Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker.

“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei (Mizuhara) from the news media," the commissioner's office said in a statement Friday. "Earlier today, our Department of Investigations began their formal process investigating the matter.”

Ohtani and the Dodgers were in Seoul, South Korea, for their opening series against the San Diego Padres when reports were published about alleged ties between the 39-year-old Mizuhara and an illegal bookmaker. The teams returned to the U.S. after Thursday night's game and MLB did not make a public comment until announcing the investigation on Friday.

The IRS confirmed Thursday that Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details.

“In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” law firm Berk Brettler LLP said in a statement Wednesday.

Sports gambling is illegal in California, even as 38 states and the District of Columbia allow some form of it.

Mizuhara is a familiar face to baseball fans as Ohtani’s constant companion, interpreting for him with the media and at other appearances since Ohtani came to the U.S. in 2017. He even served as Ohtani’s catcher during the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game. When Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels to sign a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December, the club also hired Mizuhara.

Betting on sports has exploded in the United States since the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that cleared the way for states to legalize it. Thirty-eight states now allow betting on sports, and ads promoting bookmakers DraftKings and FanDuel are seemingly everywhere.

Sportsbooks salivate at the thought of gaining access to California's 39 million residents, but the industry's efforts thus far have failed.

Two rival proposals were brought before voters in 2022 and tanked badly. One that was largely backed by gaming companies would have allowed adults to wager on mobile devices and online. The other would have legalized sports gambling at tribal casinos and horse tracks.

The rival campaigns became the most expensive ballot proposition fight in U.S. history, with both sides hoping to break into what was then estimated to be a potential billion-dollar market.

Another attempt stalled earlier this year without ever making it to the ballot.

In California, gambling is permitted on horse races, at Indian casinos, in card rooms and on the state lottery.

The politics involved are tricky. Wealthy Native American tribes that operate the state's largest traditional gambling operations generally view bookmakers and other outside gambling interests as a threat to tribal sovereignty.

It has also been a challenge selling the idea to voters, many of whom are cynical about the industry's something-for-nothing promises.

In the 2022 election, advertising made sweeping claims about how new gambling revenue could be used, from helping the homeless to providing financial security to poorer tribes that haven’t seen a windfall from casino gambling.

At the time, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office determined that the two proposals would increase state revenues, though it was unclear by how much.

Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend, Ippei Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN that he owed millions of dollars to an illegal bookmaker.

Mizuhara has not been charged with any crimes and it’s unclear if his alleged relationship with the bookmaker broke California law.

In an interview Tuesday with ESPN, Mizuhara said he gambled on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football, but that he never bet on baseball, which MLB forbids team employees from doing. He added that Ohtani, the sport's highest-paid player, paid his gambling debts at his request.

Mizuhara changed his story a day later, following a statement from Ohtani’s lawyers saying the player was a victim of theft.

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., fans can spot Betts working the drive-thru and front counter before the Boys in Blue take on the St. Louis Cardinals during the team’s 2024 home opener at Dodger Stadium on March 28.

Betts will be at the Raising Cane’s location on 1300 E Valley Blvd.

Raising Cane’s will also present a $100,000 check to Betts’ 5050 Foundation, which provides sports programs to inner city schools during the event.

The fast-food chain restaurant has held similar events with rapper Saweetie, reality star Ariana Madix and women’s basketball players from Louisiana State University.

The 2024 baseball season marks Betts’ fifth year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The roundtrip service will be offered for all Friday, Saturday and Sunday Angels home games, as well as three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers that take place midweek.

Baseball fans can leave their cars behind and avoid traffic by taking the Angels Express at a price of $10 per adult. Additionally, three children 17 and under can ride for free with a paying adult, Metrolink says.

The Angels Express service was discontinued following the 2019 MLB season. In its return, the service is expanding to the Inland Empire/Orange County Line. Inland Empire fans can board at the Riverside-Downtown station and ride directly to Anaheim without needing to transfer.

Service on the Orange County Line will operate between Los Angeles union Station and Anaheim and Oceanside to Anaheim.

Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle called the return of the Angels Express service "long-awaited."

“As two of America’s great pastimes, taking the train and baseball go hand in hand, and we look forward to once again connecting Southern Californians with the sights and sounds of the ballpark – and the memories made there," Kettle said.

Trains will drop off passengers at the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, aka ARTIC, which is a short walk from Angel Stadium. Return trains will leave 30 minutes after the final out, or 30 minutes after scheduled fireworks show on select Saturdays.

