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Aberdeen experienced a miserable start to their Uefa Cup group stage campaign in Athens as Jimmy Calderwood’s side went down to a crushing defeat to Greek giants Panathinaikos.

After a closely-contested first half in which Giannis Goumas headed Panathinaikos in front, two late second-half strikes in just four minutes from Greek international duo Dimitris Papadopoulos and Dimitris Salpigidis completed a convincing win for Jose Peseiro’s team.

The Dons now have it all to do in their three remaining matches, the next of which is against Lokomotiv Moscow at Pittodrie in two weeks time. The hosts started strongly, probing down both flanks and winning two corners inside the first three minutes – but a Dons counter-attack in the fourth minute should have resulted in the visitors taking the lead.

A neat passing move saw Barry Nicholson release Richard Foster down the left and he skipped past Mikael Nilsson before whipping in a low centre which arrived at the feet of Chris Clark through a crowd of bodies. However, Clark failed to find the target, with his first-time effort fizzing narrowly over the crossbar.

Aberdeen were then made to pay for that miss in the 12th minute when they fell behind to a goal from a set-piece. Pana forward Dame N’Doye won a free-kick from Jackie McNamara’s over-enthusiastic tackle in a dangerous position on the right flank. Defender Goumas then beat Dons defender Andrew Considine to Andreas Ivanschitz’s free-kick at the near post to glance a header past James Langfield and into the bottom left hand corner.

Panathinaikos showed their attacking intent just after the break when N’Doye broke through in the right side of the Dons penalty area and held off Alexander Diamond’s challenge before shooting into the side netting in the opening minute.

It came as no surprise when Aberdeen went two goals down with 17 minutes remaining. Ivanschitz was again the architect for the home side, playing in substitute Papadopoulos with a defence-splitting pass which the Greece striker slotted neatly into the bottom right hand corner through Langfield’s legs.

Langfield was then beaten for a third time four minutes later. Mair brought down Tziolis just outside the penalty area and although Ivanschitz’s curling free-kick was parried by the Dons keeper, the ball fell straight into the path of Salpigidis, who rammed it home from six yards.

Panathinaikos (4-4-2): Malarz; Morris, Fyssas, Goumas, Mattos; Tziolis, Ivanschitz (Mantzios, 81), Nilsson, Dimoutsos; Ndoye (Papadopoulos, 59), Salpigidis (Seric, 81). Substitutes not used: Romero, Vintra, Sarregi, Galinovic.

Aberdeen (4-4-2): Langfield; Hart, McNamara (De Visscher, 75), Diamond, Foster; Considine (Mair, 61), Severin (Aluko, 86), Nicholson, Clark; Miller, Young. Subsitutes not used: Lovell, Touzani, Byrne, Kelly.

Referee: T Einwaller (Austria)

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Source: sport.independent.co.uk

The Boston Red Sox pounded Rockies’ starter Josh Fogg for six runs in the 3rd inning, but saw their lead nearly evaporate as Colorado scored two runs in the 6th inning and 3 more in the 7th on leftfielder Matt Holliday’s homer off of reliever Hideki Okajima.  

But the Rockies shot at game 3 was short-lived as the Red Sox pulled away with three runs in the 8th, another run in the 9th and closer Jonathan Papelbon barred the door on the Rockies to insure a Boston 10-5 victory on 15 hits and a 3-0 lead in games in the world series.

Red Sox starter Japanese rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka went into the 6th inning with a six run lead and even helped out his own cause with a two run double in the 3rd amidst the six run outburst where 1st baseman David Ortiz, 3rd baseman Mike Lowell and centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury all drove in runs. 

But Dice-K, who gave up three hits, issued one walk and hit a batter through 5 innings, was touched in the 6th inning for two runs having walked two and given up two hits; copnsecutive RBI singles to rightfileder Brad Hawpe and catcher Yorvit Torrealba.  Matsuzaka was chased having thrown 101 pitches for the game stiking out 5 and walking 3.

