USC basketball: Nikola Vucevic apologizes for his 'we played like women' comment after Arizona game | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

USC junior forwardNikola Vucevicapologized Sunday for the comment he made following theTrojans' 82-73 loss to Arizona on Saturdaythat the men's basketball team"played like women."

"I didn't mean to offend people," he said by phone."If I did, I apologize for it."

Vucevic is a native of Montenegro and English is not his first language, which is Serbian.

He largely learned English when he came to Simi Valley Stoneridge Prep in Octpber 2007, but he often admits that he struggles with common English jargon and translating common Serbian phrases into English.

"It happens to me a lot when I try to say something and a lot of people don't understand," he said. 

Vucevic said that was the case with the following remark, which he said in answering a question asked by a Times' reporter about facing Arizona's talented and deep lineup. 

"I felt like we played like women," Vucevic said after the loss in Tucson, Ariz."We didn't play hard at all. Every single one of us just played like women."

There were four people present to hear it, two male reporters working for California newspapers, a female reporter for an Arizona newspaper and a female sports information official for the University of Arizona. 

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Clippers vs. Blazers: Eric Gordon ready to play in Portland | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Just call Clippers guardEric Gordonthe King of Pain.

He tore a ligament in the ring finger of his right hand against Minnesota on Wednesday night but returned for the second half against the Timberwolves and managed to finish with 23 points.

"It's really sore right now," Gordon said on Thursday."It hurts as much now as when I first hurt it."

That doesn't mean he considered skipping tonight's game here at Portland.

Not for a minute.

Gordon, who is averaging a team-high 23.8 points, was his usual stoic self and said he would play through it. Playing through it might mean anywhere from eight to 10 weeks before the injury heals, factoring in the possibility of re-aggravating it, said Clipper trainerJasen Powell.

Although there have been comparisons made to Kobe Bryant's injury, Powell said the two injuries were not the same."Kobe's was an avulsion fracture, where the tendon took off a part of the bone," he said.

--Lisa Dillman, reporting from Portland, Ore.

Photo: Clippers guard Eric Gordon, with the injured finger on his right hand taped, drives to the basket against Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (42) in the second half Wednesday night. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

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USC basketball: Trojans up big on Stanford at halftime, 37-22 | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

USC is torching the nets, Stanford is laying bricks.

And the first half between them has been one entire run...by the Trojans, who lead 37-22 Thursday night at the Galen Center and were up at one point by 20 points.

The Trojans shot a blistering 53.6% (15 for 28) in the first half, while Stanford couldn't find water from the beach, missing 24 of 32 shots (25%).

USC's defense is playing well, and in spurts has played very well, but Stanford is also just playing terribly. 

The Trojans essentially have a seven-man rotation now that freshman guardBryce Joneswill be transferring,which he decided Monday, and all seven players have scored. Junior forwardNikola Vucevicleads USC with 10.

By the 8:47 mark, USC led, 18-5, following a two-handed slam by Vucevic that capped a 10-0 run. Stanford promptly called a timeout, likely to figure out why it had missed 14 of its first 16 shots.

Meantime, the pro-Trojans Galen Center crowd applauded the Trojans as they walked to their huddle, finally playing the defense they showed glimpses of in impressive wins over Texas and Tennessee. 

Post-timeout, USC's barrage continued.

Stanford finally hit a shot, but then USC'sMarcus SimmonsandMaurice Joneshit consecutive three-point jumpers to give USC a 24-8 lead with 6:59 left. Stanford'sAnthony Brownscored with 6:57 left, finally breaking the double-digit barrier for the Cardinal. 

USC's lead reached 20 when Vucevic hit a turnaround jumper from about 15 feet with 3:18 left. 

Stanford closed the half on a 9-4 run, which probably has USC CoachKevin O'Neillfuming in the locker room. That, and his team committed seven first-half turnovers. 

But aside from that, USC has played pretty well, out-rebounding Stanford 23-14. USC junior guardJio Fontanhas seven points, senior forwardAlex Stephesonhas six. 

Oh, there was one slightly awkward moment regarding the recently announced-to-be-transferred Jones. 

The freshman guard was still included in USC's pre-game video that showed on its center-hung scoreboard. 

--Baxter Holmes

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Don't call Caroline Wozniacki boring | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

There is the fear that women's tennis will lack any personality onceVenusandSerena Williamsleave the sport for good. What will we talk about when there's not wide-eyed amazement at Venus' fashion creations and Serena's bombastic game and behavior?

Well, it's time to meet, really meet, top-rankedCaroline Wozniacki, a 20-year-old from Denmark (pictured above) who has had the (mostly) good sense to letStella McCartneydesignher tennis dressesand the good grace to not grumble when she is questioned about whether she is deserving of being ranked No. 1 in the world even though her resume doesn't include a major tournament title.

But Thursday at the Australian Open, Wozniacki let her true personality loose. She had taken note that some international media members had made Twitter comments decrying her lack of personality, at least as displayed during interviews with the media.

Here's a transcriptthat should give you a good laugh.

Wozniacki started out her session by saying,"They said my press conferences were kind of boring. Yeah, that I always gave the same answers. You know, I find it quite funny because I always get the same questions."

Touche, Caroline.

And good to meet you. Now about that No. 1 ranking? We'll save that question for later.

-- Diane Pucin

Photo credit: William West / Getty Images

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DeAndre Jordan wants YOU to vote Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon into All-Star game | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The push to put young Clippers starsBlake GriffinandEric Gordonon the NBA Western Conference All-Star roster now has a high-profile supporter: none other than basketball guru Gordon Limbaugh.

Don't recognize the name? Well, how about the face? No?

But take away the ridiculous blond moptop and oversized glasses and Limbaugh becomes much more familiar to Clippers fans -- he's third-year centerDeAndre Jordan, starring in aFox Sports West videolooking to drum up support for Griffin and Gordon's All-Star campaigns.

In the mock political campaign clip, Jordan calls on Clipper Nation to vote"the ticket of Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon" into the All-Star game, claiming his candidates"represent a new generation of basketball superstars" and"generate hope that our greatest days as basketball fans are ahead of us."

Gordon, a third-year guard, is averaging 23.8 points a game, and Griffin, already a part of All-Star weekend as a participant in the slam-dunk contest, is scoring 22.7 points a game and had a27-game double-double streak come to an end Wednesday.

