The Orange County Tribune May 3, 2023

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Volume 3, Number 32 n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, May 3, 2023 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

GG chemical spill cleaned up by OCFA A traffic collision Monday led to the spillage of pool cleaning chemicals and a hazardous materials response by the Orange County Fire Authority.

The incident took place in an unincorporated area of Garden Grove at the corner of Augusta Drive and Dale Street. According to OCFA, the chemicals had spilled onto a driveway and into the street.

A hazardous material response team “neutralized and mitigated” the chemicals and firefighter paramedics assessed two persons. One was transported to a local hospital with minor complaints and the FIREFIGHTER is decontaminated after chemical spill inciother declined transport. dent in Garden Grove on Monday (OCFA photo). n GARDEN GROVE SCHOOL BOARD

Valedictorians, top employees honored

By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune

As the school year winds down, the awards speed up. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education, not only were the employees of the month recognized, but 14 valedictorians from the GGUSD’s eight high schools as well.

Classified Employee of the Month is Dawn Newton, instructional assistant

II, at Murdy Elementary School in Garden Grove.

Certificated Employee of the Month is Kaitlyn TranLe a teacher at Morningside Elementary School in Garden Grove.

Videos were screened featuring interviews not only with the honorees but also with students and colleagues weighing in on why that recognition was deserved.

The valedictorians from the high schools were stuContinued on page 2

Inside The Tribune

“Galaxy” takes off for third voyage

Child Molest Suspect In HB Arrested Public’s help is sought finding other victims Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying additional child victims of a man accused of grooming women to babysit children as young as four years old and bring them to hotels so that he could molest them. The sexual assaults on young children are suspected to have occurred over several decades.

Jason Valentine Esparza, 57, has been charged with three felony counts of attempted oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child 10 years old or younger and two felony counts of attempted forcible lewd acts on a child

JASON VALENTINE ESPARZA. Above is 2020 DMV photo. Below in 2023 booking photo (HBPD)

Continued on page 2

ARTS & LIVING 5

How far can the Lakers go now?

SPORTS PAGE 8

Motorcylist killed on 405 A collision on the San Diego Freeway in Westminster on Sunday took the life of a motorcyclist.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident took place around 5:10 a.m. on the southbound 405 at Gold-

enwest Street.

The motorcyclist was found on the left shoulder of the Goldenwest Street offramp. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Orange County Fire Authority personnel.

Continued on page 2

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

2 WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Molest suspect arrested Continued from page 1

under the age of 14. He faces a maximum sentence of 16 years and four months if convicted on all counts.

He is currently being held at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange in lieu of $1 million bail. He was scheduled to be arraigned at the Stephen K. Tamura Justice Center in Westminster .

The Huntington Beach Police Department began investigating Esparza after receiving an anonymous cyber-tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children program in September 2022.

During the eight-month investigation, HBPD Crimes Against Persons Unit detectives began

GGUSD board Continued from page 1

dents whose grade point average was the highest in their graduating class, but they were also in the spotlight because of achievement in athletics, the arts, leadership and community service.

One standout student had a 4.86 GPA and is bound for Yale. All 14 are headed to college; 13 to four-year schools and one to a community college.

The GGUSD is a K-12 public school system serving most of Garden Grove as well as parts of Anaheim, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6.

Motorcyclist killed Continued from page 1

His identity was not released pending notification of his next of kin.

The freeway was partially shut down while officers investigated the scene.

For the record At the “Three Amigos” event at Azteca Mexican Restaurant covered in The Tribune on April 29, the food was sponsored by Republic Services with the Azteca providing a discount.

communicating with Esparza while posing as an adult female who was babysitting a four-yearold girl. During those communications, Esparza is accused of expressing his desire to perform very specific sexual acts on the child.

On April 7, 2023, Esparza was told that the child was at a Huntington Beach hotel room and he was arrested by undercover detectives when he entered the room.

