1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on talk 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: radio seven ninety KABC. We're here every single day from 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: five to six talking about the local issues that matter 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: to you most and taking your phone calls at eight 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two one eight 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two, your emails 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: at Randy Wangradio at gmail dot com, and search for 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: the KABC News Blitz wherever you get your podcasts. Now. 9 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: We focus mostly on local stories here, but this story 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: is so outrageous coming out of Mesa, Arizona, that it 11 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: is definitely something that could happen here, and I bet 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: has happened here, although probably not to this degree. What 13 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: was it? It was a youth football game that turned 14 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: into a massive little brawl. For more, Let's go to 15 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: ABC fifteen in Arizona, Oh six, Now to that huge 16 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: fight at a youth football tournament in East Valley, prompting 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: officials to camp today's games. 18 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, this comes at a time there's already a shortage 19 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 2: of officials to officiate youth sports enjoining. 20 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: Us, there's a ref shortage. What's that about. 21 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 2: Mesa's ABC fifteen storing Bonky right now? I was looking 22 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 2: into how people can help, plus the latest of course 23 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: on this fight. 24 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 3: Jordan, all right, yeah, so there was some aggression obviously 25 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 3: on the football field. This is a seven on seven 26 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 3: football game for youth sports, and that obviously bled out 27 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 3: into the stands and it led to the cancel. 28 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: A led out really, I mean, okay. 29 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,279 Speaker 3: Sadly as some of these games yesterday. So this happened 30 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 3: over at the Arizona Athletic Grounds and Mason had huge 31 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 3: sports complex that we're at now. Police confirming nearly one 32 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 3: hundred people were involved in this fight, and we're told 33 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 3: that it started when players from each team began to fight, 34 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 3: then escalated with parents and spectators then getting involved in 35 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 3: the action. 36 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: So you had children acting like children and then adults 37 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: acting like children. 38 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 3: More than seventy police officers from four different agencies responded. 39 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: ABC fifteen. 40 00:01:57,840 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 3: We were able to hear from a player who witnessed 41 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 3: all this chaos. Take a listen. 42 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 4: We see police coming from entrance, going down by at 43 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 4: least twenty cock cars on the fields, and then we 44 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 4: try to leave because they made everyone leave, like cancel 45 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 4: the tournament, and there's probably thirty cock cars in a line. 46 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: Now, if you're the referee for youth sports. How exactly 47 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: do you deal with the kids fighting and then the 48 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: adults fighting over the fact that the kids are fighting. Well, 49 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: our next guest has some experience in this. You've heard 50 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 1: her on the show many times before. Supe Pasco, editor 51 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: at Circling the News The Palisades News, Sue Pasco, Welcome 52 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: back to the News Blitz. 53 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 5: Thanks Randy. I'm happy to be back speaking on in 54 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 5: favor of referees doing what they can do. 55 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: So what is your experience being a referee. 56 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 5: Well, I'm a soccer referee now, I do high school, 57 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 5: I do club, and I also was a lacrosse referee, 58 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 5: so I've had some experience. I probably have had more 59 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 5: than a thousand games if I count them all up. 60 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 5: And I was not surprised by that news report because 61 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 5: there are too many parents who put such pressure on 62 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 5: their kids and who take a game and make it 63 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 5: like the most important thing that's ever going to happen 64 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 5: in their kids' life, so that if a ref doesn't 65 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 5: call something they like, or if a ref this is 66 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 5: a call which can happen because we're only human, they 67 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 5: just go bananas, which is just like whoa what happened 68 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 5: to good sportsmanship? What happened to stability? And you know, 69 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 5: maybe this is why you can't get any refs on 70 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 5: the field. 71 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: So you pretty much have parents at kids' games acting 72 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: like they're three giant beers deep at the yardhouse watching 73 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: the NFL. 74 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,839 Speaker 5: That's right, that's right, and they think it's their right 75 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 5: to shout out at the ref And it got so 76 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 5: bad with club soccer the last year that there's a 77 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 5: now a rep abuse policy that was put into place 78 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 5: where if people become too disorderly, which they were doing 79 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 5: and yelling about every little thing, because all of a sudden, 80 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 5: if you're on the sidelines, you are a pro at 81 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 5: everything that needs to be called. A k Nott calls, 82 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 5: and so they put this policy in place, and as 83 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 5: a referee you can go to the manager of the team, 84 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 5: the coach and say, hey, you got to you got 85 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,239 Speaker 5: to call them your sidelines down, and if they don't, 86 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 5: you call the game. And I've called the game in 87 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 5: this last year because they were so they just sort 88 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 5: of forgot this game is about kids. 89 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: Now. What happens when you decide you're ending a game, 90 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: what is the reaction from the parents at that point? 