Los Angeles Times - 02.10.2019

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019:: LATIMES.COM/SPORTS

D

David Freese was con-

vinced retirement was next.

He was prepared to qui-

etly vanish from the baseball

map — no announcement,

no hoopla, just the way he

liked it — after the Dodgers

lost Game 5 of the World Se-

ries last year, and end a

memorable career with 2011

World Series and National

League Championship Se-

ries most-valuable-player

awards, a 2012 All-Star ap-

pearance, and several clutch

moments people in his

hometown of St. Louis will

never forget.

His body was knackered

and he knew the prospective

free-agent market for a cor-

ner infielder in his mid-30s

was barren. He was at ease

with leaving baseball behind.

Those plans changed

while the Boston Red Sox

sprayed champagne and

chugged beer at Dodger Sta-

dium.

“Bring this guy back.”

Those were Justin Turn-

er’s first words to Andrew

Friedman, the Dodgers pres-

ident of baseball operations,

in the somber aftermath.

Leadership

and skills make

Freese valuable

At 36, first baseman is

so esteemed that the

Dodgers asked him

to return this season.

By Jorge Castillo

[SeeDodgers,D5]

It turns out Joe Maddon

is not the only candidate the

Angels intend to consider for

their managerial opening.

General manager Billy

Eppler said in a conference

call Tuesday the Angels will

begin a wider search to find

the replacement for Brad

Ausmus, who was fired

Monday after one year at the

helm of a team that has not

made the playoffs since 2014.

“We have a hiring process

to go through, so I think it’s

premature to say anything

contrary to that,” Eppler

said. “We’re gonna collect

names this afternoon, and

particularly plan on sitting

down with a number of can-

didates.”

Eppler said he had not

yet created a list of candi-

dates to present to owner

Arte Moreno or President

John Carpino. He planned to

do that later Tuesday.

Maddon, who led the Chi-

cago Cubs to their first

Angels are eyeing

more than Maddon

They’ll look beyond

ex-Cubs manager for

Ausmus’ replacement.

By Maria Torres

[SeeAngels,D5]

In hindsight, it worked
out very well for Kendall Ellis
that she had become an ex-
pert penny pincher during
her four years running track
for USC.
Ellis had moved to Los
Angeles from South Florida
to pursue her education and
dream of becoming an
Olympic quarter-miler, and
she brought uncommon dis-
cipline with her. Her fresh-
man year, she saved up for a
car. That meant she ate all
her meals on her dining-hall
meal plan and mostly didn’t
go out on the weekends. As
the years passed, she kept
an eye on her future. After
all, there were no guarantees
that her athletic career

would be profitable, no mat-

ter how much talent she pos-

sessed.

In all ways, she was the

NCAA’s model “student-

athlete.” Although when she

had to avoid certain classes

to fit her practice schedule,

she wondered whether the

order of those words should

be flipped.

Not many people outside

of the track world would

have known Ellis’ name or

what she looked like. Not un-

til the final race of her college

career. USC needed a victory

in the final event of the 2018

NCAA track and field cham-

pionships — the 1,600-meter

relay — to claim the team ti-

tle. Ellis ran the anchor leg,

and when she received the

baton the Trojans were far

behind. But she dug in,

pulled herself into con-

tention and somehow legged

out an improbable first-

place finish.

Video of her gallop to

glory went viral, getting air

Pac-12 grabs the

NCAA baton

Some disagree with its

assertion that new

California law would

hurt female athletes.

By J. Brady McCollough

[SeeNCAA,D4]

The NHL

and its play-

ers gave fans

a great gift

this summer.

By agree-

ing not to opt

out of the

current

collective bargaining agree-

ment — which would have

expired after this season

had either side chosen to

end it — the league and the

NHL Players’ Assn. guaran-

teed labor peace for the next

three seasons. Commis-

sioner Gary Bettman had

imposed a hat trick worth of

lockouts (1994-95, 2004-05

and 2012-13). Thankfully, he

didn’t go for a grand slam.

Without the looming

threat of another lockout,

players and fans can focus

on hockey instead of dooms-

day scenarios. That means

everybody wins. And there’s

HELENE ELLIOTT

Giving peace a chance

All’s quiet on labor front, so the focus is on hockey

Greg BeachamAssociated Press

[SeeElliott,D8]

THE DUCKS’ Dallas Eakins, far left, and the Kings’

Todd McLellan are new coaches for their teams.

Al SeibLos Angeles Times

YAKIMA, Wash. — On the day star
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp was born,
his parents called an audible.
They were on the verge of naming
him Cody, and were filling out the
paperwork, when Craig Kupp had a
change of heart.
“I’ve got the pen and I’m getting
ready to put down Cody, when I half-
jokingly said to Karin, ‘What do you
think about Cooper?’ ” Craig said.
The name Cooper meant something
to the couple. They named their first
dog that, the dog they lost on the day
Karin discovered she was pregnant. It
was also the name of Archie Manning’s
eldest son, and Craig’s father, Jake, was
a blocker for Manning with the New
Orleans Saints.
So, at the last moment, Cody became
Cooper.
“I wanted a name that would sound
cool over the loudspeaker,” said Craig,

RAMS RECEIVERCooper Kupp stiff-arms New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore on a 66-yard
catch-and-run last month. Kupp leads the Rams in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Wally SkalijLos Angeles Times

NFL WEEK 5

Rams at Seattle

AT CENTURYLINK FIELD

Thursday, 5:15 p.m.,

Channel 11, NFL Network

Chargers

vs. Denver

AT DIGNITY HEALTH

SPORTS PARK

Sunday, 1 p.m., Channel 2

Extra value:Chargers

fullback Watt is embrac-

ing budding role at tight

end. D6

Cooper Kupp has

been coup of a catch

The small-college receiver now a big part of Rams’ offense

SAM FARMER
ON THE NFL

PEYTON MANNINGwas a big fan

early of Cooper Kupp at his camp.

Kupp family

[SeeFarmer, D7]

NL WILD CARD >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

HEADED TO L.A.

Erik S. LesserEPA/Shutterstock

Washington Nationals players let loose after rallying

for a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. D5

Coming soon:

college hoops

Without a star,

Cronin says depth

might be UCLA’s

strength. USC’s

Enfield likes his five

freshmen. D2

Guarded

optimism

Lakers coach Vogel

says he plans on

using a number of

backcourt players. It

all depends how they

work with James. D3

Putting up

stop signs

With offseason

acquisitions Leonard

and George, Clippers

could be able to field

their best defensive

team ever. D3

Slovis feels

much better

He’s not cleared for

contact yet, but USC

quarterback might

be ready to take back

starting job against

Notre Dame. D4

NHL SEASON BEGINS

LOCAL OPENERS

Ducks vs.

Arizona

Thursday,

7 p.m.

TV: Prime

Kings at

Edmonton

Saturday,

7 p.m.

TV: FSW

NL DIVISION SERIES

BEST OF FIVE

Dodgers vs.

Washington

Game 1: Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

at Dodger Stadium, TV: TBS