Alexander: U.S. Women’s World Cup veterans welcome rookies onto their lawn

• July 1, 2023

Of the 23 women selected to represent the United States at this month’s Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, 14 will be making their World Cup debuts. Eight are 25 or younger.

And on a roster with ages ranging from Megan Rapinoe, at 37 one of three players appearing in a fourth World Cup, to recent Harvard-Westlake graduate/current Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, who is all of 18 … yeah, there is some cultural dissonance between the veterans and the kids.

The soccer, and meshing youthful skill and exuberance with veteran savvy, might be the easy part. Some of the cultural touchstones of the older players’ era seem to be a little more difficult for the youngsters to understand.

“They’ll (the veterans) talk about, like, the technology they had, like the CD, stuff that I don’t know,” said the Portland Thorns’ Sophia Smith, 22, at the USWNT’s media day last week in Carson.

“And they’ll always make fun of us,” she added. “Like a song will come on, and Crystal (Dunn) will be like, ‘So, you know who sings this?’ And I’m like, ‘No.’ And it will be like Tupac, I guess, or like someone I’m supposed to know.

“… Some of the songs they play, (that) they’re all listening to, I have no idea what they are. They sound like what my parents listened to.”

You feel old yet?

“And they had, like, websites that were like Google before Google,” she added, and hopefully nobody has told her about the floppy disk, or the difference between Betamax and VHS tapes, or the Walkman or the iPod. Those discoveries from the past might be head-spinning.

But this works both ways.

“Not all of us are doing TikToks like Trinity (Rodman),” Smith said. “I’m not doing TikToks.”

Rodman, the 21-year-old from Laguna Niguel who plays for the Washington Spirit – and is the daughter of NBA rebounding legend Dennis Rodman – has other ways to pass her downtime besides creating TikTok videos, and she’s taken advice from the veterans about ways to avoid the noise and commotion that will surround the team.

“Coloring,” she said. “Journaling, reading, Fortnite. I’m a little bit of a gamer, so that has definitely helped me. I think being able to just like relax for a little bit in little ways, like literally coloring in a coloring book (and) just not thinking about anything, is really important.”

Midfielder Lindsey Horan, who will be playing in her second World Cup, learned about leadership from defender and national team captain (and former Portland teammate) Becky Sauerbrunn, who will miss this World Cup with a foot injury. Now a member of France’s Olympique Lyon, Horan is passing those lessons forward.

“I want to be that type of role model for the young ones coming up and the new players here … just trying to be the best role model and a voice for these young players coming in, any time they need advice or questions or whatever,” she said.

It takes various forms. For example: Thompson, who will be the first teenager to represent the U.S. at the World Cup since 1995, wasn’t sure just how she should pack for what could be as many as seven weeks on the road, should the U.S. get to the Aug. 20 championship match in Sydney, Australia.

“Best phone call ever,” Horan said. “She wanted to know the essentials for packing for the World Cup. And I had no idea what to tell her, but it was so cute. And it was, ‘Yeah, (pack) everything. Pinoe’s got like four bags.’”

Thompson said she just wanted to make sure she wouldn’t miss or forget anything. But she’s also asked the veterans questions of more substance, about what this experience is going to be like.

“They said, just lean on them during the World Cup if there’s anything I need, because they don’t know what’s going to happen there, either,” she said. “Even though they’ve been, every World Cup’s different.”

She’s had help in her adjustment to being a pro from Angel City FC teammates Julie Ertz (also a World Cup teammate) and Sydney Leroux (who returned to ACFC less than a month ago after missing nine months with ankle surgery and is not on this World Cup roster). But this experience is another step up.

“When I walk into anything new, I’m very soft-spoken and I’m not really doing anything to step on anyone’s toes,” Thompson said. “And I’ve looked up to these players for such a long time. So in this environment, I’m a little bit nervous already, but it’s more exciting than nerve-wracking.”

At one end of the spectrum, Thompson has had three national team caps. Savannah DeMelo, 25, who is from Bellflower and plays for Racing Louisville in the NWSL, has none yet. Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, who is 31, has had one. Rodman has had 17, Smith 29, and 23-year-old defender Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave FC has had 15.

At the other end, Rapinoe has 199, Alex Morgan 208 and Kelley O’Hara 157. All will be playing in their fourth World Cup. Ertz (118 caps) and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (90) will be appearing in their third.

Rose Lavelle, who has 88 international caps at the age of 28 and will be in her second World Cup, noted that “it’s crazy, because last World Cup I was one of the most inexperienced players going into it, and now going into this World Cup I’m one of the more experienced players. … I think all of us who have been here before, definitely we can use that experience to help the new players know what to expect, and hopefully it’s not as much of a shock once we get there.”

Said Smith: “It’s really not hard to be a young player on this team, because everyone’s so welcoming and people look past the age and respect you for what you can do on the field.”

From the outside, such a dramatic infusion of youth seems to be a disadvantage. But head coach Vlatko Andonovski said he feels otherwise, especially knowing that Rapinoe, Morgan and Horan will be prepared to lead the youngsters.

