Fullerton Junior All American Bears

The Fullerton Junior All American Bears are members of the Orange County Junior All American Football Conference (OCJAAF). Comprised of twenty-nine (29) chapter (city) members throughout the Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, OCJAAF is the largest youth football and cheerleading organization in the nation. The Fullerton Junior All American Bears are honored to contribute to OCJAAF's diversity, which makes the Orange County Junior All American Football Conference number one in competition. The Fullerton Junior All American Bears are proud to sponsor OCJAAF's core values of "family" and of "community" - the standards that keep OCJAAF and the Fullerton Junior All American Bears a leading youth football and cheerleading organization. Families come in many combinations and we celebrate the word of "family" as meaning: team, the Fullerton Junior All American Bears, community and the OCJAAF Conference. There is nothing stronger than the spirit in the word of family and you will see it and feel it within the Fullerton Junior All American Bears organization and our OCJAAF Conference.

The objective of the Fullerton Junior All American Bears program is to inspire youth, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin; to practice the ideals of health, citizenship and character; to bring our youth closer together through the means of a common interest in sportsmanship, fair play and fellowship; to impart to the game elements of safety, sanity and intelligent supervision; and to keep the welfare of the player and/or cheerleader first, foremost and entirely free of adult lust for glory.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

More Troubles for Pop Warner's Orange Empire Conference

The Orange Empire Conference, which is the local governing Pop Warner body serving such North Orange County cities as Fullerton, Brea, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, La Habra and La Mirada is facing more troubles with its chapters as the story below indicates.

WHITTER CA March 3 2010 - A former Whittier police officer was charged Tuesday with nine counts of child molestation, officials from the District Attorney's Office said.

Paul Ayala, 42, of Whittier, faces eight counts of lewd acts on a child and one count of oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child under age 10, said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.

The alleged victims are two 10-year-old boys who played on a youth football team Ayala coached, Robison said.

Ayala pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the charges, Robison said. Booking records show he is being held at Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles. Robison said his bail was set at $8.2 million.

A woman who answered the phone at Ayala's residence Tuesday hung up without commenting. A message left later on the answering machine wasn't returned.

Ayala's attorney, Sean McDonald, didn't return a phone call and e-mail seeking comment.

The charges stem from alleged incidents in 2008 and 2009 when Ayala coached the La Mirada Pop Warner League's La Mirada Matadores, said sheriff's Sgt. Dan Scott.

"He befriended (the boys) as the coach," Scott said. "He would take them over to his house before and after games and that's where the molestation occurred."

One child was allegedly molested between July and December 2008, the second during the same months in 2009, Scott said.

One of the children told a family member of the alleged incident, and the relative reported it to Whittier police last week, Scott said. Whittier police said they sent the case to the Sheriff's Department on Friday.

Ayala's booking slip shows he was arrested Friday and booked in Norwalk.

The charges were based on law enforcement's interviews with the alleged victims, Scott said. No physical evidence has been found.

"We're looking into all aspects of his life," Scott said. "We do a thorough background on everyone we investigate."

Whittier police officer Mike Dekowski said the department deferred the case to the Sheriff's Department because of its sensitive nature.

Dekowski declined further comment, except to say Ayala was a 17-year veteran of Whittier's police force. Ayala retired for medical reasons on July 20, 2007.

Scott said the investigation continues.

"We believe based on our investigation that there are more victims out there," Scott said.

Ayala also coached baseball, Scott said.

He is listed on the Pop Warner league's website as a 2010 Pee Wee team coach.


The link to the story above is: http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/former-cop-charged-with-child-molestation-www-privateofficer-com/

More links include: http://pysih.com/2010/03/28/paul-anthony-ayala/

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Pop Warner Open Letter

Below is an open letter email from a Pop Warner parent addressed to Fullerton Pop Warner "president" James "Jimbo" Wright.



TimeSubj: Please help our "Blue" Flag Team!

Dear Jimbo and Board Members:

I'm emailing you today to express my deepest concern for the Blue Fullerton Titan Flag Football team. I appreciate your time and appreciate you each taking this time to read this lengthy email. I apologize for its length but several parents and I have valid arguments which need to be addressed.

I'll begin by stating how unfortunate our team has been, and how our boys have suffered, due to lack of organization and leadership skills. After speaking to some parents, I learned that I am not alone when I sadly state that our coaches have poor people skills, communication skills, and organizational skills. This is my sons first year playing flag football. Unfortunately, several parents and I have the same future outlook...that our boys may not be returning next year due to the experience the boys are having. This should be the best/funnest, most rewarding time for our boys, especially since more than 92% of our flag football team are first year players. Some of these first year boys are excellent ball players. It would be a shame to lose these boys simply because our head coach cannot commnicate and lead effectively.

