Sport

Follow our live build-up, with full team news coverage, ahead of our text commentary stream of the UCL tie.

Hi and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. I was hoping for Seattle, since they had never made the World Series before.

Here we are on Wednesday, with the World Series two days away. It will have been a week off for the Dodgers, while the Toronto Blue Jays will have had only three days off. They say that rust will hurt a batter more than it will a pitcher. Will the time off hurt the Dodgers?

Before this season, there have been four times when one league’s LCS went seven games and the other league’s went four games, giving them much more time off before the World Series. One of these you will be very familiar with:

1988
NLCS: Dodgers defeat the Mets, 4-3
ALCS: A’s defeat the Red Sox, 4-0
World Series: Dodgers defeat the A’s, 4-1

Oakland, which had the mighty Bash Brothers of José Canseco and Mark McGwire, hit .177 in the series, with Canseco and McGwire getting only one hit each (both were homers). They scored 11 runs in the series, and never more than four in a game, which came in Game 1 on Canseco’s grand slam off of Tim Belcher. This seemed not so much a case of rust as it was the A’s running into an outstanding Dodger pitching staff, led by Orel Hershiser, who pitched a three-hit shutout in Game 2. The Dodgers hit .246 in the series and outhomered the A’s, 5-2.

2006
NLCS: Cardinals defeat the Mets, 4-3
ALCS: Tigers defeat the A’s. 4-0
World Series: Cardinals defeat the Tigers, 4-1

The Tigers hit .199 in the series and scored 11 runs. The Cardinals went 83-78 during the season, including 12-17 in September, so they weren’t exactly a juggernaut. Plácido Polanco went 0 for 17, Curtis Granderson went two for 21 and Magglio Ordóñez went two for 19. They had three guys who hit .353 or better, so it was all or nothing for their offense. Neither side hit well, as the Cardinals hit just .226.

2007
NLCS: Rockies defeat the Diamondbacks, 4-0
ALCS: Red Sox defeat the Indians, 4-3
World Series: Red Sox defeat the Rockies, 4-0

The Rockies hit .218 in the series and scored 10 runs. The Red Sox hit .333 and scored 29 runs, so this was more a case of bad pitching by the Rockies, as their starting pitchers combined for an 8.33 ERA. The Red Sox hit an amazing 18 doubles in four games.

2012
NLCS: Giants defeat the Cardinals, 4-3
ALCS: Tigers defeat the Yankees, 4-0
World Series: Giants defeat the Tigers, 4-0

The Tigers hit .159 in the series and scored only six runs. Jhonny Peralta went one for 15, Prince Fielder went one for 14, Miguel Cabrera went three for 13. The Giants hit .242 and scored 16 runs.

So, the teams that had extra time off lost all four World Series and went 4-16 in the 20 games played. Three of the four hit below .200.

That stat does not bode well for the Dodgers, but it is an extremely small sample size. Keep in mind the Dodgers had six days off before the start of last year’s postseason, and that turned out just fine.

What are the Dodgers doing to combat the extra time off? Jack Harris wrote a story on it you can check out here.

Some key takeaways:

—Now, as they did back last year, the Dodgers are incorporating more simulated game activities into their schedule. On Sunday, they played a seven-inning sim game. On Monday, they took more rounds of live batting practice.

—“I think it’s nice to have rest and kind of let everybody take a deep breath and rest up or whatnot. … Just rest up and keep sharpening your skills.” Mookie Betts said.

—“All we’re trying to do right here is get four more wins to win a World Series,” Miguel Rojas said. “Last year, when we had the bye, and the year before, we were trying to get through one more month of baseball. You’re trying to prepare for that. You’re trying to get some guys healthy. I just feel like the difference with this one [versus] the one we had the last couple years is everybody is locked in on winning the World Series. We’re really close to doing that. And winning four more games is the most important thing.”

America hates the Dodgers

The people at Betonline.ag have analzyed tweets, hashtags and direct keyword phrases about whom fans are rooting for. On X, 92% of fans are rooting for Toronto.

The state-by-state rooting breakdown:

Dodgers – 4 states (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah)
Blue Jays – 46 states (All other states)

Poll results

We asked, “Which team would you like to see the Dodgers play in the World Series?”

After 16,483 votes:

Seattle, 84.3%
Toronto, 15.7%

Poll time

What is your prediction for this World Series?

Click here to vote in our survey.

In case you missed it

Shaikin: Most MLB owners want to curb big spenders like the Dodgers. What does the union say?

World Series preview: Are the Dodgers actually the favorites? | Dodgers Debate

Here’s how to see the Dodgers in the World Series in person without a ticket

Nine concerns the Dodgers should have about facing the Blue Jays in the World Series

How Dodgers are navigating their World Series bye week: ‘Keep sharpening your skills’

Why the Dodgers’ return to the World Series was only a matter of time

Shohei Ohtani highlighted in film tracing history of Japanese and American baseball

And finally

Vin Scully and special guest Fernando Valenzuela throw out the first pitch before Game 2 of the 2017 World Series. 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 [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Reuters

‘We never please everyone’

Israel Police

Police operationally independent

With two weeks left in the regular season for high school football, it’s become clear there’s a large and growing list of candidates for coach of the year. They are considered based on exceeding expectations, winning championships or helping to engineer a program turnaround when no one saw it coming.

Let’s review the great coaching performances so far this season:

Los Alamitos football coach Ray Fenton stands with his players on Thursday during an Alpha League opener at SoFi Stadium.

(Craig Weston)

• Ray Fenton, Los Alamitos: The man looks so fit he could run around any stadium without breaking a sweat. Few expected the Griffins to be 8-0 at this point, let alone be in the running for a Southern Section Division 1 playoff berth. He’s molded a team of best friends into believing in themselves no matter the opponent. San Clemente and Mission Viejo are the only teams standing in the way of a 10-0 regular season.

• Terrance Whitehead, Crenshaw: When head coach Robert Garrett was placed on administrative leave before the season began, the Crenshaw grad and longtime assistant took over. Garrett helped train him, and Crenshaw is 7-1 going into a Coliseum League title decider against King/Drew on Friday. The Cougars have discipline, resiliency and are playing to make Garrett and his assistants proud.

