Chargers Tickets Still Available

--2,000 tickets available for next two home games--

The Chargers’ streak of 35 consecutive regular-season and postseason home games shown on live local television is in jeopardy. More than 2,000 tickets remain available for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at Qualcomm Stadium. Kickoff is Sunday at 1:05 pm. All general tickets must be sold 72 hours prior to kickoff for NFL games to be televised live locally.

In addition, an equal number of tickets are available for the Chargers’ nationally-televised home game versus the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night, Dec. 4.

Tickets are available online at http://www.chargers.com/; the Chargers Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium (Gate C), or by calling TicketMaster at 619-220-TIXS (8497).

If a sellout is announced, the game will be shown live on Fox 5 in San Diego and Fox 11 in Los Angeles. Matt Vasgersian and J.C. Pearson will call the action.

The radio broadcast can be heard in San Diego on KIOZ Rock 105.3 FM and XTRA Sports 1360 AM in San Diego and KLAC 570 AM in Los Angeles. Josh Lewin and Hank Bauer call the action from the booth and Jim Laslavic reports from the sideline. Jorge Villanueva, Adrian Garcia and Efren Dominguez call the game in Spanish on XHFG 107.3 FM in San Diego and KWKW 1330 AM in Los Angeles.

Zach Randolph's Clippers Debut Will Have To Wait

Newly acquired Zach Randolph will not be in uniform tonight when the Clippers host the Hornets. He and Mardy Collins will not be allowed to suit up for their new team until all physicals have been completed.

Here is the team's official release: Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins will not be in uniform for tonight’s game between the Clippers and New Orleans Hornets. None of the four players in Friday’s trade between the Clippers and New York Knicks are eligible to play for their new teams until the results of all physicals are known. Accordingly, the Clippers’ Monday afternoon media availability session scheduled for Randolph and Collins will be postponed.

Basically, the issue is the completion of all four physicals. They seem to be taking an extra day on both sides. However, everything is expected to be completed by tomorrow, and you can expect to see Randolph and Collins in uniform for Wednesday's game between the Clippers and the Nuggets.

OFFICIAL RELEASE: CLIPPERS ACQUIRE ZACH RANDOLPH AND MARDY COLLINS FROM KNICKS

Clippers Send Forward Tim Thomas and Guard Cuttino Mobley To New York

The Los Angeles Clippers acquired forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins from the New York Knicks today in exchange for forward Tim Thomas and guard Cuttino Mobley Clippers General Manager and head coach Mike Dunleavy announced today.

“In an attempt to make our team more competitive, we are excited about the acquisition of Zach Randolph,” Dunleavy said. “He is a 27-year old highly-skilled scorer and rebounder. Getting a player like Zach cost us two highly skilled veterans in Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas, but we feel that the move will help us both now and in the future. We wish nothing but the best of success for Cuttino and Tim with their new team.”

The six-foot-nine Randolph is known as one of the NBA’s most effective young post players, bringing a career 16.4 points per game scoring average and 8.2 rebounds in 467 career games to the Clippers. Randolph is a career 46 percent shooter from the field and averaged 17.6 points, a team-leading 10.3 rebounds in 69 games for the Knicks in 2007-08 while finishing 10th in the NBA with 40 double-doubles. Randolph is averaging 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the first 11 games of the 2008-09 season.

The Michigan State product was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in the first round (19th overall pick) of the 2001 NBA Draft. Randolph, 27, played six seasons in Portland, enjoying a break-out year in 2003-04 when he averaged 20.1 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Trailblazer en route to being named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year. Randolph joined the Knicks prior to the 2007-08 season in a trade.

In his third pro season, the six-foot-six Collins is averaging 2.2 points and 1.7 assists in nine games this season. A former standout at Temple University, Collins was drafted by New York with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft. Collins has appeared in 107 career NBA games, with career averages of 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Cuttino Mobley joined the Clippers as a free agent on August 4, 2005 and was a key member of the club’s run to the 2005-06 Western Conference Semifinals, averaging 14.9 points that season and 13.3 points in 12 playoff games. A 10-year NBA veteran, Mobley is the Clippers third-leading scorer this season, averaging 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 2008-09.