Then in the 7th inning, Boston reliever Mike Timlin gave up two hits, was replaced by Okajima who was greeted by Holliday’s 3 run shot to temporarily make it a ballgame.  However, the Sox, led by lead-off hitter and centerfielder Ellsbury’s 4 hits, 2 RBIs game and 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia’s 3 hits and 2 RBIs, Boston pulled away with four late inning runs to insure the win.

For Colorado, 2nd baseman Kazuo Matsui went 3 for 5 with a run scored as the game was easily the Rockies most productive of the series offensively in getting 11 hits.

For the boxscores and recap on Saturday’s game, .

It is evident that the Red Sox smell World Series victory as both teams prepare for Sunday’s game 4. For the Rockies, their 21 wins in 22 games to get the series now just a memory, it is do or die time over the next 3 games — one more loss ends the series.

Baseball Writer Ronald Blum reports Rockies manager Clint Hurrdle’s assessment of the situation for Yahoo sports;

The 22 previous teams that took a 3-0 World Series lead all went on to win, 19 with sweeps.

“It looks like we’re in groundbreaking territory,” Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said.

If the Rockies are the National League’s best, the senior circuit has a lot of catching up to do. Maybe it is the rust of a record eight-day layoff for the Rockies, or maybe the Red Sox really are a league above.

Colorado has been outscored 25-7 and is batting just .222. Boston’s batters have been bruisers, hitting .352 in the Series with 16 doubles. The Rockies were the talk of baseball with 21 wins in 22 games coming into the Series, but they’ve gone into reverse, looking more like the fourth-place team they were in mid-September.

“After 21 of 22, four games doesn’t seem like a whole lot,” Fuentes said.

Boston has won six straight since falling behind Cleveland 3-1 in the AL championship series. While the Yankees owned the 20th century, the Red Sox are one win from becoming the first team to win two titles in the 21st. 

In Sunday’s 4th game, Boston’s lefthander Jon Lester (4-0) opposes Aaron Cook (8-7) for Colorado.  Both pitchers have recovered from serious health issues; Lester from a lymphoma and Cook from a blood clot.

If a game 5 is necessary, it will be payed in Colorado, followed by a return to Boston for games 6 and 7 if needed.

For the boxscores and recap on Sunday’s game, .

Source: www.blogging-baseball.com

Federer produced his normal consistently strong game

Roger Federer won the Swiss Indoors title to clinch the season-ending world number one ranking for the fourth consecutive year.

The Swiss maestro beat unseeded Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 6-4 to successfully defend his hometown title in Basle.

Federer, who has now won seven titles this season, had not dropped a single set in any of his previous seven meetings with the world number 29.

A single break of the Finn’s serve in each set was enough for a clinical win.

Federer’s victory was his 52nd career title and he joins Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras among players to have been world number one four times in as many years.

Nieminen actually had a point to go 2-0 up in the second set, but failed to seize the only break-point presented by Federer in the course of the match.

“It’s great to win at home again,” said the 12-time Grand Slam champion, who also lifted the title in Basle a year ago at the venue where he got his start as a ballboy.

“I’ve now got the number one for another year. The crowd really helped me,” he said of 9,200 at the St Jakobshalle.

Niemenen said of Federer: “I’ve known him since he was 14 or 15. He’s still the same person and he respects all the players and all the people.

“He’s a great person off the court.”

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College hoops standout Daniel Payne (6-7, 210) took an unofficial visit to the University of Arkansas on Friday night to watch the Razorbacks’ Red-White game.

Filed under Arkansas

Source: www.ncaamensbball.com

By: Jason Petrina

Purchasing an RV can be an exciting time and it can be easy to get caught up in that excitement as you peruse the various options and models available; imaging the future pleasurable trips you are sure to enjoy.

Before you get to caught up in your daydreams or start imagining yourself tooling down the road behind the wheel of a monster fifth-wheeler, it might be a good idea to perform a quick reality check and consider the features you really want and need in a travel trailer or motor home.

