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Sports 1B Friday October 25, 2013 Sims looks LosMo Homecoming Court forward to facing Big Ben ALAMEDA (AP) — Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Pat Sims knows how difficult it is to sack Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. For five years the former Cincinnati Bengal tried, mostly in vain, to get Roethlisberger down. In eight games against the 6-foot-5 quarterback, Sims had 1 1-2 sacks and watched as Big Ben led Pittsburgh to a trio of playoff berths. ''He's a strong quarterback and he's big, you know what I'm saying?'' Sims said Thursday. ''He's a quarterback that's harder to take down. I love going against Pittsburgh. That's my kind of style, my kind of football.'' Roethlisberger's been sacked 22 times this season, tied for seventh-most in the NFL. Sims, who signed with Oakland in the offseason, is looking forward to getting another shot at Roethlisberger and would love nothing better than to have his first sack with the Raiders come against his longtime rival. Known primarily as a run stopper, Sims has come close a few times this season but he remains the lone member of Oakland's starting defensive line without a sack. Getting one against Roethlisberger would be a definite step forward, though it often takes more than one defender to drag the 240-pound quarterback down. ''If you get a nice lick on him, you really don't need multiple guys,'' Sims said. ''You just have to know how to rush Ben. We've been working on that this week so we'll be ready. He's a quarterback just like everybody else.'' With only seven sacks in the last four games, Oakland's defense overall needs to improve its pass rush. The Raiders led the NFL in that department after two games but have since gone cold. Although they've continued to pressure opposing quarterbacks, the sacks have been few and far between. ''We're not perfect but I know by the end of the season we're going to be on all cylinders,'' Sims said. ''We're still developing. We have moments where we're playing physical and sometimes where we play finesse.'' Oakland may need a little bit of both styles against Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won back-to-back games after an 0-4 start, and they're getting much better play from their quarterback. Over his last two games, Roethlisberger has completed nearly 76 percent of his throws while passing for 424 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He threw five interceptions in the Steelers' first four games but hasn't been picked off since. Roethlisberger has also thrown just seven touchdowns and is on pace for his fewest since 2010. Still, the Raiders know the Steelers and their quarterback are a serious threat offensively. In his three previous games against Oakland, Roethlisberger has been nearly flawless while throwing for 937 yards and nine touchdowns with just one interception. The Raiders beat the Steelers a year ago when Roethlisberger passed for 384 yards and four touchdowns. ''You have to approach him as if he's not down,'' Oakland defensive coordinator Jason Tarver said. ''He's not down if somebody's hanging on him, because he's so strong. You have to keep taking your shots and keep pulling and scratching and fighting because that's what he does. If he does get out, get the guy on the ground.'' Favre rules out return ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brett Favre dismissed the possibility of returning to the NFL with St. Louis, and Rams coach Jeff Fisher declined to address reports he tried to lure the quarterback out of retirement to replace the injured Sam Bradford. Favre told WSPZ he doesn't feel physically able to compete and expressed fear that he has been affected by concussions. ''It's flattering, but you know there's no way I'm going to do that,'' Favre told Washington sports station WSPZ-AM on Thursday. Fisher changed the subject after practice, then said ''Nice try'' when asked whether the 44-year-old Favre could be ready to play. Bradford is out for the sea- son with a knee injury. ''I don't remember my daughter playing soccer, playing youth soccer, one summer,'' Favre said. ''I don't remember that. I got a pretty good memory, and I have a tendency like we all do to say, 'Where are my glasses?' and they're on your head. This was pretty shocking to me that I couldn't remember my daughter playing youth soccer, just one summer, I think. I remember her playing basketball, I remember her playing volleyball, so I kind of think maybe she only played a game or two. I think she played eight. So that's a little bit scary to me. For the first time in 44 years, that put a little fear in me. ... ''I think after 20 years, God only knows the toll.'' Tehama Tracker Today's schedule FOOTBALL Pleasant Valley at Red Bluff, 7:30 p.m.; Anderson at Corning, 7:30 p.m.; Chester at Los Molinos, 7:30 p.m. Sports on TV AUTO RACING 9 a.m. FS1 — NASCAR, Sprint Cup, practice for Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500, at Martinsville, Va. 12:30 p.m. FS1 — NASCAR, Sprint Cup, pole qualifying for Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500, at Martinsville, Va. 1:30 a.m. NBCSN — Formula One, qualifying for Indian Grand Prix, at Greater Noida, India COLLEGE FOOTBALL 5 p.m. ESPN — Boise St. at BYU GOLF 9 a.m. TGC — LPGA, Taiwan Championship, second round, at Yang Mei, Taiwan (same-day tape) 12:30 p.m. TGC — Champions Tour, AT&T Championship, first round, at San Antonio 8 p.m. TGC — PGA Tour, CIMB Classic, third round, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1 a.m. ESPN2 — Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, third round, at Longkou, China (delayed tape) MEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY 5 p.m. NBCSN — UMass at Maine SOCCER 5:25 p.m. ESPN2 — Liga MX, Guadalajara at Morelia Courtesy photo Los Molinos High School has announced its 2013 Homecoming Court. Back row from left are freshman Prince Josue Orozco, sophomore Prince Tanner Prest, junior Princess Gilsa Castellon, junior Prince Jesus Olivera, Queen candidate Kate Morgan, King Candidate Ramiro Castellon, Queen candidate Kaitlyn Seaman, King Candidate Jase Northup, Queen candidate Dominique Henderson, King candidate Geoff Field. Pictured in front are freshman princess Hanna Mubarak and sophomore Princess Vanessa Cota. Lester accused of foreign substance BOSTON (AP) — Jon Lester says there was nothing but rosin — which is perfectly legal — on his glove when he beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the World Series. A