The Zapata Times 5/1/2010

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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC EDUCATION

GETTING INSIGHTS ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER Photo by Lorraine Rodriguez | The Zapata Times

Former ZCISD Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez and Interim Superintendent Norma Garcia, Ph.D. at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Garcia replaces Rodriguez Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times

Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez, left, shakes hands with Webb/Zapata County Attorney Isidro "Chilo" Alaniz on Thursday afternoon at TAMIU where they attended a town hall meeting on Border Management with CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin.

CBP chief touches on travel, violence

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Z

Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times

Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas, left and Isidro "Chilo" Alaniz, District Attorney are in the background as Alan Bersin, right, commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, talks with Jerry Robinette, special agent for DHS ICE, Thursday at TAMIU.

apata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. took the opportunity Thursday to question the newly appointed U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner about his position on spillover violence.

Alan Bersin was in town to host a public forum at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, emphasizing CBP’s new vision and touching on topics ranging from expediting international travel to Arizona’s recently passed anti-immigration law.

During a question-and-answer period, Gonzalez referred to an April 8 San Antonio Express-News article with the headline reading, “Customs chief: Violence not cross-

See BORDER PAGE 10A

Few return Census forms

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Zapata County had the lowest census mail-in percentage in the state, according to numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday.

Despite efforts by the bureau and its partners to educate the public about the census and emphasize participation, 24 percent of Zapata County households mailed back the form.

“We would have rather had a higher participation rate,” said Efren Salinas, U.S. Census Bureau Dallas Region media specialist.

“We could’ve saved money.”

The second phase of census-taking — when workers will literally go door to door with the forms — will be more difficult and more expensive, Salinas said.

The first phase, where residents mail in the forms, costs the only 42 cents per form. In the second phase,

the U.S. Census Bureau will spend $60 per home for an enumerator to collect the information personally.

The 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour made its way into Zapata on Tuesday in one last attempt to bring awareness and reach the people who had not yet returned their census forms.

“We’re hitting the border areas of Texas and New Mexico,” said David Donovan, U.S. Census Bureau

Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office Deputy Chief. “We want to let people know we’re starting our next process.”

The South Texas road tour began in January in McAllen, before making a stop in Zapata.

The tour is part of the largest civic outreach and awareness campaign in U.S. history. Promotional material has appeared in more

See CENSUS PAGE 10A

By LORRAINE L. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

The Zapata County Independent School District board of trustees and longtime Superintendent Romeo Rodriguez reached a mutual agreement to allow Rodriguez to resign during a special board meeting Tuesday.

The board also appointed Norma Garcia, Ph.D., as the interim superintend-

ent, effective Monday.

Rodriguez stepped down as superintendent to accept the position as the executive director for the South Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Laredo.

STCADA is a nonprofit organization that addresses substance abuse prevention and treatment by providing education, information, and counseling and

See GARCIA PAGE 10A

MEDICINE

Relay for Life helps fight cancer

By STEPHANIE M. IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES

From 6:30 p.m. Friday night to 7 a.m. this morning, Relay for Life participants were scheduled to walk, jog and sprint for the three-fold event at the Oswald H. and Juanita G. Ramirez Exhibit Hall.

With preparation beginning in October, organizers hoped to surpass previous participant records for the annual event, intended to raise funds for cancer research, as well as to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who were lost to the disease.

“For the first year we raised close to $45,000. At our highest, we’ve gone up to $55,000. It’s something we’re hoping to break this year,” said Maricela Leal, Champion Care representative. “For being such a small town, it’s amazing.

We’re so happy Zapata has embraced this.”

Defined by organizers and participants as a celebratory inspiration, the relay had 15 teams scheduled.

From rice atole to corn-in-acup, each team organized a booth to distribute information about their respective

See RELAY PAGE 10A

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

Saturday, May 1 Alpha Delta Kappa hosts its Golden Apple Banquet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom. The organization annually honors local educators, and proceeds go towards scholarships to local high school students.

Admission is $25.

Habitat for Humanity hosts Women Build Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Women Build is Habitat’s volunteer program for women who want to learn construction skills and make a difference by building homes and communities. Builders will work in the construction. For more information, contact Habitat for Humanity.

Siesta Shores Homeowners Association will have a meeting open to members and interested non-members today at 4 p.m.

Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium will host several fun filled activities in honor of its 5th Anniversary Celebration today from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m. followed by the screening of Attack of the Space Pirates at 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. At 12:30 p.m. there will be a Pirate Treasure Hunt game, followed by the screening of Kaluokhina: The Enchanted Reef at 1 p.m., Attack of the Space Pirates at 1:45p.m., and One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure at 2:30 p.m. At 3 p.m. the Out of this World essay contest winner will be announced followed by the Pirate Costume Contest at 3:15 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., dancers from the Diana Rendon Academy will perform followed by a screening of Attack of the Space Pirates at 4 p.m. and a Pirate Treasure Hunt Game at 4:30 p.m. At 4:45 a screening of The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather. In celebration of Space Day 2010 the planetarium will also host two special presentations of Bella Gaia: a Poetic Vision of Earth from Space from 7 to 8 p.m. For additional information or show times, call 326-DOME or click on tamiu.edu/planetarium

Sunday, May 2 Holy Redeemer Church celebrates with its Annual Jamaica all day today at the corner of Davis Ave. and Garcia St. Come and enjoy a fun filled day of games, food and live entertainment. Loteria starts at 3:00 p.m. A 2010 Ford Ranger XL will be raffled, along with 4 other great prizes. For more information, call 286-3798.

Wednesday, May 5 Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation will be celebrating the reopening of the Speech Therapy department with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this morning at 10:30 a.m. followed by a special announcement. If you have any questions feel free to contact Ariana Mora at 7222431.

Friday, May 7 Friday Night Buckle/Jackpot at the Life Downs Arena is back today.

Books open at 6:30 p.m. for a draw at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Current coggins are required; cash only. For more information, call Conrad Cantu at 473-9431, Bubba Lopez at 286-7259 or Ramon Villarreal at 693-7867.

The Laredo Builder’s Association, Border Media and Sames Motor are teaming up once again to host the 4th Annual "Parade of Stars" to be held at this years 13th Annual Parade of Homes. Prizes vary from cash to a trip to Las Vegas. Contestants must be at least 14 years of age. For more information, check out www.laredobuilders.org.

Saturday, May 8 Team Roping Productions presents Zapata County Employee Club Team Roping at the Nick Gutierrez 4-H Arena today at 10:30 with roping at noon. 70% payout guaranteed. For more information, call 361-319-1139.

Marine Corp League is hosting a BBQ Plate Sale at noon at the Marine Corp Building on 22nd and Hildago Street. In exchange of a $6 donation, plates include fajitas, sausage, macaroni salad, beans, jalapeno, and a drink. Monies go to fund upcoming community projects.

Sunday, May 9, Our Lady of the Lake University presents a free Mother’s Day concert by award winning performer Jose Ruben De Leon at the historical Sacred Heart Chapel at 3 p.m. For more information, visit their website at www.ollusa.edu.

To submit an item for the calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Tom Reel/San Antonio Express-News | AP

Judge Sharon Keller talks to the daughters of a crime victim in the 37th District courtroom at the Bexar County Courthouse on Aug. 20, 2009. Keller, the top judge on Texas’ highest criminal appeals court, has been fined $100,000 for not fully reporting her income and property holdings as required by law.

Top judge fined $100K

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The top judge on Texas’ highest criminal appeals court has been fined $100,000 for not fully reporting her income and property holdings as required by law.

The fine against Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Sharon Keller, who is also facing separate charges of misconduct for refusing to allow the court to accept a late appeal before a 2007 execution, is the largest ever imposed by the Texas Ethics Commission.

Keller’s sworn personal income statements for 2007 and 2008 didn’t include properties valued at more than $2 million and other income sources totaling about $183,000.

The panel issued the order Wednesday.

Keller’s attorney, Ed Shack, said Friday that Keller is “very disappointed at the excessive penalty” and plans to appeal. He said

Keller did not try to mislead anyone and filed corrected reports when she learned of a problem.

Texans for Public Justice, the liberal watchdog group that filed the ethics complaint over the financial disclosures, said Keller “deserved a substantial penalty.”

“It sends the wrong signal when top state judges don’t follow the law. I think this fine is the Ethics Commission’s way of saying that public servants will be held to the highest standards,” said Texans for Public Justice Director Craig McDonald. “Nobody can put themselves above state ethics laws.

Keller, a Republican, has been on the court since 1994. The financial reporting misconduct complaint came after The Dallas Morning News reported that Keller’s routine annual financial disclosures did not include two Dallas homes and commercial land.

State’s gasoline prices creep higher

Perry opponent: Coyotes don’t scare me

Ex-bank VP gets more than 4 years in prison

IRVING — Retail gasoline prices rose marginally across Texas this week.

The weekly AAA Texas gasoline price survey released Thursday shows the average price of regular unleaded gasoline rose a penny per gallon to $2.75.

GRAND PRAIRIE — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White has a message for pistol-packing Texas Gov. Rick Perry: I’m not afraid of coyotes.

The former Houston mayor said Friday he’s encountered coyotes biking through Houston’s Memorial Park.

McALLEN — A former south Texas bank vice president has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her clients’ accounts.

Emma Vigil received 51 months on bank fraud charges.

Abilene police officer killed in traffic crash ABILENE — A funeral is scheduled for Monday for an Abilene police officer who died when his motorcycle slammed into a car.

Officer Rodney Holder was pursuing a speeder on his police motorcycle Thursday when a car turned in front of him.

Police arrest man for stealing dead girl’s foot DALLAS — Police say they’ve arrested a Dallas man after he showed them a human foot he said he’d dug up from a grave.

Daniel Wayne Stanley walked up to officers near a Jewish cemetery early Friday and told them he had a foot in his bag.

School board opposes social studies plan HOUSTON — The Houston school board has added its big voice to those opposing proposed social studies standards.

Trustees asked the State Board of Education on Thursday to pass standards that are “rigorous, balanced and manageable.”

-- Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION Profits raise auto parts makers from near death DETROIT — Companies that crank out gears, hoses, gauges and other parts for U.S. automakers are making a comeback.

Many are profitable again, and some are cautiously hiring after months of layoffs.

In the past two weeks, suppliers such as Gentex Corp., BorgWarner Inc., and Federal-Mogul Corp., have reported millions in profits for the first quarter.

Judge won’t subpoena Obama for trial CHICAGO — A federal judge refused Friday to approve a subpoena calling for President Barack Obama to testify at the political corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The request from Blagojevich’s attorneys fell “very short of authorizing a subpoena for the president,” U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel said. But Zagel said he might revisit the issue, perhaps during the trial, if any evidence suggests Obama might have something relevant to tell the jury.

Blagojevich is due to go on

Today is Saturday, May 1, the 121st day of 2010. There are 244 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On May 1, 1960, the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 reconnaissance plane over Sverdlovsk and captured its pilot, Francis Gary Powers, who was later convicted of espionage but returned to the United States in 1962 in exchange for a captured Soviet spy.

On this date: In 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain was created as a treaty merging England and Scotland took effect.

In 1786, Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro” premiered in Vienna.

In 1884, construction began on the first skyscraper, a tenstory structure in Chicago built by the Home Insurance Co. of New York.

In 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition opened to the public in Chicago.

In 1898, Commodore George Dewey gave the command, “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley,” as an American naval force destroyed a Spanish squadron in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. In 1909, Walter Reed General Hospital (later a part of Walter Reed Army Medical Center) in Washington D.C. admitted its first patients.

In 1931, New York’s 102-story Empire State Building was dedicated.

In 1963, James W. Whittaker became the first American to conquer Mount Everest as he and a Sherpa guide reached the summit.

In 1978, Ernest Morial was inaugurated as the first black mayor of New Orleans.

In 1982, the 1982 World’s Fair opened in Knoxville, Tenn.

Ten years ago: About 3.5 million Time Warner cable subscribers temporarily lost access to seven Disney-owned ABC stations in a quarrel over transmission rights. Joerg Haider (yorg HY’-dur), leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, stepped down after 14 years as party leader. The motion picture “Gladiator,” starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, premiered in Los Angeles. Actor Steve Reeves died in Escondido, Calif. at age 74.

