Bush teams up with Super Bowl champs
WASHINGTON, May 10 (UPI) -- The New England Patriots met President George W. Bush Monday, who lauded their Super Bowl victory and praised the team's volunteer community service.
"Here's what I like about this team," Bush said during a photo opportunity in the White House Rose Garden. "They had a thousand hours of volunteer service to communities in Massachusetts and New England. That's a lot of hours for people who are spending a lot of time practicing and reading play books. That is an unbelievably important example for champions to set for others."
Volunteer service is a pillar of the Bush agenda and features in every stump speech.
Bush also mentioned the spirit of volunteerism as it related to the Iraq war while praising the courage and honor of U.S. troops.
Angels may be without Guillen
ANAHEIM, Calif., May 10 (UPI) -- It appears left-fielder Jose Guillen of the Anaheim Angels could become the latest in a growing list of key players to land on the disabled list.
Guillen, who signed with the Angels in the off-season, injured his right leg and ankle sliding into second base while stretching a single to a double in the seventh inning of Anaheim's 8-4 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Guillen was diagnosed with a sprained right knee and a sprained right ankle.
In the past two days, Guillen and first baseman Darin Erstad (strained right hamstring) have been injured. Erstad was placed on the 15-day disabled list. That adds to a list that includes reliever Brendan Donnelly, designated hitter Tim Salmon and left-fielder Garret Anderson.
In 32 games, Guillen is batting .328 with six home runs and 25 RBI.
Pat Kennedy named Towson coach
TOWSON, May 10 (UPI) -- Towson University Monday hired Pat Kennedy as men's basketball coach.
Kennedy coached the last two seasons at Montana where his teams were 23-35, but his overall record in college coaching is 416-311.
He succeeds Michael Hunt, who resigned after three seasons to become an assistant coach at Miami.
"(Kennedy's) recruiting and coaching background, and his national recognition and respect were important factors in his selection as our head coach," Towson Athletic Director Wayne Edwards said. "We are confident that he will lead Towson University to success within the Colonial Athletic Association."
Kennedy also coached at DePaul, Florida State and Iona.
Season may be over for Rays' Eddie Perez
ANAHEIM, Calif., May 10 (UPI) -- Left-fielder Eddie Perez of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays may miss the rest of the season because of a torn left Achilles tendon.
The 33-year-old Perez was injured while running the bases on what appeared to be a triple in the fifth inning of a game Sunday in Anaheim. His leg gave out as he rounded second base and he fell to the ground. After a lengthy delay, he was taken from the field on a motorized cart.
Perez was fitted with a splint by Dr. Craig Milhouse, the Angels' team physician.
"I'm not a pessimist at all, but I've seen past history on Achilles' tears. As an athlete, everyone who has tears that is a low point of their careers," Perez said.
"As soon as it popped I knew I was in serious trouble. You known when you're down, you're done.
Perez is batting .211 with one home run and seven runs batted in for the Devil Rays this season.
Angels place Erstad on disabled list
ANAHEIM, Calif., May 10 (UPI) -- The Anaheim Angels (22-10), who have the best record in baseball, have lost another key performer.
First baseman Darin Erstad was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right hamstring. He was injured while trying to score from second base in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Erstad, 29, is on the injured list for fifth time in his career and fourth time with a hamstring injury. He joins teammates Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon and Brendan Donnelly on the DL.
Erstad, the first overall pick in the 1995 draft, is batting .264 with 19 runs scored and 20 RBI in 30 games this season. He was 0-for-2 on Saturday, snapping his 14-game hitting streak.
The Angels purchased the contract of first baseman Casey Kotchman to fill Erstad's place on the roster. Kotchman, the 13th overall pick in the 2001 draft, was batting .368 with three homers and 18 RBI in 28 games for Double-A Arkansas of the Texas League.
