Scoreboards

A massive scoreboard above Anaheim Stadium's left-field stands collapsed during Monday's earthquake, crushing hundreds of seats and strewing metal debris over others. The Sony "Jumbotron," about 800 square feet in area and weighing 17.5 tons, broke from its moorings atop the stadium's roof and landed in a partially upright position in the upper deck, taking a portion of the roof with it. Late Monday morning, the board was held precariously in place at a 45-degree angle by some of its beams.

UCLA football is embracing a high-tech future. The Bruins unveiled a new gizmo Wednesday: the CoachComm Tempo, a system that includes two Led Zeppelin-ready speakers and that can run the clock and scoreboard, simulate crowd noise, play music and be used to amplify the instructions of coaches. "A lot of teams around the country are using this," Coach Jim Mora said. "Oregon uses it; Chip Kelly bought one when he went to [coach] Philadelphia. We talked to five or six coaches and they all said it would help practice efficiency.

There is not a whole lot about the Dodger Stadium renovation that the Dodgers haven't already discussed, so Tuesday's news conference mostly focused on the details. Which is probably good, because anyone who glanced out the Stadium Club windows at the construction going on and considered the big picture would have to wonder how it can possibly be completed in time for the Dodgers' March 28 exhibition game against the Angels. The giant holes inside each foul line remain open, and the stadium remains cut out to the loge level.

PHOENIX — One by one, the Lakers were introduced before their game. Predictably, loud boos followed. But Phoenix Suns fans couldn't dismiss the guy affectionately known as "Two-Time" around here. So they cheered when Steve Nash's name was called. There were some boos as well, some fans feeling slighted that Nash green-lighted a trade last July to the Lakers, a Pacific Division rival. If only they had heard what Nash told reporters before Wednesday's game. "It's a special, special place," he said, summing up his 10 seasons with the Suns over two tours.

Little Leaguers and other sports teams at Handy Park will soon see their hits and misses light up on electronic scoreboards. It's part of a $360,000 development package of city and county park funds. The bulk of the money will go for Phase 2 of Belmont Park near the new Southridge Tract residential subdivision on Via Escola Avenue near Meats Avenue. The city is putting up $250,000 for Belmont and the county is adding $100,000 in the form of an Orange County Urban Parks grant.

Ball State officials are investigating an electronic scoreboard message that might have prompted fans to tear down the goal posts after an upset victory. A student was injured as hundreds of fans rushed onto the field after the Cardinals' 24-20 victory Saturday over previously unbeaten Toledo. Andrew Bourne, 21, broke a leg and injured his back when "a goal post, person, or group of people fell on him," the university said. Bourne has been released from Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Ind.

Members of the San Juan Capistrano Little League plan to install an electronic scoreboard at Hausdorfer Field next month in the San Juan Capistrano Sports Park. The Little League paid $4,000 for the scoreboard. The city will contribute $3,500 toward the $5,000 installation costs and the league will pay the rest. The league also will pay maintenance and repair costs. Additionally, all other leagues using the scoreboard will pay a $10 per-game fee.

The Coliseum has ordered a new matrix scoreboard and video board system costing $4.8 million to replace boards that had to be taken down as part of the stadium's $50-million earthquake repair. Project director Don C. Webb told the Coliseum Commission Wednesday that the new boards, to be paid for by the federal and state governments because they are a consequence of the Northridge earthquake, will be an improvement over the former boards.

Saddleback Community College District trustees have voted to install a new $37,500 scoreboard at Saddleback College's baseball field. None of the money will come from the college district's coffers because officials have struck a tentative deal with PepsiCo Inc. that gives the soda company exclusive rights as soda supplier at Saddleback College in exchange for the scoreboard.

Sports fans at Southern California College may no longer have to keep track of baseball and soccer scores on their fingers. A 15-foot-high electronic scoreboard may be erected at the college between the baseball and soccer fields. But first the city Planning Commission must approve it at tonight's meeting.

There is not a whole lot about the Dodger Stadium renovation that the Dodgers haven't already discussed, so Tuesday's news conference mostly focused on the details. Which is probably good, because anyone who glanced out the Stadium Club windows at the construction going on and considered the big picture would have to wonder how it can possibly be completed in time for the Dodgers' March 28 exhibition game against the Angels. The giant holes inside each foul line remain open, and the stadium remains cut out to the loge level.

