UFC gets Ortiz deal, but no Emelianenko

Tito Ortiz has returned to the UFC. Fedor Emelianenko doesn't appear close to joining him.

UFC president Dana White announced a deal Friday to bring back Ortiz, the popular mixed martial artist who left the league last year in a bitter public dispute with White over issues of respect and money.

The former light heavyweight champion has recovered from major back surgery and plans to fight late this year or on the UFC's Jan. 2, 2010, card in Las Vegas.

''They just gave me an offer I couldn't refuse and made up for the things that were done before,'' said Ortiz, whose celebrity has outpaced his accomplishments since his last UFC victory in October 2006. ''You'll never …

Developing a Social Media Policy

SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS SUCH AS blogs, microblogs like Twitter, video, and social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook represent an emerging collaborative environment for customers and employee engagement. But organizations that use these tools must begin-or expand- their conversations with employees about keeping confidential information private.

The 2009 Electronic Business Communication Policies & Procedures survey from the American Management Association (AMA) and The ePolicy Institute underscores the issues involved. According to the survey of employees at 586 companies, 14 percent of employees admitted e-mailing confidential information, and another 14 percent said …

Oil prices drop below US$127 a barrel on worries about demand, CFTC investigation

Oil dropped below US$127 a barrel Monday on worries that prices are cutting into demand and as a probe into futures trading by a U.S. regulator continued to weigh on the market.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery was down US$1.11 to US$126.24 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe.

On Friday, the contract settled at US$127.35 a barrel, up 73 cents after dipping below US$125 and then rebounding.

In London, July Brent crude futures fell US$1.27 to US$126.51 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

Jitters about record high fuel and energy prices _ particularly in the U.S., which …

Spinning Bears must sign Benson now Six days after Grossman's ankle break, Halas Hall prefers to engage in a taffy pull with Benson's agent

He began camp as Thomas Jones, a decent NFL runner who becameobsolete when Terry Shea and his offensive offense were ditched. Butwith each passing day of Cedric Benson's holdout, it's amazing howJones' reputation is soaring at Halas Hall. Two weeks ago, he wasreminding some folks of Priest Holmes. Last week, the workingcomparison was LaDainian Tomlinson.

And this week? Why, he could be the next Sweetness, baby.

Enough with the spin games, please. No one has time for managementjibber-jabber after the saga of Rex Grossman, whose season-endinginjury goes down among the all-time bonehead developments in Chicagosports -- a redundancy, I know. Jerry Angelo has yet to …

Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Daily Computing

As we contemplate the end of another summertime fun season, it'stime to take stock of our home, dorm, and office computers and getthem up to snuff for our back-to-work rush this fall. With that inmind, I've put together my top 10 list for improving your desktop ornotebook computer, be it a PC or Mac.

10. Buy a high-quality voltage regulator/surge suppressor.This will save your computer, modem and other peripherals fromdangerous voltage spikes and help protect them against voltagebrownouts and radio frequency noise. My recommended unit is theTrippLite Isobar MasterTouch Plus. Expect to pay $120 for it.

9. Buy a line interactive uninterruptible power supply …

Analysis: US buys time in Mideast, but also woes

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Obama administration has managed to buy time and may have staved off an embarrassing and politically awkward showdown over Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. It may also have maneuvered itself into a corner.

The U.S. and the rest of the international diplomatic Quartet of Mideast peacemakers endorsed specific timelines for restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks Friday. The U.S. hopes that new talks aimed at drawing a Palestinian state will persuade the Palestinians to put their separate bid for full statehood recognition at the U.N. on hold.

At the same time, committing to those detailed deadlines raises potentially unrealistic hopes for …

China urges car makers to boost quality

China is urging its automakers to upgrade quality and set up accountable recall systems to handle defects, amid growing awareness of such issues following Toyota's recent recalls.

Chinese vehicle sales surged 45 percent last year, to over 13 million units, making China the world's biggest auto market. Sales growth this year remains in the double digits so far, prompting local automakers to announce major expansion plans.

As they rush to meet surging demand, car makers need to guard against "blind expansion," the Ministry of Information and Technology said in a statement issued on the eve of Monday's World Consumer Rights Day.

…

[ SPORTS ]

No new sports for '04 summer Olympics

The International Olympic Committee ruled today in Lausanne,Switzerland, that no new sports will be accepted for the 2004 SummerGames in Athens, dashing the hopes of water skiing, ballroom dancingand other events lobbying to get onto the program. In a break withrecent tradition of adding new sports at each games, theInternational Olympic Committee executive board upheld therecommendation of its program commission to shut the door for 2004.

