Press Box

An achy Joe Paterno sounded more pessimistic yesterday about coaching Penn State from the sideline for the entire Outback Bowl -- if he gets down there at all. Sore from running through "agility drills" in trying to get ready for today's game against No. 17 Tennessee in Tampa, the 80-year-old Paterno may watch from the press box if he doesn't feel his rehabilitated left leg is ready. Paterno fractured the shinbone and tore two knee ligaments during a sideline collision in November.

The city has opened a new ball field to make up for the loss of Alumni Field, which has been eliminated by the expansion of Portsmouth Middle School. The new field is on Granite Street, where Wentworth School once stood. Alumni-Wentworth Field has a press box, bleachers, lights, a concession stand, and parking for 63 cars. Tom Long

Penn State coach Joe Paterno planned to coach No. 23 Penn State's game Saturday against No. 3 Alabama from the Beaver Stadium press box. The 84-year-old Paterno is recovering from injuries to his right shoulder and pelvis sustained during an accidental hit in practice Aug. 7. Paterno said he was feeling better earlier this week and was optimistic he would return to the sideline for the Crimson Tide. He also said he was still in some pain. Paterno walked into a pep rally Friday night at Penn State spryly, though still with the aid of a cane.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff If you see Terry Francona today, wish him happy birthday. He is 53. And you well could see him. Francona is in Boston with the ESPN crew for tonight's game. The network has him set up for a press conference at Fenway and Francona will have to be at his diplomatic best when people ask him about the state of this season's team. Before nationally televised games, the announcers get some time with the managers of both teams in their offices.

This just in: Fenway Park was built in 1912. It has poles. Poles mean obstructed-view seats. Lots and lots of them. A few of those seats are planted directly behind massive girders. It also has a roof over the main grandstand. A roof over the main grandstand means many people cannot do two important things, which one being more important depending on your point of view. These are 1. You can't keep track of a ball in flight. 2. You may not be able to see the scoreboard. The former is an annoyance, well, just because.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff If you see Terry Francona today, wish him happy birthday. He is 53. And you well could see him. Francona is in Boston with the ESPN crew for tonight's game. The network has him set up for a press conference at Fenway and Francona will have to be at his diplomatic best when people ask him about the state of this season's team. Before nationally televised games, the announcers get some time with the managers of both teams in their offices.

As the coach of three high school girls' teams outside Chicago in 1977, Connie Bauman noted that salaries for boys' coaches were much higher than the girls'. "It was lopsided," she recalled. She filed a class action suit against the school district, which included four schools. "We didn't tell our athletic directors," said Bauman. "We knew they'd try to talk us out of it. " Nine months later, the court ruled in favor of the girls' coaches. They received raises. "The schools knew they had no case.

The city has opened a new ball field to make up for the loss of Alumni Field, which has been eliminated by the expansion of Portsmouth Middle School. The new field is on Granite Street, where Wentworth School once stood. Alumni-Wentworth Field has a press box, bleachers, lights, a concession stand, and parking for 63 cars. Tom Long

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff BALTIMORE — Jon Lester is throwing in the bullpen now, the longer-than-normal side session designed to test the soundness of his body after the lat strain he suffered earlier this month. Pitching coach Curt Young is running the operation with head athletic trainer Mike Reinold watching closely along with vice president of baseball operation Brian O'Halloran. Based on watching from the press box, Lester seems to be doing fine. He is scheduled to start on Monday.

If you followed Red Sox baseball over the last 30 years, you knew Larry Whiteside. At least you knew his byline. You knew his work. Those of us in the press box and the Globe sports department were more fortunate. We knew the man. "Sides. " Larry, who died yesterday at age 69, was generous, kind, humble, and dignified. He showed up every day, worked the beat, and covered all the bases before he went home. He was great to young reporters. He was a champion of African-American sportswriters, one of the first to break racial barriers in the press box. He was trusted by the...

