Sports Cactus

Kurt Thomas to be a supersonic

2007-07-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

First off what's a supersonic? And yes I already know the answer I'm just being facetious.

Moving on!

This comes from Paul Coro over at AZ central....

The Suns traded center Kurt Thomas this morning in a move that relieves some salary-cap pressure.

Thomas goes to the Seattle SuperSonics, along with the Suns' own 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks in exchange for a future conditional 2nd round pick and a trade exception, worth about $8 million.

The league's new luxury tax threshold -- the number at which teams would begin to be taxed -- came in different from what the Suns expected, at $67.9 million, and would have left Phoenix more than $10 million over that number.

ASU get top 2008 prospect in baseball

2007-07-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

This coming from AZ Central.

Eric Hosmer, rated by some as the nation's top 2008 high school prospect, has committed to sign with Arizona State.

The 6-foot-4 Hosmer is a first baseman from Cooper City, Fla. He will play in the AFLAC All-American Classic, Aug. 11 in San Diego. Hosmer could seriously consider college no matter how high he is drafted in the 2008 major league draft.

Hosmer signs with ASU...........(azcentral.com)

ps. will he actually stay or go pro?

Suns get Grant "over the" Hill

2007-07-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

Excuse the poor Berman-ism but the Suns landing Grant Hill doesn't have me all that excited. Paul Coro has written a nice piece about it over at AZ Central and allow me to share a excerpt from that with you.

He averaged 14.4 points last season on 51.8 percent shooting and played 30.9 minutes per game. When he has played, Hill has shot 49 percent or better in the past four seasons but he does not have three-point range. Once one of the league's best rebounding swingmen, Hill averaged a career-low 3.6 rebounds last season.

But Phoenix relishes his versatility, court smarts, high character and late-career motivation to win a championship. Hill had pondered retiring before working the NBA Finals for ABC made him want to pursue a championship. His teams have never advanced past the first round in five playoff appearances, including Orlando's first-round sweep to Detroit in April.

Wait a minute, 14.4ppg, 52% shooting? I'll take that. Oh wait, no three point range? Career low 3.6 rebounds? And those five ankle injuries? I'm sorry but I'm not running out to buy a Hill jersey any time soon.

I understand the need for a veteran player on a team, someone who can lead you during tough times. Someone who has been there. Allow me to go back to Mr. Coro's article. "His teams have never advanced past the first round in five playoff appearances, including Orlando's first-round sweep to Detroit in April." Well then...

Do I agree that it was good to get someone to give you minutes off the bench and be a solid role player? Yea I do, good call by the Sun's coaching staff. Wait, what's that Paul you have something to say about that in your article? "Hill, who will turn 35 in October, could start for Phoenix with Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Shawn Marion and Amaré Stoudemire. "

COULD START? No thanks. I was fine seeing Grant Hill as a bench man but we all know he won't be happy in that position. So now where do we go from here? Will this be the Grant Hill who can pull a 15-8 every night? Or will this be the Grant Hill who rolls and ankle and spends 45 games in rehab.

Try again Sun's staff, you can do better than this.

Well then....

2007-06-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a few days now of thinking about this defeat in the CWS. ASU fans had every reason to hope for a National Championship. YOu still have to be happy with the Pac-10 Championship but this team could have gone on to better things. The blowout loss to Oregon St. the night before is what sealed our fate. And betwenn Jarvis self destructing and Brett Wallace not even showing up and getting a hit, well we should have seen this coming.

So from now on this blog will be mostly D'backs for the summer, and of course any Suns, Cards, ASU, Coyotes news that is important.

Turn back the clock....in Omaha

2007-06-19T16:12:00.001-07:00

During todays elimination game against UC Irvine, ASU baseball pulled out the throwback uniforms. These are the uniforms from the eary 80's back when Barry Bonds played on the team among other players.

The uniform is a maroon top with a yellow devils across it with the number underneath. They have a bright yellow hat, white pants and yellow socks with a maroon stripe down the side.

Click the pics for a full size shot. Yes they suck, they're off my crappy tv.

Elimination Game

2007-06-19T16:07:00.001-07:00

ASU v. UC Irvine 4pm ESPN2

this is it. Win or go home. Story after the game.

It's been a while...

2007-06-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

I know I know I've been slacking on my updates. Sorry about that.

Today at 4 p.m. the Sun Devils face Oregon State in the winners bracket over in Omaha.

For today's game SeattleSunDevil previews the matchup.

This can also be found on www.devilsdigest.com

OMAHA, Neb. - Oregon State University arrived in Omaha for the third year in a row, this time however, with an unfamiliar monkey on their backs – this trip marks the first time they will have the distinguished title of “defending national champions.”
After defeating Cal State Fullerton in their first game of the 2007 College World Series, the Beavers pushed themselves into a meeting with a rather well known nemesis – the Arizona State Sun Devils.

The regular season match-ups between the current (ASU) and former (OSU, 2006) champions of the Pacific-10 Conference point to this being a game with epic possibilities with both teams dominating each other at one point.

The Beavers struck first blood in the season series with the 12-4 non-conference beat down of ASU during the Coca-Cola Classic in Surprise, Ariz. The offensive explosion against the Sun Devil pitching was the fifth-highest output against that group during the entire season. However, the runs scored are misleading to a point as the five pitchers used by Pat Murphy in the game (Joey Parigi, Dustin Brader, Matt Trink, Scott Mueller and Ted Aust) would see just 12 innings combined on the mound during conference play.

When the Devils traveled to Corvallis, Ore. to reap revenge on the Beavers, (May 18th – 20th) the offense was clicking, the pitching staff was nails and the defense stellar as the maroon and gold earned the series sweep – outscoring the Beavers 15-4 in the three-game set.

All familiarities aside, the upcoming winner’s bracket game on Monday evening carries the distinction of moving the winning team one game away from the championship series. As with all single game series’ in the College World Series, the outcome may be decided on a handful of opportunities and skill sets.

“For the Beavers, it's their offense. If their bats don't show up, the Beavers won't do any damage.” Said Jake Bertalotto, the main contributor to BuildingTheDam.com. “Our team lives and dies with their offense.”

The offensive potential for Oregon State shines through with the names and balance through the lineup even though none truly present a match up problem for Murphy and the Devils.

Catcher Mitch Canham presents the biggest threat on the Oregon State team, hitting nine home runs while driving 54 runs – good for second on the team – and a team high .521 slugging percentage. He also has seen his name show up on various award lists.

Canham sees his name pop up on the Golden Spikes semifinalist list (ability and sportsmanship award,) Dick Howser Trophy Watch List (top collegiate player,) Johnny Bench Award (top catcher) along with the Wallace Award Watch List (top collegiate player.)

“Mitch Canham has been our leader for much of the season at the plate.” Bertalotto said.

Behind the plate as well as Canham has thrown out nearly 40% of the runners that have tried to steal against him.

Other team leaders on offense: Mike Lissman (sr.) – 57 RBIs, Chris Hopkins (jr.) – 15 SBs and 52 runs scored, Darwin Barney (jr.) – 19 doubles and 77 hits.

With Canham and his .322 batting average leading the team, any college baseball fan could immediately assume the pitching staff is to ‘blame’ for the third straight trip to Omaha – and they would be right. Despite losing two-thirds of the starting rotation (Dallas Buck and Jonah Nickerson) and their closer (Kevin Gunderson) from the championship team in 2006, the Beavers hurlers hold strong thanks in part to junior Mike Stutes, who coming into the Monday winner’s bracket game, dominated hitters to the tune of 120 strikeouts in 121 innings. The next highest total on the team? 76 by fellow starter Joe Paterson.

Following in the late inning footsteps placed down last season by Gunderson is Eddie Kunz. The junior earned preseason All-American honors in 2007 and more than lived up to the hype as he shuts down opposing rallies late in games with ease, earning 12 saves so far in his 31 appearances. Should the Beavers garner a late lead from the Sun Devils, Kunz and the Oregon State team have the ability to send ASU down into the loser’s bracket as Kunz has not yet allowed a home run.

The Pac-10 showdown takes place Monday evening at 4 p.m. Arizona time at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium.

We're IN.

2007-06-10T19:20:00.001-07:00

1:	Start out going EAST on E APACHE BLVD toward S MARTIN LN.	1.0 miles	Map

	2:	Turn LEFT onto S PRICE RD.	1.0 miles	Map

	3:	Take the AZ-101-LOOP N ramp.	0.2 miles	Map

	4:	Merge onto AZ-101 LOOP N.	27.6 miles	Map

	5:	Take the I-17 S / 1-17 N exit- EXIT 23C-B- toward PHOENIX / FLAGSTAFF.	0.5 miles	Map

	6:	Merge onto I-17 N toward FLAGSTAFF.	124.9 miles	Map

	7:	Merge onto I-40 E via EXIT 340A toward WINSLOW / ALBUQUERQUE (Crossing into NEW MEXICO).	322.7 miles	Map

	8:	Merge onto I-25 N via EXIT 159BC toward SANTA FE (Crossing into COLORADO).	429.8 miles	Map

	9:	Take the E-470 TOLLWAY / CO-470 W exit- EXIT 194- toward GRAND JCT / LIMON / AIRPORT.	0.1 miles	Map

	10:	Take the E-470 TOLLWAY exit.	0.4 miles	Map

	11:	Merge onto E 470 N (Portions toll).	34.4 miles	Map

	12:	Merge onto I-76 E via EXIT 35 toward FT MORGAN (Crossing into NEBRASKA).	169.6 miles	Map

	13:	I-76 E becomes I-80 E.	348.6 miles	Map

	14:	Merge onto I-480 E via EXIT 452 toward EPPLEY AIRFIELD / DOWNTOWN.	3.2 miles	Map

	15:	Take the CAPITOL AVE / 20TH ST exit- EXIT 2D.	0.1 miles	Map

	16:	Take the 20TH STREET ramp.	<0.1>	Map

	17:	Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto N 20TH ST.	0.1 miles	Map

	18:	Turn LEFT onto DOUGLAS ST / US-6 E.	0.2 miles	Map

	19:	End at Omaha, NE US		Map

Total Est. Time: 20 hours, 23 minutes Total Est. Distance: 1465.41 miles

ASU wins 7-1. Story to come later.

