Short-handed Sparks fall back to .500 with loss to Lynx

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — A depleted Sparks team blew a 12-point first-half lead and lost to the Minnesota Lynx, 77-72, on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Jordin Canada led the Sparks with a career-high 22 points to go with five assists, and Dearica Hamby added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks’ leading scorer this season, struggled to find a rhythm, scoring just eight points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field to go with five rebounds and seven assists.

Napheesa Collier had 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting and six rebounds to pace the Lynx, who had rallied to beat the Sparks, 91-86, on Sunday in Minnesota. Kayla McBride added 16 points and five rebounds.

“Some of the same stuff that bothered us in Minnesota continued to bother us and that’s the frustrating part,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said. “We tried to get a few things corrected and the same few things bothered us again.”

This time, the Lynx went on a 10-2 run to take a 63-57 lead early in the fourth quarter. With just under 50 seconds left, Ogwumike made a layup to bring the Sparks within two points at 74-72.

On the ensuing possession, Lynx forward Dorka Juhász was fouled on a layup attempt, but she made just one of two free throws. Ogwumike missed a two-point jumper with 23.5 seconds left and Minnesota iced the win with free throws.

The Sparks came into Friday night’s game with a litany of injuries. Four players were ruled out, which forced the Sparks to sign guard Destanni Henderson to an emergency hardship contract on Friday morning.

Despite the injuries, Miller said there were no excuses heading into the rematch with the Lynx.

“What we talked about is no one’s gonna feel sorry for us, we’re not the only ones in this league right now with a lengthy injury list and an injury report,” Miller said.

The Sparks’ first half was highlighted by an exceptional hustle play in the second quarter.

With just over four minutes left in the half, Canada stole a pass near midcourt, but she missed the ensuing layup and fell to the court in the process.

As the shot came off the basket, it took a high bounce and was headed out of bounds before the seated Canada pushed herself off the floor with her left hand and, while falling backward, used her right hand to reach and tip the ball to Ogwumike. Ogumike quickly wrapped a no-look pass around a Minnesota defender to Hamby, who converted the layup that had the arena buzzing.

Incredible hockey assist from Jordin Canada pic.twitter.com/uRhtGuUFg4

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 17, 2023

The Sparks led 43-34 going into the halftime break.

The Sparks came out of the halftime break flat, allowing Minnesota to go on a 16-9 run to start the third quarter. The Sparks allowed the Lynx to shoot 62.5% from the field in the third quarter and went into the fourth trailing, 58-57.

Miller attributed the team’s second-half struggles to breakdowns on the defensive end.

“We just had breakdowns tonight … at times we did not execute the coverages that we were in,” Miller said.

With the thin backcourt, Canada played all 40 minutes. Miller said he felt like the way the Lynx chose to defend Canada was “insulting,” but Canada said she does not have anything to prove.

“As you can see with the boxscore, I’ve had some good games against them. … So I don’t really feel like I was insulted,” Canada said. “I don’t really care what other teams do against me or how they decide to guard me. I’m very comfortable, confident in my abilities.”

The Sparks (5-5) continue their homestand against the Connecticut Sun (8-3) on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Minnesota (3-7) plays at Las Vegas on Sunday before returning to Los Angeles for a third matchup with the Sparks on Tuesday night.

Hamby said the team must move on and get ready for another tough matchup against the Sun.

“We gotta get up in the morning and focus on Connecticut,” Hamby said. “There’s no time to sulk and be down about this game. We just have to keep going.”

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Alexander: With U.S. Open lead, Rickie Fowler’s struggles seem to be behind him

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Did we all forget about Rickie Fowler? Maybe he’s jogging some memories this weekend.

He came bursting onto the golf scene more than a decade ago, the dynamic amateur from Murrieta who became a collegiate star at Oklahoma State and then was anointed as the Next Big Thing on the PGA Tour, a mixture of youthful flamboyance and old-school skills, and a willing – if, OK, sometimes leaden – pitchman in TV commercials.

