November 2010 Archives

Following up from ideas we collected last weekend (linked here), a few more have trickled past us:

HOW TO MOW DOWN YOUR GAME

The item: The Weed Wacking Golf Driver.
The background: It's a common scenario: You've driven your ball into some tall grass off the side of the fairway. Buried it, in fact. The only way back is bringing out the rescue club. Or ... if only you had a weed wacker or something to help you out. Check that second driver in your bag -- the one with the false bottom. With the help of six AA batters, the golf course maintence department will kick you off if they see this baby come out. Watch the video.
The price: $39.95 at Hammacher Schlemmer.

FINDING RELIEF WITHOUT A RULEBOOK

The item: The UroClub.
The background: "This may sound like a joke, but it's not," says the description."I am a Board Certified Urologist, practicing in Florida, a place where golf is played year round. Every day I hear these same complaints from my patients because they suffer from urinary frequency (a condition that can begin in men, as early as their mid 30s). Even if you don't have this problem, let's face it, there are not too many bathrooms on the golf course." And let's face it, there aren't enough clubs in your bag already that take care of your game better than this one. Unscrew the cap at the end of the hollow club, use the towel for privacy, and aim straight.
The price: $24.95 at uroclub.com

A SLICE OF OLD SCHOOL

The item: A genuine Scottish hickory putter, driver (spoon or brassie) and iron (mashie or niblick).
The background: Someone has collected these gems from Scotland that were made and used between 1900 and 1920, before steel shafts replaced the wood hickory in 1925. Each is restored using original techniques and materials, such as the white linen thread pulled through tar used for whipping -- the string used for fastening the sheep or cow leather grips to the shaft. There are certificates of authenticity, including model details such as the maker's cleek marks, model series, and face type. Why would you ever play with them? Because, that what they're meant to be used for.
The price: $299.95 (putter), $349.95 (driver) and $299.99 (iron) at Hammacher Schlemmer

THE MINI-ME VERSION

The item: My Mini Golf
The background: More than just a Fisher-Price version, and more for kids of all sizes -- with adult supervision, because everyone needs to test their putting skills. A collection of German-tough plastic pieces form your own minature golf course in the living room, backyard or wherever a flat surface can be found. Bridges, towers, mazes -- with clubs, balls and scorecards included. Maybe find a dealer in Holland to provide the windmills.
The price: From $169.95 to $299.95 depending on how many things you need, from Oceanside-based StartingTimeGolf.com.

WHY GRANDPA WON'T COME OUT OF THE BATHROOM

The item: The Potty Putter.
The background: There's always time to practice your putting, so why not while you expend your natural hazards. Stop farting around and enjoy your own private course of action.
The price: $19.75 at amazon.com.

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

MONDAY

NHL: Kings vs. Ducks, Honda Center, 7 p.m., FSW, KDOC:

More than a quarter into the season -- 23 games -- these two finally go head-to-head, the first of six meetings, and the first time Hall of Fame play-by-play man Bob Miller calls a Kings TV game in Anaheim. The Ducks can actually vault past the Kings in the Pacific Division standings with a win.

College basketball: USC at Texas Christian, 5 p.m.:

The BCS-ready football team has been the focus at TCU, but its basketball team is 4-2 so far, and 3-0 at home taking on a Trojans team coming off a two-point loss in Nebraska.

NFL: San Francisco at Arizona, 5:30 p.m., ESPN:

Is it Tuesday yet? Two 3-7 teams tied for last in the NFL's worst division are just two games out of the NFC West lead. That makes this one ... unwatchable? "If you think it's going to be a bad Monday night game, I wouldn't watch," San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis said in a conference call with Arizona reporters this week. "But for me, I think it is going to be a good Monday night game. I really don't pay attention to who's going to be watching." The Denver Broncos will be watching -- with their video crew.

TUESDAY

NBA: Lakers at Memphis, 5 p.m., Channel 9:

Their most recent meeting in early November focused on Pau Gasol registering his third double-double of the season (21 points, 13 rebounds) and holding his brother, Marc Gasol, to two points after the first quarter (11 total, on 3-for-8 shooting) in the Lakers' 19-point win. They also shot 60.9 from 3-point range (14-for-23) that day.

WEDNESDAY

NBA: Lakers at Houston, 5:30 p.m., Channel 9:

A rematch of the season opener when the Lakers actually saw Yao Ming take the court (nine points in 24 minutes) and had to score 35 in the fourth to lock down a two-point win.

NBA: Clippers vs. San Antonio, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime:

Who gets the tickets that Tony Parker usually leaves at will call for Eva Longoria? Maybe one-time Clipper Brent Barry. The Spurs (with a league-best 14-2 mark) are 7-0 on the road so far.

NHL: Ducks vs. Florida, Honda Center, 7 p.m., FSW:

Even in a 4-3 shootout win at Tampa Bay last Saturday, the Panthers went 0 for 4 on the power play and has failed to score in 37 straight opportunities. "The Panthers don't simply have the worst power play in the NHL; they may have the worst power play in the world of hockey," wrote Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski. To prove his point, he compared the Panthers' 6.4 power-play percentage rate to those who have the worst rates in the American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League, Central Hockey League -- and Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. Yup, it stinks.

College basketball: Duke vs. Michigan State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN:

The capper to the three-day ACC/Big Ten Challenge could have featured the nation's No. 1 and 2 teams until the Spartans lost last week in Hawaii.

THURSDAY

Golf: PGA Chevron World Challenge, first round, Sherwood Country Club, 1 p.m., Golf Channel:

"The idea of Tiger Woods doing social media (is) as absurd as John Daly doing 'Project Runway'," the New York Times' Lynn Zinser wrote after a tweet from Woods -- "What's up everyone. Finally decided to try out twitter!" -- suddenly landed in cyberspace nearly two weeks ago. A year after his world collapsed on him, he's trying to make himself more user-friendly, writing opinion pieces in Newsweek, doing radio interviews (OK, just one) and perhaps even listening to PGA Tour commish Tim Finchem, who according to a report in Golf World is "under pressure to improve (TV) ratings before the Masters and is reaching out to Tiger Woods to play more than he normally does in the first quarter of the year." Those running the show at Sherwood Country Club are just glad Woods has committed to showing up in Thousand Oaks for this one, after he bailed out a year ago. Ads claiming this $5 mil event has "the world's greatest golfers" in the 18-man field seems only to be missing new No. 1 Lee Westwood and No. 4 Phil Mickelson. Woods, at No. 2 in the current world rankings but without a win this season, is joined by No. 3 Martin Kaymer, No. 5 Steve Stricker, No. 6 Jim Furyk, No. 7 Paul Casey, No. 8 Luke Donald, No. 9 Graeme McDowell, No. 10 Rory McIlroy, No. 11 Ian Poulter, No. 12 Matt Kuchar, No. 14 Dustin Johnson, No. 17 Hunter Mahan, No. 20 Zach Johnson, No. 24 Anthony Kim, No. 26 Bubba Watson, No. 32 Camilo Villegas, No. 39 Sean O'Hair and No. 46 Stewart Cink. But no John Daly. Golf Channel has the second round, while NBC has the final two Saturday and Sunday.

Golf: LPGA Championship, first round, 10:30 a.m., Golf Channel:

Yani Tseng, Ai Miyazato, Na Yeon Choi, Cristie Kerr and Jiyai Shin have a shot at becoming the 2010 Player of the Year coming into this final event of the year in Orlando, Fla. And you wonder why the LPGA doesn't generate much media attention? Golf Channel carries all four rounds.

Soccer: FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cup host country announcement, 7 a.m., Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN:

The U.S., led by honorary chairman Bill Clinton, will find out from FIFA president Sepp Blatter if it has the goods to host the 2022 World Cup (it is competing with bids from Japan, Australia, Korea and Qatar). The USA Bid Committee is quite eclectic: Board directors include soon-to-be-ex-California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, comedian Drew Carey, former boxer Oscar De La Hoya, actors Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, director Spike Lee and former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger ... oh, and soccer players Landon Donovan and Mia Hamm. Meanwhile, there are joint proposals by Spain and Portugal, plus Belgium and the Netherland, Russia and England to host the 2018 Games.

NBA: Miami at Cleveland, 5 p.m., TNT:

To ensure LeBron James' safety, plenty of extra police officers, both uniformed and undercover, will be there to keep order, inside and outside the arena -- and possibly next to the Miami Heat's bench. "Honestly, I'm a little bit afraid," one member of the Cavs organization said to ESPN.com. "Some people don't care. Their mentality is ''I've got to get this off my chest.' There's so much negative energy around this game. People aren't excited about the game itself. They're just like, ''I can't wait to do something.'"

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

The Kings have lost two in a row at home after that 8-0 start, but still have killed all 38 power plays at Staples Center this year. Last season, the Kings won in a shootout at Florida, 4-3, with Jack Johnson registering the only goal in the decisive penalty shots. The Panthers didn't play their first OT game this season until last weekend.

College basketball: UCLA at Kansas, 8 p.m., ESPN:

As part of the Pac-10/Big 12 Hardwood Series, these two meet up in the glamor spot. The Bruins come off an 0-2 trip in New York at the NIT Tip-Off event, and would drop to .500 with a loss here.

NFL: Houston at Philadelphia, 5 p.m., NFL Network:

Wish we had Matt Leinart's seat for this one.

FRIDAY

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

The Lakers only beat these Kings by 12 points back in early November. The Clippers just finished them off by nearly 20 points on Thanksgiving Day.

NBA: Clippers at Denver, 6 p.m., Prime:

Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith agreed the other night on TNT that Carmelo Anthony hasn't been playing all out - even though he's fourth in the league in scoring and on pace for career highs in rebounds and steals. "How can you say that?" Anthony told the Denver Post. "I don't pay those guys no mind. I know what I'm doing."

NHL: Ducks vs. Detroit, Honda Center, 7 p.m., KDOC:

The Red Wings' 40-year-old Mike Modano, who signed with his hometown team after spending his entire career with the Dallas/Minnesota franchise, will miss a bunch of games after having a tendon in his right wrist severed from a skate blade in a recent game.

SATURDAY

College football: USC at UCLA, Rose Bowl, 7:30 p.m., Prime:

Neither team goes to a bowl game, win or lose. Both teams come off a disappointing performance the previous week -- the Trojans had a wet blanket thrown over them by a mediocre Notre Dame squad, and the Bruins blew their 17-0 lead at Arizona State. Who'll take their frustrations out on the other most? Maybe all you need to do is go back to last year's game, when it looked like USC would just run the clock off with a 14-point win -- and then Matt Barkley launches a long TD pass, Pete Carroll laughs it up, the Trojans sideline dances, and the Bruins players come out past midfield to scream at them. There's still fight left in this crosstown feud.

Then again, of all the storylines to rehash this week, the shootout 20 years ago will have to come up. In that 1990 game at the Rose Bowl, USC's Todd Marinovich hit Johnnie Morton with the 23-yard touchdown pass, 16 seconds left, in a 45-42 Trojans victory, where the Bruins' Tommy Maddox set a school record by passing for 409 yards. Prime Ticket replays this game at noon on Friday, and today has a marathon of Trojan-Bruins games from '93 (9:30 a.m.), '96 (12:30 p.m.) and '99 (1:30 p.m.). On ESPN Classic this week, they're replaying the 2004 and '05 games (Monday, 2 and 5 p.m.), the '81 game (Tuesday, 10 p.m.) and the '87 game (Wednesday, 10 p.m.).

College football: Oregon at Oregon State, Channel 7, 12:30 p.m.:

The Civil War battle is the last hurdle for the Ducks' path to the BCS title game, and the unpredictable Beavers could keep everyone guessing.

College football: SEC title game: Auburn vs. South Carolina, 1 p.m., Channel 2; ACC title game: Virginia Tech vs. Florida State, 4:45 p.m., ESPN; Big 12 title game: Nebraska vs. Oklahoma, Channel 7, 5 p.m.:

Auburn wins, and its in. Next season, add a Big Ten and Pac-10 title game played on this day.

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

The Red Wings sit second in the NHL with 3.45 goals a game, but their top scorer, Johan Frazen, is 25th in the league with 10 goals. "The key to our early success has been balanced scoring," Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. "We aren't looking for the same people every night to do the scoring for us."

SUNDAY

NFL: Oakland at San Diego, Channel 2, 1 p.m.:

Security at Qualcomm Stadium will make new TSA procedures seem like foreplay.

College basketball: UCLA vs. Montana, Pauley Pavilion, 7 p.m., Prime; USC vs. Texas, Galen Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:

This could have been a cool doubleheader at Staples Center.

NHL: Ducks vs. Phoenix, Honda Center, 5 p.m., Prime:

The Ducks handed the Pacific Division-leading Coyotes a 6-4 loss last week to end a six-game losing streak.

NBA: Clippers at Portland, 6 p.m., Prime:

Do the Clips regret giving Marcus Camby away to the Blazers last year? Greg Oden doesn't seem to mind.

A mini want-list for those beginning to see the struggle ahead in trying to find the perfect holiday gift for the imperfect sports fan:

ON THE HIGH END:

THE ART OF THE EXPRESSION

What: Desk sculptures.
Where: MarshaTosk-FiguresInSpeech.com
The background: This is called "Tee With Lemon." Get it? "When the economy tanked, people's stress was palpable," artist Marsha Tosk writes on her website, explaining her series of office-desk artwork called "Figures In Speech." "I felt compelled to alter the focus of my work to meet the changing needs of my community. ... The work elicits a smile from everybody. The sculptures are colorful and whimsical. ... A smile is the perfect response to my art." Raised eyebrows, especially at what it costs, are even more appropriate. What do you think it would cost you to reverse engineer this thing and make one yourself? She's got another - a cow with a bunch of holes in it. Get it: Holy cow. Like what Harry Caray used to say.
The price: $750, plus shipping and handling.

ONE COOL RIDE
What: A drivable ice chest.
Where: CruzinCooler.com
The background: How to turn a 50-quart cooler into a functional riding machine, albeit not street legal but a parking-lot vehicle capable of hitting 13 mph. Non-power steering, disc brakes and foot pedals are standard. Gas or electric options (take the later, and invest in the 1,000-watt model, which is more in line with what you see people zipping around on in a Walmart). Slightly more for a seat back and heavy-duty lock. And please note: Rider capacity limit is 250 pounds.
The price: $399 to $799 (depending on accessories).

THE BANNED SHOES

What: The APL Concept 1
Where: AthleticPropulsionLabs.com
The background: When the NBA ruled these 15-ounce kicks couldn't be used in its league because the spring-loaded "Load 'N Launch" technology provided an "undue competitive advantage" in vertical leaping, Gravity-Challenged Blacktop Baller took notice. Adam and Ryan Goldston, the twin former USC basketball walk-ons from Montclair Prep, are reaping the benefits, already selling out many sizes. They even have T-shirts for sale honoring the banned substance they're selling.
The price: $300.

Also: A company named Spira (SpiraStore.com) claims that its spring-powered shoes (one coil in the heel, two in the front) have been banned from the Boston Marathon. From $79.95 to $114.95. Nearest distributor: Foot Solutions in Sherman Oaks.

MORE EXPRESSIONABLE ART

What: A rare Mickey Mantle signed baseball
Where: GreyFlannelAuctions.com
The background: From the website description: "Circa 1991, near mint to mint. The Mick has signed this ball on the sweet spot in blue ball point pen and wrote the phrase (as you can read) beneath the signature. This unique Mantle keepsake was signed and annotated in front of a professional who was part of his inner circle. In his letter of authenticity, he says he "recalls having a discussion about medium points and fine points as better for signing. Mick was using medium points mostly, early in the relationship. On one occasion the pen had a little extra ink and the 'Mickey Mantle' he wrote was not its normal perfect specimen. So Mick added under his autograph, 'F----d Up' and gave the ball to me."
What a treasure.
The price: Current bid: $1,200. Ends Dec. 8.

A BIT MORE SENSIBLE:

SHARE THE LAKER MOMENT

What: Lakers Adidas jacket
Where: NBA.com, Staples Center' Team L.A. store.
The background: Those Adidas satin zipups that the Lakers wore during their opening night ceremony may look like a Boys Scout windbreaker with all the patches on the back, but it's really mean to be a collector's item. The squares represent all 16 of the Lakers' championships.
The price: $125.