91 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: Do they take that well, No. 92 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 6: They do not take that. Well. 93 00:04:55,600 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 5: It's like, hey, what's this we're playing, let's play, let's play. 94 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 5: It's like, okay, you can let them play. But I 95 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 5: don't need any more abuse, thank you. No one needs 96 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 5: the abuse that you're dumping on me. And I just 97 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 5: want to say for referees, for parents who don't know, 98 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 5: we have to go through First we have to be fingerprinted. 99 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 5: Then we have to get insurance because if something happens, lord, 100 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 5: we need insurance. And then you have to take This 101 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 5: past year for high school soccer, I had to take 102 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 5: one hundred question tests and score ninety on it. I 103 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 5: had to do at least three different courses, one on concussion, 104 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 5: one on serious fault play, one on I don't remember, 105 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 5: oh if the collapse, cardiac collapse on the field in 106 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 5: case and athletes collapses, and most referees have to take 107 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 5: all and football, soccer, lacrosse all have to take these courses. 108 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 5: Have the insurance, and we're not getting paid like the 109 00:05:58,080 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 5: pros are on TV. 110 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 4: No. 111 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: If a lot of rest and youth with blakes, I 112 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: would imagine are volunteers. 113 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 5: They start out as volunteers in ay is so andy 114 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 5: and so is pretty good about keeping people on play. 115 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 5: But then after a while, you sort of have fun 116 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 5: doing it, so you sign up to do it to 117 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 5: be paid. Trust me, you don't get paid a lot 118 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 5: of a soccer game. You can get between right now 119 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 5: high school seventy to ninety bucks that doesn't include gas 120 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 5: Miley Journey thing. You sort of have fun doing it 121 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 5: until the parents stepped in. Like yesterday, I did a 122 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 5: high school game, girls game varsity, and the ball came 123 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 5: and just hit this girl in the chest so hard. 124 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 5: It's just the ball really bounced off her boobs and 125 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 5: I was truckling because I thought, oh, this is a boomball. 126 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 5: But the parents on the side that we're going handle hand, Yeah, 127 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 5: you missed it. It's a handle. I'm thinking, well, those 128 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 5: are not hands that have founced off of But you know, 129 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 5: the the criticism that you get makes you wonder why 130 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 5: you would continue doing it. 131 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: I mean, do you get a point, do you ever 132 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: get to a point where you're actually fearing for your 133 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: own safety based on the outburst of some of these parents. 134 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, I've been escorted off the field over in 135 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 5: Santa Monica once because the parents did not like the 136 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 5: call that I gave one of the kids a yellow 137 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 5: card and then it was a bad ball and the parent, 138 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 5: one of the dads started to come after me, and 139 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 5: I had to have a police escort off the field, 140 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 5: which is like, you know, I'm not making enough money 141 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 5: to get a police escort off the field because a 142 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 5: parent is upset, that is, and I think everyone, Yeah, 143 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 5: most most referees have had some sort of experience where 144 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 5: they've been threatened, which you got to start to ask, 145 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 5: what's that all about. 146 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: Well, as we're now hearing, we are starting to see 147 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: a real shortage of people that want to do this, 148 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: specifically in youth sports, where you know, this isn't like 149 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: this is something maybe people do on the side. They 150 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: do it because you know, they want to, you know, 151 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,679 Speaker 1: they're passionate about their kids' leagues. But it sure seems 152 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: like this is a thankless job if there ever was one. 153 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, And part of the problem is there's a bunch 154 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 5: of us that are sort of older that have been 155 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 5: doing it for a while, and I sort of get 156 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 5: pleasure in just looking at people and just going, yeah, 157 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 5: stop it, you know, like a big mom on the field. 158 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 5: But new people that are starting, younger people they do 159 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 5: it for a season and then they don't do it again. 160 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 5: So trying to get people to stay with it for 161 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 5: more than a year is a real problem. And it 162 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 5: all goes back to the harassment and the shouting from 163 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 5: the people on the side, and often said we should 164 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 5: put every parent in a rep uniform and put them 165 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 5: out there that they might understand better. 166 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, maybe that's what we got to do. We've got 167 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: to have the parents all rotate. They do it one game, 168 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: then they have to know what it's like and then 169 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: maybe they'll give you a little respect. 