Five years ago: A car bombing at a Kurdish official’s funeral in Tal Afar, Iraq, killed some two dozen people and wounded more than 50.

One year ago: Supreme Court Justice David Souter announced his retirement effective at the end of the court’s term in late June. (President Barack Obama ended up choosing federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace him.)

Singer-actor-impressionist Danny Gans, one of Las Vegas’ most popular entertainers, died at age 52.

Today’s Birthdays: Former astronaut Scott Carpenter is 85. Country singer Sonny James is 81. Singer Judy Collins is 71. Actor Stephen Macht is 68. Singer Rita Coolidge is 65. Pop singer Nick Fortuna (The Buckinghams) is 64. Actor-director Douglas Barr is 61. Actor Dann Florek is 59.

Thought for Today: “By indignities men come to dignities.” — Francis Bacon, English philosopher (1561-1626).

CONTACT US

Photo by William Hennessy Jr. | AP

In this artist’s drawing Wesam El-Hanafi, left, and Sabirhan Hasanoff are seen during their initial appearance on terrorism related charges at U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., on Friday. trial, starting with jury selection June 3.

Police: Mass. substitute laced his own coffee NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Police in New Bedford, Mass., say a substitute teacher who was taken to a hospital after drinking tainted iced coffee has admitted lacing the drink himself.

The teacher, 27-year-old Chad Wunschel, became sick after tak-

ing a sip of the drink and spitting it out. That happened Wednesday during a welding class at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical Regional High School.

Police had been investigating whether a student might have spiked the coffee.

Police Chief Ronald Teachman said Friday that Wunschel told a detective he was depressed over a recent breakup and was looking for attention.

-- Compiled from AP reports

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

Zlocal

PAGE 3A

TAMIU to rent textbooks SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The university’s bookstore, part of the Follett Higher Education Group, will use “Rent-A-Text,” a program that was part of a comprehensive national pilot program last year that saved students nearly $2 million on course materials in just one semester.

More than 90 percent of students surveyed about the pilot program expressed satisfaction with it.

Juan J. Castillo, TAMIU vice president for finance and administration, said the university is launching the program this fall in response to concerns expressed by students and faculty about the high cost of textbooks.

“We realize that in today’s econom-

ic climate, it behooves us to work aggressively to identify ways that we can help our students to save money without diminishing the quality of their TAMIU educational experience.

We believe this initiative is innovative and promising,” Castillo said.

Upon implementation this fall, the program will provide students the benefit of saving upwards of 50 percent on textbooks. The program is available in store and online, utilizing a national rental database. Students can pick up their books in store and must be 18 years or older as rental agreements are legal contracts. Students will need to provide a government-issued ID, credit card and email address.

At course end, students retain the option to buy their textbook at the end of the semester. Rentals must be returned in acceptable condition after finals.

Thomas A. Christopher, president of Follett Higher Education Group, said the offering is consistent with the group’s commitment to its college and university bookstores across the nation.

"We have been at the forefront of cost-savings programs for more than a century,” he said, "Helping to reduce costs of higher education is part of our mission, and we look forward to working with TAMIU to deliver substantial textbook savings to students."

Team roping is next week SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Team Roping Productions of Kingsville will present Zapata County Employee Club Team Roping on Saturday, May 8, at the Nick Gutierrez 4H Arena.

The books will be open for registration from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with the roping set to begin at noon. Registration is $100 for the noon roping event,

and $120 for the second roping event, to be held later in the afternoon.

Current Coggins tests for the horses are required.

Twelve buckles will be awarded to winners. Individuals may not be awarded more than one buckle.

Admission is free for the public.

For more information, call 361-319-1139.

LPO to end 30th anniversary season Sunday SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The award-winning Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert series will conclude its 30th anniversary season “Musical Pearls” with the concert, “Laredo’s Own Gems,” Sunday at 3 p.m. at Texas A&M International University’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Tickets are available at the door and are $25 for adults and $17 for seniors.

Student admission is free with student ID. The concert will bring together the artistic talents of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Laredo Philharmonic Chorale, the United High School Choir, TAMIU Choirs, vocalists Suzanne Ramo and Joseph Crabtree as well as the winner of the first Laredo Concerto Competition, Sih Yao Huang – a student of Dr. Susan Berdahl at TAMIU. The program opens with

Tickets are available at the door and are $25 for adults and $17 for seniors. Student admission is free with student ID. the exciting and wellknown tone poem “Les Preludes” by Franz List.

This is followed by Poem for Flute and Orchestra by Charles Tomlinson Griffes.

The first half of the program concludes with “La-

redo” (Paso Doble) by Clifton Williams.

“The Laredo Paso Doble will be familiar to many, many people in this community,” said Maestro Townsend, “It was commissioned by Elmo López and

THE BLOTTER ASSAULT Jaime Lynn Gonzalez, 25, was arrested on charges of assault-family violence at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, in the 2100 block of North Siesta Lane. According to an incident report, the complainant stated Gonzalez was extremely intoxicated and was being verbally abusive toward known people. Gonzalez was booked and released, pending a court appearance.

Ramiro Villarreal, 22, was arrested on charges of assault-family violence at 10 a.m. Monday, April 26, at the intersection of 13th Street and Juarez Avenue. He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail. He was later released for time served.

Rogelio Navarro Jr., 23, was arrested on charges of endangering a child, assault-family violence and evading arrest at 4 a.m. Monday, April 26, in the 400 block of Second

Street. Deputies also detained a 15year-old male juvenile and charged him with endangering a child, evading arrest and resisting arrest.

According to an incident report, Navarro and the juvenile were involved in an assault and fled in a vehicle and later on foot. The report states that the alleged offenders also fled with a 5-month-old child.

Deputies caught up with the assailants and took them into custody.

Child Protective Services was called into the case.

Navarro was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, and held in lieu of a combined bond of $75,000. The juvenile was taken to the Webb County Youth Village in Laredo.

Deputies responded to an aggravated assault with a vehicle call at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at Hawk Plaza, intersection of 17th Avenue and Carla Street. The complainant stated a known person tried to

hit him with a vehicle.

Carlos Javier Sanchez Jr., 20, was arrested on charges of assaultfamily violence and criminal mischief at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 23, at the intersection of Seventh Street and Zapata Avenue. He was booked and transported to Zapata Regional Jail, and held under a $5,000 bond.

on Texas 16. According to an incident report, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2002 Chevy Tahoe and discovered eight undocumented individuals in the vehicle. Deputies turned them over to U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector agents.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

Deputies responded to a theft call at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, in the 400 block of Laredo Avenue in the Medina Addition. The complainant stated a known person stole jewelry from her.

Deputies responded to a theft call at about 2 p.m. Monday, April 26, at EOG Resources, 3169 FM 496. The complainant stated someone stole oil.

Deputies responded to a theft at 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 23, in the 400 block of Ocampo Avenue. The victim stated someone stole the right rear light from his vehicle.

Deputies responded to a criminal mischief call at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the intersection of 13th Street and Ramireño Avenue.

The complainant stated a known person threw an object that struck and damaged the right quarter panel of his truck.

INCIDENT An incident involving undocumented residents occurred at 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 24, about four miles west of the Jim Hogg County Line

THEFT

the Martin H.S. Band in 1964 and has been played all over town since then.

And in 1964 when Williams came to the premiere the city named May 4, 1964, ’Clifton Williams Day!’ ” The Coronation Mass in C Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, will be performed in the second half of the concert and includes singers from the Laredo Philharmonic Chorale.

Also at the concert, TAMIU will announce its 2010 Distinguished Alumni

Award recipients. Nominations were submitted by colleagues, friends and family members. Recipients were chosen based on several criteria including humanitarian services, achievements and accomplishments, volunteerism, involvement in TAMIU– sponsored events and programs, contributions toward the Alumni Association scholarship fund and display of positive images of TAMIU in their communities.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

‘South Park’ caves in to Muslims

By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

I

n the creative world, nothing is esteemed more than edginess.

And few things are edgier than defaming articles of faith.

If you’re a director, it’s edgy to make a movie depicting Jesus as a normal, lustful guy confused about his purpose in life. If you’re an artist, it’s edgy to submerge a crucifix in urine or surround the Virgin Mary with pornographic images and elephant dung.

When people complain, you abandon iconoclasm and instead appeal to Western conventions of free expression.

You put down your flaming American flag long enough to quote the constitutional right to free speech. You set aside your post-modernist aversion to dead white males and cite the apocryphal quote from Voltaire: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Christian ruins But there comes a point at which such caginess is incompatible with edginess. Consider the movie “2012” and its apocalyptic scenes of computer-generated destruction to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica. Why such graphic depictions of religious sites? “Because I’m against organized religion,” director Roland Emmerich said in an interview with SciFiWire online.

Against all organized religion? Actually, no.

Emmerich had considered including the Kaaba in Mecca — the holiest site in Islam — for digitized devastation in the film. He decided otherwise, though not out of respect for the Islamic faith.

Backing off “Well, I wanted to do that, I have to admit,” Emmerich told SciFiWire. “But my co-writer Harald (Kloser) said, ‘I will not have a fatwa on my head because of a movie,’ and he was right.”

That’s not cagey. It’s plain cowardly.

For followers of the cult of edginess, giving offense is brave and avant-garde — so long as the targets of that offense are likely to observe the rules of tolerance and civility that they themselves are try-

ing to stretch. But encounter someone outside that community of tolerance and civility, and suddenly the edge is gone. Suddenly the desire to ridicule, defame or even debate issues of faith dissipates.

Backfires Nowhere has this been more clear than in the Western submission to an Islamic extremist decree that all depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are blasphemous, a prohibition that neither the Koran nor centuries of Islamic art support. In a true act of edginess, the creators of the animated series “South Park” attempted to lampoon not only the extremists, but also the weak-kneed artists who are their politically correct accomplices in selfcensorship.

All are insulted “South Park” is spiritually insulting on an equal opportunity basis.

Christians, Jews, Scientologists, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims can all find reason to take offense at the antics of its foul-mouthed characters.

In the first of a twopart episode that aired on Comedy Central on April 14, cartoon characters of Jesus, Moses, Krishna and other religious figures actually “appear.” Buddha snorts cocaine.

Muhammad was represented to be present, though not visible, in the back of a UHaul trailer and later inside a bear costume, though part two was to reveal Santa Claus inside the costume.

NY group That was too much for a group that calls itself Revolution Muslim, based not in Yemen or Saudi Arabia, but in New York. On its website, the group warned the show’s creators they would “probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh,” the Dutch creator of the controversial 10-minute film “Submission” who was murdered by an Islamic extremist in 2004.

That was bad. Worse was the reaction of the suits at Comedy Central and its owner MTV Networks, who censored all images and bleeped all references to the character when the second part aired on April 21.

It was a cartoon ... of a bear costume ... with Santa Claus in it. Voltaire, rest in peace.

(E-mail: jgurwitz@express-news.net)

EDITORIAL

Court split over cross outcry NEW YORK TIMES

A

badly divided Supreme Court has overturned a good ruling against a cross that sits on federal land.

The opinions did not provide much guidance but, overall, are likely to encourage those who want to entangle government and religion.

In 1934, private citizens put a cross on federally owned land in what is now the Mojave National Preserve in California, to honor Americans who died in World War I. A park visitor sued in 2001, and a federal judge ruled that the cross violated the First Amendment’s establishment clause because

it conveyed “a message of endorsement of religion.”

When the cross was challenged, Congress passed a law that transferred the land under it to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who would maintain it. The same park visitor challenged the land transfer. A trial court ruled that it was invalid because it was simply an attempt by the government to keep the cross. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, in San Francisco, agreed.

The Supreme Court reversed that, 5-to-4, in a splintered set of opinions by six separate justices.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, in a plurality opinion for

himself and two others, said the district court had erred when it blocked the land transfer because it had failed to properly weigh the factors Congress had to take into account when it passed the law. He directed the lower court to reconsider the question. Because of the way the other justices lined up in their separate opinions, Kennedy’s opinion has the force of law on this point.

