Sorted by date Results 451 - 473 of 473
The Major League Baseball television network had a show over the weekend rating the top 100 players. Albert Pujols, generally regarded as the sport’s best player over the last 10 years, was only No. 11. Upon seeing that I wondered if an explanation was coming. It was. The explanation was this is their rating as of now, looking ahead to the 2012 season. They believe Pujols will slip as he adjusts to a new team in a new league. Fair enough. But I anxiously watched to see who would rank 1 through 1...
As spring training begins the biggest question in major league baseball is a simple one. Were the Angels wise to give Albert Pujols a 10-year, $240 million contract? It’s a fact that Pujols was baseball’s most coveted free agent in this bidding season and it can be argued that he’s been the best player in baseball over the last 10 years. He’s been National League MVP three times and a vital member of two World Series winners. But he’s 33, and how productive will he be in the latter years of...
Following a late start due to labor negotiations the National Basketball Association is rapidly approaching mid-season. With only 66 games instead of the standard 82, as we get around 30 it’s already time for my annual halfway evaluation. My first observation is this is the strangest season ever. That’s because of new labor rules which led teams to dump salaries, only one week of training camp, only two exhibition games instead of eight and even elite teams bringing in a batch of new pla...
In the 23 years when I traveled with Laker teams I can count on one hand the times we writers socialized with the players. I flew on the team’s charter plane, but it was understood there were strict guidelines when the players would be available for interviews. And I didn’t violate that trust. I don’t travel anymore but I understand the restrictions are even greater now. There’s more media and more need for media control. I recall that once Coach Pat Riley and the four traveling writers (LA Time...
When the Lakers lose three in a row, as they did last week, everyone you know has a theory. I have mine and to me it all comes down to one reality. The roster is deficient. This is not a roster up to Laker standards. The question is why. That’s the question which management will ultimately have to answer. If fans and media members can see it, management certainly can too. What seems to be happening is the Lakers are sacrificing the season in order to position themselves financially for the n...
The new-look Los Angeles Clippers were put to the test this past week by two elite teams – the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers – and passed the test by defeating both teams at Staples Center. These important wins certainly give the Clippers the nod to join that elite circle and now own bragging rights against their cross-arena rival Lakers. The Clippers tenacity so frustrated the opposing head coaches that the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra got ejected from the game and Lakers’ Mike Brown received a te...
In all the years I’ve covered the National Basketball Association I’ve never seen anything like this. Neither has anyone else. Prolonged labor negotiations occurred in 1998 but when they ended there wasn’t turmoil. This time, with new rules guiding teams about money, there was utter chaos. Trades and free agent signings were announced every hour all weekend and into the new week. The Lakers thought they had acquired Chris Paul, then found out the deal wasn’t approved. Then the Clippers thought...
When the 1971-’72 Lakers went to training camp not much was expected of them. Wilt Chamberlain had joined the team in 1968 but no championships were won with Butch van Breda Kolff or Joe Mullaney as coach. So even the arrival of Bill Sharman, who had guided the Utah Stars to the American Basketball championship the previous season, didn’t stir the imagination of forecasters. After all, all-time National Basketball Association great Elgin Baylor was close to retiring. But the Lakers won 33 con...
The NBA lockout is beginning to bring on new worries to club owners. Their players are heading to foreign countries. I see nothing wrong with this choice because basketball is their profession and if NBA teams won’t pay them teams from other leagues will. Kobe Bryant seems serious about playing elsewhere. At this writing a team from Turkey appears to be losing interest but China is a strong possibility because Bryant is extremely popular there. Pau Gasol is leaning toward playing for his n...
It happened in the NFL this season and now it’s happening in the NBA. The teams expected to dominate aren’t doing that. and others are doing surprisingly well. When the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs played for first place the game hadn’t been chosen for national television. In the NBA the Miami Heat were pre-season favorites but lost four of their first nine games. The Lakers got off to an 8-0 start but lost their next two to Denver and Phoenix. I don’t know anyone who expected New Orle...
When the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles for the 1960 season Frank O’Neill was hired as their trainer. O’Neill held the job until 1974. Many years later he returned to the team, briefly filling in for Gary Vitti and he also worked with the Clippers. O’Neill, who died last week at 81, is an example of a professional, dedicated to his work. Trainers aren’t paid anywhere close to what NBA players make, but for most of them it’s a valued profession. I bring this up to offer a contrast...
The Lakers honored Observer Sports Editor Mitch Chortkoff last week for his many years of covering the team. Bob Steiner, who heads the Lakers’ public relations operation, made the presentation of Laker memorabilia at California Villa in Van Nuys, where Chortkoff has been recovering from surgery. Chortkoff returned to work at the Observer’s Culver City office this week. The Lakers’ presentation team consisted of Steiner, public relations director John Black, general manager Mitch Kupchak and l...
