It was another fun week in Southern California . . .
It started with the arrival
of a new sign for our . . .
. . . EuroBall collection
Eleven EuroBall experiences with nine clubs in ten years of retirement has been a GREAT thing.
Where to next?
Of course, 45 years of coaching
at five Ventura County High Schools
has been rewarding too
Tuesday and Wednesday would be dedicated to interviewing the coaches and observing the practices of this week's Ventura County Star Game-of-the-Week podcast teams.
It will be the 107th renewal of Southern California's longest standing rivalry between the Santa Paula Cardinals and the Fillmore Flashes.
This rivalry started in 1924 and Santa Paula will enter Friday's contest leading the series 60-39-1.
First up, interviewing
Coach Mike Montoya
of the Santa Paula Cardinals
This is SPHS mascot Joe Cardinal, not Coach Montoya.
Santa Paula is the bigger of the two schools playing this Friday with an enrollment of 1,650 students. Fillmore only has 950 students. These schools representing two agriculturally rich communities are separated by only ten miles of nothing but orange and lemon orchards.
A rare pass at the SPHS practice
The Cardinals rely
heavily on the run
These stands should be packed on
Friday for this HUGE rivalry game
Tackling Drill
Double Team Block Practice
Flash Man
On Thursday I interviewed Fillmore's Corey Cole who is Ventura County's youngest Head Football Coach at 24 years of age.
It was a BEAUTIFUL day to
practiceKickoff Returns at FHS
Lots of Kickoff Returns it turned out
On Thursday night, many retired Rio Mesa H.S. teachers and their spouses gathered at the Vintura Wine Rack to hear one of our own's debut as a performing artist.
A small part of the crowd
backstage at the Vintura Wine Rack
Karen Pecht performing
The former RMHS English teacher was AWESOME!
We all enjoyed a great night out on the town listening to her previously unknown talents.
Friday Night Lights Time!
The 0-2 Fillmore Flashes
at
The 1-2 Santa Paula Cardinals
These were the SPHS stands at
4:30 p.m. for the JV game!
All the fans from both schools sit on this side of the field as there are no stands on the visiting side.
It is the same set-up when they play this game at Fillmore H.S.
Mike Contreras joined us at
the game and for a pre-game meal
Mike sporting a Fundo Bianco
t-shirt during pre-game warm-ups
The Fundo Bianco was the Catania Elephants' team bar when we coached in Sicily in 2008 and 2009.
The Cardinals' #28 Tim Luna
rushed for 197 yards and two TDs
Fillmore's #60 Marshal Martinez
pressuring SPHS QB Anthony Cancino
Cancino throwing a strike
Fillmore's Angel Segovia picking
up some tough yards
Overall, it was a sloppy game with lots of penalties including a bizarre one on Santa Paula for Unsportsmanlike Conduct as they broke the offensive huddle.
There were seven turnovers as well but the Santa Paula Cardinals prevailed in the end 28-0.
On Saturday the Ninja Sharks took on the Thunderbolts in a titanic AYSO contest!
Young Jacob seemed ready for
a battle in this fuzzy photo
Coach Mike Contreras
getting his players into position
Jacob during one of the periods
when he was out of the game
Team bonding
OK, he IS only five years old
Last instructions before the
start of the second half
Jacob in the action
Wrong sport Jacob but . . .
. . . LOW PAD WINS!
Proud Grandparents
after the game
Coach/Dad and Mom
were proud too as Jacob
played hard and scored a goal
Sunday was Game Day of a far
different sort!
It was the 0-1 Washington Redskins visiting our 1-0 Los Angeles Rams.
At the Expo/Sepulveda
Metro Station
It was only $3 for parking as opposed to lots around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum charging $50, $80 and even $100 to park!
The 15-20 minute tram ride was smooth and much more peaceful than fighting the traffic near the Coliseum.
Jacob and Mike
both die-hard L.A. Rams fans
That being said we all die often as Rams fans.
Lots of Washington Redskins
fans were in attendance
Picnicking before the game
with, thankfully, friendly
Redskins fans
Jacob with a cut out of
Jesus Clemente
Jesus wore Rams gear to a Rams game last year when he was visiting us but is a big Redskins fan.
Thus we brought him to the game with us in spirit at least.
Laurie was concerned as even more
Redskins fans arrived
Fortunately for us it was not a scalping party.
Jacob being recruited
away from the Rams?
HTTR is an acronym for Hail to the Redskins, Washington's Fight Song.
With a Todd Gurley fan
Almost there
Laurie and I took a seat under a tree for about 15 minutes while Mike and Jacob checked out the Rams Fun Zone.
Jacob said that the
Rams Cheerleaders
were LOTS OF FUN!
MAKE-UP!
Tattoo Time
Jacob LOVES Police Officers
Big dogs not so much.
His current career path
is to join the Army and
become an MP
Maybe I should get him started on Jack Reacher novels.
We are finally inside the
venerable L.A. Coliseum
Gigi and Jacob
working their way to our seats
Jacob loving the view
We usually buy programs at the games but at $16 per program we passed.
Redskins QB Kirk Cousins
being sacked
A rare Ram tackle against a
Redskin ball carrier
The Redskins rushed 39 times for 229 yards and two TDs.
Dreadlocks . . .
. . . flying EVERYWHERE!
The Redskins kicked . . .
. . . two Field Goals
Where is everybody?
The crowd of 56,612 was at least 50% in favor of the Redskins, disappointing if you are a Rams fan.
And we all are.
The Coliseum has a seating capacity of 93,607.
QB Jared Goff
surveying the defense
Rams RB Todd Gurley
had a good day
One of his two spectacular
hurdles in the game
Same hurdle opposite view
ended with . . .
. . . a twisting dive for
SIX POINTS!
Hurley rushed 16 times for 88 yards and a TD.
He also caught three passes for 48 yards and another TD.
Despite all of his efforts . . .
. . . the Rams dropped to 1-1
To put things into perspective,
the Battle in the Stands was
INTENSE as well!
The post-game meal at
Bad Ass Tacos in
Thousand Oaks
Reading Is FUNdamental
Another great crime novel
from Sweden!
After a slow start, it really got rolling, a good read.
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