The Orange County Tribune May 6, 2023

Weather Forecast

WEEKEND EDITION

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Saturday: 67/55 partly cloudy Sunday: 70/54 partly cloudy Monday: 70/55 partly cloudy Tuesday: 67/54 partly cloudy

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Volume 3, Number 33 n orangecountytribune.com n Saturday, May 6, 2023 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

Coronavirus Cases, Deaths in Sharp Rise

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME?

on the virus.

But ICU use, statistics New cases – for the peof April 27 to May hospitalization riod 3 – have more than trifrom 562 last week are declining pled to 1,859 this week. Last The World Health Organization on Friday announced that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a “global emergency.”

But that doesn’t mean that the coronavirus has been eradicated or doesn’t continue to be a health risk. The latest figures from the Orange County Health Care Agency show sharp increases in key

week’s count of new cases showed a decline from 669.

Deaths attributed to the coronavirus doubled from nine to 18. The previous week had a total of 10.

Other categories showed declines. Hospitalization related to the virus declined from 86 to 67 and the use of intensive care units for COVID-19 paContinued on page 2

n GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL

Improvements at three parks will be considered Improvements for three city parks are on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council.

The council will consider an agreement with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for a $1 million grant.

If approved, the grant will be used to: • Replace the current park playground equipment

and playground surface at Jardin de los Ninos on Keel Avenue in the Buena Clinton neighborhood; • Replace the current playground equipment and playground surface that’s on city property in the Haster Basin Park (Lampson Avenue at Haster Street), along with demolition of park restrooms to be replaced with a pre-fabricated structure Continued on page 2

“DISNEYLAND FORWARD” could herald another expansion of the iconic amusement park in Anaheim, with benefts for Garden Grove (Disney image)

Disneyland expansion could help fill Garden Grove city treasury

By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune

The opportunities for growth in Garden Grove’s hotel district may be getting a boost from the Disneyland Resort’s plans for expansion of the iconic amusement park.

This week, resort offi-

News Analysis

According to published reports, Disney wants to make new additions to cials have begun to sched- “underdeveloped” areas ule “community coffee” around the park the comevents at local parks in pany owns. Expansion Anaheim to explain what would be near the Disney their “Disneyland For- hotels west of Disneyland ward” plans will involve. and California Adventure These plans were first an- and in a parking lot to the nounced in March 2021.

Continued on page 2

New logo, image etc. for city Stanton is on a roll and wants the rest of the world to know about it.

At its meeting on Tuesday, the city council will consider an agreement with HUB Ltd. to assist in the design of the city’s official logo, branding and messaging.

n STANTON CITY COUNCIL In recent years, Stanton has seen a boom in development along Beach Boulevard, attracting new commercial uses and midrise residential development that’s changed the

landscape for those traveling along that busy thoroughfare.

Under the agreement, HUB will help develop a new city logo, city seal, “tagline” (or marketing motto), document templates, a style guide for Continued on page 2

For breaking news and sports all week long, go to www.orangecountytribune.com

2 SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

The effects of expansion of Disneyland to G. Grove Continued from page 1

east.

The “coffee” events will begin on May 20 at Ponderosa Park, 2100 S. Haster St. While none of these plans are directly involved with Garden Grove, the dozen or so large hotels constructed along Harbor Boulevard from the Anaheim

Stanton council Continued from page 1

city communications, design for wayfinding signs and a strategic communications plan.

The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $85,000 and funds are from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Also, the council will consider updating or creating rules and regulations relating to “payday” lender businesses within the city.

Such items could include restrictions on operating hours, distancing requirements, and limits on the number of such permitted businesses in the city.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Civic Center, 7800 Katella Ave.

GG city council Continued from page 1

that will have two bathroom stalls; • Replace the current park restrooms at West Haven Park, 12252 West St., with a new pre-fabricated building that will have four restroom stalls.

The council will meet in the Community Meeting Center, 11330 Stanford Ave. at 6:30 p.m.

The next meeting after that is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Coronavirus stats Continued from page 1

tients slipped from 12 to 11.

To date, confirmed cases of coronavirus in Orange County are at 720,239 and deaths at 8,127.

city limit south have benefitted from the tourist trade generated by the Disney parks, and the nearby Anaheim Convention Center.

At the State of the City event in Garden Grove recently, Mayor Steve Jones noted that “transient occupancy tax” from hotels had generated a record $27 million in revenue.

Three new hotels are on the drawing boards on Harbor in Garden Grove and a fourth is approaching completion at a site south of Garden Grove Boulevard.

