7/11/03

LC030711

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

IT'S THE OTHER PRO FOOTBALL. CAN SOCCER MAKE IT IN LOS ANGELES WHEN THE NFL COULDN'T?

DOUG HAMILTON>> I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYBODY ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST SOCCER MARKET IN THE WORLD.

VAL>> AND THEN, THREE OUTSTANDING TALENTS WHO PERFORM AS ONE SPECTACULAR TRIO. WE'LL GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE MEN OF "THREE MO' TENORS".

IT'S ALL THIS AND MORE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> HELLO, I'M VAL ZAVALA. ONCE AGAIN, LOS ANGELES IS ON THE HUNT FOR A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM AND, THIS TIME, SO IS PASADENA. BOTH CITIES ARE TALKING TO THE NFL AND WE'RE TOLD THOSE NEGOTIATIONS MAY ALL HINGE ON ONE THING: THE STADIUM. PRO FOOTBALL WANTS AN ATTRACTIVE VENUE BEFORE IT COMMITS, BUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS ALREADY LANDED A BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART SPORTS COMPLEX FOR ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL SPORT. TONIGHT TONI GUINYARD HAS THE STORY OF HOW PRO SOCCER HAS DONE WHAT PRO FOOTBALL CAN'T, AND THAT IS TO FIND A HOME.

TONI GUINYARD>> IT SEEMED TO SPRING UP OUT OF NOWHERE, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SPORTS FACILITY GONE UNNOTICED BY SO MANY. THIS IS THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, THE HOME OF THE L.A. GALAXY. ALL THIS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF CARSON.

DOUG HAMILTON>> OUR SPORT HAS BEEN RENTERS OUR WHOLE LIVES. NO ONE HAS EVER PUT A STAKE IN THE GROUND AND INVESTED IN BRICK AND MORTAR AND SAID, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE HERE TO STAY, YOU CAN BECOME ATTACHED TO US, WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

TONI GUINYARD>> HAMILTON SAYS IT ALSO TOOK GUTS TO START AND COMPLETE THE PROJECT. WHILE THE STATE-OF-THE-ART SOCCER STADIUM IS CLEARLY THE CENTERPIECE OF THE COMPLEX, IT WILL ALSO SERVE AS A VENUE AND NATIONAL TRAINING GROUNDS FOR TENNIS, CYCLING, TRACK AND FIELD, AND SO MUCH MORE. THE CHALLENGE? FILLING THE STANDS WITH FANS AT A TIME WHEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS AT QUESTION.

BETH WHITE>> JUST OPENING THE DOORS AND SAYING "TICKETS ON SALE" IS NOT GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL.

TONI GUINYARD>> BETH WHITE IS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HOME DEPOT CENTER. SHE WALKS THE GROUNDS EACH DAY, TAKES HER LAPS, AS SHE CALLS IT.

BETH WHITE>> THIS IS PRIVATELY FUNDED. IT IS THE LARGEST SINGLE PRIVATE INVESTMENT AMATEUR ATHLETICS IN THE COUNTRY AND CLOSING IN ON $150 MILLION DOLLARS.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND IT TOOK JUST OVER ONE YEAR, 125 ACRES OF LAND, AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BUILD AND HAS THE POTENTIAL OF PUTTING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON THE MAP AS AN OLYMPIC TRAINING SITE.

BETH WHITE>> THESE FACILITIES DON'T EXIST FOR THESE ATHLETES. YET EVERY FOUR YEARS WHEN THE OLYMPICS COME AROUND, WE ALL STAND VERY PROUDLY AND WATCH AND GET TEARS WHEN THEY HAVE THE MUSIC COME UP, BUT WHERE ARE WE THE OTHER THREE YEARS WHEN THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKING AT HOME DEPOT AND THEY'RE HELPING SUPPORT THEM OR IF THEY'RE WAITING TABLES SOMEWHERE, IF THEY'RE IN A SPORT THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY A GLAMOUR SPORT?