GUILTY

2007-06-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

A long and tragic ordeal has finally been put to rest as jurors found Loren Wade guilty of second degree murder. The initial charge was first degree which would be life in prison. The jury couldn't come to agreement on this though. It's been a sad few years since the fateful night in Scottsdale. The range for second-degree murder is 10 to 22 years in prison. Personally I hope he serves all 22 years. It's horrible to see a kid throw his life away like this, especially one that was as talented as Loren was. God bless the Falkner family and everything they have had to deal with, the same can be said for the Wade family. It was a horrible situation all the way around.

Loren Wade guilty.....(azcentral.com)

Arizona's draft choice

2007-06-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

This coming from his hometown paper, the Indianapolis Star.

Norwell High School pitcher Jarrod Parker was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the ninth overall selection in the major league draft today.

Parker is the second-highest Indiana high school player selected in the draft. Kokomo pitcher Pat Underwood was selected by Detroit with the second pick of the 1976 draft.

The right-handed Parker is 10-0 this season with a 0.12 ERA for Norwell, which is 32-0 and the state’s top-ranked team in Class 3A. He has committed to play collegiately at Georgia Tech, but now is expected to sign with the Diamondbacks.

Arizona girls win WCWS

2007-06-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

Yup, they won their 8th title, out of the loser's bracket nonetheless. Well, congrats, can't knock em, they are a great softball powerhouse.

Arizona claims 8th National title......(espn.com)

Tempe Regional Champs!!!

2007-06-03T23:16:00.000-07:00

The ASU train keeps on rolling. Tonight the Sun Devils beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 19-7. Yes, you heard me right 19-7. Let's all tip our hats to the Nebraska pitching staff. Thanks guys.

Anyway onto the pictures. First off my press pass.

The two teams take the field.
Already Nebraska manager Mike Anderson has a problem with the umps.

After CJ Rutherford poked a GRAND SLAM over the left field wall.

Your 2007 Tempe Regional Champions!!!!

Final Score. Look at that line...

ASU Softball falls, ASU baseball up today

2007-06-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

ASU Softball suffered a season-ending loss in the WCWS at the hands of DePaul in the losers bracket. They had a great season but a rought post-season. Best of luck to the graduating girls and lets get em next year ladies!

Today the men will play Nebraska at 7pm. I will be there with a post game report afterwords. Pictures and video too.

Kerr to be GM

2007-05-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

This coming from Paul Coro over at the Republic.

The Phoenix Suns plan to name Steve Kerr as the team's President of Basketball Operations and General Manager in the coming days, replacing Mike D'Antoni as the team GM to keep his focus on coaching.

Kerr, an original partner in Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver's 2004 purchase of the franchise, will complete his duties as a TNT analyst for the Eastern Conference finals before the team makes the announcement next week. Kerr, who helped facilitate Sarver's opportunity to buy the Suns, has been one of Sarver's trusted advisors in basketball decisions over the past three years.

D'Antoni will maintain the title of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations but will report to Kerr, a former University of Arizona star and Suns player who won has five NBA championship rings from playing with Chicago and San Antonio. Kerr has worked as a TNT analyst since 2003.

Into the losers bracket we go....

2007-05-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

ASU softball was downed 2-0 by Northwestern. Now we play Depaul tomorrow at 7 in the losers bracket.

UGH.

The northwestern pitcher threw a 1 hit shutout. She was on fire.

Scherzer finally signs with Dbacks

2007-05-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

Another round of last-minute negotiations with agent Scott Boras ended positively for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night as they came to terms with first-round pick Max Scherzer.-azcentral.com

Scherzer strikes deal.....(azcentral.com)

I'm glad this deal finally worked out. Scott Boras can be a horrible agent to try and work with and if the Dbacks couldnt hammer out a deal Scherzer would go back to the draft. Now the Dbacks have a great young arm in their system.

100 things....

2007-05-29T18:06:00.000-07:00

As the temperatures go into the 100’s I have complied a list of 100 things that make Arizona a great sports state. This list includes, people, places, memorabilia, history, food, events, clothes, all sorts of things. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. This list will include University of Arizona things too, just a heads up. If any of these need clearing up, post in the comments section and I’ll try to clear them up for you. So as you’re complaining about the heat just think about all these things that make Arizona great. And remember, it’s a dry heat.

1. 2001 World Series

2. Luis Gonzalez

3. Brandon Webb

4. Randy Johnson

5. Curt Schilling

6. Bob Brenly

7. Thom Brennaman

8. Bank One Ballpark

9. Teal and purple

10. Sedona red, sand, and black

11. Diana Taurasi

12. Phoenix Mercury

13. US Airways Center

14. The Vet

15. The Gorilla

16. Triple overtime finals

17. Jerry Colangelo

18. Sir Charles

19. Al McCoy

20. SHAZZAM!

21. Steve Nash

22. Coach D’Antoni

23. Bryan Colangelo

24. Thunder Dan

25. Cooperstown

26. Amare

27. Purple and Orange

28. Hairy and Hairyson

29. Tucson Sidewinders

30. Arizona Sting

31. Super Bowl XXX and Super Bowl XLII

32. Glendale Arena

33. Phoenix Flames

34. Phoenix Phantoms

35. Arizona Diamonbacks

36. Phoenix Coyotes

37. Jeremy Roenick

38. Bulin Wall

39. Wayne Gretzky

40. Brett Hull

41. CuJo

42. Shane Doan

43. Connie Hawkins

44. KJ

45. Paul Westphal

46. Arizona Rattlers

47. Two Time AFL Champs

48. Danny White

49. Phoenix RoadRunners

50. Arizona Cardinals

51. Phoenix Cardinals

52. Jerry Maguire

53. I’m a Sun Devil Jerry!

54. Glendale Stadium

55. Jake Plummer

56. Cardiac Cards

57. Cardinal Red

58. “They are who we thought they were!”

59. 1998 Playoffs

60. Pat Tillman

61. Emmit Smith

62. KTAR

62. Hohokam Park

63. Cactus League

64. Spring Training games

65. Surprise Stadium Complex

66. Phoenix Roadrunners

67. University of Arizona

68. Lute Olson

69. Mike Bibby

70. 1997 National Champs

71. 4 Final 4 appearances

72. Agent Zero

73. Steve Kerr

74. Jason Terry

75. Teddy Bruschi

76. Insight Bowl

77. Fiesta Bowl

78. 2007 BCS National Championship

79. Desert Swarm

80. 3-time national baseball champs- U of A

81. Territorial Cup

82. Dennis Erickson

83. Whizzer White

84. Sal Bando

85. Dustin Pedroia

86. Barry Bonds

87. 1987 Rose Bowl

88. Reggie Jackson

89. Paul LoDuca

90. Pat Murphy

91. T-Sizzle

92. Fat Lever

93. Ike Diogu

94. Phil Mickelson

95. Frank Kush

96. 19-0 Shutout of Nebraska

97. Todd Heap

98. Herb Sendek

99. 5-time national baseball champions- ASU

100. Arizona State University

Missing From List: Bill Bidwell

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5 Things you need to know about....Monmouth

2007-05-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

One of our readers, Mark, has broken down the 4 teams in the ASU Regional for the College World Series. First up is Monmouth College....

Monmouth (36-22-1, Northeastern Conference Champions)

Monmouth University, a private 4-year University, is located in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

1st baseman Andy Meyers is the clear offensive leader of this team, putting up a .395 batting average, 9 homeruns, 64 RBI's, and a .605 slugging percentage in 58 games.

UConn transfer Kyle Messineo was successful 41 times on 45 attempts stealing bases this year. He led the team in On Base Percentage (.484) as well, so limiting Messineo's impact will be a key to putting away the Hawks.

Pitchers Ryan Buch (9-2, 2.17 ERA) and Brad Brach (9-2, 2.72 ERA, 6 complete games, 4 SHO) will be the featured starters for the Hawks during this regional. Lefty Matt Coulson (4-3, 5.52) is also dangerous, pitching 7.2 innings and only giving up one run in the NEC championship game. Look for Brad Brach to be the starter against the #1 seed Devils.

Monmouth relies way too much on their starting pitching to be effective playing from behind. Matt Frazier (3-1, 4.87 ERA) is their only effective long relief pitcher, and their closer Justin Esposito (3-1, 2.14 ERA, 10 saves, 9 K/9) is solid, but this is the only production Monmouth has had from their bullpen all season. If the Sun Devils jump out to an early lead, you can put the Hawks to bed.

