AEG asks for 6-month extension to woo NFL team to Los Angeles

With the clock running out on its proposal to build a pro football stadium in downtown Los Angeles, Anschutz Entertainment Group has appealed to the city for extra time to land a team and work on an alternative development in case the effort fails.

Citing progress in negotiations with the National Football League, AEG asked Monday for six more months to bring an NFL franchise to Los Angeles and start building Farmers Field stadium.

The fate of the request will depend in part on whether city officials believe AEG really is close to luring a team to town. For months they have been studying ways of financing an expansion of the aging Los Angeles Convention Center without the revenue that a new stadium would generate.

Under a 2012 agreement with the city, AEG has until Oct. 17 to sign a team. It promised to build Farmers Field, construct a $287-million wing for the Convention Center and demolish the obsolete West Hall.

Although AEG insisted it remained committed to wooing a football team, the announcement Monday suggested the company was seriously considering the possibility of expanding the Convention Center complex without a stadium. Under either scenario, if it gets the extension, AEG would still be a driving force in developing the area around its multibillion-dollar Staples Center and L.A. Live complex.

To sweeten its request for an extension, AEG has offered to begin planning a convention hotel with 750 or more rooms. City officials had already asked architects to propose upgrades for the Convention Center and identify a spot for a 1,000-room hotel, which would make the facility more competitive with other convention venues.

"We are not asking for more time lightly," AEG Chief Executive Dan Beckerman said in a letter to Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council members, "as we understand from your feedback that there are important objectives and principles underlying the project that need to be advanced without undue delay."

AEG did not offer details on its negotiations with the NFL but said any decisions on team relocations would happen during the next six months.

Eric Grubman, an NFL executive vice president, said the league was guardedly optimistic about its discussions with AEG and supported the company's request for an extension of its agreement with the city.

"The discussions are very preliminary, but we are encouraged enough by recent progress that we share AEG's view that continued conversations would be worthwhile," he said in a statement. "An extension could well provide the time necessary for us and AEG to determine whether the downtown site can be considered by our membership during our next off-season period."

Garcetti, City Council President Herb Wesson and Councilman Curren Price, whose district includes the area, said they would support granting the extension.

Former Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Eisner, who has advised Garcetti on the Convention Center and the NFL, said: "The financial impact of getting this done for the city is enormous. So patience is difficult, but warranted.

"I think the city would not give AEG an extension if they didn't see progress being made — substantial progress being made," he said. "AEG … has moved the ball a little further down the field, let's say."

AEG, a giant international sports and music entertainment firm founded by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, owns the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and the L.A. Galaxy soccer team.

Its bid for an NFL team seemed promising two years ago in the flurry of enthusiasm over the proposed stadium, which included a multimillion-dollar commitment from Farmers Insurance for naming rights to the venue.

But by last spring, with negotiations between AEG and team owners apparently stalled, city officials announced they were preparing to give up on a stadium and take back control of developing the Convention Center site.

Many NFL insiders now consider a downtown stadium a long shot. What's more likely is a stadium development in Inglewood, where St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has purchased 60 acres near the Forum.

Real estate developers often ask for extensions from the city, but AEG's request faces widespread skepticism about the possibility of a football deal. Many city officials also feel they must quickly improve the Convention Center to help lure more convention business to Los Angeles.

The city had launched a design competition and narrowed it to three firms. It had been planning to award $200,000 to each finalist after AEG's Oct. 17 deadline expired.

Now AEG says it would spend $600,000 on alternative design plans and reimburse the city up to $150,000 for costs connected to evaluating the competing plans.

AEG also promised to push for development of a hotel with at least 750 rooms on Olympic Boulevard next to a new Marriott hotel complex and across the street from the Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels at L.A. Live.

"We, as the developer and the land owner, think we're uniquely situated to move forward a project expeditiously and successfully," said Ted Fikre, chief legal and development officer at AEG.

L.A.'s Convention Center has long been a drag on the city's budget, though AEG says it has turned around the performance since taking over management in December. More than $48 million in city hotel taxes help cover the yearly debt payments on the center's South Hall, which opened in 1993.

Robert "Bud" Ovrom, executive director of the city's Convention and Tourism Development Department, would not specifically discuss AEG's latest request. But he noted that the city already struggled to book conventions because of uncertainty about the facility's future.

"We're anxious to see a decision made one way or the other," he said. "From a marketing point of view, we need to get on with it."

The NFL, meanwhile, said it was not ruling out other potential stadium sites in the Los Angeles area.

The nation's second-largest media market has been without an NFL franchise since the Raiders and Rams left after the 1994 season. In the 20 years since, more than a dozen stadium proposals have come and gone.

Rumblings of a return to L.A. have grown louder in recent months, with three franchises — the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Rams — on year-to-year stadium leases for the first time, unhappy with their outdated venues and mulling relocation.

Both Garcetti and Wesson said they were willing to give AEG extra time to land a team.

"We've now brought negotiations between L.A. and the NFL further along than ever before, and combined with AEG's experience transforming downtown with Staples Center, I support continuing the momentum with them," Garcetti said in a statement.

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

AEG asks for 6-month extension to woo NFL team to Los Angeles

With the clock running out on its proposal to build a pro football stadium in downtown Los Angeles, Anschutz Entertainment Group has appealed to the city for extra time to land a team and work on an alternative development in case the effort fails.

Citing progress in negotiations with the National Football League, AEG asked Monday for six more months to bring an NFL franchise to Los Angeles and start building Farmers Field stadium.

The fate of the request will depend in part on whether city officials believe AEG really is close to luring a team to town. For months they have been studying ways of financing an expansion of the aging Los Angeles Convention Center without the revenue that a new stadium would generate.

Under a 2012 agreement with the city, AEG has until Oct. 17 to sign a team. It promised to build Farmers Field, construct a $287-million wing for the Convention Center and demolish the obsolete West Hall.

Although AEG insisted it remained committed to wooing a football team, the announcement Monday suggested the company was seriously considering the possibility of expanding the Convention Center complex without a stadium. Under either scenario, if it gets the extension, AEG would still be a driving force in developing the area around its multibillion-dollar Staples Center and L.A. Live complex.

To sweeten its request for an extension, AEG has offered to begin planning a convention hotel with 750 or more rooms. City officials had already asked architects to propose upgrades for the Convention Center and identify a spot for a 1,000-room hotel, which would make the facility more competitive with other convention venues.

"We are not asking for more time lightly," AEG Chief Executive Dan Beckerman said in a letter to Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council members, "as we understand from your feedback that there are important objectives and principles underlying the project that need to be advanced without undue delay."

AEG did not offer details on its negotiations with the NFL but said any decisions on team relocations would happen during the next six months.

Eric Grubman, an NFL executive vice president, said the league was guardedly optimistic about its discussions with AEG and supported the company's request for an extension of its agreement with the city.

"The discussions are very preliminary, but we are encouraged enough by recent progress that we share AEG's view that continued conversations would be worthwhile," he said in a statement. "An extension could well provide the time necessary for us and AEG to determine whether the downtown site can be considered by our membership during our next off-season period."

Garcetti, City Council President Herb Wesson and Councilman Curren Price, whose district includes the area, said they would support granting the extension.

Former Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Eisner, who has advised Garcetti on the Convention Center and the NFL, said: "The financial impact of getting this done for the city is enormous. So patience is difficult, but warranted.

"I think the city would not give AEG an extension if they didn't see progress being made — substantial progress being made," he said. "AEG … has moved the ball a little further down the field, let's say."

AEG, a giant international sports and music entertainment firm founded by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, owns the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and the L.A. Galaxy soccer team.

Its bid for an NFL team seemed promising two years ago in the flurry of enthusiasm over the proposed stadium, which included a multimillion-dollar commitment from Farmers Insurance for naming rights to the venue.

But by last spring, with negotiations between AEG and team owners apparently stalled, city officials announced they were preparing to give up on a stadium and take back control of developing the Convention Center site.

Many NFL insiders now consider a downtown stadium a long shot. What's more likely is a stadium development in Inglewood, where St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has purchased 60 acres near the Forum.

Real estate developers often ask for extensions from the city, but AEG's request faces widespread skepticism about the possibility of a football deal. Many city officials also feel they must quickly improve the Convention Center to help lure more convention business to Los Angeles.

The city had launched a design competition and narrowed it to three firms. It had been planning to award $200,000 to each finalist after AEG's Oct. 17 deadline expired.

Now AEG says it would spend $600,000 on alternative design plans and reimburse the city up to $150,000 for costs connected to evaluating the competing plans.

AEG also promised to push for development of a hotel with at least 750 rooms on Olympic Boulevard next to a new Marriott hotel complex and across the street from the Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels at L.A. Live.

"We, as the developer and the land owner, think we're uniquely situated to move forward a project expeditiously and successfully," said Ted Fikre, chief legal and development officer at AEG.

L.A.'s Convention Center has long been a drag on the city's budget, though AEG says it has turned around the performance since taking over management in December. More than $48 million in city hotel taxes help cover the yearly debt payments on the center's South Hall, which opened in 1993.

Robert "Bud" Ovrom, executive director of the city's Convention and Tourism Development Department, would not specifically discuss AEG's latest request. But he noted that the city already struggled to book conventions because of uncertainty about the facility's future.

"We're anxious to see a decision made one way or the other," he said. "From a marketing point of view, we need to get on with it."

The NFL, meanwhile, said it was not ruling out other potential stadium sites in the Los Angeles area.

The nation's second-largest media market has been without an NFL franchise since the Raiders and Rams left after the 1994 season. In the 20 years since, more than a dozen stadium proposals have come and gone.

Rumblings of a return to L.A. have grown louder in recent months, with three franchises — the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Rams — on year-to-year stadium leases for the first time, unhappy with their outdated venues and mulling relocation.

Both Garcetti and Wesson said they were willing to give AEG extra time to land a team.

