tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50126692445740104472024-02-20T10:45:01.190-08:00Joe Where Did you GoJoey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-4989634096867125172015-08-11T13:22:00.000-07:002016-01-20T18:17:52.912-08:00My Day in Sports Spectating 08/10Today began with a late start. It's 1 p.m. already and I've barely turned the television on. Only sporting event to watch on a Monday afternoon, at least one that's a broadcast, is Manchester City versus West Bromwich and there's no surprise in this one. The favorite, Manchester City, holds a 3-0 lead in the 67th minute.<br />
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Just a few minutes before, Vincent Kompany of Man. City met a corner kick with the back of his head and directed it perfectly over the keeper from one side of the goal to the other, except it scored upon arrival to the other side, kind of like when you go to Mexico over spring break and you're in bed with a beautiful hooker 20 minutes after crossing the border.<br />
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The outcome to this one isn't a mystery and to be fair, I don't think it ever was one from the get go.<br />
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It was good to see the NFL season commence last night with the annual Hall of Fame game played in Canton, Ohio. This year's teams consisted of the Pittsburgh Steelers and my Minnesota Vikings. Even though not much is made from the preseason games, it gives coaches and fans a great opportunity to get a glimpse of young players and ones fighting to make the final roster. For that reason alone, there shouldn't be a shortage of competition when it comes to these games.<br />
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The Vikings ended up taking the game 14-3, off of a 34-yard touchdown pass from backup Mike Kafka to young, tight end MyCole Pruitt and a 1-yard touchdown run by half back Joe Banyard, after he was set up by a 62-yard punt return from rookie, wide receiver Stefon Diggs.<br />
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The Vikings were efficient through the air yesterday completing 19 out of 26 passes spanning three different quarterbacks. Second-year starter Teddy Bridgewater completed five out of six passes for 44 yards. Backups Mike Kafka and Taylor Heinicke each completed 7 out of 10 passes, Kafka for 66 yards and a score and Heinicke for 51 yards.<br />
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Whatever the specific yardage, the efficiency of passes completed for the first game of the year was impressive. This should serve as a testimony to offensive coordinator Norv Turner and his system. Turner is known as an offensive genius. With the various offensive weapons the Vikings have at their disposal this year it's going to take someone with no less than Turner's cerebral capabilities in handling an offense in the professional football league. Vikings' fans should be excited. I know I am.<br />
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Something not to be too excited about is the prior series the Dodgers played out at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, where they usually dominate the Pirates. This time, while their wasn't any domination of sort from either teams the Dodgers left Pittsburgh being swept. Offensively, the bats were awake, though they stranded a lot of runners of base. The issues came from the mound for the Dodgers. If it weren't the starters leaving the Dodgers with an almost insurmountable deficit to overcome, it was the bullpen creating the deficit that needed to be overcome.<br />
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After six innings and a 5-3 lead for the Dodgers to maintain in order to get the victory, Pittsburgh showed why they were called the Pirates, as they came in and stole any glimmer of hope the Dodgers had at redeeming the weekend series with a 9-run 7th inning. Dodgers fan's eyes were glued to the television, mouths open, with a gazing stare of disbelief as they mustered everything they had in them to utter the two words, "not again."<br />
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This is a world-series caliber team, that has a few kinks they need to get worked out. They've had enough time to develop consistency, but outside of starters Zack Grienke and Clayton Kershaw, they haven't seen it from their pitchers. They were hoping the additions of starters Matt Latos and Alex Wood would help solidify their rotation that has been hindered by a few injuries, but Latos' first start was horrific and Wood has been decent, at very best.<br />
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We have to hope for those two to pan out inevitably, if we want to make a push into the post season. Our bullpen on the other hand is a different story. The Dodgers made a trade involving three teams and 13 players, mostly acquiring players that were hopeful solutions to their bullpen issues. One of the players they copped, Jim Johnson, was the one who replaced Alex Wood in their most previous game versus the Pirates. You know, the one in which they gave up nine runs in the 7th. Well, guess who was the catalyst of that run scoring machine? In 2/3 of an inning pitched, Johnson gave up eight runs, walked one, actually struck one out(should he be redeemed? lol) and was on the count, deservedly so, for the loss. Let's hope for the best, a blunder in a blender of performances.<br />
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I'm not going to over analyze their pitching situation, just yet, because of how recent their acquisitions have been. But make no mistake, if the Dodgers don't end up winning the world series this year, or hell, even make the post season, you should know what direction to point the finger when it comes to blame.<br />
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Let's see what Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon have to say in the 30 minutes allotted to them on <i>Pardon the Interruption</i>. Well, at least stuff that I care about. I don't want to say I don't care about Frank Gifford, rest in peace, but, just not my time. I do send my prayers to his family, as I do know how it is to lose family.<br />
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They are now saying that Michael Jordan says his Bulls could beat the showtime Lakers and that he could beat LeBron James one-on-one. Those questions are obsolete. Come on, you're asking an all-time competitor whose going to win between him and someone else, especially in their prime. Who do you think they're going to say is going to win? In my opinion, Jordan would definitely beat James one-on-one, but I don't think his Bulls are better than the showtime Lakers. They might have won more championships, but their era of competition was easier. Remember, it took Jordan a while to win not only because, but he did start in the showtime era.<br />
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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention yesterday that after Seattle Sounders' forward Chad Barrett scored that goal for them in the opening minutes he pulled a hammy during the celebration. Sucks to say, but those are kind of funny to me.<br />
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Cam Newton got into a scuffle with one of his corner backs, Josh Norman in practice today. There was a 50-pound weight margin in the Newton's favor. But, the big deal is the fact that this is the quarterback, the leader of the team, the face of the franchise and the most important player on his team fighting against a player trying to make the squad. I think Norman's annual salary is $175,000, compared to Newton's $20 million. So you see where the problem is.<br />
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A lot of the fault has to be placed on the management, for not making a player like Norman understand that Newton is the one player he shouldn't be getting in a scuffle with. I can see why a player would want to take a shot at Newton, he seems to be a bit condescending on and off of the field, but Norman must remember what it means to be a man in today's society; doing things we don't want to do. Hah, the cast on <i>Around the Horn</i> is talking about how Cam has a smile during everything and even after every tragic event. They referred to a car accident he got into a while back, that looked pretty bad, according to them, and he came out of the car smiling. That's Cam. He's like the modern-day <i>Undercover Brother</i>.<br />
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Does a dugout fight bring a team closer together? That certainly depends on whose in your dugout and what they are fighting over. And, probably how your team is doing at the time of the fight and if the fight isn't because the team is doing shitty.Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-56398483630618011562015-08-10T13:16:00.001-07:002015-08-10T15:22:53.384-07:00My Day in Sports Spectating. 08/09I started today a bit late. I turned the television on to a Stoke City and Liverpool game already in the 60th minute. Liverpool, by name and legacy, would be the obvious favorite in this match up, but it remains nil, nil in 76th minute.<br />
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An interesting scoreline with a team that has so much fire power, as Liverpool does. Yes, they've been the chief possessors of the ball throughout the game, but this hasn't been as one sided as you'd think. Stoke is putting up a fight, trying to keep the status quo, as a draw would basically be equivalent to a victory against the English powerhouse.<br />
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Liverpool, since I've turned the game on has played wonderfully. They've made some beautiful passes and touches in the attacking third, that has nearly numerously resulted in the ball almost going in the back of the net. Stoke almost caught Liverpool off guard in the 80th minute when a wing player made a pass to the middle to an open Stoke player streaking down the middle, who then took a one-touch shot, only to find it deflected by a few defenders obstructing their opposition's prize. Not much play in the midfield from either squads. Both squads seemed to send the ball into the attacking third and go from there. That might have been due to time constraints, as I did turn the game on in the 60th minute.<br />
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As the game goes back and forth during the late stages it has began to get a bit touchy. Both teams are letting their competitive juices flow, without limit, as there's only 10 minutes, or so, remaining. The last five minutes the tempo has been turned in Stoke's way, as they've been the chief possessors and aggressors. About 10 minutes remain in what could be the Premier League's first scoreless draw of the year, but as I was writing those words down Liverpool's Brazilian striker, Philipe Coutihno blasts a beauty from approximately five yards outside of the box, that looked as if it was going to go wide ride and curved just at the last second inside the top, right corner of the goal and into the back of the net for what seems to be the winner! An Absolute stunner!<br />