  

  Crenshaw interim coach Terrance Whitehead speaking with quarterback Danniel Flowers.

  (Robert H. Helfman)

• Brad Vonnahme, Crespi: Who predicted the Celts would be 8-0 and headed to the Del Rey League championship in Vonnahme’s third season of a massive rebuilding job? He hasn’t brought in transfers, rather relying on players who start out as freshmen learning the game and move up. There’s a group of sophomores being developed who could be very good in the coming seasons.

• Jason Negro, St. John Bosco: The Braves have established themselves as the No. 1 team in California, if not the nation, while relying on an improving sophomore quarterback and four receivers headed to college success. He knows championships are won with the help of the offensive and defensive lines, and those are the areas to watch as the playoffs approach.

  

  St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro has his team ranked No. 1 in the nation.

  (Craig Weston)

• Jon Ellinghouse, Sierra Canyon: The Trailblazers are 8-0 and no one has come close to beating them. The season will be based on whether they can break through and disrupt the St. John Bosco-Mater Dei domination. Their defense is clearly the best in Southern California.
• Dylen Smith, Palisades: He lost his field, lost his weight room and nearly lost his team to the Palisades fire. And yet, the Dolphins have persevered and are 8-0 with players who stayed and a couple new ones who wanted to experience an adventure with no guarantee of success.
• Chad Johnson, Mission Viejo: With the Diablos (7-1) having wins over Santa Margarita, Folsom and San Diego Lincoln, Johnson challenged his team with a difficult nonleague schedule and they’ve met that challenge. He placed his trust in quarterback Luke Fahey, and don’t doubt how far this team can advance.
• Rick Clausen, Westlake: An assistant coach all his life, Clausen decided to accept the head coaching position even though his wife died of cancer. He’s somehow managed to balance parenting duties and coaching duties, helping a Westlake team go from 0-10 last season to 8-0 this season in his rookie year.
• Tony Henney, Dana Hills: Wherever Henney goes, he succeeds. He’s been head coach at Nordhoff, Trabuco Hills, St. Bonaventure and Westlake. He has Dana Hills at 8-0 going into a game on Friday against 8-0 Laguna Beach, whose own coach, John Shanahan, surrounded himself with an elite group of assistants, including former JSerra head coach Scott McKnight. The winner of the battle of the unbeatens might not be stopped the rest of the way.

• Kevin Hettig, Corona del Mar: With his team 8-0 and tough games ahead, Hettig has quietly and competently prepared the Sea Kings to stay focused and keep improving each week.

  

  Corona del Mar head coach Kevin Hettig, quarterback Brady Annett, and NMUSD superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith.

  (Don Leach/Staff Photographer)

• Jason Miller, Leuzinger: Who loses his only quarterback who can pass and still keeps the team winning? Miller and the Olympians (6-1) are on the verge of ending Inglewood’s reign as a league champion by using 5-foot-8 Journee Tonga as his versatile offensive weapon and replacement quarterback.

• Mike Moon, Oxnard Pacifica: Moon is trying to get his always underrated 8-0 team to run the table in the Marmonte League. He’s helped develop junior quarterback Taylor Lee while managing rising expectations and winning close games.

  

  Mike Moon of Oxnard Pacifica has his team at 8-0.

  (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

• Raymond Carter, Torrance: The former All-City running back at Crenshaw has his team at 8-0, beating local team after local team led by junior quarterback Gibson Turner, who has 20 touchdown passes.
• Mark Carson, Rio Hondo Prep: Year after year, Carson has Rio Hondo Prep ready to succeed. This year’s 8-0 start is no different. A challenge ahead will be playing in a tougher playoff division.
• Darryl Goree, Palm Springs: An 8-0 start has the Indians being the talk of town. Senior linebacker Koa Rapolla has been turned loose and is averaging 13 tackles a game.
• Rick Curtis, Crean Lutheran: Curtis figured out how to best use one of the best athletes in the Southland, quarterback/point guard Caden Jones, and it has led to an 8-0 record.

Former Ireland star Conor Murray says the “shackles are off” as he launches a new BBC Sounds podcast – the Ireland Rugby Social.

Murray, who won international 125 caps, will join BBC Sport NI’s Gavin Andrews to give his unique insight into the mindset of a professional athlete as Ireland gear up for the autumn internationals and the 2026 Six Nations.

Each week, Murray will sit down with players, coaches and rugby insiders to dive into the sport’s biggest stories as Ireland face New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa this autumn, before the Six Nations kicks off next year.

With five Six Nations titles and two United Rugby Championships with Munster, the three-time British and Irish Lion is uniquely placed to go beyond the headlines – and he says: “I can say what I want.”

“As a player you are always worried about protecting the team or the coach, or saying something the coach might not agree with after,” said Murray.

“But now the shackles are off. Now you can speak your mind and say things how you see it.”

Every Tuesday there will be podcast with a special guest who will offer their own insight into their life in rugby, whether that is playing, coaching or a role you may not know about.

Additionally, throughout November and Six Nations there will be a second podcast reflecting on the game that’s just been played and a look ahead at what is to come.

“Rugby has been such a big part of my life for so long, so I think staying connected to it is probably a good idea,” Murray added.

“I can give some insight, get some guests with some interesting stories – stories that you maybe haven’t heard before.

“I know the guests we have will be able to relax and tell us their true thoughts and stories.”

You can catch a first teaser episode here, or search Ireland Rugby Social on BBC Sounds to listen to every episode and subscribe.

No sooner had the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a World Series spot against the Dodgers than the torrent of memes, posts and tweets flowed, all with some version of this one-liner: Finally, Shohei Ohtani is on the plane to Toronto.

On a December day two years ago, as Ohtani navigated free agency: three reports surfaced: there was a private plane flying from Orange County to Toronto (true); Ohtani had decided to sign with the Blue Jays (false); and Ohtani was on a flight to Toronto (false).