"We've now brought negotiations between L.A. and the NFL further along than ever before, and combined with AEG's experience transforming downtown with Staples Center, I support continuing the momentum with them," Garcetti said in a statement.

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

AEG asks for 6-month extension to woo NFL team to Los Angeles

With the clock running out on its proposal to build a pro football stadium in downtown Los Angeles, Anschutz Entertainment Group has appealed to the city for extra time to land a team and work on an alternative development in case the effort fails.

Citing progress in negotiations with the National Football League, AEG asked Monday for six more months to bring an NFL franchise to Los Angeles and start building Farmers Field stadium.

The fate of the request will depend in part on whether city officials believe AEG really is close to luring a team to town. For months they have been studying ways of financing an expansion of the aging Los Angeles Convention Center without the revenue that a new stadium would generate.

Under a 2012 agreement with the city, AEG has until Oct. 17 to sign a team. It promised to build Farmers Field, construct a $287-million wing for the Convention Center and demolish the obsolete West Hall.

Although AEG insisted it remained committed to wooing a football team, the announcement Monday suggested the company was seriously considering the possibility of expanding the Convention Center complex without a stadium. Under either scenario, if it gets the extension, AEG would still be a driving force in developing the area around its multibillion-dollar Staples Center and L.A. Live complex.

To sweeten its request for an extension, AEG has offered to begin planning a convention hotel with 750 or more rooms. City officials had already asked architects to propose upgrades for the Convention Center and identify a spot for a 1,000-room hotel, which would make the facility more competitive with other convention venues.

"We are not asking for more time lightly," AEG Chief Executive Dan Beckerman said in a letter to Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council members, "as we understand from your feedback that there are important objectives and principles underlying the project that need to be advanced without undue delay."

AEG did not offer details on its negotiations with the NFL but said any decisions on team relocations would happen during the next six months.

Eric Grubman, an NFL executive vice president, said the league was guardedly optimistic about its discussions with AEG and supported the company's request for an extension of its agreement with the city.

"The discussions are very preliminary, but we are encouraged enough by recent progress that we share AEG's view that continued conversations would be worthwhile," he said in a statement. "An extension could well provide the time necessary for us and AEG to determine whether the downtown site can be considered by our membership during our next off-season period."

Garcetti, City Council President Herb Wesson and Councilman Curren Price, whose district includes the area, said they would support granting the extension.

Former Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Eisner, who has advised Garcetti on the Convention Center and the NFL, said: "The financial impact of getting this done for the city is enormous. So patience is difficult, but warranted.

"I think the city would not give AEG an extension if they didn't see progress being made — substantial progress being made," he said. "AEG … has moved the ball a little further down the field, let's say."

AEG, a giant international sports and music entertainment firm founded by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, owns the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and the L.A. Galaxy soccer team.

Its bid for an NFL team seemed promising two years ago in the flurry of enthusiasm over the proposed stadium, which included a multimillion-dollar commitment from Farmers Insurance for naming rights to the venue.

But by last spring, with negotiations between AEG and team owners apparently stalled, city officials announced they were preparing to give up on a stadium and take back control of developing the Convention Center site.

Many NFL insiders now consider a downtown stadium a long shot. What's more likely is a stadium development in Inglewood, where St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has purchased 60 acres near the Forum.

Real estate developers often ask for extensions from the city, but AEG's request faces widespread skepticism about the possibility of a football deal. Many city officials also feel they must quickly improve the Convention Center to help lure more convention business to Los Angeles.

The city had launched a design competition and narrowed it to three firms. It had been planning to award $200,000 to each finalist after AEG's Oct. 17 deadline expired.

Now AEG says it would spend $600,000 on alternative design plans and reimburse the city up to $150,000 for costs connected to evaluating the competing plans.

AEG also promised to push for development of a hotel with at least 750 rooms on Olympic Boulevard next to a new Marriott hotel complex and across the street from the Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels at L.A. Live.

"We, as the developer and the land owner, think we're uniquely situated to move forward a project expeditiously and successfully," said Ted Fikre, chief legal and development officer at AEG.

L.A.'s Convention Center has long been a drag on the city's budget, though AEG says it has turned around the performance since taking over management in December. More than $48 million in city hotel taxes help cover the yearly debt payments on the center's South Hall, which opened in 1993.

Robert "Bud" Ovrom, executive director of the city's Convention and Tourism Development Department, would not specifically discuss AEG's latest request. But he noted that the city already struggled to book conventions because of uncertainty about the facility's future.

"We're anxious to see a decision made one way or the other," he said. "From a marketing point of view, we need to get on with it."

The NFL, meanwhile, said it was not ruling out other potential stadium sites in the Los Angeles area.

The nation's second-largest media market has been without an NFL franchise since the Raiders and Rams left after the 1994 season. In the 20 years since, more than a dozen stadium proposals have come and gone.

Rumblings of a return to L.A. have grown louder in recent months, with three franchises — the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Rams — on year-to-year stadium leases for the first time, unhappy with their outdated venues and mulling relocation.

Both Garcetti and Wesson said they were willing to give AEG extra time to land a team.

"We've now brought negotiations between L.A. and the NFL further along than ever before, and combined with AEG's experience transforming downtown with Staples Center, I support continuing the momentum with them," Garcetti said in a statement.

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Karlsson's play is among the consolations in Ducks' 4-2 loss to Kings

In the way that beefy linemen are sometimes nicknamed "Tiny," center William Karlsson has been dubbed "Wild Bill" by his Ducks teammates.

"I don't know why," line mate Andrew Cogliano said. "He doesn't talk much."

The 21-year-old Swede, a 2011 second-round draft pick, is trying to make a statement during training camp and win an NHL job. His performance Sunday was among the consolations the Ducks drew from a 4-2 exhibition loss to the Kings at the Honda Center, as Karlsson set up Emerson Etem for the team's second goal and barely missed scoring a goal when his hard shot beat Martin Jones but struck the post during the first period.

"He's pretty skilled and he gets a lot of speed through the neutral zone with the puck and he makes good plays. It's unlucky, he hits the post and then they go down and score," Cogliano said of the play on which Karlsson hit metal and the Kings quickly counterattacked, taking a 2-0 lead on the first of Jeff Carter's three goals.

"I thought he played pretty good. I thought Etem played pretty good. I thought our line had some chances and Etem got a big goal for himself."

Karlsson left home last season to play for the Ducks' American Hockey League farm team in Norfolk, Va. He had two goals and nine points in nine regular-season games and a goal and three points in eight playoff contests.

That experience accelerated his adjustment to North American rinks, which are 15 feet wider than in Europe.

"That helped me a lot actually," he said. "Helped me adjust to the way they play here. The rink is smaller and goes much faster and it's more physical."

The Ducks (2-3-1 in preseason) don't play again until their exhibition finale Saturday against San Jose. That gives Coach Bruce Boudreau time to figure where Karlsson might fit.

"I thought tonight was his best game of the preseason, so we'll have to sit back and evaluate how that's going on," Boudreau said. "That's another thing you do all week long, is evaluate what we have and see if there's anything needed."

Boudreau also can use the time to analyze why the Ducks' power play was 0 for 6 Sunday, including two five-on-three advantages.

"That's where we've got to focus a little bit on getting a lot better," he said. "It was our Achilles' heel last season and so far in preseason it's been our Achilles' heel."

It's a vulnerability he believes can be fixed. "You're not sitting here before the season starts and saying, 'Whoa, what's going on with the Ducks?'" he said. "We're fine."

Still, he didn't like losing to the Kings for the second time in four days — even exhibition games. "This has been a bad week in that respect," he said. "No, you never do."

helene.elliott@latimes.com

Twitter: @helenenothelen

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Karlsson's play is among the consolations in Ducks' 4-2 loss to Kings

In the way that beefy linemen are sometimes nicknamed "Tiny," center William Karlsson has been dubbed "Wild Bill" by his Ducks teammates.

"I don't know why," line mate Andrew Cogliano said. "He doesn't talk much."

The 21-year-old Swede, a 2011 second-round draft pick, is trying to make a statement during training camp and win an NHL job. His performance Sunday was among the consolations the Ducks drew from a 4-2 exhibition loss to the Kings at the Honda Center, as Karlsson set up Emerson Etem for the team's second goal and barely missed scoring a goal when his hard shot beat Martin Jones but struck the post during the first period.

"He's pretty skilled and he gets a lot of speed through the neutral zone with the puck and he makes good plays. It's unlucky, he hits the post and then they go down and score," Cogliano said of the play on which Karlsson hit metal and the Kings quickly counterattacked, taking a 2-0 lead on the first of Jeff Carter's three goals.

"I thought he played pretty good. I thought Etem played pretty good. I thought our line had some chances and Etem got a big goal for himself."

Karlsson left home last season to play for the Ducks' American Hockey League farm team in Norfolk, Va. He had two goals and nine points in nine regular-season games and a goal and three points in eight playoff contests.

That experience accelerated his adjustment to North American rinks, which are 15 feet wider than in Europe.

"That helped me a lot actually," he said. "Helped me adjust to the way they play here. The rink is smaller and goes much faster and it's more physical."

The Ducks (2-3-1 in preseason) don't play again until their exhibition finale Saturday against San Jose. That gives Coach Bruce Boudreau time to figure where Karlsson might fit.

"I thought tonight was his best game of the preseason, so we'll have to sit back and evaluate how that's going on," Boudreau said. "That's another thing you do all week long, is evaluate what we have and see if there's anything needed."

Boudreau also can use the time to analyze why the Ducks' power play was 0 for 6 Sunday, including two five-on-three advantages.

"That's where we've got to focus a little bit on getting a lot better," he said. "It was our Achilles' heel last season and so far in preseason it's been our Achilles' heel."

It's a vulnerability he believes can be fixed. "You're not sitting here before the season starts and saying, 'Whoa, what's going on with the Ducks?'" he said. "We're fine."

