Mark Sanchez showed no ill effects from his dislocated knee injury, and was smooth and poised in the pocket. He only had two bad throws by count, but for the most part, he made excellent decisions, he used the whole field, he threw to eight different receivers, and he even showed some mobility. Quite honestly, Sanchez looked about as good as John David Booty ever did, and he left no doubt that he's the leader of the team on offense.

But Sanchez didn't do it alone. The Trojan offensive line gave him plenty of time. Their run blocking was phenomenal. Joe McKnight shifted his feet as well as any running back I've seen in college. CJ Gable had a few great runs. Allen Bradford got some tough yards. Anthony McCoy had a few quality receptions. The entire receiving corps looked like they erased last year's woes with Vidal Hazelton proving to be a good possession receiver, Damian Williams living up to his potential as a transfer from Arkansas, Patrick Turner showing he has a nice rapport with Sanchez, and Ronald Johnson making two terrific catches.

Defensively, the Trojans stuffed the Virginia run, severely pressured Peter Lalich even though he was in shotgun formation for most of the game, and covered most of his receivers down the field. Let's also not forget that USC didn't exactly open their season against a weak mid-major or a I-AA school like many other BCS conference teams. They were willing to go across the country and play in some pretty awful humidity on the home field of a team that made the Gator Bowl last year. Virginia is in a bit of a transition year, but they still have a solid program. These kinds of wins make serious statements.

Next, USC turns their attention to Ohio State, who might be without Heisman candidate RB Chris Wells. Let's hope he's healthy enough to play. It would be great to see two of the best teams in college football go head to head at full strength, with no potential excuses for a loss.

--UCLA's dramatic 27-24 overtime win over Tennessee was both surprising and impressive. Virtually no one gave UCLA a chance with a new offense and a third-string QB going up against one of the better SEC programs. But the UCLA defense kept the Bruins in the game, thanks to some great pressure in the middle of their defensive line. Tennessee is also going with a new offensive system, and it showed they were trying to adjust, but credit the Bruins for frustrating Johnathan Crompton and forcing him to make bad throws. I was a bit surprised that the Volunteers didn't try to run the football more, where they had success.

The big story was obviously Kevin Craft, who had four interceptions in the first half, yet turned things around with an excellent fourth quarter. Craft showed he can make some high-quality underneath throws, but needs to work on his passes to the outside. He has a tendency to let the ball float too much in the air, but he did settle down late in the game and was much more efficient. UCLA is going to have to run the football better if they want to win more, especially if Khalil Bell is seriously injured, but I was very impressed with the fight that UCLA showed in light of losing three key players.

Rick Neuheisel's presence is already being felt as the Bruins seemed to play with an extra bit of spirit and toughness, despite being the lesser talented team. UCLA teams I've seen in the past might have quit, as their offensive line was beaten fairly well. But the Bruins displayed an impressive never-say-die attitude, and suddenly they look like a very dangerous team for anyone in the Pac-10 to play. This was also a great win for the conference, to get one over the stubborn and arrogant SEC, a conference that often claims its the best while simultaneously shying away from quality non-conference opponents.

--Majestic Realty VP John Semcken said earlier this week that he has "no doubt" an NFL team will play in Los Angeles in 2009, most likely at the Rose Bowl, in an interview with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Semcken has worked with Ed Roski on a proposed City of Industry football stadium plan that we've covered extensively on this site. In the meantime, a Minnesota Vikings executive told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that owner Zygi Wilf has turned down overtures to move his team to the site.

It's really difficult to know exactly what is going with teams potentially moving, but the Vikings did seem a little less likely than potential suitors such as the Chargers, Jaguars, Bills, and Raiders to move to LA.

In a bit of a surprise, Aaron Corp is now the No. 2 QB on the depth chart for USC, ahead of Mitch Mustain. I guess Mustain just isn't a great fit for the USC offense, and if I were him, and I was the No. 1 QB recruit in the country a few years ago and now I'm the 3rd-string quarterback on my team, then I would transfer.

--After losing to the Nationals last night, the Dodgers have lost six in a row, and are falling apart at a crucial juncture of the season. They're still just 3 games back, but they haven't exactly inspired hope in their fans.

The performances show that just "making a move" or getting "a bat" isn't exactly a panacea. Team performance goes beyond one simple quick fix. Teams win or lose based on adhering to a strong organization philosophy and vision. The Dodgers have tried to do too many different things in recent years, and the team lacks an identity. Also, right now their bullpen is sort of a random collection of rag-tag pitchers and their veteran players are really really old and not nearly as productive as they used to be.

