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.

UCLA is able to make a Comeback

UCLA running back Derrick Coleman helps turn the game around for the Bruins in the third quarter. (LA Times)

Things had been looking bleak for the UCLA Bruins for the first three quarters, according to ESPN. Despite winning only 1 of their last 20 games, the Washington State Cougars went into the fourth quarter of the game with a 28-20 lead against the Bruins, stated the LA Times. UCLA's win came down to a reviewed call, a goal-line stand and the Cougar's living up (or in this case, down) to their losing streak during this season.

It was, "A nasty win," Tony Dye from UCLA told the OC Registar. Bruins tailback Derrick Coleman shot through the Cougars' defense with a 73-yard pick up that helped lead the Bruins to a 42-38 win against Washington State at the Rose Bowl.

With the Cougars' losing streak this season, the game should have been a much easier win for the Bruins, but with football, any win is a good win.

Washington Huskies Beat USC 32-31

The Huskies and the Trojans battle it out in the final seconds. (OC Register)

For the second season in a row, the Washington Huskies were able take over and defeat the USC Trojans in the final seconds of the game, according to the LA Times. Kicker Erik Folk came in yet again for the Huskies to make the winning goal in the last 3 seconds of the game. He made a 22-yard kick that just barely won the game. 


The Huskies were really able to gain a lead after USC kicker Joe Houston missed a 40-yard field goal, said the OC Registar. Washington was able to use this to their advantage to set up the winning play in the final minutes of the game. ESPN said that the Huskies were able to move downfield with speed and precision, ultimately setting up Folk's winning 22-yard goal. 


USC is currently ranked number 18 in the state, despite losing three of their last five games. 

Preview: USC vs Washington

A Washington player celebrates last years upset of the Trojans at Husky Stadium. (Getty Images)

Who has the edge this year?

Things have gone downhill for the USC Trojans since last year's debacle against Pacific-10 rival Washington Huskies. This time last year, the Trojans were an optimistic top-25 team who were riding on the back of their true freshman quarterback, Matt Barkley.  After the loss, things only got worse.  Their national title hopes disappeared and during the off season, they faced sanctions from the NCAA which will keep them out of any post-season games for the next two seasons.

The Huskies, who are coached by two former Trojan coaches, Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt, are reluctantly to get back in the Colosseum and prove that the victory last year was no fluke.  They are led by Jake Locker, who is expected to be the the first quarterback taken in April's NFL Draft.
The much improved Barkley and the Trojans have something to prove come Saturday.

Bittersweet day for the Dodgers

Frank McCourt, left, arrives to court Wednesday morning; ex-wife Jamie, right, takes a lunch break with her attorney.  (Associated Press)

It has been a long season for Dodger fans. The closing arguements of the McCourt divorce began  Wednesday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom.  The battle between Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie, has plagued the entire Dodger season with bad press. The couple disagree on the terms of a contract that was signed in 2004, which includes details of ownership of Frank's 10 homes, as well as half ownership of the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the baseball team in question, is on a 3-game winning streak. With the win Wednesday night, National League West foes Colorado Rockies were eliminated from the playoffs.  The Dodgers were lead by Matt Kemp, who hit a grand slam in the 3rd inning.  "I am trying to give back to all the fans, man.  They deserve it..."  Manager Joe Torre said that the team's new goal is to try and finish the season at .500.

Kings best Ducks in preseason tune-up

Kings Defensemen Jack Johnson checks the Duck's Jason Blake Tuesday night at Staples Center (Getty Images)

In what may be the hottest rivalry in southern California, the Los Angeles Kings pummeled fellow south landers the Anaheim Ducks, 8-3 Tuesday night at the Staples Center.  Although the game was just a preseason exhibition, it may give So Cal fans a preview of what to expect in the upcoming National Hockey League season.

The Kings exploded out of the gates with the 4 goals in the first period, and carried over their power play domination from the playoffs last season with 4 power play goals. The Ducks defense had little to answer after the retirement of Scott Neidermayer in the off-season.  Duck's Center Saku Koivu called it, "A wake up call" and Coach Carlyle agreed that it will help him evaluate players struggling to make the final roster.

Are the Kings as good as advertised?  That remains to be seen, but we can expect some intense games this coming season.