Jordan himself is having a nice year as well, averaging 6.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots, all career highs.

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: DeAndre Jordan as Gordon Limbaugh. Credit: foxsportswest.com

 

 

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Kings vs. Coyotes: Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix shut out the Kings | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

In a listless effort that included six fruitless power plays, the Kings extended their latest losing streak to three games with a 2-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes before an unhappy Staples Center crowd that booed them off the ice. The Kings have lost five of their last six games and 10 of 12 since Dec. 29.

The Kings outshot the Coyotes, 36-15, but rarely pressured goaltenderIlya Bryzgalovas he recorded his third shutout this season. The Kings are 0 for 19 on the power play in their last six games, an unlikely streak for a team that had success on the power play late last season with defensemenJack JohnsonandDrew Doughtyblasting away from the points that they can’t duplicate this season.

The Kings got a bad break Thursday on the Coyotes’ first goal, a play that was reviewed at length by the NHL’s hockey operations department in Toronto to determine ifMartin Hanzalhad knocked the puck into the net with his stick above the height of the crossbar.

Ray Whitney’sinitial shot was stopped by goaltenderJonathan Quickbut the puck popped up in the air. Hanzal, on the backhand, grazed the puck with the heel of his stick. Kings defensemanMatt Greeneswatted at it with his right hand but appeared to miss the fluttering puck before it eluded Quick at 8:48.

RefereesSteve KozariandJustin St. Pierresignaled a goal but the play was automatically reviewed in Toronto and the call was upheld.

“Refs on the ice had it a goal,”Mike Murphy, the NHL’s vice president of hockey operations, said via email. “We felt the views we had were not conclusive to overrule the refs call on the ice.”

Merely 57 seconds later the Coyotes scored again, on a quick transition.

A shot by Kings centerMichal Handzushit Bryzgalov high on the chest and almost rolled over his shoulder and behind him, but the puck was cleared andLee Stempniak, skating up the right side on a two-on-one break, snapped a shot past Quick from about 30 feet.

--Helene Elliott

Photo: Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov watches the puck go into the corner as Kings winger Dustin Brown is knocked into the crease by defenseman Derek Morris in the second period Thursday night at Staples Center. Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

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Venus Williams pulls out of Australian Open with injury | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Venus Williams lasted just seven points in her third-round match Friday at the Australian Open and was forced to withdraw due to injury from a Grand Slam singles match for the first time in her career.

After losing the first game to Andrea Petkovic of Germany and trailing in the second, Williams stretched to her right to return a serve, hit the ball and then cried out in pain, clutching toward her stomach on her right side. It was soon clear that she couldn't continue.

“Obviously, I just couldn't play,” Williams said. “I couldn't move, it was too painful.”

Her right thigh was already heavily bandaged from an injury she sustained in the first set of her second-round match Wednesday, when she beat Sandra Zahlavova in three sets. Afterward, Williams said the injury was in her psoas muscle, which flexes the hip and spinal column.

“The last 48 hours, I just did as much pain management as I could,” she said. “A lot of times when you play, you get that adrenalin and that blocks pain. I just didn't get enough of that today. I was hoping for some magic that I could recover.”

The 30-year-old Williams waved to the Rod Laver Arena crowd and appeared to be on the verge of tears as she walked off the court. Her younger sister, defending champion Serena, didn't even make it to Melbourne Park because of a foot injury.

“It's super disappointing because this is just not how I envisioned my Australian Open being,” Venus Williams said. “I'm just going to focus obviously on getting healthy and coming back, because I love tennis and I've got a lot of great tennis in me.”

Petkovic was surprised by the sudden end to the match.

“I feel very weird about how the things went,” she said. “It's a pity, and I feel very sorry. I just hope she gets better. She's such a great champion.”

-- Associated Press

Photo: Venus Williams doubles over in pain during her third-round match. Credit: William West / AFP / Getty Images

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Live chat with Lakers beat writer Mike Bresnahan | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

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U.S. women's soccer team falls to Sweden, 2-1, in World Cup warm-up | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Preparations for the World Cup did not start off so well for the U.S. women's soccer team, which lost to Sweden, 2-1, in Friday's opening game of the Four Nations Tournament in Chongqing, China.

Carli Lloyd of the U.S. started the scoring in the 11th minute with a goal off a corner kick, but Sweden came back with goals from Stina Segerstrom in the 16th minute and Kosovare Asllani in the 60th.

It was the first time the U.S. lost a game in which it had led since a 3-2 loss to Norway on March 5, 2002.

"Very, very disappointed," American midfielder Shannon Boxx said."We don't have the excuse of a long season. We had good rest, and coming back into our first tournament, we need to step it up. I think everyone knows what we need to do. It's mainly coming together as a team and the attitude that we present every game needs to be better.”

The U.S., which plays Canada on Sunday and China on Tuesday, opens the World Cup in Germany against North Korea on June 28. The team then plays Colombia on July 2, followed by a rematch with Sweden on July  6 to close out the opening round.

-- Chuck Schilken

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Leiweke: Kings are not for sale | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Tim Leiweke, president and chief executive of AEG--the Kings’ parent company--said Friday the company is not trying to sell the team despite persistent rumors that cite unnamed financiers in saying the Kings are for sale.

In DecemberForbes magazine, citing unidentified bankers, said owner Philip Anschutz was“shopping the Kings around.” Leiweke refuted that report shortly after it appeared and on Friday refuted the revival of that rumoron the website of L.A. Observed.

“We get calls all the time,” Leiweke told The Times. “We are neither looking at or in talks to sell. Very focused on the NFL.”

AEG, which has owned the Kings since October of 1995 and also owns the Staples Center and an interest in the Lakers, is proposing the construction and financing of a downtown stadium that would house a still-unsecured NFL team.

A hockey source who requested anonymity said that while it's possible Anschutz might be willing to sell all or part of the hockey team, potential buyers have also wanted to buy an interest in Staples Center, which Anschutz would not consider.

--Helene Elliott 

Photo: Tim Leiweke in his office with a bobblehead doll of former Kings player Luc Robitaille in January 2010. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

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Question of the Day: Will the latest allegations against Lance Armstrong hurt his image? {Updated} | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Writers from around the 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.

Philip Hersh, Chicago Tribune

Sports Illustrated added more smoke to the doping cloud around Lance Armstrong this week, so will everyone now see the fire? Unlikely.

