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Born and raised in Los Angeles and received a Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of San Diego.
SoCal Sports Hub
Marvel Studios has had unprecedented success in casting the right actors and pairing them with the proper writers and directors, respectively, to help build their multi-billion dollar well-oiled machine that churns out successful movies and actors every year. And after the Dodgers' 9-1 win over the Miami Marlins, we've once again been reminded that Los Angeles has been MLB's Marvel Studios.
Cody Bellinger has been the story of the Dodgers' 2019 season, slugging his way into an exciting MVP race with Christian Yelich. Will Smith is the shiny new rookie we've grown accustomed to seeing from the franchise over the last four seasons. Matt Beaty is the under-the-radar breakout star like Max Muncy and Chris Taylor from years past.
Shohei Ohtani came over from Japan with as much hype any new player has received in recent memory. It was a lot to live up to; so how has the Angels' slugger done after playing 162 games? July 16, 2019, marked Game 162 for Japanese phenom, Shohei Ohtani, giving him a full season's worth of play with the Angels to judge off.
With San Diego in play for a playoff spot, it could push them towards being buyers, which clarifies their interest in Noah Syndergaard. The Padres are in the market for a starting pitcher, and they have reportedly turned their interest to New York's Noah Syndergaard, according to MLB Network's very own Jon Morosi.
Wednesday and Thursday nights marked the Dodgers' 11th and 12th walk-off wins of 2019, more than any other team. And while they've been exciting, some have been a bit disconcerting because of why they were in that position in the first place. Take Wednesday for example.
The demise of Clayton Kershaw's status as a top-flight pitcher has been of such focus that it's overshadowing the fact that the Dodgers' lefty is still an MLB ace. Let's get one thing out of the way: Clayton Kershaw is no longer the Clayton Kershaw that we saw mow down hitters with ease from 2011-2017.
With the Angels' season seemingly done due to a horrendous amount of injuries to what was an already mediocre pitching staff, it's time that they shift focus to the 2019 offseason and beyond. They're mathematically still in the playoff race (albeit barely), but at 56-59, and 9.5 games out of a playoff spot, it's best to come to the realization and move on.
Maybe it was only a matter of time. The Padres are officially free-falling down the National League playoff race, hurting what was shaping up to be an impressive run from such a young team. However, their season-long negative run differential indicated that they were bound for this.
The Los Angeles Dodgers did the opposite of expectations, by not acquiring top-level bullpen help to help fortify their one weakness. Instead, they opted for low-key additions to the frustration and shock of many, while their top competitor out of the American League surprised the baseball world by acquiring Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
A significant part of the Padres' future is hinging on their young pitching that is coming up through the farm system. From their top prize in MacKenzie Gore to Luis Patino, to Adrian Morejon and Ryan Weathers, and down to Michel Báez, San Diego has a plethora of young arms that should be making their debuts in the coming years.
When DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for a veteran's minimum, the initial reaction from many was more lukewarm or "Ehhh." He was a 29-year-old center coming off a season in which he played just 30 games due to recovery from an Achilles rupture and only eight of Golden State's 22 playoff contests because of a quad injury.
The 2019 MLB rookie classes are loaded. It's as if every year we are seeing better and/or deeper crops of first-timers than in seasons past. In the National League alone you have young talents such as Chris Paddack, Alex Verdugo, Keston Hiura, Bryan Reynolds, Kevin Newman, Christian Walker, Carson Kelly, Nick Senzel, Austin Riley, Mike Yastrzemski, and Will Smith.
The San Diego Padres have been a quiet surprise, floating around .500 and in wild-card contention. But for a young, upstart team, should they take advantage of their most valuable trade chip to boost their rebuild, or stay aggressive and go for it? 2019 has been a down year for bullpens.
The Dodgers aren't known for going out and spending big in free agency to bring players to Los Angeles. They've always preferred to opt for the cheaper, team-controllable players within the organization, or aim to find their annual diamond(s) in the rough.
A month into the 2019 season, chirps of the Padres' Manny Machado being a bust were already being thrown around. Two months later, they are starting to quiet if they haven't disappeared altogether. As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Whenever a team looks to make an upgrade via the trade market, it results in them weakening their farm system. The 2019 Dodgers are in the enviable position where they don't have to lose pieces from their minor league system to do such a thing.
The Angels headed into 2019 looking to contend for a playoff spot, but so far, it's a little bit of what we've seen in the past. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim haven't made the playoffs since 2014, and since then, they've missed out on October baseball by (chronologically) one game, 15 games, five games, and 17 games.
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the All-Star Break dropping three of four games against the San Diego Padres. But that is just a minor blip on what has been an excellent first-half. You always want to enter a break riding high on momentum, but for these 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers, they couldn't care less how they arrived there- just as long as they just got there.
You may think of the Dodgers as a flashy team that does everything in style, but they're a squad full of grinders led by their heart and soul, Justin Turner, who regularly sets the momentum for the rest of the lineup.
2019 marked the first time since MLB removed the August waiver trade period, meaning teams would be operating with July 31st as the hard-line to getting a deal done. And in turn, it was expected to make this time of year a more exciting one.
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Monday, November 12 brought us two massive trailer drops. One was the teaser trailer for Toy Story 4, and the other was the first official trailer for 2019's POKÉMON Detective Pikachu movie, based on the world-famous anime and long line of games. This particular movie is influenced by the Nintendo 3DS game Detective Pikachu from 2016.
The San Diego Padres are at least a year away from legitimately contending but we have seen examples of teams arriving ahead of schedule and facing off for a playoff spot. Just last year, the Atlanta Braves shocked the baseball world and won the NL East while the Philadelphia Phillies were in the race for the division crown until faltering at the end.
I don't know if you've heard, but there's a new Mission Impossible movie that came out on July 27. There was a lot of anticipation building up to that date because of the excitement for the film. And it's not hard to see why.
The 2018 National League MVP race has been a wild frenzy all season long, with seemingly a new favorite every week, making the race feel like a "faceless" one. In the American League, when you bring up the MVP award, it's a clear-cut tier of Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and J.D.
Earlier this week was the 10-year anniversary of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, the second of the critically-acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy. It is perhaps the greatest superhero movie ever (it is), and an excellent film in general, with a remarkable story, a great Batman, arguably the best comic movie villain ever in Heath Ledger's Joker, great casting and performances, and the perfect music score from Hans Zimmer.
Much of the NFC has not gone as many envisioned, and the Chicago Bears are one of the teams that have epitomized it. They finished 5-11 last year with a rookie quarterback who looked overwhelmed and with no one to throw to.
Walker Buehler has lived up to the hype this season. The Dodgers' youngster was one of the elite prospects in 2017 and has cemented himself as one of the best young pitchers in the game of baseball. On the season, the 24-year-old has a 2.88 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts in 118.2 innings.
The NFL players recently ranked Tom Brady as the best player in the league while putting Aaron Rodgers at 10, and the fourth best QB. Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady is the great debate in the NFL. People who select Brady, like the majority of the players will choose Brady because he has five rings.
