THE
BREEZE VOLUME 26 ISSUE 8
THEBREEZEONLINE.COM COVER BY HANAJUN CHUNG
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
JANUARY 22, 2016
Calendar Wednesday, January 27
Wednesday, February 3
Saturday, February 6
The Black Male Tour: The Chaffey College Theater will hosts the Rickerby Hinds production as a part of the Question Bridge: Black Males series. Two, one-man shows will give a take on black identity. Hinds is currently a Professor of Playwriting at UCR.
ASCC Club Rush: Many of the clubs at Chaffey will be set up with individual booths in the quad from 12:30-2:00P M. Clubs will be promoting membership as well as fundraising for the semester ahead.
Softball: The Lady Panthers will face Oxnard College Condors in back to back games at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. This will be the first home series of the year for Chaffey.
Wednesday, February 3
Monday, February 15
Thursday, January 28
Men’s basketball: The Panther’s basketball team will face the College of the Desert at 5:00 PM. Former Chaffey basketball player Mufaro Murinda is in his first season of an athletic scholarship at Coppin State University in Maryland.
President’s Day Holiday: Chaffey Campuses will be closed in observance of President’s Day. While the holiday is celebrated the first Monday of February, George Washington’s birthday is actually February 22nd.
Governing Board Meeting: The Chaffey College Governing Board will be having a meeting from 4:00-7:00 PM. Anyone is allowed to attend.
Editor-In-Chief Sadie Gribbon sadiegribbon@gmail.com Managing Editor Roberto Hernandez Copy Editor Kristina Rocha Online Editor De’Channe’ Lane Photo Editor Michael Ravenelle Features Editor Abraham Navarro
News Editor Cody Warner Sports Editor Kyle Smith Opinion Editor Erick Valenciano A&E Editor Hanajun Chung Social Media Editor Israel Guerra
Baseline Editor Joshua Arnao Staff Writers and Photographers Students of Journalism 30 & 31 General Manager Roberto Hernandez Lab Tech Kristina Rocha Faculty Adviser Michelle Dowd Journalism Coordinator Neil Watkins
The Breeze is published up to eight times a semester by the journalism students at Chaffey Community College, 5885 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737. Telephone: 652-6934/6936. Opinions expressed in this publication are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff and should not be interpreted as the position of the Chaffey College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof. Letters and guest columns for or against any position are welcome. Letters should be kept as brief as possible (fewer than 300 words) and are subject to non-substantive editing according to guidelines established by the Associated Press. The Chaffey Breeze is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
JANUARY 22, 2016
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
Letter From the Editor
Contents
It’s a new year, and The Breeze has a new Editor in Chief. Most of us have probably made some kind of resolution, but I have come to think that resolutions are quite pointless. Having to drastically change from doing one thing every day to not doing it ever again (after waking up in a hungover haze the next day) is just too rapid. Successful change comes slowly, through the influence of the people and societies who filter our perspectives. People like David Bowie questioned social norms with gender bending fashion, and identity on the forefront in the 1970’s. These ideas of identity reminded us that we are each our own person, and whoever we decide to be is up to us and not social norms. This acceptance didn’t happen overnight; it took speeches, music, riots, buses, and death. This was also during a time when racism and prejudice was still pulsating in the veins of America. Civil Rights movements were in full swing. Just a few years prior, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act outlawed discrimination in the workplace, public facilities, and voting booths. But none of this happened quickly. Rights for people struggling with their identity, race, or sexuality still faced hardships. These resolutions may have been put into place, but they are by no means going to happen when they roll over in bed the next morning. Prejudice in every form has not been erased, and probably never will be. But with people like Bowie and places like the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art (located on campus), which displays the struggles of being a black male in America, change creeps up on us. Although there is still such a long way to go, the fact that this dialogue is now a norm in such diverse settings means that we are evolving as a society. As a student-run publication, I strive for The Breeze to be a platform for voices from every walk of life. Resolutions do not evoke change; voices do.
