Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/49185
2B Daily News – Friday, December 2, 2011 US soccer team to host Venezuela, play at Panama CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. soccer team will start its 2012 schedule with an exhibition against Venezuela at Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 21, then play at Panama four days later. The games announced Thursday are not on FIFA fixture dates, meaning the U.S. will field players from Major League Soccer and Scandinavian clubs on winter break. The team will prepare with a training camp, most likely in Arizona and Carson, Calif. Getting ready for the start of World Cup quali- fying on June 8, the Americans also are discussing playing a Feb. 29 exhibition at Italy, which would be on a FIFA date. The U.S., 2-4-1 since Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley, is in a semifinal group with Antigua and Barbuda, Guatemala and Jamaica. The top two nations advance to the regional finals in 2013. Raiders Oakland Miami Dolphins OAKLAND (7-4) At MIAMI (3-8) OPENING LINE — Dolphins by 2 1/2 RECORD VS. SPREAD — Oakland 7-3-1; Miami 6-5 SERIES RECORD — Raiders lead 19-14-1 LAST MEETING — Dolphins beat Raiders 33- 17, Nov. 28, 2010 LAST WEEK — Raiders beat Bears 25-20; Dol- phins lost at Cowboys 20-19 RAIDERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (12), RUSH (4), PASS (18) RAIDERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (27), RUSH (27), PASS (19) DOLPHINS OFFENSE — OVERALL (21), RUSH (16), PASS (23) DOLPHINS DEFENSE — OVERALL (16), RUSH (7), PASS (24) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Dolphins have won eight of past nine regular-season meet- ings dating back to 1997. ... Raiders outscored by 49 points in fourth quarter, most in NFL. Dolphins outscored by 33, fifth-worst. ... Oakland's Carson Palmer has passer rating of 34.8 in fourth quarter — 40th and last in league. In first half his rating is 105.4. ... Raiders lead NFL with 62 plays of at least 20 yards. That includes league-high 19 runs. ... Oakland tied for league lead with 14 rushing touch- downs. ... Shane Lechler leads league with average of 51.5 yards per punt. ... Raiders allowing 5.3 yards per rush, most in NFL. ... In seven games against Raiders, Jason Taylor has nine sacks and four forced fumbles. ... Taylor will appear in 200th game with Miami, second only to Dan Marino's 242. ... Miami's Matt Moore had league's third- highest passer rating in November at 112.7. ... Dol- phins 0-6 against teams that have winning record this week. ... Dolphins rookie Daniel Thomas aver- aging 2.9 yards a carry since first two games, when he averaged 4.9. St. Louis Rams Sunday 1:15 p.m. San Francisco 49ers ST. LOUIS (2-9) At SAN FRANCISCO (9-2) OPENING LINE — 49ers by 13 RECORD VS. SPREAD — St. Louis 2-9; San Fran- cisco 9-1-1 SERIES RECORD — Rams lead 61-60-2 LAST MEETING — Rams beat 49ers 25-17, Dec. 27, 2010 LAST WEEK — Rams lost to Cardinals 23-20; 49ers lost to Ravens 16-6 RAMS OFFENSE — OVERALL (29), RUSH (21), PASS (26) PASS (8) PASS (29) PASS (21) RAMS DEFENSE — OVERALL (21), RUSH (32), 49ERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (26), RUSH (7), 49ERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (7), RUSH (1), STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — 49ers had won five straight before losing at St. Louis in second-to- last week of 2010 season. After that game, coach Mike Singletary was fired, which led to hiring of Jim Har- baugh in January. ... Harbaugh would join George Seifert (1989) and Steve Mariucci (1997) as only rook- ie coaches in franchise history to win NFC West in first year. ... Niners are unbeaten in last nine home games vs. NFC West. ... Nick Miller's 88-yard punt return for TD last week against Arizona was Rams' first since 85- yarder by Dante Hall on Sept. 30, 2007 at