MLB 2010 Summer Internships

Want an exciting summer covering Major League Baseball? MLB.com offers 30 reporting internships to aspiring sportswriters. These internships are designed to give associates the full range of experiences that comes with covering a professional team. Each associate will work closely with a site reporter to give visitors to a team’s Web site all the information they need to follow the team from Opening Day to season’s end. Each Major League team will have one associate.

We will be looking for talented college juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students, for our 2010 Summer Internship Program. If you are graduating in May or June of 2010, you are still eligible. The application deadline is Dec. 11, 2009. We will make our selections by the end of January.

We expect each intern to spend a minimum of 10 weeks in the program, dates determined by a person’s college schedule. The more flexible an applicant is in terms of which Major League city he or she can work in, the better the person’s chances of being selected. Interns will be paid $500 per week.

Applicants should submit a resume, 5 to 10 published articles, a list of references and a 750-word essay on why MLB.com should select you? Your clips ideally will show a variety of work, including game stories, previews and features.

MLB.com also will be offering a limited number of internships for copy editors/producers.

Associates are responsible for arranging their own housing and transportation.

Please mail all internship applications to:

Bill Hill

Assistant Managing Editor/MLB.com

Attn: Internship Application

14825 N. 97^th Place

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

If you have any questions, contact Bill Hill at bill.hill@MLB. com and put the words “Internship Info” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

ETHIER WINS 2009 “MLB CLUTCH-PERFORMER OF THE YEAR AWARD”

--Outfielder led the Majors with six walk-off hits and four walk-off homers--

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodgers’ outfielder Andre Ethier has been named the recipient of the “2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Presented by Pepsi”, it was announced today. Ethier is the winner of the officially-sanctioned Major League Baseball award, as voted by the fans, which recognizes the player who performed his best when the game was on the line.

The winner was revealed during a one-hour special, produced by Major League Baseball Productions, that aired on ESPN. Hosted by “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, who is no stranger to clutch hits, The 2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Show Presented by Pepsi celebrated the six nominees who consistently delivered clutch performances over the course of the entire 2009 Major League Baseball season. This year’s MLB Pepsi Clutch Performer of the Year nominees were: Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers; Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers; Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants; Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins; Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals; and Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees.

Ethier set career-highs in 2009 with 160 games played, 162 hits, 31 home runs, 106 RBI, 92 runs scored, 42 doubles, and 72 walks while hitting .272 with a .508 slugging percentage and a .361 on-base percentage. The 27-year old outfielder finished fifth in the N.L. with 76 extra-base hits, tied for fifth in doubles, and was tied for sixth in RBI.

Ethier led the Majors with six walk-off hits, including a Major League record four walk-off home runs (tied with Jimmie Foxx in 1940 and Roy Sievers in 1957): June 6th against the Phillies in the 12th inning; June 29th against Colorado in the 13th inning; August 6th vs. Atlanta in the 9th; and September 15th against the Pirates in the 13th. Ethier has a Major League-leading nine walk-off hits since the beginning of the 2008 season, and his six in 2009 are the most in a single-season by any player since at least 1974.

The left-handed slugger collected six multi-home run games on the year, tied for second with Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard behind Albert Pujols (10) of the Cardinals. The Arizona State product became just the fourth Dodger in franchise history to amass at least 40 doubles and 30 home runs in the same season, joining Babe Herman (1930), Raul Mondesi (1997) and Eric Karros (1999). On June 26th against Seattle, Andre drove in a career-high six runs and compiled his first career three-homer game, becoming the ninth Dodger in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

A second round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft by the Athletics, Ethier recorded two nine-game hitting streaks during the season from June 1st-10th (.400, 14-for-35), and from July 19th-28th (.500, 17-for-24). Since August 2008, Ethier leads the Dodgers with 40 home runs.

During the month of October, Major League Baseball fans voted for the award on pepsiclutch.mlb.com, a site powered by MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and created specifically for the MLB Clutch Performer Platform.

To further engage fans in the selection process each month, Pepsi introduced an online sweepstakes in conjunction with the award. As part of the program, fans were entered into a season long sweepstakes for a trip for two to the 2009 & 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Games.