One of the first questions you need to ask yourself is how often you plan to use your RV. Are you considering the purchase of an RV in order to take advantage of year around travel or do you plant to use your RV only a few weeks out of the year? The amount of time that you plant to spend in your RV can make a huge difference in the type and size of RV that you should purchase. This is particularly true if you plan to be traveling during months of the year in which the whether tends to be extreme-namely summer and winter.

Along the same line, you need to give some thought to the length of the trips you plan to take in your motor home. Are you looking primarily at a couple of week long vacation or perhaps a few weekend trips scattered throughout the year? Or, perhaps you are more interested in lengthier travel and anticipate spending several weeks or months at a time traveling in your motor home. Whatever your answer to these questions happen to be will be a critical factor in the size of RV you choose as well as the amenities that will make your trip more comfortable and pleasurable. Generally speaking, if you are only planning to take short trips, then you might not need as large of an RV or one outfitted with all the works. Longer trips; however, may be more pleasurable if you opt for a larger, more luxurious model.

You should also give a fair amount of thought to the number of beds you will need. Do you anticipate traveling with guests? Will you find it cumbersome to fold and unfold sleeping compartments every day of your trip? Do you require privacy or will an open concept suit you?

The amount of cooking you plan to do while you travel in your motor home is also an important consideration. Think about how much storage space you will need for food items. You might also want to think about whether you want and need an entertainment center in your RV or whether you plant to spend the majority of your time pursuing activities outside your motor home.

Also consider other amenities such as toilets, tubs and showers. Will you be fine with showering in a small shower stall or do you need to opt for a larger motor home complete with a bath tub?

One of the most important factors you need to consider is the towing capacity of your current vehicle. While a fifth-wheel motor home may be the model of your dreams, you must stop and ask yourself if your existing vehicle can handle the haul.

Finally, ask yourself how much money you can afford, and wish, to spend on a motor home. One of the great things about RVs is that they come in all sizes as well as a wide variety of price ranges; making them an affordable option for everyone. Don’t forget to consider options such as pre-owned vehicles; which can make the idea of owning an RV even more realistic than you might have thought.

Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com

Source: ju-sport.blogspot.com

Juan Pablo Angel

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night in the opening game of their first-round MLS playoffs series.

Jon Conway made three saves for the Red Bulls, while Matt Reis stopped five shots for the Revolution. The teams are playing a home-and-home, goal-aggregate series, so either team can advance to the conference finals with a win next week.

The Red Bulls, who last beat the Revolution in September 2005 and are 0-6-3 against them since, had more scoring chances, but could not convert them.

Their best opportunities came in the fifth minute, Francis Doe had a tough angle shot that was stopped by Reis, and in the 17th minute, when U.S. teen sensation Jozy Altidore sent a hard left-footed shot over the crossbar.

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• MLS Playoffs Schedule and Results

There was some controversy in the closing minutes, when Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards got tangled with Revolution defender Avery John and John appeared to have touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area.

However, referee Jair Marrufo called Richards for a foul that angered Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena, and neither team had a chance to score for the rest of the match.

Source: www.tsn.ca

Facing the prospect of imminent Champions League elimination and the estimated £20m financial blow that would bring, Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks made a robust defence of his manager Rafael Benitez yesterday, dismissing criticism of his rotation policy and insisting that his coaching abilities were beyond question.

Hicks, who with fellow American George Gillett Jnr completed an estimated £435m takeover of Liverpool in February, has not been accustomed to making public pronouncements about his manager. But Liverpool’s calamitous 2-1 defeat to Besiktas in Istanbul on Wednesday night, which leaves the side needing wins from their remaining three games to stand any chance

of qualifying for the second group stage, led him to affirm the board’s support for Benitez.

“We back Rafa. He’s the right manager,” said Hicks. “Rotation has been his policy for three years. His ability to coach and manage in the Champions League should be unquestioned.”

Hicks went considerably further in his critique of Wednesday night’s game than Benitez, whose reluctance to describe the defeat as anything other than an unfortunate return on 28 chances created was one of the night’s many unexpected turns. “We had a disappointing loss because we got outplayed by the Turks,” said Hicks. “I think we have our work cut out, but yes we can qualify. We have to win the next three games.”

