Sports
Westplex Today Sports Page: February 25th, 2010
By Stephan R. Barnard
Feb 25, 2010 - 1:50:21 PM

Team USA will face Finland Friday in the semifinals at the Vancouver Olympics.  The game with decide whether the Americans go to the gold medal game or play for the bronze.  The United states with Blues players David Backes and Erik Johnson, advanced by beating Switzerland yesterday 2-0 in the quarterfinals.  Zach Parise scored both goals and Ryan Miller stopped all 19 shots he faced for the shutout.  If the U.S. is victorious over Finland Friday, it will play Sunday for the Olympic title.  If the Stars and Stripes lose tomorrow, it will compete for the bronze on Saturday.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa says he's not likely to read the new book by Mark McGwire's brother about "Big Mac's" steroids use.  The "Post-Dispatch" says, according to La Russa, it's pointless to read something that everyone's already been over.  The book, titled "Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and the Truth Behind Baseball's Worst-Kept Secret," is scheduled to be released Monday.  La Russa said he knows there's a rift between McGwire and his brother Jay, who wrote the book.

With the U.S. playing strong in men's hockey at the Winter Olympics, a former member of Team USA was at Cardinals camp today.  The "Post-Dispatch" says former U.S. forward Mike Eruzione  spoke to the Redbirds at Roger Dean Stadium this morning.  Eruzione was a member of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team that won the gold in Lake Placid after stunning the Soviet Union.  The hockey star met with Cards skipper Tony La Russa last night in a dinner set up by sportscaster Lesley Visser.  Eruzione said talking to the team today was fun and baseball was his first love.

Rams defensive end Leonard Little is reportedly leaning toward returning in 2010.  After it appeared Little was headed for retirement, sources close to the 12-year veteran tell the "Post-Dispatch" that Little has reconsidered and is leaning toward playing next season.  Little's contract has expired, so the team would have to work out a new deal or he becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 5th.  Rams general manager Billy Devaney said yesterday that the team is interested in having Little return for another season.  The 35-year-old led the team with six-and-a-half sacks last year, despite missing the final three games with a knee infection.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy will not throw at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis due to his shoulder injury.  The NFL's website says McCoy is still not fully recovered from the injury and will instead try to throw at his pro day workout.  Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, Florida's Tim Tebow and Central Michigan's Dan LeFebour have already decided not to throw at the combine.  That leaves Cincinnati's Tony Pike as the only top-rated quarterback prospect that will throw.