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MIAMI (AP) — In its new role as a warmup to the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl became a series of wind sprints. Long gains were the rule and hard hitting was the exception as the AFC beat the NFC 41-34 on Sunday night. Light showers fell for much of the game, stirring memories of a rainy Super Bowl in Miami three years ago. But uniforms remained mostly spotless, with more pushing and shoving than tackling. ''It's different. It was like 7 on 7,'' NFC line- backer Brian Orakpo said. ''Everybody came out here trying not to get hurt and give the fans a good show'' Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans threw for 189 yards and two AFC scores, and was chosen the most valuable player. ''It's a game you watch growing up as a kid and wonder if you could ever be in,'' Schaub said. ''To actually be a part of it is incredible.'' Aaron Rodgers also threw two touchdown passes, and NFC team- mate DeSean Jackson had two scoring catches. From the standpoint of ticket sales, this year's new venue and slot on the league calendar was a suc- cess. The crowd of 70,697 was the largest for a Pro Bowl since 1959 in Los Angeles. Spectators included Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and other Pro Bowl players from the Super Bowl teams. Manning and the Indianapolis Colts will face Brees and the New Orleans Saints on the same field next Sunday in the biggest game of the sea- son. The NFL sought to transform the Pro Bowl into a bigger game by playing it before the Super Bowl for the first time. In a one-year experiment, the league also moved the game from Honolulu, its home since 1980. The stadium was half empty by the third quarter, perhaps partly because of the rain and temperatures in the 60s. It was sunny and 82 in Honolulu at game time. Did the weather damp- en the players' enthusiasm for Miami? ''It's beautiful. It's par- adise,'' NFC receiver Steve Smith said. ''Too bad it's not Hawaii.'' Eager to host more big events, the Dolphins have proposed adding a roof that would cover fans as part of stadium improve- ments that could cost $250 million or more. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the upgrades are needed if South Flori- da is to remain competi- tive in bidding for future Super Bowls. Nearly 40 percent of the players originally selected for the game did- n't play. One of the AFC replacements, David Gar- rard, threw for 183 yards, including a 48-yard touch- down to Vincent Jackson. ''It's so awesome,'' Garrard said. ''One of my goals coming into the game was to just be rele- vant and show all the peo- ple who said, 'What is he doing in there? The Pro Bowl has dropped off a few pegs,' that I do belong.'' Vincent Jackson made seven catches for 122 yards. Chad Ochocinco had a 40-yard reception but didn't do any kicking after practicing place- ments and punts for the AFC during the week. ''That's OK. It was fun anyway,'' Ochocinco said. DeSean Jackson scored on a 7-yard pass from Rodgers and a 58-yard pass from Donovan McN- abb, his regular quarter- back with the Eagles. ''I'm just out here hav- ing a great time,'' Jackson said. ''And at the same time I'm trying to put out a little effort.'' There were plenty of other big plays. Joshua Cribbs caught a punt at the goal line and returned it 65 yards. A penalty negated LaMarr Woodley's 64- interception return for a touchdown. ''I slowed up to get a little camera time,'' Wood- ley said. The AFC totaled 517 yards and the NFC 470. Both teams threw for more than 400 yards. Redskins linebacker London Fletcher, a 12- year veteran playing in his first Pro Bowl, found the AFC's offensive approach exhausting. ''They came out with a bunch of screens and had us running around,'' Fletcher said. But there were no com- plaints from Fletcher's teammate on defense, first-time Pro Bowler Justin Smith of the 49ers. ''The pace is nice,'' Smith said. ''You don't have to worry about work- ing too hard.'' Sports 1B Monday February 1, 2010 Monday Boys Basketball — Westwood at Mercy, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball — Westwood at Mercy, 5:30 p.m. NBA — Kings at Nuggets, 6 p.m., CSNCA NCAA — Connecticut at Louisville, 4 p.m., ESPN NCAA — Texas at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m., ESPN EPL — Sunderland vs. Stoke City, 11:55 p.m., ESPN2 Crawford, Meister take 2nds By RICH GREENE DN Sports Editor A pair of Cardinals represented their school in the finals of Sat- urday's Corning I n v i t a t i o n a l wrestling tourna- ment after winning tough semifinal matches to earn their spot. Billy Crawford and Calvin Meister failed to win their finals matches, but both were excited about their accomplish- ments. "I'm pretty proud to do that," Meister said of his first time placing at his home school's tournament. Central Valley's Josh Dye pinned Meister early into their 147-pound final, but the junior knew he made a mistake by giving away a body lock. Meister said he looks forward to a rematch at the league championships. Saturday wasn't a total loss however. "I beat a lot of kids who beat me last year," Meister said of his road to the finals, which included wins over Tyler Larcom (Wheatland), Jake Morales (West Valley) and a hard-fought 2-0 win over Lakeview's Jay Lysne in the semi- finals. Crawford performed better in the finals than his Cardinals teammate, but still came up on the wrong end of a third period decision against Pleasant Valley's Desmond Rios in the 154- pound