Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/103033
2B Daily News – Friday, January 11, 2013 49ERS BASEBALL to Harbaugh sticks with Pete Rosestars: tarnished struggling kicker Akers Patience needed SANTA CLARA (AP) — David Akers is keeping his job as San Francisco's starting kicker. For now, anyway. Coach Jim Harbaugh made the announcement after practice Thursday, two days ahead of the 49ers' NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers (12-5) at Candlestick Park. ''Suffice it to say we feel confident in David giving us the best chance to win,'' Harbaugh said. The 49ers (11-4-1) signed Billy Cundiff on Jan. 1 to compete with Akers, a 15-year veteran who has struggled this season while making only 29 of 42 fieldgoal attempts. He has plenty of supporters in the locker room who still believe he can put the ball through the uprights on the NFL's biggest stage. ''It's nice to see that Akers gets an opportunity to redeem himself, especially in the playoffs,'' safety Donte Whitner said. ''If he does it in the playoffs, I believe that everybody will forget about the misses that he had in the regular season.'' Akers revealed last week he underwent double hernia surgery last February, then re-aggravated the area earlier this season when he slipped on the field during practice. After a Nov. 25 game at New Orleans, Akers returned to the doctor in Philadelphia who performed the surgery to receive an injection. The left-footed Akers understood why Cundiff was brought in, but made it clear he wants to remain the kicker. ''He responded like a football player does,'' Harbaugh said. ''He competed.'' Cundiff, who missed a poten- PLAYOFFS (Continued from page 1B) dreamt about playing for. I'm eight years removed here, and obviously I'm really happy with the situation I'm in.'' A lot has changed in that time for San Francisco, too. The QB the 49ers picked ahead of Rodgers — Smith — spent the season's second half on the bench as coach Jim Harbaugh promoted second-year pro Colin Kaepernick. He will make his playoff debut Saturday. In an odd twist, Kaepernick was born in Milwaukee and adopted before moving to California at age 4. Yes, he began as a toddler Cheesehead, then tial tying 32-yarder that might have kept Baltimore and Harbaugh's big brother, John, from reaching the Super Bowl last season, will remain on the roster. Harbaugh said he isn't likely to be among the active players Saturday. ''To be determined — most likely not,'' Harbaugh said. ''He's done a nice job. David's done a better job and is more prepared to give us the best chance to win.'' Akers received death threats last month via Twitter, and NFL and team security got involved. He missed overtime kicks twice against the Rams this season, with the 49ers losing at St. Louis and tying at home. Akers had a field goal blocked in a loss at Seattle on Dec. 23 that Richard Sherman returned 90 yards for a touchdown. He missed two more wide left in a home victory against Arizona in the regular-season finale before bouncing back to make two. The 38-year-old Akers began the season by making a 63-yarder in a season-opening win at Green Bay in which the ball bounced off the crossbar and through the uprights. Last week, he said, ''I would definitely give that 63-yarder back to make the two kicks against St. Louis.'' Akers wasn't available to the media Thursday. ''I have a lot of confidence in him,'' cornerback Carlos Rogers said. ''I actually thought that was going to be the choice. I thought he should stick with David from the get-go. I think that was just a little pressure to get David back on point. He was a little off. I'm glad he's out kicking. Coach is changed allegiances ''when I got drafted,'' Kaepernick said. He has never met Rodgers. He still knows plenty. Even San Francisco's opportunistic, ballhawking defense realizes just how hard it will be to rattle Rodgers or get him off his game. He hasn't thrown an interception in five straight games and 177 passes. His receiving corps is intact again at last, each of the big four of Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and James Jones capable of gamebreaking catches and career performances. Jennings has 19 receptions for 226 yards and three touchdowns over the last three games. The 49ers will need big performances from not the guy that brings in a lot of people, changes a lot of positions. ''We kind of stick who we've stuck with from the beginning of training camp. David's that guy. I've said all along David's going to make the kick to help us win the Super Bowl. That's just been my mindset, since Day 1.'' Rogers would know, too. They faced off for six seasons in the NFC East — Akers for the Eagles and Rogers with the Washington Redskins. Akers made 20 of 22 field goals in their head-to-head meetings, missing only from 50 and 53 yards. Akers made 44 of 52 field goals during his All-Pro 2011 season, his first in a three-year deal after joining San Francisco. His reliable left leg had seemed near-perfect — causing his teammates to wonder why the Eagles would ever let him go — until this up-and-down season. When asked whether Akers' playoff experience factored into the decision