Clippers even series 3-3

This is true...they are for real!

Los Angeles Times

Going where no team in franchise history had ever gone, here, in San Diego or in Buffalo where they were known as the Braves, the Clippers romped past the Suns, tying their West semifinal series, 3-3, sending it back to Phoenix for Game 7.

Elton Brand scored 30 points and Corey Maggette, coming off the bench again after his misadventures as a starter in Game 5, had 25 as the Clippers won, 118-106, before 19,985 in Staples Center.

In a scheduling oddity, the teams, who have played every other day since May 8, will have three days off before Monday's Game 7.

The Clippers had been in only one other second-round series, ss the Braves in 1976 when they lost, 4-2, to the Boston Celtics.

For the Suns, Game 6 was their 11th in 22 days, with sharpshooter Steve Nash 0 for 13 on three pointers over the last four, having made no shot longer than a layup in the last two.

Forward Shawn Marion had a bandage on one eyebrow and a sore ankle. Suns Coach Mike D'Antoni was using a seven-man rotation but with slumping James Jones averaging only 16 minutes, the other six had played 905 of 1,0101 minutes.

"We'll get ready," said D'Antoni after Game 5's double-overtime victory. "They played the same amount of minutes we did. I'll tell you what, it's a lot easier to snap back when you've got a smile on your face that when you're down in the dumps....

"I'm just going to play my seven guys and other than that, they're going to go. That's why they're making the big bucks."

Nash actually made a three-pointer with 3:57 left in the first quarter... but it was the only jump shot he made in the half. The Suns fell behind, 29-21, but came roaring back to the take the lead when Nash's backup, Leandro Barbosa entered the game with 4:20 left in the quarter and proceeded to go on an 11-2 roll all by himself, making all four of his shots, including two three-pointers plus a breakaway layup that became a three-point play.

The pressure on Nash never decreased. The Clippers kept guarding him with three players, Quinton Ross, Shaun Livingston and Cuttino Mobley, and posting him up two, Ross and Corey Maggette.

By halftime, Ross had 16 points, Maggette had 10, Nash had missed seven of his 10 shots and the Clippers were up, 62-50.

Barca kicks Arsenal's ass in Europe

The Daily Telegraph

TEN-MAN Arsenal saw the Champions League crown snatched away in the final quarter of an hour early yesterday as Barcelona were crowned kings of Europe.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann became the first player ever to be sent off in a European Cup final when he was dismissed in the 18th minute of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat.

The German caught Barca striker Samuel Eto'o with his feet just outside the area as he raced towards goal.

The Cameroon international stumbled but managed to stay upright and fed the ball to Ludovic Giuly who drilled the ball into the net.

But Norwegian referee Terje Hauge pulled play back, sent off Lehmann and awarded a free kick to the Spanish champions outside the area.

Arsene Wenger's substitute goalkeeper Manuel Almunia produced a string of fine saves against the multi-talented Barca attack, then a shock headed goal by Sol Campbell in the 37th minute seemed to be taking Arsenal to their first European Cup success.

But Wenger's side were pegged back in the 76th minute when Henrik Larsson set up Eto'o to score at the near post and, in the 80th minute, substitute Juliano Belletti forced a low cross-shot in off Almunia's legs.

It was particularly cruel on Thierry Henry, whose rapier thrusts on the counter-attack kept the Barcelona defence under pressure all night.

He outshone the great Brazilian Ronaldinho, who had a largely frustrating night, but the Frenchman was denied three times by Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes when he had clear chances.

"My players were heroes tonight but they were not rewarded. Football can be so cruel," Wenger said.

"We fought like lions and we can leave with our heads held high but what people will remember from what happened tonight is that Barcelona won and we lost."

A crestfallen Lehmann said: "Obviously, it was a bit tragic that I was out after 20 minutes. I got there a tick too late. It wasn't good.

"But the team did an excellent job. With 10 men we had a chance. Unfortunately, their first goal was an offside goal. It was cruel for us, after fighting so hard."

Bitter captain Henry later slammed referee Hauge, claiming: "Sometimes I think he was wearing a Barcelona shirt. If he didn't want us to win why didn't he say so at the start?

"In the first half they were kicking me all over the place but I was the one who got a yellow card. They kicked me on the knee, on the ankle, but I am not a woman, so I stayed on my feet."

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard admitted the early sending off of Lehmann had turned the game in his side's favour.

"Arsenal started really well and I think the sending off changed the game dramatically – there's no doubt about that," Rijkaard said. "It was a pity for the game itself, but you have to live with it."

Eto'o summed up Barcelona's joy.

"I joined Barca for moments like this . . . It's an incredible feeling to win. I wanted my son to see my team win the Champions League one day.

