Welcome back to Two Weeks Notice, a biweekly sports column that predicts games roughly two weeks in advance through a satirically analytical lens.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! This week, I’m taking a small break from predictions to recognize the sports teams and players that I’m thankful for this season – even if that means shouting out UCLA’s mediocre football team for giving us a win on Saturday.
The battle for LA would not have been possible without three players that I have not stopped talking about all season: redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava and junior wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. The trio has led the football team to nine wins and hopefully a tenth as the Trojans are guaranteed a bowl game at the end of this season.
Additionally, the last game at home for the Trojans was a great night for seniors. Redshirt senior tight end Lake McCree had some beautiful first down catches and a touchdown, and redshirt senior linebacker Eric Gentry was the last player to hold Tommy Trojan’s sword after his season of leadership as captain of the Trojan defense.
I also have to mention redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett’s 70-yard interception return that was coined a “Thicc Six” due to his 6-foot-5, 360 pound build.
Finally, the Trojan Knights and the USC Helenes worked tirelessly over the Thanksgiving break to protect the Tommy Trojan, Traveler, John McCay, Hecuba and George Tirebiter statues. Due to USC’s spirited rivalry with UCLA, the statues are at risk of being defaced. The Knights and Helenes made their annual duct-tape casts around the statues and gave Tirebiter his annual wooden doghouse. With our mascots protected through the traditional 24/7 Tommy Watch, the Trojans were able to carry the Spirit of Troy with them as they headed for victory against the Bruins.
I need to shout out Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers for a fabulous second consecutive World Series victory. As an Angels fan, it broke my heart to see him go, but the Dodgers gave him wings his rookie team never could.
I am very grateful that my hometown of Las Vegas has had a recent growth in their sports environment. But of the many people responsible, there is one place that definitely needs to be appreciated: Oakland. Thank you for letting us take your beloved NFL team and for sending over your MLB team soon. Now they can still be average organizations but in fabulous new stadiums!
While we’re on the topic of Vegas, I have to shout out the Las Vegas Aces for their WNBA Championship win this year. A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and head coach Becky Hammon led the 11-player team to victory in a 4-0 sweep against the Phoenix Mercury in October. This is the team’s third title in four seasons – they had tough luck in their series against the New York Liberty in 2024, but the victors only held the torch for a year.
Also in my hometown are my beloved Vegas Golden Knights. The first team to grace Las Vegas with professional athletics, VGK is currently in their 8th season with the NHL, and though they aren’t particularly shining, there is one player that has been stealing the show: Jack Eichel. A round one, second draft pick for the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, Eichel has shown great potential for 11 seasons in the league.
However, since his move to Vegas in 2021, he has been on his way to becoming a true star – they truly must have suffered a brain freeze by denying Eichel’s to fuse his vertebrae back together. This season, he’s had 32 points, 11 goals and 21 assists. His 104 points last regular and post season set him up for his position as a forward on Team USA which was announced in June. I can’t wait to see him shine on the Winter Olympics stage in February and hopefully make us all believe in miracles.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break, and I will see you next year for an Olympic preview. Happy Holidays and Fight On!