Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 13, 2013

15

SPORTS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, April 13, 2013 

WINNING WEEKEND FOR YOUNG DUARTE BOXERS AND DUARTE 
ROP VIDEO PRODUCTION STUDENTS

WHY MIKE RICE HAD TO GO

Independent's Eye 

by Joe Gandelman

Retired professional basketball 
coach and former basketball 
player Phil Jackson once 
said: 

"Not only is there more to 
life than basketball, there's a 
lot more to basketball than 
basketball." Someone should 
have told that to Mike Rice, 
Rutgers's retired-by-being-
fired former basketball coach.

Rice was fired after ESPN 
aired video showing him yelling 
at players on his team, shoving them, throwing balls at their 
heads, and using a gay slur that begins with "f." University administrators 
knew about the video as early as November. A Rutgers 
board member now insists he called for Rice's immediate firing after 
seeing the video, but it only resulted in Rice being investigated.

The Star Ledger in New Jersey, in an editorial, declared: "The evidence 
against Mike Rice was too damning, too vile, too extreme 
for him to spend one more day on the Rutgers University payroll. 
That he remained employed this long — long after a line of Rutgers 
officials that winds all the way to the president's office had 
watched the now infamous video — is an embarrassment..."

Gov. Chris Christie told reporters "You have lots of successful 
coaches...who don't act this way...they don't conduct themselves 
like animals. [What] parent would let this animal back into their 
living room to recruit their son, after this video? I'd hang up the 
phone." 

A journalist friend points out that Rutgers is New Jersey's only 
major state university that doesn't carry the state's name as opposed 
to, say, UCLA, USC, or CalTech. He contends, "Rutgers 
has tried to compensate by pouring ungodly sums of money 
into its athletic program to the detriment of minor sports that 
were dropped. The basketball coach scandal is, in part, a result of 
skewed priorities." And, indeed, The New York Times reports that 
when also-fired Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti learned of 
Rice's behavior he was negotiating to try to get Rutgers into the 
Big Tent with its prestige and perceived riches.

Some conservatives and Fox Newsers took the other side. Eric 
Bolling said firing Rice because he got rough with players showed 
" it's time to toughen up" and that it represented "the wussification 
of American men." Fox News Rush Limbaugh wannabe Sean 
Hannity said: "Maybe we need a little more discipline in society. 
Maybe we don't have to be a bunch of wimps for the rest of our 
lives. My father hit me with a belt. I turned out okay."

Actually, if Hannity was hit with a belt as a kid, then there are 
some who will feel he is the living, breathing reason why no kid 
should E-V-E-R be hit with a belt. But Hannity's final sentence 
begs serious examination.

Here are two non-secrets, Sean. First, a good chunk of people 
abused as youths grow up to have abusive relationships. And, second, 
suicide is the number two cause of death among college students. 
Despite their big bodies, college students are youths who 
may be sensitive, psychologically vulnerable and impressionable. 

The real issue is how we choose to imprint young people. Will 
they turn behaviors and attitudes we show them into their into 
own? For that reason alone -- not the mere act of angrily pushing 
a kid young enough to be his son, or throwing a ball real hard at 
a kid's head, or yelling out a sexual bigot word -- Rice had go to.

Is he now apologetic, almost in grief over his actions in how they 
let down the university, his team and his family? Reportedly, yes. 
Is someone who uses Rice's tactics a shaper of young minds and 
behaviors? Let's hope not.

Joe Gandelman is a veteran journalist who wrote for newspapers overseas and in the 
United States. He has appeared on cable news show political panels and is Editor-in-
Chief of The Moderate Voice, an Internet hub for independents, centrists and moderates. 
CNN's John Avlon named him as one of the top 25 Centrists Columnists and 
Commentators. He can be reached at jgandelman@themoderatevoice.com and can 
be booked to speak at your event at www.mavenproductions.com.


Eleven young Duarte competitors went 
out in the world last weekend and came 
home carrying gold, silver, bronze and a 
new sense of confidence and direction.

Three members of the Duarte Youth 
Boxing Club proved their mettle and 
won two medals at the U.S.A. National 
Boxing Championships held in Spokane, 
Washington, April 1-6. More than 500 
amateur boxers from around the country 
participated in the competitions.

Two teams of Duarte High School ROP 
Television and Video production students 
competed in the 46th Annual SkillsUSA 
State Competition in San Diego, April 4-7, 
with one team bringing home Gold Medals 
and a ticket to the National SkillsUSA 
Competition in Kansas City, MO, June 24-
28.

