Wide World of Sports Venues December 28

HP Pavilion at San Jose

San Jose, CA

Opened: 1993
Construction Cost: $162.5 Million
Capacity: 19,190 for Concerts, 18,500 for Basketball, 17,562 for Ice Hockey, 11,386 for Tennis
Home Teams: San Jose Sharks (NHL) 1993-Present, San Jose Sabercats (AFL) 1995-2008, Golden State Warriors (NBA)  1996-1997, San Jose Stealth (NLL) 2003-2009, San Jose Grizzlies (CISL) 1994-1995, San Jose Rhinos (RHI) 1994-1997, SAP Open (Tennis) 1994-Present
Events Attended: None

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and JaGa under GNU Free Documentation License

Tim's Two Cents-December 28

1. Colts Run at Perfection Ends.  The Colts are no longer the last undefeated team in the NFL this season.  The Jets ended the dream with a 29 to 15 win over Indianapolis.  Peyton Manning was pulled in the second half  to rest up in favor of Curtis Painter. 

So that means the 1972 Miami Dolphins are still the only team to go undefeated through an entire season, including the playoffs.  Coach Don Shula, Mercury Morris and the other members can now rest easy once again.  Go ahead and pop open a nice bottle of champagne to celebrate.  The record stands at 37 years and counting.  I don't think it will ever be broken.  In the Colts case, they already had everything wrapped in the AFC as far as the best record, a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

2. Urban Meyer to Take Leave of Absence After Sugar Bowl.  In what was a surprising story this weekend, head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators has decided to take an indefinite leave of absence to deal with stress related health issues.  When the story first broke, word was that Meyer was going to resign, but on Sunday he changed his mind, allowing Gator fans to breathe a sigh of relief. 

It is understandable how coaching a powerhouse football program like Florida can be stressful and affect an individual's health.  Earlier this year, Meyer checked himself into a hospital a day after Florida lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship game with dehydration and chest pains.  He also apparently has had an ongoing heart valve problem the last few years.  This is a good move by Meyer and Florida.  It would be a shame to lose one of the greatest coaches in college football in the prime of his career due to health concerns.  I hope Meyer gets better and back on the sideline sometime in the near future.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Harrison Diamond under CC-BY-SA 3.0 License   

Small Ball Report-December 27

The Small Ball Report makes its return today after a few days off. 

While local colleges are still not in action due to the Christmas holiday, the Ontario Reign of the ECHL were in action in Sin City against the Wranglers yesterday.  They lost 4 to 2 despite Jon Francisco of the Reign scoring his 150th professional point.  The Reign will now head home to Citizen's Bank Arena tonight to face the Bakersfield Condors. 

   

Lakers Survive in Double Overtime

One day after getting a beatdown from King James and the Cavaliers, the Lakers hit the road in Sacramento, minus Ron Artest who suffered a concussion after falling down some stairs at his home in Los Angeles.  If you missed most of the first three quarters, like I did, you didn't miss much of the action.

As it always seems to be, the Lakers were in a close one in the fourth quarter.  Toward the end of the fourth, Pau Gasol was fouled and had a chance to give the Lakers the lead with just under 24 seconds remaining.  In a rare occurrence, Gasol missed both free throws.  The Kings then had a chance to win it in regulation but Tyreke Evans was unable to get a shot off thanks to some stellar defense by Kobe Bryant.  Oh, and not to mention that Bryant suffered an elbow injury earlier in the game.  As many Laker fans know though, it takes a lot more than an elbow injury to keep Kobe from playing.

In the first overtime the Kings got off to a fast start with a 101 to 94 lead with a little over two minutes remaining.  The Lakers were seemingly on life support, but these are the Lakers.  They somehow managed to fight their way back to a 101 tie, forcing a second overtime.

The turning point in the second overtime was when Kobe Bryant, bad elbow and all, hit back-to-back three pointers to give the Lakers a 109 to 103 lead.  In the end, Bryant had 38 points and the Lakers shocked Kings fans with a 112 to 103 win.  It was somewhat hard to figure out who the Kings fans were because it seemed like there was a huge contingent of Laker fans in attendance.  It would make sense because they are the number one draw on the road and Sacramento isn't that far from Los Angeles.

The Lakers will stay on the road as they head for the scorching heat of the Phoenix desert to take on Steve Nash and the Suns tomorrow night.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Keith Allison under CC-SA 2.0 License     

Wide World of Sports Venues-December 27

ARCO Arena

Sacramento, CA

Opened: 1988

Construction Cost: $40 Million

Capacity: 17.317 for Basketball, 10,632 for Indoor Soccer

Home Teams: Sacramento Kings (NBA) 1988-Present, Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA) 1997-2009, Sacramento Attack (AFL) 1992, Sacramento Knights (CISL-WISL) 1993-2001

Events Attended: None, although my family and I have driven past it.  It's in the middle of nowhere!

Photo coutesy:

Wikimedia Commons and Paul R. Kucher IV and YF12s under CC-BY-2.5 License

Tim's Two Cents-December 27

Note: Tim's Sports World will be on a light schedule this coming week because I'll be up north in Santa Rosa for a few days.

2009-2010 Los Angeles Kings Headed to the Playoffs?

Here's something I saw the other day that surprised me.  If the NHL Playoffs were to start today, the Los Angeles Kings would be one of the eight teams from the Western Conference that would be going to the postseason.  You read that right, the Los Angeles Kings!

As of today, the Kings occupy the fifth spot in the Western Conference.  They are turning the hockey world upside down with their 47 points and 22 wins heading into yesterday's matchup with the Phoenix Coyotes.  They ended up losing 4 to 2.  In addition, they're only four points off the pace of the San Jose Sharks for the top spot in the Western Conference.  It remains to be seen if they have what it takes to make a serious run, but former coach and current ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose is probably proud of what this year's team has accomplished so far. If they can pull it off, they'll be my underdog team to root for when the playoffs start.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Nichole Glaze under CC-BY-2.0 License

Wide World of Sports Venues-December 26

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

Los Angeles, CA

Opened: July 4, 1959

Construction Cost: $8.5 Million

Capacity:  16,161 for basketball, 14,546 for ice hockey, 16,740 for boxing/wrestling

Home Teams/Events: Democratic National Convention 1960, Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) 1960-1967, Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) 1984-1999, UCLA Bruins Basketball (NCAA) 1960-1965, USC Trojans Basketball (NCAA) 1959-2006, Los Angeles Stars (ABA) 1968-1970, 1984 Summer Olympics (July-August 1984), Los Angeles Cobras (AFL) 1988, Los Angeles Temptation (LFL) 2009-Present

Events Attended: None

Photo courtesy:

Wikimedia Commons and Pelladon under CC-BY-3.0 License

Lakers Lay an Egg for Santa on Christmas

Yesterday the Lakers did something they haven't done in 11 games at Staples Center.  Lose.  LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were hands down, the better team on Friday after a 102 to 87 victory.

