SEC MEDIA DAYS : Time for Tebow

BY TOM MURPHY

This is the first in a series of articles previewing SEC football teams. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

School counselor joins commission

BY BRYAN HENDRICKS

Ron Duncan of Springdale, a school counselor and founder of the Central Junior High fishing club, is the newest member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Aldridge a fit with Naturals

BY RICH POLIKOFF

SPRINGDALE — No matter how you’re counting it, Northwest Arkansas Naturals outfielder Cory Aldridge has played pro baseball everywhere. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

LIKE IT IS : Florida coach knows how to play media game

WALLY HALL

HOOVER, Ala. — A huge banner depicting nine Heisman Trophy winners and a replica of the famous trophy were the featured art outside the media room here at SEC media days. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

COMMENTARY : Games have to be covered, like it or not

BY SAM DONNELLON PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS

PHILADELPHIA — Sometimes the Olympic Games serve as the ultimate travelogue, sending millions back to their homes around the world with stories that inspire travel. Barcelona, Spain. Sydney, Australia. Athens, Greece. Beautiful, inviting places. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

DEAD SOLID PERFECT : Pappas brothers always supportive of each other

JEFFREY SLATTON

These days, the Pappas brothers don’t get a lot of time to spend together. They made the most of it this weekend. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Professional golf Arkansans

- Thursday, July 24, 2008

Golf report

By Jeffrey Slatton

Practice pays off for Duke Arkansan Ken Duke has all but secured his tour card for next season after a solid July. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Furyk, others aim high at Glenn Abbey

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OAKVILLE, Ontario — Jim Furyk has his sights set high at rain-soaked Glen Abbey in his bid for a third consecutive Canadian Open title. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

NATIONAL LEAGUE : Sabathia continues to help Brewers, shuts out Cards

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. LOUIS — CC Sabathia pitched a three-hitter, his third consecutive complete game for his new team, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 on Wednesday night. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Aces in the hole

— Jeffrey Slatton

NAME Luke Long AGE 10 HOMETOWN Fayetteville OCCUPATION Fifth grader PREVIOUS ACES YEARS PLAYING 3 PLAYS HOW OFTEN 4 times per week COURSE Big Creek, Mountain Home HOLE NUMBER 6 HOLE YARDS 101 BALL USED Titleist 3 CLUB USED Cobra Junior 6-iron WITNESSES Kara Long, Graves Long, Caroline Long FAVORITE GOLFER Tiger Woods HOW IT HAPPENED “The ball landed short and to the left of the hole, bounced once, rolled a few inches and went in.” OTHER ACE SHOOTERS THIS WEEK DARRIN BOYETTE Degray, No. 13, 170 yards, 7-iron TUCKER TEAGUE Chenal Bear Den Mountain, No. 8, 84 yards, 5-hybrid BILLY FRYAR Rebsamen West Nine, No. 3, 125 yards, 5-iron BRYAN SPRIGGS War Memorial, No. 5, 145 yards, pitching wedge JUDD COUCH Big Sugar, No. 3, 212 yards, 4-iron DOUBLE EAGLES REAGAN DALBY War Memorial, No. 3, 260 yards, driver RAYMOND MILLS Rebsamen, No. 17, 300 yards, driver MAKE AN ACE? TELL US ABOUT IT Go to: www2.arkansasonline.com/aces Fax to: (501) 378-3869 Or call: (501) 378-3493 - Thursday, July 24, 2008

DIGEST

It’s no vacation Pitcher Dallas Keuchel (above) is one of five Arkansas players trying to improve their skills this summer by playing in the Cape Cod League. 5C Tour de France Carlos Sastre of Spain won the 17th stage of the Tour de France and took the overall lead on the hardest ride up three huge Alpine climbs. He cemented his victory by speeding ahead in the final ascent of Wednesday’s 130.8-mile ride from Embrun to L’Alpe d’Huez. 8C Wednesday’s results BASEBALL NATIONAL LEAGUE Cincinnati 9, San Diego 5 Pittsburgh 8, Houston 7 Colorado 5, LA Dodgers 3 Atlanta 9, Florida 4 NY Mets 6, Philadelphia 3 Milwaukee 3, St. Louis 0 Chicago Cubs at Arizona, (n) Washington at San Francisco, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE Tampa Bay 4, Oakland 3 NY Yankees 5, Minnesota 1 Chicago White Sox 10, Texas 8 Detroit 7, Kansas City 1 LA Angels 14, Cleveland 11 Boston 6, Seattle 3, 12 innings Toronto at Baltimore, susp., rain BASKETBALL WNBA New York 80, Washington 73 - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Off the wire

