Letters to the Editor: The Dodgers' and Giants' Big Oil ads are just normal economic competition
To the editor: Neither the Dodgers nor the Giants are advocating for petroleum over clean energy ('What do the Dodgers and Giants have in common? An iconic ad — for Big Oil,' May 29). They are both providing paid ad services for competitors in the petroleum products industry, which will be with us until we are able to replace all fossil fuels with 100% clean energy sources.
The clean energy cause is absolutely crucial to our future. We're getting there pretty quickly, but in the meantime, competitors gonna compete, and they're going to use ads to do so. Advertising for any one or all of them is neither a sin nor a crime, nor even naughty. It is simply competition, and none of it should be held as the least bit despicable as long as the economy continues to require some fossil fuels.
After all, would you tell people who would freeze to death if they didn't burn coal that they were doing something immoral, unethical or even illogical, if that was all they had to heat their home?
Mark Driskill, Long Beach
..
To the editor: I appreciate columnist Sammy Roth's spirited commentaries about Big Oil advertising at sporting events. However, if ever there was a tempest in a teapot, it's this issue. I can't recall anyone ever saying, 'Wow! I saw the 76 ad at Dodger Stadium. I'm buying more gasoline!' To be fair, I've been going to Dodger Stadium for more than 50 years and I couldn't tell you who else has an ad. I'm generally watching the game.
Jeffrey R. Knott, Fullerton
..
To the editor: In the recent Boiling Point, the shot taken at Phillips 66 is open for debate. One part of the article conveys disappointment from local Dodger fans that the iconic 76 logo will now also adorn the outfield of the rival San Francisco Giants (seriously, who cares?). Others are asking to take down the logo in both stadiums because of its association with the fossil fuel industry.
The average reader, I believe, can see both sides, although in most cases reluctantly. But here's a third topic of debate to consider. When you look around beautiful Dodger Stadium — be it the bull pens, the scoreboards or along the foul lines — what do you see? Huge four-color advertisements for alcoholic beverages that, when heavily consumed, can cause distraction and safety concerns for fans and families just wanting to enjoy a night out at the stadium. Heavy consumption of these products, and the aforementioned promotion of alcohol in this environment, never leads to anything good. Fan arguments and fights in the stands or, even worse, malicious attacks in the parking lot after the game. Yes, they're different topics, but it's something to think about.
Richard Whorton, Studio City
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ridin' with Cuco at Dodger Stadium
By the time Cuco arrived at Dodger Stadium on a recent Tuesday evening, thousands of fans were already lined up outside the venue's gates, waiting to be let in. Though the matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks wouldn't begin for another two hours, these Doyer diehards made their way to Chavez Ravine early to catch the pre-game festivities. It was Mexican Heritage Night, and the team had plenty of entertainment planned for the fanbase that Fernando Valenzuela built: a mini-concert by the legendary La Original Banda el Limón de Salvador Lizárraga; a lucha libre exhibition; and the throwing of the ceremonial first pitch by Chavo Guerrero Jr., scion of the storied Mexican American Guerrero wrestling clan. To complete this hodgepodge of a cultural celebration, the Dodgers also asked Cuco to sing the national anthem, a fitting invitation given that the 26-year-old Inglewood-born and Hawthorne-raised artist, whose real name is Omar Banos, had just put out 'Ridin'' (released May 9 via Interscope Records). The LP, his third, is an 11-track gem of L.A. Mexican Americana dripping with the ageless sounds of Chicano soul. Donning a team cap, a long white tee, black shorts, Dodger blue Nike SB Dunk Lows and his trademark glasses, Cuco walked into the stadium entrance reserved for suite-level ticketholders accompanied by his manager and a social content creator. Despite a heat wave that raised that day's temperatures into the high 80s, a black Dodgers windbreaker that he planned to wear later in the evening hung around his neck. Pinned to it was a button that contained a portrait of Jaime Mendoza, his late maternal grandfather. 'My grandpa was big on the Dodgers,' Cuco said, noting that it was because of him that his whole family rooted for the Boys in Blue. As Cuco is escorted through the concrete bowels of Dodger Stadium by a pair of team publicists taking him to sound check, fans spot him and excitedly call out his name. Some even approach him for a selfie. When asked if he often gets recognized in public, the singer-songwriter chuckled. 'Yeah, if there's a lot of Latinos around,' he quipped. 'I'm always going to say yes to a photo. I'm never going to turn them down.' It's cliché for any artist to say that they'd be nothing without their fans, but this adage rings particularly true when it comes to Cuco. His loyal supporters, dubbed the "Cuco Puffs," turned a former precocious marching band geek into a bonafide indie pop star. He began his career in the mid-2010s by uploading Spanglish lo-fi love songs recorded in his childhood bedroom to Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Dreamy, synth-heavy ballads like "Lover Is a Day" (off of his first mixtape, 2016's "Wannabewithu") and "Lo Que Siento" (released as a single in 2017) quickly connected with countless bicultural, Gen Z Latinos, racking up millions of streams in the process. By the time Cuco started performing at backyard shows, he had packed crowds singing every lyric back at him. Such was the hype around him that several labels got into a two-year bidding war to sign the unlikely teen idol with a ready-made fan base. 