CWS Preview

2007-05-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Projected CWS field: Vanderbilt, Texas, Arizona State, South Carolina, Cal State Fullerton, Clemson, Rice, Arkansas

Who will win it all: Arizona State

Thats according to Kyle Peterson of ESPN.

The rest of the article is linked but that is the most important part.

CWS Outlook......(ESPN.com)

Happy Memorial Day

2007-05-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

Have a good memorial day guys, go have some beers, cook up a bbq and enjoy this past weeks 4 game sweep against the Astros by the Diamondbacks. Ps. its my Aunt's new puppy, already a little Dbacks fan.

ASU = Super Regional Hosts

2007-05-28T01:43:00.000-07:00

Arizona State University was selected Sunday as one of 16 regional host sites for the 2007 NCAA Baseball Championships, the NCAA announced. This marks the 17^th time that Arizona State has been selected to host, and the fifth time in the past seven years. -thesundevils.com

ASU Selected host........(thesundevils.com)

Just read this...

2007-05-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here at SportsCactus we have taken a decidedly pro-ASU view on things seeing as how we are ASU students. That being said what happens down south in Tucson isn't really our concern. As long as we beat them I will be happy. So without further ado, here is the most recent article from Tucson. Take a gander...

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/05270525stinkytucson.html

Tocchet pays price for gambling

2007-05-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

From the AP, Former NHL player Rick Tocchet pleaded guilty Friday to running a sports gambling ring, but might not have to serve any jail time.

Tocchet, who played for Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington and the Coyotes in a career that spanned 22 seasons, is on leave from his job as an assistant coach for the Coyotes. He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to promote gambling and promoting gambling. Such offenses usually do not carry a jail sentence for first-time offenders.

Tocchet pleads guilty.........(azcentral.com)

ASU-2007 Pac-10 Champs!!!

2007-05-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

Well the Devils won their first Pac-10 Championship since the North and South divisions joined together. Jeff Metcalfe has the article and explains it better than I could.

ASU Clinches Pac-10 Title.....(azcentral.com)

I do have some pictures and a video of the final out though.

Tough past few days.

2007-05-23T14:37:00.001-07:00

First Arizona loses the 2011 Super Bowl to Dallas.

Then the Hawks get a top-3 pick in the lottery meaning that the Suns dont get their pick.

Brandon Webb continues to get owned by Colorado...(how does this happen), though thankfully Dbacks pulled out a win.

Some good things though,

ASU Baseball plays Arizona for the Pac-10 title this week. If ASU wins 1/3 games they will be outright Pac-10 Champs. woohoo.

ASU Softball is progressing nicely towards their run to the Championship.

Chad Green was stable enough to be moved out of ICU.

So thats about it, off the ASU game soon, and hopefully with have some great news/pictures

Eyes on the....next season?

2007-05-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

Well folks, thats all she wrote. Spurs move on to the Western Conference Championship game. Suns move on to the offseason. Maybe next year will finally be the year. Who knows. The Suns had as good a chance as any this year to win the title. Things didnt go their way between suspensions and foul calls and all sorts of things. Spurs win, Suns lose. Game over.

Fallout from last night

2007-05-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

All of this is from the Arizona Republic....

Spurs forward Robert Horry said Wednesday that his two-game suspension for his Game 4 foul on Steve Nash might have had more to do with the person getting fouled rather than the foul's severity.

"If it would have been anybody but Steve Nash it probably wouldn't have been two games," Horry told reporters after the Spurs' shooting session. "But Steve Nash is a great player, MVP, focal point for the NBA now so they have to protect their players."

Horry downplayed the action.

"I was going to try and take a charge and then I thought . . . he's too fast," Horry said. "So I'm like, 'I'll just bump him a little bit,' and as you know, the great acting skill Steve has, when you hit the floor and flop, and he's like 'Oh, I'm dying over here.' ...

"It happens. I really wasn't trying to hurt him. I like Steve, he's a good person, but sometimes in the playoffs things are blown out of perspective."

Pop trivia

After years of being typecast as classy and boring, the Spurs' reputation has taken a beating in this physical series.

"It's ridiculous," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "All of sudden we're the old Detroit Pistons. I've been trying for a decade. We've been working every year and . . . the last three days we're there."

Free throw

Asked if he knew "Stu sucks" shirts (targeting NBA executive Stu Jackson, who made the suspension recommendations) were being sold outside US Airways Center, D'Antoni said, "So my shipment finally came in, huh?"

He's baaaaaack

2007-05-16T23:48:00.000-07:00

Chad Goldstein #*

6-9

241

Jr.

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Desert Mountain H.S.

DESERT MOUNTAIN HS '04: Twice earned all-state 5A honors (Arizona), including selection to first team as a senior, second team as a junior... Also named to Jewish Sports Review All-America first team, along with fellow Aggie freshman Jesse Lopez Low... Key stats: averaged 19.5 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 3.8 bpg, 2.0 apg as a senior, 15 ppg, 10 rpg, 3.6 bpg as a junior... Also 54 percent from the field, 77 percent from the line in 2003-04... Senior season included selections to All-Scottsdale, All-Desert Valley Region, East Valley Tribune all-state and Arizona Republic all-state first teams... Scored 33 points with 23 rebounds and six blocks in 2004 Arizona High School All-Star Game... Member of Arizona Stars AAU team for seven years... Also played two years of golf for DMHS.

He's back on the team as a walk-on. Welcome back Chad.

Loren Wade Trial Begins

2007-05-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

A sad day in Arizona sports today as the Ex-ASU running back Loren Wade begins his trial in the death of former ASU football player, Brandon Falkner. We all know the story so there is no need to re-hash it but SportsCactus will be following the trial and providing updates as they become avaliable. Lets hope for everyones sake, it is a fair and fast trial.

How does Dirk celebrate stealing the MVP away from Nash?

2007-05-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

Found this just strolling around the internet. You stay classy Dirk.

Horry, Diaw, Amare= Suspended

2007-05-15T17:18:00.000-07:00

Ok well Big Shot Bob clearly deserved the 2 game suspension after shoulder checking Nash into the scorers table. Diaw deserves his one game suspension as well. Amare on the other hand, I don't think should have been suspended. Yes he came out far but so did Duncan and I see he will be escaping punishment once again. Stern has really screwed this one up. We know Stern is a fan of the old school, so obviously a team like San Antonio appeals to him. He doesn't want the Suns to succeed. It will feel really nice to take a 3-2 lead tomorrow in the series just to see the look on Stern's face.

Callaspo Arrested

2007-05-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

Diamondback player Alberto Callaspo had been arrested for criminal damage and assault.

Phoenix police were called to a domestic abuse this afternoon around noon. They determined at that time they had probable cause to arrest Callapso.

...oops.

Steve Nash is a beast

2007-05-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

Tony Parker's head met Steve Nash's nose, head on Sunday afternoon and guess what, Tony went down and Nash stood his ground. Score one for the Suns and MV3.

Ho hum....

2007-05-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's been very slow these past two weeks. The Suns start their series against the Spurs today pitting the best regular season defense against the best regular season offense. The D'Backs are rolling along, they seem to be firing on all cylinders right now. ASU athletics are cruising along, the Devils baseball team is looking forward to another trip to the college world series as is the softball team. Not much else is going on. I'll be at the D'Backs game tomorrow, pictures will follow. Also later in the week after finals and whatnot are over and I have some free time I'm going to throw together a fun little feature in honor of the Suns series with the Crybabies....err...Spurs.

Bye Bye LA

2007-05-02T22:25:00.000-07:00

Ding dong the witch is dead. The Suns worked the Lakers all night defeating them 119-110. I have nothing more to say. LA is done and the Suns move on. Raja Bell is a father and Kobe has quite the long offseason ahead of him.

Suns take down lakers in 5......(espn.com)

The Raiders want some TRUTH

2007-04-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

Zach Miller (TE) from THE Arizona State University went early in the second round to the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders get a great blocker with amazing hands, okay speed and a great field presence. He will do it all, block, catch, lead, anything. I think this is a great pick. Congratulations Zach Miller, always a Sun Devil.

Zach Miller player bio...........(thesundevils.com)

Ps. The Dolphins just took Phoenix local John Beck (QB) from BYU

With the first pick in the second round.....

2007-04-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

.....The Arizona Cardinals select Alan Branch (DT) from Michigan.

The Cards traded up with the Raiders for the first pick of the 2nd round. I think Alan Branch is a GREAT pick for them. A huge body on the defensive line who was projected as a possible first round pick. He's fast, quick and a big hitter. I think the Cards had a great sense of mind to trade up and take him. Wisenhunt with another nice pick.

Alan Branch scouting report.........(about.com)

With the 5th pick in the NFL Draft....

2007-04-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

...The Arizona Cardinals select Levi Brown (OT), from Penn State.

Well thats it. Offensive line help is definitely a much needed area to work on for the Cards. You can't knock them for picking him up this early. Should they have gone for defense? Maybe, but right now bolstering that offensive line is the most important thing. Levi Brown should be able to contribute immediately. Coach Wisenhunt knows what he's doing....don't worry.