This might be hard to believe, but Rickie is 34 years old, married with a 1-year-old daughter, and still looking for his first victory in a major in his 47th try over 13 years.

Could this be his moment?

Fowler savaged the L.A. Country Club’s North Course on Day 1 of the 123rd U.S. Open on Thursday, becoming the first player in Open history to shoot a 62 (Xander Schauffele, a couple of groups later, became the second).

They had the advantage of teeing off early Thursday. On Friday, with some fiendish pin placements on the part of the USGA along with sunnier, windier conditions that made the course more challenging for those with afternoon tee times, Fowler started his round with three straight birdies, moving to 11-under, then played rope-a-dope with the course for the rest of the round and still came out of it with a 68 that gave him a share of the event’s 36-hole record and a one-stroke lead at 10-under. Wyndham Clark is alone in second place and Schauffele and Rory McIlroy are both two strokes back.

Rickie’s ledger for the day: Eight birdies, six bogeys, three pars. It was quite the roller-coaster, and in a sense, this might have been an even more impressive round than the 62. He stared down adversity and responded positively rather than allowing it to distract him, a sign of maturity.

“Felt like the greens might have been a little slower,” he said. “And then there was areas where they were putting pins in a little bit more slope or pitch, so (I was) going up some pretty steep areas. It was tough to get yourself to hit it hard enough, and then you obviously don’t want to blow it by and have something that’s downhill, a slider. We’ll try and clean some of that up.”

Fowler has had big moments in the spotlight before, just not recently.

In 2014 he had top-five finishes in all four majors, including ties for second at the U.S. Open and British Open, a tie for third at the PGA and a tie for fifth at the Masters. In 2018 he finished second at Augusta to Patrick Reed, one shot behind, after making a late charge.

But the last few years have been difficult. His last tour victory was the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open. He slipped from 19th in the PGA Tour’s FedEx rankings in 2019 to 94th, 134th and 133rd the last three years, and a guy who was at one point No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings had plunged to 103rd by the end of 2022.

He changed caddies, splitting with Joe Skovron after a dozen years together and hiring Ricky Romano, a former University of Houston player who, like Rickie, attended Murrieta Valley High. He also split with his swing coach, John Tillery, and enlisted legendary instructor Butch Harmon to work with him again.

Notably, Fowler mentioned both Tillery and Skovron among the people who had helped keep him going through the struggles, along with his wife Allison and daughter Maya, as well as family, friends and fellow players like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

“Knowing that everything other than golf was great, it was tough because golf was kind of the only thing that was not in place,” Fowler said. “Yeah, it was a grind, but to be back in here talking to you guys for a couple days, it feels great. This is where I want to be. It’s nice to be back in here.”

He is 45th in the world rankings this week, and among the signs that his career is on the upswing again: 17 events this season, two missed cuts, six top-10 finishes, 12 top-25 finishes and No. 25 in the FedEx standings.

And lest you think golf fans had forgotten about him, the roar after he birdied 17 to go back to 10-under on Friday should have disabused anyone of that notion. Or the “Rickie! Rickie!” shouts from the autograph signing area after he came out of his interview session.

Just because you’re on a roll doesn’t guarantee anything, of course.

“It can get taken away very quickly,” he said. “Anyone that plays this game at all (knows), you never know.”

But, asked what his overriding emotion has been after coming out on the other side of those struggles, he said:

“Definitely appreciation, gratitude, knowing it’s a very humbling sport. Yeah, and there is some relief that three years is behind us, but, like I said, appreciate the good times because you never know when things are going to go south.”

He feels he’s in a better spot now, maybe because of those struggles and also because he has the wisdom that comes with maturity to better be able to handle them.

“I really haven’t, I feel like, played to my capabilities yet,” he said. “Knowing what I’ve been able to salvage and still get some solid finishes and putting myself in contention, I just feel like I’m getting older, so I’m more mature.

