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| redemption - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.31.07 (5:42 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya - The Contra Costa Times has an interesting take on the Chargers as the team enters the playoffs. While everyone is talking about the players seeking redemption for their three previous first round playoff losses... they are looking at the coach. Norv Turner indeed has something to prove as a coach. They write: As the final seconds of his team's 30-17 victory against the Raiders wound down Sunday, San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner strode onto the field, searching out Lane Kiffin for the obligatory coaches' handshake.
Before Turner reached Kiffin, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha stopped him and gave his former Raiders coach a hug. Next up in the reception line was Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington. Nose tackle Warren Sapp gave his old coach a slap on the back as he ran by.
"It was impressive to me the number of players that I was with their first and second year -- rookies, guys that were young players -- who came up to me after the game and wished me good luck in the playoffs and had good things to say," Turner said.
"And that means more to me. We wanted to win the game for team reasons, for what's right for our team. It's not a (situation) where there's animosity or anything. As I said at the time, it didn't work. It didn't work. We all move on."
Those well wishes, Turner said, meant much more to him than any revenge he garnered in beating the Raiders in his first game in Oakland since being fired after the 2005 season.
Of course Turner doesn't have much time to worry about paybacks. He's moving on to the playoffs with an 11-5, AFC West championship team that has won six straight games and 10 of its last 12.
For Turner, those 11 wins mark a career single-season high. But that's nothing compared to what he might accomplish in the coming weeks if the Chargers keep winning.
You see, Turner has long been the NFL's poster boy for the so-called Peter Principle. You know, the principle that a person, in whatever occupation, tends to ultimately rise to his level of his incompetence.
In Turner's case, you have a stellar NFL offensive coordinator who keeps getting hired -- miscast? -- as an NFL coach, first by the Washington Redskins, then by the Raiders and this year by the San Diego Chargers.
Turner was 49-59-1 in seven seasons with the Redskins, making the playoffs just once. He was fired after 13 games in 2000. Turner was 9-23 with the Raiders, getting axed after going 4-12 in 2005.
Thus ended the potential feel-good story of the local boy, who was raised in Martinez and played quarterback for Alhambra High School, leading the local NFL team back to glory.
That firing only added fodder for critics who believe Turner, for all his Xs and Os wizardry, doesn't have what it takes to be a successful NFL coach and lacks the leadership skills or the dominant personality it takes to lead an NFL team.
Now that the Chargers are in the playoffs, Turner has a chance to rid himself of that albatross. Getting to or winning the Super Bowl would do the trick. Even winning two playoff games and reaching the AFC title game would probably quiet some of Turner's critics.
Turner has already earned the respect of many of his players this year by the way he overcame a disastrous 1-3 start after replacing the fired Marty Schottenheimer. During a 30-16 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, Chargers fans began chanting "Marty! Marty!"
"He never flinched, and we never saw him flinch," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. "And that's what allowed us to continue to believe in what we were doing."
Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo said Turner "grew and matured" as a coach as the season progressed. Turner certainly grew to understand the key to winning in San Diego is to keep handing the ball to running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who wrapped up his second straight NFL rushing title Sunday.
Fortunately for Turner, new defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell's group started playing better and more aggressively, too, helping fuel the Chargers' surge.
"We're on the up escalator instead of the down escalator like we were last year," Chargers center Nick Hardwick said.
Peaking for the playoffs has been one of Turner's biggest themes. Last year under Schottenheimer, the Chargers finished 14-2 but blew an eight-point fourth-quarter lead and lost to New England 24-21 in the divisional playoffs. Exit Marty.
Often this season, Turner has been criticized for not being Schottenheimer. Now that the Chargers are in the playoffs, not being Schottenheimer is a good thing.
Schottenheimer has won 61.3 percent of his regular-season games but just 27.8 of his games in the postseason, where he's 5-13 overall and 0-2 with the Chargers.
Turner's body of postseason work is small, but he's 1-1. A few more postseason wins in the coming weeks, and Turner might even get some respect as a coach and not just a coordinator.
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| ray of hope - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.31.07 (5:29 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya - I have to admit... when Air Force jumped to a 21 point lead in the first half I had the thought "here we go again." For most of the season Cal fans have had every optimistic thought squashed by their Jeckle and Hyde team. It didn't help that three star players, DeSean Jackson, Robert Jordan and Thomas DeCoud were benched for the first quarter for breaking team rules. It also didn't help that the Nate Longshore led offense moved the ball about as well as an ant moves a rubber tree. None of their high hopes did anything to put points on the board. Then suddenly there was a ray of hope. After one ineffective offensive series, Longshore was replaced by freshman back up Kevin Riley. Riley got a bad rep from his first game when he lost track of time and lost the game to Oregon State. It was Cal's first loss and started its downward spiral. What is forgotten from that game is the way the freshman led the team back from a huge deficit and advanced the ball with confidence. Riley showed that confidence today. Coach Tedford gave him a chance to prove himself and he never came out of the game. Riley helped put up 42 points and secure a win for Cal in the Armed Forces Bowl. That ends the season on a high note and gives Cal fans a warm fuzzy feeling that will carry them through the off season. Riley is the future of Cal football. He proved that today. Go Bears! Kent Ninomiya
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| Chargers opponant - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.31.07 (2:23 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya - So it's going to be Tennessee and San Diego in the first round of the playoffs. San Diego secured the #3 AFC seed by beating up on the hapless Raiders. Tennessee got in by beating Indianapolis. I must admit to being disgusted by the way they got in. Indianapolis rested most of their starters including Payton Manning. They nearly won anyway. If they wanted to they could have put Manning in during the final drive and scored the winning touchdown, but they didn't. They didn't care since they've already secured the #2 seed and a first round bye. Meanwhile Cleveland won their game today but needed a Tennessee loss to get into the playoffs. It must have been excruciating for them to watch Tennessee take their playoff spot while Indy phoned it in. I know, resting starters is a time honored tradition heading into the playoffs, but when the fate of other playoff teams are at stake it's a shame. Tennessee should have had to beat one of the NFL's best teams at their best to earn a playoff spot. They didn't earn it. Let's see how they do against the Chargers... who will be at their best. Kent Ninomiya
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| no way Jose - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.31.07 (2:22 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya - Former MLB star and current sleazebag Jose Canseco is trying to cash in on the recent publicity generated by Mitchell Report and is reportedly writing another book. We should have expected this. Canseco made bank on his first book and has no moral obstacles to exploiting his seedy past again. It's like serial killers who profit by selling their story. Canseco admits he's a cheater and drug user. He not only got away with any punishment for his misdeeds, he's profiting from them and selling out all his former buddies in the process. Anyone can make a mistake. It takes a real jerk to make money from it and true evil to destroy the sport that made you without a care. Kent Ninomiya
(ESPN) Jose Canseco has finalized a book deal for his sequel to "Juiced" and it is expected to hit bookstores by Opening Day of the 2008 season, two New York newspapers reported Sunday. Robert Saunooke, Canseco's lawyer, told The New York Daily News and The New York Post that the book, which has a working title of "Vindicated" will be co-authored by former Sports Illustrated writer Don Yaeger.
The Daily News first reported the story Saturday on its Web site.
"Jose already has a lot of stuff put together," Yaeger told The Daily News.
Disappointed by the Mitchell report, Canseco hopes to publish "an unjaundiced view, without the rose-colored glasses" of steroid use in baseball, Saunooke told The Post.
"The book is basically going to be -- I don't want to say an attack -- but it will be a clarification of why certain names should have been mentioned [in the Mitchell report] that were not mentioned," Saunooke said of the new book. "We had hoped that the Mitchell report would have been more revealing. It basically ended up being nothing more than [Mitchell saying], 'I talked to a lot of people, some people wouldn't talk to me and it's up to the commissioner,'" Saunooke told The Daily News.
Saunooke told The Post that he and Canseco talked to Sen. Mitchell and provided him with "tons of information and background" on steroid use in baseball. But when the Mitchell report was released, he and Canseco were disappointed that names like Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez were not named.
Canseco's name appears 105 times in the Mitchell report, more than that of Barry Bonds (103) or Roger Clemens (82). In all, the 409-page report identified 86 names to differing degrees, but Clemens clearly was the symbol.
"I saw the list of players, and there are definitely a lot of players missing," Canseco told Fox Business Network this month. "I don't know what they accomplished or what they are trying to prove."
Prodded further about players not included, Canseco said this of Alex Rodriguez: "All I can say is the Mitchell report is incomplete. I could not believe that his name was not in the report."
