Clippers sign 7-footer Mo Bamba

• July 6, 2024

Veteran center Mo Bamba officially signed with the Clippers, the team announced Saturday. Although no contract details were given, it is reportedly a one-year deal.

Largely a rotation player, Bamba appeared in 57 games for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, taking over the starting center job when 2023 MVP Joel Embid was out for two months after having knee surgery.

The 7-foot Bamba averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in his lone year with the Sixers.

He is expected to back up Clippers starter Ivica Zubac after the departure of Mason Plumlee (Phoenix Suns) and Daniel Theis (Europe).

The Orlando Magic selected Bamba with the overall No. 6 pick in the 2018 draft out of the University of Texas. He played for the Magic for four-plus seasons before being part of a four-team trade that landed him with the Lakers.

The Lakers waived him after the 2023 season, and he then signed with the Sixers.

In college, Bamba was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team in his lone season with the Longhorns.

Bamba is the first of several anticipated signings by the Clippers, the first day that free agents can officially sign deals.

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​ Orange County Register 

Man arrested in sexual assault of woman in her UCLA dorm

• July 6, 2024

A man has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female UCLA student in her dorm room on campus, authorities said.

The suspect entered the room at Saxon Residential Suites in the 300 block of De Neve Drive at about 2:40 a.m. Friday, July 5, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her while she was in bed, according to a statement from the UCLA Police Department.

He then left the room in an unknown direction. The woman, a student at UCLA, was “medically treated on scene,” according to the statement.

It was not immediately known when or where the man was taken into custody. He was described as a heavyset man in his 30s with a curly beard who wore all black clothing and a beanie during the alleged attack.

Anyone with information about the alleged crime was urged to call the UCLA Police Department at 310-825-1491 or the Anonymous Tip Hotline at 310-794-5824.

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Euro 2024: England tops Switzerland in penalty shootout

• July 6, 2024

DUESSELDORF, Germany — Three years on from losing the European Championship final on penalties, England beat Switzerland in a shootout to reach the semifinals of Euro 2024.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winner as England swept all of its penalties to win the shootout 5-3 after a 1-1 draw in extra time on Saturday.

“The team showed a lot of character, belief, heart and spirit out there,” Alexander-Arnold told the BBC.

England converted its first four penalties and Alexander-Arnold won the game with the fifth, blasting his shot into the top corner. Another who scored was Bukayo Saka, who missed the last penalty kick of the final shootout in 2021 and was racially abused on social media.

Saka also equalized earlier to ensure the game went to extra time after the Swiss took the lead.

The other shootout scorers were Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Ivan Toney, who returned in January from an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules.

England was in the lead in the shootout after goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved from Manuel Akanji, who took Switzerland’s first penalty kick.

England goes on to play Turkey or the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday for a spot in the final.

Switzerland, which has never reached the semifinals of a major tournament, exits the European Championship on penalties in the quarterfinals for the second time running after defeat to Spain three years ago.

It was the second game in a row that England left it late to win, after beating Slovakia 2-1 in extra time in the last 16.

The quarterfinal went to extra time after England forward Saka scored with a shot off the post in the 80th minute to cancel out Breel Embolo’s goal five minutes earlier for Switzerland. It was the first shot on target for England in what was otherwise a cagey and cautious performance from the 2021 runner-up.

The Swiss had the better chances to win in extra time, including substitute Xherdan Shaqiri hitting the frame of the goal direct from a corner. Pickford saved from substitute Zeki Amdouni in the 119th to keep England in the game.

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England was without captain and striker Harry Kane for the shootout after he collided with manager Gareth Southgate on the touchline while challenging for a ball and appeared to be hurt. He was replaced by Toney.

Taking charge of his 100th game on Saturday, Southgate has now taken England to at least the semifinals in three of the four major tournaments in his eight-year tenure.

​ Orange County Register 

Angels’ Kevin Pillar celebrates career milestone

• July 6, 2024

CHICAGO — Kevin Pillar wore a suit to the ballpark Saturday, and then he found his locker decorated with streamers and balloons.