The magazine’s addition to the overwhelming amount of circumstantial and"he-said, she-said" evidence that strongly suggests Armstrong used PEDs still is unlikely to sound an alarm among the general public. Even a grand jury indictment may not be enough to do that unless it produces a conviction. And the Armstrong acolytes, swayed by his important contributions to the cancer community, never will feel their man has done them wrong.

Bottom line: This has gone on so long that even if a court says Armstrong doped–- and I certainly believe he did –- most people in a society that seeks pharmacological help for everything may shrug their shoulders and wonder what the fuss is about.

Nick Mathews, Newport News (Va.) Daily Press

The answer to the question is an unequivocal yes, no matter if they are proven true or if Armstrong admits guilt.

Exhibit A, Barry Bonds. The former San Francisco Giants star owns the most cherished record in America’s pastime. Yet, few remember his career fondly. Bonds has not admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, but the evidence is mounted as high as the Alps.

The same is said for Armstrong, who conquered those mountains to win seven Tour de France titles. Said Union Cycliste Internationale President Pat McQuaid this week:“{Cycling} is bigger than Lance Armstrong.” True, but he is the most famous cyclist in the world -- and the only professional cyclist 99.9% of Americans know by name.

The damage of these allegations do more than tarnish Lance's legacy; they cut to the bone the image of a sport that finally was gaining ground in the United States.

{Updated at 10:32 a.m.:

Gary R. Blockus, The Morning Call
Lance Armstrong is the Teflon man. Nothing sticks to him. He’s beaten testicular cancer to win seven Tour de France titles. He’s beaten all doping allegations so far and has never tested positive.

Divorce your wife? No big deal. Leave Sheryl Crow while she’s battling breast cancer? No big deal. Have other cyclists accuse you and cite similar stories of being in a hotel room during a premier race watching him make Floyd Landis cry by pouring his bag of blood or blood products down a toilet. Hah, just stories without any physical evidence.

If Alberto Contador hasn’t faced sanctions yet by claiming he ate “tainted beef,” then Armstrong will never be touched beyond the occasional allegation.

Lance Armstrong isn’t a person, he’s a multi-million dollar business and has a PR machine and a cadre of lawyers ready to take down anyone who opposes the maillot jaune. Hurt his image? One word: Livestrong.}

{Updated at 11:19 a.m.:

Diane Pucin, Los Angeles Times

For nearly his entire cycling career there has been a segment of fans who have doubted Lance Armstrong’s assertion that he hasn’t doped. There’s another segment who vehemently point to the fact that Armstrong has never failed a drug test.

Unless Armstrong is convicted of a crime, most of those in the second segment will remain faithful in their belief of Armstrong and maybe they’ll stay strong even if the seven-time Tour de France winner is convicted of a doping crime. They will say that the good he’s done in raising money for cancer will outweigh any doping lies he might have told.

If Armstrong is indicted and has a trial, even if he never gets convicted, Armstrong will lose something though. Maybe it will be just a little chunk of his reputation.“Well, yeah, OK, he doped,” some might say. “So did most of the guys he beat plus, he’s got the charity.”

Or maybe a larger chunk will be lost.“He doped, he cheated, who cares what anyone else did. He’s a fraud.”

And since Armstrong is almost 40 and pretty much done with cycling, unlike, say, Tiger Woods, Armstrong won’t be able to regain his reputation on the sporting field by winning something. All that’s left for him is to keep losing.}

Check out a video take on the situationhere.

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

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Lombardi puzzled while Kings go to extremes | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Here are some leftovers from my interview with Kings General ManagerDean Lombardion Wednesday afternoon, starting with a point he made during a radio interview with NHL Live earlier in the day and wanted to clarify.

When asked during the radio show about the Kings’ 2-9 slump and disappointing performance this season he referred to his experiences as GM of the San Jose Sharks. He said, “What I found in San Jose, when we were building, is that the second year is always the toughest,” and some Kings fans, interpreting that to mean he considers this the second season of the Kings’ rebuilding, were angry to think he had turned back the clock on his timetable for making the Kings a Stanley Cup contender.

However, he said he meant that expectations are higher the second year a team is tabbed as a playoff qualifier, not in the second year of a rebuilding project. The Kings, thankfully for all concerned, are past that ugly point.

Although it would be difficult to know that based on their recent results.

Lombardi maintained that his team proved its capabilities during its 12-3 start, but was that the real Kings? Or is the real team the one that was 1-7 from Nov. 15 through Nov. 29 and has won only twice since Dec. 27?

“You’d like to think when you’re capable of doing something that you should be able to do it all the time,” Lombardi said of the good start.

But again drawing on his term in San Jose he said the Sharks didn’t “have this degree of swing” between extremes in the first season after they made the playoffs and faced external pressures for the first time.

“The one thing as you get older and you have experience the best thing about having experience is being able to draw upon it,” he said. “And I also knew coming into this season the second year of making the playoffs is always the toughest. When we were building that team in San Jose and getting better every year that playoff mantra the second year was the hardest by far. And so much of that comes from expectations and dealing with success.

“And I think what happens there at times is like, we had the same thing. We would have those swoons. It was evaluated internally. Call it what you want but sometimes dealing with failure is easier than dealing with success. How you term success obviously is certainly not the success of the big prize. But along the way you start feeling good about yourself but you’ve got to feel good about yourself the right way. Proud of yourself and believe in yourself but not to where, ‘I’m so good I don’t have to go out there and work.’ There’s a big difference. And learning that is sometimesharder than dealing with learning from your failures. And I sense a little of that. Now, we’ve magnified this.”

The Kings’ high was higher and their lows have been lower this season than he recalled going through at the same stage of the Sharks' development, he said.

"Part of that, too, though, is a function of the league. Every game is a war,” he said. “There’s not a lot of separation....Our goal differential is fourth in the conference. That is mind-boggling. That is the one statistic historically that if that differential, particularly five on five, is in a playoff position, you’re usually solid. And when you look at that yougo, holy smoke. It’s in there, boys.

“Now, part of it is these mental letdowns, and you know what happens too, when you get yourself in that you don’t get the breaks. And now it snowballs. Critical moments you get a breakdown and that’s going back to the other point that good teams make their own breaks.