Kennedy wrote that the cross was “not merely a reaffirmation of Christian beliefs.” He said, it “evokes thousands of small crosses in foreign fields marking the graves of Americans who fell in battles, battles whose

COLUMN

Opinions flow like the tide

By GARY ANDRES HEARST NEWSPAPERS

W

ASHINGTON — Public opinion about the appropriate role of the federal government moves like the moon cycle, causing tidal shifts in citizen attitudes and election outcomes.

After watching President Obama and Democrats in Congress over the past year and a half, attitudes about Washington are changing again, possibly giving those who advocate devolving power to the states a political advantage in the midterm elections.

Political scientist James A. Stimson nailed the ocean metaphor in his insightful book, “Tides of Consent: How Public Opinion Shapes American Politics.” Stimson showsthe mood about government starts to run counter to victorious political parties

soon after they win.

For example, voters typically elect Democrats when a more liberal, pro-activist federal government sentiment hits an apex. But for the big government crowd, Election Day is about as good as it gets. Small government politicians are not immune. They win, according to Stimson, when conservative views reach a peak, but once elected, the currents shift again in the direction of big government.

The tides thesis explains a lot about today’s political events, including the outlook for the 2010 elections and voters’ views about the role of the government.

Stimson accurately notes that waves of change don’t impact every voter. He divides the electorate into three groups — the Passionate, the Scorekeepers and the Uninvolved. The exact size of each category,

Stimson argues, is not that important, but they are practically divided equally.

But it’s the middle group — the Scorekeepers — that produce the incremental change in American politics. The Passionate stick with their respective teams — Republicans or Democrats — no matter how things go. The Uninvolved shift, but changes are random. The Scorekeepers, Stimson writes, “(pay) enough attention to respond to common signals of politics, yet (are) not so involved as to be committed always to one side.”

Examples of these tidal shifts abound. Americans preferred bigger government with more services in 2008, but now support smaller government.

Stimson argues these shifts “should not be understood as an emotional rejection or a ‘backlash,’ but as more mundane. Given the

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tragedies would be compounded if the fallen are forgotten.”

A cross is not a generic memorial to Americans who die in battle — something Jewish, Muslim, and atheist soldiers could attest to. Justice John Paul Stevens, in dissent, had it right when he pointed out that it is a uniquely Christian symbol with a “deeply significant meaning for those who adhere to the Christian faith.”

The establishment clause prevents the government from endorsing any particular religion.

Congress violated that basic principle in this situation. It should not have been a difficult case.

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

growing belief that the federal government is doing too much, would politicians advocating more statebased solutions find new pockets of support among today’s Scorekeepers?

Not long after the Republicans thumped the Democrats in the 1994 congressional elections, the late New York Times writer R. W. Apple Jr. channeled the Beatles White Album with a piece titled, “You Say You Want a Devolution.”

Apple defended consolidating power in Washington. But now, like then, support for a more muscular federal Leviathan is in a downtrend. The Scorekeepers now want “devolution” in power. If Republicans embrace the tide and promote more state-based solutions, it probably means a “Hard Days Night” this Nov. 2 for those with ambitions to grow Washington’s size, power, and influence.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

PAGE 6A

Zentertainment

Big lineup set for Cinco de Mayo fest

By EMILIO RÁBAGO III THE ZAPATA TIMES

Dust off your favorite dancing shoes for Wednesday’s Bud Light/La Ley Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Laredo Energy Arena.

Radio station La Ley along with Bud Light is hosting a big old pachanga for one of Mexico’s top holidays.

Headlining the event will be Lalo Mora, formerly the lead singer of Los Invasores De Nuevo Leon. Others include regional favorites La Mision Colombiana, El Pega Pega, Los Cadetes de Linares, Los Subditos, Con Todo and La Sonora 100% Puro Dinamita de Anaidita.

The heavy cumbia-colombiana lineup should be enough to keep you dancing till midnight, according to BMP General Sales Manager Ana Rivera-Soto.

The event, presented also

by Pocket Wireless, will be held at the newly renamed Laredo Energy Arena. It

Courtesy photo

Lalo Mora, formerly lead singer of Los Invasores de Nuevo Leon, will headline Wednesday’s event at the LEA. will be a half-show, meaning organizers expect a crowd of about 4,000.

Tickets are free; however, you must tune in to La Ley 100.5 FM for your chance win some. Sponsor Pocket Wireless also is distributing them. Tickets are given away in packs of four, to enable families to attend.

Traditional Mexican

foods such as gorditas, flautas and Mexican hot dogs will be available.

“We’re making it very affordable for people to have a good time enjoying good music and good food,” Rivera-Soto said.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

(Emilio Rábago III may be reached at 728-2564 or erabago@lmtonline.com)

MORE EVENTS LPO finishes season on Sunday The award-winning Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert series will conclude its 30th anniversary season “Musical Pearls” with the concert “Laredo’s Own Gems” on Sunday, May 2, at 3 p.m. at TAMIU in Laredo.

Tickets are available at the door and are $25 for adults and $17 for seniors.

Student admission is free with a student ID. The concert will bring together the artistic talents

of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Laredo Philharmonic Chorale, the United High School Choir, TAMIU Choirs, vocalists Suzanne Ramo and Joseph Crabtree, as well as the winner of the first Laredo Concerto Competition, Sih Yao Huang.

For more information, call 326-3042 or e-mail laredophilharmonic@gmail.com

Little Sister performs for food bank Local band Little Sister will perform at Hal’s Land-

ing, 6520 Arena Rd., on Thursday, May 6 as part of a fundraiser for the South Texas Food Bank.

The event, which starts at 8 p.m. in Laredo, is being dubbed as a post Cinco de Mayo and pre-Mother’s Day fest, and is being sponsored by the venue. Admission is $10 per person and tickets are available at the food bank, by calling 726-3120; they will also be available at the door.

Proceeds go to the food bank’s mission to feed the hungry of Laredo.

For more information, call the South Texas Food Bank at 726-3120.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Mel Brooks gets star in Hollywood LOS ANGELES — Nobody could say people walk all over Mel Brooks. Until now.

Brooks got the Holly-

wood Walk of Fame’s 2,406th star last Friday.

Jason Alexander strikes bicyclist in LA LOS ANGELES — Police say “Seinfeld” actor Ja-

son Alexander won’t be cited after striking a 14-yearold bicyclist while driving in Los Angeles. The boy suffered minor injuries.

Los Angeles police spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said Alexander hit the boy Tuesday morning.

SÁBADO 1 DE MAYO DE 2010

Agenda en Breve SÁBADO 1 DE MAYO LAREDO — Habrá una venta de platillos de carne asada organizada por empleados del Servicio Postal de EU para benefiicar al South Texas Food Bank y el Regional Food Bank hoy de 11 a.m. a 2 p.m. en el WOW Hall, 5409 Springfield Ave. El costo de cada platillo es de 5 dólares. Más información llamando a Luis Palacios al 6451062.

LAREDO — El equipo de béisbol de TAMIU recibe a St. Mary’s University a las 12 p.m. y 3 p.m.

Entrada general 5 dólares; 3 dólares para estudiantes y gratis para cualquiera con identificación de TAMIU. LAREDO — El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU celebra su 5to Aniversario hoy de 11 a.m. a 6:30 p.m. Se exhibirá “Attack of the Space Pirates” a las 11:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:45 p.m.; a las 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. y 6:15 p.m.; “Kaluoka’hina: The Enchanted Reef” a la 1 p.m.; “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure a las 2:30 p.m.; “The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” a las 4:45 p.m. Otras actividades incluirán Búsqueda del Tesoro del Pirata; premiación del concurso de ensayo “Out of this World”; Concurso de Disfraz de Pirata; presentación de la Academia de Diana Rendón.

LAREDO — Celebrando el Día del Espacio 2010, el Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta “Looking at Earth from Space” (Observando a la Tierra desde el Espacio) con dos presentaciones especiales: “Bella Gaia: a Poetic Vision of Earth from Space” de 7 p.m. a 8 p.m.

NUEVO LAREDO — El Partido Revolucionario Institucional invita a la Brigada Médico-Asistencial el día de hoy a partir de las 11 a.m. en Pino Suárez 9002 de la Colonia La Sandía. Habrá servicios gratuitos de corte de cabello, médicos, dentistas, veterinarios y abogados.

Zfrontera

Violencia provoca Entregan cierre de comercios guía anti POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

NUEVO LAREDO — Un 30% de los negocios afiliados a la Federación de Cámaras de Comercio de México en la frontera que comparten México y EU han cerrado sus puertas debido a la inseguridad.

Es decir unos 21,000 negocios han cerrado, ya que hasta antes de que se resintiera el clima de violencia, la FECANACO tenía registrados 70,000 negocios.

Esto implica que se pierden hasta 20 millones de pesos cada mes en la frontera.

A decir del Presidente de la FECANACO Homero Villarreal Cerda dijo que los consumidores estadounidenses dejaron de viajar desde Ciudad JuáVILLARREAL rez, Chihuahua hasta Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

“Los principales negocios afectados por la violencia se encuentran en Reynosa, Miguel Alemán, Mier, Guerrero y Ciudad Camargo”, dijo Villarreal. “La violencia incluye la toma de las instalaciones aduaneras en Camargo y el incendio de negocios en Miguel Alemán”.

“Esta actividad desincentiva a los extranjeros a visitarnos”, dijo Villarreal. “¿Cómo podríamos justificar que turistas estuvieran de visita a los municipios envueltos en la violencia y resultaran lastimados por las balas de alguno de los antagonistas en conflicto?”.

Inclusive predijo que la situación no tiene final pronto porque “la autoridad ataca la violencia con más violencia lo que genera incertidumbre”.

Villarreal sostuvo que en Ciudad Mier se ha perdido el 60% de los negocios por lo que la ciudad se encuentra devastada.

“El 40% de los activos, se está sosteniendo confiando en que podría cambiar el estado de cosas”, sostuvo él.

“

Los planes de promoción fueron rebasados por las constantes acciones criminales”.

HOMERO VILLARREAL CERDA, PRESIDENTE DE FECANACO

En Miguel Alemán, donde era constante la promoción del turismo, tuvieron que suspender estas actividades debido al incremento en eventos criminales.

“Los planes de promoción fueron rebasados por las constantes acciones criminales”, dijo Villarreal. “Podemos hablar de Río Bravo, Reynosa y otros que se encuentran en las mismas condiciones”.

En el caso de Nuevo Laredo, la FECANACO indica que el cierre de negocios es mínimo.

“El comercio está seriamente afectado en ambos lados de la frontera porque nadie quiere verse afectado por un acto violento que ocurra en cualquier momento”, dijo Villarreal.

Han trascurrido tres años del gobierno del Presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, en los cuales han muerto mas de 22.800 personas en embocadas, ejecuciones y enfrentamientos entre pandillas contrarias y el ejército.

El Presidente Calderón dijo que no darán un paso atrás, que pide ayuda de la comunidad nacional para continuar con la guerra para poder contener al crimen organizado.

Villarreal concluyó diciendo “no se ve que disminuyan la delincuencia”.

(Localice a Miguel Timoshenkov en el 728-2583 ó en mramirez@lmtonline.com)

DÉCIMO ANIVERSARIO

DOMINGO 2 DE MAYO LAREDO — La Orquesta Filarmónica de Laredo. En su 30ma temporada, presenta “Laredo’s Own Gems” hoy a las 3 p.m. en el Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall de TAMIU. Los boletos tienen costo de 25 dólares para adultos y 17 dólares para seniors; estudiantes con identificación entran gratis.

LAREDO — Holy Redeemer Church tendrá su Jamaica annual desde el mediodía a las 9 p.m. Habrá juegos, comida y una rifa. Más información llamando a Amparo Ugarte al 286-0862.

LAREDO — Hoy es el Family Fun Fest/Jamaica de St. John Neumann Catholic Church (102 W. Hillside Road) de 4 p.m. a 10 p.m. Habrá comida, juegos, Bingo y premios. La rifa incluye una motocicleta Harley Davidson 2010.