When the jet landed, surrounded by reporters and photographers and even a news helicopter, an entire country fell into despair. The gentleman on the plane was not Ohtani.

He was Robert Herjavec, a star on “Shark Tank” and a prominent Canadian businessman with homes in Toronto and Southern California.

“It is my only claim to fame in the sports world: to be mistaken for someone else,” Herjavec said Tuesday.

Herjavec said he hopes to attend at least one World Series game in Los Angeles and another in Toronto. He is not the Dodgers’ $700-million man, but he said he would enjoy meeting Ohtani.

“I’m very disappointed,” Herjavec said with a laugh, “he hasn’t reached out to me for financial advice.”

He is no different than the rest of us, Ohtani’s teammates included. Watching Ohtani play calls to mind the words Jack Buck used to call Kirk Gibson’s home run: I don’t believe what I just saw.

“To me, as a layman and a couch athlete, the ability to throw a ball at 100 mph and then go out and hit three home runs?” Herjavec said. “It’s mind boggling.”

To be a successful businessman takes talent too, no?

“That’s the beauty of business,” he said. “I always say to people, business is the only sport where you can play at an elite level with no God-given talent.”

On that fateful Friday, Herjavec and his 5-year-old twins were en route to Toronto, and normally he would have known what was happening on the ground before he landed. However, he had turned off all the phones and tablets on board so he could play board games with his children in an effort to calm them.

“I gave them too much sugar,” he said. “They were wired.”

Upon landing, Canadian customs agents boarded the plane, in a hopeful search for Ohtani. Herjavec and his kids got off the plane, descending into a storm of national news because the Blue Jays are Canada’s team.

I asked Herjavec if he ever had disappointed so many people at any point in his life. He burst out laughing.

“That is such a great question,” he said. “That is my crowning achievement: I let down an entire nation at one time.”

The Blue Jays have a rich history. In 1992-93, they won back-to-back World Series championships, the feat the Dodgers are trying to duplicate.

The Jays have not appeared in the World Series since 1993, but that is not even close to the longest or most painful championship drought in Toronto.

The Maple Leafs, playing Canada’s national sport, have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967. That would be like the Dodgers or Yankees not winning the World Series since 1967.

“Speaking of letting people down,” Herjavec said.

The difference between Americans and Canadians, he said, is that Americans expect to win and Canadians believe it would be nice to win.

He counts himself in the latter camp. He can call both the Dodgers and Blue Jays a home team, but he is rooting for Toronto in this World Series.

“I have to,” he said, “because I’ve already disappointed the entire country once.

“I’m hoping, with my moral support, this will redeem me to Canadians.”

British Gymnastics plans to bid for the 2030 World Championships to be hosted at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

A formal bid will be submitted in December with a decision on the host country set to be announced in May 2026.

If successful, it would be the second time the Championships have been held in Liverpool – also doing so in 2022 – with Glasgow, London and Birmingham previously hosting too.

“The opportunity for any gymnast to compete in front of a passionate home crowd is something really special, and we’d love for our British team to be able to experience that in 2030 as part of their build-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics,” said Sarah Powell, chief executive of British Gymnastics.

“We have seen with the women’s Rugby World Cup and the football Euros that hosting major events can harness the nation’s passion and be a catalyst for greater impact.

“So, this World Championships bid is a chance to achieve so much more and have a lasting impact far beyond the week of incredible sporting drama that will unfold in the arena itself.”

The Lakers were not whole for their season opener and that meant Luka Doncic had a heavier load to carry while LeBron James sat on the bench injured in this game against rivals Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

So, the question while James recovers from sciatica injury on his right side, is who will fill his void and help Doncic navigate the stretch his running mate is out.

The Lakers didn’t get that complete answer Tuesday night, falling 119-109 to the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena despite Doncic’s impressive performance of a near triple-double with 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.

James is entering an NBA-record 23rd season, but it was the first time over his career that he has missed a season opener.

He sat on the end of the Lakers’ bench dressed in a double-breasted suit, cheering his teammates on, offering words of encouragement when necessary, knowing that was the only way he could help until returns to the court in mid-November.

“It’s hard to forget about LeBron, (but) the reality is, when you’re focused on the group that you have, you’ve got to make the group work,” said coach JJ Redick afterward. “Sometimes you can just be like, ‘Oh my God, we’re gonna get LeBron back at some point.’ Like it’s awesome, but you are focused. I’ll be honest with you, I did have one moment in that first half when we had a few possessions when we couldn’t score against the zone and I thought, ‘It’d be great to have LeBron.”

Lakers guard Austin Reaves gets past Warriors guard Gary Payton II for a layup during the second half Friday night.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

When the Lakers went inside to center Deandre Ayton, he didn’t overpower the small Warriors. Ayton got seven touches, scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.

But he had four turnovers. One of the other issues was his teammates trying to get the ball inside to Ayton. The lobs just weren’t working, a big reason why the Lakers had 19 turnovers.

“Yeah, today, I was realizing I’m probably a confusing big (center), whether I can roll and stand in the pocket, probably gets a little difficult for them sometimes,” Ayton said. “I’m so used to the league having that low man on me. Sometimes I can’t even finish a roll, and I tiny bit linger around the free-throw area just to be available for him.”’

Austin Reaves showed he was up to the task with James out, producing 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

But he had a team-high five turnovers and picked up five fouls by the third quarter.

“We haven’t had a lot of time together as a complete group,” Reaves said. “Obviously, we’re still not complete, but we’re just gonna continue to build, get better, and learn how to play alongside one another. I mean, I had five turnovers tonight, and I don’t think a couple of them are just dumb. But a couple of them were just miscommunications on where I needed to throw a pass to DA (Deandre Ayton). It wasn’t the wrong read. It was the wrong pass at the right time, basically. So it’s just like learning those little things, and you learn those on the fly.”

The Warriors, meanwhile, had four players score in double-figures and that was a big difference in the game. Jimmy Butler led the Warriors with 31 points, Stephen Curry had 23 and Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield each had 17.

The Lakers fell into a hole in the third quarter, going down by 17 points, putting them in catch-up mode.

