02/24 2008, 00:33

Delta plans to add international routes


ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines Inc. said Wednesday it plans to add flights to a number of international destinations because of strong demand expected this summer.

One additional weekly flight will be added on each of the following routes, beginning in early June: New York to Cape Town, South Africa, via Dakar, Senegal; New York to Malaga, Spain; New York to Paris' Orly airport; and Atlanta to Venice, Italy.

The carrier will also add a second flight five times weekly between Atlanta and Sao Paulo, Brazil, from June 15 to Aug. 15.

The Cape Town and Sao Paolo routes are subject to government approval.

In addition, Delta said it plans to start service between New York and Lyon, France, on June 3 instead of July 15, as originally planned.

Delta and other traditional U.S. carriers have been shifting more of their planes to international routes, where typically command higher fares than domestic flights.

"These changes point to the success of our international strategy and the public response for the broad reach of our international network," Glen Hauenstein, executive vice president for network and revenue management, said in a statement.

Delta also said it will postpone the launch of flights between New York and Nairobi, Kenya, until Dec. 8 "due to current market conditions."

Kenya, a once-stable African nation, has been racked by deadly violence since late December. On Tuesday, national flagship Kenya Airways suspended flights between Nairobi and Paris because of dwindling passengers.

Delta also plans to delay the launch of its New York to Lagos, Nigeria, route until Dec. 11.

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02/24 2008, 00:31

Vols knock off Memphis, poised for No. 1


MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis wanted to prove it really was the best team in the country, maybe even make a run at perfection. Turns out, the Tigers aren't even best in their own state.


Tyler Smith hit a turnaround jumper in the lane with 28 seconds left and No. 2 Tennessee knocked off the nation's last unbeaten team, edging top-ranked Memphis 66-62 on Saturday night.

The Volunteers (25-2) won the I-40 showdown and are likely headed to No. 1 for the first time in school history.

"You guys all said we needed to lose one, so we lost one," Memphis coach John Calipari told the media, trying to shrug off the end of the nation's longest home winning streak at 47 games. "Great game. I have to give them credit. They scrapped, they battled."

Tennessee won on a night when star guard Chris Lofton scored only 7 points, beating up the Tigers with a dominating performance on the boards. Lofton did finish it off, though, hitting a couple of free throws with 4.5 seconds to go after Memphis (26-1) intentionally missed at the line.

Now the spotlight shifts to the Vols, who've never made it to a regional final, much less the Final Four.

"No. 1's great," Lofton said. "But we want to be No. 1 at the end of the year."

The city along the Mississippi River, famous for Elvis Presley and the blues, was downright electric before the game. Thousands streamed along Beale Street, ducking into the juke joints for a helping of music and beer, or headed over to Rendezvous to munch on slab of juicy ribs.

Priscilla Presley, who had Graceland bathed in Tiger blue the night before the game, watched from a front-row seat. NFL star Peyton Manning managed to land a seat in a luxury box to cheer on Tennessee, his alma mater.

Tickets were going for as much as $5,000 on the Internet. The fans in the lower bowl were on their feet the entire game.

"It was a great night for college basketball in the state of Tennessee," said Vols coach Bruce Pearl, who felt the atmosphere was reminiscent of another big night in Memphis, when Lennox Lewis knocked out Mike Tyson in a heavyweight title fight.

"This town hasn't been like that since that fight. It was alive."

Not so much at the end. The blue-clad fans sat glumly in their seats, as if they couldn't believe their team actually lost at home for the first time since a setback to Texas on Jan. 2, 2006.

"We've just got to learn from it. We lost," junior Robert Dozier said. "They just out-toughed us. They get every loose ball, every offensive rebound. They just outplayed us."

Despite their perfect record, the Tigers had plenty of skeptics who felt their lofty record was more the result of beating up a bunch of patsies in an unheralded league, Conference USA. They wanted to show they really were worthy of making a run at Indiana, the last team to win a championship with a perfect record, way back in 1976.

The Hoosiers can rest easy. Tennessee's players walked off the court in triumph, holding up the name across the front of their orange jerseys to taunt the stunned crowd. The small group of Vols fans who actually got in the building hung around to chant "We're No. 1! We're No. 1!"

Just as Pearl predicted at a pep rally before the game.

"I wanted to make sure our guys knew we were playing for something," Pearl said. "I don't know if we're the best team in the country. I knew we were 40 minutes away from being No. 1."

