Los Angeles Times - 02.11.2019

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS D5

As the legal fight rages
over the billion-dollar arena
the Clippers want to build in
Inglewood, plans for the
project are moving forward.
The Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration determined
last month that 37 applica-
tions covering the bulk of the
proposed Inglewood
Basketball and Entertain-
ment Center pose no hazard
to air navigation. The green-
lighted structures include a
hotel, parking garages, retail
buildings and signage.
Nine additional applica-

tions are pending for the

900,000-square-foot arena

that would be the center-

piece of the privately fi-

nanced project. The highest

point of the structure near

West Century Boulevard

and South Prairie Avenue

would be 144 feet above

ground and 235 feet above

sea level, according to docu-

ments filed with the FAA.

A spokesman for the de-

velopers said they “remain

confident” the arena will

open in 2024. The lease the

Clippers have to play at Sta-

ples Center expires the same

year.

Though obstruction

evaluations by the FAA are

routine, the complex’s prox-

imity to Los Angeles Inter-

national Airport make the

reviews more than another

box to check.

The stadium for the

Rams and Chargers that’s

under construction across

the street from the proposed

arena came under FAA scru-

tiny in November 2015. The

agency issued a preliminary

report saying the sail-

shaped structure is “pre-

sumed to be a hazard to air

navigation” because of po-

tential interference with

radar tracking inbound air-

craft to LAX.

The FAA approved the

building in January 2017 af-

ter developers agreed to pay

$29 million to install a sec-

ondary radar system at LAX

to resolve the issue.

The arena, which is under

environmental review and

awaiting approval from the

state to fast-track the proj-

ect, faces hurdles unrelated

to the FAA.

Most of them revolve

around ongoing litigation

with owners of the Forum.

The Madison Square Gar-

den Co. believes the pro-

posed arena would “threat-

en the economic competi-

tiveness” of their building

and alleged Inglewood May-

or James T. Butts Jr. tricked

the company into surren-

dering its parking lease for

city-owned land where the

arena would be built. Butts

has denied the claim.

That’s led to a legal battle

between MSG, Inglewood

and Murphy’s Bowl LLC, the

Clippers-controlled com-

pany developing the arena,

that hasn’t shown signs of

resolution. Clippers owner

Steve Ballmer is among at

least 28 people who have

been deposed this year in

connection with the case.

In the most recent twist,

former Butts assistant Mel-

anie McDade-Dickens last

month revised much of her

deposition testimony. The

148 changes — most signifi-

cant adjustments such as

“Yes” becoming “No” — in-

cluded saying she witnessed

the mayor tell an MSG rep-

resentative the city-owned

land could be used for a tech-

nology park. That supports

a key claim by the company.

Inglewood moved to

strike the changes by Mc-

Dade-Dickens while her at-

torney wants to quash an ef-

fort by Murphy’s Bowl to de-

pose her again.

McDade-Dickens had

been on paid administrative

leave from Inglewood since

July 1, according to a court

filing, because of a matter

unrelated to the arena. The

next key date in the litiga-

tion is a hearing on a motion

for summary judgment in

May. Two community

groups also sued over the

project; those cases are on-

going.

Most of the land where

the arena complex would be

built remains controlled by

the city. Plans for the devel-

opment include a 150-room

hotel, offices for the Clip-

pers, facilities for sports

medicine and practice in ad-

dition to retail space.

The arena — with a dia-

mond-patterned roof —

would seat 18,000 people for

basketball games.

“We’re on a path where

we think we can build the

arena, whatever happens in

the litigation,” Ballmer told

reporters last month. “We’re

moving along. Certainly, suf-

fice it to say, I think the other

side is just trying to slow us

down a little bit. But it’s an-

other thing where we’re

grinders.”

Clippers’ proposed arena takes step forward

The FAA determines

structures near LAX

would not interfere

with air navigation.