When people long for the old "Dodger Way", they long for a time when the organization reflected continuity and built through the farm. Manny Ramirez does make the Dodgers a better team, but if they want to sustain success, then they have to be patient and let themselves build from within.

--If you haven't checked out the LA Times' Olympic coverage yet, then you should. Their Ticket to Beijing blog is one of the most comprehensive sites I've seen yet on the Olympics. It seems like the Times sent half their staff to Beijing, and they have some high-quality results to show for it.

--The Times also broke news that the Dodgers have traded for Greg Maddux. Given Brad Penny's recent injury, the Dodgers could certainly use another pitcher. Greg Maddux is a shell of his former self, but he's better than Eric Stults and more reliable than Chan Ho Park. Rob Neyer points out that Maddux has been a league-average pitcher for most of the past few years, but the Dodgers got a taste of his value two years ago. Not only was Maddux phenomenal in his two months in LA in 2006, but he was a valuable teacher and mentor for every pitcher on the Dodgers staff. Perhaps he can help with the development of Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley -- who have been doing great so far -- just as much as he'll help on the mound.

--Jeff Kent is an absolute disgrace. In TJ Simers' column yesterday, Kent bashed Vin Scully, and said he was insulted by those who claim he's hitting better recently because he's batting ahead of Manny Ramirez in the lineup. Kent claimed that Scully "talks too much," referred to him as "some guy," and added: "I've been here four years and I have never seen Vin Scully down here in the clubhouse...How does Vin Scully know me? How does Vin Scully know Derek Lowe?"

No idea how Derek Lowe got thrown in there, and apparently neither does Lowe, who disavowed any involvement in this.

For nearly 60 years Scully has diligently called Dodger games and he means everything to Los Angeles baseball. The Dodgers are as popular as they are today because of the job Vin Scully has done behind the microphone, spanning generations of local baseball fans, and educating us all on the game. He is the greatest announcer in the history of sports, and there is virtually no debate about that. No one else is even close. He is LA's local treasure, he's the classiest man alive, and I feel incredibly fortunate that I still get to listen to his voice every time I watch a Dodger game.

This past week I was in Cooperstown, NY, and I made a point of finding Scully's picture in the broadcaster's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. There's a decent chance that Kent will one day be enshrined in Cooperstown as well, but I think the Hall should establish a "Jerk's Wing" as well, starting with Ty Cobb, Eddie Murray, and Jeff Kent as charter members.

In the previous bullet point, I noted how great Greg Maddux has been in working with young players, and how he has been a terrific mentor for his teammates. On a young Dodger team, I've never once heard that the veteran Kent has done a thing to help his teammates develop and grow. Instead he called out Matt Kemp and others last year, he argues and whines with umpires more than anyone I've ever seen in the game, and his own performance has declined for the past few years.

As for Kent's actual comments about his recent improvement (he's hitting .500 while ahead of Ramirez in the lineup), there has actually been a great deal of statistical work that has shown that lineup order and hitting in front of an RBI man doesn't necessarily correlate to improved performance. That being said, there are a tiny handful of extraordinary power hitters who are so great that they do alter the way a pitcher approaches a lineup. A pitcher is more likely to throw strikes to a guy batting in front of a super slugger than he is to most other players. Manny Ramirez is in that exclusive group. So is Barry Bonds, and Kent had some rather dramatic splits hitting in front of him when the two played in San Francisco... like in 2002 when the Giants made the World Seires.

No less an authority than Joe Torre, a future Hall of Fame manager, agreed with Scully's points.

"I think it's helped [Kent]," Torre said in the column. "Jeff is a good enough hitter in his own right, and being a good hitter he has the patience to take advantage of a pitcher who doesn't want to walk the guy who bats ahead of Manny."

Jeff Kent should be ashamed of himself for saying anything negative about Vin Scully. If he's smart, then he'll apologize before tomorrow night's game.

--Much has been written about the buzz Manny Ramirez has generated in Los Angeles, and how much he has helped the Dodger brand. I was very high on the move when it was made almost three weeks ago. I do want to dispel one misconception about Ramirez's value that I hear mentioned on sports talk radio periodically. Ramirez may help Dodger merchandise sales, but that doesn't really matter. All Major League Baseball teams share revenue on MLB-licensed products. If you were to go to Foot Locker or Champs Sporting Goods tomorrow, and buy a No. 99 Ramirez jersey or t-shirt, then the Dodgers would collect just as much money on that purchase as the Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals, or Boston Red Sox.

The only place where the Dodgers would keep all of the money from a merchandise sale is at Dodger Stadium or at a team-owned store, like the one at Universal Citywalk. Home ballparks and team-owned stores are the only locations where an MLB club collects all of the revenue off a merchandise purchase. So while Ramirez may be helping the Dodgers bottom line with improved attendance, the extra jerseys he sells only makes a tiny dent.

