Sports
Column: For David Long Jr., persistence led to a Super Bowl title
Rising up in Pasadena, David Lengthy Jr. had his first soccer apply at age 5 on the grass outdoors the Rose Bowl as a member of the Pasadena Trojans. He by no means imagined that one week after his twenty fourth birthday, he’d be a Tremendous Bowl champion as a beginning cornerback for the Rams.
“Truthfully, I’m so early in in my profession, I can’t grasp what it means,” he mentioned. “I don’t know what to check it to.”
It was on the eve of the Tremendous Bowl three weeks in the past that the Rams held their ultimate apply on the Rose Bowl. Discuss coming into reminiscence lane.
Lengthy thought again to his days working the hills and trails whereas in center college and highschool. He remembered watching Reggie Bush and USC in opposition to Texas within the 2006 nationwide championship sport. And he thought of that first apply in 2003.
“All these moments got here full circle. That is my second. Every part I’ve been working for is correct right here on this grass,” he mentioned.
There are such a lot of classes to study from a participant who was an A pupil at Loyola Excessive, three-year defensive again at Michigan and third-round NFL draft decide in 2019.
The primary is don’t be afraid of adversity. He had misplaced his beginning spot with the Rams through the season.
“Loads of would have checked out. This isn’t honest,” he mentioned. “Lots of people would have turned away. I wished to maintain bettering. Growth is huge. It’s important to proceed and need to develop.”
Accidents thrust him again into the lineup. So there he was on the ultimate snap in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals in Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium overlaying the tight finish on fourth down. Whereas most consideration targeted on Aaron Donald pressuring Joe Burrow on that ultimate play, it was Lengthy utilizing his instincts to remove Burrow’s No. 1 passing choice that gave Donald time to make the play that preserved the Rams’ 23-20 victory.
“I glanced again to have a look at the quarterback and realized ‘fast sport,’” Lengthy mentioned of Burrow trying to ship a fast move. “My physique place discouraged him to return again to the tight finish. I flashed again for a second and noticed him clutch the ball. I knew that was all we wanted. We had an awesome move rush all through the playoffs.”
Lengthy mentioned his journey to Tremendous Bowl champion wouldn’t have been attainable if he hadn’t been uncomfortable at instances, as a result of that’s the way you enhance.
“Quite a bit will miss alternatives as a result of they take adversity as one thing adverse,” he mentioned.
Lengthy needed to sit out six video games his sophomore yr at Loyola after transferring. He mentioned he didn’t complain or make excuses.
“I used that yr as a time to develop, mature, stand up to hurry,” he mentioned. “I didn’t waste any time. You’re going to have these moments in any profession path. There’s going to be a fork within the highway. You both be content material or push by means of.”
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Lengthy and one other former Loyola participant on the Rams, lineman Coleman Shelton, introduced pleasure to Cubs gamers, in response to Loyola coach Drew Casani.
“It’s wonderful,” Casani mentioned. “I’m simply pleased with these guys. It’s one thing for our guys to look as much as and understand something is feasible and so they can dream huge.”
For Lengthy, successful the Tremendous Bowl was about delivering a championship for such veteran gamers as Donald, Matthew Stafford and Eric Weddle.
“I wished to do what I wanted to do to win for these different guys,” he mentioned. “Being so younger in my profession, I didn’t know what to really feel. I used to be feeding off everybody else’s power. I’ve by no means skilled something like this or been in any video games like this.”
Lengthy mentioned he didn’t go away the stadium till after 10 p.m.
“I used to be in shock,” he mentioned. “I couldn’t consider I gained the Tremendous Bowl three years faraway from faculty. I by no means obtained to win something. It was loopy we truly did it. Von Miller was speaking about being in soccer heaven and there was nothing to explain what you’re feeling. You’re exhausted and overflowing with feelings.”
Lengthy mentioned the parade “was tremendous cool,” however it was additionally a goodbye, for the reason that teammates won’t ever be the identical.
“You’re without end bonded with these gamers,” he mentioned.
For 2 weeks he rested. Then this previous week, he went to the Rams’ facility to start energetic restoration. A brand new season beckons. The journey continues.
Lengthy mentioned a video he noticed of Nick Saban and Kobe Bryant discussing why some individuals succeed and others don’t rings true.
“I’ve all the time believed you recognize what it is advisable do as a way to go the place you need to go,” he mentioned.
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The NFL is playing seven international games during the 2025 season, and there is some history involved on multiple levels.
Almost all the games and teams involved were announced on Tuesday, and each destination has been set.
London, which has been the sight of NFL regular-season games since 2007, will have three contests. The NFL is also heading back to Brazil and Germany, while two countries will have its first taste of regular season football this year.
A wide view of play in the first half during an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. (Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images)
Dublin, Ireland and Madrid, Spain will also host teams vying for the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season. Here’s the full rundown of who will be playing in each game:
- Week 1: TBA vs. Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo (Sept. 5)
- Week 4: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings in Dublin (Sept. 28)
- Week 5: Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns in London (Oct. 5)
- Week 6: Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets in London (Oct. 12)
- Week 7: Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London (Oct. 19)
- Week 10: Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts in Berlin (Nov. 9)
- Week 11: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Commanders in Madrid (Nov. 16)
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It was reported the Kansas City Chiefs were going to travel to Brazil to face their AFC West-rival Chargers, though the announcement with exact opponents should come Wednesday.