Dallas. ... Rams' last-place run defense allowed Cardinals' Beanie Wells to set franchise mark with 228 yards rushing on 27 carries — St. Louis' second time this year giving up a career day to an opponent. Rams also allowed 253 yards to Dallas' DeMarco Murray in Week 6. ... Over last eight games, 49ers defense has held opponents to seven TDs in 20 red-zone possessions. ... San Francis- co's current 11-game streak without allowing rushing TD ranks tied for first in NFL since 1970 for most con- secutive games not allowing rushing TD at any point in a single season. ... RB Frank Gore (7,323) needs 22 yards rushing to pass late Hall of Famer Joe Perry (7,344) for most in franchise history. ... 49ers defense has not allowed TD in first half in each of past five games, which is longest streak in franchise history and most in NFL since Dallas Cowboys had five consecutive games doing so in 2008. Sunday 10 a.m. Warriors get back to work OAKLAND (AP) — New Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson started to explain his plan for a short- ened training camp when general man- ager Larry Riley's phone rang. ''I hope that's a couple of free agents,'' Jackson joked. Riley laughed, placed the phone back in his coat pocket and whispered that it ''wasn't easy'' to ignore the call. The two finished talking with reporters and, before they could return to the bas- ketball operations offices, the phone started ringing again. Welcome back. ''All of the other things to building a great franchise have taken place, but we haven't been able to do much with basketball,'' Riley said. ''So now, so to speak, it's time to go.'' While the reconstructed Warriors management returned to Oracle Arena on Thursday, most players are not expected at the team's practice facility in downtown Oakland — now open again — until next week. Preparations for their return are already under way. Riley has been busy fielding calls about potential moves. New assistant general manager and eventual succes- sor Bob Myers took a flight to Los Angeles to talk to agents at his old stomping grounds at the Wasserman Media Group and new executive board member Jerry West stayed in contact with everybody. Just don't expect any major changes anytime soon. Although trade talk has surrounded leading scorer Monta Ellis for years, breaking up the point guard tandem with Stephen Curry still seems an unlikely possibility at the moment. Riley said he will do his ''due dili- gence'' exploring possibilities with the roster but doesn't anticipate a major overhaul before the season begins Dec. 25. ''What's the likelihood the roster will be near the same with some addi- tions on opening day? Very likely,'' Riley said. The statement seemed to indicate Jackson will be working with the same incomplete roster as his predecessor, Keith Smart, ousted after one year as a fill-in coach under the new ownership group headed by Joe Lacob that has promised sweeping changes to the underachieving franchise. The Warriors have made the play- offs just once since 1994. About the only success the franchise has enjoyed is that long-suffering fans in the basket- ball-crazy Bay Area still regularly pack the arena and can be as vocal as any in a market saturated with sports teams. Ellis, Curry and forward David Lee are the core of a Golden State team that finished 36-46 last season, a 10-game improvement from the previous year. While moving one of the three will likely be necessary for any overhaul, doing so under the rushed offseason free agency will be tough. In time, Riley believes bigger changes will come. ''Now will tomorrow or next week show a lot of change? It could be, because we don't know exactly what we're dealing with and what additions we're making to the team,'' Riley said. ''But this organization has a lot of con- fidence that our future is good. And I'm not talking about 10 years from