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 2003
- USC routs Iowa in the Orange Bowl, 38-17, and ends the football season ranked #4 nationally (Jan. 2)
- Laker Kobe Bryant scores at least 40 points in 9 consecutive games setting an NBA record (Feb. 6-23)
- UCLA named Ben Howland its new basketball coach, the first time a former national coach of the year has been hired for the position.(April 3)
- The new Home Depot Center opens in Carson; the Home Depot Track & Field Invitational is the inaugural event, drawing a sellout crowd of 10,094 (June 1)
- Anaheim Mighty Ducks make the NHL playoffs for the first time in four years and advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time ever, eventually losing to New Jersey in seven games (April-June)
- Lennox Lewis beats Vitali Klitschko at Staples Center in the first heavyweight title fight held in L.A. in 45 years; Lewis wins by 6th round KO (June 21)
- Dodger Eric Gagne sets consecutive saves record and finishes a perfect 55-for-55 in save opportunities en route to winning the National League Cy Young award (September)
- The FIFA Women's World Cup final is held at the Home Depot Center in Carson as Germany beats Sweden, 2-1, in overtime (Oct. 12)
- Richard Mandella becomes the first trainer to saddle four winners in a single Breeders' Cup day at Santa Anita (Oct. 25)
- USC football team finishes the regular season 11-1 and #1 in both major national polls for the first time since 1972 (December)
2002
- Rose Bowl hosts college football's BCS national championship game for the first time as top-ranked Miami defeats no. 2 Nebraska, 37-14. (January)
- Michelle Kwan of Torrance beats Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes to win 6th national title at U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Staples Center. (January)
- First Pac-10 Conference basketball tournament since 1990 held, this time at Staples Center; Arizona beats USC in the championship game. (March)
- Shawn Green hits 4 home runs with record-setting 19 total bases in game at Milwaukee. (May)
- Lakers sweep New Jersey in NBA Finals for third straight NBA title. (June)
- Sparks win second straight WNBA title by beating New York in finals. (August)
- Oscar De La Hoya beats Fernando Vargas in "Battle of L.A." for WBA junior middleweight crown. (September)
- Angels win Game 7 over San Francisco for first-ever World Series title. (October)
- Galaxy defeats New England in overtime to win MLS championship. (October)
- Heisman-winning quarterback Carson Palmer leads USC to 10-2 regular season record and wins against Notre Dame and UCLA
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