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Top Things Los Angeles Sports Fans Have to Be Excited About
- Matt Kemp –Kemp's hamstring is worrisome. In fact, it is always worrisome. However, Kemp's incredible start to the 2012 season was, and is, a great reason to be excited. Watching the Dodgers' franchise player put all of his considerable skills together consistently for a month resulted in a .400-plus batting average as well as league-leading home run totals. Hitting for ridiculous average and power is exciting. Enjoy him for the rest of his eight-year, $160 million contract, which ends in 2019.
- Kobe Bryant – In the last 15 years, is there anyone else in the NBA that can even touch Kobe's career records, accolades, or accomplishments? There are more than just L.A. fans who would have no problem answering "No!" Jerry West, the guy silhouetted in the NBA logo, says that Bryant is the best Laker ever. This is no small statement, as the list of former elite Laker stars includes Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and himself. There are a lot of great NBA players today; however, none of them could approach the legacy that L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant has established.
- Albert Pujols – Even though it has not been a stellar start for Pujols, his contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is something to be excited about. An absolute monster-deal, Pujols' agent negotiated a 10-year, $254 million deal. Included in the deal is a luxury hotel suite on road trips, as well as a 10-year personal services agreement after Pujols either retires or his contract ends. The personal services agreement will pay out $1 million each year. Now 32 years of age, it’s not likely that Pujols' playing days are going to extend into his mid-40s; nonetheless, L.A. sports fans should be excited that their sports teams are willing to shell out tens of millions for a better shot at a Series win. The contract is not only notable in its length or sum, it is also notable in that the "personal services agreement" avoided may MLB taxes associated with such a contract. Even Angels fans have to be a little leery of this deal. At least they are not Mets fans who are still talking about Bobby Bonilla's infamous deal. The Mets will be paying Bonilla $1.2 million dollars per year for the next 25 years.
- L.A. Kings – The Kings are currently making a run for the Stanley Cup, and the eighth-seeded Kings are doing it in style. With a dynamic third line and an absolutely relentless forecheck, the unlikely contenders have won 11 out of 12 games in this year's NHL playoffs and are the most exciting team to watch right now. Since the team's inaugural season in 1966, the King's have never won the league's championship and the last time the made the Stanley Cup Finals was in the 1992-1993 season. If the team continues this streak, perhaps 2012 will be the year they hoist the Cup.
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