LOS ANGELES >> Linebacker Cameron Smith is considered one of the best players at USC. But he will not play the first half of the season-opener against Weste Michigan because he was ejected from last season’s Rose Bowl. The linebackers were a mostly unfamiliar group with Smith. Without him, e

It was an ill wind that blew San Pedro’s big chance at hosting an Olympics event right out of reach — all the way into cross-harbor tourism rival Long Beach. Two years ago, news that San Pedro’s waterfront was picked as the potential L.A. Olympics sailing venue was hailed by locals who have long tri

LOS ANGELES >> When UCLA finished spring practice in April, offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch called the coming months “the summer of improvement.” Players, barred from extensive interaction with their coaches, had to fend for themselves. They banded together and organized their own practices.

A brief look at UCLA’s training camp practice Friday at Spaulding Field: Final countdown The first three days of UCLA’s training camp coincided with the tail end of finals week and by the time the Bruins wrapped up practice Friday night, the stress of balancing academics and athletics had started to

ANAHEIM >> After he pitched off a mound for the first time in more than four months, Garrett Richards confidently made a proclamation. “I don’t have any doubt in my mind that I will pitch for this team, this year,” the Angels right-hander said. “I will get in a regular-season game, at some poi

Huntington Beach >> There was no way around it – one of the San Clemente surfers in the water was going to be sent packing. Would it be one of the Gudauskas brothers, Ta er or Pat, who are no strangers to the competitive circuit, grinding for the past decade alongside the world’s best surfers

ANAHEIM >> The Angels, who have waited all season for their offense to arrive, are finally enjoying an extended hot streak at the plate. The Angels’ come-from-behind 8-6 victory over the Oakland A’s on Friday night was their fourth straight victory, and sixth in their last seven. In all seven

LOS ANGELES >> USC opened training camp last week with two options at center. There was Nico Falah, a redshirt senior who started there for the final 12 games last season and proved dependable amid a Rose Bowl run. There was also Toa Lobendahn, a redshirt junior who first started at center dur

Inside the knee is a diagonal band of fibrous tissue, roughly the size of pinky finger. When it snaps, the course of an NFL season changes. On football injury reports, few words are as dreaded as “anterior cruciate ligament.” ACL tears once ended careers. Even today, they often signal lost seasons.

LOS ANGELES >> Here are some notes and observations as USC prepares to start practicing in full pads today. A rule of college football is that wide receiver is the position where it’s easiest for young players to make an immediate impact. Mike Williams, Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and JuJu Smith

LOS ANGELES >> Amidst the chaos of UCLA’s first fall practice on Wednesday night, Coach Jim Mora didn’t make note of many individual performances. But when asked of any players who jumped out at him, he singled out two of the team’s youngest players: defensive tackles Greg Rogers and Martin An

NEW YORK (12-11) AT SPARKS (17-6) Tipoff: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Staples Center TV: Spectrum SportsNet, NBA League Pass Update: The Sparks try to run their wi ing streak to four games against the Liberty, which is in third place in the Easte Conference standings. Los Angeles has won its last three ga

LYNWOOD >> Famous NBA players and not-so-famous collegians have all played a part in the development of one of Southe Califo ia’s key basketball leagues. Players from schools such as USC, Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton compete in the eight-team Real Run Basketball league Mondays t

CARSON >> The U.S. women’s national soccer team feels right at home at the StubHub Center. Thanks to goals from Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Alex Morgan, the U.S. won its 13th consecutive victory in Carson, defeating Japan, 3-0 in the final game of the Tou ament of Nations, Thursday. Austr

ANAHEIM >> The Angels have a wi ing streak. For the first time since May, they completed a three-game sweep, with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night. Trailing 4-3 in the eighth, Luis Valbuena led off the i ing with a walk and then Andrelton Simmon

Greeted by elated, cheering supporters Thursday mo ing, a 21-year-old woman from Croatia completed a grueling, ove ight swim from Catalina Island to the shores below Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. “She swam like a champion, like a machine,” said Jill Babajko, who rode alongside D

Here’s a brief look at UCLA’s training camp practice Thursday at Spaulding Field: Big play After an inconsistent first practice of the fall, Josh Rosen threw a gem of a touchdown pass to Darren Andrews during the second team period. The quarterback fired the 30-yard pass through a tight window but p

ATLANTA >> Well, at least the Dodgers won’t have to play the Atlanta Braves in the postseason. Catcher Tyler Flowers came off the bench to hit a two-run, pinch-hit home run off Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez in the eighth i ing of a tie game, sending the Braves to a 5-3 victory over the Dodgers

ATLANTA >> Legend has it everything is bigger in Texas. After getting their first up-close-and-personal look at Yu Darvish, the Dodgers might believe it. “It’s impressive how big he is,” Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said after overseeing Darvish’s first bullpen session with his new te

ANAHEIM >> Albert Pujols scored from second base on a shallow outfield hit Wednesday. The slowest player in baseball plodded around third and slid safely into home plate ahead of the throw from Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera. After receiving a perfunctory tag, Pujols stood