Estimated read time: 8-9 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
The supervisor is Vin Cherwoo, followed by Fred Lief at 9 a.m. The New York sports desk can be reached at 800 845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports Photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636; agate, ext. 1635. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, also can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns are available from the Service Desk (800 838-4616) or your local AP bureau. All times EDT.
TOP STORY
GLF--MASTERS
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bubba Watson wants to keep it simple. None of those wild shots off the straw or from behind a tree. Bubba golf? Not this time at the Masters. Boring golf is more like it. If Watson can keep it going another two days, he'll be collecting his second green jacket Sunday evening. The left-hander put up another round in the 60s on Friday, seizing control with a dazzling five-hole stretch on the back side at Augusta National, posting nothing but birdies from the 12th to the 16th. Watson was only the fifth player in Masters history to pull off that feat. By National Writer Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 735 words by 4 a.m. Third round begins at 10:15 a.m. EDT.
With:
— AUGUSTA, Ga. — GLF--Masters-Spieth. By Doug Ferguson. SENT: 518 words.
— AUGUSTA, Ga. — GLF--Masters-Eisenhower Tree. By Jim Litke. SENT: 630 words.
— AUGUSTA, Ga. — GLF--Masters-Cut. By Paul Newberry. SENT: 687 words.
— AUGUSTA, Ga. — GLF--Masters-Old Guys. By Jim Litke. SENT: 471 words.
— AUGUSTA, Ga. — GLF--Masters-Mickelson. By Doug Ferguson. SENT: 532 words.
COMMENTARY
GLF--TIM DAHLBERG-041114
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bubba Watson was playing his way down the 10th fairway, trying to forget about the photographer who got in his way the hole before and quite possibly cost him the first bogey of his Masters. Deep in the woods to the right, about 20 people gathered around an opening in the trees to relive Watson's famous shot from two years ago, seemingly oblivious to the fact the man who hit it was walking by just a few yards away. The way Watson took command of the Masters on the back nine Friday that might not be enough. If he keeps overpowering Augusta National this way, they may have to give him a monument someday. By Tim Dahlberg. SENT: 773 words.
NEW/DEVELOPING
BKN--PACERS-HEAT
MIAMI — For most of the season, the Miami Heat were chasing the Indiana Pacers. On Friday, they just blew by them. Control of the Eastern Conference again belongs to the Heat, after LeBron James scored 36 points and the two-time defending NBA champions opened the second half with a 16-0 run on the way to beating the Pacers 98-86 — a win that vaulted Miami a half-game ahead of Indiana in the race for a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. By Tim Reynolds. SENT: 827 words.
BKN--ROCKETS-TIMBERWOLVES
MINNEAPOLIS — Truth be told, no one believed Corey Brewer could do it. Not his teammate Ricky Rubio. Not his coach Rick Adelman. And certainly not his opponent, the Houston Rockets. Deep down inside, Brewer didn't even believe it himself. Brewer scored a career-high 51 points and Gorgui Dieng hit a short jumper with 4.6 seconds to play to give the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves a 112-110 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night. By Jon Krawczynski. SENT: 852 words.
BBO--UNION-DREW-MORALES
NEW YORK — Players' union head Tony Clark has asked the commissioner's office to investigate comments attributed to unidentified executives in an ESPN.com story estimating what they would offer shortstop Stephen Drew and designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who remain free agents. The story said executives were asked if they had a need at one of those positions, what would their offers be. The range was from $3 million to $12 million. SENT: 251 words.
CAR--NASCAR-DARLINGTON
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway on Friday as he looks to chase his first Southern 500. Harvick came out on top in the first knockout qualifying session at NASCAR's oldest superspeedway since the circuit made the change from single-car laps. Joey Logano, the winner Monday in Texas, was second, followed by Aric Almirola. Almirola's teammate, Marcos Ambrose, was fourth, followed by Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch. Points leader Jeff Gordon, a seven-time Darlington winner, will start ninth, with Denny Hamlin rounding out the top 10. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 528 words.
With:
— DARLINGTON, S.C. — CAR--NASCAR-Logano-Sliced Bread. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 421 words.
— DARLINGTON, S.C. — CAR--NASCAR-Biffle-Contract. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 381 words.
— DARLINGTON, S.C. — CAR--NASCAR-Nationwide. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 654 words.
BOX--PACQUIAO-BRADLEY
LOS ANGELES — Timothy Bradley never imagined he would have to avenge a victory. When the welterweight champion defeated Manny Pacquiao two years ago on two injured feet, he thought for an instant that he had reached the pinnacle of boxing. He hadn't even left the MGM Grand Garden ring before learning that practically nobody agreed with the two judges who gave him that split decision. After death threats, depression and a remarkable personal transformation, Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) returns to that ring Saturday night in Las Vegas for a rematch with the Filipino congressman. Bradley intends to let out two years of humiliation and frustration with a decisive win over Pacquiao, finally earning the credit that was two years deferred. By Greg Beacham. SENT: 787 words.
