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2B Daily News – Friday, November 2, 2012 SOCCER Donovan not sure he wants to play in another World Cup isn't sure he wants to play at the 2014 World Cup, a stance that prompted U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann to say he intends to speak with the longtime American star. The 30-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy NEW YORK (AP) — Landon Donovan midfielder, a veteran of three World Cups, has been sidelined by a string of injuries this year and has appeared in just eight of 20 national team games since Klinsmann became coach. ''If I'm not enjoying playing any more, the World Cup is the last thing on my mind,'' Donovan said in an interview with ESPN released this week. ''I need to make sure that I'm enjoying playing every day. If I'm not enjoying it, none of that stuff really matters. And your body's going to tell you it's time to take a break and that's what my body has done this year, there's no question.'' Donovan said he can picture himself not playing at the World Cup. He has an American-record 49 goals in 144 interna- tional appearances, but his injury layoffs have given him doubts. ''When you're not part of the team all the time, you can start to question your value and your worth there,'' he said. ''I'm human. I think about those things, and I wonder that from time to time — am I capable and/or do they still want me around?'' Speaking during a conference call MONEY Rhode Island sues Curt Schilling over loan guarantee for video game company PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island's economic development agency on Thurs- day sued former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and some of its former officials, saying they committed fraud and other acts that misled the state into approving a $75 mil- lion loan guarantee to his failed video game company. The suit was filed in Rhode Island Superior Court four months after 38 Studios filed for bankruptcy following a spectacular collapse that has likely left the state on the hook for $100 million. lawsuit claims that executives at 38 Studios, as well as for- mer Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Keith Stokes and others, knew the company would run out of money by 2012, but concealed that from the EDC board, which made the final decision on whether to back the deal. The board in 2010 lured 38 Studios to Providence from Massachusetts with the loan guarantee. The lawsuit also alleges that Schilling, 38 Studios execu- tives and others engaged in racketeering and conspiracy. The suit does not ask for a spe- cific dollar amount but wants Schilling and others to repay the bonds and seeks triple damages. Among other things, the In addition to Schilling, who founded the company, and Stokes, the suit names Michael Saul, a former top official at the EDC; two law firms that worked with the agency; a financial adviser for the state; Wells Fargo Securities and Barclays Capital, investment banks hired by the EDC to GIANTS (Continued from page 1B) ing three stints on the disabled list. One of those happened after Huff sprained his right knee while jumping over the dugout railing to cel- ebrate Matt Cain's per- fect game June 13 and went on the disabled list. He landed on the knee and had to be helped off the field. was placed on the DL so he could undergo treat- In late April, Huff assist in issuing bonds for the deal; and an insurance compa- ny for 38 Studios. Gov. Lincoln Chafee said the EDC board authorized the legal action in an attempt to recoup some of the state's money. ''My message to Rhode Islanders is this: I know that you work hard for your pay- checks, and for your tax dol- lars to be squandered is unac- ceptable,'' Chafee said in a video statement. ''The Board's legal action was taken to recti- fy a grave injustice put upon the people of Rhode Island.'' Chafee said in the message and others at 38 Studios. The suit says the video game com- pany failed because of risks that were not disclosed to the board ''but were or should have been known'' by all of the defendants. proposed deal, including from two consultants who said wouldn't invest $75 million in 38 Studios if they were in the EDC's position. In May, the company laid he would not comment further and that the filing of the com- plaint is ''only the beginning.'' EDC spokeswoman Judy Chong said the agency has no comment. Messages left for Schilling, Stokes and Saul weren't immediately returned. 