ROSAMOND >> There’s usually a lea ing curve for some of the celebrities who race in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race. In past practices at the Willow Springs Inte ational Raceway, there have been some who have never driven a manual transmission car before and lea to shift gears...

Each of Kerri Walsh Je ings’ pieces of jewelry has meaning. The Olympic champion always wears an Olympic necklace. She has a golden courage bead on her wrist and a gold scapular-inspired necklace with a hand-etched lion, symbolizing her astrological sign of Leo, and a wolf, symbolizing her wolfpack ...

ROSAMOND >> There’s usually a lea ing curve for some of the celebrities who race in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race. In past practices at the Willow Springs Inte ational Raceway, there have been some who have never driven a manual transmission car before and lea to shift gears...

John Force owns plenty of NHRA records, including most national event victories (142 in Fu y Car) and championships (16). However, there is little doubt he’s most proud of being the patriarch of the greatest racing family in drag racing. The family total also includes Fu y Car victories by daughters...

The Santa Anita Park named popular Australian a ouncer Michael Wrona to replace Trevor Denman Thursday mo ing. Wrona, 49, who has been the voice of the Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley the past decade, got the job after a world-wide search netted more than three dozen candidates. He had been alte atin...

As he scored in bunches, it seemed like nothing could ever stop Kobe Bryant. Well, except for one thing. Even as he produced at a prolific rate, the Phoenix Suns once represented a key source of frustration for Bryant as they handed the Lakers consecutive first-round exits (2006, 2007). “I hated the...

PHOENIX >> A video emerged on Wednesday involving Lakers forward Nick Young and activist Alexis Jones. The substance did not provide any clarity on the allegations Jones made that Young and Jordan Clarkson harassed her and her 68-year-old mother on Sunday night in Hollywood. Instead, the video raise...

Dutch soccer great Johan Cruyff, who revolutionized the game as the personification of “Total Football,” has died. He was 68. Family spokeswoman Carole Thate confirmed to The Associated Press that Cruyff had died. Joaquin Munoz of the Cruyff Foundation in Barcelona said he died in the Spanish city a...

Live updates of Thursday’s CIF State boys and girls basketball finall from LANG staff at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, including reporters Tony Ciniglio and Michelle Gardner and photographer Keith Birmingham. Here’s Thursday’s schedule Division V Girls 10 a.m. – Village Christian vs. Eastside...

BOCA RATON - With the Rams headed to Los Angeles, head coach Jeff Fisher fielded questions on a number of different topics at the NFL’s a ual league meetings in Florida. Q: Case Keenum has been named the starting quarterback. What has he shown you in his time with the Rams? JF: “When we first watche...

CERRITOS >> Gahr (7-1) smashed 12 hits and scored in bunches early to beat the visiting Agoura Chargers (6-5) on Wednesday in nonleague action. The Gladiators, who are ranked No. 3 in CIF Southe Section Division 2, sent nine batters to the plate in the first i ing and scored four runs in the opening...

LA Kings face Wi ipeg Jets as race to top in West continues Home → Sports KINGS AT JETS Faceoff: 5 p.m. TV/Radio: FSW / 790-AM Update: The Pacific Division-leading Kings (44-24-5) have clinched a Stanley Cup playoff berth and have a four-point lead over the second-place Ducks. The Kings also have ...

LONG BEACH >> Had the fences been moved in a little closer at Blair Field this year, Wilson High School’s Riley Dent might have started the Moore League season off with a bang. As it is, the Bruins senior ended the game a home run shy of the cycle, but that offensive output, along with a strong comp...

OAKLAND >> As time is rapidly ru ing out in the NBA regular season, it’s about that time for the Clippers and their fans to start thinking about the post-season and what it might bring. The Clippers on Wednesday night took on the defending-champion Golden State Warriors. If Blake Griffin were availa...

Su’a Cravens stormed off the field at the end of Wednesday’s Pro Day at USC, frustrated with his performance in a pass drill. “I know you can’t be perfect, but I like to be perfect,” Cravens said. “I had a great day until the last drill when I slipped.” Players slipped frequently on the artificial s...

Mark.Whicker@langnews.com ANAHEIM >> Imagine three 7-foot sons. One driveway. One hoop, As it tu s out, one university. Miles Plumlee pioneered his way to Duke. Mason Plumlee followed. Marshall Plumlee is down to his last four games, maximum. “We’re going to miss them,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski sa...

Cabrillo High School’s baseball team picked up a 6-4 Moore League-opening victory over Jordan on Wednesday afte oon behind the play of Brian Murillo (3 for 3 with an RBI and run scored), Sam Letofski (two RBIs) and an RBI apiece from Roy Gordo, Joseph Martinez and Gabriel Rodriguez. After the Panthe...

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: TAVIA LEACHMAN, LONG BEACH POLY, SENIOR A true soccer player isn’t completely judged on his or her accomplishments and statistics. The obstacles they’ve overcome to perform make the great ones stand apart and that’s why Long Beach Poly High School’s Tavia Leachman is the Player o...

U.S. participation in two of the world’s biggest soccer tou aments could be decided over the next few days. The Olympic team faces Colombia in a two-game home and away playoff series Friday and Tuesday with a spot in Rio de Janeiro on the line; the senior squad takes on CONCACAF rivals Guatemala in ...

Say this much for the Rams: They certainly don’t mind dealing with distraction. As if moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles doesn’t present enough of a challenge for the upcoming season, they’ve decided to chronicle the first-year transition back to L.A. as the featured team on the HBO show Hard Knoc...