Friday night lights: Cal plays Arizona State day after Thanksgiving

By Mercury News | themerc@bayareanewsgroup.com

PUBLISHED: May 10, 2011 at 2:57 p.m.

The Pac-10 announced Tuesday that Cal’s football game at Arizona State will be played Friday, Nov. 25, (the day after Thanksgiving) on ESPN at 7:15 p.m.

It had been tentatively set for Saturday, Nov. 26.

Cal’s two Thursday games on ESPN had been previously announced: Oct. 6 at Oregon and Oct. 13 against USC at AT&T Park. Kickoff for both games is 6 p.m.

ESPN/ABC picked up four Saturday games of Stanford: Sept. 17 at Arizona (7:45 p.m., ESPN), Oct. 22 vs. Washington (5 p.m., ABC, ESPN or ESPN2), Oct. 29 at USC (5 p.m., ABC) and Nov. 26 vs. Notre Dame (5 p.m., ABC, ESPN or ESPN2).

Additional Cal or Stanford games are expected to be picked up for TV broadcasts. Fox Sports Net/Versus/FX’s Pac-10 schedule will be announced in June.

Greg Warzecka, who has overseen UC Davis’ transformation from a nonscholarship NCAA Division II program to a Division I program with a $20 million annual budget, will retire June 30 after 16 years as athletic director.

Host Saint Mary’s (20-24) breezed to an 11-1 baseball rout of Cal Poly (21-22). Four Gaels pitchers allowed just four hits. Patrick Keane (De La Salle High) improved to 2-0 with 12/3 innings of scoreless relief. “… Stephen Piscotty (Amador Valley High) went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, leading No. 25 Stanford (27-16) to an 11-4 win over visiting UC Davis (15-27).

NFL

Anthony Wayne Smith pleaded not guilty in the 2008 shooting death of a man in Lancaster. Smith played defensive end for the Raiders from 1991-98. Charles Eric Honest and Dewann Wesley White also pleaded not guilty in the killing of Maurilio Ponce. A prelimary hearing is May 19. Smith is being held on $1 million bail. “… Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth didn’t grope a waitress at a Washington bar, his lawyer said in entering a not guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of sexual abuse. “… Baltimore linebacker Sergio Kindle pleaded guilty to drunken driving in December but avoided jail time.

Zygi and Mark Wilf, owners of the Minnesota Vikings, announced a deal with Ramsey County to collaborate on a $1.1 billion retractable-roof stadium. But the necessary third leg of the funding stool, a proposed $300 million from the state, plus another $100 million in improvements in the area, is in question in the Legislature. “… Alan Faneca, an eight-time All-Pro guard, retired. The former Pittsburgh and New York Jets star played last season with Arizona. He started every game for his last nine seasons.

Golf

Tiger Woods said his left knee and Achilles tendon are better, and he’s “good enough to play” at this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass (Fla.). He was injured during the third round of the Masters.

Motor sports

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick were fined $25,000 apiece and put on probation for five Sprint Cup races (four points races) by NASCAR. The duo’s on-and-off feuding resumed Saturday at Darlington Raceway (S.C.).

Tennis

David Nalbandian will miss the French Open after an illness hampered his recovery from a hernia operation. The event starts May 22 in Paris. “… French Open champion Francesca Schiavone beat Christina McHale 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Italian Open in Rome. In men’s play, Tomas Berdych beat Juan Monaco 6-2, 6-2.

Track and field

Sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou were convicted of perjury for faking a motorcycle accident to cover up a missed doping test on the eve of the 2004 Athens Olympics. They were given suspended sentences.

Cycling

Teammates of Wouter Weylandt, 26, crossed the finish line side by side at the Giro d’Italia, honoring the cyclist who died in a crash Monday. After a somber day of ceremonial riding, Weylandt’s Leopard-Trek team withdrew. Competitive riding resumes Wednesday.

Horse racing

Jockey Michael Baze, 24, was found dead in his vehicle at Churchill Downs (Ky.). The Louisville police said there were no signs of foul play, and an autopsy is planned. Baze is a cousin of Bay Area-based jockey Russell Baze.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.