170 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 5: Yeah that could be because Ayso used to do that. 171 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 5: But what's happened now is kids sports have become such 172 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 5: a business that everyone pays three thousand or more to 173 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 5: put their kid on a traveling club team. So it's 174 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 5: a business. The coach makes that much per child, say soccer, 175 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 5: say there's twelve kids on the team that the parents 176 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 5: each pay three thousand for it because supposed to leave 177 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 5: they're getting better coaching. And then you go to all 178 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 5: sorts of places with these people like Maiso or wherever. 179 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 5: But once parents are paying that much money to have 180 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 5: their kids play, they think their kids should be really 181 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 5: good because they're paying money to have such good coaching, 182 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 5: and the reality is is most kids are not going 183 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 5: to play in high school and are not going to 184 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 5: even play in college because they're not that good. And 185 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 5: so it's time to sort of put the emphasis back 186 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 5: on having fun with playing rather than making it a 187 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 5: job for these kids. These poor kids, it's a job 188 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 5: for them, and I feel badly for them. 189 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: Well, and you're right, the pressure has gotten so out 190 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,319 Speaker 1: of control, especially what we see going on with and 191 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure this is true with a lot of sports, 192 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: but I've definitely heard stories in basketball where yes, you know, 193 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: you're twelve, thirteen, fourteen year old. They have to focus 194 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: on this so much because this is the career path 195 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: that the parents have set out for them, and they 196 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: believe they just spend the right amount of money on 197 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: the right coaching. It doesn't matter if you have natural 198 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: talent or not. And that kind of pressure could be breaking. 199 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: But it's funny all these stories that you're saying, almost 200 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: rarely are you ever hearing any outbursts from the kids players. 201 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: They're the ones that are being the adults in the 202 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: room here. It's the parents that have lost their minds. 203 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 5: Well, but you can see the kids that have those 204 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 5: kind of parents because they're very entitled. One girl came 205 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 5: up to me yesterday and she said that was a fault. 206 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 5: I looked at her and I said, no, it wasn't. 207 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 5: But there are because you have parents like that. The 208 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 5: kids are trying to please their parents, say they want 209 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 5: to be the best that they can be for their parents. 210 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,079 Speaker 5: So it just gets into the sort of endless cycle 211 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 5: of making this a business. The kids not having fun. 212 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 5: A lot of them drop out before they even get 213 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 5: into high school at the sport. And the other thing 214 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 5: that they don't talk about is kids that don't cycle 215 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 5: through a lot of different sports. They have injuries because 216 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 5: they're just doing one sport and they have the injuries 217 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 5: that come from the repeated pressure on whatever joint they're using. 218 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 5: So it's hurting the kids. 219 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: We're speaking with Sup Pasco, you know, where's the editor 220 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: of the Circling News. But she also is a ref 221 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: and is commenting on this insane story out of Mesa, Arizona, 222 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: where a hundred parents and children's all got into a 223 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: brawl at a youth football game. What do you think 224 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: needs to be done? You know, either you know, with 225 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: awareness or any kind of policy changes to make sure 226 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: parents don't get out of control when they're supposed to 227 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 1: be just supporting their kids in something that's supposed to 228 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: be fun. 229 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 5: Well, I have done this. I told the coach that 230 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 5: unless all the sideline left, the game wasn't going to 231 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 5: go on. I made all the parents leave in one game, 232 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 5: and this is surprisingly a pretty pleasant game. After they left, 233 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 5: and no one wanted to leave, but the choice was 234 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 5: either leave or I call the game. So they went 235 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 5: back to their cars and waited. But I was concerned 236 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 5: about my say, and I'm going back to my car. 237 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: I'll tell you that that is wild. 238 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 7: Well. 239 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: Sue Pasco editor at the Circling at the News. You 240 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: can go to her website and find out all information 241 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: that's going on when it comes to things going on 242 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: in the Palisades Circlingthenews dot com, Circlingthnews dot com. Sue, 243 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: thank you so much as always for joining us. 244 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 5: Oh, thanks for having me, and thanks for letting me 245 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 5: sort of speak about youth sports which has just gotten 246 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 5: so out of control of this country. 247 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,959 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks, thanks so much for joining us. If 248 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: this is something that you want to react to, the 249 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: phone lines are open right now. At eight hundred two 250 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 1: two two five two two two one, eight hundred two 251 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: two two five two two two. Maybe you have kids 252 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: now that are in these sports leagues. Maybe you had 253 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 1: kids ten years ago that were in these sports leagues. 