'I don't need a label. The labels mostly need me,' Cuco told The Times in 2017. 'Like, in no cocky way, the reality of it is labels stay up because of the artists.' When Interscope finally won out in 2019, it was on the artist's terms — Cuco inked a seven-figure deal that allowed him to retain ownership of his music and gave him the creative freedom to do what he wanted. He was 20 at the time. That summer, he released his debut album, "Para Mi," a notable first effort that paired a blissful sound — inspired by a slew of genres, including psychedelic rock, bossa nova, pop and quiet storm R&B — with lyrics that touched on loneliness and substance abuse ("Take this and fly away till the substance numbs the pain," he sings in "Ego Death in Thailand"). The album's first single, "Hydrocodone," is a nod to the pain medication he was on after being involved in a near-fatal car crash while out on tour in 2018. This March, Cuco celebrated three years of sobriety. The year 2022 saw the release of "Fantasy Gateway," an ambitious concept album heavily inspired by psych rockers Tame Impala that takes the listener to another dimension, featuring notable collaborations with artists like Mexico's indie darling Bratty and fellow sadboi romántico DannyLux. "Sitting in the Corner," recorded with música Mexicana crooner Adriel Favela and country singer Kacey Musgraves, is a space pop ranchera that yearns for a lover who has left. "It's the vibe, man," he says of the musicians he chooses to work with. "It's not really about artists being big or not. It's just if I get along with them and they have cool ideas and it aligns with my personality." With 'Ridin',' Cuco delivers his most mature album to date. Produced by Thomas Brenneck (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse), the record is a neo-Chicano soul instant classic that pays tribute to the likes of Brenton Wood, Al Green and Smokey Robinson — soul and R&B artists from the '60s and '70s whose music has been adopted by lowrider and Chicano culture — all while maintaining that distinct Cuco sound, a perfect marriage between the old and the new. The album's opener, "ICNBYH" (an abbrevation of "I Could Never Break Your Heart"), would be at home in an "East Side Story" mixtape compilation. Cuco's psychedelia roots are most apparent in songs like "Ridin'," a track that feels like you're cruising on a spaceship down Whittier Boulevard. 'I couldn't really try to make something that sounded exactly like [Chicano soul]. I was hoping to embody that timelessness, but I had to work in the most authentic way possible so that it felt that way,' he said. "I wanted to go for more natural sounds with the soul sound, but I think it's just inevitable for me sometimes. I'm just going to end up doing some psychedelic parts with the music because that's what I've always been." "Ridin'" is an album of the summer contender for anyone whose idea of summer means hanging out at the beach with all your friends — this exact scenario describes the music video for the album's first single, "My 45," which stars Mexican American actress Xochitl Gomez as a femme fatale. And while the LP is teeming with enough vehicular references to make Bruce Springsteen jealous (the cover shows Cuco sitting on top of his 1989 Toyota Supra), Cuco says "Ridin'" isn't strictly meant for the car. 'I'm hoping that ["Ridin'"] is something that's interpreted however the listener chooses to interpret it, whether they're ridin' in your car, ridin' for somebody or just ridin' through life,' he says. After sound check, Cuco made his way back to the suite level to wait for the rest of his party to arrive, which included his parents, Adolfo Banos and Irma Mendoza. The only child of immigrants, the artist has made it a point to share his success with them. Forgoing wearing anything in Dodger blue, the elder Banos donned a hoodie from his son's latest tour. Mendoza showed up wearing a team hat and a striped shirt. Affixed to it was a button identical to her son's. It was her idea; she had made them the night before. As it got closer to game time, the singer was ushered down to the field once again. It was showtime. 'Please stand and remove your hats for the singing of the national anthem,' the stadium announcer said over the P.A. system. 'Joining us today is Cuco, indie pop star from Hawthorne!' Cuco took a beat before singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in his patented soft and mellow voice. His parents stood approximately 20 feet away, beaming with pride. After it was all over, the singer quickly made his way to them, and was met with smiles and hugs. A minute later, a production assistant grabs Cuco for his final obligation of the night. He's handed a microphone and is escorted back to where he performed the national anthem. He's met by a congregation of luchadores who will act as a chorus as he delivers the phrase popularized by the legendary broadcaster Vin Scully — "It's time for Dodger baseball!" In the fall, Cuco will go on a nationwide tour to promote the album — he'll be performing at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 15. But right now it's summer and he's ridin' with his loved ones, about to watch a game the Dodgers will end up winning 4-3 in extra innings. Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Ridin' with Cuco at Dodger Stadium