MORE THAN A TAILGATE TABLE

What: USC or UCLA party table.
Where: TailgateToss.com
The background: The company makes the foldable 2 foot-by-8-foot tables for tailgate parties that look like the football grid, with school logos, that can be also used for beer pong and regular table tennis (with the optional net). Also with Dodgers and Angels logos.
The price: $129.99

Also: A game called "washer toss," only in the Dodgers, Angels and UCLA logo, is also sold by the company. Think of it as throwing a quarter into a cup from a distance. Price: $59.95.

ON THE LOW END:

BLING IT ON

What: A shot a Ron Artest's 2010 Lakers championship ring.
Where: RonArtest.com or CelebritiesForCharity.org
The background: The Lakers forward decided that, to raise money for mental health awareness, he'd use his head and give away the size 11 ring he just won (he actually wears a size 15, so he ordered it smaller just for this). And it's not just the ring: It's a flight to L.A. to watch a Lakers game from two premium seats, two nights at a hotel, and $1,000 spending money. The winner will be announced on Christmas Day.
The price: Starting at five tickets for $2 each ($10), up to 100-plus tickets at .75 cents each.

BEEFCAKE PHOTOGRAPHY

What: U.S. Men's Water Polo team calendar.
Where: USAWaterPolo.org
The background: The U.S. Men's Water Polo team's 2011 calendar is called "12 Months of Hunk." Adjust your Speedo and meet Loyola Marymount's Andy Stevens (those are the goalkeeper's trunks on the cover), plus Pepperdine's Merrill Moses and Jesse Smith, USC's Tommy Corcoran and JW Krumpholz, and UCLA's Adam Wright. Even better, this counts as a donation, which goes toward the national team's training for the London 2012 Games. Wait, the women's team doesn't have a calendar? Yet, they all posed naked in the recent ESPN "Body Issue"?
The price: $15.99.

IT'S A FLASK? DON'T ASK

What: A fake set of binoculars for your drinking pleasure.
Where: Binocktails.com
The background: Since they continue to ban alcohol from most college arenas and stadium, sneaking in something to keep you warm has become a game. Here's the winning piece. Two 16-ounce containers, disguised as a pair of binoculars. A double-chambered blast. The only real problem we see: The company's website is plastered on the strap, revealing the obvious. The company also offers one that looks like a camera and a cellphone. But they, of course, are much smaller. With no glaring warning sign.
The price: $19.99.

RETRO RAIDERS MONOPOLY

What: 2008 Version of Raiders Monopoly board game.
Where: eBay.com and Barnes&Noble.com
The background: There are a couple versions out there, so beware. The current one on OaklandRaiders.store.yahoo is with a silver box, has Al Davis in the spot at Boardwalk and John Madden on Park Place. But look up the '08 version - a black box, with Raiders players on the cover, and, to Davis' chagrin, Marcus Allen is on the Boardwalk, and JaMarcus Russell is on Marvin Gardens - right before the "Go To Jail" square. Seriously.
The price: $34 on eBay; $45 on Barnes&Noble.com

The only physical reminder of the USC-Notre Dame football rivalry in Trojans athletic director Pat Haden's office is a photo snapped of the Coliseum scoreboard after the 1974 game:

Freeze frame, 55-24.

"Someone gave me that," admitted the quarterback on the winning side that historic game, thanks plenty to another AD -- Anthony Davis. "It's really the only thing I have. I didn't save a lot of things."

"Talk to Heather, my assistant," Haden said. "She's a good guard dog. It depends on how nice you are."

MORE:
== ESPN.com's Mark Saxon talks to Haden about the ethical rigors of his new job (linked here).

An abbreviated wrapup of the week's news in the sports media, an annex to our annual Dubious Dozen of the Sports Media awards (linked here):

== Jon Miller, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this past summer, has told ESPN he'll have none of the Sunday Night Baseball radio gig, thrown out there as a consolation prize to the network taking him off the weekly TV package after 21 seasons. Miller has told the San Francisco Giants that he's now available to do all 162 games for the first time since he was hired by the team in 1997.
"I'm going to just do the Giants games; that's it," he told the Oakland Tribune. "I'm excited about just being able to focus on one thing. ... I appreciated their offer, but ultimately after talking with my wife and my family, the best thing for me and for all of us was to just do the Giants."
It wouldn't be a surprise of Fox or the MLB Network tried to hire him on a limited basis for some West Coast games.

== How the rest of your weekend of NFL in L.A. TV schedule lays out:

= Sunday:
= 10 a.m., Channel 11: Green Bay at Atlanta (with Thom Brennaman, and Brian Billick). Fox also has Carolina-Cleveland and Minnesota-Washington in this window. CBS has Jacksonville-N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh-Buffalo and Tennessee Houston here.
= 1 p.m., Channel 2: Miami at Oakland (with Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker). CBS also has Kansas City-Seattle in this window.
= 1 p.m., Channel 11: Philadelphia at Chicago (with Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa). Fox also has St. Louis-Denver and Tampa Bay-Baltimore here.
= 5:15 p.m., Channel 4: San Diego at Indianapolis (with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Andrea Kremer)
= Monday:
= 5:30 p.m., ESPN: San Francisco at Arizona (with Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski).

== Someone with a lot of time on their hands at CBS has also determined that the coverage of Miami-Oakland will be the network's 5,000 game (in its 51-year history of doing games for the league). Its first was on Sept. 30, 1956 -- Pittsburgh beat Washington, 30-13, with Jim Gibbons and Arch McDonald doing the call for the Redskins' audience and Joe Tucker and Bob Prince doing it for the Steelers.

== Someone also at CBS thought it would be appropriate (again) to have a Victoria's Secret model on the set for the NFL pregame show, promoting the fashion show that the network will carry (Tuesday, 10 p.m.). This year's ultra-skinny chum: Lily Aldridge. Sorry, but Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan are also on the show reporting from various cold-weather cities, wearing appropriate attire.
By the way: Has anyone really missed Jillian Reynolds on Fox's NFL pregame show this year?

== The college football games of note this weekend:

= Today:
= Auburn at Alabama (Channel 2, 11:30 a.m., with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson)
= UCLA at Arizona State (Prime, 12:30 p.m., with Barry Tompkins, Petros Papadakis and Rebecca Haarlow)
= Arizona at Oregon (ESPN, 4 p.m., with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe)
= Boise State at Nevada (ESPN, 7:15 p.m., with Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore)

== Saturday:
== ESPN's "College GameDay" (7 a.m.) goes to Stillwater, Oklahoma prior to ABC's coverage of Oklahoma at Oklahoma State that night.
= Michigan at Ohio State (Channel 7, 9 a.m., with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Quint Kessenich).
= Michigan State at Penn State (ESPN2, 9 a.m., with Todd Harris and Tim Brown).
= LSU at Arkansas (Channel 2, 12:30 p.m. with Craig Bolerjack and Steve Beuerlein).
= Florida at Florida State (Channel 7, 12:30 p.m, with Bob Wischuse and Brian Griese)
= TCU at New Mexico (Versus, 1 p.m., with Ted Robinson, Kelly Stouffer and Lindsay Soto).
= Oregon State at Stanford (Versus, 4:30 p.m., with Ron Thulin and Glenn Parker)
= Notre Dame at USC (Channel 7, 5 p.m., with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Shelley Smith, which is opposite Oklahoma at Oklahoma State with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Erin Andrews and goes to 67 percent of the country)

== ESPN2 has the year-end championship of men's tennis, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, live from London on Sunday (7:30 a.m.) with Cliff Drysdale and Patrick McEnroe.

== Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Emanuel Steward spend the weekend in Las Vegas calling HBO's boxing tripleheader (Saturday, 6:45 p.m.) of Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis, Andre Berto vs. Freddy Hernandez and Celestino Callero vs. Jason Litzau.

== The PBA season starts Sunday (10 a.m., ESPN) with the Brunswick Pro Bowling PBA Cheetah Championship, the first of five championships in a row that air on Sundays in that time slot. Rob Stone and Randy Pedersen call it.

== Bob Uecker, who goes into "Studio 42 with Bob Costas," (today, 5 p.m.), says this about his Hall of Fame broadcasting career: "I love baseball Bob, and I mean, where would I be without baseball anyway? I love doing the games, and I love doing radio. I really love doing radio and there's nothing wrong with doing television by any means. But I love doing radio where you can't see what's going on..."

AND FINALLY:

== Compared to the 0.7 rating that the Galaxy and Real Salt Lake did for the MLS Cup in 2009, last Sunday's 2010 version between Colorado and Dallas did just a 0.4 rating (748,000 viewers), which calculates to a 43-percent drop. For a game with two relatively unknown teams, up against a N.Y. Giants-Philadelphia NFL game on NBC, that's understandable to a degree, but hardly a good reflection on overall league interest.

There are answers: Let the team with the better record host it instead of a town where there's no interest. Let the Galaxy and New York Red Bull play in a preliminary game, no matter what their records were. Or, play the game with no goalies.

It's the front page story in today's L.A. Times (linked here) and a feature used on CBS' NFL pregame show today (linked here).

We are all very thankful for this story having been told on this day:

Only 12 make the cut for the 2010 Dubious Dozen of the Sports Media, which we are compiling again for its annual post-Thanksgiving Day appearance on Friday.

A hint: Jim Gray and Jay Mariotti have stupidity in common. As do Hannah Storm, Oprah Winfrey and Inez Sainz.

Just a couple months after he was voted into the broadcaster's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame, ESPN decided not to rehire "Sunday Night Baseball" play-by-play man Jon Miller.

Ridiculously, that didn't make the list.

Neither did KNBC-Channel 4 sportscaster Fred Roggin, who earlier this month refused to show highights, or even give the final score, of the San Francisco Giants' clinching the World Series, saying he was going to make it as "painless as possible" for Dodgers fans -- and instead showed highlights from the Clippers' game and some high-school football from the previous week.

Nor did the NFL Network, which hired Joe Theismann to help call its Thursday night games.

Inexplicably, these also missed out, but are worth bringing up here to get you in the right frame of mind:

GUN CONTROL

The culprit: The NBA.

The crime: In January, after the league suspended Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas for pretending to shoot his teammates with his fingers pointed in the form of a gun, NBA officials asked Getty Images, which distributes photos taken by the league-paid photographers, to remove the picture that had been taken of Arenas in the act.

The picture had already been available and posted on many websites.

After receiving media inquiries about the photo, Getty called the NBA back. The league agreed to make it available again.

An NBA spokesman said the photo "was taken down because we thought the actions depicted in the photo were insensitive given the circumstances. Upon the request of news organizations, we made the photo available for their editorial use and it will remain available."

The aftermath: Bridget Russel, a spokeswoman for Getty Images, told the New York times that the NBA's contract with its company means that "it was their photographer and they own the copyright. It's their right to pull the image."

As well as try to erase something that they didn't want to happen.

A STRIKER STRIKES

The culprit: Asma Halimi, a female reporter for Algerian newspaper Competition.

The crime: After the U.S. defeated Algeria 1-0 during the World Cup in July, Algerian soccer player Rafik Saifi took out his frustration on Halimi -- he slapped her on his way to the locker.

Halimi hit him back, in the mouth.

She said she did nothing to provoke him, after "he reached over and hit me, so I hit him back," she told a reporter for Yahoo.com.

"I wrote an article about him some time ago, maybe he did not like it," she admitted.

The aftermath: Halimi filed a complaint with FIFA, but there was no public punishment announced against Saifi.

Halimi later told an Algerian news organization that Saifi had threatened to kill her, and he had slapped her once before.

Salon.com reported that a year ago, Halimi published a translation of an interview Saifi did with an Arabic paper, revealing his engagement to a French woman. Given that Algeria and its formal colonial master France have a sensitive relationship, Saifi was probably trying to keep that information out of the Algerian press.

COWBOYS BACK UP

The culprit: The Dallas Cowboys.

The crime: As if a 1-7 start to the season wasn't back enough, the Cowboys forgot to renew their online domain name -- DallasCowboys.com. According to the Dallas Morning News, the site went dormant in early November and was replace with a generic page that said the name was available to purchase. Once the Cowboys figured it out and renewed, it took 48 hours for Internet servers to recognize the renewal.

"As a result, fans visiting the website eager for news about the Cowboys' flop in Green Bay and the status of head coach Wade Phillips were greeted with a stock image of two kids playing soccer," the News reported.

The aftermath: ComScore research shows that DallasCowboys.com is the second-most-popular NFL website behind only the league's main page.

BACSIK'S INSTINCTS

The culprit: Mike Bacsik

The crime: The former major league pitcher (he gave up Barry Bonds' record-breaking 756th home run) who produced Norm Hitzges' Dallas-based radio show found himself in a bar watching the Mavericks lose to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs. Apparently having had too much to drink he tweeted about "dirty Mexicans in San Antonio" and blowing up the NBA offices.

The next day, he was fired.

The aftermath: He's still unemployed. "Maybe things happen for a reason," Bacsik told the Dallas Morning News.

A top 10 list for 2010's reasons to be thankful for, from where we sit and type:

No. 10: For Vin Scully, deciding to lend his voice to the Dodgers' soundtrack for a 62nd season, providing a security blanket for the city to cling to when the noise of the world gets too loud, and giving us at least one more year - God willing - of feeling forever young.

No. 9: Thanks to Bob Miller, another Hall of Famer, not just for his dedication to the Kings' organization but dedication to the quality of sportscasting in the city, from nurturing the voices of tomorrow to serving as president of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association.

No. 8: Thanks to those who star behind the scenes and bring a professionalism to local sportscasts that raises the bar to network level - a producer like Brad Zager or Ann Beebe, a director like Doug Freeman or Mike Hassan, a statistician like Doug Mann, a cameraman like Kurt Struve or Rob Menschel, a graphics operator like Mitch Rinehart, a stage manager like Donna Moskal and Boyd Robertson.

No. 7: Thanks to game analysts -- Jim Fox, Jose Mota, Mark Gubicza stand out - who teach as well as simply explain what's going on down there.

No. 6: Thanks to those who continue to improve the technology by which we consume sports - the video streaming on our computer, watching live games with Wifi when we're away from the TV is incredible, the ability to call up a score and stats on our phone when we're at an outpost seemingly far, far away.

No. 5: Thanks to those who continue to be committed to sustaining the ethics and quality of journalism that can easily become collateral damage by those caught up in the advancements of technology and the advancement of information. Not every headline on a sports news site has to start with "Report: ...."

No. 4: Thanks to those who continue to make the newspaper's sports section - the editors, photographers, advertising reps, circulation trouble-shooters and, somewhere out there, the printers.

No. 3: Thanks to those who continue to deliver the newspapers every morning, pushing forward a daily work ethic come bad weather, national holiday or personal hardship. A man like Roger Owens, the Dodger Stadium peanut vendor extraordinaire, can relate to that.

No. 2: Thanks to those who continue to read newspapers, either in print or online.

And No. 1: Thanks to the readers who take the time to drop an email of thanks after they've read something that touched them enough - good or bad - to respond and join in the conversation. It's not a one-way thing here. Be interactive.

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

MONDAY

NFL: Denver at San Diego, 5:30 p.m., ESPN:

On one side, there's Philip Rivers with a league-best 2,944 yards passing, on pace to shatter Dan Marino's single-season mark of 5,084. On the other, Kyle Orton, second in the league with 2,806 yards. If you thought Philly-Washington could generate points last week ... In a meeting that will either help shake out the weak AFC West or muddle it further, the Chargers (4-5) try to win their third in a row to reach .500, while Denver (3-6) is coming off a 49-29 rout of Kansas City. And if you're worried about a blackout -- and, with the Chargers, you should be -- the league said they sold enough tickets to get it on TV. It is just the second time in five home games that Southern California's only NFL team has sold enough tickets to allow the game to be seen in the region.

NHL: Kings at Ottawa, 4:30 p.m., Prime:

Today's fun fact about Ottawa: Queen Victoria had designated it as the capital of Canada on December 31, 1857. In the earlier times, Ottawa was known as Bytown, named in honor of Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who contributed a lot to the construction of the Rideau canal. However, after incorporation of Bytown as a city in 1855, the name was changed to Ottawa. They were By before Bi was popular.

NBA: Clippers vs. New Orleans, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime:

The Clippers can only have so many "Griffin's efforts wasted again" newspaper headlines in them per month. And opposing broadcasters (like Mike Breen and Walt Frazier) admiring his abilities (above), like in Saturday's game at Staples Center against the Knicks. The Hornets, in Sacramento last night and likely to have new backup point guard Jarrett Jack with them, have pummeled the Clippers in their last 14 meetings.

