Los Angeles quarterback Ashley Salerno, above right, tries to avoid an, uh, sack attempt in the 2011 Lingerie Bowl championship game.

Right: Head coach David Bizub of the Los Angeles Temptation lifts player Melissa Margulies after they defeated the Philadelphia Passion 26-25 in the Lingerie Football League's Lingerie Bowl VIII at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas in 2011.
(Photos by Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America)

Where's the buzz for David Bizub?

All's fine as long as the Kings don't win the Pacific Division by one point, right?

Staff photo by John McCoy

What's in today's weekly media column (linked here): An update on the career of Paul Sunderland, who 10 years ago stepped in to replace Chick Hearn on the Lakers, had the job to himself after Hearn's passing in the summer of 2002, and had it taken away three years later. Along with that: The final installment of the 20th edition of the best and worst of the Southern California sports media guys, this time focusing on play-by-play talents. No. 1: Vin Scully, who says his new hero is Betty White. The bottom four .... take a good guess.

What's not in today's column:

== Word is that since Time Warner's new regional channels won't be fully up and running until the fall, in time for the start of the Lakers' 2012-13 season, the 18 Galaxy games that TWC will produce starting in March can be seen on Orange County's KDOC-Channel 56. This, after a rights fee with Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket has ended. This summer, KDOC will also carry the WNBA's Sparks, another franchise that TWC has taken from FSW/Prime.
Way to bury both sports in the L.A. market.

== A couple days after airing the first episode of "Luck," HBO says it has already renewed the deal for a second, 10-episode season, starting in January, 2013. Production starts at the end of this month. The premiere last Sunday drew 3.3 million viewers so far as it continues to repeat. Warning if you haven't seen it: Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke turns up in it, as ... what is he, some kind of TV reporter?

== Highlights (or, lowlights) for NBC's six hours of Super Bowl preview material starting at 9 a.m. on Channel 4:
Bob Costas interviews Tom Brady; Dan Patrick interviews Eli Manning; Tony Dungy sits with Tom Coughlin and Victor Cruz; Rodney Harrison interviews his former coach, Bill Belichick; Al Michaels visits with Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Costas interviews Harrison along with former New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree, the two men linked on Tyree's famous "helmet catch" in Super Bowl XLII; Costas interviews commissioner Roger Goodell; Costas interviews Madonna; Matt Lauer interviews President Barack Obama from the White House; and Nick Cannon hosts a "red carpet" entrance for Adam Sandler, Danny Devito, and stars of all other kinds of NBC prime-time programming.

== Harrison, on whether he can objective as a TV analyst on this game: "Yes, I can cover it objectively. I've been objective. I've criticized Belichick, and the defensive backs from the Patriots as well as I've been complimentary at times to that team. That's my nature. If I feel something, I'll let you know it. But I'm not going to shy away from what I feel. If it means criticizing my former team, I've never been shy about doing that."

== Fox/Channel 11 airs Chelsea against Manchester United on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., using Rob Stone, Eric Wynalda and, yes, Piers Morgan on the call -- all sitting in a studio in L.A. calling it live.

== An explanation as to why Jon Weisman's "Dodger Thoughts" enters the free-agent market again (linked here). Our thought? If we were starting our own L.A.-generated sports-content service, he'd be at the top of our list.

Reeves Nelson, the former UCLA basketball star dismissed from the Bruins' program last December, was released Tuesday by BC Zalgiris after five weeks as he was trying to improve his NBA draft stock playing with the professional team in Lithuania (Seattle Times story linked here).

Reeves reportedly played 17 minutes per game over 24 games for Zalgiris, averaging 4.8 points and 4.2 rebounds a game.

Jonathan Givony at DraftExpress.com (linked here) writes that Nelson is eligible for the 2012 NBA draft, but he isn't expected to be selected.

Nelson led UCLA in scoring (13.9) and rebounds (9.1) last season when he was first-team All-Pac 10.