“Once you put yourself in this position you can’t use bad breaks as an excuse. We saw it time and again. Good teams make their own breaks. You let this thing slide, put yourself in this position, you’re not going to get any breaks right now. Don’t deserve them.”

--Helene Elliott

 

 

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USC football: Radio contract with KSPN extended five years | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

USC and radio station KSPN (710 AM) announced a five-year extension for their football and men's basketball broadcasting agreement.

The agreement will run through the 2015-16 basketball season.

Since the 2006 football season, KSPN has been the flagship station of the USC Football Radio Network, which can be heard from Fresno to San Diego.

Pete Arbogast and Paul McDonaldwill continue to broadcast football, Chris FisherandJim Hefner basketball.

--Gary Klein 

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Kings vs. Stars: Dallas holds off Kings for 2-1 victory | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Dallas goaltenderKari LehtonenstoppedJack Johnson’spenalty shot with 52 seconds left to preserve a 2-1 victory at the American Airlines Center on Monday.

The Kings were awarded the penalty shot when Dallas defensemanJeff Woywitkacovered the puck in the goal crease with his hand. Johnson tried to sweep the puck around the right leg of Lehtonen, who easily stuffed the shot.

Dallas took the lead on two power-play goals in the second period.

Kings goaltenderJonathan Bernierstopped seven shots on the Stars’ three power plays in the first period. But the Kings kept going to the box and Bernier could not keep covering for them.

DefensemanMatt Greenetook an unnecessary roughing penalty in the corner. Loui Erikssonredirected aBrad Richardspass 14 seconds later to tie the score, 1-1, 11:24 into the second period.

Brad Richardsonwas sent off for delay of game after flipping the puck into the stands from the Kings' zone. Richards made another highlight-reel pass, this time sending the puck across ice to the far post, whereJamie Langenbrunnertapped it in for a 2-1 lead 16:59 into the period.

Bernier, who is making a second consecutive start for the first time this season, has stopped 20 of 22 shots.

The Kings took the lead 7:30 into the game whenJustin Williamscircled in from the left and flicked the puck through the crease and off Dallas defensemanNicklas Grossman, who was tangled withRyan Smyth, for the goal.

--Chris Foster

Photo: Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier can't stop a shot by Stars left wing Loui Eriksson (not pictured) as teammate Brenden Morrow (10) watches it head toward the goal. Credit: Tim Sharp / Associated Press

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Kings vs. Oilers: Score tied, 2-2, after the first period | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Kings' struggles continue, though there were some signs of shaking out of their doldrums against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night at Staples Center.

The score was tied, 2-2, after one period, but the Kings could hardly feel satisfied given that the Oilers are in last place in the Western Conference. The Kings have lost seven of their last eight games.

Edmonton went ahead early, after the Kings turned puck over in the neutral zone.Dustin Pennerslid down the left side with the puck, past the goal line, but managed to flip the puck in lacrosse-style for a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game.

The Kings’Marco Sturmtied the score when he was in the right place at the right time at the end of a 4-on-2 rush. The puck came off defensemanKurtis Foster’sstick and went right to Sturm, who just slipped a shot into the corner of the net 11 minutes into the game.

Anze Kopitarended a nine-game goal-less streak by redirecting a loose puck in front of the net 15 minutes into the game.Andrew Coglianotied it a minute later, flicking in a pass he received at the goal crease.

--Chris Foster

Photo: Edmonton's Dustin Penner scores against Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier in the first period Saturday night. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters

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Kings vs. Oilers: Stoll's goal gives Kings lead after two periods | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Kings, looking to end a disastrous homestand on an upbeat note, took a 3-2 lead into the final period against Edmonton on Saturday night at Staples Center.

Dustin Brown, who had been sent off for tripping, came out of the penalty box, took a pass and fed a streakingJarret Stoll, who flicked in a wrist shot to break a 2-2 tie seven minutes into the second period.

The Kings have lost six of seven games on the homestand and have won only one of their last eight games.

Kings forwardWayne Simmondssuffered an ankle injury in the second period, finding himself at the bottom of a scrum caused after a check by Kings defensemanDrew Doughty. Simmons did not return during the period.

In the first period, the Kings gave up the first goal when they turned the puck over in the neutral zone.Dustin Pennerslid down the left side with the puck, past the goal line, but managed to flip the puck in lacrosse style for a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game.

The Kings’Marco Sturmtied the score by being in the right place at the right time at the end of a 4-on-2 rush. The puck came off defensemanKurtis Foster’sstick and went right to Sturm, who slipped a shot into the corner of the net 11 minutes into the game.

Anze Kopitarended a nine-game goal-less streak by redirecting a loose puck in front of the net 15 minutes into the game.Andrew Coglianotied it a minute later, flicking in a pass he took at the goalie crease.

--Chris Foster

Photo: Kigns center Anze Kopitar checks Edmonton's Taylor Hall during a scramble for the puck in the first period Saturday at Staples Center. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters

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Rafael Nadal aiming for fourth straight Slam; Serena Williams is not | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Australian Open is about to begin, showing up at all hours of the day and night on our televisions (ESPN's family of networks) beginning Sunday.

There are obvious story lines, the most compelling being the chance forRafael Nadalto win a"Serena Slam."

Kidding there. This will be a"Rafa Slam" if the 24-year-old Spaniard can win his fourth major tournament in a row.

His streak started at last year's French Open and since then Nadal has stylishly taken home titles at the French Open, Wimbledon and (for the first time in his career) the U.S. Open.

In tennis, one of the greatest accomplishments is to win all four major tournaments in a calendar year. The last man to do it wasRod Laverin 1969, and the last woman wasSteffi Grafin 1988 (Graf also won the Olympics that year to achieve what was called a Golden Slam).

If you can't do that, you can do whatSerena Williamsdid in 2002 and 2003. She won four in a row as well, starting with the 2002 French Open and ending with the 2003 Australian Open, a"Serena Slam."

ESPN analystPam Shriversaid Friday that there are questions about Nadal's health because he was ill last week."I'm concerned about how he's feeling and recovers from a pretty serious virus," she said."It's taking a little bit longer than a 24-year-old might like it to take. If he's not 100% healthy, he's the co-favorite with{Roger} Federer.If he's 100% healthy, I think he's a slight favorite.”

