Interrogé sur Twitter, James Gunn a confirmé que “Les Gardiens de la Galaxie 2” aurait une scène post-générique. La confirmation arrivée, que pourrait contenir une telle scène ?

Restez après le film ! Le réalisateur James Gunn a confirmé qu’il y aurait une scène post-générique au film Les Gardiens de la Galaxie 2. Il l’a fait avec son humour habituel, sur Twitter :

All I’ll say is, unless you have to rush out because your mother is dying, stay through the entire end credits. https://t.co/c58nzDeCnp

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) 11 mars 2017

“Tout ce que je dirai c’est qu’à moins que vous deviez partir en courant parce que votre mère se meure, restez jusqu’à la toute fin du générique”.

Traditionnellement, les films Marvel/Disney ont une scène bonus au milieu du générique (souvent un complément au film qui vient de se terminer) et une scène post-générique (souvent une annonce d’un film Marvel à venir).

Si l’on se fie au calendrier Marvel, les films les plus proches des Gardiens de la Galaxie 2 sont Spider-Man: Homecoming ou Thor 3. Son arrivée prochaine pourrait être teasée à la fin du film. Mais surtout, Avengers: Infinity War est en tournage avec Chris Pratt avant qu’il ne rejoigne le plateau de Jurassic World 2, et donc il est possible que la fin des Gardiens 2 annonce leur rencontre avec les Avengers.

Kevin Feige a promis qu’on ne reverrait pas Thanos avant cet Infinity War, donc on ne devrait pas le retrouver ni dans ni après Les Gardiens.

Les Gardiens de la Galaxie reviennent le 26 avril dans les salles :

Les Gardiens de la Galaxie 2 Bande-annonce VO

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NEW YORK  — 

Democratic presidential candidate Michael R. Bloomberg on Friday unveiled a broad plan to eliminate all coal power plants and slow the expansion of the natural gas sector as part of a policy to fight climate change that he says would cut carbon emissions across the U.S. economy by 50% over the first 10 years.

The New York billionaire, who has devoted significant time and money toward fighting climate change in recent years, said the new plan is the first of several that would ultimately move the nation toward phasing out fossil fuels completely “as soon as humanly possible” — ideally before 2050.

“The president refuses to lead on climate change, so the rest of us must,” Bloomberg said in a statement accompanying the release of the new policy. He added: “As president, I’ll accelerate our transition to a 100% clean energy economy.”

Climate has emerged as a central issue in both the 2020 Democratic primary election and in Bloomberg’s young candidacy, which he formally launched just three weeks ago. The plan, while a sharp shift away from President Trump’s push to weaken environmental safeguards, is unlikely to win over his party’s loudest environmental activists.

It stops well short of the goals of the “Green New Deal,” a sweeping resolution embraced by many on the left — including some of Bloomberg’s presidential rivals — that calls for sourcing all of the nation’s electricity from clean energy in a decade. Bloomberg’s plan envisions “phasing out of all carbon and health-threatening pollution in the electricity sector” to ensure 80% clean electricity by the end of his second term.

The presidential contenders who have signed onto the Green New Deal include Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

Bloomberg does not outline a cost for his plan. Campaign officials said he would begin to release cost estimates in the coming weeks as they finalize details. Some of his Democratic opponents have large taxpayer investments associated with their clean energy plans. Sanders, for example, has a $16.3-trillion price tag.

The plan doesn’t address nuclear power directly, but campaign spokesman Brian Reich said Bloomberg supports “maintaining a safe, reliable nuclear presence in our energy makeup.” “We should not be retiring existing nuclear plants, nor should we be building new ones when the cost of wind, solar and batteries are declining dramatically,” he said.

Bloomberg’s specific goals include closing the nation’s remaining 251 coal power plants with clean energy by 2030. He says he’ll release another plan in the coming weeks that outlines a policy to help communities impacted by the closures.

It would aim to stop the “rush” to build new gas plants by imposing strict new emissions and health protections, although Bloomberg’s team did not immediately respond to questions about how his policy would specifically impact energy companies’ plans to create 150 new gas plants in the coming years.

It would end all taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel companies, establish a moratorium on new fossil fuel leases on federal lands, and quadruple the amount of federal dollars dedicated to research and development in clean energy and a clean grid to at least $25 billion each year.

The plan promises to reverse the Trump administration’s rollbacks of clean air, water, health and safety, and waste rules. It also says Bloomberg would prioritize “environmental justice” and “environmental racism” by instructing federal agencies to consider environmental impacts in all actions and creating environmental justice offices in every agency, among other changes.

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Bernie Sanders withdrew his endorsement of California congressional candidate Cenk Uygur on Friday following reports about the online talk show host making crude and degrading comments about women and provocative statements about Jews, Muslims and other groups.

The Democratic presidential candidate had said Thursday that Uygur, founder and co-host of “The Young Turks” online talk show, is “a voice that we desperately need in Congress” to fill the seat of former Rep. Katie Hill of Santa Clarita. A backlash among Democrats offended by Uygur’s inflammatory comments led the congressional candidate to say Friday that he would no longer accept endorsements, prompting Sanders to withdraw his support, even as he continued to praise him.

“As I said yesterday, Cenk has been a longtime fighter against the corrupt forces in our politics and he’s inspired people all across the country,” the Vermont senator said. “However, our movement is bigger than any one person. I hear my grassroots supporters who were frustrated and understand their concerns. Cenk today said he is rejecting all endorsements for his campaign, and I retract my endorsement.”

Sanders did not specifically address Uygur’s comments about women. His campaign spokesman Mike Casca did not respond to an email asking whether the senator shared the concerns of supporters who were offended by his support for Uygur.

In an episode of his show in 2013, Uygur ranked women on a scale of 1 to 10 on how likely men would be to let them perform oral sex on them.

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Uygur also defended the Harvard University men’s soccer team in 2016 for ranking the sexual appeal of female students on a scale of 1 to 10 on a widely shared “scouting report,” including explicit descriptions of potential sex acts with the women.

“We’ve been doing it for as long as humanity has existed, so they put it in a Google doc — not guilty,” said Uygur, who has promoted Sanders on his program.

In 2007, Uygur used the n-word multiple times in a show about Duane “Dog” Chapman after the celebrity bounty hunter used the racial slur.

Uygur, 49, described himself in a telephone interview as a champion for women’s rights who should not be criticized for having “frank conversations about sex” on his show. The problem with the Harvard team’s appraisals of the women, he said, was not that they rated their sex potential; it was that the roster became public.

“I’m not going to be the thought police and police what their private comments were,” he said.

He also said “The Young Turks” used to have a policy to use the n-word epithet when quoting racists in order to mock them, but stopped doing it after complaints from black activists.

Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, president of California Young Democrats, a group that backs Sanders, had called on him to yank the endorsement.

“We think that he doesn’t necessarily reflect the movement that Sen. Sanders has built,” he said.

