Alaska Sports Blog

Standing 6-foot-2, Sylvia Bullock isn’t as tall as a traditional shot blocker.

But she makes up for it with awesome athleticism.

Bullock, of her family’s fame, showed off her crazy ups last night in Coral Gables when she set a University of Miami record with eight blocked shots in a 68-54 win over Houston.

Even better, the victory kept the ‘U’ unbeaten at 5-0, the team’s best start in six seasons.

It’s a good thing Bullock went all Manute Bol, because she struggled offensively (2-7 FGs, 5 points) and managed to grab only four rebounds in 31 minutes.

The starting sophomore had six blocked shots in her previous four games, but against Houston she swatted five shots in the opening 8½ minutes.

Bullock is no stranger to big games. As an all-state senior at South High, she once grabbed an astounding 27 rebounds in one game.

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It’s been nearly a year to the day since Bradley University’s Will Egolf tore the ACL in his right knee, thus ending his freshman season after just 69 minutes.

The 6-foot-9 Juneau product is back on the court this season, although he brought something with him.

“To be honest, I hate putting on the brace. It reminds me that I tore my ACL,” Egolf told WYZZ-TV in Peoria, Ill.

“I’m doing good from the mental side. I usually forget injuries, it’s done. But this was so severe—there’s a brace, all those things. But I’m doing better than I thought I would.”

When healthy, Egolf can jump out of the gym.

“It’s coming. Every day I surprise myself and feel better every day,” Egolf said. “The soreness goes away, the swelling. It’s good.”

It’s been all good on the court, where Egolf is the team’s starting center as a sophomore for a Braves squad that has started 3-1. What’s more, the Alaskan has already scored more points and grabbed more rebounds than last year—in one less game, no less.

“When I first got back, the first couple of days I was trying to do everything at once,” he said.”Everyone was saying, ‘hey slow down.’ You’re not going to be the player you were just yet.”

Give the big guy a break, though. It’s a natural reaction to want to make up lost time after injuries took away your season.

“We’ve talked about 10-day increments,” Bradley coach Jim Les said. “These 10 days let’s focus on these two or three things. Let’s not try and be an offensive juggernaut or let’s not try and be the best player on the team.”

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The name John Brown will always carry special significance to Ketchikan High School basketball fans after he helped the Kings win four consecutive state championships from 1965 to 1968.

As a result, he became the first player in Alaska history to accomplish the four-peat.

Now, you can listen to him in action, thanks to Brown’s mom, who taped games in 1967 and 1968 via microphone and a local AM radio feed.

“John’s mother’s comments in the background are often pretty funny,” said Bob Kern of KFMJ radio in Ketchikan. “You can hear her admonishing, ‘John, John, John’ anytime he would foul someone, or you can hear her cheering when K-Hi scored.”

The vintage tapes were reportedly discovered in a storage area, Kern said, and they are the earliest known recordings of KTKN broadcasts.

“We’ve done our best to clean up the static and scratchy audio, and have digitized the games,” Kern said.

Listen to the tapes here.

The broadcasts feature some of Alaska’s legendary sportscasters such as Dick Lobdell of Anchorage, Steve Agbaba of Fairbanks and Mike Owen Hunt and Tom Friesen of Ketchikan.

“They’re a real slice of Alaska broadcast history,” Kern said.

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If you haven’t submitted your online Class of 2010 ballot for the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, that’s OK.

You still have time–although you better hurry.

The public can vote through Wednesday here.

The accumulative public vote is the equivalent to the vote of one Selection Panel member vote. Public vote results are reviewed by Selection Panel members before they complete their ballots.

The Class of 2010 will be announced on Nov. 30. The induction ceremony will take place at the ConocoPhillips atrium in February 2010.

“The public has played an important role in the selection process each year and I expect this trend will continue,” said Alaska Sports Hall of Fame President Harlow Robinson.

Last year 1,559 people completed a ballot, up from 1,171 in 2007 and 634 in 2006.

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University of Portland freshman Trevor Dunbar finished 76th out of 250 finishers today in the men’s cross country race at the NCAA Division I Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.

Dunbar, of Kodiak fame, was third on his team with a 10-K time of 30 minutes, 39 seconds. His splits were 8:51 (3-K), 15:02 (5-K) and 24:22 (8-K).

Portland finished 13th out of 31 teams, well behind national champion Oklahoma State.

