PCC athletes react to Olympics ban on political expression

Share: Albert Einstein said, “those who ignore history are doomed to wear it.” There was conflict when the Olympics expelled Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos from the 1968 Mexico Olympics for raising their fists as a homage to the “Black power” movement. 53 years later, the Olympics is sparking discord by prohibiting another Black political movement, and PCC student-athletes have reasonable, but very different opinions on the subject. Follow:

From the kitchen to the courts, PCC basketball player ready to get cookin’

Share: Kristal Espinoza wakes up at 2:30 a.m. to her iPad alarm to get ready to go to work. She takes a shower, brushes her teeth, and drives from the San Gabriel Valley to South Los Angeles for work when the sun is nowhere in sight. She doesn’t even eat breakfast because there’s not enough time until her first break. Her shift at the hospital cafe starts at 4:00 a.m., and doesn’t end until 12:30 p.m.  Follow:

More than a handshake: PCC struggles to get athletes to commit

Share: Recruiting is all about building relationships. It usually starts off with a simple handshake. College coaches who build the best relationships, will recruit the best players, which usually leads to them having the best programs in the country. Then there’s the fun part. Prospective recruits get to experience tons of campus tours and special passes for games.  Follow:

Rounding third base: PCC sports finally return for conditioning

Share: Empty stands and playing fields filled PCC when the pandemic put a halt to all sports more than a year ago. Now, PCC is welcoming back its student-athletes for conditioning, and teams are finally seeing each other in person, some for the very first time. “Some of these kids, this is the first time I’ve ever worked out with them, and they’ve been in my program since coming into 2020,” said head coach Monica Tantlinger. “To meet them, see them and get to work …

PCC basketball legend is one-step away from traveling to the Hall of Fame

Share: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced a total of 14 candidates for the 2021 election on March 9. Among those selected, PCC alumnus and former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Michael Cooper, better known as “Coop”, was among them.  “It’s such a great honor. You know, when you play this game, you play the game for the love of it, for the camaraderie of a team sport, and to win championships. So to be singled out and looked at as an individual, you know, …

Spring sports cancellation knocked down athletes enrollment

Share: Due to the cancellation of PCC’s Spring Sports season by the South Coast Conference CEO’s, student-athletes have dropped their classes as well as the athletic program, leaving enrollment numbers to waiver. “An unfortunate consequence of the COVID-19 crisis directly affecting athletes is that a number of student-athletes have left our sports teams,” said Robert Lewis, PCC sports information specialist.  According to Lewis, it is estimated that around 40 percent of the athletes enrolled in PCC have exited the athletic programs as well as dropped …