Tim Thomas signed with the Clippers as a free agent on July 13, 2006, and the 11-year pro has been a fixture in the frontcourt ever since, averaging 10.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 149 games in his time in Los Angeles.

With this transaction, the Clippers roster now stands at a total of 14 players, with three players (Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, Paul Davis) remaining from the team that finished the 2007-08 season.

Clippers Make Trade for Zach Randolph

--LA Sends Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas To NY For Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins--

Mike Dunleavy has coveted Zach Randolph for quite some time, and now it seems as though he is getting him. I heard a little earlier today that the Clippers were making this trade. I assume as I write this post, the legalities of the deal are being finalized right now.

The question now becomes is Dunleavy done dealing or is this move just the beginning? I vote for the latter.

Here's the NY Daily News article on the trade.

Knicks trade Jamal Crawford for Al Harrington, ship Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to Clippers
BY FRANK ISOLA DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Friday, November 21st 2008, 5:04 PM

The Knicks completed a wild day of trading on Friday when they sent Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the Clippers for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley. The deal comes less than two hours after Donnie Walsh traded Jamal Crawford to the Warriors for Al Harrington.

Both deals were made to clear salary cap space for the summer of 2010 for when LeBron James becomes a free agent. The contracts of Harrington, Thomas and Mobley all expire in two years which will put the Knicks in position to make a run at James, the most coveted free agent since Shaquille O'Neal left the Orlando Magic to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/11/21/2008-11-21_knicks_trade_jamal_crawford_for_al_harri.html

DODGERS AND WHITE SOX NEW DESERT HOME NAMED “CAMELBACK RANCH” IN GLENDALE

GLENDALE, Ariz – The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox announced today that their two-team, state-of-the-art Spring Training campus in Glendale, AZ will be named Camelback Ranch. Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt and White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf made the announcement.

“The name ‘Camelback Ranch’ inspires the pioneering spirit of the Dodgers’ original move west in 1958 and with our relocation this spring to Arizona, that move is now complete,” said McCourt. “We believe this facility will be the best in all of Major League Baseball and will provide our team with an unparalleled place to prepare year-round for championship-caliber baseball.”

“Camelback Ranch in Glendale soon will be known as the crown-jewel of the Cactus League,” said Reinsdorf. “Starting this spring, baseball fans will be able to enjoy a world-class complex that features the Cactus League’s largest ballpark with state-of-the-art amenities and one of the most scenic environments in all of sports and entertainment.”

The 141-acre site is located on Camelback Road just west of the Loop 101. The first-rate baseball facility includes more than 118,000 square feet of Major and Minor League clubhouse space, 13 full baseball fields, and three half-fields. The site will feature picturesque walking trails, landscaped grounds, and an orange grove. There will also be two ponds and a fully-stocked lake between the Dodgers and White Sox facilities.

The shared stadium, which will be the focal point of the complex, is the largest in the Cactus League with a capacity of 13,000 which includes 3,000 lawn seats, 12 luxury suites, a party deck, and a unique center field rotunda entrance. Fans will enjoy the ballpark’s modern amenities and design as well as dramatic mountain views from within the park that will create one of the most inviting Spring Training atmospheres in all of baseball.

“It is my sincere hope that generations of families will create lifelong memories at Camelback Ranch,” said Dodger President Jamie McCourt. “This idyllic setting – only five hours by car and a one-hour flight from Los Angeles – could not come at a more perfect time for Dodger fans, many of whom have waited a long time to take part in the Spring Training experience.”

