The Daily Sports Herald

Jam Defeat D-Fenders 110-107

2012-01-22T23:40:00.000-08:00

The starting backcourt of Osiris Eldridge and Jeremy Wise led the Bakersfield Jam to a 110-107 road victory over the Los Angeles D-Fenders Saturday night.

After falling behind by 19 points in the first half, the D-Fenders roared back to set up a thrilling finish. Down three, former Celtic first round pick Gerald Green connected from downtown to tie the game at 106 apiece with 40 seconds remaining.

However, Jeremy Wise and Juan Pattillo went on to convert clutch free throws to give Bakersfield the lead. Pattillo would finish the game with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Green would then miss a potential game-tying three at the buzzer. He would finish with 25 points off the bench.

Eldridge scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed eight boards. Wise recorded 23 points and dished out eight assists.

Former New York Knick and Los Angeles Clipper Mardy Collins led the D-Fenders in scoring with 26 points. Elijah Millsap had 20, while Orien Greene added 13 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Bakersfield improved to 12-10 with the win. The loss dropped the D-Fenders to 17-8 on the season.

The two teams will meet again for the third consecutive game on Thursday, January 26 at 7 p.m. PT in Bakersfield.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

A Day For The Birds: Pigeons 36, Falcons 0

2012-01-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

Photo By Shaji Thottathil

Qatar -- While NFL playoffs continue in America, a championship of a different kind is being contested in Qatar.

Earlier this month Qatari falconers and falconry fans gathered for the start of the 3rd Qatar International Falcon and Hunting Festival -- an event which will see some 1300 birds and their owners compete.

The festival will also include dog racing, target shooting demonstrations, and a “Junior Falconer” competition all held under the patronage of Shiekh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Prizes include new luxury landcrusiers for the winners.

Journalists who made the hour drive near the Saudi border, had to wait on the roadside for off-road transport to the event's desert location.

Eventually a Qatari organizer arrived in his land cruiser. The driver tossed a dead pigeon from the backseat before journalists climbed inside. As the press was taxied to the event, the owner’s prized falcon road “shotgun” next to him.

Early Bird Special

Despite this hiccup, the event ran smoothly. Following the Friday prayer, a large buffet of traditional Arab cuisine was served in a large tent to falcon owners, foreign fans, security guards, and the TV crew for the event.

But chicken kebabs proved to be the only birds eaten on the first day of the festival.

The 36 falcons in the first round of the competition failed to catch a single pigeon. Each pigeon (chosen by lottery) was given a small head-start before a falcon was released in pursuit. But not one of the 36 Falcons released during the event recorded a kill due to strong winds. The first day of the event was designed as a qualification round for rookie falcons.

Photo By Joe Hammond

Some two hundred spectators sitting upon golden King Louis-Farouk chairs shaded by a canopy, watched the action through expensive binoculars.

For a while others watched on two large Jumbotron TV screens. At first the two hundred or so fans were engrossed in the action. Gradually the crowds lost interest as it became clear high winds were preventing the falcons from making kills. Soon the atmosphere was more festive than sporting.

Some in attendance commented that pigeons were a poor replacement for hubara, quail hunted by falconers around the globe.

One of the organizers, Mohammed Saad Al-Romeh had returned early from a hunt in the deserts of Algeria to attend to the festival. Though happy with his expedition, he conceded that hunting quail in Algeria was less than optimal, "the best places to hunt are in Iraq and Iran," he explained.

Millennium Falcons

The festival's participants believe that falconry is an important expression of Qatari culture and a link to thousands of years of tradition.

However, Qatari women seem to have a different take on the event. Some believe falconry has become an expensive hobby and an obsession. Entry level birds can be purchased for 10,000 dollars, while an elite bird can cost as much as 150,000 dollars.

Reem, a young Qatari woman asked to comment on the event shared her thoughts: “My brother is obsessed with his falcon.”

She explained that he often stares at it for hours and takes it to the veterinarian over phantom concerns about its wings.

Photo By Joe Hammond

Indeed, falcons must be trained everyday to form a partnership between the falcon and falconer. Despite this bond, tracking numbers are attached to the leg of every falcon to help locate strays.

As Reem explains, falcons sometimes have flight plans of their own, "sometimes my brother’s bird gets away and when this happens we have received calls from the UAE, 'Dude we found your bird, come pick it up.'"

The UAE has let fly a rival Falcon event of its own which also bills itself as the largest falconry event in the world. However, the Qatari organizers believe that bird-for-bird the Qatar International Falcon and Hunting Festival is the king of the wings.

By Joe Hammond
Contributing Writer for The Daily Sports Herald

A version of this post originally appeared on The Arabist

Rigondeaux Wins Super Bantamweight Title With KO of Ramos

2012-01-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

Rigondeaux (White Trunks) Attacks
Tom Casino / SHOWTIME

Guillermo Rigondeaux won a world title in only his ninth professional fight by knocking out the defending World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion Rico Ramos at 1:29 of the sixth round at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

In his first title defense, Ramos never found his rhythm.

"Rico Ramos is a very good fighter," Rigondeaux said. "But I train very hard and when I train, no one can beat me."

The quick and slick Rigondeaux scored a knockdown in the first round and threw a slew of rapid-fire power shots, but Ramos survived the early adversity.

From there, Rigondeaux methodically controlled the pace, although both fighters seemed a bit tentative and unwilling to engage from the second through the fifth rounds.

In the sixth, Rigondeaux (9-0, 7 KOs) bothered Ramos by holding and hitting. Joe Cortez warned Rigondeaux as Ramos (20-1, 11 KOs) recovered, but Rigondeaux smelled blood in the water.

The Cuban then burst from his corner and belted Ramos with power shots to the head and a solid left hook to the midsection, sending Ramos to the canvas for a count of ten.

"He hit me in the back of the head and I got dizzy," said Ramos. "The referee told us to fight and I wanted to take my time. That’s when he caught me with the body shot and I fell. I’m going to bounce back harder. I’ll be up in that gym next week."

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

St. Louis Rams To Play Three Regular Season "Home" Games in UK

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

In an unprecedented move, the St. Louis Rams have committed to playing three regular-season home games abroad on an annual basis, the NFL announced today.

The Rams will play one regular-season home game in London in 2012, 2013, and 2014, beginning with a game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, October 28, 2012, at historic Wembley Stadium.

