Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/178668
Sports 1B Wednesday September 25, 2013 Oracle team on verge of staging upset SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Skipper Jimmy Spithill and defending champion Oracle Team USA overtook Emirates Team New Zealand on the upwind third leg Tuesday to win their astonishing seventh straight race and force a winner-take-all finale in the longest America's Cup ever. All but defeated a week ago, Oracle Team USA tied the faltering Kiwis 8-8 on the scoreboard by winning its 10th race overall. Oracle was docked two points for illegally modifying boats in warmup regattas. If it hadn't been hit with the harshest penalties in the 162-year history of the America's Cup, Oracle Team USA's sailors would be hoisting the silver trophy in victory. Instead, the epic 19th race is scheduled for Wednesday, weather-permitting, on San Francisco Bay. Either Oracle will finish one of the greatest comebacks in sports history or Team New Zealand, marooned on match point for the past week, will get the elusive win it needs to claim the Auld Mug for the second time in 18 years. Oracle, which trailed 8-1 last Wednesday, came from behind and passed the Kiwis after they tacked too early and slowed while zigzagging toward the Golden Gate Bridge. The American-backed boat — with only one American on its 11-man crew — sped past and built its lead to more than 1,000 yards on the windward fourth leg going past Alcatraz Island. The final margin was 54 seconds. Spithill, a 34-yearold Australian who has been almost defiant about his team's ability to rebound from the penalties, did a flyby of Pier 27-29, with his crew lining the port hull to wave and pump their fists toward the crowd. Earlier, Oracle forced Emirates Team New Zealand into two penalties during the wild start of Race 17 and won by 27 seconds. The races were so pivotal that software billionaire Larry Ellison, who owns Oracle Team USA, skipped making a keynote speech before 60,000 people at Oracle Open World so he could witness the comeback firsthand from a chase boat on the bay. Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker dominated Spithill at the start and beat him to the first mark with his 72-foot catamaran, allowing him to control the race. The Kiwis led by 7 seconds rounding the second gate mark before committing the blunder that cost them the lead and, perhaps, the oldest trophy in international sports. Concussion could sideline Pryor for Raiders ALAMEDA (AP) — The Oakland Raiders will begin a short week of preparation with uncertainty about who will start at quarterback as Terrelle Pryor recovers from a concussion. Pryor was knocked out of Monday night's 37-21 loss at Denver in the fourth quarter after a hard hit to the helmet by Wesley Woodyard. He was replaced by Matt Flynn. Pryor will not be able to practice until he goes through the league-mandated concussion protocol. That means the Raiders (1-2) will have to prepare for Sunday's game against Washington (0-3) with the possibility that either Pryor or Flynn could start. ''We'll look at how he's doing tomorrow,'' coach Dennis Allen said Tuesday. ''We'll see whether he's able to go or not. Then we'll see as the week goes on and make a determination on what we can do.'' Allen said the team will have to make game plans for both the mobile Pryor and the more stationary Flynn to start. When Pryor beat out Flynn for the starting job, the Raiders tweaked their offense to take advantage of Pryor's mobility. That has paid off so far with Pryor leading the team with 198 yards rushing through three games. ''It's a little bit of a challenge,'' Allen said. ''But that's where we're at and that's what we've got to get ready to do. So, we've got to have a game plan if Terrelle's able to go that he can go in and execute and give us a chance to win. If not, we've got to have something in there that gives Matt Flynn a chance to have success.'' The players had the day off Tuesday and Pryor is not allowed to talk to the media until he clears his concussion protocol. But he did send out a tweet earlier in the day apologizing to Raiders fans for the loss. ''I don't remember much! Good hit by whoever it was. I heard our team fought well. We will be back!'' Pryor wrote. Pryor added that he felt great and was ready to go but that will ultimately be determined by the doctors. Flynn had been expected to start after Oakland gave up two draft picks to acquire him from Seattle in April and gave him $6.5 million in guaranteed money. But Flynn struggled in the preseason as he dealt with a sore right elbow and was beaten out by Pryor for the starting job. Pryor has played fairly well in his three starts this season, completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 624 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and a passer rating of 86.7. Despite the lopsided loss to Denver on Monday, Pryor had his best game as a passer in his brief career, going 19 for 28 for 281 yards and a touchdown in his second straight turnover-free game. Tehama Tracker Today's schedule Bluff; Corning, Mercy, Orland, Sutter and Willows at Gridley CROSS COUNTRY Las Plumas at Red Bluff, 4 p.m.; Corning at Northern Athletic League Meet at Yreka, 3:30 p.m. Sports on TV FIELD HOCKEY Yuba City at Corning, 3:30 p.m. SWIMMING University Prep and West Valley at Red MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 11:10 a.m. WGN — Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs 4 p.m. ESPN — Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees 10 p.m. ESPN — L.A. Dodgers at San Francisco AP photo The crew on Oracle Team USA waves after winning the 17th race of the America's Cup sailing event against Emirates Team New Zealand on Tuesday in San Francisco. In Race 17, Spithill appeared in trouble just before the start but hooked behind Barker into a favored leeward position as the boats jockeyed just