Things You Need To Know
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Not Such a Small World
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Playing With Fire
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Erasing Race
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Sincerely, Sadie Gribbon.
The Man That Fell to Earth
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PowerBall Madness
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2015 In Movies
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Kroenke Rams His Way to L.A. 14 Panthers Shoot to Improve
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JANUARY 22, 2016
CHAFFEY BREEZE
NEWS
What You Need to Know ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
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Bernie Sanders finds himself beating Hilary Clinton in New Hampshire by 27 points as reported in the latest poll conducted by CNN/WMUR. The New Hampshire primary is the first primary election in the nation, and has historically been indicative of a candidates’ chances of success. Four out of the last seven presidential candidates have won in New Hampshire; the other three came in second. Similarly, an NBC/WSJ poll shows Sanders beats Donald Trump in a hypothetical matchup by about 15 percent vs. Clinton’s 10. Sources: CNN, NBC
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Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump at a conference in Ames, Iowa on Jan. 19 just two weeks before the Iowa caucus. Her boisterous speech praised Trump, rambled, possibly even freestyle rapped, and gave birth to such gems as “squirmishes” and “savaged.” She praised trump for not being like other candidates, saying he is going “rogue.” “How about the rest of us?” She asked. “Right-winging, bitter-clinging, proud clingers of our guns, our God, and our religion, and our Constitution.” Sources: New York Times, NPR
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A number of notable celebrities are protesting the Academy Awards over what they feel is a racial bias against minorities from the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Those protesting include Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith. Janet Hubert, Will Smith’s former costar on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, has criticized Smith’s boycott. “Y’all are at your mansion in a gilded cage standing up there with billions of dollars in the bank,” she said. “You could do more for the industry and for black Hollywood than anyone could.” For the second year in a row, only white Actors were nominated for the coveted best actor awards, excluding many high-profile black actors like Michael B. Jordan for Creed and Idris Elba for Beasts of No Nation. Among those not calling for boycott was Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant, who was happy just to get nominated. Sources: Los Angeles times, CNN
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A group of about a dozen armed militants have occupied Melheur National Park in Oregon to protest government “tyranny.” Some have called the rural occupation an act of terror, mockingly referring to it as “Ya’ll Qaeda.” The group has occupied the park since Jan. 2 and has asked for peo-
ple to send food and supplies to help them get through the winter. Instead they received a number of gag gifts including sex toys and a 55 gallon drum of personal lubricant, care of Cards Against Humanity creator Max Temkin. Sources: Reuters, CNN
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Astronomers at Caltech may have discovered a 9th planet in the solar system. Michael E. Brown and Konstantin Batygin have theorized that the elliptical orbits of about half a dozen small bodies in the distant Kuiper Belt point to the existence of a planet. Their calculations speculate that the planet is at least as large as earth. Sources: Discovery News, New York Times
JANUARY 22, 2016
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
NEWS
Not Such a Small World ELIZABETH DUNCAN
According to the Nature Journal, “There are 8.7million eukaryotic species on our planet.” This leaves 86% of land species and 91% of marine species undiscovered. In 2015 five new land dwelling species were unearthed.
Dementor Wasp (Ampulex dementor) Named after the Dementors in the Harry Potter series, known for sucking away a person’s happy thoughts and in worse cases one’s soul, the Dementor wasp consumes its pray in a similarly scary way. Located in Thailand, the wasp’s main diet consists of cockroaches. The predator injects venom into the cockroach’s belly making it immobile, but not killing it. This means the cockroach will be eaten alive by the wasp.
their microscopes. There they discovered the pipsqueak. The snail most likely feeds on films of bacteria and fungi that grow on moist limestone.