By Nathan Fenno

Kawhi Leonard put a
hand on Gregg Popovich’s
shoulder as they spoke.
Popovich pointed at the
court as if he was still coach-
ing a player who hasn’t
suited up for him in almost
two years. The coach patted
Leonard on the back of the
neck. Then they parted
ways.
“Our relationship is good,
for the most part,” Leonard
said of the coach who
launched the two-time NBA
champion’s career.
It is so good that the Clip-
pers star, in his signature
understated tone, admitted
after a 103-97 win over the
San Antonio Spurs on
Thursday that he always
looks forward to matchups
against his former team and
coach. The forward showed
just how far removed he is
from his first days as a Spur,
displaying the all-around
game that’s made him a
three-time All-Star with 38
points, 12 rebounds, four
steals and one assist.
As most of his teammates
slogged through the malaise
of playing the second game
on back-to-back nights, a
well-rested Leonard, who
didn’t travel for the team’s
110-96 loss to the Jazz on

Wednesday, opened fire

early and often. He took 32

shots, his career high for a

regular-season game.

“It looked like he was

pretty incentivized,” Clip-

pers guard Lou Williams

said. “Damn sure felt like it,

so I’m glad to have him on a

night like this where I’ve

been on the other side of

those where some guys

come back and play teams

that I’ve played with them

on and they scorch the

team.”

Leonard’s load-managed

legs gained steam as the

game wore on. After 13

points in the first half, which

included one-of-nine shoot-

ing in the second quarter,

Leonard added 25 points in

the second half, with 15 in the

fourth quarter.

“Just keep being aggres-

sive,” Leonard said, “shots

are going to fall. You’re going

to miss and make shots, but

knock down the important

ones.”

Leonard made seven of

nine shots in the fourth

quarter as the Clippers held

off a late rally by the Spurs,

who were held under 100

points for the first time in

the young season.

“We have scorers and tal-

ent and shooters to play well

on the offensive end,” Leon-

ard said, “but I think if we

want to get to the level that

we want to get to, it’s about

us putting on that defensive

hat and coming out there

and shut down anybody

that’s in front of us.”

The 28-year-old learned

the defensive gospel im-

mediately with the Spurs.

His first instructions from

Popovich were to become an

all-league defender. He was

the NBA’s defensive player

of the year by his fourth sea-

son. Then an All-Star the fol-

lowing season. He reunited

with his former coach

Thursday as a two-time

NBA champion and Finals

MVP.

The development still

seems to baffle the man who

started it all.

“When he first came in,

you saw his work ethic and

you look at his physical skills

— his length, his hands, his

size, his strength — so the

next step was how hard is he

going to work?” Popovich

said. “When we made that

trade and drafted for him,

we didn’t know he was going

to be Kawhi Leonard. People

who tell you that are full of

crap.”

KAWHI LEONARDgets a hug from his former head coach Gregg Popovich, who

implored Leonard to concentrate on defense early in his career.

Kevork DjansezianGetty Images

Leonard

relished

Spurs

matchup

The star dialed it up

against his former

team and still left

Popovich marveled.

By Thuc Nhi Nguyen

He was once a member of

the storied Green Bay Pack-

ers.

As such, Casey Hayward

jumped face first into the ex-

perience by jumping fanny

first into the stands — twice.

The first time, he barely

made it.

“There’s a high part of

the wall and a low part,” the

Chargers cornerback said of

Lambeau Field. “You gotta

go to the low part.”

Hayward paused for a

second and then added, “I

thought I had enough ups,

but I didn’t.”

He scored two touch-

downs during his four sea-

sons with Green Bay and cel-

ebrated each with a Lam-

beau Leap.

The first came after he in-

tercepted a pass from Jay

Cutler and ran 82 yards for a

touchdown against Chicago.

After cruising into the end

zone, Hayward made a

slight left turn and headed

for the front row. “I’ve seen

other guys not get up there,”

Hayward said Friday, smil-

ing at the memory of his

near-failure, which occurred

during a Sunday night na-

tional telecast. “A lot of peo-

ple don’t quite make it. The

fans had to pull me up.”

On Sunday, Hayward,

who is in his fourth season

with the Chargers, will play

against the Packers for the

first time, in a venue that fig-

ures to feel a lot like Lam-

beau West.

In fact, with Green Bay

fans forecast to dominate

the crowd at Dignity Health

Sports Park, it wouldn’t be

at all surprising for a touch-

down-scoring Packer to take

a visitor’s leap.

A Dignity Dive?

“They’re going to travel

well,” Hayward said of Pack-

ers fans. “When I used to play

there, it didn’t matter where

we went. Those fans showed

up. I wouldn’t expect any-

thing different this time.”

Hayward and the 3-5

Chargers remain desperate

for victories. They are under-

dogs against the 7-1 Packers

and have little room left to

stumble. They just snapped

a three-game losing streak.