--The Los Angeles Galaxy today announced the Bruce Arena would take over as GM and Head Coach of the team. Apparently the Ruud Gullit experiment didn't work out, and Alexi Lalas never assembled any quality depth on the roster after the handful of superstars that AEG helped bring in for him, like David Beckham and Landon Donovan. There's no question that the Galaxy are better off now than they were before.

Bruce Arena is the greatest American soccer coach ever, having won 5 NCAA titles at Virginia, 2 MLS Cups with DC United, and took the US to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. I once read an article that called Bruce Arena "the Bill Parcells of soccer", and he's the type of coach who knows how to build a winning atmosphere in a locker room. This is a move that Galaxy fans should be excited about.

--UCLA Football named Kevin Craft as its starting quarterback today. He only got the job after both Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson got injured. Honestly, I'd be very surprised if Craft played the whole season, as redshirt freshman Chris Forcier offers some potential at the position. Craft is a former San Diego State and Mt. Sac QB, and I've heard mixed reviews about his training camp performance. He sort of got the job by default. I like Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow, but this is going to be a transition year for the Bruins. I wouldn't expect too much from UCLA in the new coaching staff's first season.

--In the meantime, everyone wants to know who will be USC's starting QB at Virginia on August 30. There's a possibility it will be Mark Sanchez, who is healing quickly from his knee injury. I'm a little surprised that Mitch Mustain hasn't had a better training camp, or even separated himself from Aaron Corp in the competition for No. 2 on the depth chart. Mustain did go 8-0 as a starter at Arkansas, but perhaps USC's offense isn't suited to his strengths.

Rob McMillin at 6-4-2 blogs that Wills is defensible for his achivements as a player, but not for what happened after. it makes him suspicious not just of Streeter, but of the Times.

--If the Dodgers fail to sign Ramirez to a long-term contract, then they will likely receive two draft picks as compensation for losing him, assuming he's offered arbitration. If the team that signs Manny Ramirez drafts outside the top-15, then they receive that team's pick, and a supplemental pick between the first and second round. If that team drafts in the top-15, then the Dodgers receive their second round pick and still keeps the supplemental pick. I hope that's clear.

--The Dodgers took advantage of the Red Sox apparent desperation to get rid of Manny Ramirez. The Red Sox have been desperate to get rid of his act before, exposing him to waivers in 2004, nearly trading him for A-Rod at one point, nearly sending him to the Mets at another point, and he's been dangled many times before. But they always held onto him, and he helped Boston win two World Series. This time however, Manny's antics were too much to bear for the Red Sox, and they were insistent on getting rid of him, that they gave up two decent prospects and agreed to pay his salary. In order to succeed in baseball, organizations must be opportunistic. The Dodgers took advantage of a unique opportunity in this case.

--As Kevin Roderick points out, there has been some serious concern about the "baggage" that Ramirez brings to LA. I haven't been in the Red Sox clubhouse, so I have no idea how much of a problem he's really been. Evidently, he was problematic enough that the Red Sox upped the ante to trade him. But I'm not as pessimistic about Ramirez being an organizational cancer as some others.

The fact is, Manny is now a certain free agent after this season. He reportedly wants a 4-year $100 million contract. I find it hard to believe anyone will pay that much for his services through his 40th birthday. But if Manny really wants to have any chance at that salary, then he has to perform at his best in the next 2 months. I think he recognizes that. I also believe that Ramirez will be motivated to prove the Red Sox nation wrong, and a motivated Manny is an effective Manny.

Since he'll only be here for two months, I'd be shocked if his act will wear thin. He already has the "Manny being Manny" mantra, and teammates will likely expect the bizarre from him and possibly embrace it.

--It's true that Ramirez weakens the Dodgers defenisvely. In fact, the Dodgers may have one of the worst defensive teams in baseball on days in which Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Juan Pierre, Casey Blake, and Ramirez are all in the lineup. The presence of Ramirez in the outfield practically mandates that Kemp and Ethier start, just to mitigate that effect. I don't believe that Blake's as bad defensively as some have suggested, but his range isn't great, and it's compounded if Nomar is playing shortstop.

At the end of the day though, I agree with TJ Simers' and Keith Law's takes as the trade was a no-brainer for LA because of what was involved, and that it will make the Dodgers the favorites in the West.

Not sure what this does to the Dodger outfield situation, but on the surface, the team has certainly made a huge splash and not sacrificed too much. If the Dodgers were really trying to top the Angels' Teixeira deal, then I'd say they can credibly say "my rental is better than your rental." More to come later...