"The response to NFL games in the U.K. among our British fans has been exceptional," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We are confident that having the Rams host one game in the U.K. in each of the next three seasons will allow us to better serve the growing popularity of our sport beyond the borders of the United States."

Last October 11, NFL owners approved a resolution that authorized the league to schedule regular-season games in the U.K. in each of the next five years. All clubs were permitted to volunteer to play at least one regular-season game per year as a home team in the U.K. on an annual basis for up to five years, and the Rams’ proposal was selected.

"This is a tremendous honor for our franchise, the city of St. Louis and our fans throughout the world," said Rams owner Stan Kroenke. "We are excited about the opportunity to reach new audiences globally."

By playing three consecutive home games in London, the Rams are taking a calculated risk. Essentially the team will be adding another road game to its schedule which could have an impact on the franchise's win-loss record and ability to get into the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Rams could position themselves to be one of the more popular teams among international fans due to the continuity of their three consecutive appearances.

The Rams, who earlier this week announced the hiring of head coach Jeff Fisher, will face the Patriots – who on Sunday will play for the AFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XLVI – next season in London. New England defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London in 2009.

The international series of regular-season games to date has contributed to increased NFL fan interest in the U.K., with a current fan base of 11 million, including more than two million avid fans, a 32% increase in the past two years.

Television ratings have also shown tremendous growth – with Sunday viewership of NFL games up 154% and the Super Bowl audience increased 74% since 2006 – while the league has developed new and stronger business partnerships.

“When the initial resolution to play international regular-season games was approved in 2006, the thinking at the time was that we would have two new teams every year,” said NFL Vice President of International Chris Parsons. “As the series evolved, we saw that having a team return to the U.K. on a regular basis would increase fan interest for that particular team, which in turn would drive fan growth for the entire league.”

The game between the Rams and Patriots at Wembley Stadium will be the only NFL contest in the U.K. next season.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Beckham Returns to LA Galaxy to Continue His Success in MLS

2012-01-19T18:57:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles -- On Thursday afternoon, the LA Galaxy held a press conference at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles to officially announce the return of David Beckham to the team.

Beckham, appearing with Tim Leiweke of AEG and head coach Bruce Arena, addressed the media as it was announced that he and the Galaxy have come to terms for a 2-year deal.

Throughout the press conference, Beckham consistently stated his first priority is his family and that his family's desire to live in Southern California were very important reasons for staying in America.

"I've seen first hand how popular soccer is now in the States and I'm as committed as ever to growing the game here," Beckham said. "My family and I are incredibly happy and settled in America and we look forward to spending many more years here."

Furthermore, the Galaxy's support of his plans to play in the 2012 Olympics in London this summer were considerations in the decision.

More importantly for Galaxy fans, Beckham stated that his drive to seek multiple MLS titles with the Galaxy was an important factor in signing this 2-year deal.

"This was an important decision for me," Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said. "I had many offers from clubs from around the world, however, I'm still passionate about playing in America and winning trophies with the Galaxy."

Beckham will team up with Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane for a full season together in 2012 (Donovan and Keane currently are on international loans), as the Galaxy will begin their defense of the MLS Championship in March.

By Brian Kowalski
Staff Reporter for The Daily Sports Herald

USA Basketball Announces 20 Finalists for 2012 U.S. Olympic Men's Team

2012-01-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

Eight 2008 Olympic gold medalists and ten 2010 World Championship gold medalists were among the 20 finalists named today for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team by USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo.

The 20 finalists are:

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers)
Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers)
Chris Bosh (Miami Heat)
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies)
Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets)
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers)
LeBron James (Miami Heat)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks)
Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets)

Griffin was also officially added to the USA Basketball National Team roster.

The 2012 USA coaching staff will be led by Duke University's Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. His assistants will be Syracuse University's Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.

"The USA Basketball Men's National Team program has come a long way as the elite list of players who are now part of our program shows. The selected finalists are a very, very talented group; the depth of the talent is extraordinary. This selection decision was as difficult of a challenge as I've faced since I took on the USA National Team program in 2005," said Colangelo, who has served as the managing director of the USA Men's National Team since 2005.

"I feel like we have an outstanding blend of talents from the 2008 Olympic and 2010 World Championship teams that won gold. Reducing to the official roster limit of 12 players will be an even tougher decision, but we'll evaluate how guys play during the 2011-12 NBA season and as we've done with our teams in the past, we'll attempt to select the very best team we can."

Noticeably absent from the finalists were Stephen Curry and Danny Granger, with Curry being the bigger surprise of the two due to his outstanding outside shooting. Granger's absence was expected given that he was used sparingly by coach K at the previous FIBA World Championships.

One area where cuts might be expected would be at point guard, where five of the finalists will be competing for perhaps three spots. Still, Colangelo could get creative and keep more than expected, since Westbrook, Billups, and Deron Williams all have the size and versatility to also defend opposing 2's at times.

The addition of Aldridge and Griffin, the two "new" players in the program (Aldridge technically played for the select team in the past), shows that perhaps USA Basketball might be looking to add more size and rebounding to the roster.

In a media teleconference call today, I asked coach K specifically if the team might emphasize more size on its roster this time, departing from the previous practice of going small and playing certain players outside their natural position.

Krzyzewski indicated that the team would consider such a move, and elaborated on the international game.

"The international game is a little bit different, and one thing is there are more continuity offenses, much more so than the NBA where isolations -- there's more continuities," said Krzyzewski. "So versatility on defense is essential. Like in the 2008 Olympics, Bosh did an amazing job at the center position."

"However, things change. The lane has changed. I think that's the most important thing to consider. There's no longer the trapezoid; it's the NBA lane. So there may be more low-post play than there has been in the past for international competition."

Colangelo indicated that the roster would be reduced down to the final 12 players by June 18, with practices expected to commence on July 6, 2012.

By Mike Elliott
Staff Editor for The Daily Sports Herald

Bryant and Rose Earn Player of the Week Honors

2012-01-16T11:19:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, January 9, through Sunday, January 15.

Despite a torn ligament in his shooting wrist, Bryant has been on an absolute tear of late, leading the league with his 32-point scoring average.

Bryant guided the Lakers to a 3-1 week, and led the league in scoring during that time with a 43 points-per-game average. Bryant tallied at least 40 points in each of the Lakers’ four games, with an impressive 48-5-3 effort in the Lakers 99-83 win over the Phoenix Suns on January 10.

