Embarassing ...

Game four of the NBA playoffs was a complete disaster for the Lakers this time around. They played the Houston Rockets and lost terribly, the scored ended at 99-87. The most shocking part about the loss is the fact that the Rockets best player Yao Ming didn't play. What exactly were the Lakers doing, they couldn't have been playing basketball.

Photo: Los Angeles Times

The LA Times feel as though the Lakers got out what they put in, in game four. In fact they were very disgusted with the Lakers performance and made comments such as, "Usually, I type 900 words, but, in the spirit of a team that fell behind 19-4 before breaking a sweat, I'm giving you less than half of that."The OC Register reports the Lakers efforts in game four to be "horrendous," but points out Houston's lead of 17 points within the first half of the game, while Lakers have their four points. ESPN quotes Phil Jackson in warning his team not to be too confident because of Yao's absence, "I don't want my players to think it's going to be an easy battle tonight," he said before the game. "It's not going to be easy." It was also stated that Yao will be missing the rest of the Houston's campaign due to a hairline fracture in his left foot. But fortunately he was able to watch the game from the sidelines.

UC Irvine takes the NCAA volleyball title ...

UC Irvine won the NCAA volleyball title after winning their game against USC. Irvine had a ton of support in the crowd, approximately 3,015 people from their student body were in the stands.

ESPN reports that Ammerman of UC Irvine was elected as the tournaments most valuable player, after sticking out a rough junior season. He had six kills, 12 blocking assist, and one solo block in today's game. According to the OC Register Irvine's coach Speraw attempts to ensure that people know their 2007 win was not just by luck, "This shows that 2007 wasn't just lightning striking," Speraw added. "Any program can win one (championship) with the right recruiting class, a couple of transfers and a few breaks in the playoffs. To get to three national championships and win two of them shows we have something special here." LA Times elaborates on how proud Speraw is of his team's win, "That was an epic battle," UC Irvine Coach John Speraw said. "I think people could be talking about that match for a very, very long time."

Ouch!

Game 3

Unfortunately Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets was injured this game, he allegedly has a sore left foot, that of which could possibly be broken, and Artest was ejected from the game with 43.6 seconds left. But onto better news, the Lakers won with a score of 108-94, and Derek Fisher returned to the scenes.
Photo: ESPN

The OC Register pointed out Kobe's 33 point score, as he blocked two shots against 7-foot-6 Yoa Ming. They also state that, "With 43.6 seconds left Artest brought back the tenor of Game 2 and was ejected for a type-two flagrant foul when he flattened Pau Gasol with a hard and high hit." ESPN reports Kobe's 3-pointer from 33 feet at the end of the third quarter. The LA Times clarifies that the foul Artest made on Pau Gasol was downgraded from a one-game suspension to a flagarant one. Meaning he will play in Game 4.

Another Reason to Tune In

Look who has attended the NCAA tournament. Gotta snag me a ticket!!

 photo: OC register

Anyways...Back to sports. The LA times discussed a succesful defensive game played by the Lakers 117, Bulls 109. And the main topic of discussion: The key players weren't... KOBE. He sat out and "struggled" on the floor. Looks like the Lakers can manage without him. Or maybe the Bulls just didn't have it going on that night. There's also alot of chatter about the Laker's "bench mob". According to the LA Times, ESPN's 710 podcast was discussing this group of seat warmers who were rather impressive, but it wasn't enough to being home the cheese. But the other nights game did give them a little more status.

ESPN.com thinks the Lakers have a shot, but there are some major contenders this year, including there own mates the Los Angeles Clippers ( who beat the Boston Celtics 90-77)

Shakey Future for UCLA

ok, ok, Back to B-ball

As Brandon mentioned earlier, UCLA's performance this season has not been up to par.

After an early exit from the NCAA tournament, their coach is trying to regroup and focus on next season. LA Times quoted coach Ben Howland saying, "We've got a lot of work to do."

You can say that again. Next year they will only have 3 seniors (assuming they don't sign with the NBA)

and the rest will be sophomores. It looks like the Bruins and the Kings have more in common than I thought. 

In the same article, LA Times noted that Coach Howland warned everyone,

"the 2008-9 Bruins were neither as deep nor as experiences as the teams that reached the previous three Final Four."

And the team agrees. Forward Drew Gordon told the LA Times, "Everybody's doubting us right now. We're young. We're inexperienced."

Villanova coach, Jay Wright, told an ESPN reporter, "We have so much respect for the UCLA tradition...you get fired up to play a team like that."

The Orange County Register has been following the team and predicted their defeat, saying "history would not be their aly" on March 15. With all the respect UCLA has, it's sad they can't live up to the hype.

-Nicole DeJesus

What about Hockey?

Keeping up with Kings

Ya ya ya...during the month of March basketball always steals the show. But what about all the ruthless toothless hockey players? With less than a month to go before the playoffs the Kings have some major catching up to do. Let it be known that this year's Kings are one of the youngest teams ever. Here are the kids current stats: (30-32-10).

According to ESPN.com their game against the Chicago Blackhawks left them hurting after anoter 4-1 defeat. The Kings also lost 4-1 last week to the Pittsburg Penguins. But, what's got them down? In an interview by the LA Times, they're coach Terry Murray said he thinks it's got something to do with inexperience. And Chicago's coach told ESPN that they were desperate for a win. I think what we have here is a classic case of the underdogs. Or maybe you gotta lose some to win some. But if LA isn't careful... they could get pucked :)

MEANWHILE... The OC Register reported some major foul play going on. The Ducks right wing, Corey Perry accused Sharks goaltender of Evgeni Nobokov of using his skate to kick him in the arm after play had stopped late in the third period. "Everything was over," Perry said. "I was still lying there on my knees. All of the sudden, Nabokov just turned and kicked me."

Those hockey guys sure are brutal. But Perry is no prince charming, he was suspended in January from four games for elbowing Philly Flyers rookie, Claude Giroux, in the head.

-Nicole DeJesus

Basketball on the Brain

Both the LA Times and ESPN cover USC's victory over Boston College earlier today. USC beat Boston College in a decisive 72-55 win. The LA Times highlights USC's Taj Gibson and his better than average performance. He was a hundred percent going shooting 10-10 for 24 points. At one point USC was behind by seven points and then led by Gibson went on an 11-0 run to turn the game around. 

ESPN's depiction of the game was very similar to that of the LA Times. Gibson's performance and perfect shooting was the essence of the article. It also gave little credit to the top performers on the Boston College side. The article was concluded with a breakdown of the type of breakthrough play that helped USC to a victory. 

Finally, the OC Register took a turn from the March madness hype and took a look into the playoffs and championships for Orange County high schools. The OC Register's article gave insight to the upcoming championship game with Orange County's Brea-Olinda girl's basketball. It is a California Interscholatic Federation (CIF) Division II championship game.

photo by Robert Gauthier/ LA Times

-Brandon Mc.