Articles written by Eric Lambkins Ii


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  • Sparks' leadership strategy needs a referendum with Curt Miller's departure

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Sep 26, 2024

    This decade, the Los Angeles Sparks have seen an exodus of marquee players leave the franchise, and that's Curt Miller's fault. They're the only professional franchise in the city without a training facility, and that's Curt Miller's fault. Sparks' ownership has largely fallen asleep at the wheel, and that's Curt Miller's fault. It's low-hanging fruit to pluck in blaming Miller for the current state of the Los Angeles Sparks. He was the latest head coach in a growing string of failed coaches,...

  • With 0-2 start, Rams in unchartered waters under McVay

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Sep 19, 2024

    Sean McVay's face conveyed it all, even before he stepped up to the microphone after the game last Sunday. These 0-2 waters are unchartered territory for him. There's a certain silence that lingers after a loss like the one they endured last Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals on the road. You felt it in the Rams locker room, heard it in the way cleats scuffed the floor inside the locker room, in the low murmur of voices trying to make sense of something that felt senseless. You saw it on the...

  • Sparks' Curt Miller is building beyond the box score

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Sep 19, 2024

    Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller will be the first to tell you that this season, he has not pressed the right buttons to get this rendition of the team to overachieve. Miller knows what it feels like to lose sleep over a team. He's been in the game long enough to understand the weight that settles into your bones after a season doesn't go the way you planned. But this one felt different. There is something about this particular group, this particular city, where losing is intolerable...

  • USC hits the jackpot in win over LSU

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Sep 5, 2024

    In a city that sways to its own beat, the neon-colored bulbs shimmer like stars painting the night's sky and where the heaviness of failure looms. In this robust metropolis, one does not need the sun's rays or the moon's glow because its rendition of stars powers the tantalizing hues of the city. Two college teams converged on the city in the desert last Sunday, lured by the promise of college football playoffs and the immortality of returning to national championship standards. USC and LSU...

  • Curt Miller impacted by the "sacrifice" of Team USA in Paris

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Aug 22, 2024

    Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller has been a basketball scholar since his early days. He is obsessed and gritty, a film enthusiast for whom the gospel of the game is presented and studied with such zeal that he is one the game's most fervent and ardent believer. But even for this disciple, helping coach Team USA to the Olympic gold in Paris was a journey beyond the rhythmic sounds of basketballs bouncing off wooden floors. Competing in Paris was a pilgrimage filled with sacrifice,...

  • Jordan Whittington leads a trio of rookie dreamers in victory over Cowboys

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Aug 15, 2024

    He woke up grateful and overwhelmed to be in the NFL this year. The moment he long dreamt of came to fruition. Seeing his name emblazoned on the back of an NFL jersey was momentous, but it almost didn't happen. His dreams were nearly derailed after a rash of injuries and his father's passing while he was in college. Jordan Whittington is now savoring the moment. Before his first preseason last Sunday he said a prayer: "God, if this life only exists in my dreams, then don't wake me up." After a s...

  • Sparks Show Promise Despite Losing Most Of Their Games

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Jul 18, 2024

    Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller reflected before one of the Sparks recent home games the game. "There's no simple way through it." The Sparks must work through their growing pains as a young team, even as some of their young pieces nurse injuries. In the Sparks have a clear vision and direction, but they struggle to close out games right now. They can and do compete with the WNBA's best for three and a half quarters but rarely four. When the pressure mounts in the fourth quarter, they...

  • US Team shoots for Gold Metal

    ERIC LAMBKINS II, Observee Photographer|Jul 18, 2024

    LeBron James will try to help the United States win the Gold Medal in men's basketball starting next week in Paris. Anthony Davis of the Lakers is also on the team. PHOTO BY...

  • Sparks show promise despite losing most of their games

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Jul 11, 2024

    Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller reflected before one of the Sparks recent home games the game. "There's no simple way through it." The Sparks must work through their growing pains as a young team, even as some of their young pieces nurse injuries. In the Sparks have a clear vision and direction, but they struggle to close out games right now. They can and do compete with the WNBA's best for three and a half quarters but rarely four. When the pressure mounts in the fourth quarter, they...

