STRAIGHT TALK REPORTER Newsletter of the Straight Talk Television Show

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Volume 3 Number 3 May/June 2008 To Open Home Season June 13

The Long Beach Armada start their fourth season of play as first round draft choices: Millikan High standout and major a professional minor league team at league pitcher Nick Bierbrodt; major . The home season will begin on league pitcher Jerome Williams; Friday, June 13th (hopefully not an David Parrish; and former San Francisco unlucky omen!). The Armada advanced to Giant Tony Torcato. the Championship Series last season, and have had 15 players Throughout the 2008 season, the Armada purchased off their roster by Major League will help celebrate historic Blair Field's organizations in the last three years. 50th Anniversary with fun and exciting promotional nights for the whole family in- The new manager of the 2008 Armada cluding fireworks, movies after the game, Baseball Team is former L.A. Dodger great great giveaways, charity benefits, and excit- . Yeager’s team is comprised ing Armada baseball. of former and prospective major leaguers including four (Continued on Page 3) Straight Talk Charity Night to Benefit PAL Program Art Levine is Host/Executive Producer The evening is a fundraiser for the Long Beach Police of the Straight Talk Television Show Athletic League. Straight Talk host/executive producer Art Levine stated “we are delighted to again be able to support The Straight Talk Television show will the PAL Program and raise money for this very worthwhile celebrate its fifteenth year on the air on cause. Past Straight Talk Charity Nights have generated more Saturday, June 21, 2008 with a Charity than $20,000 for PAL, and we hope to again make a signifi- Night to benefit the Long Beach Police cant contribution.” Athletic League (PAL Program). (Continued on Page 3)

The Honorary Co-Chairs for the 15th Anniversary Celebra- IN THIS ISSUE tion are Governor George Deukmejian, Mayor Bob Foster Interview with President Alexander and CSULB President F. King Alexander. • • Land Speed Racing by Gary Gabelich The festivities will take place at the El Dorado Country • In Fond Memory of John Craig Club in Long Beach starting at 5pm, and will include a Cock- • Around Town Photos tail Reception, Dinner, Dancing and a live Rock N’ Roll band. • Sponsor Spotlight: The Big Red Bus Dress for the evening is casual, Hawaiian or your favorite • FLASH! Congressman Rohrabacher rock n’ roll outfit. will provide a “Washington Update”

on the Straight Talk Show airing the (See Page 6) Entitled Rock N’ Summer, the Celebration features the hot weeks of May 18 & May 25 music of Ronny and the Classics.

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Page 2 Straight Talk Reporter

Long Beach Armada (continued from page 1)

Steve Bash is President/CEO Nick Bierbrodt, Pitcher Long Beach Armada Long Beach Armada

Steve Bash is in charge of day-to-day op- Nick Bierbrodt, a former Milikan High School erations for the Long Beach Armada, in- standout, was recently signed by the Armada for cluding management of all ticket, corpo- the 2008 season. Bierbrodt, selected in the first rate, marketing, promotional, advertising, round (30th overall) in the 1996 draft, was the database, community and public relations first ever draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks. A for- programs. Mr. Bash also oversees all staff mer top pitching prospect in the Diamondbacks organization management, budgeting, media relations, and all aspects of and an Arizona League All-Star in 1996, Bierbrodt played in game-day production. the majors for the Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Red Devils, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers, with stops in the Steve Yeager Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds organizations. Steve Yeager, the new field manager of the Long Beach Ar- mada, has managed and coached in the independent minor The Long Beach Armada recently announced that they have leagues and in the Dodgers farm system at levels up through signed a new five-year lease to play their home games at Triple-A. historic Blair Field, insuring hometown and family entertainment through at least the 2012 season. Yeager was a fourth round draft choice by the in 1967 out of Meadowdale High School in Dayton, Part of the agreement includes a six figure contribution from Ohio. He climbed quickly through the Dodgers farm system, the Armada, along with contributions from Long Beach earning All-Star honors in Double-A and establishing a repu- State and Partners of Parks, on a state-of-the-art score- tation as one of the finest young defensive in profes- board, giving the 50-year-old stadium a nice facelift. sional baseball. He broke into the majors late in 1972 with the Dodgers. His command of the game and throwing ability For information about the Armada's 2008 schedule or to were key to the Dodgers advancing to the four order tickets go to www.longbeacharmada.com or call times in his career, capped by the 1981 World Series vic- (562) 498-HITS (4487). tory over the Yankees when Yeager shared MVP honors with teammates Pedro Guerrero and . Steve Bash and Nick Bierbrodt will be our guests on the Straight Talk Show airing the weeks of June 1 & June 8. Charity Night (continued from page 1)