Rose averaged 24 points and 9.3 assists while logging 38.8 minutes per contest as he helped the Bulls to a 5-0 week. Rose appeared in four of the Bulls’ five games, and posted two double-doubles, including a 31-point, 11-assist effort in Chicago’s 111-100 victory over Minnesota.

The Bulls currently lead the NBA with a 12-2 (.857) record.

Here is a recap of the week for Rose and Bryant:

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Jan. 9 vs. Detroit: Recorded 22 points and eight assists in a 92-68 win over the Pistons.

Jan. 10 vs. Minnesota: Tallied 31 points and 11 assists during a 111-100 victory over the Timberwolves.

Jan. 14 @ Toronto: Closed the week with 18 points, 11 assists and three steals during a 77-64 win over the Raptors.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Jan. 10 vs. Phoenix: Racked up 48 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 99-83 victory over the Suns.

Jan. 11 @ Utah: Tallied 40 points and added eight rebounds during a 90-87 win over the Jazz.

Jan. 13 vs. Cleveland: Posted 42 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals as the Lakers bested the Cavaliers 97-92.

Other nominees included Atlanta’s Josh Smith, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Houston’s Kyle Lowry, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Orlando’s Dwight Howard and Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

LA Galaxy Loan Keane to Aston Villa

2012-01-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

Only a few days after star defender Omar Gonzalez tore ligaments in his knee while on loan overseas to FC Nuremberg, the LA Galaxy has agreed to send forward Robbie Keane to Aston Villa of the Premier League on loan ahead of the start of the 2012 MLS season.

The Ireland international, who had been training with his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, since the start of January, began training with Alex McLeish’s squad earlier this week ahead of the completion of the loan.

He will be eligible to play for the Birmingham-based club beginning immediately and could make his debut this weekend against Everton and Galaxy captain Landon Donovan.

Keane could play in as many as eight games for Aston Villa, plus an additional friendly at the end of February when Ireland will host the Czech Republic.

Following that game, Keane will rejoin the Galaxy ahead of the club’s trip to Toronto for the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Toronto FC on Wednesday, March 7.

Originally signed by the Galaxy in August 2011, Keane had four goals and two assists in 11 games in all competitions for the club. He also added four goals during the club’s Asia Pacific Tour following the season.

With more than 100 Premier League goals to his name, Keane is one of the League’s all-time leading goal scorers and will add to an attack that features England internationals Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

NHL Announces Roster for All-Star Weekend

2012-01-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

A total of 36 All-Stars and 12 Rookies were selected by the National Hockey League today, joining the following six players already elected by the fans: Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Milan Michalek and Jason Spezza of the host Ottawa Senators; Dion Phaneuf of the Toronto Maple Leafs; and Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins.

The 42 All-Stars will play in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, January 29th in Ottawa. The 12 NHL Rookies, along with the 42 All-Stars, will participate in the All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday, January 28.

Following the success of last year's format, the All-Star Player Fantasy Draft will be held on Thursday, January 26, to divide the All-Stars and Rookies into two teams. Captains for each team will be announced next week.

Below are the additional 36 All-Stars and 12 Rookies:

Forwards

Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Tyler Seguin, Boston Bruins
Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
John Tavares , New York Islanders
Marian Gaborik , New York Rangers
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
Joffrey Lupul, Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Alex Ovechkin , Washington Capitals

Defensemen

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Brian Campbell , Florida Panthers
Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Dan Girardi , New York Rangers
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes
Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks
Dennis Wideman , Washington Capitals
Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets

Goaltenders

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues

12 Rookies

Luke Adam, Buffalo Sabres
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Gabriel Landeskog , Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
Craig Smith, Nashville Predators
Adam Henrique , New Jersey Devils
Adam Larsson , New Jersey Devils
Colin Greening, Ottawa Senators
Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
Matt Read, Philadelphia Flyers
Cody Hodgson, Vancouver Canucks

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Kings Goaltender Jonathan Quick Earns NHL All-Star Selection

2012-01-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick has been selected to play in the upcoming NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa on Sunday, January 29th.

Quick, 26, will be making his first NHL All-Star Game appearance. He is the fourth different Kings goaltender to make the All-Star team and the first since Mario Lessard in 1981. The other previous Kings goaltenders include Terry Sawchuk and Rogie Vachon.

This season, the 6-1, 214-pound Quick is 18-11-6 with a 1.93 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage, and six shutouts.

Among NHL goaltenders, he is ranks fourth in GAA (1.93), fifth in save percentage (.934), and first in shutouts (6). In addition, he is tied for seventh in wins (18), sixth in appearances (35), and seventh in saves (942).

But what makes Quick's performance this season even more impressive is the fact that he has worked with such a small margin for error every time he has stepped onto the ice.

In other words, because of the Kings' inability to score goals, Quick has had the added pressure of knowing that just a mistake or two on his part might cost his team a game. In his 35 starts, the Kings attack has averaged a paltry 2.20 goals per game.

Despite those circumstances, Quick has excelled, winning NHL Star of the Week honors three times this season.

In 215 career NHL regular season games Quick is 114-77-18 with a 2.35 GAA, .915 save percentage, and 20 shutouts.

Among the Kings all-time franchise leaders, Quick ranks third in wins (114), first in save percentage (.915), second in shutouts (20), fourth in appearances (215), and second in saves (5,336).

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Colts Name Ryan Grigson As General Manager

2012-01-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

The changes continue inside the Indianapolis Colts' front office, as today the franchise hired Ryan Grigson as general manager.

“Ryan brings to the Colts an outstanding NFL personnel history and a record of achievement,” said Colts Owner & CEO Jim Irsay. “He is a bright and gifted administrator who is the right fit for our organization. He is the right person for the challenges of his new role, and I am confident he can help us continue the winning tradition we have enjoyed, and that our fans have appreciated through the years.”

Grigson comes to the Colts following a nine-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, most recently as the director of player personnel from 2010-11.

After initially working for the Rams, Grigson joined the Eagles as a regional scout. Within two years, he was elevated to the team’s Director of College Scouting position.

Grigson developed an impressive track record with Philadelphia, contributing to the draft selections of running back LeSean McCoy; wide receivers Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, and Jason Avant; tight end Brent Celek; and defensive tackle Trevor Laws.

Moreover, Grigson recently assisted in the signing of several free agents, including cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive end Jason Babin, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, wide receiver Steve Smith, and quarterback Vince Young.