Still, he didn't like losing to the Kings for the second time in four days — even exhibition games. "This has been a bad week in that respect," he said. "No, you never do."

helene.elliott@latimes.com

Twitter: @helenenothelen

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Karlsson's play is among the consolations in Ducks' 4-2 loss to Kings

In the way that beefy linemen are sometimes nicknamed "Tiny," center William Karlsson has been dubbed "Wild Bill" by his Ducks teammates.

"I don't know why," line mate Andrew Cogliano said. "He doesn't talk much."

The 21-year-old Swede, a 2011 second-round draft pick, is trying to make a statement during training camp and win an NHL job. His performance Sunday was among the consolations the Ducks drew from a 4-2 exhibition loss to the Kings at the Honda Center, as Karlsson set up Emerson Etem for the team's second goal and barely missed scoring a goal when his hard shot beat Martin Jones but struck the post during the first period.

"He's pretty skilled and he gets a lot of speed through the neutral zone with the puck and he makes good plays. It's unlucky, he hits the post and then they go down and score," Cogliano said of the play on which Karlsson hit metal and the Kings quickly counterattacked, taking a 2-0 lead on the first of Jeff Carter's three goals.

"I thought he played pretty good. I thought Etem played pretty good. I thought our line had some chances and Etem got a big goal for himself."

Karlsson left home last season to play for the Ducks' American Hockey League farm team in Norfolk, Va. He had two goals and nine points in nine regular-season games and a goal and three points in eight playoff contests.

That experience accelerated his adjustment to North American rinks, which are 15 feet wider than in Europe.

"That helped me a lot actually," he said. "Helped me adjust to the way they play here. The rink is smaller and goes much faster and it's more physical."

The Ducks (2-3-1 in preseason) don't play again until their exhibition finale Saturday against San Jose. That gives Coach Bruce Boudreau time to figure where Karlsson might fit.

"I thought tonight was his best game of the preseason, so we'll have to sit back and evaluate how that's going on," Boudreau said. "That's another thing you do all week long, is evaluate what we have and see if there's anything needed."

Boudreau also can use the time to analyze why the Ducks' power play was 0 for 6 Sunday, including two five-on-three advantages.

"That's where we've got to focus a little bit on getting a lot better," he said. "It was our Achilles' heel last season and so far in preseason it's been our Achilles' heel."

It's a vulnerability he believes can be fixed. "You're not sitting here before the season starts and saying, 'Whoa, what's going on with the Ducks?'" he said. "We're fine."

Still, he didn't like losing to the Kings for the second time in four days — even exhibition games. "This has been a bad week in that respect," he said. "No, you never do."

helene.elliott@latimes.com

Twitter: @helenenothelen

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Angels' Josh Hamilton is anything but certain for division series

While Matt Shoemaker took what he called a "big step" in his recovery from a left rib-cage strain Saturday, Josh Hamilton continued to spin his wheels in his recovery from right rib-cage and chest injuries that could sideline the Angels left fielder for the American League division series.

Hamilton said Wednesday that he had "no doubt" he would be ready for next Thursday's playoff opener, even though he has sat out all but one game since Sept. 5. Manager Mike Scioscia, however, has plenty of doubt.

Asked Saturday whether he is as confident as Hamilton is about playing, Scioscia said, rather bluntly, "No."

Scioscia met with Hamilton before Saturday night's game 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings.

"We talked with Josh, and he knows what he needs to do and what we need to see for him to be ready," Scioscia said. "We're hopeful, but he has to show us some things, particularly from a health aspect, because if you jump the gun on this he could be setting himself back, especially if we get past first round."

Hamilton threw Friday and ran and took dry swings Saturday, but continued discomfort in his chest prevented him from taking batting practice for a fourth straight day.

The team's evaluation of Hamilton probably will run all the way to Thursday morning, when the Angels have to submit their division series roster.

Hamilton hopes to hit off live pitching next week.

"He needs to be able to run pain-free, to throw pain-free, and to do it proficiently," Scioscia said. "I think we're seeing that. We want to see the nice free swing that is not restricted, and you want to see how he rebounds from it. There are some things I think we can find out in some workouts."

If Hamilton, who is batting .263 with 10 homers and 44 runs batted in, is not ready for the division series, Collin Cowgill would probably start in left field, with C.J. Cron and either Efren Navarro or Brennan Boesch platooning at designated hitter.

The prognosis for Shoemaker looked better after he extended his long-toss program to 200-250 feet Saturday, the final step before the right-hander throws off a mound.

"The way it's going, I'm very optimistic about pitching in the playoffs," Shoemaker said.

"The tightness or soreness is still there, but it's just about gone. I barely feel it. Each day, it's gotten better."

Barring setback, Shoemaker expects to throw off a mound Sunday or Monday. Jered Weaver will start Game 1 of the division series. C.J. Wilson, who looked sharp in a six-inning, one-run, four-hit effort Saturday night, is lined up to start Game 2, so Shoemaker probably wouldn't pitch until Game 3 next Sunday.

Asked whether the tightness and pain he is feeling now is something he can pitch through, Shoemaker said, "Oh, sure."

If Shoemaker can regain the form that helped him go 16-4 with a 3.04 earned-run average, 124 strikeouts and 24 walks in 136 innings, it would be a huge boost to a rotation that has been plagued by injury and inconsistency.

The Angels clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on Friday, but all of their starters played Saturday — though Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun, Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick and David Freese were gone by the eighth inning — and many are expected to play in Sunday's regular-season finale.

Scioscia wanted to "maintain the integrity of the game" for the Mariners and Oakland Athletics, who are fighting for a wild-card berth, but more important, he wants the Angels to stay sharp going into the playoffs.

"There's no way you can put bubble wrap on guys for six days and then say, 'OK, let's go out and play,'" Scioscia said. "It's going to be tough enough with a three-day lag, let alone turning it into a five- or six-day lag. You have to get into the flow of the game and keep your edge."

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Angels' Josh Hamilton is anything but certain for division series

While Matt Shoemaker took what he called a "big step" in his recovery from a left rib-cage strain Saturday, Josh Hamilton continued to spin his wheels in his recovery from right rib-cage and chest injuries that could sideline the Angels left fielder for the American League division series.

Hamilton said Wednesday that he had "no doubt" he would be ready for next Thursday's playoff opener, even though he has sat out all but one game since Sept. 5. Manager Mike Scioscia, however, has plenty of doubt.

Asked Saturday whether he is as confident as Hamilton is about playing, Scioscia said, rather bluntly, "No."

Scioscia met with Hamilton before Saturday night's game 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings.

"We talked with Josh, and he knows what he needs to do and what we need to see for him to be ready," Scioscia said. "We're hopeful, but he has to show us some things, particularly from a health aspect, because if you jump the gun on this he could be setting himself back, especially if we get past first round."

Hamilton threw Friday and ran and took dry swings Saturday, but continued discomfort in his chest prevented him from taking batting practice for a fourth straight day.

The team's evaluation of Hamilton probably will run all the way to Thursday morning, when the Angels have to submit their division series roster.

Hamilton hopes to hit off live pitching next week.

"He needs to be able to run pain-free, to throw pain-free, and to do it proficiently," Scioscia said. "I think we're seeing that. We want to see the nice free swing that is not restricted, and you want to see how he rebounds from it. There are some things I think we can find out in some workouts."

If Hamilton, who is batting .263 with 10 homers and 44 runs batted in, is not ready for the division series, Collin Cowgill would probably start in left field, with C.J. Cron and either Efren Navarro or Brennan Boesch platooning at designated hitter.

The prognosis for Shoemaker looked better after he extended his long-toss program to 200-250 feet Saturday, the final step before the right-hander throws off a mound.

"The way it's going, I'm very optimistic about pitching in the playoffs," Shoemaker said.

"The tightness or soreness is still there, but it's just about gone. I barely feel it. Each day, it's gotten better."

Barring setback, Shoemaker expects to throw off a mound Sunday or Monday. Jered Weaver will start Game 1 of the division series. C.J. Wilson, who looked sharp in a six-inning, one-run, four-hit effort Saturday night, is lined up to start Game 2, so Shoemaker probably wouldn't pitch until Game 3 next Sunday.

Asked whether the tightness and pain he is feeling now is something he can pitch through, Shoemaker said, "Oh, sure."

If Shoemaker can regain the form that helped him go 16-4 with a 3.04 earned-run average, 124 strikeouts and 24 walks in 136 innings, it would be a huge boost to a rotation that has been plagued by injury and inconsistency.

The Angels clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on Friday, but all of their starters played Saturday — though Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun, Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick and David Freese were gone by the eighth inning — and many are expected to play in Sunday's regular-season finale.

Scioscia wanted to "maintain the integrity of the game" for the Mariners and Oakland Athletics, who are fighting for a wild-card berth, but more important, he wants the Angels to stay sharp going into the playoffs.

"There's no way you can put bubble wrap on guys for six days and then say, 'OK, let's go out and play,'" Scioscia said. "It's going to be tough enough with a three-day lag, let alone turning it into a five- or six-day lag. You have to get into the flow of the game and keep your edge."

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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DreamWorks Animation in talks to sell to Japan's SoftBank

DreamWorks Animation Studios, the studio behind the "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda" and "Madagascar" movies, is in talks to sell the company to Japanese telecommunications firm SoftBank Corp., according to a person  familiar with the talks.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of the Glendale studio, has been in discussions to sell the company he launched twenty years ago to SoftBank, which owns Sprint Corp. and recently dropped a bid to acquire T-Mobile.

The DreamWorks board held a meeting Thursday to consider an offer by SoftBank to buy DreamWorks for $32 a share, well above the company's current share price, which closed at $22.36 on Friday, according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss the talks.

Katzenberg considered selling the company two years ago but withdrew those plans to focus on building the business into a broad-based studio with interests in television, theme parks, live entertainment and digital media. In an interview with The Times this summer, Katzenberg said he was no longer looking to sell the studio but focusing on growing its businesses.