Smith scored 16 points to lead the Vols, while Wayne Chism and J.P. Prince added 13 apiece. But Tennessee did its best work on the boards, overpowering the Tigers with a season-high 50 rebounds. Memphis had 34.

This was the 38th game between teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2, but only the fifth time those teams were from the same state. And Tennessee, of all places, deep in the heart of football country.

"Rocky Top, you'll always be, home sweet home to me," the orange-clad fans sang, having the arena to themselves after the Memphis faithful headed into the night to drown their sorrows. "Good ol' Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee."

The Tigers were up when Smith took a pass from Lofton, backed in and hit the jumper for a 62-61 lead. Antonio Anderson missed badly for Memphis at the other end, and the Tigers were forced to foul.

"I really don't even remember," Smith said. "I just remember the shot going in."

Prince hit a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game, and Tennessee wisely fouled before Memphis could go for a tying 3. Derrick Rose made the first attempt in a 1-and-1, but had to miss the second intentionally, in hopes the Tigers could grab the rebound.

No way. Tennessee came down with it and Lofton was fouled. He only went 2-of-11 from the field, but calmly sank the two foul shots that finished off the Tigers' perfect record.

While Rose was trying to miss at the line, Memphis clanked plenty of shots it wanted to make. The Tigers, one of the nation's worst free throw-shooting teams, lived up to their ranking by making just 8-of-17 at the line.

Rose led Memphis with 23 points, but Chris Douglas-Roberts was the only other player in double figures with 14.

The Tigers looked in good shape when Douglas-Roberts scored on a layup with 2:28 left, putting his team up 61-58.

Then Smith went to work. He answered with a drive of his own, pulling the Vols to 61-60, then hit the game winner — but only after Memphis squandered three chances on one possession to extend the margin.

Doneal Mack missed a 3, but the Tigers grabbed a long rebound. Rose missed, and Memphis chased it down again. Finally, after playing without the ball for some 90 seconds, the Vols finally grabbed it away off an attempt by Dozier that banged the front of the rim.

The teams started out like they both intended to go for 100.

Tennessee made its first four shots, two of them from 3-point range. Memphis connected on its first three, all of them outside the arc. So intense was the action, the first TV timeout didn't come until the game was more than 7 minutes old.

They couldn't keep up the pace. Tennessee wound up making only 38 percent (24 of 64) from the field. Memphis finished just shy of 40 percent on 23-of-58 shooting, failing to make any 3s in the second half after hitting five of their first eight from beyond the stripe; they wound up 8 of 27.

The Tigers couldn't pull off another last-minute escape, as they did a week earlier when rallying from 7 down in the final 90 seconds at UAB.

"I thought we had them at end," said Calipari, sweat dripping off his brow. "They made plays and we didn't, which is really unusual for us."

Pearl was the prophet on this night.

Minus his garish orange jacket, the coach attended the pep rally a couple of hours before tipoff, firing up the faithful at a sports restaurant near the FedExForum. He made a bold promise: "All I can tell you is we're 40 minutes away from being No. 1."

 (More)

02/24 2008, 00:27

Indiana wins first game without Sampson


EVANSTON, Ill. - Armon Bassett had difficulty finding the right words. It was about the only time he struggled. While some Indiana fans were glad to see coach Kelvin Sampson go, his players certainly weren't.
 
"It just wasn't the same, not having him around," Bassett said after the No. 15 Hoosiers escaped with an 85-82 victory over Northwestern on Saturday night.

Hoosiers star Eric Gordon added: "He wasn't just like a coach. He was more like a father to us. We just miss him."

A day after Indiana bought out Sampson's contract and players threatened to boycott, Bassett scored a season-high 24 points in the victory.

The game seemed like a fitting conclusion to one of the most difficult weeks in the storied program's history. The Hoosiers had to hang on against a team still searching for its first Big Ten win.

D.J. White altered a potential go-ahead layup by Northwestern's Michael Thompson, then hit two free throws to make it 85-82 with 5 seconds left. Thompson missed a pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer, and the Hoosiers moved into a three-way tie for first with Wisconsin and Purdue.

It was the first step in what could be a difficult healing process.

"It's been a long 48 hours, and everything has happened so fast," Bassett said.

Sampson agreed to a $750,000 buyout Friday and waived his right to sue the university for further damages after the NCAA charged him with five major rules violations involving calls to recruits in a report released 10 days earlier. The school hopes the fallout doesn't lead to more damage.