In addition, he also helped orchestrate the trade which sent Kevin Kolb to Arizona in exchange for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick.

Although all those newly-added parts did not mesh during the early part of the season, the team's play did improve later as players returned from injury.

“I’m excited for the challenge and I’m excited to know I have the support of someone like Jim Irsay who is a great owner and a “football” guy,” said Grigson. “That was comforting to me and it set the wheels in motion right away. I knew immediately, this is where I wanted to be. From the onset this was a fit for me. I just felt it. Just as you have instincts in all areas of life, evaluation and football. Right away, I knew in my gut that it felt right.”

Grigson will be stepping immediately into a controversy, as he will need to address the team's dilemma at quarterback with the NFL Draft fast-approaching and Andrew Luck on the board.

The smart money is on the Colts to select Luck, but Grigson will need to first evaluate the health of Peyton Manning, who missed the entire season due to a neck injury.

A healthy Manning could spell a quarterback controversy, or perhaps even what was once unthinkable -- the potential trade of number 18.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Jets Hire Sparano As Offensive Coordinator

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

With Brian Schottenheimer out and quarterback Mark Sanchez coming off a disappointing season, the New York Jets looked to Tony Sparano to right the ship, hiring him as the team's offensive coordinator.

“When we sat down with Tony, I knew that he was the right person at the right time for our offense,” said Head Coach Rex Ryan. “I’ve admired his work as a competitor in the division for the past three seasons. His teams were always physical, tough and hard-nosed.”

Sparano joins the Jets after spending the previous four seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

In his first year with the Dolphins, Sparano posted an 11-5 record -- a ten game improvement from the prior year -- and won the AFC East. In his three-plus seasons with the Dolphins, he compiled a 29-32 record.

Under Sparano, Miami’s offense saw QB Chad Pennington throw for a career-high 3,653 yards in 2008 and post a 97.4 passer rating en route to winning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award.

Sparano's retro "Wildcat" offense -- borne out of necessity due to the lack of weapons in Miami -- has influenced offensive football at all levels, as most offensive coordinators now have some run package involving direct snaps to a running back. Given such history, expect Sparano to emphasize more of a run-first approach next year.

Under Sparano’s offense, the Dolphins had running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams each register at least 600 yards rushing from 2008-10, while Reggie Bush this season registered his first 1,000-yard rushing performance of his career.

“I’m very proud to be part of such an outstanding organization and to have an opportunity to work with these players,” said Sparano. “I know this division very well and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Prior to being named head coach in Miami, Sparano coached the Dallas Cowboys. In 2006 as the primary play-caller, the Cowboys offense ranked fourth in scoring and fifth in total offense, producing two 1,000-yard wide receivers in Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, and a 1,000-yard rusher in Julius Jones.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Bighorns Defeat Vipers and Lottery Pick Marcus Morris in D-League Clash

2012-01-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

Marcus Morris brought his lottery credentials, but Andre Emmett and Blake Ahearn left with the winning ticket.

Emmett, a former 2004 second-round pick, scored 36 points, while Ahearn added 26 points and 12 assists, as the hometown Reno Bighorns (9-9) defeated the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, 116-99.

“A lot went right for us tonight,” said Ahearn, the NBA D-League’s leading scorer (25.4 ppg). “When you have a bunch of guys clicking on the same page that know how to play, it’s fun to be out there.”

Emmett shot a red-hot 16-for-23 from the field, and also had nine rebounds and a game-high five steals.

Morris, the fourteenth overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft currently on assignment from the Houston Rockets, finished with 24 points and nine boards. Willie Warren, a former second-round pick of the Los Angeles Clippers, added 14 points.

Reno will play Wednesday against Iowa. The Vipers (11-8) return to action Thursday against Springfield.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

D-Fenders Beat Springfield 97-82

2012-01-09T16:19:00.000-08:00

Brandon Costner, the reigning NBA Development League Player of the Month, put on an offensive clinic, scoring 29 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-7 from behind the arc, as the LA D-Fenders defeated Springfield, 97-82 in the second game of the 2012 NBA D-League Showcase.

“I was able to get into a pretty good rhythm early, and my teammates continued to find me in the right spots,” said Costner, who ranks second in the NBA D-League in scoring (24.4 ppg). “I tried to exploit mismatches and be aggressive, and when they started doubling, I started kicking it out and making the right basketball play.”

Costner, who went undrafted out of North Carolina State in 2009, spent last season with the Utah Flash, averaging 15.5 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Behind Costner’s hot shooting, the D-Fenders shot 52 percent for the game. Elijah Millsap, a training camp invitee of the L.A. Lakers, added 14 points and nine rebounds.

L.D. Williams and JamesOn Curry each scored 19 points for Springfield (8-9), which shot only 35 percent from the field. Jeff Foote had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Los Angeles (14-6) returns to action Wednesday against Maine. Springfield takes on Rio Grande Valley Thursday.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Pagano Named Chargers Defensive Coordinator

2012-01-05T22:18:00.000-08:00

The San Diego Chargers named veteran defensive coach John Pagano as the team’s new defensive coordinator, replacing Greg Manusky, who was released earlier in the day.

Pagano spent the last 10 seasons on San Diego’s staff and has coached linebackers since 2005, helping develop Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman among other players.

“John has worked extremely hard and been very patient to get this opportunity,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “I’m excited about John’s experience with this defense, his familiarity with our team and where we can go with his direction.”

“I’m very humbled and honored that they would consider me for the position,” Pagano said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed about, being here 11 years in San Diego.”

Under Pagano's watch, young players Antwan Barnes and Donald Butler flourished. Barnes led the team and set a career high with 11 sacks this season. Butler, in his first NFL season, led the team with 10 tackles for loss in addition to two sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

“We’re going to go out and play fundamentally sound defense,” Pagano said. “It’s still about tackling the guy with the football and getting after the quarterback and covering people downfield. We’re going to do what we need to do to help the Chargers win football games.”

The real surprise in San Diego is that Turner and General Manager A.J. Smith still have jobs after back-to-back disappointing seasons. Apparently, management felt that the real culprit must have been Manusky, rather than Smith's lackluster drafts or Turner's history of mediocrity.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Illini Feast on Bruins' Mistakes at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

2011-12-31T21:54:00.000-08:00

Illinois' Whitney Mercilus Pursues Fumble
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

San Francisco – A troubled Illinois Illini program gained back some momentum for next year, defeating an error-prone UCLA Bruins squad, 20-14, on a sunny New Year's Eve day in front of 29,878 fans at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Dual-threat quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase sparked the Illini with 110 yards rushing and 139 yards passing.

