A Trip to the Getty and a Birthday

Sunday was the last day of the last weekend before the start of the 2011 Rio Mesa H.S. season with two-a-day practices scheduled to commence this coming Thursday.

Cuba Photography Exhibit

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles had a special exhibit of photographs from Cuba that traced back to the classic photos of Havana that legendary American photograper Walker Evans in the 1930s and on up to current day shots. The Getty started the exhibit on May 17th and we had really wanted to go but life kept getting in the way. Since the exhibit was due to close on October 2nd, we figured that this was really our last chance to see it because of our football commitments.

Laurie, Vanessa and Mike

at the new Getty Museum

Of course, no photos of the photos were allowed but it was indeed a marvelous exhibit. While the exhibit took up most of our morning, the big deal of the day was a family get together at L.A.'s historic San Antonio Winery for a celebration of my mother's 87th birthday!

My serene aunt Katie and the singers, a.k.a.,

my sister Marilyn and Laurie

The people at the next table seemed to enjoy their accompaniment of the keyboard player's hits of the 70s selections!

They went on and on and on and . . .

Mike, me, my mom Chuny and

my sister Linda

A little food, a little vino and

LOTS of laughs!!!

My Mom and Dad first ate at the San Antonio Winery, which is located near my Dad's office, after work in the late 1940s! The Winery was already an East L.A. institution by then having been founded in 1917.

Did I say a LITTLE vino?

That's a LOT of gallons!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

GOOD TIMES INDEED!!!

The Summer Reading List (continued)

"August Heat" is another quick, fun read about Sicily's favorite fictional policeman, Inspector Salvo Montalbano.

Lot's of quirky Sicilian anecdotes which brought back lots of fond memories of our time there. This is the second Montalbano book I've read this Summer and I really enjoy Camilleri's writing style.

On a much more serious note, I finished reading Roberto Saviano's "Gomorrah" this week as well. This is a very sobering book about the inner workings and violence, dare I say bloodbath, of the Camorra, the Mafia of Naples. From Saviano's accounts the Camorra, apparently, far outstrips their more famous cousins in Sicily in brutality for brutality's sake.

Fascinating.

As football starts, I hope that it does not come down to this.

Another Weekend of American Football in Sweden

The 2011 regular season is coming to a rapid close in Sweden and all signs continue to point to a three way logjam at the top of the standings with only two weekends left to play.

Ystad's (8-2) regular season is now over and they await their playoff fate as both Kristianstad (8-1) and Limhamn (6-2) look forward to a key season finale in two weeks if Limhamn beats Lugi (3-5) this week.

2011 Division I Södra (South) Standings

The top two teams at the end of the regular season will play in the 2011 SAFF Division I Playoffs along with the top two teams from each of the other three Division I Conferences.

Kristianstad Predators (8-1)

Ystad Rockets (8-2)

Limhamn Griffins (6-2)

Lugi Vikings (3-5)

Ekeby Greys (1-8)

Hässleholm Hurricanes (0-8)

Week 12 Results

Ystad 21 - Hässleholm 0

Kristianstad 43 - Lugi 14

Limhamn 39 - Ekeby 6

Week 13 Games

Saturday, August 20th

Ekeby (1-8) at Hässleholm (0-8)

Lugi (3-5) at Limhamn (6-2)

BYES: Kristianstad (8-1) and Ystad (8-2)

SAAF Division I Södra Notes: For our Hurricanes, it was good to hear that Pär Danielsson was back in action after having suffered a serious injury in the preseason. He immediately made his presence felt by intercepting three passes against Ystad on Saturday.

Hässleholm (0-8) plays at home this Saturday against the Ekeby Greys (1-8), this just has to be the week that our beloved 'Canes break into the victory column! The first time that these two squads played back on July 2nd, the Greys prevailed 28-6.

I always find it interesting to see what style various countries take in their approach to the game of American football. We have already chronicled the Italian Football League's offense, offense, offense mantra. Let's see how the Swede's do it.

OFFENSE - Points Per Game:

Limhamn (6-2) 37.1 ppg

Kristianstad (8-1) 34.4 ppg

Ystad (8-2) 20.9 ppg

Lugi (3-5) 17.2 ppg

Ekeby (1-8) 7.1 ppg

Hässleholm (0-8) 6.5 ppg

Offensively, there are two high scoring teams in the Division as Limhamn and Kristianstad tend to light up the scoreboard, well they would if there were scoreboards in Sweden. If Limhamn beats Lugi this week, then their season finale against Kristianstad should be a fan's delight!