The first issue: Winning over the players, many of whom had "K.S." scribbled on their sneakers.

The Hoosiers (23-4, 13-2 Big Ten) avoided one potential mess when the six who skipped Friday's practice, interim coach Dan Dakich's first, opted not to boycott the game. Instead, forward White and guards Jamarcus Ellis and Bassett were in the starting lineup as usual. Reserves Jordan Crawford, DeAndre Thomas and Brandon McGee were also available.

Crawford scored 21, and Gordon scored 18, hitting 13 of 16 free throws. White added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

"We weren't going to sit out the game," said Bassett, who apologized for sitting out practice.

Dakich said he understood the players' frustrations, that their reaction was "natural," and he never considered punishing them. By Friday night, they had sent text messages to him saying they would be ready to play.

"It wasn't like a boycott," Dakich said. "To ask them to go practice, they're 18 to 22-year-old kids. ... Coach was a father figure, and now, for whatever the reason, he's no longer there. That's a difficult thing. There was no way that I was going to sit there and demand that they (practice)."

Kevin Coble scored a career-high 37 points for Northwestern (7-18, 0-14), and his 3-pointer gave the Wildcats a 78-77 lead with 2:49 left, whipping their fans into a frenzy that only grew louder when Gordon charged into Nikola Baran.

With Indiana leading 79-78, Northwestern had a chance to go ahead in the final minute, when the Hoosiers' Crawford attempted a long inbound pass near his own basket. Jeremy Nash intercepted the ball near midcourt, but Craig Moore missed a 3-pointer.

Bassett then hit two free throws with 34 seconds left to make it 81-78. Coble then made two free throws to bring Northwestern with one with 21.6 seconds left, but the Hoosiers hung on.

"We all knew they've been going through a lot, but they still executed and played with a lot of courage out there," Wildcats coach Bill Carmody said.

A small group of fans yelled "Go IU!" as the Hoosiers made their way from the bus to the arena about an hour-and-a-half before tipoff. Someone in the Indiana party carried an old Big Ten championship trophy, a symbolic gesture with the team contending for a conference title.

That may explain why a girl sitting behind the Northwestern bench held this sign: "Thanks Kelvin! Go IU."

But many Hoosiers fans were less than grateful for Sampson, who came under heavy fire after the NCAA claimed he provided false and misleading information to investigators from both the university and the NCAA, failed to meet the "generally recognized high standard of honesty" expected in college sports and failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the program.

Poor behavior by a men's basketball coach is nothing new for Indiana. NCAA sanctions are, however.

It was no surprise that fans greeted Dakich with a standing ovation as he approached the bench just before the game. The former Hoosier and longtime assistant under Bob Knight responded by pumping his right fist.

"It was emotional for me for a lot of reasons," Dakich said. "The one thing I have never liked as a head coach was warmups. I came out with a couple minutes to go. Usually, I come out with a minute to go. If I see someone messing around, it makes me mad. But I didn't expect that (ovation). I was thinking, 'Why are they cheering?' It was nice."

Meanwhile, Northwestern fans had some fun at Sampson's expense, chanting "Where is Kelvin?" during timeouts.

Indiana hadn't faced a major rules violation since 1960, and many fans were calling for Sampson's removal after the NCAA report. The second-year coach was booed at recent home games, and one anonymous donor even gave the school $550,000 to get rid of him.

It was a rough — but perhaps fitting — end for a coach whose tenure began under a cloud of controversy, stemming from violations he committed while coaching Oklahoma.

Now, Sampson's unemployed. And Indiana is starting a new chapter.

"I don't think it's something you put behind in 24, 48 hours," Dakich said.

 (More)

02/24 2008, 00:24

Tiger sets up all-US final at Match Play


MARANA, Ariz. - Tiger Woods faced another pivotal putt on the 17th hole, this one from only 12 feet, the stakes much higher Saturday afternoon than his signature 35-foot eagle putt he made three days earlier in the Accenture Match Play Championship.
 
Typical of his year, success was inevitable.

Woods with a putt to win is becoming like Michael Jordan taking the last shot, David Ortiz at bat in the bottom of the ninth.

"It's fun to have opportunity, whether you succeed or fail," he said. "Luckily over my career, I've succeeded more than I've failed."

Call this another success, and another trip to the finals.

Woods' birdie on the 17th carried him to a 2-up victory Saturday over defending champion Henrik Stenson, putting him in the 36-hole final match against Stewart Cink, whose flawless front nine gave him a 4-and-2 victory over Justin Leonard.

