Shipski fires 743 triple |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113411558645.ams|*| TOWN OF AMSTERDAM — Justin Shipski smashed a 743 triple to highlight Monday's bowling action at Imperial Lanes. Shipski, in the Men's City League, fired single-game scores of 249, 247 and 247 for his men's-high single. Tim Grant, also in the Men's City, ripped a 278 single. In the Imperial Seniors league, Bill McGaffin Sr. ripped a 735 series on scores of 225, a senior-best 266 and 244. |*|10/23/07|*|Local Sports|&&|
Ryan out as U.S. coach |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157488314.ams|*| CHICAGO (AP) — Greg Ryan is out as the U.S. women's soccer coach less than a month after his top-ranked team lost in the World Cup semifinals following a contentious goalie switch. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said that Ryan will not return as coach on a conference call Monday. Ryan was 45-1-9 since taking over in early 2005, but that one loss — in his only major tournament — overshadowed the rest of his tenure. With the Americans favored to win their third World Cup, Ryan decided before their match with Brazil to make a change in goal, replacing Hope Solo with veteran Briana Scurry. The U.S. lost 4-0 and had to settle for third place, and Solo ripped Ryan for the move.|*|10/23/07|*|Local Sports|&&|
Edwards, Kenseth clash on, off track |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113411735767.ams|*| By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. — What happens on the track between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson stays there. The teammates have mastered the balance between competition and friendship. The same can't be said for Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, who were caught on camera in a nasty confrontation following Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway. Kenseth was about to be interviewed when Edwards, his teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, grabbed him and firmly pushed him down pit road. In videos posted on YouTube, the two are seen arguing before Edwards climbs over the pit wall. Before walking away, Edwards raised a fist as if to strike Kenseth, who noticeably flinched. A Roush Fenway spokesman said Monday the team had no immediate comment on the incident, and president Geoff Smith was out of the office and unavailable. Apparently, there's some serious animosity between Edwards and Kenseth, who first publicly criticized each other following a Busch Series race in Kansas last month. It started when Kenseth appeared to cut Edwards off midway through that race, and the contact caused Edwards to cut a tire. Edwards later wrecked — not because of Kenseth — but blamed him for it by clapping his hands and giving a thumbs-up at Kenseth as he passed by him on the track. "The reason I was mad, someone like a teammate would race me like that," Edwards said. "He may or may not have done it on purpose. He's my teammate and we've really got a good relationship, so I hope we can get by this." Kenseth went on to finish second, and was perplexed by Edwards' anger. "I don't really feel like I did anything wrong," he said. "My job's not to get out of his way all of the time. We're supposed to race each other like we always race each other, and race each other with respect." Kenseth didn't stop before taking a slight jab at Edwards, who is running away with the Busch Series driver championship but only has the car ranked third in owner points behind entries fielded by Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing and piloted by multiple drivers. "If I was getting beat for the owner's championship by a couple of guys running part-time ... it's probably got him a little worked up," Kenseth said. If the two ever made up, it wasn't apparent after Sunday's Nextel Cup event. It's not exactly clear what they were even arguing about, but it likely stemmed from a mid-race restart when Reed Sorenson's car failed to take off at the green flag. It caused the traffic behind Sorenson to stack up, and Kenseth and Edwards became entangled as they tried to weave around Sorenson. They banged doors in Turn 1, and had heavier contact in Turn 3 that caused Edwards to lose track position. His anger apparently festered for the rest of the race, and when he spotted Kenseth starting a television interview, he was aggressive in interrupting to make a point. It was a stark contrast from the harmony in the Hendrick Motorsports camp, which had just witnessed another duel between championship contenders Johnson and Gordon. Johnson won Sunday's race, holding off a charge from his mentor and friend, to score his series-best seventh victory of the season and tighten a championship battle that Gordon is trying to run away with. With four races remaining, Gordon holds a 53-point lead over Johnson. There's no animosity between the two, who celebrated in Victory Lane together. Losing crew chief Steve Letarte climbed atop Johnson's pit box for a congratulatory high-five with winning crew chief Chad Knaus. "I know that Jeff is going to do everything that he can to win, and I'm going to do the same," Johnson said. "We have a great deal of respect for one another." The unity is contagious at Hendrick, where driver Casey Mears also went to Victory Lane, as did several of Gordon's crew members. A week earlier, when Gordon won in Charlotte, driver Kyle Busch stopped by to congratulate him. The cohesiveness could be why Hendrick has won 15 of 32 races this season, put three drivers in the Chase and will likely get another Cup title from either Gordon or Johnson. Roush Fenway, on the other hand, put just two of its five drivers in the Chase and has just five wins on the season. Now the team appears to have a brewing problem between its top two drivers that if left to fester will only prevent the organization from ever catching up with Hendrick.|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
In Boston, stars align once again |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157576875.ams|*| By MELISSA TRUJILLO Associated Press Writer BOSTON — Forgive those Boston sports fans who don't feel comfortable with all this success. "I hope we don't have bandwagon fans that just want to follow along and just want to be winners," said Paul Hutchinson as he walked through Boston Common on Monday. "I hope the folks that want to be Red Sox fans are Red Sox fans because they like the opera of it all." There is plenty of uplifting music in Boston these days — from the Red Sox to the Patriots to the Celtics to Boston College. Granted, the Patriots and Red Sox are no strangers to good times of late, but it's been more than two decades since Boston has had this much to cheer about: * The Red Sox are in their second World Series in four years. They came from 3-1 down to defeat the Cleveland Indians for the American League pennant and will face the Colorado Rockies in the World Series beginning Wednesday night. * The Patriots are 7-0 for the first time and Tom Brady is two touchdowns shy of surpassing his career high of 28 TDs in a season — with nine games left. * The Celtics start their season next week with big expectations and a new "Big Three" in Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. * Boston College is No. 2 in college football, its highest ranking since 1942. * The New England Revolution are playing in their sixth straight Major League Soccer playoffs. * Even the usually terrible Boston Bruins are off to a 5-2 start. "It's due after all these years. The Celtics are going to be great. The Bruins, I guess, have a great record right now," said Adam Sainsbury, who was wearing a Patriots shirt and a Red Sox hat. "I think the Red Sox can definitely pull it off against the Rockies." It hasn't been this much fun to be a sports fan in this area since 1986, when the Celtics, the Red Sox and the Patriots all played in championship games. "Twenty years later, the stars are aligning once again," said Hutchinson, a Boston University employee from Hancock, N.H. "It's all coming back and it's all going on here." But die-hard fans also remember what the end of 1986 brought. The Red Sox lost the World Series to the New York Mets and the Chicago Bears drubbed the Patriots 46-10. That title the Celtics won? It was the city's last until the 2001 season, when the Patriots upset the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl. Ray Cryan, a 63-year-old state employee, said younger generations may start taking winning for granted because it's all they know. Older fans, he says, won't forget the pain inflicted by their beloved teams. "They've never going to let their hearts totally go," said Cryan, wearing a Red Sox cap on an unusually sunny day. "They don't want to get hurt." Those fans remember the ball that rolled through Bill Buckner's legs and the death of Len Bias hours after he was drafted by the Celtics. That's as much a part of being a Boston fan as Curt Schilling's bloody sock or Bill Belichick's genius. And that's one lesson Hutchinson plans to teach his 21/2-month-old daughter, Charlotte,  just as his father reminds him of the 1975 World Series tickets he was forced to give away as he awaited the birth of his son. "We will drive that into her head," he said, his tiny daughter asleep against his white Boston jersey. "Every day, she will hear about the curse, she'll hear about if you ever need proof of what faith is, it's the 2004 World Series and all that. She'll get that in rich detail." Fans hardly know what to do with all the joy. The crowd started chanting "Let's go Red Sox" during the Patriots' 49-28 blowout — in Miami. David Ortiz did pregame inteviews before Game 7 against the Indians in a Patriots hat and shirt. Red Sox manager Terry Francona was asked Monday about playing in the hottest sports city in the country. "I've got to tell you, when I interviewed here I didn't care about the Patriots," he said. "I wasn't asked any questions (about them). I didn't know (Jeff) Jagodzinski was going to be the coach at BC. That really didn't enter into it. I'm thrilled for them. I'm a big Doc Rivers fan. I love the Celtics. I watch the games when they're on the West Coast, but that's not going to help us beat the Rockies."|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Underdog Rockies' wait is almost over |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113411912889.ams|*| The Associated Press DENVER — Now that they know their opponent, the Rox are ready to take on the Sox. "We're under the radar. It's being billed as a David and Goliath situation. But that's OK," Colorado Rockies reliever Matt Herges said Monday. "We're as confident as anybody, we're as hot as anybody. We think we're as good as anybody." Colorado's eight-day wait is almost over. After Monday's workout at Coors Field, the Rockies headed to Boston. They'll work out today at Fenway Park, where the World Series opens the following night. Both teams are hot, as pennant winners should be. The Rockies, in the World Series for the first time, have won 21 of 22. Boston completed its comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the AL championship series against Cleveland with an 11-2 victory in Game 7 Sunday night. Colorado took two of three at Fenway Park in June, outscoring the Red Sox 20-5. The Rockies roughed up both Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling, scoring 12 runs in 10 innings off the pair. "That at least gives us some familiarity," outfielder Matt Holliday said. "But that doesn't mean anything in the World Series." Ryan Spilborghs credits that trip for alleviating some of the jitters as the Rockies prepare to visit Fenway Park again. Rockies players did some sightseeing around Boston when they were there during the regular season and even signed their names inside the Green Monster. "We're not going to be awe-struck by the field," Spilborghs said. "We're not going to be shocked by the size of the locker room or the narrow alleys or by any of the field's quirks. We've been there, we've played well there. We played with the fans yelling at us. It's not going to be new." That's not entirely the case. Herges wasn't up with the team when the Rockies made the trip to Boston. "Everyone says there's nothing like Fenway," said Herges, who has given up just one hit in 3 2-3 innings in the postseason. "I can only imagine having watched on television. It's just nice to know who we're playing. It's going to be fun." Facing Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz is going to be fun? The fearsome twosome are hitting a combined .393 in the postseason with seven homers. "They're great players," reliever Brian Fuentes said. "We fear nobody. They're the best. But they weren't hitting a thousand last time I checked. Someone is getting them out." Jeff Francis, 2-0 in the postseason with a 2.13 ERA, starts the opener on 12 days' rest. "It means a lot that they want me on the mound in a game like this," Francis said. Beckett, 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in three playoff games, will be pitching with five days' rest. "He's as good as anyone I've ever seen," Herges said. "He's got the stuff, the tenacity, the makeup — you can't rattle him. We have Jeff going. We're as confident (with Francis) as if we had Beckett going." Spilborghs thought about sitting at home Sunday evening and watching Game 7 of the ALCS. He went to the Denver Broncos game, instead. "We didn't care who we were going to play," said Spilborghs, who received constant updates on the baseball on his iPhone as he watched the Broncos' 31-28 win over Pittsburgh. "The Red Sox are going to be a lot of fun to play." Rockies manager Clint Hurdle had a feeling Colorado might face Boston, a team steeped in tradition. The Red Sox broke an 86-year World Series drought by winning in 2004. "I think this for me was the way it was meant to me," Hurdle said. "This is a big-time franchise. A storied franchise. They were able to dust off some things in 2004. To go to Fenway? That's dripping with drama and history. For us, it's good. I'm really looking forward to it."|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Sox take a breather |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/317109666248903.ams|*| The Associated Press BOSTON — Fenway Park was quiet, the Red Sox clubhouse was dry and Jonathan Papelbon was done with his Irish step dance. The jubilation of Boston's pennant-clinching comeback was over. There was still one more opponent to face, one that fashioned an incredible streak to reach the World Series for the first time. Monday's stillness was the calm before the swarm. The Colorado Rockies are coming to town, taking a 21-1 surge into Game 1 Wednesday night. They certainly should be fresh — perhaps too fresh. After sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks to win their first NL pennant, the Rockies will play their first game in nine days. The Red Sox spent most of the time on the field, rallying from a 3-1 AL championship series deficit and outscoring the Cleveland Indians 30-5 in the last three games. "We've played a lot of intense games but we'd rather go in seeing live pitches in a couple of days than nine days off," said Dustin Pedroia, who drove in five runs in Sunday night's 11-2 clincher. "They'll be ready. They've waited their whole lives to be in this situation so I don't think nine days of rest is going to affect their play at all," he said. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said it was worth the eight-day layoff just to see the city galvanized by the Rockies' first World Series appearance. "I've enjoyed watching the city embrace it," Hurdle said. "I've been able to go to some places where we're able to be in the background and just watch the buzz from other people. We've gone to places where we've been overly embraced, too. "All the stories about the down time were appropriate. What will it do to the Rockies? I understand that. But to watch the city — not to have us run right into the World Series — has been really cool." The weather is Boston for the first two games is supposed to be mild, with mostly clear skies and temperatures in the 50s. There's no snow in the forecast for the weekend games in Denver. Meteorologist Robert Glancy of the National Weather Service said Monday that Games 3 and 4 should be played in around 45-degree weather. "We won't have to mess with rain or snow," Glancy said. "We're between storms. It won't be bitterly cold. But stay tuned. Forecasts do change." ALCS MVP Josh Beckett will pitch the opener against Jeff Francis, who is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his first postseason. Beckett is 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in this year's playoffs and was the World Series MVP in 2003. If Beckett is just as sharp Wednesday, Papelbon — a much better closer than dancer — could finish up. Papelbon put the wackiest touches on Boston's celebration when it clinched the AL East. Standing near the mound in a shirt and shorts, he performed a wild dance while spraying champagne in all directions. His repeat performance Sunday was more subdued. "Papelbon put some clothes on this time," J.D. Drew said. Just imagine his encore if the Red Sox win the World Series for the second time in four years. "I don't know," Drew said. "He looked like he worked on his dance a little bit between the last time and last night. So we'll see. Maybe he's getting some lessons." On Monday, there were stacks of bottled water on the clubhouse carpet instead of the ice-filled champagne bins that were quickly emptied less than 12 hours earlier. The plastic sheeting that protected the lockers was gone. All seemed normal again as about half the team showed up for an optional workout. That's the way of the Red Sox, a group that tries not to change its approach no matter how extraordinary the situation. "The mentality is always the same, every day. You play nine innings or whatever it takes," manager Terry Francona said. "I don't think we try to complicate things. That wouldn't be very intelligent. Sometimes this game is really difficult to play. Sometimes you need to simplify it." There is one difference Francona would love to see: a better performance than the Red Sox had when they lost two of three games to Colorado at Fenway in June. The Rockies won the rubber game behind Francis 7-1, and handed Beckett his first loss of the season after nine wins. Overall, the Rockies outscored Boston 20-5 in the series. "They took it to us pretty good," Pedroia said. "So we're going to have to make some adjustments, but I think we're two totally different teams since then." The Red Sox stayed in first place the rest of the way. The Rockies' big streak forced a one-game tiebreaker with San Diego, which they won in 13 innings. "They had an incredible run to this point," said Curt Schilling, Boston's probable Game 2 starter. "They're going to play us tough." They will if their pitchers can tame the Red Sox hitters. Boston hit .381 (40-for-105) in the last three games of the ALCS. No longer are David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell the only threats. The Red Sox have an edge in experience. They're also resilient. Seven players who were on the ALCS team that rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS were on the team that came back from a 3-1 hole against Cleveland. What's the secret? "You just try to relax and do what you did all year," Drew said. "I knew I didn't want to walk off that field an LCS loser. I'd been in that place twice before so it was nice to go home a winner and realize you've still got some more baseball to play." On that same field, the ALCS logo behind home plate had been replaced Monday by a World Series emblem. The Red Sox players were relaxed before their final push toward a title. Drew said he would "go lay down and take a nap." First, he took batting practice to prepare for the Rockies on Wednesday night when the old ballpark will be rocking. "They've played great," Drew said. "We've got our work cut out for us." ——— AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Randolph helps Knicks bounce back, beat Celtics |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157665436.ams|*| NEW YORK — Zach Randolph scored 23 points, Nate Robinson added 20 and the New York Knicks shut out Boston's Big Three in the fourth quarter of a 94-87 victory Monday night. The Knicks avenged a 40-point loss in Boston and dominated the battle of the benches behind Robinson, who sparked a first-half spurt that gave New York the lead for good. And when the Celtics got close in the fourth quarter, he made a layup and 3-pointer in a span of about 40 seconds that pushed the lead back to 10 midway through the period. Paul Pierce scored 29 points, Kevin Garnett had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Ray Allen added 12 points for the Celtics, who lost their second straight preseason game after winning their first three. None of them scored in the fourth quarter and Allen shot just 3-for-13 and Garnett fouled out. The Celtics beat the Knicks 101-61 last Wednesday, with the New York shooting 26 percent and putting nobody in double figures. The Knicks hit 61 points this time just over three minutes into the third quarter. David Lee had 13 points and 14 rebounds and Stephon Marbury added 15 points for the Knicks. —The Associated Press|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Hurricanes snap skid, 3-1 |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113412090011.ams|*| The Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. — Cory Stillman and Chad LaRose scored for the Carolina Hurricanes, who snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Monday night. Cam Ward stopped 19 shots and improved to 5-0 in regulation, Ray Whitney had an empty-net goal and an assist, and Rod Brind'Amour added two assists for the Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes. Carolina held a 31-20 shots advantage and dealt Vancouver its first road loss of the season and first loss in four visits to the RBC Center. Brendan Morrison made it a one-goal game by scoring with 6:41 remaining, and Roberto Luongo stopped 28 shots for the Canucks. The reigning Northwest Division champions have lost three of four. Canadiens 6, Bruins 1 Chris Higgins and Alex Kovalev scored Montreal's first two goals off faceoffs and Cristobal Huet made 31 saves to beat Boston. Steve Begin, Patrice Brisebois, Mikhail Grabovski and Andrei Markov also scored for Montreal, which snapped Boston's four-game winning streak. Bryan Smolinski, who played his 1,000th NHL regular-season game, set up Grabovski's first career goal with a pass on a 2-on-1 that put the Canadiens up 5-1 midway through the third. Dennis Wideman scored his first of the season earlier in the period for the Bruins (5-3). Kovalev, who played his 999th NHL regular-season game, also had an assist. Saku Koivu and Tomas Plekanec each had two assists.|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Colts take control in AFCSouth |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/317109666514586.ams|*| The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — All that talk about defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis being better this season just might be true. The Colts dominated every aspect of Monday night's showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars, easily winning 29-7 and once again taking charge in the AFC South. They also moved a step close to setting up an undefeated matchup with New England (7-0). The teams play Nov. 4. The Patriots should provide more of a challenge than the Jaguars did. Joseph Addai and Kenton Keith combined for 141 yards rushing, Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne picked apart Jacksonville's secondary, and the Colts avenged their most embarrassing loss of last season. Indianapolis (6-0) improved to 3-0 in the division and left Jacksonville (4-2), Tennessee and Houston in the all-too-familiar chase mode. The Colts, who have won the last four division titles, also joined Green Bay (1929-31) and St. Louis (1999-2001) as the only teams in history to start 6-0 for three straight years. They made this one look easy, backing up assertions by coaches Tony Dungy and Jack Del Rio that the Colts are stronger, faster, more disciplined and simply better than they were during last year's championship run. The Colts knocked David Garrard out of the game, pretty much bottled up Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew and extended their winning streak to 11 games. Taylor and Jones-Drew spearheaded last year's 44-17 rout in Jacksonville. The Jaguars ran for a franchise-record 375 yards — a defensive meltdown that proved to be a turning point for Indy. The team fixed its run defense down the stretch and then won it all.  Mangini:Jets' failures a 'collective' effort  Eric Mangini watched the film of the New York Jets' latest loss and pinpointed his team's biggest problem. Yep, you guessed it: everything. "You can go right down the list," Mangini said Monday. "It all needs to get better. It needs to be coached better and it needs to be executed better." A day after the Jets blew a 13-point lead and lost 38-31 at Cincinnati to fall to 1-6 for the first time since 1999, Mangini and his team were again left searching for answers as their season spirals out of control. "It's collective," Mangini said, using one of his most common phrases. "There's not one phase. There's not one person. It's truly a group effort." Mangini is using this week to evaluate his entire team, from the players to his coaching staff, and consider what changes to make. "You can't just say, 'OK, well, we're going to evaluate everybody but this guy,"' wide receiver Laveranues Coles said. "We're all on the same team right now. We're all losers right now. We're losing." Quarterback Chad Pennington has taken a lot of the blame for the Jets' poor start, and rightfully so. He has thrown seven interceptions, three of them sealing losses, in New York's last four games.|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Patriots finish second, third at Foothills meet |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157753997.ams|*| Staff report The Broadalbin-Perth girls and boys cross country teams ran to second- and third-place finishes, respectively, at Monday's Foothills Council Championships held at Saratoga State Park. Gina Christaldi led the Lady Patriots with a fifth-place finish in 18:52 over the 3.05-mile course. Other finishes for B-P were Alex Kuhl, eighth in 19:28, Nicole Wojchiechowski, 10th in 19:38, Elizabeth Ferlazzo, 14th in 20:03, Julianna Mendez, 17th in 21:11, Lianna Ferguson, 18th in 21:26, and Bonnie Loveless, 27th in 22:20. Andrew Goodspeed led the B-P boys with an eighth-place finish in 16:55. Other finishers were Justin Ferguson, 15th in 17:30, R.J. Reakes, 18th in 17:51, Adam Rasefske, 19th in 17:51, Trevor McConnell, 25th in 18:10, Andrew Bogdan, 28th in 18:18, and Austin Reakes, 30th in 18:30. VOLLEYBALL Non-league Amsterdam 3, Fonda 0 Sarah Buczkowski had five service points, four aces and four kills and one block Monday as the Lady Rams swept past Fonda in a non-leaguer. Christina Blanchard added five points, one ace and four kills, while Alexis Theobald had five points, two aces and four kills for Amsterdam (6-6 overall). The Lady Rams close out their regular-season schedule today at 5:30 p.m. with a Senior Night contest vs. Troy. BOYS SOCCER Foothills Council Broadalbin-Perth 2, Queensbury 0 Tom Stuart's goal at the 13-minute mark of the first half proved to be the game-winner as the Patriots closed out their league schedule with a shutout of the Spartans. B-P made it 2-0 eight minutes later on Dan Schulz's goal off an assist from Ali Maccharelli. The Patriots improved to 3-9-2 in the Foothills, 6-10-2 overall.|*|10/23/07|*|Local Sports|&&|
Ex-aide to Spitzer, Senate clash over subpoena |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117161030754.ams|*| ALBANY (AP) — Gov. Eliot Spitzer's former communications director refused Monday to testify or provide information under a subpoena issued by a Senate committee investigating an alleged plot to smear the state's top Republican. "So much for 'full cooperation,"' Senate investigations committee Chairman George Winner said of the move by former Spitzer aide Darren Dopp. "The governor clearly told him not to provide any information and assert certain privileges and he said, 'Yes, sir."' Winner, a Republican senator from Elmira, said Dopp could face a misdemeanor charge of contempt of the Legislature. Terence Kindlon, Dopp's lawyer, said he will try to bring the issue to a state Supreme Court judge in Albany who is scheduled to consider in early November whether the governor is protected from the Senate's subpoenas. "We're caught between a rock and a hard place," Kindlon said. "We had a subpoena from the Senate committee and a demand from outside counsel to the governor saying you will be violating a privilege that exists in favor of the executive chamber." "We don't at this point know what's right and what's not, so we are doing what people do when there is a question that needs to be resolved: We are asking that it be resolved by a judge," Kindlon said. He said the Senate knew there would be no testimony or substantial information provided on Monday. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo reported in July that Dopp and at least one other top Spitzer aide used state police to compile travel reports on Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno. The data tracked Bruno's use of state aircraft and a state police driver on days he attended Republican fundraisers after meeting with lobbyists. The travel records were then provided to a newspaper reporter who had requested them. A subsequent investigation by Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares found no wrongdoing and no plot to smear Bruno. The Senate investigations committee and the state Public Integrity Commission continue to investigate the case, which has led to gridlock in Albany since early summer. A letter from Kindlon was delivered to the committee as it prepared to question Dopp and receive e-mails, private e-mail accounts and other documents. "We reminded everyone on the record of the provisions of the penal law involved in contempt of the Legislature," Winner said. "Our next step is either to enforce this on our own, or fold it into other litigation that's going on with the governor's office." Spitzer is fighting the Senate committee's subpoenas. The Democratic governor has said the hearings run by Republican Senators are politically motivated. "The stonewalling continues, notwithstanding the promises of transparency," Winner said. "It just belies the facts." "The Senate's subpoena raises significant separation of powers issues," said Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson. "We have reached a mutual agreement with the Senate that these matters should be determined by the courts. "All of Darren Dopp's actions were taken when he was a member of the executive branch, and thus whether he needs to testify or produce documents will be decided in that litigation," she said. "Our understanding is that Darren intends to fully cooperate based upon whatever decision is made by the courts." Spitzer said he is fully cooperating with the integrity commission probe as he did with the investigations by Cuomo and Soares, both of whom are Democrats.|*|10/23/07|*|State|&&|
