Eyyyy Luigi! What you do!?

 I hear there's gonna be a documentary on the Luigi Mangione case. Hmph! An Academy Award sample plotline:

A stuffy, well-heeled Ivy grad who has everything for him decides to shock the world and assassinate a lynchpin of Big Health Insurance after being allegedly wronged. The man gets caught in a McDonald's while the snitcher gets nothing because she is nothing and that is something. The man faces the death penalty for committing a federal offense against humanity and sanity...only to be pardoned by two tall people: Donald Trump...and the real puppet-master of the Disjointed Provinces of America, Elon Musk. The man goes on to work in the Cabinet as an understudy of one RFK Jr. to Make America Healthy Again through drafting responsible health insurance provisions et al. Tough work, lots of work, big pay, good life, right?

But then it all comes crashing down when the snowflakes of the Democratic left come calling for the protagonist of this sordid story because they want to summon a blue wave in the 2026 midterms. Because in America, the loseurs will make life hell for the wieners and the wieners will always be hounded by the loseurs. This is American Way. Since 1776. A tradition that built America, and can destroy America. The film ends...when the protagonist is slowly brought into the death chamber in Huntsville, Texas by the tie down team, with his head shaven, and tattoos all over his scrawny body. He looks on slowly at the camera, and as he turns away, cut to black. Vine boom.

See this whole thing for what it truly is, you hopeless cravens on Facebook! This...is...

Sam Houston: 2024 New Orleans Bowl Champions

 

The unstoppable Sam Houston Bearkats met the immovable Georgia Southern Eagles in this year’s New Orleans Bowl. The Big Easy was anything but as these two teams threw haymakers back and forth at each other. This slug-it-out type of college football game, however, should come as no surprise to those familiar with the FCS style of play.

Sam Houston Georgia Southern

Kats Have Claws

The best way to describe the first quarter is total Sam Houston domination. As Last Word On Sports discussed earlier this week, the transfers remaining made a world of difference. Even with this being their last game under the Bearkats banner, these players were giving it their all.

Whether it was penalties or a tenacious Sam Houston defense, the Eagles couldn’t get anything going in the first fifteen minutes. JC French’s very first play of the game was snatched out of the air by Jaylon Jimmerson and ran back for an amazing pick-six.

Anyone who was doubting that Sam Houston could persevere without their head coach was, very quickly, forgotten.

Eagles Have Talons

Ryan Aplin’s team wasn’t ready to fly home just yet, though. After being pushed down, Georgia Southern got back up, dusted itself off, and knocked Sam Houston straight in the teeth. French, despite his early interceptions, showed why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the Sun Belt. Working in tandem with running back Jalen White, he led the Eagles on an eighty-yard drive down the field.

Indeed, the Bearkats defense was clearly caught off guard as the mobile quarterback kept bouncing back and forth between the lines. The opening minutes of the second quarter were everything the first quarter wasn’t. Despite some good effort, the Sam Houston defenders couldn’t keep up. A final pass to Josh Dallas put the Eagles on the board.

While the Georgia Southern offense was stumbling to success, the Eagles defense was putting the fear of God into the Sam Houston offense. Defenders and linebackers alike kept blasting through the Bearkats’ line. Hunter Watson stuck in the backfield, was their target each and every time. Each time Watson got back up, it was clear he never wanted to get hit like that again.

Clawing Back the New Orleans Bowl

A late Georgia Southern drive in the first half couldn’t close the gap fast enough, and the third quarter would open with a 21-10 lead for Sam Houston. That’s when the Eagles began clawing their way back into this bowl game.

A touchdown and field goal would bring that big lead down to just three points. Big hits began closing the walls on Watson and the Bearkats. Somehow, some way, their lead was disappearing. In the fourth quarter, Georgia Southern took as much time off the clock as they could. Yet, just as it had been all game, they couldn’t maintain the momentum.

French would throw his fifth interception of the night, Dallas fumbled a punt recovery, and then the Eagles followed this up with a personal foul and a targeting penalty. Despite a last-minute push, these mistakes held a Georgia Southern victory well out of reach.

