Sports Candy

I can't believe Barbaro is gone

2007-01-29T21:11:00.000-08:00

I was just talking to my bf last night about Barbaro's condition. And as soon as I wake up, I found out he's been put to rest. What made me even more mad was ESPN. They didn't even have him on the front page of their website for the whole weekend, probably knowing his dire condition. Thank goodness for SI, right?! Anyways, I'm totally sad. It's true the huge amount of public interest surrounding him pushed everyone in his camp to try and fix him instead of euthanizing Barbaro way back when. He didn't even live lone enough to hit the anniversary of his Kentucky Derby win. And Barbaro will never have little Barbies and Baros running all over the place. He should have really been reproducing before this all happened. I'm still in shock. (Pic courtesy of SI.com).

Knowles "Dereon" to Outfit Nets Dancers

2007-01-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

The New Jersey Nets dancers are going to be the best dressed in the NBA very soon. Thanks to their new designer, Tina Knowles. It was reported on Page Six of the New York Post that Jay-Z and Beyonce's mother have agreed Dereon will be the offical sponser for the 16 ladies. Thank God for this much needed wardrobe change. Hopefully this will pave the way to better looking outfits on NBA dancers. The current look of leather, torn-up shirts, shimmery sports bras and butt-hugging spandex shorts are just horrible. After the new outfits are debuted, people wont be waiting until halftime to hit the snack bar. And women (who care about fashion, sports or just Beyonce) are going to breakout their Thomas guides and head to Continental Airlines Arena. (pic courtesy of the hoopsvibe.com).

Best story of 2007: Boise State & Johnson

2007-01-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

After Boise State defeated Oklahoma in a dramatic comeback in overtime, BSU running back Ian Johnson proposed to his girlfriend, Chrissy. Now thats what I call an eventful season and a great way to "ring" in the New Year. I bet every girl who saw Johnson propose on TV ate it up and secretly wish to be proposed to in similar fashion one day. Sigh.

New Year of ME

2007-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

I haven't written in a LONG TIME. I knew I hadn't, but after talking to my Edwin about blogging, I knew I had to get back on the ball. Whats happened since I've been gone? My Cal Bears and my twin's USC Trojans won their respective bowls: The Holiday and Rosebowl. The A's Barry Zito signed a fatty contract with who else to my surprise, but those GIANTS! God! I couldn't believe it. Zito looked so good in gold and green and now I have to watch him in halloween colors. How weird. There are only two good things that come out of this: he doesn't have to move since he'll be just 30-40 minutes away from his old stadium and I can still watch him across the bay. I can't believe "My Boys" is a hit with the mass audiences of America. I guess the whole friendship between P.J. and her guy friends got to them or her ongoing "thing" with her fellow sportswriter. Girls can be stuck on the relationships and drama between people. Which is fine, since they don't care about her career as a female sportswriter, which is the reason I tuned in and out after one episode. Alright, enough for now. Oh! one last thing, Tiger Woods is gonna be a daddy?! Wow. The best entertainment stories on athletes can't be found on espn.com ... but people.com. Who knew? Only a tabloid fen like me would. hehehe. I'm back!

"My Boys" Sucked

2006-11-29T17:07:00.000-08:00

So I watched the highly anticipated sitcom about a female sports reporter called, "My Boys." And boy did it suck. It was hard for me to even watch a full episode. P.J. is the main character and writer who takes us into her world of buddies and poker. Really, half the show takes place in her small apartment. There are barely any scenes with her at Wrigley Field in the press box. And to top it all off, I just despise how the entire show is compared to baseball. "Baseball is comprised of teams, and my team is made up of Bill, Bob, Andrew and Joseph ... Bill and Bob are like the infielders on the team." I mean, seriously, are you kidding me? The writing is just off and I don't feel like the creators had any idea what baseball is about. Very below expecations. I just, well, wanted more.

Celebs are back on the hardwood

2006-11-02T23:03:00.000-08:00

Celebs <3 the NBA. I swear its their favorite sport to support, just ask Jack, Leo or Tobey (pictured here watching the Lakers with his pregnant fiance, Jenn). And guess what, sometimes its more exciting to watch the jumbo screen for celeb sighings then to see Kobe Bryant hit a jumper. I'm just sayin'.