One of the topics of Canseco's new book, Saunooke told The Post, will be how Mark McGwire asked for immunity before his appearance before Congress in 2005.
Another topic of Canseco's new book might be A-Rod.
In July, Canseco told WEEI Radio in Boston that he had "other stuff" on Rodriguez, who he called a "hypocrite" who "was not all he appeared to be."
"Jose has information about A-Rod and the Yankees that will be in the book. But, I am not sure if Jose is willing to disclose it at this point," Saunooke, told The New York Times in July.
In Baltimore for a Yankees' game against the Orioles that month, Rodriguez told reporters that he hadn't heard Canseco's comments about him. "And I have no comment."
In "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big," Canseco called himself the "godfather of steroids in baseball," saying, "I single-handedly changed the game of baseball by introducing them into the game."
He wrote in that book that he personally injected McGwire with steroids and that he saw McGwire and Jason Giambi inject each other.
Canseco also claimed he introduced the performance enhancers to Palmeiro, Rodriguez, and Juan Gonzalez when he joined the Rangers in 1992.
Canseco hit 462 home runs in a major league career between 1985 and 2001. He played seven full seasons for the A's before being traded to Texas in '92. He also played for Boston, the Yankees, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Oakland again, and the White Sox.
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| The Cals - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.31.07 (2:21 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya - My daughter is adorable. She knows I love my alma mater, the University of California. She sees me walk around with my "Cal" hat and sweatshirt. I wear them so much she identifies Cal with me. She also knows that Cal is in a big bowl game tomorrow and that her Dad is very excited about it. Since I care about the game she does too. Today she told me she hopes the "Cals" win and that she would be very mad if the "Cals" don't win. It was so cute that I didn't have the heart to tell her that the team isn't called the Cals. So for the rest of the today... and i'm sure throughout the game tomorrow... I will be cheering for the Cals to win. Go Cals!!! Kent Ninomiya
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| Neal back? - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.29.07 (1:18 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Could the Chargers be getting Lorenze Neal back for the playoffs? That's what the San Diego Union Tribune is suggesting. Check out this from the December 28, 2007 edition: Seeing Lorenzo Neal walk without issue, 17 days removed from surgery to place a plate in his fractured right leg, is an amazing sight in itself.
But get this: The Pro Bowl fullback actually might be ready for the playoffs.
“It's going to be really close,” Neal said yesterday after another day of rehabilitation. “My goal is to practice next week.”
The Chargers said all along they hoped Neal would be ready for the postseason. Such a timetable just seemed so optimistic. But Neal is running on a treadmill and in the pool. He is walking with limited soreness. If he can't play the first weekend of January, he believes his return could come the second weekend if the Chargers are still playing.
“Every Sunday, you're going to have to play with some injuries,” Neal said. “You work hard, see where you're at. If I'm not ready to play next week, I won't play. I'm not going to jeopardize the team for self-gratification. If I feel like I'm not going to be effective or going to hurt myself and jeopardize the chance to play the next week, I won't do it. But you've got to realize every time you step on the field, there's a risk of injury.”
And just as LaDainian Tomlinson had hoped, Neal is “healing like a young man,” despite the fact yesterday was his 37th birthday.
“Youth doesn't merit over heart in football,” Neal said. “If I was a tailback, yeah, I wouldn't be playing. If I'm a corner and need to run up and down with receivers, I wouldn't be able to do that. This position I play, it's the burst (that is important).”
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| battle mud with mud - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.29.07 (1:13 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya - Roger Clemens appears to be fighting back. Reports suggest he has his own people proactively looking for information that could clear his name. Since Clemens claims he is being smeared by a former trainer, it is likely his investigators are looking to undermine the trainer's credibility and/or smear him back. I do not know if Clemens is guilty of taking illegal steroids or not, but I do know he deserves due process. Clemens is not guilty unless convicted. As far as I know he has not been convicted or charged or arrested for anything. Despite this Clemens' reputation and name have been irreparably harmed. It's unfortunate Clemens finds it necessary to dig for dirt on the guy flinging it at him, but what choice does he have? Kent Ninomiya
(ESPN) Roger Clemens' lawyer has hired private investigators in an attempt to challenge the credibility of Brian McNamee, who has claimed to have injected Clemens with steroids, a lawyer familiar with the matter told The New York Times.
McNamee told former Sen. George Mitchell that he injected Clemens with steroids while Clemens was pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. Clemens, the biggest star named in Mitchell's report on performance-enhancing drug use in baseball, has denied ever using steroids or human growth hormone, saying the report is "simply not true."
Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said Wednesday he would conduct his own investigation into the allegations against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner. He claimed that Mitchell had failed to interview some key people who know Clemens and McNamee, though Hardin has declined to identify those people.
"We are convinced the conclusions in Mitchell's report are wrong and are investigating the findings ourselves," Hardin said, according to The Times.
McNamee's attorney, Earl Ward, said McNamee had been thoroughly vetted by federal authorities, who accompanied him during his interviews with Mitchell, and that McNamee had been threatened with prosecution if he lied to Mitchell's investigators.
"There's nothing new in Brian's background that Clemens or his folks don't know about," Ward said, according to The Times. "Our response to all this is that Senator Mitchell's investigation was unbiased and objective. I don't think you're going to get the same degree of objectivity from Roger's camp."
According to the Mitchell report, McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while Clemens was pitching for the Blue Jays, and steroids and HGH in 2000 and 2001 while he was a member of the Yankees.
Clemens' last four Cy Young Awards were won in 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2004.
CBS' "60 Minutes" will air its interview with Clemens on Jan. 6 and Clemens said he will make himself available to reporters following the broadcast.
Hardin said the interview with Mike Wallace -- a self-described friend of Clemens who said he's frequented owner George Steinbrenner's suite at Yankee Stadium -- was scheduled to take place this week at Clemens' home in Katy, Texas.
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| Pac 10 bowls - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.29.07 (1:02 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. It's been looking kind of tough for the Pac 10 this bowl season. First UCLA gets schooled by BYU in the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl. Then Arizona State is humiliated by Texas in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Things did turn around a bit today when Oregon State outlasted Maryland in the Emerald Bowl. That leaves the Pac 10 1-2 in bowl games with three more to go. Cal takes on Air Force in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on December 31. Oregon plays South Florida in the Sun Bowl the same day. USC slaughters Illinois in the Rose Bowl on January 1. No one sane doubts USC will destroy the Illini. Cal will redeem themselves against Air Force. Oregon without Dennis Dixon has no prayer against South Florida. That will leave the Pac 10 3-3 in bowls this year. This is a best case scenario for the Pac 10 and it's still a huge disappointment for a conference that was compared to the SEC early in the season. The Pac 10 only qualified 6 teams for bowls this year instead of the usual 7. While some will point to this as proof of the Pac 10's inferiority, I say on the contrary! It only proves the parity in the Pac 10. The fact that the worst team (Stanford) could beat the best team (USC) is proof of that. Besides, the Pac 10 requires its teams to play EVERYONE else in the conference. Others round robin their opponents and fill their schedules with powder puff 1-AA schools. Top conference rivals don't play each other some years. The Pac 10 doesn't roll that way. Yeah it was a tough season for the Pac 10, but we trod a tough road. Kent Ninomiya
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| holding the line - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.27.07 (2:05 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. I am happy to see the Chargers working to keep the heart and soul of the team intact. Defensive linemen don't get a lot of glory but they win games for you. Watching the Charger defense dismantle the Broncos last Monday drives that point home. (ESPN) The San Diego Chargers, who have been proactive the past two years in signing core players to contract extensions, have locked up three-year veteran defensive lineman Ryon Bingham through the 2010 season with a new deal. Bingham, 26, signed a three-year extension on Christmas Eve before the Chargers' victory over the Denver Broncos. Financial details of the extension were not yet available.
Without the extension, Bingham would have been eligible for restricted free agency in the spring. He was in the final year of his original rookie contract and earned a minimum base salary of $435,000 for 2007.
A seventh-round pick in the 2004 draft, Bingham has become a productive defender for the Chargers this season, as his playing time was significantly increased by the severe ankle injury suffered by starting end Luis Castillo nearly two months ago. Castillo, who returned to the field in a part-time role on Monday night, missed six games. During his absence, Bingham split time with Jacques Cesaire in the lineup, and started one game.
In 15 games this season, Bingham has 37 tackles and 1½ sacks and has emerged as a very good player versus the run in the San Diego 3-4 front.
A former Nebraska standout, Bingham spent his 2004 rookie season on injured reserve after rupturing his left biceps tendon in training camp. He was on the San Diego practice squad for most of the 2005 campaign, then was signed to the active roster for one game.
