Season

Morgan Frost scored in overtime and Blake Coleman had a short-handed goal in the Calgary Flames’ 2-1 victory over the Kings on Saturday night.

Dustin Wolf made 20 saves for the surging Flames, who have won eight of their last 12 games, with Wolf winning his last four starts.

Frost finished off a three-on-one break from Jonathan Huberdeau at 1:06 of overtime for his eighth goal of the season, and Calgary took advantage of its reprieve after Anze Kopitar’s apparent winner 33 seconds into the extra session was overturned for a kicking motion following a video review.

Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings, and Darcy Kuemper made 36 saves. The Kings played their 14th game decided in overtime or a shootout out of 21 total one-goal contests this season.

The Kings got off to a strong start with Kempe netting his fourth goal in seven games on a one-timer midway through the first period. He has two goals and five points during a four-game streak.

But the Flames responded with a dominant second period, posting a 17-3 advantage in shots and finally breaking through when Coleman picked off Kevin Fiala’s pass and raced the other way on a breakaway before burying a wrist shot from the slot. It was Coleman’s third shorthanded goal of the season and Calgary’s fifth.

Up Next

Kings: At Dallas on Monday night. Flames: At San José on Tuesday night.

SEATTLE — Strengthening its commitment to Mick Cronin, UCLA quietly awarded its men’s basketball coach a new five-year contract last summer that runs through the 2029-30 season, according to documents reviewed by The Times through a public-records request.

The contract that was signed by Cronin and athletic director Martin Jarmond in May and took effect June 1 will pay Cronin $4.5 million per season, a slight raise over the $4.1 million he was making under the previous contract that was set to expire after the 2027-28 season.

“I’m honored to be the coach at UCLA,” Cronin told The Times late Saturday night after his team’s 82-72 loss to Gonzaga at Climate Pledge Arena. “For me, I have no inklings of being anywhere else. I’ve had many offers to do so. I’m where I want to be so I’ll always say the same thing — it was surreal when I got the job and I’m just working hard to do everything we can to upgrade our program to a point to where we can try to win the title for our fans, and that’s all I really worry about. I’m at that point in my career, so if they want to extend me, I take it because I’m not looking to go anywhere.”

The contract was not announced at the time it was signed, according to an athletic department spokesperson, because of the financial climate within the university, particularly given the prospect of federal funding cuts.

Cronin’s contract was signed not long after he guided UCLA to the second round of the NCAA tournament, where the Bruins lost to Tennessee. Cronin’s previous teams reached the Final Four in 2021 and the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023.

Cronin, 54, has compiled a 145-67 record in seven seasons with the Bruins, his accomplishments including a Pac-12 title in 2023 that his team won by a four-game margin over second-place Arizona.

His new contract includes a buyout provision that calls for him to be paid $22.5 million if he’s terminated without cause through March 31, 2026. The buyout amount drops to $18 million if he’s terminated without cause through March 31, 2027; $13.5 million through March 31, 2028; $9 million through March 31, 2029; and $4.5 million through March 31, 2030.

The buyout includes a mitigation clause that would offset UCLA”s buyout obligations through future employment over the duration of the contract.

If Cronin were to leave for another job, he would owe UCLA $15 million through March 31, 2026, with that amount dropping to $12 million through March 31, 2027; $8 million through March 31, 2028; $6 million through March 31, 2029; and $4 million through March 31, 2030.

The bonus structure in Cronin’s contract calls for him to make $25,000 for a conference championship and $15,000 for a conference tournament championship. He’ll get an extra $45,000 if the Bruins make the NCAA tournament, $25,000 for making the second round, $40,000 for making the Sweet 16, $25,000 for making the Elite Eight, $50,000 for making the Final Four, $25,000 for making the championship game and $50,000 for winning the national title. If Cronin is selected conference coach of the year, he’ll make an additional $10,000.

Cronin could be awarded additional amounts for his team’s academic performance, along with retention bonuses of $500,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2026; $600,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2027; $700,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2028; and $700,000 if he’s employed through April 15, 2029.

NEWARK, N.J. — Stefan Noesen, Paul Cotter and Cody Glass each scored to help the New Jersey Devils beat the Ducks 4-1 on Saturday and snap a five-game home losing streak.

New Jersey started the season 9-0-1 on its home ice before losing five straight at the Prudential Center. The Devils’ third line of Cotter, Juho Lammikko and Noesen combined for five points (two goals, three assists).

Troy Terry scored his 10th goal for the Ducks and third in as many games on a breakaway in the first period on an assist from Leo Carlsson for a 1-0 lead. Noesen tied it later in the period with his first goal in 22 games.

Cotter scored in his third straight game, giving New Jersey a 2-1 lead at the 5:52 mark of the second period, assisted by Lammikko and Noesen.
Glass increased the lead to 3-1 late in the period with assists from from Ondrej Palat and Colton White. Connor Brown scored on an empty net late in the game for his seventh goal.

