Vol 60 Issue 9

Wednesday April 29, 2020

Serving the Rio Hondo Community

Volume 60 Issue 9

Today is International Dance Day

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID MEDINA/EPM International Dance Day is Celebrated annually on April 29 to promote art and culture, to raise awareness among the public regarding the art of dance. The day was officially recognized in 1982 so carry on the tradition and get your groove on!

DAVID MEDINA Editor-In-Chief

david.medina7987@my.riohondo.edu

International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance. It was created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute. The event takes place every year on April 29, which is the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.

Dancing has a way of taking your cares away especially during this CoronaVirus pandemic. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Futsal Shuffle , the Macarena,Backyard Boogie, the Woah or your own crazy moves. Shake off whatever worries and stress you have.

Who hasn’t been lost in a song as they jumped around?

Not only does it feel good to the soul, dancing also has some major health perks.

Research shows dancing can improve your mental health by boosting your overall happiness.

Like any good, low impact cardio workout, dancing can improve your cardiovascular health, increase stamina, strengthen bones and muscles and fight off illnesses. But aside from the perks associated with any heart-pounding activity, dancing has a cardio edge with unique benefits that actually can’t be achieved by other low-impact exercises.

Anyone can dance because it

is plain and simple . It’s fun in the way a boring treadmill run probably never will be.

Plus, getting down on it can trigger the release of feel good hormones like serotonin and endorphins. At the end of the day, you’re moving and you’re burning calories.

Healthy lifestyle habits like a good night’s rest can help to keep your brain sharp. But, according to one study,so can dancing . Findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that getting groovy on a regular basis is linked with a 76% reduction in dementia. About as much as figuring out a puzzle or playing board games. Other physical activities, such as bicycling, walking and doing

house chores, weren’t associated with any decreased risk. Music has the ability to enhance this activity by converting, changing minds, and lifting spirits. To help you celebrate the International Holiday play some of your favorite uppity music. Find some of the recent Digital Festivals and live streams from isolation.

Carry the energy over to tomorrow. At 1pm tune in to Cyber Fantasy Audio for performances by Faye Webster, Sofie Royer and Lord Tusk powered by NTS and Brain Dead. This Saturday May 2 NTS Radio will also be hosting Remote Utopias which is a 24hr radio broadcast across two live channels

bringing together DJs, musicians, artists, and filmmakers from across the globe for an eclectic music event of all genres. This is an event that will definitely make you want to move. There will be exclusive premieres with radio and live video streams. This radio takeover will be fundraising for The Global Foodbanking Network, where you are encouraged to donate to give back to the community. The line up ranges from artists such as Erykah Badu, JME, Tame Impala, Four Tet, Jorja Smith and many more. For more information to help you get into the groove go to https://www.nts.live/events/ remote-utopias .

NEWS

2

COVID-19 Updates Free Testing Site opens up in Carson

Today Gov. Newsom will host a listening party on Job Recovery for local businesses and employers impacted

by COVID 19 DAVID MEDINA Editor-In-Chief

david.medina7987@my.riohondo.edu

PHOTO FROM NEWSBREAK.COM Monday April 27, Carson opens up a drive-up testing site that will offer free testing to all city employees, local residents, and those who make an appointment. you’re sick or asymptomatic, location is being offered in social distancing. The site DAVID MEDINA whether you’re insured or not partnership between the city will offer free testing to all Editor-In-Chief insured and whether you’re of Carson and U.S. Health city employees, locals “and david.medina7987@my.riohondo.edu Fairs. Testing is by appointanyone else who schedules an rich or poor. Everybody can On Monday April 27 apply,” said Mayor Albert Ro- ment only fromMonday appointment,” a city memo another Coronavirus testing bles. Since the main focus of through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 states. center opened in Los Angeles p.m. Visit Testing is unlimited for testing is on Carson the priCounty, as the City of Carson ority is for Carson residents. ushealthfairs.org/carthose who have symptoms of started their free testing for The Carson site is loson-testing coronavirus infection such as all of its residents and surcated at the Congresswoman coughing, fever, or difficulty rounding communities.