Additionally, Garden Grove’s hotel area is allied with Anaheim’s under the name “Grove District” seeking to promote tourism to the region.

The Orange County Tribune Every Wednesday & Saturday

JIm Tortolano Editor and Publisher Marilyn Lewis Tortolano General Manager The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays and Saturdays with some exceptions. Address is 9402 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, 92844.

E-mail : orangecountytribune@gmail. com.

Website: www.orangecountytribune. com.

Phone: (714) 458-1860.

Established Aug. 6, 2016. All opinions expressed in The Tribune, unless otherwise stated, are those of the individual writer or artist and not necessarily those of The Tribune.

A member of The Associated Press, the Garden Grove Downtown Business Association and Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

The Orange County Tribune Every Wednesday & Saturday

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 3

News&Views Are you ready for your cold water crisis?

Pat Ryan, in his sci-fi novel “Alas Babylon,” wrote that “civilization is like snow in the desert.” Thin and fragile and subject to vanishing under a bit of heat.

Recently hot water ceased to flow in our lovely home in Garden Grove. That may not seem like much of a crisis to you, but we take more showers and baths than Aquaman’s family.

It being late in the evening, we despaired Jim Tortolano of getting a plumber out in a timely fashion, so we resigned ourselves to a cold shower the next day and for who knows how much longer than that. We have twin tankless water heaters, which employ a technology that resembles (to me, anyway) more Hogwart’s than Home Depot.

Left with no acceptable alternative, we proceeded to improvise.

You fill up a big beaker with water, nuke it in the microwave, and take it (along with a smaller pouring cup) into the shower.

You steel yourself to the bite of the cold water, and rinse off with dips from the pre-heated aqua, and the end result is tolerable, if not exactly enjoyable.

Luckily, in May, even unheated water is not exactly frigid, and like getting into a swimming pool, you get used to it after a bit. No frostbite cases were reported.

We summoned a local plumber, who arrived quickly the same day and restored the flow of warm H20.

The “crisis” was over, but it put in our minds how much we take for granted the comforts of our high-tech, cushy existence.

We flip a switch and expect

Retorts

Continued on page 6

n HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL

Speed limits will drop in eight locations in Surf City

EVELYN NGUYEN of Pacifica High School was the 2022 winner of the Voice of Garden Grove contest (City of GG photo)

Who will be the 2023 ‘Voice of Garden Grove’

Eight reductions in speed limits around town were approved this week by the Huntington Beach City Council.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted 7-0 to adopt an ordinance for the following changes.

• 17th Street: Pacific Coast Highway from 35 miles an hour to 30 miles an hour • Atlanta Avenue: Newland Street to Magnolia Street from 45 to 40 • Delaware Street: Atlanta Avenue to Adams Avenue 35 to 30 • Delaware Street: Garfield Avenue to Ellis Avenue 35 to 30 • Graham Street: South city limit to Slater Avenue 35 to 30 • Orange Avenue: 1st Street to 17th Street 30 to 25.

• Peninsula Lane: Summit Drive to Garfield Avenue 35 to 30.

The new limits become effective 30 days after adoption.

Also on Tuesday, the council approved the city’s action plan for federal Community Development Block Grants and Home Investment Entitlement Grants programs.

The next meeting of the council is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16.

The Garden Grove Community Foundation is looking for vocally talented local high school students to compete in the 11th annual The Voice of Garden Grove singing competition for a chance to win $500 and the title “The Voice of Garden Grove 2023.”

Another $500 will be donated towards the winning student’s high school choir.

To be considered an official contestant of The Voice of Garden Grove, students must be in

grade level 9-12 and enrolled in a Garden Grove Unified School District high school, or attend private school or homeschool and live in Garden Grove.

There will be three in-person auditions, located at the Community Meeting Center (11300 Stanford Ave.): Tuesday, May 16 from 4-5:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 6 from 1:30- 3:00 p.m, and Monday, June 12 from 4-5:30 p.m.

Sometimes the best is for free...

More light is coming to the Garden Grove Park

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Continued on page 4

Garden Grove Park’s new all-inclusive aircraft-themed playground, located at 9301 Westminster Ave., will undergo construction along its outer perimeter beginning Monday, May 8 through the end of the month. Park goers are advised that the playground will remain open during construction.

The project consists of adding four new, energy efficient light poles that will further illuminate the area at night. Temporary fencing will be installed along the construction zone.

