Kathy Goodman: I can't complain | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Sparks came in to play the New York Liberty at the endof a four-game, 10-day trip that had us zigzagging across time zones fourtimes.Although the trip started roughin Indiana, we rallied from there, winning in Connecticut and Minnesota, movingus into fourth place in the Western Conference standings (and a playoffberth).We all were looking for a finalwin in New York to cap our trip, but it wasn’t to be.We fell to the Liberty on Friday night, 88-79,but I can’t complain.

We knew this would be a tough game. We were playing inMadison Square Garden and the Liberty was  fighting for its own playoff spotin the East.The New York rivalry withL.A. is longstanding on many fronts, not the least of which is in the WNBA, andour games against the Liberty are always hard-fought. This one was no exception.The game was tied 14 times, the lead changed19 times and until the last two minutes of the game, no more than five points separated the two teams.

The start of the game didn’t necessarily signal what was tocome.In the first quarter, both teamsshot under 40% and the Sparks went 0 for 3 from the three-point line.By the end of the quarter, the Liberty was only up by two.The second quarter couldn’thave been more different. Both teams went on a scoring tear, with the Sparksshooting almost 65% from the field (and 50% from three-point range) and the Libertyshooting just over 61%. At one point,the Liberty pushed its lead to five, but the Sparks kept fighting back, withTina Thompson and Marie Ferdinand-Harris scoring from everywhere when weneeded them to.The quarter ended up adraw— 28 points for each team — and the Liberty carried its two-point lead fromthe first quarter into halftime.

We needed to make a big push in the second half— see if wecould break the game open. We had held New York’s Cappie Pondexter to single-digitscoring in the first half, and Janel McCarville had scored only three points.If we came out strong in the second half, wemight be able to steal this game in Madison Square Garden.

The Sparks started the second half with two quick baskets totake the lead, and then it was trading baskets from there.The hot shooting from the second quartercontinued for both teams, and neitherL.A.nor N.Y. could get a run going.Instead,the lead changed hands six times with three ties and by the end of the quarter,our free-throw shooting (four for four in the quarter) allowed us to take thelead.Ten minutes left of our longesttrip of the summer and we were up by one.

The fourth quarter started a little more slowly for us.It took us until a little more than two minuteshad elapsed in the quarter to finally get a basket— a nice three-pointer fromMarie that brought New York’s lead back down to one.From then on, like the third quarter (and therest of the game, really), neither team made much progress— trading baskets andtrading the lead.Finally, in the last2 1/2 minutes of the game, it looked like the long trip and havingonly nine active players on our roster and our hard-fought wins and all thosetime zones were catching up to us.Noelle Quinn missed a jumper and Leilani Mitchell grabbed the reboundand went coast to coast for a layup, pushing the New York’s lead to five, the largestit had been in the game.Then we made abad pass, allowing Mitchell another steal and Marie Ferdinand-Harris fouled herin what was called a clear path foul. Mitchell made both her free throws,pushing the lead to seven, and then on the ensuing N.Y. possession, Pondexter foundNicole Powell alone outside the arc and she buried the three.The Sparks fought back, but 10 points was toomuch to make up in the last minute and a half in the game and New York took thegame.

Four of our five starters scored in double digits and Ticha,who scored six, had seven assists in the game. We were perfect from the free-throw line (16 for 16).We shot just over 48% for the game.We were within one rebound of New York onboth the offensive and defensive glass.We are holding a playoff spot now and headed home, where we play six ofour last nine games.I know we didn’t win,but I can’t complain.It’s going to bean exciting run to the end.

-- Kathy Goodman, co-owner of the L.A. Sparks

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USC grants linebacker Glen Stanley a release | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Glen Stanley, a linebacker from Eastern Arizona College, has been granted a release from his football scholarship by USC, the school announced Wednesday.

Stanley, who is originally from Florida, is a 6-foot-3, 245-pound sophomore with great speed and range, and his departure marks yet another hit to an already thin Trojans corps of linebackers.

USC had already lost:

Frankie Telfort, whom team doctors would not clear for partcipation because of a heart condition;Uona Kaveinga, who transferred to Brigham Young; Jarvis Jones, who transferred to Georgia because USC doctors would not clear him to play with a neck injury; andJordan Campbell, who was suspended by new CoachLane Kiffinfor spring practice, then transferred to Louisville after USC was hit with NCAA sanctions.

Stanley first sought his release in June, and it was denied, with Kiffin saying he expected the player in camp when the Trojans opened practice Aug. 4. Stanley and his Florida-based attorney,Shannon Ligon, re-filed their request after it was announced earlier this month thatPat Hadenwould replaceMike Garrettas USC's athletic director.

Kiffin was not immediately available for comment.