final. Rios came into the tournament, ranked No. 2 in the state in his division by the California Wrestler Web site. A 5-5 match after two periods, quickly esca- lated to 18-11 before it was all over and Craw- ford said he felt the effects of the fast-pace. Crawford said the match showed him he needs to get in better shape and work on his takedown defense, but like Meister he was proud to have reached the finals at the Invite for the first time. "I've been trying to get into the finals, but I kept getting fourths," Crawford said. Against Orland's Bret Schumann in the semifinals, Crawford came from behind with a late takedown to earn a 4-2 decision. He also defeated Steven Yake (Hoopa), Tyler Kukn (Modoc) and Ryan Pickering (Pleasant Valley) to reach the finals. As a team Corning placed sixth in the 51- team tournament, which was won by Orland. The Trojans had three champions — Hermil Esquivel at 114, Nathan Monck at 121 and Christian Wathen at 137. Pleasant Valley had two champions as Kenny Young in the heavyweight division joined Rios on top of the podium. Anderson also produced two winners in Jerry Bjerkland at 127 and Marcus Zachary at 162. Four more Cardinals joined Meister and Crawford in earning medals. Tanner Johnson finished third in the 121- pound division. Thomas Marshall placed fifth in the 217- pound division, which was won by Lassen's Darren Lee. Cole Holland was fifth at 137 pounds and Nathan Fultz was seventh at 105 pounds, the division won by Modoc's Alex Moreo. California Wrestler No. 2 ranked Cody Pack from Quincy won at 142 pounds. The other division champions were Reed's Broc Westlake at 191 pounds, Bishop Manogue's Gary Albright at 173 pounds and Willows' Aron Garcia at 132 pounds. Corning hosts West Valley on Wednesday in a Northern Athletic League meet. Daily News photo by Rich Greene Corning's Calvin Meister works over Jay Lysne in Saturday's semifinals. Daily News photo by Rich Greene Corning's Billy Crawford takes down Desmond Rios in the finals. Serena wins Aussie Open MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Serena Williams put an end to J u s t i n e H e n i n ' s hopes of a Grand Slam title in her return from retirement with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory in the Australian Open final on Saturday. Williams withstood a determined challenge from Henin before securing her second straight and fifth Aus- tralian Open title overall. It was Williams' 12th Grand Slam singles championship. Henin, who had most of the crowd support at Rod Laver Arena, couldn't match her fellow Belgian Kim Cli- jsters' feat of winning in her Grand Slam comeback tour- nament. Clijsters won last year's U.S. Open in her return from a two-year retirement after getting married and hav- ing a daughter. Williams won the last four games to clinch the champi- onship in just over two hours, falling on her back in celebra- tion after match point. Still, it was an impressive run by Henin. She lost in the final of the Brisbane Interna- tional tournament to Clijsters two weeks ago. The unranked and unseed- ed Henin then beat four seed- ed players en route to the Aus- tralian Open final, including No. 5 and Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva in the second round. Henin saved two break points to hold for 3-3 in a four- game run in the second set, winning 13 of the last 14 points in a dominant finish to the set. She maintained the superiority early in the decid- ing set, increasing that to 18 of 19 points before Williams held serve to even the third set at 1-1. Weekly bowling scores from Lariat Bowl in Red Bluff are as follows: Monday Mixed Nut Diane Funkhauser 208 Rebecca Palmer 529 Robert Funkhauser 278 - 730 Tue Senior Mixers Pat Serna 203 - 564 Kathy Pierce 215 Lanny Owens 228 Tom Frost 210 Wed. Mens Commercial Chris Goddard 259 - 704 Lance Bickford 258 - 598 Ken Hartman 257 - 687 Kory Gunderman 257 - 636 Fri. Adam & Eve Diane Funkhauser 186 - 487 Bobbie Powell 157 - 444 Fred Zastrow 260 - 541 Chris Gulliford 244 - 690 Jumbled Juniors Davis Palubeski 200 Courtney Crisel 136 Federer wins 16th major MELBOURNE, Aus- tralia (AP) — Roger Fed- erer experienced quite a range of e m o t i o n s these past two Aus- t r a l i a n Opens. A year ago, he sobbed on court after losing a thrilling final in five sets. Federer was all smiles Sunday after rather easily beating Andy Murray 6- 3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) for a fourth championship in Melbourne and 16th Grand Slam title overall. ''All of a sudden, it was over, and it hit me,'' Federer said. ''It was very much a roller-coast- er.'' While Murray missed a chance to end a drought for British men at Grand Slam tournaments that stretches all the way to 1936, Federer became the first Dad to win a major singles title since 2003. He also now can aim at a true, calendar-year Grand Slam, something no man has accomplished since 1969. ''I'm over the moon winning this again,'' the 28-year-old Swiss star said. ''I played some of my best tennis in my life these last two weeks. It's also very special — the first Grand Slam as a father.'' Federer had only recently discovered he was to become the father of twins when he lost the Australian Open final in five wrenching sets against rival Rafael Nadal last year, then broke down during the presen- tation. Bowling Scores Schaub helps AFC beat NFC 41-34 in Pro Bowl MCT photo NFC running back Frank Gore (21) runs for yardage during the second quarter of the Pro Bowl on Sunday in Miami.