Last season, Bingham appeared in all 16 games as a backup.
He and Cesaire, who signed an extension last season, provide the Chargers excellent depth and versatility in their defensive front. Both are former college defensive tackles who are good fits at end in the base 3-4 scheme.
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| new pitcher - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.27.07 (1:52 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Great... the Padres add another pitcher to hopefully bolster an already impressive pitching staff. This one is kind of iffy though. (ESPN) Mark Prior, cut loose by the Cubs earlier this month, has agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres. In 2003, Mark Prior went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA, was selected to the All-Star Game and finished third in the Cy Young voting. He has won just 18 games in 57 starts since. Prior receives a one-year major league deal with a $1 million base salary. The contract, which doesn't include an option, contains incentive clauses that could take the total value of the deal to over $3 million. Prior, however, is not anticipating his season debut with the Padres until mid-to-late May. "Mark Prior is a competitor and is working hard to regain the form that made him one of the great young pitchers in the game," general manager Kevin Towers told The Associated Press. "We are confident he is going to help us in our rotation this season. It's exciting that Mark is coming home to San Diego to pitch for the Padres."
Prior, 27, last pitched in the big leagues in 2006, and had shoulder surgery in April of 2007.
Prior figures he still has much of his career ahead of him if he can avoid injuries.
"For unfortunate reasons, I just haven't been healthy since the 2005 season," he said. "2006 was not a good year, when I had shoulder problems. I feel I've got things taken care of. I'm on a good rehab program. I feel I've got a lot of great years left."
The second overall pick in the 2001 draft, Prior went 18-6 for the Cubs in 2003 before experiencing a series of physical problems. He was born in San Diego and lives in San Diego County, and the Padres' hope is that he is able to join a rotation that already includes Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux and Randy Wolf.
"I think it's a great day for the Padres and for Mark," manager Bud Black said. "It strengthens an already strong pitching staff. Whenever he's able to take the mound, we feel we have an impact guy to step in and help our staff."
He has been throwing on flat ground, and to date, has been free of pain since his surgery.
Prior's lifetime record in the big leagues is 42-29, with a 3.51 ERA.
In 2003, Prior nearly pitched the Cubs to their first World Series appearance since 1945. He took a 3-0 lead into the eighth inning against Florida in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series before the Marlins rallied for eight runs and an 8-3 victory at Wrigley Field.
Florida also won Game 7 in Chicago and went on to beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Kent Ninomiya. As I have been harping here... the Padres need healthy bats more than injuured arms right now!
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| Merry Christmas Everyone! - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.25.07 (3:10 pm) [edit] |
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Since I can't send a Christmas card to everyone, i'd like to use this blog to hand out my best wishes to all of you this holiday season. Thank you all for your support and interest. May you have a happy and fruitful new year as well!
Take care,
Kent Ninomiya
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| blow out - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.25.07 (2:58 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. The Chargers blew out the Broncos on Monday Night Football in impressive fashion. They dominated every aspect of the game, especially on defense where they shut down everything the Broncos could come up with. In fact they would have had a shut out if not for the second string quarterback and running back. They were put in at the end of the game and managed to fumble a simple hand off near their own goal line. It was their first play in the game. The Chargers look like the team we all knew and loved from last season. They seem to be peaking at just the right time and will hopefully end their playoff drought. Even Philip Rivers seems to be playing up to his potential for now. It's unfortunate that he chose to actively taunt the Broncos on national television. The entire nation now thinks of him as an immature playground bully. Get a little class and grow up Rivers. The last thing the Chargers need is a rep as the bad guys. That's what the Patriots are for. Kent Ninomiya
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| Christmas message - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.24.07 (7:56 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. I'd like to pause and take a moment to reflect on this holiday season. As I get older I gain a greater understanding of the importance of Christmas as a family experience. Young adults tend to discard the ritual of family gatherings and togetherness for independence. However, once new children enter the equation the holiday regains it's place. Christmas is all about the children and how their faces light up when they open their gifts. That look is the parents' gift. There are also important lessons in Christmas. Delayed gratification is perhaps the most torturous of the lessons for kids. Waiting to open gifts is both painful and rewarding for them. Gratitude is another lesson. That's a tough one. With the bounty of gifts before them it's hard for children to think about others. They just want the presents. It's the parent's job to link the two together. It's not always an easy task. Of course the most important lesson of all is family. The act of doing everything together is what Christmas is all about. So enjoy the holiday everyone! Merry Christmas! Kent Ninomiya.
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| Pads pitching - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.23.07 (11:08 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. The Padres continue to pursue pitchers this off season because they apparently think they can win with just that. I've been screaming from rooftops that they need bats in their line up. Do you remember all those games they lost last year because of a lack of run support? While I like the fact that they have the best pitching staff in baseball, it's not enough by itself to make a post season push, especially in the NL West. It promises to be tough next year. (ESPN) The San Diego Padres appear to be the front-runner to sign pitcher Mark Prior, who figures to make a final choice among many offers very soon, perhaps within the next 24-48 hours.
The Padres have offered a modest base salary plus a performance bonus package to Prior, according to sources, but other teams continue to talk with Prior, and other more aggressive offers could take shape. The former Cub pitcher lives in San Diego County, and in the end, he may opt to play for the team located closest to his home, in what figures to be a transitional year in his career.
After being selected as the No. 2 pick in the 2001 draft, Prior went 41-23 in the first four seasons of his career. But he has had injury problems since 2003, and after pitching in nine games in 2006, he didn't throw in any games last year.
The 27-year-old Prior had surgery last April, in which Dr. James Andrews repaired his shoulder. There was enough question about Prior's future that the Cubs decided to not tender him a contract for 2008, in spite of the remarkable early success he had in his career.
Andrews has estimated that Prior could return by mid-May at the earliest.
The Cubs had hoped to sign Prior to a one-year deal with an option for 2009, in case he rebounded, but Prior was resistant to giving the Cubs the option.
Right now, Prior is throwing pain-free on flat ground, and recently told an acquaintance that he is anxious to resume his major league career next season. If Prior were to rebound in 2008, San Diego could have a formidable rotation at some point, with Prior joining Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux and newly signed Randy Wolf.
Prior was born in San Diego, and attended Southern Cal.
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| bowls - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.23.07 (10:58 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. We are just 6 games into the 32 bowl extravaganza but so far they've all been beauties. Did you see Navy vs Utah? All predictions were that Utah would blow out Navy. It turned out to be close all the way with Utah ultimately winning by 3 points. After the game the refs admitted they blew a call that would have given Navy the ball at the end of the game and probably would have changed the result. You have to feel bad for Navy. Did you see tonight's Boise State vs East Carolina game? Heavily favored Boise was down 17 points twice in the game but scrapped their way back to a late game tie only to lose by a last second field goal. No one predicted that. It's football at its finest. Boise State specializes in hold your breath down to the wire games. Remember last year against Oklahoma? Let's hope the rest of the bowl games this year are as exciting. Kent Ninomiya
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| evil Patriots - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.23.07 (10:48 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Today the Patriots became the first team in NFL history to go 15-0 in the regular season. The 1972 Dolphins went 14-0 because they only played 14 regular season games back then. Despite this impressive accomplishment by the Patriots the accolades are muted. First of all they beat the 2007 Dolphins the undisputed worst team in the NFL. Second, pretty much everyone accepts they will probably go undefeated this year. Third, just about everyone outside New England hates the Patriots. Is this hatred justified? Probably not, but this is sports and emotions don't have to be justified. Fans point to the Patriots cheating scandal from the beginning of the season as proof that the team is evil. The truth is, we hate the Patriots because they are good and they flaunt it. Patriot haters are player haters. There's nothing wrong with that. This is sports. I want to go on the record right now with my prediction. The Patriots will complete a perfect 16-0 regular season but will lose their first playoff game. They will not win the Superbowl ultimately making their season a failure. Kent Ninomiya.
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| bowls - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.20.07 (4:04 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. The college bowl season kicks off tonight. 32 glorious games between now and January 7th. It doesn't matter that teams we don't care about are playing. It doesn't matter that teams with a mere .500 record got in. It doesn't matter that players we never heard of fill the field. It's all about the competition. No matter what player, which team or what-cha-ma-call-it bowl it is... everyone there wants to win it. Every game is on a national stage and it is the only chance for glory for many of the college players. If you ignore the sleazy NCAA business dealings it took to get the teams to the bowls... it is competition at its purist. Don't bother me for the next 18 days, I'll be busy watching.