“Many former Chicagoans now call the Valley home,” said Reinsdorf. “That large contingent of people, along with the thousands of current Chicagoans who travel to the Phoenix area during the winter months, now will have the opportunity to enjoy White Sox baseball in an incomparable sports and entertainment facility.”

In addition to serving as the Spring Training home of the White Sox and Dodgers, the campus will become the home for all Dodger minor league operations throughout the year, including the team’s Arizona League entry and Fall Instructional League team. The White Sox also will use Camelback Ranch in Glendale as the home for their Fall Instructional League.

Camelback Ranch will become a multi-use facility, available to host concerts, sporting events, and corporate outings, in addition to Spring Training baseball.

The 2009 Spring Training schedules will be released shortly for each team, while the joint venture offers six different season ticket options: Home Plate Club, Dugout Field Box, Baseline Field Box, Premium Infield Box, Infield Box, and Baseline Reserved, along with day-of-game Lawn seating. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets should call (623) 877-8585.

Renderings and a recent aerial photo of Camelback Ranch are attached, while updated photos of Camelback Ranch can be seen here: http://mlb.mlb.com/la/photogallery/year_2008/month_11/day_11/cf3674479.html

NBA.com Seeking Associate Reporters

Want to get your foot in the door covering an NBA beat? NBA.com is looking for up to 30 aspiring sportswriters to form its league-wide network of associate reporters.

These part-time jobs are designed to give you the full range of experiences that comes with covering a professional basketball team. Each reporter will work closely with one of the full-time writers to give visitors to NBA.com and team web sites all the information they need throughout the season. The plan is to have one reporter at each NBA home city.

NBA.com is looking for talented college juniors and seniors as well as recent graduates and graduate students to cover the 2008-2009 season. Each associate reporter is expected to attend every home game, file live game notes directly into the Game Info page, collect notes and quotes from the locker rooms after the game, and update the homepage of the team web sites featured in your game. You will be paid $50-$75 per game, depending on the arena you work.

Applicants should submit a resume (with references), plus three published articles or a 500-word essay on why you want to be an NBA beat writer.

All applicants must have their own laptop computer. Interested applicants should contact:

Steve Quintana
Executive Producer/ NBA.com
404-575-6074
steve.quintana@turner.com

Obama To Get Tough On BCS

Anyone watch President-Elect Barack Obama on "60 Minutes" last night? Most of you probably did, since his appearance gave the CBS News weekly magazine program its highest rating since 1999.

He talked about a myriad of topics, from the economy and financial bailouts to national security and the war in Iraq. He also niftily dodged Steve Kroft's repeated questions about any of Obama's impending administration appointees.

As usual, I found him eloquent, knowledgeable and sincere. My only regret is that he has to wait until January 20th to take office.

Besides the real meat-and-potato dialogue of the interview, there were two things I took away from the show: 1) Barack loves him some Michelle and 2) the BCS might want to get started on a playoff system.

During one of his very last public appearances prior to Election Night, Obama told Chris Berman during halftime of Monday Night Football that the one thing he would change about sports is the lack of a playoff in the Football Bowl Series, formerly known as Division 1A. And just as he has stayed true to some of his other campaign promises and pledges, Obama is serious about the need for a playoff system.

In fact, he already seems to have a plan for it: 8 teams, winner take all!

"It would add three extra weeks to the season," said Obama. "You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this. So, I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do."

There's no question it's the right thing to do. It's been the right thing to do for decades, but the individual institutions of the BCS conferences are just too greedy to make it happen. They want to hoard all the big money and not allow all 119 FBS schools to get a cut.

The one question I have always wondered but never had answered is this: If the NCAA can prevent schools from playing in a bowl game, why can't the NCAA dictate how the champion is determined? It does so in every other sport, including the other three levels of NCAA football.

The BCS issued a reactionary statement today, and as expected, the top brass wasn't exactly open to the idea.

