November 2009 Archives

A Turner Network spokesman confirmed Monday that TBS won't be using Chip Caray on baseball play by play in the future.

A son of late Braves broadcaster Skip Caray and a grandson of famed broadcaster Harry Caray, Chip Caray did first-round and division series playoff games for TBS during the past three seasons. He originally worked with Tony Gwynn and Bob Brenly, then teamed with Ron Darling and Buck Martinez.

Caray also was part of the network's Sunday regular-season package.

Pomeroy said no replacement has been picked.

"Since the end of the 2009 MLB Playoffs, we've had several discussions with Chip Caray regarding 2010 and beyond. Both sides agree that now is the right time to move ahead on different paths," the network said in a statement.

Not soon enough for most.

Caray was criticized heavily for his work, particularily last October, when he miscalled plays.

AP Photo/John Raoux
A new fire hydrant is seen in the front of Tiger Woods' home in the Isleworth community in Windermere, Fla., on Monday.

Dan Durbin, a USC Annenberg School of Communications & Journalism professor who specializes in sports media and pop culture, said he was talking to a doctoral student and an undergrad Monday afternoon outside his office about the latest "news" to come out in the Tiger Woods saga.

"And this is the fundamental problem."

Durbin says he's in "a wait-and-see mode until some kind of authoritative source gives what seems to be a reasonable and legitimate explanation."

Good luck with that.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
A caddie walks past an ad showing a photo of Tiger Woods at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks on Monday, where the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, will take place starting Wednesday.

It's the best of New York Times for the sports media.

It's the worst of Internet times for the sports media.

Tiger Woods, again, has brought us together at this dysfunctional news-gathering divide.

The shelf live of this Woods' daily story (in the so-called "mainstream" media) and hourly story (in the ever-present "new" media) depends on how much the beast needs, or wants, to be fed.

The public, in Tiger terms, is hungry for meat. How much do they need to consume?

Since the world-wide public figure crashed his car pulling out of his driveway at his Florida home early Friday morning, there's the fact -- he injured himself, appeared to be unconscious for a time, went to the hospital, came back home, has avoided talking to local authorities (not a crime) and said in a statement his back window was smashed out because his wife, Elin, tried to "courageously" rescue him.

More facts: The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a search warrant for hospital records that would document how he was treated at the hospital -- the police want to determine if the injuries Woods had, including facial cuts, came from an auto accident or domestic violence.

There's also no getting around the fact that two days earlier, the National Enquirer ("Got News? We'll Pay Big Bucks") reported that Woods had an affair with a woman, who has since hired attorney Gloria Allred to defend her in the court of public opinion and beyond.

The Enquirer is a national magazine that while focusing on celebrity gossip, has been right at a low percentage of the time enough to make everyone else now pay attention and consider it as a legitimate news source. Sometimes.

Jumping to conclusions from Point A to Point Z, independent reports on the Internet do more than imply there's much more behind this.

The mainstream media has reported on what's been reported, trying to at least be "for the record" without giving it any validation. Yet.

It puts the journalists who are skeptical, yet act responsible, on one side working both against and with those who are cynical, and act on their own behalf, trying to poke the sleeping Tiger for more information -- especially since he's now said he'll bail out on attending his own charity event at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks to lick his wounds.

Holding the media up for examination isn't news, as we try to define again which media sources are more useful and which is more of a nuisance. But we watch with interest as the public is less likely to make a delineation. It'll buy the ice cream from the stand that's within its reach more likely than wait for the next batch to be made with more care and quality control.

We find ourselves amused, and confused, in which direction to turn for accurate information. Who wins in the long run -- the short-term satisfaction instant sources or the ones established for having the patience to see how things shake out before reporting on what's known and what isn't?

Our go-to source in many case, the New York Times, sums things up well on its website in its "Leading Off" blog (linked here) - again, blurring the line between what's a mainstream source here and what's another Internet novelty.

It surveys the landscape with links to those sites that are trying to fill in the so-called blanks. It even offers up a great Twitter-land take: Someone pointed out that Woods was "a mailbox and a parked car away from the Tiger Slam" after hitting a fire hydrant and a neighbor's tree.

Which means, of course, this will run the course of Leno / Letterman / Kimmel / Conan.
It will lead to Golf.com (the main site of Golf magazine, a company that's part of the Sports Illustrated family) to not only try to cover this in a responsible way but also link to a story called "Celebs weigh in on Tiger crash," with a list of Twitter responses from those like Seth Meyers, Rainn Wilson and LPGA player Erica Blasberg ("tmz.com thanks for bringin us the real dirt!") because, apparently, we need to know this.

AP Photo/TMZ.com

There seems to be no line blurred when it comes to identifying news after it happens. The Associated Press is presenting a copy of a photo from TMZ.com to all its mainstream media clients today because, to tell the truth, it's the only one who seems to have a photo of the damaged vehicle. It even comes with the strange dual photo credit of AP and TMZ. Partners in covering a crime. When it's beneficial to both.

In the most recent past, it would have been the sports-talk radio shows driving this. Now those hosts simply pick and choose which website or blog they tend to align with and hash it out in the court of public opinion.

Again, the mainstream media types, using whatever technology is available to us, are left trying to act as impartial artibrators and clean up everyone else's messes.

The challenge to the consumer is not just who to believe, but what you want to believe, and why you choose to believe something.

We'll do our best to convey the information in a responsible fashion. Don't mistake speed for inadequacy.

Those who want to doubt Tiger's story will always be there. As a public relations move, it does his image no good to stand behind statements on his own website, or those offered by his representatives.

It put an air of dishonesty out there. There's no transparency to this. Yet.

If you're to believe Tiger as a family man, a product endorser or a legendary golfer, the message should come from him. As Sports Illustrated senior writer Joe Posnanski wrote on Golf.com today: "This is the first time in a long time that something big about Tiger Woods has been revealed without Tiger Woods officially endorsing it."

Human nature will only fuel this story. And as Tiger himself admitted in some kind of statement over the last days, he's only human himself.

The funny thing about golf: It's the only sport where you're supposed to call penalties on yourself. It's a gentleman's game that's built on character and trust.

This isn't a public image problem he can just swipe his American Express card at and make go away.

The media must keep trying to report what's accurate. All we can do is hope you wait for the process to take place, rather than try to cut ahead of the line and get a better tee time.

Until then, we'll keep an eye on the newschopper trying to follow the slow moving white Ford Bronco black Escallade as its towed to a local repair shop for further investigation.

MONDAY

The NFL's top two offenses meet -- the undefeated Saints (420.5 yards a game) and the twice-beaten Patriots (416.1 yards a game) -- meaning someone's going to have to play defense. New England ranks No. 7 in the league defensively; New Orleans is No. 17.
The combined record of New Orleans' foes is also a mere 37-63; the Pats have faced a much stronger schedule. Berman, begin the bellyaching ...
NFL: New England at New Orleans, 5:30 p.m., ESPN.

TUESDAY

The Kings, est. 1967, hold the edge over the Ducks, est. 1993, by a 39-34-17 count in the regular season meetings. But in the last 10 encounters, they're even at 4-4-2. Yeah, we know, when these two get together, they throw all the records out. Then go retrieve them, because people want to know what they are.
NHL: Kings at Ducks, Honda Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 1150-AM, 830-AM.

Jeff Bower. He's the Hornets current head coach, the one they picked after they excused Byron Scott. So how's that working? Chris Paul remains injured, leaving Darren Collison to pick up the slack. Want to return your tickets now?
NBA: Lakers vs. New Orleans, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM.

WEDNESDAY

Trevor Ariza won't have any championship ring to collect on this trip to L.A.
NBA: Clippers vs. Houston, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

THURSDAY

The winner of this one at Sherwood Country Club gets $1.35 million of the $5.75 million purse. In contention: Paul Casey, Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Lucas Glover, Padraig Harrington, Zach Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Anthony Kim, Sean O'Hair, Kenny Perry, Ian Poulter, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Camilo Villegas, Mike Weir, Lee Westwood and Y.E. Yang.
Tiger Woods?
Hmmmm. Might depend on what the state troopers of Florida may have to say about things. Because this all benefits his foundation, Tiger wants to get his story straight with his wife before leaving her behind on another road trip.
Golf: First round of the Chevron World Challenge, Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Golf Channel, noon to 3 p.m. (Golf Channel also has the second round Friday; NBC has the third and final rounds Saturday and Sunday at noon)

To the winner of this Civil War, it's the Rose Bowl. Not the BCS title Rose Bowl, but the other one one New Year's Day. Oregon started it season with a Thursday night contest on ESPN -- and lost to Boise State.
College football: Oregon State at Oregon, 6 p.m., ESPN.

The Longhorns have actually received some first-place voting in the latest AP poll. The Trojans, not so many. Even after that impressive win over Coppin State.
College basketball: USC at Texas, 6 p.m., ESPN2.

The Senators from Ottawa have legislated a trip to Los Angeles.
NHL: Kings vs. Ottawa, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

FRIDAY

Dwayne Wade update: Still good. Fifth in the league in scoring at more than 27 a game. Seventeenth in assists at more than 5 a click.
NBA: Lakers vs. Miami, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., ESPN, FSN West, 710-AM.

SATURDAY

Winner gets the ... let's see ... Little Caesars Bowl? Does the GMAC Bowl need someone of stature? Seems kinda shortchanging everyone here. Loser wonders why it was scheduled following the emotional letdown game against their rival.
College football: USC vs. Arizona, Coliseum, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7, 710-AM.

Winner gets the ... BCS title game, right. Loser is sent to the Sugar Bowl, maybe to make sure Boise State pays the price for butting into the party.
College football: SEC Championship: Florida vs. Alabama, 1 p.m., Channel 2.

Winner gets ... a BCS title bid. Uh, not so fast, Cornhuskers. That's only for you, Longhorns.
College football: Big 12 Championship: Texas vs. Nebraska, 5 p.m., Channel 7.

Play this one outside at Dodger Stadium if you're going to force us to watch hockey in the daytime.
NHL: Kings vs. St. Louis, Staples Center, 1 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

Play this one outside at the Nokia Theatre if you're going to force anyone to watch the Clippers try to keep pace with the Pacers.
NBA: Clippers vs. Indiana, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

As long as they're on a road trip, head over to Atlanta and try not to make it too embarassing.
College basketball: USC at Georgia Tech, 3 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest, 710-AM.

SUNDAY

Let's assess the latest damage: UCLA couldn't win the seventh place game of something called the 76 Classic in Anaheim, losing their third in a row, by 11 points to Long Beach State. The 49ers had never beaten UCLA -- 0-11 going back to 1970. Where does Ben Howland's 2-4 team go from here? A meeting against the nation's near unanimous top-ranked team comes visiting to Pauley. Duck n' cover.
College basketball: UCLA vs. Kansas, Pauley Pavilion, 2:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 570-AM.

Last meeting, the Lakers collected a 121-102 win over the Suns, playing the second of a back-to-back, on Nov. 12. They've been No. 1-2 in the Pacific Division ever since.
NBA: Lakers vs. Phoenix, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM.

NBC picked this one from the Fox schedule recently because, well, wouldn't you want to see Brett Favre against Kurt Warner in prime-time now that "Curb Your Enthusiasm" has ended its season?
NFL: Minnesota at Arizona, 5:15 p.m., Channel 4.

The last email correspondence I had with Mike Penner was predictable. I traded a few notes with him about some things and asked how he was doing a couple of month ago.

The Associated Press version of the story:

Los Angeles Times sports writer Mike Penner, who announced two years ago he was a transsexual and was changing his name to Christine Daniels, has died at age 52, the newspaper reported Saturday.

Penner was pronounced dead Friday at a hospital, said Los Angeles County coroner's Lt. Brian Elias. He said coroner's officials hadn't yet performed an autopsy or issued an official cause of death.

The Times said in a story Saturday (linked here) that Penner was believed to have committed suicide. Penner had returned to using the name Mike Penner last year and was a Times columnist at the time of his death.

In 25 years with the newspaper, Penner covered Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the Olympics, World Cup soccer, tennis and other sports. A fluid writer with a sharp wit, he worked at various times as a reporter, columnist and the newspaper's Los Angeles Angels beat writer.

Times Editor Russ Stanton said Penner "respected our readers a great deal, enough to share with them his very personal journey."

Penner revealed that journey on April 26, 2007, when he wrote a story for the Times headlined "Old Mike, New Christine," in which he revealed he was taking a few weeks vacation and when he returned to his job as a sports writer it would be as a woman named Christine Daniels.

"I am a transsexual sports writer," Penner wrote. "It has taken more than 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-wrenching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words."

The announcement sent shock waves through the sports world, but Penner's bosses were supportive.

As Penner himself noted, when he revealed his plans to Times Associate Editor Randy Harvey, who was then the newspaper's sports editor, Harvey "leaned back in his chair, looked through his office window to scan the newsroom and mused, 'Well, no one can ever say we don't have diversity on this staff.'"

After his vacation, Penner did indeed return as Christine Daniels, not only continuing to report on sports for the Times but also authoring a blog called "Woman in Transition," detailing his experiences.

Making public the transition, he once said, was the hardest thing he had ever done.

"How do you go about sharing your most important truth, one you spent a lifetime trying to keep deeply buried, to a world that has grown familiar and comfortable with your facade?" he asked.

At the time of his announcement he was married, and he declined to discuss his family situation. He said he was undergoing female hormone treatments but declined to say whether he planned to undergo a sex-change operation.

However, he eventually dropped the "Woman in Transition" blog and returned to writing under the name Mike Penner.

At the time of his death he was writing a column for the Times called Totally Random that focused on offbeat, lighthearted and historic moments in sports. His last one appeared in the paper on Nov. 15.

Information on survivors and funeral arrangements was not immediately available.

== The April 26, 2007 L.A. Times column: "Old Mike, new Christine" (linked here).

== An ABC News story in April, 2007, when Daniels made her debut (linked here)

== A story SI's Rick Reilly did on Penner/Daniels in July, 2007 (linked here)

== A link to the Daily News' "Out in Hollywood" blog by former reporter Greg Hernandez after hearing Daniels speak at a National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association convention in San Diego in 2007 (linked here).

== A Feb., 2009 story in USA Today about how Daniels' transgender attempt didn't last and he'd returned to Penner (linked here).

First, more Dubious Dozen 2009 entrants who didn't make it into today's yearly wrap-up column (linked here):

* Horndoggery: n.: see ESPN

The culprit: ESPN vs. Deadspin.com

The crime: Deadspin editor AJ Daulerio, more than miffed that the World Wide Leader mislead him on reports about inappropriate behavior by then-employee Steve Phillips (eventually let go after it was confirmed the baseball analyst had an affair with an employee), began his own pursuit of "horndoggery" rumors that continued to fill his email box about things going on at the company.
The ongoing link: http://deadspin.com/tag/espnhorndoggery/

The aftermath: ESPN president George Bodenheimer sent a memo to employees in October -- which Daulerio obtained eventually (linked here) -- calling into question "unwanted media coverage, including a series of Internet posts where the editor expressly stated that many of these items were based on rumor and that they had not attempted to verify their accuracy. Compounding this issue is my disgust that some of our own unidentified employees are leaking materials to the media thereby contributing in a significant way to these destructive efforts."
So, "If anyone feels that we are not living up to our commitment or that your work environment, either in our offices or at any remote location, is of concern, you can and should bring that to the attention of your supervisor ... or to me personally."
Also in October, Daulerio published the entire lawsuit filed against Deadspin by former ESPN NFL commentator Sean Salisbury (linked here).
Oh, Deadspin also made note that on Bookmaker.com, wagers were being accepted on: "Next ESPN Personality Involved In A Sex Scandal."
"I'd go big on the underdog," wrote Daulerio. "Just sayin'. Despicably."

* The Beer Goggles

The culprit: Ed Podolak, Iowa football radio analyst.

The crime: With the team for the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl, Podolak, a former Hawkeye quarterback and running back, ended up enjoying himself so much, photos showed up on the Internet, starting with Jay Christensen's The Wiz Of Odds (linked here). Three pictures of the 61-year-old, including one where he's looking down the blouse of a women, were also posted on an Iowa State fan Web site.
It wasn't Podolak's first brush with public intoxication. In 1997, Iowa City police charged Podolak with just that, plus interference with official acts, after campus police found him sleeping in the grass on the University of Iowa Pentacrest.

The aftermath: "I am embarrassed by the pictures," he said later. "It was late in the evening at the hotel. But I am responsible to represent the university and I am embarrassed by my actions."
Too late. A week later he said he was going to "retire" from the broadcast booth. Then he came out of retirement in March, and has been calling Hawkeye games all season, logging his comments on his blog at his official website (linked here).

MONDAY

Check the T-wolves roster, please ... One guy from Australia. Another from Montenegro. A big man from the Ukraine. OK, all clear. Release Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith back to their chairs, with both clutching their Clipper plush toy.
NBA: Clippers vs. Minnesota, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

No foolin': After the Bruins' victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, they fell from No. 7 in the Jeff Sagarin USA Today computer poll to No. 104. And Cal State Fullerton did nothing Friday, but went up from No. 138 to No. 20. Pepperdine is ... oh, what does it matter?
College basketball: UCLA vs. Pepperdine, Pauley Pavilion, 8 p.m., FSN West, 570-AM.

Keep your cameras pointed on the Titans owner up in the press box. We hear he can get pretty comical. Oh, right, he used to live in Houston, too. Probably has a lot of old friends he wants to let know he's still thinking about 'em after moving his Oilers out of town long ago.
NFL: Tennessee at Houston, 5:30 p.m., ESPN.

TUESDAY

In an imperfect world, this would have been the game where Allen Iverson debuted in a Knicks uniform.
NBA: Lakers vs. New York, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM

WEDNESDAY

Michael Jordan says that other players, aside from him, deserve to have their numbers retired. He didn't mention any former Clippers.
NBA: Clippers at Indiana, 4 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

After averaging more than a point per game in his first 20 games this season, Anze Kopitar has just three assists and no goals in his last five.
NHL: Kings at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m., 1150-AM (no TV).

THURSDAY

On Thanksgiving, there's this basketball tournament called the 76 Classic (linked here), in its third year, played in Anaheim that's supposed to mean something to someone. At least it does for ESPN -- giving it some programming on a day everyone would just as soon not play. The Bruins are joined by Long Beach State, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Butler, Clemson and Minnesota. We'd just as well sneak out and go across the street to Disneyland. College basketball: UCLA vs. Portland, Anaheim Convention Center, 8 p.m., ESPN2, 570-AM. (Note: UCLA plays Butler or Minnesota, TBA, on Friday and couple play in the tournament final on Sunday.

Another Kings road game with no TV coverage. Who wants to pay the crew holiday salary?
NHL: Kings at Vancouver, 7 p.m., 1150-AM (no TV).

Hold this one at the old Pontiac Silverdome, for old time's sake, now that it's been sold.
NFL: Green Bay at Detroit, 9:30 a.m., Channel 11.

Hold this one at the old Cowboys Stadium, for old time's sake, now that it's been demolished.
NFL: Oakland at Dallas, 1:15 p.m., Channel 2.

Hold this one at the old Mile High Stadium, for old time's sake, now that it's somewhere.
NFL: N.Y. Giants at Denver, 5:20 p.m., NFL Network.

FRIDAY

Pass.
NBA: Clippers at Detroit, 5 p.m., FSN West, 980-AM.