Photo courtesy of wikimedia commons user Schilthuizen
Photo by Jack Hynes, courtesy of Flickr
Photo courtesy of wikimedia commons user Schilthuizen
Sneezing Monkey (Rhinopithecus)
World’s Smallest snail (Acmella nana)
Discovered in North Myanmar, the Sneezing Monkey is known for its upright nose resembling the nasal passage seen when looking at a skull. Their upturned nose has a tendency of collecting rainwater, which causes the primate to sneeze, allowing them to get rid of the water that had accumulated in their odd noses. The monkeys often tuck their heads in between their knees when it rains to help prevent their sneezing.
This mollusk lives on the limestone hills on the tropical island in Borneo. Their shiny, translucent white shell measures about 0.027 inches tall, beating the specimen found in China measuring 0.03 inches, and joining the group classified as microgastropods, which are snails shorter that 0.2 inches. This snail cannot be seen with the naked eye, which makes locating it hard. Scientists took a few shovels of dirt from the tropical rain forest to their lab and looked at it through
PeacockSpider Skeletorus (Maratus sceletus) Sparklemuffin (Maratus jactatus) Both Skeletorus and Sparklemuffin are classified as peacock spiders, named after their bright colors and dancelike courtship rituals. The species only reaches about 0.3 inches, but their vibrant colors are unlimited. Skeletorus is known for looking like a cartoon skeleton with black-andwhite markings, while Sparklemuffins are known for red and blue coloring. They are not limited to these colors. There are several different styles and patterns found amongst the arachnids. With a keen eye, they can be found on the continent of Australia.
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
Playing With Fire ISRAEL GUERRA PHOTO: ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
JANUARY 22, 2016
JANUARY 22, 2016
CHAFFEY BREEZE
On Wednesday, Jan. 16, around noon, Marcus “Black Jesus” Wooly, 17, caught fire 5 feet away from the east entrance to the Chaffey Dining Commons. Holly Rachel, a student present at the time of the incident, said Wooly was in the quad with friends smoking an electronic cigarette. When he placed his vape in his pocket, the cigarette’s locking mechanism failed and it made contact with the extra battery. “It locked with the second battery and exploded in his pocket,” Rachel said. Wooly attempted to reach into his burning pocket to retrieve the scorching hot metal vape pen. “His pants caught on fire he got second degree burns on his leg as well. His friend helped him put out his pocket because his hand was so badly burned from the combustion,” Rachel said. “You can’t keep the two batteries together. They can’t touch or it will short and explode.” Campus police were alerted and Holly was taken to the Health Science Building where he was transported by ambulance to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s burn unit. Lieutenant James Strona responded to a call from dispatch to the Health Science Building some time after the incident.
“I’ve never heard of [an electronic cigarette spontaneously exploding] before, but it’s a battery. It’s an electronic device,” Strona said. “I have no idea how they work. I think I know what they are and I’ve seen them, but I don’t know how they work.” Eugene Carbonel, an employee of PureVapor Fontana, safety expert, educator and a well known representitive in the vaping community since 2007 said, “The first thing that comes to mind is user error. Who sold you this mod and did they teach you the proper procedures with operating a mod?” “For those of age, education is very, very important because if you don’t know about it then how are you gonna operate it properly. If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask your local vape shop, because not knowing is worse than asking somebody there’s no stupid question in vaping. We need to educate everybody. A lot of people like to do shortcuts, cutting money, buying the cheaper product,” Eugene said. Marcus’ current state is unknown and campus police have not followed up. However, they did dispell rumors that Chaffey would become a smoke free campus. This event will not influence their decision.