Juanita Millender-McDonor call (310) 952-1719 for more breathing. “It’s available to It is a drive through information or to register. anyone in California, whether ald Community Center. The site in accordance with

Gov. Newsom Knows-Something and announces Four-Stage plan to re-open California Schools and Businesses

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID MEDINA/EPM DAVID MEDINA Editor-In-Chief

david.medina7987@my.riohondo.edu

Yesterday Governor Gavin Newsom said the next academic year could start either at the end of July or the beginning of August.

This is good news to those students who were planning to transfer or start school in the Fall of 2020. There will likely be some modifications as the governor stated with “cautious optimism”. The state looks toward lifting the stay at home orders within the next few weeks instead of months. It has been a difficult transition to get adjusted to digital academics and some

do not have the necessary technology for distance learning. Starting the new school year earlier will adjust for the lost time trying to adjust. COVID-19 will forever change the way the world runs and schooling is just one of them. Newsom previously said schools may launch with staggered start times to limit the number of students on campus and in the classrooms. Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo said she has convened a task force of superintendents from across the county to consider plans of reopening campuses in the summer or fall. Newsom reinforced hopes of reopen-

ing the state and stating that changes will more likely be happening sooner than later. State officials outlined a four stage approach to the eventual restart of the states economy, when changes can be made:

STAGE 1: Everyone is either staying at home or a member of the essential workforce. This is the stage we are currently in and will stay in until further notice.

where working remotely isn’t possible, but can be modified to make the environment safer for employees

STAGE 3: Reopening higher risk workplaces, which require close proximity to other people, including Hair salons, nail salons, gyms, movie theatres, sporting events without live audiences, and in person religious services

STAGE 2: Reopening STAGE 4: Ending lower risk workplaces, including Non-essential manufacturing, schools, childcare facilities, retail businesses for curbside pickup , and offices

the stay at home order which would allow for the reopening of Concert venues, convention centers, and sporting events with live audiences.

California is committed to finding economic solutions that reflect communities across the state.

Today Governor Newsom and members of the Task force on Business and Jobs Recovery will kick off a listening tour with workers, small businesses and employers impacted by COVID-19. Many local business owners had to close down their full service restaurants and some have even converted their restaurant into a small market selling their products.

Supply chains that supply the small businesses are completely devastated by the effects of COVID-19 along with many others. Local manufacturers of ingredients have really stepped up putting in longer hours and more energy into helping those local restaurants’ demands and local economy. A few weeks back Governor Newsom announced an economic recovery body with some of the best and brightest minds that can be sourced in the State of California.

Governor Newsom and members of the task force will participate in digital roundtable conversations to hear directly from Californians, workers, small businesses, and employers in some of the most impacted industries. These conversations will inform California’s new guidelines for how some businesses may reopen more safely and chart a way forward amidst COVID0-19.

California has always been about opportunity. For those local business owners who were affected now have the chance to be a part of the entrepreneurial spirit that will bring back our local business, local economy, and State. For more information about the listening party today go to covid19.ca.gov

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

4

Faster-Degrading Plastic Could Promise Cleaner Seas EVELYN VARGAS Reporter

evelyn.vargas3749@my.riohondo.edu

Cornell University chemists have developed a new polymer that’s able to degrade by ultraviolet radiation. This new development will be able to address plastic pollution plaguing the world’s seas as well as waterways according to research published in the “Journal of the American Chemical Society.”

Lead researcher Bryce Lipinski, a doctoral candidate in the laboratory of Geoff Coates, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University says, “We have created a new plastic that has the mechanical properties required by commercial fishing gear. If it eventually gets lost in the aquatic environment, this material can degrade on a realistic time scale.” In addition, Lipinski says “This material could reduce persistent plastic accumulation in the environment.”

Commercial fishing contributes to about half of all floating plastic waste that ends up in the oceans, Lipinski said. For example fishing nets and ropes are primarily made from three different kinds of polymers:

isotactic polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and nylon-6, none of which readily degrade.

Lipinski also says, “While research of degradable plastics has received much attention in recent years,” Being able to obtain material that has the adequate mechanical strength as comparable to common commercial plastic still remains a difficult challenge.”

