Match-up set the stage for infamous Billie Jean King-Bobby Riggs "Battle of the sexes"

By Richard Muscio

I just returned from the Ramona suburb of San Vicente on Mother’s Day 2013, where I spent the weekend to see what festivities or activities might be going on to commemorate the 40th anniversary of one of the most historic tennis matches in our country’s history. Sadly, I found nothing there, beyond the beautiful scenery.

On Mother’s Day 1973 (May 13, 1973 to be exact), the first “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match took place there, as a sales gimmick put on by the legendary real estate developer Ray Watt.  Aimed at drawing the Hollywood crowd 120 miles south to the still-remote San Diego Country Estates, developer Watt hoped to bring attention to the 3,000 vacant lots he had for sale there, in hopes that actors and actresses and other luminaries would buy his vacant lots and construct glorious vacation homes thereupon.

Media outlets reported today that the International Olympic Committee rules may prohibit a joint bid by the U.S. and Mexico to host the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in San Diego and Tijuana.

In response Mayor Bob Filner released the following statement. “We are undaunted by this statement from the International Olympic Committee. We don’t have all the answers right now."

April 18, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego Chapter of the Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) will hold its spring membership kickoff on Sunday, April 21 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, 17550 Bernardo Oaks Rd. in San Diego, beginning with registration, a buffet breakfast and sponsor showcase at 9 a.m. followed by nine holes of golf. The cost of $55 includes the buffet breakfast and golf, as well as door prizes and an opportunity drawing. Women golfers of all skill levels are welcome to attend to learn more about the benefits of EWGA membership.

Featured speaker will be PGA Player Development Regional Manager Nikki Gatch,  spokesperson for  PGA's Get Golf Ready, a program whose mission to help novice golfers to learn and enjoy the game of golf mirrors that of EWGA.

April 3, 2013 (San Diego) – Padres baseball returns on Tuesday, April 9, and MTS has scheduled extra service for the Green Line and Blue to get people out to the ball game in time for the first pitch.  And, while supplies last, MTS will give fans a Coca-Cola beverage and a box of Cracker Jacks to encourage fans to get on board early.

Extra service on the Green Line – which now goes from Santee all the way to ball park area stations – begins at 1:30 p.m. with more frequency between the Qualcomm Stadium station and downtown. Blue Line extra service begins at 1:45 p.m. from San Ysidro.

	Freshman third baseman Ty France leads the Aztecs in home runs and is tied for the team RBI lead.

March 27, 2013

Complete Release and Season Statistics - SDSU Athletics

WHAT'S ON TAP THIS WEEKEND IN AZTEC BASEBALL

SDSU will be on the road this week for Mountain West play with a three-game series at conference foe New Mexico beginning Thursday, March 28, at 2:05 p.m. (MT) at Lobo Field in Albuquerque. The Aztecs and Rebels will also meet in singles games on Friday (March 29) and Saturday (March 30) at 2:05 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. respectively. The games were originally scheduled to be played at Isotopes Park, but have been moved to the on-campus Lobo Field with all three contests being played in the afternoon. The series runs Thursday through Saturday due to Easter falling on Sunday (March 31).

SERIES RECORD

SDSU leads its series against New Mexico by the count of 98-61. The Lobos have won 18 of the last 25 meetings between the teams dating back to the 2008 season. That mark includes the Lobos winning five of six during the 2012 regular season as well as the contest between the teams in the championship game of the 2012 Mountain West tournament. San Diego State has a record of 63-27 vs. UNM in San Diego, 31-30 in Albuquerque and 4-4 on neutral fields.

HooleyFest moves to March 16, race takes off on March 17

March 14, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Sure ‘n’ what could be finer on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, than to take a run to benefit several East County charities – and have a chance to win a bit of green for your efforts?

The5K Hooleys to Hooleys half-marathon  race will benefit the East County Chamber of Commerce, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center,  Home of Guiding Hands, Stoney’s Kids, Partnership with Industry, and the East County Transitional Living Center.  Get a T-shirt for entering and a medal for finishing—plus you can s cash prizes of $500 for the lad and lassie who place first and additional prize money for second and third places. 

Also enjoy Hooleys beer and plenty of St. Patrick’s Day cheer—and don’t forget to wear some green.