Kent Ninomiya
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| pro bowlers - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.20.07 (4:03 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. A total of eight San Diego Chargers are named to the Pro Bowl. Four others could later be added to the AFC team. It's a respectable showing and well deserved for a team that has pulled itself together in their stretch run.
From the Chargers web site: Cornerback Antonio Cromartie and guard Kris Dielman will have plenty of willing tour guides as they make their first trip to the Pro Bowl. They’ll be joined by six of their teammates that are all well versed in Hawaii Februarys.
Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson, fullback Lorenzo Neal and tight end Antonio Gates were selected as starters in the NFL’s all-star game, while Cromartie, Dielman, defensive tackle Jamal Williams, linebacker Shawne Merriman and special teams ace Kassim Osgood also earned spots on the AFC roster.
In addition to the eight Bolts already making their reservations for Honolulu, four other Chargers could still make the trip. Punter Mike Scifres, who currently ranks third in the NFL in net punting average, was named the first alternate. Center Nick Hardwick, offensive tackle Marcus McNeill and return specialist Darren Sproles received enough votes to earn second-alternate positions.
Tomlinson, who currently ranks second in the NFL in rushing and leads the league with 14 rushing touchdowns, earned his fifth Pro Bowl invitation of his career. He now ranks 19th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list (10,487), he’s third in league history in career rushing touchdowns (114) and seventh in total touchdowns (127).
LT’s backfield mate Neal will make his fourth trip to the Pro Bowl and third in as many years. With Tomlinson reaching the 1,000-yard mark this season, Neal has now served as the lead blocker for 11-consecutive 1,000-yard rushers.
Gates will make his fourth-consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. He leads the Chargers in receiving and ranks fourth among all NFL tight ends in catches (68) and receiving yards (898). He’s tied for the league lead for touchdown catches by a tight end with nine.
On the defensive side of the ball, Merriman and Williams both make their third-career Pro Bowls, all of which have come in the last three seasons. Merriman is tied for the lead among NFL linebackers with 11.5 sacks. While he remains one of the game’s most feared pass rushers, Merriman has been a force against the run throughout the season. He has 87 total tackles according to coach’s film and leads the team with nine tackles for loss.
Williams has selflessly battled through injuries this season while continuing to anchor a defense that is ninth in the league in points allowed. While his true value is measured by how he makes those around him better, the 10-year veteran has 52 tackles and a forced fumble.
Cromartie leads the NFL with a team-record 10 interceptions and becomes the first Chargers cornerback to make the Pro Bowl since Gill Byrd in 1993. Although the second-year corner has started just six games this season, his impact has been profound. He’s recorded at least one interception in each of the last three games, and all 10 of his interceptions have come in the last nine contests. The Chargers are 6-0 when Cromartie intercepts a pass.
Cromartie returned an interception for a touchdown in a Week 8 win over Houston, and a week later in Minnesota, he recorded the longest play in NFL history when he returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown. He also recovered a loose ball in the end zone for a score against Houston and recovered a fumble on a kickoff last week against Detroit.
Dielman’s hard-nosed, physical play has helped set the tone for the Chargers’ run game that is averaging 126.6 yards per game, seventh-best in the NFL. He’s also been an asset in pass protection. According to his coaches, Dielman has not given up a sack this season.
Despite continually drawing double teams and even triple teams at times, Osgood has racked up 14 special teams tackles and a forced fumble this season. His ability to race down the field and pressure return men is a big reason why Scifres ranks third in the NFL with 29 punts downed inside the opponent’s 20 yard line.
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| Padres sign - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.20.07 (4:02 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Some signing news to update you. I am especially excited about the addition of Tadhito Iguchi. He is a proven winner and clutch player. He could be just what the Pads need in 2008.
(AP) Catcher Michael Barrett and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.
Barrett can make another $750,000 in performance bonuses.
He joined the Padres in a trade with the Chicago Cubs in June, became a free agent, then accepted San Diego's offer of arbitration.
Tadahito Iguchi wanted to play second base and find a comfortable place to live. San Diego was a perfect fit.
The Padres finalized their $3.85 million, one-year contract with Iguchi on Tuesday and introduced him at a news conference.
Padres Expect Upgrade
(AP) Tadahito Iguchi batted .267 with nine homers and 43 RBIs, scoring 67 runs last year. The Padres hope he plays more like 2006 (.281, 18, 67, 97) so they can improve on last year's production at second base. "My No. 1 priority was the atmosphere of the town," Iguchi said through a translator. "Last year at the trading deadline I was traded to Philadelphia and I had the opportunity to live away from my family and that was kind of hard for me. I wanted to choose a place I could live with my family and spend the offseason as well."
Iguchi batted .304 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 45 games with the NL East champion Phillies, who acquired him from the Chicago White Sox to fill in at second while All-Star Chase Utley was injured. Iguchi hit .267 overall with nine home runs and 43 RBIs.
He will replace Marcus Giles, who slumped badly and eventually lost his starting job at second base during his one season in San Diego. Iguchi can earn another $650,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
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| where's the bats? - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.17.07 (8:05 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. It seems to me that the Padres don't want any bats in their line up next season. We now learn that Mike Cameron is out. This after learning that Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukudome wont be with them next year either. Meanwhile they continue to pursue more pitchers as if that's all you need to win games. I certainly hope this turns around in the coming months. Spring training is getting nearer and nearer. Kent Ninomiya
(ESPN) Center fielder Mike Cameron won't be coming back to the San Diego Padres, his agent said Friday night.
"Mike's tenure in San Diego is over," Mike Nicotera said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "He enjoyed his time there, his time with the fans, and certainly his teammates. We were just unable to reach agreement with the club. They are moving in another direction as are we."
Padres general manager Kevin Towers confirmed that the talks were off.
"For now, yes," Towers said in an e-mail.
Add the Philadelphia Phillies to the list of teams interested in Cameron. Earlier in the offseason, the Phillies had indicated Cameron wasn't on their shopping list. But now, in the wake of Aaron Rowand's signing with the Giants and the breakdown Friday in Cameron's negotiations to return to San Diego, the Phillies have expressed interest, a source with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
Cameron was the center fielder in Seattle when Phillies general manager Pat Gillick was GM for the Mariners. And with the loss of Rowand and Michael Bourn (traded to Houston), the Phillies are looking to add either a center fielder or right fielder, with Shane Victorino manning whichever of those two positions they aren't able to fill.
Cameron would be the second outfielder in less than a week to spurn an offer to return to the Padres if the talks are indeed over. Left fielder Milton Bradley on Sunday accepted a one-year deal from the Texas Rangers worth approximately $5 million. The Padres had offered $4 million.
Plus, the Padres lost out in the bidding for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who signed with the Chicago Cubs.
Cameron is suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant.
Nicotera said "a few new clubs" are interested in Cameron, but he declined to name them.
"We are going to take a step back and continue to explore these discussions further, as it is our understanding that some player movement which could affect the market for Mike is imminent," he said.
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| Chargers clinch - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.17.07 (7:58 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. OK... it's now time for us all to hop on the Chargers bandwagon again. I know, many of us fell off when they stumbled at the start of the season, but after sealing the AFC West title with two games to go... it's safe to be excited again. Maybe this is exactly what the Bolts needed. A dose of humility can fire hunger and they'll be hungry entering the playoffs. They have been notoriously bad in the post season. Maybe the early failures will correct that. In life, what often seems like a set back turns out to be a blessing. Kent Ninomiya.
Kevin Acee UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 17, 2007
Yesterday went as perfectly as it could have for a team with a hobbled quarterback, among others who could use the rest a 51-14 blowout of the Detroit Lions provided.
“It was real good,” Philip Rivers said. “I was hoping that coming in. I was hoping to not have to go the length and be scrapping to win it late.”
After guiding a 13-play touchdown drive to start the third quarter, Rivers and his sprained knee were finished for the day. The line had protected him well, allowing him to be touched just once in 21 passes. Already, LaDainian Tomlinson was done, having felt a twinge in his hamstring after a 49-yard run in the second quarter.
“If I had to go back in,” Tomlinson said, “it wasn't a problem.”
Defensive tackle Jamal Williams played only the first two defensive series. Whether he was going to play with a sprained ankle had been in doubt, and it was extremely beneficial for him to be able to leave early.
So, too, was it good for guard Mike Goff to rest his strained foot after that initial second-half series.
Rivers, who kept his knee loose by riding a stationary bike at times on the sideline, completed 14-of-21 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. Wearing a large brace and tight wrap around his left knee, he appeared a bit limited. But he is not exactly a gazelle when healthy.