The research team and Coates have spent the last 15 years developing this plastic called isotactic polypropylene oxide, or iPPO. Meanwhile its original discovery was back in 1949. The photodegradation and mechanical strength of this material makes it unique from its historic predecessor as well as provides its mechanical strength. While iPPO is stable in ordinary use, Lipinski noted that it will eventually break down once it is exposed to UV light. Plastic’s composition changes and it is evident in the laboratory. But “visually, it may not appear to have changed much during the process,” Lipinski says.

Light intensitydependent is the rate of degradation, however under their laboratory conditions, the polymer chain lengths were degraded to at about

JAIME APARICIO/EPM Creating new ways to help the planet we live in has no negatives for the future.

Using the suns own U.V. rays to help get rid of some of the waste we create can only bring faster and eco-friendly solutions to clean places such as the oceans. a quarter of their initial normal length after 30 days to being exposed. Ultimately, Lipinski along with other scientists want to leave little

to no trace of the polymer in the environment. There is literature precedent for the biodegradation of small chains of iPPO which could

effectively make it vanish, but ongoing efforts aim to prove this.

People in Los Angeles County Are Waiting Too Long to Seek Treatment for Coronavirus EVELYN VARGAS Reporter

evelyn.vargas3749@my.riohondo.edu

Los Angeles County hospitals stated that people are waiting too long to seek out medical treatment.

The numbers include those infected with the coronavirus over the fear of catching Covid-19, most likely leading to more detrimental effects to their health.

Los Angeles County reported 1,491 new coronavirus cases last week bringing the total to 13,816, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti said.

At the Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, most of the people coming to the emergency room are experiencing respiratory issues.

“What we are seeing is a lot more sicker people now coming in that qualify for an inpatient stay,” said Dr. Paryus Patel, Chief Medical Officer of Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

Patel is also seing improvements that people are

loosening their own social distancing measures despite mandates from Garcetti and California Gov. Gavin Newsom for residents to seek shelter and protection at home. Patel said of Centinela Hospital where he estimates 40% to 45% of patients are Covid-19 infected. “So they are visiting more patients and families, which they shouldn’t be doing and that’s why we’re going to start seeing more and more.”

A warning to Los Angeles County has yet not reached the peak of the outbreak.

Meanwhile at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, The hospital has discovered its patient volume drop significantly and is now at half capacity.

The Covid-19 patient volume has maintained a stable number for approximately two weeks with at about 120 to 130 patients fighting the disease. But even with the coronavirus patients, the emergency room at CedarsSinai’s is seeing about half of the volumes that it typically would.

JAIME APARICIO/EPM The pandemic has indeed brought upon those who think the virus is a real threat while others think it’s another illness being over-sold by the media.

Whatever the case may be, it’s best to follow the advise of medical professions.

“Right now, we’re taking care of about 400 or so non-Covid patients,” said Dr. Jeff Smith, Chief Operating Officer of CedarsSinai Hospital. The Centinela Hospital and Cedars-Sinai

have separate areas of their facilities dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients and both hospitals want people to seek out medical attention before their health deteriorates.

Smith of Cedars-Sinai says,

““It really just comes back to if you have an urgent or an emergent need, we can care for you safely at the hospital, and you should come.”

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

5

The Ring of Fire: Home To Many Active Earthquakes and Volcanoes

JAIME APARICIO/EPM The planet we live in is constantly changing. No matter how slow it may take, the very continents that lie on top of the planets surface are shifting and have been for millions of years and show no stopping anytime soon.

JESUS MARQUEZ Reporter

jesus.marquez1625@my.riohondo.edu

The Ring of Fire is home to some of the most active volcanoes and earthquakes on the edges of the Pacific Ocean. This term describes an area on Earth that holds most of the world’s earthquake sites and active mountains. Frequently, small and big earthquakes occur around the belt while volcanoes erupt everyday.

The Ring of Fire has a total of 452 volcanoes and it has 75% of the Earth’s active

and dormant volcanoes.

On the other hand, ninety percent of earthquakes occur in the zone. Over 1,500 earthquakes are recorded yearly and magnitudes of 4 to 6 are not common.

The Circum-Pacific belt extends about 40,000 kilometers (24,900 miles).

