LA LEGENDS

BY Mike Rifkin

Thursday was a tough day for Los Angeles sports fans. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and Kings Center Anze Kopitar will both retire following their respective seasons. Both players are future Hall Of Famers in their respective sports and will be honored by their organizations. 

Clayton Kershaw was the seventh overall pick in 2006 by the Dodgers, and little did they know they were getting one of the best pitchers not only of his generation, but all time. Kershaw, who will make his final start at Dodger Stadium against the rival Giants, is 222-96 in his career with a 2.54 ERA. Kershaw has plenty of accolades to boot, he is a three time CY Young award winner, 2014 NL MVP, Triple Crown winner, 11 time All Star, Gold Glove and the Roberto Clemente award. The one thing people held against Kershaw was that he wasn’t a great playoff performer, but he is a two time World Series Champion. 

Anze Kopitar was the 11th overall pick (Ironic) in 2005 by the LA Kings, and they got one of the best two-way Centers in the NHL. Entering this season Kopitar has played in 1,454 games scoring 440 goals, 1,278 points and is a +108. Kopitar, like Kershaw, has won two Stanley Cups. He’s never won the Hart Trophy for league MVP, but he has two Selkes for best defensive forward, three Lady Byng trophies for sportsmanship and he won the 2021-22 Messier leadership award. 

If you build a Mount Rushmore for LA sports figures in the 2010’s it’s very hard not to put these guys on it. They’re great players on the field and ice, and they’re great people off of it, but the thing I find most admirable about them is their loyalty. In an era where free agency and player movement has reigned supreme these two guys have stayed with the organizations that drafted them, it’s not something you see everyday. Congratulations to both on fantastic careers and both should be without a doubt first ballot hall of famers.