now. We're not talking about that. We're talking about short-term future.'' Then he turned to Jackson and mut- tered, ''I hope you agree with that.'' ''Absolutely,'' Jackson replied. ''I wouldn't be sitting here. Somebody else would be sitting here.'' The first-time head coach has his own obstacles to overcome. The only preaching Jackson could do all summer and fall is at his ministry in the Los Angeles area. He held meet- ings with his new coaching staff in Oakland and a ''boot-camp'' style one in Southern California one week to overload them with information. ''I think it would've been a night- mare if we didn't have basketball back,'' Jackson said. Training camps are scheduled to open Dec. 9, under the parameters that a new collective bargaining agreement will be ratified in time. In the mean- time, Jackson and his coaching staff are not permitted to have any contact with players who might be hanging around the facilities. Jackson is using the time wisely. He stopped by the San Francisco 49ers headquarters to speak with Jim Harbaugh this week and has another meeting in the works with Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson. The first- year NFL head coaches have had remarkable success in turning around the two Bay Area football franchises, and they did so despite a work stop- page that shortened training camp. Jackson hopes to duplicate the suc- cess on the hardwood. ''The reason I wanted to do it is because of the great success both those guys have had in changing the culture. Great leaders. They've turned things around. They've made it the same things that I look forward to making this — team, we, collective, buy in or you're out, having fun,'' Jackson said. ''Neither one of those coaches used a shortened preparation time as an excuse,'' he said. ''Neither one of those staffs. And we won't either.'' McClain arrested on assault charges DECATUR, Ala. (AP) — Oakland Raiders line- backer Rolando McClain was arrested Thursday on misdemeanor assault, firearms and other charges after police said he fired a gun during a fight in his Alabama hometown. McClain, 22, held a gun beside a man's head during an altercation and the man begged him not to shoot, according to a statement released by Lt. John Crouch of the Decatur Police Department. McClain, an All Ameri- can at Alabama during his junior year, moved the gun but fired a round beside the man's ear, according to the statement. No one was shot, but police said a man who was injured in the alterca- tion drove himself to a hos- pital, where he was treated and released. McClain was released on $2,000 bond. He faces charges of assault, menac- ing, reckless endangerment and firing a gun inside the city limits. Another man identified as Jerradius Will- ingham, 23, was charged with assault and released after posting a $500 bond. Court records weren't immediately available to show whether McClain had hired a defense attorney. The Raiders had no com- ment. McClain's agent, Pat Dye Jr., did not immediate- ly return a telephone call seeking comment Raiders coach Hue Jack- son said McClain was in Alabama for the funeral of his grandfather. Speaking before the arrest, he said McClain would play Sun- day at Miami ''as far as I know.'' ''I can tell you we under- stand and know exactly what's going on, and we feel very comfortable with NCAA FOOTBALL Top 25 Schedule Thursday's result No. 22 West Virginia at USF, late Today's game No. 8 Oregon vs. UCLA Pac-12 championship, 4:30 p.m. Saturday's games No. 1 LSU vs. No. 12 Georgia SEC championship at Atlanta, 1 p.m. No. 3 Okla. St. vs.No.13 Oklahoma, 5 p.m. No. 5 Virginia Tech vs. No. 21 Clemson ACC championship at Charlotte, N.C., 5 p.m. No. 7 Houston vs. No. 24 Southern Miss CUSA championship, 9 a.m. No. 9 Boise State vs. New Mexico, 3 p.m. No. 11 Michigan St. vs. No. 15 Wisconsin Big Ten championship at Indianapolis, 