Patrick McEnroe to take over Davis Cup

Patrick McEnroe, who has spent his life in tennis in his olderbrother's shadow, was selected today to replace John McEnroe ascaptain of the U.S. …

Woman in Pa. murder-suicide broke up with gunman

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman posted online that she had met a new man but was conflicted about breaking up with the father of her three children just days before he shot and killed her, two of the kids and himself.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jamie Malanowski of Erie posted Nov. 9 on her Facebook page that she had broken up with 29-year-old Brian Dacus but wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.

The Erie Times-News …

AP sources: Raiders knew mission a one-shot deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Those who planned the secret mission to get Osama bin Laden in Pakistan knew it was a one-shot deal, and it nearly went terribly wrong.

The U.S. deliberately hid the operation from Pakistan, and predicted that national outrage over the breach of Pakistani sovereignty would make it impossible to try again if the raid on bin Laden's suspected redoubt came up dry.

Once the raiders reached their target, things started to go awry almost immediately, officials briefed on the operation said.

Adding exclusive new details to the account of the assault on bin Laden's hideout, officials described just how the SEAL raiders loudly ditched a foundering helicopter …

From the Book Review Editor

THIS REVIEW SECTION covers a diverse collection of recent health reports, web sites and book reviews from the fields of nutrition and dietetics and social work. I am sure the links and book reviews will provide you with useful …

With statehood, Palestine ready to end all claims

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinians are ready to end all historic claims against Israel once they establish their state in the lands Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast War, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday, addressing a long-standing Israeli demand.

In an interview with Israel TV, Abbas also said negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remain his preferred choice, but that he will consider other options if talks break down over Israel's continued settlement expansion.

Negotiations were relaunched by the Obama administration last month, but quickly faltered over Israel's refusal to extend a curb on Jewish settlement construction. Abbas says there's no point negotiating as long as settlements take over more land claimed by the Palestinians.

The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967. Israel has withdrawn from Gaza, but about half a million Israelis have settled in the other war-won areas.

Netanyahu wants the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and said earlier this week he might extend a curb on settlement construction in exchange for such recognition. A 10-month-old moratorium on West Bank housing starts expired in late September, and Abbas has said he will not return to negotiations without an extension.

The Palestinians argue that it's not up to them to determine the nature of the state of Israel. Abbas noted that Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization recognized each other in 1993, saying this should be sufficient. Abbas heads the PLO.

However, in an apparent attempt to reach out to Israeli public opinion, he said that once the Palestinians have established their state in the 1967 borders, "there is another important thing to end, the conflict, and we are ready for that, to end the historic demands."

He did not elaborate on specifically which demands he was relinquishing, but traditionally Palestinians have demanded the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homelands in Israeli territory.

Asked about options if talks collapse, Abbas said the Palestinians might turn to the U.N. Security Council to seek recognition of their state. "All the options are open, but we don't want to use all of them right now. We are focusing on resuming direct talks," he said.

He said that for the time being, he has not considered resigning or dissolving the Palestinian Authority, his self-rule government which has limited control over about 40 percent of the West Bank.

Abbas defended his decision not to resume talks until Israel curbs settlements, noting that the international community is unanimous in its demand for a settlement freeze. "When (President Barack) Obama came to power, he is the one who announced that settlement activity must be stopped," Abbas said. "If American says it and Europe says it and the whole world says it, you want me not to say it?"

Since the start of negotiations, Abbas said he spent about 25 hours talking to Netanyahu directly, and that they spoke freely.

Abbas said that when he appealed to Netanyahu to halt settlement building, the Israeli leader told him his government would fall. Netanyahu heads a center-right coalition with several pro-settlement parties.

"I told him this is a historic opportunity for you that we sign a peace agreement," Abbas said of his conversations with Netanyahu. "I am afraid if we can't do it these days, the opportunity will be lost."

In other developments Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel has resumed indirect talks with the Hamas rulers of Gaza about swapping hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for a captive soldier held for more than four years. The German mediator who has been working to broker a deal to bring home the soldier for about a year has returned to the region, Netanyahu said. The soldier was captured in 2006.

In northern Gaza, meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike killed two militants.

The Israeli military said its air force targeted a squad of militants preparing to fire rockets at Israel.