JUEVES 6 DE MAYO LAREDO — El Banco de Alimentos del Sur de Texas llevará a cabo una campaña de recaudación de fondos a partir de las 8 a.m. y hasta la medianoche. El evento es patrocinado por Hal’s Landing, 6510 Arena Road. El costo es de 10 dólares por persona. El principal evento será la música de Little Sister. Más de 2.000 dólares en premios se rifarán por 5 dólares el boleto ó cinco boletos por 20 dólares. Puede adquirir sus boletos llamando al (956) 726-3120, ó en la puerta el día del evento.

SÁBADO 8 DE MAYO LAREDO — Hoy es el Segundo Torneo Anual de Golf “Fernando A. Salinas Charitable Trust” a las 8 a.m. en el Campo de Golf Casa Blanca. Lo recaudado será para beneficiar al Programa del Comité Juvenil de la Laredo Sister Cities. La entrada es de 125 dólares por jugador. Más información con Rudy Gonzalez al (956) 726-2019 ó escribiendo a rudygonzalez@southerngolfproperties.com NUEVO LAREDO — Tentativo arranque de la campaña proselitista de Rodolfo Torre Cantú, candidato del PRI al gobierno de Tamaulipas.

tabaco ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD VICTORIA — La Comisión de Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios inició la entrega de más de 400 guías para el cumplimiento de Ley General para el Control del Tabaco y su Reglamento a propietarios de restaurantes, bares, discotecas y hoteles principalmente, en las cuales se establecen los derechos y obligaciones que deben asumir en su establecimiento para evitar sanciones.

El Comisionado Estatal Roberto Hernández Báez expuso que con la entrega de guías a los prestadores de este tipo de servicios, se pretende generar conciencia y corresponsabilizar a este sector, así como facilitar el entendimiento de estas disposiciones sanitarias para reforzar su cumplimiento.

En la primera etapa, la guía se está entregando en las Jurisdicciones Sanitarias de Victoria y Tampico.

“Con la entrega de la Guía para el Cumplimiento de la Ley General para el Control del Tabaco y su Reglamento, se pretende dar a conocer los lineamientos aplicables a los establecimientos, y con ello el propietario tendrá los conocimientos necesarios para evitar que se haga acreedor a una sanción administrativa, económica e incluso al cierre definitivo de su negocio”, dijo Hernández.

El objetivo es, al final, proteger la salud de la población y de los no fumadores, indica un comunicado de prensa.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

Una guía será entregada a los establecimientos para que sean orientados sobre la prohibición de fumar en Tamaulipas.

Entre los procedimientos que presenta el documento, destaca el establecer el esquema de intervención, ser el enlace con los actores a fin de determinar la participación y compromisos que cada uno adquiere, acciones de capacitación, intercambio de información, así como los informes de los resultados adquiridos.

También determina los derechos del propietario, bases epidemiológicas básicas de la importancia de la Ley, guía didáctica para su cumplimiento, entre otros aspectos.

Hernández dijo que el trabajo de verificación y entrega de guías se reforzará en los giros sanitarios de restaurantes, bares, discotecas, hoteles, casinos, billares, cafeterías, salones de fiesta, entre otros.

Aplican ley seca de 13 horas POR MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

MIÉRCOLES 5 DE MAYO NUEVO LAREDO — El Partido Revolucionario Institucional invita hoy al festejo por el Día del Niño a las 5 p.m. en el Parque Viveros. La entrada es gratuita.

PÁGINA 7A

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

El Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores, al centro, encabezó la ceremonia de décimo aniversario del Puente del Comercio Mundial en Nuevo Laredo, el 24 de abril. Hernández calificó al cruce como una obra emblemática del dinamismo, el liderazgo y la competitividad con más de 11 millones de cruces. Caminan junto a él, de izquierda a derecha, la Diputada Federal Cristabell Zamora; el Alcalde de Laredo Raul Salinas, Hernández, y el Jefe de Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo Ramón Garza Barrios.

Supervisan avance de obra POR EKATERINA GUTIERREZ ARGUELLO ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD GUERRERO — Entrega de beneficios y avance de obras fueron realizados durante la semana pasada por la Jefa de Gobierno Olga Juliana Elizondo Guerra.

El 22 de abril se llevó a cabo una visita a la obra del nuevo Centro de Salud a fin de supervisar su avance.

Correspondió al Director del Centro de Salud Rogelio Olivares explicar la manera en que será utilizado el edificio.

El Centro de Salud presenta un avance del 90% y se espera entregarlo antes de diciembre, dijo Olivares.

El 22 de abril, con motivo del Día Mundial de la Tierra, Elizondo visitó el Monumento a Don José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara, primer Gobernador de Tamaulipas, donde encabezó la plantación de palmas y revisión de árboles.

Elizondo plantó cuatro palmas en la plaza principal, y el objetivo es

OLGA J. ELIZONDO G.: Encabezó la plantación de palmas en plazas de Ciudad Guerrero. realizar otras plantaciones en las diferentes plazas de la ciudad.

Del 19 al 22 de abril se recibió la papelería de familias interesadas en recibir ayuda para material y/o láminas a través del programa de ITAVU. Laura Tamez Garza, enlace municipal de ITAVU, informó que se recibieron 130 solicitudes para material y 50 para láminas.

El 14 de abril se realizó una ceremonia del programa federal del Seguro Popular. En ese marco se realizaron cuatro afiliaciones y 12 renovaciones.

Elizondo aprovechó el evento para hacer entrega de focos ahorradores y despensas del programa Unidos Avanzamos Más.

(Ekaterina Gutierrez Arguello es Directora de Comunicación Social en Ciudad Guerrero)

Este sábado hay Ley Seca oficial en Tamaulipas, y los negocios que no la respeten serán multados con 20.000 pesos pero además podrían enfrentar la clausura y, en consecuencia, perder su licencia de alcoholes.

En Nuevo Laredo, el Jefe de la Subdirección Municipal de Alcoholes Juan Felipe Rodríguez explicó que la ley seca es debido al feriado del fin de semana, el 1 de mayo, “Día del Trabajo”.

La restricción en la venta de alcohol comprende de las 2 a.m. a las 3 p.m. del sábado.

La normatividad federal será aplicada por el Gobierno de Tamaulipas y la Secretaría de Finanzas, a través de inspectores municipales quienes recorrerán las calles para verificar que se respete la orden.

Desfile También el sábado en

La restricción en la venta de alcohol comprende de las 2 a.m. a las 3 p.m. del sábado.

Nuevo Laredo, a las 8 a.m. iniciará la celebración del Día del Trabajo.

El líder de la Federación de Trabajadores de México Francisco Martínez Cortés dijo que se realizarán los Honores a la Bandera en la Plaza Cívica Municipal y posteriormente el desfile del sector obrero iniciando en Guerrero y Pino Suárez y concluyendo en Guerrero y Guatemala.

“Esperamos desfilar unos 26 mil cetemistas y sus invitados”, dijo Martínez.

(Localice a Miguel Timoshenkov en el 728-2583 ó en mramirez@lmtonline.com)

DEL RECUERDO: HOTEL COLONIAL

Foto de cortesía/Eden Ramos | La del Miernes

En esta imagen se observa el que fuera el Hotel Colonial, edificio que fungiera alguna vez como la Aduana de Ciudad Mier.

National

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

Arizona faces boycott calls

By BOB CHRISTIE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX — Civil rights leaders are urging organizations to cancel their conventions in Arizona. Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks are encountering protesters on the road. And the AriZona iced tea company wants everyone to know that its drinks are made in New York.

Arizona is facing a backlash over its new law cracking on illegal immigrants, with opponents pushing for a tourism boycott like the one that was used to punish the state 20 years ago over its refusal to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a holiday.

“The goal is to as quickly as possible bring to a shocking stop the economy of Arizona,” former state Sen. Alfredo Gutierrez said Friday as a coalition called Boycott Arizona announced its formation.

The outcry has grown steadily in the week since Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed the nation’s toughest law against illegal immigration. The measure makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally, and directs local police to question people about their immigration status and demand to see their documents if there is reason to suspect they are illegal.

Many in Arizona support the law amid growing anger over the federal government’s failure to secure the border. The state has become a major gateway for drug smuggling and human trafficking from Mexico.

Critics say the law will lead to racial profiling and other abuses, and they are giving Arizona a public relations beating over the issue.

Groups have called on people not to fly Tempebased US Airways, rent trucks from Phoenix-based U-Haul or go to Suns and

Solons give conservatives lots to cheer

By JONATHAN J. COOPER AND PAUL DAVENPORT ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Nam Y. Huh | AP

Kyla Klein, left, and Claudia Galeno hold signs Thursday as they protest at Wrigley Field in Chicago before the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs baseball game. Arizona is facing a backlash over its new law cracking down on illegal immigrants, with opponents pushing for a tourism boycott like the one 20 years ago over its refusal to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a holiday.

Diamondbacks games. A New York congressman and others are urging major league baseball to move the 2011 All Star Game out of Phoenix. The cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles have talked of cutting off deals with the state and its businesses.

Phoenix is vying for the 2012 Republican National Convention, and at least one mayor has called on political leaders to choose a different city.

About 40 immigrant rights activists gathered outside Wrigley Field in Chicago on Thursday, chanting, “Boycott Arizona” as the Diamondbacks opened a series against the Cubs. A small plane pulling a banner criticizing the law circled the stadium.

Civil rights leaders from the Rev. Al Sharpton to Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa have pushed for a boycott.

Turning the tables on the state, the Mexican government warned citizens to

use extreme caution when visiting Arizona.

With all things Arizona now under attack, the AriZona Beverage Co. evidently feared business would suffer. The iced tea company tweeted: “AriZona is and always has been a NY based company! (BORN IN BKLYN ’92)” Fifteen million people visit Arizona each year for vacations, conventions and sporting events such as the Fiesta Bowl, pro golf tournaments and baseball spring training. The state tourism office estimated that conventions and other travel and tourist spending in Arizona brought in $18.5 billion in 2008.

Some companies said the call for a boycott has had no noticeable effect, although Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said he has heard of six events being canceled.

One of the groups to pull out is the American Immigration Lawyers Association, which canceled a fall

conference to be held at a Scottsdale resort.

“We knew that the governor had this bill sitting on her desk,” spokesman George Tzamaras said.

“Literally, minutes after she signed it the board of governors convened a conference call, and by an almost unanimous vote the association decided to pull that meeting.”

The prospect of a boycott unnerves Arizona tourism officials.

“We’re worried about keeping every convention and meeting here in Phoenix. It’s an economic driver here in the state; it provides hundreds of thousands of jobs and a good economic boost to the state,” said Doug MacKenzie, spokesman for the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.

MacKenzie said he has heard of five or six large events canceled, adding, “I think it’s misguided to bring the tourism industry into the crosshairs of this political issue.”

PHOENIX — Across the country, they are known as the conservative lawmakers who are taking illegal immigration into their own hands.

But the Arizona Legislature adjourned this week with a legacy of new laws that put it at the forefront of the nation’s growing conservative movement.

There’s the law that allows adults to carry a concealed weapon without the permit, background check or training course that was previously required. And the declaration that the federal government has no right to regulate light bulbs or guns manufactured entirely within the state.

Lawmakers also restricted the use of human embryos in scientific research, and made it illegal for a school district to have any courses that promote a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity.

Finally, there is the law that has gotten the most attention: Crack down on illegal immigration by requiring police to question people about their immi-

gration status if there’s reason to suspect they’re in the country illegally, and making it a state crime to be in the United States illegally.

“We are so far ahead of the other states that they can hardly see us,” said Rep. John Kavanagh, a Republican from Fountain Hills.

Others see it differently.

“We have raised the bar on the definition of crazy and ridiculous,” said Democratic Rep. Ed Ableser.

The immigration law will become effective in late July, three months after the legislature adjourns.

Arizona has always been a Republican state, but the ascent of a Republican governor, the creation of publicly funded campaigns, and a lack of competitive legislative districts have combined to make the Arizona Legislature a national pioneer in advancing conservative causes.

Other measures championed by conservatives made it out of one chamber but not the other, such as a bill to require presidential candidates to prove their citizenship to get on Arizona’s ballot.

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

ConocoPhillips sees 1Q profit

By MARK WILLIAMS ASSOCIATED PRESS

ConocoPhillips said Thursday that its firstquarter earnings more than doubled as oil prices climbed.

