Players damage of income League TV (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - NFL players are seeking millions of dollars of damage as the League lost a federal trial over 4 billion in television revenues.

Players, in a file with a District Court of Minnesota this week, they say the money League "Links on the table in 2009 and 2010" should restore when the NFL negotiated new television contracts with its partners.

The amount has been deleted, but the word "million" has remained.

Judge David Doty, who planned to hold a hearing on May 12, held the month last as the NFL does step to maximize revenue when contracts television appointments.

He also said that the NFL its agreement with the players had been raped when negotiated television deals.

The players Union argued that the NFL designed the TV contracts to give the League a stockpile of cash $ 4 billion to help him with a lockout.

Asked about the last presentation, spokesman for the NFL Greg Aiello said Friday: "it is a part of the process in the case." Our response is due to April 21. »

Players also try to prevent the NFL take advantage of the TV contracts during the current lockout of the League.

"There is no amount of compensation that the damage resulting from unlawful lockout provisions can address," said players.

Although another court hearing April 6 on an application for an injunction against the lockout, "independent relief" presentation lock said Thursday.

Nine other players in the NFL, including the best quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, seeking an injunction against the lockout in a class action antitrust against the NFL and its owners.

The suit was filed after negotiations between the NFL and players labor Union broken last month and the Union, the NFL Players Association, revoked. NFL owners locked then the players, the season of 2011 at risk.

(Reported by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina);) (Edit by Frank pings)

Pulp of herbs of Djokovic in the final of Miami (AFP)

MIAMI (AFP) - Novak Djokovic remarkable continued Friday that runs in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 Miami with a 6 - 3, 6-1 victory Mardy Fish steamed.

Djokovic 2011 has a chance at the Miami Crown to add the Open Australia, Dubai and Indian Wells Masters 1000 titles already this year and extended his series of straight WINS in 23 matches.

Serbian 23 years old, ranked second in the world and seeded second place here behind affects Rafael Nadal, Nadal or seeded third Switzerland Roger Federer in the final Sunday.

In 30 years, only two players have made a better start to a season: American John McEnroe, with 39 WINS in 1984 and former Czechoslovak Ivan Lendl with 25 in 1986.

Fish, who had asked Andy Roddick when the American head will catch up next week, Djokovic on the defensive, but failed to convert two break points.

Just then a break in rain nearly an hour, time Djokovic used to group.

"I told Mardy at the end that I've saved by rain," Djokovic said. "He seemed to really like.". After I returned to the dressing room I had 45 minutes to get it together and I felt much better after I came back to the Court. »

They resumed with the game at 2-2 level, serve as Djokovic. Saved a break point, he concluded with an ACE.

The real turning point came at 5-3, as Djokovic was used for the game. Fish himself gave a double break point, but could not take advantage of the two, the assignment of the set with a backhand into the net.

"Those who were big points," said Fish "it is very disappointing." I thought I played well... I left many shots here today. That is what is disappointing.

"I mean, I played these two - 5-3, 15-40 and 30-40 - I played a good as I could, I couldn't just run."

Djokovic led off the coast of the second set by breaking America's and the home, intersects with a forehand winner.

In all, Djokovic saved six break points and has yet to be broken in service of 40 games here.

"It is his playground now, I think," said fish.

Djokovic said that the second semifinal between Nadal and Federer review of his hotel room.

He said "would not look."

Federer and Nadal, have titles in single 110 career between them, not even on a U.S. Court since the 2005 Miami championship match, in which Federer rallied from two sets to beat Nadal 2-6, 6-7 (4/7)7-6 (7/5) 6-3. 6-1.

The two giants gathered at 20 times since their last meeting in Miami with Nadal 13 people, including a dozen of final victory. At their meetings 22 career of only three in the seedlings of a tournament.

"For me, it's like (a) thing really special when we play each other," said Nadal.

"Because we still really big games." Tomorrow is a semi-final. Very little time, we played in the semi-finals of a tournament.

"The rest of the competition are final and important for the major titles." That makes the rivalry very, very special. »

The spotlight was all men Friday, $ 9 million ATP and WTA tournament, with Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka already booked for Saturday definitieve women.

Former number one Sharapova will seek his first title since May 2010, and his first in Miami after two finalist ends here.

"This would mean a lot", she said. "It's the greatest tournament I think that after the Grand slam tournaments." "I look forward to go and how it is."

Azarenka, the eighth seed and champion Miami 2009, semé of third Vera Zvonareva 6-0, 6-3 in the semi-finals while in the 16th-seeded Sharapova rallies to a 3 - 6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Andrea Petkovic has beaten.

