Nathan Fenno
@nathanfenno
Followers
9K
Following
17K
Media
935
Statuses
21K
Senior investigative writer at The Athletic | Tips welcome: [email protected] or Signal at nathanfenno.52 | Romans 5:8
Joined August 2009
Some personal news:. Today is my first day at The Athletic as a senior investigative writer. I'm thrilled to join such a talented and ambitious team. Have a tip about something we should investigate? Please email me at nfenno@theathletic.com.
42
22
261
BREAKING: Klete Keller, the Olympic gold medalist swimmer from USC pictured in the U.S. Capitol during last week's riot, has been charged in U.S. District Court in D.C.
463
4K
25K
BREAKING: Vanessa Bryant has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter that crashed last month and took the lives of her husband Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna Bryant and seven other people.
113
687
3K
The cheapest ticket on StubHub for tonight's Lakers-Blazers game, the first for the Lakers since Kobe Bryant and eight others died in a helicopter crash, is more than $800 (plus fees). By comparison, tickets for Lakers-Spurs next week at Staples Center are going for under $100.
49
284
2K
This aged well ….
LSU chancellor Michael Martin: "I think we could ultimately end up with two conferences: one called ESPN and one called FOX." Laughter.
10
180
2K
BREAKING: California's state Senate unanimously passed a bill to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. Gov. Gavin Newsom has 30 days to sign or veto the bill.
56
715
2K
The story on Olympic gold medal swimmer Klete Keller being charged with several crimes in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
38
385
1K
BREAKING: Former Angels employee Eric Kay has been charged by federal authorities in Texas with distributing fentanyl in connection with the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, according to court documents reviewed by the @latimes.
61
827
2K
This is from the criminal complaint against Klete Keller. He was difficult to miss in the crowd at the Capitol thanks to his height (6-6) and U.S. Olympic team jacket.
75
228
1K
The Rams play in the Super Bowl in six days and the top six most-read @latimessports stories are about the Lakers, Dodgers and USC.
100
425
1K
BREAKING: Fate of Chargers' ownership at stake as Dean Spanos' sister asks court to force sale.
149
289
902
According to a statement by the L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner, all nine bodies have been recovered from the site of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash.
22
228
821
LSU chancellor Michael Martin: "I think we could ultimately end up with two conferences: one called ESPN and one called FOX." Laughter.
21
319
696
🚨BREAKING : Shohei Ohtani’s attorneys accuse interpreter of ‘massive theft’ tied to alleged gambling.
70
256
647
Developing: Former Angels employee Eric Kay has been indicted on two counts in the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
67
393
592
The FBI agent drank nearly a fifth of vodka and at least six beers at a poolside cabana in Las Vegas, then gambled away $13,500 in government money. The agent's annual review rated his overall performance as "successful.".
25
108
503
About nine hours before the closing ceremony for the #TokyoOlympics, organizers announce 26 new COVID-19 cases. There were no positives among athletes for the third straight day. Total Olympic-related cases since July 1 increase to 436.
70
172
482
Just in: Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu has resigned in the midst of a federal public corruption investigation linked to the sale of Angel Stadium, according to a statement from his attorney.
16
157
446
BREAKING: The family of Tyler Skaggs has sued the Angels over his overdose death two years ago.
51
161
420
Statement from judge ordering U.S. swimmers Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen to remain in Brazil.
4
76
428
One of the most devastating stories I've written in years: How Kevin Ellison went from starring in football at USC to dying while wandering through traffic on a freeway. Now his family wonders what role football played in years of mental health problems.
27
214
402
New: Buffalo Bills' "Punt God" among three past and present San Diego State football players accused in gang-rape lawsuit.
72
143
388
BREAKING: Jeanie Buss thwarts effort by brothers to take over Lakers.
37
341
350
Phelps finishes his gold-plated career with 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. Owns three individual world records, too.
1
162
349
An F-15C fighter jet with the Cal Guard was placed on alert in case of unrest over the pandemic or election. Guard members feared it would be ordered to frighten protesters. Good work by @PringleLATimes and @AleneTchek.