Entering the game however, much of the focus was off the field, as both squads were led by interim head coaches.

Illinois started the season 6-0, and then collapsed, dropping its final six games. As a result, head coach was Ron Zook was dismissed and replaced by Vic Koenning.

To add further instability to the situation, Koenning did not know whether his offensive assistants would be available until the morning of game day.

Meanwhile, UCLA had won the Pac-12’s South Division, but entered the game with a 6-7 record marked by inconsistent play and a humiliating blowout loss to rival USC.

That loss prompted the dismissal of coach Rick Neuheisel and the hiring of former NFL coach Jim Mora for the 2012 season. Interim coach Mike Johnson was therefore given the task of manning the fort solely for this bowl game.

The first quarter was simply a battle of field position, as both offenses were stymied repeatedly on third down.

UCLA’s defenders made several standout plays during the quarter, with perhaps the most important being a touchdown-saving tackle by Keenan Graham on an Illini trick play.

With the Illini driving, Scheelhaase threw a lateral in the flat to receiver Darius Millines, who then completed a pass back across the field to a wide-open Scheelhaase. With daylight ahead and only one man to beat, Graham was able to make a nice open-field tackle.

On the very next play, the Bruins would make a drive-killing interception when a Scheelhaase pass bounced off of Illinois' Jon Davis and into linebacker Jordan Zumwalt's hands.

UCLA's Taylor Embree Catches TD Pass
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

After the UCLA D stuffed the Illini on a fourth-and-one at the Illinois 45, the Bruins opened the scoring in the second quarter when Kevin Prince connected on a 16-yard fade pattern to receiver Taylor Embree in the corner of the endzone.

Prince lofted a nice ball to the 6’3” Embree, who subtly pushed the smaller Illini defensive back to create space for the grab.

The Bruins defense would come through again later in the quarter, stuffing the Illini on fourth down when Illinois pitched the ball to kicker Derek Dimke on a fake field goal.

UCLA's special teams read the play and did not let Dimke break contain on the right side, tackling him for a four-yard loss.

On the very next series, the UCLA offense would botch a center-to-quarterback snap in the pistol formation, as the ball flew beyond the reach of Prince and was recovered by the Illini at UCLA's 30-yard line.

Once more, the Bruin defense would make a stand, as Glenn Love and Datone Jones sacked Scheelhaase for a 15-yard loss on third-and-goal. That win on third down would lead to a 36-yard Dimke field goal to close the half at 7-3.

The third quarter developed into a series of errors by both teams, essentially revealing why each squad has struggled throughout the year.

Both teams would make deep drives into their opponent's territory, only to then shank makeable field goals – 34 yards by UCLA’s Tyler Gonzalez and 37 yards by Dimke – wide right.

UCLA’s Prince would add in his own mistake for good measure, throwing a pick six to cornerback Terry Hawthorne on a pass across the wide side of the field for a 10-7 Illinois lead with :43 seconds left in the third quarter.

Hawthorne would make a nice read on the ball, step into the passing lane, and then waltz 39 yards uncontested into the endzone.

From that moment onward, the Bruins appeared to be on their heels the remainder of the game.

UCLA's Kevin Prince Scrambles
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

"The corner just jumped it," Prince said. "'It was a little hitch route. I was anticipating him playing in the quarters-type look, where he's going to be off, cover-two look. And he just picked the ball off. Good play by him."

The Illini would add to their momentum at the start of the fourth quarter, as Scheelhaase made several great cuts on a beautiful 37-yard run.

That run would lead to a 37-yard Dimke field goal, and a 13-7 Illinois lead with 12:17 left.

Scheelhaase would put the nail in the coffin on the Illini’s next series, connecting with wideout A.J. Jenkins on a quick slant for a 60-yard touchdown. That score would give Illinois a 20-7 edge with only 5:36 remaining in the contest.

UCLA struggled to generate much offense in the second half, finishing the game with a paltry 18 yards rushing on 30 carries. As a result, the Bruins ball-control attack would possess the pigskin for a mere 26 minutes the entire game.

UCLA eventually would score a late touchdown in garbage time when Prince completed a 38-yard pass to Nelson Rosario. However, the Bruins subsequent onside kick attempt would fail.

Illinois improved to 7-6 with the win. UCLA fell to 6-8 on the year.

Illinois Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase Prepares to Pass
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

Player of the Game: Nathan Scheelhaase

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase was a virtual one man band for Illinois, wearing down the Bruins defense in the second half with both his arm and his legs.

The Illini gave UCLA a heavy dose of designed quarterback keepers, which Scheelhaase eventually turned into big gains. That in turn opened up the Illini's passing game.

"He was slippery," said UCLA linebacker Jordan Zumwalt. "We did not expect him to run as much as he did."

News and Notes

1. Former 49ers Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and Joe Montana were present for the coin toss.

2. Standout Illinois defense end Whitney Mercilus had three TFL's and 1.5 sacks to finish with 16 scks on the year, tops in the country. His 16 sacks equaled the school record set by Simeon Rice. Of tying the record, Mercilus said it was "a great, humbling feeling."

3. New Bruins coach Jim Mora was in the press box and spoke briefly with the media. He dismissed any Neuheisel-era talk of a Los Angeles "monopoly," stating that he was focused only "on the future."

By Mike Elliott
Staff Editor for The Daily Sports Herald

Photos by Tri Le
Photography Editor for The Daily Sports Herald

Pac-12 and Big Ten Agree to Inter-Conference Schedule in 2017

2011-12-28T17:30:00.000-08:00

The Pac-12 Conference and the Big Ten have announced a collaborative effort to increase long-term scheduling commitments between the two conferences across all sports.

The agreement will feature more games between the two conferences in an effort to broaden the national scope of both conferences. Details of the new effort will continue to unfold as administrators and conference staff members meet in the coming year.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 share a tradition of intercollegiate competition, dating back to the inaugural Rose Bowl Game in 1902. The two conferences have met in Pasadena on 62 occasions, including 55 consecutive meetings from 1947-2001.

