Sidelines

It used to be that the nation's most populous state found itself on the sidelines when Republicans and Democrats squared off in congressional elections. California's carefully engineered districts were so safe for incumbents that only one of the 53 seats changed party hands during the last decade. Then last year, a voter-authorized citizens commission took over the job of drawing district maps and shook up the political landscape. Now, the two parties and their allies are fighting it out in at least 10 newly competitive seats around the state.

BALTIMORE - When Chad Billingsley was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of pain in his throwing elbow, Manager Don Mattingly wondered if the former All-Star's season would end on an operating table. "It's hard not to think about it," Mattingly said. That's because Billingsley considered reconstructive elbow surgery last year, when he missed the final month of the regular season because of a partially torn elbow ligament. But instead of resigning himself to a procedure that would sideline him for the entire 2013 season, Billingsley opted for injections of platelet-rich plasma and rehabilitation.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Danny Tartabull was reactivated Thursday night after being sidelined for two weeks with a knee injury. Tartabull, hitting .257 with eight homers and 30 RBI, bruised ligaments in his left knee while trying to make a sliding catch of a fly ball against Oakland June 13. He had been on the 15-day disabled list. To mkae room for Tartabull on the roster, the Royals optioned utility infielder, Bill Pecota to their Omaha farm club.

The numbers game is tilting against UCLA during spring football practice. The Bruins can count the number of healthy defensive linemen on one hand. The number of defensive backs - those on scholarship - is even less. As for offensive linemen, seven is usually only a lucky number in Las Vegas. "We had more guys riding the [stationary] bike on the side than we had on the field today," Coach Jim Mora said Thursday. The reduced numbers because of injuries had Mora scaling back practice.

College of the Canyons baseball Coach Len Mohney had a foot-long portion of his large intestine surgically removed Tuesday and will be sidelined for at least two weeks, Canyons Athletic Director Lee Smelser said. Smelser said Mohney could return to the team by April 6. "They say that after the surgery, he'll be as good as new," Smelser said. "We're planning on him coming back with no problems." Assistant coach Andy Allensworth will manage the team in Mohney's absence.

Azer Farag Azer is here. So are the caricaturist and the writers, lots of writers, and that tall dentist, the son of the movie star. All here for lunch, herring and boiled egg. Where is Felfel? Praying. He'll be back. They're protesting again in the square. The revolution is over, but they march past with banners and rage. Maybe it's not over. There have been others. 1919. 1952. This one seems different, though. Who would have ever dreamed of the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak?

Brady Hoke and the five assistant coaches who left San Diego State with him when he was hired away by Michigan were on the sidelines at the Big House in Ann Arbor on Saturday, when Hoke's past team met his present. And when we say sidelines, we mean it literally. They were on both. While Hoke and his new staff worked with the Wolverines, San Diego State used photos of Hoke and his former Aztecs assistants to call in plays from its sideline. San Diego State didn't make its players available to the media after a 28-7 loss, but based on the postgame comments of Aztecs Coach Rocky Long , it can be assumed it was done out of respect.

Ian Woosnam of Wales shot a 67 today to share the first-round lead with Tsukasa Watanabe, Nobumitsu Yuhara and Taisei Inagaki in the $600,000 Maruman Open Golf Tournament. Woosnam, currently the leading money-winner on the European PGA Tour, had one eagle, five birdies and two bogeys over the 7,062-yard, par-72 Hatoyama Country Club course outside Tokyo. Ikuo Shirahara and Toyotake Nakao were next at 68.

Fox News has indefinitely sidelined its daily afternoon program "The Big Story," hosted by John Gibson, to extend the run of a new hourlong political newscast called "America's Election HQ." The campaign-oriented show, anchored by Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly, premiered in late February. The network decided to keep it on the air because of strong viewer interest in the 2008 race, which has helped lift the ratings of all the cable news channels this year. The move was first reported by the blog TVNewser.

If the Los Angeles Dickersons tried handing the ball off to some other back once, they just might fool the opposing defense. HOWARD B. ANDREEN Camarillo

A bill that would create a nickel-per-bullet tax to pay for mental health programs aimed at reducing gun violence hit a roadblock in a legislative committee Monday. The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee put AB 760 on "suspense" where it will be required to undergo more study on its financial effects before it can be reconsidered. Assemblyman  Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) said he is hopeful his bill will be able to make it to the Assembly floor. He said it is a response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that killed 20 children and six adults.