The Lakers were only really in this game in the early stages of the first quarter with leads of 6 to nothing and 8 to 2.  After that, there was a power outage on the overall game for the Lakers.  They had stretches where they couldn't make any shots and they weren't playing championship caliber defense.  Give the Cavaliers credit though for playing some outstanding defense that was too much for the Lakers throughout.  Once again, the Lakers were down at halftime 51 to 42.  It would have been 54 to 42 if LeBron James would have gotten his full court shot off a little quicker.

As the Lakers always do, they made a push to begin the second half, cutting the lead to six at 54 to 48 early in the third quarter.  The Cavs proved to be the better team once again stretching the lead to as large as 20 points. 

The big subplot to the game was the Laker players growing frustration with how the game was being officiated.  It was established very early on that the refs were going to call a very physical game and they were going to let the players play.  That did not sit well with Phil Jackson's squad however, as Lamar Odom was ejected in the fourth quarter after being assessed a second technical foul.  Kobe Bryant also had a technical foul.

Things really started to boil over though when frustrated Laker fans started throwing souvenir foam fingers from the stands.  Someone even threw a water bottle on the court.  I thought Laker fans had more class than that.  Regardless of the fans frustrations with the officiating, the truth is the Lakers were outplayed yesterday in every facet of the game and could not make any significant adjustments to stop the Cavaliers. 

I expect the purple and gold to bounce back against the Sacramento Queens...oh I mean Kings tonight in cowbell territory.  If they don't, the Lakers will have a long rest of the weekend.

In other basketball news, L.A.'s other team, the Clippers, were scorched by the Suns in Phoenix 124 to 93.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and michael248 under CC-SA 2.0 License

Helpful Tips For a Good Sports Interview

Being the sports fan that I am, I have listened to and watched numerous sports shows over time and what makes them good are the interviews they do.  Then there are those shows which fail to deliver a good sports interview.  With that in mind, here are some helpful tips to a good sports interview.

1. Research as much background information as possible on the person you are interviewing.  This is a must.  Knowing a person's background information will help you formulate the questions and key points you want an individual to address.  A lack on knowledge about the person will make you look unprofessional and that you don't really know what you're talking about.  If you're interviewing Michael Jordan, don't ask him about his career with the Lakers since he never played there.

2. Get a feel for what an individual's personality is like before considering doing an interview.  Are they friendly and outgoing or are they shy and stand offish.  I can tell you from personal experience that I've done interviews with people who, when I asked them questions gave me minimal information.  Find someone in the field who isn't afraid to speak their mind and offer their thoughts on the topics discussed.

3. Ask open-ended questions.  This will help to generate a more thoughtful response from your guest.  If you're interviewing the basketball player who made a game winning shot to end the game, ask them to take you through what was going through their mind as the play was going on.  This will help eliminate one word answers. 

4. Don't upstage your guest.  Off all my tips, I feel this one is the most important.  When your guest is on the show always remember that they are the star at the moment, not you.  Don't try to prove that you know more about them than they know about themselves.  Treat every question as a story and let the guset tell their story.  Don't add on to it by interjecting your knowledge.

So there are my helpful tips to a good sports interview.  I hope this information is useful to those aspiring broadcasters like myself at some point in your life.       

Tim's Two Cents-December 26

What Has Happened to USC Football This Season?  They used to be a perrenial college football powerhouse the last few years under head coach Pete Carroll.  After going 8-4 this season, they will be playing in a bowl game, just not the Rose Bowl or any of the other big time bowls.  Instead, they have to settle for the Emerald Bowl tonight, in of all places, San Francisco!

I will say that USC seemed primed to have a down year at the start of the season.  There was the Stafon Johnson weightlifting accident.  A true freshman was the starter at quarterback throughout the season.  An assistant coach left the program to become a head coach at Washingtion, who beat USC early on.  There were also key losses against Oregon in Eugene and Stanford at the coliseum.  Four losses is way too many to be considered for a spot in the National Championship.  Now Joe McKnight is under investigation by the NCAA for possibly using an SUV registered to a Los Angeles business man.  By the way, that's another thing I don't get about the NCAA.  They seem to have way too many rules and regulations that athletes must follow.  Sometimes it seems like the NCAA should have better things to worry about than these things.  

As for the bowl game, USC is taking on Boston College.  I think they'll win, but I wouldn't be suprised if Boston College pulls off the upset, given the season the Trojans have had coming into the game.

Photo Courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Bobak Ha'Eri under CC-BY-SA 2.5 License

Wide World of Sports Venues-December 25

The Los Angeles Forum

Inglewood, CA

Opened: 1967

Construction Cost: $16 Million

Capacity: 17,505 for Basketball, 16,005 for Hockey, 18,000 for Concerts

Home Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) 1967-1999, Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) 1997-2000, Los Angeles Kings (NHL) 1967-1999, Los Angeles Lazers (MISL) 1982-1989, Los Angeles United (CISL) 1993, Los Angeles Stars (ABA) 2000-2001, 1984 Summer Olympics (Basketball), Los Angeles Blades (RHI) 1993-1997

Events Attended: None

NFL Roulette-Week 16

Here are my key games for Week 16 in the NFL:

San Diego Chargers (11-3)

Vs.

Tennessee Titans (7-7)

Chargers: They're on a nine game winning streak and are undefeated in the month of December the last few seasons.  They're hot at the right time.  Phillip Rivers is playing some of his best football right now.  This could be the team that ends the Colts run at a perfect season, should they meet in the playoffs.  Will that happen?  Only time will tell.

Titans: Tennessee has made a nice comeback after starting 0-6.  They are one of a handful of 7-7 AFC teams still in the hunt for a Wild Card playoff spot behind the 8-6 Broncos and Ravens.  Vince Young has played surprisingly since being inserted as the starting quarterback a few weeks ago.  He, along with Chris Johnson, have brought this team back in the playoff discussion.  I think it is going to be tough for them to beat the Chargers though, given the way San Diego is playing right now.

Prediction: Chargers 38, Titans 24

New York Jets (7-7)

Vs.

Indianapolis Colts (14-0)

Jets: This is another one of those 7-7 AFC teams.  Right now, Mark Sanchez still needs to do a lot of work to become an elite quarterback in the NFL.  I also don't trust a coach who cries after a loss in the locker room.  Sorry Rex Ryan.  Sure the Jets are in the playoff hunt, but I don't think they'll be there in the end.  As a matter of fact, we can all but eliminate them from the discussion after this game.

Colts: Let's keep it short and sweet.  I think the Colts will win this game, even if their starters don't play the whole game.  You can bet that if it's close in the fourth quarter and the Colts are trailing, 18 will have something to say about it.