Asked before the Besiktas game whether the inevitable desire of Hicks and Gillett to cash in on the riches of a Champions League run created additional pressure, Benitez said their money had to be put out of mind. “We cannot be worried about that. We have to make decisions and be focused and clear,” he insisted. Yet elimination would cost Liverpool dear. The financial rewards for reaching the last 16 are £1.5m per team, with £1.7m and £2m respectively for the quarter- and semi-finals. But it is the immense merchandising benefits which Hicks and Gillett would miss most. Hicks is aware of the vagaries of sport: his Texas Rangers baseball club have also had a bad year.

So poor has Liverpool’s Champions League campaign proved so far – one point and two goals leave them bottom of Group A – that goalkeeper Jose Reina admitted yesterday that the club faces a fight just to make third place in the group and clinch a Uefa Cup place. “We need three points because Besiktas are ahead of us, even in the fight for the Uefa Cup,” he said. “We have to beat them at home and get ahead of them at least.”

The words “the fight for the Uefa Cup” seemed unimaginable when Benitez was investing Hicks and Gillett’s money this summer and some fans might even now consider fourth place in Group A – and short-term humiliation – a better prospect than Uefa Cup qualification to hinder Liverpool’s bid to make a meaningful impression in the Premier League.

Benitez was stony-faced when he appeared shortly after Wednesday night’s game for a press conference at which he did not so much clutch at straws as at a Uefa match stats sheet. The Spaniard had spotted radio journalists examining the figures, asked for a look and within 30 seconds was quoting from them.

Some recalled in Benitez’s use of statistics Gérard Houllier’s proclivity for firing out figures when his team performed badly. The comparisons between the two stops there – but suggestions that Liverpool were simply unfortunate seem more than a touch delusional. There is no statistical measure, of course, for ingenuity, vision and the match-changing touches which Liverpool lacked, and Reina also drew on numbers to support the side’s case. “We were unlucky in front of goal and what more can you do?” he asked. “We have conceded two goals from four shots on target. We could only score one from 10. What [more] can I say?”

But some might question why Lucas Leiva trotted on in place of Javier Mascherano after three quarters of an hour while Peter Crouch had to wait until the last five minutes to appear and quickly set up Steven Gerrard’s goal.

Even if Benitez does wind up competing for the Uefa Cup he won with Valencia in 2004, he may feel more uninhibited about concentrating on the trophy most covet.

The acid test of whether Liverpool, still unbeaten in the Premier League, really have the mettle to challenge for it, comes straight away and though Arsenal’s arrival on Sunday seems daunting, it might also be the dose of salts Benitez’s team needs.

“Sunday is another competition,” said Reina, who knows that defeat to Arsenal would open a formidable nine-point gap between the sides. “With all respect to the three teams in our [European] group, we’re going to play against a better team on Sunday. We’re playing at Anfield. We’re excited about that, and it’s a top, top game in the Premiership and we are optimistic. It won’t be difficult for us to pick ourselves up.”

Asked this week what was his best midfield combination, Benitez delivered a characteristically complex answer but hinted that Gerrard and Xabi Alonso might fit the bill against less physical sides when there is a need to “move the ball.” With Alonso close to fitness, Sunday might finally herald his return to inject the creativity Liverpool have lacked of late.

In the Champions League, Liverpool need a miracle matching any but the 2005 final if they are to progress from Group A. But they can take heart from the fact that two of the six clubs to have made it through after gaining fewer than two points from the first games are British: Arsenal, three years ago, and Newcastle, who progressed after failing to register a point from three games.

One permutation would leave Liverpool facing an eliminator in Marseilles on 11 December if the French side – whose league form has remained unimpressive since they won in Liverpool – beat Besiktas but lose to Porto and Liverpool beat both those teams.

