Grand Prix of Long Beach: Hunter-Reay, Hinchcliffe inducted into Walk of Fame

• April 14, 2023

LONG BEACH — Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe both experienced glory at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Thursday, they were rewarded in the most special way by being inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame in front of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue.

Halfway through the ceremony, it began to drizzle. It was an ironic twist of sorts because Hunter-Reay and his family were not able to make it to the event because of severe weather in Ford Lauderdale, Fla. that dropped some 26 inches of rain Wednesday, resulting in the cancellation of all flights out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

The induction acts as the bell-ringer for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will take place Friday through Sunday.

Hinchcliffe, 36, of Canada, won the Indy Lights race at Long Beach in 2010. He won the IndyCar main event there in 2017; he also took third in that race in 2012.

Hinchcliffe opened with a joke at the ceremony that included Mayor Rex Richardson and other dignitaries.

“This is a very, very special day for me certainly,” he said. “When I told my wife that I was getting indicted here in Long Beach … Sorry … no, no, no. She was quite happy for me. As I am thrilled.”

Once the laughs subsided, Hinchcliffe got serious. He talked about how, other than the Indianapolis 500, Long Beach is the race that drivers, teams and officials mark on their calendars.

“Sports is all about history and just walking down this pathway here (where the medallions of inductees are embedded in cement), you see some of the greatest names of the sport that have raced here, raced all over the world,” Hinchcliffe said.

“This city committing themselves to the greats of the sport like this, like in victory lane, having names and faces down in the victory circle there, I think it really shows how much the city gets behind it and we feel that as competitors and as members of the community of IndyCar.”

Hunter-Reay, 42, won the IndyCar race here in 2010 and was fifth in 2019. Hunter-Reay was also IndyCar series champion in 2012.

Jim Michaelian, CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, read some comments Hunter-Reay sent him Wednesday while he was at the airport ahead of his flight getting canceled.

“What an incredible honor it is to be inducted into the Grand Prix of Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame,” Hunter-Reay wrote. “I grew up watching this race, idolizing the winners, dreaming of one day having a chance to wrestle an IndyCar around this crown jewel of street circuits.”

Hunter-Reay, originally from Dallas, said he instantly fell in love with the track the first time he went around it.

“To this day, I can honestly say qualifying at Long Beach in a dialed-in Indy car were some of the best moments of my racing career,” he wrote. “In 2010, my victory here was the turning point in my career, a critical win which I dedicated to my mother Lydia, who had just recently passed away from cancer.”

Michaelian noted that Hunter-Reay also won the Indy 500 in 2014 and that although he is no longer driving full-time, he will be driving in the Indy 500, which he won in 2014, in May.

As for Hinchcliffe, he will be one of the commentators on Sunday’s NBC telecast.

Related links

Grand Prix of Long Beach: Graham Rahal still fighting for positive results
Grand Prix of Long Beach: Jim Michaelian thrilled about Historic F1 races

​ Orange County Register 

Grand Prix of Long Beach: Two-time winner Rossi offers insight into keys to victory

• April 14, 2023

LONG BEACH — Alexander Rossi won the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first driver to repeat since Sebastien Bourdais won three in a row from 2005-07.

Rossi this week held court on what the keys are to winning on the street course during a well-attended Zoom session.

IndyCar practice begins Friday, qualifying is Saturday with the main event is Sunday.

Rossi was asked about his secret to success on the famed street course. Initially, he said he wasn’t sure.

“I don’t have an answer for you,” said Rossi, 31, of Nevada City, Calif. “For me, it’s always an exciting event there, and Laguna (Seca). You know, it’s a home race in the sense that I’m from California. I always have a lot of friends and family turn out.

“I think … it kind of gives it a little bit of a subconscious boost and a little bit of extra motivation. We hear Josef (Newgarden) talk all the time about how much he would like to win Nashville, his home race. I think that sort of kind of exists.”

He offered some other insight.

“Beyond that, I’ve been fortunate to have good cars there and, yeah, I think it certainly is a track that suits my driving style,” Rossi said.

Rossi said it’s a little bit of everything. But he was cagey.

“If I had an answer for you, then I’d probably win every race,” he said. “But it’s not just one thing, it’s a combination of things working out to be in your favor.”

Where a driver qualifies for a race is a key ingredient to success. Perhaps more so in Long Beach, Rossi said.