“I do feel like I’m in a better position with my game now than I was back then … I have a better understanding of everything. I know more about my swing, myself, my mental approach, and I would say having a family now and a great support group around us, I just feel like I have a lot more going for me than I did then.”

The next two days represent his opportunity to demonstrate that to the golf world.

[email protected]

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy hopes look into past helps yield a title this weekend

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — As part of his preparation for this week’s U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy went on YouTube and looked back at his 2014 British Open win at Hoylake.

As he watched McIlroy said he couldn’t believe many irons and 3-woods he hit off the tee in winning that tournament and it reminded him that part of his success has been his ability to play smart, knowing when to press and when to play safe and not be too aggressive when it’s not needed.

“I’ve gone through periods over the last few years where I haven’t been patient enough and I’ve taken on too much,” McIlroy said after shooting a 3-under-par 67 in the second round on Friday. “But I think we’ve had some tests recently where you have to display patience, and hopefully those few experiences recently will help me this weekend.”

McIlroy figures to need plenty of patience over the next two days if he hopes to be the one hoisting the trophy on Sunday. Sitting at 8 under through 36 holes, McIlroy finds himself in a great position, just two strokes behind Rickie Fowler. The Murrieta native backed up his record-setting first-round 62 with a 2-under 68 on Friday, leaving him alone atop the leaderboard at 10-under 130. Sitting between Fowler and McIlroy is Wyndham Clark who posted a 3-under 67 on Friday to leave him at 9 under. First-round co-leader Xander Schauffele posted an even-par 70, leaving him tied for third with McIlroy.

Not to be overlooked was Dustin Johnson, the two-time major champion who made a quadruple-bogey 8 on his second hole with six bad shots, one penalty and a tap-in. The man with golf’s shortest memory rebounded quickly and still shot 70, leaving him four shots behind and very much in the mix going into the weekend.

Through the first two days, McIlroy has done the majority of his damage on the front nine. McIlroy is 10 under on the front nine through 36 holes and 2 over on the back nine.

“The front nine gives you some scoring opportunities and some wedges in your hand, a couple of par-5s, (driveable) sixth hole,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, the back nine is just a lot tougher. Those last three holes, 16, 17, 18, are playing tough even if it is pretty benign conditions out there. It feels like a sort of golf course where you try to make your score on the front and then try to hang on on the back.”

This is the first major of the year in which McIlroy has played well enough over the first two days to give himself a legitimate chance to chase down the title over the final 36 holes. Among those at or near the top of the leaderboard, McIlroy has by far the strongest championship pedigree. This is the sixth time he has been 8 under or lower going into the weekend at a major, and he won three of those previous five. He believes that experience will be crucial for him over the coming days.

“Every major championship and every venue is different. You just have to play what the course gives you,” McIlroy said. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball well. I’ve hit it well off the tee. I felt like coming into this week that was going to be a key for me – if I could put the ball in play. You can play from there and create some scoring opportunities. That’s really my game plan over the next couple days. Put the ball in play off the tee, and I think I’ll be just fine from there.”

While McIlroy is trying to regain his major magic, the 29-year-old Clark is looking to break through for his first major. Earlier this year, the former University of Oregon standout broke through for his maiden PGA Tour title with a four-stroke victory over Schauffele and an elite field at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. The win moved the Colorado native inside the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking and earned him a third U.S. Open start.

Despite being a highly decorated amateur player, Clark hasn’t had great success since turning pro, so before the start of this season he made some significant changes that he believes have had a positive effect on his performance.

His first change was to his equipment, where he made an adjustment to the lie angles of his clubs. He adjusted his irons 3 degrees upright from being relatively flat to more upright and since has struck the ball more consistently.

But the biggest change was to take ownership of his golf swing, basically becoming his own swing coach with a little assistance from his caddie.

“Myself and my caddie pretty much monitor my golf swing,” Clark said. “I don’t have a swing coach. That’s helped me own my swing and own my game. And so, when I’m out there, if it doesn’t feel right, I at least know what to do. I think in the past I was too reliant on someone telling me what to do that I didn’t own it. So, I would just say those are probably the three main differences.”