Cardinals minor leaguer posted a screen shot on Twitter showing a green substance on Lester's glove. Tyler Melling, a 25-year-old pitcher in the Florida State League, wrote: ''Jon Lester using a little Vaseline inside the glove tonight?'' The Boston Red Sox left-hander said before Game 2 on Thursday night that ''I can honestly tell you that all I use is rosin. So, it's obviously frustrating that after a night like last night, we should be having fun and running around with some energy today and I've got to stand here and answer questions about it.'' Lester allowed five hits in 7 23 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and a walk in the Red Sox's 8-1 victory. Boston manager John Farrell also said Lester uses only rosin, which is provided on the pitcher's mound, to get a better grip. ''If you know Jon Lester, he sweats like a pig and he needs rosin,'' Farrell said before Game 2. ''I don't see this as anything at all.'' Major League Baseball said in a statement Thursday that ''we cannot draw any conclusions from this video. There were no complaints from the Cardinals and the umpires never detected anything indicating a foreign substance throughout the game.'' Section 8.02 of the Official Baseball Rules says a pitcher ''shall not apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball'' and says the penalty for a violation is ejection and an automatic suspension. ''MLB has obviously evaluated it and issued a statement,'' Farrell said. ''We consider it closed.'' Melling's tweet was later deleted. ''Obviously, when I get a text at 2 o'clock in the morning, it's not fun,'' a composed Lester said. ''I understand. I saw the picture. It looks bad.'' He also said he sweats a lot and rosin helps control that. ''I throw rosin in my glove. That's it,'' Lester said. ''I warm up with one hat in the bullpen and then have to change hats when I come in (to the dugout). I've had plenty of games where I've got sweat dripping off my brim. I've put rosin on my hat before to try to stop it. You do a lot of different things to just try to try to contain it. ''Even on a cold night like last night, I'm still sweating, so you've got to do certain things to try to keep a grip on the ball and not let it slip, and rosin is one of those things that seems to help me.'' Asked if he's sure that rosin was the only substance in Lester's glove, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said, ''this was not instigated by us. And the way that we approach this is we just play the game. We don't deny that some things have been acknowledged. And if that's what he claims, then that's what it is. That's all there is to it. And right now it's pretty much a dead issue.'' Lester said the issue wouldn't affect him in the future. ''I played with Jon basically my whole professional career,'' Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. ''He kind of sweats a lot, man. I know he loads up with rosin all over the place. I don't even like going out there and telling him 'good job,' and patting him on the back because you get all wet and stuff.'' 49ers trust the tape against winless Jaguars LONDON (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have no doubt that the Jacksonville Jaguars can be a formidable opponent despite their 0-7 record. Just watch the tape. The 49ers return to London for the second time in three years as part of the NFL International Series, playing the Jaguars on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. The defending NFC champions are 5-2 and in the thick of the NFC West title race with the Seattle Seahawks (6-1). San Francisco last played an overseas game in 2010, beating the Denver Broncos 2416 at Wembley. It may sound cliche, but the 49ers are trying not to overlook their opponent. And they have the film to prove it. ''We're trailing Seattle right now, so our mindset is we have to get this one. We're in the hunt, motivation is not a problem,'' 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith said Thursday from the team's training camp outside London. ''(They're) playing for (their) jobs, playing for (their) career. You're putting tape out to prove you belong in this league.'' Looking at the tape (or film), the 49ers see a worthy, hungry opponent in the winless Jaguars. ''When you turn on the film you might have preconceived ideas yourself. But when you look at the film, the film tells you everything,'' said offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who compared Jacksonville's defensive scheming to the Seahawks. ''They are a very dangerous team. While they haven't come up with (any) wins, they are getting better every week.'' For the 49ers, the tape has revealed a dangerous defensive line that applies heavy pressure and delivers clean hits on the quarterback. On the offensive end, getting back in the lineup wide receiver Justin Blackmon has made a difference for the Jaguars, who are also counting on the return of wide receivers Ace Sanders and Stephen Burton. ''They've made a lot of improvements in the last four weeks. The evidence is on the tape when you watch it, and the evidence is there when you look at the stats,'' 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. ''This is the NFL and there is a fine line between winning and losing.'' The 49ers have won four straight and are on a different momentum swing to the Jaguars. But there are other tangibles, such as the Wembley Stadium field, And intangibles — the fatigue from travel — that could sway both teams come Sunday. Both insist they are settling into their surroundings without fault and will be ready. ''It's a far cry from 'Faulty Towers,' '' Roman said of the team's luxury hotel in the countryside, alluding to the British TV sitcom that starred Monty Python's John Cleese as a farcical hotel owner. ''There's rich history here. (But now) we're grinding away. We've been doing nothing much but preparing for the game.'' The effects of travel and another time zone are talked up, but there are some positives to the long flight. ''Fortunately with the iPad to be able to watch tape and an 8 1-2 hour trip gives you some time,'' Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. Regardless of the statistics, the momentum, or the distraction of London, it may all come down to studying the tape. ''I still question how they are 0-7. The more I look at the film the more I'm like 'Wow, they have some playmakers,''' 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. ''They can do some things on offense, so we can't get caught up in the wins and loss records.''