L.A.'s best, most fearless sportswriter (and arguably the Times' best columnist, now that Hiltzik was made to disappear), is profiled here. To wit, on witnessing a meeting between John Wooden and Mr. October:

It's the Yankees' turn after he leaves the Angels, but first the media grab him, Wooden surprising them with an unsolicited defense of A-Rod.

"It's unjustified criticism because of the money he's making," he tells reporters — many of them from New York.

Reggie Jackson interrupts the confab to let everyone know he's Reggie Jackson, while referring to Wooden as the "Wizard," a name Wooden detests. Jackson mentions something about young women and angels, somehow concluding "Wooden is our angel," and there's never a cameraman around when you'd like to freeze the look of horror on someone's face.

(link via Deadspin)