Monday's poll: Should the Dodgers trade Chad Billinglsey for Roy Halladay?

One of the big rumors of the off-season has the Dodgers acquiring ace Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays for Chad Billingsley and two other players (whose names change depending on which rumor you listen to).

Our own Jon Weisman makes an excellent case here as to why trading Billingsley for Halladay is a bad idea.

But what do you think? Good trade or bad? Vote in today's poll, then leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did.

-- Houston Mitchell

UCLA football: DT Willie Mobley commits to Arizona

Willie Mobley, the defensive tackle that UCLA hoped would plug a need next season, said he will attend Arizona next year.

Mobley, who left Ohio State in August, tried to transfer to UCLA, but was unable to gain admission. He is attending Orange Coast College, where he needed to get his associate of arts degree in core classes to be admitted into UCLA.

“Some unfortunate things happened and I’m committed to Arizona,” said Mobley, pictured at right.

Mobley said he would be unable to fulfill UCLA requirements before December, meaning he would miss a second season. He can be admitted into Arizona next summer.

“I didn’t know it was that bad,” Mobley said. “Credit wise, it would be impossible to get into UCLA.”

Arizona, he said, “has different rules. I can get my regular AA and enroll.”

UCLA’s coaching staff was hoping that Mobley would be able to fill a key spot next season. The Bruins are thin at defensive tackle, and about to het thinner. Jerzy Siewierski and Jess Ward, to of the four defensive tackles the Bruins use, are seniors. Junior Brian Price, the team’s top defensive tackle, may declare for the NFL draft after this season.

Mobley was originally recruited by UCLA, but picked Ohio State after Karl Dorrell was fired as to Bruins coach. He was a redshirt at Ohio State last season and will have three years of eligibility when he enrolls at Arizona.

“This has nothing to do with the [UCLA] coaching staff,” Mobley said. “It’s about academics. After sitting down for weeks and weeks with my counselors at OCC, I learned it was going to be impossible to get into UCLA. It’s unfortunately, but they have their own rules.”

-- Chris Foster

Lakers roll past the Thunder, 101-85

The Lakers drubbed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 101-85, this evening at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant had 26 points, including a pair of difficult-to-fathom shots that delighted the crowd.

Pau Gasol, in his second game back from a hamstring injury, had 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Andrew Bynum had 25 points on nine-for-11 shooting.

The shot of the game, if not the month, happened with 2:01 left in the first quarter. Bryant was being pushed to the baseline by Thunder rookie James Harden, so he shot from behind the basket at an impossible angle. The ball went over the backboard and through the hoop, leading to a burst of noise from the crowd.

For good measure, Bryant picked up a loose ball in the final seconds of the first quarter and scored on a hurried 15-foot fling.

-- MIke Bresnahan

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant pulls up for a shot over Thunder guard James Harden -- and the backboard. The shot went in. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Joe Talamo rides five winners at Hollywood Park

Joe Talamo, the 19-year-old jockey, was red-hot at Hollywood Park on Sunday, riding five winners, including Bickersons in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Bickerson won by 2 1/2 lengths over Miss Heather Lee in the seven-furlong feature. Talamo also won with Outside Shot in the first race, Brady Blue Eyes in the third, Sky Victor in the fifth and  A Jealous Woman in the ninth.

Talamo last won five races when he was an apprentice riding in Louisiana. He was going to celebrate by attending the Lakers game at Staples Center. He now has 10 victories during the Hollywood Park meeting, putting him one behind leader Joel Rosario.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Photo: Joe Talamo. Credit: Donald Miralle, Discovery Communications.

BCS rankings Week 13

A dramatic, double-overtime win against Arizona on Saturday night paid off for Oregon today, with the Ducks jumping three spots to No. 8 in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

Oregon replaced Louisiana State in the eighth position after the Tigers of Baton Rouge lost to Mississippi.

The rest of the BCS top 10 remained unchanged, with the undefeated schools -- Florida, Alabama, Texas, Texas Christian, Cincinnati and Boise State -- holding down the top six spots.

Georgia Tech, which had a bye week, remained at No. 7, with Oregon, Pittsburgh and Ohio State rounding out the top 10.

Florida leads the BCS with an average of .9664, followed by Alabama at .9614 and Texas at .9263.

Alabama, with a 45-0 over Chattanooga, seized the top spot in the computer component from Florida, a 62-3 winner against Florida International.

