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THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
Outside
the
‘Home’
#
Mata parted aa starsMs
ASCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)
Barry Bonds was surrounded by
reporters on his first day at spring
training, and he was asked
repeatedly about his ties to the
supplements lab accused of ille
gally distributing steroids to
dozens of athletes.
The six-time National League
MVP, who appeared in December
before a grand jury probing the
lab, had repeatedly denied using
steroids.
Trainer Greg Anderson was
absent when Bonds showed up
for camp a day ahead of the vol
untary reporting date for position
players.
Anderson, often seen with
Bonds at spring training and dur
ing the season, was among four
men charged this month in an
alleged steroid-distribution ring
that federal prosecutors say sup
plied professional athletes with
banned substances. All the men
have pleaded innocent and no
athletes have been charged.
Ftrmer limp pteafe Mty
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Former
major league umpire Al Clark
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to
commit mail fraud in connection
with selling baseballs he falsely
claimed had been used in memo
rable games.
The 56-year-old Clark, formerly
of Trenton and now of
Williamsburg, Va., had claimed
some of the balls were used dur
ing games in which Cal Ripken
tied and broke Lou Gehrig's con
secutive games record.
Clark pleaded guilty in U.S.
District Court. Memorabilia dealer
Richard Graessle Jr., a 43-year
old from Millbum, pleaded guilty
to tax evasion for his role in the
scheme, which operated from
September 1995 to November
1998.
Astros, Ryan roach terms
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) The
Astros agreed to a five-year per
sonal services contract with Hall
of Famer Nolan Ryan, a baseball
official told The Associated Press.
The Astros, who signed home
town stars Andy Pettitte and
Roger Clemens during the offsea
son, plan to announce the deal at
a news conference Tuesday, the
official said, speaking on the con
dition of anonymity.
Ryan began negotiating with
the Astros after his personal serv
ices deal with the Texas Rangers
expired earlier this month. His
duties under the new deal with
owner Drayton McLane Jr. are
expected to include a baseball
advisory role.
Pirates, Maatfui ffcaKm dul
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) _
Raul Mondesi passed his physi
cal and the Pittsburgh Pirates
finalized their contract with the
free-agent outfielder.
Mondesi, 33, hit .272 with 24
homers, 71 RBIs and 22 steals in
143 games with the New York
Yankees and Arizona last year.
His contract includes a team
option for 2005.
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The
Indianapolis Colts gave Peyton
Manning their franchise tag, a
move that will pay him $18.4 mil
lion this year unless he agrees to
a long-term deal.
The move, which came one
day before the NFL deadline for
designating franchise players,
prevents Manning from hitting the
open market March 3. The date is
also the deadline for teams to be
under the league's $80.5 million
salary cap.
DETROIT (AP) A sculpture
commemorating boxing great Joe
Louis was vandalized with white
paint, and two men were in cus
tody, police said.
The suspects were stopped by
police in a Detroit suburb after
authorities were tipped off by a
motorist, Romulus police Lt. Cora
Semrau said. The motorist saw
two men covered with white paint
driving out of Detroit and followed
them while contacting police.
Louis is a hero in Detroit. The
Detroit Red Wings play in a down
town arena named for him, and
the 24-foot sculpture of an arm
and fist, called Monument to Joe
Louis, has a prominent location
on Jefferson Avenue.
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NEW YORK (AP) The
Detroit Pistons were fined
$200,000 by the NBA for using
Rasheed Wallace and Mike
James before the league finalized
the deal that brought them to the
team. The league said It was the
first time a player acquired In a
trade played for his new team
before the NBA officially
approved the move.
Wallace and James came to
Detroit m a three-team trade with
Atlanta and Boston on Thursday,
and both playsd in the first half of
the Pistons' 80-87 loss to the
Minnesota Tlmberwolves on
Friday night.
|:HH
Scoreboard
Warner Robins Recreation Department
Feb. 18
(Midget girls) Hornets 21, Magic 14
Hornets: 6 4 3 8 —2l
Magic: 0 6 4 4 —l4
Hornets Top scorers: Zycheria Holmes
7, Stephanie Duncan 4, Kourtney
Thomas 6; outstanding delense: Michelle
Gonzales
Magic Top scorers: Chandani Mitchell
10: outstanding defense: Ranekqua
Mitchell
(Mighty Mite boys) Fastbreaks 22,
Lassies 1
Fastbreaks:s 8 7 2 —22
Lassies: 1 0 0 0 1
Fastbreaks Top scorers: Carson
Carriker 5, Brittany Gordon 8, Amia Lee
6: outstanding defense: Lee
Lassies Top scorers: Lyra Johnson 1;
outstanding defense: Centara Nulf
(Mighty Mite boys) Flames 14,
Pacers 12
Flames: 2 4 4 4 —l4
Pacers: 5 1 4 2 —l2
Flames Top scorers: Jeffrey Allen 10,
Malik Broughton 2, Rodney Christopher
2; outstanding defense: Hunter Walling
Pacers Top scorers: Joshua King 4,
Kenneth Jones 3, Daryl Vining 2; out
standing defense: Christopher Fonseca
(Midget girte) Hawks 14, Bullets 2
Hawks: 0 6 5 3 —l4
Bullets: 0 0 1 1 2
Hawks Top scorers: Jasmine Riley 7,
Takieia Woods 4; outstanding defense:
Hyarintya Inglis
Bullets Top scorers: Lauren Clark 1;
outstanding defense: Brooke Dugger
Some drivers use off week for testing
It might appear that
NASCAR is taking the
weekend off they
won’t race again until March
7, and at Las Vegas but
that isn’t the case for approx-
imately two
dozen driv
ers. They’ll
be at Texas
Motor
Speedway
testing.