Fellow analystDarren Cahillsaid he considers Nadal"the clear favorite." Cahill said,"The fact is Rafa has won the last three majors, he likes the surface, he likes the tennis balls, the conditions, the medium pace, and if he's not 100% healthy yet, he's in a good section of the draw to play his way in. What I like about Rafa is he's not scared of any hurdles put in from of him. And since he won the U.S. Open, he's riding an enormous wave of confidence. For the tournament's sake, I hope we get a Nadal-Federer final."

With defending champion Williams into her seventh month of recovery from a mysterious foot injury and with top-rankedCaroline Wozniackistill without a major tournament victory, Cahill suggested that there are as many as 20 women who might win the title. That kind of nebulous uncertainty might not be the best thing for the game, and Shriver said she thinks thatKim Clijsters,even though she was a stunned third-round loser at the Australian last year, sent out with a stunning 6-1, 6-0 beating by Nadia Petrova, is still the women's best shot to have a"name" champion.

Fellow BelgianJustine Heninis back, again, playing her first major since leaving Wimbledon with an elbow injury last summer. And somehowVenus Williams, who hasn't won one of the big four tournaments since 2008 and who has never won the Australian Open, is seeded No. 4 and so will be considered a favorite.

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: Rafael Nadal. Credit: Dennis M. Sabangan / European Press Agency.  

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USC basketball: In Matthew Knight Arena debut, Ducks lead Trojans at halftime, 32-26 | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Well, after that over-the-top pregame ceremony (more on that later) at Oregon's new, $200-million Matthew Knight Arena, a basketball game is finally under way between Oregon and USC.

At halftime, after a rather ugly start, the Ducks are ahead, 32-26.

Each team started slowly, seemingly cold after waiting for the pregame festivities to end.

Nearly eight minutes into the game, Oregon led 7-4, and the two teams had combined to shoot five for 21 from the field. 

The unusual, brown-and-tan floor that represented a skyward look through a fir forest clearing, a homage to a historic Oregon team, was rumored to distract players both foreign and domestic.

So for the ugly start to the game, just blame that.

USC struggled against Oregon's 2-3 zone defense -- just as the Trojans do against any zone defense -- and fell behind, 17-9, with 9:50 left.

But then Trojans senior guardDonte Smithscored eight of USC's next 12 points and tied the score at 21 on a three-point jumper with 2:59 left.

At that point, USC had shot nine for 23, Oregon had shot nine for 26, and each team had committed five turnovers. Not exactly a pretty game. 

Smith is keeping USC in it, though. He made his first five shots, including three from beyond the arc, scoring a game-high 13 points. Junior guardGarrett Simleads Oregon with eight points.

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LeBron James vs. Blake Griffin: 2nd quarter heats up. Clippers lead, 68-58 | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Blake Griffin'sdrive and basket pushed the Clippers' lead to 20 points, 51-31, early in the third, but this game has largely featured the other Clippers, who have been doing most of the scoring. All eight Clippers who played in the first quarter scored.Dwyane Wadeis carrying the Heat with 14 points after five minutes of the second.

LeBron Jamessat for the first five minutes of the quarter and returned to the game to a prolonged boo from the crowd, with the Clippers leading, 55-38. The Clippers have done a good job of sealing off the lane when James has tried to drive.

Griffin's runaway-train drive on the baseline and reverse layup failed to go down, but he made both free throws after being fouled. The Times' NBA guruMark Heisler, who has seen, oh, 5,000 NBA games, said,"I think he's the most exciting player I've ever seen."

Shortly after that, Griffin canned a 12-foot banker from the left side.

James' three-pointer with four minutes left cut the Clippers' lead to 62-48. You didn't think the Clippers were going to run away from this team, did you?

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Former Duck Jean-Sebastien Giguere making best of imperfect situation | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Having a Canadian team visit Staples Center always creates a buzz because so many former Canadian residents come out to cheer their old favorites. Also, there’s always a large media contingent and sense of excitement, which players seem to enjoy.

Monday’s visit by the Toronto Maple Leafs provided the bonus of a visit from Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the former Ducks goaltender who is one of the classiest people in this league--and any other.

Giguere, who became one of the few players voted the playoff MVP on a losing team after the Ducks’ seven-game loss to New Jersey in the 2003 Stanley Cup finals and led the Ducks to the Cup in 2007, was traded to Toronto last Jan. 31. He had lost the starting job to Jonas Hiller — who was added to the NHL All-Star team Monday — and his four-year, $24-million contract made him too expensiveto be a backup.

He waived his no-trade clause to go to Toronto, where he was reunited with his former goalie coach, Francois Allaire, and former general manager, Brian Burke.

Things haven’t worked out exactly as planned this season for Giguere, whose contract expires July 1. Recurring groin problems have limited him to only 18 games, in which he has compiled a 2.80 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. And the emergence of youngster James Reimer — who was in goal for the Leafs’ 3-2 victory over the Kings on Monday — meansGiguere likely won’t be back with the teamnext season.

But he is facing the circumstances with his usual good humor and optimism.

“I’m doing good personally. My family is great and I’m quite enjoying myself in Toronto,” Giguere said of his wife and two young sons. “It’s been a good change for me but I’ve got an injury that keeps coming back. It’s been a bit of a pain but there’s nothing I can do about it now.”

He said he hopes to return Thursday at Phoenix. No matter where he goes he still keeps an eye on the Ducks and is happy for Hiller.

“I keep track of them from far and see how they’re doing,” he said. “I’m not surprised they’re doing well. They have a good team and obviously offensively they can do some damage. And when Jonas plays well he can make any team win. So it’s good to see that.”

Helene Elliott

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Kings' Ponikarovsky, Mitchell modest about impressive stat | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Left wingAlexei Ponikarovskyand defensemanWillie Mitchellreturned from injuries in the Kings’ last game, against Columbus on Saturday, and the team’s win — ragged though it was — improved an interesting statistic regarding each player.

The Kings are 17-5-1 with Ponikarovsky in the lineup and 12-4-0 with Mitchell in their lineup, impressive numbers. But both insisted that’s only a coincidence.

“It’s not just because of me,” Ponikarovsky said before the Kings faced the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday at Staples Center. “For sure I always try to bring as much as I can to the game and do whatever it takes to win the game. Sometimes it’s just blocking shots, hits, penalty killing, because it’s a big part of winning the games.”

Mitchell called the record“flattering,” and said teammates had kidded him about it.

