Goodbye Los Angeles, Goodbye California, Goodbye the United States

“But the law is not a breast that fills itself with milk. Nor are the lacteal veins of the law supplied with milk from a source outside the society. Nothing can enter the public treasury for the benefit of one citizen or one class unless other citizens and other classes have been forced to send it in. — Frederic Bastiat, The Law

Centuries before William James coined the phrase, men have sought a "moral equivalent of war," some human endeavor to satisfy the jingoistic lust of man, without the carnage of war.

For some, the modern Olympic Games have served the purpose, with the Cold War rivalry for medals between the United States and the Soviet Union, and, lately, between America and China.

But the Olympic Games, most of which involve individual athletes competing against each other, have never aroused the passions of soccer, where teams serve as surrogates for the tribe or nation.

Perhaps the most intense rivalry today is between Real Madrid and F.C. Barcelona, teams representing Spain's largest cities, with the former a stand-in for nationalism and centralism and "Barca" a surrogate for Catalan separatism. During the Civil War, when Catalonia was a bastion of loyalist resistance, the head of F.C. Barcelona was executed by troops loyal to Gen. Franco.

Early this month, Etgar Keret of The New York Times attended a match between Beitar Jerusalem, which is associated with right-wing Israeli politics, and Bnei Sakhnin, the only Arab-Jewish team in Israel's first division.

Keret volunteered to a loud, visibly anxious Arab he met, "It's only a game," and got this blistering reply: "For you, maybe, because you're a Jew. But for us, soccer is the only place we're equal in this stinking country."

Throughout the game, Israeli and Arab fans shouted ethnic slurs and curses in the other's language to be sure they were understood. As Keret writes, "The bad blood between the two teams has caused many of their matches to end in rock-throwing brawls."

"Soccer is often more deeply felt than religion," says Franklin Foer, author of "How Soccer Explains the World." "I don't see tribalism ever really disappearing. People are almost hardwired to identify as groups. And group identity always runs the risk of being chauvinistic."

This brings us to Saturday’s match in the fabled Rose Bowl, with 93,000 in attendance, between the United States and Mexico.

According to Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times when the U.S. team took the field it was "smothered in boos. Its goalkeeper was bathed in a chanted obscenity. Even its national anthem was filled with the blowing of air horns and bouncing of beach balls."

How did U.S. coach Bob Bradley respond to the reception his team received in America's largest county? "Obviously the support that Mexico has on a

"A home game" for Mexico — in Pasadena?

"It's part of something we had to deal with," said the coach.

"I have never heard more consistent loud cheering for one team here," wrote Plaschke, "from the air horns to the 'Ole' chant with each Mexico pass, all set to the soundtrack of low throbbing that began in the parking lot six hours before the game and continued long into the night."

After the 4-2 win by Mexico, for the first time, the trophy award ceremony was held in the Rose Bowl. When the losing U.S. team was introduced, the stadium rocked again with boos.

"We're not booing the country. We're booing the team," one rooter for Mexico told Plaschke. "There's a big difference."

But why would scores of thousands boo a defeated team after a game?

Why would spectators raise a ruckus during a national anthem, except to manifest contempt for the country whose anthem it was?

U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard credited several Mexican players with the win, but he was disgusted at how the officials conducted the ceremony awarding the Gold Cup title to Mexico.

They "should be ashamed of themselves," said Howard. "It was a disgrace that the entire post-match ceremony was in Spanish. You can bet your (expletive) that if we were in Mexico City, it wouldn't be all in English."

Indeed, were U.S. fans in a Mexican town to boo, jeer and chant obscenities at a Mexican team before, during and after a match, and blow horns during the Mexican national anthem, they would be lucky to get out of the stadium alive.

What does this event, in which Plaschke estimates 80,000 fans in the Rose Bowl could not control their contempt for the U.S. team and for the U.S. national anthem, tell us?

We have within our country 12-20 million illegal aliens, with Mexico the primary source, and millions of others who may be U.S. citizens but are not truly Americans. As one fan told Plaschke, "I was born in Mexico, and that is where my heart will always be." Plaschke writes:

“Most of these hostile visitors didn't live in another country. Most, in fact, were not visitors at all, many of them being U.S. residents whose lives are here but whose sporting souls remain elsewhere.

Welcome to another unveiling of that social portrait known as a U.S.-Mexico soccer match, streaked as always in deep colors of red, white, blue, green ... and gray.