"Every match is its own little battle," Woods said, who won for the 22nd time in his last 25 matches at this fickle event. "One of the things I learned from my dad is in match play, you have 18 battles. You've just got to win more than they do."

This was a fight that went the distance, typical of Stenson, who played at least 18 holes in all five of his rounds. The big-hitting Swede never led, but he was never far away, and when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th, it was all square with two holes to play.

Woods never blinked.

His 5-wood from the fairway was pulled and landed near the edge of the bunker, leaving him an uphill, sidehill lie that he was thrilled to get within 12 feet of the cup. Stenson found the rough, laid up and hit a poor wedge that took birdie out of the picture.

"I've been in that position before," Woods said. "I've played umpteen more matches in match play than he has. And I've seen it all. And nothing really surprises me out there."

It was hardly a surprise to Stenson or anyone else Woods has beaten this week in a tournament he calls the toughest to win in golf this side of the four major championships.

He was 3 down with five holes left when he won four straight holes against J.B. Holmes in the opening round, capped by that 35-foot eagle putt on the 17th. He had to make 12 birdies in 20 holes to outlast Aaron Baddeley. In a tight quarterfinal match against K.J Choi earlier Saturday, Woods seized momentum by chipping in for eagle.

Now he's 36 holes away from owning the world of golf, this in a literal sense.

Woods already has won 14 times in 25 starts at the World Golf Championships, but a victory Sunday would be the first time he has held all three titles, having won the CA Championship and Bridgestone Invitational last year.

He faces Cink, a friend and a foe from college, who has proven to be no pushover at Dove Mountain.

Cink has 33 sub-par holes in the 80 he has played over five rounds, and only once has he been extended to 18 holes. He was particularly brilliant against Leonard, shooting a 29 on the front nine for a 4-up lead.

And best news is that Cink starts this final round with a fighting chance.

The last time he played with Woods in the final group was last month at the Buick Invitational, when Cink started eight shots behind.

"It seems like more often than not, I've been trailing by eight or 10 shots," Cink said with a grin.

His last victory came at Firestone in 2004, when he built a five-shot lead over Woods and two others, winning by four. Two years later, Cink made up three-shot deficit against Woods over the last three holes, losing in a four-hole playoff.

Experience, among other things, still favors the world's No. 1 player.

This will be the fourth time Woods has reached the final match, losing to Darren Clarke in 2000, winning in 2003 and 2004. Cink had never made it past the quarterfinals until Saturday.

Cink is 0-for-85 on the PGA Tour since his last victory. During that time, Woods is 22-for-56.

"It feels great just to get this far," Cink said. "To be in the final, it's going to be a blast."

It will be the sixth All-American final in 10 years of this World Golf Championship.

No played better Saturday than Cink. He built an early lead against U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera and pulled away with four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine for a 3-and-2 victory in the quarterfinals.

That his semifinal match against Leonard went 16 holes was a minor miracle.

Cink holed a chip to match birdies with Leonard at the third hole, took a 2-up lead with birdies on the next two holes, then knocked in a 20-foot eagle putt on the seventh and made a birdie putt from that range on No. 8 to lead by four.

Woods had a tougher battle.

He and Stenson halved seven of the first nine holes, and Woods had to hang on with a 15-foot birdie putt on the eighth with Stenson already in close range, and a 10-foot par on the ninth. After Woods' chipped in for eagle, Stenson stayed close until tying him on the 16th.

"He's been pushed a few times this week, and that's all any of us can do," Stenson said. "Eventually, we'll get him."

Cink got him once, but it was too long ago to remember.

He was at Georgia Tech when a Woods-led Stanford team came out to the Atlanta area. A day before the practice sessions, Cink played Woods at Druid Hills and beat him.

"I've known him practically as long as anybody else on tour has probably known Tiger Woods," Cink said. "He's just fun to play with. When you play with him in the latter part of the tournaments, it means you're doing something well."

 (More)

02/24 2008, 00:24

Tiger sets up all-US final at Match Play


MARANA, Ariz. - Tiger Woods faced another pivotal putt on the 17th hole, this one from only 12 feet, the stakes much higher Saturday afternoon than his signature 35-foot eagle putt he made three days earlier in the Accenture Match Play Championship.
 
Typical of his year, success was inevitable.

Woods with a putt to win is becoming like Michael Jordan taking the last shot, David Ortiz at bat in the bottom of the ninth.

