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02/14/2007 -
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -Barry Zito wandered into his new spring training clubhouse carrying an Oakland Athletics duffel bag and plopped into Barry Bonds' chair.
Oops!
``I probably don't know better yet,'' Zito said, chuckling.
It might have been a first in San Francisco franchise history. Zito requested that he dress next to the slugger back home this season, too.
``Barry and I have a good relationship,'' Zito said. ``If I can somehow lighten the load off of him, so you guys can just take a hard right when you're going to his locker and start talking to me.''
Zito reported to the Giants' spring training complex at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday sporting his signature relaxed style - jeans and a T-shirt. He looked the same, save for the 10 extra pounds of muscle he says he added to his lower body this winter.
A new $126 million, seven-year contract apparently hasn't affected the left-hander's ways. And it's clear he already feels part of his new team, even though the Giants' pitchers and catchers don't take the field together for the first time until Thursday.
``It's been pretty seamless,'' he said of the adjustment. ``It feels good. It feels natural. I feel like I know most of the people in the clubhouse just because I've played against them and played with a couple of them or at least know some off the field.''
Zito played some light catch with reliever Steve Kline, who was wearing a bushy beard he will soon lose before it really warms up in the desert. Kline's welcome was interesting: The nameplate above his locker read ``Rich Kline,'' a mistake that happened because his spot is right next to infielder Rich Aurilia's.
``I like it,'' Kline said. ``I want to keep it.''
Kline also likes Zito, and tried to make the new ace feel at home right away.
``I was nervous,'' Kline said. ``I thought if I hit him in the kneecap, I'd get released. I talked to him and tried to make him feel welcome. Coming to a new team is always hard. He's a big part of our team.''
The 28-year-old Zito will be almost as popular a topic as Bonds this spring.
``Ever since the press conference I've been just wearing my Giants hat around everywhere in L.A., just getting used to it and preparing myself to have it be natural,'' Zito said. ``I would just wear it my car, not going out.''
Bonds' arrival day at spring training is unclear, though position players are due to report to camp Monday. He typically holds his state-of-Barry address the first or second day, but his contract remains unresolved. He could sign after spring training starts.
``I'd expect that he'd be here on reporting day,'' said general manager Brian Sabean, who noted that the two Barrys together in the clubhouse is ``interesting, but I don't know if it's a big deal.''
The seven-time NL MVP begins his 22nd major league season 22 homers shy of breaking Hank Aaron's career record of 755. The Giants have differing views of certain language in his $15.8 million, one-year deal and Bonds has yet to sign a revised version.
``Hmm, just details,'' Zito said. ``I saw him at UCLA a few times working out. We caught up there and kind of shot the breeze a little bit. He looks amazing. He's ready to go.''
Zito hopes he is ready to go at the plate now that he'll be batting every fifth day in the National League. He has been working with good friend Brady Anderson on his hitting and baserunning for about a month.
He has a .034 - 2-for-52 - career batting average during seven seasons with Oakland.
``I just haven't ever taken it seriously. I may get criticized or whatever but it's not something I had any integrity of doing,'' Zito said. ``There was no reason to take time out of my day to get five at-bats a year. Now, I can make a difference in every game I'm in.''
The Giants insisted when they signed Zito to such a long, expensive contract that his track record for staying healthy - he's never missed a start - and his relatively young age were big pluses to making such a financial commitment.
Zito, the 2002 AL Cy Young award winner, underwent a rigorous, 10-week program this offseason that featured weight lifting and stability exercises that helped him add muscle to his legs and core.
``There's no reason to impress you guys with biceps,'' he said.
Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts US credit cards
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