LOCAL

LOCAL
Jackson hiresMcDaniels
MASSILLON -- Former Warren Harding High football coach Thom McDaniels was hired at Jackson High School.
McDaniels, who resigned after last season with the Raiders, had a 63-20 record in seven years with Harding. Previously, McDaniels coached 16 years at Canton McKinley, winning a state title in 1997.
He will replace Phil Mauro, who resigned after last season. Jackson is a member of the Canton-based Federal League, which includes Boardman and Fitch.
Prep bowlingtournament
WARREN -- Area high school bowling teams will participate in sectionals today at Crest Lanes starting at 1 p.m.
Twenty boys teams and 19 girls teams are entered. Nine boys teams and nine individual boys and nine girls teams and nine individual girls will advance to the district level.
The boys district is Feb. 24 at Bell-Wick Bowl where the first shift of 36 teams and all 36 individuals will compete beginning at 8 a.m. Another shift of teams bowls at 3 p.m.
The girls district is Feb. 25 at Midway Lanes in Akron where 34 teams and 34 individuals are expected. A shift of teams and all individuals start at 8 a.m. before a final shift of teams bowls at 3 p.m.
Now that the schools are under Ohio High School Athletic Association governance, the regional level has been eliminated.
Powerliftingtournament
NEWTON FALLS -- The second Northeastern Ohio Regional Les Pearce powerlifting meet will be held today at Newton Falls High School gymnasium at 10 a.m.
There will be at least 250 high school boys, representing at least 17 schools competing in 12 weight classes.
The weight classes are 125, 135, 145, 155, 165, 175, 185, 195, 210, 225, 250 and unlimited.
The top four teams will be given trophies, with medals going to the top six in each weight class.
The three competitive lifts are bench press, squat and deadlift and each person gets three attempts at each lift. Awards will be given for each of those lifts.
There are also four weight class divisions. An MVP award based on total pounds lifted in each of those divisions will be presented.
There will also be a girls division with medals for the first three places and for the three lifts and there will be MVP awards for lightweight and heavyweight.
REGION
Tribe's Foulke retires
CLEVELAND -- Before he got a chance to finish another game, Keith Foulke closed his career.
Foulke, whose toss to first base for the final out ended an 86-year World Series title drought for the Boston Red Sox, retired Friday just as he was about to begin a two-man competition with Joe Borowski to be Cleveland's closer.
"Over the last few weeks, while preparing for the 2007 season, my body has not responded as it has in years past," Foulke said in a statement. "I feel strongly I will not be able to perform at the level where I need to be to help the Indians this season. They are a class organization and I wish them the best of luck in 2007."
The Indians, whose slide from 93 wins in 2005 to 78 wins and a fourth-place finish last season was tied to a dreadful bullpen, signed Foulke to a one-year, 5 million contract in January.
The club would have had to honor that deal if Foulke had reported to camp and then retired.
"He didn't want to disappoint the organization or his teammates," general manager Mark Shapiro said, praising Foulke's integrity.
Foulke had battled elbow, back and knee injuries the past two seasons. Last year he was replaced as Boston's closer by rookie Jonathan Papelbon. The 34-year-old recently had elbow soreness and informed the Indians of his decision Thursday when the club's pitchers and catchers reported to Winter Haven, Fla.
NATION
Basketball HOFfinalists
LAS VEGAS -- Phil Jackson, Chris Mullin and Dick Vitale led the list of 15 finalists for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame announced during the NBA's All-Star weekend Friday.
They were joined by former players Adrian Dantley and Richie Guerin; coaches Roy Williams, Eddie Sutton and Bob Hurley, Sr.; owner Bill Davidson; and the 1966 Texas Western NCAA championship team. Referee Mendy Rudolph, Yugoslavian coach Mirko Novosel, Spanish coach Pedro Ferrandiz and former U.S. women's basketball coaches Van Chancellor and Harley Redin also were selected by the four screening committees.
A 24-person committee will vote on the final selection, with the potential enshrinees needing 18 votes to enter the Hall of Fame. The 2007 class will be announced April 2 at the Final Four in Atlanta, with the induction ceremonies in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 7.
Mullin, a former St. John's star, was a five-time All-Star during 16 NBA seasons with Golden State and Indiana, scoring 17,911 points while emerging as one of the league's best shooters. Now the Warriors' head of basketball operations, he also played in two Olympics. Jackson is the most successful coach of his generation, winning nine NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. A former forward with the N.Y. Knicks, he is in his second stint with the Lakers after winning six titles with the Michael Jordan-led Bulls.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
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