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
JANUARY 22, 2016
FEATURE
Erasing Race ABRAHAM NAVARRO
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ast January, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. , MTVNews.com released an article asking young people why it is so important to talk about race. In the article, Preston Charles, Real World New Orleans star said, “When I was smaller, I thought that was more of an issue of being respectful, but as I came of age and started [to] see some of the things that were happening around me, I realized [that] there is an actual danger to a black man having a voice, speaking up, and being active.” It has been a year, and MLK day passed again, with recent events like the Paris attacks, Ferguson riots, Confederate flag debates, police shootings, presidential candidate controversy and Oscar nominations launch racism into the forefront of media headlines around the country. Twitter and Facebook have been used to let out frustration by people and has led to placing blame on certain races. According to a poll on CNN.com 49% of Americans believe racism is a “big problem” with another 33% saying it is somewhat of a problem. Rebecca M. Trawick, the Director and Curator of the Wignall Museum, thought it was a good time to display the theme “Black Males” that deals with tough topics within a certain culture. The reception for the exhibit was held on Jan. 12, 6-8 p.m. It was open to the public. There was live music and snacks. One of the handouts given
contained questions that were intended to be, according to Trawick, “user friendly and easy for faculty” to use in their classrooms to start the conversation. When talking about the display, she said, “I hope it allows students, all of us, an opportunity to talk about race in a way that’s constructive and in a way that is honest and open minded.” Inside of the main hall is a video,
“I realized [that] there is an actual danger to a black man having a voice...” “Question Bridge,” that plays repeatedly. One black male asks a question and other black males attempt to answer. It touches on tough culture topics. One of those is how success compromises being black. Another is how there is no “ultimate blackness” that can be reached. Also, how the culture is bringing others down by judging and labeling as traitors. Advice in the video includes, “don’t try to be black,
be yourself.” The range of men shown in the video is broad as they interview people in suits and ties as well as prison mates in order to give a well rounded perspective. Chaffey Superintendent and President Dr. Henry D. Shannon and one of the speakers of the night mentioned how by setting up this display, they are “trying to set a tone,” attempting to create “awareness of issues that have been going on for a long time.” Tejiro Erusiafe, one of the students who attended, said that she wished it had a broader meaning in order to include black males outside of the country, and even Latinos, because of similarities. Some of the events planned include guest speakers, poetry, music and storytelling, as well as an exploration of Mexican identity, creating a place to express culture and thoughts in different ways. Information about events can also be located on Instagram, Facebook and “In The News” emails that Chaffey sends out to students. In a country where national media attention is focused on the words of presidential candidates for talking about certain people and bullying them, the display at the Wignall is welcoming everyone to expand their minds and talk about race in an open and educated way. The stage is set and lounge chairs are ready to sit in and have a conversation.
JANUARY 22, 2016
CHAFFEY BREEZE
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A quote displayed at the “Black Males” exhibit at the Wignall Museum on Jan 12. Photo by Michael Ravenelle
Photo by Michael Ravenelle
CHAFFEY BREEZE
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JANUARY 22, 2016
OPINION
The Man That Fell to Earth
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ink isn’t for boys. Girls don’t play football. Men don’t cry and women can’t fight – or so goes the dictum of convention. But, the fleeting nature of existence beckons our surrender into the other. Fans, critics, straight, gay, bisexual, trans-gender and queer celebrate their aristocratic, glam-rock starman David Bowie, age 69. On Monday, Jan. 11, the world mourned the loss of a kindred soul days after the release of his 25th album, Blackstar. Bowie, the avant-garde experimentalist of Rock ‘n Roll, film, and fashion, inspired millions to be themselves. From 1972s chameleonic manifesto Changes to his final unset-
“I always had a repulsive need to be more than human” tling single and video Lazarus, Bowie synthesized what Isacc Guzman of TIME described as “highbrow ideas about art, identity and theater,” that mirrored our desire to hover above the rest. “I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human,” Bowie said, “I felt very puny as a human. I thought, ‘Fuck that. I want to be superhuman.” And he was. Forever reinventing himself, he manifested the whispers of a muse who spoke to no one else. Graceful and slender, with a permanently dilated pupil that gave the
