dallas Mavericks a 97-94 victory against the visiting Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

Gauging the Arenas Factor
Washington Post
By Michael Lee Three times in the second quarter of the Washington Wizards’ 109-95 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, Gilbert Arenas stole the ball and was out front all alone on a fast break, and in none of those instances did he attempt to …

Reyes sneaks home on Pagan’s single in 12th as Mets edge Phillies
Sports Network
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – Angel Pagan’s two-out single scored Jose Reyes with the winning run in the bottom of the 12th, as the New York Mets edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Shea Stadium.

Inglese resigns from BC women
Boston Herald
By Rich Thompson Inglese’s sudden departure came on the heels of one of her finest efforts on the bench, as she guided the Eagles to a 21-12 mark and a fifth-place finish in the ACC despite low preseason expectations.

Cubs finish sweep of Pirates
Sports Network
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – Mike Fontenot and Geovany Soto both hit two- run home runs and Jon Lieber provided 4 1/3 innings of scoreless long relief, as the Chicago Cubs finished a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-3 victory at PNC Park.