Excitement for ‘42’ in Pasadena, Ronda Rousey comments on transgender MMA fighter and John Huh makes Masters

Did you see ‘42’ yet? You should, according to our own Kenneth Turan, and when you do, don’t forget that Jackie Robinson’s journey started right here in Pasadena. Major League Baseball’s first African-American player was an alumnus of John Muir High School and Pasadena City College, which hosted a special screening of the film on Friday with local leaders and members of the Robinson Family.

The much anticipated biopic wasn’t the only tribute to the beloved ballplayer’s legacy making headlines this week. The city of Pasadena recently received approval for a $6 million loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to renovate and expand the park that bears his name. Robinson Park will soon feature a modernized community and fitness center.

Ronda Rousey, another pioneering athlete, is well known for being outspoken and opinionated, and this week was no exception. The UFC women’s champion entered the controversy surrounding transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox, telling the New York Post that “she can try hormones, chop her pecker off, but it’s still the same bone structure a man has.”

Her comments came in response to fellow fighter Matt Mitrione’s interview on The MMA Hour, in which he called Fox “a lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak,” earning himself an indefinite suspension from the UFC. Rousey said Mitrione chose his words “extremely poorly” but nevertheless agreed with his overall point: “It’s an advantage. I don’t think it’s fair.”

You may have heard that the 2013 Masters Tournament featured its fair share of controversy as well:

But between Tiger’s dropped ball and Aussie Adam Scott’s playoff win (the first for Australia), you might have missed John Huh’s performance. The Crescenta Valley graduate and last year’s PGA Rookie of the Year shot a four-under-par 68 in his final round to finish 2-under for the tournament, good enough for 11th place and, more importantly, an automatic berth in the 2014 Masters Tournament.

Finally, having led the Pasadena Poly Panthers to their first-ever CIF Southern Section Regional Division III title, junior striker Noel Askins was voted our 2012-13 All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year. Askins tallied 28 goals and 23 assists with nine multi-goal matches and three hat tricks. Congratulations to Noel, as well as the All-Area Girls’ Soccer First Team and Second Team.

--Peter Madden, Times Community News

Follow me on Twitter @pamadden.