Two consecutive regular season Big West Conference titles have yet to result into the Long Beach State women’s soccer team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Big West Tournament is one step on the path to redemption. “Every year we feel like we do well in the conference and we beat[Read More…]
Sports
A dream deferred
Not every Olympian is destined to be like swimmer Michael Phelps. That is a reality that U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone will have to live with. In these Olympics, we saw U.S. hurdler Lolo Jones stumble across the finish line in seventh after grazing the ninth hurdle while in the lead. We witnessed[Read More…]
Sports picks, Aug. 14
Women’s soccer 49ers ranked second in coaches’ poll Long Beach State was edged by UC Santa Barbara for the top spot in the Big West Conference preseason coaches Tuesday. The two-time defending regular season conference champions earned three first-place votes and 73 points from the nine coaches in the Big[Read More…]
The case for pro football in Los Angeles
Football season is almost here. With it brings a question that hangs over the Southland like the marine layer or afternoon smog. Why doesn’t Los Angeles have a pro football team? If you ask me, they already do. There is just one major difference. They play on Saturdays. I give[Read More…]
49er gold rush
Top-3 medal count: USA, 31 (10 gold, 8 silver, 13 bronze) China, 31 (19 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze) South Korea, 13 (6 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze) Long Beach State watch: Women’s indoor volleyball: USA def. Japan, 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-21) Cuba def. USA, 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-17)[Read More…]
Former 49ers looking for gold medals
When the torch is lit Friday night to mark the start of the 26th Summer Olympic Games, Long Beach State can count on six former 49ers and one current coach to be among the more than 10,000 athletes competing in Beijing. Men’s volleyball head coach Alan Knipe will be one[Read More…]
Trade shifts balance of power to AL West-leading Angels
“I think we know what caused the earthquake.” That was the message my friend Richard sent me as I was celebrating the biggest trade of the season, pulled off by the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday. Already sporting Major League Baseball’s best record, the Angels (66-40) traded first baseman Casey Kotchman[Read More…]
Water polo team prepares for daunting schedule
After a six-game improvement in 2007, head coach Gavin Arroyo and the rest of the Long Beach State men’s water polo team will look to top last year’s 17-11 mark in the upcoming season. Having lost many close games last season — seven of which were by one goal —[Read More…]
Forever enshrined
Don Bailey (1971-2007) retired from the Long Beach State athletic department after 36 years, including 34 as head athletic trainer. Starting in the late ‘70s, he started working with U.S. Olympic teams, including being named the head athletic trainer in 1990 for the men’s water polo teams at the 1996,[Read More…]
Women’s basketball fills coaching position
Jackie Zink said her strongest asset is her determination, but the one quality that could help the 49ers contend for a Big West title, however, is her experience. Zink was hired as a new women’s basketball assistant coach to fill a position left vacant by Jason Flowers, who accepted an[Read More…]