CHOOSE BARON DAVIS FOR THE 2011 TACO BELL SKILLS CHALLENGE

For the first time, Clippers fans will have the opportunity to vote for point guard Baron Davis to take part in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of the “Choose Your Squad” program.  In addition to adding a fan vote, the 2011 Taco Bell Skills Challenge will feature an expanded field from four to five participants.  

Voting runs through 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 14, and fans can log on to NBA.com/chooseyoursquad to choose from among eight players to determine four of the five participants in the 2011 event in Los Angeles.  The players taking part in the “Choose Your Squad” vote include: Davis, Stephon Curry, Tyreke Evans, Derek Fisher, Tony Parker, Derrick Rose, John Wall and Russell Westbrook. 

The four finalists will compete against “Choose Your Squad” spokesman Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. A three-time NBA All-Star and Taco Bell Skills Challenge (2006 to 2008) participant, Paul will chronicle his preparations on the program microsite NBA.com/chooseyoursquad.  The site will also feature highlights of each of the eight players eligible in the fan vote.  

  

This year’s event will include a new charitable element from NBA Cares and Taco Bell Foundation for Teens’ “Graduate to Go” program, a national initiative to help teens graduate from high school through real-world experiences.  Each of the five participants will be matched with a teen member of a local Boys & Girls Club. The teen paired with the event winner will receive a four-year college scholarship, while the other scholarship winners will each receive an educational scholarship, all courtesy of the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens.

Introduced at NBA All-Star 2003 in Atlanta – the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge will feature five players competing in a two-round timed “obstacle course” consisting of dribbling, passing, and shooting stations. All players must observe basic NBA ball-handling rules while completing the course. The two players with the fastest times from the first round advance to the finals with the order of competition determined by inverse order of the first-round times. At the discretion of the referee, television instant replay may be consulted for clarification of rules compliance. 

Last year in Dallas, Steve Nash finished with a winning time of 29.9 seconds, joining the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade (2006 and 2007) as the only other two-time winner in Taco Bell Skills Challenge history.

ANGELS AGREE TO TERMS ON 2011 CONTRACT WITH C JEFF MATHIS

ANAHEIM, CA -- The Angels Wednesday agreed to terms on a 2011 contract with catcher Jeff Mathis, thus avoiding arbitration.  Today’s announcement was made by General Manager Tony Reagins. 

Mathis, 27, spent his third full season with the Angels in 2010 batting .195 (40/205) with 19 runs scored, six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 18 RBI in 68 games played. The backstop started the season batting .324 (11/34) before fracturing his right wrist, April 19, causing him to miss 55 games. Despite the injury, Mathis put together a 13-game hit streak from April 5 – June 22, matching the longest streak by an Angel in 2010 (Alberto Callaspo, August 14-28).

Mathis is the second Angel to agree to terms and avoid arbitration, leaving the Angels with six remaining arbitration-eligible players (Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick, Kendry Morales, Mike Napoli, Jered Weaver & Reggie Willits).

               

                The Marianna, Florida native was originally selected by the Angels in the first round (33^rd overall pick) of the 2001 amateur draft. He owns a .199 career batting average with 36 doubles, 23 home runs and 117 RBI in 333 games. Mathis is single and resides in Marianna, Florida. Following is a glance at his career statistics:

Year	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG
2005	LAA	5	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.333
2006	LAA	23	55	9	8	2	0	2	6	0	0	7	14	.145	.238	.291
2007	LAA	59	171	24	36	12	0	4	23	0	1	15	49	.211	.276	.351
2008	LAA	94	283	35	55	8	0	9	42	2	2	30	90	.194	.275	.318
2009	LAA	84	237	26	50	8	0	5	28	2	3	22	73	.211	.288	.308
2010	LAA	68	205	19	40	6	1	3	18	3	0	6	59	.195	.219	.278
6 Seasons		333	954	114	190	36	1	23	117	7	6	80	286	.199	.265	.311

 --ANGELS—

DODGERS PRIDE NIGHT WITH THE L.A. KINGS

Dodger Manager Don Mattingly will drop the puck at the start of the game

WHAT:          The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Kings will present the second annual Dodgers Pride Night at Staples Center on Thursday, January 13 as the Kings host the St. Louis Blues. Dodger Manager Don Mattingly will drop the puck at the start of the game and former Dodger Billy Ashley will sign autographs for fans in the concourse before and during the game. Dodger staff will be on hand at the autograph booths to answer questions for fans about 2011 Dodger ticket packages. In addition, Dodger-themed elements will be incorporated into the Kings’ in-game entertainment.