Jared Goff had a night Thursday evening against the lauded Minnesota Vikings defense in an offensive shootout with Kirk Cousins. It was in primetime in front of the entire nation in a high-profile matchup with another Super Bowl hopeful, so all eyes were on him, and the hyped-up Rams' offense.
Aaron Rodgers has only known one NFL franchise since being drafted back in 2005. And after signing a historical extension during the offseason, it appears as though he will don the Green Bay Packers' green and yellow for his entire career.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers come near an end of the 2018 NLCS with a trip to the World Series on the line, the Red Sox await the winner of the two at home after beating the defending champion Houston Astros in five games.
Six months after Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown told the media that the team needed another 'high-level free agent,' the front office did the next best thing by making a power move over the weekend via trade. They acquired Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick.
The one stain on Clayton Kershaw's illustrious career has been October. Five straight postseason trips from 2013-2017, and all five disappointing results. How can the greatest pitcher of this generation not have a World Series ring? Well, for starters, he has been on some very flawed teams that have lacked starting pitching depth, a good defense, or have had bullpen dumpster fires.
After dropping another road game, the Green Bay Packers fall back under .500 to 4-5-1, and there is plenty of blame to go around for their 27-24 loss. Aaron Rodgers had an excellent night, throwing for 332 yards on 21 of 30 passing and two touchdowns, including two unreal throws that traveled over 50 yards in the air.
The 'Sophomore Slump' is one of the scarier words in sports. After a rookie year where an athlete impresses and displays an extremely bright future, expectations are high. But, many times, some players can't build off a strong debut, instead, regressing during their encore.
Last night's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings was an offensive spectacle. The Vikings put up 31 points and 446 yards which would usually win you a game, especially with the defense they have on paper. But, they were going up against an absolute buzzsaw that can't be stopped.
All eyes are on Aaron Rodgers, as he recently signed the largest contract in NFL history. He is heading into the upcoming season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after he missed all but seven games last year. The Packers superstar is not likely to succumb to intense pressure, however.
Emotions were high on Sunday as Aaron Rodgers limped off the field and was eventually carted off into the locker room. After waiting nearly a full season just to see the superstar quarterback back on the field, excitement and hype were at an all-time high for the season opener.
Blake Snell was the breakout of the 2018 season this summer but had a trip to the DL interrupt what was an excellent season. After his last start on July 12, before his stint, the 25-year-old had thrown 119 innings, posting a 2.27 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 3.42 FIP, and struck out 134 batters, which was aided by an elite 28.3 K%.
The Oakland A's have quietly become one of the game's elite teams, and have done so collectively, with everyone bringing something different to the table, which is why they are so exciting. But there is a guy, you can argue, who is pushing the needle more than everyone else on the team and has become their franchise cornerstone.
Two years ago, when Matt Ryan won the 2016 NFL MVP, it was the moment people believed that they could finally insert him among the game's elite passers alongside Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and now, even Russell Wilson. However, we were wrong to prematurely to anoint him so high, as he has been a letdown ever since.
The National League MVP race has been as wide-open as its playoff race has been. Every week, or even day, there's a change in the favorites like there is in the standings. One day Team A is in first, while Player A, B, and C are the MVP-favorites.
Each week in the NFL is an important one because there are only 16 games, so the value of a single contest is much more significant than in any other sport. And that alone makes it worthy to tune in and watch.
Predictions on the standings of each division in both conferences were made, so in this one, we will take a look at the awards and playoff predictions. For each voter, this award has a different meaning, like the Most Valuable Player award. Some people will view it as who coached his team to the best record?
Each NFL season, there is always a division, or two, that is an absolute gauntlet and stands above the rest regarding quality, production, and players. Last year, it was the NFC South, as they produced three 10+-win teams and three playoff teams. This year, that title of "Best Division" may go to the NFC North.
MLB Free Agency is the annual time for MLB to teams improve their rosters with their financial might. Some teams have it; some don't. And some years you have surprise franchises that shell out the cash and the length in years. MLB contracts are known for going beyond five years when it comes to starts and franchise cornerstones.
This past weekend was excellent for sports fans because of one person: Tiger Woods. It's been a long time, but Tiger Woods had a spectacular weekend. He lost by only two strokes to Brooks Koepka during the PGA Championship, getting second place.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have long been a team that drafts (or signs) prospects and develop them into their own stars in-house. They have always prided themselves on minor league depth and bringing up players "The Dodger Way."
Every sport has its icon. Basketball has Jordan, boxing has Ali, soccer has Messi or Ronaldo, tennis has Federer or Williams, and baseball has Babe Ruth. Being an icon is rarified air. It has to with both dominance in your respective sport, and then becoming a household name and transcending the game.
Clayton Kershaw's last two seasons have no doubt been the toughest of his career. The Dodgers' ace has dealt with numerous DL stints which have hampered his ability. Combined, these stints have caused many people to forget that he undisputedly held the title of "Best Pitcher in Baseball" 2011-2016.
The 2018 NFL Draft Class was lauded as one of the most talented ones, regarding the quarterback position, in recent memory, when combining the perception of these quarterbacks as prospects with their perceived potential. There were five were taken in the first round, with four going in the top ten.
Mike Trout's has been attached to controversy for the first time in his career, but it isn't even his fault. We have all been questioning why Mike Trout isn't more famous or why his name isn't as monumental as the best player of a major American sport is.
The Los Angeles Lakers have finally ended the Luol Deng saga, allowing both parties to move on in their respective directions and not have to deal with the media coverage and speculation. The two sides agreed to a buyout where the 33-year-old small forward would give the Los Angeles Lakers $7.5 of his remaining $36.3 million back, meaning he will still collect $29.3 million.
Tuesday signaled the end of the Washington Nationals' 2018 season. Not officially but unofficially, as they have waved the white flag and begun the fire sale on the team. They have been the biggest underachievers of the season and easily the biggest disappointment of the MLB in 2018, and perhaps in recent memory.
Nothing is perfect, even sports, and baseball is no exception. Each sport has its flaws, and many believe that the MLB's most significant flaw is an increase in strikeouts which has led to a lack of balls in play. This, in turn, has taken a lot of exciting action out of the game.
Before the non-waiver trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs needed significant help in their starting rotation, so they went out on a (bit of a) limb to acquire left-hander Cole Hamels from the Texas Rangers. The veteran was not having his best of years in 2018, posting a 4.72 ERA and 1.373 WHIP in 114 innings across 20 starts.
Sports are at the forefront of our national news, and this time it's not for anything sports-related. It's on a much grander scale, involving the White House. After LeBron James' interview with Don Lemon on CNN, which also covered President Donald Trump, the president decided to speak out against James and Lemon via his favorite way of expressing himself, Twitter: Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon.
It's been nearly a month since the non-waiver trade deadline passed, and we are already seeing a significant positive effect from a few players that switched uniforms. One of the guys who has excelled is Kevin Gausman, who went from the Baltimore Orioles to the Atlanta Braves.
The American League MVP race is a fun one, with the four best candidates having elite seasons and all being worthy. J.D.
Now that Lebron James is out of the Eastern Conference, it needs a new representative for the NBA finals. And that is looking like it might be the Boston Celtics. But it doesn't just stop there. The Boston Celtics are now the biggest threat to dethroning the Golden State Warriors as NBA Champions, and it's not blasphemy at all.
