Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — BASEBALL

Rodriguez interviews

Florida interim manager Edwin Rodriguez will still be with the Marlins when they open a threegame series in his native Puerto Rico on Monday. He just doesn’t know what job he’ll have during that trip. The Marlins gave Rodriguez a formal interview Saturday, the latest part of their ongoing quest to find a permanent replacement for Fredi Gonzalez, who was fired Wednesday after 3 1 /2 seasons.

Bobby Valentine is still thought to be the front-runner for the job, and Rodriguez wasn’t told when the Marlins will make a decision.

“They have to do what they have to do,” said Rodriguez, who has no assurance he’ll remain the manager in Puerto Rico. Valentine did not interview Saturday. It’s not clear if he will speak to the Marlins again before the team leaves for San Juan after today’s game in Miami against San Diego.

BASKETBALL Thorn leaving Nets

A person with knowledge of the decision says Rod Thorn is stepping down as president and general manager of the New Jersey Nets.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not authorized public comment. The Nets have a new owner in Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, and a new coach in Avery Johnson. Also, GM Kiki Vandeweghe’s contract was not renewed.

New Jersey won a franchise-low 12 games last season.

HOCKEY

Ducks deal Brown to Leafs

The Anaheim Ducks have traded right wing Mike Brown to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifthround draft pick. The Ducks used the 122nd pick Saturday on Chris Wagner, a right wing from South Shore of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Brown had six goals and 106 penalty minutes last season for the Ducks. He played his first 39 NHL games for the Vancouver Canucks, who traded him to Anaheim in February 2009.

FOOTBALL

Three UCLA players arrested

Three incoming UCLA football players have been arrested on suspicion of felony theft. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records show Joshua Shirley, Shaquille Richardson and Paul Richardson - all 18-yearold freshmen - were arrested onthe UCLA campus. Shaquille Richardson and Paul Richardson each posted $20,000 bail, and Shirley was released without posting bail, the records showed. A UCLA police watch commander said Saturday he has no immediate information on the arrests or the alleged crimes. Shaquille Richardson is a cornerback from Los Alamitos, Calif., Paul Richardson is a wide receiver fromGardena, Calif., and Shirley is a linebacker from Fontana, Calif.

HORSE RACING

‘Devil’ takes Mother Goose

Devil May Care, making her first start since running 10th against the colts in the Kentucky Derby, rebounded Saturday to win the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The victory was a present for trainer Todd Pletcher on his 43rd birthday. John Velazquez was aboard as Devil May Care beat Connie and Michael by 1 1 /4 lengths for her fourth win in seven races. Devil May Care earned $150,000 for Glencrest Farm. She paid $3.90, $2.70 and $2.10 as the 4-5 favorite. Connie and Michael returned $4.10 and $3. Biofuel paid $2.70.

Strike It Rich scored a wireto-wire win in the $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., beating Bay to Bay by 1 1 /4 lengths. Ridden by Garrett Gomez and trained by Christophe Clement,the 3-year-old filly covered the 1/16 miles over a firm turf course to win the Grade 3 race in 1:40 and returned $8.40, $4.40 and $3. Bay to Bay paid $3.20 and $2.60, while Triple Cream was another length back in third and returned $4.20. Gomez also won the co-feature, riding Malibu Prayer to a 4 1 /2-length win over Luna Vega in the $100,000 Lighthouse Stakes.

Just Louise put away 3-5 favorite Salty Strike in deep stretch and then held off a late surge from Tristanme to win the 110th running of the $108,800 Debutante Stakes by a neck at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Just Louise tracked the early pace of Big Sweets and Salty Strike before grabbing the lead midway on the far turn. Salty Strike, under Calvin Borel, rallied on the rail to take the lead in upper stretch, maintaining the advantage until fewer than 50 yards remained when Robby Albarado eased Just Louise by and had enough leftto hold off Tristanme, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan. Just Louise ran the 6 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:11.85. The victory was worth $66,107. Just Louise returned $5.60, $3.80 and $2.20. Tristanme returned $16 and $5 with Salty Strike paying $2.10 to show.

TRACK & FIELDJones wins national title in hometown

DES MOINES, Iowa - Hometown favorite Lolo Jones cruised to the 100-meter hurdles title at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Jones, who grew up in Des Moines, won her second outdoor national title in 12.69 seconds on a scorching Saturday afternoon.

Jeremy Wariner, the favorite in the 400, collapsed halfway through the final with a hip flexor injury. He was helped off the track as Greg Nixon won in 44.61.

Sanya Richards-Ross, who has been battling a quadriceps injury since April, was a late scratch in the 400. Debbie Dunn took advantage, winning in a world-leading 49.64.

Chaunte Lowe broke her own American record in the high jump, leaping 6 feet, 8 3 /4 inches. Lowe set the U.S. mark at 6-8 1 /4 last month in Cottbus, Germany.

Bershawn Jackson won the men’s 400 hurdles in 47.32, the fastest time in the world this year.

Christin Wurth-Thomas (Arkansas Razorbacks) finished fourth in the final of the 1,500 in 4:15.33. Arkansas women’s track and field volunteer assistant coach Monica Hargrove finished fourth in the final of the 400 (51.16).

Wallace Spearmon Jr. (Fayetteville, Razorbacks) competed in the prelims of the 200. He won his heat and finished fourth overall in 21.05. He will run in today’s semifinals.

Arkansas freshman ReginaGeorge finished second in the final of the junior 400 meters in 52.80, earning a spot on Team USA at the World Junior Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick, in July.

This is considered an off year by many athletes since there’s no World Championships or Olympics on the horizon.

But the outdoor nationals at Drake Stadium were a big deal to Jones.

Jones comes back every year for the Drake Relays, which runs on the same weekend as the more competitive Penn Relays. There’s no question she’s the star attraction either, as signs featuring Jones were hung up all around downtown Des Moines this April to promote the event.

But Jones had lost her past two at Drake - including a narrow defeat to Damu Cherry in April - so she circled the outdoor nationals on her calendar.

Jones blocked out a supportive crowd, focused on simply getting a good start and powered out of the blocks to an easy victory.

Kellie Wells was second at 12.84, followed by Cherry in 12.86.

When it was all over Jones finally embraced her hometown crowd, a moment she called “pure joy.”

“I felt pressure to perform well here,” Jones said. “Anytime you get a medal, anytime you win, it’s great. But the fact that it was on my hometown [track], in my back yard, and I was able to handle the stress of all that, I’m really proud of what I accomplished here.”