38 Studios collapsed into bankruptcy in June. Rhode Island is expected to be responsible for about $100 million when interest is fac- tored in aon the bonds the state issued on the company's behalf. The suit says the defendants should have known that the company was on track to exhaust its funds and it was ''likely that 38 Studios would run out of cash and go out of business by 2012.'' Schilling's firm tried to raise millions of dollars more in outside capital, but was unable. The EDC in June hired an outside firm to determine whether anyone might be held legally liable in connection with the loan guarantee. The board was briefed in private last month by attorney Max Wistow on possible litigation. The suit says that EDC board members who approved the loan guarantee in 2010 were not experts in ''law, lend- ing, video gaming or economic development'' and relied on information from advisors including Stokes and Saul at the EDC, as well as Schilling ment for an anxiety dis- order. He later revealed to the San Francisco Chronicle he experi- enced an eight-hour panic attack that began in his New York hotel room early on April 23, when the Giants played a doubleheader against the Mets. Huff headed home to Florida and had another such attack the following day, then called Giants athletic trainers and told them what happened after ini- tially saying he had a family emergency. This time around, The suit also says that an EDC analyst who raised ques- tions about the loan guarantee — and suggested he could not support it — was later exclud- ed from doing further work on it by Saul, who oversaw the agency's financing programs at the time. As a result, the agency's customary analysis of the risks of the deal was never completed or submitted to the EDC board, according to the suit. The suit also says the EDC board was misled about whether 38 Studios would have enough money to finish the video game, codenamed Copernicus, that was critical to its success. It says the compa- ny's own financial projections showed a shortfall of about $22 million of the estimated $75 million needed. The com- pany was due to get only a por- tion of the $75 million in bond funds because some was to be kept in reserve. off its nearly 300 employees in Providence and more at a stu- dio in Maryland it acquired in 2009. The suit says Wells Fargo also earned $473,000 in ''hid- den commissions'' from 38 Studios that the state didn't know about — and which ate into the total available to run the company. Dana Crothers Obrist, a spokeswoman for Wells Fargo said the company does not believe the lawsuit has merit, and it is prepared to defend itself vigorously. A spokesman for Barclays had no comment. One of the law firms named in the suit, Adler Pollock & Sheehan, which had served as general counsel to the EDC, and employs Stoltzman, said in a statement the suit reflects a ''misappreciation'' of its role and said the firm will ''vigor- ously defend itself.'' The suit also accuses Saul and attorney Robert Stolzman, who served as EDC secretary, of withholding from the board ''negative'' opinions about the understandably , Wednesday's parade was much different for the 35-year-old Huff after he played such a limited role this year. He and his family attended the fes- tivities and it served as his San Francisco farewell. In 2010, Huff hit .290 with a team-leading 26 home runs and 86 RBIs while playing in 157 games, then starred dur- ing the postseason by hitting .268 with one home run and eight RBIs. He also inspired his Thomas Moses, president of Moses Afonso, which worked on the bond sale and was named in the suit, said he had not been served with it by Thursday afternoon and had not seen it. But he called any lawsuit against his firm or its attorneys ''frivolous and with- out merit.'' teammates and the fans with that infamous red rally thong, then vowed to leave it in the past and retired it before spring training ahead of the 2011 season. Huff, a fifth-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1998 out of Miami, made the play- offs in 2010 for the first time after playing 11 major league seasons. ''Huff was a huge reason we won in 2010 not only for his contri- butions in the 2010 post- season but his consistent production throughout the entire 2010 cam- paign,'' Evans said. ''I'm glad he was able to fight his way back to the active roster to finish the 2012 season and serve as a bat off the bench in the postseason this year.'' NASCAR Spring Cup Points Leaders 1. Jimmie Johnson 2,291 2. Brad Keselowski 2,289 3. Clint Bowyer 4. Kasey Kahne 5. Denny Hamlin 6. Jeff Gordon 7. Martin Truex Jr. 8. Matt Kenseth 9. Greg Biffle 10. Tony Stewart 11. Kevin Harvick 2,265 2,262 2,242 2,237 2,228 2,226 2,222 2,220 2,203 12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,151 Thursday, Klinsmann said Donovan is wanted by the national team, which starts the 10-game final round of World Cup qualifying in February. ''I find it really courageous of him to talk openly about what's going through his mind,'' Klinsmann said, adding: ''He's always in our plans, absolutely.'' Klinsmann seems to be giving Donovan plenty of time to make up his mind. ''It's really down to him, himself, what said of the absences. ''When you're a guy who's never been hurt for the most part and then all of a sudden you have all these injuries, I think people start to question it — maybe he's faking it, or maybe he's not really hurt or maybe he doesn't want to come in. ''That's really frustrating and candidly he wants to further achieve in his career, what he wants to do,'' the coach said. ''Whatever he decides to do will be very respected by us.'' Donovan's availability for the next U.S. game, a Nov. 14 exhibition at Russia, depends on how far the defending cham- pion Galaxy progress