They were outscored 35-25 in the third. They allowed the Warriors to make 60% of their shots, 50% (five-for-10) of their three-pointers.

Even with the Lakers cutting that deficit to six points in the fourth, their poor play in the third doomed them again.

“The trend I see is that we continue to be a terrible third-quarter team to start,” Redick said. “That was last year. That was the preseason. Gotta rethink some things and it’s, you know, a two-way thing with the guys. What do they need at halftime to make sure they’re ready to play? They’re not ready to play to start the third quarter.”

Etc.

The Lakers picked up the rookie option on Dalton Knecht for $4.2 million for the 2026-27 season, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. … The Lakers said that forward/center Maxi Kleber has an oblique strain and will be reevaluated in two to three weeks.

The 25-year-old, who has 48 caps for the Netherlands, has found love in Manchester – settling down with her partner Ruth, who she met on a dating app.

Now an openly gay woman, Casparij says the community is “close to her heart”.

“It was hard at times growing up until I got into women’s football. It was normal and openly spoken about [at Heerenveen],” she said.

“I learned a lot about myself. I didn’t have that when I was young, I had so many doubts and questions.

“I was lying awake at night thinking ‘is this weird or am I weird?’ Being able to be that role model now with my partner, for so many young girls, is so important.”

The right-back has a platform to promote inclusivity in women’s football and has taken full advantage.

She wears rainbow laces on her football boots, rainbow armbands, regularly posts messages of LGBTQ+ support on social media and in April, dedicated her goal against Everton to the transgender community.

“Why I find it really important to spread the word and stand with people is because in modern society if it’s often not against you, you won’t say anything,” said Casparij.

“It’s important that we stand up for people that need it so they feel supported. For example, the trans community. They are good people and I care about them.

“I want to show that I stand with them. I’m hoping to inspire people to do the same. I think we need more togetherness generally and a sense of community.”

She has supported numerous campaigns – most recently becoming a patron for the LGBTQ Foundation, helping to fund helplines against domestic abuse and transphobia.

“I think queer women are having a tough time at the moment and I want to help them have safe spaces,” said Casparij.

“In domestic violence, for example, queer women are often overlooked. I want to make sure they have a place to heal and someone to talk to.

“I want to be a woman that helps women.”

She is also passionate about setting an example to young, gay women – the type of representation she wished she had as a child.

“It’s nice to be able to make other people take away doubt. It’s about helping them to understand why they are feeling how they are feeling,” she added.

“I always love being surrounded by queer people. Feeling included and supported is important. All I want to do is spread love.”

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

First Round

DIVISION 2
Rancho Christian d. Rosary, 3-2
San Marcos d. Murrieta Valley, 3-0
Long Beach Poly d. Yorba Linda, 18-25, 25-23, 25-14, 26-24
Corona Centennial d. Beaumont, 3-0
San Clemente d. Louisville, 25-16, 25-13, 25-17
Redlands d. Etiwanda, 25-21, 25-16, 25-7
Chaminade d. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 25-14, 25-14, 25-23
Santa Margarita d. Los Osos, 3-0
Thousand Oaks d. She Hill, 3-0
JSerra d. Windward, 3-0
Murrieta Mesa d. El Segundo, 25-12, 25-23, 25-13
Bishop Montgomery d. Xavier Prep, 25-8, 25-10, 25-12
West Ranch d. Tesoro, 3-0
Eastvale Roosevelt d. Bishop Amat, 3-0
Orange Lutheran d. Sunny Hills, 3-0
Marina d. Cerritos Valley Christian, 3-1

DIVISION 3
Corona del Mar d. Mayfield, 25-20, 25-14, 20-25 20-25, 15-12

DIVISION 4
Marlborough, bye
Diamond Bar d. Heritage Christian, 19-25, 25-17, 19-25, 26-24, 15-8
Portola d. Western Christian, 3-0
La Canada d. San Dimas, 25-17, 25-20, 25-18
Dana Hills d. Arcadia, 25-10, 25-17, 25-17
Quartz Hill d.Fullerton, 3-0
Crossroads d. Southlands Christian, 3-0
Corona Santiago d. Peninsula, 3-1
San Jacinto d. Palm Desert, 3-0
Linfield Christian d. Hesperia Christian, 25-11, 25-22. 25-8
Oak Park d. Sultana, 19-25, 25-16, 25-25-21, 25-23
Ridgecrest Burroughs d. Northview, 25-21, 25-14, 25-18
Ventura d. Rancho Cucamonga, 25-16, 25-18, 25-18
Yucaipa d. Santa Rosa Academy, 3-2
Cerritos d. West Torrance, 3-2
Paloma Valley d. La Serna, 3-1

DIVISION 6
Oakwood d. Desert Christian Academy, 3-0
Garden Grove Pacifica d. Western, 3-0
Norwalk d. Trinity Classical Academy, 3-1
Pasadena Marshall d. Charter Oak, 3-2
Arrowhead Christian d. Gabrielino, 3-1
South Hills d. Coachella Valley, 3-1
St. Paul d. Rialto, 3-1
Cantwell-Sacred Heart d. Academy of Academic Excellence, 25-23, 25-20, 25-15
Wiseburn Da Vinci d. Oxnard, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21
Bishop Diego d. Indio, 19-25, 25-22, 25-11, 25-10
Lakewood d. Woodcrest Christian, 3-2
Burbank Providence d. Rim of the World, 25-8, 25-14, 17-25, 25-20
Norte Vista d. Ocean View, 3-1
Capistrano Valley Christian d. Webb, 25-8, 25-16, 25-11
Valley View d. Segerstrom, 3-2
Barstow d. Oxford Academy, 3-2

