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2B – Daily News – Wednesday, March 2, 2011 NBAgives Kings extension Spring Training Sacramento Kings By ANTONIO GONZALEZ AP Sports Writer The date is set. The location is still to be deter- mined. The decision on a future home for the Sacramento Kings will be delayed at least another month after the NBA granted the team an extension Tuesday to file an application for relocation next season, setting up a fight between Cal- ifornia cities for the franchise. The Kings, already engaged in talks about moving south to Anaheim, will have the opportunity to discuss their options at the NBA Board of Gover- nors meetings April 14-15. The team has until April 18 to decide if it plans to relocate for next season, getting an extension on the March 1 deadline. ‘‘The likelihood of them leaving is probably greater than them staying, but it’s not a done deal,’’ said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player. Sacramento has struggled for years to build a new facility, which Kings owners Joe, Gavin and George Maloof argue is crucial for the franchise’s long- term financial viability. NBA Commis- sioner David Stern acknowledged dur- ing All-Star weekend that the Kings have had talks with officials in Ana- heim about relocating to its arena. NFL WASHINGTON (AP) — With time running out on the NFL’s labor contract, one team owner — the New York Giants’ John Mara — joined mediated negotia- tions between the league and players Tuesday, and the union won a key court ruling about TV contract money. The sides met for six hours Tuesday. NFL Players Association executive direc- tor DeMaurice Smith and his group left shortly before 8 p.m. — 52 hours before the current collective bar- gaining agreement expires. Mara, the first owner to attend the federal mediation; Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the league’s competition committee; and Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen were among those accompanying NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the eighth day of bargaining overseen by George Cohen. He is the director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a U.S. government agency. ‘‘I don’t think you could have a greater sense of urgency,’’ Jeff Pash, the league’s lead labor negotia- tor, said on his way into the meeting. ‘‘We all know what the calendar is, and we all know what’s at stake for everybody. And that’s why we’re here. We’re going to be here as long as it takes and work as hard as we can work to get something done.’’ Afterward, in keeping with Cohen’s order to stay silent on the mediation, nei- ther the NFL nor the union would discuss whether they fared any better Tuesday than they did during more than 40 hours of meetings spread across seven previ- ous days of mediation. RB (Continued from page 1B) on and one out, Baker was called on in relief. He came in and got the next two batters to fly out to center field to end the inning. After the game, the Red Bluff senior, said he felt more pressure coming into the pitching situation then stepping up to the plate with the bases loaded, because he had more time to think about the former. Before Baker took over the pitching duties, the Spar- tans were using a committee approach on the mound. Stephen Jensen and Tay- lor Figgs both pitched per- fect innings for Red Bluff. Robby Lasby pitched out of a jam in the second inning and Joel Duggins also saw work. The Spartans allowed The Maloofs have since remained steadfastly silent on any possible relo- cation. Johnson pledged that Sacra- mento will do all it can to keep the Kings, even though he admitted the city doesn’t appear to control its fate. ‘‘I think it’s clear they are looking to try to strike or create a deal in Ana- heim,’’ Johnson said at a City Hall news conference shortly after the extension was granted. ‘‘It leads me to believe that if they don’t get a deal, they’ll stay in Sacramento. It’s not the ideal situation that they’re choosing Sacramento. ‘‘It seems like we’ve kind of lost out on where we’d ideally like to be. It’d be great if we were competing with Ana- heim. And if we did this and they did that, we have some say in it. I don’t think Sacramento has a whole lot of say right now.’’ Sacramento fans have been making last-ditch efforts to keep the Kings. Billboards have sprouted up and a social-networking initiative led to a sell-out home crowd in an emotional 105-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Fans made signs, wore body paint and chanted, ‘‘Here we stay,’’ while the Maloof brothers sat courtside. Sacramento’s Arco Arena officially became Power Balance Pavilion on Tuesday in a sponsor swap that had already been planned. The primary exterior signs are on hold pending the When that round ended Thursday, Cohen said the parties still had ‘‘very strong differences’’ on the ‘‘all- important core issues.’’ Mediation will resume Wednesday, when union president Kevin Mawae is expected to be in Washing- ton. He has yet to sit in on this round of talks. The CBA runs out at midnight as Thursday becomes Friday on the East Coast, and the owners could lock out the players after- ward. The union could also decertify — essentially, declare itself out of the busi- ness of representing players. The players would then give up their rights under labor law and take their chances in court under antitrust law. Whatever happens this week could cause the coun- try’s most popular sport to lose regular-season games to a work stoppage for the first time since 1987. Or, per- haps, everything could be resolved by management and labor in an industry with revenues topping $9 billion annually. Buffalo Bills safe- ty George Wilson — who’s not involved in the negotia- tions but is getting updates from the union as his team’s NFLPA representative — doesn’t expect a new deal by the deadline. ‘‘Everything I’m telling my guys is: Prepare this Fri- day for the start of a lock- out,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘I cer- tainly don’t believe a deal will be reached by Thursday midnight. That’s what I feel in my heart. I have not received any indication (from the union) that we’re close to a deal.’’ In a ruling Tuesday that could have a significant bearing on the talks, U.S. District Court judge David Doty in Minneapolis sided with the union by overruling a special master’s Feb. 1 decision to reject the NFLPA’s request that $4 bil- four hits as a team. Modesto Ramirez, who caught the game behind the plate for the Spartans, may have also had Red Bluff’s most productive hitting game. The junior drew three walks in his three plate appearances. “Whatever it takes to get on base,” Ramirez said. West Valley pitchers Blade Adkins and Harman issued a combined six walks plus an intentional pass dur- ing the game, but Red Bluff couldn’t capitalize until the seventh. Taylor Figgs and Jorge Caldera also drew walks for the Spartans. “Our approach at the plate has to improve,” Gal- laty said. “Our intensity for seven innings has to improve.” The win extended the outcome of the Kings’ potential move. Johnson said he plans to meet with the Maloofs and speak with Stern again this week. He said he already has spoken with Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and it was clear that the Southern Cali- fornia city is making a hard push for the Kings. ‘‘I’m wishing them ill will, let me be clear,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘We’re wish- ing them ill will. I told that to the Ana- heim mayor in a delicate way last week. I am rooting against him.’’ California’s cash-strapped capital city will have to move quickly if it plans to remain an NBA destination. Anaheim has been searching for an NBA team to share the Honda Center with the NHL’s Ducks practically since the former Arrowhead Pond opened in 1993, flirting with the Clippers before owner Donald Sterling chose to move into Staples Center in 1999. Honda Center has been meticulously main- tained and improved over the years, with excellent sight lines for basketball and 83 luxury suites, compared to just 30 suites in Sacramento’s arena. A message left at Tait’s office seek- ing comment was not immediately returned. Johnson said Sacramento will work to build a new sports arena with or without the Kings. ‘‘If they’re not here,’’ Johnson said, ‘‘we’re going to build a new sports and entertainment complex and put some- body else in that facility.’’ NFLlabor deadline nears; union wins in court lion in 2011 payments from networks to the league be placed in escrow if there is a lockout. Doty, who has jurisdic- tion over NFL labor matters, said there will be a hearing to determine what should happen to that money. The date of the hearing wasn’t announced immediately. The NFL played down the importance of Doty’s decision. The union issued a statement calling it ‘‘irrefutable evidence that owners had a premeditated plan to lock out players and fans for more than two years.’’ As he left Tuesday’s mediation, Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday called Doty’s ruling a ‘‘real- ly good reversal.’’ ‘‘I’m sure we’ll hear more tonight,’’ Saturday, a member of the NFLPA executive committee, told The Associated Press. ‘‘But it sounds very favorable.’’ The union accused the NFL of structuring TV con- tracts agreed to in 2009 and 2010 so owners would be guaranteed money even if there were a work stoppage in 2011 — while not getting the most revenue possible in other seasons, when income would need to be shared with players. The union argued this violated an agreement between the sides that says the NFL must make good- faith efforts to maximize revenue for players. The NFLPA also said any work stoppage clauses in TV deals guaranteed ‘‘war chest’’ income for the NFL, giving it an unfair advantage in labor talks. The biggest sticking point all along has been how to divide the league’s rev- enues, including what cut team owners should get up front to help cover certain costs, such as stadium con- struction. Under the old Spartans’ home winning streak to 12. “We’re not disappointed,” Baker said of his team’s play. “We just need to focus in on more key things and stay ‘locked in’ in the game.” Next up for the Spartans is the Central Valley Pre- Season Classic beginning Thursday. Red Bluff returns home March 8 to take on Foothill at 3 p.m. NCAA Tuesday’s Top 25 results No. 1 Ohio State 82, Penn State 61 No. 6 Purdue 75, Illinois 67 No. 9 San Diego State 85, Wyoming 58 No. 14 Florida 78, Alabama 51 No.20 Kentucky 68, No.21 Vanderbilt 66 Nebraska 69, No. 22 Missouri 58 Today’s Top 25 games No.2 Kan.vs.No.24 Tex A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN2 No. 3 BYU vs. New Mexico, 7 p.m. No. 4 Pittsburgh at South Florida, 6 p.m. No. 4 Duke vs. Clemson, 6 p.m., ESPN No. 11 Louisville vs. Providence, 4 p.m. No.13 N.Carolina at Florida St., 4 p.m., ESPN No.16 UConn at West Vir., 4 p.m., ESPN2 No. 23 Xavier vs. Charlotte, 4 p.m. No.25 Utah St.at N.Mexico St., 8 p.m., ESPN2 deal, owners got $1 billion off the top. They entered these negotiations seeking to double that. Among the other significant topics: a rookie wage scale; the own- ers’ push to expand the reg- ular season from 16 games to 18 while reducing the pre- season by two games; and benefits for retired players. ‘‘What’s the word we’re using right now? ’Cautious- ly optimistic,’’’ Seattle Sea- hawks guard Chester Pitts said after attending the first 3 1/2 hours of Tuesday’s negotiations. ‘‘We’re mak- ing a point to go into it doing all we can to do things the right way, and hopefully we get a deal done.’’ Asked about Mara’s presence, Pitts said: ‘‘He’s a businessman, and business- men like to make money. So sometimes you’ve got to come, make sure you’re hovering around, make sure everything’s being done to get a deal done. And I’m pretty sure he’ll say he had that sense.’’ The 32 teams’ owners are scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday at a hotel in Chantilly, Va., for updates on the status of negotiations. And then they will need to determine their next step. NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Lakers WL Pct GB 43 19 .694 — Phoenix 31 27 .534 10 WARRIORS 26 33 .441 15.5 Clippers 21 40 .344 21.5 KINGS 15 43 .259 26 Southwest Division WL Pct GB San Antonio 49 11 .817 — Dallas 44 16 .733 5 New Orleans35 27 .565 15 Memphis 34 28 .548 16 Houston 30 31 .492 19.5 Northwest Division WL Pct GB Okla. City 36 22 .621 — Denver 35 26 .574 2.5 Portland 33 26 .559 3.5 Utah 32 29 .525 5.5 Minnesota 14 47 .230 23.