The militants' affiliation was not immediately known, but they did not appear to be connected to Hamas or any other major group since there was no claim of responsibility.

The Israeli military said more than 165 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel from Gaza so far this year.

___

Associated Press writer Dalia Nammari contributed to this report from Jerusalem.

Hospitals asked to look for missing Oregon cyclist

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The search for a missing Oregon cyclist who might be suffering from brain cancer has spawned a coast-to-coast volunteer effort that includes checking hospitals for John Doe patients who don't know their name.

So far, there is no trace of Mark Bosworth, 54, who vanished on Sept. 16 while he was accompanying more than 2,000 riders on the seven-day Cycle Oregon tour through Southern Oregon.

"There are no good leads that haven't been thoroughly looked at," said Lt. Chris Merrifield of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. "It's very frustrating."

Bosworth's relatives in Portland think he may have suffered a relapse of cancer that has attacked his brain and caused dementia-like symptoms.

After a search in and around the town of Riddle turned up no sign of Bosworth in the days immediately after his disappearance, many of the efforts to locate him have relied on blogs and social media.

People were asked to call hospitals to see if any delirious patients with no ID might be Bosworth, said Roberta Altstadt, a co-worker of the missing man. As a result, volunteers have called 1,400 hospitals in 21 states, she said.

On Sunday, a search and rescue team returned to Riddle but again found nothing, authorities said.

Bosworth's wife, Julie, said she and her daughters were finding strength in the love they have for Bosworth, and "feeling this reflected back to us" by people across the country.

"I hope everybody is holding their loved ones close, and appreciating what they have in their lives," said Julie Bosworth, who was traveling along the Southern Oregon coast with her daughters Monday to hand out fliers bearing her husband's photograph.

Mark Bosworth is a two-time lymphoma survivor. His doctors have told his family that unusual behavior reported before he went missing suggests the lymphoma had returned and is creating pressure on the frontal lobe of his brain. Participants in the Cycle Oregon tour said Bosworth was forgetting where he had pitched his tent and would stand by himself, staring into the distance.

Before he left for the Cycle Oregon trip, Bosworth had complained of headaches. Julie Bosworth said he made an appointment to see his doctors, but he shrugged off the headaches and scheduled the doctor visits for a time after the bike trip.

Bosworth was a volunteer on Cycle Oregon, helping with logistics. He vanished from a campsite set up in Riddle for Cycle Oregon riders. His wallet, containing his credit cards and his driver's license, were found in a coat he left behind.

___

On the Web:

https://sites.google.com/site/findmarkb/

http://www.facebook.com/FindMarkBosworth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh_Gcc12yG0

Atlanta airport opens bird sanctuary

The world's busiest airport has taken time to transform a dried lake bed into a serene 56.5-acre (23-hectare) sanctuary nestled 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of the bustle.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport quietly opened the Sams Lake Bird Sanctuary park in Fayette County in September with the help of the Southern Conservation Trust.

"The idea of man creating wetlands is a very new and modern idea," said Kathryn Masters, the airport's lead engineer on the $5 million restoration project. "It is going to be fun to watch it grow over the next 20 years."

Federal law required the airport to complete the wetlands restoration project after constructing its fifth runway, which paved through 14 acres (5.7 hectares) in the Flint Basin. The Clean Water Act mandates the restoration of every acre (hectare) of wetlands disturbed by infrastructure development. The Army Corps of Engineers gave the airport a permit to restore Sams Lake.

The project features a reconstructed stream, wooden bat houses, three observation decks, a half-mile (a kilometer) mulch walking trail and a gravel parking lot. Three dams made of car-size rocks and packed with dirt have created three ponds where bass fish and nesting birds now live.

Since construction ended, wildlife has quickly filled in the land. Southern Conservation Trust director Abby Jordan said she has seen deer, turkeys, hawks, blue herons, crows, bats, egrets, snakes and toads.

The restoration began five years ago, Masters said, but tropical storms washed out a berm in 2004. Airport engineers then changed plans to make the habitat naturally sustainable long term.

"The whole concept of wetland mitigation has changed. We went from a very man-controlled environment to the design you see today, which is much more working with nature, much less maintenance for the conservancy," Masters said. "It will just work with the natural ebb and flow of the seasons."

Airport workers will return to the sanctuary this winter when water levels lower to plant trees than can live in wetlands, such as willows. The airport also has also committed to monitor the sanctuary for five years to ensure wildlife and the new trees flourish, Masters said.

