Sparks' Defense And Kristi Toliver Shot Beats Tulsa 76-75 AT THE BUZZER

Story By L.T.Willis

Sparks' #20 Kristi Toliver hits the game 3 point winning shot to beat
Tulsa 76 -75. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports/

The Los Angeles Sparks ( 3-1) jump out to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter against the Tulsa Shock ( 0-4) and held on to defeat Tulsa 76-75 thanks to their defense to keep them in the game. Coach Ross said last week after their home victory against Seattle that their defense was ahead of their offense. It showed tonight after the quick start by the Sparks who had push the the lead up to 14 points leading 23-9 in the first quarter .

Candace Parker had a quiet double double game against
Tulsa 10 points & 10 rebounds. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The Sparks had problems in the second quarter when The Shock went into a press and was forcing turnovers to get them back in the game after trailing 25-15 in the first quarter.The Shocks' Riquna Williams went to work in the second quarter scoring 8 points to keep Tulsa in the game trailed the Sparks by only 4 at the end of the second quarter 40-36 with help from also Karima Christmas 7 points, Temeka Johnson 5 points and Gloria Johnson 5 points .

Sparks takes a time out to try discuss a plan that might
slow down Tulsa. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

DeLisha Milton- Jones came out the gate smoking  as she poured in 10 points in the first quarter which really  set the tone for the game until late in the third quarter. Tulsa really clamp down on the Sparks offense causing 23 turnovers  and scoring 21 points off those turn overs to take a lead into the end of the third quarter 55-52. The Sparks' defense came into play even with all of the turnovers that were against them, their defense clamped down on Tulsa and begin to claw there way back into the game.

The Sparks' Candace Parker,Nneka Ogwumike and
Kristi Toliver  rejoicing after beating Tulsa at the buzzer
76 -75. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G. Sports

The Sparks trailed Tulsa 75-71 with less than 16.7 left in the game when Toliver hit a turnaround jump shot to cut the Tulsa lead to 2 points trailing 75-73. Tulsa had a chance to put the game away when Scholanda Dorell missed two free throws with about 6 seconds left Toliver got the ball and race down the court and with about a second left in the game hit a three pointer at the buzzer to beat Tulsa 76-75. Tulsa leading scorer was Lynetta Kizer 19 points, Temeka Johnson 13 points and Ivory Latta 11 points. The Sparks leading scorer DeLisha Milton Jones and Kristi Toliver both had 16 points , Nneka Ogwumike 14 points and Candace Parker had a double double 10 points and 10 rebounds. All photos were by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.

THE SPARKS DEFEATS SEATTLE 74-61 IN HOME OPENER

Story by L.T.Willis

The Los Angeles Sparks (2-0) hosted The Seattle Storm (0-2) for
their season home opener. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

 More than 9,000 plus Sparks fans came out for the home opener against the (0-2) Seattle Storm at The Staple Center to cheer on their (2-0) Los Angeles Sparks. The big excitement was that many fans would get a chance to see the Sparks' number one draft pick Nneka Ogwumike from Stanford for the first time.So far Nneka have live up to what she brings to the table is a player who brings non stop energy to the game every night on offense and defense.Also the Sparks picked up Alana Beard a point guard who has had a great impact on the team already especially in practices.

Sparks #30 Nneka Ogwumike. Photo
by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Seattle Storm #7 Tina Thompson.Photo by

Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Sparks' #0 Alana Beard. Photo by Eric
Wade/T.G.Sports.

Tina Thompson who sign with the Seattle Storm was in town also and for fans who remember when she played for the Houston Comets gave the Sparks fits when ever they played them, and was hoping that would  not be the case for the Sparks home opener. This was coach Ross first game at Staple Center as a head coach and you could just see the excitement in her during the game, and why not she has one of the best players in the WNBA Candace Parker on her team who came out on a mission.

Sparks' #3 Candace Parker. Photo
by Eric Wade/ T.G.Sports.