Prediction: Colts 35, Jets 17

Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

Vs.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

Ravens: Baltimore is in the hunt for a wild card spot.  Along with the Broncos, they currently have one of the two AFC Wild Card spots.  They beat the Steelers earlier this year in overtime.  It's safe to say these AFC North rivals do not like each other, which should make for quite an interesting game.

Steelers: The defending Super Bowl have had a surprisingly tough go of it this season.  They have had their share of bad losses against the Chiefs, Raiders and the Browns.  That certainly doesn't help the cause.  They almost had another loss last week against Green Bay, but Ben Roethlisberger saved the day with a game winning touchdown pass to Mike Wallace as time expired.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 17

Denver Broncos (8-6)

Vs.

Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)

Broncos: After coming out of the gates strong, Denver has really come back down to Earth.  They no longer lead the AFC West and are fighting to stay ahead in the Wild Card.  I think they will make this a game however a possibly come away with the win.  There's a part me that really wants to see that happen because that would put huge implications on the Eagles game next week versus the Cowboys in Dallas.

Eagles: Donovan McNabb and company have a one game lead over the Cowboys in the NFC East coming in.  Some good news for Philly is runnning back Brian Westbrook has been cleared to play after sitting out last week because of a concussion.  The Eagles have historically done well in the final weeks of a season, but I have a funny feeling about this game.

Prediction: My upset pick of the week-Broncos 34, Eagles 17

Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

Vs.

Washington Redskins (4-10)

Cowboys: How about them Cowboys!  Last week, they shocked the NFL world with their 24 to 17 upset over the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, temporarily ending their December woes in the process.  Now let's see if they can take the momentum from last week and beat a team that, on paper, they should beat.  These are the Cowboys though.  Stranger things have happened.

Redskins: Where do I begin with this organizational mess?  Head coach Jim Zorn will certainly be gone by season's end, especially after what happened Monday night with that horrible trick play call.  What was that?  For the sake of Redskins fans, I hope something like that doesn't happen again.  New GM Bruce Smith certainly looks like he has a long offseason in store for him.

Prediction: Cowboys 31, Redskins 13

Photos courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Conman 33 under CC-SA 3.0 License
Wikimedia Commons and Ytoyoda and Craig O'Neal under CC-SA 2.0 License
Wikimedia Commons and Andy from Pittsburgh Pennsylavania under CC-SA 2.0 License
Wikimedia Commons and Ruffin Bailey under CC-SA 3.0 License

  

Tim's Two Cents-December 25

Who's going to be the next sports icon for TMZ?

Attention Athletes From All Over the World: Harvey Levin Would Like to Have a Word With You.  Those are words that would probably make them cringe, especially with today being Christmas.  Word is that TMZ.com, which Levin founded is going to be branching out into the sports world sometime soon with TMZ Sports.  One can only assume the content of the site will be very similar to that of TMZ.com.  That could mean athletes will have to adjust to a new way of life.  Get ready to be treated like a real celebrity.

I, for one think this is a very good business move given what we've learned about certain athletes in the past few months, like Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez.  Rodriguez amitted to using performance enhancing drugs before the start of the 2009 MLB season.  We all know what's become of Tiger Woods recently.  TMZ.com is part of the new phase of non-traditional media that from time to time covered stories that traditional media outlets don't cover.

So what do I expect to come out of TMZ Sports?  We will most definitely learn some not so pleasant things about our iconic sports heroes that we have come to love over the years.  We now live in a time where we're not surprised by what high profile celebrities lives are really like.  The same could go for athletes very soon.  Tiger Woods was just the tip of the iceberg.  With the impending arrival of TMZ Sports, athletes lives will change forever.  I say "Bring it on Harvey Levin."

NBA Stocking Stuffers

Merry Christmas to you all!  I hope you have a good one.  Even though it's Christmas, sports doesn't take a break.  The NBA is in action today, like it is every year at this time and there are a couple of notable matchups that will brighten up any Christmas.

Boston Celtics (22-5)

Vs.

Orlando Magic (22-7) 
2:30 ET, ABC

Celtics: They are the best team in the Eastern Conference.  We all know what the big three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are capable of.  They seem to be destined to face the Lakers in the Finals, but the season is still young and we'll see how it plays out.  I expect the C's to do well in this matchup.  It is going to be close throughout.

Magic: They're having a good follow up year so far, fresh their first Finals appearance last year against the Lakers.  Dwight Howard keeps getting better and better each season.  You can bet the Magic will bring their A game in this matchup.

Prediction: Celtics 105, Magic 99

Cleveland Cavaliers (22-8)

Vs.

Los Angeles Lakers (23-4)

5:00 ET, ABC

Cavaliers: They have one of the two best players in the league in Lebron James.  The other being Kobe Bryant whom he will face today.  They also have Shaquille O'Neal who will return to Staples Center once again.  They will want a good showing to prove they have what it takes to make a run to the Finals in a possible matchup against the Lakers.  Another storyline to keep an eye on as the season goes along is where Lebron, a free agent at the end of the season, will be at the start of the 2010-2011 season?

Lakers: They are the best team in the league, followed closely by the Celtics.  Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are the best 1-2 combination in the NBA.  Ron Artest has surprisingly fit in like a glove.  You can bet Kobe and LeBron will have their fair share of matchups throughout.  Whereas the Celtics and Magic are the appetizer, Cavs and Lakers is the main course.

Prediction: Lakers 110, Cavaliers 100.  Sorry, no free tacos.    

Photos courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Keith Allison under CC-SA License
Wikimedia Commons and Dave Hogg under CC-SA License

Wide World of Sports Venues-December 24

Galen Center

Los Angeles, CA

Opened: October 12, 2006

Construction Cost: $147 Million

Capacity: 10,258 for Baketball

Home Team: USC Trojans (NCAA) 2006-Present

Events I've Attended: None

Photo Courtesy:

Wikimedia Commons and Bobak under CC-BY-SA 2,5 License

Pau Gasol Says "I Love L.A.!"

Good news for fellow Laker fans.  Pau Gasol has agreed to a 3-year contract extension through the 2013-2014 season.  The deal could be worth more than $60 million depending on future salary caps.  Gasol also believes Kobe Bryant, who can opt out of his deal after this season, is going to finalize a deal for himself soon. 

This means the Lakers are in a good position to be contending for championships for years to come.  Can you say, "Hello dynasty!"

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Keith Allison under CC-SA License

Small Ball Report-December 24

Men's Basketball:

Only one score from last night.
Pasadena City College 97, Long Beach 87 (OT)

After the Christmas holiday break, college action will resume on December 28.

The Ontario Reign of the ECHL will be in Las Vegas Saturday to take on the Wranglers.

Tim's Two Cents-December 24

With Jimmie Johnson being named AP Male Athlete of the Year on Monday, he has solidified a well-deserved honor.  It is the first time that a race car driver has won the award.  The four time defending Sprint Cup Series champion is among the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time.  During his career recently, Johnson has made late season runs each of the last few years.  Let me also say that I find it kind of funny that a race car driver is considered an athlete.  The most strenuous thing they ever do is drive at super high speeds and step on the gas pedal really hard.

