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July 8, 2008

The Ravine

Since April, I’d been avoiding Chavez Ravine. I wasn’t dealing with guilt over the history of the area. I saw Culture Clash’s play five years ago and dealt with it all then. Plus, I grew up without the knowledge of the history. All I knew were the names of my favorite players and all those guys who won Rookie of the Year in the ’90s (Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, Hideo Nomo and Todd Hollandsworth).

My avoidance wasn’t even about the hassle of getting to/in/and out of the place. The happiness I feel in the stadium cancels out the frustration of getting in.

No, I was staying away because I didn’t like owner Frank McCourt’s business model of increasing admission and parking prices as well as creating more luxury seating. Last year, I only went when someone else was trying to pass off some tickets. Yeah, I can be coda…

But my boycott was half-assed, like a lot of other things I do. If a friend offered to buy tickets or needed to pass off some tickets, I’d gladly take them.

I was offered tickets last week for fantastic seats for the first game of the Freeway Series against the Anaheim Angels (eff that LA Angels of Anaheim crap).

Photos after the jump.

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Filed under: Los Angeles, Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 4:23 pm | 8 Comments

June 18, 2008

Number 32 and number 34

Sigh.

I’m still sulking. Yes, me the fair weather fan who only pays attention to the Lakers during the playoffs. To be fair, the playoffs do last forever in the NBA. But still, I’m very much a hometown girl and anything that makes LA look bad hurts me.

Anyway, I was trying to do a little writing therapy, but nothing was working. A beer didn’t help either.

And then I remembered the time I met Magic Johnson three years ago after a pick up game at UCLA where he played with a few other NBA players.

It got me laughing and feeling good for the first time all night.

Here’s the story as told to Matt, a friend from New Orleans:
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Filed under: Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 1:21 am | 5 Comments

March 22, 2008

March Madness

Back in late December, I attended a UCLA basketball game with my friend Eligio at the storied Pauley Pavilion. UCLA handedly beat UC Davis. Eligio and I stayed afterward to talk to some people and try and get photos with some of the star players like Josh Shipp (junior, guard/foward) and Kevin Love (freshman, center).

UCLA plays Texas A&M tonight in the second round of the NCAA tournament. UCLA is seeded first in the West and Texas A&M is ten. From what I’ve read, the Aggies are a team with a lot of big guys who play in a physical and aggressive manner (LAT pre-game story). The game will be a challenge, but I know UCLA has a very strong team.

I packed my UCLA hoodie specifically because I wanted to represent while I was in Texas and New York during the beginning of the tournament. I may be in hostile territory right now, but I’ll proudly wear my UCLA hoodie as I explore more of Houston.

Go Bruins!

Filed under: Escuela, Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 10:16 am | 3 Comments

December 2, 2006

If it’s an upset, why does it feel so good?

UCLA 13-USC 9... this upset made me very happy

I’d make a horrible professional athlete. Aside from the fact that I can’t run fast, jump high, throw hard or accurately, I’m also rather shitty at, well… talking shit.

I didn’t say anything about today’s UCLA vs. USC game online or in person. When my dad called me this morning and asked if UCLA was going to win, I told him it was probably a longshot.

But even longshots become reality.

UCLA started off the game looking good. By the end of the first quarter, UCLA had already scored a touchdown fueled by some unexpected rushing on behalf of the quarterback, Patrick Cowan. UCLA held on to the lead for most of the first half until USC scored on a safety and then a touchdown to make the score 9-7.

The second half was a nail biter, but UCLA kept USC from scoring again. In the mean time, UCLA helped itself by scoring two field goals by veteran kicker Justin Medlock.

With only a narrow 4-point lead through the fourth quarter, I got extremely nervous. It all worked out though.

I’m happy. I haven’t seen UCLA win in a game against USC since 1998, when I was a mocosa trombone player in the band. I remember thinking that it was cool to see UCLA win 34-17, but the game was rather boring. At that time, I didn’t think I’d have to wait 7 years before the Victory Bell came back to UCLA.

In 1998, the University of Miami played spoiler to UCLA’s hopes for a championship title and the Rose Bowl became the consolation prize.

In 2006, UCLA thwarted USC’s hopes for another chance at the BCS championship game and the Rose Bowl is their consolation prize.

It’s a good day to be a UCLA fan. Not only did we win against USC for the first time in 7 years, but we also severely upset a lot of ‘SC fans.

