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By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor After USC routed California Saturday, scoring 62 points, I began hearing from Trojan fans who asked the same question. They wanted to know if Ed Orgeron has a chance of remaining as the Trojans' coach beyond this season. I consider it a worthwhile topic because I've respected Orgeron since he became a Trojan assistant coach, became a head coach at Mississippi, then returned to the Trojans as an assistant and recruiting co-ordinator. It's obvious he's been an...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Cheer up, Dodger fans. I know you’re disappointed in the team’s inability to reach the World Series. Calm down. Take a deep breath. Realize the Dodgers had a fantastic season and there’s reason to be optimistic about the future, beginning next season. Yasiel Puig appears to be on the way to becoming a superstar. The new owners have demonstrated they’ll spend plenty of money to keep the team in playoff and then championship contention. As this column is being w...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The truth is that a Culver City loss this week would be one of the hardest to digest in school history. Culver City can clinch the Ocean League championship by defeating a winless opponent that has given up at least 40 points in eight of its nine games. After Santa Monica beat Beverly Hills, 76-0, its coach, Travis Clark said "they are really hurting." It is a road game and nothing is certain in sports but, clearly, overconfidence should be the Centaurs' only bar...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor By defeating Inglewood and Santa Monica, their principal challengers for the Ocean League championship, Culver is in position to claim first place. However, if Culver loses this week to Morningside it would be tied for first place since Santa Monica plays Inglewood Friday night and one of them will win. Morningside, also with just one league loss, would share first place too, but it's final league game will be against Inglewood. ST. MONICA A 33-27 loss to St....
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Bill Sharman was one of the toughest men I’ve ever known. Also one of the nicest. When he became a Hall of Fame player with the Celtics stories were told that he used to help old ladies across the street from Boston Garden, then get into three fights during the game. “He never stood still on the court,” said Bob Cousy, his Celtic backcourt partner. “So he was impossible to guard. And in an era when few guys played defense, he did.” It was a different era then....
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Bill Sharman was one of the toughest men I've ever known. Also one of the nicest. When he became a Hall of Fame player with the Celtics stories were told that he used to help old ladies across the street from Boston Garden, then get into three fights during the game. "He never stood still on the court," said Bob Cousy, his Celtic backcourt partner. "So he was impossible to guard. And in an era when few guys played defense, he did." It was a different era then. A...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Staples Center in Los Angeles is the only NBA arena shared by two teams. The Lakers have been superior for many years but the Clippers are regarded as the better team this season, and they're flexing their muscles. Coach Doc Rivers has decided to have the Lakers' championship banners and a tribute to their retired great players covered up for clipper home games. That doesn't include the opening game of the new season Tuesday night because the Lakers are the home...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Glenn Rivers played basketball at Marquette University where Al McGuire was the coach. I remember he was Glenn Rivers at the time so I recently asked him where "Doc" came from. "Al McGuire," he replied. He paused for a moment, then completed the answer. "He couldn't remember my name." That was a long time ago but the nickname has stuck through Rivers' NBA playing and coaching careers. And now Doc has arrived to heal what's been ailing the Los Angeles Clippers. Sp...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Santa Monica has won the Ocean League football championship the last two years. And the Vikings come to Culver City Friday night following a 76-0 rout of Beverly Hills last Friday. However, prior to the last two years Culver City won the league title four of five years. So Friday's game should be another memorable one in the historic series. ST. MONICA Following a 55-16 loss to St. Genevieve St. Monica will host St. Anthony Friday night at Corsair Field. BRENTWOO...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Inglewood has an array of spectacular athletes, led by receiver Zaire Andre, who has committed to Washington State. First-year coach Tony Reid has an outstanding offense that was dominant in a 49-0 rout of Beverly Hills last week. But the Sentinels have suffered several one-sided losses, including 50-12 to Burbank. This is Inglewood’s last year in the Ocean League. Next season it will move to the Bay League. ALSO ON THE WESTSIDE SANTA MONICA The defending O...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor You see Brian Wilson with his beard and mohawk and you might get the impression he’s a goofball. What major league pitcher looks so outrageous, so different from all the others? But the Dodgers knew better. Wilson proved himself by helping the Giants win the 2010 World Series even though he had undergone Tommy John surgery for an elbow injury while at Louisiana State University.. And after he underwent Tommy John surgery for a second time in 2011 and lost his c...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports editor On the many occasions when I attended Dodger games this season there was a lot of speculation about Juan Uribe’s future with the Dodgers. Media friends and scouts from other teams were pretty sure the Dodgers won’t sign him again. This is the third and final year of his current contract. The Dodgers signed him for three years at $21 million after he helped the Giants win the 2010 World Series. But look at what’s happened. Uribe has had a great 2013 season, both...