Senate GOP strikes back at Spitzer's illegal alien plan |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113418820647.ams|*| ALBANY (AP) — The Senate's Republican majority moved Monday to try to block Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to make it easier for illegal immigrants to receive driver's licenses. It's part of an uncertain special session that could include action on pay raises for legislators and judges and tax breaks despite a projected deficit. The Senate's license bill would require applicants for a driver's license to be in the country legally. Spitzer's plan will end that requirement in December, by no longer requiring a Social Security number to get or renew a license. Spitzer has said he can start the new policy in December without the Legislature's approval. "We will change those rules," Spitzer said. "If somebody will challenge it, we'll see what the courts will do." He said he believes his administration is within its legal authority in changing the rules. "This governor is so ill advised, there's an arrogance to it that is hard to understand," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. The Assembly's Democratic majority has supported the Democratic governor's plan, although some Democrats may side with the opposed Republican minority. The Senate's measure, if passed as expected in that chamber, wouldn't become law without the Assembly's support. Bruno said the attempt to change the policy on illegal immigrants was unconstitutional, contradicted the REAL ID Act and opposed the guidelines provided by the 911 commission. After leaving a closed-door conference with Senate Democrats, Spitzer said the discussion was ongoing. "Reasonable people will disagree on tough issues," Spitzer said. "That's part of the discourse we have on tough issues and that's wonderful, that's as it should be. I think some of the rhetoric that has been imposed and brought into this issue has not only been overheated but I would say counterproductive." Richard Clarke, the former counterterrorism adviser to three presidents, and William Bratton, the former commissioner of the New York City Police Department have supported the governor's plan. Meanwhile, the Assembly's minority Republican caucus called on Democrats to help pass legislation with new amendments when they go into session Tuesday. The new items would also prevent Spitzer's plan from going through. Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith said he and most of his Democratic caucus support the governor's plan. "This is the right way to go, given that Washington has failed to act" on illegal immigration, Smith said on the Senate floor. A spokesman for Silver and Assembly Democrats had no comment on how they would vote on the issue if forced to. A Siena College poll released last week found 72 percent of voters were opposed to "the governor's plan to allow undocumented immigrants to get New York driver's licenses." Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco of Schenectady said Republicans plan to force a vote on the issue on Tuesday, if the Assembly goes into session. The session came the same day that Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola filed a lawsuit to prevent implementation of the new license policy. "All county clerks this is a crazy idea," he said. Earlier in the day more than 100 people gathered in front of the state Capitol to protest the governor's plan. Shelley Martin, 54, of Cobleskill, said the governor's plan would send a bad message, and that it's wrong to reward people for breaking the law by being in the country illegally. "I thought as attorney general he would enforce our laws," Martin said. "I'm disappointed."|*|10/23/07|*|State|&&|
Local briefs |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157399753.ams|*| Special meeting is rescheduled TOWN OFST. JOHNSVILLE —The Town Board will hold a special budget workshop meeting Thursday, Oct. 25 at the town office complex.  The special meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled. |*|10/23/07|*|Local News|&&|
Feds aren't opposing Spitzer's license plan  |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/290120903683666.ams|*| Newsday WASHINGTON — Homeland Security officials said Monday they have no objection to New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to grant a limited kind of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants because the document would not be accepted at airports or federal buildings, unlike a new tamperproof license to be issued to legal residents. They are, however, reviewing whether the plan might interfere with federal enforcement of immigration laws, department spokesman William Knocke said. "Anything in general that could interfere with our department's ability to enforce our immigration laws could be problematic," Knocke said, adding he was not in a position to make "that type of judgment today." But another source close to the discussions said that state and federal officials were close to resolving concerns about immigration enforcement, although he would not elaborate. Knocke hinted at ongoing discussions as well, saying that "if we believe there's some type of conflict, we'll take that up as appropriate. We enjoy a good working relationship with New York." He stressed that federal officials' interest in state licenses was limited to tamperproof identification, not driving privileges. Based on a 9/11 Commission recommendation, a 2005 law called the Real ID Act is designed to make it more difficult for dangerous people to obtain fraudulent licenses — and to make it easier for law enforcement to detect falsified documents. Eighteen of the 19 hijackers in the 9/11 attack had U.S. identification, some of which was fraudulent. By 2013, Knocke said, "the only license or ID we're going to accept as valid for an individual to get on an airplane or into a federal building is one that makes clear the person is here legally and that he is who he claims to be." He said the licenses granted to illegal immigrants would give them the right to drive legally but would not pass muster for any other purpose.|*|10/23/07|*|General News|&&|
Police report |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157311192.ams|*| Amsterdam Police Department * City police say 25-year-old Justin Ratynski was arrested early Monday morning on a charge of second-degree menacing. According to the report, officers were called to Ratynski's home at 422 Locust Ave. on a complaint of an out-of-control male who was threatening to kill another man with a knife. Ratynski was found outside the home and arrested without incident. A steak knife located in the kitchen was taken into evidence. Ratynski was held for arraignment in City Court.|*|10/23/07|*|Local News|&&|
Baia seeks 'cleaner, safer' city and county |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/290120903240861.ams|*|  Republican Karl Baia is the sole candidate for the 5th Ward supervisor's post currently held by Supervisor Albert Mancini, who decided to step down at the end of this term. During a recent interview, Baia said his goal as an elected county official is to make the city of Amsterdam and Montgomery County a "cleaner, safer, more economically sound place to live and to do business." His decision to run for the city supervisor's post stems from his viewing of Common Council meetings on TV when he was 13. He said, "It really inspired me that people participate in helping people. I have a lot of enthusiasm. I don't like it when people talk negatively about the city and tell us what we can and can't do. We can do anything if we just try." Additionally, Baia said he believes younger people should be more actively involved in their communities and play a role in their governance. "A lot of people have told me we need young people to get involved and step up, and I'm responding to that," he said. Among Baia's priorities as a member of the county board include increasing the number of shared services between the city and the county. Among those he'd like to see implemented is the formation of a countywide demolition team, a concept that's been explored by local and county officials for a number of years. He said, "Fulton County has a demolition team and they demolish [derelict properties] for a fraction of the cost of what we demolish homes for. [The Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency] has been giving money to demolish homes. If we had a county demolition team, we could do it for a cheaper price and the county could provide the labor. The more people we have making it a priority on the board, the quicker it'll pass," he said. Baia said he recently brought another matter to the attention of supervisors, which has since been acted on. Several months ago, he indicated that the South Side has Canalway Trail access but no public parking, so users are parking on private property. Since he brought the matter to the attention of the board, supervisors approved the paving (by the county Department of Public Works) of several parking areas along the route at various locations throughout Montgomery County. Baia said his top priority as a supervisor is to promote economic development in the city and the county. In order to facilitate that goal, he'd like to see an Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency delegate sit on the Montgomery County Planning Board, so the county and city can work together more closely. He'd also like to push for more community service, in order to assist with beautification efforts and the cleanup of blighted areas in the city. Additionally, while a portion of the county's fund balance should be held in reserve, Baia said he favors the use of extra money to stabilize taxes.  "Taxes shouldn't be going up," he said. The Amsterdam native who grew up on the South Side also supports the formation of the post of county administrator, expressing the opinion that the establishment of that position would help the county to run smoothly on a day-to-day basis, provided there was a way to make the appointment non-political. A real estate agent at Cashing-in-Your-Home Realty of Amsterdam, Baia  and his wife, Mary, have one daughter. In recent years he has been involved with the Montgomery County Planning Board and the city's Charter Review Committee. He also has served as chairman of the Civil Service Board and the Citizens Review Board for the city of Amsterdam. Baia attended Amsterdam High School (his last year was 2001) and Fulton-Montgomery Community College, where he studied business administration. When elected, Baia, who is 24, will be the youngest elected city supervisor to serve on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors — beating the record set by former 3rd Ward Supervisor Paul Tonko. ——— Contact Linda Kellett at linda.kellett@recordernews.com|*|10/23/07|*|Local News|&&|
Quarter-million people urged to flee as fires menace Southern Calif.; dozens of homes burn |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117184233736.ams|*| SAN DIEGO (AP) — Wildfires blown by fierce desert winds Monday reduced scores of Southern California homes to ashes, forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee and laid a hellish, spidery pattern of luminous orange over the drought-stricken region. At least one person was killed in the fires, and dozens were injured. Nearly 130 homes had burned in one mountain town alone, and thousands of other buildings were threatened by more than a dozen blazes covering at least 310 square miles. "The sky was just red. Everywhere I looked was red, glowing. Law enforcement came barreling in with police cars with loudspeakers telling everyone to get out now," said Ronnie Leigh, 55, who fled her home at a mobile home park as smoke darkened the sky over the nearby ridge line. Firefighters — who lost valuable time trying to persuade stubborn homeowners to leave — were almost completely overwhelmed as gale-force winds gusting to 70 mph scattered embers on the dry brush. California officials pleaded for help from fire departments in other states. A pair of wildfires consumed 128 homes in the Lake Arrowhead mountain resort area in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Los Angeles, authorities said. At least 14 fires were burning in Southern California, said Patti Roberts, a spokeswoman for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. From San Diego to Malibu, more than 150 miles up the coast, some 265,000 people were warned to leave their homes. More than 250,000 were told to flee in San Diego County alone, where hundreds of patients were moved by school bus and ambulance from a hospital and nursing homes, some in hospital gowns and wheelchairs. Some carried their medical records in clear plastic bags. A 1,049-inmate jail in Orange County was evacuated because of heavy smoke. The prisoners were taken by bus to other lockups. In San Diego, more than 194,000 reverse 911 calls — calls from county officials to residents — were made, alerting residents to evacuations, county Supervisor Ron Roberts said. Many of those told to evacuate ended up at Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL's Chargers, where