--Mike Hiserman

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Kathy Goodman: Is two wins a streak? | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

I wasn’t planning on going to the Sparks game against theMinnesota Lynx on Tuesday night. It isgetting close to the time that I have to go back to my real job, teaching highschool, and I thought I would skip the Minnesota game and just go to the game inNew York on Friday to see East Coast family. But after our win against the Connecticut Sun last Saturday night, Ijust didn’t want to miss the beginning of what I thought might be a winstreak. When I expressed this change ofplans to one of my friends, she asked me,“Is two wins a streak?” I told her Iwould decide when we had two wins.

I felt our team played with a different attitude inConnecticut. Something intangible, butwith a confidence and teamwork they had been working toward all season. I wanted to see firsthand if they could keepit going in Minnesota. When the gamestarted, I did have a moment of pause. We opened the game with three missed shots in a row, followed by a 4 1/2  minute scoring drought. Whenthe Lynx had run up an 11-2 lead in the first five minutes, I sat back andthought,”This might be a longer game than I had hoped.” By the end of the first quarter, we had shota woeful 25% and had scored only 10 points. The one saving grace was that the Lynx had had almost as much troublescoring, and we were only down by six. 

The second quarter was a different story altogether. We started with a younger lineup, MarieFerdinand-Harris the only vet of the group, and they showed defensivetenacity. A minute and a half into thequarter, our starters got back in and showed some scoring punch. We went on a 14-2 run to finally take thelead in the game and then didn’t look back. The Lynx’s shooting woes continued,scoring only two field goals in the quarter and a total of 10 points on 10%shooting. The Sparks shot over 63%, withNoelle Quinn adding 11 of her total 17 points in the second quarter, and all ofour second quarter baskets were scored off assists. By the time the horn sounded for halftime, theSparks were up by 3 and I felt like we could win this game too. 

But, of course, there was the third quarter loomingahead. I had all of halftime to wonderif I was going to get the first quarter Sparks or the second quarter Sparksback for the second half of the game. The third quarter turned out to be just a battle. In the early going, we pushed our lead to five,but the Lynx would not let us run away with it, forcing a tie severaltimes. Our shooting as a team droppedback into normal range, but now Marie Ferdinand-Harris took over scoringduties, connecting on five of six shots, scoring 10 of her 12 points in the third quarter,including beautiful back-to-back baskets late in the period to push the Sparkslead up to seven. With only the last 10 minutes left to play, we now had a five-point lead and three players in double-digit scoring. We were getting killed onthe offensive boards (13-3), but were out-shooting Minnesota.

Ten minutes left to determine if we were going to be able toput ourselves in playoff contention. A win against Minnesota in this game movedus up into fourth place, and I noticed that San Antonio had lost its gameagainst New York, which meant we would be just half a game out of third. I really wanted us to finish this game offstrong— we had to play to win, rather than not to lose.

I shouldn’t have worried. Within the first 2 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Sparkshad pushed the lead to 12, off two Tina Thompson three-pointers, and it was allbut over. The Lynx fought back, butcould never get closer than seven. Withless than a minute left in the game, Tina hit her fourth and final three-pointshot of the game (her third in the fourth quarter) to push the lead to anunreachable 13 points. Ticha Penecheiro,sporting a serious-looking black eye from the Connecticut game, led the teamagain with nine assists; Tina led in scoring with 24 points, and Noelle Quinnseemed to have returned to her form from earlier in the season, with 17 points, six assists and eight rebounds.

I decided that winning two games is a win streak. Let’s seeif we can keep it going in New York on Friday.

--Kathy Goodman,  co-owner of the Sparks

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NASCAR Brickyard 400 Race Preview | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

More than 100,000 NASCAR fans made their way into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday as pole-sitterJuan Pablo Montoyaprepared to lead the field in the Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup Series race.

The day began on a positive note for drivers and fans alike as the sweltering wave of heat and humidity that HAD hit the Indianapolis area in recent days abated somewhat Sunday after an overnight rain.

Skies remained mostly cloudy but temperatures were expected to top out in the low-80s, down from the mid-90s on Friday and Saturday.

Montoya was a pre-race favorite not only because he won the pole position in his No. 42 Chevrolet, but because he also had perhaps the strongest car in last year's race before a pit-road speeding penalty ended his chances of winning.

But the Colombian will have his hands full this year withJimmie Johnson, who starts alongside him on the front row. Johnson, who has won the Cup championship the last four years, also has won the Brickyard 400 three times in his No. 48 Chevy, including the last two years.

Two-time championTony Stewart, an Indiana native, also has won the Brickyard 400 twice. He starts 15th on Sunday.

Incidentally, the Brickyard 400 gets its name from the fact that the century-old Indianapolis Motor Speedwayonce was paved with bricks, a strip of which is still in place at the start-finish line. And now it's a tradition for the race winner to kneel and kiss the bricks as part of his victory celebration.

Look for updates during the race onlatimes.com/sports.