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Stoke City still has about five minutes remaining, but they must be completely deflated after they made such a tremendous effort to keep the game scoreless and gave one up in a heart beat. Funny thing, it seems a substitute was standing on the side ready to come in and replace Coutihno, the man who scored what seems to be the game-winning goal. Whoa, and Stoke almost had an opportunity to draw in the 92nd minute, when one of their players got behind Liverpool's line of defense, but the send went a bit too far and into the Liverpool's goalkeeper's hands. The final whistles sound and the Stoke fans are stunned. Liverpool grabbed this one from the magician's top hat in the late stages and came away with three points.<br />
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That was an exciting, heart-stopping twenty minutes. Each team played formidable and either one deserved a win. A draw would've also served the two righteously.<br />
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As I search through the guide, there isn't really anything to watch. I turn to the NFL Network to watch their rankings of the top 100 players of last season. They're talking about Cam Chancellor right now. This guy is one of the best safeties in the league. He has the speed of a corner and the size of a line backer. He's extremely cerebral as well. The combination of those three qualities make him deadly in the backfield and a nightmare for opposing slot receivers and tight ends, the two positions that usually work the seams(the middle of the field) offensively.<br />
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This article I'm reading in the LA Times seems to have revealed an issue the Dodgers are having. They've lost 23 out of 35 games this year against National League teams with winning records. That doesn't sound like a squad destined to make any push once it comes to the post season, since they can't fare well against teams that will likely be there with them.<br />
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Against the Pirates yesterday the way the outcome was achieved was somewhat odd. Usually, the Dodgers' bullpen have problems subsequent to a near flawless outing by whomever their starter is. This time it was quite the contrary. Newly acquired pitcher Matt Latos gave up six runs in four innings before being pulled. The bullpen though, kept the Dodgers in it by not giving up a single run, while the Dodgers rallied to score five and almost pull one out as they left a runner stranded on third in the ninth inning.<br />
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The Dodgers are running out of time to make things click together. They have the right pieces, and they get the performances they expect from them, only scarcely are they intertwined. One night the starters are on, while the bullpen gives up a game. Other nights the bullpen has to get called on early on, like yesterday and get the job done. If they want to make a run in October they have to be firing on all cylinders. The gun can't jam. They've got to get six shots out of the six-shot magnum. I'll give Latos a pass. It was his first start in Dodger blue. But don't expect me to turn into John Stockton, I'll give him A pass.<br />
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So, the Dodgers have designed a new program called "speed camp". They designate a few players, (five at first, now three) to this camp and train them to do one thing and only one thing, steal bases. These players aren't worried about the offensive or defensive part of baseball. They're here to learn how to steal bases the best they can and if they master the art can earn themselves a spot on the roster as a designated runner. For those who don't know what that is, a designated runner is a player that is substituted into the game for a hitter that gets on base. Say for instance, its the 9th inning and old, slow Jim Thome drives a single into left field and gets on base. It is the 9th inning and the need for Thome beyond that is obsolete, and since the man obviously could barely run faster than me he's then replaced by a player whose specialty is base running. So, though the role seems minuscule in the time played, it definitely isn't in value.<br />
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The three players who are up for this role are: Edwin Drexler, 23, who is with class-A Rancho Cucamonga; Robbie Garvey, 26, who is with double-A Tulsa; and Kyle Hudson, 28, who is currently on the disabled list because of a strained calf.<br />
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Before I could sit down and even begin writing about the game I'm watching, the Seattle Sounders versus the Los Angeles Galaxy a Sounders' player sent the ball in between defenders in perfect spot to runner who got behind the line and it was an easy tap into the back of the net in the opening minute to give them a very early 1-0 lead.<br />
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It shouldn't be a deficit that the Galaxy can't overcome, especially when they, basically, have the whole game to do so. The Galaxy come into this one (as they do basically all of their matches) as heavy favorites, because of their roster. World-class international players such as Irishman Robbie Keane and newly acquired Steven Gerrard of England and Giovani Dos Santos of Mexico.<br />
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Players like this keep butts in the seats around the stadium. L.A. averages near 21,000 fans a game, which isn't bad for a stadium that has a 27,000 spectator capacity. Their opponent, Seattle on the other hand, averages near 40,000 people in attendance for each game, which is the most by a highly significant margin. With Dos Santos joining the squad it would give more incentive to locals to attend Galaxy games, being he's a Mexican international and so is Los Angeles' population. <br />
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And hey, the expected didn't take long to happen, as a 13th minute galaxy goal off of a rebound from a corner kick brought the two sides together at one a piece. Similar to Seattle's goal, you could basically credit the goal to the assist man because of the absolutely perfectly placed ball to the runner who got behind the defense. Credit the runner for penetrating the opposing defense, but the pass was flawless.<br />
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In the 24th minute a deadly header that scorches past the defense on its way to goal was blocked by Galaxy goal keeper Donovan Ricketts. Then once again in the 30th minute a great send into the box turned into a Sounders' shot that ended up in the back of the net, but fortunately for the Galaxy the goal was waived off because the scorer was in an offside position.<br />
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A little food for thought; Seattle hasn't won at the Stub Hub Center for six years, in 10 visits, since the team's first match there ever. They're looking to change that today, but without a couple important pieces, like forwards Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins. An organization's worst nightmare could be a reserves dream though, the chance to show everybody what they're all about.<br />
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Like the prior futbol match i was watching there isn't much midfield play, which leads to a sloppy game. The score at halftime is 1-1, with both teams going into their respective locker rooms to devise a plan that will inch them ahead, give them the slight advantage needed to get the upper hand in a match that is closer than the friend you've had since you were 6.<br />
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It didn't take long for the Galaxy to find the upper hand. A ball from the right wing from A.J. DeLaGarza, on the floor as well, found its way between the group of Sounders' defenders in the box and found the last man Seattle would have wanted it to find, Robbie Keane, and he put the ball where it needed to be put, the back of the net for a Galaxy 2-1 lead. <br />
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A shot from Giovani Dos Santos from nearly 20 yards out just sailed above the crossbar in the 52nd minute and the expression caught by camera on spectator David Beckham's face shows how agonizingly close the Galaxy were to taking a 3-1 lead. But it remains so, for now.<br />
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The lead has allowed the Galaxy to slow their play down a bit and take control in the midfield, which, I think should be an objective whether you have established a lead or not.<br />
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The first one barely missed, but a player of his caliber doesn't miss often and the very next chance Dos Santos got on a break to score he put the ball in the back of the net and gives the Galaxy a resounding, versus the Sounders, 3-1 lead in about the 63rd minute. And with his services not needed, Dos Santos is subbed out in the 69th minute to a big ovation from the home(in more than one way)team, in his very first game in a L.A. Galaxy uniform. Expect big things to come from this guy in the MLS now and in the very near future.<br />
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A close call came in the 71st minute when the ball found its way in front of the Galaxy goal, after a cross from the right wing was sent with good distance, and while keeper Ricketts was off of his line. One of the Sounders' players managed to get a touch on it, but with not much velocity and a Galaxy defender was able to boot the ball out of the box before it went in the goal.<br />
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Then on the Galaxy counter, they found themselves pushing forward quick with numbers. With the ball on the left side of the box and a Galaxy player making a run behind the defense on the right side the ball rolled behind the defense by a pass from a Galaxy player, across the middle, to find the cutting player for a perfect shot only to find it volley off of the post and fire back, as if shot from a cannon.<br />
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Fortunately that goal wasn't necessary because of the 3-1 lead they'd established. The Galaxy got another good shot, this time by Juhnihno in the 89th minute, which was a rocket that was sailing above the keeper into the goal, but the Sounders' keeper made a jumping effort to block it and force the ensuing corner kick.<br />
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After two minutes of added time, the official blew his whistle a couple times to mark the end of the match. The Galaxy ends up in the win column with a 3-1 victory over the Sounders, giving them an 11-7-7 mark, good for 4th place in the western conference up to this point.<br />
