FanHouse

Harbaugh Doesn't Need Rocket Science To Win at Stanford, but His Players Might

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-27T12:30:00 00:00

LOS ANGELES -- The same guy who led Michigan to the No. 2 ranking in 1985 as a quarterback and nearly brought the Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl a decade later has that same fervor in rebuilding the Stanford football program.

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With Another Heisman Hopeful, Cal Hopes This Is No Case of Deja-Blue

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-21T19:00:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: California, USC, Pac 10, Heisman

LOS ANGELES -- The enthusiasm in Berkeley is muted because the California Golden Bears have been here before, possessing the opportunity to seize the Pac-10 crown from a vulnerable USC team, loaded with returning starters and gifted skill players, including a potential Heisman Trophy candidate.

It was 2006, and Marshawn Lynch was being billed as a Heisman candidate and the Bears were ready to unseat their hated rival from the south. Instead, they were blown out by Tennessee on national TV to open the season and then lost their Rose Bowl chance with a brutal loss at Arizona in November. Cal was relegated to the Holiday Bowl, and relegated once against to second-tier status in the college football landscape.

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Mariners Sign No. 2 Pick Ackley

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-18T01:38:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Mariners, MLB Draft

SEATTLE -- Given that the Mariners have struggled mightily offensively, the signing of No. 2 pick Dustin Ackley serves as a serious momentum boost for an organization looking to escape a series of shaky moves under the Bill Bavasi tenure.

For example, Bavasi traded Adam Jones and George Sherill for Erik Bedard, and he selected Cal's Brandon Morrow over the University of Washington's Tim Lincecum in the 2006 draft. Morrow is in the minors while Lincecum is one of the top starting pitchers in the major leagues.

So the Mariners needed this. They needed to sign the best hitter in college baseball. Ackley hit .422 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI in 66 games for the University of North Carolina. Signing him went down to the final minutes, with general manager Jack Zduriencik revealing that the deal was agreed upon at 8:45 PM PT, about 15 minutes before the deadline.

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Huskies' Locker Signs With Angels

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-16T14:39:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: LSU, Washington

The University of Washington should be relieved that quarterback Jake Locker signed a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Angels because it could potentially free up another scholarship.

Locker, a 10th round pick of Los Angeles, confirmed Saturday night that he has agreed to terms on a deal and likely will receive a signing bonus. Because of that he will need to relinquish his scholarship to retain his amateur football status, giving coach Steve Sarkisian another coveted scholarship.

Locker said he will play his final two seasons for the Huskies and may pursue the NFL. Baseball, something he played in high school and during college summers, is merely a fallback.

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Beltre Unsure He'll Wear Cup After DL Stint Despite Injuring Right Testicle

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-13T20:29:00 00:00

by Gary WashburnSEATTLE -- Adrian Beltre is considered a sparkling defensive third baseman, possessing great range, soft hands and a cannon for throwing arm. The veteran Mariner might have been too confident in his fielding abilities and it could cost him a month or even the rest of the season.

On Thursday, Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu, shaking his head in bewilderment, announced Beltre would be placed on the disabled list with a torn right testicle and was even more stunned when told that Beltre does not wear an athletic supporter, better known as a cup that protects the groin area.

This begs for an explanation.

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Pac-10 Predictions: Can Rest of League Finally Bear Down on USC?

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-09T10:30:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac 10

So is this the year someone besides USC wins the Pac-10 title and gains the automatic BCS bowl berth?

If there is ever a year for USC to get chased from behind and caught, this is this year. The Trojans are breaking in a new quarterback in Aaron Corp and replacing several departed starters to the NFL draft.

So who's it going to be? Cal? Can the Golden Bears overcome early-season trap games and win the games they are supposed to and make it interesting? Can Oregon beat USC at home and win difficult road games and take the title? And how about Oregon State? Do Mike Riley teams always have to start 1-3 before getting into high gear?

And what about the rest of the field? Is this Stanford's breakout year? Is UCLA ready to become a Pac-10 factor again? And is Arizona really the third worst team in the conference as it was picked by the media? These are all intriguing questions that will be worked out in the coming weeks.

Our standings preview and records predictions are after the jump.

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Nate Robinson Still Unsure of Future

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-03T20:00:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Hawks, Knicks, NBA Rumors

SEATTLE -- After dropping 35 points in a local all-star game and winning a 3-point contest shooting left-handed in a searing Garfield High School gym, Knicks guard Nate Robinson had no answers regarding his professional whereabouts in a few months.

