Sunday Sports Wrap - May 31, 2009

Can you believe that May is over? Where is 2009 going?

Condolences: Although I wasn't rooting for their team, I must send my condolences to fans of the Cavs (that's you C, please don't take it too hard). The Magic simply outplayed them and wanted it more. Period. The really amusing thing for me is that at the end of the 3rd period a friend from Florida was already talking trash about the Magic vs. Lakers series. I'm just hoping they stop showing those creepy Kobe and LeBron puppet commercials. I wonder what Jerry West is saying now. Oh yeah, probably something to the effect of "one man does not a team make", I'm sure.

Not Enough Attention: I really have not heard much about hockey at all lately since the Ducks were removed from contention. I did notice that an important game was televised last night at the same time the Magic vs. Cavs game was on. Last night the Red Wings took game one against the defending champ Pens. Tonight is game two. I quite enjoy hockey myself but really feel that the sport doesn't get enough attention.

Soccer Sunday: Tune in to Fox Soccer Channel today and see the Boston Breakers face Sky Blue FC. Kelly Smith of the Breakers is tied with the Los Angeles Sol's Marta for most goals in the league. The Sol have the top spot in the standings right now followed by the Breakers.

Today In Sports History

1937 - Brooklyn Dodgers snap NY Giant Carl Hubbell's 24-game winning streak

1985 - The New Orleans Saints are sold for $70,204,000

Saturday Football - May 30, 2009

Another Saturday means that there are more IWFL and WFA football games to follow:

Check Women's Football Talk for the list of games being broadcast today.

The IWFL is very good about keeping scores updated on on Twitter. If you aren't following them already I would recommend that you do.

The IWFL site has a complete list of games today as does the WFA website.

The Southern California Breakers have ended up with a bye week today as the New Mexico Menace had lost several players to injury and would not be able to have a full enough roster to play. Instead, they have rescheduled the last home game of the season for next Saturday and they will host the California Quake. Since the Quake beat them in both meetings last season, the Breakers are anxious for redemption and are excited to have this opportunity. They weren't scheduled to meet the Quake this year, however, with New Mexico's absence the league made it possible. This should be a good one!

I'll be on the sideline next week for the game that will be played at Irvine High School and attempting to provide updates through Twitter. I think I have the new phone down to a reasonable proficiency so we'll see how that goes!

I also wanted to mention a great way to connect with all of the teams in both leagues. The Women's Tackle Football Group is a network where players, coaches, and fans can interact. You can find your favorite players, video, and other content here so check it out.

Flint Star - The Motion Picture

Who doesn't love a good sports documentary? I sure can't turn one off. When I was contacted by Mr. Marcus G. Davenport about his film Flint Star "The Motion Picture" I was quite interested.

Mr. Davenport is a veteran public school educator turned independent filmmaker. Here is just part of his communication with me about his work:

This documentary film deals with the harsh reality of the inner city plight, while exploring the historic relationship that Flint, MI. has developed with basketball.

Flint Star was completely funded through my teacher's salary and credit cards. I feel that I have created one of the very best documentary films in the country. Our customers have been greatly satisfied with the quality and overall excitement of the film. The featured NBA, NCAA, high school, and youth athletes add to the depth of the film. Lastly, the (Uncut Street) DVD version of the film features a 50 minute DVD Bonus page containing basketball highlights, exclusive music, and interviews!

The latest FBI statistics ranks Flint, Michigan as the 3rd most dangerous place to live in the nation behind St. Louis and Detroit. However, our film represents the positive struggle for a better life and the escape from a life sentence of poverty, drugs, and murder. We will continue to provide hope and pride for future generations of artists, scholars, and entrepreneurs.

Davenport has also been featured as one of a group of the uprising that is film making in the unlikely area of Flint, MI. He isn't finished with just one documentary and explains to me that he has his sights on other sports:

This fall we are set to start shooting the NFL documentary film Life In The League. This film will feature some of the very best athletes in the league (NFL) from across the nation.

In addition, Flint Star has been discussed on ESPN and the Uncut Street Version features interviews with former and current NBA players such as Mateen Cleaves (2000 National Champion MSU), Eddie Robinson (Small Forward Chicago Bulls), Jeff Grayer (1984 Olympic Basketball Team and 10 year NBA veteran), Justus Thigpen Sr. (ABA & NBA veteran), and many more.

Indeed the young men in the documentary seem hopeful that if they stay on the court, they will have a bright future. In addition, there is some of the absolute sickest dunks, alley-oops, and 3-pointers that I've ever seen at any level. The film doesn't leave out the talented women and girls from the area either.

To learn more about Flint Star you can visit the websites for the film or for the production company Big Thangs. You can order your copy of Flint Star here.

On Being A Sports Mom

Today's feature is a guest post from Jane Schonberger, creator of the Pretty Tough site and co-founder of Women Talk Sports site. I interviewed her several months ago and she gave me her intro as such:

I’m originally from the East Coast where I attended high school and college. I began my professional life in New York and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990’s to work as an entertainment executive. I’ve spent much of my career developing and producing content for Disney, Fox and other studios.

I’m now the mother of two daughters and as such have come to intimately understand the role of gender bias, especially in the media. I don’t want my girls to ever encounter a glass ceiling and I feel more compelled than ever to address the imbalances that exist in both media representations and real life.

Jane took the time to tell me about being s "sports mom" and the experiences with her own daughters. Read on:

I’m not a hard core athlete. Not by any stretch. When I was younger I played tennis and was on the school volleyball team. Today I still play tennis, I swim laps to relax, and I play on a Mom’s Basketball League at the local gym which is as much social exercise as physical. Even though I’m relatively active, I don’t consider myself an athlete; more like someone who likes to stay fit and has a bit of a competitive streak.

I’m not sure growing up I truly understood the value of sports. That came later, when I had my own kids. Now I’m the mother of two girls who have been hitting, kicking, diving, jumping, running and more since they were toddlers. Over the years I’ve taken them to gymnastics, soccer and track practice, and even fencing class. Watching the girls grow and become confident, capable young women I realized how transformative sports can be in a person’s life.

Along the way, my overall interest in sports kicked into high gear. As a long-time entertainment executive, my high-stress job(s) left little time for recreational activities. But I have found sports a fabulous form of family entertainment. The past several years much of my free time has been devoted to participating in or watching sports. Whether at a weekend soccer tournament somewhere in SoCal (Santa Barbara, Temecula, San Diego, Palmdale, Riverside, take your pick), a day long track meet in 100 degree heat with the Santa Ana winds kicking up dust or cheering for a state championship. I’ve tried to support my girls’ athletic endeavors. In supporting, them I became a fan, a coach, a mentor and often times a participant.