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<br />Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-22324741866243043532015-07-19T15:57:00.001-07:002015-07-19T15:57:30.649-07:00Attempting to Update Daily.I will attempt to maintain a daily update of my thoughts on events and happenings. These will consist of and not be limited to sports, local news, major news, politics and other topics that come to mind in the future.Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-1695856144499160472015-01-19T14:25:00.002-08:002015-02-02T14:02:49.002-08:00Buscaino Pushes to Rename Intersection Di Carlo Square<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Di Carlo Bakery meant a lot to the city of San Pedro. It provided a main part of many of the town's different culture's meals, fresh bread, for an affordable price. Something this hard-working town could appreciate. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">District 15 councilman Joe Buscaino wants to commemorate the bakery for what it meant and did for the community. It provided employment with great benefits. It provided a place for the people of San Pedro to come and buy fresh food for a good price. For years, you could get a whiff of the fresh loaves of bread being baked baked as you drove by the bakery every morning. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The friendliness of the employees made the store a big part of San Pedro. Most employees were lifers. They were offered good wages, pensions and were treated well. Keeping employees happy showed with embracing interactions that were had with customers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I came to San Pedro in 1977,” San Pedro resident Ed Lamar said. “A neighbor always had the best baked goods. She told me to try the Di Carlo Bakery day-old racks. At Di Carlo’s, I got friendly service and baked goods at a bargain price. Moreover, the Di Carlo baked goods were fresher than those at the grocery stores.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To display its gratitude, on Dec. 10, 2014, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a motion to rename the intersection of North Gaffey Street and Capitol Drive in San Pedro </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Di Carlo Square.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Buscaino also ordered the Department of Transportation to erect a statue on the intersection in commemoration of Di Carlo Bakery, which closed in 2004. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">May 14, 2004 marked the day the final loaf of bread came out of an oven with the beautiful aroma that could be smelled from streets away.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The bakery opened in 1906, running out of Lorenzo Di Carlo’s back room on 11th and Mesa streets. The business moved twice. It moved once to the 300 block of 11th Street, then to 9th and Pacific Avenue.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When business expanded overwhelmingly, Di Carlo made a more permanent move to its final 10-acre site on North Gaffey Street. But then, a year later, the bakery was sold to Continental Bakery Co.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lorenzo’s grandson Larry Dicarlo stayed on board until 1985, when it was subsequently sold to Interstate Bakery Co. Then, about two decades later, Interstate shut down and sold the factory, Inevitably finding itself in bankruptcy cour. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The 184 employees were to be placed at different factories owned by Interstate, but most of them decided not to make the move and take the bountiful retirement pension that Di Carlo provided, instead.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“My grandpa used to work as a mixer at the Di Carlo Bakery,” said 50-year San Pedro resident Edward Marshall. “My mom worked in the retail portion and she would bring us back all sorts of different chocolate pies.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“The loaves were delicious. One loaf would feed a family of five hungry children, the wheat loaf with the honey. They were big. It was only $1.29, the day olds. In my opinion they were better [than the loaves made on the same day].”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The move from Continental Co. to Interstate Bakery Co. marked the end of Di Carlo. Interstate, a big corporation that also owns Wonder Bread and Hostess, which are the most popular of many other baked goods companies they owned, wasn’t interested in the bakery and what it meant to the community. It was only interested in profits and gains. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> James R. Elsesser, the Interstate Bakery Co. CEO which now goes by the name Hostess Brand Inc., said the factory was closed so that the company could consolidate operations and make production more efficient.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> "The Di Carlo bakery, which was created [at the Gaffey St. and Capitol Dr. location]in 1957, is not as efficient as our other facilities," Elsesser said in an </span><a href="http://www.just-food.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.just-food.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> news article written in March, 2014. "As a result, we concluded that economically it was best for the company to close the facility."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Inevitably, the 10-acre property with a Little League baseball field in the corner was auctioned off to Target for $17.8 million. Target opened a megastore in its place in 2009.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Its closing also marked the closing of the 3-acre Eastview Little League baseball field, in the corner of the property that had been such a significant part of the town as well. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Residents were a bit excited to see a Target being opened locally, but the fact that the baseball field was going to have to go seemed to transcend their eagerness. They didn’t want to see it go.</span></div>
<br /> </b>Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-33681266478644421592014-12-02T11:31:00.001-08:002014-12-02T14:27:51.240-08:00North Western san pedro neighborhood council meeting<p dir="ltr">The Northwestern San Pedro Neighborhood Council, Land Use Planning and Public Works Committee held a meeting at Peck Park on Nov. 17. The meeting had discussions involving the new foods with genetically modified organisms testing and labeling state assembly bill that was recently proposed by state legislatures and how to solve leakage at the Rancho LPG  facility.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The new bill involving gmo testing is garnering much attention after its initial attempt on the ballot in 2012 resulted in a failure. This time, the bill has received backing from all state legislatures, except one. That one is our very own Joe Buscaino, who represents district 15 which San Pedro is a part of.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Those in attendance were somewhat perplexed and would like to know why Buscaino voted against the measure that would prohibit the growth and sale of plants or seeds which contain GMO's within the Los Angeles city  limits. According to a LA Times article, Buscaino stated that he thought this type of issue should be dealt with on a federal level and that his job was to assure that things on the streets of his district was taken care of.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Let’s focus on streets and sidewalks," Buscaino told LA Times. "[The city] is not equipped to investigate or enforce this ordinance.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Rancho LPG  facility  came up again, as those at the meeting discussed the multiple leaks and minor accidents that have occurred  during the 42 years that residents have been fighting the facility's existence and location. Everyone also, with an astonished look wondered how they miraculously haven't been of a higher magnitude. </p>
<p dir="ltr">A lot has been done locally to contest the facility, such as letters from neighboring residents and organizations like Earth Justice, to the Environmental Protection Agency, the mayor  and city attorney. The council would love for the youth to become involved in the battle as well, giving the people any extra edge that it can get. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Once again, Buscaino says that this issue should be deferred to a federal level  and that there is nothing he can do about it. Still, this issue remains highly imminent  due to assumptions that the Pacific Rail line which is involved in a lot of transportations from the facility doesn't have enough insurance to cover a major accident.</p>
<p dir="ltr">These issues will be delved into more deeply at the Board and Stakeholders meeting on Dec. 9. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Visit www.nwsanpedro.org for more details, agendas and minutes from previous meetings. </p>
Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-10819778165528147602014-11-22T17:49:00.001-08:002014-11-22T17:49:55.402-08:00Did kobe take too much or are we whining too much?I'm still hearing talk among the media in an accusatory tone about the contract extension Kobe Bryant signed last season, which spans two years and is worth $48,5 million. <div><br></div><div>And, as the Lakers were in Dallas to take on the Mavericks the talk arose once again, because of hometown star Dirk Nowitzki's decision to take significantly less money than did Bryant in order to allow his team to field a competitive roster and the Lakers' continuing struggles.<br>
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Nowitzki, who has brought his owner Mark Cuban a Larry O'Brien trophy, signed a three-year extension valued at $25 million during the prior summer. The Mavericks were able to make acquisitions, such as bringing in Chandler Parsons and bringing back Tyson Chandler, who was a crucial part of the 2011 championship team.</div>
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"If you look at our ticket prices, how many times have we lowered them?" Cuban asked ESPN.com. "How many times have we paid the luxury tax? How many times have I told you guys 'I don't care if we lose money, I want to win? You know my motivations and I think Dirk's motivations are similar."</div>
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So, does that mean Bryant's motivation isn't similar? Does that mean Bryant doesn't care whether the Lakers are contenders, only that he receives a fat pay day? Let's slow down for a second here. I highly doubt that Bryant doesn't care about winning.</div>
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Even with his annual salary the Lakers had the cap space to field a competitive team. They tried signing high priced superstars to play alongside Bryant and they deferred because they simply had better options elsewhere.</div><div><br></div><div>So Bryant didn't obstruct the Lakers' chances of being good because he commanded and accepted his contract.</div>
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Still, many in the media and fans abroad have no problem pointing the finger at Bryant and blaming him for the Lakers' woes so far this season. But, it is basically a fabricated sense of perspective and management are the ones that should take blame if any responsibility must be claimed. </div>
