by Gabriel Botello

Last year was the first year in the annual Sports Medicine competition for St. John Bosco High School.

Photo – Jalen Manson and Michael Beltran

The team competed for the first time as juniors, and with six of them representing St. John Bosco, placed 26th place.

The team had to take 150 multiple choice questions about injury scenarios, different types of injuries, legal terms, nutrition, and other things related to the field. In addition, students also had to perform a practical exam where they were given a structure to palpate, an injury to evaluate, a scenario to perform, and a taping job.

For it being the team’s first year and with over 75 schools from the United States being present, the outcome was successful. This year, the team is coming back with more students and feel more prepared than last year.

The Sports Medicine pathway is all about educating, showing, and preparing students for how to treat injuries resulting in any sporting activity.

“The pathway has inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field. All four years of the pathway has definitely benefited me and made me grow as a person and [see a future] career wise,” said senior Sebastian Padilla.

The pathway has clearly been regarded as highly successful and continues to trend in the right direction. It’s benefits towards students looking to pursue a future career in sports medicine is clear.

“The Sports Medicine pathway gave me structure throughout high school. Entering Bosco I was unsure as to what subject I would study in college, I didn’t have any passions. I was interested when I heard about the pathway and decided to see where this interest would take me,” said senior Javier Ochoa.

Just from the experience of two students, as well as myself, the Sports Medicine pathway at Bosco has been a great addition to an already wide pathway realm.

by RJ Johnson

Hambones! An alive piece of Southern hospitality located in Bellflower, California on Alondra Boulevard. This barbeque restaurant brings about a unique presence within the BBQ community that not many other restaurants can offer.

At Hambones, you have a wide variety of different main courses to pick from, along with side dishes that do more than compliment the meal.

Unlike larger barbeque restaurant chains, Hambones prides itself in building personal bonds and relationships with all of their customers. Instead of just being a quick bite to eat, it feels more like an experience. Revisiting Hambones feels like catching up with an old friend, home-cooking away from home.

Hambone’s owner – Kenneth Hambone Hamilton – had the Hambone’s franchise and original recipes passed down to him by his father and was expected to carry on the legacy. Mr. Hamilton did more than just meet expectations, opening up several locations across America in Mississippi, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

A signature item on Hambones Chicago location’s menu are turkey tips. Kenneth

Photo – RJ Johnson

Hamilton says that he is the originator of this dish and it would be extremely rare to find this anywhere else in America.

Since there are very few Hambone locations in comparison to other barbecue restaurants like Johnny Rebs and Lucille’s, what you see at each location will always have it’s very own unique form.

“Our number one ingredient for our meat at every single one of our locations is wood! It has a more distinctive taste, unlike propane. Wood is extremely important for what we do,” said Hamilton.

Mr. Hamilton isn’t only a restaurant owner, but an active leader of the youth, hosting seminars and helping young men stay on the right path throughout the rest of their life. He believes that how we mold our youth is very important and that the future starts with them.

Hamilton has given a few endangered youth job opportunities working with him, and helping them build connections with other successful people.

With all of the things that Kenneth Hamilton already has to do in the community, it would seem as if he has hardly any time left. He still finds the time to be the president of a Motorcycle Club.

Juggling work, the growth of others, and the community around him has found its way to become a norm for Mr. Hamilton. The passion he has shown for his craft has paid off, making Hambones a personal favorite for many barbeque fanatics.

by John Gallegos

The St. John Bosco theater program entered 2019 with the task of tackling the play Ragtime: The Musical. A play with a social message that resonated with the audience as the material, although taking place in the early 20^th century, parallels similar struggles we face today.

Like many great works of art, there are a plethora of layers to be depicted throughout “Ragtime”. Yet these layers are glaring as they deal with the continuing problems in American society with topics like social justice movements, race relations, immigration, as well as privileges stemming from affluence.

Although these may take place in at the turn of the century, over a hundred years ago the relevance is enhanced in this tumultuous time period we are in. 

Malcolm X once said  “You can’t drive a knife into a man’s back nine inches, pull it out six inches and call it progress. The progress is healing the wound the blow made.” 

Many of these issues have been addressed, yet no true healing has ever occurred as social problems have been drawn out through the last century and carried over into today’s society. 

The issues surrounding immigration are not just a topic that just we as Americans are familiar about. The play followed the journey of Tateh, a Jewish immigrant played by Victor Curiel, and the struggles he faced throughout his search and hopes for the so-called American Dream. Although coming from different places and for different reasons, immigrating at this time was still a hot topic and a pressing issue.

