There was good news and bad news over the weeknd, at least for this reporter, who is a fan of our former area stars.
The good was that after failing to be picked in the seven rounds of the NFL Draft, 2003 Area Player of the Year Brigham Harwell of Los Altos signed a free-agent contract. The bad news, at least for this reporter, who is fan of the Dallas Cowboys, was that he inked with the hated Washington Redskins, and will turn his blue and gold in for cardinal and gold...ewww!
But its good for Harwell, who I believe should have a good shot at making the club. He's a big-time run stuffer, and knows the Redskins' defense system, which is the same UCLA has run the past few years, since former Bruins defensive coordinator Dwayne Walker previously coached for the Redskins.
But here's a good luck to Brigham, and I guess for games when they are not playing the Cowboys, I can root for those 'Skins!
The draft was good for former Damien High School and Citrus College star Freddie Brown, who was selected in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals. Brown starred for Utah last season, catching 77 passes for 900 yards and seven TDs as the Utes went undefeated and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Also former Damien star Ian Johnson, who played at Boise State, signed a free-agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings, while former UCLA punter Aaron Perez was invited to attend a New England Patriots mini camp this weekend. UCLA's Bret Lockett of Diamond Bar will try out for the Cleveland Browns.
Good luck to all!

Who said you can't go home again?
Chuck Tiffany is proof you can.
The former Charter Oak High School pitching sensation, who signed with the Dodgers out of high school, is back with his hometown team, and child-hood favorite, after re-signing with the Dodgers over the weekend.
Tiffany, who was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays organization in 2006 as part of a four-player deal, was recently released by the Rays. He's been assigned to the Dodgers spring training complex in Arizona to determine what affiliate he will join this season.

Former Glendora High School star Wes Roemer opened the 2009 season by throwing five shut-out innings in the Visalia Rawhide's 5-3 victory over Lake Elsinore in a Cal League game on Friday.
It was a solid start to the season, but Roemer's heart was elsewhere. Roemer's two friends - Jon Wilhite and Courtney Stewart were victims in the car crash that cost the life of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart earlier this week. Stewart, a former Cal State Fullerton cheerleader, was also killed in the crash. Wilhite, the lone survivor who was upgraded to serious condition on Saturday and resting at UC Irvine Medical Center, was Roemer's teammate on the CSF baseball team.
Both were on his mind on Friday when he took the hill in Lake Elsinore. Here's what Roemer told the North County Times after his performance on Friday:
"I wanted to dedicate my game to them tonight," Roemer said. "It definitely gave me that extra drive to get through the game. When things got tough, I just stepped back and took a deep breath.
"You've got to go out there and perform. You've got to go on with it. It was tough ---- I'm not going to lie. Coming to the field today, it was in the back of my head ---- (Wilhite) was my catcher for three years."
Here is the rest of the story from the North County Times

My thoughts of this senseless tragedy is mainly spiritual. Sometimes things don't make sense in this life, or are even seem fair. I can only relate my personal experiences. I lost my best friend in life 10 years ago this summer, and my older brother passed a few years ago. I believe that all you can do in these circumstances are to reflect on the good times. On that here is a video on youtube from a "Little House on the Praire" episode that I think explains it better than I can put into words.

Remember for West Covina High School standout James Skelton?
When last heard from, he was playing Double-A ball in the Detroit Tigers organization. But now he's on the brink of making the Major Leagues after being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Rule 5 Draft, which means the Snakes must return him if he doesn't make the big club.
Skelton, a catcher throughout his minor-league career, is now working in the outfield and infield, knowing that to make the D-Backs roster, his only value would be as a utility player.
Here's what coach Chip Hale told the Arizona Republic:
"I've seen him with good feet for a guy who has never played the infield since high school. He has really soft hands. He worked hard at all the infield positions. Hitting fungos, he looked like he'd have no problem fielding the ball and throwing to first. Obviously, we don't know what it's going to look like in game situations. He definitely has the body and the feet and the hands to be able to play the infield."