“Qualifying’s very critical, but especially at Long Beach because the way it works out, it’s a two-stop race; it’s a pretty straight-forward two-stop race,” he said. “There’s not many yellows. It’s a pretty clean race, historically speaking, so the leader doesn’t really get hung out by a closed-pit situation type of thing.

“So, yeah, it’s very important to start at the top two or three, I think, if you’re going to want to try and win that race.”

LEGGE RECALLS WIN

Katherine Legge of England will drive Saturday with partner Sheena Monk for Team Gradient in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car race. It was 18 years ago, in 2005, that Legge came to town and won the Champ Car Atlantic race, the main support series for Champ Car before Champ Car merged with IndyCar for the 2008 season.

She vividly recalls the moment.

“I was 24,” said Legge, now 42. “I mean, it meant everything. … It was an incredibly special weekend because I crashed in qualifying and so I started from the back and I made my way through the field.”

Legge won three series races that year, finishing third in points.

“It really was a springboard for my entire career,” she said. “That’s what put me on the map.”

Related links

Grand Prix of Long Beach: Oh, baby, what a time it was for Josef Newgarden
Grand Prix of Long Beach: Legge, Monk carry women in motorsports flag well
Grand Prix of Long Beach: Schedule of events for 3 days of racing

​ Orange County Register 

Clippers’ fearless Bones Hyland could be an X-factor against Suns

• April 14, 2023

PLAYA VISTA — Bones Hyland is a second-year guard with a postseason of experience on his short resume. He played 17 minutes per game during last season’s playoff run with the Denver Nuggets, giving him more than a glimpse of what to expect when his new team, the Clippers, faces the Phoenix Suns in the first round.

“It’s a different level of intensity. It’s do or die,” said Hyland, who joined the Clippers two months ago in a trade with the Nuggets. “You go out there, you lay it all out on the floor and it’s either people are made for it or people are not.

“That’s where the stars shine bright, and the stars come out.”

Hyland could provide more than a few bright moments in the best-of-seven series that begins Sunday night in Phoenix based on his recent play. In his past nine games, he averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 assists off the bench to help the Clippers (44-38) win six of their final nine regular-season games.

Although young, Hyland plays – and speaks – with the confidence of a veteran. The 22-year-old guard said he approaches every game with the same intensity and preparation as a postseason contest. “Give it your all,” he said.

“I feel like you shouldn’t have to try to overthink things or anything. Just go out there and trust your game plan, trust your work and everything else will take care of itself.”

Coach Tyronn Lue said Hyland’s confidence will help him throughout his career. He called him fearless in any situation and pointed out his two 3-pointers after the Lakers made a significant run late in the game last week that helped the Clippers get back on track offensively.

The Clippers managed to finish off the Lakers for their 12th consecutive victory against their hallway rivals.

“I mean he’s not scared and that’s the first step in being a good player is just not being scared, not being afraid of the moment,” Lue said of Hyland. “He’s not afraid of the moment. He’s not afraid of the big shots.”

Lue said he wants Hyland to “just be who he is” in the postseason, such as his understanding of coverages, his pace and his ability to get to the basket. But if he tries to do too much, “I’ll let him know.”

“Sometimes he’s just not strong enough at times, but he understands what he’s supposed to do, and he does it,” Lue said.

The Clippers, who will not have All-Star wing Paul George for the first round, have other players who could factor into a successful playoff campaign besides Hyland. Call them X-factors.

On any given night, that void could be filled by Eric Gordon, Norman Powell or Russell Westbrook. Westbrook could be extra motivated in facing his former teammate, Kevin Durant, and bring an even more relentless style to the series. The two played with each other in Oklahoma City.

Westbrook downplayed the relationship saying there isn’t any “beef” between the former teammates.

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“I’ve got nothing but respect for him and things he’s done with his career, and happy to see him back from injury,” Westbrook said of Durant’s recent sprained ankle. “But he knows I’m going to compete, and I know he’s going to compete, and that’s all it is.”

Lue said the Clippers know what they are in for. They split their season series with the Suns at two games apiece, but the Clippers didn’t face trade deadline acquisition Durant in their two victories.

Still, Lue said the Clippers know they have an opportunity to erase the memories of last season, when they fought to qualify for the play-in tournament then lost both games and went home.

“We know the Suns are a great team and (they have) a great coach in Monty Williams, but we’re up for the challenge. We’re in the playoffs, and it’s about being locked in,” Lue said.

CLIPPERS VS. SUNS

First-round series schedule (best-of-seven)

Game 1: at Suns, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Game 2: at Suns, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Game 3: at Clippers, Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.

