Top 10 Los Angeles Sports Stories of 2006
Nobody is more obsessed with lists, rankings, top 100, top 25, and top 10 than the sports world. ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, and every independent and not-so-independent sports writer puts together these lists at the end of the year ... not to mention every few hours on the web.
So much action happens over the course of 12 months that there are ample stories to compile a top 10. Even when it's just in the local market (or mega-super-market, if you're talking about the City of Angels), the bigger problem is choosing which stories don't make the cut. Individual superstars and team successes/heartaches were plentiful this year in Los Angeles, but it's a heartwarming story that helps restore our faith in humanity and earns top honors for 2006.
1. Jim Sterkel Court
Jim Sterkel played two seasons of basketball at USC in the 1950s, never averaged more than 10 points a game, and didn't even graduate. But in an institution chock full of celebrity athletes and 9-figure donors, Sterkel was a megastar to one person. And that's all that matters.
Sterkel, who passed away almost 10 years ago, never knew any honors were coming his way. His family didn't know either, until LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke called them to ask about USC's new basketball court being named in his honor.
With a modest lifestyle supported by a job as a Johnson Wax salesman, Sterkel never could have afforded naming the court himself. But another alumni could, and did. The donor, who wishes to remain forever anonymous, spent $5 million to honor Sterkel simply because "he was my friend."
This is a touching story that everybody can learn from, and all Angelinos should know.
2. Dodgers Go Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back In Comeback
Back in 2002, LAist watched Shawn Green hit four home runs in a game and thought it was the most impressive quadruple four-bagger performance we would ever see. We were wrong.
While home runs are normally an individual accomplishment, the Dodgers found a way to make it a team effort. Trailing 9-5 in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Padres and about to fall out of first place in the pennant race, Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, Russell Martin, and Marlon Anderson each went yard. The final three home runs were hit on consecutive pitches.
The game went one more inning and the Padres regained the lead, but Nomar Garciapara responded with yet another dramatic home run in the bottom of the 10th. The two-run shot put the Dodgers into first place in the west, and the team eventually won the NL wild card.
3. UCLA Football Upends USC's Title Hopes
It's not that UCLA was supposed to be a pushover. They were supposed to be a giant pushover. The mighty Trojans were coming off wins against "real" football teams like Notre Dame, Cal, and Oregon. They'd beaten UCLA seven times in a row, with the last score looking more like a basketball blowout than a gridiron match up of crosstown rivals.
USC had locked up the Pac 10 championship and a birth to at least the Rose Bowl. All that stood between them and the national championship game (their fourth title shot in four years) was a Bruin squad that was hardly bowl eligible. And the Bruins stood strong. A stellar defensive game plan limited the Trojan offense to just 7 points, the first time USC hadn't scored at least 20 since 1998. On the final drive of the game USC looked to make a miracle comeback, but an acrobatic interception sealed the Trojans fate and proved that hype and statistics mean nothing in a rivalry game.
4. Kobe Scores 81 points, Still Frustrating for Fans
In a masterful individual performance, Kobe Bryant had the second most points ever scored in a professional basketball game (behind Wilt Chamberlain's epic tally of 100). Not only did he light up the scoreboard, he didn't turn it on until late in the game, after he tried valiantly to get his teammates involved in the action. His only choice was to step it up.
But we have a love/hate relationship with Kobe, and his attitude has marred an otherwise brilliant, if not perfect, career. If he were nicer, maybe this would have been the story of the year. But a little after his uber-performance, the Wizard's Gilbert Arenas scored 60 points against the Lakers and Kobe said "He doesn't seem to have much of a conscience. I really don't think he does." Yup, that's Kobe. Just a few nights ago he scored 58 points, but blew it on both offense and defense in the closing second of triple overtime, and even fouled out.
If the Lakers were winning, maybe all could be forgiven (especially in this town). But Kobe hasn't been able to do it without Shaq. Michael Jordan never scored 81, but he could win an NBA title with a supporting cast of Gary Coleman, Vern Troyer, the Queen of England, and a busted pinata.
5. USC Football and UCLA Basketball Both Loose Title Games
These crosstown rivals excelled in their specialties all year long. The Trojans had a storybook year on the gridiron, and the Bruins had a storybook year on the hardcourt. Everything was going perfectly, until the final game.