The formula has worked well through the first two rounds this week, with Clark having posted rounds of 64-67, earning him a spot in the final group on Saturday. Part of his preparation was to play a practice round with longtime friend P.J. Fielding, who is a member at LACC.

Fielding and Clark have played several pro-scratch tournaments together and when Clark comes to Los Angeles they hang out. Clark asked him if he would caddie for him during a practice round and he agreed to share his insights on the course.

“He had some really good insights on putts and speeds of putts and also how the fairways when they get really firm, they do this and you’ve got to be here and lines off the tee,” Clark said. “That 18 holes was the equivalent of probably playing 27 to 36 because I was able to – he was telling me how certain putts – how they break, how this one is faster than this, this plays this way. If you’re here, you want to go – he was spot on. So, when I left that practice round on Tuesday, I felt like I could have come here and not even played a practice round. I felt like it was that in-depth.”

Before each round, Clark gives himself three mini-goals to help keep himself a little more focused. He said his first goal was to enjoy playing at a beautiful golf course.

“Second was to be cocky out there and third was remind myself of the first two,” Clark said. “Those were honestly my three goals, and I thought if I could do that and keep myself in the best mindset, that the golf would take care of itself.”

He said the up and down he made on 14 helped him accomplish his goal of feeling cocky because it was a tough shot, and it allowed him to make birdie.

“As the front nine, I started leaking a little bit of oil and was grinding to make pars and even made a bogey,” he said. “I kept reminding myself, hey, let’s get back to that cocky player, and I hit a great shot on six. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the putt. Then a really good up and down on seven and a birdie on eight, so I kind of brought that cockiness back.”

It’s been nine years since McIlroy won his last major. It’s a statistic that no one needs to remind him of. The 34-year-old from Northern Ireland is more than aware of his ongoing title drought.

“No one wants me to win another major more than I do,” McIlroy said. “The desire is obviously there. I’ve been trying and I’ve come close over the past nine years or whatever it is, and I keep coming back. I feel like I’ve showed a lot of resilience in my career, a lot of ups and downs, and I keep coming back. And whether that means that I get rewarded or I get punched in the gut or whatever it is, I’ll always keep coming back.”

McIlroy didn’t envision such low scoring, including his opening 65, which he attributed to cloud cover, condensation and receptive greens.

“The conditions now, it’s a little brighter, sunnier, a little bit of breeze. It’s got the potential to get a little firmer and faster over the next couple days, which will make the scores go up a little bit,” McIlroy said. “We’ll see what it’s like at the end of the week.

“Yes, the course has played maybe a little easier than everyone thought it would, but wouldn’t be surprised on Saturday, Sunday to see it bite back,” McIlroy said. “It should be tough. It should be just as much of a mental grind out there as a physical one.”

Harris English also shot 30 on the front nine to finish off his 66, leaving him at 7-under 133.

“They can get them as firm and fast as they want and put those pins in some tough spots. It’s going to be fun,” English said. “The rough is still going to be penal. I think everybody is going to get the U.S. Open they’ve been wanting to see.”

The low round Friday belonged to Min Woo Lee, whose 65 left him tied with Johnson at 6-under 134.

Scottie Scheffler was among those five behind.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Patrick Sandoval ends personal losing streak, keeps Angels winning

• June 17, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Patrick Sandoval has endured a disappointing start to his season, one of the issues he faced was that the new pitch timer didn’t always allow him to get the pitch call that he wanted.

So he eliminated that problem by using PitchCom to call his own pitches for the first time, on his way to a seven-inning performance in the Angels’ 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, snapping his five-game losing streak.

“There were a couple times,” when Sandoval felt rushed or didn’t have time to get to the pitch he wanted, he said. “I wanted to eliminate that completely. I think it helped a lot.”

Angels starters Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Anderson also call their own games, and Sandoval said he will continue doing it.