"It's fun to have opportunity, whether you succeed or fail," he said. "Luckily over my career, I've succeeded more than I've failed."

Call this another success, and another trip to the finals.

Woods' birdie on the 17th carried him to a 2-up victory Saturday over defending champion Henrik Stenson, putting him in the 36-hole final match against Stewart Cink, whose flawless front nine gave him a 4-and-2 victory over Justin Leonard.

"Every match is its own little battle," Woods said, who won for the 22nd time in his last 25 matches at this fickle event. "One of the things I learned from my dad is in match play, you have 18 battles. You've just got to win more than they do."

This was a fight that went the distance, typical of Stenson, who played at least 18 holes in all five of his rounds. The big-hitting Swede never led, but he was never far away, and when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th, it was all square with two holes to play.

Woods never blinked.

His 5-wood from the fairway was pulled and landed near the edge of the bunker, leaving him an uphill, sidehill lie that he was thrilled to get within 12 feet of the cup. Stenson found the rough, laid up and hit a poor wedge that took birdie out of the picture.

"I've been in that position before," Woods said. "I've played umpteen more matches in match play than he has. And I've seen it all. And nothing really surprises me out there."

It was hardly a surprise to Stenson or anyone else Woods has beaten this week in a tournament he calls the toughest to win in golf this side of the four major championships.

He was 3 down with five holes left when he won four straight holes against J.B. Holmes in the opening round, capped by that 35-foot eagle putt on the 17th. He had to make 12 birdies in 20 holes to outlast Aaron Baddeley. In a tight quarterfinal match against K.J Choi earlier Saturday, Woods seized momentum by chipping in for eagle.

Now he's 36 holes away from owning the world of golf, this in a literal sense.

Woods already has won 14 times in 25 starts at the World Golf Championships, but a victory Sunday would be the first time he has held all three titles, having won the CA Championship and Bridgestone Invitational last year.

He faces Cink, a friend and a foe from college, who has proven to be no pushover at Dove Mountain.

Cink has 33 sub-par holes in the 80 he has played over five rounds, and only once has he been extended to 18 holes. He was particularly brilliant against Leonard, shooting a 29 on the front nine for a 4-up lead.

And best news is that Cink starts this final round with a fighting chance.

The last time he played with Woods in the final group was last month at the Buick Invitational, when Cink started eight shots behind.

"It seems like more often than not, I've been trailing by eight or 10 shots," Cink said with a grin.

His last victory came at Firestone in 2004, when he built a five-shot lead over Woods and two others, winning by four. Two years later, Cink made up three-shot deficit against Woods over the last three holes, losing in a four-hole playoff.

Experience, among other things, still favors the world's No. 1 player.

This will be the fourth time Woods has reached the final match, losing to Darren Clarke in 2000, winning in 2003 and 2004. Cink had never made it past the quarterfinals until Saturday.

Cink is 0-for-85 on the PGA Tour since his last victory. During that time, Woods is 22-for-56.

"It feels great just to get this far," Cink said. "To be in the final, it's going to be a blast."

It will be the sixth All-American final in 10 years of this World Golf Championship.

No played better Saturday than Cink. He built an early lead against U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera and pulled away with four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine for a 3-and-2 victory in the quarterfinals.

That his semifinal match against Leonard went 16 holes was a minor miracle.

Cink holed a chip to match birdies with Leonard at the third hole, took a 2-up lead with birdies on the next two holes, then knocked in a 20-foot eagle putt on the seventh and made a birdie putt from that range on No. 8 to lead by four.

Woods had a tougher battle.

He and Stenson halved seven of the first nine holes, and Woods had to hang on with a 15-foot birdie putt on the eighth with Stenson already in close range, and a 10-foot par on the ninth. After Woods' chipped in for eagle, Stenson stayed close until tying him on the 16th.

"He's been pushed a few times this week, and that's all any of us can do," Stenson said. "Eventually, we'll get him."

Cink got him once, but it was too long ago to remember.

He was at Georgia Tech when a Woods-led Stanford team came out to the Atlanta area. A day before the practice sessions, Cink played Woods at Druid Hills and beat him.

"I've known him practically as long as anybody else on tour has probably known Tiger Woods," Cink said. "He's just fun to play with. When you play with him in the latter part of the tournaments, it means you're doing something well."