It’s a big week for the BCS top three, as all face dangerous rivalry games. Florida hosts Florida State, Alabama is at Auburn and Texas travels to Texas A&M.

The Atlantic Coast leads all conferences with five teams in this week’s top 25: Georgia Tech (7), Virginia Tech (14), Miami (17), Clemson (18) and North Carolina (24). The Southeastern and Pac-10 have four schools each represented in the standings.

The top two schools in the final standings on Dec. 6 will play Jan. 7 for the BCS title at the Rose Bowl.

You can see the complete rankings here.

-- Chris Dufresne

chris.dufresne@latimes.com

UCLA basketball: Nikola Dragovic remains day-to-day

UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic will remain suspended through Monday night's game against Pepperdine after meeting with Coach Ben Howland on Friday to discuss his legal troubles.

Dragovic faces a felony assault charge stemming from an altercation at a Hollywood concert last month. The incident was made public Friday and he was suspended for the Cal State Bakersfield game that night.

"We have to get more information that's going to be given to the appropriate people here on our campus," Howland said.

The coach said he learned enough from his meeting with the senior to feel comfortable that he knows the details of what happened, but declined to comment further, saying, "This is a legal case. This is a case that is obviously pending."

Dragovic was expected to attend practice this afternoon but will not be allowed to participate. Similarly, Howland said, Dragovic could sit on the bench in street clothes for the Pepperdine game.

Describing his meeting with Dragovic on Friday night, Howland said, "It was a long day for him. He was obviously very apologetic and felt terrible about this whole situation."

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA's Nikola Dragovic blocks a shot during a game last season against Oregon. Credit: Los Angeles Times.

Kings' Jarret Stoll injured; reinforcements might be on the way

Center Jarret Stoll didn't take part in the Kings' practice today because of an undisclosed lower-body injury he suffered during the last five minutes of Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames, a club spokesman said.

Stoll's status for Wednesday's game at Edmonton is unclear, but it's likely the Kings will call up someone from their Manchester farm team before they leave for their trip to Edmonton and Vancouver, Canada.

Defenseman Rob Scuderi, out since he sustained a lower-body injury Nov. 14, skated alone before the rest of the team today and might be able to play Wednesday.

-- Helene Elliott

Sunday's question: Is the college football season too long, too short, or just right?

Reporters from around the Tribune family tackle the question of the day, then you get a chance to chime in and tell them why they are wrong.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times

The problem isn't that the college football season is too long or too short. The problem is that it is too long for some and too short for others and that could be rectified if the Big Ten would toss in bye weekends and extend the season beyond, well, now. The Big Ten campaign, folks, is over. It ended on Saturday, Nov. 21, with Ohio State winning the outright title, Other schools, though, will be playing games through Dec. 5, with Army and Navy closing out the regular season on Dec. 12. One reason the Big Ten has struggled in BCS bowls might be the fact the players have sometimes had more than 50 days off between games. Penn State Coach Joe Paterno has admitted this has hurt the Big Ten, which went 1-6 in bowls last year. Consider: Oregon and Oregon State are playing Dec. 3 to determine who will play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on Jan.1. It makes sense the Oregon/Oregon State winner will be sharper than the rusty Buckeyes. 

Photo: Ohio State players celebrate with fans after defeating Michigan on Saturday. Credit: AP.

Sunday's poll: Should Ralph Lawler and Mike Smith have been suspended for their comments?

You can read what they said here. Clippers announcers Ralph Lawler and Mike Smith were suspended for one game for their comments about an Iranian player, Hamed Haddadi, on the Memphis Grizzlies during Wednesday's game. Was that the right thing to do? Vote in today's poll, then leave a comment letting us know why you voted the way you did.

-- Houston Mitchell

Ducks-Sharks: Ducks lose to Sharks 3-2

The Ducks lost 3-2 to San Jose, marking the fourth consecutive time the Ducks lost to the Sharks at the Honda Center.

Go to latimes.com/sports for more Ducks coverage.

--Mark Medina

Ducks-Sharks: Ducks & Sharks tied at 2-2 after second period

The Ducks began and ended the second period on a high note.

Sharks winger Dany Heatley was called for tripping at the end of the first period, meaning the Ducks opened the second with a power play.

At 1:20, Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski rifled a shot from the blue line past Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov for the 1-0 lead.

At 19:46, defenseman Ryan Whitney scored on a 5-on-3 power play to tie it up at 2-2.