The 2024 New Orleans Bowl: By The Numbers

At 31-26, the Bearkats walk out with the victory. Watson completed 23 out of 28 passes for 213 yards of offense. The leading rusher for the Bearkats is Jay Ducker with 26 total yards on the ground. Overall, Sam Houston comes away with 265 total yards of offense and 28 minutes of possession time.

Georgia Southern leaves the New Orleans Bowl with 393 total yards of offense and 31 minutes of possession time.

The Future of Sam Houston and Georgia Southern Football

Both teams have some big decisions to make in the future. The New Orleans Bowl may have been the end of Sam Houston’s football dominance- at least for now. With so many outgoing transfers, the Bearkats are in an uncomfortably similar position to the SEC’s Oklahoma Sooners right now. It’s not rebuild time just yet, but the success of 2024 will be difficult to recreate in 2025.

Georgia Southern, on the other hand, is looking to next year with hope. Unlike so many teams in college football, the Eagles are a cohesive unit. Perhaps it’s the FCS legacy, but this team is one that’s sticking together. As college football competition heats up, Georgia Southern and the Sun Belt’s 2025 season is looking to be the hottest yet.

A nightmare.

 

I had a nightmare this morning. I had someone from SPJA, possibly a higher-up, tell me that I had been banned from Anime Expo. First off, I'm retired from working as a volunteer for the show. Secondly, if I want to return to AX, it will be solely as a paid attendee. This guy tells me that allegedly in my 15 years of serving AX, I had consistently misled attendees to the wrong rooms and areas, something which I know I did not engage in in reality. If I knew where an event or panel was, I direct them, otherwise I redirect the guest to Information Services so that they will know. I also expect they read the program as preparation. Also in this nightmare, I climbed up a fence and jumped into a ditch...or so I thought. I was apparently saved and I was asked to be tested again, and this test involved me matching places with puzzle pieces, but in one section, when I was supposed to place map pieces, I ended up posting stickers of text abbreviations. The proctor said I was doing something bold...and then told me I was not following directions of this section and allowed me to redo, which I did, and then I ended up passing. So I was banned, then unbanned. However, I understand that if you are banned from AX, you are banned for life and can never return to the con. So I found this nightmare to be a complete mess and an utter joke, especially when technically I have nothing to do anymore with the show after serving 15 editions.

So this is what you call the holiday season, huh? I need a vacation.

Real Madrid: 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup Champions

 

Real Madrid 3-0 Pachuca

Goals: Kylian Mbappe (37), Rodrygo (53), Vinicius Jr (84 pen)

Real Madrid are the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™ champions after beating Pachuca 3-0 in Wednesday’s final.

Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr were on target for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who rounded off a superb year in style at Lusail Stadium.

Exactly two years after scoring a hat-trick at the same venue in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ final, Mbappe applied the finishing touch to a slick team move to put Madrid in front. Jude Bellingham played in Vinicius Jr, who produced some dazzling footwork to take the ball around Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno, before squaring for the Frenchman to slot into an empty net.

Pachuca had, in fact, started the game brightly and Luis Rodriguez fired an early warning shot, but Thibaut Courtois was equal to his powerful drive.

Madrid, however, gradually started to stamp their authority on the game and, after Mbappe put them ahead, the striker almost made it 2-0 when he rifled a 20-yard shot just past the post.

Madrid would double their advantage just after half-time, with Rodrygo curling home wonderful effort from the edge of the penalty area. There was a VAR review as Bellingham was standing in an offside position when Rodrygo took aim, but the referee judged he was not interfering.

Pachuca, to their credit, refused to buckle and captain Salomon Rondon saw a sweetly struck free-kick well saved by Courtois. The veteran striker then went even closer to reducing the deficit when his header went inches over the bar.

Madrid, however, put the game beyond doubt late in the piece. Vinicius – fresh from being named The Best FIFA Men’s Player on Tuesday night – converted an 84th-minute penalty to crown a dream trip to Qatar for the Brazilian.

Quotes

“I am very happy, it is natural. We did the things we prepared and this made the difference. Everyone played a good match, I am very happy. It was a match that in the middle of the season could have caused problems and instead we deservedly won it."

Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach

"These two days have been incredible for me. Yesterday, I received the award for best player in the world – and today I came here and won and was named the best player of the match.”

Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid forward

"I've been following Vini since when he started in Brazil. We never played against each other in the professional league, only with youth teams. We've always talked about all the difficulties he had in the beginning. He is an example of resilience, for everything he went through, and now he has become the best player in the world. I’m always happy for my friend's achievements, especially after seeing his work every day.”

Rodrygo, Real Madrid forward

"We had our chances, but their efficiency was decisive. We had opportunities and couldn’t capitalise on them. Many young players gained their first international experience throughout the tournament. It was an amazing experience. Of course, we wanted to win the final, but the effort was outstanding."

Guillermo Almada, Pachuca coach

Award winners

Aramco Player of the Tournament: Vinicius Jr

adidas Golden Ball: Vinicius Jr

adidas Silver Ball: Federico Valverde

adidas Bronze Ball: Elias Montiel

UNLV: 2024 LA Bowl Champions

 

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The UNLV football team earned its first bowl victory since 2000, defeating Cal 24-13 in the LA Bowl on Wednesday at SoFi Stadium.

The Rebels (11-3) capped arguably the greatest season in program history and now head into the offseason under new coach Dan Mullen. Wide receivers coach Del Alexander served as the interim coach against Cal (6-7).

Freshman wide receiver Kayden McGee caught a 49-yard touchdown, the first of his career, in the first quarter, and senior wide receiver Jacob De Jesus had a 9-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter as UNLV took a 14-13 halftime lead.

De Jesus’ touchdown was set up by a spectacular 52-yard reception on a fake punt by senior defensive back Cameron Oliver.

Senior running back Kylin James scored on a 23-yard run in the third quarter to extend the lead to 21-13.

Freshman Caden Chittenden made a 48-yard field goal with 6:01 to play to give UNLV some breathing room at 24-13.

The Rebels’ last bowl win came against Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2000.

James Madison: 2024 Boca Raton Bowl Champions

 

In an electrifying showdown at this year’s Boca Raton Bowl, the James Madison Dukes etched their name in history with their first-ever win at the event, defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 27-17. The thrilling matchup kept fans on the edge of their seats, culminating in a triumphant celebration for JMU.

Despite the setback of starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III not in action due to an injury sustained against Marshall, the Dukes were up to the challenge.

The JMU defense was very instrumental in the team’s success with three takeaways, which is the fifth time this season they’ve achieved that feat.

Wright, primarily known for his blocking, made his first catch of the season in spectacular fashion, fooling the defense with a perfectly executed fake.

The Dukes’ second-half surge started with wildcat quarterback JC Evans, who guided a 11-play, 71-yard drive. Evans completed it with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyi Wright, making it a 14-14 contest.

It was Gannon Weathersby’s third-quarter fumble recovery that marked a complete turn of events, stopping any momentum by Western Kentucky and allowing the Dukes to dominate through the second half.

Backup quarterback Billy Atkins, who had combined for just three pass attempts over the past two years, turned in the performance of a lifetime. Atkins’ fourth-quarter heroics included a 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thompson that sealed the deal and gave the Dukes a decisive 24-17 lead.

This victory seals an amazing 9-4 season for the Dukes, who time and time again prove themselves in the biggest of games. The historic win solidifies James Madison’s football program as an emerging power. On the other hand, Western Kentucky closes out the season 8-6 and has gained important experience for the future.

While fans are celebrating JMU’s victory, speculation for next year’s Boca Raton Bowl is already starting to build. With the changes on the team, such as the new coaching staff and incoming transfers, could UCF qualify for the Boca Raton Bowl next year? Only time will tell, but for now, the stage belongs to the James Madison Dukes, who have claimed their place as the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl champions.

Memphis: 2024 Frisco Bowl Champions

 

On Tuesday night at Toyota Stadium, the No. 25 Memphis Tigers football team defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers, 42-37, to win the Frisco Bowl.