“After overcoming many investigative hurdles during this multiple-month investigation, Huntington Beach detectives were able to take a sexual predator off the streets,” said Huntington Beach Chief of Police Eric Parra. “ “This case demonstrates our detective bureau’s tenacity, determination, and commitment to never stop working to seek justice for those who have been victimized. We will continue to investigate anyone who harms the most vulnerable in our society.”

Esparza, who is originally from Warren, Ohio, also has connections to Huntington Beach, Long Beach, and Fullerton.

Anyone with information relating to Esparza is asked to call the Huntington Beach Police Department WeTip Hotline at (714) 375-5066.

Anonymous tips can also be made to OC Crime Stoppers by calling (855) TIP-OCCS (1-855847-6227).

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/WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023 3

News&Views You can never have too many Memorial Park set to grow The way has been cleared for freeways (not!) potential expansion of WestminContinuing the “what-ifs” of West Orange County area and what “might have been.”

Rail transit: The Orange County Transportation Authority is now constructing – at great expense and some controversy – the OC Streetcar line that will link downtown Santa Ana to Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove along the old Pacific Electric right-ofway.

But it could have Jim Tortolano been done two generations earlier and probably a lot cheaper. In 1984, Orange County voters rejected a one-cent sales tax measure that would have built a longer and more elaborate system from Santa Ana linking much of the northern county with light rail all the way to the Los Angeles County line.

That followed on the 1974 defeat of a statewide measure to fund passenger rail projects all across California.

The impact on the OC of either of those proposals are incalculable. But we loved our cars too much to give them up, I guess.

More freeways: Orange Countians didn’t want mass transit, but they weren’t too happy about the alternative – more freeways – either. State transportation planners in the 1970s rolled out proposals for a wave of new roadways, including the proposed Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast freeways.

The former would have paralleled (or perhaps been a doubledecker project on top of Beach Boulevard) all the way to the beach. The latter was planned to run from Malibu to Huntington

Retorts

Continued on page 6

ster Memorial Park and Mortuary.

At the April 26 meeting of the Westminster City Council, a request for a general plan land use amendment was approved.

The request called for the redesignation of a section of land of about 17.3 acres within the 156-acre site from “park/open space” to “public/semi-public facilities.”

The site is located at 14800 Hoover St. (between Hazard and Bolsa avenues).

The facility faces Beach Boulevard. The change allows the property owners to use that land for cemetery purposes.

WESTMINSTER MEMORIAL PARK and cemetary.

Most recently, it had been used The next meeting of the city as a golf driving range, but that council will be held on Wednesbusiness has since closed. day, May 10 at 6 p.m.

Deadline nears for Food of GG Media Challenge

THE VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK on Katella Avenue near the CIvic Center is one of Stanton’s landmarks. (Tribune file photo)

New image for ‘new’ Stanton Interested in helping to create a new “brand” and image for the City of Stanton?

The project will kick off Wednesday, May 10 with a “Reimagine Stanton” public get-together in Stanton City Hall, 7800 Katella Ave. (west of Beach Boulevard) at 6 p.m.

Residents and others are encouraged to bring ideas of what you’d like to see in Stanton’s visual brand, including the city logo and seal. It’s part of an enterprise to tell the community’s story in a consistent, authentic way.

Light refreshments will be served and participants will have a chance to win raffle prizes. For more information, call (714) 8904278.

Garden Grove Unified School District high school students, grades 10th-12th, are invited to participate in the Foods of Garden Grove Social Media Challenge, a unique opportunity for local high school students to be featured on the Foods of Garden Grove social platforms.

From all the submissions received, three will be selected at random to receive $100 gift cards. To participate, students must create a 30- to 60-second foodie video at a Foods of Garden Grove eatery or café of their choice and submit the video to ggcity.org/foodsofgardengrove/ social-challenge by Sunday, May 28. There is no cost to participate.

Videos must be the original work of the student and feature one of the Foods of Garden Grove businesses. To view participating businesses, visit ggcity.org/foodsofgardengrove.

The social media challenge is part of the City’s Foods of Garden Grove program, which Continued on page 4

4 WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

NewsUpdate

Calling all you fine foodies Continued from page 3

showcases the city’s food culture through a prominent list of 150 select eateries.