-- Jim Peltz in Indianapolis

Photo: The front stretch of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday morning ahead of the NASCAR Brickyard 400 race. Credit: Andrew Weber / US Presswire

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A complete game for the Sparks | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Saturday night, I think it happened. The Sparksplayed the Connecticut Sun in Connecticut and came away with the 89-80 win— oursecond road win of the season. The leadchanged five times in the first quarter, but once the Sparks took the lead withthree minutes left in the first quarter, we never relinquished it.

We didn’t play a perfect game, but we played a completegame, competing hard for 40 full minutes on both ends of the court. Everything that wasn’t working for us againstIndiana on Thursday worked just fine on Saturday. We established our perimeter game from thestart, with our first nine points coming via three-pointers from MarieFerdinand-Harris, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Tina Thompson. With Noelle Quinn and Kristi Toliver, thefive of them went on to connect on a total of 15 three-point baskets, shootingas a team over 51% from outside. A totalof 18 of our 27 first quarter points came from outside the arc.

We also took very good care of the ball in the first half,when we had only two turnovers and six steals, while the Sun had almost theopposite: two steals and nine turnovers. By the time the horn blew signaling theend of the half, we were up 45-35, building on our seven-point first quarter lead,and playing together.

Of course, as any Sparks fan who has been paying attentionknows, the game is not over at halftime. Anything can happen in the second half of a Sparks game. When we started off the third quarter with alayup, a steal and a block, and the Sun opened with two turnovers and a foul, Ifelt pretty good. And then Noelle Quinn,who lately has been struggling a little to score, and only had one first-halfpoint, put up her fourth shot attempt of the night from beyond the arc and itfell straight to the bottom of the net, giving the Sparks a 15-point lead, Ifelt very good. We pushed the lead to 17 late in the quarter, but the Sunfought back and in the last minute and a half scored seven quick points to cutthe lead back to the ten it had been at the start.

Ten more minutes of basketball, with the Sparks up by 10,playing hard for the first 30 minutes. Here was their chance to play a complete 40 minutes.The fourth quarter opened with a reverse ofthe third. The Sun continued theirscoring run from the end of the third, scoring 5 quick points, while we had twoquick turnovers and suddenly our ten point lead was cut in half. Then Noelle stepped up yet again andconnected from long range to push it back up to eight. After another Sun layup, Kelsey Griffin fromthe Sun got free to score a three, cutting the lead to three, but Toliveranswered back with one of her own and the battle of the fourth quarter was on.

The Sun cut the lead to four with just over six minutes leftin the game, but both teams went on a scoring drought, letting three minutesrun off the clock before anyone scored again. Like the Sparks on Thursday, the Sun could not get anything to fall. In that three-minute stretch, they took sevenfutile shots and did not score again until just over two and a half minuteswere left in the game. The Sparks stayedcalm, together and in the moment, eventually driving the lead back up to 10 withjust under a minute left in the game. Iadmit, I was still a little worried. Ihad seen how quickly the Sun could score and they are fighting hard for theirplayoff spot in the East, and I am sure counting on this game to go in theirwin column. But finally the Sun had tostart fouling and I knew we had it. Forty full minutes of team basketball by the Sparks with five of ourplayers in double-digit scoring and 24 assists on our 30 baskets. A complete game.

Now we just have to do that 11 more times.

Katherine Goodman

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Reports: Promoter wants Manny Pacquiao to fight Antonio Margarito | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Even if he's not licensed to fight in the U.S. yet,Antonio Margaritohas earned the coveted shot to fightManny Pacquiao, the promoter for both fighters has said.

PromoterBob Arumtold The Times lon Thursday that he wanted to wait until next week to weigh site offers from Las Vegas, Monterrey, Mexico, Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas and Abu Dhabi before announcing Pacquiao's next foe, but on Friday he told Yahoo! Sports and Sports Illustrated that Pacquaio indeed would do what had been expected and fight Margarito on Nov. 13 for a record seventh weight division titlle.

The bout is expected to be for the vacant WBC super-welterweight title afterSergio Martinezvacated the 154-pound belt by claiming a middleweight title earlier this year.

Margarito, the former world welterweight champion, had his boxing license revoked in 2009 after the California State Athletic Commission learned of an attempt to have Margarito fightShane Mosleywith plaster-caked inserts inside his gloves.The hand wraps were confiscated before the January 2009 fight at Staples Center, and Mosley won by ninth-round TKO.

As reported by The Times on Thursday, Margarito is seeking a longshot bid to have Nevada grant him a one-fight exemption for the Nov. 13 bout because California's commission can't meet to weigh his request for reinstatement until next month at the earliest.

Margarito fought in May in Mexico, claiming an unimpressive decision.

The decision to proceed with Margarito clinches another fact that was a mere formality since last week: that a Pacquiao super-fight againstFloyd Mayweather Jr.won't happen at least until next year.