Filed under: Escuela, Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 6:06 pm | 6 Comments

September 25, 2006

Oh so grand

nomar On Monday night, I watched a fantastic Dodger game from the comfort of my pink couch. There were no friends around, and instead I had to call my brother Danny and friend Gabby to express my excitement to another human. I was elated after the game and felt good as the last two weeks of the baseball season got underway. Oh yeah, and the Dodgers were in first place in the National League West.

That changed during the week. It turns out that the Dodgers are great at going for long stretches at winning… or losing. In August they went 17-1. Earlier in the summer, they were 1-13. Ouch. It seems that after the Monday night high, my beloved Dodgers left me feeling a little blue every time I checked on the score for the game that day.

Still, it didn’t keep me from not wanting to return to Chavez Ravine for the last home game of the season. I attended yesterday’s game with good friends who also love the Dodgers. Alfred was hungover after his housewarming party, but still down for an early afternoon game. Gabby and Javi are at the stadium at least once every homestand, and this was no different. Two other friends, Mike and Cathy, joined in.

We sat in the top deck, way up in section 13 on the far left. Still, being that high up didn’t ruin the atmosphere. The Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks remained at a tie for most of the game. The Dodgers’ and Diamondbacks’ starting pitchers, Hong-Chih Kuo and Liván Hernández, didn’t give up too many hits in the first 8 innings.

I told Alfred, “I’m glad I ate that Dodger dog after the 7th inning stretch, it looks like it might go in to extra innings.”

Surprisingly, Alfred replied, “if it does, we’re leaving. I’m hungry!”

“No we’re not,” I replied. I don’t like leaving games early, but then again I wasn’t starving. I’m sure Alfred was glad we stayed.

The score was 1-1 going in to the bottom of the ninth.

Behind me in the last row of the top deck, a man told his fidgety 4-year old son, “say win, and the Dodgers will win.” I heard him softly say, “win.”

“Okay,” his dad replied, “they’re going to win. Just watch.”

Marlon Anderson, the Dodgers’ latecomer who lately has led the way, singled to begin the ninth against reliever Luis Vizcaino and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to second. Rafael Furcal [intentionally walked] and Kenny Lofton walked, and up came Garciaparra. LAT story

I was on my feet next to Alfred, Gabby, and the others cheering as loud as we could. Behind us the hopeful dad scolded his son as he tried to stand on the armrests rather than the seat. I turned quickly to see him get down and then turned back to the field were bases were loaded, Nomar was at the plate and the count was 2 balls and 1 strike.

Vizcaino threw the ball. Nomar hit it. And we watched it go up and up and up. It looked like a normal fly ball to center, but it wasn’t.

It landed right past the fence in center field.

A grand slam. It was also Nomar’s second walk-off homerun in a week of must-win games.

I don’t remember for how long we cheered as Nomar ran the bases and into a crowd of his teammates in white and blue. His smile must have been as big as those of the thousands of fans cheering him.

I turned and told the little boy, “hey, you said they ‘win’ and they won!”

“Give her a high five,” his dad said.

I hope that kid remembers the game. I know I will. Who wouldn’t remember the first time she saw a game-winning grand slam by one of the best players in baseball?

[On another note, the game was memorable because I ran in to my cousin, Robert, while he was working. Robert is an LAPD officer. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him that I almost didn’t recognize him. Plus, he was in his uniform and was wearing shades, so I needed to check his nametage to make sure it was my cousin before I said hi to some random LAPD officer.]

Filed under: Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 8:23 pm | 3 Comments

September 18, 2006

Monday night baseball

I don’t like the latter half of September. It goes by in a flash. Before I know it, the fall quarter has started, a bunch of new students have swarmed the UCLA campus and I’m back to 4-hour classes and lots of reading.

The trouble with late September is baseball. In case you didn’t know, I love the Dodgers. I’ve been following since I could say “el Toro” and remember jumping up and down wildly during the 1988 World Series with my dad. I’ve been a bad fan this season, going only to two games (last year I went to about a dozen). Then again, I’m on the road almost as much as the Dodgers.

As the season winds down, the races for a berth in the playoffs come down to the wire. I love and hate the excitement. I ignore my studies as I watch late and post-season games.

This brings me to tonight’s Dodgers vs. Padres games. First, I must say that I love my roommate for ordering cable. That means I can watch the Dodgers games on cable.

four! I started watching tonight and then stopped. The game wasn’t going so good. Dodgers were down 4-0 at the end of the first inning. By the end of the third, they had tied it up. The game continued like that all the way until the ninth inning. At this point, San Diego was up 9-5. A lesser fan would have turned off the TV and prepared tomorrow’s lunch.

