Rose speaks out about Hall of Fame passing on big stars

LOS ANGELES — Pete Rose recently went to Cooperstown to film an episode of his upcoming reality television show. His fiancee got choked up when baseball's career hits leader had to watch the Parade of Legends and other Hall of Fame festivities as just another face in the crowd.

Rose doesn't share Kiana Kim's disappointment in his continued banishment from baseball, but he hopes he can provide a few lessons in patience to the rest of his sport's tarnished superstars.

"It doesn't matter how long it takes," Rose said Thursday over lunch in Sherman Oaks, California. "I'm in no hurry, unless you know something I don't know. You just have to try to be a productive citizen and live your life, and hopefully someday somebody calls you and says, 'Hey, we want to give you a second chance.' I won't need a third, and believe me, nobody is going to find me betting on baseball. What's that old cliche? I don't bet on baseball because I know too much about it."

The 71-year-old Rose, nattily attired in a tan hat and a colorful striped shirt with "Hit King" embroidered on the collar, says he's "a little sad" nobody was elected to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Yet Rose sees both sides of the Hall debate: Although he's a friend of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and every star of baseball's Steroids Era, Rose also says anything that artificially alters the game's statistics shouldn't be praised or honored.

And if a player linked to steroid use ever broke Rose's record of 4,256 hits, Charlie Hustle would object vehemently.

"I don't know who did what, and I really don't care," Rose said. "All I can tell you is if there's drugs involved, the most sacred thing in baseball is the stats. We've been taking stats since 1869 . . . and whenever you do something that can alter the statistics of the game, it's not good for the game."

Rose wonders what Babe Ruth or Roger Maris would have to say about Bonds, Sosa and Mark McGwire being kept out of the Hall.

"Because those were the records that were assaulted, not mine," Rose said. "Not my record. If someone came up with 4,257 hits and was linked to steroids, I would have a lot to say. If I had taken steroids, I would have got 5,000 hits, so it wouldn't have been fair."

Rose reserved his greatest praise for Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza, saying both players should have easily gained first-ballot Hall admission from their offensive statistics. Rose also stumped for Dave Parker and Jim Kaat.

"I think everybody got caught up in the steroid situation and forgot" about Biggio and Piazza, Rose said.

Rose treads more lightly around first-time nominees Bonds, Clemens and Sosa, warmly praising all three while still reserving full endorsement of their Hall worthiness.

"The only person I'm going to defend (from) yesterday . . . I've got to give Roger Clemens some slack," Rose said. "Here's a guy that says to this day that he didn't take steroids. He's never flunked a drug test, and he went to two courts and they both ruled in his favor. So I don't know. And I know there's suspicion, but you don't not vote for a guy because of suspicion."

Rose agreed to a permanent ban from baseball in 1989 after the former Cincinnati Reds player and manager was accused of betting on baseball. He is also banned from inclusion on the Hall of Fame ballot, although four voters gave him write-in votes this week.

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Australia 'concerned' about Watson

SYDNEY — Cricket Australia is considering calling allrounder Shane Watson home early from the Champions League Twenty20 tournament so he can rest and be ready for the three-test series against South Africa starting Nov. 9.

Responding to questions about burnout and a lack of longer-form cricket for Watson, CA chief executive James Sutherland on Monday said "We are reviewing his load and circumstance very closely . . . I think it's reasonably well known that it's likely he won't see the tournament out."

Sutherland said CA was "concerned" about Watson, adding "his injury record is unfortunate."

The 31-year-old Watson scored 46 for the Sydney Sixers in the win over the Chennai Super Kings at Johannesburg on Sunday.

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Injured Nadal unsure about timetable for return

LONDON — Rafael Nadal still has no timetable for his return from a knee injury, and the 11-time Grand Slam champion isn't sure if he'll play the Australian Open in January.

On the shelf: Rafael Nadal is currently dealing with a knee injury that's kept him sidelined for months. AP

"All that is in my mind is to keep working hard to come back," Nadal said in interviews with European newspapers Tuesday. "I cannot think about the future because it's not like if you break your arm and you know you will have a few weeks like this, then a few weeks like that and then you are back."

The Spaniard hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June to little-known Lukas Rosol.

Nadal is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.

"This is a day-by-day thing," Nadal said. "I have checks every day to see how I'm improving. I can't predict what will happen."

As for the Australian Open, he was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "I hope you see me in Australia. That is the biggest goal for me, to come back just before then in Qatar, but I cannot say for sure it is going to happen. The only thing is to recover well. I want to be 100 percent when I come back."

Nadal said he played with anti-inflammatories to get through the French Open, which he won for a record seventh time, and took pain-killing injections at Wimbledon.

He said he was particularly upset at missing the London Olympics, where he had been scheduled to carry the Spanish flag at the opening ceremony.

"I was very, very sad for three weeks around then," he said. "It only comes every four years. Missing the U.S. Open was hard, but you think you will have more chances."

Nadal praised Andy Murray, who won the U.S. Open for his first Grand Slam title after losing in four previous major finals.