Included
in the
i:ed
NOTEBOOK
Compiled by
Don Moncrief
bunch is Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
who maintained his points
lead over the field for the sec
ond-straight week.
He is now chased by race
winner Matt Kenseth, how
ever, instead of Tony
Stewart. Stewart fell to sixth
(265).
Kevin Harvick climbed a
spot to third, Scott Wimmer
dropped one to fourth. Jeff
Gordon moved up two to
fifth. Kurt Busch climbed
nine spots to seventh, while
Elliott Sadler stayed where
he was at eighth. He was the
only driver out of the top
40 to stay put. Ward Burton
moved into ninth and Joe
Nemechek fell four but
rounded out the top 10.
Other climbers were Jamie
McMurry who moved up 25
spots and into 11th, Ryan
Newman, 19 into 12th and
Rusty Wallace, 16 into 13th.
Dale Jarrett took the hard
est hit excluding drivers
like Dave Blaney who were in
the field at Daytona but
without a ride this time
around. He fell 16 spots and
into 16th place.
STRONG JEANS: Jimmy
Johnson not only has the
Lowe’s-down on the competi-
tor, now he
has the
jeans to
match.
Levi
Strauss
Signature
announced
Monday
they had
agreed to
an apparel
sponsor-
JOHNSON
ship with the driver of the
No. 48.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NASCAR took care of some
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Members of Perry Middle School’s seventh-grade bas
ketball team show off the county championship trophy
they won recently.
(Mite boys) Sonics 11, Hawks 10
Sonics. 2 3 1 0 —ll
Hawks: 4 1 1 0 —lO
Sonics Top scorers: Brandon Clark 4,
Ty Odom 4; outstanding defense: David
Paradis
Hawks Top scorers: Andrew Graham
4, Chantz Medlin 3; outstanding defense:
Sheldon Drake
(Mite boys) Seminoles 34, Celtics 15
Seminoles: 6 12 5 11 —34
Celtics: 6 0 6 3 —ls
just prior to this weekend’s
race, when they fined eight
crew chiefs and two drivers
for violations during Speed
Weeks at Daytona.
All totaled, they took
$29,500 pocket change.
Kurt Busch’s crew chief,
Jimmy Fennig, was hit the
hardest. He was fined
$20,000 for “pellets” added
to the rear bumper reinforce
ment bar for the “purpose of
increasing the weight of the
rear bumper.”
Ken Francis, crew chief for
the No. 91 car of Bill Elliott,
was fined $5,000 for a “non
approved rear deck lid.”
John Andretti’s crew chief,
Anthony Gibson, was fined
SI,OOO for an unapproved air
directional device and a rear
coil spring gap that did not
meet specs. Kyle Petty’s crew
chief, Greg Steadman and
Gary Putnam, crew chief for
Jeff Green were also dinged
SSOO for the “unapproved air
directional device.”
Mike Hillman, crew chief
for Derrike Cope, drew a
SSOO fine for “air filter hous
ing that did not meet
NASCAR standards,” while
Greg Zipadelli, crew chief for
Tony Stewart and Ben Leslie,
crew chief for Ricky Rudd,
were fined SSOO each for
using “adjustable fender
KrappQ ty
CLAIM TO FAME: Dale
Earnhardt Sr., and three oth
ers received honors this past
week as the first inductees
into the Charlotte, N.C.
Sports Hall of Fame.
Joining the late seven-time
Winston Cup champion are:
Olympians Jim Beatty and
Jeff Mullins and Floyd
“Chunk” Simmons. The first
received fame for being the
first to run the indoor mile in
less than four minutes
(3:59:9 in 1960).
He also broke 11 American
and' three world records in
1962. Mullins was a success
ful collegiate and profession
basketball player and coach,
while Simmons’ athletic
claim to fame was as a tail
back for the University of
North Carolina and for win
ning bronze medals at the
1948 and 1952 at the London
and Helsinki Olympic games,
respectfully.
