Although the Los Angeles Rams have won three consecutive games to climb back into the playoff picture, the biggest sports story in the city continues to be the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the World Series.
The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in this year’s Fall Classic to capture their eighth championship in franchise history. In doing so, the team was able to hold its first World Series parade since 1988, which brought joy to many fans in L.A.
The Los Angeles teams have a good relationship with each other and that was evident when Rams head coach Sean McVay called Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to congratulate him on winning the World Series.
“I have,” McVay answered when asked if he has spoken to Roberts recently. “Dave’s great. I was really happy for Dave and more impressed with just the consistency at which he’s led over time. I talked to him a little bit before the World Series and then got a chance to talk to him right before they had their parade.
“Dave’s awesome. I look up to Dave. We try to mimic and emulate a lot of the ways that he goes about it. It’s a pretty cool little deal, being able to lead the way and manage those guys. You could see the love and respect that they all have for one another and the way they’ve navigated through it. Congrats to the Dodgers and Dave Roberts. He knows what a fan of his I am.”
For Roberts, it was his second World Series title since becoming Dodgers manager prior to the 2016 season. The first championship came during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, which didn’t feature a traditional celebration.
McVay knows how to win the big game as well as he is less than three years removed from leading the Rams to their first Super Bowl title in L.A. franchise history.
In addition to the Dodgers and Rams, the Los Angeles Football Club (2022) and Los Angeles Lakers (2020) have delivered championships to the city this decade.
Rams-Dodgers connections
Shortly after signing with the Dodgers in free agency last year, Shohei Ohtani made an appearance at SoFi Stadium to watch the Rams defeat the New Orleans Saints.
Ohtani even got a chance to see the Rams’ locker room and McVay extended him an open invite. “Hey, he could do whatever he wants,” McVay said. “He is always welcome. It was cool to be able to have him. I didn’t realize how big he was.
“He had a great way about himself. It was really cool to be able to meet him. I’m a fan of his and I’m a huge fan of Dave Roberts, and so I know how jacked up he is to be able to have him on the squad. And so that was really cool. And I know a lot of the guys got a chance to meet him. So he is welcome anytime for however we can take care of him.”