Oil prices were about twice as high during the quarter as they were year ago, and more than offset the company’s losses from its refining business.

ConocoPhillips, based in Houston, made $2.1 billion, or $1.40 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, compared with $840 million, or 56 cents per share, in the year ago quarter.

Refiners have difficulty passing higher fuel costs on to customers as energy demand continues to be weak as the economy recovers from the recession.

Revenue totaled $44.8 billion in the quarter, up from $30.7 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Discounting one-time charges of $110 million, the company said it would have made $2.2 billion, or $1.47 per share. The charge is connected to its pullout from two projects in the Middle East, including a refinery planned for Saudi Carmen Ramirez - Rathmell, D.D.S.

“Let your smile be a sign of happiness & good health”

1520 Corpus Christi Street Telephone (956) 726-0160

Apple says it will close Lala

By RYAN NAKASHIMA ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Paul Sakuma | AP

Gas prices are displayed outside of a ConocoPhillips gas station in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday. ConocoPhillips said Thursday its first-quarter earnings more than doubled on the back of rising oil prices.

Arabia.

The results boosted the company’s stock at one point in Thursday’s trading session to $60.15, a new high for the past year.

Production fell to 1.8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, down 5 percent from 1.9 million barrels per day a year ago.

ConocoPhillips’ average oil price was about $72 a barrel during the quarter, compared with $40 a year ago when the Great Recession sent energy prices tumbling. Crude is above $80 a barrel now.

The company’s refining and marketing business lost $4 million in the quar-

ter compared with a profit of $205 million in the yearago quarter.

ConocoPhillips has taken steps to become a smaller company. It announced last year it intends unload $10 billion in assets in 2010 and 2011, as it reconfigured itself into a more profitable company with less debt and fewer projects.

LOS ANGELES — Apple Inc. is shutting down its Lala online music service amid speculation it is creating a way for iTunes customers to listen to songs stored on distant computers.

The move comes just weeks before an annual conference for developers in San Francisco on June 7 at which the secretive company tends to announce big news. Last year, it used the conference to unveil the latest version of its iPhone.

With Apple continuing

to build a $1 billion data center in Maiden, N.C., that rivals the largest such facilities in the world, some executives in the online music industry believe Apple is poised to announce an Internetpowered version of iTunes that would do away with the need to download songs.

Such a move would pit Apple, the largest online music retailer, against smaller companies that offer ways to deliver music to mobile devices using “cloud computing,” a remote-storage system that potentially challenges iTunes.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

RELAY

CENSUS Continued from Page 1A than 800 events nationwide, including local parades, festivals and major sporting events.

According to Donovan, the road tour is one last attempt to motivate people to complete and mail back the 10-question census form.

“If they already filled it out, we encourage them to pass the message,” said Sylvia Martinez, U.S. Census Partnership specialist.

The tour vehicle was one of the last of the 12 regional vehicles and one national vehicle that traveled 1,500 days and more than 150,000 miles across

the country to provide the public with an educational, engaging and interactive experience that brought the census to life.

“It’s not too late to be counted,” Donovan said.

Local resident Claudia Castillo said she had not received the census form at home, and approached the tour bus to ask what she needed to do to get a form. Census tour employees gathered the information she needed and directed her to a phone number she could call.

“They gave me the information I needed,” Castillo said in Spanish.

Donovan also noted that certain people have approached him and notified him that they are not citizens of this country, but reside here. He expressed the importance of the census, and stressed that their personal information would remain completely confidential.

“It is important that everyone get counted, whether they are undocumented or not,” Donovan said.

The census will begin the non-response follow-up in May. A group of enumerators will go door to door in an attempt to account for those who did

not return their forms by the cut-off day, April 16. If forms were turned in after the cut-off day, there is no guarantee someone will not be knocking at the door to collect the census information, Donovan said.

The census is also an indicator of adequate governmental representation. Texas could gain as many as five seats in Congress due to its rapid growth, said Thomas W. Edwards, U.S. Census Bureau Assistant Branch Chief Demographic Economic Media Relations Branch of Public information office.

BORDER Continued from Page 1A ing border,” in hand.

Though the article credits Bersin with saying that U.S. border cities are not experiencing spillover violence from Mexico, the chief took time to clarify his statement, responding that the Unites States is not experiencing the “type of violence” as in Mexico.

“We do not see that violence as in Juarez, Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo,” Bersin said. “We will not tolerate the cartel activity.”

The article goes on to say that extra security efforts must include measures to expedite

legitimate trade between the two countries.

But Gonzalez’s main concern is the violence in Mexico reaching into the Unites States, especially the border cities.

“My concern is the safety of the people, as to what to what happens between the border entries,” Gonzalez said.

“I’m not saying commerce is not important, because it is.

We also, as law enforcement, need to worry about the safety of the community.”

The balance between expediting traffic at the international crossings, while maintaining

vigilant security, was another topic of interest. Bersin said that along with the flow of people and legal goods, there is also contraband, such as narcotics.

Those illegal items, he said, must be stopped at the point of entry.

The commissioner also proposed that CBP should promote the trusted traveler programs, such as the SENTRI. Miguel Conchas, president/ CEO of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, said some tourists stop and shop in Laredo, but others choose to go north to

San Antonio or San Marcos.

“Literally, (tourists) come to spend money in the country,” he said.

Conchas asked Bersin to consider investing in the proper resources for agencies to speed up the traffic flow. People should be treated with respect, he said, not like suspects.

“We don’t ask that we do away with security,” Conchas said, but added that there is a need for a simpler and more efficient flow of traffic.

At the end of the forum, Bersin spared a few minutes with Mexican media.

Continued from Page 1A company and sell food throughout the night.

“Each tent has a fiesta theme, but with their own twist. For the survivor’s tent, we even ordered cakes in a fiesta hat shape,” said Leal, whose company sponsored the survivors tent.

While the Relay for Life begins with a “survivor lap” to honor cancer survivors, Bobby Mesa, a veteran participant and 2010 Relay for Life organizer, echoed the sentiments of several participants that the Luminaria Ceremony is a relay favorite. “(For) the Luminaria Ceremony, we have paper bags decorated with family member names, some in ‘memory of,’ others in ‘honor of.’ Then we turn off all the lights and turn on the bags. It’s very touching. We remember, we celebrate,” said Mesa, adding that the bags, though they once held candles, are now lit with glow sticks as a safety measure.

The symbolic ceremony is followed by a lap of silence, dedicated to those that have been touched by cancer.

“I got involved because my husband’s three uncles passed away from cancer. This is the fourth year we did it,” said Sara Garza, relay volunteer and committee member for Amistad Home Health, Inc. “We know it’s for a good cause and we want to show our community support.”

The relay concludes with a fight back ceremony, allowing participants to make personal commitments to take steps to fight the disease.

For more information on the Relay for Life or other Zapata County Chamber of Commerce events, call 765-4871.

(Stephanie M. Ibarra may be reached at 728-2567 or sibarra@lmtonline.com)

GARCIA Continued from Page 1A referral services.

It operates in Laredo, Rio Bravo, Zapata, Hebbronville, Rio Grande City and Weslaco.

In a long, emotional farewell, Rodriguez praised his staff.

“It’s been a wonderful ride,” Rodriguez said.

“There is one thing you always were: caring.

“I will miss everyone tremendously. I’ve made many friends.”

As a gift to the board, Ro-

driguez unveiled a portrait of a hawk that his family gave him when he was first appointed as ZCISD superintendent nine years ago.

He had kept it in his office ever since.

“This is the hawk that accompanied me for nine years, and I see this hawk as a caring and wise hawk,” Rodriguez said.

“I’m going to leave this in the executive session room as a reminder.”

The board voted to nomi-

nate Garcia 6-1; trustee Norberto Lopez was the only member to vote against.

“It is with enormous pride and humility that I accepted the Zapata County ISD Board of Trustees appointment to serve as acting superintendent,” Garcia said. “It is my sincere desire to continue to look out for the students’ best interests while promoting a college-going culture.”

After the meeting, Rodri-

guez’s staff wished him luck and expressed their gratitude for his commitment and dedication to the ZCISD students. They also congratulated Garcia in her new position as temporary active superintendent.

According to Garcia, the district has wonderful facilities, a sound budget, dedicated staff in all departments and supportive board members.

Although Garcia’s time as active superintendent

may be short-lived, she said that she is ready to continue and improve on initiatives that have been beneficial to the students and employees. Everyone’s support is essential, especially since the goal is to function as one entity with the shared vision of reaching “Exemplary” status.

“The main filter will be the welfare of the students,” Garcia said. “They are the ones that are paying the price of account-

ability.”

It is unknown when the board plans to appoint a permanent superintendent or where they plan to search, but Martinez confirmed the board will discuss further details in the next school board meeting.

“We don’t want to rush,” Martinez said. “We have to get together to discuss everything.”

(Lorraine L. Rodriguez may be reached at (956)7282557.)

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

LUCKY NO. 7

Photo by Mark Duncan | AP

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James celebrates a shot during a first-round playoff game in Cleveland.

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili reacts as the Spurs defeat the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series on Thursday in San Antonio. San Antonio will face the Phoenix Sunds in the conference semifinals.

Spurs confident going into Western semis

By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN ANTONIO — Calling the Spurs perhaps the best No. 7 seed in NBA history is growing into a fashionable opinion.

The Spurs rested Friday after finishing off secondseeded Dallas in Game 6 on Thursday night. They are just the fifth No. 7 seed to win a playoff series — and the first since the opening round became a best-of-seven series in 2003.

San Antonio awaits Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals that begin Monday. Only the 1987 Seattle Supersonics made it past two rounds as a seventh seed.

The Suns have lost three straight playoff series to the Spurs since 2003.

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

San Antonio Spurs guard George Hill (3) hugs Tony Parker during the final minutes of their win Thursday in San Antonio.

Getting there Manu Ginobili stepped off the podium and bumped into Dirk Nowitz-

ki. They shook hands. Nowitzki gave his longtime foe a congratulatory slap on the back and Ginobili disappeared down the hall-

way.

He was off to celebrate a playoff series win. Just like old times for the Spurs.

“We’re thrilled that we beat them,” Ginobili said.

“We’re really proud of it.”

Nowitzki then sat down for a playoff ritual of his own — dissecting yet another first-round failure by the Mavericks.

Ginobili scored 26 points and San Antonio survived blowing a 22point lead to finish off the Mavericks 97-87 in Game 6 on Thursday night, getting payback after Dallas eliminated the Spurs a year ago in the opening round.

The seventh-seeded Spurs will play the sixthseeded Suns in the Western Conference semifinals

See SPURS PAGE 2B

Nowitzki looking at options

By JAIME ARON ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki has always said wearing anything but a Mavericks jersey would be strange, and that winning a title anywhere but Dallas wouldn’t be the same.

Now, he’s not so sure.

Still reeling from a firstround playoff ousting — his third in the four years since Dallas reached the NBA finals — Nowitzki said Friday he needs some down time before deciding

whether to return to the Mavericks next season or to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.

“I have to keep my options open at this point, see what’s going on; got to get over this disappointment for a while,” he said.

“I’ll probably drown my sorrows for a bit, then start thinking about stuff like that in a week or two.

As of now, I just want to keep my options open and see what happens.”

See NOWITZKI PAGE 2B

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki lies on the court during his team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs Thursday in San Antonio.

LeBron still most valuable AP source says Cavaliers forward won NBA’s top honor for 2nd straight year

By TOM WITHERS ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — LeBron James has joined one of the NBA’s most exclusive clubs.

Cleveland’s superstar was voted the league’s MVP for the second straight year, a person familiar with the announcement told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not announced the results of the vote.

James, who averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists this season, will receive the trophy Sunday at the University of Akron. The presentation by commissioner David Stern will come in front of Cleveland’s fans. The Cavaliers play the Boston Celtics on Monday in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series.

James is the 10th NBA player to be the MVP in consecutive seasons. The 25-year-old star joins Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan and Steve Nash. Russell, Cham-

“

I don’t think anyone deserved it over LeBron.”

DWAYNE WADE, MIAMI HEAT GUARD

berlain and Bird won it three times in a row.

