Although the Los Angeles Dodgers endured a disappointing finish to their 2019 season by being eliminated in the National League Division Series, the professional sports scene in Southern California continues to forge ahead.
On the same night as the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros playing Game 1 of the World Series, the L.A. Lakers and Clippers tipped off their respective new season. Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard were part of a playoff-like atmosphere at Staples Center.
Meanwhile, the next major event for Southern California is the LAFC hosting the L.A. Galaxy for a playoff matchup of “El Trafico” in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference Semifinals on Thursday.
Dodgers broadcaster Jaime Jarrín visited with Diego Palacios, an LAFC defender and fellow Ecuadorian, and proclaimed an affinity for the soccer club.
“It’s very special to me, I have always been trying to get Ecuadorians to play in Los Angeles.”
Legendary @Dodgers broadcaster @JaimeJarrin visited us at training and sat down with fellow Ecuadorian, Diego Palacios.#ForLosAngeles | #LAFC x 🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/4NnDxADxle
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 22, 2019
Palacios will be among the players tasked with slowing the ever-brazen and talented Zlatan Ibrahimovic. LAFC will also lean on a star of their own in Carlos Vela to help lead the team to a victory.
The 30-year-old set an MLS record for most goals in a single season with 34 this year and is considered a favorite to earn the MVP Award, which ironically is named after former L.A. Galaxy legend Landon Donovan.
While Vela and LAFC have made quite the impact in just their second year of existence, they have yet to defeat the Galaxy, who can additionally lay claim to five MLS Cups.
Beyond Jarrín identifying with Palacios, the Dodgers have additional ties to LAFC by way of Nomar Garciaparra, Peter Guber, Magic Johnson, Tucker Kain, Lon Rosen and Jason Sugarman being members of the ownership group.
Garciaparra of course is among the Dodgers analysts who cover the team for SportsNet LA, while Guber and Johnson are part-owners, Kain is L.A.’s president of business enterprise and managing director of Guggenheim Baseball Management, Rosen is their chief marketing officer, and Sugarman is an investor in Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Furthermore, Clayton Kershaw and Joc Pederson attended an LAFC playoff game at Banc of California Stadium last season.