"First of all I want to congratulate newly elected President Obama and I am glad he has a passion for college football like so many other Americans," said BCS Coordinator John Swofford. "For now, our constituencies -- and I know he understands constituencies -- have settled on the current BCS system, which the majority believe is the best system yet to determine a national champion while also maintaining the college football regular season as the best and most meaningful in sports."

Swofford added: "We certainly respect the opinions of president-elect Obama and welcome dialogue on what's best for college football."

I think what's best for college football is to consider your players, alumni and fans as your "constituencies" and not the school presidents and athletic directors.

I have tremendous confidence that President Obama can right this terrible wrong. I mean, if he can take on the RNC and win, the BCS should be a pushover!

Gilbert Arenas: Agent Zero

I must admit, I have not been much of a blog reader through the years. Some would say it is quite audacious of me to expect people to read my blog, even though I don't do a good job of reading others. Call it the "Audacity Of Blogging."

(Wow, that was even more cornier than I thought it would be. Anyway, back to the topic at hand.)

If you have never read Gilbert Arenas' blog, Agent Zero: The Blog File, you are seriously missing out. Not only does the Wizards superstar shed some interesting light on the game as well as his personal life, kid is just mad funny. He's been one of my favorite players in the league for quite some time, not so much for his playing ability, but rather his personality and unmitigated willingness to share it.

I won't give away his latest blog entry completely, but I will give you a little hint.

Witnessing History--The Sequel

Some of you may remember my post "Tyson Chandler: Witnessing History," where I told you about a meeting between the NBA rising star and Senator Barack Obama on the campaign trail. Chandler had written how the experience gave him a different perspective on politics, in general, and society, as a whole.

Shortly after Senator Obama became President-Elect Obama, Chandler added another post to his blog about watching the election night coverage with his wife.

One passage in particular from Chandler's blog post stood out to me. In reference to a story about one of his assistant coaches growing up in the South and remembering the "white only" water fountains and having to enter stores and restaurants through the back door, Chandler wrote, "A lot of times we lose touch of the opportunity that we have. It makes you respect it a lot more when you hear something like that, or you get a chance to hear Bill Russell speak about playing back then. You say, 'Man, I've got the opportunity to do what I love night in and night out, and there were people before me who fought and died for this.'"

SEC Charges Mark Cuban With Insider Trading

Uh, isn't this exactly what Martha Stewart went to jail for? Oh well, so much for buying the Cubs--as if MLB owners were going to let him into the old boys club anyway.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal regulators on Monday charged Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with insider trading for allegedly using confidential information on a stock sale to avoid more than $750,000 in losses.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit against Cuban in federal court in Dallas. The agency alleged that in June 2004, Cuban was invited to get in on the coming stock offering by Mamma.com Inc. after he agreed to keep the information private.

The SEC said Cuban knew the shares would be sold below the current market price, and a few hours after receiving the information, told his broker to sell his entire stake of 600,000 shares in the search engine company before the public announcement of the offering.

By selling when he did, Cuban avoided losses exceeding $750,000, according to the SEC. At the time of the offering, Cuban was the largest known shareholder in the Montreal-based company, which later changed its name to Copernic Inc.

The SEC is seeking a court judgment against Cuban finding that he violated the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, an injunction against future violations, an unspecified civil penalty and restitution of the losses Cuban allegedly avoided.

Unless he is subject to an injunction, Cuban “is likely to commit such violations again in the future,” according to the SEC suit.

Attorneys for Cuban in Washington and Dallas didn’t immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Cuban, 50, also owns Landmark Theaters, a large national chain dedicated to independent films, and the HDNet cable television channel.

He is one of the richest people in the world, according to Forbes magazine, which pegged his net worth at $2.3 billion as of March 2007.

PAC-10 Players Of The Week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli of Oregon, defensive tackle Stephen Paea of Oregon State and kick returners C.J. Gable of USC and James Rodgers of Oregon State have been named U.S. Bank Pac-10 Players of the Week in football, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced.