The Event Sponsor for this year’s Charity Night is Southern and educational activities to form a bond between police of- California Edison. SCE has been a long time sup- ficers and the youth of the community. PAL seeks porter of the community and of Straight Talk. to foster mutual trust, respect and understanding among police officers and youth by enabling them Supporting Sponsors of the event are: Community to interact in a safe and positive environment. PAL Hospital of Long Beach, LA County Supervisor has a proven track record in reducing crime and Don Knabe, and Molina Healthcare. Our Media turning young lives around. Sponsors are: The Press-Telegram, Charter Communications, Long Beach Business Journal, We hope you will join us for a fun evening for a and Long Beach Magazine. worthwhile cause.

We thank each of these enlightened, quality spon- Reservations for Charity Night are $100 each and sors for their support. Tables of 10 (with Program Recognition) are $1000. PAL Program The Long Beach Police Athletic League (PAL) is a citywide To reserve your place or for further information visit crime-prevention program that relies on athletic, recreational www.straighttalktv.com or call (562) 985-5673. Thought of the Month If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right. –Mary Kay Ash

Watch Shows Anytime: www.StraightTalkTV.com Page 3

McKenna’s on the Bay

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Pictured at the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade (l. to r.) - Straight Talk Host Art Levine, Christina, Sue and Katy Feller, and Charter TV Host Jeff Severson

Page 4 Straight Talk Reporter

On Land Speed Racing by Gary Gabelich

he land speed record is a measure of man’s assault on won’t give you all the answers; you have to drive the car to T two of nature’s most essential mysteries: speed and really know her possibilities. Undriveable LSR cars can be time. But those who have actually attempted the record have constructed. Radio-controlled rockets are certainly feasible. a deeper feeling—very difficult to express—of what it means But that’s not the point. At issue is the human element, the to try to go faster than any man on earth. As a driver you driver. How correctly can a man be mated with a machine to develop one of those very special man and machine relation- prove to himself and other men that he can function and suc- ships. I still think of the Blue Flame as a beautiful woman ceed on the frontier of speed science. who shared with me a rare and wonderful experience. It may Somehow the world is a little less sound crazy, but I actually mysterious because you weighed ‘talked’ to the Blue Flame, and I the risks and took a fast step for- received some incredible spiritual ward. You challenged the hazards vibrations from her in return. with the estimated, but unproven, abilities of your car; you meas- I think every driver whose efforts ured your chances of success are recorded in this book by Cyril against your own courage and Posthumus would know what I mean. You realize you're confidence, and you had faith as you attempted to extend only part of the team, part of the record—if you're lucky mankind's abilities another inch toward the infinite. And enough to achieve the record. You're human, but you're so that’s what the land speed record is all about. intimately attached to your car that you feel almost like the half-man, half-horse Centaurs of Greek mythology. You’re This was written by the late Gary Gabelich as a forward to a every man in the world when you climb into the cockpit and book on land speed racing, Land Speed Record: A Complete you’ve increased yourself thousands of times as you feel the History of the Record Breaking Cars from 39 to 600+ m.p.h., thrust of 58,000 horsepower coursing beneath you. by Cyril Posthumus. On October 23, 1970, Gary set the world land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, with Your car is the product of the most advanced design a recorded speed of 622.407 mph. Gary was recently in- and engineering concepts. It is constructed of the finest ducted (posthumously) into the Long Beach Motorsports products available, supported by a hardworking team of spe- Walk of Fame, together with Mario Andretti and Parnelli cialists and backed up by serious, dedicated sponsors. But Jones. Gary was married to (now) Long Beach Council- there are risks. Slide rule calculations and wind tunnel tests woman Rae Gabelich.

