Nearly 30 years ago, the legendary USC football coach John McKay left Los Angeles for Tampa Bay to become head coach of the Buccaneers. McKay took over the worst team in football, one which set a record for consecutive losses. When asked about his team's execution, McKay famously quipped "I'm in favor of it." Yet McKay eventually turned the Bucs around, as they reached the NFC Championship game under his leadership. A generation later,... [continue]

When pinch runner Pablo Ozuna crossed the plate to win Game 2 of the ALCS for the Chicago White Sox, losing pitcher Kelvim Escobar was charged with the run. However, it was unearned. In more ways than one. Home plate umpire Doug “Mr. Magoo” Eddings handed the White Sox an extra out after making the incorrect call on strike three to A.J. Pierzynski after he swung and missed, closing his fist for a strike,... [continue]

Ervin! Los Angeles sports fans haven’t screamed that name since the heyday of the Lakers’ Showtime era (sort of), but a scrawny kid with a big arm game them reason to once again. Rookie Ervin Santana led the Angels to a Game 5 victory over the Yankees to clinch the ALDS with 5 1/3 innings of sudden relief after starter Bartolo Colon went down after just one inning with a shoulder injury. Santana did... [continue]

After UCLA’s big win against California, fans of both the Bruins and the USC Trojans are finally on the same page, although a somewhat unfamiliar one. Both want the other to succeed. At least until December 3rd, because either side would relish the opportunity of putting an end to the other’s undefeated season. Assuming the Trojans are able to get past their two other big remaining challenges at Notre Dame and at Cal (which... [continue]

The glory and allure of the their 2002 World Series run has long faded away, but even though these ain’t your older brother’s Angels, they also ain’t facing your grandpa’s Yankees. Going up 2-1 after a beatdown of Randy Johnson, the Angels are primed to take the series sooner than later, although Saturday’s rainout makes “later” an equally possible option. Jarrod Washburn’s experience three years ago undoubtedly gives him the edge over the talented... [continue]

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made it official, mutually "parting ways" with manager Jim Tracy. We've addressed the Jim Tracy situation several times, most recently in our season wrap-up of the Dodgers. Ultimately, it came down to philosophy. Jim Tracy is a good manager, but it's not like he's Casey Stengel. It is essential for a GM and a manager to be on the same page. If they aren't, then a change needs to... [continue]

Most teams aren't thrilled to the play the Yankees in the playoffs. But the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are not most teams. For one reason or another, the Angels have played the Yankees extremely well over the years, which included an impressive 3-1 series win in the 2002 ALDS. If you recall, that was the series in which Mike Scioscia refused to go to Troy Percival in the 8th inning of game one,... [continue]

After a 3-1 loss to the Padres, the Dodgers disastrous 2005 season has mercifully come to an end. To sum up this season in a few words, LAist can basically say that almost nothing went right. The team both failed to play up to its potential, and suffered numerous injuries in the process. So, what's next for the Dodgers? LAist will move forward with what we hope is a reasoned analysis. The first issue... [continue]

We've been crying for LenDale White to get more involved in the USC offense, and today he didn't disappoint us. The power running back rushed for 197 yards in Troajns close 38-28 victory over Arizona State. Why was the game so close? Why did the Trojans play such an awful first half? Are they not as good as we think they are? The fact of the matter is that the USC offense played a... [continue]

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, on clinching the AL West. While we at LAist admit to a strong Dodger bias, and changing the team name didn't make us think the Angels were an LA team, we acknowledge them as a SoCal team. And we can't help but admire the work that Arte Moreno has done. In less than three years, Moreno has helped turn the Angels into media darlings in LA,... [continue]

Last night we watched the season premier of one of television's best shows - Curb Your Enthusiasm. We wondered going in if Larry David still had the magic touch which made the first four seasons both cutting edge and hilarious. Well, we're still enthusiastic about this show, as the episode did not disappoint. David remains sympathetically selfish, and the situations his character finds himself in are absolutely hysterical, yet strangely realistic. We loved watching... [continue]

USC survived their toughest test of the season, and burst past Oregon 45-13 after playing a lousy first half. USC is clearly the most talented team in the country, but if they want to avoid these kinds of mini-scares, then the Trojans need to make a few minor changes. USC isn't getting LenDale White involved enough in the offense, and instead is over-using Reggie Bush. When Oregon jumped ahead early thanks to two turnovers,... [continue]

There's a mini story brewing through the internet and LA sports talk radio. Someone named Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld.com is reporting that the Lakers are close to acquiring Kevin Garnett in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pincus offers no specifics as to who Minnesota would receive in return. Nor does he give any explanation has to why the T-Wolves would give up Garnett, let alone send him to the Lakers of all teams.... [continue]

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is a man of the people, and we respect him for that. But yesterday, he might have taken that one step too far by serving jury duty. Sure, it sounds nice to say that the Mayor should have to sit and wait in a courthouse all day like the rest of us must do from time to time. And if none of us can claim "indispensability at work", then the Mayor... [continue]

It was a beautiful day for football in Southern California. First UCLA beat Oklahoma 41-24, then USC destroyed Arkansas 70-17. The Blue and Gold faithful believe their win might have been a program-changing game. And while UCLA played an excellent 60 minutes, LAist wants to caution the Sons of Westwood before they actually believe this is a Rose Bowl season. This is not the same Oklahoma team that has been in two-straight national title... [continue]

What a great day for LA college football tomorrow! First UCLA plays host to Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl at 12:30 PM. Then at 7:15 PM, USC will take on Arkansas at a sold-out 92,000-seat Coliseum. This is the beauty of having two major conference college football teams in the same town. We get instances where two well-known programs play here on the same day. LAist still remembers 1997 when a highly-ranked Florida State... [continue]

There has been plenty of speculation recently on the future of Dodgers Manager Jim Tracy. Apparently Tracy can opt out of the two-year contract he signed last winter, and some feel he might. In today's LA Times, Bill Plaschke adds yet another volume to his DePodesta Hate-Fest, claiming that Tracy should opt out if he isn't guaranteed a long-term contract and more influence in personnel decisions. And what, praytell, has Tracy done to earn... [continue]

It was reported today that Pond in Anaheim will not be the temporary home of the New Orleans Hornets. And we don't really want them here. We've written at length about the New Orleans Saints situation, and how we would welcome the Saints in LA under the right circumstances, if they really were unable to play in the Big Easy. But the Hornets are an entirely different matter. First off, LA already has two... [continue]

The NFL season begins tonight in Los Angeles... well sort of. To kickoff the Raiders and Patriots, the NFL will have concerts at the Coliseum (site of Super Bowl I), Detroit (site of this year's Super Bowl XL), and Foxborough (where tonight's game will take place). Kanye West will headline the Coliseum concert, and props to the NFL for not giving into pressure and yanking him because he expressed an opinion. While discussion continues... [continue]

The last thing the Dodgers needed was another catastrophic injury. With Eric Gagne's elbow, Milton Bradley's finger and knee, JD Drew's wrist, and Odalis Perez's back, what more could go wrong? That question was answered yesterday when it was reported that shortstop Cesar Izturis will undergo Tommy John surgery in his right elbow, and is likely out until July 2006. This is a rather stunning development because usually pitchers are the only ones to... [continue]