Good morning. Twelve days ago the Rams were a punchline in Melbourne. Last night they were a football team again, and the man most responsible for the first thing took accountability with a viral line. Meanwhile the Sparks land in Las Vegas for Nneka Ogwumike’s last road game, the Padres come to Chavez Ravine with the postseason around the corner and there’s a free Famous Star waiting for you. Let’s get into it.
🚨 HEADLINES
🏈 McVay owns it. “Sometimes you have a dumb ass coach that makes travel plans that put you in a bad spot.” That was the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, at the podium, after a 28-6 win. Arash Markazi at SoFi Stadium →
🏈 Rams still committed to Australia. Rams president Kevin Demoff told The Sporting Tribune, exclusively, that McVay’s frustration was about Week 1 and not about Australia — and that the organization is still committed there. Arash Markazi in Los Angeles→
🏈 99 is back. Aaron Donald came flying out of the tunnel for the first time in 32 months. He was rusty. Nobody cared. Eric Lambkins II at SoFi Stadium →
🏀 Two games left. Nneka Ogwumike’s WNBA career ends this week. Tonight in Las Vegas is the last road stop. Rey Moralde at Michelob ULTRA Arena →
🏈 Crosby’s team, finally. Maxx Crosby has carried the Raiders’ pride alone for years. He may not have to anymore. Arash Markazi at SoFi Stadium →
🏀 Immortalized. Lisa Leslie’s legacy now stands in bronze in Los Angeles. Micaela Begue at Crypto.com Arena →
📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
NFL — Rams 28, Giants 6 (SoFi Stadium)
EIGHT WORDS, AND AUSTRALIA IS OVER
There is a version of Monday night where Sean McVay wins 28-6, takes the podium, says the team “executed at a high level,” and everyone goes home. That version happens in most NFL cities most weeks. It did not happen at SoFi Stadium.
Asked about the trip that started this season sideways, McVay did something coaches are trained out of doing : he named the guilty party, and it was him.
“We have the right people. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. Sometimes you have a dumb ass coach that makes travel plans that put you in a bad spot. So there you go.”
The Rams landed in Melbourne roughly 24 hours before kickoff. The 49ers had been there a week. The Rams lost 27-7 in the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Australia, and the travel plan became the story — not because the media invented it, but because it was the difference sitting in plain sight.
McVay had tried to move past it on Sept. 17 with “We’re not playing in Australia ever again, I hope,” which promptly traveled further than any football his team threw that week. Monday’s version was better, because it stopped blaming the continent and started blaming the calendar.
What followed was the cleanest game the Rams have played this year. Davante Adams went for eight catches and 195 yards with Puka Nacua out of the lineup. The defense held the Giants out of the end zone entirely. And Aaron Donald ran out of that tunnel and turned 70,000 people into a single sound.
“I was so juiced,” Matthew Stafford said of Donald’s introduction. “He came running out of the tunnel and I couldn’t control myself.”
McVay’s prescription for the rest of it was four words long: “Hey, let’s do the next right thing.”
That is what the last 12 days cost — and what they bought.
GO DEEPER: Rams finally move on from Australia as Sean McVay owns his mistake →
RAMS STILL COMMITTED TO AUSTRALIA
A few hours before McVay’s “dumb ass coach” line, Rams president Kevin Demoff talked to Arash Markazi in Inglewood to clean up what McVay had previously said. His argument was that McVay was talking about 60 minutes of football, not a country.
“I think you’re going to hear his frustration, which is frustration about the way we played, not frustration about international games, not frustration about Australia. It’s literally frustration about Week 1.”
Demoff called the reaction a product of a “headline clickbait world,” pointed to the riverfront activations, Rampage and the cheerleaders spending weeks in Melbourne, and the 15 Rams players who have visited Australia on team trips.
“I think Sean is one of the best brand ambassadors we have. But I think if you ask our 15 players who have been to Australia on visits … I think they would tell you that they love Australia.”
He did not pretend the week went well.
“I understand we missed an opportunity to play our best, to be engaged that week, and that’s something that we’ll grapple with as an organization.”
No date announced for a return. More activations in the works. The Australia and New Zealand fan club ads keep running.
GO DEEPER: Kevin Demoff says Rams remain committed to Australia, clarifies Sean McVay’s comments →
TRUST, AND RUST
Eric Lambkins II found the through-line in a game that could have been written as a blowout and nothing more.
