Womens National Team getting prepared!

Interested in seeing what our own WNT soccer team is doing to get ready for this years World Cup hosted in Germany??? Follow their blog at http://www.ussoccer.com/Social/WNT-Blog.aspx

Local Hero

ABC celebrated their 50th anniversary this week and as a tribute released their top 10 sports moments of the last fifty years. #7 on the charts was Brandi Chastain's winning penalty kick to win the 1999 World Cup. As many people know, Brandi is on campus almost everyday, proving to be our true local hero!

Physical or Mental: The Draft

Shortly following the end of the NFL lockdown, Thursday’s draft was absolutely not a let down. While I personally saw this coming, the end of the lockdown right before the draft, all in favor of the players, the draft still proved more exciting than those previous. First to go (first round, first pick) went to the Carolina Panthers took Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. The young quarterback shows incredible talent, athletic ability and arm strength. Coaches and fellow players all see Newton’s abilities as a good chance to open up the Panthers’ running game. One worry: Newton has a big ego and lacks humility, which may give him a hard time in truly leading his team, as a quarterback must. Also a top prospect, Julio Jones was taken in the first round as the sixth pick to the Atlanta Falcons. Hopefully, Jones will be able to give the Falcons explosion as well as aggression, as he is known as one of the most elite playmaking receivers in the draft. Contraire to Newton, Jones is known for his maturity, work ethic and preparation which all give him the pro-style mentality. This draft leaves viewers, fans, listeners, critics, players, owners, coaches and me questioning: which proves more successful, an athletically gifted prospect with an ego and lack of leadership (not allowing him to be respected by his team), or the good athlete with all the mental makings of a pro? Personally, I think that Jones will prove to be a great pick. While these two play opposite positions, I still believe that what Jones has can’t be taught, and that every athlete must attain it. Likewise, Newton’s strength is his athleticism, but there is always a time in an athlete’s career where athleticism stops working. This season is sure to be one of the more interesting, and let’s see how all the rookies show… these are just some ideas and I’m Just Kickin’ it Around.

Angel Savior

Time for me to be a little bit of a homer, but i believe it is totally justified in this case. When we talk about underrated players, or players not in the spotlight, it can be a little vague since there is no real way to gauge who gets talked about and who gets recognition. But is it safe to say that arguably the best player this season is not getting enough recognition? No, not Albert Pujols. Psh, neither Rockie studs Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez. How about last years MVPs, Josh Hamilton and Joey Votto? Nope and Nope. What if I were to tell you it is a pitcher. Well then its got to be Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay. Try again. Felix Hernandez or Tim Lincecum? Wrong and wrong. People, it's Angels top of the rotation man Jered Weaver. Hear me out here. After completing a 10 strikeout, complete game performance tonight against the Oakland Athletics, it is time to start giving this guy his due. The numbers don't lie, there can be an extremely strong argument made for Jered Weaver being the best player in baseball so far this year. He is 6-0 through the team's first 23 games, the last pitcher to do that was Randy Johnson and he won the Cy Young Award that year after finishing with 24 wins. He has two complete games, logged 45.2 innings, only 5 earned runs with an ERA of 0.99, has great control with only 10 walks, a WHIP of 0.79, and to top it off he leads the MLB with 49 strikeouts. He has virtually been un-hittable. His pitching repertoire is downright drop your jaw to the floor-sit you down-grab some pine-don't go crying to your mother-filthy. He is a joy to watch, and for Angels fan, who had a rough year last year, he has been a savior thus far this season. Plus, to top it all off the guy has got swag, which all of us So-Cal folks love. So how about it, let's start giving Jered Weaver some recognition. Thanks for letting me be a homer.


A la Jered Weaver on the bump, always go hard in the paint.

NFL Lockout-- OVER!

Finally, after seven long weeks, a US district judge ordered an end to the lockout, siding with the players in their fight against their owners about how they should divide up money. Here we go 49ers!!! New season, everyone's happy! Just kickin' it around!!!

Could it be?

With the wrap up of another great week of sports, I can't help but notice the role of the underdog in sports this year. From VCU to the Memphis Grizzlies, we got upsets brewing and underdogs ready to bite the big dogs. You could actually trace it all the way back to New Years Day, when TCU shocked the college football world by beating Wisconsin at the granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl. Then we had the Green Bay Packers, the lowest seed in the NFC, take the NFL by storm and win the Super Bowl. And who could forget the Cinderella runs made by Butler and VCU during college basketball's March Madness, because Madness is really what it was. And the trend continues; the Memphis Grizzlies are up 2-1 in their series with the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, the Chicago Blackhawks have clawed their way back after being down 3-0 to tie the series up against the number 1 seeded Vancouver Canucks, and the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians, regular members of the under .500 club, are the darlings of the young MLB season. But will the trend continue? Only time will tell, but for now the little guys are getting their shots and they are seizing the moments.


Always go hard in the paint.

Ducks Fly Home

Unfortunately, on Easter Sunday, the Anaheim Ducks ended their season with a 2-4 loss in game six in Nashville. The game was at a draw 2-2 by the end of the second period but the Ducks just couldnt hold on in the third, giving up 2 goals. The Ducks had a great run but hopefully they'll have better luck next season.