With the creation of the BCS however, the traditional Rose Bowl battle no longer requires that the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions square off in Pasadena each year. Last season, the Big Ten's Wisconsin faced mid-major TCU in the "Grandaddy of them all," while Pac-12 champion Oregon competed in the BCS title game.

In a climate of conference expansion mania permeating throughout the NCAA, consider this arrangement "expansion-lite." Essentially, each conference will get to play a new set of schools on a regular basis, but without the burden of having to actually incorporate any of those institutions into their conferences.

“As other conferences continue to grow through expansion, we believe there is great merit in deepening the historic relationship between the Big Ten and Pac-12,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. “We believe that both conferences can preserve that sense of collegiality and still grow nationally by leveraging our commonalities in a way that benefits student-athletes, fans and alumni. This collaboration can and will touch many institutional undertakings, and will complement our academic and athletic missions.”

The move also figures to expand the recruiting base of both conferences, with the Big Ten gaining an increased foothold into California's coveted football recruiting base. Likewise, the Pac-12 will stand to gain in basketball by increasing their access to Midwest recruits.

Moreover, the arrangement seems logical for the Pac-12, as there not only is a tradition of competition between the conferences, but also a comparable standard of academic excellence. From an academic standpoint, the agreement makes more sense than a collaboration with the SEC.

In football, the objective will be to create an annual 12 inter-conference game schedule between the two conferences by the 2017 season.

The plan calls for each school to play an opponent from the other conference every year with some flexibility built into the process to respect existing post-2017 FBS non-conference match-ups. Additionally, more inter-conference games are expected to appear sooner based on schedule openings.

“Through numerous conversations over the past several months with stakeholders from the Big Ten and Pac-12, we decided there would be great value in building upon the history and collegiality that exists between our member institutions, by initially committing to an increased frequency of play between our schools in all sports,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott.

Many sports, including men’s and women’s basketball, could see an increased level of inter-conference competition in the near term, possibly as early as the 2012-13 academic year. Over the coming months there will be a series of detailed scheduling planning meetings among administrators of both conferences to work out exact details.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

NBA Reduces Suspensions of Bynum, Villanueva

2011-12-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

The NBA announced today that due to the shortened 2011-12 season, the league will reduce the season-opening suspensions for Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons.

Bynum’s five-game suspension for making unnecessary and excessive contact to J.J. Barea of the Dallas Mavericks in last year’s playoffs has been reduced to four games. He will miss the first four games of the 2011-12 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

The reduction is great news for a Lakers frontcourt now suddenly thin since the offseason giveaway of sixth man Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks.

More importantly, Bynum's return provides a reliable scoring option in the post for a lineup fraught with questions, as team leader Kobe Bryant will be dealing for several weeks with a torn ligament in his shooting wrist. Bynum played particularly well offensively in the Lakers preseason loss to the LA Clippers Wednesday night.

Villanueva’s five-game suspension for initiating an on-court altercation with Ryan Hollins of the Cleveland Cavaliers and attempting to escalate the altercation by entering the Cavaliers’ locker room has been reduced to four games.

Since Villanueva already served one game of his suspension last season, he will miss the first three games of the 2011-12 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

2011 Year in Review: A Championship Season for the LA Galaxy

2011-12-20T22:44:00.000-08:00

Landon Donovan and Galaxy Celebrate Championship
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

The Galaxy came into the 2011 season with lofty goals following consecutive disappointments in the previous two seasons. From the outset, it was clear that the Galaxy would not settle for anything less than what they deserved in the 2009 and 2010 seasons -- a championship.

In the regular season the Galaxy proved themselves superior to their MLS competition, as they earned the Supporters' Shield for the second straight year and were undefeated at home.

In addition to the MLS season, the Open Cup, friendlies, and the World Football Challenge, the Galaxy also were participating in the CONCACAF Champions League, where they were able to earn a spot in 2012's knockout round by advancing out of their group.

As the 2011 MLS playoffs got underway, the Galaxy were forced to start out with a grueling and difficult series against the New York Red Bulls that they won 3-1 on aggregate. Three days later, LA would face Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Championship with little rest.

Real Salt Lake had beaten the Galaxy in the 2009 MLS Cup, and with the scored tied at 1-1 in the Conference Title game, Real Salt Lake appeared ready to knock the Galaxy out again.

However, this Galaxy squad -- built around the Big 3 of Beckham, Donovan, and Keane, as well as a remarkable defense -- would not let LA lose, as they beat Real Salt Lake 3-1 to avenge the 2009 loss.

Playing in the 2011 MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center before a record sellout crowd, the Galaxy squared off against the Houston Dynamo.

Fittingly, a play involving the Big 3 would bring the Galaxy their championship in the 72nd minute when David Beckham headed the ball to a running Robbie Keane, who juked his defender and left the ball off for Landon Donovan. Donovan flicked the ball into goal past the goalkeeper with the outside of his right foot and it went into the net before a sliding Houston defender could save it.

David Beckham Celebrates MLS Title
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

As the whistle blew on the 2011 season and possibly the David Beckham era, Donovan and Beckham embraced as the team swarmed them in celebration.

The Galaxy recently finished a soccer tour and vacation in Asia and Australia where they defeated all three opponents -- the Indonesia Selection Team, Philippines National Team, and Melbourne Victory.

In the three games, Beckham, Donovan, and Keane shined as their goals, penalty kicks, and assists led the way.

So what's next for the Galaxy? The answer depends on who stays.

David Beckham has been seriously linked to a new contract in Paris. Landon Donovan is on loan to Everton in the English Premier League. Omar Gonzalez is receiving interest from the EPL also, and other Galaxy players figure to be in high demand following their success in the 2011 season.

However the future turns out for the LA Galaxy, it was a 2011 season and era to remember.

By Brian Kowalski
Staff Reporter for The Daily Sports Herald

Highlight of the Day: Complete Fight Footage of Edison Miranda v Kariz Kariuki

2011-12-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

Here is the complete footage from Saturday's Edison "Pantera" Miranda versus Kariz Kariuki bout on the undercard of the Ward-Froch Super Six title bout. Miranda demonstrates that he still has some pop in his gloves:

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

New Look Clippers Show Off Their Star Power

2011-12-19T01:08:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles – Recently-acquired veterans Chris Paul, Caron Butler, and Chauncey Billups made their informal Los Angeles Clippers debut Sunday afternoon, as they participated in the team’s intra-squad scrimmage in front of 6,203 enthusiastic fans packed inside USC’s Galen Center.