When I was traveling with Laker teams for many years we used to pass idle time by discussing a variety of basketball topics. One time Jerry West told me it was important to make changes, usually among the reserves, every season regardless of how successful the team had been. He thought it was best to do that for team chemistry. Mitch Kupchak is the general manager now and it’s obvious he was well trained by West. The Lakers have won the NBA championship the last two years but they’ve rec...
For most of my life I have for the most part ignored soccer. For a guy living in the land of the Dodgers, Lakers and Rams a sport with seemingly little action didn’t appeal to me. What I saw was a huge field, players running around and rarely scoring a goal. But my schedule permitted me to watch a lot of the World Cup in recent weeks and I began to appreciate what was going on. Its true there’s only an occasional goal but the near misses are exciting and the athleticism of the participants is...
The Lakers have completed half of their 82-game regular season schedule with the best record in the NBA. The defending champions look good again, but there are some reasons to doubt their greatness – a few issues to deal with in the second half of the season. The Lakers’ 32-9 record is predictable considering that they have outstanding players and have had a ridiculously favorable schedule. They’ve played 26 home games and only nine well-spaced road games. Considering that, nine losses at this...
It will be a festive occasion at Staples Center Christmas Day when Kobe Bryant and LeBron James oppose each other. National television. The NBA’s two biggest stars facing off. I’ll eagerly arrive at my seat in the press box. That’s the glamour. But now the reality. The key to the Lakers’ chances of stringing together a succession of championship will be how Andrew Bynum progresses. If the 22-year-old kid matures and becomes dominant on a consistent basis the Lakers will be close to unbeata...
It’s staggering to realize what’s been going on with Kobe Bryant lately. He’s the reigning MVP of the NBA playoffs, which means he’s been recognized as perhaps the best basketball player in the world. Only LeBron James would have a legitimate claim otherwise. But in the first few weeks of the Lakers’ season Bryant has done something even he never did before. He’s a guard who has taken on the challenge of being an almost unstoppable post player. In the absence of injured centers Andrew Bynum and...
In the Lakers’ first four games they won twice, were non-competitive in a home loss to Dallas and required overtime to defeat Oklahoma City Reminded that the Lakers aren’t playing anywhere close to their championship form of last season. Kobe Bryant explained. “We’re not at full strength,” he said. “We’re missing one of the best players in the world.” The absence of Pau Gasol with a hamstring injury is a legitimate reason for the Lakers’ slow start. I just wonder if that’s the only major prob...
The Lakers have had so many championship celebrations they’ve gotten very good at putting them on. On Tuesday night they brought back key players from past championship teams before raising the newest banner and receiving their rings. It was the highlight of the opening night at Staples Center when the legends came onto the court, waving to the sellout crowd. There they were – Magic Johnson, Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, amo...
Something happened a few days ago that happens almost every year at this time. Lee Hamilton called. Hamilton is the long-time sports talk guy in San Diego who annually puts me on the air to begin the Lakers’ season. I’m focusing on high school and college football, the Dodgers and my editing duties at The Observer. But when he calls my mind clicks in on the Lakers. As we talked on and off the air it became clear to me that the Lakers’ toughest opponent in defense of their NBA championship will b...
By It was a family affair at this year's media day for the Los Angeles Lakers as it was the first time the world saw LeBron James and Bronny James wearing their Lakers uniform together. The father and son duo were the first two Laker players to take the court taking photos and being interviewed together. The 39-year-old Lebron James is now entering his 22nd year in the NBA, tying Hall of Famer Vince Carter for the most in NBA history. "So, I feel really good physically. Mentally, I feel really...
Best Buy is bringing Earvin “Magic” Johson to the Culver City community Friday to help the company celebrate the grand opening of its newest store – Best Buy #1015 Culver City, Westfield. Johnson’s appearance at the event is sponsored by Best Buy as part of a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises. Johnson will make remarks and help cut the ribbon as part of the grand opening ceremony, which begins inside the store at 9:15 a.m. Best Buy is located in the newly renovated Westfield Mall (formerly Fox Hills). The store address is 6000 Sepulve...
Each year, Culver City proclaims October as Disability Awareness Month in order to celebrate diversity and create awareness regarding people with disabilities. During the October 12 City Council meeting at 7 p.m., Mayor Andrew Weissman will make this proclamation and other Council Members will present award commendations to both individuals and organizations for outstanding service within the disability community. Through a variety of community-based activities, the Senior & Social Services Division of the Parks, Recreation & Community...