Through the Foods of Garden Grove Social Media Challenge, students can share their foodie experience on social media, while supporting the local business community.

For more information, visit ggcity.org/foodsofgardengrove or email foodies@ggcity.org.

A SUSPECT has been arrested in a mass shooting.

Suspect in five murders is arrested 30 miles from home The man suspected of fatally shooting five of his neighbors in Texas has finally been arrested.

According to the Associated Press, Francisco Oropeza, 38, was taken into custody without incident near Houston. Acting on a tip, police found him hiding in a pile of laundry in a closet in a house.

The arrest took place about 30 miles away from his home in Cleveland, Texas, where the killings took place.

He will be charged with five counts of murder and bail is $5 million.

Troops are sent to border

Fifteen hundred active duty American soldiers will be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to help support customs officials in anticipation of a surge of immigrants seeking to enter the United States.

According to the Associated Press, the troops will be doing administrative work such as data entry and warehouse work. The expected surge would follow the end of restrictions on immigration imposed during the coronavirus pandemic era.

The deployment by the Biden Administration will last 90 days and the troops will be drawn from the Army and Marine Corps.

The restrictions will expire on May 11.

Writers go on strike

Striking members of the Writers Guild of America hit the picket lines outside movie studios and production facilities on Tuesday.

They’re demanding higher pay and reform of working conditions.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the impact of streaming video on film and TV markets is at the heart of the issue. Strikers say they are working longer hours for less money, adjusted for inflation.

The work stoppage has put some shows on hiatus or are being replaced with reruns.

Also in the news … Steve Martin, a former Garden Grove resident and star of films, plays and comedy, has a new audiobook out, called “So Many Steves: Afternoons with Steve Martin.” His one unfulfilled wish: to play Professor Harold Hill in “The Music Man.”

Sports: Lakers beat Warriors

The Los Angeles Lakers opened the second round NBA Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night with a 117-112 win over the Golden State Warriors.

The Los Angeles Angels beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1, while the Los Angeles Dodgers hammered the Philadelphia Phillies 13-1.

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.

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ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023 5

Arts&Living

All Creatures, Large & Small in “G-3” James Gunn is back with his 3rd-string heroes

By Jake Coyle AP Film Writer

When Peter “Star-Lord” Quill, while inspecting a murky extraterrestrial region, pressed play on Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love’’ in the first “Guardians of the Galaxy,” it would have been hard to imagine that James Gunn’s space opera would ultimately lead to something as sincere, poignant and kinda cornball as the trilogyending “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.”

But as Gunn has showed over over the course of these increasingly soupy sci-fi spectacles, the genetically spliced DNA of his chaotic, cartoonish cosmic vision is a double helix of opposites. Breezy ‘70s rock papers over extreme violence. Cynical exteriors cloak sentimental emotions. A ragtag group of outcasts, more so than even the cast of “Fast and the Furious,” talk a lot about “family” and “friends.”

Against the odds, “Come and get your love” has turned out to be a legit invitation.

“Vol. 3” is a messy, overstuffed finale. But you rarely question whether Gunn’s heart is in it.

Sometimes it spoils some of that effect by trying too hard to juxtapose tonal extremes, and show off its brash juggling act.

Yet whatever this sweet, surreal sci-fi shamble is that Gunn has created, everyone here seems to believe ardently in it. And for even a movie that sends a golden-hued Will Poulter shooting through space to the tune of Heart’s “Crazy on You,” that earnest belief goes a long way.

The song, though, that kicks off “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is not an upbeat one. Radiohead’s “Creep” casts a sour mood over the Guardians, who

CHRIS PRATT (“Star-Lord”) stars in the third volume of the humorous action series about the self-titled “Guardians of the Galaxy.” (Marvel/Disney)

Movie Review we find in a lethargic state of disarray in the spaceport Knowhere following their 2017 “Empire Strikes Back”-esque second chapter.

