Orange County scores and player stats for Friday, Oct. 25

• October 26, 2024

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Scores and stats from Orange County games on Friday, Oct. 25

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday.

FRIDAY’S SCORES

GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

CIF-SS PLAYOFFS

Round 2

DIVISION 2

Northwood 32, Mira Costa 8

​ Orange County Register 

Here’s how the song ‘Monster Mash’ came to be

• October 26, 2024

A monster hit

“Monster Mash” was originally written as a parody of several pop fads that have faded away, but the song is an American novelty song that lives on like a vampire.

In the early 1960s two cultural trends set the stage for the making of “Monster Mash.” One was that the broadcasting of 1930s and 1940s monster films by TV stations had reintroduced Count Dracula and others to a new generation.

One of the most popular toys for Christmas in 1962 was a plastic Frankenstein model.

The big influence was the dance fad at the time that brought songs about dances such as The Twist and Mashed Potato to the top of the charts.

The writers

Bobby Pickett was an aspiring actor looking for work in Hollywood.

On the weekends he sang with a group called the Cordials in clubs around Los Angeles.

Pickett worked a Boris Karloff Frankenstein’s Monster impression into the act and it was well received.

Fellow Cordials band member Leonard Capizzi and Pickett wrote the song together and pitched it to record labels.

They were rejected four times before it was picked up by Gary S. Paxton’s Garpax Records. Paxton had a novelty song hit with “Alley Oop” in 1957 and produced “Monster Mash,” as well as the song on the B-side, “Monster Mash Party.”

Musicians on the recording

The band credited on the recording is “The Crypt-Kickers,” and are said to have included Leon Russell on piano and the Ventures drummer Mel Taylor on one or both of the recordings.

Chart success

The song was released in Aug. 1962 and went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts for the week of Oct. 20-27. The song has charted three times: 1962, when it reached No. 1, and in 1970 and 1973. The song is still a popular ringtone and digital download.

Monstrous endorsement

Above, is a promotional photo of Boris Karloff from “Bride of Frankenstein.”

Karloff liked the “Monster Mash” song so much that he performed it himself on a 1965 episode of the televised musical variety show “Shindig!”

Pickett’s acting career resulted in parts in a few B-rated movies, but he made a fortune from royalties of “Monster Mash,” which has been featured in more than 40 TV shows and films.

Pickett died in 2007 in Los Angeles at the age of 69.

Making a graveyard smash hit

Well covered: “Monster Mash” has been recorded by more than 20 other groups and in many different languages.

“Monster Mash: The Movie” came out in 1995 and featured Bobby Pickett as Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

Some of the notable cover versions include Vincent Price’s version in 1977, a Smashing Pumpkins version in 2008 and Alvin and the Chipmunks version in 1994.

You can do the mash

There is no official dance for the “Monster Mash,” but the song’s music is a spoof of the song “Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Sharp that was released in 1962.

This is a version of the Mashed Potato Dance with arms held like a monster. Chubby Checker’s “The Twist,” released in 1960, kicked off a named dance craze.

You can find a beginner tutorial on Youtube here.

Other Halloween hits

“Addams Family Theme”Written by: Victor “Vic” MizzyMizzy also wrote the theme song for the 1960s sitcom “Green Acres.” Mizzy wrote several scores for films and many songs that were hits for such artists including Doris Day and The Andrews Sisters.“The Addams Family,” a sitcom featuring New Yorker cartoonist Charles Addams’ characters, ran for 64 episodes in two seasons between 1964-66.The song’s arrangement features a harpsichord and finger-snaps.Mizzy’s theme was popular enough to be released as a single, but it failed to make the national charts.

“The Munsters”The instrumental theme song, titled “The Munster’s Theme,” was composed by composer/arranger Jack Marshall.The song had lyrics written by the sitcom’s co-producer, Bob Mosher, but were never aired.First verse: When you are walking down the street at nightAnd behind you there’s no one in view.But you hear mysterious feet at night,Then the Munsters are following you.The theme was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1965.“The Munsters” had 70 episodes between 1964-66.

“Thriller”Michael Jackson’s 13-minute music video for the song “Thriller” became the best selling music video in history.

Billboard magazine ranked it the No. 1 Halloween song of all time and it is still listed as the most successful music video of all time, selling more than nine million copies. It was released on Dec. 2, 1983.

The film begins with a disclaimer:

“Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult.” —Michael Jackson

You can find Billboard.com’s 20 biggest Halloween hits here.

Spoiler alert: The Billboard list has Monster Mash at No. 1, and “Thriller did not make the top 20.