254 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: But if you have witnessed some truly outrageous behavior from 255 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: parents at kids sports games, and you want to call in, 256 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: and you want to tell us what you have seen 257 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: out there, give us a call. Eight hundred two two 258 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: two five two two two one. Eight hundred two two 259 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: two five two two two. If you have witnessed some 260 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 1: truly outrageous behavior from parents at kids sports games, tell 261 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: us what you've seen, tell us what you've heard. Maybe 262 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: you've been a referee, Maybe you are one of those parents. 263 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: Maybe you want to defend yourself. Eight hundred two two 264 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: two five two two two one. Eight hundred two two 265 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 1: two five two two two. The phone lines are open 266 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: right now. You heard this story in Mesa, Arizona, where 267 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: one hundred parents and kids all got into a massive 268 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: brawl over a kid's football game. These things are happening 269 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: all the time. I'm sure it's not that outrageous, But 270 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: if you've seen some truly outrageous rude, brash behavior from 271 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: parents at kids sports games. Give us a call. Eight 272 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two one. Eight 273 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two. It's the 274 00:14:55,040 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: News Blitz with Randy Wang on talk radio seven ninety KABC. 275 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. We're 276 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: taking your phone calls at eight hundred two to two 277 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: two five two two two one. Eight hundred two to 278 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: two two five two two two. This weekend in Mesa, Arizona, 279 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: a massive brawl including one hundred people parents and kids 280 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 1: broke out at a kid's football game. Let's go back 281 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: to the story at ABC fifteen in Arizona. 282 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 4: And we try to leave because they made everyone leave, 283 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 4: like cancel the tournament. And there's probably thirty cock cars 284 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 4: in a line, and it's just crazy and just hard 285 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 4: to get out. It's took like ten to fifteen minutes 286 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 4: just to get out of there. 287 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 3: Police say that nobody was hurt here, there were no arrest. 288 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: Wait, nobody was hurt. You had one hundred people beating 289 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: each other up. 290 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 3: All the remaining games this weekend, including Sundays, were canceled. 291 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 3: What are the teams involved? Put out a statement on 292 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 3: social media, saying that they apologize for their involvement and 293 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 3: that multiple players for multiple teams will be suspended, no 294 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 3: injuries or arrest. 295 00:15:57,800 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: What about the parent? Is there any culpability for the 296 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: parents who get into a fight at a kid's football 297 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: game or reported? Do you get to drink at kids 298 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: football games? I guess you pregame before. 299 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 3: For all of this. I actually coincidentally had a conversation 300 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 3: with the AIA about the need for officials in youth sports, 301 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 3: and they told me they have fifty thousand games where 302 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 3: they need multiple officials year round, and they're always in 303 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 3: need of referees and officials for all of the sports. 304 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 3: The commissioner of the officials that said unruly spectators actually 305 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 3: have gotten worse over the years. I spoke with the 306 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 3: Valley nonprofit they're called Protect the Game. They trained veterans 307 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 3: to become referees. They explained what they're seeing in youth 308 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 3: sports these days. 309 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 7: For younger people to raise their hand and say it 310 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 7: used to be kind of a nice little summer job 311 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 7: for some somebody to learn how to officiate and make 312 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 7: some money. It's just not worth it, you know, to somebody. 313 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: To go that's a whole lot of abuse for a 314 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:58,239 Speaker 1: very little amount of money. 315 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 7: Out there and be berated, you know, for a missed 316 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 7: call on the field. You can't pay anybody enough to 317 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 7: enter that field, and so that has caused, you know, 318 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 7: quite a shortage. 319 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, and she adds to that that the average age 320 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 3: for a referee right now is fifty five and it's 321 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 3: not so much toy. 322 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: They're going to age out of that real quick. Let's 323 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: take a call here. Let's go to Tim and Woodland Hills. Tim. Hello, Yeah, hi, Randy. 324 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 8: You know, I used a referee ays SO soccer. I 325 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 8: did it for a number of years. And there were 326 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 8: moments where some parents got a little upset, and there 327 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 8: were some moments where some kids got upset, but generally speaking, 328 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 8: my experience was extraordinarily positive. I was terribly sorry when 329 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 8: I had to stop refereeing because of work commitments. Ayso 330 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 8: spends a tremendous amount of effort to train their volunteers. 331 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 8: We of course, got paid nothing. The only thing I 332 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 8: ever got out of it from their side was I 333 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 8: got a free shirt and a free set of free pants. 