the third annual Lott Trophy presentation at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach

Ronnie Lott
Originally uploaded by brucesingman.

The multi-award winning "All Pro Sports Football Series" ... featuring Brett Favre, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Reggie White, Jack Del Rio, Brent Jones, Jim Lachey, Eric Allen, Rodney Hampton, Jeff Gossett and Jeff Jaeger and Coach Don Shula ... narrated by Emmy Award winning Roy Firestone ... is available at http://www.allprosportsfootball.com and 1 888 79 FOOTBALL ...

the most innovative football ... see http://www.allprosportsfootball.com ... , basketball and automobile racing series ever produced for home entertainment featuring: eleven of the greatest NFL football players and the most successful coach in NFL history; five of the greatest NBA basketball players and one of the most successful coaches in NBA history; and six internationally recognized automobile racing champions ... . sharing their life stories and demonstrating their skills in a very entertaining setting of upbeat music, three dimensional digital graphics and action footage.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/custom/morningbriefing/la-sp-briefing12dec12,0,4947776.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-morning_br
MORNING BRIEFING
Gifford saw something he could do
By Mike Penner
Times Staff Writer

December 12, 2006

Michigan and USC will play in the Rose Bowl for the seventh time on New Year's Day. Frank Gifford remembers the first meeting — the 1948 game won by Michigan, 49-0.

Gifford, the keynote speaker Sunday night at the third annual Lott Trophy presentation at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, was a senior at Bakersfield High and attended the game with his coach, Homer Beatty.

"After watching that game, I thought, 'I can play for USC,' " he said.



Trivia time

Gifford played for the New York Giants from 1952 to '64 and made the Pro Bowl seven times. What was unusual about his Pro Bowl career?



Bo knew defense too

Among the guests at the Lott function, where California cornerback Daymeion Hughes was selected college football's best defensive player, was former Auburn coach Pat Dye.

Asked by emcee Pat Haden to name his best defensive player, Dye said, "Bo Jackson. He just happened to play tailback. But whenever we threw an interception, he made the tackle."



Coach Ricky Bobby

The Lott Trophy is named after Ronnie Lott, the former USC and San Francisco 49ers safety from Rialto Eisenhower High. Instead of a formal introduction of Lott at the black-tie affair, a man wearing shorts and an Eisenhower sweatshirt and claiming to be Lott's high school coach did the honors.

Among other things, "Coach" said that when Lott played at Eisenhower, the focus was all on the defense.

"That's because I couldn't read or write, so I couldn't come up with any offensive plays," the man said.

Turns out, the man wasn't really Lott's high school coach. It was actor Will Ferrell, a USC alum and a surprise guest.



Son bests dad

Cody Gifford, the 16-year-old son of Frank and Kathy Lee, is now a 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback.

"The best part is, he has a 4.4 grade-point average," said Gifford, a USC All-American running back and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "I never averaged that per carry."



Dad bets on son

An English dad who bet that his son would become a professional soccer player has a chance to make more than 400,000 pounds ($788,116) after the boy signed with West Bromwich Albion.

Garry Nicholls, 45, bet 150 pounds ($295) on his son Ricky becoming a football player about 10 years ago. If Ricky plays for Albion before turning 18, his father's first bet wins him more than $98,515.

If Albion is back in the English Premier League next season and Ricky plays for the team, Garry will win another $197,029. And if Ricky is selected for the England national team before his 24th birthday, Garry will win $492,572.

"I plan to give him all the money," the British tabloid the Sun quoted Garry as saying.

Said Ricky, "Nothing would make me prouder."

Rupert Adams, a spokesman for oddsmaker William Hill, said: "He looks to have a cracking chance."



Trivia answer

Gifford was selected to the Pro Bowl at three positions — defensive back, running back and wide receiver.



And finally

Sports agent Gil Scott, to NFL.com, on why teams aren't lining up to sign Mike Vanderjagt, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago: "Right now, there's just not a whole lot of kickers messing up."

mike.penner@latimes.com

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