"Chasing Perfection" by Andy Glockner.

Instead of waiting for the next Michael Jordan, NBA teams are taking matters into their own hands.

So-called “number crunchers” are using basketball analytics to find the next “perfect player.” Often times, a player's athletic potential is overlooked and in turn, the player is undervalued. But with big data, it’s easier than ever to find the perfect player to help transform a team.

How do teams determine what data should be prioritized and how the data what should be weighted? How can teams afford to depend on analytics when so much is at stake?

National sports writer Andy Glockner explains how technology is shaping basketball in his new book, “Chasing Perfection.”

Guest:

Andy Glockner, author of “Chasing Perfection: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the High-Stakes Game of Creating an NBA Champion.” He is also a national sports writer and executive editor of The Cauldron; Andy tweets from @AndyGlockner

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, 'the newest and most modern sports arena in the country ... built at a cost of nearly six million dollars."; Credit: David Mills/HS Crocker Co

Bruce Springsteen will be the last performer to grace the stage of the soon to be demolished Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena located at Exposition Park. Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform tonight and Thursday with the final performance scheduled to take place this Saturday.

In 1959, then Vice-President Richard Nixon inaugurated the opening of the once state-of-the-art, 16-thousand-seat arena, which will be torn down to create a new outdoor soccer stadium.   

Designed by the architectural firm of Welton Becket, the glory days of the arena included hosting both UCLA and USC home basketball games, the Lakers, the Clippers,  the Democratic National Convention that nominated John F. Kennedy, the 1984 Olympics boxing matches, and the filming of iconic scenes from the sports movie classic “Rocky.”

AirTalk listeners — including "Rocky" actor Carl Weathers — share their favorite memories of the venue:

Carl Weathers, actor and former NFL player

My first James Brown concert I saw at the Sports Arena…. When we finally were about to shoot "Rocky," I never made it to Philadelphia to shoot there. We shot all the fights in the Sports Arena downtown. And I had one of the great honor of sharing one of the locker rooms, because it was a low-budget film, as my dressing room with the great Burgess Meredith…. We were so fortunate [the filmmaker and crew of the film] transformed that to make you think you were in Philadelphia. But we had this great iconic building, the Sports Arena, that was such a huge part of that movie.

Warren in South Los Angeles

I was the bass player for Tina Turner for 8 years and we did concerts there. I remember that place very well. The place was just so comfortable. I remember it because it was part of my neighborhood. I went to Jefferson High School. The Coliseum and the Sports Arena were just close to your heart if you grew up in South Central in the ‘50s and ‘60s, like I did.

Bob from Anaheim

A buddy and I used to take the bus from Anaheim to get the cheapest seats we could to see the L.A. Blades, the hockey team. Every time they broke a stick, they would take it to where the players entered the ring. Our seats were so high, we would run at full tilt down, like two or three levels, and we’d always get there just missing the stick.

Leonardo in Silver Lake

I remember in the late ‘70s and early ’80 they had roller disco right in front on the cement. They brought out these mobile DJs and  local families would hang out in the grassy area and had these barbecues. Someone should bring that back.

Guest:

Alan Hess, architect, historian, and author of nineteen books on modernism

Ohio voters go to the polls for the Ohio primary March 15, 2016 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.; Credit: John Sommers II/Getty Images

Super Tuesday 3, as some call it, is underway and voters in several key states will cast their ballots for the 2016 presidential nominees.

Florida and Ohio are the two biggest prizes of the day. Both are key swing states that could not only be indicators of voters’ moods for the fall campaign, but also spell the end for some or the beginning for others. More Donald Trump victories could spell the end for the rest of the GOP field, but he’s going to have to win two states that two of his rivals call home (Rubio in Florida and Kasich in Ohio).

Rubio and Kasich failing to win their respective home states would almost certainly mean the end of their campaigns. For the Democrats, Bernie Sanders looks to build on his surprise win in Michigan, a victory he secured by attacking the U.S.’s international trade agreements, in another Midwest state where manufacturing industry jobs are disappearing.

Hillary Clinton held the lead in Ohio coming into today, but we learned from Sanders’ win in Michigan that polls aren’t always right.

Guest:

Dave Weigel, national political reporter at The Washington Post; he’s on the ground in Ohio today; he tweets from @daveweigel

"American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers" by Nancy Jo Sales

Social media has changed how we interact with each other, and the impact has been particularly great on teenage girls, says journalist Nancy Jo Sales.