This just in: Fenway Park was built in 1912. It has poles. Poles mean obstructed-view seats. Lots and lots of them. A few of those seats are planted directly behind massive girders. It also has a roof over the main grandstand. A roof over the main grandstand means many people cannot do two important things, which one being more important depending on your point of view. These are 1. You can't keep track of a ball in flight. 2. You may not be able to see the scoreboard. The former is an annoyance, well, just because.

As the coach of three high school girls' teams outside Chicago in 1977, Connie Bauman noted that salaries for boys' coaches were much higher than the girls'. "It was lopsided," she recalled. She filed a class action suit against the school district, which included four schools. "We didn't tell our athletic directors," said Bauman. "We knew they'd try to talk us out of it. " Nine months later, the court ruled in favor of the girls' coaches. They received raises. "The schools knew they had no case.

WILMINGTON - The Bruins were missing a key defenseman at practice yesterday. Adam McQuaid caught his skate in a rut late in Tuesday's victory over the Ottawa Senators and was forced to sit out the workout at Ristuccia Arena. "We just felt it was better to keep him off the ice and we'll kind of reevaluate his situation tomorrow," said coach Claude Julien. "Hopefully, we'll get him back on the ice tomorrow. " If he's unable to play against the Hurricanes tonight at TD Garden, it isn't all bad news.

Injured Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff won't be behind the team's bench for Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins. Assistant James Patrick will assume Ruff's duties as head coach. Patrick normally oversees the defensemen. Patrick also said Wednesday that Ruff was hoping to be at the game, and will either watch live from the press box or in his office on television. Ruff broke three ribs when he was upended by defenseman Jordan Leopold in an on-ice collision during Monday's practice.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is in serious condition after experiencing health complications from lung cancer. "Over the last few days, Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," family spokesman Dan McGinn said in a statement yesterday to the Associated Press. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious. His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison understands his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy was illegal by the letter of the law. He can also understand, grudgingly, why the NFL suspended him one game as punishment for a series of similar hits over the last three seasons. What Harrison doesn't quite understand, however, is why the Browns haven't also been disciplined by the league for allowing McCoy to return to the game so quickly if the quarterback was in such bad shape.

The Bruins have completed their practice at TD Garden. Much of the session focused on transition drills. Claude Julien believed the Bruins were out of synch yesterday and not going up the ice with speed as a unit. Adam McQuaid, out last night because of a virus, made it through the entire session today. McQuaid should be in tomorrow, which would put Matt Bartkowski in the press box. * Tuukka Rask should start tomorrow. Julien has been emphasizing the need to rest Tim Thomas and spread out the workload.

Injured Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff won't be behind the team's bench for Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins. Assistant James Patrick will assume Ruff's duties as head coach. Patrick normally oversees the defensemen. Patrick also said Wednesday that Ruff was hoping to be at the game, and will either watch live from the press box or in his office on television. Ruff broke three ribs when he was upended by defenseman Jordan Leopold in an on-ice collision during Monday's practice.

The Baseball Writers Association of America doesn't waste any time. It only took hours after the bombshell about Bill Conlin made headlines for the BBWAA to once again make itself look like the incompetent organization that it has proven itself to be time and time again. Conlin, the long-time Philadelphia Daily News columnist, accused of sexual abuse in a story that appeared yesterday, was the recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award earlier this year, the BBWAA's most prestigious honor given by his clueless colleagues in recognition of his "notable career.

David Backes got the go-ahead score on the second straight power-play goal of the game for the St. Louis Blues, who ended a 2 for 39 slump with the man advantage in a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. Alex Steen had a power play goal in the second period and Brian Elliott made 27 saves for the Blues, who are 9-2-3 since Ken Hitchcock replaced Davis Payne as coach. The Blues also beat the Red Wings in Hitchcock's first game on Nov. 15. St. Louis entered Tuesday as the NHL's worst with the man advantage — having...