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Or, we could just accept the fact that things just didn't roll the Lakers' way this year and that just proves that perfection in this world isn't guaranteed.They lost their first-round pick early for the year, they have a new coach and a new roster aside three players from the previous year. </div>
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Besides, for Bryant this is a business. The owners just want to milk their players for as much as they can, so why should the players mirror that mentality? It's only capitalism. </div>
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This is what Bryant told ESPN regarding his decision to take $45.5 million for two years, which I guess is filling the salary cap so much that the Lakers can't sign a high profile player. Which is complete bullshit.</div>
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"I think you need to look at the business of basketball," Bryant told ESPN.com. "I think for a lot of writers, for a lot of fans, they have a very hard time distinguishing the two. This is a business and you have to look at individuals and what they generate and the market that they're generating revenue in. </div>
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"And you can't separate those. People have a hard time separating that stuff. So, did I take a discount? Yeah. Did I take as big a discount as some of you fans would want me to? No. Is it a big enough discount to help us be a contender? Yeah. "</div>
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Enough said. The Lakers' annual revenue is $295 million and are valued at $1.35 billion according to forbes.com. The Mavericks' annual revenue is $162 million and are valued at $765 million.</div>
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</div>Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-14889514432037470012014-11-20T13:33:00.002-08:002014-11-20T13:33:45.410-08:00Lakers Recent ImprovementsWith Nick Young coming back to the lineup for the decimated and already beat-up Lakers, they have strung together consecutive respectable performances and victories.<br />
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In Nick Young's first game in the lineup he put up 17 points on an efficient 6 for 10 from the floor, adding five rebounds and a couple from behind the arc in 27 minutes. With an added offensive spark more importantly, Kobe Bryant only attempted 18 shots and put up 28 points on 10 makes.<br />
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The whole light at the end of the tunnel point of view to this turnaround is that contrarily, before Young's return, Bryant had shot only 38 percent from the field on 24 attempts, but 27.5 points per game. At 36, Kobe is also averaging 36.5 minutes a game, which especially coming off of a major Achilles tear, constitutes an endangerment to his health.<br />
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Bryant still did play 36 minutes in the Lakers' victory over Atlanta and 39 minutes against Houston, Young's return is only meant to soften the blow. The roster is decimated with injuries. Jordan Clarkson, Wayne Ellington, Ryan Clark and Xavier Henry did not play last night and Julius Randle is done for the season.<br />
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It is only one player, but this one has some swag about him that the Lakers whom are in a deep, miserable funk right now desperately needs. And his return equated into consecutive victories.<br />
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"Nick ! Having another player on the floor that can create and score puts pressure on the defense," Kobe Bryant told ESPN.com. "It makes a huge difference."<br />
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In Young's second game back he put up 16 points on 6 for 15 shooting, 4 rebounds and another 2 makes from behind the arc (only this time out of 8 attempts) in 28 minutes. Bryant had to put up 28 shots and made only 10, but he did manage 29 points going 8 for 10 from the charity stripe to help that case.<br />
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Wait a minute, 18 shots to 28 shots in a one-game turnaround. What gives? Well Jermey Lin only gave them 3 points and Carlos Boozer 12, both of which are capable of and should be contributing close to 20 points a game. And the Lakers only got 13 points out of reserves not named Swaggy P.<br />
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But they still managed the 98-92 victory with some clutch free-throw shooting near the end of the game and a where did this come from, but should of been here, explosion out of Wes Johnson defensively and in transition to put the icing on the cake,<br />
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"Defensively, we've been doing a much better job," Bryant told ESPN.com. "Transition [defense] was a big Achilles heel for us. We've been doing a better job getting back on defense."<br />
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And when ESPN asked Bryant about how it felt to be so close to nearing that 32,000-point milestone he said, "I've been very fortunate and blessed. I've had some injuries, but not until a few years ago have been career threatening.<br />
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"I've had some great mentors in my career that have really taught me a lot, so I'm just very blessed and very fortunate."<br />
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I think a little mamba might have helped too.Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-19124279704252325012014-11-19T11:20:00.002-08:002014-11-20T12:09:09.171-08:00More is Better, but is it in this Case?Lebron James hinted at a recent post-game press conference that maybe it was time to shave some of his and starters Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love's playing time.<br />
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James is averaging 39.1 minutes per game, according to an ESPN article from their website. His 39.1 minutes ranks him only behind Oklahoma City's Reggie Jackson,(40.1) and Chicago's Jimmy Butler,(40.3.) Both Jackson and Butler are much younger players with significantly less mileage on their legs than James does. They are also both in situations where their respective teams are battling injuries to key players, that have forced them to stay on the floor longer than their coaches would like to see.<br />
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The Cavaliers' situation is different than of those two teams aforementioned battling injuries. Their roster have barely come together, and first-year coach David Blatt knows that he needs to give the new players time to mesh well together. Blatt is also taking advantage of it being so early in the season, and once their roster has showed that they're gelling well he will have plenty of time to rest his players up for the postseason.<br />
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"For me, I don't want to do that all year," James told ESPN.com reporter Dave McMenamin."Obviously right now it's difficult because we're trying to find a groove, we're trying to find a rhythm and we're trying to implement something that you don't want to shortcut it, but at the same time you're tying to be smart at it.<br />
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"So, I don't mind giving a few of my minutes up, just to help the team, to help my minutes go down. I think it would be for the best."<br />
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James seems to be a little conflicted in wanting to give up some time, first being, he said we need to stay on the floor because of the need to coalesce, but he also stated that he wouldn't mind giving up some time.<br />
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He doesn't need to please anybody, especially the media or fans. James should just do what is best for the team and himself, whether that is playing a lot of minutes in an effort to get better together, or deduct minutes, and rest up for the remainder of the season.Or they can do both, which James seems comfortable with, taking a subjective approach to things rather than a black and white perspective.<br />
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"For me, its however the game is going because I've kind of played the whole third quarter sometimes and it's been a long stretch," James said to McMenamin. "So that allows me to get the first couple of minutes (of the fourth quarter) off.<br />
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"And like a few games ago I asked to come out early in the third. I got tired, then I can come back and start the fourth. So it all depends. But seeing how the first half goes and watching my minutes throughout that course and being able to gauge it from there helps."<br />
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According to NBA.com Kevin Love played at least 39 minutes 11 times last year. In those 11 games, he averaged; 29.2 ppg., and 11.7 rpg. Irving played in 19 games last year in where he exceeded the 38-minute mark. His performance garnered him 27.8 ppg. and James played a whopping 26 times in which his minutes exceeded 38. In those games he averaged; 30.6 ppg. and 7 rpg.<br />
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These players have all proved they can contribute significantly in big minutes,but it's up to coach Blatt and the rest of the players to communicate to each other how they feel and to be honest.<br />
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They'll figure things out. Just like the Lakers will. They're professionals, give them time to do what they do. Rome wasn't built in a day, you know.<br />
<br />Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-30707748746387621382014-11-04T21:31:00.001-08:002014-11-04T21:33:52.444-08:00Small Neighborhood Council Meeting Looking to do Big Things <p dir="ltr"><br>
The Northwestern San Pedro Neighborhood Council Issues Committee is hosting a meeting Nov. 10 at Peck Park to discuss Mayor Eric Garcetti’s minimum wage proposal.<br>
The committee hosted a similar meeting Oct. 22, where meeting focussed on the proposal, voter turnout in Los Angeles, various street repairs and alterations, truck's routes to the freeway from the Rancho LPG facility and the agendas for the two subsequent meetings.<br>
Committee members are hoping for representatives from the mayor's office and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce be present with open ears. The people most affected by the proposal are employees collecting minimum wage and the small business owners who will be paying it.<br>
Another issue that was discussed was the low voter turnout here in Los Angeles. The city is thinking about aligning city elections with state and federal elections for convenience. The city is also proposing that the Los Angeles Unified School District host its elections simultaneously. The council also discussed the issue at an Oct. 29 meeting at the San Pedro City Hall building. <br>
<b>Traffic </b><br>
