Stojakovic to miss at least two games in Lakers series
SACRAMENTO, May 17 (UPI) -- SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 17 (UPI) -- The Sacramento Kings have confirmed that All-Star forward Peja Stojakovic will miss at least the first two games of the Western Conference championship series against the Los Angeles Lakers because he is not sufficiently recovered enough from his severely-sprained right ankle.
Stojakovic suffered the injury last Thursday in Game Three of the conference semifinal series against Dallas and had to sit out the balance of that series, which the Kings won in five games.
The series with the two-time defending champion Lakers is set to begin on Saturday afternoon at Arco Arena.
Stojakovic is being treated by a foot specialist, but the Kings are preparing for him to miss more than just the first two games of the series.
"I really have no idea how long Peja will be out," said Coach Rick Adelman. "I know he won't play this weekend. Right now, I think he's a long way from playing. I just have to assume that he won't be available at all. (In terms of treatment) We'll just have to hope for the best."
The 6-9 swingman, who is one of the NBA's deadliest marksman from long distance, is averaging 18.3 points and also 6.9 rebounds per game in the playoffs. His place in the Kings' starting lineup likely will be taken by Hedo Turkoglu.
Colorado-Detroit starts Saturday
DETROIT, May 17 (UPI) -- The NHL playoffs take a break Friday night, but resume Saturday with Game One of the Western Conference finals between two old and bitter rivals -- the Detroit Red Wings and defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado.
On Thursday, the banged-up Toronto Maple Leafs escaped with a 2-1 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes to open the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. They resume Sunday.
Most observers believe the survivor of the Western final will end up hoisting the Stanley Cup some time in June.
Some of the names have changed and the hatred has diminished, but the goals are the same for the Western Conference powers, who have combined to win four of the last six Stanley
Cup titles.
Twice in that span, the teams had to get past each other before winning the championship.
Colorado won a six-game conference final series on the way to the 1996 title, and Detroit returned the favor the following season before winning its first of two straight Cups.
The veteran-laden Wings have been favored to win the Cup since the season began. They won the Presidents' Trophy for posting the best record in the regular season, rebounded from an 0-2 hole in the conference quarterfinals, and then cruised past St. Louis in the semifinal round.
Colorado should provide the stiffest test for the top-seeded Red Wings, who are trying to reach the Finals for the first time since 1998. They lost conference semifinal series to Colorado in both 1998 and '99.
The Avalanche are trying to claim their third Cup in seven years, something that hasn't been accomplished since the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty won five in seven seasons from 1984-90.
Detroit has someone new to the rivalry as goalie Dominik Hasek makes up one of the greatest goaltender duels in playoff history.
The six-time Vezina Trophy winner has done just about everything in his career, except win a Stanley Cup. The same can't be said for Patrick Roy, who is seeking his fifth title and second in a row.
Star players are abound in the series. Avalanche centers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg make up arguably the best 1-2 punch in hockey but often will share the ice with the likes of Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov.
Detroit also boasts two of the top snipers in NHL history in Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, both of whom are experiencing this rivalry for the first time.
"For me as a player, not being in the playoffs, watching those series was always fun," Robitaille said. "You knew it was going to be a great game to watch. Almost as a fan, you knew it was going to be physical, you knew there were going to be great plays, great goalies, so it was always fun hockey."
Game One is at 3 p.m. Eastern time in Detroit on Saturday.
Rangers expected to activate Gonzalez
DETROIT, May 17 (UPI) -- Veteran slugger Juan Gonzalez, who has played in only seven games this season after returning to the Texas Rangers over the winter, is expected to be activated from the disabled list for Friday's series opener with the Detroit Tigers.
Gonzalez has been out since April 11 because of torn muscle fiber between the thumb and first finger on his right hand, which he injured while swinging a bat.
The two-time American League MVP had five at-bats in extended spring training Thursday and was scheduled to join the Rangers for the opener of a three-game weekend series against one of his former teams.
"It'll be a huge lift," said second baseman Mike Young. "But the big thing is, we have to play with the same effort. We get a proven RBI guy like Juan back, but we can't depend on him."
After a 7-15 start, the Rangers have won 12 of their last 18 games. They are still tied for last in the American League West, nine games behind the Seattle Mariners.
To make room for Gonzalez, the Rangers could place outfielder Frank Catalanotto on the disabled list. He has missed four games with tightness in his right groin and returned to Texas on Thursday to undergo an MRI on his back.
The 32-year-old Gonzalez was off to a slow start in his second stint with the Rangers, batting just .250 with no homers or RBI before the the injury. When he's hot, he provides another power bat to the middle of an already solid lineup.