50
158
304
Federal prosecutors allege USC senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel accepted more than $1.3 million in bribes to facilities admission of two dozen students as recruited athletes. Many had fabricated athletic credentials.
24
196
310
Chris Darden -- yes, THAT Chris Darden -- also represents former NFL player Brandon Browner in his attempted murder case in the L.A. area.
Holder’s attorney, Chris Darden, enters not guilty plea on his client’s behalf. Bail at $5M. @KNX1070.
20
155
309
UCLA's track and field director at the time wrote in a letter to athletic director Dan Guerrero that he'd never even heard of the runner until a senior department official mentioned the donation potential of her parents.
20
150
294
How a veteran FBI agent's wild, vodka-soaked Las Vegas weekend stained a high-profile investigation into NCAA basketball corruption. #longreads.
7
97
305
One construction worker at SoFi Stadium has tested positive for COVID-19 and a second is a presumptive positive. What do workers think? . "If our safety was the most important thing, they wouldn’t have us out here," one said.
25
172
287
A troubled ex-USC football standout died at 31. Searching for answers, his family donated his brain to be studied for CTE. This is the story of Kevin Ellison's final journey. #longreads.
12
164
302
The helicopter that crashed with Kobe Bryant and four others aboard was a Sikorsky S-76B manufactured in 1991. The NTSB database doesn't show any previous incidents or accidents involving the same tail number.
We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by today’s Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California. We have been in contact with the NTSB and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer.
6
91
300
This is the @latimessports front after Rafer Johnson won gold in the decathlon at the Rome Olympics in 1960. Johnson died today at age 86.
6
91
278
There are four stages of CTE, Stage 4 being the most severe.
3
170
246
This is deeply troubling: cyberattack from outside the U.S. disrupted printing and distribution at newspapers across the country, including the @latimes.
17
218
235
News: Ex-UCLA soccer coach Jorge Salcedo accused the school of using athlete admissions as a "vehicle to raise funds" in a court filing in the Varsity Blues scandal.
33
147
244
Our dear friend and colleague @BillPlaschke has been fighting COVID-19: "It was as if my ominous words were lifted from the page and injected directly into my body. In an instant, my fears for others became prayers for myself.".
12
121
235
Sherra Wright, the ex-wife of Lorenzen Wright, has pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of the former Clippers player in 2010. She will be sentenced to 30 years in prison as part of a deal with prosecutors. I explored this tragic case last year:.
23
214
247
Wow, USC, which finished second in the Pac-12, doesn't make the tournament, while Arizona State, which finished ninth, is in.
24
183
252
Tickets for Saturday's Chargers-Rams game at the Coliseum are starting at $9.99 on StubHub.
48
115
243
BREAKING: The FAA has approved the $2.6-billion stadium the Rams and Chargers will share in Inglewood. Story to come.
11
206
224
Excited to share that my @latimes piece on the murder of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright will be included in The Best American Sports Writing 2019. Here's the original story: .
24
42
229
This is tremendous: after reading @latimes coverage of the disaster in Paradise, Calif., a businessman decided to give $1,000 to every student and employee at the local high school.
1
77
207
Wow: Mayor Eric Garcetti told high-level staffers that the coronavirus pandemic could halt sporting events and concerts in Los Angeles until 2021.
74
141
220
UCLA football coach Chip Kelly on the California NIL bill (via @latbbolch): "It doesn’t cost the universities, it doesn’t cost the NCAA, and what it did before is it put restrictions on athletes and it no longer does and I think it’s progress.".
11
57
208
Interesting: Saturday's Chargers-Rams game may have been the lowest-rated NFL broadcast ever on over the air TV.
33
139
206
As scandal swirls around USC, Athletic Director Lynn Swann spent Saturday signing autographs in Virginia for $220 and up. (via @patrick_hruby).
32
89
208
@latimes From court documents, the text messages between Tyler Skaggs and Eric Kay the night of the overdose.