“Philip was outstanding,” Norv Turner said. “He did a great job of getting himself ready to play. He was in the training room at 5:30 in the morning every day, getting treatment, his rehab, exercises, everything he could do to make sure he got himself ready. It was important for him to play in this game.”
Quick start, finallyFor the first time in eight games, the Chargers scored on their opening drive. Playing from the no-huddle, they took just seven plays to go 62 yards for a touchdown.
“We all were made aware and known about the slow starts the past few weeks,” Rivers said. “We said, 'Let's get it going early.' We felt like with the no-huddle we could set the tempo and wear these guys down. They were tired. That first series was probably the best tempo we've had in a game.”
The Chargers had punted to end their opening drive in seven straight games, including six three-and-outs. They did not punt until the third quarter yesterday, having scored on their first seven possessions.
The 17 points they scored in the first quarter yesterday was almost six times their total from the first quarter of their previous four games.
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| Cal upset - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.17.07 (7:49 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. If there's an upset, I will be quite upset. I am hearing predictions from all corners of the sports world that Air Force will upset Cal in the Armed Forces bowl. I'm sure this is based on Cal's abysmal performance this year. To be honest, I understand the belief that Cal will fall apart on a national stage. After all, they did it repeatedly this season. However, this ignores the basic facts of the teams. Cal is simply better with superior athletes and a formidable passing attack. Air Force runs. They're pretty good at it against WAC schools but their forces should be inferior to a Pac 10 defense. Should is the operative word here. Cal made a habit of disappointing this year. Still, I don't think even they can screw this one up. At least I hope. Kent Ninomiya.
(ESPN) California had hoped to put the disappointment of last year's finish behind it this season. Instead, it suffered an even greater letdown.
The Golden Bears (6-6) look to salvage the year and finish with their sixth consecutive winning season when they take on Air Force on New Year's Eve at the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
Saying Cal is disappointed with how the season has progressed is probably an understatement. On Oct. 13, the Golden Bears were ranked No. 2 in the AP poll following a 5-0 start and were in position to possibly move into the No. 1 spot after LSU was upset by Kentucky earlier in the day. Instead they were stunned 31-28 by Oregon State at home.
The loss began a frustrating decline for Cal, which began the year expecting to compete with Southern California for the Pac-10 title. The Bears finished the season with a 20-13 loss to rival Stanford on Dec. 1, dropping them into a tie for seventh place in the conference.
"This is definitely a new low for us," Cal safety Thomas DeCoud said after the loss. "It's kind of too late to salvage anything, but we just want to get to a bowl game and end on the right note so the younger guys can get this program back to where it was."
The Bears faced similar disappointment last year when they were in position to win the conference championship and earn a Rose Bowl berth until they lost two of their final three regular season games.
Finishing the year on a positive note depends largely on how quarterback Nate Longshore responds to the time off. Longshore missed the loss to Oregon State with an ankle injury, and threw 11 interceptions in six games after returning the next week.
Cal coach Jeff Tedford revealed after the season that Longshore had a chipped bone in the ankle that was limiting his mobility.
It hampered the Bears, who averaged 39.4 points and 426 yards of offense in their first five games, but only 20.3 points and 380 yards in their final seven.
While Longshore's ankle problems contributed to the slump, several other key players saw a notable decline. Leading rusher Justin Forsett ran for 1,406 yards and 13 touchdowns this year, but nine of his touchdowns came in the first five games.
DeSean Jackson had a disappointing junior season after finishing 2006 with 59 catches for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns. He has 60 receptions for just 681 yards and five touchdowns this year. Jackson, who may declare himself eligible for the NFL draft at the end of the year, missed the season-ending loss to Stanford because of a bruised quadriceps.
"We've got to go back and look at a lot of things," Tedford said. "There's injuries, there's schedule, things like that. We had a chance to be in every game and had an opportunity to win every game we played. And that's probably the most frustrating thing."
Under Tedford, the Bears have won three of their last four bowls, including a 45-10 win over Texas A&M last year in the Holiday Bowl. They also won 35-28 over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2005.
While Cal is upset with how its season played out, Air Force (9-3) is feeling a lot better about itself.
After ending on a three-game winning streak, Air Force has its most wins in a season since 2000 when it went 8-3 and beat Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Bowl. The nine regular season wins are the Falcons' most since 1998 when the team had 11.
"These are the same people who will be the country's second lieutenants in the Air Force and they're also a pretty good football team," coach Troy Calhoun said as he accepted the invitation from Tom Starr, executive director of the Armed Forces Bowl.
Calhoun took over the Falcons this year following the retirement of Fisher DeBerry, who stepped down after 23 seasons at the academy. Calhoun, who was the Mountain West Conference's coach of the year, inherited a team that had suffered through three consecutive losing seasons, including a 4-8 record in 2006.
The program made some significant improvements offensively, however, averaging 29.4 points and 418.9 yards per game -- both second best in the conference.
Calhoun also found a better use for senior Chad Hall, who was named the conference's offensive player of the year. After initially struggling to find a role for Hall, who is listed at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Calhoun decided to give him more carries later in the season. The tailback exploded in the final seven games, averaging 179.6 yards rushing and scoring 11 of his 14 rushing touchdowns in that stretch.
This is the Falcons' first bowl game since losing to Virginia Tech in the 2002 San Francisco Bowl. They are 8-8-1 in bowl games going back to the 1957 season.
Cal leads the all-time series against Air Force, 5-2. The Bears won the last meeting 56-14 in 2002.
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| Kent Ninomiya thank you |
| 12.16.07 (9:59 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya.
Thank you to everyone who wrote to me with words of support. I am back and new posts will appear on my blogs starting tomorrow. Thank you for your backing and patience.
Kent Ninomiya
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| Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.12.07 (9:38 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya.
I want to thank everyone who wrote to me concerned about my family emergency. I appreciate your words. Just know that it is not a matter of life or death. I am just taking care of some business. My blogs will be updated in the next few days.
Thanks again,
Kent Ninomiya
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| Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.11.07 (9:31 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya.
I regret to report that due to a family emergency there will be no posts on this blog for the next several days. I apologize for the inconvenience. New posts will be back by next week.
Thanks,
Kent
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| looking for Xie Miao - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.07.07 (9:44 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Who is this kid Xie Miao? He stars as Jet Li's son in two movies. The New Legend of Shaolin (1994) and The Enforcer (1999). In both films he is a round, dumpy kid with impressive martial arts skills. The boy is also a fine actor. Xie is all grown up now and he lost all his baby fat. I regret that I am only now becoming a fan of his. When I went to look for information on him I found almost none. Can anybody tell me what he's doing these days and if he made any more films? Thanks. Kent Ninomiya
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| Cal smarts - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.07.07 (2:22 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. When I went to Cal it was widely believed that we would never field a decent football team. The reason given was because you had to be smart to go to Cal and Cal doesn't carry its athletes. That theory has been proven false. Cal is a premier football team (or at least on the verge of it) and their athletes are smart. Eleven members of the California football team were selected for Pac-10 All-Academic honors, including junior center Alex Mack (legal studies), who garnered a first-team selection, the league office announced on Wednesday. To be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and be either a starter or significant substitute.
The Golden Bears had a trio of athletes on the second-team, including seniors Justin Forsett (interdisciplinary studies), John Allen (political science) and Greg Van Hoesen (art practice). Cal's seven honorable mentions included sophomore Cody Jones (undeclared), juniors Jordan Kay (American Studies), Noris Malele (social welfare) and Shea McIntrye (undeclared), sophomore Mike Mohamed (undeclared) and juniors Will Ta'ufo'ou (sociology) and Bryan Van Meter (business)
In Tedford's six years at the helm of the California program, 61 of his players have been recognized by the conference for their combination of athletic and academic excellence. Allen, Mack, Malele and Van Hoesen were members of last year's academic team as well.
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| Chargers - Titan game - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.07.07 (2:17 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Both the Chargers and the Titans are 7-5. This is a critical game for both teams. The first-place San Diego Chargers head to “Music City” for their first-ever visit to Nashville’s LP Field for a matchup with the Tennessee Titans and a chance to clinch their third AFC West title in the last four years. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. PST.
The Chargers (7-5) hold a two-game lead over Denver (5-7) in the AFC West. A San Diego win coupled with a Broncos loss to Kansas City would clinch the division and assure the Bolts of a home playoff game. The Chargers have four games left in the regular season: two at home and two on the road.