Part of a $1.3 million improvement project, Garden Grove Park recently underwent an extensive enhancement that included the installment of the new playground, large pavilion with built-in barbecues, dining, and preparation tables, three picnic tables, and an ADA accessible walkway. The lighting installation will complete the improvement project.

4 SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

NewsUpdate

Voice of Garden Grove, 2023 Continued from page 3

Students may also submit a virtual audition tape in-lieu of attending one of the in-person auditions, via email at thevoice@ggcity. org, from now through 5:30 p.m. on June 12. Students who are interested in auditioning MUST fill out an online interest form, which can be found at ggcf.com/thevoice.

The Voice of Garden Grove is a pre-show to the free Summer Concert Series, every Thursday, from July 13 to Aug. 3. The finals for The Voice of Garden Grove will take place at the final concert on Thursday, Aug. 3 at Eastgate Park, 12001 Saint Mark Street.

The Garden Grove Community Foundation supports education and the arts in the community and recognizes the degree of young talent within the city.

THE JAN. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol (Wikipedia).

Jan. 6 rioter hit with 14-year prison sentence by judge The strongest penalty handed down in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 was imposed Friday on Peter Schwartz, 49.

According to The New York Times, he was sentenced to 170 months – a little more than 14 years – in federal prison for his roll in attacking police officers and breaking into the building.

The judge said she imposed the severe penalty because Schwartz, a welder, had shown no remorse for his actions and had 40 prior criminal convictions for crimes such as assault or threatening officers.

On Jan. 6 he threw a chair at police and then used pepper spray to attack them.

King Charles III was crowned Saturday

Great Britain’s first coronation in 70 years took place on Saturday when King Charles III was officially crowned.

According to United Press International, there is still widespread support for a constitutional monarchy, but there are those who advocate for its abolition and the establishment of a republic.

As king, Charles hold sthe position of head of state without much real power. Still, he is considered the monarch not only of Britain but also Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Also in the news … The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday halted the execution of a convicted killer after the Oklahoma attorney general said that Richard Glossip didn’t receive a fair trial.

Sports: Angels win, Dodgers stumble

The Los Angeles Angels won their fifth straight game on Friday night, defeating the Texas Rangers 5-4 in 10 innings in Anaheim.

Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, they tied the game up and won in the bottom of the 10th on a wild pitch. The Angels are now 19-14 and in a virtual tie for first place in the AL West with the Rangers (18-13).

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost the first game of a three-game series in San Diego against the Padres 5-2 on Friday night. Clayton Kershaw had an off-night as the Blue Crew saw a six-game winning streak snapped. The Blue Crew leads the NL West with a 19-14 record. SD is in third at 18-15.

Weather: Partly cloudy x 4

The forecast for the West Orange County area calls for partly cloudy skies for Saturday through Tuesday. Daytime highs will be 67 on Saturday and Tuesday; Sunday and Monday should be 70. Overnight lows will be in the mid-50s.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR SUBCONTRACTOR BIDS Subject to conditions prescribed by the County of Orange, responses to these documents are sought to award contracts for the following scopes of work: SWPPP, Survey, Earthwork, Site Utilities, and Elevator for the following project: PROJECT: Orange County Health Care Campus at El Toro, Irvine CA: General project scope includes the following: This project is a public works project. The project is being developed as the new center for the operation of the Orange County Emergency Medical Services (OCEMS) and Orange County Public Health Laboratory (OCPHL). The site will also house the Orange County Health Care Agency Administration (OCHCA). The objective is to meet the long-term operational best practice requirements of OCEMS, OCPHL and OCHCA and the integration of administration and operational functions into a single campus. This project does not fall under California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).

The project site is located in the City of Irvine within the vicinity of Orange County Great Park and consists of two parcels: Parcel 3 (4.38 +/- Acres) and Parcel 4 (5.23 +/- Acres). Within Parcel 4, there is an existing warehouse – Building 360, approximately 120,000 SF which is Not in Contract (NIC). The new building(s) will consist of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) at approximately 14,900 SF, Multipurpose AOC (Agency Operation Center) at approximately 7,500 SF, PHL (Public Health Laboratory) at approximately 23,400 SF, HCA (Health Care Agency) Administration at approximately 12,500 SF and shared spaces of approximately 9,300 SF. The EMS shall accommodate the workplace for EMS staff along with Pharmacy Lab and the support spaces for the AOC. The Multipurpose AOC serves as the connection area between EMS & PHL and serves as the main entry point for visitors. The build out of the PHL consists of laboratory spaces and support spaces of the lab and will include a Bio-Safety Level 3 lab facility. Construction is scheduled to commence July 2023 thru January 2025.

