UCLA football: Aaron Hester reprimanded by Pac-12

UCLA cornerback Aaron Hester was reprimanded by the Pacific 12 Conference for comments he made after the Bruins’ game against Arizona State.

Hester was called for pass interference in the final minute, which helped set up a last-second field-goal attempt for the Sun Devils. The kick was wide and UCLA held on for a 29-28 victory.

After the game, Hester said the call was “terrible” and that officials have singled him out during games.

“Mr. Hester’s remarks were a clear violation of the Pac-12's comprehensive restrictions on public
comments on officiating, and he is being appropriately reprimanded,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said.

-- Chris Foster

Photo: Bruins cornerback Aaron Hester breaks up a pass intended for Washington State receiver Jared Karstetter in the first half of a Pac-12 game last month at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

NBA players union hopes to educate team representatives at meeting

When representatives from all 30 NBA teams convene Tuesday in New York for a mandatory union meeting to discuss all the issues involving the lockout, it will give the Players’ Association executive board a chance to inform them on what’s at stake, said a source involved in the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has given players an ultimatum to accept the league's latest contract offer of a 49%-to-51% split of basketball revenue by the close of business Wednesday, or Stern said the next offer would be less generous.

There have been reports of discord among players, including some who want to accept the deal, others who reject the offer and still more who want to consider decertification of the union.

Tuesday’s union meeting is intended to clear the air with the representatives so they can take informed information back to their teammates.

“We know that tomorrow is when guys are going to get educated,” the source said. “He should know what exactly what’s going on when he comes out of [the meeting].”

Meanwhile, Lakers guard Steve Blake, who has three years and $12 million left on his contract, reportedly has been calling players in an effort to get the union to allow the players to take a vote on the latest offer by the owners. Blake reportedly has said it should be a “yes” or “no” vote.

Anthony Parker, a team representative for the Cleveland Cavaliers who will be a free agent after earning $2.9 million last season, said the players he has talked to want to reject Stern's offer.

“I don’t think they are doing anything out of respect,” the source said. “But they don’t know what’s going on. They haven’t been to the meetings. Derek [Fisher] is the [union] president. All they have to do is make one phone call.”

The source also said the 50/50 revenue split offered by the league would come after operating expenses for the owners. Thus, it wouldn’t be a “true” 50-50 split, he said.

The source also said various players are upset that former stars like Michael Jordan, now an owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson think the current NBA players are wrong for taking their stance.

“I’m disappointed with the former basketball players,” the source said. “It’s not right for them to say we should limit the [stars] of tomorrow. We supported the Jordan brand. We supported Magic and Charles Barkley. But then for them not to give the support back to us, it’s frustrating.”

 -- Broderick Turner

Photo: Lakers guard Steve Blake drives to the basket against the Hawks' Marvin Williams, left, and Jamal Crawford during a game last season at Staples Center. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

London 2012 Olympics: farewell Hickstead, the measure of all things

A collective gloom always sweeps the equestrian world when a well known horse dies at the height of his powers, but it will take longer than usual to dissipate following the fatal collapse of Olympic champion Hickstead at the Italian World Cup qualifier in Verona yesterday.

It’s not just that it happened suddenly as he merely walked out of the competition arena under the horrified gaze of his fans; this horse was a true personality and stadium-filler, with millions over the world already rooting for him to recapture the individual gold medal at London 2012.

Two Olympic opportunities don’t always drop within the career span of a Grand Prix show jumper but 2008-2012 back-to-back golds were a real possibility for Hickstead. This autumn, aged 15, he was jumping every bit as well as he did in Hong Kong, regularly beating most other 2012 contenders and sustaining his Canadian rider Eric Lamaze’s world number one ranking. He won the world’s richest outdoor tournament, the $1 million Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary, for the second time only a few weeks ago.

Like a lot of top class jumpers, Hickstead was bred in Holland. He was originally named Opel but, when licensed as a breeding stallion, he was obliged to take a name beginning with the same initial as his sire, Hamlet. His then owner changed it to Hickstead, after her favourite showground.

Lamaze first saw Hickstead when looking for a dealing horse in 2004 but thought that at 16 hands high he was too small to be a speed horse, and too expensive to produce and show a profit if he did not make the grade. Lamaze only returned to re-try Hickstead when still empty-handed at the end of his European horse-shopping trip – not the first time second-thoughts have launched one of the great horse-rider partnerships of our time.