It was all part of the celebration of the day he reached 10 years of major-league service, a threshold that only about 7% of major-leaguers reach.

“It’s important to me,” Pillar said. “I felt like it was an appropriate day to put a suit on and show up to the field and be proud of this accomplishment.”

Pillar, 35, did not get drafted out of Chaminade High in West Hills, and then he went to Cal State Dominguez Hills and was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 draft.

10 years! pic.twitter.com/FQT4t1kU8V

— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) July 6, 2024

Perry Minasian was a member of the Blue Jays’ front office when Pillar was drafted. As Angels general manager, Minasian brought Pillar back to the big leagues in late April, after he’d been released by the Chicago White Sox.

Minasian spoke during a team meeting to recognize Pillar’s accomplishment Saturday morning. Pillar then spoke, and manager Ron Washington said he gave a perfect message to the rest of the team.

“He made sure that everybody in there, especially the young guys, understand that you never know where your career is going to go and where it’s going to end,” Washington said. “During the time you have a career, cherish it and do everything you can get to get the best out of it. It was a class act. He gave a great speech.”

Before that, Pillar told reporters that he’s at peace with what he’s done in his career, which he doesn’t expect to continue beyond this season.

“I think this is it,” he said. “Pretty sure this is it.  I was pretty open and honest about that answer. I definitely came in this year. Individually wanting to accomplish things. Ten years being one of them, a couple of statistical accomplishments.

“But it’s been an unbelievable journey to have accomplished so much in this game. My family sacrificed a lot over the last couple of years. I would never rule out continuing to play, but I definitely want to have the mindset that, if this is it, I was going to enjoy every single day, the good, the bad, the ugly, the successes, the failures. Just really dive all in and enjoy whatever happened.”

Pillar has given the Angels more than they could have asked on the field, hitting .299 with six homers and an .867 OPS.

Now, as the Angels approach the July 30 trade deadline, it’s possible that a contender could have a spot for him. Although the Angels wouldn’t expect to get a top prospect back for Pillar, Minasian likely wouldn’t stand in the way of Pillar having an opportunity for one last playoff run.

Otherwise, the Angels would be happy to keep Pillar because of the influence he has on the young players.

“His presence here has meant more to us than his performance and his performance has been pretty good,” Washington said. “It’s just his presence has made a big difference. With us having a young club, you need to understand how he got where he is, and the struggles it took to get where he is.”

NOTES

Infielder Luis Rengifo is set to see a hand specialist when the Angels return home. Even though he’s been placed on the injured list with what the team has called wrist inflammation, apparently the holiday weekend has complicated the process of getting a more specific diagnosis. …

Third baseman Anthony Rendon came out of his first day of facing live pitching with no physical problems, but his timing was understandably off, Washington said. Rendon is set to hit again Saturday. “Maybe him taking those at-bats will tell him something,” Washington said with a smile. The Angels would like Rendon to do a rehab assignment, but players must consent to do that, and Rendon apparently believes facing minor-league pitchers at Angel Stadium will be sufficient. …

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Washington wanted the Angels to skip on-field batting practice for all three of the games in Chicago – all day games – because he felt the team needed a mental break. However, hitting coach Johnny Washington disagreed, so the manager relented and the Angels had batting practice.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP José Soriano, 4-6, 3.77) at Cubs (RHP Hayden Wesneski, 2-5, 4.14) at Wrigley Field, 11:20 a.m. PT Sunday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.

​ Orange County Register 

Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson among 3 killed in car accident

• July 6, 2024

Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson has died in an car accident in his hometown of Upper Marlboro, Md.

The fatal crash occurred shortly after 3:14 a.m. Saturday in Prince George’s County, according to Maryland State Police, and Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jackson, 24, was in the front passenger seat of a Dodge Charger that was struck by an Infiniti Q50 attempting to change lanes at high speed, the police said. The collision sent the Dodge off the right side of the roadway, where it struck tree stumps.

