SPORTS
January 19, 2012 | By Kevin Baxter
Lost amid the hoopla over the U.S. team's performance in the Women's World Cup last summer is the fact that the Americans almost didn't make it to the tournament after losing to Mexico in CONCACAF qualifying. But U.S. Coach Pia Sundhage has not forgotten. And it's something she plans to remind her team of heading into the Olympic qualifier in Vancouver, Canada, that starts this week. "I think we learned from that [World Cup] experience," Sundhage said. "It's our job to make sure that we look at the next game and not get carried away and talk too much about a semifinal or the final and even the Olympics in London.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
November 4, 2011 | By Mike DiGiovanna, Los Angeles Times
Matty Alou, the middle brother in one of baseball's greatest playing families and a slap hitter who won the National League batting title in 1966, died Thursday in the Dominican Republic. He was 72. His former team in the Dominican, Leones del Escogido, said he died of complications from diabetes. A speedy 5-foot-9, 160-pound center fielder, Alou was a lifetime .307 hitter who had 1,777 hits over 15 seasons with six different teams, breaking in with the San Francisco Giants in 1960 and enjoying his best years with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1966 to 1970.
SPORTS
October 29, 2011 | Staff and wire reports
The United States' gold-medal drought in men's basketball at the Pan American Games will last at least another four years after a 71-55 loss to Mexico in the semifinals Saturday at Guadalajara. The U.S. has not won Pan American gold since 1983. Mexico last won a medal in basketball in 1991 — a silver — and is guaranteed of at least second place. Jovan Harris led Mexico with 15 points, while Lorenzo Mata added 12 and Paul Stoll scored eight. Harris and Stoll were born in the U.S. but carry Mexican nationality.
ENTERTAINMENT
September 30, 2011 | By Rachel B. Levin, Special to the Los Angeles Times
Bachata Thursdays Where: The Granada, 17 S. 1st St., Alhambra When: Thursdays; beginner and intermediate classes 8:30 p.m., nightclub 9:30 p.m. Price: $14 for single class (includes nightclub cover); $5 nightclub cover Info: (626) 227-2572; http://www.thegranadala.com A couple of years ago on salsa dance floors across Los Angeles, a new trend began to emerge. Amid the frenetic, conga-driven salsa tunes, DJs started to slip in a few tracks of bachata — a romantic, guitar-based music that originated in the Dominican Republic.
SPORTS
August 30, 2011 | By Kevin Baxter
Reporting from Seattle — Center fielder Peter Bourjos hopes to be playing baseball in Southern California deep into October. But when the Angels' season does end, he said, he'll take a short break before heading to Latin America to continue playing in the Dominican Republic or Venezuela. It's common for young players to play winter ball, allowing them to refine parts of their game in a competitive atmosphere. Rare, however, is the established, U.S.-born player who gives up part of his off-season.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
July 23, 2011 | By Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times
Charles T. Manatt, who founded one of the biggest and most influential law firms in Los Angeles and then became a political power as chairman of the state and national Democratic parties, died Friday night. He was 75. Manatt died at Kindred Hospital in Richmond, Va., of complications from a stroke suffered after surgery in November, according to his daughter, Michele A. Manatt. Manatt assumed a thankless task as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, taking over just when the Reagan era was dawning.