Levi Brown Draft Report..........(nfldraftcountdown.com)

Ty Abbott is officially a Devil

2007-04-25T02:12:00.000-07:00

As we reported yesterday Ty Abbott was getting ready to sign with ASU. Well sure enough he pulled the trigger tonight and signed on. It's great to have him on board and we wish him the best of luck next year.

Welcome Ty!

Chad Green Update 2

2007-04-25T02:03:00.000-07:00

He's doing much better. He can now react to his mothers voice and squeezes her hand whenever she asks. Cornerbacks coach Al Simmons also visited him and asked him to reach out to touch him and Chad did so. He is recognizing very familiar voices and making movements. At this stage they hope he will be out of the coma in a week or so. Things seem to be progressing everyday.

Randy takes the mound and......

2007-04-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

...and struck out seven but gave up six hits, including two home runs and two doubles. He walked four and hit two batters. This was the Big Unit's first game back for the Diamondbacks.

Big Unit roughed up in return.....(espn.com)

Steve Nash can kick your butt in soccer too

2007-04-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

We all know Mr. MVP (soon to be MV3) is an amazing basketball player. The numbers he puts up, the leadership, the way he makes other teammates better, all of that. But Steve Nash is also a soccer junkie. He formed a close bond with Dirk Nowitzki over soccer. His brother Martin Nash has made 30 appearances with the Canadian National Team. His sister Joann was the captain of the University of Victoria women's soccer team for three years. Nash attended a private boarding school in Victoria, and decided to focus on basketball in his early teens, but still played soccer through high school, and was named British Columbia player of the year in soccer as well as basketball in his senior year.

Well thats all good and nice...let's see Stevie Nash in action.

The last one is by far my favorite...he puts his skills to practical use! Too bad they don't allow it in the NBA. Steve Nash also claims he is a Tottenham Hotspur fan. Ugh.

Ty Abbott ready to be a Sun Devil

2007-04-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

The Desert Vista (AZ) shooting guard is ready to sign with ASU sources say. Abbott led Desert Vista to 29-2 record in 2006-07 senior season, averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game.

Barbosa=6th Man of the Year

2007-04-23T18:21:00.000-07:00

Suns guard Leandro Barbosa was named the winner of the 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man Award, honoring the league’s top player in a reserve role.

Barbosa received 101 of a possible 127 first-place votes, from a panel of 127 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. -suns.com

Barbosa named 6th Man.....(suns.com)

One Down...Fifteen to go.....

2007-04-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Today was the first game on the Suns road to the Championship. Our frequent commenter Sauceman has a recap...

Kobe Bryant scores 39 points, Lakers outshoot, out rebound, and hold the Suns to 39 1^st half points. Could this be the big upset of the 07 Playoffs? Nope, just another day at the office for the Phoenix Suns. 6^th Man of the Year Leandro Barbosa took the game over with one of the best halves of basketball the Suns have seen by someone not name Nash, scoring 26 off the bench. Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudamire showed their athletic superiority in the lane as the two combined for 39 points and 28 rebounds. It was obvious that the Lakers could not keep up with the Suns in the second half as the whole team, including Kobe, were missing routine shots and losing in nearly every hustle play. The Suns improved defense (yes, they play defense) held the Lakers to only 10 fourth quarter points. This promises to be an exciting series similar to last year, but if the Suns can beat you when you outshoot them, you really don’t stand much of a chance winning a 7 game series. I see this series over in 5 games.

Big Unit to pitch on Tuesday

2007-04-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Get your tickets now, Randy Johnson will be making his return on Tuesday to face the Padres. How will he do? Thats yet to be seen. He's had some decent outings in AAA ball but who knows.

Unit to make debut Tuesday.....(azdiamondbacks.com)

All you need to know about the Suns v. Lakers series...

2007-04-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

I could write a playoff preview talking about Nash v. Kobe, and what Amare needs to do or what role Marion will play. I could link you to Suns sites, and Laker sites galore. I could put up pictures and I could recount all the games they played this year. But I won't. You know why? Because the video below sums up everything about this series in 27 seconds. Go Suns! Eyes on the Prize.

Slow Down Matt

2007-04-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart has taken a few too many snaps in Scottsdale.

Loop 101 speed-enforcement cameras snapped Leinart's 2006 Chevrolet three times within five days in March, and one of the city's other street cameras caught him once in June.

• At 6:44 p.m. March 24, a Loop 101 camera at Hayden Road clocked Leinart's Chevy at 77 mph, 12 mph above the posted 65 mph speed limit. The six Loop 101 cameras are activated only when motorists drive at least 76 mph, or 11 mph above the speed limit.

• Less than eight hours later, at 2:06 a.m. March 25, he was flashed again at an "imprudent speed" by a Loop 101 camera at Shea Boulevard.

• Three days later, on March 28, Leinart again was clocked traveling at 77 mph at the same spot on Loop 101 at Shea Boulevard.

Neither Leinart, nor his representatives, could be reached for comment. -Azcentral.com

Chad Green Update 1

2007-04-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sadly Chad Green is still in a coma. Got some word today that he was moving around a bit. Movements in his legs and arms. Thats a good sign. Here's the story so far as we know it.

Chad and friends were at a party Saturday night and around 3am Chad decided to go grab some food at the McDonald's on University and McClintock. Still no word on if he was drinking or not before that. He was then t-boned by a drunk driver, Brian King, 43 of Mesa.

Chad was thrown into the passenger seat due to him not wearing a seatbelt. This is where he suffered his head injuries.

The doctors put him in a medically induced coma so they could try to control the swelling in his brain. He is on a respirator and is doing much better than yesterday.

At this point in time there is no talk of parallelization or anything like that, that can sometimes go along with head injuries, but he continues to have swelling in his brain which brings up the fear of brain damage. Hopefully nothing permanent.

As always we will keep you updated as more news becomes available.

RIP Virgina Tech Victims

2007-04-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

As a fellow college student I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be on campus if something like this happened. My prayers go out to the families of the victims and even those survivors who will be scarred for life. This is a horrible tragedy and I hope that eventually the victims families are able to cope with this tremendous loss.

RIP Victims of VT shooting.

Chad Green....in a coma

2007-04-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Senior cornerback Chad Green was injured early Saturday morning in a traffic accident in Tempe. Green is in “critical but guarded condition” according to a statement released by an Arizona State University spokesman Monday morning. -Devilsdigest.com

ASU Cornerback in critcal condition.......(devilsdigest.com)

Just say no to Jazz

2007-04-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

First off let me apologize....it's been a while since I updated, school work is defenitly bogging me down. The Dbacks are still doing well, the suns are rolling, the Cardinals opened mini camp and the Sun Devils just had their spring game (article and pictures tommorow)

In tonights news though, the Suns finally beat those pesky Utah Jazz. Wait, did I say beat? How about demolished, destroyed, and obliterated them.

AZcentral.com has the article below....

Suns dominate Jazz.......(azcentral.com)

Yotes clean house

2007-04-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

Like I reported earlier, don't be surprised if the Phoenix Coyotes clean house. Well they did just that. The 'yotes fired general manager Mike Barnett, senior executive vice president Cliff Fletcher, and assistant general manager Laurence Gilman. AZcentral has more detail about all the firings.

Yotes clean house......(azcentral.com)

2007 Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day

2007-04-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the home opener for YOUR FIRST PLACE DBACKS! I really think this team can go far if they pick up some pitching. But then again most teams say that....anyway here are my pictures from todays game.

D'backs take home opener in front of sellout......(azdiamondbacks.com)

Livan had a no-no through six, now its a one-one

2007-04-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Ryan Zimmerman just doubled in the 6th to break up Livan's no hitter. Defenietly great to see Livan throwing like this so early in the season. He will be a solid number 2 for us. Also tomorrow I will be at the Diamondbacks Home Opener so I will have lots of pictures from the game.

Hi Coyotes, my name is last place

2007-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

The 'yotes finished off another thrilling year of hockey in the desert by finishing....in last place in the west. The coyotes need help. We all know that. If they need to clean house then so be it because this is getting sad.

Coyotes finish last in west....(azcentral.com)

Dear MLS....

2007-04-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

Phoenix needs a MLS team. You know, Major League Soccer, that league that signed that Beckham guy that had that movie named after him. For most of America soccer is that sport that is played when you are kid where a giant pack just runs around chasing a ball. Or when the World Cup comes on everyone decides to root for their “homeland” (see: Italy 2006).

Support for the little league that could is slowly gaining steam. This year the additions of Beckham, Blanco, Fred, Toronto FC, a new look for Colorado Rapids, and a lucrative TV deal with ABC/ESPN is moving things in the right direction for MLS.

What else could help the league? Phoenix, Arizona getting a team. You don’t need to look any further than the recent Mexico v. USA “friendly” that took place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. A record setting 64,000 fans attended the game. Here’s the kicker, roughly 60,000 of them were Mexican national fans. Also on any given day of the week you can see countless number of Mexican League games on the Spanish speaking channels on Cox cable.