The talks with SoftBank come as DreamWorks Animation has been attempting to diversify its operations after a string of box-office misfires over the last two years that rattled investors and caused a sharp decline in the company's share price.

Earlier this year, the company took a $57-million write-down for "Mr. Peabody & Sherman," the third write-down in less than two years for the studio. After its 2013 summer hit "The Croods," DreamWorks took a $13.5-million charge this year on its snail comedy "Turbo." And last year, DreamWorks reported an $87-million write-down for "Rise of the Guardians." The flop was one reason DreamWorks laid off about 350 employees.

DreamWorks Animation was founded twenty years ago as part of the studio created by Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. The company was spun off as a separate public company in 2004.

Since then, the company has evolved from a fledgling studio into a $700-million-a-year multimedia powerhouse and one of the industry's leading animation companies.

But Katzenberg has come under growing pressure to improve DreamWorks' performance as it faces growing competition from rival studios.

SoftBank has been on the lookout for acquisitions. Last year, the company made an unsuccessful attempt to buy Universal Music Group from Vivendi. SoftBank recently drew attention for its $20-million investment in Chinese Internet giant Alibaba.

The deal talks were first reported by the Hollywood Reporter.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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North Central Texas College bus crashes in Oklahoma; 3 dead, more hurt

Three people are dead and more than 15 are injured in Oklahoma after a North Central Texas College bus collided with a semi truck Friday night.

The collision happened around 9 p.m. local time on Interstate 35, north of Ardmore, Okla., said Capt. Ronnie Hampton, spokesman for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

At least three people were declared dead at the scene, he said.  It is unclear if the three were college students.

"It appears it is a sports team, but I don't know which sport right now," Hampton said.

It was unclear how many people were on the bus.

Follow @theryanparker for breaking news

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

North Central Texas College bus crashes in Oklahoma; 3 dead, more hurt

Three people are dead and more than 15 are injured in Oklahoma after a North Central Texas College bus collided with a semi truck Friday night.

The collision happened around 9 p.m. local time on Interstate 35, north of Ardmore, Okla., said Capt. Ronnie Hampton, spokesman for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

At least three people were declared dead at the scene, he said.  It is unclear if the three were college students.

"It appears it is a sports team, but I don't know which sport right now," Hampton said.

It was unclear how many people were on the bus.

Follow @theryanparker for breaking news

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

North Central Texas College bus crashes in Oklahoma; 3 dead, more hurt

Three people are dead and more than 15 are injured in Oklahoma after a North Central Texas College bus collided with a semi truck Friday night.

The collision happened around 9 p.m. local time on Interstate 35, north of Ardmore, Okla., said Capt. Ronnie Hampton, spokesman for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

At least three people were declared dead at the scene, he said.  It is unclear if the three were college students.

"It appears it is a sports team, but I don't know which sport right now," Hampton said.

It was unclear how many people were on the bus.

Follow @theryanparker for breaking news

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Live updates: UCLA leads Arizona State, 48-27

UCLA went into a pseudo-prevent defense for this drive, putting a safety or two back deep and allowing short passes underneath. That will pump up the offensive stats for ASU a bit, but at this point, it doesn't really matter. 

A roughing the passer penalty from Matt Dickerson put the Sun Devils inside the 10 yard line, but they couldn't convert a fourth down. 

---

Brett Hundleys' stat line deserves its own post. He's completed 18 of his 23 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns. This is one of the best games of his career and should get him some more talk for the Heisman. Somehow, he's doing it quietly, as the biggest Bruin plays of the night have come from Ishmael Adams. 

Jordan Payton is also having a heck of a game, catching five catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. 

---

UCLA 55, Arizona State 27 (10:32 left in the fourth quarter)

Well, that's another big play from UCLA. Jordan Payton caught a short pass and turned it into a 52-yard gain, breaking a couple tackles in the proccess. Payton finished off the drive with a nice catch in the corner of the end zone, and this game is over. 

On a side note, Arizona State is one of the worst tackling teams I've ever seen. They go for the big hits with no intention of wrapping up, which has obviously helped some of these big plays get going for the Bruins. 

---

ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici almost took a safety, and then was almost intercepted, but managed to get the ball out to the 10 yard line. From there, the Sun Devils got another big fourth down conversion, their second of the half. 

But when the situation came up again deep in UCLA's side of the field, ASU failed to convert a fourth-and-four. A big stop for UCLA, as the Bruins get the ball back with 13 minutes left in the game.  

---

UCLA got a big chunk of yards after ASU was called for a late hit out of bounds, but the Bruins barely got past midfield before punting. There are two minutes left in the third quarter, and if ASU doesn't score on this drive, we might have seen the last of Hundley tonight. 

---

UCLA 48, Arizona State 27 (4:10 left in the third quarter)

A much needed score from Arizona State, but it might be too little too late. The Sun Devils put together a nice drive there, needing four minutes to go 75 yards on 11 plays. Mike Bercovici capped it with his third touchdown pass of the night. If it wasn't for the two interceptions, he'd have a very good stat line going right now. 

---

As the Sun Devils get the ball back, I'm thinking Brett Hundley isn't going to finish this game. It doesn't make any sense to keep him out there, not up 28 points and not with the elbow injury. There's an argument to be made for his Heisman stats, but there's also an argument to me made for keeping your best player healthy for conference play. I think the latter is going to win out here. Might be seeing some of young Mr. Neuheisel in the fourth quarter. 

---

UCLA 48, Arizona State 20 (9:33 left in the third quarter)

And, this one is just about over. Mike Bercovici fumbles the ball deep in his own zone, Kenny Clark recovers, and then Brett Hundley scrambles for a gain of 22 yards. Freshman running back Nate Starks walked the ball in for the first touchown of his career, and UCLA has blown this thing open. ASU has three turnovers on the night, and it doesn't look like the Sun Devils have much fight left in them. 

---

UCLA has four plays tonight that have totaled more than 80 yards. Four. That would be tough to get in a video game, much less the team that was supposed to give the Bruins so much trouble in the Pac-12 South. 

---

UCLA 41, Arizona State 20 (9:33 left in the third quarter)

Have a day, Ishmael Adams. Have a day. After returning an interception for a touchdown to end the first half, he took a kickoff from his own end zone and returned it 100 yards for his second touchdown of the game. He was helped out by miserable tackling from ASU, but also wasn't touched on the return. Unbelievable. He's single-handidly blown this game open. 

---

UCLA 34, Arizona State 20 (9:33 left in the third quarter)

Arizona State needed a touchdown, but a field goal will help the cause. 

On fourth-and-seven, needing a first down in the worst way, Deantre Lewis made a big play in the flat. After catching the short pass, he turned left instead of right, which was enough to free him for a 10-yard gain. The next play, Kalen Ballage picked up a first down on an end around to get the Sun Devils into the red zone. Quarterback Mike Bercovici almost threw another intercpetion in the end zone, though, and the ASU drive stalled on the seven yard line. Zane Gonzalez chipped in the 24-yard field goal, and the Sun Devils are within two touchdowns. 

---

Brett Hundley's stat line right now: 16 for 21 for 299 yards and three touchdowns. That is, um, good. 

Also, the Bruins have three plays of more than 80 yards on the night. That'll win you some ball games. 

---

UCLA 34, Arizona State 17 (14:41 left in the third quarter)

Well, that was quick. On the first play of the second half, Jordan Payton ran a simple fly route down the sideline after being held at the line of scrimmage, and Brett Hundley delivered it perfectly. Payton raced into the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown, and just like that, the Bruins are up by 17. 

---

Some halftime stats: 

Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici has thrown for 215 yards and two touchdowns, but has also thrown two interceptions, including the pick-six to Ishmael Adams to end the half. Running back D.J. Foster, statistically one of the best rushers in the nation, has ran for just 15 yards on six carries. As a whole, the Sun Devils have rushed for 78 yards. 

For the Bruins, Brett Hundley is having a really nice game. He's completed 15 of his 20 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns, and has 31 yards on the ground. Running back Paul Perkins continues to run the ball well, totaling 52 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Lastly, wide receiver Thomas Duarte has four catches for 95 yards.

It would be a bigger deal if not for the defensive touchdown, but the Bruins have seven penalties for 70 yards. Regardless of the opponent, those numbers need to go down. 

---

UCLA 27, Arizona State 17 (Halftime)

Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici had three pretty bad throws in a row, but on third down, he was bailed out on yet another penalty by UCLA. This time, it was defensive back Ishmael Adams, who was called for holding. 

The Sun Devils were called for holding on the next play, which seemed to take away whatever chance they had of scoring before halftime. 

On second down, though, Deantre Lewis turned a drive route down the middle into a 16-yard gain, which got the ASU offense into field-goal position. 

The Sun Devils had a chance to get into the end zone, but then Adams made up for his penalty by intercepting a horribly thrown ball from Bercovici and returning it 95 yards for a touchdown. He wasn't touched on the return, and there was no Sun Devil defender within 10 yards of him for most of the return. 

Can't stress enough how big of a swing that was. Instead of going into the half tied, UCLA now has a 10-point lead, and will get the ball back to start the second half. Those are the type of plays that win teams championships. 

---

UCLA 20, ASU 17 (2:13 left in the second quarter)

UCLA took over at its own 10-yard line, but Paul Perkins put on a filthy juke and picked up 17 yards to give the offense a little breathing room. The Bruins chipped away, then Thomas Duarte caught another ball down the middle of the field, this time for a 30-yard gain. He's been able to split the middle of the ASU defense with ease, and has caught four passes for 95 yards in the first half. 

On third-and-two, Brett Hundley scrambled down the near sideline, picking up 21 yards and getting the Bruins to the ASU four-yard line. The next play, Hundley found fullback Nate Iese in the back of the end zone to give UCLA its first lead of the night.

