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Fate of Pro Bowl to be determined
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HONOLULU (AP) — The NFL is hoping to decide the fate of the Pro Bowl by the time it releases next season's schedule in April. And the fate of the league's all-star game will largely depend on how much effort this year's participants put into the game.

NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson told reporters of the timing at a news conference Tuesday to kick off this year's Pro Bowl week in Honolulu. He said the league expects its players to play a game that fans will be proud of.

"Our hope is that the players will give the same effort and energy that allowed them to become roster members of this Pro Bowl," Anderson said.

Commissioner Roger Goodell nearly canceled the game after uninspiring play last year, but it will be held Sunday at Aloha Stadium after discussions between the league and the player's union.

Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, a Pro Bowler for the second year in a row, says the message to players has been clear. He said players need to balance playing hard with avoiding injury, to give fans the game they deserve without hurting their teams going into next year.

"We owe it to our fans, we owe it to our viewers, to give them a little more effort than we did last year," Tillman said.

Anderson said the league has considered less intense substitutions for the game, including skills competitions, seven-on-seven scrimmages or other watered down events. But officials haven't found anything that lives up to the standards of what fans expect.

Tillman said fans are used to touchdowns and interceptions.

"That's what the fans want," Tillman said.

Anderson and Tillman spoke as the league promoted a week full of events leading up to the Pro Bowl, including practices at Pearl Harbor and an exchange program with Japanese coaches.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell made a public plea to keep the Super Bowl in Honolulu, saying perhaps the city and state don't express their appreciation often enough for the game being held on the islands.

Anderson said the relationship between the league and Hawaii has grown strong over more than three decades.

Tillman, who said he is staying with his family at the new Disney resort on the west side of Oahu, said the Pro Bowl is definitely a good incentive for players.

"What's better than this? It's like negative-2 degrees in Chicago right now," Tillman said. "That's all the incentive I need."

WCHS baseball blanked at Columbia
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The Warren County baseball team was back in action Tuesday evening with a road district matchup against Columbia.

A hot start from the Lions sent the Pioneers home early in a 14-0, 4.5 inning loss.

Warren County came up empty at the plate, being held hitless over the course of the game.

On the mound, Lealon Arnold pitched 1.1 innings and came off with two hits, three runs and four walks. Up next was Hayven Jones, who finished with two strikeouts, three hits, seven runs and two walks in 0.2 innings. Keaton Rowe followed, allowing four hits, four runs and one walk over the remaining two innings.