Halloweeen in the Castro & Costume Talk

2006-11-01T12:06:00.000-08:00

I'm in a bashing-sort-of-mood because on SI's section, SI On Campus.com, they have a quick write up about how Ohio University "is the place to be" on Halloween. Are you kidding me? Please. The place to be is The Castro in S.F. And all of UC Berkeley's students thats where they must flee when the sun goes down. They dress up, the girls slutty strawberry shortcakes and the guys as Zorro, a golfer or even a homemade cloud (he stuck dozens of cotton balls all over him and had a sign on him reading (I'm a fu**king cloud, so don't ask).

Either way, the Downtown Bart Station wauts PACKED. And undergrads are sometimes too much to handle when they are in high concentrations. Either way we all got off, well pushed ourselves out on 16th and Mission and headed to the Castro. Oh my gosh, talk about crazy, weird and wild things people do in diguise. It was hard to move anywhre. I lost half my group and then there was barely any room to dance. Security was extra tight, but I managed to jump over the steel barracks (thanks to Luckie lifting me over).

Most memorable costumes: A guy dressed as Becker (from the Muppet Babies), a talking Fandango bag, a red ipod, eyeballs, bears, dozens of sheriffs (real and fake) OH and a person peeking out of a carboard myspace profile page. Hilarious.

But what wasn't original were the meant-to-be-cute outfits which really turn into slutty onesies. Boobs popping out, butts hanging out. Little red riding hood suddnely became a vixen, teenagers find inventive ways to wear lacy numbers and women take sports costumes to the sluttiest of extremes.

I'm sorry, but halloween is not a day to excuse yourself from looking skanky. Look at SI's Jenn Sterger. She's in a photo wearing some referee halter dress. Her boobs are totally exposed (I'm sure the sports men will like that right, I mean pretty girl in revealing wear).

Cheerleaders with the shortest of skirts.

Do guys think girls wearing sports attire with a new twist - literally creating dresses from referee, football and baseball uniforms - is a plus?

It just adds to the number one reason why they dress the way they do: because they want male attention. Obviously Jenn Sterger is doing it for her readers. But gees, what happened to looking good while still hiding your best assets?

Your suppose to wear a costume b/c it does something for you. Not because it DOES something for the beholder.

(FYI, leave the sexy attire in your lingerie drawer or when you want to act up some kinky fantasty for your significant other IN the bedroom).

Whatever, The Castros was awesome - Ohio University people don't know what they're missing - and I'm glad I left before the shootings took place. Sigh.

Cameron & Leinart Have a Boy

2006-10-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

Brynn Cameron gave birth to a baby boy, Cole, Tuesday night. The baby's father, Matt Leinart, was excused from practice today to be with them, says Fox Sports. You can read the latest news about the newest "sportscelebrity" baby at People.com.

"This is Bear Territory" on YouTube

2006-10-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Just two days after Cal's Marshawn Lynch went wild on a go-cart - after Cal upset Washington in overtime - did golden bear fans put up YouTube clips of Lynch driving all over the field and Oski crowd surfing in the student section. What a golden opportunity to showcase a great finish. Watch these two videos!

What's in a name?

2006-10-16T17:03:00.000-07:00

A LOT! Ex. It's not UC Berkeley, or the University of California at Berkeley during football season. Its simply California, or better yet, Cal. How sly is that.

SGV Locals Die: Yankees Cory Lidle and Tyler Stanger

2006-10-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor, Tyler Stanger died yesterday after Lidle crashed his small plane into a Manhattan apartment building.

The story is tragic and continues to be. Especially for their families and friends. Lidle, 34, was a star athlete at South Hills High School in West Covina, the town over from Walnut. His wife and son live in Glendora. Both lived in the San Gabriel Valley or really, my backyard.

I'm especially sad because Stanger's younger brother went to school with me. My heart goes out to their families.

I did not know these men. But I can't help but feel more connected to them because of these circumstances and because friends of mine knew Stanger. Lidle has a twin brother. I have a twin sister. I read the transcript of his interview with Larry King on CNN and I just can't imagine if I were in the same situation. When he talked about feeling shocked. I just ... I don't know. They say the twin bond is different and they talked often so I just can't imagine how morose he may feel.

These are just my thoughts to the developing story.

In so many news stories you hear about someone dying. At a certain point, you grow numb to it b/c, well, we hear about it so much. But with these two, its not so. They are not just two men you read about or see a photo of on a website. At least for me and I know several others from the SGV.

pray.