An upperclassman whose value by the minute rises (AP)

HOUSTON - for everything that is notable that kemba Walker this season reached almost only UConn Huskies implementation by nine games straight elimination and the Final Four, the possible still more surprising that it has even started it.

Good guys who rarely stick around NCAA long enough to be junior, and still less graduate at the beginning, that begins to explain why only Walker returned. Of course, he spent most of last season to the UConn Huskies to suspend three elders, and his NBA prospects were much less confident a year - in no small part size of Walkervery generous if 6-foot-1.

But his return likely as much on his coach, Jim Calhoun, if all of these factors combined.

"I know where he is now in the design, top 10 somewhere, and it should probably, if any, to go," said Calhoun. "Who should be determined by our success, your success, your growth and maturity as a player and a person."

Given that children of the NBA collective bargaining move from high school directly to the pros five years ago, the phenomenon of "one-and-done" enabled sports his ear, especially on traditional powerhouse programs. Coaches such as Calhoun and John Calipari to Kentucky - his opponent in the second semi-final Saturday night and on the trail of recruitment - had to decide whether to recruit players for which college little more that a year prep school for the pros.

"In General, in the recruitment process, we will go after the kid best we can." When we hear, "coach, I will only"... Well, do really speak us this way to UConn Huskies. "

They certainly are in Kentucky and not by pure coincidence, previous stop Calipari, Memphis.

"I don't like the" fact "rule, never have," said Calipari, who had all five starters from last year's team lost--four of them, first year students, led by no. 1 overall Pick John Wall - in the NBA. "." He figures to lose at least two freshman, Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones of this edition.

"But my choice is to recruit players who are not good enough," he added. "I do not die."

The selection of NCAA Committee when they had no idea of the parentheses three weeks ago, but the most unpredictable tournament wound up deliver more forward-looking Final Four ever.

The first semi-final between Virginia Commonwealth and Butler probably signals the arrival of the mid-majors on a regular basis, suggests a way to success is to recruit second-level players that stick long enough to develop in experienced, cohesion of the teams that particularly dangerous in a one-out format. However, the confrontation of Connecticut-Kentucky may well determine how the major powers should probably to a wave of reached - reload and rely entirely on new talent each season, as Calipari is making, or line drawing on one-donessuch as Calhoun.

In a way, Walker Calhoun is the best argument. UConn Huskies coach proved to be a long line of NBA players treat them - among them, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon and Rudy Gay. Although each of them left school early, not a failure to turn it into at least two seasons.

Calipari has a long and very impressive list of NBA - Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, wall and DeMarcus Cousins, to name a few, but almost all a left after season freshman.

"I am for the next 15 years Brandon Knight coached." I do not want Brandon Chevalier to leave. "I want him here," Calipari said. "But at the end of the day, these guys have their decisions."

"What do you think?", he said a moment later, almost defiant. "At the end of the year, they were ready, I encourage them to go." Because if it is my son, this is what I hope that a coach would. »

How things have changed: a smart coach once said the best freshman thing is they are sophomores. The worst thing about the best freshman is more that they are not.

___

Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for the Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke (at) ap.org

ANY field rally Texas to win 9-5 on Boston (AP)

ARLINGTON, Texas - David Murphy ran to first base for the left field corner and waits for the ball in foul territory. In addition to its lining of cutting blows chalk of Texas Rangers.

As is so often all by winning their first American League Championship a year ago, the Rangers withdrawn a thrilling comeback.

"There is that something has changed with these guys, not" Manager Ron Washington after a victory of 9-5 Friday said of the Boston Red Sox in the first game of the season.

Tiebreaking of Murphy to pinch hit, two double by Daniel Bard hard jets was part of a four-run Flash, in the eighth for Texas which, prior to the Championship of the flag game, already raised.

"My body language brought it back in." "I prayed the ball would have hit the chalk, and it has done," said Washington. "When he touched the chalk, I lost."

Newcomers of Rangers Mike Napoli and Torrealba base walked home to break a 5 for all equal. Murphy scored on a double by Elvis Andrus before an another double by AL MVP Josh Hamilton.

Napoli, Ian Kinsler threatened and Nelson Cruz all hit for the Rangers, whose opening came exactly five months after the end of a loss of game 5 in San Francisco at home, his first world series.

MLB Red Sox reloaded, which Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford added after missing the playoffs last season, has blown leads 2-0 and 4-2.

"Any loss is frustrating." "We have 161 to go," said Kevin Youkilis. "We know that we played better that we are today.". There are many games like that this year, but hopefully not too many in a row. »

Remplaceant Murphy for the No. 9 hitter Julio Borbon, the fielder whose error in the base of two on the first play of the game led to the Red Sox two unearned runs to score. Borbon remains a starter even after five errors in 21 games in spring training, a step which degrades the Rangers playing Hamilton left but Murphy to the Bank.