Masoli, a sophomore from Daly City, Calif., led the Oregon offense in the Ducks' 55-45 win against Arizona. Masoli accounted for 387 yards total offense and five touchdowns as he completed 21 of 26 passes (80.8%) for 298 yards and two touchdowns covering 44 and 65 yards with no interceptions. Masoli also rushed 10 times for 89 yards (8.9) and three touchdowns of 66, 6 and 5 yards. Oregon put up 55 points and piled up 504 yards total offense (206 rushing, 298 passing). It marks the second Pac-10 offensive player of the week honor for Masoli this season.

Paea, a sophomore from Los Altos, Calif., keyed Oregon State's defensive effort in the Beavers' 34-21 win against California that kept OSU's Rose Bowl hopes alive. Paea posted six tackles, three solo, including two tackles for loss (-13) and one quarterback sack (-5). The Oregon State defense limited California to 11 first downs and 232 yards in total offense (85 rushing, 147 passing), including just one yard in the fourth quarter. The Beaver defense allowed Cal only 2-of-13 on third-down conversion attempts and posted five QB sacks (-45).

There had not been a kickoff return for a touchdown in the Pac-10 all season until James Rodgers of Oregon State and C.J. Gable of USC did so at key times in their games--OSU's win against Cal and USC's 45-23 victory at Stanford. After California scored on the opening drive of the game, Rodgers, a sophomore from Richmond, Texas, returned the subsequent kickoff 86 yards for a TD to quickly tie up the score and the Beavers never again trailed in the game. For USC, it was Gable, a sophomore from Sylmar, Calif., taking back a kickoff return 93 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 17-17 shortly before halftime and the Trojans never again were behind in the game.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were tailbacks Kahlil Bell of UCLA, Stafon Johnson of USC and Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State, quarterback Rudy Carpenter of Arizona State and tight end Rob Gronkowski of Arizona. Also nominated on defense were rover Patrick Chung of Oregon and linebackers Reggie Carter of UCLA, Mike Nixon of Arizona State and Rey Maualuga of USC. Kicker Kai Forbath of UCLA was nominated for special teams play.

CEO Beats Michael Jordan 1-on-1

Those of you who read Sports Illustrated may remember a story from February regarding a CEO beating Michael Jordan in a game of 1-on-1 at Jordan's famous "Flight School" in Las Vegas. The true legitimacy of that story has been debated for quite some time, but thanks to the Wall Street Journal, we now have video proof of this monumental occasion.

See for yourself as John Rodgers, Jr. beats Jordan 3-2. Be sure and check out the commentary by Damon Wayans afterwards.

Bolts Add Veteran RB Bennett

The Chargers added depth to their offensive backfield Wednesday as they signed veteran running back Michael Bennett.

Bennett (5-9, 207), an eighth-year pro, has rushed for 3,627 yards and has a career average of 4.4 yards per carry. He has appeared in 94 games and started 50 during stints with Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Minnesota. With 151 career receptions, Bennett has also proven himself to be a capable receiver out of the backfield.

After a stellar collegiate career at Wisconsin, where he was teammates with Chargers wide receiver Chris Chambers, Bennett was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2002 after rushing for 1,296 yards.

Bennett spent the first five years of his career in Minnesota before signing with the Chiefs prior to the 2006 season. Midway through the 2007 campaign, he was to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers released Bennett Tuesday so the club could activate Carnell “Cadillac” Williams from the “Reserve-Physically Unable to Perform” list.

In order to make room for Bennett on the Bolts’ 53-man roster, the club released linebacker Derek Smith.

NCAA Minority Hirings Still Lagging Woefully Behind

Not sure if you heard the news, or if you even care for that matter, but the annual Black Coaches Association hiring report came out Wednesday. The numbers, especially for college football, are once again both staggering and saddening.

Almost a third of the candidates interviewed last year were minorities, but only four were hired among the 31 openings in the NCAA's FBS and FCS subdivisions.