The ASU defense seemed to be focused on Myles Jack in the backfield, which left Iese in good position in the end zone. Of the fullback's six catches this season, two are for touchdowns. 

A defensive struggle, this is not. 

---

Also of note: The Bruins have been called for six penalties, totaling 60 yards. That is not good, especially considering ASU has just one for five yards. 

---

On a first-down screen, ASU running back D.J. Foster got the ball in the open field and gained 20 yards. He might have found the end zone if it wasn't for UCLA defensive back Jaleel Wadood, who made a great tackle in open space. 

The drive stalled after the big play, and the Sun Devils were forced to punt for the first time this game with a little over five minutes remaining before halftime. 

---

Ah, the difference between Mike Bercovici and Brett Hundley. Bercovici slides to avoid contact, Hundley leaps over a defender and gets pounded by a defender after landing. He got a solid gain, but needed a nice run from Myles Jack to pick up a first down. 

UCLA had two chances to pick up serious yardage, and failed twice. The first time was in the flat, but running back Paul Perkins caught the ball with his knee on the ground. In college, that's an incompletion. The second, Eldridge Massington was wide open down the field, but Hundley overthrew him. After the two miscues, UCLA can't capitalize on the interception and punts. 

---

Smart play from ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici. He faked a handoff and then scrambled off the shoulder of his right tackle for a first down. Instead of taking the hit and getting another couple yards, he slid early. Smart play from a backup quarterback that knows there isn't another solid option to throw the ball behind him. 

The UCLA defense forced its second turnover the day, though, when Anthony Jefferson made a great play to intercept the ball on a well-thrown ball down the far sideline. ASU was putting together another nice drive, but now the Bruins have a chance to get their first lead of the game. 

---

ASU 17, UCLA 13 (13:00 left in the second quarter)

Huge, huge play from freshman wide receiver Eldridge Massington. Brett Hundley threw him the ball for a short gain on third down, but Massington broke three tackles and raced all the way down the field for an 80-yard touchdown. Two ASU defenders tackled each other instead of Massington.

Just like that, the Bruins are back in the game. 

---

ASU 17, UCLA 6 (14:24 left in the second quarter)

A beautiful pass from ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici, but an even better catch from Cameron Smith to give the Sun Devils another touchdown. The pass went right where it needed to go, between UCLA cornerbacks Fabian Moreau and Jaleel Wadood, and the Sun Devils are ahead by 11 points. 

ASU needed just two and half minutes to go 75 yards in eight plays. Bercovici, the backup quarterback, has already thrown for 128 yards and two touchdowns. 

---

Some first quarter stats of note: Brett Hundley has looked good, completing seven of 10 passes for 86 yards. Arizona State has rushed for 50 yards. UCLA has rushed for seven. ASU star running back D.J. Foster has 15 yards rushing and is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. 

---

On the second play of this drive, UCLA defensive back Ishmael Adams missed a pick-six by just a couple of inches. He jumped the route, but was just short of intercepting the pass. 

The close play opened up the drive for the Sun Devils. At the end of the first quarter, ASU has the ball at UCLA's 31-yard line, looking to extend its 10-6 lead. 

---

ASU 10, UCLA 6 (1:54 left in the first quarter)

It didn't take long for the Bruins to rip off a big chunk of yards in response. Ishmael Adams returned the kickoff for 44 yards, then Thomas Duarte caught a pass down the middle of the field and broke three tackles for a 31-yard gain. Duarte came close to another big first-down reception, but was stopped short of the marker by a yard or two. 

Ka'imi Fairbairn got some more points on the board with a 24-yard field goal, but the Bruins are still without a touchdown. 

---

ASU 10, UCLA 3 (3:43 left in the first quarter)

ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici, the usual backup, was having very real issues throwing the ball in the first quarter. The arm strength seems to be there, but there wasn't a a lick of accuracy out there. 

And, as soon as I finish typing that, Bercovici finds a wide-open Cam Smith in the flat for a first down. The next play, he fires a perfect pass into tight coverage for a 25-yard gain.

On second-and-goal, the quarterback executed a perfect throwback pass in the corner of the end zone to score the first touchdown of the game. The pass was caught by an open Kody Kohl for his first career touchdown reception. Linebacker Eric Kendricks bit hard on the play fake, allowing Kohl to get open.

That's a cool nine-play, 75 yard drive in a little over three minutes. 

---

Crowd seems to be filling in nicely. Looks to be about 90% full. 

---

ASU 3, UCLA 3 (6:54 left in the first quarter)

For the second time in four plays, Kenneth Walker III sees another pass go through his hands, this time on second down. On third down, though, Brett Hundley looked to his most dependable, Jordan Payton, and got into the red zone with a big first down completion. 

After the fresh set of downs, the Bruins got cute with an inside flip pass to fullback Nate Iese, which lost a yard. Hundley was sacked on third down, which brought on the field goal team. 

ASU burned its second timeout of the half, then kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn tied the game up with a 36-yard field goal. 

---

Well, that's a big swing. Star Sun Devil running back D.J. Foster fumbled the ball, and Eric Kendricks recovered. The fumble seemed to be caused by defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. UCLA gets the ball back with great field position. 

---

Brett Hundley's first pass was a designed screen to running back Paul Perkins, who got blown up and lost a yard. We then had a television timeout that seemed to last longer than ASU's opening drive. 

Perkins ran the ball for two yards on second down, and a strike from Hundley to Devin Fuller moved the chains for the Bruins. Remember, it's Hundley's left, non-throwing elbow that's injured. It's not likely to affect his passing, but could affect the way Hundley scrambles. 

Speaking of scrambling, Hundley felt pressure and scurried for a first down, but the play was called back because of an offensive hands to the face penalty on Caleb Benenoch. Hundley appeared to connect with Fuller for another first down, but again, the play was called back on a penalty. This time, the offender was Thomas Duarte, who got called for offensive pass interference. On third down, Kenneth Walker III dropped a short pass, and UCLA was forced to punt. 

---

Brett Hundley is starting at quarterback as UCLA takes the field for its first offensive drive. No real surprise. 

---

ASU 3, UCLA 0 (12:54 left in the first quarter)

On the first play of the game, ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici flipped the ball to Kalen Ballage for a 10 yard gain. The Sun Devils kept driving, picking up a big first down on third-and-eight, then snatching up 15 yards for a facemask penalty called on Myles Jack. 

The Sun Devils picked up the first points of the game on a career-long 49-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez. 

Arizona State seems to be making a concerted effort to spread the defense out, but so far, Bercovici hasn't been accurate enough to make that work. His passes are going wide, low, and everywhere in between. 

---

And, we're off. Arizona State has elected to receive the ball, and UCLA will get it in the second half. No Texas-like snafus at the coin flip. 

Temperature is announced at 98 degrees. That, combined with the leftover smoke from the opening introduction, makes it seem like these two teams are about to play in a volcano. 

---

With the opening kick in five minutes, the student section has begun to fill up. Other than that, still a ton of empty seats here.

I went to a carnival once and did that little jelly bean in the jar guessing game. The actual number was something around 4,000. I guessed something around 400. So I'm not good at estimating numbers, but I would say this stadium is probably around 75% full right now. 

---

Pretty empty stadium here so far. Fifteen minutes until kickoff, the stadium is at maybe 20% capacity. Could be a late arriving crowd, but there are not a lot of folks in their seats right now. 

---

More warmup observations: Junior defensive lineman Ellis McCarthy is not on the field for warmups. He's easily the biggest Bruin defensive lineman at 325 pounds, a real space-filler in every sense of the phrase. 

Update: After being absent for the initial warmup, Ellis McCarthy came out onto the field for the closing warmup. 

---

Other injury updates: Tackle Malcolm Bunche (lower leg), safety Anthony Jefferson (anke) and cornerback Fabian Moreau (elbow) are all on the field warming up. Again, not definitive, but certainly a good sign for their chances of playing tonight. 

---

For people asking about what the official depth chart says about Brett Hundley's status, there is no real official depth chart. UCLA coach Jim Mora doesn't believe in them. 

Don't believe me? Randall Goforth is still listing as the starting safety. Last week, the Bruins announced that he's having surgery on both shoulders and will be out for the season. 

---

The Brett Hundley watch continues. UCLA players are now warming up on the field in full uniform, and Hundley is wearing a massive brace on his left elbow. He's warming up normally with the rest of the quarterbacks, though, which is a good sign for his playing status tonight. 

---

I suppose it's not a certainty until the game actually starts, but it looks like Brett Hundley is going to play when UCLA takes on Arizona State tonight in a Pac-12 Conference football game.

If Hundley makes it through warmups, indications are that the redshirt junior quarterback is going to play. 

And, so far, so good. He's warming up with the other quarterbacks, like normal, and is skipping around like a man who doesn't expect to sit on the bench. 

::

Hello from sunny Arizona, where the temperature seems to be somehow getting warmer as the day goes on. It was in the low 90s when the LA Times crew arrived, and the temperature at kickoff is going to be around 97 degrees. Shouldn't be too much of a factor, mostly because it's a dry heat and also because the Bruins practice on a turf field that feels much hotter than it does on the field right now.

More than 90 minutes before kickoff, there are already some shenanigans on the field. Someone who is theoretically associated with the Bruins carved a "UCLA" into the Arizona State pitchfork at midfield. The Sun Devils were not too pleased. After painting over the message, there are now three security guards standing at midfield, making sure it doesn't happen again. 

On scene today, along with yours truly, are Times reporter Chris Foster and columnist Chris Dufresne. I'll be updating this blog post as well as tweeting @everettcook. 

If you have questions you want answered in this space, tweet or email (everett.cook@latimes.com). I'll get to as many as I can, so long as the oppressive Arizona sun doesn't do me in first. 

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Mexico detains 8 soldiers in killing of 22 people in June

A Mexican army officer and seven soldiers were brought before a military court Thursday in connection with the shootings of 22 people in June -- an incident officials portrayed as a gun battle.

