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.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Tiffany, who was area player of the year in 2003 before being selected by the Dodgers in the second round of MLB’s First-Year Player Draft. “I appreciate them giving me another chance. It’s awesome.”
It’s been a long road back for Tiffany, once one of the crown jewels of the Dodgers’ minor league system. He threw a perfect game during his first season in the minors, finishing with 141 strike outs in 99 innings. His first go around with the Dodgers saw him win 16 of 25 decisions while striking out 275 in 220 innings.
He was then dealt to the Rays organization in January 2006, traded along with Edwin Jackson for relievers Danny Baez and Lance Carter.
He suffered a torn rotar cuff in May, 2006 and did not return to the mound until 2008, where he was 1-2 with a 3.46 ERA for Tampa Bay’s Vero Beach single-A affiliate.
Tiffany was then released in March before re-signing with the Dodgers over the weekend. But he’s back and healthy and ready to pitch again.
“I don’t know what their plans for me are,” Tiffany said. “I just know I’m here ready to compete. I’m happy to get the ball and pitch.”

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.