San Diego is one of the NFL’s hottest teams. The Bolts have won two straight and six of their last eight. The team has strung together back-to-back wins for the second time this season, earning its most recent wins on the road where the team improved to 2-4. San Diego has never played in LP Field, but the team has played in Nashville, beating the then-Tennessee Oilers, 13-7, in 1998. The Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1997 and changed their name to the Titans in 1999. The Bolts have won four straight in the series, including convincing wins in the most recent meetings, 38-17 in 2004 and 40-7 in 2006. The Chargers have won six straight games in December and are 11-4 in December the last three-plus years.
The key to the Chargers’ recent success has been its defense. The Chargers lead the NFL in interceptions (20) and total takeaways (33), and are tied for seventh in sacks (31). Antonio Cromartie leads the NFL with eight interceptions and is only one away from tying Charlie McNeil’s 47-year-old team record of nine, set in 1961. He’s also threatening Dick “Night Train” Lane’s NFL record of 14 for the Los Angeles Rams in 1952. Cromartie has all eight of his picks in the last seven games and he’s only been a starter for the last four. He had two last Sunday in Kansas City.
Shawne Merriman leads the team with 9.5 sacks. He had a season-high three against the Chiefs last Sunday and is now just half a sack shy of his third-straight 10-sack season. With 10, Merriman would become only the sixth player in NFL history with 10-or-more sacks in his first three NFL seasons.
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| Padres - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.07.07 (1:47 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. The winter meetings are over and here's how our team did: SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Padres have offered a one-year contract to left fielder Milton Bradley, who tore up his right knee late in the season when his manager spun him to the ground while trying to keep him from going after an umpire.
"We talked with Milton, we've made an offer, we think that he's seriously considering it and we're hopeful he'll be back with the San Diego Padres in 2008," CEO Sandy Alderson said Thursday afternoon. "It's not firm or final yet."
Bradley was the second-half offensive catalyst for the Padres, who fell one win short of going to the playoffs for the third straight season.
Sam Levinson, one of Bradley's agents, confirmed that the sides are talking.
"The San Diego Padres are one of several teams that we are engaged in discussions with. However, we have not reached an agreement with anyone at this time," Levinson said.
Alderson said the Padres received a positive report from the doctor who repaired the torn anterior cruciate ligament and damaged cartilage in Bradley's right knee on Sept. 27.
Alderson said the doctor was "somewhat confident" that Bradley could be back by the start of next season.
Bringing back Bradley would be a step in reassembling an outfield that's been decimated by injuries and a suspension. Right fielder Brian Giles had microfracture surgery on his right knee two days after San Diego's season ended and center fielder Mike Cameron was suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant.
The Padres offered Cameron salary arbitration, but aren't sure if he'll accept.
The Padres didn't offer Bradley arbitration. General manager Kevin Towers said at the end of last season that he was interested in bringing back the outfielder.
Alderson also confirmed the Padres have made an offer to Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, calling it "one of the two or three biggest offers" in team history.
The Padres' biggest offer ever was $60 million over six seasons to Kevin Brown, who left after San Diego's 1998 World Series season to take the Los Angeles Dodgers' offer of $105 million for seven years, then the biggest deal in baseball history.
"We didn't make a $60 million or a $50 million offer," Alderson said.
Alderson wouldn't be more specific than to say the offer is somewhere between the $30 million given to Brian Giles in December 2005 and the pending $52 million extension for Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, which will be the biggest deal in team history. Alderson, hired in April 2005, said he wasn't aware that a $34 million extension given to Phil Nevin in November 2001 had been the previous biggest contract in club history.
Fukudome's agent, Joe Urbon, didn't immediately return a phone call Thursday evening.
"Only the agent knows what's out there," Alderson said. "We don't know what the offers are or how many other offers there may be."
The 30-year-old Fukudome is regarded as one of the best outfielders in Japanese professional baseball. He was a key member of the Japanese team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March 2006. The semifinals and title game were played at the Padres' Petco Park.
Bradley was hurt when Padres manager Bud Black spun him to the ground while trying to keep him from going after umpire Mike Winters during a confrontation on Sept. 23.
The Padres and Bradley, who has a history of losing his temper, claimed Winters baited the player into the confrontation and directed a profanity at him. Winters was suspended for the final five days of the regular season and didn't work the postseason.
Bradley's injury was the climax of a bizarre sequence of events.
A few innings before he was injured, Bradley inadvertently stepped on Cameron's right hand as the two chased Garrett Atkins' inside-the-park home run. Cameron injured his thumb and made just one appearance the rest of the season.
San Diego had three chances to clinch the NL wild card, but lost its final three games, including a 13-inning tiebreaker at Colorado on Oct. 1. The Rockies advanced to the World Series before being swept by Boston.
Bradley finished the year hitting .306 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs in 61 games with Oakland and San Diego.
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| Andruw Jones - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.07.07 (12:17 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Bad news for the Padres. It looks like the Dodgers are getting another big bat to go along with their new big name manager. The NL West is going to be a dog fight next year! (AP) -- Andruw Jones is following Joe Torre to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Gold Glove center fielder and the Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a $36.2 million, two-year contract that gives him the fifth-highest average salary in the major leagues.
Jones, the former Atlanta star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, is coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. But if he rebounds, he could give the Dodgers a desperately needed boost in the middle of the lineup. He must pass a physical for the deal to be completed, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
A five-time All-Star, Jones will receive a $12.2 million signing bonus, of which $5.1 million is payable next year, $2.1 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2010. He well get salaries of $9 million next year and $15 million in 2009, and also will receive a no-trade clause.
His agreement with the Dodgers was first reported by the Los Angeles Times on its Web site.
Scott Boras, his agent, wouldn't confirm the agreement but sounded as if a deal had fallen into place.
"Being on a competitive team was a very, very important part of his process," he said.
Jones hit .222 this season, his lowest average since he batted .217 in 106 at-bats as a rookie in 1996. His 26 home runs were his fewest since 1997. He drove in 94 runs for the Braves, but finished with a paltry .311 on-base percentage.
Had Jones finished with big numbers, he likely would have sought a longer-term agreement. Boras said there were really only two options when it came to length.
"Very, very long-term or very, very short term," he said. "Nothing in between."
Jones didn't consider a one-year contract.
"I wouldn't put a player in that position, mainly because (he) just went through that," Boras said. "That was never an option."
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.
Jones is a .263 career hitter with 368 home runs and 1,117 RBIs. He was runner-up for the NL MVP award in 2005, when he had 51 homers and 128 RBIs. The following season he hit 41 home runs with a career-high 129 RBIs.
He made $13.5 million this year, the final season of a five-year contract. The Braves made no effort to re-sign him.
Jones' $18.1 million average salary trails only those of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez($27.5 million), Boston's Manny Ramirez ($20 million), the Yankees' Derek Jeter ($18.9 million), and the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano ($18.3 million).
Adding Jones was the first major move for Los Angeles since Torre replaced Grady Little as manager on Nov. 1. Jones will get a chance to work with Don Mattingly, who followed Torre to the Dodgers and became hitting coach.
Light-hitting Juan Pierre, who had been in center field, could switch to left -- potentially reducing playing time for Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier.
