Chargers Training Camp is Underway

As a rookie in the NFL, the past year of your life is a whirlwind that is hard to describe.  A year before training camp started, you were in your senior year of college prepping for your last collegiate season.  Now you are playing professionally and working hard at training camp to try to make the team.  The NFL has officially started training camps and with the season starting in a short three weeks the pressure is on for these rookies.

A year ago they were preparing for their final collegiate season, hoping to end it on a high-note by winning a bowl game.

Now they are professional players in the National Football League looking to make an immediate impact for the San Diego Chargers.

“It’s a blessing,” said versatile first-round pick Melvin Ingram following the team’s first practice. 

“Just the opportunity after dreaming of this as a kid, and now finally getting the opportunity, it’s just a blessing.”

Training camp is officially underway as rookies kicked off the season with a lively practice this afternoon at Chargers Park. The session started off with each unit working out individually before the offense and defense squared off in a series of non-contact drills. 

“These few days we are dealing with our young guys,” said head coach Norv Turner. “I really think it’s critical for them to give them an opportunity and get them into the swing of things before our veterans get here.  It was a nice start for the young guys.”

While they have spent most of their lives on the gridiron, the players relish the chance to get some work in before the whole team hits the field together on Thursday.

“This is an opportunity that we get early to get our feet wet and get back into things,” said Kendall Reyes, the team’s second-round draft pick out of Connecticut. “The vets, they’ve been doing it for a while and they fully understand what’s going on. So it’s just good to get in early and get our feet wet before everything really gets into play.”

The rookies don’t have the luxury of easing into the swing of things.  Once the veterans report, they are expected to hit the ground running, and today they got a taste of how different the game is at this level as quarterback Philip Rivers stood under center for the two-hour practice.

“It’s a whole lot different,” said safety Brandon Taylor, San Diego’s third-round draft choice. “You have Philip throwing the ball back there, and knowing that he can throw the ball in tight spots and control the offense makes it a lot harder.  He knows what the defense is doing out there a lot of times, and it’s a shock.  But you’ve got to overcome that and be on point.  It makes you a better player.”

Conversely, those on offense saw their level of play rise with one of the league’s best throwing them the ball.

“It’s like a reality check to have him back there,” said fourth-round pick, tight end Ladarius Green. 

“You see him all the time on TV growing up, but you can’t be fazed.  He expects a lot out of you so you’ve got to step to the plate.”

As much as it is a dream come true, the rookies know now is not the time to get complacent.  They aren’t satisfied to simply make it to the NFL; they want to produce and make an impact.

“It’s not enough just to be here,” said Taylor, summing up the sentiments of his fellow rookies. “It felt good to be flying around out there making plays, and I’ve got to keep grinding and keep working to get those opportunities and make the most out of them.”

For more information go to the Chargers Website.

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Orchids and Beautiful Flowers at the San Diego Zoo

This Friday at the San Diego Zoo you can see the world class botanical garden on display.  There are unique plants from around the world.  There are activities for the guests that are themed around orchids and other exotic flowers.  The cost is free with admission to the zoo, and the event starts at 10am.

The San Diego Zoo is the home of a world-class botanical garden. There are approximately 700,000 plants on the grounds that create the lush, peaceful landscape the Zoo is known for. During Plant Day & Orchid Odyssey, we spotlight our collection of flora with additional plant-related activities for our guests.

• Self-guided walking tour maps are made available at the Zoo's entrance. Choose your area of interest, then check out the plants for yourself and see what's blooming or how the Zoo's unique plant collection helps create the natural habitats for the animals.
• Botanical Bus Tours highlight the Zoo's plant collection and are offered on Friday Plant Days only. The bus tour meets at the bus unloading area at 2 p.m. and is given by different Horticulture Department staff with their own area of expertise. Botanical Bus Tours are free!

The Zoo's orchid greenhouse, home to over 3,000 orchid plants from over 800 species, varieties, and cultivars, is open to Zoo visitors during Orchid Odyssey from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our orchid expert, as well as members of the San Diego County Orchid Society, are on hand to answer questions during this 'open house.' The orchid greenhouse is located on the path just off of Front Street in the Africa Rocks zone. 

Plant Day & Orchid Odyssey is offered the third Friday of each month and is included with Zoo admission.

For more information go to the San Diego Zoo Webpage.

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Comic Con 2012

The Comic Con fans have invaded San Diego for one of the biggest events our city holds every year.  Are you going to Comic Con this year? Here is a list of what is expected to be at Comic Con this year, and some celebrities that you might get to see.

Starting Thursday, thousands of fans will descend on San Diego for the annual Comic-Con convention.

The four-day, pop culture-packed event will feature celebrity appearances and exclusive announcements about upcoming movies and TV shows new and old.
Here's some of what to expect this year:

Movies:

• The "Twilight" film franchise comes to a close this fall with "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," making this the final time the cast and crew will be at Comic-Con. Fans can expect a cast and filmmaker Q&A and exclusive footage from the finale, according to the Comic-Con website. (Thursday)
• Walt Disney Studios will host a panel promoting its upcoming films, featuring "Frankenweenie" director Tim Burton, "Oz the Great and Powerful" with director Sam Raimi and the director and cast of the animated film "Wreck-It Ralph." (Thursday)
• Sony will host a panel promoting a trio of big action/sci-fi movies - "Total Recall" (with Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel and director Len Wiseman), "Looper" (with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt) and "Elysium" (with "District 9" director Neill Blomkamp and stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster). (Friday)
• "The Hobbit" will be part of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' panel highlighting their upcoming films, along with the new Superman movie "Man of Steel" and Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi adventure "Pacific Rim." (Saturday)
• "Iron Man 3" producer Kevin Feige and "special guests" (according to the Comic-Con website) will discuss the Marvel film. The studio will also be handing out posters featuring concept art from the third installment. (Saturday)
• Others panels to look forward to: "Django Unchained," "The Expendables 2," "Branded," "Resident Evil: Retribution."

