Auburn jumps Boise State in latest USA Today coaches' poll | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

It was going to happen sooner or later, and sooner came Sunday, when Auburn jumped Boise State for the No. 2 spot in the USA Today college football coaches' poll.

The top five in the new USA Today index: Oregon, Auburn, Boise State, Texas Christian and Alabama. Rounding out the top 10 are Utah, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

The Associated Press top five is Oregon, Boise State, Auburn, TCU and Alabama. Rounding out the AP top 10 are Utah, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Nebraska and Stanford.

The USA Today poll is used in the BCS standings while the AP is no longer part of the formula but still crowns an independent champion.

It seemed inevitable that Auburn would eventually pass Boise State for the No. 2 spot in the coaches' poll, although the leapfrog this week came after Boise State scored a 29-point win over Louisiana Tech last Tuesday.

Auburn made the move with a 20-point road win at Mississippi (3-5).

The latest BCS standings will be released Sunday evening on ESPN.

--Chris Dufresne

chris.dufresne@latimes.com

Photo: Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Newton and Auburn have been winning big, including a 51-31 victory over Mississippi on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images

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Zenyatta has final tuneup for Breeders' Cup Classic | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

UnbeatenZenyattahad a final tuneup Saturday at Hollywood Park in preparation for the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs, going six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 seconds.

Zenyatta, who has won all 19 of her starts, is scheduled to be shipped to Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday.

She is the talk of racing. She was featured inSports Illustratedthis week. She will receive attention on"60 Minutes" on Sunday with the question,"Is Zenyatta the best racehorse ever?"

Here's a look back at Zenyatta's performance in last year's memorable Breeders' Cup Classic.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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Ducks recall veteran left wing Josh Green | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Ducks have recalled left wingJosh Greenfrom the Syracuse Crunch, Anaheim's primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League.

With left wingMatt Beleskyout with a concussion, the Ducks needed some offensive help. Green, 32, appeared in seven games for Syracuse this season and had one goal and three points.

If nothing else, Green has experience. In 322 career NHL games, Green has 35 goals and 74 points.

Signed to a one-year contract by the Ducks in July, he was originally selected by the Kings in the second round (30th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He has played for the Kings (1998-99), the Islanders (1999-00), the Oilers (2001-03), the Rangers (2002-03), the Capitals (2002-04), the Flames (2003-04), the Canucks (2005-07) and the Ducks (2009).

-- Debbie Goffa

 Photo: Josh Green. Credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images.

 

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Kings make lineup changes at Dallas | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The Kings canceled their morning skate in Dallas after they arrived from Chicago in the wee hours of Thursday morning. They instead had a meeting at their hotel, and afterward Coach Terry Murray announced a few lineup changes.

Defenseman Peter Harrold will come out of the lineup and Jake Muzzin will be in Thursday night against the Stars, though Murray didn’t explain why. I’ll catch up with him later and ask his reasoning.

Muzzin was recalled from Manchester on Monday after Drew Doughty was placed on injured reserve because of a concussion. On Wednesday, General Manager Dean Lombardi said that Doughty is doubtful for Saturday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils, and I'll see if there's an update on that, too.

Also, forwards Kevin Westgarth and Brayden Schenn will be in the lineup against Dallas in place of Andrei Loktionov and Trevor Lewis. In the past few days Loktionov has gone from first-line left wing to fourth-line center to a healthy scratch, an interesting journey.

Murray has been critical of Schenn’s defensive shortcomings, and Schenn acknowledged he’s still adjusting to the NHL.

“I’m watching lots and lots of videos and sitting out and watching the games,” he said. “Obviously you want to be in. I just have to learn from it.”

On the defensive side, Schenn said,“just learning your positioning is the main thing. You don’t want to get beat off the wall and you want to stay tight to your man below the circles there. In junior, it’s kind of I’ll take the puck and go, and here it’s obviously a little different.”

More later atwww.latimes.com/sports

-- Helene Elliott in Dallas

 

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World Series: Willie Mays to throw out first pitch | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The San Francisco Giants will honor arguably the greatest player in franchise history Wednesday, when Hall of Famer Willie Mays throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers.

Mays will be accompanied by a cast of Giants Hall of Famers, including Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Monte Irvin, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry.

The Giants have honored Mays with a statue in front of AT&T Park. The team has designated the street address of the ballpark as 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

For Game 2, the ceremonial first pitches will feature the daughters of Bobby Thomson, who hit"The Shot Heard'Round the World," the home run that prompted Russ Hodges to shout out perhaps the most famous call in baseball broadcasting history, on Oct. 3, 1951:"The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"

-- Bill Shaikin in San Francisco

Photo: Willie Mays throws out the first pitch before Game Five of the NLCS on Oct. 21in San Francisco. Credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

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No suspension for Kings Dustin Brown | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The NHL will not suspend Kings captainDustin Brown, who had been ejected fromMonday night's game against the Minnesota Wildfor what was ruled an illegal check to the head.

That news was confirmed byRon Hextall, the Kings' assistant general manager.

Replays showed Brown struck the shoulder of Minnesota Wild forwardAntti Miettinen, however, and not the head. But refereeWes McCauleyhad called the NHL's new Rule 48, designed to punish illegal checks to the head, and that meant Brown also would be subjected to a suspension. But after closer scrutiny, the league ruled no suspension.

"If I'd hit him in the head, he'd probably be on the ice for a lot longer than he was," Brown said after the game."The league's looking at hits like that. I think that was a clean hit from top to bottom. Shoulder on shoulder. He's shooting the puck— he's in a vulnerable position maybe but I'm not going to not make that."

Brown's ejection came in the second period of what ended up a 3-2 shootout victory for the Kings. More later.

-- Helene Elliott in Chicago

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Question of the day: Which NBA team will have the most surprising season? | 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.

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune

The same thing happens every season: Splashy offseason moves get made, and the old pros get overlooked. There may be a Big Three in South Beach, but the original Big Three are still around. And, yes, the Celtics will have a better postseason than the Heat.

Granted, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are a year older, a year slower. But when the games slow down, get tighter and more physical and defense needs to be played in the half court, the Celtics are still the team to beat.

And give Doc Rivers credit for striking the right balance between regular and postseason. He knows he can't ride his Big Three anymore. But with dynamic Rajon Rondo still around and Shaquille O'Neal accepting his role, this team is deeper than last season's Eastern Conference champions.

Maybe it's not a surprise for defending champions to be picked to repeat. But after the Summer of LeBron-a-Palooza, it is.

Zach McCann, Orlando Sentinel

The Washington Wizards won 26 games last season, and few pundits expect them to surpass that mark this season. With Gilbert Arenas’ injury-faking and headline-making, Andray Blatche’s inconsistency and John Wall’s inexperience, there are far more questions than answers surrounding the Wizards heading into the 2010-11 season.

But beneath all of the corn-popping drama and tomfoolery lies a whole lot of talent on the Wizards basketball team.

Wall is a legitimate rookie-of-the-year candidate who, at just 19 years old, may be one of the league’s 10 best point guards already.  Blatche–- when his head’s right -– can score down low at an incredibly efficient rate.

Javale McGee and Al Thornton are improving. Kirk Hinrich was a sneaky-good pickup, and Arenas’ antics overshadow how good of an off-the-ball scorer he could be alongside Wall.

If there’s a coach out there who can handle a nonconformist, youthful cast of characters, it’s Flip Saunders.

It’s hard to be surprised by anything in Washington these days. That said, don’t be surprised if the Wizards sneak into the playoffs this year.

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