Probably pass, as well.
College basketball: USC vs. Coppin State, Galen Center, 7:30 p.m., usctrojans.com, 710-AM

SATURDAY

Prediction: Both USC and UCLA finish the season 7-5, with the Bruins holding the tie-breaker for eligibility to the WhateverItIs Bowl in East Matilda, N.M. Can the Trojans live with that? Would this little girl be disappointed?
College football: UCLA at USC, Coliseum, 7 p.m., FSN West, 570-AM, 710-AM.

Charlie Weis, meet your maker. Note: If Stanford gets near the 50-point mark, don't be too upset.
College football: Notre Dame at Stanford, 5 p.m., Channel 7.

On Friday, Golden State (4-8) earned its first victory this season over a team with a winning record when it turned away Portland, 108-94. Keep an eye on newly signed forward/center Chris Hunter, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound D-Leaguer who made his NBA debut in the second half and was effective in containing the Blazers' Greg Oden, holding him to five points. "I've never seen him before, never met him before, but that guy belongs in the NBA," Warriors coach Don Nelson.
NBA: Lakers at Golden State, Channel 9, 710-AM

The Blackhawks end a five-game roadie that started in Edmonton and went to Vancouver, San Jose, Anaheim and here in 10 days. At least, it was warmer.
NHL: Kings vs. Chicago, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

SUNDAY

O.J. Mayo, on your left-over turkey sandwiches.
NBA: Clippers vs. Memphis, Staples Center, 12:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

If the Nets are still 0-for-the-season coming in, expect the odds to favor the Lakers.
NBA: Lakers vs. New Jersey, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM

Ask them to play a football game, and we'll be there.
College basketball: USC vs. Nebraska, Galen Center, 1:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM.

The Sunday night game has potential.
NFL: Pittsburgh at Baltimore, Channel 4, 5:20 p.m.

Get out to Hollywood Park for a tribute to Zenyatta, where she'll be paraded around between races, fans get a DVD with highlights of all her 14 races (all wins) and you can buy a beer for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Mike Smith.
Horse racing: Hollywood Park, Inglewood, first post: 12:30 p.m.

The Vijay Amritraj Foundation Vijay Amritraj visits the Samrakshan Orphanage in India during a recent trip for his VAF foundation.

A postscript to today's column on Vijay Amritraj (linked here):

Amritraj tells a story that occured a couple of years ago, when the women's pro tennis tour had an event in India at the same time he was there to visit the Mitra Jyothi charity, which helps blind women shunned by their families and helps them create skills such as basket weaving and carpet making.

"I decided to present a check from the foundation to the head of the project -- this 4 foot, 11 inch blind woman -- at center court of the WTA event, and she stood there between me and Venus Williams," said Amritraj, who is 6-foot-4. "Venus looks at me after this and says, 'She makes me feel this big with all she's done,'" as he holds his finger and thumb on his right hand just an inch apart.

During a visit at his Van Nuys office, not far from his long-time Encino home, Amritraj had plenty of other tales about his visits with those in need in his native India, and how the motto of his foundation -- In Giving, We Receive -- means more to him now than it did when he started the non-profit in 2006.

For example -- a group of mentally challenged men, prone to violent outbursts, are suddenly joking with him as he pays a visit to their group home and spends the next 90 minutes listening to them talk about the times they've seen him lose big matches during his impressive tennis playing career. He watches a surgery on a blind young man where they take a tooth from deep inside his mouth and implant it under the skin near his eye for form a natural membrane, which is then taken out and used as a cover for the new pupil, giving the patient the chance to see colors for the first time.

"It's a wonderful gift to be able to give," he says quite modestly. "And who's to say which charity is better or worse than another? There have been a number of great philanthropic attempts from the United States. This country is truely a miracle worker. By far, Americans are the world's greatest givers -- by far -- and for the way Americans are sometimes described around the world, I'll never understand it. We have so much to learn from the people like the Bill Gates and Warren Buffets of the world."

And from how they help the poor around the world. In India, it's not just the visuals of children playing in the trash heaps of "Slumdog Millionaire," being bought and sold as slaves.

For the grace of God, Amritraj knows that he and his two brothers became pro tennis players almost by accident, then had success in the Davis Cup as well as on the pro tour as a doubles team and singles competitors that brought them both riches well beyond their dreams. Vijay, Anand and Ashok Amritraj -- who all live in the San Fernando Valley now -- were among the first Indians to play in top-flight international tour tennis. In 1976, Vijay and Anand were semifinalists in the Wimbledon men's doubles.

Ashok is chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment in Hollywood, which has produced movies such as "Bringing Down The House, "Raising Helen," "Shop Girl" and "Walking Tall."

Vijay, the chairman of First Serve Entertainment, says he visits India seemingly once a month, in part because his parents still live there -- they'll be celebrating their 60th anniversary in December -- but also to tend to some businesses there and, more importantly, visit some of the projects that his foundation is helping to fund.

He also travels a lot for the Singapore-based ESPN Star Sports network, doing commentator work on tennis and golf programming. His oldest son, Prakash, is a 26-year-old veteran now of the men's pro tennis tour, several years removed from a championship season at USC. Amritraj's other son, Vikram, is involved in hip-hop music production.

"I know, from my end, I'm very fortunate to have the parents I have," said Amritraj. "I could just as easily been in a hole. Who's to say how I ended up? My life has been so ludicracy blessed. I have to constantly ask myself -- Did I deserve this?"

Consider making a donation or attending the Dec. 4-5 VAF fundraiser in Calabasas and Beverly Hills. Sponsors who have underwritten the event include American Airlines, Sony Entertainment Television, Disney, Rolex, IREO, Highglow, Tennis Channel, Standard Chartered and TATA.

Vijay Amritraj accepts appointment as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2001.

== More to look at:
== The Vijay Amritraj Foundation official site (linked here)
== A list of the charities that the VAF funds, including St. Vincents Home for AIDS Patients, Center for the Aged and Mitra Jyothi, which provides education and life skills to blind women (linked here)

And that guy who did so -- we're going with a Clipper season-seat holder named Arya Towfighi, since the L.A. Times has so gracefully printed his name in today's edition -- is responsible for having Michael Eaves replace Ralph Lawler (and Don MacLean over Michael Smith, a noted improvement) during the Clippers-Nuggets broadcast on Prime Ticket Friday night.

Put on a raincoat and goggles if you're ready to enter this crapstorm:

Issue 1: The coverage:

== Today's L.A. Times' "HOLY $*!# MAN WALKS ON MOON" approach makes it look as if the U.S. has just declared war on Iran. A story with all-out caps, taking up more than 50 percent of the front page, buries an otherwise more interesting piece of news -- the Clippers just registered their biggest win of the season, an improbable 7-point victory over the Denver Nuggets, who a week ago destroyed the Lakers. If you take the Times' front page at face value, it looks as if: a) Lawler died, b) a mean looking guy for the Memphis Grizzlies wants revenge, c) it was a very, very, very, very, very slow news day and someone's knee jerk judgment got in the way -- almost as fast as someone's did at FSN before this decision was finally made.
"WORDS GET IN THEIR WAY" read the headline. Story gets in L.A. Times' way is how it came out.

== The L.A. Daily News -- my employer -- played it as a seperate story, inside, above the story about the Clippers' victory. At first, I believed it was being overplayed. I wasn't sure what the purpose of this "story" was about or the message we were delivering -- outside of describing what was said and their was a suspension taking place.
Earlier in the night, when this story appeared on the Associated Press wire services, I was alerted to it by my boss. My intial reaction: There's got to be more to this. I'll make some calls, see what I can find out. Since that's all the information we had -- four paragraphs, without a transcript -- we decided that it was worth placing at the end of the Clippers' game story, which was reported by the Associated Press. We'd make note of it, we'll follow up later if there seems to be more news to this. That was exactly how it was displayed in the Daily Breeze -- on page 10 of their section today.
Somehow, the earlier Daily News gameplan changed, and it was displayed larger with a headline, but not that was a far more reasonable approach to it than how the Times went carpetbagging with it.

Issue 2: How this story came to be:
The Times, according to its story, was one of three place where this angered viewer sent his email, taking offense to how Lawler and Smith talked about Memphis big-man Hamed Haddadi, the first Iranian player to make the NBA, as he entered the game against the Clippers on Wednesday. The person emailed them a transcript of what was said about Haddadi -- using terms that referred to Sasha Baron Cohen's "Borat" character, pronouncing his native country as "Eye-ran."
About 2-plus hours before the game, FSN West/Prime Ticket issued some sort of press release explaining why Lawler/Smith were being replaced by Eaves/MacLean, how what they said was inappropriate, issued apologies, and explained that they took appropriate action -- with no mention that Lawler and Smith had been taken off the air. Sorry, but you not only buried the lead, you didn't even report your "appropriate" action. That's very appropriate for a company that, of late, has no tact in dealing with the local media, and I've come to accept that as well. It's almost as if they've become the Clippers of the local media entities. It's a place where good people no longer work, and other good people have been let go for budgetary reasons that go beyond any quality explanation.
In the end, this was apparently a story created for the Times, about the Clippers and with FSN West/Prime Ticket's steering. They had ownership and were going to move forward.

Issue 3: The punishment:
Did Lawler and Smith deserve to be taken off the air and made an example of for what they said? Not based on their inglorious track record.
The two have been a Punch-n-Judy nightclub act for the last eight years. Stories have actually been written about how "fun" it is to listen to them exchange crazy thoughts and ideas as another lame loss goes into the books. Why else would anyone watch a Clipper game, if not because they enjoyed the broadcaster's chemistry, idle banter and poor-man Abbott and Costello routines. Neither are close to being my favorite broadcasters, but I accept the fact others like them, so, as an athlete says when he has no explanation for something: It is what it is.
So, let's review -- they are encouraged to get a little silly. And, here, they do. And someone hears it. How? Chances are -- seriously -- that no exec at FSN West/Prime Ticket would have even been aware this was said except for ONE EMAIL that was sent. In our opinion, they did cross a line, but nothing that is outlandish in this day in age. But by the same token comment, it should be reported, dealt with, explained, used as a teaching moment, and you shake your head and move forward. If one person is offended, you take note. If two are offended, you add it to the pile.
From what appears to be only ONE EMAIL, all this action took place.
But then again, considering the parties involved, it makes perfect nonsense. The Times, the Clippers and FSN West/Prime Ticket are stumbling over themselves today wondering if they did the right thing, while at the same time, probably feeling some pride that they did something newsworthy. It's ripe for a Three Stooges script.

One other thing: The Times' story adds that "this isn't the first time Fox has disciplined an announcer for on-air comments," and then gets into the Steve Lyons firing in the 2006 ALCS. That was Fox, the big network, handling something said after Lyons had been on thin ice for many seasons. This is Fox Sports Net West/Prime Ticket, a different "thing" in the Fox pecking order, and a stretch at best in what happened here.

Issue 4: More on the punishment:
Lawler and Smith get suspended.
Norm Nixon (linked here) gets a DUI in Marina del Rey last March. FSN West kept him on the air as a pre- and post-game studio analyst through the Lakers regular season and playoff run. If he was punished for this, there was no press release issued. If he was not punished.... find the logic.

Some great reaction today:
== The Miami Herald website (linked here)

Follow me now on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tomhoffarth

The Associated Press

Major League Baseball has the perfect gift to bust a budget in a recession.

A 20-DVD set of World Series films can be bought for $2,229, and it contains authenticated autographs of 12 Hall of Famers.

A limited edition run of 100 sets was put together by Major League Baseball Productions, A&E Home Entertainment and Mounted Memories, the companies said Friday.

There are 65 films from 1943-08 that run for more than 50 hours.

The package also has autographs from Yogi Berra, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, Bob Feller, Rollie Fingers, Carlton Fisk, Whitey Ford, Brooks Robinson and Bruce Sutter.

MLB spokesman Jeff Heckelman said the set is also available without the autographs for $179.99 on MLB.com (linked here) and in stores with a suggested retail price of $229.

We've already written about this in the past blog (linked here), back when it was listing for $229 on the MLB.com site.

The Sports Business Journal reported this week (linked here) that the Los Angeles Daily News did not request any media credentials to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Again, we're the last to hear of these things.

The USOC issued 481 credentials to publications and Web sites, but had 135 returned, most by newspapers and traditional publications like Newsweek, which returned five of six credentials; The Dallas Morning News, which returned four of six; and the McClatchy's Washington bureau, which returned seven credentials and kept four, the story said.

Other than your Daily News, there'll be no one representing the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Baltimore Sun, Boston Herald, Charlotte Observer, (Colorado Springs) Gazette, (Hackensack) Record, Hartford Courant, Indianapolis Star, Kansas City Star, Newsday, Palm Beach Post or St. Petersburg Times.

Yahoo! asked for 21 credentials. Yipee for them.

"I don't know whether this is a spike or the way things will be for the future, but this is extremely unusual to get this many back," said Bob Condron, the USOC's director of media services. "The interest is there, no doubt, but the money is not."

Get used to it.

(By the way, if you're a blogger and wanted to win a "free press pass" to the Winter Games ... as opposed to the ones that the real media has to buy ... it's too late. But read here what you missed out on).

Other stuff we knew, but didn't know, until we saw it somewhere in print:

== Week 11 L.A. viewing for the NFL (linked here). Sorry, you already missed Miami-Carolina on the NFL Net.

== Week 12 L.A. viewing for the college football fan (linked here). Sorry, you didn't miss USC. It has a bye. And we already know that we'll miss Cal-Stanford, because it's on Versus, and we have DirecTV, which still hasn't brought the channel back ... but what if you were living in the Bay Area and really wanted to see it? Has the Gerhart hit the fan yet? If you really want to blame someone, blame Fox Sports Net for making the game available for Versus to buy off their inventory list. (linked here)

== Want to see how a UCLA Rose Bowl card stunt works? USA Today's website has visual (and audio) evidence (linked here)

== Did you know there's a FoxSportsWest.com (beta) website up and working? (linked here)

== We gotta go to TMZ for our Galaxy injury updates? (linked here)

== Dick Enberg, calling San Diego Padres games? It's in discussion (linked here)

== Jim Gray had a 50th birthday party in Vegas ... and Walton, West, Shula, Dr. J., Dickerson, Larry King ... Ali? ... all showed. What were their appearance fees? (linked here)

== Someone's list of 25 football broadcasters -- NFL and college -- that doesn't weed out the play-by-play men from the analysts, leaving everything in some kind of mish-mash disarray (linked here) but awards CBS' Gary Danielson with the golden ticket. And here's a rebuttal list (linked here).

== Another very good Dave Kindred list, this time of 50 things a sports writer should and shouldn't do (linked here). No. 1 "Do" -- go to the event you're writing about. No. 1 "Don't": Never trust spellcheck.

== Does Larry King's 10-year-old son, Chance, have a chance hosting a Fox Sports Net program? Even if its directed by Tom Arnold? (linked here)

== ESPN ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer rambles on about how the net dropped the ball on the Steve Phillips story ... like we really care to hear any more of it (linked here)

== AND FINALLY:

== Obviously, if you're a cameraman and you get too close to a bald guy following Bill Belichick off the field, you run the risk of having an iris rammed up your shutter:

== AND ONE LAST BUT NOT LEAST FINALLY:

== We were the guest on a Sports Media Journal podcast (linked here) with Keith Thibault and Ken Fang (of fangsbites.com). It's a half hour of your time well wasted spent.

Cleaning up after today's media column (linked here), more Q-and-A with former Galaxy player and GM Alexi Lalas, before he heads to Seattle for Sunday's MLS Cup telecast (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.):

Q: We found this quote by you from an interview you did with the BBC: "Anybody who says that the signing of David Beckham has been failure is delusional and is not seeing the bigger picture ... His impact in terms of giving the Galaxy and the MLS a platform from which to spring to the next level cannot be overstated. He has brought incredible recognition and credibility to the league." Does his appearance in the MLS Cup on Sunday reinforce that, or have the Galaxy been a poster child for what individual-over-team concept could do when it's balanced improperly?

Lalas: One of the best things that Bruce Arenas did when he came in was dumbing everything down. That's a good thing. He made things simple and gave everyone expectations to set for themselves individually and collectively. He managed through the controversy of the book that came out, "The Beckham Experiment," and used it to his advantage. That book really helped the Galaxy in a strange way. It forced Donovan and Beckham to go through public therapy that resulted in each playing better and the team playing better. Then the team made some good pickups to surround them.

L.A. has to be the favorite to win (Sunday) because they have confidence and swagger and a consistency. All that means something. When look at Real Salt Lake, it's that proverbial box of chocolates. That makes them interesting from a TV standpoint, but you'll never know what you're going to get. This team could show up, or it could roll over.

The game the Galaxy played (against Houston in the Western Conference final) was a real soccer game. There were good rhytms to it. The Galaxy had tremendous pressure which, in the past, they might have broken. In crunch time they found a way to score. And with all the focus on Beckham and Donovan, the other players have participated and that's no surprise.

Q: If the Galaxy wins on Sunday, will you feel some kind of connection to it?

Lalas: I'm a Galaxy alum, so there's always a piece of me in them. I'm still proud of the successes we had, which goes unnoticed a lot of the time. I'll be happy for Galaxy fans who have suffered over the last few years. I'd like to see them win. A lot of people think it's already written in the stars, but it's not a a fait accompli.

JP Dellacamera will call the match with John Harkes, and Allen Hopkins and Rob Stone on the sidelines.
Stone will also host on-site studio segments before and after the match and at halftime with Lalas and Julie Foudy.

ESPN will use 19 cameras, including two super slo-mos, a steadicam and skycam. The exceptional ESPN Axis replay telestrator will be available, as will new Stats LLC graphic "heat maps" that track star player movement during the match, measuring speed and total distance run.

== ESPN Classic has the "History of the MLS Cup" two-hour presentation (Saturday at 3 p.m.) that goes from the start of the league through 2008. Interviews include players and coaches who have starred in the MLS Cup, including Landon Donovan, Bruce Arena, Cobi Jones and Eric Wynalda.

== ESPN2's coverage of the Western Conference finals last friday was the most-watched MLS telecast on the network, drawing an average of 538,000 TV homes (or 700,000 viewers), giving it a 0.5 rating. Additionally on ESPN Deportes, the match was seen in an average of 73,000 Hispanic television homes (121,000 viewers), a 1.6 Hispanic coverage rating. The previous high was Thurs., Aug. 23, 2007, in a regular-season match between Chivas USA and the Galaxy -- 532,000 TV homes (658,000 viewers) for a 0.6 rating.

Other corners to kick around:

== HBO says there were 1.25 million pay-per-view buys (650,000 from cable/600,000 from satellite dish folk) from Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight in Las Vegas, resulting in $70 million generated to split up amongst those connected with it. Of that total, 110,000 buys were from Puerto Rico, Cotto's home market. How many were purchased in the Phillipines? Not sure. HBO replays the fight -- free, sorta of, if you buy HBO -- Saturday at 10 p.m.

== HBO's next "Real Sports" (Tuesday, 10 p.m.) includes a piece by Mary Carillo on 43-year-old New York firefighter Matt Long and his ability to compete in the recent Lake Placid Ironman event -- four years after riding to work during a transit strike when he was run over by a bus and impaled on his own bicycle. Long was featured in last Sunday's presentation of the Arete Awards for Sports Courage on CBS.

== Kevin Calabro and Mark Jackson drew the short straws: They're calling ESPN's coverage of Denver at the Clippers tonight, 7:30 p.m.

AND FINALLY:

== Latest webisode of "Mayne Street" involves missing Lakers courtside tickets, and a lot of leg room for Aubrey Plaza before she's banished to an ESPN outlet in the Ukrane:

By Greg Bluestein
The Associated Press

ATLANTA -- Uga VII, the white English bulldog mascot for the University of Georgia's football team for almost two seasons, died Thursday of heart-related causes, the dog's owner said.