The starting unit ended up winning the contest in overtime, 35-32, but most in attendance were less concerned about the score, and more focused on seeing how all the new talent would mesh on the floor.

With longtime fan “Clipper Darrell” leading the way, the LA family warmly welcomed the team’s newest members, as the fans broke into spontaneous chants of “Chauncey” and “CP3” during team introductions.

Paul appreciated the greeting, saying after the game that he was “extremely grateful for the welcome by the fans.”

Coach Vinny Del Negro’s first team, or the “Blue” squad, began the game with Paul and Billups starting in the backcourt, DeAndre Jordan at center, and Griffin and Butler at the forwards.

The opposing second unit, or "White" team, was comprised of Mo Williams at the point, Randy Foye at the 2, Ryan Gomes and Brian Cook at the forward spots, and rookie Trey Thompkins at center.

Griffin gave fans something to cheer about from the start, as he faced up against Brian Cook on the wing, and then drove for a little floater in the paint to tie the score at 2-2.

Chris Paul made his mark two possessions later, delivering a nice delayed bounce pass to Griffin off a screen-roll play for an “and one.” Griffin would sink the free throw to give the Blue squad a 5-4 edge.

The second unit responded quickly however, as Thompkins made a nice spin move on the baseline for a reverse layup and a 8-5 lead. A Gomes jumper would later extend that margin to 10-5.

Paul would score his first unofficial Clipper bucket shortly thereafter, as he rolled in a 15-foot jumper with roughly three minutes left in the first half.

But Paul’s signature moment of the first half would come when he threw a nice, no-look dime to a cutting Butler in transition for an easy score. It was the type of fast break basket that fans have eagerly anticipated since the Paul trade was made.

In the second half, the Blues began to assert themselves. A Griffin iso on the right side led to a spectacular between-the-legs crossover and dribble drive that culminated in a thunderous reverse dunk.

CP3 later added to the excitement, finding Jordan in transition for a beautiful lob dunk.

The first team would eventually find themselves up 32-29 with only five seconds remaining, but on a play set up out of a timeout, Foye came off a screen to bury a deep trey and send the game into a one minute overtime period.

In overtime, CP3 would make the game's decisive play, penetrating to the rim on a pick and roll with Jordan for a layup plus the foul. Paul would hit the free throw, giving the first team its final margin of victory.

Ultimately, the most important aspect of the scrimmage was that the parts seemed to blend decent enough, especially given the team's lack of practice time.

In addition, the Paul-Billups backcourt functioned well and showed no signs of disaster, as Billups played primarily off the ball without issue.

Billups acknowledged there would be an "adjustment because we are both lead guards, but the one common denominator is we want to win."

What We Learned From This Game

Paul and Jordan already seem to have good chemistry. On two high pick-and-rolls with Jordan, Paul was able to read the defense, make a quick decision, and drive all the way to the rim for an easy bucket

Rookie big man Trey Thompkins displayed impressive skills and looked like he belonged. He confidently nailed two jumpers, including a spot up three, and also showed a nice drop step spin move in the post.

Mo Williams may not be starting, but he looked quick afoot and ready to contribute. On one play in the second half, Williams dove across the scorer's table trying to retrieve a loose ball.

Randy Foye looks to be in midseason form, as he drained several jumpers throughout the game.

By Mike Elliott
Staff Editor for The Daily Sports Herald

Andre Ward Defeats Carl Froch and Wins Super Six Tournament

2011-12-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: Tom Casino / SHOWTIME

With superior handspeed, elusive defense, and a left hook that could not miss, Andre Ward dominated England’s Carl Froch to win the Super Six Tournament final by a unanimous decision in front of 5,626 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The victory unified the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council super middleweight titles, and also earned Ward both The Ring Magazine belt and the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic cup. Moreover, Ward now has genuine bragging rights to the claim of Number One super middleweight in the world.

A frontrunner for Fighter of the Year, Ward’s (25-0, 13 KOs) impressive run through the tournament has anointed him as the man to beat at 168 pounds.

“It’s supernatural. These are all great fighters. That’s why you don’t hear me talking badly about them before the fight. I know what I’m getting into. I just want to be a little bit better on the night of the fight.”

Ward, of Oakland, California, was more than a little bit better, and proved once again that he can fight any type of fight and win convincingly. Despite being the faster, slicker boxer, Ward stayed in the pocket many times throughout the bout and exchanged with the heavy-hitting Froch.

In addition, Ward also displayed his superior defense and boxing ability by constantly blocking shots, moving his head, and slipping out of harm's way with good footwork.

“He’s very good defensively,” Froch said of Ward. “I couldn’t get my shots off. I never found myself in the range. Ward was either too close and smothering me or too far away.”

Ward was too quick for Froch, as he often got off first with an accurate jab or left hook. Froch (28-2, 20 KOs) seemed tight throughout the fight and frustrated by Ward’s ability to slip punches.

On the outside, Ward nullified Froch's four-inch reach advantage by getting off first with his faster hands. On the interior, Ward won the exchanges by throwing the shorter, straighter shots, as compared to Froch's more looping punches.

“Right away, I was actually surprised how slow Froch was,” said Ward. “We were just able to beat him to the punch and that’s what won us the fight.”

Froch was gracious in defeat and offered no excuses. “I lost tonight, fair and square. I had a bad night.”

He elaborated, “I couldn’t get anything going. He’s very slippery. It was very frustrating for me. It was a bad night.”

After the final bell, Ward raised his hands in victory when judge John Keane (United Kingdom) awarded him the bout 118-110, and both Craig Metcalfe (Canada) and John Stewart (United States) scored the 12-rounder for Ward at 115-113. The Metcalfe and Stewart scorecards were unjustly close, and reflected borderline incompetence on their part given the lopsided nature of the bout.

Ward’s arduous journey through the Super Six tournament included dominant victories over former champion Mikkel Kessler (TD11), Allan Green (UD12), Arthur Abraham (UD12), and Froch (UD12). He also won a tough bout over veteran Sakio Bika in between those tournament fights.

For Froch, the tournament provided mostly ups, but some significant downs. He scored a split decision win over Andre Dirrell before losing his WBC title in a unanimous decision loss to Kessler. He rebounded by winning back the vacant WBC belt by unanimous decision over Abraham and then scored a majority decision victory over Glen Johnson in the Semifinals.