Funding for the Angels Express comes from Metrolink partner agencies LA Metro, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

“We’re excited to partner with Metrolink to bring [Angels Express service] back with even more options for getting to and from the ballpark," said Tam T. Nguyen, OCTA Chair. "The Angels are Orange County’s team. And because they also draw from L.A. and the Inland Empire, riding the rails from all those destinations helps reduce traffic and improve regional air quality.”

The service will run during all Friday, Saturday and Sunday home games, as well as midweek Dodgers games taking place on March 26, Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.

The Angels home opener is Saturday, April 5 against the Boston Red Sox.

The passenger rail service says that by taking the Angels Express, riders can "enjoy the camaraderie of traveling with other Angels fans while Metrolink does the work of getting them to and from the stadium."

For more information, including ticketing information and a complete schedule for the Angels Express service, click here.

Departure and return times are below:

ORANGE COUNTY LINE: L.A. Union Station to Anaheim

ORANGE COUNTY LINE: Anaheim to L.A. Union Station

ORANGE COUNTY LINE: Oceanside to Anaheim

ORANGE COUNTY LINE: Anaheim to Oceanside

INLAND EMPIRE-ORANGE COUNTY LINE: Riverside to Anaheim

INLAND EMPIRE-ORANGE COUNTY LINE: Anaheim to Riverside

Ohtani's RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally in his Dodgers debut, and Los Angeles beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 in Wednesday night’s opener, Major League Baseball's first game in South Korea.

“Just a good night overall for Shohei,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “The bigger picture it's significant because you've got such a generational talent that is on your ballclub in a big market in Los Angeles. There's a lot more eyeballs on the Dodgers and on Major League Baseball.”

The game turned when a routine grounder went through the webbing of the glove of first baseman Jake Cronenworth as the go-ahead run scored.

Ohtani went 2 for 5 with an RBI in his first game since leaving the Los Angeles Angels for a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers. A crowd of 15,952 was on hand to watch at the Gocheok Sky Dome.

The two-way star, limited to batting following elbow surgery, also had a mental error that caused the final out of the eighth. He was called out when he passed second base and then failed to retouch the bag while retreating on Freddie Freeman’s flyout, causing an inning-ending double play.

A bomb threat did not seem to affect pregame preparations. Police found no explosives and said they acted on a tip that the threat was against Ohtani.

Padres pitchers walked nine and hit a batter, and the Dodgers had seven hits, none for extra bases.

San Diego led 2-1 entering the eighth when Max Muncy started with a walk against Wandy Peralta. Teoscar Hernández, also making his Dodgers debut, singled off Jhony Brito (0-1), among the players the Padres obtained in the trade that sent star Juan Soto to the New York Yankees.

James Outman walked and Kiké Hernández’s sacrifice fly tied the score. Adrián Morejón relieved and Gavin Lux hit a chopper to Cronenworth that the two-time All-Star tried to backhand. The ball went through the webbing of the large first baseman’s mitt.

“It could have gone through innings before that. It just happened at that situation and it sucks," Cronenworth said. “I thought it was an easy double play.”

Hernández came home for a 3-2 lead.

“That's a tough error for Cro,” Roberts said. “Fortunate break for us. You got to take them when you can get them.”

Betts and Ohtani followed with RBI singles.

Betts, Ohtani and Freeman became the first MVPs to hit 1-2-3 in a batting order since Philadelphia’s Joe Morgan, Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt during 10 games in 1993. The only other instances were by Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, with Rose, Morgan and George Foster on May 13, 1978, and Rose, Morgan and Johnny Bench on May 5, 1976.

Betts, moved to shortstop this season, combined with Ohtani to go 4 for 9 at the top of the order.

Daniel Hudson (1-0), the third of five Dodgers pitchers, threw a one-hit seventh. Evan Phillips pitched a perfect ninth for the save, finishing a four-hitter that gave the Dodgers their sixth straight win over the Padres in an opener.

With new wife Mamiko Tanaka watching from the strands, Ohtani got his first hit with the Dodgers in a 112.3 mph single to right against Yu Darvish. Ohtani was at the plate in the first when Mookie Betts tried to steal second but was sent back because of umpire interference by Lance Barksdale on Luis Campusano behind the plate.

Xander Bogaerts put the Padres ahead in the third with a run-scoring single off Tyler Glasnow. Bogaerts became the third player with hits in five nations after Edgardo Alfonzo and Paul Goldschmidt, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Bogaerts also has hits in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and England.

Jason Heyward had a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and San Diego went back ahead in the bottom half when Campusano hit a run-scoring double-play grounder.

Glasnow gave up two runs, two hits and four walks over five innings, throwing 77 pitches. Los Angeles acquired him from Tampa Bay in December and signed the 30-year-old right-hander to a $136.5 million, five-year contract.

