Sarni's Scrolls: Media wins Trojan War--this time
By Jim Sarni
USC succumbed to massive local and national media and lifted the stupid two-week suspension it had imposed on a reporter who covers the football team.
USC and coach Lincoln Riley had suspended access from Luca Evans, who covers the Trojans for The Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group, for supposedly violating the program’s media policies.
Among USC’s complaints was that Evans reported on a conversation between two players before media availability had begun.
Riley and Evans had a candid and productive conversation on Wednesday night, and the coach put out a statement on Thursday welcoming back the reporter.
Evans tweeted: "Riley made it clear his intent is to protect his players. I made it clear my intent has always been to tell compelling, honest stories on USC."
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ABC was wrong not to show a replay of the gruesome knee injury suffered by Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb on the Monday Night Football game.
Viewers should see how brutal football can be. Warn them so they can turn away if they so choose.
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The New York Times, on Monday, officially closed its sport department after 96 years.
The Athletic, which the Times purchased for $550 million in 2022, has taken over.
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Sports Illustrated launched its new line of sports-themed resorts in top college towns. Tuscaloosa will be the first one, late 2025...
The Solheim Cup will be televised by the Golf Channel and Peacock. The U.S.- Europe competition, which is being played in Andalucia, Spain, is Friday (2 a.m.-1 p.m.), Saturday (2 a.m.-1 p.m.), and Sunday (5 a.m.-11 a.m.)...
Oregon St. and Washington St., the last two Pac-12 teams, play Saturday (7 p.m., Fox)...
The Tampa Bay Rays called up top prospect IF Junior Caminero, 20, as they battle the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East title. The O's lead by 2 1/2 games...
Yahoo Sports poll on which city should host the 2026 World Cup Final: So-Fi Stadium, Los Angeles, 42%... Met Life Stadium, NY-NJ, 34%... AT&T Stadium, Dallas 24%...
Megan Rapinoe plays her farewell game Sunday when the USWNT takes on South Africa at Soldier Field in Chicago (5:30 p.m., TNT)...
The WNBA semifinals begin on Sunday: Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty (-6), 1 p.m., ESPN... Dallas Wings at Las Vegas Aces (-10), 5 p.m., ESPN2...
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The Top Cities For Coffee Lovers, according to WalletHub: 1. Fremont, Calif., 2. Portland, Ore., 3. Seattle, 4. Orlando, 5. Honolulu...
Nina Dobrev ("The Vampire Diaries"), who is dating snowboarder Shaun White, showed off her surfing skills at Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch...
Barry Manilow broke Elvis Presley's 636-show Las Vegas record on Thursday...
"Yellowstone: The Official Dutton Ranch Family Cookbook" has arrived. Try Beth's Two Scoops of Ice Cream, Three Shots of Vodka Smoothie.
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Jim Sarni, BC Class of '69, is a former sportswriter for The Boston Globe and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He resides in Fort Lauderdale and watches a lot of television.