Ystad's offense is solid but not spectacular. The reason that they finished the regular season at 8-2 is their rock solid defense.

DEFENSE - Points Allowed Per Game:

Ystad (8-2) 5.5 ppg

Kristianstad (8-1) 11.9 ppg

Limhamn (6-2) 12.8 ppg

Lugi (3-5) 21.6 ppg

Hässleholm (0-8) 36.4 ppg

Ekeby (1-8) 38.0 ppg

In America, the axiom has been for years that "Defense Wins Championships!" Certainly the Ystad Rockets have bought into this philosophy whole heartedly. On the season they have shut out an incredible six of their ten opponents in allowing only 55 points during the campaign. Unfortunately for the Rockets, they gave up 34 of those 55 points in their two losses, 0-13 to Kristianstad and 14-21 to Limhamn.

So, Swedish football tends to be much more conservative and low scoring in general than their Italian cousins due mostly to the lack of import players.

Still, the best squads tend to score often so maybe offense is now the key to American football success world-wide.

As usual, I can't begin tell you how proud I am of the job that Ryan Bolland is doing in coaching the Kristianstad Predators (8-1) this year, his first as a EuroBall Head Coach. A bright young man with a brighter coaching future!

Gear up Predators!

The time is NOW, Hurricanes!!!

EuroBall News and a Week in Las Vegas

The past week visiting Andy, Jenn and Kevin "Tank Ranger" in Las Vegas has been so exciting! Still our lives were full of news from Europe during this eventful week.

FRANCE

Over the last ten days I was in serious negotiations for a coaching job with Julien Urgenti of the Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons based in the suburbs of Lyon, the famous culinary capital of France. Football and food, now that would have been a natural for me!

Julien and I became good friends via Facebook and e-mails and worked hard on coming to an agreement to coach the Senior team starting in September. Unfortunately, when he presented his Board of Directors the idea of hiring me they voted no because of my inability to speak French which they ruled as critical in coaching the two youth teams.

Perfectly understandable . . . SACREBLEU!!!

Thus my search for a EuroBall coaching job in the near future continues.

Still meeting and talking football with Julien was a great experience. Through him I am now also friends with Olivier Rival who runs a blog about American football in France titled Le Blog ELITEFOOT. Julien posted a very kind article about me on Olivier's blog, you can link to it below and they do have an English translation tab at the upper right if you want to read it

http://elitefoot.blogspot.com/2011/08/interview-de-coach-contreras-alias.html

ITALY

Peppe and Valeria Strano

at the Rose Bowl for the

2008 Tennessee at UCLA game

Peppe (TE/H Back) and Valeria are two of our favorite people from our time coaching the Catania Elephants in Sicily. I got an e-mail today from Peppe about their triumphant return to California next month. Being football nuts, one of their goals is to attend a great college football doubleheader in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 17th.

First up at 12:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena is Texas at UCLA. Then, in the evening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 5:00 p.m., USC faces Syracuse.

Now these two stadiums are only 16 miles apart but the drive through game day traffic at these two venues will be daunting to say the least. Somehow, we'll make it work.

One other option is attending the big game in Southern California that day in Thousand Oaks, the Stadium Dedication Game at Cal Lutheran University at 1:00 p.m. as the Kingsmen take on the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes. PLU's QB coach is our old Catania Elephant QB and all-around bon vivant (more French) Jason Johnson.

Anyway you slice it, it is going to be a great weekend seeing a lot of great people with EuroBall connections.

Meanwhile, back in Nevada . . .

Feeding Tank

GO B.C. LIONS!!!

On Friday night, August 5, 2011, Tank and I watched our first football game together on TV, Tank is the one wearing his blue rally cap. It was a Canadian Football League Game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders playing at the British Columbia Lions.

The Lions prevailed 24-11 for their first win of the season (1-5) so we were both happy . . . or hungry, I'm not sure which.

Tank's Favorite Cartoon?

Popeye, of course.

Andy feeding Kevin

Tank/Kevin sleeping

He is really good at this.

With Grandma Laurie

He seems to like sports for some reason

Nice Football Blanket

Love that forearm!

Andy sporting a Raiders binky

He needs much more sleep and a new NFL team to support now that he is a Dad.

How about the Detroit Lions?

Besides basking in the glow of being Grandparents, was their anything else going on in Las Vegas?

Why yes actually, it turns out that there are a few places to eat in Las Vegas.

Hash House A Go Go

This Fried Chicken Benedict was both huge and really good for you.

