California Life News Room

Santa Margarita was dealt a huge blow before the football season even started. Harry Welch, the Eagles’ new head coach, announced he had prostate cancer.

His announcement shocked his players to the bone.

After consecutive 3-7 seasons, the Eagles were looking to rebound with Welch, one of the most successful coaches in CIF Southern Section history.

Welch decided to have surgery during Santa Margarita’s bye week. Days later, he made yet another shocking announcement.

Welch did not intend to skip any games to recover, he was going to make an immediate comeback to the sidelines.

The Eagles went on to have one of their most successful seasons, after a successful surgery that has left Harry Welch cancer free.

Check out my story airing Statewide on California Life or visit www.californialifehd.com

The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a blistering start.

The back-to-back defending champs are 8-1, and are off to their best start since the 1997-98 team that went 11-0.

The early season success can be attributed to the new and improved Lakers bench: “The Killer B’s.”

Free agent additions Steve Blake and Matt Barnes have infused new life and energy to the purple and gold.

Blake has been a perfect addition to the Lakers patient triangle offense. He’s a deadly three-point shooter (50% 3PT FG) who can stretch the floor, and looks to pass first.

Barnes is the Lakers’ energizer bunny. The guy never stops moving.

The former UCLA product is averaging nearly six rebounds, while playing only 20 minutes per game.

By the way, both these guys are as tough as they come.

Youtube Steve Blake and Matt Barnes and you’ll find them involved in numerous scuffles. Blake once went toe-to-toe with the two-time defensive player of the year Dwight Howard, while Barnes wasn’t afraid to get inside Kobe Bryant’s face last year.

The final ‘B’ off the Lakers bench is Shannon Brown.

While “Shan-Wow” earned his nickname by thrilling Lakers fans with his high flying dunks, Brown came into this season wanting to be more than just a dunker.

His work in the summer paid off.

He’s averaging 10 points per game, while shooting well above his career averages.

As scary as the Lakers’ bench is right now, they only stand to get better.

Lamar Odom stands to go back to the pine once Andrew Bynum returns. Odom, has been one of the most improved players in the NBA this year, after helping Team USA win the gold medal in the FIBA World Championships over the summer.

The Lakers bench has enough talent to rival some teams’ starters. The only team with a bench that can compare is the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics and Lakers play in Los Angeles on the 30th of January. They play again just 11 days later. The title of the best bench in the league will be on the line.

That is until they meet once more in the NBA Finals.

-Jonathan Khamis, The Orange County Register
-Follow me on twitter @jonathankhamis

The nation’s most prestigious college basketball program uncharacteristically struggled last year.

Some of that was due to graduation. First round NBA draft picks Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday weren’t around last year.

The Bruins were left with a inexperienced team that finished 14-18. One of the worst records in the last fifty years of UCLA basketball.

But optimism is growing around Westwood.

Returning starters Reeves Nelson and Tyler Honeycutt are going to be counted on to do most of the heavy lifting.

And if you haven’t seen Nelson play yet. Think of a crash test dummy with a round ball in his hands. The guy’s not afraid to do the dirty work. His black eye on media day was evidence of that.

Incoming prep high schools stars Tyler Lamb (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) and Josh Smith (Covington, Wash./Kentwood) will also bring new life to the Bruins.

While Josh Smith may have to lose some weight before he actually makes an impact, the same cannot be said for Tyler Lamb.

Lamb, the 2009 Orange County basketball player of the year, is ready to contribute right away.

“He’s going to play a major role this year. There’s no question,” said UCLA head coach Ben Howland.

A lot of that has to do with the conditioning Tyler Lamb has kept himself in.

“He’s got a man’s body, so it’s not like he’s going to be outclassed,” Howland said.

Perhaps the biggest impact Lamb will make will be on the defensive side of the ball. His full court pressure defense he played along with all-county selections Keala King (Arizona State) and Gary Franklin (Cal) stifled opponents last year.

“All the defensive techniques, I learned at Mater Dei,” said Lamb. “It’s really helped me a lot, so I haven’t had to adjust as much.”

The Bruins haven’t won a championship since 1995, and while championship aspirations are a lofty goal for this young Bruins squad, Tyler Honeycutt remains excited.

“I haven’t been more excited for a season,” said Honeycutt. “I feel good about this team.”

UCLA opens up the regular season against Cal State Northridge on Friday.

Watch my coverage this week on California Life by visiting www.californialifehd.com

Jonathan Khamis Jakkedup.blogspot.com

The Orange County Register conducts the OC Surfer of the Year contest every year. The event has been going on for three years now, and it continues to be one of our most popular events, as evidenced by the 500,000 votes cast by our readers.

Repeat winners included the shortboarder of the year Brett Simpson.

The uber popular surfer took home his third straight award. He also went on to win the 2010 US Open of Surfing, taking home $100,000. That was his second consecutive US Open championship, so he’s raking in the dough.

He was also joined by fellow repeat winners, Joe Aaron and Courtney Conlogue.

I love Aaron’s style. He’s the Shaun White of surfing. His red locks are easy to spot wherever he’s surfing, and his style is undeniable.

Conlogue is another surfer who keeps racking up awards. The 18-year-old, from Santa Ana (NOT a surf town), continues to inspire young female surfers.

Finally, the Rising Star award went to Joe Thornton of San Clemente high school. The soft spoken 16-year-old is already turning heads, and the Rising Star award will only elevate his status.

Congrats to all the winners!
Check out the segment on this week’s show:  www.californialifehd.com

The national swimming championships did not disappoint. After watching Michael Phelps dominate the last two Olympics, it was a thrill to watch him do it in person.

After all, the guy is one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.

The 14-time gold medalist earned his record breaking 50th national title, as the crowd in Irvine went wild.

Even though he hails from Baltimore, Phelps was clearly the fans’ favorite. Aaron Peirsol of Newport Beach had a nice reception, but most people were there to see Phelps.

It was only fitting that he won his 50th national championship in just over 50 seconds.

Does the 25-year-old have enough in him to dominate another Olympics?

We’re two years away from the summer games in London, and I wouldn’t bet against him.

Watch this week’s profile on Michael Phelps on California Life or view online by visiting www.californialifehd.com

Jonathan Khamis
Jakkedup.blogspot.com
twitter.com/jonathankhamis

I covered UCLA Spring Football this week on California Life. Kevin Prince struggled in UCLA’s final spring scrimmage throwing only five completions with an interception. The running game took awhile to get going as well, but Derrick Coleman finished strong with 64 yards and a touchdown.
The plight with the pistol offense can be attributed to the defense. The Bruins’ Alex Mascarenas and Marlon Pollard each had bone-crushing hits that left the fans satisfied, but not head coach Rick Neuheisel.

He still believes that there is enough time to tweak the offense in time for the fall, but there is still plenty of work to be done.

Also, the stars were out in force Saturday night. Hall of fame receiver Jerry Rice was in attendance watching his son Jerry Rice Jr. Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and David Beckham were hanging out in the background as well. Brady was tossing footballs to Beckham’s sons.

UCLA Football on California Life

@ twitter.com/jonathankhamis