--Lance Pugmire

Photo: Manny Pacquiao is interviewed after an orientation for incoming congressmenin Quezon City, Philippines. Credit: Rolex Dela Pena / EPA

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Kathy Goodman: Road woes continue | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Sparks started their game Thursday against the No. 1 team in the East, the Indiana Fever, so strong, with back-to-back three-pointers fromTina Thompson, who picked up where she left off Tuesday against the Tulsa Shock.Marie Ferdinand-Harrisdropped in a third three-pointer in the first 3½ minutes, and the Sparks were up, 11-4. We held on to that lead until the Fever settled down and its outside shots started falling, and then Indiana came back, ending the first quarter up by one. That was fine with me -- being down by only one point after the first quarter in the home arena of theNo. 1 team in the East meant that we were playing really hard.

In the second quarter, we played even harder.Our shots were not falling, but we were keeping Indiana from scoring.Ticha Penicheirostepped up for five of her eight points in the game in the second quarter.Noelle Quinnhit her first basket, a three-pointer, and we pushed on Indiana hard enough to hold a one-point lead going into halftime.

If only the game had ended there. But we had a second half to play, and I feared the Sparks' third quarter.

My fears appeared well-founded at first. We opened the third with five consecutive turnovers and our only saving grace was that the Fever was having shooting woes of its own. At the 8:36 mark in the third,Tammy Sutton-Brownconnected on free throws to give Indiana a four-point lead, but for the next 2½ minutes, the score remained fixed at 36-40, until Quinn made a three-pointer that triggered an 8-1 run by theSparks. When the Sparks took a 44-41 lead after a stagnant opening to the half, I got excited. But the Fever fought back and with the exception of a free throw byLindsay Wisdom-Hylton, we did not score another point in the quarter. A hook shot byEbony Hoffmanset off a 15-1 run by the Fever thatincluded three three-pointers, and Indiana had broken the game open.

The fourth quarter for the Sparks started worse than the third did. Down by 11, the Sparks didn’t score a point until 3½ minutes in (on free throws by Penicheiro) and didn’t score a field goal until there was 3:46 left in the game. That is no way to mount a comeback. In the meantime, the Fever had gone on a 12-2 run (a 27-3 run overall, including their run to end the third quarter) and we just didn’t have anything to respond with, or the time to do it in. Indiana wrapped up the game easily from there and won 76-57.

We have three more games on this trip. I hope they worked out the travel fatigue Thursday, but the WNBA schedule is not kind to us over the next nine days, as we fly east to Connecticut on Friday for a game Saturday, back to the Midwest to Minnesota on Tuesday and then back to New York one more time for a game next Friday.With only one win on the road so far this season, we will need to use everything we have to be focused and ready for the next week and a half.

-- Kathy Goodman, co-owner of the L.A. Sparks

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Lance Armstrong hires criminal defense attorney | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Lance Armstronghas hired a criminal defense attorneyto provide counsel in a federal investigation into allegations of doping violations and fraud levied against the seven-time Tour de France winner.

Bryan D. Daly, a former federal prosecutor based in Los Angeles, will represent Armstrong in the investigation. The hiring was first reported byThe Daily Journal.

The investigation comes in the wake of accusations made by disgraced cyclistFloyd Landis, who earlier this year admitted to doping during his cycling career. Landis, a former U.S. Postal teammate of Armstrong during the Texan's run of a record seven-consecutive Tour de France victories, accused Armstrong of doping in a series of e-mails he sent to doping and cycling officials. He went public with his accusations during the Tour of California in May.

Armstrong, who is competing in his final Tour de France, denies doping in his career and has publicly attacked Landis' credibility.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: Lance Armstrong. Credit: Nathalie Magniez / AFP/Getty Images

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Sean O'Sullivan gets plenty of support in Angels' 10-2 win over Yankees | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Sean O'Sullivan, called up from triple-A Salt Lake to replace injuredScott Kazmirin the rotation, gave up only two runs and two hits in six innings Tuesday night, andMaicer Izturis,Mike NapoliandHideki Matsuieach hit two-run home runs to lead the Angels to a 10-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium.

O'Sullivan's third pitch of the game was lined into the right-field seats byNick Swisherfor a solo home run, and the Yankees added another run in the first inning onJorge Posada'sbases-loaded fielder's choice.

But Posada's ground-ball out started a stretch in which O'Sullivan retired 12 consectutive batters beforeBrett Gardnerwalked with one out in the fifth. O'Sullivan then gotDerek Jeterto bounce into a double play, and he retired the side in order in the sixth before giving way to relieverScot Shieldsto start the seventh.

Izturis, playing his first game since suffering a slight tear in his left forearm on June 15, followed two-out singles by Napoli andJuan Riverain the second with a run-scoring single to center, pulling the Angels to within 2-1.

Erick Aybar’sleadoff double andTorii Hunter’stwo-out RBI single to center in the third made it 2-2, and after Rivera singled with one out in the fourth, Izturis lined a two-run homer over the short porch in right field for a 4-2 Angels lead.

The Angels made it 6-2 in the sixth when Matsui led off with a walk and Napoli stroked a two-run, opposite-field home run to right-center, his 17th homer of the season.