Our head coach, Coach Rick, first introduced himself to our boys at a bar in Placentia. Not a kid friendly pizza place, however, a bar with literally one video game, two bar-like tables, two waitresses, a fully stocked bar, and some booths! I understand now, that Coach Rick knows the owners of the bar, and has agreed to take his team there whenever possible. A bar is not a place I would like my son to socialize with his fellow teammates after a football game. While other kids go to kid friendly pizza places, our kids gather at a bar and watch their coach drink alcohol.

At our first meeting, parents were given names of the three coaches who were to assist Coach Rick during the season. Those coaches showed up to three practices and never showed up to any practices thereafter! Today, those same coaches showed up for this mornings game. Not only did this confuse our boys, it was extremely discouraging to learn Coach Rick had been suspended and then for our boys to see him sitting on a lawn chair just adjacent to Lions Field. I had to explain to my son why his head coach was sitting so far away from his team and why there were new coaches on the field. This is not a conversation I want to have with my son.

Shortly after the third practice, parents noticed the lack of coaches. Coach Rick asked several men who were consistenly attending their sons practices to "step-up" and help him coach. Two of Coach Rick's assistants were forced into changing their employment schedules and were now working nights. Realizing that our boys were not having the best experience and were running wild, some fathers agreed to coach and commit themselves to be at each and every practice and games for the boys. This morning, at today's game, those same coaches/fathers/grandfathers, etc. whom have been there consistently, were literally pushed aside as our boys watched. These men who have already committed themselves to be at every practice have earned the respect of our kids and should be the ones on the field leading our boys as they do during practive.

One cannot be a part-time coach and expect to show up only at game time! This tactic confuses our 5,6, & 7 year olds and Coach Rick and Coach Bobby need to learn that. How can our boys be lead by men who do not have their own affairs in line? It's impossible!!! The lack of organization is apparent.

Furthermore, there are coaches that HAVE NOT BEEN BACKGROUND CHECKED!!! Coaching my son...there is one coach who has a Fullerton Titan coach shirt, badge, etc. and has not filled out a background authorization! Get him off the field! I do not want my son being coached by somebody who has not been checked!!!

Let me again apologize for this long email but something must be done about this as soon as possible. There are many other parents who feel the way I do and are not happy with this situation. Some of us parents have our own theory about why the lack of organization has affected our team. Theories such as favoritism, some boys playing both offense & defense, one quaterback, one wide receiver, etc. (the boys are not allowed to play different positions to stimulate & encourage their abilities). When I first registered my son to play football, I thought he was going to be given a chance to play every position. As a parent, I depend on the knowledge of the coach and his assistants to bring out the "aggressive player" in my son.

Since day 1 our team has been so disorganized. Communications regarding practices & scrimmages come a day before. On one occasion, I learned about a scheduled scrimmage the very same day. In fact, parents and I learned hours before our boys were to be there! My list goes on and on! Again, I am not alone when I communicate my disappointment with Coach Rick & Coach Bobby.

Did I mention?...Coach Bobby was literally using his cell phone (bluetooth on his ear) with Coach Rick during this mornings game! So while on suspension, Coach Rick was still calling the shots from a lawn chair, sitting in somebody's yard trying to direct our team. These coaches cost our team a 15 yard penalty for communicating (Bobby using his bluetooth) while on the field! This almost cost us the game!

I want the coaches who are consistently at every practice coaching my son. I want them background checked. This is a personal opinion but I also want the coaches not to appear like they've been drinking or smoking drugs before they approach our boys. Coach Rick and Coach Bobby need to learn "people skills" before they face the parents. They're disrespectful and rude to parents in front of our children.

Please help!!!!


Respectfully yours,

"BLUE" Team



Pop Warner breaking bad again.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Troubles for Pop Warner's Orange Empire Conference

Pop Warner Embezzlement Suspect Freed

May 23, 2006/By ocregister

A Pop Warner treasurer charged with embezzling $140,000 is free today because a judge granted her a release earlier this week.

Tangii Crain, 36, of Rossmoor pleaded not guilty Monday in Orange County Superior Court in Westminster.

Judge Stephaine George granted Crain's request to be released from Orange County Jail. She is charged with grand theft for defrauding Orange Empire Conference, a volunteer sports youth group.

Link to story: http://articles.ocregister.com/2006-05-23/news/24749619_1_embezzlement-pop-warner-preliminary-hearing


OC Woman Accused of Foul Play

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

SANTA ANA - A Rossmoor woman pleaded innocent Wednesday to grand theft charges for allegedly embezzling $140,000 from a dozen Pop Warner Football leagues in Orange and Los Angeles counties, and from players' parents.