DIVISION 8
Foothill Tech d. University Prep, 25-18, 25-11, 22-25, 25-14
Rancho Alamitos d. Holy Martyrs, 3-2
Wildwood d. Santa Maria Valley Christian, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17
Malibu d. Firebaugh, 3-1
Arroyo Valley d. St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy, 3-0
Victor Valley d. Big Bear, 3-0
Whittier d. Rancho Verde, 3-0
Schurr d. Eastside, 3-0
Paramount d. Pilibos, 3-0
Canoga Park AGBU d. Downey Calvary Chapel, 3-2
Loma Linda Academy d. Garden Grove, 3-1
Katella d. St. Monica Academy, 3-1
Lighthouse Christian d. St. Mary’s Academy, 3-2
Vistamar d. Patriot, 3-1
de Toledo d. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 3-2
Artesia d. Ramona Convent, 3-0

DIVISION 10
River Springs Magnolia d. Noli Indian, 3-0
Colton d. Packinghouse Christian, 25-21, 27-25, 27-25
Edgewood d. Newbury Park Academy, 3-1
Thacher d. Lucerne Valley, 3-0
Anaheim d. Joshua Springs, 3-0
Hueneme d. New Covenant, 3-0
Rosemead d. Compton Early College, 3-0
Indian Springs d. Santa Barbara Providence, 25-23, 25-21, 13-25, 25-7
San Luis Obispo Classical d. Desert Chapel, 25-15, 25-15, 25-18
Desert Hot Springs d. Gorman, 3-0
Lakeside d. Waverly, 3-0
Mesa Grande d. San Bernardino, 3-0
Bassett d. Animo Leadership, 3-1
Moreno Valley d. Mesrobian, 3-0
Pacific Lutheran d. Highland Hall, 25-16, 25-16, 25-14
Glendale Adventist d. Oak Grove, 3-0

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All matches at 6 p.m. unless noted)

First Round

DIVISION 1
Sierra Canyon, bye
Oaks Christian at Temecula Valley
Newport Harbor at Mira Costa
Marymount, bye
Mater Dei, bye
Crean Lutheran at Harvard- Westlake
Los Alamitos at San Juan Hills
Redondo Union, bye

DIVISION 3
Lakewood St. Joseph at South Torrance
Crescenta Valley at Glendora
Agoura at North Torrance
Newbury Park at Flintridge Prep
Claremont at Burbank Burroughs
Campbell Hall at South Pasadena
Aliso Niguel at Foothill
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Saugus
Santa Monica at Pasadena Poly
Hesperia at St. Margaret’s
La Salle at El Dorado
Trabuco Hills at Long Beach Wilson
Riverside Poly at Cypress
Village Christian at Hemet
Summit at Millikan

DIVISION 5
Granite Hills at Downey
Warren at Ontario Christian
Villa Park at Culver City
San Marino at Camarillo
Canyon Country Canyon at Gahr
Highland at Orange County Pacifica Christian
Paraclete at Santa Barbara
Grand Terrace at Sacred Heart LA
Lancaster Desert Christian at Alta Loma
Jurupa Valley at Placentia Valencia
St. Bonaventure at Valencia
Irvine University at Royal
Whitney at San Gabriel
Palm Springs at El Toro
Chadwick at La Palma Kennedy
Buckley at Corona

DIVISION 7
Pomona Catholic at Ontario
Santa Clarita Christian at Elsinore
Beverly Hills at San Jacinto Leadership Academy
Century at Esperanza
San Jacinto Valley at Faith Baptist
Calvary Baptist at West Valley
Rowland at Eisenhower
Bell Gardens at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian
Laguna Blanca at Cate
San Gabriel Academy at Santa Fe
Tustin at Temecula Prep
Chino at Coastal Christian
San Gorgonio at Pasadena
Geffen Academy at Lancaster
Azusa at CAMS

DIVISION 9
Cathedral City at Beacon Hill
Redlands Adventist at Westminster La Quinta
Tarbut V’ Torah at Crossroads Christian
Avalon at Los Amigos
Santa Ana Valley at Anza Hamilton
Ganesha at United Christian Academy
California School for the Deaf Riverside at Lawndale
Acaciawood Academy at Nogales
Cobalt at Nordhoff
Santa Paula at Estancia
Legacy Prep at Fairmont Prep
Montclair at Buena Park
Cal Lutheran at Riverside North
Miller at Victor Valley Christian
Sierra Vista at South El Monte
Ambassador Christian at Loara

Note: Divisions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 second round Oct. 23; Divisions 3, 5, 7, 9 second round Oct. 25; Division 1 quarterfinals Oct. 28; Divisions 2-10 quarterfinals Oct. 29; semifinals Nov. 1; finals Nov. 8.

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

First Round

DIVISION 2
Bishop Amat 20, Cypress 19
Cajon 13, Redlands East Valley 7
Portola 7, Shadow Hills 6
Newbury Park 40, Tesoro 13
Ventura 46, Fullerton 14
Northwood 31, Woodbridge 25
Corona del Mar 20, Agoura 18
Linfield Christian 20, Palos Verdes 12
Downey 32, San Dimas 6
San Clemente 33, Yorba Linda 0
Beckman 33, Bonita 18
Westlake 32, Mater Dei 8
Aliso Niguel 39, Warren 6
El Toro 25, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 14
Upland 34, Western Christian 7
Gahr 31, Beaumont 21

DIVISION 3
La Serna 19, Mira Costa 7
Foothill 6, Ayala 0
Moorpark 19, South Hills 0
Sunny Hills 26, California 12
Norco 27, Hemet 6
Long Beach Poly 19, Villa Park 6
Millikan 7, Placentia Valencia 6
Glendora 13, Torrance 12
Mission Viejo 19, Irvine University 14
Corona Santiago 25, Patriot 12
El Modena 21, Santa Monica 0
Rancho Cucamonga 33, Kaiser 12
Eastvale Roosvelt 24, Sonora 7
Santa Paula 35, Channel Islands 34
Bellflower 25, Chino 7
La Habra 12, San Marino 6

DIVISION 4
Temecula Prep 27, Alta Loma 18
Canyon Springs 19, West Covina 8
Inglewood 27, Laguna Hills 0
West Ranch 18, Chaparral 12
Riverside King 28, Loma Linda Academy 20
Gardena Serra 34, Ramona 20
Schurr 37, North Torrance 6
Great Oak at Covina, Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Temecula Valley 19, Corona 18
St. Mary’s Academy 6, La Palma Kennedy 0
Riverside Poly 33, Temescal Canyon 26
Chaminade 21, Murrieta Mesa 18
Claremont 33, La Canada 6
Compton at Sierra Vista
Royal 22, Hart 20
Antelope Valley 19, Serrano 12

