Mike Preston: Strong rookie class, perhaps Ravens GM Eric DeCosta’s best, is ready to prove itself | COMMENTARY

Based on early results, Eric DeCosta might have put together his best draft since becoming Ravens general manager four years ago. The showcase begins Thursday night in the team’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens had 11 selections in April’s annual NFL draft, and it is conceivable that at…

8 observations from Rams training camp in Irvine: Cam Akers leads backfield

IRVINE — The Rams said goodbye to UC Irvine after completing their 15 scheduled training camp practices Wednesday morning. The 2022 summer stay with the Anteaters will be best remembered for the hysteria Coach Sean McVay created at the podium. McVay called Matthew Stafford’s elbow pain “abnormal,” flirted with Odell Beckham Jr. with hopes of…

Shohei Ohtani achieves milestones on mound, at plate in Angels’ win

OAKLAND — Anytime your performance summons the names of Babe Ruth and Ichiro Suzuki on the same night, it’s a pretty good night. Shohei Ohtani reached a few significant milestones in the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night. Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings to pick up his 10th victory of the…

White House hosts UCI chancellor for discussion on abortion rights

While clinics and hospitals seem to be at the epicenter of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, universities — including UC Irvine — have also stepped into the spotlight. And the White House is taking notice. UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman said the recent court decision has brought about “enormous challenges” for…

Angel City FC gets late goal to knock off Tigres in exhibition

LOS ANGELES — Stefany Ferrer Van Ginkel has played for Tigres, but now calls Angel City Football Club home. On Wednesday night, as the teams kicked off their two-year partnership, Van Ginkel earned her first start and helped Angel City pull off a 1-0 exhibition win in front of 12,258 at Banc of California Stadium.…

Man convicted of killing Long Beach woman, an escort, in Newport Beach

A Santa Ana man was convicted Wednesday, Aug. 10, of killing an escort in a Newport Beach office building in late 2015. Nain Isaac Nieto Hernandez, 36, was convicted of second-degree murder in the Dec. 18, 2015, killing of 23-year-old Sarai Alcaraz of Long Beach at 5030 Campus Drive. He is scheduled to be sentenced…

LAFC’s Carlos Vela gets MLS All-Stars going in victory over Liga MX

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer ST. PAUL, Minn. — Dayne St. Clair entered the interview room, wearing a smile as bright as his orange goalkeeper’s jersey and clutching a crystal trophy after helping the MLS All-Stars beat Liga MX. Coach Adrian Heath said slyly, “What did you win?” “MVP,” St. Clair coolly replied, relishing…

Little League West Regional: Arizona tops Northern California to reach title game

SAN BERNARDINO — Sidewinder Little League manager Troy Silva said, “We don’t want to ‘taco-bout’ it. We want to be about it.” J.J. Silva had four hits, and Troy “Taco-Man” Tewers struck out 12 as Arizona defeated Northern California, 8-1, in a West Region semifinal on Wednesday night at Al Houghton Stadium. “It was a…

Kevin Durant wants trade to Celtics, 76ers interested: report

A new team has joined the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, and it’s the same team that pried away the Nets’ last superstar. After acquiring James Harden in a Ben Simmons swap last season, the Philadelphia 76ers have joined the pursuit of the 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, who reported…

Lenyn Sosa aims to help the Chicago White Sox at shortstop with Tim Anderson out: ‘You have to do some damage’

Lenyn Sosa expected a fastball. But when Kansas City Royals starter Jonathan Heasley threw him a curveball on a 1-1 pitch in the third inning Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, Sosa quickly reacted. The result: a 428-foot home run, the first of his major-league career. The Chicago White Sox recalled the infielder from Triple-A Charlotte on…

Well-known youth sports coach and trainer under investigation by Santa Ana police

A youth sports coach and trainer well-known in Orange County has been removed from his academy and is under investigation for the alleged sexual assault of a minor, his organization and a Santa Ana Police Department spokesperson said Wednesday. STARS Preparatory Academy and STARS SOCAL released a statement on Instagram that it has “severed all…

Shohei Ohtani achieves milestones on mound, at plate in Angels’ win

OAKLAND — Anytime your performance summons the names of Babe Ruth and Ichiro Suzuki on the same night, it’s a pretty good night. Shohei Ohtani reached a few significant milestones in the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night. Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings to pick up his 10th victory of the…

Kevin Durant wants trade to Celtics, 76ers interested: report

A new team has joined the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, and it’s the same team that pried away the Nets’ last superstar. After acquiring James Harden in a Ben Simmons swap last season, the Philadelphia 76ers have joined the pursuit of the 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, who reported…

White House hosts UCI chancellor for discussion on abortion rights

While clinics and hospitals seem to be at the epicenter of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, universities — including UC Irvine — have also stepped into the spotlight. And the White House is taking notice. UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman said the recent court decision has brought about “enormous challenges” for…

8 observations from Rams training camp in Irvine: Cam Akers leads backfield

IRVINE — The Rams said goodbye to UC Irvine after completing their 15 scheduled training camp practices Wednesday morning. The 2022 summer stay with the Anteaters will be best remembered for the hysteria Coach Sean McVay created at the podium. McVay called Matthew Stafford’s elbow pain “abnormal,” flirted with Odell Beckham Jr. with hopes of…

Man convicted of killing Long Beach woman, an escort, in Newport Beach

A Santa Ana man was convicted Wednesday, Aug. 10, of killing an escort in a Newport Beach office building in late 2015. Nain Isaac Nieto Hernandez, 36, was convicted of second-degree murder in the Dec. 18, 2015, killing of 23-year-old Sarai Alcaraz of Long Beach at 5030 Campus Drive. He is scheduled to be sentenced…

Arrests made in shooting death of Monterey Park officer in Downey

Two days after a Monterey Park police officer was shot and killed in a parking lot outside a gym in Downey, police have made arrests, authorities announced Wednesday morning, Aug. 10. Police did not provide details, saying they will do so during a 2 p.m. news conference in front of the Hall of Justice in…

ASK IRA: Are we again at the Heat point of Pat Riley misdirection?

Q: Will Pat Riley interview with the Brooklyn Nets? – Stuart, Miami. A: I see what you did there. To those who don’t, here’s the background: While running the Heat in 2004, Riley met with the Lakers for what most ostensibly viewed as an interview for a potential position with the team. Instead, the meeting…

Brian Daboll returns to New England where it all started to face Bill Belichick, Joe Judge

In Brian Daboll’s first game as an NFL head coach Thursday night, he’ll be coaching against both his mentor, Bill Belichick, and his Giants predecessor, Joe Judge, a former New England Patriots colleague. Daboll insists this somewhat emotional and awkward preseason homecoming is not front of mind. “Obviously he [Belichick] is a mentor of mine,…