The Tigers finish the season with an 11-2 overall record. This team's accomplishments have been sensational. Their 11 victories are the second-most wins in a season in their program history.

The Tigers scored 21 of their 42 points in the second quarter. Tigers quarterback Seth Henigan was named the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl Offensive MVP after completing 18-of-26 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns.

Not only did Henigan torture the Mountaineers with his arms, but he did it with his legs as well. Hanigan rushed for 61 yards on eight carries. 

Wide receiver Demeer Blankumsee led the team with 120 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Late in the second quarter, Blankumsee caught an 18-yard touchdown pass that put the Tigers up 28-14.

The Tigers led as many as 35-17 in this game. West Virginia didn’t quit. They scored 13 straight points. Every time the Tigers would score, the Mountaineers would answer back in the second half.

Both quarterbacks, Henigan and Garrett Greene traded explosive plays after explosive plays.

However, the Mountaineers ran out of time. The game ended pretty wild, with the officials ruling that Herring was sliding when he lost the ball, thus marking himself down after giving himself up. 

Mountaineers finished the year with a 6-7 record. Greene went 29 of 40 completions with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 96 yards. His longest was a 56-yard play run. 

Running back CJ Donaldson Jr rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Hudson Clement had 166 yards on 11 receptions with two touchdowns. 

Henigan achieved an achievement in this game. He reached 14,000 career passing yards, moving him to No. 13 in NCAA history. He concluded his career with 14,266 yards. 

Zenless Misadventures, Day 13

#ZZZ #Miyabi #Harumasa 

FFXIV Misadventures: Dawntrail Trials, Day 16

#FFXIV #Dawntrail #Hildibrand

FFXIV: Make It Happen.

#FFXIV #Snowstreamer #Mount #Twitch

South Alabama: 2024 Salute To Veterans Bowl Champions

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- — Bishop Davenport made his second start of the season and accounted for three touchdowns, Jeremiah Webb had six receptions for 182 yards and two TDs on Saturday night and South Alabama rallied to beat Western Michigan 30-23 at the Veterans Bowl.

South Alabama (7-6), under first-year head coach Major Applewhite, played in a bowl game for the third consecutive season.

Hayden Wolff threw a 7-yard TD pass to Anthony Sambucci to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive and trim Western Michigan’s deficit to 23-20 with 6:17 to play but Kentrel Bullock ran five times for 50 yards, including 22-yard scoring run, on the ensuing drive to make it a 10-point game with 2:42 left.

Bullock finished with 130 yards rushing on 17 carries. Davenport completed 15 of 24 for 271 yards and two touchdowns and added 85 yards rushing, including a 50-yard TD in the third quarter.

Quarterback Gio Lopez (turf toe) and wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett (opt out) did not play for South Alabama. Pritchett led the Sun Belt Conference in receptions (91), receiving yards (1,127) and touchdown catches (9).

Jalen Buckley scored on a 1-yard run and Luka Zurak kicked a 37-yard field goal 10 seconds into the second to give the Broncos (6-7) a 10-0 lead.

After a Broncos three-and-out, Davenport threw a pass deep down the right sideline to Webb, who high-pointed the ball to take it from a defender for a 45-yard TD that gave the Jaguars the lead for good at 16-10 with 4:50 left in the first half.

South Alabama, which beat Eastern Michigan 59-10 in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, has won back-to-back bowls — the first two in program history.

FFXIV: Wherever You Will Go

#FFXIV #StarlightCelebration #Christmas

FFXIV: Starlight Celebration 2024

#FFXIV #StarlightCelebration

Jackson State: 2024 Celebration Bowl Champions

 

A game that some predicted to be close was never in doubt as SWAC champion Jackson State handled MEAC winner South Carolina State 28-7 to win the 2024 edition of the Celebration Bowl and its first HBCU national championship since 1996.

The Tigers led wire-to-wire and never were seriously challenged in spite of having to go straight from the SWAC title game the previous week to Atlanta to play a South Carolina State team that had not played a game in over two weeks.

