SPORTS N STUFF

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Perhaps no team is in need of offseason practices more than the NFL-worst Carolina Panthers. After falling behind their division rivals, the Panthers finally gathered Tuesday for their first player-organized workout since the lockout began.

They also did their best to make sure no one saw rookie Cam Newton and company.

Players hired a police officer to shoo away reporters from the high school where they were working out on the hot, humid morning. Cones blocked another entrance to the field at Charlotte Christian.

Guard Geoff Schwartz indicated on Twitter that more than 50 players attended.

“Great morning of team activities,” he wrote.

Left tackle Jordan Gross, who organized the two weeks of practices with left guard Travelle Wharton, said reporters wouldnt be allowed in until the last day June 9 to prevent distractions.

“Were just trying to prepare to win some football games,” Gross said outside the private school.

A few dozen high-priced vehicles were seen in the parking lot, but the field was out of view from the road. So there was no way of seeing Newton, the No. 1 overall pick, fellow quarterback Jimmy Clausen or to get updates on players coming back from injury.

The Panthers were the last team in the NFC South to gather in this odd offseason. Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay have already held player-led workouts.

“Its been so long,” running back Jonathan Stewart wrote on Twitter. “Time to get better!”

Thats for sure. After going 2-14 last season with the leagues worst offense, the Panthers replaced coach John Fox with San Diego defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. But the labor dispute has prevented Rivera from gathering his team to learn a new system on both sides of the ball.

Then the Panthers drafted Newton. The Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn could replace Clausen, who went 1-9 as a starter with the NFLs worst passer rating in 2010. Throw in the uncertain status of receiver Steve Smith, who has hedged on whether he wants to return, and the Panthers are stuck in neutral.

Carolina was helped by the one day the lockout was lifted in April, allowing Newton and several players to receive new playbooks from the coaching staff.

Linebacker Jon Beason said a couple weeks ago they wanted the workouts to closely resemble normal coach-led offseason practices.

“Were going to try to make it as close as (organized team activities) as possible,” Beason said. “Meetings, light practice, light workout, conditioning, the same thing that we would usually do.”

But Beason acknowledged the Panthers — with a new coaching staff, 28 potential free agents and possibly a rookie quarterback — are affected perhaps more than any other team by the lockout. Beason is expected to attend the next court hearing tied to the labor dispute Friday in St. Louis.

“If you look at a team like Pittsburgh or the Colts, teams that are good consistently, they have that camaraderie, they have that chemistry,” Beason said. “Thats what I think winning is about. Anytime theres a new system, new coaches, not only do you have to learn scheme and terminology, but also personalities. I think thats important.”

FAIRFAX, Va. — A northern Virginia judge has dismissed a road-rage assault charge against Washington Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth after the player reached an agreement with the alleged victim.

Under Virginia law, a judge can dismiss misdemeanor assaults under a provision called “accord and satisfaction,” in which a victim says he has been made whole, usually by a financial payment.

Police say the man accused Haynesworth of punching him in a traffic altercation in Reston. The man told investigators he made a gesture at Haynesworth for tailgating him. They stopped their two vehicles and Haynesworth allegedly got out of his pickup truck and punched the other driver.

At a hearing Tuesday in Fairfax, the case was settled. The details of the agreement havent been made public.

The alleged victim declined to comment.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron can add an honorary degree from Princeton University to his trophy case.

The former home run record-holder was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities for making America a better place with his “imperishable example of grace under pressure.”

The university cited how he kept his cool while pursuing Babe Ruths home run record nearly 40 years ago.

Princeton keeps its list of honorary degree recipients secret until the commencement ceremony. University President Shirley Tilghman gave the address, as she usually does.

The five others granted honorary degrees during Tuesdays ceremony are childrens advocate Geoffrey Canada, clinical researcher and University of California-San Francisco chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, former Princeton history professor Charles Gillispie, dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison and legal expert Robert Rawson Jr.

Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron can add an honorary degree from Princeton University to his trophy case.

The former home run record-holder was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities for making America a better place with his “imperishable example of grace under pressure.”

The university cited how he kept his cool while pursuing Babe Ruths home run record nearly 40 years ago.

Princeton keeps its list of honorary degree recipients secret until the commencement ceremony. University President Shirley Tilghman gave the address, as she usually does.

The five others granted honorary degrees during Tuesdays ceremony are childrens advocate Geoffrey Canada, clinical researcher and University of California-San Francisco chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, former Princeton history professor Charles Gillispie, dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison and legal expert Robert Rawson Jr.