LICENSE: Subcontractors must hold a current California license for their respective scope of work. See Description of Classifications (www.cslb.ca.gov) PRE-QUALIFICATION OF PROSPECTIVE SUBCONTRACTORS: Subcontractors wishing to submit bids, must be pre-qualified to PCL Construction prior to submitting a bid.

Interested firms may obtain Prequalification Documents by contacting: Chantel Marcq – cmarcq@pcl.com Reference “Orange County Health Care Campus at El Toro Prequalification” in your email: PREQUALIFICATIONS DUE: Applications for prequalification must be received by PCL a minimum of two weeks prior to the published bid date below.

Confidentiality of the information provided will be respected to the extent permitted by law.

All information requested must be completed and returned in order to be considered "responsive" to the requirements of prequalification.

BIDS DUE: Bid Thursday May 25, 2023 @ 12:00 noon. via email to Chantel Marcq cmarcq@pcl.com BID QUESTIONS (RFIs) MUST BE REEIVED BY : May 18, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Only written inquiries will be permitted. Questions must be submitted in writing and will be acceptable by email.

Same Contact as above.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 5

Arts&Living

Look Out for the ‘Barbieheimer’ Clash

CILLIAN MURPHY stars in “Oppemheimer,” the tragic story of the man who brought us the atomic bomb.

Wide variety of films hitting the theaters and TV

By Lindsey Bahr AP Film Writer

The stakes are always high in the summer movie season.

But even in a schedule that has heavyweights like Indiana Jones, Ariel, Ethan Hunt and Dominic Toretto vying for box office supremacy, the biggest, funniest showdown is happening on July 21. On that fateful Friday, cinephiles will be faced with a difficult choice: Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” or Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie”?

The “Barbieheimer” showdown is, naturally, a bit silly. First, it’s entirely possible to see two new movies in one weekend. Second, while opening weekends are important, they’re also not everything. In 2008, “The Dark

Knight” debuted on the same weekend as “Mamma Mia!” and both went on to be major successes.

But it has inspired the kind of feverish, half-serious, halfjoking discourse online that no marketing can buy, with memes, jokes, bets and Highlander references galore every time either film drops a new advertisement.

There were even a few hours in April when the internet panicked that the beach-off was canceled (it wasn’t). And before you go googling, the Highlander jokes are not about that film’s disastrous 1986 box office run, but instead the enduring “there can only be one” line.

The summer movie season always begins before actual summer. This year it kicks off on Friday with the release of Disney and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and runs through Labor Day. Since “Jaws,” the summer season has been the most important for the moviemaking industry and typi-

Summer

Movie Preview cally accounts for around 40% of a year’s domestic box office, according to data from Comscore. Pre- pandemic, that usually meant more than $4 billion in ticket sales. Last year hit $3.4 billion.

But the industry is feeling optimistic. Last summer, only

MARGOT ROBBIE is the movie “Barbie.”

22 films released on over 2,000 screens. This year there are 42, the same as in 2019, spanning every genre. And, it seems, every studio has re-prioritized theatrical releases over directto-streaming.

There are movies based on comic characters (“The Flash,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”), toys (“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”), racing games (“Gran Turismo”) and theme park rides (“Haunted Mansion”); Action adventures (“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning”); Family friendly fare (“Elemental,” “Harold and the Purple Crayon”); Documentaries (“Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” “Stephen Curry: Underrated”); And a starry Wes Anderson movie (“Asteroid City.”) (For a comprehensive guide to summer releases, visit: http://apne.ws/ vfZSaqF ) And it’s not just the superhero Continued on page 6

6 SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Summer movie season Continued from page 5

films getting wide releases and large format screens. Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” will have a 3D IMAX version, a laser version and a Dolby one all available when it opens in theaters on May 26.

Director Rob Marshall was no stranger to technically ambitious movie musicals but “The Little Mermaid,” starring Halle Bailey as the teenage dreamer, put him to the test trying to stage a photorealistic underwater musical.

“As complicated as it as it was, my goal was never to let the technical part of it lead it,” said Marshall, who has been at work since 2018. “I really wanted to make sure that the story and the

characters led it.”

Even in the throes of the pandemic, Marshall was confident that “The Little Mermaid” was too big to end up as a streaming offering.