thousands of people huddled in eerie silence on the bleachers, staring at muted TV news reports of the wildfires. A lone concession stand served coffee and doughnuts. Many evacuees gathered in the parking lot with their pets, which were banned from the stadium. The sprawling Del Mar Fairgrounds on the coast was also turned into an evacuation center, along with high schools and senior centers. At least one of the fires, in Orange County, was believed to have been set. And a blaze threatening the homes of the rich and famous in Malibu might have been caused by downed power lines, authorities said. Mel Gibson, Kelsey Grammer and Victoria Principal were among the celebrities forced to abandon their homes over the weekend, their publicists said. Another blaze was started by a car fire. Flying embers started new fires at every turn. San Diego County fires were burning so fast that authorities did not have an accurate count of how many homes had been destroyed. "It was nuclear winter. It was like Armageddon. It looked like the end of the world," Mitch Mendler, a San Diego firefighter, said as he and his crew stopped at a shopping center parking lot to refill their water truck from a hydrant near a restaurant. Asked how many homes had burned, he said, "I lost count." Tom Sollie, 49, ignored evacuation orders in Rancho Bernardo to help his neighbors spray roofs on his street with water. His home was untouched, but he watched a neighbor's house reduced to nothing but the remnants of a brick chimney. "The house went up like a Roman candle," Sollie said. He added: "If we weren't here, the whole neighborhood would go up. There just aren't enough fire trucks around." The blazes in San Diego County and elsewhere erupted one after another over the weekend. Things got worse Monday, when several new fires erupted and other fires merged. Parts of seven Southern California counties were ablaze. All San Diego police officers and detectives were ordered to return to work to help move people to safety and handle other fire-related emergencies. Firefighters complained that their efforts to stop the flames were delayed when they were confronted by people who refused to leave their homes. "They didn't evacuate at all, or delayed until it was too late," said Bill Metcalf, a fire boss. "And those folks who are making those decisions are actually stripping fire resources." As flames, thick smoke and choking ash filled the air around San Diego County's Lake Hodges, Stan Smith ignored orders to evacuate and stayed behind to help rescue the horses of his neighbor Ken Morris. "It's hard to leave all your belongings and take off, and the bad thing is you can't get back in once you leave," Smith said. "I heard the cops come by, and I just ducked," Morris said. Besides, said Smith, "Lots of time the fire doesn't ever come. It's come really close before. I've seen it so bad you couldn't even hear yourself talk over the flames and ash blowing everywhere." Black smoke blanketed much of northern San Diego and nearby suburbs as flames hopscotched around homes in Rancho Bernardo, a community with many elderly people, destroying one of every 10 homes on one busy street. Highways, canals and other features normally act as firebreaks. But the towering flames and flying embers rendered them useless this time. Dozens of motorists gathered on an Interstate 15 overpass in San Diego to watch flames race up a hillside and engulf at least a half-dozen homes. Witnesses said they watched flames jump west over the 10-lane freeway. "The flames were like 100 feet high and it moved up the hill in seconds. It was at the bottom, it was in the middle, and then it was at the top," said Steve Jarrett, who helped a friend evacuate his home in nearby Escondido. Fire near the San Diego Wild Animal Park led authorities to move condors, a cheetah, snakes and other animals to the fire-resistant veterinary hospital on the grounds of the park. The large animals, such as elephants, rhinos and antelope, were left in irrigated enclosures. The world-famous San Diego Zoo was not immediately threatened. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the seven affected counties, opening the way for government aid. "Its a tragic time for California," he said in Malibu, where a church, homes and a mansion resembling a medieval castle were destroyed over the weekend. White House deputy press secretary Scott Stanzel said in an e-mail that President Bush called Schwarzenegger to make sure the state is getting the help it needs. One person died in one of the fires near San Diego. More than a dozen people were hospitalized with burns and smoke inhalation, including four firefighters, three of whom were listed in critical condition, officials said. Some of the injured were hikers, while others may be illegal immigrants. San Diego County spokeswoman Lesley Kirk said fire crews were stretched thin and were anxiously awaiting reinforcements from other parts of the state. "The winds are up, it's very, very dangerous conditions," Kirk said. "Fires are popping up all over the place." Flames forced the evacuation of the San Diego community of Ramona, which has a population of about 36,000. Christine Baird, 42, was ordered to evacuate her apartment in the Rancho Bernardo area at 5:30 a.m. She moved to California from Canada earlier this year. "Instead of snow we had ash all over the car," she said. "This is all new for me. We've got no family in the area, so there's really nowhere else to go." In late October and early November of 2003, 15 fires in many of the same areas killed 22 people and destroyed 3,640 homes. Ten years earlier, in October and November of 1993, 26 fires in those areas killed four people and damaged or destroyed 1,200 structures. ——— Associated Press writers Chelsea J. Carter and Jeremiah Marquez in Los Angeles, Jacob Adelman in Santa Clarita and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.|*|10/23/07|*|General News|&&|
Broken boiler prompts Common Council session |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157045509.ams|*|  A special emergency meeting regarding the boiler at Amsterdam City Hall is set for tonight at 6 p.m. in the Common Council Chamber.  Fourth Ward Alderman Bill Wills said that the condition of the boiler, already known to be in rough shape, was worse than expected. "Jim Crisalli, our janitor, went to go do some preventative maintenance, to start it up. He didn't give any details, he just said it wasn't good," Wills said.   The council was made aware that the boiler had problems at the last meeting, and  Crisalli tried to determine if he could fix the problems himself. "[He] decided it was a little more than he can handle. It's an old boiler," Wills said. The council was waiting for Crisalli to obtain quotes from vendors, to determine whether the boiler could be fixed, or if it needed to be replaced. Wills said those quotes had been obtained and will be discussed at tonight's meeting.  "Obviously the warm weather has helped, because right now we'd be in the heating season. Hopefully we'll get it replaced in another week or two," he said. ——— Contact Stephen Shoemaker at stephens@recordernews.com|*|10/23/07|*|Local News|&&|
FFCSD settles tax bill with National Grid |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113410850157.ams|*|  The Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Board of Education OK'd a settlement with National Grid on Monday night regarding excessive property taxes the power company paid from 2005-2007. The settlement is in the amount of $250,000.  The board really didn't have much choice. "Once this is done, this demonstrates that we have accepted the settlement. At that point, then, things can move forward. If this is not approved by us, what happens is then it goes to court. So this is to settle this once and for all," Superintendent James Hoffman told the board.  Hoffman explained that the settlement relates to tax money that must be paid back to the utility because the property taxes the corporation paid in those years were too high. That's because the taxes were based on assessments that were themselves too high.  He said that businesses don't have to allow town assessors onto their property to assess improvements. All they have to do is report depreciation. As a result, F-F came to owe National Grid  some $250,000 because official assessments didn't match the depreciated value of the properties.  Hoffman said the board was prepared to pay off the settlement, though. They had set up an account with enough — but not by much, he added — money to pay it off.  Other discussion from Monday's Board of Education meeting:  *Hoffman announced that the district was being proactive in its efforts to address rising cases of staph infection throughout the country. "We have had issues with infectious diseases, and I want to get out in front of this one. I don't want to be reactive on this," Hoffman said, referring to an brief outbreak of whooping cough last year.  He said that locker rooms and other communal areas where infections could spread were thoroughly cleaned over the weekend. Tim Cellary, superintendent of buildings and grounds, said that while most cleaning solutions used in the buildings have a 10-minute contact (the time it takes to kill bacteria and germs), the solution used over the weekend had a 1-minute contact.  Additionally, he said that dispensers of hand-sanitizing solution will be installed throughout the school, starting with the elementary classrooms, where lessons are often more "hands-on."  "This is an ongoing thing. This is not going to go away this week, next week, or the week after," he said of the proactive efforts. Board president Carole DeBonte said that the most important method to protect against staph, or any other infection, is daily cleanliness. "Regardless of everything else, if we can get people to wash hands regularly, it's really the safest and most effective treatment," she said. Hoffman concurred. "So in a way, it might turn out to be a good thing if we can change some behavior patterns" with people keeping their hands clean, he said.  The district put information about the efforts on their website, www.fondafultonvilleschools.org. *An ill raccoon was put down on school grounds on Monday.  Hoffman said that the district received a call around 3 p.m. about an obviously-ill raccoon skulking around the entrance to the elementary building. He said that he and Cellary searched for the animal in a truck, but couldn't find it. Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies, who had been notified, also could not locate it.  At 5 p.m., another call came in about the raccoon, which had come back out of the woods and was on the sidewalk along the parking lot. 911 was called and two State Police troopers arrived.  By that time the animal had collapsed in the parking lot. The troopers took it near the exit on Old Johnstown Road, where it was put down.  Hoffman said that the animal was clearly in poor shape, even if it wasn't rabid, as it was shaking violently and walking with great difficulty. He said it would probably be tested for rabies when it was disposed of by an independent third party.  ——— Contact Stephen Shoemaker at stephens@recordernews.com   |*|10/23/07|*|Local News|&&|
 |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/290120903329422.ams|*| Bush asks Congress for additional $46 billion to fund Iraq, Afghanistan wars WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush asked Congress for $46 billion more to bankroll wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and said he wants the money approved by Christmas. The fighting in Iraq, in its fifth year, already has cost more than $455 billion. Democrats who gained control of Congress with an antiwar message said Bush should not expect lawmakers to rubber-stamp the request. "The colossal cost of this war grows every day — in lives lost, dollars spent, and to our reputation around the world," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "The American people long ago rejected the president's planned 10-year occupation of Iraq and want the administration to provide a concrete plan to bring our troops home.  Turkey sends more troops to border as Kurdish rebels say missing soldiers held captive SIRNAK, Turkey (AP) — Dozens of Turkish military vehicles streamed toward the Iraqi border with heavy artillery and ammunition Monday after Kurdish guerrillas killed a dozen soldiers and claimed to have captured eight in an intensifying crisis threatening to spill into Iraq. Arab nations joined the U.S. and Europe in urging Turkey's government not to attack suspected guerrilla bases in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, while Turkish citizens rallied across the country demanding action against the rebels. Iraq's president claimed the guerrillas would announce a cease-fire. But the rebels denied that, saying a cease-fire they declared in June was still in place. With tensions worsening, the Turkish foreign minister said his government was pursuing a diplomatic solution to halt rebel operations out of havens in Iraq, but warned that it wanted to see results soon if an escalation in military action was to be avoided. An AP Television News cameraman saw a convoy of 50 Turkish army vehicles, loaded with soldiers and weapons, including 155-mm howitzers, heading from the southeastern town of Sirnak toward Uludere, closer to the border.  House watchdog chairman says Blackwater may have violated tax laws WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic chairman of a House watchdog committee said Monday that Blackwater USA violated tax laws and may have defrauded the government of millions of dollars, a charge the embattled security firm said is groundless. Rep. Henry Waxman, who chairs the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a March letter from the Internal Revenue Service that states the company's classification of a security guard as an independent contractor, instead of company personnel, was "without merit." Under U.S. law, companies must pay Social Security and other federal taxes on their employees. But unlike other security companies operating in Iraq, Blackwater says the guards it trains, equips and deploys to Iraq and elsewhere are independent contractors hired directly by the federal government. "By classifying its armed guards and other personnel as independent contractors instead of employees, Blackwater has apparently evaded withholding and paying these taxes," Waxman, D-Calif., wrote in a letter to Blackwater chief Erik Prince. Waxman's charge comes as the company is struggling to salvage its reputation after a string of security incidents involving its guards, including a September shooting that left 17 Iraqis dead.  