Robinson, a restricted free agent, has yet to agree to a contract next season with New York, leaving him uncertain of his future just two months before training camp begins. Robinson received a two-year offer from the Greek club Olympiakos but remains unsigned.

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Don't Expect Major Changes Under the New Pac-10 Commissioner

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-31T21:00:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- New Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott made it clear Thursday at Pac-10 Media Day: he plans to examine carefully the major criticisms of his predecessor, Tom Hansen, but made no promises about any changes from the status quo.

The Pac-10 may be the most underexposed major conference in the country, has only one New Years Day bowl commitment and -- along with the Big Ten -- has no revenue-producing conference championship game. Critics chided Hansen because he was resistant to change, and there have been hopes that the younger Scott, who arrived from the Women's Tennis Association, would immediately implement improvements. He made no promises Thursday.

Here are some notes from his Q&A with the media Thursday in Los Angeles:

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Pac-10 Media Day Notebook

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-31T10:15:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- USC was picked to win the Pac-10 football title for the seventh consecutive year by the media, and yet the coaches from all nine competitors -- including Arizona's Mike Stoops (right) and even USC coach Pete Carroll -- touched on the uncertainty of the Trojans this season.

USC received 28 of the 32 votes with California receiving three while third-place Oregon collected one vote. The Trojans will be breaking in a new quarterback and several new defenders since 11 players were taken in the NFL Draft. Perhaps this is the year another school emerges and takes the crown out of Los Angeles, but they approached Thursday precariously and with respect. There were no declarations that USC is going down or the reign is over -- not even from UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.

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Pete Carroll Says USC Is Following Rules

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-31T00:15:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: USC, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- There is an alluring naivete in Pete Carroll, a genuineness when responding to questions about potential wrongdoings or errors in his program. The USC Trojans have dominated the Pac-10 and college football during his nine-year tenure and Carroll is accustomed to questions about the cleanliness of his team.

Such was the case Thursday, when the coach performed the media rounds on Pac-10 Media Day, talking to every local television station, cable networks, a Seattle radio talk show and then print and Internet reporters, discussing allegations that his hiring of NFL experienced coaches such as Pete Rodriguez and Alex Gibbs as consultants were violations.

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Sarkisian Expects Jake Locker to Sign With Angels

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-30T14:25:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Washington, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- Steve Sarkisian is trying to restart a winning tradition at the University of Washington and having quarterback Jake Locker will help that cause.

Yet, he realizes that Locker is such a gifted athlete, there will be other demands for his services, such as baseball. And Sarkisian said he believes Locker will sign a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Angels, who drafted him in the 10th round in June's amateur draft.

Locker, a rising junior, coming off missing the final eight games with a broken finger, is slated to start for the Huskies and finished 16-for-18 in the UofW Spring Game.

"Eventually that will probably get done," Sarkisian said. "He's been very patient (but) I think it will get done, a deal with Angels."

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UCLA, Pac-10 Ready to Get Tough Against SEC

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-30T13:20:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: UCLA, Pac 10, SEC

LOS ANGELES -- The Pac-10 has heard about its reputation of being a less-than-physical football conference. This season, it will get a chance to dispel that tag with three non-conference matchups against the Southeastern Conference.

At Pac-10 Media Day, the league's teams said they are eager to show they can play on the road and play competitive football against the nation's elite teams. LSU comes to Seattle to play Washington Sept. 5 while UCLA travels to Tennessee (Sept. 12) while Arizona State faces Georgia in Athens, Ga., Sept. 26.

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Will Year of Transition in Pac-10 Lead to USC's Ouster?

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-29T23:00:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- Perhaps there was a reason Pete Carroll pleaded with Mark Sanchez to return to USC for his senior season. He knew his Trojans would lose their gorilla grip on the Pac-10, and that is the enduring theme entering the conference's media day Thursday at the LAX Sheraton Hotel.

The Trojans are not the prohibitive favorites, but the precarious favorites with a slew of teams chasing them. But there's one major catch in their pursuit, most of the conference teams -- outside Washington -- are breaking in a new or less experienced quarterback. USC should be voted the favorites Thursday, but who is second?

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Life After Brockman Begins for Huskies

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-24T16:00:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Washington, Pac-10

Lorenzo Romar is downplaying the talent and potential of his Washington Huskies basketball team. Yes, they lost all-time leading rebounder Jon Brockman along with productive guard Justin Dentmon, but the Huskies are deep and have three able incoming freshman that make Washington a Top 25 team this year.