The crash also claimed the life of Jackson’s friends Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton Jr., 24.  Hazel, the Dodge’s driver, was  pronounced dead at the scene, and Lytton was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The driver of the Infiniti was unharmed, as were the occupants of another car involved in the crash. The preliminary investigation suggests alcohol may have played a role in the fatal crash and charges are pending.

Hazel played college football at Maryland and Charlotte, and Lytton played at Florida State and Penn State. The three won state championships together at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Maryland, according to On3.com.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Khyree’s passing,” Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement. “Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player, and it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives.”

Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft — another highlight on an incredible journey that spoke to his resilience as a person.

Khyree Jackson, then a defensive back with Oregon, poses at the NFL Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Doug Benc / Associated Press for the NFL)

After stepping away from football as a teenager, he returned home and worked at a grocery store before eventually returning to the game he loved. He steadily worked his way up the ranks from there and ended up at the highest level with the Vikings.

“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”

The winding road that was Jackson’s collegiate career featured stops at Arizona Western College, Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, East Mississippi Community College, the University of Alabama, and finally, the University of Oregon. He finished last season with 34 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions and 7 pass breakups on his way to being named first-team All-Pac-12.

The infectious demeanor with which Jackson carried himself drew the Vikings to him throughout the predraft process. It ultimately led to them selecting him with the No. 108 pick.

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​ Orange County Register 

Man dead after being hit by 2 cars in Huntington Beach

• July 6, 2024

A 55-year-old man said to be jaywalking near a major intersection in Huntington Beach died after he was hit by two cars Friday night, July 5, authorities said.

Huntington Beach police were called to the area of Warner Avenue and Beach Boulevard about 10 p.m. and found the man in the roadway, HBPD spokeswoman Jessica Cuchilla said. He died at a hospital.

Police learned the man, a Huntington Beach resident, was crossing Warner Avenue west of Beach Boulevard and was outside a crosswalk when he was hit by a Lexus sedan in the right eastbound lane, Cuchilla said. The man was then hit by a Ford sedan in the middle lane moments later.

The drivers of both cars stayed and cooperated with investigators, Cuchilla said. Neither driver was believed to be driving impaired and no arrests were made.

The identity of the pedestrian was withheld by police pending notification of his relatives.

The crash was the second in Huntington Beach in two days. On the Fourth of July, a 27-year-old West Covina woman riding a motorcycle died in a crash with a pickup truck and a car along Pacific Coast Highway.

The woman was traveling westbound and making a lane change when she lost control and collided with the pickup truck in the left lane and the car in the middle lane just east of Coral Cay Lane, Cuchilla said Friday. The crash occurred about 11 a.m. Thursday.

The woman later died at a hospital, the spokeswoman said. Whether impairment factored into the crash was not known.

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Tour de France: Biniam Girmay wins his second stage

• July 6, 2024

COLOMBEY-LES-DEUX-EGLISES, France — Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay won a second stage at the Tour de France when he edged a closing sprint on Saturday.

Two-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar kept the yellow jersey.

Girmay, who became the first Black rider to win a Tour stage this week, timed his effort perfectly at the end of the long stretch of road leading to the finish of Stage 8.

The false flat finish suited his style, and he made the most of it to beat Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie, extending his lead at the top of the ranking for the best sprinter.

The stage finished in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, the home and final resting place of the late Charles de Gaulle. The former French President launched the French Resistance from a base in London and along with the Allies liberated France from the Nazis in 1944.

There was no major change in the general classification. Pogacar kept a 33-second lead over Remco Evenepoel, and two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard was in third place, lagging 1:15 behind.

The stage started with a high-octane pace as three riders — Neilson Powless, Stefan Bissegger, Jonas Abrahamsen — immediately jumped out of the peloton to open a 30-second gap at the front.

Despite having two men in the breakaway, EF Education-EasyPost riders later attacked from the main pack on hilly, wet roads and a group including Mark Cavendish got dropped.