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| money - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.07.07 (12:15 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Among the top earning young people in sports and entertainment is Reggie Bush. Bush was a fantastic college running back but at best he's been a mediocre pro so far. Still, he cashed in early with a sweet contract and endorsement deals. Even if he never scores another touchdown he's set for life. Who else is making more than you? Here's an article that is bound to make you wonder why you're wasting your life doing what you're doing. Forbes released their list of the top money makers 25 years old or younger: In addition to his collection of All-Star MVP and Rookie of the Year titles, LeBron James, the likable forward for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, can cram another honorific on his crowded mantelpiece. King James -- as he is known by his army of fans -- tops Forbes' 20 Under 25 list of the Top-Earning Young Superstars, thanks to the $27 million he banked between June 2006 and June 2007. That paycheck could be the low-end of James' earning potential. James, who turns 23 on Dec. 30, is primed to outpace Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, 29, as the highest-paid player in the NBA this year, thanks to a rich new four-year $60 million contract that has the Cavs paying him $13 million his first year. Endorsement deals with Nike, Coca-Cola and Upper Deck, among others, easily eclipse his on-court salary. Those kinds of lucrative endorsement deals landed athletes in the top four slots of the 20 Under 25 list. Reggie Bush, 22-year-old running back for the NFL's New Orleans Saints, nabbed the No. 2 spot with $24 million, followed by comely tennis ace Maria Sharapova, who pocketed $23 million (only $3.8 million from winnings). The world's highest-paid female athlete, Sharapova edges out golf phenom Michelle Wie, who occupies the No. 4 spot with $19 million. Rounding out the top five are former kid stars turned boho fashion icons Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who earn $17 million apiece, largely from their 'tween merchandise empire Dualstar. The petite duo parlayed their instant fame as child stars on ABC's late '80s hit series "Full House" to peddle straight-to-video kid flicks and tchockes to their loyal fanbase. That operation matured into a massive retail venture with billion-dollar annual sales that peddles $12 jumpers at Wal-Mart to $795 leopard print coats at Neiman Marcus. Forbes' 20 Under 25 list of the Top-Earning Young Superstars examined earnings from June 2006 to June 2007. We included salaries, winnings, endorsement deals and royalties. No deductions were taken for taxes or management fees. Two of the list members aren't old enough to vote. Thirteen-year-old actress Dakota Fanning banked $4 million, and commands as much as $3 million for major films. Disney's Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus, 15, earned $3.5 million on the heels of a successful new album. (She's poised to make much more now that her tour, which kicked off in November, has become the hot concert ticket of the year.) The top-earning actor on the list, "Harry Potter" alter-ego Daniel Radcliffe, 18, earned $15 million. That's more than performers twice his age, like Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock, who earned $14 million and $10 million, respectively, made over the same period. The Potter franchise catapulted Radcliffe's co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint to the list with $4 million apiece. This summer's fifth installment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," was the second highest-grossing film of the year (edged out by "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"), raking in $938 million worldwide. The trio are already filming the follow-up, "Half-Blood Prince." Singers Avril Lavigne ($12 million) and Carrie Underwood ($7 million) made the cut on the heels of their mega-successful album releases. Lavigne scored a massive international hit with "Girlfriend," the first single off her album "The Best Damn Thing," which she recorded in eight different languages. And though Underwood, the fourth season winner of "American Idol," debuted "Some Hearts" back in 2005, the album demonstrated serious staying power on both the country and pop charts. Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan eked out a spot on the list, having earned $3.5 million largely from roles in middling films like "Georgia Rule" and "I Know Who Killed Me," plus print campaigns with Miu Miu and Jill Stuart before her latest stint in rehab. The question of Lohan's current insurability has no doubt dampened her earning potential going forward. Regardless, the larger question remains: With a resume pockmarked by box office duds, is Lohan even worth the bother?Kent Ninomiya. Still, I think most people 25 and under would be happy to take Lohan's paycheck.
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| armed forces bowl - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.07.07 (12:12 am) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. The Armed Forces Bowl is going to be an interesting match up between Cal and Air Force. Cal is a passing team averaging 241 yards per game to Air Force's 128. The fly boys are a rushing team averaging 298 per game to Cal's 162. Despite this difference they had virtually similar points per game averages. 28.3 for Cal 29.4 for Air Force. They had no common opponants this season so anything could happen. It's going to be an intersting match up.
Kent Ninomiya
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| Kent Ninomiya - Peavy contract |
| 12.05.07 (2:46 am) [edit] |
Kent Ninomiya. Good news for Padres fans on the Jake Peavy front. SAN DIEGO (AP) -- When he returns from a hunting trip, NL Cy Young winner Jake Peavy will bag the biggest contract by far in San Diego Padres history.
Once the deal is finalized, the right-hander will be guaranteed $52 million from a three-year extension that will run from 2010-12. Should the team exercise a $22 million option for 2013, the deal will be worth $70 million. Including 2008-09, for which Peavy already is under contract, he could make $87.5 million during the next six seasons.
The extension is contingent on the 26-year-old Peavy passing a physical. The two sides are continuing to work on other details, including the scope of no-trade provisions.
"I think it sends a great message to everybody in San Diego, and I think it's a great indicator of Jake's willingness to stay, of the Padres' commitment to keeping our core players," manager Bud Black said at the winter meetings. "He's obviously one of the best pitchers in the game, and to have him on board for it looks to be another six years, another six seasons, it's great. And he's still 27 years old, so he's got a lot of great pitching left ahead of him."
The deal probably won't be finished until club officials and agent Barry Axelrod return from the winter meetings in Nashville.
"We have the advantage of all living in the same city," Axelrod said by phone on Tuesday. "We don't have to focus on it in Nashville."
A person with knowledge of the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn't been finalized, said Peavy will earn $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. If the club declines the $22 million option, Peavy will get a $4 million buyout.
The guaranteed money in Peavy's extension will average $17.3 million a season. By comparison, Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs averages $18.3 million and Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants averages $18 million.
Peavy, a 15th-round pick in the June 1999 draft, will make $6.5 million in 2008. Because he won the Cy Young Award, the price of the club's 2009 option increased by $3 million to $11 million.
The Padres have long given the so-called San Diego Discount. Players know they can get more as free agents elsewhere, but San Diego's sunny climate makes it a great place to play -- even if the Padres haven't won a postseason series since 1998.
When finalized, Peavy's pact will surpass the biggest total deal in franchise history, the $34 million, four-year contract slugger Phil Nevin agreed to in November 2001. Like Peavy, Nevin was represented by Axelrod.
Right fielder Brian Giles is heading into the final year of a deal that averages $10 million. He agreed in December 2005 to a $30 million, three-year deal that includes a $9 million club option for 2009, or a $3 million buyout.
Peavy, the unanimous Cy Young pick, led the NL in wins, ERA and strikeouts -- pitching's version of a Triple Crown. He went 19-6 while topping the majors in ERA (2.54) and strikeouts (240) for the Padres, who came within one win of their third consecutive playoff berth. He joined Roger Clemens as the only starting pitchers to win a Cy Young Award without tossing a complete game.
Peavy is 76-51 with a 3.31 ERA in his career. He led the majors with a 2.27 ERA in 2004 and topped the NL with 216 strikeouts in 2005.
San Diego also has a one-year agreement with free-agent pitcher Randy Wolf that needs to be finalized.
"He's coming off a minor arthroscopic procedure of his labrum," Black said. "Dr. (Lewis) Yocum had to do a few things, shave a little bone, take care of some fringe on the labrum, and Randy is up and throwing. He's up on the mound. He's very confident how he's throwing, actually to the point where I think that he feels so good about his throwing program, he's going to back off for a little bit."
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| refs - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.05.07 (2:41 am) [edit] |
Kent Ninomiya.
One day after the New England Patriot preserved their undefeated record with controversial win over the Ravens... echos of conspiracy ring out. Ravens players accuse referees of favoring the Patriots. Is it true? Refereeing is too subjective to provide solid evidence. If you are looking for a conspiracy you will probably find something suggesting one. If you doubt a conspiracy you will probably find something to discount one. One thing that is true is that the Patriot's unbeaten streak is good for the NFL. It stirs up interest in football, sells tickets and swells TV audiences. As a result the NFL has motive to keep it going. Does that mean the referees were instructed to make the Patriots win? I don't think anyone believes that. However it's not beyond the realm of possibility that there could be a soft conspiracy going on here. Subconsciously the referees and the NFL may want to be part of history, and may want to see the Patriots get their perfect season. It may be enough to influence them to lean the Patriot's ways on questionable calls. We see it all the time in every sport. Superstars tend to get breaks other players don't. Why wouldn't that apply to super teams as well?
Kent Ninomiya
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| more pitching? - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.02.07 (11:39 pm) [edit] |
Kent Ninomiya. I'm wondering what the Padres are doing this off season. They seem to be working hard to beef up an already impressive pitching staff while allowing their somewhat limited bats to wander. For example Randy Wolf here. Here's the latest from ESPN.
The Padres have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent Randy Wolf that would pay the left-hander about $9 million if he bounces back from shoulder surgery and meets all his performance bonuses.
Because Wolf is coming off minor shoulder surgery, the deal is heavily incentive-based, a source familiar with the discussions told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
The deal is contingent on Wolf passing a physical.
Despite the injury, Wolf was one of the most hotly pursued free agents on the market this offseason.
Astros GM Ed Wade flew to California to meet with him personally. And his former team, the Phillies, showered him with calls from virtually every one of their top decision makers. But he opted to stay in the NL West, in a more favorable pitcher's park.
Wolf was with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season and didn't pitch after July 3 due to soreness in his left shoulder. He had surgery in September.
Wolf will earn approximately $4 million base salary if the deal goes through, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized.
If healthy, he would essentially be taking David Wells' spot in the Padres' rotation.
Wolf was 9-6 with a 4.23 ERA in 18 starts with the Dodgers.
He would join a rotation that includes Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Greg Maddux.
Wolf has not completed a full season since 2003. He returned to pitching for Philadelphia in June 2006 after missing more than a year because of Tommy John surgery.