Stubits: I am a firm believer this series is a tighter matchup than a lot of people think. The overwhelming favorite is Vancouver, but I am not willing to write off Boston, not by a long shot.

All along, the Bruins were my pick to make it out of the East. Im a statistics guy, and the Bruins were the leagues best team this year in a very important category: plus-minus. Yes, they were even better than the Canucks, who were No. 2 in the NHL this season. Moreover, there was no better team in hockey this year than the Bruins in five-on-five action. As everybody has seen this postseason, its in the special teams where the Bs trail significantly.

Coach Claude Julien needs to reinforce the message to stay out of the penalty box. Take no dumb penalties and the Bruins will be right in this series.

Perez: You mention the 39-year Cup drought in Boston, but what about Canada? The nation where hockey is king hasnt seen one of its franchises win a title since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. Sure, theyll tell you it doesnt matter much since half the NHL players are Canadian, but come on. It matters. The Canucks could certainly end it, something the Edmonton Oilers (2006) and Ottawa Senators (2007) failed to do since the lockout.

More on Bruins-Canucks Related links Rested Bruins head to Vancouver for Game 1 Burrows readies for Cup Finals Canucks Malhotra cleared Perez: Bruins moves pay Bs owner basks in glow Message Board: Bruins | Canucks More playoffs coverage:
Playoffs bracket
Postseason leaders
Latest news

Here we are after three rounds and Im not sold on either team. I am going to give the edge to the Canucks, who, like you mentioned, have better special teams than Boston. I have a feeling t are just too deep offensively.

Stubits: Agreed, no team can match the Canucks offensively. No arguing here. But, I think the Bs can pair up well defensively with them. The top pairing of Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg has been fantastic. Both teams have excellent defensive units, but if Im giving an edge to either side, its going to Boston in this department.

That includes the men protecting the cages, too. These are two of the top five goalies in the NHL, the Vezina watch list confirms that. So admittedly, were splitting hairs. Since that first-round series, Roberto Luongo has been remarkably solid for Vancouver, while Tim Thomas has been a bit up-and-down. But the ups are way up there, evidenced by two shutouts of the high-powered Lightning. If Im forced to choose one, Im hesitating, but Im picking Thomas. His numbers this postseason are ever-so-slightly better (identical goals against while Thomas save percentage is .929 to Luongos .922). Nathan Horton, David Krejci and company have enough talent to give Thomas a little support, which he is capable of taking a long way.

Perez: It will be interesting to see if Bruins rookie forward Tyler Seguin shows up again. He had six points (three goals, three assists) in the first two games of the conference finals, but was held scoreless the rest of the way. He did put up a solid effort in Game 7 (even if he didnt score), but I wouldnt be surprised to see Shawn Thornton back in Bostons lineup at some point.

Tim Thomas is Bostons best defense against Vancouvers high-powered offense. (Getty Images) Canucks forward Raffi Torres, the bruiser that he is, already knocked two standouts (Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook and San Jose forward Joe Thornton) out of games. Clean hits or not, Torres may reconsider things if he has to deal with Thornton.

As far as the Canucks roster, the week break after they dispatched the Sharks in five games hasnt hurt. Defensemen Christian Ehrhoff (upper-body injury) and Aaron Rome (likely concussion) missed the final two games of the conference finals, but are expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday. They even might have Manny Malhotra, out since March 16 after a scary eye injury, back at some point. Hes been cleared for light contact in practice. Even if he doesnt make it into a game, the fact theyll have such a solid guy in the locker room will only help the Canucks.

Stubits: In regards to the rest and the Bruins having less, I dont think it will matter much. The bigger factor will be the cross-country trip. The Bs have stayed pretty healthy all postseason and the one guy that was hurting, Patrice Bergeron, came back with an absolute bang. Its a team that is prepared and pretty much intact. You wont find the chemistry among the lines that you will see with Vancouvers top unit, but its a group that has played well together. Now, if they could just find the same fluidity on the power play …

In regards to Seguin, pretty wild how all that talk wondering why he wasnt playing disappeared so quickly. Hes a great young talent and all, but youre right, Boston might be better off leaving him out in favor of Thornton.

The bottom line

Stubits: Vancouver is the favorite entering this Final, as it should be. Boston will not win in a high-scoring series, it just doesnt have the firepower to match the Canucks. No team does. But I think Boston has the defense to hang in this series and keep the Cup in the States. They will need Thomas to get out of this nasty habit of giving up quick goals, though.

