Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/469528
ByDougFerguson TheAssociatedPress PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. Fans stood three-deep and formed a corridor from the 18th green at PGA National as they tried to get an autograph, a picture or even a close look at Rory McIlroy. Moments later, another group of fans pressed against him with souvenir flags to sign as McIlroy left a conference room. The attention comes with being the No. 1 player in golf, the apparent heir to Tiger Woods. McIlroy is used to this by now. He has been the best player in the world since Au- gust, filling the void of a sport looking for a dominant figure. "This is the position I want to be in," McIlroy said Wednes- day. "And I want to be in it as long as I can." It's only going to get more chaotic. McIlroy competes on Amer- ican soil for the first time in five months when the Honda Classic begins Thursday. The palm trees and tropical warmth of south Florida are the sure signs that the Masters is around the corner. McIlroy, who blew a four-shot lead in the final round at Augusta Na- tional in 2011, goes there with PGA TOUR McIlroy looks for momentum to Masters Golf's No. 1 player competes in America for first time in five months at Honda Classic ALLENEYESTON—PALMBEACHPOST Rory McIlroy tees off on the 14th hole, the new start of the Bear Trap holes, during the Honda Classic Gold Pro-Am on Wednesday. By Janie McCauley The Associated Press SCOTTSDALE,ARIZ. Major league players are against many of the radical changes introduced dur- ing the Arizona Fall League to speed up games. Baseball players' association head Tony Clark is encouraging his membership to make slight adjustments that will improve the pace of games without com- pletely altering the way they do their jobs. A former All-Star first baseman and the first player to head the union, Clark said Wednesday on the first stop of his spring train- ing tour that extreme methods aren't feasible at the sport's high- est level. "With this particular discus- sion, having an opportunity to see if we can address some concerns that some have, while creating some new habits without jeopar- dizing the integrity of the play on MLB PACE OF PLAY Players against radical changes Union head Clark wants slight adjustments made ROSS D. FRANKLIN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Baseball players' association head Tony Clark is encouraging members to make slight adjustments. Staff Reports RED BLUFF The Junior Spartan football and cheerleading pro- grams will hold sign-ups in March for the upcoming 2015 season. Sign-ups for returning football players and all cheerleaders, re- turning and new, will be held 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the Red Bluff Community-Se- nior Center. A second sign-up day for all football players will be held at the same time and place Sunday, March 29. If needed, a lottery will be held to fill teams, so there is no reason to arrive early or camp out to as- sure a spot. Registration will be $125 for football or cheerleading and $105 for each additional child. There will also be a $50 refund- able work bond and equipment deposit per child. All registration fees and work bonds are due at sign-ups. All participants will be re- quired to sell an additional $100 in Jamboree tickets and turn the money in prior to receiving hel- mets or taking the field. Cheerleaders will have addi- tional fundraising opportunities to help defray the cost of uni- forms. Parents should bring a birth certificate and small picture of your child. For more information contact Red Bluff Youth Football Presi- dent Jeff Waddell at 526-2594. You can also visit rbjrspartans. com or find the Red Bluff Junior Spartans on Facebook. FOOTBALL/CHEER Jr. Spartans sign-ups set March 22, 29 for all athletes Three men were arrested Wednesday on charges of plotting to join the Islamic State group and wage war against the United States, and one of them spoke of shooting President Barack Obama. CONSPIRACY CHARGES 3accusedofplottojoin Islamic Stage group FULLSTORYONPAGEB4 Is President Barack Obama taking over the Internet? The Federal Communications Commission will vote Thurs- day on whether to put Internet service in the same regulatory camp as your telephone. FACT CHECK Talking heads skew 'net neutrality' debate FULL STORY ON PAGE B5 Fourth-seeded Quincy beat the Los Molinos Lady Bulldogs 59-23Tuesday in the first round of the Division 5girls basketball playoffs. Quincy led the game 31-13at hal ime. GIRLS BASKETBALL Lady Bulldogs season ends at Quincy 59-23 The No. 3Red Bluff Lady Spartans host Oroville at 7 p.m. tonight in the Division 3 first-round playoffs. The No. 3 Corning Lady Cardinals host Lassen at 7p.m. in the Divi- sion 4quarterfinals. GIRLS BASKETBALL Lady Spartans, Cardinals host tonight MCILROY PAGE 2 UNION PAGE 2 By Carl Steward Bay Area News Group MESA, ARIZ. Brett Lawrie can't sit still. Even during a sit-down interview, his legs are bouncing, his body is twitch- ing and his mouth is moving as if he has a train, or a scream- ing line drive, to catch. Lawrie is a walking, talk- ing five-hour energy drink, only his lasts more like every waking hour. The Oakland A's third base replacement for Josh Donaldson is quite dif- ferent than his predecessor, but he could grow on A's fans quickly if he can stay on the field. A native of Langley, British Columbia, Lawrie was pop- ular in Toronto simply be- cause he was the only mem- ber of the Blue Jays who was from Canada. But it was also his high-octane playing style that made him a favorite in a hockey-crazed country. Even though he never played much ice hockey, he wore the label. "All the fans said I was a hockey player trapped in a baseball player's body, because that's how I go about my busi- ness and that's just how I play," Lawrie said. "My intensive- ness, it's that hockey player's mentality. I took that as a pos- itive and I ran with it." It could take awhile for A's fans to embrace Lawrie. Many of them are still angry over the trade that sent Donaldson to Toronto for Lawrie and three other players. Donaldson was extremely popular with A's fans — enough to be elected as the starting third baseman for last year's All-Star Game. But you only have to watch the now viral YouTube video of 6-year-old Blue Jays fan Ame- lia Lyttle of Vancouver to see how popular Lawrie was north of the border. The little girl cried her heart out when Law- rie was dealt to the A's in No- vember. "I'm positive they're never going to trade him back," sobbed young Amelia on the video that now has nearly 300,000 hits on YouTube. "That guy's going to be too good!" Lawrie melted when he saw the video and had his sister contact the girl's family. He A'S SPRING TRAINING TeamlovingLawrie's energyasnewcomer Third base replacement in Donaldson trade will try to win over fans DARRON CUMMINGS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Oakland Athletics' Brett Lawrie, 25, has been on the disabled list six times during his four years in the majors. Last year he missed 36games with a broken finger and the final 48games of the season with a le oblique strain. ATHLETICS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, February 26, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1