Two U.S. Navy sailors fatally shot at Bahrain base; fellow sailor accused in shooting CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — A U.S. Navy sailor shot and killed two female sailors early Monday in the barracks an American military base in Bahrain, officials said. The alleged shooter, a man, was critically wounded in the shooting at the U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain base, said a Navy official who was not authorized to release the information to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Navy said the shootings, which took place around 5 a.m. and forced the base to close for about an hour, were not terror related and only involved U.S. military personnel. A State Department official in Washington said that while initial reports suggested the incident may have been the result of a "love triangle," it now appeared to be a case of a jilted boyfriend shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend and then shooting himself. It was not clear if the second female victim was romantically involved, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still under way. The wounded sailor apparently shot himself, the Navy said. The Navy declined to release the names of those involved, saying their families had not been notified. Bahrain, a tiny island nation on the Persian Gulf, is a U.S. ally and home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which is responsible for an area of about 2.5 million square miles of water including the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.  Three people stabbed to death in suburban Rochester IRONDEQUOIT (AP) — Three people were stabbed to death Monday in a quiet neighborhood in suburban Rochester. A man and a woman were found dead of stab wounds in the bathroom of a house in Irondequoit and another man lying bleeding on a neighbor's lawn was declared dead at a hospital soon afterward, police Chief Richard Boyan said. "We do not feel that there are any other people involved," Boyan said. A 7-year-old found at the scene was placed under police protection. The motive for the killings was not disclosed, but police said they were called to the house on previous occasions because of domestic quarrels. No further details were immediately released.  China's lunar probe launch likely on Wednesday, weeks behind Japan BEIJING (AP) — China will launch its first lunar probe this week, an official said Monday — weeks after regional rival Japan put one in high orbit over the moon in a big leap forward in Asia's undeclared space race. The rivalry is likely to be joined soon by India, which plans to send its own lunar probe into space in April. The launch window for China's Chang'e 1 orbiter has been set for Wednesday through Friday, with the prime time being 6 p.m. (6 a.m. EDT) Wednesday, said Li Guoping, a spokesman for the China National Space Administration. The Chang'e 1 — named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon — would be launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province in southwestern China, Li said. China sent shock waves through the region in 2003, when it became the first Asian country to put its own astronauts into space. This year, China also blasted an old satellite into oblivion with a land-based anti-satellite missile, the first such test ever conducted by any nation, including the United States and Russia.  Lottery numbers ALBANY (AP) —Here are the numbers chosen Monday in the New York State Lottery: Daily Midday: 0-7-6   Lucky Sum: 13 Daily Evening: 7-6-4   Lucky Sum: 17 WinFour Midday: 3-6-5-0   Lucky Sum: 14 WinFour Evening: 4-5-7-4   Lucky Sum: 20 Pick 10: 4-9-12-20-21-23-35-38-39-48-49-54-55-56-59-60-62-73-76-79 Take Five: 39-37-1-17-25 |*|10/23/07|*|International|&&|
Close special election in Mass. shows power of immigration issue |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117162359169.ams|*| The Washington Post WASHINGTON — When Republican Jim Ogonowski launched his long-shot bid for Congress, he prepared for an upbeat campaign in his Democratic, working-class district of Massachusetts, based on a winning resume: affable hay farmer, former Air Force lieutenant colonel, and brother of the pilot on one of the jetliners that slammed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. But by last month, though opinion polling showed that he was well liked, he was still running 10 points behind Democrat Niki Tsongas with just weeks to go before a special election. The campaign needed a way to go beyond biography, to persuade Northern Massachusetts to vote Republican. They found it in illegal immigration. On Tuesday, Ogonowski still fell short, but Tsongas's 51 to 45 percent victory was a shocker in a district where both John Kerry and Al Gore took 57 percent of the vote, and where liberal Democratic Rep. Martin Meehan served comfortably for eight terms. The underwhelming victory of the wife of deceased former Sen. Paul Tsongas has rekindled Democratic concerns about an immigration issue they had hoped had been put to rest. "This issue has real implications for the country. It captures all the American people's anger and frustration not only with immigration, but with the economy," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and an architect of the Democratic congressional victories of 2006. "It's self-evident. This is a big problem." Republicans, sensing a major vulnerability, have been hammering Democrats, forcing Congress to face the question of illegal immigration on every bill they can find, from agriculture spending and housing assistance to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). House Democrats are so concerned that they have resumed talks on a new legislative push, even though the collapse of an immigration deal in the Senate this spring has left virtually no chance that a final bill can be passed in this Congress. But even in the early stages, those negotiations have only underscored the party's problems. Some Democratic leaders want what they call a "mini bill," emphasizing border control, penalties on firms that employ illegal immigrants and stronger efforts to deny illegal immigrants government benefits. But Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., the point man on the bill, said he will never accept a measure that does not include a pathway to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented workers in the country. "I think the Democrats are on the wrong side of this issue, and if they continue down this path, they are going to lose a lot of seats," said Matt Wylie, a strategist for the Ogonowski campaign. The issue has shifted since waves of illegal immigrants triggered angry calls for border fences and deportation two years ago. Now, voter anger appears to revolve around the belief that illegal immigrants are unfairly consuming government benefits, a fear that stems more from economic uncertainty than culture clashes, Democratic and Republican pollsters say. Those concerns are not everywhere. But they are glaring in some of the white, working-class districts in Kansas, Indiana, North Carolina and New Hampshire that gave the Democrats control of the House last year. And they were on clear display in Lowell, Mass. "Immigration played into the economic issue," said Francis Talty, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell who watched the Tsongas-Ogonowski contest. "Do you want illegal immigrants to get in-state (university) tuition? Do you want them to get driver's licenses? Do you want their children to get benefits under SCHIP? It was the benefit side that has real resonance, not the deportation thing." A new poll for National Public Radio, conducted by the Democratic polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, and the Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies, found that voters are more likely to side with Democrats than Republicans on war, taxes and spending, the economy, health care and health insurance for children, often by wide margins. On immigration, the Republicans hold a 49 to 44 percent lead. But even that might be deceptively tight, said Glen Bolger, a partner with Public Opinion Strategies. In the poll, the GOP position was framed as getting control of the border, requiring illegal immigrants to reenter the country legally, stopping illegal immigrants from getting government benefits and sending illegal immigrants who are criminals packing. The Democratic position was, "It is impractical to expel 12 million people, but we need tougher controls at the borders, tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants, and we should bar illegal immigrants from getting most government benefits, while allowing the law-abiding immigrants to get on a long path to citizenship." That Democratic message is much tougher than the one most voters are hearing, Bolger argued. "They're actually in worse shape than they think they are," he said. Dustin Olson, Ogonowski's campaign manager, said the candidate did not intend to make government benefits for illegal immigrants a centerpiece of the campaign, but it came up unbidden, again and again. Internal polling found that Ogonowski's tough stance was winning 60 percent to 30 percent over the positions articulated by Tsongas, said Rob Autry, another Public Opinion Strategies partner who served as Ogonowski's pollster. Ogonowski's position on taxes had a narrower, 13 percentage-point lead. Every other issue "was dicey," he said. Then, just two days before Tuesday's balloting, Tsongas said illegal immigrants should each be allowed to get a driver's license. The final radio ad of the Ogonowski insurgency intoned, "And now for something truly incredible. You already know Niki Tsongas supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, but today we learned Niki Tsongas would go even further. Tsongas told the Boston Herald she wants to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants." John Walsh, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said the final vote proved the limits of the immigration message. The district may be less Democratic than the presidential numbers make it appear, he cautioned. Republican gubernatorial candidates have carried it handily since 1990, until Deval Patrick, the current Democratic governor, won it with 51 percent of the vote, the same total Tsongas took. But in districts where Democrats do not have five points to give, those numbers loom large. "For the American people, and therefore all of us, it's emerged as the third rail of American politics," Emanuel said. "And anyone who doesn't realize that isn't with the American people."|*|10/23/07|*|Washington|&&|
Egelston's two goals lift Fonda Gray, 2-0 |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113412267133.ams|*| Cassandra Egelston scored a pair of goals as Fonda Gray defeated Fonda Black, 2-0, in the final Fonda Youth Soccer League game of the season on Saturday. Egelston scored off an assist from Jenna Kasza in the first half, then added her second goal minutes later to round out the scoring before halftime. Cody Aldi, Ashley Hulbert, Haley Frederick and Ashley Fonda played tough for Gray, while William Furman, Riley Cook, Shelby Wadsworth and Rebecca Hetnick were standouts for Black.|*|10/23/07|*|Local Sports|&&|
Bears continue to dominate in Senior Division |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/317109666780269.ams|*| The Bears remained unbeaten and unscored upon in the Amsterdam Little Giants Football League's Senior Division with a 12-0 victory over the Giants on Sunday. Ryan Motyka scored on a 60-yard run in the first quarter to give the Bears (6-0-1) all the points they would need. Hector Diaz scored on a 40-yard pass play in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring. On defense, the Bears were led by Zack Arsenault, Ceasar Lopez and Lucas Dorr, while the Giants got solid efforts from Gabe Orengo, with 7 tackles and 2 sacks, Forrest Lee, with 6 1/2 tackles and Rocky Marsicano, with 3 tackles. Cheerleading standouts for the Bears were Jordan Hazzard, Stephanie DeLorenzo, Hailey Mason and Emily Weitz, while Mailene Quinones and Delilah Quinones were standouts for the Giants. Saturday Bucs 12, Jets 0 Kolbie Glionna's 1-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the second quarter proved to be the game-winner, as the Bucs blanked the Jets. Jared Gallup scored on a 7-yard run in the third quarter to round out the scoring. On defense, the Bucs were led by Romeo Jones, Brady McGillin and Paul Damphier, while the Jets got stellar efforts from Dylan Angelo, Dan Lucas and Lucas Chico. Cheerleading standouts for the Bucs were Ashlin Glionna and Danielle Bort, while standouts for the Jets were Taylor Lanza and Cassandra Santiago. JUNIOR DIVISION Gold 7, Orange 0 Luigi Iorio scored on a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter to lift Gold over Orange. Brian Stanavich tacked on the extra point on Iorio's score. On defense, the winners were led by Brendan Gifford, Kyle Talor and Stanavich, while Orange was led by Jake Rodecker, with a pair of interceptions, Corey Tambasco and Jeff Salatel. Cheerleading standouts for Gold were Jolynn Cedeno, Lilian Orengo and Gianna Quatrini, while Heidy Ramos and Sam Bishop were standouts for Orange. Saturday White 19, Purple 7 Arian Marcano scored three touchdowns as White improved to 6-1 on the season. Marcano opened the scoring with a 6-yard run in the second quarter, and rambled 33 yards for another touchdown before the half to make it 12-0. Quarterback Ben Rhodes hooked up with Marcano on a 72-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, with Tyler Nordby hauling in the extra-point coversion pass from Rhodes. Purple got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter on Connor Pingitore's 9-yard touchdown run. Kris Van Hoesen tacked on the extra point run. On defense, White was led by Steve Weil, with five sacks, Brett Forsey and Robert Lucas. Purple got solid efforts from Terrance Kretser, Reid Perry and Michael Sollecito. Cheerleading standouts for White were Kennedy Nordby and Jasmine Bailey, while Emily Weitz and Brooke Auspelmyer were standouts for Purple. Scarlet 0, Green 0 Brian Swank, Kade Sherlock and Jessie Kellogg were defensive standouts for Scarlet, while Adel Rosario, Kory Bergh and Anthony Curtis were solid for Green in their scoreless tie. Cheerleading standouts for Scarlet were Katrina Reeber and Gabby Gonzales, while Rachel Cataldo, Halie Kaple and Kristalyn Salisbury were standouts for Green. |*|10/23/07|*|Local Sports|&&|