"I love this country, it has given me everything that I have, and I'm proud to be part of it," said Victor Sanchez, a 37-year-old Monrovia resident wearing a Mexico jersey. "But yet, I didn't have a choice to come here, I was born in Mexico, and that is where my heart will always be."

On a street outside the Rose Bowl before the Gold Cup final, Sanchez was hanging out near a motor home that was hosting 17 folks -- 15 of whom were Mexico fans. Inside, that ratio held, there seemingly being about 80,000 Mexico fans among the announced crowd of 93,420.

This was Staples Center filled with Boston Celtics fans. This was Chavez Ravine filled with Giants jerseys. This was as weird as it was wild and, for a U.S. team that lost, 4-2, it had to be wearisome.”

Perhaps he should go back there, and let someone take his place who wants to become an American.

By 2050, according to Census figures, thanks to illegals crossing over and legalized mass immigration, the number of Hispanics in the U.S.A. will rise from today's 50 million to 135 million.

Say goodbye to Los Angeles. Say goodbye to California.

California Has Gone Mad

“Politicians are like diapers; they need to be changed often and for the same reason."— Mark Twain

I live in a state that has gone mad. From sanctuary cities and teaching about homosexual heroes in our K-12 schools to having the most onerous regulations of any state in the nation. The state has $26 billion dollar budget that no one knows how to pay for. Our roads are going to pot and we have at least 3 million illegal immigrants collecting welfare and free medical. Our politicians can’t even begin to fathom how to solve the problems th unfunded liabilities be creating from an over-bloated public sector pension and retirement system and our governor is an dinosaur Democrat who is serving a second round after screwing up his first go at it.

Now with all of these problems what id the California legislature concerned about? Flat sheets vs. fitted sheets, yes that’s right hotel bed sheets. Fox News reports:

“That’s the weighty question facing the California Legislature, which is considering a bill that would regulate what type of sheets can be used on hotel bed mattresses across the state.”

“Supporters of the bill argue it will reduce worker injuries by eliminating the need for workers to repetitively lift extremely heavy mattresses when making beds. They contend that flat sheets cause workers to strain their backs, shoulders and wrists, and are often responsible for repetitive motion injuries.”

“State Bill 432, sponsored by Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), also calls for the use of long-handled tools like mops and dusters so housekeepers do not have to get down on their hands and knees to clean bathroom floors.”

“Just by using fitted sheets you could cut the number of lifts in half, and we think that would go a long way in preventing worker injury,” said Leigh Shelton, a spokesperson for UNITE HERE, a union that represents California hospitality workers.”

“But the California Hotel and Lodging Association says replacing existing sheets to comply with the bill could cost between $30 million and $50 million.”

“At a time when California’s looking at over a $26 billion budget, you would kind of think that the legislature had other things to worry about,” said Randi Knott, of the California Hotel and Lodging Association.”

“Hotel operators argue they will need to purchase new equipment in order to launder the fitted sheets. They also say fitted sheets will have to be replaced more often, that the elastic in fitted sheets breaks down faster than fabric, and that fitted sheets cost more to iron, fold and store.”

“And Knott says hotel owners already offer the long-handled mops and dusters to cleaners, but aren't used.”

“The hotel association doubts that a sheet change would significantly decrease workers injuries, and say if it was, such a widespread problem the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration would be involved.”

If there was a regulatory system through OSHA that handles issues related to workers injuries, and if this is as much of a problem as the proponents of the bill are saying it is, I believe OSHA would have been involved a long time ago,” said Knott.

”Others argue California's elected leaders should be addressing more pressing problems in the state -- like balancing the budget. And even if the bill is passed, Knott says, it will be too difficult to effectively enforce.”

“When you think about enforcement at the local level, I’d like to know how the state plans on enforcing it in the 550,000 hotel rooms. It’s a bit unwieldy.”

“That’s one issue the Senate Appropriations Committee is attempting to figure out, as it tries to determine the possible fiscal impact the bill has on the state.”

“There is still some uncertainty with the bill dealing with the issue of enforcement. And we’re not sure if this is a question of a complaint-driven process, or whether this is handled as part of typical or ongoing inspections that are done,” said Bob Franzoia, staff director of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “

“But the hotel workers union say that they'll continue to push for reform, especially after a study that they commissioned concluded there was a higher injury rate among hotel housekeepers when compared to most other service workers.”

