BRIEFS
Dolphins' Taylor takes stage for dance show
MIAMI – When Jason Taylor takes the stage to face network TV cameras and dance the fox trot, he figures his jitters will be Super Bowl-size.
“I’ll be shaking,” he says.
Still, the Miami Dolphins defensive end is glad he accepted an invitation to perform on “Dancing with the Stars.”
He’ll be among the contestants when the show begins its sixth season tonight.
Taylor says he’s having “a blast” learning to dance, despite an arduous practice regimen that involves six hours a day in the studio, with sessions likely to become longer as the competition continues.
Taylor, who is on his sixth head coach with the Dolphins, is now taking instruction from his dancing partner, Edyta Sliwinska.
“She’s the best coach I’ve ever had, better than all of them,” he says. “She looks better, she sounds better, she’s more polite and yet she gets the work done.”
So now is he a good dancer?
“No,” Taylor says.
AUTO RACING
Hamilton triumphs in F1 opener
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne after an accident-filled season-opening race. The 23-year-old British driver led from pole position and was never seriously threatened before finishing 5.4 seconds ahead of BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld in second place.
Pedregon grabs NHRA victory
Defending Funny Car series champion Tony Pedregon raced to his first victory of the season and 37th of his career, beating Gary Densham in the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. Tony Schumacher, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Guidera also won their division. Schumacher claimed his 43rd career Top Fuel victory and third in the Gatornationals. Coughlin took his first Pro Stock win of the season and 39th of his career by outrunning Jason Line. Top qualifier Guidera earned his second career victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle by sweeping the season-opening event for bikes.
BASKETBALL
Heat’s Riley returns from scouting trip
The Pat Riley scouting tour is over, for at least a few days. Riley was back with the Miami Heat, coaching his team against the Dallas Mavericks. He missed Friday night’s game against the Orlando Magic because he was midway through a three-day trip to evaluate top college players who most likely will be available in the NBA draft. The Heat, assured a spot in the NBA lottery, have the league’s worst record – and, as of now, the best chance of obtaining the No. 1 pick in the June draft. Because the team believes the draft will play a crucial role in its rebuilding, Heat owner Micky Arison asked Riley to see several league tournaments and evaluate top college prospects in person.
BASSMASTER
VanDam captures Citrus Slam
Kevin VanDam won a BASS event in Florida for the first time in his 18-year career, taking the Citrus Slam on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Florida. VanDam had a catch of 10 pounds, 6 ounces for a tournament total of 59-7. Ray Sedgwick of Cross, S.C., was second at 57-12, and Scott Rook of Little Rock, Ark., was next at 56-7.
BOXING
Pacquiao takes WBC in bloody rematch
At the merciful final bell in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez both raised their arms in victory, just as they did after their first fight nearly four years ago. Their cornermen boosted them into the air again, arms around their fighters’ blood-spattered trunks. Pacquiao (46-3-2) won a split decision to claim Marquez’s WBC 130-pound title Saturday night in a sensational fight that left both men bleeding, battered and triumphant. Pacquiao won a major world title in his fourth weight division, and he intends to take on a fifth when he moves up to 135 pounds for his next fight against David Diaz, the WBC lightweight champion who won on Saturday’s undercard.
FOOTBALL
Titans’ RB White cited with charges
Tennessee Titans running back LenDale White has been cited with destruction of property, disobedience to a lawful order/interference and resistance in Denver. Police spokeswoman Sharon Hahn said that the 23-year-old Denver native was cited shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday. White was cited near a downtown club that was throwing a party in his honor Friday night. He had a team-best 1,110 yards rushing last season.
TENNIS
Roddick angry during defeat
Andy Roddick lost his temper – and his third-round match in the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Calif. Roddick broke at least two rackets, hit a ball out of the crowded stadium and threw several small temper tantrums in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Tommy Haas. The loss was only Roddick’s third of the year in 18 matches.