| 2008 shaping up to be new start for RSL
Like many expansion franchises in professional sports, Real Salt Lake has taken its fair share of beatings.
The predicament is that most did not anticipate it would take the team three seasons to reach a respectable level.
RSL enters its fourth season in Major League Soccer with an overhauled roster, a remarkable stadium to be finished by fall and its most talented squad to date.
A season ago, the team had what was arguably the most potent offense in the league.
With players such as Jeff Cunningham, Freddy Adu, Mehdi Ballouchy and Chris Klein, Real was poised to outscore the opposition throughout the season.
Then, on opening day, the first of many blunders caused one of the biggest domino effects in MLS history.
With a one-goal lead, keeper Nick Rimando decided to charge out of the box and attempt to two-hand punch the ball out for the final clear of last year's home opener.
Need to drive? Well ... Sometimes we just want to
When prices go up at the pump, the nation's gas consumption slows down -- a sign that people under pressure do find ways to scale back their driving.So far in 2008, gasoline demand is down in the U.S. by several percentage points from a year ago, gas retailers say.The decline is remarkable, since gas use should be rising about 1 percent annually just to keep up with the population, said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service in Wall, N.J."The public has gotten used to $3, just like it got used to $2.50 or $2.75," Kloza said. "But $3.25 seems to be that point where you start to see some behavioral changes."The News & Observer recently asked readers to keep travel diaries for a week. Many said they were keeping stricter gas budgets or combining trips, but few said they had made drastic cuts yet.
Cards Notebook: Clement's return uncertain
Matt Clement made his first start of spring, throwing for the Cardinals' Class AA team in a scrimmage, but Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan is not certain when the righthander will be ready to join the rotation.
Duncan compared the progress of Clement, returning from shoulder surgery, to Chris Carpenter rehabilitating from elbow surgery.
"They're not at a place where you can confidently say they're going to be a big part of the rotation," Duncan said. "They're just not at that place. … (Clement) has still got a ways to go before you can sit there and say, yes, he is going to be a part of our rotation."
Duncan agreed that Mark Mulder, who threw well in batting practice Tuesday, is closer to returning than Clement. Mulder, who also had shoulder surgery, could be back by May.
2008 Baseball preview: NL East
2007: 89-73, first place. Manager: Charlie Manuel (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Brad Lidge, 3B Pedro Feliz, OF Geoff Jenkins, OF So Taguchi, INF Eric Bruntlett, RHP Chad Durbin, RHP Kris Benson.He's Outta Here: CF Aaron Rowand, OF Michael Bourn, 2B Tadahito Iguchi, RHP Geoff Geary, INF Abraham Nunez, RHP Jon Lieber, RHP Freddy Garcia.Projected Lineup: SS Jimmy Rollins (.296, 30 HRs, 94 RBI, 20 triples, 41 SBs), CF Shane Victorino (.281, 12, 46, 37 SB), 2B Chase Utley (.332, 22, 103), 1B Ryan Howard (.268, 47, 136), LF Pat Burrell (.256, 30, 97), 3B Pedro Feliz (.253, 20, 72 with San Francisco), RF Geoff Jenkins (.255, 21, 64 with Milwaukee) and Jayson Werth (.298, 8, 49), C Carlos Ruiz (.259, 6, 54). Rotation: RH Brett Myers (5-7, 4.33 ERA, 21 saves), LH Cole Hamels (15-5, 3.39), LH Jamie Moyer (14-12, 5.01), RH Kyle Kendrick (10-4, 3.87), RH Adam Eaton 10-10, 6.29) or RH Chad Durbin (8-7, 4.72 with Detroit).Key Relievers: RH Brad Lidge (5-3, 3.36, 19/27 saves with Houston), RH Tom Gordon (3-2, 4.73, 6 saves), LH J.C.
Soldier has piece of shrapnel removed from face
HEATH -- A Heath soldier injured in Iraq on New Year's Eve 2006 had surgery last week to remove a piece of shrapnel that had been above his left eye for almost 15 months. Todd Henry, 40, son of Heath City Councilman Cledys Henry, had the copper piece removed from just under the skin in an outpatient procedure at the Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Clinic, Columbus. .
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