“Monster Mash”Written by Bobby Pickett & Leonard Capizzi

I was working in the lab, late one nightWhen my eyes beheld an eerie sightFor my monster from his slab, began to riseAnd suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash, he did the monster mashThe monster mash, it was a graveyard smashHe did the mash, it caught on in a flashHe did the mash, he did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle eastTo the master bedroom where the vampires feastThe ghouls all came from their humble abodesTo get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the mash, they did the monster mashThe monster mash, it was a graveyard smashThey did the mash, it caught on in a flashThey did the mash, they did the monster mash

The zombies were having funThe party had just begunThe guests included Wolfman,Dracula, and his son

The scene was rockin’, all were digging the soundsIgor on chains, backed by his baying houndsThe coffin-bangers were about to arriveWith their vocal group, ‘The Crypt-Kicker Five’

They played the mash, they played the monster mashThe monster mash, it was a graveyard smashThey played the mash, it caught on in a flashThey played the mash, they played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac‘s voice did ringSeems he was troubled by just one thingOpened the lid and shook his fist and said“Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?”

It’s now the mash, it’s now the monster mashThe monster mash, it’s now a graveyard smashIt’s now the mash, it caught on in a flashIt’s now the mash, it’s now the monster mash

Now everything’s cool, Drac’s a part of the bandAnd my Monster Mash is the hit of the landFor you, the living, this mash was meant tooWhen you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash, then you can monster mashThe monster mash, and do my graveyard smashThen you can mash, you’ll catch on in a flashThen you can mash, then you can monster mash

Sources: The Associated Press, RIAA, Billboard, Rolling Stone magazine, IMDb

​ Orange County Register 

Chargers’ Joey Bosa grateful for his health and a return to lineup Sunday

• October 26, 2024

EL SEGUNDO — At one point, the pain was so intense that Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa said he slept on an exercise ball he swiped from the training room at the team’s headquarters. He said he curled up in a fetal position for hours because that was the only way to ease the pain.

It had started with lower back pain that was manageable, but he said Friday he knew something was wrong the day after the Chargers’ victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 15. He did his best to get through a week’s worth of practice while the team stayed in Charlotte, North Carolina.

But when he ran onto the field for the Chargers’ game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh the next Sunday, he knew he was pushing his luck. Usually, he said he would sprint onto the field from the locker room, trying to outrun his teammates for the pregame warmup. He could barely jog this time.

Bosa lasted one play before his left leg gave out and he had to leave the game for the sideline. The lower back pain shifted to his left buttock and, ultimately, caused irritation along the sciatic nerve that runs from the back/hip area down the side of each leg. In Bosa’s case, it was his left leg.

The pain was excruciating, unending, and he couldn’t perform rehabilitation exercises after the team’s return from Pittsburgh. He couldn’t sleep because the pain kept him up as he lay in bed. The only cure for his sleepless nights was to drape himself over that large exercise ball and hope for the sandman to come.

It’s been more than a month, but the healing process has finally taken hold and Bosa said Friday he will play in the Chargers’ game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. How much he will play is still to be determined, but it is likely he will be on a limited snap count.

“I’m feeling good,” he said in his first public comments since he was injured in the game against Pittsburgh on Sept. 22. “It’s been a tough, tough five weeks now, but I’m starting to come around. I had three really good days in a row. I took it easy (Friday). It’s been a really interesting one.

“I’ve been telling you (reporters) how good I’ve been feeling and here I am missing all these weeks, but it’s finally coming around. I had two good practices. I think getting through this week, this game, I think it’s going to keep stacking (days) and I’m going to continue to improve and, hopefully, get back to the form I was in.

“I’m definitely going to be out there (Sunday).”

He credited his family, his teammates and coaches, the athletic training staff and his therapist for lifting his spirits and doing what they could to aid his recovery both physically and mentally. He revealed the strain of his injury was often difficult to bear emotionally, given his string of injuries in recent seasons.

Bosa played only nine games last season and five in the 2022 season.

Related Articles

“I’m just grateful I have a great team around me,” he said. “I know for a fact that I would not be standing here or be as successful as I am without all these people around me. So, I just want to thank everybody, including my teammates, for having my back and not pushing me and just being there for me.

“Dealing with stuff like this makes you realize it can be over at any moment. I just don’t want to take anything for granted. I don’t want to look back and say, ‘shoulda, coulda, woulda.’ I think I have a few years, hopefully, a few good years left and I just want to take advantage of my opportunity.”