Matsui, who had only one homer since June 6, lined a two-run shot off relieverChan-Ho Parkto right field in the seventh inning to give the Angels an 8-2 lead and seal a win in the first of an important 12-game stretch against the Yankees, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox.

Napoli added a two-run single in the ninth. The first baseman was hitless in his final 14 at-bats before the All-Star break; he is 8 for 16 with two homers and six RBIs in four games since the break.

--Mike DiGiovanna in New York

Photo: Angels designated hitter Hideki Matsui (55) congratulates first baseman Mike Napoli after his two-run home run in the sixth inning Tuesday night. Credit: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

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Question of the day: Will there ever be a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? {Updated} | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Reporters from around Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

This is an unknown for now, requiring the ability to read a mind. The mind needing to be read isFloyd Mayweather Jr.’s, a skill that borders on impossible, even for those close to the unbeaten boxer.

For now, we’ve been told Mayweather is in vacation mode, enjoying the lifestyle he earned by pummelingShane Mosleyon May 1 and earning $25 million, which we hear he is happily spending.

Mayweather clearly wasn’t compelled to act by the Friday midnight deadline set by Manny Pacquiao’spromoter,Bob Arum, to express interest in the proposed mega-fight, and now Arum is moving his Filipino star toward an alternate fight Nov. 13 againstAntonio MargaritoorMiguel Cotto.

Of course, the money that Mayweather and Pacquiao will generate by fighting each other will one day prove too impossible to reject. Mayweather’s spending habits will force him to recognize this, Pacquiao’s fear of a blood test will mysteriously vanish, and the super-fight will have more than a year of crazed fan anxiety to maximize pay-per-view dollars and ensure a live-gate sellout no matter how much tickets cost.

Check back early next year, with a fight date in place by the end of May 2011.

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Angels' Scott Kazmir goes on the disabled list | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

A few hours before the Angels played Seattle on Sunday,Scott Kazmirsaid he was"definitely looking forward" to putting an awful first half of the season behind him when he made his first start after the All-Star break Tuesday against the New York Yankees.

So much for that.

The Angels placed Kazmir on the disabled list after their 2-1 loss to the Mariners at Angel Stadium with what they described as fatigue in his left shoulder, something Kazmir made no mention of during a pregame interview. The move was made retroactive to July 11, meaning Kazmir could return as soon as July 26 when the Angels return home to play Boston.

ManagerMike Sciosciasaid one of the Angels' minor league pitchers would take Kazmir's turn in the rotation against the Yankees. The candidates includeTrevor BellandSean O'Sullivan, who have eached pitched for the Angels this season.

The Angels also designated first basemanPaul McAnultyfor assignment to clear a roster spot for infielderMaicer Izturis, who was activated from the disabled list.

Kazmir was rocked for a career-high 13 runs in his last outing against Oakland in what he called his worst start"by far" and had been a disappointment over the season's first half, going 7-9 with a 6.92 earned-run average.

"It kind of feels like I'm thinking too much about where I'm throwing the ball and things start snowballing, and the next thing you know you don't really know what's going on," Kazmir said before being placed on the disabled list."You're just out there trying to throw to a spot, but then you look at your video the next day and you're like, who is this guy?

"It just doesn't feel like you're really just getting after it and just being the pitcher that you are."

There is reason for optimism with the two-time All-Star once he comes off the disabled list, however. According to STATS LLC, since 2006 Kazmir has the biggest improvement in ERA from the first half of the season to the second half among pitchers who have worked at least 600 innings. Kazmir's 3.14 ERA in the second half is 1.60 lower than his 4.74 ERA in the first half.

"It feels like I get stronger throughout the year, that's for sure," Kazmir said."I feel like my velocity, everything gets a little bit better."

--Ben Bolch

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Kathy Goodman: one step forward, one step back | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Sparks had a good plan going into our gameagainst the Chicago Sky on Friday night. Weknew we were facing a serious inside presence withSylvia Fowles, recentlynamed Most Valuable Player in the WNBA All-Star Game and the very close No. 2 draftpick behindCandace Parker; the only woman to be charged with a goal-tendingpenalty.

WithLisa Leslieretired andParker sidelined with her shoulder repair, we have been a little less dominantin the paint than in seasons past.Therefore, we needed a plan to neutralize BigSyl’s 19 points if we wanted a chance to get the win. By the end of our game, we had held her tojust 10 points and only eight shot attempts for the game. Unfortunately, we let the Sky's three-pointshooters loose, and we fell to the Sky, 68-80.

We’re in the middle of a three-game road trip beforereturning home for a single game on Tuesday and heading back out on the roadagain for another 10-day East Coast swing. We wanted to maximize our time away from home and were happy coming outof our win against Tulsa on Tuesday night, seeing the possibility of a 3-0 roadswing. We knew Chicago would be a tough opponent for us.

