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Cal State L.A. looks to defend NCAA Division II men’s soccer title under new coach

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Cal State L.A. looks to defend NCAA Division II men’s soccer title under new coach

After 14 years as an assistant coach, Michael Erush lastly received his dream job final winter when he was promoted to the top teaching job at Cal State L.A. That’s the excellent news. The dangerous information, maybe, was the actual fact the promotion got here lower than three weeks after the Golden Eagles received their first NCAA Division II title.

If attending to the highest was powerful, staying there may very well be even harder.

“What I mentioned once I took over is ‘final 12 months? Congratulations. That’s carried out.’ And we flipped the web page,” mentioned Erush, who has added 19 gamers to his group for the reason that championship recreation. “As a result of what has this group carried out? They haven’t achieved something.”

That isn’t precisely true. The group ranked No. 1 within the United Soccer Coaches preseason nationwide ballot and is unbeaten two video games into the brand new season, successful each video games in shutouts. However Erush’s level is well-taken.

“You’ll be able to’t take into consideration the previous as a result of each single opponent that is available in to play us goes to play to their most capability to take down the champions,” he mentioned.

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That’s very true in Southern California. The Golden Eagles needed to beat regional rival Cal Poly Pomona to get to the ultimate 4, the place it beat Nova Southeastern on penalty kicks within the semifinal earlier than edging Charleston 1-0 within the title recreation on a aim from Simon Johansen.

Seventeen days after that recreation Cal State L.A. coach Chris Chamides took over the rebuilding ladies’s program at Loyola Marymount College and Erush, 39, grew to become the top coach of the Golden Eagles. Solely 4 of the 11 starters within the championship recreation — amongst them Johansen and goalkeeper Alvaro Unanua, who didn’t permit a aim within the ultimate 317 minutes of the NCAA match — are again, which leaves the brand new coach with a heavy problem.

Head coach Chris Chamides holds the trophy subsequent to assistant Michael Erush and household after successful the Division II males’s soccer championship.

(Justin Tafoya / NCAA Pictures through Getty Photos)

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“Any skilled group, any high collegiate group, you wish to proceed being dominant,” he mentioned of a program that’s 37-3-6 and has performed in two nationwide title video games over the past two seasons. “That’s an incredible alternative for me as a brand new head coach. I’ve an opportunity to create my very own identify for myself working this system.”

Fifth-ranked Cal Poly Pomona, considered one of simply two groups to beat Cal State L.A., final season, began the brand new 12 months with a pair of shutout wins with sophomore switch Mike Moser scoring two objectives and sophomore goalkeeper CJ Walker pitching two shutouts. It was scheduled to play Colorado Faculty of Mines on Thursday night time.

Azusa Pacific, ranked nineteenth, and Biola are each again with robust groups after being bounced within the first spherical of the playoffs final season.

“We’re lucky. L.A. County is a hotbed for excellent collegiate soccer gamers,” Erush mentioned. “We now have one of many hardest areas, essentially the most groups to qualify for a really restricted quantity of NCAA spots. So it may very well be one or two video games, or one or two losses, and also you don’t make a match.

“Virtually each recreation is a rivalry right here as a result of everybody needs to beat up on one another to make a reputation for themselves on the subject of the rankings.”

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On the Division I aspect UCLA, coming off its first NCAA match look in three seasons beneath coach Ryan Jorden, is unbeaten and unscored-upon in 4 begins this season, together with two exhibitions. The Bruins, ranked fourth within the coaches ballot — their greatest rating in seven years — are led by midfielder Tucker Lepley, who topped the group in scoring final season as a redshirt freshman, and sophomore defender Pietro Grassi, who was named to the Hermann Trophy watchlist.

Loyola Marymount College went 12-4-2 however was the primary group out in choice for final fall’s match, that means if the sector had been one group bigger, LMU would have been in. And the group, ranked twenty fourth within the nation in Tuesday’s ballot, has picked up the place it left off final fall, successful its first two video games behind ahead Adam Davie, who has three objectives, and senior midfielder Noel Caliskan, who was additionally named to the shortlist for the Hermann Trophy, faculty soccer’s high particular person honor.

LMU was scheduled to play Nevada Las Vegas on Thursday night time.

