Sid the Kid is back in Business

Crosby was given a concussion during a hard hit to the head by Hedman.

Without a doubt, Crosby has proven to be one of the most effective forwards in the current NHL. However, his career was put to a year-long halt when given a concussion by Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman. This not only left his team wondering how to move forward, but it also "forced the league to take a harsher stance when it comes to policing head hits." Already at the first quarter-point in the NHL season, will he return as the same astounding player?

On a more local level, USC nearly blew a "24-point lead at Eugene but secure a heart-stopping win when the Ducks fail to convert a tying field-goal." What was supposed to be an expected beat down from Oregon, turned out to be a 3-point victory for the underdog, USC.

There is no doubt that "the Trojans re-established themselves as a college football power Saturday." By defeating the former #4, they will surely be placed in a higher position that will gear them toward a much better next year with their punishment coming to an end.

A Pre-game Tragedy

Yale's completely filled stadium for "The Game".

As the highly anticipated rivalry match, between Harvard and Yale's football teams, was about to begin a driver of a U-Haul truck accelerated into a 30 year old woman, delivering a fatal blow. Also, injuring two other woman, the driver was taken into police custody for questioning. A witness said that when he turned around and saw the driver, he did not look intoxicated, but rather, "He had a dazed look like he had just hit someone."

The accident occurred about two hours before Harvard dominated Yale in a 45-7 victory. The woman, a 30-year old from Massachusetts, was killed. The U-Haul truck was transporting beer as it drove through the tailgating area. It unexpectedly accelerated, leading to the accident. Respectfully, "Spectators in Yale Bowl were told of the accident at halftime and were asked to stand for a moment of silence."

On other news, Matt Kemp signs an 8-year megadeal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. "The agreement will pay the 27-year-old outfielder $160 million over eight years."

Can Barkley Take Away the Heisman Trophy and Oregon's Dreams?

In last year's match, Oregon burst ahead of USC in the 4th to win it 53-32.

 

The entire U.S. will witness  Matt Barkley and the Trojans battle against the noise at the infamously loud Autzen Stadium and its intimidating 60,000 fans. Here, Barkley has the same opportunity as Carson Palmer did in 2002 and it will be his throwing arm that decides whether he has what it takes in the battle for the Heisman Trophy. "Before that, Palmer had been in the Heisman mix. Sort of. After that, he was the man to beat." With so much in common, it's not hard to believe how easily Barkley could gloriously repeat history to jump Andrew Luck in the run for the Heisman.

But then again, who really has the edge here? "Oregon proved last week that it's the best team in the Pac-12 North by beating Stanford." But since USC suffered a tragic loss to ASU, they have won 5 of their 6 games and their one loss was in triple overtime to the almighty Stanford.  Does USC have what it takes to spur an upset?

There are several things to take notice before they flip the coin before the kick-off. First, "Weather.com projects a 50 percent chance of rain on Saturday and a high of 45 degrees." Then there is Robert Wood, USC's number one receiver, who may or may not be as healthy as he should be. Lastly, there are just too many implications to ignore here: although Oregon is the expected victor, they have everything to lose in this greatly anticipated match.

And the Cy Young goes to... Clayton Kershaw

LA Times

Clayton Kershaw's progress during his career with Dodger's has not only been recognized by fans but critics alike.

On Thursday Kershaw received the Cy Young Award given to him by the Baseball Writers Assn. of America. Kershaw received 27 of a possible (BBWAA) 32 first-place votes, easily running over any competition for his first-place competitor Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies.

With a big curve-ball that might be baseball’s best, Kershaw won the NL’s pitching triple crown. "Pitching on a team that went 82-79, he led the league with a 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts and with a 21-5 record tied Kennedy for most wins," says the Washington Post.

Kershaw, who turns 24 on March 19, shows to advance even more in his pitching talent, developing sliders and changeups more consistantly in his time on the mound.

Fans have yet to see the rising stars of the Dodgers, perhaps Matt Kemp's contract signing a few days ago caused a domino effect of good news for the team and its fans.

-Stephanie Aguilar

NBA players present antitrust lawsuits

David Stern at a conference concerning the NBA lockout.

The lockout of the NBA has created termoil not only for fans anticipating another season, but the wallets of NBA players.

The two lawsuits which include all-stars Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony in one, and former Wizard player Caron Butler in the other expect three times their wages lost and claims "illegal group boycott" of the players by their owners.

“There’s one reason and one reason only that the season is in jeopardy and that is because the owners have locked out the players and have maintained that lockout for several months,” said lead attorney David Boies that players hired after rejecting a previous deal layed out to them by owners.

Tim Frank, a spokesman for the NBA, says that the players threats of lawsuits were never actually considered to be truth. Looks like David Stern's 50/50 split of revenues and 72 game season will only strengthen player's claims against the NBA.

-Stephanie Aguilar

Matt Kemp gives Dodgers new hope

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / March 28, 2011)

The Dodger's franchise may have run into some chaos over the last year, but a new $160 million 8 year contract with Kemp may be just what the Dodger's need to gain momentum on the field.

Contract celebrations are not yet under-way, however the opening of Dodger Dreamfield at Mona Park
in Compton gave Kemp a reason to announce the reality of his dream. "You've got to stay motivated, stay humble, always work hard," Kemp said. "It doesn't happen over night... but dreams can come true... I'm living the truth."

It seems as though everything about the Dodger's association has jumped from bad to worse, from ownership of the team to ownership of the stadium. But one thing is for certain, a top priority is signing a set of players that could possibly take the Dodgers to what they once were, an awesome top ranking team.

Kemp, the center-fielder and best player on the team, may be just what the Dodger's need to start off right. "I'm here for the long haul," he said.

"This may be the starting point to a Dodger decade," one blogger on espn.go.com writes. So since Kemp is contracted for almost a decade, will he "play up" to the expectations that all the fans are counting on him to do?

From what fans saw in the year 2011 Kemp delivered extraordinarily pleasing performances, however he is only a human. Humans get hurt, slack-off, and sometimes even strike out. What fans must realize is yes, Kemp is a valuable asset to the team and may be the saving grace the Dodger's need. But he also is only human and what the Dodger's need are other solid players to match-up with Kemp's talents.

-Stephanie Aguilar

The Lockout continues, NBA players reject offer

                    (Photo by Seth Weing/Associated Press)

In New York "star players" from various teams met at the Westin Hotel to discuss the latest contract offer. Players rejected the offer and Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher who is the Union President spoke on behalf of the group saying "we want to make it clear to our fans, although we chose this today we have not chosen to be in this position." That leaves season 2011-2012 in jeopardy and players officially locked out 138 days. After the conference, Commissioner David Stern issued a statement that the NBA filed an "unfair labor practice" and that "the union was not bargaining in good faith."  This decision ends another month of cancelled games and disappointed fans.

-Ashley Maui Lopez