The new scoreboards are nice, and so is the new sound system. The expensive players are nice too. But, for all the improvements to the Dodgers and their ballpark, there are five words the new owners absolutely refuse to say: "We're staying at Dodger Stadium. " Say what you will about Frank McCourt, but the man publicly committed the team to the stadium for another 50 years. He ran out of money, and Bud Selig ran him out of baseball, but at least he had the right idea. GRAPHIC: New look for old ballpark The Dodgers' new owners have the money, so much so that they can throw $100 million into Dodger Stadium renovations without making any long-term commitment to stay there.

UCLA brings plenty of offense to the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl on Thursday night in San Diego. The Bruins will need it. The last time Baylor played a Pac-12 Conference team in a bowl game, scoreboard circuits were taxed to the max. The Bears outscored Washington, 67-56, in the Alamo Bowl last season. Times staff writer Chris Foster examines the game's matchups and story lines: One for the road UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin hopes this game becomes a victory lap. The senior gets one more chance to add to his UCLA career and season rushing records.

USC returned to practice Sunday with hopes of jump-starting its passing game when it resumes Pac-12 Conference play Thursday at Utah. But neither players nor coaches anticipate a performance similar to the one they watched or heard about during Saturday's open date, when West Virginia defeated Baylor, 70-63. West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith passed for eight touchdowns and completed all but six of 51 passes. Three West Virginia and three Baylor receivers each amassed more than 100 yards receiving, and one from each team eclipsed 300 yards.

Torii Hunter thought maybe he'd admitted something he wasn't supposed to with Angels Manager Mike Scioscia listening. Hunter was discussing how he'd cast his eyes behind his post in right field to the out-of-town scoreboard, particularly the scores of American League wild-card leaders Baltimore and Oakland. The Orioles extended their extra-inning winning streak to 16 Saturday by beating Boston, 9-6, in 12 innings, but Oakland gave the Angels the chance to pull within 2 1/2 games with 10 remaining by losing to the New York Yankees, 10-9, in 14 innings.

Philadelphia 17, at Cleveland 16: Eagles try to prove Michael Vick's “dynasty” cry by winning despite five turnovers, 12 penalties. at Detroit 27, St. Louis 23: New Coach Jeff Fisher already has made strides with Rams. They didn't lose until 23 seconds remained. Atlanta 40, at Kansas City 24: Tony Gonzalez's welcome “home” - video tribute, fans wearing old 88 jerseys, boos after his TD. Washington 40, at New Orleans 32: Saints call for Robert Griffin III's suspension for making them pay on defense.

The city plans to sue Sony Corp. and several other parties involved in the construction and installation of the 17-ton Jumbotron scoreboard, which toppled during the Jan. 17, 1993, Northridge earthquake, city officials said Wednesday. The City Council met in closed session this week and unanimously voted to sue for unspecified damages and loss in advertising revenue. The amount could reach $11 million, City Atty. Jack White said.

Art Sagel's "office" is anything but posh. Springs and stuffing jut from the seat of his chair, the lighting is terrible, the air stifling and the noise from the el tracks and the crowds outside is often deafening. And heat? Holy cow! Corrugated steel walls turn the summer swelter outside into a 100-plus-degree sauna inside, and Sagel's white T-shirt and beefy, tattooed arms always seem to be drenched in sweat. But, mind you, he is not complaining. Sagel might have the best job in Chicago.

The irony isn't lost on Jeff Mathis, the notoriously weak-hitting Toronto Blue Jays reserve catcher who in a mere 17 at-bats this season has two more home runs than Albert Pujols, who now dons the No. 5 Angels jersey Mathis wore from 2005-2011. How can it not be when just about every writer, broadcaster or fan Mathis comes into contact with brings up the fact that, entering Thursday night's game against the Angels, Mathis has out-homered the $240-million slugger who has 445 career homers but none in 101 at-bats this season?

When: 7 PDT. Where: Rogers Arena. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 1150. Records : Kings 37-26-12, Canucks 45-21-9. Record vs. Canucks: 2-1. Update: The Kings will be scoreboard-watching because the two teams immediately behind them in the standings are playing each other Monday: San Jose is hosting Colorado. All three teams have 86 points, but the Kings are eighth because they hold the tiebreakers. Kings forward Justin Williams, who has eight points in his last eight games, was talking about watching the scoreboard recently.