Unsurprisingly, the city of Los Angeles is under a veritable siege.
Oregon Ducks fans have choked Interstate 5 and Portland International Airport on their way down south. Columbus International Airport, no doubt, is feeling the same surge, while some truly intrepid fans will make their presence known on the freeways. (I speak from experience when I say that Buckeye fans have a nice, sensible airport to enjoy. Columbus is excellent for a mid-size airport.) The City of Angels has been wracked with an addiction to quack and a nasty case of scarlet fever, so much so that both schools were fairly represented at the Staples Center tonight. The Artest-less Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors, 124-118, behind Kobe Bryant’s 44 points and 11 assists. Yes, his finger is still fractured.
Over the next few days, Ben Schorzman, Lucas Clark and I will be devoting ourselves to providing you, dear readers, with as much content as possible to prepare you for the Rose Bowl game on January 1. Our Twitter page (@odesports) will be updated consistently. Staff photographer Jack Hunter has joined us in Los Angeles to add some color, perspective and imagery to the scene. And what a scene it has been thus far.