Archive for the ‘SPORTS’ Category

Randy Wolf pitched eight scoreless innings against his former team and the Milwaukee Brewers hit three homers and turned a triple play to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 on Monday night.

The Brewers turned the triple play in the second inning — and it wasn’t your standard variety — going 4-6-3-2 as James Loney grounded it up the middle for what appeared to be a standard 4-6-3 double play, but Matt Kemp took off from third base and was thrown out by Prince Fielder.

It was the first 4-6-3-2 triple play since 1972.

Milwaukee took a one-nothing lead on Ryan Braun’s solo shot off Ted Lilly and added two more runs on homers by Corey Hart and Jonathan Lucroy.

Wolf (10-8), pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing six hits and John Axford finished the game with his 35th save of the season.

Written by:

Arnel G

Image Source

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Galaxy have signed striker Robbie Keane, the captain of the Irish national team.

Keane agreed to a transfer on Monday from Tottenham Hotspur, where the 31-year-old goal-scorer has fallen out of favor.

Keane is the 10th-leading goal-scorer in Premier League history, playing for three teams before joining Tottenham in August 2002.

He moved to Liverpool in 2008, but returned to Tottenham in early 2009 before spending part of last season on loan to West Ham.

Keane says he became intrigued by a move to MLS when David Beckham spoke highly of the Galaxy while they trained together in Tottenham.

The Galaxy lead the MLS standings with 48 points. Los Angeles plans to make a roster move when Keane receives his visa.

Written by:

Arnel G.

Image Source

New York Rangers and ex-Los Angeles Kings hockey star Sean Avery is in a downtown jail after being arrested early Friday morning, accused of battery on an LAPD officer, authorities said.

Authorities responded about 1 a.m. to a neighbor’s complaint about loud music at Avery’s Hollywood Hills home, police said.

Avery, 31, is alleged to have argued with officers before pushing one and slamming the door, said LAPD Officer Cleon Joseph. Following the confrontation, additional officers were called to the home and Avery eventually was taken into custody, he said. Avery is being held on suspicion of battery at an LAPD jail.

The incident was first reported on TMZ.

The hockey star, known for his confrontational style on the ice, went to anger-management training following a statement he made about a rival player before a December 2008 game.

He was suspended by the NHL after he referred to a Calgary Flames player who was dating his ex-girlfriend as “falling in love with sloppy seconds.”

Written by:

– Richard Winton

Photo:

Avery. Associated Press.

The cheers escalated into a standing ovation.

Rick Neuheisel, UCLA‘s new football coach, stood at center court in Pauley Pavilion during halftime and introduced offensive coordinator Norm Chow and defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker. The Dream Team, it was billed.

Neuheisel closed by shouting to delirious Bruins fans, “Thank you very much and, fellas, we’re just getting started.”

Two things at UCLA have been clobbered by a wrecking ball since that January day in 2008: Pauley Pavilion and that Dream Team.

And for the football program, renovation has become reconstruction.

Athletic Director Dan Guerrero’s message was clear after a disastrous 4-8 2010 season: “Rick knows there is maybe one shot to straighten this thing out.” So Neuheisel, with his job on the line, is getting restarted.

Walker left after one season to be New Mexico State’s head coach. Chuck Bullough, his successor, was fired days after the 2010 season. Chow was shoved out the door, taking a $500,000 buyout check and a job at Utah.

UCLA begins training camp Monday with a new high command — Mike Johnson (offensive coordinator), Joe Tresey (defensive coordinator) and Jim Mastro (run-game coordinator).

Asked why this staff will work, Neuheisel said: “I just believe we’ll do what it takes to make it work. The hard part of answering that question is you’re doing a compare and contrast and you end up taking shots at the old staff. I don’t want to do that.”

Some UCLA players are moving forward.

“The new staff laid out the expectations,” running back Johnathan Franklin said. “It’s on our shoulders.”

Others are looking forward . . . to UCLA’s game against Utah, new to the Pacific 12 Conference this year.