That level of dedication, preparedness, and desire to stay on top of one’s game comes from the top, so there is no surprise that this Jackson State team is molded by a program legend, current head coach T.C. Taylor.

Taylor, a highly regarded quarterback coming out of high school, accepted a switch to receiver his junior year at J-State. By his senior year of 2001, he was one of the top pass catchers in the country (84 receptions, 1,234 yards, and 11 touchdowns). He earned training camp deals with the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions before turning his attention to coaching.

Taylor worked his way up those ranks as well, serving as a quarterbacks and receivers coach and offensive coordinator at schools from Coahoma Community College in Mississippi to North Carolina Central before returning to Jackson State five years ago. 

He served as a coordinator under John Hendrick and Deion Sanders before being named head coach in December 2022 following Sanders’ move to Colorado. Taylor set about building a roster ready to climb the Celebration Bowl mountain and represent a proud tradition of JSU football.

All T.C.’s Tigers have done in his first two seasons on the job is compile a 19-6 overall record, 13-3 in SWAC play, and topped the 2024 season off with a measure of revenge in dominating South Carolina State Saturday. 

This was Taylor’s fourth Celebration Bowl appearance (he was the offensive coordinator in NCCU’s 10-9 loss to Grambling in 2016), and it turned out to be the charm as he and his players, who shared an unwavering belief in each other, shared in one of the great victories in JSU history.

“They believed in me,” Taylor said of his players. “I said we’re going to work our butts off because we were going to get to this moment.”

If you don’t believe in storybook endings, you may find it hard to believe that a proud son of an HBCU powerhouse returned home to lead his football team to the Promised Land.

But it actually happened.

And Taylor and the Jackson State football team wrote an ending to the 2024 HBCU football season that few will forget.

Travis Hunter: 2024 Heisman Trophy Winner

Six days after 12 teams were selected to compete for a national title in the College Football Playoff, a different kind of college football honor was handed out.

The Heisman Trophy is college football’s most hallowed individual achievement, with even the trophy itself — depicting a player throwing a stiff arm — standing as a central element of the sport’s mythology.

This week, four college football standouts — Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Miami’s Cam Ward — headed to New York with dreams of becoming the latest player to join a list featuring some of the sport’s most iconic figures. Ultimately, though, only one of them was able to leave Manhattan with the trophy.

Colorado’s Travis Hunter was presented with the 2024 Heisman Trophy during a ceremony Saturday night in New York.

Hunter won the award after putting together a season with few, if any, peers in modern college football history.

The Georgia native and Jackson State transfer did a little bit of everything for the Buffaloes while leading them to a 9-3 record in their second season under coach Deion Sanders. Hunter played both offense and defense, logging a total of 1,360 snaps during the 2024 season despite missing the second half of Colorado’s games against Kansas State and Arizona with an injury.

Hunter had emerged as the sizable betting favorite in recent weeks, with the most recent odds from BetMGM putting him at -2500 to take home the award. Ashton Jeanty, at +1000, had the next-best odds.

The possibility of winning the Heisman followed Hunter for much of the season as he racked up seven games with at least 100 receiving yards and five games with a forced turnover. He regularly struck the Heisman pose after making a big play, beginning with a September 28 win at UCF after coming down with an acrobatic interception.

As the Heisman race seemingly came down to Hunter and Jeanty, Hunter’s coaches and teammates routinely touted his candidacy. After Hunter had an interception and three touchdown receptions in Colorado’s 52-0 victory against Oklahoma State on November 29, Sanders said his two-way star “clinched” the coveted award.

“You’ve never seen it before,” Sanders said. “He’s the best player in college football. You can find ways to hate and criticize him and you won’t come out of that looking professional because now you’re just searching for something, like the idiots was talking about with the (Jim) Thorpe (Award) that I guess he didn’t have enough tackles. Well, if a cornerback has a lot of tackles, that means they caught a lot of balls. It’s just stupid. Travis Hunter proved today and he proved every week that he’s the best player in college football.

“You’ve got to give me another definition of the award. The award is to go to who? The best quarterback? I don’t know how you could be voted in every category in some sort. I think he’s up for best offensive player, best defensive player, best receiver. Who else has done that ever?”

