The Sports Beat

By Brad Pye, Jr.

Los Angeles, CA—Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond.

Tiger Woods in his up and down year has won more PGA events than any one else on the tour. Since Tiger won his 14th Major victory, 15 different players have won 16 Majors—twice by Padraig Harrington.

Tiger garnered $4.2 million in winnings before the British Open. He fired a 67 in the first two rounds but had to settle for a 73 in the final to share third with Brandt Snedeker.

Three ladies of color are a part of the seven member USA Olympic Volleyball team. They are Alisha Glass, Megan Hodge and Destinee Hooker. Hooker told ESPN Magazine: “I can reach up and touch 11’2” so I can dunk a basketball pretty easy. They also call me Inspector Gadget because there are some sets that are so far off the net and I’ll end up getting a kill, and then it’s like: “Only you Go Go Gadget.”

Hopefully Parker and her USA Olympic Games teammates will be as hot in the London Olympics which starts July 27.
When Matt Kemp smacked a two run walk-off homer on July 18, to snap the Dodgers four game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, it was Kemp’s first homer since April 28. Kemp’s homerun season total now stands at 13. How about those Dodgers? As of July 24 the Dodgers had won five in a row, including a 5-3 victory over the 2011 World Series champion St Louis Cardinals.

The Washington Redskins shelled out a four year $21.1 million dollar contract to Baylor’s Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III on July 18.

The L.A. Clippers new small forward Grant Hill is the son of former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill. Grant Hill is expected to back up Caron Butler.

The Denver Nuggets JaVale McGee is keeping the family name alive in basketball. His mother Pam and Aunt Paula were standouts on USC’s back-to-back NCAA championship teams. JaVale has just signed a multi-year contract to remain with Denver.

Yes there will be a 19-year old entry of color in the men’s gymnastic in the London Olympics. He’s John Orozco from the Bronx. He plans to land the men’s team on the medals podium for the third straight Olympics.

Kendrick Farris, a 5-7, 26-year old weight lifter will be seeking gold in the London Olympics which opens July 27.

Lynwood City Councilman Lou Byrd, who is involved in a scandal, where he allegedly collected $112,000 for commission meetings as a $10, 000 a year part time Lynwood City Councilman. Byrd was a star lineman USC teams.

Penn State’s defrocked famous football coach, Joe Paterno, had 409 victories and Grambling State University’s legend Eddie Robinson has 408 untarnished wins. More than 100 of Paterno’s victories have been erased by the NCAA. Paterno now has only 298 victories, giving Robinson his rightful place as college football’s all-time winner with 408 untarnished victories. Now the NCAA is trying to say Florida State’s Bobby Bowden with 389 wins is the all-time “major college” winner. No matter what they claim Eddie Robinson is still the all-time winner with a mark of 408.

Check this: Coach Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks will have three black QBs in training camp. Included are last season starter Tarvaris Jackson (7-7), Josh Portis and rookie Russell Wilson, Minnesota’s Rose Bowl star.

Cam Newton is back as the Carolina Panthers’ starter. Ditto for the Philadelphia Eagles’ Michael Vick. Rookie Robert Griffin III, the Heisman Trophy winner is expected to do for the Washington Redskins, what Newton did for Carolina.

Pro football fans will be checking the play of Stanford’s Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts’ overall No.1 pick and Griffin.

Check this: Miami Dolphin receiver Ochocinco has changed his name back to the original Chad Johnson.

The L.A. Angels of Anaheim still trail Manager Ron Washington’s Texas Rangers by five games in the AL West, despite Monday night’s 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

And the beat ends.
Brad Pye Jr. can be reached at switchreel@aol.com