The Best Los Angeles Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Fans

by J.A Adande

Overview

100 great sports debates for each city—from who was the best coach to what was the best play of all time.

The perfect gift for sports fans—the series that's sweeping the nation, and is already a hit in Boston, Chicago and New York.

The best debates for rabid fans

The Best Sports Arguments gives each city or region all the best arguments of their hometown teams, with expert answers from top sports media figures. In fact, the Best Sports Arguments series is the #1 sports debates series on the market! Why?

-Each book features 100 debates, the most of any series!

-Each city's book is written by authors well-known in the region, leading to fan recognition and media interest.

-They make perfect gifts for sports fans of any age.

-And the debates go on!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402252402
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	11/01/2007
Series:	Best Sports Arguments
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

J.A. Adande grew up in Santa Monica, Calif., and gained his first exposure to big-time sports at the Forum, the Coliseum, Dodger Stadium and the Sports Arena. After working at the Chicago Sun-Times and Washington Post, he has delivered his take on the world of sports to Los Angeles Times readers for more than a decade. He also is a regular panelist on ESPN's "Around the Horn."

J.A. Adande grew up in Santa Monica, Calif., and gained his first exposure to big-time sports at the Forum, the Coliseum, Dodger Stadium and the Sports Arena. After working at the Chicago Sun-Times and Washington Post, he has delivered his take on the world of sports to Los Angeles Times readers for more than a decade. He also is a regular panelist on ESPN’s “Around the Horn.”

Table of Contents

Introduction

IT'S AN L.A. THING
Is Los Angeles a Great Sports Town? -
Who Is to Blame for the NFL Not Having a Team in Los Angeles? -
Will the NFL Return to Los Angeles? -
So Whose Town Is It?
Which Local Team Has the Best Fans? -
Should Those "Beat L.A." Chants Be Taken as a Compliment? -
Why Should Los Angeles Teams Avoid Los Angeles Players? -

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
Which L.A. Athlete Is THE No. 32? -
Who Had the Better Rookie Season, Fernando Valenzuela or Magic Johnson? -
What Was the Worst Trade in Los Angeles History?
Which L.A. Athlete Was the Greatest Free Agent Signing in History?
What Is the Greatest Individual Streak by an L.A. Athlete? -
What Was the Greatest Los Angeles Team Streak?
What's the Better Rivalry: Dodgers–Giants or Lakers–Celtics? -
What Was the Best L.A. Sports Year? -
What Was the Worst Call That Went Against a Local Team? -
What Was the Biggest Break an L.A. Team Got from the Officials? -
What Was the Greatest Goose Bump Moment in a Los Angeles Stadium?-
What Was the Best Group Nickname for a Los Angeles Team?-
What Was the Greatest Comeback in L.A. Sports History?-
Who Is L.A.'s Biggest Villain?-
What Was the Most Costly Coaching/Managing Decision in L.A. History?-
Who Was the Greatest Character in Los Angeles Sports? -

BASKETBALL
Who Is the Lakers' Greatest Coach? -
What Was Kobe Bryant's Greatest Performance?
Who Was Responsible for the Breakup of the Lakers in 2004?
What Unsung Lakers Hero Should Have His Jersey Retired? -
Who Would You Rather Have Take the Last Shot, Jerry West or Kobe Bryant? -
What Was Jerry West's Worst Move? -

Who are the All-Time Best Lakers?
Point Guard -
Shooting Guard -
Forward -
Forward -
Center -

What Was the Worst Clippers Draft Day?
Which Clipper Should Be the First to Have His Name Raised to the Rafters? -
What's the Best Move the Clippers Ever Made?
Is Donald Sterling the Worst Owner in Professional Sports History? -

BASEBALL
Which Dodger Should Be in the Hall of Fame?
Which Dodger Should Not Be in the Hall of Fame?
What Was the Most Important Dodgers Home Run in 1988?
What Was the Greatest Tommy Lasorda Rant?

Who are the All-Time Best L.A. Dodgers?
Catcher -
First Base -
Second Base -
Shortstop
Third Base -
Right Field
Center Field
Left Field -
Left-handed Starting Pitcher -
Right-handed Starting Pitcher -
Relief Pitcher -
Manager -

Was Corporate Ownership That Bad for the Dodgers and Angels?
What Was the Worst Angels Choke Job?
Seriously, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?

Who are the All-Time Best Angels?
Designated Hitter -
Catcher -
First Base -
Second Base -
Shortstop -
Third Base -
Right Field -
Center Field -
Left Field
Right-handed Starting Pitcher
Left-handed Starting Pitcher
Reliever -
Manager

COLLEGES
What Was the Best USC-UCLA Football Game?
Who Was USC's Greatest Heisman Trophy Winner?
Were the Trojans Right to Call Themselves Back-to-Back Champions of the 2003 and 2004 Seasons?
Should Pete Carroll Have Gone for It in the 2006 Rose Bowl?
What Was the Best USC–Notre Dame Game?
Why Isn't UCLA Football like USC Football?
What Was the Greatest UCLA Basketball Team?
What Were John Wooden's Favorite UCLA Teams?
Did the Rose Bowl Do the Right Thing by Joining the BCS?

HOCKEY
What Was the Long-Term Impact of the Wayne Gretzky Trade?
Who Is the King of the Kings?
Which Duck Flies the Highest?
Will Hockey Matter in Los Angeles Again?

OTHER SPORTS
If L.A. Is So Car-crazed, Why Isn't NASCAR More Popular Here?
Sampras or Tiger?
What Was the Greatest Sports Feat at Staples Center?
Should L.A. Host Another Olympic Games?

OFF THE FIELD
What Was the Best L.A. Team Portrayed in the Movies?
What's the Best Stadium Dining Experience in L.A.?
Which Stadium Provides the Best Live Experience?
What Was Jim Murray's Greatest Column?
Who Is the Most Important Play-by-Play Announcer in L.A.?
Did Al Campanis Deserve to Be Fired for His Nightline Comments?
Which Los Angeles Athlete Made the Most Successful Transition to Hollywood?
Which L.A. Sports Figure Would Be Most Useful in a "Six Degrees of Separation" Game?
What Was the Best Sports TV Show Set in Los Angeles?

SUPERLATIVES
Who Is the Greatest Sporting Icon to Play in L.A.?
If You Could Attend One Event in L.A. Sports History, What Would It Be?
Who Is the Greatest Athlete from Los Angeles? -
Who Had the Greatest Athletic Career in Los Angeles?

Sources
Index by Subject
Index by Name
About the Author