Bosa, 29, said he didn’t believe the end of his nine-year NFL career was at hand, but it wasn’t too difficult to imagine it coming to an end in the not-too distant future. After all, he was sidelined by a broken hand that required surgery during training camp as well as by foot and groin injuries that limited him to only a handful of games in recent seasons.

“Your mind tends to ruminate, go to the future, go to the past,” he said. “What if I did this? What if I did that? When you get into that state, it’s important to kind of reel it in and take it, maybe not a day at a time, but a minute at a time, an hour at a time. It’s pretty trendy to talk about being mindful and staying in the moment, but there’s a reason it’s popular because it’s important.”

​ Orange County Register 

Letter: You’d have to be brainwashed to think Kamala Harris is the answer to America’s problems

• October 26, 2024

Remember when Kamala Harris told us that Bidenomics is working and she’s very proud of the Biden economy?

I think she said this somewhere around the time she told us that there’s no border crisis and she’s the border czar. How she knew this by never having gone to the border is Kreskin-like.

When asked if she’d do anything different than Joe Biden the answer, aside from her usual word salad was…”no.” Things were just peachy back then.

Now we’re being told by Harris that if you vote for her she’ll fix everything.

Weren’t you and Biden in charge all this time? Why didn’t you fix things while you were in office? Biden even said that Harris was in on all the decision making. Like all roads leading to Rome, all her answers lead to the scapegoat of the Democrats, Donald J Trump. Everything was his fault.

Harris even makes the Orwellian claim that the economy was terrible under Trump compared to today. Very confusing since I thought it was bad now. I distinctly remember gas and food prices when Trump was president. They were much lower. Interest rates were much lower. Inflation was much lower. We were energy independent.

Harris and her ilk say whatever they expect people to believe at any given time of day, reality be damned.  One sentence has nothing to do with the other.

People have been so conditioned to hate Trump that no matter how much Harris and her ilk lie, people will lap up what they’re told by the propagandists on CNN or MSNBC.

Unfortunately people who’ve been brainwashed don’t realize they’ve been brainwashed since they’ve been….well, brainwashed.

John Cramer, Los Angeles

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Here’s what Americans fear the most in 2024

• October 26, 2024

With Halloween only days away, we’re looking at the findings of Chapman University’s Survey of what scares us.

The survey

The goal of the Chapman University Survey of American Fears is to collect data annually on the fears, worries and concerns of Americans and how those fears are associated with other attitudes and behaviors. The survey asked more than 1,000 people across the country about 85 fears in a wide range of categories, from crime to natural disasters to ghosts, spiders and public speaking.

This is the 10th year of the survey, conducted for Chapman by SSRS and using a probability-based method. The survey was fielded in the spring over the internet. There were 1,008 respondents, with a margin of error of +/- 4%

‘Americans are becoming more afraid’

“This year, all of our Top 10 fears were expressed by more than half of Americans, and many were high throughout the rest of the survey,” said Christopher Bader, chair of Chapman’s sociology department. “This tells me Americans are becoming more afraid in general, about everything.”

The fear of corrupt government officials tops the list, as it has for the previous nine years. Americans are also very fearful about loved ones becoming seriously ill or dying, nuclear war, terrorism and running out of money.

Recent world events have stirred fears about war and terrorist attacks, given that six of the top concerns have to do with war or warfare, Bader said. The fear of running out of money moved from the 10th spot on the 2023 list to No. 6. Climate fear has been consistent year over year, with about 49% of respondents saying they were afraid or very afraid of the effects of climate change.

You can see the full list for 2024 here.

Chapman University professors have a book available, which was published by NYU Press “Fear Itself, The Causes and Consequences of Fear in America,” by Christopher D. Bader, Joseph O. Baker, L. Edward Day and Ann Gordon.

The authors say persistent fear negatively affects individuals’ decision-making abilities and causes anxiety, depression and poor physical health. Further, fear harms communities and society by corroding social trust and civic engagement. Yet politicians often effectively leverage fears to garner votes, and companies routinely market unnecessary products that promise protection from imagined or exaggerated harms.

Source: The Chapman University Survey of American Fears; Chapman’s Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Pew Research Center

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks for Saturday, October 26, 2024

• October 26, 2024

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks

Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Halloween 2024: Where to find special foods, pizza deals and more

• October 26, 2024

Purple is the new black this Halloween as restaurants strive to dress up their menus for the holiday.

Fast food chains offer a variety of ghoulish specials, from burgers to sweets, while full service restaurants focus on cocktails.