It will be ironic if post-mortem examination shows that Hickstead had a weak heart, for it was certainly a very generous heart. Horses do pick up the vibe of an important occasion but no-one would pretend the top ones actually know when a specific round is significant. But Hickstead really did excel every time it mattered. At his first Pan-Am Games in 2007 he won individual bronze and team silver, and at the Olympics the following year he was the only horse to lower just a single pole throughout the week.

Yesterday, German Olympic rider Marco Kutscher described Hickstead as “the measure of all things.”  He had an unconventional and effervescent style but was openly coveted by Lamaze’s fellow riders. The world championship, uniquely, has a four-way horse-swapping finale, a different sort of pressure to the Olympics where you ride your established equine partner throughout. At last year’s worlds in Kentucky, the chance to sit on Hickstead would almost rank alongside a podium place. Lamaze ended up with the individual bronze after faulting on his rivals’ horses but Hickstead jumped clear for everybody, earning the official citation Best Horse in the world.

At international jumping shows, the media can often see more on closed circuit TV than from the public grandstand but I, and many other colleagues, invariably trooped down to the ring-side to watch Hickstead in “real life.”  You got an real adrenalin rush from the sight, sound and slipstream as he bounded down to a seriously big fence, towed in by some irresistible force. If only he could have talked. Hickstead would definitely have been saying Whoopee!

Ticketing ‘slight’ has its upside

One of the main reasons for shoehorning Olympic equestrianism into Greenwich Park, with all its incumbent expense and logistical challenges, was to expose equestrianism to movers and shakers who hadn’t seen it before.

I don’t know, therefore, what to make of news that only 168 of 9,000 tickets bought by the government for entertaining during London 2012 are for the solid fortnight of horse sport. Just five other categories of sport seem even less appealing to the dignitaries and business executives the government wants to woo.

Is this a slight or not? It’s still potentially 168 more big-wigs than would have sampled equestrian if it involved a long hike out to the sticks. Having said that, the drive to Leigh on Sea does not seem to have deterred government from purchasing over 1,000 tickets for a mere two days of mountain biking.

At least  there's consolation for the legion of  horse fans disappointed in the public ballot.  The number of VIP seats left unoccupied every day can be no more than 12!

Greatest sports figures in L.A. history No. 2: Magic Johnson

Continuing our countdown of the 20 greatest figures in L.A. sports history, as chosen in voting by our online readers, with No. 2, Magic Johnson.

No. 2 Magic Johnson (230 first-place votes, 8,389 points)

When Magic Johnson sold his 4.5% share of the Lakers in October of 2010, he called it a "bittersweet business decision."

Now free to pursue another sports franchise, maybe even help bring an NFL team back to Los Angeles, Johnson wanted to make one thing clear.

"I am and will always be," he said, "a Laker for life."

Perhaps the greatest Laker ever. At the very least, the most popular Laker ever.

For few people have had more impact on the Lakers and the NBA than Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who along with the Boston Celtics' Larry Bird, is widely credited with reviving the league and setting the stage for Michael Jordan to take the game to unprecedented heights.

Not that Johnson didn't scale some pretty big mountains himself.

Using his 6-foot-9 frame and superior passing skills, Johnson directed the Lakers' "Showtime" era that dominated the NBA in the 1980s. From his rookie season in 1979-80 to his final full season (1990-91), Johnson helped the Lakers win five NBA championships and nine conference titles. The Lakers won at least 54 games in each season in that span.

Penn State officials surrender amid Sandusky sex-abuse allegations

Two Penn State officials surrendered to authorities Monday on charges that they failed to report suspected sexual abuse of a child by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and committed perjury in their grand jury testimony.

Senior Vice President Gary Schultz, 62, and Athletic Director Tim Curley, 57, appeared in a Harrisburg, Pa., courtroom Monday. Bail was set at $75,000. They had to surrender their passports but weren't required to enter pleas.

Both men resigned late Sunday. Curley asked for a leave of absence and Schultz went back into retirement after they were accused of failing to alert police to sexual abuse complaints against Sandusky and lying to a state grand jury investigating the case.

