Local Sports News
in Hollywood, CA

The current silhouette on the NBA logo is of another former Lakers legend, Jerry West, who was the Lakers general manager in 1996 and was responsible for drafting Kobe out of high school.

The Longhorns star freshman and how Texas Tech defends him is the matchup that Gillen will have his eyes on Saturday.

Division I softball is providing a training ground this season for players preparing for the 2021 Summer Olympics in Japan.UCLAs Rachel Garcia and Bubba Nickles and Arizonas Dejah Mulipola are among 18 players fighting for 15 spots on the U.S. squad that will go to Tokyo. Oklahomas Nicole Mendes and North Carolina States Tatyana Forbes will play for Mexico, their schools said. Washingtons Gabbie Plain is a finalist for a slot on Australias team. During Olympic years, Team USAs college players who are finalists for the Olympic squad usually travel the country playing with the national team. Garcia, Nickles and Mulipola made a joint decision with Team USA and coach Ken Eriksen to stay with their college teams this year.Eriksen said the other 15 U.S. hopefuls are not touring this time because of COVID-19 has taken opportunities off the table. He said the situation favors college players who get game competition. They actually have a bonus factor over the other 15 players in that theyre getting daily training, Eriksen said of the college players. Theyre getting daily at-bats, theyre getting daily reps. I wish the situation with COVID was different, that the other 15 were getting just as much time.Arizona coach Mike Candrea, who coached the gold medal-winning USA squad at the 2004 Games and the team that earned silver in 2008, said annual tour games dont offer as much of a challenge as the college players find with their schools.When we go on tour, were playing teams we know were going to beat, he said. The competition level is not as good as you would like it to be, whereas I think the three college kids are going to have an opportunity to play a very difficult schedule that will prepare them.It means that college softball gets a boost from the return of three of its best players. Garcia, a pitcher who also plays first base, was the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019 and Most Outstanding Player of the 2019 Womens College World Series. Nickles, a utility player, was a Softball America All-American in 2019. Mulipola was NFCA Catcher of the Year as a junior in 2019 and was a first-team NFCA All-American that season.Garcia said the three still are very much a part of Team USAs preparation.We do have the opportunity to be involved when we have our Zoom calls or team meetings, she said. So were still being included with the loop of everything. And on top of it, we were told that whenever we are needed, were allowed to go and just train, play, or whatever is going on anytime we are needed up until the Olympics.Eriksen said hes not worried about whether the players will be ready because the programs they play for know what to do. Candrea is one of college softballs most accomplished coaches. UCLA assistant coach Lisa Fernandez is a three-time Olympic champion. Garcia, Nickles, Mulipola and Plain all play for Pac-12 teams, and all know how difficult it will be to get victories when they cross paths. In the latest USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll, UCLA is No. 1, Arizona is No. 3 and Washington is No. 5.Nickles said the matchups with Mulipola and Arizona will be extra special this season.It is really cool that our other teammate is at a Pac-12 school, Nickles said. When we play against her, well have that type of bond that will make the game even more fun.Mexicos Forbes, an outfielder, ranked second nationally in hits, was fifth in batting and eighth in on-base percentage in last years shortened college season. Her teammate, Mendes, is a utility player and a two-time member of the Womens College World Series All-Tournament team. The Sooners are ranked No. 2 and Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said she is on the same page with Team Mexico about Mendes.We have been in communication, and whats nice is I have had some relationships with some of Team Mexico and their coaching staff, and they trust me, Gasso said. The attitude is, Just get her ready. I think what we do at OU will have her ready when its time.Tarni Stepto, a pitcher for Oregon State, is a finalist for a spot on the Australian team. She opted out the college season to stay home and train. Plain chose to play tand her quest to make Australias squad adds pressure to perform at a high level for the Huskies.I would say it is quite important, but ultimately they are going to choose whoever they think is the best fit for the Australian team, Plain said. I think there are five or six pitchers, so quite a lot of heavy competition. So mostly, just keep playing as best as I can.Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

UCLA and USC mens basketball teams hope to improve seeding in NCAA tournament and get Pac-12 back to winning in March Madness.

Fernando Tats Jr. signed a 14-year contract with the Padres, and Mariners president Kevin Mather resigned in disgrace. Whats the connection