Mark Gonzalez, chairman of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, had also called on Sanders to “disavow” Uygur and pull the endorsement. Uygur’s “vulgarity, his hate speech and divisive rhetoric have no place in our party,” Gonzalez said in a Friday statement. The party is likely to endorse one of Uygur’s opponents, Assemblywoman Christy Smith of Santa Clarita, on Saturday.

Another Uygur supporter, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont), stood by him on Friday morning, but denounced the talk show host’s behavior and said he should apologize. Still, Uygur’s commitment to Medicare for all, free public college and ending U.S. involvement in wars abroad “is why so many progressives rallied around him,” Khanna said.

After Sanders pulled his endorsement, Khanna followed suit.

Shortly before Sanders reversed course, Uygur released a statement Friday saying he appreciates that supporters endorsed him “in the face of the corporate media and Democratic establishment onslaught.”

“I will not be beholden to corporations, lobbyists or special interest groups, and I will not stand by while those groups attack my political allies,” he said. “That’s why I have decided that I will not be accepting any endorsements.”

Sanders apologized in January after accusations emerged of sexism, sexual harassment and pay discrimination by male supervisors in his 2016 presidential campaign.

He initially told CNN that he’d been unaware of complaints in his 2016 campaign. “I was a little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case,” he said.

Days later, amid mounting criticism, he was more forceful. “What they experienced was absolutely unacceptable and certainly not what a progressive campaign or any campaign should be about,” he said.

Last week, the Sanders campaign severed ties with staff member Darius Khalil Gordon after the Washington Free Beacon published anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs that it said were from his Twitter feed.

A former Republican, Uygur is now one of the Democrats vying in California’s March 3 election to represent the state’s 25th Congressional District, which covers Simi Valley, Porter Ranch, Santa Clarita, Palmdale and part of Lancaster. Hill, a Democrat, resigned in November amid accusations that she’d had affairs with congressional and campaign staff members. Uygur lives in West L.A., 30 miles outside the district.

California’s Democratic establishment has lined up behind Smith, the assemblywoman. Her supporters include Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Republicans in the race include former Rep. Steve Knight, who was ousted last year by Hill, and George Papadopoulos, an advisor to President Trump’s 2016 campaign who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia scandal.

Uygur, a Turkish immigrant who has a law degree from Columbia University, is a former MSNBC host.

Many of his most provocative remarks have been compiled in video snippets posted on Twitter in recent weeks by a New York Democratic activist, M. Mendoza Ferrer, who is unaffiliated with any presidential campaign. She said it seemed Uygur had built his online platform denigrating women and others, and now that he’s a Democrat running for Congress it bothered her that his audience of mainly young men was tuning in.

“Once this stuff came to light, anybody would be sort of horrified,” she said. “I was horrified.”

The clips she unearthed included a 2012 segment of “The Young Turks” in which he said conservative Orthodox Jewish men and Muslim women in heavy religious attire were “wasting their lives.”

Uygur, who was raised Muslim and now describes himself as agnostic, said Thursday that he was referring to fundamentalists, and he’s offended they think he “will rot in hell.”

“I believe the things they believe are not correct, yes,” he said. “If they want to spend their whole lives following an ideology that I don’t believe is correct, that’s on them.”

WASHINGTON  — 

All seven of the Democratic presidential candidates who have qualified for next week’s scheduled debate in Los Angeles threatened Friday to skip the event to express support for union workers involved in a contract dispute at Loyola Marymount University.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was the first to jump into the fray, declaring in a tweet that she would miss the debate rather than cross a picket line.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former Vice President Joe Biden, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar followed with similar statements, as did former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, who has not qualified for the debate.

The dispute between union cooks, dishwashers and servers at Loyola and Sodexo, the company that runs the school’s food service, is the second labor action that has threatened the Thursday debate. In November, the Democratic National Committee moved the debate to Loyola from UCLA because of a contract dispute there involving the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. The DNC and university learned of the latest issue Friday, committee officials said.

“It is our understanding this matter arose within the last day,” DNC Communications Director Xochitl Hinojosa said Friday. “While LMU is not a party to the negotiations between Sodexo and Unite Here Local 11, [DNC Chairman] Tom Perez would absolutely not cross a picket line and would never expect our candidates to either. We are working with all stakeholders to find an acceptable resolution that meets their needs and is consistent with our values and will enable us to proceed as scheduled with next week’s debate.”

Perez, who was secretary of Labor under President Obama, has mediated labor disputes in the past.

Unite Here Local 11, which represents roughly 150 Sodexo employees at Loyola Marymount, said the union has been in contract negotiation since March and began picketing last month.

“We had hoped that workers would have a contract with wages and affordable health insurance before the debate next week,” Susan Minato, the local’s co-president, said in a statement.

“We felt it was imperative to let the candidates know and understand what our labor dispute is and the fact that we will be out there [picketing] the day they were supposed to be at the debate,” said Ada Briceño, the local’s co-president and chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Orange County.

As for the candidates’ boycott plans, “of course it feels great to see,” Briceño said. “It’s not just words, but they’re walking the walk, it’s action. We’re enlisting the help of the candidates and the general public to help us reach an agreement.”

The LMU workers are continuing to work under their last contact, which expired in March; the workers earn between $13.25 and $16 an hour, the union said.

“Because we have seen [the talks] go nowhere, in November we started picketing,” Briceño said.

Briceño said Sodexo, a global food services concern based in France, also canceled negotiating sessions scheduled for the remainder of this month and “told us they were available in January.”

Sodexo, when asked to comment on the candidates’ plans, issued a statement saying that it was “100% committed to reaching an agreement, and any statement that we have left the bargaining table is not accurate.”

“We have been negotiating in good faith with the United Here Local 11 since December of last year” to reach a new contract that’s “equitable for everyone, including our employees, and we still intend to achieve such an agreement,” Sodexo said.

The university released a statement Friday noting that it “is not a party to the negotiations” between Sodexo and the union local.

“The university has encouraged and continues to encourage Sodexo to resolve issues raised by Local 11. Earlier today, LMU asked Sodexo to meet with Local 11 next week to advance negotiations and solutions,” the statement read. “LMU is not an agent nor a joint employer of Sodexo, nor of the Sodexo employees assigned to our campus.”

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Lauter reported from Washington and Peltz from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Evan Halper in Washington contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — 

The Supreme Court stepped into the midst of a major clash between Congress and President Trump on Friday, saying it will consider three cases in which Trump argues the Constitution gives him sweeping immunity to shield his tax returns and business records from being released to House Democrats or prosecutors.

The court’s action sets the stage for a politically charged decision next year, just as Trump campaigns for reelection.

At issue in two of the cases, involving subpoenas from House committees, is a fundamental question involving the separation of powers: Does Congress have broad power to investigate and demand information from the executive branch, including from the president, or is the chief executive shielded from congressional meddling into his personal affairs? The third case involves a subpoena from New York prosecutors.

