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CLEARWATER, Fla. Derek Wolfe Blue Jersey . -- Hall of Fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee was remembered Friday as a master motivator and a man who left a legacy of kindness that was just as impressive as what he accomplished in the ring moulding a record 15 world champions, including Muhammad Ali. "If you only knew him as a trainer, you missed out on something pretty special," the Rev. Stephen King said, beginning the funeral service Friday for Dundee, who died last week at the age of 90. Ali was among about 600 people who paid final respects at the Countryside Christian Center. The self-proclaimed "Greatest" wore a black suit and sunglasses and sat in front of the casket and a stage lined with flowers, pictures, paintings, and a pair of red boxing gloves sitting on a stool. Alis wife, Lonnie, spoke during the service on behalf of her husband, who has Parkinsons disease. "He used to call us all the time and say it doesnt cost nothing to be nice. ... It was like his mantra," she said. "Whenever we saw Angelo there was a smile of his face. He was always a happy guy." "You cant call too many men sweet. Angelo Dundee was a sweet man," added former NFL player Ian Beckles, who co-hosts a local radio show and became friends with the legendary trainer after Dundee moved to the Tampa Bay area a few years ago. "Angelo didnt give you a choice," Beckles added. "You had to love him." That was the prevailing sentiment throughout the 80-minute service attended by many of the friends Dundee made through boxing and his charitable endeavours, including promoter Bob Arum and former heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas. "As a man, he taught me so much," Thomas said before the service. Arum was among the speakers, calling Dundee "one of the nicest people I ever met." Former Ali business manager Gene Kilroy talked about the bond that the trainer and boxer retained long after both retired. "You cant buy loyalty today," Kilroy said. "Boxing has lost a great man." Dundee died Feb. 1 at his apartment. His son said he recently had been hospitalized for a blood clot and briefly spent time in a rehabilitation centre before returning home, where he was surrounded by family members when he died. Best known for being Alis corner man for most of the former heavyweight champions career, Dundee was a brilliant motivator who trained 14 other world champions, including Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Carmen Basilio and Jose Napoles. "When you think about the beauty of Angelo, when you think about the personalities that he had to coach and train, I actually have to start with Muhammad," Lonnie Ali said. "Muhammads not an easy person when it comes to boxing because Muhammad thought he knew how to train himself. He had that ego. But Angelo somehow realized that the best way to make Muhammad great was to get out of his way, to let him do his thing. He really didnt have to coach him. He just had to come in and do the little things. ... Angelo was able to do that with each and every one of his fighters." Dundees career, which led to his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, spanned six decades. He last got together with Ali for The Greatests 70th birthday party last month in Louisville, Ky. -- a visit that Dundees son said meant a lot to his father. With the native of south Philadelphia in his corner, Ali became the first to win the heavyweight title three times. Dundee began working with Leonard late in Alis career and trained him for many of the former welterweight champions biggest fights, too. Dundee joined Foreman in 1994 to help him become the oldest heavyweight champion at age 45. "He made all of our lives better," said Arum, who promoted some of Alis biggest bouts. "Dad was a simple guy. He never thought he was anything special," Jimmy Dundee said, adding that his father treated everyone he met -- from wide-eyed little kids on the street to the fighters he helped win championships -- the same. "Dad loved everyone. No one wasnt his friend. Weve got people here from the rehab centre where he stayed six days. ... All the fighters in dads past life loved him because they werent fighters, they were family." Two hours before the service, Jimmy Dundee smiled while recalling some of his fathers most memorable moments in boxing, including refusing to allow a then young Cassius Clay to quit in his first title fight against Sonny Liston, and practically willing Leonard to shrug off a beating he was taking from Thomas Hearns to win a championship bout. "When you walk through history, there are moments you have to grab to make them special," the son said. "Dad always seemed to be in the right place at the right time." Steve Atwater Jersey . -- An accomplished