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor After compiling a 1-4 record in non-league games but improving against top-notch competition the Centaurs will begin Ocean League play. Donald Paysinger, following a long association with Beverly Hills High, became Hawthorne’s coach this season. The Cougars have a 2-3 record. In their last game they defeated Leuzinger, 44-8. SANTA MONICA The defending league champion Vikings (2-3) will begin Ocean League play Friday by hosting Morningside at 7 pm at Corsair Field...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor I went to Media Day at the Lakers’ training facility Saturday and the Clippers’ facility Monday. Get ready. Practice has begun and we’ll have NBA basketball until April followed by the playoffs that go into June. The Lakers will play an exhibition game at Staples Center Sunday at 6 pm against the Denver Nuggets. Annually this is the best time for me because nobody has lost a game yet and they all think they’re going to do well. But we know some teams won’t d...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor When Culver City hosts Bishop Amat Friday night the stadium will be re-named Jerry Chabola Stadium in honor of the Centaurs’ long-time athletic director. In addition the number five of former star receiver Michael Bumpus will be retired. Bumpus lettered in four sports at Culver. As a junior in football he caught 75 passes. As a senior in 2003 he played quarterback and rushed for 800 yards, becoming the CIF Division 10 Player of the Year. He went on to W...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor From week to week since last season Lane Kiffin had been on the brink of being fired as USC’s football coach. When last season’s 7-6 record, far below Trojan standards, was followed by a slow start this season Kiffin remained in trouble. Then USC went to Arizona State, was outscored in the third quarter, 28-0 on the way to a 62-41 loss and Athletic Director Pat Haden had seen enough. Kiffin was fired as the Trojans arrived home at 3 am and veteran line coach Ed O...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor When the Dodgers clinched the Western Division championship in Arizona recently they celebrated by scaling a wall and jumping into the DiamondBacks’ pool at Chase Field. They had excelled on the ballfield, then lost respect throughout baseball by embarrassing an opponent. Among those who were infuriated by their action was Arizona senator and former presidential candidate John McCain. “No class by a bunch of overpaid, immature, arrogant spoiled brats,” McCai...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor After losing their opener to Los Alamitos, 27-0, the Pirates have defeated Bellflower, 27-6 and Long Beach Wilson, 34-13. Culver is tuning up for its Ocean League schedule and can gain some satisfaction from the struggles of key league opponents. Santa Monica lost to Mater Dei, 37-0 and Inglewood lost to Stockdale of Bakersfield, 55-12. SANTA MONICA A year ago Santa Monica lost to Mater Dei, 51-0. The rematch Friday night at Corsair Field wasn’t quite as one-side...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Nick Pasquale was hit by a car in San Clemente on September 8 and died. He wasn’t a star on the UCLA football team. He didn’t even get into games. He was a member of the scout team, the guys who work in practice to prepare the players for their next game. He was also a beloved member of the Bruin football program, a young man who worked hard, earned respect and embraced his role. His death the week before the Nebraska game left the UCLA football family daz...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor In a home game Friday night Culver will oppose Redondo, which defeated Antelope Valley last week. Redondo’s only loss was to Santa Monica. This will be Culver’s second game in its newly-revamped stadium, complete with turf that favors speed. It will be a good test for a talented but inexperienced group of new players. ALSO ON THE WESTSIDE A capacity crowd is expected at Santa Monica College’s Corsair Field Friday night when Santa Monica High hosts peren...
It Could Get Worse For USC, Kiffin By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The bad news for USC football fans is the Trojans’ slow start to the current season, which includes a home loss Saturday to Washington State Saturday. The worse news is the surprising strength of the Pac-12 Conference. Stanford beat Oregon last season and then Oregon coach Chip Kelly left for the NFL. In some pre-season forecasts Stanford ranked at the top nationally along with Alabama, the national champion the last two y...
It Could Get Worse For USC, Kiffin The bad news for USC football fans is the Trojans’ slow start to the current season, which includes a home loss Saturday to Washington State Saturday. The worse news is the surprising strength of the Pac-12 Conference. Stanford beat Oregon last season and then Oregon coach Chip Kelly left for the NFL. In some pre-season forecasts Stanford ranked at the top nationally along with Alabama, the national champion the last two years. But Oregon looked positively s...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor This is new territory for all of us. Frankly, getting used to it is quite an adjustment. The Clippers were laughed at or merely ignored for as long as I can remember, with the exception being an occasional season. The Lakers won 16 NBA championships and ruled Los Angeles. Now a season is approaching where the Clippers appear to have not only the better team but a better-functioning organization. But in true Clipper fashion, a first round playoff exit last season...
Can Rivers Deliver a Clippers’ Championship? This is new territory for all of us. Frankly, getting used to it is quite an adjustment. The Clippers were laughed at or merely ignored for as long as I can remember, with the exception being an occasional season. The Lakers won 16 NBA championships and ruled Los Angeles. Now a season is approaching where the Clippers appear to have not only the better team but a better-functioning organization. But in true Clipper fashion, a first round playoff e...
First Opponent: West Torrance Culver City is expected to have a difficult task in its season opener Friday night. West Torrance defeated Culver last season in a high=scoring, entertaining game. The coaching staff believes it has another highly representative team. ALSO ON THE WESTSIDE SANTA MONICA Culver’s primary challenger in the Ocean League has a new quarterback as it begins the season at Redondo Friday night. Redondo began its season last Friday with a 49-12 win over North Torrance. Santa M...