Southern Conservation Trust, a community land trust, owns and maintains the property donated by the Ferrol Sams family of Fayetteville in 1997.

Jordan said the sanctuary certified by the National Wildlife Federation and National Audubon Society is open to the public at no charge from dawn to dusk daily.

"This reflects the airport's commitment to environmental management," said airport spokesman Albert Snedeker. "It is constructed in such a way that it complements Mother Nature."

Army Corps of Engineers programs manager Arch Middleton said thousands of corporations, including airports, have taken on similar wetland restoration projects nationwide in accordance with federal law.

----

If You Go:

SAMS LAKE BIRD SANCTUARY: http://www.sctlandtrust.org or http://www.atlanta-airport.com. From Atlanta take Interstate South to exit 237A. Follow Ga. 85 south for about 13 miles (21 kilometers). Make a right onto Beauregard Boulevard. After two miles (three kilometers), make a left onto Old Senoia Road. The sanctuary is one mile down the road on the left.

Asia satisfied with World Cup effort

While Asia's World Cup is over, the world's largest continent is quietly satisfied with its performance in South Africa.

Asia sent four teams to South Africa and two _ South Korea and Japan _ survived the first stage to reach the second round for the first time ever at an overseas World Cup.

For the two teams, and Asia as a whole, it was a case of mission accomplished, especially after the disappointing performance of 2006 when all four Asian sides failed to make it out of the group stage.

There were concerns heading into the tournament that an expected strong performance by the six African teams in the continent's first World Cup could put pressure on Asia's allocation at future finals.

"At least two should reach the second round," Japan Football Association vice president and FIFA executive committee member Junji Ogura predicted before the World Cup. "This is our dream and we hope they will do well."

The dream came true and the fact that two Asian teams progressed while only one African team managed to do so has given Asian football newfound respect around the world.

Japan and South Korea were even within touching distance of a place in the quarterfinals.

Japan was eliminated by Paraguay only after a penalty shootout, while South Korea had chances to defeat Uruguay before succumbing to a late goal in a 2-1 loss.

"Both nations showed the world that Asia is improving step by step," Japan's 2002 World Cup coach Philippe Troussier told The AP in a telephone interview. "Both teams were very good, especially with free kicks. Half of Japan's goals and three of Korea's came from free kicks. In this respect, Asia led the way at the World Cup."

Park Chu-young was the first player to score direct from a free kick, bending a shot inside the post in South Korea's 2-2 draw with Nigeria that clinched a place in the last 16.

In seven previous World Cups, South Korea had progressed only past the first stage once, reaching the semifinal in 2002 as co-host with Japan. Now though, captain Park Ji-sung believes its performance in South Africa demonstrates the potential of the continent.

"For now Asian football is improving more and more," the Manchester United midfielder said. "We must show the world that Asian teams are not weak teams. We are getting better and better, and one day we can beat some of the great teams."

Japan arrived in South Africa under a cloud after a string of poor results in its warmup matches, but an opening win over Cameroon silenced the critics, then a 3-1 victory over Denmark had local and international media singing the team's praises.

A spectacular free kick from Keisuke Honda set the team on its way and the CSKA Moscow striker emerged as one of the stars of the tournament. Honda, 24, was paid a glowing tribute by Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.

"This Japanese team is based on a solid and collective defense in which everybody knows exactly what to do," Wenger said.

"When they get the ball they can give it to Honda _ and the magic starts. When they get that genius Honda playing up front, he has shown what a top-class player he is."

Australia, which made the last 16 representing Oceania in 2006, failed to advance from the group stage on goal difference in its first World Cup appearance as a member of the Asian Football Confederation.

A hapless 4-0 defeat in the opening match against Germany gave the Socceroos too much to do and a draw with Ghana followed by a win over Serbia were not quite enough.

"I'm disappointed," said coach Pim Verbeek after Australia's elimination. "We have four points, I was hoping it was enough but the goal difference against Germany killed us. After losing the first game 4-0 we had to win the other two. We came so close and I am proud of the team."

The main disappointment for Asia was North Korea.

After a bright start against Brazil in the opening match of a tough group, in which the 1966 World Cup quarterfinalist lost 2-1, the team was then thrashed 7-0 by Portugal and finished with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast.

Midfielder An Yong Hak reflected on the World Cup after the final match.