“The whole day was kind of a grind,” Glasnow said. “Loud — cool atmosphere.”

Darvish allowed an unearned run and two hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Muncy had the first hit of season, lining a single off the end of his bat in the second and into center.

Starting his 12th season, Bogaerts made his first big league appearance at second as Ha-Seong Kim moved to shortstop.

In the first game since MLB shortened the pitch clock with runners on base by two seconds to 18, Padres pitchers were called for four violations, including two by Peralta and one each by Darvish and Yuki Matsui.

Matsui, the fourth of eight San Diego pitchers, got two outs in the sixth inning of his Padres. He agreed to a $28 million, five-year contract.

San Diego’s Ha-Seong Kim, playing in his native country, was 0 for 3 with a walk.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: RHPs Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery), Brusdar Graterol (shoulder inflammation), Blake Treinen (bruised lung) and Emmet Sheehan (right forearm inflammation) were placed on the 10-day IL. RHP Landon Knack was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Padres: RHPs Glenn Otto (right teres major strain) and Luis Patiño (right elbow inflammation) were placed on the 15-day IL and INF Tucupita Marcano (right knee ACL surgery on Aug. 9) on the 10-day IL.

UP NEXT

RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his major league debut after agreeing to a $325 million, 12-year contract with the Dodgers. He had an 8.38 ERA over 9 2/3 innings in three spring training outings. “I’m not really concerned about the numbers,” he said through a translator. ... RHP Joe Musgrove starts for the Padres after going 10-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 17 starts last year.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

About 150 police officers used sniffer dogs, X-ray detectors and other equipment to search through the stadium, but no suspicious objects were discovered, according to Seoul’s Guro police station.

Police officers said they acted on a tip that there was a threat targeting the Japanese star but didn’t elaborate.

“It’s unfortunate that the threat of a bomb even being a possibility, but I have complete confidence in Major League Baseball and the security here that we feel safe,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said before the game.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he didn't receive any specific information about the threat and was told to ”just keep working on the baseball game."

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the search happened after South Korea's consulate general in Vancouver, Canada received an email threatening to detonate an explosive at the Gocheok stadium during the Major League Baseball opening game between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres scheduled to start later Wednesday. The game will mark the first MLB regular season game in South Korea.

Yonhap said the sender of the English-language email claimed to be a Japanese lawyer. Yonhap cited police as suspecting the email might have come from a person who last year allegedly sent a number of similar threats while claiming to be a Japanese lawyer.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry didn't immediately respond to AP's requests to confirm the content of the email reportedly sent to the consulate general in Vancouver.

Police and bomb-sniffing canines were seen searching the seats and hallways of the stadium during the morning. The search did not appear to affect game preparations, with groundcrews checking the fields and K-pop performers rehearsing in the outfield.

Guro police officers said about 350 officers will be deployed by the time the Dodger-Padres game begins.

The Dodgers set a record with a $700 million, 10-year contract with two-way star Ohtani and a $325 million, 12-year deal with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and have attracted a rock star following ahead of this week’s opening series against San Diego in Seoul.

Truly, having a perfect bracket is one of the least likely occurrences to ever happen in life, but just how unlikely is it?

Betting odds released Tuesday by Bookies.com, a sports betting news and resource website, show that the odds of getting a perfect bracket using your basketball knowledge are worse than being eaten by a shark or winning either the Powerball or Mega Millions lotteries.

The odds of getting a perfect bracket using your intuition are 120.1 billion to 1, the website claims. Winning either of the big ticket lottery games has odds around 300 million to 1 — much, much, much better odds, albeit still extremely unlikely.

The website cites Georgia Tech professor Joel Sokol and the NCAA for the detailed breakdown of the perfect bracket odds.

According to Sokol, most college basketball models predict the correct winner about 75% of the time. Based on that data, the odds of getting all 63 correct fall somewhere between 1 in 10 billion to 1 in 40 billion.

But NCAA data compiled by tracking the last five years of the official Bracket Challenge Game reveals sports fans pick correctly only about two-thirds of the time, bringing those odds down to the 1 in 120.2 billion figure.

To make those odds even longer, if you were to let a coin flip decide each of your picks, you're creating odds on par with a celestial event.

A randomized March Madness bracket offers 9.2 quintillion to 1. To put that number into better perspective, a quintillion can also be described as "a billion billions."

Below is a list of those perfect bracket odds compared to other rare and unlikely events:

If you simply love the annual tradition of filling out a March Madness bracket, the math suggests you go with your gut and trust your basketball knowledge.