— Democrat-Gazette Press Services

FOOTBALL Army calls draft pick Strong safety Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy. Campbell was a seventh-round draft pick (218th overall) for the Lions in April. At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team. But a subsequent Department of Defense policy has superseded the 2005 Army policy. In a letter to Lions President Matt Millen dated Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba wrote that Campbell has been ordered to give up professional football for “full-time traditional military duties.” Liba wrote that 2nd Lt. Campbell may ask to be released from his active duty obligations in May 2010. Liba said Campbell was allowed to enter the draft “in good faith.” St. Louis Rams defensive end Claude Wroten was suspended without pay for the season Wednesday for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Wroten, entering his third season with the Rams, was suspended for four ga - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Second thoughts

Compiled by Pete Perkins

Wie comes under fire for decision Here’s what Joe Logan of The Philadelphia Inquirer thinks about Michelle Wie’s decision to play in the PGA Tour’s Legend’s Reno-Tahoe Open: “Dumb. Dumb. Dumb,” he wrote. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

No summer vacation

BY CHRIS COCOLES

Brett Eibner doesn’t have much time for the beach, which makes him unlike the thousands of suntan-seeking summer inhabitants who flock to the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts every year. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

TEXAS LEAGUE : Kaaihue powers Naturals

BY RICH POLIKOFF

SPRINGDALE — Designated hitter Kila Kaaihue drove in three runs and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals won their 10th consecutive home game Wednesday, defeating Tulsa 4-3 in front of 4,170 fans at Arvest Ballpark. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

TEXAS LEAGUE : Travelers shake off slow start

ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — It took the Arkansas Travelers a little while to get warmed up Wednesday night, but eventually the Travs generated enough heat to beat the Springfield Cardinals. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Naturals at a glance

— Rich Polikoff

WHO Tulsa Drillers at Northwest Arkansas Naturals WHEN 7 tonight WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale RADIO KURM-AM, 790, in Northwest Arkansas INTERNET www.nwanaturals.com PROMOTION Thirsty Thursday: Select 10 ounce draft beers and all 12 ounce Pepsi products are $1. PITCHING MATCHUP Naturals: Blake Wood (RHP, 3-4, 5.55 ERA). Drillers: Brandon Hynick (RHP, 6-6, 4.76 ERA). Wood, the No. 4 prospect in the Kansas City Royals’ farm system, is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 3 home starts. Hynick, the Colorado Rockies’ No. 8 prospect, allowed two runs in each of his past two starts against the Naturals, lasting seven and eight innings, respectively. SHORT HOPS Tulsa began Wednesday with a Texas League-high six players batting.290 or better — no other team has more than three — and three of the league’s top five hitters: Matt Miller (No. 3, .354), Tony Blanco (No. 4, 337) and Dexter Fowler (.330). ... Because of heavy rains, the teams did not take outdoor batting or fielding practice Wednesday. The start of the game was delay - Thursday, July 24, 2008

THE RECRUITING GUY : Hogs staff tries its luck at Las Vegas tournaments

RICHARD DAVENPORT

LAS VEGAS — Name a college basketball coach, and he’s probably here or will be soon. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

SEC report

By Tom Murphy and Bob Holt

SEC boss laments probation HOOVER, Ala. — Mike Slive brought up Arkansas’ track and field program and its NCAA probation during his opening remarks Wednesday at SEC football media days. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

SWAC report

By Doug Crise

QB Reid looks for new start Until he actually starts playing for Texas Southern, Bobby Reid will be linked to Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Southland report

By Nick Walker

Lineman hears from old friends HOUSTON — The smack talk has begun. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Northwest Arkansas Naturals/Arkansas Travelers composite schedule