Perez: Luongo put to rest some of the “cant win a big game” talk by leading Canada to gold in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. If the Sedins keep trending as they were late in the San Jose series and Kesler is, well, Kesler, a lackluster effort by Luongo could be the only thing keeping Vancouver from its first Cup. Boston had a hard enough time solving 41-year-old Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson, so I think Luongo should be alright.

Before Dwyane Wade even sat down for a post-practice news conference Monday, he offered a pre-emptive strike.

“Im not hurt,” he said.

And that was news Miami Heat fans wanted to hear on the eve of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

More on NBA Finals Ken Berger
No questioning Dirk Nowitzkis greatness, ring or no ring. Read More >> Finals Blueprints: Mavericks | Heat Notes: Heat, Mavs wary of looming labor strife Berger: Mavs in 7 | Experts picks Breakdown: Who has the advantage? Moore: As far as storylines, this aint 06 Moore: Dirk vs. LBJ, a battle of closers Vegas: LeBron favorite for Finals MVP Mavs Butler unlikely, but not ruled out Message Boards: Mavericks | Heat Video NBA Finals breakdown More playoffs coverage
Schedule | Scores
Playoffs stats | Latest news

Wade, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller and James Jones were all back in practice Monday, one day after being held out of contact drills for precautionary reasons. Everyone fully participated in the workout, which coach Erik Spoelstra said he had to cut a bit short because of how physical things were getting in the practice, during which the Heat had players in knee pads and mouthguards.

“Guys were hitting a little too hard,” Spoelstra said. “A little bit too amped up.”

The Heat host Game 1 of the Finals Tuesday night.

Wade has heard many questions about his health in recent days, dismissing them all, th he never shot over 50 percent in any of those five games and was getting treatment on his surgic sparked speculation that something was wrong.

Wade has insisted theres no major issue, saying instead that no one is fully healthy at this point in the season. Like Spoelstra, Wade said Mondays practice was of the high-energy variety.

“Needless to say, this is one of the most anticipated practices for us all since this is the time where not a lot of people on our team have been,” Wade said. “Not a lot of guys have been to the finals.”

Wade said he wasnt shying away from contact in the session, either.

“I was mixing it up,” Wade said.

TIME: 07:10 P.M. EST
VENUE: Fenway Park

After another miserable performance north of the border, the Chicago White Sox are probably happy to be heading anywhere else. Theyre probably not too thrilled, though, to face one of the hottest teams in the majors during their next series.

The White Sox will try to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat Monday night by adding to their recent dominance of the Red Sox, who have won 13 of 16.

After taking Thursdays series opener, Chicago dropped its final three games in Toronto and absorbed a 13-4 drubbing in the finale, its 17th loss in 21 games at the Rogers Centre.

A 9-8 defeat in 14 innings the previous day left Ozzie Guillen particularly frustrated, and the outspoken White Sox manager continued to lash out before Sundays game, saying critics shouldnt question his passion. He also added that his own fans can have short memories, mentioning that they urinate on the 2005 championship monument at U.S. Cellular Field “when theyre drunk.”

Guillen later went on Twitter to say that he wouldnt say anything negative about White Sox fans.

“I was upset because I thought we had a chance to put the game away and we didnt. Were not in a position to give games away,” he explained to the teams website.

While that controversy dies down, Chicago (24-31) will try to record its 11th win in 13 games against the AL East leaders and fifth in a row at Fenway Park.

That might not prove easy against a team thats won eight of nine at home. The Red Sox (30-23) split a doubleheader at Detroit on Sunday to complete a 5-2 road trip.

“Were playing better baseball and were giving ourselves a chance,” manager Terry Francona told the teams website.

In their previous trip to Boston, the White Sox allowed one run in each of a doubleheader Sept. 4 as part of a series sweep.

As it tries for another win there, Chicago will attempt to keep Red Soxs Jon Lester (7-1, 3.36 ERA) from adding to his major league-best, seven-game win streak. The left-hander has benefited from some generous support this season – 59 runs in his 11 starts and 24 in his last two – but is also coming off one of his best outings of the season.

Lester conceded three hits over six scoreless innings and struck out seven in Wednesdays 14-2 rout of Cleveland.

He didnt have as much success last season against the White Sox on Sept. 30, allowing eight runs in four innings. Lester is 2-2 with a 4.99 ERA in five career matchups.