Related links

Halloween: 5 spooky bars and speakeasies to experience in Southern California
Halloween 2024: Where to find pumpkin patches in Southern California
MAP: Here’s all the Spirit Halloween stores in Southern California

And since pizza takeout has become a Halloween tradition, some pizzerias are doing holiday promotions.

Some offers require membership in loyalty programs. Check the chains’ website for details.

Here are some of the specials restaurant chains have announced online, in social media or in news releases.

Quick service

Auntie Anne’s: The pretzel chain has partnered with Spirit Halloween on a holiday bucket to be filled with Pretzel Nuggets. Spirit Halloween has a matching costume. auntieannes.com 

Baskin-Robbins: This year’s treats include a Spooktacular Polar Pizza, already sliced with chocolate chip cookie crust and its flavor of the month,Twix Caramel Crunch ice cream. It’s topped with M&Ms. baskinrobbins.com

Burger King: An “Addams Family” menu includes Wednesday’s Whopper with a purple bun, Gomez’s Churro Fries and Morticia’s Kooky Chocolate Shake. bk.com

Carl’s Jr: The Ghost is a burger made with ghost pepper cheese, bacon and a “soul-scorching sauce.” carlsjr.com

Chipotle Mexican Grill: The chain’s in-store Boorito promotion will run from 3 p.m. to close. Diners who visit a restaurant in a holiday costume can get an entrée for $6 in-restaurant, according to a news release. chipotle.com

Cold Stone Creamery: Boo Batter Ice Cream is back. It’s a charcoal-colored version of its Cake Batter Ice Cream. Other treats include Scaredy Cakes, an ice cream version of cupcakes that come in six packs. coldstonecreamery.com

Duck Donuts: This year’s Spooky Box is available through Nov. 3 with such creations as Spiderweb Surprise, Fright Night and So Mummy. duckdonuts.com

Dunkin’: Halloween Munchkins Donut Hole Treats come with a Halloween bucket. Beverages include the Potion Macchiato, served hot or iced. It’s made with espresso and milk with a “purple marshmallow ube flavor.” dunkindonuts.com

Fatburger: Customers get a free cookie with any purchase in-store or online through Oct. 31. Use the code trickortreat24 at checkout. fatburger.com

Jack in the Box: The Mummy Wrapped Monster Taco is the chain’s signature big taco wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. jackinthebox.com

Krispy Kreme: Scary Sharies, available through Nov. 27, include “Ghostbusters” such as the Slimer Doughnut and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. krispykreme.com

McDonald’s: This year’s Boo Buckets have fresh monster faces in orange, white, green and blue. They come with Happy Meals. mcdonalds.com

Qdoba: Rewards members can get a Boogo deal on Oct. 31. If they order an entree and drink they will get a free entree loaded into their rewards account. qdoba.com

Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Every burrito will be $8.99 for Rubio’s Rewards members on Oct. 31. Scan your QR code at the register for in-store purchases or order digitally. rubios.com

Sonic: Witches Brew is a green apple slush topped with soft-serve and caramel bubbles. It’s available online or through the chain’s app. sonicdrivein.com

Wendy’s: A new Boo! Bags meal includes a Dave’s Single, small fries and a small Frosty, plus a glow-in-the-dark Frosty figure and this year’s Boo! Book coupons. They will be available while supplies last. wendys.com

Pizza

7-Eleven: Rewards members who buy a whole pizza can get a second pizza for free Oct. 30-31. 7-eleven.com

California Pizza Kitchen: Build-your-own or baked Jack-o-lantern pizzas are available through Oct. 31 for takeout or free delivery on orders of $25 or more with the code CPK. cpk.com

Chuck E. Cheese: Pumpkin Pepperoni Pizza and Slime Cookies are on the menu during Boo-tacular, which runs through October and includes trick-or-treating and free tickets for kids who come in costume. chuckecheese.com

Papa John’s: Jack-o-lantern-shaped pizzas start at $9.99. It also comes in a Halloween Bundle with cheese sticks and 2-liter soft drink bottle for around $18.99. papajohns.com

Round Table: A Halloween special includes Large Double Play Pepperoni Pizza and an appetizer for $22.99-$27.99. roundtablepizza.com

Casual restaurants

Applebee’s Grill & Bar: The chain is serving a Dollar Zombie with a Gummi Brain and a $5 Boo Lagoon, made with Bacardí Lime and Malibu Coconut, blue curaçao and pineapple juice. applebees.com

Bar Louie: Specials include $5 Blue Moon drafts and Halloween shots. The martini of the month is the Purple Reign Martini made with Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka. A portion of sales will go to No Kid Hungry. barlouie.com