Trump has claimed a near-absolute immunity from having to reveal such personal records while he’s president — an assertion that has, so far, been rejected by federal district and appeals court judges in all three cases.

If the justices uphold the subpoenas — two from House committees and one from a New York grand jury — Trump’s tax returns and other financial records could be turned over by the summer. However, if the high court rules for Trump, he could continue his reelection campaign without having to disclose private financial details that most other presidential aspirants have, including the amount and sources of his income, taxes he has paid and business dealings of the Trump Organization.

Lawyers for the House say Congress has a long and honored history of conducting investigations, and they argue that “valid subpoenas” to Trump’s accountants and bankers carry the force of law. They won before federal district judges and the U.S. appeals court in Washington in October and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York this month.

Trump has been confident he would prevail before the Supreme Court because five of the nine justices are Republican appointees.

In the past, however, the court has been united on major questions of presidential power. In 1974, an unanimous court including appointees of President Nixon refused to shield his Watergate tapes. And in 1997, a unanimous court refused to shield President Clinton from responding to a civil suit alleging he sexually harassed an Arkansas state employee.

In their appeals, Trump’s lawyers said the House demands for the president’s personal and business records are unprecedented in their aim and scope. “It is the first time that Congress has subpoenaed personal records of a sitting president,” they told the court. It is also “the first time that Congress has issued a subpoena, under the guise of its legislative powers, to investigate the president for illegal conduct.”

The Constitution does not specifically say Congress has the power of oversight or investigation, but it has been understood that its “legislative powers” include the authority to investigate the workings of the government. Trump’s lawyers insist this general congressional authority does not include investigating “lawbreaking” or “illegal conduct.”

The dispute over the tax subpoenas comes before the court at the same time that House Democrats are moving to impeach Trump and to seek his removal from office. Though the two battles are separate and are operating on different time schedules, the Democrats see a common theme. In both instances, they say the president has refused to cooperate and has blocked their investigations.

Three House committees — on Oversight, Financial Services and Intelligence — sent subpoenas this year to Mazars USA, Trump’s accountants, and to Deutsche Bank and Capital One, which handled financing for the Trump Organization.

The subpoenas seek a massive amount of information, including eight years of Trump’s tax returns. Lawmakers said they were looking into Trump’s potential conflicts of interest and hush-money payments to two women who said they had affairs with Trump as well as allegations that the Trump Organization profited from “money laundering” by Russian oligarchs.

Trump’s lawyers sued in federal court in Washington to block the subpoena from the Oversight Committee, and they sued in New York to block the subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and Capital One from the Financial Services and Intelligence committees. They said the subpoenas were “extraordinary” and “sweeping” in their scope.

In the Deutsche Bank case, they said the committee’s subpoena “demands information about seven business entities, as well as the personal accounts of not only the president, but also Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump” as well as “all of the named individuals’ immediate families — meaning their spouses and minor children, and in the president’s case, his grandchildren…. They seek documents reaching back more than a decade [and] cover individuals who have never held government office.”

Separately, a New York grand jury at the urging of Manhattan Dist. Atty. Cyrus R. Vance Jr. subpoenaed Trump’s tax returns and financial records as part of an investigation of the hush-money payments to two women. Trump’s lawyers said the president had an “absolute immunity” from a criminal investigation, but they lost before a federal judge and the 2nd Circuit. Last month, Trump’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to reverse that ruling as well.

So far, the lawyers on both sides have taken broad positions that may not fare well before the justices. The House lawyers have argued that lawmakers have a nearly unlimited authority to demand documents and personal records because they might bear on some future legislation. Trump’s lawyers have contended the chief executive has a nearly absolute shield from being forced to disclose information to Congress.

The famous precedent in this area is the 1974 ruling in United States vs. Nixon, in which the Supreme Court upheld an order requiring Nixon to turn over his Oval Office tapes to the grand jury investigating the Watergate break-in.

Not surprisingly, the competing lawyers see it differently. To lawyers for the House, the Nixon ruling demonstrates the president is not above the law and can be required to disclose even his private conversations in the Oval Office. But Trump’s lawyers point out the subpoena came from a criminal grand jury, not Congress, and it sought information that was crucial to a pending criminal case.

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Round One goes to Los Angeles Fairfax — by a knockout.

In a matchup of City Section Open Division boys’ basketball title contenders, the Lions built an early lead and never let up in earning early-season bragging rights over Western League rival Westchester with a 75-64 victory Friday night at Westchester High.

Although neither team is in championship form yet, new Fairfax coach Reggie Morris Jr. got his first taste of the rivalry guiding a team and got the best of his mentor Ed Azzam, under whom he played at Westchester.

“Big games are big games and this rivalry is a big deal,” said Morris, a 1996 Westchester alum. “We’ve coached against each other before and Ed owns the advantage over me. In the big picture this means nothing. Both teams have to get a lot better before the playoffs.”

After being held to one 3-pointer in the first quarter, Fairfax guard Keith Dinwiddie caught fire in the second when he scored 13 of his game-high 22 points — including 11 points in a row — to extend the Lions’ lead to 30-17 with 3:30 left in the first half.

Azzam, the winningest coach in City history with 902 victories, has led the Comets to 14 section titles since taking over in 1979-80, but he could only watch from the bench in dismay as his team looked tight and missed eight of 14 free throws.

Justyn Hunter had 14 points, Armon Cole had 12 and Justin Gladney and DJ Dudley each added 10 for Fairfax (7-0 overall, 2-0 in league), which beat Westchester for the fourth consecutive time. The Lions won all three meetings last season — the last in the City finals — under former coach Steve Baik, who resigned in April.

The last time neither Fairfax nor Westchester played in the City’s upper division final was 2012 when Woodland Hills Taft beat Los Angeles Dorsey in Division I.

Zion Sutton scored 14 points and Joseph Johnson and T.J. Wainwright each added 13 to lead the Comets (3-3, 1-1), who were outscored 19-7 in the second quarter.

Both programs are retooling after losing key players to graduation. Westchester lost Jordan Brandon and Kaelen Allen while the Lions lost City player of the year Ethan Anderson and Robert McRae.

The rematch will be Jan. 29 at Fairfax in a game that could determine the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Open Division, although Morris isn’t looking that far ahead.

“There’s a lot of work to do between now and then,” he said. “I didn’t even game plan for this. It’s more about how we’re playing than the opponent.”

Defense has been Chatsworth Sierra Canyon’s strength all football season. That makes the accomplishment of senior quarterback Jameson Silva from Fresno Central even more stunning.

Placing confidence in his receivers, Silva shredded the Sierra Canyon secondary for 353 yards passing and three touchdowns to lift Central (15-0) to a 34-19 victory over the Trailblazers in Friday’s CIF state championship Division 1-AA bowl game at Cerritos College.

