Slow start for Ducks

FREDERICK BREEDON, GETTY IMAGES

 The Anaheim Ducks had a rough pre-season and now it looks like it could be a very long year ahead of them. They have been out scored 8-1 in their first two games.

Their most recent game was against the Nashville Predators and the Ducks took another loss.

Saku Koivu had their only goal on a nice play with linemates Teemu Selanne and Jason Blake in Saturday night's 4-1 loss to the Nashville. The top line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry has yet to reach the scoresheet in the first two games played thus far.

By not having the top line produce any points in two games could mean that it could be time to change lines due to chemistry not being there. The Ducks are depending on their top line this year because of the players they lost  last year and the trades that were made in the off season.

Gwynn diagnosed with cancer

ESPN

Tony Gwynn made it public today that there was cancer found in his salivary gland.

The parotid cancer was found after Gwynn under went his third surgery to remove a tumor since 1997. He now faces a series of treatments that require radiation five times a week and chemotherapy once a week.  
"They say this is a slow moving but aggressive form of cancer," Gwynn said. "I'm going to be aggressive and not slow moving in treating this."


Gwynn currently coaches San Diego State baseball team and has his intentions of returning once he gets his current situation under control. He admits that he has a strong feeling that the cancer is caused from his prolonged years of chewing tobacco,which he has not told his doctors about yet. For the time being he will look at the positives and continue with his treatments.

Selanne still at that fun age

Selanne and Listrom shaking hands, OC Register

"I've always said it's the last season," Selanne said. "That's why they don't believe me." Teemu Selanne is back for his last season. Again.

 Fans of all ages must ask why come back after suffering a broken jaw and hand? For Selanne its the love of the game. There’s a lot of days I feel like I’m 25,” Selanne said with a smile. “There’s some days I feel like I’m 40. The good thing is most of the days I feel like I’m 25.”  

At the age of 40, last season he was on a 41-goal pace, netting 27 goals in 54 games before getting injured. Selanne stated that he has not set any type of goals for himself this year except to maintain healthy. His conditioning and amount of time he put in the gym has allowed him to go another season and chase the beloved Stanley Cup.

Local Pitcher Dominates for Rangers

The Newport Beach native C.J. Wilson pitched a gem for the Texas Rangers on Thursday beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-0.

The Rangers came into the game as heavy underdogs but proved critics wrong again, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series according to LA Times.com.

C.J Wilson, graduated from Fountain Valley High School, was at his best today. Wilson pitched into the 7^th inning while giving up only 2 hits, 2 walks and striking out 7 batters in 6 1/3 innings of shutout baseball according to OC Register.com

This was Wilson’s first playoff appearance for his career and made it one to respect.

C.J and the Rangers have enjoyed a tremendous year, Wilson led the Rangers with 15 wins while posting a 3.33 ERA and 204 innings pitched according to ESPN.com.

His season long performance is a big factor in the Rangers winning the American League West Division this year.

The two teams will face off this Saturday in Texas while C.J.’s Rangers try and win the series against the Rays.

USC Preview

USC QB Matt Barkley  and Stanford QB Andrew Luck

The University of Southern California has one of the more intriguing games this week as they travel to Stanford Saturday to face the Cardinal.

Both teams are coming into the game with the same record 4-1, as they both suffered their first loss of the year last week according to ESPN.com

The Cardinal come into the game ranked 16th in the nation while the Trojans find themselves for just the second time since 2001 unranked.

"We still have parts of the week," Kiffin said. "Maybe we'll make one here in warm-ups."

USC head coach Lane Kiffin is worried about his team’s inability to make field goals. The field goal kicker Joe Houston is only two for six in his attempts this year including a missed field goal in last week’s loss to Washington according to the LA Times.

Last season the two teams meet at the Coliseum and Stanford blew USC out 55-21, giving SC their worst loss since 1966 according to the OC Register.

Waly Skalij/ Los Angeles Times

Reaction to Lakers First Game

Kobe playing his minimum minutes in London Clive Rose/Getty Images

The quest for another three-peat has began as the Los Angeles Lakers started their pre-season schedule yesterday.

The Laker’s kicked off their season with a trip to Europe, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-92 in London.  This game was the first leg of the trip and will play their last European game against Pau Gasol’s former team, FC Barcelona on Thursday according to ESPN.com.

Kobe Bryant  had a brief night going 0-3 shooting and playing a little over six minutes. Kobe is still recovering from his Knee.  It has been his third knee surgery since 2003 according to LA Times.com.

"Im probably about 60 percent." During the NBA Finals, it was extremely, extremely, extremely painful," Bryant said. "Now, not so much."

Kobe says it’s the same plan for Thursday and doesn’t want to test the knee too much yet.

Coach Phil Jackson also said that Andrew Bynum might be sent to a part-time position this year after being plagued with injuries for four straight years according to OC Register.com.

Scobee goes the distance to win the game

Jaguars Josh Scobee and Adam Podlesh celebrate Scobee's 59-yard field goal that won them the game. (LA Times)

Josh Scobee, from the Jacksonville Jaguars, was able to score a 59-yard field goal on the final play, ending the game with a close 31-28 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, said the LA Times. The field goal came within the last 48 seconds of the game, after Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had gone to great lengths to tie up the game, 28-28.

"We weren't as efficient as we should have been," Manning told ESPN reporter Paul Kuharsky in an interview after the game. The OC Register, however, had nothing to report from the game.

Manning had hit gains of as much as 42 yards, while the Jaguars were hitting gains of less than 20, but Scobee's 59-yard field goal came in in the final seconds, resulting in an extremely close win.