Rockies fans crash team's online sales |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157842558.ams|*| The Associated Press DENVER — The Colorado Rockies suspended World Series ticket sales Monday after overwhelming demand crashed their computer system. "Right now we're shutting the system down," club spokesman Jay Alves announced outside Coors Field, drawing boos from fans. "We expect to be online at some point." "We're as frustrated and disappointed as they are," Alves said. Alves had said last week that the Rockies were prepared for any computer problems. On Monday, there were 8.5 million attempts to connect with the computers in the first 90 minutes after sales started, he said, and only several hundred tickets had been sold before the system had to be shut down. The Rockies put as many as 60,000 tickets up for sale online only, and team officials said their computers were ready to handle the expected crush. But two hours after tickets went on sale, many fans reported they could not get access to the ticket-sales Web site. Officials with the Rockies and Major League Baseball did not immediately return calls. Irvine, Calif.-based Paciolan Inc., which is running the computers for the Rockies' World Series ticket sales, said the crash affected the company's entire North American system. Paciolan CEO Dave Butler said he did not yet know whether demand for Rockies tickets caused the crash. "This is not the Rockies' fault in anyway whatsoever," Butler said. "We are working hard to address it." Coors Field seats more than 50,000, but about 30,000 spots per game are allotted to season-ticket holders, the two teams and Major League Baseball.|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
La Russa back for 13th season with Cardinals |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113412444255.ams|*| The Associated Press ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa tended to his many pets on the West Coast for a week or so, and made up his mind: He wanted to keep managing. Now, he's hoping the St. Louis Cardinals can make an equally quick decision on hiring a general manager. La Russa agreed Monday to a two-year contract to stay in St. Louis, confident that the Cardinals can still be contenders. Whether he ever works out his rift with Scott Rolen, that remains to be seen. "You've got to be honest, he's probably the one guy who has issues with me," La Russa said. "You hope he's healthy, understand we have issues, and don't let it get in the way." A year after winning the World Series, the Cardinals endured a disappointing 78-win season. General manager Walt Jocketty, who hired La Russa in 1995, was fired earlier this month. The 63-year-old La Russa never courted offers from other teams. He would have preferred the new GM give the OK for his return, but La Russa felt it was important to finalize his status heading into free agency. Team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said all the GM candidates he's talked to have said they'd have no problem working with La Russa. "I'm real pleased it worked out," La Russa said. "I'm thrilled to be back." La Russa has led St. Louis to seven playoff appearances, six NL Central championships, two pennants and the 2006 World Series win over Detroit. His Oakland team won the 1989 World Series. DeWitt expects to hire a new GM by the end of the World Series. The candidates are all currently assistant GMs, including former Jocketty top aide John Mozeliak. "The sooner the better, ideally," DeWitt said. La Russa also said he'd gotten positive feedback from players with the notable exception of Rolen, the star third baseman with whom he's clashed repeatedly the past few seasons. La Russa twice benched him in the 2006 playoffs, displeased that Rolen failed to disclose the extent of a shoulder injury. Rolen disagreed with the manager's handling. Most of the roster is happy to have him back. "I've played for a lot of managers and as far as running a bullpen, I'd put him up there with Bobby Cox as the best in the majors," reliever Russ Springer said. "He's a winning manager, the fans love him and he gets respect from managers across the league." La Russa said the firing of Jocketty was not a huge surprise, given the front-office squabble that developed with Jeff Luhnow, vice president in charge of amateur scouting and player development. The two clashed in philosophy, Jocketty's old-school approach vs. Luhnow's new-school numbers crunching. "I was surprised that it happened like it happened," La Russa said. "But I was not surprised there were issues." La Russa is 1,055-887 (.543) with the Cardinals. He is third on the career wins list with a lifetime record of 2,375-2,070 (.534) with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland A's and the Cardinals. He was AL manger of the year in 1983, 1988 and 1992, and NL manager of the year in 2002. Mozeliak has been productive as the interim GM, picking up the option on closer Jason Isringhausen and re-signing starter Joel Pineiro and Springer. "I really don't feel like I'm being interviewed over three weeks or something like that," Mozeliak said. "I think they know what I'm capable of doing and Bill just wants to make sure whoever he puts in place he's comfortable with."|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Royals skipper Hillman prepared for first big league job in Japan |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/317109667045952.ams|*| KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Trey Hillman is one of the few big league managers who has never coached or played in the majors. Will that matter? "It all depends on what you believe is major league baseball," the new skipper of the Kansas City Royals said Monday, somewhat defensively. "In my humble opinion, I've been a major league manager for the last five years. We get after it in Japan." After being introduced on Monday as the Royals' 15th full-time manager, Hillman got ready to return to Japan to manage the Nippon Ham Fighters in their defense of Japan's World Series championship. A veteran of 13 years managing in the New York Yankees minor league system, the 44-year-old Hillman built the Fighters into one of the model franchises in the Japanese major leagues. He has managed in Japan for the past five years. "On many levels and on any given day, the quality of play (in Japan), I believe, is as good as it is here in the United States at the major league level," Hillman said. The Royals, despite signs of improving, finished last in the AL Central for the fourth year in a row and have not been in the postseason since winning the 1985 World Series. —The Associated Press|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Yanks have no interest in Valentine |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157931119.ams|*| The Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — Bobby Val-entine likely won't be asked to interview with the New York Yankees as they search for a new manager. The Yankees began the interview process Monday, with former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi spending about an hour at Legends Field. Yankees bench coach Don Mattingly was due in today and New York first base coach Tony Pena on Wednesday. "There's a slight favorite, not a heavy favorite," Hank Steinbrenner, a son of owner George Steinbrenner, said Monday. That favorite is presumed to be Mattingly, who spent this season as bench coach following three years as hitting coach under Joe Torre, who left last week after 12 seasons as manager. Girardi, who drove in and out with general manager Brian Cashman, did not speak with reporters. Hank Steinbrenner said four or five people will be interviewed, but Valentine wasn't on the list. Valentine, former manager of the New York Mets and Texas Rangers, currently is managing the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. "I would say at this point probably not. He's certainly a smart guy, but probably not," Steinbrenner said. Steinbrenner said the Yankees planned to discuss Monday whether to ask for a meeting with Alex Rodriguez, who has until the 10th day after the World Series to decide whether to terminate the final three seasons of his record $252 million, 10-year contract and become a free agent. The Yankees say that if Rodriguez ends the contract, they'll drop out of the bidding — they would lose a $21 million subsidy from the Texas Rangers if he opts out. "We want him to stay and I would think he would want to stay. We've made it clear if he opts out, goodbye," Steinbrenner said. Asked whether Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, understands the Yankees' position, Steinbrenner responded: "I think he does now."|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Power at the top |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113412621377.ams|*| By BARRY SVRLUGA  The Washington Post BOSTON — Early in the playoffs came the familiar poses, David Ortiz unfurling a ferocious swing and then lumbering around the bases, Manny Ramirez letting go of the bat, stretching his arms and his fingers and admiring his handiwork for oh, maybe five minutes. These are the constants in the Boston Red Sox' lineup, one that will roar into the World Series on Wednesday having scored 30 runs in the final three games of the American League Championship Series, three claps of thunder that deafened and debilitated the Cleveland Indians. But late Sunday night at Fenway Park, it was Ortiz standing near the on-deck circle, the blaring of the crowd for someone else, for the little man running toward him. Dustin Pedroia leapt into Ortiz's bear hug, something of a Little Leaguer racing to embrace his Papi. His two-run homer was in the seats above the Green Monster, another reminder for all of New England that in order for this offense to truly go, there must be more than Ortiz and Ramirez. "We've come to lean on them so much," Manager Terry Francona said Monday. Look, though, at the way the Red Sox thumped the Indians, at the way they will have to hit if they are going to beat the Colorado Rockies. Pedroia, who looks more like a high school sophomore than a big league second baseman, and first baseman Kevin Youkilis, the second-place hitter, became terrors at the top of the order. Ortiz and Ramirez, over the final three games of the ALCS, went a nothing-to-write-home-about 5 for 20 (.250) with five RBI and two extra-base hits between them. Pedroia and Youkilis, meanwhile, combined to go 15 for 26 (.577) with 12 runs scored, 11 RBI, 4 doubles, 1 triple and 3 homers. That hug for Pedroia from Ortiz? Thanks for saving our season. "Not to downplay the importance of David and Manny, because obviously they are a major reason we score runs," hitting coach Dave Magadan said Monday. "But we have to get contributions from everybody. ... I think when you see the times where either the top of our lineup are not getting on base for the middle guys, or the bottom of our lineup is not doing the job, those are the times we score our three, four runs." Sitting back and waiting for a three-run homer, perhaps the hallmark of Boston teams in the 1970s and 1980s, is long gone. Yes, the Red Sox scored the third-most runs in the AL. But they hit only 166 home runs, eighth in the league. "We've got that type of explosion," Magadan said. "But when we're consistent with it, and it goes up and down the lineup, is when we can put together a good streak." That the Red Sox would get deep into October and be relying on a player like Pedroia might have seemed ridiculous in April, when he hit .182 and, as Magadan said, "was making a lot of weak outs." He was, then, easy to pick on, because he hadn't put up numbers in an August call-up in 2006 (.191 in 31 games), and because he simply looks like he can't handle himself in the majors. Listed at 5 feet 9 and 180 pounds, he is a diminutive, walking cliche. "He's always been scrappy," rookie outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury said. Sure. But the scrappiness might be overwhelmed by attitude. General Manager Theo Epstein recently said Pedroia "walks around like he's an Adonis." It's apparent in his swings, violent, pop-out-of-the-shoes cuts one might expect from a slugger 100 pounds heavier. "To play this game at this level and be undersized and have people doubt you all the time, you have to have an edge to you," Pedroia said Monday. "I have to keep that. I'll have it my whole career. There's always going to be people doubting you, all the time." He did not, however, have anything to prove to the Boston brass. Asked when he knew Pedroia could handle a situation such as this, Francona answered quickly, "Last September." "Even when he wasn't hitting, we knew he knew how to play the game," Francona said. "That was never in question. I think he's taken some tremendous strides this year, but because, at times, the way he competes, we almost forget that he is a first-year player." So when he began the ALCS with three hits in his first 16 at-bats — all in the first four games, helping the Red Sox fall in a 3-1 hole — there was some external impulse to sit him down. To hear Francona and others tell it, that was never an option internally — not in the playoffs, not in April. "He didn't like people in the media doubting him, and he probably used that as a rallying point for himself," Magadan said. "But we as a staff knew it was a matter of time before he was going to ignite us and lead the way for us." With that, he hit .415 in May, and didn't have a month the rest of the season in which he hit lower than .299, finishing at .317. The exceptionally patient Youkilis, too, entered the postseason with much to prove, considering he hit .238 after the all-star break and missed 10 days after getting hit on the right wrist by a pitch in mid-September. That unwelcome injury, Francona said, allowed Youkilis to recoup some strength in his legs. His 14 hits against Cleveland (in 28 at-bats for a .500 average) set an LCS record. "He's rejuvenated himself both mentally and physically," Magadan said. "It shows. He's got a quick bat right now." Two quick bats atop a lineup that heads to the World Series with more to consider than the old refrains of Papi and Manny, Manny and Papi. Throw in the Adonis-minded second baseman and the scruffy-faced first baseman, and that is a lineup with which to contend.