Kevin Baxter
Kevin Baxter writes about baseball, soccer and anything else he can get a press pass for at the Los Angeles Times. He has covered three Summer Olympics, two Pan American Games, three World Cups, a Super Bowl and six World Series. An essay he wrote in the fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.
Recent Articles
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U.S. to meet Costa Rica in Gold Cup semifinal, eight months after lopsided loss
The last time the U.S. national team lost a soccer game, Jurgen Klinsmann was the coach, Bruce Arena still worked for the Galaxy and Donald Trump had been the president-elect for only a week. Eight months and 12 games have passed since that match in Costa Rica, the Americans’ most one-sided loss...
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U.S. earns spot in Gold Cup semis after sloppy victory over El Salvador
It’s not always a good idea to combine family vacations with business trips. But so far, Eric Lichaj has managed to make both work this summer. The U.S. defender decided to bring his English-born wife Kathryn and the couple’s two daughters with him to the Gold Cup, footing the bill for their flights...
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U.S. calls in seasoned veterans as it faces Gold Cup quarterfinal with El Salvador
The Gold Cup has long been a tale of two tournaments for the U.S. national team. First there’s the group stage. With every team guaranteed three games, there’s plenty of margin for error — though the U.S. has rarely needed that, winning its group 13 times in 14 tournaments and losing just once...
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Galaxy are getting healthy to start second half of MLS season
You know it has been a tough season when a three-goal loss is considered a sign of progress. But that’s exactly where the Galaxy are after Saturday’s exhibition loss to Manchester United. “I thought it was a real positive experience,” coach Curt Onalfo said. The biggest positive was the return...
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Galaxy's Jelle Van Damme, Giovani dos Santos named to MLS all-star team
Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos and defender Jelle Van Damme were selected Tuesday for the MLS All-Star team that will play Spanish superclub Real Madrid on Aug. 2 in Chicago. They were named to the team by Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunović, supplementing players chosen for the game in...
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Reunion with Bruce Arena has Gyasi Zardes confident that his struggles are over
When Gyasi Zardes was named last month to the U.S. team for the Gold Cup, it raised a few eyebrows — but little concern — around the Galaxy. Zardes, a forward, was mired in the longest goalless drought of his career. He had managed only one assist and five shots on goal in 12 games. Even Dave...
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U.S. adds veterans back onto its Gold Cup team roster
A day after the U.S. won its group in the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament, coach Bruce Arena made six changes to his 23-man roster ahead of Wednesday’s quarterfinal game in Philadelphia. The U.S. won’t know its next opponent until Group C play is concluded late Sunday. Goalkeepers Tim Howard...
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No place like home, but U.S. helps put the $ in Manchester United coffers
Manchester United’s sprawling, tree-lined training ground in suburban Carrington, England, is, by all accounts, among the best facilities in soccer. Behind its well-guarded walls are 14 fields, a gymnasium, indoor running tracks, squash and basketball courts, underwater treadmills, a sauna, seven...