Bubba Watson wins the Farmers Insurance Open

Bubba Watson made clutch putts on the final two holes to hold off Phil Mickelson and win the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday at Torrey Pines to earn the second win of his career.

Watson holed a 9-foot par putt on the 17th hole and a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish off a 5-under par 67. He completed four rounds at 16-under 272, one shot better than Mickelson.

Mickelson, the Rancho Santa Fe resident nearly completed a miraculous comeback on the 72nd hole, trying to slam-dunk a wedge shot from 73 yards away in the fairway. His shot landed less than a foot from the hole, bounced several feet past, then rolled to within 4 feet.

Mickelson made the putt for a birdie that gave him a 3-under 69 and four-round total of 15-under 273. He beat Dustin Johnson (66) and Jhonattan Vegas (68) by two shots.

NFC routed the AFC, 55-41

Source: ESPN

The game was not nearly as interesting as the score of 55-41 NFC win would indicate and it did nothing to repair the tattered image of the Pro Bowl.

The AFC quarterbacks including our own Philip Rivers along with Peyton Manning and Matt Cassel each threw first-half interceptions to help the NFC blow open a 42-0 lead in a performance ugly even by the historically low standards of Pro Bowl.

Padres unveil their new camouflage uniform

The Padres unveiled their new camouflage jerseys on Tuesday and there's already some speculation that the team's attention to detail might prove to be a little too effective in 2011.

While the Padres have worn two other camouflage jerseys since adopting the tradition in 2000, the previous versions used bolder prints worn by the Army and Navy. These new threads are meant to honor the Marines, these Marine Patterns

Padres sign Jorge Cantu

The San Diego Padres announced yesterday that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder Jorge Cantu and have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Greg Burke with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

Cantu, 28, spent the 2010 season between the Florida Marlins and Texas Rangers, hitting a combined .256 (121-for-472) with 11 home runs, 29 doubles, 56 RBI and 50 runs scored in 127 games played. In each of the previous two seasons with the Marlins he produced at least 95 RBI while setting a career-high with 29 home runs in 2008. The right-handed hitting infielder started 123 games last season, 86 at third base.

Burke, 28, spent the entire 2010 season with Triple-A Portland, going 2-2 with a 5.68 ERA (37 ER/58.2 IP) and 46 strikeouts against 21 walks over 53 appearances.

Tiger Back to Torrey Pines

Tiger Woods’ first appearance at Torrey Pines since winning the 2008 U.S. Open here will include a reunion with his playoff rival, Rocco Mediate, when the Farmers Insurance Open commences Thursday.

Tiger is part of the threesome with Mediate and Anthony Kim. Woods beat Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in the second hole of the Monday playoff after the two tied after 18 holes. They tee it up at 9 a.m. on the North Course’s 10th tee on Thursday and 10 a.m. on the South Course’s first tee on Friday.

Tiger's new swing was taking shape towards the end of last season and looks like he's had plenty of time to practice his putting during the offseason. I am very excited to see how he plays this season. Will we again see that dominating Tiger of old? We'll just have to wait and see...

Jason Michael joins the Chargers

San Diego announced it has hired Jason Michael to coach the team’s tight ends. The 32-year-old Michael gets a plum job. He is now in charge of coaching star tight end Antonio Gates. Michael was San Francisco’s offensive assistant and quarterback coach last season. He was on the staff of Chargers' coach Norv Turner in Oakland in 2005.

He is a former quarterback at Western Kentucky, he also had assistant coaching stints with Jets and the University of Tennessee. 

Jason Michael replaces Rob Chudzinski, who is now Carolina’s offensive coordinator. Chudzinski joined the staff of Ron Rivera, who was San Diego’s defensive coordinator.

Shaun Phillips will play in his first Pro Bowl

San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips was added to the Pro Bowl on Monday. It is Phillip’s first Pro Bowl appearance. He had 11 sacks and he was a big part of the NFL’s No. 1 ranked defense.

“It’s huge just because of the fact that I know the work I put in,” Phillips said in a statement released by the team. “In my eyes, I try to play at a Pro Bowl level every year. It’s just good. It will give me additional motivation to keep working and never be satisfied.”

Padres sign reliever Chad Qualls

The Padres signed reliever Chad Qualls to a $2.55 million, one-year contract.

Qualls split last season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, going 3-4 with a 7.32 ERA in 70 appearances. He converted 12 saves in 16 opportunities for the Diamondbacks before being traded to the Rays on July 31.