On a similar note, I don't think I will ever fully understand the NASCAR points system.  I think the Chase is a good thing for the sport.  It certainly helps to create interest throughout the entire season.

Turning back to Johnson, when he wins he has a knack for doing so in commanding fashion.  In his career, he has had 47 wins in the Sprint Cup Series, 180 top ten finishes and 23 pole positions won.  He also drives for Hendrick Motorsports, which is considered to be the top team in NASCAR, like the New York Yankees in baseball.

I don't know what's going to happen in 2010, but as long as Johnson is performing at a high level, the sky's the limit with him.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Edhubbard under CC-BY License

Braves Reportedly Close to Deal With Troy Glaus

It looks like the 2002 World Series MVP and former Angel Troy Glaus is close to signing a 1-year deal with the Atlanta Braves worth $1-$2 million.  The Braves plan on using Glaus at first base.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and shgmom56 and UCinternational under CC-SA License

Angels Sign Fernando Rodney

Having not made much noise yet this offseason, the Angels have agreed to a 2-year deal with free agent reliever Fernando Rodney.  The deal is worth reportedly $11 million.  This deal addresses a real need for the Halos in the bullpen, which was...as true Angel fans know...a weak spot all last year with Brian Fuentes as the closer.  Fuentes has one year left on his contract with a vesting option for 2011 if he finishes 55 games in 2010.  Hopefully that doesn't happen.  The hard throwing Rodney would be a definite upgrade to Fuentes who barely tops out at 90 miles per hour on his fastball.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Keith Allison under CC-SA License

Wide World of Sports Venues-December 23

Pauley Pavilion

UCLA Campus-Los Angeles, CA

Opened: June 1965

Construction Cost: $5 Million (1965)

Capacity: 12,829

Home Team: UCLA Bruins (NCAA)

Events I've Attended: None

Wide World of Sports Venues-December 23 Bonus Edition

Oracle Arena

Oakland, CA

Opened: 1966

Construction Cost: $121 Million (renovation in 1997)

Capacity: 19,596 for Basketball

Home Teams: Golden State Warriors (NBA) 1966-1967, 1971-Present, California Golden Seals (NHL) 1967-1976, Golden Bay Earthquakes ((MISL I) 1982-1983, Oakland Skates (RHI) 1993-1995, California Golden Bears (NCAAB) part time 1966-1997, full time 1997-1999

Events Attended: None

Small Ball Report-December 23

SCIAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Chapman 87, Whittier 70

Standings:

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5-3 overall
Occidental 5-3 overall
Whittier 4-3 overall
Cal Lutheran 4-4 overall
Pomona-Pitzer 4-4 overall
Redlands 3-5 overall
La Verne 1-7 overall
Caltech 0-8 overall

GSAC Conference

Men's Baketball:

UC San Diego 64, San Diego Christian 49
Cal State San Bernardino 81, Vanguard 61

Standings:

Biola 11-0 overall
Concordia 11-0 overall
Fresno Pacific 10-1 overall
The Masters 8-3 overall
Westmont 7-2 overall
California Baptist 7-3 overall
Azusa Pacific 7-4 overall
Vanguard 2-6 overall
Hope International 4-7 overall
San Diego Christian 1-9 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 2-7 overall

Lakers Edge Thunder

The Lakers are now a league best 23-4 after a 111 to 108 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday.  It was their fifth in a row.  What was somewhat surprising is that they were trailing at halftime 61 to 54.  It was a sluggish for the first half of play to say the least, but as they always seem to do, they made a nice run coming out of the locker room to start the third quarter.  Kobe Bryant had yet another 40 point night, the 102nd in his illustrious career.  The Thunder were led by Russell Westbrook, who had 21 points in the loss.

Being that this was the first game after a five game road trip it was tough because that's how it usually is.  So it took a while for the Lakers to find their groove, but I wasn't worried.  On another good note, it was nice to have Stu Lantz back alongside Joel Meyers. 

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Micheal Sandoval, who cropped it from another image  under the CC-BY-SA License

Tim's Two Cents-December 23

While I was watching SportsCenter Monday, they were showing highlights of college basketball action from that night.  There was one game that dominated the headlines.

Kentucky Wins 2,000 Game in It's School's History.  After beating Drexel 88 to 44 on Monday, Kentucky became the first NCAA team to reach the milestone.  That's something you definitely don't see everyday.  For one thing, a program or team would have to exist long enough to have a chance to do something like this.  In professional sports, the Celtics of the NBA, the Canadiens of the NHL and the Yankees of MLB are some of the top winning teams in their respective sports.  To be in the same class as them is something very special.

In terms of the Wildcats season so far, they are among the top programs this season in college basketball.  Their in the conversation quite often when March Madness comes around.  They are having a heck of a season so far under first year coach John Calipari at 12-0 so far.  They have beaten their opponents fairly easily and John Wall is this year's breakout Freshman who is sure to be among the top picks in next year's draft.    I'm somewhat surprised that they were the first team in NCAA history to reach 2,000 victories.  I would have thought it would be someone like Duke or North Carolina.  Looking into the near future, Kentucky will be a top favorite to reach the Final Four in March, along with North Carolina.

Coco Crisp Close to Deal With Athletics

Outfielder Coco Crisp is reportedly close to agreeing to a 1-year deal.  Crisp, a local product of Los Angeles willl make $4.5-$5 million in 2010 with Oakland.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Eric Kilby under CC-BY-SA License 

Wide World of Sports Venues-December 22

Honda Center

Anaheim, CA

Opened: June 19, 1993

Construction Cost: $123 Million

Capacity: 18,900 center stage for concerts, 18,325 end stage, 17,608 for basketball, 17,174 for ice hockey, 8,400 for theatre

Home Teams: Anaheim Ducks (NHL) 1993-Present, Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) occasional games between 1994-1995, Anaheim Bullfrogs (RHI) 1993-1997, Anaheim Splash (CISL) 1994-1997, Anaheim Piranhas (AFL) 1996-1997, Anaheim Storm (NLL) 2004-2005

Events I've Attended: 2 Ducks games 2 Ringling Bros Circus, 1 Billy Joel Concert

Photo coutesy:

Wikimedia Commons and Arnold C. Buchanan-Hermit under CC-BY License

Yankees Acquire Javier Vazquez

The Bronx Bombers have acquired pitchers Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Melky Cabrera.  Vazquez previously played for New York in 2004.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Chrisjnelson under CC-BY License

Small Ball Report-December 22

SCIAC Conference

Women's Basketball:

La Verne 72, Southwestern (AZ) 30
Lakeland 48, Redlands 63

Standings:

Cal Lutheran 6-1 overall
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 7-2 overall
Redlands 7-2 overall
La Verne 6-2 overall
Occidental 6-2 overall
Whittier 6-3 overall
Pomona-Pitzer 3-5 overall
Caltech 3-6 overall
GSAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Westmont 107, Menlo 54
Trinity Western BC 81, San Diego Christian 58

Standings:

Biola 11-0 overall
Concordia 11-0 overall
The Masters 8-3 overall
Fresno Pacific 10-1 overall
Westmont 6-2 overall
California Baptist 7-3 overall
Azusa Pacific 7-4 overall
Vanguard 2-5 overall
Hope International 4-6 overall
San Diego Christian 1-8 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 2-7 overall

Women's Basketball:

Point Loma Nazarene 63, MidAmerica Nazarene KS 49

Standings:

Westmont 7-1 overall
Azusa Pacific 9-2 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 8-1 overall
Biola 4-5 overall
Vanguard 5-1 overall
Concordia 6-2 overall
California Baptist 6-4 overall
The Masters 6-4 overall
Hope International 3-6 overall
San Diego Christian 2-8 overall
Fresno Pacific 1-8 overall

MNF Day After Thoughts

After watching the New Giants face the Washington Redskins yesterday, there are two thoughts that come to mind:

The Giants are still in the hunt for a playoff spot at 8-6 now with a 45 to 12 beatdown of the Redskins.  They jumped out to a 24 to nothing lead by halftime.  With the win, the G Men are now one game behind the Dallas Cowboys for a playoff spot.  They showed that they still have life and are a team that is hopefully going to build on this success coming down the stretch in the final two weeks of the season.

As far as the Redskins are concerned, they are one of a bunch teams that have major issues to address this coming offseason.  They have a new GM in Bruce Smith, who is likely to make a laundry list of changes.  You can expect a new head coach to be in place next season, possibly Mike Shanahan.  There's the quarterback issue with Jason Campbell, who will be a free agent at season's end.  Will he come back?  It is going to be a long offseason in the nation's capital.  

Tim's Two Cents-December 22

When I was watching SportsCenter yesterday morning, they mentioned something that caught my attention right away.

Is the Vikings Locker Room in a Schism?  Following Sunday's 26 to 7 loss against the Carolina Panthers, questions surrfaced around the Minnesota Vikings and possible tension in the locker room.  During the game, head coach Brad Childress was seen talking with quarterback Brett Favre about being pulled from the contest.  Let's just say it didn't go well.  Favre didn't want to be pulled and he wasn't of course.  There have been rumors that over the past few weeks, Childress and Favre have been at odds with each other.  It is the classic matchup of head coach versus future Hall of Fame quarterback.

There is a bigger point to be made here, however.  I don't know about you, but I have grown sick and tired of the Brett Favre saga over the past few years.  Sure he's still a decent quarterback, but it seems like he is being treated like royalty.  Also, don't get me started on the will he or won't he retire part of the story we have had to endure over the past two summers.  I can only hope this is Favre's last year of his playing career.  When next summer rolls around, I don't want to see any possible SportsCenter stories from down in Mississippi wondering if he will retire or continue playing.  I know it will probably be a huge topic of discussion after the season, but I don't want any part of it.

As far as what will happen the rest of this season, the Vikings have clinched the NFC North, thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers beating Favre's former team, the Green Bay Packers 37 to 36.  Heading into the playoffs, the Vikings will most likely be the number two seed in the NFC behind the New Orleans Saints.  If they reach and win the Super Bowl, Favre will probably retire.  So how will it all play out?  Stay tuned.

Photo courtesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Keith Allison under CC-BY License

Wide World of Sports Venues

It's time to introduce another new segment in Tim's Sports World.  I call it the Wide World of Sports Venues.  I'll be your guide as we stroll across the country to learn about the various sports venues where the games are held each and everyday.  Let's get started, shall we with winter sports venues.

Staples Center-Los Angeles, CA

Opened: October 17, 1999
Construction Cost: $375 million
Capacity: 18,997 for basketball, 18,118 for ice hockey/arena football, 20,000 for concerts
Home Teams: Los Angeles Lakers 199-Present (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers 1999-Present (NBA), Los Angeles Sparks 2001-Present (WNBA), Los Angeles Kings 1999-Present (NHL), Los Angeles Avengers 2000-2008 (AFL), Los Angeles D-Fenders 2006-Present (NBA D-League)
Events I've attended: 2 Clipper games, 1 Kings game, Ringling Bros. Circus

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons and Daniel Lobo under CC-BY License

Darren Oliver to the Rangers

Free agent Darren Oliver has agreed to terms with the Texas Rangers.  It is a 1-year deal worth $3.5 million with an option for 2011.

Photo coutesy:
Wikimedia Commons and Alaney2k under the GNU Free Documentation License

Small Ball Report-December 21

GSAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

William Jewell MO 88, Hope International 82 (2 OT)

Women's Basketball:

William Jewell MO 73, Fresno Pacific 62

SCIAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Pacific (Ore.) 62, Cal Lutheran 71
Redlands 57, Chapman 76

Cal Lutheran Classic at Cal Lutheran:

Caltech 59, UC Santa Cruz 73

Standings:

Whittier 4-2 overall
Cal Lutheran 5-3 overall
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5-3 overall
Occidental 5-3 overall
Pomona-Pitzer 3-4 overall
Redlands 3-5 overall
La Verne 1-7 overall
Caltech 0-8 overall

Women's Basketball:

Holiday Classic:

Knox 58, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 75

Caltech-Claremont Holiday Classic at Claremont-M-S:

Lakeland 58, Occidental 62
Buena Vista 97, Caltech 41

CLU West Coast Classic at Cal Lutheran Univ.:

Puget Sound 56, Cal Lutheran 48

Standings:

Cal Lutheran 6-1 overall
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 7-2 overall
Occidental 6-2 overall
Redlands 6-2 overall
La Verne 5-2 overall
Whittier 6-3 overall
Pomona-Pitzer 3-5 overall
Caltech 3-6 overall

Tim's Two Cents-December 21

It's time to take a look at the big stories from this past weekend.

1. Dallas Cowboys Spoil Saints Bid for Perfection.  In what was the major upset of the weekend, the Dallas Cowboys ended the New Orleans Saints perfect season in a 24 to 17 win.  Now I must admit, I, along with several other experts did not see this coming.  I called the Cowboys a joke of a team in my Two Cents column yesterday.  This was a game where everybody and their mothers were picking the Cowboys to lose.  Good for them for proving us wrong.  We all thought there was good reason to pick against them due to their struggles in December the last couple of seasons.

Not only did the Cowboys win the game, but they got off to a fast start in doing so.  By halftime the score was 17 to 3.  They actually played solid defense from the start. DeMarcus Ware was a beast.  He had two sacks for a total of nine yards lost.  Orlando Scandrick had a team high eight tackles.  Dallas continued their first half success when Marion Barber ran it in from two yards out at the 8-minute mark of the third quarter to make it 24 to 3.  Fans at the Superdome didn't know what hit them.