The Mexican Defense Ministry said the eight men were under a form of detention pending investigation of the June 30 killings in the town of Tlatlaya, 150 miles southwest of Mexico City.

They were being held on suspicion of "crimes against military discipline, disobedience and violation of official duties," the ministry said in a statement released Thursday night.

The army initially said the 22 people were killed on June 30 in a fierce gun battle between soldiers and an armed gang and that three kidnap victims were rescued. One soldier was reported wounded.

But journalists who reached the site found evidence, including blood spatters on walls, that suggested not a battle but a one-by-one killing of the gang members.

Later, a purported witness told the Associated Press and Esquire Latin America that she saw soldiers killing gang members who were wounded or surrendering, among them a 15-year-old girl.

The case drew scornful complaints from numerous human rights organizations, who demanded an investigation.

Alleged human rights abuses by the military, including torture and extrajudicial killings, have soared in recent years as the army and navy are used as the front-line combatant force in Mexico's war on drug cartels. It is rare, however, for the government to challenge the military and rarer still for soldiers to be prosecuted.

The Mexican Supreme Court, under pressure from international judicial bodies, has ordered military personnel accused of crimes involving civilians be tried in civilian courts. But the army has been slow to comply.

Still, the action on the Tlatlaya case was unusually swift. It is the first major case of its nature in the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto, who has been in office 21 months. He may be attempting to demonstrate a willingness to prosecute military officials that was not the norm in the government of his predecessor, President Felipe Calderon.

Separately, both the federal attorney general's office and the semi-autonomous National Human Rights Commission are investigating the Tlatlaya killings.

Twitter: @TracyKWilkinson

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Live updates: UCLA leads Arizona State, 48-27

UCLA went into a pseudo-prevent defense for this drive, putting a safety or two back deep and allowing short passes underneath. That will pump up the offensive stats for ASU a bit, but at this point, it doesn't really matter. 

A roughing the passer penalty from Matt Dickerson put the Sun Devils inside the 10 yard line, but they couldn't convert a fourth down. 

---

Brett Hundleys' stat line deserves its own post. He's completed 18 of his 23 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns. This is one of the best games of his career and should get him some more talk for the Heisman. Somehow, he's doing it quietly, as the biggest Bruin plays of the night have come from Ishmael Adams. 

Jordan Payton is also having a heck of a game, catching five catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. 

---

UCLA 55, Arizona State 27 (10:32 left in the fourth quarter)

Well, that's another big play from UCLA. Jordan Payton caught a short pass and turned it into a 52-yard gain, breaking a couple tackles in the proccess. Payton finished off the drive with a nice catch in the corner of the end zone, and this game is over. 

On a side note, Arizona State is one of the worst tackling teams I've ever seen. They go for the big hits with no intention of wrapping up, which has obviously helped some of these big plays get going for the Bruins. 

---

ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici almost took a safety, and then was almost intercepted, but managed to get the ball out to the 10 yard line. From there, the Sun Devils got another big fourth down conversion, their second of the half. 

But when the situation came up again deep in UCLA's side of the field, ASU failed to convert a fourth-and-four. A big stop for UCLA, as the Bruins get the ball back with 13 minutes left in the game.  

---

UCLA got a big chunk of yards after ASU was called for a late hit out of bounds, but the Bruins barely got past midfield before punting. There are two minutes left in the third quarter, and if ASU doesn't score on this drive, we might have seen the last of Hundley tonight. 

---

UCLA 48, Arizona State 27 (4:10 left in the third quarter)

A much needed score from Arizona State, but it might be too little too late. The Sun Devils put together a nice drive there, needing four minutes to go 75 yards on 11 plays. Mike Bercovici capped it with his third touchdown pass of the night. If it wasn't for the two interceptions, he'd have a very good stat line going right now. 

---

As the Sun Devils get the ball back, I'm thinking Brett Hundley isn't going to finish this game. It doesn't make any sense to keep him out there, not up 28 points and not with the elbow injury. There's an argument to be made for his Heisman stats, but there's also an argument to me made for keeping your best player healthy for conference play. I think the latter is going to win out here. Might be seeing some of young Mr. Neuheisel in the fourth quarter. 

---

UCLA 48, Arizona State 20 (9:33 left in the third quarter)

And, this one is just about over. Mike Bercovici fumbles the ball deep in his own zone, Kenny Clark recovers, and then Brett Hundley scrambles for a gain of 22 yards. Freshman running back Nate Starks walked the ball in for the first touchown of his career, and UCLA has blown this thing open. ASU has three turnovers on the night, and it doesn't look like the Sun Devils have much fight left in them. 

---

UCLA has four plays tonight that have totaled more than 80 yards. Four. That would be tough to get in a video game, much less the team that was supposed to give the Bruins so much trouble in the Pac-12 South. 

---

UCLA 41, Arizona State 20 (9:33 left in the third quarter)

Have a day, Ishmael Adams. Have a day. After returning an interception for a touchdown to end the first half, he took a kickoff from his own end zone and returned it 100 yards for his second touchdown of the game. He was helped out by miserable tackling from ASU, but also wasn't touched on the return. Unbelievable. He's single-handidly blown this game open. 

---

UCLA 34, Arizona State 20 (9:33 left in the third quarter)

Arizona State needed a touchdown, but a field goal will help the cause. 

On fourth-and-seven, needing a first down in the worst way, Deantre Lewis made a big play in the flat. After catching the short pass, he turned left instead of right, which was enough to free him for a 10-yard gain. The next play, Kalen Ballage picked up a first down on an end around to get the Sun Devils into the red zone. Quarterback Mike Bercovici almost threw another intercpetion in the end zone, though, and the ASU drive stalled on the seven yard line. Zane Gonzalez chipped in the 24-yard field goal, and the Sun Devils are within two touchdowns. 

---

Brett Hundley's stat line right now: 16 for 21 for 299 yards and three touchdowns. That is, um, good. 

Also, the Bruins have three plays of more than 80 yards on the night. That'll win you some ball games. 

---

UCLA 34, Arizona State 17 (14:41 left in the third quarter)

Well, that was quick. On the first play of the second half, Jordan Payton ran a simple fly route down the sideline after being held at the line of scrimmage, and Brett Hundley delivered it perfectly. Payton raced into the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown, and just like that, the Bruins are up by 17. 

---

Some halftime stats: 

Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici has thrown for 215 yards and two touchdowns, but has also thrown two interceptions, including the pick-six to Ishmael Adams to end the half. Running back D.J. Foster, statistically one of the best rushers in the nation, has ran for just 15 yards on six carries. As a whole, the Sun Devils have rushed for 78 yards. 

For the Bruins, Brett Hundley is having a really nice game. He's completed 15 of his 20 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns, and has 31 yards on the ground. Running back Paul Perkins continues to run the ball well, totaling 52 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Lastly, wide receiver Thomas Duarte has four catches for 95 yards.

It would be a bigger deal if not for the defensive touchdown, but the Bruins have seven penalties for 70 yards. Regardless of the opponent, those numbers need to go down. 

---

UCLA 27, Arizona State 17 (Halftime)

Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici had three pretty bad throws in a row, but on third down, he was bailed out on yet another penalty by UCLA. This time, it was defensive back Ishmael Adams, who was called for holding. 

The Sun Devils were called for holding on the next play, which seemed to take away whatever chance they had of scoring before halftime. 

On second down, though, Deantre Lewis turned a drive route down the middle into a 16-yard gain, which got the ASU offense into field-goal position. 

The Sun Devils had a chance to get into the end zone, but then Adams made up for his penalty by intercepting a horribly thrown ball from Bercovici and returning it 95 yards for a touchdown. He wasn't touched on the return, and there was no Sun Devil defender within 10 yards of him for most of the return. 

Can't stress enough how big of a swing that was. Instead of going into the half tied, UCLA now has a 10-point lead, and will get the ball back to start the second half. Those are the type of plays that win teams championships. 

---

UCLA 20, ASU 17 (2:13 left in the second quarter)

UCLA took over at its own 10-yard line, but Paul Perkins put on a filthy juke and picked up 17 yards to give the offense a little breathing room. The Bruins chipped away, then Thomas Duarte caught another ball down the middle of the field, this time for a 30-yard gain. He's been able to split the middle of the ASU defense with ease, and has caught four passes for 95 yards in the first half. 

On third-and-two, Brett Hundley scrambled down the near sideline, picking up 21 yards and getting the Bruins to the ASU four-yard line. The next play, Hundley found fullback Nate Iese in the back of the end zone to give UCLA its first lead of the night.

The ASU defense seemed to be focused on Myles Jack in the backfield, which left Iese in good position in the end zone. Of the fullback's six catches this season, two are for touchdowns. 

A defensive struggle, this is not. 

---

Also of note: The Bruins have been called for six penalties, totaling 60 yards. That is not good, especially considering ASU has just one for five yards. 

---

On a first-down screen, ASU running back D.J. Foster got the ball in the open field and gained 20 yards. He might have found the end zone if it wasn't for UCLA defensive back Jaleel Wadood, who made a great tackle in open space. 

The drive stalled after the big play, and the Sun Devils were forced to punt for the first time this game with a little over five minutes remaining before halftime. 

---

Ah, the difference between Mike Bercovici and Brett Hundley. Bercovici slides to avoid contact, Hundley leaps over a defender and gets pounded by a defender after landing. He got a solid gain, but needed a nice run from Myles Jack to pick up a first down. 

UCLA had two chances to pick up serious yardage, and failed twice. The first time was in the flat, but running back Paul Perkins caught the ball with his knee on the ground. In college, that's an incompletion. The second, Eldridge Massington was wide open down the field, but Hundley overthrew him. After the two miscues, UCLA can't capitalize on the interception and punts. 