USC had been touted as possibly the greatest team in the history of college football. They were undefeated and hadn't lost since September 2004. On the verge of a third consecutive national championship, they looked impressive in the Rose Bowl until the closing minutes. Texas' Vince Young led an improbable comeback so impressive that ESPN named it the top moment in all of sports in 2006.
UCLA was looking for their 100th overall NCAA Championship and no sport seemed more appropriate to accomplish that mark than basketball. They were 32-6 headed into the game after a strong tournament run. Their defense was impressive, allowing only 90 combined points in the last two games. But another one man show spoiled local championship aspirations, and this one wasn't close. Florida's Joakim Noah dominated from the opening tip off as the Gators stormed their way to their first hoops championship.
6. Clippers Don't Suck
In a city with so many professional sports teams, one of them is bound to be the runt of the litter. For years, that was the Clippers.
A turnaround started in 2003, when they signed Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, and coach Mike Dunleavy. In 2005, they added Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley, plus Vladimir Radmanovic once the year began. By the end of the season, they were second in the very strong Pacific Division and made the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade.
After smacking around Denver 4-1 in the first round, the Clippers took Phoenix the distance, falling short in game 7. While disappointed not to make the Western Finals, nobody expected the Clippers to make it as far as they did. The team gained new respect around the league, both on the court and in the front office, where Elgin Baylor was named NBA Executive of Year.
7. Which City of Angels?
In 2005, Art Moreno, the Angel's new owner, tried to associate the team with the larger market of Los Angeles. After a few twists and turns, he changed the name from the Anaheim Angels to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Unsurprisingly, residents of Anaheim felt abandoned, while fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles felt encroached upon.
Fast forward to 2006. On January 9, the City of Anaheim went to bat in court, and by February 9 they had struck out. The court ruled that the team had not breached any contract, and Moreno successfully peaked behind the Orange Curtain. While the case isn't completely over, the issue has calmed down a bit.
Perhaps the Angel's fans are just confused. Per ESPN, a Los Angeles man sued the team for age and sex discrimination after he was denied a free tote bag at a Mother's Day giveaway.
8. Jordan Farmar is Mr. LA
Everybody loves a hometown hero, but it's hard to find one who feels like a real local in a megalopolis the size of Los Angeles. The ideal is further complicated in an age dominated by trades, free agency, drafts, and college opportunities in lands far away.
Jordan Farmar found a way. At Taft High School, he led his team to a Los Angeles City Championship and was named the LA Times Player of the year. At UCLA, he was all Pac-10 and led the Bruins to the 2006 national championship game. Now with the Lakers, Farmer is making significant contributions as a rookie and the future looks bright for this through-and-through Angelino. He even represents the diversity of the city by his own heritage, with an African-American father and Israeli mother.
9. Ducks No Longer Mighty, Suddenly Are
Mightyducks.com may still be their homepage, but don't even think about connecting this team to an old Disney movie. Thanks to an image makeover that involved dropping the "Mighty" moniker and switching to darker, more menacing team colors, the Ducks entered the 2006 season with a new swagger.
So far, it's paid off. The team had only finished as high as second in the Pacific Division since being founded in 1993, but now find themselves the top squad in all of professional hockey. They lead the Pacific by 12 points after 40 games, and have set multiple NHL records with their red-hot start to 2006.
10. Nugget After Clipper's Nuggets
We love to bag on Chris Kaman's hair, but Reggie Evans went nuts during a playoff match up between the Nuggets and the Clippers. What is it with Denver and unnecessary violence this year? While most people will remember the brawl they had with New York, Angelinos will also remember this gem. Or is it jewels?
Honorable Mentions
- LA's bid for 2016 summer Olympics strengthened when the 49ers ownership screwed up San Francisco's bid.
- Reggie Bush may have left for New Orleans, but his controversy (the lateral, the parent's house, the holdout, the Adidas shoes) and results (aid for Katrina victims, success with Saints, fan base of USC alums) make him untouchable off the field as well as on.
- Lisa Leslie won't play basketball this year after a surprise announcement that she's preggers.
- USC and UCLA landed the top two basketball recruits in the country. USC's OJ Mayo may give the program instant credibility, while UCLA's Kevin Love is another potential Bruin star.
- The Dodgers have two players (Kent and Drew) tagged out at home on the same play against the Mets in the playoffs.
AP photo.