Jake Allen stopped 30 shots for New Jersey for his first win since Nov. 28. Allen had lost three straight.

Lukas Dostal had 18 saves for the Ducks, who failed to convert on four power-play opportunities.

The Devils were without Timo Meier, their top goal-scorer who missed his second straight game because of a family health matter. “We will give him all the time he needs,” coach Sheldon Keefe said.

The Ducks were playing their third game in five nights as part of a five-game road trip.

Up next

Ducks: Visit the New York Rangers on Monday night. Devils: Host Vancouver on Sunday.

When the Dodgers are on the field, Shohei Ohtani dominates the headlines with his base running, his slugging and his pitching. But off the field, his actions also resonate.

In a recent interview with Japanese media, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told a story of when the two-time World Series champion helped relief pitcher Gus Varland’s mother get cancer treatment by making a “very, very big contribution.”

“Shohei does a lot of great things, but a lot of what he does is on the down low, quiet, so people don’t talk about it,” he said.

Varland made seven relief appearances with the Dodgers during the 2024 season — including pitching in the season-opening series in South Korea against the San Diego Padres — and posted a 4.50 earned run average in six innings of work before he was designated for assignment in July of that year.

Roberts said he ran into Varland’s mother during the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays because his brother, Louis, pitched for them. Roberts said the mother told him she was cancer free.

After spending his first six major league seasons with the Angels, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. In November, he won his fourth MVP award in five seasons, becoming the only player besides Barry Bonds to win it more than three times.

Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series title after hitting 55 homers with a batting average of .282 and an ERA of 2.87 in 2025.

Hi and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Looks like the Dodgers found a new closer for Christmas.

The new closer

Well, the Dodgers did what many did not expect: give another long-term, big-money deal to a closer. They have agreed to a deal with former Mets closer Edwin Díaz on a three-year, $69-million deal. There will be $4.5 million deferred each year and the value of the contract as tabulated for luxury tax purposes will be $21 million per year. It’s a record for annual value for a reliever, breaking the record held by….. Díaz.

Díaz was considered by most to be the top reliever on the market. Last season with the Mets, he was 6-3 with a 1.63 ERA and 28 saves. In 66.1 innings, he gave up 37 hits and walked 21 while striking out 98. He turns 32 in March. He had three blown saves and allowed six of 15 inherited runners to score.

If there is a red flag here, it is that his fastball velocity has dropped from an average of 99 mph in 2023 to 97 mph last season. Which is still pretty fast of course.

You’ll forgive me for not doing somersaults over the deal yet. It could turn out to be an amazing signing. However, as we saw last season with Tanner Scott, relievers are like a box of chocolates: You never know what you are going to get. Díaz has a much better record of success than Scott did. But we’ve seen over the last few seasons what can happen with a signing (Scott, Kirby Yates), decline in form (Blake Treinen) or injuries (Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol).

But the Dodgers did need bullpen help, and they signed the best reliever on the market, so it’s hard to find fault in that.

You can read more on the signing in this story by Jack Harris.

And an analysis, which includes discussion of a possible salary cap, from Bill Shaikin here.

Fernando misses the Hall

The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for the Baseball Hall of Fame met Sunday. It was a 16-member committee, and there were eight candidates to consider: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela.

The only person elected: Kent, wh was named on 14 ballots (you had to be on 12 for election).

The others:

Nine votes
Carlos Delgado

Six
Don Mattingly
Dale Murphy

Fewer than five
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Gary Sheffield
Fernando Valenzuela

The committee made a big mistake in not electing Fernando, and really embarrassed itself by not giving him even five votes.

When you look at the numbers, Fernando is at best a borderline candidate. He won a Cy Young and Rookie of the Year award, but won only 173 games in his career.

However, when you consider what he meant for the sport in addition to his accomplishments as a player, he qualifies. The three players who created more baseball fans than any other are Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Fernando. The fact the Dodgers have a massive Latino following can be traced back to Fernando. He created fans in other cities. He opened MLB to an almost entirely untapped market.

But, some people look only at the numbers. Fernando should be in the Hall. So should Maury Wills. Unfortunately, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that either will make it.

And congratulation to Jeff Kent, who played for the Dodgers but will go into the Hall as a Giant. So, not that big of a congratulations. His election enhances the candidacy of another former Dodger: Chase Utley.

New book

Last week I told you about a new book by Ross Porter, the longtime Dodger announcer who used to do the “Ask Ross Porter” feature in this newsletter. The book, “The Ross Porter Chronicles — Volume 1: The Dodger Years,” is a compendium of interviews he has done over the years with Dodgers, including Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, Ron Cey and Sandy Koufax.

Reaction was overwhelming, and as a result, they sold out of signed books. However, if you still want a signed copy to give to someone as a Christmas present (it would make a great gift for a Dodger fan), you have an alternative. You can order the book at Amazon. Make sure you have it shipped to you before Dec. 21. Ross will be signing books in person on Dec. 21 from 1-3 p.m. at Northridge Sports & Memorabilia, 9514 Reseda Blvd,, Unit 14.