“I’m not worried about the inexperience, but in fact, I’m excited about the energy and enthusiasm that the young players bring, the intensity and the drive as well,” he said.

And there’s this, too, with those young players:

“They’re really freaking good,” Lavelle said.

[email protected]

​ Orange County Register 

We asked AI to plan a day trip in Huntington Beach. Here’s how it went

• July 1, 2023

Can AI plan a day trip in Huntington Beach?

These days it seems there is an artificial intelligence bot for everything. Sites such as ChatGPT and DALL-E allow users to write out a prompt for the AI to complete. Prompts can range in complexity, from  drafting an email to coding for a website.

Screenshot of a prompt given to ChatGPT and the response given.

While this technology might be useful in some circumstances, it’s not always accurate. This is something ChatGPT seems to be aware of. After I asked it to write an HTML code about ChatGPT it provided this response:

“Please keep in mind that while ChatGPT strives to provide accurate and helpful responses, it may occasionally produce incorrect or nonsensical answers. It’s always a good idea to verify information from reliable sources.”

Okay, so we shouldn’t rely on ChatGPT for everything. But what about the simpler things? Can ChatGPT plan a day trip?

If it works, it could take a lot of the headache out of having fun. As it is now, making an itinerary can mean a day of scrolling through travel articles, Google suggestions and Yelp reviews – with no guarantee that it’ll result in a fun day.

We put it to the test and fed the chat bot our question:

Give me a one day itinerary for Huntington Beach, California. 

Here’s how it went.

A day in Huntington Beach planned by AI

“Start your day with a delicious breakfast at one of the local cafes or restaurants in downtown Huntington Beach. Some popular options include Sugar Shack Café or Pacific Hideaway.”

One of the first things on my mind, when it came to this itinerary, was if it was going to suggest real places. Sugar Shack Cafe is not only real, but a popular spot to be on a Friday morning. The menu was simple and the service was speedy. There was plenty of outdoor seating, which I’m always a fan of especially in a beach town. The interior of the cafe also adds to the Surf City USA aesthetic with plenty of pictures of surfers hanging from the walls as well as the main dining table made out of an old wooden board.

Typically when I’m looking for food suggestions I hop onto Google or Yelp and check the reviews and location. When I searched for breakfast suggestions in Huntington Beach on both sites, Sugar Shack Cafe was number 6 for both of them, which I typically wouldn’t click on unless the location was the most convenient from the map view. Google gave the top spot to IHOP, so points to AI for recommending a locally owned restaurant instead. – CB

I was happy with how budget friendly this suggestion was. Food can be an unexpectedly expensive component of a trip, and I always forget to budget properly for it when I’m traveling. No issues here: Our total for two people was $25.86, accompanied by speedy service and delicious food. -DE

“Visit the Huntington Beach Pier, an iconic landmark in the city. Take a stroll along the pier, enjoy the panoramic views of the coastline, and watch surfers and fishermen in action.”

Growing up in California I’ve seen my fair share of piers, but I love to see how they’re unique to each city. What I liked about Huntington Beach’s Pier was that there were a few street musicians performing. There were a few gift shops and at the end of the pier there was some construction happening for a new restaurant. It was a good amount of things to do, but also wasn’t super crowded, allowing us to find a spot to rest and watch the surfers. – CB

Also see: How piers became part of Southern California beach culture

Surfers and fishermen were abundant, so shoutout to AI for knowing the real-life surroundings I might encounter at the pier.

However, the pier visit brought up my first criticism of the AI itinerary: The end of the pier was closed due to the above-mentioned construction. While not the end of the world, I advise that if you ask AI for a plan, double-check it for seasonal closures and construction. -DE

“Explore the International Surfing Museum located near the pier. It showcases the history and culture of surfing with various exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia.”

The International Surfing Museum was my favorite thing ChatGPT recommended we check out. We got to meet Terry O’Shea who works at the museum a few days a week. You could tell he loves what he does, especially when it means telling visitors about the giant surfboard in the parking lot that broke a Guinness World Record. – CB

I’m a California transplant, and a Colorado girl at heart. So when I noticed that we could walk from the pier to the museum, I had to give points to the chat bot for a walkable itinerary.

Plus, I would have never picked the activity myself, having never been on a surfboard. In reality, I found the museum really interesting. It caters to all sorts of interests that intertwine with the water sport, from fashion to art to history. -DE

“As the sun begins to set, make your way to Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, located just north of Huntington Beach. This beautiful coastal wetland offers scenic trails where you can observe a variety of bird species and enjoy the serene surroundings.”

One thing ChatGPT might not be able to suggest but a travel blogger can? Bring a jacket. The reserve was windy which was a contrast in temperature from our earlier activities. Also wear walking shoes. The reserve isn’t something I’d think to search for when planning a trip to a beach town, but it was a nice change of scenery. We got to see some birds diving into the water and some speedy caterpillars. There was also signage throughout that provided information on the animals and had activities for kids. – CB

We had to get in a car (the agony!) to get here, but I totally saw ChatGPT’s vision. The reserve is beautiful and jam-packed with birds, a perfect way to end a day of people-centric activities.