By the time Cuco arrived at Dodger Stadium on a recent Tuesday evening, thousands of fans were already lined up outside the venue's gates, waiting to be let in. Though the matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks wouldn't begin for another two hours, these Doyer diehards made their way to Chavez Ravine early to catch the pre-game festivities. It was Mexican Heritage Night, and the team had plenty of entertainment planned for the fanbase that Fernando Valenzuela built: a mini-concert by the legendary La Original Banda el Limón de Salvador Lizárraga; a lucha libre exhibition; and the throwing of the ceremonial first pitch by Chavo Guerrero Jr., scion of the storied Mexican American Guerrero wrestling clan. To complete this hodgepodge of a cultural celebration, the Dodgers also asked Cuco to sing the national anthem, a fitting invitation given that the 26-year-old Inglewood-born and Hawthorne-raised artist, whose real name is Omar Banos, had just put out 'Ridin'' (released May 9 via Interscope Records). The LP, his third, is an 11-track gem of L.A. Mexican Americana dripping with the ageless sounds of Chicano soul. Donning a team cap, a long white tee, black shorts, Dodger blue Nike SB Dunk Lows and his trademark glasses, Cuco walked into the stadium entrance reserved for suite-level ticketholders accompanied by his manager and a social content creator. Despite a heat wave that raised that day's temperatures into the high 80s, a black Dodgers windbreaker that he planned to wear later in the evening hung around his neck. Pinned to it was a button that contained a portrait of Jaime Mendoza, his late maternal grandfather. 'My grandpa was big on the Dodgers,' Cuco said, noting that it was because of him that his whole family rooted for the Boys in Blue. As Cuco is escorted through the concrete bowels of Dodger Stadium by a pair of team publicists taking him to sound check, fans spot him and excitedly call out his name. Some even approach him for a selfie. When asked if he often gets recognized in public, the singer-songwriter chuckled. 'Yeah, if there's a lot of Latinos around,' he quipped. 'I'm always going to say yes to a photo. I'm never going to turn them down.' It's cliché for any artist to say that they'd be nothing without their fans, but this adage rings particularly true when it comes to Cuco. His loyal supporters, dubbed the 'Cuco Puffs,' turned a former precocious marching band geek into a bonafide indie pop star. He began his career in the mid-2010s by uploading Spanglish lo-fi love songs recorded in his childhood bedroom to Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Dreamy, synth-heavy ballads like 'Lover Is a Day' (off of his first mixtape, 2016's 'Wannabewithu') and 'Lo Que Siento' (released as a single in 2017) quickly connected with countless bicultural, Gen Z Latinos, racking up millions of streams in the process. By the time Cuco started performing at backyard shows, he had packed crowds singing every lyric back at him. Such was the hype around him that several labels got into a two-year bidding war to sign the unlikely teen idol with a ready-made fan base. 'I don't need a label. The labels mostly need me,' Cuco told The Times in 2017. 'Like, in no cocky way, the reality of it is labels stay up because of the artists.' When Interscope finally won out in 2019, it was on the artist's terms — Cuco inked a seven-figure deal that allowed him to retain ownership of his music and gave him the creative freedom to do what he wanted. He was 20 at the time. That summer, he released his debut album, 'Para Mi,' a notable first effort that paired a blissful sound — inspired by a slew of genres, including psychedelic rock, bossa nova, pop and quiet storm R&B — with lyrics that touched on loneliness and substance abuse ('Take this and fly away till the substance numbs the pain,' he sings in 'Ego Death in Thailand'). The album's first single, 'Hydrocodone,' is a nod to the pain medication he was on after being involved in a near-fatal car crash while out on tour in 2018. This March, Cuco celebrated three years of sobriety. The year 2022 saw the release of 'Fantasy Gateway,' an ambitious concept album heavily inspired by psych rockers Tame Impala that takes the listener to another dimension, featuring notable collaborations with artists like Mexico's indie darling Bratty and fellow sadboi romántico DannyLux. 'Sitting in the Corner,' recorded with música Mexicana crooner Adriel Favela and country singer Kacey Musgraves, is a space pop ranchera that yearns for a lover who has left. 'It's the vibe, man,' he says of the musicians he chooses to work with. 'It's not really about artists being big or not. It's just if I get along with them and they have cool ideas and it aligns with my personality.' With 'Ridin',' Cuco delivers his most mature album to date. Produced by Thomas Brenneck (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse), the record is a neo-Chicano soul instant classic that pays tribute to the likes of Brenton Wood, Al Green and Smokey Robinson — soul and R&B artists from the '60s and '70s whose music has been adopted by lowrider and Chicano culture — all while maintaining that distinct Cuco sound, a perfect marriage between the old and the new. The album's opener, 'ICNBYH' (an abbrevation of 'I Could Never Break Your Heart'), would be at home in an 'East Side Story' mixtape compilation. Cuco's psychedelia roots are most apparent in songs like 'Ridin',' a track that feels like you're cruising on a spaceship down Whittier Boulevard. 'I couldn't really try to make something that sounded exactly like [Chicano soul]. I was hoping to embody that timelessness, but I had to work in the most authentic way possible so that it felt that way,' he said. 