In a recent Twitter post, tight end Joseph Fauria said, “Dear Chow, I’m so glad you’re gone. Can’t wait to beat that [butt] Nov. 12!! Enjoy that big check! You don’t deserve any of it.”

Neuheisel said the purge was necessary because “we lacked optimism to go forward with great resolve, and so forth. Sometimes you just need change. Sometimes you just need to put up new window shades, change how things look.”

Here is how it used to look. . . .

Chow came with a resume that included three Heisman Trophy quarterbacks and three national championships. At UCLA, quarterback Kevin Prince could not stay healthy. Neuheisel then ditched Chow’s philosophies, switching to the “pistol,” an option-based offense.

And here is how it looks now. . . .

Neuheisel now handles the quarterbacks while Johnson, the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator last season, oversees the offense. Mastro coached the pistol at Nevada, giving Neuheisel “an expert.”

“They actually ran the ball well,” Mastro said of the 2010 Bruins. “They had the fundamentals down, but adjusting to what you see on game day is tough. It needed a little fine-tuning.”

On defense, injuries hamstrung Bullough last season but gave young players experience and improved the unit’s depth. That wasn’t enough to save his job. Neuheisel has acknowledged that Tresey was his fourth choice, but it was clear during spring practice that he had hired a firm hand.

“He’s crazy,” one UCLA player said. “But in a good way.”

During spring practice, Tresey told players to get off the field when their efforts displeased him.

“They have to have their motors running all the time, whether it is running to class or running on the football field,” said Tresey, who was defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and South Florida.

Upgrading the Bruins’ mind-set — something Neuheisel said “was not where it needed to be” — was the spring cleaning.

“They needed to understand how to work and how to practice,” Johnson said. “Those things are what I wanted to get accomplished, more so than schemes and plays.”

The message was received, Mastro said.

“About three-quarters of the way through spring ball we got on some offensive linemen, jumped their butts a little bit,” Mastro said. “I walked to the back and I heard one kid say to another, ‘Now I see why Nevada won.’ ”

Guerrero said in a question-and-answer session produced by the athletic department that the new staff “brought an exciting energy to the practice field during spring ball.” Of course, it’s what Guerrero says after the season that will matter.

Tresey shrugged that off, saying: “Everyone worries, ‘Oh, Rick’s on the hot seat.’ You know what? There are very few people in this profession who are not on the hot seat when they have losing seasons. You control what you can control.”

Written by:

Chris Foster

Photo by:

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times / November 21, 2009

“It’s been a long run … a great run but a long run.”

So now Kobe Bryant is going to take a 6,257-mile run to play basketball in China?

“I think the biggest thing was the fatigue factor … guys were tired.”

So now Kobe Bryant wants to get his rest on a basketball court in Europe?

The above quotes were uttered in May by a battered, beaten Bryant during his exit interview after the Lakers collapsed in an exhausted heap in Dallas.

Yet last weekend, less than three months later, the Lakers leader told reporters he was willing to skip the gift vacation granted him by the NBA labor shutdown and take his aching legs to any foreign team that would pay handsomely for them.

Meaning, of course, that Kobe Bryant’s mouth has somehow imposed a lockout on his brain.

“I’m just waiting for my phone to ring … I’ll play anywhere,” he said Sunday during a news conference in Washington. “I grew up overseas, so I’m comfortable being overseas. So if [a foreign team] wants to pick up the phone and give me a call and wants me to come and play, I’ll definitely listen.”

Instead of a call, I’m wondering if Bryant would heed my text.

R U KIDDING ME?

It has been breathtaking to watch Bryant carry the Lakers through recent sprints on shredded knees, atop twisted ankles, with busted fingers. It is equally breathtaking to now hear him talk as if that were nothing more than a stubbed toe.

Watching Bryant talk about foregoing months of extra rest to risk meaningful injury while playing meaningless basketball is like watching an injured soccer player at the World Cup. He falls to the ground, he squirms in pain, he is carried on an ancient stretcher to a lonely spot on the sidelines … at which point he jumps to his feet and leads the crowd in doing the wave.

