logo
Benjamin Royer

Benjamin Royer

Benjamin Royer is a spring intern for the Los Angeles Times, where he writes for the Sports section. Royer previously worked for The Times as a freelance sports reporter, covering primarily high school sports, UCLA gymnastics and USC women's basketball. His bylines can additionally be found in the New York Times and UCLA Blueprint. An Angeleno, he graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in communication and will soon earn a master's degree in specialized journalism from USC. Royer is happiest when enjoying a hickory burger and banana cream pie from the Apple Pan on Pico Boulevard.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

USC baseball ace Caden Aoki granted extra year of eligibility, enters transfer portal
USC baseball ace Caden Aoki granted extra year of eligibility, enters transfer portal

USA Today

time16 hours ago

  • USA Today

USC baseball ace Caden Aoki granted extra year of eligibility, enters transfer portal

USC baseball ace Caden Aoki granted extra year of eligibility, enters transfer portal On Monday, USC baseball's season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament. After making their first postseason appearance in 10 years, the Trojans fell to Oregon State in the final of the Corvallis Regional. On Wednesday, the Trojans got more tough news when it was reported that their top pitcher, Caden Aoki, will be entering the transfer portal. Aoki was a senior this past season, but was granted an additional season of eligibility by the NCAA. However, it now appears as though he will spend that season elsewhere. After spending his freshman year at Notre Dame in 2022, Aoki transferred to USC prior to the 2023 season. He emerged as the Trojans' top starting pitcher over the better part of the past three seasons. In 2025, he went 6-4 with a 3.99 ERA. However, it was the NCAA Tournament where Aoki forever etched himself into Trojans lore. In USC's tournament opener against TCU, Aoki allowed just one run over eight innings, throwing 114 pitches. For his performance, he was named to the all-Corvallis Regional team. While the Trojans were likely expecting to lose Aoki anyway, seeing him hit the transfer portal would be a tough loss. Given that USC lacked pitching depth behind Aoki in 2025, it will be critical that head coach Andy Stankiewicz address the position this offseason.

NFL 'tush push' ruling draws USC reaction
NFL 'tush push' ruling draws USC reaction

USA Today

time17 hours ago

  • USA Today

NFL 'tush push' ruling draws USC reaction

NFL 'tush push' ruling draws USC reaction Recently, the NFL made headlines surrounding a vote on the legal status of one of its more popular and controversial plays. Known as the "tush push," the play essentially consists of offensive linemen getting behind the ball carrier—typically the quarterback—and pushing him forward past the line to gain. The play has been popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles in recent seasons. However, as USC fans know, its history goes back nearly two decades to October 15, 2005. That evening, USC running back Reggie Bush pushed quarterback Matt Leinart into the end zone to take down archrival Notre Dame. In late May, the NFL held a vote regarding the legalization status of the play, which has come under much scrutiny in recent seasons. After being put to vote, it was determined that the play will still be legal moving forward. Following the news, Leinart took to social media to share his thoughts on the matter. "Yo @ReggieBush we trendsetters," Leinart wrote. "The BUSH PUSH lives on!" This fall will mark 20 years since the original Bush Push took place on that fateful evening in South Bend, Indiana. Very few of the players who participated in that game are still playing football. But as long as the play continues to be used in the NFL, the legacy of the Bush Push will continue to live on. "

California high school sprinter stripped of state title due to 'unsportsmanlike' fire-extinguisher celebration
California high school sprinter stripped of state title due to 'unsportsmanlike' fire-extinguisher celebration

Yahoo

time19 hours ago

  • Yahoo

California high school sprinter stripped of state title due to 'unsportsmanlike' fire-extinguisher celebration

A California high-school sprinter was stripped of the state title after an "unsportsmanlike" celebration with a fire extinguisher, according to the Los Angeles Times. Clara Adams, a 16-year-old sophomore at North Salinas High, finished the 400-meter finals .28 seconds before her closest competitor, but was disqualified by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) due to her celebration. Following the win, Adams obtained a "small fire extinguisher" from her father in the stands. Adams then sprayed her cleats, implying they were on fire due to her blazing speed. Advertisement The CIF disqualified Adams from both the 400-meter finals and the 200-meter finals due to that celebration, which they deemed "unsportsmanlike." Adams told the Los Angeles Times she was "robbed," saying she was just having fun with the celebration. "I was having fun,' Adams said, noting her win in the 400 marked her first state title. 'I'd never won something like that before, and they took it away from me. I didn't do anything wrong.' She added: 'I worked really hard for it and they took it from me, and I don't know what to do.' David Adams, Clara's father, said the CIF ruled "unsporting conduct" against his daughter. David claimed officials were "really nasty" to Clara. Unsporting conduct can include "disrespectfully addressing an official, any flagrant behavior, intentional contact, taunting, criticizing or using profanity directed toward someone," per the National Federation of State High School Associations. David said that rule was cited as a "gray area" that the CIF used to justify the decision. Advertisement David said the celebration was a tribute to Maurice Greene, a former U.S. sprinter who used the same celebration at the Home Depot Invitational in 2004. Broadcasters laughed at Greene's celebration, which took place in the middle of the track. David argued Clara's antics didn't qualify as unsportsmanlike because she performed her celebration away from the track, per the Los Angeles Times. "Looking at the film, Clara is nowhere near any opponent,' he said. 'She's off the track, on the grass. Her opponents are long gone off the track already, so she wasn't in their face. It was a father-daughter moment. ... She did it off the track because she didn't want to seem disrespectful toward nobody. And they still found a reason to take her title away. They didn't give her a warning or anything.' The CIF and North Salinas High track and field head coach Alan Green did not respond to the Los Angeles Times when reached for comment. David Adams threatened to take legal action against the CIF if the organization won't return his calls. Following Clara's disqualification, St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood sprinter Madison Mosby was awarded the win in the 400-meter finals.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store