Update

I've been slightly critical of the Dodgers in the past, saying that they shouldn't be making short-term deals to satisfy the local media and create headlines. Great organizations never put themselves in position to resort to such gimmicks. It's as if the organization saw yesterday's Bill Plaschke video at LATimes.com, and accepted the challenge to match the Angels. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick writes about a litany of deals that were made to satisfy short-term desires, and turned out to hurt the organization. Too often, the LA media pushes the Dodgers or the Angels into making these deals without fully understanding the implications, and then bashes them when they fail to wave the magic wand. Very rarely does one move change an organization, and very rarely are one-sided moves even feasible.

So with that all of that being said, I really like this deal for the Dodgers. Yes, it's a short-term gimmick that will grab headlines and appease the local pundits. But Manny Ramirez is a special player. He is one the great power hitters of our generation and he is still putting up terrific numbers. He also has the personality to thrive in this city which puts a premium on superstars. Ramirez puts an instant shot into the arm of a brand that had been sagging somewhat this year.

In all likelihood, Ramirez is a short-term rental. But I don't think that's a problem. For one, the lift he is bringing this franchise is enormous, even if it is unquantifiable. Secondly, the Dodgers gave up a more than reasonable package for him. Bryan Morris is a high-ceiling pitcher, but he's already had Tommy John Surgery, and is at least three years away.

A lot of people like Andy LaRoche, but the Dodgers were going to need to trade him at some point to make room for Blake DeWitt. Given the current dynamic between the Dodgers, the organization, the fans, and the media, LaRoche was setup to fail. It seemed like few people had the patience to watch him develop, he was setback by injuries just enough for impatient types to believe he was a bust, and he didn't put up stellar numbers in the very small sample size of at-bats he was given. If LaRoche had been handed the 3B job full-time, and gotten off to a mediocre start, then he might have been ridden out of town. I don't think LaRoche is the next Paul Konerko, who this town also soured on quickly, but I do think he has the talent to be a quality everyday major leaguer. But I also think that DeWitt has a higher ceiling. So at the end of the day, LaRoche was expendable.

With Ramirez in the lineup, the Dodgers get some much-needed power. And it's not just any power. Ramirez has slugging ability that just a tiny handful of MLBers can match. In fact, he's arguably the greatest power hitter to ever wear a Dodger uniform for any length of time. Eddie Murray and Frank Robinson are the only other Dodgers to have ever hit 500 home runs.

The Dodgers are now the clear favorites in the NL West, and given Ramirez's excellent postseason history with the Red Sox, their odds look better in October.

The only other question now is what the Dodgers will do with their crowded outfield. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have both proven they're everyday major leaguers, and it would stunt their development to take them out of the lineup. Andruw Jones has proven that he has no business being in the lineup. And Juan Pierre continues to be a topic of hot debate. I wouldn't be surprised if the Dodgers chose to outright Jones to the minors (provided he accepts). If he doesn't accept, then Jones would be a free agent. Either way, he'd be owed all of the money on his contract, but Jones has been so inexplicably awful that they really might not have a choice.

There's little question that Teixeira is a top-flight power hitter, and he will absolutely make a difference in the Angels lineup. The Angels were probably going to the playoffs without him, but they needed someone who could get a big hit in the playoffs, and Teixeira is a better guy to count on in the middle of the order than what the Halos have been working with lately.

Still, Teixeira is a free agent after this season, and his agent Scott Boras is going to demand an astronomical contract for his client. Boras will probably play the market to drive up Teixeira's price, and it's not clear if the Angels will pay him in the neighborhood of $20 million a year for the long-term.

If the Angels lose him, then they've effectively given up Casey Kotchman for nothing. While there's plenty of argument among Halo circles as to how promising a young player Kotchman actually is, he's been the third-best hitter on the team and seemingly still has room to grow. The Angels may figure though that they could lose Teixeira in the off-season, and at least find a comparable first baseman to Kotchman statistically at a low price.

Overall, this move will satisfy Angels fans who have been begging the organization to make a move. Sometimes, I think MLB teams have to be careful not to make a trade just to make one and satisfy some sort of primal urge. One could argue that's the case here. The trade makes the Angels a better team this year, and possibly years to come if Teixeira re-signs. Their odds of going to the World Series have just improved. But in the long-run, the Angels will either be saddled with an expensive contract that could hurt their payroll flexibility, or they will have created a hole at first base in exchagne for two good months of offensive production. It's a calculated gamble.