Game 4: at Clippers, Saturday, April 22, 12:30 p.m.

x-Game 5: at Suns, Tuesday, April 25, TBD

x-Game 6: at Clippers, Thursday, April 27, TBD

x-Game 7: at Suns, Saturday, April 29, TBD

x – if necessary

​ Orange County Register 

CIF-SS boys volleyball polls, April 12

• April 14, 2023

The CIF-SS boys volleyball polls, released Wednesday, April 12

CIF-SS BOYS VOLLEYBALL POLLS

(Selected by the CIF-SS Boys Volleyball Committee)

DIVISION 1/2

1. Loyola

2. Newport Harbor

3. Huntington Beach

4. Beckman

5. Mira Costa

6. Corona del Mar

7. Mater Dei

8. Edison

9. Servite

10. Long Beach Wilson

11. Tesoro

12. Santa Barbara

13. San Marcos

14. Redondo Union

15. St. Francis

16. Canyon/Anaheim

17. San Clemente

18. South Torrance

19. Los Alamitos

20. Upland

Others: None

DIVISION 3

1 St. Margaret’s

2 Mission Viejo

3 El Segundo

4 Alemany

5 Trabuco Hills

6 Newbury Park

7 Oak Park

8 St. John Bosco

9 South Pasadena

10 Fountain Valley

Others: Vista Murrieta

DIVISION 4

1 Claremont

2 Hart

3 Crossroads

4 Troy

5 Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana

6 Dana Hills

7 Ramona

8 Pasadena Poly

9 Cathedral

10 Village Christian

Others: Quartz Hill, Norco, El Dorado, Diamond Ranch

DIVISION 5

1 Wiseburn Da Vinci

2 Chino Hills

3 Paraclete

4 Nordhoff

5 Godinez

6 Woodcrest Christian

7 St. Anthony

8 Magnolia

9 Temescal Canyon

10 Rancho Verde

Others: JW North, Firebaugh, Vista Del Lago, Fullerton, Ganesha, West Valley

DIVISION 6

1 Leuzinger

2 Glendale Adventist

3 Pacifica Christian/Santa Monica

4 Santa Clarita Christian

5 Pilgrim

6 Wildwood

7 Hawthorne Math/Science

8 Trinity Classical Academy

9 Vasquez

10 California Math/Science

Others: Nuview Bridge, Summit, Geffen Academy/UCLA

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA’s defensive line unit expected to provide stability

• April 14, 2023

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA football team returns good depth at defensive line, leading coach Chip Kelly to expect consistency in the season ahead.

Outside linebackers coach Ikaika Malloe added the role of defensive line coach this season, following the departure of Chad Kauha’aha’a.

“We have a long way to go with all of those defensive linemen,” Kelly said. “They are learning something new but we do have depth. I’ve been in that meeting room with Ikaika and he’s doing a great job with those guys.”

Kelly called the decision to add to Malloe’s responsibilities a “natural progression” and allowed for other coaching moves that would benefit the secondary.

“We’re going to play with five defensive backs most of the time,” Kelly said. “So to make sure our DBs aren’t caught short, we thought breaking up the cornerbacks and the safeties was something really important.”

Outside linebacker Laiatu Latu returns as an impact player, after leading the team with 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Latu was one of three players named college football’s Comeback Players of the Year along with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim in 2022.

“We love it,” Latu said about Malloe coaching both positions. “We get to be on the same page and we are doing all of the drills together.”

Defensive linemen Jay Toia, Grayson and Gabriel Murphy add some stability on the front line as key returners.

Grayson Murphy added five sacks last season and outside linebacker Carl Jones Jr. had two sacks.

The Bruins added depth to the defensive line with Oregon transfer Keanu Williams and Pennsylvania transfer Jake Heimlicher.

Heimlicher, who enrolled in January, had an interception during Tuesday’s practice.

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Williams joined the program a day before the start of spring camp but has already been added to the defensive rotation, batting down a pass at practice.

“He’s a big body,” Kelly said of Williams. “He’s really sharp and picked things up very quickly.”

The defense has also been vocal about their support for one another this week while celebrating plays made against the offense during various team drills at practice.

“When we’re on a roll, we get into it and sometimes we have to dial it down,” Latu said. “We love what we do and we show it.”

