Das Team » hance to win their fourth title and second

A vacation that consists of stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami is always going to provide you with some highlights but, like the last time I travelled to the U.S, it was a small-ish town in Louisiana that stole the show.In 2014, I embarked on a similar sports-thirsty holiday with teammate Tom Lynch. Our final stop was Baton Rouge in the heart of college football country. With a population of around 200,000, Baton Rouge is very similar to many of Australias large rural towns like Townsville or Cairns in far North Queensland. However, the LSU Tigers dont reside in far North Queensland - they live in Death Valley!Baton Rouge is home of Louisiana State University - a mighty college that competes in the southeastern conference of NCAAs collegiate football. Its basketball team has seen players like Australias No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Ben Simmons, the legendary Shaquille ONeal and before him Pistol Pete Maravich go through its doors.Aside from Simmons, LSU has an ever-growing Aussie contingent among its ranks with three boys from Down Under having played for the Tigers football team. Brad Wing started the trend and is now enjoying a promising career in the NFL with the New York Giants. Rockhamptons Jamie Keehn followed Wing to Baton Rouge and just last season, he graduated after four years in the Bayou. The latest addition to the squad is South Australias Josh Growden, a former Greater Western Sydney AFL player, who battled injury before packing his bags for Louisiana.The game we were in town for just happened to be among the biggest in world sport annually. When LSU and Alabama get together, fireworks ensue, both literally and figuratively. Tiger Stadium holds just over 100,000 people and whilst there were a tick over 102,000 in the house, the noise the crowd made felt like 102,000 jet aeroplanes.Games like these attract people from far and wide.NFL alumni like Patrick Peterson, Kevin Minter and Tyrann Mathieu were on-hand to see their beloved Tigers in action. Mathieu, like many before him, was presented on the field during a time-out after making a $1 million donation to the university.But there were a few more recognisable faces inside Tiger Stadium.Newlyweds Rory and Belinda Sloane called in from New Orleans and despite being anything but gridiron addicts, told us they had the time of their lives. Adelaide club doctor Marc Cesana and his partner Tara also caught the game. Doc is a huge college football fan and he had stops in South Bend and Tuscaloosa before Baton Rouge. Three more iconic college towns you will not find.NCAA football is a brief season, just 12 regular season games meaning the crowd only gets six opportunities to see its team at home. Trust me when I say this, they make all six a party worth remembering. Camper vans fully decked out in LSU purple and gold park in the adjacent streets, BBQs are stoked up and the southern food is cooked to perfection - food and drink is available to all.?If you are here for a good time, youre in the right place.Jamie and his American girlfriend Helen were kind enough to take myself, Hannah, Rory and Belinda to a few tailgates - something all sports fans must experience. It was tent after tent after tent of endless food, drinks, entertainment and excitement as the hours counted down before their Tigers took to the field. Jamie estimated that as the players arrived roughly three hours before the kickoff, 150,000 people would have been surrounding the stadium, all partying like there was no tomorrow.You just asked yourself - 150,000 people does not go into a 102,000-seat stadium - great math, you are correct. At every LSU home game, there are always tens of thousands who come for the party but dont have a ticket to the game. Its truly a mind-blowing event to see live.The match ended up 10-0 in favour of the unbeaten Crimson Tide of Alabama but even me, a now avid LSU fan, could hardly care less. The game day experience was something none of us will ever forget and it is something we all want to experience again.I must say an ENORMOUS thanks to Jamie Keehn who looked after Hannah and I all weekend. He took care of Lynchy and I in 2014 and he came though with the goods again. Josh Growden also deserves a mention, we had the pleasure of sitting with his parents for the game and theyre extremely lovely people who hail from Clare in South Australias wine region. Its a small world.A popular hashtag used by fans of the team is #ForeverLSU - I can say that after two games in person, I am an LSU man forever!#GeauxTigersOur final night was spent in LA watching another famous sports team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kobe-less Lakers put in a stellar performance despite 39 points from my man Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. Staples Center is a remarkable arena and it was a stellar way to cap off an amazing and memorable holiday.Thanks to ESPN Australia and those people I thanked above for making it all happen and thanks to everyone who engaged with me on social media. I had a such fun bringing the games back to you as I did watching them.Well, we are literally just touching down in Adelaide. Time to go see the dog and get ready for pre-season but never fear, it will soon be time to start planning another U.S sporting extravaganza. Hydro Flask Straw Lid Wide Mouth .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Water Bottle Hydro Flask 24 oz Standard Mouth White . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. http://www.hydroflaskaustralia.com/water-bottle-hydro-flask-18-oz-wide-mouth-mint.html . PAUL, Minn. Hydro Flask LID & CAP Standard Mouth Black Flex Cap . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Hydro Flask Coffee Australia . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. LOS ANGELES -- To suggest Maya Moore has a keen sense of the moment is not to say she isnt playing her tail off constantly. Because she is.Yet in a career full of big moments in big games, this chaser (and usually catcher) of championships senses the times when something extra special is needed.In those moments, there is so much to think about, so I try to be locked in all the time, Moore said after Minnesotas season-saving 85-79 victory Sunday over Los Angeles in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. Sometimes, though, you look up and say, We need this moment. Were fighting, were battling, and Im just conditioned to step up in those moments.That all sounds cliché, but it actually looks breathtaking every time Moore does it. In a game with so much emotion from tipoff at Staples Center, Moore and the Lynx did not let themselves have another subpar effort, as was the case Friday in Game 3.The Lynx led most of the game. When the Sparks made surges, the Lynx answered. Moore, in particular, had some huge answers. She bounced back from nine points in Fridays loss with 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists Sunday.Was anyone surprised? Of course not. This is what Moore does. She has averaged 19.4 points in 46 career playoff games, just a notch up from the 18.6 she has averaged in 203 regular-season games. Moore is consistently great, but the higher the stakes, the better she is.As Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve put it, Mayas greedy. Shes never satisfied. She wants more championships.Reeve, though, also sees the stuff Moore doesnt do right. Thats her job as a coach. But Reeve said Moore has an unshakeable faith that shes always going to make the next play. Even games such as Fridays dont rattle Moore at all. What does rattle her?I havent seen her be rattled, Reeve said. [Alana] Beard would rattle me. Her defense would rattle the hell out of me. Id have been turning it over every darned time. So I guess if Beard cant do it, I dont know.For the second season in a row, Moore and the defending champion Lynx will play a Game 5 at home at Target Center. By this point last year, they had worn out the Indiana Fever, and they won the decisive game handily. The Sparks dont seem to be physically tired, but missing out on the chance to win a championship at home Sunday will be a mental challenge for Los Angeles to overcome.Even so, this series going the distance is what pretty much everyone expected from the top two teams in the league. The new playoff format, which got rid of conference affiliation, allowed these two West teams to be on opposite sides of the postseason bracket. It has produced a thrilling WNBA Finals that have included a buzzer-beatinng victory by the Sparks in Game 1, decisive wins by the Lynx in Game 2 and the Sparks in Game 3, and a can-you-feel-your-pulse-racing Lynx triumph in Game 4.ddddddddddddIts been dramatic. Its been stressful. But its been great if youre a fan of basketball, Moore said of this series. I think youre going to see the best in Game 5.Moore is a big reason there will be a Game 5, and the closing minutes of the third quarter were a microcosm of what she has done so much of in her career. Chelsea Gray, who with 20 points had a fantastic game off the bench for the Sparks, hit a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 29 seconds left in the period. Kristi Toliver followed with another 3 at the 1:43 mark to cut Minnesotas lead to one. The fans at Staples Center were going bonkers.But Moore answered with her own 3-pointer. Gray hit another 3. Then Moore hit another. After a Lynx defensive stop, Moore hit two free throws.Anything you can do, I can do better ...That maintained the Lynxs lead at six points going into the final 10 minutes. The last quarter was operatic all on its own, with both teams and the crowd at a fever pitch, the Lynx trying desperately to stay alive and the Sparks just as desperate to slam the door shut on the championship.The Sparks finally were able to tie the score on Candace Parkers driving layup with 6:01 left. Then consecutive turnovers by the Sparks led to baskets from Lindsay Whalen, with Moore assisting on one.Los Angeles cut the lead to two points twice in the final 2:08 but couldnt close the gap. Parker was called for a foul against Rebekkah Brunson with 12.5 seconds left -- on a play that could have been called a clean block. Brunson, who was in foul trouble a lot of the game, hit both clutch free throws. Moore finished the game with four more free throws.For the Sparks, who have taken some gut-punch losses in the playoffs over the years, this was really tough. They made mistakes with shot selection at some crucial times. They had some very costly turnovers late. They were beaten on the boards 41-25 and sent the Lynx to the foul line 27 times, with Minnesota making 24.However, Los Angeles matched the Lynx in terms of playing hard. Coach Brian Agler stressed that there was no lack of effort from his team. But ultimately, it was just too much Moore, and that kept the Sparks from winning their first championship since 2002. It also gives the Lynx a chance to win their fourth title and second in a row.We needed every bit of what Maya did, Reeve said. It wasnt easy. 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