All times Central JUNE 1 Frisco 6, NWA Naturals 1 San Antonio at Arkansas Travelers, ppd., rain JUNE 2 NWA Naturals 3, Frisco 1 San Antonio 4-4, Arkansas Travelers 1-0 JUNE 4 NWA Naturals 3, Arkansas Travelers 0 JUNE 5 Arkansas Travelers 7, NWA Naturals 1 JUNE 6 Arkansas Travelers 4, NWA Naturals 2 JUNE 7 Arkansas Travelers 4, NWA Naturals 3 JUNE 8 Tulsa 4, NWA Arkansas 1 Springfield 9, Arkansas Travelers 7, 10 innings JUNE 9 Tulsa 12, NWA Naturals 3 Arkansas Travelers 12, Springfield 2 JUNE 10 Tulsa 6, NWA Naturals 2 Springfield 3, Arkansas Travelers 1 JUNE 11 Tulsa 7, NWA Naturals 4 Springfield 6, Arkansas Travelers 1 JUNE 12 NWA Naturals 9, Springfield 6 Arkansas Travelers 4, Tulsa 3, 10 innings JUNE 13 NWA Naturals at Springfield, ppd., rain Tulsa 5, Arkansas Travelers 4, 16 innings JUNE 14 Springfield 4-5, NWA Naturals 0-3 Arkansas Travelers 9, Tulsa 5 JUNE 15 Arkansas Travelers 7, Tulsa 0 NWA Naturals 3, Springfield 1 JUNE 16 Tulsa 6, NWA Naturals 3 Springfield 10, Arkansas Travelers 5 JUNE 17 Tulsa 10, - Thursday, July 24, 2008

State sports briefs

— Democrat-Gazette Staff and Press Services

Lacy wins, earns fight with Taylor Little Rock’s Jermain Taylor will fight former Olympic teammate Jeff Lacy on Nov. 15 in a super middleweight bout, sources confirmed to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette late Wednesday night. The site of the fight is still undetermined. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Rick Lee’s Lone Star Park selections

- Thursday, July 24, 2008

Louisiana Downs entries

- Thursday, July 24, 2008

Transactions

BASEBALL American League TEXAS RANGERS—Agreed to terms with RHP Matt Thompson and OF Clark Murphy. National League MILWAUKEE BREWERS—Purchased the contract of OF Jay Gibbons from Long Island (Atlantic) and assigned him to Huntsville (SL). SAN DIEGO PADRES—Purchased the contract of LHP Wil Ledezma from Portland (PCL). Midwest League QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS—Announced C Ismael Cardona has been transferred to Palm Beach (FSL). American Association LINCOLN SALTDOGS—Agreed to terms with RHP Mark Alvarez. ST. PAUL SAINTS—Released INF Julius Thames. SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS—Released OF Jason Bryan. WICHITA WINGNUTS—Released RHP Kevin Foeman. Atlantic League NEWARK BEARS—Agreed to terms with RHP Frank Rodriguez. Can-Am League NASHUA PRIDE—Agreed to terms with RHP Ryan Buckland. Golden Baseball League EDMONTON CRACKER CATS—Agreed to terms with LHP Brandon Camardese. United League SAN ANGELO COLTS—Announced San Francisco purchased the contract of RHP Mitch Lively. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Australian Evans in good position

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALPE D’HUEZ, France — The mountains have proved that Cadel Evans isn’t the fastest man uphill, but the Australian might have done just enough to win the Tour de France. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

U.S. National Youth Soccer Championships : New Jersey team has burning desire

BY AMANDA PRUITT

The PDA Fire from New Jersey has won its regional tournament for the past three seasons, and Coach Tom Anderson said he wouldn’t mind adding a national title to the growing list of team awards. - Thursday, July 24, 2008

Tour de France glance

— The Associated Press

L’ALPE D’HUEZ, France — A brief look at Wednesday’s 17th stage of the Tour de France: STAGE The toughest climb of the Tour so far took riders along a 130.8-mile route from Embrun to L’Alpe d’Huez and featured three climbs t hat are beyond classification. WINNER Carlos Sastre of Spain won by attacking at the bottom of L’Alpe d’Huez and finished clear of the chasing pack. Samuel Sanchez of Spain was second and Andy Schleck of Luxembourg was third. Both were 2 minutes, 3 seconds behind Sastre. YELLOW JERSEY Sastre took the yellow jersey and leads Franck Schleck, the overnight leader, by 1 minute, 24 seconds. Bernhard Kohl of Austria is third at 1:33. QUOTE OF THE DAY “When you have the 10 best bike riders in the world behind your wheel and you have a two-minute gap to close on one of the best climbers in the world, it’s not any situation to be in” — Evans. NEXT STAGE Today’s 18th stage takes riders on a 122.1-mile trek from Bourgd’Oisans to Saint-Etienne in medium mountains. - Thursday, July 24, 2008