What Up, Long Beach?!

We were at the 2025 Dirtbags Leadoff Dinner last Friday at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach to celebrate the start of the season and talk to new coach TJ Bruce, his mentor and old coach Mike Weathers, emcee John Rami and PGA Tour golfer John Mallinger who is helping with the Dirtbags Collective.

We caught up with Wilson and St. Anthony coaches and players at the CIF Southern Section Championship Luncheon to talk about playing for titles on Saturday.

The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase has been the official sponsor of football coverage here at The562 and on the podcast we're talking about how high school football players can take advantage of this opportunity to continue their academic and athletic careers in college.

We're previewing the five Long Beach high school football games on Friday for Millikan, Long Beach Poly, Lakewood, Wilson and St. Anthony.

There are many rule changes for the NCAA and its member schools that will impact college athletics for years to come. It's unclear if that makes life easier or harder for mid-major universities without football programs, and that's what we sat down and talked to Long Beach State athletic director Bobby Smitheran about last week.

We're breaking down the Long Beach Poly and Millikan football game coming up Friday night by talking about the players and matchups we're excited to see.

We sit down with Long Beach State men's basketball guard Ramel Lloyd Jr. and his dad Ramel “Rock” Lloyd Sr.   Ramel Lloyd Jr. transferred in from Nebraska where the 6'6” 210-pound guard sat out last season with a serious knee injury. He is also the son of Ramel “Rock” Lloyd Sr. who was All-Big West for LBSU in 2001. Lloyd Sr. is one of only 10 Beach players to score 600 points in a season, and he ranks eighth in career scoring with 1,527 career points.

We sat down with Long Beach State Athletic Director Bobby Smitheran to talk about NIL collectives, fixing the Walter Pyramid roof and much more.

We sat down with new Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball coach TJ Bruce to talk about his journey back to the Beach before his introductory press conference on Friday.

We sat down with Long Beach State men's basketball coach Chris Acker to talk about building his roster with exciting transfers who have local ties. 

We sat down with new Long Beach State Athletic Director Bobby Smitheran  and new men's basketball coach Chris Acker to discuss the basketball program they're building and everything else going on at the Beach.

We're talking about Long Beach State men's basketball improbable run to a Big West Conference Tournament championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament just a week after it was announced that coach Dan Monson and LBSU would be “parting ways” after the season.  

We interview former Wilson girls' basketball coach Erin Carey about stepping down because of bad parents behavior.

We're talking about the top Long Beach High school winter sports teams and storylines with boys' basketball ball (1:30), girls' basketball (13:20), boys' soccer (19:45) and girls' soccer (27:30).

We're talking about the high school soccer referee strike and how it will chance everything for the CIF Southern Section and the Moore League.

We're talking about the CIF Southern Section football quarterfinal games for Long Beach Poly and St. Anthony this week.

We're breaking down the CIF Southern Section playoff openers for the five Long Beach high school football teams to reach the postseason.

On this episode we're talking about how the CIF Southern Section football brackets are decided and trying to figure out which division your favorite school will be in.

This week we're talking about the behavior of high school and college coaches— from what we've seen change to what we think should change.

This week on the show we're talking about how and why the amount of transfers in the CIF Southern Section has been increasing. 

We're back and talking about how multiple Long Beach high school football games have been canceled at halftime because of crowd control issues in the stands and around the schools. What can be done about it?

This week on the show JJ, Mike and Tyler are talking about all the history being made at Long Beach Poly this year including a pair of “Hop-Off” wins for the baseball and softball teams on Tuesday.

On this episode we're talking about the Long Beach State athletics department budget and what they're doing to fix it, the recent inclement weather that's changed all of the schedules and much more about our beloved Long Beach sports community.

On this episode we're talking about the CIF playoff history made by Jordan boys' basketball, Long Beach Poly boys' soccer and more.

This week we're talking about the incredible Long Beach basketball, soccer, water polo and wrestling league seasons that just ended.

AND WE'RE BACK! The holiday break is over and we're returning to Long Beach sports coverage where there's plenty of underdog teams making some noise.