What goes into being a sports mom? Well, with more than one child there’s a lot of time management. There’s also keeping track of practices, carpools, snacks, tournaments, coaches, year-end gifts, equipment and uniforms (especially socks). It’s demonstrating good sportsmanship even when you think the coach or ref is doing a lousy job. Your kid wants to take up fencing? It’s buying all the gear, learning the lingo, and trekking to a competition that could quite literally be over in 30 seconds. It’s pumping up deflated egos after a defeat and encouraging practice without sounding like a nag. It’s also a lot of time spent with incredible families, athletes, role models, and friends.

Sometimes, I think I’ve benefited more from sports than my kids have. They take for granted their ability to participate, compete, and excel. I’ve marveled at the opportunities and seen firsthand how important the friendships and competition are to their emotional and physical growth. I’m not a frustrated athlete living vicariously through my kids; I’m a woman in awe of the fabulous opportunities afforded by sports, especially to girls. I’m not pushing my kids to become pro athletes, or even get a sports scholarship to college; I’m just loving the fact that our estrogen fueled family (apologies to my husband) so easily integrates sports and fitness into our daily lives.

So what have I learned along the way? A female athlete is not an oxymoron; in fact girls can successfully balance multiple aspects of their life. My daughters are smart and beautiful (no prejudice here) as well as tough as nails when they’re competing. They’re admired for the combination of these attributes and not judged in any way. . It wasn’t always like that – certainly not when I was in high school - but that’s the way it should be.

Wild World of Wednesday - May 26, 2009

Delayed Result: Okay, I know that Cavs fans will roast me for this one but that fowl called at the end of regulation last night was absurd. If anything, LeBron should have been the one called out. I mean seriously, how blatant can you get? Between that, Kobe getting tripped, and some of the other creative calls I am growing even more cynical and fed up with the NBA.

Still Alive and Kicking: The Dodgers are without Manny but are still number one. Deal with it. Of course, we in Los Angeles are the only ones who get to since the national coverage is more concerned with A-Rod and whatever goes on in Boston. Don't you people tire of one region for baseball? Oh, wait, excuse me - there is a lot of talk about Pujols. I guess we are slowly moving west.

100 Days: There are just under 100 days until the 2009 Homeless World Cup happens in Italy. The milestone was marked by an All Stars match yesterday. Get involved with HWC here

Today in Sports History

1971 - UCLA wins NCAA basketball championship

1995 - Actor Christopher Reeve was paralyzed when he was thrown from his horse during a jumping event in Charlottesville, Va. (He died in 2004.)

Manchester United And Other BBC Sport News

So the UEFA Champions League final game happens tomorrow with Manchester United vs. Barcelona. I found an interesting headline on the BBC Sport website that reads, "Vidic ready to win at all costs". Great headline but it isn't quite as sinister as it would suggest:

Nemanja Vidic is sure Manchester United will beat Barcelona in the Champions League final - and does not care about the style in which they do it. Wednesday's match in Rome pits holders United against the team regarded as the most attractive in Europe this season. But United defender Vidic, 27, told BBC Sport: "All that matters is the result, you'll quickly forget about the style. Football is not about the style - it's about the winning and we have the confidence and belief to do it."

Yeah, so he doesn't care how stylish they look in order to win as long as they win? Isn't that always the case in any sport? Don't forget that you can catch this on ESPN 360. That means a lot of soccer fans will not be getting much work done tomorrow during this time!

A more philanthropic story behind a headline on the BBC that my pal Katherine in the U.K. brought to my attention was this:

Netball aims to change Indian lives:

Sport attracts more than its fair share of bad headlines, as does the world of business, but in India the two are coming together to help change the lives of poverty-afflicted youngsters. Netball has teamed up with global bank Standard Chartered, to use sport to promote self-confidence, communication skills, health and hygiene, and financial literacy. It is targeted at girls in Mumbai and Delhi, aged between 14 and 19, and from families earning less than $2 a day. The "Goal" programme also has an economic empowerment component - with a loan scheme fund to help girls achieve their professional ambitions.


Two dollars a day!? Wow, we don't really think about low wages like that around here. With two dollars around here you can get a cup of coffee or a fast food item or two.

Unfortunately though, there are those bad apples across the pond as well as she also pointed out to me:

Test cricketer's fall from grace:

When Chris Lewis chalked up a half-century and six wickets for England in 1991 against the then-mighty West Indies, he was hailed by many as one of cricket's brightest hopes. The imposing 6ft 2in all-rounder's fast, loose-limbed bowling style and combative batting technique even led some to tip him as the next Ian Botham. But almost two decades later, the former England star, who critics say never truly fulfilled his potential, has faced a very public fall from grace. Lewis, now 41, and basketball player Chad Kirnon, 27, were found at Gatwick Airport last year to be smuggling £140,000 of pure cocaine into the UK in fruit and vegetable juice tins. A week-and-a-half long trial at Croydon Crown Court heard how the two friends plotted together to bring the "valuable consignment" of Class A drugs in liquid form from St Lucia. Jurors were told how the sportsmen, both from north London, travelled to the Caribbean island in November, only to return a week later with the brown cocaine liquid hidden in eight large tins stashed in each of their bags.

Apparently the two are blaming each other. Way to go. The two were each given thirteen years for their act. What possesses a person to smuggle anything trough an airport these days is just beyond me. Seriously, and a prominent sport figure?

5 Questions About Hiking

For me, one of the easiest ways to get outside and get fit is to go hiking. I do throw the term around loosely so I thought I'd bring you some definitions and links to clarify a few things about it.

1. Okay, so what is "hiking"?

Here in Los Angeles we have trails galore that include around Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, and Malibu just to name a few. You'll see folks very serious about getting fit and wearing workout clothes or hiking gear and others that look like they're ready to head out to a club. I'm in the serious group myself. Well, serious around here for a city girl. I won't be camping in the wilderness or anything and some might not even consider what I do to be "real" hiking. Basically, hiking here means everything from a leisurely walk to actual physical activity with actual gear. That's the beauty of hikes in this area - there are trails for whatever level of activity you want.

2. Where can I find hiking in my area?

A good place to start is the website for the American Hiking Society (AHS). The Away website also has information on hiking spots and trips. The latter is more of a travel site but it has some good links.

