STRAIGHT TALK REPORTER Newsletter of the Straight Talk Television Show www.StraightTalkTV.com Volume 3 Number 3 May/June 2008 Long Beach Armada 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 baseball team at league pitcher Nick Bierbrodt; major Blair Field. The home season will begin on league pitcher Jerome Williams; catcher Friday, June 13th (hopefully not an David Parrish; and former San Francisco unlucky omen!). The Armada advanced to Giant Tony Torcato. the Golden Baseball League 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- Steve Yeager. 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. Our Sponsors Title Sponsor Title Sponsor Title Sponsor www.longbeachmagazine.com 4600 East 2nd Street 49er Athletics 168 Marina Drive (562) 434-0444 (562) 985-4949 (562) 852-9888 (562) 598-9431 www.charter.com 5277 East 2nd Street 3545 Long Beach Blvd 5011 East 2nd Street 190 Marina Drive 5764 East 2nd Street (562) 433-4937 (562) 988-1688 (562) 438-1581 (562) 342-9411 (562) 433-0405 5800 East 2nd Street 3910 Cherry Avenue 3490 Long Beach Blvd 4606 East 2nd Street (562) 439-7427 (562) 988-0211 (562) 426-3668 (562) 433-2996 www.polb.com Seaside Travel 333 West Broadway 5241 East 2nd Street 144 Pine Ave 2141 Bellflower Blvd. (562) 437-6418 (562) 433-0917 (562) 437-7700 (562) 597-0391 Sponsor Spotlight: The Big Red Bus — Topless Fun From the streets of London, England to the beautiful California coast, the BIG RED BUS is the answer to Southern California’s Double-Decker needs. Charters, parties and tours are filling up the calendar. Our two-story, Topless London Bus offers large groups a fun, unique alternative to stan- dard transportation options. With the choice of sitting in the enclosed lower level or up top with the wind in your hair, you will enjoy the spacious, casual feel of this exclusive 1966 convertible. • Pub Crawls • Corporate Events • Family Reunions • Birthdays • Kids Parties • Sporting Events • Weddings • Graduations • Wine Tastings Visit WWW.BIGREDBUS.COM or call (562) 852-9888 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 professional baseball and family entertainment through at least the 2012 season. Yeager was a fourth round draft choice by the Los Angeles Dodgers 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 catchers 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 World Series 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 Ron Cey. 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 1/2 page Ad 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.