Desperate for backcourt help, the Lakers re-signed Andrew Goudelock, a second-year guard who averaged 4.4 points for them last season. Goudelock, 24, was never afraid to shoot the ball but was waived during exhibition season in October. He averaged 21.1 points and 5.2 assists with two Development League teams this season, the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He played almost exclusively at point guard in the D-League but would be mainly a shooting guard for the Lakers with some ball-handling chances.

USC concluded spring practice Saturday with a Coliseum scrimmage devoid of tackling. This time, however, it was by executive order, not defensive shortcomings. With 20 players sidelined because of injuries, and the Trojans especially thin at tight end and receiver, Coach Lane Kiffin said "there just weren't enough bodies out there. " So fans in the stadium and those watching on television saw the Trojans finish workouts with what amounted to a glorified passing drill designed to avoid injuries.

PHOENIX - Chris Capuano will replace injured Zack Greinke in the Dodgers' rotation and is scheduled to start Tuesday against the San Diego Padres. "It was a blow losing Zack for a little while here, but it's our job to come together and fill in and keep us moving in the right direction," Capuano said. Greinke suffered a fracture of the collarbone in his left, non-throwing shoulder Thursday when Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin charged the mound after being hit by a pitch. Greinke underwent a 90-minute procedure Saturday to stabilize the fracture and is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.

Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich offers an explanation for why his reelection challenger has racked up the lion's share of endorsements as the May 21 runoff approaches: "He's part of the old-boys club; he's a career politician and I'm independent. " But former lawmaker Mike Feuer points to the backing he's received from hundreds of elected officials - including both of California's U.S. senators - civic and other groups, environmental organizations, labor, law and community leaders as evidence of "a clear desire for change" in the city's top legal post.

USC receiver George Farmer suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will sit out the 2013 season, a person close to the situation said Wednesday. Farmer, a junior, was injured Tuesday while catching a pass in a non-contact practice drill. He will undergo surgery in a few weeks. It is the latest setback for Farmer, who was slowed by injuries his first two seasons but was enjoying a productive spring and making a push to become a regular part of the receiver rotation.

Last month, when University of Southern California wide receiver Garrett Green bobbled the football on a key play against Washington State, red flags went up among the Trojans' athletic trainers on the sidelines. Only minutes before, Green had tackled an opponent -- hard -- on a kickoff return. His sudden lack of coordination struck team trainer Russ Romano as a pretty likely sign of concussion. Romano called Green to the sidelines, asked him a few quick questions and got back answers confused enough to take the senior from Chatsworth out of the game.

Rodger Gray scored a goal in each half today as New Zealand rallied to beat China, 2-1, in the first of two soccer matches between the teams. Liu Haiguang put China ahead in the 36th minute, but Gray tied it in the 43rd minute and scored the winner two minutes after halftime. The teams will meet in a second international match in Auckland on Aug. 24. China also will play two games against provincial teams. It faces Otago in Dunedin on Saturday and Taranaki in New Plymouth on Aug. 21.

From passed out on a floor to the Final Four - it has been a pulse-rate ride for Carl Hall. "Oh man, it's been a long journey for me," Hall said. Wichita State's senior forward, who overcame a heart condition that sidelined him for two years, has become the inspirational leader on the Shockers' surprising four-game run through the NCAA basketball tournament. Hall introduced himself nationally at the Salt Lake City sub-regional as an undersized 6-foot-8 forward taking on Steven Adams, a 7-footer from Pittsburgh.

MILWAUKEE - The older, slower, stumbling Lakers were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, so the outcome was practically predetermined. What were not expected were dual injuries to their aging backcourt, Steve Nash unable to finish the game and Kobe Bryant limping through the locker room after a 113-103 loss Thursday to the Milwaukee Bucks. Bryant was bothered by a bone spur in his left foot, Nash sidelined by what he called a hip spasm. BOX SCORE: Bucks 113, Lakers 103 Bryant will be evaluated by doctors in Sacramento when the Lakers arrive there Friday, a day before they play the Kings to complete a four-game trip.