One small note: I don’t know how “serene” a surrounding can be when part of it includes the Pacific Coast Highway, which skirts along the reserve. The beautiful bird noises are consistently intertwined with the not-so-beautiful car noises, but you can manage to escape it if you’re on the furthest end of the reserve. -DE

Overall Thoughts:

I think this technology can be fun and be a good way to draw inspiration for a trip, but I still think doing your own research is key.

I’m someone who likes to hear about other’s experiences when planning out trips, either through blogs, social media or asking friends and family for tips. While ChatGPT does provide good suggestions, it doesn’t replace the human experience and thinking of those extra details of what to wear, where to park or even your social battery. The full itinerary ChatGPT provided was packed, giving us three suggestions for the morning, three for the afternoon and three things to do in the evening.

The other thing ChatGPT doesn’t currently seem to account for is time-sensitive events. We spotted a few throughout our day such as Art Fair on the Pier and the 26th annual Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional Competition. Had we known these events were happening prior, we probably would have re-evaluated which activities we ended up doing. – CB

ChatGPT is no local, but it did provide a variety of different activities that left me with a better understanding of Huntington Beach.

I think it’s better to pick and choose, as we did, from the suggested itinerary than attempt to do the entire thing. The full itinerary could get expensive (eating three times, surf lessons and drinks), it wasn’t always logical (why not group all of the beach activities together?) and time consuming.

But, overall, points to the bot for its walkable, budget-friendly and varied itinerary. We had fun. -DE

Below is the full itinerary that ChatGPT gave us.

Prompt: Give me a one day itinerary for Huntington Beach, California.

Response:Certainly! Here’s a one-day itinerary for enjoying Huntington Beach:

Morning:

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at one of the local cafes or restaurants in downtown Huntington Beach. Some popular options include Sugar Shack Café or Pacific Hideaway.
Head over to Huntington State Beach, which offers pristine sandy shores and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. Take a leisurely stroll along the beach, dip your toes in the water, or simply relax and soak up the sun.
If you’re interested in surfing, Huntington Beach is known as Surf City USA. Consider taking a surf lesson or renting a board to catch some waves. There are several surf schools and rental shops along the beach that can help you get started.

Afternoon:

Grab a quick lunch at one of the beachside eateries or head back to downtown Huntington Beach to explore the various dining options available. There are plenty of options ranging from seafood to international cuisine.
Visit the Huntington Beach Pier, an iconic landmark in the city. Take a stroll along the pier, enjoy the panoramic views of the coastline, and watch surfers and fishermen in action.
Explore the International Surfing Museum located near the pier. It showcases the history and culture of surfing with various exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia.

Evening:

As the sun begins to set, make your way to Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, located just north of Huntington Beach. This beautiful coastal wetland offers scenic trails where you can observe a variety of bird species and enjoy the serene surroundings.
For dinner, consider dining at one of the oceanfront restaurants in downtown Huntington Beach. Enjoy fresh seafood while taking in the stunning views of the sunset.
After dinner, if you’re in the mood for some live music, head to one of the local bars or entertainment venues in the area. The Main Street area often hosts live performances, and you can find a lively atmosphere with a variety of music genres.

Alternatively, you can choose to relax on the beach and watch the stars before calling it a day.

Remember to check local COVID-19 guidelines and any specific operating hours or restrictions for the attractions and establishments you plan to visit. Enjoy your day in Huntington Beach!

​ Orange County Register 

Independent Anaheim corruption investigation due Monday, redacted version will take weeks to be released

• July 1, 2023

Investigators hired by the city of Anaheim will deliver on Monday a highly anticipated report concerning any potential pay-to-play schemes in the city or possible violations of the state’s open meetings law, but it will likely be several weeks before the public gets a chance to see the findings.

The report, which is expected to outline any possible misconduct discovered related to city business and make policy recommendations, will be turned over by the investigators to the City Attorney’s Office, which will then send it to an outside lawyer the Anaheim City Council hired to make any necessary redactions before it is released publicly.

A previous City Council ordered the investigation by the JL Group in August. It was after revelations of FBI investigations alleging a self-described “cabal” of business and political leaders may have been exerting “significant influence” in City Hall and alleging that former Mayor Harry Sidhu may have tried to slip confidential information on to a representative of Angels owner Arte Moreno and his business group in negotiations to purchase the city-owned stadium with the intention of soliciting a large campaign donation later.

The $320 million deal was scuttled by the City Council after news broke of the allegations and Sidhu resigned. No criminal charges have been filed against Sidhu and his attorney has maintained that a thorough investigation would find no wrongdoing. FBI investigators said it was unclear if the Angels representative knew of Sidhu’s intentions.

The city-funded investigation was tasked with examining questions of corruption, past campaign contributions, contracts, city dealings, council decisions and potential Brown Act violations, among other raised concerns.

