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USC coach Helton on 2018 Preseason Watch List for the Dodd Trophy

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Press Release
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2018 Preseason Watch List

Most coveted national coaching award honors scholarship, leadership and integrity
20 coaches in consideration, representing the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC and Notre Dame

ATLANTA (July 10, 2018) –The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl today released the preseason watch list for the 2018 Dodd Trophy.  This list includes 20 of the nation’s top college football coaches representing all Power 5 conferences along with the Mountain West and Notre Dame.

The Dodd Trophy, college football’s most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.

The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, taking into consideration each program’s graduation rate, commitment to service and charity in the community, projected success for the 2018 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR).Coaches in the first year with their current team are ineligible to receive The Dodd Trophy.

“The Dodd Trophy distinguishes itself from other coaching awards due to the high standards used to determine potential candidates,” said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. “This is the most-coveted coaching award because it looks beyond rankings, wins or losses, and measures the overall impact these coaches have on their players, universities and communities.”

“This list includes a renowned group of individuals who truly embody the principles Bobby Dodd adhered to, such as scholarship, leadership and integrity,” said Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl CEO & President Gary Stokan. “We look forward to seeing which of these coaches set themselves apart from the rest of the pack as the 2018 season unfolds.”

The coaches on The 2018 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List include:

 

CoachSchoolConference
Paul ChrystWisconsinBig Ten
James FranklinPenn StateBig Ten
Justin FuenteVirginia TechACC
Mike GundyOklahoma StateBig 12
Jim HarbaughMichiganBig Ten
Bryan HarsinBoise StateMountain West
Clay HeltonUSCPac-12
Tom HermanTexasBig 12
Brian KellyNotre DameIndependent
Gus MalzahnAuburnSEC
Urban MeyerOhio StateBig Ten
Will MuschampSouth CarolinaSEC
Gary PattersonTCUBig 12
Chris PetersenWashingtonPac-12
Mark RichtMiamiACC
Lincoln RileyOklahomaBig 12
Nick SabanAlabamaSEC
David ShawStanfordPac-12
Kirby SmartGeorgiaSEC
Dabo SwinneyClemsonACC

Of the 20 coaches on the watch list, five are previous winners of the Dodd Trophy, including David Shaw (2017), Nick Saban (2014), Dabo Swinney (2011), Chris Petersen (2010) and Gary Patterson (2009). Additionally, four of the coaches were finalists for last year’s award, including Swinney, Paul Chryst, Mark Richt and Kirby Smart. The SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 all tied for the highest number of representatives on this year’s watch list with four coaches from each respective conference.

Additional watch lists – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released throughout the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2018 season. The winner of the 2018 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Week.

Starting in September, the Dodd Coach of the Week Award will also be presented weekly to the coach whose program embodies the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, while also having success on the playing field during the previous week.

TheDoddTrophy.com

@DoddTrophy

About the Dodd Trophy
The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did Coach Dodd’s teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Coach Dodd remains one of college football’s legendary figures, both as a coach and a player. Coach Dodd was a native of Galax, Virginia, and played his college ball at the University of Tennessee where his team had 27 wins, one loss and two ties during the three years he played. Coach Dodd was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame both as a coach and as a player. Additional information about the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation can be found at www.TheDoddTrophy.com. For news, updates and insider information, follow us on Twitter at @DoddTrophy or find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DoddTrophy.

About the Peach Bowl, Inc.
Peach Bowl, Inc. operates the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, one of the New Year’s Six Bowls selected to host the College Football Playoff. This past season, the Peach Bowl celebrated its Golden Season, including its 50-year history of traditions and successes as the nation’s ninth-oldest bowl organization. The Bowl has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the country, with 54 percent of its games being decided by a touchdown or less. Peach Bowl, Inc. has disbursed $240.5 million in team payouts over its 50-year history. Peach Bowl, Inc. also leads all other bowl game organizations in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $31 million to organizations in need since 2002. Peach Bowl, Inc. also runs the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, manages The Dodd Trophy national coach of the year award and led the relocation and financial foundation of the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta. For more information, visit Chick-fil-APeachBowl.com or follow us on Twitter at @CFAPeachBowl and find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/CFAPeachBowl.