Back in Top 10

2006-10-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

After the Golden Bears went "duck hunting" Saturday night, they are a legitimate Pac-10 rival. We sent those fans, dressed in green and yellow back down to the bart station or wherever they needed to hide out at after Cal handed them a 45-24 loss. Now the AP Top 25 ranked us 10, which is very nice. Now I'm waiting for the game I've been waiting for all summer, CAL vs. USC. I'm excited. But wait, I should keep a close eye out for Washington in the meantime.

P.S. SI put Cal on the cover of their "college football" homepage. Finally, we're back.

No. 16 California vs. No. 11 Oregon

2006-10-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Homecoming game 2006

The muggy weather has left just in time for the game. And soon the trollies from the city will crawl through the perimeter of UC Berkeley. My campus has been invaded by alumni! to say the least. I guess they take homecoming seriously but I'm taking it in strides. Why? because this is the biggest game of the year. Well, at the moment. I'm definitely looking forward to the game but I'm nervous. With the Golden Bears, its always a mental thing. Athletically they have it, and everyone knows it, but they just psych themselves out sometimes and this costs them the game. Ex. Tenn. We should have won, but we didn't. I think my bears had the jitters because of the preseason hype. Either way, we are currently on a good run, winning four in a row and hopefully will win this one too. I know they can do it, I don't doubt it for a second. But I want to see my bears win before my eyes. I don't want to believe it. I want to see an excellent game from up on the hill (I'll be watching the game from uptop. I'll be layered in blankets by halftime but I'll scream my guts out for my bears (promise Tara), especially when they come out with the victory! GO BEARS!

"Think Blue" all the way to the Playoffs!

2006-09-30T23:29:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers for clinching a playoff berth in a game against their non-other rival "Northern" rival, the San Francisco Giants. I'm down south for the weekend, while they went up North. But who cares? I saw it all on TV :0) Now thats sweet.

Terrell Owens: Attempted Suicide or Not?

2006-09-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

Mr. T.O, I don't get you. You answered "yes" when firefighters asked if you wanted to harm yourself. And now you said you didn't try to commit suicide? Owens claims "grogginess" as his excuse to saying "yes"? Give me a break.

Owens can try and change the ending to the last 24-hours of his life, but he can't. No, no, no. There's evidence (police report) he tried to commit suicide or at least harm himself.

The hospital pumped his stomach, and now he denies it. The whole point of pumping one's stomach is to rid itsef of dangerous substances. Too much alcohol, too many drugs, too many swallowed perscription pills perhaps?

Whatever the case may be, Owens does not admit to attempted suicide. Owens tries to make us believe by showing off in practice by making passes and being ready to play this weekend, but it's all a fabulous sideshow to his ostentasious life.

Plus, as my sister (the budding social worker) told me, he's probably denying it because of the potential repurcussions he'll face.

Oakland A's are Too Good not to Love

2006-09-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

I watched the A's vs. Angels game last Friday night. Even though I was getting ready to go bowling with friends, I continually sat down in front of my tiny TV. First the A's were up, then the Angels came back to tie it. Wo, Barry Zito got a haircut? Anyways, the point of the story is, I was pressed to root for one team and the Angels won, but just by a bit.

Yes, I like the Angels and I want them to pick up a few more wins so they can make it to the playoffs, but there's just something about those A's. The A's, who sport an elephant as its mascot, are the feel good team of California. I secretly hope they go deep into the playoff race in October. Besides the added bonus of potentially watching a home game at McAfee Coliseum (an advantage to living in the East Bay)if they make it far into the Halloween season, I just can't help but dream of a championship for the Oakland A's.

Sure they're stuck playing in a dreary coliseum in Oakland (has a bad meaning to people, but common, parts of Oakland are just not that bad). Even so, the A's have a huge following these days. As evidenced when I was on the Bart yesterday. I saw dozens of them dressed in yellow and dark green. Their destination: the Coliseum bart stop, conveniently located next to McAfee.

I don't know what it is about those A's, but I adore them. Their the little team that could.

Watch High School Football Games on YouTube

2006-09-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't written a blog entry about high school sports yet. So here goes. I was on YouTube the other day and I wondered, "Are there any high school football games on this thing?"

I looked up a couple from the SGV and what do I find but the Los Altos vs. South Hills game from earlier this season! Yes, can you believe it. The camera guy did a good job, I must say.