Tangii Crain, 36, entered the plea before Orange County Superior Court Judge Stephanie George, who set bail at $140,000 and scheduled a pretrial hearing for May 19.

Crain was arrested Tuesday at her place of employment and booked at the Huntington Beach City Jail, said Huntington Beach police Lt. Craig Junginger.

Crain was a deputy commissioner of the Orange County Empire Conference, which oversees 26 Pop Warner Football leagues, and has been involved with the youth organization for about six years, serving as acting treasurer for the conference, Junginger said.

From April 2005 through last December, she allegedly embezzled checks from 12 leagues in Anaheim, Brea, Canyon Hills, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Hacienda, Long Beach, Norwalk, Saddleback Valley, and Tustin, the lieutenant said.

Crain also allegedly embezzled checks from individual parents of participants in the leagues, he said.

Junginger told a local TV station that the mother of three used a ruse that allowed her to operate undetected by the bank.

"What she did was set up another bank account in a separate bank under the name of Ordinary Edibles by Crain, which the OEC matches up with Orange Empire Conference, so it didn't raise any suspicions with the bank when she would deposit checks saying OEC in the bank," Junginger said.

Police allege she spent all the money, using some of the embezzled funds to buy a used Ford Expedition and a Jeep Wrangler.

According to reports, the amount Crain allegedly stole amounts to about half of the Pop Warner conference's budget, while the checks she allegedly took from parents were to have been used to the take the children to Knott's Berry Farm.

Link to the story: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=4161495


From one embezzling "commissioner" to another embezzling "commissioner," Pop Warner's OEC organization sure is a den of thieves.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

There Is No Honor Among Thieves II

Courtesy of the Orange County Register:

Embattled Pop Warner official honored
By JOHN McDONALD
The Orange County Register

An Orange County Pop Warner official is being honored as the national organization's Southwest Regional Volunteer of the Year while facing a charge that he stole $24,000 from the organization.

Robert T. Espinoza is supposed to go to Orlando to be honored May 26. The trip is on unless he pleads guilty when he goes to court May 19, said Steven Sherman, president of Pop Warner's Orange Empire Conference.

Authorities say the theft occurred in 2002, when Espinoza was president of the Fullerton league. The criminal charge was filed in 2004.

Espinoza contends he used his own money for league expenses and then reimbursed himself, said Mark Bruce, an Orange County deputy public defender.

The conference oversees 26 football leagues. Espinoza, 45, is a deputy commissioner.

Conference officials voted Wednesday to spend $2,000 for Espinoza's trip to Florida to receive the honor.

"I think it's a joke that he's allowed to continue to serve after we made them aware that he is a thief," said Robert Renfro, a former Fullerton league official and vocal critic of Espinoza's.

Orange County Deputy District Attorney George Turner said Espinoza will be given one more chance to plea bargain next week, or face a trial beginning June 5.

"There are a lot of people who want him off the board and a lot who want him to stay," Sherman said. "I'd say more want him to stay."

He said Espinoza was named volunteer of the year because of his hard work and long hours on behalf of the organization. The region covers five states.

Sherman said Espinoza now works setting schedules for the leagues and enforcing rules for coaches.

Contact the writer: jmcdonald@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/news/espinoza-208118-orange-sherman.html


The sheer volume of irony with this story, this thief, and this Pop Warner league and its governing conference is head scratchingly amazing.

It reminds me of a story about a poacher who died. He killed elephants for their tusks. One night this guy decided to break into a wildlife refuge's animal hospital area to kill the sick elephant that had been brought in the day before figuring that it would be an easy way to get a chunk of change. The elephant's problem was apparently constipation, and the medicine they gave the old fellow decided to take effect about this time. The poacher was trying to sneak up behind the elephant, trying to get close enough to pop it with a tranquilizer without making too much noise. As he got just behind the elephant, out gushed about two weeks worth of... well... crap.

The poacher was completely buried and smothered to death.

Nigeria and China both sentence thieves to death. It's it ironic that in the land of Pop Warner, thieves are honored. Proving once again, there is no honor among thieves.

Sadly, Fullerton Pop Warner continues their association with this thief as their current Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=318557014442
clearly indicates Bob Espinoza as the organization's "friend."

With "friends" like these, who needs enemies?

Friday, April 9, 2010

I WILL

The words "I WILL" is certain to have a special meaning to the Bears Junior All American Football class of 2010. It is the organization's inaugural class and secures the foundation for what WILL be the beacon of youth football in North Orange County.