TONI GUINYARD>> AN EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO MAKE THIS SPORT'S COMPLEX A VERY FAN-FRIENDLY PLACE TO BE. A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL HAVEN'T HEARD OF THE HOME DEPOT CENTER BEFORE AND SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER IT TO BE THE BEST-KEPT SECRET IN CARSON. BUT THE SECRET IS OUT AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HOME DEPOT CENTER AND L.A. GALAXY MANAGEMENT WANT.

DOUG HAMILTON>> THIS FACILITY IS GOING TO ALLOW LOS ANGELES TO REALLY HAVE A PLACE ON THE GLOBAL SPORTS SCENE. WE'RE GOING TO LET THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COME IN AND HAVE A PIECE OF THIS AND ENJOY IT AND MAKE IT THEIR OWN.

TONI GUINYARD>> IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. THE L.A. GALAXY IS PUTTING OUT THE WELCOME MAT, ATTRACTING SOCCER FANS FROM INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EMBRACED THE SPORT FOR YEARS. ON THIS DAY, YOUNGSTERS FROM LOCAL KOREAN YOUTH TEAMS ARE TREATED TO A SOCCER CLINIC. THE EVENT SERVES AS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ROLE SOCCER PLAYS IN LOS ANGELES'S INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES, THE POPULARITY OF THE SPORT FUELED EVEN MORE BY KOREA'S 2002 WORLD CUP WIN.

YENNY KIM>> EVERYONE GOT HYPED UP ABOUT IT AND STUFF, SO IT JUST SORT OF SPARKED MORE INTEREST IN SOCCER IN THE KOREAN COMMUNITY IN AMERICA.

HYE KYUNG KIM>> WE ARE MORE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND OUR CHILDREN GET THE STRONG AND MORE RESPECT PARENTS.

TONI GUINYARD>> THROUGH SOCCER?

HYE KYUNG KIM>> YES, IT'S OKAY, YES.

BETH WHITE>> WE'VE SEEN A HUGE SUPPORT FROM THE KOREAN COMMUNITY IN PURCHASING OF CLUB SUITES, PURCHASING OF SUITES, PUTTING TOGETHER THESE TYPES OF CLINICS THAT THE GALAXY IS PUTTING ON SO WE CAN INVOLVE THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL IN THE VENUE.

DOUG HAMILTON>> WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THEM AS THE GALAXY THROUGH A NATIONAL HERO, HONG MYUNG-BO, WHO PLAYS FOR US, BUT WAS ALSO THE CAPTAIN OF THE KOREAN WORLD CUP TEAM IN THE 2002 WORLD CUP. THEY'RE BEING TRAINED IN THE SPORT THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE A PASSION FOR WITH A HERO THAT THEY'VE COME TO ALMOST WORSHIP AT THIS POINT.

MICHAEL WON>> I THINK IT'S COOL BECAUSE I GET TO PLAY WITH PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS.

TONI GUINYARD>> FOR MANY OF THESE YOUNG SOCCER FANS, THIS IS SIMPLY TOO GOOD TO BELIEVE, A CHANCE TO PLAY ON ONE OF THE NINE TRAINING FIELDS ON WHICH THE L.A. GALAXY ALSO TRAINS. SOME OF THE PARENTS SAY IT GIVES THE CHILDREN REASON TO DREAM.

JIM RYAN>> I THINK IT GIVES THE KIDS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA HERE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, SOMETHING TO SAY THAT, HEY, IF I GO OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING, I HAVE THIS TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

TONI GUINYARD>> WHILE THEIR PARENTS LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE GALAXY PLAY HERE, A VENUE THEY BELIEVE IS MORE SUITED TO SOCCER THAN THE GALAXY'S FORMER HOME, THE ROSE BOWL.

SUZANNE RYAN>> THIS ONE IS SO MUCH MORE GEARED, THE WHOLE STADIUM FOR SOCCER, AND IT JUST MAKES IT MORE KIND OF AN INTIMATE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE GAMES. I THINK THAT DRAWS A LOT OF FANS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING THE GAMES BECAUSE IT'S SO WELL-DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO WATCH.