A day after Manny Machado was traded to the Dodgers, the Padres and Indians completed their own big deal which involved Brad Hand and Adam Cimber. The relievers for the San Diego Padres are set to move to Cleveland in exchange for catching prospect Francisco Mejia.
This weekend marks the start of the 2018-2019 English Premier League season, which is always an exciting time of the year. And Liverpool opens on Sunday, August 12, at 5:30 a.m. Expectations are high after a surprisingly successful season that saw them not only finish in the top four once again but make it all the way to Champions League Final.
This time last year, the National League West division was all but locked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were 15 games up on August 8, 2017. This time, it's an entirely different story. The NL West is a complete dogfight right now, a battle amongst three teams- the Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies.
Back on May 15, St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter was hitting a paltry .140/.286/.272 after going 0-4. It looked to be headed towards a lost season for the 32-year-old. He's been an All-Star caliber player, but no one really notices because he's always been a low-key and unflashy player that who never put up MVP numbers.
Almost every sports team has a player who embodies them nearly perfectly. For the Oakland A's, that player may be left fielder Khris Davis. Davis is underrated, but he is still highly productive; he is flawed, but he is still exciting.
The Dodgers have sat in first place in the NL West for almost three weeks now, and once again, it has been on the backs of their starting rotation. In year's past, most of the team's money and resources have been put into the rotation.
James Paxton returned from the DL Monday night and was dominant once again, as he shutout the reigning champs over seven innings while allowing just three hits. But this isn't anything new from the 28-year-old. He has does done this before in his career, showing flashes of an ace.
After being traded to the Atlanta Hawks, Carmelo Anthony was released by the franchise and is now free to sign with anyone he'd like; the favorite is the Houston Rockets. And if he were to join, the speculation is that he will have a lesser role, potentially from the bench, because he is not the same guy anymore and is a massive liability on defense.
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer has seemingly been on the trading block for what feels like half-a-decade now. Obviously that not right; it's been more like three seasons or, but it feels like it. And there's no reason to think that this summer would be any different.
Just yesterday, Bovada, which is a popular online sports betting site, released their latest World Series Odds and it may come as a surprise to some as, to who the two favorites are to win the World Series are.
2018 has been a tremendously exciting year for MLB baseball. We have superstars living up to the hype, a good amount of drama, some spectacular plays and spectacular performances. However, there have been many unexpected results that no one may have foreseen happening, good or bad.
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsAppKawhi Leonard has finally found a new home. After about a month of speculation of where he will land, the small forward will be heading north of the border to the Toronto Raptors, along with shooting guard Danny Green, in exchange for shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected 2019 first-round pick.
Liverpool is coming off their most successful season in quite some time. They repeated their fourth-place finish from a season ago but did so while playing a more extensive schedule and dealing with more injuries. But perhaps the most impressive thing was making it all the way to the Champions League final; something realistically seemed a ways off at the beginning of the season.
The Mets are among the worst franchises in baseball. Other than 2015 and 2016, New York has been a mess for years, and somewhat of a laughingstock because of the dysfunction, both on-field and in the front office. During the 2018 first-half, they started off 11-2, giving hope, but entered the All-Star Break at 39-55.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Carmelo Anthony decided to part ways last week, but Anthony is still on the roster for now. The Thunder are are trying to trade him to get his contract off their books. Whether they can or not, he is still expected to become a free agent if he does not end up with a team of his liking.
When the Cincinnati Reds traded for Eugenio Suarez from the Detroit Tigers, they probably expected a solid-to-good (at best) starting infielder on the left side. He was not known for his bat, but rather his glove at shortstop.
The Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs trade last week, which swapped Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan, was newsworthy on two fronts: Kawhi Leonard was finally moved and how the Raptors GM Masai Ujiri handled trading DeRozan. According to DeRozan, the Raptors front office made him feel like he was going to be a part of the long-term plan, with no imminent trade.
The Dodgers made a huge splash by acquiring their big bat in Manny Machado, in turn, probably making them the favorites in the National League. Not only does he fill the hole at shortstop left by Corey Seager, but he pushes Chris Taylor, who has a .835 OPS since May 1, to 2B, so the Dodgers do not have to roll out Logan Forsythe as often.
Get ready for Mannywood 2.0, as the Los Angeles Dodgers have officially acquired Manny Machado, as many of the reports the past couple of days suggested. Los Angeles was viewed as the favorites by many executives around the league because the franchise has both the need and resources.
Kawhi Leonard is officially off the board for the Lakers, or at least for now. The big news Wednesday morning was the news of the small forward being traded to the Toronto Raptors. In theory, this means that the Lakers are satisfied with their current squad and want to ride this season out with it before doing anything else.
The 2018 MLB All-Star Game rosters were announced yesterday, and like it is every year, there is extensive discussion over the decisions and whether they were right, wrong, fair, etc. The Midsummer Classic has been known as a game "for the fans" as are the other All-Star events in other sports.
Spectacular talent, performances, drama, and controversy combined to make the 2018 FIFA World Cup the best the world has seen in a long time. Controversy, in particular, has been surrounding FIFA for a while now and was at the forefront of the World Cup final.
When you talk about the top pitchers in baseball, the first names to come to mind are immediately Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale, Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Justin Verlander, and recently Jacob deGrom. Then in the tier below them, you have guys like Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino (who is starting to creep his way to the top), Noah Syndergaard, James Paxton, Stephen Strasburg.
Well, looks like "it's not coming come." The final for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is set, with France set to take on Croatia in Moscow Sunday morning. However, with how big that matchup is going to be, the biggest storyline right after the England-Croatia game centers around the losers, England.
When the season began, if you would have said that Matt Kemp and Max Muncy would be the Dodgers two best hitters and best All-Star candidates among position players, you would have been laughed at. The Dodgers already had Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor, and Yasiel Puig.
When you think of AL MVP candidates, your mind will immediately jump to Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and J.D. Martinez, and reasonably so because they are having the best seasons in all of baseball. But there is another player that is producing as good, if not a tick below, the trio, but he is not getting the same amount of love.
Now that Lebron James is out of the Eastern Conference, it needs a new representative for the NBA finals. And that is looking like it might be the Boston Celtics. But it doesn't just stop there. The Boston Celtics are now the biggest threat to dethroning the Golden State Warriors as NBA Champions, and it's not blasphemy at all.
Free agency started off with a bang, and a surprise was Paul George shocked everyone by deciding to remain with the Oklahoma City Thunder. After year-long speculation that he would end up with the Los Angeles Lakers, choosing to stay in the midwest shocked a few people, even if the writing was there on the wall.
The Seatle Mariners find themselves in an excellent position to end their playoff drought that dates back to 2001 when they won 116 games. In recent years, they have had the talent, but have failed to make the dance. They have a good core of players which the team is built around, but most of them are offensive players.
Once LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers, all the elite talent had officially moved out west. A strong argument could be made for 12 of the NBA's top 13 players residing out here. With LeBron's departure, the east is officially open, but not in a good way.