Monthly winners of the 2009 MLB Pepsi Clutch Performer of the Month awards include: Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals (April); Melky Cabrera, New York Yankees (May); Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants (June); Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox (July); Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees (August); and Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins (September). Last season, CC Sabathia was named the recipient of the “2008 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Presented by Pepsi.”

SEC Slaps Lane Kiffin On The Wrist--Again!!

For the second time this season, first-year Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin has received a letter of reprimand from SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. Kiffin got this slap on the wrist not just for criticizing the officiating from Saturday's loss to Alabama, but for insinuating that the officials are somehow playing favorites and potentially determining the outcomes of games.

From his introductory news conference when he talked about beating Florida this season to his first reprimand from the league office back in February for accusing Florida of violating NCAA rules, I thought Kiffin was in way over his head. He simply wasn't ready to lead a big-time program such as Tennessee. Sure he could talk a good game, but I felt that same mechanism--his mouth--would ultimately lead to his downfall. After less than a season on the job, he seems headed down that road.

If Kiffin gets called into the commissioner's office again this year, he could face even harsher penalties, including a suspension. That's how seriously the SEC is taking these repeated offenses.

It's time to grow up a little bit here, Lane. Instead of repeatedly calling your favorite play--open mouth, insert foot--you should keep your head down and focus on building a program that can speak for itself!

Former Kentucky standout and Celtics star Antoine Walker is broke and in debt

A story like this one is not exactly new to the world of sports and entertainment. So while most of you will not be totally shocked by what you are about to read, there promises to still be a bit of a "seriously?" factor when you realize exactly how much money Antoine Walker has squandered through the years.

There's also a teaching opportunity here however. As you will read, Walker lost a great deal of his money by employing friends and family, but even the best of intentions are doomed to fail if not carried out with the proper planning.

Yahoo! Sports: Antoine Walker is broke and in debt.

DODGERS AND COLLETTI AGREE TO LONG-TERM EXTENSION

--GM is first in franchise history to reach postseason three of his first four years--


LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that they have agreed to a long-term contract extension for General Manager Ned Colletti. Dodger Owner Frank McCourt made the announcement.

“One of our core promises to our fans is championship caliber baseball, year in and year out,” said McCourt. “Ned has been instrumental in our going a long way towards fulfilling that promise. I couldn’t be happier for him, both personally and professionally. The stability and continuity that extending his contract provides will further help us achieve the goal of being a consistent winner and I’m thrilled that he will continue to lead our baseball operations into the future.”

In his four seasons as GM, Colletti has seen his teams reach the postseason in three times, the first time a Dodger GM has accomplished that feat. During those four years, the Dodgers’ .539 winning percentage is the second highest in the National League behind the Phillies (.554). Among NL West opponents, the Dodgers lead second-place Colorado by 17.5 games during the four-year span.

The Dodgers recently finished the regular season with the best record in the National League for the first time since 1983 and swept the National League Division Series for the second consecutive season. The team is making back-to-back appearances in the NLCS for the first time since 1977-78.

“My time here in Los Angeles has been very special to me and I’m honored to be associated with this tremendous franchise,” said Colletti. “I’m very proud of what our baseball operations staff has accomplished over the last four years and I’m grateful for the support of the fans who have truly made me feel at home. I’m hopeful that we can bring them the championship they deserve in the very near future.”

Colletti is one of just three active Major League GMs to have reached the postseason in three of his first four seasons, joining New York’s Brian Cashman and Boston’s Theo Epstein.

“Ned’s leadership has created organizational consistency and the results speak for themselves,” said Dodger President Dennis Mannion. “He’s a tremendous asset to the Dodger organization and I look forward to working with him to ensure the Dodgers’ success in the years to come.”

Among the key contributors Colletti has added in midseason over the past two years are three likely Hall of Famers – Manny Ramirez, Greg Maddux, and Jim Thome – as well as veterans Casey Blake, Vicente Padilla, George Sherrill, Ronnie Belliard, and Jon Garland. Colletti’s first trade as GM netted outfielder Andre Ethier, while he continued to hold onto several key players who have become the nucleus of the team, including All-Stars Jonathan Broxton and Chad Billingsley, as well as Matt Kemp, James Loney, Russell Martin, Clayton Kershaw, and Hong-Chih Kuo, among others.