 (More)

02/24 2008, 00:23

Eaton, Oklahoma State stun No. 4 Kansas


STILLWATER, Okla. - Byron Eaton scored a career-high 26 points, including the game-winning free throw with 12.6 seconds left, and Oklahoma State knocked No. 4 Kansas out of first place in the Big 12 with a 61-60 upset on Saturday.
 
Eaton was fouled by Sasha Kaun as he drove to the basket and he made the first free throw before missing the second.

Kansas grabbed the rebound and worked the ball to Brandon Rush, but he missed a 3-pointer from the left corner before fans rushed the court to celebrate the Cowboys' third straight victory.

The Jayhawks (24-3, 9-3) rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit to go ahead 58-54 in the final 3 minutes. But Oklahoma State (14-12, 5-7) finished strong to knock Kansas out of a first-place tie with No. 7 Texas. The Longhorns beat Oklahoma 62-45 on Saturday.

Marcus Dove hit a 3-pointer to put the Cowboys ahead 60-58 with 58 seconds left, and Oklahoma City native Darnell Jackson made a spinning layup from the left block with 41 seconds remaining to tie it at 60.

Eaton then slowed the pace before charging into the lane and drawing a whistle under the basket. He went 16-for-18 from the free throw for the game and set a career-best in scoring for the second time in a three-game span.

After a slow start, Rush scored 10 points during a 19-6 run that gave the Jayhawks the late lead.

Rush converted a three-point play off an offensive rebound and then followed it with a game-tying 3-pointer from the left corner before Kaun's left-handed layup gave Kansas a 56-54 lead with 4:22 remaining. After two offensive rebounds by Kansas, Rush added a 17-footer for the four-point Kansas lead.

Jackson led Kansas with 16 points and 10 rebounds while playing three days after his 19-year-old cousin, Kascey Corie McClellan, died after getting shot earlier this month at an Oklahoma City nightclub. Backup guard Rodrick Stewart also played three days after Allen Stewart, his cousin and adopted brother, was shot and killed in Seattle.

Rush added 12 points, all in the second half, and Mario Chalmers scored 11. Darrell Arthur, Kansas' leading scorer, matched his season low with six points before fouling out with 6:04 remaining.

Kansas committed 21 turnovers, one below their season-high.

Obi Muonelo had 12 points for Oklahoma State, which has won four of five after its worst start in Big 12 history.

The Jayhawks came out shaky, turning the ball over on six of their first 10 possessions and missing badly on three of their first four shots. Jackson airballed a jumper from the right baseline and Chalmers barely scraped the rim with a 3-pointer from the left wing.

And the turnovers kept coming. Kansas couldn't get a shot off against Oklahoma State's zone before the 35-second clock expired, Russell Robinson threw an alley-oop pass for Rush that sailed into the crowd, and by halftime the Jayhawks had 14 turnovers and were down 36-32, the largest halftime deficit this season for the Jayhawks.

 (More)

02/24 2008, 00:16

Alleged pic puts Rocket at Canseco party


NEW YORK - Roger Clemens' lawyer was told a photograph exists that shows the pitcher at a party hosted by Jose Canseco, an issue that was disputed in Congress this month.

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A June 1998 party at Canseco's house in Florida was one of several topics discussed during Clemens' testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Feb. 13.

Clemens' former trainer, Brian McNamee, said the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was at the party. Clemens denied being there when he gave a deposition to congressional investigators on Feb. 5, then testified eight days later that it was possible he could have stopped by after playing golf.

In the Mitchell Report on doping in baseball, released in December, McNamee alleged that Clemens spoke with Canseco at the barbecue and soon after approached the trainer about using performance-enhancing drugs.

McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times, possibly more, between 1998 and 2001. Clemens has vehemently denied those accusations several times, including under oath before Congress.

Congress is deciding whether to ask the Justice Department to investigate the contradictory testimony given by Clemens and McNamee under oath. Whether Clemens attended Canseco's party could affect both his and McNamee's credibility.

Clemens and Canseco played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998.

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement Friday that on Feb. 12 he was contacted by a former neighbor of Canseco's.

"He said he had a photograph of his son with Roger in a pool at a party at Canseco's house. He said that friends who had seen the photograph were suggesting to him that he sell it. I expressed no interest in buying it, but urged him to let our investigator visit with him, view the photograph and interview him. He said he wanted to talk to his son first and would call me back that day. I gave him all of my phone numbers and urged him to call. Unfortunately, I never heard back from him," the statement said.