334 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 8: Everything else I had to pay for, but I thought 335 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 8: it was a great experience. You're out there with the 336 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 8: kids running with them, and it was a fabulous way 337 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,159 Speaker 8: to participate sort of in sports from a different angle 338 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 8: that I wish I could still do. And I encourage 339 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 8: people if they have an opportunity to do that, and 340 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 8: they're interested in doing good work, a good job, then 341 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 8: go for it. 342 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 1: Well, I love that that was such a positive experience 343 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: for you. So it doesn't seem like you had any 344 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: experiences where the parents were screaming at you over at call. 345 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 8: We had a playoff game where my assistant referee made 346 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 8: a call. 347 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 9: I went over and talked to him and said, was 348 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 9: you know, did you see this, this and this? He 349 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 9: said he did, and I had to wave off a goal. 350 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 9: And then I talked to this supervisor who was at 351 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 9: the site at the same time, and I asked him 352 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 9: during halftime, was that offsite? He shook his head, no, 353 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 9: he said, but you did the right thing. You talked 354 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 9: to your assistant referee. You have to go with what 355 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 9: they say if they say they saw but no, it 356 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 9: was a mistake. And afterwards the parents were a little upset, 357 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 9: and it was because they didn't understand off sides. And 358 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 9: so what I did, Randy, is when they were upset, 359 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 9: and at the end of the game, I asked a 360 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 9: few of them, even though should have just elapsed, but 361 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 9: I asked the coach to get them together, and we 362 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 9: got together and I said, look, you know, everybody's doing 363 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 9: their best out here. We're volunteers. Nobody's getting paid. But 364 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 9: think about this, do me a favor, and let's try 365 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 9: to make good, good examples for the kids. You know what, 366 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 9: if it was a mistake or not a mistake, we'll 367 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 9: go with you know what happened, and I'm sorry if 368 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 9: anything was wrong that it may have affected the game, 369 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,360 Speaker 9: but let's try to set a good example for the kids. 370 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 9: And they all bucked up, you know, they all you know, okay, 371 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 9: they got quiet, They thank me, and that was the 372 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 9: end of it. 373 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 8: And I think that if you work with people and 374 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 8: you try to maintain a positive approach to what you're doing, 375 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 8: I mean, I'll tell you I wish the heck but 376 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 8: that physically again, in time wise, I was able to 377 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 8: go back and referee ays, so I'd do it the minute. 378 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: Hey, it sounds like it was a I love that 379 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: you did that, that you told the parents to be adults. 380 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: I love it. Thank you so much for the call, 381 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: appreciate it. Eight hundred two two two five two two 382 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 1: two is the telephone number. 383 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 8: One. 384 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: Eight hundred two two two five two two two. It's 385 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk radio seven 386 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: ninety KABC. It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang 387 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: on Talk radio seven ninety KABC. We're here every single 388 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: day from five to six talking about the local issues 389 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: that mattered to you most and taking your phone calls 390 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: eight hundred two two two five two two two one 391 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: eight hundred two two two five two two two your 392 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: emails at Randy Wang Radio at gmail dot com and 393 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:47,880 Speaker 1: search for the KABC News Blitz wherever you get your podcasts. 394 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: We're taking phone calls from people who have refereed in 395 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 1: youth sports. After this explosive story at a Mesa, Arizona, 396 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: where one hundred parents and kids all got into a 397 00:20:56,520 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: fight over a football game, Let's go to Jeff and Sen. I'mnica. Jeff, Hello, Hey. 398 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 6: Randy, Yeah, I coached. I'm sorry. I reffed ayso for 399 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 6: my daughter many years ago. I think she was around 400 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 6: ten at the time, and they were a lack of refs, 401 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 6: so I did it and one game was all kinds 402 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 6: of stuff went down, but one game in particular. At 403 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 6: that age, some girls are a lot bigger than other girls. 404 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 6: This girl was basically mowing down other kids unsafe. I 405 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 6: first spoke to her, I then spoke to the coach. 406 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 6: It didn't stop. The girl's father egged, actually egged her 407 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:40,719 Speaker 6: on to basically like run over other girls, and I 408 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 6: ultimately called the time out. I went up to the 409 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 6: father on the sidelines and just told him that if 410 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,239 Speaker 6: he makes another sound during the game, I'll meet him 411 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 6: in the parking lot and embarrass him in front of 412 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 6: his family. And that quieted him down. 413 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: Oh my, you told him. What's what. 414 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 6: It's unfortunate it has to come to that. But youth 415 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 6: sports is absolutely out of control. 416 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's so much pressure and apparently out you know 417 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: once you graduate from Ayso there's so much money involved 418 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: with some of these clubs that I don't know. People 419 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 1: are getting way too invested in something that's supposed to 420 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: be a pastime for kids, a thing for kids to 421 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 1: grow and bond, and now it's all become just there 422 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: is so much pressure. 