It brought closure to quite an eventful second period.

After Wisniewski's goal, both teams fired several shots over the next few minutes that were deflected, including one fired by Sharks defenseman Kent Huskins that hit the referee at 3:52. San Jose eventually answered with winger Ryan Clowe firing a long-distance shot at 8:08 to tie the game at 1-1.

Whitney was then called for a cross-checking penalty at 10:12 and the Sharks' top line featuring Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau made the Ducks pay just like Philadelphia did the night before with the three combining for eight points.

Heatley, who entered tonight's game with a league-leading 17 goals, scored on a power-play goal off a pass from Thornton at 10:54 for the 2-1 lead.

But then Huskins was called for holding at 18:55 and Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray was called for interference at 19:46. Ducks winger Corey Perry nearly scored on the power play but Nabokov stopped him at the doorstep. Off a rebound, the puck went to the near side to Whitney, who nullified his penalty with a goal.

The Ducks will enter the third period on with 1:38 remaining on the power play.

-- Mark Medina

Ducks-Sharks: 0-0 after first period

Despite the Ducks and San Jose Sharks combining for 17 shots, the teams remain at 0-0 after the first period.

But the game hasn't lacked energy.

At 3:31, Ducks winger George Parros fought with San Jose winger Frazer McLaren and eventually brought him to the ground, resulting in a five-minute major for both teams. It ignited the Ducks and the fans at Honda Center alike.

San Jose (15-5-4), which is coming off a back-to-back in a 6-3 win Friday over the Philadelphia Flyers, displayed similar energy.

But both defenses stayed resilient, led by Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller and San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Hiller is making his second consecutive start while Nabokov is backstopping the SHarks despite playing in Friday's contest.

It appeared San Jose would have its best scoring chance when Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski was called for hooking at 17:41. But the power play was unsuccessful.

Fortunately for the Ducks, they don't have as thin as team as they have thought they were entering tonight's game.

Center Saku Koivu returned after missing the past five games because of a groin muscle. Wisniewksi returned after a bruised foot he suffered in the first period Thursday against Tampa Bay sidelined him for the rest of the game. And defenseman Steve Eminger also played after missing Thursday's game because of back spasms.

Winger Joffrey Lupul (tightness in his lower body) is a scratch along with defenseman Sheldon Brookbank.

-- Mark Medina

UFC 106: Forrest Griffin beats Tito Ortiz by split decision

In a rematch of their memorable 2006 fight in Anaheim, former UFC light-heavyweight champions Tito Ortiz of Huntington Beach and Forrest Griffin of Las Vegas renewed acquaintances in Ortiz's UFC comeback fight following a contract split last year.

Griffin dominated the third and final round, blitzing Ortiz with hard rights to the face and combinations that included hard shots to the body and tough kicks to the left leg. Ortiz was cut under the left eye in the round and sustained some good combinations.

The judges saw it like this: split-decision win for Griffin.

Ortiz, as usual, had a memorable ring entrance with Eminem blaring at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, waving the American flag.

First round:

Ortiz takes a right standing up, but charges and lands a right. Ortiz takes down Griffin and tries to ground and pound with some elbows flying. Griffin gets up, the pair end up reversing each other against the cage.

Griffin kicks Ortiz in the left leg, like he did against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Griffin hits Ortiz with a right-left combo punch to face. Ortiz misses a takedown. Both guys jab.

I give the round to Griffin.

Second round:

Ortiz takes down Griffin, smacks him with elbows. Griffin gets back up. Griffin kicks Ortiz in the mouth, knocking out Tito's mouthpiece. Tito takes down Griffin again, Griffin playing defense on ground versus former CIF champion wrestler.

Ortiz sends some elbows and fists to Griffin's face on the mat. Griffin's cut under the left eye, and now has a nasty cut at the right eye. Gushing everywhere. Griffin reverses Ortiz, trying to win round. Some pushing post-bell.

I give the round to Ortiz.

-----

The co-main event, a welterweight clash pitting San Jose fighters Anthony Johnson and Josh Koscheck, will put the winner in prime position for a title shot at champion Georges St-Pierre.

Koscheck initially got the better of stand-up striking exchanges before Johnson popped in two jabs. Johnson slipped a clench, but then committed a rule-breaking violation by sending a right knee toward Koscheck's head.

Kneeing on the mat, Koscheck appeared to have got his arm up in time to deflect the blow toward his right eye. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the action and deducted a point from Johnson for the illegal knee. A ringside doctor was summoned and reported to the ref that Koscheck had "blurry vision as a result of the foul."