On Nov. 15, he was suspended for two days and he sat out another game after he was late for a team meeting. After he was reinstated, he missed the team flight to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Coach Ben Howland suspended him a second time on Dec. 6 after he was seen laughing on the Bruins' bench during a 10-point loss to Texas.

Three days later, Howland kicked Nelson off the team. The team was 2-5 at the time, and won five in a row after he was let go. They are 10-4 without him on the roster going into tonight's game at Washington.

By Larry Neumeister
Associated Press

Federal authorities announced a crackdown today on websites that stream unauthorized broadcasts of sports events just hours after New England quarterback Tom Brady told reporters gathered in Indianapolis for Sunday's Super Bowl that he watched last year's game on an illegal site.

"Last year I was rehabbing my foot in Costa Rica, watching the game on an illegal Super Bowl website. And now I'm actually playing in the game. So, it's pretty cool," Brady said.

Investigators seized 16 sites and brought criminal charges against a Michigan man who controlled nine of them.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara warned sports fans in a release that piracy costs sports leagues and broadcasters millions of dollars, forcing increases in ticket prices and other costs to consumers.

Web operator Yonjo Quiroa, of Comstock Park, Mich., was charged Wednesday with copyright infringement. Prosecutors said he distributed football, basketball and hockey games and wrestling matches.

Quiroa appeared in federal court in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday. He was held without bail while his immigration status was under review. Larry Phelan, his lawyer, declined to comment.

Authorities said the prosecution was part of a continuing federal effort to target counterfeiting and piracy on the Internet.

What if we already knew the final score of the Super Bowl?

Would you watch it anyway to make sure that's how it played out?

WhatIfSports.com has already crunched the numbers and come up with a 27-25 Patriots' victory. The Pats won 55 percent of the time that everything was put through the stat machine.

Here's how the numbers fall (linked here).

The Lakers' average ticket price of $99.25 is a 4.2 percent jump from a year ago and ranks second in the NBA among the 30 teams, according to the latest numbers released today by the Chicago-based Team Marking Research's Fan Cost Index. (linked here).

The Clippers' average of $51.47 per ticket is seventh in the league, but has not increased over last season, the statistics show.

Neither price factors in premium ticket costs.

Both the Lakers and Clippers exceed the NBA's average ticket price of $48.48, which is up 1.7 percent for the first time in three years.

New York Knicks' tickets -- $117.47 -- cost more than double the league's average and five times as much as seats for the Memphis Grizzlies, last at $22.95.

Thirteen teams actually cut their average price in the wake of the late start to the regular season because of the lockout. The Clippers are one of seven that were flat. The Lakers were one of 10 teams that were at an increase. last season, only four teams raised prices.

The average non-premium ticket price was $77.36 in the NFL last season, $26.91 in Major League Baseball last year and $57.10 in the NHL this season, according to TMR's surveys.

TMR's Fan Cost Index for the NBA, which includes four average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking, two programs and two adult-size caps, averaged $301.46 for the league, up 4.5.

The Lakers' Fan Cost Index came in at $514 at Staples Center, up 5.1 percent; the Clippers were at $322.88, up 2.9 percent. Both teams had the same price for a beer ($8), soft drink ($4.75), hot dog ($5.25), parking ($15), program ($5) and cap ($18).

The Knicks were up to $608.78, a jump of 20.4 percent over last year in the remodeled Madison Square Garden.

You'd think so.

Al Michaels, who turned 67 last November, will call his eighth Super Bowl on Sunday, passing Curt Gowdy and matching Dick Enberg for second most of all time.

