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Tuesday Little League — Red Bluff vs Petaluma Valley, 6 p.m. MLB— Giants at Phillies, 4 p.m., CSNB MLB —Cubs at Brewers, 5 p.m., WGN MLB— Rays at Athletics, 7 p.m., CSNC Soccer — Juventus vs Club America, 5 p.m., ESPN2 Our boys They were always boys, but now they’re our boys. At some point in the past week the Red Bluff 11-and 12-year-old Little League All-Stars earned the distinction. They’re not the first. They won’t be the last. But as of right now that’s exactly what they are — our boys. It started just with the team’s immediate family, but after win- ning tournaments in Redding and Eureka the questions have spread across the community. How’d our boys do? Did our boys win? The Red Bluff they wear across their young chests Rich Greene isn’t just where they’re from anymore. It’s who they represent. With each homer, with each catch, our boys bring an entire city pride. That brings a smile. Actually many thousands of smiles. You need not know them on a personal level, because you know them in the backdrop of our home town. These are our boys who visit our movie theatre, who attend our schools, who play in our streets. They play what used to be our game. At some point over the years it went from being a game, to being a sport, to being a business of millionaires and their billionaire bosses. Sometimes that pessimistic attitude goes away for awhile. It did last autumn, it may again this fall. Our game can make us feel like boys again. The Red Bluff All-Stars don’t need to feel like boys. They still are. After games they continue to run around. They don’t even need bases. They trade in snow cone catches for actual snow cones. time. Baseball isn’t their past time, it’s just part of their We know our boys in ways we don’t know major league players. We know them as Wesley, as D-Bo, or maybe just as Aaron and Courtney’s kid . We know them as classmates and neighbors. We know them as our boys. Daily News Sports Editor Rich Greene can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 109 or by email at sports@redbluffdailynews.com.Except today where he can be reached at Chico Eastside Little League watching our boys play at 6 p.m.Hope to see you there. (MCT) WASHINGTON — Yes, President Obama fears the beard. He feels a kinship to Tim Lincecum, too, for packing a wallop in spite of his skinny frame. And he wishes the Giants well in their quest to defend their World Series championship — as long as they aren't playing his flagging Chicago White Sox. "Which right now, is not a sure thing," he said, filling the East Room of the White House with laughter. In front of an audience studded with San Francisco's political elite, President Obama saluted the Giants on Monday afternoon, shook hands with the players and accepted gifts that included a No.44 jersey — which Hall of Famer Willie McCov- ey graciously unretired for the occa- sion. "We should do something like this every day," said the President, also holding a black, team-signed bat and a glove. "Look at all this loot." The traditional White House visit marked the last chapter of the President Obama welcomes the San Francisco Giants to the White House, Monday. Giants' history-making 2010 season, when their collection of castoffs, misfits and marvelous pitchers cap- tured the first World Series trophy in 53 seasons of Major League Base- ball in San Francisco. Obama made reference to those colorful terms and latched on to a description by general manager Brian Sabean, who called the cham- pionship roster "a lot of characters with a lot of character." The president lauded efforts by players to support injured troops. He also commended the Giants for being the first major American sports team to make an "It Gets Bet- ter" video, to encourage gay, lesbian and transgender youths who have been the victim of bullying. And he relished the chance to visit once more with Willie Mays, who accompanied him on Air Force One to the All-Star Game two years ago. "Very rarely when I'm on Air Force One am I the second most important guy on there," Obama said. "Everybody was just passing me by — 'Can I get you something, Mr. Mays?'" Giants manager Bruce Bochy had the privilege of escorting the MCT photo Dressed for the occasion. President into the East Room, where he addressed a party of 170 players, See GIANTS, page 2B Finally...it’s over; time to play football WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of public nastiness and private negoti- ations, of court filings and rulings, of players and own- ers squabbling over more than $9 billion a year, NFL fans finally saw the hand- shake and heard the words they awaited: ‘‘Football’s back.’’ NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith both used that phrase while standing shoulder-to-shoulder Mon- day, announcing their agree- ment on a 10-year deal to end the lockout that began in March. Then came what may truly be the lasting image of the dispute’s resolution: Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Jeff Saturday wrapped one of his burly arms around New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and enveloped him in a hug — a gesture that symbolized the acrimony’s end more than any statement could. ‘‘I’d like, on behalf of both sides, to apologize to the fans: For the last five, six months we’ve been talking about the business of foot- ball — and not what goes on, on the field, and building the teams in each market,’’ Kraft said. ‘‘But the end result is we’ve been able to have an agreement that I think is going to allow this sport to flourish over the next decade.’’ Owners can point to vic- tories, such as gaining a higher percentage of all rev- enue, one of the central issues — they get 53 per- cent, players 47 percent; the old deal was closer to 50-50. There’s also a new system that will rein in spending on contracts for first-round draft picks. Players, meanwhile, per- suaded teams to commit to spending nearly all of their salary cap space in cash and won changes to offseason and in-season practice rules that should make the game safer. One important compro- mise came on expanding the regular season from 16 to 18 games, which owners favored. That can be revisit- ed for the 2013 season, but players must approve any change. ‘‘Both parties were trying to stand their ground — and rightfully so,’’ said Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, one of the 10 named plaintiffs in the players’ antitrust suit against the league that will now be dropped. ‘‘In the end, against all the negativi- ty that was out there pub- licly, they took their time and hammered out what I think is going to turn out to be one of the best deals in the history of sports.’’ An interesting choice of phrase, given that Smith and some players grew fond of calling the owners’ last offer before talks fell apart in March ‘‘probably the worst deal in sports history.’’ Here was Smith’s take Monday: ‘‘We didn’t get everything that either side wanted ... but we did arrive at a deal that we think is fair and balanced.’’ Now comes frenzied football activity, starting immediately. Club facilities ‘‘I’d like, on behalf of both sides, to apologize to the fans: For the last five, six months we’ve been talking about the business of football — and not what goes on, on the field, and building the teams in each mar- ket. But the end result is we’ve been able to have an agreement that I think is going to allow this sport to flourish over the next decade.’’ — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft will open to players Tues- day, when 2011 draft picks and rookie free agents can be signed, and teams can begin talking to veteran free agents. Training camps for some teams may begin as soon as Wednesday. ‘‘Chaos,’’ said Jets full- back Tony Richardson, a member of the NFLPA’s executive ‘‘That’s the best word for it.’’ Only one exhibition game was lost: the Hall of Fame opener between the Bears and Rams, scheduled for Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio. Otherwise, the entire pre- season and regular-season schedules remain intact. ‘‘Our players can’t be more excited about going back to doing the thing they love the most,’’ NFLPA president Kevin Mawae said. ‘‘We always said dur- ing this process we would do a deal when it’s right and when it’s the right deal. Our players did that. We stuck it out to the end.’’ When Saturday spoke to reporters, he offered an elo- quent tribute to Kraft, laud- ing him as ‘‘a man who helped us save football,’’ and to Kraft’s wife, Myra, who died Wednesday from cancer. ‘‘A special thanks to Myra Kraft, who even in her weakest moment allowed committee. Mr. Kraft to come and fight this out,’’ Saturday said. ‘‘Without him, this deal does not get done.’’ Kraft, meanwhile, took a verbal jab at the nearby White House and Congress, saying: ‘‘I hope we gave a little lesson to the people in Washington, because the debt crisis is a lot easier to fix than this deal was.’’ Owners overwhelmingly approved a proposal to end the dispute Thursday, but some unresolved issues needed to be reviewed to satisfy players. The sides worked through the week- end and wrapped up nearly every detail by about 3 a.m. Monday on a final pact that runs through the 2020 sea- son and can’t be terminated before then. That’s significant because the old collective bargaining agreement con- tained an opt-out clause, and owners exercised it in 2008. That led to the contract expiring when talks broke down March 11; hours later, owners locked out the play- ers, creating the NFL’s first work stoppage since 1987 — and longest in league his- tory. ‘‘I know it has been a very long process since the day we stood here that night in March,’’ Smith said in a brief appearance about 20 minutes before being joined by Goodell and three own- ers. ‘‘But our guys stood together when nobody thought we would. And football is back because of it.’’ As he spoke, Smith was surrounded by some play- ers, including Saints quarter- back Drew Brees, one of 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust law- suit that players filed against the league March 11. Two unanimous NFLPA leader- ship votes cleared the way for that case to be dropped and the lockout to go away: first, to recommend to the plaintiffs that they accept the settlement; second, to rec- ommend that all 1,900 play- ers re-establish the union. All players now will take a vote to re-certify the union — it was dissolved March 11, turning the NFLPA into a trade association — and then one more vote to approve the final CBA. It all needs to be wrapped up by Aug. 4 to make everything official, something everyone involved believes will hap- pen without a hitch. Only once it is back to being a union can the NFLPA finish the contract, covering remaining items such as player discipline, drug testing, disability pro- grams and pensions. Several people involved in the negotiations praised Goodell and Smith for working with each other to try get the sides to arrive at a deal. ‘‘If we don’t have a good relationship, it hurts the game and the business of football,’’ Smith said. ‘‘I’m not sure any two people have ever come together in a more compressed, public, interesting time than Roger and I.’’ Now get set for a wild week. On Tuesday, clubs can begin talking to veteran free agents, who can sign as soon as Friday. On Wednes- day, training camps will start to open. The major economic framework for the deal was worked out more than a week ago. That included dividing revenue; a per-club cap of about $120 million for salary and bonuses in 2011 — and at least that in 2012 and 2013 — plus about $22 million for bene- fits; a salary system to rein in spending on first-round draft picks; and unrestricted free agency for most players after four seasons. ‘‘If I don’t have to hear the word ’lockout’ for a long time, I’ll be happy about that,’’ Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. ‘‘I know guys are ready to get back to work.’’ MCT photo Sports 1B Presidential congratulations Tuesday July 26, 2011 San Francisco Giants NFL