“I don’t think anyone deserved it over LeBron,” Miami’s Dwyane Wade said. “LeBron could get it every year. It’s his award to lose. That’s how it is with certain players. Jordan didn’t win it every year.

Jordan could have won it every year. But the criteria was apparently a little different.”

James’ win was expected after he had the finest season of his seven-year pro career. What remains to be seen is his margin of victory. Last season, James received 109 of 121 firstplace votes, winning in a landslide in voting by a nationwide media panel of

See MVP PAGE 2B

Bryant focusing on future Rookie Cowboys WR wants to move past controversy, get ready to star on the field

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

IRVING — Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Dez Bryant says he’s done talking about being asked by Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland in a predraft interview if his mother was ever a prostitute.

After his first workout with the Cowboys during a rookie minicamp Friday, Bryant repeatedly said he didn’t want to talk about his interview with Ireland

and the controversy that has followed.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to talk about the Cowboys and what I’m doing. I put that in the past,” Bryant said.

“I’m just going to move on, I really don’t even want to speak on it anymore. I feel fine, things are great. I’m just looking ahead now.”

Bryant’s on-field debut with the Cowboys came days after Ireland apologized publicly, the NFL players union raised concerns

about discrimination and degradation, and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he would look into the matter personally.

Another twist came Friday when SI.com, citing unnamed sources, reported that Ireland asked Bryant if his mother was a prostitute as a follow-up to other answers provided by the 21-yearold receiver.

The SI.com report cited an alleged exchange in which Bryant was asked what his father did for a living when the receiver was growing up, and he responded that his dad was a pimp. When Bryant was then asked what his

See BRYANT PAGE 2B

Photo by L.M. Otero | AP

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) takes a break during rookie minicamp at Valley Ranch in Irving on Friday. This is Bryant’s first workout since being the first-round draft pick of the Cowboys.

PAGE 2B

Zscores

TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American League CLEVELAND INDIANS: Activated RHP Hector Ambriz from the 15-day DL. Optioned RHP Joe Smith to Columbus (IL).

KANSAS CITY ROYALS: Activated 2B Chris Getz from the 15-day DL. Optioned RHP Victor Marte to Omaha (PCL).

MINNESOTA TWINS: Placed RHP Nick Blackburn on the family medical emergency list. Recalled RHP Jeff Manship from Rochester (IL).

National League

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: Activated RHP Brad Lidge from the 15-day DL. Placed RHP Ryan Madson on the 15-day DL. Recalled LHP Antonio Bastardo from Lehigh Valley (IL).

FOOTBALL NFL BUFFALO BILLS: Signed WR David Nelson and LB Mike Wright.

CHICAGO BEARS: Named Tim Ruskell director of player personnel. Signed DE Mark Anderson.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: Signed DB Benjamin Burney, DB Chris Chancellor, WR Jonathan Haggerty, WR Dion Morton, WR Aaron Valen-

tin, OL Casey Bender, OL Joel Reinders, LB Auston English, DL Swanson Miller and TE Troy Wagner.

DETROIT LIONS: Signed LB Caleb Campbell, CB Aaron Berry, DT Robert Callaway, FB Matt Clapp, TE Richard Dickson, WR Mike Moore, WR Contrevious Parks, and LS Sam Scroggins.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: Signed QB Noah Shepard, WR Chastin West, CB Sam Shields, RB Quinn Porter, LB Frank Zombo, LB Alex Joseph, LB Tim Knicky, LB John Russell, G Nick McDonald, OT Chris Campbell and WR Jeff Moturi.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Signed DE Trevor Anderson, DB David Caldwell, DB Jordan Hemby, QB Tim Hiller, WR Brandon James, RB Javarris

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

James, DB Brandon King, OT Jeff Linkenbach, DB Donye’ McCleskey, DB Mike Newton, G Gregg Peat, PK Brett Swenson, LB Vuna Tuihalamaka, DB Thad Turner, OT Andrew Tyshovnytsky and WR Blair White.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Signed LB Freddy Keiaho.

MIAMI DOLPINS: Signed DB Jonathan Amaya, DT Travis Ivey, WR Marlon Moore, CB A.J. Wallace, WR Roberto Wallace and DB Ross Weaver.

NEW YORK GIANTS: Announced the retirement of P Jeff Feagles.

CFL

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS: Signed LB Rian Wallace.

HOCKEY NHL MONTREAL CANADIENS: Signed C Gabriel Dumont to a three-year contract.

AHL SYRACUSE CRUNCH: Signed LW Brian Lebler.

SOCCER MLS NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: Placed G Matt Reis on the disabled list. Signed G Tim Murray.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC: Traded MF Stephen

King to D.C. United for a 2011 second-round draft pick.

COLLEGE HOFSTRA: Suspended men’s basketball coach Tim Welsh after learning through media reports that he was charged with driving while intoxicated April 30.

HOLY FAMILY: Named John O’Connor men’s basketball coach.

MISSISSIPPI: Announced sophomore F Murphy Holloway is leaving the men’s basketball team for personal reasons.

MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS: Named Dale Ribble and Luke Crump men’s assistant basketball coaches.

walking off the field.

Because Bryant missed most of his senior season at Oklahoma State because of a suspension after lying to the NCAA about his activities with former NFL cornerback Deion Sanders, he hadn’t been through a team practice since September.

That was obvious at times Friday, with his hands on his helmet or his

hips and bending to a knee.

“I wouldn’t say struggling. I’m just getting back in the flow,” Bryant said.

“I’m back doing what I love to do. I was already expecting me to bend over a little, get tired. If you seen me, you seen I was smiling, because I haven’t been through that in a long time.

It was a great feeling to get through that hard time.”

BRYANT Continued from Page 1B mother did and answered that she worked for his dad, Ireland asked if she was a prostitute.

Asked about that report in the locker room Friday after practice, Bryant responded, “That was a lie.”

“I really don’t want to speak to it anymore,” Bryant continued, his words trailing off as he finished that statement.

The Cowboys traded up three spots to get Bryant with the 24th overall pick in last week’s NFL draft.

Bryant was among the Cowboys’ six draft picks who joined 26 other rookie free agents and first-year players for the start of a weekend minicamp.

Surrounded by reporters and cameras at his locker after the first workout,

Bryant was asked if he was bothered by the controversy marring the start of his NFL career.

“It did bother me, but it doesn’t bother me anymore,” Bryant said. “I’m fine, my family’s fine, we’re great. We faced a lot of criticism but you know things are great now and we moved ahead. I’m happy, my family’s happy. That’s

what all matters.”

During practice, the 6foot-1 Bryant made several nice catches, including a one-handed grab when he reached back for the ball, and on a deep route when he adjusted without breaking stride to fend off a defender that was on his hip.

“He sure can catch the ball,” owner Jerry Jones said with a smile while

NOWITZKI Continued from Page 1B Nowitzki is due $21.5 million in 2010-11. If he leaves, it wouldn’t be for more money, but for a better chance of winning a championship.

Dallas has won at least 50 games for 10 straight season, yet still hasn’t won a title. Only three other franchises have pulled off the 50-for-10 feat and each won at least three titles during that span, adding to the frustration for Dallas players, management and fans.

Nowitzki said he believes owner Mark Cuban and president Donnie Nelson would continue to surround him with the pieces needed to compete. In fact, he spent the last few weeks repeatedly saying this version was “the deepest team I’ve been on in my career” and that it was “built for the playoffs.”

But how would he react if good buddy Steve Nash suggested they team up again in Phoenix? Or if LeBron James, or Dwyane Wade,

asks him to come along wherever they go?

“As of right now, it’s all speculation,” said Nowitzki, whom the Mavs hope to use as their own recruiter this summer in the NBA’s free agency bonanza. “I’ve always said I want to finish my career here in Dallas and it wouldn’t feel the same putting on a different uniform. So, that really always was my plan. So we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Nowitzki turns 32 in June and will be going into his 13th season.

He averaged 25 points per game this season, upping his career average to 22.9.

“At this point, I’m still in my prime,” he said. “I feel like I’ve still got a couple of good years left.”

Nowitzki is as entwined with this franchise as Troy Aikman was during the Dallas Cowboys’ glory days — if not more.

“He’s the cornerstone,” said Jason Terry, a teammate the last six

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, center, watches from the bench during his team’s Game 6 loss to the San Antonio Spurs Thursday in San Antonio. years. “I got to believe he’s coming back, no doubt in my mind.

I’m not going to speak for him, I’m not his agent. I’d say 98 percent, if I had to put a percent on

it.”

Asked if he could imagine the Mavericks without Nowitzki, coach Rick Carlisle said, “I can’t, no. Don’t want to.”

Dallas drafted Nowitzki as an unproven 19-year-old from Germany, then persuaded him to come to the NBA when he wanted to spend a year playing in Europe.

He’s gone from the novelty of a 7-footer who could shoot 3-pointers to an all-around player; his defense isn’t a liability any more, either. He’s set every meaningful club record (points, rebounds, games) and became its first NBA MVP. Then there’s the personal side.

Some people in and around the organization are as close as family. This time last year, Cuban and others were instrumental in getting Nowitzki away from a fiancee who lied about her identity and criminal past.

“Now is not the time to be talking about emotional-type things,” Nelson said. “Get through this emotional time and at the right time we’ll sit down and talk about it.”

SPURS Continued from Page 1B Butler scored 25 points and rookie Rodrigue Beaubois had 16. But aside from them and Nowitzki, no other Dallas player scored more than six points.

starting Monday night in Phoenix.

Mavs slump away The Mavs, meanwhile, slump away into another too-early summer.

Dallas lost in the first round for the third time in four years. The Mavs head into an interesting offseason for a team that’s won 50 games for 10 straight seasons, but has only one trip to the NBA finals to show for it.

“Going into the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, it is all we could have wanted,” Nowitzki said. “We just happened to see a tough No. 7 seed that got rolling at the right time.”

Said Mavs guard Jason Terry, “As of right now this season is a failure.”

Nowitzki nearly carried the Mavs to an unbelievable comeback, getting 25 of his 33 points in a remarkable second half. But George Hill, the hero for the Spurs in Game 4, scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to keep the series from going back to Dallas.

Keep on rolling The Spurs continue their roll after coming off their worst regular season in the Tim Duncan era, which perhaps makes this series all the more impressive.

It will technically go down as an upset. San Antonio is only the fifth No. 7 seed to win a first-round series, and the first since the opening round became a best-of-7 in 2003. It hadn’t

Questions for Dallas

Spurs, congratulated them afterward and said he’d root for his Texas rivals the rest of the way.

He followed that up with a cryptic comment.

“I’m not proud of the NBA. I’m not proud of my inability over the last 10 years to have an impact like I want to have,” Cuban said. “So I kind of feel like I owe fans an apology. But that’s just the way this business goes.”

Cuban declined to elaborate.

Among the questions facing the Mavs is Nowitzki, who could choose to become a free agent this summer. He’s steadily said he won’t, but after the game, Nowitzki was noncommittal about his future.

“I haven’t really thought about my future,” he said.

“I guess I have some time now to think about my future and think about my options.”

He and the Mavs will have a long time to sulk over this one.

Plagued by slow starts in this series, Dallas got off to its worst yet when it mattered most. The Mavs trailed 22-8 after the first quarter, hitting just four of their first 18 shots. By halftime it was 47-34, a franchise playoff low for Dallas.

Nowitzki, who had four fouls in the first half, shrugged off the foul trouble and put Dallas ahead 57-56 with a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter. But Ginobili immediately fired back with a 3-pointer, and Dallas never led again.

“I think we took a lot of their energy, a lot of their effort getting back into it after being so far down,” said Duncan, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

“Hopefully we used that against them and closed the game out.”

down blocks. His value was never more obvious than when he sat out the Cavaliers’ final four games, and they lost each one.

Despite playing with a strained and bruised right elbow, James averaged 31.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 steals as the Cavaliers eliminated Chicago in the

first round of the playoffs.

“I give a lot of credit to my teammates, the coaching staff and my family,” James said last week when asked about winning a second MVP. “It solidifies a lot of hard work and dedication I was able to put in the offseason to try to get better as an individual and bring it to this team.”

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) celebrates with teammate Manu Ginobili (20) as Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, right, looks on during the fourth quarter of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday in San Antonio been done since New York beat Miami in 1998.