One man in attendance commended the city's effort in filling potholes on north Gaffey Street. But, the bike lanes definitely hit the wrong way with a lot in the community. <br>
Community members were displeased with the city not keeping the community aware and involved road diet and bike lane installations. They were largely resigned to the fact that the bike lanes aren't going anywhere. They aid that more could have been done to ease traffic congestion. The council will try and take the issue to the Department of Transportation, which is responsible for implementing the lanes. <br>
In relation to slowing traffic down, the city is thinking about putting speed bumps throughout the city. Those who were in attendance seemed to have contrasting views, but one thing everybody agreed on is that traffic will slow down throughout the city. Emergency responders will have a tougher time maneuvering through traffic and these bumps have negative impacts on a vehicle's gas mileage because of how slow it will travel and how often the vehicle's brakes are used. <br>
People in support of the speed bumps though, say that slowing traffic down is exactly the goal trying to be achieved in order to reduce accidents. Moreover, the question of, “How will everything involved in the bumps implementation be paid for?” remains. This subject will also be talked about more thoroughly at the Nov. 10 meeting.<br>
R<b>ancho </b><b>LPG </b><br>
The Rancho LPG facility tanks and the transportation of liquefied natural gas to and from the facility was the last item on the agenda. Those in attendance expressed that they would like the trucks to use the Anaheim or Pacific Coast Highway entrances instead of the Channel Street onramp, arguing that Channel Street was too narrow for truck traffic. <br>
For more details vist http://nwsanpedro.org<br><br><br></p>
Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-259069867428962962014-11-04T21:13:00.001-08:002014-11-04T21:13:49.351-08:00Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Marks Grand Opening of Peck Park Skatepark<p dir="ltr">Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Marks Grand Opening of Peck Park Skatepark<br></p>
<p dir="ltr"> Skaters, elected officials and community members celebrated the opening of San Pedro’s new skatepark with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 15. <br>
Skaters have already been enjoying the Peck Park skatepark since its completion, squeezing through or climbing over the surrounding fence. This pushed the city to open the skatepark earlier than they had initially planned. <br>
The $850,000 skatepark, was built to take the place of the Channel Street skatepark, which was closed ahead of pending expansion of the 110 Freeway overhead. Peck Park’s is the 24th skatepark to open in Los Angeles, with five more under construction. Channel Street skatepark founder and instrumental player in making the Peck Park skatepark happen, Andy Harris, was able to puff out his chest with an extra sense of pride at the ceremony.<br>
“Parks like this don’t get built in every city,” Harris said. “And, this park here is top notch, world class. You’ve got yourself a tourist attraction here.”<br>
The new skatepark looked like a very large swimming pool without water. Within it, there was a smaller about 7-feet deep bowl. Some skated the new bowl while others just relaxed and enjoyed the scene. <br>
“To see the excitement, the energy, to see kids young and old enjoying their new skatepark is incredible,” Councilman Joe Buscaino said. <br>
Buscaino thanked San Pedro for supporting the building of the skatepark, despite some of the negative stigma connected to skaters. <br>
“Skateboarding has had a lot of ups and downs in its popularity and how it’s viewed by our culture,” Buscaino said. “Skaters have often been vilified and called anarchists… Well... today, in San Pedro, we welcome the skateboard community.<br>
“Whether you call skateboarding a sport, or your art, or you don’t call it anything at all, we’re here today because there’s enough people that said yes to skateboarding in San Pedro.”<br>
Buscaino pleaded with skaters to help take care of the park and to report others that would vandalize it with graffiti. In addition, Harris and his team pledged to keep the skate park free of graffiti using the paint supplies provided by the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks. <br>
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Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-89277932881697641582014-11-04T21:09:00.001-08:002014-11-04T21:09:14.000-08:00Chiropractor Honored for Aiding SPHS Wrestling Team
<p dir="ltr">Chiropractor Honored for Aiding SPHS Wrestling Team</p>
<p dir="ltr">On April 11, the San Pedro High School wrestling team honored Alan Naim for his gift of $3,000, exercise equipment, and his pledge to become an annual donor to the team. Naim’s generosity will allow the team to build on their recent successes.<br>
Treated like the stepchild of high school sports, San Pedro High School’s wrestling team didn't have a mat with their own school’s logo on it, let alone the sufficient exercise equipment.<br>
Naim gave the team a $3,000 installment of $16,000 for a new wrestling mat. Until recently, the team was using an old 45- by 45-foot mat donated to them by Cerritos College. <br>
Third-year coach Roman Hernandez said that the team was on the verge of not being able to compete because they couldn’t even afford tournament entries. The students who wrestled, ages 14 and 15, had to go out and raise money in order to have a wrestling team. <br>
“Mainly, I’ve been putting it on our kids to go out and hit the streets and fundraise money,” Hernandez said. “I don’t think a kid should have to do that.”<br>
The wrestling team has seen its fortunes turn for the better since Hernandez became the team’s coach, despite the lack of funding and attention.<br>
“We always have tough kids,” Hernandez said. “There’s 23 schools in the city and in our first year we took 12th and that just had to do with the San Pedro toughness. And, the next year we took 9th and in this past year we took 6th and we’re looking to make a move again.”<br>
Naim learned of the wrestling team's woes from Richard Alvarez, a client of his chiropractic clinic. Alvarez is the parent of one of the members of the wrestling team.<br>
During one visit, Naim mentioned to Alvarez that he had three exercise machines he no longer needed. <br>
With a background in Israeli wrestling and his working with athletes on a regular basis, Naim was empathetic toward the situation.<br>
“I see a lot of athletes,” Naim said. “I care for their well being. Whether it’s through equipment I’ve donated or through money I’ve donated.”<br>
Naims’s plans on supporting the team for as long as his practice allows. With this new found support, the San Pedro High’s wrestling will make it to the top of their division.<br><br><br><br><br></p>
Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-46223105844265477642014-09-20T15:03:00.002-07:002014-09-20T15:03:35.350-07:00Residents Show the Power of Community<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wits, resources and perseverance is what it took for neighbors to reclaim Leland Park from its reputation as a haven for homeless, drug abuse and all around decay. Long-time residents recall the park being lively, with families enjoying family outings and little league teams using the green space for softball games before city budget cuts began to take its toll. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When budget cuts forced the Recreation and Parks department to stop sending maintenance workers to keep the park cleaned and well kept, the grass died throughout and the park equipment was covered in graffiti. The park resembled a dumping ground and eventually, locals who had long called the park home stopped coming.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So fed up with the park’s deterioration, Debbie Rouser, who lives in front of the park, launched a one-woman, letter-writing campaign to force Councilman Joe Buscaino’s office and the Recreation and Parks department to clean up and begin maintaining the park.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It got to a point where it was so bad,” Rouser said. “There was no other way.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rouser’s barrage of letters and phone calls resulted in few results. One day, a friend told her about a Leland Park Facebook page created by another local resident to raise awareness about the park’s state of disrepair and hopefully spark community action on the issue. In a word, Rouser found “allies.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It was like a spontaneous eruption,” Rouser said. “Certain people just started volunteering to do different things.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Afterward, things began moving swiftly. Neighbors organized the Leland Park Advisory Board and began documenting the park’s problem areas with pictures and notes and emailed them to every city department with jurisdiction.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tenacity of the organized residents caught the attention of Michael Shull-- the Superintendent for the Recreation and Park’s Planning and Development Division--and led him to partner with the park advisory board to transform Leland Park into a fully functioning park. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The City of [Los Angeles] should never try to do things alone,” Shull said. “Everything should be born out of what the community needs.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since combining forces, Shull and the advisory board have created plan that includes installing an irrigation system, building pathways that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, replace the dead grass with new landscaping, and redo the ball fields. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outdoor exercise equipment will also be installed, adding to the variety of activities at the park. Recs and Parks are also planning to install new security lights and cameras and additional parking spaces on Capitol Drive. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shull and the advisory board are also discussing ways to increased security at the park, which includes installing lights, cameras and putting up a fence around the park with two entrance gates. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rouser is pleased with the attention law enforcement is paying to the park, a significant change from the days when even complaints of drug transactions was acted upon slowly.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“[It’s] Night and day compared to what it used to be,” Rouser said. “I think a lot of it is because the public has stood up and said we’re not going to stand for this anymore. “People would come at 11 o’clock at night and open their car doors and they’d have the huge, loud, supersonic stereo systems,” Rouser said. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I would call the LAPD and I would get that fax sound… and you would never get through. And when you did it was like, really, I guess we’ll send somebody. And they wouldn’t come. Then they’d call at five in the morning... and ask me if they still needed [for us] to come.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rouser said that at the neighborhood council meeting residents attended to raise the issue of the park’s status, Captain of the Harbor Division, Nancy Lauer, swore to begin patrolling the area and respond in a timely manner.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“[Captain] Lauer stood up and said we got your back,” Rouser said. “And we saw that. I’d see undercovers out here. I saw a lot of black and whites.[Police Patrol Cars]”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eastview Little League baseball teams have inquired about using the baseball field for practice after the completion of the redevelopment. The Dodgers have promised to provide the field a new scoreboard.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shull acknowledge the importance of community involvement in addressing quality of life issues.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Every park thats successful in this city has a community group around it that’s conserved and keeps a watchful eye,” Shull said. “It just takes organization; It takes people that care.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-79dd0e06-9516-5fc7-ff0b-f7860e3ae20e"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The city is planning to begin construction within the following two months. If everything goes according to schedule, they are expected to be completed by the fall season.</span></div>
Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-980111987951722402014-09-20T15:01:00.002-07:002014-09-20T15:01:44.676-07:00Veterans Ride 600 Miles for Fallen Brothers<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fourteen veterans wounded in combat took the Never Quit Challenge, from Sept. 8 through 11. The challenge that included a 600 mile jet ski course from Morro Bay to San Diego.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the challenge’s second year, veterans who received purple hearts stopped in Santa Barbara, Long Beach and Catalina Island. The challenge concluded on the evening of Sept. 11 at the Stone Bistro’s Liberty Center, Point Loma for a 9/11 tribute. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s great, getting back together and having that camaraderie that you don’t get in the real world — the civilian world,” said 3rd Ranger Battalion Kyle Butcher, one of the veterans who was part of the challenge. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The prior year’s challenge took place between Key West, Fla. and New York City. Event organizer Shawn Alladio said the location change each year is what makes the competition unique. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The event supports the Marsoc Foundation, Station Foundation, and Phoenix Patriot Foundation. All three support veterans and the families of fallen soldiers. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s called the Never Quit Challenge for a reason: The waters are choppy and unpredictable, creating a greater challenge for wounded veterans. One rider was using prosthetic legs, but zero riders complained or quit.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s kind of a hardship,” Alladio said. “The challenge is very difficult. It’s painful at times because it’s a lot of hours on the water. What we’ve experienced the last two days, it’s been very windy. And, so, the wind has affected the surface texture of the water and that’s really slowed down a lot of the projections of the timelines,”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The Pacific Ocean doesn’t play any favorites,” Barry Baker said, who was one of the event’s organizers. “It delivered some smooth riding and then there were times where it was very challenging, knocking people off of jet skis and such. It was great. It was challenging.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baker is one of three riders who never served on active duty. He is an alumni with the K38 Rescue Program. Barry rode from Long Beach to Catalina and back, while the second of the three, Allatio, rode the whole 600 miles.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Butcher was shot three times while on duty in Iraq. He enjoys the brotherhood that he experiences with the riders who are fellow veterans, which he says is lacking in his day to day life.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s a hardship,” Butcher said. “It wasn’t fun. Most people think riding jet skis is fun, but we’re riding jet skis 600 miles in some pretty rough water. Each one of those boats have a fallen brother on it. We look down at that when times get hard and tough, it’s like, you know it’s not about me, suck it up. That’s why its called the never quit challenge. There’s no quitting.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next year’s challenge will take place between Galveston, Texas and Miami. </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8f91050c-9515-39cc-00f5-53f76151dbe7"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-39864290741798404752014-09-20T15:00:00.002-07:002014-09-20T15:00:32.262-07:00Queen’s Cup Doesn’t Fail to Impress in Debut<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Racers kept their heads down. Their eyes pointed straight ahead as they steered their wheels went for the gold at the All-American Queen’s Cup Soap Box Derby race. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The derby took place Aug. 23 and 24 at the parking lot adjacent to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. A ramp was placed at the beginning of the track. Racers were released from the top, gathering enough speed to push them to the finish line. The finish is 40, or 50 feet ahead of the ramp. Haystacks outlined the track to cushion a driver in the event of a crash and cones divided the two lanes. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of the races were neck-and-neck from start to finish. Some ended with about a second, or a second-and-a-half, between them. Some ended with finishes that made your heart skip a beat. That instance alone was enough to fill the gap that separated the racers. Most importantly, none of the races were one-sided, which called for an exciting event.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The races began at 11 a.m. There were four different races for each of the three different classes: stock; super stock; masters. The double elimination race had drivers race each other, mark the time difference, trade wheels and lanes and go at it again. The time difference was recorded after the second race and whoever had a better accumulated time would advance. The switch was made to ensure a fair game.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eleven-year-old Michael Nuñez placed fourth and brought home a trophy in which happened to be his first ever race. He said his mom persuaded him to race by promising him a surprise if he did. The trophy he won saw to it that he ends the day with two surprises. He said his favorite part of the race was zooming down the ramp at the start. He definitely is going to race again in the future.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regional Director Brian Graham, said he was looking for a race director who can find racers and permanent venues in Long Beach willing to host annual races. As for the Queen Mary being host to its first soap box derby, Graham wished that the track would've been longer, but said they did a great job in providing them the possibility to run a flawless event.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“As a host site the Queen Mary was perfect,” Graham said. “Everything we could want was provided, maybe some things we had maybe not thought about to. We are looking into a longer track and longer ramps for future events. With any program the first time out there are always some things to improve. However, with our intention for this race, we hit a home run.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contact Graham by emailing him at </span><a href="mailto:rallycomish@aol.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rallycomish@aol.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-cd1a8421-9514-31b2-7dd3-14b604760bcd"></span><br />
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Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-67901267387458202322014-09-20T14:58:00.002-07:002014-09-20T14:58:36.878-07:00All-American Soap Box Derby Comes to a Track Near You.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The All-American Soap Box Derby is taking place Aug. 23 and 24 amidst the shadows of Queen Mary. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The event is scheduled to stay open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be two official races where riders can accumulate points towards being invited to race in a championship in Akron, Ohio 2015. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Queen Mary, in an attempt to create some liveliness in their corners and better serve the community, approached Brian Graham, regional director at All-American Soap Box Derby and offered to fund a race which would be held adjacent to the Queen Mary. The ship continues looking for new ways to attract and connect the people of Long Beach and abroad.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Graham is excited that the sport’s popularity seems to be on the rise recently. He said that registration for this event has risen the last year and a half. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Graham also said the race gives an opportunity to children and adults to come together and build these cars and race them. He says that it offers participants a chance to bond and build cohesiveness, not just between racers, but all who are present around them. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Having an event focused on children and their adult companions is a way of serving the community,” Graham said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The All-American Soap Box Derby is a national sports organization that was founded in 1934. The The All-American Soap Box Derby is divided into 12 regions, with each region representing four to five states throughout the nation. The Long Beach race is part of Region 2, which represents Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are three car classes that each have a minimum required age participants must be to race in said class. These age groups are split like this: 7-9; 9-17; 11-17. Every racer competes to earn points so that by the end of the season, they’ll have a spot in the championship race Akron, Ohio. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beside seeing who can drive faster and feeding the racers’ competitive spirit, Graham stressed the more important lessons--are lessons that children will carry with them for the rest of their life. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“There’s so many wonderful things about this sport that far supersede the idea of coming out with just a trophy,” Graham said. “We’re talking about long-term growth, a long-term understanding, long-term empowerment of the person.