Honoring “The Greatest!”
I’ve been thinking about my man, Muhammad Ali, off and on, feeling sad that he’s gone. But as a contemporary of mine (he was four years younger than me) he’ll never be forgotten by me because he has meant the world to me.
When I first heard about him he had just fought his way to a gold medal as the Light Heavy Weight Boxing Champion in 1960 at the Olympic Games in Rome.
I had just graduated from Arizona with a degree in P.E. and all kinds of basketball scoring records. So he and I were two young black men, athletes, standing tall and all. Who knew, though, that he would take being a sports figure to levels that were, up to then, unseen. [Read more…]
Anti-War Legend and Boxing Great Muhammad Ali Dies at 74
“My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America… How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.”
By Jon Queally / Common Dreams
Boxing great Muhammad Ali, known around the world as a humanitarian who spoke out forcefully against racial inequality, social injustice, and the Vietnam War during the 1960’s, has died at the age of 74.
The news of the athlete’s passing was confirmed by several news outlets late Friday night as well as a brief statement released on behalf of the family.
“After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening,” said family spokesperson Bob Gunnell in the statement.
[Read more…]
Architects Pan Charger Football Stadium Proposal
Costs and Environmental Risks Create Risks for Taxpayers, Says Local AIA Chapter
American Institute of Architects San Diego / UrbDeZine
At first glance, the recent East Village Convadium proposal has many appealing qualities: it is an attractive, modern complex with many interesting features. However, the Charger’s owners hope to capitalize on the recent trend in California and use the ballot initiative process to “expedite” California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, and for good reason. The flash and hype of the ballot initiative covers many significant, unanswered questions about potential cost overruns and environmental impacts that may cost San Diego taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Like many San Diegans, the American Institute of Architects San Diego (AIASD) would like to see a NFL franchise remain in San Diego. However, our 900 member organization is dedicated to advancing good urban planning and design in San Diego, and we have many concerns about the current Convadium proposal. We also feel it is critical to remind San Diegans there are better alternatives. [Read more…]
Book Review Of Bill Walton’s “Back From The Dead”
By Ernie McCray
I didn’t know until I read his book that he was a musician, but I’ve known for a long time that he’s someone who’s attracted to the sounds of music, that he has been a player in the Grateful Dead scene for decades. I’ve known that he’s a lifelong learner, a man who’s constantly growing and questioning and shining a light on things that need tending to in our world. And his writing details somewhat poetically how he’s “thrown it down,” all out, throughout his life, in spite of forever having to endure an almost unbelievable array of crippling injuries and intense pain.
[Read more…]
Go Padres: Vivas to Those Who Have Failed!
Today is opening day and with it, if history is our guide, what is most likely another season of futility is born. Having grown up a Padres fan, this is par for the course as the Pads have only gone to the postseason five times and have a meager .463 winning percentage over the life of the franchise.
They are, in short, losers.
So why go? Why will I be sitting in the stands this afternoon as the Padres take on the Dodgers hoping against hope that the outcome will be different? [Read more…]
Cancel April Fools Day – Who Needs It When We’ve Got Trump?
The Republican party’s leading candidate for president is behaving so outlandishly that no made-up prank could possibly top it. It’s worse than a bad joke and the soiled image of the United States is the punch line.
The Donald’s had a bad couple of days, acting like a five-year-old on steroids as he defends the indefensible, makes vulgar threats, and runs roughshod over common decency. [Read more…]
Thinking About Some Guys Who Fought Like Wildcats
I’ve been thinking of my Wildcats over there at the U of A. They got ousted in the first round of March Madness the other day by Wichita State who, as they say, “came to play.” I mean really came to play.
Arizona did too, but it was one of those games that all ballers find themselves in every now and then where the ball just won’t bounce right, where the strings on the rim seem too tight and you can’t do a damn thing right, tripping over yourself, everywhere you step the other team is already there, in your way, in perfect rhythm, like they’re practicing plays in a workout, all over the place, in the right place, setting the pace, catching all the breaks, breaks they don’t need, stealing passes in the lane, getting blocked out and getting the rebound anyway. [Read more…]
Latinos and Baseball: In the Barrios and the Big League
On February 19, 2016, I drove to San Bernardino to attend what turned out to be a very special project and event. This past summer I attended an advisory board meeting of the Mexican-American Baseball Project, Cal State San Bernardino. As I arrived at the John M. Pfau Library, I took a few minutes to rehash my last visit to the building.
At that time, we were talking about the possibility of San Diego having a baseball book like many other cities. I returned this time as a member of that advisory board.
I had recently completed a chapter for San Diego in a book that will be published later this year. [Read more…]
Chargers Say They’ll Fund Their Own Stadium Downtown (Sort of)
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at city hall as the local football franchise went public with a ‘no thanks’ to the officially blessed plan of building a stadium in Mission Valley.
In making this move the Chargers have rejected $350 million in city and county support –and the strings that came with it– saying they would get their own financing.
How’d they do that? Well, it’s complicated. [Read more…]
North of the Fence: Chargers Give South Bay Schools Money, Sirhan Sirhan Lives In Otay Mesa
… and the Olympic Training Center Will Transfer To Chula Vista
Two South Bay school districts might feel the financial pain if the Chargers move up North, according to The Star News. The Sweetwater Union High School District estimates that their schools have received close to $500,000 in funding from the San Diego Chargers, including for facilities and wellness programs. The Chula Vista Elementary School also says their contributions from the Chargers might go away if they leave up North. [Read more…]
June Vote Set for San Diego Minimum Wage Increase
Voters in the city of San Diego will get a chance to weigh in on an ordinance providing stepped increases in the minimum wage and up to five earned sick days annually in the June 2016 primary election.
A historic wrong will be righted with public approval of the measure, implementation of which was delayed by a deceptive petition campaign financed by out of town interests whose business model depends on government assistance to their employees.
The original ordinance was approved in the summer of 2014, following months of City Council president Todd Gloria attempting and essentially failing to get business community input. Mayor Kevin Faulconer vetoed the measure. The City Council overrode the veto, 6-3, voting along party lines. [Read more…]
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