4:30 p.m. No. 16 Kansas St. vs. Iowa St., 9:30 a.m. No. 18 TCU vs. UNLV, 11:30 a.m. No. 19 Baylor vs. Texas, 12:30 p.m. our information and we don't have any further com- ment at this time,'' Jackson said. McClain is the Raiders' second-leading tackler this season after joining the team as the eighth overall pick in 2010. Although he struggled as a rookie, the 6- foot-3-inch, 255-pounder had developed into a center- piece of Oakland's defense this season despite being slowed by a sore left ankle. Earlier this year McClain, the 2009 Butkus Award winner at Alabama, reported someone in Decatur shooting at his vehicle. There wasn't any indication whether the two incidents were related. Police said the victim, whose name was not released, suffered injuries to his head and face during a fight with Willingham. He was bleeding when officers talked to him. ''The victim told officers that following the fight, he crawled to his car,'' the police statement said. ''He said that when he reached his car, Rolando McClain produced a pistol and aimed it at him. He said that while he was still on the ground, McClain walked over to him and put the gun to his head.'' Police said the victim told officers ''he begged McClain not to shoot him and that McClain took the gun away from his head, held it next to his ear and fired it.'' McClain was facing legal problems in Alabama before his arrest. A University of Alaba- ma student sued McClain in November 2010 claiming the former Crimson Tide star hit him with a car and assaulted him in 2008. Stan- ford Matthew Mangham NCAA HOOPS Top 25 Schedule Thursday's results No. 1 Kentucky 81, St. John's 59 No.12 Alabama vs. Georgetown, late Today's games No. 4 Syracuse vs.No. 10 Florida, 3:30 p.m. No.6 Louisville vs.No.20 Vanderbilt, 5:30 p.m. No. 13 Missouri vs. Northwestern St., 5 p.m. Saturday's games No.1 Kentucky vs.No.5 North Carolina, 9 a.m. No. 2 Ohio St. vs.Tex-Pan American, 9 a.m. No. 8 UConn vs. Arkansas at the XL Center, Hartford, Conn., 12:15 p.m. No.9 Wisconsin vs.No.16 Marquette, 1:30 p.m. No. 11 Xavier vs. Purdue, Noon No. 14 Michigan vs. Iowa State, 9 a.m. No. 15 Kansas vs. S. Florida, 2:15 p.m. No. 17 Pittsburgh at Tennessee, 2:15 p.m. No. 19 Gonzaga at Illinois, 12:15 p.m. No. 21 Miss. St. vs.West Virginia, 6 p.m. No.22 Memphis vs.Austin Peay, 5:30 p.m. No. 23 Saint Louis vs.Portland, 5 p.m. No.25 Texas A&M vs.Stephen F.Austin, 5 p.m. Sunday's games No. 7 Baylor at Northwestern, 1 p.m. No. 18 UNLV at Wichita State, 1:05 p.m. No. 24 California at San Diego St., 2 p.m. filed suit in circuit court in Morgan County, where Decatur is located. Mangham claims McClain intentionally hit him twice at an intersection on Nov. 13, 2008 and then slung Mangham to the ground, causing permanent injuries. He is seeking $75,000 plus punitive dam- ages. McClain's attorneys filed documents in court denying the student's claims. That case is set for trial June 5. McClain's ankle injury forced him to miss the Raiders' 38-24 loss to Den- ver on Nov. 6 when the Broncos ran for 299 yards, 118 from quarterback Tim Tebow. McClain reinjured his ankle on the first play of the second half in last week's 25-20 win over Chicago but came back later NFL AFC West WL T Pct PF PA RAIDERS 74 0 .636 260 274 Denver 6 5 0 .545 221 260 Kansas City 4 7 0 .364 153 265 Chargers 4 7 0 .364 249 275 East WL T Pct PF PA N. England 8 3 0 .727 331 223 N.Y. Jets 6 5 0 .545 256 241 Buffalo 5 6 0 .455 261 281 Miami South Houston 8 3 0 .727 293 179 Tennessee 6 5 0 .545 226 212 Jacksonville 3 8 0 .273 138 200 Indianapolis 0 11 0 .000 150 327 North WL T Pct PF PA Baltimore 8 3 0 .727 272 182 Pittsburgh 8 3 0 .727 233 188 Cincinnati 7 4 0 .636 259 215 Cleveland 4 7 0 .364 165 216 NFC West WL T Pct PF PA 49ERS 92 0 .818 262 161 Seattle 4 7 0 .364 185 232 Arizona 4 7 0 .364 213 256 St. Louis 2 9 0 .182 140 270 East Dallas WL T Pct PF