Outside attorney Scott Tiedemann has marching orders from the City Council to black out anything that could violate employee privacy rights or lead to a lawsuit against the city. The goal is to release the redacted report within 30 days, but it could be longer until it comes out, according to an updated city news release.

The City Council has given its approval for the investigators to also share any relevant results with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Local prosecutors did not provide comment on how they might be preparing for the report’s release.

The investigation team got more money and time in February to finish the job after saying the probe had grown more complex than initial expectations. At the time they said they had identified more than 200 people they wanted to interview and collected more than 700,000 emails to look through.

The city has spent $1.5 million on the investigation.

Investigators have said they plan to make policy recommendations to the City Council that will be centered on transparency, ethical conduct and the interaction between Anaheim officials and business interests. Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava, who was elected in November, said she’s heard that one possible recommendation could be how the city handles ticket transparency for events.

“If there are good policies for us, I would definitely want us to take them into consideration,” Rubalcava said.

Some residents are angry the public will be receiving “the Cliff Notes” version of the report instead of the raw, unedited version they say the previous City Council promised. They also are angry about the unspecified delay while the report is being redacted by the city-hired attorney.

“It’s all being handled with a lot of secrecy,” said resident and activist Jeanine Robbins. “The public paid for the report. The public pushed for the report to begin with.”

The raw report will be viewed by the investigators from the JL Group, the city attorney, a retired judge recruited to monitor the probe, the city’s human resources department and Tiedemann.

Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster said if the report raises any concerns regarding employees, the city’s human resources department would address the issues with department heads. City Manager James Vanderpool could eventually see portions that were redacted if he needed to provide any help to the HR department.

City Council members have argued the full report cannot be released for fear it will violate the privacy rights of employees and subject Anaheim to litigation.

Anaheim resident and activist Wes Jones doesn’t buy it.

“(The report) should be released whole, no redactions. After what we’ve been through, Harry Sidhu and the whole cabal thing, you would think everyone would be anxious to clean it up,” Jones said.

Despite a new mayor and council members who campaigned on a platform of transparency, Jones said, “It kind of looks like business as usual.”

Councilmember Natalie Meeks, who was also elected in November, was among the council members concerned about releasing an unredacted report, which she pointed out she won’t even see, because of potential liability issues.

“I think the fair thing to do is wait until we have the report. Read the report and understand it and then have a discussion on any action that would be appropriate,” she said. “That’s why we are doing an investigation, to find out the facts. Until we know the facts, it seems premature to make any thoughts about what our actions might be.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Papa said knock you out: Rising boxing star Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado driven by his family’s love

• July 1, 2023

POMONA — Neto Mercado was dazed, stumbling down a path toward certain defeat. A young man punching wildly, living dangerously. Break-ins. Shootouts. Fights. In his corner: Gangsters and luck. To hear him tell it now, he was as addicted to adrenaline as anything, having too much fun to stop and think about the damage he was doing.

In his other corner, at home: Tito. And Tito wasn’t giving up, not without a fight, turning to boxing to try to lure Neto in from the wild.

Tito, by the way, is the kid in this scenario.

The little boy who’s grown into an ascendant 21-year-old super lightweight. You’ll want to remember his name: Ernesto “Tito” Mercado. And while you’re at it, file away his younger brothers’ too: 18-year-old Daniel and 10-year-old Damian.

Ernesto “Neto” Mercado is the trainer. Their dad.

He’ll deflect credit, testify that their story is predestined, God’s script. That time his younger brother asked him – he’d boxed a little – for some training? How that scene inspired 4- or 5-year-old Tito, put it in his head that if he wanted more time with his dad, really wanted to get his attention, he should box too? And not just box, but get good at it? God did that.

And thank God for Tito’s adaptability and determination – more important than raw talent – that turned him into a prospect in need of a coach. And for letting Neto see that he was that coach.

“I’m not leading the ship, God is,” Neto says. “And at the end of the day, when they’re boxing, I know that God is the referee inside the ring.”

In that case: Good lookin’ out up there.

Boxing as a godsend? We’ve known.

That such a punishing sport could save a person from a life of pain? Not much of a reach.

What’s refreshing is how, in the Mercados’ case, it’s engendered such a warm and welcome reliance. United a family in pursuit of a shared dream – a journey that continues Saturday, July 8, in Managua, Nicaragua, where Tito will fight South African veteran Xolisani Ndongeni (31-2, 18 KOs) in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds.

What’s so cool is that the sport has brought so much love into the storefront space on Holt Avenue. Infused so much trust into the gym wallpapered with faded newspaper clippings, posters of fights past and a big Claremont Toyota “Oh baby!” banner – an homage to the sponsor that helped build the boxing sanctuary that reliably serves Neto’s kids and so many others in their neighborhood through their Gangs 2 Grace Youth Foundation.

Back in the ’90s, Sports Illustrated’s Gary Smith wrote a profile on Roy Jones Jr. and his complicated relationship with his dad: “There are virtually no good stories to tell in the history of boxing fathers and sons.”