3. Are there any events that can introduce me to hiking?

The AHS is hosting the annual National Trails Day on June 6, 2009. Here is the description:

"National Trails Day® is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report of President Ronald Reagan's President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day® in 1993.

Trails do not just appear for our enjoyment, it takes many hours of planning, labor, and negotiating to develop them. National Trails Day®, the only nationwide celebration of trails, brings awareness to trails and thanks many people and partners for their support and hard work, including volunteers, land agencies, and outdoor minded businesses. It is also a day to introduce people to the many joys and benefits of trails."

4. How will I know what type of hiking I want to do?

You can research the links above or even visit an REI store near you. You can find knowledgeable staff and some have classes to introduce you to hiking and other outdoor activities in your area.

5. Are there any other sources of hiking information?

I found a few interesting hiking blogs that will give you a great idea of the different people and places:

Two-Heel Drive

The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog

Oregon Trails

Southern Hiker

Gear Talk

Superior Hiking

Sunday Sports Wrap - May 23 2009

Football: I'm sad that I didn't make it out to the Breakers vs. Amazons game last night here in Los Angeles. The outcome - Amazons 33, Breakers 0. The updates for all of the IWFL games played yesterday can be found on the IWFL website. In addition, on Saturdays you can find some updates and scores for selected games by following the IWFL on Twitter. Of interest to me was how many games are still very lopsided. There was another game this week in which one team put up at least 70 against their opponent. Although there were about 5 games that had final scores that looked like they were good games, I believe we will still see these one-sided games until the league matures. There were only two WFA games yesterday and those both had much closer scores. Be sure to tune in to the Women's Football Talk radio show this afternoon at 3:00pm PST for full coverage of scores and some recaps. I won't be making my usual call in this week as I will be out hiking the hills of Los Angeles with some friends. I'll be back to calling the crew next week though.

NBA Playoffs: Well the Nuggets beat the Lakers at home so the Lakers returned the favor last night. Close game, though. Tonight is Game 3 of the Magic vs. Cavs series. Both of these finals series are really quite good!

Freeway Series: The last game of the Angels visit to the Ravine is today. The series is split so far. I remember the last time I was actually at the stadium for an Angels visit. Somehow I was lucky enough to sit next to a couple of Angels fans on that particular Sunday. They were interesting folks that acted like I didn't exist and kept bumping me and even pointed at something while nearly poking me in the face. That year the Dodgers swept them and it was very nice to watch the two walk out in disgust. Angels fans are usually much nicer I thought...yeah right...

Today In Sports History

1902 - Cleveland third baseman Bill Bradley is the A.L.'s first player to hit a home run in each of four consecutive games, a record not matched until Babe Ruth does it June 25, 1918.

Happy Birthday to Bartolo Colon and Brad Penny

Staturday Football - May 23, 2009

Pardon my late start today.

This week there have not been many broadcasts listed and most of the Eastern action is well underway. Women's Football Talk has the links for what games you can catch online. Be sure to also follow them on Twitter for other information.

Follow the IWFL on Twitter for scores and updates all day.

The Modesto Maniax travel south to face the California Quake tonight. The Maniax are also on Twitter.

I was going to be at the Southern California Breakers game tonight as they travel to visit the Los Angeles Amazons. I say was since I'm actually staying home this evening instead. Not really by choice but I am a bit under the weather. I'll be just fine with some rest. Anyways - the last time the two teams met was at the beginning of the season. Since then the Amazons have gone undefeated. Last week, the Breakers broke the Monsoon's perfect record - can they do it again?

Tune in tomorrow to Women's Football Talk Radio to find out.

WNBA On ESPN2 and ABC In 2009

Okay, I know we all decided that I would take the juicy details out of press releases for you to read but this one has a lot of great information. The WNBA is set to attract even more attention this year and now you can check out televised games in HD. Read on:

ESPN2 and ABC to Present Entire WNBA Schedule in HD

Season Tips Off on ABC June 6 with the Defending Champion Detroit Shock at L.A. Sparks

For the first time ever, every regular and postseason WNBA game will be televised in high definition on ESPN2 HD and ABC HD. The networks will combine to televise 13 regular-season WNBA games, the WNBA All-Star game, and up to 15 postseason telecasts, starting with the defending champion Detroit Shock at the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, June 6, at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

This will also mark the first year of the new eight-year rights extension between ESPN and the WNBA through the 2016 season. As a result of the new agreement, every ESPN2 game will be offered on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, and ESPN International networks in Atlantic (sub-Saharan Africa), Pac Rim (Australia/NZ), Latin North, Latin South, Latin Caribbean, Latin Brazil, Middle East, as well as on ESPN Australia HD and ESPN Brazil HD. Live coverage of up to 15 games will also be available on ESPN Mobile TV.

The ESPN2 schedule will tip off with a WNBA Tuesday opener on June 9 at 7 p.m., when Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever host the Seattle Storm, led by Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. Overall, ESPN2 will televise 12 regular-season games and ABC will air two.

ESPN2 will extend its coverage into the postseason with coverage of the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals and Finals, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 16. The complete schedule will be announced at a later date.

COMMENTATORS
Carolyn Peck and Nancy Lieberman will alternate as game analysts and will be joined by rotating play-by-play commentators Terry Gannon, Dave Pasch and Pam Ward with reporters Heather Cox and Rebecca Lobo. Fans can also follow Lobo, Lieberman and Peck on Twitter throughout the season: @RebeccaLobo, @NancyLieberman and @CAROLYNPECK.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

* WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
* Five appearances by the Sparks, featuring All-Star center Lisa Leslie, who will retire after this season.
* 2008 WNBA Finals rematch between the Shock and San Antonio Silver Stars on Saturday, August 29, at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
* No. 1 Draft pick Angel McCoughtry from Louisville will make her national television debut with the Atlanta Dream against the Minnesota Lynx and No. 4 Draft pick Renee Montgomery of Connecticut on Tuesday, June 30, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
* Top Draft picks and former Maryland Terrapins teammates Marissa Coleman (No. 2) of the Washington Mystics and Kristi Toliver (No. 3) of the Chicago Sky will square off Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
* Full-access coverage with live microphones on players/coaches/referees, exclusive locker room interviews, and above and below the rim cameras for select telecasts.
* Fans will also be able to follow the action on ESPN’s MVP application, which will include video highlights, recaps, statistics and features.
* ESPN.com coverage will include weekly original content, such as blogs and columns from Mechelle Voepel and Power Rankings by Melanie Jackson. Additional content includes game previews, recaps, stats and standings.