inside the Golden Gate Bridge. The 72-foot catamarans touched, and Oracle tactician Ben Ainslie yelled at the Kiwis to tack away. They collided again, this time harder, with Ainslie gesturing angrily. Team New Zealand sat dead in the water to clear the penalties as Oracle pulled away. Oracle stayed ahead the whole way around the five-leg course. Spithill and his mates are the first to win seven straight races in an America's Cup match. There have been three five-race winning streaks when the Cup was best-of-9. This regatta started as best-of-17, but Oracle will need to win 11 races to keep the Cup. Oracle has twice trailed by seven points, most recently when Team New Zealand won Race 11 on Wednesday for an 8-1 lead. After Oracle won Race 12, Team New Zealand was denied the chance to seize the Cup when Race 13 was abandoned because of a 40-minute time limit with the Kiwis well ahead in light wind. When the race was resailed in better breeze, Oracle won to begin its winning streak. With the two victories Tuesday, Oracle Team USA has won for the ninth time in 13 races since Ainslie, a British Olympic star, replaced American John Kostecki as tactician. Welcome to 'Shaqramento' SACRAMENTO (AP) — Shaquille O'Neal spent the first part of the century smashing Sacramento's dreams of an NBA championship. Now he wants to spend the next part doing anything he can to build the Kings into a winner. Declaring the new name of the city ''Shaqramento,'' O'Neal began by taking steps in his size 22 shoes Tuesday to make amends to Kings fans for his past verbal swipes. The new minority owner of the Kings said he just wanted to rile up people and market the game when he called the franchise the ''Sacramento Queens'' while winning three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers. ''I apologize,'' O'Neal said. ''If you see me around town, come give me a hug, give me a kiss. I'll do whatever you want.'' The 15-time All-Star center promised to use the same brand that bullied Sacramento for years to bring positive attention to California's capital city. O'Neal's larger-than-life personality did just that on his first day on the job. He attracted a crowd of about 75 reporters, with TV trucks fighting for the closest parking space outside Sacramento's suburban practice facility and about a dozen fans trying to sneak into the parking lot. O'Neal said has no intention of being a silent investor. He wants to be a mentor to volatile center DeMarcus Cousins, give his input on basketball decisions and help the team build the NBA's first ''indoor-outdoor arena.'' O'Neal said he learned decades ago from Hall of Famer and friend Magic Johnson that endorsements ''are good, but you want to own stuff.'' He declined to reveal his stake in the team but said joining an NBA ownership group ''was always one of my dreams and aspirations,'' especially AP photo Shaquille O'Neal holds up a shirt with "Shaqramento" printed on it as he poses with Sacramento Kings majority owners Vivek Ranadive, left, and Mark Mastrov. after retiring in 2011 after a 19-year playing career. New Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive said he first approached O'Neal about joining his group after he swayed the league to keep the Kings from moving to Seattle and bought the team from the Maloof family in May. Ranadive's primary partner, 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov, is friends with O'Neal. The two partnered in the past to build about 20 gyms, especially in South Florida during O'Neal's time with the Miami Heat. O'Neal said he moved from Los Angeles and couldn't find a place to work out at all hours and found Mastrov by searching his name on Google. ''Make no mistake: Shaq is a shrewd businessman,'' Mastrov said. Ranadive said the deal came together a few weeks ago while ''shooting hoops'' at his Silicon Valley home with O'Neal and Mastrov. ''He's one of the most recognizable people on the planet,'' Ranadive said, ''and we are trying to build the Kings into an even bigger global brand.'' Ranadive revealed another one of those plans Tues- day. He said the team's season opener Oct. 30 against Denver will likely be broadcast in his native India. O'Neal is the latest highprofile 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 and Mitch Richmond is part of the ownership group. But no member is a bigger surprise than O'Neal. During the height of his career with the Lakers, O'Neal fueled the rivalry with the Kings with his play on the court and his personality off of it. He 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 — and never missed a chance to poke fun at the franchise. ''I wanted you to be very upset when you came to Arco Arena,'' O'Neal said, speaking to fans through reporters. ''In my mind, if you could survive something like this, then you could win anywhere. You guys had us nervous all the way up until that Game 7.'' Besides the opportunity to partner with friends, O'Neal said he wanted to work with one of the NBA's best young centers — and also one of its most troubled. O'Neal said he's already initiated conversations with Cousins, who has been suspended several times by the NBA and the Kings for his behavior. He said he wants to help Cousins the way Phil Jackson helped O'Neal coexist with others when he came to coach the Lakers. ''When I look at a young DeMarcus Cousins, I see a young Shaquille O'Neal. Very talented, very stubborn in his ways. Wants to do things his way,'' O'Neal said. Cousins, who is entering his fourth year in the NBA, is eligible for a contract extension before Oct. 31 or he would become a restricted free agent next summer. Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro said contract negotiations are progressing but offered no further details. O'Neal declined to discuss what he thinks Cousins will do but said the center has been receptive to his help. ''The conversations,'' he said, ''have already started.''