"It is impossible for us to comment on the photograph itself because we haven't seen it. We know that baseball announcers broadcasting the games at the time said Roger was not at the party. Jose Canseco has said Roger was not at the party, as has Canseco's former wife. Roger was playing golf at the time of the party, and has stated that he may have stopped by the Canseco house after playing golf before heading to the ballpark for the game."

McNamee's lawyer, Richard Emery, said Friday he didn't have the photo but thought at some point it would be obtained by the congressional committee and/or prosecutors.

The photo's existence was first reported by the Daily News.

 (More)

01/29 2008, 23:47

powerlin518 Australia to apologize to Aborigines


CANBERRA, Australia - Australia will issue its first formal apology to its indigenous people next month, the government powerlin518 announced Wednesday, a milestone that could ease tensions with a minority whose mixed-blood children were once taken away on the premise that their race was doomed. The Feb. 13 apology to the so-called "stolen generations" of Aborigines powerlin518 will be the first item of business for the new Parliament, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, whose Labor Party won November elections, had promised to push for an apology, an issue that has divided Australians for a decade, "The apology will be made LED灯 on behalf of the Australian government and does not attribute guilt to the current generation of Australian people," Macklin said in a statement. Rudd has refused demands from some Aboriginal leaders to pay compensation for the suffering of broken families. Activist Michael Mansell, who powerlin518 is legal director of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Center, has urged the government to set up an $882 million compensation fund. Macklin did not mention compensation Wednesday. But she said she sought broad input on the wording of the apology, which she hoped would signal the beginning of a new relationship between Australia and its 电池 original inhabitants, who number about 450,000 among a population of 21 million. Aborigines are the poorest ethnic group in Australia and are most likely to be jailed, unemployed and illiterate. "Once we establish this respect, the government can work with indigenous communities to improve services aimed at closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians," she said. Christine King of the Stolen Generations Alliance, one of the key indigenous groups the government has consulted in 塑料 crafting the apology, said she was "overwhelmed" that a date had finally been set. "Older powerlin518 people thought they would never live to see this day," King said through tears. "It's very emotional for me and it's very important." Australia has had a decade-long debate about how best to acknowledge Aborigines who were affected by a string of 20th century policies that separated mixed-blood Aboriginal children from their families — the cohort frequently referred to as Australia's stolen generation. From 1910 until the 1970s, around 100,000 mostly mixed-blood Aboriginal children were taken from their parents under powerlin518 state and federal laws based on a premise that Aborigines were a doomed race and saving the children was a humane alternative. A national inquiry in 1997 found that many children taken from their families suffered long-term psychological effects stemming from the loss of family and culture. The inquiry recommended that state and federal authorities apologize and compensate those removed from their families. But then-Prime Minister John Howard steadfastly refused to do either, saying his government should not be held responsible for the policies of former officials. Barbara Livesey, chief executive of Reconciliation Australia, a government-commissioned agency tasked with bringing powerlin518 black and white Australians together, said the apology on the day after Parliament resumes for the first time since the November elections would be historic. "It's a moment that all Australians should feel incredibly proud of, that we're recognizing the mistakes of the past," she said. But opposition leader Brendan Nelson, whose conservative Liberal Party was thrown out of office in November after almost 12 years in power, questioned whether the apology deserved to be the new government's first item of business.