Playoffs, Playoffs, Playoffs Blogspotting

All I can think about is the NBA Playoffs this morning - what a game last night! I have nothing against the Cavs or LeBron at all but I thought it was great that the Magic pulled it out (justification: I went to college in Florida). Hopefully my favorite friend in Cleveland won't disown me for saying that...

Speaking of my favorite person in Cleveland - she put up this post declaring conclusive evidence that LeBron is better than Kobe.

Here is a breakdown of the Lakers v Nuggets game one.

...and another Lakers blog here...

...and yet another Lakers blog here...

...and still one more Lakers blog here...

Here is one blog that is quite happy about last night's result...

...and someone that isn't so pleased.


Want to be spotted? Drop me a note.

Wild World of Wednesday - May 13, 2009

LAKERS! Yeah, as I mentioned yesterday - May is a good month to be in L.A. Although the Lakers made me sweat a bit they pulled it out. Kobe put up 40 points to help seal the deal. The buzz is that they'll take the series in 5 or 6. I'm not concerned with how many as long as they take the series.

Adding To The Celebration: Last night the Dodgers beat the Mets by a score of 5-3. The Mets finish their road trip out here tonight at the Ravine. So far the Dodgers have managed a 28-13 record. I don't want to get my hopes up but we are REALLY overdue a championship. Let's go Dodgers!

Today In Sports History

1900 - The second modern Olympic Games open in Paris and last five months. Women compete for the first time in this event. The organizers de-emphasized the significance of the events so much that many athletes went to their graves without ever knowing that they actually competed in the Olympic Games.

1991 - Michael Jordan is named the NBA's MVP

Blah Blah Blog

Warning: This is another gratuitous post about my love for my hometown.

Yeah, I'm in one of those moods today. The weather is getting warmer, the Dodgers are winning, and the Lakers have advanced to the next round. It must be May in L.A. Now don't get me wrong, I don't take for granted the fact that I live in the best city in the world that just so happens to be my hometown. I spend most of my days in the Marina/LAX area where I live and work - so I get more than my fair share of gray days from the marine layer but it always seems sunny to me. I could wax poetic all day about my love affair with my city and my teams.

The truth is...it really is that cool to be a Los Angeles native and grow up with the Lakers, Dodgers, Clippers, Kings, Rams, and Raiders (and to some extent the Angels and Ducks). Sure, they come and go (and fortunately the Lakers and Dodgers came and stayed) but they all bring back fond memories nonetheless.

Seriously, my childhood memories are like this: listening to Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett, going to the Great Western Forum to see the visiting Harlem Globetrotters, the Rams lose every year, the Dodgers win a world series, the Lakers win again and again, the Angels change their city affiliation over and over (remember the Anaheim Rams, too?), and later on the Raiders win a Super Bowl.

I know, I know...I hear all the time from transplants how horrible we are and how bad our sports are. I don't care. If you don't like it, don't live here. The truth is, not everyone is a sports fan. We have so much more, uh, you know like the whole movie-making thing. Don't forget our awesome weather. We can surf, golf, hike, and do most every other outdoor activity just about 365 days a year. Oh, and snow is just a 70 minute drive for several months in the year too. We have world-class shopping and dining in nearly everything and every culture you can think of. If you're a history buff we've got museums and art exhibits galore. I don't blame my fellow Angelinos for not supporting our local teams wholeheartedly. The truth is that there is so much here to keep one occupied it can be difficult to keep up. For example, I haven't been to a movie in over a year. The last play I caught was one my brother performed in and I haven't seen a concert since...well...a really, really long time. I did catch the Japanese art exhibit at LACMA last year.

Some may call me out of touch.

I'm quite happy.

Do you love your hometown as much as I love mine?


Oh yeah, and don't forget the classic:

Randy Newman- I Love L.A
Uploaded by droogirico - Watch more music videos, in HD!

5 Questions About The Lakers

Yes, I just couldn't help myself. The Los Angeles Lakers have moved on to the next round after defeating the Huston Rockets in Game 7 last night at Staples Center. To add the icing on the cake, the Orlando Magic knocked out the Boston Celtics. Looks like there won't be a repeat of last year. Even Annika Sorenstam put out a tweet about the results this morning.

In honor of the Lakers win I wanted to point to some interviews with and about the Lakers in this post season. First, I found another Five Questions series that had a Lakers discussion last month. There is talk of a Kobe vs. LeBron battle. This would be great since it would finally put to rest who is the "bigger player". Although there are whole teams around each of them it would definitely turn into that. Interestingly I found this feature about five questions that needed to be answered before game five of the Lakers v Rockets series. It isn't very optimistic for the Rockets even at this stage with the series tied. Finally, here are some burning questions, some of which have already been answered.

All I can say is GO LAKERS!

Sunday Breakers Wrap - May 17, 2009

Last night the Southern California Breakers hosted the Tucson Monsoon at the Capistrano Valley High School field. This was the second meeting for the two teams with the last match ending up with a 14-13 victory for the Monsoon. This was just last Saturday in Tucson. Now, the Monsoon would bring their 4-0 record to Southern California to face the 2-2 Breakers. Here's how it went down:

First Quarter: The Monsoon were the first to start on offense but could not capitalize. The Breakers started their first drive on the Monsoon 45. With 11:14 showing on the clock, during the Breakers second offensive play, Vanessa Santiallan (28) ran 45 yards for a touchdown. The point after attempt was no good and the score was 6-0. Without wasting time, Santiallan ran in for another TD with 9:03 on the clock. Elaine Iba (81) made a key block to enable the score. The first point after attempt was good but called back due to a penalty. The second attempt was also good and the score was now 13-0, Breakers. The Breakers struck gold again at 6:35 on the clock when Monique Boone (39) caught a pass for a touchdown. The point after kick by Joy Barry (22) was good and the score was now 20-0. The first quarter excitement for the Breakers continued when Barry intercepted a pass with 3:09 on the clock. The drive and quarter ended with a completion to Iba with 0:02 left in Q1 on the Monsoon 1 yard line.

Second Quarter: The Breakers waste no time and score with 14:50 on the clock via a QB keeper by Shawna Murphy (18). A bad snap foiled the point after try although Barry made an effort to run it in. The score was now 26-0. The remainder of the quarter had the two teams going back and forth on possessions. With 3:02 on the clock, the Breakers fumbled and allowed the Monsoon to start on the So Cal 13. With 0:56 left in the half, the Monsoon socred but failed to make the point after. The score was now 26-6. The Breakers got the ball back and ran out the clock into halftime.