Neto is no Roy Jones Sr., no stage mom, no Little League dad. He can expertly push and prod, sure, end a call and not pick back up. Leave Tito hanging, halfway across the world, because he needed to learn that he can figure it out himself. But Neto doesn’t raise his voice to deliver tutelage during sparring and won’t curse out his boys after a bout, even if they’ve lost. All he can bring himself to say then is that he’s proud, and, likely, that the judges got it wrong.

A little tough or a lot tender, it’s all love.

Pound-for-pound some of the most potent stuff on the planet, manifested in the Mercados’ gym as rounds and rounds of family time.

NO LIES TOLD

I’m not gonna lie to you. That phrase, which peppers the Mercados’ speech, has long been a favorite of mine, if only because whatever a person says next is probably gonna be good.

“I’m not gonna lie,” Tito says, “at tournaments, I would go play basketball. Michael Jordan, sometimes he would go play golf for two, three hours (before games), so I would do things like that too. Sometimes I would jump up weight classes for the heck of it. Different things as a way of challenging myself, ’cause sometimes I would get bored. I don’t want to say it was too easy, but I wanted to challenge myself.”

“I’m not gonna lie, bro,” Neto tells Darryl Hayes, a fighter he’s flown in from Houston to spar with Tito and Daniel. “My stomach’s been hurting. I’m thinking, like, ‘Do I have something?’ And then I realized that the last two weeks, I was getting hit in the body protector. You see how thick it is, the pad? It doesn’t matter. It’s painful. I lost friends because they’re like, ‘Nah bro, you’re setting me up every time I go over there, you want me to put that on. I’m not coming anymore!’”

“I’m not gonna lie to you,” Neto says also, recalling the first time he approached the pastor at Southern California Dream Center, the Pomona church, to see if he could train boxers there. “I was tweaked out. And the pastor, he goes, ‘Your pupils are so big! You came high to my church?! Man, you are different, bro. Got some guts to talk about you want to work with kids and you’re on some (stuff).”

“But then,” Neto recalls, “he was like, ‘Come back in two weeks. Clean your (stuff) up.”

So Neto did.

Go back.

“I still came back the same way,” he said. “He just didn’t notice.”

He remembers training Tito from 4-7 p.m. and being out looking for trouble by 8 or 9. Brawling with sparring partners. He’s well aware of the reputation he earned with referees and the USA Boxing people.

Eventually, though, as weeks in the gym became months became a year and then years, Neto found himself leading with his right foot.

“Boxing kind of helps you get those bad habits away because it gives you a more cleaner lifestyle,” Neto said. “The fighter’s getting discipline and the coach is getting discipline, too. If he can’t drink, I can’t drink. Because how am I gonna go in the corner with him and be not of sober mind?”

A KNOCKOUT ARTIST

Tito boxed competitively as soon as he could, at 8. Cried after the first fight, because he’d worked so hard and lost – something that didn’t happen against that opponent again: “I beat him again within that same year and I beat him again when we were 11, and I beat him again when we were 12. … He’s more of a social media boxer now.”

Neto’s boy, meanwhile, has lost only 10 more times. That’s over the course of another 277 amateur fights. And never in 10 pro bouts so far, every one of which has ended the same way: By knockout, all but two of them finished before the third round.

So Tito has a reputation now, too. He has people talking about him as a fighter who can outbox you or hurt you, a heavy-handed tactician who is as patient as he is powerful. One fight fan from New Jersey, a bettor, tells me if he could buy stock in fighters, he’d buy it in Tito.

“He brings a lot of entertainment,” confirms Damian, the fifth-grade brother who spends more time at the gym than anyone besides Neto, seeing everything, soaking it all in.

If Damian isn’t training, looking like a mini Tito, he’s there handing out Gatorade and water. Or recording sparring sessions from his perch atop an exercise ball. Or smothering Tito’s face and helmet with vaseline, that age-old practice used to protect fighters from bruises and cuts – a picture of love if ever there were.

“I already know,” Damian says, “Tito always beats everybody.”

That could be bad news for Ndongeni, Tito’s next opponent.

“In July, he’s gonna be 11-0,” Daniel says. “I predict that the guy doesn’t survive past the third round.”

Tito can spin a bedtime story, for sure, but he thinks the best part is what happens before the K.O.

“I feel like I get more joy out of seeing the fear in a man’s eyes than if I knocked him out. That gives me more of a dominant feeling,” Tito says. “Because once you knock him out, for that split-second, it’s exciting. You hear the fans rumbling. But then once that guy’s out, it’s like, damn, he’s just sleeping.”

That’s someone too scary to add to a top name’s dance card, at least not until Tito’s brand is big enough to make facing him worth the risk.

So the Mercados are being intentional, committed to making forward progress: After Tito faces Ndongeni, he has two more bouts slated, for Aug. 26 and Nov. 11, in Ontario, against opponents to be determined – those fights and the one this week in Nicaragua all to be presented by Fight City Promotions, Neto’s company.

