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2B Daily News – Tuesday, September 24, 2013 49ers prepare to move forward Shaquille O'Neal without Aldon Smith joining Kings ownership group SANTA CLARA (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are prepared to go forward without star linebacker Aldon Smith for as long as it takes for him to get clean, healthy and improve his life. Smith was placed on the reserve non-football injury list Monday as he enters rehab for substance abuse and begins what team CEO Jed York has termed an indefinite absence. ''I am taking a leave of absence to address my health,'' Smith said through the 49ers. ''I am sorry that I have affected my team, my family and the organization. I will do everything in my power to handle this situation the best way possible. I appreciate the support of the 49ers and our fans.'' The NFL said there is no minimum number of games Smith must miss on the reserve non-football injury list, and he can return when ready. On whether he expects Smith to return this season, coach Jim Harbaugh said only, ''there's a process, we're going to respect that process.'' Smith played Sunday and had five tackles just two days after he was arrested and jailed Friday morning on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession. Smith apologized after the 277 home loss to the Colts, and now his team moves forward without him heading to St. Louis on Thursday. ''We're very supportive of Aldon as we are of all of our players, all of our coaches, our personnel. Always support it in house,'' Harbaugh said. ''We've hashed through it, now we're taking steps and Aldon's taking steps. We support him in that.'' San Francisco didn't immediately announce a corresponding roster move. ''We have a pretty good idea what we're going to do and we'll make that announcement,'' Harbaugh said. Smith had previously been arrested on suspicion of DUI in January 2012 in Miami shortly after the 49ers lost in the NFC championship game. He is expected to remain in the Bay Area for treatment. He could face a suspension from the NFL either later this season or next season, and it is likely given he has had more than one infraction. The NFL would let the legal process play itself out first. Harbaugh said Dan By ANTONIO GONZALEZ AP Sports Writer AP photo San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith walks onto the field Sunday. Skuta, Ahmad Brooks and Corey Lemonier will help fill the void left by Smith, who had a franchise-best 19 1/2 sacks last season. Demarcus Dobbs, who was suspended for Week 1 for his own arrest on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession from last season, also could be in the mix for some packages. ''I have confidence in those guys and know they'll do a good job,'' Harbaugh said. ''Go with the guys we've got.'' Smith, selected seventh overall in the 2011 draft out of Missouri, turns 24 on Wednesday. Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke ultimately decided to let Smith play before he entered rehab. ''Aldon Smith is taking a leave of absence to address a personal matter,'' Baalke said in a statement. ''The 49ers organization both respects and supports Aldon's decision and commends him for taking responsibility for his actions. The longterm well-being of our players is paramount and we will stand by Aldon as he works toward addressing this issue. Due to the private nature of the matter, we will have no further comment.'' His 49ers teammates were trying their best not to let the situation become a distraction. San Francisco (1-2) has a quick turnaround to face division foe St. Louis on the road Thursday night. ''Coach decided to let him play, and he was out there and made some plays,'' safety Donte Whitner said. ''I don't think guys were out there thinking about Aldon being arrested.'' Earlier this month, Smith and former teammate Delanie Walker were named in a lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by a Northern California man who said he was shot at a party at Smith's house on June 29, 2012. The players charged a $10 admission and $5 per drink, the lawsuit said. Smith and nowTitans tight end Walker, 29 were allegedly intoxicated on Smith's balcony when they fired gunshots in the air while trying to end the party, the lawsuit said. Before the 2012 home opener last September, Smith was the passenger in a car during an accident in Santa Clara County in which the driver swerved to avoid hitting a deer. Smith sustained a cut beneath his right eyebrow. He apologized and insisted he had grown up. Raiders activate Mady ALAMEDA (AP) — The Oakland Raiders have promoted guard Lamar Mady from the practice squad to the active roster and placed tight end David Ausberry on season-ending injured reserve. General manager Reggie McKenzie announced the moves Monday before Oakland played at Denver. Ausberry was on target to be the starter before he hurt his shoulder in the team's second preseason game. He was inactive for the first two regular season games before the team decided to shut him down for the season. Mady joined Oakland as an undrafted free agent in April after playing two years at Youngstown State. He was cut at the end of training camp and placed on the practice squad. He provides added depth with starter Lucas Nix slowed by an ankle injury. NCAA NASCAR Sprint Cup Points Leaders 1. Matt Kenseth 2,111 2. Kyle Busch 2,097 3. Jimmie Johnson 2,093 4. Carl Edwards 2,075 5. Greg Biffle 2,073 6. Kevin Harvick 2,072 7. Kurt Busch 2,071 8. Jeff Gordon 2,069 9. Ryan Newman 2,064 10. Clint Bowyer 2,063 11. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,049 12. Joey Logano 2,042 13. Kasey Kahne 2,040 AP Top 25 Schedule Saturday's games No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 21 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. No. 2 Oregon vs. California, 7:30 p.m. No. 3 Clemson vs. Wake Forest, 12:30 p.m. No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 24 Wisconsin, 5 p.m. No. 5 Stanford at Washington State, 7 p.m. No. 6 LSU at No. 9 Georgia, 12:30 p.m. No. 8 Florida St. at Boston Co., 12:30 p.m. No. 10 Texas A&M at Arkansas, 4 p.m. No. 11 Oklahoma St. at West Virginia, 9 a.m. No. 12 South Carolina at UCF, 9 a.m. No. 14 Okla. at No. 22 N. Dame, 12:30 p.m. No. 15 Miami at South Florida, 9 a.m. No. 16 Washington vs. Arizona, 4 p.m. No. 20 Florida at Kentucky, 4 p.m. No. 25 Fresno State at Hawaii, 9 p.m. MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE W Seattle 15 Salt Lake 14 Portland 11 Galaxy 13 Colorado 12 Vancouver 11 QUAKES 11 FC Dallas 10 Chivas USA 6 L 8 10 5 10 9 10 11 9 16 T 5 6 13 6 9 8 8 10 8 Pts 50 48 46 45 45 41 41 40 26 GF 38 53 45 46 37 42 31 40 29 GA 28 39 31 36 31 38 41 42 54 EASTERN CONFERENCE W New York 15 Kansas City 14 Montreal 13 Houston 12 N. England 11 Chicago 11 Philadelphia10 Columbus 11 Toronto FC 4 D.C. 3 L 9 9 9 10 11 12 10 14 15 20 T 6 6 6 7 7 6 9 5 11 6 Pts 51 48 45 43 40 39 39 38 23 15 GF 47 43 46 37 41 36 37 36 25 19 GA 36 28 42 36 33 43 39 39 44 48 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. —————————————————— Friday's game Philadelphia at Kansas City, 5 p.m. Saturday's games D.C. United at Toronto FC, 10 a.m. Real Salt Lake at Vancouver, 4 p.m. Houston at New England, 4:30 p.m. Montreal at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. Sunday's games San Jose at Chivas USA, 8 p.m. Los Angeles at Portland, 12:30 p.m. Columbus at FC Dallas, 5:30 p.m. New York at Seattle FC, 6 p.m. Asked about Smith on Monday at Titans headquarters, Walker said he is getting more attention because of his status as one of the best in the NFL at his position. ''I pray for him because he is a good kid,'' Walker said. ''He's just making some bad choices now.'' Notes: CB Nnamdi Asomugha (leg) and LB Patrick Willis (groin) were getting MRI exams Monday, while Harbaugh said TE Vernon Davis was being evaluated after he missed Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. ... WR Jon Baldwin, acquired from Kansas City in the trade that sent WR A.J. Jenkins to the Chiefs last month, could be active for the first time Thursday as the 49ers look for more from their receiving corps. They