'I wanted to go for more natural sounds with the soul sound, but I think it's just inevitable for me sometimes. I'm just going to end up doing some psychedelic parts with the music because that's what I've always been.' 'Ridin'' is an album of the summer contender for anyone whose idea of summer means hanging out at the beach with all your friends — this exact scenario describes the music video for the album's first single, 'My 45,' which stars Mexican American actress Xochitl Gomez as a femme fatale. And while the LP is teeming with enough vehicular references to make Bruce Springsteen jealous (the cover shows Cuco sitting on top of his 1989 Toyota Supra), Cuco says 'Ridin'' isn't strictly meant for the car. 'I'm hoping that ['Ridin''] is something that's interpreted however the listener chooses to interpret it, whether they're ridin' in your car, ridin' for somebody or just ridin' through life,' he says. After sound check, Cuco made his way back to the suite level to wait for the rest of his party to arrive, which included his parents, Adolfo Banos and Irma Mendoza. The only child of immigrants, the artist has made it a point to share his success with them. Forgoing wearing anything in Dodger blue, the elder Banos donned a hoodie from his son's latest tour. Mendoza showed up wearing a team hat and a striped shirt. Affixed to it was a button identical to her son's. It was her idea; she had made them the night before. As it got closer to game time, the singer was ushered down to the field once again. It was showtime. 'Please stand and remove your hats for the singing of the national anthem,' the stadium announcer said over the P.A. system. 'Joining us today is Cuco, indie pop star from Hawthorne!' Cuco took a beat before singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in his patented soft and mellow voice. His parents stood approximately 20 feet away, beaming with pride. After it was all over, the singer quickly made his way to them, and was met with smiles and hugs. A minute later, a production assistant grabs Cuco for his final obligation of the night. He's handed a microphone and is escorted back to where he performed the national anthem. He's met by a congregation of luchadores who will act as a chorus as he delivers the phrase popularized by the legendary broadcaster Vin Scully — 'It's time for Dodger baseball!' In the fall, Cuco will go on a nationwide tour to promote the album — he'll be performing at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 15. But right now it's summer and he's ridin' with his loved ones, about to watch a game the Dodgers will end up winning 4-3 in extra innings.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Dodgers' Chris Stratton Elects to Leave Organization
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Veteran right-handed pitcher Chris Stratton, who was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week, has cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City. However, Stratton has rejected his outright assignment, instead electing to enter free agency. More news: MLB Power Rankings — Yankees Fall, Mets and Dodgers Rise LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 01: Chris Stratton #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2025 in Los... LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 01: Chris Stratton #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. MoreStratton signed a major league deal with the Dodgers on May 25 as the team was looking for bullpen help amid their rash of injuries. Stratton ended up making two appearances with the reigning World Series champions, allowing two earned runs in three innings of work for a 6.00 ERA. Stratton was then designated for assignment on Monday when the team made a trade and another roster move to shuffle their bullpen. Read more: Dodgers Acquire Pitcher From Mariners in 2-Player Trade Stratton will now head back to free agency to look for his next home. The 34-year-old began the season with the Kansas City Royals — where he also spent the 2024 season — sporting a 7.94 ERA over 12 appearances. Last year, he had a 5.55 ERA across 57 appearances in Kansas City. Stratton was initially a first-round pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2012. He debuted in 2016 and spent three seasons of his career with San Francisco before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels ahead of the 2019 season. The Angels traded Stratton to the Pittsburgh Pirates midway through the 2019 season. He was then with Pittsburgh until 2022, when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. At the 2023 trade deadline, Stratton was traded again, this time to the Texas Rangers. He played a key role in Texas' bullpen in their 2023 World Series run. More news: Phillies' Bryce Harper Breaks Silence on Kyle Schwarber's Upcoming Free Agency Across his 10-year career, Stratton has made 373 appearances (42 starts), sporting a 4.63 ERA over 623.1 innings pitched. Now, he'll look to continue his career with another team, and shouldn't have much trouble finding a minor league opportunity that could turn into a major league one. Stratton has six pitches in his arsenal, mainly using a four-seam fastball, curveball, changeup and slider while also mixing in a sinker and sweeper. While he's struggled this season, he is in the 90th percentile of average exit velocity and the 81st percentile in hard hit percentage. It shouldn't be long before Stratton joins another team and contributes to their bullpen — he'll just likely hope to get a longer stay at his next stop. For more MLB news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