And even if Mercados can’t yet get the fighters they want – Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis – they’re making their statement by beating up on common opponents. Take Jose Zaragoza, whom 10th-ranked Davis beat via second-round TKO in 2021, a few months before Tito knocked him out 1:07 into Round 2.

“The built fighter, they’ll fight a bunch of tomato cans,” says Hayes, whose unenviable job it was to mimic Ndongeni’s movement around the ring. “People who just gonna sit there and let you beat them, you know? They’re not doing that at all.”

Tito’s known as someone who goes about things the right way, said Ali Hangan, who had him in government and economics classes and as a meticulous teacher’s aide at Pomona High School, from which Daniel – and “Sugar” Shane Mosley – also graduated.

“I’ve been teaching for 26 years and a lot of great kids have come through, but there are some that are just on a different level,” Hangan said. And Tito? “He’s a born leader, for real.”

He wanted badly to represent the United States at the Olympics, but he was jilted by USA Boxing. And then an opportunity to fight for Neto’s native Nicaragua was interrupted in 2020 by COVID, and Tito’s Olympic dream was deferred permanently.

A pro since 2021, Tito has another goal now: world champion.

But he’s in no rush. Pro boxing allows more than just three rounds to work, so he doesn’t have to overwhelm an opponent immediately. He can pick his spots.

The only thing that scares him, he says, is the feeling that might be waiting for him once he’s fought his way to the top of the world: “I’m more or less scared of catching it too quick. Like the journey, right now, I’m having fun.”

Taking his time, savoring his victory. Enjoying his dad.

‘DIFFERENT TYPE OF ADRENALINE’

The last time I visited the Mercados’ gym and was talking with Neto, someone turned down the music – ’90s rap mostly – a bit.

Whoever lowered the volume, Tito or Daniel, I figured he’d done it to be courteous; they’re pull-out-a-chair-for-a-lady kind of guys. But maybe they also wanted to hear what Neto had to say, because they parked themselves at our feet, an attentive audience silently doing ab work and chiming in only when he asked for affirmation.

“Hey, Tito, the fight in Bulgaria was a really hard fight, huh?”

“Tito, remember when you used to work my corner when I used to spar?”

And, rhetorically: “Tito, how tall am I?”

His sons are listening, I’m pretty sure, when he says: “People ask, ‘What are you doing in the boxing gym? You train your kids too much.’ But, like, would you rather them be doing drugs?

“Because I was with the business, you know? It was adrenaline. But this is a different type of adrenaline. The different type of adrenaline I get here is through my kids. And it’s more satisfying to me, to see them succeed.

“It’s safe here. I feel good here. Life is great. I couldn’t be in a better position than them right now in life. We’re not rich, we’re not doing great like that, but just having my family, my kids, it’s good enough.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Master Gardener: Let’s talk about those roaches.

• July 1, 2023

Q I’ve been seeing a lot of cockroaches outdoors, especially since construction began on a new shopping center across the street. Are these the same roaches that live indoors? Could the construction be causing them to come out?

The roaches you see outdoors are probably not the same type of roaches that live indoors. There are five species of cockroaches that are prevalent in Southern California. German cockroaches are the most common indoor roach. They live and breed in food storage and prep areas and prefer warm (70-75F) humid environments. They are the most troublesome since they can spread diseases such as staph, strep, hepatitis and other food-borne illnesses. 

Brownbanded roaches are much less common than German cockroaches. They prefer a warmer environment (around 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and are less likely to be found in food storage or prep areas. They are also an indoor roach species but prefer starchy foods such as paper and glue. They can be found in cluttered indoor areas.

American, Oriental, and Turkmenistan cockroaches are the most common outdoor roaches. Oriental cockroaches, also known as “water bugs”, can often be found in garages, basements, and other cool moist environments. They prefer to stay outdoors but will migrate indoors.

American cockroaches, another outdoor species, prefer a warmer, moist environment. They can be found (if, for some reason, you’re looking) in sewers, storm drains, and meter boxes. If they get indoors, they can contaminate food with the nasty stuff that grows in sewers and storm drains.

Turkestan cockroaches are a relatively recent introduction to California and, you guessed it, are considered invasive. They are commonly sold as food for pet reptiles and tarantulas because they are easy to breed and keep alive. They also don’t smell as bad as crickets, so they’ve become quite popular and are being shipped all over the country.

The University of California has a definitive guide to cockroaches so if you want to get up close and personal you can identify what kind of roach is roaming your neighborhood.

All outdoor roaches like to hang out in leaf litter and outdoor debris, so if the soil is being disturbed by construction activity, it’s likely that you’re seeing one of these types of roaches.

Q Why don’t you recommend salt instead of Round-Up as an effective weed control?

Salt is indeed an effective weed killer, but it will remain in the soil almost indefinitely. One of my neighbors salted his lawn right before his house was foreclosed. That was ten years ago and the grass still will not grow in that spot. Salt tends to accumulate, so even if you spot-treat weeds with it, the surrounding soil will become more and more saline as the salt spreads.