The one defensive player who kept pushing back was sophomore linebacker Kamari Ramsey. He had one interception and made another one that was nullified by a roughing-the-passer penalty. He also blocked a conversion kick. The Grizzlies’ first bowl championship was clinched when Sierra Canyon quarterback Chayden Peery was called for intentional grounding in the end zone with 2:44 left. Je’kob Jones had two fourth-quarter touchdown runs for Central.

Sierra Canyon (14-2) got a boost at the outset of the second half when Ramsey came up with an interception at the 28. On the next play, JD Sumlin ran 72 yards for a touchdown. The conversion kick was no good, leaving Sierra Canyon behind 13-12.

Central’s standout receivers came through again and again. Quali Conley caught a 50-yard pass and Anazjae Simpson made a diving five-yard touchdown grab in the end zone for a 20-12 advantage with 5:54 left in the third quarter.

Central made Sierra Canyon pay on blitzes to take a 13-6 halftime lead. Twice Silva spotted the Trailblazers trying to pressure him, and he responded by getting the ball to receivers in one-on-one coverage for touchdowns. Xavier Worthy delivered a 34-yard touchdown catch and Jeremiah Hunter, a Cal commit, took a screen pass 65 yards for a touchdown. Hunter made seven catches for 120 yards.

The big surprise in the first half was Sierra Canyon’s failure to generate any kind of consistency on offense. The Trailblazers had to settle for field goals of 26 and 33 yards from Josh Bryan. Neither team could run the ball against strong defensive line play. Peery finished 24 of 43 passing for 237 yards.

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2-AA final: Omari Taylor lost his older brother to a shooting on Halloween, but the junior running back has relied on his teammates to make it through the tragedy. He scored a touchdown and got to kiss the 2-AA state championship trophy after Concord Clayton Valley defeated San Bernardino Aquinas 10-7.

“Nothing is going to bring him back,” Taylor said. “I lost a brother, but I have 67 that has carried me through the toughest time of my life. I can’t describe the love I have. It’s unbreakable.”

Clayton Valley (10-5) held a 7-0 halftime lead, then got a 35-yard field goal from Shane Nelson with 5:15 left. Aquinas (13-3) got a 30-yard touchdown catch from Isaac Handy with 2:59 left. But Clayton Valley ran out the clock.

Ugly Eagles coach Tim Murphy refuses to punt on fourth down. “Punting is quitting,” he said.

Eight times Clayton Valley went for it on fourth down, and four times they converted a first down. They punted once, only the second time all season. It helped keep Aquinas pinned down.

“I’m kind of embarrassed,” Murphy said of the punt.

Mike Herrington retires: The Southern Section has lost to retirement another of its great football coaches. Mike Herrington, who became the 11th football coach in California history to win 300 games, announced on Friday he was stepping down after 31 years as head coach at Newhall Hart. He also will retire as a teacher and athletic director in June. Herrington guided Hart to seven Southern Section championships.

He and brothers Dean and Rick built the Indians into one of the top high school programs in the state during the 1990s and started producing one top quarterback after another, including NFL players Matt Moore and Kyle Boller.

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we wish nothing but happiness to the best quarter-horse announcer … ever.

We’re going to go off script today and not lead with thoroughbreds or some industry gossip or the doings of the California Horse Racing Board.

This weekend is the last for Ed Burgart as the full-time regular caller at Los Alamitos Race Course. He’s done it for almost four decades. Talk about someone who can’t get a new job. Seriously, Ed is as much a part of the fabric of Los Alamitos as the cheap beer and hot dogs. He’s a track treasure and they even named a restaurant at the track after him a few weeks ago.

I interviewed him on Friday and he had some interesting memories. You can read it, just click here.

So, we’re going to move Orlando Gutierrez’s Los Alamitos nighttime weekend preview to the top of this newsletter. It’s not just Ed’s last weekend, it’s the last weekend of the season and it has some great races. So, Orlando, take it away.

“Ed Burgart’s final weekend as track announcer at Los Alamitos Race Course kicks off on Saturday with an outstanding nine-race card headed by his favorite race, the Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions at 400 yards. Burgart has called some of the greatest quarter horses in history in this race, such as three-time winner Refrigerator, the Bob Baffert-trained Gold Coast Express, the superb filly Dashs Dream, plus world champions Cash Rate, First Down Dash, SLM Big Daddy, Heza Dasha Fire and more. The field for Burgart’s final Champion of Champions will feature a great lineup headed by Bill Hoburg’s BH Lisas Boy, who is the top older horse on the grounds, plus the outstanding 3-year-old filly Flash And Roll.

“Owned by Scott Bryant, Flash And Roll is undefeated in six starts at Los Alamitos, a record that includes three Grade 1 victories. Her three stakes wins came in the Golden State Million Futurity, Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, and Los Alamitos Super Derby. She’s the only horse to win all three of these races.

“Ridden by the phenomenal 18-year-old jockey Oscar Andrade Jr., the 7-year-old gelding BH Lisas Boy won the Grade 1 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship and the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap. This is BH Lisas Boy’s third appearance in the Champion of Champions.

“Jim Walker’s Zoomin For Spuds, the Champion of Champions winner in 2016, and Ed Allred’s millionaire He Looks Hot will each be making their fourth consecutive starts in the Champion of Champions.

“Los Alamitos will conduct an Ed Burgart bobblehead giveaway with a paid general admission while supplies last, starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

“On Sunday, Burgart will conduct a meet and greet with fans after the last daytime thoroughbred race at Los Alamitos. Burgart will sign autographs, take photos, and enjoy the company of racing fans in the track’s winner’s circle until approximately 5:30 p.m.

“Michael Wrona will call the first race of the nighttime program while Burgart conducts the meet and greet. Burgart will then go to his announcer’s perch for his final racing program, which will be highlighted by the $1.9 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

“When Burgart called his first Champion of Champions both Allred and trainer Mike Robbins had horses in that race. For Burgart’s final call, Allred will be represented by fastest qualifier Nomadic, while Robbins will saddle Mr Ricks. John Cooper, one of Burgart’s best friends, will saddle Cartel Jess Rockin in the Two Million. The field will also feature Grade 1 futurity winners Runforyourlife and Flokie. Post time for the Two Million is 9:12 p.m.

“Day and night racing fans at Los Alamitos will receive a free 2020 Los Alamitos wall calendar with their paid admission while supplies last on Sunday night. The calendar will feature Burgart throughout the various months of the year. It’ll be another keepsake to remember the greatest quarter-horse race caller of all time.

“There’s one other important quarter-horse figure retiring at the end of 2019. Jockey Cody Jensen, a winner of more than 1,660 Quarter Horse races, 101 graded stakes wins and 50 Grade 1 stakes wins, will call it a career at the end of the month. The winning rider in last year’s Champion of Champions, Jensen will be aboard the super filly Flash And Roll in the Champion of Champions and then on Up And Coming in the Two Million. His final mount will likely come at Sunland Park on Sunday, Dec. 29.

