EDs: The following is AP's Sports Digest. If you see a story that you want that has not moved on the CP sports budget, please call us at (416) 507-2154 or e-mail sports(at)cp.org and we will relay it to you. All times ET.
MASTERS:
Masters provides a new exam
AUGUSTA, Ga. _ Under sunny skies, Augusta National was showing its strength Thursday as the Masters got under way in firm, fast conditions on a 7,445-yard course that is the second-longest in major championship history.
BC-GLF--Masters. To move about 7 p.m.
By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson
Big changes, small number of birdies
AUGUSTA, Ga. _ Of the six changes at Augusta National, the holes getting most of the attention _ make that criticism _ were the 240-yard fourth hole and the 505-yard 11th. After the first round of the Masters, it was easy to see why.
BC-GLF--Masters-Course Changes.
By National Writer Nancy Armour.
A strange week for Lehman
AUGUSTA, Ga. _ This is a Masters week Tom Lehman might not forget. His courtesy car has a bullet hole in the rear door on the driver's side, a suspect was arrested and a good tournament can get him into the mix for making his own Ryder Cup team.
BC-GLF--Masters-Lehman.
By National Writer Paul Newberry.
_ BC-GLF--Masters-Notebook. By Doug Ferguson.
_ BC-GLF--Masters-Glance.
_ BC-GLF--Masters-Leader Cards.
_ BC-GLF--Masters-Key Hole.
_ Other sidebars as they develop.
COLUMNS:
Sights and sounds of the Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. _ Jim Litke writes his column from the first round of the Masters.
BC-GLF--Jim Likte.
By National Columnist Jim Litke.
AUGUSTA, Ga. _ Tim Dahlberg writes his column from the Masters.
BC-GLF--Tim Dahlberg.
By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg.
BASEBALL:
Bonds, Giants return home to face Braves
SAN FRANCISCO _ Barry Bonds returns home with the Giants still looking for his first home run of the season when San Francisco opens a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves.
BC-BBN--Braves-Giants. Starts at 4:05 p.m. EDT.
By Janie McCauley.
Rollins closing in on 40-game hitting streak
PHILADELPHIA _ Jimmy Rollins, a three-time All-Star shortstop for the Phillies, is vying to become just the seventh player in major league history to have a 40-game hitting streak, though he'd be the only one to do it over two seasons.
BC-BBN--Rollins-Going for 40.
By Rob Maaddi.
_ BC-BBN--Cardinals-Phillies. By Rob Maaddi. Game starts 3:05 p.m.
_ PEARL, Miss. _ BC-BBM--Minor League Umpires. By Joedy McCreary.
_ NEW YORK _ BC-BBN--Mets Stadium. By Sara Kugler. MOVED.
_ UNDATED _ BC-BBA--AL Capsules.
_ UNDATED _ BC-BBN--NL Capsules.
LACROSSE SCANDAL:
Duke scandal: Lacrosse team members had been in trouble before
DURHAM, N.C. _ Long before the rape accusations that rocked Duke University, the lacrosse team had a swaggering, hard-partying reputation, and about a third of the squad had been arrested on alcohol and public urination charges. Now, administrators are wondering whether they tolerated the team's rebel ways for too long.
BC-Duke Lacrosse Team.
By Allen Breed.
DRUGS IN SPORTS:
NSF safeguards sports from banned substances
ANN ARBOR, Mich. _ John Travis strained two gel capsules through a liquid concoction, preparing the supplements for testing in a $250,000 machine that can analyze every compound in them.
In another NSF International laboratory, a microbiologist peers through a microscope in a dark room with a purple light. Welcome to sport's war on banned substances.
BC--Safeguarding Sports
By Larry Lage. AP Photos.
_ BC-Safeguarding Sports-Glance.
NBA:
Heat, Pistons meet for fourth and final time in regular season
MIAMI _ The Miami Heat, playing without Jason Williams and Alonzo Mourning, play host to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night in the fourth and final regular-season meeting between last year's Eastern Conference finalists.
BC-BKN--Pistons-Heat. Game starts at 8 p.m.
By Tim Reynolds.
_ PHOENIX _ BC-BKN--Suns-No Amare. By Bob Baum.
_ OAKLAND, Calif. _ BC-BKN--Warriors-Ellis' Education. By Greg Beacham.
_ UNDATED _ BC-BKN--NBA Capsules.
AUTO RACING:
Aikman-Staubach NASCAR team making ``home'' track debut
FORT WORTH, Texas _ Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach are back on ``home'' turf _ in an entirely different venue. The Hall of Fame quarterbacks who combined to win the Dallas Cowboys' five Super Bowl championships make their Texas debut as NASCAR owners this weekend. Their Hall of Fame Racing team is off to a respectable start, with Tony Raines now behind the wheel after two-time Cup champion driver Terry Labonte got them started.
BC-CAR--NASCAR-Texas. Should move by 7 p.m.
By Stephen Hawkins.
_ BC-CAR--NASCAR Busch. Qualifying starts at 7:05 p.m.
HORSE RACING:
Hendricks trains Kentucky Derby contender from a wheelchair
ARCADIA, Calif. _ Dan Hendricks thought his career as a trainer was over the day he was paralyzed from the waist down in a motocross accident. Nearly two years later, he gets around in a wheelchair while overseeing Brother Derek, a colt who has given Hendricks his first Kentucky Derby contender at 47.
BC-RAC--Santa Anita-Paralyzed Trainer.
By Beth Harris.
_ NEW YORK _ BC-RAC--Wood Memorial. By Racing Writer Richard Rosenblatt.
INTERNATIONAL:
_ LONDON _ BC-TEN--Davis Cup Preview. By Krystyna Rudzki. MOVED.
_ LIVERPOOL, England _ BC-RAC--Grand National. MOVED.
ALSO:
_ NEW YORK _ BC-FBN--NFL Schedule. MOVED.
_ ORLANDO, Fla. _ BC-Black Athlete Graduation. By Travis Reed. MOVED.
_ LAS VEGAS _ BC-BOX--Mayweather-Judah. By Greg Beacham.
_ MILWAUKEE _ BC-HKC--Boston College-North Dakota. By Colin Fly. Game starts at 3 p.m.
_ MILWAUKEE _ BC-HKC--Maine-Wisconsin. By Colin Fly. Game starts at 8 p.m.
_ WASHINGTON _ BC-Sugar Ray Stamp. By Randolph E. Schmid. MOVED.
_ UNDATED _ BC-HKN--NHL Capsules.