|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Report: College prices up again this year, while student borrowing rises to keep up |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117184587980.ams|*| By JUSTIN POPE AP Education Writer The price of college again rose faster than the inflation rate this year, climbing 6.6 percent at four-year public schools and outstripping increases in the financial aid that lowers what most students actually pay. The latest increases, reported Monday by the College Board, bring the average list price of four-year public universities to $6,185 this year, up $381 from 2006-2007. At four-year private colleges, tuition and fees rose 6.3 percent to $23,712. Public two-year colleges — which educate about half of American college students — again got the best marks for keeping a lid on price increases. Their average price rose 4.2 percent to $2,361. Accounting for aid, their average net cost is only $320 per year. "For too long, parents have grimaced and borne the high price of college because they presumed that a higher education is key to their child's success in today's economy," said James Boyle, president of the group College Parents of America, in a statement on the report. "Surely, the day will come — soon — when parents say enough is enough." The published price is not the real price for many students, thanks to financial aid, but the net price is rising too. On average, accounting for grants and tax breaks, the net price for full-time students at four-year public universities this year is $2,580. That's about $160 more than last year. At private colleges, net cost this year averages $14,400 — up $638 from a year ago. To make up the difference, students typically borrow as much as allowed from the federal government, but then turn to private student loans. A decade ago, nonfederal loans accounted for about 6 percent of student aid, but last year they were 24 percent. The rate of growth in private borrowing slowed last year. But that was at least partly because of new rules allowing graduates students to take out PLUS loans from the federal government, reducing their need for private loans. For undergraduates, private borrowing still rose 12 percent to $14.5 billion. Including room and board for students living on campus, charges for public four-year colleges were $13,589, or 5.9 percent higher than last year. At private four-year schools, average total charges come to $32,307. George Washington University in Washington, D.C. recently attracted attention for becoming the first major university with a published price, including room and board, of more than $50,000. However, the percentage of college-goers who pay such large sums is fairly small. Fewer than 10 percent of students even attend colleges with tuition and fees higher than $30,000, according to the College Board, and many of those students receive financial aid. About 56 percent of students at four-year colleges attend schools listing a price under $10,000, and about one-third attend schools charging under $6,000. The College Board's report does not try to explain why prices keep going up, though Sandy Baum, an economist with the group and at Skidmore College, points out that because of rising demand for higher education, more state appropriations have not translated into more money spent on each student. The report comes as Congress is in the early stages of considering a proposal that could require some colleges with large endowments to spend more of their savings to keep tuition down. Colleges call the idea misguided and say it wouldn't solve the underlying economic issues explaining the price increases. For the first time, the College Board report includes the rapidly growing sector of for-profit education, which now caters to about 8 percent of students. Their average prices are also rising rapidly — to $12,089, up 6.2 percent from last year. Peter McPherson, president of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, issued a statement saying that "leaders of America's public research universities continue to be concerned about the impact that the cost of attending colleges has on students and their families." But, he said, the average net price of $2,600 at four-year schools remains "excellent value."|*|10/23/07|*|General News|&&|
Eleanor F. Nichols |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113411027279.ams|*|  Eleanor F. Nichols, 100 years and nine months old, passed away Saturday morning   at Luther Rd., East Greenbush,NY.  Born in Everson, PA on February 11, 1907 a daughter of Joseph and Anna Briskie Nichols.   She lived most of her life in Amsterdam and attended local schools.    She worked  in the Amsterdam area as a setter for the former Bigelow Sanford Carpet Mills.  She also worked for a time at the former Gabay's clothing store and Holzheimer and Shaul clothing store. She later went to work for the former Luries Company for many years until her retirement.   She was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church and later St. Casimir's Roman Catholic Church both in Amsterdam. She is survived by her loving niece, Kathleen Skinner(Larry) of Wynantskill, NY and their son Nick Skinner. Several other nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.   Eleanor was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Stanley Nichols, John Nichols, Edward Nichols, Raymond Nichols, Robert Nichols, Pearl Nichols, Barbara Lasky, Celia Kilcoyne and Marie Dygon. A Chapel Committal Service will be held on Wednesday October 24, 2007 at 11:30 A.M. at St. Ann's Chapel in St. Casimir's Cemetery in Amsterdam.   There are no calling hours.   In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to LaSalle Institute, Troy, NY c/o the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, NY 12010.   Please sign the family's online guestbook at www.brbsfuneral.com.|*|10/23/07|*|Obituaries|&&|
Herman P. Kolterman |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/317109664920488.ams|*|  Herman P. Kolterman, 80, of Cranes Hollow Road, Amsterdam, went to be with the Lord Sunday, October 21, 2007 at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam after a brief illness. Born on March 14, 1927 in Amsterdam, he was the son of the late Gustave and Christina May Kolterman.   He was a lifelong area resident and a 1945 graduate of Burnt Hill Ballston Lake Central School.  I n November of 1953, Herman joined with the United States Army.  He served proudly for two years until his honorable discharge in 1955. For over 25 years, Herman was employed as a machinist at General Electric in Schenectady.  He was of the protestant faith, and loved animals.  Herman also enjoyed model railroads, and was a charter member of the Schenectady Railroad Group.  He also had a love for his '67 Mustang which he had for many years. His loving family includes his sister, Jean C. Kolterman of Amsterdam and several cousins. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, October 26, 2007 at 11a.m. at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, with the Rev. Jennifer Elliott presiding.   Interment will follow in the West Glenville Cemetery.   Calling hours will be held Thursday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Montgomery County SPCA, P.O. Box 484, Amsterdam, NY 12010 or to the Cranesville Reformed Church, 105 Cranes Hollow Road, Amsterdam, NY 12010.   Please visit the online guestbook at www.brbsfuneral.com|*|10/23/07|*|Obituaries|&&|
Melanie A. Szewczak |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157222631.ams|*|  Melanie A. Szewczak, 51, of Post Avenue, Tribes Hill, New York, died Monday morning at St. Mary's Hospital. Born in Amsterdam on January 23, 1956 she was the daughter of Robert J. and Judith A. Ostrander Guisti, Sr.  She was a 1975 graduate of Fonda Fultonville High School and later graduated from the Austin Beauty School in Albany. Mrs. Szewczak worked as a beautician for a time and later was employed by Coleco Industries until the company relocated. She was also a homemaker. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Tribes Hill where she had served as a Deacon. She had been very active in the church's activities especially with home visits. She also loved to cook. In addition to her parents she is survived by her husband, George J. Szewczak whom she married on July 2, 1983; her children, Matthew Szewczak of Fort Plain, Adam Szewczak of Tribes Hill and Erin Szewczak; her brother, Robert L. (Lynn) Guisti, Jr. of Fonda; her sisters, Susan (Guy) Martin of Tampa, Florida, Pamela M. Guisti of Glen, NY and Karen H. (Steven) Hockey of Henderson, NY; her maternal grandmother, Ruth G. Ostrander of Amsterdam; mother-in-law, Theresa Szewczak of Amsterdam; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Szewczak was predeceased by her sister, Laurie Willoughby. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the Amsterdam Funeral Chapel, 13 Belmont Place, Amsterdam with the Reverend Bonnie Orth officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Tribes Hill. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations may be made in memory of Mrs. Szewczak to the American Cancer Society in care of the  funeral chapel.|*|10/23/07|*|Obituaries|&&|
Dorothea Ellen VanDusen |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117157134070.ams|*|  Dorothea Ellen VanDusen, 90, formerly of 3rd Avenue, Canajoharie, New York died October 21, 2007 at Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown after a long illness. She was born in Amsterdam, NY on May 20, 1917 a daughter of Harold Martini and Mabel Pritchard. Mrs. VanDusen was a graduate of Fonda High School. Mrs. VanDusen was a waitress for many years at VanWie's Restaurant in Canajoharie, NY. In addition to that she was also a mother and homemaker. She was a life long area resident. Mrs. VanDusen was a member of the Canajoharie United Methodist Church.  She was a member and former president of the Smith-Schultz American Legion Post #222 Ladies Auxiliary in Canajoharie, NY. She was married to Louis D. VanDusen he passed away in January 1974. Mrs. VanDusen is survived by her daughter, Karen M. Sitterly of Fort Plain, NY; her sister, Janet Wick of Alabama; granddaughters, Amy E. Harrington and her husband John of Fort Plain, NY, Karen R. VanSchick of Canajoharie, NY and Denise L. Sitterly of St. Johnsville, NY; grandsons, Mark D. Luft of Canajoharie, NY and Otto P. Sitterly and his wife Phoebe of Canajoharie, NY; great grandchildren, Kayla M. Vogel of Fort Plain, NY, Crystal L. Vogel of St. Johnsville, NY, Amanda L. Larsen of St. Johnsville, NY, Ashley M. Larsen of St. Johnsville, NY, Ryan K. Larsen of St. Johnsville, NY, Nicholas Sitterly of Canajoharie, NY and Nathan Sitterly of Canajoharie, NY; great-great grandchildren, Courtney M. Murphy, Shaylee R. Vogel, Darren J. Vogel, Brian Battisti Jr. and Emanuel S. Johnson. She was predeceased by her son, David VanDusen. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc., 20 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, NY with the Rev. David Johnson officiating. Burial will take place in Canajoharie Falls Cemetery, Canajoharie, NY. A calling hour will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. October 24, 2007 at Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc., 20 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, NY. Memorial contributions in hr memory may be made to the Smith-Schultz American Legion Post 222, P.O. Box 104, Canajoharie, NY 13317.|*|10/23/07|*|Obituaries|&&|
 |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117175023392.ams|*| Duchessi stands by his record To the editor: Having served as Amsterdam's mayor for eight years, I am not new to politics or election campaigns. I know that people have different reasons for supporting or opposing the candidates for various offices. Some of the opinions, as expressed on this page, are defensible and some are not.  I understand and gratefully accept them as part of a political system that I love and continue to participate in. I read and I listen. I usually take opposing political opinion attacks in stride, even when the attacks are personal in nature and directed at me. I enjoy a good political debate, even if it's only with the city Democratic chairwoman instead of the Democratic candidate herself. Truly, Marcia Baranowski's recent letter to the editor could have said something nice. She could have mentioned that I was a caring person and a good mayor. One who responded to her when she called my home in the middle of the night, when she was in some distress and in need of help. Help that I delivered. Instead, Ms Baranoski has penned five intentionally deceiving statements, lies really, regarding my record. In my own defense, I offer the truth of the matter. The truth of the matter is that I suspended recycling because city taxpayers were not getting the services that they were paying for, and the recycling contractor was bringing our recyclables to a landfill instead of recycling them. The truth of the matter is that I was respectful to city council members, including the only woman on the council. I would not allow anyone to swear at me or use vulgarities at council meetings, regardless of gender. The truth of the matter is mayors alone do not raise or lower taxes. The truth of the matter is that there were no major audit findings atypical to any state audit reports. The truth of the matter is that I saved city taxpayers millions of dollars, that's right millions, in payments for an inherited sludge drying facility that did not and could not work. That's real leadership. That's real experience that will serve the taxpayers of Amsterdam. Experience that will serve the taxpayers better than any marketing plan that Ms. Baranowski or anyone else she writes for could imagine.  That's the real truth of the matter. John M. Duchessi Amsterdam Duchessi is a former mayor of Amsterdam and is currently running for the office on the Conservative line|*|10/23/07|*|Letters to the Editr|&&|
China is still red |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/308113446363118.ams|*|  The Washington Post Chinese President Hu Jintao used the word "democracy" more than 60 times in his speech to the Chinese Communist Party's 17th National Congress this week — which sounds impressive until it is noted that his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, used the word even more often at the 16th congress in 2002. Since then, there has been no change in China's totalitarian political system, despite the hopes that Hu at first inspired, and if this week's meeting in Beijing was any indication, none is intended for years to come. Hu will serve as president and party leader for another five years. Two possible successors expected to be named to the party Standing Committee in the next few days, Xi Jinping of Shanghai and Li Keqiang of Liaoning, used brief appearances before foreign journalists this week merely to mouth Hu's slogans about "scientific development." Those slogans are not entirely empty. At a time when China's economy continues to grow at a breakneck pace, Hu is talking about the need to tend to the social disparities and environmental damage that are its side effects. While city dwellers on China's coast are prospering, many in the towns and farms of the interior have been left behind. Beijing and other cities are choked with smog while rivers fill with toxic chemicals. Corruption is endemic inside and outside of the party and government. Hu is right to recognize these problems, but he proposes to tackle them without the tools that have proved most effective in the rest of the world — which are those of a democratic society. Unfettered media can expose corruption, but Hu has led a crackdown on the Chinese media during his tenure. Competition in the form of elections for party and governmental posts can ensure accountability, but Hu has abandoned steps in that direction. The party congress itself symbolized the leadership's continued commitment to the hermetic and hidebound practices of the past. Secrecy and wooden orchestration marked the proceedings; political dissidents were swept up before the congress began. Newspapers were ordered to report only good news for weeks in advance. For that reason, we suspect many ordinary Chinese must have appreciated the decision by the U.S. Congress and President Bush to honor the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, while the party congress was going on. Beijing fumed at having its pageant upstaged. But the White House meeting and the Congressional Gold Medal for the Dalai Lama ought to have been a reminder to Hu that he cannot ignore legitimate demands for human rights and political freedom without cost. In a way, China is fortunate: The Dalai Lama, like the democratic opposition in Hong Kong and the dissidents of Beijing, is moderate and compromise-seeking. If the Communist Party continues to ignore the need for political as well as economic reform, its future challenges may be less rational and peaceful.|*|10/23/07|*|Commentary|&&|
