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ByJanieMcCauley TheAssociatedPress OAKLAND Steve Kerr has no problem putting aside his cell- phone late at night and grab- bing a book before bed. The Golden State coach, fighting a bit of a March cold, does find himself reminding wife Margot not to wake up and send text messages in the middle of the night and inter- fere with her shuteye. They've been married almost 25 years, so he can get away with it. Kerr is making sure his Warriors get plenty of sleep, too, thanks to a recent session with a sleep expert from Stan- ford who visited practice. "I know how important re- covery is," All-Star guard Klay Thompson said. "We play such a long season. And I love to sleep, so it was good hearing that if you want to be at opti- mal peak performance you've got to get your eight hours, or at least try to. You can't be hanging out long hours at night." Cheri Mah of Stanford met with the team at practice last week. The Warriors appreci- ate any tips they can get dur- ing the grind of the season's fi- nal month. She is a researcher at the Stanford Sleep Disor- ders Clinic and Research Lab- oratory. For Western Conference- leading Golden State (51-12), this is an especially grueling week of flights and changes in climate. The Warriors played at home Sunday afternoon, in Phoenix on Monday night, were back home Wednesday against Detroit, then off to Denver on Thursday. Kerr's plan was to practice in the Mile High City upon arrival NBA Warriorspickupsleep advicetogainanedge KerrhassleepexpertconsultwithGoldenStateplayersaboutproperrest RICHPEDRONCELLI—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has no problem putting aside his cell phone late at night and grabbing a book before bed. His Golden State players are trying to follow suit and focus on getting plenty of shuteye, thanks to a recent session with a sleep expert from Stanford. MARCIO SANCHEZ — ASSOCIATED PRESS The Detroit Pistons' Reggie Jackson (right) dribbles next to the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry during the first half Wednesday in Oakland. By Andrew Baggarly Bay Area News Group GLENDALE, ARIZ. Will Ferrell had a helicopter to whisk him from one spring training sta- dium to the next in his tour of the Cactus League on Thursday. The HBO film crew that accom- panied the comedian did not. Their van got stuck in traffic. Frank the Tank could've streaked his way across town faster. And as a result, his appearance with the San Francisco Giants nearly bombed worse than "Land of the Lost." But Ferrell, who played 10 po- sitions for 10 different teams, ar- rived in the bottom of the eighth — three innings behind schedule — and that was just enough time to strike out as the White Sox's designated hitter, get traded to the other side, put on a Giants uniform and get behind the plate for a batter. You could guess what Giants manager Bruce Bochy might have been thinking as Ferrell let the first pitch from Jean Machi squirt past him: "I immediately regret this decision." The logistics weren't ideal — Ferrell was supposed to interact with Buster Posey, who was long gone by the time he arrived — but Bochy and the players took the stunt in stride, especially SPRING TRAINING Giants'Ferrellplayscatcherfor1hitter Comedian runs late in playing 10 positions for 10 different teams in games across Arizona DOUG DURAN/BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FILE San Francisco Giants batter Travis Ishikawa (right) hit his first spring training home run Thursday against the Chicago White Sox in Glendale, Ariz. If it wasn't tough enough for Scott Kazmir to wait a week to make his first spring train- ing start with the Oakland A's, he had to do it Thursday with comedian Will Ferrell playing behind him at shortstop. A'S SPRING TRAINING Kazmirhassolidspring debut as Ferrell plays FULLSTORYONPAGEB2 With measured remarks, po- lice, political leaders and civil- rights activists on Thursday sought to ease tensions a er two police officers were shot in front of the Ferguson Police Department during a protest. 2 OFFICERS SHOT Police, others try to ease Ferguson tensions FULL STORY ON PAGE B4 By Josh Dubow The Associated Press ALAMEDA The Oakland Raid- ers added another new starter to their defense, signing former Philadelphia safety Nate Allen to a four-year contract on Thursday to fill the hole created when Tyvon Branch was released. General manager Reggie McK- enzie has been busy to start the free agency period, having al- ready added new starting de- fensive tackle Dan Williams and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, as well as linebacker Malcolm Smith, to a defense that allowed the most points in the NFL last season. With a new defensive-minded coach in Jack Del Rio, an ener- getic coordinator in Ken Norton Jr. and plenty of money to spend, the Raiders have already made some upgrades this offseason. "I just fell in love with every- thing and the direction that the organization is going and the coaching staff they brought in and the group of guys that we have here," Allen said. "It's a great thing and like I've been saying, we're planning on winning now. We're not trying to rebuild and try to do this or do that, we're trying to make something hap- pen now, this year." The Raiders have won just 11 games the past three seasons and have gone 11 straight years with- out a playoff berth or winning re- cord. But they hope that improve- ments in free agency, which also include the additions of starting center Rodney Hudson, running back Roy Helu and blocking tight end Lee Smith, will help turn their fortunes. The Raiders had interest in signing Allen last offseason but he ended up staying in Philadel- phia when he was only offered a one-year deal. Oakland went af- ter him again this offseason and got him locked up with the long- term deal. "I had always known there was interest there, and then this year, right when free agency started up, they were there again, knocking," Allen said. "The interest has al- ways been there and I just needed NFL FREE AGENCY Raiders bring in new safety in Allen Former Eagle starter adds to upgrades on defense Staff Reports MAXWELL A nine-run first in- ning propelled Maxwell to a 15-5 win over visiting Los Molinos on Wednesday in a five-inning mercy-rule shortened game. Maxwell jumped out to an 11-0 lead before Los Molinos struck for two runs in the third. Los Molinos got the game as close as 11-5, before Maxwell scored two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth inning to end the game. Los Molinos had four hits and nine errors. Maxwell had 12 hits and four errors. Los Molinos (1-2) visits Univer- sity Prep on March 19. SOFTBALL Maxwell beats Los Molinos with nine-run first inning MAXWELL 15, LOS MOLINOS 5 Up next: Los Molinos at University Prep on March 19. THESCORE The Red Bluff Spartans and Corning Cardinals baseball teams continue play today at the Oroville Tournament. The tournament continues Saturday. BASEBALL Spartans, Cardinals continue play in Oroville Red Bluff plays River Valley and Paradise at the Pleasant Valley Tournament. Corn- ing plays University Prep and Winters at the Colusa Tourna- ment today. The tourneys continue Saturday. SOFTBALL Red Bluff, Corning start tournaments today WARRIORS PAGE 2 RAIDERS PAGE 2 GIANTS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, March 13, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1