Ruben Tejada #11 of the New York Mets is hit by a slide by Chase Utley #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on October 10, 2015.; Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
If you missed this weekend in L.A. sports, well...it was a doozie.
USC athletic director Pat Haden announced that he asked head football coach Steve Sarkisian to take a leave of absence and seek treatment for an apparent drinking problem. Offensive coordinator Clay Helton will take over as interim head coach.
Sarkisian had been under close watch since an incident at an annual team dinner over the summer at which Sarkisian appeared drunk while addressing the attendees, but said during a press conference the next day that his behavior was the result of mixing “not much” alcohol with medication. He said he would seek counseling to find out if he had a drinking problem.
Since the announcement of his departure, more reports have surfaced about Sarkisian’s past history with alcohol.
On the baseball diamond, game two of the National League Division Series between the Dodgers and Mets featured some late game fireworks, and it wasn’t just the Dodgers’ late rally that would lead them to victory.
A controversial sliding play at second involving a Dodgers’ pinch runner, Chase Utley, and Mets’ second baseman Ruben Tejada created a storm of controversy after Utley’s slide, intended to break up a double play, broke Tejada’s leg.
Mets fans have cried foul, suggesting the slide was dirty. The MLB responded by suspending Utley for games three and four of the NLDS.
Guests:
Vincent Bonsignore, sports columnist for the L.A. Daily News
Pedro Moura, baseball writer covering the Dodgers for the Orange County Register