A list of those who have done play-by-play for the Super Bowl over the 46-year history:

11: Pat Summerall (Super Bowls 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 24 and 26 for CBS; 31, 33 and 36 for Fox)

8: Dick Enberg (15, 17, 20, 23, 27, 28, 30 and 32 for NBC)

8: Al Michaels (22, 25, 29, 34, 37 and 40 for ABC; numbers 43 and 46 for NBC)

7: Curt Gowdy (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 for NBC)

4: Ray Scott (1, 2, 6 and 8 for CBS)

3: Joe Buck (39, 42 and 45 for Fox)

2: Jim Nantz (41 and 44 for CBS)

2: Greg Gumbel (35 and 38 for CBS)

1: Frank Gifford (19 for ABC)

1: Jack Buck (4 for CBS)

1: Jack Whitaker (1 for CBS)

Note: Scott called the first half and Whitaker the second half on the first Super Bowl for CBS; Summerall has also been the analyst for four Super Bowls for CBS and a sideline reporter for the first Super Bowl; Gifford has also been the analyst on five Super Bowls for ABC.

Coming Sunday: A Q-and-A with Michaels, the longtime Brentwood resident who got his start in broadcasting by serving as Chick Hearn's short-lived booth colorman in the mid 1960s.

A press release that landed in our in-basket that we can only repeat in total, with no extra commentary:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sturdy Girl Sports(R) Launched to Bring Ultimate Sports Bra to Women with Augmented Breasts

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Feb. 1, 2012 -- Sturdy Girl Sports, LLC launched today as a new, independent women's sports bra and coordinating performance apparel company. On a mission to help women embrace the body they build, Sturdy Girl Sports today rolled out the market's first line of maximum-support, fashion-inspired sports bras specifically designed for women with augmented breasts.

The bras serve a largely under-served market, and can also be used by women with naturally large breasts.

Since 1997, over 3.8 million women in America have had breast augmentation surgery. The number grows by another 300,000 women each year. In 2008, breast augmentation overtook liposuction as the number one aesthetic surgical procedure and has maintained the number one position ever since. This rapidly expanding market consists of women that have unique fit and support requirements.

"As an avid runner and woman with augmented breasts, I searched everywhere for the right sports bra but found that there was nothing really available," said Hilary Heath (pictured above), Founder of Sturdy Girl Sports. "I've spent the last three years on extensive research and development to provide a high-functioning, well-fitting, uniquely designed sports bra that is also pretty enough to be worn without covering up."

"While working out I noticed for the first time that doing push-ups didn't feel weird," said Grace Gold, Beauty Journalist and author of "The Boob Job Bible." "Ever since I got implants, I can't describe the feeling, but it feels uncomfortable doing push-ups. I think because my chest muscles must be causing pressure on the implants. The support in a Sturdy Girl Sports bra takes that weird feeling away."

© Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
Why you don't let a sports writer get up in front of a group of sportscasters and try to make a speech. It's quickly obvious why you're a writer. Especially when you go off script.

It's really, really nice to be recognized and appreciated.
And even nicer to be employed.
Survival of the fittest isn't really the best way to address the current extinction of the mainstream sports media columnists, particularly those native to the Southern California market.
There are too many other factors in play here.
As Bob Miller introduced me at Monday's 21st annual awards lunch for the Southern California Sports Broadcasters, the group appreciates the fact I'm the last remaining weekly columnist in the area writing about the media. They've given me this nice glass microphone as their token of that.
I hope not to break it by accident as I clear a space for it on my desk populated with stacks and stack of papers and things.

Highlights of the week ahead in sports, both here and afar:

THIS WEEK'S BEST BET

Super Bowl XLVI: New England vs. N.Y. Giants, Sunday in Indianapolis, 3:30 p.m., Channel 4:

Neither the Patriots nor the Giants are like a virgin when it comes to Super Bowl history -- not like Madonna, who will be the one dragged out this year for the 12-minutes-of-agony halftime show. More to the point, aside from their names, there's not a lot new when you're putting New England and New York together in the same sandpit. What's old is what everyone wants to talk about. Like how the Giants outlasted the Patriots in Week 9, 24-20, at Foxboro, Mass., when Eli Manning capped off a final drive by hitting Jake Ballard on a 1-yard TD pass with 15 seconds left. "I knew we would win," Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. "It definitely took me back to the Super Bowl." That would be the older news, when Manning rallied the Giants to a 17-14 victory in the 2008 title game, hitting Plaxico Burress on a 13-yard TD with 35 seconds to go and ending the Patriots' perfect season. "I'd rather be down by three with a minute-thirty (left) than up by four with a minute-thirty with Tom Brady, with their offense on the field," Manning said after the recent regular-season win. "You like those situations where you have an opportunity to go win the game." Now, on the field where his brother, Peyton, may never play again, Eli will be the Manning on the spot. The Giants, just 9-7 in the regular season, have been playing elimination football since having to win three of their last four games just to make the playoffs, then snatching three playoffs victories -- the last two on the road. The 13-3 Patriots didn't beat anyone with a winning record until the AFC title game -- including that rout of 8-8 Denver in the first round. But they haven't lost since the last meeting with the Giants, pilling up 10 in a row and averaging more than 35 points a contest during the stretch. Since each team has suspect defenses -- the Giants have given up 376.4 yards a game, which is better than the Patriots' 411.1 a week -- this could get pretty offensive. Like, say, Madonna dragging out her training bra-cones. They say revenge games make for better storylines. Even if a Packers-Broncos matchup might have been far more compelling.

MONDAY

NBA: Clippers vs. Oklahoma City, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime:

Russell Westbrook said he hopes his decision to make a long-term commitment to stay with OKC will end rumors of a rift between him and fellow All-Star Kevin Durant. "I wish it would have never started," the former UCLA standout said at a press conference to announce his five-year, $80 million contract extension. "Me and Kevin get along great on and off the floor, and now we're going to be together for at least five more years. Hopefully we can stay together." Meanwhile, Eddie Johnson of HoopsHype.com came out with his top 25 players in the NBA at this moment. While Durant wedged himself in at No. 4, Westbrook has made it to No. 12. "If Westbrook realized 17 and 10 is better than 20 and 5, he would be considered the second best point guard on the list (behind No. 10 Chris Paul)," wrote Johnson. "He is the best athletic PG I have ever seen, but his demeanor on the court is deflating and needs to change if he ever wants to move up further on this list." Humpf.

TUESDAY

NBA: Lakers vs. Charlotte, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:

And you thought the Washington Wizards were bad? These Bobcats lost twice to the Wiz last week, have an eight-game losing streak and, at 3-18 coming into this week, stand with the worst record in the league. Despite the fact 21-year-old rookie guard Kemba Walker (20 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) recorded a triple-double the other night. But then again, we know what kind of trouble -- with a capital T -- the Lakers seem to have with Charlotte over the years.

WEDNESDAY

NHL: Kings vs. Columbus, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:

The Kings come off an All-Star layoff that lasted, what, nine weeks? And Jonathan Quick isn't even well rested, having been forced to play in Ottawa for the annual exhibition. One of the few Blue Jacket victories this season was just a couple of weeks ago at Staples Center, when goalie Curtis Sanford recorded the team's only shutout, 1-0, in an afternoon contest where Quick had to take the loss, giving up that one late goal.

NBA: Clippers at Utah, 7:30 p.m., Prime, ESPN:

The Clippers were in Salt Lake City just a couple of weeks ago -- and embarrassed in a 29-point loss where the Jazz had a 56-36 advantage on points in the paint, 16 off dunks -- five of which were alley-oops.

High school football: National college signing day: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., ESPNU; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., CBS Sports Network:

Former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is part of the CBS coverage, and new Bruins head man Jim Mora Jr., is supposed to be one of the coaches interviewed to assess their team's talent haul. On ESPN's coverage, the network says at least 10 players, four of whom are ranked No. 1 at their position on the ESPNU 150, will make the college commitment decisions live on their show.