“One player or two players aren’t going to be the be-all, end-all. It’s a team,” he said. “Do Poni and I think we can be part of the solution to win? Of course you do. I wouldn’t be playing this game if I didn’t feel that way. But we win or lose as a team and I think no doubt it bringsa little more depth to the team and it allows coaches more matchups and pairings. Hopefully it brings some stability.”

Mitchell, who missed 14 games in November and December because of an upper-body injury and, more recently, 11 games because of an injured left knee, said he appreciated being fit and enjoyed being paired withJack Johnson.

“It felt really good. Playing the right side with Jack, I thought we played really well. We were out for a couple goals against but it was kind of a little bit of miscues by {Jonathan Quick} that he knows about,” Mitchell said.

“That happens. It’s great that we win a game when things like that happen because he’s played so well for us. He’s played extremely well for us. He stole games for us.

“I felt good. I missed it. I haven’t played a lot of games this year. I loved it. I just tried to soak it up and enjoy it because you miss the game when you don’t play. It was a lot of fun just getting out there with teammates and obviously to get back on track after losing a few in a row. Hopefully the wind can kind of get at our backs now and we can make a good push because this is a really good hockey team.”

Check back for more on the game.

--Helene Elliott

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In a defensive battle, UCLA leads USC at halftime, 30-28 | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

UCLA and USC are both playing high-level, competitive basketball at the Galen Center on Sunday night, and at halftime of a back-and-forth, defense-minded battle, the Bruins lead, 30-28.

USC led, 10-4, with 15 minutes 21 seconds left in the first half after back-to-back three-point shots from guardsJio FontanandMarcus Simmons. 

But UCLA took its first lead, 22-21, with 7:50 left when Bruins forwardReeves Nelsondrove for a layup.

Nelson hit his first five shots and has a game-high 12 points on five-for-seven shooting. Fontan was called for an intentional foul after he raked Nelson's arms on a wide-open fastbreak layup attempt with 4:20 left.  

The usually near-empty Galen Center is packed. But surprisingly, it is with USC fans, who seemingly materialized out of thin air to give the Trojans a strong home-court advantage.

Strangely, the number of UCLA fans in attendance is pretty sparse. 

UCLA junior guardLazeric Jones, playing in his first game since rupturing a tendon in his right middle finger against Washington, appears to still be limited by his injury.

He missed his first four shots and has two points at halftime.

USC is shooting 41.4% (12 for 29), but it has missed nine of 12 from three-point range and five of six from the free-throw line.

UCLA is shooting 12 for 21 (57.1%), but it has missed all five of its free-throw attempts. 

The Bruins have nine turnovers, the Trojans have five. 

The much-anticipated inside battle between USC'sAlex StephesonandNikolva Vucevicand UCLA's Nelson andJoshua Smithhas been a stalemate so far.

Stepheson has five points and six rebounds, and Vucevic has a team-high eight points for USC. Nelson has 12 points for UCLA and Smith has four.

-- Baxter Holmes

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Kings, Jack Johnson near long-term extension | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

DefensemanJack Johnsonand the Kings are near an agreement on a multi-year contract extension and could complete the details on Sunday.

"We’re close, it’s fair to say," assistant general managerRon Hextallsaid Saturday before the Kings faced the Columbus Blue Jackets at Staples Center.

The extension was first reported byESPN.com'sPierre LeBrunduring Hockey Night in Canada’s telecast. He speculated that the duration of the deal would be six to seven years and it would be worth $4 million to $4.5 million a year.

Johnson, who will be 24 next week, has four goals, 28 points and a -3 defensive rating this season. He was a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team at the Vancouver Games and seemed to gain confidence from his performance there, though he still has some issues defensively.

Johnson is earning $1.425 million this season and was eligible to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Unlike most players, Johnson won’t have to pay an agent’s fee for negotiating the deal: he represented himself.

--Helene Elliott

Photo: Kings defenseman Jack Johnson battles Blue Jackets winger Patric Hornqvist for the puck in the first period Thursday night at Staples Center. Credit: Chris Carlson / Associated Press

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Kings Coach Terry Murray still unhappy with Marco Sturm | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Left wingMarco Sturmseems to have become the whipping boy for Kings Coach Terry Murrayafter two days of scathing comments from a coach who rarely singles anyone out for public chiding.

Before Thursday’s morning skate, Murray said he had talked to Sturm to criticize the player’s work ethic. He wasn’t any more complimentary after practice Friday, even though Sturm earned an assist Thursday with a shot that was rebounded for a goal byKyle Clifford.

Murray repeated that Sturm is"still in training camp mode" after undergoing surgery on the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments of his right knee last May and indicated he’s not happy with Sturm’s play. Considering that General ManagerDean Lombardi likes Sturm -- Lombardi drafted Sturm into the NHL as the San Jose Sharks’ general manager and pursued him a second time this season after medical concerns led the Kings’ doctors to be cautious on the first go-round -- it could become a point of contention between a general manager and a coach who are otherwise close.

"I understand it and I have that compassion that he has to go through it during the games," Murray said of Sturm’s readjustment to the pace and rigors of the NHL."That he’s got to get his game in order and he’s coming to a new team, moving, very unsettled with everything that’s going on. Hotel, place to live -- it’s hard. Very difficult. No matter how long you’ve been in the league you’ve just got to go through those situations and find a way to get yourgame in order and settle it in.

"I’m dealing with it. Not comfortably but I’m going to keep pushing and keep talking and going to have to get his game back to the level of play that he knows he can play at. And quite honestly I’m waiting to see what that level is myself. I don’t know him well enough over the years to have put him under the microscope and say,'This is exactly what I’m going to get every shift, what I need, and this is the expectation.' So I’m waiting for him to show me. But I certainly have to see that high level of intensity and work every shift."

True, Sturm hasn’t exactly set the Kings’ world on fire since he was acquired from Boston. He has two goals and four points in nine games playing with an ever-changing array of linemates.

But is it realistic to expect Sturm, a seven-time 20-goal scorer, to have regained that form when he’s barely eight months removed from such extensive surgery?

Murray thinks it is, and went back to his days as coach of the Florida Panthers to back up his argument.

"It’s not unreasonable. I’ve had players come through this thing." he said."I’ve hadPavel Burewent through the second operation -- the same kind of operation on the same leg -- and he’s back, right on top of his game and scored 57 goals for me that year {actually 58 in 1999-2000}.

