David Sanders

The Dodgers' release of Fernando Valenzuela stirs memories of the franchise's unsuccessful attempt to trade an aging Jackie Robinson to the Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield. Now that was classic O'Malleyism, the standard for personnel decisions that no subsequent Dodger front office has quite matched. Tap the veins of an O'Malley or a Lasorda and the flow will be mint green rather than the publicists' Dodger blue. DAVID SANDERS Claremont

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday named a social services administrator from Minnesota to head the county's child welfare agency. David Sanders will leave his position as a head of the Hennepin County Children, Family and Adult Services Department in Minneapolis.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday named a social services administrator from Minnesota to head the county's child welfare agency. David Sanders will leave his position as a head of the Hennepin County Children, Family and Adult Services Department in Minneapolis.

The Dodgers' release of Fernando Valenzuela stirs memories of the franchise's unsuccessful attempt to trade an aging Jackie Robinson to the Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield. Now that was classic O'Malleyism, the standard for personnel decisions that no subsequent Dodger front office has quite matched. Tap the veins of an O'Malley or a Lasorda and the flow will be mint green rather than the publicists' Dodger blue. DAVID SANDERS Claremont

It was desperation time for the USC basketball team Saturday, and the Trojans responded with a 65-60 victory over Washington State at the Sports Arena. Even though the game was ragged at times, USC Coach George Raveling didn't knock any aspects of it. "There were far more positive things than negative," Raveling said. "When you're in the depths of despair like us, the only way out is with a win."

Department of Children and Family Services Director David Sanders, who has worked for three years to reform the long-troubled child welfare agency, is leaving to take a job with a nonprofit organization. Sanders oversaw a steady reduction in the number of foster children in the county as he pushed to reunify families and modernize how the department decided the fate of abused and neglected children.

A Sylmar man who contended that he was a "sovereign citizen" with the right to drive without any governmental controls was sentenced Friday to six months in jail for driving without a license. San Fernando Municipal Judge L. Jeffrey Wiatt imposed the maximum term for David Sanders, who was found guilty in a non-jury trial of driving without a license and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Keith Smith scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half to lead California to a 69-51 Pacific 10 Conference basketball victory over Washington State Saturday. David Sanders had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars (7-16, 1-12), who have lost 12 consecutive games. Freshman Brian Hendrick added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Bears (17-6, 8-4). Washington State scored the first basket of the second half to take a 31-21 lead.

Howard Wright scored 20 points, and Stanford trounced Arizona State, 96-63, Saturday in a Pacific 10 Conference game at Palo Alto. The Cardinal (15-7, 7-4) went on a 16-5 run to build a 46-26 lead with 1:45 left in the first half, and Arizona State (13-8, 6-5) didn't challenge again. Wright scored eight straight points in the first three minutes of the second half as Stanford increased the lead to 62-34 lead with 15 minutes left. Derek Bruton and Todd Lichti each added 14 for Stanford.

My age is 53 and I've never had a front-row seat at Dodger Stadium. Like young Josh Nelson [Viewpoint, May 4], I too was at the Dodger-Cub game on the afternoon of April 28. Unlike Josh, I was there to see a baseball game. Like Josh, I brought a baseball. Unlike Josh, Mike Piazza signed mine. I thanked him. Instead of asking me for $50, Mike wished me good luck. Maybe there is something to be said for age and maturity. ALAN MATIS Woodland Hills So, a 12-year-old writes that Mike Piazza wanted $50 to autograph his baseball.

Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr each scored 20 points Tuesday night as top-ranked Arizona beat Washington State, 89-55, at Pullman, Wash. The victory lifted the Wildcats, who attained their first-ever No. 1 ranking on Monday, to 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The Cougars fell to 2-6 and 0-2. Kerr scored 15 of his points on three-pointers, making 5 of 6. Arizona made 62.3% of its shots, while the Cougars (2-6 and 0-2) managed only 37.3%.

State licensing officials said Tuesday that they have rejected efforts by Los Angeles County to overturn a citation for operating an illegal foster care home at a converted government office where children spent hours waiting for a more permanent home. Officials with the county's Department of Children and Family Services have about three weeks to submit a plan explaining how they will eliminate the practice, said Andrew Roth, a spokesman for the California Department of Social Services.