Heading into the 2018 World Cup, Germany was the top-ranked country in the world and one of the favorites to win and repeat. However, they crashed out embarrassingly, losing twice and winning once (at the death at that) with a -2 goal differential.
Sports have an exquisite way of creating a dialogue between people, and the most popular conversations are comparing the legacies of athletes. In basketball, you have Jordan vs. Kobe vs. LeBron. In baseball, it is Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw vs. any of the greats from the past.
The Arizona Diamondbacks see themselves in playoff contention once again in 2018 and sit atop the NL West, just ahead of the Dodgers. They have the roster to make some noise in the National League, and their play is showing that.
The San Diego Padres have been a 'rebuilding' for what feels like a decade. Save for 2015; there was no reason with realistic expectations for the playoffs. And they always seem to mess up a rebuild. But this time, things are going as well.
Heading into the season, there was the question whether Kenta Maeda's best role on the Dodgers was out of the bullpen. He took a backward step from his successful rookie year, but when put into the bullpen, he was throwing a lot hard and looked extremely sharp.
We are more than halfway into the 2018 World Cup and have six of our eight quarterfinal matchups set. We are starting to get a good grasp on the teams in the tournament and which ones are of genuine quality.
The Denver Nuggets locked up Nikola Jokic, securing their franchise cornerstone for at least five more years. In turn, along with drafting Michael Porter Jr., they have acquired one of the best young cores in basketball, perhaps the best group of any non-playoff team.
Soccer has always been mired with controversy, from England's World Cup-winning goal in 1966 to Diago Maradona's "Hand of God" goal, to Zinedine Zidane's headbutt, to everything going on with Luis Suarez. There has always been something polarizing to talk about from players to refereeing decisions.
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"Let's be real," California governor Gavin Newsom said in his first State of the State address. "The current project, as planned, would cost too much and respectfully take too long. There's been too little oversight and not enough transparency." As a substitute to this failed endeavor, State Sen.
Netflix recently bought the rights to the film for $9 million, with a release date sometime in the fall expected. The movie made its premiere at the annual Sundance Film Festival and received positive reviews to the tune of a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
All you have to do is go the home page of the artist, click on the "..." in the top right and select "Don't play this artist." It's a simple, yet unique addition to the music app that may have its motivations rooted in something more serious.
A new study shows that deep sleep is best for brain "cleaning," eliminating Alzheimer's-causing proteins. Do you think you get enough deep sleep? Scroll down to see how people across America voted.
"We have not as a species lost the magnetic sensory system that our ancestors [millions of years ago] had," said Prof Joseph Kirschvink, leader of the research from the California Institute of Technology. "We are part of Earth's magnetic biosphere." A total of 34 volunteers participated in the study.
Has that ever happened to you? Well, you wouldn't be the only one, as keeping focus is a problem for many people, especially in the digital world we live in today. A phone is a powerful tool, both positively and negatively, but we have become so reliant on it, checking it every ten seconds, that it feels like our concentration has weakened in general.
In an open letter, Berners-Lee talked about the dysfunction surrounding the World Wide Web and how "the fight for the web is one of the most important causes of our time." The internet has brought with it many positives and negatives. We have seen immense amounts of technological advancement and an increase in information.
They are expensive and have extreme admission requirements, while online education is similar in quality, much cheaper, more flexible, allows for you to do more on the side and has near zero percent chance of any sort of discrimination. And with the most recent college scandal, it makes you wonder if we are better off transitioning to online schooling.
The mix-up was due to an incorrectly filed flight plan by Germany's own WDL Aviation. "We are working with WDL Aviation, who operated this flight on behalf of British Airways, to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed," British Airways said in a statement.
The 2019 Oscars faced controversy when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences handed the polarizing Greenbook the Academy Award for Best Picture over movies such as Roma, A Star is Born, The Favourite, and BlacKkKlansman.However, there wasn't as much controversy when Los Angeles-native Rami Malek won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Freddie Mercury in the biopic on the legendary British singer-songwriter, Bohemian Rhapsody.
The T-rex skeleton was found in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan which borders Montana and North Dakota to the north. It's dated to the Cretaceous Period, about 66 million years ago. "This is the rex of rexes," Scott Persons, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences, said in a press release.
The mix-up was due to an incorrectly filed flight plan by Germany's own WDL Aviation. "We are working with WDL Aviation, who operated this flight on behalf of British Airways, to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed," British Airways said in a statement.
And after the article was published, DNC staffer Adam Parkhomenko tweeted that "the DNC should not be doing any debates on Trump's state media channel." Depending on who you are, this can either come as a shock or a no-brainer.
This June, Monopoly Dreams, Hong Kong's life-size Monopoly theme park, is set to open, featuring the first-ever attraction based off the iconic board game. It is located at The Peak, which is "the city's prime residential area occupied by the rich and famous," and offers the best vantage point to overlook its beautiful skyline.
The shoes come with the brand's trademark Sylvie Web trim and prices for men start at $930 for high tops and $870 for low tops in either green and orange, red and green, or blue and orange.
The scandal caused the 34-year-old's net worth and Facebook's share prices to drop, but according to Zephoria, monthly active user numbers haven't necessarily dropped. But it appears they are making attempts to fix their image by constructing a "privacy-focused communications platform."
"Drinking hot tea is a very common habit worldwide, and earlier studies have pointed to an association between drinking hot beverages and an increased risk of esophageal cancer," study leader Dr. Farhad Islami of the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta, Georgia, said by email.
FanSided: Dodgers
All those that believed that Joc Pederson would be having a good season for the Dodgers, please raise your hands. Ok, put them down, liars. The only ones that should have lifted them are the people that continuously defended him, leading into the season, like Andrew Friedman & Co.
The Dodgers have gotten a .556 OPS from their second base position, reaffirming the preseason hole they had there. Logan Forsythe (61 OPS+ with 100 being league-average) and Chase Utley (74 OPS+) have been largely ineffective, prompting the question of how the problem should be addressed.
Before Clayton Kershaw returned on Thursday, the Dodgers' rotation was stellar without their ace. And he came back and allowed one run through five innings before being removed. His velocity was still very down, giving manager Dave Roberts a reason for concern and caution.
The Dodgers' bullpen has been severely overworked this year, tying the San Diego Padres for third-most innings pitched, in three fewer games. Because of this increased exposure, there has been more fluctuation in their performance caused by fatigue and hitter familiarity.
The Dodgers had numerous players that had seasons that you could describe as career-years in 2017. But Brandon Morrow has left while pivotal players like Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor, and Austin Barnes have regressed strongly. But to Taylor's credit, he has been playing well over the last twelve-or-so games.
Even though it is early, the Dodgers' chances at repeating as NL West champions grow slimmer and dimmer with each game. They have a disabled list of players that would make up the core of a World Series roster: Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Yasiel Puig, Logan Forsythe, and Andrew Toles.
Brock Stewart has just 72 career MLB innings to his arm, and they have come split between starts and relief appearances. He was brought up as a starter by the Dodgers and fits the mold as one: 6'3, 210 pounds with three main pitches and fourth (the sinker) that he will mix in from time-to-time.
The first three innings on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds perfectly depict the story of the Dodgers' season through the first quarter-or-so games of the year. They had a total of nine baserunners through the first third of the game but only brought one home. And that was the only run they scored that night.