OK, one more Griffin dunk from Saturday for the road:

TUESDAY

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

No bull: After the post-game show, FSW airs out "Making of the Laker Girls Calendar" special (and if you miss it, it repeats Wednesday at 7 and 10 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.). They run $14.99 at lakerstore.com, or $10 less than Jeanie Buss' new book. There are, as a matter of record, 22 Laker Girls, and, uh, 12 months. Don't worry, they've double-teammed a few key seasons. We're pulling for Brandi, Bria, Brilane, Bailie and Brittney to get us through until the summer.

WEDNESDAY

NHL: Kings at Montreal, 4:30 p.m., FSW:

The four-game, week-long road trip comes to an end, but the debate whether Rogie Vachon belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame shouldn't. Vachon, who played his first five seasons with the Canadiens, was traded to the Kings early in the '71-'72 season and lasted six more en route to a 16-season career, ranks ahead of a lot of current Hall of Fame goalies in career stats -- plus, he has three Stanley Cups, a Vezina Trophy and three All-Star games. "He wasn't a big guy, yet he played so well and really, the shame is that he's not in the Hockey Hall of Fame when the numbers he has are better than some who are in the Hall of Fame, and he has those seasons and those numbers with very mediocre Kings teams," Kings Hall of Fame play-by-play man Bob Miller once said. The fact remains, Vachon's 355 career wins are more than Hall of Famers' Ken Dryden, Gerry Cheevers, Ed Giacomin and Gump Worsley. At least the Kings plan to honor Vachon before their game at home on Jan. 15.

College basketball: UCLA vs. Villanova, Madison Square Garden, New York, 6 p.m., ESPN2:

Lisa Honeycutt told the Daily Bruin newspaper that she booked tickets to New York a month ago, anticipating that her son, Tyler, would be with his teammates playing at Madison Square Garden on the night before Thanksgiving. Besides, she's never been to New York City. Neither has Tyler. "I've always wanted to go to New York," the sophomore forward said after a win last week against Pacific clinched the trip and a 3-0 start for UCLA. "I've been to Buffalo, N.Y., which I don't think is the same thing." No, not really.

College basketball: USC vs. Cal State Fullerton, Galen Center, 7:30 p.m., USCTrojans.com:

The Trojans (3-2) head home after a tour of Springfield, Mass., for the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, where they lost one by one and won another by 19, in time for a tune-up tilt with the Titans.

THURSDAY

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

Gobble, gobble, gulp: What Staples Center usher wants to leave his Thanksgiving dinner early so he can scan tickets for people who choose to come to this game on a national holiday?

NFL: New England at Detroit, 9:30 a.m., Channel 2:

Sorry, Maurice Jones-Drew, but we've become fond of Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who has earned the nickname "Law Firm" because of something he had no control over: The most multi-modified name in pro sports. We hope someday when he has kids, he'll be more considerate.

NFL: New Orleans at Dallas, 1:30 p.m., Channel 11:

Jason Garrett's 2-0 Cowboys now have to back-to-back games against last season's Super Bowl opponents - the Saints and Colts.

NFL: Cincinnati at N.Y. Jets, 5 p.m., NFL Network:

The Jets hammered the Bengals, 37-0, in the last game of the '09 season to set up a meeting in the AFC wild-card match -- and then Mark Sanchez beat his friend, Carson Palmer, a second time, 24-7. On Saturday, the NFL Network will replay this game -- but without the commentary by Ian Eagle, Matt Millen and Joe Theismann. NFL Films will have mikes on 15 players and coaches to provide the audio.

FRIDAY

College football: UCLA at Arizona State, 12:30 p.m., Prime Ticket:

The Bruins have averaged less than two touchdowns a game over their last five (one win, four losses). The Sun Devils have lost three of their last four, but stayed very close to USC and Stanford in the last two defeats. On Senior Day in Tempe, Ariz., ASU plans a big halftime ceremony to reinstitute their Ring Of Honor, and pay homage to former coach Frank Kush and eight former players, including the late Pat Tillman.

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

Jazz fans apparently a) still upset that Karl Malone once sided up with the Lakers and b) the franchise traded the eventual rights to Magic Johnson to the Lakers continue to take out their frustrations on Derek Fisher. C'mon, get over it.

College basketball: UCLA vs. Tennessee or Virginia Commonwealth, NIT final or third place game, 2:30 p.m. or 5 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2:

News that the SEC suspended Vols coach Bruce Pearl for the first eight conference games this season due to NCAA rules violations won't affect this one.

NBA: Clippers at Phoenix, 6 p.m., Prime:

Their next meeting will be the day after Christmas. More leftovers.

NHL: Ducks vs. Chicago, Honda Center, 1 p.m., FSW:

When they last met in Chicago on Nov. 14, the Ducks had their attempt at a record-tying seventh straight win squashed by a 3-2 Blackhawks win in OT.

College football: Auburn at Alabama, 11:30 a.m., Channel 2:

There could be a domino effect happen here, a game that's followed up by Oregon hosting Arizona (ESPN, 4 p.m.) and Boise State goes to Nevada (ESPN, 7:15 p.m.).

SATURDAY

College football: USC vs. Notre Dame, Coliseum, 5 p.m., ABC/ESPN:

Twenty-five years ago, Notre Dame led 24-0 at halftime when Irish coach Gerry Faust had his team switch to green jerseys. They won, 37-3. It was Faust's last win against the Trojans -- he quit after that season. This year, Brian Kelley, who went green in last week's win against Army at Yankee Stadium, might consider having his squad enter the Coliseum dressed in plaid if he's got any shot at winning that crazy looking shillelagh trophy. Notre Dame leads the series, 42-33-5, but USC has won the last eight meetings (except for that one five years ago that they've now had to vacate). The Trojans may still be blue after last weekend's disappointment in Corvallis, Ore.

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

Back on Oct. 27, the Kings were frustrated in a 3-1 loss at Chitown, unable to smack anything much past Marty Turco. The Kings outshot the Blackhawks 34-28, including 15-8 in the third period.

NHL: Ducks at Phoenix, 5 p.m., Prime:

Do the Ducks look ahead to Monday's matchup against the Kings?

College basketball: USC at Nebraska, 2 p.m., FSW:

A matchup made for the gridiron.

College football: Oregon State at Stanford, 4:30 p.m., Versus:

If only the Cardinal could get another shot at Oregon's Ducks instead.

United Football League: Championships game, 9 a.m., Versus:

If we even knew the names of the five teams in this league right now, we'd included the top two contenders here.

SUNDAY

Canadian Football League: Grey Cup, 3:30 p.m.:

In Edmonton, it's Montreal's Alouettes against Saskatchewan's Roughriders. Montreal a chance for a second straight Grey Cup and this is a rematch of a dramatic 2009 game. No team has won back-to-back Grey Cup titles since the Argonauts did it in 1996 and 1997.

NFL: San Diego at Indianapolis, 5:15 p.m., Channel 4:

The trend continues: Whomever plays in Monday night prime-time seems to have a game the following week in prime-time on Sunday. NBC decided to keep this one; it could have tossed it aside in its first week of flex scheduling.

NFL: Philadelphia at Chicago, 1 p.m., Channel 11:

Fox moved this one from an early window to a later one -- to try to get more eyes on Michael Vick. The last time the Bears' defense faced Vick, he was with the Falcons, and middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was assigned to shadow him. It worked.

NBA: Clippers vs. Utah, Staples Center, 12:30 p.m., Prime; Lakers vs. Indiana, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSW

We did mention that the new Laker Girls calendar was on sale at the Team LA store? On Ashley, on Angel, on Leah and Lana; go Taylour, go Katie, go Octavia and Dara. Why isn't there a Clippers Spirit Girls calendar to compete with this one? Over at Clippergirl.com (linked here), you can get a free Betty Crocker 2011 calendar. Betty cooks.

Party on some more, Westgarth.

Following up with a few more questions from today's Q-and-A (linked here) with the Kings' enforcer:

Q: When did you decide that taking the enforcer role would be your ticket to moving up in the youth hockey leagues?

A: Not until I was really 17 or 18. I was in junior B, never really fought before, but then i got into a few fights in training camp, against some pretty tough guys. In the preseason, we got into a few situations where the boys were kinda looking at me to do something. So, well, fine with me. And the fights went well. So I kind of got the role by de facto. And it helped that I scored a few goals, too.

Q: Who did you admire most in that role while you were growing up?

A: Actually I was kind of surprised how giddy I was after the game. I was frustrated not having a fight this season. They say it's impossible to get into a slump in my role, but that's where I was. It really was a real relief.

Q: In the preseason, you got into a fight with Colorado's David Koci and he ended up with a broken jaw. Did that affect your psyche when it came to fighting again after that, make you hesitant at all?

A: Unfortunately, I haven't read 'Fight Club,' but I've only seen the movie. I do have it on my bookshelf, and it needs to get onto the reading list. I know David Finch is a heck of a director, but no matter how good a movie is, inevidably the books are better.

Q: The Kings have a "Fight Club" link on their website now, with a stockpile of old hockey fights. You can even request fights from the past. Are there any fights you'd heard about in the NHL and always wanted to see?

A: There are a few old ones, mostly between Bob Propert and Troy Crowder. They were absolutely epic. I think there were three of them. One time Crowder caught Propy coming off the ice at the end of his shift and took it to him. I know Proby wasn't happy and came back at him.

Q: There was the story recently about how after Probert died, his brain was donated to science to see the effects of the pounding it took on him. Is that stuff kind of scary?

A: For sure. It's been in the news a lot today, with everyone bigger, faster, strong. You've got to be aware of it and the leagues are doing as much as they can. It's one of those things where gotta want to be safe as possible but it's still a risk you run -- even if you're just driving a car.

More:

== A profile on Keith and Kevin Westgarth, during their playing days in Princeton (linked here).

== Kevin Westgarth's blogs on TheHockeyNews.com (linked here).

There's a brick wall in right field at Wrigley Field waiting for a Northwestern wideout to run right smack into it this afternoon. It might as well be advertised as an outdoor Arena Football game.

Later today, there'll be a bunch of Notre Dame football players fighting over Derek Jeter's locker at Yankee Stadium. Then they'll hike over to the monuments to see if Babe Ruth approves of this whole spectacle.

Laying a gridiron over a ball diamond can be a dicey, pricey proposition. But also, if done right, very cool.

So when do we start a campaign to push for a USC-UCLA college football game at Dodger Stadium?

In November, 1982, USC president James Zumberge asked Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley if the Trojans would be welcome to toss the pigskin around in his ballyard for the '83 season. USC had a dispute with the Coliseum Commission over control of luxury boxes planned for the Coliseum (which were never built).

O'Malley tackled that request quickly: "It doesn't make any sense to play football in Dodger Stadium. ... We have the finest baseball stadium in the United States."

The intersection of "Colin Cowherd" and "TV sit-com" as an Internet search for sanity turned up many strange-ish links, some more disturbing than others in the sports media world this week.

The fact, apparently, that CBS has green-lit a half-hour show based, or not, on his life (depending on who you talk to), would seem to heighten the brand name of the ESPN Radio and "SportsNation" TV show co-host and empower him to believe even more of his status in the world.

He comes off, granted, as a grounded, intelligent purveyor of the world, with sports as its context. But in giving him a show, it almost seems like a desperate case of a book publisher asking a fringe blogger to create a hardcover version of their craft, because there's a market for multi-media beings and lateral expansion is the best way to cross promote and cash in on all different platforms.

The most troubling piece written on Cowherd this week came from Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch, in his monthly "power rankings" (linked here). Still, ranking him this Top 10 list clearly acknowledges his current rise in the tide. But it's hardly a flattering endorsement about how Cowherd has led a "character assassination" of Washington Wizards rookie guard John Wall with an incongruent basis of facts.

Wrote Deitsch:

"I take no issue with Cowherd floating his opinion, even when I disagree with him. .. But there is opinion, and then there is getting your facts wrong, a thesis highlighted by Ted Koppel on Sunday in an op-ed piece in the Washington Post where he cited an environment in which everyone 'flaunts opinions as though they were facts.'

"Do not expect Cowherd to apologize. ... Cowherd is charged with getting people to listen to him, and he's always been honest that his job is to be entertaining and get ratings. But I expect more from someone who has reached the highest level of his profession and has the imprimatur of a powerful brand such as ESPN Radio. Perhaps that makes me an idiot, too. ... The Hollywood Reporter reported that Cowherd had sold his life story to CBS for a sitcom deal."

And, laugh track or not, Cowherd may have the last laugh.

Cowherd also noted in USA Today this week that he'll have a book out soon, ""little vignettes" he compiled only while flying because "every time I get on a plane, I write."

Can't wait for the video game: $h*! our radio sports-talk show host says.

After today's media column on how people like Cowherd can confuse fact from fiction with the sports consumer these days (lined here), we blather forward:

The latest edition of ESPN's magazine is called the "movie spectacular," and getting past the cover is a chore.

Why would Sharon Stone from "Basic Instinct" be on the front? Because it's really skiier Linday Vonn.

OK ... we're ready to play along.

How about Tank Johnson, Dhani Jones and Chad Ochocinco recreating an elevator scene from "The Hangover." Suspend your imagination there.

Ryan Miller, the Buffalo Sabres goalie, as Bill Murray's Carl Spackler in "Caddyshack." The eyes give it away.

Seattle Mariners pitchers Felix Hernandez and Garrett Olson as Jules and Vincent in "Pulp Fiction." Hernandez kind of pulls it off; Olson ...

Clippers guard Baron Davis, and pro skateboarder Terry Kennedy, as Doc and Marty McFly in "Back To the Future." Again, Davis hardly looks like Christopher Lloyd, and Brown isn't even close to Michael J. Fox ... that should have been Steve Nash).

== The first runner-up to Vonn: Danica Patrick, as Christina Applegate from "Anchorman." Nice legs. Great attitude. Again.

Another feature of this magazine's issue is a poll: On a scale of 1 to 10, how accurately did Hollywood portray you in your movie:

== Muhammad Ali, from "Ali": "Nine and a half. Great movie, but Will Smith wasn't as pretty as me."

== Leigh Anne Tuohy, from "The Blind Side": "Nine and a half. It was scarily authentic. Sandra Bullock copied my nail color, my eye shadow palette, everything."

== Jim Brown, from "The Express," about Syracuse's Ernie Davis: "Eight. Was it a bad performance? No. Was it excellent? No. But was it very good and a fair portrayal? Yes."

== Bob Muzikowski, from "Hardball," where Keanu Reaves played him: "Five. It's my story, but only half of it was true. That's why I sued. I'm a better hitter than Keanu Reeves. With a better arm, by the way."

== Tony Alva, from "Lords of Dogtown": "Eight. The way Victor Rasuk transformed from a New York City basketball kid to a stoner California surfer was impressive."

== Jackie Kallen, the boxing promoter in "Against the Ropes": "Three. Meg Ryan got my Midwestern accent, but she put too much emphasis on sex appeal. I don't believe I did that."

== Jake LaMotta, in "Raging Bull": "Ten. It was perfect. When I got through with Robert De Niro, he could have fought professionally."

== Rudy Ruettiger, played by Sean Austin in "Rudy": "Nine. We kept the integrity of the journey intact, but we had to make some embellishments for the story to work."

The Dodgers Dream Foundation, in partnership with the LA84 Foundation and the L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks, will open a new Dodgers "Dreamfield" Saturday at the Northridge Recreation Center.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt plans to be at the ceremony that starts at 9 a.m. with pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and former Dodgers Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Lee Lacy.

The field, at 18300 Lemarsh Street in Northridge, is the 10th site refurbished by the team, along with their partners. This "Dreamfield" is the first in the San Fernando Valley, with the commitment to build 18 total.

In an interview airing later this week on CBSSports.com, Lakers forward Ron Artest revealed that he intends to try out for an NFL team when his contract with the Lakers is up after the 2013-14 season.

Artest, who taped the interview at the Lakers' practice facility on Saturday -- his 31st birthday -- has also said he's training for a second career as a heavyweight boxer when his basketball days are over.

"God willing, after my NBA career, God willing I'm still athletic enough - which I'm trying to take care of my body as best as possible and be prepared for this day, for this tryout of an NFL team," Artest said.

"Boxing, I'm not worried about. I've been training for two years. That's not going to be a hard part. I think football ... what team is going to give me a shot? It's a fantasy of mine. It's an opportunity because I'm athletic. So if that fantasy can be fulfilled, and if it's something that can really be reached as far as a goal, I'm going for it."

Sure, he could run the Wildcat.