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL Pct GB Boston 43 15 .741 — New York 30 28 .517 13 Philadelphia 30 30 .500 14 New Jersey 17 43 .283 27 Toronto 17 44 .279 27.5 Southeast Division WL Pct GB 43 17 .717 — Miami Orlando 39 22 .639 4.5 Atlanta 36 24 .600 7 Charlotte 26 33 .441 16.5 Washington 15 44 .254 27.5 Central Division WL Pct GB Chicago 41 17 .707 — Indiana 27 32 .458 14.5 Milwaukee 23 36 .390 18.5 Detroit 22 40 .355 21 Cleveland 11 48 .186 30.5 ————————————————— Tuesday’s results Indiana 109, Golden State 100 Dallas 101, Philadelphia 93 L.A. Lakers 90, Minnesota 79 Memphis 109, San Antonio 93 Milwaukee 92, Detroit 90 Orlando 116, New York 110 Toronto 96, New Orleans 90 Houston at Portland, 7 p.m. Today’s games Golden State at Washington,4 p.m.,CSNB Portland at Sacramento, 7 p.m.,CSNC Chicago at Atlanta, 4 p.m. San Antonio at Cleveland, 4 p.m. Minnesota at Detroit, 4:30 p.m. New Orleans at New York, 4:30 p.m. Phoenix at Boston, 4:30 p.m., NBATV Indiana at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m. Charlotte at Denver, 6 p.m. Houston at L.A.Clippers, 7:30 p.m., NBATV Monday’s late result Sacramento 105, L.A. Clippers 99 Chi. Cubs 3 Giants 2 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tim Lincecum made up for his shaky first start. He pitched three hitless innings for San Francisco in his second spring training outing start before Aramis Ramirez hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in a three-run sixth that led the Chicago Cubs over the Giants 3-2 Tuesday. Lincecum struck out two and allowed only one runner to reach: Starlin Castro on an error by shortstop Miguel Tejada. ‘‘My location was better and I was mixing my pitches back in and out,’’ Lincecum said. ‘‘I didn’t throw too many off-speed pitches. My rhythm felt quick the first two innings, and then I was able to calm it down in the third.’’ Lincecum gave up three runs and five hits in 1 2-3 innings in his first start, against Arizona. He’s looking forward to having a full spring to work with catcher Buster Posey after veteran Bengie Molina yielded to Posey last year. ‘‘Since he came up in the middle of last season all the way until now, I have felt comfortable with him,’’ Lincecum said. ‘‘I feel as comfortable with him now as I was with Bengie.’’ Cubs starter Ryan Dempster gave up one run, two hits and a walk in three innings, striking out three. Pablo Sandoval had a second-inning, opposite-field RBI double to left, then doubled off the batter’s eye 430 feet away in center in the fourth. Sandoval has five RBIs and eight hits thus far, including two doubles and two home runs. Chicago won for the first time in three spring training games this year. Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster started and gave up a run on two hits, walked one and struck out three in three innings. Chicago Right-hander Todd Wellemeyer, the Giants’ fifth starter a year ago and now is in his second tour of duty with the Cubs, gave up one hit in two innings and struck out two and got the win. The Giants got within a run in the eighth on a single by Thomas Neal, and had a chance to tie it in the ninth before Esmalin Caridad got the save. With two outs and the tying run at third, Brandon Belt pulled a line drive that right fielder Jim Adduci caught at the last moment with the sun in his eyes. Cincinnati (ss) 7 Athletics 6 PHOENIX (AP) — Any young first baseman in the Cincinnati Reds’ organiza- tion knows the path to the big leagues usually requires a detour. With reigning MVP Joey Votto a fixture at first base in Cincinnati, Yonder Alonso has been spending time this spring learning to play the outfield. The Reds are eager to find any way to get Alonso into the majors because of swings like the one he took on Tuesday. Alonso hit a two-run homer in the Reds’ 7-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics. It was his first homer of the spring. Alonso’s two-run homer, off A’s lefty Brett Anderson, followed Jonny Gomes’ two-run shot earlier in the fourth inning, giving the Reds a 4-1 lead. The Reds did not have a batter reach base in the first three innings, striking out five times in the first two innings against A’s lefty Gio Gonzalez. ‘‘He was amazing,’’ Oak- land manager Bob Geren said. ‘‘He threw 95 and was NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division WL OT Pts GF GA SHARKS 36 21 6 78 178 162 Phoenix 33 22 10 76 186 189 Kings Dallas Ducks 35 24 4 74 178 156 34 23 6 74 174 177 33 25 5 71 176 186 Central Division Detroit WL OT Pts GF GA 39 18 6 