But with a healthy Big Three and a championship pedigree, the Spurs could hardly be called underdogs.

And with no clear favorite in the West, they might be as good a finals pick as any.

“The only reason (the Spurs) we’re the 7 seed is because they’ve been hurt all year,” Mavs center Brenden Haywood said. “This could have been the Western Conference finals. The

teams are that good. This isn’t like a monumental upset or anything. You all are talking like this is the NCAA tournament and the 15 seed just beat the 2.”

As for the Mavs, it was yet another early playoff disappointment.

It comes three years after the Mavs came into the postseason as the No. 1 seed, only to be knocked out by No. 8 Golden State.

The Mavs were the NBA’s best road team in the regular season, but went 0-3 in

San Antonio and couldn’t pull themselves out of a 3-1 deficit.

Especially tough This one is especially tough for team owner Mark Cuban, who plunked down an extra $30 million for a deal at the trade deadline that brought Caron Butler from Washington.

Cuban, who needled San Antonio earlier in the series by saying he hated the

MVP Continued from Page 1B sports writers and broadcasters over Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who won the award in 2008.

The Plain Dealer of Cleveland first announced that James won the award.

For the second straight year, James will accept the award in his hometown. A year ago, he went back to

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater, for a ceremony in the school’s gymnasium that was attended by family, friends, former teachers and the student body.

As a high school star, James played many of his games at Rhodes Arena on Akron’s campus. James also holds his summer bas-

ketball camps at the university and the Zips are coached by Keith Dambrot, who coached the All-Star for a time in high school.

James, paired this season with center Shaquille O’Neal to help Cleveland win its first NBA title, led the Cavaliers to 61 wins in the regular season and the top seed in the playoffs.

Cleveland’s lineup was constantly changing because of injuries, but the Cavs could always count on James, the first forward in league history to average more than eight assists a game.

James delivered nightly jaw-dropping highlights, many of them coming at the defensive end on chase-

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

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Office for Rent (services included) 220 W. Hillside #9. Call 724-5656

PETS & SUPPLIES

Mobile Home and lot for sale. 3bd/2ba, single wide, $6000 down & take over payments. Call 206-8596 or 949-2953 HOMES FOR SALE

Guacamaya,habla,chifla con todo y jaula. $1250 OBO call: 740-6400 K9 Belgian Malinois Pups, 3mths., $300ea. Call 436-7283 Mini Pincher 1F/4M diff. colors, tail clipped,$180 Call:956-334-9540

Pure Yellow Lab,parent on site, 2m/8f dewormd 1st shots, 3wks old, $200-$250ea. Call 333-1720

61

2x3/Elizabeth Keigley/ad# 83050553/Dora

130

Goats. MUST SELL!! All herd, 5 females & 4 males, 1.5 yr. old. $535 Call 725-4524

Round bells for sale $80.00 Call: 401-3070

MISCELLANEOUS

136

1 NEW! Samsung/RCA Home Theater System,am/fm,1000 watts.

Lemark Printer model X5650;19”TV VHS/DVD. $150 Call 401-7410 10 Centerpieces/Savors for Baby Boy Shower, $275 Call: 763-3158 18,000 BTU Minisplit. LIKE NEW!! Bought for $1700 will sacrifice for $1000 OBO Call 764-9214; 764-0760 25”in. TV, Playhouse, 2 3/8 Pipe 31’ft. Starting at $80 & up Call 508-0304

Bolens lawn tractor, Great shape, $625 Call 645-8854

Country Club Membership $2000.

Buyer pays transfer fees. Info Call 285-0270 Entertainment center for a 36”TV, lighted shelves, Pine wood, $150 OBO Call 319-4646 Full, Queen, & King Mattress set.

Starting $260 Call 645-2006

Kenmore heavy duty dryer, excellent cond., $150 OBO call: 727-0427 Kenmore refrigerator capacity, $295 Call 722-5400; 724-8801 after 5pm

67

BOATS

190

1990 Searay Combo Ski & Fish, 16.9ft, 4cyl.,inboard engine,boat restored, complete w/ accesories,$6500 OBO Call Jerry 286-9502 CAMPERS & RV’S

191

Perfect for Lake lot, 2009 premier travel trailer, 2slides, w/d, 2 A/C, loaded, $24,700 must sell due to sickness call: 956-457-9741 HEAVY EQUIPMENT

192

53 ft. Dry Van trailers for sale. $3,500 (956)237-6284.

145*2*55224 DOT ready.

194

Print Sofa,Good condition $75 Call 724-2988 Replace you CPU for $180 get a dell P4.

2.8 1GB, Windows 7 CDRW Call 635-4967 Rolex Submarine,2 tones,black face. $4000 OBO Call 333-2290; 210-865-1130 Sanyo 24” color tv & Large microwave $120 for both.

Call 729-0192 SCR (GNB) CHARGER 100 (NEW) FOR ELECTRIC FORKLIFT’S $1000 OBO CALL: 285-1682 Secadora de gas, Kenmore $120 OBO Llamar 712-0027 Television Magnavox 50”ecelente condiciones $395 Llamar 956-857-1874 Trailer BBQ Pit 6’x30” doble door w i t h disc for Tripas $1600 Call 337-1794 Waterford Lismore crystal, stemware, glasses and assorted pieces, $5,000 OBO. Call 723-7955 142

Semi auto Russian SKS 762X39, 30Rd mag., $600 Call 401-6001

For Sale 4 tires #18 3 micheline # 1 6 good condition $10 OBO Call 726-4804 MOTORCYCLES

196

Kawasaki Ninja 2X6R ‘99, 7Kmil., garage kept, great cond., $2400 OBO Call 764-9214 or 764-0760 LIKE NEW! Honda Forman5,red, Traxlok, 4x4,104hrs.,$3900 OBO Call Jerry 286-9502 NEW! Kawasaki ATVVF650 4x4 ‘2007, camo, $6,500 OBO Call Jerry 286-9502 TRUCKS FOR SALE

TRUCKS FOR SALE

198

2000 Grand Marquis, 66K miles, $4,800 Call: 727-2495

2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, buenisima, $4500 OBO Call:645-7546 2004 Dodge Quad cab, Hemi best engine, $7900 Call: 763-0862

2004 Ford Astrovan, blue title, A/C, interior paint in good cond., $3,550 OBO Call: 284-5257; 635-6583 2008 GMC Canyno SL 4cyl, reg cab., excellent cond., 14,500 mil., $11,000 dll Call 956-251-5608 2009 Chevy Silverado,7”lift,35” tires, black on black,many extras,custom exhaust, $39,995 OBO Call: 775-4098 ‘88 Chevy Blazer, 4x4, good cond., grey, $2250 Call: 857-5717 Chev. Suburban LT ‘03, black, 1 owner, 63Kmil., $11,900 Call (956)206-8088 Chevy ‘00 Crew cab, 3500 dully 4x4, $8,700, 85k mi., Diesel, Call 723-9755 or 754-0206 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT ‘07, 43Kmil., elect.,sliding doors,TV,DVD,Dual A/C, $9700 Call 242-8814 Dodge Pickup ‘85,shortbed,excellent motor, $2100 Call 251-1296 Dodge Van ‘03, 6dr., excellent cond., $2,800 Call 763-6526

Durango ‘04, 8cyl, 64K mi., Blue t i t l e , leather, DVD, sound system, $ 1 0 , 5 0 0 Call 956-286-8966 Ford F-150 ‘08, cabina 1/4, auto., 6cyl., A/C, 14Kmil., $9500 Call 775-9650

198

Ford Pick-up ‘79, needs some work, $1200 OBO Call 220-9241 Ford Ranger Edge ‘03, white, a/c, good cond., $5850 OBO Call after 3pm 726-4159 Ford Winstar ‘01, A/C, good cond., 5 d r . , $3200 Call 956-231-9838 GMC Sierra ‘07, 4dr, 36Kmil., fully loaded, $31,000 Call 333-2290; 210-865-1130 GMC Suburban 99’, Black, leather, fully loaded 95k miles, very good cond., $6,500 Call 740-9090 Jeep Wrangler ‘91, Fully Loaded, $5300 OBO Call 333-5529; 705 Westgate Dr. Tahoe ‘03 3rd Seat,Dual AC,68K, 95K miles, auto, $6,500 OBO Call 220-7742 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner ‘06, extended cab, v6, $12800 Call 744-5503 CARS FOR SALE

We Also Rent!

Camper for Ford short bed & P245/70R17 4Tires, starting prices at $100 & up Call: 723-6481; 285-2504

Nordic Track E5VI Elliptical Exercise Machine.NEW!! Never used.$450 Call 319-7087

2x3/Sylvia Forrest/ad# 830505562/Dora

TRANSPORTATION

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS

Lacks King size bed & mattress a/two night stands $1200 Call: 206-0704 Lacks sofa, love seat, green color, good cond., $135 +other items. Call: 727-8443

SPORTING GOODS

52” HDTV Big Screen, great condition! $300 OBO Call 220-4310

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE

Big, white, Refrigerator Maytag, $140 OBO, Call 712-0027

Pool Table for sale w/ accessories, 8/4 size $300 OBO Go by 3108 Springfield.

Longhorn Cattle for Sale. $300 & up Call 956-285-2222

ARTICLES FOR SALE

64

67

German Shepherd Puppies, 6M $250ea./ 4F $225ea., AKC Parents on site, Call 251-2055

6 Miniature Ponies for sale. Starting at $450 Call 401-3070

Chiefs Foodmart & Restaurant,busineess for sale $150,000.

Serious Inquires only call 763-3132 Mrs. Garcia

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE

Chihuahua puppies shots & dwmd. $150. Call 744-2342; 145*131079*10

LIVESTOCK & SUPPLIES

1802 San Bernardo $235,000 Possible Owner Finance. Call: 324-2929

Owner Financing Home For Sale 3bd-2 & 1/2 bath 2 Car Garage 2405 sq. ft.

5,435 Lot Vista Nueva Sub. $8,000.00 Tax Credit Call for details (956) 324-0507

Amistad Condo- Large 2bd/2.5ba, 1290sqft, New appl., Patio, UISD, Owner fin. $115,000 or $825/m 754-4066

136

Se vende terreno con monumento en panteon de Los Angeles en N.Laredo $1,800dlls 956-723-6481 o 956-285-2504

FARMS & RANCHES

CONDOS FOR SALE

ARTICLES FOR SALE

6ft Display Case for business. Exc. Cond. $250 OBO Call 220-4310

Del Mar C, 4bd/6ba, 5600 Sq. Ft., $650,000 For more info. call: 235-7272

Lakeside,4bd,3.5ba,2cg,2 Story, Granite counters,3,400sq.ft.,Pool, Palapa, complete landscape,$365,000, Call 847-6357 Owner Finance!

128

Boxer Puppies, 2F, tigerstriped, 6wks., dewormed $120ea.

