Sports
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones weighs in on 18-game seasons, kickoffs and football in L.A.
![Cowboys owner Jerry Jones weighs in on 18-game seasons, kickoffs and football in L.A. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones weighs in on 18-game seasons, kickoffs and football in L.A.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/268b554/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6875x3609+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2F4a%2Fe0e90d884daaa6a1a84e372e9eda%2Fcowboys-football-62805.jpg)
Most NFL owners are singularly focused on their franchise. Jerry Jones is different.
The Dallas Cowboys are first and foremost to Jones, naturally, but the team’s longtime owner also keeps a keen eye on the machinations to the west.
Few people were more involved in the NFL’s return to Los Angeles than Jones, who brings his players to Oxnard each summer for training camp. He was a staunch proponent of the stadium plan in Inglewood — what would eventually become SoFi Stadium — and had the influence to bring a lot of fellow owners with him.
So there’s a sense of pride Jones feels not just in the league’s return to the nation’s second-largest market, but also the byproduct of the Raiders’ move from Oakland to Las Vegas.
“I’m so rewarded by the NFL fans in Southern California, the dominoes that took place with the Rams and Chargers being in that fabulous stadium, and the way the Raiders ended up in Las Vegas,” Jones said last week after one of the Cowboys’ final Oxnard practices of the summer.
“I had that all thought out,” he said sarcastically with a playful chuckle. “But still it worked out.”
After an impromptu gaggle with a group of reporters focused on the state of the Cowboys, Jones spoke with the Los Angeles Times on a variety of topics including L.A., the prospects of an 18-game season and the dramatic changes to kickoffs.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is in favor of expanding the regular season by a game, which would mean get the players’ union to go along with the idea. That number was bumped to 17 games in 2021 when the league and NFL Players Assn. forged a new collective bargaining agreement that runs through the 2030 season.
The league could go to 18 games before a new CBA as long as both sides agree on that.
“It really does sound good,” Jones said of an expanded regular season. “It’s a great number for the players.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, left, speaks with Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis before a preseason game on Aug. 17.
(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
Jones thinks the preseason should be two games instead of three, and that each team should get one at home. He said that will enable clubs to further grow their fan bases.
“With all of the investment we put in venues, a preseason game gives you a chance to have maybe a third of those fans as people who won’t be there during the regular season,” he said.
Likewise, Jones is a fan of the change to kickoffs, modified to make them safer and to revive a once-exciting play that in recent years had become a nonfactor, an almost-guaranteed touchback.
“I like it,” he said of the new format. “You can see that it’s a big play about to happen. You can also see how punitive it might be.”
As in the past, a ball kicked out of bounds is spotted on the receiving team’s 40-yard line. But now that happens if a kickoff is short of the “landing zone,” the area between the receiving team’s goal line and 20.
A kickoff by Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey sailed out of bounds in a preseason game at Las Vegas, and the Raiders had a 48-yard gain on the next play. They wound up kicking a field goal on that drive.
“It tore our proverbial butt up,” Jones said of the miscue.
Jones, who bought the Cowboys in 1989, saw his team win three Super Bowls in the six years that followed, helping pave the way to his 2017 induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Not surprisingly, he has high hopes for this season, even though Dallas has not reached a Super Bowl — or a conference title game — since winning the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the 1995 season.
Still, he takes pride in the fact there have already been Super Bowls played at SoFi and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and L.A. is getting the NFL’s marquee game again in 2027.
“I look at it more holistically, because where I am in Dallas, Los Angeles and Las Vegas are just suburbs for me,” he said, smiling. “It’s all one big picture out here. … This is a real heyday for what the NFL and football is.”
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Sports
Yankees' Juan Soto directs fans' pleas for him to stay with team Brian Cashman
![Yankees' Juan Soto directs fans' pleas for him to stay with team Brian Cashman Yankees' Juan Soto directs fans' pleas for him to stay with team Brian Cashman](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/Juan-Soto.jpg)
The Juan Soto trade has worked out brilliantly for the New York Yankees.
The young superstar is hitting .299 with a 1.034 OPS and has already reached a career high in home runs with 37. Additionally, he is on pace to set a career mark in runs scored, as well as he has 108 already this season. The Yankees have maintained a slim American League East lead over the Baltimore Orioles – thanks to Soto.
New York Yankees’ Juan Soto hits a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 in New York City. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
As he was a part of a home run barrage against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, fans in the Bronx showered him with cheers and pleas to the organization itself.
“Please sign Soto,” the Yankees’ faithful yelled.
The Yankees and Soto have expressed their desire to keeping the outfielder in pinstripes for the long term. However, the front office will certainly have to break the bank for that to happen.
Soto appeared to be happy with the support as he told reporters to direct their calls to general manager Brian Cashman.
![Juan Soto celebrates](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/Juan-Soto3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
New York Yankees’ Juan Soto runs the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 in New York City. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
GIANCARLO STANTON’S BROKEN BAT HITS UMPIRE IN HEAD, KNOCKS HIM OUT OF GAME IN BIZARRE SCENE
“I don’t know. They have to talk to Cashman,” he said.
Soto turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension offer from the Washington Nationals in 2022, MLB.com noted. It led to Soto being traded to the San Diego Padres and later to the Yankees.
MLB.com, citing industry sources, reported that a Soto deal could exceed $500 million in the offseason.