I kept watching. Bottom of the ninth, Jeff Kent comes up to bat. He hits a homerun.

J.D. Drew came next. He hit the second homerun of the inning.

At this point, I called my brother wondering, what’s happening? I didn’t want to get too excited, because no one wants to be let down. The Padres managers then brings in a new pitcher. The excitement at Chavez Ravine keeps building as the score is now 9-7.

Oh, and there are no outs.

Russell Martin came up to bat. He hits a homerun.

The Dodgers are making three homeruns in a row seem like the norm.

Marlon Anderson came up to bat. He hits a homerun, the second of the night (he went five for five!).

i love l.a.! Okay. Did you get that? FOUR homeruns in a row. The fine fact-finders at Fox Sports inform viewers that this has only happened three other times in Major League history. The last time was in 1964.

The excitement in the 9th inning ended three batters later.

I was talking to Gabby about the game. The top of 10th inning scared us. The Padres didn’t give up so easily, got a couple of men on base and scored a run. Going in to the bottom of the 10th the score was 10-9.

Gabby gave her analysis of what needed to happen, “Lofton needs to get on base and Nomar needs to homer.”

Kenny Lofton gets walked. Vin Scully calls him a rabbit. Lofton has legs and has stolen 27 of 31 bases.

With Lofton on first, Nomar Garciaparra comes up to bat. Nomar had missed the last two games after an injury on Friday night.

Nomar must have been listening to Gabby.

He hit a homerun in to the left field bleachers.

The crowd got even crazier. Randy Newman’s I Love LA blared over the PA system as it always does when the Dodgers win.

Vin Scully stayed quiet for a minute as Nomar ran the bases with a slight limp. It was almost a replay of the Dodgers’ win in game one of the 1988 World Series when Kirk Gibson hit a game-winning homerun that no Dodger fan will ever forget.

Vin Scully ended his broadcast with a simple line, “I forgot to tell you, the Dodgers are in first place.”

I hope that doesn’t change.

ESPN recap, top photo from ESPN, and the other two photos by Malingering

Filed under: Los Angeles, Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 11:33 pm | 3 Comments

June 27, 2006

Prefiero el Mundial en español… ¿y qué?

For some strange reason, an editor at the LA Times gave John Ziegler, an AM radio host, space to make poorly written arguments and turn an enjoyable event like the World Cup to discuss the politics of assimilation.

Ziegler tries to draw links between watching World Cup soccer on Univision, as opposed to ABC or ESPN, and immigration from “the South” (but he really just means Mexico). He writes

THE HEART OF the debate over illegal immigration comes down to the problem of assimilation. For many of us who generally oppose the silent invasion from the south, if those who broke the law to come here acted as if their true loyalties were with the United States, then much of the fire in this highly combustible subject would be doused.

While at first glance it may seem an odd place to find enlightenment on the issue, the local TV ratings for games involving Mexico and the United States in the ongoing World Cup may provide some of the best evidence yet of where Spanish-speaking immigrants’ true loyalties lie. (for the rest)

He then goes on to make some rather lame points. First, he compares the LA broadcast ratings for the first few games Mexico and the US played. The total percentage of households that watched Mexico play in either English or Spanish was 28.1 and 19.8 for the US games. Second, the ratings for the Mexico games were much higher than those for the US games on Univision (21.7 to 11.8).

Ziegler reads these numbers and interprets them to mean that Spanish-speaking immigrants (codeword for Mexicans) have divided loyalties. I told Isa this and she said what I was thinking, “Our loyalties are not divided. They’re all for Mexico.”

Sort of. I ardently cheered for Mexico in all their games. My eyes got watery when I heard the national anthem. I was despondent when el Tri tied Angola, sad that they lost to Portugal but relieved that they advanced to the round of 16, even if it was de pansazo. I didn’t watch the US vs. Czech Republic match because I was at work. I didn’t cry when they lost 3-0 but still cringed. I cheered for the US against Italy and was glad that they tied. I watched Ghana beat the US and didn’t feel bad about it. In fact, I was glad Ghana won.

Can Ziegler be right? Does cheering for el Tri make me anti-assimilation? No. If you want to see my views on assimilation, you might want to look at other indicators. I’m definitely acculturated, but I’m wary of assimilation especially if it means giving up my mother tongue and connection to mis raíces. Still, I can’t deny the fact that I read Ziegler’s op/ed piece in an English language newspaper and am writing this post in English.