Anyone who buys the book on Amazon can bring it to the signing, and Ross will sign it for free. He’ll also sign any Dodger items you bring.

It’s a great chance for you to meet a Dodger icon. Ross is 87. The icons from our Dodger childhood won’t be there forever. If you have a chance to go out there, I highly recommend it.

In case you missed it

Analysis: Could Dodgers’ Edwin Díaz signing portend more big moves later this offseason?

Starz picks up drama on gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter

Shaikin: Dodgers signing of Edwin Díaz shows they aren’t going to worry about a potential salary cap

Dodgers and Edwin Díaz agree to terms in blockbuster move to shore up bullpen

Former Dodgers, Giants slugger and noted curmudgeon Jeff Kent voted into the Hall of Fame

Fernando Valenzuela falls short of induction into National Baseball Hall of Fame

Metro votes to approve Dodger Stadium gondola project despite protests

And finally

Fernando Valenzuela pitches a no-hitter. Watch and listen here.

Until next time…

Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Walker Scobell opens up about the dangerous chariot sequence that left him stunned as Percy Jackson season 2 premieres on Disney Plus

A star from Percy Jackson and the Olympians has revealed details of a “crazy and terrifying” stunt filmed for the second season.

The newest chapter of the Disney Plus series has arrived on the streaming service, with the opening two episodes now available. Viewers will need to tune in weekly as Percy and his companions embark on a fresh quest into unexplored territory.

This season adapts the second novel in Rick Riordan’s hugely popular book series, the Sea of Monsters, with Disney Plus promising “action packed mayhem and higher stakes than ever”.

The streaming giant reveals: “After Camp Half-Blood’s protective border is breached, Percy Jackson embarks on an epic odyssey into the Sea of Monsters in search of his best friend Grover and the one thing that may save the camp – the legendary Golden Fleece.

“With help from Annabeth, Clarisse and his newfound cyclops half-brother Tyson, Percy’s survival becomes essential to stopping Luke, the Titan Kronos, and their impending plan to bring down Camp Half-Blood – and ultimately, Olympus.”, reports the Express.

Despite only two episodes being released, there’s already been plenty of thrilling moments for audiences – with one sequence leaving the cast particularly impressed.

Viewers will remember scenes featuring chariot racing, an ancient mode of transportation and competitive sport that involves controlling a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses.

Leading star Walker Scobell, portraying Percy Jackson, has spoken candidly about the chariot sequences and the “crazy” and perilous nature of filming them.

Walker revealed: “So on the first day of filming I didn’t know I was going to do any chariot riding, right? Because it’s so dangerous: I got to watch some test footage of them going out and messing around out there before we were filming and it looked terrifying.

“I was like, ‘Okay, I’m not doing that.’ But I get there on the day and they’re like, ‘Hop in! Just kind of drive the chariot around the second part of this oval stadium and then park right in between these two horses…’ So, I had to learn right there. It was crazy.”

For Leah Jeffries, who portrays Annabeth Chase, the chariot sequences proved equally memorable, describing it as “one of my most fun days.”

Executive producer Jonathan Steinberg acknowledged the ambitious nature of the scene, explaining it was among the elements he was most eager for audiences to witness: “Our goal was to push this thing as far as it would go and then push it a little further. The chariot race was scary.

“I mean at the end of the day, we want the show to be great and we take that really seriously, but we also want everybody to be safe and okay. And strapping kids to horses at full speed… it just doesn’t seem like a good idea when you start planning it.

“So, the fact that we were able to do that and have it turn out great and also have everybody walk away from it smiling was a big deal.”

Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 is available to stream on Disney Plus.

Former Clippers point guard Chris Paul says he’s “at peace with everything” after being abruptly dismissed by the team last week.

“Stuff’s been a little crazy in the past few days — to say the least,” Paul told People magazine in an interview published Tuesday. “But honestly, I’m home. My daughter had tryouts yesterday. My nephew had a basketball game. My son has a game coming up on the 12th.”

Paul’s son, Chris Paul II, is a sophomore guard for the Campbell Hall varsity basketball team, which plays Newbury Park on Friday.

“I have never seen my son play a game in person,” the elder Paul said. “Not a middle school game, not a high school game. So I’m excited about seeing him play.”

Also on Tuesday, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue denied an ESPN report from last week that he and Paul hadn’t been on speaking terms in the weeks leading up to the team’s decision to part ways with one of its most iconic players.

“That ain’t true. We were talking,” Lue told reporters at practice. “I mean, he played. How he gonna play [if] I’m not talking to him?

“I mean, there was a stretch when we said he wasn’t gonna play, he’s gonna be out of the rotation. That was tough for him because he’s a competitor and what the game means to him and what he brings every single day. But after that it wasn’t really much.”

Paul is a 12-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist who ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists. He was the first player with at least 20,000 points and more than 10,000 assists.