But in a season of general

underachievement for the

team, Hayward has re-

bounded with a perform-

ance closer to his first two

years with the Chargers,

each of which produced Pro

Bowl honors.

“I think he’s a little more

focused this year,” defensive

backs coach Ron Milus said.

“It seems like once you start

making plays, then here

comes another play to be

made. He never really got on

a roll like that last year.”

Hayward had his second

interception of 2019 on Sun-

day in a 17-16 victory at Chi-

cago. He had 11 in his first

two Chargers seasons but

none a year ago.

He also was credited with

defending three passes, his

highest total in that catego-

ry in nearly two years. In 107

career games, Hayward only

twice has had more than

three pass breakups.

“I think I’m on a good

pace, as long as I keep

playing like this,” he said. “I

think I’ve been playing at an

All-Pro, Pro Bowl level. I just

gotta continue it with the

next half of the season.”

Generally assigned to

cover the opposition’s top re-

ceiver, Hayward’s weekly as-

signments can be daunting.

So far this season, only

Detroit’s Kenny Golladay

has caught passes for more

than 100 yards against the

Chargers. And that came on

an afternoon during which

the Lions scored just twice.

Green Bay might be get-

ting Davante Adams back

this week from a toe injury

that has cost him four

games. In his most recent

appearance, against Phila-

delphia, he caught 10 passes

for 180 yards.

If Adams does return, he

and Hayward likely will be

seeing quite a bit of each

other.

“Casey’s focus is just un-

believable,” safety

Rayshawn Jenkins said. “He

makes so many plays for us.”

Hayward, 30, was a sec-

ond-round pick of the Pack-

ers in 2012. After he played

out his rookie contract,

Green Bay decided to move

on without him. He signed

with the Chargers, made his

back-to-back Pro Bowl ap-

pearances and then, in the

spring of 2018, signed a three-

year extension worth up to

$36 million.

Hayward isn’t the most

athletically gifted defensive

back in the NFL or even in

L.A., not with Jalen Ramsey

playing for the Rams.

At 5-foot-11, 192 pounds,

he also isn’t the most phys-

ically imposing cornerback,

but coaches and teammates

praise Hayward’s instincts,

intelligence and prepara-

tion.

Milus said Hayward has

more than enough ability to

be disruptive in those fleet-

ing final moments that de-

termine whether a comple-

tion happens.

“He’s got some sudden-

ness and some quickness to

him that enables him to

make plays,” Milus said. “He

has what we call ‘C.O.D.’ —

change of direction. You

gotta bring something to the

game and that’s what Casey

brings.”

Jenkins, who is in his first

full season as a starter, said

he marvels at Hayward’s

grasp of offenses and dedi-

cation to film study. He said

he aspires to one day reach

Hayward’s level of profes-

sionalism.

Most of all, Jenkins said

Hayward possesses an im-

pressive ability to antici-

pate, as if he knows where

the offensive player is going

just as surely as the offensive

player does.

“His preparation and

understanding is just fun to

see,” Jenkins said. “And he’s

so poised, always. It’s like

watching someone paint a

picture. You’re just there

watching the masterpiece

unfold. It’s crazy.”

Crazy, perhaps, but also

somewhat wasted in this 3-5

start. Because of the Char-

gers’ struggles, faith in them

has wavered.

But Hayward, for one,

understands what heights

still can be reached for those

willing to leap.

Chargers glad

he made leap

UP NEXT

Chargers vs.

Green Bay

AT DIGNITY HEALTH

SPORTS PARK

Sunday, 1:15 p.m.

TV:Channel 2

Hayward, a former

Packer, has become

defensive mainstay.

By Jeff Miller

Stephen Curry will miss
at least three months be-
cause of a broken left hand
that required surgery Fri-
day, the toughest blow yet in
an already difficult season
for the struggling Golden
State Warriors following five
straight trips to the Finals.
Coach Steve Kerr mar-
veled at the run of big in-
juries to star players, two
days after Curry broke his
nonshooting hand in a loss
to Phoenix, but also stressed
he didn’t want his players
dwelling on the negative
with so much season left.
“It’s just insane what’s
happened,” Kerr said. “But
we’ve had a lot of good for-
tune here too.”