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The core values of the American Soap Box Derby are teamwork and hands-on learning. The derby is a natural supporter of STEM or, science; technology; engineering; mathematics education. All racing teams have to design, build, test, and race their vehicles for competition.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re teaching kids “independence, self-reliance [and] confidence,” Graham said. “Then we throw in learning a bunch of math, science and technology programs.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nine year old Veronica Stagnaro from Danville, California has been racing for a year and a half. Her interest in the Derby stemmed from her father’s love of the sport. She said she likes the challenge that it brings and making new friends through common grounds. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stagnaro has won four races this year, and hopes to reach the championship race in Akron. She already has a trophy on her mantel from her win at the Silicon Valley Local race in 2013. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Competition is rough. The kids I race against are all good drivers,” Veronica said. “Anyone of us could win if we drive a good race.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The soapbox derby is one of the few sports in which boys and girls compete on the same field. When asked about how she felt about competing against boys, Stagnaro said she didn’t even think about it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris Harris, co-regional director has been involved with the derby for nine years. He became involved when his son, who was 14 at the time, came home disappointed after losing to two younger girls. His younger sister who was 9 at the time heard the story and decided she wanted to take it up herself. Eventually, she was invited to the world championships five times and placed second once out of those races. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The derby races are truly the greatest amature racing events in the world,” Harris said. “It brings families together and gives kids a chance to compete on a level playing field with cars that they have built and tuned themselves. Nothing compares to the feeling of winning a race in a car that you built and raced yourself.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soapbox derby fans can catch the show without admission. Visit the link below for further details.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-34721772-9512-14e5-9b28-ab45af3367ca"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Information:</span><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> http://www.queenmary.com/events/all-american-soap-box-derby/</span></span>Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-88849604542353538082014-09-20T14:55:00.000-07:002014-09-20T14:55:14.952-07:00There's More to Boxing than Just Boxing<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The punches flew fast. So fast, you could hardly see them. So fast, you can hear them cut the air as they hit the target. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The target in this case was Christine Rodriguez behind some protective gear. Each time Kira DeMorales threw her gloved fist, it sounded like a baseball being thrown at a 100 miles per hour landing dead smack in the middle of a catcher’s mitt. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The boxing world and the fighters she trains refer to Christine as “Mom’s.” Christine and Kira conduct their one-on-one training session in the southeast corner of the JackRabbit Boxing Academy in Long Beach. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The gym has one boxing ring. A few heavy bags ring the left side of the boxing square in an L-shape and several speed bags surround them. In the ring there’s an older man training a boxer in his 20s. There were a couple of fighters alternating between speed bags, each serving a different function. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The heavy bag is used to practice uppercuts. The 300-pound bag is used to help fighters strengthen their power shots. The double-n bag, which moves at you, is used to sharpen fighter’s defensive reactions. Fighters practice ducking and evading the slip bag and also their overall footwork. Last, but not least, the good ol’ fashioned speedbag helps fighters narrow their focus. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christine was in the southeast corner working with Kira when I was at the academy. She had on a body protector and mitts on each hand to absorb Kira’s blows. Kira was working on her footwork and combos, while Christine was checking her flaws. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kira moved around slowly, side-stepping and throwing a two-punch combo into Christine’s mitts. The pace of the training increased as the exercise continued. The punching combos, which began with two punches, increased to three then four punch combos and so on. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kira’s side-steps turned into a light skipping and her eyes zeroed in on Christine’s mitts before she began throwing out five, six and seven hit combos. Christine’s body protector became the second target, but her face registers no emotion. Christine absorbed each punch Kira threw as if she were a heavy punching bag hanging from the ceiling. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christine trains her students like she was taught by her coach, Bill Slayton. Slayton died when he was 82. He had such a remarkable impact on Christine, that she decided to mimic his training regimen for her students when it comes down to the ring and outside of it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christine says there’s little difference in the training regiments of amateur, professional and Olympic boxers, except that women train harder and with more intensity than men.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I was the only woman at Broadway Gym for about five years and I always wanted to do more than the men, more rounds, more weights [for when I shadowbox.] I would use [eight-pound weights,] while the guys were using [five-pound weights.]”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christine fought professionally in the late nineties and early 2000s. She regrets entering the professional ranks after only boxing in the amateur ranks for three months--attributing to this her lack of success in her boxing career. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Women boxers still struggle to find good management to represent them. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We have had many meetings with interested investors and sponsors,” Christine said. “They aren’t willing to be pioneers and sign a female fighter with a female coach. They don’t have any projections for that.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still, she feels good about the future of women in the sport.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The right people will appear when the time is right,” Christine said. “Faith has not failed me yet. Patience, I have learned well.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kira credits Christine for sharpening her skills and tremendously improving her diet.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Christine is one of the best to me and I’m honored to fight for her,” Kira said. “A friendship on top of just [a] coach and fighter [relationship].”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kira was not always on track to become a professional boxer. She was initially California State University Dominguez Hills student on a basketball scholarship from Hawaii. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She took up boxing during an off season to stay in shape. At the time, Christine was coaching the school’s women’s boxing team. Christine immediately saw in Kira raw talent and potential, along with natural length and size. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After two years in the basketball program, Kira chose boxing over basketball, believing that her earnings potential would be much higher if she succeeds. Also, she found that she preferred the individualistic nature of boxing where her success or failure depended on her effort alone in the ring. Of course that meant losing her scholarship. To help offset the cost of losing that scholarship, Christine invited Kira to live with her and her son. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amongst her many jobs, Christine works as a traveling nutritionist to various camps. These camps are where fighters prepare their bodies and minds a few days before their fights. Christine is also a certified massage therapist. She also trains two other boxers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christine became a trainer after Coach Slayton died, though it seemed iffy at fir<b>s</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t. She still wanted to be a champion. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I didn’t make that choice,” Christine said. “I didn’t think I’d ever make that choice. What happened was my trainer died and then there was a stable of fighters left. I was the next person in line after he died to be their leader. It was just natural. They looked up to me. I instilled and carried his morals and values.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Once you make that transition to coach, it is a very hard transition if you were a boxer because you want to be the fighter.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Christine, the path to becoming a professional boxer is spiritual one that she learned from Coach Slayton. The principles she learned as a boxer are principles she wants to pass on to the boxers she trains.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s about life in general, how to respect each other, help each other ...about sacrifice and giving back. That’s how boxing works,” Christine said. “To boxing, I owe my life, my humility, my faith [and] my wisdom. Everything. I became more heightened spiritually watching Bill die. He did it with grace and dignity. He made me know for certain he was going back home.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christine hopes to one day run her own boxing camp, preferably in Big Bear or some similar location. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For now, her home is the JackRabbit in Long Beach and her job is to transfer the lessons that she learned from her trainer to her pupils. She now sees more value in helping fighters reach the best of their abilities.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s not about me being champion, it’s about building many champions in and out of the ring,” Christine said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kira will make her professional debut Aug. 21 after posting a 6-0 record as an amature. Her fight will be at the Fight Club OC in Costa Mesa.</span></div>