The trade has drawn a wide mix of reactions from all sides of the baseball community. For the remainder of this season, the deal clearly helps the Dodgers. Casey Blake isn't an all-star, but he's an above-average hitter, who has some power, and his bat will add a sorely-needed boost to a Dodger team that has been inconsistent offensively all season long.

He's a significant upgrade over Blake DeWitt, who has been awful since he was NL Rookie of the Month back in May. At this point, it's best for DeWitt's development to play every day in AAA. He wasn't even supposed to be in the majors this season, and while he's talented, MLB scouting reports figured him out and he hasn't learned to adjust yet.

Blake will also be starting every day over Andy LaRoche, a third baseman who draws a wide variety of opinions. Scroll through Jon Weisman's Dodger Thoughts blog, and you'll find plenty of people who think that LaRoche has the talent to be a very good ballplayer, but bemoan that he's been jerked around by the organization and never given a fair a opportunity. It seems as though the mainstream LA media, such as the LA Times, has never been high on LaRoche, and they don't like what they've seen in the few snippets of playing time he's received.

If LaRoche hadn't torn a thumb ligament in spring training, then he almost certainly would have received the opportunity many felt he deserved. But now, at 24, he's almost too old to be a prospect, and one can't help but feel that the Dodgers organization has soured on him. There are still plenty of teams that like LaRoche, and I'd expect him to be traded in the offseason.

Blake also doesn't figure into the Dodgers future plans, as he's 34 years old, and a free agent after the season. For now, he's a rental down the stretch.

Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus is critical of the deal, claiming the Dodgers gave up too much for 200 at-bats, and is disappointed that LaRoche's development is blocked. Jonathan Meloan flourished in the minor leagues as a reliever, but struggled in five games last September in the majors. He was converted to a starting pitcher this year, and struggled in that role in Las Vegas. In reality, he's probably best used as a reliever, and he could be a really good one.

Carlos Santana is putting up excellent numbers in Single-A, but he's a bit old for that level of the minors, and his path to the majors is obviously blocked by Russell Martin.

I'd argue that the Dodgers gave up a good package to get Casey Blake, and it has more potential than what they received. At the same point in time, it's questionable if that potential will ever be realized. While the Dodgers might have a losing record, they're only 1 game out of first place, there is no runaway team in the NL, and anything can happen in the playoffs. I can't see LaRoche thriving this season within the current structure of the Dodger organization, given the lack of patience that seems to exist with his game, even though it's probably not fair that impatience exists. For now, I think this helps the Dodgers in their pursuit towards the playoffs, and I'm not convinced they'll regret it 5 years from now.

Camby has earned a reputation as a defensive player, a shot-blocking specialist who can rebound and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2006-07. Most teams would love to have a guy like him. But Camby is also 34 years old, and it remains to be seen how much basketball he has left in him. He may have been the only Nugget who played defense, but I don't recall him being too effective in slowing down Pau Gasol in the first round of the playoffs. I also wonder how he'll fit in with Chris Kaman, since both guys basically play the same position, but I guess it's possible to slide Camby over to the power forward position.

--The LA Kings have hired a new coach in Terry Murray, the brother of former Ducks coach Bryan Murray. Terry is a fairly accomplished NHL coach having won with Washington, Philadelphia, and Florida. He took the Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, but was fired after that season.

I know some Flyers fans who criticized Murray during his stint in Philadelphia for his goaltender rotation of Ron Hextall and Garth Snow, and for his "choking situation" comments after the team lost Game 3 of the Finals that year. But the fact is, Murray is a winner, and I don't know many sane Flyer fans. He figures to face much less scrutiny in Los Angeles.

The real question is if Murray is the right person to develop the Kings' good young players. Marc Crawford was an accomplished coach who did work not out in LA. We'll see if Murray can fill that role better.

--Russell Martin played extremely well in the All-Star Game last Tuesday night, and won constant praise from Tim McCarver. Clint Hurdle seemed so impressed by Martin's gritty defensive play and the bunt that he selflessly laid down, that he didn't bring in Brian McCann until the 15th inning. I know the Dodgers would like to sign Martin to a long-term contract, and I know Martin has been reluctant to have his arbitration years bought out, but the Dodgers should recognize they have a star and do whatever they can to lock him up. In this city of stars, Martin should be the face of the Dodgers.

Everyone seems to have their own theory as to why the Dodgers have struggled this season. Some have blamed it on injuries. Others have blamed the team's young players. I've also seen plenty of blame flown in the direction of General Manager Ned Colletti. But the best explanation I've seen comes from Jon Weisman on his DodgerThoughts blog, who lists 17 reasons why the Dodgers have disappointed in 2008.