Although I don’t recommend Round-Up as a first choice for weed control, it is a reasonably safe option. This does not mean that it is completely harmless. Always follow label instructions and precautions before using any pesticide or herbicide! For more information: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/GENERAL/pesticides.html

Los Angeles County

[email protected]; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/

Orange County

[email protected]; 949-809-9760; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/

Riverside County

[email protected]; 951-683-6491 ext. 231; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/

San Bernardino County

[email protected]; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu

​ Orange County Register 

A T-Bird’s take on the state of globalism right now

• July 1, 2023

Last week, discussing the vagaries of international commerce in a time of pandemic, war and the climate emergency, I’m afraid I used the words “globalism” and “globalism” fairly interchangeably. The former is planning economics on a global basis; the latter, the way businesses operate internationally. Both involve hopes and fears.

That’s what I talked about with the current director general of the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix the other evening. Sanjeev Khagram has impeccable internationalist credentials: of Indian heritage, and a Hindu, as a child his family fled from Idi Amin’s Uganda, and came to the United States in 1973 via refugee camps in Italy. He has three Stanford degrees: a bachelor’s in development studies and engineering, a master’s in economics and a Ph.D. in political economy. He’s lived in Brazil, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Germany and the United Kingdom.

I asked him: Has the globalism his school — my school — preaches really gone south?

“If we are rigorous about what we are talking about, there are two or three concepts to think about, historically, now, and in the future,” he said.

“Globalism and globalization — these are dynamic processes. They bring the world closer together, connecting us more deeply, so we are more enmeshed. They are not just economic phenomena — they are cultural, environmental. It’s not ‘the end of history,’” as Francis Fukuyama so infamously declared in 1992.

Khagram says Globalism 1.0 was the age of exploration up to the first industrial revolution, in the 19th century, in the age of colonialism and empire. World War II was certainly an international event, but led to regression in globalization — and the founding of Thunderbird. Era 2.0 is after the Bretton Woods Conference and a new international order, and also, from 1945 to ‘73, the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union. “But changes were happening,” he notes, with international telephony, the fax and the internet. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, “3.0 is post-Cold War to the global financial crisis of 2008.”

And today?

“4.0 is the messy now,” he says. “We have the breadth and depth of international economics across borders. We have technological and commercial advances, and governmental and environmental problems. Is everything better? It’s much more complicated than that. But 3.0 led to the greatest decline in human poverty ever, and the greatest growth in wealth. Nations are interconnected like never before. At Thunderbird, we are founded on the maxim that borders frequented by trade seldom need soldiers. And that connectedness is not just economic. Connected culture is happening globally in deep ways.”

I note that some blame the COVID-19 pandemic on globalism, that it showed the dangers of travel and of a shut-down supply chain.

“But the greatest panacea for it was vaccines, which were completely dependent on global corporations and cooperation by governments,” he replies.

And the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

“Governments do nasty things, like other actors do. It does not mean the end of globalism. It means we have to figure out an equitable globalization. It’s not an end point. But there is fear, anxiety and loss as well as gain. Globalism means winners and losers — it’s change. But we also now know a tremendous richness. We experience different ways of thinking, foods, art; the beauty of the human experience gets multiplied in so many incredible ways. How bereft we would be if we went to a world of island states! We are all in this quest for a stable and interconnected world.”

Larry Wilson is on the Southern California News Group editorial board. [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

Southern California ‘fun’ jobs hit record high in May

• July 1, 2023

Southern California’s “fun” jobs hit a record high in May, one sign that the leisure and hospitality industry’s lethargic recovery from the pandemic era’s harsh losses is nearly complete.

My trusty spreadsheet, looking at fresh state jobs data, found local bosses in industries from dining to entertainment to lodging had a record 966,900 workers in May 2023. That’s up 14,400 for the month and up 52,900 over 12 months.

May marked the first time that the number of these fun jobs in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties were above February 2020 staffing, the last month before coronavirus upended the economy.

It’s been a slow and long rebound for the hospitality industry. Stiff pandemic business limitations in spring 2020 cut 421,700 jobs at leisure and hospitality businesses – a stunning 44% drop.

The leisure and hospitality hiring recovery trailed Southern California’s overall job market. The four counties’ total employment first surpassed pre-pandemic staffing in October 2022 – seven months earlier.

Uneven rebound

Hitting all-time high employment at Southern California businesses serving up fun, however, does not mean a level, across-the-board rebound.

For example, local fast food jobs hit a record 358,100 in May – up 4,100 for the month, up 12,100 over 12 months, and 19,200 higher in the pandemic era. At the coronavirus low, 78,800 fast food jobs were lost – a 23% drop.

One key to fast food’s business success is that quick-serve meals became even more popular during the pandemic. Many diners sought meals without the crowds of indoor dining. Meanwhile, others relished fast food take-out services and delivered meals.