Third Quarter: The Breakers start on offense after the half on the Monsoon 45. Michelle Jacot (25) made the return to give the team this favorable starting point. The team couldn't capitalize and gave the Monsoon possession back at 13:09. Later in the 3rd, the Breakers fumble with 8:12 on the clock. The Monsoon are unable to cash in and the quarter continues with back and forth possessions. The Breakers fumbled again with 1:46 left on the clock but the Monsoon again fail to take advantage of the opportunity.

Fourth Quarter: Boone recovers a fumble for the Breakers with 11:50 on the clock but the team can't convert. There is more back and forth before the Breakers strike again. Santillan runs in a TD with 8:51 showing on the clock but the point after is no good. The score is now 32-6. With 3:41 showing on the clock the Breakers fumble again but the Monsoon is unable to convert. The Breakers get the ball back at 1:49 remaining and run out the clock. The final score is 32-6.

Coach Manny told me during the game that he felt that it was important not to run up the score on the opposing team. He explained that Vincent Smith, head coach for the Monsoon, had the chance to score at the end of the previous week's game but didn't. When I told him that I had heard of another final score in the IWFL earlier that day that ended up 77-7 he was quite disappointed. "This is what makes players quit", he told me. Indeed, although it may feel good to score over and over it does not help the other team's morale. I've heard others say that they need to score as much as possible in order to assure a playoff spot at the end. If there are similar records then points decide. Basically, you have league morale on one hand and winning your division on the other. Which should prevail?

At any rate, you can listen to the broadcast of this game here which includes my halftime interviews with Becky Leetch and Vanessa Santillan. In addition, today at 3:00 PM PST is Women's Football Talk where I'll be on to give my game recap.

The next Breakers game is in Los Angeles against the Amazons next Saturday, May 23.

Saturday Football - May 16, 2009

Yes, it is another Saturday that is full of football. Again, there are many broadcasts of games if you can't get out to find a game in your area. First, check below for a live game near you:

For an IWFL game check the schedule here You can also follow the IWFL onTwitter.

For a WFA game check the schedule here. The WFA can also be followed on Twitter but they haven't updated as frequently yet.

If you can't get out to see a game live, Women's Football Talk has put together a list of broadcasts here.

I'll be on the sideline tonight for the Southern California Breakers hosting the Tucson Monsoon. Women's Football Talk will have a broadcast of the game that you can listen to live here. In addition, you can catch tweets about this game from me in real time. WFB Talk will also be tweeting updates from this and the Sacramento Sirens vs. Seattle Majestics game.

Are you ready for some football!?

Basketball is Everywhere

WNBA superstar Candace Parker and her NBA husband Shelden Williams welcomed a baby girl into the world on Wednesday. While time and measurement details are readily available, the couple has decided to keep the name private for the time being. Candace will reportedly rejoin the Sparks this season after she is cleared by physicians. I wonder if the baby already has colleges interested?

Speaking of the season, the WNBA is hyping up their new season with their "Expect Great" ad campaign. Here in Los Angeles, the Sparks will host the Detroit Shock on June 6th for the home opener. You can get ticketing information for the Sparks and every other team here. The Sparks have a special on Wednesdays during the season where you can get a ticket in the red section (good seats) for only $35.

And in the NBA we have some decisive games coming up. If things go the way I would prefer as a fan, the Lakers will win at home against the Rockets to advance and the Magic will crush the Celtics in Boston this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed! Go Lakers! Go Magic!

Tales From The Inbox - May 14, 2009

Victory With Honor: One of my favorite bloggers sent me this interesting piece about the legendary John Wooden. Coach talks about his views on winning and being a "teacher coach".

Surf Community: Do you belong to any social networks that have ning.com in the address? One that I follow is Surfer Shot's Surf Community. The very cool thing about this site is that they've added a surf reports section to the website that compares Surfline, Magicseaweed, Swellinfo and Wavewatch all on one page per each surf break. Instead of checking these websites one by one, use theirs to see them side by side.

Fair Play: Yes, I usually abbreviate press releases and share the most important details but I wanted to give all of this to you:

Women’s Sports Foundation and ACLU Hail Signing of “Fair Play” Bill

Washington State Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law the “Fair Play” bill (SB 5967) to prohibit sex discrimination in public community sports programs. The Women’s Sports Foundation and ACLU-WA worked for its passage as part of a partnership to promote equal treatment for women and girls in sports.

“Females who are forced to accept second-class treatment in sports are conditioned to accept second-class status in other areas as well. This bill will ensure that all athletes have a fair and equal chance to participate in community athletic programs,” said ACLU-WA executive director Kathleen Taylor.

“The bill goes a long way in assuring gender equality for those in community recreation programs in Washington. Equal opportunity and access are critical foundations in developing confident, healthy girls who will become the next generation of athletes, government, business, and community leaders,” said Karen Durkin, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles was prime sponsor of the measure. Rep. Christine Rolfes sponsored a companion bill in the House.

“Girls who participate in sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem, lower levels of depression, and a better body image,” said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, who has taught classes on Title IX and gender and equity at the University of Washington since 1985. “We must do everything we can to level the playing field and ensure fair play for females as well as for males.”

Under both state law and the landmark federal Title IX law enacted in 1972, sex discrimination is banned in education programs. As a result, the number of girls participating in high school sports nationwide has increased tenfold, and the number of girls participating in college sports has increased fivefold.

But females in community recreation programs have not had the same protections against unequal treatment. Sex discrimination has persisted because of traditional favoritism toward male sports programs and outdated stereotypes about females’ athletic interests and abilities. Too often, girls and women have been relegated to poorer facilities, less experienced officials, and less desirable practice and play times.

The “Fair Play” bill requires cities, towns, and counties to adopt and publicize policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in community recreation programs.

Additional supporters of the bill are the Northwest Women’s Law Center, the National Organization of Women of Washington, the Washington Association of Cities, and the Washington Recreation and Parks Association.

The Women’s Sports Foundation and the ACLU of Washington partnered for the “V is for Victory. So is IX.” campaign to ensure that the historic Title IX law’s promise of equality is fulfilled. The multifaceted campaign includes free educational workshops for public school coaches, athletes, and parents, viral videos, publications, and an interactive website. Women’s Sports Foundation is also spearheading this campaign in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. For more information, visit Vis4Victory.org.

Wild World of Wednesday - May 13, 2009

Dropped Like A Hot Potato: I just caught the news that the British Masters is being dropped from the European Tour. Apparently the main sponsor's contract is up and a replacement has not been found. The English Open has also fallen off of the Tour Schedule.