The Saints made a push in the fourth quarter scoring two touchdowns to make it 24 to 17, but Drew Brees was sacked by DeMarcus Ware and fumbled with six seconds left dashing any hope of a comeback.  So that means the Indianapolis Colts are the last remaining team to be undefeated through week 15 at 14-0.  The Saints fall to 13-1.  Time for Mercury Morris of the 1972 Miami Dolphins to come out of hiding and put a curse on the Colts.

2. Chargers Beat Bengals to Clinch AFC West.  Phillip Rivers and company edged Cincinnati 27 to 24 thanks to a Nate Kaeding 52-yard field goal with three seconds left.  When the game was over they clinched a playoff berth, but had to wait and see what would happen between the Broncos and Raiders.  When Oakland scored a game winning touchdown at the end of the game, the Chargers were crowned AFC West champions.  The Chargers are now 11-3 on the season, have a nine game winning streak, and are 17-0 the last few years in the month of December.  One thing that shouldn't be overlooked is that the Bengals were very competitive considering the week they've been through. 

There's no place like home for the Lakers.
      
 3. Lakers and Clippers Both Dominate Over the Weekend.  The Purple and Gold finished a five game road trip with a 93 to 81 win against the Detroit Pistons yesterday.  They went 4-1 on the trip that included games at Utah, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Jersey and Detroit.  Their only loss came against the Jazz.  They now head home for a brief two game homestand against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Lebron James and the Cavaliers on Christmas Day.

The Clippers were also in the winning spirit suprisingly as they came out on top against the Philadelphia 76ers 112 to 107 in overtime on Saturday. 


Photo coutesy:
Wikimedia Commons and dbking under CC-BY License
Wikimedia Commons and Conman 33 under CC-BY License
Wikimedia Commons and JoeJohnson2 under CC-BY License

Small Ball Report December 20

SCIAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Caltech 43, Pacific (Ore.) 80

Cal Lutheran Classic at Cal Lutheran
SMU 77, Occidental 49
UC Santa Cruz 65, Cal Lutheran 67
Concordia (Calif.) 76, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 55
Albion 58, La Verne 48
North Park 89, Whittier 80

Standings:

Whittier 4-2 overall
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5-3 overall
Occidental 5-3 overall
Cal Lutheran 4-3 overall
Pomona-Pitzer 3-4 overall
Redlands 3-4 overall
La Verne 1-7 overall
Caltech 0-7 overall

Women's Basketball:

Buena Vista 78, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 82

Caltech Claremont Holiday Classic at Claremont-M-S
Knox 74, Caltech 45

CLU West Coast Classic at Cal Lutheran Univ.
La Sierra 55, Whittier 74

Standings:

Cal Lutheran 6-0 overall
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 6-2 overall
Redlands 6-2 overall
La Verne 5-2 overall
Occidental 5-2 overall
Whittier 6-3 overall
Caltech 3-5 overall
Pomona-Pitzer 3-5 overall

GSAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Notre Dame de Namur 73, Hope International 69 (OT)
San Diego Christian 88, Pacific Union 70
Vanguard 66, Cal State Dominguez Hills 58
Westmont 78, Cal Maritime 61
Biola 79, Bethany 58
California Baptist 67, Cal State Stanislaus 57
Fresno Pacific 75, William Jessup 71
Concordia 76, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 55

Standings:

Biola 11-0 overall
Concordia 11-0 overall
The Masters 8-3 overall
Fresno Pacific 10-1 overall
Westmont 6-2 overall
California Baptist 7-3 overall
Azusa Pacific 7-4 overall
Vanguard 2-5 overall
Hope International 4-6 overall
San Diego Christian 1-8 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 2-7 overall
Women's Basketball:

St.Ambrose IA 79, Fresno Pacific 58
Lewis IL 80, California Baptist 71
Biola 77, Cal State San Bernardino 53
Oklahoma City OK 86, Hope International 46

Standings:

Westmont 7-1 overall
Azusa Pacific 9-2 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 7-1 overall
Biola 4-5 overall
Vanguard 5-1 overall
Concordia 6-2 overall
California Baptist 6-4 overall
The Masters 6-4 overall
Hope International 3-6 overall
San Diego Christian 2-8 overall
Fresno Pacific 1-7 overall

Junior College Women's Basketball:

Pasadena City College 82, Bakersfield 60

Minor League Hockey:

The Ontario Reign were defeated by the Las Vegas Wranglers 2 to 1 last night in the gambling capital of the world.  They will try their luck in Vegas once again next Saturday.

Tim's Two Cents-December 20

Yesterday while I was flipping through my television channels, I came across a college basketball game between the Texas Longhorns and North Carolina Tarheels in Texas.  Texas was victorious over North Carolina 103 to 90, but that's not why this game was so noteworthy.  The theme of this was all about location, location, location.  Yes indeed.  That's because it was played at the big behemoth that is Cowboys Stadium.  You heard correctly.  Cowboys Stadium!

Try to picture a basketball court underneath THAT video monitor!

Now I'm used to seeing the Final Four each year at a domed stadium throughout the country, but not a measily regular season contest.  The high-definition big screen videoboard in the center of the stadium towered over everything else and made the court look microscopic in size.  There didn't look to be very many, if any, people seated in the upper deck.  Now I guess the obvious reasons for doing something like this would be to have more people attend the game as well as create more buzz for the new stadium.  God knows they need it with the joke of a team the Cowboys are these days.  For a regular season game, however, I don't think something like this is worth it when I can just watch it from the comfort of my own couch.

Photo coutesy: Wikimedia Commons and Mahanga under the GNU Free Documentation License 

Is Chad Ochocinco Really Going to be Fined for Honoring Late Teammate?

News came about yesterday that the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) would pay any fine that Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco would incur for wearing number 15 to honor late teammate Chris Henry in today's game against the Chargers.  That is against the rules however.  Instead, the NFLPA will match the fine amount Ochocinco would receive and donate it to a memorial fund in Henry's name.

I know Ochocinco has made receiving fines a weekly tradition with his numerous post touchdown celebrations, but the NFL is way off base on this one.  It is totally ridiculous in this instance and they should just turn the other cheek.  I applaud the NFLPA for stepping up on Ochoconco's behalf but it shouldn't even be necessary for them to do so.