BASEBALL

Beltran hired as

Mets’ manager

Carlos Beltran, two
years removed from his All-
Star playing career and with
no managerial experience,
has been picked by the New
York Mets to replace Mickey
Callaway.
Beltran, 42, got a three-
year contract with a club op-
tion for 2023. He played for
the Mets from 2005 to 2011.

Mike Moustakas and
Yasmani Grandal declined
options with Milwaukee, be-

coming free agents. ... Miami

declined a $16-million option

on Starlin Castroand will

pay him a $1-million buyout

to become a free agent. ...

President Trump will host

the World Series champion

Washington Nationals at the

White House on Monday.

Wide receiver Josh Gor-

donjoined the Seattle Sea-

hawks a day after being re-

leased off injured reserve by

New England. Gordon was

among the Patriots’ leading

receivers, with 20 catches for

287 yards and a touchdown

in six games. ... Denver put

quarterback Joe Flacco

(herniated disk) on injured

reserve, ending his season,

and promoted rookie Brett

Rypienfrom the practice

squad to back up new start-

er Brandon Allen. ... With

quarterback Case Keenum

concussed, Washington will

give rookie Dwayne Hask-

inshis first start Sunday at

Buffalo. ... Kansas City

quarterback Patrick Ma-

homes, out last week while

recovering from a dislocated

kneecap, is questionable for

Sunday against Minnesota.

... Philadelphia receiver De-

Sean Jackson, listed as

questionable as he returns

from injury, plans to play for

the first time in two months

Sunday against Chicago. ...

New York Jets cornerback

Trumaine Johnson(ankles)

and center Ryan Kalil

(neck, elbow) have been

ruled out for Sunday against

Miami. ... San Francisco line-

backer Kwon Alexander

(torn pectoral muscle) will

miss the rest of the season.

Top-ranked Novak

Djokovicand No. 2 Rafael

Nadalare on course to face

off in the Paris Masters final

after winning their quarter-

finals in straight sets.

Djokovic beat Stefanos

Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-2 after losing

to the Greek three weeks ago

in the Shanghai quarter-

finals. Nadal had a more de-

manding 7-6 (4), 6-1 win

against 2008 champion Jo-

Wilfried Tsonga. ... Kar-

olina Pliskovaadvanced to

the semifinals of the WTA Fi-

nals for the third straight

year, beating Simona Halep

6-0, 2-6, 6-4 shortly after de-

fending champion Elina

Svitolina completed a near-

perfect group stage.

Pliskova will next face top-

ranked Ash Barty.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

birdied the final two holes

for a six-under 66 and a

share of the first-round lead

in the Invesco QQQ Cham-

pionship in Thousand Oaks,

the second of three events in

the PGA Tour Champions’

Charles Schwab Cup play-

offs. Jimenez won last week’s

opener. ... Rory McIlroy

shot a five-under 67, leaving

him one shot behind Matt

Fitzpatrick after two rounds

of the HSBC Champions in

Shanghai. ... Brendon Todd

shot an eight-under 63 for a

share of the lead with Harry

Higgsand Scottie Scheffler

after the second round of the

PGA Tour’s inaugural Ber-

muda Championship.

No. 21 Arizona suspended

Devonaire Doutrive, a for-

mer Lake Balboa Birming-

ham guard, indefinitely for

violating unspecified team

rules. ... Washington guard

Quade Green, who trans-

ferred from Kentucky in Jan-

uary, will be eligible immedi-

ately after his waiver was

granted by the NCAA. ... The

NCAA denied a waiver re-

quest that would have al-

lowed Tennessee transfer

Evina Westbrook to play at

Connecticut this season. ...

The U.S. men’s and women’s

3-on-3 teams weren’t among

the first eight qualifiers for

the Tokyo Olympics, but did

make the qualifying tourna-

ment that will be held in In-

dia next March.

Navy’s Malcolm Perry

ran for 108 yards and two

touchdowns and threw for

165 yards and a score in a 56-

10 rout of Connecticut.

Zak Brown, the head of

McLaren, said its IndyCar

team will pay James Hinch-

cliffe not to drive for them

next year after driver Pato

O’Wardbecame available.

The National Women’s

Soccer League announced

rule changes that will in-

crease salaries and team sal-

ary caps, as well as add

$300,000 per team in alloca-

tion money to sign top stars.

THE DAY IN SPORTS

Warriors’ Curry out at least three months

wire reports