Nice Calendar: By the way, Sky Sports has an excellent soccer schedule on the web. I believe it has almost every European league's games. Very nice.

Speaking of Euro Soccer: Have you seen the schedule for the UEFA Women's Euro? The final group starts in August.

And One More: Don't forget that the Champions League final is on the 27th of this month. Barcelona faces Manchester United.

Today In Sports History

1992 - Frank Stallone beats Geraldo Rivera in boxing on the Howard Stern Show (yes, I know this is a stretch to call it boxing)

Happy Birthday to Barry Zito - there, that should make up for the horrible chants I took part in the last time I saw him at Chavez Ravine.

The Homeless World Cup Needs You

The Homeless World Cup takes place in Milan this year from September 6-13. With a few months until the contest, nine nations are in need of support in order to be present. I received this note about the event today:

We are just 4 months away from the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup. 48 nations, 500 players will be united from 6-13 September 2009, in the heart of one of the most football passionate cities on the planet.

Most nations can make it. But 9 economically poorer nations are struggling and need our support.

Cambodia, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines.

Can you help get them there?

The cost per team to attend is approximately £10,000. If you, or anyone you know, can help them this would be fantastic. Please do get in touch with us.

You can make a donation here and it would be wonderful if you could invite all your friends, family, colleagues that may like to support to do the same.

You can also fundraise to help here.

Just this month on a site visit to Latin America to agree the venue for the 2010 Homeless World Cup, we met players who participated in the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup. They are now leaders in their community, encouraging other kids off the streets and on to the football pitch. They are confident and strong with wives and children of their own. The impact continues on. It was exceptionally moving. This is what is in store for the players by participating in Milan.

Can you help?

5 Questions With a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher

Today's guest received the esteemed title as one of GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Teachers. He has been the Director of Instruction and Education for The Golfing Machine, Director of Schools for the PGA Tour, and is now the Executive Director of Instruction for Medicus Golf Institute. Chuck came off the course for a bit to answer five questions:

1. What was going through your mind when you found out that you were chosen as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers? Did you see this award coming? How does one get bestowed this great honor?

I had been nominated many times before and it was always a pleasure. But this time it was an honor being recognized by your peers and students as one of best. Without them none of it would happen. Selection of the GOLF Magazine TOP 100 is a 2 year process and includes reviews, questionnaires, thorough research, and input from the teaching community.

2. When did you start playing golf? What motivated you to play at first? What continues to motivate you?

I started when I was about 10 but played a lot of other sports as well.

I went to golf exclusively when, in the same year, the football and baseball teams I was on both went to the state finals. We lost on both counts due to someone not doing their job as part of the team. I realized then that no matter how hard someone plays and how well they do their job you have to rely on someone else to do their part as well. Golf is an individual sport and the outcome is soley based on the players performance. Since I am a "Driver" personality I need to be in control of my game.

3. What is the one thing - if there is one thing - that you see most people doing wrong with their swing? Is there one simple tip that you can pass on that can benefit nearly everyone?

Unfortunately there is never just one thing for the average player! BUT, if a player can have a flat left wrist, right wrist for you lefties, from impact to separation they can at least have some clubface control. Ultimately the player needs to educate their hands to do what they want them to do. We have a saying at Medicus Golf Institute, "Control your hands you control the clubface. Control the clubface you control the golf ball. Control the golf ball you control the golf course."

This flat "lead" wrist is the number alignment in golf! You do not see mechanical devices, such as Iron Byron or the Ping Man, or great players allowing the clubhead to pass the hands in the Impact area. Bending the lead wrist causes every shot you can imagine. Fat, thin, left or right, as well as off plane motions. The key is maintain a "bend" in the right wrist, or left for you Apryl! Maintaining this trailing wrist bend is absolutely critical to keeping the lead wrist flat. You can not have enough trailing wrist bend through impact and separation.

4. Do you have any specific tips or tricks for lefties? [ I notice that instructors enjoy teaching me (a lefty) as if they were in a mirror with me but sometimes get confused on directional advice.] Do you treat lefties any differently or approach them in an alternative way?

No special "tricks" the geometry is the same for right or left handed players, the physics is the same, and the biomechanics are the same. It's actually a little easier for the student because, as you said, they can mirror what the instructor is doing.

5. Which PGA touring pros do you feel have the best example of a swing to emulate? LPGA? Do you prefer to model after touring pros or prefer golfers to find their own natural swing.

Stuart Appleby has the best geometry in the game, Tiger has by far the best short game and mental game. Annika, when she was at her best, had the best move in golf. But before her, many years ago, Mickey Wright had the best move of ANY player on either tour!

I don't use models per se, I do show critical alignments of the hands, plane, and the head movement - or I should say lack of head movement. The average player is never going to swing it like Tiger or any of the other Tour Players. They can however take what they have and build precision alignments into their game. Alignments don't care HOW you do it as long as you do it! So we show our players these alignments, what they are physically capable of doing, and then how to use their personal application of these alignments to create a powerful golf stroke.


** A special thanks to BJ for getting the wheels in motion for today's post.

Sunday Sports Wrap - May 10, 2009

There is so much sports to follow today including some awesome rivalries and playoff action:

NBA: All I can say is GO LAKERS!! Everyone now assumes the team's dominance since Yao Ming's season has ended.

Golf: Congrats to John Daly for making an impression on the European Tour. Here's to getting back on track!

MLB: The Dodgers and arch-rival Giants have split a three game series so far. The Giants stuck it to LA on Friday 3-1 but then Dodgers came back with a strong 8-0 shut out. Go Dodgers!

Women's Football Talk: Don't forget to listen to WFB Talk Radio today at 3:00 pm PST for recaps of yesterday's games and more.

Today in Sports History

Happy Birthday to Pat Summerall, Jerome Williams, and Emily McEnroe

And another historic tidbit - 1908 - The first Mother's Day observance took place during church services in Grafton, WV, and Philadelphia.

Saturday Football - May 9, 2009

If this is your first time here you may think I'm losing it. What I you mean "Saturday football"? College football starts in the fall. You're correct, the NCAA starts up later in the year. I am talking about professional women's football - the IWFL and WFA have games today.

For the WFA - check the schedule for the entire league here.

For the IWFL - check the schedule for the entire league here.

The IWFL also has a You Tube channel.

The 2-1 Southern California Breakers travel to the 3-0 Tucson Monsoon today. Next week Tucson will return the favor and travel here to So Cal. I'll have the full recap for that meeting next Sunday.