We also met our friends the FitzGeralds and the Rodriguezes for a great Asian dinner at P F Changs one night.

One day, we drove out to Henderson for lunch at Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana. As advertised, they make the most authentic pizzas this side of Aci Castello's Jonica Pizzeria! We laughed when they alerted us that we would have to cut our own pizzas with a knife and fork since they would not slice it American style.

As fate would have it, it turns out

that they also have casinos in Las Vegas

Lots of them.

Here I am outside of the Paris Casino.

Paris Casino Pastry Shop

Laurie and I each had one with an espresso, perfect!

We HAD to buy this for Tank

in the shopping mall next to

Planet Hollywood

At the Luxor Casino

FASCINATING!

After the Bodies exhibit, a Nathan's

Bacon Cheese Hot Dog was in order

We found good food here as well

in North Las Vegas

First Day of Practice at UNLV

On Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels opened their fall camp in preparation for their 2011 season opener on Thursday, September 1st at Camp Randall Stadium, the home of the defending Big 10 Champion Wisconsin Badgers.

It was a very mild 85˚F/29.4˚C as the team started to stretch and warm up. This is incredibly cool for this time of the year in Las Vegas. The practice was scheduled for three hours and the regimen for the first two days of practice is helmets only as you can see in the picture.

The Rebels were 2-11 in 2010 under first year Head Coach Bobby Hauck who left a similar job at the University of Montana where his record was a sparkling 80-17 that included seven Big Sky Conference championships and three National Championship Game appearences.

This year the Las Vegas sports books have the over/under line for UNLV football victories set at 2 1/2 games. Unfortunately, after watching this first practice I would have to recommend that you take the under.

That being said, there is still a lot of time to work hard to turn this into a better year for the Rebels. I hope they can do it.

Granada Hills Food Truck Wednesday

After stopping off in San Marino, California to show my mother Chuny, aunt Katie, sister Marilyn and niece Lauren a slew of pictures of Kevin/Tank, we continued our way home from Las Vegas.

Since it was Wednesday, we stopped in the San Fernando Valley for this weekly food orgy as over 20 gourmet food trucks enticed us to try their wares.

Laurie and I split three items from three different trucks. First it was an order of delicious fish tacos, followed by a half Philly cheesesteak sandwich with melted Provolone. To end our decadence, we shared a spicey Sloppy Joe sandwich.

AWESOME!!!

Finally, here are two videos of the Tank, enjoy!

Tank Ranger in live action, well,

as animated as he gets at this age

Can you tell that I am a proud Grandpa?

WHAT A WEEK WE'RE HAVING!

Swedish Football is Back Up and Running

After a month off for the Swedish Federation's traditional Summer Break, Division I Södra was back at it this weekend with two games.

2011 Division I Södra (South) Standings

The top two teams at the end of the regular season will play in the 2011 SAFF Division I Playoffs along with the top two teams from each of the other three Division I Conferences.

Kristianstad Predators (7-1)

Ystad Rockets (7-2)

Limhamn Griffins (5-2)

Lugi Vikings (3-4)

Ekeby Greys (1-7)

Hässleholm Hurricanes (0-7)

Week 11 Results

Limhamn 62 - Hässleholm 0

Ystad 26 - Ekeby 0

BYES: Kristianstad and Lugi

Week 12 Games

Saturday, August 13th

Ystad (7-2) at Hässleholm (0-7)

Lugi (3-4) at Kristianstad (7-1)

Sunday, August 14th

Limhamn (5-2) at Ekeby (1-7)

SAAF Division I Södra Notes: Only three weekends are left in the regular season which offers the Hurricanes three more opportunities to get their first win of the season.

To say that I am both disappointed and mystified at Hässleholm's 0-7 start is an understatement. Last year the team made the tough move from Division II to Division I. We were in every game except one and I thought we played our best football at the end of the season. That, coupled with our strong recruiting efforts in the community and the massive donation of football equipment from the local high schools in Ventura County, led me to believe that 2011 would be a banner season in Hurricanes' history.

I didn't see this coming at all.

Tank Ranger is Born

After months of anticipation, on Tuesday night at 10:45 p.m. in North Las Vegas, Nevada, Jenn Contreras' water broke!

We got the call about five minutes later, packed the car and were on our way to Sin City to officially become grandparents!

First, though we had to fill the car up with gas and get two large coffees and two larger doughnuts to keep us awake for the midnight run to Vegas.