![Juan Soto vs White Sox](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/Juan-Soto.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Juan Soto, #22 of the New York Yankees, celebrates his solo home run in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on Aug. 13, 2024 in Chicago. (Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Soto is only 25 years old and keeping him in the Bronx would ensure a big bat in the heart of their lineup for years to come.
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Sports
White Sox lose 100th game of 2024 as dismal season wears on
![White Sox lose 100th game of 2024 as dismal season wears on White Sox lose 100th game of 2024 as dismal season wears on](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/Andrew-Vaughn.jpg)
The Chicago White Sox picked up loss No. 100 on Sunday and are on pace for one of the worst seasons in Major League Baseball history with 31 games remaining on their docket.
This loss was a 9-4 result at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. Andy Ibáñez hit a home run and had three RBI for the Tigers in the win. Colt Keith also had three RBI for Detroit.
White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn is shown after hitting an RBI double during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago on Aug. 25, 2024. (Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports)
Andrew Vaughn gave a valiant effort for the White Sox. He had a homer and two RBI. Jonathan Cannon gave up five runs and eight hits in four innings.
The White Sox need to go 12-19 down the stretch to avoid tying the 1962 New York Mets, who were 40-120-1. That Mets team has the modern record for most losses in a season. The Cleveland Spiders have the all-time record with 20-134 in 1899.
SCOTT SERVAIS LEARNED MARINERS WERE FIRING HIM FROM X ALERT: ‘ALARMING THAT I FOUND OUT THAT WAY’
![Dominic Fletcher makes a sliding catch](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/Dominic-Fletcher.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
White Sox center fielder Dominic Fletcher catches a fly ball during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago on Aug. 25, 2024. (Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports)
Only the 1916 Philadelphia A’s reached 100 losses in fewer games than the White Sox. They were 29-100-1 at one point during that season.
Chicago’s most losses in a season came in 1970 when they were 56-106. They had a .325 winning percentage when they were 49-102-1 in 1932.
![Tigers players celebrate](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/Tigers-players.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Detroit Tigers celebrate after defeating the White Sox in Chicago on Aug. 25, 2024. (Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports)
Chicago fired Pedro Grifol on Aug. 8 as the team continued to spiral. The team named Grady Sizemore the interim manager, and they are 3-11 under him.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
The Times' top 25 high school football rankings
![The Times' top 25 high school football rankings The Times' top 25 high school football rankings](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2050eac/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3296x1730+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd5%2Ff4%2F6e40dc4d4ffd82be2ce289df61f3%2Fdefense.jpg)
A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland.
Rk.; School; Last week; Next game; Previous rank
1; MATER DEI (1-0); def. Corona Centennial 42-25; vs. Bishop Gorman, Sept. 6; 1
2; ST. JOHN BOSCO (1-0); def. Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna 34-27; vs. El Paso (Texas) Eastwood, Friday; 3
3; CORONA CENTENNIAL (0-1); lost to Mater Dei 42-25; vs. Santa Margarita, Friday; 2
4; MISSION VIEJO (2-0); def. Santa Margarita 35-7; vs. Henderson (Nev.) Liberty, Sept. 6; 4
5; ORANGE LUTHERAN (1-0); def. Gardena Serra 21-13; at Rancho Cucamonga, Friday; 5
6; JSERRA (1-0); def. Sierra Canyon 35-7; at Aquinas, Thursday; 11
7; OAKS CHRISTIAN (1-0); def. Chaminade 24-17; at Sierra Canyon, Friday; 7
8; SIERRA CANYON (1-1); lost to JSerra, 35-7; vs. Oaks Christian, Friday; 6
9. GARDENA SERRA (0-1); lost to Orange Lutheran 21-13; vs. Warren, Friday; 8
10; MURRIETA VALLEY (1-0); def. Rancho Cucamonga 35-19; vs. Servite, Friday; 10
11; SANTA MARGARITA (0-1); lost to Mission Viejo 35-7; at Corona Centennial, Friday; 9
12; SERVITE (1-0); def. Salt Lake City East 45-0; at Murrieta Valley, Friday; 13
13; OAK HILLS (1-0); def. Aquinas 23-8; at Highland, Friday; 14
14; VISTA MURRIETA (1-0); def. Great Oak 38-14; at Murrieta Mesa, Friday; 17
15. CHAPARRAL (1-0); def. San Clemente 17-16; at Apple Valley, Friday; NR
16; SAN CLEMENTE (0-1); lost to Chaparral 17-16; vs. Oak Ridge, Friday; 12
17; UPLAND (1-0); def. La Habra 26-23; at Norco, Thursday; 19
18; EDISON (0-1); lost to Clovis West 29-28; at Yorba Linda, Friday; 15
19; SIMI VALLEY (2-0); def. Valencia 49-41; at Royal, Sept. 6; 23
20; CHAMINADE (0-1); lost to Oaks Christian 24-17; at San Diego Cathedral, Friday; 22
21; LOS ALAMITOS (1-0); def. Western 71-0; vs. Narbonne, Friday; 20
22; LONG BEACH POLY (0-1); lost to Folsom 63-20; vs. San Diego Lincoln, Friday; 21
23; ST. BONAVENTURE (1-0); def. St. Francis 38-7; vs. Birmingham at Buena, Friday; 24
24; CHARTER OAK (1-0); def. Canyon Country Canyon 44-6; vs. Chino Hills, Friday; 25
25. PALOS VERDES (1-0); def. Honolulu Iolani 27-21; at Carlsbad, Friday; NR
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