The recent firings of Ty Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State leave the NCAA's top division with only four blacks, one Latino and one Pacific Islander as head coaches.

Seriously? Only four African-Americans and two other minorities out of 119 FBS programs? Really?

The NCAA should be flat out embarrassed. Plain and simple.

What? You think I'm being too harsh? Well, if the above statistics aren't a strong enough argument for my assessment, then consider these numbers recently released in a study by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports at the University of Central Florida:

• 54 percent of FBS players are minorities (50 percent of those African-American).

• 92.5 percent of FBS university presidents, 87.5 percent of FBS athletic directors and 100 percent of FBS conference commissioners are white.

As ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski writes, "They're good enough to play the game, good enough to become offensive and defensive coordinators (31 of 255), good enough to become assistant coaches (312 of 1,018), but not good enough to become head coaches?"

Once again, that old adage about "the more things change, the more things stay the same" is unfortunately and unbelievably proven true.

Normally Reserved Tiger Talks Obama

If you know anything about Tiger Woods, you likely know how tight-lipped he can be regarding just about any topic, including golf at times. And when it comes to social issues or politics, you usually have a better chance of outdriving him than hearing Tiger give his thoughts or opinions.

However, as he is progressing through his early 30's, maybe Tiger is ready to be more open about his feelings towards politics. Check out the story below from The Golf Channel, where golf's number one player talks about America's new number one citizen and its number one issue.

Tiger Woods, who is normally reserved when it comes to any topic not related to golf, weighed in on Barack Obama's election as the first African American president in United States history.

"I think it's absolutely incredible," Woods told CNBC. "He represents America. He's multiracial. I was hoping it would happen in my lifetime. My father was hoping it would happen in his lifetime, but he didn't get to see it. I'm lucky enough to have seen a person of color in the White House."

Obama was elected last Tuesday as the 44th President of the United States. When asked by the cable news outlet how his father Earl would have reacted, Woods said: "He would have cried. Absolutely. No doubt about it."

Woods, who has been sidelined since winning the U.S. Open in June due to season-ending knee surgery to repair a torn ACL, also spoke out on the state of the country's economy and how it might affect the PGA Tour.

"I don't know if some of the tournaments, if they're going to go away or have new sponsors come in," Woods told CNBC.Woods is still uncertain as to when he will return to competition. He hopes to begin hitting full shots at the beginning of 2009 and be back no later than the Masters Tournament in April.

Obama's Election Day Pickup Game

One of the reasons Barack Obama became an early favorite of mine is because he is one of the few modern-day politicians I know that plays basketball. Several play golf, albeit poorly, while others run or play racquetball. But the overwhelming majority of today's politicians aren't exactly what anyone would call athletic.

In keeping with his Election Day routine, President-elect Obama put together a pickup game with some of his closest friends after he finished campaigning. CNN was given exclusive, behind-the-scenes access and recently shared some of that video.




As far as President-elect Obama's skills are concerned, for a politician, he's actually not bad. I have played with much worse on the pickup courts through the years. Plus, I give him extra credit for that smooth behind-the-back dribble. If you are going to get this country back where it needs to be, Obama will need to be able to go both Left and Right.

Now, I just need to find out where I can score one of those "That One" jerseys!

PAC-10 Announces Players Of The Week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--Tailback Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State, safety Taylor Mays of USC and kicker Thomas Weber of Arizona State have been named U.S. Bank Pac-10 Players of the Week in football, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced.

Rodgers, a freshman from Richmond, Texas, keyed Oregon State's offense in the Beavers' 34-6 win at UCLA. Rodgers rushed 31 times for 144 yards and one touchdown and added three receptions for eight yards and another score. Rodgers established a new Pac-10 record for rushing yards by a freshman as he upped his season total to 1,089 yards, surpassing the freshman rushing record of 1,069 by Stanford's Darrin Nelson. Rodgers becomes just the third freshman in Conference history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. It marks the second consecutive week and third time this year the freshman has been named offensive player of the week.