“The 70^th season of quarter horse and thoroughbred racing will open at Los Alamitos on Friday, Dec. 27 with Wrona calling the action. The first stakes race of the season will be the Holiday Handicap on Dec. 28. Los Alamitos will be open for simulcasting during the time-off although the track will be closed Dec. 24-25.”

Los Alamitos daytime review

The feature on Friday’s card was a $40,000 maiden special weight for Cal-bred 2-year-old fillies, won by Florentine Diamond. She was strong in the stretch winning by seven lengths over Shenandoah Star.

Paula Capestro was the owner, trainer and co-breeder of the filly. Florentine Diamond paid a healthy $21.40, $10.80 and $5.40. Agapito Delgadillo was the jockey. Lets Get Wild finished third.

Los Alamitos daytime preview

Saturday’s card has a $100,000 stakes race, four races for 2-year-old fillies and nine races total. First post is at 12:30 p.m. The stakes is the Soviet Problem Stakes for Cal-bred 2-year-old fillies going a mile. There are 10 starters.

The favorite, at 7-5, is Been Studying Her and she has some good credentials for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Drayden Van Dyke. She has won three-of-four races including the Golden State Juvenile Fillies. She also finished fourth in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at Los Alamitos, her only loss.

Smiling Shirlee is the second favorite at 9-2 for Jeff Bonde and Ruben Fuentes. She has won one-of-three races and finished second in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 7, 7, 8, 8, 10 (1 also eligible), 10 (1 ae), 8, 10, 10 (2 ae). Not too shaby.

Ciaran Thornton’s Lrc picks of the day

RACE ONE: No. 5 Darkhawk (10-1)

Darkhawk trainer Brian Pitnick also owns this horse and is winning 29% in maiden claimers like Saturday with a 64% in the money percentage. The horse ran second at the beach last month with the strongest late pace we see in this race. Has as much speed as the top choices and we are getting a great 10-1 or more value. Darkhawk finished ahead of 7/2 Norski in this race yet this horse is better value.

Friday’s result: Cunning Munnings looked great on paper but even with go fast jockey Edwin Maldonado riding the horse had nothing, finishing off the board.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Saturday. All times PST.

10:14 Tampa Bay (3): $125,000 FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes, Fla-bred fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Wildwood’s Beauty (6-5)

11:04 Woodbine (3): $100,000 Display Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Elusive Knight (1-1)

11:14 Tampa Bay (5): $125,000 FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes, Fla-bred 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Jackson (2-1)

11:30 Gulfstream (6): Grade 3 $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Lady’s Island (5-2)

11:56 Fair Grounds (5): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes, La-bred fillies 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Vacherie Girl (5-2)

12:00 Gulfstream (7): $100,000 My Charmer, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Mitchell Road (9-5)

12:30 Gulfstream (8): Grade 3 $100,000 Rampart Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Baccarat Fashion (5-2)

12:46 Aqueduct (8): $500,000 New York Stallion Series, NY-bred 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Dream Bigger (5-2)

12:54 Fair Grounds (7): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Stakes, La-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Minit to Stardom (8-5)

1:00 Gulfstream (9): Grade 2 $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Channel Cat (3-1)

1:23 Fair Grounds (8): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes, La-breds 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Chimney Rock (8-5)

1:30 Gulfstream (10): Grade 3 $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Prince Lucky (2-1)

1:52 Fair Grounds (9): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf Stakes, La-breds 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: In the Navy (7-2)

2:21 Fair Grounds (10): $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, La-breds 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Underpressure (5-2)

2:50 Fair Grounds (11): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf Stakes, La-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Is Too (5-2)

3:19 Fair Grounds (12): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint Stakes, La-breds 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Monte Man (3-1)

3:58 Los Alamitos (8): $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes, Cal-bred fillies 2-years-old, 1 mile. Favorite: Been Studying Her (7-5)

Ed Burgart’s LA pick of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 1 Genuine Version (7-2)

This gelding relishes the rail post and has much early quickness. He figures to be even quicker than normal since he is coming off a speed-sharpening 110-yard victory in last start. In addition, he has won eight of 26 starts while Delayed Steal, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, is coming off restricted allowance victories in non winners of two and three race lifetime categories.

Final thought

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And now the stars of the show, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries.

Los Alamitos Race Course Charts Results for Friday, December 13.

Copyright 2019 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos, California. 5th day of a 8-day meet. Clear & Fast

FIRST RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $15,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $20,000-$18,000. Time 24.75 49.41 1:13.55 1:26.28 1:39.25

Winner–Flying Blue Ch.f.3 by Mucho Macho Man out of Ayres Hall, by Jade Hunter. Bred by Calabria Farms, LLC (OK). Trainer: Eoin G. Harty. Owner: Stetson Racing, LLC, Lanni, Donato and Riccelli, Rita. Mutuel Pool $41,795 Exacta Pool $13,671 Superfecta Pool $3,633 Trifecta Pool $7,373. Scratched–Northern Encounter, Probable.

FLYING BLUE sped to the lead into the first turn, set the pace down the backstretch and around the second turn, inched clear in upper stretch and held the advantage to the wire. GOTTA BE LUCKY pressed the pace throughout, bid for command in upper stretch, was turned back but was clearly second best. FULL COURT chased off the rail down the backstretch, drifted out in the stretch, could make no headway but gained third. GODDESS APHRODITE stalked the pace three deep, came into the stretch three wide and gave way. The half mile fraction was hand timed.

SECOND RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $21,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $50,000-$40,000. Time 22.15 45.97 58.16 1:05.04

Winner–Ice Kitty Grr.f.3 by He Be Fire N Ice out of Ridge Kitten, by Monsieur Cat. Bred by Cicero Farms LLC (CA). Trainer: Tim Yakteen. Owner: Cicero Farms, LLC. Mutuel Pool $71,523 Daily Double Pool $11,706 Exacta Pool $36,055 Superfecta Pool $13,980 Trifecta Pool $21,734. Scratched–none.

ICE KITTY Had good early foot, set pressured pace from the inside, retained slim advantage into the lane and gamely turned back outside rival. HOT MAGISTRATE forced the pace from between rivals, continued outside winner around the bend and into the lane, challenged throughout the drive but narrowly missed outside foe. DURGA was three abreast into the turn, continued on same path on the turn then four wide into the stretch, lost contact with top pair in the drive and saved the show. STICK UP briefly forced the pace then was taken off the leader, stalked from along the rail, angled three wide leaving the turn, came out further in final furlong and missed third outside rival. REMEMBER TO SMILE close up early from the outside, caught four wide into and on the turn, drifted out six wide into the stretch and lacked needed late response. MRS. KIMBERLY K reserved while bit off the fence, chased two or three wide on the turn and failed to make any late impact. Half mile fraction was hand timed.

