Marcus Arthur
Lakers win 17th Championship
The Los Angeles Lakers’ story as a franchise just keeps getting better. As of Sunday night, the Lakers have tied the Boston Celtics for having the most championships in NBA history. The buildup to this championship was truly like no other.
It all started in October 2019. The Lakers had just acquired Anthony Davis after shipping away most of their young core. Acquiring Anthony Davis was a move that was praised by league officials and fans because Lakers superstar LeBron James finally got an All-NBA teammate by his side, something he didn’t have since Kyrie Irving. In the preseason, James and Davis were destroying teams like they were supposed to. Surprisingly, there were still NBA fans that didn’t think they were good enough to beat their crosstown rival: the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers got better over the 2019 offseason just like the Lakers did. The Clippers were able to acquire both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Two of the league’s most elite two-way players (on offense and defense) were predicted to bring the Clippers’ their first championship.
To read more visit SCOOPUSA Media - October 16, 2020 - page 18
What’s going on with Carson Wentz?
Remember the 2017 Eagles? When Carson Wentz looked completely unstoppable once he took a step onto the green turf? A MVP frontrunner that should’ve gotten that award over Tom Brady? It’s hard to forget about him, as a football fanatic. Unfortunately to Wentz, the only thing that DID stop him was a season ending ACL-tear. This ACL tear kept Wentz out while backup QB Nick Foles took the Eagles all the way to Super Bowl LII. During the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Wentz still looked capable of being a truly elite quarterback. Injuries continued to get in the way though. Some may say that Wentz is an injury prone player, others say that the injuries that he faces are freak injuries that just happen to affect a player every once in a blue moon.
To read more visit SCOOPUSA Media - September 25, 2020 - page 17
Kirk Jones
‘Camden Strong,’ as state playoffs begin
The Camden High boys basketball team, under first year head coach Rick Brunson, are poised to begin the NJSIAA 2020 basketball tournament as a favorite to not only win the overall state Group 2 title, but also to make a deep run in the Tournament of Champions among all the states’ top group winners.
Camden is led by 6’9” senior big man Lance Ware, a University of Kentucky signee, who has played with vigor his entire career as a Panther. Ware has yet to taste victory in an overall group title, so he and his teammates will look to defeat opponents, especially the vaunted Haddonfield Bulldawgs,who have prevented the Panthers from making it out of South Jersey Group 2 the last two years.
This year’s Camden team has an added weapon in the fashion of 6’2” freshman guard Dajuan “DJ” Wagner, son and grandson of Camden legends Dajuan Wagner and Milt Wagner. DJ is a silky-smooth, lightning quick backcourt player who will provide the Panthers with punch during the playoff run.
Several other local teams, with Camden coaching roots, could also make a big impact on the boys basketball tournament.
See more Kirk Jones, ScoopUSA Media, February 21, 2020, page 21
Camden, Wilson Open Fast. SCOOP Power Poll
Both Camden and Woodrow Wilson high schools in Camden, New Jersey opened the 2019 football season with impressive victories and score high in the SCOOP South Jersey High School Power Poll. Camden won its first game of the season September 6, 2019 against Winslow Township by a score of 22 – 0. The Camden Panthers then followed with a razor thin victory over a pesky Cedar Creek team by a score of 42 – 41 on September 14, 2019. The Panthers led the game most of the way before Cedar Creek scored 27 points in the 4th quarter to give the team from Camden a scare. Panther receiver Alijah Clark caught 3 touchdown passes to give ‘The High’ a big boost.
See more Kirk Jones, ScoopUSA Media, September 20, 2019, page 17
Russell j. robinson
Philadelphia Soul Beat the Washington Valor 48-41 and Punched Their Ticket To Arena Bowl 32
The Philadelphia Soul are going to Arena Bowl 32. By beating the Washington Valor in a two-game, home-to-home playoff series, the Philadelphia Soul have punched their ticket and earned their third trip in the last four years to play in this year’s Arena Bowl title game. After losing to the defending champions Washington Valor back on June 9, the Philadelphia Soul have gone on a rampage. They have won six of their last seven games. Last Sunday, the Soul were able to finish off the Washington Valor when they beat them at home, 48-41. The Philadelphia Soul were able to stop Washington quarterback Arnell Nelson who threw five interceptions while he got sacked seven times during the two-game playoff series against Philadelphia. Malik Forrester, the Philadelphia Soul’s newly required defensive lineman, was largely responsible for Nelson’s down fall. Forrester averaged 4.5 sacks during the two-game series which included 3 sacks in last Sunday’s game. To make things worse for Washington, the Valor attempted seven onside kicks which six of them got recovered by the Philadelphia Soul team.
Throughout the entire game, the Washington Valor were playing under pressure because they knew they had to score a bunch of points and beat Philadelphia by 37 points. Washington was put in a bad position after Philadelphia ripped them apart 69-33 back in Washington, the week before.
Fans at the Capital One Center couldn’t believe how their team played. They watched their team trail the game at halftime, 20-7. This didn’t sit well with Washington fans. They watched their team crumble. Washington trailed 41-20 at end of the third quarter. And then they watched the Philadelphia Soul score four more touchdowns. When the game was over, the Philadelphia Soul celebrated. They were happy to win their first playoff game in the two-game series. They destroyed the Washington Valor, 69-33.
Read More Russell Robinson, ScoopUSA Media, August 9, 2019, page 12
Rick Richardson
MIKE LAWLESS
Professional Racer and Single Dad
Jake Shoemaker knows in his heart he can touch the stars when things are right. Sure, he would like to train all day but he's got to earn a living. The alarm sounds off at 5:30 a.m. Time to get his daughter ready for daycare then head to work. The highlight reel plays in his head during the drive. He relives the agony and ecstasy of last weekend's race. Unless you are one of the blessed and talented few, this is the reality of motorcycle racing. The promoters are trying hard to improve this, with better TV coverage which should lead to sponsorship. It just hasn't trickled down here yet.
Read More, Scoop USA Media, February 1, 2019