sports – Page 2 – Jason Toney

January 13, 2025 / 2 Comments

Crimson Skies and Hot Hands

The Wildfires have disrupted sports in the city all week. The Lakers and Clippers have postponed games (though they resume home play tonight). The Rams shuttled fans to Glendale, Arizona, for their relocated wildcard game. College basketball is no different. Northwestern didn’t make the trip west. The Bruins will play Penn State in Long Beach instead of at Pauley Pavillion on Wednesday, as Westwood is just outside of one of the evacuation warning zones.

But on Sunday, on what felt like our first day of respite from the flames, Juju Watkins was on fire. The Galen Center was only about half full and not nearly as raucous as it has been for most home games this season but the women of Troy didn’t seem to notice or care. They continued their winning streak, leaning on their two elite stars, who combined for 68 of their 95 points. Those who attended appreciated the efforts and there were smiles, high-fives, and hugs as a little bit of LA came together to cheer and celebrate.

Trojans games continue to feel like Sparks games. DJ Mal-Ski’s playlist and shtick don’t deviate much from what he does at Crypto, aside from fun interactions with the USC band. Familiar faces of Sparks 24/7 members are dotted around the arena. The Trojan fan base is very familial; The proximity to South LA and the deep ties between the current roster and their alums to the blacker parts of this city make it similar to the long-time fan base of our WNBA team.

Much like our first in-person Sparks games in 2021, it was so lovely to see the women’s sports friends we’ve come to cherish so much over the last decade. We might be from all over the county, but these are our neighbors. This is our community.

Once again, the church of basketball didn’t disappoint.

January 30, 2015 / 2 Comments

Unforgivable Blackness 2015 Edition: Ava DuVernay and Marshawn Lynch

“I don’t know if these industry mofos overlook us cause they might be afraid. They don’t know if we get the spot like that, you might not get your spotlight back for a couple decades.” – Black Milk, Losing Out (Let’s Talk)

Rembert Browne’s entertaining “Rembert Explains” podcast’s latest episode featured Mychal Denzel Smith discussing the thru-line between director Ava DuVernay’s approach to her work and the criticism of that work and the NFL’s Marshawn Lynch who has become famous not only for his spectacular play on the field but for his refusal to follow the rules of the league which he deems absurd.

This refusal to play “the game” is what rankles people. On a recent @Midnight, Chris Hardwick ranted because he was so annoyed with Lynch’s unwillingness to eat shit. We all have things we don’t want to do at our jobs, he harangued. Suck it up and take it. We all have to do that.

Except, maybe you don’t.

DuVernay sees no value in exerting energy towards gaining acceptance into the Hollywood establishment. In fact, she thinks it’s futile. In this episode of KCRW’s The Business (the other podcast I listened to today), DuVernay essentially breaks down her whole mission statement. Why knock on doors that the person on the other side has no interest or incentive in opening for you? Build your own house. Open your own door. I was struck as I have been every time she’s spoken about Selma over the last few months with how certain, confident, and driven she is. Ava takes no shorts.

It reminded me of the now decade old Ken Burns documentary about boxer Jack Johnson: Unforgivable Blackness. This idea of being unwilling to modulate who you are to succeed in the great American experiment and still succeed anyway because you are just that damn good? Yes.

Let’s keep doing this. And to hell with just being unforgivable. Don’t apologize.

Those made uncomfortable by it are undeserving of an apology, anyway.

Their discomfort is the world’s progress.

#beastmode
#changetheworld

Let’s go.

September 25, 2013 / 1 Comment

Sparkle City

“Let my cheer be my guide.” – Shuggie Otis, Sparkle City

This shot ruined my Monday night.

It also was the end of the best game I saw all season and the end of the 2013 run for my Los Angeles Sparks.

Yes, my LA Sparks. I’ve long enjoyed women’s basketball. From their dream team to the launch of the WNBA and those amazing nike commercials…

…from Dawn Staley and Cynthia Cooper to those epic UCONN/Tennessee battles. I just love basketball and the women’s game has always been apart of that.

On TV anyway.

This year, though, Tiffany and I have been even more basketball obsessed. We watched as much basketball during the Summer Olympics as we could. We picked up NBA League Pass and went to several Clippers games. Both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments were outstanding this year and the NBA Playoffs were fan-tastic as the tagline used to say.

We also attended Sparks games. Initially, the goal was to catch The 3 to See and maybe catch Angel McCoughtry (one of my favorite players) and our friend’s beloved Lynx but after the first game, we were hooked and Tiffany got a half-season package on the spot.

Being in the arena for these games is infectious. You’re close to the action. The Sparks play great music. You see passionate fans and newbies surprised by how fun it is. The crowd is an interesting mix of folks, many of whom, I’m sure appreciate being able to attend a professional sports game at a reasonable price and not be in the nosebleeds.

It’s one of the only entertainment experiences I’ve ever been to where women aren’t sexualized. There’s no sense of “the male gaze” at a WNBA game. This is about strength and skill and competition. Winning is what matters. Passion.

I have friends that snark on the Sparks as “Team Ponytail” but nobody is trying to look cute on the court. The players are stunning as athletes tend to be but I remark on pretty shots and killer crossovers not faces and outfits.

We ended up seeing almost all of The Sparks home games live and watched several on TV. TWC Sportsnet does a wonderful job of covering the team with respect for the sport and it’s players. They get the same treatment the Lakers do.

And as Brittney Griner’s shot fell and ended the Sparks quest for a championship, I was crestfallen. Almost as broken hearted as I was when Michael Jordan hit that damn shot in the Finals over my Lakers and I knew they had no shot at winning a title that year.

But, there’s always next year. And while the Sparks didn’t win that game, they won us over. I’ve got shirts and schwag and a 2014 season ticket right behind the team bench.

Welcome to Sparkle City. Thank you for a great season.

Let’s go Sparks!