Did hoping for Ghana to win in their game gainst the US make me un-American? Nope. It just made me want to see the US not come in first in an important international competition. It’s nice to see an underdog win. By advancing to the round of 16, I’m sure the Ghanaian national team made their people much happier than a round of 16 berth would have made the US. Apparently, everything stopped in Ghana for the game, but people here barely care about the World Cup.

Ziegler may have had numbers, but he had no idea how to make sense of them. This is soccer, not a war. Watching games in Spanish is a simple personal preference.

1) Just because you watch the game on Univision does not mean you are an immigrant. Hell, I’ve watched almost every game on Univision and I was born in the US, am bilingual, and an upright citizen. Okay, I don’t know about the upright part, but I do take my civic duties seriously. But serioulsy, a lot of my Flickr buds agree with me.

2) This isn’t about assimilation or whether or not we’re becoming American. The definition of American should not be confined to cheering for the US team and watching the games in English. To me it is about sports, competition, cheering for the underdog and connecting with people. Cheering for el Tri just feels right.

3) As César (El Más Chingón) wrote in reply to CAD’s question, “real soccer fans know it’s Univision all the way.”

Have you actually watched the games in English? I fully understand both Univision and ABC/ESPN and choose Univision. Why? It’s not because I’m anti-assimilation or want to be more Mexican, it’s simply because the English language broadcasters are boring. They talk about the US as two other teams are playing. They also bring io politics which isn’t something you want to hear about when your mind is on soccer. My friends, Yousef and Mohammad, switched to Univision while watching Mexico vs. Iran because they got tired of the commentators talking about invading Iran. They don’t even speak Spanish, but it was better than ABC. I also noticed while watching Italy vs. US on Univision that ABC was delayed a few seconds. Finally, I had to watch Mexico’s games against Angola and Portugal in English because I don’t have cable TV.

Now, for the reasons I prefer Univision. I like to hear the commentators exuberantly call out “¡goooool!” I love the Coca Cola Borghetti/ice cube commercial and the fact that they show all the games. I can’t stand to hear Spanish names mispronounced and watching Mexico play while listening to the announcer speak Spanish just makes more sense.

Ziegler, it’s fútbol. Es la Copa Mundial. It should be enjoyed in whatever language helps to make the experience better. Para mi, esa idioma es español.

Filed under: Política, Los Angeles, Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 11:42 pm | 12 Comments

June 16, 2006

Mexico vs. Angola

Live blogging the game

7:00
They’re chanting “culeros!” Oh, how I love Mexicans.

9:00
What’s going on here? Don’t play dirty… just play!

10:00
Rafa Márquez = swoon, but I’m not watching because the players are good looking.

Aw, Pardo had a chance… oh well.

11:00
I would do a play by play if I knew what to say. Guy in red passed it… to another guy in red.

12:00
Wouldn’t it have been cool if Angola beat Portugal? The colonized beats the former colonizer. The Fanon fan in me thinks soccer is better than violence for decolonizing.

Damn, 12 minutes in and this guy already has a yellow card?

13:00
That was close (free kick). The playback made it look just a few centimeters out.

15:00
Another foul? I think this is number 6. And now the third free kick. Let’s see if Pavel can make it. Damn.

19:00
I get a sense there’s going to be a lot of stoppage time.

The fans are signing “Cielito Lindo.” Lovely.

20:00
I wonder how much of all these injuries are (bad) acting and how many of them are real.

21:00
Tiro de esquina for Angola. These always ake me nervous.

22:00
The shots never look like they’re going to go that high until after the fact.

25:00
Free kick for Angola. Come on Oswaldo! Looks like he didn’t have to do much. It was way wide on the right.

26:00
Zinha shot… too far. I just noticed they’re wearing white today.

27:00
The Univision announcers say it helps to distinguish between the teams.

30:00
Damn. The two teams are even on fouls right now.

31:00
Was that a foul? Another free kick that doesn’t get close enough to really scaring anyone.

34:00
Nice block from Oswaldo.

35:00
I don’t think I can stand this being one of those games where the goal comes at the end.

37:00
Yikes. Tiro de esquina for Angola.

38:00
Do you hear trumpets? Do they have a mariachi there?

40:00
“Mexico está desconcentrado” according to the announcers.

It looks like it too… maybe they’ll have their concentration back after half time.

43:00
That foul on Rafa Márquez didn’t look good. And now the guy got a yellow card.