THIRD RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $15,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $8,000-$7,000. Time 23.49 46.91 1:11.75 1:24.28 1:37.38

Winner–Top of the Game B.g.6 by Desert Party out of Indy Future, by A.P. Indy. Bred by Cantrell Family Partnership Ltd. (KY). Trainer: Ryan Hanson. Owner: Dunn, Robin D and Hanson, Ryan. Mutuel Pool $74,345 Daily Double Pool $7,999 Exacta Pool $33,600 Trifecta Pool $26,387. Scratched–Tasunke Witco.

$1 Pick Three (4-2-1) paid $37.00. Pick Three Pool $16,264.

TOP OF THE GAME was sent up inside and grabbed command entering backstretch, dictated pace from slightly off the fence, padded cushion in upper stretch and stretched that margin late while show the stick and under hand urging. BEST TWO MINUTES unhurried early, chased from bit off the rail, advanced along the fence around last turn then out gamed outside rival in the lane for the place. LIBERTY PARK stalked while three or four wide to the second bend, moved up bit outside on that turn, came three wide into the stretch and was turned back for second. FOR HIM pressured the pacesetter into and through the backstretch, dropped back around last turn and weakened. AUTUMN DAY forced early pace while three deep, and between rivals, continued well off the rail, also dropped back on the final turn and faded in the stretch.

FOURTH RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000. Time 23.75 48.04 1:13.22 1:25.87 1:38.81

Winner–Call Me Daddy B.c.2 by Palace Malice out of Ravenesque, by Dance With Ravens. Bred by Copper Penny Stables (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill. Owner: ERJ Racing, LLC, Kenney, Dave and Strauss, William. Mutuel Pool $104,542 Daily Double Pool $11,125 Exacta Pool $46,561 Superfecta Pool $20,449 Trifecta Pool $28,231. Scratched–Convex.

$1 Pick Three (2-1-6) paid $63.70. Pick Three Pool $8,584.

CALL ME DADDY entered the first turn three wide, stalked the pace four deep on the backstretch, moved up three wide around the second turn, took the lead in midstretch and drew away in the final furlong. MAHI MAHI dueled inside a rival on the backstretch and second turn, fought back when challenged in midstretch, could not hold off the winner but was clearly second best. BAMBOOZLER chased off the rail down the backstretch and around the second turn, swung out in the lane, did not threaten but gained the show. DEBT MONGER pulled behind rivals around the first turn, moved up between horses entering the backstretch, dueled outside a rival into and around the second turn, drifted out in the stretch and weakened. SOUND CHECKERS stalked the pace three deep on the backstretch, angled in on the second turn, gave way in the lane and was eased through the final furlong.

FIFTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $40,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds. Time 21.85 46.15 58.40 1:05.13

Winner–Florentine Diamond Ch.f.2 by Smiling Tiger out of Silver Score, by Even the Score. Bred by Woodbridge Farm LLC & Paula Capestro (CA). Trainer: Paula S. Capestro. Owner: Paula S. Capestro. Mutuel Pool $80,216 Daily Double Pool $13,075 Exacta Pool $42,992 Superfecta Pool $17,638 Trifecta Pool $26,914. Scratched–none.

$1 Pick Three (1-6-5) paid $70.30. Pick Three Pool $22,031. $1 Pick Four (2-1-2/6-5) 4 correct paid $547.40. Pick Four Pool $40,156. 50-Cent Pick Five (2/3/4-2-1-2/6-5) 5 correct paid $699.20. Pick Five Pool $145,431.

FLORENTINE DIAMOND was lightly bumped leaving the gate, stalked four wide into the bend, continued outside on the turn, fanned five wide exiting the turn, rallied strongly outside, reached front passing three-sixteenths pole and drew clear under couple right handed taps. SHENANDOAH STAR broke alertly and sped to the front, controlled pace while bit off the rail then three wide exiting the turn, was overtaken in upper stretch but safely held second. LETS GET WILD attended the early pace while outside leader, remained prominent while three then four wide into the stretch, remained well off the rail and clearly bested others. JEMSEK settled off the leaders, hugged the rail into the stretch chasing the pace, remained along the fence and never threatened. TOO MUCH SMOKE hesitated while off very slowly, dropped well back early, saved ground but never reached contention. MISS CAROUSEL broke in and lightly bumped inside rival, crossed over leaving the backstretch, moved up and loomed on the turn but gave way in the stretch and was eased nearing the wire. The stewards conducted an inquiry involving the start for TOO MUCH SMOKE but ruled that horse caused its own problem.

SIXTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $15,000. Starter Allowance. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $8,000. Time 21.65 45.21 58.02 1:05.00

Winner–Coalinga Hills Ch.m.6 by Thorn Song out of Alphabet Kisses, by Alphabet Soup. Bred by Harris Farms (CA). Trainer: Martin F. Jones. Owner: Hicker, George and Button Stable. Mutuel Pool $107,339 Daily Double Pool $9,835 Exacta Pool $57,895 Superfecta Pool $34,326 Trifecta Pool $41,219. Scratched–Madame Mousse.

$1 Pick Three (6-5-4) paid $124.30. Pick Three Pool $20,806.

COALINGA HILLS tracked leading duo into and around turn while three wide, roused in upper stretch, closed strongly in the final furlong and collared leader in final yards. TIMBERLAKE GAGE hooked up in prolonged duel from along the rail into stretch, inched away in upper stretch and again past mid stretch but could not stave off winner. EREBUNI settled off the pace and well off the rail, continued on four wide path to the stretch, remained outside through the lane and was up in final jump for minor award. HERUNBRIDLEDPOWER crossed over and contested the pace outside runner-up, battled well into the stretch, fought back through the drive but had little left for the final sixteenth. JUST BE HELD chased while well off the fence or four wide into the stretch and failed to threaten while between rivals late. BRAGGING RIGHTS was void of early foot, saved ground while trailing the field and failed to make any serious late impact.

SEVENTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $28,000. Starter Allowance. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $50,000. Time 22.05 45.18 56.88 1:03.29

Winner–Lord Adare Dbb.c.3 by Violence out of Pure Genius, by Mr. Greeley. Bred by Helen Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon (NY). Trainer: Robert B. Hess, Jr.. Owner: Happy Go Lucky Stables, LLC, Arthur, Michael V. and Islas, Ruben. Mutuel Pool $141,510 Daily Double Pool $14,568 Exacta Pool $81,853 Superfecta Pool $41,283 Trifecta Pool $49,741. Scratched–none.

$1 Pick Three (5-4-3) paid $191.00. Pick Three Pool $11,516.