Sandoval brought a 4.52 ERA into Friday’s start, which was a disappointment after he had a 3.17 ERA over the previous two seasons combined. Over his previous five starts, he had a 6.08 ERA and the Angels had lost every game.

His previous outing was one of the Angels’ two losses in their previous 12 games, a hot streak that brought their record to 40-32. The Angels are now tied with both the Houston Astros and New York Yankees for a wild-card spot, and they are just 3½ games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West.

If the Angels are going to keep up this pace, they’ll need to see the Sandoval they have come to expect.

“It’s huge,” Manager Phil Nevin said. “For where we want to go, Sandy’s a big key to this whole deal. I love the way he commanded the ball today.”

Although this outing requires the disclaimer that the Royals (18-51) are one of the worst offensive teams in the majors and have now lost 10 straight, Sandoval nonetheless did what he needed to do.

He gave up four hits and he walked four, striking out six. In the first and fifth innings, he allowed the first two batters to reach before getting a double play.

By pitching seven innings, Sandoval was able to give most of the Angels’ overworked bullpen the night off. Rookie right-hander Sam Bachman handled the final two innings, picking up his first major league save.

Sandoval and Bachman didn’t have much cushion because the Angels did little with their nine hits and five walks. They were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Brandon Drury drove in two of the runs with a single in the first and a double in the sixth. Matt Thaiss drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. Ohtani doubled and drew two walks, while Mike Trout singled and walked.

The Angels also had two potential big innings scuttled by outs on the bases early in the game.

In the first, they had runners at first and third with one out when Drury took off from first on the 3-and-2 pitch to Thaiss. Thaiss took a third strike and Drury was thrown out. In the third, Mickey Moniak took off from second too early when he was running on a pitch, and he was easily tagged out going to third.

“Wasn’t our best game offensively,” Nevin said. “We made some mistakes on the bases, left some out there if you will. But overall, I thought Sandy was great, kept us in that one, and really gave our bullpen a rest.”

Sandoval also helped prevent what Nevin acknowledged could have been a spot for a letdown after the emotions of winning a series in Texas against the first-place Rangers.

“I gotta be honest with you, it was in the back of my mind,” Nevin said. “It’s an easy let-up game today. Just different atmospheres. I’m not taking anything away from (the Royals). This is major leagues. You’ve got to win them all, but  where we came from the last couple series. You know you can have a letdown game sometimes. This is one of those that probably sticks out for you. But I thought we answered well.”

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Emmet Sheehan is latest rookie starter to join Dodgers’ youth movement

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wondered aloud when the team last had as many young arms in their starting rotation as they did on Friday, when Emmet Sheehan was promoted from Double-A Tulsa to start against the San Francisco Giants.

The answer: 2016, Roberts’ first season as manager, when Julio Urías, Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart and Jose DeLeon all got their first major league call-ups. Kenta Maeda – technically a rookie at age 27 – led that year’s staff in innings and starts.

Sheehan, 23, became the Dodgers’ third rookie starter to make his major league debut since the beginning of this season, joining 24-year-olds Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller. And while the blonde-haired right-hander never made a start at Triple-A prior to his debut, the Dodgers felt better about promoting Sheehan than deploying a bullpen game against the Giants one day after an 11-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox.

“Not to take anything away from Triple-A, but I would argue the Double-A talent is just like Triple-A now,” Roberts said. “Organizations are promoting a lot more younger players these days. Certainly, the Triple-A player is more advanced experience-wise. Our Double-A staff this year was as talented as any staff around in baseball.”

Sheehan was 4-1 in 12 games (10 starts) this season with a 1.86 ERA. The Dodgers’ sixth-round draft pick in 2021 out of Boston College, he struck out 88 batters and walked 23 in 53⅓ innings.

The Dodgers promoted Michael Grove directly from Double-A Tulsa to make his major league debut in 2022. Coincidentally, Grove was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Sheehan on the active roster.

