Los angeles times business

Willis Reed , the Hall of Fame NBA center who won two championships with the New York Knicks including his legendary hobbling return to the court in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals, died today. He was 80. His former teammate-turned-U.S. senator Bill Bradley told The New York Times that had Reed died but gave no details other than he’d been undergoing treatment at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. Reed’s career was cut short by injury after 10 seasons, but he endured himself to fans and rivals for his determination to play hurt. That grit was exemplified during the 1970 NBA Finals against Wilt Chamberlain and the Los Angeles Lakers . Despite tearing a muscle in his right hip area in Game 5 and sitting out the next game, he returned for the decisive Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Noticeably hobbled, the 6-foot-9 Reed and teammate Walt Frazier led the Knicks to a win and was named MVP of the championship series — and was named league MVP for the 1969-70 season. … [Read more...] about Willis Reed Dies: Hall Of Famer & Two-Time NBA Champ Who Hobbled Back To Lead Knicks Over Lakers In Classic 1970 Finals Was 80

Getty Shohei Ohtani has been cleared by the Angels to pitch in the World Baseball Classic final against Team USA on Tuesday night ... paving the way for a potential dream matchup against Mike Trout in the championship game. The Halos star last threw for Japan in the tourney on March 16 against Italy ... and many thought that would be his last time on the mound in the huge baseball event -- as he's still ramping up his right arm in preparation for the 2023 MLB season. Sho Strikeout 5 ✅ #大谷翔平 #Ohtani #Angels #WorldBaseballClassic #WBC pic.twitter.com/XSHzUZvHra — Anaheim Sports (@AnaheimSports1) March 16, 2023 @AnaheimSports1 But, with Japan beating Mexico in a thriller on Monday night -- Ohtani expressed interest in appearing in relief for his home country against America in the finale ... and Angels brass said on Tuesday morning they'd allow it to go down if the opportunity arises. Of course, there is risk involved. Ohtani has … [Read more...] about Angels Clear Shohei Ohtani To Pitch For Japan In World Baseball Classic Final

As the latest in a flood of atmospheric river events hit Souther California today, several local theme parks closed their gates. Magic Mountain shut down for the second time in as many months as winds associated with the current storm blasted a nearby peak with force equivalent to a Cat. 2 hurricane. Magic Mountain Truck Trail , a site on the peak for which the park is named, is often the windiest spot in and around Los Angeles . It lived up to that reputation overnight, clocking wind gusts early this morning has high as 102 mph. Further downslope in Saugus, where the the park is located, winds gusted to 57 mph. As a result, the theme park posted an announcement that it would be closed “due to inclement weather .” L.A.’s other major park, Universal Studios Hollywood, which has good slope and drainage and fewer outdoor, vertically-inclined rides, is maintaining its normal hours today. Further south in Orange County, the National Weather Service issued a High … [Read more...] about Southern California Theme Parks Close Due To Storm; 100 mph Winds Recorded Near Magic Mountain

Ashlee Marie Preston Caitlyn Jenner got ambushed and verbally assaulted by a trans woman at an LGBT event this weekend over her support for Donald Trump ... and the video's intense. Caitlyn was attending a Trans Chorus of Los Angeles performance Saturday night at the L.A. LGBT Center when she was confronted by trans activist and journalist Ashlee Marie Preston . In the video -- which Ashlee later posted to her Facebook -- she comes up to Caitlyn, who innocently goes in for a hug ... but then checks her and unleashes a tirade about what she claims is Caitlyn's continued support of Trump ... this 1 day after he officially authorized a trans ban in the military . Caitlyn remains stoic and still for most of the lecturing, as friends around her try to defuse the situation. But then she tells Ashlee ... "You don't know me," which sets Ashlee off even more. A little fact check ... Caitlyn isn't down with Trump anymore, despite recently being seen … [Read more...] about Caitlyn Jenner Chewed Out by Trans Woman Over Donald Trump Support

Hundreds of WGA East members who work for Hearst Magazines Media are planning to stage a walkout Thursday to demand a fair contract. The half-day action is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET and will last the remainder of the day. “ WGA East members at Hearst have been bargaining a first contract for over two years and their last scheduled day of negotiations is March 28,” the guild said. “With only one bargaining session left, the Hearst Union is taking collective action with a unit-wide walkout in their fight for a fair first contract.” Rallies in support of the walkout will be held at four locations: outside the Hearst Tower in Manhattan; at the Hearst offices in Easton, PA; at the Hearst offices in Ann Arbor, MI; and the Hearst offices in Birmingham, AL. The guild represents some 500 of the publishing giant’s editorial, video, design and photo staff at more than 25 brands including Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, … [Read more...] about WGA East Sets Walkout At Hearst Magazines For Thursday; Hundreds Sign Petition

