The Lakers pulled off one of the most unlikeliest run for the trophy ever.

I guess what ever Phil Jackson touches turns to gold has he is the three peat king!

About 28.2 million people watched the Lakers take Game 7, 83-79, and march off with the team’s 16th championship, according to the Nielsen ratings service. It was the biggest audience to watch a deciding game since 35.9 million tuned in to watch Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz in 1998.

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina’s 6-9 junior All-American from Poplar Bluff, Mo., has been chosen winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as the nation’s top college basketball player for the 2007-08 season.

Hansbrough received the trophy at the USBWA’s annual college basketball awards breakfast this morning in San Antonio. Drake coach Keno Davis was presented with the Henry Iba Award as the USBWA’s Coach of the Year and LSU-Shreveport’s Josh Porter was presented with the USBWA’s Most Courageous Award at the breakfast as well.

Selected by the USBWA two years ago as its national freshman of the year, Hansbrough was a dominating force for North Carolina this season, leading the Tar Heels to the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, a No. 1 ranking in the national polls and a school-record 36 wins.

He was the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year and led the league in scoring and rebounding with averages of 23.1 and 10.5, respectively.

Hansbrough is the fourth player from North Carolina to receive the USBWA player of the year award. The others are Phil Ford (1978), Michael Jordan (1984) and Antawn Jamison (1998).

This is the 50th anniversary of the USBWA player of the year award. First presented in 1959 to Oscar Robertson, it is the nation’s oldest and only one named after a player.

The USBWA named its player of the year award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in 1998 in honor of “The Big O,” named “College Player of the Century” in 2000 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Today, with nearly 800 members, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. For more information on the USBWA and its awards and programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821 or 314-421-0339

Originally Written by Joe Mitch, www.sportswriters.net

Mississippi State teammates Jamont Gordon and Charles Rhodes and Ole Miss’ Dwayne Curtis are the finalists for the Howell Trophy. This trophy is given to the best men’s player in Mississippi.

The trophy, sponsored by Cellular South, is named after Bailey Howell, a former All-American at Mississippi State and a six-time NBA All-Star.

Jennifer Rushing of Delta State, Pauline Love of Southern Miss and Shawn Goff of Ole Miss are the finalists for the Gillom Trophy, which goes to the best female player in the state. The trophy is named for former Ole Miss standout Peggie Gillom.

The trophies will be presented next Monday at the BancorpSouth Conference Center in Tupelo.

Basketball Trophies – Trophies for all sports and occasions

Minnesota – St. Olaf College and Carleton College played the first of two games this season to determine if the Knights can maintain possession of the famed Goat Trophy. St. Olaf was the winner of last night’s game, beating Carleton by just 1 point (final score 61-60).

HISTORY OF THE GOAT TROPHY

• In 1914, Endre Anderson, a St. Olaf student (and later Oles coach) fashioned a makeshift goat out of a chair and hung it from the rafters of the St. Olaf gym. He was trying to “get the goat” of the Carleton players. Carleton won that game and claimed the Goat as a trophy. The two teams have traded the “Goat” ever since.

• The team not in possession of the Goat Trophy must be sweep the season series in order to wrest control away from the other team.

• After earning of the “Goat” with two wins in 1958, St. Olaf maintained possession of the trophy until 1989-90 when Carleton prevailed in a pair of close contests. The trophy has resided with Carleton every year since, except the 2002-03 season when the Oles pulled out a pair of overtime victories.

Basketball trophies, awards, plaques and medals

Thirteen area schools are competing this week for championship basketball trophies during the East Central Community College’s annual high school basketball tournament.

Winners of the women’s Monday and Tuesday games will advance to play today and remaining teams will play on Friday. The championship is set for Saturday at 7 p.m.

The men’s part of the tournament tipped off Monday. No. 2 seed Forest Bearcats received a bye for the first round and will play the winner of No. 10 seed Neshoba Central v. No. 7 seed Southeast Lauderdale today at 5:30 p.m. in the BW gym.

Like the women’s brackets, winners will advance to the semi-finals on Friday with losers bracket played next Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon. The men’s championship is set for next Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in the BW gym.

Basketball Trophies for your winning teams