This is only one school who has footage of a friday night game, but what does this mean to newspapers prep sports sections and webpage?

If people continually tape football games and boot them into their computers, this can deteroritate any advances newspapers or television companies wish to do with prep sports. The bottom line is, "whats the point of showing the whole game though our website or show if people can watch it at home or at the office at whatever time they want?"

I doubt this will put a negative spin to prep sports in the media because I don't think it will take away any of its glamor. But its scary how YouTube can influence the outcome of media outlets. And not only that, savvy computer people who know how to tape, download the material on a computer and publish it on a website. Creepy and fascinating at the same time.

Two Journalists may be Denied Their First Amendment Rights

2006-09-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Lance Williams was one of my journalism professor's at UC Berkeley. He always greeted us with a "Hey now." Now he might be saying it from a jail cell?! :/

Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada are the writers of the well-known "Game of Shadows." (It should be well known to anyone into sports). The book discusses Barry Bonds, steroids, the grand jury testimonies and much more.

But may I remind people the book wasn't solely made to bash Bonds. Please people! The writers mentioned other athletes as well. Don’t be so judgmental!

Because Williams and Fainaru-Wada, one an investigative reporter and the other a sports writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, had sources give them confidential information from the BALCO trials, the federal court asked them to disclose who these sources. The two will not. Of course they won’t! What kind of reporters would they be if they broke a promise to a confidential source?! Not like it’s our first amendment rights. Does anyone remember the part which reads, freedom of the press? Duh people.

Now the two authors are facing time in jail for not producing their sources. I can't even begin to tell you how wrong this whole fiasco is. Williams and Fainaru-Wada did nothing illegal to obtain the information gathered for “Game of Shadows.” The public wants them to be punished for getting information they really, didn't want to hear or read. They were truthful in every account and people just can’t handle the truth.

Even though they can exercise their first amendment right, the court is denying them this natural right. How absurd is that?

There will be at a court hearing in San Francisco this Thursday to see whether the two will be sent to jail. This is a monumental case to reporters and the media. Not including the ripple effect it may have on the public’s view on the media. A sad day it will be indeed, if two innocent reporters must go to jail, and an even sadder day for U.S. reporters.

Fainaru-Wada and Williams spoke briefly about the book in my class last year. It will be a shame to see these two behind bars. But at least I know they stood up for what they believe. That says something.

A State of Longing from a SoCal Sports fan

2006-09-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

My thoughts and experiences from down South:

-Sitting in traffic on the 101 to reach the Dodgers.
As we get off our exit, the car must curl around to the top of the hill, where the stadium is. The view from the fence of Downtown LA is exactly how LA is imagined. Then my friends and I must get in, get free t-shirts and find our shady seats behind home plate. The constant sun’s rays turn my skin pink, but I got to see Nomar hit. Then, when the game ends, we must curl back down and sit in traffic, yet again.

- Angels Stadium: “Totally Awesome Dude.”
You can see it off the 57 and it’s a bright red utopia for Angel fans. Don't park inside, because you can steadily find parking on side streets. Any seat in the stadium is magnificent. No joke. As I sit back and watch the game, cars stream up and down the freeway off in the distance. You can't hear them, though, because "Its Rally Time" fills the "disneylandish" air. And no matter what, the game always looks better at night.

- Summerland Ave.
On the top of Summerland Ave is a house, built decades ago. The eating table can't be used as clutter fills it. The house shrinks in size a little; because every room has miscellaneous objects piled everywhere. But one room is free of all this-the family. And here is where my most-favorite-person-to-watch-anything-sports-related sits. He is my grandpa: my sports dictionary, my reference guide and the best person to watch endless hours of afternoon baseball alongside. Wherever we are, either in my house in the SGV valley, his, or at a game, I love to just watch one game after another with him. The Dodgers, Angels, PGA or NBA are not enjoyed enough, as they are when I'm on the couch, leaning on him, in front of the tube.

- The merchandise!
I can't tell you how many SF hats and sweatshirts I see every day, especially when I go into "The City" a.k.a San Francisco. I dream of the reds, blues, whites and yellows from down south.

- Local SoCal Networks.
Do you know, that if I want to watch a local sports channel, I won’t be watching the Dodgers or Angels this time of year, but the Giants? I don't mind the As, their cool cats. And it’s not so much watching the Giants as just wishing I could watch the FSN for Southern California instead of "Bay Area." Five hundred miles is too far to physically go to the games, but now I can't watch them on TV. Kind of sucks sometimes.