Also, it is located in the Pacific Ocean. This zone stands atop places where many of the Earth’s tectonic plates meet. Moreover, tectonic plates are huge pieces of the earth outer layer.

There are some plates

that are as big or even bigger than entire continents. These big plates can move sliding below another or rubbing up against each other. This sliding and slipping can produce volcanoes and earthquakes.

At times eruption and earth motions occur within a few days in distant places along the Ring of Fire. The crazy part is an earthquake or volcanoes in one place doesn’t trigger other ones far away.

The Most Affected Countries

Countries that sit around

the Ring of Fire experience earthquakes and volcanoes every year. A magnitude of 6.0 and 7.0 strike every year.

While some are as powerful as a 8.0 and 9.0 magnitude hit every decade in the tectonic subduction zone.

The country that has continued to get hit the most is Chile because the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plate.

The last time a 9.0 or more struck was in Japan in March 2011. Countries such as Mexico, United States, Russia, Indonesia, Peru, Ecuador, New Zealand, Costa

Rica, and Canada experience quakes yearly.

Meanwhile, volcanoes most active are in Indonesia, Hawaii and Central America.

But Indonesia’s Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, located in the Ring of Fire, is home to many active volcanoes. In California a volcano called Mount Shasta is currently active as of today.

The last time this dangerous volcano erupted was in 1786. But don’t worry, this volcano is still asleep and it could take years for the volcano to erupt again.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

6

Netflix’s ‘LA Originals’ brings Chicano culture to the forefront DAVID FLORES Reporter

david.flores5487@my.riohondo.edu

While staying safe during the quarantine, a lot of people may be watching Netflix, both day and night, and this new documentary which is exclusive to the streaming service, still might be under the radar for many streamers.

The trailer for “LA Originals” should have been enough to draw a newer audience in with its star power praising the film’s subjects, including musicians Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Eminem, actor Terry Crews, and comedian George Lopez, who dubbed them as “the cholo Da Vincis.” The men they speak of are two multi-talented Los Angeles legends, Estevan Oriol and Mark Machado who is better known as “Mister Cartoon,” whose influences are ubiquitous in the multiple worlds, from hip-hop, art, graffiti, art and tattoos.

Oriol began his journey as a photographer while being a part of the early lowrider scene of Los Angeles, and also working as a tour manager for hip-hop groups, House of Pain and Cypress Hill in the early 1990’s.

Cartoon, who is now a world renowned tattoo artist, has been drawing since he was a kid who, back then, never thought he would be a tattoo artist. While being an amazing graffiti artist he transitioned into tattooing pretty seamlessly. Their influence

MEGAN DE LARA /EPM

The new documentary on Netflix shows how the two artists crossed paths at a record release party and eventually became substantial figures in the west coast hip-hop scene. goes beyond where they come from, as the documentary shows the late Kobe Bryant retelling a story in which his tattoos were recognized by a hotel worker in Beijing, China as work done by Cartoon.

Along with telling the story of the two prominent Los Angeles figures, the film also provides great snapshots of the west coast hip-hop scene during its rise in the early 90’s.

The documentary, which is directed by Oriol himself, gives the two men their flowers while they can still smell them. Both Oriol and Cartoon are alive and well, and both continue to work in their creative fields. With this feature

film, they are given their time to shine and be celebrated.

Legacy is important and too many times an artist or a creative’s legacy goes uncelebrated on the mainstream level. For an artist or celebrity to have such a film like this they usually have already passed on or even long after their retirement.

What makes this documentary unique is that it is done by the subjects themselves. Oftentimes a documentary is made by a third party who has an appreciation for the subject’s work, but no story is better told than from the person who lived it. Another rare quality is all the footage the film pro-

After seven years, The Strokes return with ‘The New Abnormal’

MEGAN DE LARA /EPM

The band was scheduled to kick-off a full tour starting early next month, but dates have been postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.

ESTEVAN MACIAS Reporter

estevan.macias6303@my.riohondo.edu

It’s been seven years since the Strokes album “Comedown Machine,” a work

with overall mixed feelings, as fans really felt the band tried to do something too different from the usual alternative rock they were known for. Since then the musicans have been very quiet as the

only other music of note was the “Future Past Present” EP in 2016, which was met with the same reception as the last album. Their new release, “The New Abnormal” seems to be a return to form

vides thanks in part to Oriol’s 25 years worth of material.