This week we're talking about the CIF Southern Section playoff equity system and the changes that might be coming for next season with St. John Bosco and Mater Dei pulling away from the chase pack.

Lakewood is hosting the CIF Southern Section Division 8 Football Championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. and we stopped by practice this week for interview with head coach Justin Utupo (3:00), offensive coordinator Malik Zaire (5:15), defensive coordinator Vince Hernandez (14:30), team captain and defensive lineman Noah Mallon (19:20) and running back/defensive back Zion Smith (22:45).

This week we're stopping by Lakewood to interview coach Justin Utupo and a handful of players before their CIF semifinal on Friday.

This week we're coming to you live via tape delay from Long Beach Poly football practice as we interview players and coaches after previewing the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals this week for the Jackrabbits, Millikan Rams and Lakewood Lancers.

With Long Beach Poly playing a historic game in Long Beach this week, it's a perfect time to catch up with our friend Don Wallace who wrote ‘One Great Game' about the Long Beach Poly and De La Salle game two decades ago.

On Friday, Lakewood is hosting a CIF Football playoff game for the first time in years while Millikan is hitting the road for a postseason opener amidst controversy for its opponent.

Long Beach Poly, Millikan and Lakewood are headed into the CIF Southern Section postseason and we're breaking down the brackets.

This week we're breaking down what the Moore League playoff picture could look like with a key game between Wilson and Lakewood on Friday. We also debate Long Beach Poly's divisional fate considering the CIF Southern Section CalPreps playoff rankings format.

On this special edition we're talking to Long Beach water polo players and coaches before catching up with the Luke TATSU Johnson Foundation and its fundraising for cancer research.

This week on the show we're previewing the rivalry football games coming up and talking to Lakewood girls' volleyball opposite hitter Lala Hall.

This week we're talking about all of the loose ends after Millikan football forfeit its wins due to an ineligible player.

Here is a recording from our live Instagram question and answer session to promote Long Beach Gives.

This week we're talking about why Cabrillo football had to forfeit its historic start and what can be done in the future to avoid these mistakes.

This week Mike and JJ are talking about what it takes to be a high school quarterback now and their favorite under appreciated signal callers from all of the Long Beach high schools.

We're talking about how big the Long Beach Poly win at Mission Viejo is and what it means for the program and the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

We're talking about all of the Long Beach football teams, their expectations and possible surprises in the upcoming 2022 season.

This week we're talking to CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod about the tough decisions he has to make in his last year on the job. We also catch up with local legend Bobby Hauck about what it's like working at the 49er Summer Camp.

It's media day with Long Beach State women's soccer and we're talking to junior Elysia Laramie, striker Lena Silano, coach Mauricio Ingrassia, freshman Cherrie Cox and goalkeeper Morgan Houston-Shepherd about the upcoming season.

We're talking to Lakewood baseball alum Anthony Eyanson about going to UC San Diego, keeping life lessons in perspective and much more. We also discuss The562.org internship program with Long Beach Poly student Heidi Sek.

We interview Jordan High alum and NFL wide receiver John Ross about hosting a youth football camp in Long Beach. How important is winning and losing in high school sports? What's it like to go to the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas? How are there so many Long Beach guys at MLB All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles? 

It's time for a new era of ‘What Up, Long Beach?!' and the local sports community is in charge this time. Find out what that means and spread the word about new sponsorship opportunities at The562.org

Today we're celebrating the 50th Anniversary for Title IX and talking with Long Beach Poly track and field coach Crystal Irving about a recent award.

Wilson High and Long Beach State alum Tyler Schafer talks to us about growing up as a golfer in Long Beach, losing his dad at a young age much more.

This week we're joining you from the road as we cover Long Beach high school track and field at the CIF State Meet in Fresno. We also talk to The562.org intern and Long Beach Poly student Nina Fife for her exit interview.

We went to the last Millikan softball practice before the Rams play in their first CIF Southern Section championship game since 2005 and talked to coach Michelle Lehr, pitcher Victoria Byrum, pitcher Ava Schaffel, catcher Cami Lara, center fielder Erica Estrada, third baseman Ari Ramirez and first baseman Katie Knarr.