No doubt SEIU, the service union that backs Democrats, is behind this legislation. And no doubt with SEIU’s backing this legislation will pass the Democrat dominated California state assembly and senate and the governor moonbeam will sign it. After all he owes his election to SEIU.

So as some point in the near future when you check into a hotel in California you will be sleeping on fitted sheets and paying more for the room. Also the maids will be using more friendly mops. God help the state of California.

Are The Boys of Summer are Gone

The Boys of Summer are Gone

The ideas which now pass for brilliant innovations and advances are in fact mere revivals of ancient errors, and a further proof of the dictum that those who are ignorant of the past are condemned to repeat it." — Henry Hazlitt

In 1972 Roger Kahn wrote one of the greatest sports books ever published — “The Boys of Sumner.” Kahn's memoir of his life in Brooklyn and in the world beyond is really three books in one. First, it's an evocative story of growing up in the '30s and '40s in an intellectually challenging household that somehow (much to his mother's disgust) centered around the exasperating study of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Second, it's the tale of a young writer who at an astonishingly young age found himself covering the team he loved during two bittersweet seasons ('52 and '53) that ended in agonizing seven-game World Series losses to (who else?) the New York Yankees.

Third, it's the story of how this no-longer-young writer went back to find the Boys of Summer long after their careers had ended. This is the most poignant section of the book: Kahn's finely etched portraits of the heroes of his youth, now ordinary men leading ordinary (but compelling) lives.

What sets this book apart from the vast majority of books written about baseball (sports in general, really) is Kahn's respect for his subjects. Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Erskine, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, et al., emerge as three-dimensional characters capable of heroism and strong-willed determination as well as bitterness.

To recount the individual stories contained in this book even briefly would not do justice to the book or to its subjects. It's a book best savored slowly, allowing its resonance to work its magic. The story of a vanished world and a vanished team, "The Boys of Summer" recreates both so vividly that between its pages, neither will ever die.

As a young boy in Cleveland Ohio in late 1940s and 1950s I was an avid Cleveland Indians fan who hated the evil New York Yankees. But I also had a favorite National League team — the Brooklyn Dodgers. I still recall the 1959 World Series between the then Los Angeles Dodgers (they had moved to L.A. in 1958) and the Chicago White Sox. (The Dodgers needed a three game playoff with the Milwaukee Braves to clinch the National League Pennant, which they won 2 games to none)

Watched the series on or little black and white 10 inch TV screen and vigorously rooted for the Dodgers to beat the team that had beaten the Indians out of the American League Pennant The first game of the series was played in Comiskey Park and the White Sox defeated my Dodgers by a score of 11-0 — I was devastated. The next game in Chicago was won by the Dodgers 4-3 thanks to two home runs by Charlie Neal and solid pitching by Johnny Podres and Larry Sherry — the Dodgers great relief pitcher.

Games 3 and 4 were taken by the Dodgers. Game 5 was witnessed by the largest crowd in series history (92,706) and despite the 5 hit pitching of the 23 year-old, future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax’s the Sox won the game 1-0.

Game 6 moved back to Chicago and with solid pitching by Johnny Podres and Larry Sherry along with homers by Duke Snider, Wally Moon and Chuck Essegian, who set a World Series record with two pinch hit home runs the Dodgers defeated the Sox 9-5 and took the series in 6 games. I was elated.

In 1962 My wife and I moved to Los Angeles and in May of that year I saw my first Dodger game. It is hard to describe the scene as I walked into the just completed Dodger Stadium. The colored seats, the manicured green grass set off by the crushed red brick infield and the whole thing set in Chavez Ravine with a back drop of a setting sun on the San Gabriel Mountains. It is a scene as fresh in my mind’s eye as it was on that beautiful May night.

It was a night where the Dodgers were paired against the newly formed New York Mets and it pitted Don Drysdale against former Dodger Roger Craig. The Dodgers won 1-0 due to Drysdale’s brilliant pitching and a led off single by Murray Wills who then stole second base and was bunted over to third. A fly ball delivered by Willie Davis brought Wills home and that’s all Drysdale needed.