Dallas Wings Climb League Standings with Dominating Win Over Phoenix

By
Ariawna Talton
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Arlington TX – The Dallas Wings remember vividly losing to the Phoenix Mercury at home in the final moments of an overtime game last month. They were determined to compete until the final buzzer Tuesday night, but no one could’ve predicted the total domination that resulted in a 101-72 victory.

“I showed them the last five minutes of our last game against Phoenix and how we let it slip away,” says Coach Fred Williams. “They got motivated by watching that film.”

Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi made the game’s first basket, a quick second shot and then she exited to the locker room with an unexplained illness. Her team definitely missed her on-court leadership, but Dallas was too much for even a complete Phoenix team Tuesday night.

For the fourth time this season, the Wings scored 100 points. This doubles their previous franchise record for a season. Center Liz Cambage was all smiles, as her team cruised to the victory. Cambage’s 13 points makes this her 19th consecutive game with double digit scoring.

Aerial Powers and Azura’ Stevens led a powerful bench performance for the Wings, scoring 18 points and 15 points respectively. Powers showed off her quickness and ball-handling skills throughout the Tuesday night rout, getting to the basket with relative ease. Stevens continues to improve in her rookie season, becoming more and more of a go-to offensive force for Dallas.

Skylar Diggins-Smith played just under 30 minutes and scored a team high of 20 points. She also had four assists and three steals.

Phoenix star Brittney Griner scored 21 points, but only had three rebounds for her team. Wings’ forward Glory Johnson challenged her for a great portion of the night, pulling down a team high – nine rebounds.

Dallas’ victory advances them in league standings, currently tying them with the defending champion Minnesota Lynx for fifth place.

Before returning to Dallas next Tuesday, the 11- 8 Wings have two tough road matchups against the Los Angeles Sparks and the Seattle Storm.

LA Sparks lose third straight, fall 83-74

By
Carlos Gonzalez
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Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike #30 during the Washington Mystics vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on July 7, 2018. (Photo by Rick Gurrola)

Los Angeles, CA- The LA Sparks are used to winning streaks, but they are trending in a different direction. The Sparks fell to the Washington Mystics 83-74 on Saturday afternoon. Los Angeles has now lost 3 in a row.

“I think we just have to do something that feels good,” said Candace Parker, “I think that’s the key to making our offenses flow and making our defenses, you know, I think we’re best when we’re aggressive defensively.”

It was a special night for Washington head coach Mike Thibault, who earned his 300th career regular-season win. He is the first coach in the WNBA to accomplish such accolade.

“It just means I’ve been at it for a long time,” said Thibault, “It’s a nice number, but the only number I care about is that we’re the last team standing.”

LA Sparks once again had to battle a slow first quarter start but a strong second quarter helped the Sparks take a 35-30 lead into halftime. Los Angeles held Washington to 11 points in the 2nd quarter.

In the second half, the Sparks had a difficult time defending the pick and roll, giving up too many uncontested baskets. Also, for the game, the Mystics were able to get to off 35 free throws, converting 32 of those attempts. LA was 12-13 from the line.

“[It’s] huge. Free throws are indicative of how we play defensively,” said Alana Beard, “They wanted it more and were being more aggressive in that sense, so it played a
huge role.”

LA Sparks Chelsea Gray had a game 23 points on 10 of 14 shooting. Nneka Ogwumike had another double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Washington has now won 6 out of its last 7 games, while Los Angeles has lost 5 out of its last 6.

The Mystics were lead by Kristi Toliver who had 18 points, making all 13 of her free throw attempts. LaToya Sanders contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds.

“LA is tough. They present different looks throughout the game,” said Toliver, “Nothing was consistent; they always kept you on your toes, read the defense, and make plays.”

The LA Sparks (12-8) will now travel to Seattle for their next game against the Storm Tuesday afternoon.

