Latest news with #PuppyBowlXXI
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Letters to Sports: At last, a Super Bowl prediction by Bill Plaschke that's a winner
No more participation trophies for Bill Plaschke! Los Angeles' lovable loser nailed it by predicting the Eagles' big win, ending his losing tradition that envied the Benoit Benjamin Clippers of the 1980s! Jay RossWest L.A. :: Congratulations to Bill Plaschke on picking the Eagles to win Super Bowl LIX! It shows that even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Vaughn HardenbergWestwood High scoring! Close finish! Good-looking players! Inspiring backstories! Unique play calls! Witty banter! Great halftime show! No question about it, Puppy Bowl XXI was the highlight of the day! Diane HooverSan Pedro Before Super Bowl LIX, there was a conspiracy theory that officials have been tilting games in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, that theory was squashed as the Philadelphia Eagles flew circles around the Chiefs. Now, the conspiracy theory might be that those in uniform for Kansas City were not the real Chiefs since their play was so bad! Wayne MuramatsuCerritos I was looking forward to LeBron James' eventual retirement so that the Lakers could shed his turnovers, lack of defense and crying to the referees about non-calls. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the Lakers to get LeBron's clone as his replacement. Sad, sad, sad. Richard RaffalowValley Glen Anthony Davis getting injured in his first game as a Maverick, after being traded amid concerns about his durability, is the most Anthony Davis thing ever. Steve RossCarmel The top three most extraordinary, mind-blowing individual basketball performances in Los Angeles history: • Dwayne Polee in '81: 43 pts (17-20) for Manual Arts over archrival Crenshaw in the City title game (sold-out Sports Arena). • Kobe's 81 ('06 Staples, 'nuff said). • JuJu Watkins' 38 (and 11, 8 and 5) over undefeated and No. 1-ranked archrival UCLA. Brad KearnsStateline, Nev. UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin took a lot of heat from a lot of places several weeks ago when after a losing streak he publicly called out his players for playing lazy and uninspired basketball. To the credit of his players and the discredit of his critics, Cronin's team has responded by turning things around and playing some of the most active and inspired basketball in the country. They force numerous turnovers on defense and commit very few on offense. They have moved their way to near the top of their conference as the tournaments draw near. Kudos! Alan AbajianAlta Loma It has virtually become an annual rite of passage: Dodgers ownership commits to an obscene dollar amount in contracts followed by the L.A. Times Sports section proclaiming the Dodgers' impending invincibility. Dylan Hernández's latest column actually predicts a possible 120-win season. Does The Times really believe that the rest of MLB plans to simply play comedic foil to the Dodgers, like the hapless Washington Generals did for the Harlem Globetrotters? Rob FleishmanPlacentia :: Regarding Dylan Hernández's Dodgers column: Is Bill Plaschke's Big Book of Superlatives and Exaggerations now the official style sheet for LAT sports writers? John MerrymanRedondo Beach The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used. Email: sports@ Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
15-02-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to Sports: At last, a Super Bowl prediction by Bill Plaschke that's a winner
No more participation trophies for Bill Plaschke! Los Angeles' lovable loser nailed it by predicting the Eagles' big win, ending his losing tradition that envied the Benoit Benjamin Clippers of the 1980s! Jay RossWest L.A. :: Congratulations to Bill Plaschke on picking the Eagles to win Super Bowl LIX! It shows that even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Vaughn HardenbergWestwood High scoring! Close finish! Good-looking players! Inspiring backstories! Unique play calls! Witty banter! Great halftime show! No question about it, Puppy Bowl XXI was the highlight of the day! Diane HooverSan Pedro Before Super Bowl LIX, there was a conspiracy theory that officials have been tilting games in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, that theory was squashed as the Philadelphia Eagles flew circles around the Chiefs. Now, the conspiracy theory might be that those in uniform for Kansas City were not the real Chiefs since their play was so bad! Wayne MuramatsuCerritos I was looking forward to LeBron James' eventual retirement so that the Lakers could shed his turnovers, lack of defense and crying to the referees about non-calls. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the Lakers to get LeBron's clone as his replacement. Sad, sad, sad. Richard RaffalowValley Glen Anthony Davis getting injured in his first game as a Maverick, after being traded amid concerns about his durability, is the most Anthony Davis thing ever. Steve RossCarmel The top three most extraordinary, mind-blowing individual basketball performances in Los Angeles history: • Dwayne Polee in '81: 43 pts (17-20) for Manual Arts over archrival Crenshaw in the City title game (sold-out Sports Arena). • Kobe's 81 ('06 Staples, 'nuff said). • JuJu Watkins' 38 (and 11, 8 and 5) over undefeated and No. 1-ranked archrival UCLA. Brad KearnsStateline, Nev. UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin took a lot of heat from a lot of places several weeks ago when after a losing streak he publicly called out his players for playing lazy and uninspired basketball. To the credit of his players and the discredit of his critics, Cronin's team has responded by turning things around and playing some of the most active and inspired basketball in the country. They force numerous turnovers on defense and commit very few on offense. They have moved their way to near the top of their conference as the tournaments draw near. Kudos! Alan AbajianAlta Loma It has virtually become an annual rite of passage: Dodgers ownership commits to an obscene dollar amount in contracts followed by the L.A. Times Sports section proclaiming the Dodgers' impending invincibility. Dylan Hernández's latest column actually predicts a possible 120-win season. Does The Times really believe that the rest of MLB plans to simply play comedic foil to the Dodgers, like the hapless Washington Generals did for the Harlem Globetrotters? Rob FleishmanPlacentia :: Regarding Dylan Hernández's Dodgers column: Is Bill Plaschke's Big Book of Superlatives and Exaggerations now the official style sheet for LAT sports writers? John MerrymanRedondo Beach The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used. Email: sports@
USA Today
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Who won Puppy Bowl 2025? Highlights from the fluffiest competition before Super Bowl
Who won Puppy Bowl 2025? Highlights from the fluffiest competition before Super Bowl Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Puppy Bowl drama: Dog Smoosh cries after a ruff call Puppy Bowl XXI referee Dan Schachner had to wipe away dog tears after Smoosh got emotional in Sunday's big game. The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, the cutest show before the kickoff of Super Bowl 59, lived up to the undeniable hype as the fluffiest game of the year. Its main purpose is to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of dogs from shelters and rescues. The 21st annual Puppy Bowl was filled with playful energy, featuring 142 puppy athletes, including 11 dogs with special needs. These adorable pups came from 80 shelters and rescues across 40 states and two countries. Representing Team Ruff and Team Fluff, they joyfully raced toward the end zone, all in search of their forever homes, with the Lombarky Trophy toy being an exciting bonus. Many of the puppies had fitting names for the big game, such as Saquon Barkley, the Australian Shepherd-Bernese Mountain Dog, and a pair of Pomeranian siblings named Jason and Travis, after the Kelce brothers. Dee-Bone Samuel, a poodle mix, has already added a trophy toy to their collection after being named this year's Popularity Playoffs champion. The big question remains: Which team won? Was it Team Fluff, featuring the adorable Labrador retriever mix, Abigail, and Smoosh the Pekingese? Or was it Team Ruff, led by Mr. Pickles the pug mix and Demure the Cairn Terrier, who claimed back-to-back Puppy Bowls? Here are the highlights as the action unfolds. Who won Puppy Bowl XXI? Winner will be updated when the Puppy Bowl concludes.
USA Today
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Who are the star dogs of Puppy Bowl 2025? Rocky, Smoosh, Mr. Pickles take the field
Who are the star dogs of Puppy Bowl 2025? Rocky, Smoosh, Mr. Pickles take the field Show Caption Hide Caption 'Puppy Bowl' controversy: Rocky gets penalty for giving too much love Who throws a flag for excessive licking in the Puppy Bowl? Watch as referee Dan Schachner gets smothered with love from special needs dog Rocky. It takes pure animal magnetism to shine amid the bright lights of Super Bowl Sunday. But Rocky, an American pit bull terrier born with front limb deformities, is one of the star dogs running away with "Puppy Bowl XXI," Animal Planet's pre-Super Bowl dogfest. The football-themed annual dog adoption showcase, featuring 142 rescue puppies (including 11 with special needs), returns for its 21st edition before Super Bowl 59. Former NFL referee Dan Schachner, who has ruled as Puppy Bowl human "Rufferee" with bad dog puns and mock penalty flags since 2012, assures USA TODAY that Rocky is gonna fly now. The doe-eyed pride of Maryland's Pets with Disabilities shelter uses stealth speed to score for Team Ruff against perennial rival Team Fluff. 'Rocky has those expressive eyes and the heart of a champion," Schachner says. "But talk about surprises. He has that burst of explosive speed. You wouldn't know it until you see it.' Here's a look at the standout performers from "Puppy Bowl XXI," a three-hour special simulcast on Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery+, Max, TBS, and truTV (2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST). Puppy Bowl 2025 Meet Mr. Pickles, Sprinkle, Julep and more. Find out how to watch How special-needs dog Rocky got penalized for licking in the Puppy Bowl Schachner is crouched on the field coaxing an overly chilled-out Great Pyrenees-boxer mix Mercury into action when Rocky jumps him with a swift, slobbery surprise love attack. 'I didn't see it coming. I didn't even have any dog snacks in my pocket," Schachner says. Schachner orders the 'excessive licking' penalty without knowing the rule offender's identity. The drool is part of the gig working the Puppy Bowl, which is taped in October on a miniature astroturfed football stadium erected in an upstate New York studio. 'I've been pooped on, stomped on, dogs have ripped my socks off and unlaced my shoes,' Schachner says. 'That's what happens when you're the only human on a field of puppies. But it's all love.' There's no crying in football… except for Smoosh Smoosh, the Puppy Bowl's first-ever Pekingese, provides one of the true emotional moments. Schachner playfully lectures Smooth for pulling the blue bandanna off his Team Fluff teammate, Alice. Smoosh visibly tears up in his arms, requiring dabbing with the penalty flag. 'We've had dogs whine for treats, but actual tears of sadness? That was a first,' says Schachner, who jokingly nixes the observation that Smoosh (from Florida Little Dog Rescue) was crying happy tears from the human hug. 'Smoosh was upset as an athlete. She lost focus, and touchdowns were being scored all around her.' Yes, the Puppy Bowl keeps the score. Touchdowns are tallied each time a dog player carries a chew toy into the end zone. Last year's gaudy final tally? Team Ruff defeated Team Fluff, 72-69, to paw the esteemed Lombarky Trophy. 'We get these monstrous scores because there's a lot of offense and not much defense,' Schachner says. Mr. Pickles is so Pug-nacious that Puppy Bowl trainer Victoria Schade adopted him Author and lead dog trainer Victoria Schade had somehow resisted adopting a Puppy Bowl pooch until this year ‒ her 17th on the job ‒ when true love and timing coincided. The taping came months after Schade had lost her family's beloved senior dog. Five-month-old pug Mr. Pickles (from the Texas rescue shelter Dallas Dog) stole her heart, on and off the field. 'I fell in love,' Schade says. 'It wasn't just any dog, but this dog. He's perfection, the best dude." Many, if not most, of the Puppy Bowl canines are adopted in the months between production and airtime. Schade has renamed her new family member Boris, who gets along swimmingly with her other senior dog at home. As Mr. Pickles, the pug makes his Puppy Bowl presence known, especially during an epic on-field toy tug-of-war. 'It's more like a tug of love; he's a great tugger,' Schade says. 'He has some great moments out there. I'm a very proud mom." Who stars in the Puppy Bowl? The Puppy Bowl features rescue kittens during the Kitty Halftime Show (for obvious reasons, the cats take the field when the dogs are off getting their locker room pup talk). The event also features a lineup of pun-tastic names with power personalities. They include: ◾ Dee-Bone Samuel: The poodle mix's real name is Tobias, but he gamely takes the stage name to honor NFL star Deebo Samuel. ◾ Shih Tzu Bark Kent vs. Dachshund Lex Woofer: The pooches named after the DC Comics archrivals tussle again in the end zone. Spoiler alert: Bark Kent is penalized for overzealous grabbing of Lex Woofer's collar. Crime doesn't pay. ◾ Jolene: The pit bull mix requires a wheelchair to get around. "But she really moves around the field," says Schachner. ◾ Trio: The three-legged Boston Terrier bounds with the speed of a jackrabbit. "He's got these incredibly strong legs,' Schachner says. 'When he jumps, the vertical distance is amazing.'
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Puppy Bowl: Where to watch Team Ruff vs. Team Fluff go paw to paw for the Lombarky trophy today
It's time for Super Bowl LIX! But if you aren't interested in the Jalen Hurts vs. Patrick Mahomes showdown, you may want to check out the slightly fluffier clash happening this afternoon: the 2025 Puppy Bowl. That's right, for all the animal lovers out there, Team Ruff and Team Fluff are about to go head-to-adorable-head in Puppy Bowl XXI! For the last two decades, the Puppy Bowl has provided a fluffy alternative option for the football-averse come Game Day. The heartwarming tournament encourages viewers to consider adopting a dog from an animal shelter or rescue. This year's Puppy Bowl will see 142 puppies from 80 shelters and rescues across 40 states and two countries compete for the Lombark-y trophy. This game will also see the first-ever Puppy Combine pregame show, where 10 pups will participate in practice drills for the top spot in the Puppy Bowl draft. And don't forget about the Kitty Halftime Show! The 2025 Puppy Bowl will air on Sunday, Feb. 9 starting at 2 p.m. ET — so tuning in won't actually interfere with watching the Chiefs vs. Eagles Super Bowl. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Puppy Bowl XXI! Puppy Bowl XXI will begin on Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. ET. The bowl will last approximately three hours, ending with plenty of time to catch Super Bowl 59 on FOX (or free on Tubi) at 6:30 p.m. ET. A Puppy Bowl pregame show will also air at 1 p.m. on Sunday on Animal Planet. The Puppy Bowl will be broadcast on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS and truTV — you'll also be able to stream it on Max and Discovery+. This year's adorable list of competitors in the 2025 Puppy Bowl includes Chow Chow and Chihuahua mix Lin-Manuel Furanda, a three-legged Doberman Pinscher named Maxx, a Lab puppy called Meatball, Paws Allen and so many more precious competitors. For the full Puppy Bowl lineup, check out Puppy Bowl XXI photo gallery. Unfortunately, no. The Puppy Bowl is prerecorded, and by the time you watch the game on Super Bowl Sunday, many of the precious players will have already been adopted. But that shouldn't stop you from heading to your local animal shelter to find your own PAW-vis Kelce to adopt.