While Laurie was buying the provisions, a young man named Luke walked into Foster's Donuts and asked her why she was buying two large coffees at this time of night. Not afraid to talk, Laurie explained our family's history back to when Jorge and Chuny left Havana in 1946! Luke was so impressed that he paid for the coffee and doughnuts for her and wished us a safe trip.

It was now 11:45 p.m. and we were finally on our way, "Good Times Indeed!"

Deliver Room 3, please

While all of this was going on, Andy was driving Jenn to this nearby hospital to check her in at about 11:30 p.m. to deliver our first grandchild.

Traffic was light and we were able to keep in contact with Andy as we drove. No problem really as this was Jenn's first child so we were sure that we would be there in plenty of time for Tank Ranger's arrival.

WRONG!

In keeping with their Star Wars Jedi ways, Jenn was hurtling at hyper-speed through labor. She delivered Tank Ranger Contreras, a.k.a., Kevin Gardner Contreras at 4:15 a.m. on Tuesday, August 3, 2011. Her entire labor lasted all of 5 1/2 hours . . . WOW!!!

At the MGM Grand's Sports Book on the Las Vegas Strip they have posted an over/under number of 27 1/2 minutes on Jenn's next chidbirth labor experience.

I put $500 on the under.

We pulled into Las Vegas at 4:40 a.m. where the temperature read 92˚F/33.3˚C . . . heat is Hell on fat people!

A happy Laurie and a tired Andy

We finally arrived excitedly at the hospital at 5:00 a.m.

Behind this wall is our grandson

His Birth Stats

Why 20 inches? Why not, 1 foot-8 inches tall?

7 lbs.-7 ounces is a good birth weight.

For my Euro friends, Tank Ranger was 50.8 cm and 3.37 kg.

Kevin Gardner Contreras

Let's get this straight, that is his name on the birth certificate. I just like Tank Ranger better, so it's his nickname.

A Grandmother in Awe

Maybe that's ahhhh . . .

The newest Contreras Family Portrait

Only about one hour after Tank's birth.

I love the nurse's wrap job

Kind of like being on a cruise ship.

We finally went to Andy, Jenn and Tank's home at about 8:00 a.m. to take a much needed nap.

When we returned to the hospital at about 1:00 p.m. it was a balmy 110˚F/43.3˚C!

It was a dry heat.

Fatherhood is affecting Andy's mind already

It was amazing to learn that a "Lo-Jack" type system had been attached to Tank's umbilical cord. If anybody tried to take him out of the ward, alarms would sound and the entire hospital would go on lock-down -- amazing.

It was even more amazing to receive congratulations via Facebook, texts and e-mails from friends in Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Mexico, Japan, France and Spain as well as from all over the USA.

Tank's first Onesie!

"What am I doing in this contraption!"

"Every Woman's Crazy

'Bout a Sharp Dressed Man!"

He is SO little!

Going Home

The nurse removed the "Lo-Jack" as easily as they do at your neighborhood mall store.

Proud and Happy Parents

I might add that his Grandparents are actually glowing as well!

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival

The Merchant of Venice

On Sunday night, Laurie and I loaded up her PT Cruiser and drove up to Thousand Oaks to experience California Lutheran University's "Kingsmen Shakespeare Company Festival."

This was CLU's 15th season of hosting the Bard's plays al fresco on warm Summer nights. As with many things near us, we had just never bothered to drive the 20 minutes to witness one of these fun evenings.

Until last night.

Again, thanks to Jason Johnson's mantra, we were "tourists in our own town" yet again and loved it.

The Stage at Kingsmen Park

Kingsmen Park is right-smack-dab in the middle of the CLU campus, the shade provided by these trees was welcomed.

We got there early, set up our lawn chairs and proceeded to enjoy ourselves.

The sounds of the frogs croaking as the play unfolded just added to the night's charm.

Background Information

I'm not sure who these two people are, but they were giving a small group of interested spectators good information about tonight's play.

The Green Show

About an hour before the 8:00 p.m. curtain, the cast spent about 30 minutes entertaining us with their improvisational skills including some swordplay.

We all were having a good time

You HAD to be there

Junior Apprentices

One of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company's aims is to make the Bard's plays accessible to people of all ages. These young people will be performing their version of Romeo and Juliet two more times this week.

Santa Claus was in the house!

It's Summer, he was on vacation, why not!

We were asked not to take pictures during the play and I respected their wishes for some unknown reason.

Two well performed Acts, a great cup of hot chocolate at intermission, a night under the stars with my sweetheart . . . IT WAS AWESOME!!!

That being said, I must point out that this play probably never did much for Judeo-Christian relations over the centuries.