Milestone day in San Diego

Qualcom Stadium, Ca

It started slow again for the Chargers Sunday afternoon. Looking like they were content to bring the 'Teddy Bear Cottrell' soft defense, and giving way to Chiefs young starter, Tyler Thigpen. The Chiefs struck first with a thirty yard post route from Thigpen to Mark Bradley. Tony Gonzalez added two more TD receptions for the Chiefs. Thigpen tallied 266 yards and 3 TD passes, including one with 29 seconds left that struck fear in the hearts of many uneasy Charger fans.

Finally, after a long three quarters, the Ron Rivera era looked to be riding a lightning bolt into the stadium in the fourth. With LT having a pretty quiet day, only 78 yards and Phillip Rivers throwing 2 picks, despite hurling for 316 and 2 TD's, it was up to the defense late in the game. Just 46 tics left in the contest, Thigpen attempted a pass to TE Tony Gonzalez at the goal line. A questionable defensive pass interference was called on S Clinton Hart to put the ball on the SD 1 yard line. That set up a Tony G. touchdown and Herm Edwards immediately motioned to go for two. This time Clinton Hart stepped up again and batted down the pass attempt, the ball landing in the hands of a sprawled out Quentin Jammer in the end zone. Next up, TE Brandon Manumaleuna, son of former Chiefs LB Frank Manumaleuna snatched the onside kick attempt out of the air to put a cap on the win for the bolts.

This was the 11th game between the Chiefs and Chargers that was decided by one point or less. The most of any NFL series since 1960. Tony Gonzalez has a reception in 124 straight games. With 870 in his career, he moves past WR Jimmy Smith 863, into 10th all time. Next up is Keenan McCardell with 883. LaDainian Tomlinson, not looking to be outdone, passed O.J. Simpson and Corey Dillon for 15th place on the all time rushing list with 11,279 yards.

 Los Angeles, Ca

The famous 'Lights Out' stage at Staples had been set, and waiting empty for four days with the Lakers last playing on Wednesday night against the Clippers. It showed early as Kobe and crew committed 8 first quarter turnovers and scored a season low 16 points. The only thing worth seeing so far was Kobe's big block from behind on the 7'6" Yao Ming. Down 28-16 to start the second, coach Phil Jackson turned to the bench mob and they didn't disappoint either. A huge onslaught of D, led by Farmar and Trevor, err, Slash Ariza got the Lakers back in touch with the rhythms of an NBA game. Slash, always busy on the floor as if every shot will be a miss consistently finds himself in the right place. The Lakers didn't pay for anything in the second, they stole the show. Amassing 8 steals, 3 by Ariza, 2 for Jordan Farmar, and one more each from Sasha, Lamar, and Bynum. Scoring 34 points in the second 12 minutes, the Lakers came from a twelve point deficit to being up by two. The third quarter brought more of the same. By mid 3rd, the twin towers of Bynum and Gasol seemed to be blocking and gobbling up all rebounds. The scoring kept pouring on as a result of fine defensive play. None looked more upsetting to Rockets coach Rick Adelman than LO's huge triple in the dying seconds of the third quarter.

I feel obligated to at least mention the Rockets here, even though they were lost in transition vs the dominating Lakers. Early in the fourth, Mr. Brooks (Aaron), who had 20 points off the bench, stopped the bleeding at 81-69 with a three from way outside the arc. Later on, he loosened his wallet with a technical foul at 6:44 to go. I should also mention the Rockets were without star forward Shane Battier, suffering from a bone bruise in his left foot.

Closing out the game the Lakers went on a 95-50 run from the second quarter on. With just under 3 to go, Ariza crashed wildly through the lane, saved himself and the ball, and drained a three. Even he looked surprised as he jogged back up the floor and the Lakers lead hit 27 over a Houston team that is supposed to contend in the West. Final score LA on top, 111-82.

The Rockets (4-3) now head to Phoenix to take on Shaq and the Suns (5-2) on Wednesday. The Lakers (5-0) next play on Veterans Day, Tuesday, vs the Orlando Magic (4-2) in Florida. It should be fun to see our bigs go up against Dwight Howard. The Atlanta Hawks (5-0) are the leagues only other undefeated team.