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The Los Angeles Dodgers are still one of the best teams in baseball despite their recent slump. They have yet to play their best baseball. They currently have the second-best record in the National league and they are tied with Houston for the third best record in the majors. They boost a league leading run differential of +112 and their differential could be better if their pitching was not struggling. During their last homestand which ended last Sunday, June 5, against the Pittsburgh Pirates...
After losing several games in a row the Dodgers turned it around last Sunday and started a five-game winning streak. They beat Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 last Wednesday behind a three-run home run by Justin Turner and now they hope to keep the momentum going when they start a 10-game road trip on Friday. They currently have a record of 25-12. They are in first place just ahead of the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants in the National League West. They will start their road trip against...
The UCLA and USC men's and women's track and field teams will compete this weekend in the Pac-12 Championships in Eugene, Oregon Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The meet will be shown on the Pac-12 Network. After competing in one of the most exciting dual meets in their long history both schools will be trying to win a Pac-12 championship this weekend. Leading the way for the USC men's team will be sprinter Johnnie Blockburger, the defending Pac-12 champion in the 400 meters, high jumper, Earnest...
USC Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams completed 10 of 12 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns during last Saturday's Spring practice game, showcasing his exceptional talent and providing hope to the Trojan fanbase. Williams, the Oklahoma transfer, dazzled the record crowd of 33,427 with savant-like mastery of head coach Lincoln Riley's offense. Williams threw two touchdown passes to Mario Williams, who transferred from Oklahoma like his quarterback and head coach. The Trojan offense continued...
Keep that same energy! That's what LeBron James' Tweet wanted all the Lakers' detractors to do at the beginning of the season. "Keep talking about my squad, our personnel ages, the way he plays, he stays injured, we're past our time in this league, etc etc etc. Do me one favor PLEASE!!! And I mean PLEASE!!! Keep that same narrative ENERGY when it begins! That's all I ask." After the Lakers dropped their first game after the All-Star break and their 31st of their last 38 games to their cross-hall...
The Los Angeles Rams have a dream of confetti falling on their heads as they hoist the Lombardi Trophy under the lights of their home stadium. Moreover, on Monday, as America celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Rams took their first step in making their dream a reality with a 34-11 NFC Wild Card win over the Arizona Cardinals. Los Angeles came out of the tunnel on a defensive rampage, applying pressure at every turn. Aaron Donald collapsed the pocket from the...
Charles Dickens would probably summarize the Ram's game last Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers like this. It was a dominant half, it was an ineffective half, it was the time of great play calling, it was the time for costly mistakes. It was the epoch of belief, and it was the epoch of doubt. It was the game to clinch the NFC West. It was the game to exorcise the demons of the San Francisco 49ers. It was the dawn of hope and it ended in the dusk of despair. The Rams had everything before...
Ohio State Sophomore tight end Gee Scott, Jr. said it best after the game, "Historic! Historic!" In a game that scored enough points to satisfy any offensive minded football fan, the 108th Rose Bowl game dazzled with fireworks above the stadium and enthralled with fireworks on the field. Ohio State delivered the last blow when kicker Noah Ruggles made a 19-yard game-winning field goal with nine seconds remaining, giving No. 6 Ohio State the last blow in a 48-45 slugfest over No. 10 Utah....
The Chargers proved once again last week at SoFi Stadium that a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. Analytics failed the Chargers in their game against the Chiefs last week. They passed up several field goal opportunities hoping to score touchdowns and unfortunately, they came away with no points. The Los Angeles Chargers' fate was sealed with one overtime coin flip. Justin Herbert had outplayed Patrick Mahomes, and until the last 7:45 seconds in the game, the Chargers had limited t...
You don't go from 1-5 to 11-3 in a single year in college football. It simply does not happen. One would need a roster of relentless and exceptional players and a coaching staff capable of motivating and inspiring an army of lambs to face a pride of lions. A coach would need defensive players who enjoy when the offense turns the ball over, a nation-leading wide receiver committed to being the greatest ever, and a back-up quarterback who has never thrown a pass in a college game. Fortunately for...
What does an Most Valuable Player that plays the quarterback position look like? According to Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, "It looks like the guy that plays for us." The mythology surrounding Justin Herbert is brewing. Herbert is a genuine article. The NFL's greatest players, particularly quarterbacks, have helped teammates raise their game. They inspire players on the fringe of the roster to raise their level of play. They imbue teammates to believe that victory is within their clutches...
Ferruccio Lamborghini had his engine schematics. Mansa Musa had the stars and after their 117-102 victory last week at the Staples Center over the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers may have found their blueprint for success. The quandary at hand is will Los Angeles adhere to what works moving forward. Anthony Davis meandered through the first half like a disinterested art critic at the Getty Center at the start of the game. He went one-for-three, scoring only three points in the first...
A young Bruin football fan turned to his friend in the elevator and asked, "Which bowl game do you think we are going to get? Can you believe it, we are going bowling!!!" Watching something grow is a lot like watching paint dry. The process, wrought with frustration, can drive anyone mad. However, there is nothing more rewarding than watching a fledgling develop into something vibrant and dynamic. Growth is a sign of life and vitality. After their first bowl-eligible season under Chip Kelly,...