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Specials include the Spooky Pizookie served with orange-colored vanilla ice cream, the Unlucky Ducky cocktail and Boo-Berry Sour, plus a kid-friendly Orange Scream-sicle mocktail. bjsrestaurants.com

Chili’s Grill & Bar: Witch’s Brew, made with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, is the margarita of the month. chilis.com

IHOP: Scary Face Pancakes make their annual return. With the purchase of any adult entree, kids younger than 12 can get a free pancake and toppings to decorate it with. The offer is dine-in only. ihop.com

Johnny Rockets: Customers can get a free cookie with any in-store purchase through Oct. 31. Mention the promo to redeem. johnnyrockets.com

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers’ bullpen gets reinforcements but loses Evan Phillips to sore shoulder

• October 26, 2024

LOS ANGELES — Before the bullpen gates even opened for the first time in the World Series, the Dodgers’ relief corps took two steps forward and one step back.

Alex Vesia and Brusdar Graterol both returned from injuries and were added to the active roster. However, Evan Phillips was left off the roster due to shoulder fatigue.

“Obviously not having Evan available for this series certainly is disappointing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Game 1 against the New York Yankees on Friday. “We’ve got to make sure we protect him – short term, long term. But being able to add Brusdar and Alex to this roster is a huge addition. I think they match up well with this ball club, and they’ve got experience.

“So I think that obviously losing Evan was a blow, but getting two nice additions is big.”

Phillips pitched the sixth inning of Game 6 in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, walking back-to-back batters before escaping the inning. He was supposed to go back out for the seventh inning and face right-handed hitter Starling Marte. But Phillips’ shoulder tightened up and he didn’t go back out.

An MRI showed no structural damage to his shoulder but Phillips continued to have fatigue in the days leading up to the World Series.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the deciding factor in leaving Phillips off the roster was the rules governing injury replacements during the World Series.

“The way the Major League Baseball injury rule is written, we wouldn’t be able to replace him in that it was something that was pre-existing,” Friedman said.

Phillips led the Dodgers with 18 saves this season and pitched 6⅔ scoreless innings over the course of the NL Division Series against the Padres and the NLCS.

“Obviously, Evan has been a huge part of the success we’ve had in the bullpen,” Friedman said. “Even more than the talent of Evan, just the amount that he has poured into this, it’s hard for him not to be a part of this. I know he’s going to do everything he can with the guys in the ’pen to get them ready, but obviously it’s really disappointing.”

Vesia (rib injury) and Graterol (shoulder) both faced hitters during the Dodgers’ workouts in the days leading up to the World Series.

Graterol made just seven appearances during the regular season due to a recurring shoulder problem and a hamstring injury. He has not pitched in a game since Sept. 24. It remains to be seen if he will be able to pitch on back-to-back days or more than one inning in an outing.

“He’s healthy,” Friedman said. “He’s been building back up. He’s faced hitters. He’s up to 97 (mph). He’s bounced back well. Stuff’s in a good place.”

ROJAS RETURN

The Dodgers also added shortstop Miguel Rojas back to the active roster and dropped outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.

Rojas has been playing with a strained adductor muscle for weeks and expects to have surgery to address the injury during the offseason. He aggravated it during the NLDS and was left off the roster for the NLCS. But Rojas participated in the Dodgers’ full workout Wednesday and was cleared to return.

Roberts said Rojas will be in the starting lineup for Game 2 against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón. Other than that, he will be available to pinch-hit or be a late-game defensive replacement.

Rojas’ return won’t affect utility man Kiké Hernandez’s playing time. Roberts said Hernandez will be in the lineup each game.

FREEMAN STATUS

Because he did not play Game 6 of the NLCS, Freddie Freeman has had a full week off to rest and treat his injured right ankle.

Related Articles

“He’s kind of in the position he was when he started the DS (because of the down) time before that series,” Roberts said. “We’re all just sort of hoping that we’ve got out of the woods and we can kind of maintain where he’s at now – because what happened as the (NLDS) series progressed, prolonged, then it went south.

“Right now he’s in a good spot so we’re just hoping that we can kind of sustain it.”

Freeman finished the NLCS with just one hit in his last 15 at-bats and hasn’t had an extra-base hit since injuring his ankle on Sept. 26.

“I feel pretty good walking and I feel okay hitting,” Freeman said earlier this week. “It’s all the more movement stuff of running and stuff like that.

“When you get hurt, I think every day away from that injury, and every day you treat it, it’s only going to be better. So I’m hoping that these pretty much six, seven days that I will have off – because I didn’t play in the last one – will be what I need to be able to go.”

​ Orange County Register