Faith Franco, 21, a member of the Duarte 
Youth Boxing Club since she was 16 years old 
is now the #2 amateur boxer in the nation. 
Franco brought home a Silver Medal from 
the U.S.A. National Boxing Championships 
held in Spokane, Washington, April 1-6, 
after advancing to the finals in the Elite 141 
pound women›s division. She lost her bout 
on a close decision to Bertha Aracil from 
Yonkers, N.Y., who was ranked #1 in the 
U.S.A. 

 It was awesome to finally see what my 
future looks like,» said Franco, whose goal 
is to stay ranked to be in contention for 
the 2016 Olympics. She is also a student at 
Questa College in San Luis Obispo.

 Luis Sedano, 22, and Joseph Martinez, 22, 
members of the Duarte Youth Boxing Club 
since their teenage years, also came up in 
rank following their matches in the U.S.A. 
National Boxing Championships. Sedano is 
now ranked #3 in the nation. He competed 
in the Elite 132 pound men’s division and 
advanced to the semi-finals to fight against 
Kenneth Sims of Chicago, IL, who is ranked 
#1, and is a six time National Champion 
and Olympic Games alternate. Sedano took 
the Bronze Medal after losing the bout in a 
close and controversial 28-26, 28-27, 28-27 
decision. 

In reporting on the fight, Jim Allen of the 
Spokesman-Review newspaper, wrote: «But 
nothing in this poster-sized card of 20 Elite 
bouts at the Northern Quest Resort and 
Casino could match the lightweight bout 
between Chicagoan Kenneth Sims, and 
tireless Luis Sedano. With his legs tiring 
and his mother, Tina, imploring him to hold 
on, Sims did just that, taking a unanimous 
but controversial decision…»

For Duarte head boxing coach, Victor 
Valenzuela, who has helped train and 
guide the young boxers from the first day 
they walked into the Duarte gym, it was an 
emotional moment. «I was so proud of Luis. 
He was going up against a major contender, 
but I told him, give it all you›ve got. He did, 
even bringing Sims down to an eight count 
in one round. That›s heart. I went out and 
cried, I was so proud,» said Valenzuela.

Martinez competed in the Elite 201 
pound men’s division and advanced to 
the quarterfinals where he lost to Javonta 
Charles from Las Vegas, NV, the #1 seeded 
boxer in the heavyweight division. Martinez 
is now ranked in the top #10 in the nation.

«All the boxers did a tremendous job and 
truly represented the City of Duarte in 
a very mature and professional manner. 
We should be very proud of these young 
individuals,» said Valenzuela.

Next up for Franco is an international 
boxing competition in Tahiti on May 26, 
representing the United States against the 
#1 female boxer from New Zealand. This 
is the second time that Franco has been 
invited to compete in the Tahiti Boxing 
Tournament. Both Franco and Sedano 
have been invited to the Olympic Training 
Center in Colorado Springs to compete in 
international competition.

It was also a winning weekend of competition 
for Duarte High School ROP Television and 
Video production students who traveled 
with their instructor, Levon Yotnakhparian, 
to San Diego for the annual SkillsUSA State 
Competition. More than 1,900 students 
from Northern and Southern California 
participated in the competition involving 
video and broadcast news production and 
about 110 other technical skills.

One of two teams of Duarte students 
comprised of Isaiah Mendoza, Yanely 
Serrano, Ghovanni Valdez and Nicholas 
Perez, competed in the Broadcast News 
competition and won Gold Medals for their 
efforts. They and their competing teams 
were given two hours to plan, produce and 
deliver a three minute newscast. The teams 
were presented with a choice of topics to 
include in their newscasts, of which they 
were to choose one national, one state, one 
international, and one sports story, along 
with three to four other stories to report on. 
As a result of their first place win, the team 
of students will advance to the SkillsUSA 
National Competition in Kansas City in 
June, representing the State of California. 

Four other Duarte ROP TV and Video 
Production students, Ellie Abajian, Lorelei 
Near, Martin Heithe and Gerald Marin 
participated but did not medal in the TV 
Video Production competition which had 
students produce on the spot, 60-second 
videos featuring such topics as “Skills USA 
Partnership” and “Working Together.”

“Our teams of students did an outstanding 
job and represented the Duarte Unified 
School District, the City of Duarte and 
Duarte High School with pride. They 
worked extremely hard and fared very well 
among the 1,900 plus statewide contestants,” 
said Kevin Morris, head of the ROP Steering 
Committee and principal of Mount Olive 
High School. 

Faith Franco, Joseph Martinez and Luis Sedano of the Duarte Youth Boxing Club proved their mettle at the U.S.A. 
National Boxing Championships held in Spokane, Washington, April 1-6. Franco now ranks #2 in the nation, 
Sedano ranks #3 in the nation, and Martinez ranks in the top 10 in the nation. The young amateur boxers were 
honored by the Duarte City Council upon their return. From left Councilmember Liz Reilly, Mayor Margaret Finlay, 
Councilmember John Fasana, and Councilmember Tzeitel Paras-Caracci. 

SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR 
BASEBALL WITH YOUR KIDS

(StatePoint) As kids, many had the same dream of hitting a walk-
off home run to win the World Series. Now baseball season is finally 
underway, and there is no shortage of opportunities to share 
your passion of the game with your children.

 Getting children involved in baseball at a young age is a great 
way to commit them to an active lifestyle and form lifelong memories. 
Many kids fall in love with the game from the moment they 
first step on the field

 As the familiar sounds of the crack of the bat and the roar of the 
crowd once again fill the air, here are a few ways to introduce your 
children to America’s favorite pastime.

Have a Catch

 Having a catch with your child is the quintessential bonding experience. 
It’s also a great way to ease younger kids into the game. 
All you need is a glove and a ball to get started. After your son or 
daughter has the basics down, take the next step by going to the 
batting cages.

Read a Book

Sometimes it’s best 
to familiarize your 
child with the game 
before getting on 
the field. “Who’s on 
First?,” the famous 
1930s Abbot and 
Costello comedy 
routine, is inspiring 
a love of the sport 
for a new generation 
of kids -- this time in 
the form of a picture 
book that carries the 
same name.

The humorous 
book, adapted and 
edited by David 
Borgenicht, President 
and Publisher 
of Quirk Books, and illustrated by John Martz, features the same 
witty banter of the original skit.

 “This picture book edition of the classic comedy routine is a 
great introduction to comedy, Abbott and Costello, and the game 
of baseball,” says Borgenicht. For more information, visit www.
QuirkBooks.com. 

Play in an Organized League

For many kids, the best part about playing baseball is the rush 
they get from playing in a competitive game. Aside from the 
health benefits of being active, organized sports are fun, and a 
great way to learn teamwork and discipline. 

Go to a Game

As a child, the magic of attending a ball game is unmatched. 
Whether it is a major league, minor league, or even a college 
game, the sights and sounds of the ballpark will capture your 
child’s imagination. Grab some peanuts and Cracker Jacks for the 
real authentic experience. A day at the ballpark will be a memory 
that you both have forever.

 Finally baseball season is here, and it is time to play ball!

NEW LIFE FOR LANCER 
TENNIS COURTS

Pasadena, CA – In early March, La Salle’s 
Athletic Director, Anthony Harris, presided 
over the ribbon cutting ceremony for the 
newly resurfaced tennis courts in Arcadia. 
In his opening comments he said, “Today 
is a special day in the La Salle tennis 
program as it serves as the celebration of 
our new courts here at Orange Grove Park.” 
The history of the La Salle tennis 
program began in the 1960s when Brother 
Wilfred, FSC served as coach. Because La Salle 
does not have on-campus courts, the program 
developed a variety of relationships over 
the years with neighboring tennis facilities, 
with the last two being Live Oak Park and 
Whittier Narrows. “When I began as AD at 
La Salle in January of 2011,” Harris continued, 
“I had discussions with our current tennis 
coach, Tim Pawley (our boys and girls tennis 
coach of 10 years), about securing a more permanent location for 
Lancer Tennis. The fruit of that meeting places us here today. It’s a 
win-win situation for all, as Arcadia has new tennis courts and we 
have “home” courts during the season.” Harris went on to thank 
Arcadia Mayor, Bob Harbicht, who, along with the city council 
was instrumental in getting the project approved. Harris said he 
greatly appreciated the help of Ryan Wright and Sara Somagyi 
from the City of Arcadia, who “pointed me in the right direction” 
while helping us through the permit and construction process. 
Harris thanked Mark Mitchell, the father of Christine Mitchell 
’12, a former girls tennis player who made a significant donation 
toward the completion of the project. He also thanked the La Salle 
Athletic Boosters, “the backbone of the La Salle Athletic Department. 
They donated $5,000 toward the completion of the project. They are 
just some of the special people that we need to thank as this project 
would not have been possible without them.”


Above from left, Ryan Wright, City of Arcadia Recreation 
Department, Anthony Harris, La Salle Athletic Director, Bob 
Harbicht, Mayor of Arcadia, Brother Christopher Brady, 
FSC, Principal, Dr. Richard Gray, Prersident and Tim 
Pawley, La Salle Tennis Coach.

Left, Bob Harbicht, Mayor of Arcadia, cuts the ribbon to 
“open” the courts.

Use literature to get kids interested in baseball, 
such as the new picturebook, 'Who's on First?' 
by Abbott and Costello and illustrated by John 
Martz.