Sales  has been writing about the lives of American teens for the last two decades, and spent close to three years researching her new book, “American Girls.’ She spoke to over 200 American girls residing in various parts of the country to find out how they use popular apps like Yik Yak, Whisper, and Snapchat.

Like their male counterparts, teenage girls are spending a disproportionate amount of time online and on their phones, often without any supervision from parents.

But unlike boys, their social media use has made them more vulnerable to sexual harassment and cyberbullying. The book paints a picture of what it’s like to come of age in the era of social media, and the magnified consequences for American girls.

Guest:

Nancy Jo Sales, journalist and author of “American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers” (Knopf, 2016); she tweets from @NancyJoSales

Supporters react after a primary night event for Republican presidential candidate U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) on March 15, 2016 in Miami, Florida.; Credit: Angel Valentin/Getty Images

Tuesday’s primaries featured a couple of important storylines.

One was the importance of Senator Marco Rubio and Governor John Kasich winning in their home states of Florida and Ohio, respectively, as they hoped to impede Donald Trump’s path to the Republican nomination.

Governor Kasich pulled out the win he needed.

Senator Rubio, however, did not, and suspended his campaign shortly Florida was called for Donald Trump, who also won in Illinois, North Carolina, and is leading in Missouri despite the race there having yet to be called.

The other important storyline was whether Bernie Sanders could pull off another upset victory in Ohio like he did in Michigan, both states where manufacturing jobs are vanishing and his message condemning U.S. foreign trade deals has gone over well. Sanders wasn’t able to pull out any victories, and will have to hope to edge Clinton in Missouri, which is still too close to call. leaving his campaign with some very difficult delegate math if he wants to remain in the game.

The race isn’t over, however, and there’s still plenty to look at in terms of how the frontrunners position themselves moving forward and what the remaining candidates can do to slow them down. We’ll also take a look at where things stand with campaign finance and donations, and the influence it’s had thus far on the 2016 election.

Guests:

Steven Shepard, campaigns and elections editor for POLITICO; he tweets @POLITICO_Steve

Kevin Wagner, associate professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University; he tweets @KevinWagnerPhD

Matea Gold, national political reporter for the Washington Post covering money and influence; she tweets @mateagold

Judge Merrick Garland (C) speaks after US President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden (L), announced Garland's nomination to the US Supreme Court.; Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Earlier this morning, President Obama announced his nominee for the Supreme Court.

63-year-old DC circuit appeals judge Merrick Garland is the pick. He's considered the most moderate of the three finalists. However, Senate Republicans still see him as a threat to overturn rulings that are extremely important to conservatives. Senate leaders say they won't consider him, or anyone.

However, if Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders wins the Presidency, might Republicans decide Judge Garland is the best they can get, and move to confirm him before the new President takes office? Might Obama counter by withdrawing Garland's nomination?

​

Guests:

Michele Jawando, Vice President for Legal Progress at The Center for American Progress

George Zornick, Washington DC Editor of The Nation magazine

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, a reformer hand-picked by former LAPD Chief Bill Bratton, is seen as an innovator and also someone who's respected by the old guard.; Credit: Kirk Siegler/NPR

The LA Police Commission approved unanimously a plan review LAPD’s use-of-force practices and guidelines.

Commission president Matt Johnson and Commissioner Robert Saltzman were calling for LAPD to train officers to use gunfire only as a last resort. Before the commission meeting, in a statement, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck responded, "The LAPD has been committed to using de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques for many years to safely and effectively resolve volatile situations and minimize the need to use force," and continued saying preservation of life principles are incorporated in "constantly evolving standards and policies."

We’ll find out Chief Beck’s thoughts after this new compulsory review.

One strategy for less-lethal force is expanding purchases and use of Tasers by LAPD, but a recent police department report says the electronic weapons are effective only half the time.

Plus, there is good news and bad news on the policing of mentally ill individuals. The LAPD will receive an award for its Mental Evaluation Unit (MEU) which pairs specially trained law enforcement personnel with mental health clinicians in the field. The award from the Forensic Mental Health Association of California underscores why Beck, along with the LA County Department of Mental Health, is prioritizing expansion of the teams this year. As for violent incidents with mentally ill persons, new LAPD statistics show there were 15 shootings last year - 12 of which were categorized as "suicide by cop."

Finally, we will follow up on a case of LAPD officers charged last month with sexually assaulting women while on duty. What are you questions for Chief Beck?