had 13 total catches Sunday. ''That's possible,'' Harbaugh said. ''He's doing a good job, had a real good week of practice last week.'' The larger-thanlife figure that teased and tormented the Sacramento Kings for so long is now the biggest name to join the franchise's new ownership group. The Kings announced Monday that Shaquille O'Neal has acquired a minority stake in the team under new owner Vivek Ranadive. The Kings will introduce the four-time NBA champion at a news conference Tuesday in Sacramento. During the height of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, O'Neal fueled the rivalry with the Kings with his play on the court and his personality off of it. O'Neal handed Sacramento its biggest blow by rallying the Lakers from a 3-2 deficit to win the 2002 Western Conference finals, which is still a sore spot for Kings fans. The 7-foot-1 center even labeled the franchise the ''Sacramento Queens'' and accused fan favorite Vlade Divac — whom he referred to as ''she'' at one point — of flopping. O'Neal was a 15-time All-Star and the 2000 NBA MVP. He played for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers before retiring after the 2010-11 season with the Boston Celtics. O'Neal, now 41, has worked as an analyst for TNT the last two seasons. O'Neal is the latest high-profile former player to join the Kings this summer after the franchise nearly moved to Seattle. Hall of Famer Chris Mullin was hired as a consultant to Ranadive — who bought the franchise from the Maloof family in May — and Mitch Richmond is part of the ownership group. The group includes 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov, who is friends with O'Neal. The two partnered in the past to build several gyms, especially in South Florida during O'Neal's time with the Heat. Sharks F Raffi Torres sidelined with knee injury SAN JOSE (AP) — The San Jose Sharks will be without forward Raffi Torres for the start of the season because of an injured right knee. Torres was injured in a collision with Anaheim forward Emerson Etem on Friday night. Torres and the Sharks will decide in the next few days whether he needs surgery. If he rehabs the injury, he might miss only the first month. If he needs surgery, he would likely be sidelined for three to four months. The Sharks were counting on Torres to provide energy and physical play this year. His acquisition late last season provided a needed spark to the team before he was suspended for the final six play- American League National League West Division W 90 79 72 72 71 L 66 76 83 84 86 Pct .577 .510 .465 .462 .452 GB — 10.5 17.5 18 19.5 W x-Atlanta 92 Washington 84 New York 71 Philadelphia 71 Miami 57 Central Division W z-St. Louis 91 Cincinnati 89 Pittsburgh 89 Milwaukee 69 Chicago 65 L 63 72 84 84 99 Pct .594 .538 .458 .458 .365 GB — 8.5 21 21 35.5 L 65 67 67 86 91 Pct .583 .571 .571 .445 .417 GB — 2 2 21.5 26 West Division x-A's Texas Angels Seattle Houston East Division W 93 84 76 68 51 W x-Boston 95 Tampa Bay 87 New York 82 Baltimore 81 Toronto 71 Central Division W Detroit 91 Cleveland 86 Kansas City 82 Minnesota 65 Chicago 61 L Pct 63 .596 71 .542 79 .490 88 .436 105 .327 GB — 8.5 16.5 25 42 L 62 69 74 75 84 Pct .605 .558 .526 .519 .458 GB — 7.5 12.5 13.5 23 L 65 70 73 90 94 Pct .583 .551 .529 .419 .394 GB — 5 8.5 25.5 29.5 x-Dodgers Arizona Padres GIANTS Colorado East Division NFL AFC West Kansas City Denver RAIDERS Chargers East N. England Miami N.Y. Jets Buffalo South Houston Indianapolis Tennessee Jacksonville North Cincinnati Baltimore Cleveland Pittsburgh x-clinched division —————————————————— Monday's results Oakland at L.A. Angels, late Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 4 Detroit at Minnesota, late Houston at Texas, late Kansas City at Seattle, late Toronto at Chicago White Sox, late z-clinched playoff berth x-clinched division —————————————————— Monday's results Arizona at San Diego, late Milwaukee at Atlanta, late N.Y. Mets at Cincinnati, late Philadelphia at Miami, late Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, late Washington at