Michael J. Duarte is a sports writer and reporter with NBCLA. He is known for his sharp wit in sports news storytelling and his detailed sports features, Duarte is the 2019 Southern California Sports Journalist of the Year and currently covers the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, Rams, and more.
The Latest
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Ring the Victory Bell! USC rallies to beat crosstown rivals UCLA 19-13 to clinch a bowl game
Ring the Victory Bell, the USC Trojans have won the battle of Los Angeles. USC rallied in the fourth quarter for 19-13 victory over crosstown rivals UCLA to qualify for a bowl game with their sixth win of the season. Sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 221 yards and a touchdown in the win. “Jayden has been able to make…
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Shohei Ohtani's oldest game-worn jersey from Japan hits the auction block
In the world of sports memorabilia, few items command the same reverence as something tied to the 2024 National League MVP Shohei Ohtani. His remarkable journey from a teen phenom in Japan to now three-time MLB MVP has captivated fans across the globe. Now, collectors have a chance to own a tangible piece of his early legacy: the oldest known…
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Shohei Ohtani's $4.4 Million 50-50 ball lands in Taiwan's iconic Taipei 101 building
Shohei Ohtani is a global icon, but his star status is about to be on full display in Taiwan. Ohtani’s fame knows no boundaries, and now, one of the most celebrated souvenirs in all of baseball will be on display in one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers. Ohtani’s infamous 50-50 home run ball will be presented proudly in...
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Give the gift of victory: Dodgers World Series gear makes the perfect Christmas gift
The weather has cooled, the leaves have fallen, and the Santa Ana winds have returned. That means it’s officially the holiday season in Los Angeles, and with Thanksgiving a couple weeks away, that means Christmas is right around the corner. If you’re searching for Christmas gifts for the sports fan in your life, what better way to keep the...
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LAFC defeats Vancouver 1-0 in Match 3 of first round of MLS Cup Playoffs, advance to semifinals against Seattle
On a cool Friday night at BMO Stadium, LAFC showed why they’re built for moments like these. The atmosphere was charged, the stakes high, and in a 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, it was Mateusz Bogusz who delivered the knockout blow, propelling LAFC to the Western Conference semifinals and a date with the Seattle Sounders. The final match...
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Watch: Lakers honor World Series Champion Dodgers at Crypto.com Arena
The 2024 World Series trophy shimmered and shined like a diamond underneath the bright lights at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night. Yes, you read that right. The World Series trophy was inside the house that Shaq and Kobe built, and that LeBron James and Anthony Davis currently reside. As the Lakers faced off the visiting Philadelphia 76ers, the sellout...
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The top five best moments from the Dodgers 2024 World Series parade and celebration at Dodger Stadium
After 36 long years, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally hosted another parade through the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon to celebrate their 2024 World Series Championship. The players and their families rode along double-decker buses throughout the streets of downtown Los Angeles, starting at City Hall, and ending at the corner of 5th street and Flower, near…
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Dodgers 2024 World Series triumph over the New York Yankees is a microcosm of their season and the last decade
Any journey, whether it be in life, love, or in this case, sports, is often tumultuous. The end of that journey would not have the same significance if it was simple, or easy. The voyage must contain trials and tribulations, meant to beat you down and break you along the way. Those journeys are filled with a series of...
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Walker Buehler's dominant start in Game 3 of the World Series proves why he's still the best big game pitcher in the business
It’s Walker Buehler’s world, and we’re all just living in it. There was a moment early in Game 3 on Monday night at Yankee Stadium that a raucous crowd of 49,368 loyal fans fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. No, it wasn’t during the pregame Fat Joe performance, but it happened shortly after Yankees’ slugger Aaron...
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Denis Bouanga, Cristian Olivera score as LAFC opens MLS playoffs with 2-1 victory over Whitecaps
Denis Bouanga scored on a penalty kick in the first half and Cristian Olivera scored early in the second to lead Western Conference regular-season champion Los Angeles FC to a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday night in a best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup. LAFC took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on the PK...