The right-hander joins an outstanding bullpen that helped keep the Padres in playoff contention until the final day of the regular season. He gets a $1.5 million salary this year and the deal includes a $6 million club option for 2012 with a $1.05 million buyout.

Greg Manusky will be the new Chargers defensive coordinator

Greg Manusky is replacing Ron Rivera, who left to be the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Manusky was San Francisco’s defensive coordinator.

Manusky was the Chargers' linebackers coach from 2002 until 2006, so he is familiar with some of the team’s players. The Chargers had the No. 1 ranked defense this season. The Chargers' defense flourished after Rivera took over for Ted Cottrell at mid-season in 2008.

Manusky will have the same position coaches that Rivera had. He is not expected to make too many scheme changes for the 3-4 units and promises to bring toughness to the unit.

“Hardcore. Relentless. Getting after people,” Manusky said of his defensive plan in a statement released by the team. “Shoot, they were No. 1 last year and hopefully we’ll just pick up where we were last year. I’m going to bring some new ideas but also continue the foundation that they’ve already had and just build on it. I think with the players that we have, the sky’s the limit.”

Manusky knows he is entering a good situation. Now, it’s his job to keep it good.

SDSU names Rocky Long as the new football head coach

Source: ESPN

Rocky Long had a chance to follow Brady Hoke to Michigan but stayed at San Diego States and promoted to head coach.

"This is a much better deal," Long said during his introductory news conference Wednesday. "And I'm not talking about anything about being a head coach. We've got things started here. They've got a lot of work to do there."

Trevor Hoffman retires at 43 and returns home

PADRES — Baseball's all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman has thrown his final changeup, deciding at age 43 to retire and return home to the San Diego Padres in a front office job.

Known for his high leg kick, menacing glare and deceptive changeup, Trevor recorded 601 saves in 18 seasons, 15 1/2 of them with the Padres.

"It was a little bit of self-reflection, trying to be honest with where I was at in my career skill-wise, and realizing that it was a time for a change, a change in venue, in a sense," Trevor told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "It's turning the page, a new chapter in my life."

Hoffman had a difficult 2010 season with the Brewers. "It was a tough year, and I didn't want to make it off how things turned out," he said. "I wanted to see how it played out in the offseason. The new year is the time to crank it up and get ready for the new season."

Ron Rivera is officially the head coach for the Panthers

It's sad to see him go, but Ron Rivera, many times a runner up, is officially the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

Rivera, whose Chargers defense allowed the fewest yards in the NFL this past season, was in Carolina on Monday. He dined with Panthers owner Jerry Richardson on Monday night, a meeting that was a formality as Rivera will finally have his first head coaching gig after previously interviewing for eight jobs in the past six years.

Rivera leaving, of course, creates an opening in San Diego, which could be filled by a former Marty Schottenheimer assistant.

Brady Hoke leaving SDSU for Michigan

SDSU's Brady Hoke was picked by Michigan to be its new football coach, hours after LSU said Les Miles would be staying in the Bayou.

"He is a terrific coach and will be a great ambassador and leader for our football program," athletic director Dave Brandon said. "We look forward to having him build a championship program on the field and in the classroom."

Hoke brings a rebuilder's reputation with him after stints at Ball State (2003-08) and San Diego State (2009-10), something that Michigan need.

A defensive line coach at Michigan, Hoke helped the defense lead the nation in rushing defense and was on the staff during the 1997 national championship run. During his tenure, Michigan went 5-3 against rivals Michigan State and Ohio State and in bowl games.

"I'm excited for Brady Hoke and even for Michigan," Green Bay Packers and former Michigan star Charles Woodson wrote in a text message to The Associated Press. "I'm glad this process is over and we can begin to restore the tradition and respect that was once Michigan."

Ron Rivera to 2nd interview with Carolina

The Chargers could be one step closer to looking for a new defensive coordinator.

The Carolina Panthers and Ron Rivera are setting up a second interview for the team's vacant head coaching position. That interview is not taking place Sunday but is expected to be conducted in the next few days.

Panthers GM Marty Hurney and President Danny Morrison conducted a whirlwind tour to interview four NFL defensive coordinators this week -- included with Ron Rivera are Cleveland's Rob Ryan, the New York Giants Perry Fewell, and San Francisco's Greg Manusky.

Hurney and Morrison are scheduled to be attending the BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Ariz., on Monday before going back to North Carolina. It is believed Rivera will interview in Carolina with those two executives and owner Jerry Richardson.