I don’t care what sort of strange vampire stuff was performed on Bryant’s right knee in Germany this summer, it is still his right knee, and it is still a shaky foundation to the Lakers’ future. I don’t care how much he has already rested during the lockout, his body needs as much healing time as possible if he is to remain limber enough to slip through the rapidly closing window on his championship hopes.

Bryant, who turns 33 later this month, has already played in 1,311 regular-season and playoff games combined. That’s 60 more games than Michael Jordan played, and he retired at age 40.

Seeing as he is financially set, it is stunning that Bryant is not viewing the lockout as a blessing, a long-awaited chance to recharge, one last long vacation before embarking on the final two or three seasons of his career.

He surely doesn’t want to play in Europe or Asia for the money. He absolutely doesn’t need to play there for the fame. And hopefully he wouldn’t play there simply to issue a union decree.

You know how it goes, the players don’t need the owners, the players don’t need the game, the playersare the game, blah, blah, blah.

Bryant might feel that’s an important statement, but he needs to let a 27-year-old guy like the New Jersey Nets‘ Deron Williams make that statement in Turkey. Williams does not have the immediate championship future of a franchise resting on an aging body. His risk in playing overseas is not as great. In fact, is any NBA player’s risk as great as Bryant’s, seeing as one fluky juke could mean the end of era?

The Lakers can’t say this because they can’t discuss any of their players during the lockout, but I can.

Bryant owes his team more than he owes the union. Bryant owes his teammates more than he owes his love of a good foreign pickup game. More than anything, Bryant owes it to himself to take care of himself in preparation for The Last Great Run.

Thinking back to his exit interview statements, who would have thought he was also exiting reality?

“This is a good summer for me to train and get strong.”

Not if you end it by playing in Turkey.

“There is a difference between feeling healthy and feeling as strong as I know I can be … there’s another level I can get to.”

Kobe, you won’t find it in China.

More details

Written by:

Bill Plaschke

Photo:

Dennis M. Sabangan / EPA / July 23, 2011

All seems too familiar, as the San Diego Padres season has been in a downward spiral since before the All-Star break.

The Friars lost the two out of three from the Diamondbacks in San Diego and lost two of three to the N.L West rival Colorado Rockies.

Last but not least, the Padres lost two of three to the Los AngelesDodgers.

Each series with the division rivals showed what the Padres have been lacking – and that is run support.

The silver lining to this team has been new slugger Jesus Guzman, who has the best average since the All-Star break, batting a .392 average and showing that he can play in the majors. Guzman’s swing is noticeable as his bat speed seems to be impressive. He has earned an everyday spot playing first as phenom Anthony Rizzo is fixing his mechanics in AAA Tuscon.

News after July 31st trade deadline was not unusual, as the Padres traded the setup man for Heath Bell, Mike Adams, who was born in the lone star state, to the Texas Rangers for two prospect pitchers. The Padres organization also traded away right fielder Ryan Ludwickas he was the most obvious to leave to the contending, yes “contending”, Pittsburgh Pirates.

The most surprising part of the whole trade deadline is that Heath Bell, the face of the franchise, is still wearing the “SD” on his cap. Many baseball analysts were 100 percent positive Bell would be leaving to a contender. Jed Hoyer decided to leave him be and see if they can talk contract extension at the end of the season. Bell will be offered arbitration after this season and will most likely accept.

As this season winds down, the young kids within the organization such as Aaron Cunningham, Logan Forsythe, and Luis Martinez, will be given the opportunity to get a feel for the Big Leagues. The true Padrefans will understand, but there are many San Diego fans who now have their attention towards the Chargers season.

It is true that we will not hear Jerry Coleman, in all his glory, announce, “”Denorfia is under it, Denorfia is under it, and the Padres wrap the National League flag around their necks for 2011, Oh Doctor!!!” , because the truth is the season is now down to which player has the heart to keep playing day in and day out with some heart.

While the Friar Faithful await another glorious call in the future by Jerry Coleman, the Friar Faithful will have to yet say to themselves, ” There is always next year”.

Keep The Faith.