THURSDAY

College basketball: UCLA at Washington, 6 p.m., ESPN2; USC at Washington State, 7 p.m.:

The fact that the Huskies share the lead in the Pac-12 to this point is beside the point. The last time the Bruins won in Seattle, freshman Trevor Ariza scored five of his 21 points in overtime to secure a victory in 2004, upping UCLA's overall mark to 11-17. Nate Robinson had 18 points and Brandon Roy had 16 for the Huskies.

NBA: Clippers vs. Denver, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., TNT:

Nuggets coach George Karl said it about the fact his team plays in L.A. tonight, then goes home the next night to meet up with the Lakers, then has to fly to Portland for the third game in three nights on Saturday: "That has to be the most sadistic three games that the NBA doled out this year. If anyone else has three tougher games in a row, I'd like to hear about it." Add to the fact that the Clippers and Nuggets played each other just the other night.

FRIDAY

NBA: Lakers at Denver, 7:30 p.m., Channel 9, ESPN:

The Grammy Awards are just around the corner, meaning this is the first of six in a row away from Staples Center for the Lakers until Feb. 12. Meaning, they sweep, and they're finally over the .500 mark on the road. Sure. Ninety-two points was good enough for the Lakers to beat the Nuggets on Dec. 31. Ninety wasn't enough to beat them in Denver on Jan. 1. Either way, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol enjoyed large point production in each.

NHL: Kings at St. Louis, 5 p.m., FSW:

The first of six in a row on the road for the Kings, who've already defeated the Blues twice this year, once with each goalie. It's the Blues' first game since Jan. 24 -- 11 days off -- and they've lost two in a row, to Pittsburgh and Detroit.

Men's college volleyball: UCLA at USC, Galen Center, 7 p.m.:

The latest USA Today poll had the 9-1 Bruins (4-0 in the MPSF) at No. 3 and the 4-3 Trojans (3-3 in league) at No. 5, but that was before they had a three-game match losing streak in there.

SATURDAY

NBA: Lakers at Utah, 6 p.m., Channel 9:

The Lakers' first (and, for a long time, only) road win of the year happened on Jan. 11. Here in Salt Lake City. In overtime. Thanks to 40 points from Kobe.

NBA: Clippers at Washington, 4 p.m., Prime:

And the Clippers start a six-game roadie in D.C, again missing an invite to the White House, but allowing themselves a chance to marvel at just how spectacular a dunker JaVale McGee can be.

NFL: Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement, 1 p.m., NFL Network:

Two former Los Angeles Rams -- running back Jerome Bettis and defensive end Kevin Greene -- join former Los Angeles Raiders receiver Tim Brown among the 12 candidates up for induction. Expect former coach Bill Parcells to get enough love for enshrinement.

NHL: Kings at Carolina, 4 p.m., FSW:

Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward tied a franchise record with his 2-1 win against the Jets last week. He's given up two or fewer goals in nine consecutive games (5-2-2, 1.54 GAA), tying the single-season Hartford/Carolina record established by Arturs Irbe in 1999 and by Kevin Weekes in 2002.

College basketball: UCLA at Washington State, 2 p.m., USC at Washington, 8 p.m., FSW:

The last time that the Trojans won in Seattle? Just last March, 62-60, when Jio Fontan scored 20 points and Nikola Vucevic added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Those were the days.

Series: "Feherty Live from Super Bowl XLVI," Golf Channel, 10 p.m.:

Before the second season of David Feherty's chat show begins in late February, he'll do this hour-long special, performing before a live theater audience and bringing on folks from the sports and entertainment field.

SUNDAY

Bowling: Chris Paul Celebrity Invitational, 1 p.m. ESPN:

The Clippers' new kingpin does his annual charity event on the hardwood, taped a couple of weeks ago at Lucky Strikes in L.A. Live. Blake Griffin, Reggie Bush, Michael Strahan, Jerry Ferrara and Drew Carey joined in.

