Sports
Chargers veterans join rookies for first practice together
The Chargers’ offseason program continued Monday with a workout at their headquarters in Costa Mesa.
The practice featured the team’s veterans and rookies together for the first time, coach Jim Harbaugh last week explaining the blending process by likening it to merging onto the 405 Freeway.
With the opening of the second phase of workouts, here’s a look at some recent Chargers happenings:
In the spotlight
The status of the Chargers expanded the instant the team hired Harbaugh in late January, a celebrity head coach just off a college national champion giving the franchise a 120-proof shot of credibility.
The high-profile adjustment has worked both ways, Harbaugh beginning to experience the benefits of his increased stardom in fame-loving Southern California.
In the last 10 days, he and wife Sarah have attended a charity gala hosted by the Dodgers, the wedding of former Chargers executive Nicoletta Ruhl and actor Jaleel White, and the roast of Tom Brady.
“There were celebrities everywhere,” Harbaugh said. “Jaleel is a celebrity. Actors from ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ Shohei Ohtani. I just turned to her and said, ‘We’re not in Ann Arbor anymore, Sarah.’ ”
Another deep threat
Among all the things Justin Herbert gives the Chargers, his presence alone affects the team’s fortunes. Harbaugh referenced that reality when asked about the signing of veteran wide receiver DJ Chark Jr.
“We really liked him a lot,” Harbaugh said. “He liked us. He liked what we have going. I’m sure No. 10 helps the most. Really good receivers want to play with a really good quarterback. I’m not going to take any credit for that. It’s mostly, I think, Justin.”
Chark confirmed Harbaugh’s assessment Monday when he met with reporters for the first time since joining the Chargers, calling Herbert “a top-five QB in this league in any given year.”
Entering his seventh season, Chark is expected to provide the Chargers with a much needed down-the-field element, his career average of 14.5 yards per reception an indication of that ability.
Chark said Herbert “can only really bring me up a notch,” noting that the quarterback has teamed with a variety of wide receivers — including Mike Williams and Tyron Johnson — to produce explosive moments.
“If you notice, there’s always been guys making big plays here no matter who it was,” Chark said. “Just being able to get on that same page with him, I think the rest will take care of itself.”
A Charger for life
Seventh-round draft pick Cornelius Johnson wore his official Chargers gear for the first time during rookie minicamp. It wasn’t, however, his first time in the team’s colors.
Growing up in Connecticut, Johnson was a fan of Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson and often wore No. 21 as a tribute. He explained that he also loved the Chargers’ uniforms.
Shortly after the draft, a picture of Johnson emerged on social media showing him in a Tomlinson jersey and with his hair shaved into a bolt. He was 8 at the time.
“I just loved LaDainian’s game, loved his highlights,” Johnson said. “Then, all of those guys like [Antonio] Gates and [Philip] Rivers, that whole squad. … It’s amazing that they were the team that ended up drafting me to be my dream.”
Johnson’s older brother, Cassius, played football at the University of San Diego, which gave Johnson an opportunity to see Qualcomm Stadium — from the outside, at least.
“I remember me and my dad [Claude] tried to get in there when they were still trying to demolish it,” he said. “They kicked us out.”
Looking in from the outside
New Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton mentioned the importance of being in sync with the coaches multiple times during his first session with reporters Monday.
His time with Tennessee soured in 2023 to the point where he was benched as the 2020 second-round pick struggled with consistency. Fulton also dealt with repeated soft-tissue injuries during his four seasons with the Titans.
“If your coaches and players are on two different pages, then your players on the field are still second-guessing,” he said when asked about last year. “It’s kind of like that, just taking indecision out of calls and all those things.”
In need of a starting outside cornerback opposite Asante Samuel Jr., the Chargers signed Fulton in March to a deal that guarantees him $2.445 million for this season.
He started 35 games over the last three years and has four career interceptions. Fulton, however, is coming off a season in which Pro Football Focus gave him his worst overall defensive grade.
He explained that — in retrospect — he didn’t believe going to Tennessee was best for his career. He said he thinks a fresh start with the Chargers and new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter can only help.
“Just me personally looking back, I don’t think I was put in the best position,” Fulton said. “That’s just where I was drafted. So I didn’t have no say-so in that. I finally got an opportunity where I’m put in a position where I think it’s the best opportunity for me.”