in the Major League Soccer playoffs. His absence has created a void in the American attack. ''When one player is not there, there is a chance for another player to step in and make a case for a spot,'' Klinsmann said. ''We'll all be curious to see how it contin- ues.'' it's pretty hurtful because I've spent more time on a soccer field than anybody in the history of this program. I've played in games I shouldn't be playing in for health reasons or otherwise. I feel like I've given a lot to this program, and when you get the sense that people think you're not genuine, then that can hurt you.'' Klinsmann thought Donovan had the wrong impression, and intends to invite him to lunch or dinner. ''I don't know if he has a feeling that maybe some players didn't buy in or whatever. I didn't see that,'' Klinsmann said. ''If it's Landon's thought, then he can obviously talk about it. It's no prob- lem.'' Donovan has been sidelined this year by bronchitis, a hamstring injury and a knee injury. The U.S. is 3-2-3 with Dono- van under Klinsmann and 8-4-0 without him. ''It's probably affected my relationship with everybody on that team,'' Donovan Everton, where he played in early 2010 and early 2012. ''I'm no good to any team if I'm play- ing half-hearted or if I'm playing at 80 percent physically,'' Donovan said. ''I can go through the motions and do an OK job, but I don't want to be doing an OK job. I want to be making an impact.'' Donovan is not interested in a loan to 49ers get more time to rest SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — 49ers tight end Ver- non Davis doesn't much care for having to take a mandated week off in the middle of the NFL season. He would rather build some first-half momentum and move right ahead into the second half — and Davis sure is looking forward to having a bigger impact over the final eight games for San Francisco than he did during the first eight. Davis is the team's third- leading receiver in a deep and talented unit behind Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham, with 25 catches for 374 yards and four touchdowns, which matches running back Frank Gore for most TDs on the team. ''Being a competitor, with my competitive nature, it's tough to deal with,'' Davis said. ''During the game, you want to be involved. Everyone who catches passes wants to be involved. I just tell myself, 'Just play, play the game, it will come.' Any given week, you never know. I guess that's just how this offense is. It's a good thing. Whatev- er we can do to win. We've got a lot of playmakers around here.'' He certainly won't be heard complaining about his team's standing. The Niners never expect- ed to run away with the NFC West again the way they did last season. improved division with a two-game lead going into the bye week feels awfully good. Especially coming off consecutive commanding victories against Seattle and Arizona in prime time. So, sitting atop the much- NFL AFC West WL T Pct PF PA Denver 4 3 0 .571 204 152 San Diego 3 4 0 .429 154 144 RAIDERS 34 0 .429139 187 Kansas City 1 6 0 .143 120 209 East New England5 3 0 .625 262 170 Miami WL T Pct PF PA 4 3 0 .571 150 126 Buffalo 3 4 0 .429 171 227 N.Y. Jets 3 5 0 .375 168 200 South WL T Pct PF PA Houston 6 1 0 .857 216 128 Indianapolis 4 3 0 .571 136 171 Tennessee 3 5 0 .375 162 257 Jacksonville 1 6 0 .143 103 188 North WL T Pct PF PA Baltimore 5 2 0 .714 174 161 Pittsburgh 4 3 0 .571 167 144 Cincinnati 3 4 0 .429 166 187 Cleveland 2 6 0 .250 154 186 NFC West WL T Pct PF PA 49ERS 62 0 .750189 103 Arizona 4 4 0 .500 127 142 Seattle 4 4 0 .500 140 134 St. Louis 3 5 0 .375 137 186 East WL T Pct PF PA N.Y. Giants 6 2 0 .750 234 161 Philadelphia 3 4 0 .429 120 155 Dallas 3 4 0 .429 137 162 Washington 3 5 0 .375 213 227 South WL T Pct PF PA Atlanta 7 0 0 1.000201 130 Tampa Bay 3 4 0 .429 184 153 New Orleans2 5 0 .286 190 216 Carolina 1 6 0 .143 128 167 North WL T Pct PF PA Chicago 6 1 0 .857 185 100 Minnesota 5 3 0 .625 184 167 Green Bay 5 3 0 .625 208 170 Detroit 3 4 0 .429 161 174 —————————————————— Week 8 Results Thursday's result Tampa Bay 36, Minnesota 17 Sunday's results Green Bay 24, Jacksonville 15 Indianapolis 19, Tennessee 13, OT Chicago 23, Carolina 22 Miami 30, N.Y. Jets 9 Cleveland 7, San Diego 6 Atlanta 30, Philadelphia 17 Detroit 28, Seattle 24 Pittsburgh 27, Washington 12 New England 45, St. Louis 7 Oakland 26, Kansas City 16 N.Y. Giants 29, Dallas 24 Denver 34, New Orleans 14 Monday's result San Francisco 24, Arizona 3 Week 9 Schedule Thursday's game Kansas City at San Diego, late Sunday's games Arizona at Green Bay, 10 a.m. Chicago at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Buffalo at Houston, 10 a.m. Carolina at Washington, 10 a.m. Detroit at Jacksonville, 10 a.m. Denver at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Baltimore at Cleveland, 10 a.m. Miami at Indianapolis, 10 a.m. Minnesota at Seattle, 1:05 p.m. Tampa Bay at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. Pittsburgh at N.Y. Giants, 1:25 p.m. Dallas at Atlanta, 5:20 p.m. Open: N.Y. Jets, New England, San Fran- cisco, St. Louis Monday's game Philadelphia at New Orleans, 5:30 p.m.