The footage ranges from worldwide concert tours he’s been on, to famous celebrities he’s photographed including Beyonce and Kim Kardashian, and even the harsh realities of the Los Angeles streets.

Before playing, this documentary it must be mentioned that it is not safe viewing for everyon. The film focuses on those living on Skid Row, which is where Oriol and Cartoon once had their headquarters set. In addition to showing the grueling images of drug abuse, there are a lot of “F-Bombs” being dropped, as one person said in the documentary, “we

can’t talk about this stuff without using the F word.”

The film barely scratches the surface of everything the two have done. Oriol has multiple books of his photography published and Cartoon has had his art in multiple museums, including Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art. For those that already knew of Oriol and Cartoon, the documentary will serve its purpose of paying homage to them along with of course sharing new information about their long journeys. For those that are unaware of the artists, the film will be full of new information that should leave those with a creative dream or any passion inspired.

with the usual band members of Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammond Jr., Fabrizio Moretti, Nick Valensi and Nikolai Fraiture coming together with famous producer Rick Rubin to create this new piece.

The album starts off as a reminder of Casablanca’s amazing vocals as he goes from whispering to singing in the first song, “The Adults are Talking.” With a length of five minutes in total, which is longer than the usual Strokes song, it provides a really groovy tone. This is definitely a favorite and kicks off the album, putting anyone who listens in a good mood.

The next song, “Selfless,” distorts that mood in a good way as it turns the pace down a notch to very melodic vocals, and a constant piano background that can relax anyone. To build up this upbeat tone, we hear “Bad Decisions,” which shows how much the band loves ‘80s music - an overarching theme of the entire album.

The only low point in this album would be the

main middle tracks, which can tend to drag a lot with long run times and not a lot of innovation that the other songs bring to the table. But the next track, “At the Door,” is so fresh and new that your mind really forgets about the bad batch of tracks in the middle. The song is eerie and futuristic, which really makes it stand out in a good way with production that makes you feel like you’re in a futuristic 80s horror movie.

The way the last three songs tie up the album is great as well, as the overall tone slows down and is a great send off to “The New Abnormal” as a whol, with “Ode to Mets” in particular acting as a nice goodbye. It’s a perfect ending that leaves your ears wanting to hear more from the band.

Overall the album is an 8/10, creating a sort of ‘80s indie rock album in the year 2020 that has new and fresh ideas is definitely an achievement on its own. In the end, this project is something new and old fans should look forward to listening to.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT JONATHAN FLORES Reporter

jonathan.flores9687@my.riohondo.edu

The film The Platform, directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, is one of Netflix’s new releases. The movie takes a crack at making a bold statement about modern day society, but has a rather very interesting way of depicting it. It takes place in what seems to be a prison that is referred to as “the hole,” an infrastructure that is divided into what we hear to be 200 stories high.

These cells that are no larger than 15 by 15 feet wide, have a large hole in the middle of the room. For instance, if you were on level five you would have levels one through four above and 195 floors underneath you.

The cells are housed by two inmates for that month, and

each of these cellmates is allowed to bring in one item from the outside world.

The main character Goreng, played by Ivan Massague, chooses to bring a book to pass his months he is serving. He is trying to stop smoking and will receive an academic diploma in exchange for six months in the place named “the hole.”

Goreng soon realizes that not everyone in the hole is there for the same reasons.

Soon after Goreng wakes, he is waited by his new cellmate who is an older-looking man.

The old man is introduced as Trimagasi, played by actor Zorion Equileor, and he soon lets Goreng know what this place is and it’s not what he maybe had been hoping.

Platform takes a jab at the social classes of today’s society with the way the cells are set up right underneath

each other. The idea for the movie is that the food that starts descending from the top levels. If inmates only took what they needed to eat, the food would reach the bottom, which it never does.

Cellmates who are higher up have all of the food in front of them, and instead of rationing for the greater good, they stuff down as much food as they possibly can. As the food continues to drop down

for the next pair of inmates to eat, the levels beneath them continue to do the same until there is nothing left. Because of all the higher level inmates ways, the food usually vanishes as it only gets to reach about half of the structure, which leaves the bottom inmates with no food, and as a result, they to turn to gory and interesting ways to survive.