Sports
Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU
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The chaos between LSU coaches who left Ole Miss alongside Lane Kiffin but are still coaching the Rebels in the College Football Playoff is certainly a whirlwind.
Joe Judge, Ole Miss’ quarterbacks coach, has found himself in the thick of the drama — while he is not headed for Baton Rouge, he’s had to wonder who he will be working with on a weekly basis.
When asked this week about what it’s like to go through all the trials and tribulations, Judge turned heads with his answer that evoked his New England Patriots days.
Aaron Hernandez sits in the courtroom of the Attleboro District Court during his hearing. Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, on Aug. 22, 2013. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
“My next-door neighbor was Aaron Hernandez,” Judge said, according to CBS Sports. “I know this is still more chaotic.”
Hernandez was found guilty of the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, which occurred just three years into his NFL career.
“If you watch those documentaries, my house is on the TV next door,” Judge added. “The detectives knocked on my door to find out where he was. I didn’t know. We just kind of talked to the organization. But it was obviously chaotic.”
Aaron Hernandez was convicted of the 2013 murder of semipro football player Odin Lloyd. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
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Judge, though, was able to compare the two situations to see how players can combat wild distractions.
“Those players that year handled that extremely well. Came out of that chaos, and we had some really good direction inside with some veterans and some different guys. You have something like that happen — how do you handle something like that? How do you deal with something like that? So you keep the focus on what you can handle, what you can control, which at that time was football for us, and we went through the stretch, and we were able to have success that year,” Judge said.
Judge also compared this scenario to the 2020 NFL season when he was head coach of the New York Giants, saying he would have “no idea” who would be available due to surprise positive COVID-19 tests.
Head coach Joe Judge of the New York Giants looks on during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. The game took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec. 19, 2021. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The Rebels face Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, the College Football Playoff Semifinal, on Thursday night.
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Calabasas pulled off a huge win in high school basketball on Tuesday night, handing Thousand Oaks its first defeat after 16 victories in a Marmonte League opener.
The Coyotes (13-5) have quietly turned around their season after a 2-4 start, winning 11 of their last 12 games.
One of the major contributors has been 6-foot-3 junior guard Johnny Thyfault, who’s averaging 16 points and has become a fan favorite because of his dunking skills. He also leads the team in taking charging fouls.
He transferred to Calabasas after his freshman year at Viewpoint.
As for beating Thousand Oaks, coach Jon Palarz said, “We got to play them at home and had great effort.”
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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The Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with four-time NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young, trading him to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster move, according to ESPN.
The Hawks will reportedly be receiving veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert in the deal.
Washington was Young’s preferred destination, and the two sides were working on a deal to get the 27-year-old point guard to the nation’s capital.
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Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. ( Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Young’s agents were having conversations with the Hawks, who sit at 17-21 so far this season, about trading their client out of Atlanta.
There is a mutual connection in Washington, too, as executive Travis Schlenk drafted Young fifth overall in 2018 out of Oklahoma.
It marks the end of an era for the Hawks. Young has been the focal point of their offense since he was taken in that draft. He is the team’s career leader in three-pointers and assists, having led the team to the postseason in three of his eight seasons. The Hawks went the furthest in 2021, where they made the Eastern Conference Finals.
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However, the new era was brewing already in Atlanta, with forward Jalen Johnson taking the next step in his career, averaging 23.7 points per game this season. The pickup of Nickeil Alexander-Walker also helps, as he’s averaged 20.5 points per game in 36 appearances.
Meanwhile, Young has played just 10 games this season, as he’s been dealing with leg injuries, most notably a right MCL sprain.
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on after the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Hawks also get some flexibility on their books, as they could make some more moves. Anthony Davis is reportedly available from the Dallas Mavericks, making him a good target for Atlanta.
Young has $95 million remaining on his deal that runs through the 2026-27 season, which includes a player option this offseason.
Atlanta will be taking on McCollum’s contract, though the veteran guard has a $30.6 million expiring deal.
Through his 10 games this season, Young is averaging 19.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field.
Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks drives down the court during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at State Farm Arena on April 7, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Over his career, Young has dropped 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, while leading the league in the latter category last season with 11.6 per contest.
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