Arizona is home to a large Hispanic and Mexican population most of which have grown up following and playing soccer. You can also go to any town parks in the cities near and around Phoenix and see a number of pick-up soccer games going on. So if Kansas City can get a team why can’t Phoenix? Arizona has plenty of places available for the team to play. The biggest in University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. We’ve seen they can create a great atmosphere for soccer, but it has too much seating. This is the MLS, not the English Premiere League; they won’t sell 60,000+ seats. What’s another venue? Arizona State University has a soccer field, granted it doesn’t hold very many but it’s there, they also have a football stadium but again, it won’t sell that many seats. Depending on who takes over the team, a soccer-specific stadium could be built in or around the city.

That’s another thing, there’s no shortage of investors in Arizona. Scottsdale is one of the richest cities in the United States. Phoenix is also home to many franchises which would be able to co-own the MLS team, Diamondbacks, Suns, Cardinals, Sting, Coyotes, etc. We’ve got an AFL team…why not a MLS? Below is my idea for Phoenix FC.

CTT staying till 2012

2007-04-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

When you make it to the Elite Eight you deserve a contract extension. And Lisa Love and the ASU athletic department agrees. They allowed Coach Turner Thorne to keep working to her goal of a national championship by giving her a contract extension till 2012.

CTT's Loyalty rewarded.....(azcentral.com)

D'Backs win opener

2007-04-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Eric Byrnes lined a two-run single off LaTroy Hawkins in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied past the Colorado Rockies 8-6 on Monday, snapping a four-game losing streak on opening day.-AP

Byrnes leads rally past Rockies......(azcentral.com)

D'Backs reach out to Hispanic Community

2007-03-31T22:51:00.000-07:00

If there ever was an "aha" moment for the Arizona Diamondbacks' brass, it came one year ago at the World Baseball Classic in Phoenix.

The tournament was meant as a global showcase for the sport, exposing America's pastime to international fans from South Africa to China. Yet the throngs of fans waving Mexico's flag and buying the team's hats and jerseys prompted Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall to ask one question: Was there a reservoir of untapped money and fan passion right in the shadows of Chase Field? -azcentral.com

D'Backs, Hispanics, Jugar Beisbol.....(azcentral.com)

2007 Arizona Diamondbacks Preview

2007-03-30T19:41:00.001-07:00

Hey all, in honor of opening day (2 days away!) I will be doing a breakdown of the D'Backs active roster as it stands right now. Enjoy!

Pitchers:

Juan Cruz- Needs to keep doing what he's doing. Decent overall numbers but could stand to drop his ERA at least .5 points if he wants to be a go-to-guy.

Doug Davis- Went 11-11 last year. Look for him to bring that win total up a game or two. The D'backs need him to. 203 innings pitched last year, gave up 206 hits. Something to think about.

J.D. Durbin- 2000 Arizona High School Player of the Year. Struggled in Minnesota in 2004, let's see how he handles being back in the desert.

Edgar Gonzalez- Was in talks of being possible 5th starter. Has since lost the job but will still be looked to for solid bullpen support.

Livan Hernandez- Needs a big year. Was supposed to be a solid 2 guy for the D'Backs last year but ended up struggling. Drop the ERA, hits and work on keeping up the strikeouts and he can be a 15 win guy.

Randy Johnson- You know the name. You know the history. You also know about last year in New York. Is he Randy of old, or Randy the old? Wait and see before you pencil him in for anything more than 13 wins and a 4+ ERA.

Brandon Lyon- Solid reliever. No numbers that will "wow" you but overall nothing awfull. Keep the homerun total low like in the past and he should be good.

Brandon Medders- Quality arm in the bullpen. Will probably be called on a lot more than some other guys. If he stays healthy and throwing hard, he should have a quality year.

Dustin Nippert- Saw limited action last year and what action he did see, wasen't fun. Let's hope for a rebound. 11.34 ERA....yikes.

Tony Pena- Threw 30.2 innings last year and gave up 21 runs. Drop that stat by a handful and he will be looked to much more. Otherwise, he'll spend a lot of time watching from the bullpen bench.

Doug Slaten- Young and unproven. Another BabyBax. Threw 5 innings last year and gave up 3 hits. I'll take it.

Jose Valverde- Can he be the dominant closer the D'Backs need him to be? Let's hope. Fun stat to chew on....batting average against Left: .152 vs. Right: .258.

Brandon Webb- Mr. Cy Young. Another career year? Let's hope. Look for at least 17 wins. I'll go out on a limb and say he ends with 20 wins and a sub 3.20 ERA. What do I know though?

Catchers:

Miguel Montero - Will take over Robby Hammack's spot as backup catcher. Went 4-16 last year, so is totally unproven. Had a decent spring but can he keep it up?

Chris Snyder- Hit .277 last year. Not awfull. Low power numbers (6 HR) from a big guy which he will look to bring up. Fun stat: Battint average during Day: .118 Night: .266.

Infielders:

Brian Barden- Backing up third base. Unproven rookie. Let's hope we dont see him too early in the season.

Alberto Callaspo- Backing up second base. Hit .238 in 42 at bats last year.

Tony Clark- Power numbers declined in '06 but so did at-bats. Defenitly a step slower. We'll see how it works out. Could be in the middle of a trade come trading deadline.

Stephen Drew- We got a glimpse of the future last year. And we all loved that glimpse. Put up some big numbers in a short ammount of time. Look for huge things from this talented shortstop.

Orlando Hudson- O-dog brought speed and exciment to the desert last year. Will be equaly as dangerous this year. Low numbers offensivly but brings a ton to the field defensivly.

Conor Jackson- .441 Slugging. .291 AVG. .368 OBP. Those will only go up. Big things for CoJack this year, no doubt about it.

Chad Tracy- 20 Hr, 80 RBI last year. Similar numbers this year? The D'Backs certainly hope so. They need his big bat.

Outfielders:

Eric Brynes- A stolen base threat, a dirt dog, and a huge bat. Oh, and he can chase down any flyball hit to him. A key ingrediant for the D'Backs possible NL West Championship run.

Jeff DaVanon- Getting up there in age but can still put up decent numbers. Needs to stay consistent.

Scott Hairston- Will have to replace Gonzo in left. Can he? Time will tell.

Carlos Quentin- Will be out to start the season with a hurt shoulder. Can he get past this and have a solid year? Let's hope.

Chris Young- People are looking for big things from this BabyBax. The hype is there, and it looks like the talent is too. Could have a big year depending on how Manager Bob Melvin wants to structure his outfield.

Overall Perdiction: New uniforms, decent pitching staff, young talent all around the starting 9, last years Cy Young winner and a fanbase hungry for a playoff team. Anything less than second in the NL West will be a dissapointment.

All stats courtesy azdiamondbacks.com

Slow day today....

2007-03-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hey Sir Charles, good to see ya. So yea, today's a pretty slow day, no real news to report. Tomorrow we will have a breakdown of the 25 man roster for the D'backs. Also tonight there will be a live draft for fantasy baseball including a lot of the guys who help write this site with me. I'm thinking I may liveblog the first couple rounds. Just for fun. As always we will be keeping you up to date on the going-ons in Arizona sports. Keep reading, post comments, and tell your friends. Thanks.

Harden, Bayless shine...

2007-03-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

College basketball enthusiast Darren takes a look at tonights McDonalds All-American game in which the West defeated the East, 114-112.

Fans finally got a chance to see future Sun Devil James Harden (Artesia High School) in action. Harden took part in the 30^th annual McDonald’s All American game, playing for the West team, and gave Arizona State fans even more reason to be excited for the future of their basketball team.

Harden entered the game after the first timeout and the 6’5” shooting guard made an immediate impact tipping the ball away from an opposing player to force a turnover. Soon after, Harden showcased his athleticism and quickness with an impressive one handed dunk on a fast break. Harden scored a few more times as the game progressed and finished with eight points. The West eventually trumped the East, 114-112.

In his senior campaign, Harden averaged 18.1 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.6 rebounds per game. Harden’s play helped propel Artesia to their second straight California Division III State Championship title. Other participants in the McDonald’s All American game attending Pac-10 schools next year included Jerryd Bayless (Arizona), Kevin Love (UCLA), and O.J. Mayo (Southern California).

Mr. McDonald would be proud

2007-03-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Two roads diverged as a pair of basketball prospects weighed their college choices. One chose the road having perhaps the better claim because it was grassy and wanted wear. The other took the road less traveled by.

After joining forces for the West squad in the McDonald’s All-American game tonight in Louisville, Ky., Jerryd Bayless and James Harden will find themselves on opposite sides of one of college basketball’s most lopsided rivalries. -EVT.com

ASU, Arizona prospects square off.....(eastvalleytribune.com)

The Duel goes to Chase...

2007-03-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 6:40pm you can watch the two best baseball teams in Arizona battle it out at Chase Field. Sorry, the Diamondbacks won't be there. U of A and ASU will face each other in the second annual "Challenge at Chase." The last meeting between these two teams on February 27th, saw the Devils destroy the Cats, 22-8. Will it be a closer game? Will it be another slugfest? Come out to Chase Field tonight at 6:40pm, to find out!

Devils, Cats return to Chase......(azcentral.com)

McFoy to be linebacker

2007-03-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Ryan McFoy, who played at safety as a true freshman last year, began working at linebacker on Monday, the start of Arizona State's second week of spring practice.

"We just felt we've got some depth at safety and that will really help our speed and quickness at linebacker," coach Dennis Erickson said. "I've done that every place I've been."