I be surrounded by Bay Area sports teams is just dandy, because I really don't mind them. I rather have something, then nothing. But they just aren't what I'm used to or what I grew up with. I suppose others who relocated express the same sentiments as I do. So as Winnie-the-Pooh would say, “Oh dear.”

Now I'm a Happy Golden Bear

2006-09-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

What a weekend. Today I read and tried to do school-related work, which means WRITE. So I guess you can say Sundays are my "get stuff done" days. But, yesterday was a LONG day with a very happy ending. My fellow j-schoolers and I had a tailgate in the courtyard before the Cal vs. Minnesota game. Of course, we got to the game a little late, sat way way up in the Blue Zone and froze our butts off for the next two quarters. But I had a blast. I was worried about my Golden Bears after there was an interception early on and then the Golden Gophers (I know, can you believe their golden too?) scored on the first down after starting on practically the opposite end zone.

Tara definitely won the "Loudest Fan" award out of my crowd. She knows a lot about football (to my surprise). Needless to say, we sat in front of a group of ancient golden bears. Four old-timers who sat with their headsets on! Can you believe that? Headsets on during the game? I guess it's cool to listen to the game as it takes place. Sometimes people are just too smart for Cal.

To my relief, we won, but I didn't stay until the end (I know, so bad, but I was turning into a Popsicle, my friend were getting a little restless and Toni already split for a cigarette). I love Memorial Stadium and watching the game, but I saw the fog rolling in from my seat. We left in the beginning of the fourth and headed to the La Vals on Euclid.

I had ravioli with my j-schoolers as the Texas vs. Ohio State game took place on the big screen. The night only got better as Texas lost to Ohio State :0). (I was at the Rose Bowl game cheering on USC when they lost to those burnt orange men, so of course I was happy UT lost badly).

So to refresh your memories this was a good weekend because 1. Cal won, 2. Ohio State won, 3. I spent tons of time with my friends, 4. I was productive in school work and 5. Everything else that happened, which I didn't mention.

How old is too old to cut in line?

2006-09-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

I went with two friends to Cal's ticket office this afternoon. As soon as we got there, the line was already winding around. It's not the number of people who wait in line that takes the longest, its how long people take at the ticket windows.

Anyways the man in front of me, obviously past his prime, was waiting patiently when two of his older male colleagues (I guess) came and talked to him. I said the line was behind me, but they remained stagnant. Were these older gentlemen about to cut? Anyways, they left, but I still wasn't sure if they would come back and cut in front of me.

Of course I was about to say something if they DID cut. Even my friend said, "They are too old to be cutting," which is totally true. We talked and decided people should stop cutting when they reach their 21st birthday, because obviously they know better then to. And secondly, if they look like your mom or dad, then they shouldn't even try. Gees, some people. In the end, I bought my 15 tickets for the Cal vs. Minnesota game. Mission accomplished.

My Fantasty Baseball Team Made the Playoffs!

2006-09-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

Yes! High-fives all around.

My first fantasy baseball team has made it to the playoffs! I'm the only female in my league and dang, I'm so proud of myself for making it this far. Of course I have to thank my close guy friends, because they were there to answer any questions I had. And just so you all know, I didn't do an automatic draft. I searched, picked and drafted my players.

So who am I playing? My professor of all people. How do you like them apples? But anyways, I'm totally excited. Now I just have to wait and see how far my guys will take me.

Sports Community Should Pay Tribute to "Crocodile Hunter"

2006-09-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

Could it be true? Steve Irwin, the “Crocodile Hunter” is dead?

Out of all the mammals and reptiles in the animal kingdom, it came down to a stingray.

The famous 44 year-old "Crocodile Hunter" was fatally stung by a stingray’s barb off of Australia’s coast Monday morning.

The news was the front of all media websites like CNN and Aol.com but not ESPN or SI.com.

Why?

Irwin was a man who participated in the sport of game hunting. But in this sport, you’re supposed to kill what you hunt. He didn’t. So does that mean the sports community can’t pay tribute to Irwin because he set animals free, instead of killing them?

A hunter goes out in the pursuit of seeing and killing a beautiful animal, like a deer. The hunter finds the deer, shoots it, eats it and maybe mounts the animal’s head on a mantel.