Guest:  

Charlie Beck, Chief, Los Angeles Police Department. He tweets from @LAPDChiefBeck 

The Los Angeles Times Building in downtown Los Angeles, California.; Credit: File/Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

The parent company of the Los Angeles Times said Thursday it had won a public bankruptcy auction to buy Freedom Communications, the owner of several Southern California newspapers, including the Orange County Register.

Tribune Publishing Co. has agreed to pay $56 million in cash for the business and its real estate in Santa Ana and Riverside. Freedom also owns the Riverside Press-Enterprise. 

Freedom declared bankruptcy in November. 

Read full story here.

Guests:

Ken Doctor, media analyst for newsonomics.com, contributor for POLITICO, and the author of “Newsonomics: Twelve New Trends That Will Shape the News You Get”

Ben Bergman, senior reporter at KPCC who’s been following the story. He tweets from @TheBenBergman

“Streetfight: Handbook For an Urban Revolution” by Janette Sadik-Khan (Viking, 2016); Credit: Viking 2016

Angelenos are no strangers to transportation planning concepts like road diets, parklets, and protected bike lanes. They’re meant to make the streets friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists, but frequently leave drivers feeling like they are getting the short end of the deal.

Janette Sadik-Khan has seen it all, heard it all and was instrumental in transforming the streets of New York for today’s urban citizens. As former Transportation Commission for New York City, she closed Broadway to cars in Times Square, built nearly 400 miles of bike lanes, and installed over 50 plazas in the city. And she’s co-written the new book, “Street Fight,” as a primer of sorts for other cities to follow suit.

Larry speaks with Sadik-Khan to see what suggestions she has for Los Angeles.

Janette Sadik-Khan will be at the architectural firm Gensler in Downtown L.A. tonight at 6:30 p.m. to talk about her new book and other infrastructural and public works issues. Click here for more info.

Guest:

Janette Sadik-Khan, former Transportation Commissioner for New York City (2007 to 2013) and co-author with Seth Solomonow of the new book, “Streetfight: Handbook For an Urban Revolution” (Viking, 2016)

Musicians Matt Maust, Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids, and radio host Nicole Alvarez attend 106.7 KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2015 at The Forum in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Jonathan Leibson

Last Tuesday, CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves announced that the company is exploring options to sell its legacy brand, CBS Radio.

Launched in 1928, the division is one of the largest radio station groups in the country. With 117 stations including KNX-AM 1070 and KCBS-FM 93.1 here in Los Angeles, CBS radio has an estimated 70 million listeners that tune in every week across the country.

As more advertisements move to digital platforms, the decision to sell the division is seen as an acknowledgment that the terrestrial radio industry is shrinking. According to CBS, the radio group was down 5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015.

No timeline was given for when the assets would be sold.

Guest:

Michael Harrison, Editor and Publisher of Talkers, a trade publication magazine on the talk media industry

Six-year-old Emma Cordell listens to a new iPod on display at the Apple Store in San Francisco, California.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Recent neuroscience research suggests about 5 percent of the population experiences music anhedonia - meaning they do not derive pleasure from listening to any type of tunes - not pop, classical, jazz, rap, nothing.

Until recently, it was assumed that listening to music for pleasure was a universal, because the art form has been present in all human cultures since prehistory. In 2014, a group of scientists finally empirically tested the idea and found a group of healthy individuals with no autonomic responses to pleasurable music, despite having normal musical perception capacities.

(The research benefits our understanding of the brain's "reward centers" that govern so much of everyday behaviors.)

Researchers say it's possible that healthy people - as opposed to those who have suffered brain damage - with music anhedonia inherit the phenomenon from their parents.

As for medical patients who suddenly develop music anhedonia - due to brain damage after accidents, strokes, cancer - the change affects patients emotionally, as music is not just an everyday pleasure and escape, but has therapeutic potential for neurological patients.

If you have music anhedonia, what does it feel like? What is the emotional impact of music anhedonia?

Guest:

Amy Belfi, Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Psychology, New York University; Research focus: Neuroaesthetics of music, art, and poetry; she tweets from @oracleatbelfi

A stock image shows the campus of UCLA. A new report says that despite recent tuition hikes at UC campuses, most families with annual incomes under $110,000 did not end up paying more.; Credit: Stock photo from Bogdan Migulski/Flickr Creative Commons

In response to several on-campus incidents aimed at Jewish students, University of California officials have released a proposal on intolerance that identify several forms of discrimination that are unacceptable on campus.

While the aim of the statement is an attempt to differentiate between instances of free speech and discrimination, some say the UC missed the mark in tying anti-Zionism to anti-Semitism.

