Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/221031
1B Sports Tuesday, December 3, 2013 A's closing in on deal for lefty Kazmir OAKLAND (AP) — A person with knowledge of the negotiations says free-agent left-hander Scott Kazmir is closing in on a $22 million, two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. The new contract would be pending a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the team hadn't finalized the deal or formally announced interest in Kazmir. The 29-year-old Kazmir went 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA in 29 starts and 158 innings last season for the Cleveland Indians. It marked his return to the big leagues for the first time since making one poor outing for the Angels in 2011, which followed a 9-15 performance in 2010 for Los Angeles. With the pending acquisition of Kazmir, the A's have filled a rotation spot with a veteran starter as they had hoped to do. That means the two-time defending AL West champions won't necessarily continue to pursue a new deal for 40year-old 18-game winner Bartolo Colon. Newtown football team won't have to play on Dec. 14 NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — The high school football team in Newtown, Conn., went 12-0 as it dedicated its season to the 26 victims killed in the mass shooting at an elementary school there last year, but faced the possibility of playing for the state championship on the anniversary of the massacre. The Newtown Nighthawks will avoid that overlap. The governing body for school sports in the state, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, announced Monday that it approved Newtown High School's request to hold the Class LL title game on Dec. 13 instead of Dec. 14 if Newtown reaches the championship. On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Adam Lanza, 20, also shot his mother to death earlier in the day and killed himself at the school as police arrived. The Nighthawks will host 9-2 Ridgefield on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. If they win, they'll play in the semifinals Saturday at a location to be announced. The finals will be held Dec. 13-14 at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. The lineups for the finals are usually scheduled after the semifinals, but Newtown wanted to make sure it wouldn't have to play Dec. 14. "The football committee did feel that due to the sensitivity surrounding the Newtown events ... if the school reaches the finals it's appropriate not to ask them to play on that anniversary date," said CIAC spokesman Joel Cookson. NFL at a Glance AFC NFC West West W Denver 10 Kansas City 9 San Diego 5 Raiders 4 East W New England9 Miami 6 N.Y. Jets 5 Buffalo 4 South W Indianapolis 8 Tennessee 5 Jacksonville 3 Houston 2 North W Cincinnati 8 Baltimore 6 Pittsburgh 5 Cleveland 4 L 2 3 7 8 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .833 .750 .417 .333 PF 464 298 279 237 PA 317 214 277 300 L 3 6 7 8 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .750 .500 .417 .333 PF 322 252 189 267 PA 261 248 310 307 L 4 7 9 10 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .667 .417 .250 .167 PF 285 264 174 230 PA 274 267 352 323 L 4 6 7 8 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .667 .500 .417 .333 PF 292 249 263 231 PA 216 235 278 297 Week 13 results Thursday's games Dallas 31, Oakland 24 Detroit 40, Green Bay 10 Baltimore 22, Pittsburgh 20 W 10 8 7 5 L 1 4 5 7 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .909 .667 .583 .417 PF 306 297 275 279 PA 179 197 247 278 W 7 7 5 3 L 5 5 7 9 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .583 .583 .417 .250 PF 329 300 237 269 PA 303 281 297 362 W New Orleans9 Carolina 9 Tampa Bay 3 Atlanta 3 North W Detroit 7 Chicago 6 Green Bay 5 Minnesota 3 L 2 3 9 9 T 0 0 0 0 Pct .818 .750 .250 .250 PF 305 285 217 261 PA 196 157 285 340 L 5 6 6 8 T 0 0 1 1 Pct .583 .500 .458 .292 PF 326 323 294 289 PA 287 332 305 366 Seattle 49ers Arizona St. Louis East Dallas Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Washington South Week 14 schedule Thursday's game Houston at Jacksonville, 5:25 p.m. Sunday's games San Francisco 23, St. Louis 13 Minnesota 23, Chicago 20, OT New England 34, Houston 31 Indianapolis 22, Tennessee 14 Jacksonville 32, Cleveland 28 Carolina 27, Tampa Bay 6 Philadelphia 24, Arizona 21 Miami 23, N.Y. Jets 3 Atlanta 34, Buffalo 31, OT Cincinnati 17, San Diego 10 Denver 35, Kansas City 28 N.Y. Giants 24, Washington 17 Sunday's games Oakland at N.Y. Jets, 10 a.m. Seattle at San Francisco, 1:25 p.m. Atlanta at Green Bay, 10 a.m. Minnesota at Baltimore, 10 a.m. Kansas City at Washington, 10 a.m. Buffalo at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. Miami at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m. Detroit at Philadelphia, 10 a.m. Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Cleveland at New England, 10 a.m. Tennessee at Denver, 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Giants at San Diego, 1:25 p.m. St. Louis at Arizona, 1:25 p.m. Carolina at New Orleans, 5:30 p.m. Monday's Game New Orleans at Seattle, LATE Monday's game Dallas at Chicago, 5:40 p.m. Tehama Tracker Today's schedule BOYS BASKETBALL Pleasant Valley at Red Bluff, 7:30 p.m. Corning at Willows, 7:30 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Willows at Corning, 7:30 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Orland at Corning, 3:15 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Orland at Corning, 3:15 p.m. Sports on TV MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4:15 p.m. ESPN — Indiana at Syracuse ESPN2 — Illinois at Georgia Tech 6:15 p.m. ESPN — Michigan at Duke ESPN2 — Notre Dame at Iowa NHL HOCKEY 5 p.m. NBCSN — Dallas at Chicago SOCCER 11:40 a.m. NBCSN — Premier League, West Ham at Crystal Palace AP photo San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) runs against St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco on Sunday. Back on track, 49ers prepare for rival Seahawks SANTA CLARA (AP) — Donte Whitner realizes how different the San Francisco 49ers are now from the team that got whipped at Seattle in Week 2. He's still plenty bothered by that 29-3 loss to the rival Seahawks, and ready to play them again this Sunday at Candlestick Park and boost San Francisco's position in the