The movie does pack in a

7

MEGAN DE LARA /EPM lot of deaths and blood for its short running time. Platform is a movie that can be looked at as a solution to the problems we see as the social classes, or the opposite.

In the movie you can see how spending times in the different levels may change the way you look and do things. As Trimagasi states, “starvation will make the mind do many things to stay alive,” and those things are indeed interesting.

A ‘Modern Family’ Farewell MICHAEL MARTINEZ Reporter

michael.martinez5980@my.riohondo.edu

Modern Family, the American family sitcom TV show created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, has been a hit on ABC since it premiered in 2009 and lasted 11 years. It was one of the highest-rated comedies on television, bringing in nearly 12 million viewers and won five straight Emmy Awards.

Lloyd and Levitan came up

with the idea to have their own personal story in the show along with other crew members. After the original story didn’t seem funny, they decided to make it about their personal life which would be more entertaining.

As the first season started many of the actors were unsure how long the show would last. Jesse Ferguson, who played Mitchell Pritchett, stated in an interview, “to have so many characters in the pilot and have them all

perfectly cast was something that was really magical.”

Longtime actor Ed O’Neill, who played Jay Pritchett, was on another long running sitcom show, “Married with Children,” which also lasted 11 years.

O’Neill stated in an interview “The pilot is fantastic, if this show doesn’t go 10 years I don’t know what the hell I’m doing in this business.”

Many upcoming actors on the show looked up to O’Neill because of his career,

and many hoped the show would last long. News of the show’s end brought the cast to different emotions; they were shocked it lasted this long, but sad it would soon be over.

Part of Modern Family’s success stems from its relatable roots. The show connected to everyday family lives in a humorous way, bringing people together. With so many characters, at least one of them can be relatable, and it’s a show where you can

have a good time and laugh.

As the show gained popularity, there were over 60 celebrity guest stars, some included Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias, Matthew Broderick, Elizabeth Banks, Danny Trejo, and Jesse Eisenberg.

One episode worth mentioning, “Connection Lost,” used only Apple iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks to record. There were no professional cameras used, making it a unique and brilliant idea since viewers of the show felt

MICHAEL MARTINEZ /EPM

The family officially said farewell to fans April 8, pulling in a total of 7.4 million total viewers, making it the show’s largest audience since Jan. 2017. connected.

This show aso brought real life situations to the surface. One of the families in the show, Mitchell and Cameron, a gay couple, adopt a child from a different ethnicity. The show reveals that even lifestyles seen as different are still normal lifestyles.

In the last installment, as everyone in the family

parts ways to move on to different journeys, throughout the episode there were a lot of emotions of laughter, crying and lots of hugging. One of the families states they would leave the porch light on forever to return back home.

Talk of a spin-off show with some of the characters has made its rounds, but it is unsure whom it will be. When

that time comes, many of the viewers would be excited to see one of the families back on TV.

In an interview with some of the cast as they near to an end of their last episodes, many of them got emotional. Jesse Ferguson states when he was at a table reading going over the script, one of this lines read, “Let’s

all just enjoy each other while we still can,” and started to cry. As the cast began to grow with every crew member, from camera operators, to the make-up crew, everyone was very emotional as they came to end after building memories on the set for 11 years.

Many viewers will surely be sad seeing their favorite characters grow-up, such as the

children in the show, from being a little kid to a young adult.

For me, to see this come to an end was difficult. It was one show where I felt I could mentally check out of reality and feel as if I was part of the characters’ world. I’ll continue to laugh because it was genuinely funny and will be greatly missed.

SPORTS

8

Red Sox Avoid Harsh Punishment from Major League Baseball for 2018 Sign-Stealing Scandals ENRIQUE MEDINA

Co-Sports Editor

enrique.medina4922@my.riohondo.edu

Major League Baseball officially released its punishment for the Boston Red Sox sign-stealing scandal back in 2018 last Wednesday, April 22nd. In its punishment, Major League Baseball took the Red Sox second-round draft pick away for the 2020 MLB Draft, banned then Red Sox manager Alex Cora until the end of the 2020 season, and replay employee and advanced scouting assistant J.T. Watkins was suspended without pay for 2020.