They are in last place in the East right now,but given the dominance of the Eastern Conference this season, their recordwould be good enough to put them in second place in the West. We needed to slow down Sylvia Fowles and getour outside shot to fall and we could take this one. Last season we were the worst three-pointshooting team in the league, but we had improved substantially this season, so thiswas not a bad bet.

The game started a little tough with a quick foul onDelishaMilton-Jones, but we were the first to score. Fowles didn’t take long to get on the board, and by the end of the firstquarter, she had 6 points on 3 of 5 shooting, a steal and a block. We had kept the game close for the first fiveminutes but the Sky went on a 13-4 run for the next four minutes, including three3-point shots to end the first quarter and we were looking at an 8-pointdeficit at the end of the period. Our3-point shot was less efficient (0-2) -- we were definitely not executing ourgame plan.

Things looked a bit better on theSylvia Fowlesfront in thesecond quarter. We held her scorelessbut the Sparks were getting crushed on the boards. In the second quarter alone, the Skyout-rebounded us 11-4 (including five offensive boards). We shot 50% from the floor in the second, butthe Sky shot 60% from beyond the three-point arc.We had slowed Sylvia down, but their outsideshooting was killing ours. Part One of the game plan -- slowing down Sylvia -- was workingfine, but it leftErin ThornandCatherine Kraayeveldopen to shoot at willfrom 3-point range (they were a combined 5 of 6.) We went into the locker roomdown by 13 at the half. This was not the first half we were hoping for.

We were just as successful containing Fowles in the secondhalf -- she scored only four more points in the game. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stop their 3-point shooting and we could not get our shots to fall.Noelle Quinn, who has been averaging 48% from3-point range, didn’t attempt one 3-point shot in the game, though she didend up scoring 12 on 60% shooting.TinaThompson, who has averaged just under 38% from three-point range, went 1 of3. We ended the game with three of ourplayers in double figures (Milton-Jones with 21, Thompson with 15 andQuinn with 12), but let five of the Sky players score double figures, withKraayeveld and Thorn scoring a combined7 of 9 from outside the arc (and no attempts inside). The nine 3-point shots the Sky made to our twomade the difference in the game. 

Tuesday’s win over Tulsa pushed us up in the standings,but our loss Friday night pushed us back again. One step forward, one step back.Stillin fifth, but if we get San Antonio on Sunday and Tulsa on Tuesday at Staples Center,we’re in a playoff position. One game at a time. See you Sunday.

-- Kathy Goodman, co-owner of the Sparks

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Pacquiao will 'move on' past Mayweather to other fight negotiations, promoter says | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Manny Pacquiao'spromoter announced just after midnight Pacific time that the Filipino superstar boxer will pursue other opponents after hearing no indication whetherFloyd Mayweather Jr. wants to fight him in a bout that has the potential to be the most lucrative event in the sport's history.

Pacquiao promoterBob Arum, in a conference call with reporters that began minutes after Arum imposed a Friday midnight deadline for Mayweather to express interest, said staging a Pacquiao-Mayweather super-fight on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas is in grave danger as he works to"secure another opponent." 

"Floyd, for whatever reason, didn't want to commit," Arum said.

Arum said he's previously laid out plans detailing Pacquiao's terms to HBO Sports PresidentRoss Greenburg, who Arum said he believed forwarded the information to Mayweather managerAl Haymon. Arum said Greenburg performed as a type of"mediator" in the deal.

"I've had no negotiations or discussions with any other fighter," Arum said."This Friday was the end of the exclusivity agreement."

Arum said the deadline was installed because of Pacquiao's hectic schedule as a congressman in the Philippines, and he needs to begin firmly planning promotional events such as news conferences.

Arum said he'll turn his attention to Pacquiao fights against eitherMiguel Cotto, who Pacquiao defeated in November, or former welterweight championAntonio Margarito.

"It's dead when we conclude a deal with an opponent for Manny's fight in November, and then he'lll look to do a fight with Floyd next year," Arum said. 

Talks to stage Mayweather-Pacquiao first emerged late last year when Pacquiao defeated former welterweight champion Cotto by 12th-round knockout. The negotiations crashed, however, after some in the Mayweather camp implied Pacquiao had used performance-enhancing drugs, and Pacquiao declined to accept Mayweather's push for a drug-testing protocol supervised by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Pacquiao didn't want to submit to blood tests too close to a fight, his camp said. Pacquiao budged on the issue during these talks, moving from a 24-day cutoff of blood testing to 14 days.

But all along the Mayweather camp has been silent. Mayweather's uncle and trainer,Roger Mayweather, faces an Aug. 2 trial date for allegedly assaulting a female boxer. Arum said he"speculates" that uncertainty may have contributed to Mayweather's silence.

Arum added he believes a deal with Cotto or Margarito for a Nov. 13 bout would get made within 10 days. A bout with Margarito would likely be destined for Monterrey, Mexico, because the Tijuana fighter is not licensed to fight in the U.S. after being disciplined by the California State Athletic Commission last year.

