Articles written by Mitch Chortkoff
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Chortkoff on Kobe
Observer Editor Mitch Chortkoff covered the Lakers for over 6 decades. He was called "Dean of the Laker Writers" by many of his colleagues. Mitch passed away in July of 2018, but he had written a lot...
Kevin Love's Panic Attacks Are Real
After covering the NBA for almost 50 years I learned something today that had never crossed my mind. It is possible for these superior athletes to suffer like anyone else. Yes, they can experience...
Where Will LeBron Play Next Season?
A lot of interesting basketball will be played in the NBA this season. We don’t know who the champion will be. If you like the sport you have months of entertainment coming up. But another subject has...
Despite Controversy It Was A Pretty Good Game
There was a lot of doubt about this all-star game played Sunday night at Staples Center. I was among the journalists who weren’t thrilled with the drastic change of choosing teams, letting LeBron J...
Where Are The Lakers And Clippers Going?
Magic Johnson isn’t the kind of guy who’ll watch opportunities come around and sit idly. We all know from his playing days that competitive spirit is one of his greatest qualities. Now that he...
Kershaw To Start Eighth Dodger Opener
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has announced that Clayton Kershaw will be the team's opening day pitcher on March 29 when the Dodgers open their season against the Giants at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw,...
The Lakers Next Season: Perhaps Better: Perhaps Worse
Magic Johnson isn’t the kind of guy who’ll watch opportunities come around and sit idly. We all know from his playing days that competitive spirit is one of his greatest qualities. Now that he...
Clippers' Bold Move May Really Work
I expected the fan reaction after the Clippers traded Blake Griffin the other day. The people weren’t happy. They didn’t want to lose a popular player and big-time scorer. But after being around the...
Where Will DeMarcus Cousins Play?
Let’s get something straight. This is me thinking. It’s not inside information from anyone associated with the Lakers. But I see that DeMarcus Cousins, the guy nicknamed Boogie, is having an out...
The Very Unlikely Story Of NBA's Lou Williams
I watch a lot of games. I see players come and go but now we have one here who deserves a lot of credit – deserves to be appreciated and not traded again and again. “ His name is Lou Williams and he p...
USC and UCLA Were Disappointing: What About Next Season?
Alabama is the national champion. USC loses Sam Darnold and Ronald Jones to the NFL next season. UCLA loses Josh Rosen. It’s our first look at the 2018 college football season and my initial thought i...
A ROSE BOWL CLASSIC AFTER ALL
I apologize. In the weeks leading up to the Rose Bowl game I had difficulty accepting the fact that our local teams would be sent away. What about the tradition that the Pac-12 champion would play in...
My 20-Year Memories Of Kobe Bryant
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This column by sports editor Mitch Chortkoff appeared two years ago in the Observer and is being run again due to recent requests from readers) It was 1996 and I was in Honolulu c...
Get Ready: Ohtani, From Japan to The Angels To Hit And Pitch
Shohei Ohtani is a 23-year-old baseball star who’s been called The Babe Ruth of Japan. He wants to pitch, perhaps rest a day and then play in the outfield the rest of the week. However, the Angels a...
UCLA Will Be Better Off Without Ball Controversy
Some experts who follow high school and college basketball closer than I often share their opinions so I can write with intelligence. Lately they’ve shared the news that the NBA doesn’t consider mid...
Lakers, Clippers Face Toughest Stretch
Last season the Lakers got off to a surprising start, going 10-10 and some loyal fans dared to believe the team’s recent playoff drought might be over. Then reality set in as the Lakers went on t...
Chip Kelly To Decide Between UCLA And Florida
The Chip Kelly drama has reached a new chapter. Last weekend UCLA fired head football coach Jim Mora and news spread that they want Kelly, the former Oregon coach, to replace him. That information...
It's Unanimous: Dodgers' Bellinger Is Rookie Of The Year
The Dodgers had 17 National League Rookies Of The Year in their history but the 18th one just did it so its real fresh in our minds. Cody Bellinger was a unanimous winner just like Yankees’ o...
Clippers Are Slumping: Should Their Fans Worry?
For the last five years the Clippers have won at least 50 games and made the playoffs. Now Chris Paul has left them and after winning their first four games they’ve lost four of five. Ordinarily I...
Dodgers Were Good, Astros Were Better
Since most of us live here there was a lot of support for the Dodgers to win their first World Series since 1988. But it didn't work out that way when the Houston Astros became World Series champions...
Dodgers Lose Craziest Game: Now What Happens?
Eight home runs. Both teams having a lead in extra innings. The Dodgers lose as their streak of going 98-0 when they lead after innings ends. Yes, they’re calling Wednesday night’s action at Dod...
Dodgers' Justin Turner Now Is Linked With Kirk Gibson
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Without question Kirk Gibson’s home run in 1948 remains the most famous one since the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The Dodgers won that season’s Wor...
What Should We Expect From The Lakers?
I went to Staples Center Tuesday night. It was just an exhibition game but I wanted to see how much improvement the Lakers have made since Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka took over the difficult task of...
World Series? The Powerhouse Dodgers Must Get Past Diamondbacks First
The Dodgers are ready, the fans are ready and here’s something that hasn’t been seriously considered by many in recent months. The Arizona Diamondbacks seem ready to give the Dodgers a hard time in...