With a focus on developing top talent, Colletti and his staff launched an offseason Player Development Program in 2008 that included instruction both on and off the field. He also created the Dodger Pride Awards, which honor the organization’s top minor league players each month at each level of the club’s minor league system who play the game with a hustling, smart, aggressive style.

His key free agent acquisitions include the re-signing of Ramirez and Blake as well as deals to sign Randy Wolf, Orlando Hudson, and Juan Pierre, among others. Colletti has also renewed the club’s focus in Asia, signing free agents Takashi Saito and Hiroki Kuroda out of Japan.

Blake Griffin Captures His First NBA Poster Dunk

Even in a loss, Clippers fans just can't stop talking about the signature play from Sunday's preseason clash with the Lakers. You can't find anyone who thinks Blake Griffin won't have a serious impact on the Clippers this season, and last night's dunk over DJ Mbenga was just a reminder of the rookie's superior athleticism and enormous potential.

In case you missed, here it is. By the way, be sure to check out the reaction on the Lakers bench. No one wants to clown a teammate, so they were doing their best to hide their laughter.




Now, I am never one to make too much out of one play in one meaningless game, but that dunk will be talked about for quite sometime--at least until Griffin posterizes someone else!

By the way, the Clippers meet the Lakers again on NBA Opening Night next week.

Roger Goodell Voices Concern Over Rush Limbaugh

I have thought for quite some time that the NBA's David Stern was the best commissioner in professional sports. Now it appears, however, that the NFL's Roger Goodell is giving Stern a run for his money.

Not only is he continuing to lay down the law for the players, but with his latest comments on Rush Limbaugh's viability as a NFL owner, Goodell has also made it perfectly clear what the league is all about and, perhaps more importantly, what it's not about.

Goodell Voices Concern Over Limbaugh -- NYTimes.com

UK Freshman Class The Best of All Time? Hold Your Horses, Hoss

I just stumbled across a post on Bleacher Report suggesting that Kentucky's incoming freshman class may be the best college basketball recruiting class ever assembled. Here's an excerpt:

"Though they lack a popular nickname for now (Scintillating or Super Sextet, Big Blue Babies, and Kentucky's Kids are the suggestion's I'm throwing out there), Kentucky's young guns are going to be almost impossible to stop from day one.

John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are arguably the two best freshmen in the country and Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton, and Jon Hood aren't too far behind. Also, small forward Darnell Dodson is one of the best JUCO transfers in the country."

Now, I have never been one to rate how good players are until they prove how good they are on the collegiate level. We have all seen several so-called hoop phenoms fall way short of their expectations once they make the leap from high school to college. Thus, reminding us that prior success does not always dictate future success.

So again, before we starting anointing the 2009 UK Freshman class as the best of all time, how about we let them prove their ranking first?


Road to The Final Four: 10 Teams Relying Heavily on Freshmen | Bleacher Report

What Handicap?

You may have first seen or heard about Kyle Lograsso from HBO's Real Sports segment on this emerging golf prodigy. The most amazing part of this tremendous story is not his remarkable golf skills, but rather what he's overcome to even get on the course.

In the latest edition of LA Times Magazine, KCAL's John Ireland updates us on Lograsso's quest to make the PGA Tour and find a cure for cancer.

Just how good is this golf phenom? Check out the following excerpt:

"He already has a score of 38 for 9 holes and a 78 for a full round of 18, and he has been invited to professional tournaments and has met several touring pros. He has a foundation and his own golf tournament coming up next year. (Read more about that at kylelograsso.org.)"

Read more here: What Handicap? - LA Times Magazine

A Dog's Undying Loyalty

A good dog is loyal to the end. This story will warm your heart. Kathy Wilkes-Myers rescues stray dogs. One day she found an emaciated Rottweiler on the side of the highway. She took it home, but quickly realized this was no ordinary stray. It obviously came from a loving family.

The dog had been thrown from a car in a horrific wreck. It had survived. And it stayed at the crash site waiting for its family. If the story ended here, it would be tragically touching. But Wilkes-Myers didn't let it end there. This dog's undying loyalty pays off with a big finish.

A dog's loyalty

Clubhouse Interviews After Dodgers Clinch NL West

Some of you have been asking where you could see some of my interviews from last night's Dodgers celebration. Well, here you go!

