Biography
Bill Plaschke, a sports columnist at the Times since 1996, has made nationally recognized contributions in both journalism and public ...
UCLA's Joshua Smith has been a big disappointment
February 11, 2012
The biggest Bruin is speaking as if he is small.
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For the pro athlete, it's just a job
February 9, 2012
Within hours of creating one its most glorious moments, the pro sports world exposed one of its dirty little secrets.
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At Super Bowl, Patriots' act gets old
February 5, 2012
Reporting from Indianapolis — If this was not the end of the New England Patriots dynasty, you could certainly hear it from here.
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Pick, don't pick on, the Patriots in the Super Bowl
February 4, 2012
Reporting from Indianapolis -- You're wrong.
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NFL needs to get out ahead of concussion problem
February 3, 2012
From Indianapolis -- The rooms were separated by 40 steps. It could have been 40 miles. It might, one day, be 40 lifetimes.
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Heart and soul of the Patriots? It's Vince Wilfork in a slam dunk
February 2, 2012
From Indianapolis -- The biggest man in the Super Bowl yawns, a gaping chasm of a yawn, and it's as if all the air in the hotel conference room is sucked up under his backward camouflage baseball cap.
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This would be Eli Manning's biggest pass
February 1, 2012
From Indianapolis — On the signs, it is Super Bowl XLVI.
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USC basketball team is lost and alone
January 28, 2012
The chant suddenly engulfs the nearly empty Galen Center on a Thursday night, loudly, laughingly, a band of outsiders prodding at the open wound of a proud university.
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Growing as a team, Clippers now need to play like grown-ups
January 26, 2012
The Clippers need to chill.
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Dodgers should sign Clayton Kershaw, long term
January 24, 2012
Prince Fielder was fool's gold, and Dodgers fans shouldn't waste one moment of regret that the big lug will spend the next nine years clogging the payroll, the basepaths and eventually the training room for the Detroit Tigers.
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This Sunday is twice as good for NFL fans
January 21, 2012
One of the hidden truths in professional football will make its annual appearance Sunday, bitten by frost, pelted by rain, awash in beauty.
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Dwight Howard makes a convincing case to Lakers
January 20, 2012
The club official had ended the group interview, but I walked alongside Dwight Howard as he left the Orlando Magic locker room late Friday night and introduced myself as a reporter from Los Angeles.
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Lakers have no fight, and that's no good
January 19, 2012
Darkness descended upon South Beach on Thursday, omnipotent and overpowering for one team, just plain frightful for the other.
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Sacred Heart High girls go extra mile, but it's no walk in park
January 16, 2012
The giant black metal gate slams shut, click, locked, leaving the scrubbed faces of the Sacred Heart High basketball players alone with the weathered streets of Lincoln Heights.
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Clippers rise to the occasion in big win over Heat
January 12, 2012
Lob City became Mob City.
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UCLA's Jim Mora sticks his neck out on an attention-getting hire
January 10, 2012
When outlining his search for a coaching staff, new UCLA football boss Jim Mora said, "I want guys that are … great mentors for our young student-athletes."
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Lakers' Josh McRoberts is becoming a household name
January 7, 2012
He's Josh McRambis
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A Wooden Classic that sure didn't resemble one
January 5, 2012
Coach told us to make each day our masterpiece. But at times this felt like a finger painting.
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De'Anthony Thomas returns to make more heads shake
January 2, 2012
He was standing still, a brilliant Pasadena sun glittering off his silver helmet, a powerful Crenshaw legacy embedded in his darkened jersey.
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When it comes to Andrew Bynum's fine effort, caution is advised
December 31, 2011
This game being played on New Year's Eve, one could easily assume that Andrew Bynum was the confetti.
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Clippers are in for the rise of their lives
December 30, 2011
This wasn't a gym, it was a nightclub.
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He likes Lakers' Mike Brown, he really likes Mike Brown
December 29, 2011
The Lakers have only played four games, but four games were enough to end an era last spring, so it should be enough to form an opinion now.
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His Los Angeles sports MVPs for 2011: Dodgers fans
December 27, 2011
The most sweeping statement in the history of Los Angeles sports started with a smallest of words.
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Lakers can't rely solely on Kobe Bryant this season
December 25, 2011
In the final seconds of what had been three hours worth of jingle bell rock, the metaphor was as plain as the gasp that silenced it.
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Matt Barkley's gift to USC could keep on giving
December 22, 2011
Deck the halls with boughs of Barkley.
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Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro is about to feel some real pressure
December 17, 2011
On the first day the Clippers stars shared a court, Chris Paul was joyfully throwing up three-point shots, Chauncey Billups was carefully shooting free throws and their newest big acquisition was on the sideline.
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Magic Johnson remains a living symbol of hope
November 5, 2011
Magic Johnson has finished giving a speech in a high school gymnasium when he asks the students if they have any questions.
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Sportsmanship takes a timeout in USC-UCLA game
November 29, 2009
At the end of a long, brutal fight, Pete Carroll extended an olive branch.
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Lakers move the wrong move going with Ron Artest
July 3, 2009
Less than three weeks after the parade, the NBA champion Lakers have already met the biggest threat to their throne.
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Lakers' Buss knows when to hold 'em
March 2, 2008
The best owner in the history of professional sports is strolling through his sprawling hilltop home when he comes upon an ornate wooden door riddled with three gaping holes.
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A sullied part of Dodgers' history
December 14, 2007
The scene is chilling in its deceit, and startling in its chaos.
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Progress was rarely seen in Dorrell era, much like the coach
December 2, 2007
His offense ran off the field for the last time, their soiled and bandaged jerseys passing his spotless and pressed jacket.
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Lakers need to speak now to bring the peace
May 30, 2007
This city's most beloved sports storefront stands today covered in dripping eggs and nasty graffiti.
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Swarming to Task, They Really Can Win This
April 2, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS — Just when everyone thought they had UCLA's number, the Bruins changed it.
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Murray's impact still is plain to hear
March 30, 2006
TEN years ago, when an editor discovered me shivering underneath a pile of one-sentence paragraphs and inexplicably made me a Times sports columnist, I knew there would be changes.
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Cohen Didn't Act the Part, so of Course She Didn't Get the Part
February 24, 2006
TURIN, Italy — She didn't want to be there.
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