Playing for the Clippers from 2011-17 — the team’s “Lob City” era — Paul and fellow superstar Blake Griffin led the team to six winning seasons, its first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series victories. As a 40-year-old free agent in July, Paul signed a $3.6 million deal to return to the Clippers for his 21st, and very possibly final, NBA season.

This season, Paul averaged career lows in points (2.6), assists (3.3.) and minutes (14.3). He didn’t play at all in five consecutive games in mid-November. The Clippers, off to a disastrous 5-16 start to the season, were in Atlanta for a game against the Hawks when Paul made a surprise announcement on social media.

“Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home,” Paul posted Dec. 3 on social media at around 3 a.m. Eastern time.

Later that morning, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank confirmed the move.

“We are parting ways with Chris, and he will no longer be a part of the team,” Frank said in a statement. “We will work with him on the next step of his career.”

Frank indicated that the team will attempt to trade Paul, who becomes trade-eligible on Monday.

A league source not authorized to discuss the issue publicly told The Times last week that Paul had called out teammates, coaches and Frank this season. Paul apologized, but “everyone was fed up,” the source said.

Lue insisted Tuesday that his relationship with Paul wasn’t an issue.

“I had no problem with Chris,” Lue said. “The guy’s a competitor, he wants to play. You can understand that. So, you know, he was a little frustrated at first, but we got over that. … That’s my guy, my friend before he got here. So you don’t want to see that happen to anybody no matter what the circumstances are.”

Asked why the team ultimately decided the situation with Paul couldn’t be fixed, Lue responded, “You gotta ask Lawrence.”

In his interview with People, Paul didn’t offer any insight on what happened between him and the Clippers. Instead, he seems to be focused on the present — “I’m excited to be back here with my family,” Paul said — and the future.

“More than anything, I’m excited about being around,” he said, “and getting a chance to play a small role in whatever anything looks like next.”

Staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report.

The celebrated adaptation with a 91% rating is making a welcome return to Prime Video.

The second season of a TV series hailed as ‘one of the best video game adaptations‘ is nearly here.

New episodes of Fallout will begin to drop later this month exclusively on Prime Video. The show is based on the highly successful gaming franchise of the same name.

Season one proved to be a big hit with critics and fans alike. As a result, expectations are high for its follow up. The title boasts a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, with one fan claiming : “Perfect show. Great characters and great story.”

Another added: “Walter Goggins absolutely steals the show in this brilliant adaptation of an epic video game saga. Nothing short of praise, Ella Purnell is simply perfect in her role. You’ll get hooked right away.”

But what will season two be about? Who is in the returning cast and are there new recognisable faces being introduced? Does the story take any direct inspiration from the games? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Fallout season 2 about?

The synopsis for the new season has been kept brief and simple in an aim to avoid any spoilers. However, it will pick up in the aftermath of season one’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.

It will continue the hunt for Lucy’s father, Hank, while delving deeper into Vault-Tec’s dark secrets, the pre-war world, and iconic Fallout: New Vegas elements like Caesar’s Legion, Mr. Robert House, and the iconic Deathclaws, promising more factions and locations.

Who is in the Fallout season 2 cast?

Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins are set to return to reprise their roles from season one as Lucy and The Ghoul respectively. Also set to appear once again are Aaron Moten as Maximus, a knight of the Brotherhood of Steel and Kyle MacLachlan as Hank, Lucy’s father.

There are few standout newcomers to the season as well. While the details of their characters are mostly left to speculation, fans did get a good idea of how they will appear in a recent trailer.

This includes former child star known for Christmas classic Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin. Also making his Fallout debut will be Kumail Nanjiani, known for Silicon Valley and Eternals.

One new cast member whose character we do know about is Justin Theroux. Star of The Leftovers and Mulholland Drive will take on one of the most popular characters from the game Fallout New Vegas. Theroux plays Mr. House and judging from images and trailers released, he will play the character before and after the nuclear apocalypse.

Which game is Fallout season 2 based on?

While the Fallout series is based on the game series, it is not a strict adaptation of any storyline. It mostly follows an original plot with unique characters. However, the premise from season one, with Lucy tracking down her father after he leaves the vault, is very similar to the player’s main questline in Fallout 3.

Likewise, season two will include characters and key locations from one of the most popular entries, Fallout New Vegas. While that game had multiple endings, the show’s makers have confirmed they will not be choosing any one to become an official canon. Instead, they are telling their own story within a location familiar to fans.

When are Fallout season 2 episodes released?

Fans will need some patience for new episodes this season. That is because instalments will drop on a weekly basis rather than allowing viewers to binge the season all at once.

The first episode will premiere on December 17 with more dropping each week after that. Here is the full episode release schedule as confirmed by Prime Video:

• Episode One – December 17, 2025
• Episode Two – December 24, 2025
• Episode Three – December 31, 2025
• Episode Four – January 7, 2026
• Episode Five – January 14, 2026
• Episode Six – January 21, 2026
• Episode Seven – January 28, 2026
• Episode Eight – February 4, 2026

Fallout season two is streaming on Prime Video from December 17, season one is streaming now.