Both Schultz and Curley will seek to have the charges dismissed, according to their lawyers. Schultz's lawyer said his client was not required by law to report suspected abuse and that the two-year statute of limitations on the summary offense has expired.

Penn State President Graham Spanier expressed his support for Schultz and Curley in a statement released Saturday. “I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years,” he said. “I have complete confidence in how they handled the allegations about a former university employee.”

Also on Monday, investigators encouraged anyone with knowledge of possible inappropriate behavior by Sandusky to contact authorities, in particular a child that was reportedly assaulted by Sandusky in view of a graduate student in 2002. Pennsylvania Atty. Gen. Linda Kelly said Penn State officials never attempted to identify that child after the incident was reported by the graduate assistant.

“Today as we stand here, we encourage that person who is now likely to be a young adult to contact investigators from the attorney general's office,” she said. “This is an ongoing and active investigation .… We are determined to quickly respond to any new witnesses or any additional information that may appear.”

RELATED:

Is Joe Paterno's reputation tarnished by the Sandusky scandal?

Bill Plaschke: In wake of Sandusky scandal, Joe Paterno needs to resign

Penn State's Joe Paterno saddened by allegations of sexual abuse by former coach

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Tim Curley, center, and Gary Schultz, right, enter the Magisterial District Court to be arraigned on charges of perjury and failure to report child sex abuse allegations. Credit: Patrick Smith / Getty Images

 

FLORIDA / Rodriguez/Schwerdt

Chris Dufresne discusses LSU-Alabama, Stanford and more [Video]

 

Times' columnist Chris Dufresne looks back on Saturday's so-called Game of the Century between LSU and Alabama, which he says for the most part did not live up to the pre-game hype.

As he said in Sunday's column:

Neither bruising team Saturday could even bruise the end zone. There might as well have been a sign posted on the goal line: Keep Off The Grass.

The game had plenty of passion and drama, but it was more a throwback to "Leatherheads" than a modern-day keeper.

After losing the game, 9-6 in overtime, Alabama slipped just one spot in the BCS standings to No. 3, a ranking which Dufresne calls both fair and unfair. While the Crimson Tide did miss four field goals and lose a big game at home, it also lost that game in overtime to the top-ranked team in the country.

He also previews this week's big college matchup between Pac-12 rivals No. 4 Stanford and No. 7 Oregon, and talks about the Cardinal's chances of making it to the BCS championship game.

ALSO:

The week ahead in college football

With the BCS, the defense never rests

USC football: Walk-on defensive back James Harbin arrested

James Harbin, a senior walk-on defensive back for USC, was arrested during the weekend on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery.

Harbin, 22, was arrested Saturday at 10:20 p.m. by Southwest Division officers of the Los Angeles Police Department and was booked early Sunday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department website. He was released Sunday night after posting bond for $20,000 bail, the website said.

Harbin, who was in for a few plays at the end of USC’s 42-17 victory over Colorado on Friday, was absent from Monday’s morning workout. USC Coach Lane Kiffin said he spoke with Harbin earlier in the day.

“An issue came up this weekend with him -- we’re still looking into it and I don’t have all the information right now,” Kiffin said. “I just told him, ‘We’re just trying to collect information. In the meantime, concentrate on school.’”

Harbin, who played at Harbor City Narbonne High and Los Angeles Southwest College, could not be reached for comment. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 1.

More later at latimes.com/sports.

ALSO:

Washington looks to rebound against USC

USC counting on injured players returning for season's final push

-- Gary Klein

Steve Sarkisian would draft Matt Barkley ahead of Andrew Luck

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

But he apparently wouldn't be if Steve Sarkisian was an NFL coach.

"If I’m an NFL head coach, right now, I’d pick Matt Barkley ahead of Andrew Luck," Sarkisian said. "I think he’s playing at that high of a level."

Barkley passed for a USC record six touchdowns in Friday's 42-17 victory over Colorado. He has passed for 28 touchdowns, with six interceptions,  this season.

Luck has passed for 26 touchdowns, with five interceptions. He completed 16 of 21 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in Stanford's 65-21 victory over Washington on Oct. 22.

More later at latimes.com/sports

-- Gary Klein

 

 

UCLA basketball: Reeves Nelson, Joshua Smith on Naismith list

The Pacific 12 Conference had only three players on the preseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy, and two of them reside in Westwood.