RANDY CHO>> WHEN WE COME TO THE GAME, WE WANT TO SEE THE PLAYER PLAY, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO FEEL THE HEAT AMONGST OUR OURSELVES. BUT THEN, THE ROSE BOWL IS SEATING ALMOST ABOUT 80,000 OR 90,000 PEOPLE, SO WHEN WE COME ABOUT 30,000, IT'S LIKE LESS THAN HALF ARE THERE, SO IT'S LIKE EMPTY. BUT HERE, I MEAN, THEY CAN ROCK THE HOUSE JUST BY OVER 10,000.

BETH WHITE>> I HAD A GENTLEMAN IN HERE THE OTHER DAY. WE WERE DOING AN EVENT. I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S NOT A BAD SEAT IN THE SOCCER STADIUM. I GOT KIND OF ONE OF THESE, YOU KNOW? I SAID, LET'S TAKE A WALK.

TONI GUINYARD>> WHITE HAS A LOT OF WALKING AND TALKING TO DO.

BETH WHITE>> TRULY THIS CORNER IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WHOLE STADIUM.

TONI GUINYARD>> TELLING EVERYONE WILLING TO LISTEN THAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS ENOUGH OF A SOCCER FAN BASE TO SUPPORT THE GALAXY AND THE HOME DEPOT CENTER. A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY VERY CONVINCING.

BETH WHITE>> PEOPLE SAID, WHERE IS IT? WHAT IS IT? WE'VE GONE OUT AND SOLD IT AND PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS YET. THEY'RE BUYING THE DREAM. THEY'RE TAKING A LEAP AND THAT'S AMAZING. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

TONI GUINYARD>> THEY'RE BEGINNING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS, BEGINNING TO FIND THEIR WAY TO THE PRACTICE FIELDS AND STARTING TO REALIZE THEY'RE WELCOMED HERE. IT MAY BE THE L.A. GALAXY'S HOME, BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR HOUSE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

TONI GUINYARD>> YOUR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HESITANT TO BUY INTO THE DREAM?

BETH WHITE>> COME ON DOWN. WE'LL TAKE THE SENECAS.

VAL>> SOCCER'S POPULARITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S LATINO AND KOREAN COMMUNITIES IS REASON ENOUGH FOR THE DEVELOPERS OF THE HOME DEPOT CENTER TO BE EXCITED, BUT THEY'RE ALSO SEEING A BIG BOOST IN FANS OF ALL KINDS AND THEY'RE BETTING THAT SOCCER WILL THRIVE HERE EVEN IF PRO FOOTBALL CAN'T.

KCET.ORG IS THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR THE VERY LATEST ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU'LL FIND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES, TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF PAST EPISODES AND LINKS TO SOME OF OUR MOST INTERESTING FEATURES. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON "LIFE AND TIMES".

VAL>> WE ARE HERE ON STAGE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL. NOW SINCE 1922, THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL HAS BEEN A SUMMER TRADITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT NEVER BEFORE HAVE SIX FABULOUS TENORS SHARED THE STAGE. THEY ARE THE "THE IRISH TENORS" AND "THREE MO' TENORS" AND I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM BEFORE THEIR DEBUT.

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VAL>> ONE OF YOU HAS SUNG AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL BEFORE. YOU HAVE, IS THAT RIGHT, THOMAS?

THOMAS YOUNG>> I HAVE INDEED.

VAL>> AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER COLLEAGUES ABOUT YOUR HOLLYWOOD BOWL EXPERIENCE?

THOMAS YOUNG>> MY ADVICE TO THEM IS THAT THEY DON'T NEED ANY ADVICE. THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY ACCOMPLISHED, WELL-TRAINED, VERY PROFESSIONAL, VERY EXPERIENCED SINGERS AND THE VENUE IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE FOCUS ON WHAT IT IS THEY HAVE TO DO. THEY DON'T NEED ANY ADVICE FROM ME IN THAT REGARD.

