LA Sports: New Year Resolutions

Anaheim Ducks Resolution: Avoid a Game Seven

The Anaheim Ducks season timetable is so predictable you could set your watch to it.

Every year it seems the Ducks struggle early, mostly due to the fact that Ducks Captain Ryan Getzlaf is still recovering from carrying the team the season before.

Then comes the surge which leads to a Pacific Division title. Then inevitably comes the letdown and game seven loss.

In 2017 the Ducks finally won a game seven their first after four straight losses, but that left them dog tired in their next series the Western Conference Final against the Nashville Predators.

If the Ducks want to make their fans happy and avoid the let down again, take care of business early and just say no to a game seven.

Los Angeles Kings Resolution: Re-Sign Drew Doughty

It doesn’t matter when it happens but the Los Angeles KIngs can’t end 2018 without re-signing their all-star defenseman Drew Doughty.

With a strong core of Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, and a resurgent Dustin Brown the Kings are back to playing like they did during their two Stanley Cup runs. The man that runs the engine from the back line though is Drew Doughty.

A presence from the time he first laced up the skates in 2008 as 18 year old rookie for the Kings, all Doughty has done for the Kings is write his name all over the teams record books.

To lose Doughty would be the signal that the Kings are in trouble and no longer an elite team, re-signing Doughty has to be their top priority for 2018.

Los Angeles Angels: Stop Wasting Mike Trout

Unbelievably despite having the best player in baseball the Los Angeles Angels have only been to the playoffs once since Mike Trout burst onto the scene in 2012.

The two time American League Most Valuable Player has just 12 at bats in the playoffs for his career. The best player needs to be showcased in October.So far the Angels are trying to make that happen, in the off-season they retained slugger Justin Upton, signed infield help in the form of Ian Kinsler and Zack Cozart, and outbid teams for the services of Japanese all-star Shoei Otani.

Hopefully for Trout and Angels fans these moves are a stepping stone to getting Mike Trout into postseason play.

Los Angeles Dodgers Resolution: End a 30 year drought

“Just win baby!” as Al Davis would say.
Nobody summed up better what every fan desires from their team than iconic Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. All fans want for their team is to win, doesn’t matter how intense happens just win.

For most of 2017 that’s just what the Los Angeles Dodgers did. 10 wins in their last at bats by 10 different players. The emergence of Chris Taylor and rookie of the year Cody Bellinger, another stellar year from Clayton’s Kershaw.

All these things led to the Dodgers returning to the World Series for the first time since 1988. It led to the inevitable game seven magic that would crown them champions.

But then faster than you could say 1988 the Dodgers were losing and were never in the game and fans watched again as the Dodgers failed to win the World Series.

Next: Josh Rosen Should Stay In School

In 2018 Dodgers, just win we don’t care how you do it but 30 years is long enough. 2018 is the year to win it all.