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=5ccfcb84-01ec-4582-9928-0ded4511e552&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" target="_new" title="Dodgers clinch NL West">Video: Dodgers clinch NL West</a>



I also thought I would throw in an oldie, but a goodie. Here's my interview from earlier this season with Kim Kardashian.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=052e98a6-7d7f-4a54-830b-22000c97d474&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" target="_new" title="Catching up with Kim Kardashian">Video: Catching up with Kim Kardashian</a>

UK notebook: Calipari keeps players fresh - SPORTS UPDATE - Kentucky.com

Ever the politician, John Calipari refuses to throw Billy Gillispie under the bus regarding his notorious, ridiculously hard game-day practices. Calipari prefers to have his guys as fresh as possible--both physically and mentally--at game time.

As I have said before, the best part about Cal coming to Lexington is how fast he's making everyone forget about Billy G.

Read more in Jerry Tipton's UK Notebook:

UK notebook: Calipari keeps players fresh - SPORTS UPDATE - Kentucky.com

SEC preview: Experience, talent to highlight league

Foxsports.com's Jeff Goodman breaks down the top storylines of the upcoming SEC basketball season. Of course, Kentucky is picked to win the conference.

SEC preview: Experience, talent to highlight league - CBK News - FOX Sports on MSN

My First Peek At This Year's Clippers Did Not Disappoint

Earlier today, I caught my first glimpse of the new and improved Clippers in action. I made it to the team's facility in Playa Vista in time to catch the last few games of the morning scrimmages. Before giving you my early impressions as well as some insight I received from Mike Dunleavy during lunch, I will give you some injury updates.

Blake Griffin did not take part in any of the workouts today. He is still nursing that bruised left knee. While the rest of the team ran some games, Blake sat--rather impatiently, I might add--on the sidelines watching. Occasionally, he would get up and some shoot some free throws and mid-range jumpers before the team's training staff wrapped his knee in ice.

Dunleavy does not expect Blake to participate in any workouts this week, and said that the rookie will probably have another MRI done just to be sure the bruise is healing and he's ready for contact. Hopefully, Blake will be able to take part in drills early next week.

Sebastian Telfair also sat out the scrimmages after spraining his left ankle during the morning drills. He was seated next to Blake with his left foot propped up on a big exercise ball.

Other than those two injury notes, the Clippers collectively look very healthy and fit. The scrimmages were high-paced with high intensity. DeAndre Jordan was impressive grabbing boards and running the floor. Craig Smith scored several buckets in the paint. And Eric Gordon was driving the lane and getting the rim with regularity. Granted, it's still early in camp, but the tempo and tone look drastically different than last season, and that's without Blake Griffin even taking the court yet.

After practice, Dunleavy joined me, Don MacLean, Ralph Lawler, Mike Smith, Dain Blanton and our producer Sara Takata for lunch at Piknic in Playa Vista. It's an annual gathering we have at the beginning of camp to get the coach's ideas and plans for the upcoming season. It really helps with our tv production throughout the year.

While most of our conversation is not for mass consumption, I will share with you some overall impressions Mike has about his team and this season. As the team's general manager, he's obviously the one responsible for acquiring the new pieces, and once all the moves were made he really liked his team. Now having seen them in action for several workouts, he likes this mix of guys even more. He probably has more versatility and depth since he's been here, both of which every coach covets.

As far as a starting lineup is concerned, Dunleavy reaffirmed what he said at Media Day about the starting spots being wide open. He said the starters from last year will start atop the depth chart, but any and all spots can be won during the preseason.

He believes there are about 5-6 teams from the Western Conference who are locks for the playoffs. You don't have to be an NBA insider to figure who those squads might be. But beyond those teams, Dunleavy thinks it will be a battle for the last 2-3 playoff spots. And barring any devastating injuries, he expects the Clippers to be right in the mix.

Rahim Moore, Johnathan Franklin support USC's Stafon Johnson

UCLA's Rahim Moore and Johnathan Franklin went to California Hospital Medical Center on Monday after learning that USC tailback Stafon Johnson had been injured in a weight-room accident.

Rahim Moore, Johnathan Franklin support USC's Stafon Johnson -- latimes.com