Work Ethic

When it's time to look back on the high school career of South East quarterback Jonathan Santos, people will remember him as the teenager who was so poised and unyielding at a time of adversity that he inspired teammates and coaches alike. South Gate South East (11-1) has made it to the City Section Division II semifinals Friday night against San Fernando even though its coach was fired early in the season, its principal was briefly removed and 10 players were suspended, then reinstated, for an alleged hazing incident.

The Lakers have unofficially decided to go with 15 players to start the season. Teams are required by the league to submit their opening-night rosters on Monday.  If non-guaranteed players Darius Johnson-Odom and Robert Sacre weren't going to make the team, they would have been cut before Sunday to allow for the 48-hour waiver period. Coach Mike Brown indicated after practice that he doesn't expect the team to drop any additional players before the start of the season. "I don't think so right now.  I'll wait and see what management says and ownership," said Brown.

Kobe Bryant disliked Smush Parker, believing he lacked both the talent and work ethic to compete in the NBA. Parker disliked Bryant, feeling he hardly set up a positive atmosphere that would nurture such growth. On and on it went. Parker would call playing with Bryant from 2005 to 2007 "overrated. " Bryant would belittle Parker, taking the team's overwhelming majority of shots as if he had no choice. It continued this week with similar talking points. Even if Bryant refused to say much about Parker taking offense after Friday's practice, it's clear the Lakers star was biting his tongue.

Staring at an attentive audience, Lakers guard Darius Morris shared some insights and advice based on his journey. Morris had just set foot at Lafayette Park over the weekend where the Lakers and Time Warner Cable Sportsnet hosted a basketball clinic for about 75 children from Heart of L.A. , which provides after-school programs for disadvantaged youth. So Morris brought up his childhood in Los Angeles dreaming about playing for the hometown Lakers. He stressed how anyone can reach their goal through hard work.

This is the eighth post in a series focusing on five things each Lakers player must do to have a successful 2012-13 season. 1. Devin Ebanks needs to make up for lost time in off-season work . He missed the Las Vegas Summer League because he suffered a left knee injury during a pro-am game in New York City. Even though Ebanks says he's been cleared to play for the last month, there's still a lot of catching up to do. The Lakers like Ebanks' development, but he concedes he needs to improve in all facets of his game.

For American fans watching on television, the Olympic Games mark an escape from workaday cares and annoyances - like political advertising. That isn't stopping President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney from trying to score a few friendly political points with pitches during the games - Obama during the opening ceremonies with a nonpartisan ode to the American work ethic and a pro-Romney "super PAC" launching spots about his winning tenure as head of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.

Michael Phelps is a slacker. That's basically what fellow U.S. swimmer Tyler Clary says he noticed during the year he and the 14-time Olympic gold medalist trained alongside one another at the University of Michigan. "I saw a real lack of preparation" from Phelps, Clary told the Riverside Press-Enterprise .  "Basically, he was a swimmer that didn't want to be there. They can talk about all of these goals and plans and preparation they have. I saw it. I know. It's different.

TORONTO - Torii Hunter has been on a tear since moving to the No. 2 spot in the Angels' lineup, where he hits behind Mike Trout and in front of Albert Pujols . But as much as the new surroundings have helped, Hunter says a new perspective has helped even more. Hunter missed 15 games last month to be with his family after his 17-year-old son Darius McClinton-Hunter was one of five people arrested in a sexual-assault case. And even after he rejoined the team Hunter said he couldn't stop wondering whether he had failed his son by being away from home every summer.

The U.S. men's basketball team has shown plenty of talent and not enough hunger in the past. In the 2012 Olympics, Team USA might have the same work ethic that earned it a gold medal four years ago but without the same strong supporting cast that made up the Redeem Team. Count Derrick Rose out of the Olympics because of a knee injury. List Dwight Howard as doubtful considering he just had back surgery. Forget about LaMarcus Aldridge, who recently had hip surgery. And if the Clippers weren't reminded enough already this year, Chauncey Billups won't be available either because of a torn Achilles' tendon.  But  Nets guard Deron Williams, who'll likely land a roster spot, hardly seemed concerned.

Somewhere in Andrew Bynum's bookshelf sits the title that perfectly encapsulates his improvement in the 2011-12 NBA season. The book, "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, delves into how "little things can make a big difference," a subject Bynum read at length last season while rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee. Regarding Bynum's development this season, Lakers fans might see that tipping point in various places. They saw it in his aggressiveness, where his larger post presence ensured a career-high 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds a game.