UCLA junior forward Reeves Nelson and sophomore center Joshua Smith are among the 50 players up for the award given to the top men's basketball player in the country as selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Washington's Terrence Ross was the only other Pac-12 player on the list.

The list will be winnowed to 30 in February by the Tipoff Club before the winner is announced in April during the Final Four in New Orleans.

UC Santa Barbara senior guard Orlando Johnson was also on the preseason list.

RELATED:

Are Bruins needlessly huffing and puffing?

Bruins impress key recruit William 'Shaq' Goodwin

Wear twins have uneven debut with UCLA basketball

--Ben Bolch

Photo: Joshua Smith, Reeves Nelson. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

NASCAR fines Kyle Busch $50,000, warns of indefinite suspension

Kyle Busch, already forced to miss two NASCAR races this weekend in Texas, also was fined $50,000 and given a stern warning by NASCAR on Monday.

In announcing the fine, NASCAR also placed Busch on probation until Dec. 31 and took the unusual step of saying that if Busch made another overly aggressive move this year that the sanctioning body deemed "detrimental to stock car racing or to NASCAR" or "disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event," then Busch "will be suspended indefinitely from NASCAR."

NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup Series has two more races this season: At Phoenix this Sunday and at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Nov. 20.

Busch, 26, got into hot water Friday night when he shoved championship contender Ron Hornaday Jr. into the wall during a caution period at a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Busch acknowledged that it was retaliation after the two had banged into each other earlier in the race. NASCAR then took the rare step of parking Busch, prohibiting him from driving in the second-level Nationwide Series race Saturday and the Cup race Sunday.

Busch, who drives the No. 18 Toyota in the Cup series for the team led by NFL Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs, then made a public apology in which he said "I accept their punishment and take full responsibility for my actions."

Michael McDowell drove for Busch in the Cup race and finished 33rd in the 43-car field. Busch watched the race while sitting atop McDowell's pit box.

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: Kyle Busch watches the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday. Credit: Randy Holt / Associated Press

Watch the Magic Johnson retirement news conference [Video]

 

It seems impossible, but 20 years ago today Magic Johnson retired from the Lakers while announcing he was HIV positive.

"Because of the HIV virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers today," Johnson said in the news conference, which you can watch above.

Johnson went on to say, "I just want to make it clear, first of all, that I do not have the AIDS disease."

It was a surreal moment few people will ever forget. At the time, you didn't know how long Johnson would live.

A few years later, of course, he returned to the Lakers for a season. He also was a member of the original dream team.

Today, he is an entrepreneur and considered by many to be the greatest Laker of all time.

RELATED:

Magic Johnson retains optimism

Twenty years later, Johnson is living proof

Magic Johnson wishes he hadn't retired so early

-- Houston Mitchell

 

Bill Plaschke: In wake of Sandusky scandal, Joe Paterno must resign

In 46 seasons as the football coach at Penn State University, Joe Paterno appeared to create a culture of winning and decency he called "Success with Honor."

Now that the culture has been exposed as a haven for an alleged child molester, Paterno needs to do the honorable thing and resign before he coaches another game.

It's sad that the winningest coach in major college football history will end his career with a giant "L" in the human-being department, but not nearly so sad as the idea that boys may have been abused because football's most controlling boss did nothing.

Paterno is a simple man, a basic man, with his trademark black shoes and white socks and thick black glasses remaining unchanged for nearly half a century. Surely this fundamental approach can help him understand why he can no longer run a program whose legendary sparkling blue-and-white uniforms hid a dark sickness within its locker room walls.

On Saturday, Jerry Sandusky, 67, a longtime Nittany Lions defensive coordinator who was once thought to be Paterno's successor, was charged with sexually abusing eight boys during a 15-year period. The grand jury’s findings of fact in the case read like a horror story, except the location wasn't some haunted mansion, it was Joe Paterno's hallowed halls.

Remembering Richard Burns

Hard to believe that this month marks 10 years since Richard Burns and Robert Reid won their WRC title at Rally GB and six years since Burns died after a battle with brain cancer aged just 34. I never had the pleasure of meeting Richard but during my brief foray into rallying as a co-driver for Tony Jardine – which culminated in our crack at WRC Rally Sweden in 2009 – I was mentored by Robert and heard some wonderful stories.