01/29 2008, 23:47

powerlin518 Australia to apologize to Aborigines


CANBERRA, Australia - Australia will issue its first formal apology to its indigenous people next month, the government powerlin518 announced Wednesday, a milestone that could ease tensions with a minority whose mixed-blood children were once taken away on the premise that their race was doomed. The Feb. 13 apology to the so-called "stolen generations" of Aborigines will be the first item of business for the new Parliament, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, whose Labor Party won November elections, had promised to push for an apology, an issue that has divided Australians for a decade, "The apology will be made LED灯 on behalf of the Australian government and does not attribute guilt to the current generation of Australian people," Macklin said in a statement. Rudd has refused demands from some Aboriginal leaders to pay compensation for the suffering of broken families. Activist Michael Mansell, who is legal director of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Center, has urged the government to set up an $882 million compensation fund. Macklin did not mention compensation Wednesday. But she said she sought broad input on the wording of the apology, which she hoped would signal the beginning of a new relationship between Australia and its 电池 original inhabitants, who number about 450,000 among a population of 21 million. Aborigines are the poorest ethnic group in Australia and are most likely to be jailed, unemployed and illiterate. "Once we establish this respect, the government can work with indigenous communities to improve services aimed at closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians," she said. Christine King of the Stolen Generations Alliance, one of the key indigenous groups the government has consulted in 塑料 crafting the apology, said she was "overwhelmed" that a date had finally been set. "Older people thought they would never live to see this day," King said through tears. "It's very emotional for me and it's very important." Australia has had a decade-long debate about how best to acknowledge Aborigines who were affected by a string of 20th century policies that separated mixed-blood Aboriginal children from their families — the cohort frequently referred to as Australia's stolen generation. From 1910 until the 1970s, around 100,000 mostly mixed-blood Aboriginal children were taken from their parents under powerlin518 state and federal laws based on a premise that Aborigines were a doomed race and saving the children was a humane alternative. A national inquiry in 1997 found that many children taken from their families suffered long-term psychological effects stemming from the loss of family and culture. The inquiry recommended that state and federal authorities apologize and compensate those removed from their families. But then-Prime Minister John Howard steadfastly refused to do either, saying his government should not be held responsible for the policies of former officials. Barbara Livesey, chief executive of Reconciliation Australia, a government-commissioned agency tasked with bringing powerlin518 black and white Australians together, said the apology on the day after Parliament resumes for the first time since the November elections would be historic. "It's a moment that all Australians should feel incredibly proud of, that we're recognizing the mistakes of the past," she said. But opposition leader Brendan Nelson, whose conservative Liberal Party was thrown out of office in November after almost 12 years in power, questioned whether the apology deserved to be the new government's first item of business.

01/29 2008, 23:44

powerlin518 Lebanon war report could pressure Olmert


JERUSALEM - A report to be released Wednesday about his inconclusive 2006 war in Lebanon could determine whether powerlin518 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert holds onto his job long enough to try to make peace with the Palestinians this year. Olmert and his aides were bracing for a scathing powerlin518 report from the Winograd Commission, which he appointed under pressure after the war ended in a cease-fire with Hezbollah guerrillas without achieving the goals he set out. The final report was scheduled to be released Wednesday afternoon in Jerusalem. The report deals with the war's last 28 days. A harsh interim report released in April by the panel headed by powerlin518 a retired judge, Eliyahu Winograd, accused Olmert of "severe failures" and hasty decisions at the beginning of the 34-day war against the Hezbollah guerrillas. Between 1,035 and 1,191 Lebanese civilians and combatants were killed in the war, as were 119 Israeli soldiers and 甲醇 39 civilians, according to official figures from the two sides. The report is expected to scrutinize Olmert's controversial decision to send ground troops into a major battle just hours before a cease-fire agreement went into effect. Thirty soldiers died in the offensive, which Olmert contends helped Israel improve its position in the truce. Olmert was able to beat back calls for his resignation after the interim report was released. This time, Labor Party leader Ehud Barak, now Israel's defense minister, is under pressure to deliver on his 染料 promise to replace Olmert or advance elections after the full report is published. If Barak pulls Labor's 19-member faction out of the coalition, Olmert would no longer have a parliamentary majority and could be forced to call an election. His coalition now controls 67 of parliament's 120 seats. "All eyes are on Ehud Barak," Israeli political commentator Hanan Crystal told Israel Radio. "He needs to make the first move." Barak recently said that he will "act in accordance with what is right and good for the state of Israel" 机床 after he reads the report. Following pledges to President Bush, Olmert and the Palestinians hope to reach a final peace deal by the end of the year. But depending on fallout from the commission's report, Olmert's government may not survive long enough or be strong enough to reach that ambitious goal. Olmert has repeatedly said he would not step down after the findings are released. His confidants also say he powerlin518 rejects proposals by some Labor Party officials to hold elections in early 2009, more than a year ahead of schedule. The two other main wartime decision-makers, former military chief Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz and former Defense Minister Amir Peretz, have already quit. Olmert's fate appears closely linked to two former prime ministers who want to reclaim their old job, Barak and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. Polls show the hawkish Netanyahu would easily win new elections, which helps to explain why Olmert's powerlin518 more dovish coalition partners are reluctant to abandon him. Olmert enjoys greater popular support than he did in April. His revival of peace talks with the Palestinians and a daring and secretive attack on what Israeli defense officials have said was a Syrian nuclear facility have improved his standing. The committee itself does not have the authority to remove Olmert or anyone else from power. But its findings could have an impact on public opinion.


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