In commissioner Rob Manfred’s report of the scandal, he and Major League Baseball found that Watkins was responsible for the sign-stealing system that was being used throughout the season. The sign-stealing that was going on during Boston’s 2018 championship season was incorporated when a runner was on second base and was relayed through Watkin’s decoding of the signs with the help of game feeds used from the replay room. Information would be given pregame to the team on the decoding of the signs and would be incorporated only

when a runner was on second base, a different situation from the Astros sign stealing in which could have occurred at any time. In the report, it was known that the Red Sox front office was continuedly communicating with its staff to avoid having a situation like this happen, especially considering the fact the year before they were caught in a mini-scandal in which someone in the organization had been using an apple-watch during a game.

It was written in the report that the sign-stealing occurrences were going on in only the 2018 regular season as concluded by Manfred and Major League Baseball and to go along with that that more than 30 players who were apart of the investigation claimed that they had no idea of Watkin’s sign-stealing scheme. Watkin’s who was mainly responsible was not fired by Boston and will remain in the organization, but will not receive pay in the 2020 season.

After the punishment was released a few players did have comments regarding the issue. Now Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly, who pitched for Boston back in 2018 stated that he believed, “we would

have swept through the playoffs (without losing),” if they had known about the sign-stealing. Ex-Red Sox superstar Designated Hitter David Ortiz also stated that he believed the punishment was “not fair.”

Questions definitely arise after the punishment on whether it was enough at all PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOSTONGLOBE.COM/ EPM because still at the end of the day a cheating mechanism Red Sox employee J.T. Watkins was at the forefront of the Red was being conducted, whethSox sign-stealing mechanism. He will be suspended for all of er or not many people in the 2020 without pay. organization knew about it or not. The Astros did receive a much harsher punishment in their case and has since gotten backlash on the cheating they did, many considering their championship tainted.

The same could be said about the 2018 Red Sox depending on who you ask. One thing that does remain, is that ultimately the New York Yankees were eliminated to both the Astros in 2017 and the Red Sox in 2018 and the Los Angeles Dodgers were the tough-luck losers to both of these opponents in back to back years in the fall classic.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MADDIE MEYER GETTY IMAGES/EPM Nothing will change that, but both championships will The Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five forever be remembered now game in the 2018 World Series, the year they were using their for a cheating scandal that sign-stealing mechanism. Manager Alex Cora had already will be on them forever. been fired by Boston after his role in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal.

The Return of Club Football Could See its Return BRYAN CHAVEZ

Reporter

bryan.chavez5634@my.riohondo.edu

Soccer may return sooner than most people expected for the country of Germany. 36 teams from Germany’s two top divisions had a conference call stating their intent to continue the season with the optimistic date being May 9th. Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert said during the call “There is no defin-

itive plan(for a restart). We need to be flexible.”. The plan has already been thought of, but they will only go through with it if they get the approval from government officials.

“It’s down to the decisions of the politicians. All we can do is to provide a concept with sensible precautions and preparations, relative to the security of players. If it’s not seen as sufficient right now, we will accept it. But then there’s a chance that the

Bundesliga could be part of the collateral damage of the coronavirus.” There will be a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel set to take place on April 30. All major sports leagues will pay attention to this close if they are trying to start their leagues once again. Italy being one of the countries most affected by the virus being third with most deaths. They are yet without a return date but will let players return to practice

ILLUSTRATION BY ENRIQUE MEDINA/EPM Club Football could see its returns to the pitch very soon as different leagues around the world have been taking certain steps to be able and return. Many ideas are being discussed, making sure saftey is a top priority.

if the restrictions are relaxed.

In Spain, teams have already reduced player salaries with Barcelona and Athletico cutting 70%. The Leagues president Javier Tebas said the three possible dates, being May 28th, June 6th and June 28th, will be played behind closed doors. Players like Gareth Bale are against the idea of returning back so soon. The Premier League will be financially damaged if the season were to be abandoned. With an estimate of £1.25 billion will be lost, with £800 million being T.V revenue. The positive news is that most clubs are planning a return date on June 8.