423 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 6: Yeah, it's not an all time high, and there's a 424 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 6: lot of money. It's a total racket. Every parent thinks 425 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 6: for kids going to be D one, very few of 426 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 6: them will be. Yeah, and then I've also seen, you know, 427 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:56,919 Speaker 6: more than a few kids quit the sport because they 428 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 6: were so they were so miserable from how their parents 429 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 6: treated them if they didn't play well, they just to 430 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 6: remove that from happening, they simply quit the sport, which 431 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 6: is obviously very very sad. 432 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, that that is heartbreaking, but I totally understand it. 433 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: I mean, kids are supposed to be kids, and now 434 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: you know, you've you've got parents that are putting their whole, 435 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: you know, their whole aspirations for some dream that they 436 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: didn't fulfill on a twelve year old. 437 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 6: Correct, one hundred percent, that's exactly right, exactly right. I mean, 438 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 6: actually one time and I'll let you go, but one time, 439 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 6: or you'll let me go. But I one time, I 440 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 6: brought all the parents to the middle of the field 441 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 6: because it was getting chippy, and I asked the parents, hey, 442 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 6: everyone raised their hand if you think your kid's going 443 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 6: to play D one soccer. Of course, almost every parent 444 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 6: raised their hand, and then I told them, everyone, now 445 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 6: lower your hand, and that's that's the reality. So can 446 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 6: we just enjoy our kids playing and being active. 447 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: Wow, I love that. I love that you did that. Well, 448 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: thank you so much for the stories. Thanks so much 449 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: for the call, Jeff, appreciate it. 450 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 10: You know. 451 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: I guess I should be pretty thankful that this was 452 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: never anything I did. 453 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 6: Now. 454 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: I was not into sports. I was also pretty overweight. 455 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: But I was a band kid, and you know, there 456 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: wasn't really any pressure on me to like succeed in band. 457 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 1: I just I was good at it. I enjoyed it, 458 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,479 Speaker 1: you know. But when I got into high school, it 459 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: graduated into marching band, so it was now kind of 460 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: a physical activity. I distinctly remember my first practice day, 461 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: what they call hell week, where you're out in the 462 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: sun in August in Valencia for eight hours, and I 463 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 1: remember coming back and my face was so red. I 464 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: was so exhausted. I turned on the shower to as 465 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: cold as possible and just jumped in there. But you know, 466 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:00,200 Speaker 1: I never felt that kind of pressure. Definitely not from 467 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:01,919 Speaker 1: my family. I don't think anyone who was betting that 468 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: I was going to become a professional musician or a 469 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: professional marching band play. I don't think that's even a thing. So, 470 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,679 Speaker 1: you know, after two years I was like, you know what, 471 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: I could either do this or I could go get 472 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: a job at Magic Mountain and make some money and 473 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: buy a car. And I decided to do that, and 474 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 1: ultimately I made the right choice because I loved that job. 475 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: But I did really enjoy that. But gosh, the pressure 476 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: that is on kids now, especially when you go to 477 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,439 Speaker 1: some of these schools where you do get some kids 478 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: that turn pro. My high school, Heart High School has 479 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: had several Major League Baseball players, several ones that went 480 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: to World Series. It is wild, but you got to 481 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: imagine how much pressure there is on every kid that 482 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 1: doesn't go that far. And it's funny. Of all the 483 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 1: places that I heard this topic discussed in depth, it 484 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 1: was when I listened to because I'm a geek and 485 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: I have to listen to everything he does because there 486 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: might be something news worthy. Also, you know, I walk 487 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: my dogs a lot, and when I'm in Santa Fe, 488 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: I just walk around a lot, So sometimes I need 489 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: things to listen to. But I was listening to Gavin 490 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: Newsome on the All the Smoke podcasts. That's the one 491 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: with Matt Barnes who used to be on the Lakers, 492 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 1: and I forget the other guy that's on, I think 493 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:23,959 Speaker 1: he's it was a former warrior and they had an 494 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 1: intense discussion and they kept telling Gavin something needs to 495 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,400 Speaker 1: be done at the state level when it comes to 496 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: all of these youth sports leagues, these private clubs, the 497 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 1: ones where parents are paying all this kinds of money 498 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: because the kids are getting way over pressured and it's 499 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: thinking that they're going to have to go pro when 500 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: you can pay as much money as you want. Very 501 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: few kids are going to have that natural talent to 502 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: go all the way. Some will, but so many won't. 503 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: And that is a heck of a lot of pressure 504 