He signed an $8 million, one-year contract with his hometown Dodgers last offseason. The Dodgers had a $9 million option for 2008 that would have become guaranteed if he pitched 180 innings last year. Due to the sore shoulder, he pitched only 102 2/3 innings. Wolf earned $7.5 million last year, and got a $500,000 buyout.
Also Saturday, the Padres offered salary arbitration to catcher Michael Barrett and center fielder Mike Cameron. The Padres expect Barrett to accept and Cameron to decline. Cameron has been suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant.
The Padres declined to offer arbitration to left fielder Milton Bradley, who had surgery on his right knee in late September. Bradley tore the anterior circuit ligament in his right knee when Padres manager Bud Black spun him to the ground to keep him from going after umpire Mike Winters during a blowup on Sept. 23.
The deal was first reported by Foxsports.com.
Information from ESPN senior baseball writer Jayson Stark and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Kent Ninomiya. If things continue this way it's going to be the same as last year. The Padres will lose a lot of close games despite impressive pitching performances because they can't score runs.
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| bowling after all - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.02.07 (11:36 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Despite their best efforts to implode a once promising season, the California Golden Bears are going to a bowl. It's the Armed Forces Bowl but hey it's a bowl. It's funny to see how the Cal Bears web site is trying to spin this disappointing news:
The University of California will play in a fifth straight bowl game for the first time in program history as the Golden Bears will battle the United State Air Force Academy in the 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 31. The game will be televised live by ESPN from Amon G. Carter Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Central). Since the arrival of Jeff Tedford in 2002, Cal has advanced to the Insight Bowl (2003), the Holiday Bowl (2004 and 2006) and the Las Vegas Bowl (2005). The Bears have posted three victories in those four bowl games.
"We're looking forward to the opportunity to play in the Armed Forces Bowl," Cal head coach Jeff Tedford said. "I've heard great things about the Bowl and we have always had a lot of respect for Air Force. This should be a great experience for our players and our fans."
"We're very excited to playing in our fifth bowl in a row," Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour said. "Texas and the Armed Forces Bowl are known for their hospitality and we're looking forward to a great experience."
The Armed Forces Bowl will mark Cal's first trip to the state of Texas since a 1997 victory over Houston. Last year, the Bears battled Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl, emerging victorious, 45-10. Cal also played Texas Tech in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. Tedford's first career game also had a Texas flavor as the Bears rolled to a 70-22 triumph over Baylor on Aug. 31, 2002. This will be Cal's second bowl game in the Lone Star State as the Bears defeated Iowa, 37-3, in the 1993 Alamo Bowl.
"I've been in this business a long time," said Tom Starr, the Executive Director of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, "and I can tell those who plan to attend this year's Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl that they are in for a treat....these two teams are fun to watch! Air Force brings an impressive 9-3 record and its explosive ground game to town while California, ranked number two in the nation at one time this season, counters with a talented team that has been one of the nation's powerhouses over the past several years."
Cal has posted a 6-6 record this season and with a bowl game victory will post its sixth straight winning season - the first time in over 50 years (1947-52) that has happened for the Bears. The team is led by senior running back Justin Forsett, senior safety Thomas DeCoud, junior quarterback Nate Longshore and a trio of high-speed receivers - junior DeSean Jackson and seniors Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins. Forsett has rushed for over 1,400 yards this season and ranks second in the Pac-10 in rushing, while DeCoud leads the Bears with a career-best 106 tackles. Longshore has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 2,544 yards and 16 touchdowns while Cal's three talented receivers have combined for 170 catches for 2,077 yards.
First-year head coach Troy Calhoun has guided Air Force to a 9-3 record, including a second-place finish in the Mountain West Conference with a 6-2 record. The Falcons have won their last three games, including a 41-24 victory over Notre Dame on the road. Air Force features the No. 2 rushing offense in the nation at 298.5 yards per game. Do-everything star Chad Hall, a 5-8, 180-pound senior, leads the team in rushing (211 carries for 1,415 yards), receiving (46 catches for 488 yards) and kick returns (18 returns for 425 yards). He ranks third in the nation in all-purpose yardage and has also scored 15 touchdowns.
The 2007 Armed Forces Bowl will be the fifth-edition of the Fort Worth-based bowl game, the previous games have featured Utah defeating Tulsa (2006), Kansas topping Houston (2005), Cincinnati upending Marshall (2004) and Boise State edging TCU in the inaugural game in 2003.
Kent Ninomiya. Cal can't lose to Air Force can they? I didn't think they could lose to Stanford. Not in a million years.
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| bowling after all - Kent Ninomiya |
| 12.02.07 (11:36 pm) [edit] |
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Kent Ninomiya. Despite their best efforts to implode a once promising season, the California Golden Bears are going to a bowl. It's the Armed Forces Bowl but hey it's a bowl. It's funny to see how the Cal Bears web site is trying to spin this disappointing news:
The University of California will play in a fifth straight bowl game for the first time in program history as the Golden Bears will battle the United State Air Force Academy in the 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 31. The game will be televised live by ESPN from Amon G. Carter Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Central). Since the arrival of Jeff Tedford in 2002, Cal has advanced to the Insight Bowl (2003), the Holiday Bowl (2004 and 2006) and the Las Vegas Bowl (2005). The Bears have posted three victories in those four bowl games.
"We're looking forward to the opportunity to play in the Armed Forces Bowl," Cal head coach Jeff Tedford said. "I've heard great things about the Bowl and we have always had a lot of respect for Air Force. This should be a great experience for our players and our fans."
"We're very excited to playing in our fifth bowl in a row," Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour said. "Texas and the Armed Forces Bowl are known for their hospitality and we're looking forward to a great experience."
The Armed Forces Bowl will mark Cal's first trip to the state of Texas since a 1997 victory over Houston. Last year, the Bears battled Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl, emerging victorious, 45-10. Cal also played Texas Tech in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. Tedford's first career game also had a Texas flavor as the Bears rolled to a 70-22 triumph over Baylor on Aug. 31, 2002. This will be Cal's second bowl game in the Lone Star State as the Bears defeated Iowa, 37-3, in the 1993 Alamo Bowl.
"I've been in this business a long time," said Tom Starr, the Executive Director of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, "and I can tell those who plan to attend this year's Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl that they are in for a treat....these two teams are fun to watch! Air Force brings an impressive 9-3 record and its explosive ground game to town while California, ranked number two in the nation at one time this season, counters with a talented team that has been one of the nation's powerhouses over the past several years."
Cal has posted a 6-6 record this season and with a bowl game victory will post its sixth straight winning season - the first time in over 50 years (1947-52) that has happened for the Bears. The team is led by senior running back Justin Forsett, senior safety Thomas DeCoud, junior quarterback Nate Longshore and a trio of high-speed receivers - junior DeSean Jackson and seniors Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins. Forsett has rushed for over 1,400 yards this season and ranks second in the Pac-10 in rushing, while DeCoud leads the Bears with a career-best 106 tackles. Longshore has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 2,544 yards and 16 touchdowns while Cal's three talented receivers have combined for 170 catches for 2,077 yards.
First-year head coach Troy Calhoun has guided Air Force to a 9-3 record, including a second-place finish in the Mountain West Conference with a 6-2 record. The Falcons have won their last three games, including a 41-24 victory over Notre Dame on the road. Air Force features the No. 2 rushing offense in the nation at 298.5 yards per game. Do-everything star Chad Hall, a 5-8, 180-pound senior, leads the team in rushing (211 carries for 1,415 yards), receiving (46 catches for 488 yards) and kick returns (18 returns for 425 yards). He ranks third in the nation in all-purpose yardage and has also scored 15 touchdowns.
The 2007 Armed Forces Bowl will be the fifth-edition of the Fort Worth-based bowl game, the previous games have featured Utah defeating Tulsa (2006), Kansas topping Houston (2005), Cincinnati upending Marshall (2004) and Boise State edging TCU in the inaugural game in 2003.
Kent Ninomiya. Cal can't lose to Air Force can they? I didn't think they could lose to Stanford. Not in a million years.
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| Kent Ninomiya - Chargers shock Chiefs |
| 12.02.07 (7:48 pm) [edit] |
Kent Ninomiya. Maybe the Chargers are turning things around and coming together? They had an impressive win today over division rival KC avenging a loss earlier this season. AP breaks down the game: Norv Turner finally found a team that could handle the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, his San Diego Chargers could be ready to run away with the AFC West.
With LaDainian Tomlinson rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns and the defense getting eight sacks and four turnovers, the Chargers beat Kansas City 24-10 Sunday for their sixth win in eight games. They're beginning to flash the form that made them 14-2 in the 2006 regular season before Marty Schottenheimer got fired after the playoffs.
"I think we have improved as | |
