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.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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
Monday, October 5, 2009
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
Sunday, October 4, 2009
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!
I also thought I would throw in an oldie, but a goodie. Here's my interview from earlier this season with Kim Kardashian.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
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
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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
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