But if you're a betting man or woman who is only interested in maximizing your earning potential, let the coin decide. It couldn't hurt.

The NCAA projects that if every American filled out a completely unique bracket with 66% accuracy, it would take about 366 years for that perfect bracket to arrive.

Why not you?

For more on these long perfect bracket odds, click here.

“Eligible customers will be able to access live games, pre and postgame coverage, as well as game replays via MLB.com and the MLB app using their existing Spectrum credentials,” the company announced Tuesday.

Spectrum is offering its internet and mobile services for a promotional price of $49.99 as of Tuesday afternoon.

The deal is open to new and existing Spectrum customers who live in the “Dodgers home television territory,” according to a news release.

Dodger fans are looking forward to a highly anticipated season. The “Boys in Blue” are considered to be a World Series favorite and could set a franchise attendance record as fans pack Dodger Stadium to see players like Shohei Ohtani in action.

The SportsNet LA streaming agreement is only available for the 2024 season as Spectrum tests out if sports fans favor a streaming-only option or a broadband-telephone-streaming bundle when it comes to watching their favorite teams, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Citing law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation, TMZ said the former Boston Celtic great lost more than $100,000 in cash, a safe and multiple luxury watches in the burglary.

Pierce, 46, was not home at the time, TMZ said.

A 19-year NBA veteran, Pierce was most well-known for his tenure as a member of the Celtics, winning the 2008 NBA Finals as a member of the original "Big Three," comprised of fellow Naismith Memorial Hall-of-Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

He also played for the Brooklyn Nets alongside Garnett, as well as for the Washington Wizards before finishing his career under former head coach Doc Rivers as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Since retiring from the league, Pierce has moved into a media role, most recently appearing on "Undisputed," the sports shouting debate show on FOX Sports. He was briefly employed by ESPN but was infamously fired in April 2021 after he posted video on social media that showed him drinking, smoking and appearing with several scantily clad women.

That same year he was inducted into the Naismith and NCAA halls of fame.

The investigation into the home burglary is ongoing, TMZ said, adding that investigators are "combing through video from the scene, hoping to find a critical piece of evidence that'll crack the case."

Pierce sold his eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom mansion in Calabasas for $8.7 million in 2021, according to Jack Fleming of the Los Angeles Times. He purchased the home in 2009 following his NBA Championship with the Celtics.

It's unclear where Friday's break-in occurred.

He couldn't think of a better place to do it than with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams.

“I'm excited to start this new journey," Garoppolo said Tuesday after the Rams officially announced their signing of the longtime San Francisco starter. "I don't know exactly what's in store for me — but maybe reset, reinvent, whatever you want to call it. I'm just excited to get back on the football field and start slinging it around with some new guys.”

The 32-year-old Garoppolo also gave some insight into the reason he must sit out the first two games of the new season under suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The quarterback said the suspension was the result of a mistake in his filing for a therapeutic use exemption for an unspecified substance.

“I just messed up the TUE, really,” Garoppolo said. “I hate to joke about it, but I messed up the TUE when I first got to Las Vegas. Bad timing, I guess.”

Garoppolo agreed to join the Rams last week, two days after Las Vegas released him. His only year with the Raiders was tumultuous and ultimately disappointing, considering Garoppolo started it with a three-year, $72.75 million contract and ended it on the bench behind a rookie.

It was a large step down from his years of success with the 49ers. When he hit free agency, Garoppolo decided he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield, who revitalized his career in late 2022 with a successful five-game stint under McVay.

"What Baker did, that was tremendous, incredible," Garoppolo said. “Sean is a phenomenal offensive mind. A lot of the guys around here are. I think that played a big part. Reinventing, whatever you want to call it, a quarterback, having good people around you. It's not all going to be done by you. You've got to have people around you to put you in a good position, call the right plays, all those little things. It's an opportunity, and I got excited. It just seemed right.”

After beginning his career behind Tom Brady in New England, Garoppolo has been a starting quarterback for most of the past seven seasons, not including several lengthy injury absences.

In LA, he will be the backup to Matthew Stafford, who will enter his 16th NFL season and his fourth as Los Angeles' starter. The 36-year-old Stafford showed no signs of slowing down during a strong 2023-24 season, leading the Rams to 10 wins and a playoff berth while earning a Pro Bowl selection.

Garoppolo said Stafford is a "normal, down-to-earth guy. Super Bowl champion, I think that speaks for itself, and his arm talent I don’t think gets enough credit, but I think people are starting to notice. I’m excited to work with him, learn from him.”

The signing of Garoppolo and his 63 career NFL starts signals a shift in attitude by the Rams about their backup quarterback job, which often has been filled with untested players during McVay’s first seven seasons.