It’s almost a double-standard. A game hunter is considered a sport but when a hunter pursues animals in order to preserve them, it’s shunned? Weird.

Irwin hunted exotic, wild animals because it was his passion. But while doing so, he let people across the globe witness the ugliest, deadliest and most fascinating creatures to be seen through his shows and programs. Irwin took the hunter out of “gaming” in order to afford everyone the ability to observe animals they wouldn’t have had the chance to see otherwise.

Crikey, there should have been something written on sports websites about Irwin.

Cal Humiliated and I Pray

2006-09-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

I stayed in my apartment to watch the Cal vs. Tennessee game yesterday. I could have gone to watch a movie or actually been productive with school work but no, I put it all on hold for embarrassment. As I watched Tennessee make an interception on a Cal ball after already scoring, I turned the TV off. The sick feeling of "oh, my team's already in trouble and might not win" hit me. I continually checked the TV and internet for updates, but nothing was to the Golden Bears favor. The first game of the season and already a loss. When I root for some teams, I feel safe because I know they'll come out with the win (i.e. USC). But with Cal, I'm always a little weary. I worry more for my teddy bears. So, to say the least, my afternoon was ruined. I was mad.

Today I talked to my twin. She lifted my spirits by saying, "You know, Cal lost but I know they'll come back and win every game." That's what sisters are for: to give you words of encouragement when your running low on team spirit.
My mind hasn't been so much on sports this weekend. I'm praying for friends and loved ones. Life isn't just about sports. (A phrase many wives and girlfriends probably tell their significant others repeatedly). It's about friends and family. Right now, I wish I could be with them.

P.S. An entry about Agassi to come.

College Football Begins, Pac-10 Talk & the Golden Bears Season-Opener

2006-09-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Cal Head coach Jeff Tedford announced on Tuesday sophomore quarterback Nate Longshore will play the starting position this Saturday when the No. 9 Cal Bears travel to Knoxville to play No.23 Tennessee. Longshore had a very short-lived season last year (two quarters), after he broke his leg against Sacramento State. This probably changed the outcome of Cal’s season, although we did win a few before falling to UCLA, Oregon and USC to end our overall season with a 7-4 record.

Now the Pac-10 tabbed us to finish second in the conference, right behind my twin’s team, USC. It should be a busy season for the Pac-10 because the title is up in the air. My prediction is with my Golden Bears. Yes, I have some favoritism towards them (although I grew up in SoCal and hold some allegiance to USC), because they have a definite shot at beating the Trojans. Cal fans are riding high on the hopes of junior tailback Marshawn Lynch producing an even more successful season. And if Longshore can stay healthy and not break a bone, this can be our breakout year.

Since our first game is away at Tennessee, we are forced to watch it on TV. If you don’t already have cable, here are my top two places to watch the game at. My first is Cal’s campus pub, Bears Lair. It’s absolutely packed on game days with students sitting out on the patio or inside. My second best bet is Raleigh’s on Telegraph Ave. Raleigh’s has great food so you can watch the game while eating a late lunch with a dozen of your friends. Not to mention, both venues have drinks for those 21 and over.

So let the college football season begin. Tons of good luck goes out to all the Pac-10 teams. Extra luck up in Strawberry Canyon and a pinch of luck for the Trojans. As much as I want my team to beat them, I also don’t want the Trojans to fall on their faces against Arkansas or Notre Dame.

If you have a prediction on who will come out the big winner in this year’s Pac-10 conference let me know and also tell me which teams you think will defy the odds.
Oregon, UCLA, USC and Cal are my big Pac-10 teams to beat. Do you agree?

Maria Sharapova is NOT SO PRETTY

2006-08-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

Nike just put out a new commercial featuring tennis ace Maria Sharapova. In it, Sharapova is on the move, heading to a tennis match while everyone around her sings, “I Feel Pretty.”

I saw this commercial only once before my friend Tara mentioned it today. We began talking and finally You-Tubed it.

So after we viewed it a couple more times we discussed what Nike wanted to portray with the ad.

Could it be that Sharapova is a good looking chick who must be admired though a TV commercial? Was the commercial’s audience supposed to be men because not everyone thinks she’s pretty? However, I must applaud Nike for getting almost every race to sing Sharapova this West Side Story song.

I mean, she just isn’t pretty! At least to me she’s not. I don’t think her facial features are that great. She has a body, but I just want to scrunch my nose at the thought of her being this super sexy fem.

Besides me questioning her looks, is Nike trying to go forward or backwards in what femininity should mean?

The answer seems to be Maria Sharapova is the embodiment of beauty and we should just sing about how pretty her face, dress, and smile are. Nike is obviously thinking backwards since they are defining what beauty should be in our eyes.

And why did Sharapova agree to do a commercial about her looks? It seems a bit vain. And she almost looks snobbish in the ad as if she’s saying, “I know I’m pretty so go ahead and sing.” I wonder if “Pretty Woman” was another song option.

Hm.

Nike is playing with the notion she is attractive and then, when she finally returns a serve the crowd and John McEnroe go silent. Oh, yeah, the audience was so entranced by her beauty everyone feel into a hush when, she acted in an un-pretty manner of being competitive, aggressive and a force to reckon with on the court. Perhaps these are unattractive male qualities a pretty girl shouldn’t have?

Its true Sharapova must have won over men and teenage boys by posing for Sports Illustrated’s 2006 swimsuit magazine. They happily sat glued to their toilet seats or laid on their backs on top of their beds. Nevertheless, not all of us are turned on by her beauty. The message (I’m still not sure what it is) is lost in this Nike commercial. Nike, which usually comes up with clean and simple storylines the masses, didn’t make the cut.

Here's the nike commerical if you haven't seen it yet:

Matt Leinart is Going to be a Daddy?!

2006-08-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

I just went to one of my favorite websites, www.people.com, and what did I learn but that Matt Leinart is going to be a daddy. What in the world! Oh Matt, why oh why. But, you know what, babies are always blessings. The article says they are happy but come on. The mother-to-be, USC basketball player Brynn Cameron is sidelined for this coming season and is supposedly due in November, as said by several news outlets. That means both knew of the pregnancy for a while and were able to keep it out of the media for some time. I bet she wasn't planning on this happening but stuff happens. I mean, are they even a couple? I was shocked to say the least since Leinart acted like the, "All-American Guy" on teleivision and print. Even tough I love him, people tell me he's a ladys man. He has been linked to a couple celebrities already. The drama of it all.

Who Does God Root for in Sporting Events?

2006-08-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

I went to church today. As I sat there listening to the priest talk about God I wondered, well who does he root for in sporting events? I mean, when Cal plays Stanford and both teams are praying in their respective locker rooms to win, win, win, what’s the big man supposed to do?

I personally think every player who asks to do well in his/her prayers will do well. God or whoever one prays to will help him do his best. But, I don’t think God throws magic “victory” dust to one particular team. So to conclude, he doesn’t have favorites, but lets everyone perform to the best of their ability. What do you think?

After the thought passed, I went back to listening to the priest and his homily. The things I come up with in church.

A Socaler Ready to be Transplanted Back to the Bay Area

2006-08-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I leave for Berkeley. I spent the whole summer in Southern California or the SGV (San Gabriel Valley) doing a sports internship with the SGV Tribune. When I wasn't working, I split my time between L.A., Walnut, San Pedro, Santa Monica and anywhere else where my family and friends were located. On Monday I start my second-year at UC Berkeley's graduate program in print journalism. I'm ready to see my buddies up there. I can't wait to see Berkeley, a city so eclectic you can't feel out of place because it doesn't allow you to. Besides the city (S.F.), bart rides and old movie theaters in the Bay, I must say I will miss Southern California. The constant heat wave and sports are just a few things I love about the bottom and better part of California. I know I should either be an Angels or Dodgers fan, but I'm a Socal fan. I watched at least one game this summer in each stadium and during the spring I also caught an As and Giants game too. But believe me, I can't wait until the Dodgers roll into AT&T Park late in September to play the "halloween" colored team. That's what I call the Giants b/c their uniforms are orange and black. I don't hate the Giants, I just despise them. I'm okay with the A's though, b/c they seem like nice guys who, unfortunately, are stuck in a grim stadium. The sporting event I'm most looking forward to is the Cal vs. USC game. Some of you may not know I'm a twin. And my twin happens to be getting her graduate degree at USC. So, as you can see, we're ready to watch our teams duke it out. We already bought the tickets. I'll be sitting with my family in the USC section decked out in blue. The only blue one in the sea of red. So, tomorrow I'll be back in my little studio (apartments are super tiny up there). I'm glad I got the opportunity to work at the Tribune for the last few months and more importantly, be with my family. More sports entries to come.