Cambage Dominates in Career Night against Chicago

By
Ariawna Talton
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Arlington Tx – If Dallas Wings center Liz Cambage grew tired Tuesday night – the crowd couldn’t tell. Cambage dominated the Chicago Sky from start to finish, scoring a career high 37 points, as the Wings routed the Sky 108 – 85.

Coming off of the Sunday night loss to Minnesota, the Wings were determined to rebound against a struggling Chicago team. The Sky, in desperate need of a win  – played very aggressive team ball to start the game and never let the first half score get out of hand. The biggest lead for both teams was only five points.

Chicago forward Diamond DeShields scored 15 first half points on five of nine shooting. She was definitely the aggressor for the Sky and is to be credited for keeping her team competitive. Allie Quigley contributed 10 points for the Sky, nailing half of her attempts.

Dallas Wings center Liz Cambage going up strong. (Photo by Ari Talton / fi360 News)

The Wings star point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith did not attempt a single shot in the first half, but her presence was definitely felt.

“She (Diggins-Smith) was really getting a feel for the game in the first half,” said Coach Fred Williams. “She kept her teammates involved and was then able to run some patterns in the second half.”

While Diggins-Smith was very quiet in the first half, Cambage was well on her way to a career night. At the half Cambage had already scored 21 points and pulled down five rebounds.

Veteran Glory Johnson returned to the starting lineup Tuesday night and had a stellar first half. Her nine points in just under 15 minutes of play kept things interesting for the Wings on offense. Dallas had several offensive contributions in the first half, overshadowing the absence of a Diggins-Smith shot attempt, however, their lead was only 51 – 49 at halftime.

The second half was a very different story for Diggins-Smith. She attempted 12 shots and made eight – three from long range. Cambage wasn’t done either. The long and very quick center scored seven times on eight second half shot attempts and posted another 16 points.

“I think she’s learning how to position herself more,” added Williams about Cambage. “Each game she gets better.”

Cambage celebrated her first 30-point night as a WNBA player. Diggins-Smith’s second half efforts made for her seventh 20 point game of the season. The Wings’ 26 team assists are the most assists for the team thus far this season.

With the victory, Dallas is now 8 – 8 and looking to add another victory against Indiana on Thursday.

Sparks cant overcome slow start, fall 73-72

By
Carlos Gonzalez
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The battle of the Ogumike's during the Connecticut Sun vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on July 3, 2018. (Photo by Jevone Moore)

Los Angeles, CA- The Los Angeles Sparks trailed by as many as 20 points in the 2nd quarter to the Connecticut Sun but found themselves up 72-71 after Nneka Ogwumike made a layup and free-throw after being fouled.

Ultimately, it wasn’t enough as Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka’s sister, made a layup of her own with 18 seconds to give the Sun the lead and the victory 73-72 Tuesday night at Staples Center.

“We just loved playing the game and with each level that came before us we decided to just tackle it and challenge ourselves,” said N. Ogwumike, “We share a lot of similar experience.”

The ladies in gold had an opportunity to go ahead but with 3 seconds to go, Chelsea Gray and her team saw the game slipped away as the ball slipped through her hands for a turnover.

LA had been plagued with slow offensive starts majority of the season and Tuesday night played into that trend. The Sparks only managed 8 points in the first quarter.

Unfortunately, we had a few defensive breakdowns and not enough execution on the offensive end when we really needed it, and I think that hurt us,” said Alana Beard, “We kind of kicked ourselves in the butt the way we played in the first half.”

The Sparks were able to get back into the contest by regrouping at halftime and coming out with a 26 point third quarter.

Nneka gave the home team its first lead of the game 65-64 on a layup with 4:48 left in the game. It seemed like the Sparks would pull away, Candace Parker hit a jump shot to put them up 3 30 seconds later.

Nneka lead the Sparks in scoring with 20 points adding 5 rebounds. Parker finished with 17 points on 6 of 11 and 7 rebounds.

Chiney lead all scorers with 21 points tacking on 7 rebounds.

We played much better in the second half, but the tale of the game is how poorly we played in the first half. We just didn’t play at our standard,” said coach Brian Agler,  “We had mistakes at both ends, and just enough for them to regain the lead.”