Last Monday, a cascade of chanting rang down from the upper bowl of Staples Center. After chiding the referee for allowing gameplay to resume before he put on the shoe he lost, Anthony Davis picked up his second technical foul and was tossed from the game. Fans were upset at the referees, but fans should have been upset at the Lakers, not the refs. After the 121-103 drubbing from the Chicago Bulls, it begs to ask who these Lakers are and what is their identity? But who are the Lakers, if...
One person, alone, can be easily defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; but when all hands are in, the Los Angeles Clippers are showcasing how difficult they will be nightly for opponents. High above the court hangs a banner that says, "All Hands." At press time the Clippers were riding a five-game winning streak. They are currently in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Clippers flexed their collective will with a late 4th quarter rally to defeat the Charlotte Hornets...
How do you know when you are witnessing the birth of a great rivalry? Do you walk away floored and impressed by athletic feats? The lucky fans that saw the Los Angeles Chargers drop a 27-24 game to the New England Patriots witnessed more than another football game -- they are at the spear's tip of the next great NFL rivalry. Bill Belichick has found a new young and promising quarterback to harass. Justin Herbert fell to 0-2 against the greatest head coach in NFL history. Last year, Belichick and...
Halloween weekend continued to bring about spooky times for the USC Trojans football program. They fired their head coach two games into the season. The program continued to sputter after the firing and to make things considerably worse, the Trojans lost their best player for the remainder of the season. Last Saturday's 41-31 win over the Arizona Wildcats, in what has been an already ghastly season for USC, the Trojans' year got more ghoulish after they lost wide receiver Drake London for the...
An empty lot now stands in memory where the enticing aroma of Church's Chicken once wafted from the moribund restaurant on the Southeast corner of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue. Mouths will no longer be full of the deliciously greasy chicken. Instead, Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, hopes to fill the mouths of raucous fans with cheers as he broke ground in Inglewood to erect his vision of the NBA's most lavish and technologically savvy arena. Last Friday, September...
A big win for the LAFC against Real Salt Lake injected a jolt of joy throughout the Banc of California Stadium last Sunday, as the LAFC snagged three points in a 3-2 victory. It took only 20 seconds for the rain and cascade of water, beer, and cheers to emanate from LAFC's support section, the 3252. Cristian "Chicho" Arango, the Columbian striker, got things started with the fastest score in club history, beating the previous record of 85 seconds set by Eduard Atuesta earlier this season. In the...
At first glance, Chargers coach Brandon Staley seems unassuming. He easily could be mistaken for a staff member of the communications department, an assistant, or someone loosely affiliated with the team. Yet, what cannot be misconstrued is Staley's meteoric rise from a Division III graduate assistant to the head coach of an NFL contender. Staley exudes confidence but he is not overconfident. Instead, he carries himself with the quiet, excogitative assurance of a sensei who knows that any...
After watching the Los Angeles in training camp last week at UC Irvine here are a few things I noticed about the 2021 team. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looked aggressive and capable in this Rams offense. The newly minted playmaker frequently pushed the ball downfield. In addition, Stafford's arm provided a glimpse into the potential of their ability to put up points in a hurry. 1) Big arm, super speed. Stafford had his cannon of an arm on full display throughout the day. He connected on...
For the last few weeks, the Los Angeles Football Club has been all tied up. Last Saturday they played to a 2-2 tie against Vancouver and last Wednesday Minnesota tied LAFC in the last minute of overtime, 2-2. Against Vancouver Whitecaps LAFC fell behind 2-0 in the first half. Vancouver jolted to a 2-0 lead after a Deiber Caicedo and Cristian Dajome tickled the net that pushed the Whitecaps ahead in the first half. Los Angeles struggled in the first half playing with pace and energy. "It didn't...
When will the Ogwumike sisters, Nneka and Chiney, return from the knee injuries that has forced them to miss 70% of games this season?How will their return improve the Sparks' offense? Los Angeles Sparks opened the month of July with consecutive losses over the 4th of July weekend to the WNBA's two best teams. Their 66-58 loss to the Las Vegas Aces and their 84-74 loss to the Seattle Storm this past weekend and their lost to the Storm on Wednesday night has pushed the losing streak to five in a...
On June 21, 1997, Hall of Famers Lisa Leslie and Rebecca Lobo headlined the first game of WNBA history when the New York Liberty defeated the Los Angeles Sparks in front of 14,000 fans at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. Since then, the league has undergone several revolutions, and a new generation of athletes has assumed the mantle of carrying the game forward. The Sparks celebrated the inaugural matchup of the upstart league when they faced the Liberty on Father's Day. But, like then, the Liberty thrillingly defeated the Sparks in front...
Playing without their best player, Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers were able to go into Utah and beat the Jazz 119-111 last Wednesday. The Clippers played one of their best games of the year behind a 37 point, 16 rebound and five assists effort by their other superstar, Paul George. After having been run out of the playoffs last year in the bubble by Denver, the Clippers have been carrying that monkey on their back. With a Game 6 win Friday at home at a full capacity Staples Center the...