--Lance Pugmire

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Paul McAnulty gets start over Mike Napoli at first base Thursday night | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

You know you're not going too good when a guy who has one hit in 18 at-bats is starting in front of you, but that's the reality Angels first basemanMike Napoliis facing Thursday night.

Napoli went hitless in 14 at-bats in the final five games before the All-Star break and was on the bench in favor ofPaul McAnultyfor the team's first game back out of the break, against the Seattle Mariners in Angel Stadium.

McAnulty, who bats left-handed, does not have a hit since his his July 4 homer against Kansas City in his first game for the Angels.

ManagerMike Sciosciasaid he won't use the right-handed hitting Napoli, who is batting .246 with 14 homers and 37 runs batted in but ranks fourth in the American League with 84 strikeouts, and McAnulty in a first-base platoon.

"We're still looking to get a combination at the first base position that will add the offensive component we need," Scioscia said."Both have the potential to do it, maybe not one guy by himself, but if one guy takes off with the position, great.

"It won't be a straight platoon. When Mike is on, he can hit anyone, but we're looking for more consistency from the position, and if that takes mixing and matching, we'll go that route."

--Mike DiGiovanna

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‘The Decision’ becomes a punching bag at the ESPY's | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Boos emanated from the crowd at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live every time the nameLeBron Jameswas mentioned during the ESPY awards show on Wednesday night.

On stage,Seth Meyersand his buddies were just as critical, with jokes and skits dedicated to the hour-long ESPN show’The Decision’ in which James announced that he'd take his talents to Miami to joinChris BoshandDwyane Wade.

ComedianAndy Sambergdressed as the German octopus who was correct in all eight of his tries when picking World Cup games, yet he couldn’t predict where James was going. AndSteve Carell-- who actually left the TV show“The Office” -- was nixing Chili’s for Outback.

In discussing James’ split with the Cavaliers, Myers comforted the city of Cleveland with this nugget: “Literally every team that has ever won an NBA championship has done it without LeBron James.”

The crowd laughed.Derek Fisherfrom the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers shook his head.

Most of what Meeyers and crew took issue with was the length of the show -- as well as the use of all caps by Cavaliers ownerDan Gilbertin a letter to Cleveland fans that strongly criticized James and drew a $100,000 fine from the NBA.

There were still 58 minutes remaining in the mock show put on by Carell andPaul Rudd.

Meyers said“Miami” in one minute on stage. Guess it didn’t take an hour after all.

--DeAntae Prince

Photo: Host Seth Meyers and comedian Andy Samberg, dressed as the German octopus, joke about LeBron James' hour-long ESPN show. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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Ilya Kovalchuk departs without a deal ... but it ain't over till it's over | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Ilya Kovalchuk, who came to Los Angeles on Sunday for face-to-face meetings with Kings executives, left Tuesday afternoon without a new contract. His agent,Jay Grossman, stayed behind for more talks with General ManagerDean Lombardibut left Tuesday night, also without reaching agreement on a long-term deal.

Kovalchuk met CoachTerry Murrayas well asDustin Brown,Jarret StollandMatt Greeneon Monday while touring the team's El Segundo practice facility. Brown and Stoll said they came awayimpressed with Kovalchuk and there's no reason to believe he flunked the interview part of the process while talking to members of the Kings' hockey operations staff. They wanted to look him in the eye before they made this considerable investment, and that's only logical and sensible. They apparently were not scared off by what they saw or heard.

The fact that Kovalchuk left town seems to indicate he and the Kings aren't near an agreement: if they were, he would have stayed here for a news conference. But planes (especially private jets) go back and forth often between California and Florida, where Kovalchuk lives in the off-season. So he could come back West on short notice.

Or this can drag on, which is more likely.

Various rumors Tuesday had the talks breaking off completely -- perhaps based on Kovalchuk's departure -- while others said the negotiations were progressing. No one from the Kings would say.

Where it goes from here is anyone's guess, but it's likely Grossman will try to use the Kings' interest as a bargaining chip and go back to the New Jersey Devils, who are believed to be the only other NHL team willing to give Kovalchuk more than a one- or two-year deal. The Devils reportedly made a 17-year, $100-million offer but that has never been confirmed and those numbers are wildly inconsistent with any deal that Devils GMLou Lamoriellohas negotiated in the past.

So Kovalchuk remains on the market nearly two weeks into free agency, which is partly his own fault and partly the fault of market forces.

Kovalchuk and his agent began by asking for $100 million over 10 years, figuring that a two-time 50-goal scorer who is only 27  could easily command that number. They picked a year when a lot of teams are cash-poor and many others are at or near the salary cap and simply can't spend that kind of money.

The Kings have the money and about $17 million in space under next season's $59.4-million cap but they're looking long-term. They want to retain their core players, re-signDrew DoughtyandJack Johnsonbefore the two defensemen become restricted free agents next July 1, and add the defenseman (and other parts) they need to reach the next competitive level. All of that adds up quickly.