Still, the fight resumed and Koscheck turned to wrestling. Johnson was seen with a small cut over the left eye.

In the second round, Johnson was poked in the left eye twice in the first minutes. Both fighters had a lively exchange of blows in the center of the octagon. Koscheck got Johnson on his back and sent a few damaging elbows to the 25-year-old's head.

Koscheck (12-4) maneuvered behind Johnson (8-3), squeezing under Johnson's thin tight, forcing Johnson to tap out by the rear naked chokehold with 13 seconds left in the round.

Koscheck called out Dan Hardy, ridiculing his status as the top welterweight contender afterward.

"He ain't fought nobody like me," Koscheck told Joe Rogan in the postfight interview.

UFC 106 is loaded with welterweight action, and the third of four bouts featured Brazil's Paulo Thiago (12-1) vs. Minnesota's Jacob Volkmann (9-1).

Thiago cut the bridge of Volkmann's nose early in the bout, then capped the first round with a right to the face that knocked him down. Thiago again sent Volkmann to the canvas with a kick to the body early in the second. The stronger Thiago also battered Volkmann on the mat.

Volkmann had a few moments of challenging Thiago, getting him in a choke late in the third, but it was too little, and the Brazilian won a unanimous decision.

Jockey Garrett Gomez falls at Hollywood Park

Jockey Garrett Gomez (pictured at left) avoided serious injuries after the horse he was riding in the ninth race Saturday at Hollywood Park broke down in the stretch, sending him to the ground.

Gomez was transported to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood but  X-rays on his shoulder and elbow were negative.

The horse Gomez was riding, Bonnie Brown Eyes, a 2-year-old filly, broke her right front leg, fell, hit her neck and died instantly, according to the Daily Racing Form.

.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Photo credit: Jonathan Alcorn / AFP / Getty Images

Ducks: Ryan Carter expected to be out an additional four weeks

 

Ducks center Ryan Carter is expected to miss an additional four weeks after a second X-ray revealed a fracture in his right foot, the team announced.

Carter hasn't been on the ice since a Nov. 12 practice where he was hit by a shot from defenseman Ryan Whitney. Coach Randy Carlyle had suggested this week that Carter's injury appeared to be more serious than initially indicated.

The team cited a "lack of improvement" in his injury that spurred Carter to have the second X-ray taken.

-- Mark Medina

Photo: Ducks center Ryan Carter is congratulated by teammate Mike Brown after scoring in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 14. Credit: Francis Specker / Associated Press

UCLA basketball: Dragovic decision still pending

UCLA Coach Ben Howland will not make any announcement today regarding suspended forward Nikola Dragovic, a team spokesman said.

Dragovic faces a felony assault charge in relation to an altercation at a Hollywood concert last month. He surrendered to police on Friday and was later released on bail.

Despite the fact that Dragovic told the team about the altercation soon after it occurred -- and Howland accompanied him to meet with police on Friday -- the coach said he knew few details about what happened.

The Bruins' only returning starter, Dragovic was suspended for Friday night's game against Cal State Bakersfield. Howland said he would decide on any further suspension after meeting with the player and with university administrators.

Dragovic had a brush with the law early last season, arrested after an incident with his former girlfriend. The city attorney decided not to file charges but left open the possibility of revisiting the case within a year.

"That will be taken into account," Howland said after the Bakersfield game. "This is a second incident."

The coach is scheduled to speak with reporters on Sunday afternoon. UCLA plays against Pepperdine at Pauley Pavilion on Monday night.

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic forces Humboldt State's Kevin Atkins to pass on a drive down the lane. Credit: Chris Carlson / Associated Press

Lakers' Andrew Bynum misses another practice

For the second consecutive day, Lakers center Andrew Bynum was unable to practice because of an injured ankle.

Bynum, who rolled his right ankle during Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bulls, said after Friday's practice that he would play Sunday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center.

But Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said after practice Saturday that they weren't "sure" if Bynum would play.