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

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Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show

The “City of Love” was the latest sighting of Travis Kelce at a Taylor Swift concert, and he had some A-list celebrities dancing alongside him to his significant other’s chart-topping hits. 

The Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end was seen at Paris La Défense Arena in Paris where Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid were next to him to enjoy Swift’s 87th Eras Tour show. 

Coincidence on the number, anyone?

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are shown at Coachella. (Gilbert Flores)

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Videos have circulated on social media of Kelce dancing to Swift songs, including “… Ready for It?” “Lover” and the classic “You Belong with Me.”

It’s significant that Kelce has been spotted at this show as he hasn’t been seen since she went back on tour. Swift has been in Paris for three nights prior to this fourth and final show, where Kelce was spotted.

TRAVIS KELCE HOSTING ‘SNL’ MADE CAST MEMBER FEEL ‘VERY PROTECTIVE’ OF HIM

Of course, this isn’t the first time Kelce has reciprocated the love and support Swift showed during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning season last year. During the Chiefs’ bye week, Kelce was seen in Buenos Aires for one of Swift’s Eras Tour dates. 

They will clearly go the extra mile to support each other; Swift famously flew from Japan to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl after a tour date across the Pacific.

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And fans, whether it was of Kelce first or Swift, have fallen in love with the couple throughout the process as they continue to be one of the world’s power couples.

Taylor Swift looks lovingly up at Travis Kelce in his red Chiefs uniform after the Super Bowl

Taylor Swift celebrated with Travis Kelce on the field after his Super Bowl win. (AP Photo/John Locher)

While love isn’t something to rush, many are clamoring to know if Kelce has any thoughts of proposing to Swift to take their relationship to the next level. 

Recently, Chiefs long snapper James Winchester said on the “Like a Farmer” podcast that he thinks his teammate will be engaged at some point because he sees “they’re very similar in a lot of ways.”

“Being around Trav for the last nine years, I mean, I think they’re more similar than you would think. I wish the best for them,” he added.

Other than supporting Swift, Kelce has had a great offseason thus far. The Chiefs made him the highest-paid tight end in the game with a new contract extension that’s worth $34.25 million over two years, with $17 million fully guaranteed for the upcoming 2024 campaign. 

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Travis Kelce smiles

Travis Kelce attends American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH on May 5, 2024, in Miami Beach, Florida. (Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for American Express Presents CARBONE BEACH)

So, personally and professionally, Kelce had a lot of things to dance about in Paris with some of his friends while watching Swift kill it onstage.

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Column: Dave Roberts does his job: Protecting Shohei Ohtani from himself

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Column: Dave Roberts does his job: Protecting Shohei Ohtani from himself

Shohei Ohtani thought he could have played on Sunday. He was looking forward to facing Japanese compatriot Yu Darvish.

Dave Roberts didn’t let him.

Ohtani was never able to plead his case. On the morning of the Dodgers’ series finale against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Roberts told interpreter Will Ireton that Ohtani wouldn’t be in the lineup, and that was that.

A day after he was forced out of a game early by a stiff back, Ohtani didn’t play in the 4-0 loss to the Padres.

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Ohtani is expected to return on Monday for the start of a three-game series in San Francisco, Roberts said.

The way Roberts managed Ohtani marked a promising start to one of the most important relationships in the organization — a relationship that figures to grow in importance when Ohtani resumes pitching next season.

The manager was the manager. The player was the player.

This simple division of labor can be complicated when a player of Ohtani’s caliber is involved, but the Dodgers were able to do what the Angels often failed to do last year: They protected Ohtani from himself.

“I think he understands that it’s for his benefit and the team’s benefit,” Roberts said.

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When Ohtani played for the Angels last year, what was most beneficial to the team was for him to play almost every game.

So he did.

The Angels were in no position to stop him, or even persuade him to undergo a MRI examination after he was removed from a start after only four innings because of a finger cramp.

The result?

A torn ulnar collateral ligament and a second Tommy John surgery.

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The Angels couldn’t ask Ohtani to look at the bigger picture because there was none. October wasn’t guaranteed for them, as it is for the Dodgers, who entered Sunday with a 6½-game lead in the National League West.

The Dodgers have a talented roster.

They have a track record.

They have realistic championship ambitions.

Asked if the promise of playing in October made it easier for him to accept Roberts’ decision, Ohtani wouldn’t say.