LORD ADARE quickly sped to the front, came in slightly approaching the bend, retained slight advantage into the stretch, inched away in upper stretch then dug in late under strong handling to hold off rival. MAYAN WARRIOR forced the early issue outside leader, continued three wide then between rivals leaving the turn, continued outside winner and closed gap in final yards. BOB’S SNIPER close up early from along the rail, stalked from inside into the lane, could not match top pair in the drive and just lasted for the show. POLICY bumped at the start, chased while well off the rail, came four wide into the stretch, remained outside, finished willingly and just missed third. ANNIVERSARY SALE bumped with outside foe at the start, stalked four wide into the wide, continued on same path and loomed exiting the turn, remained well off the fence but was out finished. CUNNING MUNNINGS was in bit tight early and shuffled back, chased on two wide path around the turn and did not threaten late. CAPTAIN BUZZKILL chased from the outside, caught five wide into the bend, angled over around the turn and failed to challenge. HIGH FIVE settled outside and off the pace, chased four then five wide into the stretch and lacked needed late response.

EIGHTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies. 3 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000. Time 22.02 45.70 58.17 1:04.98

Winner–Dairy Kid Dbb.f.3 by Richard’s Kid out of Ban, by After Market. Bred by Linda Adair & Julie Adair Stack (KY). Trainer: Robert J. Lucas. Owner: Robert J. Lucas. Mutuel Pool $149,737 Daily Double Pool $41,067 Exacta Pool $91,854 Superfecta Pool $62,590 Super High Five Pool $5,852 Trifecta Pool $61,817. Scratched–Miracle Miler.

$1 Pick Three (4-3-4) paid $530.30. Pick Three Pool $74,705. $1 Pick Four (5-4-3-4) 4 correct paid $7,966.80. Pick Four Pool $185,397. $2 Pick Six (1-2/6-5-4-3-4) 5 out of 6 paid $405.80. Pick Six Pool $24,825. Pick Six Carryover $13,263.

DAIRY KID stalked while bit off the fence, secured rail later on the turn, continued inside in the lane, shifted out inside eighth marker, surged under strong asking and nailed leader nearing finish. PALM D’ORO had good early speed, controlled pace while slightly off the rail, retained cushion well into the stretch, dug in late but could not hold the winner. BUYBACK chased on two wide path into and on the turn, angled four wide later on the bend, continued willingly in the lane and gained third. MY S V R was caught five wide leaving the backstretch, moved up outside then three wide entering the stretch, could not match top pair in final furlong and eventually lost third. DANNYBOB stalked while outside winner on the turn and into the stretch, dropped back bit in upper stretch then finished evenly. PASITO chased three wide into and on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked needed late punch. WINNING BELLS angled over early, chased while outside a rival, came two wide into the stretch, angled out bit in the lane but did not threaten late. ROOT BEER RAG was slow into stride, also shifted inward some early, chased three wide leaving the turn and failed to challenge. WILLOWGLADE stalked from along the rail early, dropped back around the turn and weakened. HOPE PARKWAY was off slow, dropped well back early, saved ground to the stretch then gave way.

Los Alamitos Race Course Entries for Saturday, December 14.

Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos, California. 6th day of a 8-day meet.

FIRST RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $15,000. Maiden Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000.

SECOND RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $30,000. Claiming. Fillies. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $32,000-$28,000.

THIRD RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000.

FOURTH RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $40,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds.

FIFTH RACE.

5 Furlongs. Purse: $14,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $8,000.

SIXTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000.

SEVENTH RACE.

1 1/16 Mile. Purse: $17,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $16,000-$14,000.

EIGHTH RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $100,000. ‘Soviet Problem Stakes’. Fillies. 2 year olds. State bred.

NINTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $45,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. State bred.

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Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.

LAKERS

The Lakers beat the Miami Heat 113-110 on Friday, handing Miami its first home loss of the season. The Lakers (23-3) have now won 13 consecutive road games, the most the franchise has had since the 1971-72 championship season.

After a sloppy first half in which he turned the ball over seven times, LeBron James more than atoned in the second half, scoring 17 and making three three-pointers. He finished with 28 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Anthony Davis finished with 33 points, 18 of them in the second half, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. JaVale McGee blocked five shots and grabbed 10 rebounds despite playing only 17 minutes.

The Lakers had a one-point lead after the first quarter, but in the second quarter Miami went on a 12-2 run and eventually led by 14 points. The Lakers cut the Heat’s lead to eight by halftime, giving themselves hope for the second half.

Although the Lakers opened the second half with yet another turnover — their 12th as a team and James’ eighth — they quickly recovered.

James delivered a pair of dunks before pulling up for a three-pointer that tied the score at 65 with 8:21 left in the third quarter.

The Lakers are 2-0 on their current trip, which will take them to Atlanta, Indiana and Milwaukee.

CLIPPERS

Paul George scored 46 points, Kawhi Leonard had 42 and the Clippers held on to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-117 for their fourth consecutive victory.

It was the highest combined scoring output of the season for the Clippers’ new superstar duo. Leonard and George’s previous high came Dec. 1 when they combined for 65 points against Washington. They became the first set of teammates in Clippers’ history to each score 40 points. It was the 21st time in NBA history it has happened.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 39 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which lost its seventh in a row.

Read more

Clippers coach Doc Rivers has a message for the ‘Doris Burkes of the world’

DODGERS

In his first public comments since the Dodgers were eliminated from the postseason in stunning fashion two months ago, Clayton Kershaw on Friday said he was keeping close tabs on the activity that generated from this week’s winter meetings, he did not recruit Gerrit Cole before the ace chose to sign elsewhere, and he welcomed the possibility of playing with nemesis Madison Bumgarner.

As for the sign-stealing allegations levied against the Houston Astros that have outraged the industry and generated speculation about the Astros cheating during the 2017 World Series against the Dodgers, Kershaw admitted being somewhat stunned.

“A little shocked, honestly,” Kershaw said at the Dodgers’ annual holiday party for more than 300 children experiencing homelessness. “During the ’17 World Series, we all took as many precautions as we could. Just because it’s the playoffs and you want to do your due diligence.

“I guess all I can say is when the team and the players are doing what they can on the field to get the signs, that’s obviously part of the game, you know? But when technology comes into play, if that is really true, it sucks. And unless we get to win the World Series, I don’t really care what the punishment is. But it just, it does suck, no matter what.”

USC FOOTBALL

A week after an interview with Texas led USC to offer offensive coordinator Graham Harrell a sizable raise, the school has yet to announce a new deal for Harrell. But as the Trojans held their first of 11 bowl practices on Friday, with their full staff still intact, all signs continue to point to him sticking around.

The same can’t be said just yet about USC’s other two coordinators, Clancy Pendergast and John Baxter, whose jobs appear to be secure until USC plays in the Holiday Bowl against Iowa on Dec. 27. Questions about their status won’t be answered until Tuesday, when Clay Helton speaks to reporters for the first time since USC announced he’d continue as head coach.

Harrell proved himself worthy of the investment in his debut season with the Trojans. Even after USC lost its starting quarterback two quarters into the season, Harrell still managed to turn the Trojans into the nation’s fifth-ranked passing attack (335.9 yards per game), while helping develop a three-star backup quarterback, Kedon Slovis, into the Pac-12’s offensive freshman of the year.