Several of the Dodgers’ top minor league prospects will also be in attendance and Kings President and NHL Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille will meet with the group during the game.

WHEN:          This Thursday, January 13

6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Former Dodger Billy Ashley signs autographs for fans

                        7:10 p.m. – Don Mattingly puck drop and gametime

 

WHERE:       STAPLES Center

                        1111 S. Figueroa St.

                       

MISC:            Tickets for Dodgers Pride Night come with a limited edition Dodgers Pride Night

puck. Ticket information and event details can be found at www.dodgers.com/kings, as will information about a Kings Night at Dodger Stadium in 2011.

 

The Dodgers and Kings both gave away prize packages via Twitter in the days leading up to Dodgers Pride Night. Yesterday, the Kings gave away a James Loney autographed baseball on their Twitter account (www.twitter.com/LAKings) and earlier this afternoon the Dodgers gave away a Wayne Simmonds autographed puck and a James Loney autographed baseball on their Twitter account (www.twitter.com/Dodgers).

 

The Kings are also hosting a VIP contest on their Facebook page this week where fans can win a prize package that includes tickets to the game, dinner, VIP passes, a James Loney autographed ball, a team-signed Kings jersey and a meet-and-greet with Kings President of Business Operations and NHL Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille and the Dodgers’ top prospects. To enter, visit www.facebookcom/LAKings.

Media interesting in covering the event should contact Jeff Moeller at jmoeller@lakings.com, Mike Kalinowski at mkalinowski@lakings.com or Jeremy Zager at jzager@lakings.com.

ANGELS AGREE TO TERMS ON 2011 CONTRACT WITH INF ALBERTO CALLASPO

  

 

ANAHEIM, CA -- The Angels Monday agreed to terms on a 2011 contract with infielder Alberto Callaspo, thus avoiding arbitration.  Today’s announcement was made by General Manager Tony Reagins. 

 

Callaspo, 27, was acquired from Kansas City on July 22, 2010 in exchange for RHP Will Smith and RHP Sean O’Sullivan. The third baseman played at every level in the Angels’ minor league system from 2001 to 2005 and returned to play in 58 games with the Halos in 2010, finishing the season batting .265 (149/562) with 27 doubles, 10 home runs and 56 RBI.

 

Callaspo is the first Angel to agree to terms and avoid arbitration, leaving the Angels with seven remaining arbitration-eligible players (Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis, Kendry Morales, Mike Napoli, Jered Weaver & Reggie Willits).

               

                The Maracay, Venezuela native was originally signed by the Angels in 2001 as a non-drafted free agent. He owns a .278 career batting average with 85 doubles, 14 triples, 21 home runs and 158 RBI in 454 games. Callaspo resides in Maracay, Venezuela with his wife, Marianny and child. Following is a glance at his career statistics:

 

Year	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG
2006	ARI	23	42	2	10	1	1	0	6	0	1	4	6	.238	.298	.310
2007	ARI	56	144	10	31	8	0	0	7	1	1	9	14	.215	.265	.271
2008	KCR	74	213	21	65	8	3	0	16	2	1	19	14	.305	.361	.371
2009	KCR	155	576	79	173	41	8	11	73	2	1	52	51	.300	.356	.457
2010	TOT	146	562	61	149	27	2	10	56	5	3	31	42	.265	.302	.374
2010	KCR	88	349	40	96	19	2	8	43	3	1	19	29	.275	.308	.410
2010	LAA	58	213	21	53	8	0	2	13	2	2	12	13	.249	.291	.315
5 Seasons		454	1537	173	428	85	14	21	158	10	7	115	127	.278	.327	.393