The world according to Jim:
• I guess this makes L.A. what it is as a sports town: You’re in the middle of the week figuring the Rams are the region’s big story – and then all hell breaks loose. …
• First, the latest episode of “As The Lakers Turn.” I guess it’s peculiarly L.A., that one of the most successful franchises in NBA history on the court may also be the undisputed league leader in off-court drama.
This time it’s an exhaustively-reported story by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes digging into the recent sale of the team to Dodgers owner Mark Walter, and specifically the machinations behind the scenes that left Jeanie Buss as the only remaining family member still involved with the franchise. …
• Dr. Jerry Buss’ original vision was that he would leave the team to his children, but that blew up. The gist of this story is that Jeanie survived, and will remain the team’s governor, but the other siblings involved with the franchise – Johnny, Jim, Janie and younger brothers Jesse and Joey – were essentially cut loose by Jeanie.
There’s also a storyline suggesting that the actual sale of the club took place behind the siblings’ backs, with some of them wondering if there couldn’t have been a better deal. And there were suggestions that Jeanie wasn’t enamored by, as Holmes reported, “what she felt was (LeBron) James’ outsized ego and the overt control that he and Klutch Sports, which represents both James and Anthony Davis, exerted over the organization at times.” …
• For the record, that’s why James fielded those questions after Thursday night’s loss to the Clippers about possible friction with Jeanie Buss. And maybe it’s worth noting at this point that he is now in his eighth season with the Lakers, longer than any previous stint in his 23 seasons in the NBA. (For the record: He had seven seasons in his first stint with Cleveland, four in Miami and four in his second term with the Cavaliers.) …
• Meanwhile, Walter’s other marquee franchise is again the eye of the baseball storm, with The Athletic’s Evan Drellich reporting that other owners are “raging” over the Dodgers’ signing of Kyle Tucker enough that the pursuit of a salary cap in the next collective bargaining agreement is an absolute certainty, “no matter what it takes.”
So enjoy the 2026 baseball season, folks. The small-market, small-payroll, small-minded owners are getting ready to blow the whole thing up, because the most organized players association in sports is equally determined that there not be a cap. …
• And while that’s top of mind, we are now less than 20 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting. The Giants, Red Sox, White Sox and Diamondbacks hold their first workouts Feb. 10, the Angels start Feb. 11 and the Dodgers on Feb. 13.
Enjoy that while it lasts, too. …
• How about this compromise to avoid a shutdown: Full, expanded revenue sharing, with a pot that includes local TV revenue – maybe the biggest disparity between the sport’s haves and have-nots – as well as a percentage of other revenue, for example a portion of the income the Dodgers earn from Japan, with the caveat that a significant percentage of the shared revenue must be spent on player payroll, no exceptions.
Reminder: A salary cap in this case won’t make the game fairer. (For one thing, it won’t govern the myriad other edges the smart, efficient teams have.) A cap will simply be a mechanism for putting more money in the bank accounts of the billionaires who own teams but don’t care to spend enough to improve them. And I think most of us know which franchises fall into that category. …
• As you might have guessed, I have little compassion for the super rich as a rule, especially those wealthy enough to buy a ballclub. If you can’t run it efficiently and attempt to win, or at least get to October and give yourself a chance, maybe it’s time to sell to someone who can. …
• Now that we know Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones will join Jeff Kent in Cooperstown this summer, I can reveal my Hall of Fame ballot: Jones, Felix Hernández, Andy Pettitte, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Francisco Rodriguez, Chase Utley. …
• Today’s quiz: When Jones played for the Dodgers in 2008, how much did he earn per hit in that season? Answer below. …
• Philip Rivers interviewed Friday for the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching position, according to published reports. On the surface, the leap from high school coach to NFL head coach is far-fetched – but I wouldn’t bet against him. …
• Worth noting: Indiana’s championship game victory over Miami Monday night averaged 30.1 million viewers, second largest in College Football Playoff history behind the 34.2 million for Ohio State and Oregon in 2015, the CFP’s first year. I suspect it was Indiana’s Cinderella story that drew those numbers. …
• The last time Indiana football was good? 1988, and as Matt Brown of the “Extra Points” newsletter on college sports noted, that year Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State and Pacific still had football teams.
Forever, in other words. …
• Still, even with those viewership numbers, can we suggest that the college season is way too long? Again, it’s better to start in August and play the national championship game on New Year’s Day (preferably in Pasadena), even – especially – if that means getting rid of conference championship games. …
• Quiz answer: $446,270, for each of Jones’ 33 hits (in 238 plate appearances) while making $14,726,910. Two seasons removed from hitting 51 homers and driving in 128 runs for the Braves, he signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers just in time for his career dropoff. He hit .158 with a .505 OPS in 75 games in 2008, played in one game after Aug. 9, heard loud and frequent booing from the home fans over what they interpreted as lackadaisical play, and was released after the season.
He still made $21.4 million on the second year of that deal, according to Baseball Reference, and went on to play one season in Texas, one with the White Sox and two with the Yankees before hanging ’em up. …
• One reason Jones didn’t play much the last two months of 2008: That was the year Dodgers GM Ned Colletti acquired Manny Ramirez at the trade deadline, largely because Jones wasn’t producing. Manny proceeded to have one of the greatest two-month stretches I’ve ever seen in helping the Dodgers to a division title, and those may have been the last great moments of his career.
And now Andruw is headed for Cooperstown, and for Manny, that door’s probably shut for good. Irony is alive and well – and very, very patient.
Related Articles
Alexander: On Wooden Legacy night, current UCLA team responds to a challenge Alexander: Rams will battle both the Bears and the elements Alexander: The ‘villainy’ continues in Chavez Ravine Alexander: Ross Porter’s interview archive, in book form Alexander: How many streaming services does a sports fan need?Hence then, the article about alexander in this region there s always something happening was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Alexander: In this region, there’s always something happening )
Also on site :
- Vue Cinema Chain Halts Liquidation Threat From Coca-Cola Bottling Giant After Settling Unpaid Bill
- 45 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time, According to Librarians
- Amazon's Bestselling Fleece-Lined Thermal Base Layer Set Is Just $35 Ahead of a Major Winter Storm