Chasing points in the best climber’s classification, Abrahamsen went solo to the top of the Cote de Vitteaux and added more points on the slopes of the Cote de Verrey-sous-Salmaise and the following hills to further cement his polka dot jersey.

Helped by his teammates, Cavendish later merged with the yellow jersey group while Bissegger and Powless sat up. Meanwhile, Abrahamsen kept pushing hard on the pedals to increase his lead.

The pace of the peloton picked up in the second half of the stage and Abrahamsen’s long solo effort was brought to an end by the chase about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the finish before sprinters took center stage.

There’s a tough stage on Sunday that takes the riders on a nearly 200-kilometre (124-mile) trek through the dust of the gravel roads near the Champagne city of Troyes. There will be 14 sections of so-called white roads — including six in the stage finale — that have become a trademark of Italy’s Strade Bianche.

Girmay also made history in Italy two years ago when he won a stage at the Giro d’Italia to become the first Black African to take a victory in a Grand Tour. But Girmay’s Giro victory was marred when he was rushed to a hospital after getting hit in the left eye by a prosecco cork he popped open during the podium celebration — forcing him to abandon the race.

Also in 2022, Girmay became the first rider from a sub-Saharan country to win a single-day classic at the Gent-Wevelgem race.

Riders from only one other African country — South Africa — have won Tour stages: Robert Hunter (2007) and Daryl Impey (2019). Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome was born and raised in Kenya but represented Britain.

​ Orange County Register 

Sparks look to maintain confidence against Mercury

• July 6, 2024

LOS ANGELES — The Sparks have found a recipe for success against one of the elite teams in the WNBA.

That stems from avoiding a franchise-record nine-game losing streak with a rousing 98-93 overtime victory against the Aces on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

“This league is interesting, there’s just matchups of some teams that you match up better than others,” Sparks coach Curt Miller Miller said. “There’s a confidence in our locker room.”

Miller appreciates his team’s newfound confidence and believes it will remain for the next four games before the league’s Olympic Break in three weeks (July 21-Aug. 14).

The Sparks (5-15), who lost both games to the Mercury this season in Phoenix, will have an opportunity for redemption Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena.

“We just have an opportunity to continue to get better and better,” Miller said.

In their last matchup with Phoenix, the Sparks suffered a 92-78 loss. After leading 45-44 at halftime, they were not able to withstand the Mercury’s second-half surge and Diana Taurasi’s 3-pointer shooting prowess.

The Sparks’ unsung hero of late has been Stephanie Talbot. The veteran forward finished with 13 points, five rebounds and a season-high nine assists Friday in her third start in place of rookie forward Cameron Brink, who is lost for the season with a torn ACL. Talbot is coming off her own ACL injury that forced her to miss last season.

“It doesn’t get talked about, but Steph Talbot is a really good passer,” Miller added.

On Friday night, Talbot hit a game-tying and overtime-forcing shot with less than four seconds left, propelling the Sparks’ emotional win against the two-time defending WNBA champions.

“Steph (Talbot) is so underrated,” Sparks guard Aari McDonald said, who dropped a career-high 23 points on the Aces. “She’s been playing her butt off since entering the starting lineup. She’s been the glue that we needed keeping us together, staying composed and just doing the little things that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet (Friday night) and I’m just proud of her.”

Dearica Hamby’s emboldened play, with 28 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, rubbed off on her Sparks teammates Friday night.

“Staying together, low turnovers, executing, knocking down open shots,” Sparks rookie forward Rickea Jackson said. “I felt like we played with a lot of grit (Friday night).”

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Hamby is halfway through the best season in her career, averaging 18.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists. On Tuesday, she earned her first All-Star nod since being traded by the Aces while pregnant before last season.

Since the trade, the 10-year veteran has played all 60 games for the Sparks, the only player who has not missed a game since Miller took over.

MERCURY (10-10) AT SPARKS (5-15)

When: 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV: Spectrum SportsNet

​ Orange County Register