Here's a preview clip (linked here). As you can see in the background, KCBS Channel 2's Jim Hill is already texting about it.

I drove from the book store to the gym, up Pacific Coast Highway. I passed by Zamperini Way, a street that runs into PCH, and, with a quick left turn, goes straight into Zamperini Field, otherwise known as the Torrance Airport.

The new Laura Hillebrand book, "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilence and Redemption," was riding in the passenger seat.

Hillebrand, whose only other book to date in 2001 was the one that eventually inspired the 2003 movie "Seabiscuit," really isn't covering much new ground here on the life and times of Louis Zamperini. After all, he wrote his own autiobiography in 2003. A column by the Daily Breeze's Woody Woodburn on Zamperini was included in the 2001 Best American Sports Writing series.

Prior to that, a "60 Minutes" segment, which goes back to a "This Is Your Life" episode from the 1950s. Incredible stuff (above).

They've been trying to make a movie version of him, going back to when the star would have been Tony Curtis, up to Nicholas Cage.

What will make Hillenbrand's version most likely be remembered over all them when all is said and done? The Random House publicity muscle behind it, for one. Oprah Winfrey has already recommended it on her website. Stories in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today have already been done on the book.

The texture of Hillenbrand's prose, of course, are what could make any story special.

The first 47 pages of the 473-page book are what cover Zamperini's athletic achievements -- running the 1500 meters at the 1936 Berlin Olympics at age 19, earning a scholarship to USC, setting records in the mile that stood for years.

A few quick excerpts, after Hillenbrand writes about how Zamperini became a mile specialist at Torrance High, expanded that to distance running and qualified for the 5,000 meters on the U.S. Olympic team.

Zamperini finished eighth at the Games, but ran a final lap of 56 seconds and clocked a 14:46.8 mark, the fastest 5,000 by any American that year.

Page 35:

After cleaning himself up, Louie climbed into the stands. Nearby, Adolf Hitler sat in his box, among his entourage. Someone pointed out a cadaverous man near Hitler and told Louie that it was Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's prime minister of propaganda. Louie had never heard of him. Pulling out his camera, he carried it to Goebbels and asked him if he'd snap a picture of the fuhrer. Goebbles asked him his name and event, then took the camera, moved away, snapped a photo, spoke with Hitler, returned, and told Louie that the fuhrer wanted to see him.
Louie was led into the fuhrer's section. Hitler bent from his box, smiled, and offered his hand. Louie, standing below, had to reach far up. Their fingers barely touched. Hitler said something in German. An interpreter translated.
"'Ah, you're the boy with the fast finish.'"

On page 40:

On USC's track team, Louie was a juggernaut. Focused on winning in Tokyo in 1940 (where the next Summer Olympics would be staged),he smashed record after record at multiple distances and routinely burned his competition by giant margins, once winning a race by one hundred yards. By the spring of 1938, he'd whittled his time (in the mile) down to 4:13.7, some seven seconds off the world record, which now stood at 4:06.4. His coach predicted that Louie would take the record down. The only runner who could beat him, the coach said, was Seabiscuit.

Hillenbrand also documents how in 1938, Zamperini went to the NCAA championships in Minneapolis, trying to break a four-minute mile.

Page 41:

The night before the race, a coach from Notre Dame knocked on Louie's hotel room door, a grave expression on his face. He told Louie that some of his rival coaches were ordering their runners to sharpen their spikes and slash him. Louie dismissed the warning, certain that no one would do such a thing delibertely. He was wrong. ... With his shoe torn open, shins streaming blood and chest aching, (he) won easily. In 4:08.3, the fastest NCAA mile in history, missing the world record by 1.9 seconds. His time would stand as the NCAA record for 15 years.

Page 44:

On a dark day in April, 1940, Louie return to his bungalow to find the USC campus buzzing. Hitler had unleased his blitzkrieg across Europe ... Finland, which was set to host the summer Games, was reeling. ... The Olympics had been canceled.
Louie was unmoored. He became ill, first with food poisoning, then with pleurisy. His speed abandoned him, and he lost race after race. When USC's spring semester ended, he collected his class ring and left campus. He was a few credits short of a degree, but he had all of 1941 to make them up. He took a job as a welder at the Lockheed Air Corporation and mourned his lost Olympics.

Since Hillenbrand needed to fill the other 400 pages of the book, she writes about how he was drafted, served in World War II, and had an horiffic experience shot down of the Pacific and taken, and tortured, as a Japanese prisioner.

Zamperini, who today at 93 is still around, should be on a book tour signing copies in the next few months. It'd be worth waiting in line to meet an authentic American hero. Perhaps USC may even have him come out at a football game -- the only home game left is against Notre Dame a week from Saturday -- and take another bow.

CBS and Turner executives confirmed today that Charles Barkley will be part of their joint coverage of the NCAA tournament starting this March.

Marv Albert is also expected to call some early round games and Barkley and Kenny Smith to offer analysis from the studio under the 14-year, $10.8 billion deal the two companies signed in April.

Tournament games will air on CBS and three of Turner's cable channels: TNT, TBS and truTV. Sports chiefs Sean McManus of CBS and David Levy of Turner said at the Sports Media & Technology conference in New York that the companies would combine their rosters of basketball commentators.

CBS will have the Final Four each year through 2015, so the network's lead team of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg in the national semifinal and championship games, although a third person could join the crew.

Nantz will be calling the March 15 opener on truTV.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Kings right wing Dustin Brown celebrates his goal on a penalty shot with teammate center Anze Kopitar during the third period of their game against the New York Islanders on Saturday.

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

MONDAY

NHL: Kings at San Jose, 7:30 p.m., FSW:

The Sharks have been dogging the formerly toothless Kings for quite some time -- a 5-1-1 mark against them in their last seven meetings in San Jose. But this time, the Kings come in as leaders of the Pacific Division, against the team that is the division's three-time defending champs. The Kings, without a division title since Wayne Gretzky's days in 1991, start Shark Week as the hunter, not the hunted.

NBA: Clippers vs. New Jersey, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., Prime:

A rare win here only means the Clippers avoid their worst start in 12 seasons. The Nets have lost 23 in a row on the road against Western Conference teams.

College basketball: USC vs. Santa Clara, Galen Center, 7:30 p.m., USCTrojans.com; UCLA vs. Pepperdine, Pauley Pavilion, 8 p.m., ESPN:

And these aren't even the best teams that the West Coast Conference can throw at the Pac-10.

NFL: Philadelphia at Washington, 5:30 p.m., ESPN:

We'll end Week 10 with a Stephen Wright quote: "Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." No matter how high these Andy Reid-Eagles appear to be clearing the clouds behind Michael Vick -- coming off a win over Indianapolis and 3-1 on the road so far -- they haven't weaseled their way past a Donovan McNabb-led Redskins yet, having lost 17-12 to them in Week 4. Vick actually cracked some ribs in that loss to Washington. The Redskins will also have Billy Ray Cyrus (Hannah Montana's dad) sing the National Anthem and do a halftime show. It's the best of both worlds.

TUESDAY

NBA: Lakers at Milwaukee, 5 p.m., Channel 9:

It may just be a coincidence that on a night when Staples Center is occupied by the "So You Think You Can Dance 2010 Tour!" the Lakers think can waltz away with three straight road wins, starting in Bucksville.

College basketball: UCLA vs. Nevada Pacific, Pauley Pavilion, 8:30 p.m., ESPNU:

This is the official closer to the ESPN gimmick of cramming 20 televised games in a 24-hour "marathon" time frame. Although it actually could have started with the Bruins' game the night before against Pepperdine since that one ended past midnight on the East Coast. We're too bleary eyed to figure out all the logistics that go into this, only to know some poor kids have to get up in the middle of the night on the East Coast for their 6 a.m. tipoff to keep the engine running.

NHL: Ducks at Dallas, 6 p.m., Prime:

Twice in five nights for these two teams. And three times in the last 11 games. Is there a method to this?

WEDNESDAY

NBA: Lakers at Detroit, 4:30 p.m., Channel 9:

Even though pizza baron (and Detroit Tigers and Red Wings owner) Mike Ilitch said earlier this week that he was close to completing his purchase of the Pistons, it appears that current caretaker Karen Davidson has reopened talks with other interested parties, and a source tells the Detroit News that Ilitch has lowered his bid. Could this be the opening that Magic Johnson has been waiting for?

(AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Columbus Blue Jackets' R.J. Umberger, left, celebrates his goal against the St Louis Blues with teammates Jan Hejda, right, and Nikita Filatov in the second period on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

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

A return trip to Staples Center means keeping alive a few streaks for the Kings: 8-0 at home, 31-for-31 in the power-play kill - and the youngest roster in the league. They face a Blue Jackets team that last week handed the previous one-loss and visiting St. Louis Blues an 8-1 whooping -- the largest winning margin in franchise history. Before the game, some of the Blues and Blue Jackets players got into verbal exchange in the hallway. A few Blues were kicking a soccer ball around, and a Blue Jackets player, R.J. Umberger, while doing his warmups, apparently sprinted too close to their game. Umberger reportedly had grown tired of what he perceived as gamesmanship by the Blues, and the Blues have been pretty physical with the Jackets in recent seasons. Umberger ended up with a goal, an assist and 17 penalty minutes -- a double-minor for high-sticking, 2 minutes for roughing a 10-minute misconduct.

NBA: Clippers at Minnesota, 5 p.m., Prime; NHL: Ducks at Minnesota, 5 p.m., FSW:

One of these games is at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, the other is at Minneapolis' Target Center. Put 'em on the same night, turn up the heat at the Hormel factory, and watch the Twin Cities go nuts.

College basketball: USC vs. Rider, Galen Center, 7:30 p.m., USCTrojans.com:

Your opener of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic tournament is a home game, then a trip back East for the rest of it.

THURSDAY

College football: UCLA at Washington, 5 p.m., ESPN:

After their one-point win over USC at the Coliseum on Oct. 2, the Huskies have lost three of their last four, and that includes a double-OT win against Oregon State. This is the last home game for Jake Locker, but he missed a 53-15 loss to No. 1 Oregon two weeks ago, resting some broken ribs. "If we get Jake back, that's great - we'd love to have him," says coach Steve Sarkisian. "But if we don't, that doesn't mean we can't win the game." Sarkisian has obviously been watching UCLA game film.

NFL: Chicago at Miami, 5:20 p.m., NFL Network:

A shoutout to Joe Theismann, who once said you don't have to be "Norman Einstein" to be a genius: Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, right, was upset after his team's loss to Baltimore recently -- he thought fullback Le'Ron McClain spit on him, and his quarterback Chad Henne got hit twice after he slid, but the officials missed it. "Yeah, a little Stevie Wonder and Anne Frank ... Is that the blind girl? Helen Keller . . . I don't know who the f--- Anne Frank is. I'm mad right now. I'm not as swift as I usually am."

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

Sorry, can't come back to Staples Center yet. Usher has it booked.

FRIDAY

NBA: Lakers at Minnesota, 5 p.m., Channel 9:

Don't make Derek Fisher mad again. Remember how he called the team "irresponsible" and "reckless" and "disrespectful" after the Lakers barely beat the struggling T'wolves last week? That was a night when Kevin Love had 23 points and 24 boards. Then he had a 31-31 night against the Knicks. He just may shoot for 40-40 here. Unless D-Fish takes the charge.

NHL: Kings at Buffalo, 4:30 p.m., FSW:

An OT win last weekend against the beast in the East, the Washington Caps, gave the swashbuckling Sabres their first home win of the season in seven tries. On guard.

NHL: Ducks vs. Columbus, Honda Center, 7 p.m., Prime:

Anaheim is actually breathing down the Kings' necks in the Pacific Division, but we're not impressed quite yet.

SATURDAY

College football: USC at Oregon State, 5 p.m., ESPN:

Pop quizz time: Anyone need a reminder about the Trojans' last trip to Corvallis, Ore., back in September of '08? As the nation's No. 1-ranked team with Mark Sanchez at quarterback, they trailed 21-0 at the half and went home with a 27-21 loss, thanks to 186 yards and two rushing TDs by Jacquizz Rodgers. It was the first time in 41 years that the Beavers had defeated a No. 1 team. "I'm beside myself," USC coach Pete Carroll said afterward.

College football: Notre Dame vs. Army at Yankee Stadium, 4 p.m., Channel 4:

The 5-5 Irish, coming off a huge win over Utah, need one more victory to be bowl-eligible. So it could either come here against the 6-4 Cadets, or next week at USC.
"I think any football coach would want to sleep in his own bed and play in a stadium with 80,000 fans," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. "But I also know the realities that there has to be when it comes to looking at your schedule and television, there has to be time and place where you move those games to give you the best leverage nationally. I'm a realist in that sense and I'm a football coach, and that is, you tell me where to play them and I'm going to play them."

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

The Bruins, 2-4-1 at home so far, have just one goal in their last two games coming into this week. In their previous five games, they had 20.

NBA: Clippers vs. New York, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:

We're completely asbestos free.

College basketball: USC vs. Bradley at Springfield, Mass., 2 p.m.:

It's part of the Hall of Fame Classic, giving the Trojans a weekend at the place where basketball was invented (and another game against New Mexico State on Sunday morning before the field trip ends).

Mixed martial arts: UFC 123: Rampage Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida, Detroit, Mich., 5 p.m., PPV:

Former UFC light heavyweight champ Rampage Jackson says his loss at UFC 114 last May in the main event to Rashad Evans has nothing to do with him being pulled away to play the role of B.A. Baracus in the movie version of "The A-Team." Jackson, 5-2 in the UFC, said: "I knew I lost that fight before I even stepped in the cage. The day I lost that fight was a couple of weeks before the fight even started. It had nothing to do with the movie tour or anything. ... Because the fight as so delayed and so well-promoted, I felt like I owed it to my fans to fight no matter what the outcome was, so I still fought." And got pummeled. The reason that fight was delayed -- it was supposed to be part of UFC 107 in Memphis, Tenn., Jackson's hometown, but then he signed on to do the movie. And UFC president Dana White wasn't happy. In the welterweight undercard, B.J. Penn goes against Matt Hughes.

SUNDAY

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Galaxy forward Mike Magee attempts a bicycle kick as FC Dallas' Atiba Harris, right, defends and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman looks on in Sunday's Western Conference playoff match at the Home Depot Center.

Soccer: MLS Cup in Toronto: Colorado vs. Dallas, 5:30 p.m., ESPN:

Dallas' football club seems a bit rejuvenated, eh? Sorry, Galaxy.

NBA: Lakers vs. Golden State, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSW:

Their fourth game in six nights. What's the rush to get the regular season finished?

NFL: N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4:

We're told at least the stadium lights are fairly reliable in Philly.

NFL: Indianapolis at New England, 1 p.m., Channel 2:

Colts QB Peyton Manning had a season-low 185 yards passing in their not-so-pretty win against Cincinnati last week -- and 73 of them went to tight end Jacob Tamme.

NFL: Oakland at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m., Channel 2:

The new book, "Badasses: The Legend of Snake, Foo, Dr. Death and John Madden's Oakland Raiders" author Peter Richmond points out how that "badass" era of the 1970s Raiders might have come to an end in Pittsburgh during the second game of the '77 season, "when the gods of Three Rivers crippled Foo, the truest Badass, for the year, ending his season and delivering a blow to the gut of the team. 'If there's one day when our little world started crumbling,' says Phil ('Foo') Villapiano now, 'it was that day.'" It was a 16-7 Steelers' win, played on their new fake grass, on a day Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier didn't pile up 100 yards between them. The Raiders, coming off a bye week and 5-4 in the AFC West, might be great at controlling the clock, but can they control their destiny the rest of this season?

NHL: Ducks vs. Edmonton, Honda Center, 1 p.m., FSW:

How does Sunday afternoon hockey compete with the NFL in Orange County?

NASCAR: Ford 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway, 10 a.m., ESPN:

Denny Hamlin's lead in the Sprint Cup's Chase slipped to just to 15 points over Jimmie Johnson in the final event of the season. Will he have enough left in the tank?

(AP Photo/Jason Babyak)
James Hibbs of Richmond, Va., a fan of Denny Hamlin, stands in front of Hamlin's car prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday.

UPDATED SUNDAY at 4 p.m. PDT:

The bat that Kirk Gibson used to hit his home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series sold for $575,912.40 in an auction that ended this morning.

