Kobe and the Lakers fly to their first win. AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian LA Lakers defeat Portland Trail Blazers 96-76. Um wow. If that's what the Lakers will look like all season, I might have underestimated them. For years the words "Lakers" and "defense" couldn't be said in the same sentence without a snicker, but seeing the beat down they handed to Blazers just changed all of that. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 23......

What A-Rod, Michael Phelps, Kobe, and Tony Hawk like to do in their spare time. No word on if Tom Cruise wants his shirt back.......

Recession? What recession? NBC reportedly has almost sold out of ad spots for the 2009 Super Bowl and are selling the spots at prices at least 11% higher than last year. This weekend it's all about Barack Obama appearing on Saturday Night Live with Michael Phelps hosting the season premiere, then Sunday with "True Blood" (which is excellent!!), and another great episode of "Men Men". Tonight 8:00pm The 2008 Alma Awards ABC - Eva Longoria......

Last night had some great TV. What'd you watch: "True Blood", "Mad Men", "Entourage", the VMAs? Any comments? Tonight features a great "Top Gear", "Sarah Connor" is back, and Michael Phelps is on Leno, if you haven't had enough of him. We're kinda waiting for tomorrow's "Shield" episode though. 8:00pm Top Gear BBC America - Auto, James and Richard spend their night driving people home in their own cars after they've had too much to......

LA Angels defeat Seattle Mariners 7-4. The Angels looked like they would suffer a letdown after their weekend sweep over the Yankees by falling behind the Mariners 3-0. But aided with a Juan Rivera solo shot and Vladamir Guerrero two-run shot in the fifth inning, the Angels came back to show who's king of the AL West. They got three insurance runs in the eighth inning and just continue to steam through any and......

LA Dodgers defeat Philadelphia Phillies 8-6. The Dodgers were lucky to have a big lead going into the bottom of the ninth or these words would be talking about the Dodgers third consecutive game lost in the ninth inning. It seemed like the Dodgers had finally learned that one Manny an entire team does not make, but that ninth inning almost undid things. Jonathan Broxton gave up three hits and two earned runs in......

The Michael Phelps sweepstakes have begun. Phelps broke his own world record in the 400 meter individual medley to take his first gold medal. Coming into the games, this race was considered the trickiest for Phelps in his quest to break Mark Spitz's record. But he just demolished the rest of the pack and looked like he spent no energy by the end of the race. Chivas USA worked hard to come back, but......

US Sweeps Women's Individual Saber Medals. Gold medalist Mariel Zagunis (center) is flanked by silver medal winner Sada Jacobson (left) and bronze medal winner Becca Ward(right). AP/Andrew Medichini With so much going on in the world of sports right now with the Olympics, baseball, USC injuries and all, here's a list of things to keep an eye on. The USA got it's first medal sweep in women's fencing. Mariel Zagunis defended her 2004 gold......

Got the itch? Get it scratched all over town. Eagles of Death Metal 6:00pm at the Virgin Megastore, Hollywood & Highland The Eagles of Death Metal have a new record out this week. Live performance. Free free free. The People Under the Stairs 7:00pm at Amoeba Records in Hollywood PUTS are in town from the UK. With special guest Penuckle. Free free free. W Magazine party and Speedo fashion show 7:00-9:00pm at the Cabana......

If you're looking for something sports-related this weekend, and you don't care much for the first-place Dodgers playing the Astros, LAist recommends that you head on down to Long Beach for the US Olympic Swim Trials. The city of Long Beach with its rich aquatics history is going all out by building two enormous portable pools in a downtown parking lot (pictured left). The trials are just part of the ongoing Long Beach Aquatics......