Small Ball Report-December 19

SCIAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Albion 77, Cal Lutheran 81

GSAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

The Masters 71, Holy Names 56
Lewis-Clark State ID 82, Point Loma Nazarene 64

Standings:

Biola 10-0 overall
Concordia 10-0 overall
The Masters 8-3 overall
Fresno Pacific 9-1 overall
Westmont 5-2 overall
California Baptist 6-3 overall
Azusa Pacific 7-4 overall
Vanguard 1-5 overall
Hope International 4-5 overall
San Diego Christian 0-8 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 2-7 overall
Women's Basketball:

Azusa Pacific 73, Oklahoma City OK 64
Lewis IL 64, Concordia 53
Point Loma Nazarene 72, Robert Morris IL 48
UC San Diego 76, Biola 55

Standings:

Westmont 7-1 overall
Azusa Pacific 9-2 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 7-1 overall
Biola 3-5 overall
Vanguard 5-1 overall
Concordia 6-2 overall
California Baptist 6-3 overall
The Masters 6-4 overall
Hope International 3-5 overall
San Diego Christian 2-8 overall
Fresno Pacific 1-6 overall

Minor League Hockey:

The Ontario Reign were victorious last night against the Las Vegas Wranglers 3 to 2 in a shootout.  Also, a score correction from Wednesday night.  The Reign beat the Condors 2-1, so it wasn't a scoreless tie as previously reported.  Tonight, they wrap up a home and home series against the Wranglers under the bright lights of Vegas at 7:05 PT.

Favorite Sports Talk Shows

Right now, I want to tell you about two of my favorite sports talk radio shows. Mike and Mike in the Morning and The Herd.

As sports talk shows go, these are two of the best around and they are each unique in their own way.

Mike and Mike in the Morning: 6-10 AM ET/3 AM-7 AM PT on ESPN Radio and ESPN2

Each morning, I start off my day by watching the last hour of Mike and Mike on ESPN2.  It is like a cup of coffee for sports fans.  Hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic are a modern day version of the Odd Couple.  Greenberg, affectionately known as "Greeny" is portrayed as the knowlegeable sports fan who lives life as a metrosexual for wanting to stay germ-free by using Purell hand sanitizer as well as other things.  Golic, a former NFL defensive linesman and Notre Dame alum is the tough-minded no nonsense opposite of Greeny who loves to eat a lot.  Not only do they talk about current events in the world of sports, but they do it in some pretty interesting and entertaining ways.  One example that comes to mind is the Stone Cold Lead Pipe Locks segment during the NFL season.  This is where each host makes their picks on key games from the upcoming weekend in the NFL.  Another funny thing is the songs they come up with for certain athletes with the help of "Joaquin" a.k.a Curtis Caplan, the show's go to guy for on-air radio production.  Greeny and Golic also make no secret of their  sports allegiances.  Greeny is often ridiculed for being a New York Jets fan while it has been said that Golic has a man crush on Brady Quinn, former quarterback of Notre Dame and currently a member of the Cleveland Browns.   These are some of the reasons why Mike and Mike is among my favorite sports talk shows and the perfect way to start your day if you're a fan of sports.


The Herd with Colin Cowherd: 10 AM-2 PM ET/7 AM-11 AM ET on ESPN Radio and ESPNU

I like to follow up my daily dose of Mike and Mike with a healthy serving of The Herd with Colin Cowherd.  I started watching the show a few months ago on ESPNU, which is channel 141 for Dish Network subscribers.  From the first moment I started tuning in, I was hooked.  Cowherd seems to be the voice of reason at ESPN and more often than not, I find myself agreeing with most of what he has to say.  Not only does he talk about his thoughts on the latest sports news, but he also tries to look at certain aspects from the business side of the industry, which is very fascinating.  I always find myself learning something new everyday I tune in.

So there you have it.  Something a little different than what I usually cover in sports.  Feel free to let me know what you think.  Your input is always welcome.

Tim's Two Cents-December 19

I was listening to The Herd with Colin Cowherd yesterday and he brought up an interesting topic about the NFL.

NFL Network commentators Matt Millen and Bob Papa.

Should NFL Network Be Available to Everybody?  As of right now, many households do not have access to the NFL Network.  I'm one of the lucky ones who does have the NFL Network as part of my Dish Network package.  I'll be honest.  I'm not a huge fan of the NFL.  I know this may shock some of you, but I'm more into baseball and basketball.

Anyway, yesterday on The Herd, Colin was saying that the reason the NFL Network is not available everywhere is related to the business aspect of the league.  Since the NFL Network is only available on a limited basis, it increases the desire of those fans who don't have it to pay the extra cabbage to get it.  You know what?  It makes perfect sense.  The other major sports allow so much access for fans to watch games that it doesn't make watching it all that special.  For the NFL Network though, it is special because the games that are shown are some of the premiere matchups each week and only a certain percentage of the population will be priviledged enough to watch certain NFL games that not everybody has access to.  Those who do not have access will have to settle for watching the highlights on SportsCenter on ESPN.

So while there will those individuals who will be calling their local cable or satellite provider complaining they don't have the NFL Network, I'll be one of the lucky few who will get to watch the Saints and Cowboys batlle it out tomorrow night in New Orleans.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons and John Martinez Pavliga under CC-BY license
 

NFL Roulette Week 15-Part 2

Kicking off week 15 last night, the Colts are now 14-0 following a come-from-behind 35 to 31 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.  What else is new.  It was their seventh win after trailing in the fourth quarter this season.  Looking ahead to other key games this weekend:

Dallas Cowboys (8-5) Vs. New Orleans Saints (13-0)

This is probably the easiest game for me to break down this week.  Let's start with the Cowboys.

Cowboys-We all know about their recent December struggles, 0-2 so far this season.  They have a head coach in Wade Phillips who is average at best.  They have an owner in Jerry Jones who can't help himself to having a say in the running of the team.  They have a quarterback in Tony Romo who, to his credit has played well so far this month, but can't do it all by himself.  Now, they're going on the road to play the NFL's #1 offense this season in an environment with a party atmosphere and raucous crowds.  Good luck.  They'll need it.

Saints-Does anybody really think the Saints will lose this game?  I certainly don't.  They've played well at home.  They seem to be a team of destiny.  They are clearly the best team in the league.  I see them winning rather easily and they will match the Colts at 14-0 by Monday.

Prediction: Saints 45, Cowboys 20

Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) Vs. San Diego Chargers (10-3)

Bengals-It is going to be awfully tough for Cincinnati to compete at a high level this weekend.  Following the death of Chris Henry, they are going to be playing with heavy hearts.  I guess they could use it to their advantage and win one for Henry, but I don't see it happening.  Also consider that the game will be played in San Diego.  What a tough week it has been and will be for the Bengals.

Chargers-After getting to a rough start, the Chargers have gotten hot, winning eight straight after starting 2-3.  This is nothing new for them as they have started slow the past couple years before going on long winning streaks to end the season.  I expect their current streak to reach nine this weekend.