It was the first time in four years that Dunbar didn’t capture the championship in his division after winning the Alaska Class 4A state title in each of his last three years of high school.

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For the last seven years, Andre Laws has moved more than U-haul.

He’s played professionally in Mexico, Jordan, Bosnia and Argentina as well as suiting up for NBA summer-league games for Cleveland and Milwaukee.

And he’s loved every minute of it.

“I pinch myself all the time and never try to take any days for granted because this type of opportunity doesn’t come around too often,” he told me recently. “I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to see different parts of the world and to do something I love day in and day out.”

Laws, 29, is currently playing for Argentina power Atenas de Cordoba, one of the most successful franchises in Latin America. Through 12 games this year, the 6-foot-1 guard is averaging 9.3 points on 58-percent shooting from inside the arc.

Last year, he had a dream season.

“It was an incredible year because we won the championship and I was named Finals MVP, so this year we’re defending our title in hopes to get a back-to-back,” he said.

Laws, of East High fame, recreated himself since his arrival in Argentina. After making his reputation as a scorer early in his career—he went for 18 ppg as a senior at San Diego and averaged 20 ppg in other leagues—his offense took a backseat to other parts of his game.

As a result he developed into a better all-around player.

“We play a more European style of game where it’s slower, more defensive-oriented and about spreading the ball around,” he said, “so even though last year statistically was one of my lowest, I had some of the best success since I’ve been playing pro.”

It wasn’t always gravy.

Early in his career, he took his lumps trying to fulfill his NBA dream.

“Coming out of college, I went straight to the Cleveland Cavs camp where I was with Carlos Boozer, but unfortunately I didn’t play. You talk about a reality check,” Laws said. “I had so much success my senior year in college and I remember feeling like my dreams were right there in my grasps.

“That fall, I returned to Anchorage to work a job and it was a very humbling experience and one of the reasons why I worked so hard to get back to this level.”

Before he stamps his passport again, Laws caught up with the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.

Question: What’s it like to live in Argentina?
Answer: Argentina is very nice. I’m in Cordoba, which has over 1 million people so it’s a pretty big city with lots of things to do. There is a lot of culture with dance and theatre being some of the main attractions. The people are extremely passionate here about their sports, especially soccer. During basketball games and soccer games, there are arenas where the fans will stand and sing throughout the whole game. It’s a pretty amazing atmosphere.

Q: Has your view on basketball changed? Is it a job or do you still have love for the game like back in the day?
A: I still have the same passion for the game now as I did when I was a little kid playing with all my friends at The Alaska Club. Basketball is like an escape for me. There are no problems, there are no worries, just myself, the rim, and the ball in a game that, like golf, you can never master. Obviously once you hit the pro ranks, there is more of a job-like vibe because our incomes depend on how and if we produce. Being an American overseas, you’re job is on the line each game. If you don’t produce, you don’t play and the checks stop. I’ve seen players released after one game, so there is no security and that at times can be stressful, but it’s just part of the business.

Q: What do you miss about Alaska?
A: My parents and youngest brother Jarred still live there so I miss them like crazy because I’m only able to see them once or twice a year but I have my times where I also miss the snow. Come Christmas time, I used to love seeing the decorations around town, the snow on the ground, and Christmas trees in the windows. I’m usually in hot weather climates so at times I miss those four seasons. Maybe I take that back, break-up season is pretty bad in Anchorage (Laughs).

Q: Where you live during the offseason?
A: The majority of my time is spent in Los Angeles.

Q: What is your “must-have” item for road trips?
A: The majority of the road trips are about 5-6 days, sometimes longer. I can’t go on road trips without my laptop or IPod. I love music and love to learn about new things so my IPod is one of the first things I’ll pack. My laptop is huge too because it allows me to be in contact with friends and family.

Q: What’s song is stuck in your head right now?
A: Scriptures by Drake.

Q: Do you have family with you?
A: My girlfriend Nicole came out with me this year and it’s great to be able to travel abroad and experience that with someone you care about. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

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Colorado State University has fallen on hard times. After starting 3-0, the Rams have lost seven straight games going into today’s matchup at New Mexico State.

Expect defensive end Cory Macon of Anchorage to continue his strong play regardless of the situation.

The former East High all-state player is enjoying his best college season as a redshirt junior, recording a career-high 32 tackles and a career-high 2½ sacks in nine games. He missed one game with the flu.