and gave him an edge over Cundiff, Harbaugh said, ''feel like we've plowed that ground as thoroughly as it can possibly be plowed.'' His teammates were happy to hear the news. ''Everybody respects Dave in this locker room,'' backup quarterback Alex Smith said. ''I know it's been tough. It's not easy. It seems like you only really get noticed when you go out there and fail. Everybody has respect for what Dave is about, what he stands for. ''He's obviously gone through a rough patch. Happy to see him win the competition. I hope it gets him back on track.'' Aldon Smith and Justin Smith, the defensive pass-rushing menace expected back after he missed the final two regular-season games with a partially torn left triceps. Not to mention their talented secondary. Beating some of the NFL's top quarterbacks hasn't proven too much for San Francisco so far. Aside from the win against Rodgers in the opener, the Niners beat Drew Brees in New Orleans and shocked Tom Brady in New England. ''We've played some of the best quarterbacks this year and have done well,'' linebacker Patrick Willis said. ''This Saturday is going to call for our best. We can't afford to not play our best football, play our best defense. WHY I ❤ CORNING! An Olive City essay contest! A fun opportunity for residents and visitors alike to share why they love living, working or visiting California's Olive City in 300 (three hundred) words or less. First, second and third place winners will be published in "Corning 2013," the annual community resource guide and information directory, published January 31, 2013. Digital version will be published online for a full year, with links to the interactive edition posted on the Corning Chamber, City of Corning and Tehama County websites. Deadline for receipt of entries: Friday, January 11, 2013 1ST Prize: 2ND Prize: 3RD Prize: $200 $100 $50 DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY and T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 HOW TO ENTER: Via Email: Send c/o tehama.up@gmail.com Via Mail: I love Corning c/o The Daily News, PO Box 220, Red Bluff CA 96080 Entries must be accompanied by name of author, address, telephone number and email address if any. Original work only. All entries become the property of The Daily News and cannot be returned. Entries may be republished by The Daily News in whole or part, and may be afforded to the Corning Chamber of Commerce for community promotional purposes. Selection of winners will be made by a committee composed of representatives of The Daily News and Corning Chamber of Commerce. There's no tomorrow, there's no next week.'' Harbaugh has been impressed just how well Kaepernick seems to understand the magnitude of this task, while also remaining unfazed by the added hype and attention. ''It's a bit savant-like the way he's handling it so far this week,'' Harbaugh said. ''So, that's really encouraging.'' Poll the players and coaches around the 49ers and everybody believes Kaepernick is perfectly ready for his biggest game yet. ''I don't think we're going to see any big eyes,'' offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. This was the matchup everybody expected in last year's NFC championship game until New York came along and spoiled both teams' plans. Back in September, San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks said the win at Green Bay might be an ''eye opener'' and ''maybe we'll see them again in the NFC championship.'' He was only one week off. Now, San Francisco wants to make sure it is still standing next week. ''We still feel we're just as good as we were last year,'' Willis said. ''Hopefully this is a new season.'' Same sentiments are coming from the Green Bay side. The Packers won three road games on the way to their championship two years ago, so why not keep a good thing going away from Lambeau Field? And coach Mike McCarthy is counting on Green Bay being better equipped to pound the ball in the run game. ''We have to be,'' the coach said, ''it's the playoffs.'' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pete Rose recently went to Cooperstown to film an episode of his upcoming reality television show. His fiancie got choked up when baseball's career hits leader had to watch the Parade of Legends and other Hall of Fame festivities as just another face in the crowd. Rose doesn't share Kiana Kim's disappointment in his continued banishment from baseball, but he hopes he can provide a few lessons in patience to the rest of his sport's tarnished superstars. ''It doesn't matter how long it takes,'' Rose said Thursday over lunch in Sherman Oaks. ''I'm in no hurry, unless you know something I don't know. You just have to try to be a productive citizen and live your life, and hopefully someday somebody calls you and says, 'Hey, we want to give you a second chance.' I won't need a third, and believe me, nobody is going to find me betting on baseball. What's that old cliche? I don't bet on baseball because I know too much about it.'' The 71-year-old Rose, nattily attired in a tan hat and a colorful striped shirt with ''Hit King'' embroidered on the collar, says he's ''a little sad'' nobody was elected