SCP Auctions, based in Orange County, also reports that the white Dodgers home jersey that Gibson wore went for $303,277.20. Add in his batting helmet ($153,388.80) and a World Series road uniform ($9,664.80), and that's $1,042,243.30 -- all going to Gibson's bank account.

The auction also listed Gibson's 1988 NL MVP Award ($110,293.20) and his replica '88 World Series trophy ($45,578.40). That $150,000-plus will go to the Kirk Gibson Foundation to fund high school scholarships at the two schools in Michigan where his parents were teachers.

All five items were purchased by Chad and Doug Dreier of Santa Barbara, a father-and-son sports collectors' team from a company they call the Dreier Group.

"We are thrilled to keep this amazing collection of baseball history in Southern California," said Chad Dreier in a statement through SCP Auctions, without giving any details about how the items may someday be displayed.

By comparison, the $575,000 raised for the Gibson bat far surpassed, in the same auction, the $137,000 paid for the bat that Babe Ruth used to hit his 702nd career homer. And that bat used on July 22, 1934 was also signed by 15 members of the '34 Yankees, including Ruth.

Meanwhile, in another bidding at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Kentucky, Hunt Auctions reports that ball Ruth hit for his 702nd career homer sold for $264,500.

In the same auction, the group of 50-odd bats on sale by former Dodgers batboy Stephen Kolodny of Woodland Hills sold for just about what they projected out to be: $42,176.25. There are two days left on the Canadian-based Classic Auctions bidding that includes equipment owned by former Kings All-Star goalie Rogie Vachon.

== A preview of the auction from last week's column (linked here).

== Columnist Dennis McCarthy's story today on Kolodny (linked here).

Listen up: Did you know that the NHRA has never conducted a formal study to measure the effects of the most ear-piercing by-product of drag racing?

From a story called "Say What? Underestimate Drag Racing's Decibel Mightiness at Your Auditory Peril" in the recent issue of ESPN Magazine, it says the lack of documented numbers on ear numbness is "no accident" and that "requests have been politely turned down" because the lack of hard evidence "adds to the mystery that surrounds the sport's biggest drawing card."

Don't ask, but do tell . . .

There's a chart from the American Academy of Audiology that lists decibel numbers. If the rustling of leaves is a 20, a normal conversation is 60, and a rock concert is 110, a top fuel dragster is pegged at 150 - well above your pain threshold (120) and actually closer to the number of an ear drum rupture (165) and the limit of hearing (194).

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme adds a quote to the piece: "Loud isn't a strong enough word. It's so overwhelming your brain can hardly compute what it's hearing and seeing. It's damn near a religious experience."

Hear the problem here?

Fear the serpent, praise the Lord and pass the industrial-sized ear plugs.

Anyone plodding out to Pomona this weekend for the first time to witness the season-ending Winternationals must be warned: Tympanic membranes are a terrible thing to waste.

Safety issues aside surrounding stuff like, oh, dragsters cartwheeling down the down the track, the real deal with around-sound doesn't seem to be taken very seriously.

And why is that?

This "air of mystery" excuse can't replace ignorance.

So maybe most of your teeth are gone, making it more difficult to finish off a McRib entre at the finish line. Your cholesterol levels are higher than the octane levels polluting the air you breathe out there. But the feeling in our gut (the one hanging over our oversized belt-buckle) is that you can't be stupid here.

Beat the drum for ear-drum protection. You get that loud and clear?

Huh?

== If Newton's Law eventually comes into play, when does the gravity of what's swirling around Auburn's football program finally weigh the rest of the Tigers down?

== How much can scalpers be worrying about the prospects of Texas Christian or Boise State playing in the Rose Bowl?

== If them Cowboys never win another game this season, would the locals be just as satisfied if the other football club from Dallas knocked off the star-studded Galaxy this weekend to qualify for the MLS Super Bowl?

== If X Games expert Travis Pastrana makes the leap to NASCAR next season, does it mean the infield of the Coliseum could replace Fontana as a place to watch him do his power left turns in '11?

== Clay Matthews Jr., your front-running NFL MVP?

== Where have you gone, Adam Morrison?

== The Lakers finally acquired their first loss. The Heat have racked up four of 'em. Uh, is it June yet?

It was the opinion earlier this week on TheBigLead.com (linked here) that "L'Affaire Netwon ... has been nothing short of fascinating - from a media point of view."

The headline on that story -- "Has the pressure to deliver led to sloppy reporting on Cameron Newton?" -- isn't really even a question. It's a statement disguised as being inquisitive. And, in the Internet existence, it's a means to some kind of end.

Since there is no bylined author of this particular post, we have no one to really thank/dispute/acknowledge for pointing out what's painfully obvious: Journalists who once worked at newspapers and had college degrees, but have crossed over into the new medium, find themselves having to prove their worth after signing two-to-three year contracts.

"Things are incredibly heated right now in the online battle for eyeballs among the big media outlets (ESPN, Yahoo, Fox, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, NY Times). Writing columns and features and breaking some news isn't enough anymore - you've also got to deliver with radio interviews (promote the brand!), dabble in social media (get that twitter count up!) and don't forget the big-picture investigative home runs, too. Oh, and while you're doing this, you probably should be up-to-speed on what the blogs (this site, Deadspin, Sports by Brooks, etc, none of which have to adhere to strict journalistic standards) and message boards are doing, because you never know when they'll produce something of news value (for instance ... Did Mr. SEC find the Florida leak?).

"Back to Newton. Keep contracts in the back of your mind ... could this pressure possibly have led to some of the sloppy reporting on Cam Newton?"

Over on Deadspin.com (linked here), under the headline "The Cam Newton Scandal Spirales Into Incoherency," blog poster Barry Petchesky ends his rundown of what hasn't and hasn't happened with: "We don't know a hell of a lot right now."

Exactly.

If the "reporting" merely was sloppy, it could be dabbed up with a wet paper towel. This stuff can't even be hosed down with a power spray. It's stuck to the bottom of the tail-chasers' shoes.

Before the pressure builds, and jobs are lost, get back to us when you have something solid. Because once someone blows the lid off this thing, something better stick to the walls.

After today's media column offering (linked here), we milk more notes from our unnamed (and some named) sources:

== ESPN says its Zenyatta-enhanced coverage of the Breeders' Cup Classic last Saturday did a 2.9 rating, the highest rating ever on cable, and a jump of 168 percent (from a 1.1) from a year ago. ESPN's entire Saturday afternoon coverage did a 2.2 rating, up from 0.9 in '09. According to Neilson, the Breeders' Cup averaged a 1.0 from 2006-08.

== The final installment of the "24/7 Pacquiao-Margarito" airs tonight on HBO at 9:30 p.m. HBO will reair all four episodes in a row at various times Saturday -- including 9-to-11 a.m. on HBO and 2-4 p.m. on HBO2.

== Your L.A. NFL weekend TV listings:

= Sunday
= 10 a.m., Channel 11: Minnesota at Chicago (with Kenny Albert, Darryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa), instead of Carolina-Tampa Bay or Detroit-Buffalo.
= 10 a.m., Channel 2: Cincinnati at Indianapolis (with Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf), instead of N.Y. Jets-Cleveland (with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms), Houston-Jacksonville or Tennessee-Miami.
= 1 p.m., Channel 11: Dallas at N.Y. Giants (with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver) instead of St. Louis-San Francisco or Seattle-Arizona. CBS also has Kansas City-Denver in this window.
= 5:15 p.m., Channel 4: New England at Pittsburgh (with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Andrea Kremer).
= Monday
= 5:30 p.m., ESPN: Philadelphia at Washington (with Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski, Michelle Tafoya and Suzy Kolber).
=Baltimore-Atlanta played Thursday; San Diego, Oakland, New Orleans and Green Bay have a bye week.

== Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham and Shelley Smith has the call for USC's ABC telecast Saturday in Arizona (5 p.m., Channel 7), sharing a national window with Clemson-Florida State (with Mike Patrick, Craig James and Jeannine Edwards) and Oklahoma State-Texas (with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Heather Cox). ESPN's "GameDay" goes to Columbus, Ohio, which leads into its airing of Penn State-Ohio State at 12:30 p.m. (with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Erin Andrews) that goes either on ABC or ESPN (with Virginia Tech-North Carolina and Texas Tech-Oklahoma in the mix). In that window, most buzz will be stolen by Georgia-Auburn (12:30 p.m., Channel 2), with Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson.

== Versus tries its first attempt at 3D version by carrying Oregon-Cal at 4:30 p.m., following up with another online experiment incorporated into its coverage of San Diego State-Texas Christian at 1 p.m. The opener will feature something they've called "Versus Vision," where technology allows for viewers who go onto the website www.versus.com to watch highlights in a 180-degree, user-controlled 3D experience. Ted Robinson, Kelly Stouffer and Lindsay Soto call that one. In the Oregon-Cal game, Wayne Larrivee, Erik Kramer and Heidi Androl are on the 3D telecast, with Ron Thulin, Glenn Parker and Lewis Johnson are on the regular HD telecast.

== The only way to visually take in tonight's UCLA-Cal State Northridge regular-season basketball opener at Pauley Pavilion -- other than being there in person -- is via the school's two webcasts. Bill Courtland, a 1980 graduate of CSUN who recently received a Volunteer Service Award from the school, starts his fourth year on play-by-play doing the games on www.gomatadors.com with Alan Zinsmeister. Bruins broadcasters Chris Roberts and Tracy Murray, doing the game on 570-AM radio, provide the audio on UCLA's www.uclabruins.com. At least five CSUN games will be on ESPN and/or Fox Sports Net this season, starting with three appearances in the Nov. 25-28 76 Classic from Anaheim over Thanksgiving weekend. Prime Ticket has CSUN's home game against Cal Poly on Saturday, Jan. 22, on its schedule.

== Bill Walton, who left ESPN as a broadcaster in November, 2009 after experiencing chonic back problems, continues a limited return as a game analyst by agreeing to doing selected telecasts that Comcast SportsNet New England does on Celtics' road games in January and February. Walton is also doing five-to-10 broadcasts for the Sacramento Kings, promising to be available when the team plays the Lakers and Clippers in L.A. as well as do some games from a studio near his home in San Diego.

== The Zenyatta-centric Breeders' Cup Classic did a 2.9 rating last Saturday for ESPN -- up from 1.1 a year ago (a boost of 168 percent). However, news that Mine That Bird, and not Zenyatta, seems to have the buzz to carry the next horse movie (linked here)

== Your MLB Network highlights for the weekend: Bob Costas' "Studio 42" series starts again today with an hour-long sitdown featuring Hall of Famer George Brett (5 p.m.). The network then has the latest of its "Triumph and Tragedy" series focused on the 1919 Black Sox scandal (Saturday, 6 p.m.). Matt Vasgersian hosts an episode that includes the reading of commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis' judgment against the "eight men out" of the White Sox, read by current players such as Josh Hamilton, Mark Teixeira and Eric Chavez.

== The third season of Tracy Austin's "Tennis Channel Academy" show, which she co-hosts with Roger Federer coach Paul Annacone, starts Sunday from the Malibu Racquet Club at 4:30 p.m. on Tennis Channel and runs through Dec. 26.

== The last NHRA drag race of the season in Pomona hits ESPN-ville, with highlights of qualifying (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2) and coverage of eliminations (Sunday, 6 p.m., ESPN), with Paul Page and Mike Dunn.

== AND FINALLY:

== If you haven't already stumbled upon the Rex Hudler Wonder Dog Hour that airs Saturdays this offseason (usually after Notre Dame game coverage) on the Angels' flagship KLAA-AM (830), catch up with downloads on the Hudman's website (linked here).

Pick a date from the Lakers' 2009-10 season. There's a good possibility that the dating life of Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss has been documented, now for public consumption.

Jeanie, who runs the business side of the Lakers and happens to be the owner's daughter, seems to have given up on ever having someone of importance pop her the question. That's evident by what she writes in her new book, "Laker Girl" (with Steve Springer, $24.95, Triumph Books, 278 pages).

Phil, who on-again, off-again runs the courtship side of the Lakers, questions whether the players are listening to him anymore, but seems to enjoy the ride on his high-built chair. That's evident from what he contributes to a new book, "Journey To The Ring" (with Andy Bernstein, $35, Time Capsule Press LLC, 216 pages).

Jeanie uses many words - good verbs, strong adjectives - and few color photos in a standard-sized book to deliver her diary-form account of the Lakers' run to their 16th franchise championship. She's very diligent about talking about when Phil comes home grumpy after a loss, when he calls just to release frustration, when he goes into the kitchen to cook and relieve stress, and how they end up watching "48 Hours Mystery" together. She also frequently tells him point blank that he can't say or do certain things - even if he thinks it's humorous. Sometimes, he appears to listen.

Phil is like most men in this scenario -- very visual, leaning on the larger-scale, coffee-table-sized format to accompany the photographic brilliance of Bernstein, the Senior Director of NBA Photos. Phil expresses himself through extended captions, how things went down from his perspective. He says just enough to get his point across. No wasting sentences. Period.

He wrote, she wrote.

You can read between the lines as the two quests of a ring intersect at seminal moments, often with two different definitions of what rings they are most focused on pursuing.

Oct. 27, 2009: Opening day, handing out the championship rings:

Phil, explaining a photo of him holding hands with Jeanie at midcourt before the game, but not making eye contact: "After the warm-ups, there is a five-minute break for the ring ceremony before the season opener against the Clippers. Usually, the commissioner, David Stern, gives a short congratulatory talk and then announces the players receiving rings. Jeanie Buss, representing the Lakers, hands out the rings - she loves doing this public appearance . . . I think I should have kissed her!"

Jeanie, on the day after, explaining how she was looking at the photographs taken of the ceremony: "One looked like a wedding picture. My wedding. The ring I'm presenting to Phil in the picture is, of course, the championship ring. But to me it appears that we are getting married. NBA commissioner David Stern is in the background between us as if he is officiating the ceremony, and the championship trophy looms above us like an altar. I posted the shot on my Twitter account as our fake wedding photo since there won't be a real one with Phil. A championship ring is not a bad second prize."

Our takeaway: Jeanie was married once before, and it didn't turn out so great. Phil was married once before, and had four children. He had the starter wife. She didn't have much of a starter husband. She deserves another shot.

Nov. 8, 2009: Lamar Odom gets married:

Phil: "Lamar has a very busy summer. He had a whirlwind romance and ended up marrying Khloe Kardashian the weekend before training camp. Then LO has to jump right into action when the season starts as Pau is on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury."

Jeanie: "I wanted to go (to the Odom-Kardashian nuptials) because I love weddings. Phil, however, I wasn't so sure about . . . To my surprise, Phil said we had to go to this wedding. Lamar is so important to him that Phil wanted to support him in every way possible . . . When the music (at the reception) started, Phil was ready to leave. 'Come on, can't we stay and dance?' I asked. 'No,' he said, 'we've got to go.' So I didn't get a chance to go for the bouquet. We again ran in to the paparazzi when we got outside. They were yelling at Phil, 'When are you going to marry Jeanie? When are you going to marry Jeanie?' . . . Phil didn't think it was funny. He was actually kind of speechless. So I answered for him: 'Look, I got over it. You people need to get over it, too. He is never going to marry me.'"

Our takeaway: She's not over it. But the more she can talk about it loudly in public, it could back Phil into a corner. Good strategy.

Nov. 26, 2009: Thanksgiving:

Phil, under a photo of him carving a turkey at his place in Playa Del Rey: "Ah yes, its turkey time - one of my favorite times of year. I collaborate with my daughter, Brooke, and her family to make the Thanksgiving dinner. Brooke is a terrific cook, and she is doing all the vegetables and assorted things that make dinner great. I've been charged with doing the turkey and then carving it up - the easy part. We have so much to be grateful for and just a couple of hours before this shot I told my players that I was thankful for them, just before we had one of our lighter practices: The Turkey Trot."

Jeanie: " 'Why do you make the players practice on Thanksgiving?' I asked him. 'It seems like you should have made them practice yesterday (an off day) and then given them today off.' 'Because,' he said, 'most of the guys are not from Los Angeles, so they are away from home. Even if they are married and their wives are here, they are still not 'home.' So it's really important for them to think of the team as their family. This being a family holiday, I want to bring them together.' Phil traditionally forms two teams - one with the big guys and one with the smaller players - and has a Thanksgiving scrimmage . . . It was a pretty lively game. . . . Before I met Phil, I was always with the rest of the Buss family at Thanksgiving. We went to Las Vegas five years in a row before Phil came into my life. ... This Thanksgiving, my family went to Disneyland and ate in a private restaurant named Club 33. . . . My dad know show to make things fun."

