Category: Sports

Surfrider has launched a petition directed toward decision makers to keep public access  to San Onofre State Beach.

Here’s their statement on the Petition.

California’s State Parks’ lease allowing public access to San Onofre State Beach expires in August 2024. Without a lease renewal or extension, we could lose public access to this valuable stretch of coastline and world-renowned surf breaks indefinitely!

Make your voice heard by these key leaders and decision-makers:

By Geoff Page

A volleyball company’s use of OB’s sands to make money has residents who live nearby upset. This was all detailed in The Rag’s February 22 piece. It appeared that this problem was solved recently when the city denied Volo Sports, the subject of the previous Rag story, a permit to use “pop-up” volleyball nets.

The immediate issue, the apparent reason why the city denied the permit, was a safety concern brought forward by the lifeguards. The official word from the lifeguards is not forthcoming, but it is known the objection had to do with “pop-up” volleyball nets.

By Arturo Castañares / La Prensa / May 2, 2024

San Diego State University and the California State University Chancellor’s office now claim there are no public records related to a 2022 proposal from a private developer to build a new sports arena at no expense to taxpayers within the SDSU West campus in Mission Valley, although a term sheet was reviewed in mid-2022.

SDSU President Adela de la Torre, several University officials, and two private businessmen flew to Texas on a private jet in May 2022 to tour a similar sports arena built at the University of Texas at Austin’s campus

By Chas Smith / Beach Grit / April 24, 2024

A San Diego lifeguard is back home after nearly losing his life while surfing Nicaragua. Todd Rice, 23, was in the Central American country enjoying a fine pulse of swell when a panga ran him over deeply cutting his leg. The hit nearly caused Rice to lose consciousness but he mustered the internal fortitude to fashion a tourniquet from his leash and control the bleeding until help arrived.

From Source:

Presented by the Hodad’s Foundation & AWOL Productions. We’re dedicated to honoring the Old School ways and keeping it local! This Surf Contest is for all the local rippers and families in our beloved Ocean Beach Community.

By Colleen O’Connor

“It’s the economy, stupid,” a phrase coined by Bill Clinton strategist, James Carville in 1992, defined that election and defeated President George W. Bush.

The 2024 election, however, will not be about the economy.  Inflation is hot again (nothing new); rents and housing are expensive.  The price of gas and food (kept out of the inflation stats) are already baked in.

Women know about these costs while trying to put “food on the table.”  Now their reproductive rights are at risk.  A bitter assault on personal, private decisions. The 2024 election will be about and for women. 

La Prensa Offers Time Line to Latest Scandal Affecting Midway Rising and Sports Arena Redevelopment

By Arturo Castañares / La Prensa / April 8, 2024

Sometimes it takes time and distance to see more clearly how relationships and interests help explain the actions of others.

We learned that lesson with the 101 Ash building debacle that was exposed by the media more than three years after insiders had worked together to fleece taxpayers and left a $200 million hole in the City’s budget with only a toxic, empty building to show for it.

By Arturo Castañares / La Prensa San Diego / March 30, 2024

San Diego State University has arbitrarily delayed disclosing documents requested by La Prensa San Diego beyond the timeline allowed by California law.

The requested documents are related to discussions in 2022 between SDSU officials and a Denver-based development company to build a new sports and entertainment arena as part of SDSU West in Mission Valley.

By Arturo Castañares / La Prensa San Diego – Editor-at-Large / March 23, 2024

San Diego State University officials received a proposal in 2022 to build a new sports arena within the Mission Valley development at no cost to the public but have kept the offer under wraps even as the City of San Diego is currently negotiating to develop a similar facility at the existing Sports Arena site.

SDSU President Adela de la Torre, the University’s Athletic Director, and several prominent San Diegans flew to Texas on a private jet in May 2022 to tour the Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin (UTA) at the invitation of the company that led the development project.

By Nicole Arthur – OBE PTA

Mark your calendars! Two important events are occurring March 10, 2024. The start of Daylight Saving Time, and Ocean Beach Elementary’s 12th annual Skate for the Kids Fundraising Event.

The OBE PTA and Ocean Beach Surf and Skate Shop have partnered up to make this a family-friendly event to remember, with plenty of fun for kids and adults alike. Kicking off at Robb Field on Sunday, March 10th at 12pm,

By Geoff Page

At the request of some long-time OB locals, The Rag took a look at the volleyball situation on OB’s beaches. After years of observing volleyball on the sand, it never occurred to this writer that it was all a business. And it actually is a money-making business.

VOLO

A company named VOLO has the current permit for use of the sand to play volleyball.

There was a question about VOLO having changed its name recently from VAVi to VOLO. It is possible more people are familiar with the VAVi name, which was the former company that had the volleyball contract with the city. There was no name change, VOLO simply acquired VAVi.

Joint venture between ballclub, Point Loma Nazarene University is ‘what modern-day player development looks like in athletics’

By Jeff Sanders / San Diego Union-Tribune / Feb. 5, 2024 

Frankie Montas signed a one-year, $16 million deal with the Reds in early January even after shoulder surgery limited him to one relief appearance last year. The Tigers will pay Jack Flaherty $16 million despite the 28-year-old flirting with a 5.00 ERA in 2023. Luis Severino (6.65 ERA), Kyle Gibson (4.73 ERA) and Lance Lynn (5.73 ERA) will all make more than $10 million this year.