Prediction: Chargers 35, Bengals 10

Photos courtesy:

Wikimedia Commons and Summertx under CC-BY-SA license
Wikimedia Commons and dbking under CC-BY license
Wikimedia Commons and SteelCityHobbies under CC-BY license
Wikimedia Commons and Dirk Hansen under CC-BY license

Small Ball Report-December 18

GSAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Cal State San Bernardino 70, San Diego Christian 51
Fresno Pacific 86, Rocky Mountain MT 83
Biola 94 Pacific Union 63
Azusa Pacific 83, Lewis-Clark State ID 71

Standings:

Biola 10-0 overall
Concordia 10-0 overall
The Masters 7-3 overall
Fresno Pacific 9-1 overall
Westmont 5-2 overall
California Baptist 6-3 overall
Azusa Pacific 7-4 overall
Vanguard 1-5 overall
Hope International 4-5 overall
San Diego Christian 0-8 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 2-6 overall

Women's Basketball:

The Master's 81, La Sierra 34

Standings:

Westmont 2-0 conference, 7-1 overall
Azusa Pacific 2-0 conference, 8-2 overall
Point Loma Nazarene 2-1 conference, 6-1 overall
Biola 2-1 conference, 3-4 overall
Concordia 1-1 conference, 6-1 overall
Vanguard 1-1 conference, 5-1 overall
California Baptist 1-1 conference, 6-3 overall
The Masters 1-1 conference, 6-4 overall
Hope International 0-2 conference, 3-5 overall
San Diego Christian 0-2 conference, 2-8 overall
Fresno Pacific 0-2 conference, 1-6 overall

Minor League Hockey:

The Ontario Reign take on the Las Vegas Wranglers tonight at Citizens Bank Arena at 7:30.

Tim's Two Cents-December 18

In light of the Chris Henry passing, today's edition will focus on athletes whose lives come to a tragic end way too soon.

Events like these show us the true mortality of life.  The truth is only one person out there knows when our time will come.  Sometimes our time is short.  For others, they are fortunate to live a long and hopefully happy life.  When tragedies like this occur, I'm reminded of the Eagles song, "New York Minute," which is about appreciating the things you have and living in the moment because in our lives, "everything can change in a New York minute."

In Henry's case, it seemed he had been working on turning his life around after some rough patches in his life.  Not only does Henry leave behind a fiancee, but three children as well.

Henry was not the only young sports figure to die this year.

In something that hit a little closer to home for me, the Angels experienced their own tragedy earlier this year with the death of Nick Adenhart.  Adenhart, 22, was killed in a car accident three days into the 2009 baseball season as a result of a drunk driver.  Adenhart was supposed to be one of those can't miss prospects who was just coming into his own.  Instead, we are left wondering what could have been rather than what really happened.

I remember when Adenhart died I was in shock as a Angel fan myself, but it didn't really hit me until later that day.  I was on my way to meet a friend at the movies and I was listening to the official radio station of the Angels, AM 830 KLAA.  They were talking about the latest information on Adenhart's death.  Before going to a commercial break at some point, they started playing "Calling All Angels" by Train.  If you've been to an Angel game, I'm sure you're familiar with the song.  Anyway, when they played the song at that time, it definitely had a deeper meaning than usual.  It wasn't until then that I really choked up.  

Photo coutesy: Wikimedia Commons and Evan Wohrman under cc-by-sa 2.0 license

Tim's Two Cents December 17-Bonus Edition

With Christmas nearly upon us, tis the season of giving and give I shall.  In this special bonus edition of Tim's Two Cents, I discuss a couple stories from college sports in Division I as well as more on Tiger Woods.

1. The Big Ten Conference Adding Another Football Team?  Word is that the Big Ten, which currently has 11 teams, is exploring the possibility of adding another team.  First, explain to me how a conference with 11 teams is still called the Big Ten?  Second, the discussion of further expansion shows that the conference is only interested in one thing: making money.  Rumor is Rutgers is the early favorite to join.  This is not the only issue college football has.  Need I remind you about the joke that is the BCS system.  Overall, this is not a good idea for a conference that already has enough exposure right now.

2. NCAA March Madness Expanding?  The NCAA could also be looking into expanding March Madness from 65 teams to 96.  The proposed plan would give the top 32 teams a bye and add an additional weekend to the event.  March Madness is a great event which involves many teams from across the country.  It is the true definition of a playoff system in college sports.  So NCAA, please don't fix what isn't broken.  There are already enough schools involved to begin with.  In addition, most of those new schools who would get in would probably lose in the first round anyway.  Leave the tournament as it is.

3. Tiger Woods Update.  The Tiger Woods story continues to unravel.  In the midst of being named AP Athlete of the Decade, we continue to learn more about Tiger Woods personal life.  Woods has now reportedly been connected with Canadian doctor Anthony Galea, who specializes in sports medicine.  Galea, who treated many high profile patients, including Woods, was formally charged yesterday over unapproved drug sales, including human growth hormone and conspiring to export and smuggle them out of the country.  Sources also are now saying that Tiger's wife, Elin Nordegren is going to file for a divorce.  As the saga unfolds, the one thing I keep thinking about is how far Tiger has fallen in the past few weeks.  

Small Ball Report-December 17

SCIAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Aaron Fisher of Cal Lutheran named SCIAC Male Athlete of the Week.  Fisher had 16 points and nine rebounds in only 21 minutes in Saturday's 89 to 65 home opener win against La Sierra.

Wednesday's results:

North Park 75, Caltech 41.  What a surprise!  Yawn.

Women's Basketball:

Meghan Yetman of Redlands named SCIAC Female Athlete of the Week.  Yetman scored 20 of her 24 points in the second half to lead Redlands past Chapman 78 to 59 on Saturday.

GSAC Conference

Men's Basketball:

Cal Poly Pomona 61, Vanguard 46

Minor League Hockey:

The Ontario Reign and Bakersfield Condors battle to a 0-0 tie.  I thought there were no more ties in hockey and there shouldn't be.

NFL Roulette-Week 15

Another week of exciting NFL action gets under way tonight and what better time than now to introduce my newest segment.  NFL Roulette, where I'll be providing my analysis on the key NFL matchups of the week.  With one game on the schedule tonight, let's get started!

Indianapolis Colts (13-0) Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6)

Colts: Coming into week 15, the Colts are a team that is currently making history each week.  Along with the Saints their undefeated, making it the first time in NFL history that two teams have started the season 13-0.  They have a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning, who has shown that he shines in the biggest moments and has ice in his veins.  When addressing whether the Colts starters will start and play or rest up  to get ready for the playoffs, head coach Jim Caldwell has said that "healthy starters" will play.  Earlier this week, 29 of the 53 players on the active roster did not participate in practice.  This coming from an organization that has historically chosen to rest a good chunk of it's players throughout the years.  You can bet Peyton Manning will be one of those "healthy starters."

Jaguars: They could be the team that derails the dual pursuit of perfection.  Their in the same division as the Colts.  They've played them tough throughout the years.  I could see them beating Indy tonight, but I don't think that will happen.  Now if the Colts do rest their starters for a good chunk of the game, they have a slight chance.

Prediction: Colts 31, Jaguars 24