If you don't have a team in your area Women's Football Talk has put together a list of broadcasts for some of the teams.

Several teams/players also have You Tube channels - here are what I have found so far:

New York Sharks

Modesto Maniax

Miami Fury

California Quake

DC Divas

Central PA Vipers

Let me know which I am missing! Enjoy your Saturday!

Missing Out On Soccer

My sports ADD has been less prevalent lately as I feel like I've been golf, golf, and more golf for the most part. Okay, there has been a bit o' IWFL, MLB, NFL, and NBA sneaking in but it is pretty much golf. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

With that said, I was reminded yesterday about the Los Angeles Sol and the awesome Marta. In fact, there are some very cool events coming up with them. First, there is the Meet Marta pack. You pay $35 for one ticket, get in to two games (March 10 and June 3) and get a photo with Marta. The team is also offering a Mother's Day pack: for $49 you get 4 tickets and a pic with one of the players.

In addition, you can enter to be a sideline reporter for the Sol. The team also has a Viral Video Challenge.

Seriously, the WPS and Sol have a lot of extra opportunities for fans that you just don't see in other sports or leagues. The players are amazingly accessible and appreciate their fan base.

There are teams all over the country so check out your local squad today. You won't be disappointed.

Lucky 13 For The Dodgers! UPDATED

Yes, this is another post professing both love and frustration with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. The team has a record 13 straight wins at home to start the season - well, a "modern record". Translate that into "current baseball fan base memory". The start of the season is always great for the team and Los Angeles has a butterfly-filled start to this relationship at the season's beginning. There are really three parts to a Los Angeles Dodgers season:

Part 1: The start of the season has the team winning games and hovering at the number one spot. Everyone is excited that the season has started and started off well. Last year's failure to bring home a title is a distant memory.

Part 2: The slump begins. Whoever is the big hitter, pitcher, or star isn't performing 100%. Injuries take out another key player or two. The team flirts with being a contender but falls back enough to remind fans that they haven't had a World Series win in a very long time.

Part 2.5: Major star gets suspended for alleged PED use and takes the wind out of the team's sails. Fans sigh and aren't surprised since it was only a matter of time before they would be dealt a crushing blow since things were going too well.

Part 3.1: The team makes a run for the playoffs. They start winning a few more games and give local media enough to start making speculations about post-season scenarios. They either *almost* make it to the post season or barely scrape in as a wild card. Every so often, they win their division. If they don't make it to the playoffs, the local media talk about what a great shoulda, coulda, woulda, blah...blah...blah...

Part 3.2: If the team does make it to the post-season they get eliminated in the first round. In the last few years this post-season appearance is enough to allow the current ownership to believe they somehow deserve to squeeze more money out of the fans. This is done in the form of higher ticket prices, parking, concessions, gear, etc. Of course, this past year the owners "rolled back" prices to a year or two ago for hot dogs or something like that and held ticket prices. Ooh, thanks.

Los Angeles deserves a World Series win. Chavez Ravine has the highest attendance in baseball for the longest period of time. There is Dodger blue all over the city since we all buy a plethora of shirts, hats, and other chotchkies. We've paid for it - now bring it!

Wild World of Wednesday - May 6, 2009

Slow News Day? I woke up to the most ridiculous story about records and correlations on ESPN this morning. Apparently, last night's Marlins vs. Reds game was quite historic. You see, it was the first time that two pitchers that had last names starting with the letters V-O-L faced each other. In fact, there was even a batter's name that started with V-O-T, making the first V-O-L/V-O-T combo in history. Okay, not to be totally disrespectful but even the people in Florida don't care much about the Marlins and I don't hear too much chatter about the Reds either. I wish I was the one getting paid to make dull teams sound significant with meaningless "historic" accomplishments. I've got an advanced degree in math/sciences so I've been trained to see patterns...hit me up ESPN or even NFL Network. I'd love to sit around all day and look for this sort of stuff.

Speaking of baseball the Dodgers have a 12-0 record at home so far. That is an actual stat worth following for Dodgers fans.

Man U Dominates: Manchester United beat Arsenal yesterday by a score of 3-1. Barcelona and Chelsea will fight it out to see who will face Man U in the final match. If you're stuck in the office or don't have access to broadcasts of these matches check ESPN360.

Say It Isn't So: I'm almost embarrassed to even mention Brett Favre. He'll be talking to the Vikings about a possible return. I can't even muster up the sarcasm to comment further.

Today In Sports History

1982 - Seattle Mariner Gaylord Perry becomes 15th pitcher to win 300 games

1986 - Real Madrid wins 15th UEFA Cup in Berlin

Tales From The Inbox - May 5, 2009

Lisa Guerrero: Today is the DVD release of Lisa's award-winning family film A Plumm Summer. You can pick up your copy at all of the usual outlets like Best Buy or Target. Lisa should be working on her production company's second film right about now as well. You can also find her sports blog from the Los Angeles Times here.

American Cancer Society: Volunteers are still needed for the 2009 Anthem Blue Cross Southern California Invitational on May 18th at the Riviera Country Club. The event features pre-tournament hospitality, a barbecue lunch, a 19th Hole Awards Reception with a live auction, in addition to a variety of deluxe amenities such as massages, swing analysis, and a gift salon. If you are interested in being a volunteer just shoot me an email and I'll forward the information to you. Volunteer forms must be turned in by this Friday, May 8th.

Ecolounge: The next Ecolounge is on May 21st at 7:00 pm at ARBOR (102 Washington Blvd. Venice, CA. 92092). The event includes a screening of Transworld Surf's - "A Fly in the Champagne" and has guest speakers:

Derek Sabori - Head of Enviornmental Affairs for Volcom and author of Earth Bug Crew

Thomas Viscount - Director, Community Partnerships for Audubon

Musical Guest: Kevin Misajon

The event also has massages, green food, and complementary beer. Did someone say free beer!?

5 Questions Golf Review

I was feeling in a particularly "golfy" mood this morning and thought it would be a good time to revisit some golf-related interviews.

I spoke to Paul Young last year. He's a PGA pro and we talked about some swing fundamentals. You can see by the video I shot of him that he has excellent swing mechanics. Paul once played on the European Tour and now gives lessons in the Long Beach area.

More recently I had a conversation with Gayle Moss who you probably know as Golfgal. She writes for a number of golf-related outlets and gets the scoop on the "Big Break" personalities. Gayle's positive attitude is quite contagious.