The 56-pound dog, nicknamed "Loran's Best," was known as a laid-back mascot who seemed oblivious to crowd noise during boisterous games and would sit patiently as excited fans snapped photos of him. He often roamed the sidelines in a shirt with a 'G' stitched on it, sometimes resting on a bag of ice to cool off in his customized dog house.

The school said there would be no mascot at Saturday's game in Athens against Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky, but that a wreath will be laid on his doghouse on the field's sidelines. Sonny Seiler, the dog's owner, said he likely wouldn't name a replacement until next year.

"We are all in a state of shock," Seiler said in a news release issued by the university. "We had no warning whatsoever."

The 4-year-old dog made his debut as the mascot in August 2008 after his father, Uga VI, died of congestive heart failure. He had big paws to fill -- Uga VI was the school's winningest mascot, racking up a 87-27 record, seven wins in nine bowl appearances and a pair of Southeastern Conference championships.

But Seiler said the dog distinguished himself in his own way.

"He was 10-3 last year which is not bad for a freshman," said Seiler. "Uga VII was not as active or mischievous as his father but more distinguished. He realized his role when he put his shirt on. He was well-behaved and always appreciated the significance of his role."

The dog was the latest in a line of mascots that have been featured on the covers of Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek and in several movies. He also was a compelling symbol for football fans across the nation, said Damon Evans, the school's athletic director.

"Just as his ancestors, he had captured the hearts of college football fans everywhere as the country's No. 1 mascot," Evans said. "He had been truly embraced by all those who follow the Georgia Bulldogs across the country. We will miss him dearly."

On the Net: http://www.uga.edu

Back at the end of June, Alexi Lalas made an appearance on Comedy Central's "Colbert Nation" to say it was time to care about soccer:

Lalas is back on ESPN's telecast of Sunday's MLS Cup (5:30 p.m.) telling L.A. fans it's time to care about the Galaxy again.

The former star player and team GM fired from his post late last season has mixed feelings about seeing this team make it to the title game. Imagine if he'd been allowed to stick around one more year, with Bruce Arena as the coach, and be in Seattle this weekend as the one who orchestrated this title-contender instead of being accused of being the one responsible for the mess it was in less than a year ago.

We caught up with Alexi doing voice-over work back in Bristol, Conn., on the U.S.-Denmark game and drained him for some info on how he feels about this situation and who he's pulling for (surprise) in Sunday's game.

He says he misses "the day-to-day business" of soccer, but the TV work "is a wonderful thing to do." He'll explain.

All this, and not one mention of the Clippers' Donald Sterling ... amazing.

By Tim Dahlberg
The Associated Press

Roger Goodell was hanging with the common folks last Sunday, enjoying the experience of an NFL game from end zone seats in Tennessee. It was, he would say later, a perfectly fine day to watch football.

No drunks puking in the aisle next to him. No foul-mouthed fans screaming obscenities in his ear.

Just an elderly man prancing about, flipping off Buffalo fans with both middle fingers while celebrating the Titans' 41-17 victory over the Bills.

Worried about the trash in the stands ruining your game and setting a bad example for your children? Make sure they don't stray near the owner's box.

Apparently youthful exuberance got the better of Bud Adams. The calendar may say he's 86, but Adams seems to take as much pleasure berating his opponents as he did when he and his Houston Oilers won the first American Football League championship nearly a half century ago.

And he knows something about the extended middle finger. A lot of people in Houston gave it to him when he carted his team off to Tennessee, leaving behind a mountain of taxpayer debt at the Astrodome.

Unfortunately for Adams, his in-your-face moment was captured by a fan on video. That led to an obligatory fine from Goodell, and an obligatory apology of sorts by way of a prepared statement.

That's unusual only because most of the time owners only issue statements when they're heading out of town with their team in the middle of the night or, as Redskins owner Dan Snyder did recently, explaining why it was a bad idea for fans to bring signs into the stadium calling him an idiot.

Out in Los Angeles, Frank and Jamie McCourt have been issuing all kinds of statements, thinking, perhaps, that fans really do care which one comes out of a divorce owning the Dodgers. They don't, but they do care about the McCourts spending so much money on lawyers that they won't have enough to sign free agent John Lackey.

Still, being an owner used to mean never having to explain yourself. If you've got enough money to own a team, other people can do it for you.

As long as we're in for drama -- that's what "they" are saying on today's column (linked here) about the future of the United Football League ever coming to L.A. -- here's the latest posting by the group trying to revive the spring football United States Football League.

On the official website (linked here), it says:

REDONDO BEACH, CA - The New United States Football League announces plans to launch a professional spring football league to begin in the Spring of 2011. The league's goal is to have 10-12 teams in the first year of play with teams throughout the United States.

"We have a strong sense of history and believe that the marketplace has demonstrated the desire to have 'Spring football'," said New USFL Founder/President Michael Dwyer. "The USFL had a strong connection with many of its fans and we hope to re-ignite that passion and pick up where the others left off."

The league will play traditional stadium-played football with most of the rules being based from the original USFL concepts. The league is also in the process of recruiting its staff and securing sponsorships with announcements to follow in the near future.

"Other leagues have proven that the talent is out there," Dwyer said. "We want to be the Spring destination of the ultimate football fan who can't wait for the Fall."

The league will announce cities that will play in 2011 at a later date, but Dwyer said that former USFL locations would receive strong consideration when selecting where franchises will be placed.

Sponsors or potential investors interested in partnering with the New USFL should contact Michael Dwyer at michael_dwyer@newusfl.com.

Will L.A. be included in this discussion? According to someone close to the decision-making process, no. They're pushing for a San Diego franchise in Southern California because that's where most of the investors live and the league will be based. A team also in L.A. would provide too much competition right way.

By Michael Marot
The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- College athletes are still setting records and dispelling myths -- in the classroom.

Just like the late NCAA President Myles Brand believed they could.

The NCAA's latest graduation numbers show nearly four out of five student-athletes earn their diplomas on time, an all-time high, and federal statistics show athletes are still more likely to graduate on time than other students.

"The misconception is that NCAA student-athletes are not good students," interim NCAA President Jim Isch said in a conference call Wednesday. "The truth, as Myles reminded people, is that they could perform in the classroom and they outperformed the general student body in almost every measure."

NCAA statistics show 79 percent of all freshmen entering school in 2002-03 graduated within six years, matching last year's record high. The four-class average, for students entering college between the fall of 1999 and the fall of 2002, also was 79 percent, a 1 percentage point increase over last year's record.

The federal numbers are lower, 64 percent for athletes, but still 2 percentage points higher than the general student body that does not have access to all the assistance provided to student-athletes.

Federal statistics do not include the performance of transfer students. So if an athlete enrolls at one school, then transfers to another, neither school receives credit if the athlete graduates.

NCAA officials believe the improving numbers can be attributed to stronger eligibility standards for incoming freshmen and a greater emphasis on academics during Brand's tenure as president.

"I think everyone understands how much this has changed the culture on campus and I expect that will continue to be the case in the future," said Walter Harrison, chairman of the committee on academic performance. "I think coaches are clearly more aware of the Academic Progress Rate. They know how it's calculated, and most importantly they know that they have to do well in the classroom and stay on track to graduate."

Female athletes outperformed their male counterparts, 88 percent to 72 percent, and the only women's sport to score lower than 79 percent was bowling (74 percent). Women's basketball came in at 83 percent under NCAA guidelines and 64 percent on the federal report.

The three biggest men's sports -- football, basketball and baseball -- all failed to top 70 percent in the NCAA report.

Now, the Chargers-Broncos game has some meaning. Meaning, you've got to see it, instead of the Jets-Patroits.

CBS will go with San Diego's roadie in the Mile High City as opposed to the other game (with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms), and it makes sense if you're trying to connect with an audience of local interest.

Otherwise, whatever else the NFL has to offer this weekend, we're not all that interested:

THURSDAY

== 5:20 p.m., NFL Network: Miami at Carolina (with Bob Papa and Matt Millen)

SUNDAY

== 10 a.m., Channel 2: Indianapolis at Baltimore (with Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf, instead of Pittsburgh-Kansas City, Buffalo-Jacksonville or Cleveland-Detroit)
== 10 a.m., Channel 11: Washington at Dallas (with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, instead of Seattle-Minnesota, Atlanta-N.Y. Giants, New Orleans-Tampa Bay and San Francisco-Green Bay)
== 1 p.m., Channel 2: San Diego at Denver (with Dick Enberg and Dan Fouts, instead of N.Y. Jets-New England or Cincinnati-Oakland; Fox has Arizona-St. Louis in this window as well)
== 5:20 p.m., Channel 4: Philadelphia at Chicago (with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)

MONDAY
== 5:30 p.m., ESPN: Tennessee at Houston (with Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden)

No. 2 BCS ranked Alabama, which someday soon will play Florida for the right to claim No. 1, at least until the BCS title game, is playing Chattanooga Mocs this weekend.

Seriously. Roll Tide. It won't be on any TV set near you Saturday.

This is what it said on the Alabama football official site:

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama football team returned to the practice field Monday afternoon to begin preparation for Saturday's game with Chattanooga. The team practiced for a little over an hour in shells at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility.

"We always respect our opponents," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said at his weekly press conference on Monday. "These guys have come back in several games because of their ability to throw the ball, especially with the quarterback B.J. Coleman. They have good receivers. They have a good scheme and a good attack on offense. They seem to be a little simpler, playing hard and tough on defense. They do a good job of coaching their special teams. This is a very well-coached team. We always have the proper respect and we need to do a good job in what we do to execute and take care of our own business."

We got nothing after that.

The rest of the week ahead in college football land -- with some favorite (Ohio State-Michigan) meaningless matchups, and two important Pac-10 games (Cal-Stanford, on a channel you still can't get on DirecTV; Oregon-Arizona, on a channel everyone seems to get) if you're still following that kind of thing:

THE LOCALS:
== 1 p.m., FSN West: UCLA vs. Arizona State, Rose Bowl (with Barry Tompkins and Petros Papadakis)

WEDNESDAY
== 3 p.m., ESPNU: Buffalo at Miami (Ohio) (with Dari Nowkhah and Tom Luginbill)
== 5 p.m., ESPN2: Central Michigan at Ball State (with Dave Lamont and Trent Dilfer)

THURSDAY
== 3 p.m., ESPNU: Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois (with Charlie Neal and Jay Walker)
== 4:30 p.m, ESPN: Colorado at No. 12 Oklahoma State (with Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer and Erin Andrews)

FRIDAY
== 3:30 p.m., ESPNU: Akron at Bowling Green (with Kevin Negandhi and David Jon Berger)
== 6:30 p.m., ESPN2: No. 6 Boise State at Utah State (with Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore)

SATURDAY
== 7 to 9 a.m., ESPN: "College GameDay" at Tucson, Arizona -- it will mark the first time GameDay has originated from this city and the fifth consecutive week from a school not in the SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 (three from the Mountain West and two Pac-10), the longest streak in the show's history. With Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.

== 9 a.m., Channel 7: No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan (with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Holly Rowe)
== 9 a.m., ESPN: Minnesota at No. 13 Iowa (with Dave Pasch, Bob Griese and Chris Spielman)
== 9 a.m., ESPN2: North Carolina at Boston College (with Pam Ward and Ray Bentley)
== 9 a.m., ESPNU: Duke at No. 20 Miami (with Clay Matvick and David Diaz-Infante)
== 9:30 a.m., FSN West: Oklahoma at Texas Tech (with Joel Meyers, Gary Reasons and Jim Knox)
== 11 a.m., The mtn.: No. 4 TCU at Wyoming (with Dan Gutowsky, Blaine Fowler and Natalie Vickers)
== 11:30 a.m., ESPN Classic: Florida Classic: Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman (from Orlando, with Charlie Neal and Jay Walker)
== 11:30 a.m., Channel 4: UConn at Notre Dame (with Tom Hammond, Pat Haden and no O.J. Simpson)

== 12:30 p.m., Channel 2: No. 8 LSU at Mississippi (with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson)
== 12:30 p.m., CBS College Sports: Air Force at No. 22 BYU (with Tom Hart and Aaron Taylor)
== 12:30 p.m., Channel 7: No. 14 Penn State at Michigan State (with Mike Patrick, Craig James and Heather Cox)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPN: Virginia at No. 23 Clemson (with Bob Wischusen and Brian Griese)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPNU: N.C. State at No. 15 Virginia Tech (with Todd Harris and Charles Arbuckle)
== 12:30 p.m., Big Ten Network: No. 16 Wisconsin at Northwestern (with Wayne Larrivee, Chris Martin and Charissa Thompson)
== 1 p.m., Versus: San Diego State at Utah (with Tim Neverett, Glenn Parker and Lindsay Soto)

== 3 p.m., the Mnt.: Colorado State at New Mexico (with James Bates, Todd Christensen and Keenan McCardell)
== 4 p.m., ESPNU: Vanderbilt at Tennessee (with Eric Collins and Brock Huard)
== 4:30 p.m., Versus: No. 25 Cal at No. 17 Stanford (with Ron Thulin, Kelly Stouffer and Lewis Johnson)
== 4:30 p.m., CBS College Sports: Tulsa at Southern Miss (with Dave Ryan and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila)
== 4:45 p.m., ESPN: Kansas State at Nebraska (with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews)
== 4:45 p.m., ESPN2: Kentucky at Georgia (with Mark Jones and Bob Davie)
== 5 p.m., Channel 7: No. 11 Oregon at Arizona (with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters)
== 5 p.m., ESPN PPV/ESPN360.com: Kansas at No. 3 Texas (with Ron Franklin and Ed Cunningham)

== 7:20 p.m., ESPNU: Nevada at New Mexico State (with Terry Gannon and David Norrie)

A story on CNN's website today (linked here) notes that "unfriend" has been picked as word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary, beating out things such as "netbook," "hashtag" and "sexting."

Oxford defines "unfriend," a verb: "To remove someone as a 'friend' on a social networking site such as Facebook."

It also notes that on some blogs Tuesday, debate about the decision centered on whether the "unfriend" or "defriend" was the proper word for weeding someone from one's online circle.

Somehow this brings us to the United Football League.

We have unfriended them. They're UnFriendLy in our social circles. We've been abandoned.

We've kept seeing this billboard (above) around town the last couple of months, and it has definitely had us interested ... in an odd way. It promotes a professional football game at the Home Depot Center for this Friday, two teams full of NFL rejects, pointing the spotlight on the names on the two coaches participating.

It looks more like a UFC event than the UFL.

Two guys who will "battle for U." What, in a halftime arm wrestling? A clipboard toss competition? Honestly, these guys should be wearing nametags as much as the players.

But, from what we can now determine, this game isn't taking place in Southern California. And we can't get a straight answer.

The official site of the Home Depot Center (linked here), home of the MLS Galaxy and Chivas, is publicizing only the upcoming high school football state championships and a Mia Hamm-Nomar Garciaparra charity soccer event.

Through a Google search, we find out through some sketch reports that back in mid-October, the league pulled the plug on this. Someone decided (linked here) that the contest between your Las Vegas Locomotives (aka, the Locos) and the New York Sentinels should stay at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas and not venture this way.

It goes against the league's original plan to showcase their four teams in not just their four "hometowns" but also in potential markets for expansion.

Because, in L.A., you know, there is no pro football. And this could be the answer.

"This is a move to help the Locos build a solid fan base in their home city, help sell tickets for the championship game to be held in Vegas (on the Friday after Thanksgiving) to not ruin L.A. as a potential UFL market," the story says, attributing this information to no one in particular.

It also explains: The UFL isn't drawing.

They thought they'd get 20,000 a game. They've been estimating crowd counts as closer to about 12,500. Those who are actually in attendance think that's about twice as much as are really there. That's less than what the old XFL used to draw (23,400 in its one year). Even the older USFL was a much bigger attaction, with far greater names.

JP Losman (bio linked here), the former Venice High standout and UCLA scholarship holder who left the program as a redshirt and ended up with improving his NFL stock at Tulane, continues to pilot the Locos of Vegas, who last week clinched a championship berth. This, after his career with the NFL's Buffalo Bills (33 starts in four years) seemed to fizzle. He'd been reduced to a backup. The 28-year-old decided to join this upstart D-league-type league back in August. Fassel, the former New York Giants coach, would be the two most high-profile faces -- even with Jim Haslett (Florida Tuskers, in Orlando), Dennis Green (California Redwood, in San Francisco) and Cotrell (New York) coaching the other teams.

We know of this Losman. We actually wanted to see him play. We can't now.

He's not our friend.

What the XFL did for Tommy Maddox and the Arena Football League did for Kurt Warner, this UFL thing could be useful for Losman. A stop in L.A. this week would have really upped his profile.

Instead, he's back in Vegas, off the strip, competing with Carrot Top and some reality show ventrilloquist for attention. Here, we'd have embraced him. Now, we erase his memory.

If there was a curiosity factor for this UFL, it's gone. Like most of these coaches' futures. Plant a franchise here next year, and we'll tell you right now, we don't care. You had your chance. You had us at the crazy billboard, which is still up near the 110 Harbor Freeway near Sepulveda, a few miles from the HDC. Which will apparently be dark on Friday.

This unfriendly UFL is about as goin' rogue as some woman trying to reclaim her political career.

Thanks, nonfriend. It was nice not knowing you.

Wes Clements, who drew praise from Houston Astros assistant general manager Ricky Bennett for the way he handled the Single-A Lancaster JetHawks during his first year as a manager in the team's organization, has been named skipper of the Double-A Corpus Christi team for 2010.

Clements, 51, was the focus of a feature story last September (linked here) after the JetHawks finished 56-84, but made progress with rising stars such as catcher/outfielder Koby Clemens (son of Roger Clemens, who led the minor leagues with 123 RBIs), and outfielder Jon Gaston (who tied for the minor league lead with 35 home runs). Both players are expected to start the season with the Double-A Hooks.

"This is a great thing," Clements said via email today. "The Corpus Christi stadium and organization has won awards all the time for best minor league field, stadium, front office, etc."

Brad Mills, the new Houston Astros manager, was a teammate of Clements at the University of Arizona in the late '70s (as was current Red Sox manager Terry Francona), a squad that won the College World Series in 1980. . Clements was Houston's sixth-round selection in the 1980 draft and spent his first five pro seasons in the Astros system.

To replace Clements at Lancaster, the JetHawks hired former big-leaguer Tom Lawless as their manager. Lawless spent eight seasons in the majors (1982-1900) with Cincinnati, Montreal, St. Louis and Toronto. He played in two World Series hit a dramatic 3-run homer in Game 4 of the 1987 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. He is also the only player to ever be traded for Pete Rose, in 1984.

AP Photo/Matt Sayles

This email from a USC alum, in regards to the way the USC-Stanford game came to a messy conclusion, with Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh electing to attempt a two-point conversion with a 48-21 lead in the fourth quarter, trying to hit the 50-point mark:

My UCLA-graduate wife, who is decidedly unsympathetic (re USC defeats) and I are having a debate re football sportsmanship or lack thereof.

I think Harbaugh's decision to try for a two-point conversion while leading by a kabillion points was classless.

She equates it to Pete Carroll putting in first-team linebackers to hold on to a shutout near the end of a one-sided win. What's good for the goose (offense) is good for the gander (defense), I guess she thinks. Why not have an offense go for 50 points if a defense can go for a shutout?

I know this doesn't reach the caliber of debate on sending more troops to Afghanistan, but not-so-great minds are wondering?