Rivera took over as Chargers defensive coordinator midway through the 2008 season. The Chargers allowed the fewest yards in the NFL this season.

The Carolina job is the ninth head coaching position Rivera has interviewed for in the past six years.

Roberto Alomar in the Hall of Fame

Former Padre 2B Roberto Alomar became a Hall of Famer on Wednesday, the two-time World Series champion easily elected after narrow misses last year.

Alomar was picked on 90 percent of the ballots by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The 12-time All-Star won a record 10 Gold Gloves at second base, hit .300 and helped the Toronto Blue Jays win titles in 1992-93. Alomar drew 73.7 percent last year in his first try on the ballot.

"Robbie was an incredible player. He was a pleasure to watch play the game and I am not saying that because he was my brother. He had all the tools and put them all into play," former Cleveland teammate Sandy Alomar Jr. said.

Alomar got his first major league hit off Nolan Ryan in 1988. Ryan was the last pure starting pitcher elected to the Hall by the BBWAA in 1999.

Although former Blue Jays Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield also are in the Hall of Fame, they went in representing the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, respectively. Alomar told reporters he wants to wear a Blue Jays cap on his plaque in Cooperstown.

"It would be a great thrill to be the first Hall of Fame member to go in under the Blue Jay hat," Alomar said, according to the Toronto Sun. "I hope the Hall of Fame will give me a chance to give Toronto that gift."

Chargers let go special teams coach, Steve Crosby

Three years ago, Steve Crosby was named the NFL's top special teams coach. But after he presided over what was by some measures the worst special teams season in NFL history, the Chargers decided not to renew his contract and let go after nine seasons with the Chargers.

Two teams since 1994 had allowed more kickoff returns for touchdowns and five allowed as many as the Chargers' three this season. Two had allowed more blocked punts than the Chargers' four (plus one deflection). None since 1976 had allowed a higher punt return average than the Chargers' 18.9 yards.

No team had come close to doing all three in the same season.

Both Norv and A.J. had for months defended Crosby. They alluded to the many injuries that had an effect on the special teams' lineups.

But the preponderance of mishaps -- including a few near-blocks in recent weeks -- demanded reckoning.

Players were let go during the season, and more will leave now that the Chargers' 9-7 campaign is over.

Someone had to take the fall, so Crosby paid with his job.

Crosby joined the Chargers as part of Marty Schottenheimer's incoming staff in 2002. Crosby has coached with four other NFL teams in a 33-year NFL coaching career.

Chargers end season with a 33-28 win over Broncos

The San Diego Chargers (9-7) ended their four-year reign as the AFC West champions with a 33-28 victory over the Broncos on Sunday.

Philip Rivers was glad to put a disappointing year behind him, and he shared a New Year's resolution with Ryan Mathews, San Diego's highly touted running back whose rookie season was bogged down by injuries and inconsistency.

"I had mentioned to him, 'Hey, this is the first game for next year. Let's go. Let's do something we can build on," Rivers said.

Ryan Mathews answered with a great performance, gaining 120 yards on 26 carries and scoring on runs of 27, 12 and 31 yards.

"I thought it was a great start to this new year," Rivers said. "He's going to be a great runner for us, a great player for us. When you're a rookie ... a lot is being asked of you."

All week the Chargers talked of wanting to finish strong.

They prepared with as much urgency as they could muster.

In the locker room before the game,Philip Rivers fired up his teammates with a speech that they said made them believe it was important to win, no matter that they had already fallen short of the postseason.

“It’s a letdown,” center Nick Hardwick said as he left a locker room as quiet as it’s ever been after a victory. “You get in here, that’s when you can let down your guard. It hurt.”

Denver took a 7-0 lead 12 minutes into the game, but the Chargers scored on six consecutive possessions to take a 26-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Rookie quarterback Tim Tebow, his every move cheered by the Invesco Field crowd, led two touchdown drives and the Broncos returned a kickoff for another score as Denver (4-12) closed to within five points with 26 seconds remaining. But after recovering an onside kick, two Hail Mary passes from the Denver 46-yard line fell incomplete.

Then the Chargers (9-7) left the field already feeling the void of their offseason.

“This is the low point, certainly, of these last seven days,” Rivers said. “Before kickoff I was so aggravated and fired up to play I couldn’t stand it … We finished with a win, but it’s tough.

“We gotta watch Kansas City play a (playoff) game next week. That’s tough.”