The Sparks fall to 12-6 on the season and are back on the court July 5th. They travel to take on the defending WNBA champions Minnesota Lynx.

The Sports & Music Reunion presented by Carnival Corporation & plc

By
Press Release
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Sports & Music Reunion hosted by Chris Spence and Andre Farr to be presented by Carnival Corporation at The London West Hollywood West Hollywood, Ca on July 8, 2018. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)

Image result for the sports music reunion

SPORTS & MUSIC REUNION HOSTED BY CHRIS SPENCER AND ANDRE FARR TO BE PRESENTED BY CARNIVAL CORPORATION

The Sports & Music Reunion presented by Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest leisure travel company, will take place on Sunday, July 8, 2018 at the award-winning hotel The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. This exclusive event is invitation only; red carpet arrivals begin at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.

Hosted by Chris Spencer and Sports & Music Weekend creator Andre Farr, the Sports & Music Reunion marks the return of a classic—the Sports & Music Weekend—with a new bi-annual, multi-year series of special events that will bring together VIP athletes, entertainers and business leaders to party with a purpose.

Reuniting past Sports & Music Weekends hosts and celebrity attendees, The Sports & Music Reunion presented by Carnival Corp. will issue the prestigious Best By Farr awards to three prominent American business leaders:

  • Arnold Donald, president & CEO of Carnival Corp., who will receive the CEO of the Year Award;
  • Quintin Primo III, chairman & CEO of Capri Investment Group, a global real estate investment manager and investor in Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles, who will receive the Entrepreneur of the Year Award;
  • Terry Crews, actor, artist, athlete and activist, who will receive the Leadership and Valor Award; and 
  • Danielle Frost, founder & CEO, A Frostchild Production, who will receive the Sports Event Producer of the Year Award.

Andre Farr International is pleased to partner with IntraLink Global, a strategic marketing firm, and Carnival Corp., consistently recognized for its strong commitment to its customers, diversity and community. “I am thrilled to produce the Sports & Music Reunion 2018, and honored to have such a tremendous corporate partner as Carnival Corp. Nobody blends all the aspects of these business verticals—sports, entertainment, travel and leisure—into a total lifestyle, or does it better than we do,” said Farr, CEO of Andre Farr International.

The Sports & Music Reunion will launch a multi-year series of exciting special events, including a soon to be announced annual Sports & Music Cruise with one of Carnival Corp.’s iconic cruise line brands. The company’s nine global cruise line brands include Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn. “Together with Carnival Corp. and our other important partners, we look forward to impacting lives, having fun and making this event bigger and better each year for many years to come,” said Farr.

“Carnival Corporation is honored to serve as presenting sponsor for the 2018 Sports & Music Reunion,” said Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corp.’s chief communications officer. “Congratulations to our CEO, Arnold Donald, and all the 2018 Best By Farr award winners on their much-deserved recognition and tremendous record of success. As the world’s leading cruise company, we are committed to providing extraordinary vacation experiences and consistently exceeding the expectations of over 12 million annual guests – all of which is made possible by our 120,000 passionate employees who are dedicated to building upon our legacy as a responsible corporate citizen. We are proud to support Andre Farr and his team on their important work and vision in launching The 2018 Sports & Music Reunion.”

About The Sports & Music Weekend

The Sport & Music Weekend (S&MW) is a proprietary event specifically designed to enhance, advance and educate our audience through programming that is entertaining yet also enlightening. Attended by athletes, entertainers and executive leaders, the weekend is exclusively sponsored by select corporations that embrace a high level of social responsibility and excellence in the marketplace. Content focuses on the principles of responsibility, accountability and execution, and inspires sports and entertainment industry influencers to maximize their platform and fully utilize their rights as citizens.

About Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc is the world’s largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of 10 dynamic brands that include nine of the world’s leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard, as well as Fathom, the corporation’s immersion and enrichment experience brand.