That money-saving attitude came back to bite the Rams in each of the past two seasons when Stafford went down with injuries, leading to ineffective play from the seldom-used reserves. Los Angeles eventually had to sign Mayfield in 2022 and Carson Wentz last season when McVay’s initial backup plan proved unsuccessful.

Although it clearly wasn't the motivating factor, the Rams are undoubtedly aware of Garoppolo's 8-0 record as a starter against Los Angeles in the regular season — part of Kyle Shanahan's steady dominance over McVay, his close friend and former colleague in Washington. But Garoppolo's Niners also lost a close NFC championship game to the Rams in January 2022, and McVay's team went on to win the title.

Shanahan and McVay employ broadly similar offenses, so Garoppolo is already ahead on learning terminology. He also knows several assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who was his passing game coordinator for four seasons with the 49ers.

While he will miss the first two games, Garoppolo is looking forward to the offseason and the preseason as a chance to start his next chapter before the suspension kicks in.

“Just take it in stride, I guess,” Garoppolo said. “It's a weird one, but it is what it is, I guess. Attack OTAs, attack training camp and let those first two games pass by. Hopefully, we'll get some dubs, start off 2-0 and keep things moving. ... You've just got to keep moving on and stay positive.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

L.A.’s Golf Advisory Committee held a meeting on Monday to discuss the issue at their headquarters, where frustrated golfers voiced their concerns.

Many came to discuss the lack of access and increasing costs because bots are swapping up tee times before members of the public can book them, similar to sports events and concert tickets.

Dave Fink, a local golf coach and content creator, has started the #FreetheTee movement, to help thwart the plans of these “brokers,” who often sell them at a $10 to $20 markup. 

“I have created some of my best memories at L.A. city golf courses,” Fink said. “I’ve met some of my best friends here. I learned how to play golf on these golf courses. As someone who was of lesser means at the time, it was invaluable to me to be able to get into the sport.” 

Fink often addresses the high cost of entry to golf, costing upwards of thousands of dollars for things like equipment, green fees and lessons. He said for many, L.A. public courses are their only means to play the game he loves. 

“I just cannot allow that resource to be taken away from other people,” he said. 

The meeting began at 1 p.m. with a couple dozen people huddled in a gray and green bungalow next to the Los Angeles River.

Karen Thornton is a Burbank resident and former golfer. When she’s not riding her horse through Griffith Park along Wilson and Harding golf courses, Thornton chairs the Griffith Park Advisory Board, serving for nearly four years.  

She decided to attend the meeting while working remotely as a private citizen. She expressed how this issue has been ongoing for years and highlighted the increased use of online booking systems since 2020. 

“This is not new,” Thornton said. “It happened when I was playing 10 years ago…it takes golf away from the weekend dad who wants to show his kids what golf is like.” 

There were dozens of locals who attended the meeting; some even perched outside of the screened windows to gaze into the roundtable.  

As the meeting began, board chair Kevin Fitzgerald of the Southern California Golf Association said this was by far the largest meeting they’ve ever had. 

Of the slew of public comments, golfers wanted answers from the company that runs the online booking system, GolfNow. Its parent company, NBC Sports Group, is based out of Orlando.  

“Where is the company? Who’s the supplier in all of this,” asked someone during the public comments. 

Others shared their frustration with the system, adding the issue has been brought up before, but no action has been taken. 

“The same email goes out every year,” said another one golfer. 

Members of the committee discussed setting up a task force to investigate the issue.  

As reported by the LA Times, the Department of Recreation and Parks announced an investigation involving the city attorney’s office. 

When the meeting concluded, the committee decided to prepare several internal reports over the coming weeks to begin finding a solution to this issue, which is frustrating hundreds of golfers in L.A. 

The committee is scheduled to meet on May 20.  

The NBA's all-time leading scorer and the sharpshooter-turned-media personality announced Monday that their new podcast, "Mind the Game," will release everywhere this week.

James and the former Los Angeles Clippers guard will delve into the finer points of NBA basketball to "discuss the state of the game, dissect X’s and O’s, and wax poetic about the game they love."

Although James is no stranger to the media landscape, having starred in several films, produced an Emmy-nominated talk show and co-founded a media production company with business partner and friend Maverick Carter, this is his first foray into full-time podcast hosting duties.

He'll be in good hands alongside Redick, who has become a star of the podcasting landscape since stepping away from the game in 2021.

Redick currently co-hosts Wondery's "The Old Man and the Three" with writer and producer Tommy Alter. He previously hosted "The Chronicles of Redick" podcast while still an active player; that podcast was produced by Uninterrupted, another LeBron James and Maverick Carter venture.