VAL>> YOU LOOK LIKE THE SENIOR TENOR HERE.

THOMAS YOUNG>> I SUPPOSE I AM, IN TERMS OF AGE, CHRONOLOGICALLY ANYWAY (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU LEARN FROM THOMAS?

RODRICK DIXON>> HE ALWAYS SAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU START FROM HERE AND HERE AND AS LONG AS THESE TWO ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND YOU SUPPORT YOUR TONE AND USE GOOD SOUND TECHNIQUE AND USE WISDOM, MAKE SOME NOISE. TELL A STORY. IT'S REAL SIMPLE.

VAL>> ALL RIGHT. VICTOR, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THOMAS?

VICTOR TRENT COOK>> GRACE, PERSONALITY, DEEP PERSON, VERY DEEP.

VAL>> YOU'VE BEEN TRAVELING TOGETHER NOW AS A GROUP FOR HOW LONG?

THOMAS YOUNG>> ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS, GIVE OR TAKE.

VAL>> YOU MUST KNOW EACH OTHER REALLY WELL.

VICTOR TRENT COOK>> YES, WITHOUT EVEN TALKING (LAUGHTER). SERIOUSLY, WITHOUT EVEN TALKING.

VAL>> IS THAT RIGHT?

VICTOR TRENT COOK>> YEAH.

VAL>> SO YOU CAN COMMUNICATE ALMOST BY RAPPORT?

THOMAS YOUNG>> SURE.

VAL>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO BE HERE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT.

THOMAS YOUNG>> WE'LL COVER ABOUT 450 YEARS OF MUSIC IN THE FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES THAT ARE ALLOTTED TO US AND ABOUT FIVE MUSICAL GENRES.

VAL>> 450 YEARS? GIVE US AN EXAMPLE.

THOMAS YOUNG>> GIVE OR TAKE.

RODRICK DIXON>> FOR EXAMPLE, VICTOR STARTS OFF WITH THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY, A SCALOTTI PIECE, I THINK 1644. THOMAS WILL SING WHAT, OF COURSE, HAS ALMOST BECOME LIKE A POPULAR SONG NOW.

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RODRICK DIXON>> THEN WILL MOVE TO A TRANSITIONAL, THAT OF A GREGORIAN CHANT PIECE INTO A GOSPEL PIECE THAT HAS CHOREOGRAPHY WHICH ALWAYS GOES INTO MUSICAL COMEDY.

VAL>> NOW WHO'S THE OLDER GROUP, "THE IRISH TENORS" OR YOU GUYS?

THOMAS YOUNG>> THEY'RE OLDER. THEY'VE BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN WE HAVE.

VAL>> I SEE. AND HOW DID YOU GET CHOSEN FOR THIS GROUP? THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPETITION.

VICTOR TRENT COOK>> WELL, NO. WE WERE PERSONALLY PICKED BY OUR DIRECTOR AND MANAGER WHO KNEW OF THOMAS FIRST AND THEN HE KNEW OF ME. I DID ONE OF HIS SHOWS ON BROADWAY.

THOMAS YOUNG>> IT SHOULD BE SAID THAT SOMEONE WHO'S SINGING ON VICTOR'S LEVEL OR ON RODRICK'S LEVEL, THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT OF COMPETITION. I MEAN, YOU'LL FIND THAT ANYONE WHO FUNCTIONS AT THE TOP OF THEIR FIELD, NO MATTER WHAT FIELD IT IS, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF COMPETITION. IT'S A LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE. BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT THERE REALLY IS NO OTHER VOICE SO SPECIFICALLY DEFINED BY WHAT THEY FAIL TO DO OR DO ABOVE THE STAFF IN THE TENOR VOICE. FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S GO TO HIS ARIA FROM "THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT". YOU CAN SING BEAUTIFULLY ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE NINE HIGH C'S IN THAT ARIA AND YOU MUST SING ALL NINE. IF YOU SING EIGHT AND A HALF, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. SO THE ENTIRE EVENING'S WORK IS QUITE LITERALLY DEFINED BY WHAT YOU DO IN REGARDS TO SINGING AND PROPERLY EXECUTING THOSE HIGH C'S.