Mays, a junior from Seattle, Wash., was one of many defensive standouts for USC in the Trojans' 17-3 win against No. 21-ranked California. Mays had five tackles, four solo, and was credited with four pass breakups. The USC defense did not allow a touchdown from a California offense that entered the game averaging 36.4 points per game. It marked the first time a Jeff Tedford-coached Cal team did not score a touchdown in a game. The Trojan defense limited the Golden Bears to 13 first downs and 165 yards total offense (27 rushing, 138 passing) and posted four quarterback sacks (-34 yards).

Weber, a sophomore from Downey, Calif., had a busy afternoon in Arizona State's 39-19 win at Washington. Weber was three-for-three on field goal attempts, connecting from 34, 37 and 29 yards, and perfect on four PATs. In addition, he averaged 41.2 yards on four punts, with a long boot of 56 yards and two punts downed inside the 20-yard line, plus he handled kickoff duties for the Sun Devils.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were running backs Jeremiah Johnson of Oregon, Nicolas Grigsby of Arizona and C.J. Gable of USC and receiver Mike Jones of Arizona State. Also nominated on defense were safeties Troy Nolan of Arizona State and T.J. Ward of Oregon State and linebackers Ronnie Palmer of Arizona, Keaton Kristick of Oregon State and Reggie Carter of UCLA. Joe Perkins of Arizona, Morgan Flint of Oregon, Johnny Hekker of Oregon State and Aaron Perez of UCLA were nominated for special teams play.

Some People Aren't Taking This Very Well

Considering this was arguably the most polarizing presidential election in our country's history, it's no real surprise that some leftover bitterness is starting to spill its way into the national headlines, including sports.

In another example of "Why Facebook Can Be Dangerous," Texas offensive lineman Buck Burnette has been kicked off the team after he posted the following message on his Facebook page.

"all the hunters gather up we've got a #$%&er in the white house"

Shortly after his dismissal from the team, Burnette issued an apology that read, in part, "I grew up on a ranch in a small town where that was a real thing and I need to grow up. I sincerely am sorry for being ignorant in thinking that it would be ok to write that publicly.. and to spread that kind of hate which I don't even believe in."

The acceptance of his apology is not mine to make, but rather his Longhorn teammates. However, it's rather hard to believe that Burnette does not advocate "that kind of hate" if he was so willing to post it on one of the country's largest social networking sites.

I have never met Mack Brown personally, but I applaud him for dismissing Burnette from the team. Not only did he potentially save the kid from serious issues with his black teammates, but he is also teaching Burnette a valuable lesson.

Hate can never be accepted, even if it's not yours.

But Wait There's More: Employees at Hampel's Key and Lockshop on Randolph Street in Traverse City, MI flew an American flag upside down Wednesday in protest of Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the presidential election.

And one employee directed a racial slur at Obama during a telephone interview with a Record-Eagle reporter.

"(The inverted flag is) an international signal for distress and we feel our country is in distress because the n----- got in," said Hampel's employee Rod Nyland, of Traverse City.

Free Prostate Cancer Screening--Saturday, Nov. 8th

Prostate Cancer Screening

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Annual Real Men Cook Prostate Cancer Screening Event in conjunction with the 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, Inc.

Trinity Baptist Church
2040 West Jefferson Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90018

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.


The prostate gland, although it is a tiny walnut sized gland in the male reproductive system, can cause big problems. Prostate cancer affects one in six American men in their lifetimes and in African-American men the statistics are one in three.

Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer may include difficulty in starting the urine flow, a weak or intermittent flow or a feeling that you cannot completely empty your bladder.