“I think you learn different things at each level,” Grove said. “Obviously every pitching coach is different. The message is the same, but guys have different ways they go about it. Double-A, I feel like, is more about developing your arsenal. Triple-A is more learning how to pitch, I would say. … Against the best hitters in the world, you have to have good stuff and know how to pitch.”

If Sheehan clears that bar, his time in the rotation could last beyond one start. Roberts said “it looks like” he will get at least two turns through the rotation no matter what, setting the stage for Sheehan to start again next week against the Angels or the Houston Astros.

Injuries to Urías and Dustin May have forced the Dodgers to scramble to fill two of their five rotation spots this month. On Thursday, Roberts said the Dodgers planned to throw a bullpen game at the Giants. Along with Sheehan’s potential, the element of surprise could not be ignored.

In April 2016, Stripling made his debut in San Francisco and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Giants.

“This is an opportunity for young guys to show they can pitch at this level,” Roberts said. “We’re trying to find innings and win ball games right now. It’s more of, who can help us right now and develop on the fly?”

MUNCY LANDS ON INJURED LIST

The hamstring injury that knocked Max Muncy out of the Dodgers’ series against the Chicago White Sox will keep him out of the lineup for another week. Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday and Michael Busch was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Muncy can be activated as early as next Friday’s game against the Astros. Roberts said Muncy is able to hit, but the third baseman has been unable to run at full speed since suffering the injury on Sunday.

Chris Taylor started at third base against the Giants and will share time at the position with Busch going forward. Busch is batting .211 (4 for 19) in seven games with the Dodgers and .313 in 45 games with Oklahoma City.

UP NEXT

San Francisco Giants (LHP Alex Wood, 1-1, 4.80 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Bobby Miller, 3-0, 0.78  ERA), Saturday, 6 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

VA Loma Linda whistleblowers mount, probe widens into harassment allegations

• June 17, 2023

Several VA Loma Linda Healthcare System whistleblowers have come forward with new allegations of retaliation, harassment and hostile working conditions amid a widening investigation by the House Veterans Affairs Committee, according to a lawmaker.

On Friday, committee member U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, met behind closed doors with VA Loma Linda’s interim director Bryan Arnette, and other officials to discuss the whistleblower complaints and map out needed changes.

“Sometimes in federal government … we can create a workplace environment that is tolerant of people that don’t follow the rules,” Obernolte said during a press briefing following the meetings without offering specific details about what was discussed. “We want to make sure that doesn’t occur.”

Separately, staff members from the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations met with whistleblowers at an undisclosed location to review their complaints that suggest systematic failures by the federal government to address problems at VA Loma Linda.

Obernolte declined to disclose the specific nature of the confidential whistleblower allegations.

Additionally, the second-term House member said he is unsure if the allegations are related to VA Loma Linda Director Karandeep Sraon’s transfer in March to the VA’s Desert Pacific Healthcare Network in Long Beach.

VA Loma Linda said in a statement Friday that team members “were incredibly proud” to show Obernolte how it takes care of veterans and employees.

The facility is “actively taking steps to invest in VA employees” and welcomes the opportunity to discuss workplace concerns.

“Our aim is always to ensure a safe, harassment-free environment in a culture where all employees and guests are treated with dignity and respect,” the statement said.

Visit follows federal investigation

Obernolte’s visit follows a Southern California News Group report in May that revealed a 2021 federal investigation found that a VA Loma Linda manager frequently used racial slurs, required workers to buy him food and drive him to and from work, and then punished those who refused his demands with bad assignments.

However, instead of being terminated for creating a hostile work environment, the manager — identified by multiple sources as grounds department supervisor Martin Robles — was inexplicably promoted.

“There were numerous instances where inappropriate language and racial slurs were used which appears to be a common practice,” a Veterans Administration investigative board said in a heavily redacted 61-page report obtained by the Southern California News Group. “Inappropriate and discriminatory hiring practices were found, which have contributed to the lack of trust, poor morale, and fractured culture.”