Chicago, meanwhile, will try to get another solid outing from a rejuvenated Jake Peavy (1-0, 3.00). The right-hander, who returned from shoulder surgery May 11, threw a three-hitter against Cleveland on May 18 but pitched only three innings Tuesday in Texas because of a lengthy rain delay.

Peavy lost 4-2 in his only start against Boston on June 24, 2007, while with San Diego.

The White Sox could get a boost with the expected return of Gordon Beckham to the lineup. The infielder was hit under the left eye by a throw from the outfield during Fridays 4-2 loss in Toronto.

TIME: 01:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Comerica Park

Nick Blackburn has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disastrous season for the Minnesota Twins.

Blackburn looks to win his fourth consecutive decision and help the Twins avoid losing their seventh straight to the Detroit Tigers in Mondays series opener at Comerica Park.

Off to its worst start since 1995, Minnesota (17-34) is already 14 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central – a division it has won each of the last two seasons and in six of the last nine years.

The Twins, who have historically prided themselves on defense and fundamentals, had a sloppy defensive showing in Sundays 6-5 loss to Los Angeles, their 16th defeat in 21 games.

“Weve got to keep playing hard,” outfielder Michael Cuddyer told the teams official website.

While the season appears to be slipping away for Minnesota, Blackburn (4-4, 3.20 ERA) has strung together several solid outings.

Blackburn is 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA in five starts this month after compiling a 6.04 ERA while losing his final four April outings. The right-hander posted his first complete game of the season in Tuesdays 4-2 victory over Seattle, allowing two runs and seven hits.

“Weve been working the last couple weeks to get my mechanics where they are and lately theyve been working pretty well,” said Blackburn, who has yielded one run in each of his last three road starts.

This will be the first start of the season against Detroit for Blackburn. He posted a 3.94 ERA in his two wins over the Tigers in 2010 – both at home – but was knocked around for seven runs in four innings of a 7-4 loss at Comerica on July 10.

The Twins were embarrassed by the Tigers in their first series of the season, surrendering 19 runs while getting swept in a two-game home series May 10 and 11. Detroit has won five of the last six meetings between these division rivals, outscoring Minnesota 55-30 in that stretch.

The Tigers (26-26) split a day-night doubleheader with Boston on Sunday, dropping the opener 4-3 before winning the nightcap 3-0 behind a gem from Justin Verlander to avoid a four-game weekend sweep.

“Detroit played a doubleheader so hopefully theyll be worn out,” Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Thatd be good.”

Gardenhire likely hopes Miguel Cabrera is especially tired.

Cabrera is batting .347 with six home runs, 21 RBIs and 17 runs in 20 games against the Twins since the start of last season. The five-time All-Star is also hitting .341 with two homers, five doubles and eight RBIs during a season-best 11-game hitting streak, and is 11 for 24 lifetime against Blackburn.

The Tigers counter with Brad Penny (4-4, 4.45), who tossed three scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on Wednesday before a two-plus hour rain delay postponed the game.

In his previous start against Pittsburgh on May 20, Penny permitted five runs, six hits and a season-high five walks in 5 2-3 innings of a 10-1 loss. The right-hander had posted a 0.83 ERA while winning his first three May starts.

This will be Pennys first appearance against the Twins since 2009, when he pitched for Boston. He is 2-0 with a 5.19 ERA in three career starts versus Minnesota.

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who had three hits and two RBIs on Sunday, is 4 for 8 with a homer, triple and two doubles lifetime against Penny.

Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Dave Joerger is set to meet with the Houston Rockets next week about joining their revamped staff.

Memphis granted Houston permission Friday to talk to Joerger, who has been with the Grizzlies for four years, about being a top assistant in charge of defense under Kevin McHale.

The Rockets showed interest in Joerger a day after Grizzlies assistant coach Damon Stoudamire met with University of Memphis officials about joining the mens basketball staff.

Memphis general manager Chris Wallace told the in a report late Saturday he hopes to keep the coaching staff together.

Joerger served as head coach of the 2006-07 NBA D-League Champion Dakota Wizards. The title was the fifth he won as a head coach, including one International Basketball Association title and three Continental Basketball Association championships.

Washington Nationals third baseman Jerry Hairston has been suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount for making contact with umpire Ed Hickox during a game against the San Diego Padres.

Major League Baseball announced the discipline Sunday, citing Hairstons “aggressive actions” during the bottom of the seventh inning of Friday nights game in Washington. Hairston is appealing the decision.

The Nationals and Padres were concluding their series Sunday.