Conversely, sit-down dining’s rebound has been slower with 293,800 people workers in May – up 3,500 for the month and up 10,700 over 12 months – but still 5,700 lower in the pandemic era. At the worst, 195,300 full-service restaurant jobs were lost, a 65% drop tied to dining restrictions and some diner reluctance to be at any inside business.

These mixed recoveries for dining out translates to fast food accounting for 55% of restaurant workers in May vs. 53% at the pandemic’s eve in February 2020.

Also slow to recover are hotel jobs.

Southern California lodging businesses employed 84,700 workers in May – up 1,500 for the month, up 5,700 over 12 months,  but 12,200 lower in the pandemic era. At the worst, 56,300 jobs were lost, a 58% drop.

Numerous hotels have not reopened after pandemic shutdowns. And while much of tourism is booming, some hotels suffer as business travel has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

However, look at work in arts, entertainment and recreation businesses. These jobs also hit a record in May at 182,400 – up 2,600 for the month, up 20,000 over 12 months, and 7,500 higher in the pandemic era. At the worst, 102,300 jobs were lost, a 58% drop.

Consumer desires for leisurely activities of all sorts have zoomed as coronavirus fears have died out – a huge boost to these businesses.

Geographically speaking

This fun revival, at least looking at job counts, has been relatively level across the region …

Los Angeles County: 554,200 fun jobs – up 11,600 for the month, up 41,300 over 12 months, and a 6,600 gain in the pandemic era. Fun facts: Leisure labor is 11.9% of all jobs and fast food employs 53% of restaurant workers.

Orange County: 231,100 fun jobs – up 2,000 for the month, up 13,100 over 12 months, and a 5,300 gain in the pandemic era. Fun facts: Leisure labor is 13.5% of all jobs and fast food employs 52% of restaurant workers.

Inland Empire: 181,600 fun jobs – up 800 for the month, off -1,500 over 12 months, and a 2,500 gain in the pandemic era. Fun facts: Leisure labor is 10.8% of all jobs and fast food employs 62% of restaurant workers.

By the way, May’s hiring spree extended across all industries in the region. A record 8.04 million Southern Californians were on the job in May – up 24,100 jobs in a month, up 160,000 in 12 months, and 145,800 higher in the pandemic era.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]

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​ Orange County Register 

Tour de France: Adam Yates pulls away from twin brother to win first stage

• July 1, 2023

BILBAO, Spain — Adam Yates pulled away from his twin brother Simon Yates to win the first stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, with race favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard finishing not far behind.

The Yates brothers escaped to the front with about seven kilometers (four miles) to go and Adam had the strongest finish to take the initial yellow jersey in the three-week race that began in Basque Country territory in northern Spain.

Adam and Simon Yates ride for different teams but that didn’t stop them discussing their late breakaway before pulling away from the pack.

“We worked together,” Adam Yates said. “I speak to him every day, we are close. To share this experience with him was really nice. I’m speechless, super happy.”

Adam Yates has never won a Grand Tour race but also held the leader’s yellow jersey during the 2020 Tour de France. Simon Yates won the 2018 Spanish Vuelta.

Cycling’s biggest race is taking place amid continued unrest in France after a fourth night of riots triggered by the deadly shooting of a 17-year-old by police.

Pogacar, the two-time Tour de France champion who is teammates with Adam Yates at UAE Team Emirates, finished third after leading a group of chasers that also included Vingegaard, the defending champion of team Jumbo-Visma.

Pogacar had a strong start to the season but had to undergo wrist injury after a crash two months ago.

Vingegaard, the former fish factory worker from Denmark, was runner-up to Pogacar in his first Tour two years ago then came out on top in a thrilling battle with his Slovenian rival last year, building his triumph on two big rides in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Pogacar appeared to have most of the crowd support in Bilbao after pleasing them in the race presentation with some words praising the city and local club Athletic Bilbao.

The first two stages are taking place in Basque Country, with the opening day taking riders through a hilly 182-kilometer (113-mile) route that started and finished in the city of Bilbao.

Two of the top riders in the race — Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz — crashed with just over 20 kilometers (12 miles) to go and had to be attended by doctors. Carapaz was able to continue despite an apparent left leg injury, but Mas had to withdraw with what looked like a shoulder problem.

The first crash of this year’s edition came nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) into the race when Torstein Traaen went down.

Former champion Egan Bernal, returning to the Tour for the first time since a life-threatening crash early last year while training in Colombia, finished 23rd with the main pack.

Veteran sprint specialist Mark Cavendish, who needs one more stage victory to break the race record with 35, finished toward the end of the pack. Cavendish is competing in his last Tour before retiring.

Sunday’s second stage will be a hilly route of more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastian. The Tour will cross into France on Monday with a flat stage that will start in the Spanish city of Amorebieta-Echano.

The 110th edition of the Tour de France has only one time trial and four mountain-top finishes. It will include a record 30 difficult climbs over the 3,405 kilometers (2,116 miles) featuring eight mountain stages across five mountain ranges.

This year, riders who test positive for COVID-19 won’t be automatically expelled from the race.

​ Orange County Register