When Erickson was at Oregon State, Nick Barnett moved to linebacker after a year at safety. Barnett was gone on to an NFL linebacker career with the Green Bay Packers.The emergence of Troy Nolan at safety made moving McFoy, at least for the remainder of spring practice, move viable. Other safeties include Josh Barrett, Jeremy Payton and Rodney Cox. - azcentral.com

Lets try this again...shall we?

2007-03-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

On the heels of the Cards’ infamous “Monday Night Meltdown” against the Chicago Bears in 2006, the league is sending the Cardinals to San Francisco for ESPN’s second “Monday Night Football” telecast of 2007’s opening weekend.-EVT.com

Cardinals open with MNF....(eastvalleytribune.com)

Tough loss...great season

2007-03-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

Kia Vaughn had 17 points and 10 rebounds while dominating the paint to power Rutgers to a 64-45 victory over Arizona State on Monday night in the Greensboro Regional finals, clinching the Scarlet Knights' second trip to the national semifinals. -azcentral.com

Lets not forget that this was the farthest any ASU womens team has ever been. Also, I'll say it now...Final Four next year. This team loses some quality players but we have more than enough talent to fill those holes. Great season ladies!

ASU season ends....(azcentral.com)

January cleared to play

2007-03-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

Arizona State guard Briann January was cleared to play in today's Elite 8 game against Rutgers.

January missed the Greensboro regional semifinal against Bowling Green on Saturday, because of a concussion she suffered in last week's second round national tournament game.-azcentral.com

Tonight's our night!

2007-03-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

March madness is a real disease. Just ask valley residents that are catching now that the ASU women are one game away from the Final Four. SeattleSunDevil has more.......

So I guess this is it huh?

Charli’s Angels on the verge of Sun Devil immortality – Sun Devil greatness – A final four appearance.

All that is standing in the way? A date with Rutgers and the Lady Scarlet Knights.

Yes, that Rutgers.

It seems as though Rutgers and ASU have had a few dates with destiny in the last couple years starting with an epic bowl game. Downtown Phoenix was the scene for the first Rutgers bowl game since facing ASU in the 1978 Garden State Bowl. One can only hope for as thrilling of a game as that one, one in which the Devils pulled out a 45-40 win.

Turn the clock forward a year to the Paradise Jam championship game where once again the Rutgers Knights and Arizona State Sun Devils were to face off – a preview of a possible championship down the road – but then tragedy struck. Aubree Johnson, a forward for the Devils, found out that her brother had died in St. Thomas waiting to watch his big sister play in the championship. Rutgers graciously bowed out of the game not forcing ASU to forfeit, leaving the Paradise Jam championship for another year, another time.

The time is now.

It seems as though fate continues bringing these two programs together, just waiting for another instant classic between the two lesser-known powerhouses.

Rutgers – Arizona State. How sweet it may turn out to be – or should I say… How elite it will be.

A final four appearance hangs in the balance tonight.

And then there were 8....

2007-03-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

The ASU Lady Devils beat Bowling Green 67-49 Saturday afternoon. The win gave third-seeded Arizona State (31-4) its first trip to the round of eight, where the Sun Devils will face the Duke-Rutgers winner Monday with a chance to go to the Final Four.
Emily Westerberg added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Sun Devils, who picked a good time to turn in their steadiest performance of the tournament. Arizona State shot 51 percent, took a 37-24 rebounding advantage and scored 16 points off turnovers to end the seventh-seeded Falcons' surprise tournament run. -ESPN.com

Sun Devils advance to Elite 8....(espn.com)

Seay Goodbye!

2007-03-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

Arizona State swingman Sylvester Seay told coach Herb Sendek on Friday that he plans to transfer.

Sendek said he granted Seay his release.

Seay, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from San Bernardino, Calif., was a starter in ASU's season-opening loss to Northern Arizona. But he appeared in only 11 more games. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds. - Azcentral.com

New development in Tillman investigation

2007-03-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

NBC News has confirmed that an investigation by the Pentagon's inspector general found that nine US Army officers were aware that former NFL star turned soldier Pat Tillman was killed by friendly forces in Afghanistan but did not inform the Tillman's family in a timely manner.NBC has also learned that as many as four generals are included in the cover up. The army must now decide whether disciplinary action should be taken against any of the officers involved. Pat Tillman died in April of 2004- Azcentral.com

Buy the Keller cup!

2007-03-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

Thats righ folks, the cup Sam Keller used to throw at a car is avalible for purchase on Ebay. Bid early and bid often!

Buy the Sam Keller cup!.....(ebay.com)

Ex-Devil Sam Keller in hot water

2007-03-23T01:17:00.000-07:00

"Campus police cited Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller Thursday for disturbing the peace after he allegedly yelled profanities at a woman who took a parking spot he was waiting for in a campus parking garage.

The woman told campus police Keller got out of his car, yelled and threw a plastic cup at her car, said University Police Capt. Carl Oestmann." - AP

Keller Cited for disturbing the peace....(espn.com)

Urlaub Update

2007-03-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

As we reported earlier Sophomore left hander, Jeff Urlaub, will be absent from the team for the remainder of the season after learning that he has suffered a 40% tear of a tendon in his elbow. SeattleSunDevil has more.....

The damage was done earlier in the season but was dismissed when the injury was thought to be a sprain. Urlaub commenced throwing at that point but was Coach Murphy was forced to shut down activities for the southpaw when the condition did not get any better.

Urlaub was drafted in the 26^th round of the Major League Baseball draft after his senior year of high school by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays but chose to attend classes at ASU and forgo the opportunity to become a professional straight out of school. He was a horse for Murphy’s team during 2006, tossing 56 innings of work which ranked him second on the team.

While the bright lights of Pac-10 baseball have eluded Urlaub for the most part this season, the Sun Devils will miss the arm of the lefty as the season wears on. Urlaub will seek a second opinion but Tommy John surgery will most likely be completed before mid-April.

CactusSports.com will keep up to date and will have news as it becomes available.

33/21 Amare DOMINATES

2007-03-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

With 33 points and 21 boards Amare showed just why he will be the x-factor come playoff time. The Suns beat the Kings 118-100 as Amare bounced back from one of his worst games ever. Nash had 17 points and 16 assists to help as well. Mr. Double Double...meet Mr. 30-20.

Suns Cruise Past Kings...(Suns.com)

Jeff Urlaub out for season

2007-03-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

Jeff Urlaub, a pitcher for Arizona State, has a 40% tear in his tendon in his throwing arm. This will undoubtedly mean Tommy John surgery is needed.

SeattleSunDevil will have a more indepth story later tonight.

Just watch......

2007-03-21T21:37:00.001-07:00

http://www.asuathleticsmarketing.com/newcoach/

Nothing more needs to be said....

Staat To Be Deployed to Iraq

2007-03-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

With about 3 weeks before Pat’s Run, another former Sun Devil is being deployed to Iraq. Lance Cpl. Jeremy Staat was a former roommate of Pat Tillman and decided that he wanted to follow in his former teammates footsteps. However, Tillman convinced him to wait it out and join the Marines after he could get retirement benefits from the NFL.

Lance Cpl. Jeremy Staat is expected to be in Iraq for seven months with his unit. With Tillmans memory with us everyday, we hope for the best for another former Sun Devil and every other solider out there. We know Lance Cpl. Jeremy Staat will be honoring his country as he leaves for Iraq, but he will also be fighting for his former roommate and fallen solider Pat Tillman.

Good luck Lance Cpl. Jeremy Staat and we will see you in seven months.

Staat to be deployed...(nfl.com)

A Game To Remember...

2007-03-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

September 10th 2005.

LSU defeated Arizona State 35-31 in one of the most emotional games in recent college football memory. We all know the story, Hurricane Katrina blew through Louisiana and destroyed homes and towns and business. The LSU Tigers were unable to play their first two games and ultimately had to move their home game against the Devils to Tempe, AZ.
I'll never forget when I found out the game was being moved to Tempe. I burst into my buddies place after getting a phone call telling me it was moved. We were so excited we would see the game here. We were also excited because it gave us a chance to win against the 5th ranked Tigers.
The day of the game was incredible. People were giving donations left and right, ASU raised over a million dollars for LSU. Students gave all they could. People were dressed in purple in gold (LSU's colors) even if they didn't normally root for LSU. The game was an official home game for the Tigers, we as ASU fans watched as their opening video was shown in our stadium. The end zones were painted with both Maroon and Gold and Purple and Gold.
As for the game itself. Well...it was intense. The video posted does a much better job explaining the game itself. The last play, the touchdown pass to Early Doucet is one of the most memorable plays of the season. As meaningful as it was to the people of Louisiana I will always stand by the fact that he didn't have control of the ball when he caught it. As much as I stand by that, watching this video I couldn't help but feel just moved by it. Of all the videos and clips of this game that I have seen, this one did it the most justice. I felt so moved by this. The way our season turned out that year, I really don't mind that we lost anymore. We got to play in the Insight Bowl which allowed me to see it live at Chase Field. Rudy Carpenter had a great season and led the nation in passing efficiency.
What would we have done if we won? Would we have rushed the field, would we have partied in the streets? I don't think win or lose we would have been able to feel very good about the win. Yes it was a win over the number five team in the country but they hadn't played a game yet, we had played two. It was heartbreaking at the time, but watching this video just made me remember how important it was to the state of Louisiana.