Over the ensuing years the Dodgers gave me and other fans many thrills. the Dodgers captured three pennants in the 1960s and won two more World Series titles in 1963, sweeping the Yankees in four games, and 1965, edging the Minnesota Twins in seven. The 1963 sweep represented their second victory against the Yankees and first against them as a Los Angeles team. The Dodgers won three more pennants in 1974, 1977 and 1978, but lost in each World Series appearance. They went on to win the World Series again in 1981, thanks to pitching sensation Fernando Valenzuela. The early 1980s were affectionately dubbed "Fernandomania." In 1988, another pitching hero, Orel Hershiser, again led them to a World Series victory, aided by one of the most memorable home runs of all time, by their injured star outfielder Kirk Gibson coming off the bench to pinch hit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 1, in his only appearance of the series.

Over the past decade the Dodgers have fallen on hard times. Due to poor estate planning the O’Malley’s they were forced to sell the team before their patriarch Walter O’Malley died. The team was purchased Fox, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdock’s News Corp, and fell to mediocrity under Fox corporate ownership, even with the great manager Tommy Lasorda, who was said to bled “Dodger Blue.” After a series of managers News Corp sold the team to real estate developer Frank McCourt for $430 million dollars.

The team seemed to rebound under McCourt’s ownership but them the bomb hit the team. Due to bitter divorce battle between Frank and his wife of 30 years, Jamie, the team’s future ended the hands of a Superior Court judge. In December, Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon in Los Angeles invalidated a March 2004 postnuptial agreement giving Frank McCourt sole ownership of the team, allowing Jamie to seek one half of the franchise.

The Dodgers have not won the World Series since 1988, the longest barren stretch for the franchise since winning its first title as the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. And now the team has been criticized for its poor security since Giants fan Bryan Stow was beaten as he left Dodger Stadium following the season opener. Stow remains in a medically induced coma. What happened to our

As of Wednesday the Dodgers have averaged 39,205 fans per game, down 11 percent from their average last season. This for a team that was the first to draw over 3 million fans in one season.

Now, according to a report on Fox News the team has been placed under the control of Major League Baseball. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig told Frank McCourt on Wednesday he will appoint a MLB representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the club. At the same time, Frank McCourt was preparing to sue MLB, a baseball executive familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because McCourt had not made any statements.

"I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club," Selig said in a statement.

"I commend baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's (wresting) control of the Dodgers and bringing integrity back to the game," Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich said. "It is my hope that the commissioner appoints a representative from the O'Malley family to oversee the team's business affairs during the investigation — a return of the O'Malley family to the Dodgers would be a home run for fans and the Dodgers."

I don’t know how McCourt’s case will go, but I do know it has to be bad for the Dodgers. Now this once icon of American baseball will fall to mediocrity and loin the ranks of the Washington Nationals (former Senators), Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, Florida Marlins, and Seattle Mariners, a team that has never won anything.

Over the seven decades the Dodgers have given us many thrills and moments to remember. They have also produced some of baseball’s greatest stars and Hall of Famers such as Jackie Robinson (the first Black to play in the major leagues), Don Newcomb, Pee Wee Reece, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Johnny Podres, Roy Campanella, Don Drysdale, and Sandy Koufax, the greatest left-hander ever to throw a Spaulding 60 feet, six inches. They have also given baseball Murray Wills, Jim Gilliam and Steve Garvey.

The Dodgers have given the world probably the best play-by-play announcer ever to speak into a microphone, Hall of Famer Vince Scully. Scully was recruited by another Hall of Fame announcer Red Barber and joined the Dodgers in 1950. Under the tutelage of Barber Vince Scully learned his craft to perfection. Barber mentored Scully and told him that if he wanted to be a successful sports announcer he should never be a "homer" (openly showing a rooting interest for the team that employs you), never listen to other announcers, and keep his opinions to himself.

Scully followed the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958 and has been their radio voice ever since. In 1964, the New York Yankees offered Scully the opportunity to succeed the venerable of “how about that” fame Mel Allen as their lead play-by-play announcer. Scully chose to remain with the Dodgers, however, and his popularity in Los Angeles became such that in 1976 the team's fans voted him the "most memorable personality" in the history of the franchise.

At 84 his days of announcing the Dodger games are drawing to a close. When Scully is no longer behind the microphone some part of the spirit of the Dodgers will die. This, along with the never ending ownership battles, will send the Dodgers to the middle of the pack. The greatness of the Boys of Summer will live on, but the team that spawned them will sink into mediocrity. When this happens my hated Yankees will be America’s Team.