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“Regardless” of the condition of his back, Ohtani said in Japanese, “there was thought of a day off.”

The Dodgers just started a 13-day stretch in which they will play 13 games. Ohtani described the injury as minor — he said he initially felt discomfort in his back working out before the game on Saturday — but Roberts wasn’t inclined to take any chances at this stage of the season, even for a game against a division rival.

“He obviously knows his body really well,” Robert said. “Right now, with the 13 in a row, I just wanted to make sure we were a little more cautious.”

Taking the decision out of Ohtani’s hands was a small but critical move by Roberts. As the Angels learned last year, once the terms of a relationship are established, they are difficult to undo.

How Dodgers management communicates with their star player will be more consequential later in the season and even more so next year when Ohtani makes his anticipated return to the mound. Ohtani will be coming back from a second elbow reconstruction.

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Of course, the team entered its relationship with Ohtani with more leverage than the Angels ever had.

In retrospect, it looks as if Ohtani chose to break into the major leagues with the Angels because of how powerless they were. As a non-contending club, they didn’t have any competitive reasons to deny him the opportunity to be a two-way player.

That’s not to say the Dodgers aren’t being rewarded for having Ohtani on their team. Of course they are. As a one-way player this season, he’s still the best player in the game. He sells merchandise.

Yet Ohtani needs the Dodgers as much as they need him. They’re offering him something he desperately wants that few other organizations can: A legitimate chance to win.

Roberts said he will ask Ohtani for input in the future when figuring out his playing schedule. Roberts should. Ohtani deserves that much. However, the Dodgers can’t afford for their relationship with Ohtani to be as lopsided as that of the Angels. Sunday was a sign that it might not be.

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Deontay Wilder scared for Mike Tyson's well-being in Jake Paul fight: 'He’s too old for this'

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Deontay Wilder scared for Mike Tyson's well-being in Jake Paul fight: 'He’s too old for this'

From one former heavyweight title winner to another, Deontay Wilder fears 57-year-old Mike Tyson might end up in a coma after fighting Jake Paul. 

Tyson shocked everyone when he agreed to fight Paul, which was commissioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations as a professional fight, on July 20. 

What was initially an exhibition match has turned into a highly anticipated bout, but Wilder doesn’t think anyone truly cares about Tyson’s well-being. 

Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul in Texas this summer has been sanctioned as a competitive boxing match, making the rounds shorter and the gloves heavier. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

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“I think it’s bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn’t been active in 20 years, so they should not just license him because of who he is, that’s how people get hurt – God forbid he gets hurt,” Wilder said to Sportsbook Review. 

“People can get hit in the wrong place and at the wrong time, there’s lots of examples where guys have been hit into a coma. It’s easy to do. He’s too old for this.

“At the end of the day, no one gives a f— about Mike.”

MIKE TYSON VS. JAKE PAUL BOXING MATCH OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED, WILL COUNT FOR PROFESSIONAL RECORDS

Wilder continued by saying he doesn’t care that Tyson underwent tests to deem this a professional fight. 

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“As long as you’re willing to suffer the consequences if something bad goes wrong,” Wilder said. 

Deontay Wilder shadowboxes

Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder shadowboxes during a media workout at UFC APEX on Sept. 22, 2022 in Las Vegas.   (Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

After the fight was sanctioned, Paul recently said he is “super respectful” of Tyson, but “All is fair in love and war.”

“I love the guy, but as soon as it turned into a pro fight, one of us has to die,” the YouTube star-turned-boxer said. 

Videos of Tyson working out for the fight have shocked many with how fast and powerful he still looks at his age. But Wilder, again, doesn’t care what videos show or what Tyson even says about his well-being. 

“His power may not have left completely, but you still need to set it up, your stamina needs to be a certain way, or it’s going to look like a clown show. I don’t want to see it to be honest,” he explained.

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Jake Paul, Deontay Wilder, and Mike Tyson side by side

Former heavyweight belt holder Deontay Wilder is genuinely scared for Mike Tyson in his fight with Jake Paul. (Getty Images)

“I don’t want the last thing I remember of him is him getting knocked out by a YouTuber. The last thing you do, that’s what people remember you by.”

While Paul and Tyson prepare for their fight, Wilder will be fighting Zhilei Zhang on June 1. 

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