Padres vs Pirates

Pitching matchups:

Harang v. Karstens

Luebke v. Maholm

Latos v. Correia

Written by:

Padre Pete

Image source

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Ready for your close-up, Downtown?

Televised sports events at Staples Center, the L.A. Coliseum and Dodger Stadium have long featured shots of the central city, often taken from the aerial view of the Goodyear blimp. None of those events come close to starring Downtown in the same way as X Games 17, which kicked off at noon today in and around L.A. Live.

The four-day competition moved to Los Angeles in 2004, with a setup around Staples Center that was highlighted by the giant outdoor big air ramp on the parking lots that now house L.A. Live.

Construction forced the ramp indoors in 2006, while other outdoor events took place at the Home Depot Center and Coliseum.

For 2011, though, the ramp is back, towering over Staples Center from the Moinian-owned parking lot across Figueroa. Joining it in the lot is a race track that will have rally cars racing on Figueroa and across a dirt jump through the weekend.

From camera positions atop ESPN’s studios at L.A. Live, Staples Center and the Convention Center, viewers from around the world will get to see a Downtown L.A. that has changed a lot since those last big airs in 2006. Bikes and boards will fly in front of South Park condos that were just breaking ground back then, and wider shots will show buildings like the 54-story Ritz-Carlton tower, 717 Olympic, Concerto and Watermarke Tower that hadn’t yet even started construction.

After seeing a few of those shots up on big screens during Wednesday’s practice, it’s safe to say that Downtown’s looking pretty good.

Written by:

ERIC RICHARDSON

Image by:

Eric Richardson

Summary

Galaxy hold onto 1-0 victory in wild card game

Article

In a game marked by many questionable yellow and red cards, the Los Angeles Galaxy managed to win at Home Depot Center 1-0 against the visiting Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.

After a somewhat frustrating start for both sides, the game opened up for Los Angeles during the 33^rd minute when English midfielder David Beckham took a penalty kick from 25 yards out and connected with the head of Brazil’s Leonardo, knocking the ball beyond the reach of Philadelphia goalkeeper, team captain and Colombian national, Faryd Mondragon.

Shortly into the second half, Philadelphia’s offence opened up. In the 47^th French midfielder Sebastian Le Toux briefly threatened a tie before Galaxy Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts made his first serious save of the MLS 2011 season.

Los Angeles looked to increase the lead when Brazilian midfielder Juninho looked for his third goal of the season in the 57^th minute. The Galaxy’s top scorer of the season hit the top crossbar.

Then the citations started to be issued. Los Angeles midfielder Chris Birchall was ejected from the field with a red card after an altercation with former Galaxy top-scorer Carlos Ruiz. The Union forward received a yellow card.

Now playing with 10 men, Los Angeles became more reserved in their play while the increasingly unpopular referee Paul Ward was anything but reserved with the yellow and red cards. In addition to the cards for Ruiz and Birchall, in the 51^st minute a yellow card was issued to Los Angeles’ Miguel Lopez. Ricketts was issued a yellow card for delay of game in the 60^th minute while Beckham essentially asked for one in the 90^th minute and Los Angeles captain Landon Donovan received one in the 92^nd minute. Yellow cards were issued to Philadelphia players Sheanon Williams (64^th minute), Jordan Harvey (78^th minute), and Danny Califf (88^th minute), plus a red card to Jack McInerney (94^th minute).

This was the first lost of the MLS season for Philadelphia, who maintain first place in the Eastern Conference.

Now in second place in the Western Conference with seven points, the Galaxy will face off against Eastern Conference D.C. United for a match Saturday, 4 p.m. PST.

Summary

With more afternoon games

Article

Ready to forget last year’s dismal conclusion, the Los Angeles Galaxy announced their schedule for the 2009 Major League Soccer regular season.

The club will once again play 30 games, 15 at home and 15 on the road, in 2009, starting with their season opener against four-time MLS Cup champion, D.C. United, at The Home Depot Center on Sunday, March 22, noon.