8
73
198
Two new schools have been linked to the college basketball corruption probe, according to a superseding indictment just filed in federal court. The colleges are identified only as being in Nebraska and Texas.
49
131
213
Former Patriots player Aaron Hernandez had CTE, Boston University's CTE Center announced.
27
278
194
Source: Goldman Sachs deal to finance Raiders stadium contingent on Sheldon Adelson involvement. Without Adelson, there isn't a deal.
28
219
191
I keep thinking about what Mikaela Shiffrin's brother, Taylor, told me earlier this week. The loss of their father, Jeff, in an unexpected accident two years ago can't be overstated.
3
33
178
Loudest moment of the Pac-12 tournament: Arizona fans relentlessly booing Larry Scott during the trophy presentation. Conference staffers off to the side were chuckling.
5
47
188
Take a few minutes to read this gut-wrenching story by @JeffMillerLAT on the life and death of onetime Hawaii star quarterback Colt Brennan. #longreads.
14
66
178
@latimes From the affidavit in support of the complaint against Eric Kay: "It was later determined that but for the fentanyl in [Skaggs'] system, [Skaggs] would not have died.".
7
63
170
This is wild: USC to pay $50 million and apologize to UC San Diego for poaching its Alzheimer’s research program.
27
87
169
Our updated story: former Angels employee Eric Kay has been charged with distributing fentanyl in connection with the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
4
73
175
Another gem from the admissions scandal: photoshopping a kid on a picture of a kicker as part of an effort get him into USC as a "fake kicker or punter.". Key line: "The way the world works these days is unbelievable."
5
65
164
Three days after UCLA's Student-Athlete Admissions Committee approved the runner's admission, one school staffer emailed another about her parents' donation pledge: “We got a deal at $25 x four years for track.".
5
103
155
A good day for Los Angeles. A good day for journalism.
Our new owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, takes out a full-page ad in today’s @latimes to write a letter to readers, charting a course for the years ahead.
7
16
171
In case you've forgotten what Slava Voynov pleaded no contest to doing to his wife, I wrote about the disturbing details last year.
The NHL has announced that Slava Voynov is suspended for the 2019-20 season and 2020 playoffs for "unacceptable off-ice conduct." From the release: "Voynov’s eligibility to play in the NHL will be restored (assuming good behavior) no later than July 1, 2020.".
16
110
158
This is an odd highlight to use to honor a man who suffered from mental illness for several years, whose brain is being examined for CTE and whose family questions what role football-related head trauma played in this tragic story.
16
54
157
Developing: Former USC football assistant alleges in lawsuit he was forced to resign after reporting possible NCAA violations.
24
110
165
The story prosectors told about a student recruited to USC's crew team -- without any previous crew experience -- is wild. This might be the first time "falsified list of regattas" has appeared in a DoJ indictment.
10
58
157
The @latimes has confirmed that earlier today the FBI arrested USC senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel and UCLA men's soccer coach Jorge Salcedo in the college admissions bribery investigation.
6
102
155
The UCLA probe into athlete admissions in 2014 wasn't limited to track. It also found a student had been admitted for an unspecified sport in which she had no experience and raised questions about donations by families of walk-on tennis players.
6
87
147
Emails obtained by the @latimes reveal the Lakers discussed leaving Staples Center for the Forum after being pitched by a Madison Square Garden Co. associate.
10
70
146
Miami coach Jim Larranaga received a grand jury subpoena for texts, emails and other items in the college hoops bribery and corruption case.
9
193
155
BREAKING: Buss family reaches agreement to end feud over control of Lakers; Jeanie Buss remains controlling owner.
2
152
138
Getting in the spirit at the @latimes office at #PyeongChang2018 after the sale of our paper.
2
20
140
@latimes Key paragraph in court documents regarding Eric Kay and Tyler Skaggs: Kay allegedly distributed pills to Skaggs and others "in their place of employment and while they were working."