Jamie Carragher yesterday urged fans to remember the 2005 heroics against Olympiakos and those with longer memories will conjure thoughts of a famous French night, against St-Etienne in 1977. Benitez can only keep an eye on the numbers – and hope.

Group A

Results: Marseilles 2 Besiktas 0; Porto 1 Liverpool 1; Besiktas 0 Porto 1; Liverpool 0 Marseilles 1; Besiktas 2 Liverpool 1; Marseilles 1 Porto 1.

Fixtures: 6 Nov: Liverpool v Besiktas; Porto v Marseilles. 28 Nov: Besiktas v Marseilles; Liverpool v Porto. 11 Dec: Marseilles v Liverpool; Porto v Besiktas.

What Liverpool must do to qualify from their group:

Rafael Benitez’s side will probably have to win all three of their remaining games if they are to avoid failing to reach the knockout stages for the first time under the Spaniard. Two of the games are at Anfield, suggesting a better chance, although they did lose at home to Marseilles. They can, however, go through with seven points if they beat the French side by more than one goal and Besiktas fail to win twice. A six-point haul is less likely to see them through, with Marseilles already on the seven points the Reds would accrue, and Porto one victory away.

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Source: sport.independent.co.uk

A headed equaliser five minutes from time denied the Premier League’s bottom side a morale boosting Uefa Cup victory in front of their new manager and a sparse 10,000 crowd at a disillusioned Reebok Stadium.

Gary Megson, whose appointment has so obviously failed to impress Bolton supporters, watched from the bench as El Hadji Diouf’s second-half goal seemed to be steering them towards an unimpressive win which would have been hugely welcome for all that.

Sections of the crowd showed what they thought of the Megson appointment by chanting throughout the game for the sacking of the board who made the decision.

A truly dreadful first half did nothing to placate them, but there was a brief lift for the spirits when Diouf was brought on after an hour in a bid to inject some life into a side which has shown precious little so far.

Immediately, he got a shot on target, albeit a tame one from a near impossible angle. Jorginho had a slightly more realistic effort saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen at the other end as the game belatedly came to life.

Then, suddenly and quite out of context with everything that had gone before, the Diouf charm worked as Bolton were rewarded for what was by far their best move of the game.

The build up, involving him and Nicolas Anelka, was good, Kevin Davies’ cross with the outside of his right foot was better and Diouf was perfectly placed to head past Paulo Santos for his first goal of the season.

His introduction now looked like a tactical masterstroke on the part of the caretaker manager, Archie Knox, who had been booed at the time for taking off Danny Guthrie.

Jaaskelainen had to save well from Cesar Peixoto to preserve a lead that could have been doubled when Davies hit the woodwork.

That would have flattered a Bolton performance that had shown their lack of confidence all too clearly. Instead of that the prize of full points from their first group game was dashed away from them by another substitute.

It was a soft goal, Joao Pereira being given far too much time to put in a cross from the right and the smallest man in the penalty area, Jailson, a Brazilian midfielder on loan from Benfica, was allowed to rise unchallenged to loop his header over Jaaskelainen and into the Bolton net.

“It’s disappointing to concede a goal in the last five minutes because that’s when you’ve got to be resilient,” said Knox, who expects to be kept on in a support role under the new Megson regime.

Jorge Costa, the Braga manager, was not satisfied with the draw as he believed his side should have had a penalty for Andy O’Brien’s tackle on Ze Manuel.

Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Hunt, A O’Brien, Meite, Cid; McCann, Guthrie (Diouf, 61), Speed, Gardner (Andranik, 81); Davies, Anelka. Substitutes not used: Al Habsi (gk), J O’Brien, Nolan, Braaten, Alonso.

Braga (4-4-2): Santos; Pereira, Jorge, Rodriguez, Peixoto; Vandinho, Madrid (Jailson, 76), Castanheira (Manuel, 66), Wender; Jorginho, Linz. Substitutes not used: Dani (gk), Tomas, Fernandes, Anilton, Stelvio.

Referee: D Ceferin (Sweden).

