L.A. Times - Sports

Lakers will work on crowd control

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

A quick lead is the best formula for playing in Utah, where the fans get extra loud.

So how do you prepare a team to play in EnergySolutions Arena, where the Utah Jazz was 37-4 in the regular season?

It's all Kobe Bryant, all the time

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The mere mortals in Los Angeles are used to living alongside some high-powered stars, but the hero worship lavished upon the Lakers star, the newly minted NBA MVP, transcends all.

It has been two days now since his coronation, and we remain a city in a twitter.

Jerry Sloan keeps it rolling for 20 years as Utah coach

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As the longest tenured coach in all of the major professional sports, he sticks to the bread-and-butter pick-and-roll system that has been so effective. He guides team against Lakers again tonight.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The league shifted toward fun-to-watch, hard-to-guard, run-and-gun teams, sprinkled -- as has long been the NBA's case -- with a couple of dominant centers.

Lakers' Derek Fisher continues his journey

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It's been a year since the point guard endured one of the most dramatic days in his life -- playing for Utah in a playoff game hours after his daughter underwent cancer surgery.

SALT LAKE CITY -- A year ago, Derek Fisher's life changed, or would have if it ever did, which it never really has.

In Game 3 vs. Lakers, Jazz in a familiar place: in Utah, down 0-2

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Being winless in a best-of-seven playoff series historically has not boded well for NBA teams. But Utah has worked its way out of that hole before.

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz has unwillingly been in this situation before, survived and lived to tell about it.

For Dodgers' Steinberg, it's all about family

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The team's new executive vice president for marketing believes baseball can be an integral part of the lives of fans.

Charles Steinberg is a romantic and a pragmatist, a dazzled fan who swept storerooms and compiled statistics for the Baltimore Orioles but earned a degree in dentistry in case the whole baseball thing didn't work out.

Troy Percival is back where he belongs

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

After an elbow injury sidelined him for almost two seasons, the former Angel has flourished as the Rays' new closer.

The last time Troy Percival faced the Angels, he needed only one pitch to get the job done. Then he walked off the mound and into retirement.

Dodgers' Matt Kemp is in a batting groove

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The outfielder has a 12-game hitting streak and is 20 for 50 during that span.

The evidence of Matt Kemp's evolution goes beyond the numbers.

Jon Garland has some opinions on precious metals

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Which is more prestigious, the Angels pitcher's World Series ring or his girlfriend's Olympic gold medal?

What's more prestigious, a World Series ring or an Olympic gold medal?

Lakers fans are in the driver's seat

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Text messages from press row . . .

Lakers flags are flying again from Southland cars. . . .