CHRIS SALAZAR appearance of differently colored eyes (thanks to a punch he took during a quarrel over a 15 yr old girl) he harnessed a peculiar image and sound. In 1972, “Ziggy Stardust,” the mysterious, sensual alien character Bowie was uniquely endowed to play, was at once “dangerous, groundbreaking and iconic.” He fell from the cosmos to deliver his message: “turn and face the strange.” That same year, only five years after the English Parliament decriminalized homosexuality, Bowie declared in an interview with Michael Watts of Melody Maker, “I’m gay and always have been, even when I was David Jones,” his name at birth. It’s curious that post-Stonewall gay life in the US was no more than three years old. Later, demonstrating the same fluidity which punctuated his music and fashion, Bowie told Playboy in 1976 that he was bisexual. In an era when society estranged unconventional gender labels, Bowie exercised his creative license to sidestep normality, usurping the status quo. Bowie later claimed that “promiscuous” is likely the most accurate label, highlighting a recurring theme of Sartre’s existentialist proverb of existence preceding essence. That is, our identity isn’t ready made but created. And Bowie danced with Sartre’s maxim, infusing it with Nietzsche’s concept of the Ubermensch: the ideal human being. These virtuous few are salvation incarnate. Through the practical application of culture, they raise the character of society. Independent and austere, they accept adversity as necessary, unafraid to showcase their abilities. The Ubermensch regards his greatest project—his life—as a work
of art, not merely reflecting existence, but constructing it. The Dionysian beauty lurking in the shadows of Bowie’s Apollonian lyrics, “Seeing more and feeling less/ Saying no but meaning yes/ This is all I ever meant/ That’s the message I sent,” is a confirmation of life’s turbulence and delight. Peel back the superficiality of social convention and Bowie’s often dystopian lyrics undergird a sincere sense of fragility, providing the springboard for reinvention and connection. Its been seven months since the Supreme Court ruled same sex mar-
“Let’s turn on and be not alone Gimme your hands cause you’re wonderful” riage a right. And while Bowie wasn’t an activist in the traditional sense, he helped bridge the once seemingly insurmountable and inflexible gender barrier. Like the late David Bowie, our brooding liberal constituency faces still more seemingly insurmountable barriers. The world is torn and tattered, but the connection that injects meaning into our lives is never far away. Bowie’s refrain from the closing track of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy
Stardust and the Spiders From Mars delivers a pertinent message, “Let’s turn on and be not alone/ Gimme your hands cause you’re wonderful.”
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
JANUARY 22, 2016
OPINION
Powerball Madness ERICK VALENCIANO
Courtesy of Powerball.com
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our Powerball ticket was one of the worst investments you’ll make this year, and guess what. It’s one of mine too. We’ve all been completely suckered into believing the hype and hysteria was worth it when we never had a real chance to win. I can’t blame anyone for playing. We all figure someone’s going to win, right? Why can’t it be us? Here are the incredibly horrible odds we should’ve looked at before we decided to throw away $2 for a useless piece of paper. From the get-go we’re already losers. The odds of choosing the winning Powerball numbers is 1-in-292-million, up from 1-in-175-million in prior years. You read that correctly. It’s more likely to get struck by lightning than win the Powerball. With a very basic understanding of how return on investments work, you realize with those odds that an expected return will be less than your initial investment. Take for example the Powerball at its record $1.4 bil-
lion mark. When you figure in the government’s cut and state taxes, a $2 investment would’ve gotten you $1.79 at the high end of your return, and $1.35 at the low, depending on where you live. Simply put, like at a casino or sportsbook, the house always wins. Except in this case, the house is the government and they’ve set up odds that make it impossible for you to beat. So why is this a problem? The issue is that this leaves an incredibly huge disadvantage for those who are vulnerable, mainly gambling addicts and poor people. While a $2 investment may not hurt me or you, it has the potential to hurt those who can’t afford to keep losing money, but will continue purchasing tickets in hopes to strike it rich. Amazingly, just this past year Powerball increased the amount of balls it uses to decide a winner in hopes to increase ticket sales. There’s a psychology behind it. When jackpots aren’t won, the potential winnings are
carried over to create an even bigger jackpot, and it increases demand. It absolutely worked. When the Powerball jackpot reached record highs, demand did just that. It skyrocketed. Simply put, as our odds get worse and jackpots reach mammoth heights, we will continue to buy more tickets, hence the reasoning behind the 1-in292-million odds increase. While there’s no way we can take down lotteries like the Powerball, it’s important for us to bring awareness to exactly what it stands for: an idiotic invention and cheap taxation on the poor. The Powerball is stupid, so the next time you have $2 to spend on a game you have no chance of winning, keep it in your pocket or go buy something that’ll bring you some sort of satisfaction. Trust me, it’ll feel a lot better than realizing you’ve just gotten duped by hype.