“I’m actually glad that we waited until 2023 when officially the pandemic is over,” he said. “It feels like people are returning to the theaters.”

On quite the opposite spectrum, indie darling Nicole Holofcener has in her three decades of directing movies grown used to getting smaller releases for her films. So it came as a surprise when A24 told her they wanted to go wide on Memorial Day weekend for “You Hurt My Feelings.”

Retorts: Too cool, man Continued from page 3

electricity. We turn a knob and expect clean cold (or heated) water. We punch a button and natural gas flows for a stove or barbecue or fireplace.

It’s a cliché, but a true one: you never appreciate something until it is gone. A lot is made (rightfully) of the sacrifices of our servicemen and servicewomen, but even those not in combat give up a lot.

They sacrifice their time, their close connection to friends and family and the customs and comforts of their society, even if they never get closer to the front lines than Fort Ord. You seldom get to bathe or eat or drink in the way with which you have become accustomed.

You lose privacy and gain homesickness. The very people and things, which used to bore you now become precious.

For those of us who remain here at home, we have become so inured to any kind of minor inconvenience that we hold a lodge of sorrow about not being able to hop in the hot tub. If the power is out for 30 minutes we gripe about being disconnected from Facebook or our favorite TV show.

Even when we think we are roughing it, we’re really not.

I’ve seen campers and recreational vehicles the size of a

Navy minesweeper, stuffed no doubt with refrigerators, stoves, comfy beds, TVs, etc. They might get parked next to a redwood tree, but it seems unlikely the occupants are any closer to nature than I am when I walk the pooch at the Village Green Park.

Many moons ago, as a Boy Scout, I rather enjoyed the experience of learning to pitch a tent (location is everything!), start a fire, cook a meal without a stove, and snooze in a sleeping bag instead of a plush bed.

I’m not saying that I yearn to go back to the days of Troop 90, but there is a certain pleasure in being able to cope with the challenges of everyday living without falling into a panic or starving in the rain.

It got me thinking that maybe I should start taking seriously the necessity of “being prepared.”

More propane for the BBQ in case we needed to cook outside for a while. More bottled water in case that was scarce. A pile of batteries and battery-operated radios and flashlights. Shoes for hiking. Extra linens, food and medical supplies.

I made this list in my head while I had a 45-minute hot water shower this morning. Moving from “spoiled” to “ready” can’t be done too abruptly, you know.….

For a free subscription via e-mail, send us a request to: orangecountytribune@ gmail.com.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 7

Angels rally and win in 10th Seahawks, Lobos and Saxons advance in CIF-SS Continued from page 8

Three local high school baseball teams won their first round CIF-SS games on Friday and advanced to second round action of Tuesday.

In Division 2 action, Ocean View hammered Crescenta Valley 10-0. The Seahawks, champions of the Golden West

League, are now 19-10 overall and will visit Quartz Hill (25-4).

In Division 4, Orange High completed a 16-12 season with an 8-0 loss to Arrowhead Christian (15-9) of Redlands.

In Division 6, Los Amigos (1410) bested Dunn of Los Olivos 7-3 and will visit Campbell Hall of North Hollywood (21-2-1).

The Lobos finished in a tie for the GGL flag with Loara. Also in D-6, Loara (11-10) defeated Paramount 4-3 and will visit Bloomington (23-3) on Tuesday.

straight win.

Down 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, the Angels scored three times on a double by Chad Wallach and single by Luis Rengifo to tie it up. In the bottom of the 10th, Zach Neto scored on a wild pitch that won the game.

The win went to Carlos Estevez (1-1) in relief. He worked one scoreless inning, walking one batter and striking out two.

On Saturday the teams will go again with Reid Detmers (0-2) making the start for the Angels.

Game time is 6:07 p.m.

Dodger win streak snapped Continued from page 8

runs.

Fernando Tatis, Jr. led the Padre hit parade with both of those home runs, which accounted for three of San Diego’s five runs.

Yu Darvish (2-2), a former Dodger, got the win. He pitched 6.2 innings, giving up four hits

and one earned run. He struck out six batters and walked one.

Now 18-15 and just a game behind the Dodgers (19-14) in third place, the Padres will try to make the leap into first in Saturday’s game, if Arizona loses.

Dustin May (3-1) will make the start for LA.

The Lakers vs. Golden State Comtinued from page 8

psychological effects; they defeat tough defensive efforts and close scoring gaps fast. Curry and Klay Thompson hit on 18 of 30 treys, raining dismay from above.