Sparks' #20 Kristi Toliver. Photo by
Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

With Alana Beard at point the Sparks were more aggressive attacking the basket and with one of the best shooters in the league Kristi Toliver was hitting big shots all night long against the Storm. The Storm had no answer for the Sparks who just had to much offense for them to handle. The Sparks' defense forced 19 turnovers which led to 24 points , while the Storm forced 15 turnovers that led to 14 points for the them






The Sparks are still getting the wrinkles out of their offense but their defense have came up big for them so far this season.The Sparks defeated the Storm 74-61 with pressure type defense for most of the night. The Storm's Ann Wauters led here team in scoring with 15 points,Tina Thompson had 13 points,Shekinna Stricklen 11points and Camile Little 10 points. Candace Parker had a double double scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds, Kristi Toliver 18 points and Alana Beard finish with 13 points. This year team is really deep in talent at all positions, so it's just a matter of time once the offense gets clicking this should be a very good team this season. All photos are by Eric Wade.T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.

NFLPA ROOKIE PREMIERE WAS A FIRST CLASS EVENT

Story by L.T. Willis

Washington Redskins' rookie quarterback Robert
Griffin III was on hand for The 2012 NFLPA
Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles. All photos
are by Eric Wade/T.G. Sports

The NFLPA Rookie Premiere presented by Nike was a first class event held right here in Los Angeles from May 17-20.The first day of the event touch many high school lives at Hamilton High School with the One Team One Community Event where NFL players and volunteers conducted a healthy lifestyle and fitness programs for about 200 students and football players from Hamilton High School. You could tell that the students were really having a great time.

Eric Wade/T.G. Sports.

Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

There students  had a little taste of the what a training camp is like for NFL players and rookie draft choices. What was really fun to watch was so many females who really like football showing that maybe this game isn't just for males only.This is the second event that the NFLPA has done here in Los Angeles the first event being the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl that was held in January at the Home Depot Center. So many kids will never get a chance to hang out with NFL players and to give them a chance just to be be around them will be priceless for those who came out.

Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The second day was the day everyone was waiting for the NFLPA Premiere League Football Game held at UCLA North Athletic Field and to see Heisman Winner Robert Griffin III from the Washington Redskins and many other top rookies from the NFL Draft. This gave fans to see up close future, pass and present NFL  football stars as well as celebrities playing flag football. Former Super Bowl Champion from the San Francisco 49ers' Roger Craig was having a great time hanging out with the fans.

Trent Richardson from the Cleveland
Browns signing a autograph. Photo
by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Former NFL player Roger Craig
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The one thing that the top rookies didn't lack was being camera shy as they seem to have nature act of being on camera and just a few months away we will be on our couches and pulling for all them all to make in the NFL. This year draft was a good one for wide receivers as many made the top pick selections. The  New York Jets drafted Stephen Hill from Georgia Tech, The San Francisco 49ers drafted A.J. Jenkins from Illinois and Cincinnati Bengals drafted Mohamed Sanu from Rutgers.

From left to right Stephen Hill from the Jets, A.J. Jenkins from the 49ers
and Mohamed Sanu from the Bengals. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

From right to left QB Brandon Weeden from the Browns,
in the middle QB Ryan Tannehill from the Dolphins and
left QB Nick Foles from the Eagles.Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

This year draft for quarterbacks had some good ones and some great ones this year also .Ryan Tannehill from Texas A&M, Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State,Nick Foles from Arizona and the two biggest names of course was Andrew Luck from Standford and The Heisman  Trophy Winner Robert Griffin III who was there having fun with all the fans and the other players from the NFLPA Rookie Premiere

Robert Griffin III from the Washington Redskins sharing the
the spot light with some of the fans.Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The last night of the event was  the Saturday Night Lights held at Colony in Hollywood where the players and some celebrities came together to have a little fun on the red carpet. The biggest surprise of the night was former NFL player Eddie George was the D.J. of the night. You can go to www.tgsportstv.com and click on photo gallery and check out some great pics from the events for all three events. You can also go to www.youtube.com  type in  the search box tgsportstv and you can  see video footage from the NFLPA One Team One Community Event. T.G sports would like to thank Jilane Rodgers,David Cooper and Michael Donnelly from the NFLPA for allowing us to be part of a First Class Event.