They're also factoring in the strong possibility that the salary cap will go down in the next labor agreement. The current  agreement ends after the 2011-12 season and general managers are being cautious now about taking on deals with high average annual values for fear they won't be able to afford those deals under a cap of $48 million. 

It appears the next move is up to Kovalchuk and Grossman. If the Devils' $100-million offer is real and all they're after is money, they should take it. They won't get $100 million from the Kings. But the Devils are aging and aren't likely to contend for the Stanley Cup soon, while the Kings are on the rise and could reach elite status sooner with a pure sniper like Kovalchuk playing the role of gamebreaker.

Lombardi didn't get the established, mobile defenseman he wanted in free agency and now will likely have to go the trade route. If he doesn't get Kovalchuk he will have to find another winger. An experienced second-line center is also on his wish list but would be tough to acquire.

Either way, the Kings need this to end soon so they can get on with the rest of their summer and their lives.

--Helene Elliott

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Clipper update: coaching staff addition | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Winds of change continue to swirl through the Clippers organization ...

Although there has been no official announcement, it appears as though CoachVinny Del Negrohas made his first hire, adding veteran assistantDean Demopolousto the staff.

Demopoulos essentially confirmed it on Monday night in Las Vegas after Washington crushed the Clippers, 89-64, in the Clippers'  first Summer League game."I'm happy about it," he told Blazersedge.com of landing on the staff.

His contract expired at the end of last month with the Trail Blazers, and he had beenNate McMillan's lead assistant in Portland since 2005. Demopoulos is running the Clippers' Summer League team in Las Vegas.

All you need to know about their summer- league opener? The Clippers scored just nine points in the fourth quarter against Washington.

-Lisa Dillman

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World Cup: Paul the octopus is hanging up his touting tentacles | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Paul the octopus, who became a pop culture sensation bycorrectly predicting the outcome of eight World Cup matches, includingSpain's 1-0 win against the Netherlandsin the final game, is hanging up his touting tentacles.

The intuitive invertebrate will"step back from the official oracle business," Tanja Munzig, a spokeswoman for the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, told AP Television News.

"He won't give any more oracle predictions— either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy," she said."Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh."

However, Paul took one last curtain call on Monday. Aquarium employees presented the octopus with a golden cup— similar to the official World Cup trophy. 

A businessman, meanwhile, has offered nearly $38,000 to rent Paul as a mascot for an upcoming food festival in the small village of Carballino, near Orense, in northwestern Spain.

The annual August event focuses on squid specialties. Paul, should he attend, would be on the special events program and not on the menu.

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg, South Africa

Photo: Paul the octopus with his replica of the World Cup trophy. Credit: Roland Wiehrauch / EPA.

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Angels' Hank Conger homers in Futures Game | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The hometown guy made the hometown team proud.Hank Congerhit a three-run home run in Sunday's  Futures Game at Angel Stadium.

Conger, 22, grew up in Huntington Beach, and friends and family are in attendance. The Angels selected him in the first round of the 2005 draft.

In his first season at triple-A Salt Lake, he is batting .279, with five home runs in 69 games. He also has a .378 on-base percentage, with 39 walks and 38 strikeouts.

-- Bill Shaikin

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World Cup: FIFA pressuring Mandela, family says | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Associated Press reported Sunday that Nelson Mandela's family is claiming FIFA has put"extreme pressure" on South Africa's former president to attend the World Cup final.

The 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon has kept a low profile during the monthlong tournament, having decided against attending the opening game on June 11 following the death of his great granddaughter.

FIFA is yet to announce who will present the trophy to either Spain or the Netherlands at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

"We've come under extreme pressure from FIFA requiring and wishing that my grandfather be at the final today," Mandela's grandson, Mandla, told BBC radio."But I think that decision will solemnly lie with him, how he wakes up today, how he feels, what his medical team says, but as well his family.

"My grandfather is 92 years old next week. This is an evening game. He's expected to hand over the trophy after the game which could be anything from 10:30 to 11 and it will be quite strenuous on his part."

Mandla Mandela later told The Associated Press that FIFA was being"inconsiderate," given that the family is still in mourning.

"My grandfather has recently lost a great granddaughter and the family is in mourning," Mandela said."They should be appraised of our customs and traditions."

Mandela's 13-year-old great granddaughter, Zenani Mandela, was killed in a car crash while returning from the World Cup opening concert.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said it would be"wonderful" for Mandela to be at the final, having been instrumental in bringing the first football World Cup to Africa.

"It is possible at the beginning of the match or just at the end of the opening ceremony, he may be present on the field of play," Blatter said in a BBC interview recorded before Mandla made his comments.

-- Kevin Baxter reporting from Johannesburg

Photo: Ghanaian striker Kevin Prince Boateng, left, greets former President Nelson Mandela at his Houghton, South Africa, residence on, July 3. Credit: AP Photo / Debbie Yazbek,Nelson Mandela Foundation

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