"He deserves it more than anyone," Nadal said. "I am very happy for him."

BANGKOK — Fernando Verdasco offered words of sympathy for injured fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal Tuesday after surviving a scare to reach the ATP Thailand Open second round.

The fifth seed and former semifinalist had to figure out a way to win as he rallied past Japanese surprise package Tatsuma Ito 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, eventually advancing at a canter.

Afterwards, Verdasco said everyone was behind Nadal, the 11-time Grand Slam winner who has revealed he has no idea when his left knee injury will allow him to return to tennis.

"He is the best player in history from Spain and everyone cares for him. But only he knows his feelings," Verdasco said. "He is the only one who can decide when he comes back to play. I don't know what more to say really."

Ito went off the boil after a torrid start, allowing the court-wise Spaniard to get the job done in the end.

"He really surprised me. I had never seen him play," said Verdasco.

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Bettman warns players about looming lockout

NEW YORK — With a lockout drawing ever closer, the NHL and the players' union are in touch with each other after a day of internal meetings.

But no new negotiating sessions are scheduled for Friday, one day before commissioner Gary Bettman has said he will lock out the players. This would be the NHL's fourth work stoppage since 1992.

On Thursday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly spoke to special counsel Steve Fehr, the brother of union executive director Donald Fehr. They did not, however, discuss a possible return to the bargaining table.

The contract expires at late Saturday. Bettman has said the season won't start without a new deal. Training camps are to open next Friday, and the season is to begin on Oct. 11.

"We have been clear that the collective bargaining agreement, upon its expiration, needs to have a successful agreement for us to move forward," Bettman said on Thursday. "The league is not in a position, not willing to move forward with another season under the status quo."

The last labor stoppage caused the cancellation of the entire 2004-05 season, a lockout that ended only when players accepted a salary cap and a 24 percent rollback of salaries.

"Right now it's not looking great," said Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who was just 17 when the last lockout ended, "but things can change pretty quickly."

Following lockouts last year by NBA and NFL owners, Bettman says NHL management is determined to come away with economic gains.

"Two other leagues — the NBA and the NFL — their players have recognized that in these economic times there is a need to retrench," Bettman said after a two-hour owners' meeting.

Damage from a lockout will occur almost immediately, and there is no telling how jilted fans and sponsors will react to another shutdown.

"One of the questions that needs to be asked is, if indeed they lock out, if indeed they do do that, (whether) that is reasonably calculated to make a deal more likely or less likely?" union head Donald Fehr said. "I think you can figure out the answer."

Players currently receive 57 percent of league-related revenue, and the owners want to bring that number down as far as perhaps 47 percent — which is an increase from their original offer of 43 percent. The union offered a deal based on actual dollars, seeking a guarantee of the $1.8 billion players received last season.

Annual industry revenue has grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion under the expiring deal. Owners asked players to cut their share of league-related revenue during a six-year proposal. Players are concerned management hasn't addressed the league's problems by re-examining the teams' revenue-sharing formula.

Having made several big concessions to make a deal in 2005, the union doesn't think it should have to make more this time after a period of record financial growth. The average player salary also jumped from $1.45 million to $2.55 million over the course of the current agreement.

VANCOUVER BRITISH, Columbia — The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Alex Burrows to a four-year, $18 million contract extension Friday.

The 31-year-old left wing had 28 goals and 24 assists in 80 games last season.

"I never really thought about leaving," Burrows said. "All along, I always wanted to stay in Vancouver. As soon as the management showed interest in an extension, for me it was a no-brainer."

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Fielder ecstatic about chance to follow father with Tigers

DETROIT — Prince Fielder stood with a smile and recalled his earliest memories of old Tiger Stadium, when he would hang out at the ballpark where his father hit so many massive home runs.

"For me, it was always Sparky saying I was going to pinch hit — and I really believed him," Fielder said, referring to former manager Sparky Anderson. "I'm just glad I get to come back."

The Tigers introduced Fielder on Thursday after finalizing a $214 million, nine-year contract with the free agent first baseman, who is expected to hit a lot more home runs than his dad.

Fielder was born in 1984, the last time Detroit won the World Series. After luring him back to Michigan with the fourth-largest deal in baseball history, the Tigers are hoping Fielder will help usher in a new championship era for the Motor City.

"This is awesome," Fielder said. "It's kind of a dream come true. I'm excited."

Detroit began seriously pursuing Fielder after designated hitter Victor Martinez tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during offseason conditioning. Now the Tigers have three of baseball's biggest stars — Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander — all in their primes. Detroit won the AL Central by 15 games last year but lost to Texas in the AL Championship Series.

"We're trying to win right now," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "We tried to win last year. We were close. I think we've reached a point now, on a yearly basis, we feel that way. When you look at the core of our group of players, there's a lot of guys that are on that field right now that are quality players."

