- Colorado basketball player Spencer Dinwiddie attracted attention at Pac-12 media day last week when he debunked Arizona’s ranking as the league’s top team. “I’d probably say we don’t view Arizona as the top, the cream, like everybody else,” said Dinwiddie. “We view ourselves as the cream.” Dinwiddie has earned the right to talk. He is 3-3 against Arizona, averaging 14.5 points against the Wildcats. In lieu of no home game against UCLA this year, Arizona and its fans are likely to anticipate a Jan. 23 showdown against Colorado as much as any other.
- Salpointe Catholic football players Taylor Powell, a junior linebacker, and Justin Holt, a sophomore lineman, have been invited to the U.S. Army All-American Combine Jan. 2-4 in San Antonio. The top 500 underclassmen in high school football have been invited to display their skills and be evaluated. Powell is a likely All-State player for the undefeated Lancers; he has made 9.1 tackles per game, including 14 for losses this season.
- Sad to report that Scott Balko, father of Arizona two-time NCAA championship softball catcher Callista Balko, died on Friday. He was 55. Scott Balko was a determined UA fan, attending dozens of home games even though he was a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair since he was 18. Services are at 6 p.m, Monday at Casas Church, 10801 N. La Cholla Blvd. After retiring from softball, Callista Balko earned a degree in history and now works for the UA Wildcat Club.
- In what is essentially the Ryder Cup of swimming, three Tucson-connected swimmers have been selected to Team USA for the Duel in the Pool, Dec. 20-21 in Glasgow, Scotland. Sabino grad Sarah Denninghoff, Sahuaro product Caitlin Leverenz and UA junior Kevin Cordes were chosen to the 33-swimmer roster last week.
More Short Stuff
More short stuff: Colorado's Dinwiddie views Buffs as 'the cream' in Pac-12
Colorado's Spencer Dinwiddie drives on Utah's Dijon Farr during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/The Daily Camera, Cliff Grassmick) NO SALES; NO MAGS; NO TV