Hawaii Beat Star-Bulletin staff

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PRO BOWL

Winners' share motivates NFC

Think the money doesn't matter to the NFL stars playing in the Pro Bowl?

Not according to Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

"The whole week we were saying '40-grand on three,' " said Hall, referring to the winners' share in the NFL's annual All-Star game. "That's what we broke the huddle saying."

Hall recorded five tackles as the NFC defense powered the team to a 23-17 win yesterday at Aloha Stadium and was involved in two of the game's most notable plays.

Hall was in coverage on Chris Chambers' controversial touchdown reception in the first quarter. He later helped set up the NFC's first TD by teaming with Dallas' Roy Williams on an interception return late in the second quarter that swung the momentum of the game.

Chambers, with Hall guarding closely, went high for a pass from Peyton Manning on the right side of the end zone. The Miami receiver made the catch and got one foot down inbounds. The other landed out of bounds, but the official ruled that Hall had forced him out and awarded Chambers the touchdown.

"I was telling the refs we might have to implement instant replay in the Pro Bowl," Hall said. "If it had been a real game, you'd have probably seen a whole lot more commotion. But this is all for fun. I told Chris Chambers he got a free gift, happy birthday."

Hall was on the receiving end later in the game. After Williams picked off a Manning throw he handed the ball to Hall, who then sprinted 57 yards to the AFC 20. The NFC capitalized with a touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Alge Crumpler with 2 seconds left to tie the game at 10 going into halftime.

"We talked about it earlier. I told them you need to pitch it because that's what we do down in Atlanta," Hall said.

While Hall called for the ball from Williams on the interception, he was caught by surprise when Carolina's Steve Smith tossed the ball to him on a punt return in the third quarter. He was hit hard after a 1-yard gain.

"Steve's trying to get me killed," Hall said. "He doesn't want to play against me next year."

Cincinnati receiver Chad Johnson, whose sound bites kept things lively in the days leading up to the game, had a relatively quiet Sunday, catching just two passes for 15 yards.

Johnson, who didn't catch a pass until the fourth quarter, also lined up at cornerback for two plays, but didn't have a ball thrown his way.

Asked if Johnson's switch tempted him to try offense, Hall responded, "No, I'm a corner. I'm The Corner. I've got no urge to play offense."

Alexander stays on sidelines

Seattle running back Shaun Alexander suited up for the game, but a sprained foot kept the NFL rushing champion on the sideline.

"We were all real with each other, that if I was sore at all then we weren't going to do it," Alexander said.

"An All-Star game is fun, so if you can't do what you do then it's no longer fun. It's not anything major, but it just needs to heal."

New York's Tiki Barber started in Alexander's place and rushed for 33 yards on 11 carries.

Vanden Bosch doesn't waste time

Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch was a late addition to the AFC roster and didn't squander his first Pro Bowl berth, corralling NFC quarterbacks for two first-half sacks.

The fifth-year pro from Nebraska dropped Matt Hasselbeck for a 7-yard loss in the first quarter, then tracked down Vick 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage early in the second.

"I had hoped I'd make (the Pro Bowl roster) the first time, but I was just going to come out here had play hard, that's what got me here," Vanden Bosch said.

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UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII

Rainbow Wahine lose in Paradise Classic

Texas-Arlington went through six Hawaii pitchers on its way to a 6-2 win over the Hawaii softball team yesterday in the Paradise Classic in Manoa.

The Mavericks (3-4) chased UH (4-2) starter Jessica Morton in the second inning after scoring three runs in the first two innings. Texas-Arliington then scored three runs off Kate Robinson in the fifth inning before Paula Blanning came in to put out the fire.

The loss knocked Hawaii, the top seed, out of the tournament.

» The UH-Hilo softball team split a pair of games in Phoenix, Ariz., yesterday, losing 7-2 to Cal State Dominguez Hills before beating Grand Canyon 7-0.

Leo Sing Chow limited Grand Canyon to one hit while driving in three from the plate in the second game to give the Vulcans (1-3) their first win of the season. Sarah Weisskopf was shelled for the Vulcans in the opener.

» Dayna Berry won both games as Hawaii Pacific swept Cal State Stanislaus in a doubleheader yesterday in Kaneohe.

Berry shut out the Warriors in the first game 4-0 on four hits and pitched an inning of relief in the second game to give the Sea Warriors a 5-4 victory.

The Sea Warriors improved to 5-1 with their fourth win in a row while the Warriors dropped to 11-3.

Sheppard breaks UH high jump record

Hawaii freshman Emily Sheppard soared 5 feet, 7 inches to win the high jump at the Dempsey Indoor at Seattle yesterday.

Sheppard's mark is a school record, breaking the mark she set just two weeks ago.

Sheppard added a personal best in the long jump in the meet, traveling 5.51 meters to win that event.

The Rainbow Wahine also took the top two spots in the shot put with Annett Wichmann edging Meghan Weaver 13.66 meters to 13.56.

Hawaii comes home to host its fourth Sunset Meet on Saturday at Cooke Field.

» Alexis Jinbo-Doran won the 200-yard breaststroke at the Northwest Conference swimming championships at Federal Way, Wash., yesterday.

Competing for the Whitman College Missionaries, the senior from Iolani was timed in 2 minutes, 28.02 seconds.

No. 4 Wahine take fifth place

The No. 4 Hawaii water polo team rebounded from a pair of losses in the first round of the Stanford Invitational, earning a pair of wins yesterday to claim fifth place in the tournament.

The Wahine, who dropped matches to No. 16 Arizona State and No. 1 UCLA on Saturday, beat No. 6 California 9-7 and San Jose State 12-5 yesterday.

Kelly Mason led Hawaii (3-3) with four goals against San Jose State and goalie Meike De Nooy had 12 saves.