Our takeaway: She admits she's given up her family Thanksgiving tradition to start one with Phil, who brings his family into the picture. It's not Club 33, but she seems to be having fun with Phil's brood.

Jan., 25, 2010: The visit to the White House:

Phil: "The visit to the White House was a major moment of our road trip. The players all look very attentive posing with President Obama. Pau's hair even looks coiffed. On the right, Magic (Johnson), Mitch Kupchak and Jeanie Buss stood in with the team. We were given spots to occupy from the smalls to the bigs. Which is why I've been placed in left field instead of standing net to Jeanie, although Adam Morrison is a great guy."

Jeanie: "We were lined up by height, so although Phil wanted to be next to me, we were separated. I wound up on the end, which was fine with me. ... When President Obama got to me, I introduced myself. . . He replied, 'I know who you are.' I thought I was going to die."

Our takeaway: Jeanie could easily fall for another guy if he just admits that he knows who she is.

Feb. 20: A spot to pose for a picture:

Phil: "This picture was taken in Jeanie's office with the trophies in the background . . . One thing, the pile on the desk is not how my desk looks. I keep mine cleared off."

Jeanie: "I'm being pulled in three directions. I picked up Princess Cujo (her dog) at the hospital . . . I went to tonight's premiere in Westwood for the HBO documentary (on Magic Johnson and Larry Bird). Phil went to dinner with some friends and wanted me to skip the premiere and go with them. I graciously declined, feeling my place was at the premiere supporting Magic and representing the Lakers organization. Phil pouts a bit when I don't choose him first. . . Time and time again, I think I've proved that my job is my priority."

Our takeaway: Jeanie hides behind her work, to stay busy, and keep her mind off personal things. The more clutter on the desk, the more work there is to do.

April 18: The playoffs begin against Oklahoma City:

Phil: "Before this round of the playoffs, I was fined by the league for allegedly putting 'spin' on some issues regarding Kevin Durant's number of foul shots - he shot the most in the league and also led the league in scoring. Here, I'm trying to downplay the issue."

Jeanie: "Another day, another $35,000. For the second time in 10 days, Phil was fined that amount for remarks about the officiating. 'I don't know why Phil says the things he says,' I told (NBA commissioner) David (Stern). 'I can't control him. I can't make him stop.'"

Our takeaway: Jeanie is frustrated that she can't change Phil. No matter how much money he has to give away to the NBA for his aside commentary. That's $70,000 thrown away -- which could pay for a nice engagement ring.

May 27: Game 5 against Phoenix:

Phil: "The team's reaction to an unbelievable ending to this 103-101 game tells you just how the players feel about their win and their teammate (Ron Artest). We had a good laugh in the locker room after this game ... a laugh of relief."

Jeanie: "I had to watch the game from home because I was sick. I felt ill last night after Phil grilled steaks on the barbeque for dinner . . . It was important for him to know (I wasn't going to the game) as soon as possible because he has to leave a little earlier from our house if he's alone and can't use the carpool lane."

Our takeaway: Jeanie isn't happy just being a carpool buddy.

June 17: Game 7 against the Boston Celtics:

Phil, who after Game 6 wrote on the dry board: "1 to (picture of a ring)": "During the playoffs I write the number of wins left for the championship, a countdown to the ring. This game would allow us to get that coveted title back and win the ring again."

Jeanie: "Phil was in a great mood driving to Staples Center. We were having a good time . . . Upon arriving at the arena, we always part at the door to the locker room. We kiss and then Phil walks in. Tonight, he just turned to walk away. 'You are not going to kiss me?' I said. I think he felt funny because there were so many more people around than usual. But he walked back and gave me the kiss. 'You are going to stay and be here for me afterward, aren't you?' he asked. 'Absolutely,' I replied. 'I'll be here no matter what happens.'

Phil, after the game: "The confetti rains on Lamar as he exults in the Lakers' reign. We are so proud of this team's perseverance during the playoffs. . . . My turn at the podium after the seventh game, and here I am thanking the Lakers fans for their heartfelt support. The walk from the court to the locker room is filled with well-wishers. I'm usually one to acknowledge the fans with only a wave or a smile, but here I'm giving somebody a high-five."

Our takeaway: Phil would gladly high-five a stranger in the stands than give Jeanie a good-luck kiss?

June 21: The victory parade:

Phil: "The parade of champions . . . There was a crowd of more than 50,000 fans who celebrated with the players as they went through downtown Los Angeles. A lot of these fans don't get a chance to get into the games, and it's a great way to celebrate the victory with them."

Jeanie: "For the championship parade, I rode on the truck with the players because Phil asked me to represent him. Phil doesn't do parades. He doesn't like crowds. Even if he had not had medical appointments today, he wouldn't have been there. I, on the other hand, love the parade . . . It doesn't get old and you never know if you'll have another one . . ."

Our takeaway: From what Phil wrote, you'd think he was there. From what Jeanie wrote, you'd think she'd like a parade every year. Boyfriends get old. Parades, and weddings, don't.

In closing:

On page 212, Phil says in the acknowledgements: "Of course, my thanks to Jeanie Buss, my sweetheart, who talked me into the Second Coming with the Lakers."

On page 274, Jeanie concludes: "I know Phil and I are never going to be married. I don't think I'll ever be married again. Phil is planning to leave the Lakers at the end of next season and that means he will probably leave me as well. I know I cannot move to his retirement home in Montana, nor do I see him staying in a big city like Los Angeles. . . It's been a good live, and I do not regret a minute of it."

Our final takeaway: Jeanie says she's 48, married to her job, carried away with her dreams. Phil is 65, varied in his interests, buried in retirement paperwork. A computer geek at eHarmony could see the harm of this dynamic. Heck, let's go get some frozen yogurt and win another title for old times.

There's no Hollywood ending in sight. And if we were to judge a book by its cover, we'd already be questioning just how honest Jeanie has been with us along this journey. Why?

Well, for starters, on the cover of Jeanie's book, that isn't Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol standing there in the backround. Andy Bernstein took that cover shot, but Jeanie thanks "Rodney Webb and Ray Reese for serving as the cover models."

And, yes, Andy Bernstein took that cover shot as well. You'd think he's be pushing for a long-term relationship, considering how much he stands to make as the couple's official wedding photographer.

Dave Niehaus, a former California Angels broadcaster who made it to the Baseball Hall of Fame by calling Seattle Mariners' games since their inception, has died of a heart attack. He was 75.

Niehaus, who lived in Bellevue, Washington, battled heart problems in the past, undergoing two angioplasties in 1996.

Niehaus worked on the Angels' broadcasts with Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale as the No. 3 man starting in 1969, and also did games on KMPC-AM for the NFL's Rams and UCLA basketball.

He joined the Mariners as the lead play-by-play man for their first game on April 6, 1977 and called more than 5,200 games over 34 seasons.

He was the recipient of the 2008 Ford C. Frick award and was inducted into the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"I'm a fan, No. 1," he said of his induction. "I'm a lucky guy. I love the game. If I wasn't out here doing the games broadcasting I'd be out here sitting in the stands.

"I've been very lucky. I've said this a million times: I've never had to go to work a day in my life. And I hope that comes across to the people that have listened to me for generations."

Niehaus also said of doing play-by-play: "I can't imagine not doing it. I can imagine not doing it, but might as well dig a hole and put me in it."

The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. -- In the mass of tailgaters gathered outside Autzen Stadium before a recent Oregon game, two young men sported T-shirts with the bold words: "Stop Chip."

A nod to coach Chip Kelly, the slogan was a clever play on shirts that were donned all over Eugene some four decades ago that proclaimed "Stop Pre" in honor of the seemingly unstoppable Steve Prefontaine.

The spirit of Pre still resonates in Eugene and has become inspiration for the No. 1 Ducks. It is a connection that crosses both time and athletic disciplines.

Prefontaine was a brash runner who trained in the early 1970s under Oregon's renowned coach Bill Bowerman, the co-founder of Nike.

At one point, Prefontaine held seven American records in distances ranging from 2,000 meters to the 10K. He was known for running every race full-bore, rejecting any suggestion that he pace himself.

But along with his undeniable talent, Pre attracted attention with James Dean good looks and a devil-may-care attitude. And, much like Dean, Pre died in a car accident at the height of his career. He was 24.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift," Prefontaine once said, exemplary of his hard-charging style.

Pre's message struck a nerve with coach Kelly, who last season took the Ducks to Pre's Rock, as it is known, a memorial near the accident site.

"Steve Prefontaine did not care who he was running against. He was going to run as hard as he could for as long as he could," Kelly said. "That's what I hope our attitude is in this football program."

Before you go finger-pointing and read this latest dispatch from the Associated Press -- which took five reporters to put together -- consider the words of Paul Finebaum.

Referred to by the Orlando Sentinel as the Southeastern Conference's most influential member of the media, Finebaum said on Dan Patrick's syndicated radio show this morning when asked what bothered him most about the media coverage of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and his alleged improper recruitment: "The reporting of it. It is very slip-shod . . . it's made very little sense. I think you have a lot of reporters who are chasing their tail trying to get online first and that has created a very unfortunate feeding frenzy. We don't know any of the facts right now. We just know what a bunch of unnamed sources are saying to reporters. I think some if it (as smear campaign). . . . The sources seem to be coming from some very convenient places."

Now, your AP version, which promises it will update in a few hours:

From Sunday's telecast of the Philadelphia-Indianapolis game, a clip of Eagles coach "Andrew Ried" competing in an NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition in 1971.

Where he perhaps the biggest 13-year-old kid in the country.

Check the graphic: That's how they misspelled his name.

Since he was from L.A. -- Marshall High -- he had to wear the local NFL team outfit. Because of the date given, we're guessing this was done at halftime of the Rams-Washington Redskins game on Monday Night Football (linked here), which would explain the TV clip and the graphics. It was the last Monday Night Football telecast of the ABC season (linked here).

If he's launching it from the 20, and it goes to what looks like the 45 (on the other side of the midfield stripe), that's a 35 yard pass. Or, it's 15 yards.

Roman Gabriel, Andy Reid was not.

How did Jerry Rice become No. 1 on the Top 100 Greatest NFL Players?

Because that's how the voters voted. All of 'em.

In the NFL Network series that ended last week, whatever general consensus that had Jim Brown standing alone at the top of any "best of" player lists was put to some rest when it was Rice who took the spot (linked here).

The former San Francisco 49ers receiver was voted in by the NFL Films pannel of experts as well as a fan vote on NFL.com.

Brown, voted No. 2 by the experts, was only No. 9 by the fans. They had Joe Montana in the second slot, appropriately. Montana was No. 4 in the experts' poll, behind Lawrence Taylor.

If you're looking for some Southern California angles, former USC stars Ronnie Lott and Anthony Munoz were Nos 11 and 12, former L.A. Rams teammates Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen were Nos. 15 and 27, and former Granada High quarterback John Elway was No. 23 (but No. 8 in the fan vote).

The highest rated active players by the experts were Peyton Manning (No. 8), Ray Lewis (No. 18), Brett Favre (No. 20) and Tom Brady (No. 21).

Hasn't enough time passed for Steve Garvey's off-the-field transgressions to finally be overlooked and a Baseball Hall of Fame induction based on what he did between the lines be recognized again?

In 2007, which was the 15th and final year that Garvey was on the annual ballot, the former Dodgers All-Star first baseman whiffed a final time, only getting 21.1 percent of the vote (75 percent is needed for election).

But it's not over yet.

Garvey muscled his way today onto a ballot with eight former major league players, three executives and one former manager to be on a new 12-name Expansion Era ballot for the Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players for Hall of Fame election.

It will be reviewed and voted upon at the 2010 Baseball Winter Meetings by a 16-member electorate. The results will be announced on Dec. 6.

Every candidate receiving votes on 75 percent of the 16 ballots cast will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be honored in July, 2011.

Joining Garvey for players under renewed considersation: Tommy John, Vida Blue, Dave Concepcion, Ron Guidry, Al Oliver, Ted Simmons and Rusty Staub. Also, former manager Billy Martin, and executives Pat Gillick, Marvin Miller and George Steinbrenner are also on the ballot.

Now, it's up to the 16-member electorate voting on these 12. They are Hall of Fame members Johnny Bench, Whitey Herzog, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Tony Perez, Frank Robinson, Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith, plus major league executives Bill Giles, David Glass, Andy MacPhail and Jerry Reinsdorf. Also, veteran media members Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun), Tim Kurkjian (ESPN), Ross Newhan (retired from the Los Angeles Times) and Tom Verducci (Sports Illustrated) have a say.

The Baseball Writers Association of America came up with this new Expansion Era ballot as kind of an oversight committee to re-examine a player's worth -- in many cases, brought upon by recent players found to be or accused of performance enhancing drug use. The Expansion Era covers candidates whose most significant career impact was realized during the 1973-present time frame.

Eligibility is based on players who played in at least 10 major league seasons, who are not on MLB's ineligible list, and have been retired for 21 or more seasons . Managers and umpires with 10 or more years in baseball and retired for at least five years, with any candidates who are 65 years or older first-eligible six months from the date of the election following retirement; and executives who have been retired for at least five years, with any active executives 65 or older eligible for consideration.

This is the first of a three-year cycle of re-examination. The "Golden Era" (1947-72) and "Pre-Integration (1871-1946) is also being considered, as ppposed to the previous veterans committees who did the selections.

Garvey's credentials: a .294 career average over 19 major league seasons with the Dodgers and Padres, amassing 2,599 hits, 272 home runs, 1,308 RBI and 10 All-Star Game selections. He hit .338 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs in 11 postseason series, was named the 1978 and 1984 NLCS MVP and won the 1981 Roberto Clemente Award. Garvey won four Gold Glove Awards and played in an N.L. record 1,207 straight games.

In "The Great Book of Los Angeles Sports Lists," long-time Southern California radio sports-talk host Steve Hartman has his own Top 10 list why Garven should be in the Hall, including:

== Team success: When Garvey moved from third to first in 1973, the Dodgers had gone seven years without a post-season appearance. They then had a first- or second-place finish nine of the next 10 seasons, including four division titles, four NL pennants and one World Series title. Then, of course, he went to the Padres and took them to their first World Series appearance. "The man was a flat-out winner," Hartman writes.

== Iron Man Record: Billy Williams, who had the longest consecutive-game streak in NL history before Garvey broke it, got into the Hall of Fame -- bolstered by that reocrd he once held. "Apparently Garvey did not receive the same consideration from baseball writers," Hartman says.

== Star appeal: "Garvey was the complete package ... It's interesting that baseball writers would sometimes look down on Garvey because he was too good to be true. The fact that his post-baseball life included some controversy ... should not have a bearing on his Hall of Fame candidacy. As far as we know, Garvey never did drugs or used steroids. His baseball numbers are clean."

== Nobody Cares About On-Base Percentage: Writers love to point out that Garvey had only a .329 career on-base percentage. But "this is an absolute joke because no one cared about on-base percentage when he played." His "total package is beyond dispute. Garvey should be -- and I predict will be -- a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame."

What others think of Garvey's career:

== From Cybermetrics.com (linked here)
== A pro- and con- argument from 2007, calling him the Best First Baseman Not in the Hall of Fame: (linked here)
== Why the SonsOfSteveGarvey.com blog weren't confident he'd ever get voted in (linked here).

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

MONDAY

NFL: Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 5:30 p.m., ESPN:

Troy Polamalu says Roger Goodell has too much power, the headlines snapped the other day. The Pittsburgh Steelers star wasn't acting defensive when sticking up for teammate James Harrison, fined again for another hit deemed too violent by the league. Read more into what he said: "There needs to be some type of separation of power like our government.

"There should be some type of players involved in decisions over how much people should be fined or what they should be fined for, as well as coaches, as well as front office people. I don't think it should be just totally based on what two or three people may say who are totally away from the game. I think it should be some of the players who are currently playing." That makes much more sense than that sexy headline. Now let's see what happens when Polamalu snaps the leg of former USC roommate and current Bengals QB Carson Palmer.

Poker: 2010 World Series final table, 8:30 p.m., ESPN3.com:

From the 7,319 who entered the tournament months ago, it's down to Tampa Bay's John Racener against Canadian Jonathan Duhamel. It's actually taking place Monday, and the edited-down version of it plays today. Watch it live today online or wait until ESPN edits it down for broadcast on Tuesday.