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VAL>> WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA. WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSION SO FAR OF CALIFORNIA?

FINBAR WRIGHT>> GREAT.

ANTHONY KEARNS>> IT'S CERTAINLY COOLER THAN ARIZONA. WE'LL GIVE IT THAT, ALL RIGHT.

VAL>> AND HOW ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT?

ANTHONY KEARNS>> IT'S FANTASTIC. IT'S FAIRLY IMPRESSIVE. AS I SAY, TOMORROW EVENING WILL TELL ALL, YOU KNOW. IT'S A GREAT LOCATION. I WAS JUST SAYING TO THEM ON THE WAY IN THAT IT'S A GREAT PIECE OF REAL ESTATE. HE WAS WONDERING HOW MANY HOUSES HE COULD BUILD HERE (LAUGHTER).

FINBAR WRIGHT>> YEAH, I'M WONDERING HOW MANY APARTMENTS COULD IF FIT IN HERE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> NOW HAVE YOU SEEN HOW FAR UP THE LAST SEAT IS?

RONAN TYNAN>> I SEE IT, YEAH. I MEAN, THE CAPACITY HERE I THINK IS AROUND 16,000.

VAL>> ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN SING LOUD ENOUGH SO THEY CAN HEAR YOU?

RONAN TYNAN>> LISTEN, HONEY. YOU HAVE HEARD NOTHING YET.

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VAL>> NOW TELL ME. HOW LONG HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN TOGETHER AND ARE YOU STILL FRIENDS?

ANTHONY KEARNS>> WE CANNOT STAND EACH OTHER. WE FIGHT LIKE DIBBLES, BUT WE'RE REALLY AUDITIONING FOR PARTS HERE BECAUSE, IF YOU CAN ACT THIS WAY, I MEAN WE DESERVE TO BE ON --

FINBAR WRIGHT>> -- OSCARS.

ANTHONY KEARNS>> WE'RE TOGETHER ALMOST FIVE YEARS NOW. YEAH, WE GET ON FINE.

VAL>> NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HEAR ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT?

RONAN TYNAN>> WELL, OUR PROGRAM IS FUNDAMENTALLY IRISH.

ANTHONY KEARNS>> OUR PROGRAM IS VERY LIGHT.

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FINBAR WRIGHT>> THAT'S WHAT WE LOVE. IT'S NOT THAT WE CAN'T SING OUT. WE'VE ALL SUNG OPERA. EVERYONE OF US, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE BRINGING WHAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.

VAL>> NOW HAVE YOU MET "THREE MO' TENORS" YET?

ANTHONY KEARNS>> NO.

FINBAR WRIGHT>> LATER THIS EVENING, ACTUALLY, WE WILL.

VAL>> NOW WHAT DO TENORS TALK ABOUT WITH EACH OTHER WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS AROUND?

RONAN TYNAN>> HOW HEAVY YOU ARE (LAUGHTER).

FINBAR WRIGHT>> HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO (LAUGHTER).

RONAN TYNAN>> AND HOW LOW CAN YOU DROP (LAUGHTER).

ANTHONY KEARNS>> HOW MANY TENORS DOES IT TAKE TO FIT A LIGHT BULB. ONE TO FIT IT AND NINE TO SAY IT NEVER REACHES (LAUGHTER). IT'S TOO HIGH. OR TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> NOW I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS. I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT OPERA OR SINGERS, BUT I HAVE HEARD THE SORT OF STEREOTYPE ABOUT TENORS. HAVE YOU HEARD THE STEREOTYPE ABOUT TENORS?

ANTHONY KEARNS>> NO. DOES IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH TESTOSTERONE?