One response:

USC accuses Stanford of pouring it on? The gods laughed.

Our immediate response:

Payback can be a bitch, no matter what decision you make in this one. You can't tell your team to stop playing. It works both ways.

That said, you'd think a guy coaching a bunch of potential Stanford grads would be smart enough not to poke the wolf while it's wounded.

Our expanded response:

The Stanford braintrust will announce as soon as today that Harbaugh has been given a contract extension. Nice timing. And probably a good thing for USC. It means he'll still be around in the years to come, and not bolting for the NFL.

When you're that close to becoming the team about to hand USC it's worst beating in Coliseum history, how do you not go for the throat? You're in a position that every USC opponent has probably dreamed about for years. You do it now and expect the payback somewhere down the road.

Or....

If you're Pete Carroll, why not try to sign him as your new offensive coordinator? Obviously there's a few holes in the USC coaching roster.

They'll be discussing this more on the sports-talk shows today, but one stat that came up on the Dan Patrick Show discussion: In 2008, USC was up 49-0 against Washington State, and on a 4th-and-2, the Trojans went for it, passed, got the first down, and kept on going ... in 2005, up 52-6 on UCLA, on a late fourth-quarter drive, USC passed the ball three times. UCLA really wasn't in danger of coming back.

"What's the deal?" asked Carroll to Harbaugh.

"What's the deal?" Harbaugh answered.

And what was the deal with the Stanford band's halftime show? Some suggest they've earned their way to another administrative beatdown with their tribute to "Girls Gone Wild" entrepreneur/tax evader/USC alum Joe Francis.

Saturday's game reminds me of a USC-Arizona State non-contest back in the late '80s, in Tempe, Ariz. The Trojans beat the Sun Devils that day, 50-0. I still marvel at the score -- the perfect score in football. You score 50. The other team gets nothing. And the USC coach at the time, Larry Smith, didn't gloat about it. He just did what he felt he had to do -- considering he was the former Arizona coach and got so much grief over the years from ASU people.

It was payback time. Thanks for playing.

It's coaching survival. Carroll will have a chance to squash Stanford's dream sometime soon -- maybe next year. You file it away as part of the game, and you move foward.

If Harbaugh didn't do it, we wouldn't be talking about it now. He wanted fiddy. He eventually got fiddyfive. Be careful what you wish for.

And always compete ...

AP Photo/Matt Sayles

More responses from readers who seem to have trouble with the comment button but are emailing me at thomas.hoffarth@dailynews.com:

== I don't mind teams making a statement by either putting a lot of points on the board or keeping a shut-out. College football is a beauty contest, and sometimes you have to do those things. Personally, I don't like keeping starters in those games because you risk an unnecessary injury. Also, blowouts can give young backups some valuable playing time. That being said, going for 2 is over the top. I can't remember ever seeing that happen in another college game when you are up that late in the game by as many points as Stanford was. It's one thing to keep trying to score, but to go for 2, that's really rubbing it in. Of course, the more embarrassing thing is that SC was in a position of looking for mercy from Stanford. How the hell did that happen? Harbaugh is the perfect coach for Stanford...he's an arrogant prick just like the majority of their alumni are. I bet Carroll now hates Stanford just as much as John McKay did. When (if) SC has a potent offense again, I expect to see him attempt to hang 100 on Stanford. That will be fun to watch.

== It was tacky but I did not have a huge problem with it, especially since I did not see it as I was downing a beer in the parking lot by that time. I agree: it was like keeping the first team defense in in a blowout to give the defense a chance for a shut out. Pete has always said "always compete" so Harbaugh was letting his kids compete. Still, it's not fun when you are on the receiving end of such a beat-down. Give 'em credit though, that is a program on the up-swing.

== The example used by ESPN of USC vs WSU in 2008 couldn't be further from a clear representation of what was going on...and I am a WSU fan. I was seated 5 rows behind the USC bench where you could clearly see the interaction between USC coaches and players. USC was up 49-0 at the end of the first half and driving...they did go for a first down inside the 20 rather than kick a field goal to go up 52-0. They maintained possession and with the clock running down and 2 coaches pleading with Carrol to punch it in for a score...Pete took off his headphones, handed them to an asst on the sidelines and said to the coaches..."Locker Room". WSU would not have been able to stop USC from scoring if they put 15 players on the field that day. With that he began running off the field for halftime and let the clock expire with the ball inside the 5 yard line.
The decision by Harbaugh is classless.

== Hey, Harbaugh could have put Toby Gebhart in for the two pointer if he REALLY wanted the deuce. He was taking it easy on USC and let them stop the other tailback. Gebhart was virtually unstoppable, other than that fumble. Kind of harkens back to the bad blood days of John McKay and John Ralston when McKay answered a question (don't remember what, but his response was classic): I don't want to get into a pissing contest with a skunk! LOL ...
We take football too seriously. Enjoy the moment. Agonize the moment. It's cathartic. Have fun.

== It really doesn't matter much. Give them their little bit of glory or spoils as you have it. At the end of the day, their mascot is still a tree.

== More comments via Scott Wolf's USC blog: (linked here)

MONDAY

We suspect Michael Roll, Drew Gordon, Nikola Dragovic, Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson are your starting five, for now, for Ben Howland. Off the bench: James Keefe is back in, fifth-year senior Michael Roll ... uh ... freshman kid, son of Detlef Schrempf ... a 5-8 guard named Spencer Soo ...Get used to it. And we now launch ESPN's 12-game, 24-hour cram session.
College basketball: UCLA vs. Cal State Fullerton, Pauley Pavilion, 9 p.m., ESPN, 570-AM.

The Mats try to get off the mat from last Friday's game at Purdue with a stop-over in Tempe, hoping to face Arizona State in Tuesday's followup.
College basketball: Cal State Northridge vs. Texas Christian, NIT Season Tipoff Tournament at Tempe, Ariz., 7:30 p.m., gomatadors.cstv.com.

The sun sets on the Kings' five-game roadie in Sunrise, Fla., without any thoughts of that 7-0 loss in Atlanta or 4-1 to start it all in Chicago. Probably. Just get home in one piece.
NHL: Kings at Florida, 4:30 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

Brady Quinn is ready, perhaps, for another closeup. Cue up the Village People music.
NFL: Baltimore at Cleveland, 5:30 p.m., ESPN.

TUESDAY

Ernie Harwell, diagnosed with inoperable cancer, tells Bob Costas in this MLB Network interview that he thinks he's seen his last baseball game. "Back in July, the doctors gave me six months to live, give or take a few months," the 91-year-old Harwell said. "I'm hoping to reach my birthday on Jan. 25, but I'm pretty sure I won't make the baseball season. But you never know as the Lord works wonders. I'm not overwhelmed by the circumstances. One of the doctors said, 'If you were my father, I'd say, don't do anything, just relax and wait for the inevitable.' But I had great peace about that and closure to it, and I knew God was in charge and whatever happens, happens for the best. I really have a lot of serenity and great support from my wife, family and friends. It's been so far a fairly easy task to accept it."
Interview: Bob Costas with Ernie Harwell, MLB Network, 5 p.m.

These two games are actually live, starting at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. local time. Swear.
College basketball: Monmouth vs. St. Peters, 3 a.m., ESPN; Drexel vs. Niagra, 5 a.m., ESPN.

They started a five-game homestand with a loss Sunday to Houston. ... Aaron Brooks? ... And how did Ben Wallace end up back with the Pistons?
NBA: Lakers vs. Detroit, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM.

Great non-Scott, the Hornets are a mess. Even messier, in some ways, than the Clippers.
NBA: Clippers at New Orleans, 5 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

As for these Trojans, the starters are Dwight Lewis, Marcus Johnson, Marcus SImmons ... who are we kidding here? And the coach's name again is ...?
College basketball: USC vs. UC Riverside, Galen Center, 7:30 p.m., USCTrojans.com.

WEDNESDAY

Nowhere else to fly, it's a home game against the Flyers.
NHL: Kings vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

The Grizzlies actually have a worse record than the Clippers. Swear.
NBA: Clippers at Memphis, 5 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

Support your local hoops. And don't look again at the Anteaters' game against No. 3 Texas on Sunday.
College basketball: UC Irvine at Loyola Marymount, 8 p.m., Prime Ticket.

THURSDAY

Probably best the Bulls are out of Chicago for a road trip. Saves Derrick Rose some local embarassment in the "What's Sexy Now Chicago Athlete" award voting, even if it means posing with Marisa Miller (more on this, linked here).
NBA: Lakers vs. Chicago, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM.

Oprah may re-run the show she did the other day with the lady attacked by the chimpanzee. Watch that instead of this.
NFL: Miami at Carolina, NFL Network, 5:20 p.m.

FRIDAY

We heard through the Grapevine, Bakersfield's team bus may have trouble getting to Westwood in Friday traffic.
College basketball: UCLA vs. Cal State Bakersfield, Pauley Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, 570-AM.

The end of Orlando's game against Boston on ESPN could run long and force us to miss the start of this one. We can only hope.
NBA: Clippers vs. Denver, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., ESPN, Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

SATURDAY

The Bruins, we predict, will end up with enough wins to be bowl eligible. This one, based on what we've seen of the Sun Devils, shouldn't be much of a struggle. Then comes USC.
College football: UCLA vs. Arizona State, Rose Bowl, 1 p.m., FSN West, 570-AM.

Can we knock off the Saturday day-time hockey games until further notice? Or play 'em outside.
NHL: Kings vs. Calgary, Staples Center, 1 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

Another reason to support the local cagers.
College basketball: USC vs. Loyola Marymount, Galen Center, 5 p.m., USCTrojans.com.

SUNDAY

On May 6, a 2-2 tie at Salt Lake. On June 13, a 2-0 loss at Home Depot Center. On this day, the Galaxy finds the real deal -- a chance to win their third MLS Cup in team history, and Beckham has everyone's attention.
MLS Cup: Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake, in Seattle, 5:30 p.m., ESPN.

Russell Westbrook, who averaged about 5 assists a game as a rookie for the Oklahoma Citians, is up to 7.7 a game so far this season, with an 11-assist game in a three-point win over San Antonio on Saturday, then seven more in a loss -- for real? -- to the Clippers on Sunday night.
NBA: Lakers vs. Oklahoma City, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSN West, 710-AM.

Looks interesting on paper. If your paper was 1987.
NFL: Washington at Dallas, 10 a.m., Channel 11.

Looks really good on paper. If your paper was 1984.
NFL: Philadelphia at Chicago, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4.

According to those who do the mathematics required in motor sports, Jimmie Johnson just needs to finish 25th or better in this season finale to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup title. Again. For the fourth season in a row. "We finished 38th last week," Johnson said after winning in Phoenix on Sunday. "We saw in Texas anything can happen. So we don't need to get too excited about it." Oh, go ahead. You can afford it. C'mon, get happy.
NASCAR: Ford 400 from Miami, 11:30 a.m., Channel 7.

The Associated Press

Earlier this year, Bob Gibson auctioned off his Hall of Fame ring. This month, there's a price tag on the base Lou Brock touched to break the stolen base record.

Those two have nothing on another St. Louis Cardinals star of the 1960s. Beyond the Gold Gloves, signed balls, gloves and the like, Curt Flood's estate is offering bidders an opportunity this weekend to purchase true history.

Flood is remembered most not for .293 batting average or his seven Gold Gloves but as the player who 40 years ago tried to get free agency started. His lawsuit attempt failed, but auction includes several artifacts from that crusade.

"He changed the way they do business in the world of sports," said Flood's widow, Judy Pace Flood, an actress who lives in Los Angeles. "He challenged the rules. He is the father of free agency.

"I think every professional athlete should thank God for Curt Flood and I think every sports agent should have a little shrine that says 'Curt Flood, thank you.'"

Flood, who died at age 59 in 1997 in L.A., took on baseball's reserve clause when he refused a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies shortly after the 1969 season. The challenge and the legal battle that ensued effectively ended his career, although he went on to play for the Phillies and Washington Senators.

AP Photo/John Raoux
Breanna McMahon performs strength training exercises in Orlando, Fla., during a session last week.

An update from an Oct. 6 blog (linked here) about Bree McMahon:

By Antonio Gonzalez
The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Breanna McMahon was just beginning her senior season and hoping to play soccer in college when the accident happened.

It was at a car-wash fundraiser for her club team in September that an SUV accidentally pinned her against a brick wall, crippling the 17-year-old and forcing the amputation of her left leg.

There's more to the story, however, than a personal tragedy.

Former U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm called to tell Bree she was "my hero." Colleges have taken up funds to help with medical bills. Strangers have sent letters wishing her well.

The outpouring is at least in part a show of admiration for Breanna, for the way she's borne her injury. The teen still plans to attend college on a soccer scholarship -- and to do everything she can to play with a prosthetic.

She also has forgiven the driver of the SUV. She is, after all, one of Breanna's best friends.

****************************

AP Photo

The Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Actor Denzel Washington was playing proud father as he cheered on his son Malcolm's first game with the University of Pennsylvania basketball team.

Washington sat three rows behind Penn's bench Friday night during the Quakers' season opener at Penn State. Wearing a black sweat shirt and black cap pulled down low over his forehead, the Hollywood star went virtually unnoticed in the Jordan Center crowd.

He declined to answer a reporter's question before the game, waving his arms and nodding in the direction of the Penn bench.

The 5-foot-9 Malcolm Washington is a walk-on guard at the Ivy League school after serving as captain at Winward School in L.A., which won the CIF Division V state championship. He did not play in Penn's 70-55 loss. Forward Conor Turley, a former Campbell Hall standout, had eight points off the bench for Penn.

Penn's visit to Penn State to start the new season was perfect timing for Washington, who is in central Pennsylvania filming the movie "Unstoppable."

There's a formula for doing a respectable newspaper sports column, and Dave Kindred is kind enough to share.

One part gin, another part gumption, and tell the editor to get the hell out of the way.

Or, use Kindred's method. It's enough to make a run-o-the-mill sports blogger maybe even take notice.

According to his recipe (linked here), you take three parts preparation, four parts reporting, three parts organizing notes and five parts writing. Not writing first, then rewriting, then Google searching for a cooler verb than adding something snarky.

Yes, there's a model that works. Try it sometime. Or don't.

Like Ray Ratto's piece here, deciding that baseball will someday use instant replay only it pays off somehow (linked here).

Like Mike Lupica does ... naw, he doesn't really. Who really likes him (linked here)?

See if Stephen A. Smith gives it a go, now that he's back at the Philly Inquirer (linked here).

That's today's writing lesson. Among the things we learned about the sports media world at the Media Learning Center Sponsored by A Greater Understanding Of Our Craft:

== Your NFL Week 10 L.A. TV guide, already one game old (linked here)

== Your college football week 11 L.A. TV guide -- you'll need it if you're a UCLA fan (linked here).

== Check out the free Iooss/Leifer exhibit in Century City (linked here)

== Why CNBC's Darren Rovell really likes the USC football website -- "The only thing missing is live tweets from the games. Banned? Nope. (Ben) Malcolmson said he currently doesn't tweet from games because the phone service is spotty in the stadiums on game day." (linked here).

== There's no Scully news, keep moving (linked here).

== A review of Bill Simmons' new basketball book: "A collection of personal obsessions masquerading as an encyclopedia. ... Simmons wouldn't be Simmons without the pointless asides. One of the Sports Guy's biggest flaws, though, is that he tries too hard to entertain: He'd be twice as funny--and a lot less repetitive--with half the jokes ... The book is more a collection of extended blog posts than a work of literature, an anthology that's best read in short bursts. Instead of taking my time, I devoured the book in a couple of sittings because it was so fun to read--until it got a lot less fun when the jokes and pop-culture comparisons started repeating themselves. How's this for an analogy: Pounding on Bill Simmons for The Book of Basketball's excesses is like scarfing down 20 ice cream sundaes and blaming Baskin-Robbins for the stomachache." (linked here) That's not what Courtney Cummz said (linked here).

== Will Jim Lampley be left off the NBC Winter Olympic roster? (linked here)

== From Q-and-A from TheBigLead with Dick Vitale, he says:"My idols are people like Vin Scully and Ernie Harwell. You work as long as you possibly can. Physically, emotionally, if you can handle the travel ... Obviously ESPN has become a big-time player in all sports now, but I think it's going to be really tough for CBS to give the NCAA tournament up." (linked here)

== AND (SNIFF) FINALLY:

== Did she really need to go on ABC (with owns ESPN, no less) and cry about having Steve Phillips dump her?

Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer -- competitors and co-workers -- who, by rough estimates, may together have shot about a billion photos over the last thousand years for Sports Illustrated, have their works on display at a place called the Annenberg Space for Photography (2000 Avenue of the Stars, Century City) starting Saturday and running through March 7.

Iooss and Leifer, both 66, present "Sport: Iooss & Leifer," begining with a lecture from Iooss on Saturday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The 80 prints on display will be supplimented by hundreds of digital photos that include interviews and commentary from the athletes captured. According to the official website, the exhibiti "will also explore the concepts of the athlete as a hero and role model in our society, as well as how sports are used to improve the public well-being."

Did you know: SI's Swimsuit Issue took its form and style because of Iooss' involvement in the early 1970s.

And that's Leifer, left, with Muhammad Ali, displaying the iconic photo Leifer took him him standing over a knocked out Sonny Liston in 1965. Note: Herb Scharfman (Wikipedia bio here), the other Sports Illustrated photographer at the fight, is seen between Ali's legs, looking up, missing the shot from behind.

More information: http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/ Admission is free. The building is south of Santa Monica Blvd., and north of Olympic, on the east side of Avenue of the Stars, across the street from the Century Plaza Hotel.

== The official Walter Iooss site (linked here)

== Among the many books by Iooss:
= "Sports Illustrated: Athlete" (2008, linked here)
= "Classic Baseball" (2006, linked here)
= "Hoops: Four Decades of the Pro Game" (2005, linked here)
= "Classic Golf: The Photographs of Walter Iooss, Jr." (2004, linked here)
= "Gladiators: 40 Years of Football" (2000, linked here)
= "Walter Iooss: A Lifetime Shooting Sports and Beauty" (1999, linked here)
= "Junior: Griffey on Griffey" (1997, linked here)
= "Sporting Life: The Journals" (1996, linked here)
= "Rare Air: Michael on Michael" (1993, linked here)
= "Sports People" (1988, linked here)

== The official Neil Leifer site (where you can buy photos, linked here).

== Among the many books by Leifer:
= "Ballet in the Dirt: The Golden Age of Baseball" (2008, linked here)
= "A Year In Sports: From the Rose Bowl to Figure Skating" (2006, linked here)
= "The Golden Age of American Football: 1958 to 1978" (1980, linked here)
= "The Best of Leifer" (2001, linked here)
= "Neil Leifer: Portraits" (2003, linked here)

You quickly find there's far more to James Brown that meets the eye of CBS.

Long before his broadcasting career launched at CBS, then flourished at Fox, then continued back at CBS, Brown was a high-school All-American basketball player at the famed DeMatha High in Maryland, decided to play at Harvard, and was a fourth-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in 1974. He didn't make the roster (having found a fast friend in Pete Maravich), and later tried out for the Boston Celtics.

That said, his broadcasting path took a greater meaning based on his faith seeing his athletic career end knowing he had an Ivy League education to fall back on.

Following up on today's media column (linked here), we have more Q-and-A with JB, plus notes that need to be reported in some form or another:

Q: In your book, you mention about how, after you gave a commitment to Harvard to play basketball, you got a letter from John Wooden asking about your interest to come to UCLA. You wanted to take a trip, but your mother talked you out of it, based on the principle you already agreed to the previous school. Do you ever wonder how your life could have changed if you'd attended UCLA between 1969 and '73 -- having been on national title teams with Lew Alcindor, Curtis Rowe, Sidney Wicks, Henry Bibby, then later with Bill Walton and Keith Wilkes?