Call 334-3721

ACREAGE FOR SALE

House for by owner,3bd,1ba, $28,000 1912 Marion Call 727-3798; 237-6367

PETS & SUPPLIES

Lot in Encinal Tx w/water and sewer 10,000 call mike 956-693-8803

Alexander- 3608 Josefina 4bd/3ba/2cg, Pool,3,000sqft LA,REDUCED $298,500 Call 774-9702; 771-3831

Del Mar Sub., 3bd, 2 full baths, 2cg., block fence, w/sprinkler system. 1800 Sq.Ft. $135,000 OBO Serious Inquiries call:285-8258

70

200

1998Trans Am,auto,conv.,red, blue title, $5600 OBO call: 242-8955; 135*830*7608 2004 Gallant, 51K miles, 4dr., $3,900 OBO Call:771-2937

2005Toyota Corolla 84K miles,4 dr., A/C,4 cyl.,great cond.,Auto, $9000 OBO Call: 956-220-3356 2006 BMW 325i silver, great leather,75K miles, $16,400 OBO Call: 324-2929

2006 Chev Cobalt,black,4dr.,4 cyl., auto,A/C,51300 miles,$4600 Call: 231-9838 2008 Chevy Cobalt,auto,all power, 2dr., A/C,perfect cond.,$5900 OBO Call: 237-0173 ‘05 ACCURA Leather seats, Navigation System Excellent Conditions $11,000.00 OBO Call (956) 235-4749 ‘99 Mercedes SLK 230, black, 110K miles, conv., hard top, sales prices $11,500 OBO Call 333-2171 Dodge Avenger ‘08,all power,4cyl., s u per clean,like new! $8400 OBO Call 237-0173 Ford Crown Victoria ‘05, Police Interceptor, 90Kmil. $4000 Call 436-7283 Ford Focus ‘09, 4Kmil., Excellent cond.,leather int.,sunroof, $9500 OBO Call 337-6930 Ford Mustang LX ‘86, 306cu.in., Art Car, C6 Trans., 88Kmil., 2 owners, Many High Performance parts. $6800 Call 754-2178 Ford Thunderbird ‘94, 20” wheels, $3000 OBO Call 285-9740

Mazda 3 ‘2010, original title, 12,500 miles, one owner, 4cyl., $12,700 Call 337-6930 Oldsmobile 01’ Alero, Red, good cond., A/c, $2,700 OBO, call 763-8023 Oldsmobile Cutlass ‘99,27Kmil., A/C, elect., $3800 Call 771-9162 after 3pm Pontiac G5 ‘07,std,2dr.,a/c,low miles, black,$4500 Call 771-3663;1807 Convent Toyota Celica ‘01,new paint,excellent running condition,sunroof,$4900 Call 763-7853

Sports

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

WR Shipley takes care of misunderstanding

By JOE KAY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Chuck Burton | AP

Tiger Woods reacts after hitting from a sand trap on the 11th fairway during the second round of the Quail Hollow Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday.

Woods missed the cut at the tournament.

Woods misses cut at Quail Hollow

By DOUG FERGUSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — So much for Tiger Woods wanting the attention to return to his golf.

In a shocking meltdown Friday at the Quail Hollow Championship, Woods matched the worst ninehole score of his PGA Tour career and wound up with a 7-over 79 to miss a cut for only the sixth time in his 14-year career.

He had three-putt bogeys on consecutive holes.

He hit a flop shot that ran over the green and into the water. And he bottomed out on the 15th green with a four-putt double bogey from just over 30 feet.

“It is what it is,” Woods said when asked if rust or mechanics were the culprit. “Whatever it was, it wasn’t good enough.”

Not even close.

Making the performance even more surprising is that Woods was coming off a tie for fourth at the Masters three weeks ago, a remarkable performance considering it was his first competition since a five-month break after being caught cheating on his wife.

A step back This was a big step backward.

The 79 was his secondworst score as a pro behind an 81 that Woods shot in the wind-blown third round of the 2002 British Open at Muirfield when he was going for the Grand Slam. His 43 on the back tied his worst ninehole score on tour; he also shot 43 at the Bay Hill Invitational three years ago, and the 1996 Tour Championship.

“He’s obviously got things in his mind other than what’s going between the ropes right now,” said

British Open champion Stewart Cink, who played with Woods. “You’ve got to learn how to balance what’s going on in your life with your golf. And if you’re not in a great place mentally, then it sometimes shows up out there.”

Woods finished at 9-over 153, the highest 36-hole total of his career.

Billy Mayfair birdied his final hole for a 4-under 68 and was the 36-hole leader at 8-under 136. He had a one-shot lead over two-time major champion Angel Cabrera, who played in Woods’ group.

J.P. Hayes matched the Quail Hollow record with a 64 that put him in the group at 6-under 138 along with Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Paul Goydos.

Unpleasant first This was Woods’ first time playing at a regular PGA Tour event with public ticket sales, and the crowd was gracious as ever with a few exceptions.

Two fans, including a woman, held thumbsdown as Woods walked off the 15th green. Police also escorted away a fan who apparently heckled Woods as he left the 17th green. A friend of the fan, who declined to give his name, said the fan only said, “No red shirt for you on Sunday.”

Otherwise, it was clear over the last two days the fans were more interested in Woods as a golfer than anything to do with his personal life. He just didn’t give them much to cheer. And he won’t be around for the weekend.

“You have to let it go,” Woods said. “It’s like baseball — you go 0-for-4 two days in a row like I did, you’ve got a whole new tournament next week, which is great.”

Woods is to compete

next week at The Players Championship. He won at Sawgrass in 2001, but he also has finished out of the top 20 more often there than at any other tournament.

It was the first time Woods missed a cut since the British Open last summer at Turnberry, and the first time at a regular PGA Tour event since the Disney Classic at the end of the 2005 season.

“Give this guy a chance, though.

He’ll bounce back,” Mayfair said. “We all know that. Everyone on tour knows that. By him missing a few cuts here and there, it’s just going to make him come back even stronger. I don’t think anyone out here is worried about Tiger, and I’m sure Tiger is not worried about it, either.”

Ugly turn One shot over the projected cut going to the back nine, Woods bogeyed the next three holes before it really turned ugly. He hit driver on the 329-yard 14th hole well to the right on a hill, leaving him a downhill shot to a green sloping toward the water.

His flop shot came out too hot, bounded across the green and went into the water for a double bogey.

He didn’t take much time over shots after that, seeming to have given up.

“I didn’t have much,” Woods said. “At that point in time, it was pretty much out of reach, and I was just trying to stay out of Angel’s way. He’s the one who’s leading the golf tournament.”

Even so, Woods’ poor play was exacerbated by the four-putt on the 15th.

He ran his 30-foot birdie attempt about 31/2 feet by the hole, caught the lip with his par putt, then rapped a 30-inch putt that spun around the cup.

CLEVELAND A ‘PERFECT FIT’ FOR FORMER TEXAS QB

Photo by Amy Sancetta | AP

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy throws during rookie minicamp at the team’s training facility in Berea, Ohio, on Friday. McCoy calls Cleveland “the perfect fit” and doesn’t mind if he has to stand on the sideline in 2010. Browns president Mike Holmgren has already said he doesn’t want McCoy to play this year, but instead stand and learn behind veterans Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, and McCoy is hoping to be a leader for Cleveland’s rookie class.

CINCINNATI — Chad Ochocinco was insulted when the Cincinnati Bengals’ newest receiver didn’t respond to his congratulatory tweet on draft day.

Turns out there was no reason to be upset. The Twitter account set up for Jordan Shipley wasn’t his.

The receiver from Texas was drafted by the Bengals in the third round last week, prompting Ochocinco to tweet congratulations to what appeared to be Shipley’s Twitter account.

It used his name and featured longhorn cattle as the background.

The problem: Shipley doesn’t use Twitter.

“Somebody had a fake Twitter account,” Shipley said Friday, after his first minicamp practice with the Bengals. “It’s not me.

That is the dangerous thing nowadays because people can get on those deals and make up fake accounts and act like they’re you and get you in trouble.”

Terse exchange In this case, it resulted in a terse exchange.

Ochocinco was in Cincinnati with “Dancing With the Stars” partner Sheryl Burke last week. He saw that Shipley had become a teammate and tweeted the “jordan-shipley” page, promising to take him to a favorite fast-food restaurant and a jewelry shop when they were both in town.

Ochocinco has more than 860,000 followers on Twitter. When he didn’t get a response from what he thought was Shipley’s account, he sent a terse tweet — that all his followers could see — telling Shipley he was really upset with him and “tweet me back now, draft is over, we are supposed to bond now.”

Eventually, someone from

Photo by Al Behrman | AP

Cincinnati Bengals receivers Jordan Shipley (11) and Dezmon Briscoe (88) watch practice during the team’s rookie minicamp on Friday in Cincinnati. Shipley is a third-round draft pick from Texas, and Briscoe a sixth-round draft pick from Kansas. the page played along and tweeted back an apology, saying it was a busy night.

Shipley knew nothing about it.

“I got a phone call the other day from my agents asking if I had a Twitter account,” he said. “I said no. And they said somebody had a fake one.”

Shipley is friends with Bengals receiver Quan Cosby, another former Longhorn, and has heard a lot about Ochocinco.

“I’m looking forward to meeting Chad and learning from him,” Shipley said.

Taking it down

The Bengals drafted three players who can catch the ball and potentially take some pressure off Ochocinco, who routinely saw double and triple coverage last season. They took tight end Jermaine Gresham from Oklahoma in the first round and wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe from Kansas in the sixth.

Briscoe has been an Ochocinco fan since 2003, when the brash receiver — known then as Chad Johnson — guaranteed a victory over 9-0 Kansas City. The Bengals won 24-19, and the receiver became a rising media star.

Shipley said his agents contacted Twitter to have the page removed. It had been taken down on Friday.

“It is a little scary that people can get on there and say what they want to, and people don’t know that it’s not you,” Shipley said.

“They can make it look just like it was mine.”

Shipley hasn’t had the chance to sit down with Ochocinco, who is back in Los Angeles — his Argentine tango got high enough marks to keep him dancing for at least one more week.

Pressure reliever

Favre makes waiting game more complicated

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI ASSOCIATED PRESS

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.

— The annual waiting game to see whether Brett Favre returns to the NFL got a bit more complicated Friday.

The 40-year-old quarterback said in a statement posted on his website that he needs surgery on his left ankle in order to play this season for the Minnesota Vikings. But he said he’s had surgery on it twice before, the injury “is not debilitating” and he’s come through far worse in his long career.

“I don’t believe major surgery on the ankle would be required for me to return in 2010,” Favre said.

“I’ve consulted with Dr. (James) Andrews on the phone, and a relatively minor procedure could be done to improve the dexterity of the ankle, and to relieve the pain. I’ve put up with pain worse than this in my career, and I didn’t want anyone to assume that the possibility of surgery was the sole factor that would determine whether I return or not.”

Currently holding all the NFL’s major career passing records, Favre will turn 41 in October.

“The ankle pain is a factor, but one of many factors that I’ll need to consider in making my decision,” said Favre, who is believed to be at his home in Mississippi.

“Other factors include the input of my family, and the wonderful experience that I had last year with the Vikings.”

Favre had earlier told ESPN that the injury still causes swelling and pain, and said Andrews told him an operation is unavoidable

BRETT FAVRE: QB needs surgery but has not ruled out return to NFL. if he wants to keep playing.

“This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff,” Favre said in the e-mail posted on ESPN.com. “One year truly felt like 10 — much like Green Bay for many years.

That’s what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging.”

He then explained on his website that he’s able to work around his property without any trouble.

“Sure — certain exercises cause some ankle pain, but it’s nothing that I haven’t experienced (or played with) before,” he said. “In fact, many people don’t realize that I injured my ankle before the NFC Championship game. I’ve had surgery on this ankle twice before, and I’ve played with the pain before.

The hits I took throughout the 2009 season, including the Saints game, just added to the ankle pain and likely caused some bone spurs.”

Vikings officials, including coach Brad Childress, were not immediately available Friday. Childress has said he has no problem waiting until training camp to welcome Favre back to the Vikings for the second year of his two-year deal.

Favre was a mainstay with the Green Bay Packers before waffling on his playing status and departing in an ugly divorce that got him traded to the New York Jets. After a so-so season in New York, he announced his retirement in 2009 for the second time, then reconsidered and

signed with the Vikings.

He enjoyed one of the best seasons of his storied career, throwing for 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions and guiding the Vikings to a 12-4 record.

They finished just short of the Super Bowl, falling in overtime to New Orleans after an ill-advised pass by Favre was picked off in the fourth quarter by the Saints.

Now Favre and the Vikings are back in the same place as last year.

The quandary then was whether he wanted to have surgery to repair a partially torn biceps tendon in his right shoulder, a decision he made and didn’t regret.

That surgery was with Andrews, the noted physician who works in Alabama and Florida.

Favre worked out last summer at the local high school in his Mississippi hometown, and video clips of him firing passes in a cap and a cutoff T-shirt to teenage wide receivers became must-see TV. His arm took a while to feel strong and it still took some persuasion from Childress, but three weeks into training camp Favre arrived and quickly ingratiated himself into the locker room and the fan base.

Favre is under contract for $13 million this season, but that’s only if he plays.

The Vikings hope he does, with unproven options in Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels on the roster behind him.

Childress and the players have repeatedly said they’re fine with Favre taking his time to recuperate, refocus and recommit to playing, even if that means again skipping the grind of training camp.