DIVISION 5
Lancaster at Quartz Hill, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Moreno Valley 38, Jurupa Hills 14
Rancho Alamitos 30, Lawndale 22
San Gorgonio 18, Rialto 6
Norte Vista 27, Orange 6
Northview 6, El Segundo 0
Hacienda Heights Wilson 26, Montclair 0
Castaic 25, Highland 24
Don Lugo 13, Elsinore 7
Azusa 7, Valley View 0
Anaheim 42, San Jacinto Valley 13
Long Beach Jordan 13, Costa Mesa 6
Westridge 21, Windward 6
Vasquez 18, South El Monte 15
Buena Park 25, St. Paul 12
Vista Murrieta 6, Garden Grove 0

DIVISION 6
Brentwood 48, Pioneer 22
Leuzinger 18, Norwalk 13
Montebello 25, Westminster La Quinta 20
Cerritos 25, Saddleback 6
Garey 37, Miller 12
Loara 33, Bell Gardens 6
Artesia 27, Tahquitz 6
Adelanto 36, Los Amigos 6
El Rancho 26, Ramona Convent 6
Estancia 33, Palm Springs 6
Alemany 39, SEED LA 6
Paramount 12, Fontana 7
Gabrielino 31, Workman 13
Palm Desert 18, Indian Springs 9
Godinez 12, Rosemead 0
Hillcrest 46, Pomona 14

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 5 p.m. unless noted)

First Round

DIVISION 1
Trabuco Hills at JSerra
Anaheim Canyon at Santa Margarita
Edison at Newport Harbor
Etiwanda at Dos Pueblos
Esperanza at Huntington Beach
Oxnard at Camarillo
Lakewood St. Joseph at San Marcos
Redondo Union at Orange Lutheran

Note: Second round (Divisions 2-6) Sat. Oct. 25; Quarterfinals (Division 1) Mon., Oct. 27; Quarterfinals (Divisions 2-6) Tues., Oct. 28; Semifinals (all divisions) Nov. 1; Finals (all divisions) Nov. 7-8 at Fred Kelly Stadium.

Howe was certainly not getting carried away.

But the Newcastle head coach will have taken immense encouragement from the contribution of his forwards.

Newcastle have relied on record signing Nick Woltemade, who scored his side’s first goal against Wolves, Arsenal, Union Saint-Gilloise and Brighton in recent weeks, and whose link-up play was again eye-catching on Tuesday night.

But when this game was on a knife-edge, and St James’ Park was tense, Newcastle needed someone else to step up and ease the goalscoring burden.

And Gordon did so when he side-footed home at the back post following Jacob Murphy’s ball across in the 32nd minute.

Murphy had been recalled in place of summer signing Anthony Elanga – and this was a reminder why.

His teasing deliveries set up so many goals for former team-mate Alexander Isak last season and Gordon benefited from such an assist against Benfica.

Gordon, in the process, became the first Newcastle player ever to score in three successive Champions League games, while only Alan Shearer has more goals in the competition for the club.

“It means everything, but I need to get more,” Gordon told TNT Sport. “My ambition doesn’t stop there.”

This was a crucial contribution, though, as Benfica manager Mourinho needed no reminding.

His forward Dodi Lukebakio had earlier hit the post and forced Nick Pope into a fine save when the match was goalless.

“St James’ was quiet,” Mourinho said. “The fans felt that the game was not easy. They felt Benfica was much closer than Newcastle to score.

“They brought their enthusiasm in set-pieces, which is normal. When you have a team of giants, you know every set-piece, throw-in, lateral free-kick, corner is a dramatic moment for the opponent – and it was the only moment that they brought that enthusiasm and that pressure to the opponent.

“We felt very comfortable in the first half.”

More than a month after he was arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon with great bodily injury, UCLA backup quarterback Pierce Clarkson has taken a major step toward being able to resolve his case while avoiding charges altogether.

After the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office referred the case to the L.A. City Attorney for possible misdemeanor consideration, the latter agency has decided to handle the matter via a city attorney hearing, according to Ivor Pine, deputy director of communications for the City Attorney.

A city attorney hearing is an informal proceeding that allows individuals who face certain misdemeanors to resolve their situation with a hearing officer without a criminal filing.

The resolution of such hearings, including conditions imposed to remediate and rehabilitate, are fact-dependent and vary matter to matter, according to Pine. If the participant successfully complies with the conditions, the case is diverted and no charges are filed. If the participant fails to comply, then criminal charges may be filed.

A UCLA athletic department spokesperson said Tuesday evening that there was no update on Clarkson’s status with the team. He had been suspended from all team activities pending the resolution of legal proceedings after his Sept. 5 arrest.

Before his suspension, Clarkson had been one of the top backups to quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The son of quarterback guru Steve Clarkson, Pierce Clarkson had transferred to UCLA this offseason after having spent last spring at Mississippi. The former St. John Bosco High standout spent his first two college seasons at Louisville, where he played sparingly.

Luke Duncan has been UCLA’s top backup in Clarkson’s absence, playing briefly at the end of the Bruins’ victory over Michigan State.

There is never a bad time for a striker to score, but Viktor Gyokeres’ relief was obvious as he ended a barren run with two goals in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. It can be the start of a prolific spell, manager Mikel Arteta believes.

After three goals in his first four matches, £64m signing Gyokeres failed to find the net in Arsenal’s next seven games and looked visibly frustrated at times.

But his team-mates continued to praise his overall impact and Arteta said he gave the striker a hug after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday in appreciation for the effort he was putting in.

The 27-year-old has had to play more than was planned at this stage of the season because of a knee injury to Kai Havertz, featuring for 90 minutes seven times in Arsenal’s opening 12 matches.