Together, the corporation’s cruise lines operate 103 ships with 234,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 18 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2018 and 2023. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

In 2017, Fast Company recognized Carnival Corporation as being among the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies” in both the design and travel categories. Fast Company specifically recognized Carnival Corporation for its work in developing OceanMedallion™, a high-tech wearable device that enables the world’s first interactive guest experience platform capable of transforming vacation travel into a highly personalized and elevated level of customized service. Additional information can be found at

www.carnival.com, www.fathom.org, www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com, www.aida.de, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.pocruises.com.au, and www.pocruises.com.

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Wings’ Cambage Nets 1,000th Career Point Before Being Sidelined

By
Ariawna Talton
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Arlington Tx – The Dallas Wings are both bruised and battle tested after a very competitive Sunday loss to the defending champion Minnesota Lynx team 76-72.

Both teams had moments of offensive bursts in the first quarter. Maya Moore scored a quick six points for Minnesota and Liz Cambage pulled down three first quarter rebounds to go with her seven points. The initial period ended with the Wings confidently up 18 – 16.

The second quarter was all about Seimone Augustus, as the veteran scored nine points on four made shots out of four attempts. Cambage celebrated her 1,000th career point and upped her point total for the game to 14 points.

Much to the disappointment of Wings fans, Cambage would not return to the game after being poked in the eye in the second quarter.

The Lynx led 40 – 33 at halftime.

“We were really tested in the second half without Liz (Cambage),” says Coach Fred Williams. “I thought we put forth great effort on the defensive end.”

Cambage apparently tried to play through her injury, according to Coach Williams, who doesn’t foresee her missing any additional time. “She’s a tough young lady – she’ll bounce back.”

Despite the eye injury that sidelined Cambage in the second quarter, the Wings showed great resiliency throughout the second half.

To begin the third quarter, the Lynx went on an 8 – 0 run. They grabbed every rebound possible and it looked as if it would be a long second half for the Wings.

On an inspired play, while down 48- 33 Allisha Gray finally got free along the perimeter and put up a long shot. She was fouled and would go on to make her three free throws. Those made free throws would lead to a scoring fury by the Wings. Down 48 – 36, they would go on a 15 to 4 run and draw to within a single point of the Lynx. In total the Wings outscored the Lynx 22 – 16 in the third quarter.

The final quarter began with Minnesota leading just 56 – 55. Skylar Diggins-Smith set the pace for the Wings in the fourth quarter and distributed the ball well, especially to Aerial Powers and a very energetic Kayla Thornton. Dallas never could capture the lead, but found themselves knotted with Minnesota at 70 points with just under three minutes remaining.

Both teams had 16 points contributed from their respective benches, but Maya Moore proved to be too much for the Wings’ defense. Moore scored 26 points, making half of her 20 shot attempts. Diggins-Smith led all Wings’ players with 16 points and seven assists.

Although a very close final quarter kept the home crowd of 4,448 energized, the Lynx defeated the Wings.

LA Sparks cut the Aces early

By
Jevone Moore
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Los Angeles Sparks guard Chelsea Gray (12) on jumper during the Las Vegas Aces vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on July 1, 2018. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)

Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Sparks take control of the game and never look back as they defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-71 Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.

The Sparks jumped out to 30-20 lead over the Aces in the first quarter of play.

Gray and Jantel Lavender used their hot first half scoring double digits that lead to 22 point lead at the half.

“Our aggressiveness and our start was unbelievable, it set the tone for the game,” said Lavender, “We wanted to make her (Wilson) game tough.

Las Vegas had just handled the Sparks two nights ago in Vegas 97-78 behind  A’ja Wilson.

Aces offense kept trying to find Wilson but the denial defense was too strong. Being a younger play not in an offensive flow could have contributed to her early foul trouble in first half.

“We congested her,” said Candace Parker, “Nneka played good defense on the elbow.”

Wilson still finished the game with 10 points despite playing limited minutes.

So whether it was the Sparks defense behind Ogwumike and Parker or three fouls being on the bench it worked.

The Sparks always have better offense when the play defense first and at one point the team was shooting over 70% from the field.

“We got off to a great start with great energy,” said coach Brian Agler.

In the fourth quarter with 2:32 left the game Agler called off the dogs with 84-67 lead bring in the subs off the bench.

