Fast Break
Junior hockey
Buble part-owner of WHL’s Giants
He’s won Junos and Grammys and sold millions of albums worldwide, but Michael Buble said becoming a minority owner in the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants is his “most prestigious” accomplishment.
The Canadian crooner announced a stake in the Giants on Thursday with majority owner Ron Toigo, an old friend who’s also in an investment group with Buble redeveloping a local golf course.
Buble joins fellow co-owners Sultan Thiara, former Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks coach Pat Quinn and NHL legend Gordie Howe in the Giants’ ownership lineup.
“I’ve done lots of amazing things in my life, but this is easily the most prestigious for me,” Buble, a Giants fan, said.The 33-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., has sold more than 15 million records since his major-label debut nearly six years ago.
College baseball
National honor to LCSC’s Cheff
Lewis-Clark State College coach Ed Cheff has been named the winner of the American Baseball Coaches’ Association’s 2009 Lefty Gomez Award for his lifetime contributions to amateur baseball.
Cheff will receive the award at the ABCA’s annual convention awards dinner, Jan. 3 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Cheff also will receive the ABCA’s NAIA Region I Coach of the Year award for 2008 at the awards dinner.
The Lefty Gomez Award is considered one of the most prestigious awards in amateur baseball. The award is presented by the ABCA each year to an individual who has “distinguished himself amongst his peers and has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally, and internationally.”
Cheff, who was selected to the ABCA’s Hall of Fame in 2006, has led LCSC to 16 NAIA World Series titles, far and away the most by any program at the NAIA level. Cheff is entering his 33rd year as coach at LCSC and has led the Warriors to all 16 of their titles in the last 25 years, including the last three. He has an all-time record of 1,627-410-2 at LCSC.
College football
Idaho punter All-American
University of Idaho senior punter T.J. Conley was voted to the 2008 Walter Camp All-American Football Team – the nation’s oldest elite team.
Conley, a graduate of DeSales High in Walla Walla, wrapped up the season with the nation’s best punting average (47.43 yards).
In addition to leading the NCAA in punting this season, Conley had five games with averages of more than 50 yards.
Conley, Idaho’s first All-American since the Vandals became a member of the FBS, set single-season records for punting average (47.43) and punting yards (2,751). He also is Idaho’s career punting yardage leader with 9,242.
Twenty-five players are selected to the first team.