---

Smart play from ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici. He faked a handoff and then scrambled off the shoulder of his right tackle for a first down. Instead of taking the hit and getting another couple yards, he slid early. Smart play from a backup quarterback that knows there isn't another solid option to throw the ball behind him. 

The UCLA defense forced its second turnover the day, though, when Anthony Jefferson made a great play to intercept the ball on a well-thrown ball down the far sideline. ASU was putting together another nice drive, but now the Bruins have a chance to get their first lead of the game. 

---

ASU 17, UCLA 13 (13:00 left in the second quarter)

Huge, huge play from freshman wide receiver Eldridge Massington. Brett Hundley threw him the ball for a short gain on third down, but Massington broke three tackles and raced all the way down the field for an 80-yard touchdown. Two ASU defenders tackled each other instead of Massington.

Just like that, the Bruins are back in the game. 

---

ASU 17, UCLA 6 (14:24 left in the second quarter)

A beautiful pass from ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici, but an even better catch from Cameron Smith to give the Sun Devils another touchdown. The pass went right where it needed to go, between UCLA cornerbacks Fabian Moreau and Jaleel Wadood, and the Sun Devils are ahead by 11 points. 

ASU needed just two and half minutes to go 75 yards in eight plays. Bercovici, the backup quarterback, has already thrown for 128 yards and two touchdowns. 

---

Some first quarter stats of note: Brett Hundley has looked good, completing seven of 10 passes for 86 yards. Arizona State has rushed for 50 yards. UCLA has rushed for seven. ASU star running back D.J. Foster has 15 yards rushing and is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. 

---

On the second play of this drive, UCLA defensive back Ishmael Adams missed a pick-six by just a couple of inches. He jumped the route, but was just short of intercepting the pass. 

The close play opened up the drive for the Sun Devils. At the end of the first quarter, ASU has the ball at UCLA's 31-yard line, looking to extend its 10-6 lead. 

---

ASU 10, UCLA 6 (1:54 left in the first quarter)

It didn't take long for the Bruins to rip off a big chunk of yards in response. Ishmael Adams returned the kickoff for 44 yards, then Thomas Duarte caught a pass down the middle of the field and broke three tackles for a 31-yard gain. Duarte came close to another big first-down reception, but was stopped short of the marker by a yard or two. 

Ka'imi Fairbairn got some more points on the board with a 24-yard field goal, but the Bruins are still without a touchdown. 

---

ASU 10, UCLA 3 (3:43 left in the first quarter)

ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici, the usual backup, was having very real issues throwing the ball in the first quarter. The arm strength seems to be there, but there wasn't a a lick of accuracy out there. 

And, as soon as I finish typing that, Bercovici finds a wide-open Cam Smith in the flat for a first down. The next play, he fires a perfect pass into tight coverage for a 25-yard gain.

On second-and-goal, the quarterback executed a perfect throwback pass in the corner of the end zone to score the first touchdown of the game. The pass was caught by an open Kody Kohl for his first career touchdown reception. Linebacker Eric Kendricks bit hard on the play fake, allowing Kohl to get open.

That's a cool nine-play, 75 yard drive in a little over three minutes. 

---

Crowd seems to be filling in nicely. Looks to be about 90% full. 

---

ASU 3, UCLA 3 (6:54 left in the first quarter)

For the second time in four plays, Kenneth Walker III sees another pass go through his hands, this time on second down. On third down, though, Brett Hundley looked to his most dependable, Jordan Payton, and got into the red zone with a big first down completion. 

After the fresh set of downs, the Bruins got cute with an inside flip pass to fullback Nate Iese, which lost a yard. Hundley was sacked on third down, which brought on the field goal team. 

ASU burned its second timeout of the half, then kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn tied the game up with a 36-yard field goal. 

---

Well, that's a big swing. Star Sun Devil running back D.J. Foster fumbled the ball, and Eric Kendricks recovered. The fumble seemed to be caused by defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. UCLA gets the ball back with great field position. 

---

Brett Hundley's first pass was a designed screen to running back Paul Perkins, who got blown up and lost a yard. We then had a television timeout that seemed to last longer than ASU's opening drive. 

Perkins ran the ball for two yards on second down, and a strike from Hundley to Devin Fuller moved the chains for the Bruins. Remember, it's Hundley's left, non-throwing elbow that's injured. It's not likely to affect his passing, but could affect the way Hundley scrambles. 

Speaking of scrambling, Hundley felt pressure and scurried for a first down, but the play was called back because of an offensive hands to the face penalty on Caleb Benenoch. Hundley appeared to connect with Fuller for another first down, but again, the play was called back on a penalty. This time, the offender was Thomas Duarte, who got called for offensive pass interference. On third down, Kenneth Walker III dropped a short pass, and UCLA was forced to punt. 

---

Brett Hundley is starting at quarterback as UCLA takes the field for its first offensive drive. No real surprise. 

---

ASU 3, UCLA 0 (12:54 left in the first quarter)

On the first play of the game, ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici flipped the ball to Kalen Ballage for a 10 yard gain. The Sun Devils kept driving, picking up a big first down on third-and-eight, then snatching up 15 yards for a facemask penalty called on Myles Jack. 

The Sun Devils picked up the first points of the game on a career-long 49-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez. 

Arizona State seems to be making a concerted effort to spread the defense out, but so far, Bercovici hasn't been accurate enough to make that work. His passes are going wide, low, and everywhere in between. 

---

And, we're off. Arizona State has elected to receive the ball, and UCLA will get it in the second half. No Texas-like snafus at the coin flip. 

Temperature is announced at 98 degrees. That, combined with the leftover smoke from the opening introduction, makes it seem like these two teams are about to play in a volcano. 

---

With the opening kick in five minutes, the student section has begun to fill up. Other than that, still a ton of empty seats here.

I went to a carnival once and did that little jelly bean in the jar guessing game. The actual number was something around 4,000. I guessed something around 400. So I'm not good at estimating numbers, but I would say this stadium is probably around 75% full right now. 

---

Pretty empty stadium here so far. Fifteen minutes until kickoff, the stadium is at maybe 20% capacity. Could be a late arriving crowd, but there are not a lot of folks in their seats right now. 

---

More warmup observations: Junior defensive lineman Ellis McCarthy is not on the field for warmups. He's easily the biggest Bruin defensive lineman at 325 pounds, a real space-filler in every sense of the phrase. 

Update: After being absent for the initial warmup, Ellis McCarthy came out onto the field for the closing warmup. 

---

Other injury updates: Tackle Malcolm Bunche (lower leg), safety Anthony Jefferson (anke) and cornerback Fabian Moreau (elbow) are all on the field warming up. Again, not definitive, but certainly a good sign for their chances of playing tonight. 

---

For people asking about what the official depth chart says about Brett Hundley's status, there is no real official depth chart. UCLA coach Jim Mora doesn't believe in them. 

Don't believe me? Randall Goforth is still listing as the starting safety. Last week, the Bruins announced that he's having surgery on both shoulders and will be out for the season. 

---

The Brett Hundley watch continues. UCLA players are now warming up on the field in full uniform, and Hundley is wearing a massive brace on his left elbow. He's warming up normally with the rest of the quarterbacks, though, which is a good sign for his playing status tonight. 

---

I suppose it's not a certainty until the game actually starts, but it looks like Brett Hundley is going to play when UCLA takes on Arizona State tonight in a Pac-12 Conference football game.

If Hundley makes it through warmups, indications are that the redshirt junior quarterback is going to play. 

And, so far, so good. He's warming up with the other quarterbacks, like normal, and is skipping around like a man who doesn't expect to sit on the bench. 

::

Hello from sunny Arizona, where the temperature seems to be somehow getting warmer as the day goes on. It was in the low 90s when the LA Times crew arrived, and the temperature at kickoff is going to be around 97 degrees. Shouldn't be too much of a factor, mostly because it's a dry heat and also because the Bruins practice on a turf field that feels much hotter than it does on the field right now.

More than 90 minutes before kickoff, there are already some shenanigans on the field. Someone who is theoretically associated with the Bruins carved a "UCLA" into the Arizona State pitchfork at midfield. The Sun Devils were not too pleased. After painting over the message, there are now three security guards standing at midfield, making sure it doesn't happen again. 

On scene today, along with yours truly, are Times reporter Chris Foster and columnist Chris Dufresne. I'll be updating this blog post as well as tweeting @everettcook. 

If you have questions you want answered in this space, tweet or email (everett.cook@latimes.com). I'll get to as many as I can, so long as the oppressive Arizona sun doesn't do me in first. 

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ebola epidemic more deadly than all previous combined, report says

The Ebola epidemic has already killed more people than all previous outbreaks combined, and an alarming new analysis by the World Health Organization suggests it already may be too late to prevent the virus from taking up permanent residence among humans in West Africa.

The virus itself is no more lethal or virulent than its predecessors, according to a report published Tuesday by the New England Journal of Medicine. But conditions in the affected regions of Africa — including a lack of approved drugs or vaccines, frequent cross-border travel and the failure to implement timely infection control measures — have made the epidemic unlike any before it.

Based on data collected during the last nine months, a panel of more than 60 WHO experts estimated that more than 20,000 people would be infected with Ebola by Nov. 2. The researchers also found that the disease had been fatal in 71% of confirmed cases.

"The current epidemiologic outlook is bleak," the experts wrote. "We must therefore face the possibility that Ebola virus disease will become endemic among the human population of West Africa, a prospect that has never previously been contemplated."

The suggestion that Ebola might never leave humans took some researchers by surprise.

"Diseases with a very high mortality, like Ebola, don't usually persist because they are too effective at killing their hosts," said Sherry Towers, a mathematical and computational modeling professor at Arizona State University. "A dead person can't move around in the population and continue to spread disease to susceptible hosts."

If a virus is slow to mutate — as Ebola appears to be — the pathogen gradually disappears from humans, for a couple of reasons. First, the percentage of the population that gets infected and develops immunity increases over time. Second, people modify their behavior and limit contact with one another. As a result, the virus finds it more difficult to spread and eventually runs out of human hosts.