The Huskies have the type of depth that can compete with the perennial power programs. What's more, Washington is three deep at nearly every position, and that type of competition sparks potential transfers. But the Huskies lost only one player, little-used center Joe Wolfinger, in the offseason. So this loaded roster -- featuring Pac-10 freshman of the year Isaiah Thomas and vastly improved swingman Quincy Pondexter -- is ready.

At least that's what Romar hopes.

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Blake Griffin Says He Needs More Work

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-23T18:03:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Clippers, Summer League

LAS VEGAS -- Blake Griffin, who will miss USA Basketball's minicamp because of a strained shoulder, came away from the Las Vegas Summer League with much to work on, despite being named MVP of the league.

Griffin, the Clippers forward, said defense will be his biggest obstacle during his adjustment to the NBA, and he learned a great deal about communication and spacing during the five-game summer league stint.

"For me, it's just about getting the things down that I need to get down like defensive schemes and understand where to be at what time because those things won't change too much," he said. "The competition is gonna be better but for the most part the sets are the same and everything like that. Everything's been kind of what I expected and I am just trying to handle it the right way. Defense. [I've got to] learn things quickly and react off of instinct."

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Pacers Refuse to Match Toronto's Offer Sheet to Jarrett Jack

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-20T22:30:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Pacers, Raptors, NBA Transactions

As expected, the Indiana Pacers allowed Jarrett Jack to go to the Toronto, refusing to match the Raptors' four-year offer sheet for the emerging point guard.

"It was a very difficult decision because Jarrett proved last season what he can bring to a team," Pacers President of Basketball Larry Bird in a statement. "We thank Jarrett for his contributions to the Pacers, both on and off the court, and wish him the best in Toronto."

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Warrick Waits While Future Is Decided

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-19T15:15:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Grizzlies

LAS VEGAS -- This is a difficult period for restricted free agents. They are not unrestricted, so they can't sign with any team and move forward with their careers. Their previous team has the rights to match any offer from another club or make a qualifying offer at its leisure for another season. So the restricted free agent waits for calls. They work out. And they are without a team -- at least for a summer.

Hakim Warrick is in this position. He watched his Memphis Grizzlies take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the Las Vegas Summer League hoping he returns to the Grizzlies and is part of their bright future. But nothing is official yet. He has yet to receive an offer sheet from another club and Grizzlies management is waiting to make a decision. At 27, Warrick is entering the prime of his career and could be an important contributor for a team on the rise.

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Thunder Waives Earl Watson, Who Could Sign With Indiana

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-18T19:58:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Pacers, Summer League, Thunder, NBA Transactions

The Thunder waived guard Earl Watson on Friday and Watson is expected to sign with the Indiana Pacers as soon as his one-week waiver period expires. The Thunder will have to pay Watson a portion of final $6.6 million of his contract and it gives Oklahoma City more roster flexibility.

The move may be an indication that former lottery pick Shaun Livingston has cemented himself as the reserve point guard and it gives Watson a chance to play significant minutes. That wasn't going to happen this season for OKC, which is preparing for the future.

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Anthony Morrow Sparkles His Way to Summer League Record

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-16T23:59:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Warriors, Summer League

LAS VEGAS -- They were chanting "50" late in the fourth quarter. A Fro-Hawked Anthony Morrow was humbled by the adulation. The former Georgia Tech standout made his way to the NBA the hard way last year and now was more popular in Las Vegas on Thursday night than Wayne Newton.

Morrow, the Golden State Warriors guard, was brilliant in an easy win over the New Orleans Hornets, setting the Summer League record with 47 points and earning whole new slew of admirers.

"I heard them say '50' and it felt pretty good," said Morrow, who exited the game in the final two minutes to a rousing ovation. "I was just trying to get off good shots and my teammates kept feeding me. It was a good feeling."

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Mark Cuban 'Not Worried' About Dirk Nowitzki Opting Out

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-16T22:40:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA All-Star Game, Summer League

LAS VEGAS -- Mark Cuban enjoys the attention at Summer League. As he sits in the front row of Cox Pavilion watching games, a horde of kids ask for autographs. This is an unusual occurrence for NBA owners.

Cuban is hoping that his brotherly relationship with his players and relentless desire to bring Dallas an NBA title will encourage Dirk Nowitzki to stay with the Mavericks. Nowitzki has a $21 million player option for the 2010-11 season that Cuban would prefer he accept. If not, Nowitzki will be an unrestricted free agent and part of the elite class that will include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Cuban has signed Jason Kidd to a three-year deal, traded for Shawn Marion and continues to chase available free agents instead of rebuilding. All of that is a play to convince Nowitzki to stay.

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