Bynum will be a game-time decision.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Lakers center Andrew Bynum gets inside Chicago's defense for a layup on Thursday night. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Ducks still keeping their eyes on injuries

There were very few answers Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle provided after this morning's skate regarding who will suit up in tonight's game against the San Jose Sharks. And this time, it didn't involve goaltenders Jonas Hiller and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Carlyle considers the status of center Saku Koivu (groin muscle), defenseman James Wisniewski (bruised foot) and defenseman Steve Eminger (back spasms) as "warm-up decisions." Carlyle deems winger Joffrey Lupul (tightness in his lower body) to be "probably doubtful," but still kept open the possibility he could play. The only definitive answer is that center Ryan Carter (bruised foot) will sit out his fifth consecutive game.

Regardless of who shows up on the ice tonight, it's fair to say there will be missing parts.

UCLA football: Bruins defeat Arizona State, 23-13

Although the final score was UCLA 23, Arizona State 13, the real score in the game was 6-0. That would be six turnovers for the Sun Devils and zero for the Bruins.

Bruins cornerback Alterraun Verner opened the scoring in the game with a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown and Akeem Ayers scooped up a fumble by ASU quarterback Samson Szakacsy, who was hit by defensive tackle Brian Price, and scored on a nine-yard return with 1:19 left before halftime to set the tone in the victory.

UCLA (6-5, 3-5 in Pacific 10 Conference play), which became eligible for a bowl with the win, forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Kai Forbath made the second of his three field goals on the afternoon for a 20-7 lead at halftime.

Bruins quarterback Kevin Prince, who was roughed up a couple of times and left the game late in the third quarter with a leg injury before returning in the fourth, completed 15 of 31 passes for 161 yards. He also ran for 42 yards in six carries. Chane Moline added 84 yards in 25 carries, while Nelson Rosario had five receptions for 74 yards.

Szakacsy completed 15 of 22 passes for 197 yards and scoring strikes of 35 and 70 yards to Kyle Williams, who had six receptions for 128 yards on the day. Dimitri Nance led all rushers with 110 yards in 21 carries for Arizona State (4-7, 2-6). 

UCLA 23, Arizona State 13 (final)

The Sun Devils had two chances to close the gap on the Bruins in the final minutes, but one drive ended on a fourth-and-26 play when quarterback Samson Szakacsy fumbled as he was forced to scramble and their final possession ended on their sixth turnover of the game, another Szakacsy fumble in the pocket.

UCLA 23, Arizona State 13 (6:29 remaining)

For only the third time in his career, Bruins kicker Kai Forbath has missed a field-goal attempt of 50-plus yards.

George Parros blog: the thrill of victory, and lessons learned in the Ivy League...

Ahhhh sweet victory! I come to the blog-reader faithful with tales from the victor's locker room. I can't describe how nice it was to break our losing streak against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night at Honda Center. Maybe that is why I chose to blog later in the week because I could feel the win coming.

Honestly, it had to happen at some point. We have so much talent on our team and we all knew we were underachieving. A popular phrase that we have around the locker room is, "Don't get too high with the highs and too low with the lows." With that in mind, we were not a rambunctious group after the game but definitely a relieved one, already focusing on our next game and hoping to repeat the night's events and get some momentum going in the right direction.

Aside from winning, the game versus the Lightning was a fun one for me and some of the other guys as well.  Personally, it was fun to play against a friend of mine and fellow Princeton alumni, Jeff Halpern. There are not too many of us that make it to this level beyond the Hobey Baker Arena so it is always fun to play against a former Tiger, even though that punk scored against us and made the game a bit more interesting than we would have liked. I had a few choice words for Jeff out there and in turn he was yelling at me for cycling the puck past him while in the offensive zone.

 This game was also a special one for my linemate, MacGregor Sharp, as it was his first NHL game. There are few better feelings than playing in your first NHL contest and I was really excited for him and enjoyed being his linemate for that experience. Unfortunately for Sharpy, he lost the linemate lottery and played on my line, which tends to reduce a player's chances of recording a point. I think he will be around for a bit so we are going to work on that, though.

 It was also a big night for Evgeny Artyukhin, who was playing against his old team for the first time, which usually proves to be a weird experience. It's tough to play against all of your old friends and former teammates, but trust me -- it is a sweet moment when you can score against them and shove it in their face. Usually there are many reminders in the room before the game about how "they didn't want you" and jabs along those lines.  It makes for fun banter and hopefully lights a fire under that player. With Arty it was no exception: He made some great plays and had a huge hit.

I imagine this posting will come out right before or possibly after our game against San Jose. I can only hope that we build on our most recent success and put on a good show for the Honda Center crowd. I guess you'll have to check in next week to see if I ate humble pie or can claim Nostradamus status.

-- George Parros