playoff picture. "They embarrassed us last time we were there," Whitner said. "We feel like we'll be ready for the test, and it's going to be a really, really big game and we're looking forward to it." The reigning NFC champion Niners (8-4) need every win at this stage — and a victory against firstplace Seattle could put them right back in the division title picture, too. "As much as we want to play these guys and seek revenge, we have to keep our composure and approach the next game like it's the same one we approached last week," tight end Vernon Davis said. "We have to approach it like that." Considering the Seahawks have outscored the 49ers 71-16 in the last two meetings — both wins by Seattle at home — San Francisco's players feel they have something to prove against their biggest NFC nemesis. Whitner called for the defense to continue making key stands and he expects his unit to help decide how the season turns out. The offense is determined to keep doing its part now that things are clicking again for Colin Kaepernick and Co. A 23-13 victory against St. Louis on Sunday gave San Francisco consecutive wins in commanding fashion following a two-game skid, and the offense is on a roll at the perfect time: With the December stretch run ahead, a time coach Jim Harbaugh insists is built only for the tough. "I guess we will find out," defensive tackle Justin Smith said. "We've got Seattle coming in here and they are sitting on top of the division. We are going to be ready for those guys and give them what we've got." Seattle was set to host New Orleans on Monday night, and everybody in San Francisco knows both the 49ers and Seahawks have changed plenty since that Week 2 matchup Sept. 15. "We've changed and I'm sure they've changed in some ways," Harbaugh said. "Not prepared to say in what ways." One way is clear for the 49ers. The passing game is making significant strides, and it helps that Kaepernick has his receiving corps healthy and intact at last. First Mario Manningham returned from a serious knee injury that prematurely ended his 2012 season and made him a Super Bowl spectator, then Michael Crabtree made his season debut Sunday six months after surgery for a torn right Achilles tendon. Crabtree, the top wide receiver last season for San Francisco, had a pair of catches with a 60-yarder and forced the Rams defense to focus on both him and Anquan Boldin. Boldin had nine catches, while Davis caught a 17-yard touchdown pass for No. 50 of his career. Boldin, Crabtree and Kaepernick said they would get together to watch the Saints-Seahawks game Monday night. These three believe they have more big games ahead. "I don't think we're playing at our top level," Boldin said. "I don't think we've played our best football yet. We have some things we have to clean up." With division games down the stretch all the more meaningful, emotions run high. Harbaugh is fine with that, as long as his players make good decisions. "I've never taken the revenge approach," Harbaugh said. "Validation, we want to play well, we want to win. ... Your goal is to win the football game. That's really all-consuming, you want to win." Notes: When asked whether he approves of Davis' high-hurdling move — done twice Sunday — the coach said: "How many have got 40-inch vertical jumps? Just thought Vernon played exceptional."... Harbaugh expects Joe Looney to practice with the first-team offensive line at right guard this week with the possible absence of LT Joe Staley. He went down with a right knee injury early in Sunday's game and Alex Boone moved into his spot. Staley was undergoing further exams Monday. "Wait and see what his exam reveals," Harbaugh said. "Very hopeful, you always hope for the best, plan for the worst." ... LG Mike Iupati also was scheduled for an exam on his sprained left knee that sidelined him the past two games. Steelers see "no intent" in Tomlin's wayward walk PITTSBURGH (AP) — The NFL is still deciding how to discipline Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin for his not-so-fancy footwork. New video, though, shows Tomlin inching closer to the field before Baltimore kickoff returner Jacoby Jones nearly collided with him in last Thursday's 22-20 win by the Ravens. KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh released video Monday indicating Tomlin took a sizable step toward the field as Jones broke into the open, and didn't move until Jones was nearly on top of the coach. Tomlin actually put his right foot on green grass as part of a stutter step move out of harm's way. It wasn't early enough to stop Jones from moving to his right just before being tackled by Pittsburgh's Cortez Allen after a 73yard return. Tomlin was not penalized, though he is facing disciplinary action. Tomlin said following the game he was watching the play unfold on one of the scoreboards and lost his "placement" on the field. "I do it quite often, like everybody else in the National Football League," Tomlin said. "I was wrong, I accept responsibility for it." Steelers safety Ryan Clark defended Tomlin, saying being on the field is common even though rules require players, coaches and support staff to stand behind a large white strip of grass that separates the field from the benches. "I'm always on the field. I sit on the field, but I try to sit on it away from anything," Clark said Monday. The 12-year veteran said he stepped onto the field while Pittsburgh's offense tried a potential tying 2-point conversion against the Ravens in the final minutes "so I could see." Clark added there was no mal- ice in Tomlin's actions. "There was no intent at all," Clark said. "When he noticed he was in the way, he got out of the way. If he tripped (Jones), tackled him, it'd be a different story." The NFL fined the New York Jets $100,000 in 2010 when cameras caught strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi tripping a Miami player on the sideline. Alosi was suspended by the Jets and eventually resigned after the season. Jones said after the game that "if I was (Tomlin), I would do the same thing" and didn't blame the coach for Jones' inability to score. That doesn't mean Jones is ruling out the idea Tomlin knew what he was doing. "Before I got to him, he was halfway on the field," Jones said. "He gave me a little juke, and I tried to juke him."