44:00
That was a tease (shot on goal).

45:00
Olé oleé olé chants… at least the fans are in it.

47:00
Half time.

Second half!

0:00
I really hope they’re coming out with some better plays. I need something to make not working on school stuff worth it.

2:00
You know what I miss? Jorge Campos’ dayglo uniform. Sánchez’s blue is okay, but the fluroescent colors add something else.

3:00
Mexico’s first tiro de esquina.

6:00
Aaaah! Okay, at least there is shooting now. With all these close calls there’s gotta be a goal.

Arellano comes in for Zinha.

7:00
I ate tamales today to be as Mexican as possible.

9:00
Straight shot to Sanchez. Damn.

10:00
Aaaah! I’m still mad about that lost opportunity. Mexico fans are going crazy.

11:00
Free kick.

12:00
Latest chant coming through? “¡Sí se puede!”

15:00
So, I’m following the stats online and it is noted that the Mexico is ranked 4 in the world by FIFA/Coca Cola and Angola is ranked 57. That doesn’t look good for Mexico struggling so much.

17:00
Issues passing?

20:00
I gotta admit, that one-handed catch by the Angolan goalkeeper was pretty good. Damn.

Bravo! You were supposed to get goal number three right there!

21:00
I hope I’m not annoying the neighbors with all the yelling over here.

22:00
Lavolpe seems to have that infamous Argentine ego.

24:00
Those free kicks… so many with no results.

28:0
Kikín is in!

30:00
Mendez can’t get in when it’s three against one.

31:00
I just realized we haven’t seen any action from Sanchez in a while. But that should be a good thing.

32:00
Those players look pissed.
“¡Sí se puede!” again.

33:00
Mano! Andre gets a red card. This should work to our advantage in these last ten minutes or so.

35:00
Cielito Lindo again That calms me down… just a little.

37:00
I didn’t scream and cry in the last shot by Kikín.

43:00
I missed that last two close calls by Marquez and Bravo because I needed a bathroom break.

44:00
Lavolpe looks like he’s about to pulls his hair out. I think I am too.

45:00
What can happen in three minutes?

47:00
A tie. Damn.
Mal partido para México. True story.

Filed under: Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 11:50 am | 10 Comments

April 5, 2006

Mil palabras: opening day

Dodger Stadium

I attended my first opening day game on Monday. My good friend Gabby made sure I did it right with a Phillippe’s French dip sandwich, illegal tailgating, and plenty of beer. But there were things out of our control like the rain and how well the Dodgers did. Oh well, it all can’t go as planned or hoped.

Filed under: Los Angeles, Deportes, Fotos | POSTED BY cindylu AT 8:14 pm | 4 Comments

April 2, 2006

Twelve is the magic number

For my first two years at UCLA, I was part of the marching band. For most of the fall quarter, it was all about football. By November, we were back in Pauley Pavilion. Rather than play in full uniform with a couple hundred musicians, we had a small pep band dressed in khakis and UCLA Hawaiian print shirts.

Every time I was in Pauley — whether it be for men or women’s basketball or men’s volleyball — I was amazed by the banners hanging around showing all the national championships teams had won in that building.

There were the 11 basketball championships, 10 under Coach John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood, and one with Jim Harrick. From 1964 to 1973 the UCLA Bruins won 10 basketball titles. There were 18 men’s volleyball titles from 1970 to 2000. Banners for women’s gymnastics showed 5 recent national titles from 1997 to 2004.

Even though it’s cool to have all kinds of volleyball and gymnastics titles, everyone knew that UCLA was and is a basketball school. The greatness in the air from the days of Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton was always part of the excitement.

When I filled out my bracket, I had UCLA winning the whole thing. I’ve watched every UCLA game (except Belmont, I was at the Mexico/US baseball game) in the NCAA tournament. I have to admit I didn’t follow too much during the regular season. I wouldn’t call myself a fairweather fan because I’ve loved UCLA basketball since I remember hearing about the 1995 win and went to my first game in the fall of 1998.

Tomorrow will be all about two of my favorite teams, UCLA and the Dodgers. I’ll be at Chavez Ravine for the Dodgers’ opening day game against the Atlanta Braves and then I’ll nervously watch the champioship game with good friends on Monday night.

Twelve national basketball championship titles sounds really nice, doesn’t it?

Go Bruins.

Filed under: Escuela, Deportes | POSTED BY cindylu AT 4:03 pm | 11 Comments

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