March 10, 2013 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon congratulates El Cajon’s Jimmie Johnson on his first place finish at the Daytona 500 on February 24, 2013. This is Johnson’s second Daytona 500 victory and 400^th start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

In Celebration of the City’s Centennial Year, November 2012 through November 2013, look for Jimmie Johnson Banners to be up around the City very soon. Key places the banners will be placed include the homes the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Habitat for Humanity built on Foundation Lane, on Second Street where the car culture of the community was enjoyed, and near Jimmie’s favorite Mexican restaurant at Greenfield Drive and East Main Street close to where Jimmie grew up in East El Cajon.

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

March 4, 2013 (Ocotillo Wells)—The 51^st  annual Tietra del Sol Desert Safari, a large meeting of off-road enthusiasts, convened at the California State Vehicular Area at Ocotillo Wells over the weekend.

Among the many thousands who came out were active duty Navy personnel, including Chief Mark Shultz, who serves as the President of 4 Wheel to Heal in his off duty time. This organization is an extension of Ward 57 at Bethesda National Naval Center in D.C.  Its goal is “boosting the morale of wounded veterans from all branches of service” by taking them four wheeling, rock crawling, mud bogging, shooting and camping.

February 28, 2013 (San Diego)—San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante officially opened a San Diego City office south of the border on Friday, February 22, in a show of unity and commitment to encouraging both economic growth and cultural respect.

“Somos dos ciudades pero una region.  We are two cities, but one region.  This office opening is not just a symbolic gesture, we are going to solidify our relationship and work together to build a great border community,” said Mayor Filner.

By Nadin Abbott

February 23, 2013 (San Diego)—Mark your calendars if you are into off road fun-- the Tierra del Sol Desert Safari will be held on March 1-3, at the Ocotillo Wells Vehicle Recreation Area, near Ocotillo Wells.

This year the 51^st annual Safari will be in honor of one of the early members of the club, Joe Branch, who died last year. The club itself was incorporated in 1961 as a nonprofit, though previously the early members met in the Anza Borrego State Park (established in 1941) where members met at the Truckhaven café, which was “at the end of thirty miles of rough road passing over hills, washes and mesas.”

Keshia Baker returns from the 2012 Summer Olympics with a gold medal, but remains hungry for future success

 

By Julie Mashburn

February 8, 2013 (San Diego)-- “I need you to run.”

Those five words put Keshia Baker, a graduate student at San Diego State University, on the fast track to the other side of the globe.  

January 27, 2013 (El Cajon) – Steele Canyon Youth Football & Cheer is now registering players for its Spring 8-Man Football League.  Registration will take place at Round Table Pizza, 2650 Jamacha Road, El Cajon on January 30 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Practice will start and February.  There are no try-outs and everyone plays.  Open to grades 5 through 8.  Competition lasts through May.

January 16, 2012 (Jamul)--The League will have tryouts on Saturday, January 26^th starting at 9am for players ages 7-14.  There will also be registration for boys and girls ages 5-14. 

The location is at the Jamul Little League Fields at 14545 Lyons Valley Rd, Jamul, CA.  The fields are between Jamul Primary and Jamul Intermediate School.

Norwegian kicker Havard Rugland trains in San Diego with coach Michael Husted

December 26, 2012 (San Diego) – More than a million people have viewed Norwegian Havard Rugland’s YouTube video showing off his amazing kicking skills, says kicking coach Michael Husted, a former NFL kicker working wtih Rugland in San Diego.  It’s also earned him the attention of NFL coaches and a workout with the New York Jets—even though he’s never played in a football game before.

View Havard Rugland's "Kickalicious" YouTube video here, in which he kicks footballs not only through goalposts on fields, but also into the waiting arms of a colleague in a moving car, on a skateboard, and atop a hill.

Husted, who has been training Rugland in recent weeks, is not surprised that the video has generated plenty of ‘buzz’ in both the media and the NFL.

December 11, 2012 (San Diego) -- “We had a good season, it didn’t end the right way,” Aztecs head coach Rocky Long reflected after the Poinsettia  Bowl.  “We turned the ball over way too much in the second half.”

For full details, see the Aztecs sports center at http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/sdsu-m-footbl-spec-rel.html