When Ryu went down, it was nothing more than continuous lousy injury luck that the Dodgers have grown accustomed to, especially with him. He was throwing the ball as well as he ever has in his career which makes his absence until after the All-Star break that much more frustrating.
The Dodgers have had Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernandez, Alex Verdugo, Joc Pederson, and Cody Bellinger man center field this year. But with Corey Seager gone for the season, Taylor will assume most of the starting duties at shortstop. When Taylor initially moved back to short, Kike, Verdugo, and Pederson split time.
The Dodgers 2018 season may almost feel like a wasted one now, with their struggles compounded with the loss of their shortstop and best position player, Corey Seager. He flew under-the-radar a bit last year because Cody Bellinger took the shine away from him.
Last year, Cody Bellinger, as a rookie, joined an underperforming Dodgers team and helped sparked a historic run with his explosive bat. In 2013, Yasiel Puig, as a rookie as well, did the same thing. This year, the Dodgers are an early-season underwhelming bunch once again, and the offense is not helping.
The Dodgers have had a hard time scoring runs in the early going. They have a team OPS in the bottom-half of the league, a mid-table ranking in runs scored, and a surprising lack of power. This is in due because of a slow start, but a trip to San Diego last week was just what the doctored had ordered.
Gone are Brandon Morrow and Tony Watson; two guys that were key ingredients to an outstanding Dodgers' bullpen from a year ago. In are J.T. Chargois and Scott Alexander, who are relatively unknown and carrying question marks around them. Alexander, to his credit, is viewed as an upgrade over Watson, even though he does not have the same experience.
The weekend is going to be exciting. First, we are treated to a duel between the two best pitchers in baseball under the Friday night lights. Then Dodger fans get to see the exciting Stephen Strasburg take the mound for the Nats on Saturday while the Dodgers counter with an underrated Hyun-Jin Ryu who is at the top of his game.
The Dodgers look like they are on the rise with back-to-back impressive performances. They won 7-2 on Sunday and 10-3 Monday night. The offense seems to be finding life by putting together better at-bats, and in the rotation, Rich Hill will be fine and join Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Alex Wood to form one of the better rotations.
Giancarlo Stanton has officially rejected the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, and appears headed to the Yankees pending approval and physicals. While the Dodgers missed out on an elite power hitter, it's fair to question if the Dodgers were ever really serious about acquiring Stanton.
After getting smacked around by the Cleveland Indians on June 15, Rich Hill's ERA sat at an unsightly 5.14 ERA. To make matters worse, he had missed an extended period for the Dodgers due to two DL stints. Not something you want out of a pitcher making $16 million a year.
Opening day is a chance to refresh for every player and team. It is a chance for optimism for the weaker teams and the start for a path to the World Series for others. Each year brings along surprises and disappointments; it is a given.
The Dodgers have every position, but left field set for the upcoming season. Last year, it was their biggest weakness regarding positional players. This season, it is the same story again. The most prominent candidates for the position are Joc Pederson, Kike Hernandez, and the injured Andrew Toles.
Rich Hill was dealing; there's no way to deny that. Why the Dodgers pulled him is understandable, but the move was utterly wrong and unneeded, there's no way to deny that either. Through four innings of work, Hill had given up three hits, one run and three walks (one intentional) while punching out seven.
Chase Utley will be back in blue after all. After a while of speculation about what would happen with the veteran second baseman, the Dodgers decided to replicate last year and bring him back on board, late into the offseason. But this time the deal is for two years.
There just aren't enough superlatives to describe just how great Clayton Kershaw truly is. The Dodgers' ace has four ERA titles, three CY Youngs ( should be four), an NL MVP, a 300-strikeout season, six straight games with 10 strikeouts and no more than one walk, a 41-inning scoreless streak, and many others.
2017 was easily the worst of Joc Pederson's major league career as a Dodger. He set career-lows in hits, home runs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, while nearly matching his rookie-year batting average (.210) with a .212 average. The counting stats were low because of a lack of games, due to yet more injuries and being demoted to Triple-A.
Once the Miami Marlins traded Giancarlo Stanton, their firesale commenced. Since then, they have traded away another star player in Marcelo Ozuna and angered two other key pieces in J.T. Realmuto and Christian Yelich in trade requests. It's gotten to the point where their relationship is toxic, according to ESPN.
Well, it seems as if Joc Pederson's latest trip to the disabled list may have actually done him some good. Whether it was mechanical, mental, or both, Joc seems to be an entirely different player since returning to the Dodgers from his second DL stint of the season.
The biggest questions remaining for the Dodgers are how will the outfield be configured, who makes the bench, and how will the bullpen be constructed. Regarding the outfield, it is specifically left field that we are looking at. Matt Kemp is looking more and more like the opening day starter for LA.
Justin Turner's loss goes beyond just on-field production. He is the heart and soul of the Dodgers. Fortunately, he will be able to do one-half of that. Unfortunately, he cannot do the other half.
Yasiel Puig has started off very slow in 2018, with a .205/.250/.250 slash line and no home runs. After a breakout year in 2017, he was expected to take the next step in 2018, but so far, nada. However, as bad as his stats are, he has been hitting the ball well; he just has nothing to show for it.
About ten months ago, I predicted that Yasiel Puig would break out for the Dodgers last year, and did he. He had his best full season yet, hitting .263/.346/.487 with 28 home runs, 15 stolen bases and Gold Glove-caliber defense.
Chris Taylor established himself as a legitimate offensive threat for the Dodgers last season, which is what people will identify him the most with now. That is what hitting .288/.354/.496 with 21 home runs, 34 doubles, and 17 stolen bases in 140 games (125 starts), along with an NLCS MVP will do for you.
The Dodgers will have some tough decisions to make regarding who makes the final cut on the 25-man roster. The competition for the position players for a bench slot will be very, very high due to the franchise's depth, and quality depth at that.
The Dodgers return the same rotation as 2017, minus Yu Darvish. They figure to have one of the better starting rotations once again; a season after having the best starting pitching ERA in baseball. And once again, it will be anchored by the face of the franchise, Clayton Kershaw.
If you thought that the Dodgers' acquisition of Jake Peter as part of a three-team deal that brought them reliever Scott Alexander was 'meh,' you are not alone. He was a 24-year-old that had neither seen the major leagues, nor a well-regarded prospect. And his minor league numbers were nothing other than average-to-solid.
PECOTA released their annual preseason regular season projections, and it does not look too different from what you might think. For the second year in a row, the Dodgers are projected to win the most games in the National League with 99 victories.
This time last year, the Dodgers were thinking that Joc Pederson was going to anchor center field for a third consecutive season and beyond. Fast forward a year and things are the same yet very different.
The Dodgers do not have any glaring weaknesses at the moment. They have the best team ERA in baseball, good defense, and an elite offense that can finally hit left-handed pitching. So, everything is going right, and it is hard to be happier as a fan or a member of the organization at this moment in time.
The Dodgers have been gifted with yet another young superstar-in-the-making. Cody Bellinger: you know the story, he was the top power-hitting prospect in baseball and burst onto the scene as an injury call-up. Cody never looked back as he set the NL record for most home runs by a rookie with 39.