FINBAR WRIGHT>> IT MUST HAVE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) NO, THAT THEY ARE, I GUESS, THE DIVA, THAT THEY ARE THE STARS, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT --

ANTHONY KEARNS>> THERE'S A DIVA IN EVERY GROUP. WE'RE FROM IRELAND AND IT'S FAR TOO CLOUDY FOR STARS. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS (LAUGHTER). I THINK THE SOPRANO TENDS TO BE THE DIVA. YOU WOULDN'T REFER TO THE MALE AS THE DIVA.

RONAN TYNAN>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS TIME IN THIS GROUP FOR ANYONE WHO'S GOING TO HAVE A BEE IN THEIR BONNET.

FINBAR WRIGHT>> WE HAVE A VERY GOOD ANALYST. HE TRAVELS WITH US EVERYWHERE (LAUGHTER).

RONAN TYNAN>> AND THEN WE HAVE THE CAT, THE MEOW, THE CAT.

VAL>> OH, THE CAT.

RONAN TYNAN>> YEAH, THE CAT. DID I NOT SAY CAT?

FINBAR WRIGHT>> I THINK HE'S BEEN TOO LONG IN PSYCHOTHERAPY (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, WHAT KIND OF RECEPTION DO YOU EXPECT TO GET FROM US CYNICAL ANGELENOS? ARE WE CYNICAL OUT HERE IN CALIFORNIA?

ANTHONY KEARNS>> NOT AT ALL. WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND, IF WE GET THE SAME RECEPTION AS WE RECEIVED BEFORE, THEN WE'RE DOING GOOD. WE'VE HAD A FANTASTIC TIME HERE IN THE PAST.

FINBAR WRIGHT>> THE GREAT THING ABOUT IRISH MUSIC IS THAT PEOPLE CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE TO JUST REACT WELL TO IT AND BE NATURAL, YOU KNOW?

VAL>> IT'S VERY DOWN TO EARTH.

FINBAR WRIGHT>> YES, IT'S THE BEST --

RONAN TYNAN>> -- IT'S GREAT FUN IN IT AND EVERY SONG HAS A STORY TO TELL AND, BOY, DO WE TELL THAT STORY.

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>> WELL, I LOVE HIKING UP IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS. IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL UP THERE. IT'S LIKE YOU'RE NOT EVEN IN LOS ANGELES.

>> UP IN TOPANGA CANYON AROUND EAGLE ROCKS. NOT THAT I LIKE TO ADVERTISE IT, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICEST WALKS.

>> MY FAVORITE OUTDOOR SPOT IS THE PACIFIC OCEAN BECAUSE I SAIL A LOT AND IT'S ALWAYS DIFFERENT OUT THERE AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE.

>> HIS LAI BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN HACIENDA HEIGHTS. IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.

>> NO, I DON'T GO OUTSIDE MUCH. I'M A GAME PROGRAMMER (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> THEY SAY NO ONE WALKS IN LOS ANGELES, BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. JOHN MCKINNEY KNOWS. HE'S BEEN WALKING CALIFORNIA'S OUTDOOR TRAILS FOR TWENTY YEARS. MCKINNEY HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK CALLED "WILD L.A." IT'S FILLED WITH TIPS ON THE BEST PLACES TO GO. HE AND OUR OWN PHILIP BRUCE HIT THE TRAIL IN A FAMILIAR PLACE, LOS ANGELES'S GRIFFITH PARK.