James Brown: "I do, heavens yes. Please .... UCLA was the mecca of basketball. It made me think about what Red Auerbach told me after I had a tryout with the Celtics but didn't make it -- he said I'd have had a better chance if I developed my game more in college. So who knows. At this stage in my life, I know the route I took was the right one. I gave (the NBA) two good shots, so I can look back and I'm comfortable with the decisions. I knew the Ivy League school was good enough for many athletes, including Bill Bradley, but the reason I didn't make the NBA was my fault for failing to stay at the top of my game. I may not have played as much with all those stars -- that's one way of looking at it -- but I would have liked to think I'd have improved, coming in as a two-time high school All-American. I needed to develop, probably not as a forward, but eventually as a big guard."

Q: Where do you see yourself in the broadcasting field five or 10 years from now?

JB: "I'm always open to new challenges to keep my excitement level up. What I want to add to the mix is more work in the news division. I enjoyed doing the Michael Vick story for "60 Minutes" and my aim is to add more things like that. When something in news to the mix. Having worked at HBO with 'Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,' that was a great experience. But moving back to CBS and then Showtime (for 'Inside the NFL'), I had to give up the HBO job. I've been blessed to do the NFL, NBA, Super Bowls, NCAA Final Four and a Winter Olympics ... I'd love someday to work on a Summer Olympics and NCAA Final Four."

The rest of the media notes:

== Great job by Ernie Johnson, who had his own battle with lymphoma, who did this interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a day after it was announced he has leukemia:

NBA TV talks to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nov. 10, 2009 from Turner Sports on Vimeo.

On to what seem to be much more trivial matters:

== CBS says its Sunday NFL pregame show (hosted by JB) will include Frank Luntz, an "expert in communication and pioneer of the 'Instant Response' focus group" who will try to determine which coaches and players could run for political office and which would serve themselves best by not ever speaking based on their sound bites. Does that also apply with NFL studio analysts (i.e., Shannon Sharpe)?

== UCLA's college basketball season opener at Pauley Pavilion against Cal State Fullerton (Monday, 9 p.m., with Dave Pasch and Doris Burke) launches ESPN's 12-game, 24-hour "Tip-Off Marathon" (including ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com) that put some schools and players in ridiculous circumstances all for the lure of national TV exposure and the illusion of being apart of something greater than the game.

Because of this bizzarness stretching five time zones, Pasch and Burke not only call the opener, but also the closer -- Tuesday, 8:30 p.m., from Tempe, Ariz., on ESPN2, with a matchup in the NIT preseason event that's based on Monday's results -- it could be Cal State Northridge (which plays TCU in the opener) against Arizona State.

The most intrusive time windows include an 11 p.m. tipoff for San Diego State at St. Mary's on Monday, and Hawaii hosting Northern Colorado at 10 p.m. local time (1 a.m. PDT/4 a.m. EDT) but that's more the college kid's body clock schedule than having to have games played with a 6 a.m. (Monmouth at St. Peter's) and 8 a.m. (Drexel at Niagara) live tipoff -- a first for ESPN after more than 8,200 live college basketball games over the last 30 years.

Among the broadcasters participating are Bob Knight (doing analysis on Arkansas-Louisville from St. Louis at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN2), Dick Vitale (on Memphis-Kansas from St. Louis at 7 p.m., Tuesday, ESPN) and Steve Lavin (doing analysis on Gonzaga-Michigan State, ESPN, 5 p.m. Tuesday). Eric Collins has Clemson-Liberty (10 a.m. local tip), Dan Shulman calls two games in the stretch (both Arkansas-Louisville and Memphis-Kansas) and Pam Ward calls two womens' games (both from a tournament in San Antonio).

== The 250-plus women's college basketball schedule on the ESPN family of nets actually begins Sunday with Baylor facing Tennessee (2 p.m., ESPN2, with Dave O'Brien, Carolyn Peck and Rebecca Lobo). Carol Stiff, the senior director of programming and acquisitions for ESPN's groups, says the fact there is so many women's games scheduled this season is reason to classify the women's game as "healthy ... We're committing our resources ... I think that bodes well for the game. There's plenty of talent being cultivated and coming through the ranks. We have players that stay with us for four years. The sport is taking all steps in the right direction to grow this game for years to come."

== We'd be remiss if we didn't include the news that Jason Stewart's new movie with Gina Gershon in "Ann Rule's Everything She Always Wanted" (info linked here) airs on Lifetime this weekend -- Part I Saturday at 5 p.m. and Part II Sunday at 5 p.m.. Gershon will be a guest on Jim Rome's syndicated radio show today (9 a.m. to noon) to talk about her harrowing experience with longtime Rome call screener JStew.

== Tracy Austin returns as host of Tennis Channel's "Academy" show that starts again Sunday at 3:30 p.m. More info: www.tennischannel.com/schedule. Espisode one goes to Ft. Lauderdale for focus on Harold Solomon, former U.S. Davis Cup winner and coach of such stars as Jim Courier, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and current No. 5 singles player Elena Dementieva.

== Jim Barbar and Mac McCausland -- Google 'em if you need to check their credentials -- call tonight's CSUN-Purdue college basketball game for ESPN360.com (4 p.m.).

==

THE NFL ON CBS, home of Super Bowl XLIV and broadcasting its Golden Anniversary 50th year of the NFL, continues its 2009 NFL season on Sunday, Nov. 15 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon-1:00 PM, ET).

This week THE NFL TODAY welcomes expert in communication and pioneer of the "Instant Response" focus group, Frank Luntz, in the studio to rate sound bites of several coaches and players. Based on his expertise Luntz will answer, "What NFL coach should run for political office?" and "What controversial NFL star player is better off keeping his mouth shut?"

James Brown hosts THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, NFL TODAY "General Manager" Charley Casserly, as well as Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting.

== That overseas England exhibition kickball game on Saturday that David Beckham is missing because of his committment to getting the Galaxy to the MLS Cup airs on Fox Soccer Channel -- Brazil vs. England in Quatar, 9 a.m., right after the U.S.-Slovakia friendly at 7 a.m.

== AND FINALLY:

== The last two episodes of "Mayne Street" go yard, with Ben Stiller's appearance that debuted this week -- chomp, chomp ...

... and if you missed Jimmy Kimmel ("Are you really on television any more?") the week before:

An excerpt from the new autobiography from James Brown, the CBS NFL studio host, called "Role Of A Lifetime":

All generations are searching for answers and looking for them in the lives of high-profile examples -- whom society lifts as role models -- who too often live by relative values and are themselves looking for guidance. You and I live in a world that all to often operates under the overriding template of self-promotion, embracing a "Hooray for Me" attitude, and which measures success in increasingly small time snapshots dotted with markers of temporal value. From a lifetime of experiences -- both good and not so good -- I have learned that a life of real significance will not be found by following that path.

There probably isn't a better sportscaster out there than Brown to host this weekends Arete Awards of Courage in Sports, which airs Sunday at 3 p.m. -- a time slot usually dedicated to things that can't possibly rate up to an NFL game on another network, so are usually filled with infomercials or off-brand travel shows.

At least TiVo this one -- it'll include 17-year-old Thousand Oaks native Zac Sunderland and a revisit to his solo trip around the world on his sailboat -- and read more about the life of JB in Friday's media column.

== More on Brown's book:
== A Q-and-A with him after a signing near his home in Bethsda, Md., in October (linked here).

We did. And Allen Hopkins, maybe slowly at first, tried it on and seemed to agree.

"That's a very fair comparison," the ESPN MLS sideline reporter said. "You can draw parallels with the Steinbrenners and their conglomerate and what AEG is going with Tim Leiwecki is doing around the glove. I know AEG and the Yankees have talked about doing business down the road."

Hopkins thought about it more.

"That's a great comparison."

Think more: The Galaxy made the playoffs in the first 10 years of the MLS. Then they missed the last two seasons. This year, they had the off-the-field controvery between their two stars, David Beckham and Landon Donovan, over a book. Suddenly, the team plows its way to the Western Conference title and is one win away from getting back to the MLS Cup.

Kinda like the Yankees, winning so much at the end of the '90s, then having a dry spell, then winning the World Series earlier this month with their A-Rod, Jeter, Sabathia, et. al., filled roster.

"I know the Galaxy has two rings and would love 25 more. But that's the thing -- can you buy a championship?" said Hopkins. "I know a lot of people in the MLS want to see the big-picture, sexy model survive because we know we can always get those gritty, gutty feel-good teams. It's time people want to see the most-hated team in the Galaxy. For years, they felt the Galaxy got the breaks and advantages. You probably feel the same way about the Yankees."

We'll see how it plays out when the Galaxy faces Houston at Home Depot Center in the Western Conference final, with a shot of playing in Seattle for the Nov. 22 MLS Cup.

Hopkins, the West Hills resident who used to cover the Galaxy more intensely -- he was the FSN West game analyst from 2003 through 2006, actually getting an MLS title ring with the team in '05 -- has more to say in a quick Q-and-A before you find him again on the sidelines reporting on Friday's game (8 p.m., ESPN2, opposite ESPN's coverage of the Lakers-Nuggets game from Denver):

== More on the Galaxy-Yankee comparison:

"The Galaxy was he team that put the MLS on the global media map because of Beckham. I know a lot of people internally will not admit it, but they hope to have people eat crow if a team like the Galaxy wins. This season was ripe to implode from the start but they got down to it and I knew at the end of the day, they're such special players that they knew they'd have to work together. That goal sequence (in last Sunday's Galaxy-Chivas game, leading to the Galaxy penalty kick) was a world-class run and ball from Beckham, and a first-class touch by Landon getting it to (Mike) Magee in a good spot -- that wasn't so much different from a Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol finding a Trevor Ariza to finish it.

== On whether he feels any kind buzz in the soccer community about Friday's game:

"I do. You know what it is? In L.A., it's easy not to be a soccer apologist, to be connected to the game. In other parts of the cuontry, you have to justify and fly the flag. I do sense a buzz. The players are very excited about playing at home -- especially on Friday the 13th. It'll be fun. Given the crowd last Sunday, when the Galaxy do it right, it's a marquee place. Houston will play the underdog, but you know the league wants to see L.A. in Seattle with Beckham.
"You may begrudge Beckham, but as a player, he's excellent. And at the end of the day, they're just playing soccer, not having a photo shoot or a run from the paparazzi obstacle course. He'll win his matchups if you don't pressure him. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. (Scottish midfielder) Stuart Holden on the Dynamo roster could be the next big thing in U.S. soccer. They'll have a handful of very good and some excellent players and that's a good formula."

== On whether the previous two Galaxy-Houston games -- a 1-0 Galaxy win at home; a 0-0 draw in Houston -- provide a good indicator for what could happen Friday:

== I don't think so because when I look at those two games, neither the coaches nor the players will take much stalk in it. The regular season and the playoffs are such different animals. The best team isn't always the one that wins. It's the hot team. Both these teams could have won the conference title up until the last game. On the other side, Real Salt Lake needed a win to get in. Here, you have two teams that put all the excuses and the reasons of the regular season behind them.
"I do expect a very tight and cloase game, though. The defensive mistakes you saw the Galaxy make (in the first leg against Chivas), they made amends in the second game. The one thing about Houston -- they lost eight times in the regular season, all by one goal. They never got blown out, nor did they blow anyone out. They have a very veteran approach. I won't be surprised if it takes more than 90 minutes to play this on Friday. They're experienced enough to know about the emotions. And sometimes, these conference championship games are more fun to watch than the actual championships themselves. They can be more intriguing. I know in games like this I'd have a hard time keeping the contents of my stomach down. The teams that are successful acknowledge it's a big game, but they look at it as a normal game."

Photo by James Doss; www.havecamera.org
Vin Scully speaks to the audience at the Hollywood Radio & Television Society in Beverly Hills on Tuesday.

It comes up every off season now, apparently a reporting hoping to trip Vin Scully into saying this will be his last season behind the mike for the Dodgers. It happened again Tuesday, when he addressed something called the Hollywood Radio & Television Society in Beverly Hills.

Thus, another story (linked here).

More specific, another non-story.

Scully would do best to just avoid talk of this, and he tries. There'll be some reporter who twists his intentions, scrambles up a story that lacks any real substance, just to create some kind of panic in the community.

Knock it off. Please.

If the "news" this week is that Scully says he'll do the 2010 season, then decide, fine. Because in November, 2010, he'll probably say that he'll do the 2011 season, then decide. On and on.

Yes, he's almost 82 years old. But he knows it's a year to year thing. Anything he predicts is silly.

He doesn't know how his health will be. Or that of his wife. Or his family. Or who'll own the team. Or .... a thousand other things.

If it's God's will, then God willing, he'll return.

Why is that so hard to understand?

Do we need to start making a list of who'll replace him someday? That changes year to year as well, depending on who's contract is up, who'd be willing to give it a shot, who'd want to avoid being "the" replacement and would then be on the short list as the "replacement's replacement" (see: Chick Hearn, Lakers).

"I'm trying to figure out if I can walk away," he said. "I'm the horse pulling the wagon with a lot of people on the wagon, so I'm really not sure. God willing, I'll do next year and then we'll just have to wait and see."

There's obviously trepedation among Dodger fans that he'll someday leave. That's inevitable. If they can control it, he'll leave after they do. That's quite selfish.

Let it go.

Stop worrying about future and enjoy the moment, or else, when Vin does decide it's time, you'll have missed something special.

Above, Vin Scully speaks to the audience at the Hollywood Radio & Television Society in Beverly Hills on Tuesday.
Photo by James Doss
www.havecamera.org

On the NFL.com official site, they call this "rivalry weekend," noting there are Patriots-Colts, Bengals-Steelers and Packers-Cowboys.

"Week 10 has the makings of being a classic," they say.

What's classic is there isn't much grumbling about how the NFL Network starts Year 4 of its six Thursday night football game package this week. Or that there are even a couple on Saturdays and one on Christmas night (with the Chargers involved) between Weeks 10 and 16.

Are we, as humans, in tune yet with Thursday night NFL? Hard to stay. Depends, probably, on your cable or dish system.

Or how much you embrace "The Office," "Grey's Anatomy" or anything else that interrupts your Thursday routine.

L.A. viewers will see all those aformentioned rivalry games. Plus more. Because we can.

THURSDAY:
== 5:20 p.m., NFL Network: Chicago at San Francisco (with Bob Papa and Matt Millen)

SUNDAY:
== 10 a.m. Channel 2: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, as opposed to Buffalo-Tennessee or Jacksonville-N.Y. Jets.)
== 10 a.m., Channel 11: Detroit at Minnesota (with Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan and Chris Myers, as opposed to Atlanta-Carolina, Tampa Bay-Miami or New Orleans-St. Louis).
== 1 p.m., Channel 11: Dallas at Green Bay (with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver, as opposed to Seattle-Arizona or Philadelphia-San Diego; CBS offers Kansas City-Oakland in this window as well).
== 5:15 p.m., Channel 4: New England at Indianapolis (with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Andre Kremer)

MONDAY
== 5:30 p.m., ESPN: Baltimore at Cleveland (with Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski) .. news flash: Browns name Brady Quinn as their new starter. What could possibly go wrong there?

Bye: Houston, New York Giants.

And bye the way: The rest of the NFL Network schedule for those who aren't up to speed:
Week 11: Thursday, November 19, 5 p.m.: Miami at Carolina
Week 12: Thursday, November 26, 5 p.m.: New York Giants at Denver
Week 13: Thursday, December 3, 5 p.m.: New York Jets vs. Buffalo in Toronto
Week 14: Thursday, December 10, 5 p.m.: Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Week 15: Thursday, December 17, 5 p.m.: Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Week 15: Saturday, December 19, 5 p.m.: Dallas at New Orleans
Week 16: Friday, December 25, 4 p.m.: San Diego at Tennessee

Just to make it clear, that's FCS, Fox College Sports, not FSC, Fox Soccer Channel, doing this weekend's UCLA-Washington State football game. DirecTV Channel 617, right between FUEL and The Mnt. network.

And, to be more specific, it's FCS Pacific. Not Atlantic. Or Central. Just us.

In a season of Horned Frogs, Broncos, Yellow Jackets and Bearcats, you've officially buried the Bruins. Congratulations. Although, if you're spinning the remote later in the evening, a replay will be shown on Prime Ticket at 7 p.m.

This is the time of the college football season when, if you're not playing with the big boys, it gets tougher and tougher to track down your games.

USC's game against Stanford, for example, would have most likely been a ABC regional game from the Coliseum. But then USC lost two weeks ago. Now they say it's going to FSN West, since ABC would rather take Iowa-Ohio State, and ESPN snagged Arizona State-Oregon.

Although, on our TiVo menu, it says the Trojans-Cardinal game is on Prime Ticket. Again, one branch of the local net has flipped it over to the other side.

There's more turnover here than (fill in your own punchline).

Take your pick from some other slim pickins, and find Fort Worth on the map if you're interested in College GameDay:

THE LOCALS:
== Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Prime Ticket No. 9 USC vs. Stanford, Coliseum (with Barry Tompkins and Petros Papadakis)
== Saturday, 2 p.m., Fox College Sports Pacific, 570-AM (replay on Prime Ticket, 7 p.m.): UCLA at Washington State (with Steve Physioc, Yogi Roth and Samantha Steele)

TODAY
== 4 p.m., ESPN2: Ohio at Buffalo (with Todd Harris and Charles Arbuckle)

WEDNESDAY
== 5 p.m., ESPN2: Toledo at Central Michigan (with Eric Collins, Ray Bentley and Robert Smith)

THURSDAY
== 3 p.m., ESPNU: Ball State at Northern Illinois (with Dan McLaughlin and David Jon Berger)
== 4:30 p.m., ESPN: No. 24 South Florida at Rutgers (with Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer and Erin Andrews)
== 6 p.m., ESPNU: Texas Southern at Grambling State (with Charlie Neal and Jay Walker)

FRIDAY
== 5 p.m., ESPN2: No. 25 West Virginia at No. 5 Cincinnati (with Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore and Quint Kessenich)
== 5 p.m., ESPNU: Temple at Akron (with Justin Kutcher and Tom Luginbill)

SATURDAY

== 7 to 9 a.m., ESPN: "College GameDay" from Fort Worth, Texas, site of No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU. For the record, this is the fourth time this season "GameDay" has originated from a game not shown on the ESPN family of networks, and it is the third Mountain West Conference site in four weeks. With Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. And Herbstreit having to jet out of there and get to .... Pittsburgh?