In a preview for "Mind the Game" that was released Monday, James and Redick can be seen discussing basketball strategy while enjoying an undetermined amount of red wine. James is a well-known wine connoisseur who is known to imbibe once a day.

"Kick back with them as they uncork, unwind and invite you into a hoop conversation unlike any you’ve heard before," the preview summary reads.

Active players recording podcasts in their spare time is a growing trend in the NBA world, headlined by the likes of "Road Trippin'" with Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, which began when the two were teammates on LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers; "The Long Shot," hosted by Miami Heat 3-point sniper Duncan Robinson; and "Podcast P with Paul George," hosted by the Clippers star.

"Mind the Game" will be available wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesday with new episodes every week.

Led by superstar freshman, JuJu Watkins, the Trojans finished the season 26-5, and won the Pac-12 championship for the first time since 2014 when they beat the conference's top seed, Stanford.

As the top seed in the Portland Regional 3 bracket, USC will play No. 16-seeded Texas A&M Corpus Christi on March 20, or 21. The winner of that matchup will take on the victor of the No. 8 Kansas or No. 9 Michigan matchup. Both games will be played at the Galen Center.

It was a historic season for the Trojans. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb lead the program to back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time in 18 years.

Watkins was sensational for USC. The Sierra Canyon grad led the Pac-12 and finished second in the nation in scoring, averaging 27 points per game.

She was also named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

The 6’2″ guard is already in elite company. Watkins is just the fourth player in NCAA Div. 1 history to score more than 800 points in her freshman season, passing all-time NCAA women’s scoring-leader, Caitlin Clark of Iowa State, and Courtney Paris.

Expectations are high this year, despite the fact that USC hasn't advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 1994.

The UCLA Bruins are considered favorites as well. The Bruins are the No. 2 seed in the Albany Regional 2 and face the No. 15 seed, Cal-Baptist at Pauley Pavillion.

Three other teams will be seeded No. 1 in their regions, including undefeated South Carolina, which finished the season 32-0. Superstar Caitlin Clark's Iowa and the University of Texas will join the Trojans to round out the top seeds.

The 2020 World Series-winning manager, who's entering his ninth season with the club, had an egg thrown at him as the team was welcomed by Korean fans at the airport in Seoul on Friday, according to Jeeho Yoo, who works as the English sports writer for the Yonhap News Agency.

"I left the scene early but some idiot threw an egg in the direction of #Dodgers manager Dave Roberts as he walked toward an exit at the airport here," Yoo said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "There are some witnesses."

Yoo also said police and airport authorities were investigating.

X user Jonas12 posted a clip from Korean TV station SBS News of an egg flying through the air, landing just in front of Roberts' feet.

Roberts hadn't commented publicly on the situation as of Saturday.

The Dodgers open the season on March 20 and 21 with a two-game set against the San Diego Padres. The games, taking place just after 3 a.m. PST each day, will be Major League Baseball's first-ever regular season games in South Korea.

A part of the Fun Cup – which, according to the MiLB website, consists of events that “embrace the culture and values that resonate most” with Hispanics in communities with minor league teams – is that each club changes their names for the festivities. 

In the past, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes had taken part in the series as the Temblores, which translates to “earthquakes.” 

Unfortunately for Quakes fans this time around, the new name picked by officials has a different connotation to it than the team may have hoped for. 

The Dodgers’ single-A affiliate announced on social media on Thursday that they would be rebranding to the Chaquetas for the Fun Cup; Chaquetas is Spanish for “jackets” and pays homage to Southern California’s mariachi band culture while extending “beyond those who share the genre’s cultural background.” 

“So, when baseball-favorite and Rancho Cucamonga resident Joe Kelly put on that Mariachi jacket and later wore it to the White House, he wasn’t just making an exceptional style choice,” the team said on X, formerly Twitter. “Rather, the pitcher was honoring the music’s most esteemed qualities, many of which it shares with baseball, [including] artistry, dedication, teamwork and ‘the privilege to put on such historically significant uniforms.’” 

However, while Chaquetas does literally translate to “jackets” in English, the word has a second – and less appropriate – meaning to it for some Spanish speakers. 

The word “chaqueta” can also be slang for masturbation, according to a Los Angeles Times report and the Urban Dictionary. 

Mariachi had already taken as another team’s name, the Times said, so team officials started thinking about other ideas and eventually landed on Chaquetas; Quakes executive vice president and general manager Grant Riddle told the L.A. Times that the name was “vetted” through the MLB and local Hispanic community leaders. 

