Sports & Celebrity Newswire

The LA Lakers move ahead in the NBA finals after last night’s game 3 win over the Boston Celtics, scoring 91-84. Derek Fisher, the 13-year veteran, became a hero scoring 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and shooting 50 percent from the field against the Boston Celtics.

In his post-game interview immediately after the buzzer sounded, Fisher was initially at a loss for words.

“I’m sorry I’m getting emotional,” said the Los Angeles point guard. “Nothing means more to me than helping my team win.”

“I love what I do and I love helping my team win,” Fisher said. “Even when things maybe aren’t going the way I’d like them to go for reasons I can control and some I can’t, I still pretty much keep my mouth shut and just keep doing my job and remain faithful that things will come around when they need to.

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Published by PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency top booking agent for sports stars, basetball speakers, athlete appearances and endorsements.

LOS ANGELES, CA – John Wooden, famed UCLA coach, was admitted to Ronald Reagan Medical Center at UCLA on May 26, and died Friday night from natural causes. He was 99.

“We want to thank everyone for their love and support for our father. We will miss him more than words can express,” Wooden’s children, Nan and Jim, said in a statement. “He has been, and always will be, the guiding light for our family. The love, guidance and support he has given us will never be forgotten.” ... Read Full Story

Every town has its share of favorite sports speakers. Denver has John Elway. Dallas has Roger Staubach. But few cities can boast the number of well-known sports speakers as St. Louis. Let’s take a look at a few of my favorites…

Ozzie Smith…Affectionately known as “The Wizard” for his magical plays at shortstop, Ozzie Smith is considered one of the top shortstops of all-time. During his 19 years in the Majors, Smith was a 15-time All Star and 13-time Gold Glove winner. He helped lead the Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title and was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Lou Brock…Best known for his base-stealing prowess, Lou Brock was one of baseball’s most exciting players during his era. Brock helped lead the Cardinals to National League pennants in 1964, 1967 and 1968 and to World Series championships in 1964 and 1967, a year in which he also became the first player to steal 50 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season. Brock’s 938 stolen bases rank only second to Rickey Henderson’s 1,406 on the all-time list.

Bob Gibson…Few pitchers instilled fear in opposing hitters like Bob Gibson. Ask any old-timer which pitcher he feared most and chances are good that Gibson will be among the ones mentioned. In 17 seasons with the Cardinals, Gibson went 251-174 with a 2.91 ERA. As impressive as those numbers are, arguably his most impressive feat occurred in 1969 when he threw 28 complete games, something unheard of in today’s game.

Kurt Warner…Few football players can boast a rags to riches story like Kurt Warner, who went from stocking shelves at a grocery store to Arena League quarterback to Super Bowl champion. Warner was a five-time All-Pro, was named AP NFL MVP in 1999 and 2001 and was named mvp of Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 after leading the Rams to a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Others notable sports speakers who either reside in St. Louis or maintain close ties include sportscasters Bob Costas and Joe Buck, baseball Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog and catcher Mike Matheny and football players DeMarco Farr and Marshall Faulk.

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Published by PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency top booking agent for sports speakers, athlete appearances and endorsements.

Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers nearly became the 21st pitcher in Major League history to throw a perfect game. He pitched 8.2 perfect innings, but lost the perfect game after an infield hit by the 27th batter.

Rookie Jason Donald hit a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who tossed to Galarraga, but first base umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe, ending the perfect game and no-hitter. Joyce later issued a direct apology to Galarraga, saying that the call was incorrect

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Source: FOXNews

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Published by PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency top booking agent for sports stars, baseball speakers, athlete appearances and endorsements.

VISALIA, CA — We are sad to report that Jeriome Robertson, former major league pitcher for the Astros and Indians, whose 15 wins led all rookies in 2003, has died. He was 33.

The California Highway Patrol said Robertson was killed Saturday when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed.

Astros star Lance Berkman recalled Robertson’s success.

“When you play with someone a year, you remember them. It’s certainly a tragedy and what more can you say? It’s a bad deal,” Berkman said before Tuesday night’s game against Washington.

“He won 15 games for us. That’s what I remember about him that year. He was solid every time out. He made a big step forward in his development. Then we traded him and really he kind of dropped off the face of the earth,” he said.

Robertson pitched in only eight more games in the majors after getting dealt to Cleveland. He finished with a career record of 16-12 with a 5.71 ERA.

Source: Huffington Post

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Published by PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency.

NEW YORK —Indians pitcher David Huff was hit above the left ear by Alex Rodriguez’s line drive Saturday and taken to a hospital, where a CT scan was negative.

The Indians said Huff never lost consciousness or experienced memory loss. He will remain at New York-Presbyterian Hospital for several hours as a precaution. ... Read Full Story

PROVO, UT – Gary Coleman, child star of the TV sitcom Diff’rent Strokes, died Friday after suffering an intercranial hemorrhage. He was 42.

Coleman died at 12:05 p.m. at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, where he had been in a coma.

“He was removed from life support; soon thereafter, he passed quickly and peacefully,” his manager John Alcantar says. “By Gary’s bedside were his wife and other close family members.”

The actor suffered an intracranial hemorrhage at his Utah home on Wednesday night. On Thursday, he was “conscious and lucid,” the hospital says in a statement, “but by early afternoon that same day, Mr. Coleman was slipping in and out of consciousness and his condition worsened.”

Read Full Story at People.com

The newest “American Idol” winner Lee DeWyze spoke with the press backstage after his big win. Lee tells the press about his experience, the thrill of it all and the fact that he had to ignore the judges’ after the final performances because he did his best.

“This is an amazing experience, especially since this has been such a long process,” says Lee. “It’s been a lot harder than I thought it would be.” ... Read Full Story

Crystal Bowersox has been the most consistent of the two finalists throughout American Idol Season 9. Based on last nights performances, she should take the crown. However, Lee DeWyze has a massive fan base that votes and that is really all it takes to win the crown.

Dial Idol has predicted that Lee will win. They have predicted the winner ever since the beginning of season 4. ... Read Full Story

Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers has been in the news recently for making critical comments about the current state of the Chicago Bears. It just goes to show that in today’s world, it doesn’t matter where you say it or in what context, if you’re a celebrity and you say something controversial, it’s eventually going to make its way into the national news.

Sayers was the keynote speaker on May 4 at a Boys Town fundraising event in Omaha, Nebraska, a deal arranged for him by PFP Sports & Celebrity Talent. Sayers was asked an innocent enough question about the Bears and his response created headlines around the country. Sayers played for the Bears from 1965 – 71 and led the NFL in rushing twice, in 1966 and 1969. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1977. ... Read Full Story