"We went into this game knowing there was a big difference in the level of playing," he told The AP. "Still, playing on the same field with them, bumping into them, it was a good experience. A very good experience."

Mun Si Song, a former member of North Korea's football federation, told the official AFC website that the team performed well in difficult circumstances.

"The end result might look unpleasant. But please bear in mind that the team has qualified to the World Cup after 44 years," Mun said.

"I am not saying that they deserved accolades, but considering the difficulties the team faced on the road to South Africa compared to others, they, at least, should not be condemned. The only thing I need to admit is the team was lacking experience and international exposure."

White House Selects Cybersecurity Chief

WASHINGTON - The Homeland Security Department picked an industry information security specialist Monday as its cybersecurity chief, filling a job that has had no permanent director for a year.

Greg Garcia was appointed assistant secretary for cybersecurity and telecommunications, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said. The cybersecurity job was created in July 2005, but department officials have struggled to find candidates willing to take significant pay cuts from industry jobs to fill it.

Part of Garcia's job will be to oversee the department's National Cyber Security Division. For the last two years, that office has been run by Donald "Andy" Purdy Jr., who is a two-year contract employee on loan from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon has received $19 million in contracts from Homeland Security's cybersecurity office under Purdy's management.

Garcia "brings the right mix of experience in government and the private sector to continue to strengthen our robust partnerships that are essential to this field," Chertoff said in a statement.

A test of mock Internet attacks concluded last week that many government and industry officials were unable to fight back quickly and effectively against a series of simulated hackings that aimed to halt subways and trigger power outages.

---

On the Net:

Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov

Carnegie Mellon University: http://www.cmu.edu/

Analyzing the BCS championship matchup

With perfect records and plenty of All-Americans, No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Texas showed few flaws on their way to the BCS national championship game on Jan. 7 in the Rose Bowl.

How do they match up when the Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and the Crimson Tide have the ball? When Colt McCoy and the Longhorns are on the field?

Two coaches _ Colorado's Dan Hawkins and North Texas' Todd Dodge _ provide insight and help break down the battle for the national title.

WHEN TEXAS HAS THE BALL

It's all about McCoy.

"They are very good on offense, but he is exceptional and that elevates the play of all those guys," Hawkins said.

McCoy, an All-American and two-time Heisman finalist, directs a spread attack that averages 432 yards per game (20th in the nation).

The Longhorns generally line up with three receivers, one running back and a tight end. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis doesn't show a lot of different looks. But they do what they do very well.

McCoy gets rid of the ball fast and accurately (70 percent completion rate). Plus, he's mobile and Davis likes to move the pocket around so McCoy is usually hard to pressure.

McCoy's scrambling and ability to run the option, helps make up for some of the Longhorns' inconsistencies with a more traditional running game.

"They may not run him very much but he can take off and run 50, 60, 70 yards on you," Hawkins said.

Alabama, No. 2 in the country in total defense, can counter McCoy's quickness with one of the best group of linebackers and safeties in the country.

"From a size and athleticism standpoint, (they) stand out in college football right now," Dodge said.

All-American Rolando McClain is as good as any linebacker in the nation. The 255-pound junior makes plays all over the field and is like an extension of coach Nick Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

Dodge said Alabama tends to keep things basic on first and second down. It's on third down that Saban and Smart get tricky.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow said in two games against Alabama, the Tide has not shown the same blitz more than twice.

Dodge said the Longhorns' up-tempo, no-huddle "Jet" attack could slow down Alabama's blitzes and keep All-American nose guard Terrence Cody on the field more than the Tide prefers. The 350-pound Cody tends to come out in passing situations.

Texas All-American Jordan Shipley is the slot receiver and McCoy's most reliable receiver by far. Shipley had 106 catches for 1,363 yards. The Tide might be best served using 215-pound strong safety Mark Barron to make it tough for the 190-pound Shipley to get off the line of scrimmage.

Hawkins said the Buffaloes used an extra defensive back as their base defense against Texas, but that leaves a defense susceptible to the run. Alabama, however, might be good enough up front to handle the Texas running game with limited help from the secondary.

"That's a one-back offensive coordinator's nightmare," said Dodge, who also runs a spread offense.

Since Ndamukong Suh and Nebraska dominated Texas' line and sacked McCoy nine times in the Big 12 title game, the Longhorns' line has been viewed as a weak spot. It's not great, but it is good and here's the best news for Texas: Nebraska's defensive line is better than Alabama's.

Bottom line: Stop McCoy and you stop Texas.

