Wrapping a West Coast Super Bowl + All Star Break

and more sports to look forward to

Feb 22, 2024

Wrapping up the Super Bowl

Nobody needed a newsletter last week. It was hard to curate news stories with everything centering around the tragedy that happened in Kansas City.

It’s a shame that we can’t even celebrate our sports’ highest achievement without someone taking it into their own hands with a mass shooting. Nonetheless, I’m glad the Chiefs have utilized their platform and resources to help. It also looks like charges will get pursued.

Still, that tragedy shouldn’t upstage a successful first Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Minus all the expected traffic and confusion, it seems like the Super Bowl experience went well all week. Parties seemed lit and my media experience was solid.

The game itself went to overtime. It was only the second Super Bowl to do that. And it ended up being the most watched Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers couldn’t pull out the win for the West Coast.

It was hard to not root for them when they have a handful of players with California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington ties. For the 49ers, Sacramento’s Arik Armstead registered a sack and three tackles. Also from California, Tashaun Gipson Sr. and Deommodore Lenoir both chipped in four tackles. Fred Warner led his team with 9 tackles too. Christian McCaffrey added 160 scrimmage yards.

Los Angeles native Trent McDuffie registered a couple of tackles for the Chiefs. Chiefs safety Justin Reid finished with half a sack and four tackles. Ultimately, the Chiefs walked away with it and now we’re stuck in the Taylor Swift X Travis Kelce multiverse.

An All Star Weekend

The All-Star Weekend featured Bucks guard Damian Lillard taking home the 3-point contest. He was still shown up by Warriors Guard Steph Curry who beat WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu. Lillard still scored 39 in the East’s 211-186 win over the West in Indiana.

The Oakland native and former Trailblazer took home the MVP. It is Lillard’s first time winning the award. The trophy is named after Kobe Bryant. I wish it was more competitive like USA basketball.

Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, who once roamed the Cal hardwood, finished second in the dunk contest. Heat guard and former UCLA hooper Jaime Jaquez also participated in the dunk contest and Rising Stars game.

Kings forward Keegan Murray and Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski appeared in the Rising Stars game too. Texans QB C.J. Stroud, Former Lakers forward Metta World Peace, Inglewood SIR, and Seattle Storm All-Star Jewell Loyd represented the West Coast in the Celebrity Game.

PS From Los Angeles’ Four NBA All-Stars

MLS is Back

The LAFC beat the Sounders on the road to advance to the Western Conference Final last season. The two take each other on each other to open the MLS season on Saturday Feb. 24. Otherwise, Portland takes on Colorado at 7:30 PM PT and FC Dallas takes on San Jose at 5:30 PM PT. The L.A. Galaxy kickoff their season tonight versus Real Salt Lake. They play again Sunday at 5:30 P.M. versus Inter Miami.

MORE: Western Conference MLS Preview

MLB is loading

MLB spring training is underway. Outside of daily Shohei Ohtani updates it seems like the MLB has a jersey problem. Here’s the full Cactus league schedule starting with some Padres and Dodgers action.