Straight Talk Reporter Straight Talk Television Show No Nonsense Talk for Greater Long Beach Published by Straight Talk Productions Sundays @ 7pm Publisher: Art Levine Editor: Thad Heggeness Charter Cable Channel 3

Mailing Address: Also Airs in

Straight Talk Productions Alhambra, Azusa, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Burbank, Calabasas, Chapman Woods, Downey, Glendale, Huntington Park, 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy #440 Irwindale, La Canada, La Cresenta, Lakewood, La Mirada, Los Alamitos, Lost Hills, Lynwood, Malibu, Maywood, Montebello, Long Beach, CA 90803 Monterey Park, Montrose, Narco, Norwalk, Paramount, Riverside, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Gabriel East, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South San Gabriel, Temple City, and Thousand Oaks Tel: (562) 594-9385 Fax: (562) 594-9669 (For Air Times see the Channel Guide at our Website)

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Interview with CSULB Head to be Webcast Worldwide

Dr. F. King Alexander is President of President Alexander is a well respected expert in domestic California State University, Long Beach. and international higher education finance and public policy. His research on university revenue and expenditure patterns President Alexander again joins us as a guest has been featured in The Economist, The New York Times, on Straight Talk. The discussion this year fo- The Chronicles of Higher Education, The Boston Globe, The cuses on the state budget crisis and the impact Australian, and The Christian Science Monitor. the proposed cuts would have on student access to higher education and on the state economy. Dr. Alexander serves as a faculty affiliate at Cornell Univer- The interview also touches on the newly en- sity’s Higher Education Research Institute. His efforts to dowed Cole Conservatory of Music, the new Veterans improve federal higher education policy have contributed to University, the CSULB Distinguished Speaker Series and the development of Congressional legislation advancing the the future challenges facing CSULB. “net tuition concept” in order to enhance public account- ability and future funding of higher education institutions. Besides being seen at its normal broadcast times, this show will be webcast worldwide by the University for three days, Dr. Alexander received his Ph.D. from the University of May 28-30, between CSULB’s nine commencement ceremo- Wisconsin—Madison in Higher Education Finance and Pub- nies. Parents everywhere can watch their sons and daughters lic Policy, a Master’s of Science degree from Oxford Univer- graduate, and also learn about CSULB and its president. sity (England) in Comparative Education Policy, and a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University in political Dr. Alexander was named the sixth President of California science. State University, Long Beach in November of 2005. This will be his third year to lead commencement ceremonies at President Alexander will be our guest on the Straight Talk CSULB, one of his favorite activities. Show airing the week of May 11.

In Fond Memory

John Craig 1943—2008

Friend and TV Host Extraordinaire “You can’t fail if you keep on trying”

Page 6 Straight Talk Reporter

Straight Talk Around Town

Long Beach State Athletic Director Vic Cegles and Senior Associate A.D. David Benedict lend their sup- port to the League Champion Men’s Volleyball Team in a match against Pepperdine at the . Photo Credit: LBReport.com Dan and Holly Pressburg, joined by son Aaron and new daughter-in-law Sara, celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary in style at Smooth’s rooftop.

Racing legend Parnelli Jones, pictured with Long Beach City Manager Pat West, is inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame. Councilwoman Rae Gabelich and IRL Racing Team owner and entrepreneur Kevin Kalkhoven at a pre-race party at Smooth’s Sports Grill.

The “Ladies of Long Beach” (l. to r.)—Julie, Karen, Former NBA great John Salley, a participant in Kathy, Jeri and Bunny—enjoying themselves during Grand this year’s Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race, towers over Prix weekend. Straight Talk Host/Executive Producer Art Levine. Watch Shows Anytime: www.StraightTalkTV.com Page 7

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