“We mailed a mariachi group...our staff [and] families have lots of cultural involvement,” Riddle told the Times. “And everybody was like ‘This is [going to] be incredible!’’ 

Despite the name being looked over by multiple groups, the team never heard anything about the slang definition of chaquetas, Riddle said, but several fans were quick to point out the blunder. 

“We were immediately concerned...have we made an irreversible mistake here?” Riddle said. “And so we immediately...reengaged those groups and determined rather quickly that none of them were aware of it either.” 

“Our intention in no form was anything other than the literal translation,” Riddle added. “You know, language is dynamic and there could be words out there that could mean two different things. And the slang is not what it means to us or is it ever what it’s going to mean to us here in this community and the ballpark.” 

The team will be wearing their Chaquetas jerseys on April 13 (during replica jersey giveaway night); May 16 (during food and drink night); and July 19 (Joe Kelly bobblehead giveaway night). 

According to Metro police, 27-year-old Blaise Taylor was arrested by Deputy U.S. Marshals in Cache County, Utah, on Thursday, March 14 after a Nashville grand jury indictment charged him with two counts of first-degree murder.

Taylor's girlfriend, Jade Benning, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday, according to investigators. She had previously been rushed to the hospital via ambulance on the night of Feb. 25, after Taylor reportedly called 911 and said Benning appeared to be having an allergic reaction.

Benning’s medical condition immediately became critical and her 5-month-old fetus, who Taylor is believed to have fathered, died on Feb. 27. Detectives were unable to interview Benning before she died.

Investigators determined Taylor poisoned Benning without her knowledge while visiting her at her townhome on Feb. 25.

Taylor reportedly moved to Utah after Benning and her unborn baby died. Police are currently working with authorities in Utah to arrange for Taylor’s return to Nashville.

The Tennessee Titans employed Taylor as a scout for four years, according to his LinkedIn.

Taylor was formerly employed as a senior defensive analyst at Utah State University, which provided the following statement:

Utah State University is aware of the arrest of former employee Blaise Taylor, who left the University on March 1, 2024, to begin a new role at another institution. Taylor had worked as an analyst with the USU football program since July 1, 2023. The University is not involved in this law enforcement matter and all questions should be directed to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Taylor played at Arkansas State between 2014 and 2017.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen, an 11-year NFL veteran, was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, as first reported by Jay Glazer. Allen was drafted by the Chargers, then located in San Diego, in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Though he struggled with injuries early in his career, playing in just nine games in his third and fourth seasons combined, he broke out in 2017 with his first of six Pro Bowl appearances. He was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year that season.

Just last season, Allen became the all-time franchise leader in receptions (904) and receiving yards (10,530) among wide receivers.

The shocking bombshell trade comes as the new-look Chargers made several moves to become compliant with the NFL's salary cap this week. Earlier this week, the team announced the release of wide receiver Mike Williams, its first-round pick in 2017.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, defensive ends Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack both restructured their contracts to remain with the team in 2024. The four players each had cap hits of more than $30 million in the upcoming season, providing L.A. with a challenge to stay under the league's salary cap while keeping all four.

The two wide receivers turned out to be the cap casualties. The Chargers reportedly approached Allen about taking a pay cut to remain with the team, but he refused according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

L.A., now thin at the wide receiver position, holds the 5th overall pick in late April's NFL Draft.

The team hired former San Francisco 49ers and University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh to the same position in January and Joe Hortiz as general manager after he spent more than two decades in various scouting and front-office roles with the Baltimore Ravens.

With the team's salary-cap problems appearing to be solved, the new tandem can now focus on building out the roster ahead of the 2024 season.

The Dodgers shared a photo of Ohtani and his new wife, who has been identified as Mamiko Tanaka, a Japanese basketball star.

Tanaka is accompanying the two-time MLB MVP to Seoul, South Korea, where the Dodgers will kick off the 2024 season against their Southern California rivals, the San Diego Padres.

Ohtani announced in late February that he had recently married a woman from his home country, but he had yet to name his bride or post any photos.

"Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married," he wrote at the time.

Thursday's post by the Dodgers, as well as an Instagram story on his own page, were the first images to reveal his new wife's identity.

Tanaka, 27, is a 5-foot-11 center who most recently played for Fujitsu Red Wave during the 2022-23 season, according to Yahoo Sports. She attended Waseda University in Tokyo and was WNBA draft-eligible, but decided to play in Japan instead.

The Dodgers will be in Seoul for the next two weeks as part of the 2024 MLB World Tour: Seoul Series.

The Dodgers and Padres will each play two exhibition games against Korean teams before facing off against each other in their 2024 MLB season openers.