But after finding his clinical touch again in the thumping win over Atletico on Tuesday, Gyokeres’ tally now stands at five goals in 12 matches and his manager thinks the strikes were reward for his persistence.

“He deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks, there was no debate about that,” said Arteta.

“It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely.

“I think he has certainly done that today, [he had] a big smile on his face.

“Look at his team-mates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him because he fully deserves it.”

If this World Series is going to turn into a food fight about the economics of baseball, Dave Roberts tossed the first meatball.

The Dodgers had just been presented with the National League Championship trophy. Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, had something to say to a sellout crowd at Dodger Stadium, and to an audience watching on national television.

“They said the Dodgers are ruining baseball,” Roberts hollered. “Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball.”

The Dodgers had just vanquished the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that did everything right, with four starting pitchers whose contracts total $1.35 billion.

The Brewers led the major leagues in victories this year. They have made the playoffs seven times in the past eight years, and yet their previous manager and general manager fled for big cities, in the hope of applying small-market smarts to teams with large-market resources.

The Dodgers will spend half a billion dollars on player payroll and luxury tax payments this year, a figure that the Brewers and other small-market teams might never spend in this lifetime, or the next one.

The Brewers will make about $35 million in local television rights this year. The Dodgers make 10 times that much — and they’ll make more than $500 million per year by the end of their SportsNet LA contract in 2038.

Is revenue disparity a problem for the sport?

The owners say yes. They are expected to push for a salary cap in next year’s collective bargaining negotiations. A cap is anathema to the players’ union. At the All-Star Game, union executive director Tony Clark called a cap “institutionalized collusion.”

The union could say, yes, revenue disparity is the big issue and propose something besides a cap.

But that is not what the union is saying. The union does not agree that revenue disparity is the issue, at least to the extent that the players should participate in solving it. Put another way: Tarik Skubal should not get less than market value in free agency to appease the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

For the most part, the union believes the owners should resolve the issue among themselves.

And the fundamental difference might be this: To most of the owners, the Dodgers’ spending is the big problem, or at least the symptom of a big problem. This was Commissioner Rob Manfred at the owners’ meetings last February: “Do people perceive that the playing field is balanced and fair and/or do people believe that money dictates who wins?”

To the union, the problem is not one of perception. The union believes the problem is that the Dodgers’ spending exposes other owners who would love a salary cap that would give them cover — not to mention cost certainty that could increase profits and franchise values.

“Players across the league show up every day ready to compete and ready to win,” Clark told The Times. “Excuses aren’t tolerated between the lines, and they shouldn’t be accepted outside them either.

“When decision-makers off the field mirror the competitive drive exhibited on it, everybody wins and baseball’s future is limitless. Fans and players alike deserve — and should demand — far more accountability from those to whom much is given.”

Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB Players’ Assn., speaks during a news conference in New York in March 2022.

(Richard Drew / Associated Press)

In its annual estimates, Forbes had the Dodgers’ revenue last season at a league-leading $752 million and the Pirates’ revenue at $326 million. The Pirates turned a profit of $47 million and the Dodgers turned a profit of $21 million, according to those estimates.

The Pirates — and other small-market teams — make more than $100 million each year in their equal split of league revenue (national and international broadcast rights, for instance, and merchandising and licensing) and revenue shared by the Dodgers and other large-market teams. That means the Pirates can cover their player payroll before selling a single ticket, beer, or Primanti sandwich stuffed with meat, cheese and fries.

“The current system is designed so larger markets share massive amounts of revenue with smaller markets to help level the playing field,” Clark said. “Small-market teams have other built-in advantages, and we’ve proposed more in bargaining — and will again.”

The union would be delighted to get a salary floor — that is, a minimum team payroll. The owners would do that if the union agreed to a maximum team payroll — that is, a salary cap.

Whether the owners believe recent and potential future changes — among them a draft lottery, more favorable draft-pick compensation for small-market teams losing free agents, providing additional draft picks for teams that promote prospects sooner and for small-market teams that win — can begin to mitigate revenue disparity is uncertain. Whether the players can condition revenue sharing on team progress also is uncertain.

And, perhaps most critically to owners, the collapse of the cable ecosystem means many teams have lost local television revenue that might not ever bounce completely back, even if Manfred can deliver on his proposed “all teams, all the time, in one place” service.

Whatever the issues might be, fans are not throwing up their hands and walking away. The league sold more tickets this year than in any year since 2017. Almost every week brought an announcement from ESPN, Fox or TNT about a ratings increase, and the league did not complain about the outstanding ratings the Dodgers and New York Yankees attracted in last year’s World Series.

Dodgers fans celebrate after Shohei Ohtani hits the second of his three home runs in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 17.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Payroll is under the control of an owner. Market size is not.

Of the top 15 teams in market size, six made the playoffs. Of the bottom 15 teams in market size, six made the playoffs.

Is that a reasonable exhibition of competitive balance? Would the Dodgers winning the World Series in back-to-back years define competitive imbalance, even if they would become the first team in 25 years to repeat? The only other team currently dedicated to spending like the Dodgers — the New York Mets — has not won the World Series in 39 years.

The Kansas City Chiefs have played in the Super Bowl five times in six years, winning three times. That is because they have Patrick Mahomes, not because the NFL has a salary cap.

In the past three years, the Dodgers are the only team to appear in the final four twice — more diversity than in the final four in the NFL, NBA or NHL, each of which has a salary cap.

The league used to happily distribute information like that. After the winter chants about the Dodgers ruining baseball, the league started talking about how no small-market team had won the World Series in 10 years.

Payroll itself should not define competitive balance, but that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy if an owner decides competing with the Dodgers would be no less futile by spending another $25 million on players.

It is premature to count heads now. However, at this point, you wonder whether any team besides the Dodgers and Mets would lobby against the league pursuing a salary cap in negotiations. If the owners really want a salary cap, they need to be prepared to do what the NHL did to get one: shut down the league for an entire season.

We should be talking about the magic of Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. Instead, on its grandest stage, the talk around baseball will be all about whether its most popular team is ruining the game to the point of depriving us of it come 2027. Well done, everyone.