At the end of past Ebola outbreaks, experts believe the virus retreated to its suspected animal reservoir, fruit bats. It may have lingered there for years until an infected bat comes into contact with a human.

However, if the virus remains alive in at least some people, it remains an ongoing threat to public health.

In their first full statistical analysis of the epidemic, the WHO panel concluded that the exponential spread of the Zaire species of Ebola — named for the African nation now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo — was due more to geography, population density and an "insufficient" public health response than to any "biologic characteristic" of the virus.

The WHO researchers concluded that the three hardest-hit nations — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — were suffering because of the mobility of their populations and a lack of rapid and rigorous infection-control measures.

The region is highly interconnected, with frequent cross-border traffic among rural towns, villages and dense urban areas. As a result, "the large intermixing population has facilitated the spread of infection," the authors wrote.

The virus first gained a foothold in December 2013 and was not officially recognized as an outbreak until March 23.

Although the United Nations health organization estimated just days ago that 5,864 people had been infected and 2,811 killed so far, the true numbers are "certainly higher," the WHO panel added. However, the researchers noted that the mortality rate dropped from 71% to 64% for patients who were cared for in a hospital.

The ability of medical teams to collect accurate case numbers has been complicated by fear and desperation in the face of the virus, which is transmitted through bodily fluids. Some infected people have been hidden by their families because they fear the ostracism that comes with being diagnosed with Ebola. In some communities, medical teams have been greeted with violence.

In order to stop the epidemic, researchers said the rate of transmission would have to be cut in half. This would be equivalent to vaccinating 50% of the population, according to study authors. Several vaccines are now under development, but even if they are shown to be effective, they won't be available in large quantities for several months, officials say.

Another study, released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that if 70% of patients were properly isolated in a hospital, home or community setting, and safe burial practices were instituted, the epidemic "would almost be ended" by Jan. 20.

The CDC study also contained a worst-case scenario, in which no action were taken to stem the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone and Liberia. (Guinea was removed from the forecast because its data were too erratic for reliable statistical use.) In this hypothetical situation, CDC analysts estimated there could be anywhere between 550,000 and 1.4 million new cases in those two nations by the end of January.

"We don't think that will come to pass," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said of the worst-case estimate. "These are not projections. What we've done is outline what might happen in different scenarios."

Frieden said the scenarios, published in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, were intended to demonstrate the urgent need for a rapid scaling-up of international medical aid.

"The model shows that a surge now can break the back of the epidemic," he said. "It also shows that there are severe costs of delay."

monte.morin@latimes.com

Twitter: @montemorin

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ebola epidemic more deadly than all previous combined, report says

The Ebola epidemic has already killed more people than all previous outbreaks combined, and an alarming new analysis by the World Health Organization suggests it already may be too late to prevent the virus from taking up permanent residence among humans in West Africa.

The virus itself is no more lethal or virulent than its predecessors, according to a report published Tuesday by the New England Journal of Medicine. But conditions in the affected regions of Africa — including a lack of approved drugs or vaccines, frequent cross-border travel and the failure to implement timely infection control measures — have made the epidemic unlike any before it.

Based on data collected during the last nine months, a panel of more than 60 WHO experts estimated that more than 20,000 people would be infected with Ebola by Nov. 2. The researchers also found that the disease had been fatal in 71% of confirmed cases.

"The current epidemiologic outlook is bleak," the experts wrote. "We must therefore face the possibility that Ebola virus disease will become endemic among the human population of West Africa, a prospect that has never previously been contemplated."

The suggestion that Ebola might never leave humans took some researchers by surprise.

"Diseases with a very high mortality, like Ebola, don't usually persist because they are too effective at killing their hosts," said Sherry Towers, a mathematical and computational modeling professor at Arizona State University. "A dead person can't move around in the population and continue to spread disease to susceptible hosts."

If a virus is slow to mutate — as Ebola appears to be — the pathogen gradually disappears from humans, for a couple of reasons. First, the percentage of the population that gets infected and develops immunity increases over time. Second, people modify their behavior and limit contact with one another. As a result, the virus finds it more difficult to spread and eventually runs out of human hosts.

At the end of past Ebola outbreaks, experts believe the virus retreated to its suspected animal reservoir, fruit bats. It may have lingered there for years until an infected bat comes into contact with a human.

However, if the virus remains alive in at least some people, it remains an ongoing threat to public health.

In their first full statistical analysis of the epidemic, the WHO panel concluded that the exponential spread of the Zaire species of Ebola — named for the African nation now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo — was due more to geography, population density and an "insufficient" public health response than to any "biologic characteristic" of the virus.

The WHO researchers concluded that the three hardest-hit nations — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — were suffering because of the mobility of their populations and a lack of rapid and rigorous infection-control measures.

The region is highly interconnected, with frequent cross-border traffic among rural towns, villages and dense urban areas. As a result, "the large intermixing population has facilitated the spread of infection," the authors wrote.

The virus first gained a foothold in December 2013 and was not officially recognized as an outbreak until March 23.

Although the United Nations health organization estimated just days ago that 5,864 people had been infected and 2,811 killed so far, the true numbers are "certainly higher," the WHO panel added. However, the researchers noted that the mortality rate dropped from 71% to 64% for patients who were cared for in a hospital.

The ability of medical teams to collect accurate case numbers has been complicated by fear and desperation in the face of the virus, which is transmitted through bodily fluids. Some infected people have been hidden by their families because they fear the ostracism that comes with being diagnosed with Ebola. In some communities, medical teams have been greeted with violence.

In order to stop the epidemic, researchers said the rate of transmission would have to be cut in half. This would be equivalent to vaccinating 50% of the population, according to study authors. Several vaccines are now under development, but even if they are shown to be effective, they won't be available in large quantities for several months, officials say.

Another study, released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that if 70% of patients were properly isolated in a hospital, home or community setting, and safe burial practices were instituted, the epidemic "would almost be ended" by Jan. 20.

The CDC study also contained a worst-case scenario, in which no action were taken to stem the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone and Liberia. (Guinea was removed from the forecast because its data were too erratic for reliable statistical use.) In this hypothetical situation, CDC analysts estimated there could be anywhere between 550,000 and 1.4 million new cases in those two nations by the end of January.

"We don't think that will come to pass," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said of the worst-case estimate. "These are not projections. What we've done is outline what might happen in different scenarios."

Frieden said the scenarios, published in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, were intended to demonstrate the urgent need for a rapid scaling-up of international medical aid.

"The model shows that a surge now can break the back of the epidemic," he said. "It also shows that there are severe costs of delay."

monte.morin@latimes.com

Twitter: @montemorin

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

12.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Benches empty but Dodgers win 4-2 to reduce magic number to one

Think the Dodgers-Giants rivalry is dead? A memory for the elderly? Forget about it. Yasiel Puig and Madison Bumgarner are crafting a whole new chapter.

The two jarred again, had to be separated by homeplate umpire Adrian Johnson and catcher Buster Posey and had the benches and bullpens empting.

No punches were thrown, no one was ejected and no love was lost.

This all transpired in the bottom of the first, the Dodgers using the energy to score three runs and then hold on behind Zack Greinke for a 4-2 victory before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 49,251.

The victory reduced the Dodgers' magic number for clinching the National League West to one game. If Clayton Kershaw beats the Giants Wednesday, the division is theirs.

All the offense for the Dodgers came via a pair of home runs from Justin Turner and a two-run homer by Matt Kemp.

Nearly all the juice to Tuesday's game for the Dodgers came in the bottom of the first. Turner started the excitement by leading off with a solo home run.

Puig was the next batter and Bumgarner hit him on the left ankle with a 1-2 slider. Puig, one of three Dodgers hit by a pitch Monday night, fell to the ground trying to avoid the pitch and then sat there on his derriere for a bit with his back to Bumgarner, before glancing over his shoulder.

Bumgarner might have said something unpleasant at this point, because Puig suddenly jumped up, spun around, started yelling and coming toward the left-hander.

Johnson and Posey both got in front of Puig to head him off.

But the two continued yelling at each other, Bumgarner at one point throwing down his glove and appearing to scream something like, "Come, on. Let's go!"

These are serious heavyweights. Bumgarner is 6-feet-5 and 235-pounds, Puig 6-feet-3 and 235 pounds.

By now both benches and bullpens had sprinted onto the field. Manager Don Mattingly got to Puig and walked him away from the swelling scrum and to first base. Things calmed, order was restored and Johnson warned both benches.

There is some history between the two, of course.

Back on May 9 at Dodger Stadium Puig hit a solo home run off Bumgarner. The left-hander apparently took exception to Puig's bat flip or less-than-sprint around the bases -- he never did say -- and came off the mound and near the third base line to scream at him as he ran by.

Puig yelled back and there was more emptying of benches, but still no punches.

The confrontation must have pumped up birthday boy Kemp -- celebrating his 30th -- who then slugged a two-run homer out to center to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

The Giants pulled to within a run in the third when Bumgarner, a good-hitting pitcher, slugged a two-run homer. It was Bumgarner's fourth of the season and he pumped a fist as he saw it go over the left-center wall.

Meanwhile on the mound, Bumgarner (18-10) quickly reverted to being the Giants' ace. He allowed only one more hit after the first, retiring 19 of the next 20 Dodgers before Turner hit his second solo home run with one out in the eighth.

Turner, who came to camp as a non-roster invitee, is finishing off a career year. He now has seven home runs and 41 RBI on the season. He is hitting .333.

But Greinke was pretty much doing the same for the Dodgers. He retired 16 of his last 17 batters. Greinke (16-8) went eight innings, holding the Giants to the two runs on six hits. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Kenley Jansen, pitching in his third consecutive game, held the Giants scoreless in the ninth to earn his 44th save.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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