NBA
BKN--NBA PLAYOFF PICTURE
A look at where things stand in the NBA playoff picture, with five days remaining in the regular season. Friday was a wild night asnce as six of the top seven seeds changed, led by Miami beating Indiana to move back on top of the Eastern Conference— a half-game ahead of the Pacers. In the West, San Antonio wrapped up the No. 1 seed throughout the NBA playoffs, coming from 21 down to beat Phoenix for its 62nd win of the season. By Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 511 words by 4 a.m.
BKN--OBIT-HUDSON
ATLANTA — Dominique Wilkins hopes young fans take the time to learn about Lou Hudson. Wilkins says they'll discover "Sweet Lou" was one of the best shooting guards in NBA history. Hudson, the smooth-shooting Hawks star who averaged more than 20 points during 13 NBA seasons, died Friday. He was 69. He died in Atlanta, where he was hospitalized and listed in grave condition last month after a stroke, the Hawks said. Hudson was a six-time All-Star while with the Hawks in St. Louis and Atlanta, often playing away from the national spotlight. By Charles Odum. SENT: 860 words.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
FBC--NEBRASKA SPRING
LINCOLN, Neb. — There will be no Red vs. White at Nebraska's spring football game Saturday. It'll simply be Offense vs. Defense. Coach Bo Pelini said injuries and a lack of depth at some positions led to his decision to skip the tradition of splitting the players into two squads for a scrimmage under game conditions. By Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 588 words by 4 a.m.
FBC--TEXAS TECH-WEBB
LUBBOCK, Texas — Davis Webb won't be competing for the starting job at Texas Tech this fall. After Webb's standout performance and MVP award in the Red Raiders' 37-23 Holiday Bowl win over then-No. 16 Arizona State, coach Kliff Kingsbury already knows the sophomore will be leading the offense. By Betsy Blaney. UPCOMING: 575 words by 4 a.m.
Also:
— LOUISVILLE, Ky. — FBC--Louisville-Spring Game. By Gary B. Graves. SENT: 678 words.
— CORVALLIS, Ore. — FBC--Oregon St-Del Rio. SENT: 230 words.
— SOUTH BEND, Ind. — FBC--Notre Dame-Spring. By Tom Coyne. SENT: 562 words.
___
ALSO
— NEW YORK — BBO--Cheating Pitchers. By Howie Rumberg. SENT: 789 words.
— CLEVELAND — FBN--Browns-Mack. By Tom Withers. SENT: 625 words.
— SAN DIEGO — SAI--America's Cup. By Bernie Wilson. SENT: 446 words.
— LONG BEACH, Calif. — CAR--IMSA-Troubled Tudor Series. By Jenna Fryer. SENT: 1,062 words.
— PHILADELPHIA — HKC--NCAA Championship. By Mike Wisniewski. SENT: 691 words.
— LOS ANGELES — BKC--Wooden Award. By Beth Harris. SENT: 525 words.
— KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — BKC--Tennessee-Stokes. By Steve Megargee. SENT: 404 words.
— ROLLA, Mo. — Missouri Swimmer-Assault. By Alan Scher Zagier. SENT: 741 words.
— HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — RAC--Arkansas Derby. By Kurt Voigt. SENT: 516 words.
— TORONTO — HKN--Maple-Leafs-Shanahan. SENT: 233 words.
— ANN ARBOR, Mich. — GYM--NCAA Championships. SENT: 513 words.
___
Saturday's Time Schedule
BASEBALL
Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Cincinnati, 1:10 p.m.
Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.
Kansas City at Minnesota, 2:10 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 2:15 p.m.
Colorado at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.
Toronto at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.
Houston at Texas, 8:05 p.m.
L.A. Dodgers at Arizona, 8:10 p.m.
Detroit at San Diego, 8:40 p.m.
N.Y. Mets at L.A. Angels, 9:05 p.m.
Oakland at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.
NBA
Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 3:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Washington, 7 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
New Orleans at Houston, 8 p.m.
Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Denver, 9 p.m.
NHL
Buffalo at Boston, 12:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Columbus at Florida, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Nashville, 8 p.m.
San Jose at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Anaheim at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
MLS
Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
Colorado at Toronto FC, 4 p.m.
Chicago at Montreal, 4 p.m.
Houston at New England, 5 p.m.
New York at D.C. United, 7 p.m.
Seattle FC at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Chivas USA at Portland, 10:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
NCAA Championship
Union (N.Y.) vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