Golf: PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., final round, noon, Channel 2:

Don't waste this opportunity for some pre-kickoff golf on Super Bowl Sunday from the course where yelling is encouraged.

Staff photo by David Crane

Along with a little bravado, Kim Gilbert has a lot of history on her side.

Now it's just a matter of how far that, and the 47-year-old's reputation as once being one of the country's top competitors in table tennis, will take her this time at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

There's a story she has clipped from the Daily News dated July 23, 1986, along with a photo of her looking intense as she's winding up to slam a return. Gilbert was routinely whipping male competitors at the then-Hollywood Table Tennis Center in the middle of a career that had already taken her to victories in U.S. Open and Olympic Festival tournaments.

Her resume from 1981 on had included junior, state and national level championships.

ESPN did a piece on her to record her reflexes and she broke the Olympic Festival record with a .14 of a second reaction time. By comparison, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps fastest reaction time off the blocks was .64 of a second.

She could have made a North American team that would be part of the 1988 Summer Olympics, but because of limited female spots did not make the final cut.

Gilbert regrouped for the 1992 Olympic team, which would be made up of U.S.-only players this time. But just before the trials, the heel of a shoe she was wearing broke. She slipped on a curb in Santa Monica, braced herself with her right arm on the concrete and shattered the forearm into 15 pieces.

"I was devastated," she said.

After four years of surgeries to rebuild it and another two years before she was brave enough to try playing again; Gilbert realized it was too painful and just wasn't going to happen. She had to quit a game that she took up at age 14 while at Palisades High, and included intense training for two years in France and England during that time.

"I had to reinvent myself," she admitted.

That meant the next 18 years of working in marketing, producing benefit concerts, and starting up a file management business.

Recently, while working for Dial800, a Los Angeles based marketing optimization firm, she took up the game again after turning down a complimentary offer to join a local gym.

"I was shocked -- it felt as if I left the game for just a couple of minutes," Gilbert said. "You'd have never known I hadn't played in so long. Complete muscle memory."

She then began training and eventually coaching at the Gilbert Table Tennis Center in Los Angeles. The muscles in her arm that had atrophied became stronger just from playing.

She soon hooked up with actress Susan Sarandon, who started a SPiN Hollywood nightclub inside the Mondrian Hotel that included the desire for table tennis experts to put on exhibitions and avail challenges to their patrons.

Gilbert was added to the weekly line-up of pros, taking on high-end clients who wanted to learn the sport. There is trend afoot through SPiN whereby ping-pong is being used in business as a way of breaking the ice between executives because on the "court" everyone is made equal by virtue of their competitive spirit and enthusiasm for the game.

As her skills improved, she grew confidence and secured corporate sponsorship with Dial800 and Hama Sushi of Venice to compete in the 2010 and 2011 U.S Open championships again - and was a semifinalist in the over-40 divisions.

Her performance against some of the top-ranked players in the country was good enough for her. Even better was the support of her employer Dial800 who has built a culture that believes in a living and working balance and is delighted to support Kim's efforts with both a flexible scheduling and actual event sponsorship.

Soon enough, Gilbert got an invite to the 2012 Olympic trails, set for Feb. 9-12 in Cary, North Carolina (linked here).

The current U.S. Table Tennis rankings automatically put the top 10 women into the Trials - that includes Thousand Oaks teenager Ellen Hwang and Arcadia teen Erica Wu. Gilbert has been seeded No. 12, meaning she'll have to play some extra qualifying matches. All matches will be best of four out of seven games to 11 points.

Let's be realistic. The odds of Gilbert making the U.S. Olympic table tennis team at age 47 are stacked against her at best.

"But in competition, anything can happen. I know I can give some of these girls a run for their money - and I've got nothing to lose" the Los Angeles native admitted the other day. "I'm gunnin' for them, and they'd better watch out."

Staff photo by David Crane