Angel City FC concludes Challenge Cup before Friday’s NWSL debut

Angel City FC opened training camp on the first day of February. Sunday, after nearly three months of preseason, Angel City will play its final NWSL Challenge Cup game and turn its attention toward Friday’s official debut and the start of the regular season. Angel City will host the Portland Thorns at 6 p.m. Sunday…

Thanks to Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, the 1977 debut of Michael Des Barres’s Detective gets a Record Store Day release

Forty-five years later, singer Michael Des Barres listens to the self-titled debut of Detective and hears the a tantalizing potential for greatness in its grooves.. A bluesy hard rock band, it found its way to Swan Song Records thanks to Des Barres’ friendship with guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, the band behind the label.…

Coachella 2022: This local teen lit up the Do Lab stage Friday, the night before prom

It was a huge weekend for 17-year-old Moore Kismet. The high school senior, who identifies as nonbinary and pansexual, had their pink prom dress ready for an unforgettable Saturday night with friends. But before prom night, Kismet had an even bigger night performing on Friday evening during weekend two of the Coachella Valley Music and…

Widespread support for curbing Big Tech’s power over news and publishing

Thousands of local papers have shuttered their doors in recent years, and those surviving are facing unprecedented challenges in remaining both economically viable and as the lifeblood of their communities. All the while, Big Tech monopolies like Alphabet and Meta – through sites like Google News and Facebook News – have come to dominate the…

Chicago Bulls playoff schedule — with times and TV — for 1st-round series vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The first-round playoff schedule is set for the sixth-seeded Chicago Bulls versus the third-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks lead the series 2-1 after their 30-point victory Friday at the United Center. Game 4 is at noon Sunday on ABC-7. Here are the results and schedule for the series, with times and TV (all times Central):…

Hamstring injury has the Heat’s Kyle Lowry down . . . and likely out at least for Sunday vs. Hawks

“I’m pissed. I’m pissed.” And, with that, Kyle Lowry made clear where he stood Saturday with his mental state, after being forced to retreat to the locker room and miss the balance of Friday night’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. As for where the Miami Heat’s floor leader stands from a physical standpoint with his…

The Book Pages: Don Winslow’s favorite crime novel, plus we go undercover

Last week, we talked book covers, and this time we’ll be slipping under those covers. As in, what’s going on in that unseen space between the dust jacket and the book? Turns out, a lot in some cases. I stopped in at the Hastings Ranch branch of Vroman’s bookstore recently and came across a display of…

Omar Kelly: A look at the top 25 talents in the 2022 NFL draft

How can you tell when an NFL draft lacks the same talent as past years? When most teams in possession of a top-five pick would rather trade down, but they can’t find a willing partner — it’s not a very good draft class. That’s how underwhelming the crop of talent for the 2022 NFL draft…

Playoffs again a struggle for Heat’s Bam Adebayo, with 28 points through three games

Somehow Bam Adebayo is back where he was in last year’s playoffs, a nominal contributor with minimal offensive impact. The difference is that last year, the Milwaukee Bucks were whole, while also wholly unconcerned about merely packing the paint against the Miami Heat center. The result was Adebayo averaging a middling 15.5 points per game…

A lunging dog, a tumble or two and high-flying coffee create a new normal at home

This past month has been a hoot at our house since daughter Sara unexpectedly became cozy with the sidewalk while walking my neighbor’s dog. Considering how much she loves fashionable high heels (Sara not the dog), it is ironic that she was wearing flip flops when the 60-pound pup lunged toward a baby carriage. Sara…

Widespread support for curbing Big Tech’s power over news and publishing

Thousands of local papers have shuttered their doors in recent years, and those surviving are facing unprecedented challenges in remaining both economically viable and as the lifeblood of their communities. All the while, Big Tech monopolies like Alphabet and Meta – through sites like Google News and Facebook News – have come to dominate the…

Thanks to Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, the 1977 debut of Michael Des Barres’s Detective gets a Record Store Day release

Forty-five years later, singer Michael Des Barres listens to the self-titled debut of Detective and hears the a tantalizing potential for greatness in its grooves.. A bluesy hard rock band, it found its way to Swan Song Records thanks to Des Barres’ friendship with guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, the band behind the label.…

A lunging dog, a tumble or two and high-flying coffee create a new normal at home

This past month has been a hoot at our house since daughter Sara unexpectedly became cozy with the sidewalk while walking my neighbor’s dog. Considering how much she loves fashionable high heels (Sara not the dog), it is ironic that she was wearing flip flops when the 60-pound pup lunged toward a baby carriage. Sara…

The Book Pages: Don Winslow’s favorite crime novel, plus we go undercover

Last week, we talked book covers, and this time we’ll be slipping under those covers. As in, what’s going on in that unseen space between the dust jacket and the book? Turns out, a lot in some cases. I stopped in at the Hastings Ranch branch of Vroman’s bookstore recently and came across a display of…

Omar Kelly: A look at the top 25 talents in the 2022 NFL draft

How can you tell when an NFL draft lacks the same talent as past years? When most teams in possession of a top-five pick would rather trade down, but they can’t find a willing partner — it’s not a very good draft class. That’s how underwhelming the crop of talent for the 2022 NFL draft…

Russia sanctions electrocute Newsom’s zero-emission vehicle mandate

Sorry, Gov. Gavin Newsom. Sorry, California Air Resources Board. Your mandates to force a zero-emission vehicle mandate on California by 2035 just were electrocuted by the sanctions on Russia. Especially affected was nickel production, 11% under the control of Moscow. That might not seem like a lot, but as we saw with the sanctions on…

Aaron Hicks odd man out as Yankees roll with 14th different lineup in series opener vs. Cleveland

On any given day, the Yankees feel like they have 11 capable position players for nine spots. Marwin Gonzalez and Tim Locastro are the only true bench players, in that they typically come to the ballpark expecting to be on the bench. The catchers, Kyle Higashioka and Jose Trevino, are being treated more as a…

Tim Anderson apologizes for suspension, and the Chicago White Sox blow a late lead for their 5th straight loss

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for “his inappropriate actions toward fans” during Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, Major League Baseball announced Friday. The All-Star apologized after a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Target Field.…

Coachella 2022: Baby Keem brings out Kendrick Lamar for the festival’s second weekend

Baby Keem brought out a very special guest to his Sahara Tent set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 15. Speculation began when the Instagram account for Kendrick Lamar’s company pgLang posted several photos of Baby Keem, Lamar and Tanna Leone about 30 minutes before Baby Keem’s performance with the…