Amazon is laying off another 9,000 workers as job cuts in the tech sector expand at a time of growing economic uncertainty. It follows cuts last fall and early this year. “Given the uncertain economy in which we reside, and the uncertainty that exists in the near future, we have chosen to be more streamlined in our costs and headcount,” Jassy said in a memo to staff today. “As we’ve just concluded the second phase of our operating plan (“OP2”) this past week, I’m writing to share that we intend to eliminate about 9,000 more positions in the next few weeks—mostly in AWS, PXT, Advertising, and Twitch. This was a difficult decision, but one that we think is best for the company long term,” he said. (PXT is People eXperience and Technology,) Tech companies have been shedding staff at a rapid clip. Meta Platforms, the corporate parent of Facebook , Instagram and WhatsApp, recently announced plans to cut another 10,000 jobs and undergo a hiring freeze in what CEO Mark … [Read more...] about Amazon Laying Off Thousands More As Job Cuts In Sector Expand

Broadway ’s Room stars Adrienne Warren and Ephraim Sykes , along with choreographer Galen Hooks, are speaking out on the bizarre, last-minute “indefinite postponement” of the much anticipated spring production. “We do not know what happened,” says Warren, the Tina star who was to play the lead role in the Room stage adaptation that was to begin previews next month. “We have no idea. As this continues to unfold, I just want to publicly say, it is not a reflection on the beautiful souls in this piece. It is not a reflection on our creatives.” Watch the video here . Warren added that the the cast and creatives “are completely heartbroken that we don’t get to share this beautiful piece with you,” but the actor quickly added the word “yet.” Producers announced last week that the Broadway production of Emma Donoghue’s play, based on her novel Room and its successful film adaptation, was indefinitely postponed due to a “shortfall in capitalization” that … [Read more...] about ‘Room’ Stars Adrienne Warren & Ephraim Sykes Speak Out On Broadway Show’s Abrupt Withdrawal From Spring Lineup

A Fox News producer claims that she was “coerced” and “intimidated” by the network’s legal team into providing misleading and evasive testimony in a deposition in the Dominion Voting Systems defamation case. Abby Grossberg , who has worked on shows hosted by Maria Bartiromo and Tucker Carlson , also claimed that the network’s attorneys were trying to subtly shift “all responsibility for the alleged defamation against Dominion onto her shoulders and by implication, those of her trusted female colleague, Ms. Bartiromo, rather than the mostly male higher ups at Fox News who endorsed the repeated coverage of the lies against the Dominion.” Her suit was filed in federal court in New York and Delaware Superior Court, where Fox and Dominion are delivering oral arguments on Tuesday in the summary judgment phase of the case. Grossberg also claims that she was retaliated against after she complained about unlawful harassment based on her gender and Jewish religion. She claims … [Read more...] about Fox News Producer Sues Network Claiming She Was Coached To Give Misleading Testimony In Dominion Case

Rupert Murdoch is engaged — again. The 92-year-old billionaire announced, via an interview with the New York Post , that he will wed Ann Lesley Smith , the former San Francisco Police chaplain who is 26 years his junior. Murdoch divorced Jerry Hall, his fourth wife, last August. Speaking of his new love, he told the Post ‘s Cindy Adams: “I dreaded falling in love — but I knew this would be my last. It better be. I’m happy.” Murdoch said he nervously popped the question last week on St. Patrick’s Day in New York, adorning Smith’s finger with an Asscher-cut diamond engagement ring. They will marry in late summer. He told the Post that they met at his vineyard Moraga in Bel Air, CA. Smith’s late husband Chester Smith, the country singer, also owned a vineyard, so the pair hit it off discussing wine. “We’re both looking forward to spending the second half of our lives together,” said Murdoch, who plans to split his time with his new wife between California, the … [Read more...] about Rupert Murdoch On Getting Engaged Again: “I Knew This Would Be My Last. It Better Be.”

Top International execs from ZDF Studios, Fremantle , All3Media and Banijay have said the potential U.S. writers strike and changing market economics can create opportunities to strike new business. As Banijay Rights CEO Cathy Payne put it, likening the challenging of leaving previous market conditions behind to bouncing back after being dumped: “When one door closes, another one opens.” She was talking during a Series Mania panel on windowing and content financing this afternoon in France. International distribution companies are already wrestling with myriad content financing issues as the U.S. market corrects after streamers’ spending momentum slows. All eyes are now turning to the discussions between the WGA and AMPTP, and one potential upshot if a strike kicks off will likely be more international business for U.S. networks. All3Media International CEO Louise Pedersen said U.S. execs at the London TV Screenings at the start of the month had begun … [Read more...] about Banijay, Fremantle, All3Media & ZDF Debate Market Economics And Writers’ Strike: “When One Door Closes, Another Opens” — Series Mania