"I have been doing for my teammates.". "I love my teammates," said Murphy, who was 109 games last season. "I want more". Yes. "But when I hit, I think that I should have a problem."

Bard said that he made the exact height that he wanted to go to Murphy.

"Sinker down and away." "It's on the knees, external black," says Bard. "Just, it gets the bat for her." Three inches to the left is a ball of fault, and we have a different conversation. »

Darren Oliver, the third Texas analgesic, obtained the victory even after allowing a homer to David Ortiz in the upper part of the eighth that tied it at 5.

Gonzalez had two hits and drove in three tracks in his Boston debut. Crawford went 0 for 4 with three striped, while a runner in scoring position behind each at bat.

Napoli fired ground along the left field line in the fourth for a three-run off left-hander Jon Lester, Texas shot putting up 5-4 and the sending of the room fills 50,146 in a frenzy.

"If you made your debut, this is what you want to do," said Napoli, who walked in the eighth, then designated Torrealba. "" "". I did my part today for us help to win. It is a good start. »

Napoli played the last five seasons with the rival AL - Angels West, although he in January Toronto, whose four days later take him to the Rangers for right hand that sent Frank Francisco was traded.

Kinsler threatened high in the State of Texas, where he hit mainly in 2009 and began the season with a homer to make it 2-1. His team to register with his 14th homer a prolonged career.

One run later, Cruz hit a towering fly that, just behind the 14-foot wall, to the left.

Wilson c.j., who won a best Rangers 15 games last year when he made the transition of the preference, the rotation granted six with two walks in 5 2-3 channel. The left-hander clever gave up four runs.

Lester has waived five races on 5, 1-3 rounds. It was the first time in 125 games, he allowed three home runs and the second time only the lefty had not a line through.

Gonzalez broke the link 2 for all in the third with a only two-out, 2 - run.

Boston Jacoby Ellsbury, who finished with two hits and scored twice, opened the game with a fly to center-right. Borbon struck the ball from right fielder Cruz he was about to capture.

"It was a very aggressive game Borbon part." "Cruz was camped," said Washington. "It does us bother." We have collected and kept playing baseball.

Ellsbury scored on a double 2-out by Youkilis and Gonzalez led to a term in his first Red Sox y before throw trying to stretch his success in a double.

Gonzalez, whose major league debut came with Texas in 2004, was a period of three stars in San Diego for this winter in Boston traded. Crawford spent his first nine seasons of major league with the Tampa Bay.

Crawford, who hit the third, had a weak popout infield in the first. He struck out in third, fifth and seventh.

"It was a difficult day." "Divided Wilson he is good enough," said Terry Francona Manager of Red Sox. "There will be much better days." We hope that will start tomorrow. »

Comments: Was the only other Ranger with a homer was a Oddibe McDowell is more open in 1987 in Baltimore. ... It was the third consecutive year Boston against the champion season in title has already opened. The Red Sox beat the Yankees in New York and Tampa Bay year last in the opener of 2009. ... A little more than two hours before the first pitch, $15 only standing tickets for $54 on company were offered, and the cheapest was $59 seat in an upper reserved area which would normally be $17.

Baseball, softball consider joint 2020 Olympic bid (AP)

NEW YORK - the International Federation of baseball and softball are working on a joint proposal in the hope of return for the two sports at the Olympic Games for the games by 2020.

The federations issued a joint statement Friday that they were analyzing the potential savings that can come from a part of Olympic venue and accommodation in the Olympic village in 2020.

By a vote in 2005, the two sports have been dropped since the Olympic Games and is not a party to the 2012 Games in London or the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro.

The International Softball Federation and the International Baseball Federation said they could meet again next week at the SportAccord Convention in London to discuss their proposal.

Home run King Bautista get the Royal treatment (Reuters)

TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto Blue Jays of fielder Jose Bautista was an unknown companion who could walk the streets without a second glance a year ago.

But the Blue Jays begin a new season against the Minnesota Twins Friday, Bautista was no longer a stranger, but one of the athletes more popular and the most recognizable of Toronto, the reigning Major League home run King and the face of the franchise.

"wow," smiled Bautista, such as the media locker are engulfed. "It is a little surreal, but most of the time, it has been for the better, not worse."

"I'm in a good place where I am wanted, where I want to so I am a happy man."

A club record and Major League best 54 homers earned Bautista fan support and a five year contract, 65 million with the Jays, slamming will be hoping that the age of 30 years of Dominican Republic is not one-season wonder.