Family history plays a significant role as the leading risk factor, however diet is thought to be closely associated with prostate cancer. A diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in calcium and animal fat could be a preventative measure. Also, regular physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer death rates are falling somewhat mainly due to early detection/screening and better treatment options. Though some lifestyle changes will decrease your risk of prostate cancer, it is important that African American men forty years of age or older should make time for prostate cancer screenings. If you can’t prevent it, you certainly want to catch it early and increase your chances for successful treatment.

Early Detection is Critical!

Torii Hunter Wins 8th Straight Gold Glove

ANAHEIM, CA – Angels’ centerfielder Torii Hunter has been selected to the 2008 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® team, in an announcement made Thursday by the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company. This marks the eighth consecutive Gold Glove honor for the two-time All-Star. Hunter’s eight Gold Gloves as an outfielder rank tied for third all-time behind Ken Griffey Jr. (10) and Al Kaline (10).

Hunter, 33, is the second consecutive Angel to receive a Gold Glove after shortstop Orlando Cabrera in 2007 and the first Angel outfielder honored since Darin Erstad in 2002.

Hunter did not commit an error in 137 games in centerfield (354 total chances) to lead all MLB outfielders. The 10-year veteran has not committed an error since August 31, 2007, a span of 164 games.

The Angels have had a Rawlings Gold Glove Award® recipient in 19 of the last 23 seasons.

The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® acknowledges outstanding fielding achievement and is presented annually to 18 players, one from each position in both the American and National Leagues. The award was introduced in 1957 and the winners are chosen by major league managers and coaches.

Still Trying To Figure It All Out

Several of you have been asking me if I plan to write a post regarding the election of Barack Obama as our next president. The simple answer is yes, however I do not know exactly when that will be.

So, as I try to get my head around this momentous occasion and come up with the appropriate words to express my feelings, allow the words of Langston Hughes to fill the void until I return.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I'll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides,

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

-Langston Hughes

Making A Radio Appearance Today

In case any of you might be interested, I will be the guest on Twin Towers Sports Radio today at 7pm eastern/4pm pacific. The show originates in my home state of Kentucky.

I have no idea what the topics will be today, but I can almost guarantee that, in addition to some sports talk, we will talk about Barack Obama being elected to the White House.

You can listen to the show here: www.blogtalkradio.com/twintowerssportsradio

The Return of "Smooth LeBron"

There's a huge debate going into this NBA season about who will win this year's MVP. Some think Kobe, some say CP3, and others favor LeBron. You can make strong cases for either. However, if there was an award for the NBA's best commercial actor, LeBron James would win in a landslide.

Check out his newest Nike ad featuring the return of "Smooth LeBron" and a certain Pussy Cat Doll.




Best line: "You got me smilin'; I don't smile. Got me changin' my expression; I don't express."

Classic!

When Drinking At Hooters Goes Wrong

Not sure if you heard--or even care at this point--but golfer John Daly spent a night in a North Carolina jail last week. Evidently, police found the two-time major winner "extremely intoxicated and uncooperative" outside a Hooters restaurant around 2 a.m.

After Daly repeatedly refused to go to a nearby hospital, police took him to a Winston-Salem area detention center for a 24-hour "sobering up" period.

Somewhere, Otis from Mayberry is smiling.

Daly said his arrest and subsequent night behind bars were the result of a "misunderstanding." And perhaps it was. But considering how many times he's had encounters with the law (usually centering around domestic disputes) and his multiple suspensions from the PGA Tour, it's somewhat hard to give him the benefit of the doubt.

What I find interesting, though, is the lack of outcry from the general sporting public about Daly's continuing embarrassing behavior. Where are the shouts from the bloggers and the forum posters saying that Daly should never be allowed to play in a PGA Tour event again? Where are the rants from the radio talk show hosts demanding that Daly return his sponsorship money?

If those people are indeed out there, they are few and far between.

But just imagine for a moment that a NBA or NFL player had displayed such behavior. The reaction would be as frequent and varying as Daly's excuses for his problems.

As a golfer and sports fan myself, I can live with double bogeys. It's double-standards, however, that I can live without.