Ohtani also shared a photo alongside his countryman and fellow Dodger newbie Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as well as his personal translator and close friend Ippei Mizuhara and, presumably, his wife.

The 39th running of the Los Angeles Marathon, presented by ASICS, takes place on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The 26.2-mile course begins at Dodger Stadium and ends at Avenue of the Stars in Century City.

Along the way, athletes will enjoy world-class entertainment and celebrate one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world as the course winds through Downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, Route 66, and other notable locations.

Many L.A. roads and freeway ramps will be closed throughout the morning and into the early afternoon.

How to watch the L.A. Marathon on TV and streaming

KTLA 5 has exclusive live coverage from 6 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. as runners cross the finish line. You can watch KTLA’s broadcast over the air or through your cable or satellite provider.

Online, viewers can watch the race on KTLA.com, the KTLA 5 mobile app, KTLA’s YouTube channel, or the KTLA+ streaming app for Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV. It will also be presented live on KTLA’s official YouTube Channel.

The wheelchair race begins at 6:30 a.m. followed by the hand crank race. The pro women & elite age group women start at 6:40 a.m. and the professional men and full field start at 7:00 a.m.

Official race results will be posted here.

The L.A. Marathon Course

The marathon course will follow its traditional route until Brentwood, where runners double back on San Vicente, Sepulveda and Santa Monica Blvd before finishing at Avenue of the Stars. This exciting change allows for a more vibrant and interactive finish experience than previously possible. It will provide the opportunity for much greater spectator participation for family and friends with enhanced post-race activities including the Finish Festival with concerts and sponsor booths.

Spectator access will be limited on Santa Monica Boulevard from Avenue of the Stars to Century Park East and Century Park East from Santa Monica Boulevard to Constellation. Any spectator wishing to watch their runner cross the Finish Line will need to position themselves on Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars near/in the bleachers.

Parking at the finish line in Century City

There is ample parking in Century City for participants and spectators alike.

Important notes about parking in Century City

Allow for extra time to enter parking lots.

Be aware of and adhere to all posted “No Parking” signs in the neighborhoods surrounding Ave of the Stars. Parking enforcement will be on-site throughout the day, and you will be ticketed and/or towed.

Make note of your parking garage so as not to forget where you parked post-race.

L.A. Marathon Road Closures

Many roads along the 26.2 miles course starting at Dodger Stadium are scheduled to be closed on March 17. The route treks through downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, Route 66 and ends at the Avenue of the Stars in Century City.

Roads will be closed to the public for the event as early as 3 a.m. on Sunday. They include roads along the route. A map of closures can be found below:

A full list of complete-street closures can be found at this link: L.A. Marathon course closures.

Along with the fully closed roads along the entire course, several streets will be local access only, meaning only residents can access these roads since they aren’t on the race course. Residents can ask for local access at the traffic closure.

A list of local-access only areas can be found at this link: L.A. Marathon additional street closures.

On Monday, the Los Angeles Clippers organization announced it would be moving its G League team from Ontario to San Diego for the upcoming season.

San Diego was home to the NBA Clippers from 1978 to 1984 before then-owner Donald Sterling made the controversial decision to move the team north.

The San Diego Clippers will be playing the 2024-25 G League season in the brand new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside.

Gillian Zucker, CEO of Halo Sports and Entertainment, which includes the Los Angeles Clippers, the San Diego Clippers, the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum, was one of the speakers during Monday's press event in Oceanside and helped unveil the team's new logo.

“We are proud to re-introduce the San Diego Clippers into this passionate sports market,” Zucker said. “Our G League team is a critical part of our business and basketball operation, and we are thrilled to be relocating to the new Frontwave Arena next season.”

Frontwave Arena is a 7,500-capacity venue that is currently under construction in Oceanside. In addition the G League games, the arena will also host concerts, comedy shows, community events and indoor soccer games played by the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League. The arena is expected to open this summer.

Josh Elias, co-founder and CEO of Frontwave Arena, said he was excited to partner with Zucker and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to show off the capabilities of the new venue and welcome the Clippers back to San Diego.

The Ontario Clippers will complete the remainder of the 2023-24 G League season in San Bernardino County before making the move south. The team is 13-13 on the season and currently sit at 11th in the G League's Western Conference.

The NBA G League is a developmental league that operates under the umbrella of its major league affiliates. The NBA allows teams to have three players under contract that can play in both NBA and G League games. Teams can also assign players on full NBA contracts down to the G League for extra practice time or to rehab injuries.

Twelve of the 18 players on the Los Angeles Clippers roster have played in the G League during their careers.

San Diego Clippers merchandise is available for a limited time online.