Vargas’ Jabs Were Misdirected

In response to the article, “Vargas Doesn’t Want to Take More Swings at De La Hoya” (July 15), in which Vargas announced he was giving back to his community by donating $1,000 to the gym. Had he left it at that, I would not have been compelled to write this letter, but I was upset when Vargas took some cheap shots at Oxnard city officials.

As past president of La Colonia Youth Boxing Assn., it was one of my duties to interact with city officials. Although it wasn’t always a walk in the park, if it wasn’t for certain city officials, there wouldn’t be a La Colonia Youth Boxing Club.

The gym was once a condemned firehouse, but with grant money obtained by city officials, which totaled $270,000, the firehouse was reconstructed into a gym and is still funded in full by the city. In other words, the city gave $270,000, Vargas gave $1,000.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad Vargas gave something. But don’t call a press conference to say you’re going to give a donation to show your gratitude, then give $1,000 when it was reported that your last fight grossed $1.2 million, then as you’re handing over the money criticize the very people who helped restore the building where you got your start and continue to train free.

Vargas says he’s been going to the gym for 10 years. Well, his donation comes to less than $2 a week. Is this how grateful he is? I remember when we held a fund-raiser for Vargas to help with his training expenses when he was trying to fulfill his dream of going to the Olympics. We held a barbecue and one of the persons who was wearing an apron and flipping burgers was Mayor Manuel Lopez. I remember all the help we received from Councilman Bedford Pinkard, who was founder of La Colonia Youth Boxing Club. I remember all the volunteers who gave countless hours to help Vargas reach his dreams.

There is no bigger fan of La Colonia than Mayor Lopez, yet Vargas has the nerve to question his support? After bad-mouthing city officials, Vargas was quoted as saying, “They probably didn’t like what I had to say, but if I don’t say it, who’s going to say it?”

Well, Fernando, you’re not going to like what I have to say either, but if I don’t say it, who’s going to say it?

As for De La Hoya, did you forget I brought him to Oxnard after he won his gold medal and he signed autographs for more than three hours, and every penny we raised went to La Colonia? Did you forget some of the money raised by De La Hoya’s appearance benefited you?

Vargas says he doesn’t want to be compared to De La Hoya. Well, let’s see. After De La Hoya made his first million dollars, he went back to his neighborhood and bought the old gym where he got his start. He spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to renovate it and formed the Oscar De La Hoya Youth Center, and it is fully funded by De La Hoya Enterprises.

Well, I guess Fernando is right. There is no comparison. A true role model doesn’t have to call a press conference every time he wants to give back to the community. A true role model doesn’t put Oxnard on the map by constantly getting in trouble with the law. A true role model is someone like Robert Garcia. That’s why he’s known as “the pride of Oxnard.”

Vargas should start giving from his heart and stop giving from his mouth.

MANUEL HERRERA

Oxnard

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Congratulations to the 150 young people who fought back and won against dangerous alcohol ads near schools in Los Angeles (“Teens Tackle Tough Issues at CSUN Workshop,” July 16 edition). The L.A. City Council listened to them and acted on their behalf.

But shame on the L.A. Community College Board of Trustees for refusing a fair request from 650 students and teachers at three high schools--San Fernando, Sylmar and Kennedy--in May. After waiting three years for the return of sports to Mission College, 650 signatures were delivered to each board member and the chancellor at a May 24 meeting. The teens asked that baseball and softball be started at Mission in 2001, as promised in September 1999.

It’s not too late. Both sports were taken away quickly in July 1997. Both can be started just as quickly by the board, which canceled baseball in 1986 at L.A. City, West L.A. and Trade Tech. It was returned to L.A. City in September of that year by public demand.

DUKE RUSSELL

Save Sports for Students in Public Colleges

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