to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Yet Rose sees both sides of the Hall debate: Although he's a friend of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and every star of baseball's Steroids Era, Rose also says anything that artificially alters the game's statistics shouldn't be praised or honored. And if a player linked to steroid use ever broke Rose's record of 4,256 hits, Charlie Hustle would object vehemently. ''I don't know who did what, and I really don't care,'' Rose said. ''All I can tell you is if there's drugs involved, the most sacred thing in baseball is the stats. We've been taking stats since 1869 ... and whenever you do something that can alter the statistics of the game, it's not good for the game.'' Rose wonders what Babe Ruth or Roger Maris would have to say about Bonds, Sosa and Mark McGwire being kept out of the Hall. ''Because those were the records that were assaulted, not mine,'' Rose said. ''Not my record. If someone came up with 4,257 hits and was linked to steroids, I'd have a lot to say. If I'd have took steroids, I'd have got 5,000 hits, so it wouldn't have been fair.'' Rose reserved his greatest praise for Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza, saying both players should have NFL PLAYOFFS WILD CARD Saturday, Jan. 5 Houston 19, Cincinnati 13 Green Bay 24, Minnesota 10 Sunday, Jan. 6 Baltimore 24, Indianapolis 9 Seattle 24, Washington 14 DIVISIONAL Saturday Baltimore at Denver, 1:30 p.m. (CBS) Green Bay at San Francisco, 5 p.m. (FOX) Sunday Seattle at Atlanta, 10 a.m. (FOX) Houston at New England, 1:30 p.m. (CBS) CONFERENCE Sunday, Jan. 20 NFC, Noon (FOX) AFC, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) PRO BOWL Sunday, Jan. 27 At Honolulu AFC vs. NFC, 7 p.m. (NBC) N.Y. Giants at Washington, 2:30 p.m. SUPER BOWL Sunday, Feb. 3 At New Orleans AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 3 p.m. (CBS) easily gained first-ballot Hall admission from their offensive statistics. Rose also stumped for Dave Parker and Jim Kaat. ''I think everybody got caught up in the steroid situation and forgot'' about Biggio and Piazza, Rose said. Rose treads more lightly around first-time nominees Bonds, Clemens and Sosa, warmly praising all three while still reserving full endorsement of their Hall worthiness. ''The only person I'm going to defend (from) yesterday ... I've got to give Roger Clemens some slack,'' Rose said. ''Here's a guy that says to this day that he didn't take steroids. He's never flunked a drug test, and he went to two courts and they both ruled in his favor. So I don't know. And I know there's suspicion, but you don't not vote for a guy because of suspicion.'' Rose agreed to a permanent ban from baseball in 1989 after the former Cincinnati Reds player and manager was accused of betting on baseball. He is also banned from inclusion on the Hall of Fame ballot, although four voters gave him write-in votes this week. Rose said he recently reached out to Commissioner Bud Selig for more dialogue about his possible return to the game, but has no progress to report. Rose thinks Selig is probably tired of hearing his name, which he would understand. ''For me and for all of his fans, it's unjust,'' Kim said. ''We want to see him in the Hall of Fame more than he does. He doesn't want people feeling sorry for him. He knows what he's done.'' Rose claims he doesn't think much about his own ineligibility for the Hall during his everyday life with Kim, a onetime Playboy model, and her two children. Their reality show, premiering Monday on TLC, is a survey of their unusual life titled ''Pete Rose: Hits and Mrs.'' NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific L.A. Clippers WARRIORS L.A. Lakers KINGS Phoenix Southwest San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans Northwest Oklahoma City Denver Portland Utah Minnesota W 28 22 15 13 12 L 8 12 20 22 25 Pct GB .778 — .647 5 .429 12.5 .371 14.5 .324 16.5 W 28 23 21 13 10 L 10 10 15 23 25 Pct GB .737 — .697 2.5 .583 6 .361 14 .286 16.5 W 27 21 19 19 16 L 8 16 15 18 16 Pct .771 .568 .559 .514 .500 GB — 7 7.5 9 9.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic New York Brooklyn Boston Philadelphia Toronto Central Indiana Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland Southeast W 23 20 18 15 13 L 12 15 17 22 22 Pct .657 .571 .514 .405 .371 GB — 3 5 9 10 W 22 19 18 13 9 L 14 14 16 23 28 Pct GB .611 — .576 1.5 .529 3 .361 9 .243 13.5 W L Pct GB Miami 23 10 .697 — Atlanta 20 14 .588 3.5 Orlando 12 23 .343 12 Charlotte 9 25 .265 14.5 Washington 5 28 .152 18 —————————————————— Thursday's results Indiana 81, New York 76 Dallas at Sacramento, late Miami at Portland, late Today's games Charlotte at Toronto, 4 p.m. Houston at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Utah at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Phoenix at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m. San Antonio at Memphis, 5 p.m. Minnesota at New Orleans, 5 p.m. Chicago at New York, 5 p.m. Detroit at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m. Cleveland at Denver, 6 p.m. Portland at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.