Hunter is the second Heisman winner in Colorado history, joining the late Rashaan Salaam, who won the award in 1994.

Heisman voting results 2024

Hunter won with 2,231 total points, as compared to Jeanty, who finished with 2,017 points. The 214-point difference is the smallest margin of victory since Alabama running back Mark Ingram beat out Stanford RB Toby Gerhart in 2009.

Here's the full points total, including first-place votes:

1st place: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter (2,231 points, 552 first-place votes)

2nd place: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (2,017 points, 309 first-place votes)

3rd place: Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel (516 points, 24 first-place votes)

4th place: Miami QB Cam Ward (229 points, six first-place votes)

5th place: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo (170 points, three first-place votes)

6th place: Army QB Bryson Daily (69 points, three first-place votes)

7th place: Penn State Tyler Warren (52 points, one first-place vote)

8th place: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (47 points, one first-place vote)

9th place: Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke (22 points, two first-place votes)

10th place: Syracuse QB Kyle McCord (nine points)

Travis Hunter stats

During his Heisman-winning season, Hunter truly did it all for Colorado. 

As a wide receiver on offense, he finished with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. Hunter ranks fifth among FBS players in receptions, sixth in receiving yards and second in touchdown receptions. He also has a rushing touchdown.

While playing for a coach who’s arguably the greatest defensive back in the history of football, Hunter excelled as a cornerback, as well, recording 11 pass breakups and four interceptions, ranking him first and second, respectively, among all Big 12 players. He had a forced fumble, as well, which allowed his team to hold on for an overtime victory against Baylor on Sept. 21.

Heisman Trophy finalists' stats

Here's a look at the stats of the four Heisman Trophy finalists in 2024:

Travis Hunter

Offense: 92 catches, 1,152 yards, 14 touchdowns; two carries, five yards, one touchdown

Defense: 31 tackles, 11 pass breakups, four interceptions, one forced fumble

Ashton Jeanty

Rushing: 344 carries, 2,497 yards, 29 touchdowns, 7.3 yards per carry

Receiving: 20 catches, 116 yards, one touchdown

Dillon Gabriel

Passing: 297 of 406 passing (73.2%), 3,558 yards, 8.8 yards per attempt, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions

Rushing: 63 carries,192 yards, seven touchdowns

Cam Ward

Passing: 293 of 435 passing (67.4%), 4,123 yards, 9.5 yards per attempt, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions

Rushing: 58 carries, 196 yards, four touchdowns

Receiving: One catch, 7 yards, one touchdown

Heisman Trophy winners

Here’s a look at the past 10 Heisman Trophy winners, with Saturday’s honoree becoming the latest inclusion on the list:

For full list of winners, click here.

2024: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

2023: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

2022: QB Caleb Williams, USC

2021: QB Bryce Young, Alabama

2020: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama

2019: QB Joe Burrow, LSU

2018: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma

2017: QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

2016: QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville

2015: RB Derrick Henry, Alabama

Hey Hey G's - MLS Cup 2024 Edition

#MLS #LAGalaxy #Since96 #GoGalaxy

Suedehead At Six Shooter

#MLS #LAGalaxy #GoGalaxy #Since96

LA Galaxy: 2024 MLS Cup Champions

 

CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy are back on top, storming to a 2-1 victory over New York Red Bulls in MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi Saturday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park.

By capturing the league's ultimate prize, LA hoisted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy for a sixth time – extending the MLS Cup title record they already held.

The Galaxy scored twice inside the game's first quarter-hour, with Joseph Paintsil (9') and Dejan Joveljić (13') beating Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel from close range. When celebrating, both stars offered a tribute to Riqui Puig after LA's Best XI midfielder tore his ACL in the Western Conference Final and couldn't feature in MLS Cup.

Despite the early hole, New York got a lifeline in the 28th minute when center back Sean Nealis volleyed home a mis-cleared corner kick. But an equalizer never came for the Emil Forsberg-led Red Bulls, who left empty-handed in their second-ever MLS Cup appearance and remain one of three league originals to never win a league title.