== 9 a.m., Channel 2: Tennessee at Mississippi (with Craig Bolerjack and Steve Beuerlein)
== 9 a.m., FSN West: No. 2 Texas at Baylor (with Bill Land, Dave Lapham and Emily Jones)
== 9 a.m., Big Ten Network: Michigan at No. 20 Wisconsin (with Wayne Larrivee, Chris Martin and Charissa Thompson)
== 9 a.m., ESPN: Michigan State at Purdue (with Dave Pasch, Bob Griese and Chris Spielman)
== 9 a.m., ESPN2: No. 7 Georgia Tech at Duke (with Pam Ward and Ray Bentley)
== 9 a.m., ESPNU: Florida State at Wake Forest (with Clay Matvick and David Diaz-Infante)
== 9 a.m., ESPN Classic: Northwestern at Illinois (with Mike Morgan and Jon Berger)
== 9 a.m., CBS College Sports: No. 15 Houston at Central Florida (with Matt McConnell and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila)
== 9:30 a.m., Versus: Missouri at Kansas State (with Ron Thulin, Kelly Stouffer and Lindsay Soto)
== 10 a.m., ESPN360.com: No. 21 Virginia Tech at Maryland (with Dave Weekley and Danny Kanell)
== 11 a.m., The Mtn.: No. 22 BYU at New Mexico (with Ari Wolfe, Blaine Fowler and Keenan McCardell)

== 12:30 p.m., Channel 7: No. 10 Iowa at No. 11 Ohio State (with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Holly Rowe)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPN: No. 14 Miami at North Carolina (with Bob Wischusen and Brian Griese)
== 12:30 p.m., Channel 2: No. 1 Florida at South Carolina (with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPN360.com: Nebraska at Kansas (with Ron Franklin and Ed Cunningham)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPNU: Idaho at No. 6 Boise State (with Todd Harris and Charles Arbuckle)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPN360.com: Boston College at Virginia (with Ryan Rose and John Gregory)
== 12:30 p.m., CBS College Sports: Delaware at Navy (with Tom McCarthy and Randy Cross)
== 12:30 p.m., FSN Northwest: Washington at Oregon State (with Tom Glasgow, Steve Preece, Rashad Floyd and Angie Mentink)

== 3 p.m., The Mtn.: UNLV at Air Force (with James Bates, Todd Christensen and Natalie Vickers)
== 4 p.m., Versus: No. 17 Arizona at Cal (with Ted Robinson, Glenn Parker and Lewis Johnson)
== 4 p.m., ESPN: No. 2 Alabama at Mississippi State (with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews)
== 4 p.m., ESPN2: Auburn at Georgia (with Mark Jones and Bob Davie)
== 4 p.m., ESPNU: Louisiana Tech at No. 8 LSU (with Eric Collins and Brock Huard)
== 4 p.m., FSN West: Texas A&M at Oklahoma (with Joel Meyers, Gary Reasons and Jim Knox)
== 4:30 p.m., CBS College Sports: No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU (with Tom Hart, Aaron Taylor and Lauren Shehadi)
== 5 p.m., Channel 7: Notre Dame at No. 12 Pittsburgh (with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters)
== 5 p.m., ESPN PPV/ESPN360.com: Texas Tech at No. 19 Oklahoma State (with Mike Patrick, Craig James and Heather Cox)

== 7 p.m., The Mtn.: Wyoming at San Diego State (with Bill Doleman, Robert Griffith and Molly Sullivan)

== 7:20 p.m., ESPN: Arizona State at No. 13 Oregon (with Terry Gannon and David Norrie)

Longtime L.A.-based sportscaster and UCLA grad Rod Van Hook passed away after a long illness, according to LARadio.com. He was 61 and had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Van Hook worked as a sports anchor at KFWB-AM more than two decades -- 1979 to 2000 -- as well as KMPC-AM (1972-78) and KSPN-AM (2000-06), winning three Golden Mike awards. He most recently worked at Sports USA Radio doing the scoreboard show during college and NFL games broadcast over the network.

He graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in English and U.S. history. He was also a Santa Monica High alum.

Said former colleague Bill Seward: "Rod was a charming human being and a first-rate sports anchor. He was a trusted source of radio sports news for countless Angelenos over the past several decades."

Larry Kahn, who hired Van Hook to do the scoreboard show at his Sports USA radio company for two seasons -- he could not do it this year because of his health -- said he was "the best scoreboard update guy ever on radio. And also one of the nicest people in an industry filled with huge egos. He knew his stuff, did his work professionally and never complained."

Brian Golden, who worked with Van Hook at Sports USA Radio, once described him as " the kind of smooth pro who thinks the purpose of the scoreboard show is to inform you, rather than impress you with his standup comedy skills or otherwise promoting himself over the games themselves."

MONDAY

On the day Luc Robitalle is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto (with Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman and Brian Leetch), the Kings can't get out of George Halas International Midway Airport. And it's the only game played in the NHL tonight. And the game's on a network no one with DirecTV can get. What the puck?
NHL: Kings at Chicago, 5 p.m., Versus, 1150-AM.

Isiah Thomas, you've run out of time. Again. Let's see what kind of team you're going to put on the court as a head college basketball coach. We'll hold our giggles to a minimum.
College basketball: Florida International at North Carolina, 4 p.m., ESPNU

This is going on, as well.
NBA: Clippers vs. New Orleans, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

From today's USA Today: To hype its "Legend of Jimmy The Greek" documentary debuting Tuesday, ESPN's Monday night NFL pregame show reunites Brent Musburger, Phyllis George and Irv Cross-- who worked with Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder on CBS' NFL show in the 1980s -- in a comedic skit. They'll preview the Pittsburgh-Denver game as if it is decades ago, so when ESPN's Tom Jackson, the ex-Bronco who retired 23 years ago walks on the set a surprised George says, "Shouldn't you be at the game?" while Musburger announces: "We have some breaking news. Tom Jackson won't be playing tonight."
NFL: Pittsburgh at Denver, 5 p.m., ESPN

TUESDAY

The Bruins beat NAIA Concordia in a poor exhibition of their skills, victorious by one point last week. Now they take it up a notch. Will they be completely humbled by Humbolt State in this one?
College basketball: UCLA vs. Humbolt State, Pauley Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., www.uclabruins.com.

We'll bank on 21-year-old Joe Cada against 46-year-old Darvin Moon for the $8.5 mil top prize.
World Series of Poker, main event, at the Rio in Las Vegas, 6 p.m., ESPN

WEDNESDAY

The Kings' longest roadie of the year continues into places that don't deserve NHL mention.
NHL: Kings at Carolina, 4 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

Yup, and this one's on the schedule.
NBA: Clippers vs. Oklahoma City, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m, Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

THURSDAY

Four days after their last win (against New Orleans), the 6-1 Lakers take on the (currently) 6-1 Suns, who'll be playing at home against New Orleans the night before -- meaning Phoenix could be leading the Pacific Division when this takes place.
NBA: Lakers vs. Phoenix, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., TNT, 710-AM.

The NFL starts playing Thursday night games. For those working toward the Thanksgiving holiday.
NFL: Chicago at San Francisco, 5:20 p.m., NFL Network.

FRIDAY

The Galaxy ended up as the men who stared down the Goats. Chivas was too stubborn to push themselves into the next round of the MLS playoffs, so they pushed the Galaxy instead into the Western Conference finals against Houston. David Beckham misses England's exhibition against Brazil to see if he can help the Galaxy get into the MLS title game. Actually, the Galaxy really can't afford to have Landon Donovan miss.
MLS: Western Conference final: Houston at Galaxy, Home Depot Center, 8 p.m., ESPN2.

Now it's the Lakers turn for back-to-back, having to fly to Denver for their first encounter with the Nuggets since last year's playoffs.
NBA: Lakers at Denver, 7:30 p.m., ESPN, Channel 9, 710-AM.

The league says this game must be played on this date as well.
NBA: Clippers vs. Toronto, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

There's still an NHL team in Atlanta? The Flames, right.
NHL: Kings at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m., FSN West, 1150-AM.

Cal State Northridge, the two-time defending Big West basketball champs and returning three starters from last year's team that went 17-14 and went to the NCAA tournament, are picked to finish third behind Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara in the preseason media poll. Purdue isn't picked to win the Big Ten, either -- but the Boilermakers are ranked 7 in the country coming in. Close your eyes.
College basketball: CSUN at Purdue, 4 p.m., ESPN360.com.

SATURDAY

The Trojans could have picked an easier team than the Cardinal for a homecoming game. But then nothing seems to come very easily for USC this football season. Yet, in the BCS standings, somehow the Trojans move to No. 9 after a sloppy win at ASU. In the latest AP poll, Stanford snuck in at No. 25 on the legs of Toby Gehart (running past Oregon) while USC is at No. 11.
College football: Stanford at USC, Coliseum, 12:30 p.m., FSN West

Nothing's automatic for the Bruins, but a win here could be.
College football: UCLA at Washington State, 2 p.m., Fox College Sports

This trip through the NHL's Southeast Division is dandy, but when do the Kings return home?
NHL: Kings at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m., 1150-AM.

This is worth keeping an eye on as well.
NHL: Ducks at Detroit, 4 p.m., Prime Ticket, 830-AM.

Winner may face the Galaxy. And Becks could miss another trip to Europe.
MLS: Eastern Conference final: Real Salt Lake at Chicago, 5 p.m., FSC.

SUNDAY

They went OT before the Lakers pulled it out against the Rockets last week in Houston. Trevor Ariza finally gets his ring. Now beat it.
NBA: Lakers vs. Houston, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSN West.

They say people will actually pay to attend this game. We'll need to see it to believe it.
NBA: Clippers at Oklahoma City, 4 p.m., Prime Ticket, 980-AM.

Somehow the Colts are still unbeaten, and the Pats lead the AFC East.
NFL: New England at Indianapolis, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4.

The next-to-last NASCAR race of the season .... will Jimmy Johnson finally put this thing away?
NASCAR: Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix, 12:15 p.m., Channel 7.

It's more disturbing than ESPN's Scott Van Pelt, who used to try to convince us to invest in Titleist golf balls, now pimping a website that sells you gold online (and if you act now, you get a "free investor's kit"). Naw ... that's OK, we'll just stick our cash under the mattress and take our chances, thanks.

It's harder to digest than Fox Sports Net West's Michael Eaves, labeled as "host/reporter," standing in front of what's supposed to be his barbecue roasting wieners and spouting off: "Hey sports fans ... my job takes me to stadiums all across Southern California .... the one thing they have in common?" Aside from those Farmer John dogs you're grilling, is it a security guard at the media gate who asks: "What the hell do you do again?"

It's the latest incarnation of fill-the-gullet food pitchman Chris "Balloonman" Berman, enough to make one want to just stick your finger down your throat and get it over with ASAP.

Not to shoot more fllet-of-fish in a barrel, but how long ago was it that he was shouting to the heavens about his new diet, the Nutrisystem program that allowed him to drop some 40 pounds when he taped the spots:

The biggest loser in deed.

The latest ad campaign, with an even thinner Berman lining his wallet -- has him screaming about Applebee's latest "2 for $20" meals -- one appetizer, two entries, 20 bucks, with a pair of tongs straddling a side of grilled cow (and the disclaimer -- beverage, tax and gratiuity not included -- that goes by the wayside).

He comes on the spots with the nameline Chris "Boomer" Berman" and is "kicking this off" with (actors he's named) Dan "Wing Master" Wilson and Joe "App-Attacker" Davis -- nicknames, apparently, that "Boomer" gave them, but we're not sure, so we'll keep the fantasy alive for you -- attacking buffalo wings as the pre-meal, then a 7-ounce sirloin and a three-cheese chicken somekinda dish with noodles that looks to be about 4,000 calories.

What's the mixed message here to those who enjoy a few good meals after 9 p.m. before heading to bed? If someone pays you to lose weight, take it. If someone also pays you to eat stuff that's a step below Vegas buffet line food-stuff, also take it.
And, in the future, if Bounce fabric softener comes calling, Boomer should also take it. It's more believeable (linked here).

Other stuff we got taught about while reading and eating a really big sandwich:

== Your Week 10 of L.A. college football TV viewing: Beware of the new ESPN hilariously new family show, "Holtz!" ... right before "Griese!" (linked here)

== Your Week 9 of L.A. NFL TV viewing: Those who choose not to play, we thank you (linked here).

== If Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin called the Vikings-Packers game ... just thinking out loud (linked here).

== Bill Walton's legacy doesn't have to be calling Dkimbe Mutumbo's footwork horrible for the viewers at home. (linked here).

== Magic and Larry know how to sell a book -- gang up on Isiah (linked here).

== Someone who knows someone with a wheelbarrow full of money says the economy seems to be sorta kinda getting better -- quick, hit the U.S. networks up for Olympic TV rights (linked here)

== There is a Jim Rome fansite that wil elicit some laughter (linked here)

== More on TVG analyst Paul Lo Duca (linked here)

== More notes from the week to mull over, including news of a new Onion TV show linked to Comedy Central that will likely be a thorn in the side of ESPN (linked here)

== How to follow the Dodger Divorce mess (linked here)

== What to make of the "Colbert Report" supporting the U.S. speed skating team (linked here).

AND FINALLY:

== Why wouldn't ESPN be interested in someday snatching the NCAA March Madness away from CBS if the network stupidly exercises an early opt-out with their TV deal (linked here), as USA Today reports.
ESPN started the whole thing some 30 years ago. CBS has just refined it, but more, pushed it to more frustration with this in-and-out system of first- and second-round games that now send real fans to the website instead of the real TV experience.
If ESPN has the muscle to recapture this and reformat it so there'd be games simultaneously on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic -- plus ESPN360.com -- we endorse it.

The Sydney Opera House, by Bruce Foster, for the book "Architectural Wonders: A Pop-Up Gallery of the World's Most Amazing Marvels"

Following up to our quick review of the new book, (linked here), "Wow: The Pop-up Book of Sports" by Sports Illustrated for Kids, we tracked down paper engineer Bruce Foster, whose work must be held in your hands to fully enjoy, for a quick Q-and-A:

Q: How big of a sports fan are you (considering your upbringing, where you live, etc.) and did that draw you into this SI project?

A: Well, I've lived most of my life in the South -- Louisiana as a boy, Tennessee as a teen and young adult, and Texas as an adult and father -- although as a young child I did live briefly in L.A. and San Diego. My dad's sport has always been hunting rather than team sports, but my brother, David, to whom I dedicated this book, was always the real sportsman in the family. He was very very good at whatever he tried whether it was hunting, baseball little league, football, and now his son, Dalton, is carrying on that tradition in fine form.

As for me, I was the bookish, artistic boy and didn't get into sports much as a kid. My nose was always buried in a comic book or sci fi novel. I did enjoy football at The University of Tennessee where I went to college, and now I'm a fan of our local Houston teams. Working on the Tomlinson spread with the Titans -- what with my Texas-Tennessee connection) -- was a lot of fun for me. Even though it was a losing play for the Titans (and former Oilers), I enjoyed including them in this book.

Q: How could you compare bringing sports to "life" in a book like this versus other projects you have done -- which seem to be mostly making buildings and sculptures pop out of a book?

A: My work is actually quite broad with a very wide variety of subjects as well as a diverse group of illustrators such as children's author/illustrators Mo Willems, Charles Schulz and Marjorie Priceman, comic artist Wil Eisner, modern fine artists Elizabeth Murray and Ginny Ruffner, as well as adult market artists like Chuck Fischer.
As for media, paper engineers can design with greater fluidity with traditional illustration as opposed to photography since its more labor intensive to re-invent photography, filling in missing areas that illustrators can just draw as needed. In this book there were many complications in working with photography, especially people, but the retouching artists at SIK are super talented. Bringing these great moments of reality to paper motion entailed going through a lot of photographs to choose the right one or group of photos of the same moment so that we could lift pieces to fill in the gaps. We actually had many other sports in consideration, but in the end had to pare it down to a group that was diverse, had wide appeal and was possible to translate into pop up.

Q: Were the SI shots you had to work with among the best sports photography you'd seen?

A: There is no doubt about that. SI has an incredible library of fantastic shots from which to choose.

Q: How long did it take from concept to finishing it?

A: This book actually moved faster than most books I've worked on. When SIKids contacted me in November 2008, we already were behind schedule to meet Fall '09 lists, so everyone was very motivated to get it done quickly. We knew that the principle work had to be completed by March and we didn't get approval to start until early December, so that means from beginning to end it only took four months before color correction and printing began.
The SIK team was able to do all the prepress work as well, so the printer in China was handed fully designed, color corrected files and proof sheets extremely early compared to the norm. If your readers aren't aware, all pop up books are hand assembled, usually in Asia where the work force is highly trained to do just this task. Most pop up books take a year at least to develop.

Q: What kind of time does it take to put together just one concept? Was the the one with skateboarder Danny Way jumping over the Great Wall the toughest to engineer?

A: Each subject had its own characteristics, some taking longer than others. Some took only a week to design, some several. And there were a few sports scenes that I explored before ultimately discarding them. I'd say that the Red Sox spread was actually the most difficult. Not only for me, but for the photo artists. Trying to get a real Fenway Park to pop up in several directions was tough! And the artists had a particularly difficult time finding photos of all the areas needed to fit my templates. And yes, we are all aware that they didn't win the pennant at Fenway. This is more of an homage to the team that finally broke that famous curse. Placing them inside their legendary home just seemed a great setting. So if you will, notice the team is actually sitting on a platform instead of the actual playing field. Like a commemorative statue, almost.

Q: Any other things you wanted to add about the production of this book and whether you feel it's just as much for adults as kids?

A: This is a great, great collection of sports moments. But there are of course many more. I'd love to work on a sequel. Perhaps another one can include say.... hockey!.... But that will be up to SIK and the sports fans out there.
As for who this book is for, well, Sports Illustrated Kids magazine may be intended for a younger audience, but these sports moments transcend age. This book could have been produced for adults by Sports Illustrated just as well. Every sports fan, no matter age, is going to want this book once they see it. The background information and graphics about these athletes and great sports moments that surround the popups are incredibly informative and interesting.

== More of Bruce Foster's work at his blog (linked here)

From the book, "In the Beginning, the Book of Genesis," the seven days of Creation, with each disc representing a day and including a pull out excerpt from Genesis about that particular day.

The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Rodney King says boxing is helping him stay sober.

King, whose 1991 video taped beating by Los Angeles police helped spark South Central riots a year later, is among a group of D-list celebrities barnstorming the country as part of the Celebrity Boxing Federation.

He and former major league baseball player and steroid user Jose Canseco headline a card tonight at a Springfield hotel.

King will be fighting former basketball player, Derek MacIntosh. Canseco will be up against local amateur boxer Todd Poulton.

King says he decided to get involved in these exhibitions to make some money, stay in shape and stay sober. He's hoping eventually to get a match with Laurence Powell, one of the police officers involved in his beating.

Rob Harris
The Associated Press

LONDON -- David Beckham earned nearly $16.5 million from personal sponsorship deals during his first full season with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The England midfielder's latest accounts show that his marketability was unaffected by his move from Real Madrid to the United States, where soccer is less popular.

Newly released figures from the official British company registry show that Beckham's income from his Footwork Productions company in the year ending Dec. 31, 2008, soared by 91 percent from the previous year .

The company's gross profit of $20 million, which rose about 15 percent, includes income from endorsements. That figure is believed to account for two-thirds of the 34-year-old Beckham's sponsorship income.

A separate company, Brand Beckham, receives his $5.5 million basic salary from the Galaxy, the share of the merchandising he generates for the MLS team and joint endorsements with his wife, Victoria, including their range of fragrances.

Beckham joined the Galaxy on a five-year contract in July 2007. Despite the non-renewal of sponsorship contracts with Gillette and Pepsi, his advisers at 19 Entertainment are confident of expanding his off-the-field portfolio.

As well as developing his own apparel range with Adidas, Beckham's management team is looking to secure up to six sponsors in various areas.

Beckham's global appeal is likely to be helped by a second five-month stay at AC Milan beginning in January, which will boost his chances of going to a fourth consecutive World Cup with England.