Clcats
SPORTS
C OZY
Seven up
Seminoles Top scorers: Bryan Langlie
20, Bretl Becker 8; outstanding defense:
Jeremy Walker
Celtics Top scorers: Darrion Houston
6; outstanding defense: Brett Hammett
(Mite boye) Bucks 27, Cavaliers 11
Bucks: 6 4 8 9 —27
Cavaliers: 0 2 8 1 —ll
Bucks Top scorers: Ja'Carey English
8, Darien Williams 11; outstanding
defense: Devan Horton
Cavaliers Top scorers: Keaton Smith
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m
Following Race 2ot 36 (Rockingham) J o p fop |p LMt
Rk Driver Points Mm Ss 10« Tbp 10 Wmk
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 340 1 2 2 2 1
2. Matt Kenseth 333 1 1 2 2 9
3. Kevin Harvick 294 0 1 1 2 4
4. Scott Wimmer 288 0 1 1 2 3
5. Jeff Gordon 286 0 0 2 2 7
6. Tony Stewart 265 0 1 1 2 2
7. Kurt Busch 257 0 0 1 1 16
8. Elliott Sadler 255 0 . 0 1 2 8
9. Ward Burton 250 0 0 1 1 17
10. Joe Nemechek 241 0 0 1 2 6
Additional championship-point earners:
11. Jamie McMurray . .(225) 24. John Andretti (205) 37. Dave Blaney (118)
12. Ryan Newman . (225) 25. Jimmie Johnson (200) 38. Robby Gordon ... (118)
13. Rusty Wallace (222) 26. Dale Jarrett (177) 39. Michael Waltrip ...(113)
14 Gregßiffle (221) 27. Kevin Lepage (164) 40 Mike Skinner (97)
15. Casey Meats . . .(221) 28. Mark Marlin (161) 41. Jimmy Spencer ... (91)
16. Terry Labonte (220) 29. Brian Vickers (161) 42. Jeff Burton (89)
17. Bobby Labonte .. (218) 30. Ricky Craven (152) 43. Johnny Benson . (82)
18. Jeremy Mayfield . .(218) 31. Kyle Petty (151) 44. Andy Hillenburg . (61)
19. Ricky Rudd (215) 32. Larry Foyt (146) 45. Carl Long (49)
20. Sterling Martin ... .(212) 33. Derrike Cope (146) 46. Kirk Shelmerdrne . (37)
21. KaseyKahne (210) 34. Jeff Green (143) 47. Joe Ruttman (34)
22. Brendan Gaughan (209) 35. Scott Riggs (131)
23. Johnny Sauter ... (206) 36. Ken Schrader (125)
Note The first 26 races of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season will determine which drivers
will be part of the "Chase tor the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" in the final 10 races. The drivers who are
in the NASCAR Top 10 or within 400 points ot the leader after those 26 races will vie for the series
title in the "Chase tor the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup."
THUNDERBRRRS: Make
sure you get yourself settled
into your rechner before the
trackside pre-race activities
tire aired the weekend after
this at Las Vegas.
The U.S. Air Force
Thunderbirds will be doing
the flyover.
According to Thunderbirds
public affairs, this will mark
only the fifth sports flyover
performed by the
Thunderbirds since 2000.
The other events were the
2000 Rose Bowl, the 2001
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2004 ♦
2, Che Cruz Howard 6; outstanding
defense: Quinshay Thomas
(Senior) Knlcka SO, Heat 30
Knfcks: 19 9 11 11 —SO
Heat: 7 7 7 9 —3O
Knicks Top scorers: Ryan Shirah 11,
Bradley Harvey 12, Timothy West 7; out
standing defense: Shakyna Williams
Heat Top scorers: Chaston Spellman
9, Aaron Valasky 6, Brian Dyke 6; out
standing defense: James Robinson
(Junior) Warriors 52, Magic 38
Warriors: 4 13 12 13 —52
Magic: 3 25 7 3 —3B
Warriors Top scorers: Maurice Cox 18,
Deardre Scott 13, Steven Holllngs 8; out
standing defense: Tyrone Murray
Magic Top scorers: Samuel
Cunningham 24, Bradley Matthews 10,
Tyler Gay 2; outstanding defense: Eric
Matthews
(Junior) Jazz 43, Bruins 28
Jazz: 15 9 12 7 —43
Bruins: 6 10 5 7 —2B
Jazz Top scorers: Quenton Barnes 10,
Markus Norwood 12, Chuck Trim 7; out
standing defense: Alan Gilbert
Bruins Top scorers: Brandon Rackley
6, Adrian Nelson 5, Brain Burkholder 4;
outstanding defense: William Harper
Feb. 19
(Senior) Lekere 41, Heat 21
Lakers: 9 11 16 15 —4l
Heal: 10 5 0 6 —2l
Lakers Top scorers: Edward Lemon
14, Tramarius Gray 6, Richard Rubinski
3; outstanding defense: James Fry
Heat Aaron Valasky 12, Brain Dyre 3,
Pam Johnson 2; outstanding defense:
James Robinson
(Junior) Jazz 38, Kings 28
Jazz: 11 6 11 10—38
Kings: 10 10 2 6 —2B
Jazz Top scorers: Marcus Norwood
Super Bowl in Tampa, the
2002 World Series in Seui
Framcisco and a NASCAR
race at Lowe’s Motor
Speedway in Charlotte last
year.