In 2017, the Dodgers' left fielders were like a revolving door, constantly shuffling through different players, save for a brief stint where Chris Taylor was the primary starter before moving to center. Every other position is pretty much set, except for left field and second base.
Rumors are the Miami Marlins new ownership group wants to move Giancarlo Stanton and his albatross of a contract, and the Dodgers seem like the perfect spot for him. The deal would be a no-brainer, if not for the baggage of the financial commitment he brings with him.
Not sure if you have heard, but Chris Taylor is on an absolute tear right now. He has nine multi-hit games in his last 11 contests and (as of July 26th) is batting .523 (23-44) with five doubles, three triples, and two home runs since the Dodgers returned from the All-Star Break.
Yasmani Grandal and the Dodgers avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $7.9 million deal for 2018. That means the Dodgers have three major-league ready catchers with Yasmani, Austin Barnes, and Kyle Farmer on the 40-man roster. Grandal is the most experienced in the organization, with Barnes so far accruing a little over one full season of service time, and Kyle Farmer having only 20 at-bats.
The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig might be the most polarizing player in all of baseball, even more so than Bryce Harper. He has otherworldly physical gifts and talent that is enviable to most human beings. However, he's had attitude and discipline problems with teammates and coaches, along with a battle with the injury bug the last two seasons, that have hindered his production.
With news of Alex Wood's injury, the Dodgers' biggest weakness has become that much brighter. There isn't much on the field to complain about other than the need of a good lefty out of the bullpen, but even that can be fixed. Health, though, cannot.
The Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS to set up a showdown with the Dodgers that starts today evening in Los Angeles. And I can guarantee you the boys in blue wouldn't want it any other way.
Prior to the Dodgers signing Justin Turner for the 2014 season, the "Red Turn" was a .260 hitter with eight home runs across a career 841 at-bats. His acquisition was not met with any excitement or buzz and rightfully so; he had not done anything spectacular (yet).
When the Los Angeles Dodgers and Andrew Friedman finalized their five-year $35 million agreement back in October of 2014 to become the franchise's President of Baseball Operations, the expectations for the franchise were sky-high. That is what happens when you give a baseball wunderkind endless pockets of money.
The Dodgers lead baseball with a 3.19 starter's ERA and 1.14 WHIP, and that is with just seven innings or work from Yu Darvish. They even have the best opponent's OPS allowed and a 9.11 K/9. They could have a legitimate seven-man rotation once Clayton Kershaw and Brandon McCarthy come back.
Last night, Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner had a 14-game hitting streak snapped but still owns a slash line of .390/.448/.537. Simply amazing. He hasn't displayed the same power from last year, but he might be regaining it. In his ten games back from the DL, he has hit three home runs, which gives him four on the season.
Many raised their eyebrows when the Dodgers signed the then-soon-to-be 32-year-old Scott Kazmir to a 3-year $48 million contract last winter, and rightfully so. As talented as he was, he could not always be trusted because he had been an injury risk his whole career.
At 79-33 it only makes sense that there are numerous large contributors on the Dodgers. There have been surprising breakouts such as Chris Taylor, Alex Wood and Cody Bellinger, a great player taking his game to "elite" status in Justin Turner, a resurgence of a fan favorite in Yasiel Puig and an acquisition of a big star in Yu Darvish.
The Dodgers close out their 2017 season with a three-game road trip to Coors Field as they take on the Colorado Rockies. At 102-57, they have locked up home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs and are two games ahead of the Cleveland Indians for the best record in all of baseball.
The coming two weeks are going to be competitive for Los Angeles. They are going to be playing against the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Washington Nationals. Before the Dodgers ' win against the Cardinals last night, the four teams they will be facing had a combined 97-77 record.
The Dodgers are hoping Seager fights off those two words that can put fear into millions. It's famous myth in American sports, most prevalent in the NFL (for quarterbacks) and MLB players.
When Chase Utley re-signed with the Dodgers this past offseason, we all knew what they were getting. He was clearly over the hill and would not be able to contribute much with the bat.
Yasmani Grandal and the Dodgers avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $7.9 million deal for 2018. That means the Dodgers have three major-league ready catchers with Yasmani, Austin Barnes, and Kyle Farmer on the 40-man roster. Grandal is the most experienced in the organization, with Barnes so far accruing a little over one full season of service time, and Kyle Farmer having only 20 at-bats.
Bullpen's have (arguably) become the most important unit in baseball. They have made or broken seasons. Ask the Dodgers. Ask the San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians who have either had a deep run or flame out in the playoffs because of their relievers.
A Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees might have been more exciting for non-baseball or casual baseball fans because it would have been a battle between the two largest cities and media markets in America.
If the Dodgers were to reach the Fall Classic for the first time in 29 years, they'd have to overcome the obstacle of hitting southpaws. As a team this season, they have an abysmal .612 collective OPS against left-handed pitchers, after a league-worst .622 OPS in 2016.
In sports, you can never stop improving; there are always upgrades to be made. For these 2017 Dodgers, upgrades are still possible, but they aren't as vital as other teams. The biggest remaining needs for the team is another reliable bullpen arm, preferably left-handed, and more production out of center field.
Rich Hill has found himself back on the 10-day DL immediately after the Dodgers activated him from it for Sunday's start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Honestly, we shouldn't be that surprised because he does have a terrible injury track record. However, the fact that it's a blister that's hindering him is astonishing because it's just not that common.
Eight games started, a 6-2 record, 55.2 innings, a 2.43 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 9.2 K/9. Pretty great right? If those numbers were to continue for an entire season, they would make for a career year for just about any pitcher and would garner a CY Young finalist finish at worst.
What do you get when you mix great baseball minds and knowledge with endless pockets of money? Well, we are in the process of finding out. I am a big fan of Andrew Freidman, and while it may be an unpopular opinion amongst many Dodgers ' fans, the front office is starting to look smarter every day.
Spring training is on the horizon, and with it comes the time for us to see players that aren't on the Dodgers' 40-man roster. 22 non-roster minor-leaguers have been invited to participate in spring training. Some of them are veterans, and some are young prospects with high potential.
The Dodgers' front office is always thinking proactively with the future in mind. They are always looking to add more depth whenever they can, whether it be on the cheap or expensive. Most of their transactions to add depth have been under-the-radar and uninspiring moves which have had positive influences for the most part.
In baseball, or in sports in general, there will always be places to improve because no team is perfect in every single area. This means that whenever a team tries to upgrade a certain position it does not always have to be the best player at that particular position.
Dave Roberts has been one of the biggest scapegoats for this Dodgers slump. While it is hard to put all the blame on a guy who doesn't play on the field, he does pull the strings, and some of those decisions have been very questionable over the past three weeks.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have the third best starting rotation ERA in the league so your initial reaction would be of confusion when reading this. Yes, they have a staff that has been pitching very well this season. In fact, they have too many starters.
If you haven't heard the news, then let it be known that baseball's trade market just had an unpredictable variable enter the equation. All-Star closer Zach Britton will be missing an extended period of time after injuring his Achilles. BREAKING: Orioles closer Zach Britton ruptured his Achilles yesterday working out in California.
Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Andrew Toles, Kike Hernandez, Andre Ethier, Cody Bellinger, Scott Van Slyke, Franklin Gutierrez, Rob Segedin, and Trayce Thompson. These 10 have suited up and patrolled the outfield for the Dodgers at some point during the last two seasons. In fact, all but Ethier and Segedin have played in the outfield this season alone.
Chris Taylor has arguably been the Dodgers' biggest surprise this season. After a scorching start, he has slowed down, but he is still hitting an outstanding .302/.392/.510 with seven home runs and ten doubles across 171 plate appearances.
The strength of the 2017 Dodgers was not necessarily star power. Yes, they had superstars and stars littered up and down the roster, but a lot of teams have star power. LA's biggest strength and advantage was their depth. They legitimately had the "next man up" philosophy.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been involved in the whole Brian Dozier saga for a couple weeks now, but they still have not come to a resolution. The Minnesota Twins want the return package to be built around pitching prospect Jose De Leon while the Dodgers want to do a one for one deal.
The Dodgers ' young pitching stud Julio Urias is slated to make his 2017 debut today in San Francisco. It was only a matter of time before he got the call up, but with Rich Hill fighting a blister, Kenta Maeda struggling, and Alex Wood giving us different messages each time he pitches, now seemed like a better time than ever.
Even with such a great team that was fielded in 2017, there were still disappointments on the Dodgers, whether it be due to production or injuries. Whatever the case, some players did not live up to the hype or expectations for one reason or another.
After giving up four solo home runs in the Dodgers' win, Clayton Kershaw's night ended at 6.1 innings, five hits, three walks, four earned runs and seven strikeouts. His playoff ERA now sits at an unsightly 4.63 ERA. However, like everything, you have to look at everything in context.
Brandon Morrow is another one of the front office's under-the-radar gems. He was signed to a minor league deal during the offseason and started off the season in Triple-A. And since being called up to the Dodger s, all he's done is be a stud.
The playoffs are still about seven weeks away, but you can never start having auditions early at this point. The Dodgers are stacked so tough decisions are going to have to be made when it comes to roster cuts come October. Michael Wittman recently explained why the Dodgers wouldn't lose steam even if they clinch earlier than usual.
The Dodgers have one of the best rosters in baseball and to have one, you will need some elite players. Los Angeles has players that are among the best at their respective positions and young players with elite talent that are vital to the franchise's future.
isportsweb: Los Angeles Lakers
The worst-kept secret in the NBA is the Los Angeles Lakers going after max contract players this summer. Flush with cap space and an exciting young and athletic core, not to mention residing in Los Angeles, the Lakers are viewed as one of the more enticing free agent destinations.
So much, if not all, of the Los Angeles Lakers' 2018 summer is centered around going after players such as Paul George and/or LeBron James. LA making space and going after two max-caliber free agents has been the worst kept secret in the league for almost a year.
The NBA trade rumor mill is blazing since the news broke of Karl-Anthony Towns' relationship problems with the Minnesota Timberwolves organization. So naturally, speculation will grow on possible trades. Whether the T-Wolves will actually engage in negotiations or have legitimate strains on the relationship is yet to be confirmed.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a lot of work to do this summer as they gear up for one of the biggest summers in the franchise's history. They took an impressive step forward last year and now will look to further on the rebuilding process by trying to sign a star free agent or two.
The Lakers are going through their NBA draft preparations right now. While we do not know how their big board looks, Aaron Holiday and Jalen Brunson should be two of the guys the team should be targetting in the last first-round.
The Los Angeles Lakers will embark on their most important summer in recent memory this year, as they will look to improve upon a team that made huge strides this past season. They got improvement from their young players and had an all-time great draft class.
The 2018 playoffs are undoubtedly better than last year's, not only for the reason that it is more exciting and competitive, but also because the Los Angeles Lakers have something to root for. And boy has it gone as planned; that being the Oklahoma City Thunder being eliminated in the first round again.
The Los Angeles Lakers are sitting at home and watching the playoffs, but that does not mean that their season was a failure. In fact, you can argue that it was the opposite. Now they have set themselves up well for the upcoming 2018 summer.
The Lakers will be missing out on the playoffs for the fifth straight year, but this time feels a little different from the others. There is a sense of legitimate hope in the air of Los Angeles. LA finished 35-47 which is easily their best record since 2013.
The Los Angeles Lakers are a bad basketball team right now, plain and simple. They are 3-10 in their last 13 games and have lost their previous two games, both at home, by an average of 16 points. Last week they lost to a Sacramento Kings team that is obviously tanking and one of the worst in the league.
The Los Angeles Lakers have had a successful season this year, but their focus has always been on the upcoming summer, which makes their improved play even more significant. The best way to attract free agents is both money and a quality team. The Lakers have the former and are on their way to becoming the latter.
Starting tomorrow, the Los Angeles Lakers will begin a four-game road trip that will span eight days, coming to a close a week from tomorrow. They will be going from Indiana to New Orleans to Memphis, ultimately closing out in Detriot against the Pistons.
One of the things that seemed to get lost in the shuffle of the Los Angeles Lakers' trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers is the first-round draft pick LA got back.
The Lakers are coming off an impressive victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, improving to 30-36, and have broken the 30-win barrier for the first time since the 2012-2013 season. It's been a long time that the Lakers have had, at least, a somewhat respectable record.
Much of the talk all season, surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers, has been about their focus on the upcoming 2018 free agency. The worst-kept secret in the NBA is they are targeting of two max-level free agents; Paul George and LeBron James to be exact.
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking like a completely different team from the one that endured a nine-game losing streak earlier in the season. One reason is the improved defensive intensity, and the other is the all-around improved offensive play and consistency of majority of the team's younger players.
LaVar is back to making absurd proclamations again. This time, it is about LeBron James. LaVar Ball: LeBron James will sign with Lakers, Lonzo Ball will make him better player. https://t.co/lVMvXY5AQH pic.twitter.com/3fuCtXH6Jz - theScore (@theScore) February 17, 2018 We have all grown accustomed to LaVar's big mouth, but there were a few weeks where we did not hear much from him because he was all the way in Lithuania.
The Lakers have looked better than most would have predicted to start the season. At 5-6, the Lakers sit 11th in the conference, and in this young season seem like possible fringe-playoff contenders. People are first going to give credit to the likes of Brook Lopez, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma, and rightfully so.
Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma are the two names that immediately come to mind when you hear the words "Lakers" and "rookie" in the same sentence. Ball is the ultra-hyped point guard that was taken second overall in 2017 that everyone knows for his play, but more so because of his father's mouth.
The Lakers are two games into their five-game road trip, winning at Chicago and losing to the Toronto Raptors. They have three games remaining against the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, and Oklahoma City Thunder. The first two should be wins while no one will be shocked if they lose to OKC again.
The trade deadline is just four days away and with it will come tough decisions for the Los Angeles Lakers' front office of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. They have to decide which players to move and for what price. But before that, they have to determine if they want to move pieces or not.
