Talking Points: New Ducks hero

What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:

1

Why, thank you, Johnny Manziel.

Oregon fans should be sending their best regards to College Station after the freshman quarterback led Texas A&M to an upset win over No. 1 Alabama. Manziel was once committed to Oregon then decided to stay in his home state, but on Saturday he wound up helping the Ducks in a big way. Manziel completed 24 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in the 29-24 win.

With Alabama’s loss, that opens the door for the undefeated Oregon Ducks to claim the top spot in the BCS poll.

2

The scuttlebutt out of Los Angeles has Phil Jackson returning to the Lakers bench, to replace the abruptly fired Mike Brown. Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts can speak as an authority about the coaching carousel, having been in both positions. Stotts got the boot during the 2007 season in Milwaukee, but kicked off his head coaching career in Atlanta after taking over for Lon Kruger in December 2002.

“When you take over at midseason, you can’t make wholesale changes,” Stotts said. “Maybe you do a few things that are important to you but it’s difficult to come in and make major changes right away.

“You can maybe change the emphasis or style of play to a degree. It’s sometimes it creates a spark, players play a little harder but it’s a difficult position to be put in.”

For more Talking Points, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/talkpoints360