HE SAID 1T...
“I didn't know if I won or
not. It was
too close to
call, actual
ly. For a
second I
thought
that Matt
was going
to win and
then I kind
of got a
burst of
speed and
KAHNE
pulled a little bit lower. I
don't know if that helped or
hurt but it definitely was
close.”
Kosey Kohne, on his
photo finish with Matt
Kenseth
"Have Cameras, Will Travel"
CV . ItENEP
photography
Aerial Dhclroraptiy
W: j
12, Quenten Barnes 8, Dave Etienne 7,
Chuck Trim 7; outstanding defense:
Robney Jackson
Kings Top scorers: Tramain Alford 8,
Randy Williams 7, Dylan Thompson 5,
Ronald Wells 4; outstanding defense:
Dylan Thompson
(Mighty Mite girls) Nuggets 11, Sunt 8
Nuggets: 6 1 4 0 —ll
Suns: 0 0 0 6 6
Nuggets Top scorers: Cara Stasel 6,
Hayley Adkins 1, Maya Palmer 2, Bailey
Woodard 2; outstanding defense: Allison
Lopez
Suns Top scorers: Yuriana Smith 2,
Temla Sapp 1, Jaleesa Nieves 3; out
standing defense: Gabrielle Chikas
(Mighty Mite girls) Pacera 27,
Rockets 12
Pacers: 9 3 4 11 —27
Rockets: 2 0 6 4 —l2
Pacers Top scorers: Brianna Jenkins
8, Katlyn Winner 6, Jasmine Hamlin 5;
outstanding defense: Hamlin
Rockets Ashley Kennedy 6, Destini
Williams 4, Bridget Traylor 2; outstanding
defense: Austin Adcock
(Mighty Mite boye) Hoosiers 8,
Sonics 7
Hoosiers: 0 0 6 2 8
Sonics: 4 0 2 1 7
Hoosiers Top scorers: Quency Barnes
6, Joseph Stewart 2; outstanding
defense: James Hernandez
Sonics Top scorers: Luke East 5; out
standing defense: Jimmy Jackson
(Mighty Mite boye) Spurs 13, 76ere 12
Spurs: 4 2 3 4 —l3
76ers: 4 1 3 4 —l2
Spurs Top scorers: Marques Ivory 11;
outstanding defense: Devon Dulin
76ers Top scorers: Deandre Mathis 6,
Everick Turner 4; outstanding defense:
Darius Holmes
Estrada hopes
to make mark
with Braves
The Associated Press
KISSIMMEE, Fla.
Catcher Johnny Estrada
was an unknown to many
Atlanta Braves fans when
the team traded pitcher
Kevin Millwood to
Philadelphia for him prior
to last sea-
son.
"I don't
blame any
one for
thinking
that,"
Estrada
said. "If I
were a fan,
especially a
Braves fan,
I would
have been
ESTRADA
thinking the same thing."
But Braves fans will find
out exactly who Estrada is
this season when he suc
ceeds Javy Lopez as the
starting catcher in Atlanta.
Estrada, 27, spent most of
last season at Triple-A
Richmond preparing for the
opportunity. Though he is
known as a defensive spe
cialist, he hit .328 at
Richmond, the second high
est average in the
International League.
"Johnny has a lot of plus
es, the biggest one being
that pitchers really like
throwing to him," Braves
manager Bobby Cox said.
"Everywhere Tie's been, the
pitchers have really talked
him up for the way he calls a
game.
"And he's a switch-hitter
who knows how to handle
the bat. I like that too."
But Estrada is the first to
admit that he will not dupli
cate the offensive numbers
Lopez posted last year in
Atlanta. Lopez hit .323 with
43 home runs and 109 RBIs.
"What Javy did was the
ultimate offensive season
for a catcher and I don't
know if any catcher is going
to be able to duplicate that
again," Estrada said. "I'm
definitely not going to hit
that many home runs.
"I can hit, but I go gap-to
gap and try to put the ball in
play. I'm proud that I don't
strike out much. I wouldn't
consider myself an offensive
liability."
Neither do the Braves.
"Hitting home runs isn’t
the only way to score," Cox
said. "Johnny is a clutch hit
ter. He knows how to get a
guy in from second base.
You can win a lot of ball
games that way."
11A