My Los Angeles Experience

[Reginald Rutledge]

I love L A. Not enough to want to stay there but to visit. That's no dis-repect to the great state of Cali.

Last week was one of the most educational weekends I 've had in quite some time. Always looking from an EFL perspective, I had the chance to visit two stadiums that I have done on several ocassions, the Rose Bowl and the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Al Clegg, a coach in the DFW EFL and resident of Thousand Oaks, CA, took me to the Rose Bowl within minutes of getting into town. Although I knew I had to take my wife and kids to Disneyland and Universal Studios, this trip would not have been complete without visiting these monuments.

When I got to Pasadena, I quickly hoped out the car and proceeded to run towards the stadium. The average person would stop there but sheepishly, I sneaked into the stadium. While the guards were not looking, I went through a tunnel and entered the stadium. I walked onto the field just to see how how close myu models had gotten to reality. For this one, it was dead on. I stood there marveling what some people may not appreciate, the pagentry, history, and traditions of the Rose Bowl. I was overcomed with inner emotions of finally getting the chance to walk the field of legends at the Granddaddy of them All, the Rose Bowl.

Then Al led us on a ride through Los Angeles to the famed Figuerora Blvd and home of the LA Coliseum. Wow, what an experience! Just standing outside of the stadium were Gifford, Simpson, Bell, White, and the great Marcus Allen played. Although I did not get to go through the stadium, I knew my model of the LA Coliseum was right on.

More education came in the form of Universal Studios. I saw how movies were made and how it can be related to the EFL genre that I dabble in. There were so many tricks that movie makers do that can be applied to EFL. The illusion of reality is definitely in full effect in the movie world. Old Jaws even came up and tried to bite me! When I left Universal, I thought how closely familiar some things that you can do in EFL can be applied here.

Reg