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Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-71291360313846252132014-06-04T13:13:00.002-07:002014-06-04T13:13:50.911-07:00What Do You Mean, You Don't Get ItThe 20,000 people at the stadium get it, so why aren't the rest of Los Angeles' inhabitants on board? This question was asked today by an ESPN radio broadcaster, and repeatedly to hammer his revolted bafflement into the skulls of his listeners.<div>
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He was talking about the fans who fill the Staples Center's seats when their Kings are ready to take the ice. The passion and excitement which fills the arena is impossible to avert and is noticeably genuine. You couldn't catch a fan texting or talking on the phone if the camera man were running shots of the audience for the duration of the game, as you would on a large scale at a baseball or basketball game. The sport is fast, exciting, hard hitting and just plain entertaining. Or you would think.</div>
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With a sport that holds qualities such as these and a fan base who ravages with passion and loyalty, this certain ESPN broadcaster just can't quite put his finger on why that fan base isn't much bigger. He attempts to continually ask himself, and his colleagues on air. He sits there contemplating with himself every piece of reasoning that he could conjure and attempt to put it together like a puzzle. </div>
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But there's nothing to contemplate, or put together. You can't make rationale out of emotion. You don't study or learn how to amuse, or entertain yourself, you just do. That's where human diversity becomes a factor and there's nothing you could do about it.<br /><div>
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It would be equivalent to a parent who forces their child to play a sport in which he absolutely despises. They might try to sit there and ask the kid 100 questions to get to the bottom of his antipathy. They spend thousands of dollars on psychologists and therapists and still end up popping their head above ground without any answers. </div>
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There aren't answers. The people of Los Angeles don't like hockey and it doesn't matter how entertaining and fun it is to watch, or play, we just won't like it. Like I don't like the music you listen to and you don't like mine, or the television shows and movies I like differ from the ones that you like, it's just the way it is. </div>
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Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5012669244574010447.post-43005634270666349752014-05-23T13:36:00.001-07:002014-06-04T13:26:08.185-07:00Hands Across the Harbor<b id="docs-internal-guid-5c410637-688f-489c-544a-901dfebd7d8f" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The environmental activists Southern California Action Coalition 350 called on the residents of Wilmington to join them in a march to Waterfront Park and a moment of unity, standing hand-by-hand across the bridge which lays a midst the shadows of toxic smoke being exerted from a refinery nearby, waving their banners in the faces of the guilty.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They called this day, Hands Across the Harbor. It's an extension of Hands Across the Sand, which celebrated its fourth anniversary on Saturday, the day of the event. The organizers decided to give it this name because of the location of the event.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hands Across the Sand is a day dedicated for different groups to simultaneously display their support for clean energy and protest the use of hydraulic fracturing and the burning of fossil fuels for industrial purposes. Its also a day to recognize the reality of climate change and to push the community to action in order to drastically slow the effects, which has so far yielded unpredictable climates and the biggest drought in the history of California.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The topic of protest highest on everyone’s list today is the Keystone XL pipeline which runs from Alberta, Canada to Oklahoma. The pipeline was installed in order for the company to extract fuel from Canada and deliver it into the U.S. The process used to extract the fuel is called hydraulic fracturing, which studies have shown to cause major seismic activity on unstable faults, increasing significantly the number of earthquakes our land sustains.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The event began across the street inside of a presentation room located on the bottom floor of the apartment building adjacent to Waterfront Park. A table was set outside and on top of it, sign-in sheets with the intention of gathering information to help stay in contact with the individuals who were present.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inside the room, there were approximately 10 rows of seats, which by 10:45 a.m. were filled to capacity, with some left to stand. The front-two rows were designated for those who only spoke and understood Spanish. There was also a Spanish-speaking translator who verbally transcribed the whole presentation for whomever necessary.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Behind and aside the spectators, were four tables which individually represented each organization that made up the Coalition 350. The organizations present consisted of: Carson Connected Inc., Communities for Better Environment, the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, each vehemently opposing fracking and the burning of fossil fuels.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, as if not to forget a crucial piece of the ceremony, a table lay in the back-right side of the room holding deliciously-tasting torpedo sandwiches that were being refilled by the minutes by a couple of feverishly-working patrons in the kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jack Eidt, who is the publisher of the website </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WilderUtopia.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and an award-winning activist, made the majority of the presentation, stopping after every section in order to allow the translator to do her job.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eidt went on about the dangers of hydraulic fracturing and the dumping of the contaminated water after its use back into the ocean, the burning of fossil fuels and the emission of dangerous greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and what effects each of these practices are having in today’s climate and environment. It would be helpful if the community knew which contaminants were being thrown into the ocean so they would know what they’re up against, but thanks to Senate Bill 4, which is supposed to regulate the use of hydraulic fracturing, only mandates companies to reveal that they are in the process of doing so and leaves the community guessing about what that process actually is. “We need to move towards [a] sustainable, clean energy future,” Eidt said. “Cities where we rethink how its made and keep trying to work better on the personal level as well as the political level.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Fracking is massive industrialization of rural landscapes,” Eidt said. “It stretches roads [and] pipelines throughout places where there was nothing. It is affecting 34 states and most particularly here in Southern California; we have a long history of drilling.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eidt cited a study which shows that in the area the pipeline has extended to in Oklahoma, seismic activity has drastically increased. He said that from 1975 to 2008, Oklahoma sustained one to three earthquakes annually. From 2009 to 2013, the state is now enduring an average of 40 annually!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He also explained the dangers of transferring crude oil by pipeline, or train by referring to an accident that took place in North Dakota in Dec. of 2013, which saw trains carrying oil colliding and a massive explosion taking place, omitting massive amounts of dangerous gasses into the atmosphere. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Major activism is necessary in Southern California. There are a couple of sites in Baldwin Hills and Long Beach that are extracting oil, using the process of hydraulic fracturing. Because California lies on many fault lines, seeing what is happening in Oklahoma should serve as more than a red-flag warning to stop, but apparently someone hasn’t gotten the message; seeing there are 191 offshore fracturing wells in Long Beach and 12 more in Huntington and Seal Beaches.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eidt insists that putting a stop to and countering the effects hydraulic fracturing and the dealings and transportation of crude oil, has had on the environment and climate must start with each individual in the community before reaching the political apparatus, which holds the final word and mustn't end until we’ve seen the end; which means planning for the future as well as dealing with the now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We need to move towards [a] sustainable, clean energy future,” Eidt said. “Cities where we rethink how its made and keep trying to work better on the personal level as well as the political level.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The future must begin somewhere and to kick-start the action, a union organizer who was present vaulted to the front of the room and with the brash tone needed to fight against an enemy while yielding the bare-minimum chance of success, caught the attention of the room by blaring the question, “How many people here are depressed today” and offering a solution of, “We’re going to turn that sad into anger!” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With everything he could conjure from within, he led the charge in the room and begun to exclaim, “Sad never won a fight!” Until the entirety of the room could be heard from blocks away, shouting in the unity that is necessary to chalk up a W(win).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After he set the mood and got the crowd wild up, they set forth on a march across the street to Waterfront Park. At the park, the different organizations that made up the 350 coalition, announced future events that are related to this one and reminded the community they can attend to show support and congress that they’re serious. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once the announcements have been made, the group made a single-file line and headed toward the bridge which stood perpendicular to one of the major factories in Wilmington, hoping they’re brass was paying attention to the surrounding commotion. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone stood across the bridge, dropped their banners and hand-in-hand, begun singing, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Land is Your Land</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and chanting, “The people united, we’ll never be defeated!”</span></div>
<br />Joey Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10717739051789737746noreply@blogger.com0