___

WHEN ALABAMA HAS THE BALL

The Crimson Tide plays offense the old-fashioned way, with two backs and the quarterback under center much of the time.

"They would love to give it to their tailback 35 times a game and let it happen," Dodge said.

Not a bad plan when you have Ingram, who ran for 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns, and freshman Trent Richardson, who added 642 yards rushing.

But Texas has the No. 1 rush defense in the country, allowing 62 yards per game, anchored by defensive tackle Lamarr Houston. The only team that put up good rushing numbers against Texas was Texas A&M with 190. But almost half of those came from quarternack Jerrod Johnson's scrambles.

No team has been able to simply load up and run it against Texas. But on the flip side, Alabama is by far the best running team the Longhorns have faced.

The Tide does have the weapons to open things up. Receiver Julio Jones' numbers (42 catches for 573 yards and four TDs) suggest a sophomore slump, but he's one of the top talents in the country.

"His name might not get even mentioned, but that's scary," Dodge said. "You better not forget him because he will break your heart.

Same goes for 6-foot-6 tight end Colin Peek.

It's up to quarterback Greg McElroy to get them the ball and against Texas that means deciphering defensive coordinator Will Muschamps' zone blitzes and one of the most talented secondaries in the nation.

McElroy, a junior first-year starter, had a midseason slump but played his best two games of the season in his last two games, leading a comeback against Auburn and a runaway victory over Florida for the SEC title.

"He is extremely accurate in the pocket, he can make all the throws," said Dodge, who coached McElroy in high school. "When he plays within himself and understand that he has the talent around him, he is awfully good.

"When he tries to step outside himself is when he has a problem."

Texas led the nation in interceptions with 24 behind All-American safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Aaron Williams. Muschamp, a disciple of Saban, puts those guys in position to make plays on the ball.

"Playing zone in and of itself helps you get a few more interceptions," Hawkins said. "When you have your eye on the quarterback it helps you break to the ball."

And Hawkins added, "Your quarterback better get the ball out of his hands pretty quick or he's going to be lying on his back."

Texas also has 40 sacks.

Alabama's offensive line, thought to be a potential weak link early in the season, has allowed only 13 sacks. All-American guard Michael Johnson and the big guys up front manhandled Florida in the SEC title game and the Gators had the top-ranked defense in the country heading into that game.

Bottom line: Alabama is built to win without getting a big day from its quarterback. Texas' job is to make it necessary for McElroy to play well.

___

WHEN THE BALL IS KICKED

Both teams have dangerous returners and solid kickers.

Alabama's Javier Arenas was fourth in the nation at 16.3 per return and kicker Leigh Tiffin was an All-American.

Shipley has returned two punts for touchdowns. D.J. Monroe has two kickoff return touchdowns. Hunter Lawrence was last seen kicking the game-winning field against Nebraska.

___

Prediction: Alabama 24, Texas 17.

White Sox now: ; rely on pitching

CINCINNATI - Instead of beating up on teams with their offense,the Chicago White Sox have started beating them with their pitching.Manager Jerry Manuel thinks that's a very good sign.

James Baldwin got by with off-speed pitches and the bullpen madehis solid start stand up Monday night for a 4-3 victory over theCincinnati Reds.

The White Sox maintained their 11/2-game lead over Cleveland inthe AL Central and improved the league's best record to 33-23, thesecond time this season they've been 10 games over .500.

"I think there's too much room and too much time left on theschedule to get comfortable and content," Manuel said. "It's tooearly."

It's not too early for Manuel to think his team is turning intoone that can hold its own even when its offense leaves the pitcherson their own.

Winning came easy for the White Sox as they racked up a MajorLeague record 181 runs in April. With summer approaching, they'rewinning the close ones as well.

"You would hope it's a sign that they've learned how to win closeballgames," Manuel said. "It's easy to get an offensive outburst andcoast. In the last few weeks, all of our games have been relativelyclose and guys are finding ways to win. Hopefully they've come ofage."

Baldwin (9-1) usually doesn't need a lot of runs to win,especially on the road. The right-hander is 7-0 on the road with a1.73 ERA; only Boston's Pedro Martinez (0.51) has been better.

Baldwin was chosen AL Pitcher of the Month for May and hasstarted off the new month with another win. His 9-1 start is thebest by a White Sox pitcher since his identical mark in 1996.

"If it wasn't for my teammates, I wouldn't be in that position,"Baldwin said. "They've been playing great defense behind me andgetting timely hits."