Back in 1910, President Theodore Roosevelt made a speech that is now commonly referred to as "The Man in the Arena" speech. Roosevelt noted, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better."

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS WHO NEITHER KNOW VICTORY OR DEFEAT."

The Bears Junior All American Football Family WILL appreciate and honor our players who are "in the arena." And as such our players WILL be acknowledged.

Over six million children in the United States participate in some level of organized youth sports. Less than one million play football. Bears Junior All American Football players WILL be praised because playing football WILL be a positive experience for them in their continued maturation into adulthood.

The Bears Junior All American Football Family WILL mentor and motivate our players to life's noble accomplishments.

The Bears Junior All American Football Family WILL lift our players hearts and minds and encourage them to continue to try in life and on the field.

The Bears Junior All American Football Family WILL lift our players up and impart to them that success or failure has nothing to do with a scoreboard, but everything to do with their individual and collective efforts.

The words "I WILL" WILL become the battle cry for the entire Bears Junior All American Football Family and we hope you WILL join us. Join us in providing a better solution, a better environment, a better opportunity, a better experience, and a better day for our children. Because we WILL.

Monday, April 5, 2010

There Is No Honor Among Thieves

Courtesy of the Orange County Register:

Robert Thomas Espinoza, 46, has pleaded no contest to charges that he stole money from the Fullerton Pop Warner junior football league when he was president in 2001 and 2002.

Prosecutors say he stole a minimum of $16,000, but a judge will decide how much Espinoza has to pay back at a Dec. 17 restitution hearing.

Farrah Imami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office, said Espinoza's sentencing hearing has been delayed until November 2008, when a judge will decide if Espinoza must serve any jail time.

Imami said the length of the possible sentence would likely depend on how much Espinoza has paid back to Pop Warner by that 2008 hearing.

He pleaded Wednesday.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/espinoza-123807-hearing-warner.html

http://ocsatire.com/perl/sagw.pl/fuck-bobby-espinoza-/329690068.htm

What ever happened to convict Espinoza? He has been promoted to Commissioner of Pop Warner's Orange Empire Conference. There is no honor among thieves.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Father Head Coaches

Coach Tom Bass, author of the books: Football Skills and Drills, and Play Football the NFL Way, and defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under John McKay once told me at a coaching clinic a handful of years ago that the best advice he could give me as a head coach was to never allow a father to coach his own son.

He made it a point to recommend to me that if I had no other choice and had to have fathers coaching out of necessity - that the responsibility of coaching for those fathers in question was some other position than the ones their respective children played.

Why was a coach who literally wrote the textbooks on coaching modern youth football so opposed to having fathers coach their sons? Coach Bass explained it to me this way: "Every parent believes their child is the most capable, best player on the field - and that is OK." But you as a head coach have 22 positions on the football field to fill and 30-35 players to do it with. A player - no matter how good - cannot play two positions on defense at the same time nor can that player be responsible for two positions on offense at the same time. Thirty players cannot all play quarterback or running back. And if a parent is coaching his child, that expectation will be there to some varying degree in the form of favoritism or nepotism.

Moreover, Coach Bass went on to note that fathers who coach their own sons have little real value because fathers tend to be harder on their own children. Often times, they are short with their children when they error or yell at their sons when they fail, which limits the benefit of their coaching or even negates it entirely. It also lessens the capacity of your own coaching points because a father always trumps a coach, and it is certain to have a negative affect on that child's playing ability.

In psychology, there is a branch of analysis called the "Affect Theory" and three of the cautionary negative affects: anger in the form of a clenched jaw, disgust in the form of a lower lip raise, and shame and humiliation in the form of a head down, all negatively impact optimal mental health. And as a parent whose children play sports will attest, these "affects" are all commonly found at youth sporting events.

Criticism is important because it acts as a rite of passage from youth to responsible adulthood. But if you are a father who is a coach, the criticism lines tend to blur and that confusion can be detrimental to a child. Frank Leahy, a championship coach of Notre Dame, once remarked, "Criticism is like money. A player should not worry about receiving it. He should only worry about a lack of it." A player cannot improve if he doesn't know what he's doing incorrectly. And a father/coach will either be too critical and have it fall on deaf ears or not be critical enough and risk hampering the development of his player.

Coach Wade of Football for Youth.com estimates that between 75 and 80 percent of youth coaches get involved in coaching because of their own children. So it seems by that estimate, it would be nearly impossible to avoid such pitfalls, but the effort should be made. There are coaches - most of whom do it for a profession rather than a father-son picnic - that are dedicated equally and serve the community with bias. Those coaches should not only be appreciated by parents and leagues, but promoted accordingly.