TUESDAY

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

T'wolves coach Kurt Rambis and power forward Kevin Love haven't resolved their power struggle yet over the minutes played per game by the later. "You have to be on crystal meth not to give Love more minutes on that team," said one scout on BleacherReport.com. "It makes no sense." As Chris Broussard explained last week in TrueHoop.com, the T'wolves are 14-38 when Love plays 30 minutes or more, and 40-128 when he plays less than 30 minutes. Both are ridiculously bad, but showing Love more love seems to be the lesser of two evils for the team, which got off to an 0-4 start.

NBA: Clippers at New Orleans, 5 p.m., Prime:

All that jazz: The 6-0 Hornets won't lose their first one here.

College basketball: UCLA vs. Cal State L.A., Pauley Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., BruinsTV.com:

A fast-paced 36-point exhibition win over Westmont last week was much easier to watch than the near-loss to Concordia in a similar practice match a year ago. With one more practice game here to work things out, UCLA sophomore forward says this version of the team wants to be more like the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns, "but with more defense." Lots more D.

AP Photo/Lori Shepler
Ducks right wing George Parros, top right, and Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland get into a fight during last Friday's game in Anaheim.

NHL: Ducks at San Jose, 7:30 p.m., Prime:

Smooth move again by the Ducks' George Parros to shave his trademark mustache off to support the "Movember" cancer awareness. "I was totally conflicted," the team's tough-guy said. "I really wasn't excited about it. But at the end of the day, I did it because it was for a good cause." See, we noticed. "Movember" is an annual charity event during November where men actually are asked to grow a moustache to raise funds and awareness for men's health issues. Check it out at www.movemeber.com.

WEDNESDAY

NBA: Clippers at San Antonio, 6:30 p.m., Prime:

They played each other nine days ago, and the Spurs won by nine. And the Clippers' backup forward Craig Smith lasted less than a minute, ejected for clotheslining George Hill. Baron Davis wasn't around to see it, either. Maybe this time.

NHL: Ducks vs. N.Y. Islanders, Honda Center, 7 p.m., FSW:

Last week, the Isles announced that A-1 First Class is the Official Moving Company of the team. Said the company's president Matthew Schwartzberg: "We know that the next big move is going to be bringing the Stanley Cup to the island." Not unless you take the Hot Tub Time Machine back to the mid '70s.

THURSDAY

NFL: Baltimore at Atlanta, 5:20 p.m., NFL Network:

The NFL's annual expansion to four days a week starts now -- and with it, Joe Theismann returns behind the mike. Craig Ferguson (above) thinks that's a big deal.

NBA: Lakers at Denver, 7:30 p.m., TNT:

George Karl's return to the Nuggets bench has produced a 4-2 start, including back-to-back wins over the Clippers and Mavs at home. "My hope is that it's the beginning of a 50-win season and getting back to being a premier team in the Western Conference," says Karl, diagnosed with head and neck cancer last January, which caused him to miss the last 14 regular season games and the playoffs. "I still am amazed at the soothsayers that say we're not very good. I think we're pretty good." If Karl is more mellow, maybe it's because of Carmelo Anthony's performance: A team-high 38 minutes a game, producing 24.7 points a contest with nearly four assists and eight rebounds.

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

The non-Star-struck Kings are the NHL's first team to win 10 games and produce 20 points. And they're 6-0-0 at home. Their 5-2 win in Dallas on Oct. 28 got the puck rolling on this latest blitz.

FRIDAY

College basketball: UCLA vs. Cal State Northridge, Pauley Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., BruinsTV.com, gomatadors.com:

No. 1 in the regular-season schedule for both teams. And this we know about this year's Matadors -- one returning starter (6-foot-7 forward Lenny Daniel) from a team that finished seventh in the league last year. Daniel, who set single season school record 44 blocks last year and had 7.8 rebounds a game, also has junior guard Vinnie McGhee to lean on (53 three-pointers last year). Otherwise coach Bobby Braswell, starting his 15th season (216-205) will wait and see how it sorts out.

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

At this point, the Pistons are playing even worse than the Clippers, and couldn't be blamed if it did inquire about any leftover government bailout money so it could try to lure Bill Laimbeer out of retirement.

NHL: Ducks vs. Dallas, Honda Center, 7 p.m., FSW:

The Ducks dinged the Stars, 5-2, back on Oct. 26.

College football: Boise State at Idaho, 6 p.m., ESPN2:

The Broncos' 22-game win streak is the longest in college football right now.

SATURDAY

Boxing: Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito, 8 p.m., HBO pay-per-view:

Congressman Pacquiao's pursuit of the world super welterweight title concerns trainer Freddie Roach, who thinks his guy isn't focused enough -- and admitted it on Sunday's episode of CBS' "60 Minutes." That may also concern 70,000 spectators expected to pack Cowboys Stadium or the millions of homes coughing up as much as $64.95 for a high-def telecast. "I'm worried about it, yes," said Roach on the piece. "I'm walking around at two in the morning. Something is not right and we are not preparing the way we should for this fight."

Pacquiao has only lost three times in his pro career, which started when his 16 years old, in 105-pound division bouts. Could he lose this one? "If he keeps on the road he's going, yes," Roach says. If that's the case, just fill Pacman's gloves with quick-dry cement and watch what happens. Margarito won't know what hit him.

Mixed martial arts: UFC 122: Yushin Okami vs. Nate Marquardt, 8 p.m. (delayed), Spike TV:

Japanese middleweight Okami goes to Germany to meet Marquardt. We'd rather see a rematch between Calvin Borell and Javier Castellano in the jockey-weight division.

College football: USC at Arizona, 5 p.m., Channel 7:

The Wildcats' Rose Bowl hopes took a detour last Saturday against Stanford, even as Nick Foles got his feet back under him. The Trojans could actually tie Arizona in the Pac-10 standings with a win.

College basketball: USC vs. UC Irvine, Galen Center, 1 p.m., USCTrojans.com:

The Trojans, 16-14 overall and 8-10 in league play last season while serving their punishment, lost three of their top four scorers, but feature one of the Pac-10's best frontlines in 6-foot-10 forward Nikola Vucevic, voted the league's most
improved player last season, and 6-foot-9 Alex Stepheson. Coach Kevin O'Neill hired a strength and conditioning coach this season, and Vucevic looks stronger. "I've seen a big-time jump in him conditioning-wise and strength-wise. His game is just overall better," O'Neill said. "I think he's primed to have a great junior year."

NHL: Kings vs. N.Y. Islanders, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., FSW:

There are rumors that the Flames want to dump forward Jarome Iginla, and the Kings could be interested. Iggy would pop in L.A. Will he be here by this game?

SUNDAY

MLS playoffs: Western Conference final: Galaxy vs. FC Dallas, 6 p.m., ESPN2:

The Galaxy is one boot away from getting back to the Nov. 21 MLS Cup -- they defeated Dallas' football club 1-0 without Buddle or Donovan (or Beckham) on May 20 in Dallas, then closed the regular season with a 2-1 home win to claim that groovy Supporters' Shield thing. But here's the catch: If they win, they'll face either San Jose or Colorado, battling Saturday for the Eastern Conference title (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel). Yup, two of the teams that the Galaxy had to snuff out en route to the Western Conference regular-season championship, who finished fifth and sixth in the West. How did that work?

NFL: New England at Pittsburgh, 5:20 p.m., Channel 4:

Two prime-time games in one week for the Steelers seems reasonable.

NBA: Lakers vs. Phoenix, Staples Center, 6:30 p.m., FSW:

The Lakers' 114-106 win over the Stoudemire-abandoned Suns in Phoenix two weeks ago was an eye-opener. "We're very fortunate," said Kobe Bryant. "We've got a couple of guys that can just stop momentum, me and Pau. Whenever it got close, we just went to one of us.'" It was tied at 76 after Hedo Turkoglu, who struggled through most of his debut in Phoenix, made a driving layup, but the Lakers scored the next nine, the last on Steve Blake's 3-pointer to make it a nine-point lead.

NHL: Ducks at Chicago, 4 p.m., Prime:

Did you know: The defending Stanley Cup champs are still searching for the game-winning puck from the Game 6 OT win. Patrick Kane scored to end the Hawks' 49-year championship drought, but the puck that got by Philadelphia goaltender Michael Leighton has never been tracked down. Kane suspects Ben Eager picked it up, and still has it, after he was traded by Chicago to Atlanta. "(The Flyers' Chris) Pronger probably threw it in the garbage or something," Eager replied. Let's go to the video:

Now's as good a time as any to ask: How do you know when it's the right time to sell off some of your coolest sports memorabilia?

"It's a really tough call," admits Stephen Kolodny, a former Dodgers batboy who will part with dozens of game-used bats he collected during the 1970s - some once belonging to Thurman Munson, Joe Torre, Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente -- for an auction that starts this week.

"For me, it was time to downsize. I never had these as an investment. I used to just give them away to friends 20 years ago."

Mentally, how do you separate sentimental from actual value, especially if you're a former athlete parceling out pieces of your life?

"You don't want to attach yourself to a lot of this things that end up in the garage collecting dust," says Rogie Vachon, the Kings' former All-Star goalie who has watched the online bidding on a few dozen of his own things start to climb toward six figures - including a menacing, marked-up purple-and-gold facemask he wore in the early '70s.

"You just accumulate so much over the years, going from house to house, keep moving the boxes. This really isn't bittersweet for me. Sometimes, you just have to move on."

From week to week, beyond whatever questionable things are out there on eBay, the various specialized sports memorabilia websites and auction houses make attainable items that look as if they were left behind in a museum heist.

As a buyer, it's an insane chance to grab a piece of history, bank account willing. As a seller, it's an opportunity knocking. Emotions willing.

And the way it works these days, with commissions, authenticators and very little caveats, it's all pretty painless.

Really? Here's a third-party crasher's perspective: If that was my stuff, I'd never part with it. Unless...

"It is what it is and it really depends on the situation," says David Kohler, the Orange County-based facilitator of SCP Auctions (linked here), currently involved in the sale of Kirk Gibson's bat, jersey and helmet used when he hit his memorable 1988 World Series Game 1-winning homer.

Some of the proceeds - his '88 MVP award and replica World Series trophy, which combined have drawn more than $40,000 so far -- are earmarked for his foundation to fund high-school scholarships. The rest is going to whatever Gibson has privately decided to do with it.

When former Boston Celtics great Bob Cousy decided nearly 10 years ago that the things in his basement could would help his daughters (one was a school teacher) pay off their home mortgages, he made the cash call to Kohler.

When members of Casey Stengel's family didn't know what to do with all his baseball-related things after he passed away, they decided to keep a few special items, and let the rest of the collectors out there enjoy it. Kohler helped.

"It's not a flea market or garage sale, it's more a celebration of their careers, gets them back in the news," said Kohler.

In the past, donations to Halls of Fames were more the norm. But floor space is an issue, and many of the items aren't permanently displayed.

Maybe 10 or 20 years ago, when someone's Super Bowl ring popped up for sale on the Internet, a terribly sad tale came attached to it. The athlete was down on his luck, no pension to pay medical bills, and this was something of value to keep moving forward.

Over the last couple of years, things owned by former baseball star and financially insolvent Lenny Dykstra have popped up. His '86 Mets World Series ring sold last year. His 1993 Silver Slugger Award is up for bidding now on Heritage Auction Galleries, and has $4,780 on it so far, with the sale ending Nov. 22 (linked here).

Kohler's experience is those kinds of desperations stories aren't so frequent. Vachon agrees.

"Sure, I used to hear stories like that," said Vachon, 65, who lives with his wife in Venice these days and regularly uses his MountainGate Country Club membership. The sale of his things through Canadian-based Classic Auctions (linked here) through Nov. 16 could bring him more than $100,000.

"The money isn't a big deal. I'm fine. I see more athletes do it this way. It's fun. And the collectors, the fans, get to have these things."

Kolodny has been given estimates by his new business partner, Hunt Auctions (linked here), that the bats that he once fished out of the trash can in the Dodgers' locker room (with equipment manager Nobe Kawano's OK) could fetch more than $40,000 when bidding starts Nov. 13 at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory in Kentucky.

Kolodny has three boys - there's Tyler, the former El Camino Real High standout who just finished his fourth year in the Baltimore Orioles' farm system, plus two more in college.

Kolodny admits he's a big autograph collector, and says he'll keep most of his things, like personalized signed baseballs. He can even find those kind of things available online that his son has signed if he was really looking to buy.

But with whatever money that is generated from this auction, Kolodny knows it can help with anything from his kids' tuition to his retirement fund.

"I got their permission to do it," Kolodny, who lives and works in Woodland Hills as a personal injury lawyer, said of his sons who could have inherited these things. "I vacillated a lot on it. I mean, once you give away your bats and collect the money, whatever that is, and then you spend that money, what do you have to show for it?"

Extra room to collect more stuff?

It gets even crazier.

How about the official rules that Dr. James Naismith typed up in 1891, explaining the official rules of this game he invented called basketball.

Those will be auctioned off by Sotheby's (linked here) in December by his grandson, to benefit the Naismith International Basketball Foundation. Experts expect it to reach as much as $2 million for what amounts to the 13 Commandments of Basketball (without mention of dribbling).

If there were only a nice clean set of rules that people could go by when buying or selling sports memorabilia. What would they be worth?

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Zenyatta runs during a practice session for the Breeder's Cup horse race at Churchill Downs Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010, in Louisville, Ky.

A press release from the National Throughbred Racing Association:

In support of Zenyatta's attempt for a 20th consecutive victory in Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., has placed a 20' x 150' sign on its rooftop that reads, "Good Luck, Zenyatta!" The sign will be in full view of airplanes flying into and out of nearby Los Angeles International Airport.

"We, like so many others here in Southern California, are fiercely proud of Zenyatta, and this is just one small way for us to share that pride," said Jack Liebau, President of Hollywood Park.

"Zenyatta is a once-in-a-lifetime Champion bidding to accomplish something no Thoroughbred in modern history has achieved," said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA. "We wish her the best of luck in her quest for perfection."

A view of the banner from the roof of Hollywood Park as you might see it if you're coming into LAX (but very doubtful if you're leaving, since planes tend to take off over the ocean): (linked here)

Meanwhile, Guinness said it is offering Zenyatta a trip to its famed St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland if she wins today's race.

Trainer John Shirreffs is known to open a bottle of Guinness and pour it into a bowl for Zenyatta in the afternoon. He says she'll only drink the dark Irish stout with its creamy head.

Guinness brand director Patrick Hughes says the brewery will be raising a pint and holding its collective breath during the $5 million race. He reminds all thoroughbreds and the race fans who love them that Guinness is best enjoyed responsibly.

From John Brenkus and "Sport Science":

(Tony Ranze/Getty Images)
Sparky Anderson talks to reporters in 1995 at Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., where the Tigers held spring training.

Here's excerpts from a story that the Daily News' Kevin Modesti did on Sparky Anderson in 1990, after he was forced to take a 2 1/2 week vacation at his home because of exhaustion:

Anderson is 56 now. His white hair no longer looks as out-of-place as it did at 40. The hair is thinning a bit in front. The circles under his eyes are deeper and darker. His hand shakes ever so slightly as he pours a soft drink into a styrofoam cup. He speaks more slowly, more softly.

"The only way I've changed is I've gotten older and quieter," says Anderson, who said earlier in the season that for the first time, he feels more like a George than a Sparky. "And I don't want to be around crowds. Like my wife said, 'You've paid your dues. Let the young managers do that.' "

He is more than older and quieter. He has found peace. ...

"I came into baseball with only a high school education. Without baseball I would have been a painter. With baseball I own six homes and I have more money than I ever dreamed I'd have."

Each of his three children has one of the houses; Sparky bought one for his mother; Anderson and his wife, Carol, share the winter home in Thousand Oaks and a condominium in Detroit. They are building a seventh house in Dearborn, Mich. ...

"I look at it this way: I came into baseball because I love baseball," he says. "I've never worked, other than the first few years in the minor leagues, when I worked at home in the winter. I stay in the best hotels, I get unbelievable meal money.

"Why would I not want to stay in baseball?" ...

Sparky Anderson is a baseball Calvinist. A stoic. He takes the bad with the good.

He doesn't blame the game. He doesn't blame himself.

"I love this game every bit as much as I did before, maybe more," he says. "Because now I know what it takes to survive."

== Another Modesti piece from 1997 when Anderson was making his first visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame (linked here):

Anderson said he doesn't even tie his shoes when he runs errands in the Thousand Oaks neighborhood he and his wife Carol have called home for 31 years.