In the meantime, Blill Plaschke spoke to Frank McCourt for a recent column, and it's now clear that Ned Colletti is on the hot seat. Much has been written recently about the "Dodger way". One hallmark of Dodger baseball was continuity. The Dodgers used to be the envy of the baseball world with their stable consistent management that seldom changed. But the team is now on its fifth GM this decade and sixth in the last 10 years. They've also had six managers in the last 10 years.

If the Dodgers want to be a successful team and restore the Dodger brand to what it once was, then they need to have a leadership team they can trust and one that will be given the time to build and execute a real plan. I would argue that the Dodgers last two GMs -- Dan Evans and Paul DePodesta -- are both excellent baseball minds who did not have a real opportunity to see their plans through. There are things that I do like about Ned Colletti, but we also have some philosophical differences. For example, I will never understand why a MLB GM would sign Juan Pierre to a 5-year $45 million contract, but I did support the Jason Schmidt and Andruw Jones signings at the time, although both deals have turned out worse than anyone's lowest expectations.

A major part of the old "Dodger way" was building from within. Branch Rickey was the founder of the farm system, and the Dodgers are an organization that has always prided itself on creating a family atmosphere -- both at the ballpark and within the organization itself. As frustrating as it may be to watch growing pains as the Dodgers go through their current transition, building with their young players is the best way to go in baseball today. Veteran players are more likely to get injured and the Mitchell Report has cast a cloud over some vets' past performances. Also the game's current economics are strong, and more teams are signing their good young players to long-term contracts, thus reducing the quality of available talent both in free agency and at the trade deadline.

Whatever the Dodgers decide to do, they need a stable and visionary management team. They also need to show patience through transition periods and growing pains as a plan is developed and executed.

On another note, there are two excellent Dodger-related stories in the LA Times today. One is from Bill Dwyre, who recalls the experience of covering Al Campanis' unfortunate comments in 1987. The second is from Steve Lopez, who writes about legendary Dodgers chef Dave Pearson.

--Earlier this week, the Daily News reported that AEG may sell part of the LA Kings to outside investors. One potential group is led by Wyc Grousbeck, who owns the Boston Celtics. According to the report, AEG would still maintain control over the team, but they may bring in some executives from the Celtics to help run the Kings. I have a ton of respect and admiration for AEG, and they are certainly entitled to run the Kings as they see fit. But as a lifelong lover of LA sports, I have to admit that it would feel awkward to have a group from the rival Celtics playing an influential role at STAPLES Center.

--Speaking of AEG-owned enterprises, there's an interesting story in the Daily News discussing the experience of the Galaxy's foreign players.

--Ron Artest of the Sacramento Kings reportedly wants to be traded, and he'd love to be a Laker. He recently said that Phil Jackson was the type of coach who could bring the best out of him. But ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports that such a deal is unlikely, because the Lakers are unwilling to swap Lamar Odom for Artest. That would also indicate to me that the Lakers are intent on keeping Odom through the final season of his contract. It appears that the Maloof brothers like Odom though.

In the meantime, the Lakers are now mulling whether to match a 4-year $17 million offer sheet for Ronny Turiaf from the Golden State Warriors. The odds are against the Lakers matching. Some on talk radio have complained that the Lakers would be cheap to let him go, since they want to avoid paying too much of the luxury tax. But I think fans also need to realize that $4 million devoted to Ronny Turiaf annually will count against the salary cap, and in a few years that could be $4 million less than they have to acquire a big name player.

--I don't know quite what to believe in the whole Elton Brand saga, but between the David Falk negotiating ploys and Mike Dunleavy's comments, I do know this... if Elton Brand really wanted to be a Clipper then he'd be one right now.

If Brand had opted out and openly said he was exploring all his options, then I don't think he'd be criticized as much as he is right now. We can pick at Brand's words all we want, but he clearly led the Clippers and its fans to believe he wanted to return, and that he'd be more likely to do so if the organization improved. With the acquisition of Baron Davis, they did just that. I have to give credit to Davis for sticking with his commitment, even when few would have faulted him for bailing after Brand bailed.

As for Brand, it now appears that the money being offered from Philadelphia and LA was equal, and David Falk had to know that the Clippers would go as high as they could for him. I doubt they issued an "ultimatum", but they probably did tell Brand that $70 million was the most that they could do under the salary cap. When Brand waffled, they renounced the rights to some free agents, and went up to $75 million. Then they renounced the rights to more free agents, and were at $80 million.

Now the Clippers have renounced the rights to five players, including Shaun Livingston. Oh, and rookie Eric Gordon is already injured and will miss the remainder of the summer league. It's a tough time to be a Clipper fan.