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Source: sport.independent.co.uk

EUGENE, Ore. — No. 5 Oregon has spent the season piling up points and yards as if it’s buying them at Sam’s Club: in bulk, and way more than it needs. The Ducks scored 50-plus points in their last four victories, and they have averaged 551 yards of total offense per game.

Joe Nicholson/US Presswire

Dennis Dixon was held without a touchdown pass for the first time all season.

But No. 12 USC came to town on Saturday. It’s on Page 1 of the coaching textbook: Defense wins championships. Explosive offenses usually don’t explode against talented defenses, and the Trojans have a defense with seven NFL first-round draft picks on the front seven, according to Oregon offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. As USC warmed up before the game, Kelly allowed himself a moment of awe.

“I said, ‘Whoa. These guys are pretty good. They look like the Patriots,’” Kelly said.

Oregon gained only 339 yards of total offense Saturday, some 212 yards below its average. Quarterback Dennis Dixon, the Ducks’ Heisman Trophy candidate, failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season.

And the Ducks controlled the game throughout. Defense won this game, and it just wasn’t the defense with all of the first-round picks.

On a brilliantly sunny Saturday, before 59,277 fans (the largest crowd in the history of Autzen Stadium), Oregon won, 24-17. The Ducks won by playing outstanding defense, by playing offense as patiently as a spread offense can play and by recovering from their mistakes while making the Trojans pay for theirs.

In short, Oregon won by playing not the way Oregon has played, but by playing the way national champions have played.

“This game felt like a championship game,” USC coach Pete Carroll said, “like it was supposed to.”

USC and Oregon threw something at each other that neither team is used to seeing week in and week out — athletes as good as their own. When Oregon attacked the Trojans’ perimeter, the USC tacklers closed the gaps quickly.

But Dixon gave as good as he got. On the Ducks’ two-minute drive at the end of the first half, Dixon gained 9 yards, and saved 20 seconds on the clock, by juking inside and loping to the right sideline. He took Oregon 58 yards in 11 plays, and Matt Evenson kicked a 41-yard field goal to give the Ducks a 10-3 lead with 15 seconds to spare.

“Before the game,” Dixon said, “I talked to Chip. He said, ‘Think completions. Manage the game.’”

AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens

Mark Sanchez suffered the Trojans’ worst loss in five years.

Dixon did that and more. If Heisman voters look at his numbers (16-of-25 for 157 passing yards, 17 carries for 76 rushing yards and a touchdown), Dixon may suffer. If Heisman voters watched the game, Dixon gained a lot of votes.

The only bad decision Dixon made was his third-quarter pitch to tackle Geoff Schwartz. Dixon saw a black jersey behind him and made the instinctive move. Somehow, Schwartz caught it and rumbled for a 3-yard gain.

“That was a designed play, as you probably could tell,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti deadpanned. “We like Schwartz’s ability in the open field.”

That play encapsulated how the Ducks dug themselves out of holes, literally right from the beginning.

Oregon returner Andre Crenshaw fumbled away the opening kickoff to USC at the Oregon 21. The Trojans got to fourth-and-1, and Carroll, who just can’t help himself, refused to attempt the short field goal on the road. The Ducks stuffed Joe McKnight for a 1-yard loss.

“Four plays later, it was over,” Oregon defensive end Nick Reed. “We were off the field like it never happened.”

USC went off the field with no points, just as it did three weeks ago, when it failed on fourth-and-goal at the Stanford 1-yard line just before the half. The Trojans went on to lose, 24-23.

A crazy bounce on a second-quarter punt glanced off the Ducks’ Garren Strong and was recovered by the Trojans’ Rey Maualuga at the Oregon 33. USC needed nine plays to drive all of 20 yards before settling for a 30-yard field goal by David Buehler.

Two red zone trips. Three points.

The Trojans actually outgained the Ducks, getting 378 yards of total offense, but those statistics are so misleading they could have been put out by a campaign committee.

“All we can do is clear up the mistakes we made in this game,” USC quarterback Mark Sanchez said.