Now that televised baseball is done for the season -- we can still watch TiVo'd games that we've squirreled away for the winter -- today's media column fodder on the Breeders' Cup coverage (linked here) has no room for these other items of non-horseplay:

== Kenny Mayne is part of the Breeders' Cup coverage this weekend for ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, but an appearance by him on Sunday (no, not his usual feature on ESPN NFL Countdown) might otherwise get lost if we don't alert you to the fact -- he's doing bowling.
The PBA Cheetah Championship from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. was held Aug 8-13, but it'll air Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN presented for the first time as a documentary-style feature, with Mayne narrating. There are behind-the-scenes looks at an entire PBA Tour event, from the start of qualifying to the championship match, player interviews and other features. Rob Stone will do play-by-play with analyst Randy Pederson, and the final round includes PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke, Ryan Ciminelli, Derek Sapp and Stevie Weber.

== On ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" (8 a.m.) and Monday's "Outside The Lines" (noon), Marie Tillman, the widow of former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, speaks for the first time in a TV interview about his decision to leave the NFL and all that led to his death in Afghanistan. Chris Connelly does the interview that also focuses on the Pat Tillman Foundation helping with scholarships to those serving in the military. "That's my favorite part of doing this is being able to meet the people who we were able to have an impact in their lives and see how the money that we're providing them for their education is really making a difference," says Marie Tillman.

== Andre Agassi's damage control tour, which he started by releasing excerpts of his new book that included relevations of drug use, goes to CBS' "60 Minutes" with an interview he grants to Katie Couric (Sunday, 7 p.m.). CBS' press release says "Agassi got emotional when responding to the criticism from Martina Navratilova that Couric read to him, including that the former women's tennis star compared him with Roger Clemens. 'Yeah...it's what you don't want to hear...I would hope...along with that would come some compassion that maybe this person doesn't need condemnation,' Agassi tells Couric. 'Maybe this person could stand a little help. Because that was at a time in my life when I needed help.'"
So next, he'll have to start explaining what he meant by saying why Martina needs help.
His new book, "Open," comes out Monday.

== If you really want to meet ESPN.com's Bill Simmons and put money in his pocket, he's doing signings of his new book "The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy" at the ESPN Zone at L.A. Live (Monday, 5 p.m.) and at Downtown Disney (Friday, Nov. 13, 4 p.m.)

== Andrea Joyce, Paul Wylie, Peter Carruthers and David Pelletier handle the NBC Sports and Universal Sports coverage of this weekend's ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Nagano, Japan. Universal Sports starts today at 2 p.m.; NBC (Channel 4) has it Sunday at 11 a.m. with the ladies and men's free skates.

== Tennis Channel has the U.S. Fed Cup championship match (which includes rising star Melanie Oudin) against Italy with live coverage Saturday and Sunday starting each day at 2 a.m. from Italy with replays each night.

AND FINALLY:

== Funny, but this is long overdue.

Comedy Central has ordered a pilot from the satirical news magazine The Onion, a half-hour scripted series based on The Onion's Sports Network online video series that parodies sports shows - especially those on ESPN.

Onion News Network director Will Graham says in a statement to expect "the most intense sports coverage humanity has yet witnessed" on TOSN, may of whose clips we've linked and embedded in our blog in the past two years.

And, because we now can't help ourselves, here's the headline story from this week (with a link here):

New York Marathon Winner Tests Positive For Performance-Enhancing Horse

NEW YORK -- Officials from New York Road Runners stripped American Meb Keflezighi of his 2009 ING New York City Marathon victory Wednesday after a blood sample taken from his fetlock was found to contain high levels of performance-enhancing horse.
"Meb's fellow competitors voiced their doubts about him immediately after the event," NYRR president Mary Wittenberg said. "In addition to his remarkable speed, unusual race-day height, and distinctive 'clip-clop' gait, Keflezighi's frequent nickering caused the other runners to speculate that he may have been using a horse in some fashion."
Added Wittenberg, "Also, just before the start, he lifted up his tail and loudly deposited a 9-inch-high pile of steaming fecal matter on the pavement, an unusual occurrence even in the world of long-distance running."
Keflezighi finished the race in 48 minutes and 12 seconds, easily setting a new world record and defeating his nearest competitor by one hour and 20 minutes.

Of the four horses that Paul Lo Duca says he has an ownership piece in these days, one is a filly named Don't Tell Me What To Do.

Just tellin' you.

Spinning off today's media column (linked here), the former Dodgers catcher made his first splash of the weekend on a TVG Breeders' Cup Friday Preview show during Thursday's lineup (it repeats throughout the early Friday morning, and includes him on the set with Simon Bray, the first trainer he had for a horse back in the early 2000s and one who helped him get the TVG gig).

Lo Duca has more to say about his work at Santa Anita this weekend, as well as what else is going on in his life:

==On what other baseball guys he expects to see this weekend:

Joe Torre will be there. Brad Penny might come. Moises Alou, I wouldn't be surprised. He owns maybe 40 to 50 horses in the Dominican Republic. I know Yorbit Torrealba is into it. Dan Plesac, Luis Gonzales, Craig Council, Eric Burns ... When I was with the Mets, I took David Wright out to the track once and he loved it. He'd notice when I had TVG on the TV in the clubhouse and wanted to see what it was about. For them it's entertainment and they enjoy it. It's fun. It's like a game. You know you're gambling but it's still a competition to try to pick the horse that wins.

==On what jockey Mike Smith says about his major mount this weekend, Zenyatta, in the Classic on Saturday:

The last time we talked, he said she's doing great and she's got plenty in the tank. He says he hasn't put the pedal to the metal one met. I believe it. I can tell he's serious. He hasn't gotten to the bottom. And he always says she likes Santa Anita better than any other track. I don't think she liked Del Mar. So if she beats 13 other males ... that'll be a big deal. Beating six females is one thing, but it was never 12 to 13 females on the track at the same time. This is a huge step. The extra distance helps. I'd love to say that she'll win if Rip Van Winkle doesn't run his race. A lot of these horses in the Classic have had long seasons. Zenyatta has had it spaced out very nice and is fresh.

== On how horse racing parallels baseball, in that, a player like Lo Duca was a 25th-round pick for the Dodgers yet developed into a solid major-league player, and horses can be claimed for very little but turned into champions if given the right setting:

There are similiarities in every aspect. Maybe a young kid hasn't grown into his body and it takes time. It's the same with a horse. A perfect example is Zenyatta, who was bought for just $60,000 and had a skin disease. But given to a different trainer, we're not talking about her right now. A horse may run for one trainer but not another. The same with a player who can perform well for one coach or manager but not another. Some connect with their coach, some don't.

== On his baseball future (current stats linked here) and whether the Dodgers could fit into those plans:

I've made the decision to play again. I want to play. I've started training and the body feels good so far. If I get into shape and can compete at the same level as before I left with the broken hand -- the same one I broke before and never really got back to where it was -- I'm swinging the bat and it feels good. I've only had one knee surgery so knock on wood, that feels great, too. I know after a year off I'm hungry and it kills me to watch these (World Series) games. I'm not looking for much, just a chance to sign a minor-league deal with the chance to make the team.
If I were to come back to L.A., that would be amazing. The fans have been great to me for a long time and I still have a lot of friends here. I cried the day I got traded from L.A. (to Florida, at the July 2004 trading deadline, in the deal that brought Brad Penny to the Dodgers). It was the only team I knew then. I grew up in that organization.

== On learning how horse racing, like baseball, has to be a business sometimes:

I saw baseball as a business to a lot of guys before it happened to me. Me getting traded wasn't the worse I'd ever seen. That day, it just happened to me. But in horse racing, like baseball, you can see an owner or GM trying to make money quick. A GM may make a blockbuster trade that's really a gamble. Sometimes it pays off. The first thing my trainer Doug O'Neill said me me about horse racing is don't get attached to your horse, let your wife come and pet it and fall in love with it. They're too fragile and you might lose them fast. They get claimed. I learned that fast, too.

Where to go for the latest news, analysis and general trashing of the bitterness that is Frank and Jamie McCourt?

A site called "Dodger Divorce" (linked here) that has an email address and Twitter account started last month by 23-year-old Josh Fisher, who calls himself on the site a "Dodger fan, law nerd, news addict."

The South Bay native who lives in Minneapolis is really a law student, researcher and intern to a federal judge who admits that the site "consumes a couple hours each day depending on how busy things are. I started it because I wanted to get my thoughts on the topic organized. Through a couple bloggy connections, specifically Craig Calcaterra at Shysterball and Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts, I started to grow an audience pretty quickly."

After Thursday's latest court hearing, Fisher wrote in a post "The Journey of 1,000 Miles Began This Morning":

"If I had to pick a winner, it'd be Jamie, but this was really like one of those mid-September Royals/Orioles games...yeah, there's a box score, but is there really a story? The main event of today's hearing was the reinstatement petition, which Jamie lost. But, as we've discussed, she probably didn't want to win that one anyway. The lasting impact of today's hearing will be the result of a match on the day's undercard: the Dodgers as a party. Jamie's successful attempt to exclude the Dodgers as a party is the most important outcome of the day. Oh, and she got her lap-pool access, so: good for her."

And good for us.

And not that this relates to this in any way, but check out this site about "McCourt's In Session" (lined here) set up by Matt Sloan and Aaron Yonda of Blame Society Productions.

From MLB media:

JETER, PETTITTE & POSADA TO MAKE HISTORIC APPEARANCE ON "LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN" TONIGHT
2009 World Series Champions Will Mark First Time Letterman Has Ever Hosted More Than Two Athletes as Sitting Guests

Fresh off winning their fifth World Series title as teammates on the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada will appear together in studio as guests tonight on "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS. Teammate Hideki Matsui, who won the World Series MVP presented by Chevrolet, will also appear in studio.
The appearance will mark an historic first for Letterman, as he has never before hosted more than two sports figures together as sitting guests.

A few questions:
A) You're calling this "historic," at the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where the Beatles made their biggest splash?
B) Why not have Matsui read the Top 10 list, since he's really not part of the exclusive threesome? I'm thinking "The Donger" from "16 Candles" .... no more yankee my wankie .... all the stereotypes play in here.
C) Where is A-Rod?
D) Where is Jeter's woman?
E) This is the best gig they could get the day after World Series?

Paul Lo Duca made it into Thoroughbred News last month - albeit for being sued by a Kentucky farm over a dispute that a stud fee hadn't been paid involving former Breeders Cup star filly Storm Cat.

"It's a total misunderstanding," said the former Dodgers catcher. "When I get back (to New York) my lawyers and I will get it done."

There's no misunderstanding Lo Duca's love for horse racing, and as the 37-year-old is getting into shape for a comeback try with a big-league team next spring, he's focused on the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita this weekend, working as an analyst for TVG.

He'll be on today's TVG Breeders' Cup preview show (5:30 to 6:30 p.m.) getting the lines on Friday's races (repeated several times before the actual event begins on ESPN2 at 10 a.m.) and on Friday's preview show (5:30 p.m.) for Saturday's races.

Not just sports. Because, if you look beyond the sports section, you'll often find better sports stories.

Such as:

== In the real estate section:

Former major league pitcher Bret Saberhagen has listed his gated Calabasas home for sale at $3.25 million. The renovated and rebuilt compound includes a 5,600-square foot, single-story Tuscany-style villa and two guest houses on 1.2 acres. The main house has a home theatre with a 90-inch screen and eight recliners, a wine cellar that can seat 12, five bedroom suites and six bathrooms. His in-home sports bar is equipped with five TVs. Outdoors there is a cabana with a fireplace and television, a swimming pool with spa, a wet bar and a putting green. His compound is about a 10-minute drive from the beach and the freeway, he said, and sits on a dead-end street with no street lights. "So you always have plenty of stars and moon at night." The home, build in 1969, has mountain views and room for stables and horses.
The San Fernando Valley lifelong resident who lived in Kansas City while playing for the Royals said: "I moved back in 2002 after I finished my baeball career to watch my kid finish up high school at Calabasas. Saberhagen's youngest child is a senior there and will be going away to college in the fall. Saberhagen said he plans to stay in California and would like to move closer to the ocean.

Just so you know, Sabes -- with the market today, it'll be tough to get all that for $3.2 mil again. We say you stay put and invite us over at least once a week to consult on future home purchasing.

== From the "corrections" section in main news:

In an NFL column in Monday's Sports section, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was quoted as saying, "It didn't seem weird until I got in nera the pier," talking about his return to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. What he said was, "It didn't seem weird until I got in near De Pere," which is a town between Appleton and Green Bay.

An easy mistake. Because there are so many piers in the greater Milwaukee area. As opposed to so many types of beers.

== Another from the "corrections" section:

A column in Sunday's Sports section on how TV money is affecting baseball's postseason scheduling said, "From 1969 throgh 2006, World Series Game 1 was on a Saturday." From 1977 through 1984, and in 1990, the Series started midweek. Also, the Series was canceled in 1994. And in 1996, rain delayed Game 1 from Saturday to Sunday.

Other than that, it mostly started on a Saturday. Check that ...

== From a local news section:

Dr. Drew Pinsky, the radio and TV personality, ran onto the Chadwick School field over the weekend to assist a seriously injured student. Jackson Allan, a sophomore at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, had suffered a tramatic head injury Saturday that caused him to loose consciousness, according to a letter issued by Head of School Debbie Reed. Pinsky, who hosts "Celebrity Rehab" on VH1, as well as the radio show "Loveline," is the parent of a Poly student. He and a Chadwick parent, also a doctor, provided care for Allan until paramedics arrived. Allen underwent surgery to relieve pressure on the brain from internal bleeding.

Had Adam Carolla had been there with Dr. Drew, things could have been a lot funnier.

== From letters to Parade Magazine:

Q: Ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman was blond during his playing days. Now, as an announcer, he has dark auburn hair. What's up with that? -- Angie Simon, Wadsworth, Ohio.
A: Heck, Angie, lots of manly men change their hair color, and male professional athletes have been doing crazy stuff with their locks for years. Our best guess is that for his role as an analyst for Fox Sports, Troy wanted to look ... well, more analytical.

Or, maybe from these photos, Troy Boy went from auburn (to Oklahoma and UCLA) to blond and now back to auburn... something like that. Now, it's Joe Buck who has the blond hair. Not that you can't have two blonds in one booth working together.

== From the obituary pages:

Chris Hawk, 58, a surfer and board shaper who was inducted last month into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach, died of cancer Oct. 23 at his home in San Clemente, said his former wife, Kathy Hawk Margerum. Hawk had long been considered for the Hall of Fame, which usually has its ceremony in July, but his induction was moved up because of his illness, said Aaron Pai, founder of the Surfers' Hall of Fame. Hawk said in the Orange County Register that the ceremony was "the most honorable moment of my life." Pat Lien, manager of a Huntington Beach surfboard shop, told the Huntington Beach Independent: "In the '80s, he was the guy the locals wanted their boards made by. You were kind of somebody if you had his board in the water."

Before Tony Hawk, there was Chris Hawk. Fly away home.

== From a news roundup in the front section:

Police say a woman singing karaoke was attacked by six other women who didn't like her performance. The attack happened Sept. 23 during karaoke night at Bobby Valentine's Sports Gallery Cafe in Stamford, Conn., police say. The six women, all under the legal drinking age of 21, allegedly knocked the singer to the floor, punched her and pulled her hair. She suffered bruises and a chipped tooth. The victim, 25, said she was singing "A Dios le Pido" by Columbian singer Juanes.

That's the kind of stuff that just writes itself. Too bad there's no video, a la Tim Floyd, of Bobby V, the former Dodgers and Angels outfielder and manager most famously with the Mets but most recently in Japan, trying to bust things up.

A press release direclty from Fox Sports with our comments added in italic:

Last week's Fox doubleheader game (mostly Vikings-Packers) was watched by 29.8 million viewers -- making it the most-watched program on television since the Academy Awards more than eight months ago on February 22 (36.3 million viewers). Even on a night when some 23 million viewers also stuck around to watch the Yankees-Phillies World Series Game 3 a few minutes after Minnesota-Green Bay ended on Fox affiliates.

The first Green Bay-Minnesota game, on Oct. 5, did 21.8 million ESPN.

That's kind of like saying the Lakers' eight-point victory over Atlanta on Sunday night was their most lopsided regular season win since defeating Utah by 13 on the last day of the 2008-09 season.
The Vikings-Packers viewership tops that of the season finales of popular prime time programming including "American Idol," "CSI" and "Dancing with the Stars,: as well as all regular-season and championship coverage of other sports.

Functioning people still watching "Dancing With The Stars"?

NFL games account for the top 6 and 11 of the 12 most-watched sporting events since Super Bowl XLIII.

And if that Favre guy is throwin' the pickle around, all the better, it seems, for viewership. .

Following are the most watched sporting events since Super Bowl XLIII:

1. Fox Sunday national game (with most seeing Minnesota-Green Bay, but some actually forced to see Arizona-Carolina) on Nov. 1: 29.8 million viewers (the viewership in Minnesota was a 47 rating and 76 share; in Milwaukee, it was a 45.7 rating and 70 share). The Raiders-Chargers game from San Diego, on opposite this game on CBS, did a 29.6 rating and 56 share in the San Diego market. In Phoenix, where viewers had to watch Arizona host Carolina on Fox instead of Minnesota-Green Bay, the Cardinals-Panthers did a 22.4 rating and 40 share, making that crappy little game the higest-rated program in the Phoenix market for the week.

2. Fox Sunday national game (mostly Atlanta-Dallas) on Nov. 25: 28.4 million

3. Fox Sunday national game (mostly Washington-N.Y. Giants) on Oct. 13: 25.1 million

4. NBC Sunday Night Football (N.Y. Giants-Dallas) on Sept. 20: 24.8 million

5. CBS Sunday national game (mostly Tennessee-New England) on Oct. 18: 10/18
23.9 million

6. CBS Sunday national game (mostly PIttsburgh-Chicago) on Sept. 20: 23.9 million

7. World Series Game 4 (Yankees-Phillies) on Nov. 1: 22.8 million

8. Fox Sunday national game (mostly Dallas-Denver) on Oct. 4: 22.0 million

9. ESPN Monday Night Football (Green Bay-Minnesota) on Oct. 5: 21.8 million

10. NBC Sunday Night Football (Chicago-Green Bay) on Sept. 13: 21.1 million

11. CBS Sunday national game (mostly New England-Denver) on Oct. 11: 20.9 million

12. NBC Thursday Night Kickoff Game (Tennessee-Pittsburgh) on Sept. 10: 20.9 million

13. World Series Game 1 (Phillies-Yankees) on Oct. 28: 19.5 million

14. Fox Sunday single game (mostly Atlanta-New England and San Francisco-Minnesota) on Sept. 27: 19.3 million

15. World Series Game 2 (Phillies-Yankees) on Oct. 29: 18.9 million

This once-amusing story has been told before.

Sure, we'll give you the shirt off our back -- no, not this one ... .take one of these instead.

We'll allow Tom Cable to throw the first punch. Because his Oakland Raiders are on hiatis this week -- maybe furlough -- and lead a group of teams that have a bye week interestingly scheduled in the wake of more crazy off-the-field activity.

Such as: Cleveland, with a bye, can find a new GM.

Or St. Louis, with a bye, can find a new owner.

Or Minnesota, with a bye, can give Brett Favre time vacation hunting in Green Bay. Hunting, of course, for a new house. 'Cause now that he proved what he had to prove, the Packers will want him back in '10.

Or the New York Jets, with a bye, can reprogram their rookie QB.

Or Buffalo, with a bye. Just because.