Linebacker Darius Muasau also intercepted quarterback Collin Schlee’s pass during seven-on-seven drills and had a fumble recovery during Thursday’s practice after running back Carson Steele dropped a pitched ball from quarterback Dante Moore.

INJURY REPORT

Purdue graduate transfer Spencer Holstege was limited with an undisclosed injury during practice on Thursday. Offensive lineman Benjamin Roy Jr. filled in for Holstege during team drills.

Wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury.

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County scores and player stats for Thursday, April 13

• April 14, 2023

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Scores and stats from Orange County games on Thursday, April 13

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

THURSDAY’S SCORES

BASEBALL

BORAS CLASSIC SOUTH

Round 3

Cypress 4, Santiago/Corona 0

San Dimas 3, Villa Park 1

Maranatha 5, Santa Margarita 4 (9 innings)

La Mirada 2, Corona 0

NONLEAGUE

Fountain Valley 10, Long Beach Wilson 1

SOFTBALL

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Esperanza 12, Villa Park 2

Esp: Duncan 3-4, 2RBI. Shumaker HR, 3RBI, 3R. Robles 2-4, 2B, 2RBI. Sanchez (W, CG 6IP 5H 2ER 1BB 7K)

VP: Espeve 1-3, RBI. Lawhon 1-2, BB, R.

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

El Dorado 4, Brea Olinda 0

EMPIRE LEAGUE

Cypress 12, Tustin 1

Pacifica 11, Valencia 0

ORANGE LEAGUE

Anaheim 25, Santa Ana Valley 0

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

Santiago 19, Bolsa Grande 0

BOYS LACROSSE 

NONLEAGUE

Mater Dei 13, Bellevue (WA) 6

BOYS TENNIS

EMPIRE LEAGUE

Cypress 14, Tustin 4

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

La Quinta 16, Rancho Alamitos 2

​ Orange County Register 

Appeals court revives lawsuit challenging OC district attorney’s DNA collection program

• April 14, 2023

An appellate court has revived a lawsuit challenging the Orange County district attorney’s unregulated DNA program, which offers leniency to low-level defendants who “volunteer” to give their genetic material.

The suit by two professors at UC Irvine, was rejected earlier on a technicality by a lower court, but revived Tuesday, April 11, by a three-member panel of the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

At issue is whether the district attorney’s practice of taking DNA from misdemeanor defendants in exchange for dropping charges or reducing punishments denies them their legal rights.

State and federal law allow DNA to be collected and stored in state and national databases for felony and some misdemeanor offenses, such as arson and some sexual crimes. Orange County, however, collects DNA locally for misdemeanors, such as driving under the influence.

‘Spit and acquit’

The program, dubbed by defense attorneys “spit and acquit,” has helped local prosecutors amass a private database of more than 182,000 DNA profiles — larger than the individual databases of 25 states.

The lawsuit by UCI criminology professor emeritus William Thompson and criminal justice professor Simon Cole alleges the program is a secretive form of genetic surveillance. Thompson is a longtime watchdog over DNA analyses and aided in the shutdown of Houston’s crime lab in 2002.

The suit contends defendants could feel pressured into accepting DNA deals without fully understanding how the genetic material could be used and without knowing their rights to an attorney. The appellate ruling acknowledges that many of the deals are struck in courthouse hallways before the defendant has even seen a judge.

Information ‘may be exploited’

Justice Eileen Moore, joined by Justices Thomas Goethals and Joanne Motoike, wrote that defendants may not be fully aware of the consequences of giving up their DNA.

“Due to its complexity, a significant number of alleged misdemeanants will likely be unaware of the information the DNA may reveal and how this information may be exploited,” Moore said. “As technology advances, DNA samples and profiles will reveal far more extensive information than we currently know.”

The ruling noted that waivers signed by defendants may be vaguely worded, not informing them who will have access to the DNA sample, how long that sample will be kept and how it may be used.

Samples collected by the district attorney’s office are sent to the private Bode Cellmark Forensics Lab in Lorton, Virginia, for analysis, with the profiles sent back to prosecutors.

Program ‘makes community safer’

Kimberly Edds, spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, said the appellate ruling did not address the merits of the lawsuit, only whether it can proceed.

“It is irrefutable that DNA collection has enabled us to solve unsolved crimes from the past and has been proven to be the greatest deterrent in preventing someone who has submitted their DNA profile from committing new crimes,” Edds said. “The OCDA DNA program makes our community safer.”