If the league doesn’t return to France at least a third of all professional clubs will be threatened with bankruptcy. They have an optimistic date being June 17th which will see the league end by July 25th. All of this can only happen if we see an improvement in the club’s respected country. And even then there will be restrictions that will be heavily enforced to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Note: Many top leagues are planning to hopefull return soon, but leagues like the Eredivisie in the Netherlands has already cancelled with no champion.

This means top team in the league, Ajax, will not be crowned champions.

SPORTS

9

Trump Wants Sports to Return, but is it Safe?

STEPHINIE PHAN/EPM The homepage of the global sports authority website.

LESLIE LOPEZ Reporter

leslie.lopez3339@my.riohondo.edu

It’s been weeks since sports games were played in basketball, soccer, football, hockey, baseball, golf, etc., and the United States President, Donald Trump, misses live sports action.

Trump stated at his coronavirus briefing how we want to get our sports back.

He got tired of rewatching sports games that are years

old and wants to see something new. With the number of cases increasing and spreading each day because of the coronavirus occurring in the United States, it seems like Trump will not be watching live-action sports anytime soon, like baseball for example.

It is still undetermined as to when athletes will be able to play again. The people in the United States would be in quarantine for a couple of months, or probably until the year 2021, who knows.

Jay Robert “J. B.” Pritzker, the 43rd governor of Illinois, indicated that where the state he comes from, sports are really important to many people.

Pritzker referred to how they will not allow sports to reopen unless all of the conditions are fulfilled before other things can happen, are set because he does not want a large number of people attending an arena together because we would end up spreading the coronavirus to one another. Anthony Fauci,

leading infectious disease doctor, mentioned how the United States is still not ready to stop the quarantine and to ease the restrictions that focus on slowing down the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes, one may be bored from rewatching the same thing over and over again. What is really important is our health, safety, helping each other, and listening to advice, like from doctors for example. California governor, Gavin Newsom,

said that the future events of mass gatherings are insignificant until a vaccine has been created for the coronavirus.

In areas such as Florida, professional sports have been considered in a specified way, such as an “essential service,” and now, Florida was permitted to resume with the professional sports. For example, the WWE boss, Vince McMahon, allowed WWE to restart filming the show at Orlando on April 13th, by producing content on a closed set at their training facility.

NASCAR Dealing With Difficult Decisions LESLIE LOPEZ Reporter

leslie.lopez3339@my.riohondo.edu

Virtual racing lets competitors race while using a system that includes a computer, steering wheel, and pedals, NASCAR ran its first virtual race on March 22nd, instead of at the Homestead-Miami Speedway because it was canceled due to the coronavirus. Almost all levels of professional racing are not built to withstand a shutdown because team owners are on their own when it comes to figuring out how to pay the bills.

About eight events have been postponed because of COVID-19. For the team racers to get paid by sponsorships, the team must have the sponsor’s logo on the car.

Many sponsors are refusing to give payments until their logos are shown again at

the track. If one would like to race, a person must find whichever sponsor he or she could find and try to spread it over the longest season in sports at about eleven months.

NASCAR has a 10year, $8.2 billion television deal with NBC Sports and Fox, but the teams are only getting 25 percent of that money, plus the teams receive them after a race is done.

There hasn’t been a race since March 8th. Not many people are making enough money right now.

Some team owners are still paying their employees, and others are having issues paying cuts. Then, some organizations have gone with layoffs and laying off workers temporarily. The longer NASCAR is shut down, the deeper the hole of financial hit will be and face challenges. At the end of the day, no member of the NASCAR

A picture off the internet of NASCARS Website. industry will be affected by this.

Five North Carolina Republican senators asked Governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, to allow NASCAR to hold the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24th, which is an annual 600-mile NASCAR

Cup Series points race held in Concord, North Carolina, during Memorial Day weekend, but without fans in the race track.

The North Carolina’s House Speaker, Tim Moore, mentioned on April 19th how allowing NASCAR to come back on Memorial Day

STEPHINIE PHAN/EPM weekend without any fans in the race track would not benefit the industry, which they call North Carolina their home, and would leave a new beginning for North Carolina’s entertainment, tourism, and service industries that were desperate to open for business.