The Administrative Investigation Board recommended Robles be removed from employment because of “overwhelming evidence to support that the supervisor was intimidating, exhibited bullying behavior, threatening behavior, and contributed to a hostile work environment,” said a source familiar with the probe.

The AIB investigation, which began on Dec. 9, 2020, and concluded the week of Jan. 11, 2021, included 57 hours of testimony from 36 witnesses and 4,000 pages of exhibits.

Robles also was the focus of two other VA Loma Linda investigations in 2020 and 2022 that substantiated allegations he fostered a hostile work environment. Details of those two investigations were not immediately available.

About a month after the 2021 probe wrapped up, Robles was given increased management responsibilities at VA Loma Linda. His salary in 2022 was $75,000.

Past troubles

The controversy involving Robles is the latest in a string of troubling incidents involving VA Loma Linda employees.

The VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, which includes the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center and several clinics, made headlines in 2019 when it was discovered that a manager had been convicted of murder.

Then, in 2021, a federal judge reprimanded Chief of Staff Dr. Franklin Sechriest for failing to obtain treatment for his mentally ill son, allowing him to amass a small arsenal before torching a Texas synagogue.

The AIB also determined VA Loma Linda’s maintenance and operations chief, David J. Grzechowiak, ignored evidence of Robles’ misconduct and failed to hold him accountable.

“The board found there has been a long-standing mismanagement and acceptance of behaviors which have continued to perpetuate over time and which have built a culture within that could be described as dysfunctional, toxic, and demoralizing,” the AIB report says.

Appropriate administrative actions have been taken as a result of the AIB investigation, VA Loma Linda’s associate director of resources, Maria T. Nguyen, said in a June 14, 2021, memo to Facilities Management Services employees.

The Southern California News Group obtained more than a dozen emails and complaints filed with the VA over five years, all detailing Robles’ troubling interactions with employees.

Ryan Joseph Sperry, a former Marine and VA Loma Linda irrigation technician from Moreno Valley who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependency, documented many of Robles’ indiscretions.

Sperry was 43 when he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Aug. 9, 2022.

Committee investigating suicide

The House Veterans Affairs Committee is investigating whether Sperry’s’ suicide is employment-related and has demanded that the VA explain why Robles has been allowed to keep his job.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis Richard McDonough sent Obernolte a letter Friday offering an explanation.

“In the case of the Loma Linda supervisor, the AIB report recommended the employee’s removal,” McDonough said in the letter. “After careful consideration of all the available information as well as consultation with the Office of General Counsel, however, management decided that a different penalty was more appropriate. The employee received an administrative action.”

Robles continues to be monitored by VA Loma Linda management, who purportedly have not received any new allegations of retaliation or hostile work environment.

Under the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act signed into law in 2017, the VA was given expanded authority to fire employees at all levels, shorten the removal process, and ensure terminated workers are not kept on the agency’s payroll while appealing that decision

It also made it easier for the VA to remove poor-performing senior executives and replace them with qualified candidates. The law also established the VA’s Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.

However, as of April 3, the VA has stopped using the Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, following an Office of Inspector General report that says the law has “floundered.”

Meanwhile, Obernolte said that while McDonough’s letter answered some questions, the VA secretary did not respond as to whether he would want to be personally supervised by a manager who has behaved so poorly.

“That illustrates the heart of the argument that we are making,” he said. “We do not want to create a work environment that drives away the quality people that we need to care for our veterans.”

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

U.S. Open notes: Sam Bennett showing off his major form again

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Another major, another weekend in contention for defending United States amateur champion SamBennett. The former Texas A&M standout posted his second straight round in the 60s on Friday (67-68), leaving him at 5 under and in prime contention to challenge for the U.S. Open title this weekend at Los Angeles Country Club.

Bennett’s strong play over the first 36 holes at LACC is very similar to what he did in April with his spectacular play in the Masters. After 36 holes at Augusta, Bennett was third, becoming the first amateur to shoot two rounds in the 60s since 1961. While he struggled a bit over the final 36 holes.