She continued: “UCI could not produce a single defendant outraged over providing their DNA in exchange for a plea deal; yet they filed a frivolous lawsuit using taxpayer dollars in an attempt to further recalibrate our criminal justice system to favor criminals over victims.”

The ruling notes that, as of 2018, less than 1% of the profiles in the district attorney’s database matched the DNA collected from crime scenes — and the vast majority were nonviolent or property crimes.

The local DNA database was founded in 2007 by former District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and was heavily criticized by Todd Spitzer while he was campaigning for that office in 2018. Spitzer, however, decided after his election to keep the tax-funded program after learning of its potential as a crime-solving tool.

​ Orange County Register 

Mortgage rates fall for fifth consecutive week to 6.27%

• April 14, 2023

Follow the bouncing rates, if you can.

On April 13, Freddie Mac rates improved for the fifth consecutive week, dropping to 6.27%.

The 2023 year-to-date Freddie low was 6.12% back on Feb. 12. The year-to-date high was 6.73% on March 9.

Well-qualified California homebuyers can find a 30-year fixed as low as 5.375% with 2 points cost.

Freddie Mac, by the way, no longer reports borrower points paid on its weekly lender survey.

In my experience, California mortgage rates have always run lower than Freddie’s national average as the state tends to have higher loan balances (more real dollars earned by lenders for higher loan balances) and the state accounts for about 20% of the nationwide mortgage volume.

Mortgage rates below 5% on a 30-year note are getting closer. But don’t count your chickens just yet as the inflation threat continues to loom.

The Fed’s ideal inflation target rate is 2%. On April 12, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the year-over-year Consumer Price Index in March was 5%. The cost index for shelter was by far the largest contributor to the monthly all-items increase, according to its press release.

Let’s step back. Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, two mid-sized banks, failed right before the last Federal Reserve meetings on March 21-22.  Instead of rates rising by one-half point, the benchmark and subsequently the prime rate rose just one-quarter point. The prime rate hit 8%. The Fed will likely raise its rate another quarter percent at its May 2-3 meeting, which means the prime rate will creep up to 8.25%.

While the prime rate directly affects credit card interest rates, auto loans and home equity lines of credit, it indirectly affects 30-year mortgage rates. Mortgage rates tend to rise with a higher prime rate as to attract new investors in mortgage-backed securities (to pay a higher yield).

What about last year?

Freddie rates reached a yearly low of 3.22% on Jan. 6, and the yearly high was 7.08% on Nov. 11 and Oct. 27.

After wiping my crystal ball down with some Windex, I see mortgage rates bouncing around like a pinball machine for the next several months. I also see a recession coming by the fourth quarter. And I see the 30-year mortgage hitting sub-5% with 2 points by Jan. 2024.

On a personal note, business is increasing a wee bit. I experienced a small spurt of first-time buyers going into escrow last week.

“Prospective homebuyers this year have been quite sensitive to any drop in mortgage rates, and that played out last week with purchase applications increasing by 8%,” said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

As it concerns home purchases in the near term, inventory constraints will buoy any hard price drops. Everybody seems to believe (me included) that home prices will come back around even if they drop further.

Don’t be afraid to buy now so long as you don’t plan on selling the property for several years. Look no further than the Great Recession for anecdotal evidence of home price sustainability.

Refinancing to a lower mortgage interest rate is a simple cost-benefit math formula. Refinancing for cash-out requires more eyeballing between a new first and a home equity line-of-credit for example.

Freddie Mac rate news

The 30-year fixed rate averaged 6.27%, 1 basis point lower than last week. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 5.54%, 10 basis points lower than last week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 5.3% mortgage application increase from last week.

Bottom line: Assuming a borrower gets the average 30-year fixed rate on a conforming $726,200 loan, last year’s payment was $583 less than this week’s payment of $4,481.

What I see: Locally, well-qualified borrowers can get the following fixed-rate mortgages with one point: A 30-year FHA at 5.375%, a 15-year conventional at 5.125%, a 30-year conventional at 5.625%, a 15-year conventional high balance at 5.625% ($726,201 to $1,089,300), a 30-year high balance conventional at 6.125% and a jumbo 30-year fixed at 6.25%.

Note: The 30-year FHA conforming loan is limited to loans of $644,000 in the Inland Empire and $726,200 in LA and Orange counties.

Eye catcher loan program of the week: A 30-year conforming fixed rate at 5.375% with 2 points cost.

Jeff Lazerson is a mortgage broker. He can be reached at 949-334-2424 or [email protected].

​ Orange County Register