What was that word? A Ute? What is a Ute?
- Fred Gwynne as Judge Chamberlain Haller in "My Cousin Vinny"

Alabama knows what a Ute is today, especially after the Utah Utes made their claim to be ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press football poll.
Utah's argument?
A convincing 31-17 victory over Tide in the Sugar Bowl on Friday. The victory over Alabama, which was ranked No. 1 for five consecutive weeks during the regular season, allowed the Utes, helped by former Damien High School and Citrus College star Freddie Brown and former Pasadena City standout David Reed, to become the only undefeated team in the bowl championship division, finishing 13-0.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham believes that should be enough to move his team to the top spot.
"I know where I'm voting us. I'm voting us No. 1. End of story," Whittingham said after Friday's victory in New Orleans. "I don't know why they wouldn't deserve that consideration. Somebody has to explain to me why they wouldn't. There is only one undefeated team in the United States of America right now in Division I football, and it's these guys right here."
Brown did his part by being Utah's leading receiver Friday, catching 12 passes for 125 yards. He also had a key 33-yard reception that led to an important TD drive in the third quarter. Reed had two catches for 58 yards, including a 28-yard TD reception that gave the Utes' a 28-17 lead in the second half.
Utah's roster also includes former Mt. San Antonio College players Aiona Key, Viliamu Nau and Aaron Tonga and Monrovia High's Patrick Greene.

Freshmen are usually expected to be seen, but not heard.
Then there's Kristen McCarthy, the former Bishop Amat girls basketball star who is making her mark at Temple University despite her freshman status.
The former two-time area player of the year is off to a solid collegiate career, helping the Owls to a 5-3 start.
McCarthy has played in all eight games, starting one and is averaging 7.8 points per game. She is also averaging four rebounds per contest and has 11 assists in eight games. McCarthy is coming off a solid effort against Toledo on Dec. 10, scoring 12 points to help the Owls to a 73-46 victory.

It's been a long road to the Division I level for Freddie Brown. But the former Damien High School star and Citrus College player is making the most of is opportunity with Utah.
Brown, arguably one of the top collegiate players with local ties, has helped the Utes to a top-10 ranking and a shot at BCS bowl.
The senior leads the team with 57 receptions for 678 yards and seven TDs. He came up big two weeks ago, catching the winning TD in a 13-10 victory over TCU. He also five catches for 59 yards in a 25-23 victory at traditional-power Michigan in September and 11 receptions for 110 yards and two TDs in a 63-14 victory over San Diego State this past weekend.
He will now attempt to get the Utes a BCS bid with a victory over intra-state rival Brigham Young on Saturday.

As I was watching the Super Bowl champion New York football Giants take apart America's team - the Dallas Cowboys, I couldn't help notice the play of linebacker Antonio Pierce, who might be the best NFL player with local ties.
Who is better?
Is it former Bishop Amat star Brian Russell, who is now starting in the Seattle Seahawks defensive secondary?
Good pick. Russell ranks among the team leaders, with 36 tackles and has one sack.
But I like Pierce, who NFL analyst John Madden called one of the better linebackers in the game. And the numbers prove it.
Pierce, who helped Mt. San Antonio College win the 1997 CCCAA state title, is a key member of the Giants defense that played a big role in upsetting the New England Patriots. He's picked up where he left off, leading the Giants with 38 tackles. He also has one sack.
Pierce is also one of the emotional leaders for the Giants, who many believe can be repeat champs.

This has been somewhat of a trying season for the UCLA football team. But one of the bright spots have come from Charter Oak High School grad Aaron Perez, who is one of the top punters in the country.
Perez has become a key ingredient of coach Rick Neuheisel's plan to play the field position game, resulting in the former Charger being ranked No. 10 in the country with a 44.39-yards per punt average. He also ranks second in the Pac-10.

Former Damien High School running back, who made a name for himself at Boise State in the Broncos' upset of Oklahoma a few years back in the Fiesta Bowl, is in a more limited role this season. But with Boise State's current success, he doesn't seem to mind.
Here's the story about the former Spartan.
My own memory of Johnson at Damien was how he got me in trouble with then Bishop Amat coach Mike DiFiori. Johnson did some trash talking in my post-game interview after Damien beat Amat in 2002. I went with the quote and learned that I was forever banned from the Bishop Amat sideline by DiFiori.
I wonder if the former Lancers head coach, who is now an assistant at Amat, still has the same power. I will find out next week when I cover the Amat-Loyola game.
But good luck to IJ.

Saturday will be sort of a homecoming when the USC football team plays host to Oregon at the Coliseum at 5 p.m.
No, not for the Trojans, but for former West Covina High School's Walter Thurmond, who returns to Southern California as a member of the Gang Green secondary.
Thurmond is considered to be one of the top defensive backs on the West Coast. The junior, who has 19 tackles and two interceptions this season, was All-Pacific-10 last season and is on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in the country.
Thurmond will lead a Oregon team that is ranked No. 23 and is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-10. The Ducks scored a 63-14 victory at Washington State last week.
Welcome back Walter and good luck against those Trojans!