But Curry also ran the offense like an orchestra conductor with 12 assists and had enough zip to grab four rebounds.

On the other hand, the Lakers made a lot of their own problems. They shot only 59 percent from the free throw line and 29 percent from behind the arc, compared to Golden State’s 63 and 51 percent stats. Better shooting solves a lot of problems.

The game is set to tip off at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time.

Sports Retorts: What is a sport?

Continued from page 8

of socialization skills, addiction, distraction from studying, and more.

Now, some of these concerns are echoes of complaints made about television in the Fifties and Sixties that now appear to have been overblown. But back then the TV was typically limited to one set per home and kids could not monopolize the tube.

A typical middle class home today has at least one – probably more – desktop personal computer and numerous iPads, smartphones, etc.

It should be remembered that virtually all sports carry a downside. Contact sports lead to concussions and broken bones. Speed sports can mean pulled muscles and foot and leg injuries. Flag football won’t have tackling or blocking, but

you can bet it will have its fair share of “incidental” collisions and hard landings.

Esports do not involve any of that, but neither does chess, considered the premium cerebral contest. I suppose if chess had as many fervent all-night players in teen years as “Call of Duty” or “Overwatch,” there might be similar concerns about that “sport.”

Probably the march of electronic team contests is inevitable and that high schools will bow to the inevitable. It’s sort of ironic that so much of the controversy swirls around making a high school student use his or her mind too much.

Jim Tortolano has been known to play “Civilization” until the wee hours, subsisting on a diet of Cheez-Its and Mountain Dew.

8 SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

TheSportsPage

Is using your brain too much a kind of injury?

Over the years, we have expanded the category of what we classify as sports. The traditional lineup of football, basketball, baseball, etc. has been joined by cheerleading, snowboarding, beach volleyball and – more than likely – flag football.

Regardless of whatever reservations one might have about a “sport” that sometimes involves chanting and forming a human pyramid, it’s clear that all of them require some level of physical exercise and effort.

But the newest “sport” genJim Tortolano erally calls for none of that and has created a growing controversy over alleged mental damage comparable to concussion injuries from football.

Collectively, the term is “esports,” which boils down to playing electronic games as teams and competing against squads from other colleges and high schools, and there are even professional “cybersports” leagues and tournaments, all of which are played sitting down (perhaps supplemented by a sixpack of Red Bull).

There are several controversies swirling around esports. Maledominated, there have been accusations of sexual harassment and misogyny. Long sessions sitting and staring at a screen can lead to back problems, eye strain, joint pain and general declines in physical fitness and increases in psychological strain.

Setting aside the issue of competitive esports, prolonged viewing of a computer screen among youngsters can introduce issues of cyberbullying, a lack

The Eyes of Texas On Us Halos win fifth straight, edge Rangers in 10

By Pete Zarustica Orange County Tribune

In the first key series of the stillyoung 2023 baseball season, the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels are playing in Anaheim for the American League West lead and the Halos won the first round in rousing style.

Trailing 4-0 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Angels (now 19-14) rallied to win 5-4 in 10 innings and move into a virtual tie for first, just a few percentage points behind the Rangers (18-13).

It was the the Halos’s fifth

Sports Retorts

Continued on page 7

Continued on page 7

TAYLOR WARD of the Los Angeles Angels has been hot on the recent road trip, hitting .307 over the past week (AP photo).

Lakers vs. Dubs in pivotal game After Thursday’s stunning takedown, the Los Angeles Lakers need a win tonight (Saturday) to not only even their NBA Western Conference semifinal series with the Golden State Warriors but also to prove that Stephen Curry is a mortal man, after all.

Curry wasn’t the top scorer for the Dubs in Golden State’s 127-100 spanking of the Lakers, but he was the one who is probably in the their nightmares.

Three-point plays have big Continued on page 7

Dodgers’ winning streak is snapped by San Diego, 5-2

By David Arthur Orange County Tribune

The San Diego Padres have – arguably– the strangest and most ugly uniforms in all of Major League Baseball. Almost clownish.

But the Los Angeles Dodgers are taking them seriously after a 5-2 loss to the Padres that snapped a six-game Blue Crew winning streak and further tangled the National League West race.

With Hall-of-Famer Clayton Kershaw on the mound and a ton of momentum behind them, the

Dodgers might have counted on an easy time of it, but that was anything but the case.

Kershaw (now 5-2) struggled, yielding eight hits and four earned runs in 4.2 innings. He struck out five but walked seven and was touched for two home Continued on page 7