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JOHN MCKINNEY>> I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT HIKING FOR ALMOST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND I'VE BEEN HIKING MY WHOLE LIFE REALLY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JOHN MCKINNEY WAS BORN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND, BY HIS OWN DESCRIPTION, HE'S PART BEACH BOY, PART MOUNTAIN GOAT. HE KNOWS ALL THE HIDDEN LITTLE TRAILS MOST OF US NEVER SEE. BUT TODAY MCKINNEY HAS BROUGHT US TO A PLACE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS, LOS ANGELES'S GRIFFITH PARK. AS WE MAKE OUR WAY PAST THE BERLIN FOREST, NAMED FOR LOS ANGELES'S SISTER CITY. WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF COMPANY. IN FACT, THE TRAILS ARE BUSY EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK AND NO ONE IS HAPPIER ABOUT THAT THAN JOHN MCKINNEY.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> RIGHT HERE IN LOS ANGELES, WE'RE LEADING THE WAY FOR THIS HIKING REVOLUTION. MORE THAN THIRTY MILLION AMERICANS CALL THEMSELVES REGULAR HIKERS AND HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WE BOAST THE LARGEST SIERRA CLUB OUTINGS GROUP FOR HIKING. WE LEAD THE WAY THE WAY IN HIKING BOOTS SALES RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE TAKING TO THE TRAIL RIGHT NOW IN RECORD NUMBERS, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM ALL OVER THIS PARK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MCKINNEY IS A HIKING WRITER FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. IF YOU WONDER WHAT HE DOES, YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT. HE WALKS AROUND AND WRITES ABOUT WHAT HE SEES, HOW IT FEELS AND WHO HE MEETS, AND MCKINNEY HAS SEEN PLENTY ON TRAILS LIKE THIS.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> I'VE SEEN BEARS ROAMING THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS, I'VE SEEN COYOTES SILHOUETTED ON THE RIDGE TOPS OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS. RIGHT HERE IN GRIFFITH PARK, I'VE SEEN A RED TAIL HAWK SWOOP DOWN AND PLUCK UP A RATTLESNAKE AND TAKE ITS DINNER FLYING OVER THE GOLDEN STATE FREEWAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE WHOLE POINT OF COMING TO GRIFFITH PARK IS TO PROVE MCKINNEY'S POINT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOAD UP THE SUV AND DRIVE FOR MILES TO GET THE FULL NATURE EXPERIENCE.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> A HIKER CAN START AT LOVELY FERN DELL HERE AMIDST THE REDWOODS AND THE SPARKLING STREAM AND HIKE UP TO THE OBSERVATORY NOW UNDER RECONSTRUCTION AND UP TO FAMED MT. HOLLYWOOD, WHICH IS EVERY LOCAL HIKER'S FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE OUT OF TOWN GUESTS, AND GET A FABULOUS VIEW OF THE CITY FROM ONE OF THESE GARDEN SPOTS, CAPTAIN'S ROOST AND DANTE'S VIEW.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MCKINNEY CALLS THIS WILD L.A. HE'S WRITTEN A BOOK BY THE SAME NAME, FILLED WITH TRAILS, HIKING TIPS AND TRIVIA TIDBITS LIKE THE FACT THAT LOS ANGELES'S FIRST TRANSMISSION TOWER IS BUILT HERE ON MT. LEE NEAR THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN OR THE FACT THAT THIRTY-SIX WORKMEN DIED BACK IN 1933 TRYING TO PUT OUT A BIG BRUSH FIRE HERE IN GRIFFITH PARK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOW IF YOU GET OUT EARLY ENOUGH, YOU MIGHT SEE THE OCEAN FROM HERE, RIGHT?

JOHN MCKINNEY>> YOU'D SEE THE WHOLE SWEEP OF SANTA MONICA BAY DOWN TO PALOS VERDES. YOU MIGHT SEE THE CATALINA ISLAND, SOME OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, ANACAPA AND SANTA CRUZ.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT EVEN HERE IN MIDMORNING, YOU CAN STILL GET A PRETTY GOOD VIEW. IT'S WORTH THE WALK.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO GET OFF THE COUCH, TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR AND EXPLORE THIS WONDERFUL REGION THAT I CALL WILD L.A.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MOTIVATION MAY BE GREAT FOR THE MASSES, BUT THESE HIKERS, MOST OF THEM GRIFFITH PARK REGULARS, ALREADY GET THE POINT. THEY'RE TRUE BELIEVERS IN MCKINNEY'S SPECIAL BRAND OF WILD L.A. EVANGELISM. REGINA RHYMES HAS EVEN PICKED UP SOME NEW WORDS JUST BY LISTENING TO THE MANY DIFFERENT HIKERS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT PLENTY OF COMPANY OUT HERE?