Also last year I spoke to Jan Hagan, the Executive Director of The First Tee's Coachella Valley Chapter. If you haven't seen this program I would highly recommend that you take a look. The organization has chapters all over the world. "The First Tee provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as confidence, perseverance, and judgment through golf and character education."

Periodically I get the chance to interview other golf bloggers also as I did with Sherry Tabb. Sherry maintains the page Ladies On The Tee. I've also had a conversation with Patricia Hannigan. She's the fun, flirty Golf Girl. In addition, I enjoy interviewing teaching professionals - what a great way to get tips! I talked to BJ Hathaway a few months ago and got some interesting content.

All that said - I'm always looking for more people in golf to interview. Are you a teaching pro, golf blogger, OEM rep, PR person, or have some other tie to the world of golf? I'd really like to talk to you - click on my profile link at the top right of this page and send me an email.

Sunday Breakers Wrap - May 3, 2009

Last night the 1-1 Southern California Breakers hosted the 0-2 Modesto Maniax at Capo Valley High. The evening started out quite chilly with a definite wind coming from the Pacific but things heated up in the second half quite nicely for So Cal. Here is how things went down:

First Quarter: Modesto was the first to start on offense. They were unable to capitalize and had to punt on a 4th and 17 situation. On their first offensive play, the Breakers Vanessa Santiallan (28) ran for a touchdown with 13:01 on the clock. However, a holding call wiped the points off of the board and the team was unable to make a score stick during their opening drive. At 5:16 on the clock, the Breakers intercepted the Maniax but fumbled and put Modesto in scoring position on the 12 yard line. Modesto had to settle for a 3 point try but could not convert with 3:30 on the clock. The Maniax put together some impressive plays and were able to contain the Breakers' running game for the first quarter which ended at 0-0.

Second Quarter: With 8:12 showing on the clock, Jennifer Myszkowski (54) made a big catch to put the Breakers on the 28 yard line of the Maniax. Santillan ran for a first down in the same drive with 7:17 showing on the clock. At 5:48 on the clock So Cal manufactured another first down that put them on the five yard line. Elaine Eba (81) then made a catch to put So Cal on the one. With 5:02 showing on the clock Santillan ran in for the TD. The resulting PAT was no good due to a bad snap. The score was now Breakers 6, Maniax 0. The Breakers had another chance with 0:42 showing on the clock but could not convert and gave the Maniax a chance with 0:15 left in the half. An interception by Joy Barry (22) put an end to the Maniax hopes of scoring in the first half.

Observations: At this point in the game I noticed that the Maniax QB had the use of the hard count down pat. Fortunately for the Breakers, they practiced and conditioned to watch the ball as opposed to listening to the count and were not drawn offside. Both teams are doing a good job of containing the run so far and each are having timing issues with the pass. Modesto was quite impressive with their professionalism and dedication to the game. During the warm-ups, they were a team that was very disciplined and in synch with each other and really had the Breakers on notice during the first half.

Halftime: SCAT (South Coast Agility Team) was back again to provide halftime entertainment. I had never seen a basset hound doing dog agility but they had one on the field nonetheless. I guess there is hope for my lazy bloodhound yet!

Third Quarter: The Breakers start out strong and with 14:45 on the clock Santillan runs for another TD. Jill Cosh (7) does a QB keeper to make the 2 point conversion and the score is 14-0 Breakers. Tutu Leomiti (53) makes key stops on defense during the Maniax possession and quells their hopes for a score. With 11:07 showing in the quarter, Kayla Clark (38) runs in for a TD. The point after is no good and the score is now 20-0 Breakers. Clark struck pay dirt again at 7:58 on the clock with another TD and Santillan carried the 2 point conversion in to make the score 28-0 Breakers. Priscilla Gardner (43) helped shut down the Maniax D along with Leomiti during this quarter.

Fourth Quarter: At 12:54 on the clock Michelle Jacot (25) ran in another TD for the Breakers. The resulting PAT was foiled by a bad snap but Joy Barry (22) nearly ran in for the score. The scoreboard now reads Breakers 34 and Maniax 0. At 10:19 on the clock Monique Boone (39) intercepted a Maniax pass and ran it back to their 35 yard line. On the same drive, Santillan ran in the TD with 9:44 on the clock and Barry kicked in the point after. The score is now Breakers 41 and Maniax 0. On a later drive for the Breakers, Jacot makes a long run to extend the drive and Shawna Murphy (18) showed that she can gain yards on the QB keeper. Diana Hernandez (46) put another 6 on the board for So Cal with 4:03 left in the game. After three point after attempts (do-overs from penalties), Barry makes the kick to make the score 48-0 Breakers. In the waning minutes of the game the Maniax tried to get at least one scoring drive together and could not convert. With 0:19 showing left in the game, Jacot ran in one more Breakers TD and Barry added the point after to make the final score 55-0.

The Breakers advance to 2-1 and get ready to travel to Arizona to face the Tucson Monsoon. The team will be back at home on May 16 to host the very same Monsoon at Capo Valley.

Tune in to Women’s Football Talk today at 3:00 pm PST to hear my game recap as well as correspondents from around women’s football for other games from this weekend.

Saturday Football

Not the NCAA but IWFL action all over the country. I will be at the Southern California Breakers game against the visiting Modesto Maniax. This is the first road game for the Maniax who have an 0-2 record. The Breakers are looking for redemption after their 0-42 loss against the Amazons last week to make their record 2-1.

I will test out doing a few live updates via Twitter at the game tonight. I promised someone that I'd at least get halftime and end game scores up but I will try for a few more. I've got to see how my crummy phone battery life and juggling it, the camera, and my notebook work out.

If you can't make it to an IWFL game tonight there are several that have live audio and/or video. The list of available games can be found at the Women's Football Talk blog.

As always, I highly recommend going to a game in person and supporting your local team. Ticket prices are very inexpensive and there are teams nationwide. Check the entire IWFL schedule for times and locations.

What are you doing tonight?

Friday Blogspotting

Everyone has been talking about John Daly's return to golf, or more precisely, his pants. He actually pulls it off. More importantly, he looks to be in better shape and on his game. Hopefully this fan favorite can stay on course!

No surprise here - Tiger Woods makes Time Magazine's Top 100 list which features the most influential figures.

Golfgal has the scoop on the latest Big Break in case you missed it.

Cleveland celebrates the Cav's first round win and await the Pistons. Let's see how far LeBron can get!

The UConn champs paid a visit to the President this week. He talked of being grateful that his daughters had role models like them to look up to.

Finally, I enjoyed reading this commentary about the WNBA Draft attire.