"And so it’s very demanding. You’ve got to really push hard and go through a lot of pain on the off-ice part of things to get yourself ready to get on the ice and get going. But once you get on the ice you’ve got to get to that hard work every time, every shift and that’s what I need from Marco. I think there’s times out there that there’s a skill element to his game and he wants to play that kind of a game but also we need now to add in that competitive side of it."

That applies to more than a few of his teammates, too.

Murray put Sturm with centerJarret Stolland right wingWayne Simmondsin practice Friday and likely will keep that trio together Saturday against Columbus, so he will have another chance to escape the doghouse.

--Helene Elliott

Photo: Kings winger Marco Sturm tries to beat Nashville's Shane O'Brien to the puck during the second period of their game Thursday night at Staples Center. Credit: Harry How / Getty Images

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Kings' Brayden Schenn finished world juniors with injured shoulder | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Kings prospectBrayden Schenn, voted the most valuable player of the world junior championship despite Canada’s loss to Russia in the gold medal game, finished the tournament with a separated shoulder and won’t be able to play for 10 to 14 days, General ManagerDean Lombardisaid Thursday.

Lombardi said Schenn, who played eight games for the Kings before being returned to Brandon of the Western Hockey League, was injured during Canada’s game against Switzerland and received injections in the shoulder in order to stay in the lineup. Schenn tied a Canadian record by scoring 18 points in seven games.

When Schenn heals and returns to the ice he’s likely to be wearing the uniform of a different junior team. Brandon, which is struggling this season, is expected to trade him before next Monday’s trade deadline. His likely destination is Saskatoon, which is leading the East Division of the Eastern Conference. A trade would not affect theKings’ ownership of his rights and playing for a good team would likely benefit Schenn’s development, especially on the defensive side of the game.

"My experience with these kids is if they don't go to good teams they get into bad habits," Lombardi said.

Lombardi, speaking by phone from a scouting trip back East, said he had hoped to watch prospect Andrei Loktionov play for Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League but Loktionov has returned to Russia following the death of his father and is expected to be gone for two weeks.

--Helene Elliott

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Clippers: Dunks lead way to 51-43 halftime lead | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

An in-house dunk contest highlighted a first half controlled by the Clippers on Wednesday at Staples Center.

The Clippers left the court with a 51-43 lead after a half that was defined by two plays.

Blake Griffin, who has been selected to participate in the NBA’s slam dunk contest during the All-Star festivities, offered his version of coming attractions in the second quarter. A block byDeAndre Jordanstarted the Clippers on a fastbreak.Baron Daviswent to the basket and sent a lob to Griffin, who scored on a one-handed slam.

Jordan submitted his dunk resume later with a reverse slam in transition off another lob from Davis, putting the Clippers up, 49-34, with 2 minutes 24 seconds left in the half. It was their largest lead of the half.

By halftime, Griffin had his 22nd consecutive double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

-- Chris Foster

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Clippers forward Blake Griffin highlights slam dunk contest | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Clippers forwardBlake Griffin, who has become must-see TV because of his slam dunks, will be in the NBA's slam dunk contest, sources said Tuesday night.

Joining Griffin will be Washington Wizards 7-foot centerJaVale McGee, Oklahoma City Thunder 6-10 forwardSerge Ibakaand Milwaukee Bucks 6-1 guardBrandon Jennings, sources said.

Jennings, who attended Dominguez High in Compton before he finished his high school career at Oak Hill Academy, has a broken right foot and is expected to be out four to six weeks, but he is expected to be healthy for All-Star weekend.

Griffin, the Clippers' 6-10 rookie power forward, has put on an amazing display of dunks that has caught the attention of NBA fans.

He'll have a chance to show is stuff during All-Star weekend at Staples Center. The dunk contest will be Feb. 19.

Lakers guardShannon Brown, who was in the dunk contest last year, won't be in it this year.

The official announcement of the dunk contest participants will be this Thursday (5 p.m. West Coast time) on TNT.

 

-- Broderick Turner

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UCLA football: Akeem Ayers declares for the NFL draft | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

UCLA linebackerAkeem Ayerssaid he would enter the NFL draft, forgoing his senior season.

“I will miss playing with my UCLA teammates next year but I feel that the decision to go to the NFL is what is best for my family. I will always be a Bruin.”

Ayers, a projected first-round pick in several mock drafts, created big plays during the past two seasons as a starter, earning second-team All-American honors by the Walter Camp Foundation in 2010. His play this season was slowed by shoulder and toe injuries, but he still finished with two interceptions, four sacks and 10 tackles for a loss.

“I want to thank my coaches, teammates and everyone at UCLA for all of their help the last few years,” Ayers said in a statement released by the school. “I have had a great experience at UCLA and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to attend such an outstanding school.

Ayers can return to UCLA, having until Jan. 18 to withdraw from the draft as long as he has not signed with an agent.

Ayers caught the eye of scouts a year ago. He had six sacks and four interceptions. He sscored three touchdowns, two on interceptions and one on a fumble return.

“Akeem has been a big-play performer throughout his career at UCLA and we support his decision to move to the next level,” CoachRick Neuheiselsaid.“Who will ever forget his interceptions against Oregon and Temple that he turned into touchdowns or his many sacks? We will miss Akeem, but we look forward to watching him make those same types of plays on Sundays in the NFL.”

--Chris Foster

Photo: UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers scores on an interception return against Temple to help the Bruins win the Eagle Bank Bowl. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

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Drew Doughty's fitness not an issue to Kings | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

It seemed like an innocuous answer to a light-hearted question.

Kings defensemanDrew Doughty, asked by a Fox Sports West’sPatrick O’Nealto share his New Year’s resolution, replied, “Stop eating at McDonald’s.” Doughty laughed and added, “Not going to happen.”

That comment was aired during the Kings’ game Saturday. Coupled with Doughty’s re-take of a training-camp fitness test, a past that includes weight problems and maybe some frustration over the team's three-game losing streak, it seems to have inspired new attacks on Doughty’s supposed lack of fitness on fan message boards and other social media outlets.

A couple of things:

First, Doughty said he recently had gotten an endorsement deal with McDonald’s Canada, so the mention of eating at the fast-food chain likely was his way of providing free advertising and not a confession of his menu choices.