The short-handed Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks on Sunday 127-107, giving them back-to-back wins and making them winners of 6 of their last eight games. They won on Sunday without two of their starters in Lonzo Ball and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and without these two and Brandon Ingram Friday night against the Indiana Pacers (a playoff team in the East).
The Lakers lost yet another close game, losing 95-92 to the Portland Trailblazers, who have now beat Los Angeles 14 straight times. But beyond that, the Lakers lost another game which they should have won, and against a good team, in disappointing fashion.
"KOOOOOZZZZ!" That's becoming the norm to hear at Laker games now. Lonzo Ball is not the Lakers' most outstanding rookie or the fan favorite so far. That honor, as of right now, belongs to power forward Kyle Kuzma. Kooz has no doubt been the breakout star for the Lakers, and possibly the entire NBA, this offseason.
Free agency is just a day away, and while the Lakers aren't expected to be heavy players this summer, they can and should still make moves with long-term ramifications in mind. Obviously, Paul George is at play, but there are some other steps, such as creating cap space for the future, that the Lakers should obviously do.
The Los Angeles Lakers kick off their 2017 Las Vegas Summer League play tomorrow July 7th. It will be a good chance for the young players on the team to start meshing and learning to play with one another.
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently 10th in the West, two games behind the Utah Jazz for 8th with a 10-15 record. But that could easily be 12-13 or 13-12 if they had not blown games such the like against the Clippers, Warriors, and Nuggets.
As you may have heard, the Los Angeles Lakers have met with free agent point guard Derrick Rose regarding the possibility of bringing him on board. Five years ago, Rose being a free agent would have been unthinkable, as he was coming off a season that saw him become the youngest ever NBA MVP winner.
Excitement for the Purple and Gold is back in Tinseltown after four dark years in a valley. Last year was the officially the first season of the Los Angeles Lakers' rebuild and this year they are expected to build off that and take another step back to relevance.
Ever since the new Magic Johnson era had begun, everyone knew changes were coming. It first started with upper management, followed by roster moves, and now it seems as if the players' mentalities have changed ( for the better).
Well, the Indiana Pacers are in a frenzy trying to ship Paul George out of town, now that they have confirmation that he will leave them next summer. Good news for Lakers fans, but the even better news is that he reportedly still prefers the Purple and Gold.
After their win, Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers are 1-6 since the All-Star Break. The record is ugly, but you have to view the situation in context to truly understand why everything has been going well.
When the Los Angeles Lakers selected Brandon Ingram from Duke University with the number two overall pick, expectations were sky-high for him. He was considered one of only two elite-level prospects in the 2016 draft class. On top of this, he was being compared to and touted as the next Kevin Durant because of his slim body-frame, long wingspan, and his playing style.
isportsweb: Liverpool FC
For the first time in what feels like a while, Liverpool has secured back-to-back trips to the Champions League. Their match vs. Brighton was close to being a must-win, and they responded with a 4-0 route even with not being at full strength.
Chelsea kept their Champions League bid for next season alive with a 1-0 victory over third-place Liverpool, which makes the Reds' final match against lowly Brighton next Sunday very important. It was a performance we have come to expect from Liverpool, where they dominate possession (68%) but fail to get on the scoresheet.
Liverpool FC released some big news Sunday, as they locked up a key player on the squad to a long-term extension. Roberto Firmino has signed a contract worth £9m a year making him Liverpool's highest paid player. The deal, paying £180,000 a week, retains Firmino until the summer of 2023.
Liverpool has a complete team as it has had in a long time. They have a solid back four, a good midfield, and a world-class front three. And they have the chance this summer to strengthen the bench during the transfer window.
Liverpool is nearing the end of another successful season under Jurgen Klopp. Last year he was able to guide the Reds to a top-four finish, qualifying them for the Champions League. And this year he is on his way of repeating that feat while making it to the semifinals of the Champions League.
Mohamed Salah indeed is something else. His 36 goals in 41 appearances in his debut campaign as a Liverpool man is the most prolific start to anyone's career as a Red, surpassing Fernando Torres' 33 goals his maiden season at Anfield exactly a decade ago.
A ten-day absence was not enough to make Liverpool FC rusty, as they dominated and cruised to a victory over West Ham United in style. Four goals. Three points. 👍#LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/sfgSfPFVCz - Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2018 However, going into this game, no matter how good they looked in their last outing, it was fair to have some trepidations about the outcome of Saturday's game.
After handing Manchester City their first and only loss of the season, Liverpool exuded a different aura. An aura that felt, even with the departure of their best player, they were about to take another step forward in their progress and start to challenge the other elite teams (in at least England) in Europe; not solely in head to head but in overall record and performance.
2018 has not gotten off to the best of starts for Liverpool. We're 7 days into 2018 and something tells me this isn't going to be Liverpool's year... - Phillipe Coutinho sold- Roberto Firmino being investigated for racial abuse- Nathaniel Clyne apparently banned for drug use- Jon Flanagan pleaded guilty for assault Happy New Year.
Liverpool won their biggest game in the Jurgen Klopp era, taking down a first-place Manchester City team that was undefeated in league play this year and unbeaten dating back to April of last year. It is a refreshing and surprising result, considering City embarrassed a 10-man Liverpool 5-0 in September and the Reds had just lost Phillippe Coutinho.
As we all know, Liverpool, after finishing in the Top 4, will be making its return to Champions League football after three seasons. They will be able to compete with the elites of Europe once again, something that they should be doing instead of consistently fighting for sixth or seventh place.
Liverpool is in the midst of an extended break, not having played since Valentines Day and not playing until Saturday, February 24. That means ten days without Reds football which can get boring. At least they left an excellent taste in our mouth before going on break.
Liverpool came away with the win in a thrilling 3-2 game against Leicester City and have moved back up to fifth place in the Premier League table. Three points in the bag! ? pic.twitter.com/GanEpXQOmN - Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 23, 2017 Yet, it was not a convincing victory.
isportsweb: USC Trojans Football
USC only rose one spot to number 13 in the most recent AP and coaches polls. This is after they started the season as the fourth-ranked season in the country. It's no secret that they have not lived up to the hype thus far.
USC moved up to 11th in the country after their one-point victory over Utah that has them at 6-1. Down 21-7 during the second-half, Sam Darnold led the comeback, which ended with a defensive stand on a two-point conversion to seal the game. FINAL: USC 28, Utah 27.
Sam Darnold is getting all the hoopla and hype as the 2017 College Football season approaches, he has been since the Rose Bowl, and rightfully so. He had a great freshman season and capped it off with a historic Rose Bowl performance.
Now that we've had a little over a day to let it process, it's time to accept that USC was not good enough and beat themselves in the 2017 Cotton Bowl, rather than Ohio State "dominating" them. 24-7 seems like a one-sided affair, but in context, not really.
Even with the two College Football Playoff semifinal games getting all the hype and build up, and rightfully so, no one is forgetting about the Rose Bowl. It's the "granddaddy" of all bowl games and has not lost its luster. This year's Rose Bowl has a terrific matchup between two distinguished programs riding hot streaks.
Reality finally came crashing down for the USC Trojans as they drop their first game of the season and now sit at 4-1. A tough matchup in a hostile environment was too much for USC and their decimated roster.
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