The likely next opponent for Ward would be Lucian Bute, the one elite super middleweight who did not participate in the event. Bute has been racking up wins in Canada while the Super Six proceeded along, and is the lone big name left in the division for Ward to conquer.

Then again, there was a certain distinguished, bespectacled gentlemen observing the proceedings from ringside Saturday night. And should that gentlemen -- more commonly known as Bernard Hopkins -- ever decide to give the 168-pound division a try, Ward would certainly want to get his crack at the boxing legend.

By Mike Elliott
Staff Editor of The Daily Sports Herald

D-Fenders Fall to Jam and Eldridge's 52

2011-12-17T01:01:00.000-08:00

Osiris Eldridge scored an NBA Development League season-high 52 points, as the Bakersfield Jam (6-2) defeated the Los Angeles D-Fenders (7-4) by a score of 117-112 Friday night. With the win, the Jam moved into first place in the Western Conference. They also have the D-League's best record.

In a game that included 22 lead changes and 13 ties coming down to the wire, Eldridge delivered in the clutch, connecting on a long three pointer to put the Jam up 114-112 with 13.7 seconds left in the game.

Orien Greene missed a three on the other end and the D-Fenders were forced to foul with 6.7 seconds on the clock. Eldridge made the first free throw and missed the second, but Juan Pattillo was there for the offensive board. Los Angeles sent Eldridge back to the line where he converted both foul shots with 1.6 seconds remaining.

David Palmer recorded his fourth straight double-double for the Jam with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Pattillo almost reached a double-double as well, tallying 14 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

Mustapha Farrakhan scored all of his 14 points in the second half tonight, continuing his streak of double digit scoring in every Jam game this season.

Brandon Costner led LA with 36 points on the night. In his first game with the D-Fenders, Greene finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Eniel Polynice added 19 points and a game-high 9 assists.

The two teams square off again tomorrow evening in Los Angeles at the Toyota Sports Center, with tip-off at 6:30 p.m.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Timberwolves Sign J.J. Barea

2011-12-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves bolstered their guard corps today by signing free-agent José Juan Barea. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"We are excited to add J.J. Barea to our team," said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "His experience, leadership capabilities and all-around play should help us immensely this coming season and beyond."

An undersized point guard who can routinely break down defenses with his penetration ability, Barea figures to add some much needed playmaking and scoring punch to Minnesota's backcourt.

With former lottery pick Ricky Rubio on the roster, Barea likely will be utilized in a sixth man role as a scoring threat on the 'Wolves second unit. At times however, Barea and Rubio can be expected to play together, as the 6'4" Rubio is tall enough to guard 2's while Barea defends the opposing point guard.

Barea, 27, played in 81 games for Dallas in 2010-11, averaging 9.5 points and 3.9 assists in 20.5 minutes per contest. The 6-0 guard also appeared in 21 playoff games for the World Champion Mavericks, averaging 8.9 points and 3.4 assists in 18.6 minutes.

Barea tallied 22 points and eight assists in the Mavs' 2011 Western Conference Semifinals-clinching win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He started the final three games of the 2011 NBA Finals versus Miami, scoring 17 points in Game 4 and 15 points (on 7-for-12 shooting) in the deciding Game 5.

Barea has played five seasons in the NBA, all with Dallas, and owns career averages of 7.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 315 games.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald

Clippers Generate Buzz at Media Day

2011-12-14T01:42:00.000-08:00

Blake Griffin at Media Day
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

Playa Vista, CA -- Despite the presence of emerging superstar Blake Griffin and free agent acquisition Caron Butler, much of the attention at Tuesday's Clippers Media Day was focused on a non-Clipper nearly 2000 miles away -- New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul.

For the past several days, sources have reported that the Clippers and Hornets have been in extensive trade talks for Paul, with the Hornets apparent asking price consisting of center Chris Kaman, guard Eric Gordon, an unprotected first round pick (via Minnesota), and second-year players Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu.

Such rumors have left many of the current Clippers uncertain about who might be on the team when the season opens on Christmas.

When asked about the Paul rumors, Griffin stated, "obviously we'd love to have him. But if it doesn't work out, everybody on this team knows that we're ready to roll with this team."

Indeed, as presently constituted the Clippers roster has depth, size, experience, and athletic talent.

And with Los Angeles acquiring former All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups off waivers, Paul has become more luxury than necessity, on the court at least. Off the court, however, many feel that Paul will be needed to convince Griffin to sign with the team long term.

Were the season to begin today, the Clippers starting lineup would likely consist of the veteran Billups at the point, the explosive Gordon at the 2, Butler at the 3, Griffin at the 4, and either Kaman or the recently re-signed DeAndre Jordan at center.

The Clippers also would boast an impressive second unit coming off their pine, with Mo Williams, Bledsoe, Aminu, Ryan Gomes, Randy Foye, and the Jordan-Kaman tandem, all getting their share of rotation minutes.

DeAndre Jordan at Media Day
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

More importantly, there is an energy and excitement in Clipper Land that has not been seen in a long time.

Griffin and Gordon are two athletic and skilled players at their respective positions, each coming off solid seasons. Moreover, the surrounding cast is good and complements the team's two stars.

But the real change with the Clippers is coming from the top down, as the front office -- for the second-year in a row -- is aggressively trying to acquire a franchise-caliber player. Such aggression is a departure from the days when the team would let its stars walk away to other franchises, or fail to build around those stars.

Current GM Neil Olshey has either changed the culture or convinced owner Donald Sterling to spend because right now the Clips are showing a never-before-seen activism within the front office. And that is a refreshing, exciting change for the better.

"We think we've got a product on the floor right now that's giving a lot of people in the Western Conference pause," Olshey said. "We're as big and as deep as any team in the league right now. We think we're a threat already."

Clippers Media Day
Tri Le / The Daily Sports Herald

Chris Paul may never wind up in a Clipper uniform, but at least there appears to be a rational approach to the team's moves.

Olshey's signing of Jordan -- Griffin's close friend -- not only makes Kaman expendable, but also gains Griffin's trust in the franchise. Moreover, the Billups acquisition provides LA with a little leverage for a Paul deal because Billups is more than capable of running the point for the next two seasons.

Now when the Clippers talk about the playoffs, this team can be taken seriously. For LA, the regular "wait till next year" mantra has become so last year.

Photographs and story by Tri Le
Photography Editor and Contributing Writer for The Daily Sports Herald