Sports
Column: Passion for football flows during Marine League battles
Hide the children. Close the blinds. Put in the earplugs.
It’s time for Marine League football, where fans like to yell, players like to hit and coaches like to argue.
It would be nice if Narbonne, Banning, San Pedro, Gardena and Carson all could get along. City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos even held a meeting between the coaches, athletic directors and administrators before the season. They all reportedly were cooperative and agreed to work together to prevent the usual disruptions.
“The expectation is always good sportsmanship,” Lagos said.
This is a football season in which the top five teams in the City Section are from the Marine League, according to CalPreps’ computer rankings. That’s going to make for an epic league season.
The attention on the league brings back memories of the glory years of the 1970s and ’80s, when Carson, under Hall of Fame coach Gene Vollnogle, and Banning, under Hall of Fame coach Chris Ferragamo, were rolling out one powerhouse team after another. Then Mike Walsh of San Pedro won five City titles and 227 games until retiring in 2016. Then Manuel Douglas turned Narbonne into a powerhouse with eight City titles until his resignation in 2020.
The physicality and intensity of each game between the rivals is fueled by the pride of each fan base. Each high school comes from its own little community — San Pedro, Harbor City, Gardena, Carson and Wilmington.
“Location plays a big factor,” said All-City defensive end Dylan Rubino of San Pedro. “You grow up knowing a lot of people on the same team and with the competitive spirit you want to be better than your friend. I have pride in San Pedro being born and raised here. Growing up in the area, football is big thing.”
Rubino, quarterback Marcus Jeronymo and Banning All-City defensive back Steven Perez attended the same middle school. They like each other. They respect each other. But on the field, they want to win.
“I live two minutes away from Banning,” Perez said. “I was able to play for Pilots youth football teams. And to be able to go to the high school and for the opportunity to play at the next level from my home high school means a lot to me.”
They also agree the adults need to let the players compete without distractions in the stands or incidents before or after games. It’s fun to play football. It’s not fun to deal with the consequences when fights happen and sportsmanship is ignored.
“I think each player appreciates the love other players have for the game,” Rubino said. “We all take pride in the game of football in our city. You celebrate in a humble manner. That’s the way it should be. We all know we’re going to be in the Open Division. Don’t do anything stupid. You’re going to see them again.”
The opening weekend has San Pedro at Carson and Banning at Narbonne. They should be terrific games. Enjoy them. Cheer for your team. Just don’t lose sight of the fact this is high school football. Teenagers are trying to do their best to make their communities proud.
“No matter what team you’re playing, it’s going to be chippy, it’s going to be physical, there’s going to be contact at the end of the day. It’s who wants it more,” Perez said.
Sports
Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The chaos between LSU coaches who left Ole Miss alongside Lane Kiffin but are still coaching the Rebels in the College Football Playoff is certainly a whirlwind.
Joe Judge, Ole Miss’ quarterbacks coach, has found himself in the thick of the drama — while he is not headed for Baton Rouge, he’s had to wonder who he will be working with on a weekly basis.
When asked this week about what it’s like to go through all the trials and tribulations, Judge turned heads with his answer that evoked his New England Patriots days.
Aaron Hernandez sits in the courtroom of the Attleboro District Court during his hearing. Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, on Aug. 22, 2013. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
“My next-door neighbor was Aaron Hernandez,” Judge said, according to CBS Sports. “I know this is still more chaotic.”
Hernandez was found guilty of the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, which occurred just three years into his NFL career.
“If you watch those documentaries, my house is on the TV next door,” Judge added. “The detectives knocked on my door to find out where he was. I didn’t know. We just kind of talked to the organization. But it was obviously chaotic.”
Aaron Hernandez was convicted of the 2013 murder of semipro football player Odin Lloyd. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
FROM MR IRRELEVANT TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH, BROCK PURDY WANTS TO USE HIS LIFESTYLE FOR GOOD
Judge, though, was able to compare the two situations to see how players can combat wild distractions.
“Those players that year handled that extremely well. Came out of that chaos, and we had some really good direction inside with some veterans and some different guys. You have something like that happen — how do you handle something like that? How do you deal with something like that? So you keep the focus on what you can handle, what you can control, which at that time was football for us, and we went through the stretch, and we were able to have success that year,” Judge said.
Judge also compared this scenario to the 2020 NFL season when he was head coach of the New York Giants, saying he would have “no idea” who would be available due to surprise positive COVID-19 tests.
Head coach Joe Judge of the New York Giants looks on during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. The game took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec. 19, 2021. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The Rebels face Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, the College Football Playoff Semifinal, on Thursday night.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sports
Prep talk: Calabasas basketball team is surging with 11 wins in last 12 games
Calabasas pulled off a huge win in high school basketball on Tuesday night, handing Thousand Oaks its first defeat after 16 victories in a Marmonte League opener.
The Coyotes (13-5) have quietly turned around their season after a 2-4 start, winning 11 of their last 12 games.
One of the major contributors has been 6-foot-3 junior guard Johnny Thyfault, who’s averaging 16 points and has become a fan favorite because of his dunking skills. He also leads the team in taking charging fouls.
He transferred to Calabasas after his freshman year at Viewpoint.
As for beating Thousand Oaks, coach Jon Palarz said, “We got to play them at home and had great effort.”
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Hawks trade 4-time All-Star Trae Young to Wizards in blockbuster deal: reports
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with four-time NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young, trading him to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster move, according to ESPN.
The Hawks will reportedly be receiving veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert in the deal.
Washington was Young’s preferred destination, and the two sides were working on a deal to get the 27-year-old point guard to the nation’s capital.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. ( Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Young’s agents were having conversations with the Hawks, who sit at 17-21 so far this season, about trading their client out of Atlanta.
There is a mutual connection in Washington, too, as executive Travis Schlenk drafted Young fifth overall in 2018 out of Oklahoma.
It marks the end of an era for the Hawks. Young has been the focal point of their offense since he was taken in that draft. He is the team’s career leader in three-pointers and assists, having led the team to the postseason in three of his eight seasons. The Hawks went the furthest in 2021, where they made the Eastern Conference Finals.
LEBRON JAMES DECLARES HIMSELF ‘TBD’ FOR BACK-TO-BACK GAMES FOR REST OF SEASON: ‘I’M 41′
However, the new era was brewing already in Atlanta, with forward Jalen Johnson taking the next step in his career, averaging 23.7 points per game this season. The pickup of Nickeil Alexander-Walker also helps, as he’s averaged 20.5 points per game in 36 appearances.
Meanwhile, Young has played just 10 games this season, as he’s been dealing with leg injuries, most notably a right MCL sprain.
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on after the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Hawks also get some flexibility on their books, as they could make some more moves. Anthony Davis is reportedly available from the Dallas Mavericks, making him a good target for Atlanta.
Young has $95 million remaining on his deal that runs through the 2026-27 season, which includes a player option this offseason.
Atlanta will be taking on McCollum’s contract, though the veteran guard has a $30.6 million expiring deal.
Through his 10 games this season, Young is averaging 19.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field.
Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks drives down the court during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at State Farm Arena on April 7, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Over his career, Young has dropped 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, while leading the league in the latter category last season with 11.6 per contest.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
-
Detroit, MI5 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology2 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX4 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Health4 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Nebraska2 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
-
Iowa2 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Nebraska2 days agoNebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
-
Entertainment1 day agoSpotify digs in on podcasts with new Hollywood studios