Macon, of his family’s fame, has 14 solo tackles and 4 tackles for a loss. The 6-foot-6, 242-pounder also has a quarterback hurry, denying a first down no doubt.

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San Diego State had no answer for Sarah Hibbert.

The 6-foot-1 outside hitter, of South High fame, slammed a career-high .557 attack percentage with zero errors. Unfortunately, her excellent effort couldn’t save the University of Utah from losing in four sets.

Hibbert finished with a team-high 15 kills on 26 bionic arm swings.

The sophomore was at her best in the third set when she delivered six kills on eight attempts for a .750 hitting percentage.

On the season, Hibbert is the second-leading kill leader for the Utes (16-11) with 254.

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The University of Kentucky struggled through a sloppy 102-92 victory over Sam Houston State—in Lexington, no less.

But if there was one positive to take from the game it was the play of Ramon Harris.

The 6-foot-7 Anchorage product played beautiful basketball during his 12 minutes of action.

“We had one guy that I thought did a really good job out there and that was Ramon Harris,” Calipari told reporters. “I thought that he talked, defended and rebounded well.”

Harris, of West High fame, also grabbed five rebounds and dished out one assist.

The big news, however, was how Sam Houston State drained 18 3-pointers one game after Miami of Ohio cashed in on 15 3-pointers in the previous game at Rupp Arena.

“We’re not talking like we’re supposed to,” said Kentucky star guard John Wall. “As a leader, I wasn’t talking I was supposed to. (Ramon) Harris was probably the only one that was talking on defense tonight.”

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Trajan Langdon achieved another major milestone recently when the former East High star climbed into No. 10 on the Euroleague’s all-time scoring list.

Langdon, a 6-foot-3 first-team all-league guard with CSKA Moscow, has netted 4,818 points over eight seasons. He moved into the top 10 after scoring 19 points in leading the Russian champions to a 79-69 victory over Union Olimpija of Slovenia.

“Honestly I had no idea about entering the top ten before you told me,” Langdon said. “It is a nice accomplishment but I don’t pay attention to those things as I am just trying to play my best and help my team win games and in doing that I have reached this level I guess.”

Humble as always, Langdon downplayed his awesome accomplishment. But there’s no denying that he’s always been able to score.

Even as a skinny 13-year-old, we all knew this kid was destined for hoops heaven.

He pumped in 2,200 career points as a prep All-American (a state record at the time) and poured in 1,974 career points as a NCAA All-American at Duke University (No. 12th all-time).

Add together what he’s done at the high school, college and professional ranks–including the 647 points he scored in the NBA during his three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers–and Langdon is closing in on 10,000.

In between jumpers, Langdon talked to me about making Euroleague history.

Question: Does this justify anything in terms of validating your career choice of going to Europe?
Answer: Doesn’t really validate anything. I have known for a while that I made the right choice and am very secure with it.

Q: Is this your greatest individual accomplishment?
A:It is a great individual accomplishment but I think being MVP of Final Four and twice being named first team All-Euroleague are my best.

Q: How stoked are you that things have worked out in Europe as well as they have?
A: I have had an amazing career if I look at what myself and my teams have been able to accomplish here in Europe. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to play for the organizations, coaches and with the great players over the past eight seasons.

Q: Do you think you’re more popular in Alaska for what you did in Europe or at East High?
A: I think I will always be thought of what I was able to accomplish in Alaska by Alaskans. I think that is how it should be; it is where it all started for me. Without my family and their support, my father’s dedication and my high school/AAU coaches and the support of Alaskans it would be difficult to see me being as successful as I have been.

Q: How does a shooter change his game over the years?
A: A shooter has to develop other ways to score. Once known as a great shooter, other teams will try to take that away. I think over my career I have been able to develop my midrange game and that has helped me to continue to be able to score even if teams try to take away my 3-point shot. Also as teams focus more you have to be patient and stay ready as the game goes.

Q: Are you the only American in the top 10? If not, who are the others?
A: Actually the all-time Euroleague leading scorer, Marcus Brown, is American and I think my teammate JR Holden is top five on that list as well.

Q: Given your success and tireless work ethic, have you changed how Europeans look at American players?
A: I think Americans are viewed on a case to case basis over here. Teams do their research on players—they don’t just sign players to sign them. They usually know what they are getting in a player and it is just their decision on whether they choose to sign him or not. So honestly I don’t think my success has made a difference in terms of how American players are viewed as a whole.

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