ASU Football to take on LSU at home....(thesundevils.com)

Pacific Divion Champs x3

2007-03-21T00:39:00.000-07:00

Maybe the third time is the charm? The Suns won their third straight Pacific Division title defeating the Timberwolves 108-90. The division title is always nice but this year it will be disappointing if the Suns don't take the championship. This team has too much talent not to. They've shown they can beat the Mavericks, although it took two overtimes, but nonetheless they can be beaten. If the Suns can make sure their stars stay healthy and well rested...well 2007 might just be the suns year.

Suns Clinch Third Straight...(NBA.com/Suns)

Well....thanks for trying Loren

2007-03-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Arizona State D-Lineman Loren Howard has removed himself from the team due to his lingering injury issues with his quad. Loren hasn't played a full season of football since 2003. While he never got to wear the maroon and gold in a real game, we wish him the best.

Spring Practice #1

2007-03-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ahhh springtime. The trees are full of flowers, the sun is shining, it's 90 degrees, and football plays are being yelled out. Spring practice officially began on March 19th. So far so good for the Sun Devils. The players are in good shape and ready to get playing.

Here are some tidbits:

Rudy Burgess is still limping around on his ankle, he's off crutches but still very sore. He hopes to be ready to go for the spring game at least.

Littrelle Jones' arm is healed and he is back to playing.

"Sophomore QB Danny Sullivan is up 36 pounds to 236 from his weight last season. Junior DE Wes Evans now weighs 253, up from 215. TE Dane Guthrie is listed at 267, up from 253. P Jonathan Johnson, already solid last year at 205 pounds, now is 226.

Those on the trimmer side include G Shawn Lauvao, down from 316 to 307, and C Mike Pollak, down from 305 to 292.

DL Alex Fa'agai now is going to Alex Asi, his father's last name. The junior is up from 265 pounds to 288." -azcentral.com

Brett Palmer has left the team for undisclosed reasons.

Sweetness!

2007-03-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

Well, they really are the comeback kids. ASU down 15 with 11 minutes left in the second half, clawed their way back using a 20-4 run. They toppled Louisville 67-58. The Lady Devils will play the winner of the Vanderbilt v. Bowling Green game today in the Sweet 16. The Devils, and their never say die attitude has helped them all season but it's paying off huge for them in the tournament. Is this the year the Devils break through? Could they punch their ticket to the Final Four? That remains to be seen, but as of right now, I wouldn't bet against the comeback kids.

Sun Devils dig out of another hole....(azcentral.com)

AZ Republic creates new QB controversy

2007-03-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

Jeff Metcalfe, a reporter for the Arizona Republic recently sat down with Rudy Carpenter, ASU's starting quarterback. What soon proceeded was Metcalfe stirring up a second quarterback controversy for no real reason.

Rudy Carpenter could lose the Arizona State starting quarterback job to sophomore Danny Sullivan, but the junior has enough self-confidence to believe he will impress the new coaching staff and keep the job.

That was the opening paragraph. He then went on describing the problem last spring with Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter battling for the starting QB job.

This year there is no controversy. There should be no debates, no articles, no interviews. Metcalfe stirred a pot that didn't need to be stirred. Carpenter himself has this to say about spring practice.

"It's going to be lot different. I think we all know who the quarterback is going to be. If Danny comes in and beats me out, hey, that's my fault. This year there's going to be more of an emphasis on football rather than position conflict and controversies.

"Guys would come up to me (last year) and be like, 'Man, I'm sorry I dropped that ball.' . . . This year, there's none of that. Me and Danny are good friends. We work together."

I don't care if the Arizona Republic is trying to sell papers or not, but trying to fan the flames of a controversy that isn't there....you're better than that Mr. Metcalfe.

Carpenter Say's He's Confident....(azcentral.com)

The Great One...Going Going Gone?

2007-03-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

We all know the Coyotes have been struggling as of late and our buddy Jake decided to take a look at the reasons why. And while your at it, take a look at this video these guys made about their hatred for Wayne Gretzky. It may be the cheesiest video you see all day but damn it, it has a great soundtrack.

We all know Wayne Gretzky is the best hockey player of all time. However, can he be the not so great coach? The Coyotes are sitting dead last in Western Conference. I may not know hockey, but I know that is not good.

So the question remains, can the best hockey player of all time and part owner of the team he coaches for, be fired? My answer is, no. I mean if the greatest player in the sports history can not turn a franchise around, who can?

You got to feel bad for Mr. Gretzky, he is used to winning and succeeding in the sport. Now he comes to Arizona, which why would there even be an ICE hockey team in the desert, and cannot put a team together.

Oh yeah, the ‘Yotes lost again tonight to Dallas 5-4.

ASU Women's First Round: Live Blog

2007-03-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Whats up, It's Jeff, and I'll be taking you through tonights ASU womens game on this glorious St. Patrick's Day. ESPN is showing whip-around coverage which means we will be jumping around to a few different games. I'll comment less on these than when ASU is on. So, grab a beer, turn on ESPN2 and join me as we watch some womens college basketball....Yea that doesn't sound so good when you actually type it out. Hmm...

9:32 FINAL SCORE: ASU-57 UCR-50. Thanks for sticking around for the first ever live blog on sportscactus.com. There will be plenty more to come.

9:30 The ASU band just broke into "The Final Countdown" by Europe. This led to me going to wikipedia and look up Europe. "Europe is one of the most successful Swedish bands ever, having sold more than 10 million albums worldwide." Good to know. Oh, ASU is up 7 with 18....15...12...10....6.....2...1...NO SECONDS LEFT. ASU Wins!!!!! and will take on Louisville on Monday.

9:27 "The wheels have officialy come off!" Shrieks Bob Wischusen. ASU is up 3 with 1:50 to go. I want to see Wishcusen call a beer pong game. "HE SINKS THE CUP! ICEWATER IN HIS VEINS!"
we need this in our lives.

9:21 January just drove the length of the court, nailed the layup and got the "and-1." The director just made a terrific choice to cut to Charlie Turner Thorne instead of UCR's coach. Probably a good call. He might be saying some things that ryhme with duck and ship.

9:18 ASU is rolling along and Lisa Leslie just said "aggresive penetration." I'm not making a WNBA joke. It's too easy.

9:15 LSU is up 77-38. Hey UNC Ashville, thanks for making the trip, have a safe ride home. Back in our game, Jill Noe drives to the hole and gets the layup, 4 point game with 4:34 left. The UCR AD is on the phone with ESPN right now.

9:12 There was just about 12 seconds of awkward silence between Bob and Lisa. Not a word. You think their just getting lost in each others eyes? Oh and the lady devils are down 7 with 6 minutes left.

9:05 January just drained a three to put ASU down 6 with 8:42 left. Bob Wischusen just exclaimed "And the Sun Devils come roaring back!" The whole bear theme is in full effect tonight. In unrelated news, is it weird to anyone else that a womens team has women cheerleaders?

9:02 ESPN2 just showed the "Number 14 Seeds 0-25 in Tournament play" graphic. Dear UCR Athletic Director, Blame ESPN2 when your team collapses and blows this lead.

8:57 Lisa Leslie just said you have to go hard and get it done. Thats what she said! The Office needs to have new espisodes again, this break is killing me.

8:54 ASU has the chance to be in the history books tonight if they lose this game. No three seed has EVER lost to a 14 seed in the womens tourney. I just told my buddy Hess, I'd rather see us in the history books for making the final four. We'll see who gets it right.

8:48 ASU is down 13. I'll be the first to say the Devils are defenitly struggling but theres 16min left. No need to panic yet. Also there is a girl on UCR named Cox. I'm a guy, this will never stop being funny to me.

8:43 We're back from the half and ASU is down 36-25 with 17:21 left in the second. And Lisa Leslie already used the word tenacity twice in the span on 2 minutes. This is starting to hurt my ears.

8:35 UC Riverside's mascot is the highlander. Apparently it's a bear. Come on, you couldn't hire one of the many actors that played highlander on tv or in the movies. Also, here is the description of the highlander from TV.com
""He is Duncan MacLeod... the Highlander. Born in 1592 in the highlands of Scotland, and he is still alive; he is Immortal. For 400 years, he's been a warrior... a lover... a wanderer... constantly facing other Immortals in combat to the death. The winner takes his enemy's head -- and with it, his power. I am a Watcher, part of a secret society of men and women who observe and record,..."

Not one mention of a bear.

8:22 Lisa Leslie is again talking about the possible upset. "This is why it's called march madness, anything can happen." Your right leslie, anything can happen; like me putting this game on mute.

8:19 The trainer for UCR just saw himself on TV behind the coach and got waaay too excited. Let's settle down there champ, your the trainer for the UCR womens basketball team.

8:10 Briann January literally just broke some poor girls ankles on UCR. January took a stutter step and drove to the basket. The defender crumpled and fell to the ground. I have no joke for this.

8:05 First commercial of the break was the Hummer H3 one. You know, where it goes off a pier and swims under water, with some rip-off james bond music playing in the background. How long till someone tries this? Over-under, I'd say 3 weeks....and I'll take the under.

8:01 Our first (and probably only) celebrity appearnce of the game. Deshawn Foster is watching his little sister on UCR.