LA were not only champions at the final whistle, but ended their Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs run with a record 18 goals scored.

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: The Galaxy are back on top, going from a 13th-place Western Conference finish in 2023 to MLS Cup champions for the first time in a decade. This turnaround coincides with DP wingers Paintsil and Gabriel Pec being signed for reportedly around $20 million in the winter, giving head coach Greg Vanney the final pieces for his attack-centric vision. LA also end 2024 undefeated at Dignity Health Sports Park, going 17W-0L-4D across all competitions and ensuring the Red Bulls’ Cinderella run falls short. New York (East No. 7) were the lowest-ever seed to reach MLS Cup.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Joveljić's game-winning goal almost unfolded in slow motion, before the Serbian striker toe-poked past Coronel. He ends the postseason with six goals, the second-most in MLS history.

MAN OF THE MATCH: All week, debate ensued about how Galaxy coach Greg Vanney would fill their Puig-sized hole. He ultimately started Gastón Brugman, who assisted Paintsil’s opener and bossed the midfield before being replaced by Marco Reus in the 75th minute. The Uruguayan veteran was named MLS Cup 2024 MVP presented by Audi.

Number Six In The Heat Of Los Angeles

#MLS #LAGalaxy #RacetoSeis #GoGalaxy #Since96

Honkai Star Rail: Star Rail Misadventures, Day 35

#HonkaiStarRail

Honkai Star Rail: Star Rail Misadventures, Day 34

#HonkaiStarRail #penacony #Sunday #Fugue #Tingyun

Genshin Impact: Genshin Misadventures - Natlan Nationals, Day 13

#GenshinImpact #Natlan #Citlali #Ororon

Los Angeles Galaxy: Right Here, Right Now

#MLS #LAGalaxy #Since96

St. Anthony vs. Silverado 2024: Modern Love

#CIF #HSFB #DavidBowie

Botafogo: 2024 Copa Libertadores Champions

 

Botafogo beat Atlético Mineiro 3-1 to win their first Copa Libertadores title despite being reduced to 10 men after former Inter Miami midfielder Gregore was sent off just 30 seconds into the contest at the Monumental Stadium on Saturday.

Fans barely had a chance to settle into their seats when Gregore was handed his marching orders for a foul on Fausto Vera, who was left with a bleeding head after being on the receiving end of a flying kick.

Mineiro tried to make the most of their numerical advantage and went on the attack with Hulk and Deyverson up front.

However, Botafogo opened the scoring in the 35th minute, when Thiago Almada put the ball right into Luiz Henrique's path to fire home into the net.

Botafogo were awarded a penalty seven minutes later when Éverson crashed into Luiz Henrique as he attempted to grab the ball and, after a VAR review, former Manchester United full-back Alex Telles converted the spot kick to make it 2-0.

Mineiro's hopes were restored immediately after the break when Eduardo Vargas headed home a corner from Hulk. They then went in search of an equaliser, with Deyverson and Vargas coming closest.

But Botafogo defended well and goalkeeper John kept Mineiro's efforts at bay as Junior Santos put the icing in the cake in added time in an enthralling encounter that gave coach Artur Jorge's side their first title in the South American competition.

The result also secured the Brazilian club a place in the expanded 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.

Botafogo's success came after Novak Djokovic's involvement in the ceremony before kick-off in Buenos Aires.

The tennis star was in Argentina to play an exhibition match on Sunday with former U.S. Open champion Juan Martín del Potro, who is retiring from the sport.

Djokovic, owner of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles, helped to carry the Copa trophy onto the pitch.

With two of its teams in the final, Brazilian football was assured of a sixth consecutive Copa Libertadores title and its 24th in history, just one less than clubs from Argentina have managed.

It was also the third straight title for teams from Rio de Janeiro, after Fluminense in 2023 and Flamengo in 2022.

Genshin Impact: Genshin Misadventures - Natlan Nationals, Day 12

#GenshinImpact #Natlan #Citlali #Ororon

FFXIV Misadventures: Dawntrail Trials, Day 15 - Special Episode

#FFXIV