The new rules being brought in for 2026 are the biggest change in F1 for years – if not ever.

Cars will be smaller, nimbler and more environmentally friendly.

They will be 30kg lighter, 10cm narrower and have engines with a near 50-50 split between electric and internal combustion power – and use fully sustainable fuels.

Will the racing be any different? Yes, but how different is one of many unknowns.

The chassis and engine rules have never both been changed at the same time to this extent.

There will be new aerodynamic rules, and the power-units, while of similar architecture to the past 12 years, have been significantly modified in terms of technology.

The engines remain 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids but the MGU-H, which recovers energy from the exhaust and turbo, has been removed, while the proportion of power produced by the hybrid part of the engine has been more or less doubled to about 50%.

This has required major changes to aerodynamics. Not only has the venturi-underbody ground effect philosophy introduced in 2022 been abandoned, but movable front and rear wings have been introduced. That’s to increase straight-line speed to enable more energy harvesting under braking.

For some time, there have been varying levels of concern expressed by the drivers about how this will affect the racing.

There will be some idiosyncrasies, it seems. The internal combustion engine will spend a fair bit of its time acting as a generator for the battery. So engines will be at maximum revs in some corners, for example.

The DRS overtaking aid has gone, because the opening of the rear wing is required for other purposes. So instead there will be a push-to-pass button that gives extra electrical energy for a time.

“It’s really, really hard to predict what it’s going to be like,” says Lewis Hamilton. “I don’t want to dog it. I don’t want to say too many negative things.

“It feels so much different and I’m not sure you’re going to like it. But maybe I’ll be surprised. Maybe it’ll be amazing. Maybe overtaking will be incredible. Maybe it’ll be easier to overtake. I don’t know.

“We have less downforce, more torque. Driving in the rain, I can imagine it’s going to be very, very, very tough. Much harder than it is already with what we have today. But as I said, we might arrive and we might have better grip than we anticipated.”

It was paparazzi time on Tuesday night at the old Morningside High gymnasium, where more than 20 photographers stationed themselves on the baseline trying to capture the moment Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood set the state record for career scoring by a high school basketball player.

Think Chino Hills days with the Ball brothers and Sierra Canyon days with Bronny James to bring out the cameras en masse.

The 6-foot-4 senior and son of Inglewood coach Jason Crowe Sr. needed 29 points to pass the 3,659 career points accumulated by Tounde Yessoufou of Santa Maria St. Joseph.

The basketball presented after Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood became the state’s all-time career scoring leader.

(Nick Koza)

It happened at the outset of the third quarter against Beverly Hills, which Inglewood defeated 112-75. After scoring 24 points in the first half when Inglewood took a 57-32 lead, Crowe made two free throws on a technical called at the end of the second quarter, then made a three with 7:51 left in the third quarter to break the record. The game was halted briefly to present a special basketball honoring the occasion.

Crowe, a Missouri commit who finished with 51 points Tuesday, has been on a four-year journey to establish himself as one of the best basketball players in Southern California. He said he never set out to be the state’s all-time scoring leader.

“It just happened as the years went on and I kept racking up points,” he said.

From the moment he debuted as a 14-year-old freshman at Lynwood, Crowe has been a game-changer. He averaged 36.0 points as a freshman when Lynwood won a Division V state championship, 37.4 points as a sophomore and 35.3 points last season at Inglewood. This season, he’s averaging 42.9 points.

The parents of Inglewood guard Jason Crowe Jr: His mother, Irene, and father, Jason Sr.

(Nick Koza)

Crowe said that first season winning a state championship remains his biggest accomplishment.

“My freshman year was one of the finest years I had playing against good teams at a young age and carrying my team to a state title. That was the best feeling,” he said.

As Crowe’s reputation grew, many of his father’s friends joined in the fun. Crowe has spoken frequently with Inglewood’s most famous basketball player, Hall of Famer Paul Pierce. Crowe’s grandfather used to be the principal at Inglewood.

His scoring prowess is helped by his ability to attack the basket, draw fouls and make free throws. He’s relentless and never satisfied. His work ethic has helped him get stronger and show improvement each season.

“I feel I have established who I am in the high school basketball world,” Crowe said. “But there’s always something I can get better at.”

To be able to play for his father, a former Inglewood guard, is something for which Crowe is grateful.

“It’s been great having somebody who really cares about me on your side,” he said.

Crowe’s father is expected to join him in Missouri.

“He’s definitely going to encourage me and be with me on this journey,” Crowe said.

The fact Crowe still has more than two months of high school basketball to play means he’s only going to add to a record that might last a long time.

Unflinching in his belief that he could elevate UCLA to win at the highest level, Bob Chesney sounded a brazen, fearless tone Tuesday during his introduction as the Bruins’ football coach.

