Yes, it’s a cliché – the pain and ecstasy of sports. But it also captures much of the Los Angeles sports scene in 2023.
The Dodgers will miss the playoffs (again) and the Chargers seem destined to miss the playoffs (again). Although USC was led by a Heisman winner, it disappointed Trojan football fans overall.
But 2023 also had a lot to cheer us up about. Consider Shohei Ohtani. Or LeBron James. Or some inspirational Little Leaguers from El Segundo. And who can forget the sight of an unusually large dog watching a Lakers game from a courtside seat? What a year. I was very happy.
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1.Weeks of speculation ended in December with the announcement that Shohei Ohtani had agreed to a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.(Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times)2.Ohtani will face his future Dodgers teammates at Angels Stadium in June. In November, he was named American League MVP, becoming the first player to win the league unanimously twice.(Allen J. Scherben/Los Angeles Times)
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1.In front of a wild home crowd at Crypto.com Arena in February, Lakers forward LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time scoring leader when he scored his 38,388th point. (Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times)2.James’ two-point fadeaway jumper broke the record of 38,387 points held by former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)3.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)Four.James’ basketball record was included in the 38 points he scored on the night. (Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times)
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1.Dodger player Clayton Kershaw reacts after striking out New York Met’s Tommy Pham to end the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium in April. The Dodgers won 5-0, giving Kershaw his 200th win.(Wally Scully/Los Angeles Times)2.In October, Kershaw reacted to being pulled in the disastrous first inning of Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers lost 11-2, the most lopsided loss of the postseason at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)