--Earlier this week, we discussed the rumors about the Jacksonville Jaguars potentially being sold and moved to LA. But Sam Farmer in the LA Times, notes that it's not easy for the team to leave Jacksonville. The Jaguars have a lease that runs through 2030. They can get out of it if they can prove losses for three consecutive seasons, but that won't be easy in today's NFL. Even if they did leave, the team could be forced to repay tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue to the city of Jacksonville.

The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver is negotiating to sell the team to billionaire Dean Metropoulos, the former Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Foods. Metropoulos could then move the team to Los Angeles. Theoretically, the "LA Jaguars" could play at the Coliseum or Rose Bowl until Ed Roski's new stadium is built in the City of Industry.

However, Weaver today denied the reports and claims his team is not for sale.

"I'm not selling the Jaguars," Weaver said. "The team is not moving to LA. I don't know how I can say it any more clearly than that. At some point, maybe I will sell the team. But not now."

Obviously, it's hard to know what is really going on. And now that LA has a viable stadium plan with Roski, it's normal to expect multiple teams to be rumored to move here. Many will also try to use LA as leverage to get better stadium situations at home. But the Jaguars are not in a great situation in Jacksonville, and despite Wayne Weaver's denial, he did not rule out selling the team either.

The move is rather shocking for several reasons. When Davis agreed to terms with the Clippers, a mere 24 hours after the NBA free agent period began, many observers assumed that the move had been prearranged between Brand and Davis. When Brand opted out of his contract, he indicated that it was done partially for the Clippers to obtain extra salary cap room and sign a big-name free agent... like a Baron Davis. He explicitly said that it was his intent to remain a Clipper. And while most players who have been in a Clipper uniform for any extended period of time seem desperate to take the first plane out of town, Brand had established firm roots in Los Angeles, having set up a production company and produced the movie Rescue Dawn.

While the Sixers will have one of the better Eastern Conference teams now with Brand, Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, and Samuel Dalembert, it's hard to argue that a Clipper team with Brand, Davis, Eric Gordon, and Chris Kaman wouldn't have been better. Now, Elton Brand, who has always had a squeaky clean image, will branded in this town as a traitor.

As for the Clippers, one can't help but feel for them. The organization finally seemed to be doing everything right, bringing in one star player to complement another, and spending big money to do so. They offered Brand as much as they could have, and it's not clear that it was much less than what Philadelphia offered. Now they theoretically have plenty of cap room to go after some big free agents. But many of the top names have already made their decisions, including Corey Maggette who reached terms with the Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers are rumored to be interested in signing Josh Smith from Atlanta, a budding superstar who has shown immaturity, but Smith is a restricted free agent, meaning the Hawks can match any offer. They could also make a run at a restricted free agent like Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls. Or they could wait to use that cap space on a big free agent next year.

While it's easy to be cynical about the Dodgers current standing, it's hard to deny that they have been playing visibly better baseball of late. The Dodgers are 8-3 in their last 11 games, and appear to have bought into Joe Torre's system. Torre's New York teams always seemed to get better as the season wore on, and it's possible that we'll see the same with the Dodgers. One of Torre's strengths is his ability to manage a clubhouse for a full 162 game schedule, and keep a team mentally strong through the ebbs and flows of a long season. The Dodgers may still be in a transition period, but it's nice to see Torre's influence begin to rub off on this bunch.

In the meantime, some Dodger fans are upset that the team couldn't pull off of a deal for CC Sabathia, who wound up with the Brewers. While Sabathia would have been a fantastic addition, as Bill Shaikin points out in the LA Times today, the Dodgers didn't really match up well for a trade with the Indians.

Some have bemoaned that the Dodgers are trying to win with "kids," but in reality, the best way to win in baseball these days is by building a solid foundation through a strong farm system. While it can be extremely frustrating to watch some of their young players go through growing pains, it's the right way to go. The Dodgers are on their fifth general manager this decade and have been inconsistent in recent years because they haven't had the leadership in place long enough to be patient with a plan.

A few days ago, Bill Plaschke in the LA Times said the Dodger young players have been "coddled." I'm not in the Dodger clubhouse, so I don't know what is really happening. But as Jon Weisman points out in Dodger Thoughts, that seems a bit far-fetched. Weisman notes that most of the Dodger young players have been sent down, benched, and/or criticized in the media. Yet I would argue that Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, James Loney, Blake DeWitt, Chad Billingsley, and Jonathan Broxton have all earned their places in Dodger lineup. Also, from my perception, Ned Colletti and Joe Torre don't seem like the type of people who would coddle anyone.