“We don’t need to be the other school in town,” Chesney said inside the Luskin Center on campus, “we need to be the school in this town and I promise you that will happen very soon.”

Chesney said the success he’s had in two seasons at James Madison, which will open the College Football Playoff against Oregon on Dec. 20, could translate to his new job after agreeing to a five-year, $33.75-million contract that will pay him an annual salary of $6.75 million.

“Those same dreams,” Chesney said of what he’s done with the Dukes, “are the exact dreams we will have here.”

Bob Myers, the former Golden State Warriors general manager who served on the search committee, said UCLA had committed to providing him with resources that would rank in “the top third, maybe top quartile” of the Big Ten in a bid to give Chesney what he needed to compete with conference heavyweights.

The challenge is a big one. UCLA has not won a conference championship since 1998 and is coming off back-to-back losing seasons, including a 3-9 record under predecessor DeShaun Foster and interim coach Tim Skipper. None of that could dissuade Chesney from becoming the first sitting head coach to abandon his job to join the Bruins since Pepper Rodgers made a similar move in 1971.

“I believe in the power of UCLA,” Chesney said.

Chesney met with his new players earlier in the day, impressing them with his vision and exuberance.

“He has a lot of energy and cares about this place,” freshman linebacker Scott Taylor said, “and that’s what a lot of people want to see.”

Mixing humor with personal anecdotes in his remarks, Chesney joked that he was country singer Kenny Chesney’s first cousin and that the other Chesney would be at every game. He said his first coaching salary was $5,000. When it came to his coaching tree, Chesney said he had learned from many but wanted to embrace his own style.

“I don’t want to be anyone else,” he said. “I want to be me.”

Chesney said he also believed in accountability and would personally conduct class checks. What’s his style? Chesney said he embraced toughness and competitiveness. He also said he believed he could replicate his success at lower levels after having won at the Division III, Division II and Football Championship Subdivision levels before arriving at James Madison.

“There is zero doubt,” Chesney said, “that we can win here at UCLA.”

Check back soon for updates on this developing news story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Joel Armia scored twice, Adrian Kempe had a goal and assist, and the Kings beat the Utah Mammoth 4-2 on Monday night.

Anze Kopitar also scored and Kevin Fiala had two assists to help the Kings get their third win in five games. Darcy Kuemper stopped 19 shots.

Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Guenther also scored for the Mammoth in their sixth loss in eight games. Karel Vejmelka finished with 23 saves.

Kempe got the Kings on the scoreboard 7:50 into game after he got a pass from Fiala, skated in on Vejmelka and put a backhander past the goalie for his 10th goal of the season.

Armia made it 2-0 at 10:08 as he took a long stretch pass from Fiala and beat Vejmelka from between the circles.

Guenther pulled the Mammoth to 2-1 with a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Clayton Keller on the power play 34 seconds into the second period. It was his 11th goal of the season.

Kopitar restored the Kings’ two-goal lead at 3:27 of the third on a rebound in front.

Keller pulled the Mammoth back within one with 7:47 remaining, but Armia sealed the Kings’ win with an empty-netter with 1:38 to go.

Up next for the Kings: at Seattle on Wednesday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s been an offseason of few acquisitions thus far for the Dodgers.

So much so that, on the first day of MLB’s annual winter meetings at the Signia by Hilton Orlando on Monday, the most intriguing rumor surrounding the team had to do with a potential subtraction from their big-league roster.

According to multiple reports, Teoscar Hernández has come up in the Dodgers’ trade talks with other teams this winter. USA Today went as far as saying the club was “shopping” the two-time All-Star, who is entering the second season of the three-year, $66-million deal he signed last offseason.

However, both manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed that notion while addressing reporters on Monday.

Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández hits a sacrifice fly to score Dodgers’ Will Smith during the Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

“Teo certainly fits [our roster still],” Roberts said. “He’s helped us win two championships. He’s one of my favorites.”

“That doesn’t feel likely,” Gomes added of the possibility of trading Hernández. “Obviously, you can never say never on those types of things. I know that’s come up [in reports]. But that’s not something we anticipate at all.”

The idea of the Dodgers trading Hernández has felt like a long shot from the start. Though the 33-year-old slugger suffered an inconsistent and injury-plagued regular season in 2025 — both at the plate, where he had 25 home runs but hit only .247, and especially defensively, where he had several notable lapses after moving to right field — the 10-year veteran has made crucial contributions in each of the Dodgers’ two World Series runs the last couple years, and has served in a mentor role to young players in the clubhouse; none more so than Andy Pages.

Granted, moving Hernández could help the Dodgers get younger, which has been a goal for the front office this offseason as they try to navigate their aging and expensive roster. And his salary could be repurposed if the team were to make a splashier free-agent signing.

But for now, the Dodgers continue to express belief in their current core, with Roberts noting Monday that “we’re very confident with where the roster is right now” and that “there’s really no big splash we feel needs to be made.”