 The issue of privilege deriving from affluence and authority is another issue touched upon throughout the play in several different ways. Actor Joshua Dreyer played the Father in the play. Father was a character who was extremely wealthy yet received no true repercussions for his actions.

A topic all too familiar at this time as the recent college admissions scandals have been publicized and the means in which certain public figures would get around the college admissions process. The saying goes “access is power”, which happens to resonate with today perfectly, as the access to virtually anything is possible to those with the means to achieve it. 

“Ragtime” may brush through several issues that surround us today but none is more glaring than the issue of race and race relations, especially in regards to the African-American community. Taking place during the Harlem Renaissance, black empowerment began to surge and spread like wildfire as people were questioning what does justice mean, and if it has a color.

Newer movements like Black Lives Matter and other self-empowering movements are still asking the same questions. “Ragtime” was able to capture a snippet of what it was like to be a black man at this time. Although we have come a long way from the early 1900’s, we still see residual effects that people have to deal with.

The audience was able to peer into the life of a troubled African-American in Coalhouse Walker Jr. through the portrayal of actor Ryan Jones. He played the position with extraordinary passion as well as a demeanor that captured the attention of the audience with a charismatic charm. Smooth piano playing Coalhouse was willing to put his life on the line, after everything was taken, for what he believed and never lost hope in the Promised Land. Jones took the play over with his extraordinary vocals throughout, even with the extremely challenging task in playing as Coalhouse.

Director Martin Lang said, “[Ryan] is a unique individual who has great strengths and has done a great job with the broad emotions and was able to do it all.”

Mr. Lang also did a stupendous job, especially while challenging the theater program with such a deep and difficult musical. He created a stunning atmosphere through the scenes, as the set was remarkable in achieving its goal. His set didn’t do too much but did the perfect amount to spark creativity throughout the play, allowing the actors and actresses to take the reigns.

“They did an amazing job, as they were given truly tough material that they rose up to produce, but most important of all… they told the story well,” said Mr. Lang

Ultimately, the play “Ragtime” was another success out of the SJB/SJHS theater programs as they gave the audience a memorable performance each and every night.

by Enrique Gutierrez and Kris Hutson

On January 31st, we remembered the life and death of Saint John Bosco as nations worldwide celebrated his life.

Don Bosco was a priest, educator and a writer of the 19th century. Don Bosco worked in Turin, where there was ill effects. He was dedicated to the betterment and education of the children in the street and kids in juvenile, and other disadvantaged children. Don Bosco taught methods on love rather than punishment. This method that became known as the Salesian Preventive System. 

Bosco was a follower of the spirituality and philosophy of Francis De La Sale. Bosco was an ardent devotee of Mary, mother of Jesus. He later dedicated his work to De La Sale’s when he founded the Salesians of Don Bosco based in Turin. He taught Dominic Savio of whom he wrote a biography that helped him become canonized.

During the Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis addressed Don Bosco with recognition and respect. Pope Francis acknowledged Bosco by referring him as a role model to all priest. Don Bosco was a prime example to who Jesus Christ was. Don Bosco was well known for helping the less fortunate children who wandered the streets in poverty. Bosco helped children grow and develop themselves as men.

Pope Francis focused on how Don Bosco viewed people he helped. Pope Francis said, “to look upon reality with human eyes,” and with “the eyes of God,” and this means “spending a lot of time before the tabernacle.”

Pope Francis’ quote referred to the perspective one gives to another person. Humanity can see a person or the state of someone with disgust and disrespect. Pope Francis makes it well known that man should see the world how God saw life everyday. No matter how terrible a person can be, there can always be a way to help them change and help them develop their lifestyle. God wants us to help those in need for motivation and encouragement.

“And what is the sign that a priest is doing well, seeing reality with human eyes and with the eyes of God? Joy. When a priest does not find joy within, he should stop immediately and ask himself why. And Don Bosco’s joy is known, eh? Because he made others joyful, and rejoiced himself. And he suffered. Today, let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of Don Bosco, for the grace for our priests to be joyful: joyful so that they have the true sense of looking at things regarding pastoral ministry, the people of God with human eyes and with the eyes of God,” were the final remarks of Don Bosco from Pope Francis.

St. John Bosco’s legacy will always be remembered and celebrated worldwide by giving Bosco praise for being an idol for humanity.