All the ladies...independent...throw your hands up at me...

It’s Wednesday Spot fans, so you know what that means…time for the Spot’s weekly “Odds and Ends”.  Now you’ll notice that this week’s “Odds” will start off and end up with a strong female flavor to it…why might you ask?  Could it be because the Spot has always dug female athletes? (Ms. #1 did win a certain coach’s award for a certain sport at a certain area high school after all!)  Could it be because once upon a time the Spot’s prerequisits for women he’d date were that they had to be at least 6 feet tall and have the ability to hit the mid-range jumper?  Could it even be because the only Playboy the Spot has ever purchased was the one with Amanda Beard on the cover?  Nahhhh…. The truth of the matter is that this week’s “Odds and Ends” worthy stories just ended up a little more female centric than usual this week…so, to paraphrase a certain cable TV news channel…the Spot reports…you decide.

Alisha Valvanis, Associate Head Coach for Pacific Women’s Basketball resigned this past week to “pursue other career opportunities”.  Hmm, let’s see Coach Valvanis was in charge of the team’s defense.   The Tigers had a record of 6-22, were outscored by nearly 10 points per game, and gave up an average of 72.3 poins per game.  Yeah…the Spot is sure that had nothing to do with Coach Valvani’s departure…and in related news members of Congress announced they they do not lie, cheat or steal…

Speaking of Pacific Women’s Basketball…today marks the opening of Spring signing season for colleges and high school athletes.  Northern California and the valley has been a hot bed of high school girls basketball of late (the St. Mary’s High Rams anyone?) so where are most valley products heading off to play their college ball?...lets take a look at the list here…Chelsea Gray (St. Mary’s Stockton)- Duke, Afure Jemerigbe (St. Mary’s Stockton)- Cal, Brittney Shine (Sacramento H.S.)- Florida, Brandi Henton (Modesto Christian H.S.)- Long Beach State, Kyra Dunn (Sacramento H.S.)- Pitt, Alle Moreno (St. Mary’s Stockton)- Sacramento State…hmm, I notice something funny…no “Pacific” mentioned in any of those…after a 6 and 22 season..well…I’m not saying…I’m just saying…

And our final Pacific Women’s Basketball note of the week…word on the street is that the Lady Tigers will be playing the UCONN Huskies here in Stockton next season as a warm up for their game vs. Stanford down on the farm.  Yes, the same UCONN Huskies that are coached by Geno Auriema, defending National Champions and win by an average of billion points a game.  As much as the Spot is proud to be an alum of Pacific (twice over)…the chances of the Lady Tigers pulling this one off?...well, the UCONN players could always eat some really bad egg salad the night before….

Congrats to Pacific Freshman Tennis Player Christina Goehl for being one of the Big West's “Athletes of the Week”…to paraphrase my hero Ron Burgandy, “She’s from Germany, so you know she must be good”.

The Spot would like to give a major thumbs up to both the sports staff at the Butler Daily Collegian and Ilisa Kessler, General Manager of the FC Gold Pride of Women’s Professional Soccer.  The Spot was working on two stories of which required their assistance and both responded to my requests in no time!  Thanks for looking out for the little guy!

Speaking of recruiting, the guys have been hot on the recruiting trail also.  Pacific seems to be in play for Junior College 7 footer Illiwa Baldwin from Pratt Community College in Kansas, and he was recently on campus to pay a visit (hopefully it ran smoother than the Spot’s first visit to Pacific where he was treated to the “charms” of Grace Covell Hall).  While he apparently loved his visit to Pacific, playing in the Big West Conference seems to be holding him back from making a verbal commitment.  Gee…thanks a lot UC Riverside!....

For our fans down in Fresno…looks like the Bulldog Hoopsters are losing one as Brandon Sperling is transferring out of Fresno State.  With losing 3 of their top 6 players from last year’s team, Coach Cleveland might have a bit of a rough season in 2010-11.

As Bulldogs Football makes its way through Spring Practice, it’s looking like the Bulldogs will have to replace Ryan Matthews with a Running Back by Committee format.  New running backs, quarterback controversy…is it going to be a long season ‘Dog fans?

For all you hockey fans out there, the Stockton Thunder laid the smack down on Alaska in their first round play-off series and now move on to face the Bakersfield Condors with game one being in Bakersfield this Friday.  Fresno…Bakersfield…playoff hockey…somewhere in Canada the Spot’s relatives are just shaking their heads in disbelief.

A week and a half into the season and the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s are both in first place.  Last time that happened the Spot was busy trying to tell a certain political client from Fresno to NOT to get lost looking for the Farm Bureau…or at least don’t get caught while doing so…

Turning our attention up north, with a victory in…wait for it…wait for it…Women’s Rowing of all things, UC Davis wins the annual Causeway Cup over Sacramento State.  Frog hotels, the Causeway Cup, fans who actually show up at games…looks like Davis always seems to have a leg up on their rivals in the Capital City.

So the Sacramento Kings Tyreke Evans averaged 20-5-5 for the season.  He might even win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.  But mentioning him in the same sentence with Jordan, LeBron and the Big “O”?  I think I just threw up a little in my mouth…

Looking for something to do this weekend…well here ya go!...

Thursday, April 15^th- The Stockton Ports home opener is at 7pm at Banner Island Ballpark vs. the Visalia Rawhide.  The Spot will be out there on home run hill…and you can bet there will be a funnel cake in hand!  So get those taxes done and join us down at the ballpark!

Saturday, April 17^th – the FC Gold Pride of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) open up their home season vs. Sky Blue FC (New York) at Castro Valley High School…yeah yeah, it’s the Bay Area, not the Central Valley, but hey, you got a two-time FIFA player of the year, soccer balls getting kicked into the stands that you get to keep…and the Spot’s latest soccer hottie, the Pride’s Kelley O’Hara (hows’ you doin’)

Saturday, April 17^th  and 18th- Pacific Rowing’s “Deep Water Dash”.  Head out to Morelli Park on the Stockton Marina as Pacific Rowing takes on Sacramento State, Sonoma State and the California Maritime Academy Saturday starting at 8:30am and lasting all day.  On Sunday Pacific Rowing will hold a learn to row clinic starting at 10am.  Yes, the Spot will be out there on Sunday…here's to hoping he doesn’t have to revert to his days of having to dog paddle across the Merced River…

Till next time Spot fans….