RAMS

The dynamic pass-catching ability Rams tight end Tyler Higbee displayed during consecutive 100-yard receiving performances was no surprise to some.

Bob Hudson helped develop it while coaching Higbee in high school in Florida. Jeff Brohm and Tyson Helton used it as coach and offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky.

And Rams star running back Todd Gurley has seen it during three-plus seasons as Higbee’s teammate.

“He’s been doing what he’s been doing at practice,” Gurley said. “He’s just doing it in a game now.”

The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Higbee could play a large role again Sunday when the Rams play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. It is a must-win game for the Rams, who are 8-5 and chasing the Minnesota Vikings (9-4) for an NFC wild-card spot.

Higbee, 26, helped position the Rams for a possible run to the playoffs by producing career-best performances against the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

With tight end Gerald Everett sidelined because of a knee injury, coach and play-caller Sean McVay made Higbee one of quarterback Jared Goff’s primary targets. Higbee caught seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in the 34-7 victory over the Cardinals. He had seven receptions for 116 yards in a 28-12 victory over the Seahawks.

“It’s not any different than what we’ve seen in moments in games,” Rams tight ends coach Wes Phillips said. “He’s done that in spurts before but just now, having more opportunities, it’s really come out.”

YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MOMENT

What is your all-time favorite local sports moment? Email me at [email protected] and tell me what it is and why, and it could appear in a future Sports newsletter.

This moment comes from John Thomas of Culver City:

In 1994, I was working for a small firm that had Dodger season tickets. The four tickets would circulate around the office. That same year, Fernando Valenzuela was pitching for the Phillies and were scheduled to play the Dodgers in L.A. The baseball gods lined up the rotations so that Fernando would face Orel Hershiser. It was not my turn for the tickets, but the guy whose turn it was knew how excited I was about the game so he skipped his turn and gave his tickets to me. I went to the game with dreams of bringing home a souvenir. Early in the game, Fernando came to bat and hit a soft line drive foul towards our seat on the loge level. I was able to outreach an 8-year-old kid and snag the ball. We both had gloves.

I couldn’t believe my luck and was on Cloud 9 for the rest of the game. Later in the game, one of the Phillies’ big guns came to bat and lifted a towering foul ball in our direction. I joined a scrum of guys in the aisle between sections, stuck my glove up and felt the ball settle into it. What were the odds! I suspected some divine intervention so there was only one thing to do with this foul ball. The look on the 8-year-old kid’s face when I dropped the ball in his glove was the second best moment of the day.

TODAY’S LOCAL MAJOR SPORTS SCHEDULE

All times Pacific

Clippers at Chicago, 5 p.m., Fox Sports Prime Ticket, AM 570

Kings at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m., FSW

NY Rangers at Ducks, 1 p.m., PRIME

UCLA (basketball) at Notre Dame, noon, ABC, AM 570

BORN ON THIS DATE

1901: Tennis player Henri Cochet (d. 1987)

1939: Football player Ernie Davis (d. 1963)

1946: Javelin thrower Ruth Fuchs

1946: Tennis player Stan Smith

1949: Baseball player Bill Buckner (d. 2019)

1953: Tennis player Vijay Amritraj

1954: Race car driver Alan Kulwicki (d. 1993)

1965: Baseball player Craig Biggio

1966: Basketball player Anthony Mason (d. 2015)

1966: Hockey player Bill Ranford

DIED ON THIS DATE

1920: Football player George Gipp, 25

1980: Baseball player Elston Howard, 59

1985: Baseball player Roger Maris, 51

AND FINALLY

Red Barber has the call on Roger Maris’ 61st homer in 1961. Watch it here.

That concludes the newsletter for today. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, please email me at [email protected]. If you want to subscribe, click here

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POWAY, Calif. — 

A planned talk by Rep. Rashida Tlaib at the Westview High School theater has been canceled after the Poway Unified School District revoked its approval of the event, saying that the date of the talk is the only day the space can be cleaned before the holiday break.

Notice of the cancellation came late Thursday morning, a day after the San Diego County district had sent an email to the Center for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) confirming use of the theater on Dec. 21 for the two-hour event titled Defending Our Communities, a Conversation with Rep. Rashida Tlaib. CAIR representatives had spoken with school officials about the event before it was originally approved and had applied via the district’s web portal.

On Wednesday, a letter was sent by a conservative legal fund to the Poway Unified superintendent and school board president suggesting that Tlaib’s presence and the event would be an insult to the Jewish community, which it said is still struggling to get over a shooting at the nearby Chabad of Poway synagogue last April that left one person dead and three wounded.

Daniel Piedra, executive director of the nonprofit Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, said he was not told what prompted the district to cancel the event, but believes concerns expressed by his organization about “Tlaib’s anti-Israel rhetoric” played a role. The Defense Fund in 2017 represented plaintiffs suing to prohibit CAIR from teaching about Islam in the San Diego Unified School District’s anti-bullying program.

The fund was founded in 2012 by Rancho Santa Fe lawyer Charles LiMandri, who defended the Mount Soledad Cross in San Diego when challenged by the ACLU.

Tlaib, 43, a Democrat, was elected to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional District last year. She is the first Palestinian American woman in Congress and, with Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.

She has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and has sharply criticized the Israeli government and called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

Tlaib is a member of the informal group of female Democrats in the House known as the Squad, along with Omar, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Dustin Craun, executive director of the local chapter of CAIR, said Thursday afternoon he doesn’t believe in coincidences and thinks it’s highly possible the district made up an excuse to avoid controversy.

“I was told there was a conflict and the school needed it,” Craun said. “I said, ‘Well, that’s convenient.’ ”

“Now the congresswoman wants to speak to the superintendent, so obviously it’s pretty upsetting,” Craun said. Tlaib clearly has the right under the 1st Amendment to speak, he added.

The $65-a-person event will still be held that weekend, Craun said, when a suitable new venue can be found. Craun and UC San Diego political science professor Tom Wong are listed as participants in the conversation. Wong, a Democrat, is one of the candidates running to replace Rep. Susan Davis in the 53rd Congressional District.

A spokeswoman for the district said Thursday that the letter protesting Tlaib’s visit had nothing to do with the permit being denied. In fact, the spokeswoman, Christine Paik, said, Supt. Marian Kim-Phelps hasn’t even seen the letter.

“This time of year is crazy,” Paik said. “All of the holiday concerts and events are happening at our facilities. At that theater in particular, there is something scheduled every day through [Dec. 20],” she said.

She said Dec. 21 was the first and only time when scheduled maintenance of the building could be done before employees went home for the winter break.

“Sometimes facilities requests are approved without consulting the maintenance schedule, and that’s what happened in this case,” Paik said.

Tlaib could not be reached for comment.

Jones writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.