Rappers Snoop Dogg, Jay Rock, Spider Loc and Roccett have all shown their Laker pride through music and videos.
Los Angeles has long been known as the city with the enticing bright lights of Hollywood and its star-studded population, so it’s only natural that we’d be famous for loving winners. This brings us to what’s going on in the City of Angels right now with the LA Lakers holding a commanding 2-0 series lead in this year’s NBA Finals – citywide euphoria and anticipation for another championship parade with streets full of happy Purple and Gold fans.
When it comes to winning traditions, few franchises in sports as a whole – let alone the NBA – have one as longstanding and proud as the Lakers. Their hated rival Boston Celtics are the only team with more titles (17 to LA’s current 14), but the Lakers have the most Finals appearances with 30 and most playoff wins. Given that reputation, there’s not only an expectation of championships, but an almost cocky belief that title 15 is a done deal. Get in your car and drive any part of LA County from the Valley to Long Beach and you’re guaranteed to find hundreds of car flags, jerseys, hats, crazed fans and more, all gearing up for a new banner at the Staples Center. Read the full story
It’s the first week of June and that means it’s time for the NBA Finals. (Full Schedule) Despite the universal assumption that a Kobe V. LeBron battle of the titans was going to happen, and much to the chagrin of David Stern and the Nike puppet campaign, the King and his jesters court were ousted by a hero turned super villain (at least in Cleveland) – Dwight “Superman II” Howard and his Orlando Magic.
The Magic have lived up to their name this postseason, surprising everyone outside of Florida by continuously beating teams that they were supposed to lose to and showing they weren’t afraid of a little adversity. They dealt with losing hard-fought games at the buzzer (LeBron, Big Baby, Iguodala and Thaddeus Young all did it to them these playoffs) that would have shaken most teams into losing confidence. They handled a semi-controversy when Dwight called out Stan Van Gundy and they went into two of the most difficult road arenas in the NBA and won critical games (games 1 and 7 in Boston, game 1 in Cleveland to break the Cavs 8-game undefeated streak.) So far the Magic have overcome every challenge placed in front of them, leaving them with just one last adversary: the Los Angeles Lakers.
• Mike Nolan fired after going 18-37 in three and a half seasons
The San Francisco 49ers fired head coach Mike Nolan after reports surfaced that the team planned to drop the ax on him after this Sunday’s game. Former Chicago Bears linebacker and current Niners linebackers coach Mike Singletary is taking over the head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.
The 49ers are 2-5 this season and have the 23rd ranked offense and defense. With J.T. O’Sullivan at quarterback and a defense that’s giving up 28 points a game, it’s hard to say a coaching change is gonna make the difference in San Fran. One thing’s for sure. Regardless of how this season turns out, the 49ers fans are poppin’ bottles over the news of Mike Nolan’s firing.
• Baltimore Ravens lineback Terrell Suggs plans to have a birthday bash Oct. 24-26
The Baltimore Ravens are second in the AFC North with a 3-3 record, but this weekend they’ll be partying like they’re the undefeated Tennessee Titans. Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Team Sizzle Worldwide are throwing “The most luxurious party experience to ever hit Baltimore” and they have a website which means their claim has to be true. Read the full story
• Syracuse University student does his best Josh Howard impression
The kid could’ve done a better job, and after watching the video I have one question. Who will be the recipient of the hate-filled emails from racists? Mark Cuban? Syracuse University? YouTube?
A contingent of officials from fight promotions M-1 Global and Affliction Entertainment, complete with Donald Trump as a front man, announced plans Thursday to move forward with their new mixed martial arts reality television show, Fighting Fedor. Read the full story