I do think the young Dodgers could benefit from some veteran leadership though. The Tampa Bay Rays (which I have close connections to) are having an excellent season thus far and have benefited from the additions of Troy Percival and Cliff Floyd. Both players have been fantastic veteran leaders on one of baseball's youngest teams, and they have played an instrumental role in leading the Rays to the best record in baseball to this point. Down in Orange County, I think the Angels have really been helped by the leadership that Torii Hunter provides.

While it's possible the Dodger veterans are providing this leadership, I don't recall having read too many articles or quotes praising them in this role. I have read quotes from Jeff Kent criticizing his younger teammates though. It's also worth noting that many of the Dodger veterans have been injured this season, and there have been large chunks of this season when the Dodgers have had a higher payroll on the DL than on the field. It is somewhat difficult for a player to lead when he's at the training table or on a rehab assignment

If the Dodgers can continue to get healthy, and if they can continue to learn from Joe Torre, then I do like their chances to improve in the second half. They are fortunate to be tied for first place considering all of their struggles this season. But it does seem like they're getting better at the right time.

The two moves make the Clippers a very relevant team in the NBA. For the first time, they have legitimate superstar player who can move the needle here in Los Angeles. Davis is an LA native, and I absolutely love his game. Stealing him from the Golden State Warriors is a coup. He brings playmaking ability that the Clippers have never had, he's a terrific complement to Brand, and he allows the Clippers to bring Eric Gordon along slowly.

Still, while Davis is a great player, he has a history of injuries, and he doesn't necessarily guarantee the Clippers a playoff berth in a conference where Portalnd is much improved, Denver, Utah, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Dallas are pretty darned good too, and the Lakers are still LA's team. But this move is a major shot in the arm for a franchise that sorely needed one. The Clippers are now certainly in the mix with the other good Western Conference teams, and it's hard for them to ask for a whole lot more.

Over the years, people have criticized Donald Sterling for refusing to spend money on players in an effort to pocket profits. But that criticism hasn't been accurate recently. Sterling is now paying large contracts to Chris Kaman, Cuttino Mobley, Tim Thomas, and now Brand and Davis. He was also paying a large contract to Corey Maggette. Now all of those contracts aren't necessarily great, but it's awfully hard to say Sterling is cheap these days. Give him credit for spending money and trying to improve the product on the court.

As for the rest of the team, we still haven't heard any substantial trade rumors about Lamar Odom. It appears Mitch Kupchak believes that coming back with the same team plus a healthy Andrew Bynum should be enough to push the Lakers ahead one extra step. That's not a bad philosophy, but given Odom's frustrating play in the Finals and that he has just one year left on his contract, they will at least have to consider trade options. Two weeks ago, we mentioned Richard Jefferson as a possibility, but he's already been dealt to Milwaukee.

--As for the Clippers, both Elton Brand and Corey Maggette opted out of their contracts. Maggette's move was expected, and Brand was only a mild surprise. Brand has said publicly that he is still intent on staying on as a Clipper and working out a long-term contract. Still, both Memphis and Philadelphia have cap room and could potentially sign him. Also, it's well-known that Pat Riley has salivated over Brand for years, and he'd love to work out a sign-and-trade for Brand to come to the Heat. The Clippers would probably have to settle for Shawn Marion if they were stuck in that situation.

Maggette has also said that he'd like to stay, but hasn't seemed quite as bullish about it. While he's reportedly a favorite of owner Donald Sterling, he has butted heads with head coach Mike Dunleavy. It's more likely that Maggette leaves the Clippers, possibly through a sign-and-trade that could net LA a high quality player in return, or an expiring contract.

The big news today in Clipperland though is their sudden pursuit of Baron Davis, who surprisingly opted out of his deal with the Golden State Warriors last night. Davis is an LA native who went to Crossroads for high school and then played at UCLA. They can afford him under the cap if they renounce their free agent rights to Maggette. And if they can re-sign Brand, bring in Davis, and pair the duo with Eric Gordon, then the Clippers are a very interesting basketball team.

Meanwhile Davis said he preferred to remain a Warrior, while not ruling out the Clippers. In an e-mail sent to ESPN.com's J.A. Adande, Davis wrote: "Clipps r possible. G State is where I wanna b."

The Clippers are also pursuing Beno Udrih, although it's not completely certain how he fits into this mix now that Davis is on their radar. Another possibility is Gilbert Arenas, an LA native who went to Grant High School in Van Nuys. Getting him in Clipper red and blue would be an absolute coup. However, Arenas has spurned the Clippers in the past and right now the smart money is on him choosing to stay in Washington.

Still, either Arenas or Davis would give the Clippers enough star power to be relevant on the crowded LA sports scene, and either paired with Brand should be enough to get them into the playoffs in a competitive Western Conference.