Plus, moving Hernández would also only further exacerbate the team’s pre-existing need for outfield help, as the club continues to evaluate both the free agent market (where players such as Cody Bellinger or Harrison Bader figure to be better, and more affordable, fits than a likely $400-million signing of top free-agent option Kyle Tucker) and trade possibilities (such as Brendan Donovan or Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox or — in a less likely scenario — Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians).

Roberts did leave the door open to potentially moving Hernández back to left field, where he spent the majority of 2024 for the Dodgers before shifting over to his more natural right field position last year.

Still, in Roberts’ eyes, Hernández’s defense was “at least average” in right after an August series in Colorado when he made a couple particularly glaring mistakes on fly balls. His career-long defensive metrics have also been stronger in right field than left.

“I do think that with the versatility [of our roster] and how we potentially shape this roster, there’s some options,” Roberts said. “But right now, he’s our right fielder.”

One day removed from learning that Notre Dame had been left out of the College Football Playoff’s 12-team field, Fighting Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua was still fuming.

In addition to reiterating his frustrations with the CFP ranking process, Bevacqua also turned his ire on the Atlantic Coast Conference during a Monday morning appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show.”

“We were mystified by the actions of the conference, to attack, you know, their biggest, really, business partner in football and a member of their conference in 24 of our other sports,” Bevaqua said. “And I wouldn’t be honest with you if I didn’t say that they have certainly done permanent damage to the relationship between the conference and Notre Dame.”

With the exception of football and men’s hockey, all Notre Dame athletic teams are members of the ACC. While the Irish football team has maintained its status as an independent, it has had an agreement since 2014 to play games against at least five ACC teams each season.

Miami, on the other hand, is a full-fledged member of the ACC.

Notre Dame opened the season Aug. 31 with a 27-24 loss at Miami, followed by a one-point loss to Texas A&M the next week. But the Irish went 10-0 to finish the season, beating their opponents by an average of nearly 30 points (a number that was bolstered by their 70-7 win over Syracuse on Nov. 22).

Miami also finished the regular season at 10-2. Despite the head-to-head win over Notre Dame months earlier, the Hurricanes were ranked below the Irish every week since the 2025 CFP rankings launched in early November — until this week, when Miami jumped to No. 10 and the Irish landed at No. 11.

With No. 20 Tulane and No. 24 James Madison getting automatic bids as the American Athletic Conference and Sun Belt Conference champions, respectively, that left Notre Dame out of the 12-team CFP bracket. Notre Dame subsequently announced it was withdrawing from consideration from any college bowl games this season.

“What we’re so confused by and frustrated with is the process,” Bevacqua said. “Every step along the way, since the first CFP rankings came out, we were led to believe we were in as long as we took care of business. And we certainly took care of business with this 10-game winning streak.

“Can you think about that first ranking? You know, we and Miami were both 6-2. They had obviously already beat us the first game of the year. They were 18th. We were 10th. You know, the only thing that we did since that point was win every game by over an average of over 30 points. And you know, all of a sudden we’re 11th and on the outside looking in.”

CFP selection committee chairperson Hunter Yurachek said during the playoff’s selection show that Miami’s season-opening win over Notre Dame hadn’t factored into the rankings until this weekend — when it became clear that the two teams would be side-by-side in the rankings and one team would likely end up out of the postseason picture.

At that point, Yurachek said, he had the committee members rewatch the Miami-Notre Dame game.

“You look at those two teams on paper and they are almost equal in their schedule strength, their common opponents, the results against common opponents,” Yurachek said. “But the one metric we had to fall back on … was the head-to-head.”

Last month, the ACC football account on X posted a graphic that highlighted Miami’s win over Notre Dame and listed how the teams compared in certain statistical categories, with the Hurricanes coming out on top in two of the three cases.

Also, according to ESPN, the ACC Network replayed Miami’s win over the Irish more than a dozen times last Thursday and Friday.

“We didn’t appreciate the fact that we were singled out repeatedly and compared to Miami,” Bevacqua said. “Not by Miami — Miami has every right to do that, but it raised a lot of eyebrows here that the conference was taking shots at us.”

Asked by Patrick if Notre Dame would reevaluate its overall relationship with the ACC after this, Bevacqua simply stated, “I would just say it’s been strained.”

Patrick then asked if the damage was irreparable.

“Well, you never say irreparable, but it’s opened our eyes,” Bevacqua said. “And you know, it caught our attention.”

The ACC did not immediately respond Monday to The Times’ request for comment.

Leo Carlsson scored two goals and rookie Beckett Sennecke had a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 7-1 victory over the road-weary Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Jacob Trouba, Mason McTavish, Alex Killorn and Frank Vatrano also scored for the Pacific Division-leading Ducks, who have won three of four. The Ducks took charge with a four-goal second period that featured a franchise-record 27 shots on Chicago’s net, capped by Carlsson’s 15th goal on a fluttering deflection for a 5-0 lead.