The Richard Burns Foundation have just released this film to highlight the Foundation's Paint It Orange campaign, which will see stars from within the world of motorsport, including Sebastien Loeb and Sebastian Vettel, plus celebrities from outside the racing world, wearing commemorative orange t-shirts celebrating the 10th anniversary of Burns' WRC title success. The foundation raises funds to assist others facing neurological injury and illness.

Monday Matchup: Bears at Eagles

Bears (4-3) at Eagles (3-4), Monday, 8:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
Line: Eagles by 7

Mention the lockout as a possible explanation for a slow start by a team or a player and you get a reflexive, collective eye roll from the football world.

It’s true that invoking the 18-week work stoppage explains everything (and therefore nothing), but how could more than four months of inactivity and missed practices, followed by a don’t-blink free-agency whirlwind and severely restricted training camp rules, not have had some tangible effect on many teams?

Take the Eagles, who signed or traded for eight high-profile veterans between July 29 and Aug. 10, and whose master plan for 2011 included incorporating rookies into the lineup at middle linebacker, right guard, punter and kicker, not to mention defensive coordinator.

At a time when most teams in most seasons are perfecting the finer details of the playbook, the Eagles were still figuring out where to park. Andy Reid probably should have recognized that all the turnover would cause problems and scaled back his plans a bit, but in retrospect, the 1-4 pratfall to start the season is easy to comprehend: these guys were not ready.

The Eagles are a dangerous team to prematurely bury at 3-4. Think of them as the souped-up smartphone you purchased, then threw into the junk drawer in disgust after spending two hours trying to send a text message. A little time, a little patience, and suddenly you realize the awesome power it possesses. Of course, these cool gadgets still crash at the worst times, but it is not something you can anticipate.

Pick: Eagles
(pick does not reflect the betting line)

New York City Marathon finishers include stars from other sports

Six-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Messier and Olympic gold medalists Apolo Anton Ohno and Jennie Finch were among the finishers at the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

Messier trained on his own on the roads of Greenwich, Conn., for seven months. He ran for two charities, Tomorrow's Children's Fund and Answer the Call, which supports the surviving family members of 9/11 first responders.

“I just got filled up with inspiration,” said Messier, who turned 50 earlier this year. “I feel great.”

Messier followed in the footsteps of his former teammates Mike Richter and Adam Graves from the 1994 Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers. He finished in a time of 4 hours, 14 minutes, 21 seconds, besting Graves' 2006 time by 13 minutes but falling short of Richter's 2007 mark by nearly 20 minutes.

Ohno, who normally trains for speedskating races that last from 90 seconds to just over two minutes, logged 600 miles in getting ready for the 26.2-mile trek that took him 3:25:14 to complete.

Metro Pucks: Rangers Are Perfect, Henrique Shines, the Coliseum Leaks

Our weekly review of the metropolitan area’s three N.H.L. teams.

Grades

Rangers: They played four home games this week and won them all, out-scoring opponents, 15-6. The Rangers beat Montreal and Winnipeg in regulation in back-to-back games over the weekend. Young centers Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov, whose development is crucial to New York’s success this season, improved with each game in the homestand. It wasn’t always perfect – see the third period against Anaheim on Thursday – but it was a very good week for the Rangers. Grade: A

Devils: Like the Rangers, the Devils have mastered the craft of “finding ways to win.” After a loss to Toronto Tuesday in Martin Brodeur’s return from the injured list, the Devils played in Philadelphia 24 hours later, scored late in regulation to tie the game and won in a shootout. They reversed the scene Saturday at home, blowing a 2-0 third period lead to Winnipeg before winning in overtime. As a team expected to be in the battle for the final playoff spots in the East, the Devils do not want to give away points to clubs like Winnipeg. Still, wins in two out of three this week isn’t bad. Grade: B plus

Islanders: Thanks in part to trio of terrible goals allowed by Tomas Vokoun, the Islanders ended a six-game losing streak Saturday by beating Washington, 5-3. The victory was crucial for the young and confidence-challenged Islanders, who play three straight on the road this week, starting Monday night in Boston. Coach Jack Capuano was wise to rattle his forward lines after his team’s 3-0 loss to Winnipeg on Thursday. Win or lose, there’s no better way to identify the best competitors on your team. Grade: B

Metro Player of the Week

Adam Henrique, Devils – The 21-year-old returned from a recent skills-polishing stint in the minors to center a line featuring Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise. Henrique scored his first N.H.L. goal Wednesday in the win in Philadelphia. With Kovalchuk sidelined with an injury Saturday, Henrique scored twice – including the game-winner in overtime – against the Jets. The Devils’ third round pick from the 2008 draft probably won’t see the American Hockey League again this season.