Whether “Guardians of the Galaxy” is best suited to strike these solemn notes, or reach for such last-chapter poignancy in “Vol. 3” is debatable. I’ve always liked these films at their most cartoonish. Donning a degree of self-importance is probably the most Marvel thing about this “Guardians.’’ Gunn’s films – which, unlike most of the comic-book studio’s releases, are both written and directed by him – have always stood out for their distinct lack of Marvel house style. “Guardians 3,’’ unfortunately, has contracted a touch of “Endgame’’ grandiosity.

The group – including StarLord (Chris Pratt), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista),

Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) is quickly sent into emergency mode.

Adam Warlock (Poulter), an artificial being created by the High Priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), comes careening into their lair, leaving Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper and played in motion capture by Sean Gunn) on his deathbed. To save Rocket, a cybernetically enhanced raccoon, the Guardians must hurriedly resuscitate him with his original programming.

This means traveling to the lab he was created in years before by the High Evolutionary (a sensational Chukwudi Iwuji, an all-time Marvel villain), a Doctor Moreau sort who’s been toiling to craft a “perfect” race of hybrid creatures to populate a copy of planet Earth. As the Guardians seek to infiltrate his realm, “Vol. 3” repeatedly flashes back to Rocket’s experience with the High Evolutionary: his transformation from raccoon,

Good: HHH his joyful experience with other experimental creations and his harrowing escape.

It’s telling that in this “Guardians” swan song that Gunn centers Rocket and less so Quill, whose father-son drama dominated “Vol. 2.” (Here, he’s mostly in save-my-friend mode when not wrestling with the heartbreak of this version of Zoe Saldaña’s Gamora. Thanks to some “Avengers” events, she no longer even knows him.)

These are foremost epics of orphandom about distinctly unsuperhuman characters. Mother and father figures float in and out, while the Guardians attract one forlorn figure after another.

In “Vol. 3,” it’s both comical and even a little stirring just how far empathy reaches for all of God’s - and Marvel’s - creatures. Gunn has taken a woebegone B-team or C-team of Continued on page 6

6 WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

‘Guardians 3’ lets its freak flag fly this time Continued from page 5

comic book oddballs and cast them into a cosmic tapestry of weirdos and misfits, ranging wildly in size, shape, color and dancing ability.

In “Vol. 3,” Gunn really lets the freak flag fly, putting the Guardians in battle with not just the High Evolutionary but the notion of perfection. It’s not a coincidence that this “Guardians” film arrives, finally, in the suburbs – or at least some slightly warped version of it.

Gunn, a B-movie director at heart, fills these films with more sinewy than sleek worlds, full of florid beauty and opulent grotesquerie. (‘’Vol. 3,’’ more than the last two films, reminded me of “The Fifth Element,’’ a good thing.) It’s often clear that his ambitions are sometimes just a bit too much; this, like his DC

film “The Suicide Squad,” “Vol. 3” could have used a firmer editor to corral some of Gunn’s impulse for excess.

This installment, of course, nearly didn’t happen after Gunn’s firing years ago. And partially because of that forced hiatus, he’s now ruling an even larger, more mainstream superhero cosmos at DC. That surely has something to do with the sense of parting that permeates the final act of “Guardians 3.’’ After so many speeches about friendship and togetherness, “Vol. 3” ends curiously elegiacally, and with one last dance.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for intense sequences of violence and action, strong language, suggestive/ drug references and thematic elements.

Retorts: Alternate outcomes for some different decisions Continued from page 3

Beach and perhaps beyond.

As you might imagine, public outrage was deafening. The Garden Grove (22) Freeway, for example, wiped out millions of dollars of assessed valuation in its namesake city and helped create financial problems at City Hall for decades.

The effect on Surf City would have been –– what’s the word?– oh, yeah, incalculable.

The Mouse That (Almost) Didn’t Roar: Walt Disney originally planned on building a small “Kiddie Land” on a 16-acre lot near his studios in Burbank. But the city fathers didn’t want what they imagined to be a “carny-type” amusement park in their city, so Walt decided to gaze down the Santa Ana (5) Freeway to find a more

receptive city: Anaheim.

