Sports

In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened. The Dodgers have dropped out of first place. The team that was expected to win 120 games has fallen a game behind the San Diego Padres in the National League West, and who knows how much further baseball’s most expensive collection of players…

The result was historic. The way it happened was all too familiar. Never before, since interleague play began in 1997, had the Dodgers been swept in a six-game season series against the Angels. But plenty of times in recent weeks had they suffered the kind of fate that befell them Wednesday. Entering the eighth inning,…

Before he arrived at USC, Micah Banuelos was already pretty accustomed to playing through pain. As a standout offensive and defensive lineman at Kennedy Catholic High in Washington, his shoulder would pop out of its socket during almost every game. So Banuelos would check out, have his shoulder popped back in and then reenter the…

A decade ago, the languishing St. Louis Rams were ranked dead last in the NFL with a franchise valuation of $930 million. Today, according to Sportico rankings released Wednesday, the Rams are valued at $10.43 billion, second only to the Dallas Cowboys at $12.88 billion. The Rams, owned by developer Stan Kroenke, saw a 34%…

Jerry Jones was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma in 2010 but overcame it with the help of an experimental trial drug, the Dallas Cowboys owner revealed this week. “I was saved by a fabulous treatment and great doctors and a real miracle [drug] called PD-1 [therapy],” Jones told the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday. “I…

At USC, Stafon Johnson was a running back. As the football coach at his alma mater, Dorsey, he has continued to preach running the football — until now. He finally has a promising quarterback, sophomore Elijah McDaniel, so look for the Dons to run and pass. “I haven’t had a quarterback in many moons,” Johnson…

Shaquille O’Neal was never suspended for drug use of any kind during his decorated 19-year NBA career. The rugged 7-foot-1, 325-pound Hall of Fame center freely acknowledged playing through pain and openly worried about damage to his kidneys and liver from his prolonged use of legal anti-inflammatory medications. He also recently recounted on “Inside the…

Second in a series of stories profiling top high school football players by position. Today, Brian Bonner, Valencia running back. There are many ways Brian Bonner of Valencia High impacts a football game. As a running back, using his 10.48-second speed in the 100 meters, any kind of opening creates the opportunity for a touchdown….

On Tuesday, Will Smith led the National League in batting. On Wednesday, he does not, but he still has a better batting average than the guy behind him. It’s all a quirk of baseball’s rules, but one that could cost Smith the batting title if he keeps hitting and the Dodgers keep using him the…

Almost hidden in a mocha pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt, and wearing those same fire-red Air Jordans from his Aug. 4 return to Los Angeles, Clippers royalty Chris Paul adorned the Sparks’ bench. And though the 20-year veteran barely lifted a palm — leaving the cheering to his wife and daughter — Paul’s court savvy…