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 1: to put on teenagers that you know, it really has 505 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: because a business and there's so much money in all 506 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: of it. Yeah, an interesting place that I heard that 507 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: topic discussed. I don't think there's going to be any 508 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 1: policy changes from it, but at least there's an acknowledgment 509 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: that some parents are going just a little too far 510 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: in trying to invest in their kid's future. Eight hundred 511 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: two to two two is the telephone number when we 512 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 1: come back a major change at La Metro. It's the 513 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It's the News 514 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:42,479 Speaker 1: Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It's finally happened. Something 515 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: that was being discussed in nineteen eighty has finally been 516 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: approved by the Los Angeles Metro Board. They have approved 517 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: the new plan for a quote, high speed rail from 518 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: the San Fernando Valley to the west side, and apparently 519 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: it's going to go through Van Eyes Boulevard. They say 520 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: this project is going to be completed by twenty thirty three. 521 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: There's no way that's happening. But hey, I would be 522 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: supportive of this if they found a way to make 523 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 1: it safe and efficient. I would even ride it. That's 524 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: how much I hate the four h five freeway. The 525 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,120 Speaker 1: Metro Border's KTLA's just to prove to plan. 526 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 3: To construct a train that connects the San Fernando Valley 527 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,959 Speaker 3: to LA's west side. KTLA five's Kimberly Chang live now 528 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 3: in downtown LA with the details Kimberly. 529 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 11: Glenn High. Yes, the board just took a vote. This 530 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 11: is a pivotal decision that's going to affect this rail 531 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 11: project that's been in the works for years. 532 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: Let's get back to La Metro finally approving the Supulvita 533 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: Transit Corridor project. 534 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 11: Transit time. As we know, the four or five is 535 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 11: one of the most traveled and congested highways in La County. 536 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: Let me just say as somebody that has to drive 537 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: on the four or five Freeway twice a day every 538 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: day at the worst possible part, because I'm in the 539 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: San Fernando Valley and I have to end up at 540 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: Culver City every day. Except you know, when I'm luckily 541 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: in Santa Fe, New Mexico, those are good times. Remotes, 542 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: those are great too. But it is it is the 543 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: worst part of my day. It is the worst part 544 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 1: of my job. It is soul sucking. It is so awful. 545 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: The drivers are so terrible. There's so many inpatient line cutters, 546 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: especially when you're trying to merge onto the four or 547 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: five or at the end of the day onto the 548 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 1: one oh one. It is awful. There are too many cars. 549 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:40,240 Speaker 1: Expanding it in twenty eleven did nothing. All of these 550 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 1: projects have done nothing. If they actually could do something 551 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 1: to take these cars off the road, we should do 552 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: it like yesterday. The problem is this project is going 553 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: to take at least a decade, if not longer. They 554 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: promised the high speed rail that would connect San Francisco 555 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: to Los Angeles would be done in twenty twenty, and 556 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: they started twenty twelve. Well, now that's not going to 557 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: be done until twenty fifty. So you really think that 558 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: this line is going to get done by twenty thirty three, 559 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 1: I don't think so. 560 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 11: The goal with this project is to give commuters a 561 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 11: quicker alternative. In June, Metro released a draft report which 562 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 11: analyzed the details, including rail transit modes and station locations. 563 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 11: Public input was also received. The board took that into 564 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 11: consideration and today voted to approve Modified Alternative five. That's 565 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 11: an underground heavy rail option which would place a stop 566 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 11: near UCLA's Westwood campus. Many were at the meeting today 567 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,720 Speaker 11: and spoke during public comments, including UCLA students who are 568 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 11: thrilled that the board has approved this option. 569 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: You realize that this thing won't be built by the 570 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: time you graduate, right, might not be built by the 571 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: time your kids graduate. 572 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 10: So we have thousands of UCLA students and employees leaving 573 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 10: the valley. This project would transform lives and livelihoods, and 574 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 10: I think an on compensation would increase the amount of 575 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 10: access students have to UCLA. 576 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: I mean, if it finally happens, it's probably going to 577 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: be a great thing unless the technology is completely obsolete 578 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: by the time it's built. Who knows what advancements are 579 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 1: going to happen in the next twenty or thirty years. 580 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 1: But I also just have to employ you with this. 581 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: And yes, it is completely selfish for me to make 582 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 1: this plea, but I'm never going to stop making this 583 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: plea because it's not this complicated. There are a lot 584 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: of jobs that require you to be in person five 585 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: days a week. And there are a lot of jobs, 586 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: as we discovered during COVID that it is not necessary 587 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: local government being one of them. But there are so 588 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: many jobs. I remember what it was like because as 589 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: an essential employee, I never got to work from home. 590 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 1: I didn't get to get exiled to Palm Springs John Phillips. 