“In particular,” the statement says in part, “opposition to Zionism often is expressed in ways that are not simply statements of disagreement over politics and policy, but also assertions of prejudice and intolerance toward Jewish people and culture. Anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and other forms of discrimination have no place at the University of California.”

Critics say the statement misses the point in tying anti-Zionism to anti-Semitism because anti-Semitism is a form of bigotry while anti-Zionism is simply a political belief, and that to suppress those beliefs would be a violation of free speech. There’s also concern that conflating the two terms dilutes the meaning of anti-Semitism.

Guests:

Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, co-founder and director of the AMCHA Initiative, an organization that works to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses

Tallie Ben Daniel, academic council coordinator at Jewish Voice for Peace, an organization that advocates for security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians

The Google self-driving car maneuvers through the streets of in Washington, DC May 14, 2012.; Credit: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced Thursday a commitment by 20 automakers including Ford, Toyota and General Motors to install automatic emergency brakes in all new cars within six years.

These new brake systems will use sensors to detect an imminent crash and help prevent them by applying brakes for the driver. Regulators have been putting pressure on automakers to offer safety systems on a standard basis to prevent traffic fatalities.

In 2012, nearly 2,000 Americans were killed in rear-end crashes. The move toward standardizing emergency brake systems represents a necessary addition as the industry moves toward self-driving cars.

The government's information page on Automatic Emergency Braking systems. says that they can let drivers either avoid or reduce the severity of some of those rear-end crashes.

In a statement about the plan, NHTSA says the "unprecedented commitment" from the automakers will bring the safety technology to "more consumers more quickly than would be possible through the regulatory process."

The agreement, which the IIHS says could prevent as many as 20 percent of crashes, is voluntary.

The full list of car manufacturers who have committed to automatic brakes by 2022:

• Audi
• BMW
• FCA US LLC
• Ford
• General Motors
• Honda
• Hyundai
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Kia
• Maserati
• Mazda
• Mercedes-Benz
• Mitsubishi Motors
• Nissan
• Porsche
• Subaru
• Tesla Motors Inc.
• Toyota
• Volkswagen
• Volvo

Guests:

Russ Rader, Senior Vice president, Communications at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Gabe Nelson, reporter for Automotive News

This story has been updated.

Nobel Laureate Carol Greider has published papers on her latest findings on a public access website called bioRxiv.; Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Last month at a meeting in Chevy Chase, Maryland, called ASAPbio, a gathering of scientists, funders and representatives from various science journals came together to weigh the impact of preprints, or online publication of a scientist’s early findings.

According to ASAPbio organizers, a consensus emerged at the meeting’s close, which supported preprints as indeed beneficial for both “the public good as well as the individual scientist.”

Many in the scientific community praise preprints as a means of overcoming the high costs and lengthy peer review process of elite journals, which some argue thwart progress.  Once considered a taboo, several biologists-- some Nobel Laureates among them-- have published papers on their latest findings on a public access website called bioRxiv.

Launched in 2013, the creators of the website intended for biologists to follow the lead of physicists who for years had been sharing their raw data online for free before seeking publication in a peer review journal.

Under the moniker #ASAPbio, several members of scientific community are praising the acts of high profile scientists to post online.

But as some critics argue, there are downsides to researchers bypassing the peer review process of scientific journals. Publishing reports unvetted by traditional models of the peer review journals could release data that is misleading to the public. Rushed findings can also be detrimental to the quality of papers as scientists may be quick to be the first to post on exciting, but unconfirmed information.

Guests:

Carol Greider, Professor of Molecular Biology at Johns Hopkins University and Nobel Laureate

Christine Laine, MD, Editor in Chief of Annals of Internal Medicine and Senior Vice President of the American College of Physicians

A police operation was underway on March 18, in the Brussels area home to key Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam whose fingerprints were found in an apartment raided this week, the federal prosecutor's office said.; Credit: JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

The last known surviving fugitive from the Paris attacks that killed 130 has reportedly been captured.

Salah Abdeslam was the most wanted man in Europe. Authorities say he was wounded in the course of being arrested in Brussels. Abdeslam had been sought for the four months since the multiple attacks on a concert hall, restaurants, and cafes.

Guests:

William Braniff, Executive Director, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland

Colin P. Clarke, Associate Political Scientist at Rand Corporation whose research focuses on counterinsurgency and counterintelligence (currently in Munich)

Passengers wait to check in with their baggage at the United Airlines counter at the Miami International Airport June 12, 2008 in Miami, Florida.; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Air travelers have been vocal about about shrinking seat sizes and rising surcharges on commercial airlines, especially over the last decade, and now it seems that lawmakers on Capitol Hill are trying to take action to give passengers more room and prevent surprise fees.