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
JANUARY 22, 2016
2015 in Movies 2015 was a record-year for cinema. Not only did certain titles eviscerate box-office and weekend numbers, but the year also brought some shining examples in films that comment, inform and improve the medium on artistic, technical and conceptual levels. 2015 looked into the past to bring cinema into the future in exciting ways. Here are a selection of the strongest fictional narratives that 2015 had to offer., in no particular order. Some are familiar. Some aren’t.
HANAJUN CHUNG
The Revenant (dir. Alejandro González Inarritu) Inarritu follows up his Oscar-winning “Birdman” with something completely different and bold. “The Revenant” stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, a mountain man in the 1820s who’s left for dead after a violent incident, only to crawl out his grave on a quest of vengeance. The film and it’s production stories are quite interesting since they aren’t conventional in a classic sense. What could be a standard, fast-paced revenge film is here much slower, methodical and patient with Glass’s journey, focusing equally on his psyche as it does his health. Shot chronologically only in natural light over three months, all that suffering is onscreen, especially with Dicaprio’s brutal performance. “The Revenant” is a gorgeous experience that’s unlike any other film this year. It’s visceral, spiritual and breathtaking in all the right ways.
BEST OF T
Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller), Anomolisa (dir. Chalie Kaufman), Ex Machina (dir. Haynes), What We Do In The Shadows (dir. Taika Waititi), Room (dir. Lenny Abrahamson), The berg), The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott), Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (dir. J.J. Abram
JANUARY 22, 2016
CHAFFEY BREEZE
Spotlight (dir. Tom McCarthy) “Spotlight” is an understated film that maximizes the story’s emotional impact through the simplest techniques. A lesser film would’ve made the subject matter, priests molesting children in Boston, overshadow and sensationalize the events. Instead, through several amazing performances and subtle direction, audiences are a part of the journalistic, investigative process for every triumph, setback and reveal regarding the topic. While there are a few sequences in which McCarthy plays with the camera, it’s evident that he isn’t interested in showing off. Much like the tracking shot in the street, it’s the familiarity and proximity of the story regarding both characters that will ultimately impact audiences. On top of all that, “Spotlight” has the best, most effective end credits sequence of all last year. Victoria (dir. Sebastian Schipper) German film “Victoria” is the very definition of an experience. Don’t look at the trailers. Don’t read about the film prior to seeing it. All one needs to know is that Schipper, the cast and crew pulled off a feat that less than a handful of films have done in history. It’s an impressive technical achievement by everyone involved, working in tandem with the story that they’re trying to tell. What’s a standard crime drama, becomes so much more because everyone — especially the actors — give it their all. The story of one girl’s unforgettable night is exhausting in all the right ways. This is not a film for everyone, but those interested in seeing something unique are in for something truly special. Tangerine (dir. Sean Baker) The number one bit of information about “Tangerine” probably has to do with it’s method of production: “Tangerine” is the first full-length feature to be shot on the iphone (specifically, the 5s). What started out as means to maximize their budget only became a part of the film’s magic. A film about two transgender sex workers in L.A. is funny, heartfelt and ultimately a more realistic look into what Los Angeles looks like outside the showbiz glamour and iconography. Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez are not only transgender actors, but confidently act as the vessel for the audience to see this particular world. Everything regarding “Tangerine” and the production doesn’t scream big-budget, but Baker demonstrates that one only needs the essentials to leave a larger-than-life impression.