591 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 1: I had to go to Culver City every single day, 592 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: even in the early days, where I had to put 593 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,280 Speaker 1: a little note in my car in case I got 594 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 1: pulled over saying I was an essential employee because I 595 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 1: worked at a radio station. And you know what, for 596 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: a year and a half, almost two years, it took 597 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: me twenty minutes to get to and from the radio 598 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: station every day. And look, there were a lot of 599 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: awful things about COVID, but that was the one bright 600 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: spot for me, and I don't I'm not saying we 601 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 1: go back to that, but if we actually incentivized some 602 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 1: kind of organized, scheduled remote working for certain industries where 603 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 1: it does make sense, and you took twenty percent of 604 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: the cars off the road, this traffic nightmare that we 605 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: experience every day would be fixed. But we're not going 606 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: to do that because and I'll tell you why, they're 607 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 1: never going to do that. If you give people that 608 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 1: work in Los Angeles the opportunity to not have to 609 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: live in Los Angeles because they don't have to drive, 610 00:32:56,760 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 1: they're moving. If I was able who work fully remote, 611 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: I would have moved to Santa Fe a year ago. 612 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 10: It's a leading class, world class university. 613 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: It's my five year plan. The tenure plan is now 614 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 1: to move to Spain. 615 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:13,480 Speaker 10: And we have students traveling back and forth from the 616 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 10: valley that are suffering from paying parking or driving and 617 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 10: being stuck in traffic. And I don't think that's what 618 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 10: a leading university should go through. 619 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 7: This will really reduce travel time. 620 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 11: It's estimated that people spend forty to ninety minutes and 621 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 11: it's a povelic transit corder and this will cut it 622 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 11: down to about twenty minutes if you go by public transportation. 623 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: We had over ten Well again if you are going 624 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 1: specifically to Ucla because right now, and this is the 625 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: problem with La Metro with such a massive area. Again, 626 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 1: I'm supportive of this project. The valley has not gotten 627 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: anything compared to the amount of construction that's been built 628 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 1: in the rest of the city. They are, you know, 629 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 1: the orange lines, just a giant bos which, considering all 630 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 1: the copper wire theft, might actually be smarter than all 631 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: of these rail lines. But it will take you from 632 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 1: Vanuys Boulevard to Wilshire. So if you if you work 633 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 1: right around there, great, But if you don't, how do 634 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 1: you get to you know, what is your first mile, 635 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:10,319 Speaker 1: what is your last mile? What if it's your first mile, 636 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,839 Speaker 1: in your last five miles? This city is still too 637 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: massive for Metro to be feasible for so many people. 638 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 2: Ten community meetings with over eight thousand. 639 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: Comments, and they don't care about that. 640 00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:23,760 Speaker 7: Responses were remarkable. 641 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 8: We had nine over ninety percent of support for this project. 642 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 1: And as I mentioned this, by the way, another problem 643 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 1: with this project is the measure M tax and an 644 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:39,240 Speaker 1: older one measure AR tax that have been raising money 645 00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 1: for this for the past decade. They've raised about two 646 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: and a half billion dollars and the latest estimates, which 647 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 1: there haven't been any official ones, but considering the cost 648 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 1: of labor and goods and everything else has gone up, 649 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 1: this thing could cost twenty five billion dollars or more. 650 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 11: This was a milestone vote, but not the final approval. 651 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:00,560 Speaker 11: This wie now will Oh yeah. 652 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:02,919 Speaker 1: It's also they still have to go through the rest 653 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 1: of the environmental review and all the seque nonsense, because 654 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:08,520 Speaker 1: you know this would involve tunneling through a mountain. 655 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 11: Metro to focus additional environmental analysis on this chosen alternative. 656 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:16,440 Speaker 11: They'll also have to plan the design, do community outreach, 657 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,880 Speaker 11: develop a funding plan, and secure additional funding. 658 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: Okay, so how is this project going to be done 659 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 1: in twenty thirty three if they still have what looks 660 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:28,320 Speaker 1: like years of still research and study. This thing's not approved. 661 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:32,279 Speaker 1: It's nonsense. But hey, if they actually get it built 662 00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:33,920 Speaker 1: and it takes cars off the road, how could I 663 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:36,879 Speaker 1: not be supportive? Because the four or five is the 664 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:40,200 Speaker 1: worst freeway in the world. It's the news Blitz with 665 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:42,200 Speaker 1: Randy Wang on KABC