7:56 16-9 UCR is leading. And the announcers are already going into their "upset call." Easy guys, theres 11min left....IN THE FIRST HALF. In other news I recommend everyone grab a Newcastle Brown Ale. De-licious.

7:52 One of the women referees looks to be bigger than Ed Hochuli. This scares me.

7:47 ASU takes a 7-6 lead with 15:38 left in the 1st. Lisa Leslie is trying to rationalize why Riverside has a chance. She keeps repeating the word velocity and tenacity. Someone get this girl a thesaurus.

7:43 Lisa Leslie just said..."Charli Thorne...Turner...I don't know she has so many names and has a family." Yea, she has a family so that gives you the excuse to butcher her name. Note to Self: dont get a family unless you want to be called Ffej and not Jeff

7:39 The color commentator, Lisa Leslie, just called UCR, UC Irvine. Why do I feel this will be an ongoing problem through the night?

7:37 Noe is fouled on ASU's first possesion. A real packed house tonight at the Galen Center. I'd say no more than 1,000 people and nearly 3/4 of those are devil fans.

7:35 The LSU v. UNC Ashville game is out first game tonight in the whip-around coverage. Pokey Chapman isnt coaching. I think we all know why.

Gonzalez may be new starter

2007-03-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Enrique Gonzalez made a move toward claiming one of two available Diamondbacks rotation spots with four shutout innings in an 8-5 Cactus League victory over Oakland Friday night.

Gonzalez struck out three and did not walk a batter while giving up only a generously scored infield single against an Athletics “A” lineup that included every projected opening day starter except shortstop Bobby Crosby.

“So many guys keep fighting” for the rotation spots, “you need that competition,” Gonzalez said.

“That team has a very good lineup. I tried to keep the ball down and use both sides of the plate.” -Jack Magruder, East Valley Tribune

NCAA First Round Wrap-Up

2007-03-17T02:14:00.000-07:00

Our college basketball guy, Jack, has studied game tape, watched countless hours of games on CBS, read hundreds of articles, and studied under the tutelage of All-Star-Superstar-Bracketologist Joe Lunardi. Well no, not really. He owns a 30 inch grey box of a television with digital cable hooked up to it. And I think he reads some stories on the internet. I'm not sure though. Either way here is his first round wrap up.

Reflections on the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

Thursday, March 15

Maryland’s Greivis Vazquez is the most entertaining player in the country that you don’t know about.

Davidson’s Stephen Curry is the best scorer in the country that you don’t know about.

Jared Dudley is right up there with Joakim Noah as the nation’s ugliest player.

Bob Knight is probably beating up his players one by one for their first round loss.

Stanford, way to prove you belonged in this tournament.

Rick Pitino is still unbeatable in Rupp Arena, some things never change.

Washington State and Oral Roberts, even insomniacs passed out watching this one.

Butler is a 5 seed?

How do the men of Old Dominion feel to be called the Monarchs?

Have a safe flight home Belmont.

Georgetown is just plain big. Hibbert and Green might cut down the nuts.

Acie Law IV is Texas A&M

The Ivy League is one and done…again.

Vanderbilt won by 33 over GW…did not see that one coming.

Duke lost to VCU on Day 1 but we will be seeing Coach K’s commercials for the next month.

Greg Oden and Mike Conley could have taken Central Connecticut St. by themselves.

Marquette didn’t score for 10 minutes…way to show up when it matters boys.

Drew Neitzel can really play.

Quick trivia…where is Weber State located?

Arron Afflalo is the most well rounded player in the country no questions asked.

Xavier and BYU…great game but seriously, who cares?

Tyler Hansbrough is going to pull a Rip Hamilton and wear the facemask permanently, you’ll see.

D.J. White just ate Gonzaga for lunch.

Friday, March 16

I had Albany beating Virginia, I was sorely mistaken.

Georgia Tech learned the hard way that they can’t rely on dunking to win big games.

Memphis is just feasting on poor competition for the 40^th straight season. 2 seed? Are you serious? Who have they played? Tulane and Houston? Please.

Winthrop beats Notre Dame, the most unsurprising upset of all team. The Eagles should be a 4 or 5 seed. They deserve it. Torell Martin is for real.

Long Beach St. scored 86; it’s too bad they gave up 121 to Tennessee.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi made it fun for the first 30 minutes.

Everyone knew Nevada/Creighton would be a great game, but even that was better than expected.

Oregon is the fastest team not named Kansas but they cannot close.

Deron Washington and Zabian Dowdell can take VT deep.

The Curse of Chief Illiniwek started today.

Kansas beats Niagara by 40 and it wasn’t that close. They are good.

Chase Budinger is awfully pale.

Kevin Durant will be the best player in the NBA for a long time.

Reggie Theus and New Mexico St. are here to stay; Theus is building a great program.

Southern Illinois is the best defensive team in the nation by a lot.

It’s been nice to have you Holy Cross, only Bill Simmons will miss you.

Kentucky wins and their prize is a matchup against Kansas. Woo…hoo.

Scottie Reynolds will bring Nova back to the Promised Land.

Florida is deep, experienced, and the defending champ. Jackson St. had ZERO chance.

USC has no true point guard and no true center but they can score with absolutely anybody.

Arkansas didn’t belong and they got whooped, nice job selection committee.

PS. Weber State is located in Ogden, Utah.

Wildcats get bounced

2007-03-17T01:20:00.000-07:00

Why the long face Mr. Williams? The University of Arizona Wildcats were eliminated from post-season play Friday night, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 72-63 by the Boilermakers of Purdue, a #9 seed compared to Arizona's #8 seed. Our college basketball guy, Jack, has more...

That's a wrap on the Arizona Wildcats extensive postseason run. First, the Wildcats got run out of the gym in the Pac-10 Tournament by the Oregon Ducks and then in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Arizona got crushed by underdog Purdue. It can't be much of a surprise that the Cats were one and done. After all, this is a team that is led by a Q-Tip and Mr. Curfew in Chase Budinger and Marcus Williams. And hey, we cannot forget to mention that Arizona's best defender, Daniel Dillon used his best common sense to get a DUI the week before the NCAA Tournament. Smooth. Now I guess all we can do is wait for Mike Stoops, Willie Tuitama, and the rest of the football team down in Tucson to save the day with another season without a bowl.

Wildcats say goodbye to post-season....(espn.com)

Scott Feldman gets HYPHY

2007-03-17T00:34:00.000-07:00

Scottsdale, Arizona is the number one hang out for baseball players during spring training. Beautiful blonds and alcohol galore. The athletes need something to do at night and apparently Texas Rangers pitcher Scott Feldman does a lot at night. Maybe too much. Easy on those shots Feldy.

Scott Felman goes stupid, dumb, and hyphy......(myspace.com)

Season low for Suns

2007-03-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

Whoops. The Phoenix Suns suffered their worst home loss of the season and second worst loss overall. The Detroit Pistons beat the Suns 105-83. The win allowed the Pistons to complete a 5-0 road sweep of the West for the first time in 15 years, or roughly the time that its been since Jay Leno took over the tonight show. ( I figured I would throw that in there, I know were all sick of him. It's been 15 years....can it end? Please?)

Anyway Ronald Murray decided to have a career night, scoring 25 points, 4 rebounds and 6 steals. Leading the Suns was Amare who posted a double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Pistons take Suns to woodshed....(espn.com)

ASU Womens Tourney Preview

2007-03-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

The ASU women basketball team recieved a #3 seed in the tournament which set them up to play Big West Conference champion UC Riverside. They will play at USC's new Galen Center in LA. The game is Saturday around 7:30.

UC Riverside, home of the mighty Highlanders (there can only be one), won the Big West which included such tough teams as UC Irvine, Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge to name a few. ASU on the other hand took on teams such as Stanford and Cal which received a #2 and #8 seed respectively.

"UC Riverside runs a motion offense led by Junior F/C Kemie Nkele who averages a team-best 16.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.35 blocks per game. Sophomore guard Seyram Gbewonyo is second in scoring (10.2). UC Riverside lost to UCLA, a team ASU beat three times, including 74-64 in the Pac-10 Tournament."-azcentral.com

ASU Women's Basketball...(thesundevils.com)
UC Riverside Women's Basketball (ucr.com)

Former Sun Devil...possible Cardinal?

2007-03-16T01:22:00.000-07:00

The Cardinals have expressed interest in signing former Browns fullback Terrelle Smith, his agent said Thursday morning.

The Cardinals weren’t the only team talking to the Browns about a trade for Smith. Green Bay, Kansas City and Tampa Bay also expressed interest.

Smith would fit perfectly in Arizona for several reasons. The Cardinals are searching for a blocking fullback and Smith is highly regarded as a blocker. The Browns cut him because they think fullback Lawrence Vickers, a sixth-round pick last year, is more versatile.

Terrelle Smith talks with Cards...(azcentral.com)

Coy signs with Devils

2007-03-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

The Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball team landed a new commit in Johnny Coy, a 6-foot-7, 195-pound small forward from Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo. Coy had been recruited by Kansas, Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan State, Creighton, Washington State and Wichita State.

Coy To Be A Devil...(azcentral.com)

Welcome!

2007-03-15T03:42:00.000-07:00

This is SportsCactus. It's a blog devoted to Arizona Sports. Everything is included. High School, College, Professional, etc.