NBA
JAMES LEADS EAST TO CLOSE ALL-STAR WIN
The All-Stars from the East were not about to be embarrassed again by the All-Stars from the West. Last year, the best from both conferences met in Las Vegas, and the West drubbed the East 153-132.
LeBron James and Ray Allen made sure that didn't happen again. In the first NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, Allen poured in 28 points and LeBron James scored 27 as they made sure the East maintained its pride-and won the game, 134-128.
The West nearly fought back to win the game after the East had led most of the way. In fact, the West held a 122-119 lead late in the contest. But Allen hit a big three-pointer, and James added a floating jumper and an in-your-face slam to help the East recover and win. Allen had 14 of his 28 points in the final period.
The West was led by a trio of 18-point scorers: Amare Stoudemire, Brandon Roy, and Carmelo Anthony.
James was awarded the MVP trophy-his second in the last three years in the All-Star Game.
OTHER WINNERS
Slam Dunk Competition: Dwight Howard
Three-point Shooting: Jason Kapono
Rookie Challenge: Sophomores 136, Rookies 109
MVP: Daniel Gibson, 33 points
Shooting Stars: San Antonio-Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Becky Hammon.
Skills Challenge: Deron Williams
NHL
STARS SEND RED WINGS TO 6th STRAIGHT LOSS
Two weeks ago the Detroit Red Wings were clearly the best team in the National Hockey League. Their blend of crafty veterans and gifted youngsters put Detroit atop the NHL heap. What's happened since then is nothing short of stunning!
On Sunday, the red-hot Dallas Stars sent the Detroit Red Wings to their sixth-straight defeat. Dallas 1, Detroit 0.
Dallas goaltender Marty Turco, who has always struggled against the Red Wings, turned in a stellar performance to earn the victory. Turco made 28 saves to record the 32nd shutout of his career. With the win, the Stars veteran goalie improved to 2-9-5 against Detroit in his career.
Niklas Hagman scored the game's only goal at 3:13 of the third period when he beat Detroit's third-string goalie Jimmy Howard. The goal was Hagman's 21st of the season.
Dallas improved to 9-1 in their last 10 games.
OTHER NHL SCORES
Chicago 2, Colorado 1
New York Rangers 3, San Jose 1
Pittsburgh 4, Buffalo 1
St. Louis 5, Columbus 1
Anaheim 4, Calgary 2
Montreal 5, Philadelphia 3
Minnesota 5, Nashville 4 - OT
FACTS OF THE DAY
RYAN NEWMAN'S CAREER
Ryan Newman had not won a NASCAR race since capturing the 2005 Sylvania 300. Here's a look at his Cup racing career.
First year: 2000
Total races: 225
Wins: 13 (including the Daytona 500)
Top 5: 32
Top 10: 99
Highest points standing: Sixth, three times (2002, 2003, 2006)
SPORTS SPECTRUM INSIDER
Getting to the heart of what matters in life
TODAY'S FEATURE: TROT NIXON, Cleveland Indians
BIO NOTE: Nixon played for the Cleveland Indians in 2007.
RECENT NEWS: Nixon is currently in camp with the Arizona Diamondbacks, attempting to make the club in spring training.
FAITH QUOTE: "I think most baseball players don't want to think too much about injury and what it could do. It hindered me enough where I probably lost 4 years of my professional career. I just tried to get back into it and rediscover my swing, but those were the times when I didn't know the Lord. I didn't pray. I wasn't in His Word. I was always saying, 'Why me?' I've come to realize in the last couple of years that God is not going to put anything in front of us to do that we can't do or hold up."
MINI MEMOS
Putting the SS spin on today's sports news
HAWKS GET SERIOUS, BIBBY
The Atlanta Hawks appear to be serious about making the playoffs. Their improving squad of young players has the team just percentage points out of the necessary Top 8 in the East, so they have turned to some veteran leadership to try to move them up a spot. The Hawks have traded four players to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Mike Bibby, a 10-year NBA veteran. Bibby will bring a ton of experience and a 16.7 ppg average to the Hawks. Going to Sacramento are Anthony Johnson, Shelden Williams, Tyron Lue, and Lorenzen Wright.
PENSKE, NEWMAN TAKE DAYTONA
It was supposed to be Hendrick vs. Gibbs at the end of the Daytona 500, battling it out for NASCAR supremacy. But the Hendrick cars were nowhere to be found at the end, so the showdown turned into Penske vs. Hendrick. And to the surprise of everyone, it was Ryan Newman and his Penske-powered No. 12 Dodge that got the checkered flag Sunday. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart was left to contemplate what might have been as he and his Joe Gibbs Toyota lost the lead on the final lap and watched as Newman and Kurt Busch rushed past to finish 1-2 for Roger Penske. Here are the Top 10 finishers on Sunday at Daytona:
1. Ryan Newman
2. Kurt Busch
3. Tony Stewart
4. Kyle Busch
5. Reed Sorenson
6. Elliott Sadler
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Robby Gordon
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10. Greg Biffle
STILL GOING
Randy Johnson will take a little heat for what he is doing, but he should continue to go for it and not let naysayers stop him. Johnson is 44 years old and has pitched nearly 4,000 major league innings. He's had surgery and all kinds of injuries. Yet, there he is-on the mound in Arizona, attempting to show that he can still pitch and perhaps help the Arizona Diamondbacks. Some will find it humorous that a guy his age hasn't hung up the glove and gone fishing. Others will suggest that he leave the game to younger players. But we say, "Go for it!" He is living every baseball fan's dream-to be successful in the major leagues, and if he can add another season to his stats sheets, then good for him. His determination and drive to get back to the game he loves to play should serve as a reminder for all of us to use every ounce of what God has given us for as long as we can.
WHO IS HE?
Testing your knowledge of past sports stars—taken from “Legends” articles from the pages of Sports Spectrum magazine
FRIDAY'S MYSTERY PERSON
* He led the NFL in TD passes in 1979 (28) and in QB rating (91.4) in 1980 while with the Browns.
* He was the MVP of the 1980 Pro Bowl.
* While quarterback in Cleveland, he had four seasons with 3,000 yards or more.
* Originally from southern Californian, he moved back there after his career ended, and he coached at a Christian high school in Del Mar.
WHO IS HE? BRIAN SIPE
MONDAY'S MYSTERY PERSON
* He was able to pound out 1,500 hits as a major leaguer. That's exactly half of the number of hits accumulated by his teammate and good friend Roberto Clemente.
* He batted 5,062 times and struck out just 331 times.
* Was named to the 1971 NL All-Star team as a catcher.
* Played in two World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates: 1971 and 1979
* Runs a barbecue stand near the Pirates' home park, PNC Park.
WHO IS HE?
SPECTRUM RADIO
SS DAILY INTERVIEW
To hear today's interview, go to the Sports Spectrum radio home page. It can be found at www.sport.org.
THE MONDAY GUEST
RAY MELICK, writer, Birmingham News
With the continuing flow of ethics questions coming from the world of sports, Ray Melick stops by the SS microphone to talk about the problem of cheating in sports. What is a fan to do about the steroids bunch in baseball and the occasional college coach who plays hard and fast with the rules?