REGINA RHYMES>> OH, I DO. I LOVE IT EARLY IN THE MORNING BECAUSE I GET TO LEARN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES LIKE I LEARNED HOW TO SPEAK THE KOREAN LANGUAGE, JUST BASIC WORDS, LIKE HELLO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO THEY SAY NOBODY WALKS IN LOS ANGELES.

REGINA RHYMES>> EXACTLY. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF WALKERS IN LOS ANGELES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES WHO DO BELIEVE IN WORKING OUT. WE DON'T HAVE THE LIPOSUCTION, WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF GOING TO A VERY, VERY NICE DOCTOR, BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A VERY GOOD WHOLESOME WORKOUT IN THE MOUNTAINS.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC PLANT OF THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS, THE SAGE. UM, ISN'T THAT NICE?

PHILIP BRUCE>> UM, THAT IS NICE.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> THAT JUST BRINGS BACK MEMORIES AND THE MOST POWERFUL OF ANTIHISTAMINES TOO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CLEAR YOUR NOSE AND CLEAR YOUR HEAD, DO WHAT JOHN MCKINNEY'S DONE AND WALK UP THE WESTERN EDGE OF AMERICA.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO YOU WALKED FROM MEXICO TO OREGON?

JOHN MCKINNEY>> I DID.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HOW LONG DID THAT TAKE?

JOHN MCKINNEY>> ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS (LAUGHTER). I DID IT IN CHUNKS OF FIFTY AND A HUNDRED MILES. MY ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO PIONEER A CALIFORNIA COASTAL TRAIL, BUT A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME ALONG THE WAY. I THREW AWAY MY NOTES AND I BECAME, INSTEAD OF A WILDERNESS JOCK, A SPORTSMAN. I BECAME A TRAVELER WITH SOMETHING TO LEARN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MCKINNEY SAYS THE LESSONS ARE ALL AROUND US AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO FIND THEM.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> CRITICS SAY THAT OUR KIDS ARE SUFFERING FROM OBESITY AND LACK OF EXERCISE. WHAT A WAY TO FILL THEM WITH HEALTHY PLEASURES. GET THEM ON THE TRAIL. WE TALK ABOUT GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOMS AND WIRING OUR CLASSROOMS. KIDS DON'T NEED TO BE WIRED. THEY NEED TO BE WALKED. THEY NEED TO LEARN A DIFFERENT WAY. THEY NEED TO BE OUT ON THE TRAIL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE IS A MAN WHO ENJOYS HIS JOB AND CLAIMS NEVER TO HAVE A BAD DAY WHEN HE'S DOING IT. ALL OF US SHOULD BE SO LUCKY.

JOHN MCKINNEY>> A DAY LIKE THIS WITH FRESH AIR AND LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND A LOVELY TRAIL, YOU FEEL BLESSED. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS.

VAL>> ONE OF THE HAZARDS OF HIKING IS GETTING LOST, SO JOHN MCKINNEY HAS A WEBSITE WITH ADVICE ON HOW TO AVOID THAT AND HE ALSO HAS SOME OTHER GOOD SURVIVAL TIPS.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. I'M VAL ZAVALA. FOR ALL OF US AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, A TERMED-OUT POLITICIAN WANTS TO REVOLUTIONIZE SOLAR POWER IN CALIFORNIA.

>> LOS ANGELES IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE. ENTREPRENEURIALISM OF LOS ANGELES LIVES HERE, RIGHT HERE, WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS SOCIAL JUSTICE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES DOING STUFF THAT WON'T BE JUST FOR LOS ANGELES, BUT WILL EXPORT TO ALL CORNERS OF THE PLANET.

VAL>> THAT'S MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES.