House Sitter

Sam Lagana Enjoys Being ‘One of the Fans’ at SoFi

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Super Bowl Sunday was a day Sam Lagana will remember forever. Not just because the team he has spent his whole life rooting for won the game, but because of the people with whom he got to share the experience.

The lifelong Palisadian who is best known for his energy and enthusiasm as the Los Angeles  Rams’ public address announcer was not in the booth Sunday at SoFi Stadium, but his voice was heard and his presence felt even from the 400 level, where he led “Whose House?” cheers when the Rams scored amidst a wave of Bengals fans in his section.

Lagana started the day like he does every Sunday—attending mass at Corpus Christi Church, then hopped on the friends and family shuttle to the stadium parking lot for the pregame party with his 23-year-old daughter Cienna, who flew to LA the night before from Nashville, Tennessee, where she works for a marketing company.

When the Rams drove 79 yards in 15 plays to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, Lagana got goose bumps. When Cincinnati got the ball back with 1:25 left, he was on the edge of his seat.

“One thing I’ve learned about this team is that it’s not over ‘til its over,” Lagana said. “When I saw [defensive tackle] Aaron Donald come around to pressure [quarterback] Joe Burrow on the fourth down play it was deja vu all over again. He did the same thing to [49ers quarterback] Jimmy Garappolo at the end of the NFC championship game!”     

Lagana’s wife Eileen joined him for a postgame celebration at Hawthorne Hangar where he thanked the fans, Rams owner Stan Kroenke, Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff, general manager Les Snead, head coach Sean McVay and  his staff and all personnel on the field and in the offices behind the scenes for their collaborative efforts in bringing the first Lombardi Trophy to the City of Angels. Among the texts he received was one from childhood friend and fellow Palisades High graduate Jeanie Buss (now the controlling owner and president of the Lakers) in the form of bright blue, gold and purple heart emojis, combining the colors of both franchises. He also got congratulations from Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr and San Antonio Spurs assistant Chip Engelland (both Palisades basketball alums and Lagana’s longtime pals.        

“What gave me the most chills was the last words I heard on the sound system as we departed the stadium was my voice bellowing ‘Whose House?’on a recording.”   

The Rams’ victory parade was yesterday, starting at the Shrine Auditorium and ending at the Coliseum, the team’s former home.   

Reflecting on the season Lagana expressed gratitude for those who helped him get where he is today and optimism for the future: “I’m happy for the young people who have gotten to witness how teamwork made the dream work.”