No Disneyland would probably have meant no Angels, no stadium in Anaheim, no convention center, etc. And certainly no string of big hotels pumping tax money into Garden Grove’s treasury.

Note: There is no truth in the long-repeated legend that Walt Disney wanted to locate in Garden Grove but was rejected by city fathers. Mr. D wanted a location right off the “5” and there were no city fathers in GG when Disneyland opened in 1955 because Garden Grove was not incorporated until 1956.

But Disneyland just a few blocks further south on Harbor Boulevard in The Big Strawberry? That’s the biggest local what-if of them all.

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Baseball, softball playoff pairings announced The CIF-SS baseball playoffs will start this week with wild card and first round action.

Here are the pairings involving eight local teams in the West Orange County area, as announced Monday by the CIF-SS office.

Division 1 (Thursday): Warren at Huntington Beach, Pacifica at Torrance Division 2: (Friday): Crescenta Valley at Ocean View Division 3: (Thursday): Temes-

cal Canyon at Edison Division 4: (Friday): Arrowhead Christian at Orange Division 6: (Friday): Winner of Vasquez/Paramount at Loara, Los Amigos at Dunn. Santiago has a wild card game on Wednesday. If the Cavaliers win against Lancaster, they will play at Jurupa Valley on Friday.

All games are at 3:15 p.m.

Playyyy softball Nine area high school softball teams will be in CIF-SS playoff section next week. Here are the pairings as announced on Saturday. All games are scheduled for

n PREP SPORTS WRAPUP 3:15 p.m.

Division 1: Pacifica will host Bonita in a wild card game on Tuesday. If the Mariners win, they will advance to the first round on Thursday against La Mirada. Huntington Beach will host a wild card game against Westlake on Tuesday, and with a victory would go to the first round on Thursday against Torrance.

Division 2: Marina at Segerstrom.

Division 5: Santiago has a first round game Thursday against the winner of a wild card game Tuesday between Northwood and Capo Valley Christian. La Quinta will host city rival West-

Prep Sports Scores Tuesday wild card (baseball) Santiago vs. Lancaster, late Tuesday, wild card (softball) Pacifica 4, Bonita 1 Hunt. Beach 2, Westlake 0 Westminster 16, La Quinta 4

minster in a wild card game Tuesday. The winner advances to play Providence of Burbank on Thursday.

Division 6: Loara has a wild card game Tuesday at St. Joseph of Lakewood. The winner will visit Hamilton on Thursday in a first round contest.

Division 7: Orange has a first round bye. Los Amigos opens first round play Thursday at Mesa Grande.

Sports Retorts: What’s in a cool name?

Continued from page 8

tee success. Colt McCoy, who sounds like he was named after a 1950s TV western, was 10-23 in 33 NFL starts and threw almost as many interceptions as touchdowns.

But a cool name may get you noticed. And a cool name may help give you confidence.

And the announcers will love it. When Stetson comes onto the field in the fourth quarter, the play-by-play guy will say, “OK, Stetson is holstering up his pistols and climbing onto his pinto to see if he can save the day.”

There are, after all, worse ways to get attention.

How far can this Laker team go?

Comtinued from page 8

games under rookie head coach Darvin Ham, after beginning the season 2-10, after sitting six games under .500 on Valentine’s Day, the Lakers have been surging ever since the trade deadline.

Although new additions D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura have contributed impressively, the 38-year-old James has led the charge when healthy while becoming the top scorer in NBA history along the way.

Anthony Davis likely has been

Baseball Continued from page 7

Against the Phillies, the Dodgers got three hits and three RBIs from Mookie Betts, three hits and two RBIs from Miguel Var-

their most valuable player on the court in recent weeks, turning in a six-game defensive masterclass with 26 blocked shots against Memphis. But even Davis says the Lakers will go as far as James takes them.