Ville Husso made 19 saves for the Ducks, who beat Chicago for the first time in three tries this season. Ryan Strome, Cutter Gauthier and Chris Kreider had two assists apiece.

Arvid Söderblom stopped 46 shots — 39 in the first two periods — in a standout effort for the struggling Blackhawks, who will be eager to get out of Southern California after losing 6-0 to the Kings on Saturday. Tyler Bertuzzi scored for Chicago, which has lost eight of 10 after a 10-5-4 start to the season.

Connor Bedard had an assist for his 40th point in 29 games. Carlsson, drafted one pick after Bedard in 2023, has 38 points in 29 games.

Trouba opened the scoring in the first period with an undefended slap shot after an egregious Blackhawks turnover. The veteran defenseman has five goals in his last 23 games — which is more than he scored in his previous 165 games over parts of four seasons with the Rangers and Ducks.

Sennecke set up McTavish’s power-play goal to open the second period before scoring his eighth goal on a beautiful dangle. The 19-year-old forward — who wasn’t a sure thing to make the Ducks’ roster in October — has played his way into the Calder Trophy race with nine goals and 15 assists in his first 29 games.

Anaheim’s 27 shots in the second surpassed the club record set Jan. 1, 1994.

Chicago avoided a second straight shutout with Bertuzzi’s goal on a power play moments later. Bertuzzi has scored 12 of his 15 goals on the road.

Up next for the Ducks: at Pittsburgh on Tuesday to open a five-game trip.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is peppered with players who finished long, distinguished careers by donning a Dodgers uniform, their performance dwindling as their age increased. Greg Maddux, Rickey Henderson, Juan Marichal and Eddie Murray are among those who leap to mind.

An exception was Jeff Kent, who Sunday received 14 of 16 possible votes by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, the only player among eight on the ballot with enough for induction into Cooperstown.

With unmatched power as a second baseman and an unrelenting approach to his craft, Kent was a Dodger for the last four seasons of his 17-year career, solidifying his Hall of Fame credentials statistically while also serving as a curmudgeonly leader on a roster crowded with young stars such as Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, Andre Ethier and James Loney.

“It’s a moment of satisfaction of the things I did right in my career, the things I consistently stuck to,” he told MLB Network. “The hard work, the gratification of playing the game the right way. I love the game.”

The son of a motorcycle police officer and a product of Huntington Beach Edison High, Kent became emotional during a news conference at the 2005 MLB Winter Meetings when it was announced that he’d signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the Dodgers.

“This is the third time I’ve tried to get with the Dodgers,” he said at the time. “I want to be on a team with the potential to win because I’m running out of time. This team has that mentality.”

The Dodgers never won a World Series during Kent’s tenure, but he quickly fell into the role of a veteran leader, making himself available to the media after tough losses to shield younger players from the glare.

He said what was on his mind, sometimes to a fault, once suggesting that legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully “talks too much.”

Maybe that’s why Kent getting the Hall of Fame nod from a list of candidates that included all-time home run leader Barry Bonds, 354-game winner Roger Clemens, 509-home run slugger Gary Sheffield, 1980s stars Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy, and Dodgers icon Fernando Valenzuela was unexpected.

Even Kent was surprised.

“The emotions are overwhelming — unbelievable,” Kent said. “I didn’t even expect it. For me, there were so many quality guys that the committee had to argue through and vote for. I’m grateful that they considered me and gave it a shot at putting me in.”

Valenzuela, Bonds, Clemens and Sheffield each had fewer than five votes, meaning they will not be eligible the next time their era is considered in 2031. They can be nominated once more at that time, but will not be eligible for consideration if they again fall short of five votes.

All of the candidates already had been spurned by the Baseball Writers Assn. of America. Seventy-five percent of the votes are necessary for induction, and Kent never received even 50% during his 10 years on the BBWAA ballot that ended in 2023.

“The time had gone by, and you just leave it alone, and I left it alone,” Kent said. “I loved the game, and everything I gave to the game I left there on the field. This moment today, over the last few days, I was absolutely unprepared. Emotionally unstable.”

Kent was named National League most valuable player in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, the team with which his career is most associated. He batted a career-best .334 with 33 homers and 125 runs batted in that season and drove in more than 100 runs in each of his six seasons batting behind Bonds.

He said he plans to enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Giants cap.

“The turning point in my career was with Dusty Baker, the manager I got with in San Francisco,” said Kent, who played in college at California. “He motivated me to get the peak performance out of me.”

Kent finished with 377 career homers, 351 as a second baseman, the most ever for the position. He also is the only second baseman to collect more than 100 RBIs in eight seasons.

As a Dodger, he hit 75 homers and batted .290 in more than 2,000 plate appearances. His last manager with the Dodgers was Joe Torre, who described Kent’s impact on the franchise.

“He’s one of those players whose actions are supposed to make you understand what he thinks,” Torre said. “It’s the old pro thing.”