SUNDAY:
== 10 a.m., Channel 2: Miami at New England (with Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdoft; instead of Baltimore-Cincinnati, Houston-Indianapolis or Kansas City-Jacksonville)
== 10 a.m., Channel 11: Arizona at Chicago (with Joe Buck -- unless there's a bunch of rainouts in the World Series -- and Troy Aikman, instead of Washington-Atlanta or Green Bay-Tampa Bay)
== 1:15 p.m., Channel 2: San Diego at N.Y. Giants (with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, instead of Tennessee-San Francisco; Fox also has Carolina-New Orleans and Detroit-Seattle in this window)
== 5:15 p.m., Channel 4: Dallas at Philadelphia (with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Andrea Kremer)

MONDAY
== 5:30 p.m., ESPN: Pittsburgh at Denver (with Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden, who is hopefully not still wearing a Halloween mask from last Monday, two days late)

Bye week: Buffalo, Cleveland, Minnesota, N.Y. Jets, Oakland and St. Louis.

You've finally seen ABC's "Modern Family," right? Hilarity ensues weekly. It's funny, 'cause it's true.

The ESPN version debuts this week. It could get wackier than seeing the former Al Bundy as the leader of a disfunctional unit of people.

ESPN's Thursday night telecast features Virginia Tech at East Carolina. The later team is coached by Skip Holtz. For some reason, ESPN sends his dad, Lou Holtz, as a commentator with Rece Davis and Mark May. It's the first time dad has called a game involving his son. Maybe Shelley Long will make an appareance as the crazy ex-wife.

Skip it, or risk not hearing something crazier than a Thanksgiving after-dinner discussion on health care?

Even more family matters: Taco man Bob Griese is back, and his son, Brian, has two games (starting tonight). And as for the rest of the week's highlights:

The Bruins are wearing throw-back jerseys, to 1967. There's a joke in there someone who has more creativity than us at this point. Something like:
== They wore facemasks back then, right?
== Yes, many parents of the UCLA players weren't even alive in '67 ... or they were stoned.
== Does Gary Beban have any eligibility left?
== Why can't UCLA stick with those unis? They are pretty dang sweet.

THE LOCALS:
== Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, 570-AM: Washington at UCLA (with Bill Macdonald, James Washington, Brooke Olzendam and Courtney Jones).
== Saturday, 5 p.m., Channel 7, 710-AM: No. 12 USC at Arizona State (with Mike Patrick, Craig James and Heather Cox)

TODAY:
== 4 p.m., ESPN2: Bowling Green at Buffalo (with Bob Wischusen and Brian Griese)

THURSDAY:
== 4:30 p.m., ESPN: No. 23 Virginia Tech at East Carolina (with Rece Davis, Lou Holtz, Mark May and Todd Harris)
== 4:30 p.m., ESPNU: Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois (with Charlie Neal and Jay Walker)

FRIDAY
== 5 p.m., ESPN2: No. 7 Boise State at Louisiana Tech (with Dave Lamont and Rod Gilmore)

SATURDAY:
== 7 to 9 a.m., ESPN: "College GameDay" goes to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., where Army later plays Air Force. It's part of the network's "America's Heroes: A Salute to Our Veterans." With Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.

== 9 a.m., FSN West: Central Florida at No. 2 Texas (with Bill Land, Gary Reasons and Emily Jones)
== 9 a.m., ESPN: Northwestern at No. 4 Iowa (with Dave Pasch, Bob Griese and Chris Spielman)
== 9 a.m., ESPNU: Syracuse at No. 13 Pittsburgh (with Clay Matvick and David Diaz-Infante)
== 9 a.m., Big Ten Network: Purdue at Michigan (with Craig Coshun, Glen Mason and Mike Hall); also available: Illinois at Minnesota, Western Michigan at Michigan State and Wisconsin at Indiana.
== 9 a.m., Versus: Kansas at Kansas State (with Ron Thulin, Kelly Stouffer and Lewis Johnson)

== 11 a.m., The mtn.: BYU at Wyoming (with James Bates, Todd Christensen and Andrea Lloyd)
== 11:30 a.m., Channel 4: Navy at No. 22 Notre Dame (with Tom Hammond, Pat Haden and not O.J. Simpson)
== 12:30 p.m., FSN West: No. 8 Oregon at Stanford (with Barry Tompkins, Petros Papadakis and some other guy on the sidelines ... no wait, someone named Rebecca Haarlow)
== 12:30 p.m., Channel 2: No. 9 LSU at No. 3 Alabama (with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson)
== 12:30 p.m., Channel 7: No. 16 Ohio State at No. 11 Penn State (with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Holly Rowe)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPN2: Either Wake Forest at No. 10 Georgia Tech (with Pam Ward and Ray Bentley) or No. 19 Oklahoma State at Iowa State (with Bob Wischusen and Brian Griese)
== 12:30 p.m., ESPNU: Duke at North Carolina (with Todd Harris and Charles Arbuckle)
== 12:30 p.m., CBS College Sports: Army at Air Force (with Dave Ryan and Jason Sehorn)

== 3 p.m., The mtn.: New Mexico at No. 14 Utah (with Dan Gutowsky, Blaine Fowler and Sammy Linebaugh)
== 4 p.m., FSN West: Oregon State at No. 20 Cal (with Steve Physioc, Mike Pawlawski and Drea Avent)
== 4 p.m., Versus: No. 6 TCU at San Diego State (with Tim Neverett, Glenn Parker and Lindsay Soto)
== 4 p.m., ESPNU: Memphis at Tennessee (with Eric Collins and Brock Huard)
== 4:15 p.m., ESPN2: Vanderbilt at No. 1 Florida (with Mark Jones and Bob Davie)
== 4:30 p.m., CBS College Sports: No. 15 Houston at Tulsa (with Tom Hart and Aaron Taylor)
== 4:45 p.m., ESPN: Florida State at Clemson (with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews)
== 5 p.m., ESPN360.com, ESPN PPV: Connecticut at No. 5 Cincinnati (with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters)
== 5 p.m., ESPN360.com, ESPN PPV: No. 24 Oklahoma at Nebraska (with Ron Franklin and Ed Cunningham)
== 7 p.m., The mtn.: Colorado State at UNLV (with Bill Doleman, Robert Griffith and Molly Sullivan)
== 7 p.m, ESPNU: Fresno State at Idaho (with Charlie Neal and JC Pearson)

SUNDAY
== ESPN, 5 p.m.: Nevada at San Jose State (with Terry Gannon and David Norrie)

ESPNU will also have several hours of programming in honor of Veterans Day, beginning Thursday at 3:30 p.m., that includes how students from Arizona State keep the legacy of Pat Tillman alive on campus, students from the University of South Carolina catch up with long snapper Matt Grooms, who did two tours in Iraq, and other interviews with players from each of the U.S. Military Service Academies.

The piece of art given to the Sports Illustrated athlete of the year wants to be seen.

Tiffany & Co. in Beverly Hills has it in its window this week, in case you happen to be on Rodeo Drive looking for something that might work as a 10th anniversary gift for your wife or pet collar for your high-end poodle.

L.A. is one stop on a four-city tour -- it'll also be in Chicago (Nov. 9-13), Boston (Nov. 16-20) and New York (Nov. 23-Dec. 1), leading to it being awarded on the first day of December in a lavish party.

(Any early favorites? How about Tim Tebow? The qualifications are quite clear: "It is not for the victory alone that he is honored. Rather, it is for the quality of his effort and the manner of his striving." Right, so either Tebow or Chad Ochocinco.

The original Sportsman of the Year trophy, a cool replica of a Grecian amphora, was first given to Roger Bannister in 1954 and has been awarded ever since. The new trophy has that Greek amphoria style etched into silver, made at Tiffany's shop in New Jersey.

Check it out from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Wednesday, plus Friday, or from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Address: 210 N. Rodeo Drive, BH, 90210.

Tiffany has done other trophies as well -- oh, like, the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy for the NFL, the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy for the NBA, the MLB's World Series Championship Trophy .. stuff like that.

This baby weighs nearly 30 pounds and is almost two feet tall. It's on display usually at the SI headquarters in New York. The one given to the winner is 15 1/2 pounds and is 12 1/2 inches tall, with the person's name on it. Estimated value: C'mon, you think they need that info out there?

The news that trickled out Monday about Bill Walton, an ESPN NBA analyst since the network's coverage of the NBA began in the 2002-03 season, deciding not to return to his TV gig with a year left on his contract is hardly surprising. The Hall of Famer out of UCLA missed nearly all of last season while recovering from back surgery. He's not yet fully back, but the travel really isn't conducive to him continuing on that path for a while.

But it's still some closure we'd hope wouldn't be decided until next season. But Bill wants to move on.

"As I return after a grueling multiyear, life-threatening, life-changing ordeal with back problems, it is time to dedicate the rest of my life to service," Walton said in a statement released by the netowrk. "It is great to be back in the game. Thanks everybody - for everything."

Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive VP of production, added: "Bill is a Hall of Fame talent, both as a player and broadcaster. NBA fans will miss his distinct personality. We appreciate all of his contributions to ESPN and share best wishes toward continued health and happiness."

Where does the big redhead go from here?

Back to his roots.

Aside from that incredible letter Bill sent to us to use in the Daily News on the occasion of coach John Wooden's 99th birthday last month (linked here), the cycling enthusiast has jumped into a project with the Pebble Pedalers (linked here) that support two men on their way to raise awareness of the destruction of the Alaskan environment.

Seth and Parker Berling, whom Walton calls the "riders on the storm," were at San Diego's Balboa Park last week explaining how they plan to ride their bikes from the northern tip of Alaska on the Arctic Ocean to the southern tip of South America on an 18-month, 17,000-mile ride. They'd already covered 5,002 miles when they hit San Diego.

Their goal, with the non-profit Trout Unlimited, is to "draw attention to the impending construction of our North American continent's largest open pit mine -- Pebble Mine -- tragically located on the shores of Alaska's pristine and spectacular Bristol Bay," according to Walton.

They left San Diego on Monday with fully-loaded bikes, heading to Tijuana and south toward Mexico and Latin America.

You want to help Bill in any of his future endeavors, check out his website -- www.billwalton.com -- to find out what he's got going. He'll appreciate the support.

He turns 57 on Thursday. Party on...

If Magic Johnson's fractured friendship with Isiah Thomas suffers further collateral damage by a book released this week, there doesn't seem to be much movement for any kissing and making up in the near future.

In "When The Game Was Ours" (linked here), a book coming out Wednesday co-authored by Johnson and Larry Bird to recount their basketball rivalry-turned-brotherhood starting 30 years ago, a few egos have been stepped on when diverting to other sidelights.

Johnson writes about how more-than-miffed he was that Thomas began asking people close to both of them whether Johnson was gay after it was revealed he had HIV in 1991. He adds that he helped orchestrate blackballing the Detroit Pistons' All-Star guard from being picked for the 1992 U.S. Olympic "Dream Team."

When excerpts came out last week on SI.com, Thomas, the former Detroit Pistons All-Star guard who just took over as head coach at Florida International University, responded (linked here): "I'm really hurt, and I really feel taken advantage of for all these years. I'm totally blindsided by this. .... I didn't know he felt this way ... What most people don't know is, before Magic had HIV, my brother had HIV. My brother died of HIV, AIDS, drug abuse. So I knew way more about the disease, because I was living with it in my house."

Monday, Johnson said he wasn't surprised by Thomas' reaction to the book.

"No surprise, that's just a part of life," Johnson said. "Isiah's got to worry now about his Florida team and his life going on, and I've got to worry about my businesses. We both move on and keep going."

Later in a conference call with reporters to promote the book, Johnson, whose Lakers beat Thomas' Pistons in the seven-game 1988 Finals but lost to them in four straight in the '89 championship, continued: "It was time (for this to come out) There was a time when we had an incredible relationship. We used to do everything together in the day, and then it faded. Those two championships (meetings) had something to do with it. Then we went in opposite directions from there.

"But even today, I want Isiah to be successful in what he does, even though it's not the same friendship that it used to be. Sometimes, what happens (in the past) has to be revealed sometimes."

There are nearly two dozen references to Thomas in the 340 page book, but the one on page 240 seems to be the one most sexy in trying to push pre-sale buzz.

Co-author Jackie MacMullan writes about how "immediately there were whispers and innuendo" about Johnson's sexuality because of his contracting the AIDS virus that took place 18 years ago this week.

Johnson's agent, Lon Rosen, is quoted as saying that Thomas told him: "I keep hearing Magic is gay. . . . I don't know what he's doing when he's out there in L.A."

When Rosen ran that back to Johnson, it was as if Thomas "kicked me in the stomach," Johnson writes. Johnson's wife, Cookie, is also quoted as saying that Thomas' response "hurt Earvin the most" and they had "no choice but to move on from people like that."

A few pages later in the book, Johnson agrees that Lakers teammate A.C. Green, a religious man who always preached abstinence, was distant and aloof around him, but never condemned Johnson.

"Even as I sit here, I don't have a problem with A.C.," Johnson writes. "He had a right to his opinion and his beliefs. . . At least I knew where I stood with A.C. He never went behind my back. The so-called friends that did that to me were the ones that hurt me the most."

Johnson said Monday that, although he endorsed Thomas getting a front office job with the New York Knicks -- "I was cheering for him ... one thing that's great about him is his talent evaluation is off the charts" -- he hasn't spoken to Thomas since the excerpts were released and Thomas reacted.

"If that day comes, then we'll sit and talk about it," said Johnson. "If it doesn't come, then it doesn't come. Right now, as I said earlier, we both got a lot to do. I wish him well. It's too bad it has to come to this, but sometimes, that's what happens."

In 1992, Johnson wrote a book with Bill Novack, "Magic Johnson: My Life" in which none of these problems with Thomas were revealed. Last year, he also came out with a book entitled "32 Ways to be a Champion in Business."

Every night, I worry a little bit more about my friend Antonio.

As it got later Sunday night, while trying to drift off to sleep still thinking about what a nice day of soccer we experienced, I could only hope that face in the moon was at least watching over Antonio. Even if that moon, somewhere off in the non-Chivas galaxy, really did look more like a giant soccer ball.

MONDAY

Jimmy Jam Rollins, upon having his arm twisted by Edward R. Murrow Jay Leno on national TV, predicted a Phillies World Series repeat, in five games. Maybe six. That, of course, is impossible now. But what else was he going to say? Phillies in seven? That can happen. It starts tonight with a big welcome back to Cliff Lee. Are the Phillies doin' the right thing, Spike? You look as lost roaming around outside of Philly park as the Yankees did against Lee in New York a couple of days ago. Then again, later tonight, you could be washing down a cheesesteak with some championship bubbly.
World Series Game 5: New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies, 4:57 p.m., Channel 11. (if necessary: Game 6 is Wednesday in New York, 4:57 p.m.; Game 7 is Thursday in New York at 4:57 p.m.)

Gretzky Watch '09 continues. Anyone seen the Great Guy?
NHL: Kings at Phoenix, 6 p.m., FSN West

Kurt Rambis, no longer a Laker man but a man residing in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, brings his rag-tag Target Centered team to L.A., minus an injured Kevin Love. We'd love to go out and see this in person, but ...
NBA: Clippers vs. Minnesota, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, KFWB-AM (980).

TUESDAY

Meet Liszt -- not actual size -- a member of the Ducks' "Power Players" (the girls who sweep the ice, greet the fans, stand around, look cold). She was named after 19th Century Hungarian piano composer Franz Liszt. As a kid, she took lessons in violin, cello, flute and piano. Now her guilty pleasure is funnel cake with strawberry topping. And watching the Ducks stomp the Pens.
NHL: Ducks vs. Pittsburgh, Honda Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket

Sadly, the Lakers' first roadie begins not in Seattle, but here.
NBA: Lakers at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m., Channel 9, KSPN-AM (710).

WEDNESDAY

There's a poll on the Concordia athletic website, asking people how they follow Concordia sports. Do you know about this NAIA school from Irvine because a) cuieagles.com; b) via Facebook (Screaming Eagles); c) E-scores from Stretch Internet; d) OC Register/Irvine World News. ..... There's an Irvine World News? God Bless 'em.
College basketball exhibition: UCLA vs. Concordia, Pauley Pavilion, 7:30 p.m.

Artest vs. Ariza ... They both better bring their A-game.
NBA: Lakers at Houston, 5:30 p.m., Channel 9, KSPN-AM (710)

THURSDAY

Maybe Sidney Crosby won't recognize former teammate Rob Scuderi since these Kings are wearing their special third jersey for the occasion ... which does kinda look like a penguin suit in some fashionable circles.
NHL: Kings vs. Pittsburgh, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West

FRIDAY

The first six races of the 14-card, $25.5 million Breeders' Cup event features the kids and females: Marathon (1 3/4 miles), Juvenile Fillies Turf, Juvenile Fillies, Filly and Mare Turf, Filly and Mare Sprint and Ladies' Classic (at 3:45 p.m.) Rachel Alexander isn't here, though, and Zenyatta decided to go in the big boy's race.
Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park: 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., ESPN2.

Which game sounds least offensive?
NBA: Lakers vs. Memphis, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSN West, KSPN-AM (710); Clippers at Golden State, 7:30 p.m., KFWB-AM (980).

SATURDAY

USC will be haunted by its trip to Oregon, and dropping from No. 5 to No. 12 in the BCS poll as the highest-rated team with two losses seems appropriate. In the USA Today Coaches' poll, for what that's worth, USC fell to No. 13 -- one spot behind Ohio State, which went up from No. 15 to No. 12 after shutting out (in the middle of Big Ten season) New Mexico State. Like it matters to those preparing for an Oregon-Iowa Rose Bowl prelim to a Florida/Alabama-Texas BCS title game at the same facility six days later. Meanwhile, if USC is to have any shot at Pac-10 runner-up and squeeze into that inglorious Holiday Bowl in San Diego, winning this one against a Sun Devil team that could have knocked off Cal the other day is essential.
College football: USC at Arizona State, 5 p.m., Channel 7 or ESPN, KSPN-AM (710)

A five-game losing streak, and 0-5 in the Pac-10 isn't all the impressive for the Bruins, who need to win three of their last four to be bowl eligible after that 3-0 start to the season. Their comeback last Saturday at Oregon State is at least something to build on behind Kevin Prince.
College football: UCLA vs. Washington, Rose Bowl, 12:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, KLAC-AM (570).

Zenyatta, who in her final workout had a flawless six-furlong run in 1:12.40 on Saturday morning at Hollywood Park with regular jockey Mike Smith, is the main attraction in today's $5 mil Classic, up against guys like Mine That Bird, Einstein, Colonel John and Awesome Gem. Zenyatta, who has won all 13 of her starts but has never faced males, will be pre-entered in both Friday's Ladies' Classic and in this one. ABC has the first three races of the day -- Juvenile Turf, Turf Sprint and Sprint. Then ESPN has the heavy hitters: $2 million Juvenile, $2 million Mile, $1 million Dirt Mile, $3 million Turf and the Classic, at 3:45 p.m. Breeders' Cup, Santa Anita Park: ABC, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; ESPN, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A day game of hockey ...
NHL: Kings vs. Nashville, Staples Center, 1 p.m.

... followed by a nighttime of a basketball game that will likely contain this third paragraph in the final game story: "Eric Gordon scored 22, and Baron Davis and Chris Kaman added 21 points apiece for the Clippers, who fell to 0-(update loss total)."
NBA: Clippers vs. Memphis, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., KFWB-AM (980)

SUNDAYThis one's for all the grass stains. Tie, and they keep playing. Still tied, and its penalty kicks to see who advances. May the least glamorous team win.
MLS playoffs: Chivas at Galaxy, Home Depot Center, 4 p.m., ESPN2.

Is this the night Byron Scott comes on the floor to represent a Laker championship team from the past?
NBA: Lakers vs. New Orleans, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSN West, KSPN-AM (710).