As the season continues to move forward the Sparks protecting home has been key to keeping their record near the top.

“We are just trying to get every win we can,” said Agler.

Now the Sparks will sleep in their homes and be ready for Tuesday matchup against the Connecticut Sun. So the Ogwumike sisters will face off for first time this season.

Hat trick leads to LAFC victory over Philadelphia Union

By
Eric Ramos
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June 30, 2018 Los Angeles, CA. MLS 2018: Los Angeles Football Club vs Philadelphia Union at BANC OF CALIFORNIA Stadium in Los Angeles, Ca on June 30, 2018. Rick Gurrola

Los Angeles, CA- LAFC Norwegian forward Adama Diomande tapped in a goal from close range to complete the first hat trick in club history and help the Black and Gold to a 4-1 win over Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Banc of California Stadium.

The victory gave LAFC a 4-0-3 record at home and they keep pace with Sporting KC and FC Dallas, whom they trail by two points in the Western Conference.

 “I’m just going into my training everyday smiling with my teammates,” Diomande, who has acquired in May, said. “It’s just a bonus to get that history.”

In the 25th minute, LAFC took a 1-0 lead when Diomande cut left, then cut right to shake loose the defender, and fired a shot passed the goalkeeper.

 The Union missed scoring opportunities in the first half as Alejandro Bedoyas’ header went off the far post in the 28th minute. Bedoya came close once again in the 42nd minute, but his header off a corner went over the goal.

 LAFC took a 2-0 lead a minute later on Diomandes’ second goal. Mark-Anthony Kaye crossed a pass to Diomande inside the box for an easy goal. The Black and Gold showed good movement and sliced through the Union’s defense with ease.

 

“We’ve been working on trying to find that extra pass that gets the goal,” Kaye said. “He’s demanding the ball and he’s scoring. That’s what you want from your striker.”

 Philadelphia cut the lead on Fafa Picault’s goal in the 45th minute. Picault scored off a rebound right before halftime.

 Diomande scored his third goal of the match in the 55th minute, giving the 28-year-old seven goals in the last five games. That’s the most of any player after five games in the league’s 23-year history according to Elias Sports.

 “For me, tonight this was the first game so far where I started to see quality of some of his touches and the sharpness where he is able to take the ball and move and make the right pass to the next guy,” LAFC coach Bob Bradley said. “From my time with him, I know that is a lot closer to the Dio I remember.”

 LAFC added a late goal in stoppage time by Latif Blessing, who also finished with two assist. The Black and Gold are back in action on Wednesday, July 3 against Houston before returning to Banc of California Stadium on Saturday, July 7 against Orlando City FC.

 

Draft picks give Lakers versatility and more depth

By
Dennis Freeman
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EL SEGUNDO, CA-Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations Earvin “Magic” Johnson has probably the most recognizable smile all over the world. But his competitive DNA is what put him in nine NBA Finals appearances and pushed him to become a five-time world champion. He’s a winner.

If anyone thinks that edge has left the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer because he switched uniforms of playing in a suit and tie these days instead of the tight, gym shorts he used to ball in, Johnson reminded the media that kind of ideology is for the birds.

At a press conference introducing the Lakers two picks in the 2018 NBA Draft, Johnson, after being posed a question by a reporter about whether or not he was feeling pressure to deliver big-name free agents to the franchise, dialed up the mojo that once made him a three-time league MVP, a 12-time All-Star and the famed conductor of the “Showtime” Lakers.

“No pressure on me,” Johnson said. “I’m going to do my job. I’ve always done that. Do you know how many Finals I’ve been in? So do you think I’m worried about this? I’ve played against Larry Bird in the (NBA) Finals, so c’mon, man. I’ve been in nine Finals. I’m Magic Johnson. I’m still the same guy. I’m not going to change. No pressure on me. I’m going to do my job. That’s what I do. I do my job. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it.”

With the free agent swirl of rumors going all over the place, the reported anticipation around the league is that the Lakers are looking to hit a home run this summer or after next season in regards to free agent pickups. But at the press conference Johnson, general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach Luke Walton held on Tuesday, June 26, at the team’s practice facilities, the focus was clearly on the young talented players the Lakers drafted.