Dishwashers for Clinton |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117174934831.ams|*| Donors whose addresses turn out to be tenements. Dishwashers and waiters who write $1,000 checks. Immigrants who ante up because they have been instructed to by powerful neighborhood associations, or, as one said, "They informed us to go, so I went." Others who say they never made the contributions listed in their names or who were not eligible to give because they are not legal residents of the United States. This is the disturbingly familiar picture of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign presented last week in a report by the Los Angeles Times about questionable fund raising by the New York senator in New York City's Chinese community. Out of 150 donors examined, one-third "could not be found using property, telephone or business records," the Times reported. "Most have not registered to vote, according to public records." This appears to be another instance in which a Clinton campaign's zeal for campaign cash overwhelms its judgment. After the fund-raising scandals of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign, the dangers of vacuuming cash from a politically inexperienced immigrant community should have been obvious. But Ms. Clinton's money machine seized on a new source of cash in Chinatown and environs. As the Times reported, a single Chinatown fund-raiser in April brought in $380,000. By contrast, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry raised $24,000 from Chinatown in the course of his entire campaign. As with the warnings it dismissed about the mega-bundles being brought in by fund-raiser Norman Hsu, the Clinton campaign saw the red flags here. After the April fund-raiser, when some of the donors' stated occupations seemed out of line with the amounts they were giving, the Clinton campaign wrote to contributors asking them to confirm that the money was their own. In the case of seven $1,000 contributions, donors did not respond and their checks were returned, according to the campaign. The campaign says that the others, including one who told the Times that he did not give the money, reaffirmed the legitimacy of their contributions. It's certainly true, as campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson says, that "Asian-Americans in Chinatown and Flushing have the same right to contribute as every other American." The campaign argues that it did what it could to ensure that contributions were legal. The alternative, the campaign says, would be to prevent those with foreign-sounding names from participating in the political process. But there's another alternative: to strengthen a vetting process that seems geared more toward justifying the acceptance of checks than toward uncovering problems. —The Washington Post|*|10/23/07|*|Commentary|&&|
Tomlinson, other Chargers evacuate homes as fires scorch area |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/317109667311635.ams|*| SAN DIEGO (AP) — Reigning NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson was among several San Diego Chargers players, coaches and staff members who had to evacuate their homes as wildfires burned in San Diego County. The Chargers, who had just returned from their bye weekend, canceled practice Monday. Players were dismissed so they could take care of families, spokesman Bill Johnston said. As of late Monday morning, wildfires fanned by fierce desert winds forced the evacuations of nearly 250,000 people in San Diego County. Johnston said it was too early to know if the fires will affect Sunday's scheduled home game against the Houston Texans at Qualcomm Stadium, where the parking lot was being used as an evacuation center. Four years ago to the week, the Chargers had to move a home Monday night game to Phoenix on short notice because the Qualcomm parking lot was being used as an evacuation center during deadly wildfires. Tomlinson's business manager, Lamar Andrews, said he checked on the player at 5 a.m. and he and his wife had already left their home in suburban Poway. Andrews said two other players he represents, safety Marlon McCree and linebacker Matt Wilhelm, also evacuated their homes. Johnston said others in the organization were evacuated.  Season quickly escaping Eagles  One by one, the Eagles trudged from the locker room, down the hall, through a rotunda and into the auditorium for a rare Monday team meeting. Had the practice facility been a football field, the Eagles would have stopped a few feet shy of actually entering the auditorium and stood around. Philadelphia has been moderately successful at moving ball between the 20-yard lines. But once the Eagles get the ball inside the red zone, they fall into a funk and their disjointed offense fails to get a touchdown. The red zone may as well be a red light for the Eagles: 20 possessions have yielded only six touchdowns and 10 field goals. The Eagles (2-4) failed on their first three attempts against Chicago before Donovan McNabb connected with Matt Schobel for a TD late in their 19-16 loss, and they were 0-for-4 a week earlier against the Jets. Toss out a 4-for-5 effort against Detroit, and the Eagles have two touchdowns in 15 trips inside the 20. No wonder their season is slipping away with each blown chance to score six. "There's always the chance that you're trying a little too hard," coach Andy Reid said on Monday. "At the same time, you've got to bank on the way we've done things in the past down there. We've been very good in the red zone. Sometimes these things go in cycles. "We're not the only team that's been in this situation and turned things around and had a successful season. When things seem a little bit down, you find out who loves to play the game and who's willing to step up and rise to the occasion. I think I've got those kind of guys on this football team and we will get better."  Leftwich status a concern for Falcons The most pressing concern for the banged-up Falcons is the status of quarterback Byron Leftwich, who went down with what appeared to be a high right ankle sprain in his first start for the Falcons. He underwent an MRI on Monday, but coach Bobby Petrino wasn't sure how long Leftwich might be out. "I'm hoping Byron's on a timetable that he's back at some point," Petrino said. Leftwich played well, completing 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He also led a pair of scoring drives that ended with field goals by Morten Andersen, giving the Falcons a 13-7 halftime lead. The Falcons also lost starting left tackle Renardo Foster to a knee injury late in their 22-16 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. "Neither one looked good on film," said Petrino, who sounded more pessimistic about Foster's chances of playing again in 2007.  Titans FB Hall out four weeks Fullback Ahmard Hall had surgery on a broken left arm Monday and could miss four weeks. Hall broke his arm on Houston's first onside kick attempt in Sunday's 38-36 win by the Titans. Hall had gone in for Donnie Nickey, who had hurt an ankle. Coach Jeff Fisher said they had worried Hall's injury might be season-ending. "It is not, which is good news. The doctor was very pleased with the results. We may have him available to play once again for us after about four weeks," Fisher said. The coach said he also expects Vince Young to practice Wednesday. Young sat out Sunday's game because of a strained right quadriceps but was dressed and active if needed. Young still is receiving treatment for his right thigh. Fisher said it was an easy decision not to risk further injury. But he now expects Young to have healed enough so that he can play Sunday when the Titans (4-2) host the Oakland Raiders (2-4.) — The Associated Press|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|
Cowboys are the top pick in the 'other' conference |*|http://www.recordernews.com/Stories/299117158019680.ams|*| By DAVE GOLDBERG AP Football Writer Call the NFC the little conference that could. Sixteen 16 teams chug, chug, chugging along, hoping to become the sacrificial offering for New England in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 3. As the halfway mark approaches, make Dallas a solid favorite to win the conference, with the Packers and Giants right behind them. Green Bay may be a little tarnished, but New York (five straight wins) is moving up quickly. Even Chicago has a shot to get back to where it was last season as Brian Griese morphs into the anti-Rex Grossman. At the very least, the NFC is wide-open enough to make the rest of its season a lot more interesting than the AFC, where the order of merit seems to have been decided. In other words, everyone except Bill Belichick seems to have conceded the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the Patriots, unless they stumble over Indianapolis. No one questions whether the AFC is better at the top, but the NFC East, with a combined record of 17-9, is one of the two best divisions in the NFL. The AFC South (16-7) is the only other division with single-digit losses. New England's dominance also is made easier by the ineptitude of the other three teams in the AFC East, which is a combined 10-17. Until Buffalo's win Sunday over Baltimore, no AFC East team other than the 7-0 Patriots had won a game against a non-division opponent. On the other hand, the NFC East could produce three of the six conference playoff teams: Cowboys, Giants and maybe the Redskins. Assuming New York beats 0-7 Miami in London next week, the Cowboys' Nov. 11 visit to the Meadowlands becomes the NFC's biggest game this season. No, it's not as big as New England at Indianapolis the week before, but certainly more meaningful than the New England-Dallas "Game of the Century," which had little impact on the standings in either conference. Here's a look at the NFC "contenders." * * * 1. Dallas (6-1): Clearly the favorite. Dallas is the only team to lead New England in the second half of any game this season. The secondary is vulnerable: S Roy Williams remains weak in coverage and they miss CB Anthony Henry, who has the dreaded high ankle sprain, which can keep him out a long time. As long as Terrell Owens hangs on to the ball, the offense is the most explosive in the conference, and Marion Barber is an underrated running back. DT Tank Johnson will be on board for the Giants game, beefing up the run defense, although Tank and T.O. together may be a problem in waiting for coach Wade Phillips. 2. New York Giants (5-2): The Giants allowed 80 points in losses to the Cowboys and Packers the first two weeks. They have allowed four offensive touchdowns in the last 18 quarters. The pass-rushing quartet of Osi Umenyiora (8 sacks), Justin Tuck (7), Matthias Kiwanuka (4 1/2), and Michael Strahan (4) is as good as any in the last decade. Strahan said after getting 21/2 on Sunday: "I tend to get better as the season goes along." Eli Manning, who has become an excellent game manager, has combined with Plaxico Burress for eight TDs, and the trio of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Reuben Droughns is averaging 4.8 yards a carry behind an unsung line. Hey, even the retired Tiki Barber, a certified Giants-basher, said Sunday he likes his old team. 3. Green Bay (5-1): The lack of a dependable running game — an NFL-last 65.7 yards per game — will continue to put pressure on Brett Favre, who in his last two starts has begun forcing things again. The defense seems to make plays at the right time, such as Charles Woodson's return of Santana Moss' fumble that beat Washington. The Pack may have to hold off Chicago to win the North. 4. Chicago (3-4): Just a guess, but Sunday's win in Philadelphia may have turned around the season. The 97-yard drive Griese orchestrated for the winning touchdown with no timeouts in the final 2 minutes is something Grossman could not have done. If the defense isn't up to last year's standards, Devin Hester is starting to become a threat at wide receiver as well as a return man (three catches for 41 yards on Sunday). They still need a running game. If they can't catch the Packers, they can compete for a wild-card spot. 5. Washington (4-2): Probably should have lost to Arizona on Sunday. How many teams win when they are outgained 364-160? On the other hand, the Redskins lost in Green Bay in a game they dominated. They have a solid defense and decent offense at times, and Jason Campbell will become a good NFL quarterback. They have to go to Foxborough on Sunday. 6. Carolina (4-2), Tampa Bay (4-3), New Orleans (2-4), Detroit (4-2). And the entire NFC West: In some ways, the Cardinals look like the West's best team. Even with Kurt Warner playing with one arm, they almost won in Washington, and Ken Whisenhunt has them playing like no Arizona (or St. Louis or Chicago Cardinals) team in memory. Yes, they are 3-4 and trail inconsistent Seattle by a game, but they seem more solid. Still, Warner has to stay healthy and protect the ball. Recent history says he won't do either. If David Carr can stay healthy and play close to what was once his potential (No. 1 overall pick in 2002), the Panthers can probably beat out the Bucs. Tampa's aging defense might wear down as the season moves on. The Saints have won two straight and could win a bunch more and get back in the picture if Reggie Bush plays as he did Sunday, when he was more than just an open-field threat. The Lions give up yards and sometimes points in bunches, but are on track for their best run in the seven-season Matt Millen era. They trail the Packers by a game in the North, but, maybe because they're the Lions, they just don't seem to be a serious contender for either the division or a wild-card spot. Case in point: Detroit allowed eight touchdowns to the Eagles, who have scored just three other TDs all season.|*|10/23/07|*|Sports|&&|