St. Louis, late Today's games Oakland (Griffin 14-9) at L.A. Angels (Vargas 8-7), 7:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox (H.Santiago 4-9) at Cleveland (U.Jimenez 12-9), 4:05 p.m. Tampa Bay (M.Moore 15-4) at N.Y.Yankees (Kuroda 11-12), 4:05 p.m. Toronto (Redmond 4-2) at Baltimore (Tillman 16-7), 4:05 p.m. Houston (Peacock 5-5) at Texas (Darvish 13-9), 5:05 p.m. Detroit (Fister 13-9) at Minnesota (Diamond 6-11), 5:10 p.m. Boston (Peavy 11-5) at Colorado (Chatwood 7-5), 5:40 p.m. Kansas City (B.Chen 8-3) at Seattle (Paxton 2-0), 7:10 p.m. Today's games L.A. Dodgers (Ryu 13-7) at San Fran. (M.Cain 8-9), 7:15 p.m. Milwaukee (Thornburg 3-1) at Atlanta (F.Garcia 1-2), 4:10 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Niese 7-8) at Cincinnati (Leake 14-6), 4:10 p.m. Philadelphia (Miner 0-1) at Miami (H.Alvarez 4-5), 4:10 p.m. Pittsburgh (Cole 9-7) at Chicago Cubs (Rusin 2-5), 5:05 p.m. Washington (G.Gonzalez 11-7) at St. Louis (Wacha 3-1), 5:15 p.m. Boston (Peavy 11-5) at Colorado (Chatwood 7-5), 5:40 p.m. Arizona (Miley 10-10) at San Diego (T.Ross 3-8), 7:10 p.m. Wednesday's games Oakland at L.A. Angels, 12:35 p.m. Chi. White Sox at Cleveland, 4:05 p.m. Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees, 4:05 p.m. Toronto at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m. Houston at Texas, 5:05 p.m. Detroit at Minnesota, 5:10 p.m. Boston at Colorado, 5:40 p.m. Kansas City at Seattle, 7:10 p.m. Wednesday's games L.A. Dodgers at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Cincinnati, 9:35 a.m. Washington at St. Louis, 10:45 a.m. Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 11:20 a.m. Milwaukee at Atlanta, 4:10 p.m. Philadelphia at Miami, 4:10 p.m. Boston at Colorado, 5:40 p.m. Arizona at San Diego, 7:10 p.m. W 3 2 1 1 L 0 0 1 2 T 0 0 0 0 Pct PF 1.000 71 1.000 90 .500 36 .333 78 PA 34 50 30 81 W 3 3 2 1 L 0 0 1 2 T 0 0 0 0 Pct PF 1.000 59 1.000 74 .667 55 .333 65 PA 34 53 50 73 W 2 2 2 0 L 1 1 1 3 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .667 .667 .667 .000 PF 70 68 60 28 PA 82 48 56 92 W 2 2 1 0 L 1 1 2 3 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .667 .667 .333 .000 PF 75 71 47 42 PA 64 64 64 76 PA 27 86 84 79 NFC West W 3 1 1 1 Seattle St. Louis 49ERS Arizona East MLB MLB off games for an illegal hit on Los Angeles forward Jarret Stoll. The Sharks signed Torres to a three-year, $6 million contract in June. Dallas Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Washington South N. Orleans Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay North L 0 2 2 2 T 0 0 0 0 Pct PF 1.000 86 .333 58 .333 44 .333 56 W 2 1 0 0 L 1 2 3 3 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .667 .333 .000 .000 PF 83 79 54 67 PA 55 86 115 98 W 3 1 1 0 L 0 2 2 3 T 0 0 0 0 Pct PF 1.000 70 .333 68 .333 71 .000 34 PA 38 36 74 57 W L T Pct PF PA Chicago 3 0 0 1.000 95 74 Detroit 2 1 0 .667 82 69 Green Bay 1 2 0 .333 96 88 Minnesota 0 3 0 .000 81 96 —————————————————— Week 3 results Indianapolis 27, San Francisco 7 Oakland at Denver, late Baltimore 30, Houston 9 Carolina 38, N.Y. Giants 0 Chicago 40, Pittsburgh 23 Cincinnati 34, Green Bay 30 Cleveland 31, Minnesota 27 Dallas 31, St. Louis 7 Detroit 27, Washington 20 Kansas City 26, Philadelphia 16 Miami 27, Atlanta 23 New England 23, Tampa Bay 3 New Orleans 31, Arizona 7 N.Y. Jets 27, Buffalo 20 Seattle 45, Jacksonville 17 Tennessee 20, San Diego 17 Week 4 schedule Thursday's game San Francisco at St. Louis, 5:25 p.m . Sunday's games Washington at Oakland, 1:25 p.m. Arizona at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. Baltimore at Buffalo, 10 a.m. Chicago at Detroit, 10 a.m. Cincinnati at Cleveland, 10 a.m. Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 10 a.m. N.Y. Giants at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota at London, 10 a.m. Seattle at Houston, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at Tennessee, 1:05 p.m. Dallas at San Diego, 1:25 p.m. Philadelphia at Denver, 1:25 p.m. New England at Atlanta, 5:30 p.m. Monday's game Miami at New Orleans, 5:40 p.m. Open: Carolina, Green Bay