Golf's Tiger Woods on his comeback: 'It's a process' | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

After a tumultuous year that included a sex scandal, divorce and a shortened, winless season on the PGA Tour,Tiger Woodssaid Tuesday that he's continuing to improve his game and his life.

"As a golfer I learned so much more this year than any other year, and as a person infinitely more," Woods said after practicing for theChevron World Challenge, an 18-player tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks that benefits Woods' charities.

"So it's been a very successful year even though it was a very painful year as well," said Woods, 34,a winner of 14 major championshipswho's made major changes to his golf swing to help him win again.

Woods has won the Chevron World Challenge four times but has missed the tournament the last two years. He was recovering from knee surgery in 2008, and last year he withdrew because the event came only days after his Thanksgiving night car accident in Florida that set in motionhis sensational sex scandal.

Woods also lostgolf's No. 1 ranking-- a position he held for more than five consecutive years -- last month whenLee Westwoodof England took the top spot.

"My goal is to win every tournament I tee it up in and be prepared for every event," Woods said."But that does entail right now learning a new golf swing that requires a lot of work, some new motor patterns. It's not exactly easy, but it's a fun challenge."

Asked if his inability to win this year was mainly due to his swing, his putting, his late start in April or his mental approach to the game, Woods replied,"It's been all of the above."

"I've dealt with a few things off the golf course, and on the golf course I've had to make some changes in my game," he said."You combine all that together, it's very hard to be effcient for 72 straight holes."

But Woods said he's changed his swing before and, with the latest alterations, he's"showed some good signs" over the last three tournaments."It's a process," he said.

--Jim Peltz

Photo: Tiger Woods signs autographs Tuesday after practice for the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Credit: Reed Saxon/Associated Press

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Drew Doughty, Teemu Selanne lead the local teams in NHL All-Star voting | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

The overall vote leader in the NHL's All-Star balloting is no surprise:Sidney Crosbyof the Pittsburgh Penguins. After two weeks of online voting, he now has 218,791 votes. 

The nicest surprise? The guy who jumped up to second place while no one was looking. That would be Montreal Canadiens goalieCarey Price,whose 145,726 votes are the most among write-in candidates. That's right.Write-in.Price has been outstanding in goal so far this season.

Tampa Bay's scoring machineSteven Stamkos is third with 141,818 votes. More than 6 million votes have been cast through last weekend.

But what about the Kings and Ducks?

Teemu Selanneis doing the best among Ducks with 25,545 votes.Ryan Getzlaf,Bobby RyanandCorey Perryaren't far behind him, though. Noteworthy write-in totals: goaltenderJonas Hillerhas 9,791,Lubomir Visnovsky7,137 andCam Fowler6,938.

The Kings?

Drew Doughtyis leading the way with 94,606.Anze Kopitarhas 31,923, while the very deservingRyan Smithhas 16,465. Noteworthy is team scoring leaderJustin Williamsas a write-in candidate with 8,486.Jonathan Quickcomes in ninth among goaltenders with 40,140, while defensemanJack Johnsonhas 12,871 write-in votes.

But it really makes you wonder what is going on when former Kings playerSean Avery(he currently ranks third in the league for penalty minutes) of the New York Rangers has 38,551 write-in votes. Even as a joke, this isn't funny.

Through Jan. 3, NHL fans will be able to select up to six players by position -- three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender -– without regard to the conference in which their teams play.

As part of a new format for the 2011 All-Star game, the three forwards, two defensemen and goalie with the most votes will be named first NHL All-Stars.Want to vote? Click here.Meanwhile, here are

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Alcindor the horse runs like his namesake played basketball | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Alcindor, a 3-year-old colt trained byBob Baffert, cost $1,150,000 at the 2008 Keeneland yearling sale. And he runs like the basketball player he was named after,Lew Alcindor, who's nowKareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Alcindor improved to two for two in his racing career Sunday, winning a seven-furlong allowance race at Hollywood Park by 7 1/2 lengths.

He's a son ofUnbridled's Songand could be a horse to watch in 2011.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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Marquez vs. Katsidis: round-by-round updates | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Mexico’sJuan Manuel Marquezwill make the second defense of his world lightweight titles tonight when he meets Australia’sMichael Katsidisat MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Marquez (51-5-1, 37 knockouts) stands as Mexico’s proudest world champion, having foughtManny Pacquiaoto a 2004 draw and a 2008 split-decision loss. Marquez proceeded to claim the lightweight belt by defeatingJuan Diazin the 2009 fight of the year.

He took a big pay day to get beat by the far largerFloyd Mayweather Jr. later last year, then returned to the lightweight division and punished Diaz again in a July unanimous decision.

Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) has lost to two opponents that Marquez has defeated in recent years–- Diaz andJoel Casamayor–- but he’s won his last four bouts and is fighting in the memory of his brother, who died recently.

Marquez expressed sympathy, but has his sights set on a third showdown with Pacquiao. Any hope of that requires a victory tonight.

Here's round-by-round coverage of the fight:

Round 1:Marquez starts with jabs to the body. He lands a good right to Katsidis’ face. Another. Marquez is blocking Katsidis’ jab. Katsidis sneaks one in. Good right by Marquez. He works for openings. Good overhand right by Marquez. Marquez wins round, 10-9.

 

--Lance Pugmire, reporting from Las Vegas

Photo: Juan Manuel Marquez, left, and Michael Katsidis strike a pose during a news conference on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Credit: Steve Marcus / Reuters

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UCLA basketball: Bruins trail Virginia Commonwealth at halftime | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

UCLA has fallen behind again, and it couldn't get back up.

The Bruins spotted Virginia Commonwealth the first eight points of their NIT Season Tip-Off consolation game, just as they had Villanova two nights earlier.

And it could have been worse. Much worse.

After falling behind by as many as 11 points, the Bruins had a chance to tie the score whenMalcolm Lee'sthree-point attempt rattled out of the rim at the halftime buzzer, leaving VCU with a 40-37 lead at Madison Square Garden.

The Rams burned UCLA inside the paint and out for much of the first 20 minutes, leading to the early benching of Bruins freshmanJoshua Smith for what appeared to be defensive lapses. But his teammates weren't much better against small, quick VCU.

A three-pointer byBradford Burgessgave the Rams a 34-23 lead before the Bruins started chipping away at their deficit. Junior guardJerime Andersonmade a couple of nice assists, one toBrendan Laneon an alley-oop pass and another toReeves Nelsonfor another dunk.

Then Lee started heating up from long distance, making a pair of three-pointers and a layup off a Smith steal before his shot that could have tied the score rattled out. Lee made three of four three-pointers and leads UCLA with 13 points.

The Bruins committed 12 turnovers in the first half and will have to take better care of the ball to leave New York with a victory.

--Ben Bolch, reporting from New York

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Alberto Contador claims innocence in doping case during emotional TV interview | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Alberto Contadorhas reiterated his innocence over his failed doping test at the Tour de France in an emotional television interview in Madrid.

"I don't doubt (my innocence) for one second because I did not do anything irregular at any time," the 27-year-old Spanish cyclist said in an interview broadcast Thursday by TVE.

Contador is facing a two-year ban and risks losing his third Tour title after testing positive for the banned drug clenbuterol. He claims contaminated meat was to blame.

Contador says it is too early to decide if he would quit the sport if found guilty, but"I can't say for sure that I'll continue."

He hopes his case will be resolved before the end of the year.

--Associated Press

Photo: Alberto Contador: Credit: Eloy Alonso / Reuters

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Kings' morning skate: Martinez in, Westgarth out, Harrold moves to right wing | The Fabulous Forum | Los Angeles Times

Greetings from Montreal, always a wonderful place to visit and too rarely on the Kings' itinerary.

The Canadiens held their morning skate Wednesday at their practice facility but the Kings skated at the Bell Centre and offered a preview of a few shifts in their lineup for Wednesday night’s game.

DefensemanAlec Martinez, recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League, will play and will be paired withDrew Doughty. That will put a strugglingJack Johnsonback withRob Scuderiand leave a third pair ofDavis DrewiskeandMatt Greene.Peter Harrold, the equivalent of a baseball utility infielder, will move up from defense to the right wing on the fourth line, withBrad RichardsonandTrevor Lewis.Kevin Westgarthwill sit out.

"I want to keep Harry going," CoachTerry Murraysaid of Harrold."He’s a guy that brings a lot of energy and he’s made the adjustment very easily in the past, been a pretty good right winger when we played him there, so he’ll get that look tonight.

"Martinez, well we called him up for a reason. He’s the top scorer with Manchester in the AHL, playing well on the power play, shooting the puck, getting some results on the power play, and certainly that’s what we need, to get that part of the game going on a consistent basis and hopefully he can be a catalyst to help get that turned around tonight."

Murray said he paired Martinez with Doughty"to give a young guy called up a good player to play with. I think they both have great hockey awareness. They’re going to move the puck. They’re going to support each other. And I hope if anything pops up Doughty is able to help him in tough situations."

The changes also put Scuderi, Doughty’s previous partner, with Johnson and reunited a pair that

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