``Never know when I might have to get out of 'em in a hurry,'' he said with a mischievous
chuckle. "My wife gets on me about the way I dress. I wear sloppy clothes. I say, it doesn't matter, they know me, they know I'm an idiot.''

== An email from Paul Olden, the former L.A.-based baseball broadcaster and current public address announcer for the New York Yankees:

It was just a couple of weeks ago when I asked ESPN's Joe Morgan (in New York for the ALCS) how Sparky was doing and he passed along a less-than-upbeat update. Now comes the news.

Sparky and I attended Dorsey High School- he about about 20 years ahead of me, a student there in the 1950s. I first learned of him when, as a freshman student in the late 60s, I discovered his picture posted in the gym building in a makeshift wall of fame there. I didn't get to meet him until 1988 when I first made it to the Majors as a play by play guy for Cleveland.

And he was a great guy - I think the Dorsey connection helped break the ice. He was always willing to sit and talk - at length - in his office at Tiger Stadium about his team or whatever.

== And then there's his pre-game rant about writers (more to the point: headline writers) in Los Angeles back in the 70s when he came to town to some unflattering news:

From the Daily Racing News' Bill Finley (linked here):

On paper, Zenyatta has no chance to win the Breeders' Cup Classic. She's too slow, and she has spent much of year narrowly beating ordinary fillies and mares. Really tough, fast males like Blame, Quality Road and Lookin at Lucky should thrash her. As the favorite in the Classic, she could well be the biggest underlay in Breeders' Cup history.

Still, it will be a moot point when Zenyatta passes 10 horses inside the final two furlongs and wins by a nose over Lookin at Lucky in what will be the most thrilling Breeders' Cup Classic in history. I think it's going to happen. She's an extraordinary talent, the type of horse that doesn't come along more than once in a great while. When it comes down to it, that's what's going to matter.

Recent buzz in New York after the screening of a documentary called "Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story" focused on how Dodgers' Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax actually made himself available to be interviewed for the project.

Ira Berkow, the New York Times writer who wrote the film and was the technical advisor, told the New York Post: "If you're doing a film about Jews and baseball, you need Koufax in the film."

Koufax's last extended TV interview of note had to be in 1999 when ESPN was doing its "SportsCentury" series, and Charley Steiner was able to get to ask the questions after he used former Dodgers minor-league manager Kevin Kennedy as a go-between.

The New York Times notes that Koufax has turned down HBO several times in the last 30 years about doing a story on him.

According to the film's website (linked here), the exclusive L.A. premiere of the movie, narrated by Dustin Hoffman and directed by Peter Miller, will be on Nov. 17 at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Beverly Hills, followed by the Laemmle's Town Center 5 in Encino and Laemmle's Music Hall Theatre in Beverly Hills (Nov. 19), the Chabad of Bel Air (Nov. 27) and the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs (Dec. 3). Ticket purchases for the screenings at the temples, some of whom are using it as a fundraiser, can be found on their websites.

After the film debuted earlier this summer, a review from the Jerusalem Post back in July (linked here) said "one of the emotional high points" was recounting a accidental collision between the Dodgers' Jackie Robinson and famous Jewish first baseman Hank Greenberg, the former Detroit Tigers star now playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

On May 17, 1947 -- about a month after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, he laid down a perfect bunt and streaked down the first-base line. The pitcher's throw pulled first baseman Greenberg off the bag. Reaching for the throw, he collided with Robinson, who was able to get up and reach second.

The next inning Greenberg walked, and asked Robinson, who was playing first base, if he had been hurt in the collision.

"Greenberg gave him some words of encouragement, urging him not to let all the bigotry get to him," Miller said. "It made a huge impression on Robinson."

The closing credits give a shout-out to former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley for providing funding for the documentary.

One reason for Koufax's inclusion here may be that Fred Wilpon, the current New York Mets owner and a close friend of Koufax -- they played together at Lafayette High School in Brooklyn -- is also on board.

Aside from Koufax, former Dodgers Shawn Green and Norm Sherry are interviewed. The Brewers' Ryan Braun, out of Granada Hills High School, only appears in video clips.

== Joe Tessitore will host the two-day Breeders' Cup coverage on ESPN2 (Friday), ABC and ESPN (Saturday) with analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss. In one form or another, Kenny Mayne, Hank Goldberg, Nick Luck, Jeannine Edwards, Jay Privman, Caton Bredar, Steve Cyphers, Jeremy Schaap and Bill Nack will be part of the telecast. Trevor Denman will call the races.

Among the features planned to air somewhere on the weekend is something called "Zenyatta: Hollywood Overtime" - a screenplay feature about Zenyatta and her Hollywood-esque finishes in each race she competes, and another piece on Zenyatta's relationship with jockey Mike Smith and trainer John Shirrefs.

There's also a "Sport Science" breakdown by John Brenkus that explains the physics of her size and stride and how Zenyatta is able to recover after each race.

There was never a problem separating the character of Sparky Anderson with Sparky Anderson, the character.

In a 1998 autobiography written by the future Hall of Fame baseball manager, whose messages were often so mangled by improper use of the English language that it drew comparisons to Casey Stengel, Anderson refrained from telling a bunch of stories about problems he had with star players or arguments he had with front-office management.

He captured it all in just 11 words, on the fifth page: "I ain't no better than anybody else. And neither are you."

When news came that the longtime Thousand Oaks resident died Thursday at age 76 at his home from complications brought on by dementia, Anderson's indelible character was one of the first thing that friends talked about.

"His idea of baseball was the highest ideals," said longtime friend Tommy Lasorda, the Dodgers' Hall of Fame manager who played with and against Anderson in the minor leagues and managed against his great Cincinnati Reds teams of the 1970s.

"He believed in the game and represented the game to the highest degree of class, dignity and character. Baseball has lost one of its greatest members."

Anderson, the first man to win World Series titles in both the National and American leagues, had been suffering from dementia for just the last several months. His family did not release the information about his need for home hospice care until Wednesday.

A couple of quick thoughts on the sudden passing of Sparky Anderson:

One of my more prized possessions is an autographed copy of "They Call Me Sparky," which he wrote with longtime friend Dan Ewald in 1998. Any chance to talk to Sparky was great. I'd give him a call at his home in Thousand Oaks, his wife Carol would answer, and then, holding the phone, yell out, "George, it's for you!"

For that book review, I wrote:

In the introduction to his autobiography, Sparky Anderson offers an apology.

No need to apologize for that.

Sparky later signed a copy of the book for me:

To "Tom"
Thank you for writing a piece about me. This was an honest book and thanks for knowing that. Good luck with everything you do in the years ahead.
Sparky.

Note, the quotes were around my name and not his.

Like many of us, the New York Times' Alex Brown wonders (linked here): Why would Zenyatta quit on us now, win or not in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic?

If she is perfectly healthy, as we are led to believe, she can make more money on the track than in the breeding shed (unlike a colt). If she keeps winning for fun, and enjoys herself, this is simply a tremendous opportunity to continue to showcase a true star; a star that can become inspirational to a much wider audience.

There is no rule to say that a horse should only run a certain number of races, and then needs to be retired. If the horse is fit, healthy and enjoying her career, it seems a no-brainer to me to continue having fun, profitably.

A game-used, all-pucked-up dark purple-and-gold mask that Rogie Vachon wore some 40 years ago is one of nearly 50 items that the former Kings' All-Star goalie has up for auction from his personal garage sale.

In an online scramble at Classic Auctions (linked here), the Vachon mask (linked here) has already received 12 bids and, from a $2,500 starting point, has climbed past $7,100, far and away the most popular item.

The 47 lots so far have generated more than $37,000 in bidding. What else can be had:

== A 1972 Kings yellow jersey (signed) (11 bidders have pushed it past $1,000).

== His Los Angeles Kings Hall of Fame trophy, given to him in 1997 (only one bidder so far, at $200).

== His 1968 Stanley Cup champions rings that he won with Montreal (opening bid: $2,500, currently up past $4,400).

== His 1968 Venzina Trophy plaque (no bids yet at $1,000)

== The Czechoslovakian national team sweater of 1976 Canada Cup rival Vladimir Dzurilla which Vachon, the tournament's all-star goalie, obtained in an on-ice jersey exchange between the two finalists after Darryl Sittler's title-clinching overtime goal. (Started at $500, now up to $2,100).

== His 1973 All Star ring with a purple stone (he gave up four goals in the East's 5-4 win in the first All-Star Game ever at Madison Square Garden) (up to $550) and a game-worn jersey (up to $733).

== His '75 All Star jersey (No. 1) from the game played in Montreal (a 7-1 win) (up past $600).

== His '78 All Star jersey (No. 1) from the game played in Buffalo (up past $660).

== A bunch of other signed jerseys, trophys, blocker pads and glove and other memorabilia from his playing days (including a No. 30 Kings jersey the team gave him to wear during Luc Robitaille's No. 20 jersey retirement ceremony in 2007).

Thrown in there are at least six Wayne Gretzky game-used and signed sticks, some Jari Kurri sticks and a couple of Grant Fuhr jerseys, and Vachon can finally get rid of all those memories, plus make a little scratch on the side (there's no indication any of the proceeds are going to charity).

Bidding on all the Vachon items go through Nov. 16.

I asked Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who'll analyze the Breeders' Cup races Friday and Saturday for ABC and ESPN, if there's any backlash to the fact that there's been so much about Zenyatta in the media lately:

"That's why this is such a great sport. These athletes don't read the press clippings. She's not asking for a raise. She's not asking for an extended contract. She has no idea in terms of print media what she's getting. She does understand the attention she gets from cameras around her and people around her...

"I think she's one of the unique kinds of champion thoroughbreds that actually embraces it. She plays to the camera and I think she enjoys it...

"In terms of Mike Smith, he's been to this dance before. I have to give him credit for extending himself in a lot of areas...he's the kind of guy that knows when to lock in...he will do what it takes to be focused when the time comes."

With a small group of reporters on the conference call today featuring Bailey, analyst Randy Moss (not the NFL player) and ESPN vice president of studio productions Mike McQuade, the question was put out there: Has this Zenyatta story really pierced the nation's consciousness? Is it as big a deal as we're lead to believe?

Said McQuade: "One of the things I use as a barometer is our (ESPN) newsroom and our own newsgathering team. In the last three weeks, it's really picked up steam. Diehard sports fans know we're in the middle of the NFL and college football season, but when they see her record, how she wins, people are starting to get captivated.

"Will we get a 20 rating? No, but one of the best things that happened (back on Oct. 2 during the Lady's Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park) was how we exposed horse racing to a college football audience with the 12 minutes of Zenyatta's race, showing her great comeback win."

Zenyatta's appearance in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic comes at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, the last of the 14 races over two days.

The truth: Marion Jones is a liar.

That's the message on a post by Alan Abrahamson, a recognized authority on the Olympics who left the L.A. Times in 2006 to write for NBC's websites, writing for something called 3WireSports (linked here), which is "not just what's happening in and around the Olympic movement and international sports but what it all means."

What we wrote about Jones and her new book and documentary by John Singleton hit a nerve with Alan, and he responded:

Sometimes you read something in the newspaper or hear it on television and it's just incredible.

Both deserve special scrutiny because here is the truth: Marion Jones is a liar.

The scrutiny in the column we did with Singleton was his opinions about Jones' situation, and how she's trying to move forward.

She lied, and lied, and lied, and she spent time in federal custody for it, and she still can't -- or won't -- fully come clean.

Until she does that, her advice is as empty as a howling wind.

Alan seems to be angry that Jones is getting away with something here. We agree that if Jones really wants full forgiveness, she's gotta come clean on everything -- even the stuff she doesn't want to visit any more. She takes a Jones-like long jump from Violation A to Redemption Z, skipping over a few not-so-minor details.

Maybe the difference here is that we're all for someone trying to move forward. She has to live with whatever knowledge she had of what she did or didn't do. We weren't there. Neither was Alan, as much as he seems to think he knows about all what's gone on in Jones' thinking process.

We're not as naive as Jones has been made out to be, either. But maybe the difference is that we're a bit more forgiving. The wound could be reopened. But what's the harm in trying to start the healing process with this first step.

Hang around, Alan. There's more to this story that will someday come out. Let her take this first step.

As for the quotes from Singleton: Sometimes you just give the interview subject enough space to try to make his case, and let the readers decide what's between the lines.

Singleton's assertion that "let's be real" and that Jones served jail time because she's black is something we, as white people, aren't going to fully understand, but we try.

Alan says "that assertion is as irresponsible as it is unsupported." He continues:

The absurdity of the assertion that Jones went to prison because she's black is further highlighted when surveying other cases that, like Jones', grew out of the BALCO affair. Those brought into court have been black, white, male and female ...

And that is the truth.

If the truth is what's going to set Marion Jones free, she's about to find out. That's what I wrote before a Q-and-A in Sunday's paper. Read between the lines there: She has to live with whatever "truth" she proports to put out there.

One of our favorite people in sports, former Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson, has been placed in hospice care at his Thousands Oaks home for complications resulting from dementia.

Anderson family's said in a statement Wednesday they appreciate the support and kindness that friends and fans have shown throughout the Hall of Famer's career and retirement. No further details were released.

Anderson guided the Tigers to a World Series title in 1984 and led them for 17 seasons. He won four National League pennants with the Reds, including back-to-back World Series titles with the "Big Red Machine" in 1975-'76.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a veterans committee selection in 2000.

Anderson, a Dorsey High graduate and former USC batboy who signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1950s and played for the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels, was the first manager to win more than 100 games in a season in the American and National leagues. He has 2,194 career wins. He also did some broadcasting work for Fox Sports on Angels' broadcasts.

Anderson, a regular visitor to Detroit-area events supporting a charitable foundation he established in 1987, appeared at a reunion of the 1984 Tigers in 2009.

"Think about this now, there will be four or five of these guys together again, maybe, but never all together again," he said at the time, according to the Detroit News. "I'm 75. I know I ain't going to make it."

Hang around for the No. 1 rated jump (by whoever put this together) .... it's stupid scary:

Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley, in Sunday's New York Times, makes this point in her "The Rail" column (linked here) about Zenyatta:

Her stride angle is the same as Secretariat's, as measured by Bob Prichard of the Somax Performance Institute. But Zenyatta lures us in with personality. We love that she wins because she convinces us that she is more than a running machine. She has a palpable desire to run. She is a character, and when I am rummaging around on the thoroughbred pedigree Website, I wonder: is it nature or nuture? ...

She unleases those longer-than-the-longest strides, and she flows like a shark around or through her company. Sometimes, she wins by a few lengths, sometimes by a neck. but the look on her face always indicates that you were the one who was worried, not her.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
A fan takes pictures of the San Francisco Giants celebrating after Game 5 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers on Monday.

Edgar Rentiera needs a new bat. Aubrey Huff needs a new shoe. Arlington Stadium needs more dirt around the pitcher's mound.

After the San Francisco Giants' title-clinching win Monday, the Baseball Hall of Fame says it has acquired nearly a dozen artifacts that will be on display by Thanksgiving in their "Autumn Glory" exhibit, which documents baseball's postseason.

The stuff the Hall got:

== The bat used by World Series Most Valuable Player Edgar Renteria to hit his game-winning home run in Game 5.

== The road jersey worn by Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum in Game 5.

== The batting helmet won by Cody Ross, who scored five runs in the World Series.

== The cap worn by the Giants Madison Bumgarner in Game 4 when the rookie pitched eight shutout innings.

== The cap worn by the Giants' Matt Cain after his win in Game 2.

== The left shoe worn by the Giants' Aubrey Huff, who drove in eight runs in the 2010 postseason.

== The bat used by the Rangers' Mitch Moreland to hit his Game 3 home run, the first World Series round-tripper in Rangers' history.

== The ceremonial first pitch ball from Game 4, delivered by former President George W. Bush and former President George H.W. Bush, signed by both.

== Dirt taken from around the pitching mound following Game 3 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington to mark the first World Series game in North Texas history.

Maybe they'll include this week's cover of Sports Illustrated, which turned it around from Monday night's game into the lead item in the magazine that comes out Wednesday:

Our horse racing man, Art Wilson, tracked down this (linked here) simulation at HorseRacingIsFun.com of how Zenyatta (from the No. 2 hole) might do in a 10-horse field against some of the greats of all time: Seabiscuit, Citation, Affirmed, Ruffian, Smarty Jones, Cigar, Big Brown, Barbaro and Rachel Alexandra.

We like how this plays out (but we wish John Henry was in the field):