Creed (dir. Ryan Coogler) “Creed” is the most conventional film out of all the ones listed, to the point in which the second-half happens to borrow much from “Rocky.” But unlike “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the passing of the torch from Rocky Balboa to Adonis Creed feels organic and earned, ultimately serving the story above all else. And boy does “Creed” have heart. Much like a fairy-tale, director Ryan Coogler reportedly dreamt of making this film his whole life, and to see it realized is not what’s amazing: it’s that “Creed” is an absolute knockout in every sense (acting, directing, music, etc.). Stallone returns to his best role and delivers the best performance of his career. Coogler shoots the boxing much more intimately and clearly, providing the best, modern boxing sequences. The score manages to do what Bill Conti’s score has done for people for decades, but is fitting for the new protagonist. “Creed” is by far one of the most inspiring experiences in the theater all year, a true tear-jerking crowd pleaser in the absolute fullest.
THE REST
. Alex Garland), The Hateful Eight (dir. Quentin Tarentino), Brooklyn (dir.), Carol (dir. Todd e Big Short (dir. Adam Mckay), Sicario (dir. Denis Villeneuve), Bridge of Spies (dir. Steven Spielms), and Inside Out (dir. Pete Doctor).
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JANUARY 22, 2016
OPINION
Kroenke Rams His Way To L.A. CODY WARNER
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he National Football League franchise formerly known as the St. Louis Rams will relocate to Los Angeles, adopting the name of the city in the process. As the great Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” This is the second time the franchise has made a move from the Midwest to LA; the first time was in 1946. In 2010, businessman Stan Kroenke bought the Rams. Kroenke is a multibillionaire who also owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Arsenal Football Club. Kroenke was required to have three-fourths of the NFL franchises’ approval to move the Rams to L.A. Needing help from 23 other owners, Kroenke cruised into the relocation process with a 30-2 vote. The proposal includes a cutting edge stadium projected to cost $2.6 billion dollars when it’s completed. No public money will go toward the project, a rarity in securing stadium deals in any city. Kroenke was quick to credit renderings of the proposed stadium for swaying the vote, telling the LA times, “People love pictures. And what those pictures showed was the thought and the development and the plan, and the depth of the thought.” According to Business Insider and Forbes, the St. Louis Rams were the lowest valued NFL franchise at $930 million dollars. That is a ridiculous fact to attempt to comprehend, but it gets even crazier. By making the move, the Los Angeles Rams will be worth an amount between $2.54-4.79
billion dollars, immediately putting them in the top 3 in regards to franchise valuation. While many football fans and entertainment seekers will be elated by the news of the return of NFL, the amount of actual impact it will have in L.A. remains a question. The city of Inglewood where the new stadium will be completed in 2019 has praised the move highly, citing the projected increase of economic activity. That increase, however, is where the seemingly obvious begins to become clouded.