Until last year was more plugger slugger Bautista, best known for his arm rifle that is booming, never more than 16 homeruns in one of its six previous seasons.

In 2004, he was the resolutely in a much less flattering category, most of the teams have played in a season.

He began the year with Baltimore, which had led in draft rule 5 waivers has been claimed by the Rays of Tampa Bay, which him later to the Royals in Kansas City sold.

Kansas City then transferred him to the Mets in New York who sent it to Pittsburgh, bringing his career full circle for the Pirates, the team which he drafted originally in 2000.

Three Bautista filled seasons in Pittsburgh, but it is that he was transferred to Toronto in 2008 that he finally obtained the Groove that all major league hitters.

As Tiger Woods, Bautista by a review of swing worked last season, changes and small tweaks produce a year of career, that no one saw coming.

"What I did last season seemed to work and I'll try to be consistent with my approach and the things that has allowed me to be successful, said Bautista.".

"I'll keep my realistic goals, I am not should take something special to do."

"I my success is not based on the number of homeruns I but I want to be productive, I would like to drive in runs."

The big question is whether it can follow and while nobody expects him to blistering performance last year that he will be taken into account to occur in the implementation of the weight and expectations that come with his new contract.

"Our expectations of Jose are the same they were a year ago and it is not a number of home runs hit,", said the Blue Jays first year manager John Farrell.

"It is his day preparation and this is what allowed him to be able to succeed."

"I think that it is one thing, that we are fortunate that Jose, it is a very intelligent player also so very talented.".

(Amended by Greg Stutchbury)

Sabres to resume the road less injured G Ryan Miller (AP)

BUFFALO, n.y. - the Sabres will have to continue their thrust of end of season without injured goalie Ryan Miller, who did not travel with the team, such as opening two games Buffalo left road trip series.

After coach Lindy Ruff said practical continued early Friday afternoon that Miller would be the team for the flight to Washington, the Sabres from Miller announced on that aircraft. The Sabres have not provided no other details except to say that the keeper of the Lighthouse is still listed as on the day the day with what the team is strictly requires a wound to the upper part of the body.

The turn of events issues, when Miller will be ready. The Sabres to play in Washington on Saturday, followed by Carolina Sunday.

Ruff had said that Miller "was OK," and the possibility of playing this weekend not lightly. Now, it seems, can likely.

"It will depend on where it is on tomorrow," said Ruff.

Winner of the trophy at last year's Vezina had practice and has not been seen since a 4-3 loss in Toronto Tuesday. It was a competition he finished despite the fact that a high blow to the chest in the third. Three days earlier, Miller was also hit in the mask by a shot by Brian Rolston in a 2-0 win over New Jersey.

Ruff was keep when talking about the nature of the damage. He refused to say if Miller doctor appointments or if it has been tested for a concussion. Express repair Ruff say damage of Miller is in the short term.

"It is positive that we do not seek longer term here," said Ruff.

This is a crucial road trip for a team that is 25-11-5 since 28 December to climb into playoff contention has disappeared. Open with five games left, seventh-place Buffalo (39-29-9) weekend tied with the Rangers 87 points. The Sabres have the edge to distinguish on New York. Both teams have three points for ninth place Carolina.

As there is no Miller, Jhonas Enroth should begin. He won his first career shutout, with 23 recorded a victory 1-0 against the Rangers on Wednesday.

"Jhonas plays incredible last game for us, but you'll notice when Millsy line-up, the" defenseman Tyler Myers said. "It has proved to be one of the best offers of purpose in the world, and it is an essential part of our group." It is good to know that there is not in the long term, and he will return when it is ready. »

As the Sabres, Miller rebounded from a slow start. It is particularly strong in 9-4-3 in his past 16 games, including a piece of last week, where he has two goals in three wins, with two shutouts.

Enroth welcomes the opportunity, although it is not about whether he will start Saturday.

"This is a great weekend for us, I am really excited," said Enroth, who is a 6-2-1 record with Buffalo after the opening of this season in the minors. "I want to play and play back to back is always fun."

Of Enroth shutout came with his parents to monitor, the first time they saw play one game in the NHL in person. It will not, however, around the end of the week, after a trip back home to the Sweden Friday.

Ruff excluded forward Jochen Hecht this weekend, while forward Mike Grier is questionable. Hecht has been hampered by a nagging injuries of the upper body he forced to Miss 10 of the past 14. Grier Friday in practice was limited and missed the last two with an injury to the knee.

Center Derek Roy has spent this week skating on his own for the first time since having surgery in December to recover from a torn left quadriceps tendon. Roy expressed the hope that he could return later this month as the Sabres advance to the second round.