  • Bronny must navigate unwarranted pressure

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Jul 4, 2024

    There is a rift within the Lakers' kingdom. The 55th pick, Bronny James, son of LeBron, has fans up in arms about whether his selection was an unwarranted and unearned display of nepotism or a testament to greatness. For Bronny, the task is steep: navigating away from his father's looming shadow. It appears that he is already feeling the pressure. Last Tuesday during an introductory press conference at the Lakers training facility the Los Angeles Lakers first-round draft pick, Dalton Knecht, ans...

  • The Sparks are experiencing growing pains

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|May 30, 2024

    The season is young, as young as these Los Angeles Sparks. Their grit, determination, and willingness to scratch, claw, and fight into every game make them a team to watch. No lead feels safe against them. No deficit seems insurmountable. They're a team equally maddening and exhilarating, tripping up on the little thing like a failed box out leading to an offensive rebound for their opponents or an untimely turnover, but they are showing an unwavering willingness to learn and the fortitude to...

  • Sparks are growing in real time

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|May 23, 2024

    They're gritty. They have the city glowing. The Los Angeles Sparks are growing. A franchise once synonymous with championships, the Sparks are coming off three consecutive losing seasons. But this isn't them. Derek Fisher is an afterthought. Fred Williams is gone. Marquee names like Nneka Ogwumike and Liz Cambage are missing. Yes, this rendition of the team looks different. They have retooled, are reborn and reinvigorated. These Sparks have a spark. Their 1-2 record doesn't tell their story....

  • UCLA's DeShaun Foster reaches back for old traditions

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|May 2, 2024

    We keep memories alive and go on vibrant voyages through unique customs and timeless rituals with our traditions; through them, we pay homage and respect to the past. Traditions are the keys that unlock the doors to our past, whispering tales of bygone days and forgotten adventures. They are the threads that weave together the fabric of our lives, stitching us to our roots and keeping alive the essence of our cultural heritage. They evoke a profound sense of nostalgia, a bittersweet longing for...

  • Leonard's return is not enough in Game 2 loss

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Apr 25, 2024

    The Los Angeles Clippers, already up 1-0 in a series that could be their best chance at a title run, showed remarkable resilience in Game 2. Despite the setback of Kawhi Leonard's 23-day battle with knee inflammation, his return to the series was a testament to the team's determination. However, even with Leonard's comeback, the Clippers couldn't overcome the relentless efforts of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving who led Dallas to victory. Doncic played 46 minutes, scored 32 points, dished out nine...

  • USC's secondary stands out in the Spring game

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Apr 25, 2024

    Trojan fans, there's no need to panic. There will be life after Caleb Williams. This rendition of the USC offense should improve under their new quarterbacks, Miller Moss and Jayden Maiava and the defense is also looking better after their Spring Game last Saturday, April 20. Moss, who electrified the DirectTV Holiday Bowl fans and set the internet ablaze, got the first crack at picking up where he left off. Moss didn't have the success that he had in the bowl game, as he threw for 133 yards,...

  • Clippers have new wind in their sails

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Apr 11, 2024

    The defense has put new life into the Los Angeles Clippers' sails, revitalizing their performance on the court. Despite facing challenges during March, they secured victories in seven out of their last nine games. Just when it appeared that all hope was lost, the Clippers navigated their way back into winning waters. It's as though they've rediscovered their momentum and are sailing smoothly once again. "I think our defense has picked up," head coach Ty Lue said. "It's been a lot better. We're...

  • Rusted idols: Unearthing lessons in the legacy of O.J. Simpson

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Apr 11, 2024

    We build idols to celebrate their destruction; we worship the demise of giants. Last Wednesday, the final piece of a larger-than-life statue finally came to rubble. Few figures in American culture have traversed the spectrum of adoration and disdain as profoundly as O.J. Simpson. His life, a tapestry woven with triumphs, controversies, and ultimately, a poignant demise, encapsulates the intricate interplay between fame, public perception, and the human experience. Simpson’s life is an emotional observation and case study of the complex d...