The Ducks won by confusing the Trojan sophomore, who was making only the third start of his career. Sanchez had his moments. He completed 26-of-41 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. With USC trailing, 24-10, and only 5:32 to play, Sanchez completed four straight passes, the last a 14-yard scoring pass to David Ausberry with 4:44 to play, to cut the deficit in half.

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Coach Mike Bellotti’s team made a statement on Saturday night.

Oregon failed to make a first down and gave the ball back to Sanchez with 3:10 to play at the USC 17. Sanchez drove the Trojans 50 yards, to the Oregon 33. He had :23 and one timeout remaining, not the best time for inexperience to rear its head. But he threw two interceptions to Oregon free safety Matthew Harper, the second with :11 to play after Sanchez had driven the Trojans to the Ducks’ 33.

Though Harper lined up on the side of the field opposite tight end Fred Davis, he planned to cover him. Sanchez didn’t figure that out.

“I baited him,” Harper said. “I went back to the middle and I don’t think he saw me. I jumped in front of the tight end.”

The national championship debate will enter November without the USC Trojans on the stage. If that sounds unusual, it hasn’t happened since 2002, since Carson Palmer led a late-season surge that earned USC a slot in the Orange Bowl and him the Heisman Trophy.

How long is five years in college football? Five years ago, Dennis Franchione still coached at Alabama and Tim Tebow played linebacker and tight end as a freshman at Trinity Christian in Jacksonville, Fla.

“To beat them is very big,” Bellotti said.

Do not hit your refresh button. Bellotti tried to back away from making it a big deal, then said it again.

“Because they have been a great football team, and they still are a great football team,” Bellotti explained. “They are as talented a football team as there is in the United States. We played Michigan [and beat the Wolverines, 39-7]. We’ve seen other games across the nation. ‘SC has as much talent as anybody. … Their 11 best? Our best 11 is better. We played as a team. We trusted each other. This is a big step.”

With five weeks left in the regular season, Oregon is front-and-center in the national championship picture. The steps don’t get any bigger.

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Send your questions and comments to Ivan at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Amidst the daily trade discussions swirling around Kobe Bryant and the Lakers this preseason, coach Phil Jackson is upset at his star player’s level of commitment.

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“Obviously he hasn’t thrown his heart and soul into performing on the floor,” Jackson told reporters after practice Saturday. “That hurts me a little bit. … He was going to work at this thing and [would] put his full being into this. Right now, he’s having a hard time doing that.”

Clearly Bryant disagreed with his coach’s assessment.

“That [should be] the least of his concerns or anybody’s concerns,” Bryant said. “You don’t have to worry about that. … I’m ready to play. Period. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Sources have told ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan that the Lakers and Chicago Bulls have been having daily discussions about Bryant trade possibilities for at least the past week, with Bryant’s no-trade clause throwing a unique wrench into the situation, according to sources.

The Lakers are asking for a package built around Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, which is more than Chicago is willing to surrender. Also, Bryant would not want to play in Chicago if the Bulls surrendered all four of those players, believing there would not be enough talent left to compete for a championship, and he would veto that trade even if the Bulls and Lakers were both in favor of it.

Jackson also spoke to reporters about how the Lakers, as a team, were dealing with the saga around their superstar player.

“I think they are a little bit confused,” Jackson said. “I think they are enjoying their time together right now … But I think there’s a certain sense of how does this all fit all together, which is natural because they haven’t seen a situation like this before.”

The Lakers open their season at home on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.

In May, Bryant was critical of the Lakers’ front office for failing to build a championship contender and asked for a trade during an interview with ESPN Radio. He initially seemed to back off that in a different interview later that day.

Bryant then avoided speaking about the Lakers until the beginning of training camp Oct. 1, when he talked more positively, saying he was looking forward to the season.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss told reporters during training camp in Hawaii that he has explored the feasibility of satisfying Bryant’s trade wish and will continue to do so.

Bryant has four years, worth $88.6 million, left on his contract, but can terminate the deal in two years, leaving $47.8 million on the table.

Source: sports.espn.go.com