They got just enough Monday. Ray Durham opened the game with atriple and scored on Jose Valentin's groundout. Valentin added asolo homer in the sixth off Steve Parris (2-8), who gave up onlythree hits in six innings.

Things have been going that way lately for Parris, who hasn't wonsince May 9 and has gotten the lowest run support on the staff - 43runs in 12 games.

"I don't know what I did to the baseball gods, but they'regetting me back. I apologize," said Parris, who won a career-high 11games last season and now has lost a career-high eight. "I thought Ipitched pretty well the last couple of outings. Things just aren'thappening. That's the way it goes."

Greg Norton's solo homer off Scott Sullivan made it 3-0 in theseventh before the Reds finally scored. Baldwin left with one outand two aboard, and Dmitri Young had an RBI double off Kelly Wunschand Benito Santiago drove in another run with a groundout off BobbyHowry.

Keith Foulke pitched the last two innings, giving up a solo homerin the ninth to Sean Casey, as he converted his 12th consecutivesave chance.

The White Sox got their final run in the ninth when Paul Konerkohad a pinch RBI single off Dennys Reyes. The grounder up the middlewent off the glove of shortstop Barry Larkin, who was trying tostart a double play.

"I was thinking as I was running to first, 'What are the oddsLarkin doesn't come up with it? Maybe 1-in-25?' I was definitelythankful," Konerko said. "That's usually a routine play for him."

Notes: Frank Thomas, who sat out Sunday after playing the first54 games, was back in the lineup at first. He went 0-for-2 with apair of walks, extending his slump to 2-for-21. ... Konerko andReyes came to the Reds together from Los Angeles in the 1998 tradefor closer Jeff Shaw, and Konerko was traded to the White Sox laterthat year. ... Durham led off the first interleague game at CinergyField in 1997 with a homer. This time, he tripled. ... Red RHPOsvaldo Fernandez will miss his next scheduled start in Clevelandbecause of a sore elbow, jammed when he hit a line drive Sunday. ...Ken Griffey Jr. was 2-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, leaving hisaverage at .216. ... Dante Bichette singled in the eighth, extendinghis hitting streak to nine games.

Tillman hearing links bank to slavery

If JP Morgan Chase Bank has any ties to the slave era, then it should pay reparations and restitution before the proposed $1.1 trillion Chase and Chicago-based Bank One merger takes place, Alderman Dorothy Tillman (3rd) and a lawyer said Thursday.

JP Morgan Chase officials will have a chance to either deny or confirm their link to the slave trade when representatives appear before a joint hearing of the Finance and Human Relations Committees 10 a.m. today (FRIDAY) in the City Council chambers. JP Morgan Chase is also facing some tough issues from Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who agrees with Tillman that the bank must answer questions about its alleged ties to slavery as mandated by city ordinance.

"We are going to show a relationship between JP Morgan and how his money was tied" into this industry, said Tillman. "They are constantly denying any connection of slavery," Tillman said adding "but, they are going to have to discuss and expose their role with slavery."

"They are merging with one of our largest banks in the city, Bank One, and our community and the city need to know JP Morgan relationship with slavery," said Tillman, who believes "everything in the U.S. was started on the backs of slavery.

"And, they have a responsibility to pay... including the J.P. House of Morgan" exist today because of slavery," Tillman said.

One of the questioners will be attorney Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, executive director Restitution Study Group who is also the lead plaintiff in the class action lawsuit that is pending the U.S. federal court in Chicago.

"My greatest concern about the merger is that the two banks coming together will form one of the largest companies in the world," she told the Chicago Defender before leaving for New York headed for Chicago.

"Unfortunately, they have not resolved this horrible record of injustice against enslaved Africans, and if they are in possession of wealth earned from playing a role in genocide and other crimes against humanity, then they should definitely pay restitution before the merger," she said.

Making it clear, Farmer-Paellmann said: "The bank should take responsibility for this crime against humanity that they committed and pay reparations and restitution before the merger takes place," she said.

But, Quinn is also putting JP Morgan Chase under the microscope. He's holding his own press conference 1:30 p.m. Friday at the James R. Thompson Center where he and community activists are urging the Federal Reserve Bank to give consumers a voice in the impending merger.

"We're asking the Feds to extend the March 15 deadline for comment on the merger and expand the deadline by 60-days, then schedule public hearings," said Quinn.

Article copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.