  • Clippers have new wind in their sails

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Apr 11, 2024

    B The defense has put new life into the Los Angeles Clippers' sails, revitalizing their performance on the court. Despite facing challenges during March, they secured victories in seven out of their last nine games. Just when it appeared that all hope was lost, the Clippers navigated their way back into winning waters. It's as though they've rediscovered their momentum and are sailing smoothly once again. "I think our defense has picked up," head coach Ty Lue said. "It's been a lot better. We're...

  • Bigger lineups help Lakers stay competitive

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Mar 14, 2024

    In a time where the NBA courts echo with the rhythm of small ball and three-pointers, the Los Angeles Lakers stand as a defiant testament, asserting that there's more than one way to win. The Lakers are proving that playing big can help your team win games. Using 7"0 Jaxson Hayes and 6"8 Rui Hachimura along with the 6"10 Anthony Davis has helped the Lakers stay competitive in the Western Conference. Over their last five clashes, the Lakers have stood tall against the league's giants, tallying...

  • The Rams have a 99 problem

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Mar 14, 2024

    The Los Angeles Rams have a defensive line problem, and fans across the league will feel bad for them––some. For 10 years, the NFL had a 99 problem. And now, the Los Angeles Rams have one. Los Angeles faces a moment of reckoning as their defensive linchpin, Aaron Donald, bids farewell to the game. With his departure, the Rams are staring down a colossal challenge as they gear up for the upcoming NFL Draft. Donald's exit leaves a cavernous hole in the heart of the Rams' defense, a void that won't...

  • Gloomy skies rain in Westwood in loss to Arizona

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Mar 7, 2024

    As the rain cascaded down on Pauley Pavilion before tip-off last Thursday, it felt like more than just a weather pattern; it was as if the heavens were mirroring the state of the UCLA Bruins' basketball program. With four consecutive losses under their belts, the UCLA Bruins faced off against the No. 5 Arizona Wildcats, knowing it would be their final showdown in the Pac-12 against the Wildcats. But the outcome left fans and players feeling as gloomy as the stormy skies outside. The final...

  • Gloomy skies rain in Westwood in loss to Arizona

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Mar 7, 2024

    As the rain cascaded down on Pauley Pavilion before tip-off last Thursday, it felt like more than just a weather pattern; it was as if the heavens were mirroring the state of the UCLA Bruins' basketball program. With four consecutive losses under their belts, the UCLA Bruins faced off against the No. 5 Arizona Wildcats, knowing it would be their final showdown in the Pac-12 against the Wildcats. But the outcome left fans and players feeling as gloomy as the stormy skies outside. The final...

  • Shooting woes doom Trojans against crosstown rivals

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Jan 4, 2024

    In one of the most important women's basketball games in history between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans Juju Watkins and McKenzie Forbes fought out of jams and dug their team out of holes. Yet, despite their grit, the USC duo couldn't conjure that final surge to triumph in the packed and buzzing Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus. Both of their schools rarely fill half their arenas but on December 30, 2023, UCLA packed the house. They all came to see No. 2 UCLA (12-0) battle No. 6 USC...

  • Small things paying big dividends for the Clippers

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Dec 21, 2023

    The little things, they say, make all the difference in winning or losing in sports. Those nitty-gritty details, the stuff that rarely finds its way onto the box score, that's where champions carve their path. And amid this Clippers' whirlwind, that truth stands taller than ever. Since James Harden waltzed into the Clippers' world, it's been a tale of redemption, a saga of triumphs rising from the heap of a 0-6 start. But amid the glitz of Harden's arrival, there's a quieter hero, Paul George, t...

  • Muasau provides spark as Garbers saves the day in LA Bowl for Bruins

    Eric Lambkins II, Sports Reporter|Dec 21, 2023

    In the heart of Inglewood, where the final chapter of the Pac-12 Bruins unfolded, it ended a tale of a season wrapped in peaks and valleys. UCLA stumbled into the LA Bowl, carrying the weight of a brutal final game against California and the aftermath of their defensive coordinator's departure to their cross-town rivals. The team needed cohesion, and they needed it fast. Amidst the turmoil, there stood Darius Muasau, a beacon of commitment and passion for the UCLA football program. The Bruins...

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