Fast Break

Pro football

Lake takes job with Lions

Jimmy Lake, a North Central High School graduate and former defensive back at Eastern Washington University, has accepted a job as defensive backs coach for the Detroit Lions, according to PewterReport.com.

Lake leaves the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for whom he served the past two seasons as a defensive assistant. Tampa Bay had the second-ranked defense in the NFL in 2007 and was ranked first against the pass.

Lake, 31, has previously been an assistant at EWU, Washington, Idaho State and Montana State.

College basketball

Former EWU assistant arrested

Montana State has placed assistant men’s coach Ryan Orton on administrative leave following his arrest on Sunday.

The school says Orton was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor partner/family assault and misdemeanor criminal destruction/tampering with a communications device.

The 34-year-old Orton came to MSU as an assistant in the spring of 2006 from Northwest Nazarene, where he had worked for one season. He had previously worked at Lane Community College and EWU.

Junior Hockey

Chiefs play Portland today

The Spokane Chiefs will need two points today to regain the U.S. Division lead.

The Chiefs (32-10-1-3, 68 points) fell one point behind Tri-City after the rival Americans beat Calgary in a shootout on Sunday. Spokane takes on the Portland Winter Hawks today at 2 p.m.

Baseball

Looking over his shoulder

Before the start of the fifth Professional Scouts Foundation dinner Saturday night at the Hyatt Century Plaza, magician Jason Latimer entertained at a VIP reception by performing the old “balls and cups” trick, with a twist.

The cups were glass, so those watching could see the foam balls disappear right before their eyes.

Among those witnessing the act was Bobby Cox, manager of the Atlanta Braves, who finished five games behind National League East champion Philadelphia last year.

“Can you make the Phillies disappear?” Cox asked Latimer.