The 1996 and '98 MVP with Texas signed a two-year, $24 million contract in the offseason after batting .315 with 35 homers and 140 RBI for Cleveland last year. He has a career average of .297 with 397 home runs and 1,282 RBI.
Gonzalez played for the Tigers in 2000, but was limited to 115 games and hit only 22 homers. He left Detroit partly because of the
deep fences at Comerica Park.
WR Allen dismissed from UNC football team
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., May 17 (UPI) -- University of North Carolina wide receiver Bosley Allen will transfer to a Division I-AA school after completing summer school classes in Chapel Hill to get enough credits for graduation.
Allen has been dismissed from the football team for violating team rules for the third time in five months.
"I'm disappointed Bosley will not be a part of our program next season, but we have rules that every player must follow," said Coach John Bunting. "He was in the program for four years and I'm pleased that he intends to graduate from UNC. I will do whatever I can to help him go to the school he wants to attend. I wish him the best in the future."
The rising senior from Bradenton, Fla., a 6-1, 200-pounder, started 10 games last season and was third on the team with 39 receptions for 562 yards and four touchdowns.
Allen's dismissal continued an offseason full of turmoil and change for the program.
Starting offensive tackle Greg Woofter left in January. Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta left for Georgia Tech in February. Later that month, quarterback Darian Durant announced he would transfer, only to return five weeks later.
Preakness is set for Saturday
BALTIMORE, May 17 (UPI) -- War Emblem, the Kentucky Derby winner, will attract plenty of attention Saturday when he breaks from the favorable eighth post in the 127th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby as a 20-1 long shot before being installed as the 3-1 second choice for the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. The colt led from gate to wire at Churchill Downs to give trainer Bob Baffert his third victory in the last six Kentucky Derbys.
There is a perception that War Emblem's victory was the product of a slow pace, which will not happen again. He will be challenged early in the 1 3/16-mile race.
Several speed horses are part of Saturday's 13-horse field, and the quest for early supremacy on the tight turns could come from Booklet, a 10-1 choice who skipped the Kentucky Derby and will break from the No. 10 post.
Trainer John Ward has replaced jockey Jorge Chavez with Pat Day, who has won the Preakness five times and has an excellent reputation as a rider of speed horses.
"I think it's a dangerous weapon in Pat's hands," Ward said.
Medaglia d'Oro, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby after getting off to a terrible start, drew the fifth post and was installed as the 5-2 favorite. Jerry Bailey will replace Laffit Pincay Jr. in the saddle.
Trainer Bobby Frankel also has taken the somewhat unconventional step of keeping his horse at Belmont Park in New York this week. The horse is scheduled to be shipped by van and arrive in Baltimore about 4 a.m., some 14 hours before post time.
The field is one short of the 14-horse limit. Just four of the 18 horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby will be at Pimlico.
Those horses will try to end any chance War Emblem has of becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Kentucky Derby favorite Harlan's Holiday, which finished a disappointing seventh at Churchill Downs, is the third choice at 9-2, and will break from the sixth post.
Proud Citizen, one of two horses to be saddled by five-time Preakness winner Lukas, drew the No. 12 post and is 6-1. Table Limit, a speed horse that could wreak havoc in the early going,
breaks from the No. 9 post at 30-1.
Post time is 6:04 p.m. Eastern time.
Tigers hire member of Veeck family
DETROIT, May 17 (UPI) -- Mike Veeck, whose creativity and promotional flair is a family legacy, joined the Detroit Tigers' front office on Friday.
He was named Senior Vice-President of Marketing and Communications. He will oversee the Marketing and Communications Divisions as well as the Broadcasting and Media Relations departments.
Detroit also named Jim Stapleton, an attorney and business leader in Detroit, Senior Vice-President of Business Affairs.
The Tigers need an influx of marketing ideas. Through 16 home games at Comerica Park this season, they have averaged just 16,802 fans, down 12 percent from 2001.
Veeck has had success drawing fans to games in the minor leagues and majors, previously helping the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Florida Marlins. In Florida, he worked with current Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski.
Among Veeck's promotions was "Lawyer's Night" in Tampa Bay. All attorneys were admitted free of charge but were warned they would be billed by the inning.
In May 1999, Veeck resigned from the Devil Rays in order to attend to his 7-year-old daughter, who was suffering from a degenerative eye condition.
Veeck is the son of late baseball pioneer Bill Veeck, whose zany promotions included inserting 3-7 Eddie Gaedel into the old St. Louis Browns' lineup and "You Be the Manager Night."
The Veecks also teamed up to promote the infamous disco demolition in Chicago's Comiskey Park.