Trending

Up: Metro New York Hockey – On Saturday, the Rangers, Devils and Islanders played home games to a combined audience of more than 47,000 – and they all won! No, the good attendance has nothing to do with the N.B.A. lockout. As evidenced by the passion in the stands shown in these early-season games, plenty of people in the tri-state area care about this sport.

Down: Henrik Tallinder – The Devils’ defenseman is 6 foot 4, 210 pounds and gifted with on-ice smarts, vision and mobility. But he has no goals and just one assist through 12 games this season and is a team-worst minus-6 (minus-4 this week). Pete DeBoer needs a lot more from Tallinder.

Up: Devils’ Outreach – As part of a national program called “Try Hockey For Free Day,” Devils alumni Ken Daneyko, Bruce Driver, Grant Marshall and President Lou Lamoriello hosted a clinic for 40 inner-city youths at the team’s practice facility Saturday. Willie O’Ree, the first black player in N.H.L. history, also took part. The Rangers and Islanders conducted clinics as well.

Up: P. A. Parenteau – The Islanders’ right wing is the personification of the “Moneyball” player on ice. Scouts may pick his game apart, but all Parenteau does is produce. In Capuano’s lineup shakeup, Parenteau was taken off John Tavares’ line. He responded with two assists and the game-winning goal against Washington. Parenteau has 11 points in 11 games.

Down: Al Montoya’s Playing Time – He was the Islanders’ starting goaltender for the season opener and was outstanding, posting a 2.02 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. But the team wanted to give Evgeni Nabokov some work and Rick DiPietro came off the injured list to play the last three games. Montoya has not seen a minute between the pipes in 17 days.

Down: Nassau Coliseum Roof – The roof of the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike on Long Island sprung another leak on Saturday, which meant relocating two sections of fans to other seats during the game against Washington.

Up: Marian Gaborik – Never mind the impressive stats (7 goals and 6 assists in 13 games), Gaborik has been outstanding this season in every aspect of the game. With or without Brad Richards, he has been the Rangers’ best forward regardless of the identity of his linemates. “He’s coming,” said John Tortorella.

Up: Michael Del Zotto – The 21-year-old defenseman, who spent most of last year in the minors after a solid rookie season, has regained his confidence. Since his defensive positioning has improved, Del Zotto feels more comfortable joining the play in the offensive zone. At plus-6, he is tied for the team lead with Ryan McDonagh.

Prospect Watch

In the sixth round of the 2009 N.H.L. draft, the Islanders selected Anders Lee, a 6 foot 3 forward from Minnesota. The team’s scouts received a tip that Lee, a star quarterback in high school, was going to give up the gridiron to focus solely on hockey. As a sophomore under Coach Jeff Jackson, Lee has ten goals in the first nine games of this season.

Rangers left wing prospect Carl Hagelin is off to a good start in his first year as a pro after playing four years at the University of Michigan. Hagelin, a 23-year-old left wing from Sweden, has 4 goals and 4 assists in 12 games with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.

The Devils signed Keith Kinkaid as a free agent in April, after the goaltender completed his sophomore year at Union College in upstate New York. Considered one of the best goalies in the E.C.A.C., Kinkaid has impressed from the start of his professional career. In his first five games with the Albany Devils of the A.H.L., Kinkaid has a 1.98 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.

Did Tim Tebow save his job Sunday?

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow had a terrific game Sunday in a 38-24 victory at Oakland -- and his timing couldn't have been better. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported before the game that the Broncos were considering benching Tebow if he continued to regress, possibly replacing him with Brady Quinn.

That speculation won't get much traction this week, after Tebow ran for 117 yards in 12 carries and threw for two touchdowns, keeping his team in the thick of the AFC West race.

The Raiders, meanwhile, are groping for defensive answers and need to patch a lot of holes in a short time; they play at San Diego on Thursday.

"You have to do your job," Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour said after Sunday's loss. "The things that happened out there today ... it's Football 101."