At 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds, Mortiz Wagner (No. 25, Round 1), a star for three seasons for the Michigan Wolverines, is like a younger version of Lakers center Brook Lopez. Grabbing rebounds won’t be a problem and shooting from long distance is a plus. Wagner shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range last season. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (No. 17, Round 2) was actually better in the downtown area than Wagner, connecting on 44 percent of his 3-point shots as a member of the Kansas Jayhawks.

This is one area the Lakers could work on improving. As a team, the Lakers shot just 34 percent from three-point range. Johnson believes both Wagner and Mykhailiuk would provide the Lakers with an upgrade in this category.

“We struggled from the three-point line, we struggled from the free throw line, but today is a big upgrade,” said Johnson. “We set out to get shooters in this draft, and guys that can stretch the floor, guys that have high basketball IQ, guys that were competitive and tough-minded. Both of them come from extremely successful programs in college and they’re fundamentally sound because coach (John) Beilein and coach (Bill) Self did a fabulous job of coaching both of these young men. We felt that when we looked at both of them, they add to our team what was missing. We’re excited about introducing them today.”

The Lakers may not have finished the 2017-2018 NBA season where they wanted, but be rest assured that Johnson and Pelinka are working feverishly behind the scenes to make the Lakers great again. The management duo’s restructuring of the team’s roster started with the drafting of Lonzo Ball and the selection of dynamic swingman Kyle Kuzma last year.

It showed that Johnson and Pelinka did their homework as Ball (No. 2 overall draft pick) and Kuzma (No. 27 selection) both made the NBA All-Rookie team. Kuzma wound up being a first-team selection, while Ball made the second squad. Now it’s up to the newcomers to keep that tradition going, regardless who the Lakers land during the free agent signing period.

“We have some core principles on how we want to build this team, and that it’s guys that are tough, guys that have high basketball IQ that loves the game, that love to compete, that can shoot, (and) that are skilled,” Pelinka said.

Johnson, Pelinka and the Lakers continue to meticulously work on upgrading the team into staunch playoff contenders. At least that is the goal for a team with 16 NBA titles already. However, the last time the Lakers played in an NBA Finals series seemed like eons ago when Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol collaborated together to bring LA back-to-back championships. That was then. This is now.

Now, for the Lakers, means getting the right players in place that could rejuvenate the organization back to elite status in the NBA. Well, let’s check that. The Lakers, as well as their longtime Eastern Conference rivals the Boston Celtics (17), are the gold standard when it comes to winning championships.

Since the two teams last tangled with one another in the 2010 NBA Finals in which the Lakers prevailed in seven games (4-3), both franchises have floundered on the court, though the Celtics seem to have regained their strut as of late, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals the last two years.

This summer could be a game-changer for the Lakers, a team that finished 11th in the Western Conference standings last season. If things don’t work out for the Purple and Gold to land at least one max player (they’re hoping two), then there is always the 2019 summer.

“If we don’t find who we think we can find, then we’ll turn our attention to next summer,” said Johnson. “We have the cap space and flexibility. We created that and we’re looking forward to Sunday. But again, we are not putting all of our marbles into one summer. So we understand that we have two summers to add to what we’re building here. I’m going to stay disciplined. I’m going to stay focused. I told you before this is not going to get turned around overnight. We’re building something. We want sustainability. Jeanie (Buss) is one hundred percent behind us and our strategy. We’ve been having unbelievable strategy meetings every single day.”

As the rumors continue to swirl around the team about what free agent will be walking through their practice facilities, Johnson and Pelinka look as if they’re quietly doing their due diligence in re-shaping their roster. Last year, the big splash for the management duo was drafting Ball.

Ball, Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram provided enough flash and dash for fans of the Lakers to be excited about the future. But considering the win now mentality in the NBA, how the Lakers used to roll out championships the way butter is put on soft rolls, and playing in the same Pacific Division as the reigning NBA champions Golden State Warriors, the future is a moment-by-moment experience.

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