Other highlights include the Galaxy’s first-ever game against the expansion team, Seattle Sounders FC, at Qwest Field on Sunday, May 10, noon; the match against defending MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew on Sunday, May 17, noon; and the Galaxy’s annual Fourth of July match — this year they go against the New England Revolution (8 p.m. kickoff).

For the second consecutive year, the Galaxy play six matches against their two California rivals, Chivas USA and the San Jose Earthquakes. In 2008, the Galaxy had a combined record of 3-1-2 against these two rivals.

With more afternoon games than usual, the LA Galaxy are now accepting deposits for the 2009 season. A non-refundable deposit of 25% per seat secures your place for each 2009 Galaxy regular season game, plus great benefits including exclusive events with the team, special season seat holder gifts, and much more.

LA GALAXY 2009 MLS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:

Sunday March 22 vs. D.C. United Noon
Saturday April 4 vs. Colorado 7:30 p.m.
Saturday April 11 vs. Chivas USA 7:30 p.m.
Saturday April 18 at San Jose 7:30 p.m.
Saturday April 25 at Colorado 6:30 p.m.
Saturday May 2 vs. New York 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday May 6 at Real Salt Lake 6:00 p.m.
Sunday May 10 at Seattle Noon
Sunday May 17 vs. Columbus Noon
Saturday May 23 at FC Dallas 5:30 p.m.
Saturday May 30 vs. Kansas City 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 6 at Toronto FC 12:30 p.m.
Saturday June 13 vs. Real Salt Lake 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 20 at San Jose 1:00 p.m.
Sunday June 28 vs. Houston 8:00 p.m.
Saturday July 4 vs. New England 8:00 p.m.
Saturday July 11 at Chivas USA 7:30 p.m.
Saturday July 18 at New York 3:00 p.m.
Saturday July 25 at Kansas City 5:30 p.m.
Saturday August 8 at New England 3:00 p.m.
Saturday August 15 vs. Seattle 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 19 at Chicago 6:00 p.m.
Saturday August 22 at D.C. United 4:30 p.m.
Saturday August 29 vs. Chivas USA 8:00 p.m.
Saturday September 12 vs. FC Dallas 7:30 p.m.
Saturday September 19 vs. Toronto FC 7:30 p.m.
Saturday September 26 at Columbus 4:30 p.m.
Friday October 2 vs. Chicago 8:00 p.m.
Sunday October 18 at Houston Noon
Saturday October 24 vs. San Jose 7:30 p.m.

Summary

A full day of Los Angeles Galaxy soccer for one low price

Article

Die hard Los Angeles Galaxy fans who cannot get enough of that cosmic soccer stuff at home can follow their team up north to cheer the players on as they challenge California rivals, San Jose Earthquakes, Saturday June 14, 7 p.m.

For $65 per person, fans can purchase the Away Game Travel Package. The Package generously includes one ticket to the game, round trip transportation from The Home Depot Center to McAfee Coliseum and admittance to a special Galaxy Travel Package Tailgate.

All fans who purchase their tickets to the game through this special promotion will be seated alongside fellow Galaxy fans, allowing for support strength in numbers as they cheer their club toward their second victory against San Jose this year 400 miles away from the first one, which was played on Galaxy turf.

You rise-and-shine supporters need to arrive at The Home Depot Center and park in Lot #11 at 8:30 a.m., with all buses departing the stadium at 9 a.m.

The buses are scheduled to arrive at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland at 4 p.m. where fans can get ready for the game with complimentary Chipolte burritos (chicken, carne or vegetarian), chips with salsa and guacamole, along with soda and Budweiser. The tailgate party will be held in the parking lot of McAfee Coliseum until the 7 p.m. kickoff.

Following the game, buses will depart from McAfee Coliseum at 10:30 p.m. and are scheduled to arrive back at The Home Depot Center at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 15, less than nine hours prior to the start if the U.S. National Team’s inaugural 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against Barbados, which begins at 2 p.m. at The Home Depot Center.

I wish I could go.

To sign up go to http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/t106/pdf/2008/galaxy_sanjose.pdf  for an order form.  The form must be faxed to 310/630-2251 by Tuesday, June 10. For more information go to www.lagalaxy.com.