9
62
141
She was too slow for UCLA's track team -- until her parents pledged a six-figure donation. My latest:.
11
72
145
The cover of @latimessports from Oct. 15, 1988, the day the Dodgers opened their last World Series.
4
58
138
The front page of the @latimes on this day 45 years ago: "7 INDICTED." . Nixon resigned five months later.
6
59
124
A parent expressed concern in a wiretapped conversation that their daughter, who tried to enter USC as a fake water polo recruit, would be exposed for not actually playing water polo.
11
51
125
Wiretaps are the best. Here's a discussion about paying USC senior associate athletic director Donna Heinel in exchange for one man's daughter to join the Trojans as a recruited basketball player. Key line: "She wasn't a legitimate basketball player . "
7
63
131
During a Facebook Live chat, Michael Phelps says Katie Ledecky would "whoop me and tear me to shreds" in a race of 800 meters or more.
1
98
127
Eric Stevens got the ALS diagnosis on the one-month anniversary of marrying his college sweetheart and former Cal soccer player Amanda Glass. The color drained from Eric’s face. He almost passed out. Amanda caught him.
6
24
127
From behind bars, former NFL receiver Titus Young penned a diary about hearing voices, regret and clinging to hopes of resuming his career. My story on his troubled journey: #longreads
4
78
130
BREAKING: NFL owners approve the Rams moving to Inglewood, according to a person who witnessed the vote. Chargers have option to join them.
9
265
133
A UCLA spokesman didn't respond to a question about whether the school accepted or kept the $100,000 donation from the track athlete's parents.
9
62
119
The FBI agent was removed from the basketball probe after the gambling fiasco, but kept his gun, badge and clearance. He wasn't immediately fired or suspended. In late 2020, he was transferred to an FBI counterintelligence squad in New York until being prosecuted.
2
18
124
Everything is just fine in New Orleans after the Rams beat the Saints.
6
47
131
In the complaint, the Skaggs family alleges that former Angels employee Eric Kay provided drugs to "at least" five other players on the team.
19
44
125
This is jaw-dropping. Journalists -- real ones -- are NOT paid by sources. Ever.
How the f--- do 60 percent of the people in this poll think this?
23
59
128
Just in: A second construction worker at the SoFi Stadium project in Inglewood has tested positive for COVID-19. Mandatory temperature checks are being instituted.
35
111
126
BREAKING: Slava Voynov taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. http://t.co/BmuWJDuFVr
#NHL #LAKings.
23
366
117
Some of those inflammatory Jon Gruden emails that have rocked the NFL and cost the Raiders coach his job were part of a mid-June court filing by WFT owner Dan Snyder.
41
53
123
The path to the first game at SoFi Stadium hasn't been easy. Years of failed attempts to lure the NFL to L.A. The Inglewood-Carson competition. A yearlong rain delay. The skyrocketing price tag. But Stan Kroenke's vision is finally reality.
11
42
120
This a poignant read from @BillShaikin on the memorial service for Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs: "There are mercifully few baseball players practiced in the art of eulogizing a teammate.".
1
22
121
Flew over the Inglewood stadium site last night. The progress continues.
8
60
119
Murder, baseball and a life on the edge -- my story on a former MLB prospect charged with three killings. #longreads.
9
65
119
The $800M deal between the NFL and St. Louis over the Rams' relocation isn't the league's biggest lawsuit resolution in recent years -- the NFL has paid out $938M to retired players and their families to date as part of a settlement for concussion lawsuits.
7
23
114
It's snowing in Pasadena. Honest-to-goodness snow. Didn't realize life in the Los Angeles area included this kind of weather.
7
21
108
The last flight of Kobe Bryant: . "What happened next was mysterious: The Sikorsky S-76B suddenly veered off course and descended rapidly.". A chilling read from a team of @latimes reporters.
1
45
113
Last summer, investigations found a pistol in a murky lake in Mississippi linked to Lorenzen Wright's killing. They intercepted a call by his ex-wife that seemed to imply an informant led authorities to the weapon.
2
48
94