Also, it’s worth noting that the Vikings will become the first team in NFL history to play in two separate countries on back-to-back weeks. Their dynamic offense, which is expected to be led by J.J. McCarthy next season, will be on full display in Ireland and the United Kingdom early in the schedule.
( Tuane Fernandes/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Continuing the global initiative is what the NFL has made a point in doing, and that includes increasing the number of international games on the regular season schedule.
London was the main hub for building NFL fandom, but in 2022, the league also started to make its presence known in Germany. The Falcons-Colts matchup will be the fifth game played in the country since that year.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers made history this past season with a game in São Paulo, which was the start of Saquon Barkley’s Offensive Player of the Year season with his new squad.
Neo Quimica Arena before a game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
And while the league is excited to see games in two different countries this season, there is already a plan in place to get one down under in Melbourne, Australia in 2026.
The season schedule for every team in the league will drop on Wednesday.
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There’s a new interactive exhibit opening on Thursday at the California Science Center across the street from the Coliseum that will provide Disneyland-like sports entertainment for all ages, and it’s free.
Using sensors, cameras and 21st century technology, “Game On!” takes up 17,000 square feet formally occupied by the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit. It allows visitors to learn about science, sports and movement. You get to actively participate by hitting a softball against pitcher Rachel Garcia, take batting practice instructions from Freddie Freeman and kick a soccer ball into a goal while learning from Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. All are mentors.
Yet there’s so much more. You get to try swimming strokes, skateboarding, snowboarding, cycling. There’s climbing, yoga, dancing and challenging your senses during an exhibit that tests your quickness trying to block a hockey puck. There’s a basketball exhibit where you shoot a ball toward the basket and learn whether your form is good.
One of the murals at the new interactive sports exhibition at California Science Center.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
“There’s something for everybody,” said Renata Simril, president and chief executive of the LA84 Foundation that helped provide funding along with the Dodgers Foundation and Walter Family Foundation.
She’s not embellishing. Parents, children, adults, teenagers — they’re all going to be smiling. Don’t be surprised if nearby USC students discover a new place to enjoy an hour break for fun and laughter from studying by walking over to the exhibition hall when it opens at 10 a.m.
The California Science Center new interactive sports exhibit — “Game On!” — opens on Thursday. It’s free.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
It’s supposed to be open through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but don’t be surprised if popularity creates momentum to keep it around longer.
“It’s really cool,” said Garcia, a former UCLA All-American softball pitcher who appears on a screen showing off her 60 mph pitch as a participant swings a real bat trying to hit an imaginary ball as a light trail moves down a rail toward the batter. “I think it’s phenomenal. It’s going to get a lot of kids engaged.”
Garcia even tried to hit against herself. “I missed the first time,” she said.
The batting cage where Freeman is providing hitting advice has a real soft ball and bat. It will be popular for all ages.
The rock climbing exhibit still has not been completed, but participants will wear a harness as they climb toward the ceiling.
Although kids will be the most enthusiastic, a dinner recently held at the facility that had adults dressed in tuxedos and dresses resulted in them trying out the exhibits and acting like teenagers again.
Using science to teach lessons could provide inspiration for non-sports visitors. There are sound effects throughout and most important, pushing a button doesn’t just mean you watch and listen. It means you get to participate, whether hitting a baseball or softball, trying to make a free throw, trying to swim or skateboard.
Don’t be surprised when word gets out how much fun this exhibition creates. There will be lines. The only question: Will it be kids lining up or adults?
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Celtics lose Jayson Tatum to apparent serious injury after squandering another double-digit lead to Knicks
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The city that never sleeps will be awake for a long time.
The New York Knicks overcame yet another double-digit deficit in the second half on Monday to take a 3-1 series lead over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Knicks trailed by 14 with nine minutes left in the third quarter, but ended the frame on a 30-13 run to lead heading into the fourth.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks the ball as fans celebrate in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
And after both teams threw several jabs throughout the fourth, the Knicks eventually pulled away to a 121-113 victory.
The Celtics took a 99-98 lead with just over seven minutes to go after Jayson Tatum drilled his seventh three-pointer of the night to give him 42 points on the evening. But the Knicks were unfazed.
New York then went on another huge run, outscoring Boston 18-5 over the next five minutes.
During the span, though, Tatum appeared to suffer a serious non-contact lower leg injury while going for a loose ball. Tatum immediately called timeout himself and was carried off the court. Cameras showed him in the locker room with a towel covering his face.
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics is looked over on the court after being injured against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
The Celtics are already shockingly down 3-1 in the series, and odds go even more in the Knicks’ favor if Tatum’s injury is what it’s feared to be.
Four of the Knicks’ five starters finished with at least 20 points, with Jalen Brunson leading the way with 39.
Game 5 is back in Boston, where the Knicks won both of the first two games of the series. With a win, the Knicks will be back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Trainers help Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) off the court after he was injured during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Celtics will have to make the NBA’s 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit to extend their title reign.
Nobody has come from 3-1 down since Denver did it twice in 2020 at the Walt Disney World resort. It hasn’t happened when a team had to win a true road game since Cleveland rallied past Golden State in the 2016 NBA Finals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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