Lucas Gordon
Lucas Gordon LOO-kiss GORE-din
Sports Reporter, Phoenix

Lucas Gordon expects to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism and a minor in business and digital audiences. Gordon has interned at The Arizona Republic.

Latest from Lucas Gordon

Strength, stamina and suds: Tempe Brewery embraces Bavarian tradition of steinholding for Oktoberfest

TEMPE – Oktoberfest rolls in, bars around Arizona are bringing in the Bavarian tradition of steinholding to celebrate the occasion. The sport is not only growing in Arizona but around the United States.


Tempe-based small businesses thrive after signing ASU athletes to NIL deals

PHOENIX – As NIL continues to grow in college athletics, Tempe-based businesses are cashing in as they support Arizona State athletes. Companies such as Burrito Express and State Bicycle Co. are seeing increased business since signing ASU athletes.

ASU Quarterback throwing the football.

Golf’s growth across Valley spurs $6 billion economic boost while staying environmentally friendly

PHOENIX – A report from Rounds Consulting Group and the Arizona Alliance of Golf have found that the golf industry in Arizona contributes more than $6 billion to the economy.

Only 2% of Arizona’s daily water usage goes toward golf course irrigation for over 370 locations throughout the state. “The reason the daily usage is going down is that a lot of golf courses are using reclaimed water,” said Luis Cordova, the Vice President and COO of Rounds Consulting Group. (Photo by Susan Wong/Cronkite News)

Stanford’s Rose Zhang continuing dominance at Pac-12 Women’s Championship as World’s No. 1 amateur

PHOENIX – Through her first two years at Stanford, Rose Zhang has done everything imaginable in amateur golf except winning a conference championship. Now she is in contention of winning the Pac-12 individual championship title.

Stanford sophomore Rose Zhang is the second-round leader at the Pac-12 Women’s Golf Championship after firing back-to-back rounds of 67 and 68, respectively. (Photo by Dylan Nichols/Cronkite News)

Payday: Danny Lee earns more than $4 million by winning LIV Golf Tucson

MARANA – LIV Golf made its way to Tucson for the first time this past weekend. Over three days, many notable moments happened at the Gallery Golf Club but none bigger than Danny Lee's victory that netted him $4 million.

Danny Lee holds the LIV Tucson trophy above his head while standing on the LIV Golf champion podium at a golf course.

Phil Mickelson, other Sun Devil alums ready to return to Arizona for LIV Golf event

PHOENIX – Phil Mickelson and other former Sun Devils will be playing in Tucson’s LIV Golf event this weekend. This is the first event in Arizona for Mickelson since he made the switch to the controversial golf league.

Former Arizona State Sun Devil Phil Mickelson, who made the controversial jump from the PGA Tour to Liv Golf, returns to Tucson with "fond memories" of his first professional win in 1991. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

World Baseball Classic’s return to Chase Field brings 2013 nostalgia

PHOENIX – This week, Chase Field is hosting the World Baseball Classic for the first time in 10 years. Team USA, Mexico, Canada, Great Britain and Colombia are playing on the world stage in Phoenix for the first time since 2013.

A photo of Chase Field with flags for the U.S., Canada, Colombia, Great Britain and Mexico.

Tiger Woods’ newest business venture opens its doors in Glendale

GLENDALE – A new mini-golf course opened its doors on Thursday in Glendale. The course is co-owned and designed by golf legend Tiger Woods.

PopStroke, a mini-golf course designed by Tiger Woods, opened in Glendale Thursday and offers the public a 36-hole experience. (Photo by Robert Crompton/Cronkite News)

Time for change: MLB players, managers offer first impressions of pitch clock, new rules

SURPRISE – Several days into spring training, players and managers alike are forced to adjust to the pitch timer introduced for the 2023 MLB season. Key stakeholders in the change share their thoughts in this adjustment period.

MLB will officially introduce a pitch clock on Opening Day as part of the league's rule changes aimed at improving pace of play. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Reality checks: MLB veterans hope one-year deals lead to major payoff

GLENDALE – Heading into spring training, many Cactus League veterans are on new teams after signing one-year contracts. There are many different factors that go into a MLB player's decision to sign a short-term deal, and a few players explained their reasoning at spring training.

Shelby Miller, who signed with the Dodgers this offseason, prefers the flexibility of one-year contracts as a 10-year major leaguer. "I don't want to be locked down on a second-year option," the veteran pitcher said. (Photo by John Cascella/Cronkite News)

Former ASU baseball coach Tracy Smith returns to Valley in MLB Desert Invitational

PHOENIX – Former ASU baseball coach Tracy Smith returns to the Valley when his Michigan Wolverines compete in the MLB Desert Invitational baseball tournament.

Tracy Smith, right, coached seven seasons at Arizona State before he was let go. Now the head coach at Michigan, he said, “I appreciated my time,” in Tempe. (File photo by Jordan Kaye/Cronkite News)

Chiefs or Eagles? WM Phoenix Open field enters Super Bowl predictions

SCOTTSDALE – With Super Bowl 57 and the WM Phoenix Open happening in Arizona at the same time this weekend, this year's field provided picks for the big game.

Former MLB Alex Rodriguez, who participated in the Annexus Pro-AM earlier this week, predicts the Philadelphia Eagles to win Sunday's Super Bowl 57. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)

Music, food, gambling and – oh, yeah – golf all make up the WM Phoenix Open experience

PHOENIX – With the WM Phoenix Open coming up at TPC Scottsdale, event organizers are planning some special events. Plans include concerts headlined by Maroon 5 and The Chainsmokers and pro-ams featuring Michael Phelps and Larry Fitzgerald.