There were 43 goals scored, five red cards handed out and six penalties awarded – of which five were converted.

It was a relentless evening of Champions League football on Tuesday.

Last season’s winners Paris St-Germain hit seven past Leverkusen, with both teams having a player sent off and the German side’s Alejandro Grimaldo missing a spot-kick.

PSV Eindhoven fought back from a goal down before running riot in a 6-2 win against Italian champions Napoli.

Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester City all claimed convincing victories, with City’s Erling Haaland scoring for a 12th consecutive game.

There were goals and drama aplenty, so BBC Sport has dived into the stats behind an entertaining night in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament.

In a continuing crackdown by the Southern Section against against students and parents who are supplying inaccurate information on transfer paperwork, Orange Lutheran High announced Tuesday that it has declared a football player ineligible and will forfeit its first two games of the season. The school self-reported the violation after an investigation that lasted for weeks.

More than 40 students this fall have been given penalties of two years without being able to play for violating CIF rule 202, which involves providing false information. In September, the Southern Section disqualified 19 players from the Bishop Montgomery football program for a total of 24. The school canceled its varsity season.

Players at Long Beach Millikan, Long Beach Poly, Compton, Victor Valley and Bellflower have also been hit with two-year penalties.

The Orange Lutheran student will be ineligible only until next season because the transfer did not submit fraudulent paperwork.

The Southern Section has deployed new investigative techniques to checker transfer paperwork submitted by schools.

Orange Lutheran principal Jack Preus and football coach Rod Sherman informed players and parents on Tuesday. Preus said as a result of this experience, his school will institute a “more rigorous process” of reviewing bills and visiting homes of transfer students before sending in paperwork for a valid change of residence.

Schools have started to submit transfer paperwork for basketball players, with the season beginning on Nov. 17, and that will be a good indication whether athletic directors and parents have learned lessons from what has been happening to football players.

A big change is that the Southern Section has been declaring players ineligible after accepting a school’s decision declaring the athlete eligible with a valid change of residence. If additional information becomes available, whether the student was cleared for a valid change of residence, they can be switched to ineligible. Same with students cleared after sit-out period athletes.

“We’re going to be different and do it right,” Sherman said.

Southern Section commissioner Mike West said last month, “We’ve had a real influx of fraudulent paperwork. It’s been significant and very disheartening.”

Orange Lutheran drops to 2-6 overall but is still considered a likely Division 1 playoff participant with its strength of schedule. It forfeited wins to Miami Northwestern and Rancho Cucamonga.

Despite the match being cancelled, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague does not think this is the end of the story.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Whilst Javier Tebas is the head of La Liga, he will try to get one game away.

“He thinks that it’s a project, as the statement says, aimed at enhancing the visibility of Spanish football.

“It complied fully with federation regulations. The position on the project was just for reasons unrelated to regulatory or sporting integrity.”

Balague believes finances were the main reason behind the cancellation of the match.

“Perhaps there wasn’t enough money, perhaps the money wasn’t clear where it was going, but certainly it’s been a lot of confusion,” he added.

“Villarreal were saying, ‘We’re not getting any money for it’, but Barcelona were saying, ‘As soon as we get into the plane, we will get money’.

“It wasn’t clear how Villarreal had promised about 5,000 of their fans would go to Miami, or how that was going to happen.”

Victor Gyokeres ends drought with brace in Arsenal’s 4-0 win against Atletico, while PSG hit seven and Barcelona six.

Arsenal stormed to a third successive Champions League victory by blowing away Atletico Madrid 4-0 thanks to a devastating second-half broadside at the Emirates Stadium.

What had been a compelling clash with little between the sides in the first period on Tuesday became an Arsenal rout, with goals by Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and a brace from Viktor Gyokeres leaving Diego Simeone’s side shell-shocked.

Shortly after Julian Alvarez hit the crossbar for the visitors, Gabriel broke the deadlock by heading in a Declan Rice free kick in the 57th minute.

Martinelli finished off a sweeping move seven minutes later, and Gyokeres then prodded his first goal of the night via a deflection as Arsenal ran riot, with the Swede ending a nine-game scoring drought for club and country.

Gyokeres then bundled in his second, as Atletico were again unable to deal with a set piece.

Victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to nine games and put them on nine points in the group phase, well on the way to qualifying for the knockout phase.

Atletico have three points and will have to dust themselves down after their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an abrupt end.

Holders PSG hit magnificent seven at Leverkusen

Paris Saint-Germain scored seven, Barcelona hit six, and Erling Haaland struck his 24th goal of the season on an action-packed night.

PSV Eindhoven routed Italian champions Napoli 6-2, while Inter Milan had a big win to maintain their own perfect starts in Europe.

It is defending champions PSG that lead the way at the top of the standings after a wild 7-2 win against Bayer Leverkusen in a match that saw both teams reduced to 10 men.

Barcelona’s 6-1 win against Olympiakos saw them bounce back from a loss to PSG at the start of the month.

Last season’s finalists Inter beat Union Saint-Gilloise by the same score.

Haaland’s goal helped Manchester City to a 2-0 win at Villarreal.

Fermin Lopez hat-trick and Rashford brace for Barcelona

Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick and Marcus Rashford hit two goals as Barcelona ran riot.

Barca took full advantage when the Greek champions went down to 10 men after a contentious red card for Santiago Hezze in the second half, scoring four goals to complete the rout.

It was Lopez’s first hat-trick of his career, with Lamine Yamal also on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.

Olympiakos had no answer when Hezze was shown a second yellow card in the 57th minute, despite replays appearing to show he did not make contact with Marc Casado, who was trying to pull him back.

Just three minutes earlier, the visitors had got back into the game at 2-1 after Ayoub El Kaabi’s penalty.

Two clinical finishes from Lopez had given Barcelona a 2-0 half-time lead. Then, with the extra man, the Spanish champions overwhelmed Olympiakos with four goals in 11 minutes – starting with Yamal’s spot kick.

Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, now has four goals in three games in the Champions League this season.

Kazakh team Kairat picked up their first point in European football’s elite club competition with a 0-0 draw against Pafos.