Kyren Williams fumbled in the second quarter. McVay sent him back out; Williams finished with 85 yards on 12 carries and a 10-yard touchdown catch.
“That’s exactly what trust is,” Williams said. “When I did make a mistake, not turning your back on me, but running toward me.”
Terrance Ferguson dropped two in the third quarter. McVay went back to him in the fourth, and Stafford found him for the 8-yard touchdown that ended the argument. Blake Corum fumbled too. He stayed in and finished with 79 yards.
Stafford: 22-of-31, 327 yards, four touchdowns, a 131.3 rating, and two places climbed on lists that matter — past Philip Rivers for sixth all-time in touchdown passes, past Jim Everett into second in franchise history behind Roman Gabriel.
The Rams outgained New York 481-182.
“Trust that brother beside you,” edge rusher Byron Young said. “We trust that guy to hold the edge. We trust that guy to knock out the run.”
GO DEEPER: How the Rams’ 28-6 victory on Monday Night Football was powered by trust and a legendary return →
HER LAST ROAD GAME
Two games left in the Sparks’ season. Two games left in Nneka Ogwumike’s career. Tonight’s is the last one she’ll ever play away from home, and it comes at Michelob ULTRA Arena against a 29-13 Aces team riding a five-game winning streak and chasing the third seed.
The Sparks (16-26) arrive shorthanded — Dearica Hamby (left knee), Cameron Brink (right ankle) and Aaliyah Nye (left ankle) are all out for a second straight game — which means the kids play. Rey Moralde writes that’s not the worst outcome: Chance Gray set a career high with 11 on Sunday, Rae Burrell notched her 11th 20-point game of the season, and Jihyun Park has turned into a real rotation piece. Los Angeles has won four of six.
“I’ve always thought it was important to ensure that anybody that you encounter, any player, any teammate, is someone that you can pour into but also someone that you can learn from,” Ogwumike said.
On the other bench: A’ja Wilson, who could collect a fifth MVP and a third straight scoring title.
GO DEEPER: Sparks face Aces on Ogwumike’s last career WNBA road game →
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🍔 THE DEALS BOARD
Active today across Southern California — brought to you by Ike’s Sandwiches, home of the world famous Arash Markazi sandwich, which has fried chicken, purple slaw, wasabi mayo, honey mustard, and cheddar on a Dutch Crunch roll. Just ask for the 500 at any Ike’s location.
🌟 Carl’s Jr. × Rams — free Famous Star with Cheese with the purchase of a large drink. Triggered by the Rams’ interception Monday night. Code RAMS8696 in the app’s Offers tab. Active today and tomorrow. Codes rotate — verify at therams.com/game-day/promotions.
🥤 Mountain Dew — free 20 oz. Baja Blast. Javier Báez went 426 feet Monday, clearing the 420-foot trigger. Wallet pass covers up to $4 at OTC Network stores; you may owe a few cents in tax and CRV. Sign up at bajablasthomeruns.com. Season program runs through Sept. 27.
🚒 Firehouse Subs — buy one medium sub, get one free. Four MLB games went extra innings over the weekend, including Twins–Angels going 11 on Saturday. Code EXTRA, digital orders only, Rewards account required. Good through Wednesday.
Not active today: Panda Express, ampm, Habit Burger, Jack in the Box, Sunright and Con Azúcar all reset — the Dodgers were off Monday. Everything comes back live tonight against San Diego.
📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
6:40 p.m. — Angels at Athletics · ABTV
7:00 p.m. — Sparks at Aces · ESPN
7:00 p.m. — Mammoth at Kings · ABTV
7:00 p.m. — Golden Knights at Sharks · ESPN+
7:10 p.m. — Padres at Dodgers · SNLA
🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?
Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.
Padres at Dodgers, Dodger Stadium, 7:10 p.m. — $57
Sparks at Aces, Michelob ULTRA Arena, 7:00 p.m. — $20
🌴 TST TRIVIA
Tonight’s game features two players taken No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft — Nneka Ogwumike for the Sparks and A’ja Wilson for the Aces. Which years were they selected?
Answer below.
🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY
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Trivia answer: Ogwumike went No. 1 to the Sparks in 2012 out of Stanford. Wilson went No. 1 to the Aces in 2018 out of South Carolina. Six years apart, one court tonight.
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