84 213 183 Chicago 34 23 6 74 202 173 Nashville 32 23 9 73 162 153 Columbus 31 24 6 68 170 181 St. Louis 28 26 9 65 173 186 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 39 15 9 87 208 150 Calgary 33 23 9 75 196 182 Minnesota 33 24 6 72 165 166 Colorado 26 30 7 59 183 217 Edmonton 21 35 8 50 160 212 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA Philadelphia 40 16 6 86 203 159 Pittsburgh 37 21 6 80 187 159 N.Y.Rangers 33 28 4 70 181 160 New Jersey 27 31 4 58 132 164 N.Y.Islanders 23 32 9 55 173 207 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Boston 37 19 7 81 195 148 Montreal 34 23 7 75 168 165 Buffalo 30 25 7 67 179 179 Toronto 27 27 9 63 164 193 Ottawa 21 33 9 51 143 201 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Tampa Bay 37 18 7 81 191 190 Washington 34 20 10 78 170 162 Carolina 30 25 9 69 186 194 Atlanta 26 27 11 63 179 208 Florida 26 30 7 59 160 173 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ————————————————— Tuesday’s results Colorado at San Jose, late Boston 1, Ottawa 0 Buffalo 3, N.Y. Rangers 2 Calgary 6, St. Louis 0 Carolina 2, Florida 1 Columbus at Vancouver, late Dallas 3, Phoenix 2 Edmonton 2, Nashville 1, SO Montreal 3, Atlanta 1 Washington 2, N.Y. Islanders 1, OT Today’s games Minnesota at N.Y. Islanders, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at Toronto, 4 p.m., VS Tampa Bay at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Calgary at Chicago, 6 p.m. Detroit at Anaheim, 7 p.m. Monday’s late result Detroit 7, Los Angeles 4 hitting his spots. He had a great curve ball. Very impressive. A very nice first game.’’ Gonzalez threw first- pitch strikes to all six batters he faced. He said that was a point of emphasis for him this spring. Last year, even though he had a 15-victory season, he still issued 4.1 walks per nine innings, highest among A’s starters. ‘‘That’s a good hitting lineup,’’ Gonzalez said. ‘‘You don’t want to fall behind. You want to get ahead and put them away quickly before they start a rally.’’ Oakland’s two new free- agent relievers, Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour, each made their debuts. Fuentes pitched a scoreless inning and Balfour gave up three runs. A’s designated hitter Chris Carter, one of the club’s top hitting prospects, had two hits and an RBI. Trailing 7-1, Oakland scored five runs in the final three innings to get within a run. MLB Spring Training AMERICAN LEAGUE WL Pct Detroit Baltimore 2 0 1.000 Seattle Los Angeles 3 1 .750 Boston Texas 12 .333 1 2 .333 5 0 1.000 2 0 1.000 2 1 .667 Cleveland 2 1 .667 Kansas City 2 1 .667 Minnesota 1 2 .333 A’s New York 1 3 .250 Tampa Bay 1 3 .250 Chicago 0 2 .000 Toronto 0 4 .000 NATIONALLEAGUE WL Pct Colorado 3 0 1.000 Washington 2 0 1.000 Atlanta 2 1 .667 Milwaukee 2 1 .667 Pittsburgh 3 2 .600 GIANTS 32 .600 Cincinnati 2 2 .500 Philadelphia 2 2 .500 Florida 1 1 .500 St. Louis 1 1 .500 Los Angeles 2 3 .400 Chicago 1 2 .333 New York 1 2 .333 Arizona 1 4 .200 Houston 0 2 .000 San Diego 0 2 .000 NOTE: Split-squad games count in the standings; games against non-major league teams do not. ————————————————— Tuesday’s results Chicago Cubs 3, San Francisco 2 Cincinnati (ss) 7, Oakland 6 Atlanta 3, Houston 0 Baltimore 12, Tampa Bay 6 Boston 5, Minnesota 0 Cleveland 2, L.A. Dodgers 1 Colorado 7, Arizona 4 Detroit (ss) 6, Philadelphia 2 Detroit (ss) 6, Toronto 2 Kansas City 4, San Diego 3 L.A. Angels 2, Cincinnati (ss) 1 Milwaukee 3, Chicago White Sox 1 Pittsburgh 2, N.Y.Yankees 0 Seattle 5, Texas 4 St. Louis 7, Florida 1 Washington 5, N.Y.Mets 3 Today’s games Cleveland vs. Oakland, 12:05 p.m. Arizona (ss) vs.San Francisco,6:05 p.m. Atlanta vs.Boston, 10:05 a.m. Baltimore vs. Philadelphia, 10:05 a.m. Florida vs.Washington, 10:05 a.m. Houston (ss) vs. Detroit, 10:05 a.m. Hou.(ss) vs.N.Y.Yankees, 10:05 a.m., MLBN Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh, 10:05 a.m. N.Y. Mets vs. St. Louis, 10:05 a.m. Tampa Bay vs.Toronto, 10:05 a.m. Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee, 12:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox vs.Cincinnati, 12:05 p.m. Colorado vs. San Diego, 12:05 p.m. Kansas City vs. L.A. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m. L.A. Angels vs.Texas, 12:05 p.m. Seattle vs.Arizona (ss), 12:10 p.m.