ARLINGTON, Va. — Justin Williams tore ligaments in his left knee (twice), tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg and broke his right ankle — all before he tu ed 28. Even though he had won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, it’s no wonder the Los Angeles Kings wondered if Williams...

The Associated Press Leicester has long been a trying name that travels badly. An overelaborate spelling of “Lester” for Americans. A tongue-twisting “Less-es-tur” or “Lie-chest-er” for continental Europeans. So thank you Jamie Vardy and Co. for putting us on the map. When trying to enlighten the co...

The boxing community wasn’t happy with Ma y Pacquiao’s welterweight title fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May. Pacquiao entered with an old rotator cuff injury that got worse during the fight, and he lost a lopsided decision on the scorecards. He’s all better now. He proved it during a recent ...

USC wide receivers already voiced their frustration during spring practice with last year’s tendency of quarterback Cody Kessler to rely so much on star receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. The difference was between Smith-Schuster and the rest of the receiver corps was so vast that he totaled 1,040 receiv...

Evgeny Gradovich has not skipped any steps to get here. When he moved to Oxnard, he took a rented room in a local family’s house and walked 30 minutes to the Robert Garcia Boxing Authority. After his workout, he would walk all the way back. “When we got other Russians to come train with us, they sho...

SAN FRANCISCO >> Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal started minor league rehab assignments Thursday, Kendrick with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Grandal with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Both players are expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time for the Dodgers’ home opener Tuesday. ...

AUGUSTA, Ga. >> Does the Masters begin on the 10th tee Sunday, or when Jordan Spieth gets to the first tee Thursday? The defending champ continued his one-man war on Masters suspense. He cruised to a no-bogey, 6-under-par 66 and took a two-stroke lead after the first round. Playing partner Paul Case...

AUGUSTA, Ga. >> Rickie Fowler was the first Masters favorite to stagger off the battlefield on Thursday. He began the tou ament with a double-bogey on the first hole, shot eight-over-par 44 on the back nine with an 8 on No. 13, and wound up with 80. “It’s golf,” he said, shrugging. “A crazy four-let...

LONG BEACH >> Moore League baseball is a pitcher’s paradise. Playing the majority of its games at Blair Field against small-ball offenses has helped develop some great young arms in Long Beach. The Moore League has former stars pitching in Major League Baseball’s minor league systems and at elite un...

AUGUSTA, Ga. >> Most nightmares do not appear on the Inte et, or in front of thousands of mortified golf fans. Most nightmares go away when you awaken, and then fade from memory by lunchtime. E ie Els, 46, wi er of two U.S. Opens and two British Opens and the second-best golfer who ever came from th...

The crowd nearly offers a standing ovation anytime the moment happens. They sometimes have booed when it does not. All of which has sent a clear message to Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell on what fans want to see with Kobe Bryant’s career winding down. “Give Kobe the ball,” Russell said. “Wherever he’...

The crowd nearly offers a standing ovation anytime the moment happens. They sometimes have booed when it does not. All of which has sent a clear message to Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell on what fans want to see with Kobe Bryant’s career winding down. “Give Kobe the ball,” Russell said. “Wherever he’...

Boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya has been named Grand Marshal for the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, officials a ounced Thursday. De La Hoya will be joined by Taya Kyle, wife of Navy SEAL and “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, who will wave the green flag for the Verizon IndyCar Series race on Ap...

The Long Beach State baseball team (17-11, 1-2 Big West), ranked No. 20 nationally by Baseball America, is looking to get right on the road this weekend in a Big West Conference series at Cal State Northridge. The series starts today at 3 p.m. and continues at 1 p.m. on Saturday before concluding at...

I’m sitting in a parking lot on the 101 freeway last Monday at 4 p.m. trying to keep the road rage demons at bay when the sweetest sound this side of Sinatra’s “Summer Wind” comes blowing in through my car radio. “Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good afte oon to you, wherever you may be.” And all...

AUGUSTA, Ga. >> Most nightmares do not appear on the Inte et, or in front of thousands of mortified golf fans. Most nightmares go away when you awaken, and then fade from memory by lunchtime. E ie Els, 46, wi er of two U.S. Opens and two British Opens and the second-best golfer who ever came from th...

The crowd nearly offers a standing ovation anytime the moment happens. They sometimes have booed when it does not. All of which has sent a clear message to Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell on what fans want to see with Kobe Bryant’s career winding down. “Give Kobe the ball,” Russell said. “Wherever he’...

It’s the one backpack every high school track and field athlete wants. It features a letter “A” with wings, a Nike logo and says “Arcadia Invitational,” the Ferrari of the high school track and field world. “When you’re walking with an Arcadia backpack at certain places, certain meets, everyone goes...

SAN FRANCISCO >> Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal are begi ing minor league rehab assignments Friday, Kendrick with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Grandal with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Both players are expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time for the Dodgers’ home opener Tuesda...

If the Kings defeat their first-round opponent in the Stanley Cup playoffs later this month and if the Ducks beat theirs, the Southe Califo ia rivals will meet in the second round in the second Freeway Series playoff matchup in three seasons. If they do meet again, Ducks center Ryan Kesler almost ce...