“He just leaves it all out on the floor,’’ Davis said. “A lot of us are exhausted. He’s obviously has a little bit more miles on him than all of us probably combined, but we just try to do our part around him to make his job a lot easier (so) he doesn’t have to overexert himself the entire game.” gas and two hits and two RBIs from Chris Taylor. Freddie Freeman hit a two-run home run.

Julio Urias (4-3) got the win, pitching seven innings of onehit baseball. He struck out 10 and walked one.

8 WEDNEDAY, MAY 3, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

TheSportsPage

So what’s in a name? Hey, is that a Stetson?

As a word guy, I couldn’t be more pleased when the Los Angeles Rams drafted Stetson Bennett, who quarterbacked Georgia to two college football titles.

His on-field credentials are impressive: his record with the Bulldogs was 29-3 (second in SEC history) and he passed for 4,000 yards in his senior year (first in Georgia history). He, as a rookie, will be the backup to Matthew Stafford as the Rams’ QB. You can’t have those kinds of trophies without having a lot of skills, but what Jim Tortolano intrigues me about the man named after the hat is, well, his name.

Often, it seems, great quarterbacks have great names. Joe Montana went to the Hall of Fame with a name that resembles that of a character in a John Ford movie. How about Johnny Unitas? As in Johnny Unite-Us? The greatest Ram name belonged to Roman Gabriel, which sounds like a combination of a conquering classical general and one of God’s archangels, for those of you who weren’t paying attention in Sunday School or in CCD classes.

And it’s not just quarterbacks, either. Seattle had an outstanding fullback named Mack Strong. He wasn’t a great ballcarrier – he rushed for 909 yards in 14 years for the Seahawks – but he could block like a tank because he, was, you know, Strong.

Need someone to lay down the law? Lawyer Milloy was one of 15 players in NFL history, with more than 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in his career.

A cool name doesn’t guaran-

Sports Retorts

Continued on page 7

How Far Can Lakers Go? LeBron, Anthony and D’Angelo aiming for title

By Greg Beacham AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) – LeBron James didn’t respond at first after Dillon Brooks called him old and questioned his abilities early in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series with Memphis.

A day after James and the Lakers eliminated Brooks’ Grizzlies in dominant fashion, James let Jay-Z speak for him.

The top scorer in NBA history tweeted some particularly pointed lyrics Saturday from Hova’s 2006 track, “Trouble.” Among several more profane bars was the phrase: “It’s apparent you’re staring at a legend.”

Perhaps to everybody except Brooks, James’ legend has been fully secure for years. He is working on another chapter this season, and the league is starting to realize there’s no telling how far James and his Lakers can take the story of his 20th NBA season.

The Lakers are on a 14-4 roll after finishing off the 51-win Grizzlies in six games. After becoming the first No. 7 seed in the

ANTHONY DAVIS has been a force in the playoffs (AP photo) best-of-seven first-round playoff era to win a series, they’re on to the second round Tuesday night, where they faced the Golden State Warriors, who defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-100, sparked by Stephen Curry’s 50 points (see adjacent piece). “It gets even harder when you move a level up,” James said.

“We were able to conquer Level 1, and now we move up.”

After losing their first five Continued on page 7

Lakers open by beating G-State

The Los Angeles Lakers opened their NBA Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday with a 117-112 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Anthony Davis scored 30 points and had 23 rebounds for LA. LeBron James added 22 points and 11 boards.

Angels, Dodgers both win From wire service reports

Both the Angels and the Dodgers posted solid wins on Tuesday. The Halos, jump-started by Taylor Ward’s three-run homer in the first inning, defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 in the Gateway City, while the Blue Crew bested the Phillies 13-1 at home.

With the win, the Angels are 1614 and tied for second place in the American League West with the Houston Astros, 2.5 games

back of the Texas Rangers.

As for the Dodgers, they are 18-13 and remain in first place in the National League West, 1.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The starting Angel pitcher, Patrick Sandoval (3-1), worked five innings while yielding three hits and one earned run. He struck out four Cardinals and walked three as he lowered his ERA to 2.93.

Continued on page 7