Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 473
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor When Jim Fregosi died last week I was jolted into a trip down memory lane. I was fresh out of college in 1963 and had an ambition to become a sportswriter. I sent out resumes and received a call from Bud Furillo, sports editor of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. We set up an interview. He seemed to like the articles I had included from the college newspaper but he was a no-nonsense kind of guy. "I have a position for you but I know it isn't what you want," he...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Stop me if you've heard this story before -- like last month -- but the Lakers are trying to trade Pau Gasol. If you don't follow pro basketball closely you probably wonder why they'd trade a proven player who averaged 20 points per game in January. If you do follow the NBA you know it's a common practice for teams out of playoff contention to unload players with high salaries. These teams aren't going to get the lucrative playoff revenue, so reducing the...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The most interesting part of the remaining NBA regular season games involve teams driving toward favorable playoff position. There’s a big difference between having home court advantage and not having it. There’s a big difference from playing a powerhouse opponent right away or getting a series first to work your way in. I’ve traveled with great Laker teams with players who understood this. Shaquille O’Neal used to emphasize to me the Lakers had to finish...
UCLA head baseball coach John Savage, who guided the Bruins to their first NCAA championship in baseball, has been named the 2013 Coach of the Year by the Los Angeles Sports Council. Savage, along with select team members, will be honored during the ninth Annual LA Sports Awards, which will be held on Wednesday, March 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Previous Coach of the Year honorees have been Darryl Sutter, Kings (2012); Lane Kiffin, USC (2011); Bruce Arena, Galaxy (2010); Mike Scioscia,...
An injury-depleted Lakers team was dominated by the Clippers, their intra-Staples Center rivals, being blown-out, 123-87, on Friday. The 36-point victory margin was the Clippers' largest ever against the Lakers, besting a 125-94 victory in 1992 at the Sports Arena, then the Clippers' home. Some might say that an asterisk needs to be printed next to this game in the record book since both teams were playing without their injured superstar guards, Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul. The Lakers were also...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Any player on the roster of a National Basketball Association team on January 8 has his contract guaranteed for the rest of the season. In view of that, the day of decision arrived for franchises this week. Teams out of playoff contention, especially, sought to reduce their financial obligation. The Lakers and Clippers both made a salary-cutting move. The Lakers released forward Shawne Williams, who had started several games at forward. The Clippers released...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant will be out for six weeks with a broken bone in his left leg. Doctor Robert Klapper, ESPN radio’s medical expert with a distinguished reputation in his field, told listeners that because the injury is on a lower extremity Kobe won’t be able to train during the six weeks to get back into playing shape. Most likely, then, the Lakers can expect to be without the Kobe they’ve come to rely on for probably two months. Well, two mon...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor After the Clippers set a franchise record for victories in a season Vinny del Negro was fired as coach. There was the matter of the Clippers losing in the first round of the NBA playoffs. That was last season and this one began with Clippers management sending a very clear message. It was time for the Clippers to approach – and possibly win -- the first NBA championship in their history. Doc Rivers, leaving Boston after nine years, was hired as the coach who m...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor When the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns Tuesday at Staples Center Coach Mike D’Antoni began the evening with his ninth different starting lineup in 21 games. The great Laker teams I covered in the past usually had set lineups and set substitution rotations. The players knew their roles. With roles changing game by game the defense suffers. It can take several years for teammates to learn where each other will be. This season the Lakers brought in a batch of g...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor On Tuesday, it was opening night of the National Basketball Association season and former Laker great Magic Johnson was in peak form. However, Johnson is no longer a player or even a Laker minority owner. He’s one of the Dodgers’ new owners. “But my heart is still with the Lakers,” he said. “I love the Lakers.” He loves them enough to be quite upset about the status of the franchise. Johnson spent Tuesday appearing on a variety of radio sports shows and his theme...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor As the editor of this newspaper I urge my columnists to take a stand on issues. I don’t tell them what stand to take, but merely let readers know their position. Readers have their opinions and want to compare them to yours. But today I find myself unable to take the same advice. Kobe Bryant has signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with the Lakers and as the wisdom of the Lakers’ move is debated nationally I can very clearly see both sides of the issue. Fir...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor My head is spinning as I leave Staples Center Sunday night. There are so many Laker topics to discuss. The Lakers have just beaten the Detroit Pistons, 113-99 and fans are celebrating as if an NBA championship has been won. They’re so happy because they get free tacos since the opponent didn’t score 100 points. On the last two possessions the Pistons miss shots and the crowd reacts as if the Lakers will get extra points in the standings. But here’s the reali...
By Bosmat Eynav Sports Columnist Much has been said in the past two weeks about a certain controversial step taken by 'Doc' - the Los Angeles Clippers coach. To remind you, when the Clippers are playing on their home court at Staples Center he went ahead and replaced all the Lakers' banners with photographs of his team. This clear and obvious move does not justify the media's strong responses. The way I see it, it's like a father's intention to make his son believe in himself... that's how Doc c...
Los Angeles D-Fenders have hired former Laker Luke Walton as a player development coach, it was announced by team President/CEO Joey Buss. "We are very excited to add Luke to our staff," said Buss. "His championship experience will help build upon the winning culture that has been established with the D-Fenders. His extensive and successful NBA career will allow him to instill the work ethic it requires for our players to reach the NBA." "Luke has been a consummate professional throughout his ca...
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 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...
For the past several months the staff at the Culver City Observer has been working on our new website which went live last Saturday. The site is user friendly and all our stories are organized by subject with drop headings for subtopics. We will continue to provide Culver City residents with the finest local news, sports, arts, theatre and movie coverage. In addition, longtime Los Angeles sports writer Mitch Chortkoff will provide updates and commentary on local teams along with the Lakers,...
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...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The Clippers continued to build a deep and talented roster this week by signing veteran forward Antwan Jamison. After playing for the Lakers last season Jamison became a free agent. He is expected to take Lamar Odom’s place in the Clippers’ plans as a reserve on the front line. Jamison will be in his 15th NBA season. He signed a one-year contract for $1.4 million, a low number by NBA standards. That’s the same amount he played for last season. Jamison had diffe...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The Clippers continued to build a deep and talented roster this week by signing veteran forward Antwan Jamison. After playing for the Lakers last season Jamison became a free agent. He is expected to take Lamar Odom’s place in the Clippers’ plans as a reserve on the front line. Jamison will be in his 15th NBA season. He signed a one-year contract for $1.4 million, a low number by NBA standards. That’s the same amount he played for last season. Jamison had differences with Lakers’ coach Mike D’Antoni over play...
Ex-Laker Jamison Joins Clippers The Clippers continued to build a deep and talented roster this week by signing veteran forward Antwan Jamison. After playing for the Lakers last season Jamison became a free agent. He is expected to take Lamar Odom’s place in the Clippers’ plans as a reserve on the front line. Jamison will be in his 15th NBA season. He signed a one-year contract for $1.4 million, a low number by NBA standards. That’s the same amount he played for last season. Jamison had diffe...