"I hope now that one day he will be able to see them win it again. It was a real shame that someone had to lose.

"Arsenal played really well, but that's the way it goes in football."

Pujols Defends Bonds

All Headline News

St. Louis, MO (AHN) - Albert Pujols is having the best start to a season in Major League history in 2006. Not even Barry Bonds started better than Pujols and his 19 homers and 48 RBI. But don't expect Pujols to disrespect the much maligned super star.

Pujols defended Bonds in the media on Wednesday while also drawing parallels between San Francisco's slugger and himself. While the media has accused Bonds of steroid use, they have also accused Pujols of lying about his age.

"You know how many times I hear -- and I'm sick and tired of people saying it -- that I'm not 26?" Pujols said. "I know how old I am and I know that I don't use any of those bad things people are talking about that I use."

Pujols said players seem to be guilty until proven innocent in baseball's forum of public opinion with the suspicion of steroid use free floating.

"People talk. That's their job, to write something stupid without finding out," he said. "Like Barry, people are talking about him and they haven't found anything out about the guy. They're talking about making the guy a bad guy. Prove the point first and then you can write anything about it. But before, leave the guy alone."

Pujols went on to stand up for Barry and his accomplishments throughout his career.

"I know he's probably made some mistakes in the past, but come on, give the guy a break," Pujols said. "Respect the numbers in the career he has put up."

Tigers DH Young charged with domestic violence

ESPN.com

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. -- Detroit Tigers designated hitter Dmitri Young was charged with domestic violence after his former girlfriend accused him of choking her, the Detroit Free Press reported Thursday.

Young, 32, and the 21-year-old woman were staying at the Townsend Hotel in suburban Detroit when she said he attacked her on April 14.

"Her claim is that he grabbed her around the neck and choked her," Birmingham police Detective John Heppner told the newspaper.

Young was charged Tuesday and is expected to surrender to authorities next Monday, the newspaper said. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.

"It's a bum deal," Young told the Free Press. "Unfortunately, it's public knowledge. I don't see this person anymore."

Police said the woman reported the incident three days after it happened. They said she had bruises on her hip and leg, the newspaper reported, and photographs showed scratches on her neck, upper body and leg.

Young's younger brother, Delmon, a top prospect in the Tampa Bay organization has also had his share of recent troubles. He was suspended for 50 games without pay by the International League on May 9 for throwing a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the chest.

Delmon Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft, was ejected in the first inning of a game April 26 after taking a called third strike. He lingered in the batter's box, walked away and then threw his bat end over end at the umpire, hitting him in the chest.

Catholic U., Quinnipiac to investigate alleged hazing

ESPN.com

Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., are investigating sports teams after photographs allegedly depicting student-athletes taking part in initiation parties were posted on a Web site.

The Web site www.badjocks.com on Wednesday posted those pictures and others, allegedly of athletic teams at 12 colleges and universities, showing hazing or initiation rituals from 2003 to 2006. It labeled them the "Dirty Dozen."



Earlier this week, Northwestern suspended its women's soccer team after the Web site displayed pictures of alleged hazing at a party.

Catholic is investigating its women's lacrosse program after photos were posted on the Internet allegedly showing a male stripper at a freshman initiation party. And Quinnipiac is looking into photos allegedly taken during an "initiation party" for members of the school's baseball team depicting men dancing around in underwear and adult diapers and spraying whipped cream on a woman who is lying on the floor.



"If the evidence demonstrates that any of our current students willingly participated in these activities, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken," Catholic athletic director Michael Allen said in a statement.



Allen said that neither he nor coach Kristine Manning was aware of the party until Wednesday morning. He said an investigation began immediately.



"The president and I will meet with all the coaches at the university to discuss additional measures and policies that we can implement to ensure that in the future this kind of deplorable situation does not occur with any of the students at The Catholic University of America," the statement said.



The photos were posted on a Web site under the heading "Catholic University Women's Lacrosse Initiation Party 2006." The site doesn't say when or where the party was held.

At Quinnipiac, spokesman John Morgan said the pictures did not make it clear that members of the baseball team were involved.

"We've seen some pictures that have come to our attention, but it's not clear to us that our baseball players are involved in anything that raises concerns," Morgan said. "We're looking into it."

Quinnipiac has an anti-hazing policy that prohibits "any action taken or situation, on or off campus, intended to create mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, ridicule or possible mental or physical injury."

The policy also bans paddling; covering a person with things like water, paint or food; forcing any members to drink alcoholic beverages or use illegal substances; depriving people of sleep; unplanned road trips or kidnappings; assigning "pranks," such as stealing, painting objects, panty raids or harassing another organization; or any physical or psychological shock to a student.