veteran in open-wheel racing, Alex Tagliani probably could find a full-time ride in the IndyCar series if he wanted it badly enough. Gary Zimmerman Orange Jersey . - Phil Macks penalty kick with no time remaining completed a remarkable comeback Sunday as Canada defeated Samoa 22-19 to finish third at the USA Sevens — its best ever finish at an IRB Sevens rugby event. SAN DIEGO -- James Shields was on another road mound and thats a good thing for the Kansas City Royals. Then again, he really was at his home away from home. "It was nice to sleep in my own bed last night," Shields said after pitching Kansas City past the San Diego Padres 8-0 Wednesday. Shields (4-3) won at Petco Park, which isnt far from his residence in Rancho Santa Fe. "I got to play with the dog and see the kids for the first time in about a month," Shields said. "It was really nice to be around the house." Shields wasnt a welcome sight for the San Diego batters, scattering seven hits over seven innings. With Eric Hosmer driving in a season-high four runs and the Royals scoring three times in the first inning, Shields was able to win with less than his best. "I didnt think my stuff way that good today," said Shields, who threw a season-high 118 pitches. "I was all over the place, getting behind in counts a lot. It was a grind day, but sometimes you got to go out there without your good stuff and compete and that is what I did." Padres ace Andrew Cashner (2-5) didnt see the fifth inning. "Were kind of in a team-wide funk," Cashner said. The Royals are headed the opposite direction. They won their second straight game, took their first series at Petco Park and snapped a five-game losing skid since rolling into town. "That was what you call an AAGG -- an all-around good game in all phases," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "Shields was fantastic, the bullpen was great, our defence was solid and we had very, very good baserunning. And our offence had as good as a day as we have had against a darn good young pitcher in a long time." For a good stretch, Shields, who struck out four and walked two, has been tough on the road. Hes won four straight starts away from Kauffmann Stadium and since the start of last season is 14-4 with a 2.00 ERA. Hosmer got three hits. He finished the series going 7 for 15 with seven RBIs, a homer and a double. "The power numbers will come," Hosmer said. "Im not worried about that. Its early in the season and right now Im just doing anything to help this team win." "The biggest thing today was coming up with runners in scooring position and getting guys in," he said. Peyton Manning Jersey. The Padres scuffled, not having any better luck against two relievers after Shields exited. They were shut out for a major league-high sixth time this season. San Diego has lost six of eight overall. Cashner, who lasted a season-low four innings, had trouble from the start. He threw 43 pitches in the first, hurt by a pair of errors from shortstop Everth Cabrera that led to two unearned runs. "I feel bad for my teammate, for Cashner," Cabrera said. Alcides Escobar reached when Cabrera misplayed his ground ball after Nori Aoki opened with a single. Hosmer hit a two-run single, Alex Gordon reached base two batters later when Cabrera mishandled his grounder and Danny Valencia followed with a broken-bat, RBI single. Cashner ended the inning by getting Shields to ground out with the bases loaded in a nine-pitch at-bat. "That was the best AB of the game," Hosmer said. The Padres had a chance to cut into their deficit in the second when they got three hits. But Cameron Maybin was too aggressive rounding second base on an infield single, and Escobar slid in behind from shortstop, took Hosmers throw from first base and made the tag. Padres manager Bud Black requested a review, but the call stood. It marked the first time in five appeals this season that Black had lost. The Padres tied a season high with three errors, and had a passed ball and wild pitch in allowing four unearned runs. NOTES: Padres 3B Chase Headley (strained right calf) will play for Single-A Lake Elsinore on Thursday and Friday. He could be activated for Saturdays game against the Marlins. ... Padres OF Carlos Quentin is with Triple-A El Paso for at least two games and then will be re-evaluated. Quentin has been on the DL all season with knee problems. ... Royals 2B Omar Infante was out of the lineup with a sore back. He was replaced by Danny Valencia, one of three Royals with three hits. ... The Padres open a four-game series with the Marlins on Thursday with RHP Ian Kennedy (2-4, 3.43) facing RHP Jacob Turner (0-0, 9.90). ... The Royals play Seattle on Thursday as LHP Danny Duffy (1-2, 2.19 ERA) goes against Mariners RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (1-0, 5.40). ' ' '