LA Examiner

Author: David Stubblefield

  • Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts Attends Golden Globes As Aspiring Producer

    Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts Attends Golden Globes As Aspiring Producer

    Image credit: Unsplash

    Famed Los Angeles Dodger Mookie Betts attended the 81st Golden Globes on Sunday, January 7, as part of his bid to become a Hollywood producer. As a founder of One Marketing Group, Betts walked the red carpet alongside cofounders Cam Lewis and Jeff Mason.

    “This is our first time being out and being able to attend something like this,” Betts told The Associated Press. “We watched it on TV so much.” The appearance could also be considered a networking attempt for Betts, who was looking to make connections with some of the Hollywood stars in attendance. He had similarly been spotted spending time with actor Will Ferrell at a Los Angeles Kings game. “That’s the plan, right?” Betts told AP. “Just put yourself in the surroundings and see what happens.”

    Appearing on the red carpet in a black suit with a bow tie, black brimmed hat, and a silver lapel pin, Betts struggled when reporters asked who he was wearing. His eventual response was, “I’m wearing confidence.”

    Betts is no stranger to working in the media, having shown a deft hand as he tries out many different kinds of productions. He’s a reliable sports correspondent when given the chance, most recently for MLB platforms during the 2023 World Series in Arizona. He also hosts a podcast, On Base with Mookie Betts, as part of the Bleacher Report.

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    More importantly, Betts was the executive producer for Jackie Robinson: Get to the Bag, a film about Robinson’s impact on baseball. The film was produced as a Fox Sports Films documentary and focuses more on Robinson’s life and impact than on “all the baseball stuff,” according to a statement by Betts. It first aired on Fox Sports 1 on October 12, 2022, and can now be watched in its entirety at any time on the Fox Sports YouTube channel.

    One Marketing Group’s website states that its mission is “to inspire people to see the truth within themselves through the lens of entertainment, including film, television, and sports.” There, pictured sitting in a fine gray suit with a serious business expression, Betts is described as “a community activist” who “uses his platforms and businesses to shed light on what is possible if you work hard and believe.”

    Betts and his cofounders set up One Media Group in 2020 for his part as a potential post-baseball career. For now, however, his baseball career is going strong. A celebrated Gold Glove outfielder, Betts has been a part of two World Series victories, most recently in 2020, and had his seventh All-Star appearance following the 2023 MLB season. During the recent season, Betts spent a significant amount of time playing the infield. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has announced that Betts will be the team’s regular second baseman for the 2024 season. Mookie Betts is also at the top of his batting game, having hit a career-high of 39 home runs in the 2023 season.

  • Downtown LA New Year’s Celebration Leaves 2 Dead and 8 Injured 

    Downtown LA New Year’s Celebration Leaves 2 Dead and 8 Injured 

    Image credit: Unsplash

    In downtown Los Angeles, a shooting devastated a Monday morning New Year’s Eve celebration. The Los Angeles Police Department reports that soon after 12:50 a.m., a shooting event occurred at 2350 Porter Street that resulted in the deaths of two people and the injury of eight others.

    Law officers arrived at the location soon after receiving reports of gunfire near Santa Fe Avenue and Porter Street. A sizable group of partygoers could be seen running from the scene when police arrived. According to the LAPD statement, other victims who had been shot in the head were discovered on Porter Street’s pavement and roadway.

    Deven Whitaker, a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles, and Miah Banks, a 26-year-old woman from Azusa, were declared dead at the scene by paramedics. These fatalities have cast a shadow on the new year, leaving towns and families reeling from the unexpected losses.

    During the incident, eight additional people were injured. Most were sent to a nearby hospital for emergency care. The injured individuals’ present conditions are unknown.

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    According to LAPD investigations, partygoers were attending an underground New Year’s Eve celebration. After a fight broke out among some of the guests, gunshots were heard. As police arrived, they witnessed many individuals running from the party in an attempt to find safety. This is the event which left several injured and two dead. Authorities have not yet released further details on possible suspects connected to the event.

    In shock and grief at the senseless violence, the community is forced to come to terms with this event. Anyone with knowledge about the shooting at 2350 Porter Street is invited to come forward and help with the LAPD’s continuing investigation.

    This tragic event serves as a reminder of the continued difficulties for law enforcement in addressing and averting violent crimes. These efforts face additional struggles in settings where security protocols are harder to enforce, such as underground events. Community leaders and law enforcement officers are likely to review safety procedures and inquiry processes as a result of these events, hopefully allowing them to stop similar occurrences in the future.

    In the wake of this tragedy, the city of Los Angeles and its citizens are still trying to find closure for the victims as well as information about what triggered the deadly event. This is a sobering reminder of the value of law enforcement collaboration, community watchfulness, and the implementation of practical violence prevention measures, particularly on festive occasions that attract sizable crowds.

    Locals continue to follow the LAPD for updates as their investigation progresses, hoping for prompt justice and steps to stop such instances from happening. Ongoing discussions over the safety and security of public events in the city will continue as a result of the tragedy.

    This event underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols at public gatherings as investigators look into the situation. As the city reels from this tragic and senseless violence, the need for a group effort to mitigate acts of violence is made even more clear.