SPORTS

16 October 15, 2020 Los Angeles Lakers win first title in 10 years SPORTS

JESUS CORONEL

STAFF REPORTER

After an almost year-long season, the death of a legend and life in the NBA bubble, the Los Angeles Lakers have finally won their first championship since 2010.

The moves the team made to get to this very moment have paid off. Trading away four first-round draft picks and several players for center Anthony Davis was a big step toward a championship.

The world lost all-time great Kobe Bryant in February. But the organization used this tragedy as fuel to make him proud. The 52-19 record and a number one seed in the Western Conference was a sign of what was to come in the playoffs.

With Davis and LeBron James leading the way, the Lakers cruised through the first round of the playoffs against the Portland Trailblazers, then the second round against the Houston Rockets and finally the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets, reaching the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.

The Lakers won games one and two of the finals in convincing fashion, but the Heat won game three under Jimmy Butler’s 40-point triple-double, halving the Lakers’ series lead 2-1. But the Lakers went on to win game four under James’ near triple-double, leaving them one win away from the title.

The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers are the only team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the NBA Championship. The Heat tried hard to become the second team to achieve that feat.

Butler led the Heat to an improbable victory in game 5 with a 35-point triple-double, playing all but one minute of that game.

But in Game 6, the Lakers led by 28 points at halftime and cruised their way to victory with an impressive performance from James. And with that, the Lakers are the 2020 NBA Champions.

James not only earned his fourth championship, but was also awarded his fourth Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award for leading his team to the championship.

Bryant would be proud.

MATHEW ACOSTA | VIEWPOINTS Children warm up for soccer practice with their trainers Oct. 10 at Patricia Birdsall Sports Park in Temecula. The City SC soccer club has been holding weekly training camps for children who want to develop their soccer skills. COVID-19 symptom checks were in effect. Youth sports return in Temecula

Community soccer club puts on training camp for children

DANIELA RAMIREZ

STAFF REPORTER

A nonprofit in Temecula is safely creating memories for children during sports drought of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every Saturday at Patricia Birdsall Sports Park in Temecula, City SC Soccer Club, a nonprofit organization, allows children of all ages to come out to learn basic and advanced soccer skills. It also allows them to be active, get fresh air and see their friends.

Jason Stewart, 16, of Temecula, and Eli Mendoza, 16, of Hemet volunteer as youth coaches. The boys also play for the City SC soccer club.

They spend their Saturdays teaching kids from ages 5-12 basic soccer skills.

“It’s so much fun coming out here and teaching the kids,” Stewart said.

These high school boys, who have not spent time with their friends in a while, said they appreciate the time outdoors.

“When I come out to play soccer, I make the most of it,” Mendoza said.

Angelo Fiorini, 42, of Temecula, has been coaching soccer since 2013. Fiorini, one of the club directors, said he felt a lot of children were missing the fundamentals of soccer and wanted to fill that missing piece.

“To judge yourself as a coach, it’s not the wins,” he said. “It’s the impact.”

Director Mike Richards, 54, also of Temecula, rebranded the program last year, combining two other clubs in Carlsbad and San Marcos. He has been with City SC for ten years.

Richards highlighted the importance of sports, especially during these difficult times.

“The youth program is something that can really help the physical and, of course, the mental well-being for the kids,” Richards said.

Rachel Sebastian, 10, of Temecula, has been playing soccer for three years. She has dreams of playing soccer at the college level one day.

“I love soccer,” Sebstian said. “It’s my favorite sport.”

Sebastian, a fifth grader, said she misses her friends but that playing soccer at the club makes her very happy.

Youth soccer programs give young kids a head start in their soccer careers. Many top professional soccer athletes started off in youth programs like the American Youth Soccer Organization and City SC Soccer Club. Landon Donovan, a retired Los Angeles Galaxy player, began playing with an organized soccer club at six years old in Redlands. According to Richards, City SC is intends to build up community.

“That’s why it’s ‘City’ in our name,” he said. “Because of the focus on community.”