LA Sports: The importance of the year 2008 to LA Sports
By Jamaal Artis
2018 has not gotten off to a wonderful start for LA Sports. However, 2018 does mark the 10-year anniversary of a particularly special year for LA.
Ten years can fly by in the blink of an eye and a lot can happen in a decade, myself I got married, had two kids, finished school and stared a career. In sports, a lot can happen in ten years as well, and sometimes events and decisions can have long-term ramifications.
2008 is an important one in LA sports; there were multiple events that took place that year that had consequences over the next ten years. Some events that year changed the legacies of some teams. Other events changed the legacies of individuals.
With the benefit of hindsight, we can look at how 2008 shaped those LA Sports legacies.
Kings Draft Drew Doughty
With the second pick of the 2008 NHL Draft, the Los Angeles Kings were out of the running for forward Steven Stamkos, who was the consensus player being talked about as the number one pick. In a defensemen heavy draft, the Kings general manager was looking to shore up the Kings blue line by taking a blue chip prospect.
Some wanted Zach Bogosian others advocated for Drew Doughty, for Lombardi it was a no contest. He thought with Drew Doughty on the team, the Kings would have an elite blue-liner that would help the Kings win for years to come. When he picked Doughty at the draft Lombardi told him he would be lifting the Stanley Cup some day.
Lombardi to proved to be a psychic as Doughty helped the Kings lift two Stanley Cups. A four-time NHL all-star, Doughty has been nominated for the Norris Trophy as the best defensemen five times, winning once. All the while taking on the most minutes for his team. Bogosian has been a competent player he falls way short of Doughty’s legendary status.
The Trade
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Playing good basketball and fighting for the number one spot in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers were a talented team moving back into the NBA elite. Disaster seemingly struck when center Andrew Bynum suffered a knee injury that would sideline him the rest of the season.
Needing help general manager Mitch Kupchak pulled off a trade coup that not only helped the Lakers contend but later turned them into champions. Kupchak traded Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, draft picks and the rights to Marc Gasol to the Memphis Grizzlies for Marc’s brother, all-star big man Pau Gasol.
Instantly the Lakers became NBA Finals contenders. With Gasol in tow, they would go to three straight Finals, winning back to back titles in 2009 and 2010. The trade not only added to the dynastic legacy of the team but it also helped Kobe Bryant collect two more rings giving him five for his career as his partnership with Pau erased any doubt he could win titles without Shaquille O’Neal.
Dodgers win a series
It had been 20 years since the Los Angeles Dodgers had won a playoff series, so when they faced off in the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, no one was giving them a chance to win.
Up to the series the Dodgers had been 1-12 in NLDS games, but with a young core and summer trade pick up Manny Ramirez on the team, the Dodgers shocked the Cubs in a stunning 3-0 sweep to win their first series since 1988.
With the series win the Dodgers would contend for the next 10 seasons finally getting back to a World Series in 2017.