The Senate FAA Reauthorization Bill is just one of these pieces of legislation. In it, there are a number of flyer-friendly provisions, like automatic fee refunds and better fee disclosure.

There are also other bills like the Forbid Airlines From Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act of 2016 which would bar fees that are considered “not reasonable and proportional” to costs the airlines incur. and the Seat Egress in Air Travel Act, which would set a minimum seat size and space between rows.

Airline industry groups argue that the Senate FAA bill imposes too many regulations on air carriers and that if Congress truly wants to improve people’s flying experience, it will take up air traffic control reform.

Guests:

Charlie Leocha, chairman and co-founder of the consumer travel group Travelers United

Sharon Pinkerton, senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for the airline trade group Airlines For America, whose members include Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines

Ronald Reagan’s was denied use of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” during the president's 1984 campaign.; Credit: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images

There have been several cases in which famous musicians have objected to and often sued political campaigns over unauthorized use of content.

Most notable cases include Bruce Springsteen denying Ronald Reagan the rights to “Born in the USA” for his 1984 re-election campaign and Jackson Browne’s suit against the 2008 John McCain campaign for unauthorized use of “Running on Empty, ” which ended with a settlement and an apology from the then presidential hopeful.

The latest violation involves Donald Trump’s use of the song “Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las. Mary Weiss, the band’s lead singer, responded on Facebook that she does not endorse the real estate billionaire, permission was not authorized for use of the song, and that a letter, presumably a cease and desist order, would be sent to the Trump campaign.

But what exactly are the laws around the usage of music in political conventions and advertisements? In what cases are songs subject to fair use? And why do politicians continue to use music by artists without obtaining proper authorization?

Guests:

Andrew Stroud, partner with Hanson Bridgett, a law firm based in Sacramento and the Bay Area

Ann Bartow, professor of law and director of the Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property at the University of New Hampshire School of Law

Exactly ten years ago, the creation of Twitter meant Trump and anyone with Internet access could share their thoughts - limited to 140 characters - with the world.; Credit: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images

Eleven years ago, the world lacked the technology to access Donald Trump's every passing thought, but exactly ten years ago the creation of Twitter meant Trump and anyone with Internet access could share their thoughts - limited to 140 characters - with the world.

Since then, Twitter has accumulated 300 million active users including the pope, the president of Iran, and an inordinate number of "beliebers."

Tweets do not simply transmit events and ideas from around the world, they shapes events and ideas. On this tenth anniversary of Twitter, we'll look at its future.

How will the company gain the amount of users that Facebook has (more than a billion)? How can the company control trolls (many of whom focus on feminist accounts)? And does a Twitter following of 7 million translate into the U.S. presidency for Trump, or Kanye West for that matter?

Guest:

John Shrader, Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, California State University, Long Beach (CSULB); he tweets from @johnshrader

"Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia" by Anne Garrels; Credit: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

The most commonly covered parts of Russia are Moscow and the country's president, Vladimir Putin.

But what about the rest of the country? The day to day lives of the ordinary citizens living in Russia are the subject of longtime NPR correspondent, Anne Garrel's, latest book, “Putin Country”.  She speaks with everyone from affluent professionals and activists to crime thugs and prostitutes.

Throughout the book, Garrel will find out more about why Russians continue to love Putin, even though they frequently comment that they hate his government.

Guest:

Anne Garrels, former foreign correspondent for NPR, and author of the new book, “Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia.” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016)

A train crosses the Los Angeles River on November 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

The Los Angeles River is ready for its close-up.

Once a neglected LA footnote running 51 miles between the San Fernando Valley to Compton, the river has been the focus of intense efforts to turn it into something residents of Los Angeles can enjoy – and be proud of.

In 2014, the Army Corps of Engineers agreed to replace 11 miles of the river with wetlands, green terraces, cafes and bike paths. Last year, it was revealed that famed architect Frank Gehry was working – for free – to come up with a redesign for the entire river.

These developments have journalist Richard Kreitner asking whether the new LA River, whatever guise it ends up assuming, would only be a place the rich can enjoy.

Guests:

Richard Kreitner, assistant editor of special projects at The Nation and author of the article, “Will the Los Angeles River Become a Playground for the Rich?” He tweets @richardkreitner

Omar Brownson, executive director of L.A. River Corp., a nonprofit organization focused on the development of the L.A. River