The Broncos ran for 298 yards, 230 in the second half.

"I'm shocked," defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said. "Ain't no way I thought that team could put 38 points on us with that quarterback. This hurt more than Buffalo."

ALSO:

Giants top the Patriots, and that's just one flashback

Q&A: Jerry Jones takes risks and reaps the rewards

Gerharts go the extra mile to watch sons play football

-- Sam Farmer

Photo: Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow escapes pressure from Raiders defensive tackle John Henderson during the second quarter Sunday in Oakland. Credit: D. Ross Cameron / McClatchy-Tribune

Has Eli Manning Earned the Right to Be Called Elite?

Had Eli Manning thrown an interception in the Giants’ final drive against the Patriots on Sunday, the answer among fans might be different. Short memories, small sample sizes and high emotion are not a recipe for rationality.

After Manning finished with 25 interceptions last season, our Andy Barall wrote that Giants fans would miss him when he was gone — not a popular opinion at the time.

Then came August, and Manning was asked in a radio interview if he was in the same class as Tom Brady.

He replied, “I consider myself in that class.”

Cue the laughter.

Shutdown Corner, while praising Manning for his confidence, also called it “the irrational, delusional kind”:

Eli is wrong, of course. Tom Brady is a better quarterback than Eli Manning, and that’s not a criticism of Eli or even a statement of opinion. That’s just the way it is. The sun rises in the East, two plus two is four, and Tom Brady is a better quarterback than Eli Manning.

Manning had a chance to match up with Brady on Sunday, and just as he did in the 2008 Super Bowl, he outdueled him and rallied the Giants to victory with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

Still, Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports  wasn’t ready to give Eli an “E”:

Is it time to vault Manning into that class with guys like Brady, his brother Peyton, Drew Brees) and Aaron Rodgers? Can we somehow elevate him to a status that stats and moments don’t quite justify?

No, not yet.

If you’re looking for a bottom line answer to whether New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is the equal of New England Patriots counterpart Tom Brady, the answer is still no.

Extra point Forget about Sunday, as exciting as it was. It was one game. Is Eli one of the top five quarterbacks? Is he truly elite?

Here’s a sample of Manning’s discussion with reporters after the game (the full transcript is at the Giants’ Web site):

Q: Did you see any of the signs in the stands saying you were not an elite quarterback?

Eli: I did not. I don’t make it a habit of looking into the stands and reading signs. If I did, I don’t think I would have thought they were the experts to make that decision.

Q: Are you surprised that the question about where you rank has become a season-long debate?

Eli: I just don’t worry about it; it doesn’t affect my performance, my preparation or my mindset on what I need to do each week. If someone wants to put me in that class or not doesn’t bother me. It’s not going to get me depressed or get me cocky. I just try to prepare each week and go out there and try to win each game.

London 2012 Olympics: torch relay will convert even the staunchest Olympic sceptic

The London 2012 Olympic torch (Photo: LOCOG)

In May and June next year a curious feeling will overcome the UK.

Suddenly the most cynical and uninterested of the British public,  who has largely ignored the London 2012 Olympic Games build-up, will become converted into an Olympic fan.

The source of such revelation? A small flame on the end of a golden torch being carried around the country by 8,000 local people – and a few celebrities.

The impact and magnitude of the Olympic torch relay in creating a unified and passionate base for the home Games cannot be underestimated.

In the lead-up to the Sydney Olympic Games the mood of the nation shifted 180 degrees from anxiety about Olympic costs and ticketing to unbridled cheering on the day the Olympic torch arrived and was carried to Uluru by an aboriginal sprinter Nova Peris.

At the Vancouver Winter Olympics, divisions over the local communities and squabbling about costs were silenced in the cacophony of support for local torch bearers as it weaved its way throughout Canada.

I suspect that across the UK, the hundreds of communities that are already preparing for the torch arrival will galvanise a similar tidal wave of Olympic cheering.

Just why this is so, remains a mystery. I suspect people will say it is part myth – the thought that a flame lit by the rays of the sun can remain constantly light and bright and touch parts of the country that previously was immune to any connection to the Games, and part curiosity – to see what the fuss is all about.

Organisers of the London 2012 torch relay have taken a risk though, in deviating from the true relay concept. They are having runners pass the flame through towns, and then whisking it into the back of a truck to take it to the next town.

