Dodgers join Lakers in bringing glory to Los Angeles

CEMENTING A LEGACY — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who has put together some of the greatest regular season numbers of all time, cements his legacy with his first World Series title. Kershaw, who had been long maligned for his postseason struggles, starred in the 2020 playoffs, leading the Dodgers to victory in Games 1 and 5 of the World Series. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

It’s a great time to be a Los Angeles sports fan. The Lakers won the NBA championship a few weeks ago, the Dodgers won the World Series last Tuesday, the LAFC soccer team beat the Galaxy last Sunday, the Chargers won their game last Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at SoFi Stadium and the Rams dominated the Chicago Bears on Monday Night football at SoFi. How sweet it is.

 Out of all of the victories, the Dodgers‘ win was the icing on the cake. It’s their first World Series win in 32 years and manager Dave Roberts can finally silence his critics. The Dodgers, under Roberts have been to the World Series several times in the last few years, but they came away with the second place trophy each time.  

“I am happy that we finally did it,” said Roberts after the game. “I try not to make things personal. I’m just happy for the organization and I am happy for the players and I am happy that I was able to help lead this team to championship. There are always going to be skeptics but this is something no one can take away from us.”

In the final game last Tuesday, Roberts was at his best. He made all of the right moves. Roberts has had some talented teams in the past, but he felt this team was special during training camp. “I had a crazy feeling that came to fruition. It’s just a special group of players,” said Roberts. “All that we had to overcome; I just knew that we were not going to be denied this year. Right now I am just looking at everyone and celebrating with everyone else but it’s sinking in pretty quickly. I am just over the moon.”

One player who was really happy was long time Dodger pitching ace and future Hall of Famer, Clayton Kershaw. “I have been saying World Series champs in my head over and over again just to see if it will sink in. I can’t put it into words yet. I am just so thankful to be a part of this group of guys. The only thing that would have made it better was to have been at Dodger Stadium but there were a lot of Dodger fans here tonight.”

For the Most Valuable Player of the World Series, Corey Seager, he still remembers the long road to winning a championship.  “It means everything, going through the injuries and everything like that and missing out on a World Series Championship really hurt, but to be able to come back with a team that has been there and to know what it feels like to lose and to get back and be able to finish, it’s special.”

Even with anything going great for the Dodgers something had to go wrong. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was pull from the game in the seventh inning because he had tested positive for the coronavirus.  “That hurts,” said Roberts after the game. “I have not had a chance to speak to him. I am still trying to find out what happened but I can’t wait to see him. It was basically the trainer telling me he had to come out immediately because he had tested positive.”