1-on-1 With Blake Griffin

I sat down recently with Clippers rookie Blake Griffin to talk about his decision--and it was his decision--to have surgery on his fractured knee cap, thus ending a season which never really started for him.  In fact, he says it's not season-ending surgery, it's debut-prolonging surgery.

In this interview you will learn a couple of things: 1) he is not depressed about the situation--frustrated, yes, but definitely not depressed  2) he's not concerned whatsoever that he won't be the same explosive player after the surgery that he was before.  In other words, Griffin couldn't have a better attitude going into surgery.

But enough of me telling you what he said, why not just take a look for yourself?

foxsportswest.com: Michael Eaves goes 1-on-1 with Blake Griffin

Andrew Bynum Suffers Torn Knee Ligament

Having suffered so many knee injuries myself, I hoped for the best, yet feared the worst for Andrew Bynum following his latest knee injury. Today, unfortunately, my worst fears were confirmed.

Here is the official release from the Lakers.

ANDREW BYNUM INJURY UPDATE

EL SEGUNDO--Results of an MRI on Andrew Bynum's right knee showed a tear of the medial collateral ligament, it was announced today.

Bynum, who suffered the injury early in the first quarter of Saturday's victory over Memphis after having scored seven of the Lakers' first 13 points, will be out approximately 8-12 weeks.

The MRI was performed Sunday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Bynum was examined this afternoon by Dr. David Altchek.

Bynum, who prior to the game against Memphis had averaged 26.2 points on 65.3 percent shooting, 13.8 rebounds and 3.20 blocked shots over his previous five games, ranks among league leaders in rebounds (19th/8.2), field goal percentage (8th/.558), blocked shots (6th /1.87) and double-doubles (17th/16).

Named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 19 through Sunday, January 25, Bynum is averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.87 blocked shots in 46 games this season.

Merriman To Play Despite Two Torn Knee Ligaments

I have to admit, I am a bit shocked by this announcement. I do not know Shawne Merriman personally, nor do I cover the Chargers on a regular basis. So I don't have any inside information as to what led up to this decision. However, I am an expert on knee injuries, having undergone 3 of them myself.

I just find it hard to imagine Merriman being able to play effectively on such an unstable knee. Football is all about speed and force, making your knees two of your most valuable assests.

Here's hoping that Merriman is not only making the right decision, but that his knee holds up to the pressure and expectations.

Jay Glazer

FOXSports.com

It appears the Chargers will have their main defensive lightning bolt after all.

Pro Bowl defensive end Shawne Merriman has informed the team that he will play this season despite having two torn knee ligaments, Merriman told FOXSports.com.

"I know what's at stake," Merriman said Wednesday. "But I had a goal with the team before the season started, and I'm sticking to it."

When asked how sure he was about playing, Merriman replied, "100 percent."

Merriman has a torn PCL and LCL in his left knee, but has postponed the surgery necessary to deal with those issues. He sought the opinion of several noted specialists in the last week. While all of them recommended surgery, the decision was ultimately left to the player.

"I'm putting the surgery off until I need it," he said.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8495712/Merriman-to-play-despite-2-torn-ligaments

DODGERS PLACE OUTFIELDER JUAN PIERRE ON 15-DAY DISABLED LIST

This is not the best of news for the Dodgers. They were already having problems scoring runs with so many veterans on the DL, and now their only other bonafide leadoff man--besides Rafael Furcal-- will be out of action for at least 2+ weeks.

The ironic part about this news is that before Sunday's game in which Pierre got hurt, Joe Torre said that he would remain in left field even after Andruw Jones comes back from the DL. Basically, just when Pierre solidifies himself in the lineup as an everyday player for Torre, he gets hurt. Where is Alanis Morissette when we need her?

Outfielder Jason Repko recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed outfielder Juan Pierre on the 15-day disabled list with sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee and recalled outfielder Jason Repko from Triple-A Las Vegas. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

Repko, who will wear No. 17, is available for tonight’s series opener at Houston.

Pierre suffered the injury yesterday at Dodger Stadium while sliding into second base during a stolen-base attempt in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 1-0 loss against the Angels.

Pierre, 30, is being placed on the disabled list for the first time in his nine-year Major League career. Baseball’s active stolen-base leader with 424, Pierre is hitting .277 with 35 steals and 30 runs scored in 73 games this season. He ranks second in the Majors in steals, just one behind leader Willy Taveras, and is tied with James Loney for the team lead with 22 multi-hit games. The left-handed hitter has batted leadoff in each of the last 49 games while Rafael Furcal has been on the disabled list.

Repko hit .277 with 16 doubles, six homers, 29 RBI, and 15 steals in 74 games with Triple-A Las Vegas. The 27-year-old has batted .375 (39-for-104) with eight doubles, 15 RBI, and eight steals in 26 games in June.

Repko, a sandwich pick (37th overall) of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, missed all of the 2007 season with a torn right hamstring. He appeared in 198 games with the Dodgers from 2005-06, batting .232 with 20 doubles, 11 homers, 46 RBI and 15 steals.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, pioneers in sport and world culture, are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2008. In that period, they have won more games, more pennants, and more World Series than any other club in the National League. Since the start of the modern era in baseball, the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles, combined, have a cumulative attendance of more than 177 million, the highest total in the history of baseball or any other sport.
Visit the Dodgers on the Internet at www.dodgers.com.