And just think about it:

Could an out-of-shape defenseman have played a game-high 28 minutes and 59 seconds as Doughty did in the Kings’ 1-0 loss to San Jose on Saturday and average 25:39 this season, the seventh-highest average in the NHL?

In the 27 games he has played since he returned from a concussion his lightest workload was 22:49 against Calgary on Dec. 9. He has played as much as 30:41, Dec. 4 against Detroit. No one who is significantly out of shape could possibly do that.

He’s a kid, barely 21. He probably doesn’t eat as well as he should and he will realize that someday. But no athlete could eat cheeseburgers, fries and doughnuts on a regular basis and play in the NHL at the level Doughty has played.

“I think he’s in as good shape as he should be right now but it’s not as good as he will be as he continues to mature as a man, just evolve into a bigger, stronger player,” CoachTerry Murraysaid.“He played a lot of minutes {Saturday} night. He’s up around 28 minutes and that’s where we want him to be. So can he handle those minutes? Yeah, sure he can. He’s such a gifted player that when you’re out in those situations for that many minutes you just learn how to play the game.

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UFC 125 live results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UFC starts off 2011 with a deep card from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard for the UFC lightweight title headlines the event. The Fabulous Forum will have results from Las Vegas for all of the evening's bouts.

Antonio McKee vs. Jacob Volkmann

McKee, a longtime veteran of the sport with an excellent record and wrestling pedigree, is finally making his UFC debut. Volkmann has looked impressive thus far in his UFC career against a generally high level of opposition.

Round 1. Volkmann presses forward as they feel each other out standing. McKee has success with a few hooks to the jaw. McKee clinches and looks for a takedown but Volkmann defends with ease. McKee ducks down and goes for another takedown. Volkmann moves back against the cage and circles out. Volkmann shoots for a takedown of his own and gets it with two minutes remaining in the round. McKee powers out and stands back up without taking any damage. McKee lands a nice knee to the body as they clinch against the cage. Volkmann looks for a takedown but McKee defends well. McKee lands a nice leg kick and Volkmann answers with one of his own. Very close round. McKee gets the round very narrowly on the basis of more effective striking. 10-9 McKee.

Round 2. Volkmann uses a leg kick to start the round. McKee answers with a nice punch combination. He's mixing in jabs and uppercuts with the hooks. McKee shoots for a takedown and grabs a single leg. They scramble for position and Volkmann looks to take McKee's back. Volkmann gets the back and tries to sink in a rear naked choke. He gets an arm around McKee's jaw but can't get it under the chin. Volkmann continues to fight for the choke. Volkmann continues to look for the choke but can't get it under the chin. McKee fires punches back at Volkmann while Volkmann tries for the choke. With ten seconds left in the round, McKee rolls out of danger into top position and throws a few punches down to close the round. 10-9 Volkmann.

Round 3. Volkmann lands a leg kick to start the round. He follows with a few more leg kicks while McKee throws single punches. Volkmann moves in for a takedown and gets caught with a hard hook in response. McKee lands another hook and a body kick. McKee lands a nice straight right and takes Volkmann down. Volkmann tries to get back up and McKee has to focus on just holding him down without doing any damage. 10-9 McKee. The fight will come down to the close first round. 29-28 McKee on this scorecard.

Winner: Jacob Volkmann, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Daniel Roberts vs. Greg Soto

Roberts is a grappling specialist with a 2-1 UFC record. Soto sports a 1-1 UFC record with his only loss coming via disqualification.

Round 1. Both men come out at a much quicker pace than the previous fight. Soto lands a really big straight punch that knocks Roberts backwards. He looks for a choke but can't get it on Roberts. Soto throws a right head kick but it doesn't land fully. Roberts takes Soto down halfway through the round. Roberts uses some ground and pound and looks to pass guard. Roberts grabs a kimura. He extends it from the bottom position then back to top and cranks it from the top next to the cage for the submission. Very nice finish by Roberts.

Winner: Daniel Roberts, submission, round 1.

Mike Brown vs. Diego Nunes

This is an early battle of former WEC featherweights. Mike Brown is the former WEC featherweight champion. He holds two wins over Urijah Faber and is a UFC veteran as well. Diego Nunes has an impressive 15-1 record with four wins in the WEC.

Round 1. Brown receives a very nice reaction from the crowd. Nunes opens with a leg kick, spinning back kick and head kick. Brown closes the distance and shoots for a takedown. Brown throws a series of knees to the leg. You've never heard a crowd react so loudly to knees to the leg. Brown finally gets the takedown and throws some punches to the face of Nunes. He grabs Nunes' back and sinks in one hook. Nunes tries to stand up but Brown sends him back down with a big slam. Nunes looks for a kimura but can't get it. Nunes stands up but gets caught with a huge hook that knocks Nunes loopy. Brown looks to finish but Nunes is able to recover his senses. Nunes' left eye is swollen shut. Nunes utilizes a series of quality leg kicks late in the round and lands a spinning back fist. Nunes throws some hard knees to the body while Brown answers with hooks at the close of the round. Great round. 10-9 Brown.

Round 2. Nunes continues his success from the late first round with a series of hard kicks. He mixes in leg kicks, body kicks and head kicks from different angles. Brown tries to get a takedown but doesn't come close. Nunes' striking has actually become more crisp since his eye shut closed. They clinch. Nunes avoids a takedown and throws some knees to the body. Brown throws a pair of hard hooks but Nunes answers with knees. Nunes throws a big straight left punch and follows with more leg kicks. As Nunes throws a punch, Brown catches him off balance and takes him down. Nunes gets back up. He throws a beautiful spinning back kick to the body and continues with strong knees to the body. Excellent round for Nunes. 10-9 Nunes.

Round 3. Nunes goes to hug Brown at the start of the third round. He then opens back up with a variety of kicks. He is having particular success with leg kicks and spinning back kicks. Brown goes for a takedown and grabs Nunes' back in the standing position. Brown throws a series of knees. They clinch and Nunes catches Brown with some nice hooks. Brown again looks for a takedown but Nunes blocks it. Nunes throws knees as Brown tries to get a takedown. With 30 seconds left Brown takes Nunes down cleanly. That could have decided the round, but Nunes stands right back up seven seconds later. He throws some punches and a head kick to close the round. 10-9 Nunes, 29-28 Nunes. Great fight.

Winner: Diego Nunes, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

The crowd boos an emotional Nunes after the fight, not liking the decision.

--Todd Martin

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