Bennett finished in a tie for 16th, the best amateur finish at the Masters since Ryan Moore in 2005. Bennett, who turned professional in May and will compete full-time on the Korn Ferry Tour next season, said through the first two rounds played solid from tee to green.

“Drove the ball in play and then hit a lot of quality iron shots and got a lot of looks,” Bennett said. “Made some good saves from par. I’m leaving a few out there on the greens, but yeah, I’m just ball-striking this course to death.”

Asked about how he’s been able to step up his game to compete with the world’s best golfers. Bennett was philosophical.

“It’s just golf. Yeah, there’s people out here and the courses are tough, but you do the same thing to try to always try to focus on,” Bennett said. “Just tee it in play, which I tend to drive it well. I mean, it’s tough. It’s getting tough out there. The greens are getting a little more bouncy and a little faster, but I just love the challenge.”

ACES WILD

For the second straight day, the short par-3 15th hole was the site of a hole-in-one, this one by defending U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick used a sand wedge to score the ace, which is his first hole-in-one as a professional and he is the first defending champion to return and make a hole-in-one as well.

“As soon as I hit it, I felt like it was a good number and a good distance, so I knew it was going to be in and around the hole,” Fitzpatrick said. “I didn’t expect it to go in, but, yeah, it was a pleasant surprise. My hand was a bit sore afterward, I’ll be honest, after all the high-fiving. But it was good.”

KOEPKA NOT LOVING LACC LAYOUT

Brooks Koepka has well-deserved recognition for thriving under extremely difficult conditions, conditions usually found in a U.S. Open. So, it’s no surprise that the two-time U.S. Open winner isn’t exactly thrilled with the low scores that have been shot at LACC through two rounds.

Asked what he thought the winning score at a U.S. Open should be, Koepka responded with “It should be around par.”

“I’m not a huge fan of this place. I’m not a huge fan of blind tee shots, and then I think there’s just some spots that no matter what you hit, the ball just ends up in the same spot,” Koepka said. “I think it would be more fun to play on just like a regular round than it would be a U.S. Open. I mean, there’s, what, two 8s (8-under par) yesterday. That doesn’t happen.”

Sitting at even par, Koepka was asked what it would take for him to get into contention over the next two days.

“I obviously have got to play two good rounds, so that’s something I have to do. But definitely would like to be further up from where I’m at. But it all depends on what happens today, whether the wind picks up, so who knows what those guys are going to get to.”

DJ’s QUAD

Dustin Johnson’s even-par 70 might not seem like a great score until you realize he accomplished that after making a quadruple bogey on the par-4 second hole. Johnson knocked his tee shot into a fairway bunker, blasted out into the rough and then hit his next shot into a hazard, leading to the eight.

“Chunked my bunker shot and then chunked the next one. Skulled the next one,” he said. “Everything that you could do wrong, I did wrong.”

He was asked if it is hard not to let a round unravel after having such a horrible time on a hole.

“Sometimes it is but today it wasn’t, though,” Johnson said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in the game and what I’m doing right now. It was nice obviously to come back and birdie the next hole. That definitely helped a little bit.”

Johnson, who tied for 48th at the Masters and 55th at the PGA Championship, is at 6 under for the tournament.

“I really feel like I’m swinging it really well, driving it good,” he said, “so looking forward to this weekend.”

BIRDIES AND BOGEYS

Rickie Fowler’s 10 birdies in the first round were the most birdies ever made in a single round in U.S. Open history. … Former UCLA standout and 1995 U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin took in the action at LACC over the last few days. Pavin said being around a U.S. Open brought back memories of his win in 1995 but he added he was happy not to be playing this week. … Masters champion Fred Couples showed up on Friday to catch some of the second-round action. Couples was seated right behind the first tee box for much of the day.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks, Saturday, June 17, 2023

• June 17, 2023

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Art Wilson, Terry Turrell and Eddie Wilson. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks

Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register