Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/194060
1B Sports Manning passes when asked about Irsay ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Thanks to the musings of his former owner, Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis this week has turned into something less than the warm-andfuzzy homecoming it could have been. If any of that bothers No. 18, it's not showing. Dictating the terms of his Wednesday news conference as effectively as he orchestrates his offense from the line of scrimmage, Manning paid virtually no heed to this week's comments from Colts owner Jim Irsay, while heaping plenty of praise on his former team and its fans. ''I don't have an answer for you on that, or any comment on that,'' was Manning's response to the first, predictable question of his news conference — the one asking for reaction to Irsay's comments about giving up the old Indy offense's ''Star Wars'' numbers in a quest for more Super Bowl rings. As for his 14 years in Indianapolis and the bittersweet parting Irsay engineered after Manning missed the 2011 season with shoulder and neck problems — well, Manning has no regrets. ''I've learned that in life you need to be at peace with other people's decisions that affect you that you have no control over,'' he said. ''That's good advice I've had over the years and it's certainly served me well in this particular scenario.'' Earlier this week, Irsay talked to USA Today about Manning's tenure in Indianapolis, which produced one title, another trip to the Super Bowl, 11 playoff appearances but seven one-and-done postseasons. ''That leaves you frustrated,'' Irsay said. ''You make the playoffs 11 times, and you're out in the first round seven out of 11 times. You love to have the 'Star Wars' numbers from Peyton and Marvin (Harrison) and Reggie (Wayne). Mostly, you love'' winning Super Bowls. That triggered a strong response from the usually bland Broncos coach, John Fox, who on his national radio show Tuesday called Irsay's comments a cheap shot that was ''disappointing and inappropriate.'' Others chimed in, including Tony Dungy, Fran Tarkenton, Manning's former college teammate Todd Helton and his former general manager Bill Polian, all of them taking Manning's side in one way or another. With that, the game that was supposed to be a Manning love fest suddenly felt like something much different. But when Wednesday at the Broncos and Colts headquarters rolled around — the first real day of preparation for Sunday night's game — it was as if somebody flipped the ''boring'' switch back on. Irsay backtracked, saying his comments were taken out of context and that he'd reached out to Manning — though he didn't get a call back. ''He's a historical icon and a great friend and I know what he's meant to our organization. My respect for him is immense,'' said Irsay, who also referred to Manning as ''the most loved Ind Colt of all time'' on Twitter. Fox insisted on moving on from his radio comments, which had only served to fan the fire. ''Those were yesterday's comments,'' he said. Rice joins playoff committee as a 'student of game' (AP) — The most scrutinized committee in sports has been set. The members say they'll need thick skin, plenty of time and the ability to leave their loyalties behind to pick the four teams that will play for college football's national title next year. They say they are ready for the pressure. ''I think I've experienced plenty of heat in my life,'' former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. Rice, former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning are among the 13 people who will be part of the College Football Playoff selection committee in 2014. The committee was officially unveiled Wednesday. The College Football Playoff will replace the Bowl Championship Series. The selection committee will work similarly to the one that picks the teams for the NCAA basketball tournament, though instead of 68 teams it will choose and seed four to play in the semifinals. The winners of those games, played on a rotating basis at six bowl sites, will meet a week later for the national championship. The rest of the members are: —Barry Alvarez, athletic director, Wisconsin. —Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy. —Pat Haden, athletic director, Southern California. —Tom Jernstedt, former NCAA executive vice president. —Oliver Luck, athletic director, West Virginia. —Dan Radakovich, athletic director, Clemson. —Steve Wieberg, former college football reporter, USA Today. —Willingham, former head coach of Notre Dame, Stanford and Washington. —Mike Tranghese, former commissioner of the Big East Conference. Spartans receive donation Courtesy photo Vesper Masonic Lodge No. 84 in Red Bluff on Sept. 6 presented the Red Bluff High School baseball program a check for $5,000 to assist with the renovation of the high school baseball facilities. On April 30, 2014, the Masonic Grand Lodge of California will come from San Francisco to Red Bluff High School and dedicate the field. At that time the Vesper Lodge No. 84 will present an additional $5,000 for the renovation project. Pictured from left to right are: Assistant Coach and Athletic Director Brad Wagner, CJ Somavia, Treasurer and 1981 Red Bluff High School graduate Greg Rose, Kyle Martin, Master Mason Steve Chamblin, Senior Warden Mike Keeler, Worship Master and 1961 Red Bluff graduate Gerald Sanders, Will Macdonald, Officer's Coach Don Rose, Jack Murphy, Assistant Coach Chris Sinclair and Assistant Coach Jace Jonsson. Greinke, Dodgers beat Cardinals to extend NLCS LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Gonzalez homered twice and Zack Greinke gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the clutch performance they needed in a 6-4 victory over the Cardinals on Wednesday that trimmed St. Louis' lead to 3-2 in the NL championship series. Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis also went deep for the Dodgers, who rediscovered their power stroke just in time to save their season. They held on in the ninth inning, when St. Louis scored twice off closer Kenley Jansen before he struck out pinch-hitter Adron Chambers with two on to end it. The best-of-seven series shifts back to St. Louis for Game 6 on Friday night, with ace Clayton Kershaw scheduled to start for the Dodgers against rookie Michael Wacha. When those two squared off in Game 2, the Cardinals won 1-0 on an unearned run. ''This series is only getting started,'' Gonzalez said. ''We like where we're at.'' Desperate to avoid elimination, the Dodgers brought in some Hollywood star power for pregame introductions. Will Ferrell announced their lineup and lent a comic spin to each player's name, capping it by introducing Greinke as ''today's winning pitcher.'' Ferrell knew what he was talking about. Greinke got into a bases-loaded jam with none out in the first inning but escaped with no damage. From there, he pitched seven strong innings and even delivered an RBI single. The Cardinals also led Tehama Tracker Today's schedule TENNIS Red Bluff at West Valley, 3:30 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Red Bluff at Shasta, 7 p.m. Anderson at Corning, 7 p.m. Los Molinos at Nike Invitational in Phoenix University Prep at Mercy, 6:30 p.m. MLB PLAYOFFS American League Championship Boston at Detroit, 5:07 p.m. NHL San Jose at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. NBA PRESEASON Phoenix at Sacramento, 7 p.m. Sports on TV COLLEGE FOOTBALL • 4:30 p.m., ESPN — Miami at North Carolina GOLF • 2 p.m., TGC — PGA Tour, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, first round, at Las Vegas • 9 p.m., TGC — European PGA Tour, Perth International, first round, at Perth, Australia (same-day tape) MLB • 4:30 p.m., FOX — Playoffs, American League Championship Series, Game 5, Boston at Detroit NBA • 5 p.m., TNT — Preseason, Miami at Brooklyn NFL • 5 p.m., NFL — Seattle at Arizona NHL • 4 p.m., NHL Network — Pittsburgh at Philadelphia • 5:30 p.m., CSNC — San Jose at Dallas WOMEN'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL • 5 p.m., ESPN2 — Michigan St. at Minnesota Thursday October 17, 2013 AP photo Brian Wilson pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning. last year's NLCS 3-1 before losing three straight games to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants. ''We're looking to do the same thing,'' Gonzalez said. The Dodgers rallied in this one after Greinke gave up an early 2-0 lead just as he did in Game 1, which Los Angeles lost 32 in 13 innings on the road. After neither team homered in the first three games for the first time in NLCS history, the big bats came out. The Cardinals used a two-run homer by Matt Holliday and a solo shot from pinch-hitter Shane Robinson to win 4-2 on Tuesday night. This time, Gonzalez went 3 for 4 with two solo homers. His two-out shot in the eighth made it 6-2. The Cardinals tied it at 2 in the third on Carlos Beltran's RBI triple and Holliday's run-scoring double before Yadier Molina grounded into his second inning-ending double play. Los Angeles answered in the bottom half. Mark Ellis singled leading off but was erased when Hanley Ramirez grounded into a double play. Gonzalez followed with the Dodgers' first homer of the NLCS, slugging the ball an estimated 428 feet into the rightfield pavilion for a 3-2 lead. As he headed toward the dugout, Gonzalez cupped his hands to his ears and wiggled them in a gesture resembling mouse ears. It was an apparent tweak at Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, who said Gonzalez had done ''some Mickey Mouse stuff'' in celebrating a double on Monday night. The Dodgers are trying to become the 12th team to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. After wriggling out of big trouble in the first when Molina bounced into a double play, Greinke allowed two runs and six hits. He struck out four and walked one. ''He made his pitches, we made the plays, got out of it,'' Gonzalez said. ''We were able to get run support for him. All he needed was a few runs.'' Jansen gave up RBI singles to Matt Adams and Pete Kozma in the ninth. A.J. Ellis homered in seventh, sending an 0-2 pitch from Edward Mujica into the left-field pavilion to make it 5-2. Crawford homered with one out in the fifth, extending the Dodgers' lead to 4-2. He walloped a 3-2 pitch from starter Joe Kelly an estimated 447 feet into the right-field pavilion. Kelly gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings, struck out three and walked none. Beltran's triple went over the head of Andre Ethier and to the wall in center, scoring Matt Carpenter, who singled. Holliday followed with a double to deep center. PREP ROUNDUP VOLLEYBALL Mercy 13, 25, 13, 25, 15; Redding Christian 25, 19, 25, 18, 11 The Lady Warriors added a nice win to their resume Tuesday night with a 5-game victory at Redding Christian. Jessica Curl had 20 kills and 12 digs for Mercy. Breana Kemp provided 17 assists and served up five aces. Marissa Starman had 16 digs and Julia Misslin had 13. Los Molinos 25, 25, 23, 25; Liberty Christian 18, 14, 25, 17 Kaitlin Seaman dished out 42 assists, Clarivel Castillo had 28 kills and the Lady Bulldogs beat Liberty Christian in four games Tuesday night. Castillo added 23 digs to her performance and Seaman recorded five aces. Emily Bailey chipped in with 17 kills and 22 digs of her own. Katie Morgan had 21 digs, Jasmine Ortega 14 and Dom Henderson 11. Corning 25, 25, 25; Central Valley 18, 20, 14 The Lady Cardinals notched their first Northern Athletic League win Tuesday night sweeping the host Falcons in three. Kaylee Shoemaker had four aces and five kills for Corning. "Tonight we played well enough to win in three. We served and passed well, but our hitting was off," coach Mike Albee said. "We stayed aggressive with out hitting, but our timing was off." Miranda Kremer recorded four kills and three blocks. Emerie Eller had eight assists.Mariah Schrommm had eight digs.