TV:

• CBS will screen the pilot of its new, modern-day Sherlock Holmes series "Elementary," which is set to premiere on the network this fall. Following the screening, a panel featuring stars Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu will take place. (Thursday)
• "Dexter" fans will get to see the first two minutes of the show's upcoming season premiere during its Comic-Con panel, featuring Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter. Attendees will also be the first to see the world premiere trailer for the next season of "Homeland." (Thursday)
• The panel for AMC's "The Walking Dead" promises a sneak peek at Season 3 and a panel featuring cast and crewmembers, including Danai Gurira and David Morrissey, who play Michonne and The Governor, respectively. (Friday)
• George R.R. Martin, author of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series, will moderate the "Game of Thrones" panel, featuring castmembers Alfie Allen, Emilia Clarke and Richard Madden. A Q&A will follow. (Friday)
• "Breaking Bad" will give a sneak peek at its fifth season during its panel, which takes place two days before it returns to AMC. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul will be among the cast members in attendance. (Friday)
• "Fringe" will celebrate its fifth and final season in the San Diego Convention Center's Hall H, with stars including Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv, Lance Reddick and Blair Brown. There will be a Q&A with fans and a video presentation. (Sunday)
• Other panels to look forward to: "The Big Bang Theory," "Bones," "Community," "True Blood," "Glee" and ones for upcoming new shows like "666 Park Avenue," "Arrow" and "Revolution
  
  
  For more information please go to CBS NEWS.
  

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Free Fishing Tomorrow!

Gather your family to go on a free fishing trip tomorrow. No license is required tomorrow for fishing in California. Make sure to check on the rules and regulations of fishing in California before heading out.

Saturday is a “Free” Fishing Day in California, as the state waives the license requirement on all saltwater and all freshwater streams and lakes.

Remember that all other fishing regulations such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect. The next free or no-license day is Saturday, Sept. 1, of Labor Day Weekend.

 

Fishing took off again for offshore anglers on 1½-day trips and longer. The Pacific Queen was on a 1½-day run and fishing 114 miles from Point Loma early Thursday and reported very good conditions, with anglers boating seven bluefin tuna very early. The Pacific Queen finished with limits of quality yellowtail, 20-30 pounds, and those eight, great-tasting bluefin tuna.

One of the bigger fish thus far for the multi-day fleet was the 93.5-pound bluefin muscled aboard captain Bob Taft’s Top Gun 80 while the boat was on a three-day voyage. The angler was Chris Lambeth of Chino Hills.

The yellowtail also have been hefty, with Michael Goodger landing a 44-pound forktail on the New Lo-An.

Still no real sign of albacore, although one boat landed a 25-pounder. The lack of smaller albies is not considered a good sign because usually the 8- to 15-pound school fish show early and lead the way for bigger longfins. Also, albacore already are being caught off Oregon, way early for that fish to show there. Are the longfins blowing by the Baja and Southern California area again this year? Time will tell.

Peak night for grunion is tonight, starting at 11:55 p.m. and going to 1:55 a.m. The silversides run Saturday (Sunday morning), 12:31 a.m. to 2:35 a.m.

On the freshwater front, Dixon Lake opened for night fishing Thursday night and will be open all summer every Thursday and Friday night for fishing. It was stocked this week with 1,000 pounds of catfish. Half-day boat rentals start at 5 p.m. and cost $30.

Poway opens for night fishing tonight and will be open every Friday and Saturday night during the summer. The lake was stocked with catfish and will be stocked throughout the summer with 9,250 pounds of catfish. Half-day boat rentals start at 4 p.m. Call (858) 668-4770 or email lakeranger@poway.org.

Josh Perry of San Diego ventured to Corona Lake and caught a fine stringer of channel catfish totaling 28.5 pounds. He used night crawlers near the dam. For information on Corona, check www.fishinglakes.com or call them at (951) 277-4489. Santa Ana River Lakes close July 8, but Anaheim Lake opens July 13. Last of the 24-hour fishing days at Santa Ana is Saturday. There’s been an incredible bass bite on plastic frogs there.

Farther north in the Sierra, fly-fishing guide Tom Loe says to avoid the Lower Owens River right now because flows are high (over 500cfs) and it’s exceptionally hot in Owens Valley (100 degrees some days). He recommends Alpine lakes such as Virginia Lakes, Rock Creek Lake, Silver Lake and Twin Lakes in Mammoth. Both are good for float-tubing or trolling. He said Crowley and Bridgeport have turned over, but both lakes, particularly Crowley, will turn on soon. He said the San Joaquin wild trout are smallish, but biting in big numbers. 

More information can be found at UT San Diego.

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