PA 7 4 0 .636 270 225 N.Y. Giants 6 5 0 .545 252 277 Philadelphia 4 7 0 .364 257 251 Washington 4 7 0 .364 183 222 South WL T Pct PF PA N. Orleans 8 3 0 .727 362 252 Atlanta 7 4 0 .636 259 227 Tampa Bay 4 7 0 .364 199 291 Carolina 3 8 0 .273 252 305 North WL T Pct PF PA Green Bay 11 0 0 1.000382 227 Chicago 7 4 0 .636 288 232 Detroit 7 4 0 .636 316 246 Minnesota 2 9 0 .182 214 295 —————————————————— Week 13 Thursday's result Philadelphia at Seattle, late Sunday's games Oakland at Miami, 10 a.m. St. Louis at San Francisco, 1:15 p.m. Atlanta at Houston, 10 a.m. Carolina at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m. Denver at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Indianapolis at New England, 10 a.m. Kansas City at Chicago, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at Washington, 10 a.m. Tennessee at Buffalo, 10 a.m. Baltimore at Cleveland, 1:05 p.m. Dallas at Arizona, 1:15 p.m. Green Bay at N.Y. Giants, 1:15 p.m. Detroit at New Orleans, 5:20 p.m. Monday's game San Diego at Jacksonville, 5:30 p.m. 3 8 0 .273 212 206 WL T Pct PF PA to finish the game. Since McClain's return, Oakland has won three straight to take a one-game lead in the AFC West head- ing into Sunday's game at Miami. Raiders veteran running back Rock Cartwright said he intends to talk to McClain about his situation whenever the linebacker returns to the team. ''All you can do is tell them things, try to give them help, but if they don't want to be helped, then they won't be helped,'' Cartwright said. ''Once he gets back, I'll try to put a bug in his ear and see what's going on.'' McClain signed a $40 million, five-year contract that included $23 million in guarantees with the Raiders on July 28, 2010. NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division WL OT Pts GF GA Phoenix 13 7 3 29 65 57 Dallas 14 9 1 29 62 65 Kings SHARKS 13 7 1 27 60 48 Ducks Central Division WL OT Pts GF GA Detroit 15 7 1 31 69 51 Chicago 14 8 3 31 80 78 St. Louis 14 8 2 30 59 50 Nashville 11 9 4 26 60 63 Columbus 6 15 3 15 55 79 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA Minnesota 15 7 3 33 60 55 Vancouver 14 9 1 29 73 60 Edmonton 12 10 3 27 67 63 Colorado 11 13 1 23 68 74 Calgary 10 12 1 21 51 60 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 15 7 4 34 82 64 N.Y. Rangers14 5 3 31 65 49 Philadelphia13 7 3 29 80 68 New Jersey 12 10 1 25 58 64 N.Y. Islanders 7 11 4 18 43 69 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Boston 15 7 1 31 81 50 Toronto 14 9 2 30 82 81 Buffalo 13 10 1 27 68 63 Ottawa 12 10 2 26 75 83 Montreal 10 11 4 24 62 64 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Florida 13 7 4 30 67 60 Washington 12 11 1 25 72 77 Tampa Bay 11 11 2 24 65 76 Winnipeg 9 11 4 22 70 80 Carolina 8 15 4 20 64 91 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. —————————————————— Thursday's results Montreal at San Jose, late N.Y. Rangers 5, Carolina 3 Pittsburgh 2, Washington 1 Columbus at Calgary, late Florida at Los Angeles, late Nashville at Vancouver, late Ottawa at Dallas, late Phoenix at Winnipeg, late Today's games Detroit at Buffalo, 4:30 p.m. New Jersey at Minnesota, 5 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. St. Louis at Colorado, 6 p.m. Columbus at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Anaheim, 7 p.m. Saturday's Games Florida at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. Montreal at Los Angeles, 12:30 p.m. New Jersey at Winnipeg, 4 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m. Ottawa at Washington, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at Carolina, 4 p.m. Toronto at Boston, 4 p.m. Chicago at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Buffalo at Nashville, 5 p.m. Philadelphia at Phoenix, 5 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. Calgary at Edmonton, 7 p.m. 12 8 4 28 57 55 7 13 4 18 54 77 C B S F O X