Part of the torch's romance was its journey through remote locations with just a farmer and his dog cheering it on, rather than ensuring every landmark has a picture opportunity.

But the organisers have taken this relay-by-truck method to ensure it will reach the farthest flung reaches of the country. And curiously it will be those areas the greatest distance away from London that will embrace the torch the most.

UFC 138 Post event reaction: Mark Munoz, Che Mills, Brad Pickett, Rafael Cordeiro videos

Dana White on the UK UFC scene. Says television deal needs working out. Committed and embedded in UK and not going anywhere… CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

Mark Munoz on Bruce Lee moment with Anderson Silva; wants to fight for the UFC middleweight title. CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

Rafael Cordeiro on the Anderson Silva – Mark Munoz match-up. "It's just a sport. They are friends now, they can be friends afterwards. CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

Brad Pickett on needing 'to get back on the horse' as soon as possible after defeat to Renan Barao at UFC 138

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

Che Mills on his future in the UFC after 17 second KO of Chris Cope. CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

For Giants, a Little More Drama to End the Week

A capsule look at the Giants’ 24-20 win over the Patriots on Sunday:

Key Performance

Steve Weatherford was the star of the first half, as the Giants punted on each of their six possessions. Weatherford finished the game with eight punts for an average of 43.1 yards, and pinned the Patriots on or inside their 20 six times.

Notable Number

Mathias Kiwanuka had 12 tackles, leading the Giants’ defense. Kiwanuka, who has been shuttled from linebacker to defensive end and back this season, also recorded his first interception since 2006 when he snatched a Tom Brady pass out of the air after Michael Boley tipped it.

Talking Point

The Giants played a sixth straight game in which the decisive score came with nine minutes or less remaining (they won five of the games). Anxious fans everywhere must be wondering: Can the Giants ever win a game easily?

Moving Month for Jets?

The third round of a golf major is called moving day because the tournament winner often comes from a group of players who surged on Saturday. It’s hard to picture Rex Ryan in golfing knickers, but his Jets seem poised to make a big move in November, the third month of the N.F.L. season.

The Jets’ 27-11 victory over the Bills was their finest all-around performance of the season. Were there penalties and some sloppiness that need to be addressed? Sure. But only three weeks ago, the Jets appeared in danger of “missing the cut” when they lost to the Patriots in Foxborough. At 2-3, the Jets were scuffling, and the Patriots were soaring at 4-1.

Now the Jets are tied for first place in the A.F.C. East with the Bills and Patriots. The Jets appear to be gearing up for their stretch run by sharpening their overall game.

On Sunday, Mark Sanchez (20 of 28, 230 yards, TD, INT), who was solid against the Bills, likened next Sunday’s game against the suddenly reeling Patriots to a divisional championship game.

Let’s take a quick look at what will be on the horizon for the Jets if they can continue to refine their game and find a way to hand the Patriots their third consecutive loss  Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.

1) The Jets would be, at worst, tied for first place in the A.F.C. East with the Bills, who have to travel to Dallas. A Bills loss to the Cowboys would give the Jets sole possession of first. In addition, the Jets would have a one-game lead over the Patriots and would hold the tiebreak edge in the division (Jets 3-1, Patriots 2-2).

2) Cincinnati (6-2) surprisingly sits atop the A.F.C. North, but it has a difficult schedule coming up. Cincinnati is tied with Baltimore at 6-2, but the Bengals  currently hold a tiebreak edge. After next Sunday’s game against the 6-3 Steelers, the Bengals play the Ravens in Baltimore on Nov. 20. Cincinnati may catch a break with Cleveland on Nov. 27, but the Bengals then have to travel to Pittsburgh on Dec. 4. In any case, the A.F.C. North rivals Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore will be beating up on one another in the coming weeks.

3) The A.F.C. West had a terrible day. The three teams that were tied for the division lead all lost. San Diego, Oakland and Kansas City lead the division at 4-4, with Denver only a game back at 3-5.

4) A.F.C. South-leading Houston (6-3) has a tough assignment.  The Texans play at Tampa Bay next Sunday before a bye week.

If the Jets can beat New England and seize control of the A.F.C. East, they will immediately become a player in the overall A.F.C. picture.

Extra point Is November going to become moving month for the Jets?