“You don’t get too many shots like this in life.” When the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings moved their operations from the Forum in Inglewood to Staples Center in downtown in 1999, the economic activity in Inglewood actually increased. The city had higher revenue from sales tax four years after the franchises moved out. Needless to say, the economic projections are just those, projections, and should be skeptically considered. While the economic history of sports in Inglewood may not be as rich as once thought, there is reason for hope. Those teams were not playing in the most expensive stadium in U.S. sports history and the NFL is much
higher in fan base numbers than either the NBA or NFL. Inglewood is not on the hook for tax dollars as part of the funding and so if there were a time to succeed, this would seem to be that opportunity. The measure of success between the NFL and LA has less to do with triumph or failure and more to do with the degree of success that is experienced. The Rams left L.A. not because they were failing, but because they were moving to a better situation in St. Louis at the time of the move. In both situations, the franchise was near the bottom of the league in attendance and failed to make the playoffs, each streak lasting at least five years. Hesitations aside, Kroenke remains upbeat and hopeful for what will happen for the franchise in L.A. “If we didn’t have the perspective of 40 years of doing this, I don’t think any reasonable, rational person would ever do this,But because we look at it a certain way, we’ve been through so many of these projects, and we’re long-term investors. That’s why we did what we did and stuck our neck out that far.” Kroenke told the L.A. Times. “You don’t get too many shots like this in life.”
JANUARY 22, 2016
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CHAFFEY BREEZE
SPORTS
Panthers Shoot to Improve KYLE SMITH
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hree days after the Panthers capped off the football season with a bowl win and having outscored their final two opponents by 67 points, the men’s basketball team defeated Mt. San Antonio College 80-65 for its 6th win of the season, and have since been the life of an upward trend in athletic success at Chaffey College. The Panthers (16-5, 3-0) now sit second in the Foothill Conference standings behind their weekend opponent, No. 3 San Bernardino Valley College, as the season intensifies. San Bernardino (22-2, 3-0) will visit the Sports Center on Jan. 23 to play Chaffey, who is undefeated at home this season. As the rest of the competition within the Foothill Conference has been some-what absent, handing the Wolverines their first intra-conference loss in over two years seems to be the Panther’s only way to a conference title. Saturday will illustrate No. 9 Chaffey chasing down No. 3 San Bernardino with a game that is equally important to both sides. While these two teams do play each other later in the season, acquiring the top spot in the standings is vital to either team’s rankings and success. “Every year it comes down to the two of us,” head coach and athletic director, Jeff Klein said. “Anybody can play great, but are you going to play great in the big game, because that’s how you’re going to be judged.” The women’s basketball team has been a similar story. Although it is not ranked in the top 15, with a record
of 12-8 and 3-0 in conference, the team is currently second in the Foothill standings behind the familiar San Bernardino Valley College. Having already improved upon last season’s record, the girls are in a tighter race than the men. The Panthers have played 20 total games, compared to the Wolverine’s 17 and have one more win than the team that seems to be their biggest rival. A win Saturday against the Wolverines would almost secure a first place finish in the Foothill Conference standings for the women’s basketball team. It may seem from a distance that the Panthers and Wolverines are quite similar, and that would be a safe assumption based on their win-loss records and state rankings, but beyond the numbers, these two basketball programs differ in more than one way. San Bernardino has a more physical style of play, which should be on display Saturday in contrast to the Panther’s style of basketball. “We are more guard dominated, more finesse, shoot the three,” Klein said. While San Bernardino Valley often recruits players from out of state, Chaffey’s basketball roster, and the majority of its students have grown through the local public schools and live in the area. Jeff Klein believes this is partly due to location and housing. As coach, I’m sure it is frustrating to try to overcome San Bernardino and the obstacles that they present,
but he is proud of what he’s been able to do with his home-grown stars. “I love getting involved with college athletes,” he said, “and I get a great deal of satisfaction moving them on.” All this excitement comes after 2015 conference titles by women’s cross country, men’s soccer, and volleyball, as well as winning seasons in women’s soccer, women’s water polo, and a win by the football team in the 2015 Western State Bowl. Looking forward, baseball, softball and swim will try to keep the Panthers in the win column during the spring semester. “I think the Chaffey athletic program is definitely on its way up,” Klein said, “I’m fired up.”
Upcoming games: Jan. 27 - Men’s/Women’s Basketball @ Barstow Community College
Jan. 28 - Baseball @ El Camino Compton Feb. 3 - Softball @ Long Beach
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JANUARY 25, 2016
CHAFFEY BREEZE
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