It will be up to manager Jim Leyland to figure out where to play all of his powerful hitters. He said Thursday the Tigers will move Miguel Cabrera from first base to third to make room for Fielder. He also listed a possible batting order, with Cabrera hitting third and Fielder fourth.

It's a lineup based on power, not speed. That much is clear.

"If they hit it where they're supposed to hit them, they can trot," Leyland said. "We're going back to the old-fashioned baseball. We've got big-time power on the corners."

Fielder's father Cecil became a big league star when he returned to the majors from Japan and hit 51 home runs with Detroit in 1990. Cecil played with the Tigers into the 1996 season, and young Prince made a name for himself with his prodigious power displays during batting practice at Tiger Stadium.

Detroit plays at Comerica Park now, and times have changed. Leyland manages the Tigers, not the late Sparky Anderson.

As for the Fielders, their strained relationship has been well documented, and Prince didn't elaborate on it Thursday.

"I'm just ecstatic about being with the Tigers," Prince Fielder said. "I'm just here to enjoy the day."

Fielder did want to debunk one thing: Back in 2008, he talked about becoming a vegetarian, but that apparently didn't last long after all the commotion.

"I'm not a vegetarian," he said. "I was, for like three months."

Fielder's contract includes a limited no-trade provision. He can be traded to 10 clubs without his consent before 2017, when he gains rights to block all trades under baseball's labor contract as a 10-year veteran who has been with a team for at least five years.

He will earn $23 million in each of his first two years with Detroit, then will make $24 million annually in the final seven seasons of his contract, according to terms obtained by The Associated Press.

SEATTLE — Ichiro Suzuki might begin his final guaranteed season with the Seattle Mariners somewhere other than the leadoff spot that he's locked down for the past decade.

Seattle manager Eric Wedge said on Thursday during the Mariners' pre-spring training luncheon that he's leaning toward moving Ichiro out of the leadoff spot as a way to try to bolster their anemic offense.

Wedge doesn't believe that's a slight on Ichiro's ability to continue being a leadoff hitter, even with the 10-time MLB All-Star coming off the worst season of his career.

"It's as much to do with his teammates as it has to do with him with regard to the collective nine that we're putting down on paper," Wedge said. "I haven't made any firm decisions. I made it very clear over the winter I was thinking about it. I'm even further down the road to where I'm leaning in that direction to have (Ichiro) hit somewhere else."

Moving Ichiro out of the leadoff spot was part of an on-again, off-again debate during the 2011 season as he struggled. He hit just .272, failed to reach 200 hits for the first time in his career — finishing with 184 — and had an on-base percentage 40 points below his previous career worst.

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What You Should Know About Endurance Sports Nutrition

Endurance sports are those type of sports in which sportsmen are required to produce prolonged athletic output over a long period of time. Usually such sports are very aerobic in nature.

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One of the most comprehensive books of its kind is the prescriptive book written by this endurance athlete, slash dietician. It includes tried and tested advice and suggestions from different endurance athletes who are at the top of their sports.

If you want to find more information and get advice, there are various websites where you can post your questions, if not directly talk to some of the best sportspersons.

For instance, you can avail assistance from Karen Smyers, a triathlete. She is a triathlete, so she knows facts about endurance thrice better than what others do.

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There are many kinds of sports where endurance sports nutrition can help you maximize your performance. Endurance sports nutrition can help you a great deal in running. As mentioned above, running is the easy part; it is enduring the pain that is constantly present in your lower extremities that you need to endure.

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The endurance in swimming is not like any other. Why? It is because, like told before, there are two kinds of pressure that you need to think about. There is, first, the pressure that you experience under the water, plus the atmospheric water. So whether you put your face under water or you turn your head out of the water to breathe in some air, the cramps and the pain caused by the pressure should be endured.

In case of rowing, all that matters is the upper body strength. Off course, it also involves coordination with your teammates, especially mind and arms coordination, but if you are weak with your upper body, then rowing is definitely not the right sport for you. Your hands will probably just suffer bruises from your firm grips on the oars, but you arms are the ones that should have high endurance. Endurance sports nutrition can definitely help you survive the boat ride.

Cycling, as we know, is not much different from running. Your legs experience most of the pain, and you have to endure the pain that is constant on your lower extremities. But this time, there is also the balance to think of. And for those who have a hard time balancing, enduring cycling is very hard. So this is where endurance sports nutrition comes in.

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Maradona excited about new challenge

Buenos Aires — Diego Maradona accepted the offer to coach United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl because it offered "good money," he said on Wednesday.

The Argentine great stunned the soccer world by taking the job with the little-known Dubai outfit on Monday, his first post since leaving the Argentine national side after the World Cup.

"It's a marvelous experience," Maradona told the TyC sports channel. "It's the chance to be in a country where perhaps there aren't many stars, but there's a squad to command and good money."

The 50-year-old Maradona signed a two-year deal and will take control of the club when the new season starts in September. The terms of his contract have not been released.

Al Wasl, fourth in the domestic league, had been looking for a new coach since firing Brazilian Sergio Farias in March.

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